Hong Kong: DC poll forum to be broadcast

The 2023 District Council Election Forum, produced by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), will be broadcast from December 1.

The forum aims to give voters a thorough understanding of the background, electoral platform and competency of individual district council candidates, as well as their views and recommendations regarding district matters.

It will be broadcast on RTHK TV Channel 31 for seven consecutive days from December 1 to 7. The radio version will be broadcast concurrently on RTHK Radio 2.

Times for the TV broadcast are 9.30pm, from Friday to Monday, and 6.30pm and 9.30pm, from Tuesday to Thursday. The radio version will be broadcast from 9pm to midnight, Monday to Friday, and from 8pm to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

The forum consists of a session on District Council geographical constituencies (DCGCs) and a session on District Committee constituencies (DCCs). Each candidate will introduce his or her election platform and respond to one question on a relevant local issue.

The session introducing 171 candidates for the 44 DCGCs will be broadcast from December 1 to December 4, while the session involving 228 candidates running in the 18 DCCs will be broadcast from December 5 to December 7.

The Government said it aims to provide candidates with equal opportunities to present their election platforms and views to the public. It added that the forum will help people to understand the improvements which have been made to the district governance system and how the reforms will improve governance and livelihoods.

RTHK has also produced eight episodes of a TV programme, Get a comprehensive view of the DC election, and 10 episodes of a radio programme, Know more about the DC election, to inform the public about the election.

This story has been published on: 2023-11-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Migratory birds arrive at nature reserve in NW China's Qinghai

People's Daily Online) 14:58, November 29, 2023

The Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province has welcomed the arrival of the first batch of migratory birds in early winter. The birds bring beauty and grace to the winter landscape as they frolic on the lake or soar through the air.

In recent years, the local forestry and grasslands authority has been actively promoting the conservation of the nature reserve. As a result, there has been a notable improvement in the ecological environment and a significant increase in biodiversity in the nature reserve.

Whooper swans are seen in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

A whooper swan spreads its wings in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

Whooper swans swim in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

A migratory bird rests in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

Migratory birds are seen in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

Aerial photo shows a wetland in the Keluke Lake-Tuosu Lake Nature Reserve in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/An Zi)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Actor Sunny Kaushal on Wednesday night took to social media to praise his brother Vicky Kaushal for his performance in the biopic drama film 'Sam Bahadur'. Taking to Instagram, Sunny shared few pictures on his stories and wrote, "Just when I think you've outdone yourself, you surprise me yet again... I know you manifested this film and now I can see why. I think this film chose you. I don't think anybody could've played Sam better... you've given your heart and soul and everything in between to portray the life of a man which was so valiantly lived" He added, "I could see it in your body, in your dialogues, but most importantly I could see it in your eyes... Brother, I am so so so proud of you #SamIsHere #SamBahadur" In another story, Sunny wrote, "What a film.. what an amazing film this is...@rsvpmovies @meghnagulzar thank you so much for making Sam Bahadur.. it is truly remarkable how you have so beautifully managed to show the life, the character, the love this man had for his country and uniform in a span of 2.5 hours.. it made me laugh, cry, inspired and most importantly it made me realise what great courage and character means.. fantastic performances by @fatimasanashaikh @sanyamalhotra_ @mohdzeeshanayyub and of course @vickykaushal09." Apart from him, Vicky's father Sham Kaushal also praised him for 'Sam Bahadur'.Taking to Instagram, he shared a picture and wrote, "By God's grace yesterday saw Vicky Puttar's film SamBahadur. Feeling so humbled, blessed & proud. A must watch film about the first Field Marshal of India. A inspirational story of grit, determination & intelligence. Outstanding direction & performances. Thank u @meghnagulzar @ronnie.screwvala @sanyamalhotra_ @fatimasanashaikh @mohdzeeshanayyub love u Vicky Puttar @vickykaushal09 Rab Rakha." https://www.instagram.com/p/C0QYYJOosCL/ On Wednesday night, Vicky's family including his wife Katrina Kaif, brother Sunny Kushal, father Sham Kaushal and his mother Veena Kaushal arrived at the film's special screening in Mumbai. Sam Bahadur is based on the life of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. His career in the army spanned over four decades and five wars. He was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and he led the victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. The film is all set to hit the theatres on December 1. It will face a big Bollywood clash with Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming film 'Animal'. (ANI)
Pop Sabrina Carpenter has dismissed the backlash over her 'Feather' music video, reported People. Following its release last month, the video was quickly condemned by a Catholic bishop for being shot both inside and outside a church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and The New York Times claimed that a Catholic priest was then stripped of his administrative duties for permitting the area to be used. Carpenter said she received permission to film in the church in a new interview with Variety, and joked about the uproar with a clever reference to her own name."We got approval in advance," said the "Nonsense" performer, adding, "and Jesus was a carpenter." According to People, the horror-inspired 'Feather' music video, which currently holds over 12 million views, features shots inside the 19th-century church, such as Carpenter dancing around its pews and altar in a black tulle dress and veil. In the clip, the former Disney Channel star is also seen killing and witnessing the deaths of men who acted inappropriately toward her, whether through catcalling, mansplaining or taking a nonconsensual photo up her skirt. Two days after the 'Feather' video dropped, the Diocese of Brooklyn shared a statement with the Catholic News Agency, stating that Bishop Robert Brennan "is appalled at what was filmed at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn." The statement continued, "The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script." According to Catholic News Agency, the parish informed the diocese that the production company behind the music video, "failed to accurately represent the video content." The New York Times reported earlier this week that Bishop Brennan "relieved" Monsignor Gigantiello of his administrative duties over the church "days after the video's release." In a letter shared to the church's Facebook page, Gigantiello apologized and explained he conducted an online search of Carpenter's work upon getting approached by a crew to film the music video in September, and his research "did not reveal anything questionable." In turn, he approved the project, hoping to "further strengthen the bonds between the young creative artists who make up a large part of this community," reported People. According to The New York Times, the pastor said in an email that he was aware there would be a funeral scene in the visual, but the final version of the visual was "not what was initially presented to me." The church in Brooklyn claims "a more thorough investigation will be made into the approval process in the coming weeks," reported People. (ANI)
During the meeting, he emphasized the significance of this day and urged for its observance through talk-shows and campaigns.

Saha also highlighted the need for students to understand the importance of their own language and other languages to strengthen multilingualism.

Ravel Hemendra Kumar, Special Secretary of the Education Department, provided details about the state-wise celebration of 'Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas.'

He explained that the event aims to foster love and proficiency in the 22 languages recognized by the Constitution.

He also mentioned that various programs have been ongoing in schools across the state since September 28, including competitions among students from 633 schools on 8 different themes.

An online essay competition was conducted for students in classes IX to XII, and the top 5 essay writers will be honoured during the Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas celebrations on December 11.

Students from different schools in Agartala are also expected to participate in these programs.(ANI)
With Tamil Nadu receiving continuous rainfall, the inflow of water is around 3000 cusecs and is bound to increase. The lake's storage had increased to 22.53 feet as against the capacity of 24 feet.

The lake has a water capacity of 3.645 TMC and currently has a water reserve of 3.195 TMC and while the inflow is 452 cubic feet of water, 163 cubic feet of water is flowing out.

A flood warning has been issued for low-lying areas and six villages along the banks of the Adyar River as the water was released from Chembarambakkam Lake.

Kanchipuram district has been receiving light to heavy rains for the last ten days due to weather changes and low depression.

The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted moderate rain with thunderstorm & lightning in some areas of Chennai. Meanwhile, several parts of Tamil Nadu, including the capital city of Chennai, were drenched with incessant rainfall on Wednesday evening, leading to the inundation of several low-lying areas, heavy traffic jams, and disruption to normal life.

The National Disaster Response Force Team is on standby in Arakkonam town in view of the impending cyclone warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

According to the IMD, moderate thunderstorms and lightning with moderate rain are very likely at a few places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Slipper Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal area till 10:00 am Thursday morning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Chennai and its neighbouring districts on December 2 and 3, indicating the likelihood of heavy to very heavy rainfall. (ANI)
According to the IMD, the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram, received the heaviest rainfall. The highest rainfall of 19 cm was recorded in Avadi in Tiruvallur district.

The heaviest rainfall was recorded in Avadi in Tiruvallur district, where 19 cm of rain fell. Other badly affected areas include Zone 06 D65 Kolathur (Chennai), Zone 06 T.V.K Nagar (Chennai), and Ponneri (Tiruvallur district), all of which received 15 cm of rain. Ambattur (Chennai), Zone 08 Malar Colony (Chennai), and Thalaignayer (Nagapattinam district) each received 14 cm of rain. Cholavaram (Tiruvallur district) and Zone 12 Alandhur (Chennai) recorded 13 cm of rain each.

Schools in Chennai remain closed due to continuous heavy downpour. Several areas of the city face waterlogging due to incessant rainfall.

IMD issues moderate rain and thunderstorm warnings for Chennai, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Pudukottai and 12 other districts in Tamil Nadu for the next three hours.

The Kanchipuram District administration has announced to increase in the discharge of water from Chembarambakkam Lake from 2500 cusecs to 6000 cusecs from 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Due to continuous rainfall at night in the North Chennai area, the Perambur Loco Railway Station tunnel has accumulated with rainwater and is not accessible to the public

Similarly, the railway tunnel on the Vyasarpadi Perambur highway has also been blocked due to waterlogging, which has caused severe difficulty for people to travel.

Water logging at Vyasarpadi Stephenson Road in the North Chennai area affected the daily routine of the people.

Heavy rainfall was reported in several parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, several parts of Tamil Nadu, including the capital city of Chennai, were drenched with incessant rainfall on Wednesday evening, leading to the inundation of several low-lying areas, heavy traffic jams, and disruption to normal life.

Chennai received heavy rains throughout the day on Wednesday, and the intensity of the showers increased in the evening, causing major traffic snarls across the city. (ANI)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan hit out at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the notification relating to the reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. The top court also ruled that the appointment was vitiated by the interference of the state. Governor Khan alleged that all the pressure came from the Chief Minister's office and the education minister cannot be blamed in the matter. "It is wrong to blame the education minister. The education minister was only used by the CM. It was not the education minister who came to my office, but an individual who claimed to be the legal advisor to the Chief Minister who did all the talking. Then they brought the education minister's letter," the governor while responding to the top court's verdict. He further said that it is for the Chief Minister to decide on further action adding that he will not demand anybody's resignation. "SC made it clear that there is no need to institutionalise the appointment. The education minister might say things because she has political compulsions. After this verdict, it's for the CM and AG to decide, I am not going to demand anybody's resignation," he added. Earlier today, a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra set aside the Kerala High Court order and quashed the notification of re-appointing the person as VC of Kannur University. The Court was hearing a petition filed by Premachandran Keezhoth and others. The petitioner has filed a Special Leave Petition questioning whether there is any distinction in law in the matter of 'appointment' and/or re-appointment to a public office in respect of procedure or eligibility for selection, where a procedure or eligibility for appointment' has been set out in the university law and the applicable under UGC Regulations. (ANI)
The Assam government has decided to give a 12-day special leave to teachers who are interested in learning 'Vipassana' meditation. Assam Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu told ANI that Vipassana is an ancient Indian meditation technique focusing on the connection between mind and body through disciplined attention to physical sensations. "National Education Policy (NEP 2020) talks about holistic education--mental, physical, and academic. The growth of students is our concern. It also talks about the Indian knowledge system, so mental health is very important for which there is yoga. Similar to yoga, there is Vipassana, which is an ancient Indian meditation system. So, there are teachers who are willing to take part in such camps to train in Vipassana and once the teachers are trained in Vipassana they will be assets to our education system because their knowledge and practises can be transferred to the students. That is why the state government has decided that those who are voluntarily willing to join such a Vipassana workshop will be given a 12-day leave. We will give them 12-day special leave," Dr Ranoj Pegu said. The Education Minister also said that the state government has already decided to give 12 days of special leave. "It has to be ensured that the institution has to be certified and after confirming all details, such as where the teachers will go, by whom, by which institution, etc., they will get the 12-day special leave," the Assam Education Minister said. The Assam Education Minister also said that the training aims to purify the mind, eliminate negative qualities like anger and greed, and lead towards enlightenment. Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. Practised widely in non-sectarian settings, often in 10-day retreats, it emphasizes self-observation and mindfulness. (ANI)
Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran publicly endorsed on Thursday the Supreme Court's decision to cancel his re-appointment and announced that he will not file a review petition. Addressing the media, Ravindran expressed his acknowledgement of the verdict, deeming it a conclusion that should be respected. He mentioned that his resignation in light of the order had become irrelevant. Looking ahead, Ravindran disclosed his forthcoming role as a permanent professor of history at Jamia Millia University in Delhi, where he is set to take charge. Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding his re-appointment, Ravindran clarified that the process occurred without his request and appeared to be free from errors. He pointed out that many Vice-Chancellors in India have undergone similar reappointments. The first phase of his VC status concluded in 2021, with the letter of reappointment arriving on the same day. Ravindran's decision not to contest the verdict marks the end of a chapter in his tenure at Kannur University. On Kannur University not having a Vice Chancellor right now, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said that arrangements will made soon. "We will make immediate arrangements. Immediate arrangements as soon as the judgement of the Supreme Court reaches us, we will make the necessary arrangements," he said. The Supreme Court earlier today quashed the notification relating to the reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. The top court also ruled that the appointment was vitiated by the interference of the state. Speaking on the SC judgement, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan said, "It is wrong to blame the education minister. The education minister was only used by the CM. It was not the education minister who came to my office, but an individual who claimed to be the legal advisor to the Chief Minister who did all the talking. Then they brought the education minister's letter." A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra set aside the Kerala High Court order and quashed the notification of re-appointing the person as VC of Kannur University. (ANI)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said that the people in India and across the world were praying to the god for the success in the rescue operation in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel where 41 workers got trapped adding that the rescuers received God's blessings to carry out the successful operation. Chief Minister Dhami laid the foundation stone of various development schemes in Haldwani and participated in other organized programs. Addressing a public event, Chief Minister Dhami said," People of the state, the entire country and across the world were praying to the god. Their prayers worked. Your prayers reached to the god and then it blessed the rescuers to carry out a successful operation. In 17 days, the tunnel was opened. It was a very difficult time." Earlier today, workers who were rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel have been discharged from the hospital today and are leaving for their home states. Officials from various states have reached here to facilitate their return to their home states. All 41 trapped workers were brought out safely from the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi on Tuesday, bringing to an end an ordeal that spanned over two weeks. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Nodal Officer Bhuvnesh informed that workers of Jharkhand will be first taken to Delhi and they will stay at Jharkhand Bhawan in the national capital before proceeding further to their native state. "We are taking all of them through an aeroplane. There are 15 workers. First, we will go to Delhi and then to Ranchi. We all have our stay in Jharkhand Bhawan. All the workers are doing well. AIIMS authorities have handed over the workers to us," he said. The workers who were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, for further medical examination on Wednesday. On November 12, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. Workers who were beyond the 260-metre mark were trapped, with their exit blocked. (ANI)
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar called for putting an end to the nexus between ambulance drivers and private hospitals. Speaking after dedicating 262 new ambulances, he said, "The ambulance drivers have an underhand pact with private hospitals and they take all accident patients to private hospitals instead of government hospitals." "There are so many such incidents. Once they are taken to private hospitals, patients end up paying huge bills while they could have received treatment in a government hospital at a much lower price. In many cases, the private hospital bills run into tens of lakhs. Relatives of the accident victims come to MLAs seeking monetary help on many occasions. We seek funds from the Chief Ministers fund or sometimes we pay from our pocket. All this hardship could be avoided if ambulance drivers take accident victims to government hospitals," he explained. The government hospitals in Karnataka are a role model to the whole nation, it is important that such advanced facilities must be made use of. Karnataka has one of the highest numbers of medical colleges in the country and produces over 10,000 doctors. He called upon the Health department to provide proper instructions to ambulance drivers, staff and ambulance contractors so that such incidents do not take place in the future. The Department can fix GPS in ambulances and provide suitable directions when a patient is picked up and the officials must monitor regularly. Such incidents are highly prevalent in Kanakapura area and that is the reason a government medical college is needed for the region. A government medical college and hospital would save accident victims and other patients of financial hardship. (ANI)
Maxine Redfern told a Baltimore County Circuit judge last month that she feared what her husband might do because she filed for a divorce.

She said his behavior had become more and more erratic after she brought up the separation in July, prompting her to call Baltimore County Police on two occasions when she said her husband refused to stop intruding on her space in their Parkville home, where they lived together while separated, or prevented her from leaving.

On Friday, less than two months later, police believe the 48-year-olds husband fatally shot her before opening fire on responding officers, who fired back. Investigators found a handgun next to Arnel Redfern, 52, who died at the scene in Parkville.

Legal remedies can help, but leaving is a dangerous time.

Maxine Redfern had taken the steps that Marylands legal system offers to people experiencing abuse  she sought a protective order along with her divorce filing, and appeared at both of her hearings. She said she didnt think her husband, who had convictions that would disqualify him from possessing a gun in Maryland, had access to firearms. He hadnt made any threat of physical violence, but was constantly harassing her over the divorce, she said in court last month.

He constantly starts arguing, he constantly puts me in situations where I cant leave, he reminds me that hes the sole provider of the house and that I have nowhere to go, she said at the hearing where she was granted a temporary protective order against her husband. The Baltimore Sun obtained a recording of that hearing as well as proceedings a week later, when she was granted a weaker final protective order.

Leaving is one of the most dangerous times for people facing intimate partner violence, who are significantly more at risk of physical violence, said Whitney Adell, the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violences prevention coordinator. About one-third of the victims of intimate partner violence who were killed in Maryland in 2021  the most recent year with detailed data from a state review team  died while trying to end a relationship or after they already had.

Safety planning  working with advocates to determine the intricacies of separation  helps quell the dangers of leaving, she said. Those seeking to leave an abusive relationship can start by contacting a 24/7 help line, such as Baltimore Countys Family Crisis Center (410-828-6390) and Turnaround Inc. (443-279-0379), to start planning matters such as shelter and custody. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also available 24/7 at 800-799-7233.

Judge agreed husband was mentally abusive.

Arnel Redfern was not at Maxine Redferns first hearing Oct. 10, when the judge ultimately ordered him to surrender any firearms, vacate the home, and have no contact with his wife, at least until a final hearing a week later. The judge, John J. Nagle III, described his decision a close call from the court.

At the next hearing, Maxine Redfern said she was mentally beat down by her husband, but didnt think he would physically harm her. She said her husband, who worked for a quarry and as a mental health adviser, had followed her to Florida, where she went to visit her godmother and try and figure things out.

It may not be physical, it may not be him punching on me, but it is enough that I feel like I am losing my sanity, she said. And I dont want to be in some psych ward somewhere.

The 52-year-old frequently interrupted his wife and argued with her during that hearing. He denied having restrained her, and said he was concerned about her well-being. Arnel Redfern repeatedly asserted he was concerned about having to vacate the house, telling the judge his wife didnt work and hasnt contributed to the mortgage. Both of the Parkville residents said there had been no history of domestic violence in their relationship.

I could never harm her. I love her, he said, interrupting Baltimore County Circuit Judge Jan M. Alexander, who had determined the husband was mentally abusing his wife of 11 years. Alexander ordered Arnel Redfern for a second time to surrender any firearms, and not to abuse or harass his wife. The final order did not require Arnel Redfern to avoid contact with his wife or vacate the house.

Im not putting anybody out of the house. You all chose to separate while living in the same household, thats your choice. But you need to respect boundaries, sir, Alexander said.

Im probably gonna stay away at least a month, give it some time, Arnel Redfern told the judge.

Gun laws are strong, but states execution needs improvement, advocate says.

Neither police, who are investigating the Nov. 24 homicide, nor the attorney generals office, which is investigating the police shooting that day, have said how they believe Arnel Redfern obtained a handgun.

He was convicted of offenses in the early 1990s that would disqualify him from gun ownership in Maryland. A Baltimore County Sheriffs Office background check returned no guns owned in his name before he was served with both the temporary and final protective orders. State law mandates that anyone subject to a final protective order must surrender their guns. Arnel Redfern twice signed forms last month certifying he did not possess any firearms.

Maryland has some of the strongest gun violence prevention laws in the country, Sam Levy, the areas legal director for Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement about the states firearms restrictions regarding domestic violence. He said the laws, such as those that focus on keeping guns away from abusers, are only as strong as their enforcement and implementation through state and local governments, the courts, police and victim advocates.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case where its conservative majority, which has notably struck down centuries-old gun control measures, is weighing whether people subject to domestic violence restraining orders can be forced to surrender their firearms.

A law requiring Maryland State Police to collect data on firearms seized pursuant to final protective orders, passed during this years session of the Maryland General Assembly, took effect Oct. 1, with the hope of measuring the effectiveness of the states domestic violence laws.

Over 900 final protective orders issued in October required respondents to surrender their firearms, according to the Maryland Judiciary. A total of 19 guns were seized that month pursuant to 12 of those orders, a state police spokesperson said, noting the rest were not found to have firearms to surrender.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Sankalp Yatra at a meeting held in Assam's Nalbari on Thursday. The Minister was joined by the Lok Sabha MP of Guwahati, Queen Oja. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Sonowal said, "Under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, this Sankalp Yatra is an earnest attempt to make the people of our country realise the various welfare schemes aimed at enriching the quality of lives and at the same time enabling social apparatus towards realising the Modi ji's vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047." "With the help of the government welfare schemes like PM Kisan, PM Awas Yojana, Direct Benefit Transfer, PM SVANidhi, PM VIshwarkarma, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Pranam, Jan Dhan Yojana and so many other schemes, the government is aiming to serve the poor, honour the marginalised, and ensure the welfare of the farmers," he added. The Union Minister said that PM Modi has given a clarion call that the Atmanirbharta of India can only be achieved by empowering Nari Shakti. "For this, the government under PM Narendra Modi ji, many revolutionaries initiatives like Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and so many others as well as correcting social evils like Triple Talaq, the women power of India are being empowered towards the cause of nation building," Sonowal said. "The youth of the country remains the cornerstone towards realising the vision of PM Narendra Modi's Atmanirbhar Bharat. With the implementation of the National Education Policy, Skill India initiative and other important initiatives are implemented by the Modi government towards making our Bharat, Shrestha Bharat," he added. PM Modi interacted with beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing on Thursday. He also launched Pradhan Mantri Mahila Kisan Drone Kendra. During the program, the Prime Minister dedicated the landmark 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar. Further, PM Modi also launched the program to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country from 10,000 to 25,000. The Prime Minister announced both these initiatives, providing drones to women SHGs and increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 during his Independence Day speech earlier this year. The program marks the fulfilment of these promises. The Prime Minister interacted with beneficiaries from Deoghar in Jharkhand, Raigarha in Odisha, Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh, Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh, and Arnia in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
Day after the Haryana government ignored the ultimatum from the farmers, who had threatened protests if the state Agriculture Minister JP Dalal was not removed from the Cabinet over his alleged offensive remarks against them, the general secretary of 24 Khap panchayats in the state on Thursday warned of a maha panchayat (grand assembly of village elders) and agitation if the minister did not tender an apology. The minister's alleged remarks were directed at farmers who part in the protests against the now-withdrawn farm Bills introduced by the Centre in 2020-21. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, the general secretary of 24 Khaps of Jind, Gurvinder Sandhu, launched a blistering attack on the minister, saying, "I demand that the Agriculture Minister extended an immediate apology over his remarks, failing which we will launch a big protest. A maha panchayat of the Khaps will also be convened soon." The Khap leaders, too, warned of 'big action' if the minister wasn't removed from the Haryana cabinet at the earliest. In a video that went viral across social media platforms, Dalal can be heard saying, "Yahaan bethe rahte the kuch log... kisi pe panch mukadame... ulte-ulte kaam kar rakhe the. Kisi ki bahu bhag rahi thee, kisi ki chhori bhag rahi thee (Some people used to sit here [on dharna]... they were facing criminal cases, had committed immoral or illegal acts. Some had their wives eloping with someone while the daughters of some others ran away)." The farmers threatened Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar with a statewide protest if action is not taken against the minister soon. After the protest in the Uchana Kalan segment of the Jind district, farmers burnt an effigy of the minister and took out a procession in town, raising slogans against the state government. Speaking to media persons, Azad Palwa, a Jind-based member of a farmers' union, said, "We want CM Khattar to take strict action against JP Dalal at the earliest or be ready to face another major protest. It's very unfortunate that a government, which talks about the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', doesn't act against a minister who makes such objectionable remarks about our daughters." "The chief minister should also condemn the statement of the minister, failing which it would be understood that he endorses what his minister said," he added. Meanwhile, Khap leaders in the Jhajjar district sought the minister's apology earlier, threatening to bar him from entering the district. (ANI)
'Political party and candidate' was the most significant factor in deciding voting patterns in three of the four states that went to the polls last month with the issue of "corruption" having varied significance among voters, according to the analysis by Today's Chanakya of its survey among voters. Today's Chanakya also predicted the expected seats by each party and the support from various communities. It said 'political party and candidate' had an influence of about 34 per cent in voting patterns in Madhya Pradesh, 29 per cent in Chhattisgarh and 36 per cent in Telangana. Today's Chanakya said that 'development' had an influence of 37 per cent in Rajasthan while 'political party and candidate' had a significance of 28 per cent. In terms of caste and community support, it said 54 per cent of Brahimns voted for BJP in Madhya Pradesh and 28 per cent for Congress. It said among Rajputs, the figure for BJP and Congress was 47 per cent and 38 per cent respectively, Scheduled Castes 45 per cent and 41 per cent, STs 46 per cent and 39 per cent, Muslims eight per cent and 84 per cent and among OBCs 47 per cent and 31 per cent. The exit poll predicted BJP winning in Madhya Pradesh with 151 (plus/minus 12 seats), Congress 74 (plus/minus 12 seats) and others 5 (plus/minus 4) seats. The state has 230 assembly seats. Today's Chanakya said that based on its survey in Chhattisgarh, 37 per cent among the SC community voted for BJP and 54 per cent for Congress, among the STs the figure was 38 per cent and 51 per cent, OBCs 40 per cent and 42 per cent and among others it was 51 per cent and 34 per cent. It predicted 33 +- 8 seats for BJP, 57 +- 8 seats for Congress and 0 +- 3 seats for others. In Rajasthan, the survey said that Congress+ got the support of 32 per cent of members from the Jat community and the BJP got 38 per cent. It said the figure was 58 per cent and 31 per cent for the SC community for Congress and BJP respectively, it was 46 per cent and 36 per cent for Meena and STs, 83 per cent and seven per cent among Muslims, 26 per cent and 53 per cent among Brahmins, 29 per cent and 47 per cent among Rajputs and 28 per cent and 48 per cent among OBCs. The poll predicted Congress getting 101 +- 12 seats, BJP 89 +- 12 and others 9 +- 7 seats. The polling in the state was held on 199 seats. The survey said that in Telangana, BJP+ got the support of 20 per cent among upper castes, Congress+ 36 per cent and BRS 33 per cent. It said the figure of three parties among SCs was 8 per cent, 49 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, among STs 9 per cent, 44 per cent and 36 per cent, among Muslims 3 per cent, 43 per cent and 42 per cent and among BCs it was 18 per cent, 37 per cent and 34 per cent. The survey said Congress was poised to get 71 +- 9 seats, BRS 33 +- 9 seats, BJP 7 +- 5 seats and others 8 +- 3 seats in the 119-member state assembly. The counting of votes in all four states and Mizoram will be held on December 3. (ANI)
Researchers found that youths who use social media are more likely to engage in dangerous health behaviours, such as increased use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco, antisocial conduct, risky sexual behaviour, and gambling. The study was published in BMJ. The strongest evidence of harm was seen when individuals were exposed to risky health behaviour content on social media, such as alcohol advertisements, especially when it came to alcohol consumption and poor eating. According to the researchers, more investigation is required to prove causation, comprehend the impact on health disparities, and identify the most detrimental features of social media. Although social media use has grown quickly and is increasingly seen as a tool for health promotion, there are worries about how it can influence teens' dangerous health habits. Previous evaluations have found negative connections between social media and several dangerous behaviours, but they did not particularly look into social media, only examined university and college students, and did not rate the quality of the studies. To address this knowledge gap, the researchers set out to examine the association between social media use and risky health behaviours in adolescents (10-19-year-olds). Their findings are based on an analysis of over 250 social media measures reported in 73 studies from 1997 to 2022 involving 1.4 million adolescents (average age 15 years). Most of the studies were carried out in high-income countries and were of varying quality, but the researchers were able to assess the certainty of evidence using the recognised GRADE system. Exposure to risky health behaviour content on social media had the strongest evidence of harm, particularly for unhealthy eating and alcohol use, compared with no exposure. For alcohol consumption, stronger associations were found for adolescents aged 16 years and older and for exposure to user-generated content compared with marketer-generated content. Spending at least 2 hours a day on social media doubled the odds of alcohol consumption compared with less than 2 hours of use. The researchers point out that most social media measures relied on personal recall and they can't rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors, such as parental health risk behaviours, may have influenced their results. Nevertheless, this was a comprehensive and well-designed review, and the researchers took steps to minimise the impact of factors such as variation in study designs and publication bias. "Experimental and risk-taking behaviours are an inherent part of adolescence," they wrote. "However, as safeguards for a digital world are still evolving, precaution across academic, governmental, health and educational sectors may be warranted before the risks of adolescents' use of social media is fully understood." (ANI)
Afghanistan has announced its intention to open an Afghan embassy in India. Taliban-appointed Deputy Political Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai stressed, "Afghanistan is dedicated to strengthening its ties with India." "In this regard, Afghanistan is pleased to announce its intention to open an Afghan embassy in India," the Afghan Embassy in India posted on X. The Embassy will be managed by distinguished Afghan diplomats who will work towards fostering friendly relations between Afghanistan and India and creating facilities to serve the Afghan community in India. Taking on their social media X, the Afghan Embassy in India highlighted that Afghanistan emphasises its principled stance and expresses gratitude to the Indian people. It further urged the Indian government to support Afghan students, patients, and traders by extending visa support. "Taliban have now officially acknowledged the take over of the mission. We emphasize our principled stance and express gratitude to the Indian people, urging the government to support Afghan students, patients, and traders by extended visa support," the post said. https://twitter.com/afghanistaninin/status/1729920305013940724?s=48 Earlier on Wednesday, Abbas Stanikzai said that the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad have been reopened and started functioning in the country, Khaama Press reported on Wednesday. It reported, quoting the Minister, "Our consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are operational. I have spoken to them, and they have reopened the embassy. "The Afghanistan-based news agency reported that the minister, while speaking in an interview with the national television channel affiliated with the Taliban administration, said that the cessation of Afghanistan's embassy activities in India is not a reality. On November 25, the Afghan Embassy 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 November 23, there is no Afghan diplomat representing the former Republic in India. Those with ties to the Taliban are aligning themselves with the Taliban and also Delhi's interests," as per the Afghan Embassy in India's official handle on 'X'. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has made no comments regarding the closure of the Afghanistan Embassy in India. 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 recognise the Taliban government. (ANI)
Republicans are considering holding a formal vote to authorize their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, with Minnesota Republican Majority Whip Tom Emmer, told members in a closed-door meeting Wednesday they could vote in the coming weeks on a move that could bolster the investigation's legal standing, The Hill reported. It remains unclear if House Republicans have the votes on impeachment in the narrowly divided lower chamber. House Republicans have not had the votes to legitimize their inquiry, which former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unilaterally launched in September, with a formal House vote. Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) said he would support impeachment if it came to the floor, but he's also warning fellow Republicans of the political risks inherent in such a step. GOP members told The Hill that Emmer cited pushback from the White House in making his case for the vote. In a recent letter, the White House blasted the GOP for moving ahead on the inquiry without a vote securing the backing from members, repeatedly referring to the "impeachment inquiry" in quotes and writing that it is "lacking constitutional legitimacy." GOP members said Emmer viewed taking a vote as one way to respond to the White House criticism, particularly as the House GOP ramps up complaints that it has not yet received all the information from the administration that it has asked for. "Sounds like the White House sent over a response to Comer and Jordan about [the] impeachment inquiry that former Speaker McCarthy announced, saying that unless it's voted on by the whole House that they didn't consider that it was a valid impeachment inquiry," one GOP lawmaker told The Hill. That was more or less the stance the White House took in a Nov. 17 letter to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Oversight and Accountability Chair James Comer (R-Ky.). The White House disputed the claim. Yet another patently false claim in their failing wild goose chase. They've gotten access to 2,000+ pages of Treasury Dept reports, docs from FBI/DOJ/Natl Archives, dozens of hours of testimony from DOJ/FBI/IRS. Not to mention 15,000+ pages of people's personal financial records" Ian Sams, White House spokesman for oversight and investigations, wrote shortly after their press conference. Missouri Republican Jason Smith taking to his X page discussed Hunter Biden and his role in the impeachment process. "We will follow the facts and see where they take us. During today's impeachment inquiry stakeout, I gave updates into our investigation into the Biden family," said Smith. "Most Americans, they work hard to provide for their families, they follow the law, they pay their taxes, but the Biden family has been playing by different rules" "President Biden wasn't just aware of his son's business dealings; he wasn't just involved but he appears to have directly benefitted from them," Smith said in a video posted on X. Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, has offered to testify in a public setting rather than the closed-door deposition GOP lawmakers have compelled, reported The Hill. "He said that a formal vote might strengthen the legal standing of the House," another GOP lawmaker told The Hill. "You also claim the mantle of an 'impeachment inquiry' knowing full well that the Constitution requires that the full House authorize an impeachment inquiry before a committee may utilize compulsory process pursuant to the impeachment power -- a step the Republican House Majority has so far refused to take," Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, wrote in the letter. "In fact, both of you previously supported the position that moving forward with an impeachment inquiry without a vote of the House 'represents an abuse of power and brings discredit to the House of Representatives.'" However, other legal experts disagree -- and House Republicans are not the first to start an impeachment inquiry without holding a vote. House Democrats and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) did the same in 2019 ahead of the first impeachment of then-President Trump, before eventually formalizing the inquiry with a vote on a House resolution. The Hill reported that Sauber in his letter referenced a White House Office of Legal Counsel opinion under Trump from 2020 that said a House resolution "is a constitutionally required step before a committee may exercise compulsory process in aid of the House's 'sole Power of Impeachment.'" Jordan rejected the notion that holding a delayed vote would create the appearance of Republicans moving backward, noting that the vote to solidify the impeachment inquiry into Trump in 2019 came after Pelosi launched the probe. Pelosi launched the impeachment inquiry on September 24, 2019, and the House voted to approve procedures for an inquiry on October 31. (ANI)
The two assailants who carried out a terror attack on Thursday morning in Jerusalem have been identified as brothers, Murad Namr, 38, and Ibrahim Namr, 30, The Times of Israel reported citing the Shin Bet security agency. The duo exited a car at the entrance to Jerusalem and opened fire at a group of civilians waiting at a bus stop, surveillance footage shared by a Times of Israel correspondent showed. The two brothers had previously been incarcerated for terror activity. Murad was jailed from 2010 to 2020 for planning terror attacks under the direction of terror elements in the Gaza Strip, reported The Times of Israel citing the Shin Bet security agency.Ibrahim was jailed in 2014 for undisclosed terror activity, the agency said. The shooting that occurred at 7:40 am local time has killed three persons so far including, two elderly civilians, who died in hospital and a 24-year-old woman who died on the scene, several others were also injured during the incident. One of the victims has been named as rabbinical judge Elimelech Wasserman. The offices of Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau both mourned Wasserman as a senior, gifted and dedicated Dayan (judge in Jewish religious court), saying he was "murdered by a vile person." After his retirement, Wasserman was appointed a dayan amit, a retired rabbinical judge who continues serving after retirement if there are empty seats on the bench, The Times of Israel has reported. Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arriving at the scene of this morning's terror attack, said that Israel must respond to the terror attacks with military pressure. "This type of incident proves again how much we can't show weakness, how much we have to speak to Hamas only through intentions, only through the war," he said appearing to criticize the government's ceasefire negotiations with the terror group. The Israel Defence Force announced the ceasefire on their X page, "The operational pause 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 post said. The extension brings the ceasefire into the seventh day, as the international community attempts to resolve the hostage situation and find a durable path to peace. The two assailants were neutralised by two off-duty security forces and an armed civilian on the scene. Gvir added that the shooting of the Palestinians supports his policy of having more civilians carry guns. (ANI)
The UK Defence Secretary announced the departure of HMS Diamond to join Operation Kipion, increasing the UK's maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, a statement issued by the UK government read. The HMS Diamond, is the third type 45 Destroyer and one of the most advanced warships in the world, according to the Royal Navy website. The move will significantly bolster international efforts to protect maritime security in the region. The deployment follows increasing concerns over maritime security at narrow sea trade routes worldwide, known as chokepoints. The ship is part of the UK's commitment to supporting security in the region and the global maritime commons. Operation Kipion is the UK's long-standing maritime presence in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. In addition to HMS Lancaster, a squadron of three mine-hunting vessels (HMS Bangor, HMS Chiddingfold, and HMS Middleton) and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship (RFA Cardigan Bay) are also deployed as part of the operation, helping to keep the vital trade routes of the Middle East open for business, the official statement added. Royal Navy vessels have been permanently deployed to the region since 1980 and have fallen under Operation Kipion since 2011. Under the command of the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) in Bahrain, they work with allies and partners across the region, including under the Combined Maritime Forces partnership. HMS Diamond is deploying with a Wildcat helicopter onboard, a highly capable aircraft which has been central to HMS Lancaster's activities since its deployment in 2022, including when it seized substantial quantities of illegal drugs and intercepted weapons being smuggled in international waters. The move has been influenced by the recent Israel-Hamas conflict that has ensued since the October 7 Hamas militant offensive into southern Israel. UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said, "Recent events have proven how critical the Middle East remains to global security and stability." "From joint efforts to deter escalation, following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza, to now the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea - it is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world," he said. "Today's deployment will strengthen the Royal Navy's patrols, help to keep critical trade routes open and prove that our commitment to regional security not only endures but enhances. Her deployment follows increasing concerns over maritime security at narrow sea trade routes worldwide, known as chokepoints. The ship is part of the UK's commitment to supporting security in the region and the global maritime commons," Shapps said. "The waters of the Gulf are vital routes for merchant shipping, including for tankers carrying much of the UK's supply of liquefied natural gas. Around 50 large merchant ships each day pass through the Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, while around 115 major merchant ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz," he said. (ANI)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an investigation into the allegations of sexual violence committed by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, the Times of Israel reported. Guterres wrote on X: "There are numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on October 7 that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere." Israel's Foreign Ministry tore into the women's rights group UN Women last week for taking 50 days to comment on the evidence of sexual violence perpetrated during Hamas's onslaught last month, only to issue a brief statement expressing "alarm" on the matter, then delete the post, as per The Times of Israel. On Instagram, UN Women posted the condemnation of Hamas before deleting it shortly after, and replacing it with a call to release all hostages in Gaza. Recently, it was reported that the Israeli police is using forensic evidence, video, witness testimony and interrogations of suspects to document cases of sexual violence committed by Hamas as part of the October 7 attack on Israel, as per CNN. Witnesses say that women and girls caught in the rampage were brutalized sexually, as well as physically tortured and killed. Police Superintendent Dudi Katz said officers have collected more than 1,000 statements and more than 60,000 video clips related to the attacks that include accounts from people who reported seeing women raped. He added that investigators do not have firsthand testimony and it is not clear whether any rape victims survived. About 1,200 Israelis were killed and more injured that day in villages and farms near Gaza when Hamas militants struck across the border in coordinated attacks, taking more than 240 hostages and precipitating the current war. Police Commissioner Shabtai Yaakov said the investigation could potentially lead to prosecutions, but for now, documentation is the primary mission. A human rights law expert at Hebrew University Cochav Elkayam-Levy has formed a civil commission with colleagues to document evidence of the atrocities, fearing that as the war devastates Gaza and the lives of thousands of Palestinians, the world seems willing to look over the violence against Israeli women and girls. "We'll never know everything that has happened to them," Elkayam-Levy told CNN. "We know that most women who were raped and who were sexually assaulted were also murdered." She pointed to a United Nations statement just a week after the terror attacks that did not mention sexual violence. "It's much worse than just silence or an insult to us as Israeli women and to our children and to our people. When they are failing to acknowledge us, to acknowledge what happened here, they are failing humanity," she said of the UN, as per CNN. (ANI)
Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland has said that he has been a really important leader because of his innovation and creativity, as India is producing more unicorns than almost any other country. She added that this has happened because of an ecosystem that supports innovation. While speaking to ANI, the Commonwealth Secretary General said, "He (PM Modi) has been a really important leader because of innovation and creativity. If you look at what India is doing, it's producing more unicorns than almost any other country. And many of those new innovations are focused on our delivery. So this creation of an ecosystem that supports innovation, which is what Prime Minister Modi has done, is critically important." "I've said before that human genius got us into this mess. This is how we came up with the Industrial Revolution. Now there is a technological revolution, and it's being led, in the main, by India and a number of other countries. So his contribution to that, particularly in relation to women, is critically important," she said. On India's role in tackling climate change, she underlined that New Delhi has a vital role to play as it has become a technological giant and this is an opportunity to use the data that is available. She said, "India has a vital role to play. India has become a technological giant and this is an opportunity for us to use the data we have, the geospatial data, to enable us to respond better to the exogenous shocks to which we are subject, particularly the climate crisis. So I know that the whole Commonwealth is grateful for what India did during COVID because it was able to come up with some of the solutions in terms of distribution. And we're looking to India again to do that leadership role. And we know that if we share data, if we share knowledge about what works, what doesn't work, then we'll really get there faster. So green energy is pivotal. India is leading the way, along with a number of other countries, and we really want her to continue to do that and help the rest of the Commonwealth family." Calling India's G20 Presidency "phenomenal," she said that it is about time to talk about the G-21, adding, "Because of what India has done, Africa is now represented in the G-20, an incredibly important step forward." "India has been innovative, creative, but most importantly, inclusive. And that inclusivity--taking together the diversity of our world and making sure that we all have a platform from which we can be truly heard--is critically important. I think everyone will be congratulating India, congratulating Prime Minister Modi for a phenomenal presidency of the G-20. So well done, India. And I can't help but mention India got to the south side of the moon, and it was led by a woman," she told ANI. When asked whether the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict will have any impact on COP 28, Scotland stated, "Well, I hope it will make us concentrate even more, because if we have no world, then the conflicts become contextualised. We are talking about an existential threat--a global threat. We have to save our world, and we have to save ourselves from conflict." She further went on to say that "financing" is high up on the agenda during this year's COP28 climate talks that are taking place in Dubai. "Well, what's absolutely on the agenda is the financing, because, you know, way back in 2009, the world committed to producing USD 100 billion, which is particularly important to those small and developing countries that are the worst affected by climate change. So I hope we will deliver on our financial obligations," she said. "We know that it's going to take about USD 4 trillion a year in order to meet the 2030 agenda and the Paris Agenda, but right now, we only have 630 billion dollars, so we're nowhere near the target...So we need to get serious about the money we need and make sure those who are really in need get it," she added. COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 - December 12 this year. Delegates from almost 200 nations will be present at the summit, including world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive in Dubai later today. PM Modi had earlier attended the Glasgow conference in 2021, during which he unveiled India's five-pronged 'Panchamrit' strategy to deal with climate change. During COP-26 in Glasgow, the Prime Minister announced five specific targets, titled "Panchamrit," as India's unprecedented contribution to climate action. The Prime Minister had also announced Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) on that occasion. (ANI)
On Dec. 6, 1946, the Democratic Advocate newspaper ran an article with the headline, City To Have Xmas Lighting  Retail Merchants Assoc. Secured Necessary Generators For Lighting Decorations. The article reported, Due to the untiring efforts of the Retail Merchants Association, Westminster will be able to have their Xmas Lighting as planned. The Association appointed a special committee, composed of F. Kale Mathias, and Paul Bonsack, who made the proper contacts with the Sheppard Diesel Engine Co., Hanover, Pa., through the Maryland Supply and Equipment Co., of Baltimore, who are the distributors for the state of Maryland.

Magic Main Street in Westminster on November 29, 2023. This year the second annual Magic Main Street holiday tree decorations expanded farther east on East Main Street. The Mayor and Council have expressed an interest in also expanding the tree lighting along Main Street to the east. For many generations the Christmas season has always been a special time in Westminster.

The generators will be set up and operated at three different sections, being placed on the pavements. Adequate shelter and a maintenance crew for the operation will be taken care of by the Mayor and City Council of Westminster. Plans are to have them installed by December 11 and they will be in operation by December 13.

This was remarkable because the previous year the city did not have any Christmas lights. A article published on Nov. 30, 1945 reported, No Xmas Decorations Or Treat For Children Here  Announcement was made by Mayor Joseph L. Mathias that the municipal decorations for the coming Christmas season will be limited to the decorating of the tree at The Forks.

Due to the lack of available manpower and the scarcity of required materials, the Mayor said the extensive decorating plan, which prevailed prior to the war, would not be resumed this year.

Christmas Tree and train decorations, flanked by gingerbread public works employees, adorn the Sentinel pocket park at West Main and Liberty Street at the railroad tracks in downtown Westminster. One of the earliest references to a community Christmas tree occurs in a history of the Westminster Womans Club which mentions a tree lighting celebration on December 20, 1928 at the forks of West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Then, for many years, the annual Christmas community event took place in the Sentinel pocket park, before it moved to Locust Lane. November 29, 2023 photo by Kevin Dayhoff.

Mayor Mathias also announced that the City could not offer the Christmas treat to the children of the community this year because of the limitations to the supply of candies and fruits.

The Christmas season always has been a special time in Westminster. For many generations, long before our current tradition of an electric light parade right after Thanksgiving, the city came together for a community celebration and a parade called the Christmas Treat.

The Democratic Advocate carried a headline on Dec. 26, 1947, 3000 Children Receive Presents. The article reported upon the successful celebration of the finest Christmas treat to the children of Carroll County since the ending of World War II.

A parade consisting of the newly organized Moleville Post of [the Veterans of] Foreign Wars drum corps with majorettes, marched from the Armory over Main street to the place of celebration. Santa Claus rode in a large float with a mail box, and Boy and Girl Scouts collected letters and placed them in the box. The parade ended at the forks where the community Christmas tree was lighted.

A record number of citizens lined Magic Main Street in Westminster to witness the 2023 annual Westminster Miracle on Main Street parade. For many generations the Christmas season has always been a special time in Westminster.

For much of the history of Westminster, the center of town was considered to be the forks,  the intersection of West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Up until the 1970s, much of the main business district in Westminster was on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Times have changed. Pennsylvania Avenue is no longer the middle of business activity, and the center of town is now considered to be the park at Locust Lane.

Many years ago, including my childhood years in Westminster in the 1950s, a gift of oranges was considered to be particularly special. The 1946 newspaper article reported, Many parents accompanied the children, and those under 12 years of age each received a box of candy, orange and noisemaker.

In 1983, Tom Doerr penned an article about Westminsters Christmas celebrations titled, The Christmas Treat in Westminster Past Times, a publication of the city of Westminster and the Downtown Development Committee.

The 2023 Westminster Christmas tree in the park on Locust Lane. This year the annual traditional tree lighting took place on a cold Saturday evening, November 25. For many generations the Christmas season has always been a special time in Westminster.

For as long as anyone around Carroll County can seem to remember, the City of Westminster has sponsored an annual yuletide celebration called The Christmas Treat, Doerr wrote. A stocking full of candy and an orange are the traditional presents given by the Citys elders to the young of the area.

At one point, starting in the expansive year of 1926, a noisemaker was added to the spoils. It is hard to picture today, but until the 1960s, thousands of children took part in this annual ritual of carols, a parade, speeches and gift giving. In 1934, four thousand treats were distributed, Doerr wrote.

Schools were closed a half day early so that all children might attend. The organizing committee for the affair membered more than 30 people, and the Christmas Treat appeared for many years as a separate and substantial category in the Citys spartan budget.

Much more research is needed to determine when the Christmas Treat tradition began in Westminster. Although previous research indicates that one of the earliest references to a community Christmas tree occurs in a history of the Westminster Womans Club which mentions a Westminster community Christmas tree lighting celebration on December 20, 1928 at the forks of West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

The 2023 Westminster Christmas tree and Menorah in the pocket park in Locust Lane. This year the annual traditional tree lighting took place on a cold Saturday evening, November 25. Participating in this years tree lighting was left to right: Councilmember Ann Gilbert, Council President Greg Pecoraro, Mayor Dr. Mona Becker, Councilmembers Dan Hoff, and Kevin Dayhoff. (Not pictured: Councilmember Tony Chiavacci.) For many generations the Christmas season has always been a special time in Westminster.

Historian Jay Graybeal reported in research he did for the Historical Society in the 1990s that going back to 1903, The big event along Main street occurred on the afternoon before Christmas day. Miller Bros. held open house for hundreds of children.

We are thankful that the City of Westminster continues to bring the community together with lights in the trees along Main Street, the Miracle on Main Street parade, a community tree and menorah lighting, Santas Treat in the Westminster Family Center, and a wonderful light display in the Westminster Playground. Happy holidays.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. His Time Flies column appears every Sunday. Email him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.
Activists of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Europe staged a protest in front of the United Nations office in Geneva to denounce the crackdown and forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. PTM activist Fazal-Ur-Rehman Afridi said on Wednesday that the eviction is against international laws and must be stopped immediately as Pakistani law enforcement agencies have unleashed a 'reign of terror' against the refugees. He blamed them for harassing, keeping the refugees in arbitrary detention and also torturing them. The protesters highlighted that Pakistani authorities also demolished several Afghan private and commercial properties, despite the fact that the majority of these people had proof of registration cards and were residing legally. Those who could not pay bribes to the local police were later deported, putting their lives in danger as Afghanistan itself is facing a humanitarian crisis. The activists also noted that Noor Ullah Tareen, the coordinator of PTM Karachi, who is a strong voice for Afghan refugees, was also arbitrarily arrested on October 4 by the personnel of Secret Services and police without any warrant. Meanwhile, Mushtaq, PTM Co-Ordinator of Peshawar, and other PTM activists, including Aftab Shinwari, Bilal Orakzai and Hayat Roghani, were arrested in Peshawar while on their way to a proposed seminar on Afghan refugees at the Peshawar Press Club on October 16. Pakistan has so far not entertained calls by international organisations and refugee agencies to reconsider the move, saying Afghans have been involved in terror attacks and in crimes that undermine security. The protesters in Geneva requested the international community to intervene and urged the European Union to reconsider the GSP status of Pakistan, which is coming to an end in December 2023, over the gross human rights violations. (ANI)
While in the South Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Carney shot down an Iranian-made KAS-04 drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, The Hill quoted statement of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The incident comes as the US military warned Iran over an "unsafe and unprofessional" drone maneuver near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group on Tuesday.

"Although its intentions are not known, the UAV was heading toward the warship," CENTCOM notes.

At the time of the shootdown, the Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship, and another U.S. flagged and crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region, The Hill reported.

There were no injuries to U.S. personnel and no damage to U.S. vessels, according to the command.

The USS Thomas Hudner, also a Navy destroyer, shot down multiple one-way attack drones in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Navy has increased the number of its ships stationed in the Middle East following the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, a conflict that has caused tensions to soar in the region and threatened to escalate into a wider fight. (ANI)
TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul.

The Minister of Interior of Iran asked the Islamic Emirate to provide conditions for the return of Afghan immigrants, and Afghan immigrants who do not have legal documents for residence will be deported, TOLO News reported.

As per Iranian media reports, Wahidi said that there are currently 5 million Afghan refugees living in Iran.

Wahidi said: "Based on our figures, there are currently around five million people. There are two parts that have been fully explained before, a part of them do not have permits which should be deported", as per TOLO News.

Meanwhile, the Taliban-appointed second Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Abdul Salam Hanafi asked the citizens of the country and aid institutions to help the immigrants who have returned to the country.

According to Hanafi, so far more than 400,000 Afghan immigrants have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

"The immigrants who were forcibly expelled from our neighbouring countries against all national and international norms, have returned to their homeland, and the Islamic Emirate has provided them services with all the possible means it had," Hanafi said, according to TOLO News.

Some refugee rights activists expressed concerns regarding the situation of Afghan immigrants in Iran.

Immigrants' rights activist Mohammad Khan Talibi said: "The Afghan immigrants in Iran are facing challenges due to not having legal living permits." (ANI)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has redoubled efforts to build pressure to force Taiwan's absorption into mainland China, CNN reported, adding that the country is sending warships and warplanes ever closer to Taiwan, even into and through its airspace. The Taipei government is, however, planning a democratic presidential election on January 13, a three-way race in which voters consider an outcome that could well define the island's future, according to the report. Further, according to CNN, this is happening with determined American political, diplomatic and military support, including Biden being clearer than previous presidents that the US will defend Taiwan. Despite GOP foot-dragging in Congress, Biden has included funding for Taiwan as well as Ukraine and Israel in a new aid package -- an all-but-unprecedented effort at American assistance for democracies under threat. The US President has managed the relationship with Beijing rather than rupturing it in ways that could be dangerous. He recently succeeded in reopening military-to-military channels of communication with China for the first time since Beijing severed them after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022. China's military recently released an animation depicting the journey to reunite two halves of a torn scroll across the Taiwan Strait, according to CNN. This comes as a reference to the country's longstanding goal of "reunification" with the democratic, self-ruled island. The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) released the animation to mark National Day, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and is the latest short film to capitalize on nationalist sentiment over historic Chinese treasures held overseas. China's ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan, home to 24 million residents, as its territory -- despite never having controlled it. It has long vowed to "reunify" Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary. (ANI)
Global delegates at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai formally adopted a damage fund on Thursday and several nations pledged millions of dollars to the nations hardest hit by the climate crisis, CNN reported. Demand for a fund to channel money to developing countries to help them cope with the impacts of climate change has for years foiled progress at the annual negotiations. The fund's details were agreed to earlier this month at a pre-COP meeting and were formalised on Thursday, in the hope it would allow for progress in other areas at the summit. COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said: "We have delivered history today -- the first time a decision has been adopted on day 1 of any COP." The motion passed without objection and was met with a standing ovation. While all parties agreed to the fund, there was previously opposition to allowing the World Bank to host it. Several countries objected to the bank managing the money on the basis that it has strong US connections. All parties ultimately agreed on the condition that the World Bank's oversight of the fund would be temporary, as per CNN. Some countries pledged money to the fund right after it was agreed. The COP28 host country, the United Arab Emirates, pledged USD 100 million, as did Germany. The UK announced Euro 60 million, part of which will be used for "other arrangements," according to the release, while the US committed USD 17.5 million to the fund and Japan contributed USD 10 million. Climate experts and advocacy groups praised the establishment of the fund. They also said it is the first step on a long road to ensuring the countries hit hardest by the climate crisis are fully supported. Money from rich nations must now begin flowing into the fund, they said. President and CEO of World Resources Institute Ani Dasgupta said: "The loss and damage fund will be a lifeline to people in their darkest hour, enabling families to rebuild their homes after disaster strikes, support farmers when their crops are wiped out and relocate those that become permanently displaced by rising seas. This outcome was hard-fought but is a clear step forward." The US in particular was criticised for its USD 17.5-million contribution, which some experts said was "embarrassing" and "striking" for how small it is compared to the pledges of other nations. (ANI)
One person was reported dead in a Russian missile strike on Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk district overnight on Nov. 30 after a body was found in the rubble, the State Emergency Service reported.

The body was found in the ruins of a damaged residential building in Novohrodivka. Emergency services said they are still searching for four other people under the rubble.

Russian forces launched eight S-300 missiles on Ukraine overnight, aiming six of them against Novohrodivka, Pokrovsk, and Myrnohrad in the Pokrovsk district.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in his morning report that 10 people, including four children, were injured in the attack.

The State Emergency Service said that five people were reported as wounded in Novohrodivka itself.

The three towns lie not far from the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
One person was killed and another was hospitalized after being shot while sitting inside their vehicles in Riverside County.

The suspect was identified as Louis Hernandez by the California Highway Patrol.

On Nov. 26, California Highway Patrol officers responded to reports of shots fired at the Mission Boulevard Park and Ride in Jurupa Valley around 9:38 a.m.

Arriving officers found a woman who had been shot while sitting inside a silver 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A nearby man was sitting inside his 2003 Nissan Altima was also found with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Hernandez had fled the scene and jumped into the bed of a pickup truck that was stopped at a red light, police said. The pickup truck belonged to an innocent bystander.

The driver traveled to Ontario where he eventually stopped and Hernandez hopped off the truck bed. The driver then called the police to report the suspect.

Ontario police eventually located Hernandez and he was taken into custody.

During the arrest, a firearm was discovered. Police believe the weapon was involved in the shootings.

Hernandez was arrested on charges of homicide and attempted murder. Hernandez is being investigated for his involvement in other incidents as well.

Anyone with additional information on the case can call CHP Investigators at 951-637-8000.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Someone was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot Wednesday night in west Charlotte, MEDIC stated on X.

#BREAKING CMPD is investigating a reported shooting in the 800 block of West Blvd near Merriman Avenue. Working to gather details. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/32Zupp0ptm  Coleman Montgomery (@colemanreports) November 30, 2023

The shooting happened just before 7:30 p.m. on West Boulevard near Merriman Avenue.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has not released any information on this incident.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

VIDEO: West Charlotte apartment intentionally set on fire, officials say
Floridas invasive Burmese pythons have up to 120 teeth, so it was no laughing matter when a professional python hunter found one latched onto his boot.

Video of the encounter shared on Facebook shows the bite came after the snake lost a tug-of-war with Mike Kimmel and was dragged from brush on a Florida island.

As Im exposing more of her, she just keeps growing and growing and it looks like a big-sized snake. I know I got to quickly grab that tail, yank her out of there, and she dont want to come easily, Kimmel says in the Nov. 30 video. Were fighting, battling, I finally rip her out and she gets a hold of my boot and were doing a little bit of do-si-do.

In the seconds that follow, the hunter is seen spinning in a circles to stay ahead of the snakes attempt to coil around his legs. Kimmel does this while keeping a firm grip on the snakes tail.

Fat snake, guys, fat snake, Kimmel says as he spins. Yeah, its latched onto my boot.

The hunter eventually shakes himself free but notes the nearly 10-foot snake continues to strike at him.

Another hunter eventually steps in, grabbing the snake just behind the head to prevent additional bites.

The snake was clearly a well-fed female and might be carrying eggs, said Kimmel, who euthanizes the captured reptiles.

Another hunter grabbed the snake by the head, resulting in it wrapping itself around his arm.

A date and location for the hunt was not revealed, but Kimmel said in a Facebook post that it was a training exercise for a new python hunting dog named Rogue.

His South Florida snake hunts have gotten national attention, including a 2020 incident when a 17-foot python bit him and sliced open a vein in his arm, according to Treasure Coast News.

At that point, my main concern is not blacking out, he told the news outlet. Bleeding out crossed my mind, but I was really worried about losing consciousness.

Graphic video shows Kimmel applied a tourniquet with one hand while holding the snake with the other.

Burmese pythons are a growing problem in South Florida, where some weighing around 200 pounds have been captured.

Kimmel, who is based in Martin County, says he has captured nearly 30 pythons this season.

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A member of the Russian parliament has adopted a 10-month-old child that had been abducted from the Ukrainian city of Kherson, changing the childs name and surname. Ukraine has appealed to international organisations to help bring the child back to Ukraine.

Source: Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Dmytro Lubinets on Telegram

Quote: "Media have recently reported that Sergey Mironov, head of one of the Russian political parties, and his wife Irina Varlamova have adopted a child who had been kidnapped from Ukraine.

The media reported that 10-month-old Marharyta Prokopenko was living in an orphanage in Kherson when the Russian army occupied the city. She was taken to Russia allegedly for medical examinations and rehabilitation.

The media say that the girl has eventually had her name and citizenship changed! Marharyta became Marina Mironova. It is also likely that a two-year-old boy, Illia Vashchenko, was also taken alongside Marharyta. His whereabouts are currently unknown."

Details: Lubinets stressed that this was the first documented occurrence when an abducted child had their name and surname changed.

Quote: "The woman who is the guardian of Marharytas sister appealed to me as the Ombudsman of Ukraine. She asked for help finding Marharyta and obtaining legal guardianship over her.

I would like to say that Marharyta has a six-year-old sister and a three-year-old brother. The six-year-old sister lives with her guardian, but nothing is known about her brother. Like Marharyta, he was in Kherson. The siblings were separated by the Russians."

Details: Lubinets stressed that the adoption of Ukrainian children in Russia is illegal. International laws stipulate that if non-Ukrainian citizens want to adopt a Ukrainian child, they have to officially notify Ukraine and obtain appropriate permission.

Lubinets has called for an international response to the Russian war crime and for help with bringing back the children abducted by Russia.

Quote: "In this particular instance, I appealed to our partners and international organisations to condemn forced abduction and adoption of the Ukrainian child, recognised this as a crime of genocide and helped bring Ukrainian children back home.

Silence and inaction in response to every crime provokes more crimes in the future."

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Charlene Johns, of Union Bridge, is the co-owner of the new crafts store in Westminster called Carroll Artisans Creations. She opened it along with her partner Gesila Woelper, of New Windsor. The store had its grand opening on Sept. 29. It is located at 92 W. Main St., across from the Carroll County Arts Council.

Johns drove a school bus for 50 years. She went past the store front at least four times a day.

I kept thinking it was a great location, Johns said.

Johns had opened the Union Bridge Gift and Thrift Shop that The Dream Big nonprofit runs now.

The store has beautiful windows which was one of its attractions along with the location, Johns said. We decided to sell handmade items.

When Johns checked on the availability of the location the price was way out of her range. Luckily, the owner called her and they made a deal.

He is the nicest man I ever met, Johns said. He said that the town of Westminster wanted it filled. That was in June of 2023, Johns said.

Johns did not have any trouble getting vendors motivated to sell their creations in the store. Since she had made ceramics herself, Johns already knew a lot of people that did crafts. She also went to the Carroll County Agricultural Farmers Market and Craft Show to look for more vendors. She met with possible vendors, explained her plan and soon she was getting phone calls.

Johns also went to outdoor crafts shows to scout for vendors as well as online craft sites.

Owners of Carroll Artisans Creations, Gesila Woelper, left, and Charlene Johns. Lyndi McNulty photo

Vendors are primarily from Carroll County including Eldersburg, Union Bridge and New Windsor. Other artisans are from Hanover, Pennsylvania, and one is from Smithburg, Maryland.

Johns has 58 vendors now although she had only planned to have 30. There is a waiting list for new vendors. The variety of artisans is amazing and include wreath makers Little Green Bird, owned by Tami Harr-Turpin, and Teddy Schaffer.

Lisa Macurak creates handmade bunnies with custom outfits and embroidered names that make great unique local gifts.

There is a plethora of jewelry to choose from including sterling silver jewelry made by Brook Shaw from Signature Creations. Brandy Spicer makes bead jewelry. Wicked gems by Emily Watts makes clay jewelry. Elizabeth Halterman also makes beautiful jewelry and scented candles.

There are two painters, Debbie Reda and Beth Dodson.

Billie Lookingbill, of Woodsboro, makes broken glass pictures and furniture. She already has taken commissions for more items.

Woodworkers include Rich Taylor, from Beech House Woodcraft, who makes charcuterie boards and other cutting boards from wood. Furniture maker Rick Johns, of Union Bridge, makes furniture from recycled barn wood. He does custom work such as dining room tables, pie safes, end tables and coffee tables and even hutches.

Textiles as art are another category at Carroll Artisans Creations. Quilted Christmas ornaments are made by Carol Hill. Barb Rodman makes popular Amigurumis. Violet Johns of Crafts to Inspire from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, crochets seasonal decorations, purses, baskets and scarves and hats.

Christine Charikofsky of Windswept Farms, of Smithsburg, raises alpacas, dyes alpaca fiber, spins it, and makes articles of soft clothing.

There are many, many more.

The store will host events such as DIY events with classes on making sea glass Christmas tree ornaments, painted wooden door hangers, how to make special greeting cards, handmade quilted Christmas ornaments, painted ceramics and art with succulents.

Future plans include childrens crafts and birthday parties.

I like crafting and I like meeting different people, Johns said. This has been the best experience. The vendors are volunteering their time to keep the shop open. I have met so many nice people.

Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. Johns can be contacted at 443-605-6252 or email cdjohns@outlook.com.

Lyndi McNulty is the owner of Gizmos Art in Westminster. Her column, An Eye for Art, appears regularly in Life & Times.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  11 schools in the Escambia County, Fla., Public School District have reached Purple Star School status.

Pensacola man who led deputies on high-speed chase gets 15 years

What does it mean to be a Purple Star School?

The Purple Star School of Distinction Designation recognizes schools that offer unique support to military families, a news release from ECPS said.

Military children move every two to three years, militarychild.org states. The Purple Star School program is designed to help schools respond to the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and keep them on track to be college, workforce, and life-ready.

The schools chosen also help military-connected students navigate challenges and provide resources to those students when they transition to a new school.

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The Purple Star distinction was established and signed into law in June 2021. To receive the distinction, schools must:

Maintain a school military point of contact to serve as the central liaison for military families.

Maintain a school webpage for military students and families, including resources like academic planning, transition planning and educational opportunities.

Maintain a student-led transition program to assist military students coming into the school.

Maintain staff professional development to identify and respond to the needs of military families.

Maintain a 5 percent open enrollment seat for military students and families.

Maintain three additional activities to support military families, such as participating in a service project to connect the school with the military community, hosting an annual military recognition event or offering a JROTC program, among others.

Casino Beach Fishing Pier to close soon for repairs

Purple Star Schools

The 11 schools that received the recognition include:

Bellview Elementary School

Beulah Elementary School

Booker T Washington High School

Brown-Barge Middle School

Ernest Ward Middle School

Hellen Caro Elementary School

J.H. Workman Middle School

J.M. Tate High School

Lipscomb Elementary School

Pine Forest High School

Pleasant Grove Elementary School

Mobile home fire under investigation in Escambia County

With the addition of these 11 schools, 20 Escambia County schools have received the recognition.

ALSO ON WKRG.com: Spanish Fort Police Dept. one of nine agencies in the state to receive a COP grant

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
A 13-year-old girl died in a raging camper fire as others escaped the early-morning blaze, Florida officials said.

The teenager was in the camper when it became consumed by fire Wednesday, Nov. 29, according to the Baker County Sheriffs Office. Neighbor Carrie Keith told WTLV she was in the kitchen when she caught a glimpse of flames across her fence.

We tried calling 911, but we dont have service out here, Keith told the TV station, adding that she heard sirens within minutes.

Tragically, a 13-year-old female died in the fire, deputies wrote on Facebook. There were other occupants in the camper that were able to escape without injury.

The sheriffs office in its Facebook post didnt identify the teen who died. Lana Hunter, the girls great-grandmother, told WJXT the familys loss was unbearable.

She was a loving little girl, 13 years old, Hunter told the TV station. Going to school, trying to do the best she could, and most of all, she loved the Lord.

Deputies believe a space heater may have started the blaze, which was reported in Glen St. Mary, roughly 30 miles west of Jacksonville. Temperatures were in the 30s the morning of the fire, according to the National Weather Service.

As of Nov. 29, an investigation into the fire was ongoing. The sheriffs office shared few other details but said Baker County firefighters and the State Fire Marshals office helped with the response.

Sheriff Scotty Rhoden extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and asks that our community join us in praying for them, deputies wrote.

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BAKER COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A 13-year-old girl died after a space heater sparked a fire inside a camper in north Florida, the Baker County Sheriffs Office said.

The fire started early Wednesday in the Cuyler area near Orbey Rhoden Road in Glen St. Mary.

Carrie Keith told WTLV that she couldnt believe how fast her neighbors camper went up in flames.

We tried calling 911, but we dont have service out here, said Keith.

Deputies said a 13-year-old girl died in the fire. Others in the camper were able to escape without injury.

My heart goes out to the family, especially this time of year, Keith said. If theres anything we can do for them, were right across the fence.

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Detectives with the Baker County Sheriffs Office and the State Fire Marshals Office said they will investigate the cause of the fire. They believe the space heater started it.

Sheriff Scotty Rhoden extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and asks that our community join us in praying for them, the sheriffs office posted on Facebook.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A young teenage girl who police said was involved in over a dozen organized retails thefts of over $30,000 in merchandise in San Francisco was arrested, the San Francisco Police Department announced Thursday.

San Francisco police investigating organized retail crimes on the 800 block of Market Street had identified the 14-year-old girl as one of the suspects in a large number of retail thefts, SFPD said. The thefts were being committed by a large group of juvenile and adult suspects and stole merchandise totaling over $30,000, according to police.

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Officers from the SF Tenderloin Station responded to a retail theft on the 800 block of Market St. on Nov. 24 and located the known 14-year-old suspect, police said. She was arrested and booked into the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center on charges of organized retail theft, burglary, grand theft, shoplifting and petty theft across the following 15 incidents:

April 11, 2023: 2 suspects, approximate loss $6,600

April 14, 2023: 3 suspects, approximate loss $3,900

Sept. 16, 2023: 5 suspects, approximate loss $3,000

Oct. 14, 2023: 3 suspects, approximate loss $2,000

Oct. 29, 2023: 1 suspect, approximate loss $380

Nov. 1, 2023: 3 suspects, approximate loss $140

Nov. 2, 2023: 2 suspects, approximate loss $1,250

Nov. 2, 2023: 3 suspects, approximate loss $2,800

Nov. 3, 2023: 3 suspects, approximate loss $1,700

Nov. 4, 2023: 4 suspects, approximate loss $2,100

Nov. 5, 2023: 4 suspects, approximate loss $1,800

Nov. 6, 2023: 4 suspects, approximate loss $1,600

Nov. 9, 2023: 2 suspects, approximate loss $1,700

Nov. 13, 2023: 2 suspects, approximate loss $750

Nov. 24, 2023: 2 suspects, approximate loss $300

Anyone with information in any of these incidents are asked to contact SFPD at (415)-575-4444 or text a top to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Fifteen dogs, including several puppies, were discovered abandoned in the back of a U-Haul, authorities said, and another 10 were recovered after subsequent arrests.

On Thanksgiving, Oregon State Police said troopers responded to an abandoned U-Haul truck at a Loves Truck Stop in Klamath Falls.

According to OSP, the truck had been left there for two days and when the troopers arrived they could hear barking coming from the back of the U-Haul.

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After obtaining a warrant, authorities said they opened the back of the truck and found seven cages holding 15 abandoned dogs, including several puppies.

The dogs were severely neglected officials said, but all of them were alive. The truck had been abandoned since Nov. 20.

After the investigation, two suspects were contacted by troopers, and 10 more dogs were recovered.

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The two suspects, identified as 50-year-old David Eugene McMillion and 39-year-old Lisa Annette Weeks, were both arrested by Oregon State Police.

McMillion and Weeks face multiple charges including animal abandonment, unauthorized use of a vehicle and second-degree animal neglect. McMillion also faces an additional charge of second-degree criminal mischief.

Troopers pose with several of the rescued puppies (OSP)

The 25 dogs are all in the care of the Klamath County Animal Shelter and once medically cleared, the dogs will be up for adoption.

According to OSP, the shelter has already received dozens of adoption applications for the dogs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
As train drivers prepare for the next round of industrial action in a long and bitter dispute over pay and working arrangements, their union leader has vowed: Were in it for as long as it takes.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, said: Weve been in this battle now for over 16 months.

This is not a dispute of our making. It wasnt us that decided not to give anybody a pay rise for half a decade.

Aslef is in dispute with the 14 train operators in England that are contracted by the government to provide rail services. They include all the big intercity companies as well as train firms serving commuters around London, the Midlands and the North of England. Neither ScotRail nor Transport for Wales is involved in the dispute.

The union is seeking a no-strings pay increase followed by negotiations at a local level to modernise working practices  which will come at an additional price to the employers.

The train operators, who are represented by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), say that even a modest wage rise is contingent on far-reaching reforms. Any deal will be signed off by the Department for Transport (DfT), with taxpayers footing the bill: ticket revenue is about 20 per cent down on pre-Covid levels.

Members of Aslef are about to launch nine days of industrial action that will cause the cancellation of tens of thousands of trains and hit the travel plans of millions of passengers in the run-up to Christmas.

Train drivers will refuse to work overtime on the first nine days of December. Within those dates, there will be a series of rolling strikes involving different rail firms in different parts of the country on different days.

It is a change of tactics in an industrial conflict that has seen national walk-outs by train drivers on 14 separate occasions since July 2022.

Mr Whelan said: We feel that we needed to show that we can vary our tactics to meet whatevers coming at us in the future.

Weve had no contact from anybody for the best part of nine months, neither from the RDG, the government or anybody else.

I havent seen [transport secretary] Mr Harper since December of last year. I havent seen [rail minister] Mr Merriman since 6 January, when the deceitful deal that he was part of went out. And I havent seen anyone from the RDG from the act of bad faith that happened in April.

Weve gone into all of these talks in good faith and theyve behaved atrociously throughout the whole process.

The rail minister, Huw Merriman, said: Following RMT members voting to overwhelmingly accept the train operators pay offer, Aslef is now not just the only rail union still striking but the only union not to even put an offer to its members.

They are instead choosing to cause more misery for passengers and the hospitality sector this festive period.

The fair and reasonable offer thats long been on the table would bring the average train drivers salary up to 65,000 for a 35-hour, four-day week.

Aslefs leadership should follow in the footsteps of all the other rail unions by doing the right thing and giving their members a say on that offer.

Members of the RMT rail union overwhemingly backed a deal from the RDG. The offer is an unconditional wage rise of 5 per cent (or more for lower-paid workers), for 2022  with backdated pay reaching RMT members by Christmas. Assuming the deal is approved, talks will begin in the New Year between union representatives and each rail firm.

A similar deal might be acceptable to train drivers, but the Aslef general secretary said no such offer deal has been made: If they [the RMT] accept it gladly thats their choice.

The fact that they [the RDG] have been meeting with other groups under the framework agreement and not making any contact with us at all tells you the direction of travel and the tactics of the DfT and the government.

Unfortunately for us, theyve made no contact with us, showed no willingness to talk to us.

A spokesperson for Rail Delivery Group said: Our priority is finding a fair and affordable way through this dispute, so we can end the disruption to our passengers, give our people a pay rise and return the industry to a sustainable footing at a time when taxpayers are contributing an extra 54m a week to keep services running post-Covid. W

We have always been clear that we remain open to constructive dialogue with Aslef to find a resolution, and that is still the case.

Mr Whelan believes it could take a change of government before a solution is found. He said: I just put it out there as an option. When youve waited the best part of six or seven months or more, for someone to talk to you to solve what they claim is a major situation that needs to be resolved, but they make no overtures to do it, you have to assume that they dont want to do it in this Parliament.

Its a political decision to not extend HS2 [from Birmingham to Manchester].

Its a political decision to concentrate on car drivers and not on public transport.

That would be happening anyway, regardless of whether were in dispute or not.

You have to assume that theyre hanging the process out. Or was this just purely a long-term tactic under their authoritarian anti-trade union legislation to burn the unions out, hoping that wed come back to the table cap in hand?

Either way the ball has always been in their court  bearing in mind that we dont negotiate with the government and we do not work for the government.

We work for private companies that are making hundreds of millions of pounds and paying dividends to their shareholders  of which weve free collective bargaining agreements which they obviate on a daily basis.

What weve actually got is a group of people in a cartel who are happy not to run a productive railway, happy not to run a safe railway, happy to pillage the railway for profit, but not pay the people who actually work upon the railway. And weve got a government that supports that process.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  An investigation is underway after a 17-year-old was found shot at an Antioch gas station early Thursday morning.

The victim was discovered around 4:15 a.m. at the Mapco in the 700 block of Bell Road near Mt. View Road.

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(Photo: WKRN)

A Metro police officer told News 2 the victim was shot in the stomach but has non-critical injuries and is expected to survive. He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.

The victim reportedly told officers he was shot at a nearby apartment complex but detectives were not able to locate the shooting scene.

No additional information was immediately released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Hours before a Houston womans family found her body in the trunk of her car Tuesday, her boyfriend was helping them search for her, police said. He was later charged with murder.

Ariel Cruz, 19, allegedly confessed to fatally shooting 21-year-old Idania Maria Campos Munoz and hiding her body in her black Honda Civic, authorities said. According to a bail motion, investigators said Cruz told them he shot Campos because she had broken up with him.

A photo of Idania Campos Munoz taken from her Facebook page.

A photo of Idania Campos Munoz taken from her Facebook page.

Campos was last seen dropping her sisters off at school about 7 a.m. Tuesday, police said, and she spoke to her mother around 8:20 a.m. The family grew worried, however, when she stopped responding, and they tracked her phone to a neighborhood in southwest Houston, KTRK-TV reported. They found her car parked on a residential street with her phone and other belongings inside.

Her family called police, who left after taking a missing person report. Campos family remained, however, searching the area and questioning neighbors. At around 5:40 p.m., her father broke one of the windows of her car, popped the trunk and found her body, police said. Campos was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cruz was consoling the family during the search, relatives told the Houston TV station.

During those frantic hours, Jennifer Campos Munoz, one of Campos four younger sisters, told KHOU-TV that Cruz hugged them and told us that he really loved her.

He was lying. He knew where she was the whole entire time.

Its unclear whether Cruz was there when they discovered Campos body.

Police told KTRK reporters that Campos lived about 30 minutes from the neighborhood where they found her car. No shell casings were found at the scene, and police say they think Campos was killed somewhere else. An address listed for Cruz on court documents is about half a mile from where Campos car was parked.

Campos graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and was attending Houston Community College, family members said.

I saw her every morning because she took us to school. I didnt know that was going to be the last time, her sister Alexandra told KHOU. I didnt get to say goodbye to her, and I just wish I couldve told her and hugged her and said to her that I really loved her.

Cruz is being held in Harris County Jail in Houston His bail has been set for $500,000. A probable cause hearing has been scheduled for Thursday morning.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Related...
FILE - Mitzi Jonelle Tan, of the Philippines, center, participates in a Fridays for Future protest calling for money for climate action at the COP27 U.N. Climate Summit, Nov. 11, 2022, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  The world just took a big step toward compensating countries hit by deadly floods, heat and droughts.

Nearly all nations on Thursday finalized the creation of a fund to help compensate countries struggling to cope with loss and damage caused by climate change, seen as a major first-day breakthrough at this years U.N. climate conference. Some countries started putting in money right away  if little compared to the overall anticipated needs.

Sultan al-Jaber, the president of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, hailed "the first decision to be adopted on Day One of any COP  and said his country, the United Arab Emirates, would chip in $100 million. Other countries stepped up with big-ticket commitments, including Germany, also at $100 million.

Al-Jaber said the total was north of $420 million in just the first hour, but work would continue to collect more.

John Kerry, the U.S. climate envoy, said the U.S. administration was working with Congress to provide $17.5 million, adding that U.S. officials "expect this fund to be up and running quickly" and would draw from a variety of sources. He also pointed to a number of other U.S. initiatives aimed to fight the fallout from climate change.

The scale of the challenge is simply too large for any government to be able to finance alone, Kerry said.

Several advocacy groups praised a strong first step, but said they expected more from the rich world in the future.

The initial monetary pledges announced today are a small, inadequate start," said Rachel Cleetus, policy director for climate and energy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Wealthy nations, including the United States, must live up to their responsibility to provide significant contributions to the fund in the years ahead."

Developing nations have long sought to address the problem of inadequate funding for responding to climate disasters caused by climate change, which hit them especially hard, and for which they have little responsibility. Historically, industrialized countries have spewed out the most carbon emissions that are trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Initial steps toward creating the fund was a major accomplishment at last year's U.N. climate conference in Egypt, but it was never finalized. Even after Thursday's agreement, many details of the loss and damage fund" were left unresolved, such as how large it would be, who would administer it over the long term, and more.

A recent report by the United Nations estimates that up to $387 billion will be needed annually if developing countries are to adapt to climate-driven changes.

Some activists and experts were skeptical that the fund will raise anything close to that amount. A Green Climate Fund that was first proposed at the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, and began raising money in 2014, hasnt come close to its goal of $100 billion annually.

Mohamad Adhow of Power Shift Africa, a think tank focusing on climate issues, called the initial pledges clearly inadequate and said they will be a drop in the ocean compared to the needs: "In particular, the amount announced by the U.S. is embarrassing for President Biden and John Kerry. It just shows how this must be just the start.

Andreas Sieber of 350.org, which works to end use of fossil fuels, said the needs of affected communities are in the hundreds of billions, not millions."

Still, experts said the show of unity demonstrated how the world could come together in short order to address devastation left behind from natural catastrophes like tropical storm Daniel that hammered Libya with massive flooding in September, and Cyclone Freddy that battered several African nations early in the year.

But Adow also noted that there were no hard deadlines, no targets, and countries are not obligated to pay into it, despite the whole point being for rich, high-polluting nations to support vulnerable communities who have suffered from climate impacts.

Avinash Persaud, special climate envoy for Barbados who was part of the talks to finalize the fund, praised the hard-fought historic agreement, and said it showed a recognition that climate loss and damage is not a distant risk but part of the lived reality of almost half of the worlds population.

Young climate activists demanded staying power for the fund: Ineza Grace, 27, an environmentalist from Rwanda, said the pledges need to be accompanied with clarity on how the finance will be maintained for generations, especially now that the fund will be filled through voluntary contributions.

The fund will be hosted by the World Bank for the next four years and the plan is to launch it by 2024. A developing country representative will get a seat on its board.

A number of industrialized nations have insisted that all countries should contribute to the fund, and the agreement will prioritize those most vulnerable to climate change  even though any climate-affected community or country is eligible.

The U.N. weather agency announced Thursday that 2023 is all but certain to be the hottest year on record  and trend lines are worrying. A study earlier this month found that 7.3 billion people  or 90% of humanity  endured at least 10 days of high temperatures over the last year that were made at least three times more likely by climate change.

___

Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. AP reporter Seth Borenstein in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Gaurav Saini of the Press Trust of India contributed to this report

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The deaths of two Nevada State Police (NSP) Highway Patrol troopers on Thursday brings the total number of state police deaths to 12, with the most recent involving Trooper Micah May in an incident only about a mile away.

On July 27, 2021, May was hit by a suspects vehicle as he was placing stop-sticks in the southbound lanes of Interstate 15 south of the site where two troopers died Thursday morning. May died at University Medical Center two days later.

The state officers who have died in the line of duty are memorialized on the Nevada Law Enforcement Memorial in Carson City on the grounds surrounded by the Capitol, the Nevada Supreme Court and the Nevada Legislature. The memorial contains the names of officers from police departments across the state. Before todays deaths, a total of 137 officers had died in the line of duty.

The list of Nevada State Police officers who have died, along with the date (EOW: end of watch):

May and Jenkins were the only two deaths over the past decade involving NSP until the Nov. 30 incident, which is still a developing story.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A suspect is still at large after a car was stolen with a 3-year-old girl inside, according to police, authorities are asking for the publics help locating the car and suspect.

On Thursday morning, a car was warming up with the 3-year-old girl inside while the father quickly stepped into their Northeast Portland home.

Mayor Wheeler pushes Central City employees to return to in-office work

While the father was coming back outside, Portland Police said a man in a beanie got in the car and drove off.

Shortly after the incident, officials said a vehicle was seen driving recklessly near Northeast San Rafael Street and Northeast 113th Avenue and a little girl was then seen walking down the street.

A neighbor quickly caught the attention of a PPB officer, who was investigating in the area, and the child was reunited with her family.

15 dogs found abandoned in U-Haul leads to 2 arrests, more rescues

The suspect and the vehicle are both still missing and authorities are asking for help to locate them.

According to the police, the missing vehicle is a 2017 dark blue Subaru Outback with an Oregon License plate 639JVQ.

Anyone with information about the vehicle or any home security footage is asked to contact the police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Dubois concept of The Veil is still with us

The Souls of Black Folk (1903) was perhaps the most famous work of W E B DuBois. Although the circumstances of Black Americans might have improved over the past hundred years, some things that DuBois describes are eerily familiar today.

As I read of his concept of The Veil, it struck me as still being with us:

Despite arguments that we are color blind today, the reality is that we still see the difference.

The Veil still covers the eyes of many white people who cannot see Black people as real Americans.

The Veil still tries to force Black people into seeing themselves only within the context of white culture.

But surely, we say, there is no veil hanging between us today (this view coming mostly from white people). I can testify, through the experiences of my grandkids, that there are still people out there who engage in verbal and behavioral dislike of Black people.

And from listening to Black people describe their experiences in public places, stores, restaurants, where the subtle looks or not subtle comments remind them they are not the same.

Did you know that since 1950 the white population of Baltimore City has decreased by more than a half million? We know much of this was the result of overt efforts such as block busting and redlining that disadvantaged minorities.

The rapid expansion of road networks made moving to the outer suburbs possible for people of wealth. A historic migration of white people took place. With them they took their wealth, their businesses, their churches. Declining resources, especially for schools, and increasing poverty and crime in the city led later generations to join the exodus.

During that time the population of Carroll County increased by 40%; almost 103,000 people and almost entirely white.

Over a 70-year period a veil has been created that separates us into white and Black identities. It prevents us from recognizing issues in our communities. It prevents us from clearly seeing our regional neighbors.

If there is any hope of reconciling our racial differences we must first pierce the veil. By taking the brave step of reaching out to those who we dont know, accepting their humanity, listening to their stories, we can start the process building stronger communities and region.

George Conover, Westminster

Let opinion writers have their say about Trump

A recent letter suggested that the Carroll County Times should not publish articles bashing former President Donald Trump.

The letter goes on to state that two of the papers opinion writers are Trump bashers and that they are loony. I would suggest, that writer look at the title of the page he is referring to. In bold print it reads OPINION.

In my opinion Trump is exactly what those opinion columnists have written about. Without getting into the specifics he has been charged with 91 felony counts and could soon be tried and convicted.

If not convicted and he wins the electoral college and becomes president again, then America has run its course. Self governance failed. The experiment is over. That hes even a viable candidate already speaks volumes.

Harvey Rabinowitz, Taneytown

Giving thanks for our city officials

At this time of Thanksgiving, we need to thank our elected officials who work so hard for us all year and hear more complaints than thank yous. I live in the City of Westminster and I know the city council members work hundreds of extra hours for the citizens.

I doubt if spare time is in their vocabulary. Mayor Mona Becker is visiting the businesses in Westminster all day Saturday throughout December. Now that is dedication. When you see them, please thank them for their efforts on our behalf.

Lyndi McNulty, Westminster
A man was found dead in a river near the Georgia-South Carolina border this week, according to the Aiken County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies said a man identified as 30-year-old Devon Tricoche was found at South Fork Edisto River on Tuesday afternoon.

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Deputies said Tricoche had a gunshot wound to his body when he was found. It is unclear what led up to Tricoches death.

Tricoches body will be autopsied on Friday morning, according to deputies.

Aiken deputies along with the Newberry, SC Coroners Office is continuing to investigate.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Five Florida restaurants made Yelps Best New Restaurants of 2023.

The list of 25 restaurants features restaurants that have debuted since January 2022.

Youll have to head down to South Florida to try the cuisine at the Florida restaurants because thats where theyre all located. They include:

Osteria (#6) in Miami

For this Italian comfort food restaurant, Yelp said, Reviewers talk up the pasta choices and specials, such as Ravioli Fichi e Gorgonzola (fig-filled house-made ravioli with gorgonzola sauce and crispy prosciutto) and Cacio e Pepe e Tartufo (pasta prepared tableside in a wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese and topped with shaved truffles).

Lion & The Rambler (#7) in Coral Gables

Michael Bolen, owner-chef of this New American restaurant told Yelp, By making everything from scratch, were able to control the entire process and come up with profound flavors that we otherwise couldnt do. The most popular dishes here include Boniato Pelmeni, Steak Tartare, Maitake Mushrooms in a parsley and garlic sabayon; on the current tasting menu, Grilled Lobster with roasted beets, broccolini, and Castelfranco (Italian bitter greens).

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Eating House (#10) in Coral Gables

This place that specializes in American and Italian cuisine has a cool and contemporary ambiance, Yelp said in its entry. Also, Yelpers especially love the whimsically elevated brunch menu, which features crispy Tater Tots with black truffle catsup, plus decadent Capn Crunch Pancakes with vanilla butter and condensed-milk syrup.

Walrus Rodeo (#11) in Miami

Another Italian hotspot with eclectic dishes, Yelp said, such as Mustard Green Lasagna with rich lamb ragu to a Carrot Tartare with carrot-top salsa (served with carrot chips), and Cabbage Carbonara topped with crispy pancetta and a fermented hollandaise.

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The Katherine (#13) in Fort Lauderdale

Specializing in small plates, Yelp said The Katherine features a globally inspired menu that changes based on seasonality and sustainability features such favorites as Clam Chowder Fries (steamed clams in creamy broth under a mound of crisp potatoes), Whipped Ricotta (with oven-roasted tomatoes and aged balsamic drizzle), and spicy tuna sashimi with sweet soy over crispy rice.

To look at the full list, you can click here.

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Beginning Thursday, world leaders, climate negotiators, activists, corporations and lobbyists will gather in Dubai for the COP28 global climate summit.

The annual United Nations conference serves both as a forum for nations to highlight progress and make announcements in the fight against climate change and as the stage for formal negotiations for global agreements on key climate issues.

This year, attendees could announce actions related to tackling planet-warming methane emissions and potential aid for nations on the front lines of climate change, and discuss global goals to reduce  or eliminate  fossil fuels, among other issues.

Here are the key questions to watch at this years summit:

How is the world doing in the fight against global warming, and what comes next in that fight?

This years conference comes amid a global stocktake  an assessment by the world of how far it has come in the fight against climate change since 2015s Paris Agreement, and how far it still has left to go.

The good news: The world has made progress since Paris.

A recent report from the United Nations (U.N.) found that prior to the agreement, greenhouse gas emissions were projected to increase by 16 percent in 2030. Now, theyre only projected to increase 3 percent.

The bad news: The world is still on track for significant warming, and the flooding, heat waves and other extreme weather that come with it.

The U.N. report estimated that current pledges countries have made under the agreement would put the world on track for warming between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees Celsius (4.5 to 5.2 degrees Fahrenheit). That falls far short of the goals set of limiting warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius (2.7 or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which were aimed at avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

That projection is also where warming will be if climate pledges are met. A recent U.S. report projected that the world is actually on track to warm by between 2.5 and 4 degrees Celsius (4.5 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

The next question is for the global community, How do we then get on track? said Nate Hultman, director of the University of Marylands Center for Global Sustainability.

Hultman, who previously worked on international climate issues for the Biden administration, said the world has to do this by stepping up ambition in its forthcoming 2035 climate pledges.

He noted major countries are unlikely to unveil their 2035 goals at this time.

But he said that at this years conference, what I think we should be looking for is very strong language around connecting the dots between Were not on track as a result of the global stocktake very precisely to 2035  planning and target-setting.

What will countries do about methane?

Methane is a planet-warming gas that is more than 28 times as powerful as carbon dioxide. It is responsible for about 25 percent of global warming and largely comes from the production and transport of fossil fuels, livestock and other agriculture and decaying waste in landfills.

A senior State Department official told reporters earlier this month that the worlds largest methane emitters are expected to announce domestic actions to address methane emissions, particularly from the fossil fuel sector.

The official did not specify what those actions would be, but Reuters reported this week that the U.S. is expected to announce new methane rules for oil and gas this weekend, and Canada is expected to propose requiring a 70 percent emissions cut from its oil and gas industry by 2030.

The administration official told reporters that they expect to announce funding to address methane that exceeds a $200 million goal that President Biden set forth last year.

Special climate envoy John Kerry also said Wednesday that there would be a major focus on methane, calling action on the greenhouse gas the easiest, quickest, fastest, cheapest way to begin to get gains against the warming.

Will the world agree to triple renewable energy capacity?

In a recent joint statement, the U.S. and China said they would pursue efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030, doubling down on a similar pledge made by the G-20, a group of major economies that includes both nations.

That effort could be more broadly adopted at this years climate summit, where it has the potential to be incorporated into a formal conference decision and signed onto by more nations.

Kaveh Guilanpour, vice president for international strategies at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions think tank, told reporters that a COP28 agreement would go beyond expanding the agreement to more countries.

Including it in formal conference language also grounds it in the process so theres a level of follow-up and accountability to make sure theres follow-through, Guilanpour said.

What does the future hold for fossil fuels?

The 2021 conference marked the first time a global climate summit decision explicitly mentioned fossil fuels  the biggest driver of planet-warming emissions.

But whether to call for a phasedown or phase out of planet-warming fuels and what exactly to eliminate has been a point of contention, as not every country was on board with eventually calling for an end to fossil fuels.

So far, decisions in 2021 and 2022 have called for phasing down unabated coal power  or coal power that does not capture its planet-warming emissions  and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

A U.S. official told reporters that there wasnt much difference between phase down or phaseout but also noted entirely different wording could be taken up as the world seeks consensus.

On the other hand, climate activists argue that the language is important  and say the world should work toward ending the use of fossil fuels.

The reason why theres so much hemming and hawing over those words is because they do matter, and phase out is what we scientifically need to do, said Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Energy Justice program.

We have to be scientifically bound here. So it does matter that it is phased out, and thats what were aiming for, Su said.

Will agreements be made and commitments reached on climate aid?

A number of agreements and commitments could be made at the conference related to climate funds flowing from developed countries to low-income and climate vulnerable nations.

A proposal for how to set up a previously agreed-upon fund to compensate countries for climate damage will come up for consideration at the event. A U.S. official told reporters this month that they expect that proposal to be adopted, saying they had not heard of any countries opposing it.

Under the proposal, the fund would be hosted by the World Bank on an interim basis and would be governed by a board made up of both developed and developing countries.

Dan Lashof, director of the U.S. branch of the World Resources Institute, said the European Union is looking at making a significant pledge to the climate vulnerable fund.

He said theres a big question about whether middle-income countries contribute. He noted that if the US is not able to expand its commitments, it makes it much harder to ask other countries to step up.

However, the U.S. is constrained by domestic politics, as Republicans generally have resisted putting money into climate efforts, and some are calling for major spending cuts in general.

Beyond the climate compensation fund, Lashof said the conference could deal with issues related to financing efforts for the energy transition and to make the world more resilient to the extreme weather impacts of climate change.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(KRON)  More homes will hit the market next year and the cost of buying a home could level off somewhat, according to a new report. Artificial intelligence will also have an impact on how home-shoppers search for homes, and how agents list them, according to the report from Zillow.

More homes on the market

More homes are expected to hit the market, the report said, as homeowners accept that mortgage rates arent likely to fall any time soon. More homeowners who locked in long-term payments when rates were near all-time lows are expected to list their homes for sale as they get impatient with waiting for historically low rates to return.

Nearly two dozen Bank of America branches closing across Bay Area

More homes on the market spells good news for home buyers, according to Zillow.

Home buying costs to level off

Affordability will remain the top concern for potential home buyers next year, Zillow said. But Zillows forecast calls for home values to hold steady and even fall ever so slightly.

The cost of buying a home looks to be on track to level off next year, with the possibility of costs falling if mortgage rates do, the report states.

That would allow time for wages and buyers savings to catch up with the market.

Single-family rentals will be the new starter home

Despite this slight improvement, many households will remain priced out of the market. That will see demand and prices for single-family rentals continue to increase.

One possible path to more single-family rental inventory is homeowners deciding to turn their homes into an investment property and rent it out rather than selling it when they move, the report states. The ultralow mortgage rates held by existing homeowners make it more likely that this option would pencil out.

Markets to follow NYCs lead with rental demand surging downtown

In New York City, demand is surging for rentals in commutable areas with easy access to Downtown and Midtown Manhattan, according to Zillows data. Zillow predicts that more markets will follow suit with rental demand surging near downtown centers.

Traditional home buyers to compete with flippers

The types of homes typically sought by flippers  homes that need a bit of work  will see increased interest from traditional home buyers, according to Zillow.

Though Zillow predicts more homes will hit the market in 2024, inventory will remain much lower than pre-pandemic norms, the report said. Faced with limited choices, buyers will be willing to overlook small flaws, such as an outdated bathroom or kitchen.

AI will impact home searches

AI advancements will streamline both the home-buying and home-selling experience next year, according to Zillow.

Expect home shoppers to benefit from generative-AI-powered experiences to glean valuable insights and guidance on home financing, the report states.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
[Source]

Filipino American globetrotter Luisa Yu has achieved her dream of traveling the world after arriving at her last stop, Serbia, on Nov. 9.

How she did it: Yu, 79, reportedly left her job as a nurse in Miami to pursue her lifelong dream of visiting all 193 U.N.-member countries. She funded her mission with earnings from property investments.

Born in the Philippines, Yu immigrated to St. Louis as an exchange student and began traveling around the U.S. at the age of 23. She then moved to Miami, and after visiting over 40 states, she decided to travel the world, reported NBC6.

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Her last stop: Yu said friends she met along the way encouraged her to make Serbia her final stop. She recalled supporters clapping and cheering as soon as she emerged from the airport in Serbia.

Croatian full-time traveler and influencer Vanna Bojovic was among the people who celebrated Yus achievement in Serbia.

At the age of 79, today on November 9 she arrived in her last country, SERBIA, Bojovic wrote in an Instagram post dedicated to Yu, whom she affectionately calls Mama. You are the biggest inspiration, we are so proud of you.

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What shes saying: Yu has encouraged others to travel as well. Dont be afraid, just go. Dont wait for anybody, because if you wait, it will never happen," she said, as per NBC6.

About Yu: Yu won two travelers awards in 2022, notably the Philippine Global Explorers Most Adventurous Explorer Award and Nomad Manias Most Positive Traveler 2022.

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She is also one of the only two Filipinos to have visited every country in the world, with the other being Los Angeles resident Odette Aquitania Ricasa, who completed the journey on Aug. 25, 2022.

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Graw Alley, the interactive art park component of Harmers Town Art Center, officially opened in Havre de Grace on Oct. 20. The grand opening featured a reception, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an art unveiling and youth art gallery installation.

Attendees enjoyed a day-long block party featuring live music and entertainers, art demonstrations and food vendors. Organizers said the celebration was a demonstration of the types of events and activities the community can expect the creative park space to host.

We know that arts create community, said Maryland State Comptroller Brooke Lierman, who, during her time as a state delegate, worked on creating a similar art space out of a dilapidated structure in Baltimore. I know that the ribbon-cutting today, its not the end. This is a new beginning for this piece of property, for this community. But also a new phase in whats going to continue to grow and build and educate so many people, not just from Havre de Grace, but from the entire state.

Lierman was the keynote speaker on a program that also included remarks from Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, State Sen. Mary-Dulany James, state delegates Steven C. Johnson and Andre V. Johnson, Jr., Harford County Council President Patrick S. Vincenti, and Havre de Grace Mayor William T. Martin.

The outdoor murals that adorn its walls are not just strokes of paint, but visual narratives that tell the story of Havre de Grace, Martin said. They are a reflection of our shared past, our forgotten treasures and the moments that have defined our community.

Harmers Town Art Center, Inc. president Allen Fair cuts the ribbon along with the help of elected officials and other dignitaries during the Graw Alley grand opening ceremony on Oct. 20 in Havre de Grace.

The one-acre space, a private alley donated to Harmers Town Art Center, Inc., is named in recognition of the former horse racing track that operated in the city for over 40 years until the early 1950s. The space has been transformed over the last year from an underused alley into a park with landscaped pathways, artistic sculptures, outdoor seating and a series of vivid murals leading visitors on a tour through local history.

A life-size sculpture of the racehorse Havre de Grace, created by award-winning artist Aaron Paskins of Delaware, was unveiled. The statue is on display within a section of Graw Alley called The Winners Circle, and will soon be joined by several other life-sized racehorses that each have a connection to the citys former racetrack.

A statue of the racehorse Havre de Grace was unveiled on Friday evening during the Graw Alley grand opening ceremony in Havre de Grace.

The festivities also included the opening of the Alley Art Youth Art Challenge, a pop-up gallery inside the future Harmers Town Art Center building featuring the creative efforts of more than 400 local Havre de Grace area school students. These pieces were created from materials donated by local businesses, sponsored by the Maryland State Arts Council and supported by the Morris A. Mechanic Foundation, according to a news release from the organization.

Graw Alley is the initial phase of the development of Harmers Town Art Center  a first-of-its-kind regional art facility and art incubator to be constructed in an adjacent 34,000-square-foot space, which will bring together the arts, history and community of Havre de Grace in a centralized location within the heart of the citys vibrant arts district, the release said.

The project was funded by private donors and grants, provided by state and local governments.
On the heels of an internal Akron Police Department investigation that cleared eight officers of wrongdoing in the shooting death of Jayland Walker, the Akron Citizens' Police Oversight Board (CPOB) voted unanimously Wednesday to review the decision.

Walker's death in June 2022 led to last November's overwhelming voter approval of Issue 10, a citizen-led initiative to create the CPOB and invest it with authority to look into incidents of police use of force.

After the board's regular Wednesday meeting, Chairman Kemp Boyd said the CPOB will review APD's internal investigation  a summary of which was publicly released Tuesday. The investigation concluded the officers who fired on Walker did not violate police policies. In April, a Summit County grand jury declined to recommend criminal charges against the eight officers after the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation examined the case and concluded the officers' actions were justified.

More: Internal investigation clears 8 Akron officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker

The review, Boyd said, could result in the CPOB recommending changes to how the department operates.

In a statement read by board member Bob Gippin, the CPOB said the board and its Office of the Independent Police Auditor will "consider all available evidence, including the report of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, as well as the full findings of the chief pursuant to the internal investigation conducted by the division of police (APD)."

More: Akron police review board wants full power to investigate complaints against officers

The statement explains that the board will be scrutinizing Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett's conclusion that the officers involved didn't violate any internal policies and are therefore undeserving of discipline.

"While reserving judgment as to what will be the outcome of its review," the statement said, "the Board must acknowledge the pain felt by the Walker family and through the entire Akron community, including by the members of the Board, concerning Jayland Walkers tragic death."

"If the actions of the officers who pursued Jayland Walker and of those officers who fired at him did not violate APD policies, should those policies be revised?" the statement reads.

Despite voting to begin conducting the review, board member Tristan Reed said the board wasn't ready to begin the process immediately. Additionally, the board voted unanimously to request that Akron discontinue its contract with T.R. Fields and Associates, a private investigation firm hired to temporarily take on Independent Police Auditor Phil Young's duties during his medical leave.

Young is exiting the role with the expiration of his own contract. The board is beginning the process of interviewing candidates for his replacement as well as a deputy independent police auditor.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or (330) 541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police oversight board reviewing decision on Jayland Walker case
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  The Alexandria Police Department arrested a man who assaulted and tried to rob another man inside an apartment building.

The incident occurred Wednesday around 2 p.m. in the Brent Place Apartments at 375 South Reynolds St.

FBI employee carjacked in Northeast DC

Police got a call about a man who had been shot. But when officers arrived, they found out that the man had not been shot. He was still taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Officers continued to look around for the suspect and eventually found a man matching the suspects description at South Van Dorn St. at Courtney Avenue.

That man was arrested for assault and attempted robbery, charged and taken to the Detention Center. He also had a misdemeanor warrant from another jurisdiction.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
St Andrews Day 2023 has brought with it the sad news of the death of one of our nations finest patriots. Alistair Darlings death at the far too young age of 70 feels like a passing of an era. Not just a political era, but one of courage, principle, courtesy and, above all, of patriotism untainted by the stain of partisanship.

He was a politician of an unusual type: he considered his long tenure as Tony Blairs transport secretary a success, not because of the positive headlines he secured for himself, but because he had succeeded in his stated aim of keeping his department below the medias radar. Brought into the department in the aftermath of a series of catastrophic rail accidents, he was the perfect person to bring a much-needed atmosphere of calm and stability to an industry uncertain of its future.

As Gordon Browns chancellor, he oozed reassurance at the most crucial of times for the country, during the 2008 international financial crash. Having been a long-term ally of the then prime minister, he was trusted by Labour MPs to stand up to Brown when necessary, and it was his reputation in the Parliamentary Labour Party that allowed him successfully to resist moves, in 2009, to replace him with Ed Balls, the prime ministers protege.

Darling unexpectedly took centre stage again, even after he and his party had been removed from office by the voters in 2010, when the Scottish independence referendum campaign was launched, and he was persuaded to take on the chairmanship of the ultimately successful cross-party Better Together campaign. He was perfect for the task. Middle ground Scots, including those who had yet to make up their minds about Scotlands future in the UK, regarded him as a sober, reassuring figure who, more than almost any politician of his generation, could be trusted. When Darling warned of the dire economic consequences of separatism, people took notice.

It was a role that earned him great enmity from many of those nationalist politicians who today will no doubt be rushing to the TV studios to pay him tribute. But Darling saw the fight for the Union and the UK as more than a mere party political quarrel. The presentation of a united front by all the political parties involved in Better Together  Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats  was to him not a cynical manoeuvre: it was utterly essential to the success of the project.

While nationalists scorned the former chancellor and his party for being willing to work with the hated Tories, Alistair recognised the value of demonstrating that, if Scotlands place in the UK was to be preserved, it could not be done by any one party alone. While other politicians talk of putting country before party, Alistair Darling demonstrated the principle with vigour, honesty and passion.

It says a great deal about the man that across the disparate parties and interests of Better Together, there was virtually unanimous support for Darlings appointment as chair. To his efforts can be attributed the defeat of the nationalist project (if not the nationalists themselves) and the continuation of the worlds most successful political, economic and social Union.

He started his political career in Edinburgh as a member of the then Lothian Regional Council, a bearded, and somewhat fearsome, Left-wing orator, far removed from the gentle, softly-spoken and infinitely moderate individual who became a cornerstone of the Labour administrations of Blair and Brown. He took the gentle ribbing occasionally meted out by his younger parliamentary colleagues over his revolutionary younger days with an attractive self-deprecating humour.

His sad death brings to a close a long career in which he proved himself a quietly radical but, above all, competent administrator. And the preservation of the United Kingdom itself is a legacy that no other politician can claim.

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Charles E. Dutton, a high-level National Security Agency cryptologic engineer, and Margaret Rose Dutton, a day care owner, died within hours of each other at a Georgia hospice.

Mr. Dutton, 81, died Nov. 15 of renal failure at Wellstar Hospice Care at Kennesaw Mountain in Marietta, Georgia, and Mrs. Dutton, 70, died of complications from diabetes at the same facility.

The married couple were former longtime Columbia residents.

She was in Room 1 and he was in Room 3, said a niece, Marie Patterson, of Hampden. She died several hours later.

Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, Charles Edward Dutton was the son of Aaron Dutton Sr., a professor at Dillard University, the oldest historically Black college or university in Louisiana, and Annabelle Taylor Dutton, the last principal of Gilbert Academy, a prep school for African Americans, in New Orleans.

Raised in New Orleans, Mr. Dutton was a graduate of Walter L. Cohen High School and began his college studies at Dillard University in New Orleans, and then transferred to the Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a bachelors degree in 1968 in electrical engineering and was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He later obtained a masters degree in engineering from Howard University.

We were at Hopkins together and Ive known him for more than 50 years, said Matthew Blanding Jr., who retired from what is today the Defense Information Systems Agency. He was a very fine person, considerate of others and compassionate. He was a person you felt totally confident talking to about anything and you knew it would go no further.

Mr. Dutton, who worked for the NSA for more than four decades, held many high-level positions with the agency, including division chief of processing architecture, senior electronics engineer of spaceborne planning and technical director of various branches.

During his work with the agency, he held a top-secret clearance and was a certified cryptologic engineer.

He really couldnt speak about his work, Ms. Patterson said. Hed say, I can neither confirm nor deny anything.'

He was highly respected in his field, Mr. Blanding said.

Mr. Dutton was also a visiting professor at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and an adjunct professor at the University of the District of Columbia, where he taught electrical engineering, circuits and electronics.

Mr. Dutton was a lifetime member of the National Organization of Blacks In Government.

He retired from the NSA in 2009, and with his wife moved to Marietta to be close to their only child and grandchildren.

Mr. Dutton was gifted with a super sharp wit, his niece said, and loved sharing his Dad jokes with anyone whod listen.

He was an avid reader, enjoyed playing cards and doing puzzles, and liked dining on one of his favorite dishes, Maryland steamed crabs.

The former Margaret Rose Schissler, daughter of Charles Schissler, who worked in the advertising department of the old News American, and Hazel Anna Moore Schissler, a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Woodlawn.

She was a graduate of Woodlawn High School, where she was a member of the pompom team.

In 1974, she married Mr. Dutton and they settled in Columbia, where for decades she operated a day care center out of their home.

They met in Baltimore and because they were an interracial couple faced all kinds of turmoil at the time and both families had concerns, said a niece, Renarda Porter, of New Orleans. My uncle loved her, and once we all saw how much he loved her, it made everything better. He named her Peaches because she was so sweet.

They had a daughter, Marla Rae Howard.

Charles was a true girl-dad. The sun and moon rose and set in his daughters eyes, according to a biographical sketch submitted by the couples family

Ms. Howard died in 2020, and after her passing, he would bring flowers to her grave after church every Sunday that he could, according to the biography.

Mrs. Dutton was known for her oatmeal raisin cookies. Christmas was her favorite time of the year, family members said, which included setting up model trains, a tradition that her father started when she was a child.

She shared her husbands love of steamed crabs and enjoyed spending summers in Ocean City and camping.

Family members were able to arrange for the couples beds at the hospice to be brought together for a visit which allowed them to face each other and hold hands.

They hadnt seen each other for a month, Ms. Porter said.

Charles and Peaches enjoyed their time together and were months away from their 50th wedding anniversary according to the biographical sketch. Their great love story endured many trials and tribulations. They took their eternal rest on the same day only hours apart.

The Duttons were members of Sixes United Methodist Church at 8385 Bells Ferry Road in Canton, Georgia, where funeral services for the couple will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday. They will be interred together in the church cemetery next to their daughter.

In addition to their niece Ms. Patterson, the Duttons are survived by three granddaughters, Taylor Howard, Olivia Howard and Blakely Howard, all of Marietta; two nephews; and five other nieces. Mrs. Dutton is survived by a sister, Pauline Dell Uomo, of Bel Air.
A woman claiming to be the ex-girlfriend of Salvador Ramos, the gunman who killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School in 2022, was arrested in Puerto Rico over alleged threats to Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, city personnel and Uvalde residents, including several with ties to the massacre.

Victoria Rodriguez-Morales was indicted Wednesday on 13 counts of making threats using interstate communications, the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Puerto Rico said in a statement Thursday. She lived in Uvalde until 2020 and has allegedly been harassing the Texas community since at least 2018. According to court records, Rodriguez-Morales used Gmail, Instagram, Facebook and Kick.com to menace schools, hospitals and law enforcement officers among others.

They will shoot uvalde high school and morales jr high whenever I tell em So yeah the persecution is gonna start today, one message said.

Another reads: I will haunt everyone from class 2022 to 2023 Each and every single one of yall will die.

The messages also reference Ramos, with Rodriguez-Morales allegedly writing each and every single one of yall will die in the name of Salvador. She also mentioned Kimberly Mata-Rubio, who launched an unsuccessful bid for mayor this year.

If Mata Rubio wins the elections I will kill her, the message said.

Mata-Rubios daughter was also one of 19 children, most of them only 9 and 10 years only, fatally shot during Ramos rampage at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022. He also killed two teachers before he too was shot by a responding border patrol agent.

The attorneys office also noted that one of Rodriguez-Morales threats resulted in the temporary closing of a school in Texas. She is being held at the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Detention Center, KSAT reported. If convicted, she faces five years for each of the 13 counts brought against her.

Threatening with violence, under any context, is unacceptable behavior. Making threats of violence to schools and other public institutions is a federal crime, said Joseph Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office. School shootings are one of the most heinous of violent acts, and those impacted by this tragedy, such as the family, friends and co-workers of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting, deserve to grieve and process their experiences in peace.

_____
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Florida man, known to hang out with celebrities, is facing charges in a wild murder-for-hire plot that targeted a filmmaker making a documentary on him. The case was connected to Nevada when the suspect allegedly hired a bodyguard in Clark County to do the murder.

Fereidoun Khalilian, also known as Prince Fred, 51, made an initial court appearance Tuesday after being charged with one count of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and one count of conspiracy to witness tamper.

Khalilian, a former nightclub owner and business partner of Paris Hilton, was arrested at a Las Vegas Dunkin doughnut store in June, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Khalilian feared the filmmaker would show him in a bad light and it would negatively impact his business dealings. The indictment said Khalilian left multiple threatening messages for the filmmaker to stop producing the documentary in March 2023. According to the indictment, Khalilian hired his bodyguard, who lived in Las Vegas, to kill the filmmaker but the case took an unusual twist.

According to multiple news articles, the bodyguard and filmmaker turned the tables on Khalilian and staged the filmmakers murder, even sending a fake photo to Khalilian. The U.S. District Attorneys Office said Khalilian then instructed family and friends to persuade the bodyguard to recant prior testimony.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles announced the murder-for-hire charges against Khalilian were dropped after learning Khalilian was in France when he allegedly ordered the hit. Those charges could be reinstated. In the meantime, Khalilian faces witness tampering charges.

Nevada U.S. Magistrate Judge Elayna Youchah set a trial date for Feb. 5, 2024. for the Nevada charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Almost 50 years after the end of the Vietnam conflict, Americans are still crying out for love, not war. A new Economist/YouGov poll suggests that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of cease-fires in both of the two major U.S.-backed conflictsUkraine and Palestine.

In regards to Ukraine, 68 percent of American respondents said they supported a cease-fire between the Eastern European state and Russia, while just 8 percent of respondents answered that they did not support a cease-fire.



A similar number supported a cease-fire in the Middle Eastern conflict between Israel and Hamas, with 65 percent of respondents supporting a cease-fire, while 16 percent said that they didnt support the peacethe latter number is down nearly half from a Reuters/Ipsos poll that found 32 percent of Americans disagreed with a potential cease-fire earlier this month, before a truce was on the menu.



When it came down to counting dollars and cents, poll results were divided. Thirty-two percent of American respondents said that the current level of aid to Israel should continue, while 23 percent said they want less. An additional 21 percent, which primarily skewed Republican, responded that they wanted to see more aid directed to the U.S. ally, according to the Economist/YouGov poll.

Democrats, meanwhile, were more likely to back supplemental aid to Ukraine, with 35 percent of Democratic respondents in favor of increasing aid. Republican respondents voted in line with their government representatives who are actively working to curtail Americas next aid package to the Eastern European country, with 44 percent of Republican respondents saying they would be in favor of decreasing Ukrainian military aid.



Israel and Hamas originally agreed to a four-day cessation in hostilities on November 24; this cease-fire has been extended several times since as the two sides negotiate. So far, 104 Israeli hostages, including 24 foreign nationals, have been freed. In exchange, Israel has released more than 200 Palestinian prisoners, all of whom were women and teenagers, according to a report from The Washington Post, which estimated that 143 hostages still remain in Gaza.



To date, the conflict has claimed the lives of nearly 15,000 Palestiniansmost of them women and childrensince Hamass sudden attack on Israel on October 7, when 1,200 Israelis were killed.
A company accused of knowingly exposing Americans to dangerous chemicals for more than 60 years will have to pay millions after a five-year lawsuit was settled.

DuPont, a manufacturing plant that produced Teflon products from the 1950s to 2013, settled with the state of Ohio for $110 million, according to a news release from the Ohio Attorney Generals Office.

This settlement has been a long time coming, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in the release.

McClatchy News reached out to DuPont for comment Nov. 30 but did not receive an immediate response.

The lawsuit, obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, said DuPont caused widespread PFOA contamination in Ohio as a result of decades-long intentional releases of massive amounts of PFOA into the environment.

Perfluorooctanoic acid, also called PFOA, is a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The chemical group has been linked to various health issues, including kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, low birth weight and high cholesterol, officials said.

The lawsuit said DuPont admitted to discharging the chemical into the environment from its Washington Works manufacturing facility, which is located directly across the Ohio River in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

A 2017 University of Cincinnati study confirmed residents of the Mid-Ohio River Valley had elevated levels of PFOA in blood samples between 1991 and 2012. The study was done along both sides of the Ohio River in parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, the lawsuit said.

(DuPont) did this despite knowing the release of the chemicals posed a danger to the public, Gov. Mike DeWine said at a news conference, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Studies show PFOAs are found in the blood of 99.7% of Americans, from various exposures.

PFOAs have been called forever chemicals because they break down very slowly, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

The chemicals are known to be toxic and carcinogenic in animals as well, officials said. Its remarkably persistent in water and soil, resisting typical environmental degradation processes, according to the Attorney Generals Office.

The chemical, also referred to as C8, was purchased in large quantities by DuPont beginning in 1951, until DuPont began manufacturing it itself in 2001, the lawsuit said.

The suit said DuPont was made aware of the exposure and dangers of the chemicals numerous times over the decades but failed to report the data or make changes. Pages

In 1981, DuPont conducted a plant pregnancy study on workers who were pregnant or had recently given birth. Blood samples were taken from the women participating in the study. Among the seven children born by the time of the study, two of them had birth defects in their eyes or facial area, the lawsuit said.

The results showed that the women had significantly elevated levels of PFOA in their blood, and umbilical cord blood from at least one of the babies was tested and found to contain PFOA, the lawsuit said.

The Chemours Company, once a part of DuPont until it branched off in 2015, according to officials, was also listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

McClatchy News reached out to the Chemours Company Nov. 30 but the company did not wish to comment.

The Columbus Dispatch reported the Chemours Company will be responsible for paying back half of the $110 million settlement amount. DuPont will pay $39 million, and a third company, Corteva, which was also once part of DuPont, will pay $16 million, according to the news outlet.

The agreement also advances additional obligations and assurances allowing Ohio to continue to protect its people and drinking water, the Attorney Generals Office said.

DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $670 million to settle thousands of personal injury lawsuits citing health problems from the companys use of PFOA, officials said.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Starting on Dec. 11, Amtrak Cascades will offer two more daily round trips between Portland and Seattle.

Both Pacific Northwest cities will have earlier departures in the morning and later departures in the evening.

Portland transportation officials terminate app contract that cost city $299K

Officials said the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Transportation added these extra trains just in time to meet the demand for holiday travel.

Many of our trains are sold out, so the addition of these two trains between Portland and Seattle has long been awaited by our customers, WSDOT Rail, Freight and Ports Division Director Jason Biggs said.

For Portlanders, the earliest train leaves at 6:45 a.m. and the latest leaves at 7:25 p.m. For Seattle residents, the earliest departure is scheduled for 5:52 a.m. and the latest is scheduled for 7:50 p.m.

Mt. Hood resorts prepare for potential opening day as snowstorm looms

Now, Amtrak Cascades will have a total of 12 trains leaving from the two most popular cities on the Cascades route. Other stops include Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia and Lacey, Centralia, Kelso and Longview, and Vancouver in Washington.

This significantly increases capacity for riders traveling between the two busiest stops on the Amtrak Cascades route every morning and evening, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell said in a statement. These cities along the I-5 corridor are interconnected, and growing fast  together, Portland and Seattle added nearly a million residents and 700,000 new jobs over the last decade.

ODOT Director Kris Strickler added that taking the train to a certain destination is more eco-friendly than driving or flying, and cutting emissions is a prime concern for the agency.

Along with the two new round trips, Amtrak Cascades plans on modifying pre-existing train schedules as well.

MultCo looks to fill vital roles for public safety at Department of Community Justice

Eugenes northbound morning train will leave later in the day so passengers can travel all the way through Seattle. The railroad company will also offer later morning departures between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Additionally, there will be earlier afternoon departures from Canada to Seattle and from Portland to Vancouver, B.C.

Tickets for the additional trains will be on sale this Friday, Dec. 1.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Andrew Mitchell has been put on standby to fly to Rwanda to ensure the new deportation treaty remains on track.

The Development and Africa minister in the Foreign Office has long-standing links and contacts in Rwanda going back nearly two decades.

Tory sources said he would be well-placed to reassure the Rwandan government, which has been stung by the severity of the UK Supreme Court judgement that it was unsafe for asylum seekers.

Andrew has been put on standby to go out there and use his contacts book to smooth things out, said one source. It is not that the issues are unsolvable. It is just that the Rwandans are very hacked off generally. They are not making things easy.

Sir Matthew Rycroft, the Home Office permanent secretary, told MPs on Wednesday that a team of Government officials were currently in Rwanda seeking to put the finishing touches to a new treaty.

The legally binding treaty is designed to answer the criticisms of the Supreme Court that there was a risk of asylum seekers deported from the UK being returned to their home countries where they could be persecuted or tortured.

Some way to go before treaty agreed

However, initial suggestions by No 10 that it would be published within days have been replaced with statements that it will be within weeks alongside a new Bill declaring Rwanda a safe country. Another Tory source said: There is still some way to go before they get the treaty agreed.

Both sides have denied the agreement is at risk and say talks are progressing and are cordial. In a statement, however, the Rwandan government described the criticism of its asylum system as unwarranted.

A Rwandan government source said: Rwanda is a safe and welcoming country for asylum seekers and migrants and the criticisms directed at our country are unwarranted.

Nevertheless, we are committed to providing those seeking safety and opportunity a home in Rwanda. This is why were actively working with the UK Government to turn the Memorandum of Understanding [the original agreement] into a treaty to reinforce the already existing guarantees on issues of concern.

The Rwandans are also understood to have been concerned at suggestions that Home Office officials could be sent out to the country to help bolster its asylum system. They have made clear they would not accept any infringement upon their sovereignty as part of any treaty.

Mr Mitchell knows Rwanda well. He set up the Tories largest overseas social action programme there in 2007, has been chairman of the all party parliamentary group on the country and has good relations with its president, Paul Kagame.

The Rwanda scheme is central to the Governments illegal migration act which gives ministers powers to detain illegal migrants and deport them to a safe third country where they will claim asylum.

The UK has already handed Rwanda 140 million to support not only the deportation scheme but also economic development in the country. Sir Matthew hinted that more money could be on the table this year as the treaty is negotiated.

The Supreme Court criticism was damning of Rwanda, citing its poor human rights record including extrajudicial killings, serious and systematic defects in its asylum system and an inadequate understanding of international refugee conventions.

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In the next week, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is expected to decide how best to deal with the Nov. 21 federal appeals court decision overturning key provisions in a decade-old gun safety law requiring handgun purchasers be fingerprinted, trained and face a waiting period of up to 30 days. A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that these restrictions failed the standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen last year that such limits must be consistent with this Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation. In other words, if the government didnt regulate guns in a similar manner in Colonial times, it cant do so today. Its a point of view that seems foolish on its face given vast changes in technology and social norms that may yet be dawning on certain members of the nations highest court.

This attorney general has long supported sensible gun safety laws, and Gov. Wes Moore has decried the decision. The question at hand is whether to file a petition for rehearing to the full 4th Circuit or to appeal the matter to the Supreme Court. We believe the 4th Circuit is the better choice, in part because of the dissent offered by U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan in the panels 2-1 ruling. She argued how her fellow judges clearly misapplied Bruen and how their decision would effectively strike down as unconstitutional all laws requiring a permit to purchase a gun.

So while the 4th Circuit has a reputation for leaning right on certain matters (and Judge Keenan was an appointee of Barack Obama), her view may well be shared. We would point to Kolbe v. Hogan, when the circumstances were strikingly similar. In that 2017 decision, the same circuit ruled en banc that Marylands restrictions on military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines could stand, reversing a 3-judge panel. The full court saw the compelling interest in protecting public safety. Of course, times have changed a bit  including the addition of Donald Trumps judicial appointees (one of whom, Judge Julius Richardson, wrote for the 2-1 majority in the recent Maryland ruling). But should the tactic fail AG Brown still has the Supreme Court option.

And even on that front, there is reason for hope. It was clear during the recent oral arguments in U.S. v. Rahimi, an especially odious case where it was argued that a state should not have the authority to prevent a domestic abuser from buying firearms, that at least some in the Supreme Court majority in Bruen may be having some second thoughts. Gun sellers of the 18th century may not have tracked individuals like Zackey Rahimi who was under a restraining order for threatening to shoot his girlfriend after physically assaulting her but then they lacked the technology. This was not about denying any right to a law-abiding citizen. He subsequently used the gun in question to randomly attack people, even shooting at a police car.

By the same token, what seems to have triggered the adverse ruling against Marylands Firearm Safety Act of 2013 comes down to a modest inconvenience. One of the primary goals of licensing is to prevent straw purchases where third parties buy handguns to bypass background checks. And a 30-day delay? Trivial given how all sorts of fundamental rights face similar restrictions in modern life. Even something as sacred as First Amendment-protected public protests often require some kind of registration to be staged in public areas.

Bruen was a terrible decision  as was 2008s District of Columbia v. Heller, where the Second Amendments reference to well-regulated militias suddenly dropped out of sight. But neither was chiseled on a stone tablet. Its up to enlightened advocates like Marylands attorney general to do what they can to convince the judicial branch that real lives are at stake and steer us back to the law books instead of some sanitized version of history. Single-shot muskets are one thing, the 21st centurys weapons of mass destruction are quite another. And it doesnt take more than a passing glance at gun deaths  with the U.S. at more than 14 per 100,000 annually  to appreciate how high the stakes.

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
FILE - Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, adjusts his glasses during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Nov. 4, 2021, in Washington. Fauci is expected to testify before Congress early next year as part of Republicans yearslong investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. response to the disease. Fauci will sit for transcribed interviews in early January and a public hearing at a later date. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Anthony Fauci, former chief White House medical adviser, is expected to testify before Congress early next year as part of Republicans' yearslong investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. response to the disease.

Fauci, who served as the nation's top infectious disease expert before retiring last year, will sit for transcribed interviews in early January and a public hearing at a later date. It will be his first appearance before the Republican-controlled House.

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic first requested a sit-down with Fauci in February, but an agreement over the timing and details of the interviews was just reached with Faucis attorneys earlier this month, according to a letter sent Thursday from the committee.

"It is time for Dr. Fauci to confront the facts and address the numerous controversies that have arisen during and after the pandemic," Rep. Brad Wenstrup, the GOP chairman of the committee, said in a statement.

House Republicans have investigated whether Fauci or other U.S. government officials took part in any sort of cover-up about the origin of the deadly virus. Fauci, who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents, has repeatedly called the GOP criticism nonsense.

Wenstrup, who is also a longtime member of the House Intelligence Committee, has accused Fauci and U.S. intelligence of withholding key facts about its investigation into the coronavirus. Republicans on the committee last year issued a staff report arguing that there are indications that the virus may have been developed as a bioweapon inside Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology.

That would contradict a U.S. intelligence community assessment released in unclassified form in August 2021 that said analysts do not believe the virus was a bioweapon, though it may have leaked in a lab accident.

Many scientists, including Fauci, who until December served as Bidens chief medical adviser, say they still believe the virus most likely emerged in nature and jumped from animals to humans, a well-documented phenomenon known as a spillover event. Virus researchers have not publicly identified any key new scientific evidence that might make the lab-leak hypothesis more likely.

But Republicans have accused Fauci of lying to Congress when he denied in May 2022 that the National Institutes of Health funded gain of function research  the practice of enhancing a virus in a lab to study its potential impact in the real world  at a virology lab in Wuhan. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, even urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Faucis statements.

___

Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Nomaan Merchant contributed to his report.
State Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, joins the debate on his House Bill 900, which bans sexually explicit material from library books in schools, in the Texas House in April.

Booksellers, school librarians and state officials now await the decision of three federal appeals court judges after they heard arguments Wednesday concerning a law that attempts to ban sexually explicit materials from school libraries.

The judges' decision could affect the fate of the law, which businesses have said is costly and unreasonably vague, though state leaders insist the law is meant to protect schoolchildren.

The law  House Bill 900  is meant to ban sexually explicit content from public school libraries by requiring booksellers to rate anything they sell to districts based on sexual content.

Under the law, sellers wouldnt be able to sell anything deemed sexually explicit, and districts wouldnt be allowed to buy from vendors who dont use these ratings.

The appeals court judges could take months to make their decision. The law dictates that vendors send their ratings to the Texas Education Agency by April 1.

More: 'Extraordinarily difficult': Why a judge temporarily blocks Texas library book ban law

Since filing the lawsuit July 25, several Texas booksellers and library associations have pushed back on the law, alleging its overburdensome and costly to businesses.

After a U.S. district judge in September granted the booksellers request to temporarily halt the implementation of the law, the state appealed almost immediately to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. After Wednesday's hearing, the three-judge panel will decide whether they will let the law go into effect or if they'll declare it unconstitutional.

During the arguments, lawyers with the Texas attorney general's office argued it was too soon to discuss the effects of the law, as it hasnt gone into effect yet.

Kateland Jackson, a state attorney, also argued against the booksellers claims the law tramples on companies' First Amendment free speech rights.

The vendors have argued that because the state can disagree with and edit the sellers ratings, the law  also called the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources, or READER, Act  compels them to speech they may not agree with.

There is no reason to believe that the public would understand that these ratings are the speech of plaintiffs, Jackson said of the law. READER doesnt require the ratings on plaintiffs' own websites, on their storefronts. They can specifically disavow any speech that they are concerned with.

Lawyers representing the booksellers insisted that the state has told vendors the ratings will be tied to each specific business in a posting on the Texas Education Agency website.

Attorney Laura Lee Prather also said the laws definition of "sexually explicit" is so vague that booksellers will err conservatively when excluding books to avoid getting placed on the states vendor blacklist.

Classics wont reach students, Prather said. Books about uncomfortable truths that young adults need to be made aware of, books about sexual abuse, about human trafficking, wont reach these bookshelves.

Prather repeatedly called the mandate vendors rate and review books an impossible task.

To expect booksellers to keep track of which books schools use, review every passage for sexually relevant materials and consider the community standards of each school district in Texas is unreasonable, she said.

Demonstrators read in the middle of the Capitol Rotunda in April as The Texas Freedom Network holds a "read-in" to protest House Bill 900.

In an amicus brief submitted earlier this month, HB 900 author Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, insisted the state should be allowed to move forward with rulemaking around the law while the court proceedings move forward.

Nothing in the First Amendment prevents the state from adopting standards for its own officials to keep pornographic materials out of public schools, or from requiring that schools give parents notice of what is being provided to their children, Patterson said.

While waiting for the court hearings to play out, there isn't much preparation for the law booksellers can do, said Charley Rejsek, CEO of BookPeople.

"It's going to be thousands of books that I have no funding to pay people to read and rate," Rejsek said. "There's really nothing I can be doing."

Rejsek worries it would be impossible to comply with the law, which would require the company to identify all the books it has ever sold to schools over 50 years of business and individually rate them based on sexual relevance, she said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Appeals court to decide on Texas school library book law
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A federal order that wouldve required authorities to release Oregon detainees who dont have legal representation  after an initial court appearance and a week in jail  is still up in the air.

U.S. District Judge Michael McShane ordered counties statewide to implement the seven-day jail limit in early November, and it was set to go into effect on Nov. 16. But on Monday, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a motion to stay the order.

Portland transportation officials terminate app contract that cost city $299K

Now, both sides are scheduled to submit briefs in support of or against McShanes order on Dec. 8 and Dec. 22. Theres also an optional brief with a deadline of Jan. 5 of next year, and an optional reply brief due on Jan. 16.

A panel of judges is set to vote on the jail limit in February of next year.

In granting a stay, we do not intend to constrain the merits panels consideration of the merits of these cross-appeals in any way, the appeals court said.

Teen arrested in Yamhill County murder investigation

Judge McShanes November order follows a similar one from August. At that point, the limit solely applied to pre-trial defendants in Washington County who had been in jail for 10 days.

Both orders stem from Oregons public defender shortage, a statewide crisis that the judge said leaves pre-trial defendants locked away without a voice, being too poor to afford an advocate to speak for them in the courtroom.

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt also deemed the public defender shortage an urgent threat to public safety in a statement he made earlier this month.

Oregon State University studying enigmatic disease killing honeybees

This sends a message to crime victims in our community that justice is unavailable and their harm will go unaddressed, Schmidt said. It also sends a message to individuals who have committed a crime that there is no accountability while burning through scarce police and prosecutor resources.

According to the DAs Office, 285 cases have been dismissed so far this year due to the statewide crisis.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A Toast with a Cause!

TAMPA (BLOOM)  This holiday season, Clearwater Beach brings you a sparkling new reason to celebrate. The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa has unveiled its festive Apres Sea pop-up bar, set to dazzle guests and locals alike. Perched atop the resorts Sky Terrace, this rooftop haven offers more than just a drink; its a cocktail with a conscience.

Where the Sea Meets the Sky

Just steps from the shimmering Gulf of Mexico and the bustling Pier 60, the Apres Sea experience is a perfect blend of beachside bliss and holiday cheer. Imagine sipping on a Sugar Cookie Martini or a Candy Cane Martini while soaking in panoramic views of the beach and enjoying a stunning sunset  thats Apres Sea for you.

Festive Flavors for a Good Cause

The holiday-themed cocktail menu is as heartwarming as it is tantalizing. From the Gingerbread Old Fashioned to the Mistletoe Mimosa, each sip supports Hope Villages of America. By indulging in these delightful drinks, youre contributing to combat hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence in the Pinellas community.

More Than Just Cocktails

Its not just about the drinks; its an entire holiday experience. The pop-up bar is open every Thursday and Friday leading up to Christmas, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. But the festivities dont end there. The resorts SHOR American Seafood Grill and other venues will also serve the holiday cocktail menu. And for a family-friendly touch, dont miss the Cookies and Cocktail events on Sundays in December, where holiday cookie decoration meets adult libation.

A Holiday Haven

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach isnt just stopping at cocktails. Their holiday programming includes Christmas in Paradise pool parties and Santa-led cocktail classes. Its a complete holiday package, from stay to play.

A Resort of Refined Relaxation

The Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is a gem in itself. With 286 guestrooms boasting water views, 20,000 square feet of meeting space, and a range of dining options, its a slice of paradise. The resorts proximity to Pier 60 and the Beach Walk adds to its allure, making it an ideal spot for both relaxation and exploration.

Cheers to the Holidays!

For more details on the Apres Sea experience and other holiday offerings, visit the resorts website or call them directly. Remember, each cocktail at Apres Sea is more than just a drink; its a cheer to the spirit of giving and joy. So, head over to Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach and raise a glass to the holidays  and to making a difference. 

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
MECHANICSBURG, CUMBERLAND COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A Mechanicsburg man was indicted by a grand jury after he allegedly threatened to kill a congressman.

The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Lee Ingalls, Jr., 61, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of sending threatening communications to a congressman via interstate transmission.

According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on Monday, November 6, Ingalls left two threatening voicemail messages on the main congressional office answering system in Washington, D.C.

Man charged with $11.5M in COVID-19 pandemic fraud in PA

Karam alleged that in both voicemail messages Ingalls specifically threatened to kill the same specifically identified United States Congressman. It was determined Ingalls made the calls from his cell phone while in Hampden Township, Cumberland County.

Officials say Ingalls was charged with a criminal complaint and arrested on Friday, November 10. Ingalls appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Daryl F. Bloom on November 13 and was ordered to be held in pretrial detention pending action by a federal grand jury.

Ingalls faces a maximum term of five years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
NASA astronaut Christina Koch, a mission specialist for the Artemis 2 moon mission, signs her name to the Orion spacecraft stage adapter for NASA's Space Launch System rocket on Nov. 27, 2023.

The next four moon astronauts signed their names Monday (Nov. 27) on a rocket piece that will send them to lunar realms in late 2024, only one year from now.

The Artemis 2 crew, amid moon training, put their signatures on the adapter for their Orion spacecraft , which will be mounted on top of the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. The four astronauts, clad in cleanroom wear, did the ceremonial activity at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The adapter will sit just underneath the astronauts' Orion spacecraft during their round-the-moon mission, NASA officials wrote in a Tuesday (Nov. 28) release about the signatures.

Related: 1 year after Artemis 1 launch, NASA readies Artemis 2 to shoot for the moon again (video)

"The Orion stage adapter is a small ring structure that connects NASA's Orion spacecraft to the SLS rocket's interim cryogenic propulsion stage, and fully manufactured at Marshall," the release stated. "The adapter's diaphragm will serve as a barrier to prevent gases created during launch from entering the spacecraft."

Artemis 2 includes NASA commander Reid Wiseman , NASA pilot Victor Glover (the first Black person to leave low Earth orbit ), NASA mission specialist Christina Koch (the first woman) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen (the first non-American).

a stack of three images shows three individual men in white coats and hair nets signing or indicating their signature on the inside of a pale green metal shell with structural support lattice.

The crew has been making some visits to NASA centers amid an ambitious 18 months of training in which they are formulating procedures as they go, given Artemis 2 is the first human moon mission since Apollo 17 's landing in 1972.

They are also working through training with Orion, along with medical procedures, and a recovery exercise should take place relatively soon at sea with NASA and the U.S. Navy. The Orion spacecraft itself completed its first power-on test at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on Nov. 6 ahead of a one- to two-week simulated software and hardware exercise for a full mission.

Related Stories:

 NASA powers up Artemis 2 Orion spacecraft ahead of 2024 moon mission

 Diversity will be key to Artemis moon-to-Mars push, NASA officials say

 Artemis 2 astronaut crew suits up for moon launch dress rehearsal (photos, video)

The core stage of the rocket, under construction at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, saw all four engines firmly secured Oct. 6 ahead of testing on what NASA officials term the rocket "brains" : The avionics and electrical systems. After Michoud, the core stage will voyage near the launch pad at KSC, via barge. The twin solid rocket boosters for Artemis 2 are also under assembly at KSC, starting with the aft assemblies that steer the rockets, while the mobile launcher to support SLS has undergone water deluge testing and other work.
FREEHOLD  An Asbury Park man pleaded guilty to drug distribution after selling narcotics to an undercover cop multiple times, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Thursday.

Tyheim McGhee, 28, pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to distribution of more than half an ounce of cocaine, and possession of more than five ounces of cocaine with the intent to distribute before Superior Court Judge Jill OMalley, Santiago said. As a result, McGhee faces 12 years in a New Jersey State Prison when he is sentenced on January 26, 2024.

The guilty plea stems from an investigation involving detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Gang Task Force and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Narcotics Strike Force, in February and March 2023, according to Santiago. During the investigation, McGhee sold a total of more than a half an ounce of cocaine to an undercover officer on four separate occasions.

According to Santiago, the investigation culminated on March 24, when a search warrant was executed on McGhee's Borden Avenue home. During the search, police recovered more than 5 ounces of cocaine as well as paraphernalia used in the distribution of narcotics.

Jenna Calderon covers breaking news and cold cases in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Before coming to the Press, she covered The Queen City for Cincinnati Magazine in Ohio. Contact her at 330-590-3903; jcalderon@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park man pleads guilty after selling drugs to undercover cop
Parliamentary committees dont normally make for compelling viewing, but Wednesdays session of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee bucked the trend.

During intense questioning from MPs, the Home Offices most senior officials delivered a series of headline grabbing revelations. In an extraordinary exchange that has now been viewed millions of times, the Permanent Secretary told the Committee that he didnt know how many failed asylum seekers have been deported in the last three years and admitted that the Home Office doesnt know what has happened to 17,000 asylum seekers whose claims have been withdrawn.

These figures  and, indeed, the lack of them  are alarming. The purpose of policing national borders is to control who comes in and out of our country, to prevent criminals and those who mean harm from entering the UK. If thousands of people who arrive in Britain illegally can abscond, it is a reasonable assumption that some will go on to engage in criminal activity.

The rise in the number of withdrawn asylum claims is at least in part due to a tenfold increase in the processing rate. And, thanks to the interventions of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, a tougher stance is being taken, with those who fail to turn up for asylum interviews now finding their cases transferred to immigration enforcement without delay. These improvements should be applauded.

But Wednesdays parliamentary showdown does draw attention to the inevitable consequences of the sheer number of people who enter the UK illegally (at least 150,000 since 2017). Of course, those who are genuinely fleeing war and persecution should be treated with the utmost compassion  and Britain has a long history of welcoming refugees. But for those who are not, it is clearly all too easy to slip away into the shadow economy, joining criminal gangs involved in drugs, prostitution, and other illegal activity.

We cannot solve this problem without an effective deterrent. Thanks to social media, international people trafficking gangs are extremely well informed of what measures are in place in each country to prevent illegal entry, and how easy it is for illegal immigrants to gain asylum or evade detection. If everyone who arrived illegally on UK shores was swiftly removed to a third country for processing, it will soon become known that there is little incentive to come to Britain without a genuine claim.

But, as the UK Government discovered when it lost its recent case in the Supreme Court, international treaties  and the way they are embedded in UK law  prevent us from creating that effective deterrent. Citing the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Refugee Convention and others, judges ruled that it is not lawful to remove illegal immigrants to Rwanda for processing.

It is increasingly clear that we cannot control our borders within the confines of international law, or at least the current interpretation of international law, which often bears little relation to the (good and reasonable) intentions of treaties signed in the aftermath of World War Two. The Government is widely criticised for its handling of the small boats crisis, but the judgement of the Supreme Court makes clear that no sensible solution can be found without the UK Parliament disapplying at least some elements of international treaties. That is exactly what I and many of my colleagues hope will be achieved by emergency legislation due to be introduced to Parliament next week.

But there are strong and vocal objections to this approach. The political battle that will soon take place will epitomise the great schisms of our age. Where does the highest form of sovereignty lie? Is it with democratically elected national parliaments or with unelected judges in international courts? And are strong borders and firm laws, consistently applied, necessary for the freedom of the majority or an abuse of the rights of a minority?

The dividing lines are about to be drawn.

Miriam Cates is MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The 16-year-old teen accused of killing a beloved pastor during a carjacking last year appeared in court with a new attorney Thursday morning.

In a surprising turn of events, 16-year-old Miguel Andrade has hired a new attorney.

This comes more than a year after the teen was charged as an adult for allegedly shooting and killing well-known Reverend Autura Eason-Williams during a carjacking in her driveway.

15-year-old, man indicted in death of Memphis pastor

He was 15 at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors say they hoped to resolve the case Thursday morning with a plea deal but were notified Andrade hired new counsel the night before.

We believed this case, in good faith, would be resolved today. Weve met with the victims family. We communicated that to the victims family, and every single day that this case is pending is an injustice, said Assistant District Attorney Forrest Edwards.

Defense Attorney Ken Brashier says he was hired by Andrades family last week.

Two suspects in murder of Memphis pastor appear in court

In this case, hes asked to change lawyers and that happens sometimes. Doesnt mean the other lawyer did anything wrong. Its just that he wanted somebody else to look at his case. Its a very serious case, said Brashier.

In court, both the prosecutor and the defense agreed that on Jan. 30, 2024, it will be determined if Andrade goes to trial or if he will accept the plea deal.

Prosecutors say all the discovery was delivered to Brashier just before court.

Ive got two months to dig in, and if something comes up and we see that we need to go to trial, we will. If it appears we need to work out a settlement, we will do that, said Brashier.

Teen charged in murder of Memphis pastor bonds out

Judge Paula Skahan approved the substitution and the date but not without expressing her concern with how the case has been handled.

Ms. Fuchs has been the attorney on record, and weve reset it, reset it, reset it. Mr. Andrade has been out on bond and his co-defendants been in custody, she said.

WREG reached out to Andrades former attorney for comment, but we have not heard back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
The United States has the most comprehensive series of military export controls in the world, implemented through the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Yet, this year those controls have faced their biggest challenge in a decade  an attempt from industry and some in Congress to tar it as a threat to U.S. national security, and a barrier to the AUKUS security partnership between the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

Lawmakers must resolve differences in AUKUS-related sections of the Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over the next few weeks. As they do so, representatives should preserve the traditional deal offered to allies requesting military-industrial partnerships: ITAR exemptions in exchange for export control alignment. This deal would encourage collaboration amongst AUKUS partners while ensuring that foreign adversaries cant siphon U.S.-origin weapons and military technology through American allies because of discrepancies in our export control regimes.

The AUKUS-ITAR debate is a false dilemma created by the shifting focus of the partnership since its announcement in 2021. While AUKUS was originally about the transfer of nuclear propulsion technology for an Australian submarine fleet, it has since been reframed into an ambitious program to collaboratively develop advanced military capabilities in artificial intelligence, hypersonic speed, cyber and quantum technologies, among others.

It is true that ITAR compliance isnt easy, and many military producers and governments would prefer to have the perks without the paperwork. Two bills currently before the House would do just that, by providing blanket exemptions to the ITAR for AUKUS partners  no strings attached.

Another proposal in the Senate (the TORPEDO Act), creates a more limited exemption while eliminating other export barriers, but ignores disparities between U.S., U.K., Australia military export controls. A third proposal, embedded in the Senate defense authorization legislation, provides the most responsible choice - targeted exemptions and expedited technology transfers in exchange for export control alignment with the United States.

After all, while accelerating AUKUS innovation in quantum, cyber, AI and other technologies is a laudable goal, doing so by reducing oversight on U.S.-origin technology undermines the purpose of the pact and increases the risk of both espionage and illicit technology transfer.

The ITAR regime has long been a source of friction between the United States and its allies, forcing military industry to keep a close eye on U.S.-origin military articles and services. Exporters are required to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and apply for export licenses for articles and services on the U.S. Munitions List (USML)  including both tangible weapons, equipment and components, and intangible technologies, software, and technical data.

The controls are sticky and extraterritorial; each subsequent transfer or reexport of an ITAR-controlled article or service requires another license, even if it has been incorporated into a larger product. While the ITAR doesnt exclude dual- and foreign nationals from handling controlled articles and services, it does consider their access (even within the U.S.) to be an export requiring a license. Tracking these transfers and applying for licenses imposes rigorous compliance requirements on both U.S. and non-U.S. companies, and can limit open information-sharing and collaboration.

Indeed, ITAR critics like to argue that U.S. controls are an evolutionary throwback, locked in ice like a desiccated mammoth. Yet over the last 15 years, the US. government has revised the ITAR to ease the export of low-risk military goods and services to our partners. The USML has been shortened, the number of annual license requests has shrunk, and new mechanisms have been created to facilitate exports and transfers to trusted partners. Some of these reforms, like moving many firearms to the less restrictive Commerce Control List (CCL), are concerning for other reasons, yet many, like the creation of bilateral defense cooperation treaties with Australia and the U.K., their addition to the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB), and the pilot Open General License (OGL) program have somewhat eased the burden of ITAR-compliance for Australian and British military producers.

Yet there are weaknesses in U.K. and Australian military export controls that closer alignment with U.S. controls would mitigate. Both lack regulatory mechanisms related to the transfer of data and technology, which could be exploited by China and Russia. To cite one example, a former U.S. Marine accused of training Chinese pilots in classified tactics is currently avoiding extradition from Australia because his crime (a violation under the ITAR) is not recognized under Australian export control law. Australian controls also dont apply to controlled technology transfers that occur within Australia, no matter the nationality of the recipient.

U.K. government reporting indicates a surprisingly high proportion of strategic exporters are non-compliant with U.K. regulations  even after repeat visits. Despite this fact, the U.K. has only successfully prosecuted four strategic export violations since 2016.

Additionally, any ITAR exemption given to Australia and the U.K. will need to be defended to NATO member countries and other close allies should they demand similar exemptions. It would be best if Congress continued to require recipients of an ITAR exemption to align their export control regimes with the U.S. (as it did with Canada decades ago), since this sets a high bar for any future AUKUS expansion. Lowering the bar could catalyze a flurry of AUKUS applications from other allies and a series of diplomatic dilemmas in Washington  especially if New Zealand and Canada join, and AUKUS (like the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership) begins to resemble a new Anglo alliance.

Despite pressure from industry, Congress shouldnt abandon the normal deal: ITAR exemptions for regime alignment. Only the AUKUS Matters proposal attached to the Senate NDAA insists that the U.K. and Australia reach this standard before benefiting from increased access to U.S.-origin military articles and services. Congress must not allow AUKUS to become a trojan horse to undermine ITAR for the sake of commercial interests and at the expense of national security.

Paul Esau is a 2023 Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control; Valerie Lincy is Executive Director of the Wisconsin Project.
Tim Dorsey, author of 26 popular novels about a unique Florida Man named Serge Storms, has died at age 62.

Dorsey, who had recently had health problems, died at his home in Islamorada.

Randy Wayne White, a friend and fellow Florida author (of the Doc Ford novels and other books), said by phone Tuesday, When he started writing a series about an insane serial killer, I thought, how long can that bulls--t go on?

But he wrote about every nook and cranny of Florida. He colonized it. That will last. He was not a haphazard researcher; he was a field historian. Plus the books are freaking hilarious, White said. Humor plus history  thats a winning combination.

Dorsey was born in 1961 in Indiana; his family moved to Florida when he was a baby, and he grew up in Riviera Beach. After graduating from Auburn University, he worked as a reporter at The Alabama Journal, then joined the Tampa Tribune staff in 1987.

In interviews, Dorsey credited his journalism career as a rich source for his fiction, providing both his encyclopedic knowledge of Florida lore and his familiarity with bizarre crimes. He was a political reporter, copy editor and night metro editor at the Tribune before leaving in 1999, one day after his first book was published.

While writing that first novel, Florida Roadkill, Dorsey originally created Serge Storms as a James Bond-style villain  and killed him off.

In a 2022 interview, Dorsey said, After (Serges) second rant, it was a revelation: This is the main character. I could see where I needed to go  adjust my coordinates. So in the second draft, I made him the main guy.

Luckily, I said to myself, Dont kill him off. Youre going to need this guy.

Dorsey went on to write 26 bestselling novels about Serge. The most recent, The Maltese Iguana, was published in February.

The novels were structured as road trips that zigzagged around Florida on various missions improbable, with the brilliant, hyperenergetic Serge accompanied by his heavily self-medicated pal Coleman. Serges two vocations were his passionate pursuit of Florida history and his imaginative killings of the kinds of people many of us wish we could knock off.

Serges rage was most often ignited by people who exploited Florida, either its natural world or its most vulnerable residents. Damage a sea turtle nest or rip off a bunch of older folks, and Serge would come for you  and his methods were highly imaginative.

The combination of trivia and catharsis proved to be catnip. Dorseys book tours were legendary, drawing enthusiastic crowds of fans  some boasting Serge-themed tattoos  to bookstores and libraries.

I averaged 100 events a year, on the same template, he said. I learned to put them together to get the most events in the least time. My record was four in one day  Sarasota, Bradenton, St. Pete, Largo. That got to the edge.

He was a frequently featured author at the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading, and for several years the all-day Stomp in the Swamp event celebrated all things Serge, first in Myakka City, then Everglades City.

Dorsey lived in Tampa for years with his wife, Janine, also a longtime Tribune staffer, and their daughters, Erin Appleton-Dorsey and Kelly Dorsey. After a divorce, Tim moved to the Florida Keys. Janine Dorsey was killed in 2021 when her bicycle was hit by an impaired driver.

Dorseys daughters survive him but declined to be interviewed. Erin Appleton-Dorsey said in a message they were overwhelmed.

Larry Fletcher of Tampa worked with Dorsey at the Tribune, and they had remained close friends since. I know people talk about his books, he said Tuesday, but Tim was a hell of a newsman.

Fletcher, who is editor in chief of six military magazines published by Booz Allen Hamilton, said he had known Dorsey since about 1990 and had talked to him as recently as a couple of weeks ago.

Dorsey had had serious health issues earlier in the year, Fletcher said, but seemed to be recovering and talked about renovations to his home in Islamorada. He loved living there, kind of being one of his own characters.

Fletcher helped edit some of Dorseys earlier novels, except the first one, which, he said, Tim sprung on us.

Ive always said Tim is the good version of Serge Storms, Fletcher said. He loved NASA, he loved Florida. He could be manic, writing through the night. And he knew all those places he wrote about. It all came from his work as a newsman.

Crime fiction writer Ace Atkins also worked at the Tribune with Dorsey. He posted on social media, He and I both attended Auburn University and later worked for The Tampa Tribune at the same time. We quickly bonded over our love of classic crime fiction. In particular John D. MacDonald. He was a brilliant journalist and novelist with a keen and satirical eye for the insane state of Florida. Ill miss our wonderful conversations and more of his Serge Storms books.

Another friend of Dorseys is Bill Spaceman Lee, the legendary Boston Red Sox pitcher. Lee is the inspiration for one of Whites characters, Tomlinson, and he appears as himself in Dorseys 2021 book Tropic of Stupid.

We played catch when (Dorsey) showed up at Pine Island, Whites former home, Lee said by phone from Vermont.

We just hit it off. So he made me a character and kidnapped me in Vermont when Serge made a rare side trip outside Florida, Lee said.

He had a great sense of humor. And Ive always loved serial killers who get rid of bad people.

Several of Dorseys fellow Florida writers offered their thoughts.

Tim was a great guy, columnist and author Dave Barry wrote in an email, and a uniquely Floridian writer. He loved this state, and he knew everything about it  especially the weirder things, which he so skillfully incorporated into his wild, wonderful novels.

Barry said, Tim was a friend of the Rock Bottom Remainders, the extremely mediocre author band I belong to. Whenever we played at the Miami Book Fair, Tim joined us onstage, enthusiastically playing his cowbell, which he bought just for our gigs. Ill miss him, and so will his many fans.

Former journalist and bestselling novelist Carl Hiaasen, who knows a little something about writing on the wild side of the Sunshine State, said in an email, Tim wrote about Florida as if it was a rollicking, free-range paradise for lunatics, which of course it is. The unforgettable characters he created fit in perfectly. He rose to the challenge of satirizing a place where true life is routinely weirder than fiction.

Craig Pittman, former Tampa Bay Times staffer and author or co-author of six nonfiction books about Florida, emailed this about Dorsey: I was fortunate to serve on quite a few book panels with Tim over the years and always howled with glee at his outrageous wit. He was just as funny in real life as he was on the page. The next time I hear of a wild Florida story  which will probably be tomorrow  I will have to mourn him all over again, knowing hes not around to include it in his next Serge Storms novel.

Dorseys publisher, William Morrow, released a statement by his editor, Emily Krump: It was a privilege and honor to work with Tim Dorsey. His easy wit and deep knowledge of Florida-lore made his satirical crime capers as entertaining as they were timely. But his greatest gift was the boundless joy and escape that Serge A. Storms brought to readers on every page.

Fans might just want to picture Dorsey and Serge together, firing up the Dodge Challenger as Coleman fires up something else in the back seat, and driving forever into the Florida sunset.
China pledges to enhance cooperation, boost ties with Turkmenistan

Xinhua) 08:10, November 30, 2023

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

ASHGABAT, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- China firmly supports Turkmenistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, said Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday.

Ding, who paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday, made the remarks when meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan.

Noting that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of Turkmenistan, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, spoke highly of the achievement made by the two sides under the leadership of the two heads of state.

China-Turkmenistan cooperation is highly complementary, and enjoys huge potential and broad prospects, said the vice premier, calling on the two sides to tap cooperation potential, continue to deepen and expand cooperation in key areas, and turn the grand blueprint laid out by the leaders of the two countries into real results, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to steadily advance the building of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, Ding said.

Berdimuhamedov asked Ding to convey his cordial greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and said that the all-round cooperation between the two countries is strategic, long-term and special.

Turkmenistan stands ready to work with China to enhance strategic communication, deepen cooperation in all fields and promote its comprehensive strategic partnership with China to a new height, Berdimuhamedov said.

He said that Turkmenistan firmly supports the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism and is willing to work with China to jointly promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

During his visit, Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee.

The two sides had in-depth exchange of views during the meeting and mapped out priorities of cooperation between the two countries in the next phase.

The two sides agreed to further synergize their development strategies, increase the scale of economic, trade and investment cooperation, continue to deepen natural gas cooperation, accelerate consultations on the alignment of priority economic projects, and carry out more cooperation on non-resource projects.

On people-to-people exchanges, the two sides agreed to ensure the success of activities related to the Year of Culture, and promote the early implementation of projects such as the establishment of cultural centers, the establishment of Luban Workshops and traditional medicine centers in Turkmenistan.

On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation, and jointly combat the "three forces" of terrorism.

After the meeting, Ding and Meredov witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents, including those on deepening science and technology cooperation and on international road transportation.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov co-chair the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
[Source]

A Beijing couple had the shock of their lives after realizing that they have been drinking toilet water for six months in their rented apartment.

Strange occurrences: The couple, identified only by local reports as Mr. Tan and his girlfriend, moved into the Beijing apartment in May. They reportedly pay 10,000 yuan ($1,411) rent per month.

Tan said he eventually experienced hair loss and acne, while his girlfriend suffered chest pains and a persistent cough. After six months, they noticed that their water bills stopped coming although their water supply continued.

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The discovery: Tan conducted water meter tests but noticed no movement even when water was being used in the apartment. Determined to put the mystery to rest, the couple sought professional help and called a plumber.

Upon investigation, the plumber found an extra pipe connecting the toilet and tap water pipes. They then realized that they had been using toilet water for drinking, bathing and cooking for half a year.

Seeking compensation: While the plumber promptly fixed the pipes, the couple says they have already experienced adverse health effects. They are reportedly seeking monetary damages from the rental firm.

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In a statement, the rental company emphasized offering residents a choice between drinking water and well water for non-consumable purposes. They contend that the well water passed quality tests in March but is still only suited for flushing toilets.

The couple, however, disputes being informed of this choice and hopes for compensation if they can prove their unknowing consumption of toilet water. Negotiations with the rental company are reportedly ongoing.

Trending on NextShark: Chinese woman receives $60,000 restaurant bill after mistakenly sharing ordering QR code online

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The Biden administration is no longer communicating with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, about foreign election interference, the tech giant revealed in its quarterly threat report released Thursday.

Meta said the federal government stopped sharing information about foreign meddling efforts in July, the same month that a federal judge blocked administration officials from communicating with social media companies about content removal or restrictions.

The ruling, which was later narrowed by a federal appeals court and put on hold by the Supreme Court, originates from a lawsuit brought by two Republican state attorneys general who allege the Biden administrations coordination with social media companies to curb misinformation online amounts to a campaign of censorship.

As the Supreme Court prepares to take up the case next term, the Biden administration appears to have largely halted its communications with tech companies, even though the high court prevented the appeals courts injunction from going into effect.

Pinterest also confirmed that it has stopped receiving communications from the federal government about political disinformation.

According to The Washington Post, Pinterest has also stopped receiving communications from the federal government about political disinformation.

Meta noted in its Q3 Adversarial Threat report that information sharing between tech companies, governments and law enforcement has previously been critical to identifying and disrupting foreign interference early.

This type of information sharing can be particularly critical in disrupting malicious foreign campaigns by sophisticated threat actors who coordinate their operations outside of our platforms, the company wrote.

While weve continued to strengthen our internal capacity to detect and enforce against malicious activity since 2017, external insights from counterparts in government, as well as researchers and investigative journalists, can be particularly important in detecting and disrupting threat activity early in its planning taking place off-platform, it added.

In Thursdays report, Meta also noted that it had removed a network of 4,789 Facebook accounts in China that targeted the United States.

The accounts, which posed as Americans and spread polarizing content about U.S. domestic politics and U.S.-China relations, were removed before they were able to gain authentic engagement on Facebook, Meta said.

The social media company said it also disrupted another China-based network primarily targeting India and the Tibet region and a Russia-based network that targeted global English speaking audiences.

Updated at 2:43 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
State Sen. Clarence Lam of Howard County on Thursday became the fifth Democratic state lawmaker to declare their candidacy for the congressional seat being vacated by the retirement of Democrat John Sarbanes.

Lam, 43, a physician, joins Democratic delegates Vanessa Atterbeary and Terri Hill, both from Howard County, and state Sen. Sarah Elfreth and Del. Mike Rogers, who are from Anne Arundel County.

Lams Senate district is entirely within the 3rd Congressional District. The U.S. House district, which Sarbanes has occupied since 2007, is split between Howard and Anne Arundel, with a piece of Carroll County as well.

Lam, a preventive medicine specialist on the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health faculty, joined the House of Delegates in 2015, and the Senate four years later.

There is a lot going on in Congress that is broken, he said in an interview in advance of his announcement. We need problem solvers.

A campaign press release touted his efforts in Annapolis to improve health care access, including allowing greater access to abortion care, and a 2022 measure he sponsored to limit insulin costs for Marylanders with diabetes.

Republican Yuripzy Morgan, a lawyer and former WBAL-AM political talk show host who challenged Sarbanes in 2022, is considering running for the GOP nomination. Berney Flowers, a Howard County Republican, has announced for the race.

Others in the race, according to the Maryland Board of Elections, include Democrats Lindsay Donahue and Kristin Anne Lyman Nabors, both of Anne Arundel County; Republican Jordan Mayo and Robert J. Steinberger of Anne Arundel County; and Republican Naveed Mian of Howard County.

The filing deadline is Feb. 9 for the May 14 primary.

Sarbanes said he was leaving Congress to pursue other interests. He does not plan to endorse a successor.
President Bidens campaign was given a much-needed shot in the arm this week from former President Trumps repeated threats against ObamaCare.

Trump handed Democrats a gift when he suddenly revived threats to replace the 13-year-old Affordable Care Act if elected president, giving the Biden campaign a weeks worth of material as it shifts to attack the GOP front-runner directly.

When Trump posted on his social media platform that he was seriously looking at alternatives to the law and that the failure to repeal it while he was in the White House in 2017 was a low point for the Republican Party, the Biden campaign jumped into action.

A campaign source told The Hill that they quickly made the decision to juice it out as much as we possibly can.

The campaign has gone provision-by-provision this week to highlight the most popular parts of ObamaCare, reminding voters what would be at stake should the law be changed.

Trump certainly gave us sufficient time to plan and make this a weeklong endeavor, the source said.

On Tuesday, the campaign argued that a second Trump presidency could strip insurance from up to 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions.

And on Wednesday, the Biden campaign underscored that nixing ObamaCare would mean Americans under the age of 26 would be kicked off their parents insurance plans, warning that could lead to financial ruin for a whole generation of young, uninsured Americans.

On Thursday, they plan to focus on the impact repealing ObamaCare would have on Black and brown communities, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The much-needed jolt for the Biden campaign came amidst months of dismal approval ratings for the president as well as some recent surveys in which he polled behind Trump, though within the margin of error. But that was especially problematic when a poll in key swing states needed to notch the general election showed that Trump led Biden in five out of six of them.

The Biden campaign, in focusing its effort in such swing states, is running health care-centered TV ads this week as part of an effort to draw more attention to Trumps claim and highlight the presidents health accomplishments, a campaign staffer said.

Donald Trump just cant help himself and continues to remind people just how awful he is on the issues that matter to everyday Americans. And him saying he wants to repeal ObamaCare is another thing were all over right now, a Biden campaign aide told The Hill.

Dean Rosen, a Republican lobbyist and former chief health care adviser to former Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), suggested Trump and other GOP candidates move on from the matter.

History has not been kind to politicians who have tried to radically remake the health system or take away peoples coverage  no matter how imperfect, Rosen said. Unless and until the GOP coalesces around a workable and politically popular alternative, presidential candidates would be wise to focus on reducing costs and increasing access to doctors, nurses and health care services, especially in rural and underserved areas.

Despite such warnings, Trump has doubled down on restarting the ObamaCare fight by proclaiming he would replace the law with something much better.

Obamacare Sucks!!! he wrote on Truth Social.

While on the campaign trail this week, Biden made it a point to bring up Trumps comments.

Donald Trump announced his latest idea to his campaign. I hope you didnt miss it  he wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, Biden said Tuesday at a fundraiser in Colorado. If Trump gets his way  its all gone.

Biden has increasingly attacked Trump directly through his campaign, though hes careful not to name Trump when hes giving public remarks as president, referring to Trump instead as his predecessor.

The campaign is also enlisting high-profile surrogates to aid in its refocus.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) in a Biden campaign call cast a second Trump presidency as a dire threat to Americans health.

When he says hes going after our health care, believe him, Pelosi told reporters. Let me be clear that in 2024, the Affordable Care Act and all of its transformational benefits will be on the ballot. The American people will need to know that if Donald Trump wins next year, hes coming for your health care.

Cooper noted that the stakes for voters are clear.

Health care is a great opportunity to compare the best of Biden to the worst of Trump, Cooper said. Health care is an area where President Biden has been shining and Trump is going to hurt millions of Americans if hes successful in this spirit.

In 2017, Republicans failed to repeal ObamaCare despite their control of Congress and the White House at the time largely because they couldnt agree on a viable alternative.

Democrats retook control of the House in 2018 after making the GOP repeal efforts the center of their campaigns, promising to protect Americans from losing coverage for preexisting conditions.

Political strategists said relitigating the repeal-and-replace fight has no upside for Republicans.

Republicans, you know, theyve got to figure out whats their message and then deliver it consistently. And I dont think the message is, We ought to go repeal ObamaCare, said Joel White, a GOP health strategist.

Thirteen years after its passage, ObamaCare is more popular than in 2017, with a sprawling reach that goes beyond the U.S. health system. It mandates birth control coverage, free preventive care and even requires many chain restaurants to post the calories of menu items.

Close to 60 percent of adults now have a favorable opinion of the law, according to a KFF tracking poll from May.

It seems retro to have an ObamaCare fight, but the Biden campaign is right to jump on this. It helps motivate both bases and is a net positive for Democrats, said Ivan Zapien, a former Democratic National Committee official.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Joe Biden is heading to southern Colorado after participating in a campaign event in Denver on Tuesday night. He's set to speak there Wednesday afternoon.

Watch Biden's Wednesday afternoon speech on the CBS News Colorado stream. It's scheduled to start at 1:45 p.m. MT

Biden is traveling to Pueblo to visit the largest wind tower manufacturer in the world. He's scheduled to deliver a speech at CS Wind at 1:45 p.m. MT. Watch it live on CBS News Colorado.

He'll speak about his administration's push for investments in clean energy. He'll also speak about his economic plan.

President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One at Denver International Airport on Tuesday. / Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Biden's campaign hasn't released any information to the media about Tuesday's fundraiser that he participated in. It was closed to the press.

After his plane touched down in Denver late Tuesday afternoon Biden shook hands with Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston at Denver International Airport.

Love letter from Jimmy to Rosalynn Carter read by their daughter, Amy Lynn

New cases of COVID variant BA.2.86 triple in 2 weeks, CDC says

Russia says it launched new attack on Ukraine as Blinken meets with NATO allies about war
The News

When U.S. President Joe Biden and Angolan President Joao Lourenco meet at the White House on Thursday, theyll discuss a major African infrastructure project at the heart of the Biden administrations efforts to counter Chinas influence.

Backed by the U.S. and European Union, the Lobito Corridor is a complex rail project that will connect Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to regional and global markets through Angolas Lobito port. The project is viewed as especially important to unlocking access to sources of minerals needed to produce electric vehicles, an area where the White House is determined to build up supply chains that are free from Chinas grip.

Thats going to be a major thoroughfare that cuts across the subregion, Jeannine Scott, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Semafor. Its really important for some of the critical minerals issues as well as other goods and services that people want to move through that region.

The rail project falls under the umbrella of the Biden administrations Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU and three African countries on the project back in October, and feasibility studies for the project are expected to begin by the end of the year.

Thursdays meeting may yield some new announcements on the project, as the administration tries to signal a commitment to partnering with Africa even as wars in Europe in the Middle East take up the presidents attention.

This is something the administration has to say for itself with regard to the rhetoric about more serious engagement, less whining and complaining about Chinese influence, or Russian influence on the continent for that matter, Michelle Gavin, the former U.S. ambassador to Botswana, said in an interview.

Asked about potential announcements on U.S.-Angola infrastructure cooperation, a State Department spokesperson said only that the U.S. continues to work with the Angolan government and the private sector to advance our shared interests of generating inclusive economic growth, promoting regional security, and supporting Angolas economic and democratic reforms.

Morgans view

The Lobito project and Angola more broadly are important tests for the Biden administrations efforts to engage Africa and roll back Chinese inroads on the continent.

Angola, like other African countries, has received funding from China for infrastructure projects in the past through Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. At the start of this year, Lourenco met with Qin Gang, Chinas now-missing ex-foreign minister, when he toured the continent in pursuit of deeper cooperation.

But Angola has also increasingly shown a willingness to look elsewhere for financing of major projects. And the Export-Import Bank over the summer signed off on $900 million in loans for a major solar energy project in Angola that the State Department estimates will generate over 500 megawatts of renewable power and support 1,600 U.S. jobs.

The Biden administration is careful not to frame its work in Africa as a response to China, and the infrastructure initiative is about more than just Beijing  its also meant to tackle climate change and other global problems.

Our focus is working with Angola as a partner and building the U.S.-Angolan bilateral relationship, the State Department spokesperson said when asked about Chinas influence in the country, adding that the U.S. is encouraged by Angolas efforts to attract quality investors and the success that U.S. firms have had in Angola.

But the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment is still widely viewed as a Western alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Room for Disagreement

One reason African countries might be lukewarm on the U.S.: Biden looks unlikely to travel to Africa this year despite a pledge to do so at the White Houses Africa summit last December. Even with a flurry of travel by top officials to the region, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Vice President Kamala Harris, the delayed trip is still a source of disappointment.

We question why there may be more of a presence of China or Russia or others and the response that you get from out there is, well we want to work with you more but youre not present as much as wed like to see you, Scott said. And so theres kind of this vacuum and this vacuum gets filled by others who are willing to come and engage more.

Notable

One of the thornier topics Biden will broach in his meeting with Lourenco is democracy reform. Angola is classified as not free by Freedom House due to corruption and political repression.

China is winning Africas white-gold rush for lithium used in electric vehicle batteries, The Economist writes.
The White House has threatened to veto a Republican Senate resolution that would result in roughly 3,000 federal offenders who were released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic being sent back to prison.

In a statement of administration policy released Wednesday, the Biden administration said it opposes Senate Joint Resolution 47, introduced by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (RTenn.) in late October. As Reason previously reported, the resolution, which criminal justice advocates say could reach the Senate floor for a vote as early as this week, would overturn a Justice Department rule allowing some federal offenders to remain under house arrest after the end of the government's COVID-19 emergency declaration.

The White House cited the extraordinarily low recidivism rate among those released to home confinement and the reduced cost to taxpayers compared to incarceration.

"Of the over 13,000 people released to home confinement under the CARES Act, less than one percent have committed a new offensemostly for nonviolent, low-level offensesand all were returned to prison as a result," the statement says. "Moreover, since home confinement is less than half the cost of housing someone in prison, this program has saved taxpayers millions of dollars and eased the burden on BOP staff so they can focus on the higher risk and higher need people in Federal prison."

The resolution is the latest in a battle among the Biden administration, criminal justice advocacy groups, and Republicans over the continuation of the pandemic-era policy.

In the final days of the Trump administration, the Justice Department released a memo finding that once the federal government ended its COVID-19 emergency declaration, all former inmates with remaining sentences would have to report back to prison.

Criminal justice advocacy groups began pressing the Biden administration to reverse that decision, arguing that the program had been an unqualified success and that it would be bizarre and cruel to send back people who had thrived on the outside. The White House initially declined to do so, instead announcing a clemency initiative that would have targeted only nonviolent drug offenders, leaving thousands of others, such as white-collar offenders, to return to prison regardless of their conduct. But last December, the Justice Department reversed course and issued a new memo finding that the BOP had the discretion to leave them under house arrest for the remainder of their sentences.

"It would be a terrible policy to return these people to prison," Attorney General Merrick Garland said, "after they have shown that they are able to live in home confinement without violations."

Republicans balked at the sudden change in legal opinion. Sen. Tom Cotton (RArk.), one of 28 Republican co-sponsors of Blackburn's resolution, wrote that the reversal "betrays victims and law-enforcement agencies that trusted the federal government to keep convicted criminals away from the neighborhoods that the offenders once terrorized."

Criminal justice advocates say there's no terror going on. Right on Crime, a conservative criminal justice reform group, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the resolution "will cost millions to lock up thousands of people who have been thriving with no offenses while following all the rules of electronic monitoring."

Caught in the middle of all this are thousands of people who have spent the last three years trying to put their lives back together, such as Kendrick Fulton, who was incarcerated for 17 years for a nonviolent drug offense before being released to home confinement under the CARES Act. Fulton has since gotten his commercial driver's license and steady work.

Fulton told Reason earlier this month, "We're doing better than people that are all-the-way discharged, and they wanna send us back. They know the program is a success. They know it's a win-win, and it's saving taxpayer dollars."

The post Biden Threatens To Block GOP Plan To Send 3,000 People Back to Federal Prison appeared first on Reason.com.
Editors note: This article was updated Nov. 30, 2023, to correctly identify Rep. Darrell Issa.

WASHINGTON  U.S. lawmakers are urging the Department of Defense to prioritize the Indo-Pacific as it interlinks soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and their disparate databases in a multibillion-dollar effort known as Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control.

Companion bills filed this week by Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, and Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, instruct the department to address Indo-Pacific Commands long-range networking and intelligence-sharing needs first. The commands remit includes China and North Korea, as well Australia, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The Biden administration considers the region critical to international stability and financial well-being.

By seamlessly connecting forces across all environments, including cyber and space, U.S. defense officials hope to outwit and outshoot tech-savvy adversaries of the future. Establishment of such links has been piecemeal as the services each have their own contribution to the connectivity campaign, and outdated or siloed technologies have hampered in-the-field collaboration.

The JADC2 Implementation Act, as the legislation is known, motivates the right people and programs at the Pentagon to deploy needed strategies in a transformative way, Issa said in a statement Nov. 27. These capabilities will be a force multiplier for military efforts abroad and achieve smooth and efficient integration of warfighting units on the battlefield.

A portion of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., is seen against blue skies in December 2022. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)

The geography of the Indo-Pacific, too, poses unique challenges. Vast expanses of water, with islands strewn throughout, dares connectivity while dense foliage impedes signals and extreme weather events foil logistics.

Untangling it all to find the right solutions, and soon, is critical, according to Ernst. The bills require regular updates on activities, including the deployment of a joint data integration system handled by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. The office was established in 2021 and has since played a significant role in the CJADC2 pursuit.

No matter the service branch, commanders should have access to critical capabilities to best equip our warfighters and better coordinate our militarys efforts across air, land, sea, space, and cyber, Ernst said in a statement. Through the Joint All-Domain Command and Control Implementation Act, Im working with Congressman Issa to further integrate our joint forces and give commanders better access to the tools they need to achieve their mission.

The Defense Department in fiscal 2024 requested $1.4 billion for CJADC2. It said the funding was necessary to transform warfighting capability. Lawmakers have previously questioned related price tags and timelines.

The proposals in both chambers are congruent with plans outlined last year in drafts of the National Defense Authorization Act. At the time, senators advocated for a joint headquarters for CJADC2 alongside INDOPACOM as well as quarterly demonstrations of tech maturation.
A Black former FedEx driver who said he was shot at and chased by two white men while delivering packages in Mississippi last year is suing the pair, as well as FedEx, which fired him six months after the incident. The civil suit, the second brought on behalf of DMonterrio Gibson, was filed Nov. 20 and seeks at least $5 million, according to the Associated Press. Gibson was not injured in the Jan. 2022 shooting, which led to the arrest and charging of Gregory and Brandon Case. The case against the father and son duo ended in a mistrial this summer over police errors. Meanwhile, FedEx forced Gibson to go back to the same route on which he had been hunted and chased down, according to the new complaint, causing him depression, stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, and emotional pain and suffering. He was eventually terminated from the company in July 2022. FedEx told the Associated Press on Wednesday that it denies the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

Read it at Associated Press

Read more at The Daily Beast.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left Skopje, where an OSCE meeting was taking place, before Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived, the Balkan service of Radio Liberty, Slobodna Evropa, reported on Nov. 29.

Lavrov arrived after being forced to take a 5-hour, 4,000-kilometer flight over Turkey and Greece, instead of Bulgaria, as previously announced. North Macedonia temporarily lifted its ban on Russian flights to allow the Russian delegation to participate in the OSCE summit.

Bulgaria refused the flight after being made aware of the presence of Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who is under EU sanctions.

In a note explaining its decision, Bulgaria said that while Lavrov was granted permission, The permission does not apply to Maria Zakharova  who appears on the list of sanctions, according to the current EU law.

It should be noted, however, that Lavrov himself is also on the EU sanctions list.

Blinken held meetings with the Foreign Affairs Minister of North Macedonia and OSCE Chairman Bujar Osmani, as well as with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski.

He attended a dinner on the sidelines of the OSCE summit, after which he left North Macedonia, before Lavrov arrived after his long flight on the evening of Nov. 29.

Read also: First Estonia, now Malta and the Secretary-General  Russia keeps blocking appointments at OSCE

On his X page, Blinken said he had "productive conversations" with his OSCE colleagues.

"Despite Russias obstructionism, we remain fully committed to the OSCE, its founding principles, and the important work that is achieved," he wrote.

Foreign Minister Osmani thanked Blinken for his "exceptional support" during the OSCE chairmanship.

In his meeting with Kovacevski, Blinken said that the United States highly values North Macedonia's contribution as a NATO ally and as a factor of stability in the Western Balkans.

He also noted that his country will continue to support North Macedonia on its path to European Union membership.

Earlier media reported that Blinken will attend the OSCE meeting, but he does not plan to meet with Lavrov.

The meeting of OSCE foreign ministers in North Macedonia is scheduled to take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 in Skopje.

On Nov. 28, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced that Dmytro Kuleba will not participate inthe OSCE ministerial meeting because of Lavrov's presence at the summit.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia also said that their foreign ministers had also decided not to attend the OSCE Ministerial Council because of Lavrov's participation.

Later, Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek announced a similar decision.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday stepped up calls for Israel to comply with international law and spare civilians as it wages its war against Hamas in Gaza.

On his third trip to the Middle East since the war began on Oct. 7, Blinken said the U.S. remains committed to supporting Israels right to self defense. But he also said it is imperative that Israel protect civilians if it starts major military operations in southern Gaza.

His message aligns with the Biden administrations shifting rhetoric on the war, which began as a full-throated embrace of Israels response to the Hamas attacks but gradually tempered as the number of Palestinian civilian casualties began to rise dramatically. The death toll and scale of destruction has prompted widespread international criticism, including from members of President Joe Biden's Democratic Party.

Meeting in Jerusalem just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute to a third extension of a cease-fire agreement under which Israel has paused most military activity in return for the release of hostages held by Hamas, Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could count on U.S. support.

But he added that such support requires Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law, and he "urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm.

To prevent a further major increase in civilian casualties, Blinken said he made clear the imperative before any operations go forward in southern Gaza therell be a clear plan in place that puts a premium on protecting civilians, as well as sustaining and building on humanitarian assistance getting to Gaza."

He told reporters the Israeli government had agreed to that approach but declined to offer specifics on how Israel would follow through. However, he suggested that Netanyahu and others understood that that the massive levels of civilian life and displacement scale we saw in the north not be repeated in the south."

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter in southern Gaza after fleeing their homes in the northern part of the territory due to the conflict, and U.S. officials have been warning Israel that any offensive in southern Gaza must take into account the safety of the civilian population there.

In addition, Blinken urged immediate steps to hold settler extremists accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and said the U.S. places great importance on the resumption of a peace process that would eventually lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Israeli officials have pledged to the U.S. on multiple occasions that Israeli settler violence will be punished, but the Palestinians have complained of inaction on that front. And, Netanyahu is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, having told Israelis that he is the only political leader who can prevent it.

Netanyahu's office released a statement about the meeting with Blinken that contained no mention of settler violence or a two-state solution.

Instead, in a recorded message, Netanyahu noted that his talks with Blinken had taken place shortly after a Hamas-claimed attack in which two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on commuters at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding more than a dozen others, including two U.S. citizens.

Netanyahu said he told Blinken, This is the same Hamas that carried out the terrible massacre on Oct. 7, the same Hamas that tries to murder us everywhere. I told him: We swore, and I swore, to eliminate Hamas. Nothing will stop us.

We will continue this war until we achieve the three goals  to release all our abductees, to eliminate Hamas completely and to ensure that Gaza will never again face such a threat, Netanyahu said.

Blinken met with Netanyahu and his war Cabinet in Jerusalem before traveling to the occupied West Bank for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and then back to Tel Aviv where he saw Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

In his meeting with Abbas, Blinken focused on efforts to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and condemned Jewish settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. Blinken told Abbas "he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible, the State Department said.

Blinken also told Abbas that the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state, it said.

Gallant, the defense minister, repeatedly referred to the fight against Hamas as a just war that would not end until Israel's goals are achieved.

We are going to fight Hamas until we prevail no matter how long it takes," he told Blinken. "Its a just war. Its a war to (defeat) Hamas, the ISIS of Gaza, and its a war to bring the hostages back home. As long as it takes.

Blinken said Thursday had started off in a very terrible and negative way with another terrorist attack that took the lives of innocent Israelis in Jerusalem, a reminder of what Israel and every Israeli citizen has to face every day.

We condemn it and we also mourn the loss of these innocent lives as we mourn the loss of any innocent life, he said, adding that, at the same time, the truce had been extended.

We want every hostage to come home, Blinken said. "We look to see if this can continue. Certainly, that would be a good thing, and its also allowed much more humanitarian assistance to get in to the Gazans who need it. But its going to be up to Hamas whether they will continue to do this.

The top U.S. diplomat will close out his latest Mideast tour in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, where he will discuss the Gaza situation with Arab leaders gathered in Dubai for the COP28 climate change conference.
The EU is likely to announce a proposal to use the tax profits from frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's reconstruction in the coming weeks, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 30.

The European Commission is to unveil a draft plan on Dec. 12 that will "clarify several issues raised by member states," Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.

The proposed legislation will not interfere with national taxes or other measures, according to Bloomberg.

European Union leaders expressed support on Oct. 27 for a proposal to use billions of euros in windfall taxes from Russian assets tied up in the West to rebuild Ukraine.

"Politically we agreed that ultimately Russia must pay for the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels.

While some member states, such as Germany, are against the plans to introduce EU-wide legislation due to fears it could entail legal or financial risks, some countries have already moved forward with their national legislation.

Belgium announced on Oct. 11 that it has created a 1.7 billion euro ($1.8 billion) fund for Ukraine financed by the tax revenue from interest on frozen Russian assets.

Banks in Belgium who hold frozen assets must pay income tax on the interest they earn, which goes directly to the national government.

"The taxation of income from these assets should go 100% to the benefit of the population of Ukraine," Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said on Oct. 11 in Brussels.

The next day, the Estonian government approved a draft law that would allow frozen Russian assets to be transferred to Ukraine.

"Russia must compensate Ukraine for all the war damages caused," Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

Read also: US official: Frozen Russian assets wont be returned until Moscow pays for Ukraines reconstruction

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Katerina Tikhonova, Russian leader Vladimir Putins second daughter, is leading Moscows efforts to expand its influence in Africa, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 29.

Russia competes with the U.S., China, and EU for influence on the booming continent which has a soaring population expected to pass 2 billion within the next decade.

A mathematician by training, Tikhonova helms the Innopraktika Center, a technology organization in Russia.

Dozens of African officials have been invited to Moscow next month to meet with investors and Russian IT specialists providing digital services targeted at improving governance.

Moscow has traditionally enjoyed strong ties with the global south, a legacy stemming from the Soviet Unions ideology-driven support for the African continent.

Read also: Russias influence on Africa exaggerated, experts say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The city's plan to sell the Bloomington Police Department headquarters on Third Street may have hit a major hurdle.

The city of Bloomington's plan to sell its police headquarters to private parties may have hit a major hurdle: Descendants of a family that deeded the land to the city a century ago say if the land does not remain in public hands, it will revert to the original owners.

That would mean the city would not be able to sell the land to private developers, nor use the proceeds for its planned move of fire and police headquarters into the Showers Building.

The administration of Mayor John Hamilton said it disagrees with the family's assessment and maintains the city can sell the property.

However, retired Bloomington attorney Philip C. Hill, a descendent of one of the families that deeded the city the land, which also includes the Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park, warned the mayor not to proceed with the sale.

We were shocked to learn the city plans to sell the real estate to private parties for private use, Hill wrote to Hamilton this week.

A crowd enjoys a performance by Indiana University's African American Dance Company at Waldron Hill and Buskirk Park during the 2023 Lotus festival.

We are not in favor of this sale or private use, Hill wrote. We believe the real estate deed to the city contains what is commonly known as a reversion clause which requires the real estate to revert to the ownership of the original donors or their heirs if no longer used for city purposes.

Please be advised that we intend to enforce the reversion clause in the event the city sells the real estate or in any manner attempts to convert it to private use, Hill wrote in the letter dated Nov. 28, which, he said, he hand-delivered to Bloomington City Hall.

Angela Van Rooy, the mayor's spokeswoman, said via email Wednesday that the Hamilton administration still expects the sale to generate "significant proceeds."

"We reviewed this issue last year and concluded that the City can sell the Police Headquarters, consistent with the original donation of the land. The Buskirk, Hill, and Waldron Park will be unaffected, as the sale will only include property that is not used as a park and has not been used as a park for more than 50 years."

Hill said Wednesday the Hill family still has many family members in Monroe County, including his brother Nat as well as children and grandchildren.

I just think its a shame theyre going to sell what was donated as real estate for public use  to a private enterprise and disregard the intent of the donation and the right of the public to use the ground, Hill said.

Hopefully it will not come to court, he said. Hopefully the mayor will see that it is a bad idea.

The land that includes the park and the police HQ is south of Third Street and bordered to the west and east by Washington and Lincoln streets, and to the south by Smith Avenue. According to the deed, provided by the Monroe County Recorders office, 14 individuals, including four members of the Hill family, three members of the Buskirk family and Charles B. Waldron sold the land to the city for $5,400 on Jan. 3, 1923.

The deed also reads that the parties agree that the land shall be used exclusively for a free public park, for the use of the citizens of Bloomington, Indiana.  And it is further provided that should the grantee herein, or any other body that shall hereafter assume their duties, fail to maintain said park as above described and for the use and purposes mentioned, the said real estate herein described shall revert to the grantors herein, their administrators, executors, heirs and assigns.

Implications for Hamilton's plan to move police/fire HQ into Showers?

Bloomington Police Department Officer Paul Post discusses officers' concerns about a city push to relocate police headquarters to the Showers Building

The potential inability to sell the property threatens to steer another major goal of the Hamilton administration off course: Moving the police and fire headquarters into the Showers Building. That move was to be funded in part by proceeds from the sale of the current police HQ. The planned move into the Showers Building already has faced significant criticism from police and fire unions, leaders of which have questioned the building's safety and suitability. Bids for work on the project are to be opened next month.

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and police/fire unions have asked for a pause on the project because they don't believe there is enough money available to pay for needed exterior improvements for the Showers Building, including fencing.

Van Rooy said, "We have stated and are confident that the City has sufficient funds available to accomplish an outstanding new police and fire headquarters facility."

Mayor-elect Kerry Thomson also this month wrote Hamilton a letter, asking him to "refrain from making any strategic or discretionary decisions which will impact beyond December 31, 2023."

"Such decisions would include, but not be limited to, signing new or extensions of contracts, purchasing or conveying property, and making future board and commission appointments," Thomson wrote.

"Of course, you have an obligation to maintain operations and protect assets, which I trust you will do; however, legal and policy decisions that have an effect into 2024 and beyond need not be made now and certainly not without consultation with me," she wrote.

Mayor-Elect Kerry Thomson speaks during the Monroe County Democrats' election night watch party at Dimension Mill on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.

Isabel Piedmont-Smith, vice president of the Bloomington City Council, said Wednesday she had not been aware of the reversion clause or Hill's letter.

Piedmont-Smith was among eight council members who in late 2022 approved issuing $29.5 million in bonds to help pay for the purchase, reconfiguration and and renovation of the western portion of the Showers Building for a public safety headquarters.

Piedmont-Smith said Wednesday, If Mr. Hill is correct and there is a clause in the agreement when the city initially purchased the land that says it should only be used for public purposes then (that) certainly would have given me pause to approve the Showers Building purchase because part of the  renovation was always supposed to come from the sale of the police headquarters.

Council President Sue Sgambelluri did not reply to a phone message Wednesday.

Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington plan to sell police HQ may have hit snag: Deed bars sale.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) argued with a Social Security official over claims of backlogs in a Wednesday hearing about post-pandemic teleworking policies.

Boebert asked Oren Hank McKnelly, an executive counselor for the Social Security Administration, if the administration monitored its employees output and hours if workers are logging on from home.

McKnelly assured Boebert social security employees are subjected to the same performance management processes whether they are teleworking or working from the office.

We have systems in place that our managers use to schedule, assign and track workloads, McKnelly said, adding that if employees work virtually, they must be responsive to various forms of communication.

Boebert continued, asking the official why the backlog of social security applicants has increased from 41,000 to 107,000.

Weve been historically underfunded for a number of years now, McKnelly fired back, to which the congresswoman disagreed.

McKnelly said in the past 10 years, the administration has seen an increase of more than 8 million beneficiaries and experienced the lowest staffing levels ever at the end of fiscal 2022.

Thats a math problem, he said. If you have those workloads increasing and you dont have the staff to take care of those workloads, youre going to have the backlogs that youre talking about, representative.

It takes 220 days for social security claims to be decided, on average, which is 100 days longer than it did in 2019, said Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), the chair of the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee, in a hearing in October.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After an unexpected election day conflict, Bolivar Superintendent Richard Asbill has asked for assurances that the unusual decision to prohibit voters from wearing clothing with a school name, logo or mascot into a polling place this month will not happen again.

He is worried that if the change remains in place it will slow or impair voter access to polling places, and not just for school-related ballot issues.

So far, no such commitment has been made.

The Bolivar school district is raising questions about a change during the Nov. 7 election.

Polk County Clerk Rachel Lightfoot made the rare 11th hour decision, which was not widely communicated other than to election workers, just before the Nov. 7 election. It created confusion at the polls and prompted questions about voter suppression from Asbill.

The sole tax issue on the ballot was school-related, involving both the district and Ozarks Technical Community College. Turnout was high and the measure failed.

In mid-November, Asbill emailed Lightfoot and asked her to confirm that she will not "bar voters from voting merely because they wear clothing indicating their affiliation with an entity that has some connection with a question on the ballot."

"You interfered with the right and ability of people to vote  without legal authority," he wrote Nov. 16.

Lightfoot replied to Asbill by email Monday, according to records obtained by the News-Leader, and said she is meeting with attorney Travis Elliott with Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson in mid-December. "Once I have had that meeting, I will be responding to your letter for the clarification," she wrote.

The News-Leader reached Lightfoot to ask about Asbill's request  and if the wearing of school logos will be barred in the future  but she declined to answer questions, saying "We'll address it with him privately."

Polk County Clerk Rachel Lightfoot

In an email sent Nov. 29, Asbill notified Lightfoot that the district has also retained legal counsel to "address the irregularities" of the Nov. 7 election, namely her decision that voters were not allowed to enter a polling placing while wearing clothing with the Bolivar school logo, name or mascot.

"Though we have not yet filed an election contest nor other action addressing that instruction and its effect on voters, I am writing to ask you to preserve records relating to that decision and instruction," Asbill wrote Nov. 29.

Asbill started demanding answers about the change on election day. In a Nov. 8 interview, Lightfoot said she made the "very last minute" decision after citizens raised concerns about what constituted "campaign materials" or electioneering in a polling place.

She said she initially sought advice from the office of the Missouri Secretary of State and concluded, at the time, there was "no black and white" answer.

In the post-election interview, Lightfoot said "everybody that wanted to vote voted" and no one was turned away as long as they complied and either removed or covered up clothing with a school logo, name or mascot.

More: Bolivar voters were asked to cover school logos at polls. Here's why some are concerned

"Electioneering" is prohibited in state statute and includes displaying campaign posters or signs, distributing campaign materials and soliciting votes for or against any candidate or political party.

"School attire is not a sign or campaign material," Asbill wrote in the Nov. 16 email obtained by the News-Leader.

Asbill worries 'situation will be repeated'

The Proposition BoMOTC issue on the Nov. 7 ballot was Bolivar schools seeking permission from voters to join the taxing district of OTC.

If approved, the property tax levy in Bolivar would have increased by 20 cents per $100 of assessed valuation Jan. 1  generating revenue that would have gone to OTC, not the Bolivar district. In exchange, Bolivar residents enrolled in OTC would have received much lower tuition.

Asbill said school-related clothing worn by voters didn't reference the ballot issue or OTC.

"They did not urge or even suggest a vote for or against the proposition," he wrote Nov. 16. "They merely gave the name of the district, a school, or a mascot  none of which would have been involved with the community college were the proposition to have succeeded."

In the days after the election, Asbill  who has announced plans to retire June 30  said the BoMOTC issue is unlikely to go before voters again in 2024 since it is a presidential election year. It is unclear if OTC or Bolivar will pursue it again in 2025.

Richard Asbill

Asbill said he is pursuing the reassurance from Lightfoot, who was appointed to the position in July 2021 by Gov. Mike Parson, because of the potential ripple effect.

He said officials from other school districts and public entities have reached out with concerns it could be repeated elsewhere.

In the Nov. 16 email, Asbill shared that feedback with Lightfoot.

"I am concerned that if you continue to take this position, the situation will be repeated when the district has another ballot proposition, such as a bond issue," Asbill wrote. "Additionally, it will arise when other entities in the county have ballot propositions."

More: Bolivar Superintendent Richard Asbill, or 'Sawyer's dad,' announces plans to retire

Citing examples, Asbill said firefighters, sheriff's deputies, police officers, and city and county workers could be barred from wearing uniforms and other clothing that bears the name or logo of their employer if there is a related issue on the ballot.

"In each case, wearing a shirt bearing a logo that says nothing about the 'question to be voted on' is not electioneering, and does not bar the voter wearing the logo from casting their ballot," he wrote.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Bolivar schools want to avoid repeat of Election Day clothing conflict
Ukraine's State Border Guard intercepted an illegal shipment of smuggled cigarettes on Nov. 29 at the Danube port of Reni worth Hr 32 million ($880,000).

The illegal cargo, which originated from an unnamed country in Asia, consisted of more than 400,000 packs of cigarettes.

The border guard said the investigation was ongoing.

Russia's war against Ukraine has not stopped the smuggling of illegal goods in and out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

Due to Russia's blockade of the Black Sea, the transit of ships has slowed to a fraction of the pre-war figure, and the Danube River has become an increasingly important trade route.

Ukraine's Bureau of Economic Security said on Nov. 16 that more than 20% of grain exported in the past nine months went through black market channels, estimated at a total value of Hr 144 billion ($3.9 billion).

Through the use of falsified documents, shell companies, and cash payments, the black market grain can be transported unbeknownst to the Ukrainian government, also denying it much-needed tax revenue.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian general, 5 high-ranking officials reportedly killed in Ukraine

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Olivia Bell remembers the first time she saw Black ballet dancers as a child at a performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem in Fort Worth.

Seeing Black ballerinas on stage with flesh tone tights to match their dark skin was inspiring. Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, people told her to stick to jazz and contemporary dance, but after seeing the reality of a possible life in ballet, she could not let go.

It was so empowering to me as a little girl, Bell said. I probably dont think I fully realized why I was so impacted then, but I definitely do now.

Bell continued her journey in dance at The Dallas Conservatory, in summer classes and by enrolling full time at the School of American Ballet in New York City. She now dances for New York City Ballets Corps de Ballet, one of the premier dance companies in the world.

As she considers her success in ballet, Bell is thankful for the Brown Girls Do Ballet program in Fort Worth, which helped her find a community of other Black ballet dancers who shared her experiences. The support system of mentors helped her to ignore the people who told her to give up ballet.

Brown Girls Do Ballet is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to young dancers of color such as scholarships, mentorship, supplies, workshops and other support to help keep them dancing, said TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian, founder and executive director of the organization.

It has served over 200 dancers in the U.S. and abroad and provided over 55 scholarships since 2020 for summer programs or undergraduate studies.

Photo project on Black dancers goes viral

Brown Girls Do Ballet was founded in December 2012 when Wallace-McMillians 3-year-old daughter wanted to do ballet. Wallace-McMillian saw there werent many girls who looked like her daughter in class, so she decided to do a personal photography project to show her daughter the diversity of Black dancers.

She created a Facebook page and put out a call for dancers of color in the Dallas, Houston and Austin areas. In 24 hours her post became viral with parents who wanted her to come to their city to take photos.

She was overwhelmed by the joy she saw in the mothers she met and how much her project meant to them.

When you had a mom whos had a 12 year old whos only ever been the only little Black girl in the studio, it creates a completely different response, Wallace-McMillian said. They are super emotional, and its almost like I didnt realize that this was the reality I placed my child in. But now its magnified to me, and I hurt for my baby because I dont know what shes been through being the only one in this space.

After a photo shoot in Austin, a friend told her to take the initiative further to provide help to young girls of color who want to take ballet classes.

After helping one girl pay tuition to attend an intensive summer program, she began to expand with mentorship, scholarships, taking donations of ballet pointe shoes, a supply closet, and other resources.

Mentor program provides support

The Brown Ballerina Junior and Youth Ambassadors mentorship program has helped over 170 girls since 2017. Participants are located around the world, from Canada to Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana and Sydney. Girls are paired with older dancers who are on similar career tracks for a year of mentoring. They also are able to meet a professional dancer once a month to talk and learn.

One of the mentors is Isio-Maya Nuwere, who currently stars in The Lion King on Broadway, and is a New York City native. She said she believes Black women have been underserved and overlooked in ballet because of prejudice. Brown Girls Do Ballet provides a community where Black girls can lean from each other and pursue their dreams even when they feel discouraged, she says.

Isio-Maya Nuwere, who is starring in The Lion King on Broadway, says Black women have been overlooked in ballet but Brown Girls Do Ballet provides a community where they can help each other through their journey.

I think we strive to have diversity, and I think that is the greatest thing that we would need, not even in the arts but in the world, is to give a Black girl the same opportunity as they would as their counterpart and even the playing field, Nuwere said.

Destiny Wimpye is a mentor and alum of the program who is from Atlanta and currently dances for the Pacific Northwest Ballet. She says Brown Girls Do Ballet cares about making the ballet world more inclusive for young Black and brown girls. When she was in the program, Wimpye said, she was thankful to have access to people who looked like her and could answer questions when she was struggling.

Destiny Wimpye is a mentor for Brown Girls Do Ballet and says its ambassador program creates connections that last forever among participants.

One mentor taught her how to sew ballet pointe shoes, which can cost between $65-$120 and need to be replaced about every three months. She hopes to provide the same help to another young dancer of color.

I like being a part of the organization because I want younger dancers to be able to come to me and ask me questions that they might not be able to ask their peers, Wimpye said.

Program creates sense of community

Allie Francois is from Baldwin, N.Y., and became interested in ballet when she was 5, though she did not take it seriously until she was 10. She learned about Brown Girls Do Ballet through Instagram and fell in love with the community around the program. There arent many ballet dancers of color to look up to, Francois said, so having a community of people who could support you at all times was important.

Allie Francois is a participant in the Brown Girls Do Ballet ambassador program. She says support for young Black ballet dancers is important for girls like her who have dreams of being in a ballet company.

Being a part of Brown Girls Ballet has helped me become a leader for little girls who are just like me, Francois said. Ive learned I can share my gifts with others and give back to those who helped me get to where I am today and where I will be in a couple years. Support is a big aspect of dance, and it is imperative that these dancers of color are receiving it.

Lillian Wamsley, 14, is from Dallas and says ballet provides her with a sense of freedom to escape from the stress of everyday life doing what she loves.

She wants Brown Girls Do Ballet to grow to provide more opportunities for future brown ballerinas.

It is important to be around other girls of color who also do ballet because I am able to connect with dancers who look like me, Wamsley said. We support one another. We share the struggles and challenges of being a brown ballerina. For example, brown tights, pancaking pointe shoes, and embracing all body types.

Wallace-McMillian, the founder of Brown Girls Do Ballet, says there will always be a conversation about early experiences for children interested in ballet as the cost of these experiences rises every year. She would like to have college chapters of her organization where students could have vulnerable conversations in a safe setting and help each other after the conversation ends.

She also wants to help provide mental health professionals for girls dealing with body image issues, social anxiety, or even life after dance. Recently, she has seen young women deal with housing insecurity as they were offered opportunities that took them beyond what they could afford.

Wallace-McMillian says access to ballet builds community and provides people with more opportunities than they could imagine.

I think all thats important, and I think people are lost on that when you think its just dance. Its not just dance, this is something else, Wallace-McMillian said. I dont know what it is to be honest with you but its bigger than dance.
Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller turned himself into police custody after Dallas authorities issued an arrest warrant for suspicion of domestic violence, TMZ reported. Miller is accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend during an argument, police sources told WFAA. The Bills in a statement said they were probing the incident but did not share any further information. This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.

Read it at TMZ

Read more at The Daily Beast.
A local middle school was dismissed early Thursday due to a bomb threat.

According to a letter the school district sent out to parents, a bomb threat was made against Mad River Middle School on Thursday afternoon.

A spokesperson for the school district told News Center 7 that police cleared the building and nothing was found.

Dayton Airport Police with K-9s along with Wright Patterson Air Force Base Police with a K-9, searched the building, a spokesperson for the Riverside Police Department said.

Given the nature of the situation, the district decided to dismiss students for the day, the letter said.

>> Semi-truck carrying chocolate, caramel crashes on Ohio highway

The school district said busses would be running on their regular routes to take students home. Parents with children who do not ride the bus are asked to pick up their child at Stebbins student lot.

At this time normal business operations will resume, and all evening activities will take place as scheduled, the district said.

Details on if any arrests were made were not immediantly available.

The incident remains under investigation by the Riverside Police Department.

News Center 7 will continue updating this story as we learn more.
The Kansas City Royals have some decisions to make this offseason, and Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has already executed a few trades to improve the roster.

The Royals acquired pitchers Nick Anderson and Kyle Wright in separate trades. KC also signed utility player Garrett Hampson to a one-year deal.

However, there is more work to be done.

Picollo plans to address a few roster needs. The Royals look to add starting pitching, bullpen depth and possibly another impact bat this offseason. MLB executives will convene in Nashville for the 2023 Winter Meetings next week.

Generally, MLB free agency ramps up around the Winter Meetings. The Royals will get a chance to meet with other clubs and chat with free-agent representatives.

The Star previously highlighted potential starting pitchers that could interest the Royals. Now, we will take a look at some bullpen options.

Closers

The Royals struggled in late innings last season. KC entered the 2023 campaign with veteran relievers Scott Barlow and Aroldis Chapman available to close games.

Both relievers were dealt ahead of the midseason trade deadline. It led to a revolving door of young pitchers in the closer role. The Royals tried Carlos Hernandez, James McArthur, Austin Cox, Collin Snider and Taylor Clarke to finish games.

The Royals bullpen had a 5.23 ERA last season, per FanGraphs. Picollo could decide to overhaul the relief corps with a couple MLB veterans.

There are a few closers that could fit with the Royals. One player that makes an interesting fit is former All-Star closer Will Smith.

Smith, 34, spent last season with the Texas Rangers. He posted a 4.40 ERA and 22 saves for the World Series champions. Smith is also familiar with the Royals organization. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and spent two seasons in Kansas City.

There is a lot of value in a veteran closer. Smith has experience in high-leverage roles and could also operate as a setup man. He had a 3.36 FIP (fielding independent pitching) and 55 strikeouts.

If Smith is open to a short-term deal, a possible reunion with the Royals makes sense. He could also be a reasonable trade chip if the Royals fall out of contention.

Other closers that make sense: Dylan Floro, Andrew Chaflin.

Relievers

There are several relievers that are available in free agency. The Royals could go a lot of ways in filling out their bullpen.

Expect competition for the 2024 relief spots in spring training. Anderson was added to bring veteran experience and help stabilize the bullpen.

The Royals have young guys in McArthur, John McMillon and Will Klein that could get an extended look. Other veterans that will compete include Hernandez, Clarke and Jake Brentz, among others.

There could be some crossover in long relief as well. It remains to be seen if players such as Angel Zerpa or Alec Marsh will continue in opener roles in 2024.

Some free-agent relievers that might appeal to the Royals include Ryne Stanek, Collin McHugh and Matt Moore.

Stanek, 32, is a local product. He attended nearby Blue Valley High School and has turned in a successful MLB career. Stanek is a seven-year veteran and spent time alongside Royals manager Matt Quatraro with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2017 to 2019.

Last season, Stanek posted a 4.09 ERA in 55 games with the Houston Astros. His numbers were slightly inflated from his career peripherals. In 2022, Stanek had a 1.15 ERA and held opponents to a .188 batting average.

Stanek is a hard-throwing righty who has a wealth of postseason experience. He can fit anywhere from middle relief to a setup role.

McHugh could also be an interesting target. He also spent time with the Rays in 2021. That season, McHugh had a 1.55 ERA and registered 74 strikeouts.

The last two years, McHugh has spent time with the Atlanta Braves. He posted a 4.30 ERA in 2023 and will be 37 years old next season. Its possible McHugh might be looking for a short-term deal. The Royals could use a middle reliever that can pitch multiple innings.

Moore pitched for three teams last season. However, he continued to put up consistent numbers with each stop. Moore is another reliever that spent time in Tampa Bay.

He had a 2.77 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and is an option with a lot of experience. MLB teams value lefty relievers, and Moore offers good value entering his 13th season.

The Royals will continue to evaluate both the free-agent and trade market. With the Winter Meetings on the horizon, the Royals will likely cast a wide net to add to their bullpen.
An attorney for Donald Trump provided scathing evidence against the former president in his federal classified documents case in Florida, and CNN legal analyst Elie Honig said it may lead to a conviction once the case goes to trial. ABC News reported that Trump attorney Jennifer Little told a grand jury that she "very clearly" cautioned Trump that he must comply with a federal subpoena for classified materials he took from the White House, and that she's "absolutely" sure that he understood failing to turn them over would be a "crime."

"This is a bullseye for prosecutors and right down the middle of what they have to prove for obstruction of justice," Honig, a former federal prosecutor, said of Little's comments. "Let's remember that it's the federal Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Part of the indictment relates to the mishandling of classified documents, and part of it relates to obstruction of justice," he added. Honig went on to say that a prosecutor in the case, in order to prove obstruction, would have to show that Trump knew he had a subpoena, had to comply and intentionally did not. "This witness, Trump's former  and, by the way, current lawyer  has told the grand jury straight up, no ambiguity, 'You have to comply, if you don't, it's a crime,' and he said, 'I got it, I understand,'" Honig explained, adding, "If the jury accepts that, game over, he's guilty."
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Bump-And-Run Carjackings Are The New Trend You Have To Guard Against

As authorities fail to truly clamp down on the car theft problem in US cities, thieves are predictably becoming more aggressive and bolder. Weve seen the problem evolve from break-ins while cars are parked to carjackings and armed home invasions to steal car keys in just a short time. Now a new trend is reportedly emerging: bump-and-run carjackings.

Man thrown from his car during a scary carjacking in NYC.

It might sound silly but we guarantee if it were to happen to you its a genuine code brown moment. While WJLA says the trend is new and unique to the Washington, D.C. area weve known about this trick for years and have seen it in other places. Still, it seems to be growing in popularity so we want to warn everyone about it.

The scheme goes something like this: youre driving along minding your own business when someone rearends you. It probably isnt hard but its enough to get you to pull over to inspect the damage and probably call police. As you climb out of your car and start to assess your rear bumper, the people in the vehicle that hit you jump out and point guns at you. Thats when they take your car and drive off.

While we understand the guns are just to coerce people into going along with the carjacking, we know its only a matter of time before someone is shot unintentionally. After all, videos of young carjackers showing off their Glocks with auto switches demonstrate they know nothing about flagging or trigger discipline, so theyre eventually going to shoot someone without meaning to and that person could be you.

One potential way to guard against this scheme is to stay in your car, with the doors locked, until the people get out of the other vehicle. Or even better, stay in your vehicle with the engine running and wait until police arrive. Its sad that everyone has to look over their shoulder constantly but thats the world we live in now. What would be even better is if prosecutors and judges hit car thieves with hard sentences, getting them off the streets and sending a message that these crimes wont be tolerated.

In the meantime, we all get to deal with the lawless attitudes.
The Southeast Lions Club will announce the winner of its South End versus South Side fundraising contest from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

South End or South Side? If you live or work in that part of Columbus, if you were born there, if you go to church or school there, all play a role in what you might call it.

To that end, the Southeast Lions Club is holding a "South End" versus "South Side" contest on its webpage and the Columbus Southeast Lions Club Facebook page, a fundraiser for South Side organizations.

"Its just a way to get people engaged and talk about why they love the neighborhood," said Tom Grote, president of the Southeast Lions Club.

It's the third year for the event. The South End has won in blow-out style the first two years, Grote said.

"It's kind of like the Ohio State-Michigan game, going for three years in a row," Grote joked.

The goal is to raise $5,000.

Money raised goes to groups such as the Domincan Sisters of Peace Learning Center, the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Schiller Park, the St. Ladislas Food Pantry, the South Central Commons Block Watch, and Camp Echoing Hills for disabled chldren in Coshocton County.

People can go to the Southeast Lions Club webpage where they can click on a "South End" or "South Side" tab and make a donation there.

The South End/South Side winner will be revealed at an event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the South Side's Hey Hey Bar & Grill, 361 E. Whittier St., where people can vote and donate in person. The Lions Club will also be collecting winter coats and eyeglasses. and presenting a check to the Boys and Girls Club, which has a space in the Reeb Avenue Center.

Sue Gall has owned the Hey Hey for decades with husband Tim.

"The old timers, the people who grew up in the South End, always called it the South End. The new people who come in call it the South Side," she said.

"Its just a fun thing," she said.

So what does she call it?

"The South End, because my husband was born there!" she said.

The Lions Club also will be honoring long-time South Side community leader Donna Bates at the event for her years of service. Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, who grew up on the South Side, is scheduled to be there, Grote said.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: South End or South Side? Lions Club fundraiser to determine winner.
This versatile, self-deployable aircraft offers increased speed and range over other rotary-wing aircraft, enabling Air Force Special Operations Command aircrews to execute long-range special operations missions. The CV-22 can perform missions that normally would require both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. The CV-22 takes off vertically and, once airborne, the nacelles (engine and prop-rotor group) on each wing can rotate into a forward position.

Tokyo has requested the U.S. military suspend operations of its V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in Japan, following a crash that took place off the Japanese coast yesterday. While the accident was the first fatal incident involving a U.S. military aircraft in Japan in five years , it threatens to reopen concerns in that country about the safety record of the V-22 in general. You can read our initial report on the accident here .

In the Japanese parliament today, Japanese Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara said: The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region and we are requesting the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe.

Japanese Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara during a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington, on October 4, 2023. Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

As well as these public words from Kihara, it seems that an official request has been put in by the Japanese government to suspend U.S. military V-22 flights in Japan, except non-emergency ones.

The Japanese military, which also flies the V-22, will also ground the type until the circumstances of yesterdays crash become clear. This was confirmed by another defense ministry official, Reuters reports.

https://www.twitter.com/NikkeiDC_Ryo/status/1730050351644951003?s=20

Following his address in parliament, Kihara confirmed that the U.S. military was still operating Ospreys in Japan. He said that Japans regional defense bureau had confirmation of 20 takeoffs and landings by Ospreys around U.S. bases by 3.30 p.m. local time today.

A spokesperson for U.S. military forces in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Meanwhile, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said: Our focus is on the ongoing search and rescue operations, and were praying for a safe return.

https://www.twitter.com/USAmbJapan/status/1730110857101652262?s=20

Yesterdays crash involved a CV-22B from the U.S. Air Forces 21st Special Operations Squadron stationed at Yokota Air Base. The Osprey was taking part in a routine training sortie when it came down in waters off Yakushima Island, western Japan. That island is located around 45 miles south of the Kagoshima region on the southern main island of Kyushu.

Wreckage of the CV-22B Osprey off Yakushima Island, as photographed by the Japan Coast Guard, November 29, 2023. Japan Coast Guard

According to eyewitness accounts , the aircrafts left engine appeared to be on fire as it approached an airport for an emergency landing in clear weather and light winds. These claims have so far not been substantiated.

So far, the U.S. military has only confirmed the death of one service member, who was retrieved from the water yesterday unconscious and not breathing. A search-and-rescue effort to recover the other seven crew members is ongoing.

This effort has so far involved several different Japanese and U.S. assets, including U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules, as well as U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando IIs , HH-60G Pave Hawks , and other CV-22Bs. The following audio clips include communications recorded during the aerial refueling of a CV-22B by an MC-130J, as well as the crew of the MC-130 investigating a potential light in the water near the crash site.

https://twitter.com/PityPityman5/status/1729889101997121670

While the V-22 has never been far from controversy, due in considerable part to its safety record, the tilt-rotor has come in for particular criticism in Japan, where it began to be operated by the U.S. Marine Corps at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on the main island of Honshu in July 2012. Since then the Marine Ospreys have moved to Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa, where there have been more protests by campaigners unhappy with the deployment of the tilt-rotor in Japan.

Civic group members stage a protest rally against MV-22 Osprey aircraft deployment at the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa prefecture, at a park in Tokyo on November 4, 2012. KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images

Then, in 2018, ahead of the deployment of the first U.S. Air Force CV-22Bs in Japan, there were demonstrations outside Yokota Air Base near Tokyo.

While we are excited to have the CV-22 Ospreys on base, not everybody shares the same sentiment, a message on the airbases Facebook page read at the time . All members of Team Yokota are encouraged to remain safe by avoiding any protesters.

According to local reports, the U.S. Air Force had six CV-22Bs deployed at Yokota Air Base before yesterdays crash, while another 24 U.S. Marine Corps MV-22Bs are stationed at Futenma Air Station, Okinawa. As of October, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) had received 14 of 17 the V-22Bs it has on order, these being based at Camp Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture.

A V-22 bound for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force based at Camp Kisarazu prepares to depart Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 6, 2020. The ferry flight from Iwakuni marked the delivery of the first V-22 to the Japan Self-Defense Force. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Lauren Brune/Released

Japanese activists have repeatedly highlighted accidents that they say reflect the poor safety record of the Osprey. One previous accident occurred in Japan, when a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B crashed off the Okinawa coast in December 2016, with all five crew members being rescued. Ospreys in Japan were grounded after the accident, which turned out to be the result of contact between the refueling hose and one of the Ospreys rotor blades while topping up from a tanker at night.

More recently there have been several fatal incidents involving U.S. military Ospreys. In August this year, a Marine Corps MV-22B crash in Australia killed three U.S. service members. Last year, an MV-22B crash near El Centro , California, in June killed five Marines , while four more Marines were killed in March when an MV-22B crashed during maneuvers in Norway .

Osprey operators, including the Japanese military, have repeatedly refuted concerns about its accident rate. Mishaps need to be seen in the context of a frenetic operational tempo including hundred of airframes, combat deployments, and challenging mission profiles. Meanwhile, it remains true that the types troubled development phase continues to dog its reputation.

For the time being, it looks like the American-owned aircraft will remain active in Japan, including for non-emergency missions. While we await to see the outcome of the accident investigation, yesterdays incident has already reignited public debate about the safety of the V-22 in Japan.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
VICTORIA, British Columbia  The Canadian military will start receiving in 2026 Boeing-made P-8A Poseidons it is buying through a deal worth $5.9 billion.

Canadian cabinet ministers, including Defence Minister Bill Blair, made the official announcement Thursday, but defense observers had long expected it after Canada earlier this year requested from the U.S. pricing on the P-8.

Canada will initially acquire 14 of the planes with the option to buy two additional P-8s at a later date.

Blair said the aircraft should be all delivered by the fall of 2027 and the fleet fully operational by 2033.

The P-8A will replace Canadas current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, which has been in service for more than 40 years.

Blair said Thursday during a news conference in Ottawa that it has become increasingly difficult for Canadas military to maintain the CP-140 fleet because of its age. It has reached its limit, Blair said.

He noted the Boeing plane is a proven capability operated by Canadas Five Eyes allies: the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Blair said Canada did not want to take a risk and look at aircraft now under development.

There will be additional spending on new infrastructure, weapons and simulators for the P-8, he added.

Boeing will be expected to provide investment in Canadian industry equivalent to the value of the contract it is receiving, federal government officials said at a background briefing.

The Royal Canadian Air Force uses the CP-140 on operations around the world, including for hunting submarines and detecting security threats such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and polluters along the Canadian coastlines.

Blair noted Canadas newly acquired CC-330 Husky refueling aircraft fleet will be able to refuel the P-8A.

He told reporters the P-8s will come as Canada is facing increasing threats, particularly in the Arctic. We are seeing a more aggressive posture from our potential adversaries such as Russia and China, he added.

The Canadian military had originally planned a competition starting in 2024 to replace the CP-140 Auroras. Bids were to have been submitted in 2027. Both Boeing, with its P-8, and Canadian firm Bombardier, with its special mission Global 6500 aircraft, were interested in competing.

But in a surprise move in March 2023, Canada requested pricing from the U.S. government for a fleet of 16 P-8s. Public Services and Procurement Canada, the federal contracting department, announced the P-8 was the only aircraft that could meet Canadas needs.

In June, the State Department approved the sale to Canada of 16 P-8A aircraft and related equipment at an estimated cost of $5.9 billion.

That sparked a campaign of political lobbying by Bombardier and its partners, which include General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada.

Boeing, in a news release Thursday, noted it has 81 Canadian-based suppliers contributing already to the P-8. In addition, it has partnerships with key Canadian firms such as CAE and Raytheon Canada, the firm said.

The P-8 will bolster Canadas defense capability and readiness, and we look forward to delivering this capability to the Royal Canadian Air Force, Heidi Grant, president of business development for Boeings defense business, said in the news release. Together with our Canadian partners, we will deliver a strong industrial and technological benefit package that guarantees continued prosperity to Canadas aerospace and defense industry.
In the blistering heat, CBS News found children in Ghana as young as 5 years old using machetes nearly as big as themselves to harvest the cocoa beans that end up in some of America's most-loved chocolates. Our team traveled across Ghana's remote cocoa belt to visit small subsistence farms that supply the U.S. chocolate giant Mars, which produces candies including M&Ms and Snickers.

We found children working at each one of the farms  despite the company's vow to have systems in place to eradicate child labor in its supply chain by 2025.

Mars has also boasted about rescuing thousands of children, who are listed as beneficiaries of what it calls a robust monitoring system meant to keep children off cocoa plantations and in schools.

CBS News exclusively obtained copies of these lists from a whistleblower and was able to confirm that some of the listed children were still working in the fields.

Munira, 15, is one of those children. She has worked in the cocoa fields since she was 5 years old. Education is a luxury, with her school an hour-long walk away and transportation options expensive. Last year, her family harvested only one bag of decent-quality cocoa. A 140-pound bag of the product fetches only about $115.

Children harvest cocoa using machetes. / Credit: CBS News.

Last year, field supervisors contracted by Mars visited Munira. They gave her a backpack and schoolbooks with the slogan "I am a child, I play, I go to school." But in the 18 months since that first visit, the family told CBS News no one had checked to see if Munira was, in fact, in school.

"I feel sad. I want to be, like, a medical doctor," Munira said. "But my family doesn't have money for school."

Her 12-year-old brother Gafalo also works in the fields, but longs to join his peers in the classroom.

A cocoa field supervisor who spoke to CBS News on the condition of anonymity said "almost every data" used to make up the lists "is cooked... or is not accurate," adding that he had personally "made up lists before."

He and other supervisors told CBS News they were under pressure to produce names, often with only 24 hours' notice, and he said the companies never verify the information.

"Nobody has come back to check as to whether it's true or not," he said.

CBS News spoke with nearly a dozen children whose names were on those lists. None of them were in school, and none of them had been regularly monitored to ensure they were attending classes.

A child uses a machete to harvest cocoa. / Credit: CBS News

"No one came here, ever," one child told us.

In some cases, names on the lists were outright fabrications. CBS News visited a farm where according to a list there was a child who was no longer working in the cocoa fields. The list identified her as the daughter of the farmer, but she doesn't exist.

Only a third of the 300 students registered at one school visited by CBS News actually attend classes. All students said that they harvested cocoa either before or after school.

CBS News also visited a cocoa warehouse in Ghana that supplies Mars. An employee at the warehouse, who is not being named by CBS News, said child labor was "an offense" in the country, but he could not guarantee all the cocoa handled at the facility was produced without it.

"I can't say 100%," he told us.

Terry Collingsworth, a human rights lawyer in the U.S., has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging consumer fraud against American chocolate companies including Mars. He has collected statements from Ghanaian children working for Mars suppliers, including young boys doing the backbreaking work in the fields.

CBS News witnessed one child nearly lose his fingers to a machete blade while hacking open cocoa pods.

"They're telling the public that we're rehabilitating this kid, and then they're cynically coming here and just checking a box and the kid is back working the next day," Collingsworth told CBS News.

In a statement provided to CBS News, a spokesperson for Mars said:

"We condemn the use of child labor. Despite our requests, CBS did not provide specific details of their investigation to Mars ahead of time in order for us to investigate claims of misconduct at the time of this report. We treat any claim of misconduct in our supply chain very seriously and we will thoroughly investigate once we have the necessary information and take appropriate action. Our cocoa suppliers in Ghana have agreed to adhere to our robust Supplier Code of Conduct and we have also been clear that they must have a Child Labor and Remediation System (CLMRS) in place by 2025 that complies with the industry leading International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) standard. Over 65% of our cocoa supply in West Africa is already covered by CLMRS which is implemented by our suppliers on the ground, with audits conducted by certification bodies as part of Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certification requirements. To be clear, we condemn the use of child labor. It has no place in our supply chain, and we are committed to helping eradicate it, which is why we have a robust Protecting Children Action Plan in place that is backed by a significant financial investment. We are also transparent in saying that we know that more needs to be done and we continue to work diligently with parties across the cocoa sector to further help advance respect for human rights in the cocoa supply chain."

Iconic chocolate brand linked to child labor in Ghana

Judge sides with Daryl Hall in legal battle with former musical partner John Oates

Rock legends KISS to hold final concert Saturday
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Wednesday said the news of an alleged plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York City is disturbing and underscores a global rise in transnational repression.

We are witnessing an alarming rise in transnational repression globally, where governments are dispatching assassins and kidnappers or using international criminal networks to abduct, harass, intimidate, and harm dissidents, journalists, and other individuals  far beyond their borders, Cardin said in a statement.

The disturbing news of a foiled assassination plot against a U.S. citizen involving Indian government officials further underscores the importance of shedding light on efforts by governments to silence dissenters abroad, he continued.

Cardins remarks were released just hours after the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York announced Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, is facing murder-for-hire charges for allegedly conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York City earlier this year. Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta last June, authorities said.

Cardin said he plans to chair a Foreign Relations Committee hearing to evaluate the extent of global transnational repression and how the U.S. can counter such threats.

Prosecutors did not identify the Sikh leader, but said they are an American citizen. The Washington Post and the Financial Times identified the victim as Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Hill reached out to Pannun for comment.

Gupta was accused of working with an Indian government employee who prosecutors allege led the assassination plot from India. The employee, referred to as CC-1 by prosecutors, described himself as Senior Field Officer with duties related to security management, and intelligence.

Prosecutors claimed Gupta contacted a person believed to be a criminal associate for help with hiring a hitman. The person was actually a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The source introduced Gupta to a hitman, also a DEA undercover officer, and Gupta allegedly helped facilitate a $15,000 advance payment for the assassination.

Gupta allegedly told the undercover officer to carry out the murder as soon as possible, while noting the murder should not take place near the time of anticipated engagements between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials, per the affidavit.

Without identifying the Sikh separatist leader, prosecutors said the victim is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a U.S.-based organization pushing for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India with a large population of Sikhs.

The news of the alleged murder-for-hire plot comes days after the U.S. raised concerns with India about reports of an assassination plot against an American Canadian Sikh separatist leader. A Financial Times report last week detailed allegations that the U.S. stopped a plot to kill Pannun on American soil.

Pannun accused India of using terrorism to stop his push for an independent Sikh state, known as Khalistan, within India.

The foiled attempt on my life on American soil by the Indian agents is transnational terrorism which is a threat to the US sovereignty, freedom of speech and democracy, so I will let the U.S. government respond to this threat, he said in an email shared with The Hill earlier this month.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Wednesday that Canada, from the month of August onwards, has worked with the U.S. and other global partners in dealing with what he called the very serious allegations.

Tensions between Canada and India flared up in September after Trudeau claimed credible allegations may tie India to the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Sarakshi Rai contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Anti-abuse activists lodged a Vatican complaint Thursday in response to a $2 million lawsuit settled by a New Lenox Catholic school and the Augustinian religious order, alleging that the actions and inaction by Chicagoland Catholic leaders in handling the accused priest is endangering kids.

Former Providence Catholic High School student Robert Krankvich filed a lawsuit in April 2018 alleging the schools longtime principal and president, the Rev. Richard McGrath, repeatedly raped and abused him. Krankvich was between 13 and 15 when he was abused in the schools gym and wrestling room in the mid-1990s, the lawsuit alleged.

The school and religious order McGrath belongs to finalized the settlement in mid-November, according to Krankvichs attorney, Marc Pearlman.

McGrath abruptly retired from the school in December 2017 after a student reported she witnessed McGrath view a picture of a naked teenage boy on his phone. The priest steadfastly refused to hand over the school-issued phone amid an investigation that ultimately did not lead to criminal charges, New Lenox police said.

After the phone investigation and abuse lawsuit filing, McGrath was considered illegitimately absent from his order after refusing to go along with a move Augustinian superiors had ordered him to make to a supervised location, Augustinian leaders said in 2019.

His whereabouts are still unknown, and Catholic officials have done nothing to warn parishioners and the public about him, according to David Clohessy, former director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

Its fairly safe to assume that he is living among and maybe working among people who dont have any idea about what hes done, Clohessy said at a Thursday news conference outside the Hyde Park friary where McGrath is said to have lived after leaving Providence Catholic before becoming absent.

SNAP submitted a complaint Thursday to the Vatican alleging the leaders of McGraths order and the dioceses where he worked impeded investigations by not publicly identifying him as credibly accused of sexual abuse.

The priest lived or worked in the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Diocese of Joliet and the Diocese of Rockford, according to SNAP. The organization named in its complaint Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks, Rockford Bishop David Malloy and two Chicagoland Augustinian leaders.

These five men are treating one potentially dangerous child predator, Fr. McGrath, like a hot potato, doing little or nothing to protect kids while making excuses and claiming hes someone elses responsibility, the complaint said.

The complaint called upon the dioceses and order to immediately include McGraths name in lists of credibly accused priests and warn parishioners of him, in part by using church bulletins and speaking from the pulpit.

McGraths faculties as a priest were withdrawn in March 2018, according to a statement shared Thursday from the Rev. Anthony Pizzo, friar provincial of the Midwest Augustinian Province.

The priest left the friary he had been ordered to stay at in September that year and was considered to be in stubborn disobedience, of an order to return, said Pizzo, who is also named in the SNAP complaint.

He has not done so. Therefore, the Augustinian Province is in the process of dismissing Fr. McGrath. Pizzo said.

The order is working on a public list of credibly accused priests, a spokesperson said.

The Diocese of Joliet and Diocese of Rockford did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago said the archdiocese lists priests and deacons who have substantiated allegations on its website, but leaves determinations involving priests affiliated with religious orders to their orders.

They alone have the records to make a determination if an allegation is substantiated, the archdioceses statement said.

Clohessy said McGrath should be defrocked and denounced.

Hes walking around right now unsupervised, unmonitored, unpunished and very, very likely unrepentant and unreformed, he said.

Clohessy and Pearlman called on the Augustinians to immediately publicly share a list of credibly accused priests.

Theres no reason that list cant be posted tomorrow, Clohessy said, adding that the dioceses should also more regularly identify credibly accused priests that belong to religious orders, but who work alongside the diocese in schools and churches.

Pearlman praised Krankvich as a hero. If he hadnt come forward two decades after his abuse, the priest might have been able to continue his work after the child pornography allegations, Pearlman said.

It would have gone away, he said. The police did not have enough evidence to charge, and what likely would have occurred is nothing.

Krankvich came forward for one reason, Pearlman said.

For children to be protected and safe, he said.

Krankvich called for people who have been abused by priests to come forward to law enforcement, groups such as SNAP and attorneys.

The lawsuit settlement comes six months after Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released a report on an investigation that determined Catholic leaders in Illinois vastly underreported clergy sex abuse against children, finding that decades of Catholic leadership decisions and policies have allowed known child sex abusers to hide, often in plain sight.

The 700-page report named 451 Catholic clerics and religious brothers who abused at least 1,997 people across Illinois since 1950. It did not name McGrath.

jsheridan@chicagotribune.com
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Crime Stoppers is searching for a man who was seen stealing 12 bottles of wine from a Florida Publix.

On Nov. 24 and Nov. 26, the unknown man entered a Publix located on Fiddlesticks Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Florida dad who locked son in box has job offers waiting if released on bond

Anyone who can identify the man is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477 or go online to southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
She sparked the beginning of a movement that changed the very fabric of our nation, said U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are continuing efforts to make Rosa Parks Day a federal holiday to commemorate her arrest on Dec. 1, 1955.

U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio., told theGrio, While we are leading this, and its deeply personal to us, this is good for America.

(Photo: State of Alabama)

When you think about the modern civil rights movement and Rosa Parks, it changed the lives of Americans, she added.

On Wednesday, CBC Chairman, Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and Reps. Beatty, Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Andre Carson, D-Ind., and others held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to push for the passing of the Rosa Parks Day Act.

This Friday, Dec. 1, will be the 68th anniversary of Rosa Parks arrest in Montgomery, Alabama, for simply refusing to give up her seat, said Congresswoman Sewell, who called Parks an American hero who stood up for the values that this nation holds dear.

She took a stand against a city steeped in segregation, and in doing so, she sparked the beginning of a movement that changed the very fabric of our nation, she added.

What Parks endured in 1955 was not unusual in the South. There were others who were jailed prior to Parks arrest, for refusing to give up their seats to white passengers, including 15-year-old Claudette Colvin.

On March 2, 1955, Colvin was detained for her refusal to relinquish her seat to a white commuter while riding on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

A decade earlier, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin was forcibly removed from a bus in Tennessee for his refusal to sit at the back of the bus.

Unlike in the other cases, Parks arrest garnered attention because of her connection to community activists and her position as a secretary for the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Horsford, a co-sponsor of the Rosa Parks Day bill, told reporters that the civil rights activists arrest was monumental for our nation and for the fight for civil rights for Black Americans and really for all of America.

As a community, we have seen efforts to rewrite history [and] Black history as some work to paint the horrors of slavery as some sort of work training program and to say Black benefited from slavery, said Hosford, referring to a middle school curriculum in Florida.

Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty

Let me be loud and clear: Black people did not benefit from slavery, said the congressman, adding, That is why it is important for us to reclaim our history, to promote our history because we understand that Black history is in fact U.S. history.

Beatty, Sewell, and former Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., first introduced National Rosa Parks Day in September 2021. In January, Sewell, Beatty, and Horsford reintroduced the legislation, giving the statute a new name, the Rosa Parks Day Act.

If the legislation is enacted into law, it would mark a historical moment in U.S. history, as the very first federal holiday to recognize a woman.

Beatty told theGrio, I think what were doing today sends a strong message, and I think this makes us stand in unity with our other colleagues.

If you go back and look at that day [Parks] body lay in [the U.S. Capitol Rotunda], it wasnt just Black people who stood in line for hours, there were many of our majority colleagues who came, she added.

Sewell told theGrio she believes her colleagues across the political aisle will ultimately back the Rosa Parks Day Act.

I look forward to my Republican colleagues joining us in this effort, she said.

I think that its a great way to show bipartisan support for American history to get the first federal holiday for a woman [and] for it to be a Black woman, Sewell added. I think it would send a powerful message to this nation.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post CBC pushes for Rosa Parks to be the first woman to have federal holiday appeared first on TheGrio.
A surge in respiratory infections among young children in China is not cause for alarm, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen told House lawmakers Thursday.

While the infections are triggering some flashbacks to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cohen said her agency is confident that they are being caused by known pathogens such as the flu or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

We believe there is no new or novel pathogen, Cohen said. These are related to existing pathogens  COVID, flu, RSV and mycoplasma, a bacterium that can infect the lungs.

Cohen said CDC has a small office in China that has been able to corroborate the assessment of its Chinese counterparts: that because of the countrys COVID lockdowns, the usual cohort of respiratory viruses werent circulating, and children werent able to build up immunity defenses. Once those pathogens returned, outbreaks happened.

Cohen said the Chinese explanation was corroborated by other sources from our European Union partners and others to make sure that we are getting a complete picture.

Still, GOP members of the committee cast the infections as suspicious and said they did not trust China to be transparent, pointing to earlier denials of information about the coronavirus that made the global response more difficult.

We are hoping that you can put some pressure in an attempt to try to get China to not mislead the world as they did with COVID-19, said Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), chairman of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations that conducted the hearing.

Republican lawmakers also said they did not trust the independence of the World Health Organization to push China to release all relevant information.

It brings us back, sadly, to the early days of COVID-19, said Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). The lack of reliable information coming out of China is a troubling parallel to 2020.

During the hearing, McMorris Rodgers and other Republicans slammed the agency for its COVID response, though much of that predated Cohens tenure. They criticized its guidance on masks and vaccines as overreaching, and indicated they want to limit the agencys scope.

While the CDC only made recommendations, many states introduced mask and vaccine mandates, including North Carolina, where Cohen served as health secretary.

Cohen asked lawmakers to ensure the agency has the necessary resources to accurately track and monitor health threats. Republicans are eyeing steep budget cuts in a 2024 appropriations bill, including slashing HIV funding, firearm injury research and eliminating funding for the programs that help the agency forecast and monitor pathogen risks.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Mandy Cohen, who led North Carolinas pandemic response efforts, said around 16% of Americans have received the latest COVID-19 booster.

Thats not enough, Cohen said Thursday morning.

Her comments came as she testified for more than two hours before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about her work as the newest director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a position shes held since July 10. Previously, she led North Carolinas Department of Health and Human Services through the height of the pandemic.

During the hearing, she was asked to explain why getting booster shots were important and she listed the reasons for the committee:

 The virus has changed.

 Whether a person has had COVID-19 or the vaccine, their protection decreases over time.

 One in seven adults are developing long COVID from the virus.

No one wants to be sick for a short time, and certainly not for a long time, Cohen said. And so for those reasons, we are encouraging folks to get the updated vaccine.

She was also asked to explain if the boosters posed a safety risk to children.

Ive looked at the data, and ... that safety profile is there in terms of safety, and they are very effective in making sure that our kids are protected, Cohen said. I dont want them to either get into the hospital, nor do I went them to get long COVID, so I got my own kids vaccinated.

What you need to know about COVID ahead of the holidays: boosters, surges, variants

She added that around 15,000 people remain hospitalized with COVID-19 and around 1,000 die per week from the virus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1.1 million American adults and 1,700 children have died from COVID.

Cohen said doctors and health care providers are most trusted by patients in understanding the need to be vaccinated.

One of the top reasons people dont get vaccinated is because their doctor or their nurse practitioner just didnt bring it up, Cohen said. Were really focusing our effort  on making sure that our health care providers have all the information they need.

Cohen said during the public health emergency she was able to look at real-time data and deploy resources where needed to educate communities on what they needed to do to keep themselves safe from the virus. Once that emergency expired, the data was no longer available, leaving her to rely on surveys to even estimate things like the number of vaccinated.

Chinas role

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, asked Cohen about recent spikes in respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in children in China.

The lack of reliable information coming out of China is a troubling parallel to 2020, McMorris Rodgers said.

Cohen said that the CDC is monitoring an uptick in pediatric respiratory illnesses in northern China.

What we do know, as of today, we do not believe this is a new or novel pathogen, Cohen said. We believe this is already existing, meaning COVID, flu, RSV, mycoplasma, and they are seeing an upsurge.

Cohen said the CDC has an office in China and officials there have been in touch with their counterparts to ensure they understand the situation.

Sickness in the U.S.

Cohen also fielded many questions about what the United States is seeing domestically.

Cohen said that the RSV season is in full swing, especially in the South. She said the country didnt experience an early flu season, but is now at its beginning.

Shes also monitoring a spike in COVID-19 cases. She said as people have begun traveling and gathering for the holiday season, those numbers are going back up.

Vaccination and treatments

Cohen said what she wanted people to take away from all this is that its never too late to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, and to ensure they have access to testing and treatment. She added that knowing what illness a person has and getting them the right treatment really saves lives.

This year, a new vaccine is available to infants and to people between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, to protect against RSV. The upper respiratory virus affects older adults and infants. But because of stay-at-home mandates during the pandemic, some young children did not have typical exposure to the virus, and it could affect some older youngsters as well.

Cohen said young children get sicker from the illness due to having small lungs and bronchioles.

Cohen also fielded questions about a supply issue for the new RSV vaccine. She said that there were manufacturing delays, and so shes working with health partners to ensure high-risk patients are prioritized.
The Navy's boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, says it will start letting recruits have some access to cell phones while they are in training.

"Over the next few weeks," recruits in two divisions -- units of roughly 60 to 80 sailors -- "will have limited access to their cell phones during designated periods of training in order to connect with family and friends and manage personal matters," the Navy announced in a Facebook post Tuesday.

Beyond the announcement, the service offered few details about the policy change that promises to be a major shift in recruits' experience at boot camp and one that is already proving controversial among outside observers.

Read Next: Cavalry Soldiers at Fort Carson Can't See Doctors in the Early Morning Under New Rules

Typically, Navy recruits have had little access to the outside world or their personal phones while undergoing the difficult early days of training to be a sailor. Instead, recruits still make use of a large room filled with pay phones several times during their 10-week stay at Great Lakes.

The Navy's boot camp website even recommends recruits pack prepaid phone cards to simplify the pay phone process.

However, the service's initial training is one of the last entry-level programs to strictly enforce such a firm stand on cell phones. By contrast, the Army allows its recruits some access to phones -- usually in limited time windows or as a reward -- but they don't carry them at all times.

A 2016 memo on the Air Force basic training website says that its recruits are allowed to use cell phones or pay phones "to make outgoing calls to family members," and they are even "encouraged to maintain their cell phone service" while at basic training. The memo does note that "trainees will use cell phones only under direct supervision of a staff member" and access is "based on their performance."

Military.com reached out to the Navy for clarification on what its current rules on cell phones are, as well as more details about how the new policy will play out for the two experimental divisions, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

However, on the boot camp's Facebook page, the most popular comments disagreed with or dismissed the need for the policy.

"I was better off without the constant phone interaction," one former sailor wrote.

"This is a terrible idea," another commenter, whose profile had pictures of him in a Navy chief petty officer uniform, wrote before noting that the point of basic training is "to harden young men and women to defend our country, to break them of old habits and toughen them up for the job ahead."

Meanwhile, the Navy's social media post said that the service's intent "is to expand this same opportunity to all Recruit Divisions over time," and the service promised a Frequently Asked Questions page "in the near future to answer questions."

While the motivation behind this change is not clear from the post, the move comes at a time when the service is not only struggling to make recruiting numbers but is also making changes to existing policies to help recruits in the door and into uniform.

Aside from offering historically high bonuses just to ship out to basic training quickly, the Navy also duplicated an Army program that takes would-be recruits who don't quite meet standards and gives them additional training in physical fitness and academic skills ahead of shipping them off to boot camp.

Some of its efforts were more controversial, however. An effort to increase the working hours of its recruiters to six days a week and to at least consider implementing measures to extend recruiters' assignments up to a year received swift backlash and a reversal after only a week.

The Navy managed to recruit 30,236 active-duty enlisted sailors -- 7,464 short of its goal of 37,700 -- this past fiscal year.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X at @ktoropin.

Related: In Latest Recruiting Bad News, the Navy Was 7,000 Sailors Short for 2023 Despite Big Bonuses, Relaxed Entry Rules
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Clark County District Attorneys Office will determine if a self-defense shooting by a former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department employee will warrant any charges, officials said Wednesday.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officials said on Nov. 21 at approximately 1:36 p.m., dispatchers received a report that a man, later identified as Robert Hoy, 69, had been shot in the 7200 block of Arroyo Crossing Parkway in the southwest Las Vegas valley, or Spring Valley.

Police tape lines the scene of a shooting that left one man dead in southwest Las Vegas Tuesday afternoon. (Ryan Matthey / KLAS)

Detectives investigating the shooting determined that the man, a retired LVMPD employee, was in his vehicle when Hoy parked directly behind the retired employee. Investigators say Hoy approached the retired employees vehicle with a firearm. The former LVMPD employee got out of his vehicle and fired at Hoy.

Hoy was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators determined that the retired LVMPD employee should be released on the scene due to the evidence they obtained and the self-defensive nature of the shooting.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and that the Clark County District Attorneys Office will review the case to determine whether or not any charges will be filed. Anyone with information

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the LVMPD Homicide Section at 702-828-3521 or via email at homicide@lvmpd.com. Additionally, those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or via the organizations website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (AP)  A judge has dismissed all charges against three western Pennsylvania emergency management supervisors who had been accused of obstructing an investigation into an emergency dispatcher accused of failing to send an ambulance to the rural home of a woman who died of internal bleeding about a day later.

Senior Judge Katherine Emery wrote in dismissing the cases last week that there was not a scintilla of evidence that Gregory Leathers, Robert Jeff Rhodes and Richard Policz acted maliciously or blocked investigators from accessing information within the Greene County 911 call center, The (Washington) Observer-Reporter reported.

York County business owner charged for stealing millions in pandemic funds

The three were charged last year with tampering with public records, tampering with or fabricating evidence and obstruction. Prosecutors accused them of providing incomplete records in response to a search warrant in the July 2020 death of 54-year-old Diania Kronk.

Emergency dispatcher Leon Lee Price, 50, of Waynesburg, was earlier charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and other counts based on his reluctance to dispatch help without getting more assurance that Kronk would actually go to the hospital.

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Emery also dismissed lesser charges against Price, including official oppression and obstruction of justice, but allowed two misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment to proceed. His defense attorney, Timothy Ross, declined comment.

District Attorney David Russo declined comment on the dismissal of the cases against the supervisors, saying his office was considering its options. But he hailed the judges decision in upholding the most serious charges against Price for not sending an ambulance to the Kronk residence after her family called for an ambulance stating she was going to die.

This is a milestone in the standards we hold emergency response personnel to, not only across the state of Pennsylvania but across the country, he said.

The three supervisors were charged with blocking access to information on standard operating procedures and other documents, but the judge ruled that a policy memo binder detailing standard operating procedures that was at the center of the prosecutions case was in plain view and not concealed.

Two defense attorneys slammed the handling of the investigation and the decision to file charges.

That case is garbage and was filed for political purposes from the get-go, said attorney David Pollock, who represented Leathers. Rhodes attorney Harry Cancelmi said the case  which he said cost his client his time, money and his reputation, should have never been filed at all.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones talks about the criminal justice system during a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Tuesday at the Coastal Georgia Center.

Attorneys for Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones filed a notice of appeal in federal court Nov. 22, requesting the court set aside a federal magistrate judges order in a gender discrimination lawsuit by a former assistant district attorney in her office. In the notice of appeal, Jones requested that the federal judge set aside past orders that denied her emergency motions to reschedule her deposition.

In the notice of appeal, Jones' attorney, Mark Tate of Tate Law Group, called the judge's order clearly erroneous.

In the civil lawsuit filed in 2022, former ADA Skye Musson claims she was passed over for the lead attorney position that went to a less qualified male attorney.

On Oct. 26 of this year, U.S. District Judge R. Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia sanctioned Jones, issuing an order that called her attempts to evade an April deposition in the case utter nonsense built on fabrications. Baker ruled Jones in default in the case.

Jones has said that her obligations as Chatham DA outweighed her obligations to attend the civil hearing. Her attorney has also said that the Superior Court judge refused to reschedule the criminal hearing, and that the federal judges sanctions were politically motivated.

The fact is that Shalena Cook Jones beat a Republican and there's a lot of people in the state of Georgia who don't like Democratic district attorneys running Republican district attorneys out of office. In this instance, Shalena Cook Jones was doing what the majority of Chatham County voters wanted her to do. And that is try a rape case," Tate said in a phone call.

Allegations: Lawsuit alleges bro culture, sexism and conflict of interest in Chatham DAs office

Lawsuit: Former ADA claims discrimination, retaliation by Chatham County District Attorney

More: Federal judge sanctions Chatham district attorney for utter nonsense

Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones participates in a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Coastal Georgia Center.

Jones attorney: judges motion was unnecessary

In a phone call, Tate said he believes the court should review the facts upon which the order was based, and the underlying circumstances of it."

We think that there are elements that are included in that ruling that struck her answer that unnecessarily lay burdens on Miss Cook Jones," said Tate.

Those elements are outlined in the eight-page motion, filed on Nov. 22 in federal court. Jones argues that she had a scheduling conflict due to another case, a rape trial, in which she was unexpectedly serving as lead counsel.

In the case, State of Georgia v. Tyrone Glover, the defendant was charged with rape for an offense that occurred on Feb. 21, 2020, and another offense that occurred on July 13, 2018. The case was placed on a dead docket, according to a Nov. 6 court filing.

Jones initially took over as lead counsel in the Glover case because Chatham Countys incoming sexual assault prosecutor would not begin her employment until after the case was expected to conclude. As such, Jones expected that she could attend the federal deposition. The case, however, lasted longer than anticipated and she could not appear for the deposition without abandoning the trial, according to the notice of appeal.

Defendant Cook Jones could not be in two places at once, and she was in a position where the only possible outcome was a violation of a court order," her attorney explained in the filing. "Under these circumstances, Judge Rays Orders were unduly punitive, unreasonable and clearly erroneous.

Jones argued that she had made an effort to resolve the scheduling conflict, but Mussons counsel refused to reschedule Defendant Cook Joness deposition. Jones also claimed that she emailed Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes twice on April 10, 2023, asking that the state court grant her a leave of court so that she might attend her deposition.

Jones' attorneys argued that the judges order was contrary to law, claiming that the criminal trial took precedence over the deposition in the civil case, a point Jones reiterated in an emailed statement to the Savannah Morning News.:

While I respect Judge Bakers office, I disagree with his decision. At the time of the civildeposition, I was in court where I was supposed to be, representing a victim in a four-year-oldrape case. According to Georgia law, rape trials always take precedence over civil matters.Unfortunately, the criminal trial went much longer than expected, which was not within mycontrol.

"I do not presume that a federal judge would be in tune with the judgement calls thatDistrict Attorneys have to make in executing their duties, particularly as it relates to staffing andtrying cases. However, I believe that the victim I was representing, the presiding judge, and thecommunity I was elected to serve would agree I made the right decision. Fortunately, the matterhas now been turned over to my capable legal team so that I can focus on representing thevictims and citizens of this great County.

A status report in the case is due on Dec. 1.

Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Chatham County District Attorney files appeal in discrimination lawsuit
A Cherokee County woman is facing charges after deputies said she stabbed her roommate earlier this month.

According to an arrest warrant, 47-year-old Antawana Nitara Brantley stabbed her roommate at their Acworth apartment in the afternoon on Nov. 20.

Deputies said Brantley cut off a portion of the victims left ring finger. Additionally, Brantley stabbed the victims boyfriend after he tried to protect her from Brantley.

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Brantley is being charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of aggravated battery.

Brantley remains in Cherokee County Jail.

Channel 2 Action News has requested Brantleys booking photo.

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The City of Fort Worth, Texas has agreed to pay Zion Carr a $3.5 million settlement for witnessing the deadly police shooting of his aunt Atatiana Jefferson.

The traumatic incident happened in 2019, when Carr was just 8 years old. The child was at Jeffersons home when former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean shot her to death. Dean was responding to a call asking for a welfare check on the 28-year-old.

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Per the lawsuit, Jefferson grabbed her gun  which she legally owned  to protect herself and went to the window to see what was going on. Body camera footage released by police revealed Dean and his partner looking through a window with a flashlight.

They screamed for Jefferson to put her hands up right before she was shot. The welfare check request was made because a neighbor saw the front door to Jeffersons house was open. Her family said it was left ajar to let cool air in, the lawsuit states.

Last year, Dean was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for Jeffersons death. Zion Carr will receive lump sum payments to cover the cost of living and a college savings plan up to age 40.

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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  A play center with learning opportunities for young children will open at a library in the New Orleans East area in December.

Representatives with the nonprofit TrainingGrounds said its second We PLAY Center will open at the East New Orleans Regional Library on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

The We PLAY Center is a free, safe neighborhood learning space focused on PLAY. It supports parents and caregivers in creating nurturing bonds and fostering healthy brain development, language, and social and emotional skills while playing with their infants and toddlers. Very few places in New Orleans East provide free learning opportunities for children from birth to age three, and the We PLAY Center aims to fill that void, said nonprofit representatives.

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When partnering with organizations that are focused on early childhood learning, we are able to increase access to quality programs, services, and resources that support the early literacy practices and the development of pre-reading skills. We understand the importance of play and providing engaging and educational environments for parents and children to learn together. We cannot wait to see how positively this partnership impacts our citys children, said Christine McCourtney, who is the head of early childhood literacy with the New Orleans Public Library.

Nonprofit representatives said the center will have developmentally appropriate toys and play stations, along with a team of parenting educators.

The other play center is located in the Treme area. The new locations address will be 5641 Read Blvd.

Stay updated with the latest news, weather, and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play store and subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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MUNCIE  Marian University has been awarded a $500,000 grant over three years to expand its City Connects program in Muncie Community Schools.

City Connects, which has already been working in MCS, tackles problems faced by young students outside the classroom that diminish a child's ability to learn and succeed in school.

The MCS grant is one of 14 totaling $9.63 million awarded by the Indiana University Health Community Impact Investment Fund. The fund, administered by the IU Health Foundation, seeks to improve the lives of Hoosiers in need by addressing critical social and environmental factors that impact health outcomes.

City Connects takes a systemic, cost-effective, multi-year approach to address the out-of-school factors that limit student learning. This practice makes a significant impact on students  now and for years to come  including better academic performance, improved attendance, and higher graduation rates, according to a press release from the program based in Marian University in Indianapolis.

The program targets high-poverty urban school districts.

Schools partnering with City Connects receive a wide-range of tools and resources and have a full-time coordinator who works one-on-one with students, families, and educators.

"Students should be able to focus on learning at school, said City Connects Midwest Director Jillian Lain. Unfortunately, we know many are dealing with a lot outside the classroom. Whether theyre worried about their parents divorce, where their next meal will come from or something else entirely, City Connects supports students and their families by connecting them with resources.

Through the expansion City Connects in MCS, Marian University will help local K-12 children overcome social, emotional, health, or psychological barriers to learning. Its on-site coordinator will work with teachers and families to address out-of-school factors that limit student learning.

Since implementing City Connects in 2021, we have seen incredible results with our students, said Muncie Community Schools Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski. We are very grateful for our partnership with Marian University and all the support they provide our students and teachers.The Marian University Center for Vibrant Schools is home to the City Connects Midwest Technical Assistance Center, which has served more than 26,000 students in City Connects schools throughout Indiana and Ohio since 2021. City Connects is currently being implemented in East Washington Academy, Grissom Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Northside Middle School, Southside Middle School and South View Elementary School.

The $200 million Community Impact Investment (CII) Fund was established by IU Health in 2018. Administered by the IU Health Foundation, the CII Fund will support non-profit organizations in addressing social determinants of health in our communities and to achieve IU Healths goal of making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: City Connects program expanding in Muncie Community Schools
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Pasos Department of Public Health is hosting a World Diabetes Health event on Thursday, Nov. 30, and is reminding the community to put their health first.

The event will be from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. at the Sylvia A. Carreon Community Center located on 709 Lomita Drive.

The event will feature health screenings, food demos, information, raffles and more.

The City says World Diabetes Day will be falling on Tuesday, Nov. 14 and this years theme is Access to Diabetes Care.

The theme will focus on the importance of getting screened and the crucial need for adequate healthcare for those suffering from diabetes.

The City also has a diabetes prevention program that offers educational outreach, presentations, and referrals to a variety of community resources, including diabetes self-management and diabetes prevention classes through its network of providers.

The programs primary focus is on prediabetes and its goal is to encourage individuals to make Small Changes to Become a New You to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the City.

The City says that 1 in 10 adults worldwide have diabetes, over 90 percent have type 2 diabetes and close to half are not yet diagnosed.

Diabetes often has no symptoms, but when symptoms do occur, they include the following:

Excessive thirst or urination

Fatigue

Weight loss

Blurred vision

For more information on the services and health screenings provided by the Citys Department of Public Health visit EPHealth.com or dial 211.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
A tow boat pushes barges downstream through Lake Pepin on October 31, 2022 on the Mississippi River near Lake City, Minn. About 60% of the Midwest and northern Great Plain states are in a drought. Nearly the entire stretch of the Mississippi River  from Minnesota to the rivers mouth in Louisiana  has experienced below average rainfall over the past two months.

The Fifth National Climate Assessment, released this month, warns of wide-ranging climate impacts throughout the United States. The implications for people and the environment in the Mississippi River basin are extreme, but experts stress that it is not too late to slow the worsening effects.

From its headwaters in Minnesota to its salty mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River stretches across two regions of the country  the Midwest and the Southeast. The entire basin, including the rivers many tributaries, extends across five regions. The past two summers have brought extreme drought  threatening crops and shipping; extreme heat; and isolated extreme precipitation and flooding. The national report finds this will become common in the future.

The report is clear in its indictment of human activity as the cause for increasing global average temperatures. Within the contiguous U.S. temperatures have risen by 2.5F since 1970, compared to a global average rise of about 1.7F over the same period.

While this rise in temperature can be attributed to the release of greenhouse gases around the world, the report highlights a number of human activities that drive the economy throughout the Mississippi River basin, including agriculture and shipping.

But there is still opportunity to adapt the Mississippis industries to safeguard the nations largest watershed.

Agriculture and other impacts in the Midwest

The report attributes climate change to human activities. The increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere comes primarily from burning fossil fuels, but deforestation and agricultural practices are also contributors.

These gases have led not only to increased temperatures, but also to more frequent and severe extreme weather events. In the Midwest, extreme weather swings wreak havoc on both crops and communities.

Impacts on agriculture and food production are "(some) of the most visible and concerning aspects of climate change," John Baker, a research leader with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said during a briefing about the report.

The Midwest is one of the most intensive agricultural regions in the world. Although average corn and soybean production have increased in recent decades, these gains will not last. The report predicts that extreme swings in precipitation will diminish future crop yields as well as animal production.

Precipitation patterns are changing across the Midwest, with winter and spring precipitation expected to increase, while summer and autumn precipitation is expected to be more variable. These changes can already be seen in agriculture, with earlier snowmelts causing wetter springs that have delayed corn planting by up to a month in some places.

Episodic droughts have also reduced crop yields, despite increasing annual rainfall. Lack of rain brought drought to the Mississippi River basin this summer, and the drought is expected to linger into the winter, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Once the drought passes, riverine flooding is expected to increase in the Ohio, upper Mississippi and parts of the Missouri rivers. This high-water and longer-lasting flooding is also expected to negatively impact the Mississippi River basins floodplain forests by soaking the trees more than they can stand.

Periods of high rainfall are also causing damage through the runoff of fertilizers from farmland into the Mississippi River. The runoff has increased in recent decades and is expected to continue to increase, eventually dumping into the Gulf of Mexico where it creates a vast Dead Zone. This years was almost as big as Yellowstone National Park.

Shipping and impacts in the Southeast

In the lower Mississippi, where nitrogen runoff from the upper basin meets salt water from the Gulf of Mexico, extreme drought has dominated the headlines over the past two years. The flow of the mighty Mississippi has not been enough to keep salt water from intruding up the river, threatening drinking water. As of Nov. 20, the saltwater wedge is holding steady 63.2 river miles into Louisiana.

Rising sea levels are adding to the threat of saltwater intrusion. The report predicts that over the next 30 years, coastal sea levels along the contiguous U.S. will rise about 11 inches, which is roughly equivalent to the observed rise over the last 100 years. On the Gulf Coast, land lost to the sea has been accelerated by groundwater and fossil fuel removal.

The shipping industry is already feeling the effects of climate change, and looking for ways to adapt to these increasingly chronic problems. This years low water conditions have come at an inopportune time for the basins economy: harvest season.

The drought has led to a severe disruption in barge transportation that is causing economic hardship for farmers. The kink in this river supply chain is slowing both the import and export of goods at a major gateway for the country, a disruption that the report predicts can lead to job loss if it becomes regular.

This summers drought coincided with the hottest year ever recorded on Earth. New Orleans tied with two cities in Indonesia for the second-longest streak of extreme heat, measuring in at 17 days straight. The wetlands around New Orleans became so parched that a swamp fire burned for more than a month.

The current drought should not obscure the possibility of flooding yet to come. The report details an increase in severity and frequency of extreme weather events. For the Mississippi River basin, Jill Trepanier, an associate professor at Louisiana State University studying weather and climate, is most concerned about the extreme variability in precipitation.

One year can be very different than the next, said Trepanier. Thats part of the expectation now, these really big differences.

Extreme opportunities

Many climate researchers who were not a part of writing the federal report were happy to see it emphasize climate justice. Extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfire smoke and vector-borne disease wont impact all residents equally. As defined by the report, climate justice is the recognition of diverse values and past harms, equitable distribution of benefits and risks, and the procedural inclusion of affected communities in decision-making processes. This includes many of the communities on the frontlines of the changing Mississippi River basin.

Were not all experiencing the impacts of changing climate conditions equally. Communities of color, low-income communities, and indigenous people are some of the most disproportionately affected by climate change and extreme events, said Deepti Singh, an author of the reports chapter on Climate Trends.

The report makes a point to focus on the knowledge of Indigenous peoples and the importance that self-determination can have on their resilience to climate change. One example focuses on how warming and the distribution of water endangers wild rice, a culturally significant crop for Midwest tribes.

A chapter on Tribes and Indigenous Peoples highlights a research project undertaken by the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, Wisconsin, to help the community understand how climate change is affecting plants on the Menominee Indian Reservation, the largest reservation east of the Mississippi River.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported on how the knowledge of Great Lakes tribes could be key to navigating climate change in the Midwest. This year, wild rice crop was decimated by a fungus causing brown spot disease, which researchers believe is spreading quickly from the more humid weather ushered in with climate change.

The report recognizes that increasing temperatures, sea level rise and changing precipitation patterns are also causing extreme weather events, like more intense hurricanes on the Gulf Coast.

Other disasters may be more surprising, such as the increased likelihood that tornadoes will hit the lower Mississippi River basin. Tornado Alley, typically considered to be centered over the Great Plains, is shifting eastward. Tornadoes are also becoming more frequent during the fall and more intense.

Its called extreme climate change because its not completely in one direction or the other, said Rebecca Malpass, director of policy and research at The Water Collaborative in New Orleans. Both droughts and floods will become more intense. Were going to keep oscillating between these two extremes more frequently as the decades go on.

Adaptation  like improving flood management, building energy microgrids and testing early warning systems  are key to protecting millions of people, as well as the economy throughout the basin. While adaptation is occurring on a piecemeal basis, the report concludes its not happening fast enough to reduce even todays climate-related risks.

As the pace of climate change and extreme weather hastens, adaptation will need more investment. The Biden Administration has already made some historic investments, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Justice40 Initiative, which dictates that 40% of federal climate investments go to disadvantaged communities.

This story is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri in partnership with Report for America, with major funding from the Walton Family Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Climate report indicates dire future for Mississippi River basin
A 36-year-old woman slipped and fell several hundred feet from Oregons highest mountain right before the eyes of a group of volunteer rescue workers who rushed to her aid  and helped save her life.

The woman was coming down a popular path on Mt. Hood, about 70 miles east of Portland, on Saturday morning, according to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office. Mt. Hood is the highest peak in Oregon, standing at roughly 11,240 feet.

The climber slid and tumbled down the mountain for approximately 300-400 feet, Brian McCall, a spokesperson with the sheriffs office, told CNN.

The brutal fall was witnessed by members of Portland Mountain Rescue, a nonprofit volunteer organization focused on helping people in mountainous areas. The group called 911 and rushed to the woman, helping stabilize her and provide initial medical care, the sheriffs office said.

Additional groups of rescuers arrived and helped keep the woman warm for seven hours as officials worked to get her off the mountain safely, authorities said.

The climber, Leah Brown, told CNN in an email she doesnt know what caused her fall.

This is the part I dont remember, Brown said. I can only guess it was either an ice tool or a crampon (the steel spikes on climbing boots) that didnt land and stick like it should have and I became detached from the mountain.

Authorities said the woman was descending down the mountain when she fell several hundred feet. - Portland Mountain Rescue

In a Facebook post, Portland Mountain Rescue wrote the womans injuries prevented self-rescue, adding their members worked with the Crag Rats group, also an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization.

Authorities created complex rope systems and transported the climber with a litter - a type of stretcher typically used to evacuate victims in difficult situations. The woman was eventually evacuated to a parking lot at 9:30 p.m. and taken to a hospital, according to the sheriffs office, which also took part in the rescue.

Authorities did not share further information about the nature and extent of the womans injuries. Sheriffs office spokesperson Sgt. Ross Clemson told CNN the woman was treated and released from a local hospital.

Brown told CNN she was diagnosed with a concussion and had multiple bruises on her arms and legs but said, Otherwise, Im okay. Brown said she did not break any bones.

The thing Id like to most stress is my appreciation and gratitude for the folks from PMR (Portland Mountain Rescue) and Hood River Crag Rats who evacuated me and took incredible care of me the whole time, Brown said.

I owe them my life.

In a statement after the rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue warned of the dangerous winter conditions at the mountain.

The short days and lower temperatures mean that the snow tends to be very hard and icy, and the route conditions tend to be much steeper and technical. Also descending the mountain in icy conditions is much more difficult than ascending, the group said.

Only those with expert mountaineering and ice climbing skills should attempt Mt. Hood in winter, especially when there have been long dry spells with no precipitation. Appropriate and thorough training is critical, it added.

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A cloudy night could dampen chances of catching a glimpse of the aurora borealis phenomenon in Michigan overnight tonight.

The northern lights may be visible in parts of northern Michigan thanks to a geomagnetic storm early Friday, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Here's what you need to know about the natural light show and Michigan's viewing chances.

Where to view the northern lights

Auroras often appear in the northern and southern hemispheres, but stronger solar activity brings them closer to the equator. This gives people in parts of the northern U.S., including Michigan, a chance to see the northern lights. They most often take place during late night or very early morning hours, and usually flicker for no more than minutes at a time.

The Aurora Borealis, known better as the Northern Lights, greeted Northern Michigan in September. Photos taken between Petoskey, Harbor Springs and into northern Emmet County.

What is the aurora borealis?

Auroras occur throughout the year and at various times of day. For those in the northern hemisphere, plan to view the lights at nighttime in dark, clear conditions. The lights take on many different shades and appear to dance across the sky, creating a colorful backdrop to the star-filled nights.

Visibility can change based on weather and atmospheric conditions, making the predictability of the northern lights uncertain. Auroras are impacted by the solar cycle, as scientists monitor conditions around the 27 days of the sun's rotation.

Michigan overnight weather forecast

Expect dry, cloudy conditions in northern Michigan on Thursday night. Temperatures could drop into the low 20s as sunset brings cooler conditions overnight. Cloudy skies could disrupt chances of viewing the northern lights, as the natural lights show requires clear night skies to be visible.

In the southern part of the state, it'll get mostly cloudy during the late evening hours, with cloudy skies around midnight.

Cloudy skies will likely continue on Friday across Michigan, limiting viewing chances over the next couple days.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Northern lights in Michigan may be covered by clouds tonight
Three enormous open-pit mines owned by Drummond Co. in northern Colombia dwarf the nearby town of La Loma, which sprang up after the U.S. company began extracting coal in 1995 and has grown to some 10,000 residents. Life in La Loma revolves around the mines. Packed company buses flood the town every 12 hours, at the 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. shift changes. After workers who have just completed their shifts empty out, the buses fill right back up with fresh replacements waiting to be taken to the mines to begin theirs.

Alabama-based Drummond has earned billions from its local operations, and most of the surrounding area in Cesar province has paved roads, a result of the development the mining industry has brought to the region. Near La Lomas idyllic town square, which boasts a colonial-style church and half a dozen restaurants, a health clinic has erected a plaque thanking the company for the contributions that made even rudimentary medical care possible.

On a brutally hot, dry morning in September, dust filled the air with every breeze as a Drummond guard patrolled the area around El Descanso, the largest of the companys mines, just north of town. He walked slowly along a railroad line that transports coal from Drummonds mines to a coastal port it owns on the Caribbean Sea 120 miles away. The guard was friendly and casual, but when a New Republic reporter raised his camera to take a photo of a passing railcar, he waved and shouted warnings to stop.

His concern over a reporter snapping a photograph of the train line may seem overly dramatic, but it was understandable given the backstory. In 2001, three union leaders representing workers at the mines were assassinated by marauding thugs. Their murders have never been fully solved more than two decades later. The quiet scene on that September day belied the violent events that unfolded at the time, when the army and allied right-wing paramilitaries largely controlled Cesar province during the peak of Colombias 52-year civil war. Much of the violence and social cleansings they committed took place in towns that lay along the tracks.

The cast of characters in the sordid tale of murder, political intrigue, and backdoor deals could have been plucked directly from Hollywood casting: the heir of a billionaire Alabama family, paramilitary commanders with nicknames like Triple Zero and Jorge 40, narco-traffickers with historic ties to Pablo Escobar, Colombian military officers, leftist guerrilla leaders, embattled trade unionists, andat the absolute heart of the talea CIA spy turned corporate mercenary whom Drummond hired to run its security operations a few years after the agency pushed him out for supporting the Contras in Nicaragua, an activity that at the time was barred by the Boland Amendment, during the Iran-Contra scandal.

Important evidence continues to come to light about the murders of the labor leaders, the subjects of a lengthy, often delayed investigation in Colombia that recently picked up steam. The focus of the probe is unraveling the bloody events that took place on the afternoon of March 12, 2001, when armed men in pickup trucks stopped a bus carrying Drummond workers home after their long shift in the mines. The men belonged to a unit of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, the countrys most notorious right-wing paramilitary group, commonly known as the AUC. After boarding the bus, they began searching passengers one by one, claiming they were looking for an illegal weapon.

But witnesses say the paramilitary fighters were interested only in two men, Valmore Locarno and Victor Orcasita, the president and vice president of Sintramienergetica, the mining union that represented Drummond workers. Locarno was pulled aside immediately after being identified and shot in the head by one of the armed men, who dumped his lifeless body on the side of the road. The squad from the AUC took Orcasita with them. The following day, his body was discovered a few kilometers away; his corpse showed signs hed been tortured before being executed.

Seven months later, AUC members stopped a bus that Gustavo Soler, who succeeded Locarno as union president, was taking home from his office. Soler, who had been receiving threats to his life, had told his family that they needed to pack up their belongings so they could leave for a safer location after he got home. He never made it. When Soler stepped forward after his name was called by a paramilitary soldier, he was abducted and disappeared. He was later found under a pile of banana leaves with two bullet holes in his head.

The murders of the union officials have been investigated several times in Colombia and the United States, and allegations surrounding the events have been heard in court on a few occasions. However, the plot that led to the killings has never been fully disentangled.

In an unexpected development earlier this year, Colombias federal prosecutors office announced that two senior executives at Drummond Ltd., Drummond Co.s subsidiary in the country, would be prosecuted for allegedly financing the AUC. The Drummond executives are accused of secretly paying the AUC to protect the companys operations from leftist guerrillas, even as the paramilitary group killed tens of thousands of people as it rampaged across the country. The governments indictment of the Drummond executives describes the companys alleged collaboration with the AUCwhich the State Department put on its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations months after the first two union leaders were assassinatedas having resulted in corporate financing of a paramilitary group, which the prosecutors office has classified as a crime against humanity.



Drummonds ties to the AUC are also being scrutinized by an independent special court set up to investigate crimes committed during the civil war, which ended in 2016, by government security forces, paramilitaries, guerrillas, and third partiesincluding national and multinational corporations. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace, known as the JEP, its Spanish acronym, has heard testimony from some former Drummond contractors and paramilitary leaders who charge that the AUC killed the union leaders at the request of the companys most senior executives in Colombia and the United States.

Drummond denies any wrongdoing and says the evidence against it was fabricated by a cartel of false witnesses who were paid by lawyers representing the victims families. In 2007, a jury in Alabama absolved the company of responsibility for the murders. The ruling was appealed, but a judge upheld the jurys verdict.

The investigations by Colombias federal prosecutor and the JEP cite a wealth of new evidence that appears to implicate Drummond in the murders, and lawyers in the Alabama case have compiled much more. During many months of reporting, The New Republic reviewed reams of court records and other documents, including material that has never been made public, and uncovered additional important information relevant to the case.

It remains to be seen whether the JEP investigation and the upcoming trial of Drummond executives will end with the company being exonerated once again oras lawyers and supporters of the victims families hopewith the first criminal convictions of a foreign multinationals corporate officers for getting into bed with Colombias murderous paramilitary thugs. For its part, Drummond hopes the case will finally be forgotten, but in La Loma and the surrounding region, memories of the murders are always lurking just beneath the surface.

The company railroad weighs heavily in the chain of events that led to the murders of the three union leaders in 2001. Its a day Drummond has been trying to erase for the past two decades, so it was no surprise that the guard was unhappy with the journalist as he prepared to photograph such a powerful reminder of what took place. The guard relaxed when he saw the journalist lower his camera and apologized as he approached. Were a little strict about security, he said with a laugh.





Drummond Sets Up Shop

When Drummonds mining operations finally opened for business in 1995 after a decade of investment and planning, they were set up in a particularly violent region during a civil war that is estimated to have killed nearly half a million people and displaced more than seven million more. The civil war began officially in 1964, with the founding of what became the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a leftist rebel group. By the mid-1990s, the FARC had grown into the largest irregular armed group in the country and actively targeted large companies it viewed as key allies of the government.

Paracos, as the right wing-paramilitary groups are usually called in Colombia, emerged in the early 1980s when they were created by drug cartels in Medellin that had grown tired of extortion and kidnapping attempts by the FARC and wanted their own informal army to fight the guerrillas. But they quickly expanded, with financial support from landowners, business elites, and even politicians. In 1994, the government unveiled a program called Convivir, which legalized the right-wing self-defense groups and provided them with funding from the state and business groups. Although intended in theory to exclude illegal preexisting paramilitaries, in practice lines of legality were often blurred. The paramilitaries were incorporated into the armys war against the guerrillas and attacked the FARCs family members and civilian supporters, along with anyone else they suspected of having leftist political views. The AUC, a coalition of self-defense groups, became the largest of Colombias paramilitaries.

Drummonds operations almost immediately became a target of the FARC, and the companys security situation worsened when it opened the mine-to-port railroad line in 1996. The guerrillas regularly bombed the train tracks and in one incident kidnapped a train crew, Pablo Urrutia, Drummond Ltd.s vice president of public affairs and communications, told The New Republic.

Ivan Otero, a lawyer who represented families of victims in the civil cases against Drummond in the United States with Terry Collingsworth of Washington-based International Rights Advocates, called the train track bombings economically devastating for Drummond. If the attacks continued, he said during a phone interview from his home in Valledupar, the companys access to its maritime port would be cut off, and it wouldnt be able to fulfill major foreign export contracts.

Drummond officials and local politicians and business leaders in Cesar viewed the Sintramienergetica union as a hotbed of FARC militants. Francisco Ramirez Cuellar, the former president of a union federation and a lawyer who assisted Otero and Collingsworth, believes Drummond turned to the AUC in response. For Drummond and other big foreign mining companies in Colombia, repression and violence against unions is a standard part of the business model, because it helps them make more money, he said. Its easy to get away with when the government doesnt care about workers, which is usual in Colombia.





The Murders

Alabama Coal Giant Is Sued Over 3 Killings In Colombia, ran the headline above a New York Times story on March 22, 2002. The lawsuit, which Collingsworth and Otero entered in federal court in Alabama on behalf of Sintramienergetica and the families of Locarno, Orcasita, and Soler, was brought under the Alien Tort Statute, which they argued allows foreign citizens to seek civil damages in the United States for violations of international law. Union leaders and families of the dead asserted that Drummond executives signaled paramilitary gunmen that they wanted the three labor leaders killed, the story said. In Birmingham, where the Drummond family was business royalty, reaction to the lawsuit had been disbelief.

In 2007, a jury acquitted Drummond, and the next year the ruling was affirmed on appeal. A year later, the children of the slain men filed a similar lawsuit, which was dismissed in 2012. In 2011, Drummond filed a defamation lawsuit against Collingsworth and his law firm, and in 2015, the company filed a RICO lawsuit accusing Collingsworth, Otero, and several of their legal associates of criminally paying alleged witnesses to falsely implicate the company. The defendants paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to these criminals, among other illegal inducements, in order to procure this testimony, the latter lawsuit stated. The company discovered large payments had been made to a number of key witnesses shortly before they reversed their prior statements that exonerated Drummond of involvement in the assassination of the union leaders. Judge David Proctor, who had dismissed a second suit filed against Drummond by the victims families, issued an order that backed the company, writing, There is (at least) probable cause to believe that Collingsworth  engaged in witness bribery and suborning perjury.

Collingsworth and Otero countersued, saying Drummond was seeking to damage their reputations as part of an effort to cover up the companys crimes in Colombia. They filed a new lawsuit on behalf of relatives of the murdered unionists as well. Regarding Drummonds allegations of bribery, Collingsworth acknowledges making payments but says there was nothing improper about them, and that they were made to help witnesses pay their legal bills or went to family members of witnesses so they could be provided safe haven to protect them from potential retaliation by paramilitaries. The AUC  is known to torture its victims and kill them in front of their parents or children, he stated in an interview. Im proud of what we did. He argued that it was hard to get a fair hearing from a court in Drummonds home state of Alabama, and that Judge Proctorwho prior to his appointment by George W. Bush had cofounded a management-side employment law firmwas hostile to the plaintiffs from the outset.

The Colombian federal prosecutors office examined the bribery allegations and dismissed them. The indictment of the Drummond executives states that the payments the company classified as corrupt did not affect the veracity of the statements made by any witnesses, which had been independently verified by copious testimonial, documentary and accounting evidence. Furthermore, the indictment pointedly noted, witnesses against the company who received no help from Collingsworth and Otero for their legal fees or families also asserted that Drummond had financed the AUC.

On the rare occasions the government challenged the company, it did so timidly. Ten years ago, a barge operated by Drummond shipwrecked near Colombias greatest wetland and caused enormous environmental damage after it spilled tons of coal into the Caribbean. The company agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine, a paltry amount set against its profits.

Drummonds lawsuit against Collingsworth and Otero and the pairs countersuit are still pending, but theres no telling whenor ifeither will reach trial.

Drummond appeared to be even more bulletproof in Colombia, where lax mining laws have long worked to foreign companies advantage. Drummond has received a range of investment incentives that allowed it to rack up massive profits from its Colombian operations. On the rare occasions the government challenged the company, it did so timidly. Ten years ago, a barge operated by Drummond shipwrecked near Colombias greatest wetland and caused enormous environmental damage after it spilled tons of coal into the Caribbean. The company agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine, a paltry amount set against its profits.

In Colombia, meanwhile, the wheels of justice were not entirely halted. Between 2009 and 2013, three people were found guilty and sentenced to decades in prison for their roles in the murders of Orcasita and Locarno. Paramilitary commander Oscar Jose Ospino Pacheco, alias Tolemaida, ran the assassination squads; Jairo Jesus Charris Castro, a former AUC member who worked for the private security company Drummond hired to protect its facilities, helped plan it and, according to his own testimony, was given a kill list to deliver to Tolemaida; and Jaime Blanco Maya, a contractor who ran the company canteen, helped organize the murders. Blanco Maya and Charris Castro implicated DrummondTolemaida denied the company was involvedbut the companys culpability wasnt weighed in court. The judges who sentenced Charris Castro and Blanco Maya both urged Colombias federal prosecutor to investigate Drummonds role in the killings, but the requests led nowhere.





Finally, Some Movement

Then, in October 2018, Drummonds legal situation grew slightly more precarious when a new federal prosecutor announced an investigation into the assassinations. The following year, Blanco Maya began cooperating with the JEP, hoping to have his prison sentence reduced. He had close ties to the AUC. He had been friends since childhood with Alfredo Araujo, a Drummond community liaison officer, and with a man named Rodrigo Tovar Pupo, better known as Jorge 40, who commanded the AUCs Northern Bloc unit. Jorge 40 would be a particularly problematic character for Drummond to be associated with. His unit is believed to be responsible for hundreds of murders, as well as a number of massacres.

In recent years, a stream of additional evidence pointing toward Drummonds involvement in the murders has emerged. In 2020, the Colombian federal prosecutors office indicted Drummond Ltd.s current president, Jose Miguel Linares, and his predecessor, Augusto Jimenez, who ran the companys local operations between 1990 and 2012, alleging they engaged in a conspiracy to illegally fund and promote the AUC. An appeal bogged down the process, and it was only on May 31 that the federal prosecutor released a statement decreeing it would proceed with the prosecution, saying there is abundant proof the two Drummond executives conspired to finance the AUC. Prosecutors cited new evidence, including accounting statements from Drummond that showed the company paid Blanco Maya millions of dollars to run the canteen at its mines, which reinforced his testimony.



Other new information has been supplied by witnesses who testified before the JEP. Charris Castro told the court this year that the murders were directly ordered by company president Garry Drummond and several other company executives. He further alleged that Drummond established a direct relationship with the AUC, and that retired Colombian army generals and colonels on its payroll participated in the meetings where the murders were planned.

The JEP heard from Salvatore Mancuso, the AUCs former leader, who had been extradited to the United States in 2008. Mancuso offered damning testimony against Drummond, saying he could confirm that it was one of a number of U.S. companies that secretly financed the AUC on a list that included Chiquita, Coca-Cola, and Dole.

In mid-May, the JEP heard from Salvatore Mancuso, the AUCs former leader, who had been extradited to the United States in 2008 to face drug trafficking charges and remains in U.S. custody. Mancuso offered damning testimony against Drummond Co., saying he could confirm that it was one of a number of U.S. companies that secretly financed the AUC; the list included Chiquita, Coca-Cola, and Dole. The companies have previously denied the accusation. In its indictment of the Drummond executives for the killings of the union leaders, the prosecutors office referred to systematic attacks by the AUC against the civilian population in Cesar province, including 3,382 victimsprimarily social leaders in peasant villageswho were murdered, disappeared, kidnapped, or subjected to other types of violence. The AUC displaced tens of thousands and destroyed entire villages.

The story in Colombia is the struggle for land; it goes back for hundreds of years, Gonzalo Guillen Jimenez, a prominent journalist who has written about the Drummond case and made a documentary about coal mining in Colombia, said during an interview at his apartment in Bogota. Its why there are indigenous people starving on the streets of Bogota, but any talk of agrarian reform to benefit campesinos sparks talk of war.





Drummonds Power

The culture of La Loma is flavored with Caribbean touches, though it lies far from the sea. In the evenings, vallenatoColombian folk music that heavily features the accordionblasts from bars filled with workers downing bottles of beer and loudly singing along. In the mornings, bakeries fill with men carrying the helmets and wearing the uniforms of Drummond and other mining companies they work for. After drinking coffee and chatting amiably with friends, they board company buses to head to the mines for their shifts.

Drummond is the largest coal exporter in Colombia and has about 5,300 people on its permanent payroll and twice that number working as independent contractors, Drummonds Pablo Urrutia told The New Republic. The company indirectly generates employment for another 55,000 people, who provide goods and services related to its mining operations, such as transportation, food supply, and shops that cater to miners and their families.

On a recent afternoon in September, Eduardo Sale sipped coffee at a small corner shop before heading out to a Drummond mine to begin the night shift, which he prefers. Temperatures in the mine during the day can easily reach 50 degrees, he said, which equates to about 122 degrees Fahrenheit. I have had enough of that. Sale earns $2,500 a month, a generous salary in a country where nearly half the labor force receives the minimum monthly wage of $325. The pay is good, he said. This town wouldnt exist if it werent for Drummond.

Drummonds economic sway in the local region has created a variety of challenges that have made investigating a case against the company difficult. Witnesses and their families have received threats against their lives  and been shunned in the communities where they live, stated Otero, Collingsworths legal partner, who was careful to note the threats were made by former paramilitary fighters and criminals, not the coal company.

Drummond has built up so much economic and political power across Colombia that, in the eyes of lawyers for plaintiffs and supporters of the murdered union leaders, it has corrupted the judicial system. The company also hired former Colombian Attorney General Jaime Bernal Cuellar as a defense lawyer, putting him in a good spot to pressure his former officewhich oversees the federal prosecutorto derail the current case. The influence they have on the levers of power is enormous, Otero said. But, he added, this new case is moving quickly, and the evidence is overwhelming. Many of the families, for the first time in decades, have hope.





The Mysterious Mr. Adkins

The man Drummond hired to run its entire security apparatus in Colombia was James Adkins, whom company officials met while attending a conference on terrorism in Miami. Adkins worked for a private security firm at the time but happily accepted Drummonds offer to become its chief security officer. He moved to Cesar province in 1995. Adkins had the right profile for the job, though his past was not free of red flags that would have steered some companies away from employing him. Back in 1967, he joined the CIA and was sent to Laos after being trained in paramilitary operations. Adkins established a base near the border with North Vietnam and advised the CIA-organized Secret Army of Hmong tribesmen that fought on the U.S. side in the Vietnam War. He then moved over to the agencys Western Hemisphere Division and served in the Dominican Republic and Panama before being transferred to Chile following the 1973 CIA-backed coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende and brought General Augusto Pinochet to power.

Adkins was subsequently transferred to Central America and during the mid-1980s was sent to Honduras to help run the Reagan administrations covert wars against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua and support for anti-Communist regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala. In 1987, he was pushed out of the CIA after Lawrence Walsh was appointed special counsel to lead the official probe into the Iran-Contra affair. In his final report, Walsh concluded that Adkins approved illegal weapons shipments to anti-Sandinista Contra rebels and lied to investigators about his actions.

None of this bothered Drummond. In fact, as Adkins said during a deposition taken years later for the Alabama court case, when he told company officials and a group of other security managers at the Miami conference about the circumstances of his departure from the CIA, they gave him a standing ovation. Adkins sent a stream of security reports to Drummond officials after his arrival in Cesar. In a September 1995 memo, he sent the encouraging news that army and paramilitary operations had been highly successful, noting that an AUC unit had kept guerrillas at bay in an area that is critical to our railroad operations. Narco-traffickers had also impeded rebel activity, Adkins wrote, but he added emphatically, Make no mistake  it is the heavy military presence along the coast that has kept the guerrillas from making an appearance along the National Highway near our port since last March.

Neither Adkins nor anyone from Drummond ever met with or financed the AUC, the company and the former CIA officer have maintained. Furthermore, Adkins had no direct knowledge of the paramilitarys role in the murder of the labor leaders or that it was attacking union members or civilians. Drummond has pointed to a 1995 memo Adkins sent to a corporate executive saying the company should resist pressure from a Colombian military commander to provide financial support for Convivir, the 1994 plan that legalized right-wing self-defense groups. Such a program will bring with it egregious human rights violations that preclude Drummond from ever participating, he wrote. We are better advised to keep our heads down and keep producing coal.

However, Adkinss and the companys accounts have been contradicted by witnesses directly involved in events. Charris Castro, who was convicted in 2009 for playing a key role in the murders, told a U.S. court that he worked with El Tigre, the nom de guerre of an AUC commander, and Adkins to strengthen the AUC and help ensure the successful security of Drummonds operations, and alleged that Garry Drummond asked that the AUC be brought in to counteract or neutralize the activity and presence of the guerrilla. That included, Charris Castro charged, sending financial support from the company to Jorge 40s Northern Bloc around the same time it was committing selective massacres of civilians.

Charris Castro alleged in 2012 that Tolemaida, his ex-confederate who ran the assassination squads, assigned a fellow AUC commander called Adinael to carry out the murders of Locarno and Orcasita. On the day they were killed, he said, a retired military officer who worked for Adkins in Drummonds security department contacted Adinael to tell him Orcasita and Locarno had finished their shifts, and Adkins got Charris Castro to confirm Adinael had the information.





The Man Who Flipped

Blanco Maya, who had his 37-year sentence reduced by two-thirds for his cooperation with the JEP, was released from prison in 2021 and is now in a witness protection program and lives outside of Bogota with his family. Two round-the-clock armed guards provided by the JEP were present during a March interview over a lunch of chicken, rice, and plantains washed down with beer.

Adkins recruited him to run Drummonds canteen for company workers after they met at a food supply operation he ran for employees of Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company that was working on the mine-to-port railroad, Blanco Maya said. It was a difficult moment for Drummond, Blanco Maya recounted of the period. The railroad hadnt opened, and Drummond was using trucks, which were easy for the guerrillas to attack.

Colombian military units were stationed at mines, the port, and other Drummond facilities. Its security department gathered information about guerrilla operations in the area and provided it to army officials.

Drummond had a number of retired Colombian military officers directly on the payroll. General Rafael Pena Rios had been trained at the Pentagons notorious School of the Americas. In a 1988 interview with the newspaper El Tiempo, he bemoaned the fact that the army didnt have complete control of Colombia, flatly asserted that the military should be a force of repression, and equated political opposition with guerrilla warfare. Lieutenant Colonel Julian Villate, another School of the Americas alumnus, was hired to oversee security operations at Drummonds port. He had previously run Operation Dragon, a program that plotted the execution of more than 150 union leaders, human rights activists, and opposition political figures. Drummond hired Villate in 2005, the year after Operation Dragon was first exposed. In 2007, then-senator Gustavo Petro, who had been a leader in an effort to expose atrocities carried out by paramilitaries and the groups ties to top government officials, told the media that the prosecutors office had revealed to him that Villate, who still worked for Drummond, was at the center of a plot to assassinate him. Drummond called the allegations politically motivated. Petro is now Colombias first leftist leader, winning the presidency during an election in June.

Blanco Maya charged in our interview that Adkins picked up the money used in the initial payments he delivered to the AUC from Drummonds Alabama headquarters and brought it back to Colombia in cash increments of $10,000. As this arrangement wasnt very efficient, Adkins came up with the scheme for Blanco Maya to submit inflated invoices to Drummond and use the difference to pay the paramilitary group. Blanco Maya said in a 2011 written declaration that he delivered the cash directly to El Tigre, the AUC commander, at regularly scheduled meetings at a restaurant in an obscure rural area.

According to Blanco Maya, Adkins had the authority to operate as a free agent, but he didnt do anything without the blessing of Drummonds CEO. Adkins flew to Alabama after hatching the fake invoice scheme to go over the plan with Garry Drummond, and he signed off on it, Blanco Maya said during lunch. The only person who told him what to do was Garry, he said, but whatever Adkins knew, Garry knew, too.

Drummond has denied any involvement in the murders in court and public statements. When asked to comment on the current case in Colombia, a Drummond official who spoke to The New Republic stated they are prohibited from commenting on ongoing legal processes.

The New Republic was unable to reach Adkins, who is around 90 years old, but a close relative said he had been extremely ill for years and was unable to speak. Two other sources who know him confirmed he was in extremely poor health. During his deposition in the Alabama case and in past public statements, Adkins has vigorously denied playing any role in the assassination of the union leaders or having any knowledge of it.





Finally, the Trial May Be Coming

The federal prosecutors office hasnt announced a trial date for the two Drummond executives, but its expected to begin this year or early next, unless the company can find a way to delay it. The murdered union officials supporters in Colombia are already worried about the possibility; in February, a number of groups monitoring the situation sent a letter to the prosecutors office accusing it of stalling and demanded that the prosecution move forward.

Whether any Drummond executives in the United States will face a judicial reckoning is impossible to know. The companys longtime president, Garry Drummond, died in 2016. In December 2022, the prosecutors office notified the Justice Department that it was investigating Adkins for aggravated conspiracy and aggravated homicide, and it wanted to conduct a virtual interview with him on January 17. A Justice Department official replied that the agency would not be able to facilitate the requested interview, and Adkins did not contact the prosecutor to schedule one. His poor health would likely have precluded that, but even if he were not ill, its virtually inconceivable that Adkins would voluntarily submit to questioning in the case or that the U.S. government would compel a former CIA officer to provide testimony about his alleged involvement in crimes committed overseas. The prosecutors office still wants to interview him, however, and has issued an arrest order for Adkins, according to an October 19 story in the Bogota newspaper El Espectador.

When the Justice Department charged Chiquita with financing paramilitaries during the civil war in Colombia back in the mid-2000s, the company argued that its payments to the AUC were made under duress and amounted to extortion. The Justice Department didnt buy it, and in 2007 Chiquita pleaded guilty to engaging in transactions with a specially designated global terrorist and paid a $25 million fine.

Other U.S. multinationals exposed for having supported the AUC have made the same argument about having paid only under threat. But simply arguing that payment was demanded of it does not automatically exempt a company from liability, according to Kelsey Jost-Creegan, supervising attorney at Columbia Law School, who has studied the ties between foreign multinationals and paramilitaries in Colombia. These companies choose to operate in regions where they know armed actors hold power, often using third parties to facilitate and provide legal distance from the consequences of their actions, she said.

The Drummond case is potentially far more important than any that have come before. If it indeed moves forward, the Colombian federal prosecutors case against the Drummond executives would mark the first time that Drummond corporate officials have been brought to trial on criminal charges.

Joris van de Sandt of PAX, a Dutch peace organization that has researched the Drummond case for more than a decade, notes that corporations have often exacerbated armed conflict and facilitated war crimes, but theyre rarely held accountable. Theres a lot of evidence against Drummond, and if its proven true in court, the company and its executives need to be held accountable and serve as an example and deterrent to other multinationals, especially in an age when private companies have become so huge and politically powerful, he said. It would also be important for victims and their families, who have the right to truth, justice, and reparations.
The Colombian Navy and National Army discovered a shipwrecked boat that was transporting 33 kilograms of cocaine and 744 kilograms of marijuana.

The drugs were floating in the water near the boat, which was found on the Naya River near the country's coastal Buenaventura district, the navy said in a news release. There were 32 floating packages in total.

The packages contained "narcotic substances," the navy said. The packages were tested by the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney's General's Office in a preliminary test, which found the substances to be cocaine hydrochloride and marijuana.

The navy said the seizure meant that nearly $6 million was prevented from going to organizations dedicated to drug trafficking, and that the sale of more than 200,000 doses of drugs was prevented.

The packages containing more than 700 kilograms of drugs. / Credit: Colombia Ministry of National Defense

Two individuals were also found near the boat. They were both of Costa Rican nationality, the navy said, and stated that they were the owners of the boat.

The seized materials, two men and boat were brought to the municipal prosecutor's office for prosecution on charges of trafficking, manufacturing and/or possession of narcotics, the navy said.

The Colombian navy has intercepted dozens of boats transporting illicit substances in recent years. Sometimes, submarines or "narco subs" have attempted to evade detection by traveling underwater. Recently, the navy intercepted what authorities said was a "suspicious" boat carrying $41 million worth of cocaine and traveling to Central America.

According to the BBC, Colombia produces 60% of the cocaine found in the world. CBS News has previously reported that the United States is the world's largest consumer of Colombian cocaine.

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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  A new locally-owned coffee shop will soon make its debut in Lancaster County.

CAYA Coffee Shop is the name of a new coffee cafe that will soon be holding its grand opening, but the unique name is also an inviting acronym which means Come As You Are. The owners of the new establishment are Jessica Hostetter, her mother Bonnie Gentile, and Jessicas daughter Taryn Hostetter.

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According to Jessica, she had two goals in mind while she was growing up. One was to open her own book store, and the other was to open a coffee shop.

I have had a dream since I was a teenager to open a bookstore with a coffee shop  the coffee shop just happened to come first, Jessica shared.

The new CAYA Coffee Shop is going to be located inside the lobby of Reality Church, which is located at 2301 Harrisburg Pike in suite 100. According to Jessica, the new location will boast a lounge area with sofas and two chairs, ten four-top tables, and bar seats by the window.

Additionally, the new CAYA Coffee shop will feature a Kids Zone, which will have childrens tables, chairs, and toys.

Whats the difference between coffee and espresso?

The new shop offers a wide range of beverages from coffee, teas, smoothies, and other seasonal drinks, in addition to other baked goods and sweets as well.

If you want to check out CAYA Coffee Shops full menu, you can click here.

CAYA Coffee Shop is slated to have its grand opening weekend starting Friday, December 1 through Saturday, December 2. During this weekend, the new shop will operate under extended hours of operation, which will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Following their grand opening, their normal hours of operation will be:

Mondays  Fridays // 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays // 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Its been a fun and wild ride, Jessica said. We are so excited to be a part of the Hempfield Community and look forward to giving back in so many ways. We are open to partnerships with local organizations and hope to help raise awareness to many groups with the Hempfield area. Wed love for businesses, organizations and ministries to reach out to collaborate and come up with fun opportunities to serve our community.

Moving forward, Jessica says she hopes to one day finally open her independent book store.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The Richland County commissioners took action Tuesday to try to get work moving on a multi-million dollar project to install broadband internet service to rural areas in the northern part of the county.

The board approved a resolution that will be filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio asking the agency to act on a complaint filed against American Electric Power over a delay in the permitting process to allow internet access lines to be installed on the companys poles.

Commissioners voted in May to allocate $2 million of the countys American Rescue Plan Act funds to Charter Communications, doing business as Spectrum, to help cover part of the estimated $5 million total cost with additional funding from an Ohio residential broadband expansion grant and in-kind spending by Charter. The project involves installation of fiber optic lines to 748 addresses, mostly north of U.S. 30 along township, county and state routes.

Charter representative Ashley Karlan told commissioners on Tuesday that her company filed 86,000 permitting requests  including 2,200 for Richland County  from May through August to install the fiber optics on AEP poles. To date, AEP has approved only 16% of the permits, none in Richland County, even though PUCO rules call for pole surveys that are required for the permits to be completed within 30 to 45 days.

Charter representative: 'We're really concerned with that'

Were really concerned with that. Its definitely delaying our build out of broadband and making it difficult to meet the deadlines through the State of Ohio, Karlan said.

Internet and cable television company Spectrum has filed a complaint against AEP Ohio, accusing AEP of not moving fast enough to help Spectrum extend broadband service throughout the state.

Commissioner Tony Vero said he has had communications with AEP and conversations with the PUCO and that AEP told him the company is not dragging its feet and that the problem is the unprecedented number of permit requests because of the involvement of ARPA dollars. He said they also pointed out that the poles are in different geographic locations, which requires engineers to go out and do load studies and find new locations for poles that need to be replaced.

Its not as easy as a stamp of approval and move on, Vero added.

Karlan agreed that the number of permit applications for broadband deployment projects is unprecedented but pointed out that Charter has tried every self-mediation effort it can including offering AEP financial support and offering to hire contractors of their choosing to help with the process.

Filing with PUCO called a 'last-ditch effort'

All of our offers have been rejected, she said. We have tried everything we know to try to help them speed up this process, get out there and look at the poles and we pay for the make ready, so if theres a pole that needs to be replaced, it comes out of our pocket. And so the filing with the PUCO is really a last-ditch effort to try and get them to speed up the process.

Under federal regulations, projects using ARPA dollars must be completed by the end of 2026. Karlan said Charter does not know if it can meet the deadline because of the permit delay and that she does not know the specifics of why AEP turned down the offers of help.

County Business Manager Andrew Keller told commissioners before their unanimous vote that they need to do everything they can to keep the pressure on AEP to issue the permits for Richland County residents.

AEP is a regulated utility doing business in Ohio, and they are required to adjudicate these pole permit applications in a timely period, he added.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Commissioners file motion with PUCO to speed up broadband project
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the 2024 race for Sen. Jon Testers (D-Mont.) seat from lean Democrat to a toss up Thursday.

Three-term Sen. Jon Tester may well be Democrats strongest incumbent this cycle  he still enjoys an approval rating around 60 percent  but the 67-year-old has the toughest uphill climb of any incumbent Democrat, at least purely by the numbers, wrote Jessica Taylor, senate and governors editor for Cook Political Report.

Besides Testers proven ability to overcome the GOP lean of the state (he ran seven points ahead of then-President Barack Obama in 2012), the main reason we started this race in Lean Democrat was the prospect of a looming, bruising Republican primary that could divide the party, drain resources and produce a weaker Republican candidate, she continued. Moreover, outrunning Biden in a state where his loss margin could be even wider goes against recent political trends.

Taylor noted that while theres still the potential for a messy GOP primary between Republican candidates Tim Sheehy and Rep. Matt Rosendale (Mont.), as Rosendale has not taken himself out of the running for a possible primary run, there are signs that key Republicans in the state and nationally are coalescing around Sheehy.

She also noted several polls show Sheehy outperforming Rosendale in a primary match-up.

Testers campaign brushed off the race ratings change.

Jons no stranger to tough fights, and this election will be no different, said campaign manager Shelbi Dantic in a statement, which encouraged supporters to go his campaign website.

Meanwhile, Republicans seized on the ratings change as a critical boost.

Jon Tester is in for the race of his life because of his unethical behavior and lockstep support for Joe Bidens disastrous agenda, Maggie Abboud, a spokeswoman for the Senate GOP campaign arm, said in a statement.

Sheehys campaign also touted the ratings change in an email, saying Experts nationwide are taking notice of Tim Sheehys strong candidacy, rise in the polls, and profile that appeals to both primary voters and the general electorate.

Senate Democrats are defending an increasingly challenging map after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced earlier this month that he would not be seeking reelection.

Tester and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are the only two red-state Democrats running for reelection, marking two critical races Democrats need to win if they have any hope of holding onto the upper chamber.

Updated at 4:08 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- COP28 Daily Reports: Sign up for the Green Daily newsletter for comprehensive coverage of the climate summit right in your inbox.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Nearly 200 nations agreed on how to run a fund to help vulnerable countries deal with more extreme weather, and rich nations pledged at least $260 million to start the program, marking a breakthrough as global climate negotiations opened in Dubai.

Delegates at the COP28 summit on Thursday adopted a framework for the World Bank-hosted fund after months of negotiations. The United Arab Emirates, this years host nation, said it would contribute $100 million, alongside another $100 million from Germany. The UK committed 40 million ($50 million) and Japan added $10 million.

John Kerry, the US representative, said the Biden administration would work with Congress to provide $17.5 million. The announced contributions clear a $200 million minimum needed to launch operations, setting the stage to start disbursing money early next year.

Figuring out how the fund will work is a truly historic decision, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that runs the annual COP meetings, said before the deal was officially adopted. Reaching that agreement early in the two-week talks will send a powerful signal to all of the negotiating rooms.

Read More: What Is COP28 and Why Is It Important?

Delegates also agreed on an agenda without the drama of past meetings, setting up a smooth start to COP28. The plan on loss and damage, however, is just one of three main outcomes negotiators are working to deliver. A tougher fight lies ahead on how countries should react to the inadequate pace of slashing greenhouse gas emissions, which has already prompted sparring over what nations should collectively commit to do about fossil fuels in a warming world.

Conference leaders and delegates delivered sober warnings about the stakes of inaction on Thursday.

It is clear we are not on track, Jennifer Morgan, Germanys climate envoy, told reporters in a briefing. She said the world faces unimaginable consequences if we dont accelerate and scale up our action.

The EU, US and other countries are pushing for concrete pledges including paring fossil fuels, tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency. The potential fossil fuel language in the final agreement has been a major source of tension, with some oil-rich nations reluctant to embrace a commitment to phase them out altogether.

Stiell called for an unflinching approach. If we do not signal the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it, we welcome our own terminal decline, he said in opening remarks. And we choose to pay with peoples lives.

Its taken a year to hammer out details for the loss and damage fund, a relatively short amount of time in the world of climate diplomacy. Nations resolved to create it at the end of COP27 in Egypt. Representatives from nearly two dozen countries negotiated on specifics for months, including the controversial decision to set it up as a financial intermediary fund hosted by the World Bank on a four-year interim basis.

Major questions still hang over the facility, including the source and scale of funding going forward. Emerging economies argue that countries which industrialized first should make significant contributions, given theyre responsible for much of the greenhouse gas emissions accumulated in the atmosphere.

Germanys Morgan said that countries that are particularly capable, such as China and Saudi Arabia, also should support the fund. That would be a magnanimous gesture and also a signal of how these countries take their responsibilities for the most vulnerable countries seriously, she said.

Read More: Al Jaber Denies Using COP28 Presidency to Make Oil and Gas Deals

The text that was approved on Thursday lays out a plan for replenishing the fund every four years, with contributions coming from a wide variety of sources, including grants and concessional loans. But it stops short of demanding payments, merely urging countries to provide support on a voluntary basis and inviting developed nations to take the lead to provide seed money.

Read More: Biggest Climate Talks Ever Confront Global Chaos and Record Heat

The US fought to ensure the framework text made contributions voluntary, and Kerry has emphasized the US already provides disaster relief funding through other channels.

Its important the fund does not represent any expression of liability or any sort of new legal requirements, Kerry told reporters Wednesday. We think that this fund  the way its designed  will meet the needs of vulnerable countries, and can be stood up quickly but confidently.

--With assistance from Jessica Shankleman.

(Updates with contribution totals from first paragraph)

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Four trucks per hour will be allowed to leave Slovakia

Ukrainian drivers are warned to expect traffic delays at the UzhhorodVysne Nemecke checkpoint, as the Slovak Union of Road Carriers (UNAS) plans to block the border crossing starting from 16:00 on Dec. 1.

"Only 4 trucks per hour will be allowed to leave Slovakia. At the same time, the transportation of humanitarian and military aid, live animals, fuel and refrigerated cargo will not be blocked," the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service said on Facebook on Nov. 30.

Read also: Slovakia extends and expands ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine

The UzhhorodVysne Nemecke is one of the main checkpoints that can handle both passenger and cargo traffic. Slovakian carriers had previously blocked it on Nov. 21, but the traffic was fully restored the following day. There are five other border crossings between Ukraine and Slovakia.

The move is a carbon copy of the strike of petulant Polish truckers, who are being tacitly supported by Polands outgoing Law and Justice party.

Polish carriers started a border strike with Ukraine on Nov. 6. They blocked three checkpoints for the passage of freight transport: Korczowa-Krakowiec, Grebenne-Rava-Ruska, and Dorohusk-Yagodyn. On Nov. 22, the blockade of the Yagodyn-Dorohusk checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Polish border was extended until Feb. 1, 2024.

Read also: Poland to ask EU to cancel visa-free cargo transport for Ukraine  PM Morawiecki

UNAS announced on Nov. 29 its intention to block the UzhhorodVysne Nemecke border checkpoint for an indefinite period from Dec. 1

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
In 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporal punishment against schoolchildren does not violate the Constitution.

Justices ruled 5-4 in the Ingraham v. Wright decision that constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment) and for due process against loss of life, liberty or property (14th Amendment) apply only to convicted criminals when it comes to physically disciplining a citizen.

They relied on historical precedent and wrote that common law provided safeguards against abuse or excessive punishment.

Forty-six years later, two Tennessee public school educators stand accused of assault for allegedly paddling a student in school and harming the child.

Its a reminder that corporal punishment is still legal in Tennessee, but it shouldnt be.

Corporal punishment in school concept. Teacher's desk with spanking device and punishment book.

This case against the educators should persuade lawmakers to ban it completely when the Tennessee General Assemblys 2024 legislative session starts in January.

Corporal punishment might pass constitutional muster, but its wrong and harmful for children.

Tennessee makes an exception on punishing students

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Tennessee is among the 16 states that allow corporal punishment, although the Volunteer State is among five that ban the punishment for children with disabilities.

Several school districts in Tennessee prohibit the practice. Jackson County, Tennessee, about 90 miles northeast of Nashville, does not.

Book bans do more harm than good: Both the left and right want to ban 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' Don't rob students of understanding.

On Nov. 7, Dodson Branch Elementary School teacher Jackson Patterson and Assistant Principal Tena Lynn were arrested on charges of simple assault and criminal responsibility of assault, respectively.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services assert that the student complained of pain after being examined medically, according to a TBI news release.

There are some details that remain unclear. For example, even though the school has a process for administering corporal punishment, did the educators violate it somehow? Was the child protected against the alleged paddling because of a disability?

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.

According to The Tennesseans story: A TBI spokesperson declined to release any further details about the incident, citing the open case.

School Principal Brian Lee told reporters he could not comment on the case or investigation.

White House and WHO urge an end to corporal punishment

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote a letter in March to governors and state and local school leaders urging them to end the use of corporal punishment.

The practice of corporal punishment is antithetical to positive child and adolescent development and school safety, Cardona wrote.

This is not just a Biden administration position. The World Health Organization warns against it too.

Evidence shows corporal punishment increases childrens behavioural (sic) problems over time and has no positive outcomes, according to a WHO fact sheet from Nov. 23, 2021.

In 2012, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an article documenting lessons from 20 years of research on corporal punishment.

As recently as 20 years ago, the physical punishment of children was generally accepted worldwide and was considered an appropriate method of eliciting behavioural (sic) compliance that was conceptually distinct from physical abuse, the authors wrote. However, this perspective began to change as studies found links between 'normative' physical punishment and child aggression, delinquency and spousal assault in later life.

In short, children who receive corporal punishment are physically, emotionally and mentally harmed, which has implications for their mental health and development.

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Why the Supreme Court dissenters challenged the majority

The four-justice dissent in the Supreme Courts Ingraham ruling took great issue with the majority for ignoring precedent in past cases and for putting words in the Founding Fathers mouths.

This is a 1982 official portrait of the Supreme Court. Seated from left are Thurgood Marshall; William Brennan Jr.; Chief Justice Warren Burger, Byron White and Harry Blackmun. Standing from left, John Paul Stevens, Lewis Powell, William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor.

"The constitutional prohibition is against cruel and unusual punishments; nowhere is that prohibition limited or modified by the language of the Constitution, wrote Justice Byron White.

Certainly, the fact that the Framers did not choose to insert the word criminal into the language of the Eighth Amendment is strong evidence that the Amendment was designed to prohibit all inhumane or barbaric punishments, no matter what the nature of the offense for which the punishment is imposed.

The dissenters  White joined by Justices William Brennan, Thurgood Marshall and John Paul Stevens  were ahead of their time.

Corporal punishment might have been deemed acceptable in the 1970s, but it should no longer be allowed in the 21st century.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean, where this column first published. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas

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 Nashville Tennessean: Educators spanked a child. Why is corporal punishment still legal?
Chinese VP emphasizes people-to-people diplomacy with Russian representatives

Xinhua) 08:12, November 30, 2023

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with representatives of the 14th Plenary Session of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with representatives of the 14th Plenary Session of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development in Beijing on Wednesday.

Han said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has enjoyed sustained, sound and steady development, with deepening political mutual trust, steady progress on practical cooperation and increasingly solid public support.

Han said that the two countries' leaders have made comprehensive arrangements for the development of bilateral relations and pointed out the direction for advancing the cause of people-to-people friendship between China and Russia.

It is hoped that the committee will implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, take the opportunity of celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties and the Year of Culture next year, and give full play to the strong cohesion, appeal and impetus of people-to-people diplomacy, to make new and greater contributions to the development of bilateral relations, he added.

Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the committee, said that Russia-China relations are at a historical high, and cultural exchanges and practical cooperation have achieved outstanding results. The committee will seize the important timing next year to continue to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and help advance Russia-China relations to a new level, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Yajaira Gonzalez became a U.S. citizen and a registered Democrat on the same day.

She arrived from Mexico 20 years ago, and was granted temporary legal status in 2012 after President Obama established DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The policy allows some immigrants who were brought illegally to the U.S. as children to avoid deportation.

After Gonzalez married and gained citizenship, joining the Democratic Party seemed a natural step. She appreciated the party's relatively supportive stance toward immigration and immigrants, a contrast with the antagonism of Republicans under President Trump.

But Gonzalez, a scholarship coordinator at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, has been disappointed with President Biden.

"He made many promises, and many of them he did not keep," she said. "I would like to see immigration reform for undocumented immigrants and a path to citizenship for 'Dreamers,'"  as young immigrants under the DACA program are known. "I would also like to see more Latino people in the next president's Cabinet."

Gonzalez said she could see herself backing some other candidate for president in 2024  a Republican, even  depending on his or her views on immigration. First, though, she would "have to see what their platforms are."

Gonzalez, 28, was among those who took part in a nationwide survey conducted by The Times in partnership with KFF, a nonprofit formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Read more: Immigrant Dreams: Our landmark poll surveys the lives of one-sixth of the nation

Her views  an affinity for the Democratic Party but a willingness to consider alternatives  reflect a widespread ambivalence among a voting group that is considered an essential part of the Democratic base.

The survey was conducted earlier this year among more than 3,300 immigrants, who were interviewed in one of 10 languages. The first-of-its-kind research was intended to develop a clearer picture of the immigrant population in the U.S., where roughly 1 in 6 adults were born abroad.

In recent years, much attention has focused on two sets of voters considered key to winning the presidency. The first is blue-collar workers in the industrial Midwest. The second is college-educated residents of the Sunbelt's burgeoning suburbs. Both remain crucial to the prospects of the two major parties.

But The Times/KFF poll suggests there's another potential swing group: the nation's immigrants.

Read more: Black immigrants face more discrimination in the U.S. The source is sometimes surprising

Among its gleanings, the poll found that the American dream is alive and well, at least among those who came from abroad, despite the sour mood that suffuses much of the country.

Overwhelming majorities of those interviewed said that their financial situation was better because of their move to the U.S. and that educational opportunities for themselves or their children had also improved.

Turning to politics, the survey confounded some of the conventional wisdom surrounding the immigrant community and its presumed partisanship. While leaning Democratic, the ranks include a large number of voters not strongly wed to either major party.

Asked which party better represents their political views, about a third said the Democrats, while 16% named the GOP. A quarter said neither party, and the rest were not sure.

Ali Mostashari is one of those with little use for either of the major parties.

"The way I look at things is not very ideological," said the 47-year-old biotechnology executive, who emigrated from Iran a quarter-century ago and lives in upstate New York.

"I'm less interested in partisanship. I'm more interested in finding common ground and negotiating ways to find not the ideal solution where everyone optimizes their own, but one where we can actually create less conflict," Mostashari said.

Though he considers himself "more on the liberal end of things," the self-described political independent values practicality and pragmatism and doesn't see much of either coming from Democrats or Republicans.

He's not alone in his discontent.

"I don't think there's a party out there that really represents most of middle America today," said Shawn Chen, 42, who came with his family from Taiwan when he was 9 years old. He lives in Charlotte, N.C., and works for a supply-chain firm.

Chen left the GOP about 16 years ago, put off by President George W. Bush and some of his policies. But he didn't join the Democrats; Chen sees both parties caught in the grip of special interests and too profligate.

"From an economic standpoint, all we do is spend," Chen said. "Our national debt is growing at a significant rate, and [it] doesn't seem like there's an end in sight from either party."

Read more: Ten languages, thousands of phone calls: Accurately polling immigrants posed unprecedented challenges

Strikingly, given the hard-edged rhetoric of Trump and fellow Republicans over the last several years, the poll did not turn up a huge Democratic advantage on the volatile issue of immigration.

Just over a third of respondents said immigrants in the U.S. have been better off under Biden, while 16% said they were better off when Trump was in office. About half said it made no difference who sat in the White House.

President Trump was able to court many Latino voters despite his stance on immigration. Here, he gives his approval to a cheering crowd after a Latinos for Trump event in Phoenix in September 2020. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

Immigrants were also asked which party they perceived as representing their interests. Under half  46%  said Democrats did so very or at least somewhat well, compared with 20% who said the same about the GOP. At least 3 in 10 said they were not sure how well either party represents immigrant interests.

In focus groups conducted as a part of the nationwide survey, some respondents said they felt the country's immigrants were being used as pawns by politicians seeking office or were being courted just for their vote. Many said voting made no difference.

Julian Mensah, who spoke in a follow-up interview, said politicians had done little to address what he cares most about: social justice.

"I just feel there's a lot of lip service," said Mensah, 38.

Read more: How do your views about the U.S. compare to what immigrants told us? Take this quiz to find out

An immigrant from Ghana, Mensah arrived in the U.S. with his family at age 2. He raises money to help run one of Dallas' largest homeless shelters, and though he's a registered Democrat, he considers himself more of a political independent.

"At the end of the day, nonprofits kind of jump in to fill the void that government entities aren't really addressing," said Mensah. He feels most political power these days rests with "old white males."

He added: "I just think they aren't in touch with my generation."

That's a widely shared sentiment regarding the two presidential front-runners.

"I feel like both candidates, Biden in the Democratic Party and Trump on the Republican side, don't represent the views of most Americans," Chen said. "You have two angry old people that really talk out of a lot of hatred instead of focusing on key issues we have in this country."

If Trump, 77, and Biden, 81, end up as the two major-party nominees, it could take a good deal of persuading to convince a significant chunk of the immigrant population to support either with very much enthusiasm.

And given the nation's deeply discontented electorate, is there anything more American these days than that?

Times staff writer Selene Rivera contributed to this column.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Country Land and Business Association says nobody who lives and works in the countryside wants to see another national park - Graham Hunt/Alamy Live News

The countryside is not there to serve tea and scones to visitors, rural business leaders have said after plans for a new national park were announced.

Countryside business representatives have criticised plans for the new park in England and said they would rather see a push towards a dynamic rural economy.

Victoria Vyvyan, president of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), which represents 28,000 rural members, said that nobody who lived and worked in the countryside wants to see another national park.

She further demanded that the Government review how national park authorities function and how their boundaries are fixed.

It comes after Rishi Sunak last week announced the plans for a new park in England, with a number of sites under consideration, including Dorset and the Cotswolds.

The Welsh Government is also considering creating a fourth in the Clwydian Range, in the north-east of the country.

Vyvyan said at the CLAs annual conference: The governments of England and Wales need to challenge themselves about why nobody, and this is not said lightly, who lives and works in the landscape wants a new national park.

She told attending businesses and landowners: I think they need to radically review what constitutes an effective National Park Authority. I think they need to review how they fix its boundaries.

And I think most of all, they need to consider how we can run dynamic 21st-century businesses in a national park rather than condemning us to change beds and sell tea and scones, possibly with a pinny and an occasional courtesy to the visitors.

We want to be part of a dynamic economy, she added.

The new national park forms part of the Governments final response to a 2019 review that criticised how such protected landscapes were managed and funded.

Speaking to The Telegraph afterwards, Ms Vyvyan said that the parameters of such areas should be looked at before we put another malfunctioning national park in place.

New park needs full buy-in from residents

Lets look at whos on the National Park authority because at the moment, its 90 per cent council representatives who dont live in the national park. You have one or maybe two representatives in the park, so youre not going to get buy-in from everybody when youre in that situation.

She added: If were going to make a new national park, lets make it an exciting project, which actually has full buy-in from all the people who live in the park.

There are currently 15 national parks in the UK, each with its own separate authority. National park authorities do not own all the land in the parks.

A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) spokesman said: National parks support rural economies through a thriving visitor economy, partnerships with farmers, and the creation of green jobs  however, before designation of any national park an objective, rigorous and robust assessment is made.

This includes a requirement for statutory consultation with all county and district councils within the land area to be designated and a wider 12-week public consultation, allowing for more rigorous evidence gathering.

When the plan for a new park was announced, Defra said: The search for a new national park  a manifesto commitment  will begin in the new year. This will be focused on looking for Englands most beautiful nature spots, alongside the areas ability to connect people with nature.

This comes alongside new funding for Englands most special places, with a further 15 million pledged to support our existing national parks and national landscapes, helping to support our most iconic landscapes. The Government has also published the final response to the Glover Landscapes Review, which sets out how we will make these precious sites fit for the future.

Farmers ask for more funding support

At its conference the CLA also called for a budget of at least 4 billion a year for farmers in England to support the agricultural sector.

The Government is committed to spending an average of 2.4 billion a year in the farming sector.

Ms Vyvyan said: Theres concern and confusion but theres also excitement in the farming sector. Things are changing, and for the next generation that means opportunity.

I want the current Secretary of State and the Farming Minister to make absolutely sure that there isnt any money left in the pot next year  we need every single penny of that money.

Steve Barclay, the new Environment Secretary, and Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, also attended the conference.

Mr Barclay announced in his first address as the Environment Secretary that a further 45 million would be directed towards funding innovation, including around 15 million in roof-top solar equipment to boost sustainability.

He added: Farming is at the heart of meeting our ambitions to meet our climate change targets and safeguarding nature. We are taking action on the things that matter to you.

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An appeals court Wednesday upheld a ruling that required a property-insurance company to cover damage that the owners of a Miami-Dade County home said was caused by blasting at a nearby rock quarry.

A three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal rejected arguments by Tower Hill Prime Insurance Co. that damage in 2016 to the home of Ivet and Mario Bermudez was excluded from coverage under their policy.

Tower Hill went to the appeals court after a jury last year said the insurer was responsible for paying $62,000 to cover damage such as cracks in the home, according to the verdict.

The homeowners filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit, arguing the damage was caused by vibrations from blasting at the rock quarry, while Tower Hill said it was caused by earth movement. Tower Hill pointed to part of the policy that excluded coverage for earth movement.

The damage is not covered because the subject policy contains an exclusion for damage caused by earth movement, Tower Hill argued in a motion for summary judgment filed in 2020 in Miami-Dade County circuit court. Even if the damage at plaintiffs property was the result of nearby blasting activities, the damage was caused by earth movement. Accordingly, plaintiffs are not entitled to coverage under the insurance policy.

But the appeals court said the trial came down to a so-called battle of the experts and that an expert for the homeowners was steadfast in his opinion that none of the damage to the insureds home resulted from soil movement or earth movement, but was instead the result of shock waves from the blasting that caused the house to shake.

Based upon the competing expert testimony, the jury could reasonably have concluded that it was the shock waves, and not soil or earth movement, that shook the house and caused damage to the Insureds home, said Wednesdays 11-page decision written by Judge Kevin Emas and joined by Judges Ivan Fernandez and Alexander Bokor.

Wednesdays decision did not provide extensive details about damage to the home. But the 2020 summary-judgment motion filed by Tower Hill indicated the homeowners said they found cracks in ceiling and floor areas, the driveway and a pool wall.

The appeals court said the trial focused on the narrow issue of whether the cause of damage to the insureds home was excluded from or not covered under the policy. After the jury ruled for the Bermudezes, Circuit Judge William Thomas denied a request by Tower Hill for what is known as a directed verdict in favor of the insurer, according to court documents.

Pointing to the conflicting expert testimony, the appeals court said the circuit judge properly denied Tower Hills motions for directed verdict, new trial and judgment.
A court-appointed monitor caught former President Donald Trump quietly moving $40 million without disclosing the transfers as required by Judge Arthur Engoron, according to The Daily Beast.

Engoron, who is overseeing Trumps New York fraud trial, last year put the Trump Organization under court monitoring after the New York attorney general raised concerns that he may try to move money out of the company before it is potentially sanctioned. Engoron appointed former U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones to oversee the finances and required Trump to report any transfers larger than $5 million.

Jones notified the court on Wednesday that she discovered that the Trump family failed to report $40 million in transfers despite the order.

"These transactions included a cash transfer of $29 million to Donald J. Trump, which I have confirmed was used for tax payments," she wrote in the letter, which was published by The Messenger. "Based upon Defendants explanations I have also confirmed that the other transfers were for insurance premiums and to an attorney escrow account."

Jones wrote in a footnote that the attorney escrow account was for Trumps appeal in the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault judgment.

"We have discussed with Defendants why these transactions were not previously disclosed and I have now clarified (and Defendants have agreed) that all transfers of assets out of the Trust exceeding $5 million must be reported," Jones wrote.

The former judge told the court that Trump and his co-defendants in the case have since agreed to enhanced monitoring.

"Defendants continue to cooperate with me and are generally in compliance with the Court's orders, and have committed to ensure that all required information, including tax information and cash transfers, are promptly disclosed to the Monitor," she wrote.

Trump attorney Christopher Kise stressed that his client is cooperating with the court-appointed monitor.

"As before, the report confirms the defendants continue to cooperate with the monitor and remain in compliance with the court order," Kise told The Messenger. "Also as before, the report contains no mention of suspicious activity or suspected or actual fraud, because none exists."

Engoron prior to the beginning of the trial found that Trump committed fraud for years by deceiving banks, insurers and others by undervaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth in documents used to make deal and secure loans. Trump has appealed the ruling and the trial is still ongoing to litigate other claims brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James as well as the scope of any potential sanctions. James is seeking $250 million in penalties and the dissolution of Trumps New York businesses.

Trumps lawyers earlier this week sought to call Jones as a witness but Engoron shot down their request.

Besides being untimely and inappropriate, Judge Jones and her staff are arms of the court, Engoron said.

Jones in an August 2023 report found that Trumps disclosures had been incomplete and that his trust had not consistently provided the required certifications of the financial statements accuracy.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Two new businesses recently celebrated their grand openings in Cumberland County.

According to the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce, a new massage parlor and a new nail salon recently celebrated their perspective grand openings.

New massage parlor:

The new massage parlor at 38 West Allen Street, called Dragon Hand Massage, is owned and operated by Abigail Charles. Charles started her initial training at the Institute of Bodywork Studio in Texas, before continuing her education and licensing at Harrisburg Area Community College.

The new location is going to offer a wide variety of massage options and services that focus on what relaxes and benefits individual clients.

What relaxes one person may not relax another, Charles explained. In a tailored massage, relaxation and therapeutic modalities will be blended as necessary to achieve the clients massage goals. I believe in finding what works best for my clients.

To make an appointment at Dragon Hand Massage, you can call (717)-790-1212 or send an email to abigail@dragonhandmassage.com

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New nail salon:

In addition to the new massage parlor, a new nail salon named NiqNiq & Eternity Nail Lounge celebrated its grand opening at 5004 Lenker Street. The location was opened as a combined effort between owners Shaniqua White and Oveanah Mills.

Their new location specializes in being a gel-based nail salon, while also offering a variety of other services such as artificial nail enhancements, gel x nails, manicures, and pedicures.

The purpose of NiqNiq & Eternity Nail Lounge is to empower individuals to enhance their beauty, self-confidence, and well-being through the artistry of nail care, Ms. White said. We are committed to providing a welcoming and relaxing environment. Our salon is dedicated to delivering exceptional service, quality, and hygiene while staying at the forefront of industry trends. We aim to be a place where our customers feel pampered, rejuvenated, and inspired to embrace their uniqueness.

This new location is by appointment only  to book an appointment you can call (717)-833-4661 or visit their website by clicking here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
On November 8, the European Commission recommended granting candidate status to Georgia. The acceptance or rejection of these recommendations will be determined by a vote from the 27 EU member states in mid-December. If approved by the European Council, this decision would mark a significant milestone in Georgias extensive pursuit of European integration, reflecting the historical transformations occurring in the region. As the EU endeavors to anchor Georgia within its newly defined geopolitical sphere, the country is still required to address nine priorities, along with two additional conditions related to combating disinformation. These include countering anti-EU disinformation, foreign information manipulation, and interference against the EUs values. Another pivotal condition for Georgia involves ensuring a closer alignment of its foreign policy with the EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

BACKGROUND: This pivotal moment places Georgia in a precarious situation, challenging its dedication to democratic principles and influencing its foreign policy direction, thereby amplifying uncertainties regarding the countrys political and institutional future. Being granted candidate status could present several opportunities for both Georgia and the EU. For Georgia, this outcome could spur new political dynamics, fostering an environment more conducive to the democratization and Europeanization of the country. Achieving the status could stabilize Georgias political landscape, empower pro-reform actors, reduce polarization and party-led radicalization, enhance the countrys international reputation, and render the Europeanization process and reform agenda more difficult to reverse. With candidate status, Georgia may be more motivated to implement the necessary reforms to progress to the subsequent phase.

For the EU, this development would augment its influence over Georgias reform initiatives, boost its transformative power, counter anti-EU disinformation, and enhance its geopolitical standing in the strategically pivotal South Caucasus and Black Sea regions. Especially, in the context of the EUs strategic absence during the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis, maintaining a strong presence in Georgia could be a key pillar of EU geopolitical influence in the region. Granting candidate status to Georgia is also likely to send a clear signal to Russia about the irreversible nature of Europeanization in Georgia. It can also potentially strengthen Georgia's resilience against the malign influences of not just Russia, but also China. Additionally, this move can help foster stability in the region and promote the democratization process.

Moreover, the effectiveness of the EUs democratic conditionality arguably increases when incentives are perceived as more attainable, particularly for the general public, which keeps pushing the Georgian government every time it derails from the EU integration path. The EU can apply democratic conditionality more effectively when it adheres to a strict timetable and the subsequent steps are imminent. Conversely, without candidate status, the prospect of European integration for Georgia may appear more abstract and unattainable in the short term.

IMPLICATIONS: Even though the EU seems motivated to grant Georgia candidate status despite insufficient performance from the government, there is no guarantee that the Georgian Dream (GD) government would react by expediting democratic reforms and progressing to the negotiation stage. The GDs lack of political will to deliver on reforms could still be considered a stumbling block for Georgias further democratization. Candidate status might also prove insufficient motivation for the GD government to abandon its anti-reform agenda and anti-Western rhetoric. Conversely, it might exploit this development to enhance its public standing, undermine the opposition, and secure a landslide victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections. If the government chooses this path, it will likely exacerbate polarization and radicalization, entrench authoritarianism, divert Georgia from its path towards European integration, and increase susceptibility to Russian malign influence. In short, giving candidate status to Tbilisi is not without risks.

Another risk accompanying Georgias potential candidate status lies in the countrys current foreign policy trajectory that ostensibly seeks to balance relations with the EU and its policy of stealth bandwagoning with Russia. There is no guarantee that this status would motivate the Georgian government to pull away from Russia and reorient itself towards the EU. In the worst-case scenario, the GD government could exploit the candidate status to secure victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections without altering its foreign policy trajectory, currently characterized by the facilitation of increasing Russian influence in Georgia and anti-Western rhetoric.

The GD might persist in diversifying its foreign policy, veering towards more illiberal actors beyond Russia. A potential outcome could be an intensification of its strategic partnership with China, established in a recently signed agreement. Should Georgia maintain its Russia-accommodating policy and advance further towards EU membership, the EU will risk having another Russian Trojan Horse among its ranks, similar to countries like Hungary and potentially Serbia.

Given Georgias tumultuous recent history, highly adversarial political culture, and a high degree of political radicalization, the EU and other external actors might need to play a more significant role, by assisting both government and opposition forces in Georgia to agree on new rules that transcend the zero-sum mentality currently afflicting Georgias political system. As Georgian democracy faces increasing challenges, the only way to stabilize the country is to support a multi-party political system and institutionalization of a consensus-based democratic process. Georgias political landscape is likely to remain fluid and unpredictable. Given the upcoming elections and the unpredictable nature of Georgian politics, forecasting specific developments is a challenging endeavor.

CONCLUSIONS: The European Commissions decision to grant Georgia EU candidate country status is a significant accomplishment that can potentially drive further changes. This status allows Georgia to align itself with Ukraine and Moldova, potentially bridging the gap and revitalizing the countrys recent lack of progress on the reform agenda. It is important to note, however, that there is no guarantee that this status alone will motivate the Georgian government to abandon its anti-reform approach or its anti-Western rhetoric, or to distance itself from Russia. The EU encounters challenging decisions as it seeks to maintain support for Georgias democracy and European aspirations in the face of a government that is progressively displaying illiberal tendencies. In this delicate situation, Brussels needs to find creative ways of safeguarding its geopolitical interests without emboldening emerging authoritarianism in Georgia. Regardless of the EUs decision, it is crucial to uphold the Copenhagen criteria and enforce strict democratic requirements on Tbilisi. Particular attention should be given to monitoring the Georgian governments adherence to the recommendations outlined by the EU. The stakes are significant, with repercussions extending beyond Georgia to encompass the entire region.

AUTHOR'S BIO: Kornely Kakachia is Professor of Political Science and Jean Monnet Chair at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Georgia, and Director of the Tbilisi-based think tank Georgian Institute of Politics. He is co-editor of the book titled Georgias Foreign Policy in the 21st Century: Challenges for a Small State (London, New York: I.B. Tauris, 2021).
Teach for America Idaho faces a potentially devastating blow to our programs should the U.S. Congress enact the deep cuts to the AmeriCorps program that are currently under consideration.

An important piece of Teach For America Idahos work focuses on improving the futures of Idaho youth, particularly those in rural communities. In a number of ways, AmeriCorps funding plays a key role in our programs.

Teach For America teachers are also AmeriCorps members. They can use Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to pay for teacher certification or to pay down their existing student debt. Participation in AmeriCorps also enables them to defer their undergraduate loans for the first two years of teaching and have the interest, which accrues during those two years, paid off by the federal government.

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These awards help us recruit a more socio-economically diverse teaching force, which helps boost student learning in underserved communities. If this significant benefit were to disappear, it would have a strongly negative impact on our recruiting efforts. Since launching in Idaho in 2015, Teach For America teachers have reached more than 30,000 Idaho students.

It has been Teach For Americas experience that many individuals who want to serve, particularly as educators, are unable to do so. They face significant economic barriers, including high student debt and the cost of teacher certification, which make it difficult to enter a lower-paying profession such as teaching.

Its important that people understand that beyond the overwhelmingly positive impact Teach For America has on students, our AmeriCorps members also gain a great deal of knowledge and experience from working with us. They frequently turn that experience into careers.

Former Teach For America teachers now work in all echelons of our states education system. Some are teachers, others are principals or school board members. Their experience in Idaho classrooms, made possible in part by AmeriCorps, represents only the beginning of their contributions to education in our state.

Idahos congressmenRep. Russ Fulcher and Rep. Mike Simpson should know that Idahoans value the programming made possible by the presence of AmeriCorps in our state.

Reducing its footprint would harm the people who need its services most. It is truly a hidden gem in the Gem State.

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and Twitter.
Gibson, a FedEx driver at the time, said he suffered depression, stress, anxiety after the company made him return to the same route after the encounter.

A Black former Mississippi delivery driver has filed a second civil action against the alleged perpetrators and his former employer after accusing two white men of firing into his FedEx work van.

According to NBC News, attorney Carlos Moore filed the case in state court on Nov. 20 on behalf of DMonterrio Gibson, demanding at least $5 million.

Gibson was unharmed in the January 2022 incident in which Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Case, also allegedly pursued him in a high-speed chase in Brookhaven, roughly an hours drive south of Jackson.

Former FedEx driver DMonterrio Gibson speaks at a February 2022 news conference in Ridgeland, Mississippi, about his experience where he alleges he was fired upon and chased by a white father and son while delivering packages on his route in Brookhaven. Gibson has filed a second civil lawsuit regarding the incident, seeking at least $5 million. (Photo by Rogelio V. Solis/AP, File)

The lawsuit asserts that FedEx caused him depression, stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, and emotional pain and suffering by sending him back to work on the same route.

Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees, a FedEx spokesperson told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday, NBC reported. FedEx denies the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit.

In August, a federal judge rejected a separate $5 million case Moore brought on behalf of Gibson against FedEx, the city of Brookhaven, the police chief, and Brandon and Gregory Case.

The Cases alleged conduct is deplorable, U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan wrote. But Gibson fails to state a viable claim against FedEx for which the Court would have original jurisdiction.

The Cases face charges of attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy, and firing into Gibsons van, which did not contain a FedEx emblem.

After days of jury selection and testimony, state Circuit Judge David Strong declared a mistrial in the father and sons criminal case in August, citing police errors. A detective testified that prosecutors and defense counsel didnt receive a copy of a recorded police interview with Gibson.

Prosecutors said they want to reschedule the criminal trial, but court records show this has not happened, and the Cases remain free on bond.

Terrell Stubbs, a lawyer for Gregory Case, told jurors that his client noticed a vehicle outside his mother-in-laws vacant home and wanted to ask what was happening, but Gibson would not stop.

It was completely dark, completely dark, and somebody was in the wrong place, Stubbs said. It wasnt my client.

According to NBC, Moore claimed FedEx fired Gibson days after the mistrial because he refused a part-time, non-courier job the company offered him. Gibson said he had been in therapy and on workers compensation leave for around one-third of his income since shortly after the incident.

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The post DMonterrio Gibson, who says white men shot at him, files $5 million lawsuit appeared first on TheGrio.
Investigators with the Clayton County District Attorneys Office say there is not enough evidence to charge the mayor of Jonesboro with pulling a gun on a city employee.

Earlier this year, a complaint claimed that Mayor Donya Sartor committed aggravated assault when she pointed a gun at Lt. Godreque Newsom.

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At the time, Sartor told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln that she and Newsom had been working together on an administrative matter when she removed a gun from her locked desk drawer and transferred it.

I unlocked the drawer, grabbed the handgun, and transferred it, and I commented that I want to make sure, I dont leave it here because it was the end of the day, Sartor said.

In a letter Newsom sent to Police Chief Tommy Henderson, he says the mayor pointed the gun in his direction when taking it out of the drawer. He says it was an unexpected action that left him feeling assaulted and in fear.

After the GBI conducted an independent investigation and passed its findings to the D.A.s office, they found the mayor did move a gun from her desk to her purse while Newsom was in her office.

They said that while her actions showed a lack of judgment and a lack of general firearm safety, there is insufficient evidence that she acted with criminal intent to threaten or assault Newsom.

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While investigating that complaint, the GBI received a second complaint that Sartor had offered a man a full-time job with the police department in exchange for a campaign donation.

The GBI said there was not evidence of that allegation either. Investigators say the text message soliciting campaign donations appeared to be a general solicitation sent to several people. They also noted that Sartor shared several reasons they did not hire the man.

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Earlier this month, Sartor was reelected as Jonesboros mayor.
Jerry Dakin is selling Dakin Dairy Farms in east Manatee County after more than two decades of operation.

Jerry Dakin is selling the Dakin Dairy Farm in East Manatee County, but the former Florida Farmer of the Year said he hopes to find a new owner who can continue the legacy of the popular milk brand.

Every day, Dakin and his staff manage a herd of more than 3,000 cows on his 350-acre farm and produce milk and milk products that can be purchased at stores across the state.

The farm is located east of an area where heavy development is anticipated in the coming years. But Dakin  who was named Florida Farmer of the Year in 2021  said he aims to sell the herd, the production machinery, facilities, and the property as a working facility with hopes to keep the dairy farm in business.

"It's a massive facility, and it's set up to be around for a long time," he said. "It's not like I'm trying to have a firehouse sale or anything. I'm looking at how to transfer this to another generation and to keep agriculture in the community. I think our county needs it, and I'm going to do everything I can to keep it in agriculture."

Dairy cows are milked by machine at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City.

From the archive: Manatee County dairyman Jerry Dakin named Florida's Farmer of the Year

Dakin is an advocate for local agriculture and is concerned that the loss of agricultural land could lead to increased reliance on foreign imports for food. He hopes a new owner can build upon the foundation he has built over the course of more than two decades of farming on his land.

In addition to the statewide Farmer of the Year award, he also has served on the Manatee County Farm Bureau board since 2001 and has been a member of the Manatee County Cattlemens Association since 2004. He was also inducted into the Manatee County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Last year, the farm experienced damage from Hurricane Ian, including the loss of hundreds of cows. But in the immediate aftermath, the dairy farm also became a hub for local farmers in East Manatee County in need of specialized supplies and equipment. The damage to the facilities has since been repaired.

Milk is bottled at Dakin Dairy Farms in Myakka City.

"I'm 55, and I still have a lot left in me, but I just enjoy the idea of watching it grow and get bigger," Dakin said. "There are a lot of great things that happened in my life out here, and I just want to see it transition to someone else. I feel like I've taken it about as far as I can take it, and I think somebody else could just do a better job at it. So that's kind of my thinking, to help somebody."

Although residential development is expected to continue booming in East Manatee County, much of it on former agricultural land, Dakin said he intends to remain in the community so he prefers to keep his property in the agriculture business.

"It means more to me to keep it for agriculture," Dakin said. "I'm going to be neighbors to it, I still have land here, so it's not like I want somebody who is going to sell it and leave it. I'm still going to be a part of the community."

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Dakin Dairy Farms, East Manatee staple for decades, listed for sale
Popular Dallas-based pop-up Sandoitchi is returning to Oklahoma City in December for a takeover of Bungalow23 in the Uptown 23rd District.

The pop-up has traveled to Oklahoma City multiple times over the last several years, typically selling out. Past pop-ups have included stints partnering with 84 Hospitality, Elemental Coffee and Ma Der Lao Kitchen.

When will Sandoitchi be back in Oklahoma City?

Sandoitchi will takeover Bungalow23, 727 NW 23 St., for three weeks. Preorders begin online at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 with service running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5-9, Dec. 12-16 and Dec. 19-23, or until sellout.

The menu for the Oklahoma City popup has not been released yet, but Sandoitchi said online that it will include "beloved sando favorites and new exclusive OKC offerings."

Sandoitchi strawberry banana Chantilly cream and egg salad sandos are pictured.

What is Sandoitchi?

Sandoitchi is a Japanese-inspired pop-up most well known for its sandos  Japanese milk bread filled with anything from Chantilly cream and fruit, chicken or pork katsu, egg salad or even wagyu and shaved black truffles or caviar.

The pop-up began during the pandemic and has grown in popularity, traveling to cities across the country for weeks-long stays. There also is a permanent store in Dallas.

Visit https://www.instagram.com/sando.itchi/ for more information or for the link to preorder.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When and where you can get Sandoitchi again in Oklahoma City
After five straight years of troubling data on the population of young rockfish in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland officials plan to enact emergency regulations canceling this springs trophy season for recreational anglers.

The rules would eliminate the once exciting two weeks each spring when anglers targeted large fish swimming up the bay to spawn. But this period had been delayed from April into May in recent years in an effort to protect the spawning fish, which diminished its allure.

Thats the time when Maryland fishermen have access to what is essentially a large, oceanic fish, said Lynn Fegley, director of fishing and boating services at Marylands Department of Natural Resources. But given the very low recruitment  baby striped bass numbers  weve had successively over the last few years, we are moving to just give the fish a break.

The emergency rules were spurred by a troubling so-called young-of-the-year survey, released in October, that found juvenile striped bass numbers in the Chesapeake Bay at their second-worst result since the survey began in the 1950s. It marked the fifth successive year showing numbers well below the historical average.

Under the new rules proposed by the department, Chesapeake Bay anglers wouldnt be able to catch and keep rockfish, also known as striped bass, until May 16 next year. In the Susquehanna Flats, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River near Perryville, Marylands newly proposed rules would push back the start date until June 1.

State officials said that the delayed opening in the flats, where many striped bass end their journeys from the Atlantic Ocean to spawn, is an attempt to further protect large adult fish lingering in the sprawling underwater grass beds near the Susquehanna, so they can produce more young.

Its a broad, shallow area, and its frequented by these spawning fish for that month of May, Fegley said.

The regulations will go next before a General Assembly committee for review.

Maryland DNR officials also previously discussed extending the two-week summer closure, aimed to curtail fishing during the hottest time of the year, when the fish are the most vulnerable.

That option is still on the table for this year, Fegley said. But to address the springtime fishery, DNR needed to act more quickly with an emergency regulation, she said.

Extending the summer closure, which ran July 16 to July 31 this year, is unpopular among some anglers and charter boat captains, who argued that their businesses would face substantial losses by missing out on even more lucrative summer trips.

But the latest figures released by Maryland might necessitate a longer closure, in the eyes of natural resources officials.

During last summers juvenile rockfish survey, at 22 sites in the Choptank, Nanticoke and Potomac rivers, as well as the upper Chesapeake Bay, researchers trawled a seine net, and  on average  only caught one recently hatched striper. Historically, they caught an average of 11 young fish per trawl.

Maryland officials think that warm, dry winters in the Chesapeake region could be drawing stripers up into the rivers to spawn earlier than normal, when theres less availability of a key food source for the hatching fish: zooplankton.

Allison Colden, Maryland executive director at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said she was heartened by DNRs new regulations aimed at protecting fish in the springtime.

I personally feel like were at a point where every fish counts  even if its not a huge slice of the pie, she said.

But to see change, Colden said, greater action is likely needed in Maryland and along the coast. For example, she feels that a longer summer closure is warranted for the Chesapeake.

Captain Brian Hardman of Kent Island-based Lead Dog Charters, said that while he will lose some business because of the trophy season closure, it isnt a huge amount. Last year, he only took a few trips during the two-week period in early May.

The reality of it is: The fish are spawning earlier, and there hasnt been that many large, female fish in the beginning of May to begin with, he said.

Many customers opted to wait until the summer season started so that theyd be able to keep more fish, Hardman said. On a boat with six customers, Hardman said he only expected to catch up to three trophy-sized fish, if any.

Hardman said he was surprised that DNR is not also ending the catch-and-release fishery, which is allowed in certain areas of the Chesapeake through March, before striped bass fishing is banned in April for spawning time.

Hardman said that since warmer weather is prompting the striped bass to spawn earlier, he feels this might be a necessary step. During that period, many charter boats remain on shore for the winter, Hardman said, but recreational fishermen are among those still pursuing their catch.

Everything is earlier, so their answer is: Ill have a closure later? he said.

In addition to the Maryland-specific regulations proposed by DNR on Wednesday, the multi-state commission in charge of striped bass management along the entire East Coast also is considering big changes for the fishery.

A new proposal by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission would reduce the total catch for commercial fishing boats by up to 14.5%, compared to 2022 figures.

It also would set narrower size limits for recreational anglers in the bay and in the Atlantic. Called slot limits, these rules set upper and lower restrictions on the size of rockfish that can be harvested. In some of the options suggested by the commission, boats would be allowed to keep only one fish per angler  even charter boats. In Maryland, charter boats previously were allowed to keep two fish per person while recreational boats could only keep one.

Hardman said hes concerned that a one-fish limit could decimate business. Many of his charter customers only come fishing once a year, and allowing them to keep just one fish feels unfair, when recreational fishermen with their own boats can go fishing day after day and take one striped bass on each occasion.

The Atlantic States commission will be accepting public comment on the different options for the new rockfish rules online and at a meeting Dec. 6 in Annapolis. The commission will vote on the new rules at its January meeting.

Next year, the commission also will release a stock assessment for the entire population of striped bass, as opposed to Marylands numbers that focused just on young fish.

Those figures should be illustrative, Colden said, since they will show for the first time how significantly the bad population figures for young rockfish over the past five years are impacting the entire stock.

A lot of people are really holding their breath for this 2024 stock assessment, Colden said. I think thats when the rubber is really going to hit the road.

For the time being, it seems as though the overall stock level is high enough that fisheries managers will not need to pursue a full-fledged fishing moratorium for striped bass, which was last done from 1985 to 1990, rescuing the fishery from the brink of collapse.

While striped bass are on a downturn, were not back where we were in 1985, Fegley said, and its our hope that we can really be proactive as a state, and as a coast, and not have to go back there.
The Department of Education (DOE) has launched an investigation into Harvard University over claims of antisemitism on its campus.

The department launched its inquiry into the Massachusetts-based Ivy League institution on Tuesday, according to a listing on the federal agencys website.

DOEs inquiry into Harvard stems from a complaint that alleged the school discriminated against Jewish and Israeli students when it failed to respond to initial reports of harassment incidents last month stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, according to a letter from the department seen by the Boston Globe.

According to federal law, discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin is prohibited at schools that receive federal funding.

The move comes weeks after the department released a list of higher education and K-12 institutions that are under investigation for alleged shared ancestry violations as a part of the Biden administrations effort to address reports of rising discrimination in schools.

Harvard is one of the many institutions, school districts and school departments mentioned on the list.

A DOE spokesperson confirmed to The Hill its investigation into Harvard, but noted that the Office for Civil Rights does not discuss the details of its current investigations.

Antisemitism on college campuses has been a hot topic since Hamass unprovoked attack against Israel last month, with major colleges and universities such as Harvard receiving criticism for its responses to antisemitic incidents happening on its campuses.

Harvard President Claudine Gay, along with the University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth, were called Tuesday to testify before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce about antisemitism on college campuses next week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Des Moines man was sentenced Thursday to 13  years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

Fawnie Allen Avery, 36, of Des Moines, was sentenced for pointing the illegally possessed firearm at two Des Moines police officers who were trying to arrest him after a high speed chase. Avery crashed his vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, then pointed his firearm at the police officers who attempted to detain him, according to a news release from the United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Iowa.

Avery was detained after a third officer arrived on scene.

"A uniformed officer attempted to apprehend him," the release said. "Avery struggled against the officer and pulled a firearm from his waistband. Avery pointed his firearm at a plain clothes officer and chambered a round in the firearm."

Avery was on parole at the time, according to the release.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines man sentenced to 13  years after pointing gun at police
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set for a prime-time debate Thursday night in Georgia  but instead of facing his 2024 Republican presidential primary rivals, hell square off with Californias Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom.

The 90-minute debate, which starts at 9 p.m. ET and will be moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity, is being billed by the network as DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.

The spectacle of two of the nations best-known governors  one in the midst of a presidential campaign; the other widely viewed as a potential future White House aspirant  could offer DeSantis a major opportunity to prove his mettle in front of a large, conservative audience at a precarious moment for his flailing campaign.

It came about after Hannity, in separate on-air interviews, asked the two if theyd be willing to debate. Newsom said in June he was all in; DeSantis in August told Hannity, Absolutely, Im game.

At the time, while DeSantis presidential bid had gotten off to a slow start, he was still widely seen as the top alternative to former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary.

In the months since, DeSantis hopes of winning the nomination have flagged.

Trump has remained a strong front-runner in national and early-state polls. Meanwhile, another rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has gained traction in recent surveys, particularly in the key early-voting state of New Hampshire.

Haleys hopes of leapfrogging DeSantis to be seen as Trumps main primary rival got a boost this week when the influential network associated with billionaire Charles Koch announced it would throw its influence and money behind the former South Carolina governor.

The endorsement by Americans for Prosperity Action marked the latest sign that powerful Republican donors are coalescing behind Haley. It could dramatically reshape the Republican field  less than seven weeks before the first GOP nominating contest in Iowa  as the group deploys its vast resources and standing army of conservative activists.

The political operation surrounding DeSantis campaign appears in flux after the formation of a second super PAC supporting his presidential bid last week raised questions about discord between the Florida governors official campaign and Never Back Down, the first super PAC, which has taken a leading and unprecedented role in advertising and establishing a ground game for DeSantis.

Newsom, for his part, has become a more active national surrogate for Democrats ahead of next years presidential election.

Amid hand-wringing among some Democrats about President Joe Bidens age and low approval ratings, Newsom has been the subject of speculation about a late entry into the 2024 race. However, he shot down that prospect in a September interview with CNNs Dana Bash.

The answer is no, Newsom said. No ambiguity.

Newsom also expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris, a fellow Californian, remaining on the Democratic ticket for 2024.

Biden-Harris administration  a masterclass in terms of performance, bipartisan deals on infrastructure, bipartisan deals on guns and debt ceiling, on the CHIPS and Science Act, he said. I mean, by definition, if I think this administration last two, two and a half years, has been one of the most outstanding administrations the last few decades, and shes a member of that administration, she gets to lay and claim credit to a lot of that success, he said.

He also old Bash he has not thought about whether he would make a good president: Im not that guy. Im just not.

Newsom said Democrats need to get out of this sort of navel-gazing about Joe Biden, and lets get going.

Lets get on the train. This train has left the proverbial station, he said about a month before Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips launched his primary challenge to Biden in October.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A steady stream of sick babies and worried parents started flowing into Dr. Monique Soileau-Burkes exam room in late October.

Many were infected with respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, a common contagion that spreads in colder months and infects the lungs and can be dangerous for the very young and for older adults.

While RSV has gotten off to a slower start this fall than last year, when hospitalizations from the virus in Maryland spiked by 200 in just one month, overwhelming health care centers and leaving parents frantic, the virus is still spreading faster and infecting more children than it did in a typical winter before the pandemic.

Soileau-Burke, a pediatrician in Columbia, said her practice already has had multiple infants hospitalized because of the virus. Parents come to her office exhausted from trying to stay up all night with their babies, feeding them and carefully watching their little chests rise and fall.

The problem is, we now have the ability that it shouldnt be this bad at all, said Soileau-Burke, who is also president of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Soileau-Burke and other pediatricians breathed a sigh of relief over the summer, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an RSV immunization for children under 8 months of age who are entering their first respiratory virus season. But the drug, nirsevimab  marketed as Beyfortus and available in 50 milligram and 100 milligram doses  is in short supply across the country.

According to a spokesperson for Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical company that developed Beyfortus with help from AstraZeneca, thats because demand far exceeded what was anticipated for the long-acting monoclonal antibody drug.

With such dwindling supply, the company announced it would no longer be accepting new orders for the 100 milligram dose, which is used to immunize children over 11 pounds. The 50 milligram dose, meant for children under 11 pounds, is facing less of a shortage.

But earlier this month, the CDC announced it would distribute more than 77,000 additional doses of the 100 milligram version of the drug through the private market and a federal program that inoculates underserved children, including those who are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Still, pediatricians in Maryland said they are rationing drug doses and are only giving them to infants who are most in need of protection, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended in October.

The Beyfortus shortage reminds Soileau-Burke of the infant formula shortage that developed last year, terrifying parents who worried about how they would be able to feed their children when their stock ran out. Its too common in this country for problems facing children to not get the attention they deserve, she said.

We need to really do some investigating as to why these things keep happening to kids, Soileau-Burke said.

While RSV usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, it can be deadly for infants and seniors. It kills between 100 and 300 children younger than 5 years old and between 6,000 and 10,000 adults 65 years and older every year, according to CDC data.

Its even more deadly for infants born premature, said Dr. Michelle Chudow, an attending pediatrician at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. These babies, who are born with lungs that havent finished developing and are more at risk of swelling and holding onto fluid, may have to be put on a ventilator or admitted to an intensive care unit if they catch the virus, she said.

We dont want them to have gotten through everything that theyve done to make it out of the hospital as a premature baby and then get RSV at home, Chudow said. The more we can do to protect them while theyre here, the better for them in the long run.

As in previous years, another antibody product is available to protect medically vulnerable babies from RSV  a drug called palivizumab, which is marketed as Synagis. This drug, however, must be given to babies once a month during the respiratory season, unlike Beyfortus, which delivers antibodies that last for five months.

Its also more expensive, at $2,000 a pop, compared to Beyfortus $500 price tag.

At the start of the respiratory season, Dr. Theresa Nguyen, chair of the pediatrics department at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, said she was hopeful the Towson-based hospital could give newborns a Beyfortus shot before they go home that would protect them for the rest of the respiratory season.

Those hopes are dying quickly, Nguyen said.

So far, the hospital has only gotten dribbles of the drug, she said.

Nguyen anticipates that, by the time the respiratory season ends, GBMC will receive fewer than 50 doses for babies who weigh more than 11 pounds through private insurance. Each shipment she receives only contains a handful of doses, she said, though the hospital ordered many more.

Without enough doses to immunize every infant who qualifies for the drug, Nguyen and other pediatricians are urging pregnant people to get vaccinated against the virus when theyre between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant. In doing so, theyll pass passive antibodies on to their babies, who wont need to get immunized when theyre born, Nguyen said.

It is available at all pharmacies, Nguyen said. All you have to do is get your obstetrician to write you a prescription for the RSV vaccine.

An RSV vaccine also is available to people who are 60 or older.

If parents arent able to get their babies immunized against RSV, Nguyen advised them to avoid exposing their children under six months of age to anyone who is sick. She also asked people to protect their friends, coworkers and family members by wearing a mask when theyre sick.

As a neonatologist at the University of Maryland Childrens Hospital, Dr. Natalie Davis cares for some of the sickest and most medically vulnerable infants. For that reason, she suspects that the hospital has received more doses of the shot than others in the area. However, she said, it still doesnt have as many doses as she and her colleagues would like.

In future years, she said she hopes there will be more doses available because of this seasons high demand. Shes also relieved to still be able to use the Synagis to keep her tiny patients safe.

At least our babies are not left without any protection, said Davis, who is also an associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Its just the [drug] that has more pros than cons is the one thats limited.
Ukraines SBU security service carried out an overnight explosion on a key rail route between Russia and China, law enforcement agencies told NV on Nov. 30.

The incident occurred in the Bessolov Severomuysky Tunnel on the Baikal-Amur Mainline in Buryatia, Russia.

Read also: Dugina car bombing part of SBUs shadow war against Russia, Washington Post reports

The explosion is another successful special operation of the SBU, sources said, though the special service has not yet commented on the event.

"In fact, this is the only serious railroad route between Russia and China," sources said.

And now this route, which Russia uses, among other things, for military supplies, is paralyzed.

Read also: SBU chief Malyuk on how Crimean Bridge was attacked  twice

Four explosive devices were detonated while a freight train was traveling. Currently, the Russian FSB security service is working at the site as Russian railway workers deal with the consequences of the SBU special operation.

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
Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Cleveland. The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) operates three prisons for juveniles adjudicated of felony charges.

Ohio has the money to hire and pay guards, behavioral health clinicians, teachers and others needed inside the state's youth prisons but simply cannot get people to take the jobs, according to Department of Youth Services Director Amy Ast.

"What we're covering today, I want you to know, isn't just an Ohio problem," Ast said during the first meeting of Gov. Mike DeWine's juvenile justice working group on Tuesday. Across the country, juvenile corrections and probation jobs are difficult to fill, according to a new report from the Council for State Governments.

Adding staff would reduce the number of fights and assaults and improve safety for employees and incarcerated children, she said. And the state needs more licensed behavioral health clinicians to deliver one-on-one services to "the highest-risk, highest-need, most complex youth in the state of Ohio," Ast said.

DeWine formed the group following publication of an eight-month investigation by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal, Canton Repository and other publications in the USA TODAY Network Ohio that documented staffing problems, violent outbursts and trauma inside juvenile lockups.

Employees and kids are injured  sometimes seriously  in fights and assaults that erupt without warning. Workers are struggling to maintain order and fear for their own safety. Within three years of leaving a state youth prison, four in 10 teens are incarcerated again in either the youth or adult system. And those who don't return to prison face a higher likelihood of dying an early death.

The working group, headed by former Department of Youth Services director Tom Stickrath, will focus on staffing problems, violence, behavioral health services and incarcerated youth populations in prisons and local detention centers.

Stickrath scheduled a combination of virtual and in person meetings through February. Stickrath said the governor challenged the group to "think big" when searching for fixes.

Who is on the task force?

Initially, DeWine appointed current and retired juvenile court judges, a prosecutor, an academic and others to the task force.

Following criticism that the group membership lacked diverse viewpoints, the DeWine administration added Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman, former Talbert House director Neil Tilow, Habeeba Grimes of the Cleveland-based Positive Education Program, Dan Jones of the Northwest Training and Rehabilitative Center and Mujaddid Muhammad of the Restored Citizen FAITH Foundation.

What's next?

Ast is scheduled to answer questions before the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee on Dec. 5 at the Ohio Statehouse. The committee is a bipartisan panel of legislators that have oversight of the state's adult and youth prisons.

DeWine's task force will meet again 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 12 at the Ohio Department of Public Safety building.

Laura Bischoff is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio youth prisons group focuses on staff, violence problems
This article has been updated with a statement from DHL received after publication. Additionally, the method of communication with DHL officials pre-publication of this article has also been corrected.

BURLINGTON, Kentucky  Christmas presents and other deliveries could be in peril if the union representing Northern Kentucky DHL workers can't negotiate a contract with the company soon.

DHL handles about 360,000 pounds of cargo per day at its Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport hub and a strike would bring its operations to a crawl.

The Teamsters, which represent at least 1,100 local DHL employees, have been in contract negotiations with company management for months, demanding better pay. But negotiators were told Wednesday that management would not come back to the negotiation table after Dec. 7, the Teamsters said in an online statement.

DHL has wasted enough time and needs to deliver on the fair contract Teamsters deserve  or this company will leave our members with no choice but to strike, said Bill Hamilton, director of the Teamsters Express Division. This company understands what is at stake. The clock is ticking for DHL to act and remedy its unfair labor practices.

DHL did not respond to a request for comment via phone call. A company spokesperson provided an emailed statement post-publication that said DHL will negotiate in "good faith" through Dec. 7. The statement also said the company offered to pick-up negotiations again in January.

"We remain committed to fair and productive negotiations with the Teamsters at the Cincinnati Hub, in line with the constructive relations and agreements we have with our labor partners at a local, national and international level," the statement said.

Thursday, workers from the Hebron hub lined up at the Boone County Public Library main branch in Burlington to cast a vote on whether to authorize the Teamsters to call a strike if needed. Voting will continue at different locations through Saturday.

More than 1,100 so-called ramp and tug workers, who load and unload planes, voted to unionize in April and joined Teamsters Local 100. Tug drivers must have a valid driver's license and good driving record. The employees want better pay and working conditions. According to the union, there were at least 22 workplace injuries at the Hebron location in 2022 that required visits to a hospital or emergency room.

DHL employs more than 3,000 local workers at its Northern Kentucky hub. The company has invested more than $280 million at the airport since 2009. This summer, it announced a $192 million investment for a new maintenance hangar and more ramp and parking spaces.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: DHL workers in Kentucky could strike amid contract negotiations
The Modesto Bee is exploring how grocery chains have come and gone, starting with one that offered 7-cent cans of beans among other goods to 1920s families.

The business has evolved over the past century from corner markets to supermarkets to the massive supercenters of today.

We invite you to share memories of shopping at defunct chains in and near Stanislaus County, and to let us know if we forgot any. You can do it via the survey at the end of this article online, or by email at jholland@modbee.com.

This story is not about single-site grocers but rather those with enough success to merit multiple locations. It also notes many grocery buildings taken over by other chains, where you can shop to this day.

Chains can falter when competitors offer lower prices, wider selection and more convenient access. The earliest evidence we could find of such upstarts was the Piggly Wiggly chain in the 1920s (more on that later).

This sampling of past chains came from Bee archives and other online sources:

New Deal Market: It launched in 1933 with a small store at 14th and D streets in Modesto, named for the anti-Depression effort. At its peak around 1980, the chain had 15 sites in Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Manteca, Stockton, Merced and Los Banos. The last New Deal closed in 2005 on Oakdale Road in Modesto. Grocery Outlet now occupies the building, near Scenic Drive.

An advertisement for the latest New Deal Market to open in Modesto, Calif., running July 31, 1963, in The Modesto Bee.

Sams Food City: It began in 1954 with a store in Newman and added sites in Patterson, Modesto, Oakdale, Turlock and Livingston. The chain was down to three stores when it closed in 2013. Dollar General now runs them, on Carver Road in Modesto, Lander Avenue in Turlock and Main Street in Livingston.

Richland Markets: The Pallios family of Ceres started the business with a tiny store on Richland Avenue in 1951. It expanded to a second Ceres site in 1960, to Turlock in 1965, to Modesto in 1985, and to Oakdale in 2001. The chain stood at seven stores in 2005, when some were sold or spun off. The last Richland-branded site closed in 2012 on Whitmore Avenue, now a Dollar General. The Pallios family still owns the Turlock location, rebranded as Village Fresh Market. The Cost Less Food chain acquired the Richland stores on Carpenter Road and Yosemite Boulevard in Modesto. The one at Coffee Road and Orangeburg Avenue is now a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Raleys owns the Oakdale site.

A grand opening advertisement for one of the Richland Markets in Ceres, Calif., published Oct. 20, 1960, in The Modesto Bee.

Ot her t hi n gs of note about grocers

Our research found other interesting points about shopping in the area:

Grocery store buildings change owners for reasons other than a chain going out of business. OBriens Market in Roseburg Square used to be a Save Mart, part of a Modesto-born company thats now among the states leaders. Smart & Final occupies former Save Marts on I Street and on Standiford Avenue.

Save Marts largest growth spurt was the 2007 purchase of Albertsons stores in Northern California and Nevada. The buyer put its own name on the 60 or so locations in the San Joaquin Valley. The 72 stores in the Bay Area became Lucky. That also had been the name for 10 other stores in the Valley that Save Mart purchased and rebranded in 1997.

Walmart has become the nations largest grocer since its 1962 founding in Arkansas. It arrived in Stanislaus County in 1990, offering many other items besides food. Some newer locations are the especially spacious supercenters, such as on McHenry Avenue in Modesto and Mitchell Road in Ceres. The company also has gone smaller with its Walmart Neighborhood Markets, mostly selling food.

The McHenry supercenters earlier users included Save Mart, New Deal and Food 4 Less.

One of the food-focused Walmarts is at Coffee Road and Orangeburg Avenue. Among the previous users were Richland, Ricks Discount Foods and the long-gone Alpha Beta chain.

Richland also had a store on Coffee at Sylvan Avenue, a building that now is the Stanislaus County Veterans Services Office. Earlier grocers there included Alpha Beta, Richland and the independent Michottis Marketplace.





And what about Piggly Wiggly?

Piggly Wiggly launched in Memphis in 1916 and now serves roughly the eastern half of the United States. It had stores in California until selling them in 1928 to Safeway, which remains a major industry player.

A 1927 newspaper ad lists a total of six Piggly Wiggly stores in Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale and Merced. They were small and mostly in or near downtowns, typical of the time. The ad noted lots of parking space at the H Street store in Modesto, a sign that the automotive era had arrived.

An advertisement for the Piggy Wiggly grocery chain that ran Sept. 2, 1927, in the Modesto News-Herald.

Piggly Wigglys website says the chain pioneered the idea of having each customer roam the aisles, rather than handing a shopping list to a clerk. Some old ways lingered. The ad told readers to bring their own jugs for apple cider vinegar, priced at 19 cents a gallon.

Shoppers paid 7 cents for that can of Campbells pork and beans, 31 cents for a sack of Swansdown cake flour, and 11 cents for a can of Pow Wow cleanser. A dime bought three cans of deviled meat, and a pound of bacon sold for 29 cents. If those look like incredible bargains, remember that many workers earned less than a buck an hour back then.

One final question: Just how did Piggly Wiggly get its oddball name? The website says the origin is fuzzy. The best guess is that founder Clarence Saunders was traveling by train when he saw several pigs struggling to get under a fence.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is facing growing internal dissent over its support for Israels military assault on Hamas in Gaza, reflecting a wider debate in American society and a generational divide among Democrats over the issue.

The extraordinary scope of the dissent inside the government, including statements in open letters from government employees, goes beyond anything seen in previous administrations dating back to the 1980s, including during the Iraq War and President Donald Trumps restrictions on travel from mainly Muslim states, former officials said.

Its remarkable and its unprecedented, said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank who worked at the State Department from 1978 to 2003. Ive never seen anything like it.

The administration is now having to mediate its own internal version of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Miller said.

After the surprise Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, Israel launched an air and ground attack on the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Israels heavy bombardment of Gaza has sparked criticism from humanitarian organizations, and President Joe Bidens backing of the Israeli response has dismayed many officials inside the federal government.

Hundreds of federal government employees have signed an open letter to Biden demanding his administration push for a cease-fire to protect the lives of Palestinian civilians. Dozens of foreign service officers at the State Department have voiced objections to the administrations handling of the conflict in several official dissent cables, congressional and administration officials say. And at the U.S. Agency for International Development, hundreds of employees signed a letter critical of the administrations approach.

In Congress, hundreds of staff members have held protests and signed letters demanding a cease-fire and an end to what they see as a U.S. blank check for Israel.

Protesters Hold A Rally Outside The U.S. Capitol Building Calling For A Ceasefire In Mideast War (Drew Angerer / Getty Images)

Although the misgivings among State Department employees have yet to prompt a mass resignation, there is a sentiment transcending age, race and gender that the Biden administrations approach to the conflict in Gaza should be more balanced, one current State Department official said.

Not everyone is demanding a change in policy, but they are advocating for a shift, the official told NBC News.

There is a feeling that Israel should not be able to act with impunity, the official said, and many foreign service officers believe that with the high civilian death toll in Gaza, U.S. aid to Israel should not remain unconditional, the official said.

We all saw the pictures on the seventh [of October], and I think there was widespread support for Israels right to eliminate this threat. But we also saw the pictures that came out after, the official said.

Once pictures started coming out of the rubble of 5,000 dead, 10,000 dead  we all know the tools they used to kill them, said the official, referring to the U.S.-made weapons supplied to Israel.

U.S. diplomats in the Middle East are sending emails back to Washington saying their most levelheaded counterparts in the region are warning them that Americas reputation is being seriously damaged by its approach to the war, according to two State Department officials.

Generation gap

Many but not all of those urging a shift in the administrations policies are younger employees  including those who work for U.S. intelligence agencies  who harbor more skepticism about Washingtons traditionally staunch support for Israel, sources familiar with the debate said.

They have a different view of U.S. foreign policy than the older generation, said one source with knowledge of the dissenters in government. Its a progressive view that sees the U.S. as having made terrible mistakes and not always being on the right side of history.

The war has exposed a stark generation gap among left-of-center Americans. A new NBC News poll shows 70% of Democratic voters ages 18 to 34 disapprove of Bidens handling of the war.

The administration has also come under mounting pressure from fellow Democrats in Congress who have lobbied the White House to take a more critical line with Israel.

As Gaza Ceasefire Holds, Residents Seek Food, Fuel And Other Aid (Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty Images)

Although some older, more senior officials may share the concerns raised by their fellow employees, they are more reluctant to go public in their criticism, believing that they have an obligation to their government agencies to keep internal debates confidential, some former officials and sources familiar with the discussion said.

With emotions running high over the conflict in the Middle East, the CIA last month sent out an internal email reminding staff to keep their posts on social media strictly apolitical and nonpartisan, NBC News reported previously.

It was simply a reminder of existing policy, a U.S. official said.

The move came after a senior CIA officer, the associate deputy director for analysis, posted a pro-Palestinian image on Facebook.

But it remains unclear if the internal criticism across the federal government will cause a major change in the presidents stance, Miller and others said.

The question is, does it have an impact on the administrations policy? Miller said.

At first, Biden rejected calls for a cease-fire. But as the Israeli military pressed its offensive against Hamas and the civilian casualty toll in Gaza has climbed, the Biden administration adjusted its language, urging Israel to do more to safeguard Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Much more needs to be done to protect civilians and to make sure that humanitarian assistance reaches them, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Nov. 10. Far too many Palestinians have been killed, far too many have suffered these past weeks, and we want to do everything possible to prevent harm to them and to maximize the assistance that gets to them.

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former career diplomat who is now president of the Middle East Policy Council, a nonprofit that focuses on U.S. interests in the region, said she believes the dissent is healthy for the government and that its having an effect.

The people in the State Department represent America. We have seen support for a cease-fire expressed by a range of Americans as well as many people around the world, she said.

I believe it has had an impact. The president has clearly evolved in his statements, she said, adding that the internal dissent was helping inform the administrations decision-making.

Blinken and Netanyahu in Tel Aviv (Jacquelyn Martin / AP)

Administration officials say they do not take the deaths of Palestinians lightly and that they have worked around the clock to try to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza. White House officials have also pointed to an ongoing pause in fighting, which was extended on Thursday, as proof that their diplomatic efforts have helped secure the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and opened the door to more humanitarian assistance for the beleaguered Palestinian population of Gaza.

A policy that has not led to peace

So far, only one employee at the State Department has resigned over the issue, according to the department.

Josh Paul, the former head of the departments political-military affairs bureau, resigned in protest in October, saying he could not abide by America giving weapons to Israel without stricter conditions.

On Oct. 18, I resigned from the State Department because I could not support the provision of U.S. weapons into the conflict in Gaza, where I knew that they would be used to kill thousands of civilians, Paul wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times. I saw no willingness to re-evaluate a long-term policy that has not led to peace and has actually undermined both regional stability and Israeli security.

Since 1970, the State Department has had an official mechanism for diplomats to formally express their disagreement with a policy, known as the dissent channel. But that channel is strictly confidential, and foreign service officers are not supposed to share the details of their dissent publicly.

At least three dissent cables have been submitted to State Department leadership, according to two U.S. officials.

The State Department and USAID say they are aware some employees have misgivings about administration policies on the Israel-Hamas war and have written to their workforces encouraging a candid exchange.

Weve organized forums in Washington to hear from you, and urged managers and teams to have candid discussions at posts around the world precisely so we can hear your feedback and ideas, Blinken said in an internal letter to employees earlier this month. Ive asked our senior leadership to keep doing that. Were listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages.

The American Foreign Service Association, the union for the State Departments diplomatic corps, said it was heartened by how the administration has responded to the internal dissent.

We know that there has been some concern with current policy, in particular by members of Arab American and Muslim American employee organizations at the State Department and elsewhere, said the associations president, Tom Yazdgerdi.

We know that these employee groups met with Secretary Blinken and other members of leadership at State. That is crucial because dissenting views especially need to be heard and we hope they are taken into consideration, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NEW YORK  DNA from the wife of suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann was found on the victims bodies, according to multiple reports.

Asa Ellerup, 59, has not been considered a suspect in the case, as prosecutors said she was out of town when the victims were killed.

However, investigators matched her DNA to samples collected from the victims bodies, sources told Newsday and ABC News. Cops took a cheek swab from Ellerup on July 13, the same day Heuermann was arrested.

Police also used DNA evidence to tie Heuermann to the murders, matching DNA from his cheek and his discarded pizza crust to DNA found on the victims remains.

Heuermann has been formally charged with the murders of three sex workers: Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Costello. He is also the prime suspect in the killing of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard Barnes, but has not been charged in that case.

In 2010 and 2011, the bodies of 11 people were found on and near Gilgo Beach. Heuermann has not been publicly linked to the other seven victims.

Ellerup filed for divorce from Heuermann days after he was charged with the three murders. She has visited him at least once in Suffolk County Jail.

Prosecutors have said Ellerup was out of town when Waterman, Barthelemy and Costello were killed. She was in Iceland when Barthelemy disappeared in July 2009, Maryland when Waterman was seen on video with the suspected killer in June 2010, and Colorado when Costello disappeared in September 2010.

Investigators turned the couples Massapequa Park house inside out in their search for evidence over 12 days in July. Ellerup said neighbors wanted it torn down.

The people in this neighborhood, they want this house gone, she told the New York Daily News. They want it bulldozed, you understand? They want it gone.

_____
Matt Hancock denied being a liar as he was put under pressure at the Covid Inquiry over his claims that he advised Boris Johnson to put the country into lockdown.

The former health secretary said there was no evidence to support what he described as false accusations made by several of his former colleagues that he lied, overpromised and wanted to decide who should live and who should die.

Instead, he tried to deflect any blame on to Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnsons former chief adviser, and others, saying a culture of fear at the centre of government got in the way of its pandemic response.

Even as Mr Hancock was speaking, Mr Cummings was using social media to accuse him of flat out lying in the witness box.

Several high-profile witnesses have accused Mr Hancock of lying or exaggerating during the pandemic, with some saying he should have been sacked as a result.

Hugo Keith KC, counsel to the inquiry, said that out of fairness to Mr Hancock he had to ask him how to a significant extent, important government advisers and officials have concluded that the secretary of state for health in the maw of a public health crisis, the maw of the beast, was a liar?

Mr Hancock replied: Well, I was not. You will note that there is no evidence from anybody who I worked with in the department or the health system who supported that  those false allegations... And then on a couple of occasions there were general sweeping allegations which [they] had no evidence [for] whatsoever.

He added: In one case the witness said I havent got this in black and white  well, of course not, because it wasnt true.

Dominic Cummings was blamed by Matt Hancock for the negative atmosphere in Number 10 - Kirsty O'Connor/PA

Mr Hancock was challenged by Mr Keith about a claim that he told Mr Johnson on March 13 2020 that he needed to put the country into lockdown.

Mr Hancock said he had spoken to Mr Johnson on the phone, but Mr Keith pointed out that there was no documentary evidence in the inquirys possession or in Mr Hancocks Pandemic Diaries book that the call took place.

As he was speaking, Mr Cummings posted on X, formerly Twitter: Hancock flat out lying to inquiry claiming he privately pushed for lockdown on 13th and 14th with PM when evidence from ALL others & paper trail is that he was still pushing Plan A herd immunity 13th-15th.

After the inquirys break for lunch, Mr Hancock told Mr Keith he had checked and found he had called the then prime minister at 3.24pm on March 13.

Mr Keith said: Are you saying that you have a record of a phone call that you havent disclosed to this inquiry?

Mr Hancock said there was no record of what was said, just that it happened, and he remembered it.

Later, Mr Hancock mentioned another phone call he had made on Jan 22 2020, which he said he had not been able to find a record of.

Maybe youll find that call in that little notebook that youve just produced, Mr Keith said pointedly.

Its not a notebook, its a phone record, retorted Mr Hancock.

Mr Hancock also denied a claim made by Lord Stevens, the then chief executive of NHS England, that he told officials he should ultimately decide who should live or die if the NHS was overwhelmed.

The MP said he recommended that clinicians, rather than ministers, should make that decision.

Mr Hancock was reminded of the evidence of Helen MacNamara, the former deputy cabinet secretary, who accused him of nuclear levels of overconfidence.

He said he could understand why some people might have thought that, but explained he was trying to wake up Whitehall to this threat and felt it was his responsibility to try to drive the pandemic response forward more quickly.

Cummingss toxic culture

While the Department of Health and Social Care was getting on with hard work, said Mr Hancock, there was a toxic culture that we had to work with, which seemed to want to find people to blame rather than spend all of their effort solving the problems.

Later in his evidence he made it clear he blamed Mr Cummings directly for the negative atmosphere in No 10.

He said: It was unpleasant for a whole load of my staff who were subjected to his sort of abuse from the chief adviser [Mr Cummings]... there was a culture of fear inculcated by this particular individual.

Mr Hancock accused Mr Cummings of a power grab because the chief adviser said decisions dont need to go to the prime minister. Now that is inappropriate in a democracy.

He added: Systems need to be in place so that if there is a malign actor in No 10... the system needs to be able to work despite that.

Mr Hancock portrayed himself as a lone voice in Cabinet trying to persuade Mr Johnson and others to take the threat more seriously in early 2020, only to be told the world has gone mad.

Mr Keith read Mr Hancock a series of extracts from the diaries of Sir Patrick Vallance, the former chief scientific adviser, in which Sir Patrick described massive operational mess within Mr Hancocks department; that the department had done nothing and that there was a clear lack of grip from him.

Mr Hancock replied: The culture of the Cabinet Office is to be sceptical of the operation of departments, partly to hold them to account, and I think thats the toxic culture that you see at the centre of government, which he said was unhelpful.

He said he tried to lead a positive culture within his department, and with the NHS and other health organisations, but there was an unhealthy toxic culture at the centre where anything that went wrong was seen as almost intentional failure.

Matt Hancock with Prof Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer - Eddie Mulholland

Shouldve locked down earlier

Mr Hancock said that locking down three weeks earlier would have saved 90 per cent of lives lost in the first Covid wave and that by the end of Feb 2020 he had realised major action was needed to suppress the virus.

He told the inquiry that, with hindsight, the country should have locked down on March 2, three weeks before Mr Johnson announced restrictions, which legally came into force for the first time on March 26.

The former minister said: If at that moment, wed realised that it was definitely coming and the reasonable worst case scenario was as awful as it was, that is the moment that we should, with hindsight, have acted... fewer than a tenth of the number of people would have died in the first wave.

Mr Hancock defended the Government, saying at the time there was enormous uncertainty about the disease and only 12 cases had been identified in the country.

Health security failings

Mr Hancock pointed out there was a spectacular imbalance between defence spending and health security spending.

He told the inquiry that while Britain spends 50 billion a year on military defence, only one per cent of that amount  500 million  is allocated to health security.

Yet health security failings have killed more civilians than any other external threat since the Second World War, he said, and maybe even further back than that.

Mr Hancock questioned what the response would have been from the Government if he had gone to the Cabinet Secretary setting out a fifty-fifty chance of a terrorist threat that might kill half a million people.

He suggested the prime minister would have called for a Cobra emergency meeting immediately, but instead, he said, Mr Cummings decided to take charge from his office.

Sir Patrick wanted herd immunity

Documents shown to the inquiry suggested that Sir Patrick wanted to build up herd immunity in the population by not completely suppressing the spread of Covid-19.

The former chief scientific advisor has repeatedly insisted this was never his wish, and that comments about herd immunity made during a BBC interview around the same period were misunderstood.

However. minutes of a Cobra meeting on March 12 2020 showed that in the run-up to lockdown Sir Patrick believed the Covid wave should not be suppressed but flattened to avoid a second peak later in the year.

He told a Cobra meeting that allowing some spread, while protecting the vulnerable, could allow herd immunity to be in place by Sept 2020.

Hancock admits he didn't read SAGE minutes in Feb - explains a lot  Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) November 30, 2023

Hancock didnt read Sage minutes

Mr Hancock admitted he did not read the minutes of Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (Sage) meetings at the start of the pandemic and instead relied on a summary from Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer.

He said: I asked for them at some point in February, to be regularly put in my box... with hindsight I think I should have gone and listened directly to the debate in Sage.

Pressed by Mr Keith on whether the minutes of Sage were being put before him as the Secretary of State responsible for public health, Mr Hancock added: Not in the first instance there was a much wider body of publicly debated scientific advice, so Sage was an important body, but I think it would be wrong to fetishise its existence and role.

Creative counting with tests target

The inquiry was shown a message from former cabinet secretary Lord Sedwill sent to Mr Hancock on May 1 2020 about him exceeding his publicly-stated target of 100,000 Covid tests per day to be carried out by that date.

Mr Hancock was accused at the time of inflating the figures by counting tests that had not yet been taken by people. The message from Lord Sedwill said: Well done this evening. Creative counting and 122k! Mr Hancock replied with three kiss emojis.

Asked by Mr Keith if he accepted or rejected the suggestion of creative counting to reach the target, he said: I reject it, and in every different way you could possibly count these measures, we hit that target.

Other WhatsApp messages shown to the inquiry revealed Mr Hancock believed that then chancellor Rishi Sunaks Eat Out to Help Out scheme to support hospitality was causing problems in our intervention areas  but he had kept it out of the news.

In an exchange with Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, in Aug 2020, Mr Hancock said they should not allow the economic success of the scheme to lead to its extension.

Despite criticising the scheme, Mr Hancock admitted he had used it when asked by Mr Case.

He told him: Yes it was a joy using it and being thanked by the other diners.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  2023 marks the 101st year the Sunshine Division will be delivering food boxes during the holidays to those who need some help.

This year the Sunshine Division is expecting to hand out 17,000 holiday food boxes through Christmas. All day Thursday, KOIN 6 News is partnering with Sunshine Division for a Day of Giving.

Scan this QR code to donate now to support local families in need.

Scan this QR code to donate to Sunshine Division (2023)

Or follow this link to the Sunshine Divisions secure donation site.

People in our area need your help. One of the best ways to help is to donate to Sunshine Division during this Day of Giving on KOIN 6 News.

Sunshine Division is also looking for volunteers to help deliver food boxes on Saturday, December 16.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A proposed DORA for Downtown, which would allow people to carry alcoholic beverages in specially purchased cups in public.

City officials and business interests are backing a plan they hope will pass the Columbus City Council by the coming spring that would transform almost all of Downtown into a "Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area," allowing people to carry alcoholic beverages in specially purchased cups in public.

The new "DORA" zone, also envisioned to include part of growing nightlife area in Franklinton west of COSI, would add to one that already links Nationwide Arena, Huntington Park, and Lower.com Field during games and events at those three major Downtown sporting venues, along Nationwide Boulevard.

"We're going through the application process," said Amy Taylor, president of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, created by city leaders in 2002 to support Downtown redevelopment initiatives.

The proposal developed last year in response to community input into the 2022 update to a long-term strategic plan for Downtown, Taylor said.

"The community had mentioned that they wanted a lot more connectivity," Taylor said. "They wanted the district Downtown, you know, the riverfront, Gay Street, the peninsula, to have more synergy."

With DORAs already established in the downtown areas of several suburbs, including Worthington, Hilliard, Gahanna, Dublin and others, "it was a natural thing for people to wonder why it wasn't in the core of Downtown."

The proposed zone would go as far north as Nationwide Boulevard, touching the southern end of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, but would not connect with the existing Arena District DORA, maps show. It would also have more generous hours of operation, allowing for the public to carry specially marked cups of alcohol sold by restaurants and bars within the DORA seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Taylor said.

Special Downtown events like Red White and Boom and the Columbus Arts Festival could opt out of the DORA, restricting whether alcohol could be carried in and out of their events' borders, Taylors said.

The proposal is under review and subject to change, said Sheldon Goodrum, spokesperson for the city Development Department, the lead department in processing the application. "If approved by City Council, the application would then go to the state for final approval," Goodrum said Tuesday in an email.

It's unclear if a DORA cup, which allows pedestrians within the district to ovoid Ohio's "open container" ban on the public consumption of alcohol, would be time and date specific, meaning they would expire at a certain point and couldn't simply be indefinitely refilled at a Downtown hotel room or condo.

"The design of the designated cups or stickers is still being considered and will be guided by feedback and best practices from DORAs in other municipalities," Goodrum said.

The CDDC intends to work with other cities that have implemented Downtown DORAs to determine whether a date-specific cup design would be needed, Taylor said.

Hilliard became one of the first Franklin County municipalities to take advantage of the state DORA law, created in April 2015, with a zone connecting several restaurants in the old part of the city. That DORA, effective daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., has become popular, particularly in the summertime during the Thursday outdoor concert series and for adults watching kids in at an outdoor splash pad, said Shon Wolf, a bartender at Otie's Tavern and Grill.

"It generates a lot of business for us on our end, especially in the summertime," Wolf said, as opposed to the winter when most people don't want to spend as much time outdoors. He isn't aware of any complaints about the program, probably because the Hilliard police do a good job of making sure people with drinks stay within the zone.

"They do a really good job" making sure people can't come and go from the DORA carrying drinks, Wolf said of the police.

Since 2015, state lawmakers have amended the law several times, generally expanding them, allowing for cities to have more and larger DORAs.

The proposed DORA zone does not currently include any part of the Short North, the city's main tavern and restaurant district, which Mayor Andrew J. Ginther requested of businesses there last spring that they voluntarily close early on weekends following consecutive incidents of gun violence that turned deadly and chaotic.

Other Columbus city departments that will review the Downtown DORA proposal before it goes before City Council include the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Division of Police.

Asked if police have any concerns about the plan, Public Safety spokesman Glenn McEntyre responded in an email: "This proposal is currently under review."

wbush@gannett.com

@ReporterBush

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Downtown interests push for zone for outdoor intoxicating beverages
A 61-year-old man from Spring Valley, New York was killed on Tuesday in a crash on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Tenafly, according to the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department.

Aron Unger was driving southbound in a red 2022 Kia Sportage when he drifted out of the roadway into the center median and struck a tree.

Palisades Interstate Parkway Police responded at around 1:45 p.m. and found Unger with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center where he ultimately died.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Detective Bureau is currently investigating the crash.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Palisades Interstate Parkway crash in Tenafly NJ kills driver
Witnesses shared painful memories Thursday of last year's Kansas Turnpike crash that killed three Girl Scouts southwest of Topeka.

When pressed by a prosecutor to recall details of what he saw that day at the scene, Ben Fenoglio, of Lawrence, replied, "I try not to think about the entire situation."

Fenoglio and Andrew Peery, the husband of defendant Amber Peery, were among witnesses who testified Thursday in Shawnee County District Court at Peery's preliminary hearing, which was watched by more than 40 people.

It ended with Peery, 33, being bound over for trial on charges that include three counts of involuntary manslaughter linked to the Oct. 8, 2022, deaths of three passengers in her van, including her 8-year-old daughter Brooklyn. The others were Laila El Azri and Kylie Lunn, both 9.

From left to right, defense attorneys Tom Bath and Vanessa Riebli discuss details with Amber Peery during her preliminary hearing Thursday at the Shawnee County Courthouse.

Amber Peery and her two other passengers  her daughter Carrington Peery, 6, and Gabriella Ponomarez, 10  suffered injuries but survived.

The crash occurred on the Kansas Turnpike in southwest Shawnee County near an opening in a barrier wall between its northbound and southbound lanes, which is used to turn around by law enforcement officers, emergency workers and Kansas Turnpike Authority employees.

DA's office reverses course and charges Amber Peery with daughter's death

Amber Peery was also bound over Thursday on charges of two counts of aggravated battery and of one count each of improper crossover on a divided highway and failure to check for safe passage before passing from a single lane, both traffic infractions, said assistant district attorney Lauren Amrein.

The alleged victims of the aggravated batteries were Carrington Peery and Gabriella Ponomarez, she said.

District Attorney Mike Kagays office had initially not charged Amber Peery with the crimes victimizing her daughters at their familys request but subsequently filed charges regarding those crimes and the alleged aggravated battery of Gabriella Ponomarez.

Andrew Peery, testifying for the prosecution, said Carrington used a wheelchair for six to eight weeks after the crash.

After being bound over for trial, Amber Peery pleaded not guilty Thursday to each count she faces.

District Judge Jessica Heinen scheduled her trial to begin March 11.

Peery's defense attorneys suggested Thursday that Kansas Highway Patrol investigators had failed to look into everything they should have regarding whether the other driver was inattentive.

Vehicle occupants were en route to Girl Fest

Thursday's witnesses included Amelia Bailey, who told of how Peery's van was part of a three-vehicle caravan of vehicles en route to a Girl Scout event in the Greater Kansas City area.

The Kansas Highway Patrol accident report identified that gathering as Girl Fest, a family and troop event at Camp Tongawood in Tonganoxie organized by the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri.

Bailey told of how Margaret Jones drove alone in the lead vehicle, Bailey followed with five Girl Scout passengers in her vehicle and Peery drove at the rear as they got onto the Kansas Turnpike.

But Jones pulled over and stopped on the right shoulder, Bailey stopped behind her, then Jones told Bailey by cellphone that they were going the wrong way and needed to turn around, Bailey testified. Meanwhile, she said, Peery passed them going south.

Bailey said she followed Jones, and both turned around.

Bailey initially said she didn't remember how they did that but, upon being pressed by defense attorneys, acknowledged that "must have been" at the opening in the barrier wall.

No off-ramps exist between the Turnpike's South Topeka interchange and Admire interchange, 30 miles to the southwest.

Bailey said she then called Peery and told her she needed to find a place to turn around.

Testimony at Thursday's hearing indicated Peery tried to turn illegally through the southbound Turnpike's left lane to go through the barrier wall opening.

Peery's vehicle was then struck in its driver's side rear quarter panel area by a semi-trailer driven by Robert Russell, 72, of Huntsville, Alabama, the accident report said.

Russell testified at Thursday's hearing by Zoom from Huntsville, saying he couldn't come to Topeka because he's being treated for cancer, which has metastasized to his bones.

Russell said he had been southbound on the Turnpike in the right lane when he saw a van ahead of him on the right shoulder. He said he moved to the left far lane and the van turned in front of his semi.

The highway patrol's crash report quoted Peery as saying she turned on her left blinker before starting to turn. That assertion was borne out by forward-facing video from Russells truck that was being taken at the time, said one of Peerys defense attorneys, Tom Bath.

Fenoglio, who had been driving southbound behind Russell, testified Thursday that he saw "a lot of stuff flying in the air" when the crash took place.

He said he stopped at the scene, where the van's driver got out and was "sobbing and screaming."

Defense attorneys raise questions about truck driver

Peery's defense attorneys, Vanessa Riebli and Bath, questioned Russell's reliability as a witness.

They stressed that video showing the crash taken from the forward-facing camera on Russell's truck showed that Peery's van had turned from the highway's right lane and not its shoulder, as Russell said.

That 34-second video was shown during the afternoon part of Thursdays hearing.

Peery's defense attorneys noted that some semi-trailers are equipped with internal cameras that show what the driver was doing at any given time, and suggested that any such video taken of Russell at the time might show he was being distracted just before the crash.

They asked Kansas Highway Patrol troopers who testified Thursday whether the KHP had determined whether any such internal cameras had been present in Russell's truck.

This diagram illustrating what allegedly happened in an Oct. 8 triple fatality crash on the Kansas Turnpike southwest of Topeka is part of a Kansas Highway Patrol accident report detailing circumstances of that crash.

The troopers said the forward-facing video had been among items forwarded voluntarily to the KHP by the trucking company for which Russell worked, but no other video was included.

Bath suggested perhaps the trucking company hadn't handed over everything it had.

He said law enforcement and prosecutors should have sought to acquire any internal camera video the company might have by acquiring a court order that would have "more teeth to it."

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Driver 'sobbing and screaming' after crash killed 3 Topeka Girl Scouts
Few people have been more associated with rolling back modern-day civil rights laws than Edward Blum, the former stockbroker who has successfully challenged many affirmative action and voting rights laws.

Blum has no formal legal training. He, in fact, refers to himself as an amateur litigator. Yet, he was instrumental in engineering several legal cases that ultimately led to the June 29, 2023, U.S. Supreme Court decision that banned the use of race in college admissions.

Spared from that decision were U.S. military academies. In a brief footnote in the 237-page decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that those institutions have potentially distinct interests from other universities and thus made them exempt from the courts decision banning affirmative action programs.

That exemption  and the U.S. Military Academy at West Points use of race in its admissions  are Blums latest targets.

On Sept. 19, 2023, Blum filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against West Point over its racial-balancing admission goals.

Given Blums strategy of appealing lower court rulings to the nations highest court, his latest test case has the potential to once again bring the issue of affirmative action back to the Supreme Court.

In an October 2022 interview, Blum said he believes that diversity on campus is a good thing, but there is a way to go about doing this without putting a thumb on the scale.

A political awakening

Until recently, Blums legal activism rarely gave rise to widespread public praise, condemnation or even scrutiny. His crusade began in the early 1990s when Blum lost a 1992 congressional election in Texas.

Blum and others eventually sued Texas, claiming that political districts created in 1990 to increase minority voter participation were unconstitutional. The case eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In its 1996 decision in Bush v. Vera, the Court agreed with Blum and his fellow litigants. Justices held that race was the dominant factor in the creation of those districts, and thus violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause.

As a result, the court redrew the political boundaries of 13 congressional districts and ordered the state to conduct special elections in those districts they deemed were racially gerrymandered.

After the Supreme Court opinion came down, my interest in the world of business and investment dramatically declined and my interest in law and public policy dramatically increased, Blum later told The Washington Post.

But Blums subsequent conservative crusade and legal strategies derive from an unlikely source  the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, known as the NAACP, the very civil rights group that used the courts to dismantle racial segregation in its seminal 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education.

History is not without irony.

The NAACPs legal legacy

The NAACP was one of the first advocacy organizations to recognize that litigation had the power to change social life.

Long before civil rights activists took to the streets after the Montgomery bus boycott in the 1950s, the NAACP had set its sights on what is now known as institutional reform litigation.

The idea?

During the 1930s and 1940s, the NAACP and its Legal Defense Fund, led by brilliant legal minds like Charles Hamilton Houston and future Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall, began to challenge the inherent inequalities of legal segregation by using what became known as test cases.

These test cases targeted racial discrimination in voting, housing and education. They also served a higher purpose in trying to end the system of racist laws known as Jim Crow  the very laws that established segregation across the South and disenfranchised Black voters.

NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall sits behind his desk in 1952. PhotoQuest/Getty Images

The NAACP also very carefully chose litigants and test cases.

For instance, the lions share of the NAACPs plaintiffs were respected citizens in both Black and white communities. A good number of these cases derived from Southern border states such as Virginia, where racial tensions between white and Black people were less hostile than in deep Southern states such as Mississippi and Alabama.

Using this strategy, the organization filed dozens of test cases against segregation.

Marshall argued 32 cases alone, winning 29 of them.

A new conservative playbook

Blum and his allies are using similar strategies and have been widely successful in achieving their conservative political ideals.

Blums strategy against minority voting protections that started in Texas eventually ended in the 2015 Shelby County v. Holder decision.

In Shelby, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And they did it by eliminating the requirement that states with a history of racial disenfranchisement needed federal approval when making changes to voting rules.

Blum specifically encouraged Shelby County officials in Alabama to challenge Sections 5 of the Voting Rights Act. That section required Shelby County and certain other Southern jurisdictions to report all proposed voting-related changes to the U.S. Justice Department.

The review process was meant to ensure that the changes would not, as the Justice Department wrote, deny or abridge the right to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group.

From its very start, Southerners fought against the law and spent decades trying to dismantle Section 5, especially because it required direct federal supervision over state and local elections.

That day came with the Shelby County v. Holder decision. Blums case helped eliminate a major component of the landmark Voting Rights Act  federal oversight  and has since given rise to partisan gerrymandering in the states previously under federal scrutiny for their legacy of discriminatory voting practices.

By the early 2000s, Blum turned his attention toward affirmative action in higher education. Much like the NAACP during the civil rights era, Blum carefully chose his plaintiffs and test cases.

Blum hand-picked Abigail Fisher, a white woman that his alma mater, the University of Texas Austin, had rejected. Fisher, who was a legacy candidate because her father graduated from there, claimed that she was a victim of reverse discrimination as a result of the schools affirmative action policies. If successful, the case would have meant the end of race-based admission polices at the Texas school and consequently at other colleges across the country.

The Supreme Court ultimately disagreed in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin in 2016 and reaffirmed its belief in schools that train students to appreciate diverse viewpoints, to see one another as more than mere stereotypes, and to develop the capacity to live and work together as equal members of a common community.

But that didnt stop Blum.

In new lawsuits against the University of North Carolina and Harvard, Blum strategically featured the plight of Asian Americans, in part because they could be depicted as especially sympathetic victims and model minorities cruelly harmed by affirmative action.

I needed Asian plaintiffs, Blum told a group gathered by the Houston Chinese Alliance in 2015.

The U.S. Supreme Court, from left in front row, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito and Elena Kagan, and from left in back row, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Alex Wong/Getty Images

He found them, and they became the plaintiffs in the cases that led to the Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina that banned the use of race in college admissions.

Both cases were brought by Students For Fair Admission, an anti-affirmative action group created by Blum.

Blums focus on race neutrality often overlooks one very important historical reality  the white backlash that followed the enactment of civil rights laws in the 1960s. In some ways, Blums crusade, I believe as a historian of the civil rights movement, embodies that anxiety  and arguably makes a case for why laws protecting minority rights are still needed.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Julian Maxwell Hayter, University of Richmond.

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The German government has now formally decided to transform 15 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters into radar-busting electronic warfare aircraft. The resulting Typhoon EK jets will feature an Arexis electronic warfare suite from Saab and be able to employ AGM-88E Advanced Anti-radiation Guided Missiles to suppress and destroy enemy air defenses, a mission set also known SEAD/DEAD. The EKs will supplant Germany's aging Tornado ECR swing-wing jets that have been serving in this role since the 1990s and give the country's air force an important capability boost.

The German Air Force, or Luftwaffe, along with the European aerospace consortium Airbus, announced the official decision to move ahead with the Typhoon EK (Electronic Combat) plan yesterday. This was approved recently by the budget committee of Germany's parliament, or Bundestag. Airbus will oversee the conversion of the jets. The multinational conglomerate is itself a major component of the Eurofighter consortium, which makes the Typhoon.

https://twitter.com/AirbusDefence/status/1729919297307152894 https://twitter.com/Team_Luftwaffe/status/1729913775094935875

German authorities had announced their intention to procure 15 electronic warfare variants of the Typhoon last year , but it was not clear then whether these would be new production jets or conversions of existing ones. It has now been confirmed that they will be the latter, but exactly what aircraft will form the basis for Germany's future EKs remains unclear. The Luftwaffe currently has around 141 Typhoons in service, which includes a mixture of Tranche 1, 2, and 3A variants. Germany is also in the process of acquiring a total of 38 examples of the more modern Tranche 4 version. The country's air force also currently has around 21 ECR (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance) variants of the Tornado.

One of the German Air Force's existing Typhoon fighters. Bundeswehr

Artwork Airbus released today does indicate that Germany's forthcoming Typhoon EKs will be single-seat variants. The rendering also shows that the jets will feature new wing tip pods similar to the ones found on Saab's Gripen E/F fighters . Gripen E/Fs also have a version of Arexis , but primarily for self-protection. The pods on Gripen E/F also have a built-in rail so that the jets can still carry IRIS-T air-to-air missiles on their wing tips. Existing Typhoon variants do not have wing tip missile rails, but do have pods that contain electronic countermeasures and towed decoys as part of the existing Praetorian self-protection suite .

A Saab Gripen E fighter. The jet's wing tip pods, which are part of the aircraft's Arexis electronic warfare suite, are seen with IRIS-T missiles loaded into their integral launch rails. Saab

"With Saab's transmitter location system and the Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) from Northrop Grumman, the Eurofighter EK will be able to detect, localize and disable anti-aircraft radars," according to the press release Airbus put out today. "In addition, the Saab solution has jammers that improve the Eurofighter's self-protection."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORMP_wCPdmg

"The Eurofighter EK also has technologies on board that were developed by small and medium-sized enterprises and a start-up," the release adds. "These include an AI [artificial intelligence] solution that makes it possible to analyze radar data on-board and quickly determine precise self-protection measures."

The "start-up" referenced here is German firm Helsing, which announced in June it would be working with Saab to incorporate AI-enable capabilities into its electronic warfare package for Germany's Typhoon EKs. Saab issued its own press release the following month about it having been selected to provide a version of Arexis as part of the EK conversion plan.

The selection of AARGM as the primary kinetic SEAD/DEAD weapon for Germany's Typhoon EKs is not surprising. The U.S. approved the sale of these missiles to Germany in 2019 and a contract to supply them to the German Air Force was signed in 2021 . Older AGM-88 variants are in use now on its existing Tornado ECRs (Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance).

German Tornado ECRs with AGM-88-series missiles. Bundeswehr

The AGM-88E offers significant improvements over previous AGM-88s, including a multi-mode guidance system that makes it more capable of zeroing in on radars and other emitters even if they switch off or attempt to relocate. Its GPS-assisted international navigation system (INS) guidance system gives it a secondary ability to strike static coordinates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCBs1IEk9Fc\u0026t=1s

Overall, the Typhoon EK looks set to provide an important boost in electronic warfare capabilities in a package that also has higher performance and is more sustainable compared to the Tornado ECR. The readiness rate of Germany's entire Tornado fleet has been steadily dropping in recent years and the country is also acquiring 35 stealthy F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to supplant its multi-role Tornado IDS variants.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the single-seat Typhoon EK looks to be something of a step back from the two-seat Typhoon ECR that Airbus previously pitched. First unveiled in 2019, the proposed Typhoon ECR configuration included a trio of large electronic warfare pods from German firm Hensoldt under its wings and on the aircraft's centerline station.

A rendering of the previously proposed Typhoon ECR variant. Airbus

Airbus' vision for the Typhoon ECR also included the SPEAR-EW electronic warfare derivative of the Select Precision Effects At Range Capability Three (SPEAR-3) miniature cruise missile. SPEAR-EW would offer a novel stand-off electronic warfare capability with the ability to loiter for some amount of time in a target area, distracting or confusing enemy air defenders, or even potentially drawing incoming missiles away from friendly aircraft. You can read more about SPEAR-3 and SPEAR-EW, which are made by the European missile consortium MBDA, in this past War Zone story .

A graphic detailing the capabilities of the proposed Typhoon ECR version, including the integration of SPEAR-EW. Airbus

A rendering of the SPEAR-EW. MBDA

In many ways, the Typhoon ECR configuration is more akin to the Boeing EA-18G Growler . Before deciding to buy F-35As, Germany had also considered purchasing a fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18Gs.

The Typhoon EK is more in line with a single-seat SEAD/DEAD optimized version that Airbus previously presented as a companion to the ECR version. However, that older configuration also included a single Hensoldt pod .

A rendering of a single-seat SEAD-optimized Typhoon version alongside the proposed Typhoon ECR. Airbus

It's also worth pointing out here that most other tactical electronic warfare aircraft, past and present, including Germany's existing Tornado ECRs and the EA-18G, are at least two-seat designs. This is specifically to provide a second individual who can be focused purely on electronic warfare tasks, helping to reduce the workload for the pilot.

Typhoon EK is expected to just be one component of a larger 'system of systems' approach to the electronic warfare mission that the German Air Force refers to as Luftgestatze Wirkung im Elektromagnetischen Spektrum, or IuWES. This effort is primarily focused on ensuring that Germany can meet key SEAD and electronic warfare commitments to NATO.

Germany's armed forces are a major component of NATO and the country is party to the alliance's nuclear weapon sharing arrangements and could be called upon to employ nuclear bombs provided by the U.S. military. Electronic warfare support beyond what the Typhoon EK is designed to provide would be a critical component of any future nuclear strike mission . That mission set was also a central driver in the German government's decision to acquire the F-35A. Currently, German Tornado IDSs are among NATO's potential nuclear weapon delivery platforms.

A US Air Force F-35A drops an inert B61-12 nuclear bomb during a test. USAF

Like other NATO members, Germany is also just faced with a host of serious national security concerns in and around Europe, especially the fallout from Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The German government has been a significant supplier of military aid, including Patriot and other air defense systems and Leopard 2 tanks , to the Ukrainian armed forces. The crisis has prompted the country itself to hike military spending and look to expand the size of its armed forces after years of contraction following the end of the Cold War.

The German government is also looking to expand its military activities outside of Europe, especially in the Pacific region as part of larger Western efforts to challenge China.

Much about IuWES is still in the process of being finalized, but it is known to include plans to acquire at least 10 larger electronic warfare aircraft to provide more robust stand-off jamming capability.

Airbus has laid out its vision for meeting the broader IuWES requirements at the Berlin Security Conference , which opened yesterday. This includes an electronic warfare aircraft based on the A400M cargo aircraft, which the company unveiled earlier this year , as well as loyal wingman-type drones with electronic warfare packages and air-launched missile-like decoys/jammers.

https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1730212822200483919?s=20

The uncrewed components here are also tied to work Airbus has been doing in support of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS). FCAS is also a family of systems that includes the development of a new sixth-generation crewed stealth combat jet . Germany is one of the countries currently involved in FCAS and its IuWES plan could feed into this broader future air combat vision.

Typhoon EK could be attractive to consumers outside of Germany, too. Italy, for instance, also operates Tornado ECRs (as well as IDS versions), along with other Typhoon variants. However, the country's plans so far have been to supplant its Tornados with F-35s.

When Typhoon EK or any of these other electronic warfare capabilities actually enters service in Germany remains to be seen. Airbus says the goal now is for Germany's electronic warfare Typhoons to "be NATO-certified by 2030," at which point they can begin supplanting the Tornado ECR. This is already two years later than the timeline German officials laid out last year and the original hope had been for the new electronic warfare jets to begin entering service by 2025.

At least with regards to Typhoon EK, the German government has now made an important formal step toward turning that capability into a reality.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
If those in glass houses shouldnt throw stones, then those with lurid internet histories and shoddy research practices should think twice before accusing others of providing a haven to hatred.

In a recent report a group called Media Matters, founded by the Clinton familys watchdog-turned-lapdog David Brock, called out major companies for sticking with Elon Musks scandal-hit X  and seemed to suggest that they stop advertising or risk having their content placed next to anti-Semitic hate speech.

Musk responded by suing Media Matters for defamation. The case will no doubt become a flashpoint in the free speech culture wars, and Mr Musk has shown no signs of backing down in the intervening period. Yesterday, he railed against the blackmail of advertising companies, telling those who have joined in the boycott to go f--- yourself.

As the boycott expands, we shouldnt lose sight of the group who helped kick it off. For years, Media Matters has attacked Twitter, now known as X. But in the companys lawsuit, Media Matters is alleged to have taken new steps to target the platform: creating new accounts with the express purpose of discovering racist content to then report on said racist content to then pressure advertisers to flee the platform.

Undeterred by the truth, Media Matters has opted for new tactics in its campaign to drive advertisers from X, the lawsuit reads. Media Matters has manipulated the algorithms governing the user experience on X to bypass safeguards and create images of Xs largest advertisers paid posts adjacent to racist, incendiary content, leaving the false impression that these pairings are anything but what they actually are: manufactured, inorganic, and extraordinarily rare.

As alleged by Musks lawsuit, only one user saw most of the ads that Media Matters is reporting on: Media Matters itself. In the other case, with Apples ad, only two out of more than 500 million active users saw its ad appear alongside the fringe content cited in the article  at least one of which was Media Matters.

In acquiring Twitter for $44 billion, Musk completed what his allies see as the most significant development for freedom of the press since the First Amendment. His adversaries, including the Censorship Industrial Complex led in part by Media Matters, and the progressive press, however, view his ownership as an existential threat to their industries  and theyre right.

There certainly are problems with Musk-era Twitter. His bizarre and repugnant agreement that Jews push dialectical hatred against whites is historically, morally, and factually wrong. Almost immediately after, he took to his own platform to write that actions speak louder than words, and decamped for Israel, where he stood side-by-side the worlds only Jewish state during its ongoing war with Palestinian terrorists. Musk has since apologised for his interaction with the anti-Semitic post.

While Media Matters couched its latest report as a response to Musks engagement with the anti-Semitic poster, it defies reality to think that theres anything Musk can do that would appease them. His new AI platform, Grok, described Media Matters as a pack of rabid hyenas on the hunt for a juicy piece of misinformation[who have] a raging hard-on for anything even remotely right-wing, comments Musk himself called accurate. His lawsuit alleges that in 2023 alone, Media Matters has pressured companies ranging from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the New York Times against advertising on Twitter; claims that Media Matters called frivolous.

The fundamental problems with Media Matterss latest report are that its chairmans own words render its claims hollow and that it is imputing industry-wide problems onto Twitter alone  which is far from a shock given its shoddy research history.

Angelo Carusone, the groups chairman, published what he now admits is gross content, attacking t----- lover[s], a Ban[g]ladeshi man, and his Jewish boyfriend, who only leans conservative as a consequence of his possession of several bags of Jewish gold. This sounds like the exact sort of problematic content that Media Matters would normally launch a full-blown boycott over. But fighting Twitter is more important than principles, and its been good business for Carusone; in 2021, Media Matters disclosed his $453,651 salary.

Its also far from clear that Media Matterss research holds water. Earlier this year, it released a report claiming that conservatives were not censored on Facebook, because so many of the top-performing pages are right-leaning.

Fast forwarding to its most recent report, X claims in its lawsuit that Media Matters created an alternate account and curated the posts and advertising appearing on the accounts timeline to misinform advertisers about the placement of their posts...Of the 5.5 billion ad impressions on X that day, less than 50 total ad impressions were served against all of the organic content featured in the Media Matters article.

X notes in their lawsuit that these contrived experiences could be applied to any platform. This is one of the ways Musk is pushing back, by comparing rivals like Instagram to PornHub and highlighting contemporaneous reports on how Instagram is reported to serve sexualised content of children to adults. In one instance, a Pizza Hut commercial followed a video of a man lying on a bed with his arm around what the caption said was a 10-year-old girl, as alleged by a the Wall Street Journal investigation into the platform.

In other words, the Wall Street Journal did exactly what Media Matters did: created new accounts and messed around with the algorithm. Following its reporting, companies like the dating site Match stopped much of its advertising on Meta-owned platforms.

Of course, none of this compares to the digital fentanyl pushed by the ultimate villain in the social media sphere: TikTok, the deeply controversial app alleged by Senator Rand Paul to have links to CCP-controlled China (which the sites parent company denies), which seems to pose no problems for Media Matters; in fact, one of its most prominent staffers is a regular TikTok poster, racking up over 4 million likes on her videos.

Musks defenders see Media Matterss latest report as part of a larger attack on the quixotic tech billionaire. Representative Darrell Issa, who has seen the benefits of Musks Twitter purchase as part of a larger fight for free speech online firsthand from his perch on the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Governmentwhich first spotlighting the Twitter Files in Congress  told me that Media Matters hate[s] Elon Musk because when he released the Twitter Files, it revealed the collusion that had been suspected but unproven that big government, big tech, and the Democrat Party conspired for years to crush the free speech of conservatives. For that, they can never forgive him.

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Elon Musk, who owns X, Tesla and SpaceX, speaks at the Vivatech fair on June 16, 2023, in Paris. Musk said Wednesday, Nov. 29, that advertisers who have halted spending on his social media platform X, formerly Teitter, in response to antisemitic and other hateful material are engaging in blackmail and, using a profanity, essentially told them to go away. | Michel Euler, Associated Press

Elon Musk has been silent in the face of widespread criticism since agreeing to false and antisemitic claims made in a posting on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this month. But he broke that quiescence in epic fashion on Wednesday, apologizing repeatedly for his support of the bigoted post but then launching into a profanity-laden tirade against advertisers who have canceled or paused activity on the platform in the wake of the incident.

On stage at The New York Times-hosted DealBook Summit in New York on Wednesday, Musk responded to a question from New York Times financial writer Andrew Ross Sorkin who asked if Musks recent trip to Israel was an apology tour after agreeing with an X user who referenced the Great Replacement conspiracy theory and falsely claimed Jewish people were fomenting hatred against white people.

Instead of addressing Sorkins question about the Israel trip, Musk instead went directly at X advertisers who suspended business after the antisemitic incident, saying I hope they stop advertising and Dont advertise.

If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, Musk said, then used a profanity to essentially tell them to go away.

He also included a Hey, Bob. If youre in the audience comment in an apparent reference to Disney CEO Bob Iger who was a speaker at the event earlier in the day. Disney was among advertisers who suspended ads after Musks controversial X posting.

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Musk also predicted that the advertising boycotts, which have include a slew of major companies in addition to Disney including Apple, IBM, Warner Brothers and others, would lead to the demise of X, which Musk acquired in a $44 billion deal last year.

What this advertising boycott is gonna do is its gonna kill the company, Musk said. And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company. And well document it in great detail.

Sorkin rebutted Musks comment, pointing out that X advertisers will likely argue that Musk himself killed the company by saying things that were inappropriate on the platform and thats what led to the advertising boycott.

Lets see how Earth responds to that, Musk said. Well both make our cases and see what the outcome is.

On Nov. 15, Musk responded to an X posting claiming Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.

Musks tweet in response to the posting was, You have said the actual truth.

At the Wednesday New York Times event, Musk said the tweet was the worst, among tens of thousands, hed ever posted.

I mean, look, Im sorry for that  post, Musk said, per CNN. It was foolish of me. Of the 30,000 it might be literally the worst and dumbest post Ive ever done. And Ive tried my best to clarify six ways from Sunday, but you know at least I think itll be obvious that in fact far from being antisemitic, Im in fact philosemitic.

While Musk dodged Sorkins initial question about the nature of Musks recent trip to Israel, the tech billionaire later said that it wasnt an apology tour. While in Israel, Musk reportedly visited with family members of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and also had meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

In September, Musk claimed reports about rising levels of hate speech on the X social media platform were false, including tracking and analysis by the Anti-Defamation League, and threatened to sue the group that battles intolerance and antisemitism in a series of tweets.

Musk claimed the civil rights watchdog group had been trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic since the Tesla and SpaceX CEO acquired the platform last October. Musk also alleged that Xs precipitous decline in advertising revenue has been primarily due to pressure on advertisers by @ADL and said the claim is based on what advertisers tell us.

The hashtag campaign #BanTheADL was trending on X around the time of Musks threat to sue the organization and the ADL accused Musk of lifting the effort through liking and engaging with tweets carrying the hashtag.

ADL is unsurprised yet undeterred that antisemites, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists and other trolls have launched a coordinated attack on our organization. This type of thing is nothing new, an Anti-Defamation League spokesperson said in September.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and the owner of X, formally Twitter, had some strong choice words for companies who have decided to pull advertisements from the company after certain ads appeared next to pro-Nazi posts.

Musk was interviewed by Andrew Ross Sorkin Wednesday afternoon at The New York Times Dealbook Summit when he was asked about companies pulling their ads from the social media website and if he had a message for them.

Dont advertise. If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself, Musk said. Go f*** yourself, is that clear? Hey Bob, if youre in the audience. Thats how I feel, dont advertise.

Bob Iger, the CEO of Walt Disney Co., is the Bob to whom Musk referred during the interview.

Musk says anyone advocating for genocide will be removed from X following backlash

Video of the interview was quickly shared on social media.

Earlier during the event, Iger explained why Disney decided to pull advertisements from the platform.

I have a lot of respect for Elon and what hes accomplished. Not just you know, one business, but a few businesses. And we know Elon is larger than life in many respects, and that his name is very much tied to the companies he either founded or he owns, whether its Tesla or SpaceX, or now X, Iger said during the event.

And by him taking the position that he took in quite a public manner, we just felt that the association with that position and Elon Musk and X was not necessarily a positive one for us. And we decided we would pull our advertising,

IBM, EU, Disney and others pull ads from Elon Musks X as concerns about antisemitism fuel backlash

Linda Yaccarino, Xs CEO, who was hired to bring advertisers to the social media site, sat stone-faced in the front row, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

During the interview, Musk was also asked if he was a decent person and someone who could be trusted.

I think I am, but I am certainly not going to do some sort of tap dance to prove that I am, Musk said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A long-running legal battle between Entergy and the Arkansas Public Service Commission is winding down as a proposed settlement has been agreed to by both parties, pending federal approval.

If federal regulators approve the proposed $142 million settlement, Entergy Arkansas customers could expect refunds beginning in early 2024.

Entergy marks 110-year anniversary with $110,000 grants to Arkansas nonprofits

The settlement is regarding the operation of the Grand Gulf nuclear power plant in Mississippi, the largest single-unit nuclear plant in the country. The plant supplies energy for Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana.

In 2017, Mississippi regulators, followed by Arkansas and Louisiana regulators, claimed that mismanagement at the plant had resulted in substantial overcharges. Each state pursued its own settlement with Entergy, with Mississippi reaching an agreement in 2022.

On Nov. 17 Entergy notified the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that it had reached an agreement with the Arkansas Public Service Commission for a $142.27 million settlement. That agreement must be approved by the federal agency before being implemented.

Arkansas Public Service Commission clears Summit Utilities in price hike inquiry

Federal approval of the Arkansas settlement will lead to refunds for Entergy Arkansas customers.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission is pleased to have reached a settlement agreement with Entergy Arkansas, LLC resolving 19 dockets and related litigation before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the longest of which has been pending for approximately six years, Arkansas Public Service Commission chief of staff Danni Hoefer said. At this time, the settlement is pending FERC approval. Once approved by FERC, Entergy Arkansas, LLC will issue refunds to customers.

Arkansas to receive more than $551,000 in Blackbaud data breach settlement

The specific amounts of customer refunds remain to be calculated, according to Entergy Arkansas spokesperson Heather Kendrick.

A global settlement including Entergy Arkansas, LLC, System Energy Resources, Inc., and the Arkansas Public Service Commission has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval, resolving all current claims at this time, she said. This settlement resolves costly litigation and will result in meaningful benefits for customers. Once the settlement is approved by FERC, Entergy Arkansas will make a filing at the APSC to calculate the amount customers will receive on their bill and subsequently issue refunds.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
You can learn a lot about social changes by looking at one yardstick in particular: the shifting male-female ratio in college enrollment.

For example, in 1970 men outnumbered women on campu, accounting for 57% in four-year institutions and 59% of undergraduate enrollment in two-year institutions, according to the nonprofit National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

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A lot of us took that gender imbalance for granted  until 1973 when the Vietnam War drew down, eliminating the reason a lot of my classmates had come to college in the first place.

Still, that gender trend for a few years outlasted the war. By 1980, gender was perfectly balanced in four-year colleges, and women outnumbered men in two-year schools, 55% to 45%.

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Fast forward to today, and the script is flipped. Men are turning away from higher education at an enormous rate. At the close of the 2020-21 academic year, women made up 59.5% of college students and men 40.5%, an all-time high imbalance.

In that academic year, U.S. colleges and universities had 1.5 million fewer students compared with five years ago, and men accounted for 71% of the decline.

Whats going on? A lot of very smart academicians have been asking whats causing the trend  and, indeed, whether its really a problem at all.

Weve heard some of these questions before. Are girls receiving preferential treatment in high school while boys are allowed to slip through the cracks? Did recent changes in SAT scoring give an unexpected edge to female test-takers? Are college admissions to blame?

With male enrollment falling behind remarkably fast, as one scholar put it, some schools are considering ways to enroll more men. But as much as campuses already face an abundance of touchy issues  including sexual assault, political protests, and racial and gender equity  I dont expect a lot of attention to be devoted to recruiting more men.

Some experts worry about the broader societal consequences. Scott Galloway, a bestselling author and marketing professor at New York Universitys Stern School of Business, asserts this gender imbalance is creating what he calls a mating gap.

We have mating inequality in this country, he said, pointing to the popularity of dating apps such as Tinder that offer users a choice of potential dates by swiping left or right on their smartphone screens.

Todays relationships come from swiping, Galloway said. A fourth of men say economic viability is what counts in a mate compared to three-fourths of women who say the same.

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Half of dating relationships begin online, he said, compared to 1 in 4 just a few years ago  and the competition in online self-promotion is stiff. Large numbers just get left out in the cold.

At worst, Galloway said, were producing many of what may be the most dangerous person in the world  the young, broke and alone man.

At worst, thats the profile of a mass killer, as we have seen in too many tragic cases.

But troubling cases dont have to be that extreme to justify more research and other actions, including partnerships with universities and online companies. Universities can develop outreach programs to help students adjust to campus life beyond their screens  and they can inform adult leaders at how much the world of personal communications has changed.

As one of the Harvard co-authors of a new book called Behind their Screens: What Teens Are Facing (And Adults Are Missing) put it, interviewing 3,500 teens made us rethink our assumptions. We could use more of that. Even the smartest academics cant assume to know what its like to be a young person today.

cpage@chicagotribune.com

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Hundreds of Eurostar passengers have spent the day aboard a broken down LondonAmsterdam train  with no indication of when they might be rescued.

Night has now fallen on the train, which is stranded on a track in east Kent.

The 8.16am from London St Pancras International via Brussels and Rotterdam to Amsterdam left on time but broke down around 40 minutes later at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

The Independent spoke to one of the passengers, Ben Williams, seven hours after the train ground to a halt.

He said: We got as far as just before the Eurotunnel and then we were told that we would have to wait before going into the tunnel. Slowly over a period of a couple of hours, we found out it was a bit more serious than that. Some sort of issue with the cables  electric cables  and the train just lost all power, basically.

The train has not had any power now for at least five hours. The toilets havent been functioning properly.

They cant do the announcements.

After several hours the train was dragged for about 10 or 15 minutes but then stopped again.

I think the staff are all very stressed themselves, and I dont think theyre being kept very well up to date, Mr Williams said.

We were offered one free food item that was after wed been stationary for about four or five hours. By that point, Id already bought myself a sandwich, having been stationary for a couple of hours.

To be honest, Ive been pacing myself just because obviously the toilets arent functioning.

Mr Williams was on his way to visit a friend in Amsterdam for the weekend. Eurostar has not said what the exact nature of the problem is, nor what arrangements will be made to get passengers to their destinations.

Eurostar wrote on Twitter/X: Were sorry for the delay to the #ES9114 today. The train is being detached from the overhead power lines but this is taking longer than expected. Due to a lack of power on board, its not possible for announcements to be made. We apologise for the inconvenience.

This was updated an hour later: Were awaiting authorisation from the infrastructure managers to proceed and hope to get you back to London as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.

At 4.10pm, Eurostar announced: The train is now on the move and arrangements are being made to bring passengers back to London.

Mr Williams confirmed that the train moved briefly but then stopped.

He said he was alarmed at the apparent lack of preparation: Surely this sort of thing has happened before. They must have some kind of contingency plan in place so that people can use toilets properly and maybe get given some bottles of water and food after three or four hours?

Unfortunately for the staff on the train, no ones given them logistical support from head office. So theyre just having to deal with p***ed off customers, basically.

The train eventually started moving back to London, arriving at 5.15  nine hours after departure.

On Friday morning a spokesperson for Eurostar said: Yesterday, an overhead cable had fallen on the 8.16am Eurostar train, between London and Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel. There were around 700 passengers and crew on board who were confirmed safe.

Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before the train could move. Further to this, the collapse of the overhead line meant that power was out on the train.

The backup battery power on board expired after a few hours, putting the lighting, heat toilets and public address systems out of service. During the disruption, food and beverages were provided with emergency provision available.

Eurostar is very sorry for what our customers had to experience. Eurostar and its staff prides itself on running a reliable service. We are taking immediate action into reviewing how the disruption was handled especially the processes and communication with infrastructure partners.

Passengers are being offered a full refund, and a voucher worth twice the value of the original ticket.

Hotels, taxi and subsistence costs will also be refunded to passengers who stayed overnight in London.
Hundreds of passengers were trapped on a Eurostar train with blocked toilets and no power for seven hours.

Around 700 travellers on the service from London to Amsterdam were left stranded in the dark for several hours after an overhead cable snapped and fell on the train soon after 8am on Thursday.

Passengers shared videos on social media of blocked toilets nearly overflowing with urine after being out of order for several hours.

One wrote: Sorry but this is actually inhumane @EurostarUK the toilets have been out of order for almost over five hours and were still being told to use them by staff when they look like this? An actual nightmare, never again Eurostar.

The 8.16am train from London St Pancras broke down around 40 minutes into its journey at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel and did not start moving again until after 4pm.

Fewer facilities than a prison

Another social media user said: We have been charged extortionate amounts to be trapped on a train with fewer facilities than a prison.

A fellow passenger wrote: No electricity, no heating, no updates. Toilets are out of order. Its freezing and people are getting irritated. Urgent actions required!

Others resorted to tweeting Kent Police, alerting the force to the fact that passengers had no access to food or water, and a lot of children were on board the train.

Eurostar said the problem had been caused by an overhead cable falling onto the train and that the long delay was because of the position of the train on the track, requiring certain safety procedures to enable it to be moved.

The incident meant the train had no power, leaving the toilets, tannoy system and lights out of action, and passengers in the dark once the sun went down.

A Eurostar spokesman said: Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, it meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train. The train is currently in the process of being brought back to London.

All affected passengers on board will be met in London with refreshments and will receive enhanced compensation. Eurostar is sorry for issues that customers have experienced today.

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Its Thursday, Chicago.

Those sleigh bells are ringing, are you listening? Were diving headfirst into the holiday season, and to get you in that festive mood, the results of our annual holiday cookie contest were announced yesterday. Read here about how you can bake a savory spin on a chocolate chip cookie, a customizable coconut tassie and our first-place recipe, a buttery graham cracker praline.

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On stages once again is another annual holiday tradition. A Christmas Carol at Goodman Theatre is back for the 46th year, and makes you believe in the power of kindness, critic Emily McClanathan writes.

We have these stories, a roundup of Chicago restaurants with Hanukkah specials you can preorder, and more this week.

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Enjoy the weekend, and well see you back here next week.

 Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

Tribune cookie contest judges Nirali Chauhan, Sarah Chang and Martin Sorge taste test on Nov. 1, 2023. The three Chicagoans competed on "The Great American Baking Show." (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

This year, 38 qualifying entrants vied for our three cash prizes and readers cast over 3,600 votes throughout the two-week voting period. Read about our guest judges, the winners and the recipes here.

Tafadzwa Diener and Larry Yando in the 2023 production of "A Christmas Carol" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. (Liz Lauren/HANDOUT)

In his 16th outing as Scrooge, Larry Yandos performance is far from stale, freelance critic Emily McClanathan writes. Read more about the performance here.

Chewy sesame chocolate chunk cookies, from left, graham cracker pralines and coconut tassies are the winners of the annual Chicago Tribune Holiday Cookie Contest in 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

For a dish that your guests will love this season, or something to occupy your time during the long winter nights, check out the three winning recipes of the Holiday Cookie Contest here.

"Cardboard Merzbau" by Barkow Leibinger at the Chicago Cultural Center. (Cory Dewald)

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Dozens of sites throughout Chicago, from the Loop to West Garfield Park, Englewood to Little India, showcase the inventive work of architects and explore the built environment as a place always in process. Read about the exhibitions, on display through February 2024, here.

Hanukkah specials at Goddess and the Grocer include roasted butternut squash ravioli, noodle kugel and challah. (Kristen Mendiola Photography)

Instead of covering your kitchen with oil, you can leave the cooking to the pros and pick up latkes, sufganiyot and other traditional fare including brisket and kugel from restaurants and delis throughout the Chicago area. Check out available specials here.

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in Season 3 of Slow Horses.

Im a sucker for paperwork stories, Tribune critic Nina Metz writes. And it feels like the right choice for this sardonic, John Le Carre-flavored spy series set in the U.K. Read her review here.

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Chef Taylor Bischof of Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Chicago on Nov. 14, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Tribune food critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu checks out the newly opened Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Fulton Market. Chu recommends trying the beef stew, Irish breakfast and the corned beef Benedict in the transformed train depot. Read Chus review here.

Comedians Don Rickles, left, and Bob Newhart at a fundraiser in Beverly Hills, California, in October 2000. (Chris Weeks/Liaison)

Judd Apatows latest film, Bob and Don: A Love Story, is one of the best movies of this or any year, Tribune columnist Rick Kogan writes. Read about the short film here.

Pet-nat wines from August Hill Winery. (August Hill Winery/HANDOUT)

Though pet-nat wine originated in southwestern France, winemakers in other parts of the world, including one in Peru, Illinois, are giving this versatile, sparkling style a go. Read about where you can find this fizzy wine in Chicago, here.

Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro." (Jason McDonald/Netflix)

Bradley Cooper directs and stars as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro, which Tribune critic Michael Phillips says deserved a theatrical run before its Netflix debut later this month. Any and all parts of his tumult of a life make for juicy cinematic exploration, Phillips writes. Read his review here.
Consumer Reports has published an extensive ranking of vehicle reliability, and the results pour cold water on the dependability of EVs and plug-in hybrids. The survey says electric vehicles suffer from 79 percent more maintenance issues than gas- or diesel-powered ones, while plug-in hybrids have 146 percent more problems. The troubles portray the industrys growing pains with the relatively new technology as the planet sets record temperatures, and scientists warn of rapidly approaching deadlines to thwart global climate catastrophe.

The survey polled CRs members about issues with their rides from the past year, gathering data on 330,000 vehicles. The publications data included models from 2000 to 2023, alongside a few (early launched) 2024 models. CR studied 20 trouble areas, including relatively minor issues like squeaky brakes or a broken interior trim and more problematic ones related to the transmission, engine or EV battery. The number of potential trouble areas varies by type: internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have 17, EVs have 12, traditional hybrids have 19 and plug-in hybrids have all 20.

The publication combined the data with its own track testing, owner satisfaction survey results and safety info. It then averaged it to assign each brand a numerical score (out of 100).

The Lexus UX, a rare plug-in hybrid that scored well in the survey. (Lexus)

Non-plugin hybrids scored well, with the survey indicating they suffer from 26 percent fewer issues than gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. CR highlighted the most reliable brands in that space, including the Lexus UX and NX Hybrid and Toyotas Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid.

If only plug-in hybrids (PHEV) could enjoy those ratings. Instead, their longer list of trouble spots led to 146 percent more problems than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Lowlights include the Chrysler Pacifica, which scored an abysmal 14 out of 100, and Audi Q5. However, several PHEVs defied the categorys expectations, including standouts like the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Kia Sportage. Several others, including the BMW X5, Hyundai Tucson and Ford Escape, scored average in reliability.

Fully electric cars and SUVs, the vehicles many automakers aim to fill their dealership lots with by 2030, have mediocre average scores: 44 and 43, respectively. Electric pickups, the newest technology in the bunch, perhaps unsurprisingly scored worse with an average of 30.

Lexus came out on top among EV brands. All but one of its models scored above average or better in CRs ratings. And the lone exception, the NX, still had an average score. Toyota also did well, including the 4Runner SUV, which CR describes as among the most reliable models in the survey. However, its electric Tundra pickup scored poorly. Other EVs with above-average scores include Acuras RDX and TLX.

Photo of the Tesla Model 3 sitting outdoors next to a field. Green grass, trees and hills are visible in the distance. (Photo by Roberto Baldwin / Engadget)

Once practically synonymous with electric vehicles, Tesla had overall scores in the middle of the pack (alongside brands like Chevrolet, Buick, Ram, Cadillac and Dodge). CR says the Elon Musk-led companys EV powertrains tend to fare better than those from traditional automakers. However, Ars Technica notes the companys reliability scores struggled more with things like bodywork, paint / trim and climate systems.

Regionally speaking, Asian automakers enjoyed the highest average scores in the survey at a healthy 63. European companies were second with an average of 46, while US brands slumped with a somewhat disappointing score of 39.
A public hearing on a proposal to turn the old Greyhound bus station in downtown Cincinnati into a parking lot has been delayed until Friday, leading the property owner to accuse the city of violating his right to due process.

An old Greyhound bus station on the edge of downtown Cincinnati has become the center of a debate on the future of the city's core.

The owners of the defunct bus station want to turn the site into a parking lot. Those plans have run into efforts by the city to limit how much of Downtown is devoted to parking.

"We have enough parking," said Cincinnati City Councilman Mark Jeffreys. But the owners of the former bus station say they have the legal right to make money off the land and sent a letter to city leaders objecting to delays in hearing their proposal.

On Friday, the Cincinnati City Planning Commission is expected to propose changes to the city zoning code that would restrict surface parking lot development and implement new design standards, such as adding more trees and landscaping, for parking lots in and around Downtown.

Jeffreys first introduced legislation  which has yet to pass  to limit surface parking lots Downtown in September last year. That same month, the planning commission launched a zoning study on parking lots in the newly created Interim Development Control Overlay District No. 88.

Control district regulates parking lot development Downtown

The district, which was established to regulate development while the study is being conducted, covers most of Downtown, including the Greyhound site, and parts of Cincinnati's East End, Mount Adams, Mount Auburn, Pendleton, Over-the-Rhine and West End neighborhoods. (Overlay districts are used to control development in specified areas of the city.)

Initial findings from the ongoing zoning study show there is an oversupply of parking in the district with an estimated 7,500 unused parking spaces. In addition, the approximately 72 acres taken up by surface parking accounts for 13% of the district's land area, the study found.

Jeffreys told The Enquirer surface parking is a poor use of space in the heart of the city and should be restricted to make way for more housing and other developments that enhance the ambience of Downtown.

Parking lots 'suck soul out of our city,' councilman says

"It comes down to a choice of what kind of city we want to be,'' Jeffreys said. "People come to experience a city that is vibrant. They don't come to a city to stroll past surface parking lots.

Surface parking "sucks the soul out of our city,'' he added.

But an attorney representing Chavez Properties, which wants to create 270 new surface parking spaces on the former Greyhound site at 1005 Gilbert Ave., claims the latest push to limit parking lot development shouldn't apply to his client.

Chavez, which owns and operates parking lots throughout the Cincinnati area, bought the 2.4-acre Greyhound site next to the Hard Rock Casino in 2021 for $4.25 million.

At the time, company officials said they planned to turn the site into a parking lot and eventually sell it to a developer after Greyhound vacated the site.

Greyhound move foreshadowed parking lot proposal

Greyhound moved to a new location in November last year off Interstate 75 in Arlington Heights.

On Sept. 1, Chavez applied for a building permit to tear down the Greyhound station and build a parking lot there.

According to Chavez's attorney, a public hearing should have been held no later than Nov. 11 in accordance with the timeline requirements for the commission to approve building permits.

But the parking lot proposal didn't appear on the commission's agenda until Nov. 17, and after more than two hours of debate the commission moved the hearing to Friday on the same agenda as the new zoning proposals.

Hearing delay violates property owner's rights, attorney claims

The delay in hearing the parking lot proposal is "a violation of my clients right to procedural due process under the Ohio and United States constitutions,'' Chavez's attorney Sean Suder wrote in a Nov. 13 letter to the city solicitors office.

Deputy Solicitor Marion Haynes denied the city broke the law in his response to Suder's letter.

"I disagree with your rationale for expediting the Planning Departments and the Planning Commissions review of Chavezs application,'' Haynes wrote. And "I can confirm my opinion that the citys implementation and administration of Interim Development Control District No. 88 is and has been legally and constitutionally sound.''

Suder declined to comment further, but he accused the city in his letter of establishing the control district to deny his client's rights under the city's existing zoning codes, noting the control district was originally established as a temporary measure.

The planning commission on Sept. 16, 2022 recommended approval of the control district for an emergency three-month period. Cincinnati City Council enacted an ordinance creating the district Sept. 21, 2022.

But the duration of the control district has been extended repeatedly and will remain in place until March 21, 2024 or until the zoning study is complete and implemented, according to the Cincinnati City Planning and Engagement Department.

"The true purpose of the (temporary development district) is simply to prohibit owners such as Chavez from using their property in a manner that is permitted by right,'' Suder wrote in his letter to the city solicitor.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What's happening to former Greyhound bus terminal in Cincinnati?
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.  A former Muncie man  this week termed a "menace to the people of East Central Indiana" by U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers  has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

Barry J. Willis Jr., 49, more recently of Anderson, had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In April 2022, three months after Willis had been released on parole from the state prison system, ATF agents went to Willis' Anderson home to serve search warrants after authorities received reports he was both dealing drugs and in possession of a firearm.

Willis barricaded himself in his home's attic and refused to surrender, leading to a four-hour standoff. A SWAT team was called in and "deployed chemical agents a K-9" to force him outside, according to a press release.

In the house investigators found a loaded 9mm handgun under a bed. Willis' DNA was found on the firearm's trigger guard and magazine, and a bullet, the release said.

Because of his criminal history  including convictions for burglary, dealing in meth, intimidation, resisting law enforcement and theft  Willis is prohibited from possessing firearms.

While a Muncie resident in 2003, Willis pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 11 years in prison by then-Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr.

Willis admitted to breaking into a neighbor's home along Hutchison Avenue. He had also been accused of stealing 18 air conditioner units from a storage building belonging to a westside nursing home.

"For decades, this defendant has been a menace to the people of East Central Indiana," Myers said in Thursday's release. "Prior convictions and prison sentences here have not seemed to alter his utter disrespect from the law and public safety.

"The sentence imposed here demonstrates the serious consequences awaiting repeat, violent felons who continue to illegally possess firearms."

The U.S. attorney noted Willis has an Aryan Brotherhood tattoo and has been "previously established as a member of the violent, white supremacist group."

Willis was sentenced recently by U.S. District Court Judge James Sweeney, who ruled the ex-Muncie man would be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison term.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ex-Muncie man, termed 'menace' to ECI, draws 7-year federal sentence
Safaa Kamel, a teacher, plays with children at a school in the northern Syrian town of Afrin

Safaa Kamel, a teacher, plays with children at a school in the northern Syrian town of Afrin

(This Nov. 30 story has been refiled to fix a typo in the word 'impunity' in paragraph 11)

By Stephanie van den Berg, Anthony Deutsch and Maya Gebeily

THE HAGUE/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Illegal chemical weapons attacks killed and injured thousands during Syria's civil war, many of them children, but more than a decade later, the perpetrators go unpunished.

That could change under an initiative to create a new tribunal for such atrocities launched in The Hague on Thursday.

A dozen Syrian rights groups, international legal experts and others have quietly spent two years laying the groundwork for a new treaty-based court which could put on trial alleged users of banned toxic agents worldwide.

"The tribunal for us Syrians is hope," said Safaa Kamel, 35, a teacher from the Jobar suburb of Syria's capital Damascus, recalling the Aug. 21, 2013, sarin gas attack in the Ghouta district which killed more than 1,000 people, many in their sleep.

"The symptoms that we had were nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the face, some fainting. Even among the little ones. There was so much fear," she told Reuters from Afrin, a northwest Syrian town where she sought refuge. "We'll never be able to erase from our memories how they were all lined up."

Many diplomatic and expert meetings between states have been held to discuss the proposal, including the political, legal and funding feasibility, documents seen by Reuters showed.

Diplomats from at least 44 countries across all continents have been engaged in the discussions, some of them at ministerial level, said Ibrahim Olabi, a British-Syrian barrister, a key figure behind the initiative.

"While it's Syrians that are calling for it, for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, if states so wish, it could be far beyond Syria," Olabi told Reuters.

The Exceptional Chemical Weapons Tribunal proposal was launched on Nov. 30, the day victims of chemical attacks are remembered worldwide. The next step will be for states to agree on the wording of a treaty.

Three diplomats from countries in the global north and south told Reuters their governments were discussing the tribunal. They declined to be named as they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

"There is serious interest, deep interest, and recognition of the need for something like this  the need to address basically what is an impunity gap," one source said.

'SOME KIND OF JUSTICE'

The use of chemical weapons is banned under the Geneva Conventions that codified the laws of war. That ban was strengthened by the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, a non-proliferation treaty joined by 193 states which is overseen by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

But political division over the Syrian war at the OPCW and the United Nations led to the blocking of efforts to bring accountability for the widespread violations in international law in hundreds of suspected chemical attacks.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has denied using chemical weapons against its opponents in the civil war, which broke out in March 2011 and has now largely settled into a stalemate. Its information ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Countries including France have opened prosecutions under so-called universal jurisdiction for war crimes, but in those situations where the International Criminal Court is not able to act there is no legal body that can prosecute individual suspects of chemical weapons use globally.

"Having those voices say 'we need some kind of justice ...I think that's going to be powerful," Dapo Akande, a British barrister and member of the United Nations International Law Commission, told Reuters.

There have been international courts for war crimes, from the Balkans to Rwanda and Lebanon, but none that focused on the specific crime of deploying chemical weapons, Akande said.

"It would be trying to fill a gap in the sense that it would essentially be for cases where the International Criminal Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction. And that would, I think, be particularly innovative about it."

The ICC, the world's permanent war crimes court in The Hague, has no jurisdiction in Syria.

The OPCW has the power to investigate claims of chemical weapons use and in some cases identify alleged perpetrators, but it has no prosecutorial powers. It said in January that Syria was responsible for an attack in Douma in 2018 that killed 43 people and censured Syria on Thursday for violating its obligations to declare and surrender banned toxic munitions.

A UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that the Syrian government used the nerve agent sarin in an April 2017 attack and has repeatedly used chlorine as a weapon. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use.

Syria's ally Russia has repeatedly vetoed attempts to extend the JIM's mandate, which expired in November 2017.

TEN YEARS LATE

For Dr. Mohamad Salim Namour, who helped treat hundreds of patients after the 2013 Ghouta attack, the images of the choking and dying still bring him to tears. He recalled one child survivor lying among the bodies ask him: "Am I still alive?"

"We feel bitter that accountability is coming ten years late...We hope that we don't have to wait another 10 years," he told Reuters in The Hague.

"Let international law and justice take its course."

Only a tiny fraction of about 200 investigations into Syrian war crimes conducted by mostly European countries relate to chemical attacks, the U.N. body tasked with investigating Syria crimes, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) told Reuters.

IIIM head Catherine Marchi-Uhel said there are not enough justice opportunities for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and that her agency was ready to work with a new court.

"An international body with dedicated resources and a team that has developed expertise on building cases around chemical weapons incidents might be well placed to deal with these types of cases," she said.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut, Stephanie van den Berg and Anthony Deutsch in The Hague; Additional reporting by Mahmoud Hasano in Afrin, Syria; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Bernadette Baum)
Phillip Dean Hancock, who told the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board Nov. 8 that he killed two men in self-defense, is scheduled for execution on Thursday.

UPDATE: Phillip Hancock was pronounced dead at 11:29 a.m. Thursday. Read more here.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is set to carry out the state's 11th execution since lethal injections resumed two years ago.

Phillip Dean Hancock is set to be executed Thursday morning for fatally shooting two men in Oklahoma City in 2001.

The execution is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester unless Gov. Kevin Stitt intervenes.

The governor could commute Hancock's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. No decision had been announced as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Phillip Dean Hancock

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on Nov. 8 to recommend clemency after Hancock again insisted he acted in self-defense.

"I was in a life-or-death situation," Hancock, 59, told the board via a video link from prison. "They forced me to fight for my life."

The board has recommended clemency only three other times since executions resumed in 2021. The governor has granted clemency only once, to Julius Jones.

That decision was announced at noon on Nov. 17, 2021. The execution had been set to begin at 4 p.m.

More: Oklahoma death row inmate Phillip Hancock recommended for clemency

The governor in 2021 denied clemency to death row inmate Bigler Jobe "Bud" Stouffer II a week before the execution. Last year, he denied death row inmate James Coddington clemency the day before execution.

Death penalty opponents have not rallied behind Hancock as much as they have behind those death row inmates who claim they didn't kill anyone. His attorneys also did not seek any last-minute stays from the U.S. Supreme Court.

At his clemency hearing, Hancock admitted again that he fatally shot Robert Lee Jett Jr. at the biker's home in Oklahoma City early April 27, 2001, after being told to get into a cage.

He also admitted he fatally shot James Vincent "J.V." Lynch.

He told the parole board Jett, 38, was bludgeoning him with a metal tool while Lynch, 57, held him down in an armbar chokehold. He said he shot the men after getting control of Jett's pistol.

"Please understand the awful situation I found myself in," he said.

An Oklahoma County jury rejected his self-defense claim in 2004, found him guilty of first-degree murder and chose death as punishment.

Afterward, the trial judge wrote in a report that Hancock attacked both victims without provocation and at no time expressed any remorse.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Execution of Phillip Hancock still planned in Oklahoma Thursday
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The United Auto Workers historic strike cost Detroits Big 3 automakers billions of dollars, but auto analysts say it could have been much worse.

Ford announced Thursday the six-week strike cost the company $1.7 billion in profits. General Motors said it lost $1.1 billion.

The strike was not as bad as it could have been, Mike Wall, an auto analyst with S&P Global Mobility, told News 8 on Thursday. Thats the biggest takeaway. Were thankful it did not go as long as feared and deep as feared in terms of the production cuts.

Autoworkers strike cut Ford sales by 100,000 vehicles and cost company $1.7 billion in profits

Analysts worried a longer strike would have resulted in fewer cars being made, in turn raising new and used vehicle prices. Wall said last month it could have forced some West Michigan suppliers, who build critical parts for vehicles, to close.

Things will be OK coming out of it, Wall told News 8 Thursday. Were going to navigate that.

Even though the strike cost the automakers billions, Wall said its important to put those numbers in context.

Its a big number, obviously, that were talking, but these are companies that deal in very big numbers, he said.

UAW President Shawn Fain has said that labor costs are only 4% to 5% of a vehicles costs and that the companies were making billions and could afford to pay workers more.

Wall said automakers saw the strike coming and budgeted for it to some extent, though he conceded companies may still be trying to adjust on the fly. To make up for the loss, some automakers are cutting development costs and spending to become more efficient, Wall said.

Automakers have continued to build more vehicles lately, Wall said. Since the strike was six weeks long, it didnt provide a significant disruption to new vehicle production.

Wall doesnt expect automakers to raise new car prices soon. Even if that happens, consumers could turn to the used car market or keep their current vehicle until prices fall.

All you have to do is go to a dealership, Wall said. When you see the average sticker price on a lot of these vehicles, its crowding a lot of those buyers out of the market and pushing them to the used car market.

As a consumer, you have options, he continued. You could go to the used car market or wait out a bit, cars in general are lasting longer.

GM says it can handle rising labor costs as it announces huge share buyback and dividend increase

At the height of the pandemic, from May 2020 to May 2021, used car prices skyrocketed by 30%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Wall doesnt expect anything like that again because the market has changed. In fact, even after a strike, he expects used car prices to fall soon slightly.

It should get cheaper, he said. We should start to see some improvement in vehicle pricing for the buyer, especially on the used car market, but again not significant. Were not going to see the bottom fall out.

Automakers are now looking to the future, focusing on the switch to electric vehicles.

We navigated COVID, we navigated those supply chain pressures, Wall said. We knew we had this union negotiation and it hit us, but again not as bad as feared. Now we have to dust off the playbooks and go back to square one.

Fain has signaled another UAW strike against foreign automakers, including Toyota, Honda and Mazda. Those companies are based overseas but build vehicles in the U.S.

They may have some success, Wall said. The union had a very strong contract. They delivered by and large to their rank and file, and thats going to be the messaging theyre going to deliver to those other workers at the foreign automaker plants as well.

Foreign automakers are already boosting their labor rates in anticipation of a potential strike, Wall said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Former Donald Trump is targeting the wife of the New York judge overseeing his $250 million civil fraud trial on social media, accusing her as well as a law clerk of taking over control of the trial against him.

Judge Engorons Trump Hating wife, together with his very disturbed and angry law clerk, have taken over control of the New York State Witch Hunt Trial aimed at me, my family, and the Republican Party, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. This is such an embarrassment to all within the New York State Judicial System, as murder and violent crime rage like never before!

The former president shared multiple posts from conservative activist Laura Loomer accusing Justice Arthur Engoron's wife, Dawn Marie Engoron, of attacking him on X/Twitter through sharing images. Dawn Engoron has firmly denied making the posts and told Newsweek that the account does not belong to her, but conservatives have instead argued the posts should result in a mistrial or dismissal of the civil case.

One post Loomer screenshotted showed an account under the screen name Dawn Marie with the username @dm_sminxs sharing an image of someone spray-painting "Fk Trump" on a brick wall. Additional posts from the same account featured depictions of an individual in prison attire and mocked the courtroom performance of Trump's lawyer Alina Habba.

Todays decision by a New York appeals court to reinstate the gag order that barred Trump from commenting on court personnel could not be more timely, Temidayo Aganga-Williams, white-collar partner at Selendy Gay Elsberg and former senior investigative counsel for the House Jan. 6 committee, told Salon. Trumps decision to expand his attacks to include Judge Engorons wife will also likely result in the newly-reinstated gag order being expanded to include, at a minimum, the family members of court personnel.

The ruling from a panel of four judges came just two weeks after a single appellate judge had temporarily suspended the order during the ongoing appeals process during which Trump resumed his verbal attacks on the clerk Allison Greenfield.

State court officials argued the gag order was essential as the volume of threats and harassment directed at the clerk increased exponentially as a result of Trump's social media attacks.

The filing also contained transcripts of voicemails left on Engorons chambers phone with messages including threats and vulgar language. Such messages have created an ongoing security risk for the judge, his staff and his family, the filing noted.

Engoron, who issued the gag orders, said Thursday: "I intend to enforce the gag orders rigorously and vigorously and I want to make sure counsel informs their clients of the fact that the stay was vacated.

The orders only bar Trump and his attorneys from talking about court staff and dont prevent the former president from criticizing Engoron or state Attorney General Letitia James' office, which brought the case against him, NBC News reported.

A gag order must be narrow enough to permit political speech, but broad enough to protect individuals at risk, former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor, told Salon. Perhaps the gag order will need to be amended to include family members.

The ex-president and his legal team have undertaken a bizarre approach to a bench trial, where the judge and not a jury serves as the fact-finder. They have decided to wage war against the judge, his staff, and now his family, Aganga-Williams said.

Trump has squarely focused on undermining these legal proceedings by trying to impermissibly influence public opinion and intimidate both witnesses and court personnel, he added. These efforts should be seen for what they are  a sign of weakness.

The former president previously baselessly accused Greenfield of being involved in a romantic relationship with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Such comments have resulted in the law clerks cell phone number and email addresses being compromised in addition to being subject to disparaging comments and antisemitic tropes on a daily basis.

He and his lawyers claim the clerk acts as a co-judge in the case and have criticized her for exchanging notes and advising the judge during testimony. Within the first few weeks of the trial, Engoron fined Trump $15,000 for violating the gag order on two separate occasions.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani said he expects the judge to sanction Trump for future attacks against his family. However, Engorons wifes posts wont affect the case.

Family members social media content isnt legal grounds to disqualify a judge, Rahmani said. "Look no further than Ginni Thomas. Justice Thomas hasnt had to recuse himself from Supreme Court cases because of her public comments.

Aganga-Williams added that Trump has chosen to attack and provoke the one person standing between him and a massive civil judgment. I expect that decision will prove to be a costly one.
An Army nursing specialist was working inside a hospital at Fort Johnson in the spring of 2021 when he was instructed by a supervisor to gather for a training session about extremism.

It was just weeks after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, where some veterans and service members joined a chaotic protest aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of presidential power. In response, the Pentagon had mandated a one-day training on domestic extremism, with units across the country left to decide the best way to convey the message.

At the Louisiana hospital, the specialist and five others filed into the downstairs labor and delivery unit, where a major led them through a slide presentation. The session lasted one hour, and then the workers went back to their regular duties. Nearly three years later, the specialist cant remember much of the training, other than the gist: Dont do terrorism.

If I learned anything new, Ive already forgotten it, he said.

An Air Force first sergeant in Georgia also struggles to recall much of the training he received, but he remembers how the slides were delivered  and the response. His units stand-down occurred as part of a regular briefing that takes place before 7 a.m.

Like with other mandatory trainings required by the Defense Department, the director breezed through it, and the 100 or so airmen in attendance were eager to be done, the first sergeant said. The stand-down was completed in just 15 minutes, during which fellow airmen complained about it being a waste of time. A few even fell asleep, he said.

If a leader doesnt display, I believe in what Im delivering to you, then youre going to have chaos, which is what we had, he said. It was an epic failure and didnt meet the goal of what DOD wanted presented.

Now, nearly two years after the training, much of it described in forgettable terms, the stand-down has been the subject of debate. Thomas Spoehr, a scholar with the conservative Heritage Foundation, called it unwarranted, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., suggested it hurt the military.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin argued that the training prompted productive discussions, while former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley previously defended the need for troops to understand white rage and learn about factors that incited rioters to attack the Capitol.

Troops, meanwhile, described the effort as half-hearted, disorganized and no different than the kind of training they may receive about sexual harassment and assault prevention. One sailor thought it was less rigorous than other stand-downs hed sat through in the wake of safety mishaps.

In the days and weeks after the training, there was little follow-up discussion about extremism prevention. A soldier called it a one and done training and remarked on the lack of messaging about the topic compared to the Armys Equal Opportunity or Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention programs.

In the time since, the stand-down has come to represent what some critics of President Joe Biden view as his administrations attempt to politicize the military. It is also one of the only concrete steps the Pentagon has taken to address extremism since Jan. 6.

Today, extremism prevention is the target of conservatives in Congress who dont want to see any more time or money spent on the issue.

Years of debate

As of September, 193 individuals with military backgrounds had been charged or convicted for their roles in the breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism. Veterans and service members account for about 17.5% of all defendants charged in the Capitol attack so far, while they comprise only 7% of the U.S. population.

In the days immediately following the attack, Austin called for a stand-down to address extremist ideologies within the ranks. According to training materials made public by the Pentagon, the stand-down was meant to remind service members of the oaths they took to defend the Constitution. It was also meant to convey a message that troops could be booted if caught advocating for extremist ideologies, and serve as a warning about being targeted by extremist organizations for recruitment.

According to the curriculum, the department was seeing an increase in concerning behavior among troops at the time, as well as a rise in reports about suspicious activities. The training noted that while service members do have protections under the First Amendment, they are also held to a higher standard because of their access to classified information and military equipment. Training materials cited a 1974 Supreme Court decision that First Amendment protections could be applied differently to service members because of the necessity for obedience and discipline.

The instructional period called on troops to reject certain activities, including fundraising, demonstrating, or recruiting for gangs and other organizations determined to be detrimental to good order, discipline, or mission accomplishment, as well as those considered incompatible with military service. Espousing extremist or discriminatory doctrine would have consequences, the training materials said.

Adm. John Aquilino, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks with sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson during a stand-down to address extremism in the ranks. (MCS Mason Congleton/Navy)

Some Democrats and extremism prevention experts have defended Austins decision to initiate a stand-down, arguing that even a small number of extremists in the U.S. military could pose an outsized problem. The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism released a study this summer that found 451 people with military backgrounds committed extremist offenses from 1990 through 2022. Of those, 170, or nearly 38%, either plotted or followed through with a deadly terrorist attack, making extremists with military backgrounds 2.4 times more likely to be classified as mass fatality offenders compared to those who had never served.

Anthony Brown, a former House lawmaker from Maryland and now the states attorney general, argued that Austin rightly made this issue a priority.

We must not let our military continue to be a training ground for extremist organizations, Brown said. And we cannot allow members of those extremist organizations to simultaneously be members of the armed forces.

While the stand-down was applauded by some, a handful of Republicans blasted it as a farce and called it a means for the Biden administration to push their agenda. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, described it as a witch hunt for extremists.

The stand-down has become a familiar talking point among lawmakers who decry a rise of wokeness in the military, referring to what they see as radically progressive policies. The increasingly prominent argument about the military being too woke has slowed negotiations on the annual defense policy bill, led to the promotion blockade of about 400 military nominees and emerged as a talking point among those vying to become the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., criticized the stand-down as time taken away from honing service members war-fighting capabilities. In September, Banks said expunging wokeism from the U.S. military was now his top mission in Congress.

Wokeism will eat our country inside-out if we let it, and weve got to stop it from taking over and transforming the military, Banks said.

As debates about the stand-down persist, Military Times sought the input of troops who experienced the training firsthand. Dozens responded, each requesting anonymity while sharing their observations. Respondents represented four military branches and underwent training at an array of locations, from aboard a missile cruiser to inside the Pentagon, deployed to Afghanistan and at installations across the country.

While some participants interviewed by Military Times saw no reason for the training and suggested it ignited division among the ranks, others thought it was a good initiative that didnt go far enough. Even if political beliefs and experiences differed, most respondents were equally frustrated about how the training was carried out. A dozen described the stand-down as leadership merely checking a box, while others called it perfunctory, a waste of time or compared it to a school assembly.

It was largely an exercise in futility, said one retired Air Force colonel who was working as a deputy mission support group commander at the time of the training. Were checking boxes, not providing value.

Lt. Col. Ryan Polcar, 19th Airlift Wing director of staff, speaks during the Extremism Stand-Down Day at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. (Tech. Sgt. Dana J. Cable/Air Force)

Amy Cooter, a research fellow with the Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, heard similar feedback about the stand-down during interviews she conducted with veterans this year for a study about the radicalization of service members.

Most seemed to think much more was needed  numerous interviewees so far have talked about how they think the military needs more frequent and standardized instruction, Cooter said. Additional and quality direct instruction is likely needed both early and throughout service and also at time of separation.

Experts who study extremism and political violence generally agree that the stand-down was a good idea and a positive first step toward rooting out such behaviors. However, the follow-through has fallen short, multiple experts told Military Times.

And now, some lawmakers are trying to put an end to any work still underway.

A lack of transparency

Stevan Weine, a psychiatry professor at the University of Illinois, wrote a paper about the best practices for addressing violent extremism and has been studying the subject for the past decade. The stand-down was a one-shot approach, he said, instead of the sustained effort that should be in place.

Violent extremism is a relatively new field of study. There isnt a set of scientifically proven methods for preventing extremism, but there are some agreed-upon best practices, Weine said.

According to a study funded by the Justice Department, people are more likely to turn to extremist movements when theyre dealing with issues like failed relationships, unemployment, mental health concerns and drug or alcohol abuse, or if they have a history of traumatic experiences or criminal involvement.

To address extremism in the ranks, the Pentagon should teach its leaders how to spot service members at risk for radicalization, Weine added. When that happens, there should be a clear process to intervene.

I could imagine a longer training thats not only telling people what to be aware of but giving them the tools to address this challenge ... and the skills to differentiate between a person who might be just sharing some ideas online, versus a person whos posing a threat, Weine said. You have to make sure this is firmly on the radar of different levels of leadership within the military. I think it takes more than a one-time talk to help people to incorporate that into how they think and how they behave.

Following the stand-down, Austin created a Countering Extremism Working group that, by December 2021, unveiled a host of recommendations, only pieces of which have been implemented two years later. The Defense Department did adopt a new policy recommended by the working group, meanwhile, that expanded the previous definition of extremist activities prohibited by the military. Those activities now include online interactions that promote terrorism, as well as rallies, fundraising or organizing in support of extremist ideologies.

The Pentagon also added information about extremism into pre-separation counseling that service members undergo as theyre leaving the military. The contents of the new slides, shared with Military Times, encourage exiting service members to guard against attempts to be radicalized, continue to take a stand against extremism organizations, and report suspicious activities to proper authorities.

Austin during a news conference at the Pentagon. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

While the Pentagon has taken those incremental steps, multiple news outlets reported this summer that the department abandoned its anti-extremism efforts  and most of the working groups recommendations. A Pentagon spokesperson did not respond to inquiries from Military Times this summer and again in November about whether the working group had ended its efforts.

In response to concerns about the efforts concluding, a Pentagon official briefed reporters in June that the department was working to implement more training that would focus on how the militarys core values run counter to extremist ideologies. A Pentagon spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment in November about whether the training had been completed.

Organizations that work to prevent violent extremism arent sold on the Pentagons sincerity. In September, seven veterans and military family advocacy groups, as well as 29 anti-extremism groups and three individual extremism experts, sent a letter to Austin, criticizing him for the lack of transparency about the Pentagons efforts.

As close observers in this field, we understand the urgency of this threat and the impact it has on service members, veterans, and their families, the letter reads. We urge the DOD to continue the essential work you have begun in addressing white supremacy and other forms of extremism in the military  and to inform Congress and the American public about progress made towards fulfilling these critical commitments and recommendations.

That letter wasnt the first plea sent to Austin to continue the anti-extremism work he started. Back in April, Heidi Bierich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said the working group had fizzled and sent a letter to Austin, asking the agency about any continued attempts to address extremism. The groups other co-founder, Wendy Via, told Military Times in November that she believed military leaders had succumbed to political pressure.

Some good ideas came out of the working group, but theres a complete lack of transparency  an unwillingness to share the status of this, Via said. I think the political pressure is overwhelming.

The watchdog organization American Oversight went so far as to sue the Defense Department for documents that could provide insight into the militarys anti-extremism work. The group filed two lawsuits in June, asking for the release of any studies the Pentagon might have initiated concerning incidents of white supremacist, white nationalist, white separatist, far-right, alt-right or pro-Nazi activities or ideologies among service members.

According to court documents, the Pentagon was working as of mid-November to hand over thousands pages of documents to American Oversight. It remained uncertain at the time of publication whether the documents would illustrate progress in rooting out extremism or  as some experts in the field had suspected  that politics had shut those efforts down.

Stand-down not enough

Despite whether the Pentagon ended its anti-extremism efforts in secret already, some members of Congress were working in November to make certain all efforts would cease.

As of publication, lawmakers were expected to negotiate the 2024 defense policy bill when they returned from the Thanksgiving recess. The House and Senate each passed their own versions of the bill earlier this year, and together they included 22 proposals that target the militarys anti-extremism initiatives, as well as its diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

One measure included in the House bill would prohibit any federal funds from going to the Countering Extremism Working Group.

Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., who introduced the measure, said it was key to eliminating the wokeness in the military and the unnecessary extremism working group.

Alford is one of the lawmakers to criticize Bidens administration for pushing woke policies into the armed forces, blaming the extremism stand-down in 2021 for having tarnished the militarys reputation.

As one of your first acts, Mr. Secretary, you put our military  every single member, active duty and reserve  to mandatory training to root out extremists, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., at a congressional hearing in March. That sent a message.

Some service members who shared their stand-down experiences with Military Times agreed with those sentiments. A Navy chaplain who was asked to review the stand-down curriculum as it was being developed believed the messaging ostracized conservatives. A senior Army enlisted advisor in Tennessee said the training  and anything not related to military readiness  wasnt worth doing.

The amount of things that Ive seen in the military that were done for politicians and not for soldiers  this, to me, was just another example of that, the senior enlisted advisor said. This training did not increase readiness or increase the lethality of the U.S. military, and thats what Im focused on.

While many service members and elected officials perceived the stand-down as political or criticized how it was carried out, the Pentagons decision was the right one, said numerous experts, including Weine, Via and Cooter.

Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the military was in a unique position to tackle the problem head on.

Its hard to overstate the value of awareness  of an entire community of people having to acknowledge out in the open what we might otherwise prefer to overlook, Jaslow said.

Weine agreed, arguing it was key for the Pentagon to clearly state that troops involvement in extremist activities was not acceptable. The stand-down was the Pentagon making an investment in prevention, Weine said.

I had no problem with what the secretary did, Weine said. The problem is, it was not enough.

This story was produced in partnership with Military Veterans in Journalism. Please send tips to MVJ-Tips@militarytimes.com.
Intake coordinator Megan Poffenbarger holds rescued 6-year-old Shelby, in a visitor play room at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton. Shelby was one of dozens of dogs found in a Butler County home earlier this year.

A little over two months after Shelby, a white-coated, 44-pound canine, was taken from the nightmarish conditions of a Butler County dog rescue, she suffered a seizure.

It was probably caused by stress, said staff at Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton. Thats where 6-year-old Shelby and 91 other dogs, in need of housing and care, were taken after they were seized from the Helping Hands for Furry Paws dog rescue in July.

Though Shelby had since taken to her new caretakers and other dogs at the shelter, she was one of the most terrified when she arrived and never wanted to interact with people, said Megan Poffenbarger, intake coordinator.

What happened at the Madison Township dog rescue, where more than two dozen other dogs were found dead in varying states of decomposition, is a stark example of what can result from a lack of oversight.

Animal rescue owners in Ohio are subject to the same criminal penalties as anyone else who abuses or neglects animals. But these organizations largely go unregulated and investigating animal cruelty complaints is difficult. In the absence of a reasonable basis to believe a crime is being committed, officials must rely on an owner's cooperation.

In fact, it took years of complaints and dozens of visits to Helping Hands for Furry Paws before authorities had enough evidence to file charges. In another case last summer involving a Portage County dog rescue, where officials found the remains of 146 animals, humane agents investigated for nearly a year before they were even able to get a search warrant.

Its easier to take a child than it is to take a dog, said Poffenbarger, who worked for two years as a deputy dog warden in Butler County.

Shelby gets a cuddle at the Animal Friends Humane Society. She was rescued earlier this year and is still looking for her forever home.

Dog wardens found deplorable living conditions for dogs and puppies

Deputy dog wardens couldnt have prepared for what they say they found while searching Ronda Murphys properties on Mosiman and Eck roads on July 27.

There were cages filled with dogs inside an 83-degree garage, including one that housed a mother dog and her nine pups. A deputy dog warden wrote in an incident report that none of the cages had food or water and many of the dogs were living in their own feces.

A van parked in Murphys driveway contained four cages of dogs, and a chihuahua was loose in the front of the vehicle. Among those caged were three more female dogs each nursing a large set of puppies. The van wasnt running and the windows were rolled up.

Another nursing mother and her seven puppies were found in a cage inside the house where 60-year-old Murphy ran her rescue. The dog was emaciated and the cage contained dirty blankets and piles of feces.

Inside a pole barn is where deputies first stumbled upon a dead dog. Murphy claimed she discovered the animals body a few weeks earlier and was unable to move it on her own.

Officials argued the dog had likely been deceased much longer given the level of decay. It was only recognizable by its shape and legs, with the body lacking hair and being stuck to the floor.

The most shocking discovery, however, was when authorities found the remains of other dogs in freezers, some of which weren't working, scattered throughout the two properties.

In total, deputies uncovered roughly 30 dead dogs, though they could only recover the remains of 18 because some had decomposed to the point that their bodies were liquefied.

It was nauseating and made it almost impossible to breathe," Deputy Dog Warden Abigail Forkner wrote, relaying the conditions of one of Murphy's houses. "After just a minute of being inside, walking further in became unbearable. I felt as if I was going to pass out and had to go outside for a break.

Murphy, who owned and operated Helping Hands for Furry Paws from the Eck Road property that sits just across the street from her home, faces nearly two dozen counts of cruelty to companion animals.

Years-long history of animal welfare complaints, inspections at Butler County rescue

Murphy's neighbors and others had long complained that something wasnt right.

Butler County Sheriffs Office records show that deputies responded to Murphys two properties at least 36 times from February 2020 to July 2023 to check on the animals welfare and respond to complaints about the conditions there.

Deputies struggled at times to meet with Murphy and often had to leave notices behind for her.

On at least one occasion before Murphys arrest, deputies showed up at her home unannounced because they suspected she was concealing the true number of dogs under her care and the conditions they were living in.

Officials also received reports over the last three years that Murphy was housing dozens of dogs in deplorable conditions, lying to authorities and keeping animal remains in freezers.

None of those claims were substantiated until deputies made an surprise, early morning visit to her property last summer and found enough evidence of animal cruelty to obtain a search warrant.

Under state law, animal cruelty encompasses torture, needless killing, causing serious physical harm, or deprivation of adequate food, water and shelter, negligently or otherwise.

More than a year before her arrest, the records show, deputy dog wardens told Murphy she should get out of the dog rescue business. She agreed.

While they long suspected Murphy was struggling to adequately care for her animals, without evidence of animal cruelty, there was nothing officials could do under the state's lax regulation of animal rescues.

Murphys lawyer did not respond to messages from The Enquirer.

Advocates say rescue registrations are 'just a rubber stamp

All dog rescues must register annually with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, but theres nothing stopping someone from operating without a registration.

Murphy had been doing just that during the seven months before her arrest, state records show.

The Enquirer requested all dog rescue registration applications submitted to the state by Murphy since 2016, when state records show Helping Hands for Furry Paws was first established. In response, the department provided a single application from 2022.

This registration does not confirm or otherwise prove that the registered animal rescue meets any requirements for the care, health, or housing of dogs, reads the document confirming Murphys successful registration for Helping Hands, which expired in December 2022.

Unlike licensed high-volume dog breeders, which are subject to annual inspections, there are no legally mandated inspections for dog rescues, though state officials do have the authority to inspect such organizations if a complaint is received.

However, the department can only check to ensure that registration requirements are being met and any humane or welfare concerns are reported to local authorities, Bryan Levin, an agriculture department spokesperson, wrote in an email to The Enquirer.

The department has no authority to impose civil or criminal penalties against dog rescue owners in cases of animal mistreatment, with its only recourse being to revoke the violators registration.

To register, an organization must meet the state's definition of a dog rescue and provide its name and address, as well as the names and addresses of foster homes it partners with. State law has no stated registration requirements for rescues specializing in animals other than dogs.

It really is just a rubber stamp, Colleen Evans, executive director of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation, said of the states registration of dog rescues.

When it comes to a lack of serious oversight for animal rescues, Ohio isnt alone. The state is 25th in the Animal Legal Defense Funds most recent ranking of animal protection laws.

Some states, however, have enacted comprehensive licensing laws with stricter oversight of rescues. Colorado, which is ranked fourth in the country for animal protection laws, is one state where lawmakers established regulations for animal rescues that require routine inspections and education courses.

Ohio does not have enough inspectors on staff to inspect rescues. The agriculture department has five inspectors handling inspections of the more than 500 registered high-volume dog breeders across the state.

Its a great idea on paper. Its a nice idea to have some kind of oversight, but right, who would do it? Evans said.

Currently, the only way animal rescues in Ohio get investigated is if someone lodges a complaint with the county humane society or sheriff's office, Evans said, adding that while people in the community might know something is going on, there are numerous reasons why they might be hesitant to report.

So sometimes these cases can go on a long time before we even know the situation exists, she said.

How do authorities investigate animal cruelty?

Complaints are vital for Columbus Humane, the agency tasked with investigating animal cruelty in Franklin County.

With its agents making 5,000 to 6,000 visits each year in the course of responding to and investigating complaints, Columbus Humane has the largest animal cruelty investigations program in the state.

The first step humane agents take when they receive a complaint is to try to establish rapport with the owners and ask if they can take a look at the animals, said Rachel Finney, the nonprofit's CEO.

If the owner is unwilling to work with agents or attempts to improve the situation are unsuccessful, the agency will seek access through a search warrant.

Rachel Finney, CEO of Columbus Humane.

We dont go in with the intent to remove every animal every time, that doesnt make sense, Finney said. Were not trying to prosecute everyone in our community.

Agencies responsible for enforcing the states animal cruelty laws walk a fine line, as animals are considered property and a person who doesnt take great care of their pets isnt necessarily breaking the law.

During the numerous visits Butler County officials made to Murphys properties from May 2021 to July 2022, they at times noted some dogs were underweight, losing hair and living in "filthy conditions," but didn't observe anything illegal.

Animal hoarding and animal cruelty at rescues often go hand in hand

Complaints against animal rescues often come from veterinarians who treat the animals under the organization's care or, if the rescue is being operated from a residence, from neighbors concerned with strong odors and loud barking, Finney said.

Because almost anyone can call themselves a rescuer, there's a lot of overlap with the investigation of hoarding cases, Finney said.

Animal hoarding is a condition characterized by the collection of an abnormally large number of animals with the hoarder neglecting their basic care, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Living conditions can become extremely unsanitary at properties where animal hoarding exists. When hoarding cases are uncovered, they can also overburden the local humane societies and shelters tasked with caring for and finding new homes for the animals.

Animal hoarding has been found to have a near 100% recidivism rate if left untreated.

"It's compulsive behavior that does not stop on its own, it needs an intervention, and that's the role that our agency often plays in hoarding situations," Finney said.

One important piece of securing a criminal conviction for animal cruelty against someone who hoards animals, she added, is that a court can limit their access to pets and allow for unannounced inspections. A judge can also order that they undergo a psychological evaluation or counseling.

Animal rights activists have gone so far as to advocate for known hoarders to lose all contact with animals entirely in an effort to prevent such abuse from reoccurring.

They (animal hoarders) see themselves as a rescuer; they see themselves as a defender of the animals and it's an altruistic pursuit, but what they've done is create enormous suffering, Finney said.

There are several ways of determining if an animal rescue is legitimate and responsible, including whether its an established nonprofit and if it is recognized by state agencies. At different points in time, Helping Hands for Furry Paws had checked both of those boxes.

State business records show Helping Hands for Furry Paws was established as a nonprofit in July 2016. Its status with the Ohio Secretary of State's Office was changed to canceled in July 2021 for failure to file a statement of continued existence.

The animal rescue's tax-exempt status was also revoked by the Internal Revenue Service for failure to file informational tax forms for three years straight, according to GuideStar, which tracks federal tax filings by nonprofit organizations.

Alternatively, local humane societies will likely know which rescues in their communities are reputable, according to Poffenbarger.

In the absence of tougher regulations, Finney said its imperative that people know to report abuse to the appropriate authorities.

I think the important piece to focus on here is that the same laws that are applying to the individual pet owner are applying to these rescue groups when it comes to animal cruelty, she said.

'You've gotta give them time'

As of mid-November, Shelby was still the last dog taken from Helping Hands for Furry Paws that hadn't been adopted, though she went from staying full time at the shelter to living in a foster home with another dog.

Poffenbarger said that while Shelby still gets nervous around new people, she's been able to warm up to them quickly and had been relying on her new furry companion to build confidence.

Shelby was rescued from Helping Hands for Furry Paws dog rescue and is currently in a foster home.

It's not totally clear why no one had chosen to take Shelby home; it certainly isn't for a lack of cuteness.

The shelter's staff tell prospective dog owners about an animal's background and past abuse or neglect can be a factor that puts some people off, Poffenbarger said.

For dogs with traumatic pasts, she said, "You've gotta give them time."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio animal rescues: Existing oversight is 'just a rubber stamp'
Its that time of year when out-of-town guests arrive in Chicago with a taste for one of our citys specialties  pizza.

Locals have well-known chains or mom-and-pop recommendations for deep-dish, tavern-style and even thin-crust varieties.

Yet its hard to declare definitively who introduced pizza to our masses. A trip back into the Tribunes archives doesnt provide this detail.

[ The 25 best pizzas in Chicago  from scrappy newcomers to beloved classics ]

Pizzeria Uno could be one of the oldest ones still in operation. December 3 marks 80 years since the restaurant opened inside a former mansion at Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue.

So, lets travel back to a time when pizza was new and exotic  and meet the people who have provided delicious meals to generations of families. Some are intertwined, moving from one establishment to another during their careers. Others wont share their secret recipes, but will ship a frozen version to loved ones who crave a taste of Chicago.

[ Vintage Chicago Tribune: Hot dogs! Pizza! Popcorn! Lemonade! Chicken pot pie! Get your food history, here! ]

Regardless of how you like your slice  or the whole pie  heres a look back at Chicagos pizza tradition.

Chicago history | More newsletters | Puzzles & Games | Todays eNewspaper edition

Pizza maker Tom Granato, at Pizzeria Napolitana, uses only whole tomatoes in the pizza he serves at his restaurant at 907 W. Taylor St., circa 1961. (Ron Bailey/Chicago Tribune)

Opened in the early 1920s, the tiny pizzeria operated by Tom Granato at 907 W. Taylor St. on the Near West Side might not have been the first to serve authentic pizza in Chicago, but it was among the earliest.

Tom rolls out a piece the size of a pie crust on his marble slab, cuts up fresh Italian cheese over it, covers it with tomato  the little Italian pearl tomato  sprinkles olive oil over it, and deposits it in the brick oven for a few minutes, Tribune columnist June Provines wrote. It is served in a tin pie plate, cut into four sections, and is eaten with the fingers. Try it with a salad.

[ Florence Scala took on City Hall and fought for Little Italy and a gutsy Chicago ]

The restaurant closed in 1961  when it was demolished for construction of University of Illinois at Chicagos Circle campus. The universitys Science & Engineering South building sits on the site. An offshoot of the original pizzeria was opened in Buffalo Grove in the early 1990s.







Lou Malnati, right, serves his father Rudy Malnati, proprietor of Pizzeria Uno, the 2 millionth pizza his two restaurants have turned out in 23 years of business in Chicago in 1966. (Luigi Mendicino/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago-style pizza may owe its existence to a bad enchilada. When partners Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo planned to open a restaurant, Sewell, a native Texan, wanted to feature Mexican food. But one of the sample meals the partners tested made Riccardo so sick that he rejected Mexican food entirely.

[ Who invented deep dish? There is almost no documentation about who invented the dish, and without it, legend has taken over. ]

Riccardo suggested pizza, which he had encountered in Italy  as indeed many American servicemen were doing during World War II. Sewells complaint with pizza was that it was insubstantial, little more than an appetizer  and readily available in Chicagos Little Italy neighborhood besides. Sewell wanted a substantial, meal-size pizza. After some experimenting, the partners devised something with a thick crust and plenty of cheese.

[ Ike Sewell, owner of local favorites Pizzeria Uno and Su Casa restaurants, changed the history of pizza ]

The restaurant at Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue, however, was not an overnight success. In the early days, bartenders distributed free sample slices to introduce customers to the new pizza. Fortunately, Sewell said, we had a very good bar business.

[ There was a time when Chicago pizza meant pizza. You know, a normal pizza. ]

Their restaurant opened in 1943 as The Pizzeria, became Pizzeria Riccardo soon afterward, and settled in as Pizzeria Uno in 1955, when the partners opened Pizzeria Due in another Mears mansion at Wabash and Ontario. Pizzeria Dues manager was Luciano Lou Malnati.







Lou Malnati serves up pizza at his Lincolnwood restaurant at 6649 N. Lincoln Ave., circa 1972. (Chicago Tribune archive)

After working with his father at Pizzeria Uno, overseeing Pizzeria Due and opening Su Casa, Malnati debuted his own pizza place on St. Patricks Day in Lincolnwood.

Seldom has the lowly but luscious pizza been served in a more attractive atmosphere than this, Tribune columnist Will Leonard wrote days later. The former Novaks restaurant, at 6649 N. Lincoln Av., has been completely redone with warm, soft lighting, dark wood paneling, red carpeting and stained glass windows.

Malnati often hosted charitable events at his flagship restaurant, including an annual benefit for a scholarship fund set up in the name of friend and Chicago Bears halfback Brian Piccolo.

Malnati died of cancer at age 48 in 1978. His sons took over. Marc Malnati stepped down as CEO of the company in 2016, but remains involved in the family business.







The Chicago Tribune wrote about Alice Mae Redmond on April 13, 1989, and her retirement from Ginos East. (Chicago Tribune)

Before Alice Mae Redmond spent 29 years as a pizza cook and recipe developer at Ginos East, she worked at Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due for almost two decades.

So, she knew a thing or two about making the perfect pie  especially its crust.

When Redmond started in the Pizzeria Uno kitchen, she didnt like the crust. It was too hard to push, she told the Tribune in 1989. I had to make that crust better.

Redmond came up with her own formula  a little of this and a little of that  to make the thick crust move better and taste better. When she was courted away to Ginos East, Redmond improved on her original formula and brought her secret dough conditioner, which the restaurant still uses today.







The United Airlines Terminal at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago in 2012. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)

Londons Financial Times and other British media reported that during a meeting at a pizzeria at Chicagos OHare International Airport, former British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to grant voters a referendum on Europe.

Cameron  whod urged his countrymen to vote to stay in the EU  resigned in 2016.

Its unclear where he grabbed the bite  and if it was deep dish or tavern-style.







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MILAN  The European Unions sluggish progress in drastically increasing ammunition supplies to Ukraine has Baltic nation Estonia nervous about some member nations internal politics getting in the way, according to a senior Estonian defense official.

On our part, we are constantly pushing different nations to not give up because the timeline of deliveries is next March, so we still have a couple of months ahead of us to either fully reach it or at least get as close to it as possible, Tuuli Duneton, undersecretary for defense policy said, told Defense News in an interview.

I wouldnt say I am entirely pessimistic about the EU target, but a lot remains to be done, she added.

Estonia was a key initiator last spring of an EU plan to jointly deliver 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine by March 2024.

Dunetons comments came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Kyivs backers to ensure that the country has enough 155mm artillery shells to repel invading Russian forces, with companies synced to execute substantial production increases.

For now, the number of shells delivered is 300,000, according to Kuleba.

We need to create a Euro-Atlantic common area of defense industries, he said ahead of a meeting with his NATO counterparts in Brussels this week.

In Tallinns view, the diagnosis of what went wrong so far in producing the envisioned amount is more complicated than EU leaders initial reaction of pointing the finger at industry.

Altogether, European nations have not in previous years placed significant orders for 155mm ammunition, and all of a sudden there is a need to put peak orders on the market right away, Duneton said. Simultaneously, many bigger states, the same who are struggling to fulfill NATOs 2%, are scrambling to achieve that target while facing their own domestic issues.

A contributing factor is the secrecy with which some governments treat Ukraine support and related domestic production increases, which makes to difficult to compare notes among member nations.

One of the big things we struggle with in Europe, is there is little visibility on what have been the bigger orders from different nations to their defense industry and what they are doing. A majority of nations do not share the information, she said.

The overall vagueness could also be due to political hedging, Duneton added, without wanting to name specific countries. A possibility could be that they havent put any orders into the pipelines, in which case we must ask: Are they really willing to finance those orders? Industry cannot extend its production infinitely if they do not see orders coming in.

The outcome of Ukraines defense is considered existential for Estonia, as officials there believe a victorious Moscow could target the Baltics next, Duneton said.

It is possible that this threat perception is not as widely shared by all, as of course it always depends on where one is geographically located, but from our perspective, we need to pull all the stops to make Ukraine win, she said.
Claim:

On Jan. 6, 2021, just prior to the start of the U.S. Capitol riot in Washington, D.C., Rep. Mark Green said of Republicans' support of then-President Donald Trump, "The things we do for the Orange Jesus."

Rating:

Rating: Unproven

In late November 2023, the Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) account on X reshared an old post with a video that featured then-U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. The video was recorded on Sept. 19, 2022. In the clip, Cheney delivered remarks in front of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, in which she claimed that on Jan. 6, 2021, just prior to the start of the U.S. Capitol insurrection carried out by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, an unnamed House GOP colleague referred to Trump as "the Orange Jesus."

More than one year after Cheney's remarks, on Nov. 28, 2023, the name of the colleague she claims made the "Orange Jesus" remark was revealed by CNN, which was said to have received an early copy of Cheney's upcoming book, "Oath and Honor." According to CNN, Cheney claimed in her book that that colleague was none other than U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.

According to Liz Cheney, it was Rep. Mark Green who said, The things we do for the Orange Jesus as he signed his name to the electoral vote objection sheets on January 6. https://t.co/Bb4HZn4qc9  Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) November 28, 2023

Was this true? Did Green refer to Trump as "the Orange Jesus"?

Conservative political commentator Todd Starnes reported on Nov. 29 that Green himself said he denied having made the "Orange Jesus" comment. Starnes published that Green had told him (or another person associated with Starnes), "I heard the statement. We were in a crowded room, but it wasnt me."

By email, Snopes reached out to Green's office seeking confirmation of the response published by Starnes. Instead, we received the following statement attributed to a "spokesman from Rep. Green's office":

Liz Cheneys accusation is false. She and her publishers would know this had they reached out to Rep. Green or his office. There was a large crowd in the cloak room that day and Congressman Green unequivocally denies making this comment.

We continued our correspondence with Green's spokesperson, asking, "Referencing Starnes' claim, additionally, in the case that the phrase truly was spoken by someone in the room, is Rep. Green able to provide the name of that representative?"

In response, the spokesperson told us, "I havent spoken to him about this, but I know he will not do so."

Cheney's Story About 'Orange Jesus'

In the September 2022 video, Cheney described what she claimed that she heard but did not mention Green by name. Our transcription of the clip is below:

In the cloakroom on Jan. 6, before the attack happened, I was in the Republican cloakroom. I was working on my remarks, because I was supposed to speak that day. And there were sheets of paper laid out on the desks. And I asked one of the staffers in the cloakroom, "What are these sheets of paper?," because members were coming in and signing them. And this person said to me, "Well, those are the objections sheets," because, you know, it's only actually required that one House member object, but there were so many who wanted to show they were objecting that they had set up these signup sheets in the cloakroom. And as I was sitting there, a member came in and he signed his name on each one of the state's sheets. And then he said under his breath, "The things we do for the Orange Jesus." And, I thought, you know, you're taking an act that is unconstitutional.

CNN's Paraphrase of the Story in Cheney's Book

The CNN article from Nov. 28 basically told the same story that Cheney did in the September 2022 video. However, again, it was in her book that Green's name was mentioned for the first time:

On Jan. 6, before the attack on the Capitol, Cheney describes a scene in the GOP cloakroom, where members were encouraged to sign their names on electoral vote objection sheets, lined up on a table, one for each of the states Republicans were contesting. Cheney writes most members knew it was a farce and another public display of fealty to Donald Trump. Among them was Republican Congressman Mark Green of Tennessee, Cheney writes. As he moved down the line, signing his name to the pieces of paper, Green said sheepishly to no one in particular, The things we do for the Orange Jesus.

CNN also printed the same statement that Snopes received that was attributed to a "spokesman for Greens office," which, again, called Cheney's claim "false."

Conclusion

In "he said, she said" cases like this one where there is no available audio or video to confirm whether or not Green or another representative made the remark in question, we simply do not have enough evidence to make a firm determination of whether or not it truly occurred. In cases like these, we apply a rating of Unproven. This rating does not mean that the rumor is true or false. Rather, it simply indicates that the available evidence was insufficient.

Sources:

@AccountableGOP. According to Liz Cheney, It Was Rep. Mark Green Who Said, The Things We Do for the Orange Jesus as He Signed His Name to the Electoral Vote Objection Sheets on January 6. X, 28 Nov. 2023, https://twitter.com/AccountableGOP/status/1729635950588776661.

Cheney Identifies Congressman Who Called Trump Orange Jesus in New Book. YouTube, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5muuwQGP-c.

Gangel, Jamie, et al. Exclusive: Liz Cheneys New Book Blasts GOP as Enablers and Collaborators of Trump, Whom One Member Called Orange Jesus | CNN Politics. CNN, 28 Nov. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/28/politics/liz-cheney-trump-mccarthy-book/index.html.

January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack| Background, Events, Criminal Charges, & Facts. Brittanica.com, https://www.britannica.com/event/January-6-U-S-Capitol-attack.

Starnes, Todd. LIAR! Liz Cheney Falsely Accuses Rep. Mark Green of Calling Trump Orange Jesus - Todd Starnes. ToddStarnes.com, 29 Nov. 2023, https://www.toddstarnes.com/politics/liar-liz-cheney-falsely-accuses-rep-mark-green-of-calling-trump-orange-jesus/.

Wong, Scott. Cheney Says GOP Leaders Are Treating Trump like a King by Defending Him in Mar-a-Lago Probe. NBC News, 20 Sept. 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/cheney-says-gop-leaders-are-treating-trump-king-defending-mar-lago-pro-rcna48455.
FILE PHOTO: Signage for Humana Inc. is pictured at a health facility in Queens, New York City

By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) - Health insurer Cigna is in merger talks with Humana, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, potentially marking the latest in a long string of deals aimed at consolidation of the industry.

The U.S. Department of Justice, citing the prospect of higher prices, in 2016 successfully sued to stop two proposed mega mergers: Anthem's - now Elevance Health - planned $54 billion purchase of Cigna and Aetna's proposed $34 billion acquisition of Humana.

The companies said those proposed deals were triggered by the Affordable Care Act, which was fully implemented in 2014. Here is what has happened in deals involving health insurers since the law went into effect:

2015: UnitedHealth acquired pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran for $12.8 billion, merging it into its existing OptumRx drug benefit unit.

2015: Pharmacy chain CVS Health acquired Omnicare, a provider of pharmacy services to long-term care facilities for more than $12 billion.

2015: CVS Health acquired Target's 1,600-plus pharmacies and retail medical clinics inside Target stores for nearly $2 billion.

2017: CVS Health announced plans to acquire health insurer Aetna for $69 billion in the largest-ever healthcare merger.

The companies said they would save administrative and patient care costs, in part by steering Aetna customers to walk-in clinics in CVS stores for less expensive medical services.

October 2017: Anthem announced that it would not renew its pharmacy benefit management relationship with Express Scripts and subsequently entered into a new contract with CVS Health.

March 2018: Health insurer Cigna announced plans to acquire Express Scripts for $52 billion.

November 2018: CVS Health completes its $69 billion acquisition of Aetna.

June 2019: UnitedHealth acquires the primary and urgent care services of DaVita for $4.3 billion.

March 2022: UnitedHealth announced it would acquire LHC Group for $5.4 billion. The deal closed in February 2023.

September 2022: CVS Health announced that it reached an agreement to buy at-home health company Signify Health for roughly $8 billion. The deal closed in March 2023.

February 2023: CVS Health entered into a definitive agreement to acquire primary care center operator Oak Street Health for around $10 billion. The deal closed in May 2023.

(Reporting by Deena Beasley; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  There are a lot of families hurting in North Carolina.

The state has seen 16,000 killed from fentanyl this year through July alone, according to the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina.

Thats 16,000 families missing a loved one because of a growing nationwide fentanyl epidemic. Tracy Sauderson-Ross wishes she would have been home back on Sept. 26, 2022, when her 16-year-old daughter, Abi, was dealing with leg pain and Abis boyfriend tried to help.

He decided to call a buddy of his to get a Percocet, described Saunderson-Ross. She took half of the Percocet, it was a bar, and it was 36 nanograms of fentanyl, and she passed away in the middle of the night.

Iredell County man arrested for death by distribution while on probation for weapons charge

Marshall Abbott was out with friends June 30, 2022, the day before his 30th birthday. A friend he was with bought something. The family still doesnt know what it was, but they know a loving father didnt wake up.

Marshall had 72 nanograms of fentanyl in his system, said Elizabeth Abernathy. He didnt stand a chance. He was gone before he even crawled into the bed.

Opioid deaths in North Carolina increased from 22.4 per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 36.9 in 2022.

In both cases, police worked with prosecutors and charged the person who sold the drugs with Death by Distribution. A North Carolina law was enacted in 2019 for the crime, but its one that at times is tough to prove.

To prove that a drug transaction has taken place and then identify that dealer and make charges against them, said Travis Page, Gaston County district attorney. Hopefully that charge will stick in court.

Page knows identifying the financial exchange is a difficult task. Since the establishment of the law in 2019, there have been 123 DBD cases filed in the state of North Carolina. That same year, state data shows opioid deaths in North Carolina occurred at a rate of 22.4 per 100,000 residents. Just three years later, that figure jumped to 36.9 in 2022.

Were looking for ways to take drug dealers off the streets, added Page.

Rutherford County man found guilty for mailing drugs that killed Iowa victim

Abi Saundersons case is still being tried in Gaston County.

She didnt know it was fentanyl, said Saunderson-Ross. Her boyfriend didnt know it was fentanyl, they just thought it was just a Percocet.

Saundersons boyfriend is serving time for his part in the fentanyl poisoning because he walked out to the car and paid for the pill. He also took a plea agreement, according to Saunderson  Ross. The dealer is still awaiting trial.

I was excited that we found these guys, we got the evidence, added Saunderson-Ross, after talking about ways to help authorities. Were going to put them in jail, and Im going to get justice. Does it make me feel any better? Not really, because its never going to bring my daughter back.

Abernathy is still waiting for the man charged in Marshalls death to go to trial in Cabarrus County, something she says is a painful process every time there is another delay.

No one else can understand what its like to lose someone to fentanyl, like somebody who has gone through it, said Abernathy.

But some will never get justice from the Death by Distribution law.

I dont want another family to go through the grief journey I am on, said Bard Walsh, executive director of Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina.

Iredell County man arrested for death by distribution while on probation for weapons charge

Walsh started the organization a year after her daughter Sophia died. She calls it fentanyl poisoning because she says her daughter, like many others, was not a substance abuser. Overdose has a stigma that many families feel is not a proper description of their loved ones.

Sophia was visiting someone on the way back to Charlotte after visiting friends in Boone.

She grabbed a water bottle from his fridge and it contained 8 nanograms of diluted fentanyl, says Walsh. She didnt know that. She died instantly and on his kitchen floor.

With no proof of a financial transaction, there was no DBD charge in Sophias case.

Barb Walsh founded the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina a year after her daughter Sophia died.

On Dec. 1, that will change in North Carolina. Lawmakers adjusted the law to say anyone providing certain drugs to a person who dies after taking them can be prosecuted for second-degree murder  whether they received money or shared the substance freely.

For me the way I see this legislation, Page adds, its like trading out a hand-held screwdriver for a power drill.

South Carolina lawmakers are also working on a similar amendment to create a Drug Induced Homicide offense. Its a charge that carries a possible maximum of 30 years in jail.

Get some prosecutions, get these stories out there, says Walsh. It will help the families to achieve justice for the death of their loved one.

Walsh knows she will never get that prosecution because the law wont be retroactive. But she will support other families and educate the public.

Gaston County District Attorney Travis Page calls the new N.C. law addressing death by distribution a win-win.

She adds having prosecutors like Gaston Countys Page will get word is out. The DA hopes drug dealers and families of the victims will take notice.

Mooresville man charged in 2022 fentanyl case that resulted in mans death

It was a win-win for me, says Page who also says he sees potential DBD cases on a monthly basis. I can give value to this persons life who passed away and at the same time I can take a drug dealer off the streets.

The three families mentioned are just part of the thousands nationwide who have had a loved one die from fentanyl poisoning. Page says he has been working with Gaston County law enforcement to treat every call of an overdose as a homicide.

That means collecting phone records, looking at social media, and checking cameras of a business where a transaction may have taken place. All believe the change in the law will lead to more cases being filed and that could lead to more people thinking about pushing fentanyl-laced products in the area.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The family of an Atlanta deacon killed in a use of force case is making new demands for the arrest of a bystander they say is involved in his death.

Johnny Hollman died after an Atlanta police officer tased him in the aftermath of a minor accident on August 10.

Police said the 62-year-old refused to sign a traffic citation, but body camera video shows Hollman clearly saying that he would sign it.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln was in downtown Atlanta Thursday, where family, friends, rapper Young Joc and clergy gathered in a rally calling for the arrest of a tow truck driver who helped the officer restrain Hollman.

Hollmans daughter, Arnitra Hollman, said the family wants both the officer involved, Kiran Kimbrough, and the two truck driver APD contracted to be arrested.

Video shows that after Kimbrough tased Hollman, the tow truck driver who was dispatched to tow the vehicles from the scene placed his knee on Hollmans neck at one point. Channel 2 Action News is not identifying the tow truck driver because he hasnt been charged with a crime.

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This tow truck driver looked like he could be the same age as my father, Hollman said.

Video shows that while officers stood around waiting for paramedics, the tow truck driver continued to brag about being involved in the altercation.

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Man I cannot believe I had to tussle a (expletive), the driver said. Its been 8 years. That s***s still in me though man.

Anitra Hollman said the family is asking for District Attorney Fani Willis to call for the drivers arrest and have him prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has finished its investigation. Lincoln reached out to the D.A.s office to see if additional charges will be filed but has not heard back. She also reached out to police to get information on if there is any policy surrounding civilians stepping in to assist with arrests.
They were sued last year for participating in an escalating scheme of voter intimidation and harassment during Arizonas 2022 elections. Next month, theyll have promotional real estate at a conference organized by Turning Point USA, the influential conservative organization led by MAGA personality Charlie Kirk.

The Yavapai County-based Lions of Liberty, a far-right group with ties to the extremist militia group Oath Keepers, will host a sponsored booth at Turning Points annual AmericaFest event in Phoenix. The Dec. 16-19 event will feature a bevy of conservative politicians aligned with former President Donald Trump.

In its email newsletter, Lions of Liberty has been advertising a discount code giving 50%-off AmericaFest admissions, which was given to them as part of the sponsorship, according to a copy of the emails obtained by The Arizona Republic.

The partnership was first highlighted by the social media account Arizona Right Watch, which posted screenshots of AmericaFest promotional materials that advertised the Lions of Liberty discount code.

Lions of Liberty was one of several far-right groups engaged in an effort to monitor ballot drop boxes during the 2022 elections, motivated by the conspiracy theory that ballot mules were illegally depositing multiple ballots during the previous election. Ballot box watchers were instructed to photograph anyone believed to be depositing multiple ballots, along with the persons car and license plate, according to an investigation at the time by the Arizona Mirror.

A group of people watch a woman deposit a ballot at the Maricopa County early ballot drop box on Oct. 24, 2022, in Mesa.

The League of Women Voters of Arizona sued several of the groups involved in the dropbox surveillance plan, including Lions of Liberty, alleging that their behavior amounted to intimidating voters by collecting their personal information and surveilling them while carrying firearms and wearing military tactical gear.

They also alleged the groups were propagating false information to citizens about the manner in which they can lawfully vote and groundlessly claiming that voters are engaged in election crimes, for example by falsely suggesting that it is always illegal to deposit multiple ballots into one dropbox.

Lions of Liberty backed down from the ballot box surveillance scheme after the lawsuit was brought against them.

Asked about the partnership, Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet wrote in a statement to The Arizona Republic that after speaking directly with the Lions of Liberty, our concerns have been sufficiently addressed.

To be clear, the group is one of 150 sponsored booths that will participate in our exhibition hall and this is our first interaction with them, Kolvet wrote.

Turning Point USA and its sister 501c4 Turning Point Action do not condone or encourage any behavior that could be even remotely interpreted as intimidating a voter, and we believe every American citizen who has the right to vote should be free to do so safely, securely, and without fear, he wrote.

Lions of Liberty did not respond to a request for comment.

Charlie Kirk answers a question from an audience member during a Turning Point USA event at the ASU Katzin Concert Hall in Tempe on Sept. 27, 2023.

Turning Point leaders have condemned political violence, though they have often promoted misinformation and sown doubt about the security of U.S. elections. In recent years, the group has mobilized to push Arizonas Republican Party towards leaders who espouse conspiracy theories. The groups political wing also helped hundreds of people attend the Stop the Steal rally in DC on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol that day.

Kirk, Turning Points founder, has been identified as one of the leading superspreaders of misinformation about the 2020 election on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Turning Points December conference is set to feature a whos who of Trump-aligned conservative politicians and media figures, including Donald Trump Jr., Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and numerous right-wing media personalities.

Haley Orion, an independent researcher who tracks Arizonas far right and runs the Arizona Right Watch social media page, said she believes that Lions of Libertys political influence has been growing.

She said that the group has some sway in Yavapai County politics, regularly courting Arizona lawmakers. U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., has visited the Yavapai County Preparedness Team, a group affiliated with the Oath Keepers and connected to the Lions of Liberty.

Its not really surprising that AmericaFest and Turning Point USA sees value in them, she said.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lions of Liberty will have presence at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest
Protesters rally as work progresses on the Chicagos first government-run tent encampment for migrants at a lot in the Brighton Park neighborhood on Nov. 29, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

Winterized tent structures began to take shape Wednesday on the Southwest Side at Chicagos first government-run tent encampment for migrants despite continued protests from neighbors and contradictory messages from local, city and state officials.

Construction on the Brighton Park site began early Wednesday and by midday, a steel frame for a structure towered over the lot on the corner of 38th Street and California Avenue. A few dozen neighbors gathered outside the encampment in protest over the site.

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At the top of the list of neighbors concerns is a pending environmental assessment of the site that has not been released by the city. Neighbors say that the lot, formerly the site of a zinc smelter, is not suitable for residential use and could still hold toxic chemicals.

Jackie Zhang, 38, of Brighton Park, was one of a few dozen people protesting in front of the base site about the erection of the camp and has been asking when the environmental assessment from the city will be available.

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We havent gotten anything yet, Zhang said. They just keep building.

[ What to know about Chicagos migrant crisis. ]

Mayoral spokesman Ronnie Reese said the weekslong endeavor to assess the sites viability should conclude this week.

Protesters said they are concerned about the lack of a permit for the site and the stress the camp could cause on local services. No building permits could be seen at the site Wednesday morning.

Reese said frames for up to two structures were scheduled to be built Wednesday, and supplies would continued to be laid out for additional structures by GardaWorld Federal Services, a private security firm the state is contracting to build and run the migrant camps.

Workers erect a tent frame as they start building Chicagos first government-run tent encampment for migrants in the Brighton Park neighborhood on Nov. 29, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)

The construction begins after Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Monday that the state would take an increased role in opening the tent encampment, a location chosen by the city that appears to be the most expedient option. The state will foot the cost of operating the Brighton Park lot as part of its $160 million contribution to migrant services in Chicago.

In a statement, Pritzkers administration said the camp will not officially open its doors until assessments on environmental concerns conclude. In addition, he would share responsibility with Mayor Brandon Johnsons administration if problems arise at the Brighton Park camp and smaller brick-and-mortar shelter in Little Village, both set to open around mid-December. Together, the two sites can house about 2,200 migrants, with preference given to families and disabled individuals sleeping outdoors at Chicago police stations or at OHare International Airport.

[ How one Chicagoan is stepping up for migrant children with disabilities ]

But several residents, including Zhang, view the push from the state to move forward with construction despite pending assessments as an affront to the community.

They dont hear any of our voices, Zhang said of elected officials. They just force it through without any kind of consequences.

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Protesters carried a variety of signs pointing out environmental justice concerns. One protester taped a sign that read, This land is contaminated, to the sites fence.

The sound of jackhammers and bulldozers drowned out the speeches protesters made to reporters.

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Protesters are mostly residents of Brighton Park, a predominantly Mexican and Asian immigrant community. Those gathered stressed that they were not opposed to migrant families moving into their neighborhood. Rather, they said they wanted to work with officials on finding safer spaces for migrants in the area.

Its unsafe for them, said Roberto Silvestre of Brighton Park. People die every year from the cold winter here.

As of Wednesday, more than 23,100 asylum-seekers have arrived in Chicago in the last 15 months, according to city data. Awaiting shelter placement at Chicago police stations are 1,033 people, with an additional 151 awaiting placement at OHare. Mini-camps at eight police districts have been cleared out by officials as a frigid winter approaches.

Protesters, who have been gathering outside the site since the idea was floated in mid-October, say they will continue to speak out against the base camp until officials address their concerns.

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Black tarps and wood covered the aluminum fence outside the site, allowing onlookers to view construction through a half-foot space between two fences.

Johnson signed a six-month, $548,400 land use contract for the site for the site on Oct. 26. In the contract, the city agreed to rent the land as-is, but if the site is not used for its intended purpose, both parties can terminate the agreement, Johnson spokesperson Reese said.
Firefly Aerospace conducted the first hot fire test of its new Miranda rocket engine, producing a massive plume of green flames.

Firefly's Miranda engine is slated to be used on the first stage of Northrop Grumman's Antares 330 rocket as well as the Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) the two companies are developing together. The Antares 330 rocket is designed to carry more than 22,000 lbs of cargo to the International Space Station (10,000 kg), while the MLV will be able to loft 35,000 lbs (16,000 kg) of payload to low Earth orbit.

The Antares 330/MLV is slated to replace the Antares 230, which used Russian rocket engines and Ukrainian-built first stages. Due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Northrop Grumman announced in 2022 that it would develop a fully domestic version of the rocket along with the new MLV. The first flight of the Antares 330 is currently projected to take place in mid-2025, while the MLV's maiden voyage should follow in late 2025.

Related: Northrop Grumman picks Firefly to replace Russian engines on Antares rocket

Northrop Grumman leadership is already touting the new rocket as a game-changer when it comes to rapid launch capabilities, a feat Firefly Aerospace has already proven capable of.

"Together, we have developed a solution that will help change the trajectory of space launch, from commercial to national security and civil space," said Scott Lehr, vice president of launch and missile defense systems at Northrop Grumman, in a press statement. "Upgrading the first stage of Antares in parallel with developing the Medium Launch Vehicle enables our two companies to bring a new launch vehicle to market more rapidly while also reducing risk in the design process."

In September 2023, Firefly Aerospace launched the "Victus Nox" mission on behalf of the U.S. Space Force that set a new responsive launch record by putting a payload in orbit with just 27 hours of notice.

Firefly is also developing a moon lander called the Blue Ghost. NASA tapped the lander for a scientific mission to the lunar far side in 2026.

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Firefly happens to share its name with a cult favorite TV series about a ragtag crew of mercenaries traveling through space together. The name of its new engine, Miranda, happens to also be the name of planet that plays a central role in the lore of the "Firefly" franchise.

Firefly Aerospace's previous Alpha launch vehicle was powered by the Reaver engine; "Reavers" just happen to also be one of the main antagonists in the "Firefly" TV series and spin-off film, "Serenity."
MOORE, Okla. (KFOR)  Moore Public Schools (MPS) has confirmed three buses within the district have caught fire since the beginning of the school year, prompting the district to take a closer look at its fleet.

Due to recent safety concerns, we have contracted with an outside company to inspect and repair MPS buses and ensure that the safety standards of each bus are met. If any vehicle in our fleet is called into question, it will be immediately removed from use until it passes all safety standards, said Anna Aguilar, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Moore Public Schools.

Sooner fan meets dentist offering free smile following viral social media post

MPS went on to say, the safety of our students and employees during transportation is one of our primary focus points.

The district confirmed all three buses  Bus No. 30, 50, and 61  were made by a company called Blue Bird. MPS purchased 10 buses in 2021, which cost nearly $1 million. The buses were 2022 Blue Bird Vision models.

Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled certain 2017 to 2023 Blue Bird Vision school buses after fire risks due to issues with the gas line.

So far, affected buses were sold and/or registered in 23 states across the country, but Oklahoma was not on the list.

Norman Public Central Library remaining closed until March

News 4 requested video of all three bus fires but was only sent bus camera video for one. It was on Bus 61. The video showed the bus driver become concerned after he started having mechanical issues.

61 to shop, I think my brakes just kinda gave out on me, said the driver.

Shortly after, a student was heard crying out to the driver.

The bus is on fire, said the student.

The driver replied, is it?

He then radioed the bus shop for help.

Bus is on fire. 61 to shop bus is on fire, said the driver. Were gonna exit the bus.

The driver quickly pulled the bus to the side of the road and cleared out students. The video showed smoke coming from the bottom and sides of the bus shortly afterwards.

$3M Permanent Winter Shelter opens in OKC

News 4 asked other districts across the metro if any other schools had experienced fires or recalls to the fleet. Of the districts that responded, Edmond Public Schools said it used 193 Blue Bird buses. The district had a recall but it was not for fire concerns. Oklahoma City Public Schools said it had 190 buses and some were from the manufacturer, Blue Bird. The district had previous recalls but none involved fires. Yukon Public Schools said it had no recalls on its Blue Bird fleet and Putnam City PS did not use that brand of bus.

KFOR reached out to Blue Bird Company to ask if the affected buses in Moore had the same gas line that was part of the recall, giving them days to respond. News 4 finally received a response the day after this story aired.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Weeks after a South Carolina man was arrested for discarding a 25-year-old shooting victims body, the Leesville resident was charged with more crimes  including murder  the Lexington County Sheriffs Department said.

In addition to murder, 34-year-old Jesse Lou Gregory was charged with grand larceny, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and circumventing an electronic monitoring device, the sheriffs department said Wednesday in a news release.

On Nov. 12, Gregory was also charged with desecration of human remains, driving under suspension, failure to stop for blue lights, resisting arrest and a drug charge, jail records show. At that time, Gregory was considered a person of interest in the homicide investigation, according to the sheriffs department.

These charges are the result of our investigation into a body that was found Nov. 12 at the corner of Old Barnwell Road and White Knoll Way, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. Gregory was identified as a person of interest in that crime and arrested Nov. 13 and charged with desecrating human remains after investigators said he discarded the body of a shooting victim.

Gregory is accused of shooting Nicholas Kenneth Hendrix with a shotgun, according to Koon.

Hendrixs body was discovered in the 1500 block of Old Barnwell Road, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. Thats in Lexington, in the area south of Interstate 20, between White Knoll High School and White Knoll Elementary School.

No other injuries were reported.

Gregory told detectives he shot Hendrix while the two of them were driving around in the Leesville area, Koon said. Hendrixs injuries and evidence collected from the car is inconsistent with Gregorys account of how things unfolded.

Information about a motive for the shooting was not available.

Koon said Gregory stole a car the day before he shot Hendrix, which prompted the grand larceny charge, the sheriffs department said. Gregory was arrested in Aiken County with the vehicle, according to the release.

Before the sequence of events unfolded, weve confirmed Gregory failed to properly charge a GPS electronic ankle monitoring device he was required to wear as a condition of his bond from a previous charge, Koon said.

In February 2023, Gregory pleaded guilty to a third-degree domestic violence charge, one of several times hes been arrested in Lexington County over the past 15 years, court records show.

Bond was denied on the slate of new charges and Gregorys being held in the Lexington County Detention Center, jail records show.
President Joe Bidens 2024 campaign has assembled a special task force to ready its responses to misleading AI-generated images and videos, drafting court filings and preparing novel legal theories it could deploy to counter potential disinformation efforts that technology experts have warned could disrupt the vote.

The task force, which is composed of the campaigns top lawyers and outside experts such as a former senior legal advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, is exploring what steps Biden could take if, for example, a fake video emerged of a state election official falsely claiming that polls are closed, or if an AI-generated image falsely portrayed Biden as urging non-citizens to cross the US border to cast ballots illegally.

The effort aims to produce a legal toolkit that can allow the campaign to quickly respond to virtually any scenario involving political misinformation and particularly AI-created deepfakes  convincing audio, video or images made using artificial intelligence tools.

The idea is we would have enough in our quiver that, depending on what the hypothetical situation were dealing with is, we can pull out different pieces to deal with different situations, said Arpit Garg, deputy general counsel for the Biden campaign, adding that the campaign intends to have templates and draft pleadings at the ready that it could file in US courts or even with regulators outside the country to combat foreign disinformation actors.

In recent months, the campaign has spun up the internal task force, dubbed the Social Media, AI, Mis/Disinformation (SAID) Legal Advisory Group, part of a broader effort across the campaign to counter all forms of disinformation, TJ Ducklo, a senior adviser to the Biden campaign, told CNN.

The group, which is led by Garg and the campaigns general counsel Maury Riggan alongside outside volunteer experts, has already begun the drafting work on some legal theories as it continues to research others, Garg said. It aims to have enough prepared to be able to run a campaign-wide tabletop exercise in the first half of 2024.

The scramble highlights the vast legal gray area covering AI-generated political speech, and how policymakers are struggling to respond to the threat it could pose to the democratic process. Without clear federal legislation or regulation, campaigns such as Bidens are being forced to take matters into their own hands, trying to devise ways to respond to images that might falsely portray candidates or others saying or doing things they never did.

Leveraging old laws to fight a new threat

Absent a federal ban on political deepfakes, lawyers for the Biden campaign have begun considering how they could use existing voter protection, copyright and other laws to compel or persuade social media and other platforms to remove deceptive content.

The officials said the campaign is also considering how new laws against disinformation in the European Union could be invoked if such a campaign is launched from or hosted on a platform that is based there. A recently passed EU law known as the Digital Services Act imposes tough new transparency and risk-mitigation requirements on large tech platforms, violations of which could lead to billions of dollars in fines.

The group is taking legal inspiration from a recent case in which a Florida man was convicted under a Reconstruction-era law for sharing fraudulent claims on social media about how to vote. The law in question criminalizes conspiracies to deprive Americans of their constitutionally guaranteed rights and has previously been used in human trafficking cases. Another law the group is examining is a federal statute that makes it a misdemeanor for a government official to deprive a person of his or her constitutional rights  in this case, the right to vote, Garg said.

Existing US election law prohibits campaigns from fraudulently misrepresenting other candidates or political parties, but whether this prohibition extends to AI-generated content is an open question. In June, Republicans on the Federal Election Commission blocked a move that could have made clear the law extended to AI-created depictions; the agency has since begun to consider the idea, but it has not reached a decision on the matter.

As part of that proceeding, the Republican National Committee told the FEC in public comments last month that while it was concerned about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in political campaign communications, it believes a current proposal that would explicitly give the FEC oversight of political deepfakes would exceed the commissions authority and would raise serious constitutional concerns under the First Amendment.

The Democratic National Committee, meanwhile, has urged the FEC to crack down on intentionally misleading uses of AI, arguing the technology enables a new level of deception by quickly fabricating hyperrealistic images, audio, and video that could mislead voters.

Lack of guardrails around AI

Despite rising alarm about AI among members of Congress, US lawmakers are still in the early stages of grappling with the issue and do not appear close to finalizing any AI-related legislation. Beginning this summer, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer convened a series of closed-door hearings for lawmakers to get up to speed on the technology and its implications, covering topics such as AIs impact on workers, intellectual property and national security. Those sessions are ongoing.

Schumer has signaled that with the election looming, he could seek to fast-track an election-focused AI bill before turning to legislation dealing with the technologys other effects. But he has also emphasized the need for a deliberate process, saying to expect results within months, not days or weeks. A separate proposal in September by a bipartisan group of senators has sought to ban the deceptive use of AI in political campaigns, but it has yet to progress.

With no promise of regulatory clarity on the horizon, Bidens team has been forced to grapple with the threat directly.

Some of the campaigns anti-disinformation efforts, including coordination with DNC officials, had been in place since the 2018 midterm elections. But the rapid surge in the availability of sophisticated AI tools in the past year makes AI a unique factor in the 2024 race, Hany Farid, a digital forensic expert and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told CNN.

In response, tech companies such as Meta  the parent company of Facebook and Instagram  have announced restrictions and requirements for AI in political speech on their platforms. This month, Meta said it would prohibit political advertisers from using the companys new artificial intelligence tools that help brands generate text, backgrounds and other marketing content. Any political advertiser that uses deepfakes in ads on Facebook or Instagram will need to disclose that fact, it said.

Concerns about the use of AI technology extend beyond the creation of fake video and audio. Darren Linvill, a professor at Clemson Universitys Media Forensic Hub, said AI can also be used to mass-produce articles and online comments designed to support or attack a candidate.

In a report released Thursday anticipating threats ahead of the 2024 election, Metas security team warned AI could be used by nefarious groups to create larger volumes of convincing content, but also expressed optimism that advances in AI can help root out coordinated disinformation campaigns.

The Meta report details how some social media platforms are grappling with how to handle deceptive uses of AI.

Whereas foreign interference campaigns using AI-created content (or any other content for that matter) are seen as uncontroversially abusive and adversarial, authentic political groups and other domestic voices leveraging AI can quickly fall into a gray area where people will disagree about what is permissible and what isnt, the report read.

Meta pointed specifically to an advertisement released by the RNC in April that used AI to create deepfake images imagining a dystopian United States if Biden were reelected.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
China maintains industrial chain resilience with allure of Made-in-China

08:15, November 30, 2023 By Guo Xiaoyu, Wu Qiong, Luo Xin and Peng Peigen ( Xinhua

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- For Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, the collective debut of more than 20 key suppliers at the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was "particularly meaningful."

"This line-up well illustrates a cluster effect on China's high-end medical equipment manufacturing, as the locations of these suppliers cover a wide swath of China from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, the western interior to the Greater Bay Area," Zhang said.

"We believe in the field of medical technology, and we are ushering in the best era for development," Zhang said. "Industrial chain innovation and high-quality development will be the priority."

Together with Zhang, many prominent figures from the business sector and international organizations have expressed their optimism over the lasting appeal of the Made-in-China concept as the country boasts striking manufacturing advantages.

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows an exterior view of the venue for the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN

With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.

China's manufacturing sector topped the world in size for 13 consecutive years in 2022, with the added value of this sector contributing to over 30 percent of the world's total, according to a flagship report titled the Global Supply Chain Promotion Report released Tuesday.

GE Healthcare displayed its up-to-date medical imaging technologies at the expo. The company has established five manufacturing bases across China, with another under construction.

Zhang said that China's complete industrial system has helped his company thrive in China's medical device market, noting more investment will be channeled into cultivating a more resilient and secure supply chain for medical equipment manufacturing, and more production lines will be introduced into China.

"As we extend our footprint in the Chinese medical manufacturing market, our confidence in the ongoing investment in China is growing," he said.

SHARING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to its industrial advantages, China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.

"As the world's largest electric vehicle market, China's persistent opening-up policies, advanced development concept, and favorable business environment have created huge opportunities for us," said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla, the U.S. automobile giant who also participated in the first CISCE.

Due to its unparalleled advantages and promising future, the Chinese market remains a "must-have" market for Tesla, Tao said.

So far, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has transformed into the carmaker's export hub worldwide, with China-manufactured Model 3 and Model Y catering to a burgeoning global demand.

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows the exhibition area of intelligent vehicles during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

Earlier this month, China announced that it would scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, while work will also be done to launch more activities to promote global cooperation and bridge transnational companies and local investment projects.

Among its latest moves toward this end, China launched the Beijing Initiative for the Connectivity of Industrial and Supply Chains during the ongoing CISCE, proposing that it will firmly maintain the stability and smooth flows of global industrial and supply chains and promote global economic development.

Wang Yuesheng, a professor from the Department of International Economics and Trade at Peking University, said that China has been furthering the opening-up and development of global industrial and supply chains by promoting the building of an open world economy along with improvements and transformation made in its international economic and trade rules.

In the eyes of Chris Pereira, CEO of iMpact, a communications and business consulting group, the supply chain offers the most essential communication conduit as it entails win-win cooperation.

"There must be a supplier and a client getting better on both sides. So I think as long as there is a supply chain, it is a win-win result," he said.

GOING GLOBAL

Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.

Guests visit the exhibition area of green agriculture during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

Jean Lu, Deputy CEO and Head of Client Coverage, Corporate, Commercial &Institutional Banking of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, noted: "China not only manufactures for its own needs, but for the whole world."

Considering the country's industrial advantages, Lu said that the current de-globalization waves are, in fact, propelling Chinese companies to "go global" faster.

"The globalization of European and American companies began four to five decades ago, and that for companies of Japan and the Republic of Korea started 20-30 years ago. In the following five to 10 years, we will see the thriving of Chinese transnational companies," said Lu.

"This represents a shift from an export-driven model to a strategy where Chinese companies produce goods and conduct business in foreign markets with a mastery of local cultures and regulations," she said.

For Pereira, China's supply chain holds the most significant advantages in its high efficiency and robust enforcement capacity.

"I believe combining China's efficiency and enforcement capacity with the technological advantages of Western countries will yield mutually beneficial results, and I anticipate that Chinese technology will facilitate cooperation and exchanges in the future," he said.

Many European and American countries are welcoming Chinese suppliers who bring advanced technologies, establish factories, and create local jobs, Pereira said.

According to the mentioned report, China has constructed overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 46 countries as of the end of 2021. These cooperation zones had created 392,000 local jobs and significantly strengthened global supply chain cooperation.

"I believe that in the next five to 10 years, Chinese firms will not only sustain their current progress but also lead the world toward mutual benefits," Pereira said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An Austin neighborhood man was charged with felony aggravated battery causing bodily harm after he was accused of striking a 53-year-old man in the head last December in the Loop, Chicago police said.

Pierre Thorne, 30, of the Austin neighborhood was arrested Wednesday after he was identified as the person who struck a man in the head with a metal object in the 100 block of West Madison Street on Dec. 8, 2022. The victim suffered a serious injury.

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Throne also was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, police said.

He was scheduled to appear at a detention hearing Thursday.
The states highest court has overturned the first-degree murder conviction of William Shakespeare in the shooting death of a man who had taken his four-year-old son to a Mattapan barbershop in 2016 for a haircut.

Police said the victim, 31-year-old Marcus Hall was shot several times in front of his son inside the crowded barbershop on Blue Hill Avenue.

Shakespeare was convicted of the murder and a firearms charge in 2018, and sentenced to life in prison.

At the time, the four-year-old boys mother Shaika McIntosh told the court that Not only did William take Marcus from us, he took my sons innocence away.

Relatives described Hall as a doting father who was dedicated to making positive changes in his community.

During the trial Shakespeare argued that another man, Mark Edwards, was the shooter.

In his appeal, according to the SJC ruling, Shakespeare argued ....that the evidence that the defendant committed the killing was insufficient; that the judge committed prejudicial error in failing to allow Edwards grand jury testimony in evidence where Edwards was deceased and the evidence supported the defendants third-party culprit defense.

Shakespeare also argued ...that Boston police Sergeant Detective Michael Stratton impermissibly testified about his observations of the video evidence; and that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to Strattons testimony and for pursuing a particular line of questioning with Stratton that the defendant alleges diminished counsels credibility with the jury.

In its decision, the states high court agreed with part of Shakespeares arguments, despite there being sufficient evidence for his conviction, they said.

We conclude that it was error to prohibit counsel from introducing Edwardss grand jury testimony and that such error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt., the SJC ruling says.

As a result, we must reverse all the defendants convictions, as his convictions on the firearm charges were intertwined with his murder conviction,: the SJC said.

Holding that the evidence was sufficient for the defendants conviction of murder in the first degree, however, we reverse and remand the case for a new trial, according to the SJC.

Because the remainder of the issues raised by the defendant may recur at a new trial, we address them and hold that Strattons testimony was admissible and counsel was not ineffective. the SJC said.

Boston 25 News reached out to the Suffolk County District Attorneys office for a statement on the ruling.

A spokesperson for the district attorneys office said they were reviewing the courts decision.

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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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A plan to regulate food trucks at the First Friday event in the downtown Las Vegas Arts District got off to a bumpy start in November, and theres no indication anything will be different this Friday.

The problem: theres no foot traffic at the spots the City of Las Vegas has reserved for a total of five food trucks that won the right to work the event in an October lottery. The spots are away from Main Street crowds and well south of the action that draws people to art and performances near Charleston Boulevard.

Jose Merano, one of the owners of Mias Dlicias food truck, won a spot at 1401 S. Commerce. He said the truck only had three or four customers for the Nov. 3 event, but hes going to try again on Friday. He said two of those customers came because they know about Mias Dlicias.

We were there, but so little people, Merano said.

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And two other trucks parked near them. Merano told 8 News Now that the city never guaranteed that other trucks wouldnt be allowed for the first run at the new way of regulating the event, which runs on the first Friday of each month in the Arts District.

A half-baked plan?

The city has figured out the lottery side  where food trucks pay a $50 fee to enter a random drawing for the spots. But owners say theres no promotion to let people know where to find the food trucks.

Ivan, whose El Tio Panzon truck won the right to be at the Nov. 3 event, didnt even take his truck out because it was so far away from the action.

Merano of Mias Dlicias said, They dont promote the event. Were not going to have any people, thats the problem.

The roster of food trucks that won spots in the Nov. 3 and Dec. 1 First Friday events. (City of Las Vegas)

City spokesman Jace Radke indicated changes could be coming.

Our teams plan to be out there for the December First Friday (Dec. 1) to evaluate the current locations and the possibility of additional locations, which may accommodate more food trucks needs. Following First Friday our team plans to reach out to vendors and discuss their experiences, Radke said.

Who is the lottery helping?

The city has been trying to get a handle on the situation for years. In 2021, a plan was floated for a dedicated lot that would have 10 food trucks  but parking and sanitation concerns ended that plan. But those werent the only issues.

Food trucks were attacked for their parasitic business model during a March 3, 2021, City Council meeting.

Businesses  including quite a few established restaurants  dont want the headaches caused when food trucks descend on First Friday. They have been known to block alleys and create traffic problems.

Competition for diners

Food trucks represent competition for a growing number of restaurants including Esthers Kitchen  one of the citys best Italian restaurants. Theres also Makers & Finders, Casa Don Juan, Houston TX Hot Chicken, Able Baker Brewing, Good Pie and The Pepper Club, attached to The ENGLish Hotel.

Four food trucks are approved to work this Fridays event: Mias Dlicias, Sauls MX Kitchen, Hangrys and Louie Louie. But they are sure to have competition from other trucks unless some enforcement is planned.

The citys plan might have succeeded in protecting restaurants from unwanted competition, but it also might have created a need to police the streets for trucks that never bothered to apply for a spot through the lottery.

A lottery without losers isnt a win-win for anyone.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Former Chicago Ald. Edward Burke leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago on Dec. 21, 2023, after being convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy and a dozen other counts. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Jurors in ex-Ald. Ed Burkes federal corruption trial on Thursday finally heard, in Burkes own voice, a phrase already infamous in Chicago political history:

So did we land the, uh, the tuna?

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The tuna was tax business from developers of the massive Old Post Office  business that Burke had been chasing for months. In conversation after wiretapped conversation, Burke made it clear to then-Ald. Daniel Solis, an FBI mole, that he wasnt inclined to pull any strings for the developers until they agreed to be clients of Burkes private law firm, Klafter & Burke.

I put to (the developer) that were not very motivated, cause nothing has happened, Solis said in response to Burkes question. I said, Look, I think youve got to help Ed out.

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Listen to the audio:

Later in the May 2017 phone call, Burke repeated his aquatic analogy again, telling Solis there would be something in it for him if Burkes firm did get the business.

If we land the tuna, there certainly will be a day of accounting, he said. You can count on that.

Prosecutors have said Burke illegally offered to pay Solis a consulting fee in exchange for his help getting business from New York-based developers 601W, which was heading up the $600 million post office job.

As the months dragged on, Burke appeared more and more frustrated that 601W had not formally committed to hiring him, despite him intervening in issues the developer was having with Amtrak and the Water Department and entertaining their requests for massive tax incentives and TIF funding.

Im not very fond of the way they conducted themselves up until this point, Burke said in an October 2017 meeting recorded on video, sitting with his legs crossed in Solis office. And as far as Im concerned, they can go (expletive) themselves.

Burke, 79, who served 54 years as alderman before leaving the City Council in May, is charged with 14 counts including racketeering, federal program bribery, attempted extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion and using interstate commerce to facilitate an unlawful activity.

Prosecutors have alleged he repeatedly used his powerful office for his own personal gain, particularly in trying to get business for his tax firm.

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Also on trial are Burkes longtime ward aide, Peter Andrews Jr., 73, and Charles Cui, 52, a Lake Forest real estate developer, but neither of them is charged as part of the Old Post Office scheme.

Prosecutors in the high-profile trial, now in its third week of testimony, played nearly two dozen recorded meetings and wiretapped calls that laid out in chronological order Burkes ever-increasing crankiness in the pursuit of legal business from 601W.

In a call on May 19, 2017, a week before his fateful land the tuna comment, Burke was updated by Solis about the issues that 601W owner Harry Skydell was continuing to have with Amtrak and the city Water Department at the job site.

You know, Ive never heard anything from these people about getting hired to do the tax work, so, Im not ... Im not motivated, Burke said on the call.

Solis promised to go back to Skydell, which he sheepishly did in a phone call that was also played for the jury.

I feel very awkward to have to do this, Solis said, explaining that Burke could really help with the Amtrak issues because he had a good friend on the railroad companys board. But Burke was feeling ignored, Solis told Skydell.

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Hed be more motivated if hed be able to get his law firm signed up with you, Solis said. Burke made his land the tuna comment later that day.

On June 23, 2017, Burke told Skydell in a phone call that hed made some calls to try and resolve the Amtrak issue and was informed that theres been a lot of progress.

But still, Skydells firm did not hire Burke to do the Old Post Office tax work. In yet another update caught on tape, Solis told Burke, Now, when I spoke to (Skydell) last, he said he couldnt get you the work for the post office but he had other deals that he could help you.

Burke replied, Why, why cant we got the post office? Whos he giving that to?

Solis replied that Skydell had already hired two other firms to do the work. Burke replied, Well, this has been going on a long time. Solis said hed ask Skydell for another sit-down.

That meeting took place in Solis office on Aug. 2, 2017. Burke was running late while dropping off someone in the suburbs after a golf outing, so he wasnt there when Solis asked Skydell whether Burke had been helpful at all with the Old Post Office issues.

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I dont know the answer, Skydell said, adding that since theyd talked to so many politicians he didnt know which avenue had worked.

Solis then brought up whether Klafter & Burke would be hired to do the Old Post Office property tax work, saying Burke was still pestering him about it.

Skydell said his team had already put in like hundreds of hours to put together the Class L, and the tax credits. ... I cant pull the rug out from under them, its, its like immoral.

But Skydell again promised to hire Burkes firm for other projects.

That led to a pivotal face-to-face meeting on Oct. 17, 2017, when Skydell and his son, Joseph, as well as a lawyer representing the Old Post Office project, came in to pitch a proposal for nearly $20 million in tax increment financing they wanted from the city to fund the reconstruction of the post office sites west plaza.

The meeting was in Solis office and was recorded from a stationary camera that appeared to be hidden somewhere on a table. Burke arrived 15 minutes after the meeting started, dressed in a gray suit, and shook hands with everyone before sitting down out of the cameras view.

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Mariah DiGrino, a lawyer for DLA Piper, explained the issue in detail, saying their plan to rehab the west plaza would beautify the area and improve pedestrian access. Burke, off camera, said it couldnt be a worse time to ask for TIF funds, especially with the (Chicago) Teachers Union and the unions then-president, Karen Lewis, complaining about them being siphoned away from students.

After the pitch and some pleasantries, Skydell and his team left, leaving Burke and Solis alone in the office. After Solis brought up how the development team had promised to be more responsive to their requests, Burkes mood suddenly grew prickly. He told Solis he felt they could go (expletive) themselves

I told them that this will go up to your committee, Solis said.

Burke shot back, Good luck getting it on the agenda, and Solis laughed.

Well, lets see if he calls you now, Solis said.

As he had months earlier, Burke again brought up that the Skydells were Orthodox Jews and therefore they only want to deal with Jews.

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You really think so? Solis asked. Is Mariah?

The girl? Burke said. No.

Burke was much more congenial a few months later, when, in a recorded call from Jan. 11, 2018, he greeted Skydell with a hearty Happy New Year!

Skydell told Burke his deal to buy the Sullivan Center, an 800,000-square-foot, Louis Sullivan-designed skyscraper on East Madison Street, was close and that he would hire Klafter & Burke to litigate the property taxes.

Well, very good, Burke said. I appreciate you thinking about our firm and well do a good job for you.

But just two weeks later, Burke was again privately complaining to Solis about the post office project, this time over a Class L tax break the developers were requesting that stood to save them more than $100 million over 12 years.

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Burke reminded Solis during the Jan. 18, 2018, meeting that he was the one who decided what went on the Finance Committee agenda. He also asked, How long have we been talking to this guy?

For a long time, Solis said.

And has anything happened? Burke asked as Solis camera remained trained on Burkes monogrammed EMB coffee mug on the desk. This has been going on for six months, seven months.

Solis said they had repeatedly insisted that hiring Burkes firm would soon be a done deal.

And if, ifs and buts were candy and nuts, then every day would be Christmas, Burke quipped.

Then, at the end of the recording, Burke looked right at Solis and said with a shrug, Bottom line is I will do anything that you want me to do.

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I dont care about these guys, Burke said. If we get business, we get business. If we dont, Im gonna do whatever you want me to do.

Thats good to know, Solis said.

In April 2018, Skydell had closed on the Sullivan Center deal. In a phone call with Solis, he said, Were, you know, were committed to go forward as we discussed with (Burke).

Solis said he ran into Burke that morning and Burke seemed to think theyd forgotten about him.

He will be the man, Skydell assured Solis. I told it to him and Im keeping my word.

OK, Solis said, adding that Burke would probably like to hear it directly from Skydell.

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He will handle the tax work.  You can assure him of that, Skydell said. It will come from the horses mouth.

DiGrino, meanwhile, testified Thursday that she met with Burke twice in hopes of winning his support for tax benefits for the Old Post Office project, specifically a Class L tax break  the largest in city history, she recalled Burke noting. She also was involved in pitching Burke on the $20 million in tax-increment financing for the project.

While the city at first rejected the projects request for a TIF, aldermen ultimately changed course, and both the Class L benefit and an $18 million TIF sailed through Burkes Finance Committee and the full City Council.

On cross-examination by Burke attorney Joseph Duffy, DiGrino confirmed Burke was always dignified in his dealings with her, and never solicited her or acted in any way improper.

Through all of these dealings he was professional and cordial? Duffy asked, and DiGrino agreed.

Before testimony began Thursday, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall rejected the defenses request for a mistrial, saying she trusts jurors to follow her instructions to ignore a witnesss off-the-cuff remark that Burkes actions seemed corrupt.

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Defense attorneys had argued the testimony tainted the jury and violated Burkes due process rights.

Kendall said she felt it was in inadvertent lapse and the jury, which has been very attentive, will follow her instructions. She also noted that the trial still has weeks to go and many more witnesses.

Amtrak executive Ray Lang talks during a tour of Union Station looking at the proposed renovation areas, Jan. 12, 2017. (Nancy Stone/Chicago Tribune)

[ Ed Burke trial: What you need to know ]

[ Ex-Ald. Ed Burke corruption trial: Evidence seen and heard by the jury ]

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

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STATESVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Florida man was arrested in Iredell County Thursday for quitting in middle of his job transporting prisoners to detention centers.

According to the Iredell County Sheriffs Office, the owner of the inmate transport company called deputies to tell them about the van driven by 21-year-old Joshua Pinquet. The Orlando, Florida, resident reportedly had four inmates in the locked cargo area of the van, and one other employee was traveling in the van.

Alleged predator fatally shot by police in Kannapolis identified, had violent criminal history

Through text messages, Pinquet reportedly told the owner that he was quitting his job in the middle of the trip and refusing to stop at the intended destination with the prisoners.

Deputies say they stopped the van on Interstate 40 near mile marker 154 east of I-77. They detained both employees and ensured all inmates were secured in the rear of the van.

The transport company had reportedly been hired by various law enforcement agencies outside North Carolina. Deputies say Pinquet was supposed to stop at a location in Hickory with the inmates but had refused to stop and continued traveling into Iredell County.

Pinquet was charged with five counts of felony second-degree kidnapping and felony larceny by employee. He is being held in Iredell County without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
The Tampa Bay Times is offering readers the chance to have their grievances aired in its pages in celebration of Festivus, a fictional holiday invented by "Seinfeld" character Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A Florida newspaper is inviting readers to submit their grievances for the year and will print the funniest complaints in celebration of Festivus, a fictional holiday from sitcom Seinfeld.

The Tampa Bay Times announced the Eighth Annual Tampa Bay Times Airing of Grievances, which is open to anyone around the world who wishes to voice their complaints on any subject.

The airing of grievances is an integral part of the Dec. 23 holiday, which also features the display of an unadorned metal pole and feats of strength.

The holiday became enshrined in pop culture history after being introduced 26 years ago in the Seinfeld Season 9 episode "The Strike." The episode features Frank Costanza, played by Jerry Stiller, explaining the traditions of his anti-consumerism holiday.

The Tampa Bay Times has set up a Google Form for anyone with a grievance to air.

The newspaper offered up some example gripes from previous years.

"Why do you include the stumps in my bagged romaine lettuce? I know I need roughage, but I am not eating romaine stumps," Mark Nelson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, wrote.

"When my 12-year-old son calls me 'bro.' Last I checked, I was still 'mom,'" complained Carybeth Hobbs of St. Petersburg, Fla.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida law granting certain rights to crime victims does not apply to the Tallahassee police officers whose identities were concealed after using lethal force, the Florida Supreme Court said Thursday.

The court overturned a decision from the First Court of Appeal, which ruled in favor of the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PFBA), a statewide police union that sought to keep the officers identities private.

Poll: Over 60% of Florida voters support proposed abortion, marijuana amendments

The PFBA filed an emergency injunction after the City of Tallahassee proposed releasing the names of two officers who fatally shot suspects during separate incidents in May of 2020. Each shooting was investigated by a grand jury, which determined the lethal encounters were lawful and justifiable use of force, court documents state.

The issue worked its way through the courts over the years and ended up appearing before Florida Supreme Court justices. The constitutional amendment in question, Marsys Law, was approved by Florida voters in 2018. It establishes several rights for crime victims and is often cited as the reason why police choose not to release their names.

The Florida Supreme Court concluded that Marsys Law does not guarantee a victim the categorical right to withhold his or her name from public disclosure. According to court documents, justices believe a victims identity is not covered by part the law blocking the release of information or records that could be used to locate or harass them.

Protecting crime victims from being located  as opposed to identified  is a meaningful distinction, justices wrote in their opinion. For exposure of a crime victims location creates a threat of physical danger that exposure of his or her name does not generally pose.

Justices also mused about if withholding a victims name conflicts with a defendants right to confront at trial adverse witnesses, as described in Article I of the Florida Constitution, and how it could factor into gathering evidence and other aspects of the legal process. As noted previously, neither case involving the Tallahassee police officers made it to trial following a grand jury investigation.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City of Tallahassee and the News Media Coalition, an international group of media outlets that advocates for press freedom.

Our decision instead is limited to the determination that Marsys Law does not guarantee to crime victims a generalized right of anonymity, the courts opinion states.

Justices Muniz, Canady, Grosshans and Francis concurred with the courts opinion. Justice Labarga concurred in result only, while Justice Sasso did not participate.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Smoke is visible from the Locust No. 2 Fire in Pisgah National Forest.

A forest fire burning 26 miles east of Asheville has grown up to 130 acres as fire fighters burn trees and brush to save homes.

The fire in McDowell County has been dubbed the Locust Cove No. 2 Fire. It is in the vicinity of U.S. 80, locally known as Buck Creek Road, in the Sunnyvale area of McDowell County, the forest service said in a Nov. 30 release sent by spokesperson Jenifer Bunty. That is in the Grandfather Ranger District of Pisgah National Forest.

The fire, which has grown from 10 acres since 1 p.m. remains 0% contained, Bunty said.

"The U.S. Forest Service began burnout operations today to reduce fuels and protect private lands and homes adjacent to the wildfire. The increased acreage is primarily due to burnout operations," she said.

Locust Cove #2 was first reported 4 p.m. Nov. 29. The ignition source is unknown. Meanwhile, a second fire has started nearby, the Clear Creek Fire to which firefighters are also responding.

Smoke has drifted toward Marion to the east and may continue to affect the area today depending on wind direction. Motorists on and around U.S. 80 have been urged to use caution in the area and may experience low visibility because of the smoke.

More than 60 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and N.C. Forest Service are working under a unified command to clear fire lines that were established in the first Locust Cove Fire that burned through the area in March. A helicopter crew completed several water-drops to slow progression of the head of the fire.

The fire follows several others that burned for long periods across Western North Carolina, including the Black Bear Fire in Haywood County and the Poplar Drive Fire in Henderson County.

The news of the latest wildfire comes the same day Buncombe County canceled its outdoor burn ban, which had been in effect since Nov. 5.

More: Buncombe County to cancel burn ban, citing light winds, Great Smokies ban lifted

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: New forest fire in Western NC; smoke hampers driving; 'caution' urged
AUSTIN (KXAN)  For more than a year, KXAN has investigated the Texas Attorney Generals Crime Victims Compensation program and its impact on victims and family members seeking help in the wake of violent crime.

Thousands of survivors are still waiting months for assistance, KXAN revealed.

Hit by stolen car, victim waits months for state assistance. Hes not alone.

Victims like Steven Heller  who was hit and thrown from his bicycle in Pflugerville by a car driving away from police on New Years Day  say the process has been frustrating. Six months after he was deemed eligible for money, Heller was still waiting for assistance, according to records he showed KXAN. In that time, the suspect in Hellers case, who was a convicted felon in a stolen car, pleaded guilty to two felonies and was sent to prison, according to court records.

Others, like Patricia Bourdon and Dana Ewing  both survivors of domestic assaults  have described the CVC process as anger inducing and retraumatizing.

The program is available for victims of violent crimes, including assault, rape, shootings, kidnappings and drunk driving. The pool of money comes not from tax dollars but mostly from court fees and federal grants. It is used to reimburse medical bills, therapy, relocation, bereavement, lost wages and more. All other forms of compensation, like insurance and workers compensation, must be used before CVC assistance.

In recent years, it has been tough to get those benefits. Texas CVC division has been plagued with staffing shortages and turnover. Since July 2021, the average time for victims to get their first payment remained over 100 days and ballooned to 192 days in July 2023, the latest month of records obtained by KXAN.

And those arent the only issues that need to be addressed, one expert said.

Former AG official: Target met with skewed math

In an exclusive interview with KXAN, Kristen Huff, a former top attorney in the CVC division, said there is another problem that should be confronted. For years, the program has submitted performance data to the state legislature that could be misleading  to lawmakers, crime victims and advocates  obscuring how long victims are actually waiting for help the state promised.

Kristen Huffs work badge while she was at the Texas Attorney Generals Office. (Courtesy: Kristen Huff)

Huff  a former assistant attorney general and deputy chief of Crime Victim Services who resigned in April citing burnout  said the program is meeting its goal, on paper, using a formula that doesnt reflect reality.

She referenced mandated efficiency reports created by the program showing the CVC division successfully analyzed and awarded claims within its target of 46 days or fewer, on average, in nearly every fiscal quarter since January 2019. The average was listed at, or below, 40 days in most quarters. Those numbers were submitted in budget documents to the legislature and Legislative Budget Board, a permanent joint committee of the state legislature that collects and analyzes agency budgets and performance.

Kristen Huff at the Texas Capitol (Courtesy: Kristen Huff)

This false idea that victims are actually getting that payment in that much time, that is not true, Huff said. Victims are getting payments much longer than the average days to payment.

Thats because the Office of Attorney General is combining two different types of claims to come up with its overall average. The first are claims submitted directly by crime victims. The other type are sexual assault exam claims submitted directly by hospitals or medical providers, without survivors being involved, according to Huff and internal records obtained by KXAN.

Theres a critical difference between the two.

Rape kit testing claims vs. victim claims

Medical facilities, not victims, handle sexual assault exam exam claims. Victims are not involved in that reimbursement process, and medical providers are compensated quickly in about a week, or less, according to Huff and program data obtained by KXAN.

EXPLORE: KXAN investigates the Texas Crime Victims Compensation program

All other victim claims  like emergency room bills, funeral costs, lost wages, relocation, therapy, bereavement and more  are handled by the victims themselves and typically involve an extensive application and approval process. For a victim to get a first payment, it often takes months  like in Hellers case.

The rape kit claims pull the overall average down to roughly 40 days, or fewer, in the last year, according to Huff and the program data. Victims of crimes trying to get help dont see that level of efficiency, Huff said.

Kristen Huff, former assistant attorney general and deputy chief of Crime Victims Services, testifies before a Texas House committee in October 2022. (Courtesy: Kristen Huff)

KXAN explained the programs performance measurements to Heller. He was doubtful the average victim gets paid in about 40 days.

Id be surprised, said Heller. Because thats definitely not the experience Ive been having.

The formula used by the state to report its performance has existed for many years. It used to be more accurate, before changes in the law streamlined payments for sexual assault exams, Huff said. Now, the average used by the program is mixing apples and oranges together as just fruit, she said, describing it as not a fair comparison.

To this day, most people do not understand why those numbers are combined, Huff said. Its just never been separated out.

Disservice

KXAN brought the issue to Donna Bloom, director of legal services for Denton County Friends of the Family, a domestic violence and rape crisis center north of Dallas.

Blooms nonprofit assists survivors in getting reimbursements from the state, giving her a broad, multi-year view of the CVC programs performance.

Donna Bloom sits at her desk at the crisis center she works at in Denton (Courtesy: Donna Bloom)

Victims being reimbursed in about 40 days is absolutely not what her organizations applicants are currently seeing, she said in mid-November.

I think its a disservice to victims in the state of Texas to not be transparent about the difference, Bloom said. We havent experienced anything like (an average of 40 days) since probably 2018, or 2019.

Blooms nonprofit has heard directly from case managers at the Office of Attorney General who said there is a three to four-month wait for an eligibility decision for victims, she said. And an eligibility decision isnt even the final step before an award is made, she added.

Bloom acknowledged she has never seen the performance metrics CVC submits to the state. If she had, she would have been puzzled.

If I went to that metric, and saw that they were meeting their benchmark, it would confuse me, Bloom said. I might then say, Well, what are we doing wrong? What do we need to fix? Because our applications are definitely not being paid out at 42 days.

Over time with these waits, they just they lose faith, Bloom said. They lose faith in the system, and they see us as an extension of that system. So, they lose faith in us.

Terra Tucker is the Texas state director for Alliance for Safety and Justice, a nonprofit that helps victims of violent crime, including accessing the CVC program. She, too, has heard from survivors struggling to get through the application process.

A few of our survivors who have active cases have said that there have been wait periods, and its been hard for them to get their reimbursements, Tucker said. Its been hard for them to get, you know, a hold of people, at times.

Those delays can hinder healing, she said.

Expanding benefits

Tucker has advocated for improvements to victim services. In October 2022, she testified before the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, which had an interim charge to study the availability of victim assistance.

Tucker told lawmakers she was in favor of expanding benefits and reducing certain restrictions on crime victims compensation, among other items. Huff testified at the same hearing on behalf of the Office of Attorney General and said her office also recommended expanding benefits. Those proposals were passed into law through Senate Bill 49, which took effect Sept. 1.

Looking back, Huff told KXAN she wishes she said more about the problems in her division.

I would have told them that the program was in desperate crisis and that they needed to address the root of the problem, Huff said. I would have said we need to focus on getting the work done on getting the employee and employment pool stable. I would have told them it wasnt the right time to maybe expand into other areas.

I was not able to speak freely, she added.

The CVC offices struggles are visible in the programs bottom line: Less money is being paid.

The division had a target of awarding more than $76 million but paid out less than $59 million  a shortfall of nearly 25%, according to budget records obtained by KXAN.

That is a measurable failure, Huff said.

The Office of Attorney General said the shortfall was primarily due to persistent staffing shortages and loss of key management, according to an explanation submitted to the Legislative Budget Board.

EXPLORE: Held Up: Crime victim waiting for state money

The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment by KXAN, including a half dozen emails sent over two weeks and messages left to the press office voicemail. After not getting a response, KXAN investigator Matt Grant visited the state office building during regular business hours, on camera, to hand over our questions in person to a press office worker. He could not reach anyone to speak with or let him upstairs from the lobby.

Grant left our questions at an empty security guard desk. He then called and left a message, again, with the press office.

We never heard back.

However, in response to questions sent by KXAN over the summer for a different report on the CVC program, the Office of Attorney General told us that CVSD [Crime Victim Services Division] is nearly fully staffed after the OAG worked alongside the legislature to address recruiting and retention difficulties that state agencies have faced in recent years, resulting in an across-the-board pay raise for all state employees.

While the coronavirus pandemic was severely disruptive to normal operations for agencies statewide, according to a spokesperson, CVSD has worked tirelessly to provide attentive, high-quality service

The crises at the Attorney Generals office extended beyond the CVC division. The agency lost continuity of leadership this year. Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached and suspended from his job in May. Gov. Greg Abbott then appointed two interim attorneys general to helm the office before Paxton was acquitted and returned to his post in September.

Paxton still faces pending felony securities fraud charges, and a trial is expected next year. Paxton was also sued by several former top lieutenants who claimed they were wrongfully retaliated against and terminated after reporting Paxton to law enforcement. That lawsuit also remains pending.

It is unclear if this had an impact on victim services.

Still suffering

Huff said she hopes exposing deficiencies in the program will help crime victims  and employees in the division who also feel the brunt.

I have a lot of good friends that are still there, said Huff. And theyre still suffering.

Despite the risk to her career, Huff said she felt compelled to speak publicly.

For lawyers to speak out against a former employer, especially if that one is an elected official, is pretty much career suicide, Huff said. Theres a huge risk and liability associated to your reputation when you speak out.

Nevertheless, Huff spoke up.

I always felt that it was my highest calling to deliver bad news with rigorous honesty but the utmost empathy. Thats how you do victim services because you can never make it right. We can never give you enough money; you deserve everything, Huff said. Thats what it looks like to try to serve someone in the unimaginable outcome of violence. You do your best to meet them where they are, to serve the needs you can, and to help them in that process along the way. It is a long-term commitment when you help a victim of violence.

Photojournalist Jordan Belt, Investigative Photojournalist Richard Bowes, Graphic Artist Wendy Gonzalez, Director of Investigations & Innovation Josh Hinkle and Graphic Artist Christina Staggs contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
President Joe Bidens administration is moving to require utilities to replace every toxic lead pipe connecting homes to water mains during the next decade, though Chicago and several other cities likely will get more time to finish the job.

Ingesting tiny concentrations of lead can permanently damage the developing brains of children and contribute to heart disease, kidney failure and other health problems later in life. One study estimated more than 400,000 deaths a year in the U.S. are linked to lead exposure.

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For decades dust from lead-based paint has been considered the chief source of exposure to the toxic metal. But in recent years the largely hidden threat of lead water pipes has become more widely understood, driven in part by federal research in Chicago and a crisis in Flint, Michigan, that showed how the simple act of drinking a glass of unfiltered tap water can pose significant health risks.

Biden promised during his 2020 campaign to speed up the replacement of lead pipes known as service lines. One of the big infrastructure bills his administration brokered with Congress earmarked $15 billion toward that effort. New regulatory changes announced Wednesday would help determine how and where the money is spent.

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Everyone in this country should be able to turn on their tap for a glass of water and know that its safe to drink, Michael Regan, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said during a call with journalists.

More than 9 million homes nationwide get their drinking water from a service line made of lead. Chicago has 400,000 of the toxic pipes, more than any other city. Illinois has more than any other state.

[ A decade into the work, Chicago is finally taking out toxic lead pipes when it replaces water mains ]

Clout-heavy unions ensured Chicagos plumbing code required use of the toxic metal until Congress banned the practice in 1986.

As recently as 2018, city officials denied the nations third largest city has a widespread problem with brain-damaging lead in drinking water, even though testing kits distributed by the city revealed high levels of the toxic metal in every neighborhood.

Action by state lawmakers and the promise of federal assistance helped change attitudes at City Hall. In early November, Mayor Brandon Johnson and other elected officials announced Chicago had secured a $336 million federal loan to replace 30,000 lead service lines during the next three years.

Physicians and scientists say that unless water drawn from household faucets is properly filtered, the only way to keep the lead out in older cities such as Chicago is by replacing service lines connecting homes and small apartment buildings to local water supplies.

We cant see lead in water, we cant taste it, we cant smell it, but it has silently and innocuously diminished the promise of generations of our children, said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician associated with Hurley Childrens Hospital and Michigan State University, who helped expose the extent of the Flint water crisis.

Regulatory changes proposed by the Biden administration would overhaul the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule, a package of requirements deemed largely ineffective by multiple federal scientific advisory panels.

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Under the 1991 rule, utilities are considered to be in compliance as long as 90% of the homes tested have lead levels below 15 parts per billion, a standard that isnt based on scientific evidence of dangers posed by the toxic metal. Many utilities, including Chicagos, can meet the standard by adding corrosion-fighting chemicals to the water supply that form a protective coating inside lead pipes.

The proposed changes would require every utility to replace 10% of its lead service lines annually on average, regardless of how much of the toxic metal is detected during sampling. Utilities would be forced to provide water filters to customers if three rounds of testing found 10 ppb or more of lead in 90% of the samples.

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Testing methods also would be updated. In addition to sampling the first liter drawn at the beginning of a day, the EPA would require utilities to sample the fifth liter drawn  a change that would more accurately detect lead levels in water stagnating overnight in a service line.

EPA officials said the benefits of their proposal would far outweigh the costs. Replacing lead service lines and providing water filters is expected to cost up to $3.6 billion a year, but preventing lost IQ points among children and other health benefits are estimated to be worth up to $34.8 billion annually, said Radhika Fox, the EPAs assistant administrator for water.

Erik Olson, senior strategic director for health at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, said the Biden EPAs proposal is a significant improvement from a version floated in 2020 by President Donald Trumps administration, which would have effectively delayed lead pipe replacements for up to three decades and, in some cases, allowed cities to keep toxic pipes in the ground indefinitely.

Yet Olson said there are still reasons to be concerned.

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In a moment when many of us feel overwhelmed by bad news, the EPAs lead rule provides a ray of hope that we are approaching the day when every family can trust that the water from their kitchen tap is safe, regardless of how much money they have or their ZIP code, Olson said in a statement. But without mandatory requirements for water systems to pay the full cost of removing all lead pipes, history shows us that many water utilities will not take the actions needed to reduce lead levels for every household.

Trade groups for water utilities said they are withholding comment until they can review the proposed changes. Once the regulations are published in the Federal Register, the EPA will accept public comments for at least 60 days.

mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A former teacher from Chapin High School was sentenced to more than three years in prison for access with intent to view a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a prepubescent minor, according to the United States Attorneys Office from the Western District of Texas.

Chapin High teacher arrested for allegedly sending obscene material to minors

The U.S. Attorneys Office says Orlando Solis, 47, was communicating over the social messaging platform Whisper, with a user who identified herself as a 13-year-old girl.

According to court documents obtained by KTSM, Solis was actually communicating with an undercover agent from the Army Criminal Investigations Division.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says the conversations were often sexual in nature, with Solis sending links to pornography sites, describing sexual acts he wanted to engage in, and sending graphic photos of himself. He also shared that he had a hidden folder on his phone for pornography.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says a forensic examination was done on Solis cellphone which revealed child sexual abuse material depicting minors as young as five or six years old.

As KTSM has previously reported, Solis was listed on the El Paso Independent School District website as a math teacher and was arrested by the FBI after an investigation was done by El Pasos Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Solis was also a Chapin robotics club adviser.

The Department of the Army Criminal Investigative Divisions Internet Crimes Against Children Unit initiated the investigation and referred the matter to the FBI which led to Solis arrest.

Solis was arrested on Feb. 2, and pled guilty on July 25 of this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
DMonterrio Gibson, the former FedEx delivery driver who said two white men chased him down in a racist attack, filed his second lawsuit following the incident. Why the second one, you ask?

A judge dismissed the first one because his argument was weak.



Read more

Gibson fails to state a viable claim against FedEx for which the Court would have original jurisdiction, Jordan said.

Gibsons new lawsuit names his former employer and the two men as defendants.

Read more from The AP:

Gibson was not wounded during the encounter on Jan. 24, 2022, in Brookhaven, about an hours drive south of Jackson. FedEx made him return to work on the same route, and that caused him to have depression, stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, and emotional pain and suffering, according to the lawsuit. It was filed by attorney Carlos Moore on Nov. 20 in state court.

As if Gibsons case didnt take enough blows, he was let go by FedEx shortly after his suit was dismissed. Plus, a judge declared a mistrial in the criminal case against the two men who are facing attempted murder charges. The two are out on bond until a new trial date is set.

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Click here to read the full article.
Grim Projections

In his latest grim artificial intelligence forecast, ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt says that there aren't enough guardrails to stop the technology from doing catastrophic harm.

Speaking to a summit hosted by Axios this week, Schmidt, who is now the chairman of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, likened AI to the atomic bombs the United States dropped on Japan in 1945.

"After Nagasaki and Hiroshima, it took 18 years to get to a treaty over test bans and things like that," he told Axios cofounder Mike Allen during the exchange at the website's A+ Summit in DC. "We don't have that kind of time today."

Although those building the technology, from OpenAI to Google itself and far beyond, have established "guardrails" or safety measures to rein the tech in, Schmidt said he thinks the current safeties "aren't enough"  a take that he shares with many machine learning researchers.

Within just five to 10 years, the former Google boss said, AI could become powerful enough to harm humanity. The worst case scenario, Schmidt continued, would be "the point at which the computer can start to make its own decisions to do things," and if they are able to access weapons systems or reach other terrifying capabilities, the machines may, he warns, lie to us humans about it.

To head off that kind of horrific outcome, Schmidt said that a non-governmental organization akin to the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should be established to "feed accurate information to policymakers" and help them make decisions about what to do when and if AI gets too powerful.

Boss Fight

While the former Google boss has regularly publicized his concerns about AI, Meta's AI czar Yann LeCun has increasingly taken the opposite stance.

Last month, he told the Financial Times that the tech is nowhere near smart enough to threaten humanity on its own, and over Thanksgiving weekend, he got into a spat with fellow AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton  who notoriously quit Google earlier this year about his AI concerns  over the concept that large language models (LLMs) are sophisticated enough to "understand" what humans say to them.

"The debate on existential risk is very premature until we have a design for a system that can even rival a cat in terms of learning capabilities," LeCun told FT, "which we don't have at the moment."

While all these smart and accomplished men keep issuing opposite signals about the dangers of AI, it's hard to tell how scared to be. For now, it seems like the answer may, like with so many other things, lie somewhere in the middle  but as the goalposts keep moving, finding that measured position is as hard as ever.

More on AI reality checks: Facebook Researchers Test AI's Intelligence and Find It Is Unfortunately Quite Stupid
A former Millsboro police sergeant who tampered with and used drugs stored in his department's evidence locker said on Thursday he felt "regret and shame" shortly before entering a diversion program and a guilty plea that keeps him out of prison.

Matthew Dufour told Superior Court Judge Craig A. Karsnitz his regret and shame comes from letting down his former fellow Millsboro officers, who took the fallout from his actions that included overdosing while inside his marked police vehicle earlier this year. The 35-year-old man said his actions did not represent the Millsboro Police Department, several of whom sat in the courtroom.

"I hope they can accept my apology," Dufour said.

Dufour, who was indicted on 10 charges in May, on Thursday pleaded guilty to official misconduct, using a false instrument to file and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. The four counts got him three years in prison, but following the recommendation from his attorney, Christopher Hutchison, and state prosecutors, the judge sentenced Dufour to one year probation for each crime, which will be served at the same time.

Dufour, an Army veteran, also admitted to tampering with public records and used that to enter into Veterans Treatment Court  a diversion program that will dismiss the felony charge if he successfully completes the program.

Mat Marshall, a state Department of Justice spokesperson, said this sort of case requires both accountability and compassion.

"The defendant's actions were serious and damaging to the work of his fellow officers," Marshall said. "They were also driven by a clear and serious substance abuse problem, as well as likely PTSD stemming from his military service."

Dufour has taken responsibility for his actions and accepted significant consequences in a felony conviction and his removal from law enforcement, Marshall added. "At the same time, our priority is getting him the treatment he needs, rather than incarcerating a man who poses no public safety risk and clearly needs help."

After losing his law enforcement job of about 10 years, Dufour told the judge he started a contracting business to help support his wife and three children.

While sounding remorseful for his actions, Dufour said he is thankful he was found after overdosing and for the responders who helped him survive.

"I will be better for this," he said.

'Betraying his oath'

Dufour was found unresponsive inside his marked police vehicle "exhibiting signs of a drug overdose" on the morning of Feb. 19, according to the Delaware Department of Justice.

He was given the opioid-reversing spray naloxone before being transported to a hospital for treatment. A blood test later showed he had fentanyl, oxycodone and cocaine in his system, according to the DOJ.

More: Millsboro officer charged with using drugs from department's evidence locker

Soon after, Millsboro police began investigating and enlisted the help of Delaware State Police. Through the agency's investigation, they found that Dufour, who worked as an evidence technician, "had deliberately mishandled drug evidence set for destruction on as many as 13 occasions," the state Justice Department said.

The investigation included a complete audit of all drug evidence in Millsboro's custody.

In one instance, the Justice Department said, Dufour removed cocaine from an evidence envelope and then, in order to hide what he'd done, replaced it with suspected cocaine from a separate case's envelope. He then forged another Millsboro officer's initials without his permission, the Justice Department said.

Dufour also logged accompanying false entries into a law enforcement information system. Prosecutors believe he did this between November 2022 until he was found in February.

The Justice Department said while Dufour tampered with evidence only on closed cases that were set for destruction, "the potential shadow that Dufour's misconduct cast on drug evidence that he could have accessed led prosecutors in March to drop several pending criminal cases in accordance with their ethical and constitutional responsibilities."

Hutchison, Dufour's attorney, said his client should have asked for help sooner but had been in denial causing him to cross lines that cost him his job and the trust people have in law enforcement.

"Not only did he betray his oath," Hutchison said in explaining his client's actions, "he betrayed the people he worked with."

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: No prison for ex-Millsboro cop who took drugs from Police Department
FILE - Myanmar Information Minister Ye Htut talks to journalists during a press briefing at parliament building Tuesday, Aug 18, 2015, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. A former high-profile Myanmar army officer who had served as information minister and presidential spokesperson in a previous military-backed government has been found guilty of sedition and incitement and sentenced to 10 years in prison, a legal official said Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Khin Maung Win, file)

BANGKOK (AP)  A former high-profile Myanmar army officer who had served as information minister and presidential spokesperson in a previous military-backed government has been convicted of sedition and incitement, a legal official said Thursday. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Ye Htut, a 64-year old retired lieutenant colonel, is the latest in a series of people arrested and jailed for writing Facebook posts that allegedly spreading false or inflammatory news. Once infrequently prosecuted, there has been a deluge of such legal actions since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

He was arrested in late October after a military officer from the Yangon Regional Military Command reportedly filed a change against him, around the time when some senior military officers were purged on other charges, including corruption. He was convicted on Wednesday, according to the official familiar with the legal proceedings who insisted on anonymity for fear of being punished by the authorities.

Ye Htut had been the spokesperson from 2013 to 2016 for President Thein Sein in a military-backed government and also information minister from 2014 to 2016.

After leaving the government in 2016, Ye Htut took on the role of a political commentator and wrote books and posted articles on Facebook. For a time, he was a visiting senior research fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, a center for Southeast Asia studies in Singapore.

After the armys 2021 takeover, he often posted short personal vignettes and travel essays on Facebook in which he made allusions that were generally recognized to be critical of Myanmars current military rulers.

The armys takeover triggered mass public protests that the military and police responded to with lethal force, triggering armed resistance and violence that has escalated into a civil war.

The official familiar with the court proceedings against Ye Htut told The Associated Press that he was sentenced by a court in Yangon's Insein prison to seven years for sedition and three years for incitement. Ye Htut was accused on the basis of his posts on his Facebook account, and did not hire a lawyer to represent him at his trial, the official said.

The sedition charge makes disrupting or hindering the work of defense services personnel or government employees punishable by up to seven years in prison. The incitement charge makes it a crime to publish or circulate comments that cause fear, spread false news, agitate directly or indirectly for criminal offences against a government employee  an offense punishable by up to three years in prison.

However, a statement from the Ministry of Legal Affairs said he had been charged under a different sedition statute. There was no explanation for the discrepancy.

According to detailed lists compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a watchdog group based in Thailand, 4,204 civilians have died in Myanmar in the military governments crackdown on opponents and at least 25,474 people have been arrested.
(KRON)  Former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo has filed paperwork to run for Congress, he told KRON4 Thursday afternoon. Liccardo filed paperwork to run for U.S. Representative Anna Eshoos seat.

However, Liccardo has not made a final decision on whether or not he will officially run. He is exploring his next steps.

Guns, drugs, cash seized in San Jose mobile home park bust

Liccardo, 53, served as San Joses mayor for eight years. His second and final term ended in 2022, and he was replaced by Matt Mahan.

After his mayoral term ended, Liccardo became a law lecturer at Stanford University. He teaches a course named  Confronting Our Housing and Homelessness Crises: Policy, Politics, and the Law How Cities Can Save the World.

Eshoo is currently the representative from Californias 16th congressional district. Eshoo announced in November she will not seek re-election in 2024 after serving 32 years in Congress. She will serve out her term through January 2025.

The California 16th congressional district encompasses parts of San Mateo County and Santa Clara County. There are 52 California seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This story will be updated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A former Torrance police officer and bail agent has been sentenced to prison for a scheme in which he apprehended clients prior to their court appearances and threatened to take them to jail unless they paid him out of pocket.

Rehan Nazir, 51, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after being found guilty earlier this year of 17 felony charges, including kidnapping, extortion and false imprisonment.

An investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and the California Department of Insurance found that Nazir hired a group of bounty hunters to help him locate several people who posted their bonds and were released from jail prior to their next court date.

Nazir and his employees would apprehend people who were legally free from holding and threaten to take them back to jail unless they paid cash or handed over personal property.

In one instance, the bounty hunters broke into a home and detained multiple people at gunpoint as they searched for a person who had recently posted bail. The person was handcuffed and taken to Nazirs office while the bounty hunters drove their family members to an ATM to withdraw cash in order to pay off the captors.

In other instances, Nazir accepted stolen credit cards and property in lieu of cash to let his illegally detained clients go, investigators said.

Investigators say Nazir also used his former police experience to convince law enforcement agencies that he had the legal authority to repossess the vehicles of those he had bailed out, even though there was no contract for collateral on record and the vehicles were in the possession of family members.

He also apparently threatened a family member of a client by having another person deliver graphic photos of an officer-involved shooting in which he was personally involved.

Nazir was previously terminated by the Torrance Police Department after the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office launched an investigation and determined he had submitted false information in a report.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Nazirs sentencing reflects the states commitment to holding bail agents accountable if they break the law.

I have worked to secure greater oversight of the bail industry to protect public safety, and I will continue to take necessary steps to ensure a safe and fair judicial process, Lara said.

Two of Nazirs hired guns have been convicted of false imprisonment as part of the investigation, while a third is awaiting sentencing.

The case was investigated by the L.A. County D.A.s Office, who says his bail agent license expired back in June 2019.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
A former server at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster has filed a lawsuit alleging that she was sexually harassed by a supervisor, and then tricked into signing an illegal non-disclosure agreement by an attorney for former President Donald Trumps lawyer.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New Jerseys Middlesex County Superior Court, does not name Trump as a defendant.

The server, Alice Bianco, a resident of Middlesex County, says in the lawsuit that when she joined the club's staff in 2021, her supervisor, Pavel Melichar harassed her and attempted to kiss her forcibly. The lawsuit states that Melichar provided Bianco with short uniform skirts and a bottle of Remy Martin, claiming it was a "birthday present." The suit further alleges that Melichar required Bianco "to engage in sex as a quid pro quo for continued employment and protection."

Lawsuit: Alleged abuser boasted of influence with Trump

The lawsuit says that Melichar boasted to Bianco about his influence, showing her videos of Trump praising him, in an effort to communicate that he had a close relationship with the former president. The alleged quid-pro-quo sexual harassment continued from May to July 2021, according to the lawsuit.

After an incident when Bianco tried to pull away from Melichar's attempted sexual assault, the lawsuit says Melichar retaliated against her, giving Bianco unfair job assignments and allowing his other servers loyal to her to steal her tips.

NJ: Attorney general will help lead multistate effort to curb high-capacity gun magazines

Bianco learned about an unnamed co-worker writing a letter to Trumps personal staff about Melichars alleged sexual harassment, the suit says. The co-worker alluded to Bianco's experiences in the letter, the suit says. The letter is dated July 19, 2021, according to the suit. After the letter's delivery, Bianco received a call from human resources, prompting her to hire a lawyer, the suit says.

Trump attorney approached victim, suit claims

Former President Donald Trump watches the final round from the 18th green during the LIV Golf Bedminster golf tournament at Trump National Bedminster on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023.

Alina Habba, a member of the club and an attorney for Trump, allegedly approached Bianco, posing as a friend, and discouraged her from going public, the lawsuit says. According to the lawsuit, on Aug. 5, 2021, Habba invited Bianco to her car during her shift and suggested signing a "simple" non-disclosure agreement with a $1,000 per day penalty for violations, in exchange for a "paltry sum."

The lawsuit says Habba "groomed" Bianco into believing she was a friend, and her law firm drafted the non-disclosure agreement. Habba said to Bianco, "you don't want to go public with this, I've been raped, I can help you, I can protect you."

The agreement allegedly included false assurances about taxation and payments for therapy. However, New Jersey has prohibited non-disclosure agreements in workplace harassment cases since 2019.

The suit says that weeks later, it became public that Habba worked as an attorney for Trump.

The lawsuit seeks to address the alleged harassment, coercion and the legality of the non-disclosure agreement, emphasizing violations of New Jersey law regarding workplace harassment settlements.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Trump National Golf Club: Former server files sex harassment suit
Fort Worth will officially kick off the holiday season next week when Mayor Mattie Parker and 70s superstar Marie Osmond will flip the lights on an 80-foot Christmas tree in Sundance Square.

The 77th Annual Fort Worth Community Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is from 6:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6. Osmond will kick off the festivities with a holiday themed concert, followed by the tree lighting countdown.

Lights and hand-painted ornaments are being placed on the 80-foot Norway Spruce tree this week. Corporate sponsors for the 2023 event include Sasha and Edward P. Bass, Sundance Square, Amazon, Green Mountain Energy and Wildcat Cranes Inc.

This huge white fir tree, photographed in its native habitat, the towering Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico, was brought by a tree hunting expedition arranged by the Star-Telegram. The tree was erected in Burk Burnett Park for Fort Worths first community Christmas celebration in 10 years. The view of the 60-foot tree shows woodsmen clearing underbrush before the tree was cut and lowered with ropes. Published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram morning edition, November 12, 1950.

Fort Worths Christmas tree tradition was started in 1947 by Amon Carter, where it was originally placed in Burk Burnett Park.

In 1956, Fort Worth Jaycees took over the tree project and later moved the event to the east of the Convention Center at Ninth and Main streets, according to previous Star-Telegram reporting. Fort Worth City Council approved the trees relocation to Sundance Square in 1999.

A few years later in 2004, Sundance Square took over managing the annual Christmas tree project. For more information on next weeks tree lighting event, heres what to know:

Is parking free in Sundance Square for the tree lighting?

Sundance Square has two garages that will be open for free parking after 6 p.m. on Dec. 6:

Sundance Square Garage #3  345 W. Third St.

Sundance Square Garage #4  265 W. Fifth St.

Is the Fort Worth Christmas tree the largest in Texas?

Yes, Fort Worths tree is the largest live Christmas tree in Texas, Sundance Square spokesperson Bryan Eppstein said.

The tree traveled 1,100 miles from northern Michigan to arrive in Cowtown on Nov. 25. A special 2.5-ton boot was made just to hold the 80-foot tree, Eppstein said.

How long will the Christmas tree be up in Sundance Square?

The Christmas tree will be up in Sundance Square through New Years Day.

Crews will begin taking lights and ornaments off the tree on Jan. 8-9, 2024, Eppstein said. On Jan. 10, the tree will be taken down and moved out of Sundance Square.

A crane places the 2021 Fort Worth Christmas Tree onto its stand at Sundance Plaza on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The 55O Norway Spruce was harvested in Michigan and transported to Fort Worth.

What happens to the Christmas tree after its taken down?

After the tree is removed from Sundance Square, it will be transported to a nearby downtown lot to be broken down.

Parts of the tree will be recycled and made into furniture for the surrounding Sundance Square area, Eppstein said. Other parts of the tree will be turned into mulch and used in landscaping.

Is Fort Worths annual Christmas tree lighting the oldest in the country?

No, that distinction would fall to New Yorks Madison Square Park which is hosting its 111th annual lighting this year. But there is a connection between Fort Worth and New Yorks Christmas tree lighting.

Sundance Square owners Sasha and Edward P. Bass, donated a 30-foot Christmas tree to Madison Square Park this year as a symbol of unity and to hearken back to Fort Worth and New Yorks connection, Eppstein said.

New Yorks Madison Square Park is just across the street from the Worth Square Monument, which contains the remains of Fort Worths namesake  General William Jenkins Worth.

Worth (1794-1849) was born in New York and served in the War of 1812, the Seminole War and the Mexican-American War, according to the Texas State Historical Association. He died in San Antonio in 1849 just after being appointed Army commander of the Department of Texas.

Not long after his death, forts were established along the Trinity River and one was named in Worths honor. In 1857, Worths remains were moved to New York and he was reburied in Worth Square with a 51-foot tall monument.

Its this connection between Fort Worth and its New Yorker namesake that spurred the Christmas tree donation, Eppstein said.

Now, both Fort Worth and Madison Square Park will both host their Christmas tree lighting ceremonies on Dec. 6, around 1,600 miles a part.

[The Basses] thought it would be sort of a neat thing to do to draw attention to the connection, Eppstein said.
France has pledged to boost ammunition supplies to Ukraine to meet Kyiv's defense needs next year, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced on Nov. 30 following a visit of a French delegation.

Ukraine's deputy defense ministers Dmytro Klimenkov and Lieutenant-General Ivan Havryliuk met the French delegation led by Engineer General Jean-Francois Dock in Kyiv to discuss defense cooperation between the two countries.

Dock said that Paris is taking all steps possible to support Ukraine. The French support fund is trying to partially cover Ukraine's purchases of arms and spare parts, Dock noted, adding that France would increase the ammunition supplies next year.

The parties also discussed strengthening cooperation in military logistics.

"This week, we have already received the funds and will make a payment for the additional purchase of the Caesar self-propelled guns," Havryliuk said.

"Our thanks to the French side for the continuous supply of ammunition for these systems," he said.

France has transferred a total of 30 advanced Caesar self-propelled howitzers of the 6x6 version to Ukraine. Denmark provided an additional 19 units of the 8x8 model.

The announcement of additional munitions comes amid calls for Kyiv's allies to ramp up weapons production for Ukraine.

Russia has already boosted its defense budget for the next year to record heights, signaling a difficult year on Ukraine's battlefields.

Read also: Telegraph: UK Foreign Secretary urges allies to ramp up arms production for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
At least once a week, Ethan Wirth grabs his pest management book and traverses the 5-acre vineyard at DC Estate Winery in South Beloit. As he looks at the grapes, hell sometimes reference the book, which lists common insect and fungal issues.

Scouting, as the 33-year-old operations manager called it, is an important step in creating high-quality wine. It also might be the primary way grape growers ward off spotted lanternflies. The moth-size invasive pests eat vines, which can damage or kill the grapes.

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Im definitely concerned about it, Wirth said. Its just one more thing that weve got to scout for and know the best plan of attack for treating that issue.

Part of the 5-acre vineyard at DC Estate Winery in South Beloit is seen Nov. 21, 2023. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

The black spotted insects were identified for the first time in Illinois in September. Since then, theres been at least seven more positive sightings, according to Scott Schirmer, the nursery and northern field office section manager at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. One of them was in DuPage County, while the rest were in southern Cook County, he said.

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Schirmer doesnt expect them to cause widespread plant or tree death across the state, at least in the near future. But they may have more immediate impacts on the agritourism industry, including orchards, pumpkin patches and vineyards, leaving businesses like Wirths looking for solutions.

A lot of grape growers, the winery is also maybe a bed-and-breakfast, but then you come drink wine and sit and watch the sunset, and nobody wants to do that or have a wedding there when theres insects flying all over or theres sticky, sooty honeydew everywhere where you sit or walk, said Kelly Estes, a state survey coordinator for the Illinois Natural History Survey.

Slowing the spread

Native to East Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014. Theyve steadily made their way west, clinging to wheel wells on vehicles or boarding trains and planes, and laying eggs along the journey. Theyve also been identified in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

High levels of traffic and movement within Chicago make the region vulnerable to the introduction of invasive species, Estes said. The bugs can sneak into small cracks and crevices during travel, and most of the time people dont know theyre along for the ride, she said.

Our focus has been on the northeast part of the state and Cook County in particular, she said. You think Illinois, cornfields and Midwest, but you look at the Chicagoland area specifically with airports and industry and rail  theres many different ways things can move through there.

An adult spotted lanternfly on a tree of heaven in Huntington, Indiana, is seen Aug. 17, 2022. The black spotted insects were identified for the first time in Illinois in September. (Andy Lavalley/for the Post-Tribune)

In fact, the first confirmed sighting of a spotted lanternfly in Illinois on Sept. 16 was by a resident in Chicagos Lakeview neighborhood. The resident told the Tribune she noticed the bug while walking her dog near North Broadway and Briar Place.

To prevent the bugs population from becoming very established, Estes said authorities are mainly focusing on early detection and education. She encourages anyone who spots the bug to report it to lanternfly@illinois.edu; the site has already garnered more than 100 responses, she said.

As winter approaches, the time of year when adult lanternflies freeze to death, Estes said its important to look out for their eggs. She described a grayish brown putty laid over top of the eggs, and said they can be on just about anything from telephone poles to trees to rusty metal.

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After taking a photo, Estes said its best to crush the adults. To kill the egg masses, scrape them into a container with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol. See it, snap it, squish it, Estes said.

Schirmer added that people should check their vehicles, boats and campers for the eggs. He said the research and regulatory communities are continuing to learn about the insects behaviors, potential impacts and effective management strategies.

Early detection is key in this effort, he said. The Department of Agriculture and its partners will continue to monitor the area, work with impacted property managers on best management practices and follow up on reports in the future.

Wine, grape industry prepares

Some in the wine and grape industry have concerns with a wait-and-see approach, especially after seeing millions of dollars in damages in other states because of the bugs. One study using data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture and a survey of crop production experts calculated a $43 million economic impact to Pennsylvania agriculture, with fruit growers the hardest hit.

When spotted lanternflies feed on vines, farmers might lose grapes that year, Estes said. But she said what is perhaps more concerning is that the health of the vines could be affected for years to come.

Were not exactly sure how it will impact grapes in Illinois, but the threat is definitely there, she said.

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Ryan Phelps is vice president of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance, a nonprofit that supports the nearly 165 wineries and tasting rooms across the state. Hes also the chief operating officer at Walkers Bluff vineyard, in Carterville, Illinois.

He first heard about the spotted lanternfly about a decade ago while working as an instructor at Western Kentucky University. He knew that the bug would eventually spread throughout the country but wants the state to ramp up its containment and eradication programs to give the industry more time to prepare.

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Well do what we can to control it. It being an invasive species, it would be nice if the state would do something to try to eradicate it, Phelps said.

While Phelps doesnt think it will be overly difficult to control the bugs population with insecticides, buying the right product in sufficient quantities could present an economic burden. Beyond the grapes, hes also worried about them damaging the aesthetics of some of the businesses. Customers might hesitate to book a wedding, for example, at a winery, Phelps said.

Estes said she also recognizes that much of the states agritourism industry is made up of multifaceted businesses. She said she hopes to work with grape growers to develop management programs.

Malerie Wirth, a winemaker at DC Estate Winery, tests the fermentation process in a dry red wine on Nov. 21, 2023, in South Beloit. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

To make a property less attractive to a spotted lanternfly, Schirmer recommends that people remove their preferred host species, primarily tree of heaven and wild grape vines. He said getting rid of their food sources means they will be less likely to have a strong affinity for the property, and wont show up, feed or do any significant hanging around.

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Overall, Estes said its not all gloom and doom, adding that theres no need to panic yet in Illinois. Over the winter, she said the state will focus on creating an action plan to handle the spotted lanternfly. As business slows down at DC Estate Winery, Wirth is also going to do much the same.

Well definitely be doing some of our own research, and more in depth, Wirth said. Im sure the (vintners alliance) will touch base in one of their classes, and well make sure were present and take as many notes as we can.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
Paris will continue to provide military assistance to Kyiv and will increase the supply of ammunition in 2024, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on Nov. 30, following a meeting between Ukrainian and French delegations.

Read also: France boosts support fund for Ukraine by EUR 200 million  Franceinfo

"Our assistance fund is trying to cover part of the cost of purchasing some spare parts and weapons for Ukraine. We understand the needs, so next year France will increase the ammunition supply," French weapons engineer General Jean-Francois Doc said in Kyiv, noting that Paris is "making every effort to help Ukraine."

The funds received from France this week will be used to purchase additional Caesar self-propelled artillery systems for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havryliuk said, praising Pariss continued determination to supply Ukraine with ammunition.

Read also: France, Ukraine discuss joint arms production

France has pledged an additional EUR 200 million ($213 million) to Ukraines support fund, ensuring the Ukrainian armys continued access to French military equipment, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, French news website Franceinfo reported on Nov. 7.

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
AUSTIN, Texas  A 20-year-old Texas man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for setting fire to an Austin synagogue in 2021.

Earlier this year, Franklin Sechriest pleaded guilty to charges of arson and a hate crime causing damage to religious property after the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Central Austin was set on fire on Halloween in 2021. Prosecutors asked for a 10-year sentence, citing what they called Sechriest's deeply held antisemitic and racist beliefs.

Prosecutors said he had committed other racially motivated crimes and demonstrated a "capacity to lie and manipulate." A judge said he would recommend that Sechriest be housed at a federal medical facility.

Sechriest, who was 18 at the time of the fire, was a member of the Texas State Guard and a student at Texas State University.

During Wednesday's sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in downtown Austin, Sechriest could be seen looking over at his parents and mouthing, "Im sorry."

Sechriests lawyer Daniel Wannamaker said his client had been diagnosed with autism and suffered from mental illness. He described Sechriest as an isolated teenager who was vulnerable to being "groomed" and "radicalized" by online hate groups.

Sechriest spoke briefly at the hearing, denouncing those beliefs and apologizing to "everyone involved."

Members of the congregation on Wednesday gave statements during the sentencing hearing, describing the long-term impact of the arson on the greater Jewish community. Jake Cohen, executive director of Congregation Beth Israel, told the court that the arson "struck at the heart" of the synagogues "communal identity."

'People are scared': With more than 800 antisemitic acts since Oct. 7, Jewish student groups plead for Biden's help

Journals with antisemitic and racist rhetoric found at man's home

Federal investigators said Sechriest set fire to the outside of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue on Oct. 31, 2021.

When searching Sechriests home, investigators found journals containing antisemitic and racist rhetoric. An entry dated Oct. 31 read: I set a synagogue on fire.

Lori Adelman, who was synagogue president at the time of the attack, said they took considerable security measures in light of the arson and a national rise in antisemitic incidents. Members of the congregation said the arson forced the synagogue to balance the safety of its members against being welcoming to outsiders.

Still, the congregation hopes to remain deeply connected to the city, Cohen told the American-Statesman, part of the USA TODAY Network, prior to the hearing.

No act of hate can make us change who we are, Cohen said.

Kelly Levy, a rabbi at Beth Israel, said many members of the congregation were struck by Sechriests age. She expressed hope that he could unlearn his beliefs.

The hatred that he has expressed is something that he learned along the way, Levy said. Our prayer is that he finds that teshuvah, that return back to that way of loving the world. She said teshuvah is a Jewish concept which she described as a return to a childlike state of peace.

Last month, Congregation Beth Israel marked two years since the arson and began plans for rebuilding the sanctuary.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Franklin Sechriest gets 10 years for setting fire to Texas synagogue
People take photos of the Chicago skyline from the Shedd Aquarium at the Museum Campus, Aug. 1, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

Chicago, like other big U.S. metros, is still grasping at how to repopulate a central business district thats been deserted for close to four years. Unlike most of the others, however, Chicago has a superpower that, if put to more effective use, could really help liven up the Loop: the citys world-class cultural institutions.

Before the pandemic shut them down in 2020, Chicagos top five museums by attendance  the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Adler Planetarium  collectively tallied 7 million visitors a year. Through this September, attendance at the three institutions clustered on the Museum Campus  the Field, Shedd and Adler  is still 10% below the pre-pandemic figure.

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Imagine if they all were fully back. While these additional museumgoers wouldnt help fill downtowns vacant office towers, they would fill more hotels, restaurants, stores and sidewalks, putting businesses that can no longer count on commuters on firmer footing and making the central city feel more vibrant.

People would gain on a human level, too. In a recent policy paper titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy notes that social connections have a huge influence on individual and societal health. He calls for doing things that increase these connections, including investments in local institutions that invite people from all walks of life. Museums fit that definition.

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Chicagos museums still have a place in the heart of most locals. Asked in a new Harris Poll survey which recreational resources they use at least a few times a year, 45% of respondents from the city and suburban Cook County said the Museum Campus and the Art Institute. That ranked those institutions behind only the lakefront in popularity. The share of regular visitors rises to 51% among younger adults.

Further, 83% of city and suburban residents said they would recommend Chicago as a place to visit. Among younger adults, ages 18 to 34, and people of color, that figure approaches 9 out of 10.

City museums are taking action to boost visits. The Shedd Aquarium, for instance, has begun a $500 million renovation that will include a new 40-foot-long underwater tunnel to give guests a feeling of being immersed themselves.

The Adler Planetarium has taken a different approach. Since its reopening last year after its COVID-19 lockdown, its been open for free Wednesday evenings. The day is now the busiest and draws visitors disproportionally from South and West Side neighborhoods, which the Adler attributes to having stargazed in these communities for over a decade through its Scopes in the City program.

Government and philanthropists have pitched in, too. To help them make up for lost business during the first years of COVID-19, the state of Illinois provided Back to Business grants of up to $250,000 apiece this fall to a list of arts and cultural organizations, including the Adler, the Art Institute, the Field, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The city of Chicago provided $16.5 million to art nonprofits this year, too. And earlier, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin donated $125 million to the Museum of Science and Industry to, among other things, create a first-of-its-kind digital gallery in North America.

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As lagging museum attendance figures show, however, it hasnt been enough.

One thing that would help immensely would be reducing crime. According to the new poll, 71% of local residents said they enjoy spending time in downtown Chicago. But 4 out of 10 Chicagoans and more than half of people in suburban Cook County said they dont feel safe doing so. Asked which investments the city should make to boost tourism, the top answer was public safety initiatives, cited by 68% of respondents.

Chicago needs its cultural institutions to bounce back; the city simply has fewer options that can draw millions of people each year. Chicagos theaters, which could be counted on to pull in locals and tourists alike, are in a steep decline, with dozens having gone dark since 2019. Another reliable people magnet, Michigan Avenue, which once ranked as one of the top shopping destinations in the world, is a stretch of lifeless storefronts.

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All of us need to pitch in, too. Even though museum attendance is down, local residents are still flocking to the citys lakefront to visit one or more of Chicagos landmark cultural institutions each and every day. Why? Because the experience enriches us. Lets share what we love about our home.

Were emerging from a pandemic, building a city that works for all and combating a crisis in social connection. Its a lot. Turn up the loud on your Chicago proud as we weave our citys narrative and set our citys course together.

Michelle Larson is president and CEO of Chicagos Adler Planetarium. Will Johnson is the Chicago-based CEO of The Harris Poll, a global public opinion, market research and strategy firm.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Apparently, it is possible for Republican lawmakers to draw majority-Black districts, since Georgia Senate Republicans unveiled a new map proposal on Monday with two of them.

The new proposal comes after U.S. District Court Judge Steve Jones ordered lawmakers to create one additional Black majority congressional district, two additional state Senate districts and five additional state House districts. Jones argued that the current map violated the rights of Black voters to choose a candidate.

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More importantly, however, thats not exactly what the judge ordered. According to the Associated Press, Republicans failed to create two additional Black Senate districts in the southern part of metro Atlanta despite the Judges orders. In other districts Jones declared illegal, lawmakers did pretty much nothing to change the racial makeup. Interestingly enough, Republicans did draw new lines for a number of Democratic-held seats that the Judge did not ask them to change. The new districts are likely to majorly shake up races for Democrats.

Its not certain if the Judge will accept this new map proposal. Lawmakers still have time to draft an official map during the special legislative session that began on Wednesday.

Georgia lawmakers certainly benefit from the fact that Alabama lawmakers made the new floor for following court orders in hell.

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The U.S. Department of Justice said the Georgia Institute of Technology will pay $90,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act over a lack of oversight in their research department.

The National Science Foundation provided former Georgia Tech researcher Dr. Eva K. Lee with several grants over the course of her career, studying and modeling viruses and disease.

Lee, who was employed by Georgia Tech since 1999, was accused of mismanaging research funds and falsifying a certificate needed to receive a $40,000 award from NSF, then lying about it to investigators, Channel 2 Action News investigative partner the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reported in 2020.

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According to reporting by the AJC, Lee received an annual $40,000 recurring grant from NSF since 2008. In 2014, the funding was paused, due to the need for a certificate of membership for certain professional organizations, which Lee did not have.

Instead, Lee was accused of falsifying this certificate in order to obtain the research funding, which she later admitted to in court and pled guilty to a single count of filing a falsified certificate in 2016, and making false statements to the inspector generals special agent while being interviewed during the investigation.

Her plea deal prevented her spending time in prison, according to the AJC. Her attorney, Buddy Parker, said her actions had not hurt the university, or the public.

Dr. Lee stole no monies from NSF. She stole no monies from Georgia Tech. Dr. Lee caused no harm to NSF and Georgia Tech. To the contrary, she brought positive recognition to both, Parker told the AJC.

Lee later sued to retain access to her research network at Georgia Tech, but the university refused. In a statement released in 2020, Georgia Tech said due to her status at the time, and the charges she admitted to, they did not wish to spend state resources on the efforts to obtain the authentication she needed to continue.

In the announcement of the settlement by the USDOJ, officials said the settlement resolves allegations that from April 2014 to March 2019, Georgia Tech and GTRC failed to engage in proper oversight of the grant program, which led to Georgia Tech and GTRCs failure to detect and prevent the submission of false claims to NSF concerning the number of industry members participating in the Center for Health Transformation and the amount of membership fees paid or received on membership certifications for the award.

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Now, to resolve the allegations, Georgia Tech and GTRC agreed to pay a settlement, in addition to funds theyve already repaid to the NSF.

Federal grants and awards come with known rules of the road, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said. Organizations that receive federal fundsespecially schools and universities that are pillars of our communitymust take steps to ensure that their employees are following the rules. This settlement represents our offices commitment to ensuring accountability for institutions that fail to live up to these obligations.

Additional reporting by Science quoted a Georgia Tech engineer who testified at the hearing when Lee was sentenced.

Science quoted Georgia Tech biochemical engineer Mark Prausnitz, who described Lees actions as administrative errors that should have been corrected by the universitys sponsored research office before they triggered an NSF investigation.

The USAO said the settlement is focused specifically on allegations ranging from April 2014 to March 2019, which accused Georgia Tech and GTRC of failing to engage in proper oversight of their grant program, leading to a failure to detect to the submission of false claims to NSF.

The university already repaid $105,000 to NSF, and will now pay an additional $90,000 to resolve the matter with federal authorities.

As previously reported, these are not the only allegations of researchers at Georgia Tech not performing proper oversight over researchers working for the university.

Separate from the allegations against Lee, a multiple-year investigation into three university employees ended with the men indicted, and later convicted and sentenced, for committing and conspiring to commit fraud using funds supplied to Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation.

Channel 2 Action News covered that story for almost 10 years, after James Maloney, James Acree and James Fraley were first accused of the conspiracy, and fired from Georgia Tech after a university audit found theyd been misusing funds.

According to justice officials, Georgia Tech, and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, failed to properly oversee their researchers, which is what allowed Maloney, Acree and Fraley to submit false claims to the National Science Foundation and take millions of dollars in misappropriated funds.

As previously reported, the three Georgia Tech researchers falsely claimed that they were using the funds to purchase items on behalf of a classified project for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.

Instead, the Justice Department said theyd bought ATVs, trailers, flat-screen televisions, iPods and iPads, Apple computers, Kindle E-readers, Nikon and Leica digital cameras, and more.

Additionally, the investigation by Georgia Tech showed that Maloney and Acree had previously been reprimanded for conflict-of-interest policies when it came to the use of facilities and equipment for non-work purposes back in 2007.

Editors note: This story previously incorrectly tied the settlement from Georgia Tech to a different case of researchers investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. This story has been updated to reflect the corrected information.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Chairperson of the Republican National Committee Ronna McDaniel, left, congratulates Gerard Randall, Secretary of the Milwaukee Hosting Committee, after the signing of the official document selecting Milwaukee to host the 2024 Republican National Convention August 5, 2022 at the JW Marriott in Chicago.

The secretary of the Host Committee for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee resigned Thursday in the wake of reports raising questions about the work his nonprofit had done with Milwaukee Public Schools funds.

"Gerard Randall resigned from all his Host Committee positions and duties," according to a statement from the MKE 2024 Host Committee.

The resignation comes two weeks after Milwaukee Public Schools cut ties with Randalls non-profit, the Milwaukee Education Partnership. School board members found it was unclear what work he had done with MPS funds, and Wisconsin Public Radio reported he appeared to falsely claim prominent officials were on his leadership team.

Randalls organization won contracts from MPS totaling more than $1.2 million since 2012. Several officials listed on his board of directors, including state Superintendent Jill Underly and Medical College of Wisconsin President John Raymond, have said they were never on the board.

A source close to Randall said he was taking a leave to tend to health issues.

Randall, first vice chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and chair of the groups African American Council, helped clinch the Republican National Convention for Milwaukee.

He was paid $23,077 by the Host Committee during 2022, the most recent tax filing by the organization. At that time, he was the only board member who was being paid, records show.

The convention will be held July 15-18, 2024, and is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the city.

Earlier Thursday, hundreds of members of the media gathered for a walkthrough of the downtown sites where the massive event will take place.

Randall has lost jobs before because of concerns about his handling of government contracts.

In 2007, then-mayor Tom Barrett forced Randall out as CEO of a council overseeing workforce agencies, after numerous reports criticizing the council's leadership, and a state audit that found inconsistencies in the council's claims for reimbursement.

Randall then landed contracts as a consultant for the county until then-county executive Scott Walker ended that. The Journal Sentinel reported Randall's reports about his work lacked detail.

Daniel Bice of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Rory Linnane can be reached at rory.linnane@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin GOP's Gerard Randall resigns from 2024 RNC host committee
Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/REUTERS

Germany has arrested two teenagers who were allegedly planning terrorist attacks on a synagogue and Christmas market to take revenge against infidels.

The German security services said they arrested a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old over the plot, which was supposedly due to take place on Dec 1. The arrests took place in North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenberg states respectively.

One of the teens reportedly declared a war on the West in an online video in which he warned that an attack would occur at a specific place on Friday.

Very few details about the youths have been released, in order to protect their identities in accordance with German privacy laws.

One of the suspects, said to be a German-Afghan citizen, was arrested on his way to school, German tabloid Bild reported.

Germany is facing a major terror threat, with the countrys domestic intelligence agency warning that the danger is higher than it has been for a long time as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.

Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said Germany needed to be extremely vigilant - ANNEGRET HILSE/REUTERS

In a threat assessment, Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said Germany needed to be extremely vigilant about Islamist attacks in the near future.

I have repeatedly emphasised that an Islamist attack can be carried out in Germany any day, he said.

He stressed that the war in Gaza had led to increased calls for violence across the jihadist spectrum and not just among Hamas supporters in Germany.

This could lead to the radicalisation of perpetrators acting alone who attack soft targets with simple means. The danger is real and higher than it has been for a long time, he said.

A truck ploughed into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in December 2016 killing 12 people - RAINER JENSEN/EPA

German authorities have stepped up security at large events and in Jewish communities in light of the threats.

In December 2016, a truck was deliberately driven into a Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, killing 12 people and wounding dozens. Responsibility for the attack was later claimed by the Islamic State, which at that point was at the height of its influence in the Middle East.

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FILE - The Ultium Cell factory in Warren, Ohio, is shown, Friday, July 7, 2023. General Motors is losing money on every electric vehicle it sells, but the company says it's on track to generate mid single-digit pretax profit margins in 2025 as it produces more higher margin EVs, works out kinks in battery manufacturing and sees battery cost reductions. Specificically, the company has had trouble with machinery that stacks battery cells into modules at its Ultium Cells battery plant near Warren, Ohio, a joint venture with LG Energy Solution of Korea. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

DETROIT (AP)  General Motors is losing money on every electric vehicle it sells, but the company says it's on track to generate mid single-digit pretax profit margins in 2025 as it produces more higher margin EVs, works out kinks in battery manufacturing, and sees battery cost reductions.

That's what Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told analysts at a Barclays conference in New York on Thursday, conceding that the company has struggled to ramp up electric vehicle manufacturing. While the ramp has been a little bit bumpy, we have worked through that," he said.

Specifically, the company has had trouble with machinery that stacks battery cells into modules at its assembly plants after the cells are produced at a battery plant near Warren, Ohio, a joint venture with LG Energy Solution of Korea.

The guidance on Thursday of mid single-digit profit margins in two years is a little better than the low-to-mid single digits the company has estimated in the past, Jacobson said. But the new figure includes benefits from U.S. government clean energy tax credits.

Jacobson said current margins on electric vehicles are substantially negative as the company builds battery plants, retools factories and then underutilizes them as EV production and demand grow.

While the rate of electric vehicle sales growth has slowed in the U.S. this year, Jacobson said demand continues to rise. The company still plans to build factory capacity to manufacture 1 million EVs per year by the end of 2025, but it won't make all of them if the demand isn't there. I dont want to stuff vehicles into a market that doesnt want them, he said, adding that GM also doesn't want to sell EVs at big discounts.

The growth of U.S. electric vehicle sales has slowed sharply since last year. In June 2022, EV sales were growing about 90% year over year. By June of this year the 12-month growth rate had slowed to about 50%, and it remained there at the end of October. Automakers have become increasingly fearful that the pace may weaken further due to consumer concerns about high prices, a lack of charging stations and whether they will run out of juice.

GM is rolling out a series of electric SUVs including an Chevrolet Equinox with a starting price of close to $30,000, as well as a Chevy Silverado EV pickup truck, GMC Hummer EVs and some Cadillac SUVs. It also plans to come out with a new version of the Chevrolet Bolt in 2025.

The company expects to make the EVs profitable by spreading costs over more vehicles as sales increase, by selling more higher-cost/higher profit EVs, and with battery cost savings, Jacobson said.

Shares of GM, which on Wednesday announced a $10 billion stock buyback program and a 33% dividend increase, rose about 1% to $31.82 Thursday.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  For Derek Parra, a gold medalist in speed skating in the 2002 Olympics, it only makes sense that the winter games should return to Utah in 2034.

We know the sports, Parra said. We have, annually, world championship and national championship events for all the winter sports here in Utah.

Salt Lake City chosen as preferred partner for 2034 Winter Games

Unlike other cities that have hosted winter Olympic games, Utah still uses its facilities for sports  not just as storage units.

Parra understands this well, as he is the current sports director at the Utah Olympic Oval, which was built for the 2002 games.

Were really excited about the opportunity to showcase our sports, our city, and the Olympic spirit that still lives here in Salt Lake City, he said.

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee chose Salt Lake City to be its preferred partner for the 2034 games, nearly securing the return of the Olympics to Utahs capital.

An official decision from the committee wont come for another six months.

Derek Parra celebrates after skating to a gold medal in the mens 15,000-meter speed skating event. (Photo by Tim De Waele/Getty Images)

What Utah offers, according to Parra, is a unique Olympic destination. The cities along the Wasatch Front are able to host venues, and athletes are able to get to the mountains in less than an hour.

Ive been to four Olympic games, and this was the best games, not because it was my home country, but because of the access and ease to all the events, he said.

And the ease of access isnt only a boon to athletes. It also makes the event better for spectators and local volunteers.

Moreover, Parra said the prospect of the winter games returning to Salt Lake City will light a fire in the hearts of young Utah athletes.

I was filled with emotion today knowing that the youth in our communities will have an opportunity to be here with the rest of the world in 11 years and have an Olympic games, he said.



In the 2002 games, Parra won gold in the mens 1,500 metres and silver in the mens 5,000 metres.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A Portage woman died early Wednesday morning at a Chicago area hospital after being struck by a pickup truck Tuesday evening while she was crossing the street, according to police.

Rochelle R. Duffee, 68, of the 2600 block of Monnier St., died at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, according to the Cook County Medical Examiners Office.

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Duffee was on foot when she was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Willowcreek Road, according to a release from Lt. Rob Maynard, public information officer with the Portage Police Department. Police were called to the scene at 6:43 p.m. Tuesday.

Preliminary investigation shows that Duffee was crossing Willowcreek Road traveling westbound approximately 50 feet north of the intersection. The involved vehicle is a 2006 Ford F-150 that was being driven by a Portage man, 46. The pickup truck had been traveling eastbound on Lexington Avenue and came to a stop at the intersection of Willowcreek Road.

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As the driver was making a left-hand turn onto Willowcreek Road, police said he struck Duffee while she was in the inside lane of northbound Willowcreek Road. The driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with investigators.

At the time of the crash the lighting conditions were dark and Duffee was wearing a dark blue sweater, limiting her visibility to motorists, police said.

There are streetlights in this area, but it appears the pedestrian was crossing in a dimly lit portion of the roadway between two streetlights, Maynard said.

Duffee sustained life threatening injuries and was unconscious when police arrived. She was transported via ambulance to Northwest Health-Porter and was then flown by Lutheran Air medical helicopter to Advocate Christ Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center, where she later died.

At this time there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a factor in this collision.

The members of the Portage Police Department extend our sympathies to Ms. Duffees family and friends and anyone who has been affected by this tragic incident, Maynard said.
On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott jumped out of a plane. On Tuesday, he boarded a different plane to head to Lubbock and stump for the city's incumbent state representatives as they launch their re-election bids.

"A guy in a wheelchair  I'll just be honest with you  you don't jump out of a plane. Actually, you roll out of a plane," the governor joked.

Either way, while in Lubbock campaigning for state Reps. Dustin Burrows and Carl Tepper, Abbott was fresh off his first skydiving trip, where he joined 106-year-old World War II veteran Al Blaschke, who set a record for oldest person to tandem skydive.

More: See photos of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott helping 106-year-old break skydiving record

Burrows and Tepper, both Lubbock Republicans who represent Texas House Districts 83 and 84, respectively, jointly launched their campaigns for re-election Tuesday evening at the American Windmill Museum with a barbecue dinner and rally featuring their guest Abbott.

Burrows is seeking his fifth term in office, representing parts of Lubbock County and Borden, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Kent, Lynn, Mitchell, Scurry and Terry counties. Freshman Tepper, who represents much of metropolitan Lubbock and northwest Lubbock County, is seeking re-election to his second term.

Both representatives have earned the governor's endorsement.

"I'm here tonight for Dustin Burrows and Carl Tepper, to make sure they get re-elected to the Texas House of Representatives," Abbott told the crowd. "There's no people in the capital whose value sets are more conservative, more aligned with the people out here in the Lubbock area, than these two state representatives."

I am proud to endorse both of them for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives," he said.

Wade Cowan announces his candidacy for Texas House District 83 during a campaign event Nov. 18 at Picoso's Mexican Kitchen.

While no one has announced plans to challenge Tepper in the March 2024 Republican primary, Burrows will have a challenger. Wade Cowan, a farmer, owner of Brownfield Seed and Delinting and former president of the American Soybean Association, launched a campaign against the Lubbock attorney earlier this month.

Cowan, who held a campaign kickoff Nov. 18 at Picoso's Mexican Kitchen, said he understands he's an underdog (Burrows beat challenger Austin Jordan in the 2022 Republican primary by 65 percentage points), but he's not fazed.

"What's the best story you ever heard? It's about an underdog," Cowan said. "That's what Texas, that's what America is all about. Somebody that's the underdog can do it and become more than what everybody else thinks that they can be."

Cowan said he feels Burrows is out of touch with most of his rural constituents outside the city of Lubbock.

"They need somebody that will actually go out and meet the people, and go to the Brownfields, the Wellmans, the Gails, the Snyders, the Hermleighs, the Jaytons," Cowan said. "If we don't protect rural Texans, then Lubbock hurts too, because we're all tethered together."

The last day to file for candidacy in the Republican and Democratic primaries is Monday, Dec. 11. Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024 and election day is Tuesday, March 5.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Abbott helps Burrows, Tepper kick off campaigns; Burrows faces challenger
The remaining two families with children living in and around the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast have been located and evacuated, Kharkiv's Regional Governor announced on Nov. 29.

"All of our findings indicate that the evacuation of children from this area (Kupiansk) has been completed," said Oleh Syniehubov.

The last two families with children had been sought by law enforcement officials for nearly a week before their evacuation, and the governor confirmed that another family with two children independently left Kharkiv Oblast just days prior.

In total, 493 people, including 299 children, living in the three communities in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast were evacuated from their homes. The families received necessary humanitarian, medical, and psychological assistance, and those in need were provided free accommodations.

Situated just 33 kilometers from the Russian border, Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv Oblast has been targeted by Russian attacks on a near daily basis since Feb. 24, 2022.

Read also: Francis Farrell: Ukraine could still lose the war. Lets get some things straight





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) study showing that GP online or telephone appointments risk harming patients once again raises concerns over the state of primary care. The trend to virtual diagnoses, apparent before Covid, was accelerated during the lockdowns when many surgeries closed their doors as people were told to stay away from the NHS.

Two years after the pandemic was declared over, the system has still not returned to where it was. One third of appointments are carried out remotely. There are advantages of online or telephone consultations, especially for busy people who do not have time to visit their GP for a minor ailment nor wish to participate in the 8am lottery for a face-to-face appointment on the day.

If there is choice, there can be little objection. But when patients who would rather see a GP in person are prevented from doing so, or need to go through a triage process conducted by a receptionist, this is not acceptable.

Primary care is the gateway to the rest of the NHS, so getting it right is essential and yet, whenever the shortcomings are identified, the profession refuses to acknowledge them.

Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said family doctors were being unfairly blamed for long delays in diagnosing cancers. She said the fault lay with poor access to diagnostic tests and equipment for ultrasound and MRI scans.

Whatever the reasons, the flaws have been apparent for years. Rather than pretending they dont exist, GPs should come up with some ideas to make the system work better in the interests of their patients.

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Cole Allick remembers growing up on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in northern North Dakota and watching his mother struggle to navigate the overburdened and under-resourced health care system.

Allick said his mom, who suffered from lupus and thyroid disease, would often struggle to get appointments with doctors. And her referrals for specialty physicians, he added, were sometimes denied because the Indian Health Service  a federal health agency that serves American Indians and Alaska Natives  didnt have the funds to cover the appointments.

There are times when our system runs out of funds to support everyone that may need that specialty care, Allick said. Thats where the increased resources for this system needs to happen.

But, Allick said, those experiences shaped and inspired his career path and in August he graduated with his doctorate in Indigenous health from the University of North Dakota in the programs inaugural class.

That was the best decision Ive made, Allick said. It has really refined my interest not only in health systems, but how to use health research as a tool for healthy equity and policy work.

The Indigenous health doctoral program, which launched in 2020, is the first of its kind in the United States, according to the universitys website, and it was designed to offer students a deeper understanding of the unique health challenges faced by Indigenous communities.

Native Americans often face barriers to medical care, such as lower incomes, inadequate sewage disposal, cultural differences, and geographic isolation on reservations, according to the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services.

The life expectancy for Native Americans is also decreasing. A report from the National Center for Health Statistics found the average life expectancy among Native Americans was 67.9 years in 2022, a modest increase from the previous years average of 65.2 years, but down signifanctly from 71.8 years in 2019.

The decrease in life expectancy was exacerbated by the pandemic, the report found. The average life expectancy for all races in the US in 2022 was 77.5 years.

Melanie Nadeau, interim chair of the doctoral program, said the universitys goal is to develop graduates who will go out and connect with Indigenous communities.

Our students are trained to be systems-level thinkers, Nadeau said. We focus a lot on getting to know the community that youre working with, so that you can understand historically what happened with that community and how we can support and advance their health and wellness.

Danya Carroll, who also graduated with her doctorate in Indigenous health in August, said she feels the knowledge she gained in the program is essential to providing more culturally competent health care on reservations.

Carroll, who grew up in Navajo Nation and is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, said there is often high turnover and a language barrier with medical professionals who arent Native American. Her grandmother, who speaks the Navajo language, often struggled with doctors appointments, Carroll said.

We need our own people in those spaces, she said. You just have that understanding when you are from that community.

Carroll said after graduating from the program, she hopes to help build health care systems and promote policies that are more inclusive of Indigenous culture and values.

She is now completing a post-doctoral program at the University of Western Ontario.

Nadeau said graduates from the program are equipped to work in academia, conduct research, and partner with community health programs such as the Indian Health Service.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Native Americans, according to the National Library of Medicine. Allick, who is now a research coordinator and tribal liaison at Washington State University, said one of the disparities he hopes to address through his work is improving access to lung cancer screenings on Indian reservations.

Allick said there needs to be a system that not only makes screenings more accessible but helps identify people who are at higher risk and need to get screened.

A lot of our communities are deeply rural, Allick said. So, if they arent being told to get lung cancer screenings, they are not going to go for it. And when they do need it, its often a really long drive or the resources arent available for them to access it.

While there is no silver bullet to solving health challenges faced by Indigenous communities, Nadeau said she hopes the doctoral program, with its focus on engaging Native communities and understanding their needs, will be a step in the right direction.

I am so hopeful, Nadeau said. Because our students, they are going to change the world.

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Granite City Community Unit School District 9 announced the name of its next superintendent Thursday.

Don Harris, a 1994 Granite City High School graduate with 26 years of experience in education and a doctorate in educational administration, will start July 1, 2024.

Granite City District 9s Board of Education voted unanimously at its board meeting Wednesday evening to name Harris as superintendent following Stephanie Canns retirement at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Cann, a Granite City alumna who has served as superintendent for the past four years, announced her retirement at the October board meeting.

Dr. Harris has demonstrated impressive qualifications and dedication throughout his career, and we believe that his continued leadership in the role of superintendent will be an asset to our district as we continue to progress, Board President Tallin Curran said in a news release.

Harris is currently serving his fourth year as principal at Lake Educational Support Services Center in District 9 and will continue to while also transitioning to his new role.

We are grateful to have Superintendent Cann assisting with this transition, and we thank her for her continued service as she completes her final school year, Curran added.

Together, we will build on our achievements and continue to provide an excellent education for all our students.

Before becoming principal at Lake, Harris worked for 14 years at the board office, including 13 as the districts director of student services.

He started his education career as a physical education teacher in the Hazelwood School District in St. Louis for seven years prior to his first administrative position as principal at a PreK-8 Attendance Center in Sorento, Illinois.

Harris holds a bachelors degree in physical education from Blackburn University  where he was a quarterback and wide receiver  as well as a masters degree in educational administration, education specialist degree in educational administration and doctorate in educational administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
The Type 45 destroyer is equipped with the Sea Viper air-defence system which can track over 2,000 targets - Lt Cdr Oliver Clark/Royal Navy

Grant Shapps has ordered a warship to the Gulf region amid fears of missile escalation from Iran.

HMS Diamond, a Type-45 Destroyer, will bolster other Royal Navy assets in the area as concerns grow over Iranian-backed proxy attacks from groups like the Houthis.

Last week the USS Thomas Hudner, an American Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, shot down multiple drones over the Red Sea that had been fired towards Israel by Houthi rebels.

Another attack in the area on Nov 19 saw a commercial vessel, the MV Galaxy Leader, hijacked by fighters from the Yemen-based group.

The Defence Secretary said the deployment would send a very clear message to Iran in particular and their proxies not to get involved in the Gaza conflict.

With the activity in the Red Sea [and] the Houthis from Yemen, not just firing missiles, but also now intervening with vessels, we think its the right time to step up that force presence to really assure our many partners there.

They [our partners] have been asking for it. They want us to be there. They want us to provide that level of reassurance.

HMS Diamond, one of six Royal Navy destroyers that specialises in combating aerial threats, will join HMS Lancaster, a frigate which deployed to the region last year, as well as three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship.

Each Type 45 destroyer is equipped with the Sea Viper air-defence system which can track over 2,000 targets and simultaneously control multiple Aster missiles in the air at once.

Western leaders fear Israels war against Hamas in Gaza could spill into a regional conflict if actions by groups backed by Iran, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis, are not countered effectively.

They fear missile or drone strikes in Saudi Arabia or other Gulf states from groups funded by Iran could rapidly escalate the crisis.

The Government has also acted in response to increasing concerns over security of strategic maritime chokepoints, such as the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 100 major merchant ships pass daily, and the Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, with a daily transit of around 50 similar vessels.

Warship will conduct operations

As well as protecting against missile and drone threats, the Type 45 destroyer will conduct operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the region and ensure the safe flow of trade.

The accidental blockage of the Suez Canal in 2021, caused by the merchant vessel Ever Given, cost global trade more than 280 million per hour, or 6 billion per day.

Grant Shapps said: Recent events have proven how critical the Middle East remains to global security and stability.

From joint efforts to deter escalation, following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza, to now the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by the Houthis in the Red Sea, it is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world.

Todays deployment will strengthen the Royal Navys patrols, help to keep critical trade routes open and prove that our commitment to regional security not only endures but enhances.

Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commanding officer, said HMS Diamond was an ideal platform to deploy to the Red Sea as a missile picket or onto the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy duties.

It shows genuine commitment to the task and will provide welcome relief to the US navy.

Royal Navy vessels have been permanently deployed to the region since 1980 and have fallen under Operation Kipion since 2011, commanded from Bahrain.

However, Britain always used to have two ships allocated to Op Kipion, usually one destroyer and one frigate.

A defence source told The Telegraph: Our strategy then was right. Now were being forced back to it.

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Editor's note: Yueju opera, or Cantonese opera, is a form of Chinese opera. It combines Mandarin operatic traditions with Cantonese dialect, and incorporates and develops singing and acting techniques of local operas in Cantonese-speaking regions, such as Guangdong province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hong Kong and Macao.





Yueju opera is a cultural symbol for Cantonese speakers in China and abroad. In Southeast Asia, America, Oceania, Europe and Africa, it can often be heard in places where Cantonese-speaking overseas Chinese congregate. They are proud of its global popularity and influence, and see it as an important means to introduce their culture to foreign audiences.

The opera was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. The Chinese characters  ("yue"), referring to China's Guangdong province or Cantonese, and  ("ju"), meaning drama, play, show or opera, are key to understanding Yueju opera.

Yueju opera is well received for both its singing and fighting performances, as well as the accompaniment of string and percussion instruments, such as erxian (two-string fiddles), drum and gong, which are typical in local music of south China. The lead role of the opera is named "wenwusheng," who is good at both singing and fighting. Wenwusheng performers generally use real weapons and adopt Shaolin martial arts to present stunts and fights.

With a history of around 300 years, this opera has developed more than 10,000 repertories, telling historical epics, legendary tales and stories of folk life. It has also adopted elements of ceremonial, religious and sacrificial activities in some rural communities, and enriched itself with Cantonese embroidery, sculpture, ceramics and other local arts.

Since 2003, the local governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have designated the last Sunday of each November as "Yueju Opera Day" to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of this traditional art in the fast-evolving modern culture. In 2006, it was added to the first list of national-level intangible cultural heritage of China.

Large-scale surveys have been organized since 2015, contributing to the protection of important video and audio materials of more than 100 Yueju opera performances, and the conservation of nearly 500 classic opera scripts and a number of delicately designed costumes and headwear. Meanwhile, a multimedia databank has been established to digitize photos, videos and scripts. Teaching materials and books on Yueju opera's history and development have also been published.

Several higher education institutions in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have established special organizations for the research, protection and inheritance of Yueju opera. Arts and drama schools have also put greater efforts into professional opera compositions, singing and acting studies, as well as training performers.

In 2021, the first Yueju opera film, "White Snake," was screened in China, bringing to life a beautiful love story between a white snake spirit and a human. The well-known legend was recreated this time by blending traditional Yueju opera with modern filmmaking, leaving audiences wowed by the traditional Chinese culture.

On Oct. 24, an art exhibition on precious Yueju opera-related collections opened at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. A total of 200 exhibits collected in recent years were displayed, presenting both traditional and innovative aspects of the development of Yueju opera.

At its place of birth, Foshan city in Guangdong province, Yueju opera practitioners are actively involved in the artform's sustainable development. On Nov. 3, a new site for the Foshan Cantonese Opera Theater was unveiled, covering an area of 35,000 square meters and serving as Guangdong's largest and most comprehensive theater specializing in Cantonese opera performance. Here, new generations of audiences can enjoy both traditional performances as well as modern Yueju opera-related exhibitions and interactive activities supported by new technologies.

Discover more about China's intangible cultural heritage and their keywords:







 Item inscribed on UNESCO ICH list in 2022: Traditional tea processing

 Items in 2020: Wangchuan ceremony, Taijiquan



 Item in 2018: Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa

 Item in 2016: Twenty-Four Solar Terms

 Item in 2013: Abacus-based Zhusuan

 Item in 2012: Training plan for Fujian puppetry performers

 Items in 2011: Shadow puppetry, Yimakan storytelling

 Items in 2010: Peking opera, acupuncture and moxibustion, wooden movable-type printing, watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks, Meshrep

 Item in 2009: Yueju opera
Green Country of the Month: How Swedens eco innovators are making up for government setbacks

As COP28 kicks off in Dubai this week, climate policy is under the spotlight. But its not only politicians who have the power to create and inspire change.

Researchers, scientists and innovators play a key role in giving us the knowledge and tools necessary to combat climate change right now and in the future.

In November, Sweden reminded us of this fact. Despite the countrys right-wing government rolling back climate commitments, there was a breakthrough in sodium-ion battery technology, the launch of a flying ferry service, and a prestigious award win for climate innovation.

Swedens sodium-ion battery breakthrough could reduce reliance on lithium

Last week the Swedish company Northvolt announced a significant breakthrough in its sodium-ion battery development.

The company says its battery is a cheaper and more sustainable way to store electricity - without using lithium, nickel, graphite and cobalt like most other batteries.

As the climate heats up, there is an urgent need to switch to renewable energy sources like wind and solar. But renewables are not always as consistent as other sources meaning batteries are needed to store this electricity for later use.

To achieve climate neutrality, the EU will require 18 times more lithium than it currently uses by 2030 and almost 60 times more by 2050.

But these metals come at a cost. Lithium extraction can result in water shortages, biodiversity loss, impacts on mining communities and soil degradation.

A sodium-ion battery could help avoid this, while steering clear of a limited resource thats dependent on other parts of the world like China.

Northvolt says its new battery has been validated at an energy density of 160 watt hours per kilogram, which is similar to lithium batteries for storage purposes.

Our sodium-ion technology delivers the performance required to enable energy storage with longer duration than alternative battery chemistries, at a lower cost, thereby opening new pathways to deploying renewable power generation, Peter Carlsson, CEO and co-founder of Northvolt says.

A flying electric ferry could cut congestion in Stockholm

On the seas, Sweden is also making waves in eco-innovation. A high-tech electric ferry was unveiled by Swedish developers last week.

The vessel is designed to carry 30 passengers at a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 km/h) - considerably faster than other electric passenger ferries. It achieves this with carbon fibre hydrofoil wings that lift the boat out of the water, reducing drag.

This cuts emissions as well as journey times. A trip between the Stockholm suburb of Ekero and the city centre will be slashed from 55 minutes to 25 minutes.

The boat is still in testing but is expected to enter service in July next year.

Green methanol company scoops top prize in Swedish awards

Back on land, Sweden has also been honouring innovation with the E-Prize - the countrys most prestigious energy innovation awards.

Last week, the winners were unveiled with Liquid Wind - a leading e-fuel developer - snagging the prize for Renewable Energy.

The circular carbon energy company aims to reduce the shipping industrys reliance on fossil fuels with its green methanol, which is converted from green hydrogen and CO2 from biomass power plants.

We are very proud and honoured to receive Sweden's most prestigious award for climate innovation, Claes Fredriksson, Liquid Winds CEO and founder says. This is a true recognition for our team, our partners, our supporters and our vision towards creating a world without dependency on fossil fuels.

The companys first facility is expected to open in Ornskoldsvik in 2025, producing 50,000 tonnes of electrofuel per year. The goal is to produce eight million tonnes by 2030.

Other prize winners included CheckWatt, which was recognised in the Energy Optimisation category for its smart grid innovations, and electric motorcycle and moped manufacturer Cake, which received the Sustainable Transport award.

Swedens right-wing government concerns environmentalists

While these innovations make Sweden our Green Country of the Month, it is important to acknowledge the current political climate.

In March the countrys Climate Policy Council criticised the new environmental policy of the countrys right wing government who came to power in October 2022.

Instead of rapidly reducing emissions, the changes decided and announced so far will, on the contrary, according to the governments own assessment, increase emissions in the near future, it stated in its annual report.

The government also caused an outcry when it scrapped the Ministry of Environment last month in a move the opposition branded devastating.

But these developments make it all the more important for people to step up and inspire Swedes at a time where they may be lacking hope.

What is Euronews Green's country of the month?

Each month we highlight a European country that is advocating for climate, nature and the environment. Our Green Country of the Month can stand out for anything from eco-innovations to policy change.

These are our previous winners: Albania, Denmark, Iceland, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Estonia and Wales.

If youre feeling encouraged by a European government-led initiative or green innovation in December - please do reach out to us on social media, either on Instagram or Twitter.
Grimes will no longer have public transportation.

The city found only 13 residents have used the Des Moines Area Regional Transit system despite paying about $645,919 this fiscal year in property taxes, according to city documents. The Grimes City Council voted unanimously Nov. 28 to withdraw from DART, effective July 1, 2025.

It's a disappointing decision for DART leaders.

"Just like other infrastructure, everyone benefits from investing in public transit because it helps foster a healthy, vibrant community and ensures everyone regardless of income or ability can fully participate in our communities," DART's CEO Amanda Wanke said in a statement.

More: DART is losing millions. Are bus route service cuts or tax hikes needed to save it?

Why is Grimes cutting its bus route?

Grimes officials said it had determined only six people travel daily between Grimes and downtown Des Moines on Express Route 93, which was extended into the suburb in 2019, and seven people have used paratransit services over the past year. DART also has an on-call door-to-door transit service in Grimes that was expanded in 2021, but no one has requested a ride through it in 2023, according to city documents.

With the property tax levy, that means each DART trip from a Grimes resident cost more than $180.

"The cost per trip only gets more expensive as taxes increase and service decreases. While it is understood that a regional transit system will not provide the same level of service to every community, the cost-benefit analysis doesnt pay off for Grimes," according to city documents.

DART spokesperson Sarah Welch wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register that DART does not know the exact number of residents who have used the express route over the past year. And while only seven Grimes residents have used paratransit services over the past year, Welch said one of those individuals has used it twice a week to get to dialysis treatments.

"The other impact of Grimes withdrawing is that DART Paratransit users in other communities will not be able to travel into Grimes for work or for appointments, shopping, etc. More than half of the Paratransit trips in Grimes are residents traveling into Grimes from other communities to work and visit Grimes businesses," Welch said.

Grimes city documents said a reason paratransit use has been low in Grimes is likely due to Grimes Volunteer Support Services. About 70 volunteers transport more than 210 Grimes residents to appointments, shopping and other needs.

Despite the withdrawal, DART has indicated it "may continue to provide services" through June 30, 2025, in Grimes, the city documents say. And in the future, the city said it would look into contracting paratransit services with DART or an independent company or increasing funding for Grimes Volunteer Support Services.

The Des Moines metro community of about 15,000 residents is still on the hook for funding DART through the end of its service. It will pay $705,783 for fiscal year 2025.

It also owes about $59,000 in debt service. Valuations received in January 2024 will determine the final amount, according to city documents. The city could either pay its share of debt to DART before the withdrawal or continue its property tax levy until the debt is repaid.

More: Longer waits for buses, fewer routes: DART faces 40% service cut unless Des Moines pays more

DART already is losing money before Grimes' departure

DART, the state's only regional transit system, is funded by a formula created in 2021 that takes into account the population and level of service in each of its 11 cities and Polk County. But DART's sustainability is in question as it's on track to hit an approximate $4 million deficit by fiscal year 2025 unless it can find alternative forms of funding.

DART already is facing large service cuts in Des Moines if the City Council there does not approve a new franchise fee to pay for services. Under the proposed cuts, most routes would run every hour instead of every 30 minutes, service would be limited on weekends, with fewer buses on Sundays, and buses would be limited throughout the day, with some routes running only at peak travel times.

While Des Moines is facing immediate cuts, the DART Commission also will consider a redesign of suburban service ahead of fiscal year 2026 budget discussions.

"We have worked hard as a Commission to be as efficient and effective as we possibly could over the years. We've gotten very innovative in our transportation services, and we're constantly looking at ways to reinvent ourselves and do more with less," Russ Trimble, DART commission chair and mayor of West Des Moines, said in a statement.

"The rest of DARTs member communities will continue to work together as a region to provide transportation services that are a lifeline for many people in central Iowa," Trimble added.

Phillip Sitter focuses for the Des Moines Register on reporting on suburban growth and development in the western metro areas. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Grimes will no longer have bus routes as city cancels DART services
For several of the dignitaries gathered at the concrete desert off Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen on Thursday to announce the start of construction on the New Jersey side of the Gateway rail tunnel entrance, there was a feeling of deja vu.

Some had been here before  when the same project launched in 2009.

Back then, there was a $13.6 million contract to move the utilities, demolish a McDonald's on the future track path, and build an overpass so Tonnelle Avenue vehicle traffic could flow over the new rail tunnel entrance.

But when Gov. Chris Christie in 2010 canceled the rail tunnel project  known then as ARC  the Tonnelle overpass portion of the work had been underway for 13 months and was nearly a third of the way done. The newly constructed overpass and support beams were visible, along with piles of materials stacked and ready for installation.

Story continues below photo gallery.

After Christie's decision, the contractor was told to put back utilities, demolish some of the overpass structure and fill in the space where the construction took place.

Some 14-year-old aging concrete support beams remain stacked in rows on the site, just feet from where shovelfuls of dirt were tossed Thursday to mark the newest version of the Tonnelle Avenue overpass project.

Now, Edison-based Conti Civil LLC will do the project all over again, this time for $28.6 million.

New York-based Naik Consulting Group will be paid $12.5 million to oversee the construction of the new overpass and utility relocation to kick off what is now called the Gateway program. Some $25 million of those costs will be covered with a federal grant.

More: This NJ-NY agency can now get federal money for Gateway rail tunnel. Why that matters

$16.1 billion Gateway tunnel project

This and the $649 million concrete casing construction that began earlier this year on the Manhattan side of the tunnel are the starting pieces to the $16.1 billion Gateway tunnels project that will build a new two-track tube and rehabilitate the existing, 113-year-old tunnel.

A $2.3 billion project already underway to replace the aging and cantankerous Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus with a new Portal North Bridge is also part of the first phase of Gateway.

The Gateway Project also will replace the outdated Portal Bridge, built in 1910, which crosses the Hackensack River to Secaucus.

Portal Bridge, a swing span, carries 450 Amtrak and NJ Transit trains per day. They are often delayed at the Portal Bridge because the aging components sometimes malfunction while opening and closing, causing a cascade of delays.

The improvements will make rail service more reliable for hundreds of thousands of daily NJ Transit and Amtrak riders traveling between New Jersey and Manhattan.

More: Feds add $4 billion to Gateway tunnel project, which will cut NJ's share of the cost

Though the Tonnelle Avenue project is virtually a redo, much has changed in 14 years.

Polly Trottenberg, deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, was working there in 2010 as the assistant secretary for transportation policy and vividly remembers the day the project was canceled. But what sticks out to her now is what happened afterward.

"After that, I remember very much Amtrak coming back and saying, 'We have a fresh vision, and one thing were going to do this go-around is were going to have everyone at the table,'" Trottenberg said.

NJ Governor Phil Murphy attends the second groundbreaking for the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project at Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, NJ on Thursday Nov. 30, 2023. The first groundbreaking was in 2009 with then NJ Governor Jon Corzine, which was later cancelled by NJ Governor Chris Christie.

On Thursday, that was one of the messages trumpeted by the speakers.

"It really does matter that we are all in it together to make sure we are all putting funding forward, because otherwise we cant get it done," said Kathryn Garcia, director of state operations in New York.

"But we know its not just about building a shiny thing," Garcia said. "We know we need to meet the needs of the next century. Commuters deserve to have plenty of space to get on and off trains safely and efficiently, and the governor has a responsibility to meet those needs creatively and in the most cost-effective way."

Nearly $11 billion in federal funds

In addition to the federal grants for Tonnelle and the concrete casing project, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer announced that Gateway would receive nearly $3.9 billion from the federal-state partnership grant program, on top of $6.88 billion in federal Capital Investment Grant funds that is expected to be solidified next year.

The significant federal investment lowers the costs that will be owed by New York and New Jersey.

Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, the bistate agency that is overseeing the tunnels project, remembers being at Tonnelle in 2009 to kick off that groundbreaking. He noted that in 2009 there was just $3.8 billion of federal funding for a project estimated then to cost $8.7 billion.

"This is the right moment and its the right project alignment, and I think this time there is construction on both sides of the river and we are not stopping," Kolluri said.

But in order to feel the full effects of having four rail lines under the Hudson River, more money and projects will be needed to increase the capacity in New York Penn Station so more trains can come and go, plus projects to give direct access to NJ Transit rail lines whose riders are currently forced to switch trains before reaching midtown Manhattan.

"Were going to bring new improvements and opportunities to New Jersey with every milestone we reach, because with every step we take were moving closer to our larger goal, building safer, healthier and happier communities," said Gov. Phil Murphy.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gateway rail tunnel begins with groundbreaking on New Jersey side
First batch of Thai hostages arrive in Bangkok after release

First batch of Thai hostages arrive in Bangkok after release

By Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) -When the first group of Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas in Gaza arrived at a Bangkok airport, they asked for a moment of silence to mourn the Thai labourers who were killed.

"I'm saddened that my 39 fellow workers who died and would like everybody to take a moment to mourn their loss," the group's representative Uthai Saengnuan told reporters on Thursday.

Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed 39 Thais and abducted 32 Thai labourers during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to the Thai government.

The first group of 17 returned on Thursday from a total of 23 who have been released in Gaza, with nine remaining in captivity.

The returnees stood calmly in a line, some wearing shirts with the Thai and Israeli flags.

"I would like to thank the Israeli and Thai authorities who helped us ... and hope that the others will come back," he said.

Before the war, around 30,000 Thai labourers worked in the agriculture sector, making the group one of Israel's largest migrant worker groups.

So far, 9,000 Thais have been repatriated.

"All Thais were worried about you," Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said told the returnees via a video call as they gathered for the press conference at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Thai migrant workers in Israel come mainly from the Southeast Asian nation's rural northeast, seeking higher pay to send home to their families.

Family members waited on Thursday to greet their relatives at the airport.

"The support of friends and allies helped secure the release of Thai hostages," Foreign Minister Pranpree Bahiddha-Nukara told reporters, adding that the government would continue its efforts in securing the release of those who remain captive.

Pranpree said he held had talks with his counterparts in several Middle Eastern countries with Hamas contacts. He was previously in Cairo and Doha for talks.

A Thai Muslim group that held direct talks with Hamas said their efforts were crucial in securing the early release of Thai hostages. On the first day of the ceasefire, 10 Thai hostages were released without condition.

(Reporting by Napat Wesshasartar, Artorn Pookasook, Thomas Suen, Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat;Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Alison Williams)
In the wake of a controversy over prayers led over the intercom at Prague Elementary School, the Freedom From Religion Foundation called Wednesday for the resignation of state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters. The group said it will not back down in the face of your grandstanding after Walters criticized the organization for objecting to the school prayers.

Your disregard for your constitutional duties and your flagrant political posturing are a disgrace to your office, and we once again renew our call for you to resign immediately, the foundation said in the letter, signed by its co-presidents, Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor.

Walters responded through a statement issued by an Oklahoma State Department of Education spokesman.

I hope every Oklahoman prays that this radical, out of state, Soros-funded group learns about our Constitution and the rights it guarantees, Walters said. The statement also included a link to a PragerU video entitled, What Does Separation of Church and State Mean? PragerU is a conservative nonprofit organization that produces videos for schoolchildren meant to counter what it calls the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education.

Prague Elementary School agreed to stop prayers over intercom following letter from Freedom From Religion Foundation

Chris Line, an attorney for the Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, contacted Prague Superintendent Kevin Engle earlier this month after receiving a report from an anonymous community member in Prague that the school had hosted daily prayers during its morning Rise and Shine segment. The foundation also said the districts Facebook page regularly posted photos and names of young students who asked if they could pray. Both actions, the foundation said, were unconstitutional.

On Nov. 17, the Prague school districts attorney, Justin Cliburn, responded to Lines letter.

Your letter addressed Prague Elementary School students beginning the school day by praying for the school over the schools public address system and the Districts subsequent social media posts identifying the students by name and image, Cliburn said. The District agrees that the posts and prayer are inappropriate for a public school district. It will ensure neither occurs in the future and will delete any District social media posts referencing the same.

More: Prague Elementary agrees to end morning announcement prayers following First Amendment concerns

In spite of the Prague district's response and agreement to stop the prayer, Walters weighed in with a video posted on social media.

Today, we see Prague Public Schools backing down to a radical atheist group, Walters said. You know, were going to continue to fight for religious liberty and religious freedom here in the state of Oklahoma. What weve seen is a group thats funded by George Soros, atheists, that is from out of state, that has come in and targeted children that are initiating prayer in Prague Public Schools. Just as bad, we have Prague Public Schools bowing down to these bullies and telling their students that theyre not going to allow them to initiate prayer.

Its outrageous. We have to take a stand for our students freedom of religion, their freedom to express their religious beliefs, no matter what those religious beliefs may be. So what weve got to do is weve got to tell groups like the Freedom From Religion group, like the (American Civil Liberties Union), we will never back down to your bullying antics. We will not allow atheism to be the state-sponsored religion of our school system, not here in Oklahoma. You guys need to leave our kids alone. We will not stand for it and we will continue to fight for religious liberty here in the state of Oklahoma.

More: Supreme Court denies Walters' effort to intervene in religious charter school case

The Freedom From Religion Foundation said in its open letter to Walters that Soros, a wealthy investor and philanthropist who supports liberal and progressive causes, does not fund the foundation.

It also accused Walters of the (mis)use of your office to undermine Oklahomas secular educational system and otherwise impose your personal, pernicious Christian nationalist viewpoint on Oklahomas citizens.

Citing numerous letters the foundation said it has sent to Walters, it said the superintendent has shown himself to be uneducable. You appear to consider that the purpose of your office is not to help secular public education, but to destroy it. It also said Walters uses official governmental social media afforded to your public office and that he treats his position as a pulpit from which to preach your personal religious views and Christian nationalist propaganda.

The foundation praised the action of the Prague district in ending the prayers over the elementary-school intercom and said Walters should not interfere or target school districts that do the right thing and end such constitutional violations.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Group calls for Ryan Walters to resign over Oklahoma school prayer dispute
The American families of hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas are issuing urgent warnings that time is running out to get their loved ones back from captivity, amid the expiration of a tenuous truce between Israel and Hamas that has seen more than 80 people released.

The parents of three young men, dual citizens serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), urged members of Congress on Wednesday to increase pressure on the Israeli government, the global community and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to make freeing the hostages the priority agenda item in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Time is ticking, and its not in our favor, said Ruby Chen, the father of 19-year-old Itay Chen, who is believed to be held by Hamas.

Ruby Chen said the main message of the families is that all pressure needs to be focused on prioritizing the release of the hostages, then we deal with Hamas. Its an important distinction that we the families want to convey here as well.

Its not yet clear how negotiations for Hamas to release the men and Israeli soldiers will play out, or whether their American citizenship will work in their favor or raise the price on their release. At least four Americans have been released by Hamas out of 10 whom the administration has said it was tracking.

More than 80 hostages, mostly women and children, kidnapped by Hamas have been released back to Israel since Nov. 24, following intensive negotiations between the U.S., Israel, Egypt, Qatar and Hamas.

Under the terms of the deal, Hamas and Israel initially agreed to a pause in fighting to allow for 50 hostages to be released over four days, 150 Palestinian prisoners to be let out of Israeli jails and a surge of humanitarian support into the Gaza Strip.

Israel and Hamas agreed to an additional day of cease-fire for each 10 hostages who were freed, with more Palestinian prisoners identified for release. The extended pause allows for more humanitarian aid into the strip.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is eliminated, in opposition to urgent calls by much of the international community and aid groups that a long-term cease-fire must be put in place to protect civilians caught in the fighting. President Biden has not backed such calls for a general cease-fire but started to warn that war is to give Hamas what they seek.

Hamas has held hostages for more than 50 days. Accounts of the conditions of captivity are beginning to emerge, the only details so far available since Hamas has blocked the ICRC from making contact with hostages. Families of freed hostages have told the media that their loved ones were held in near darkness, underground, for more than six weeks, had lost weight from lack of food and were never given the chance to shower. One woman said her 12-year-old nephew was forced by Hamas to watch videos of their Oct. 7 massacre and threatened at gunpoint if he turned away.

American families of Israeli soldiers believed to be held by Hamas speak on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, calling for more international pressure to secure the release of their sons. (Laura Kelly)

Hamas initially agreed to releasing children and women hostages first but has also released foreign nationals  South Asian immigrant workers in Israel  and at least one Israeli man with dual Russian citizenship.

The prisoners whom Israel has agreed to release include Palestinian women and teenagers.

But Hamas may try extracting a steeper price from the Israeli government in releasing Israeli men and soldiers.

Hamas used the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2006 to secure the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, included among them the groups current military head Yahya Sinwar, described as the architect of the Oct. 7 attack.

Hamas still holds the bodies of two Israeli soldiers from the 2014 war with Israel, Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and has kept in captivity Israeli Avera Mengistu for nine years after he reportedly crossed into Gaza in September 2014.

The American parents of the Israeli soldiers did not address at the Wednesday roundtable how high the stakes to see their sons freed are, but Ruby Chen said he had earlier met with the ICRC in Washington.

We were thankful for what theyve done but also critical about the fact that they have not been vocal, Chen told The Hill.

He said the response of ICRC officials to his criticisms was that they believe they are more efficient when being discreet, and we said that being discreet is not working in this unique situation.

They are the ones that see the hostages when they are released, what status they are in  they are underfed, they are dirty, meaning not kept in a good condition, Chen continued. And they need to be able to convey to the international community that they are asking to go in and do their mission statement  They cannot be quiet about that.

The ICRC emphasizes that its role is to be a neutral intermediary between parties to allow for the hostage releases to take place.

The role of the ICRC is to implement what has already been agreed upon between the parties. We are not part of the negotiation, and we are not aware of the details, ICRC spokesperson Elizabeth Shaw wrote to The Hill.

As a neutral intermediary, and this is the core of our mandate, our role is to facilitate the release and the transfer of either the hostages or the Palestinian detainees. We are in contact with the parties. And as usual, we are really here to implement this agreement on the ground.

Shaw added that the plight of loved ones being held hostage is one of our top priorities and are focused on speaking with Hamas, Israeli officials, and others, persistently advocating on behalf of the hostages held in Gaza, including directly with Hamas and with actors who may have influence on the parties.

The silence surrounding whether their sons are alive or dead is unimaginable, said Ronen Neutra, whose 22-year-old son Omer is believed to be held by Hamas. Omer, from Plainview, N.Y., deferred admission to Binghamton University to serve in the IDF and was stationed at a guard post near the Gaza border that was overrun by Hamas on Oct. 7.

When I spoke with Omer on Friday night, Oct. 6, in our last conversation he indicated that he was looking forward to a quiet and peaceful weekend after a really stressful month protecting the border, Ronen said.

Orna Neutra, Omers mother, said they have not had any sign of life from their son.

Fifty-four days since the last sign of life, can you imagine? she asked. It truly is unimaginable. Unimaginable that something like the events of Oct. 7 could even take place. Unimaginable that after 54 days, not only is he still held hostage, but that the Red Cross has not been allowed access. Unimaginable that we take comfort in the fact that he was taken hostage and not murdered on that day.

Yael Alexander, whose 19-year-old son Eden is also a soldier and believed to be held hostage, said she spoke with Eden on the morning of Oct. 7 as bombs began exploding around the base he was manning near the border with Gaza.

He called me and he told me, Mom, were getting a lot of bombs, its like war here. I was so surprised that something like that could happen, everything seems like, fine, you know? Im thankful that I spoke with him before they took him, she said, pausing. And thats it. Im just hoping that he will come home to us.

Liz Naftali-Hirsch, whos 4-year-old great-niece Abigail Edan was released Sunday from Hamas captivity, talked about the toll captivity took on the toddler and raised concern for the soldiers, in particular female soldiers, amid reports that Hamas members inflicted grievous sexual violence against those people they attacked and killed in Israel on Oct. 7.

Some people might say, Liz, why are you still here? You won the lotto, your relative is home with her family, she said. But what Im here to say is that these people who are here speaking about their American sons, those folks in Israel and around the world who are waiting for their loved ones to come back, were now a family, we are here for each other.

I also want to bring out that there are young women, we have to get out of there because I will not say what is happening, but we all know what is happening to young women, they need to come out.

Republican and Democratic members of Congress, attending a roundtable with the families, said they spoke with one voice in supporting Bidens efforts to secure the hostages release. The previous day, the House voted almost unanimously to approve a resolution calling for all the hostages to be released.

We stand united with you as Americans on this committee. We put our partisanship aside, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said at the opening of the roundtable discussion.

I will say I am proud of this administration for standing with Israel. We are Americans first, and we need to bring more of our American hostages home. Weve only brought one home, I credit the administration, leaders of Congress, thank you to countries like Qatar, we have to get our American citizens home into safety.

Updated at 3:13 p.m. Nov. 30

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Zootopia characters make an appearance upon the announcement of Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disney Resort in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 5, 2023.(Xinhua/Ren Long)

The world's first Zootopia land, scheduled to open to the public starting from Dec. 20 at Shanghai Disney Resort, has kicked off trial operation, the resort said Wednesday.



The new themed land was open to the media for the first time on Wednesday. It is based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios movie "Zootopia" and will become the eighth themed land in Shanghai Disneyland.

According to the resort, the Zootopia land's construction began in December 2019, and it involves many latest original design concepts from the international Disney engineering team.

Shanghai Disney Resort opened with six themed lands on June 16, 2016. Its seventh land, Disney Pixar Toy Story Land, opened in 2018, making Shanghai Disneyland the fastest-expanding Disneyland in the world. In August this year, the resort began construction of its third themed hotel.
Editor's Note: For the latest news on the Israel-Hamas conflict, please see our live updates file here.

The temporary truce between Israel and Hamas expired Friday with the Israeli military announcing it has resumed combat in Gaza, blaming Hamas for violating the deal.

The Israel Defense Forces said it "resumed combat against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza" and accused Hamas of violating the truce by firing toward Israel. About 30 minutes after the truce expired, the Israeli military said its fighter jets were striking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier Friday, there had been no word from mediator Qatar on another extension and the Israeli military said its aerial defense system intercepted a rocket launched from Gaza. Hamas did not immediately comment.

The halt in fighting began a week ago, on Nov. 24. It initially lasted for four days, and then was extended for several days with the help of Qatar and fellow mediator Egypt. Representatives of Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. have toiled for weeks, trying to bring calm to the region, helping create a four-day cease-fire that has lasted a week.

Both sides appeared to struggle to agree on how to continue the daily exchanges of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Hamas released eight Israeli prisoners Thursday, two fewer than the agreed-upon daily number but still averaging out to 10 a day over the cease-fire extensions after 12 were freed Wednesday. As part of the deal, another group of Palestinian women and children was let out of Israeli prisons early Friday, hours before the truce ended.

If we can achieve the release of more hostages, then of course were open to extending this humanitarian pause in the fighting,'' Mark Regev, senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told CNN. "But without that, were going back to the combat to defeat Hamas.'

Truce extended a day: A reprieve, minutes before pact was set to expire

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men gather around the body of Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman during his funeral in Jerusalem on Nov. 30, 2023. Wasserman and at least two other people were killed and several others wounded in a shooting attack in Jerusalem. Police said the two attackers from east Jerusalem were killed.

Developments:

 Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold more than 20 women and children, who would all be freed in a few days if the truce is extended and the rate of 10 releases per day continued. Israel says around 125 men are still is captivity, including several dozen soldiers. A total of 107 hostages have been released during the cease-fire, 83 of them Israelis, including dual nationals.

 Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in Dubai for the U.N. climate conference, said he met with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, urging the president of the United Arab Emirates to use his full diplomatic weight to help bring the hostages home.

 Hamas leaders issued a call for supporters to hold marches in cities, capitals and squares around the world Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a show of solidarity "until the aggression and heinous massacres against our children and defenseless civilians stop."

 Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas while celebrating his 27th birthday at a music festival Oct. 7, has been found dead, the Israeli military said. The army did not specify where his body was identified.

 Israeli gunboats bombed large areas near the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis in violation of the truce, the West Bank-based media outlet Al-Ayyam reported. It said tanks also targeted displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza, wounding at least two people.

Blinken presses Netanyahu on protecting civilians

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Jerusalem on Thursday for meetings with Netanyahu and the Israeli War Cabinet, reaffirming U.S. support for Israels right to protect itself in compliance with international humanitarian law and urging Israel to avoid harm to civilians.

Blinken and Netanyahu discussed efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages and the need to accelerate delivery of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the State Department said in a statement.

The secretary stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there, the statement said. It said Blinken also urged immediate steps to hold extremist Israeli settlers accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The Biden administration has been steadfast in its support of the Israeli militarys offensive, prompted by the stunning Oct. 7 Hamas attack into Israel. But Netanyahu and the U.S. have faced increasing global criticism as the Palestinian death toll mounts, and the U.S. has been a leader in talks that forged a weeklong truce and the release of scores of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu again made it clear the temporary truce does not mean long-term peace is near. The prime minister noted the meeting with Blinken took place hours after militants killed three people in a shooting rampage in Jerusalem.

It is the same Hamas that perpetrated the terrible massacre on Oct. 7, and the same Hamas that is trying to murder us everywhere, Netanyahu said on social media. I told (Blinken) we have sworn, I have sworn, to eliminate Hamas. Nothing will stop us.

Six more Israelis released, eight for the day

Six more hostages held by Hamas were released to the Red Cross late Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said, raising to eight the number let go under the latest truce renewal.

Earlier Thursday, Israeli authorities said Mia Schem, 21, and Amit Soussana, 40, were handed over to the Red Cross by militants.

Schem, a French-Israeli who appeared in a video released by Hamas earlier in the war, works at a tattoo parlor and is known as an old soul with a fighting spirit, her family told the Hostage and Missing Families Forum. The group said Schem's friend Elia Toledano who was also kidnapped and is still being held captive.

French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated Schem's release in a tweet, saying, I share this great joy with her family and all French people.

Soussana is a lawyer with three cats who enjoys music and plays tennis in her free time, her family said. She lived by herself in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when she was kidnapped while hiding in the shelter in her home.

 Kim Hjelmgaard

US has scant information on last American woman hostage

The Biden administration has no information about the whereabouts and condition of the last American woman believed to be under Hamas captivity in Gaza, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday.

The White House has not revealed the womans name, but Judith Weinstein Haggai  a 70-year-old Israeli American dual citizen who went missing Oct. 7 with her husband near their Kibbutz Nir Oz home  has not been listed among hostages released.

Kirby said the U.S. believes other groups in addition to Hamas might be holding hostages, although Hamas might still have information about them.

More than 100 women and children held as hostages  including two Americans  have been freed from Gaza during Israels pause in fighting with Hamas. Seven Americans and one permanent resident remain in Gaza. They are all adult males except one. The Israel-Hamas hostage agreement was extended for a seventh day Thursday.

We're working on it literally by the hour to see if we can get this seventh day turned into an eighth, ninth and 10th and beyond, Kirby said.

 Joey Garrison

Fragile peace, optimism but plenty of concerns

"Optimism" is the word John Lyndon repeatedly uses, believing a tenuous truce in the Israel-Hamas war can be extended even longer. The executive director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace, a coalition of about 170 organizations worldwide working toward peace building, particularly with Israelis and Palestinians, Lyndon calls the release of hostages by Hamas "silver linings." A continuous caravan of humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip is an "incredibly positive sign," he said. Yet, Lyndon wishes even more could be done to stop the violence.

""Were still uncertain about what's going to happen next," said Lyndon, one of several experts on war, terror and peace contacted by USA TODAY. Read more here.

 Terry Collins

How will war end? Peacemakers hope Hamas-Israel truce previews war's endgame

Israel says more than 2,000 soldiers have been wounded in war

More than 2,000 soldiers have been wounded since the war began with the deadly Hamas invasion into Israeli communities bordering Gaza, the Israeli military said. It was the first time the military has provided statistics on the wounded. The announcement coincided with the annual National Day of Appreciation for Israels Wounded Soldiers and Victims of Terror. About 80 soldiers have been killed in the fighting.

Israeli authorities say the militants who crashed across the border Oct. 7 killed 1,200 people and took about 240 back to Gaza as hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 13,000 Palestinians have been killed since then as Israel presses its military mission to crush Hamas.

Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: Combat operations resume as truce expires
When Hamas launched its devastating attack against Israel on October 7, few gave the Islamist terrorist group much chance of surviving the inevitable backlash the massacres would provoke from the Israelis.

While the Hamas leadership must have given careful consideration to the likely consequences of carrying out the worst terrorist attack in Israels history, the prospects of the groups infrastructure surviving the full force of Israels military onslaught were seen as virtually non-existent.

For all the ingenuity that Hamas terrorists displayed during the assault  from weaponising para-gliders to the construction of home-made rockets capable of terrorising Israels civilian neighbourhoods  the general assumption was that they would be no match for Israels vastly superior firepower.

And yet, here we are, just over seven weeks later, with Hamas still controlling large parts of Gaza, and the Israeli militarys chances of fulfilling its objective of wiping the terrorist organisation from the face of the earth looking more and more unattainable.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

It is not that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) lack either the strength or resolve to accomplish their stated objective. Indeed, the reason Israels military establishment  including premier Benjamin Netanyahu  were so opposed to accepting any pause in their offensive in Gaza was the firm conviction that any break in hostilities would be to Hamass advantage.

But, as the Israeli government is learning to its cost, even when you have one of the worlds most effective military forces, it is still possible to be deterred from achieving a key objective by some unforeseen circumstance  in this case, the power of emotional blackmail.

Even though Hamas provoked the Gaza conflict from a position of weakness compared with Israels military might, its expert exploitation of the estimated 240 Israeli hostages it seized on October 7 has the potential to turn the momentum of the conflict in its favour.

Taking hostages in pursuit of wider political objectives is a familiar concept in the Middle East, especially for Iran, Hamass principal backer. It has previously used the tactic to achieve spectacular results.

The 1979 Iran hostage crisis, when 66 Americans were taken captive after the US Embassy in Tehran was overrun by supporters of the Iranian revolution, ultimately resulted in then US president Jimmy Carter being evicted from the White House. Carters fate was sealed when a rescue mission mounted by US special forces ended in failure after a military helicopter crashed into a transport aircraft in the Iranian desert, killing eight US military personnel.

Iran employed the same tactic in Lebanon in the 1980s, seizing scores of Western hostages, to put pressure on the Reagan administration to curtail its involvement in the countrys bitter civil war. The subsequent Iran-Contra scandal, whereby Washington sought to provide arms to Tehran in return for the hostages release, seriously undermined US influence in the region.

While Iran has denied any direct involvement in Hamass war with Israel, the terror group has clearly mastered the lessons of previous hostage crises in the region to good effect. Israels attempts to continue its military efforts in Gaza are being stymied by the constant drip-feed of Hamas hostage releases, with the prospect of yet more to come.

What began last week as a four-day pause in the fighting has subsequently been extended by another two days to allow for the release of further batches of hostages, with Egyptian officials, who have been involved in the negotiations, suggesting that further extensions might be possible.

The possibility of more Israeli hostages being released certainly presents Netanyahu with a difficult conundrum, even if his commanders believe the best way of achieving their freedom is through decisive military force, rather than relying on the goodwill of Hamas.

The fact that the terror group is prepared to release children from captivity, but not necessarily their mothers, demonstrates both its inhumanity and its skilful exploitation of the crisis. The hostile scenes in Gaza that have accompanied the release of some of the Israeli captives, with Hamas supporters booing and jeering, reflects their enduring hatred of Israel.

Yet, with an estimated 150 Israelis still being held, some by rival Islamist militias, the pressure on the Israeli government to persist with the negotiating process until all the hostages are safely home remains intense, even though Netanyahu yesterday vowed to resume the war in Gaza as soon as the current truce expires.

Apart from the highly-effective campaign being mustered by the hostages families for talks to continue, support within the Biden administration for Israels military campaign is eroding. Washington is already warning the Israelis to limit the suffering of Palestinian civilians in future operations.

With the fate of so many Israeli hostages still hanging in the balance, the ability of Hamas and its backers to reduce the conflict to a state of stalemate cannot be discounted.

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Palestinian fighters who took part in the Oct 7 attack, pictured, could be sent abroad in an effort to stop Hamas retaking power - UPI / Alamy Live News

Israel and the US are reportedly discussing how to exile thousands of Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip as a way of shortening the war in the territory.

Officials have explored the idea of expelling thousands of low-ranking members of the group to countries such as Turkey, Qatar, Iran, Russia and Lebanon, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The move would aim to prevent the group from retaking power after the war, which Israel says is critical to Gaza becoming governable in the future.

The proposal is similar to a 1980s-era agreement brokered by the US that allowed the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and thousands of fighters to leave Beirut for Tunisia during an Israeli siege of the Lebanese capital.

Any expulsion would require the approval of the receiving countries and it is unclear if family members of those leaving would be included, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Another plan said to be under discussion in Israeli military circles is the creation of Hamas-free zones in Gaza ruled by a new governing power and backed by Gulf states.

Israel, which has vowed to completely destroy Hamas in retaliation for its Oct 7 attack, faces a major dilemma as to how it can achieve that goal without catastrophically high civilian losses in Gaza, which could erode Western backing for the war.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimates it has killed thousands of Hamas terrorists already, it is believed that the groups ranks inside Gaza number around 30,000.

In addition to Hamas, other groups such as Islamic Jihad control thousands of gunmen who also took part in the Oct 7 atrocities. They are also targets of the Israeli war effort.

If a large number of Hamas forces were expelled from Gaza, it would not only weaken their prospects of retaking power, but reduce the risk of a repeat of its attack on Israel  something Hamas has vowed to do.

The Wall Street Journals report cited an unnamed senior Israeli official who acknowledged that it wasnt clear if Hamas would take up such an offer.

I dont see them as rational as the PLO was, the official said, referring to the Palestine Liberation Organisation formerly led by Arafat. Its a more religious, jihadistic organisation connected to the ideas of Iran.

They added that there had been no practical discussion of exiling Hamas in large numbers at this stage, but said the group may warm to the idea if no other options for its survival are on the table. Hamas has not yet issued a response to the report.

It remains unclear what body would govern the Gaza Strip after the war, in the event of Hamas completely losing power. The Palestinian Authority, which governs the occupied West Bank, has said it wont agree to take over control unless there is a comprehensive solution for the West Bank as well.

Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, raised the idea of Nato temporarily having a presence in Gaza in an interview with The Telegraph, while there are also discussions about Gulf leaders stepping in.

The Wall Street Journal has reportedly also seen research by an IDF think tank that suggested the creation of Hamas-free safe zones in Gaza which could be governed by a new authority, backed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

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(Reuters) - The Hamas militant group said on Thursday it had agreed to extend a truce with Israel in Gaza for a seventh day.

Israel's military said earlier the truce with Hamas will be extended to allow mediators to continue work to free hostages held in Gaza.

(Writing by Rami Ayyub)
(Bloomberg) -- As Palestinians celebrated Israels release of prisoners outside Ramallahs sand-colored municipality last Friday, green Hamas flags dotted the crowd and young men donned green caps, the latest signs of the Islamist groups growing popularity on the West Bank.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Support for Hamas was also evident outside the citys Abdel Nasser Mosque a few hours earlier, when hundreds of worshipers protested after morning prayers against the war Israel is waging against its forces in Gaza.

The fighting erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst into southern Israel from Gaza and went on the rampage, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. Authorities in the Hamas-run enclave say thousands of Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel hit back with a ground offensive and air strikes that have turned part of the territory into rubble. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed there would be no letup until Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the US and European Union, has been completely destroyed.

That goal is looking elusive, with the groups heavily armed fighters dug in in tunnels that run for hundreds of miles beneath Gaza. A truce to allow for the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners went on for a seventh day, with talks under way to extend it. International pressure is mounting for a lasting cease-fire.

An even bigger problem for Netanyahu is the backing Hamas has garnered in the West Bank, the larger of the two Palestinian enclaves, which is partially ruled by Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian Authority and has been under Israeli occupation since 1967.

Interviews with a dozen Palestinians from all walks of life suggest that events of the past eight weeks have bolstered Hamas stature and weakened the more moderate Abbas administration.

Hamas in the West Bank is becoming more popular, more relevant and more powerful, and in return the Palestinian Authority is further marginalized and less popular, said Ghassan Khatib, a former Palestinian labor minister and lecturer at the territorys Birzeit University. You cannot eradicate Hamas. As long as there is no addressing of the political root of these rounds of violence, it will continue.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlements from Gaza in 2005. Palestinian legislative elections held the following year saw Hamas defeat the Palestine Liberation Organizations Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority. In 2007, Hamas threw Fatah out of Gaza by force and has ruled there ever since.

While the PLO recognized Israel in 1993, Hamas rejects the existence of the Jewish state.

Ophir Falk, Netanyahus foreign policy adviser, said that Hamas removal from Gaza is a prerequisite for peace. Former Palestinian Authority spokeswoman Nour Odeh sees that view as misguided.

You cannot pretend Hamas doesnt exist, she said. You cant pretend Islamic Jihad doesnt exist. Theyre not a small nuance. And its not about their military power. Its about the fact that in a situation of complete paralysis politically, complete ineptitude and a breakdown in international engagement, heres a group that has released prisoners, that has fought back and punched hard.

A survey published this month by the Arab World for Research and Development, a Palestinian polling group, found 83% of 391 respondents on the West Bank were supportive of what it described as Palestinian resistance on Oct 7.

People feel like we got some revenge, said Khalid Rodil, a West Bank teacher. Hamas is standing up for us.

Hamas is less favorably viewed in Gaza, where its rule has been marred by persistent allegations of corruption and incompetence  64% of 668 people canvassed there in the AWRD poll backed its strike on Israel.

Eman Baraka, 34, a volunteer at a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which houses tens of thousands of people displaced by the war, said Hamas is facing criticism for failing to consider how civilians would be affected by its attack and for the way it has handled the distribution of aid.

Even some of those who support Hamas say it has devastated them, she said by phone.

Reham Owda, a Gaza-based analyst, accused Hamas of only concerning itself with the liberation of a limited number of prisoners from the West Bank and Jerusalem to further itself politically.

It has left more than 2 million Gazans alone to face their fate, exposed to the worst kinds of killing and destruction, and delegated the responsibility of protecting civilians to international organizations, she said. I believe that once the war is over, the intensity of this criticism against Hamas will openly increase. It is expected that support from Gazans in any upcoming elections will lean towards independent civil political figures and Fatah.

Accurately gauging how much popular support Hamas commands in Gaza is tricky because the territory last held elections in 2006. Backing for the group increased during its previous wars with Israel, but declined after hostilities ended.

Hamas ideology is likely to endure regardless of the outcome of the war, according to Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group,

Even if Hamas ceases to exist as a political party and some of its leaders are killed or go into exile, you will have something else that will come in its stead, she said.

Prospects for a Continuing Israel-Hamas Truce: Big Take Podcast

--With assistance from Antony Sguazzin and Gina Turner.

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A participant tries the long-pot tea during the "Cultural China, Splendid Sichuan" event in Auckland, New Zealand, Nov. 29, 2023. Kiwis are amazed by unique cultural events and cuisine from southwest China's Sichuan Province during a tourism promotion event held here on Wednesday. (Photo by Zhao Gang/Xinhua)

Kiwis are amazed by unique cultural events and cuisine from southwest China's Sichuan Province during a tourism promotion event held in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday.

The "Cultural China, Splendid Sichuan" features the long-pot tea art, a large puppet performance, the unique Sichuan Opera act "Face Changing," other local dances and performances, as well as Sichuan's spicy cuisine.

Chen Shijie, Chinese consul-general in Auckland, said China is opening its arms to resume the links with the outside world. By July this year, the number of Chinese tourists to New Zealand reached 84 percent of the pre-COVID level. New Zealanders are also welcome to visit China, particularly to enjoy the unique cuisine, splendid landscape, and rich culture of Sichuan Province.

New Zealand's former speaker, Sir David Carter, echoed that Kiwis are great international travellers.

"We love to explore the world and in that, I see a huge opportunity for China. China has everything that New Zealand has. You have the scenery and beauty of the landscape, but you have more. You have the history and culture that a young country like New Zealand can never claim. I am sure that Sichuan has everything to offer," Carter said.

Chairman of New Zealand China Trade Association (NZCTA) Martin Thomson said, "It is great to see more exchanges this year since COVID. With two-way communications, there are more opportunities for people-to-people connections and trade opportunities. I am optimistic about the relationship to grow more between the two countries."

Apart from watching the cultural performances, many Kiwi participants tried the long-pot tea onsite and eventually found out it is not easy to pour the tea into a small cup through the meter-long-pot.

Mike Dawson, president of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand China Friendship Society, used "amazing" many times to express his feelings.

"Of course, the face-changing is amazing, the long-pot tea is amazing. But I like the big puppet in particular doing the Chinese characters," Dawson said, "The food here is also my favorite. I've never tasted it before. They are very wonderful. I am eager to go to China again after this event."
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) expects more than 100 registered nurses to attend a rally at HCA Healthcares Tampa office on Thursday.

The union, which represents over 10,000 HCA nurses, said the rally aims to send a message to management ahead of upcoming contract negotiations, according to a news release from NNOC/NNU.

Nurses say their protest is intended to send a message to management about nurse unity and solidarity in the face of mismanagement at their hospitals across the country, the release stated.

Nurses raise concerns after HCA behavioral health unit closes

HCA is the largest hospital system in the United States, so the standards they set have impacts across healthcare in the U.S., which is why nurses are so disturbed by the way they handle their business, Marissa Lee, RN at HCA Florida Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, said in a statement. When youre setting standards for the entire industry, you should be continually raising the bar, not digging yourself a deeper hole to bury it in.

HCA nurses rally in Tampa. (WFLA)

Last month, nurses at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital West raised concerns after the hospital system shuttered its behavioral health unit. Speaking to WFLA, Sue Wegener, a RN who worked in the unit, accused HCA of using Hurricane Idalia as an excuse to abruptly shut down the unit, leaving patients without a critical local resource for behavioral health care.

The hospital said the closure was due to a steady decline in behavioral health patients that happened to coincide with the hurricane.

Earlier this year, doctors at HCA Florida Bayonet Point in Hudson told NBC News they sounded the alarm to management over alleged errors and unsafe working conditions. They claimed the for-profit hospital systems focus on cost-cutting put patient safety at risk, even as the hospital debuted a new $85 million tower.

The hospital system settled with the National Labor Relations Board in 2022 after Bayonet Point was accused of engaging in anti-union activity, according to NBC News.

When it comes to staffing, when it comes to recruitment and retention, when it comes to all these ridiculous technological schemes that only make it harder for nurses to provide high quality patient care, HCA is failing us and our patients, Cheryl Rodarmel, RN at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, said in a statement. Were so excited to stand alongside our union siblings from HCA hospitals nationwide to let management know were standing together through thick and through thin.

Roaches in the operating room: Doctors at HCA hospital in Hudson say patient care has suffered from cost cutting

In a statement, a spokesperson for HCA Healthcare said the nurses claims are unfounded. The full statement can be found below.

Todays small protest by NNU is no different than their protests against countless health systems across the country. We expect that NNU will continue protesting and making unfounded claims about our hospitals and the quality care that we are proud to provide, especially as we enter negotiations for a new contract, as we will with this labor union next year. We are proud of the excellent care we provide to our patients, which includes earning 338 quality achievements for best in specialty for 2024 from Healthgrades, placing our facilities among the top of all short-term acute care hospitals evaluated. Debra McKell, Director Media Relations, HCA Healthcare

According to NNOC/NNU, the nurses hope Thursdays rally will inspire management to address their concerns ahead of contract negotiations next year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

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The Caliber of Congress

(via Getty Images)

There are plenty of reasons to stay in Congress: the perks (who wouldnt love on-site barbers and free parking), the prestige, the power. For some, holding office can help stave off a sense of irrelevance or even mortality. Long tenures on Capitol Hill may not have been what the Founders envisioned, but theoretically it shouldnt be difficult to pitch a lawmaker on why it makes sense to stay in the most important and powerful elected body in the country. Yet, this past month, a record number of lawmakers announced theyre throwing in the towel.

As of this week, 37 lawmakersseven senators and 30 House membershave announced they wont seek reelection, and more could call it quits between now and election day. More than a dozen lawmakers said they were leaving in November alone, marking the most retirement announcements in a single month in more than 10 years. The wave of departures can be attributed to a number of factors, but most of all it reflects elected officials growing dissatisfaction with todays politics as usual. Their exits will reshape the makeup of the 119th Congress, potentially decide which party holds the majority next year, and likely exacerbate the institutional decline thats (partly) driving members away.

At the beginning of this year, the 118th Congress was one of the oldest on record, and a number of the retiring members have cited reasons youd expect, including age and health issues. But 15 of the retiring House members are making a common political move: seeking higher office. Most are trying for the Senate, and a handful are pursuing state-wide offices. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia is running to be governor of her state. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota is (sort of) mounting a challenge to President Biden in the Democratic primary. Among the Senate cohort, Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, is seeking the Hoosier States governors mansion, and West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin probably has his eyes set on the White House.

But others are leaving because theyre fed up with how Congress now operates (or, more accurately, doesnt operate). I like the work, but the politics just no longer made it worth it, said Democratic Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, who announced his retirement late last month. I think I will have as much or more impact as a civilian as I would as a member of Congress, especially having to be involved in a pretty toxic political environment. Blumenauer would have been in line to chair a Ways and Means subcommittee if Democrats took back control of the House next year. GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko of Arizona echoed these sentiments in her own retirement statement, lamenting how hard it is to get anything done. The Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) and Partnership for Public Services 2022 State of the Congress report found that 76 percent of Congressional Exemplarscongressional staffers who are knowledgeable institutionalists working throughout both chambersdont think Congress functions as a democratic legislature should.

In an era where bipartisanship is often seen as a betrayal of ones voters, reasonable lawmakers looking to make concrete policy progress can be sidelined. Theres a lot of members of Congress that are pretty pragmatic, Reid Ribble, a former Republican congressman from Wisconsin who retired in 2017, told TMD. When youre working hard and youre away from your family and kids, you want to feel like youre actually accomplishing something good for the country. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, an Ohio Republican with whom Ribble served in the House, announced his retirement two weeks ago, saying he was following the call of duty home to spend more time with his family. Hes got young children, Ribble said. Hes looking at it and making a calculation.

Blumenauer cited Wenstrups departure as a factor in his own decision to leave, saying too many of his Republican legislative partners are retiring. I deeply respect some of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, he said. But its harder and harder to work with them.

Nothing kills job satisfaction like the feeling of spinning your wheelsand that might be why some top lawmakers are making the jump to executive positions where they might be able to get a bit more done. Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska resigned in January to become the president of the University of Florida. Rep. Bill Johnson, an Ohio Republican, announced last week that hes leaving Congress early next year to lead Youngstown State Universitya move that will shrink Republicans already narrow House majority until a special election can be held to fill his seat. Rep. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat who was one of the top voices in Congress on antitrust reform while leading the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, left office in June to become CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, a community non-profit. He said the CEO position was unexpected, but it is an extraordinary opportunity to have an even more direct impact.

Retirements in and of themselves arent all that unusual; in each cycle between 2012 and 2022, at least 40 House members didnt seek reelection. But for some congressional observers, the type of lawmakers retiring this cycle is more important than the overall amount. Whats troubling isnt the number but the caliber of members [leaving], Doug Heye, a longtime Republican operative, told TMD. An appropriations chair, up-and-comers who are on the cusp of making their mark on the House. Kay Granger, an 80-year-old Republican from Texas who chaired the Appropriations committee, announced her retirement in October. A leading Democrat on the committee, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, lauded her work. She and I disagree on many matters of policy, said Hoyer, but we share a steadfast belief in the importance of civility, consensus, and bipartisanship in the appropriations process.

Bradford Fitchthe head of CMF, a non-profit that helps congressional offices improve their operationsalso emphasized the importance of experience. High turnover in any organization saps the organizations ability to perform at high levels, he told TMD. We saw this often during the appropriations process in the last few years, whereby many of the House members in the majority hadnt gone through a normal appropriations process.

At the start of the 118th Congress, more than 30 percent of the House (137 members) had no more than two years of experience, and Rep. Mike Johnson is the least experienced House speaker since the late 19th century. Fitch cited both Wenstrup and Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer of Washingtona six-term lawmaker whos only 49-years-oldas examples of high-caliber lawmakers who are leaving Congress. Perhaps ironically, Kilmer led the Select Committee on Modernization for four years, helping to develop hundreds of proposals on improving how Congress functions.

Legislative gridlock and partisanship arent the only factors contributing to the retirements. The aftermath of January 6 still looms large for many members. Congress was an unhappy workplace long before Trump arrived, but since then its gotten much worse, ultimately culminating in January 6a raw, emotional day that deeply troubled most of the House, Heye told TMD.

Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Michigan announced his retirement this month, saying he wanted to spend more time at home but also citing the violence at the Capitol. January 6 doesnt stand alone as an event unseparated from the current political environment that we are in, he said in a radio interview on Tuesday. The coarsening of political speech, the anger, the obsessive belief in conspiracy theories with no foundation. All of that is of a piece [with] January 6.

It is hard for me to separate that from the decision to come home, because that wears on a person, he added. No matter what anybody says, that gets to you.

From alleged physical altercations in the halls, to petty personal insults, to shouting matches during hearings, Congress can at times feel like a hostile work environment. People are just angry right now, and they want their member of Congress to be as angry as they are, Ribble told TMD. The personal rancor isnt simply between Republicans and Democratssome of the most bitter fighting on Capitol Hill over the last few months has been between fellow Republicans as they ousted one speaker and elected another.

Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, a five-term member and one of eight Republicans who voted to oust Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, said he would not seek another term earlier this month in part because his own party continues to lie about the 2020 election. Many Republican leaders are lying to America, claiming that the 2020 election was stolen, describing January 6 as an unguided tour of the Capitol, and asserting that the ensuing prosecutions are a weaponization of our justice system, he said. [Americans] hope for Republicans to take decisive action may be in vain.

Theres a part of me that wishes that I had served during a different era of Congress, Buck added. A more productive time.

While most of the retirees are departing solidly partisan districts, a few are leaving competitive seatsmeaning the majorities in both chambers could hinge on seats incumbents voluntarily ceded. Republicans are looking to pick up Spanbergers Virginia congressional district, and Democratic Rep. Jennifer Wextons retirement could create an opening for the GOP to take back another formerly red seat in the same state. Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan is giving up her seat to run for the Senate, opening up another battleground district. In California, Rep. Katie Porter is also trying for the upper chamberthe Democratic incumbent only won her 2022 reelection by 1.7 percent, and the GOP is looking to capitalize on Porters absence this time around. Republicans are also strongly favored to flip Manchins Senate seat in West Virginia.

Electoral consequences aside, returning members are worried their colleagues departures will create a vacuum in Congress that wont be filled with worthy successors. Politicos Jonathan Martin spoke with several Republican and Democratic lawmakers who urged those considering retiring to stick it out. Its exactly the wrong people who are wanting to leave, said Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania. The performance artists love the circus, its what they crave.  If you all leave now, youll only make it worse here.

The sentiment is palpable on both sides of the aisle. If rational, common sense, get-it-done, consensus-building conservatives give up, the do-nothing, click bait, self-serving, chaos-caucus wins, Republican Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri added. And America and the world loses.

But that very chaos of the last few years could simply be the final straw for some. When explaining the exits, Heye cited Republican Rep. Patrick McHenrys quip about the dumb and dumber days Congress has seen recently. There will be more dumb days ahead, he told TMD. Is it any surprise members are saying enough?

Worth Your Time

Stephanie Courtney is one of the most successful, most recognizable actresses in the United Statesand nobody knows her name. In New York Times Magazine, Caity Weaver profiles the woman who has played Flo in all those Progressive insurance commercials for the past 15 years. Courtney did not intend to sell insurance, Weaver wrote. She meant to star on Broadway and then, following wish revision, to support herself as a comedic actress. Instead, she has starred in the same role for 15 years and counting, becoming in the process a character recognizable to nearly every Americana feat so rare her peers in this category are mostly cartoon animals. Weaver wanted to know if there was something else Courtney wantedbesides a career selling insurance: Who has a better job than you? I asked.On that set? Courtney asked. In the world. There are times when I ask myself that, Courtney said. The miserable me who didnt get to audition for [Saturday Night Live] never would have known, she said, how good life could be when she was denied what she wanted. I hope thats coming through, she said. Im screaming it in your face.

Presented Without Comment

Business Insider: [Kevin] McCarthy Visited Mar-a-Lago After January 6 Because Staffers Said Trump Was Not Eating, Liz Cheney Writes in Forthcoming Book

Also Presented Without Comment

National Review: Gay Furry Hackers Breach U.S. Nuclear Research Facility

Toeing the Company Line

In the newsletters: Scott analyzed () how our capitalist society became so delicious, the Dispatch Politics team weighed in on Nikki Haleys latest financial boost, Jonah berated () the hipster antitrust movement, and Nick examined () the Democrats deepening rift over Israel.

On the podcasts: Jonah hosts Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta on The Remnant to discuss his new book about American evangelicalism, and David and Sarah break down the most interesting Supreme Court argument of this term and what it means for the future of double jeopardy law.

On the site: Charlotte reports on the questionable credentials of the Israel-Hamas wars emerging middleman, and Drucker explores whether Ron DeSantis can hold off Haley to secure second place in Iowa.

Let Us Know

Do you see it as an inherently negative development that so many lawmakers are heading for the exits? Are any benefits that come with turnover and shorter tenures outweighed by the loss of experience and institutional memory?

Read more at The Dispatch

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LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A well-known member of the Hazleton Latino community is possibly headed to trial for shooting another man. The central question in the investigation: was he acting in self-defense?

Victor Perez, the president of the Dominican House of Hazleton, a nonprofit group that assists members of the Latino community, admits he shot Bernardo Perez. The two men came face to face Monday for the first time since the shooting in October.

The two men, the accused Victor Perez, and the victim, Bernardo Perez, were face to face, only about 10 feet apart from each other, both accused the other of a long-running feud that led to violence.

Bernardo Perez walked into central court in Wilkes-Barre Thursday morning. He says he was shot in the left arm by Victor Perez.

The gunfire erupted on the afternoon of October 4 in the 100 block of South Vine Street in Hazleton, Victor Perez says he went to the neighborhood to confront Bernardo Perez about a series of derogatory articles about him and his family in a Spanish language newspaper published by Bernardo.

Victor says Bernardo came at him with a knife and had no choice but to open fire.

Of course if was self-defense. Why he got shot in the hand, his left, because he knew how to handle a knife with both hands. So he cannot play games with the law, Victor said.

Victor claims that Bernardo has been harassing him and staff members at the Dominican house.

Everybody knows that this was part of a criminal conspiracy against me, against the Dominican house against my family. For people who dont care about the community for people who dont do anything positive for the community, Victor added.

But Bernardo says Victor opened fire as soon as he showed up in the neighborhood outside his home that day speaking through an interpreter.

Its a lie a complete lie. I was just arriving at my home with my cellular phone, Bernardo explained.

48 charged with public assistance fraud in PA

Bernardo says he felt uneasy sitting in the same room with Victor.

With a lot of fear cause I thought he might attack me right there inside, Bernardo continued.

Dozens of people came to court to support Victor Perez. They waited in the cold for several hours Victor insists.

Everybody who knows me knows that Im a peaceful man, Victor said.

A jury could have the final say as to who is telling the truth. District Judge Dan ODonnell ruled there was enough evidence to send the charges to trial, and we want to point out that the Perezs are not related.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
FILE - Daryl Hall, left, and John Oates, recipients of BMI Icons awards, pose together before the 56th annual BMI Pop Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on May 20, 2008. Hall has sued his longtime music partner John Oates, arguing that his plan to sell off his share of a joint venture would violate a business agreement the duo had.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A judge sided with Daryl Hall on Thursday in his request to keep John Oates temporarily blocked from selling his potentially lucrative share of the Hall & Oates duo's joint venture without his longtime partner's permission.

Chancellor Russell Perkins in Nashville extended his pause on the sale of Oates share of Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC while the music duo moves through the early stages of arbitration. The temporary injunction in the lawsuit filed by Hall blocks Oates from selling until an arbitrator weighs in, or until Feb. 17.

The joint venture in question includes Hall & Oates trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, according to a court declaration by Hall, who has called Oates' planned sale the ultimate partnership betrayal. 

At a hearing Thursday, Christine Lepera, an attorney for Hall, said she hasn't heard anything from Oates' legal team indicating that there's some urgency in closing the deal.

"You cannot sell half of a partnership to a third party without the other partys consent, and thats just intuitively correct, Lepera said.

An attorney for Oates, Tim Warnock, said Hall's claims that Oates went behind his back are untrue.

Mr. Oates proceeded exactly as he was allowed to proceed, Warnock said, pointing the judge to their joint business agreement, which remains under seal in the case. "Mr. Hall could have done the exact same thing himself.

The hearing also drew attention to Hall's claims in his declaration  that Oates blindsided and betrayed him, that their relationship and his trust in his musical partner have deteriorated, and that Oates timed the sale when Hall was about to go on tour to maximize the harm to him. Neither Hall nor Oates attended Thursdays hearing.

Warnock said some of the salacious allegations in Hall's declaration have nothing to do with what was being discussed in court Thursday.

Maybe he wanted publicity, maybe he wanted to interfere with Mr. Oates business relationships," Warnock said. "We wont know the answer to that today. We will know the answer to that at some point and there will be consequences about that.

Lepera replied that Hall had to submit an affidavit to support why the judge should keep temporarily blocking the deal.

That's the reason we did that, and not for publicity, Lepera said.

Artists have been fetching giant sums of money in recent years in selling their music catalogs. Oates would no doubt receive a large amount, given the massive run of hits the duo produced in the 1970s and 80s, including Maneater, "Rich Girl Kiss on My List and I Cant Go for That (No Can Do).

The judge issued a temporary restraining order on Nov. 16, the same day Hall filed his lawsuit, writing that Oates and others involved in his trust cant move to close the sale of their share until an arbitrator weighs in on the deal, though that kind of order typically expires within 15 days without an extension.

The parties have since agreed on who will oversee the arbitration, in which the dispute over the deal will be decided, the attorneys said.

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, as well as 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. Hall's declaration says he learned about the proposed deal for the first time on Oct. 20, about a week before he would begin touring across the U.S. west coast, Japan and Manilla.

Primary Wave has already owned significant interest in Hall and Oates song catalog for more than 15 years.

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. Additionally, Hall said in his declaration he would not approve such a sale and doesnt agree with Primary Waves business model.
It is a rewarding year for Chinese author Yan Ge. This summer, her debut English-language short story collection "Elsewhere" was published by prestigious publishing houses in both North America and the U.K., receiving much critical acclaim.

Chinese writer Yan Ge. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

In the collection of nine stories, she weaves a tapestry of narratives across ancient and modern societies, with settings as diverse as China, Dublin, Stockholm, and London.

It is an extraordinary feat for an author who previously was heavily immersed in the Chinese literary sphere. She spent the last 15 years writing in Chinese  with narrations in a Sichuan dialect most of the time  about a fictional town modeled after her hometown in China.

Yan's shift from stories deeply rooted in Chinese culture to ones set in cities around the world and told in her second language is a demonstration of her narrative versatility. Following the success of "Elsewhere," she is even more driven to delve into English literature, becoming an exciting bilingual author rare in fiction writing.

Writing in English

Before diving into the English literary world, Yan was best known for a series of novels on the fictional town of Pingle, with a highlight being her skillful uses of the Chinese language. But after two years of living in Ireland with her husband, she said she had acquired an "English writer persona," and begun to imagine stories in English. That was around 2017.

"As a writer, I feel like I have to take the real world into my literary world. I have to interpret and adapt that into my literary world before I could start making meanings out of my everyday life."

In practice, though, transitioning to English writing proved to be difficult. At first, Yan felt her Chinese writer persona was much stronger, and a sense of inadequacy in the English world gripped her. Yet when she finished writing "Elsewhere" and returned to her once-familiar Chinese writing, she felt disconnected and yearned to write in English.

Nowadays, she feels "more alive" writing in English. "All my concerns and anxieties, in particular my thoughts as an intellectual, are situated in the English world. My identity as a woman, my identity as an intellectual, and my identity as a writer, are compatible in the English world."

"Elsewhere," Yan Ge's English-language short story collection.





She takes the story "Stockholm" in "Elsewhere" as an example of how she could only write particular subjects in English. The story centers on a writer and new mother attending a literary event in Stockholm, where her experience is punctuated by the need to use the breast pump.

"I can't write about a woman and her body in Chinese unapologetically and without biases. It doesn't mean there is no stigma associated with a woman's body in the English world, but I can't feel it, because English is my second language. The stigma is thus kind of removed."

Writing against English (and Chinese)

Despite feeling a sense of inadequacy in the early days of writing in English, Yan has set out to do something bold: Writing against English.

She explained the idea of "writing against English" as introducing elements like literary, cultural, and historical aspects from her native culture and language into English. "In a way, what you're trying to do is you're trying to disrupt the realm of so called English literature."

"For somebody like me to write in English, it is not a personal choice or a coincidence. It is a post-colonial phenomenon," Yan, who is passionate about critical theories, said. "English as lingua franca is supposed to be a colonial phenomenon and for people like me, although we are inevitably writing in English, we're also compelled to write against English."

"I kind of feel that instead of trying to contribute to or knock on the door of what is the so called classic English literature and to be accepted by that center, what I am doing essentially, inevitably, is to try to establish my own center, and to rise into this diverse world of literatures in English."

That attempt is wondrously realized in "Elsewhere." Far from what might be expected from authors of Chinese origin or immigrant writers in general, the stories in "Elsewhere" are as diverse as can be: a group of poets living in earthquake-hit 2008 China, a Chinese woman who suffers a miscarriage while traveling with her husband in Mawlamyine, and a woman who meets a love interest in Dublin only to find him committing suicide.

Though a majority of the stories in the collection are heavily inspired by traditional Chinese culture and literature, Yan is by no means tracing the same story beats. As with her attempt to "write against English," she is, in a sense, writing against Chinese too. In the story "When Traveling in the Summer," she reimagines Shen Kuo, an ancient Chinese polymath, cleverly attempting to avoid assassination. More subversively, in "Hai," a disciple of Confucius seeks to overthrow his corrupt master and the corrupt institution he represents but meets a tragic end.

"For me, writing about these ancient Chinese stories is like writing a story that takes place in the outer space. I didn't write them to be faithful. I don't know what Confucius time looks like and nobody knows, that just gives me the license to do whatever I want essentially with that space," Yan said.

"When I write these stories, I pretty much try to disrupt people's expectation towards what China should be like and what a Chinese writer should write."

That sense of disruption and experiment is also reflected on Yan's prospects and ambitions.

She is now working on a speculative English novel, something she has never tried before. Though her friends in China have "snobbishly" questioned it as genre fiction  lesser than literary novels  she went on anyway. She even felt it is an ideal space to write for authors from minority backgrounds like her.

"It's like we need to occupy a space in this literary realm. I feel that is the space for people who don't know where we're from, where we're going, and where we belong. And that's where we go to: the third space."

And as her characters move around in different places across the world, she herself does not try to fit in any literary space either.

"When people think about immigrant writers [who write] in English, they think of all the names and all those typical and stereotypical literary spaces these writers created, pretty much in coexistence with white people. We kind of just write stories alongside all the white narratives created by previous and contemporary white writers."

"I kind of feel like I do not want to submit myself entirely to this, and I do not want to settle as an outsider in the predominantly white space. I just want to move around. And I think that sense of fluidity is my main identity as an English writer."
A Coast Guard leader and Republican senator on Wednesday spotlighted the depleted U.S. icebreaker fleet in the arctic, and warned of the consequences of falling further behind Russia and China in the area.

The U.S. has two national polar icebreakers  the heavy Polar Star, which was produced in 1976, and the medium Healy, which is focused on scientific operations and has to undergo annual repairs.

We have two icebreakers, and one is broken, said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), who appeared as a witness at the House Committee on Homeland Security hearing.

Thats what we have. We are building more, we are looking to purchase of the shelve some, but we need to make sure that we are trying to close a very very significant icebreaker gap. Even Chinas icebreaker capacity is on pace to surpass ours in 2025and they are not even an Arctic nation.

U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter W. Gautier said the branch needs a fleet mix of eight to nine additional icebreakers in the next 10 years, to safeguard American interests in the northern region amid melting of polar ice caused by climate change and the increased Russian-Chinese cooperation.

Thats a mix of heavy icebreakers, like the Polar Star and polar security cutters that we are building now and medium icebreakers like the Healy that have shallower drafts and can get into tighter spaces and shallower areas, Gautier said.

Russia currently has at least three dozen national icebreakers, while China increased its count to four.

A $13.3 billion production program for new U.S. icebreakers  to handle strategic confrontations and environmental accidents  has run into challenges and delays ranging from technical difficulties to industrywide labor shortages. The procurement of the ships has now been pushed back to 2028.

Some lawmakers present at the hearing embraced Gautiers push, while others questioned the price tag.

You can look forward to great cooperative effort with my office and this Congress, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) said.

Weve talked about icebreakers and some of these things for years and years and it seems like we finally got that moving in the right direction, said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), who recently completed a congressional trip to Antarctica.

Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) questioned whether the U.S. can afford the program, stating that the investment is a significant amount of money that could instead do to secure our southern border.

I guess what Im doing is help make a case with a nation that never talks about how we pay for this, how we pay for this and make the case for why is it such a high priority, Brecheen said.

The Coast Guard is actually an investment, Gautier responded. When we look at only costs, it sort of masks the fact that every day the Coast Guard actually saves the nation money.

The vice admiral added that the Coast Guard has been requesting polar funding for over 20 years and that those requests have been deferred for quite a while.

When we look at the geostrategic impacts of additional presence by Russia, additional presence by China, what costs are we deferring that we are going to pay in the long term, Gautier said.

Brecheen asked what would happen in the unlikely event that climate trends reverse and more of the arctic freezes over.

What happens if the freeze re-initiates there, Brecheen asked. We had this investment and now things go the opposite direction.

Gautier argued that regardless of the conditions near the Arctic region, the Coast Guard will need machinery that is capable of ice-breaking.

Wherever theres ice, were going to need an ice-breaking capability to give it access to the places that we need to go to provide Coast Guard services, Gautier said.

And thinking about your last question, our one heavy icebreaker was built in 1976. I think thats pretty darn good value for the buck.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A former IT manager is accused of launching a cyberattack on a Massachusetts high school that recently fired him, federal officials said.

The 30-year-old from Ayer was a desktop and network manager at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, according to a Nov. 29 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Massachusetts.

He lost his job in June, officials said.

He pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to one count of unauthorized damage to protected computers, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to the news release.

The mans attorney had no comment as of Nov. 29.

After he lost his job, the former IT employee used administrative privileges to delete or deactivate more than 2,600 Apple accounts from the schools network that manages student, faculty and staff technology resources, federal officials said in a court filing.

As a result of the cyberattack, officials said the schools phone lines were down for 24 hours.

The man is also accused of deactivating the administrative accounts of the schools director of IT systems and the IT help desk clerk, according to the filing.

Officials said he caused $5,000 in damage.

McClatchy News could not immediately reach the high school for comment Nov. 29.

Whittier Tech is in Essex County, about 40 miles north of Boston.

Dont use public phone charging stations, FBI says. Bad actors have compromised them

Cyberattack exposes T-Mobile customers info, Social Security numbers, company says

Young adults lose more money to scams than older adults, report says. How to spot one

Phantom hackers are targeting people across the US. What the FBI wants you to know
A man employed as a security guard at a Phoenix hospital is accused of raping an elderly womans body in the hospital morgue. Randall Bird, 46, was arrested this week over a disturbing Oct. 24 incident at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix, Arizonas Family reports. Two witnesses reportedly stumbled upon Bird acting strangely inside the morgues freezersweating profusely and acting very nervousnear the victims unzipped body bag. The witnesses noticed that Birds zipper was open and his uniform was messy, and he allegedly tried to hide the victims body as they entered, authorities said. He later claimed to have suffered a medical episode, fainted, and fallen onto the victims body. Banner Health confirmed that Bird has since been terminated, saying in a statement that it is saddened and appalled by the alleged actions in the morgue.

Read it at Arizonas Family

Read more at The Daily Beast.
More than 80 House lawmakers are accusing United Nations (UN) Women of disregarding the militant group Hamass attack on Israel, which left more than 1,200 people dead.

In a bipartisan letter spearheaded by Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), the House members demand that UN Women  an arm of the United Nations advocating for gender equality  condemn Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack, and particularly for targeting women.

The failure by UN Women to publicly stand up for Israeli women and condemn Hamas systematic atrocities undermines UN Women and highlights its one-sided approach, the lawmakers wrote Wednesday to UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.

The documented cases of sexual violence against Israeli women committed by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists were omitted from the UN Womens October 13th statement condemning the attack on Israeli civilians, a long week after the gruesome incident and falling short of UN Womens important mission, the lawmakers continued.

The lawmakers pointed to a UN Women report issued last month that detailed how the situation in Gaza after the attacks was affecting Palestinian women, but did not include mention of any gender-based violence, sexual abuse or mutilation directed at Israeli women or women of other nationalities targeted by terrorists on October 7.

They said the UN Womens meeting with the Israeli Civil Commission of Oct. 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children was encouraging, but was not enough.

Your disregard and tone deaf response to Hamas attack is woefully unsatisfactory and consistent with the UNs longstanding bias against Israel, the lawmakers wrote.

Multiple outlets reported that UN Women received backlash for not condemning Hamas after it launched its deadly attack on Israel. Sarah Hendriks, deputy executive director for UN Women, responded to the claims during an interview with CNNs Bianna Golodryga on Tuesday.

UN Women is deeply, deeply alarmed at the disturbing reports of gender-based and sexual violence on Oct. 7, she said. And as weve said in the Security Council and through various platforms, we absolutely unequivocally condemn all forms of violence against women and girls, especially in the context of conflict.

Golodryga then pressed her on why she cant specifically call out Hamas. Hendriks sidestepped the question, saying that UN Women always supports impartial independent investigations into any serious allegations of gender based or sexual violence.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the issue in a post on X on Wednesday.

There are numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas on 7 October that must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere, he wrote.

The Hill has reached out to UN Women for comment.

Updated: 4:10 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The House on Thursday passed a bill that would force the Biden administration to permanently freeze $6 billion in funds it had opened up to Iran earlier this year in exchange for the release of five American detainees.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC), passed in a 307-119 vote.

Ninety Democrats joined almost all Republicans present in voting for the legislation, while 118 Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), opposed it.

Republicans have slammed the deal since it was announced in August, accusing the Biden administration of kowtowing to Iran and enabling what they consider a terrorist regime to arrest more Americans and take more aggressive action against the U.S. in the Middle East.

Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) said President Biden has signaled he is willing to reward hostage-taking by making a deal with Iran and that Washington must stand against Iranian aggression.

There is only one language that is understood by our adversaries, he said on the House floor. That is strength.

The White House has defended the decision to unfreeze the $6 billion, arguing it was necessary to release the five Americans who they considered wrongfully detained. The Biden administration also said the money can only be used for humanitarian reasons, though Iran has pledged to use the money however it wishes to.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the HFAC, said not a single penny of the funds has been spent by Iran and that the funds would not be used for nefarious purposes, while arguing reneging on the deal would hurt U.S. global credibility. He also said that Biden did the right thing to release the detained Americans.

He brought five Americans home who were rotting in Irans notorious prison and every member of Congress, I repeat, every member of Congress who was aware of these cases wanted our fellow citizens home, Meeks said. I ask my colleagues on the other side, what do you say to those families? Do we renege on the deal?

McCaul said it would be naive to assume Iran only uses the money for humanitarian purposes. He added the deal was not just about the five American hostages, suggesting the Biden administration may have used the unfreezing of the funds to seek a revived agreement with Iran on limiting the countrys nuclear weapons development. The U.S. has denied nuclear talks were part of the deal.

Theres something else going on here, McCaul said. This is about the undercurrent of a deal we dont know about.

The House passed amendments to the bill condemning Hamas and Iranian-backed groups for using human shields and calling for U.S. allies in the Middle East to condemn the groups for antisemitism.

Another amendment, passed along party lines by Republicans, prohibits the use of U.S. federal funds for Iran, while a second party-line amendment states the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen are benefitting from the Biden administrations failure to condemn them.

The GOP has grown more frustrated with the deal after the Palestinian militant group Hamas invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 240 people hostage. Iran is a major funder and backer of Hamas.

Iranian-backed groups have also clashed dozens of times with U.S. troops across the Middle East since the war broke out, though American troops have not been killed in what has largely been tit-for-tat exchanges of explosive drones and rocket attacks.

The Biden administration announced in October, after the Hamas attacks, that Iran would not be getting the money for the time being.

Officials said at the time they had reached an agreement with Qatar, which is overseeing the funds in its banks to eventually release the money to Iran, to hold the money. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also at the time said Iran hasnt touched the money yet.

The Thursday House bill, which passed out of the Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this month, would prevent Iran from touching the funds by forcing the Biden administration to implement sanctions on any foreign entity moving to unfreeze the funds for Iran.

The Senate has introduced similar legislation to freeze the Iranian funds but has yet to pass it out of committee.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
House Republicans are pushing to formalize their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, according to multiple senior GOP sources  a shift designed to strengthen their position against the White House and the presidents son, as the stakes for obtaining key documents and testimony reach a critical juncture.

Up until this point, House Republicans have not had the votes to legitimize their inquiry, which former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unilaterally launched in September, without a formal House vote  a clear sign that the conference has remained divided over whether the evidence exists to impeach the president.

Republicans want to strengthen their subpoenas and standing in court as they stare down potential legal battles with the White House, which recently told Congress the inquiry lacks constitutional legitimacy without a formal vote, and Hunter Biden, who told Congress Tuesday he is willing to testify publicly in the House Oversight Committees inquiry into his actions instead of a private deposition. A source familiar with the strategy told CNN the presidents son does not plan on backing down.

On top of that, House Republican leadership is facing increasing pressure from its right wing, and the partys base, to show forward momentum in their investigation.

Republicans will hold a key conference meeting on Friday to make their case and try to convince holdouts within their own party to get on board with an inquiry vote. While House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told Republicans on Wednesday the House may soon move forward with an inquiry vote, citing the White Houses recent letter, the understanding is Republicans would not move forward unless they had the votes to pass it, according to multiple lawmakers in the meeting.

If we know were going to end up in court fighting, which I think everybody understands we are going to, we should put ourselves in the best position possible to win those fights, North Dakota Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who serves on two of the congressional committees leading the inquiry, said about the immediate need to hold a vote on the inquiry.

Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who said he would vote to formalize the inquiry but does not find it necessary, told CNN the vote could be useful politically.

Constituents back home are getting antsy, What are you doing? You know, so that can give some people something to say, Well I voted for the impeachment inquiry, the Georgia Republican said, noting also that the vote could be used to put people on the record against the effort.

In a sign that there is some momentum, two swing district Republicans who have been reluctant to support impeachment told CNN they would at least back an inquiry vote: GOP Reps. Nick LaLota of New York and Don Bacon of Nebraska.

But not everyone is sold yet, and GOP leaders can only lose four votes. Colorado Republican Rep. Ken Buck, who is against impeaching the president, told CNN he is also against voting to formalize the inquiry.

I have not seen any evidence to change my position, he said. I will ask for any new evidence and sit down with investigators, if theyre willing.

The White House dismissed the latest GOP push.

This is yet another sad attempt by extreme House Republicans to try to distract from their own chaos and dysfunction, White House spokesman Ian Sams told CNN. Their baseless fishing expedition targeting the President has been going on for an entire year and, over and over again, their allegations of wrongdoing by President Biden have been thoroughly debunked.

How an impeachment vote relates to compelling testimony

House Republicans and Hunter Biden are at a stalemate.

The presidents son is not willing to appear for a closed-door deposition, according to a source familiar with the strategy. Republicans meanwhile, want the presidents son to come in for a deposition before a public hearing.

Hunter has stated he will comply with subpoena, but he wants to do a public hearing. The fact that the committee wont agree to that demonstrates the paucity of what they have. This is part of a series the Chairmans of these committees have misrepresented what have actually gathered, the source told CNN. They should take yes for an answer.

The approach is part of the more aggressive strategy  spearheaded by Hunter Bidens lawyers, Kevin Morris and Abbe Lowell. As part of the new approach, he has sued several of his detractors like Rudy Giuliani and former Trump White House aide Garrett Ziegler.

While Republicans like Armstrong remarked that the play by Hunter Bidens legal team is a smart political strategy, he said it wont work on Republicans.

Unfortunately, they dont get to determine the method in which they participate in congressional inquiries. I dont care how good a lawyer you are, youre not in charge of how this works. We are, Armstrong said.

House Republicans argue that formalizing the inquiry with a vote will give them a better chance of securing the closed-door testimony of the presidents son, and other witnesses who do not want to play ball on their terms.

My understanding is it gives those subpoenas more teeth, LaLota told CNN. That when people are not responsive to the subpoenas issued by the three relevant committees, that when you formalize the vote of the House, those subpoenas have more weight in court, such not to be quashed.

Many see House Speaker Mike Johnson, a former member of the House Judiciary Committee, as critical to getting reluctant Republicans on board with formalizing the inquiry and beyond that, building momentum for impeaching the president, rather than placating to all factions of the Republican conference.

You can have a touch that is so soft that you simply are standing in the middle of the road. That will not do him any good. It will not do any good for the Republican conference or the Republican voter, or the American people. Hes going to have to apply himself and move people along, North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop said.

Another Republican lawmaker expressed concern that the House speaker is succumbing to outside political pressure: I think thats what it sure looks like to me.

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UN chief says implementation of Security Council resolution on Gaza insufficient

Xinhua) 08:17, November 30, 2023

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press outside the Security Council Chamber at the UN headquarters in New York, on Nov. 27, 2023. (Xinhua/Xie E)

"I welcome the adoption of Resolution 2712. But its implementation by the parties matters most," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a high-level meeting of the Security Council. "So far it is clear that implementation has been only partial at best, and is woefully insufficient."

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2712, which calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout Gaza, is "woefully insufficient."

"I welcome the adoption of Resolution 2712. But its implementation by the parties matters most," he told a high-level meeting of the Security Council. "So far it is clear that implementation has been only partial at best, and is woefully insufficient."

Ultimately, the measure of success will not be the number of trucks dispatched or the tons of supplies delivered -- as important as these are. Success will be measured in lives that are saved, suffering that is ended, and hope and dignity that is restored, he said.

"The people of Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world. We must not look away. Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce, which we strongly welcome. But we believe we need a true humanitarian cease-fire," said Guterres.

A Palestinian cooks in the wreckage in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis on Nov. 26, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

There is also a need to ensure the people of the region finally have a horizon of hope -- by moving in a determined and irreversible way toward establishing a two-state solution, on the basis of UN resolutions and international law, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, he said.

"Failure will condemn Palestinians, Israelis, the region and the world, to a never-ending cycle of death and destruction," he warned.

Guterres briefed the council on the implementation of its Resolution 2712, which was adopted two weeks ago.

Civilians, including UN personnel, must be protected. Civilian objects, including hospitals, must be protected. UN facilities must not be hit. International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties to the conflict at all times, he said.

The humanitarian pause currently in effect has enabled the world body to enhance the delivery of aid into and across Gaza. However, the level of aid remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than 2 million people. Although the total volume of fuel allowed into Gaza has also increased, it remains utterly insufficient to sustain basic operations. Civilians in Gaza need a continuous flow of life-saving humanitarian aid and fuel into and across the area. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need is critical, he said.

People wait at a fuel filling station in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Nov. 28, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Much, much more is required to begin to address human needs in Gaza. Water and electricity services must be fully restored. Food systems have collapsed and hunger is spreading, particularly in the north. Sanitary conditions in shelters are appalling, with few toilets and sewage flooding, posing a serious threat to public health. Children, pregnant women, older people and those with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk, said the UN chief.

"Gaza needs an immediate and sustained increase in humanitarian aid, including food, water, fuel, blankets, medicines and health care supplies. It is important to recognize that the Rafah border crossing does not have enough capacity, especially taking into account the slow pace of security procedures. That is why we have been urging the opening of other crossings, including Kerem Shalom, and the streamlining of inspection mechanisms to allow for the necessary increase of life-saving aid," he said.

Guterres stressed that humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient. There is also a need for the private sector to bring in critical basic commodities to replenish completely depleted shops in Gaza.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On Wednesday morning at Shanghai Disneyland, a group of reporters from media outlets including China.org.cn, entered the world's first and only Zootopia-themed land to take a first look at the long-anticipated mammalian metropolis.

An inside look at the city hall and skyline of Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Scheduled to open to the public on Dec. 20 at Shanghai Disney Resort, the land brings to life the animated blockbuster of the same name produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. The resort announced it will begin trial operations on Dec. 1, with media and VIP previews on Wednesday and Thursday.

Construction of the Zootopia land began in December 2019 and incorporates many cutting-edge design concepts and advanced technologies, including Audio-Animatronics, trackless rides, and Building Information Modeling. These innovations were contributed by a wide range of international creatives, particularly the Disney Imagineering team.

Flash, a beloved character from "Zootopia," performs through a window during an atmosphere show at Zootopia land, Shanghai Disney Resort, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

Guided by Xu Chang, a producer at Walt Disney Imagineering Shanghai, the tour of Zootopia land stunned the first batch of visitors with its faithful replica of the skyline and various delightful, vivid and colorful details. These include specially designed signs and billboards, immersive architecture, and gates and benches fitting for animal residents of various sizes. Additionally, the land features interactive shows, visual projections, meme creations, Disney character meet-and-greets, a variety of food and drinks, and over 200 themed products.

The distinctive blend of Disney magic and Chinese elements, described as "Authentically Disney, Distinctly Chinese," is a prominent feature of the new land. This is seen in amusing street sign translations and the inclusion of Chinese favorite local flavors at its food stalls, including hawthorn berries, ginger, and osmanthus.

A Disneyland executive sits on an oversized bench designed for large animals at Zootopia land, Shanghai Disney Resort, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

However, the highlight of the land is undoubtedly Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, a trackless ride  the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland. It combines spectacular visual projections, beautiful music, and an exciting storyline that continues from the animated film's ending. This attraction, focusing on the pursuit of a jailbreaking villain, features beloved officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde taking visitors  who become rookie officers  on a thrilling adventure through various districts of Zootopia. There is also a specially designed boarding zone for guests with disabilities.

Before boarding the police car for the ride, visitors are taken on a tour while queuing  a deeply immersive and fun tour of the police department and its prison. Here, visitors can see Judy and Nick's office desks, learn how officers live and work, and discover how prisoners are detained in Zootopia before learning about a jailbreak. Then, they are taken to Chief Bogo to receive their assignment for the chase.

Shanghai Disney Resort, which opened with six themed lands on June 16, 2016, introduced its seventh land, Disney Pixar Toy Story Land, in 2018, making Shanghai Disneyland the fastest-expanding Disneyland globally. Zootopia will become the eighth themed land in Shanghai Disneyland. Also, in August of this year, the resort commenced construction on its third hotel.

A staff member holds cotton ball candy, one of the delicious treats available at Zootopia land, Shanghai Disney Resort, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

According to Xu, various operational preparations for the new land are in full swing. Cast and crew members are continuously testing, adjusting, and refining experiences, aiming to maintain Disney's high standards of guest service in the new land. As part of these preparations, Disney cast members and other invited guests will participate in designated experiences on specific dates over the next three weeks to help fine-tune park operations during the trial phase.

This preparation is aimed at ensuring every visitor to the Zootopia land enjoys a magical experience after the grand opening, she added. She cautioned that there might be occasional pauses in operations during this period if any issues or warnings arise in the testing of new equipment, triggered by the complex and sensitive security system. After the trial run, operations are expected to run more smoothly leading up to the grand opening.

A thrilling scene from the trackless ride, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

At the end of the media preview tour, guests excitedly and anxiously boarded the vehicles of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit for their first experience. After the ride, as they exited, Tommy Ni, manager of attractions operations at Shanghai Disney Resort, asked a guest for comments. "Awesome!" the guest responded. "I like that answer!" Ni laughed.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  At Portlands oldest restaurant, turkey isnt just a Thanksgiving tradition. In fact, its on the menu everyday.

Hubers Cafe in downtown Portland, located on Third Street between Harvey Milk and Washington, used to be a saloon. It was established in 1879  only 20 years after Oregon became a state.

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Once inside, you can see Hubers history all around you. And if you happen to spot co-owner James Kai Louie, hell be happy to tell you how it all began.

Hubers got its name when a bartender named Frank Huber took over. According to James, Huber bought into the business, then bought out his partner and changed the name in 1895.

But the name isnt the only thing thats stuck around all these years: If you visit Hubers, youll likely order the turkey sandwich they serve year-round.

A Spanish Coffee being made at Hubers Restaurant in Portland, November 2023 (KOIN)

A Spanish Coffee being made at Hubers Restaurant in Portland, November 2023 (KOIN)

Hubers Restaurant in Portland is known for its turkey dinners, November 2023 (KOIN)

James Kai Louie, the co-owner of Hubers Restaurant in Portland, November 2023 (KOIN)

Inside Hubers Restaurant in Portland, November 2023 (KOIN)

Back in the saloon days, if you ordered an alcoholic beverage, you got a free turkey sandwich and a little ramekin of coleslaw  which is how the turkey tradition started at Hubers, James said.

Jamess great uncle, Jim Louie used to cook the turkey and much more when he was hired in 1891. The Louie family went through a lot of difficult times, including the impacts of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, but James said John Huber sold half ownership to Jim for just one dollar.

According to James, Hubert would have given Jim half ownership, but exchanging money made the transaction legal in 1941.

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He sold half ownership for $1, James said. He probably wouldve just given half ownership, but in order to make the transaction legal, some money had to be exchanged, so they agreed on a dollar. 

Its been in the Louie family ever since. James, along with his sister Lucille and brother David, became owners in 1991.

Well, were grateful to god, how hes blessed us in that way, allowing us to have a business that has lasted in our family for three generations, James said.

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Hubers is also famous for a fiery drink that joined the menu in 1975: Spanish coffee. Bartender Tony Romanaggi knows how to put on a show while mixing the triple sec, sugar, rum, coffee and Kahlua.

Makes a great Molotov, Romanaggi said, adding with humor, You know, were the number one distributor of Kahlua in the states?

Romanaggi said creating an experience is part of his job at Hubers.

Thats the beautiful thing about the restaurant business, is our job is to show people a good time and make them happy, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The powers that choose to play the Great Game on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan have never prospered. Despite the courage of generals and the brains of political agents, their best-laid plans  whether British in the 19th century, Russian in the 20th, or American in the 21st  have generally ended in disaster and retreat. Now it seems that China  which has long treated Pakistan as its client and proxy in a push for a defining regional role, most recently through the Belt and Road Initiative  faces the same fate. How has this come to pass?

Chinas ambitions to contain and dominate South Asia date back decades. Its rivalry with India made building dependencies in Pakistan an attractive option, while confident Chinese regimes have tightened their grip on Xinjiang and looked further west to spread their power and influence. With the global expansion of Chinas economic strength came a compelling wish for military influence, not only in competition with India but the West as a whole. If China could establish a naval and economic foothold at a Pakistani port near the Hormuz Strait, it would open up important opportunities on both fronts.

Gwadar Port was meant to become this foothold, the jewel in the crown of the Asian belt and road, and a China-controlled funnel for trade not only from its own economic powerhouse but also its allies in Central Asia. The voyage from China via the Malacca Strait to the Gulf is around 10,000 kilometres; steaming from Gwadar knocks 7,500 kilometres off the journey, and a great deal of geo-strategic risk as well. But what of the 2,500 kilometres land route from Xinjiang to the sea, through Balochistan, skirting the lawless frontier of Afghanistan?

Overlooking Beijings oppression of Islamic minorities in Xinjiang may have been rationalised in Pakistans dysfunctional and debt-captured political system. There is, however, no lack of fighters in the renascent Pakistani Taliban willing to take up arms in support of their Uyghur brothers. Together with Pakistans inept management of ethnic resistance in Balochistan, and the distinctly neocolonial nature of relations between Beijing and Islamabad, has drawn this economic corridor into the literal firing line.

Lethal attacks on Chinese infrastructure engineers have followed, despite Pakistani soldiers being stood up to protect them. Savage counter-terrorism actions in Balochistan have failed to protect the Chinese from intense resentment among local groups, who see their presence as appropriating local homelands. Beijings own security details are entirely out of their depth.

Now things may be further deteriorating. Last week, a Pakistani Taliban commander announced that unless it was paid a 5 per cent tax on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the massive infrastructure project linking Xinjiang with the sea, it would be destroyed  along with Chinese workers and equipment.

History confirms the need for caution. In 1841, William Macnaghten, the British political agent in Kabul, decided to cut back the subsidies (bribes) paid to local militants. Soon afterwards he was beheaded, chaos ensued and the first British withdrawal from Afghanistan began. It seems that the much-vaunted China Dream is turning into a familiar nightmare  one that may also end in an inglorious Imperialist graveyard.

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FILE - Police technicians board Peter Madsen's submarine UC3 Nautilus on a pier in Copenhagen harbour, Denmark, on Aug. 13, 2017. The rights of a self-taught Danish engineer who was convicted of murdering a Swedish journalist in 2017 on his homemade submarine, have not been violated, a Danish court said Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The following year, Peter Madsen was sentenced to life in prison for killing Kim Wall, a 30-year-old freelance reporter, after bringing her aboard his submarine with the promise of an interview. (Jacob Ehrbahn/Ritzau Foto, File via AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  The human rights of a self-taught Danish engineer who was convicted five years ago of murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine were not violated as he had claimed, a Danish court ruled Thursday.

Peter Madsen was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 for killing Kim Wall, a 30-year-old freelance reporter, after bringing her aboard his self-built submarine with the promise of an interview. There he tortured and killed her before dismembering her body and dumped it at sea in a case that gripped Scandinavia.

Madsen had sued the southern Denmark prison where he is incarcerated over a ban on getting visits, exchanging letters and making telephone calls without permission. In its ruling, the district court in Nykoebing Falster said that the ban was not a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

However, the court said that Madsen may receive visits, phone calls and write letters with a vetted person but needs permission each time.

On Aug. 10, 2017, Wall boarded Madsen's 33-ton, nearly 18-meter-long (60-foot-long) UC3 Nautilus submarine in Copenhagen. Eleven days later, her dismembered torso was found at sea off Copenhagen. Other body parts, including the head, were found at sea months later.

Madsen had in the meantime been arrested and in January 2018, he was charged with murder, dismemberment and indecent handling of a corpse.

During the trial and subsequent appeal, which he also lost, Madsen was depicted as a tech nerd. A psychiatric report described him as emotionally impaired with severe lack of empathy, anger and guilt and having psychopathic tendencies.

An attempt to flee a suburban Copenhagen jail in October 2022, failed and he was recaptured nearby. He was transferred to another prison  the Storstroem prison  with higher security and sentenced to a year and nine months for the attempt. It was that prison that he sued.

The Ekstra Bladet newspaper reported that Madsen told the court that his attempt to flee was rooted in frustration that all contact with the outside world had been revoked.

Last year, a Danish law was changed barring people sentenced to life from receiving or making phone calls or letters, or receive visitors that they didnt know before their incarceration during the first 10 years of their sentence. The law was amended because Madsen had several female visitors and got married in jail. They later reportedly divorced.
North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley, right, speaks while Gov. Roy Cooper listens at an Executive Mansion news conference in Raleigh, N.C., on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. Kinsley and Cooper announced that North Carolina would launch Medicaid expansion coverage on Dec. 1. Expansion will be able to start because Cooper said he'll let a state budget bill sent by the General Assembly last week to his desk become law without his signature. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A decade after the federal government began offering expanded Medicaid coverage in states that opted to accept it, hundreds of thousands of adults in North Carolina are set to receive benefits, a development that boosters say will aid hospitals and local economies in addition to the long-term uninsured.

North Carolina elected officials agreed this year to expand Medicaid, which will provide the government-funded health insurance to adults ages 19 to 64 who make too much money to receive traditional Medicaid but generally not enough to benefit from public subsidies available for private health insurance. The federal government will pay 90% of the cost, as stipulated under the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

More than 600,000 North Carolinians are ultimately expected to qualify, with roughly half to be automatically enrolled as of Friday. That means theyll be able to get annual checkups, prescription drugs and other services with little or no out-of-pocket expenses.

Residents including Carrie McBane have been navigating the gap between earning too much to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance for years. She's hopeful that expanded eligibility will revive the state's working class, especially in rural communities like her small mountain town of Sylva, located 290 miles (467 kilometers) west of Raleigh.

The 50-year-old had paid out-of-pocket to see several doctors who couldn't identify her debilitating illness, until one finally diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes. By then, her organs were failing and she could barely work enough hours as a restaurant server to pay for insulin and her other new prescriptions. Her monthly income was still about $100 too high to qualify for Medicaid, she said.

It's the worst feeling in the world, when you don't know what's happening with your body but you know something's terribly wrong and you've gotten zero help through the medical industry," McBane said. And as you get sicker, the bills pile up.

North Carolina's decision to opt into the expanded Medicaid program makes it the 40th state to do so. The District of Columbia also participates. Some states with Republican leaders have recently considered expansion after years of opposing it, primarily on the grounds that they worried federal policy would change and require states to pay a higher percentage of the expense. The 10 remaining states that don't participate are mostly Republican-controlled and are concentrated in the South and Midwest.

Expansion should help reduce the percentage of North Carolinas adults under age 65 who are considered uninsured. A 2022 report from the National Center for Health Statistics estimated North Carolinas uninsured population at 17.6%, significantly above the national average of 12.6%. The state currently has 2.9 million enrollees covered by some form of traditional Medicaid.

This is a phenomenal moment for North Carolina and for North Carolinians, state Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley said in an interview. All that adds up to just the peace of mind, knowing that when they need health care, its not going to drive them into debt.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper had pressed hard for expanding Medicaid since taking office in early 2017. But Republican legislative leaders werent sold, saying they were suspicious about more government insurance and the chance Congress might cut its financial contribution.

They warmed to the idea in 2022, when the federal government offered a $1.8 billion bonus over two years if North Carolina signed on.

By March, the Republican-dominated General Assembly passed the legislation, and Cooper signed it into law. It stipulates that North Carolina hospitals cover the states 10% share of expenses through increased assessments that began in November, DHHS said.

Participating in the Medicaid expansion and another federal program that North Carolina hospitals entered into under the new law should bring $8 billion in federal funds into the state annually, according to state officials. The money should help reimburse rural hospitals that treat high numbers of uninsured people. It may also generate economic benefits through the health care system.

To qualify for Medicaid under the new guidelines, a single person can make up to $20,120 annually in pretax income, while a household of four can make up to $41,400 for an adult to benefit.

McBane, who lives alone and has gone nearly 18 years without health insurance, is now searching for a job that will allow her to take care of her health while staying within the income range that will keep her in the program.

Many of her neighbors work fast food or construction jobs that don't cover health care, and they face stress and stigma whenever they have to visit a doctor, she explained. Much of western North Carolina exists in the Medicaid coverage gap, and its citizens are absolutely left behind, McBane said. She expects expansion will not only ease the financial burden on her community, but make many low-income residents feel more welcome in exam rooms.

The state has added social workers and better technology to review Medicaid eligibility for all enrollees now that a COVID-19 policy barring states from kicking anyone off Medicaid has ended. DHHS is also working with religious organizations, civic groups and other trusted local voices to get the word out to people newly qualified for publicly funded care, Kinsley said.

Theyre working. Theyre taking care of their kids, he said. And so were going to need to meet them where they are and use every tool we have to help them get connected to this important tool that they need for their health.
A Hungarian official signaled that his country will not support a premature proposal that would admit Ukraine to becoming a member of the European Union (EU).

Gergely Gulyas, the chief of staff to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, made the remarks during a news conference in Budapest on Thursday, noting that it was premature to start to begin formal talks on the matter, according to The Associated Press (AP).

We are dealing with a completely premature proposal, Gulyas said at the news conference, adding that Hungary cannot contribute to a common decision on inviting Ukraine to join the member bloc.

Gulyas also said that Hungary doesnt plan on supporting proposed amendments to the EUs budget, which would provide more than $54 billion in long-term aid to Ukraine.

Orbans chief of staff added that the member bloc was illegally withholding funds from his country, noting that the government has consequently declined to support any budget amendment, the AP reported.

This comes as Orban, one of Russian President Vladimir Putins allies in the union, has been a main opponent of Ukraine joining the 27-nation bloc, saying earlier this month that he and his government would push back on December talks on whether the sovereign country should be invited to begin membership negotiations.

Earlier this year, Orban threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine in its war against Russia over concerns about the treatment of ethnic Hungarians.

The EUs executive arm earlier this month recommended that Ukraine should be allowed to begin membership talks once it addresses governance issues that include corruption, lobbying concerns and restrictions that prevent minorities in the country from reading and studying their own languages, the AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, has offered to testify before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. | Stephanie Scarbrough, Associated Press

Hunter Biden is taking matters into his own hands by agreeing to testify in front of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in a public hearing on Dec. 13.

His attorney, Abbe David Lowell, detailed his terms in a 21 2 -page letter to committee chairman James Comer, R-Ky., on Tuesday, after President Joe Bidens son was subpoenaed in early November.

Here we are, eleven months into your so-called investigation, and every objective review of your revelations  including by some of your colleagues  has declared your exploration as one turning up only dry holes, wrote Lowell.

He said Bidens legal team offered to meet or speak with the Oversight Committee on more than one occasion.

You never responded, but now, in what appears to be a Hail Mary pass with your team behind in the score and time running out, you have subpoenaed or demanded interviews of Hunter Biden along with a long list of family members and business associates, the letter, obtained by Fox News, said.

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We have seen you use closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public. We therefore propose opening the door, Lowell wrote. A public proceeding would prevent selective leaks, manipulated transcripts, doctored exhibits, or one-sided press statements.

Comer issued a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to the letter, rejecting the request and accusing Hunter Biden of playing by his own rules, which wont stand with House Republicans.

Our lawfully issued subpoena to Hunter Biden requires him to appear for a deposition on December 13, the Kentucky representative said. We expect full cooperation with our subpoena for a deposition but also agree that Hunter Biden should have the opportunity to testify in a public setting at a future date.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the ranking member of the Oversight Committee, called Comer and Oversight Committee Republicans decision to reject Bidens request an epic humiliation.

What an epic humiliation for our colleagues and what a frank confession that they are simply not interested in the facts and have no confidence in their own case or the ability of their own Members to pursue it, he said in a statement on X.

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Of Comers insistence to interview Hutner Biden behind closed doors, Raskin said, What the Republicans fear most is sunlight and the truth.

The GOP House Oversight Committee uncovered evidence of then-Vice President Bidens involvement in his sons foreign business dealings with his sons clients in China, Russia and Ukraine, which led to millions in financial gain for Hunter Biden and other family members, as the Deseret News previously reported.

This raised ethical questions about whether the president acted within legal bounds, leading to a potential impeachment inquiry into President Biden. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told the Republican conference to expect the inquiry to be brought to a floor vote in the coming weeks, as The Hill reported.

In addition to the House investigation, Hunter Biden has been hit with three firearm-related felony charges, with tax crime charges expected to come. The White House has denied President Bidens involvement in any family business.
Hunter Bidens offer to testify publicly in an open hearing, but not in a closed-door deposition as House Republicans demanded in their subpoena, is exposing some cracks in the GOPs strategy.

House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) swiftly blasted the request  contradicting earlier comments saying they would drop everything if the presidents son wanted to testify in front of the committee.

Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That wont stand with House Republicans, Comer said in a statement, adding that he also agree[s] that Hunter Biden should have the opportunity to testify in a public setting at a future date.

But a few GOP voices wonder what the harm is in going straight to a public format.

I think they ought to take Hunter Biden up on his offer, shall we call it, and I think that theres plenty of good questions that should be asked of him, said Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.). But he added that Comer is going to do whats best in order to truly get the truth out, and at the same time, not give someone an opportunity to grandstand.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), without referencing Comer, also backed the idea of public testimony from Biden.

The American people have a right to see  and also, you know, they should evaluate this for themselves, he said during an interview on Fox Business.

I mean, if you do this stuff in private  what happens is theres inevitably bunches of leaks, and then its, Well so-and-so said this, and so-and-so said that. Its like, just do it in public, and let the public see, open the door so yall can report on it.

And House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) briefly posted on social media that he welcome[d] Bidens move to testify and that it was long overdue for him to come clean in front of the American people.

But he deleted the post and shifted gears later, writing, Hunter Biden does not get to dictate how Congress conducts our constitutional role in oversight of his fathers administration and investigating the Presidents involvement in the Biden family influence peddling business. The congressional subpoena he received was not a suggestion.

A Smith aide said the first statement lacked the additional nuance that there was no world in which his appearing publicly was going to supplant the subpoena.

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It is not a novel move for a subpoenaed witness to suggest appearing in a public hearing rather than a private one. And Democrats who criticized Comer for not accepting Bidens request have not always been consistent.

After the select committee on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack subpoenaed five GOP lawmakers, former Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) said he would prefer to testify to the Jan. 6 panel in a public setting.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in the last Democratic-controlled Congress offered  after months of resisting the subpoena and facing a criminal contempt trial  to testify publicly before the committee rather than privately.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Oversight Democrat who previously served on the Jan. 6 panel, ripped the GOP for refusing Bidens request for a public hearing.

Let me get this straight. After wailing and moaning for ten months about Hunter Biden and alluding to some vast unproven family conspiracy, after sending Hunter Biden a subpoena to appear and testify, Chairman Comer and the Oversight Republicans now reject his offer to appear before the full Committee and the eyes of the world and to answer any questions that they pose? Raskin said in a statement.

But when Bannon requested to testify publicly to the Jan. 6 panel, Raskin dismissed the suggestion  something Republicans were happy to point out on social media Tuesday.

The way that we have treated every single witness is the same, that they come in, they talk to the committee there, Raskin said on CBS at the time. If theyre going to take a deposition, theyre sworn under oath. Its videotaped. Its recorded, and then we take it from there.

Some GOP members also pointed to the Jan. 6 committees practice as a rationale for why Biden should have to first do his deposition privately.

He doesnt get special treatment. Hes got to be treated like every other witness, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), one of the five lawmakers subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 panel, said, noting those called before the select committee didnt get a choice.

They got stuck having to do it privately, he said. Biggs did not meet with the panel after his subpoena.

A spokesperson for Rudy Giuliani noted the former Trump attorney likewise did not have an option to testify publicly during the Jan. 6 hearings.

Raskin told The Hill on Tuesday that the Bannon situation was different, as the former White House adviser fought the subpoena for nine months, only to reverse course just ahead of his trial for contempt of Congress for failing to comply with the order.

But he also questioned Comers motives for the private setting.

They want to have him behind closed doors for 10 hours or 12 hours and then to take one 15-second clip out of context and then try to bamboozle the country. And thats what theyve been doing from the beginning. So good for Hunter Biden, that hes saying he will come and answer every question from every member of the committee in public, but hes going to have to speak for himself and not allow their leak machine [to] distort whatever it is he says, Raskin said.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) accused the majority of acting in bad faith.

Regardless of what happened in that situation, this situation is different because the Oversight Republicans have made it very clear that their modus operandi is to have closed-door depositions and to leak very cherry-picked and misleading testimony to paint a false picture of what the witness said, Goldman said.

Comer, during an interview with conservative outlet Newsmax, said the private setting was needed in part to stay laser focused on reviewing tens of thousands of documents without back-and-forth from members, saying they would get distracted by Raskin and other Democrats.

But Democrats see the move as a sign of weakness in the GOP probe, particularly after the inaugural GOP public impeachment hearing, where they were able to poke holes in testimony from Republican witnesses.

I dont understand why all of a sudden the chairman is afraid and wants to bury Hunter in a basement. If its so compelling, if the evidence is so overwhelming, you show it to the American people in committee, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said.

Its a vote of no confidence in his own members. Clearly he doesnt want his members asking questions in committee. And weve seen how the impeachment hearings have gone. So clearly, its because he wants to control the narrative, he wants to spin, and he wants to misrepresent it, he added, saying Comer wants to just run to Sean Hannity and tell his story on that one channel, on that one show.

Comer told The Hill that the Oversight panel was preparing a response to Bidens attorney Abbe Lowell.

Were responding to his and Menendezs attorney, Comer said, taking a swipe at Hunter Bidens using the same legal counsel as recently indicted Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

Weve got 10,000 pages of documents. Weve got to talk at length with Hunter Biden about the different shell companies, the different wires from the different countries. And theres no way to do that in a public hearing, Comer said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Director Li Xu's "Sunflower in the Dark" premiered on Tuesday in Beijing, earning wide praise from critics and audience members for its bold exploration of life and death.

Director Li Xu (R) and actress Narenhua talk with audience members in Beijing at the premiere of "Sunflower in the Dark" on Nov. 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Dayandi Culture Media (Hebei Province) Co. Ltd.]

The movie follows the story of a woman confronting a terminal illness. Opting to forego treatment, she returns to the countryside where she once lived with her late husband. In her quest for closure, she relives fond memories from her past, encounters a shadow puppet performer, interacts with left-behind children and uncovers the true warmth of life.

At the premiere, Li explained that the film's title, "Sunflower in the Dark," represents the darkest moment in people's life when they may face their own dilemmas. "In this darkness and abyss, the film explores whether people are willing to chase the sunlight like sunflowers, whether they are willing to face challenges in the darkness, and whether they are willing to live optimistically in adversity," he said.

The film unfolds at a gentle pace, devoid of contrived dramatic conflict. Despite the scarcity of dialogue, it emanates a deep and tranquil strength, guiding viewers through the protagonist's evolving fate and encouraging contemplation on the profound aspects of life and death. "Sunflower in the Dark" stands out as a film for its rare subject matter and expressive style, making it a year-end release that will resonate with almost everyone.

The ethnic Mongolian actress, Narenhua, described Li as a bold director. She commended his courage in tackling such a theme for his directorial debut and adopting a daring approach "reminiscent of a monologue" in this film. These aspects provided Narenhua with a fresh and novel acting experience. Encountering a talented director is a stroke of luck, she said, and her collaboration with Li was characterized by harmony and sparks of creativity.

Born in 1994, Li holds a doctorate from the Chinese National Academy of Arts and is now a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy. The film was screened at several international events this year to much acclaim, including winning a Remi Bronze Award at the 56th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in the United States, an Audience Award at the 9th Barcelona International Film Festival in Spain, and commendations in Nice, Madrid, Cannes and Tokyo.

A promotional poster for "Sunflower in the Dark." [Photo courtesy of Dayandi Culture Media (Hebei Province) Co. Ltd.]

The film's art director, Cao Jiuping, believes that Li is a director who knows exactly what he wants, and has a very strong creative direction. "He won't give up his pursuit due to other distractions," Cao said.

Zhou Xinxia, the film's editor, admitted that "Sunflower in the Dark" is a challenging film with almost no precedent for reference in terms of editing. "This kind of surreal work is actually a feeling in the author's own heart. We are just giving it a concrete form through film. The conscious imagery and meaning are things the film will inspire and encourage the audience to think about themselves, and Li Xu achieved that," Zhou said.

Among the audience, Jidi Majia, one of China's most acclaimed ethnic minority poets and honorary president of the China Minority Literary Association, praised the film for delving into the inner world of human beings, which is rare in today's film market. This, he believes, provides ample food for thought in contemporary cinema.

Pan Yikui, deputy director of the National Art Museum of China, believes that the visuals in this film, whether capturing natural landscapes or depicting characters, are exceptionally beautiful. He commended the film for portraying the beauty of life and spirit, offering a positive and uplifting reflection on the spiritual aspects of existence.

Li's fellow director Huang Jun also praised the work: "What I can feel from this film is a profound sense of Zen, the impermanence and vitality of life, and a human's persistence and letting go."

Li Mili, chairwoman of the Beijing Radio, Film and Television Association concluded that "Sunflower in the Dark" is not just a pure film, but also a sacred one.

"Sunflower in the Dark" will be released in theaters nationwide on Nov. 30.
At least once a week, Ethan Wirth grabs his pest management book and traverses the 5-acre vineyard at DC Estate Winery in South Beloit. As he looks at the grapes, hell sometimes reference the book, which lists common insect and fungal issues.

Scouting, as the 33-year-old operations manager called it, is an important step in creating high-quality wine. It also might be the primary way grape growers ward off spotted lanternflies. The moth-size invasive pests eat vines, which can damage or kill the grapes.

Im definitely concerned about it, Wirth said. Its just one more thing that weve got to scout for and know the best plan of attack for treating that issue.

The black spotted insects were identified for the first time in Illinois in September. Since then, theres been at least seven more positive sightings, according to Scott Schirmer, the nursery and northern field office section manager at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. One of them was in DuPage County, while the rest were in southern Cook County, he said.

Schirmer doesnt expect them to cause widespread plant or tree death across the state, at least in the near future. But they may have more immediate impacts on the agritourism industry, including orchards, pumpkin patches and vineyards, leaving businesses like Wirths looking for solutions.

A lot of grape growers, the winery is also maybe a bed-and-breakfast, but then you come drink wine and sit and watch the sunset, and nobody wants to do that or have a wedding there when theres insects flying all over or theres sticky, sooty honeydew everywhere where you sit or walk, said Kelly Estes, a state survey coordinator for the Illinois Natural History Survey.

Slowing the spread

Native to East Asia, the spotted lanternfly was first detected in southeastern Pennsylvania in 2014. Theyve steadily made their way west, clinging to wheel wells on vehicles or boarding trains and planes, and laying eggs along the journey. Theyve also been identified in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

High levels of traffic and movement within Chicago make the region vulnerable to the introduction of invasive species, Estes said. The bugs can sneak into small cracks and crevices during travel, and most of the time people dont know theyre along for the ride, she said.

Our focus has been on the northeast part of the state and Cook County in particular, she said. You think Illinois, cornfields and Midwest, but you look at the Chicagoland area specifically with airports and industry and rail  theres many different ways things can move through there.

In fact, the first confirmed sighting of a spotted lanternfly in Illinois on Sept. 16 was by a resident in Chicagos Lakeview neighborhood. The resident told the Tribune she noticed the bug while walking her dog near North Broadway and Briar Place.

To prevent the bugs population from becoming very established, Estes said authorities are mainly focusing on early detection and education. She encourages anyone who spots the bug to report it to lanternfly@illinois.edu; the site has already garnered more than 100 responses, she said.

As winter approaches, the time of year when adult lanternflies freeze to death, Estes said its important to look out for their eggs. She described a grayish brown putty laid over top of the eggs, and said they can be on just about anything from telephone poles to trees to rusty metal.

After taking a photo, Estes said its best to crush the adults. To kill the egg masses, scrape them into a container with hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol. See it, snap it, squish it, Estes said.

Schirmer added that people should check their vehicles, boats and campers for the eggs. He said the research and regulatory communities are continuing to learn about the insects behaviors, potential impacts and effective management strategies.

Early detection is key in this effort, he said. The Department of Agriculture and its partners will continue to monitor the area, work with impacted property managers on best management practices and follow up on reports in the future.

Wine, grape industry prepares

Some in the wine and grape industry have concerns with a wait-and-see approach, especially after seeing millions of dollars in damages in other states because of the bugs. One study using data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture and a survey of crop production experts calculated a $43 million economic impact to Pennsylvania agriculture, with fruit growers the hardest hit.

When spotted lanternflies feed on vines, farmers might lose grapes that year, Estes said. But she said what is perhaps more concerning is that the health of the vines could be affected for years to come.

Were not exactly sure how it will impact grapes in Illinois, but the threat is definitely there, she said.

Ryan Phelps is vice president of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance, a nonprofit that supports the nearly 165 wineries and tasting rooms across the state. Hes also the chief operating officer at Walkers Bluff vineyard, in Carterville, Illinois.

He first heard about the spotted lanternfly about a decade ago while working as an instructor at Western Kentucky University. He knew that the bug would eventually spread throughout the country but wants the state to ramp up its containment and eradication programs to give the industry more time to prepare.

Well do what we can to control it. It being an invasive species, it would be nice if the state would do something to try to eradicate it, Phelps said.

While Phelps doesnt think it will be overly difficult to control the bugs population with insecticides, buying the right product in sufficient quantities could present an economic burden. Beyond the grapes, hes also worried about them damaging the aesthetics of some of the businesses. Customers might hesitate to book a wedding, for example, at a winery, Phelps said.

Estes said she also recognizes that much of the states agritourism industry is made up of multifaceted businesses. She said she hopes to work with grape growers to develop management programs.

To make a property less attractive to a spotted lanternfly, Schirmer recommends that people remove their preferred host species, primarily tree of heaven and wild grape vines. He said getting rid of their food sources means they will be less likely to have a strong affinity for the property, and wont show up, feed or do any significant hanging around.

Overall, Estes said its not all gloom and doom, adding that theres no need to panic yet in Illinois. Over the winter, she said the state will focus on creating an action plan to handle the spotted lanternfly. As business slows down at DC Estate Winery, Wirth is also going to do much the same.

Well definitely be doing some of our own research, and more in depth, Wirth said. Im sure the (vintners alliance) will touch base in one of their classes, and well make sure were present and take as many notes as we can.

rjohnson@chicagotribune.com
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Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party has an edge over the opposition in two key state elections, exit polls show, giving him a boost before next years nationwide vote.

The BJP is poised to retain Madhya Pradesh and swing Rajasthan its way from key rival, the Indian National Congress, according to most of the exit polls Thursday. The Congress party is predicted to hold on to Chhattisgarh and clinch Telangana, a southern state currently ruled by a regional party.

While the exit polls arent definitive, and the state elections arent a proxy for the nationwide vote in 2024, a win for the BJP in the two key northern states would put Modi in a strong position in his bid to stay in power. Official results are due to be released on Dec. 3.

In Madhya Pradesh, a large agrarian state, the Congress party had hoped to capitalize on anti-incumbency sentiment among voters and unemployment concerns.

Read More: Modis Rivals Appeal to Lower-Caste Voters to Break BJPs Grip

In the northeastern state of Mizoram, its looking like a close fight between two regional parties, according to the poll predictions.

A decisive BJP win will reinforce the consensus view that the party is on the front-foot for the 2024 general elections, said Madhavi Arora, lead economist at Emkay Global Financial Services Ltd. This is likely to add another leg of rally to the markets, as policy continuity will be viewed as a positive growth-shock in the medium term.

Futures on Indias Nifty 50 Index climbed as much as 0.4% early on Friday.

Madhya Pradesh

The exit polls for Madhya Pradesh indicate a two-way contest between the BJP and the Congress. The four-time chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is predicted to retain power. The state with a population of more than 72 million has 230 assembly seats.

Chhattisgarh

In the Congress-governed state of Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is expected to return for a second term, despite federal investigations over corruption allegations against his government. The Chhattisgarh assembly has a total of 90 seats.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan, where anti-incumbent sentiment is common, remains a close race between the BJP and Congress. With the majority mark at 100 seats, BJP is marginally ahead in the exit polls.

Congress wasnt able to generate the enthusiasm in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where Modis Hindutva factor is strong, said Arati Jerath, a New Delhi-based author and political analyst.

Telangana

In the southern state of Telangana, the Congress is predicted to flip the state, beating K. Chandrashekar Raos Bharat Rashtra Samithi that governed the state since its formation in 2014.

The elections in Telangana in the south will be a game changer if Congress wins it, which will have a huge impact for the general elections next year, Jerath said.

The BJP, which campaigned hard in the state, hasnt made substantial gains, according to the exit polls. The BJPs popularity in southern India continues to remain low and conceded power in Karnataka earlier this year. The Telangana assembly has a total of 119 seats.

Mizoram

In the state of Mizoram, the Mizo National Front has a slight edge over another regional party Zoram Peoples Movement. The MNF previously formed a loose coalition with the BJP, but has lately diverged on key national policies. The Mizoram legislature has a total of 40 seats.

The five state elections are key for testing strategies ahead of next years national vote, when Modi will seek a third term in office. Earlier this year, more than 25 opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhis Congress party, formed an alliance to take on Modi and the BJP.

These five states together send a sixth of Indias parliamentarians in the national election.

--With assistance from Abhishek Vishnoi.

(Updates with comment from analyst.)

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NEW YORK  An Indian national was hit with murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges in Manhattan on Wednesday for his alleged role in a $100,000 plot to kill a New York City-based leader of the Sikh separatist movement.

Nikhil Nick Gupta, who the feds say is involved in drugs and weapons trafficking, is accused of working to carry out the orders of an unnamed Indian government official who sought to cut down Gurpatwant Singh Pannun because of his criticism of Indias leadership.

Pannun, an immigration attorney and political activist based in the city, is banned from his native country, as is his organization. He has advocated for the largely-Sikh population in the northern state of Punjab to secede from India and establish a sovereign state.

The government official  referred to in court documents as an unnamed co-conspirator  allegedly recruited Gupta to carry out the hit via India in May, in exchange for getting rid of criminal charges he faced. Prosecutors say the official previously worked for Indias Central Reserve Police Force and in various national security and intelligence capacities.

As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil.

After getting his assignment, discussed on the phone and in person in New Delhi, the 52-year-old Gupta reached out to a criminal associate he didnt realize was an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration, court docs allege. They then put him in touch with a supposed hitman  also undercover for the DEA.

Guptas accused of brokering a deal between the official and the supposed hitman to take out Pannun for $100,000 and having an associate deliver an advance payment of $15,000 in Manhattan in June.

Guptas described in Wednesdays indictment as acting as a go-between, passing surveillance from the government official to the undercover showing Pannuns day-to-day activities and directing him to carry out the killing quickly  but not when high-level meetings between U.S. and Indian officials were scheduled to occur.

Hours after another Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was murdered by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia on June 18, the government official sent Gupta a video of a slain Nijjar, according to the indictment. Shortly after, he sent Gupta Pannuns address.

In response, Gupta allegedly told the official he wished he had carried out Nijjars murder himself, expressing his desire to go to the field.

The next day, Gupta contacted the undercover to tell him that, like Pannun, Nijjar had also been on the hit list and that we have so many targets, authorities said.

If he is not alone, (if) there are two guys with him in the meeting or something . . . put everyone down, Gupta was quoted in another exchange with the purported hitman.

The feds intervened about a week later. Gupta was arrested on June 30 when he arrived in the Czech Republic, which has an extradition treaty with the U.S.

Gupta now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Its not clear when hell appear in court stateside. The News could not reach his lawyer.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has not acknowledged any plot to kill Pannun and has denied involvement in Nijjars murder.

In September, however, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his countrys investigators had found credible evidence that Indian officials ordered the killing of Nijjar.

______
FILE - Attorney Cliff Johnson, director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, speaks during a hearing, May 10, 2023, in Hinds County Chancery Court in Jackson, Miss. The center released a survey Thursday, Nov. 30, showing that two-thirds of Mississippi counties have grand juries that meet two or three times a year, which contributes to long pretrial detention in county jails. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Most people in Mississippi's county jails have been locked up at least three months without formal charges while waiting to go on trial. Some have longer wait times because two-thirds of the counties only convene grand juries two or three times a year, according to a survey released Thursday by a group that tracks justice issues.

Mississippi does not require consistency among the 82 counties about how often grand juries meet to consider indictments  the formal charging documents needed to send a case to trial.

If you get arrested in one of these counties where grand juries seldom meet, you can wind up in jail for months or even years just waiting to be indicted, and you will spend more time behind bars simply because of geographic misfortune, said Cliff Johnson, an attorney who is director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Starting during the summer, law students and staff at the center spent several weeks issuing more than 100 public records requests and calling the offices of district attorneys and court clerks to gather information about the frequency of grand jury sessions.

In releasing the survey results, Johnson said Mississippi should join most other states in limiting how long prosecutors can delay seeking indictments. Mississippi, Alabama, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Virginia are the only states with no time limit on how long a person can be jailed without being indicted, he said.

If a county in Mississippi convenes grand juries in January and July, a person arrested in February could be jailed for months if they are denied bond or can't afford to post bond to be released, Johnson said. Then if an officer goes on vacation while a grand jury is meeting, the district attorney could delay consideration of a case until the next grand jury session months later, he said, and there's no limit on how many times a case can be delayed.

Sometimes, grand juries choose not to issue indictments if evidence is weak. Johnson said jails do not track how many people are detained and then released in such cases.

Being stuck in jail can quickly destabilize lives.

You lose your job, lose your car, lose your house, you get behind on child support, Johnson said. Your life begins to spiral.

Mississippi legislators have killed proposals to require a statewide database of who is in county jails and information about their race, what charges they are facing and whether they have been indicted. The MacArthur Center has been trying to track that information for years, but Johnson said it's difficult to get consistent information from sheriffs.

The new survey did not track the race of people in county jails, Johnson said. But, data from the Mississippi Department of Corrections shows that about 63% of people in prisons for felony convictions are Black, in a state where about 38% of residents are Black.

Because of the nature of poverty and policing in Mississippi, Black and brown people are more likely to remain in jail as they wait for grand juries to consider indictments, Johnson said.

Disproportionately, white people bail out and Black and brown people get stuck in jail, Johnson said.

Johnson estimated the cost for a Mississippi county to convene a grand jury at less than $5,000.

The survey found nearly 5,400 people were in Mississippi's county jails  although Johnson said the number could be higher because jail population is notoriously difficult to track. The survey also found 2,683 pretrial detainees had been jailed longer than 90 days, more than 1,100 had been jailed at least nine months, and 747 had been jailed more than a year.

Johnson said the incarceration numbers are based on the most recent information that counties provided. Rules of criminal procedure only require sheriffs to say how many people have been detained at least 90 days, though some sheriffs release complete numbers of how many people are jailed, he said.

Some people are in Mississippi jails to serve short-term misdemeanor sentences. Some are there after a civil commitment for mental health issues or substance use. Those awaiting indictment are there because a judge would not set bond, or the person could not afford to post the bond that was set.

So this is the big challenge  thousands of Mississippians are in our county jails, but it's very difficult to know who is there, why, whether they have been indicted, whether they have a lawyer, or when they are supposed to get out, Johnson said. It's a black hole.

Five counties reported that grand juries meet monthly, but those results come with asterisks. DeSoto and Jackson counties usually meet that often, while Rankin County reported its grand jury meets nearly every month. Forrest and Stone are the other counties that reported monthly meetings.

The state's largest county, Hinds, has two judicial districts. A grand jury meets six times a year in the Jackson-based district and three times a year in the Raymond-based district.

Another large county, Harrison, said a grand jury meets three times a year in each of its two judicial districts in Biloxi and Gulfport.

Two counties in the Delta  Leflore and Sunflower  reported that grand juries meet as needed. Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties are in the same circuit court district and have the same district attorney.
A southwest Iowa company that transports and disposes of partially digested food from the stomachs of slaughtered animals was recently fined again for improperly spreading the material on fields, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Feedlot Service Company of Neola and its owner, Fred Roane, agreed this month to pay a $7,000 fine for disposing of the material on terrain that is too hilly and too close to a water well, a recent DNR order said. Its the second time in about two years that the department fined the company.

The company operates an open cattle feedlot with about 1,500 animals but also hauls paunch manure from a cattle slaughterhouse in Omaha, Nebraska, DNR records show.

Paunch manure is extracted from the digestive tracts of slaughtered animals and has historically been treated as a waste product, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cows often contain about 50 pounds of partially digested food.

In recent years, some have sought to use it as feed, compost, or to produce biofuels. Feedlot Service Company spreads it on fields, where it decomposes. It is considered a solid waste in Iowa.

Roane told the Iowa Capital Dispatch that he hauls paunch from the Omaha facility almost daily, stockpiles it and periodically applies it to land to help enrich the soil. He said some who live nearby do not like the smell of it and are quick to complain to the DNR.

The company was fined $9,000 in 2021 after the DNR received several complaints about those field applications, including that there were parts of animals in addition to the stomach contents.

During the investigations I observed numerous dead animal parts, including cow hooves, bellies, hearts, hides, tails, chunks of flesh, bones, other unknown parts of animals, and other forms of solid waste items, Alison Manz, a senior environmental specialist for the DNR, wrote in a March 2021 investigation report.

Its illegal in Iowa to dispose of animal carcasses or their parts by strewing them across fields.

Roane told the DNR it was an isolated incident in his more than 30 years of hauling paunch that was caused by a confluence of factors, including changes at the slaughterhouse and his companys failure to fully inspect what it was hauling, DNR records show. He produced a stack of receipts to show that he had routinely disposed of animal parts at a landfill.

But the DNR noted several other violations, including applying too much paunch manure to the fields and in places that were too hilly or too close to drinking water wells. The department also found that contaminated water from paunch manure and cattle manure at the feedlot had flowed into a nearby creek.

In a September 2021 agreement with the DNR, Roane did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to pay the fine, comply with state rules, and keep better documentation of the materials he hauls and applies.

However, in February 2023, someone made an anonymous complaint to the DNR that the company had again spread paunch on hilly terrain and too close to a well. The departments subsequent investigation confirmed that and noted paunch in a roadside ditch and along the embankment of the nearby creek.

The inadequate application and management depict a lack of consideration for the environment, according to a recent DNR order. Evidence was observed that paunch manure had migrated to the waters edge of Keg Creek.

Roane told Capital Dispatch he erred by spreading paunch slightly too far onto more steeply sloped ground but said the well has been abandoned and shouldnt be a concern for contamination.

As part of the order, Roane again didnt admit wrongdoing but agreed to abide by state regulations and pay a $7,000 fine, which Roane described as the cost of doing business in an interview. He said passersby who see potential violations should contact him instead of the DNR, so that he can fix the problems without an investigation and fines.

Those administrative fines are capped at $10,000 by state law. Higher amounts can be sought in court.

Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Animal waste hauler fined again for illegal field spreading
Regarding "Wilmington City Council sends an unacceptable message in supporting Israel-Hamas ceasefire," DelawareOnline.com, Nov. 22:

I am proud of both my Jewish background and to have helped craft Wilmington City Councilwoman Shane Darbys Resolution #23-065, which requested the Delaware federal delegation support H. Res 786, which calls for an immediate ceasefire in the current Israel-Hamas war. Councilwoman Darby represents both my childhood home in the historically Jewish Triangle Neighborhood and my vision for a peaceful, shared future between Israelis and Palestinians.

In a recent News Journal op-ed, Dr. Neil Hockstein said that many view this ceasefire resolution as antisemitic, and that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are one and the same due to the resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel-Palestine but not elsewhere.

"Ceasefire now," chanted the close to 2,000 supporters at the entrance to the driveway of President Biden's home in Greenville, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Lets unpack this: Many, is a stretch, given that over two-thirds of Americans favor a ceasefire, despite American attitudes toward Jews being generally positive in public opinion polling and there is no evidence to suggest that even among the minority of Americans who oppose a ceasefire, that any significant number of people see such calls as antisemitic.

Furthermore, while I strongly disagree with Hocksteins assertion that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are one and the same, especially that Jewish opposition to Zionism, both religious and secular, had existed as long as Zionism itself, there is nothing anti-Zionist about calling for a ceasefire.

My first political protest ever was in opposition to the Iraq War  but this did not mean I was opposed to the American states existence! I am not opposed to Israels existence, but Councilwoman Darby and I are opposed to its war crimes of killing innocent civilians hospitals and ambulances, just as we oppose Hamass war crimes of hostage-taking and attacking civilian music festivalgoers.

Our call is for a bilateral ceasefire, not a call for universal surrender of Israel to Hamas rule. The notion that Israel is being singled out due to its Jewish majority is also spurious. In fact, Darby and I actually tried to include a call for a ceasefire the conflict in the Congo in the resolution we crafted, but we were unfortunately unable to do so due to limitations of the scope of City Council legislative resolutions.

While Hockstein is correct that there were no resolutions regarding the oppression of the Uyghurs, of the Darfurians or of the Ukrainians, there are also no American tax dollars going into that oppression. Neither China, Sudan nor Russia receive the billions in American military aid that Israel does, and in fact Ukraine has received tens of billions in American assistance in repelling the Russian invasion and colonization of their country. As such, there are no need for local level cries for help from the federal government in stopping these tragedies: simply because unlike the massacres in Palestine, it has zero leverage to stop them.

This is a time of rising antisemitism in the U.S. and here in Delaware specifically. The Chabad house in Newark was burned to the ground, and the only Jewish Community Center in Delaware has faced multiple bomb threats. Let's focus on making a more peaceful existence for Jews here in our small, tight-knit state instead of confusing the pro-peace majority of our neighbors for antisemites.

Jonathan Tate is the co-chair of the Delaware Democratic Socialists of America. He is also a member of the Philadelphia chapter of IfNotNow, a movement of mostly young American Jews opposed to the Israeli occupation.

Jonathan Tate

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Israel ceasefire resolution a proud moment in Wilmington history
This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows an exterior view of the venue for the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

For Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, the collective debut of more than 20 key suppliers at the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was "particularly meaningful."



"This line-up well illustrates a cluster effect on China's high-end medical equipment manufacturing, as the locations of these suppliers cover a wide swath of China from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, the western interior to the Greater Bay Area," Zhang said.

"We believe in the field of medical technology, and we are ushering in the best era for development," Zhang said. "Industrial chain innovation and high-quality development will be the priority."

Together with Zhang, many prominent figures from the business sector and international organizations have expressed their optimism over the lasting appeal of the Made-in-China concept as the country boasts striking manufacturing advantages.

Complete industrial chain

With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.



China's manufacturing sector topped the world in size for 13 consecutive years in 2022, with the added value of this sector contributing to over 30 percent of the world's total, according to a flagship report titled the Global Supply Chain Promotion Report released Tuesday.

GE Healthcare displayed its up-to-date medical imaging technologies at the expo. The company has established five manufacturing bases across China, with another under construction.

Zhang said that China's complete industrial system has helped his company thrive in China's medical device market, noting more investment will be channeled into cultivating a more resilient and secure supply chain for medical equipment manufacturing, and more production lines will be introduced into China.

"As we extend our footprint in the Chinese medical manufacturing market, our confidence in the ongoing investment in China is growing," he said.

Sharing growth opportunities

In addition to its industrial advantages, China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.



"As the world's largest electric vehicle market, China's persistent opening-up policies, advanced development concept, and favorable business environment have created huge opportunities for us," said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla, the U.S. automobile giant who also participated in the first CISCE.

Due to its unparalleled advantages and promising future, the Chinese market remains a "must-have" market for Tesla, Tao said.

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows the exhibition area of intelligent vehicles during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

So far, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has transformed into the carmaker's export hub worldwide, with China-manufactured Model 3 and Model Y catering to a burgeoning global demand.



Earlier this month, China announced that it would scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, while work will also be done to launch more activities to promote global cooperation and bridge transnational companies and local investment projects.

Among its latest moves toward this end, China launched the Beijing Initiative for the Connectivity of Industrial and Supply Chains during the ongoing CISCE, proposing that it will firmly maintain the stability and smooth flows of global industrial and supply chains and promote global economic development.

Wang Yuesheng, a professor from the Department of International Economics and Trade at Peking University, said that China has been furthering the opening-up and development of global industrial and supply chains by promoting the building of an open world economy along with improvements and transformation made in its international economic and trade rules.

In the eyes of Chris Pereira, CEO of iMpact, a communications and business consulting group, the supply chain offers the most essential communication conduit as it entails win-win cooperation.

"There must be a supplier and a client getting better on both sides. So I think as long as there is a supply chain, it is a win-win result," he said.

Going global

Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.



Guests visit the exhibition area of green agriculture during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jean Lu, Deputy CEO and Head of Client Coverage, Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, noted: "China not only manufactures for its own needs, but for the whole world."



Considering the country's industrial advantages, Lu said that the current de-globalization waves are, in fact, propelling Chinese companies to "go global" faster.

"The globalization of European and American companies began four to five decades ago, and that for companies of Japan and the Republic of Korea started 20-30 years ago. In the following five to 10 years, we will see the thriving of Chinese transnational companies," said Lu.

"This represents a shift from an export-driven model to a strategy where Chinese companies produce goods and conduct business in foreign markets with a mastery of local cultures and regulations," she said.

For Pereira, China's supply chain holds the most significant advantages in its high efficiency and robust enforcement capacity.

"I believe combining China's efficiency and enforcement capacity with the technological advantages of Western countries will yield mutually beneficial results, and I anticipate that Chinese technology will facilitate cooperation and exchanges in the future," he said.

Many European and American countries are welcoming Chinese suppliers who bring advanced technologies, establish factories, and create local jobs, Pereira said.

According to the mentioned report, China has constructed overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 46 countries as of the end of 2021. These cooperation zones had created 392,000 local jobs and significantly strengthened global supply chain cooperation.

"I believe that in the next five to 10 years, Chinese firms will not only sustain their current progress but also lead the world toward mutual benefits," Pereira said.
Lei Jun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Chinese technology company Xiaomi Corp. [Photo/CFP]

Lei Jun, founder, chairman, and CEO of Chinese technology company Xiaomi Corp, donated 1.3 billion yuan ($182.59 million) to Wuhan University, his alma mater, on Wednesday. He made the donation as the university celebrated its 130th anniversary in Wuhan, Hubei province.



Lei said the donation primarily focuses on supporting basic research in mathematics, physics, chemistry and literature, technological innovation in computer science, and the education and cultivation of undergraduate students.

"I hope that through my little effort, I can help the university to create a more brilliant future and foster the emergence of more outstanding engineers, scientists, and technology entrepreneurs in China," said Lei, who graduated from the university's computer school in 1991.

Wuhan University president Zhang Pingwen presented Lei with a donation certificate, and the university's Party chief Huang Taiyan awarded him the "Outstanding Education Contribution" medal.

Lei said that this recognition from his alma mater is an honor and the most important achievement of his life.

"Teachers and students are the core of the university, and alumni are the university's most cherished and valued strength," said Zhang, noting that Lei's donation is a new record for Wuhan University alumni. The previous record came from alumnus Chen Dongsheng, founder, chairman and CEO of Taikang Insurance Group, a major insurer in China.

"Like them, numerous Wuhan University alumni wholeheartedly contribute their love to the university in various ways," he said.

Huang stated that each donation from alumni carries deep sentiments and is hard-earned. He promised that the university and its foundation will responsibly manage and utilize the generous contribution.

Huang also mentioned that Lei's story of study and entrepreneurship has become legendary among Wuhan University students.

During his time at the university, Lei earned all the credits of his four-year degree in just two years. After graduation, he joined Beijing-based Kingsoft Corp, leading the company to success. In April 2010, Lei founded Xiaomi Tech, which has grown into one of the world's top three smartphone makers.

According to the university's official WeChat account, Lei began donating to Wuhan University as early as 1997. His previous total contribution equaled 130 million yuan, including several scholarships. In June of this year, the artificial intelligence teaching and research building, which was funded using Lei's donations, was put into use.
By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday asked United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to use his "political weight" to help free all of the Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Herzog made the request during a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed in Dubai, according to a statement issued by the Israeli president's media office.

"The President appealed to his friend Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to employ his full political weight to promote and speed up the return home of the hostages," it said.

Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial and which lacks executive powers, is in the Gulf state to attend the U.N. climate summit, known as COP28, which runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

It is his first overseas trip since the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen which Israel has said killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners took about 240 hostage into Gaza.

The UAE is a regional power although fellow Gulf state Qatar, and Egypt, have been mediating between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages, which has so far led to 99 Israelis and foreigners being freed.

Israel has released 210 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.

The Israeli statement also said Israel had cooperated with the UAE so that the Gulf state could send aid into Gaza, build a field hospital at Gaza's Rafah border and help with moving injured children from Gaza to receive medical care in the UAE.

A UAE state news agency report said the two presidents discussed relations between their countries and issues of mutual interest.

Herzog was invited to attend the summit by Sheikh Mohamed earlier this year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also invited to attend. Israel planned to send a large delegation of about 1,000 people, an official previously said.

However, the delegation would now be smaller, the official said, citing that some of those who were to take part in the delegation had been called up for reserve military duty.

The UAE is one of few Arab states that has official diplomatic ties with Israel. The Middle East nations have built close ties since official relations were established in 2020 under the United States-brokered Abraham Accords.

The UAE has condemned Hamas, which it sees as a threat to Middle East stability, for the Oct. 7 attack and called for the hostages to be released. Abu Dhabi has also condemned Israel's bombardment and invasion of Gaza, which Palestinian health officials say has killed over 15,000 people.

However, the UAE intends to maintain its relationship with Israel, which has yielded billions of dollars in trade and close security cooperation, sources have said.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; editing by Grant McCool)
Ukrainian forces made advances on the left bank of the Dnipro river in southern Ukraines Kherson Oblast, ISW reported on Nov. 29.

Russian military bloggers say Ukraine has reinforced its positions in the left bank and that up to 400 troops have dug in near the Krynky settlement in Kherson.

In October, Ukrainian marine units crossed the Dnipro and established Kyivs lasting bridgehead on the left bank. Now the troops are fighting to expand that bridgehead.

Ukrainian drone-operators are targeting Russian air-defenses and radio-jammers along the river in hopes of further advancing in the geographically challenging region.

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to fight in Kherson Oblast despite deteriorating weather conditions on the ground.

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.
ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers on Thursday approved a government decree that allows migrants aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult reception centres and gives police stronger powers to check that migrants are not falsely claiming to be under age.

Under Italian and European legislation, unaccompanied young migrants are entitled to more favourable treatment. For example, they cannot be expelled and should have access to more extensive welfare and support services.

The decree, part of the response of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government to surging immigration by sea, completed its parliamentary approval process, with the Senate backing it in a 97-to-65 vote, with one absention.

It allows minors aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult migrant reception camps when places for underage migrants are not available, and says they can be held there for up to 150 days. Under Italian law, a person becomes an adult at 18.

The decree also allows adult migrant centres to host up to twice as many people as they are normally allowed during peak immigration periods, and authorises police to use X-rays to estimate the age of young migrants and expel those found to have lied about it.

Unicef, the U.N. agency for children, said in a paper sent to the Italian parliament that the decree might breach the Convention on the Rights of the Child and "could result in a compression of the fundamental rights of minors".

Earlier this month, Meloni announced Italy would build migrant identification and reception centres in Albania, saying she hoped they could host as many as 36,000 sea migrants per year.

Some 152,000 migrants have disembarked in Italy so far this year, up sharply from 94,000 in the same period in 2022, official data show, an embarrassing increase for a government that has pledged to curb arrivals from northern Africa.

About 11% of this year's arrivals were unaccompanied minors.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Though its common practice for police (or at least someone) to notify family when someone dies, Jackson, Miss. Police Department officers failed to do so promptly after the death and burial of Dexter Wade.



Now, the city announced a policy to make sure this doesnt happen again.

Read more

That never happened...and the Wades arent the first family to go through this.

Read more from NBC News:

In another case, authorities failed to tell the family of Marrio Moore, 40, that hed been killed in February. His relatives eventually found out about the death after reading an Oct. 9 local news article that revealed Jackson police had failed to notify the public about dozens of homicides this year. By then, Moore had also been buried in a paupers grave. In both Dexter Wade and Marrio Moores deaths, the coroners office and the Jackson Police Department said they made efforts to contact next of kin, including via phone, but they didnt reach anyone. In Wades case, Lumumba, Jacksons mayor, has blamed a miscommunication.

What throws an even bigger wrench in the Jackson Police Departments we made a mistake response to Wades death is the fact he was struck by an off-duty police officers vehicle and had identification on him at the time, according to family attorney Benjamin Crump.

Wouldnt the cops have been able to notify his mother the very day he died? Chile...

More from The Root

Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
This article is part of Lost Rites, a series on Americas failed death notification system.

Police in Jackson, Mississippi, have adopted a policy outlining how officers notify families when a loved one has died. These guidelines are common in American law enforcement, but Jackson did not have a policy until recently, after a local mother shared the story of her son getting run over by a police car and being buried in a paupers grave without her knowing.

Police Chief Joseph Wade announced the new policy on Nov. 13 following weeks of public outrage over the death of Dexter Wade, 37, whose mother searched for him for months before learning that he had already been buried. (The two Wade families are not related). The department provided a copy of the new next-of-kin notification policy to NBC News in response to a public records request.

At the time of the announcement, Chief Wade did not mention the Dexter Wade case but suggested that the department had been out of step with standard practice.

You would think that we would have a death notification policy, but we do not, Chief Wade said at a news briefing with Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

Chief Wade declined through a city spokesperson to comment further. The spokesperson, Melissa Faith Payne, said in a statement that the new policy was enacted to ensure that police contact next of kin in cases handled by the department. She did not elaborate.

The Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County coroners office have been widely faulted for their failures to reach Dexter Wades family in the months after the father of two was struck and killed by an off-duty officer while crossing a six-lane highway on March 5. His mother, Bettersten Wade, reported him missing a few days later, but investigators did not tell her what happened to him until Aug. 24. By then, hed already been buried in a paupers grave on the grounds of the Hinds County penal farm.

In another case, authorities failed to tell the family of Marrio Moore, 40, that hed been killed in February. His relatives eventually found out about the death after reading an Oct. 9 local news article that revealed Jackson police had failed to notify the public about dozens of homicides this year. By then, Moore had also been buried in a paupers grave.

Image: Marquita & Mary Moore holds a photo of Mario Terrell Moore (Imani Khayyam for NBC News)

Mississippi law requires coroners to make reasonable efforts to notify the family of someone who has died, and if their body goes unclaimed for more than five days, county authorities can bury it. The Hinds County coroners office, which took possession of Wade and Moores bodies after their deaths, has said it works closely with police on death notifications and relies on officers to perform them in cases in which people have been killed.

In his Nov. 13 remarks, Chief Wade said that despite what state law says about the coroners responsibilities on death notifications, we want to make sure that we are giving the best police service to our citizens.

In both Dexter Wade and Marrio Moores deaths, the coroners office and the Jackson Police Department said they made efforts to contact next of kin, including via phone, but they didnt reach anyone. In Wades case, Lumumba, Jacksons mayor, has blamed a miscommunication.

Jacksons new policy requires officers to make every effort to quickly locate and notify the next of kin of someone who has died in a case handled by the police department. It instructs officers to use all available resources to find a victims family. The document also says officers should make a notification in person at a family members home, and not by phone. The policy says officers should use extreme tact and display a demeanor of understanding and sympathy and express a desire to assist.

Policies on death notification are customary for modern, well-run police departments and coroners offices, experts say.

Its pretty standard stuff that departments have a policy, said Thomas Tiderington, a former police chief in Plymouth Township, Michigan, and a former chief of detectives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who now consults for law enforcement agencies.

Not having a policy increases the risk of botched notifications, which can damage a departments credibility, Tiderington said. Theres a moral obligation besides the procedural obligation to let someone know their loved ones were killed or murdered or found deceased, he said.

Numbered graves at the Hinds County penal farm. (Ashleigh Coleman for NBC News)

Chris Burbank, a former police chief in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a consultant for the Center for Policing Equity, said it was unheard of for a police department to go without a death notification policy, because officers are commonly called upon to conduct notifications. This is like a policy about wearing seat belts  everybodys got them, Burbank said. If you dont, youve got to ask the question, What were you thinking?

Tiderington and Burbank both reviewed Jacksons new notification policy and said it appeared to bring the city up to modern standards.

The notification process is fairly representative of policies across the country, Burbank said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
WASHINGTON  A Donald Trump supporter who bashed in a Capitol window, assaulted police officers with pepper spray and urged the mob to pull the cops out during the brutal battle at the lower west tunnel on Jan. 6, 2021, is asking a judge to grant him early release, saying he was manipulated by the former president and Fox News.

Mitchell Todd Gardner, who was wearing a Trump hat and a Reagan Bush 84 sweatshirt during the Capitol attack, yelled pull the police out, pull the cops out, and grab their hands and pull them out during the battle, and then unloaded a fire extinguisher-sized canister of OC spray on officers in the tunnel, according to evidence shown at trial. He then bashed a Capitol window and entered into a suite of Senate hideaway offices that were assigned to Republican senators, including one belonging to Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho.

Mitchell Todd Gardner. (U.S. District Court for D.C.)

Gardner wrote a memo, styled as a Motion for Compassionate Release and/or Reduction of Sentence, that was filed on the docket in his criminal case this week. In it, Gardner states that he and so many other Americans were persuaded by then President Donald J. Trump that he had irrefutable evidence that he had been cheated by a rigged election.

In his memo, Gardner writes that a large group of hard working red blooded Americans were influenced by Trump and felt obligated to act on his behalf to save the country.

Gardners memo cites the U.S. Sentencing Commissions 2023 Criminal History Amendment, which went into effect on Nov. 1, in arguing for a sentence reduction, though it is unclear if Gardner would actually be eligible under that amendment. Gardner, representing himself pro se, wrote the memo from the low-security federal prison at Fort Dix in New Jersey, where hes being held.

Judge Amit P. Mehta, in March 2023, sentenced Gardner to 55 months, or about 4.5 years, in federal prison. With good time and credit for time served, the 36-year-old is currently scheduled for release on July 15, 2025, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons records.

Trump, Gardner wrote, was the most powerful man in the world and used his influence to manipulate others in carrying out his missions while staying above the fray. Gardner wrote that he and others felt it was an obligation or patriotic duty to ensure the saving of the republic. Jan. 6 rioters thought they were patriots, he wrote.

Now, Gardner says, he realizes the nature of his crimes against the United States despite having been mislead [sic] to believe that they were acts of patriotism at the time. Gardner wrote that he will live forever with a cloud of shame over his head.

Referring to himself in the third person, as is common in court filings, Gardner said his mind was skewed by misinformation and that he went to the Capitol on Jan. 6 with the mind set of saving the republic from what he considered was some imaginary force that was set to destroy it.

Gardner said it was easy for many to ask how he could have listened to one man and been so naive, but said there was a collective of individuals that were highly prominent that promoted this idea that the government was under attack. Gardner said he saw those people as patriotic, and that he trusted the information that they were giving was solid. He said hes since learned better.

Gardner wrote that had it not been for the disinformation peddled by powerfully influential people and news outlets such as FOX NEWS that encouraged such actions on January 6, he would be an employed American citizen paying his taxes.

If these influential individuals had not peddled such fraudulent claims he would have been there for his grandparents that both passed away on this year, Gardner wrote. In addition to this he would have been in the lives of his children both physically and financially to support them from home.

Fox News and the voting machine company Dominion reached a $787.5 million settlement earlier this year, just moments before the case was set to go to a jury. Discovery in that case revealed that several Fox News hosts knew that the claims being spread by Trump and by the network were bogus, and Foxs Rupert Murdoch acknowledged that some of his hosts had endorsed what he called bulls--- and damaging conspiracy theories.

Mitchell Todd Gardner at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court for D.C.)

Gardner told the court that he will never be fooled again.

The petitioner can assure the court that he would never allow himself to ever again be manipulated in such a manner and intends to spend the rest of his life making a full faith effort to right this wrong and be acknowledged once again as a law abiding citizen, he wrote.

More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, and more than 400 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration. On Thursday, the FBI arrested David Paul Daniel, a 36-year-old North Carolina man who, federal authorities said, helped lead a violent push against the barricaded Senate Wing Door and the police officers attempting to hold them closed.

Trump, the leading 2024 Republican presidential candidate, is currently facing four criminal prosecutions, and his federal Jan. 6-related trial is scheduled to begin in March. That federal indictment, returned by a grand jury in August, alleges that Trump engaged in a conspiracy to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud to obstruct the government function by which those results are collected, counted and certified. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Tokyo  The search for seven American service members continued Friday in Japan's waters, two days after a U.S. Air Force Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off the tiny island of Yakushima, killing at least one person. The U.S. military was taking part in a major search and rescue operation launched immediately after the crash by Japanese authorities.

In a statement issued Friday, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command confirmed that the remains of one of the eight crew members from the Osprey had been found, as Japanese officials said soon after the search commenced. The whereabouts of the seven other airmen remained unknown Friday, the Air Force statement said, adding its "sincere gratitude to all the units and Japanese partners involved in helping us locate our Airmen."

The search and rescue included air, surface and subsurface searches of the water and coastlines in the vicinity of Yakushima, the U.S. military said. The Japan Coast Guard said Thursday that it had deployed side-scan sonar to scour the seabed for evidence of the ill-fated Osprey. Several pieces of debris believed to be from the aircraft were recovered from the water Wednesday, in addition to a large, empty orange life raft.

A Japan Coast Guard vessel and a helicopter conduct a search and rescue operation at the site where a U.S. Air Force V-22 Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, Nov. 30, 2023. / Credit: Kyodo via REUTERS

The U.S. Air Force said not long after the crash that the Osprey had been performing a routine training mission when it went down.

Ospreys' history of crashes, and tension with Japan

Japan's Minister of Defense said Thursday that the country, one of America's closest allies in Asia, had asked the U.S. to stop flying Ospreys over Japan until the aircraft could be confirmed safe.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters during a regular briefing on Friday that Japan had made that request "officially" of Washington, and that the government was "concerned that flights are being carried out without sufficient explanation about safety confirmation, despite repeated requests from Japan."

He called the U.S. continued use of the aircraft in Japan "deeply regrettable," and said it had caused "great anxiety to people" in the area where the plane went down.

A U.S. military Osprey aircraft flies at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, in the center of the city of Ginowan, Okinawa prefecture, Japan, Aug. 23, 2022. / Credit: PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty

The fact that the U.S. military has 30 Ospreys in service in Japan is evidence that it believes the planes are safe, but Japanese politicians needed to reassure a very nervous public.

Tuesday's crash took place very close to shore, fueling fear among the Japanese people after a series of incidents with the aircraft that one day, an Osprey could plunge out of the sky onto their heads and kill innocent civilians.

It's a contentious issue, and part of the wider contentious topic of the huge U.S. military presence in Japan, where some 50,000 American personnel are stationed.

Japan approves new funding for U.S. military presence as threats loom large

While the bilateral defense alliance has remained solid, there's been tension for many years, and Tuesday's crash will fuel it  in part because, while Japan's Coast Guard scrambled ships and helicopters as soon as local fishermen raised the alarm, the U.S. military will likely take over the recovery and the investigation into the crash and, for the most part, exclude the Japanese.

In a statement shared Thursday on social media, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel expressed his "sincere gratitude to the Japanese Coast Guard, Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and local community and fishermen who are assisting in the search for the crew."

"Our thoughts are with the servicemembers and their families. First and foremost, our focus is on the ongoing search and rescue operations, and we're praying for a safe return," Emanuel said, adding: "The strength of an alliance isn't measured when times are good, but how we support each other in the face of adversity."

An MV-22 Osprey takes off as a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member guards the landing zone during a joint military drill with U.S. Marines in Gotemba, southwest of Tokyo, March 15, 2022. / Credit: Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Japan is the only country in the world apart from the U.S. to fly Ospreys. The Japan Self-Defense Forces has 11 of the U.S.-made aircraft already, and a few more on order.

The defense ministry said Thursday that it would temporarily ground its own fleet.

There has been a spate of fatal U.S. Osprey crashes in recent years, most recently during a multinational training exercise on an Australian island in August, which killed three U.S. Marines and leaving eight others hospitalized. All five U.S. Marines on board another Osprey died the previous summer when their aircraft crashed in the California desert.

The U.S. military's investigation found that "dual hard clutch engagement" leading to engine failure led to that crash. The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy have reported similar clutch slips in their Ospreys and said they have worked to address the issue, according to The Associated Press.

An Osprey crashed in shallow water just off the Japanese island of Okinawa in 2016, but all the U.S. Marines on board survived that incident.

Despite the crashes, the versatility of the Osprey  which can take off and land like a helicopter but then tilt its rotors to fly as a turbo-prop plane  has made it a trusty workhorse for the U.S. military, especially for troop transport.

Both the Japanese and U.S. militaries will likely want to be able to continue using them in the highly strategic corner of the western Pacific.

Japanese reporters said they had seen multiple U.S. Ospreys take off Thursday from Okinawa, where the U.S. has its biggest military base in the region, so there was no sign that the U.S. was acting on Japan's request for a grounding of the aircraft.

CBS News' Duarte Dias in London and Eleanor Watson in Washington D.C. contributed to this report.

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Japan on Thursday requested that the United States pause flights of Osprey, like the ones seen here, after at least one person died in a crash involving the aircraft on Wednesday. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI

Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The Japanese military on Thursday asked the Pentagon to ground the Osprey in the country until the hybrid flying vehicle has been proven safe to operate after a crash that killed at least one person on Wednesday.

Japan Defense Minister Minoru Kihara the victim was the first-ever in Japan to die in a crash involving Ospreys, as the cause of the accident remained under investigation on Thursday.

The five remaining crew members onboard the Osprey -- a transport vehicle that takes off and lands like helicopter but flies like an airplane -- remain missing.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masahisa Sato said the United States should ground the Osprey pending an investigation. Sato, a former Ground Self-Defense Force commander, said it could anger local residents if it continues to fly.

"Otherwise, it would have a negative impact on the [Osprey's] deployment in Saga as well as the operation at the Yokota base," Sato said at a government parliamentary meeting.

Despite a call for a pause of Osprey flights, Kihara said the U.S. military made 20 takeoffs and landings of U.S. MV-22 Ospreys on Thursday without incident.

The Wednesday crash took place near the island of Yakushima after a witness reported seeing the aircraft's left engine on fire before it crashed and disappeared from the Coast Guard's radar screen.

The Coast Guard initially said eight crew members were on the aircraft but later revised the number to six.

One person was recovered unconscious and not breathing and was later confirmed dead.

The U.S. Air Force grounded its Ospreys for a month in August of 2022 due to safety concerns over a malfunctioning clutch inside a gearbox connecting the engine to the propeller rotor in 2022.
Japan announced Thursday it was suspending all nonemergency Osprey flights after one of the hybrid aircraft crashed off the southwestern coast this week and killed at least one U.S. service member.

Japans chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a Thursday press briefing the suspension was effective until more information was available about the crash.

Safety has to come first, he said, saying Japan also had to take the situation seriously.

Japans defense minister also told parliament that it was suspending Osprey flights except for the emergency rescue operation underway to find the crashed aircraft.

The occurrence of such a major accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region, and it is truly regrettable, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said.

Its not clear how the U.S. might respond to the groundings. The Hill has reached out to the Air Force Special Operations Command for comment.

The Osprey, which was assigned to an air base in Tokyo, was carrying eight U.S. service members when it suddenly crashed off Japans southern coast Wednesday.

Emergency crews are still searching the waters for the crash. At least one crew members remains were recovered, but its still unknown what happened to the other seven.

The U.S. has struggled to rein in Osprey crashes for the better part of a decade, and a previous crash in 2016 off the Japanese island of Okinawa sparked concerns.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Legendary investor Charlie Munger [Photo/CFP]



Legendary investor Charlie Munger, investment guru Warren Buffett's long-time alter ego, has died at age 99, according to a latest Berkshire Hathaway news release.

Munger died Tuesday at a California hospital, said the news release.

Berkshire Hathaway could not have been built to its present status without Munger's inspiration, wisdom and participation, said Buffett in the Tuesday news release.

Berkshire Hathaway has been overseen by Buffett since 1965. Munger officially joined Berkshire Hathaway as its vice-chairman in 1978. In more than four decades, Berkshire Hathaway, formerly a textile company, has grown into the world-renowned investment conglomerate.

On Nov 28, the day Munger passed on, Berkshire Hathaway had a market cap of $784.94 billion, making it the ninth-highest-valued listed company in the world, according to Forbes.

But Munger's investment philosophy is a more valuable legacy. He played an important role in Berkshire Hathaway's well-known investments such as those in the retailer Costco and See's Candies.

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD is among them. In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway invested HK$1.8 billion ($230 million) in BYD. According to a recent filing by Berkshire Hathaway to the Hong Kong stock exchange, the former held nearly 8 percent of BYD by late October. Those shares are now worth HK$18.54 billion.

While expressing its sorrow on losing Munger, a mentor and friend, BYD wrote in its official social media account on Sina Weibo on Wednesday that the company was honored to be recognized by him in 2008, when Berkshire Hathaway became a significant shareholder of BYD.

"That was the first time that the company had been recognized by top international investment institutions, which helped inject strong confidence and motivation into our commitment to the new energy vehicle industry," said BYD.

"I have never helped do anything at Berkshire Hathaway that was as good as BYD and I only did it once," Munger said in February in a virtual meeting.

All the same, Berkshire Hathaway has sold more than 137 million shares of BYD since the middle of 2022, according to its previous statements.

Munger's positive outlook on China's economy, however, remained unchanged. In an interview to Acquired in late October  Munger's podcast debut  he said that "the Chinese economy has better future prospects for the next 20 years than almost any other big economy".

"The leading companies of China are stronger and better than practically any other leading companies anywhere, and they are available at a much cheaper price," he said.
More trouble has come to Sal Bonaccorso, the mayor of Clark, New Jersey, who was caught using racial slurs on a recording in 2019.

The politician, who once declared he would never hire a woman to serve on his 39-member police force, has been charged by the state attorney general with multiple unrelated criminal charges related to his businesses.

The Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) opened an investigation into Bonaccorsos professional and personal life in 2022. It released a 43-page report that detailed their findings.

Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso was caught on a recording using racial slurs. He is denying the claims. (YouTube screenshot/TAPinto Local)

At the foundation of Attorney General Matthew J. Platkins investigation were seven recordings where Bonaccorso and Police Chief Pedro Matos referred to Black people by the N-word. The mayor also called African-Americans spooks. Another person, Sgt. Joseph Teston called a Black suspect an animal with a big monkey head.

The investigation was sparked after he was caught using racial slurs to describe Jewish people and Black people. He said, They was looking for some  walking around or something. The mayor also can be heard saying in other recordings, fking hang the (racial slur) up there, according to NBC News.

Many called for his resignation, but he is still in office.

Allegations of abhorrent language used to degrade crime victims, suspects, and prospective employees raised the alarm of potentially criminal policing and hiring practices, the report claims.To many in the community, the release of this report has been long overdue.

Surprisingly, the criminal charges came from the civil rights violation probe.

Bonaccorso now faces charges of official misconduct in the second degree, tampering with public records or information in the third degree, witness tampering in the third degree, forgery in the fourth degree, and falsifying or tampering with records in the fourth degree.

Authorities say Bonaccorso forged an engineers signature on permit applications in an effort to have hundreds of underground storage tanks improperly removed between 2017 and 2023.

He and his workers allegedly used the engineers license number despite the engineer not supervising or being involved in those projects. They also did not get the legally required tank inspections to operate on those job sites fully.

Platkins team said the mayor submitted false and fraudulent paperwork to nearly two dozen municipalities to get paid hundreds and thousands for the tank removals.

The attorney general released a statement about the longtime mayors conduct.

Any elected leader who abuses his power and position and misuses public property and public employees for his own benefit, at taxpayers expense, betrays the publics trust, Platkin said. In this instance, the complaint charges that the defendant also abused the trust of officials in other towns, allegedly submitting fraudulent documents with forged signatures to enrich his company while circumventing New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulations.

The mayors attorney, Robert G. Stahl, says that his client has denied each and every allegation, calling them faulty and incorrect, as The New York Times reports.

Platkin has also called for the termination of Matos and Teston.

Two police officers, according to the report, expressed views that suggested they encouraged bias-based policing and hiring practices.

The chief and sergeant were two of the 37 white male officers on the force. The other two male officers, who also serve the more than 15,000 people in the predominately white Clark township, are not white.
A Jewish student group at the University of Pennsylvania is facing potential disciplinary action for screening a documentary critical of the Israeli government.

Multiple universities have now attempted to stop student screenings of Israelism, an award-winning film that features the stories of American Jews who have traveled to Israel and subsequently reexamined their relationship with the country and with their own pro-Israel religious educations in the United States after seeing how Israel treats Palestinians.

Students from Penn Chavurah, a progressive Jewish group on campus, hosted a screening of the film Tuesday night, even though the university refused to permit access to a venue. Nearly 100 people packed into a classroom to watch the documentary, according to Jack Starobin, a board member and organizer at Chavurah.

Its moments like these where were counting on strong leadership to stay true to this universitys values, and thats where I think the failing has been on the part of Penn administrators, Starobin, a senior at Penn, told HuffPost.

A screening of the film, which was released in February, was scheduled for Oct. 24 but was postponed after Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israels subsequent retaliatory attacks on the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Starobin said hed been in talks with university administrators for weeks about holding a screening this month instead. A few days ago, the university denied organizers request for event space to hold the screening, suggesting it be delayed until February. Administrators never provided any specifics behind their reasoning, Starobin said. Erin Axelman, a co-director and producer of the film who participated in a question-and-answer session after Tuesdays screening, said administrators referred vaguely only to campus safety.

When administrators found out that organizers planned to hold the screening this week anyway, they told Starobin that doing so could jeopardize Chavurahs status and funding from the school, and could lead to disciplinary action against organizers, he told HuffPost.

Harun Kucuk, the director of UPenns Middle East Center, which ultimately arranged a room for the screening, resigned from that post Tuesday over inappropriate pressure from administrators regarding the screening, according to a letter from the schools chapter of the American Association for University Professors. Kucuk, who did not respond to HuffPosts request for comment, confirmed his resignation to The Daily Pennsylvanian, telling the paper, I would not have resigned if I had any comment left in me. He is still an associate professor of history and sociology of science at UPenn.

A university spokesperson who declined to give his full name acknowledged to HuffPost that administrators sought to postpone the screening until February  citing the safety and security of our campus community without explaining further  and said that student organizers had disregarded the universitys direction by hosting the screening this week.

Consistent with University policy, the student organizers will be referred to the Office of Community Standards and Accountability to determine whether a violation of the Code of Student Conduct occurred, the spokesperson said.

Axelman accused the university of a profound lack of academic integrity and of attempting to intimidate and censor student organizers.

We are honestly baffled and deeply disappointed by UPenns continued attempt to censor progressive Jewish voices, at the exact time when nuanced conversations about Jewish identity and the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are most needed, Axelman said.

Since Oct. 7, Penn has come under significant pressure from politiciansandbenefactors who have pushed administrators to fight antisemitism, broadly defined.

Earlier this month, more than two dozen members of Congress wrote to Penn President Liz Magill condemning your institutions silence in condemning the terrorist attack that took place by Hamas on October 7, 2023. (Magill had been far from silent, releasing numerousstatements that condemned the attack and antisemitism.) Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a signatory, sent similar messages to Yale, Columbia and Harvard, CNN reported.

That letter, and various donors to Penn, also condemned the Palestine Writes Literature Festival, which was held on Penns campus in September.

On the other hand, some professors, students and pro-Palestinian activists have criticized Magill for statements that, as the Arabic literature scholar and Penn professor Roger Allen told The Daily Pennsulvanian, vastly under-represented opinions and status of Arab and Palestinian community members.

Starobin criticized what he viewed as a double standard at the university. Earlier this month, he noted, Rabbi Shmuel Lynn commented during an event hosted by Penn Hillel and Meor Penn, another Jewish group on campus, It is not trite to say that theres a war, theres another frontline, theres another camp of battle that were all fighting ... theres a two-front war, in this sense, for the heart and soul of us, the people, [and] for the existential threat, the survival.

The Penn student said he regretted that Penn Chavurahs decision to hold the Israelism screening had turned oppositional and noted that organizers had cooperated with police who were on hand the night of the screening. His organizations goal, he said, was to provide an opportunity to discuss a controversial topic in an open environment. The universitys action to prevent the screening, he argued, boded poorly for academic freedom.

It suggests that the university feels it has the license to shut down any dialogue on campus if it conflicts with the preferences of its donors or the dominant current of national politics, Starobin said. And that kind of caving toward the dominant strain of thinking on a controversial issue is precisely the kind of intellectual tunnel vision that a university should seek to avoid, combat and provide space to escape.

That kind of caving toward the dominant strain of thinking on a controversial issue is precisely the kind of intellectual tunnel vision that a university should seek to avoid.Jack Starobin, UPenn senior

Fights over the film, which have played out on various college campuses, are part of a larger public debate over the limits of acceptable criticism of the Israeli government. On Oct. 7, Hamas militants based in Gaza killed about 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostage in a surprise attack, according to Israeli authorities. Israel responded with devastating airstrikes and a ground invasion on the Gaza Strip that have now claimed at least 15,000 lives, according to Palestinian authorities, and led to the displacement of nearly 2 million people, according to the United Nations. Several Israelis held in Gaza have now been swapped for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as part of a cease-fire agreement that continues to be negotiated.

Hunter College canceled a scheduled screening of Israelism earlier this month. The New York City colleges interim president, Ann Kirschner, said that the decision was made in the interest of ensuring the safety of our learning community and that administrators wanted to avoid targeting any students, faculty or staff based on their identity: the essence of bigotry.

In the current climate, we seek to balance our commitment to free speech and academic freedom with the danger of antisemitic and divisive rhetoric, Kirschner said, noting that police were investigating the drawing of swastikas on posters surrounding school buildings.

The schools senate, composed of students, faculty and staff, subsequently passed a resolution criticizing what it called an egregious and illegitimate violation of the academic freedom necessary for departments to pursue their academic missions and institutions of higher education to operate with integrity. The university rescheduled the screening for Dec. 5.

Daniel J. Chalfen, one of the films producers, told The New York Times that Hunters initial decision to cancel the screening was the result of a very organized campaign to shut it down. The Times noted at least two email campaigns that produced hundreds of messages urging Hunter administrators to cancel the screening, including one originating from a Facebook post that described the film as antisemitic.

The following day, The Forward, the nonprofit Jewish publication, reported on a pattern of similar email campaigns attempting to prevent screenings of the film at several colleges, including Oberlin and Yale. The publication also reported that Dov Waxman, the director of UCLAs center for Israel studies, said hed come under intense pressure from numerous organizations and individuals, including calls asking for major donors to the center to push for his firing, because hed decided to host a screening of Israelism.

The opposition is not from students, Sam Eilertsen, who co-directed the film with Axelman, told The Forward. The opposition is coming from just people on the internet.

Related...
WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were among several Republicans who bolted from a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday to protest subpoenaing Dallas-based conservative donor Harlan Crow.

The committees Democrats are seeking records over payments, gifts and travel Crow reportedly provided Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, some of which were not initially listed on financial disclosures. The committees GOP members cast the subpoena authorization as a partisan attack against one of the most conservative members of the court and a private citizen.

"This is an outrageous attempt to target private citizens without any legitimate legislative purpose," Cornyn told reporters after the meeting. "If you can go after a private citizen  for a non-legislative prupose, you essentially can target for political reasons any American citizen at any time in the future. And that is a dangerous, dangerous place to go."

The Republicans left the committee room as the roll call vote was taking place. Committee rules require a quorum of nine members including at least two members of the minority. But since the Republicans left during the vote, its unclear whether they counted toward a quorum.

All 11 Democrats voted to authorize the subpoena and declared the move adopted. Cornyn said Republicans would "absolutely" contest the vote, arguing there was not a quorum present and that Senate rules require committees to have permission to go for more than two hours when the Senate is in session. The Republicans left the committee just around the two-hour mark.

If the vote holds, it gives the committee the power to issue subpoenas without the approval of the full Senate. Still, if Crow refuses to comply, enforcing any subpoenas will require a full Senate vote  which the committees top Republican, Lindsey Graham, said would never pass the required 60-vote threshold.

The move to subpoena comes as the Supreme Court faces calls for ethics reforms over lavish donations from partisan figures. Crow reportedly showered Thomas, one of the most influential figures in modern conservatism, with luxury vacations and paid for Thomas close relative to attend private school. Thomas originally did not list any of the gifts on his annual financial disclosures.

The committee also authorized to subpoena Leonard Leo, chair of the board of the Federalist Society. The group is one of the most active organizations in getting conservative judges appointed to federal courts.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have been destroying the Supreme Court; now they are destroying the Senate. I will not cooperate with this unlawful campaign of political retribution," Leo said in a statement.

Crow's office said in a statement that he "offered extensive information responsive to the Committees requests despite his strong objections to its necessity and legality" and was open to continued dialogue with the committee. His office added the committee never explained how the requested records was relevant to legislating.

"The Judiciary Committee Democrats violation of the Committees own rules to issue an invalid subpoena further demonstrates the unlawful and partisan nature of this investigation. Despite the unenforceability of the subpoena, Mr. Crow remains willing to engage with the Committee in good faith, just as he has consistently done throughout this process," the statement said.

Graham derided the move to subpoena as garbage and a jihad against the court. Republicans filed 177 amendments to the subpoena resolution in an attempt to slow or block the measure.

During an earlier meeting of the Judiciary Committee, Chair Dick Durbin, D-Illinois pushed back at the idea that Democrats were targeting individuals in a partisan manner, saying their inquiry was part of Congress constitutional oversight duty.

This committee is not engaged in a vendetta against conservatives, Durbin said. We are not seeking a subpoena authorization for political points.

Durbin pointed out that oversight and ethics reforms in the court were bipartisan priorities for years. Cornyn introduced in 2021 the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, and Cruz cosponsored. The bill required judges to disclose more financial transactions and created a searchable database of the disclosures. President Joe Biden signed it into law in May 2022.

Crow made his billions as a real estate developer and has donated handsomely to conservative causes and candidates, including Cornyn and Cruz. He has asserted that he never leveraged his gifts to sway Thomas in any way.

Still, the scale of the gifts has made Democrats uneasy and led to calls for stricter ethics rules for the court that would be more in line with those for members of Congress.

Democrats on the committee have already asked Crow for more information about his gifts. Durbin said in a statement Crow claimed he was willing to cooperate, but ultimately made only a limited and insufficient offer. Crow's office said in its Thursday statement that the committee's requests were "intrusive demands of a private citizen that far exceed any reasonable standard."

The Judiciary Committee advanced legislation to the full Senate in July that would require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct. The bill, dubbed the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, would also amp up disclosure requirements for when justices have ties to anyone going before the court and require justices to explain any recusals.

Every Republican on the committee voted against the bill. The full Senate has not yet voted on the bill.

The Supreme Court introduced its own code of conduct on Nov. 13. The justices said in a statement when they unveiled the code of conduct that The Court has long had the equivalent of common law ethics rules.

The absence of a Code, however, has led in recent years to the misunderstanding that the Justices of this Court, unlike all other jurists in this country, regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules, the statement said.

But the guidelines left enforcement up to the justices themselves. Durbin said Thursday that it falls far short of what we expect for the highest court of the land.
Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck shuttered the bar last week after USA TODAY inquired about the allegations made by the officials.

WASHINGTON  The email arrived in the middle of a workday: Are you thirsty?

What followed was an afternoon drink at the John Wayne Saloon, an invitation-only tavern operating unknown to senior commanders inside the headquarters of the U.S military command center critical to defending the homeland and keeping Americans safe.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is located at Peterson Space Force Base, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It stands watch 24/7 defending the United States and Canada from attack by adversaries such as China, Russia and North Korea.

The day drinking at an installation tasked with safeguarding U.S. national security was worrying. The clandestine ''saloon'' at a base charged with crucial national security responsibility triggered alarms at high levels and led to the changes on site after USA TODAY raised questions.

A keypad with a code restricted access to the clandestine tavern, named after a poster of the iconic actor that was affixed to a door. No cellphones allowed. Inside the room in Building 2, six or seven bottles of top-shelf liquor, including bourbon and whisky, awaited. Nearby, lieutenant colonels and majors planned future NORAD operations. Also at hand: computers with access to the Pentagons secret email system.

The official who received the email left after one drink in the middle of 2022. Like several others interviewed by USA TODAY about daytime drinking at the command, the official spoke on condition of anonymity fearing reprisal. All of the officials, a mixture of uniformed and civilian, expressed unease, dismay or disgust at presence of alcohol and drinking at the command. It was designed, as one of the officials put it, to protect America from its worst day.

Air Force Gen. Glen VanHerck shuttered the bar last week after USA TODAY inquired about the allegations made by the officials. VanHerck, who also leads the associated U.S. Northern Command, ordered an investigation into the conditions that allowed NORAD officers to operate the off-the-books drinking establishment.

NORTHCOM, the entity charged with coordinating the Pentagon's response to attacks on the homeland and natural disasters, is also headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base. NORTHCOM and NORAD tracked and shot down the Chinese spy balloon that transited the United States and Canada early this year.

"Based on your inquiry, what I did was immediately direct a walkthrough of all spaces in the command with the intent to corroborate any of the allegations," VanHerck said in an interview Wednesday. "We did find the John Wayne poster outside a door. Behind the locked door, what we found was an office space with a refrigerator that did contain some alcohol. We did find some beer ... some hard liquor."

VanHerck described the setting as a standard office rather than a bar. It has about six desks, a medium-sized conference table, storage for books and a refrigerator. "This facility did have access to classified networks for planning purposes," he said.

State Dept.: Chinese spy balloon sought secret US communications signals

The presence of alcohol was "certainly something that was concerning enough to me to direct a commander's-directed investigation.''

The investigation will determine if drinking inside the headquarters affected national security, VanHerck said.

So far, the general said, "I don't sense any compromise."

Pentagon policy bans alcohol in office settings without a waiver.

Drinking on the job can have huge implications when the stakes involve military strategy and tactics, the launch of enemy ballistic missiles and potentially nuclear war, according to a third official.

Why NORAD matters: from nuclear missiles to the China spy balloon

NORAD traces its origins to the Cold War when fear peaked of nuclear attack by bombers flying over the North Pole from the Soviet Union. Today, as tension with Russia spikes again, NORAD commanders regularly scramble sophisticated warplanes in the Pentagons arsenal to intercept Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska.

NORAD personnel defend against attacks by warplanes and ballistic missiles, and from space and the sea. They detect threats with satellites and high-powered radar systems.

It was NORAD and Northern Command, or NORTHCOM, that tracked and shot down the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the United States and Canada in February. Chinese spies posing as tourists also have sought access to sensitive U.S. military installations in Alaska, according to military and civilian authorities.

NORAD may be best known to the public for ostensibly tracking Santa Claus sleigh on Christmas Eve. The tradition began in 1955. Today, millions of people follow Santas journey on the internet and through widespread news media coverage.

In July, VanHerck fired the two-star Army general in charge of operations at NORTHCOM for loss of trust and confidence. The fired officer, Maj. Gen. Joseph Lestorti, was described as gruff, demanding and intolerant of alcohol use in the workplace, according to several U.S. officials who have served with him.

Frank Levedque, who served with Lestorti, described him as a great American who was always prepared to do the hard right thing even if it sometimes rubbed people the wrong way.

Lestorti, when reached by USA TODAY, declined to comment.

The militarys drinking problem

Daytime drinking among officials charged with protecting the United States from attack raises troubling questions about their fitness for duty. The military has long struggled with alcohol abuse in its ranks, and related crimes like sexual assault. One of the most infamous examples was the 1991 Tailhook scandal in which drunken Navy aviators assaulted scores of women at a convention in Las Vegas.

Bad Santa: Pentagon releases report on sexual harassment at Navy's boozy Christmas bash

Since then, career flameouts fueled by alcohol have roiled the military. In 2013, the Air Force fired Maj. Gen. Michael Carey after a two-day binge in Moscow that saw him cavorting late at night with local women and offending his Russian hosts. Carey had been the senior Air Force officer overseeing nuclear missiles.

Last year, a Pentagon survey found nearly 36,000 troops had reported crimes from groping to rape.

Inside the Pentagon, drinking is prohibited without special permission. Alcohol is routinely approved for retirements, when officers transfer to new jobs and at Christmas parties.

Sexual assault: How the Pentagon plans to reverse its 'tragic' crisis

Permission, however, does not prevent misconduct. In 2016, a boozy Christmas party at the Pentagon triggered discipline for the Navys top officer after one of his aides, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, slapped a womans buttocks and allegedly made sexual advances in a predatory way toward subordinate women officers.

Nor do all officers and senior officials seek permission for the occasional, end-of-week drink, according to several current and former Pentagon officials. Two commanders recalled a regular round of drinks in their Pentagon offices after the workday had been completed on Friday.

Whats next

VanHerck said the investigation could take weeks to complete. It will focus on the conditions that allowed the covert tavern to flourish. He will recuse himself to avoid swaying its conclusions, he said.

Until last week's inquiry by USA TODAY, VanHerck said he had not heard about drinking on the job at the base. It's unclear what commanders, if any, knew about the practice.

"Nobody has come forward to me with any concerns or questions about unauthorized drinking," VanHerck said. "Now the investigation may find that folks have expressed concerns. If that's the case, then we'll deal with that appropriately."

He disclosed his investigation and his initial findings in the spirit of openness, he said.

"I think you ought to be clear that we're as transparent as we can be to you," VanHerck said. "There's nothing to hide here."

" I would tell the people in the United States and Canada: trust the commands that defend them each and every day," he added. "We are professionals, we are ready to go, and ... they should expect and to demand nothing less."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: At NORAD, booze and national security make a troubling mix
Marvel star Jonathan Majors was supported in court by girlfriend Meagan Good as his long-awaited assault trial began in New York City.

Mr Majors is accused of attacking his former girlfriend inside a car in the city on 25 March as they rode to his apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

The girlfriend has accused him of slapping her, throwing her into the car after she exited it, twisting her arm and grabbing and injuring her hand. Prosecutors say that she was treated at a hospital for minor injuries to her head and neck, which included a cut to her ear.

His lawyer, Priya Chaudhry has labelled the alleged victim a liar, and in June Mr Majors filed a complaint against her alleging she attacked him and accused him of texting another woman.

If found guilty Mr Majors faces up to one year in prison.

Jury selection will start at 10am EST on Thursday, with the panel being selected from 40 people sworn in on Wednesday.

Key Points

40 potential jurors brought into court

Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good at court for beginning of trial

04:10 , Graeme Massie

Actor Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good exit a courtroom during a break in jury selection in his domestic violence case, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (AP)

Jonathan Majors arrives at court for a jury selection on his domestic violence case, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (AP)

Actor Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good exit a courtroom during a break in jury selection in his domestic violence case, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) (AP)

Prosecutors and defence laywers banned from using victim

02:29 , Graeme Massie

The judge in the case has banned prosecutors and defence lawyers from describing either party as a victim during jury selection, known as voir dire in the US legal system.

Nobodys the victim on voir dire, the judge announced during Wednesdays hearing. Selection of a jury from a pool of 40 people will begin at 10am on Thursday.

Jonathan Majors: Judge in domestic violence trial clears courtroom of spectators

01:01 , Graeme Massie

Marvel star is on trial for alleged misdemeanour assault and harassment.

Jonathan Majors: Judge in domestic violence trial clears courtroom

Trial to resume on Thursday

Wednesday 29 November 2023 23:01 , Graeme Massie

The judge told the jury pool to be back in court at 10am ET on Thursday when jury selection in the case will take place.

40 potential jurors brought into court

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:32 , Graeme Massie

A group of 40 potential jurors were brought into court and sworn in by the judge, who gave them Mr Majorss name and instructed them to not research the case or to watch coverage of it.

You cant Google, FaceTime, Twitter  which I guess is now called X, he said, reported Deadline.

You cant do any Internet searches, social media searches, absolutely anything you can think of that I havent mentioned  you cannot do.

Court done for the day

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:16 , Graeme Massie

Judge Michael Gaffey, who closed his court for an hour of legal arguments, says that he will rule on a defence motion to keep some evidence out of the trial at 10am on Thursday.

Mr Majors left the courthouse in New York City by a side door and did not make any comment to waiting members of the press.

Judge will clear courtroom for legal argument

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:46 , Graeme Massie

The judge in the case plans to clear the public courtroom of spectators during the afternoon so lawyers can argue about the admission of a piece of evidence, which is currently under seal.

Judge Michael Gaffey will allow Mr Majors lawyers to argue that the information, which has been described as likely to be prejudicial and inflammatory, out of the case.

Jonathan Majorss assault trial gets underway

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:22 , Graeme Massie

This is a live blog covering the Jonathan Majors assault trial in New York City.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Wednesday canceled a hearing on the status of "The Zone" because the parties to the public nuisance lawsuit over the former homeless encampment agree that Phoenix is keeping people from staying there.

In a memo filed with the court last week, attorneys for Phoenix said they had already met with the plaintiffs' attorneys, and there was nothing more to report in a hearing.

The memo describes the money Phoenix invested in clearing the encampment and providing shelter to many of the people who had been living there  nearly $20 million  and includes before-and-after photos of the streets in The Zone, which includes the blocks south of Jefferson Street between Seventh and 15th avenues. The images from January show makeshift tents and structures lining streets. Photos from this month show empty margins between sidewalks and roads.

In the memo, Phoenix's lawyers said the city is working to ensure people do not return to The Zone by increasing "patrol and enforcement efforts" and posting signs saying the area is closed to camping.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said in a separate court filing that they are satisfied.

"Although some trash and debris remain, and occasionally still loiter in the area, Plaintiffs do not believe that the conditions in the Zone currently constitute a public nuisance," the plaintiffs' filing reads.

The plaintiffs: They sued Phoenix over The Zone. How do they feel now streets are clear?

Ilan Wurman, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said they could reopen the case if they ever feel the order is not being followed. For now, they are focused on appeals submitted by the city.

More than a dozen business owners and residents neighboring The Zone sued Phoenix in August 2022, saying the sprawling homeless encampment had become a public nuisance. In two court orders, one before a trial and another after, Judge Scott Blaney agreed and ordered Phoenix to clear the areas of people and structures. Phoenix has appealed those orders but began clearing the encampment block by block in May. The city met a Nov. 4 deadline Blaney set with just days to spare.

The encampment was home to about 1,000 people at its peak, according to data compiled by the Human Services Campus, a group of nonprofits that found itself at the center of The Zone.

Phoenix officials said the city has helped place 590 people into shelter since it began clearing The Zone. In addition, the city opened a structured campground earlier this month that will be able to hold up to 300 people once construction is completed.

In the works: Phoenix planning campground for homeless people living in 'The Zone.' Where it may go

Helen Rummel covers housing insecurity and homelessness for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@gannett.com.

Coverage of housing insecurity on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Judge cancels hearing over 'Zone' homeless camp in Phoenix. Here's why
For the past five weeks, 13-year-old Derek Rosa has sat mostly alone in a cell at an adult jail in West Miami-Dade. To keep the teen safe from violent adults in the Metro West detention center, Derek has been separated from the general population for up to 23 hours a day, his attorney said.

But that could change Friday, when attorneys for the teen accused of the gruesome stabbing death of his mother in their Hialeah home argue before Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Richard Hersch, that for Dereks safety, he should be transferred to a juvenile facility. Under Florida law, if a juvenile is charged as an adult, he or she must await trial in an adult jail. But Hersch said hes open to a constitutional challenge.

I think I need an evidentiary hearing, the judge said earlier this week, before advising attorneys to prepare for the hearing with a psychological evaluation of Derek. He also recommended attorneys provide witnesses to evaluate safety concerns surrounding Derek at the jail that county records show has more than 2,500 inmates, including about three dozen juveniles.

With family and friends seated in pews and Derek in the courtroom jury box handcuffed and wearing a brown jumpsuit, Hersch made reference to the 2011 case of 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez. The child was charged as an adult after beating his 2-year-old brother to death in Jacksonville and held in an adult jail. But a circuit court judge, citing the childs constitutional right to remain safe, ordered him transferred to a juvenile facility.

Outside the courtroom after the judges decision and with Dereks father and grandmother nearby, the young teens attorney Jose Baez argued his client needed to be transferred to a safer place as quickly as possible. The belief is that Derek could rehabilitate in a juvenile facility instead of being kept in an adult jail.

Thats a situation that even the strongest adults would find challenging, Baez said. This is a child who is just two months past his 13th birthday.

Almost two dozen friends and family members have written letters to the judge petitioning the court to move Derek, who has been staying at the Metro West facility since he was indicted on a first-degree murder charge by a grand jury in mid November.

Gruesome murder made international headlines

Though Dereks alleged violent act has made international headlines, police and prosecutors have yet to say why they believe the teenage honor student killed his mom. What they have said is they learned of the chilling crime just before midnight on Oct. 12 when Derek called a 911 operator.

When police entered apartment 201 at 211 W. 79th Pl. five minutes later, they found a scene that even startled hardened detectives. Dereks mother Irina Garcia lay dead on the floor of her bedroom covered in blood with multiple stab wounds from a kitchen knife, including one that sliced an artery in her neck. Police believe she was sleeping when the attack occurred.

Next to Garcias lifeless body: Dereks 14-day-old sister, still nestled  safely  in a crib.

Derek told police that after he killed his mother, he found two guns owned by his stepfather and wanted to commit suicide. But he couldnt follow through, police said. Instead, Derek took pictures of his dead mother and shared them with a friend on social media. After taking the pictures, police said Derek asked the dispatcher if that was bad.

Upped the charge to first-degree murder

Police said the eighth grade iMater Middle/High Charter School honor student confessed to the murder to the 911 operator. He didnt put up a fight when police arrived.

Derek was initially charged with second-degree murder and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. But five weeks ago, a Miami-Dade grand jury found enough probable cause to indict the teen as an adult and upped the charge to first-degree murder. Hersch ordered the teen held without bond and moved to the Metro West adult jail.

Derek has no known prior mental health issues and police said they have no record of visiting the familys home in the Amelia Oaks apartment complex before the stabbing. If convicted, Derek could spend life in prison. First-degree murder is a capital crime in Florida, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the death penalty is unconstitutional for juveniles.
Murfreesboro attorney Terry Fann took his oath of office Wednesday as the new Rutherford County Circuit Court judge, following his appointment by Gov. Bill Lee.

"Since January of 1988, I've been showing up at work every day at 202 West Main St. (his law office in downtown Murfreesboro)," Fann told a packed courtroom courtroom filled with family members, friends, elected officials, fellow attorneys, and past and present judges. "I have loved my career as a lawyer. This is the only job I would have left for."

New Circuit Court Judge Terry Fann poses Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023) after taking his oath of office in a 16th Judicial District courtroom at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro.

Fann accepted his appointed seat recently from the Republican governor to replace former Judge Mark Rogers, who retired late August after winning reelection in August 2022.

Rogers presided over the swearing in ceremony for his successor at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro.

Given Rogers vacated the Circuit Court Judge District 16 Division I seat with seven years remaining in the term, Fann will have to campaign to keep the seat in the Aug. 1, 2024 election.

Fann after the ceremony said he will be running as the incumbent to keep his judge seat for another six years.

Candidates have until noon April 4 to qualify for the judicial election with election commissions in Rutherford and Cannon counties that provide the boundary for the 16th Judicial District. The pending judicial election is nonpartisan at this time.

'Hope I made a positive difference': Judge Mark Rogers will retire at end of August

New judge had high-profile cases as attorney

Circuit Court Judge Jo Atwood speaks Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023) as the master of ceremony for new Circuit Court Judge Terry Fann, seated by his wife, Vicki, in a courtroom packed for the event at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro.

Fann as an attorney has served in high-profile cases, including the successful defense of a case on a vehicular homicide charge, involving former Rutherford County Sheriff's Detective Ron Killings in 2010. A jury acquitted Killings in a trial presided over by former Circuit Court Judge David Bragg on charges from the 2008 death of an 11-year-old girl attempting to cross Bradyville Pike in Murfreesboro, while the detective was responding to emergency call for backup.

Bragg also spoke at the Wednesday event along with Circuit Court Judge Jo Atwood, who served as the master of ceremony for Fann taking his oath of office.

"Terry, as you put on the robe, I ask you to let justice flow like a river, righteousness like a never-ending stream," Bragg said. "Justice is much more than legal equity. To do justice involves a fair and just use of power, especially to protect the weak from the strong and to do what is right and fair in the sight of God."

Atwood told Fann that all present were "happy to have you join this court."

In addition to high-profile criminal cases, Fann won a $340,000 mediation settlement in 2016 in a federal wrongful termination lawsuit of fired Rutherford County Deputy Chief Virgil Gammon. The case contends Gammon lost his job for providing whistle-blower information about former Sheriff Robert Arnold. The former sheriff pleaded guilty in federal court January 2017 on charges of wire fraud, honest services fraud and extortion involving the illegal sale of electronic cigarettes for inmate use at the Rutherford County jail he oversaw through his JailCigs business.

Judicial election: Circuit Court Judge Jo Atwood claims 63% of vote in race against Jack Mitchell

Mentorships through the years

Murfreesboro attorney Steve Waldron speaks about his 35-year law partner and nephew Terry Fann Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023) during Fann's oath of office ceremony as a new Circuit Court in a courtroom at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro.

Fann's attorney experience includes years of being a partner with the Waldron, Fann & Parsley law firm. His 35-year partner, mentor and uncle Steve Waldron spoke at the swearing in ceremony by recalling the inspiration to become an attorney.

"It was absolute magic to be in the courtroom with a judge," said Waldron, who described Fann as coming from a humble blue-collar family in Smyrna. "I wanted him to have the magic. He's my nephew."

Fann is known for "always thinking of someone else," Waldron said.

Waldron also praised how judges and prosecutors helped mentor Fann when he was a young attorney.

"We have great judges," Waldron said. "The process works, and it's worked with Terry."

Criminal justice: Murfreesboro attorney Jimmy Turner appointed to Circuit Court judgeship

Family present for ceremony includes retired Smyrna HS principal

New 16th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge Terry Fann poses with his wife, Vicki, Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023) after he took his oath of office in a courtroom at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in downtown Murfreesboro.

Fann's family attending the ceremony included his wife, Vicki, and her father, Robert "Bud" Raikes, the retired longtime principal at Smyrna High where the new judge graduated in 1979.

Fann earned his bachelors degree in agriculture business at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and law degree at the University of Memphis.

The ceremony included a "robing" of Fann with help from his adult sons, Drew and Chase, who is also an attorney.

The new judge also took his oath using a 1957 Bible that was a gift from his mother, Margaret, to his father, Hayes Fann.

School honors longtime principal: Retired Principal Robert 'Bud' Raikes among 19 to be inducted into Smyrna High's first Hall of Fame class

Fann wants all to have 'their best day in court'

Fann after the ceremony said he wants to continue the tradition that the local judges have established.

"Judge Rogers was a fantastic judge," Fann said. "I want to be impartial."

The new judge after the ceremony said one of his goals will be to improve the efficiency of Circut Court catching up on cases in fast-growing Rutherford County through technology.

Fann said he will strive to do the best he can to recognize people who come into the courtroom, so they "will leave understanding that they had their best day in court."

Fann wins another lawsuit: Fired deputy wins $275K settlement from county

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow his Tweets on the social media platform X that was previously known as Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription.

Key judicial election dates

Candidate qualifying deadline for Circuit Court Judge District 16 Division I seat: Noon April 4, 2024

Election date for final seven years of eight-year for judge seat: Aug. 1, 2024

Past election date of Judge Mark Rogers, who retired from seat after serving first year of term: Aug. 4, 2022

Note: Election for judge seat is nonpartisan at this time

Source: Rutherford County Election Commission

Murfreesboro attorney Terry Fann, right, takes his oath of office as the new Circuit Court judge while his wife, Vicki, holds a family Bible and retired Judge Mark Rogers presides over the ceremony.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: New Judge Terry Fann takes oath of office in Rutherford County
This photo taken on Nov. 23, 2023 shows PDD Holdings' booth at the "E-commerce" Pavilion at the second Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Despite the tepid growth reported by China's major internet companies, online discounter PDD Holdings, the parent company of e-commerce platform Pinduoduo, beat third-quarter revenue forecasts as it continued to capture more value-conscious Chinese consumers.



In addition, its cross-border online marketplace Temu has witnessed a surge in popularity among overseas shoppers, experts said.

Pointing out that the country's consumer market is gradually recovering and showcasing immense growth potential and resilience, they said that Chinese online retailers should build up flexible supply chain systems and provide cost-effective shopping experiences for consumers by leveraging innovative digital technologies.

PDD Holdings' growth in the domestic market has outstripped that of competitors such as Alibaba Group Holding and JD, which can be largely attributed to the deep discounts rolled out before the Singles Day shopping spree, industry insiders said. The shares of the United States-listed company soared 18.04 percent on Wednesday, taking its market value to $184.7 billion, close to Alibaba's $195.4 billion.

PDD Holdings said on Tuesday night that its revenue jumped 93.9 percent year-on-year to 68.84 billion yuan ($9.7 billion) during the July-September period, while its net income attributable to ordinary shareholders reached 15.54 billion yuan in the third quarter, an increase of 47 percent year-on-year.

Chen Lei, chairman and co-CEO of PDD Holdings, said in an earnings call with investors that with the introduction of a series of policies to spur consumption, the company is seeing robust demand. "We can see that consumption upgrades are not only about quality but also about price, and it is the balance of quality and price that consumers care about most," Chen said.

The company's better-than-anticipated financial results can be partly attributed to the rising popularity of Temu, its cross-border e-commerce platform. Launched in the US in September last year, Temu offers discounted products shipped directly from China, and is now present in more than 40 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Chen said PDD hopes to leverage the supply chain capacities it has accumulated over the past years to create a new channel that enables consumers from different countries and regions to directly purchase products from factories, providing more flexible and personalized supply chains and more cost-effective shopping experiences.

He added that the company has also continued to invest in areas such as agricultural and supply chain technology, and core research and development capabilities.

PDD's surging revenue contrasts with the slowing growth of Chinese e-commerce giants including Alibaba and JD in the third quarter. Alibaba reported 9 percent year-on-year revenue growth to reach 224.79 billion yuan during the quarter, while the net revenue of JD increased 1.7 percent from a year ago.

Seeing PDD's exceptional financial performance, Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, said on an internal network of the company that he believes Alibaba will innovate in response. Ma congratulated PDD's efforts over the past few years, saying the era of artificial intelligence-powered e-commerce has just begun, which offers both an opportunity and a challenge for everyone.

Mo Daiqing, a senior analyst at domestic consultancy Internet Economy Institute, said PDD Holdings' strong financial performance indicates improved consumer sentiment and the continuous recovery of China's consumption market.

Mo said Chinese online retailers have ramped up efforts to offer steep discounts and adopted low-price strategies to obtain a new breed of users and improve user loyalty and repurchase rates. "The platform that can offer products at competitive prices, fast delivery and good shopping experience will gain an upper hand in this fierce competition," she added.

Li Mingtao, head of the research institute at the China International Electronic Commerce Center, said, "As a new form of foreign trade, Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms represented by Temu can help establish a direct and definitive connection between manufacturers and consumers by applying advanced digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence."

He added that manufacturers can better learn about and grasp the needs of consumers via these platforms, adjust production in a timely manner, and reduce inventory, which will be conducive to improving the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing enterprises on the global stage.
The festive tree on the Deal pier has come in for ridicule from some residents - KMG/SWNS

A seaside town is urgently replacing its Christmas tree after an underwhelming one was wrongly delivered.

Dover district council said replacing the tree installed outside the pier in Deal with a more impressive version was a matter of urgency following ridicule from residents.

People living in Deal described the small-scale pine as underwhelming, while one has dubbed it a contender for Kents worst Christmas tree.

Kevin Mills, the towns Labour council leader, said he had instructed officials to replace the festive centrepiece, which he claims was not the one initially ordered.

I find it unacceptable that this has happened and it makes the council department that dealt with it look bad, he said.

The tree wasnt the one that was ordered and the company that supplied it will be replacing it with the correct one as a matter of urgency.

I have insisted this has to be done as soon as possible.

It comes after some residents and visitors mocked the tree this week, while others showed support to the council.

If youre going to do it, do it properly

Peter Marsh, who has lived in Deal for 13 years, joked: You can get bigger ones in Poundland.

Its underwhelming. Its almost as tall as the pampas grass but not quite as big. I would have expected a better one. If youre going to do it, do it properly.

Jill Breen, another Deal resident, added: It could be bigger.

Its not the best Ive ever seen but at least its not leaning to one side as I thought it might be.

Its not too bad though. I think it should have a star. I think maybe at night it would look lovely.

Jose Arufe-Barker, who was visiting from London with a group of friends, found the tree to be an odd shape on his first impression. I think its underwhelming, the 26-year-old said.

But others say the criticism aimed at the council was unfair.

Vanessa Hood, 67, from Faversham, says a lot of people like to moan. Its got lights so once they are on in the evening it would be nice, she said.

Its a nice gesture by the council to put a tree up in the first place - it makes people feel better. I think a lot of people like to moan.

Another supporter was Brian Hurst, 74, who said: Its the first time Ive been to Deal and walking through the pier I saw it and I think its very good. I think theyve made a lot of effort to do that and the criticism is unwarranted.

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.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Shanghai Futures Exchange in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday.

During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Photo/Xinhua]





Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a government-subsidized rental housing community in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 29, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Photo/Xinhua]





Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Photo/Xinhua]





Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 28, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour in east China's Shanghai from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his trip, Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations, and a government-subsidized rental housing community, learning about the city's efforts in strengthening its competitiveness as an international financial center, building the city into an international sci-tech innovation center, and constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects. [Photo/Xinhua]
A Kentucky sheriff pleaded guilty this week to two charges of official misconduct and two counts of menacing.

The plea by Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree included a sentence of one year in jail conditionally discharged for two years, meaning he will be on probation for that period.

Acree can stay in office under the convictions because the charges were not felonies, according to Marshall County Attorney Jason Darnall, who served as special prosecutor in the case.

Kentucky State Police began investigating Acree in the spring of 2022 after receiving allegations of misconduct.

A grand jury ultimately indicted him.

One official misconduct charge involved Acree requesting a free room at the state park lodge at Lake Barkley. He told staffers he needed the room to observe a drug transaction when it was really to meet a woman for sex, according to the court record.

The other official misconduct charge and the menacing charges related to an alleged assault on a woman after she was arrested.

Acree went home for lunch one day in January 2022 and found Crystal Dawn Smith in his house, according to a federal lawsuit Smith later filed against Acree.

She was arrested on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of heroin.

The federal lawsuit said Smith had been abusing pain pills and heroin after the accidental gun death of her son some months before, and didnt know whose house she had entered.

Smith alleged in her lawsuit that at Acrees direction, the county jailer took Smith to the sheriffs office before taking her to jail in neighboring Christian County.

At his office, Acree allegedly slammed Smith against a wall while she had restraints on her hands and legs, threw her to the floor and screamed that he would f-----g kill her if he ever saw her again, according to a citation and the federal lawsuit.

Acree denied wrongdoing in a response to the lawsuit, but pleaded guilty to misconduct and menacing in connection with the incident.

The plea agreement said Smith did not seek treatment for injuries while she was an inmate and that there were no photos of bruising or other injuries.

Smith pleaded guilty to burglary for entering Acrees home, according to the plea document.

The plea document Acree signed notes that the court and prosecutor dont have authority to remove him from office based on the misdemeanor charges.

The governor could initiate a removal action or the legislature could impeach Acree, Darnall said.

Acrees attorney, Ken Haggard, said authorities wanted Acree to resign, but he and Haggard absolutely refused and the prosecution ultimately dropped the demand.

Aaron is free to continue in office under the plea and will do so, Haggard said.
The News

Multiple communities in Kenya are protesting against forceful evictions from their homes and disruption to their ways of life which they blame on a raft of government deals to ramp up the production and sale of carbon credits.

Members of Kenyas indigenous Ogiek community in November faced eviction from their homes in Mau, the countrys largest forest. The government-led eviction saw their houses demolished and torched.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said the evictions took place under unclear circumstances, without due process and without sufficient measures to mitigate the suffering of the affected persons. The communitys lawyers now claim the evictions are linked to Kenyas push to capitalize on carbon credits, which requires maintaining control over forests.

Leonard Mindore, founder of Ogiek community organization ProHOME, told Semafor Africa that many in the community, including himself, blamed carbon credit projects for the evictions. The government comes in the name of (forest) conservation but I believe the eviction is influenced by carbon credits, he said.

Carbon credits can be traded or purchased by companies to allow them to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses. Carbon credits are generated by projects that reduce or remove emissions  such as forest conservation or renewable energy projects.

Members of the Borana pastoralist community living in northern Kenya blamed a carbon credits initiative used by Meta and Netflix, the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project (NKGCP), for disrupting traditional grazing patterns, and called for the conservancy running it to vacate their ancestral land in March. They also stated that the carbon project lacked their prior consent.

The project seeks to lower emissions by managing grazing patterns to give vegetation more time to recover.

We are pastoralists, we dont want to be given restrictions that we cant move with our animals, said Abdullahi Hajji Gonjobe of the Borana community at a press conference.

Know More

Kenyas government has inked several carbon credit deals with companies and intermediaries around the world as global organizations look to burnish their green credentials and the country works to boost earnings from carbon credits. In October, Kenya signed a deal with Dubai-based firm Blue Carbon conceding millions of hectares for the production of carbon credits.

Meta and Netflix are among organizations that purchased tens of millions of dollars worth of carbon credits from the controversial NKGCP project. A Saudi Arabian firm purchased 2.2 million tonnes of carbon credits in an auction in Kenya in June in what was described as the worlds largest transaction of its kind.

President William Ruto wants to increase Kenyas production of carbon credits to 30 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent annually, and has described Africas carbon sinks as an economic goldmine that could boost economies and create jobs. In September, he signed into law an act regulating Kenyas carbon markets. The law requires carbon projects to sign profit-sharing agreements with local communities. They are obligated to share 40% of profits with local communities for projects on land.

Martins view

Without the proper safeguards, the race to capitalize on carbon credits could potentially put communities in Africa at risk of human rights abuses.

Educating local communities on carbon credit schemes, securing their consent for projects and partnering with them to ensure they realize the benefits will be key to the success of carbon projects in countries such as Kenya. Partnering with communities will also help minimize disruption to their everyday lives.

Lempaa Suiyanka, a human rights lawyer with Nairobi-based Katiba Institute, said that unless governments and organizations educate communities on carbon projects and secure their support, there would likely be further conflicts involving communities and authorities, as well as human rights abuses.

The occupants of the land must be told why that carbon credit is useful to sustainable development and environmental conservation, he said. Any development that is not fully explained to the people so that they can embrace it is likely to come up with a lot of violations of rights and freedoms.

Observing that the challenges were not entirely new, he highlighted evictions of Kenyas Sengwer community from the Embobut forest by the government in 2014, which were linked to a World Bank-funded carbon offset project.

Strong legal frameworks are also required to ensure communities are protected from harm in carbon projects.

Room for Disagreement

Mikoko Pamoja is a project helping to conserve 117 hectares of mangroves on the Kenyan coast. It was validated to sell at least 3,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year  enabling it to generate annual revenues of about $130,000. According to a United Nations report, revenues from the project have so far helped fund schools, hospitals and water pumps providing clean drinking water for children in local primary schools and nearly 5,400 people in the wider community.

The View From Gabon

Last December, officials from Gabon, the worlds most forested nation, told Semafor Africa that they would issue 90 million carbon credits for between $25 to $30 per credit. According to officials, the move would help develop Gabons economy while contributing to environmental preservation. But an investigation by conservation NGO Rainforest Foundation UK in March, found that the carbon credits issued by Gabon were likely worthless.

The investigation questioned the methodology used to calculate the emission reductions and carbon credits, highlighting potential manipulation of figures. Gabon relied heavily on prevented deforestation and tree planting numbers to calculate emission reduction.

Notable

Semafors Tim McDonnell in September explored the potential of carbon markets to help African countries raise the billions of dollars needed to adapt to the impact of climate change.

Concerns over the credibility of carbon markets in Africa could affect green energy companies that have carbon credits at the heart of their business models, writes David Piling for the Financial Times.
With candidate filing days away for the 2024 elections, the two Democrats vying in the primary for governor  Mike Morgan and Josh Stein  made their pitches to a powerful Black political group.

Morgan, who retired from the N.C. Supreme Court this fall to run for governor, told The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People PAC about his personal story growing up as one of the first Black students to integrate schools in North Carolina, as well as his time in Durham as a student at Duke University and N.C. Central University Law School. Morgan said his 34 years on the bench give him a special skill set to be governor.

I have made my whole lifes career dedicated to be sure that everyone has a level playing field. Thats what justice is all about, to make sure that everyone feels as though: as long as he or she puts their best feet forward, being lawful citizens, and being all that they can be in applying themselves, that they can be whatever they want to be, Morgan said.

Morgan and Stein did not criticize each other during their speeches, though Morgan alluded to Stein having been chosen as the Democratic pick before anyone else got in the race.

Stein, the front-runner in the Democratic primary, spent most of his time talking about his expected opponent in the general election: Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, as well as the Republican-controlled state legislature. He noted Robinson wanting a total abortion ban.

All of it is wrong. All of it is backwards. All of it must be stopped, and it is on us. It is on us to defend our home and fight for our people. Thats what I have had the honor of doing these past seven years as your attorney general  taking on big fights for the people in North Carolina and deliver, Stein said, going on to talk about his work on the opioid crisis and rape kit testing backlog.

Black voters endorsements not a given

The Durham Committee filled a room on the top floor of University Tower with a crowd of influential Durham elected officials and community leaders. Among them were several local politicians, including the new Mayor-elect Leonardo Williams, former Durham Mayor Bill Bell, County Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton and several more leaders.

Getting an audience with the group doesnt mean an endorsement is coming  yet. The Durham Committee will vote on its endorsements in early 2024, a slate that can help carry the elections for a city and county that votes vastly Democratic.

Committee PAC Chair Cassandra Stokes said that support is not a given, and the event this week was a starting point ahead of candidate questionnaires theyll send out when filing ends in mid-December.

What is your strategy for making it past a primary? she said is one factor in getting an endorsement from the committee. We want to make sure that were supporting and endorsing viable candidates. I think both of them bring very much different experiences to the gubernatorial race: Justice Mike Morgan in his judicial experience, and Josh Stein, with his experience already as attorney general. So thats something that we also want to dig in deeper within our endorsement process, Stokes said.

Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People PAC Chair Cassandra Stokes, pictured at a committee meet and greet with Democratic primary candidates.

Durham Committee Chair Walter Jackson said the group is keeping an open mind about the primary. He said the PAC will interview all the candidates before making recommendations to the entire committee.

So, as they say, it aint over till its over. So until our general body speaks, there are no favorites from my point of view, Jackson said.

Stokes said that it was important for all the Council of State candidates to show up in person and be cordial in a roomful of voters. I think that will allow us to speak to voters more than just seeing them on TV or seeing commercials. So I think having that in-person conversation and dialogue and direct one-on-one contact with voters will be impactful, and hopefully well be able to set the parameters, Stokes said.

Former state Sen. Floyd McKissick Jr., who was at the event, told The N&O afterward that its important for candidates to appear before these groups and to make a pitch for the viability of their candidacy, and why they are best able to serve. ... I mean, if you think about issues related to the Voting Rights Act, its all about people having a chance, having an opportunity to vote for candidates of their choice, without regard to race.

McKissick said that while Stein is the heir apparent, Morgan would have been better positioned if he had announced his campaign earlier and now needs to show why hes the most viable candidate in the general election.

Stein announced in January, and Morgan in September. Stein had already locked in key endorsements including from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Black leaders like state Sen. Natalie Murdock and former U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield.

Pitches to the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People

All the candidates at the event were Democrats. Here are the candidates who spoke to the crowd:

 Mike Morgan, retired N.C. Supreme Court justice running for governor

 Josh Stein, attorney general running for governor

 Ben Clark, former state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor

 Rachel Hunt, state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor

 Satana Deberry, Durham County district attorney and candidate for attorney general

 Wesley Harris, state representative and candidate for treasurer

 Luis Toledo, candidate for state auditor

 Lora Cubbage, superior court judge and candidate for N.C. Supreme Court

Stokes said that others invited who had schedule conflicts included Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who is running for reelection; candidate for labor commissioner Braxton Winston, who is on Charlotte City Council; and U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, who is running for attorney general against Deberry.

Deberry said that Durham voters know her, and that in her two terms as district attorney she has been bold, progressive and done everything she said she would do.

Education was a current throughout the candidates speeches, which were each about three minutes. Hunt said that public education is under attack, and talked about treatment of teachers and the expansion of private school vouchers under the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Candidate filing starts Monday.
CORRECTION: The shooting by Jason Eaton is being investigated as a possible hate crime. An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the status of the investigation.

It's hard to imagine Jason Eaton's self-reported employment history on BrokerCheck instilled confidence in anyone considering using him as a financial advisor.

Eaton, 48, a recent transplant to Burlington from Syracuse, New York, is charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder in the shooting of three young men of Palestinian descent in Burlington on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 25, on North Prospect Street. Eaton pleaded not guilty. The shooting is being investigated as a possible hate crime.

One of Eaton's attorneys, Margaret Jansch of the Chittenden County Public Defender's Office, said in an email on Wednesday that neither she nor Eaton had anything to share for this story.

A booking photo by the Burlington Police Department on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, shows Jason J. Eaton of Burlington, the suspect in the Nov. 25 shooting of three men of Palestinian descent in Burlington, VT.

BrokerCheck is a service of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, which provides background information on brokers for investors to consult before trusting their money to a particular broker.

In his BrokerCheck report, Eaton listed 19 different jobs he held between April 2014 and January 2023, including stints as a farm assistant, night cleaner, carpenter, landscaper, driver, farm manager, sawyer and maintenance person, mostly in small towns in upstate New York.

Eaton was also self-employed from April to August 2021 and again from January to April 2022 in Salisbury, Vermont; and from September 2010 to September 2017 in Syracuse.

In most of his jobs, Eaton stayed no longer than a few months, painting a picture of a man searching for his place in the world.

Eaton was also a broker for five different financial firms:

CUSO Financial Services in Williston.

TD Ameritrade in Fayetteville, New York.

Edward Jones in East Syracuse, New York.

Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. in Liverpool, New York.

Equity Services, Inc. in Montpelier.

Eaton's last employer, CUSO Financial Services in Williston, confirmed to USA TODAY he was fired on Nov. 8 after working for less than a year at the broker-dealer.

"We are horrified by the shooting and are cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate," spokesperson Jeff Eller said. "We have no further comment."

Eaton described as 'A bright guy, a jack-of-all-trades'

Business Insider interviewed a man named Dick deGraffe who owns an organic farm in Pulaski, New York, where Eaton managed the finances. DeGraffe told Business Insider he had known Eaton for 25 years and couldn't believe the news about the shooting. He called Eaton a "bright guy, a jack-of-all-trades," who showed no signs of extremism, Islamophobia or racism.

Sarah George, Chittenden County State's Attorney, speaks at a Nov. 27 press conference following the arrest of suspect Jason Eaton for the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent on N. Prospect Street on Nov. 25.

But Business Insider also cited evidence, first uncovered by Vice, of a "conspiratorial" bent in posts on what appear to be Eaton's social media accounts, most of which have since been deleted or locked. One, on X, said "Libertarians want trans furrys to be able to protect their cannabis farms with unregistered machine guns."

Further evidence of Eaton's world view comes in 2004, when the Portsmouth Herald in New Hampshire, which belongs to the USA Today network, reported Eaton was presenting a lecture at a local church about, in Eaton's words, "taking back the money and power that consumers have ceded to multinational corporations."

Eaton was identified in the Herald story as president of Middlebury Solari, which the Southern Poverty Law Center says appears to have been connected to a company called Solari. Founded by author and businesswoman Catherine Austin Fitts, Solari continues to operate today. Fitts was an assistant secretary of housing and urban development for housing in the George H.W. Bush administration.

Creede Newton, an investigative reporter for the Southern Poverty Law Center, said he found some evidence that Middlebury Solari was part of the Solari Action Network with local branches in locations around the country. But he wrote in a story on Nov. 27 for SPLC's Hatewatch that it was unclear if Fitts and Eaton worked together. The Burlington Free Press was unable to find evidence that Middlebury Solari still exists.

Eaton's mother says her son struggled with depression

The Daily Beast interviewed Eaton's mother, Mary Reed, on Monday, who said her son had previously struggled with depression. Reed said Eaton spent Thanksgiving with his family, days before the shooting.

Jason has had a lot of struggles in his life but he is such a kind and loving person, Reed said. I am just shocked by the whole thing.

On Nov. 27, Burlington Police investigate a house on N. Prospect Street around where three college students of Palestinian descent were shot on Nov. 25.

One of Eaton's struggles was with romantic relationships, according to a police report. On Oct. 21, 2019, two officers from the Dewitt Police Department in New York, near Syracuse, were dispatched to the residence of a woman who had a previous relationship with Eaton, but who said he was now continuing to text her after she told him to stop. The Burlington Free Press normally does not identify victims of sexual harassment.

The woman told the officer she had been receiving numerous text messages, emails and phone calls from Eaton for the past two days. She said the messages were "sexual in nature," but not threatening. She responded to Eaton that she didn't want to see him or communicate with him any further. She called police because Eaton had driven by her home that evening in his grey Chevrolet Silverado. She did not want to press charges, she just wanted it to stop.

While the police officers were talking with the woman, Eaton drove by for a second time. The officers "conducted a traffic stop" to talk to Eaton. Eaton told the officers the woman was sending him "mixed signals," and that he was under the impression she still wanted to see him. Wrong, the officers told Eaton. She wanted nothing to do with him. Eaton said he understood. No charges were filed.

An ATF agent knocks on the door of Eaton's apartment

Samual Brown, a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, knocked on the door of Eaton's apartment at 69 North Prospect St. on Nov. 26, as part of canvassing the neighborhood near the shooting, according to an affidavit sworn by Burlington Police Detective Corporal Krystal Wrinn. The ATF was assisting Burlington Police in the investigation.

Brown told a Burlington Police detective that when he entered Eaton's apartment building, he heard a noise coming from Apartment #6 that sounded like a television.

"Upon knocking on apartment #6, the door was answered by a tall white male with graying hair," Brown said. "The male opened the door with his hands out at waist height with the palms up, and said something to the effect of 'I've been waiting for you.'"

"Why's that?" Brown asked.

"I'd like a lawyer," Eaton answered.

Eaton refuses to identify himself, asks repeatedly for a lawyer

Eaton, unprompted, stepped outside the apartment into the hallway, where Brown asked if there were guns in the apartment. Eaton said there was a shotgun. When Brown asked if there were other guns, Eaton repeated that he wanted a lawyer. At that point, Brown "detained" Eaton, according to the affidavit, and asked his name. Eaton would not identify himself, and asked for a lawyer again. A search of Eaton for weapons turned up two keys in his pocket, which were removed.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad speaks at a Nov. 27 press conference following the arrest of suspect Jason Eaton for the shooting of three college students of Palestinian descent on N. Prospect Street on Nov. 25.

After Burlington Police officers arrived to take Eaton to the police department, Brown and another ATF agent and an FBI agent searched Eaton's apartment and found no one else there. They did find a 38-caliber Ruger pistol and ammunition, described as Hornaday brand with a "bright red tip on each projectile." The pistol was in the top drawer of Eaton's dresser in his bedroom.

The agents also found five cell phones, a backpack of hard drives, two 20-gauge shotguns, a .22 rifle, and "indicia of motive." What those indications of a motive for the shooting are is not explained in the affidavit.

After the search of his apartment, Wrinn and another BPD detective met with Eaton in cell #2 at the Burlington Police Department and told him he was being charged with three counts of attempted second degree murder. Wrinn writes that Eaton had no reaction.

"Eaton compliantly went with us for photographs and fingerprints and when I asked if he understood what I had told him, he advised he had heard the words," Wrinn wrote.

Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosi@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Jason Eaton accused in Burlington, Vermont shooting: What we know
A mysterious and potentially fatal contagious respiratory illness has been impacting dogs in at least 14 states in the United States, including California.

At least 10 cases have been detected in California since Nov. 16, according to a new release published Nov. 21 by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Healths Veterinary Public Health Program. Though no cases have been reported in Riverside County at this time, pet owners may still be wondering how they can protect their four-legged family members.

Officials with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services spoke with The Desert Sun to share what's known about the disease, what symptoms to look out for and ways to mitigate infection.

What is the illness?

There's still a lot that's unknown about the dog respiratory virus, but animal services spokesperson Kerri Mabee said it causes nasal discharge, cough, sneezing and lethargy.

Cases were initially reported in Oregon this summer, and since mid-August, more than 200 cases have been reported in the state, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

"We do not know exactly where or how it began, but it has been reported in multiple states across the country," Sara Strongin, chief veterinarian of the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, said. "Affected dogs tend to have a history of being in some type of group setting for dogs  such as dog parks, boarding facilities, doggie daycare, etc.

How does it spread?

Mabee said the illness is likely spread through close contact, such as nose-to-nose touching, or by breathing in the same air of an infected animal.

Mysterious respiratory illness is spreading amongst dogs

Does the respiratory illness transfer to humans?

Based on what's known at the moment, no.

According to USA Today, research by David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at the University of New Hampshires Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and his team showed that the small genome, a bacterium, is "host adapted," which means that it is more likely to stick to the organism that it is used to.

The veterinarian added that they have not had any reports of owners being sick.

What are the symptoms?

Some of the common symptoms of the respiratory illness in dogs include:

Coughing and sneezing

Difficulty breathing

Rapid breathing

Wheezing or nasal whistling

Dehydration

Difficulty exercising

Fever

Nasal or eye discharge

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

Lethargy

Where have cases been reported?

As of Monday, the illness had been reported in the following states:

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Oregon

Rhode Island

Vermont

Washington

Can your pet be tested for the illness?

There is currently not a test available because the causative agent of the illness is unknown, Strongin said. However, the disease is suspected when a dog with compatible clinical signs and history tests negative on a respiratory PCR panel, which is commonly used to diagnose more common respiratory diseases.

Is the illness fatal?

The illness has led to some hospitalizations and the deaths of older dogs or those with health issues, according to the New York Times. Some dogs may have prolonged mild to moderate illness lasting six to eight weeks or longer, Strongin said.

Owners bring their dogs to a park in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. Veterinary laboratories in several states, including Oregon, Colorado and New Hampshire, are investigating an unusual respiratory illness in dogs that causes lasting illness and doesnt respond to antibiotics. The Oregon Department of Agriculture, which is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses, has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August 2023.

What can pet owners do to keep their dogs safe?

Mabee encourages dog owners to keep their dogs at home and avoid high-risk environments, such as dog parks, doggy daycares and boarding kennels, if possible.

"Until we can learn more, if theyre planning on boarding their dogs, maybe they can look to other options," she said, such as asking a family member or close friend to dog-sit.

Dog owners should also ensure that their pet's vaccines are up to date, so that they do not have any underlying conditions. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services provides vaccines, and appointments can be made at https://rcdas.org/pet-services/vaccinations-microchips

Free mobile clinics also take place throughout the county. For a list of dates and locations, visit https://rcdas.org/mobile-wellness

What treatments are being implemented for this illness?

Strongin said antibiotics have not been effective in treating this disease.

"Since the causative agent remains unknown, treatment is essentially supportive in nature  fluids, nutrition, supplemental oxygen, possibly anti-inflammatories," she added.

What should you do if you suspect your dog is affected?

If you notice any of the symptoms in your dog, especially any symptoms that could be related to pneumonia, contact your vet immediately.

USA Today reporting contributed to this story.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mysterious dog illness spreads across US: What to know
Chinese astronaut Chen Dong (L), a member of a delegation of China's manned space program to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), is in a special meeting at the Pui Kiu Middle School on Nov. 29, 2023, in Hong Kong, south China. [Photo/Xinhua]

At a special session at the Pui Kiu Middle School Wednesday, students were thrilled to see their hometown, Hong Kong, from a whole new perspective.

Chinese astronaut Chen Dong showed the students a photo of the city taken from outer space. "This is the airport, and this is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge," he said, pointing to the tiny dots on the photo to the students.

Chen is among a delegation of China's manned space program who are on a six-day visit to Hong Kong and Macao from Tuesday to Sunday. The visiting delegation has kindled the enthusiasm for space missions of many youngsters in Hong Kong, as they share with them the daily routine of living in space.

The delegation, consisting of astronauts who participated in the construction of the Chinese space station as well as other experts, visited several primary and secondary schools Wednesday, with more than 1,000 students attending the sessions.

At Ma Tau Chung government primary school, Shenzhou-12 astronaut Liu Boming shared with the students the routine of daily safety checks, calling from space, writing Chinese calligraphy, and -- getting his hair cut in the spaceship.

Inspired by Liu's talks, a student surnamed Wong said that she now had a better understanding of life in space, and she aspires to become an astronaut in the future.

"I think it is a very worthwhile and meaningful thing to do, being able to contribute to the society," she said.

Marin Chan from Pui Kiu Middle School developed a passion for space from a long time ago. Like thousands of young people in China, she wrote a letter to Chen Dong while he was on the Shenzhou-14 mission, and luckily she heard back from Chen.

"Life is like the sky. It will not always be a sunny day, but it is the rain, wind, snow, thunder and lightning that makes life colorful," she recalled what Chen wrote in the letter.

Now, seeing her pen pal in person, Chan was over the moon.

"His reply has always inspired me. No matter what kind of situations I face in study or life, I can cope with them with a peaceful mind," she said.

"It's the space dream that brought us together," said Chen, "We share the same dream and I hope everyone can dare to dream, be diligent to pursue their dreams, and be courageous to realize their dreams," he said.

John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that the visit by the China manned space delegation is a golden opportunity for young people in Hong Kong to learn aerospace knowledge, and more importantly, learn from the role models of their perseverance and excellent skills in facing challenges.
New Jersey's transportation projects will now have to take the needs of people with disabilities into account, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed bipartisan legislation into law this week. The bill, S-146, which was passed unanimously by the state Legislature, requires state Department of Transportation research "to consider the transportation and mobility needs of New Jersey residents with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities."

Im glad the governor signed this bill into law," state Sen. Kristin Corrado, a North Jersey Republican who co-sponsored it, said in a statement. "These new requirements for our transportation agencies have the potential to change the lives of people with disabilities who have difficulty navigating our current public transit system.

This legislation will make sure that anytime new public infrastructure projects are proposed we will put the mobility needs of disabled New Jerseyans front and center," she said. "All New Jersey residents, especially those with disabilities, should feel safe and confident when using public transit in this state.

The law sets parameters for contracts issued by the New Jersey Transportation Research Bureau, a new agency within the Transportation Department.

More: Bill would require NJ schools to improve safety plans for students with disabilities

State Sen. Patrick Diegnan and Assembly members Shama Haider, Daniel Benson and Ellen Park, all Democrats, co-sponsored the bill.

Despite the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, advocates say travelers with disabilities often run into obstacles. In 2021, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department after federal investigators found multiple ADA violations at the AirTrain Rail Link station at Newark Liberty International Airport. As part of the settlement, the Port Authority agreed to $250,000 in upgrades to the monorail.

Gene Myers covers disability and mental health for NorthJersey.com and the USA TODAY Network. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: myers@northjersey.com

Twitter: @myersgene

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ law puts needs of disabled 'front and center' in transit planning
FILE - Water moves through a spillway of the Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River near Almota, Wash., on April 11, 2018. In the clearest sign yet that the U.S. will consider breaching four controversial dams on the Snake River to help salmon, a leaked administration document says the government is prepared to help build clean energy projects that would replace the power currently generated by the dams. (AP Photo/Nicholas K. Geranios, File)

SEATTLE (AP)  The U.S. government is willing to help build enough new clean energy projects in the Pacific Northwest to replace the hydropower generated by four controversial dams on the Snake River, according to a leaked Biden administration document that is giving hope to conservationists who have long sought the removal of the dams as a key to restoring depleted salmon runs.

Still, Congress would have to agree before any of the Lower Snake River dams in Washington state are removed, and that's unlikely to happen in the near future.

The document is a draft agreement to uphold 168-year-old treaties with four tribes in the Pacific Northwest that preserved their right to harvest fish in the river, among other things.

The Columbia River Basin was once the greatest salmon-producing river system in the world, with at least 16 stocks of salmon and steelhead, according to the document. But today, four are extinct and seven are listed under the Endangered Species Act. Conservationists say dams built in the basin are primarily to blame.

Conservation groups and tribes sued the federal government in an effort to save the struggling fisheries, and both sides notified the court earlier this fall they were close to reaching an agreement that could put the the lawsuit on hold. They have until mid-December to submit an agreement.

Amanda Goodin, a lawyer for the environmental group Earthjustice, which is representing a coalition of environmental, fishing, and renewable energy groups in the litigation, said their goal throughout the mediation has been to prevent the extinction of salmon, restore the ecosystem and replace the energy provided by the dams.

We hope to be able to say on Dec. 15 weve achieved that goal, but if we cant reach that goal or discussions fall apart, we will be prepared to resume litigation on Dec. 15, she said in a statement. Due to confidentiality rules, she said they would not discuss the specifics of the draft agreement.

In civil cases, mediation talks are generally confidential, but Washington state Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican, included a link to the draft agreement in a press release Wednesday. Newhouse has opposed breaching the dams, saying they are essential for agriculture, flood control and transportation as well as electricity.

"It is imperative that our constituents, whose livelihoods depend on the Columbia River System, have a comprehensive understanding of this documents contents so they can anticipate and prepare for the wide-ranging impacts that will inevitably be felt across the region should the commitments detailed in this document be realized, Newhouse and three other Republican representatives  Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, Cliff Bentz of Oregon, and Russ Fulcher of Idaho  wrote to President Joe Biden.

The draft agreement says the government will help plan and pay for tribes in the Pacific Northwest to develop enough clean energy resources to serve as replacement power for the lower Snake River dams, whether or not Congress authorizes dam removal.

The draft also includes billions of dollars in funding for analyzing the regions energy needs, improving transportation infrastructure, making the power grid more resilient and restoring salmon, steelhead and other native fish runs in the Columbia River basin. Oregon and Washington would be partners in the effort along with the four tribes and the federal government.

There has been growing recognition across the U.S. that the harms some dams cause to fish outweigh their usefulness. Dams on the Elwha River in Washington state and the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border have been or are being removed.

The Yakama Nation and the Nez Perce Tribe declined to comment on the document, while the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation was not immediately available for comment and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs did not respond to a request for comment.

Alyssa Roberts, spokesperson for the White House Council on Environmental Quality, said the negotiations are ongoing.

As part of the court-approved confidential mediation with Tribes, States, and other parties to develop a long-term, durable path forward, the U.S. Government is developing a package of actions and commitments that we are discussing with all parties involved in the mediation, she said in a statement.

Utility and business groups Northwest RiverPartners, the Public Power Council and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association called the draft agreement the greatest threat for the region in a joint statement released Wednesday, saying dam breaching would hurt the region's ports and farmers and could raise electricity prices.

This proposal turns its back on over three million electricity customers as well as the farming, transportation, navigation, and economic needs of the region, the groups wrote.

The pros and cons of dam-breaching have been debated for years, but only a few lawmakers in the region have embraced the idea.

In 2021 Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho proposed removing the earthen berms on either side of the four Lower Snake River dams to let the river flow freely, and to spend $33 billion to replace the benefits of the dams for agriculture, energy and transportation.

Last year, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington U.S. Sen. Patty Murray released a report saying carbon-free electricity produced by the dams must be replaced before they are breached. Eliminating the dams would also dramatically change the way farmers in Idaho and Washington and Oregon transport their crops, forcing them to rely on truck and rail transportation instead.

The town of Lewiston, Idaho, is home to the most inland seaport on the West Coast, and many farmers in the region rely on barges to ship their crops, while others use rail. Other lawmakers  including Idaho Rep. Mike Crapo and Sen. Jim Risch and Montana Rep. Steve Daines  have argued that the government should find ways besides dam breaching to save the fish.

In October, Biden directed federal agencies to use all available resources to restore abundant salmon runs in the Columbia River Basin, but Bidens memo stopped short of calling for the removal of the dams.

The Lower Granite, Ice Harbor, Little Goose and Lower Monumental dams were built in the mid-1900s. On average, the four dams produce about 1,000 MW of power throughout the year, though they can produce as much as 2,200 MW during peak energy demand, according to the non-profit NW Energy Coalition. Roughly $17 billion in infrastructure improvements, some of it forced by litigation, has done little to restore the fish to historical levels.

___

Boone reported from Boise, Idaho.

___

This story was first published on Nov. 29, 2023. It was updated on Nov. 30, 2023, to correct that Lewiston, Idaho, is served by a railroad.
A draft agreement negotiated behind closed doors by the Biden administration and advocates of tearing down the lower Snake River dams says the science is clear on removing the dams.

In what some are calling a secret plan developed with four tribes, Washington and Oregon, the federal government would spend more than $1 billion to prepare for breaching the four hydroelectric dams and to promote fish populations.

The draft agreement stops short of a federal decision to remove the dams, although it said the U.S. government continues to be committed to exploring restoration of the lower Snake River, including dam breach.

The draft agreement has not been made public, but the Tri-City Herald obtained a leaked copy.

The Biden administration negotiations have been controversial because they have not included electric ratepayers, among others, who would pay the price for changes to how the hydroelectric system is managed on both the Snake and Columbia rivers.

The proposed agreement was negotiated as part of the federal lawsuit that is paused until Dec. 15 to allow plaintiffs in the lawsuit to discuss the draft agreement and next steps on the dams with select tribes and litigation parties and to approve proposed actions and commitments.

No one involved in the litigation is permitted to discuss the draft agreement, including those who were excluded from negotiations on a long-running federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit challenges the most recent federal plan for hydropower operations of the four lower Snake River dams in Eastern Washington and Idaho for not doing enough to save threatened salmon as pressure has mounted to tear down the dams. The federal court case has been on hold for two years.

Parties to the litigation have pushed to tear down the lower Snake River dams, from Ice Harbor Dam near the Tri-Cities upriver to Lower Granite Dam near Lewiston, Idaho.

The Lower Granite Dam is the first of four hydroelectric dams on the lower Snake River that salmon encounter on their way from and to the ocean. Darin Oswald/Statesman file

Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, has reminded the Biden administration that Congress has the exclusive authority not only on any decision to breach the Snake dams, but also the exclusive authority to direct the study of removing them or to authorize replacement resources.

He was joined by Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington; Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, and Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon.

On Dec. 15 the plaintiffs and federal defendants will either request a multi-year stay of the lawsuit to implement the proposals and commitments in the draft agreement or they will return to court, according to Earthjustice, which is representing a coalition of fishing, conservation and renewable energy groups in the lawsuit.

Four hydroelectric dams on the Snake River in Eastern Washington are proposed to be removed or breached to improve salmon runs. Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association

Science of saving salmon

The 34-page agreement negotiated by the Biden administrations Council on Environmental Quality quotes a 2022 report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that says the hydrosystem is a primary limiting factor in the recovery of 10 of the 16 salmon and steelhead stocks in the interior Columbia River Basin.

It said that the risk of extinction for endangered fish is moderate to high.

The science supports dam removal, among other actions, and overwhelmingly supports acting and acting now, the agreement said, quoting from the NOAA report, Rebuilding Interior Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead.

However, Northwest RiverPartners, which opposes breaching the dams, said as it prepared to review the agreement as a party to the lawsuit that it would be considering mounting evidence that shows the greatest threat to salmon survival is climate change impacts.

It quoted a 2021 peer-reviewed NOAA study published in Communications Biology that said the dominant driver toward extinction in Chinook salmon was rising ocean temperatures.

Among spending in the draft agreement is $5 million for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to identify the best ways to meet the regions energy resource needs and clean energy goals while accounting for breaching of the dams and the loss of their hydropower.

The Department of Energy would pay for the four lower Columbia River tribes  the Yakama, Umatilla, Nez Perce and Warm Springs  to develop clean and renewable energy projects.

The Yakama Nation and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation called for a comprehensive strategy to save salmon during a gathering on the Snake River in August 2022 at Fishhook Park in Eastern Washington. Kylin Brown/Courtesy photo

The Bonneville Power Administration will consider buying tribal owned or sponsored power under the Tribal Preference Authority, which allows federal agencies to prioritize purchases of tribal-owned energy, the draft agreement said.

The wide-ranging draft agreement also includes plans to study replacing other services made possible by the lower Snake River dams, including barging, transportation and recreation.

The draft agreement also considers the rest of the Columbia River Basin.

Salmon would be reintroduced into the upper Columbia River Basin and improvements would be made in the basin to support lamprey, white sturgeon, bull trout and other native fish and shellfish.

Proposals for the mid-Columbia River, such as managing predation and fish passage improvements, could cost as much as $200 million a year over a decade.

Lower Monumental Dam near Kahlotus on the Snake River spills water to benefit juvenile salmon in July 2022. Army Corps of Engineers

The Environmental Protection Agency would provide $85 million to assess and reduce toxins in the basin, which includes $17 million of grants already awarded to tribes.

As previously announced, NOAA will spend $60 million for salmon hatchery infrastructure.

The Bonneville Power Authority would increase its spending on fish and wildlife programs and would give the four tribes and two states authority over $100 million over a decade.

It also would start a pilot program to expand the use of grants and multi-year agreements with them.
Chad Stark, right, follows his attorney Horatio Aldredge, out of the federal courthouse in downtown Austin after a hearing Jan. 21, 2022. Stark on Wednesday received a two-year sentence for threatening to kill Georgia election officials, officials said.

A Leander man was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for posting a message online threatening several Georgia public officials after the 2020 election, according to a news release from the U.S. Justice Department. A grand jury had indicted Chad Stark on a charge of making an interstate threatening communication.

Stark, 55, posted a message Jan. 5, 2021, on Craigslist that was called "Georgia Patriots its time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent - $10,000," officials said.

The message on Craigslist, according to the release, said that "its time to invoke our Second Amendment right its time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese (Official A). Then we work our way down to (Official B) the local and federal corrupt judges. Its our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people."

More: In task force's first case, Leander man Chad Stark charged with making Georgia election threats

The message also said, according to officials: "One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors. ... We need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet behind her ears."

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland responded to Stark's conviction by saying "threats of violence against those who administer our elections are dangerous for peoples personal safety, and they are dangerous for our democracy. This sentence should serve as warning  illegal threats against the public servants who make our democracy work will be met with the full force of the Justice Department."

FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan also commented after Stark's conviction.

Christopher Stark threatened the lives of multiple election workers in an attempt to prevent them from doing their job," said Wray. "Todays sentencing demonstrates the FBIs resolute commitment to securing American elections from any attempts to undermine their integrity.

Buchanan said Stark threatened Georgia statewide elected officials and a volunteer county election worker.

"The conviction and sentencing of this defendant should send a clear message: The intimidation of those sworn to oversee and facilitate free and fair elections in this country is a serious offense that carries significant criminal penalties, said Buchanan.

The Stark case is part of the Justice Departments Election Threats Task Force announced in June 2021.

To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the election crimes coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office can be found at fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/. You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov. Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Leander man gets 2 years for threatening Georgia election officials




Speakers:

Ms. He Rong, minister of justice

Ms. Liu Changchun, director general of the Secretariat of the Office of the Commission for Overall Law-Based Governance of the CPC Central Committee

Mr. Zhang Yaoming, director general of the First Bureau of Legislation of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

Mr. Tian Xin, director general of the Bureau of Lawyers' Work of the MOJ

Ms. Du Yaling, director general of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the MOJ

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Nov. 23, 2023

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is the 30th press conference in the series "Embarking on the New Journey  A Government Perspective." We have invited Ms. He Rong, minister of justice, to brief you on strengthening the rule of law to support high-quality development, and to take your questions. Also present at today's press conference are Ms. Liu Changchun, director general of the Secretariat of the Office of the Commission for Overall Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Zhang Yaoming, director general of the First Bureau of Legislation of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ); Mr. Tian Xin, director general of the Bureau of Lawyers' Work of the MOJ; and Ms. Du Yaling, director general of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the MOJ.

Now, I'll give the floor to Ms. He for her introduction.

He Rong:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, greetings to you all. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for your care and support for the work of justice and administration.

In recent years, the MOJ has adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implemented the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), thoroughly practiced Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and earnestly performed relevant duties of the Office of the Commission for Overall Law-Based Governance of the CPC Central Committee at the MOJ. We have coordinated our efforts to fulfill the tasks related to the overall law-based governance, and taken solid steps to advance such areas as legislation, law-based government administration, punishment execution, public legal services, and foreign-related rule of law. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress lays out specific deployments of promoting the rule of law, and underlines advancing the rule of law in domestic and foreign-related affairs in a coordinated manner. Today, I will focus on how in recent years, and especially this year, the MOJ has performed its functions of advancing foreign-related rule of law to promote high-quality development and high-standard opening up. This is mainly presented in the following aspects:

First, based on our duties, we have implemented the major deployments made by the CPC Central Committee for foreign-related rule of law in a coordinated manner. We aim to accelerate the development of a strategic layout of foreign-related rule of law and the establishment of a system of laws that is applicable beyond the national jurisdiction, improve the judicial capacity of foreign-related law enforcement, and enhance talent training regarding foreign-related rule of law. To this end, we have stepped up research and coordination, and formulated and issued related guidelines, thoroughly implementing the decisions and deployments made by the CPC Central Committee based on our functions.

Second, we have expedited establishing a well-conceived system of foreign-related laws and regulations. Following the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, we have implemented the legislation work plans made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the State Council, and endeavored to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign-related legislation. We have worked with relevant departments in researching, drafting, reviewing and revising important and fundamental laws and regulations such as the Law on Foreign Relations, Law on Foreign State Immunity and Regulation on Consular Protection and Assistance. The MOJ is leading the revision of the Arbitration Law to further refine an arbitration system with Chinese characteristics and providing more open foreign-related arbitration services. It is fair to say that China's foreign-related legal system has been constantly improving. Currently, a group of foreign-related legislation projects including the Anti-Money Laundering Law are gaining significant momentum.

Third, we have deepened exchange and cooperation on the rule of law. The MOJ takes responsibility for conducting international cooperation on the rule of law and serves as the international department (central government organ) of judicial assistance as per the treaties on international judicial assistance. This September, we held the 10th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ministers of Justice and General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a letter of congratulations to the meeting. The meeting witnessed the signing of a joint statement among participating parties and secured fruitful outcomes. We have intensified exchanges with other countries and international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and deepened pragmatic cooperation in such fields as fighting cross-border crime, providing legal services and judicial assistance, and transferring sentenced persons. We have also bolstered our efforts to advance the signing of and compliance in judicial assistance treaties in international criminal, civil and commercial matters, playing an active role in guaranteeing economic growth as well as social safety and stability of different countries through the rule of law. Currently, China has signed bilateral judicial assistance treaties with 86 countries, and treaties on the transfer of sentenced persons with 17 nations. On average, more than 300 judicial assistance requests in international criminal matters and over 3,000 requests in civil and commercial matters have been handled annually.

Fourth, we have sped up to improve foreign-related legal services, which is an issue of common concern. Recently, at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Regional Arbitration Group (APRAG) Conference, we pledged support for accelerating the building of international commercial arbitration centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Hainan. Meanwhile, we have enhanced foreign-related legal work such as work of lawyers, notarization, and commercial conciliation, jointly conducted overseas notarization via video link with overseas embassies and consulates, fostered commercial conciliation organizations, and coordinated all kinds of foreign-related legal resources. All these facilitate Chinese people and enterprises to go global. We have fully leveraged the role of the Belt and Road International Lawyers Association, established legal cooperation platforms for countries and regions along the Belt and Road, and provided higher-quality legal services on international trade, cross-border investment, and maritime affairs. At present, Chinese law firms have set up 180 branches in 35 countries and regions, with over 12,000 foreign-related lawyers. We will stay committed to fostering more foreign-related lawyers of high caliber. Since this year, more than 2.5 million cases of foreign-related notarization have been handled across China, with notarial documents sent to more than 180 countries and regions. In addition, more than 3,000 arbitration cases related to over 100 countries and regions have been handled in such areas as finance, construction, contracts, intellectual property rights, and digital economy. The total value handled amounted to over 100 billion yuan.

Fifth, we have stepped up the cultivation of high-caliber talent for handling foreign-related matters as well as Hong Kong-and-Macao-related legal cases. We have formulated "Opinions on Strengthening Legal Education and Legal Theory Research in the New Era" with relevant departments, which was issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council. The "Opinions" document sets out a curriculum regarding the study of foreign-related law and the cultivation of foreign-related legal talent. At present, we are expediting the building of national-level foreign-related research bases on law-based governance and improving our abilities to conduct theoretical research on and the application of international laws. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, we have hosted programs in some colleges to cultivate foreign-related lawyers and postgraduates who majored in international arbitration. We enhanced the cultivation of foreign-related lawyers, formed a national list of 1,000 talented foreign-related lawyers, and constructed a talent pool on foreign-related arbitration, thus providing legal talent support for Chinese modernization. We have prolonged a program for another three years to enable law practitioners from Hong Kong and Macao to practice law in nine cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Some of our friends from the media at present today come from Hong Kong and Macao. The measure has been welcomed by law practitioners in Hong Kong and Macao and other fields of society, promoting them to further engage in national development.

That's all for my introduction. We will answer your questions. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Ms. He. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before posing your questions.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Leander man was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday after he threatened several Georgia public officials by posting a message online after the 2020 election, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

On Jan. 5, 2021, Chad Christopher Stark, 55, posted a message on Craigslist which was titled Georgia Patriots its time to kill [Official A] the Chinese agent  $10,000, according to court documents.

The full message Stark posted to Craigslist is below:

Georgia Patriots its time for us to take back our state from these Lawless treasonous traitors. Its time to invoke our Second Amendment right its time to put a bullet in the treasonous Chinese [Official A]. Then we work our way down to [Official B] the local and federal corrupt judges. Its our duty as American Patriots to put an end to the lives of these traitors and take back our country by force we can no longer wait on the corrupt law enforcement in the corrupt courts. If we want our country back we have to exterminate these people. One good loyal Patriot deer hunter in camo and a rifle can send a very clear message to these corrupt governors.. milita up Georgia its time to spill blood. we need to pay a visit to [Official C] and her family as well and put a bullet her behind the ears. Lets be very clear to our local law enforcement who have stood down and watch BLM antifa destroy our country and kill our citizens yet youll step up to stop Patriot supporters youll enforce face mask and youll close American businesses??? Remember one thing local law enforcement the key word being local.. we will find you oathbreakers and were going to pay your family to visit your mom your dad your brothers and sisters your children your wife were going to make examples of traitors to our country death to you and all you communist friends. -Craiglist message posted by Chad Christopher Stark

Threats of violence against those who administer our elections are dangerous for peoples personal safety, and they are dangerous for our democracy, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in the release. This sentence should serve as warning  illegal threats against the public servants who make our democracy work will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.

According to the DOJ, this case was part of the DOJs Election Threats Task Forced as a way to address threats of violence against election workers.

For anyone needing to report suspects threats or violent acts can contact their local FBI office and ask to speak with the election crimes coordinator, the release said. That contact information can be found on the FBI website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Ursula von der Leyen suggested the UK could be on a path to rejoin the bloc - Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

Lee Anderson has told Ursula von der Leyen to shut up after the European Commission president urged young people to reverse Brexit.

At an event in Brussels, Mrs von der Leyen suggested the UK could be on a path to rejoin the bloc. She said the direction of travel was clear and suggested the younger generation could fix the mistake of Brexit.

First of all, thank God, with the Windsor agreement, we had a new beginning for old friends. Very important, Mrs von der Leyen said at the event, hosted by the Politico website.

And then I must say, I keep telling my children, you have to fix it. We goofed it up. You have to fix it. So I think here, too, the direction of travel, my personal opinion is clear.

Lee Anderson, MP and Tory Party Vice Chair in his Whitehall Office - David Rose

But Mr Anderson, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, told GB News: So the generation that fixed the problems in Europe was my grandads generation.

He put a British Army uniform on he went to fight the Nazis, he went all across North Africa, through Sicily, through Italy, seen some horrible things. That was the generation that fixed the problems in Europe. She needs to shut up.

Asked whether he believed the UK would rejoin the EU in his lifetime, he said: I hope not, because if we do Im moving to Orkney isles.

On Wednesday, Mr Sunaks official spokesman said the Prime Minister did not agree with Mrs von der Leyen that future generations would have to fix Brexit.

Its through our Brexit freedoms that we are, right now, considering how to further strengthen our migration system, he said. It is through our Brexit freedoms we are ensuring patients in the UK can get access to medicines faster, that there is improved animal welfare. That is very much what we are focused on.

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A popular south Sacramento nightclub will close for two weeks following a weekend shooting outside the bar that killed one of its owners and another 23-year-old man.

Let us all pray for the souls of the departed, operators of the Sacto By Night lounge said.

Business owner Binh Do, 51, and club patron Ryu Kai Her, 23, were struck by gunfire when a fight between alleged gang members broke out on Sunday after the nightclub had closed, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. Four people were detained in connection to the incident, but the Sheriffs Office hasnt announced if they have arrested anyone.

Sacto By Nights owners said it would pause operations because it was challenging to resume the work after the tragedy and out of respect for the families of Her and Do, who was better known as Ben. The Sacramento County Coroners Office hasnt yet identified the victims.

Do leaves behind a grieving wife and three children, which includes a 9-year-old, the news release said.

He was a good person, well-regarded by everyone, with no animosity in his relationships, Sacto By Night lounge added.

The bar was celebrating Hmong New Year on Saturday. Sheriffs deputies went to the unincorporated Parkway neighborhood at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday for reports of a shooting.

The nightclubs owners said more than 90% of customers had left the establishment and the remaining patrons were being escorted out by security guards. Thats when gunshots rang out from a parked vehicle outside their premises on Governors Circle, the operators said.

It all happened quickly and unexpectedly, they said. We are entirely unaware of the motive or reason behind the senseless shooting.
To the editor: I was shocked to read about American students having to live in their cars to get an education in the richest country in the world. Then I was shocked even more by Cal Poly Humboldt's cruel response.

You would think an institution of higher learning filled with well-educated leaders would make an effort to find a more humane solution to the problem than running these young people off its property as if they were unwelcome pests.

Bill Carey, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: It seems unfair to target Cal Poly Humboldt on the front page for not allowing students to use commuter parking as live-in locations for their RVs, cargo vans and campers.

The students say they cant afford to pay for housing and dont wish to take out student loans, but Im not aware of any university in California that allows its commuter parking lots to be used this way.

There are good reasons not to allow campus parking lots to become the sites of makeshift housing for those living out of cars and vans. To do so would deprive other students, some of whom need to live at home to afford college, of desperately needed parking, which is in short supply at Cal Poly Humboldt.

Affordable housing for students is a critical need. Perhaps The Times could investigate what legislators are doing to expedite its construction, or what Southern California universities are doing to accommodate their students without housing.

But targeting a rural university 650 miles north of L.A. for not allowing its parking lots to become homeless shelters seems grossly unfair.

Jennifer Keller, Trinidad, Calif.

..

To the editor: Cal Poly Humboldt is part of the California State University, a public system that gets more than half of its funding from state taxpayers.

We the taxpayers should demand Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson and other university officials open up their homes and driveways to students who want and deserve a higher education despite their limited economic means.

Your article cites the universitys defense that it is merely adhering to longstanding parking regulations. Well, change the regulations. Provide a safe, communal area for low-income students who yearn for an education.

Steve Saeta, Santa Rosa Valley, Calif.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SIR  You report that a study in the British Medical Journal has found that patients are at risk from virtual GP appointments (report, November 29). It is always amusing when a statement of the obvious is confirmed by the results of a scientific study conducted by experts.

It has been clear from the outset that virtual or telephone GP consultations cannot accurately replace a face-to-face clinical assessment, and therefore carry the risk of harming the sick by misdiagnosis or underestimating the severity of a condition.

As a medical student in the early 1960s, I was taught that a correct and detailed assessment required the taking of a careful clinical history, followed by a meticulous examination, which should include inspection, palpation, auscultation and percussion.

With a virtual consultation, the patient is completely denied the last three methods of assessment and is therefore subjected to a less than adequate evaluation, with all of its associated risks.

Malcolm H Wheeler FRCS

Emeritus professor of surgery

Bonvilston, Glamorgan

SIR  More than a century ago, Sir William Osler, regius professor of medicine at Oxford, encouraged medical students to learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell and to know that by practice alone you can become expert. A face-to-face consultation utilises all our critical senses  rather than hearing alone.

Peter Toghill

Emeritus consultant physician

Whatton-in-the-Vale, Nottinghamshire

SIR  My GP retired this year. He always came to the reception and started his assessment by watching how you walked to his room. He used a hand-held heart monitor as he said it was more accurate than the automatic blood pressure monitor, since he could assess the heartbeat through his stethoscope.

A virtual or telephone consultation cannot replace these vital tools.

Indeed, many GPs these days seem more interested in their computer monitor than in making eye contact with the patient.

Bring back the traditional GP for the sake of the nations health.

David Barlow

Churchtown, Cornwall

SIR  Last week I received an unexpected letter advising that I had a telephone appointment with a gastroenterologist in early December.

This was the result of a referral made by my GP 14 months ago. Several months after my GP appointment, my symptoms worsened, and I was told the waiting time was still more than a year. I sought an appointment with a private gastroenterologist and received a diagnosis and treatment.

Telephone consultation for my abdominal pain? The mind boggles.

Maureen Oxley

Blackpool, Lancashire

Pension justice

SIR  Sir Steve Webbs assertion that compensation for the neglect of 1950s women by the Department for Work and Pensions (report, telegraph.co.uk, November 24) is unlikely flies in the face of the parliamentary support our campaign has won over the years.



MPs of all parties back the fight by Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) for fair and fast compensation, with more than 160 having written to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) on our behalf in recent months.



For four years, ministers have ducked behind the PHSO, saying they cant comment while it investigates. Once it is concluded, that excuse will be expunged, and candidates who go into a general election without a commitment to compensation are unlikely to secure votes from the 3.6 million women affected.



At every turn, weve faced negativity and defeatism from so-called experts. But we continue to succeed in our battle. After all, the ombudsman has already agreed with us publicly that maladministration took place. Now the political parties will be under huge pressure to agree a proper remedy. We have no intention of letting them get away with anything less.

Angela Madden

Chair, Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign

Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Hilary Simpson

Chair, Waspi 2018

Lynda Armstrong

Waspi International

Carole Archibald

Waspi Dundee

Susan Bolland

Waspi Cunninghame

Sandra Broadbent

Waspi Devon

Gill Campbell

Waspi Brighton District

Jane Cowley

Waspi Northumberland

Lynne Craighead

Waspi Scottish Borders

Rhona Cunningham

Waspi Glenrothes and North East Fife

Deborah Dalton

Waspi South East Essex

Elizabeth Daly

Waspi 2018 West Dunbartonshire

Debbie de Spon

Waspi Norfolk

Ann Edwards

Waspi Wigan and Makerfield

Sheila Forbes

Waspi Moray

Ann Fraser

Waspi Cunninghame

Janet Fulster

Waspi Wigan and Makerfield

Ann Greer

Waspi Argyll and Isles

Wilma Grey

Waspi Northern Ireland

Sue Harding

Waspi International

Rosemary Jordan

Waspi North Lincolnshire

Pamela Judge

Waspi 2018 Ceredigion

Christine Lutley

Waspi Worthing

Deborah May

Waspi South Coast and Bognor

Carol Mercer

Waspi Halton, Widnes and Runcorn

Carol Morley

Waspi Hertford and East Hertfordshire

Judy Moss

Waspi Suffolk

Frances Neil

Waspi South East Essex

Vanda Nolan

Waspi North Staffordshire

Carla OHara

Waspi 2018 West Lothian

Jill Robertson

Waspi Northamptonshire

Judith Robertson

Waspi 2018 Salford and Eccles

Yvonne Robinson

Waspi North East Hampshire/Surrey Borders

Karen Sheldon

Waspi Suffolk

Shelagh Simmons

Waspi Solent and Isle of Wight

Carol Smith

Waspi Devon

Christine Smith

Waspi Newcastle, Wear & Tees

Elizabeth Stanley

Waspi 2018 Stroud and District

Anne Todd

Waspi North East Hampshire/Surrey Borders

Deborah Wailes

Waspi Leigh



Finding suitable work

SIR  Regarding bringing in labourers from Asia to work on farms in Cornwall (Features, November 28), surely the employment exchanges could match claimants to such work.



In 1974, while an aspiring musician, I worked at Smethwick employment exchange in Birmingham. Claimants gave their main occupation (labourer, accountant), plus suitable alternatives. When vacancies arose locally they were suitably matched.



They would then be summoned to the exchange and an interview would be arranged. Should a claimant not attend, or turn down the job offer without good reason, unemployment pay would be suspended, pending investigation. In my fairly short time there, this happened regularly.



As now, unemployment was rising, but such a system, and weekly signing on, kept claimants actively looking for jobs  or good excuses  and limited long-term unemployment. With suitable training, it would limit immigration, too.



Geoffrey Williams

Salisbury, Wiltshire

SIR  I volunteered for a charity helping young people to apply for jobs and write CVs (Letters, November 29).



One lad was insistent that his GCSE grades be listed in an order completely at odds with the convention of highest to lowest grade. There seemed no rhyme or reason to this, until he told me proudly that, doing it his way, the grades would spell FUDGE.



Liz Winton

Cardiff

Pudding and pies

SIR  The Scottish hotel that is refusing to serve mince pies as a pudding (report, November 29) is quite right.



I love mince pies but I eat them as a snack with a cup of Assam or Ceylon tea. I have never enjoyed them as pudding.



James B Sinclair

St Helier, Jersey

Rubbish roads

SIR  Many people see the poor repairs to potholes (Letters, November 29), but they are only part of a wider mix of road surface aberrations.



Our towns and countrysides minor roads are riddled with broken drains, sunken surrounds, failed patch repairs and poor quality bodges by virtually every utility company.



Council authorities appear to accept the condition of these road surfaces, thinking them irrelevant in Britains highway priorities  quite wrongly, since this infrastructure supports couriers, cyclists, public transport and emergency service traffic.



The 8 billion to go on pothole repairs must be well scoped and shared, or it will do nothing for road users.



A T Patrick

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

SIR  What happened to the quick fix touted a few years back: namely filling potholes with recycled plastic bottles? I believe a company was formed in the UK, but have heard nothing since.



Martin Gaskill

Culcheth, Cheshire

SIR  A few years ago, I drove over a pothole and stopped to see what had caused the bump. I was relieved to see that the vehicle behind me was a police car. The officer inspected the hole and it was repaired next day.



Always drive in front of a police car.



Robert Ward

Loughborough, Leicestershire

Telegraphs future

SIR  I would guess that many readers are, like me, appalled at the prospect of the Telegraph being sold to a company in which Abu Dhabi has a holding.



Perhaps we have a role to play: we could let our MPs know our concerns, with the strong suggestion that they in turn make representations to the Culture Secretary. We cannot just sit by and let this sale happen.



Fay Thompson

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire

Multilingual radio

SIR  As the reader to whom Chris Ryder so kindly refers (Letters, November 28), perhaps I could let him know that Radio Swiss Classics brief announcements are available in languages besides German.



If he consults the menu on the left-hand side of its main webpage, he will see that he has the choice of listening to them in French, Italian and English too.



Jeremy Thomas

Birmingham

Embracing additions to the traditional paella

Restaurant facade in the town of Ile Rousse Corsica at the Mediterranean sea 2018

SIR  It may be a culinary faux pas to purists to add meat other than rabbit or chicken to paella (Leading Article, November 28) but frankly paella with just one or two ingredients are quite monotonous in taste.



I dined with Spanish colleagues in a fish market restaurant in Zaragoza and introduced them to a mixed paella, which was contemptuously dismissed as una paella turistica before the meal.



The ingredients were many and varied, including a chorizo-like sausage and various delicious seafoods. It was declared the best paella that my colleagues had ever eaten. Similarly, the different types of taste offered by an American-style fully loaded pizza are not found on the two-tone pizza menus in Italy.



Jeff Snowden

Leeds, West Yorkshire

A national duty to protect the Elgin Marbles

SIR  As a student in the 1960s, I hitchhiked around Greece with some friends. We got up early to go to the Acropolis and wandered all over the Parthenon, which was then surrounded by broken statues and rubble. There were only a few people there. Nothing was looked after or protected.



We didnt think anything of it at the time. Life was free and a bit rough (we slept on beaches, graves, haystacks, hard stony ground at Delphi and the flat roofs of hotels). We went to many important sites in Greece and it was the same messy story: Epidaurus, Mycenae, Delphi and Knossos in Crete. Recently we revisited Knossos. It is very different now; there are walkways and all important aspects of the site are roped off.



I understand that the Elgin Marbles were bought at very great expense in order to protect them (Letters, November 29). If the Greeks are now prepared to look after their ancient and wonderful heritage properly, then maybe there is a case for returning them.



Cilla Alexander

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

SIR  I visited the Acropolis Museum last weekend. Being British, its quite uncomfortable to view the sculptures in the shadow of the Parthenon and see a plaster copy of the body of a horse between its original head and tail.



We must at least loan back the sculptures Elgin saved for posterity.



Chris Radford Jones

London SW3

SIR  If flawless reproductions can be made (Letters, November 29), then one possible solution to the dispute is for half of the original marbles to go to Greece and the others to remain, with those sent being replaced by fakes.



By rotating a few of them from time to time, both countries museums would retain their visitor attraction.



Ken Turrell

Norwich

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This Thanksgiving, liberals should have spent some time showing gratitude for a historic victorynamely, the Supreme Courts November 12 adoption of an ethical code of conduct. But many liberal pundits opted to pooh-pooh the measure instead, panning the code as nonbinding, a joke, worse than nothing, that does nothing to address the ethical issues that have been following the justices, and doesnt change anything.

Why so Grinchy? These back-of-the-hand dismissals are, on the merits, exaggerated, and in significant respects inaccurate. More importantly, from a strategic standpoint, the downbeat spin starts court reformers off on the wrong foot for the next phase of what will be a long war over the justices ethical obligations and, more broadly, over their relentless encroachment on the constitutional primacy of elected politicians and voters. Its time to get everyone back on the right track, embrace this accomplishment as an important milestone in the battle to rein in this wayward court, and set the table for the next steps.

For these life-tenured justices, who for decades had spurned a code of conduct as unnecessary, useless, and unworkable, this abrupt 180-degree about-face was grudging surrender to reformers superior political momentum. The justices embrace of this code reflectsindeed, the Preamble explicitly acknowledgestheir need to persuade the electorate that they are bound by explicit and meaningful ethical rules. Key provisions of their code measure up to those criteria. However, critics have focused on weasel wordsin the code and the unsigned Commentary that follows itthat they justifiably fear some justices may hope to trot out to cancel the codes high-sounding strictures.

But such hand-wringing gets reformers strategic priorities backward. The overriding goal of reformers must be to maintain the political momentum that got them this win, in order to maximize, preserve, and build on its terms. Gearing up for the battles ahead means establishing a frame that highlights the best (not the worst) reasonable interpretation of the new code, to hold the justices to those robust standards, deter evasion and backsliding, and lay the groundwork for further advances. Because meaningful further advances are attainable, with or without action from this polarized Congress.

To begin with, liberals need to accept a realistic benchmark for calibrating the courts work product. That would not be the ideal ethics regime they envisage as an end pointencapsulated, for example, by the bill recently reported on a party-line vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. That measure, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency, or SCERT Act, which is currently stalled on the Senate floor, includes, among other items not in the Supreme Courts code, enforcement arrangements that would subject the justices to at least a modicum of external supervision, as well as disclosure and recusal requirements governing litigants who funded justices confirmation campaigns.

The justices were not brought around to act by the remote threat of such legislation actually passing. Reformers trump card was a simpler but incontrovertible and politically irresistible demandthat the court adopt ethics rules substantially equivalent to those in effect for all other federal judges. Those rules comprise the code propounded by the Judicial Conference of the United States, the self-styled national policymaking body for the federal courts (which Chief Justice John Roberts chairs). On November 12 that is what the justices purported to doand in fact, was for most intents and purposes what they did do.

Some critics have asserted that the new code ratifies, rather than prohibits, all the flagrant excesses that triggered the public opprobrium fueling the reformers triumph. If true, this complaint would mean that the preexisting Judicial Conference standards for lower court judges would not have barred any of Justice Clarence Thomass and Justice Sam Alitos off-the-rails misadventures.

But that is not the case. In particular, both codes require disqualification from cases if the Justice knows that the Justice  or the Justices spouse has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy  or any other interest that could be affected substantially by the outcome of the proceeding. (Emphasis added.) Any third grader would know that that plain language would bar Justice Clarence Thomas from cases that could implicate his spouse, Ginni, in the January 6 insurrection, otherwise working to overturn the 2020 election, or to further any similarly potentially illegal schemes to block or reverse Democratic ballot box victories in 2024.

Critics lament that Thomas, or a justice facing similar conflicts, could try to squirm out of disqualification by invoking one or more of several ambiguities, exceptions, and exemptions, some in both codes, others inserted in the new Supreme Court code or referenced in the unsigned Commentary purporting to explain background for its text. As noted below, each of those potential loopholes should readily be snapped shut by Supreme Court precedent or commonsense interpretation.

But before getting into those weeds, liberals should trumpet a broader point: The potential for evasive maneuvers opens a heaven-sent opportunity to insist that the justices interpret their code, not by hiding behind obscure footnotes and fine print subterfuges, but by what ordinary members of the public would expect those terms to coverthat is to say the original public meaning of the words that the justices themselves crafted.

That three-word phrase is the touchstone of the interpretational originalist credo long touted by conservative legal activists, on and off the bench, to demonstrate their fidelity to the enacted words of laws and the commonly understood meaning of those words. Liberals should squelch likely attempted circumventions before they arise, by stressing that judicial ethics guardrails mean what they say and what the electorate understands them to mean. They should savor this chance to table doubts about whether conservative justices will remember their professed constitutional faith when inconvenient for their own political or financial interests.

This leads to a broader point. The disqualification provisions quoted above from both codes purport to implement, and in large part reiterate verbatim, a federal criminal statute expressly applicable to all federal judges and justices: 28 U.S.C. 455, known to ethics experts as Section 455. That statutewhich of course trumps any inconsistent administrative shenanigans by covered officials, including judicial officialsdoes not include, and cannot fairly be interpreted to include, any of the off-ramps that worry the courts critics. Even if such ploys could be read to trump contradictory code provisions, they cannot override contradictory statutes.

And beyond Section 455, the same broad approach should govern the courts interpretation of provisions, such as disclosure requirements, in other ethics laws that some of the justices have to date honored often in the breach. If liberal advocates highlight those straightforward message points from the get-go, the justices will be reluctant to evade them. If they nevertheless try to evade, that will deepen public perceptions that this lopsided far-right supermajority is, indeed, as Justice Barrett famously denied, a bunch of political hacks.

It should be no heavy lift to make short shrift of the potential loopholes in the justices code. One frequently cited difference between the Judicial Conference provisions for lower court judges and the Supreme Courts requirements is that the former prescribes that a judge shall disqualify him or herself when the Judges impartiality might reasonably be questioned, whereas the latter prescribes that a Supreme Court justice should disqualify under such circumstances. Could that switch make a difference in the outcome of an actual conflict of interest challenge? Not likely.

Would an individual justice avow that all the code means is that, while it would be nice to recuse from adjudicating a case faced with a blatant conflict, he or she doesnt have to? If the circumstances were as flagrant as, say, a case involving an investigation that could result in criminal liability for either the justice or his or her spouse, would a majority of the justices stand by and acquiesce in the resulting institutional damage? That seems especially remoteand dangerous for the courts staturesince the statute, Section 455, which both judicial code provisions purport to implement, is unequivocally mandatory.

A second potential escape route noted by critics, and portentously emphasized by the Commentary that purports to constitute the Codes legislative history, is an obscure doctrine called the rule of necessity. The Commentary underscores that this time-honored rule of necessity may override the rule of disqualification. Immediately preceding the Commentarys eyebrow-raising rollout of this doctrine is a lengthy exposition of the assertion, often deployed by Chief Justice Roberts, that, unlike lower court judges, a recused Supreme Court justice cannot be replaced by a suitable substitutethereby changing the intra-court dynamic or even the outcome of a case.

An obvious implication of this frame could be that even the most flagrant conflict of interest circumstances could be overridden, as necessary, in cases where recusal could change a 54 decision to a 44 tie, or even in all cases, if one took seriously the Commentarys lament that losing one justice may undermine the fruitful exchange of minds which is indispensable. Hence, this conception of the obscure, judge-made necessity doctrine would wipe out altogether not only the courts new recusal rule but the authorizing statute, Section 455a literally absurd, hence legally indefensible, result.

Moreover, the sole case cited by the Commentary for its necessity rule has no relevance to the statute-canceling use to which the court implies it could be stretched. This 1980 Supreme Court case, United States v. Will, involved a one-of-a-kind challenge by federal judges, that they must be exempted from a law repealing a previously enacted pay raise for all federal employees, because of the constitutional guarantee that federal judges compensation shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. In such an oddball case, unlikely ever to recur, all federal judges, at every level, would be barred by conflict of interest strictures from presiding. Hence, the plaintiff-judges would literally have no forum to have their claim heard.

But disqualifying a Supreme Court justice would not deny a litigant access to any forum simply because a law-violating justices absence could alter the outcome, say, from 54 to 44. That would not constitute a necessity, any more than it has absences for various reasons, including interest conflicts, that have already altered outcomes.

As pointed out to me by judicial ethics expert Professor Stephen Gillers, the correct approach here is straightforward: Apply Section 455 in accord with its text and purpose. Contrary to the code Commentarys implication, that would preclude letting a statutorily disqualified judge illegally sit on a case, let alone cast the deciding vote.

A third deficiency liberal critics have stressed is the absence of any mechanism for enforcing the Codes restrictions. Obviously, thats an important real-world lacuna. But any major formal apparatus involving external power to compel compliance would require legislation, and crafting such a law, free from serious separation-of-powers constitutional questions, would pose formidable drafting as well as require the surmounting of some significant political challenges.

Nevertheless, its possible that material improvements could be made to this ethics regime even without legislation. Certainly, the court, by a unanimous or majority vote, couldif its members could be so persuadedadopt measures to increase transparency, prescribing public availability of decisions concerning recusal requests, the circumstances, and the reasons for whatever action is taken.

Indeed, there is administrative precedent involving analogous measures that is actually referred to in the courts Commentary. As the Commentary notes, the court adopted a 2010 rule requiring that Associate Justices must receive prior approval from the Chief Justice to receive compensation for teaching, and the Chief Justice must receive prior approval from the Court. In principle, the court has inherent authority to craft similar procedures to assure compliance with the new ethics code and enable the institution to act, or at least resemble, a court rather than a pack of freelancing puppets of dark-money billionaires.

As a practical matter, the real sticking point, on which reformers now should train their focus, is the courts tenacious insistenceas reaffirmed tartly in the Commentarythat Individual Justices, rather than the Court, decide recusal issues. At this juncture, this practice comes down to letting one or two justices persist in blackening public perceptions of the courts integrity, thereby undermining its reputation, stature, and, as evidenced by the forced promulgation of this ethics code, its actual political autonomyin real terms, its independence.

This obduracy contravenes the manifest interests of the institution, recognized by justices on right and left. Their recent displays of public intramural discord, now including Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett as well as Roberts and the liberal justices, have in fact already pierced the collegiality balloon. Attributing good faith to Robertss claimed reverence for the courts above-the-battle statusas I dohis principal adversaries are Alito and Thomas, not liberal advocates or politicians.

Until very recently, the latter have instinctively seen the judiciary as an essential guardian of the requisite rights and machinery of democratic government, and most remain loath to irreparably damage the judiciarys capacity to play that essential constitutional role. Alito and Thomas have made it crystal clear that that is not their priority, as it is not for the MAGA Republicans with whom those two justices are ever more unashamedly aligned. The new ethics code may not, at the moment, bind these Justices as effectively as anyone would like, but it does take a step in that direction and provide a firm basis for further opprobriumand additional argument in the court of public opinionshould they stray again.

With the code in effect, reformers can expect numerous opportunities to build pressure on the court to apply and strengthen it. Predictably, motions to disqualify, based on its provisions, or allegations of other types of violations, such as disclosure, will pop up much more frequently than before November 12. The chief justice and his colleagues will face more public blowback if they persist in simply referring such motions to the individual justices whose conduct is challengedespecially if individual justices persist in ignoring the plain meaning of code provisions and failing to provide meaningful explanations of their disposition of those motions. A modest proposal for how Congress could kill lots of birds with one stoneand create at least a modicum of enforcement pressure for whatever ethics rules the justices ultimately adopt.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  A man authorities said tortured a woman before leaving her stuffed inside a tote on his porch was sentenced Thursday to a minimum of 16 years in prison.

Dalontay R. Edmond-Geiger Sr., 31, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty in October to counts of felonious assault, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability.

Recreational marijuana becomes legal next week  what to know

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Hollie Gallagher sentenced Edmond-Geiger to eight years in prison on his count of felonious assault and eight to 12 years on his kidnapping charge. The judge also handed down a 30-month sentence on each of the other two counts, to be served simultaneously with the other two sentences. He could face a total of up to 20 years in prison.

Edmond-Geiger was also made to surrender an AK-47 assault rifle used in the crime, having been banned from possessing firearms after a 2013 robbery conviction.

When you think about this case and the harm caused, the words that come to mind, I think, are cruel, barbaric and disturbing to say the least, said Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Bringman.

The victim told the court she considered Edmond-Geiger a friend. But he was convinced she was to blame for some of his legal issues, and viciously attacked her.

Authorities said he drove the 60-year-old woman to his home near West 97th Street and Henley Court in Cleveland. There, he assaulted her, stabbed her in the arm, zip-tied her hands and tortured her.

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She was found when police conducted a welfare check at his home. They found her inside a small plastic container on the porch moaning in pain. She was treated at a hospital.

The woman has remained mostly paralyzed and has been in a long-term care facility since the attack nearly seven months ago, according to Bringman. This past week, she was able to stand for the first time, with assistance, he said.

Lead pipes must be replaced in 10 years: EPA

The victim told the court she was comatose for a week and underwent surgery. Shes still dealing with painful muscle spasms and is almost entirely dependent on others to walk or to dress or feed herself.

My life has been reduced to four walls in my room, until someone comes in so I can get out of my chair, she said.

Edmond-Geigers original indictment in May included additional charges of attempted murder and felonious assault, which were dismissed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Would you like Victoria to rate your portfolio? Email money@telegraph.co.uk with the subject line: Rate my portfolio. Please include a breakdown of your portfolio, your age and what your investing goals are. Full names will not be published.

Dear Victoria,

My wife, 67, and myself, 72, are both retired and fortunate to own our own home, and have sufficient income and savings with no debts, which make it inconceivable we would ever need to access our Sipp portfolios.

Their benefit to us lies completely in leaving them for our two children, who are both in their late 30s, to access after our death, given the implications on inheritance tax and their relatively poor current pension arrangements.

In an effort to grow the balances for their long-term futures, we are open to taking more risk than we might otherwise.

The funds involved have all been handpicked by me but, with one or two rare exceptions, my decisions have been ruled by past records, rather than current performance. They have been left in the funds ad infinitum with little or no review by myself.

The funds and rounded up current values are as follows:

Many thanks,

Mike

Victoria says:

Thats extremely kind and selfless of you both to hand your Sipps down entirely to your children rather than using them to fund your own retirement. Theres lots of research out there to suggest that younger people arent saving enough into their pension pots, so your children are very lucky to have this financial support.

At Interactive Investor, we believe that investing is for the long term and that its best to avoid frequently hopping in and out of the markets, as getting the timings right can be pretty tough, and fees can add up and erode performance, too.

However, you seem to have gone too far the other way  leaving your funds ad infinitum with little or no review is a red flag for me.

Its important not to just buy and forget, because failing to rebalance your portfolio can steer you away from your financial objectives and can leave you exposed to too much risk. If one or two of your funds are suffering heavily for example, theyll end up dragging on your overall performance.

On that note, Id say its important to review every fund you hold regularly and make sure you are still happy with how they invest, what they are investing in, and their performances.

One that stands out like a sore thumb is M&G Recovery, which I believe should be reviewed.

Around a decade ago, this fund had a big following with roughly 8bn of assets at its peak. It was managed by Tom Dobell, who was considered a star fund manager at the time.

But he has since lost his Midas touch, with the fund consistently underperforming  and Dobell ultimately departed in 2020. Since then, the fund has continued to struggle versus rivals, so perhaps thats one to let go of.

Digging further into your portfolio, it is good to see you have a nice mix of passive and actively managed funds, as well as strong geographical diversification with exposure to Europe, America, and Asia.

I notice your exposure to the UK is low, perhaps for good reason given its underperformance versus the US and other European countries in recent years. But the British market is looking cheap now and is arguably worth closer inspection in an attempt to buy low.

One active fund option on Interactive Investors Super 60 recommended funds list is Fidelity Special Values. It is managed by Alex Wright, a value investor who looks for unloved companies across various sectors where he believes there are opportunities not yet recognised by the market with upside potential.

He tends to favour small-to-mid cap stocks, and since youre willing to invest away from just large-caps, demonstrated by your holding on Artemis US Smaller Companies, I thought this might be a good option for you.

Since youre aiming for long-term growth, you could think about upping your exposure to the US, particularly the tech sector, which has been a fantastic source of growth for investors in recent years.

Take a look at Sanlam Global Artificial Intelligence, an active fund costing 0.5pc which aims to pick winners from the AI revolution. Another one to look at is the Legal & General Global Technology Index Trust, which has been a top quartile tech fund performer over one, three and five years.

Theres no denying theres been somewhat of an AI frenzy this year, and valuations are looking expensive. But if you believe that technology and AI will continue to grow long term, like I do, then it shouldnt be too late to get involved.

Or you could keep this idea in your back pocket for next time theres a sell-off and then load up!

Good luck with your investment journey.

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 school resource officer at Riverside High School in Durham found a loaded gun on a student on Thursday.

The weapon was discovered during a search of a student who was reported to have been found vaping in a bathroom, according to a statement from Durham Public Schools.

The weapon was confiscated. The student was remanded to the school resource officer, a Durham sheriffs deputy who had conducted the search.

We are grateful for our continued partnership with our law enforcement partners to maintain a safe learning environment for our students and staff, according to the statement.

in a message to parents, Principal Gloria Woods-Weeks reassured families that everyone was safe thanks to quick action by law enforcement.

I want to let you know that we take this incident very seriously as safety at Riverside High School is our highest priority, Woods-Weeks said in the message. Let me remind you as well that there are consequences for having weapons on campus, per district policy.

In a message to school staff and faculty, Woods-Weeks urged employees to please continue your vigilance in maintaining a safe and orderly environment for each other and for our students.

The incident comes after a loaded gun was found Wednesday on a student at Rocky Mount High School. Nash County Public Schools credits the schools weapons detection system for spotting the gun, ABC11, The News & Observers newsgathering partner, reported.

Fears about school violence in North Carolina are especially high now after the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old student at Southeast Raleigh High School on Monday.
BUDA, Texas (KXAN)  Pedernales Electric Cooperative said Tuesday it reached a milestone by placing its 400,000th meter at a new Buda fire station.

The nations largest electric co-op serves the Texas Hill Country. PEC said it has experienced massive growth across its service area as many areas, including sections of Hays County, have urbanized. Hays is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, with a growth rate of 5.14% between 2021 and 2022.

In 1938, PEC incorporated with 3,000 paid memberships. According to co-op, it took more than 60 years to reach 200,000 meters in 2005.

The co-op had 300,000 meters by 2018 but only needed five years to reach the 400,000 mark. By contrast, Austin Energy served 520,757 customers in 2021.

As we look ahead, we are deeply focused on meeting the needs of all our growing communities that depend on the member-focused service weve provided over the past 85 years, said PEC CEO Julie C. Parsley in a statement to KXAN.

PEC said it will continue to expand operations as more meters are added. It said crews built more than 580 miles of new line in 2022, which is enough to reach from Austin to El Paso.

According to the co-op, more than 100 apprentices are working toward their journeyworker designation through the PECs Department of Labor-recognized training program.

PEC set the meter at the Buda Fire Departments Station 1 on FM 2770, which according to the announcement, is the site of a new fire and EMS station, training facility and administrative offices.

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The unprecedented growth in Northern Hays County and the Buda area has significantly heightened the demand for essential services, and weve faced an increasing need for expanded capabilities, Buda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby said in the statement. The realization of this new facility stands as a testament to the commitment of the Buda Fire Department to meet the evolving needs of the community.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
GENOA TWP.  Longtime former Genoa Township Trustee Jim Mortensen has died and will be laid to rest with full military honors Friday, Dec. 1.

Mortensen died Monday, Nov. 27 at 89, according to an obituary emailed to The Daily by his daughter MariAnn Apley.

"His legacy is marked by decades of unwavering commitment to community welfare and public service," according to the family.

After working in finance at Ford Motor Co. for 32 years, Mortensen got involved with volunteering and politics.

He volunteered with the Livingston County United Way, which awarded him a lifetime achievement award in 2005.

He was serving his fifth consecutive four-year term as a township trustee before resigning in September 2023. He had also served on the township planning commission since 1996.

Jim Mortensen died Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, his family has announced. Mortensen was a longtime Genoa Township Trustee and member of the Brighton Area Fire Authority Board.

He also served for 22 years on the Brighton Area Fire Authority Board. The fire authority recognized his service with a proclamation in his honor in May 2022.

"Despite his determination, prolonged illness led him to resign from the Genoa Board of Trustees in September 2023," according to the family's release. "He believed his inability to attend meetings was a disservice to the citizens he aimed to represent."

Brighton Area Fire Chief Michael O'Brian wrote in an email that Mortensen was a "true dedicated steward to supporting our firefighters."

"Jim always provided strong leadership and was a true professional during his tenure on the board," O'Brian wrote. "Jim provided sound advice on many matters affecting the Authority and always would lend a hand with many of our financial projects with the Authority. We have missed seeing Jim serve on the board and his friendship and support will be missed."

Genoa Township Supervisor Bill Rogers said Mortensen was "phenomenal" at providing insight into township budget matters.

"The son of a gun was a numbers cruncher," Rogers said. "When we were dealing with budgets or anything budget related, you could count on him checking and rechecking, and you could also ask him questions."

Mortensen was born in 1934 and raised in Iron Mountain.

"At a young age, Jim taught himself ventriloquism and began entering and winning talent competitions," his family said. "He regularly corresponded with the famous ventriloquist Edgar Begen, who eventually purchased two of Jim's first dummies. These dummies and his favorite dummy, Barney OShay, are now on display at the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. He kept up his interest in ventriloquism throughout the years by entertaining his family on special occasions and traveling with his two grandsons to attend the Vent Haven International Ventriloquist Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio."

While attending Michigan State University, he performed with Barney and toured as an opening act for the MSU Glee Club.

"In the summers, he showcased his talents at the Gateway Hotel in Land OLakes, Wisconsin, mingling with notable figures like Bob Hope and Senator Joseph McCarthy," the family said. "Additionally, he offered private ventriloquist lessons and classes, which enabled him to save enough to purchase an engagement ring."

He and his late wife Mariel married in 1958 and had three children and six grandchildren.

He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army and Air National Guard reservist. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant for eight years after graduating college.

The couple moved to Plymouth and he started working for Ford and pursued an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy at night.

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A visitation will be held 11 a.m.-noon Friday, Dec. 1 at Lynch and Sons Funeral Director, at 600 E. Main Street in Brighton, with the funeral at 12 pm. There will be a reception immediately following at Lakelands Country Club. A private burial with full military honors is set for 3:30 p.m. at Chilson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made instead to the Livingston County First Responders Benevolent Fund, care of Rick Boisvert, Brighton Fire Department, 615 W. Grand River Ave., Brighton, MI 48116.

 Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Longtime Genoa Twp., fire authority official Jim Mortensen has died
Lori Vallow Daybell has been extradited from Idaho to Phoenix, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

Vallow Daybell started serving a life sentence in Idaho in August after being convicted of murdering her daughter and son, in a case that landed her the nickname "Doomsday Mom." A former friend testified that Vallow Daybell said she thought her kids were zombies.

The Maricopa County Attorney's Office asked the governor to request the extradition of Vallow Daybell in August.

She faces two charges in Maricopa County of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The charges were referred from the Chandler and Gilbert police departments.

Maricopa County prosecutors have expressed interest in charging Vallow Daybell in relation to the death in Chandler of her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, and a shooting of one of Vallow Daybell's relatives, Brandon Boudreaux, in Gilbert.

Sgt. Monica Bretado, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, said deputies traveled to Pocatello, Idaho, on Monday to take custody of and extradite Vallow.

"Deputies from the extradition detail  traveled by vehicle, as it was determined weather conditions could impede seamless transfer due to potential air travel complications," Bretado said.

The deputies arrived back in Maricopa County with Vallow Daybell after midnight on Thursday, and she was booked into the Sheriff's Office's Intake, Transfer and Release jail located on South 28th Drive in Phoenix.

Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone holds a press conference after Lori Vallow Daybell was extradited from Idaho to Phoenix at MCSO Headquarters in Phoenix on Nov. 30, 2023.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Paul Penzone said Vallow Daybell was being held in the Estrella Jail in Phoenix, and she would remain there throughout her trial.

"She's deemed to be high security," Penzone said. "So she'll be isolated in a high-security area."

Penzone said four deputies made the 18-hour drive in two four-wheel drive vehicles to the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center in Southern Idaho to retrieve Vallow Daybell.

The Sheriff's Office conducts about 250 extraditions a year, Penzone said. While they normally use commercial flights, the potential for bad weather led them to decide to make the road trip, he said.

"I understand she was very sociable," Penzone said of Vallow Daybell's demeanor during the extradition process. "The entire trip  she talked quite a bit. I don't know that she gave any specific statements related to the investigation, but I just know that they said she was very chatty."

Penzone said Vallow Daybell had an initial appearance at 2 a.m. Thursday and was ordered held without bond.

Vallow Daybell will stay in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office will assume prosecution.

Penzone said that while Vallow Daybell's case may be high profile, extraditions are a common practice for his office, and there were no issues with the transport.

"I don't want to diminish it," Penzone said. "It is what we do, and we do it very well. Whether it is her or any other fugitive who's wanted in the state of Arizona, we're going to facilitate transfer into our custody so the prosecutor's office can prosecute them effectively."

Vallow Daybell's arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m.

Reach the reporter at jjenkins@arizonarepublic.com. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Lori Vallow Daybell back in Arizona after extradition from Idaho
China's polar studies contribute to tackling climate change: researcher

Xinhua) 08:29, November 30, 2023

This photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows auroras in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

"By studying the effects of global warming on the polar biosphere and glaciers, we can predict major impacts it could have on the Earth's climate and environment in the coming decades if global warming continues," a Chinese researcher said.

OSLO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Polar research is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenges brought about by global climate change, He Fang, lead of China's Arctic Yellow River Station, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Established in July 2004, the Yellow River Station is China's first Arctic research station. It is located in Ny-Alesund, a small town in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Due to geographical factors, the polar regions are the areas most affected by global warming, He, an associate researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, said.

Photo taken on July 25, 2023 shows the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

The researcher spent more than two months at the Yellow River Station this summer. He said research in the Arctic conducted by scientists from various countries enables more succinct observations of climate change and its impact.

"By studying the effects of global warming on the polar biosphere and glaciers, we can predict major impacts it could have on the Earth's climate and environment in the coming decades if global warming continues," He said.

Currently, the Yellow River Station is involved in four flagship projects proposed by the Ny-Alesund Science Managers Committee, covering marine ecology, terrestrial ecology, atmospheric science and glaciology, according to He.

These multidisciplinary research activities play an important role in understanding global climate change and its impacts on polar environments, he said.

A member of the Chinese Arctic expedition team works at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, on July 25, 2023. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

He recalled his first polar experience at China's Zhongshan Station research base in Antarctica, saying he was struck by the vast ice fields and distant icebergs.

"Due to climate change, the icebergs are melting, and it seems that they might disappear before long."

Global warming has a significant impact on glacier movements in the polar regions, He said, adding that multidisciplinary research activities are important in understanding global climate change and the impacts on polar environments.

Situated in the northwestern region of Spitsbergen, the largest island in Norway's Arctic Svalbard archipelago, Ny-Alesund is the world's northernmost permanent settlement.

Li Bin, a deputy researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, takes photos of auroras near the Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, Nov. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

Once a thriving coal mining town, Ny-Alesund now buzzes with the activities of polar researchers, hosting the world's northernmost year-round research station compound, which includes the Yellow River Station.

Polar life in the station is divided into two distinct seasons. The summer months are a hive of activity. Winter, however, ushers in a period of challenges as the relentless polar night descends. The rhythm of day and night blurs, with polar night enveloping the region for over 120 days from late October to late February.

During the interview, He, who had wintered at the Yellow River Station three times, also related stories that had happened in the international research community there.

Li Bin, a deputy researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, takes photos of auroras near the Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, Nov. 10, 2023.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

"Wintering often means being alone at the station for several months without daylight. This requires strong mental adjustment and constant calibration of one's biological clock to adapt to this unending night and isolation."

In this remote outpost, the canteen usually serves as a communal hub, providing sustenance for the international research community, He said.

"When visiting the canteen, if a fellow researcher from another country was found in low spirits or absent for several days, other people would make sure to check in and offer support."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China firmly supports Turkmenistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, said Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday.

Ding, who paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday, made the remarks when meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan.

Noting that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of Turkmenistan, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, spoke highly of the achievement made by the two sides under the leadership of the two heads of state.

China-Turkmenistan cooperation is highly complementary, and enjoys huge potential and broad prospects, said the vice premier, calling on the two sides to tap cooperation potential, continue to deepen and expand cooperation in key areas, and turn the grand blueprint laid out by the leaders of the two countries into real results, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to steadily advance the building of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, Ding said.

Berdimuhamedov asked Ding to convey his cordial greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and said that the all-round cooperation between the two countries is strategic, long-term and special.

Turkmenistan stands ready to work with China to enhance strategic communication, deepen cooperation in all fields and promote its comprehensive strategic partnership with China to a new height, Berdimuhamedov said.

He said that Turkmenistan firmly supports the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism and is willing to work with China to jointly promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

During his visit, Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee.

The two sides had in-depth exchange of views during the meeting and mapped out priorities of cooperation between the two countries in the next phase.

The two sides agreed to further synergize their development strategies, increase the scale of economic, trade and investment cooperation, continue to deepen natural gas cooperation, accelerate consultations on the alignment of priority economic projects, and carry out more cooperation on non-resource projects.

On people-to-people exchanges, the two sides agreed to ensure the success of activities related to the Year of Culture, and promote the early implementation of projects such as the establishment of cultural centers, the establishment of Luban Workshops and traditional medicine centers in Turkmenistan.

On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation, and jointly combat the "three forces" of terrorism.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov co-chair the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

After the meeting, Ding and Meredov witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents, including those on deepening science and technology cooperation and on international road transportation.
(KRON)  A 56-year-old Fair Oaks man was arrested this week after a Pinole woman reported that someone had opened three credit lines on her business account in October, the Pinole Police Department announced Thursday.

Christopher Briscoe, 56, of Fair Oaks, was arrested in connection to the fraudulent credit cards that were used at two Sacramento-area businesses where over $6,600 in charges were made, police said.

Pinole detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division obtained surveillance video showing a male suspect, accompanied by a woman, making one of the fraudulent transactions. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office assisted Pinole investigators in identifying the woman through booking photographs and facial recognition technology, Pinole PD said. After interviewing the woman and further investigation, Briscoe was identified as the male suspect.

14-year-old girl arrested in connection to 15 SF retail thefts, $30K loss

A search and arrest warrant served to Briscoe on Nov. 28 at his Fair Oaks home uncovered the Pinole victims information along with the information of numerous other victims, police said. Forged checks, credit card coding machines and an ID manufacturing lab were found in Briscoes dining room.

Briscoe was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for forgery, identity theft to obtain credit, possession of personal identifying information with intent to defraud and making fictitious checks. In an interview with detectives, police said Briscoe confessed to the identity theft, creating fake IDs as well as check and credit card fraud.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Pinole Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (510)-724-1111.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
On Sunday, Cherokee County deputies saw a car driving toward I-575 around Sixes Road driven by a man they said was wanted. He was later arrested for assaulting an officer after hitting a deputy with a car.

When a deputy spotted the vehicle driving in the opposite direction, they notified the Georgia State Patrol and a trooper tried to stop the vehicle, a silver SUV, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies said that instead of stopping, the driver fled down I-575 and troopers attempted a PIT maneuver.

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The SUVs front drivers side tire came off during the maneuver but they kept driving, getting off the interstate at Ridgewalk Parkway, according to the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office.

Another deputy parked their vehicle at the end of the Ridgewalk Parkway entrance ramp and as he got out of his patrol vehicle, the suspect, later identified as Demetrius Rumph of Acworth, ran across the bridge on foot while his SUV hit the patrol vehicle, hitting the deputy standing next to it.

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The deputy hit by the vehicle had minor injuries, and Rumph was taken into custody by other deputies and the state trooper, who chased him across the bridge.

Rumph was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice, possession of a schedule I narcotic, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, attempting to elude police, reckless driving, and multiple other traffic violations.

He is currently in custody at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center without bond.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A man is facing charges after Salt Lake City police found nearly 100 fentanyl pills hidden in his car.

Anival Rockkeet Montoya, 27, was arrested Tuesday for the offenses of possession with intent to distribute controlled substance, a second-degree felony; alter vehicle compartment for contraband, a third-degree felony; and drive on suspended or revoked license, a class C misdemeanor, the Salt Lake City Police Department said.

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Police said Montoya was driving when he failed to stop prior to the crosswalk located on 400 South Redwood Road in Salt Lake City. He was found to have a suspended drivers license, according to court documents.

As police conducted this traffic stop, they said a K-9 arrived, performed a sniff of the vehicle, and gave a positive indication of narcotics.

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Police reportedly searched the vehicle and found approximately 100 blue fentanyl pills inside of a hidden compartment in the dash of the vehicle.

The pills were placed in an area that was once a speaker with the screen placed back on it, police said.

According to SLCPD, the common user takes about 10 fentanyl pills a day, meaning Montoya was in possession of 10 times the user amount.

Montoya reportedly told police he does not use fentanyl pills.

Montoya was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A Georgia man is in custody in Tennessee after being accused of stabbing a woman to death and leading deputies on a police chase.

Officers in Dallas, Georgia were called to a home on Westwood Drive just after 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 20 about a possible suicide.

When they got there, they found Jennifer Hester, 36, on the floor with several stab wounds.

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Investigators determined that Hesters death was not a suicide and identified Brandon Howard, 37, as the suspect.

The next day, Howards phone pinged and he was spotted on Flock cameras in Loudon County, Tennessee.

Howard tried speeding away from Loudon County deputies Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, but crashed his truck and was taken into custody.

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Howard was charged with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault for Hesters death. Its unclear what charges hell face for speeding away from deputies in Tennessee.

On behalf of our entire agency, we would like to thank the Loudon County Sheriffs Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and all members of the community who assisted us during our investigation, Dallas Police Chief Joseph Duvall said.

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The relationship between Howard and Hester is unclear at this time.

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[Source]

A man who went on an axe-wielding rampage at three Chinese restaurants in Auckland, New Zealand, has reportedly been acquitted on the grounds of insanity.

Catch up: The man, a 25-year-old Chinese national, began attacking the neighboring restaurants  Maya Hotpot, Yues Dumpling Kitchen and Zhangliang Malatang  on Corinthian Drive in Albany at around 9 p.m. on June 19. A total of six individuals were wounded in the incident, up from initial reports of four.

Guangqing Yin, who owns the nearby 2AM restaurant, told Stuff in July that the man only got close to the entrance and attacked the people sitting on tables close to the door. The victims sustained injuries from bruises and cuts to brain damage that triggered seizures, as per the NZ Herald.

Arrest and charges: The attacker was arrested at the scene. He was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assault with a weapon.

Trending on NextShark: Man who attacked Chinese restaurants with axe in New Zealand acquitted on insanity grounds

Acquittal: On Wednesday, Judge Stephen Bonnar KC of the Auckland District Court acquitted the attacker on all his charges on insanity grounds, Radio NZ reported. Bonnar cited a psychiatric report that described him as having a lengthy history of mental illness, which included diagnoses of schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The man reportedly experienced hallucinations at the time of the attacks and was incapable of knowing that his actions were wrong. He reportedly believed that someone was touching, punching and trying to kill him with a knife.

While the attacker was acquitted, he will reportedly remain in custody until a bed becomes available at the Mason Clinic, a secure forensic psychiatric facility.

Trending on NextShark: Haidilao 'noodle master' in London goes viral for mesmerizing noodle dance

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TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fire that was set at an apartment in Tullahoma earlier this month while the tenant and her children were inside.

The Tullahoma Fire Department said it was notified by the Coffee County Communications Center about a smoke alarm activated in the 100 block of Silver Streetmore specifically, East Gate Apartmentsjust before 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 9.

Dispatch reported that an apartment door had been set on fire, so the Tullahoma Police Department and Coffee County EMS were also sent to the scene, where the incident was treated as a structure fire.

According to officials, when first responders arrived, they discovered the tenant had extinguished the bulk of the fire before escaping the apartment. As a result, suppression crews entered the structure, checked for fire extension, and eliminated any leftover hot spots.

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Once the on-duty fire investigator began the preliminary investigation into the cause and origin of the blaze, he reportedly interviewed the tenant of the affected apartment, discussed the circumstances surrounding the incident with police, and then requested the Tullahoma fire marshal come to the scene.

When Fire Marshal Nick Kimbro arrived, he and three members of the Tullahoma Police Department interviewed the tenant and witnesses, and reviewed the security camera footage, the fire department said.

Based on evidence collected at the scene, witness statements, and security footage, officials said they determined the fire had been set intentionally and ruled it incendiary.

Kimbro reportedly sent evidence samples from the scene to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations crime lab for forensic micro analysis. Meanwhile, Tullahoma Police Investigator Jason Maloney was notified the incident had resulted in a criminal investigation.

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According to the fire department, authorities identified 37-year-old David Michael Stallings Jr. as a suspect in the case, and warrants were issued for his arrest.

In the days that followed, officials said Maloney and Kimbro received multiple leads on Stallings whereabouts, all of which were pursued.

Then, late last week, through tips and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, authorities said they discovered Stallings had ended up in the Sewanee/Monteagle area.

After photographs of Stallings were distributed in the area, a person who recognized the man notified Sewanee police, who reportedly arrested Stallings at the St. Marys Retreat.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

On Monday, Nov. 27, fire officials said Stallings was transported to the Coffee County Jail, where he is being held on five felony charges, including three counts of aggravated arson, since the tenant and her children were home when the fire broke out.

On behalf [of the] Tullahoma Fire Department, Fire Marshal Kimbro would like to commend and thank Tullahoma Police Investigator Jason Maloney for leading the criminal investigation, The Tullahoma Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, The US Marshals Service, Sewanee Police Department, and all other entities and individuals for their tireless efforts and involvement in bringing this suspect into custody, Kimbro said in a statement released on Thursday, Nov. 30.

No additional details have been released about this ongoing criminal investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
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Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with representatives of the 14th Plenary Session of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with representatives of the 14th Plenary Session of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development in Beijing on Wednesday.

Han said that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has enjoyed sustained, sound and steady development, with deepening political mutual trust, steady progress on practical cooperation and increasingly solid public support.

Han said that the two countries' leaders have made comprehensive arrangements for the development of bilateral relations and pointed out the direction for advancing the cause of people-to-people friendship between China and Russia.

It is hoped that the committee will implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, take the opportunity of celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties and the Year of Culture next year, and give full play to the strong cohesion, appeal and impetus of people-to-people diplomacy, to make new and greater contributions to the development of bilateral relations, he added.

Boris Titov, chairman of the Russian side of the committee, said that Russia-China relations are at a historical high, and cultural exchanges and practical cooperation have achieved outstanding results. The committee will seize the important timing next year to continue to promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and help advance Russia-China relations to a new level, he added.
A suspect charged in the 2021 shooting of an Arlington man pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 50 years in prison, Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells announced in a social media post Wednesday.

The suspect forcibly tattooed his girlfriends name on the victims neck before shooting him, prosecutors said.

Benjamin Delgadillo, 24, was one of four suspects charged in the Feb. 2021 killing of 22-year-old Younis Alhassinyani.

At his girlfriends apartment on the morning of Feb. 2, 2021, one of Alhassinyanis tattoos was defaced and he was forced to have his girlfriends name tattooed on him, according to police. He left the apartment with four men who had guns and his body was found dead two days later in a drainage creek near Texas 360 in Euless.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Alhassinyanis girlfriend, Erika Perez, was upset with him after finding out he had taken pictures of her credit cards and discovered he was seeing other women.

Known drug dealers had also become upset with Alhassinyani, the affidavit stated.

At around 1 a.m. on Feb. 2, Alhassinyani called his mother and asked for a ride home from Perezs apartment in Arlington, where he spent most of his time, the affidavit said.

A relative was sent to pick him up, but Alhassinyani never provided an address.

Days after, Alhassinyanis relatives repeatedly went to Perezs apartment, trying to find him. Perez told them he had left her apartment at 1 a.m. on Feb. 2

No one saw him after that, the affidavit said.

Perez later told Arlington police that she was being harassed and threatened by Alhassinyanis family as they tried to find him.

Detectives learned that on the night of Feb. 1, Perez posted a video on Facebook Live, inviting people to come over to her apartment for an all-night tattoo session.

At some point that night, a tattoo artist who was at Perezs apartment told detectives he was giving a tattoo to a man when Perez got into an argument with Alhassinyani after she found her personal information on his phone, according to the affidavit.

In the video, a tattoo artist appeared to be trying to shade the word Side on Alhassinyanis back. He had the words South Side tattooed on his back and the Arlington city logo across his shoulder blades.

Within seconds, another person  identified as Delgadillo  grabbed the tattoo gun and started defacing Alhassinyanis tattoo, according to KXAS-TV.

Do it little softer, Alhassinyani said, according to the warrant, and the tattoo artist added, He said to do it a little softer, what the hell. But Delgadillo didnt, according to the video. The tattoo artist then grabbed the tattoo gun back and wrote Erika on Alhassinyanis neck.

Four gunmen then forced Alhassinyani into a vehicle and drove to Euless, according to KXAS.

Before taking him, Alhassinyani asked them, Can I just call my mother to take me home?

They said no and told him, We will take you home, according to the affidavit.

Initially, Alhassinyani refused to get out of the car, but he got out and was shot, KXAS reported.

Justin Jax Salinas and Pedro Angel Ramirez were also arrested and charged with capital murder in the shooting of Alhassinyani. Perez was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping, making a false report, failing to report a felony and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. It is unclear if their cases are active.
SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW)  Sandusky police arrested two people and are continuing to investigate after a man told them he was kidnapped, assaulted, and held until the suspects received a large sum of money.

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Sandusky Police Chief Jared Oliver said the victim told detectives he was lured to a home on West Adams Tuesday morning and, then tied up and assaulted.

The one suspect then went to a friend of the victim, and when there, showed her a picture of the victim who was bound, the chief said. The suspect demanded a large sum of money for his release.

The chief said the female gave the suspect the money. According to police, the victim was then assaulted again and eventually released.

The victim was injured but is expected to be OK.

The chief said police arrested Julius Standifer, 36, on charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping. They also arrested Ameeliah Grant, 39, on charges of complicity to aggravated robbery.

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We are also looking for a third suspect, the chief added. He said the departments special response team did a search of the suspects home and found a gun, plastic zip ties, and money.

Standifer and Grant are due back in court next week to face the charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
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Two young men were killed by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday, raising the death toll of Palestinians in the region to four, sources said.

According to anonymous Palestinian security sources, Mohammad Jamal al-Zabidi and Wissam Hanoun were killed in a residence at the Jenin refugee camp when the Israeli army shot heavily at the house, with explosions heard in the vicinity.

The Israeli forces later took the bodies of the two men, the sources said.

An Israeli military statement said the attack was a joint campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces, the Israel Security Agency, and the Border Police, resulting in the "elimination of two instigators," among whom was Mohammad Zabidi, the camp's leader who was involved in "terrorist activities and shooting attacks" in the area.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the deaths of eight-year-old Adam Samer Al-Ghoul and 15-year-old Basil Suleiman Abu Al-Wafa due to Israeli army gunfire in the Bostan neighborhood of Jenin.

Wisam Bakr, director of the government hospital in Jenin, said that the Israeli forces conducted a wide military operation lasting for approximately 20 hours in the city and camp, and besieged the city's hospitals.

Israeli vehicles blocked the hospital's entrance, preventing the arrival of ambulances, while infantry soldiers closed the emergency entrance, impeding the work of medical teams, Bakr said, adding that Ibn Sina Hospital in the city was also besieged by the Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Al-Saadi, a Palestinian Red Crescent official, said that Israeli forces detained ambulance crews and arrested an injured person inside one of the ambulances.
A man was rescued from a grain bin after he became 90% entrapped in corn kernels and crews raced to free him, Tennessee firefighters said.

Rescuers answering a call about a grain bin entrapment found the man in the middle of the bin almost completely engulfed in corn on Nov. 29, according to a news release from the Ethridge Fire Department. They provided medical assistance and placed a tube around him to secure him.

Photos show a crew shoveling corn away from the man, as metal walls are planted to stabilize him and the rescuers.

Crews used a vacuum truck to remove corn from the grain bin in Henryville and allow the man to exit through the access door, firefighters said.

Great teamwork and great training played a very vital role in todays rescue, Ethridge Fire Chief Nathan Keeton said in the release.

Moving grain acts like quicksand and can bury a worker in seconds, according to OSHAs page on grain handling. Bridged grain and vertical piles of stored grain can also collapse unexpectedly if a worker stands on or near it. The behavior and weight of the grain make it extremely difficult for a worker to get out of it without assistance.

Suffocation is one of the most common causes of death in grain bins, OSHA says.

Henryville is near the Tennessee-Alabama state line about 75 miles southwest of Nashville.

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PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A man traveled from New Hampshire to Florida after repeatedly harassing, cyberstalking and threatening a Pinellas County man in an attempt to kill him, according to an affidavit.

39-year-old Devin Lindorff attempted to contact the victim over the phone for several months. He would make threats via voicemail saying, Im going to f***ing kill you and If I ever get my f***ing hands on you, Im going to f***ing kill you.

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The arrest affidavit said Lindorff drove down to Florida to the mans home, in a stolen car, in an attempt to use a crowbar to kill the man.

The document also said Lindorff told the victims family members he was leaving New Hampshire to go kill him.

Another affidavit was filed after Lindorff stole a Black 2021 Chevrolet Colorado to travel to Florida to kill the victim.

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A third affidavit said Lindorff was found with another persons drivers license and five credit/debit cards belonging to two other people. Lindorff told deputies he took the items from someone, whose name is redacted, to travel to Florida.

Lindorff was charged with aggravated stalking, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and unlawful possession of personal identification information of another person.

He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday morning on a $45,500 bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
A man will spend the next few months in jail after officials say he pleaded guilty to stealing several statues from a Hall County cemetery.

According to court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News, 25-year-old Santiago Morales Villalobos of Gainesville pleaded guilty to stealing at least four brass animal statues from Memorial Park Cemetery in Aug. 2022.

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During the investigation, officials learned that the pickup truck seen in cemetery surveillance footage was registered as stolen. They watched as an individual, later identified as Villalobos, picked up the statues and placed them inside the vehicle.

In Oct. 2022, deputies were tipped off that a Ford F-150, reported stolen in the City of Gainesville, was located at the entrance to Amberleigh Trace subdivision on Poplar Springs Road. Authorities confirmed that Villalobos was behind the wheel.

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When deputies arrived at the scene, officials said Villalobos drove directly at one of the patrol vehicles, forcing the deputy to swerve to avoid a collision. Villalobos sped from the scene to the Willow Ridge subdivision, where the stolen truck was found at a residence.

Deputies searched the house and arrested Villalobos.

Villalobos was sentenced to 60 days in prison, followed by 12 months of probation.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man and woman were arrested for robbing and kidnapping a man on Oct. 12 in Northwest, D.C.

The incident occurred around noon near the intersection of 12th St. and Constitution Ave., N.W., a woman agreed to give someone a ride. In the car, another occupant  a man  assaulted the victim and took his belongings while the woman kept driving around the District.

The victim eventually got free and escaped the car, running into the Sixth District Police Station.

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The man chased after him and was apprehended by police outside of the station. The woman fled the scene in the vehicle.

The man, who is from Laurel, Md., was arrested that day and charged with kidnapping and robbery.

Over a month later, on Nov. 29, MPD also arrested the woman involved, 27-year-old Antoinette Camille Gilmore, of Southeast, D.C. She was also charged with kidnapping and robbery.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Santa waves to the crowd as fireworks start during the 25th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival on Nov. 16 at Pere Marquette Park in Milwaukee. There are lots of opportunities to visit with Santa before he makes his rounds on Christmas Eve.

Santa might be busy prepping for Christmas, but it looks like he's still got some time to meet people across the Milwaukee area ahead of the holiday. Here's just a few places where you can find him before Christmas:

RELATED: Where in the world is Santa? How to find the online Santa tracker.

Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee

Join Santa at the Pfister for breakfast with his elves in the festive ballroom on Dec. 16 and 17. Every child can take photos with Santa and will receive a gift. They'll also be able to make crafts while composing a letter to Santa.

Seating is available from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Breakfast is $72 for adults and $30 for ages 3 to 10, and free for 2 and younger. Reservations are required with full payment. To make a reservation, visit www.thepfisterhotel.com.

Find Santa: Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Saint Kate, Milwaukee

Guests can enjoy brunch in Saint Kate's festive ballroom with Santa on Dec. 16. They can take photos with Santa, and every child will receive a gift and can make crafts while writing a letter to Santa.

Reservations are required. Brunch is $65 for adults, $29 for ages 3 to 10 and free for children younger than 2. To make a reservation, visit www.saintkatearts.com.

Find Santa: Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn, Milwaukee

Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee

A man dressed as Santa waves to parade-goers during the Harley-Davidson 115th anniversary parade in 2018.

Join Santa for an annual breakfast at the Harley-Davidson Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3, 10 and 17. Parents and children can snap a photo with Santa on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Space is limited, and reservations are required. Call 414-287-2778 to make a reservation.

Find Santa: Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St., Milwaukee

Santa's Christmas Calvalcade, Milwaukee

Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride a Historic Third Ward firetruck through downtown Milwaukee during Santa's Christmas Cavalcade.

You can see Santa and Mrs. Claus riding a firetruck through downtown Milwaukee during Santa's Christmas Cavalcade on Dec. 2 and 8.

The route leaves from the Milwaukee Public Market's Water Street entrance at 5:15 p.m. and travels east on Wisconsin Avenue to the lakefront, with visits in Pere Marquette Park, Cathedral Square Park, Zeidler Union Square, Catalano Square and Light the Hoan between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Find Santa: Departs from the Milwaukee Public Market, with visits throughout downtown

Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee

Visit the Milwaukee County Historical Society to see the holiday display, take a picture with Santa, make an ornament and write a letter to Santa.

The event is from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10. Cookies, brownies and hot chocolate will be for sale in Mrs. Claus' kitchen. Museum admission is complimentary. Photos with Santa are $10 each or two for $15.

Find Santa: Milwaukee County Historical Society, 910 N. King Drive, Milwaukee

Discovery World, Milwaukee

Santa will be sharing stories at Discovery World from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The event is included with the cost of general admission.

Find Santa: Discovery World, 500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee

North Point Lighthouse, Milwaukee

Santa will be at the North Point Lighthouse from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17. Attendees can have their picture taken with him at his maritime workshop. Regular admission rates apply.

Find Santa: North Point Lighthouse, 2650 N. Wahl Ave., Milwaukee

Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee

Santa is visiting the Pabst Mansion each Sunday during the holiday season. He'll be at the mansion from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 17, with a special visit on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There's limited space available, so advance ticket purchase is recommended. Tickets can be found at www.pabstmanison.com. Tickets are $20 for adults, $13 for ages 6 to 17 and $8 for ages 3 to 5.

Find Santa: Pabst Mansion, 2000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee

Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee

Santa will visit the Third Ward from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in Catalano Square.

From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., can visit Santa in Jolly's Gingerbread House and take photos with him. There's a suggested donation of $5 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin.

Find Santa: Catalano Square, 147 N. Broadway, Milwaukee

Cathedral Square Park, Milwaukee

Cathedral Square Park is one of three brilliantly lit parks for the Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival.

Santa and Mrs. Claus are returning for the annual trip to Cathedral Square Park this year.

This free event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Make sure to bring your own camera. Elves and other holiday characters will also be there, and there will also be free treats.

Find Santa: Cathedral Square Park, 520 E. Wells St., Milwaukee

Sprecher Brewery, Glendale

Take a photo with Santa and go on a brewery tour at Sprecher Brewery. While you're on the tour, Sprecher will use your picture to create a custom label and put that label on as many 12-packs of 16-ounce root beer bottles as you want.

This event runs Sundays through Dec. 17. Tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. To book, visit www.sprecherbrewery.com

Find Santa: Sprecher Brewery, 701 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale

Brookfield Square Mall, Brookfield

Jaylin Gillstrom of Hartland shares a special moment with Santa at Brookfield Square Mall in 2009.

Santa will be available for photos with your family and pets at Brookfield Square Mall until Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged, but not required. Photo packages start at $39.99. To make your reservation, visit www.shopbrookfieldsquaremall.com.

Find Santa: Center Court at Brookfield Square Mall, 95 N. Moorland Road, Brookfield

Southridge Mall, Greendale

Steve Selanak, a building maintainence worker at Southridge Mall, checks the placement of presents in 2009 during final adjustments for the Santa's throne display in preparation for Santa's arrival.

Santa will be taking photos at Southridge Mall from until Christmas Eve before he heads back to the North Pole.

Black Santa will be at Southridge from 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 8, and Santa will be taking photos with pets on Dec. 11. Walk-ups are welcome, but reservations are strongly recommended. Photo packages range from $25.99 to $51.99. To make a reservation, visit www.southridgeshoppingmall.com.

Find Santa: Southridge Mall, 5300 S. 76th St., Greendale

Mayfair, Wauwatosa

Holiday shoppers werent the only ones at Mayfair mall in November 2021. A family pays a visit to Santa in between shopping at the mall.

Santa will be available for photos with your family and pets at Mayfair until Dec. 24. There will be a sensory friendly Santa on Dec. 3.

Reservations are encouraged, but walk-up guests are also welcome. Photo packages range from $19.99 to $49.99. To reserve your time with Santa, visit www.mayfairmall.com.

Find Santa: Mayfair, 2500 N. Mayfair Road, Wauwatosa at Level 1, near Nordstrom

Sendik's Food Market, multiple locations

You can take photos with Santa at the following Sendik's locations:

Sunday, Dec. 3

Elm Grove: 13425 Watertown Plank Road, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Brookfield-The Corners: 20222 Lower Union Street, noon to 1:30 p.m.

Waukesha-Meadowbrook: 701 Meadowbrook Road, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9

Hartland: 600 Hartbrook Drive, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Germantown: N112 W15800 Mequon Road, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 10

Oconomowoc: 1450 Olympia Fields Drive, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

West Bend: 280 18th Ave., 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Grafton: 2195 First Ave., 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Franklin: 5200 W. Rawson Ave., 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Greenfield: 7901 W. Layton Ave., 12:30 to 2 p.m.

New Berlin: 3600 S. Moorland Road, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Santa's Workshop, Cedarburg

Santa's Workshop is a temporary structure that provides a home away from home for Santa and Mrs. Claus in downtown Cedarburg every year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will stop by their gingerbread house to meet with as many families as possible.

You're encouraged to arrive early to add your family to the time slot, as there are limited number of slots each day. Santa will be there through Dec. 23. For a list of times, visit www.cedarburgchristmas.com.

Find Santa: Downtown, W63 N641 Washington Ave., Cedarburg

Ebert's Greenhouse, Ixonia

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit Ebert's Greenhouse on Dec. 2 and 3 to listen to Christmas wishes and read stories.

They'll be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days; story times are from noon to 1 p.m.

Find Santa: Ebert's Greenhouse, W1795 Fox Road, Ixonia

Breakfast with Reindeer, Delafield

Bring your family for Breakfast with the Reindeer from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 2. Guests are encouraged to bring their camera to photograph loved ones with Santa, live reindeer and a magical elf. Tickets are available at www.delafieldchamber.com.

Find Santa: Delafield Fish Hatchery, 417 Main St., Delafield

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Santa Claus: Take pictures with Santa at Mayfair, Sendiks
As southern Arizona grapples with a mounting affordable housing crisis, cities and towns across the region have taken steps to better understand their needs.

Tucson created a commission in 2020 to advise city officials on how to increase affordable housing stock and conducted studies to analyze the city's housing situation and the areas with the most need. Yuma, a city near the Arizona-Mexico border, conducted multiple housing needs assessments over the last five years. Just north, Globe created an Economic Development department in 2018 and had housing assessments conducted by private employers and Gila County.

The town of Patagonia, known for its unique wildlife landscape, is in dire need of affordable housing and having trouble attracting anyone to build low-income housing units. With a decreasing population, town officials say they are considering developing affordable housing themselves.

But unlike many of its neighbors, the town of Marana opted against such assessments. It is instead relying on a soon-to-be-completed needs survey that will be conducted and funded by Pima County.

Town staff said the Marana Town Council had approved funding for the assessment as part of this years budget to conduct its own assessment. But when Pima County announced its assessment efforts, the council decided to join the countys study to save money. Town staff said the desire for the assessment was driven by Maranas growth over the last five years.

But while town officials tout growth, Pima County told The Arizona Republic only one development applied for county affordable housing funding in fiscal year 2023.

Affordable housing development coming to Marana

Marana is fast-growing, said Mayor Ed Honea, noting that the town has received about 90 home permit requests in the last couple of months.

Honea attributed much of the towns current growth to the workforce of companies in nearby towns, including Proctor & Gamble in Coolidge and Lucid Motors in Casa Grande. According to Maranas Development Services Department, the 56,000-person town is expected to exceed 75,000 people by 2040, an estimate based on U.S. census data.

Town officials know affordable housing is needed. But without conducting any studies, they are unable to quantify the gap in affordable housing.

Despite the gap in data, Marana is working to increase its affordable housing stock.

Affordable housing developer Dominium announced in November its acquisition of land in southern Marana to build 200 new units for low-income families.

The new apartment complex, The Safford, will add additional housing stock to meet that demand. Rent limits will be $1,096 for a two-bedroom apartment, $1,266 for a three-bedroom apartment, and $1,413 for a four-bedroom apartment.

Construction will be supported by Section 42 Low-Income Housing tax credits, which require developers to maintain rates based on the Area Median Income, calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Marana officials said the complex is just one of seven rental developments currently under construction, in addition to eight single-family developments. It is the only new development in Marana that applied for gap funding from Pima County for affordable housing development in fiscal year 2023, according to the county.

According to the county's online database, Marana has two other affordable housing properties for low-income families.

Construction of The Safford is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025. The project is one of several around Arizona that are part of Dominiums $1 billion affordable housing projects, which include developments in Goodyear and Phoenix.

"Dominium is proud to help provide vital, affordable family housing in Marana and provide an asset to the broader community, said Owen Metz, Dominiums senior vice president and the regional development leader of Phoenix, in a news release.

In the works: New housing and commercial development to come to south Marana

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com.

The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marana waits to join southern AZ neighbors in assessing housing needs
Margaret Jayne Huntley Main, the oldest living Tournament of Roses queen, has died. She was 102.

Main died of what appear to be natural causes Friday in an assisted-living facility in Auburn, her family confirmed.

"We're sad that we've lost her. She lived a long life," said her son, Martin Main.

For Main, the dream of one day being crowned queen took root at an early age. She watched her first Rose Parade at a young age, drawing inspiration from Fay Lanphier  the 1926 queen who was also named Miss America.

"I saw my first tournament exactly when I was 5. I remember watching the queen go down the street, and my daddy took my face and said, 'Margaret Jayne, there's more to the parade than the queen. Look down here,'" she recalled in an interview with CBS Los Angeles in 2021. "But he was wrong."

Read more: Rose queens: A history in pictures

Main's dream was fulfilled when she was named the 1940 Rose Queen.

Then a student at Pasadena City College, Main fondly remembered her experience riding the float, which nearly brought her to tears.

The float came around the corner, and there's a little hill there, Pasadena, a million people," she told CBS. "And the wave of love overcame me.

Main lived to be the Vintage Queen  the oldest living titleholder in Tournament of Roses history. She met nearly every other Rose Queen during her lifetime, from Hallie Woods, the first to preside over the Rose Parade in 1905, to Camille Kennedy in 2020.

Her final correspondence congratulated 2024 Rose Queen Naomi Stillitano following her coronation on Oct. 27.

Rose Queen Margaret Jayne Huntley Main, a timeless symbol of grace, will forever adorn the history of the Rose Parade, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Assn. said in a statement. As the revered longest-living Rose Queen, her legacy shines as a testament to the Rose Court tradition and her unwavering dedication to the Tournament of Roses.

Read more: Crowning Glory : Despite Changes Over the Years, Rose Queens Find Common Ground

Born in Los Angeles on June 1, 1921, Main told The Times that her family lost everything in the Great Depression, forcing them to move from a large Pasadena home to a nearby shack.

We were very, very poor, she said in a 1994 interview. I can still remember my mom crying.

Main earned a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University and master's degrees in early childhood, ethnic studies and speech and drama from Sacramento State. She went on to work as a kindergarten teacher in Orangevale, northeast of Sacramento, from 1960 to 1982, and authored From Me to We, a six-book early childhood multicultural curriculum later adopted by the state of California .

Her life almost took a decidedly different turn, however. After her reign, Howard Hughes offered her the lead female role in his 1943 western film The Outlaw  and visited her Pasadena home several times to try to persuade her to accept.

Read more: Variety Marks Rose Parade : For a 100-Year-Old, It Rolled Right Along

Main told the Ahwatukee Foothills News that Hughes approached her, took her by the hand and exclaimed, Your skin is absolutely flawless! She said Hughes told her she and her family would never want for anything if she would agree to star in the movie.

But Main declined, saying she had no interest in going to Hollywood. The part eventually went to Jane Russell and became her breakthrough role.

At the time, Main was secretly engaged to her future husband, Robert. She said Hughes gifted the couple a pair of silver candlesticks as a wedding present.

Main was a mainstay of the parade, appearing annually on the float built for past queens and attending coronations until she retired from travel in 2019.

In 1989, Main authored A Rose Queen Is Forever: The Story of Pasadenas Tournament of Roses and Its Queens."

Main was preceded in death by Robert, her husband of 68 years, and their daughter Linda Main Hack. She is survived by three children  John, Martin and Sandra  seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and her sister, Alyce Main Levy.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Why wont Beacon Hills overwhelmingly Democratic leadership move forward on legislation that would require Massachusetts police officers to collect demographic data during every traffic stop?

Why do the race and ethnicity of drivers let go with verbal warnings  which Massachusetts police estimate happens in four out of 10 stops  go unrecorded?

Why do we tolerate these gaping holes in public data that, if filled, advocates say could make it easier to stop racial profiling and unconstitutional police practices?

Whitewashed: The story behind Massachusetts' 20-year failure to address racial profiling

These questions are at the heart of Whitewashed, a special USA TODAY Network investigation by the Cape Cod Times, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and USA TODAY. That report, which relied on dozens of interviews, more than 50 public records requests and an analysis of millions of traffic citations issued by Massachusetts police, found that legislative leaders have done little over the past two decades to address potential bias in traffic stops, the most common interaction between police and the public.

Staff writers Jeannette Hinkle, Brad Petrishen and Kinga Borondy and data reporters Dian Zhang and Dan Keemahill, who spent more than two years reporting the project, found:

Despite Massachusetts reputation as a beacon of liberal politics, legislators have done little to combat racial profiling  as the legislative record, emails and other documents show.

Police in nearly 60 communities are marking the majority of men with Hispanic surnames as white  skewing data used to probe racial bias. That data is also flawed because it is incomplete  legislative leaders under pressure from police associations have repeatedly rejected proposals that would have required police to collect demographic information on all drivers they stop.

In turn, information about the race and ethnicity of an estimated four in 10 drivers stopped across Massachusetts continues to go largely unrecorded. Advocates say that gap makes it easier for racial profiling to go undetected.

What data does exist raises questions. The USA TODAY Network's review of about 5 million citations issued by officers from 2014 to 2022 found significant disparities at half of the 305 local police departments that issued enough tickets for analysis.

These findings demonstrate that there is work to do on Beacon Hill  the Legislature must move forward on longstanding legislative proposals that would require police to collect data on all drivers they stop and to audit that data annually to track potential racial profiling  and improve police department efficiency.

We pride ourselves as a national leader in tolerance and equity  and yet, our lawmakers cannot be swayed to enact laws to improve policing and, in turn, fairness.

Massachusetts residents deserve better  we cannot tolerate this level of inequity on our roadways.

It has to stop

In 2015, Christopher Jackson, a South Shore resident, sat in the Massachusetts Statehouse and pleaded with lawmakers to take up legislation that would require police to collect all-stop data  including those given verbal warnings. Jackson trembled as he spoke.

Where I live, there is a great deal of racial profiling, Jackson said with indignation in his voice. And it has to stop.

The legislation ultimately failed  as it has in 10 legislative sessions since 1999. Again, why?

Our review of emails and other documents reveals that legislators were often pressured by police and their advocates, to reject so-called all-stops proposals to expand demographic data collection.

Massachusetts is deficient relative to states like California, Josh Parker, senior counsel at New York University School of Laws Policing Project, told the USA TODAY Network. There are a number of essential data points to determine the efficacy of traffic stops (that) Massachusetts just isnt collecting.

Nearly 20 years ago, a taxpayer-funded study of traffic citations found that a lack of demographic data collected during stops was a significant problem. Concurrently, the nonprofit Commission on the Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies also recommended collecting data on all stops to monitor for patterns of bias. And state Supreme Judicial Court justices called racial profiling in traffic stops a persistent and pernicious problem in a September 2020 decision.

As we reported, 15 states, including Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, require police to document all stops.

As much as $3.4 million in federal money has been routed to a Connecticut program that addresses racial disparities in traffic stops since 2016. Supporters of that program have credited it for reducing racial disparities in traffic stops  and improving police efficiency.

Massachusetts, however, isnt eligible for equivalent federal funding. Why? The federal grant requires data to be collected on all drivers police stop.

Wield power in the shadows

Astonishingly, none of Massachusetts most powerful legislative leaders agreed to interviews with our journalists to explain their thinking.

The Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, which oversees Massachusetts law enforcement, and Gov. Maura Healey, the former attorney general, also declined to comment.

That is unacceptable.

We coast on our reputation as a progressive state so often, and it's particularly evident on issues of racial justice, former state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, D-Boston, one of many lawmakers whove tried to get the data collected for years, told the USA TODAY Network.

Chang-Diaz pointed to the powerful police lobbys hold on the Legislature.

I wont mince words, she said. I think this is a case study in how strong the police lobby is in our Statehouse, and then also, I think its a case study in how the modus operandi of the police lobby is to wield power in the shadows of the legislative process.

A 2019 effort to pass all-stops legislation met with fierce opposition from police advocates, including the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police Association. Our investigation found that lawmakers were encouraged by police advocates to actually weaken data collection.

That, too, is unacceptable.

Why does the will of police, as Chang-Diaz put it, triumph over the will of Massachusetts voters?

The dismal transparency of the Massachusetts Legislature makes answering that question nearly impossible.

Leon Smith, executive director of Citizens for Juvenile Justice, an advocacy organization, was sanguine about the lack of courage to address issues of race and profiling.

You cannot address a problem if you don't first acknowledge that problem, and data is the way that we acknowledge the problem of race and bias in the system, Smith said. No data, no acknowledgment, no problem.

What must happen

We strongly encourage members of the Massachusetts House and Senate to urgently approve all-stops legislation that would strengthen demographic data collection and increase the efficiency of our police departments. And we encourage Healey to sign that legislation.

We strongly encourage Massachusetts powerful police lobby to reconsider pressure tactics that have halted efforts to pass such legislation for the last 20 years.

We strongly encourage members of the Legislature and other public officials to show respect for the state's taxpayers and operate transparently  not just in regard to police stop legislation but all business before the Legislature. Transparency is a major tenet of democracy.

And we encourage our readers to share their views on the urgent need for uniform collection and annual analysis of demographic data in traffic stops with our legislators.

Massachusetts can and must do better.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Racial profiling: Mass. must reform police stop data collection
 Flash

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday released a paper stating China's position on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The following is the full text:

Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy civilian casualties and a serious humanitarian disaster. It is a grave concern of the international community. President Xi Jinping stated China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on a number of occasions. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and ending the fighting, ensuring that the humanitarian corridors are safe and unimpeded, and preventing the expansion of the conflict. He pointed out that the fundamental way out of this lies in the two-state solution, building international consensus for peace, and working toward a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.

Pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council shoulders primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and should thus play an active and constructive role on the question of Palestine. In this connection, China offers the following proposals:

1. Implementing a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the fighting. Parties to the conflict should truly implement the relevant UNGA and UNSC resolutions and immediately realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce. Building on UNSC Resolution 2712, the Security Council, in response to the calls of the international community, should explicitly demand a comprehensive ceasefire and end of the fighting, work for deescalation of the conflict, and cool down the situation as soon as possible.

2. Protecting civilians effectively. The UNSC resolution demands in explicit terms that all parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians. It is imperative to stop any violent attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities. The Security Council should further send a clear message on opposing forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population, preventing the displacement of Palestinian civilians, and calling for the release of all civilians and hostages held captive as soon as possible.

3. Ensuring humanitarian assistance. All relevant parties must, as per requirements of the UNSC resolution, refrain from depriving the civilian population in Gaza of supplies and services indispensable to their survival, set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to enable rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access, and avoid a humanitarian disaster of even greater gravity. The Security Council should encourage the international community to ramp up humanitarian assistance, improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, and support the coordinating role of the United Nations as well as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in humanitarian assistance, and prepare the international community for supporting post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza.

4. Enhancing diplomatic mediation. The Security Council should leverage its role in facilitating peace as mandated in the UN Charter to demand that parties to the conflict exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from widening and uphold peace and stability in the Middle East. The Security Council should value the role of regional countries and organizations, support the good offices of the UN Secretary General and the Secretariat, and encourage countries with influence on parties to the conflict to uphold an objective and just position so as to jointly play a constructive role in deescalating the crisis.

5. Seeking political settlement. According to relevant UNSC resolutions and international consensus, the fundamental settlement of the question of Palestine lies in the implementation of the two-state solution, restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital. The Security Council should help restore the two-state solution. A more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference led and organized by the UN should be held as soon as possible to formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. Any arrangement on the future of Gaza must respect the will and independent choice of the Palestinian people, and must not be imposed upon them.
A former Texas math teacher is headed to prison after officials say he sent graphic photos to an undercover agent posing as a teen.

Orlando Solis, 47, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison on charges of access with intent to view a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a prepubescent minor, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas.

McClatchy News reached out to Solis attorney for comment Nov. 30 but did not immediately hear back.

In January, Solis, of Horizon City, began communicating with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl on a social platform called Whisper, officials said.

The person he was talking to was actually an undercover agent from the Army Criminal Investigation Division, according to court records.

The conversations were often sexual in nature, with Solis sending links to pornography sites, describing sexual acts he wanted to engage in with her, and sending graphic photos of himself. He also informed her that he had a hidden folder on his phone for pornography, the news release said.

Investigators found child sexual abuse material on his phone showing children as young as 5 and 6, prosecutors said.

Officials learned that Solis was a teacher, and he was arrested on Feb. 2. He was a math teacher at Chapin High School, according to the schools website, KFOX reported.

The El Paso Independent School District officials told KTSM in a statement that the FBI Office of El Paso reached out to them on Feb. 2 about an investigation into an employee at Chapin High School.

Before (that day), the district was unaware of any pending charges or allegations against the employee, the statement said. El Paso ISD will continue to cooperate with the FBI as requested. We continue to make the safety and security of our students and staff a high priority.

Horizon City is about 20 miles southeast of downtown El Paso.

Substitute teacher sent high school students explicit videos on Snapchat, Florida cops say

Cheerleading coach sexually abused students for 15 years with husbands help, suits say

Elementary student went to doctor after teacher paddled him, TN cops say. Two charged
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Matt Hancock has told the COVID-19 inquiry that his "single biggest regret" during the pandemic was not pushing harder on the risk of asymptomatic transmission.

At Thursday's session, the former health secretary said that in early 2020 there was a "fog of uncertainty" among the scientific community on this particular issue.

Hancock says he took warnings coming from China and Germany that Covid could be passed by people without symptoms seriously and thought it was best to play it safe.

He told the inquiry that the "anecdotal evidence" he had wasn't enough to sway UK scientists, advisers and, more importantly, policymakers.

However, the hearing was shown messages from chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty and former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who said they didn't understand why Hancock was saying they weren't aware of the risks.

Perhaps one of the most revelatory moments from Thursday's session was Hancock admitting that there was never a "protective ring" put around care homes as the government claimed. Really, all he'd done was provide additional PPE and funding for the sector.

With Thursday's session now over, here are the highlights from Matt Hancock's tough day of questioning:

Hancock described an "unhealthy toxic culture" of blame in government where anything that went wrong with his department was seen as an "intentional failure".

He said he pushed for lockdown during a call with Boris Johnson on 13 March 2020. He recalled this very clearly in his book, but the inquiry was puzzled as to why there was no record of such an important call in his diary.

He claimed he was always worried about asymptomatic transmission, and that his "single biggest regret" was not pushing harder on this issue. Sir Patrick Vallance and Sir Chris Whitty said they didn't understand why Hancock thought they weren't paying attention to this risk.

Responding to claims by several high-up advisers and civil servants that he was a "liar" who would get "over-excited and just say stuff", Hancock said those are "false allegations" and part of the so-called "toxic culture".

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's former top adviser, instilled a "culture of fear" and tried to stage a "power grab which was "inappropriate in a democracy", Hancock claimed.

The former health secretary admitted, "in hindsight" that the UK should have locked-down much earlier, but that there were concerns at the time over how the public might react.

You can read more about Matt Hancock's testimony in our blog below.

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Matt Hancock arrives to give evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry. (PA)
Matt Hancock says earlier first Covid lockdown could have stopped 90% of first wave deaths

Matt Hancock said the UK should have gone into lockdown three weeks before it did which would have saved "many, many lives".

The former health secretary told the pandemic inquiry he regarded February 28 2020 as the moment that the centre of Government, led by the Prime Minister, really started to come into action.

He said "with hindsight" the UK should have locked down when Italy did in February but added that at that time there was still "enormous uncertainty" about the scale of the pandemic.

He said: "The number of cases was still very low, in fact, there were only 12 cases reported on March 1, and the costs of what Im proposing were known and huge.

"So I defend the actions that were taken by the government at the time, knowing what we did, but with hindsight, thats the moment should have done it, three weeks, and it would have been would have saved many, many lives.

Having obviously thought about this and reflected on this a huge deal over the last few years, the first moment we realistically could have really cracked it was on March 2, three weeks earlier than we did.

Mr Hancock also used his evidence to accuse Dominic Cummings of creating a culture of fear in Government that undermined the pandemic response.

The former minister painted Boris Johnsons ex-chief adviser as a malign actor who subjected his staff to abuse as they grappled with the emergence of Covid-19.

Mr Cummings sought to grab power from the then-prime minister while shutting out ministers from key meetings, Mr Hancock told the UKs official pandemic inquiry.

Mr Hancock played a key role in the response to the pandemic but his performance has been repeatedly criticised by a number of other witnesses including Mr Cummings, who has branded him a proven liar.

Hitting back as he gave evidence on Thursday, the former health secretary said Mr Cummings had attempted to exert influence over decision-making in a way that was inappropriate in a democracy.

As the Cobra system was running in February, the prime ministers chief adviser decided that he didnt like the Cobra system  thats on the record  and he decided instead to take all of the major daily decisions into his office and he invited a subset of the people who needed to be there to these meetings, Mr Hancock said.

He didnt invite any ministers. He didnt regard ministers as a valuable contribution to any decision-making as far as I could see in the crisis or, indeed, any other time.

Mr Hancock suggested Mr Cummings had subjected his staff to abuse, telling the inquiry: Was it unpleasant? Yes, it was unpleasant for a whole load of my staff as well who were subject to this sort of abuse from the chief adviser.

It went further, wider than I thought at the time, but my job was to lead the health and care system, the whole thing.

He rejected claims he lied to colleagues about having a plan for the outbreak, describing these as false allegations.

Instead he pointed the finger at Mr Cummings for, he suggested, presiding over an atmosphere in which blame was assigned rather than allowing people to spend all of their effort solving the problems.

It was deeply, deeply frustrating weve discussed the structural problem which was essentially an adviser trying to take executive authority away from the prime minister for a period until the cabinet secretary stopped it and put in place the MIG (Ministerial Implementation Group) process, Mr Hancock said.

But there was also effectively a cultural problem which is that there was a culture of fear inculcated by the behaviour of this particular individual.

Critics have questioned the former health secretarys record on key issues like rules for nursing homes and Covid testing for asymptomatic cases.

Also known for his appearance last year on ITVs Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Mr Hancocks political career was torpedoed after footage emerged in 2021 of his embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo which broke social distancing guidelines.

But in Thursdays evidence he insisted that he had taken precautionary measures, in some cases overriding the scientific advice he had been given, and described himself as in the pro-lets worry about asymptomatic transmission camp.

Giving an example, Mr Hancock said he overruled guidance from Public Health England (PHE) during the early pandemic was that there was not a need to quarantine people being brought back from Wuhan in China.

While Mr Hancock accepted the DHSC had not got everything right, he said his department had effectively tried to raise the alarm to wider Government as early as January, but its concerns were not taken as seriously as they should have been.

We were on occasions blocked, he told the inquiry.

He and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) faced deep unpleasantness from the centre of Government during the early months of the pandemic while the rest of Whitehall was slow to react, Mr Hancock said.

A healthy culture involves scepticism, an unhealthy culture involves false allegations and extremely unpleasant language, he added.

Hancock talking rubbish on asymptomatic

1/ it's in the whatsapp group 11/3 Hancock claiming tests don't work on asymptomatic & Vallance telling him 'wrong' tests DO work - Hancock kept repeating this false idea (badly confusing the PM on the issue & he repeated the  Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) November 30, 2023

Mr Hancock said he believed No 10 was preventing Mr Johnson from speaking publicly about the virus in February 2020 and said he was also not allowed to give radio interviews about the subject.

Meanwhile, he insisted he had warned the then-PM to lock down as early as March 13 2020, but conceded there was no entry in his published diaries to back up that claim.

Messages from that time show him advocating a global suppression strategy, the inquiry heard, but he could not say whether he used the words immediate or lockdown at any point in these interventions.

Rebuking Mr Hancocks account in a broadside on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cummings said he was outright lying by claiming to have privately pushed Mr Johnson to impose the measure and talking rubbish to the inquiry.

Allies of the ex-minister told the PA news agency in response: Cummings is not a reliable witness and this tweet is wrong.

The former aide was among a number of senior figures who questioned Mr Hancocks approach in their evidence, with the inquiry hearing that the countrys most senior civil servant at the time, Lord Sedwill, wanted the minister sacked.

In one WhatsApp exchange with the permanent secretary at Number 10 Simon Case  who is the current Cabinet Secretary  Lord Sedwill joked it was necessary to remove Mr Hancock to save lives and protect the NHS.

Helen MacNamara, who served as deputy cabinet secretary, also claimed in her evidence that Mr Hancock displayed nuclear levels of overconfidence  assertions that he rejected on Thursday.

There was a huge amount of uncertainty and a huge amount of worry and I basically felt it was my professional duty to try to keep going, to try to keep driving forward, Mr Hancock said.

Meanwhile, the inquiry has confirmed Mr Johnson will face two days of questioning over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic when he gives evidence next week.
A former Mayo Clinic doctor has been kicked out of his home after he was accused of fatally poisoning his wife, according to a report. Connor Bowman, 30, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder last month in the August death of his 32-year-old wife, Betty Bowman. Prosecutors claim the poison specialist doctor used a gout treatment drug to kill his wife amid the promise of a possible $500,000 life insurance windfall. According to KTTC, the owner of the house where the Bowmans lived in Rochester, Minnesota, filed an eviction against the accused killer at the beginning of November. Court records reportedly show that his wifes death was cited as the reason for his eviction. He has since vacated the premises, the records show, and the lease has been terminated. A GoFundMe has been set up for Betty Bowmans family.

Read it at KTTC

Read more at The Daily Beast.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Mayor Ted Wheeler wants workers in Downtown Portland to return to the office next year.

In a letter shared on Thursday morning, the mayor asked Central City employers in the private sector, government, educational institutions and community-based organizations to enforce an at least 20-hour in-person workweek for remote and hybrid staff starting on Jan. 1.

Amtrak Cascades to add two round trips between Portland, Seattle ahead of holidays

Wheeler said city employees whose positions allow hybrid work have worked at least 20 hours in person since April. He also claimed his staff typically works in the office or in the community at least four days a week.

To support a safe, clean, and welcoming environment, the Citys public servants are responsible for interacting with constituents, collaborating with peers, and delivering programs to build greater vibrancy in our central city, Wheeler wrote. As many of you know, over half of all City workers are frontline staff, like Police and Fire Bureau employees, and were never remote or hybrid during the pandemic.

According to Wheeler, all downtown employers have a critical role in the citys recovery.

Portland could see a months worth of rain in the next 7 days

The mayor said an increase in foot traffic leads to positive social pressure, encourages shopping local, and bolsters support for the citys arts, culture, culinary and hospitality industries. He added that returning to the office would help revitalize public spaces.

To encourage the return to in-person work, Wheeler mentioned that the Portland Police Bureau began foot patrols in the downtown area. The agency previously announced that a pair of officers would patrol the Central City from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Jan. 3.

The Oregon State Police is detailing additional personnel to augment the work of PPB in drug and other missions. The City continues to scale up access to behavioral health services and shelters for those in need, he said.

Jazz bar closure leaves employees out thousands of dollars

Wheeler is one of 47 members of the Portland Central City Task Force, a committee working toward revamping the downtown areas economy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Kevin McCarthys downfall reportedly included a blow-up with former President Donald Trump, who he blamed for not calling off a faction of House conservatives including Matt Gaetz bent on his ouster.

The California congressmans tenure as speaker of the House lasted less than one full year; a grinding election process ended up being a prelude to a weak, ineffective leader failing to maintain trust among his partys right wing and facing the axe after cutting a deal with Democrats to keep the government funded.

Most frustratingly for Mr McCarthy: the leader of the pack of wolves at his heels was none other than Matt Gaetz, the grandstanding House Republican from Florida, Donald Trumps adopted home state, who is known to be a close ally of the former president. The battle for Mr McCarthys fate ended up looking as much a microcosm of the GOPs ongoing civil war as it was an intra-caucus personality fight. The ex-speaker clearly expected to maintain his position, having told journalists that he would be fine and would survive heading into the vote; afterwards, he waged a campaign of vengeance-by-proxy against Democrats who refused to save him, as his allies ordered several kicked out of their Capitol offices.

Now, multiple people familiar with a conversation between the former speaker and the ex-president after Mr McCarthys removal have told The Washington Post that he was so hurt by the ordeal that he exploded at Mr Trump for not ordering Mr Gaetz to back down.

F*** you, the Post reports those persons as quoting the former speaker.

A spokesperson for Mr McCarthys office unsurprisingly denied that the blow-up occurred when contacted by the Post. Still, the report comes just a day after a CNN report was published detailing excerpts from an upcoming book in which Liz Cheney, at the time a member of GOP leadership alongside Mr McCarthy, accused her once-colleague of lying on national television about the 2020 election results after telling her the same day with certainty that Mr Trump had lost.

The past few months have been tumultuous to say the least for the former speaker. His ouster kicked off weeks of chaos in the House, with Republicans still technically in control of the chamber but unable to reach consensus on a speaker. Finally, the caucus selected relative-unknown Mike Johnson after the defeat of several allies of Mr McCarthy and Mr Trump alike; Mr Johnson now finds himself in roughly the same position in which Mr McCarthy was ahead of the government funding vote that ended his leadership career.

Bad blood appears to be in abundance within the GOP conference. Mr McCarthy himself was seen by an NPR congressional correspondent elbowing a Republican colleague who had voted for his removal on 14 November; the incident sparked a minor confrontation between him and the lawmaker, Rep Tim Burchett of Tennessee.

It remains unclear if Mr McCarthy will seek a return to leadership of the GOP House conference in the future. He has publicly maintained that he will run for re-election next year, and retains control of a sizeable campaign war chest for that purpose. A report in Axios threw that into doubt this week, however, as Mr McCarthy is reported to have told colleagues and others that he wants to get the hell out of Congress and may resign his seat before the election next year.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

In his message, Xi said that the bitter lessons of the cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fully demonstrate that only by upholding the concept of common security can sustainable security be achieved.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue, and the crux of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the long overdue realization of the legitimate national right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state, he said.

Xi called on the international community to take urgent actions to address the Palestine-Israel conflict, and urged the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and make every effort to facilitate a ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians, and stop the humanitarian disaster.

On top of this, the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be restarted as soon as possible and the Palestinian people's right to statehood and survival and their right of return should be restored as soon as possible, Xi said.

China has, as always, firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, he said. And the only viable way to settle the Palestinian question lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The needs of the Palestinian economy and people's livelihood need to be ensured, and the international community should increase development assistance and humanitarian aid to Palestine, stay on the right course towards peace talks, and convene a more authoritative international peace conference as soon as possible, he said.

China has put forward the Global Security Initiative, advocates resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation and supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, Xi said, pledging China's continuous efforts to stand for justice on the Palestinian question, actively promote peace talks and continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side.

Xi said that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to work with the international community to build global consensus on promoting peace, bring the Palestinian question back to the right track toward the two-state solution, and strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date.
MSNBC is shaking up its weekend schedule, adding a panel show and ending the hour hosted by Medhi Hasan.

Hasan is losing his weekend opinion program, but will remain with the NBCUniversal-owned progressive news network as a political analyst and fill-in. His weekly program on streaming network Peacock is also canceled due to low viewership.

Hasan's hour will be absorbed by host Ayman Mohyeldin, whose program will expand to two hours.

MSNBC is also expanding anchor Alex Witt's weekend newscast "MSNBC Reports" to three hours. She will pick up the hour that had been anchored by Yasmin Vossoughian, who will continue with MSNBC as a national reporter.

A new two-hour discussion program, "The Weekend" will feature MSNBC weekend anchors Symone Sanders-Townsend and Alicia Menendez. They will be joined by longtime MSNBC contributor Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

"The Weekend," which will be based in Washington, will air at 8 a.m. Eastern starting Jan. 13.

Read more: MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' tries to keep cable news smart while expanding to four hours

The changes at MSNBC have been under consideration for months, according to two people familiar with the plans, which are being enacted to reduce costs.

MSNBC's weekend ratings trail Fox News and CNN and are far lower than the rest of the week, when the network performs well with programs anchored by Ari Melber, Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow. News networks typically make budget-driven programming changes at the end of the year.

In previous election cycles, MSNBC has also altered its weekend schedule to accommodate additional coverage of the presidential primary season.

But the timing may create some blowback among Hasan's followers. The British American host, who is Muslim and previously worked at Qatar-based news channel Al-Jazeera, has been an outspoken critic of Israel's military response to the terror attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Hasan joined MSNBC in 2021.

Other weekend hosts will be moving to new time periods. Katie Phang's Saturday program will move to noon Eastern. Jonathan Capehart's weekend program shifts to 6 p.m. Eastern.

Ali Velshi will continue his two-hour program, which airs Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. Eastern.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)  A1s Towing and Haulings booting and towing permits have been suspended in Memphis for 30 days.

The Transportation Commission took the action Wednesday after receiving several complaints from truck drivers who claimed they were illegally booted and towed by A1s from area truck stops and charged thousands of dollars to get their semi-trucks back.

After submitting a request to the city, WREG discovered nearly two dozen truckers or trucking companies from around the country had filed official complaints against A1s with the permits office over the last year.

Driver stays in truck 33 hours to avoid being towed by A1s

Fenn Churchs Birmingham, Alabama, trucking company was forced to pay over $17,500 after two of his 18-wheelers were booted and towed by A1s from two different gas stations in Memphis.

Church said he was pleased to see some action had been taken to halt A1s from towing temporarily but wonders what will happen once the 30 days are up.

I dont think this company is going to clean up its act in 30 days and start acting like a legitimate towing company should, said Church.

Church said he filed a complaint with the permits office to get his money back but has not received a dime. He said he and at least two other trucking companies are working on a class-action suit against A1s.

Getting money out of them is probably going to be extremely difficult, said Church.

Council member talks tough on towing, A1s responds

In September, the Arkansas Towing and Recovery Board suspended A1s booting license in the state for 60 days after several truck drivers said they had been illegally booted and towed from the same unmanned truck stop in West Memphis.

In October, The Tennessee Attorney Generals office said it had received nearly a dozen complaints against A1s Towing and Hauling, and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security told WREG THPs Criminal Investigations Division was assisting Memphis Police with an investigation of A1s activities.

Church said his truck drivers are still driving through Memphis but are not stopping to fuel in the city. He said he wont rest until A1s is put out of business.

They are messing with interstate commerce: Trucking company gets $12k A1s tow bill

Our industry has enough stress as it is right now with the economy in the shape that it is in right now. We are probably going through one of the slowest revenue periods of my company in 23 years, said Church. The whole industry is feeling it, and then you got leeches in our system like these operators.

A1s Towing files lawsuit against MPD, City of Memphis

An attorney for A1s Towing said the hearing Wednesday was procedurally flawed, and his client plans on appealing the ruling.

The Memphis Transportation Commission acted in violation of Section 6-46-3(B) of the Memphis Transportation Commission Ordinance, and they violated my clients due process rights as contemplated by the Contested Hearing proceedings, said Darrell Oneal.

We need to bring the hammer down: City councilman questions A1s fees

The company claims they have not violated any booting or towing ordinances. City Council is expected to discuss alleged abuses by towing companies at an upcoming meeting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Dressed in their top hats, their colorful waistcoats, their velvet bodices and gathered skirts, The Oakwood Waits look and sing as though they stepped out of the pages of Dickens  which has always been the point.

Since 1984, the Raleigh troupe of carolers have celebrated their merriness in the most traditional fashion, mixing Pat-a-Pan and Fum, Fum, Fum in with Jingle Bells.

Relentlessly festive, the a capella ensemble of 16 sings at churches and benefit concerts around the Triangle with the exuberance of Scrooge after all three spirits.

But on Tuesday, they bring their harmonies to the nations stateliest residence:

The White House.

Its the greatest honor weve ever received and were deeply grateful, said Lee Baker, a longtime Waits singer. Just to see peoples faces and know weve put them in a good mood.

Christmas, the one thing Im not really jaded about

This will mark the groups third presidential trip: the first in 1997 and the second in 2004. More than the return after two decades, the Waits consider having endured through the pandemic, which wiped out less sturdy volunteer musicians unable to practice or perform.

It speaks to the long life of the group, the little flame thats still lit, said Jon Douglas, one of the Waits. Its like, for me, the one thing Im not really jaded about. I love Christmas. Im going to be cheerful no matter what, damn it. That sentiment goes across the group.

The Oakwood Waits perform in Dickensian costume and sign traditional carols in concerts, including an upcoming performance at The White House.

The Waits started as a quartet in Raleighs Historic Oakwood neighborhood, and even as as membership grew to an elaborately costumed ensemble, the neighborhood caroling continued through a tradition now known as The Traipse.

The term waits refers to the British term for street musicians  sometimes spelled waites. And while the Oakwood repertoire includes carols dating to medieval times, the group has always thrown in the odd Rudolph or jazz tune.

Jingle Bells and more

For years, Baker said, the only children s song we had was Jingle Bells, Baker said. Wed be at a gig and wed probably sing Jingle Bells 10 times in two hours.

Getting to Washington required an application, a considerable Secret Service review and some influence from North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper.

And while the Waits will be singing for White House visitors rather than the First Family, it will be during a special arranged tour.

Still, one imagines President Biden catching a few bars of Masters in this Hall, and sneaking downstairs for a peek.

The Oakwood Waits, an a capella caroling group in Raleigh since 1984, will soon perform at The White House.
 Flash

Hamas and Israel have agreed to extend their humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, said Palestinian and Israeli officials in multiple statements on Thursday.

The truce, which was set to expire on Thursday morning, will be extended for an additional day, according to a statement by Hamas.

"Through our mediators, we have agreed to extend the ceasefire for one further day," Hamas said in a press statement sent to Xinhua.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday morning that the ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be extended.

"The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework," read a short statement released by the IDF several minutes before the expiration of the current truce deal.

Only eight hostages will be released by Hamas on Thursday, according to several Israeli media, as the two Israeli-Russian women released by Hamas earlier on Wednesday will be included in the hostage list for Thursday. In exchange, 30 Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons.

Avichai Adraee, spokesperson of the Israeli army, said in a press statement that "given the efforts of the mediators to continue the process of releasing the abductees and in accordance with the terms of the agreement, the temporary humanitarian truce period will continue."

Adraee added that Hamas "will later hand over a new list" of names of the hostages to be released according to the agreement.

Overnight, both sides just completed the sixth round of release as part of the truce agreement. A total of 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thais, were freed on Wednesday night and received by Israeli hospitals for treatment and observation on Thursday morning, while 30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.

Hours before the official announcements, the situation was extremely tense when the previous period for the humanitarian truce ended on Thursday, Palestinian sources said.

Tensions rose as Israel "refused to receive seven women and children detainees during the day and the bodies of three ... detainees who were killed due to the bombing of Gaza, in exchange for extending the truce," the Palestinian sources added.

Israeli outlets said that the list presented by Hamas for the new batch of kidnapped people "does not meet the agreed-upon standards."
Arizona's largest school district will soon have weapons detectors and vape sensors in schools across the district.

Mesa Public Schools' governing board voted 4-0 to approve the measures on Tuesday night. Board member Kiana Sears was not present.

The funding for the weapons detectors and vape sensors was set aside in the district's 2023-24 capital budget, according to Holly Williams, the district's associate superintendent.

Vape sensors to be in bathrooms at 20 middle and high schools

The vape sensors will be installed in all bathrooms across 20 of the district's middle and high schools. It's an effort to stop kids from using e-cigarettes, which heat liquids that contain nicotine or other chemicals, including THC, the high-inducing compound found in marijuana.

Allen Moore, the district's safety and security director, said he wants to make bathrooms safe places for students to just use the facilities. The sensors detect e-cigarette vapor and alert a camera outside the bathroom, prompting a security guard to be dispatched to catch the student as they are exiting.

The vape sensors are an expansion of a pilot program at one of the district's high schools that began in September and led to 48 students getting caught in two months.

Punishments for students who are caught can include suspensions, as well as civil citations from police officers for students caught with THC.

Several public health groups, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, advise against suspending students in response to e-cigarette use. They say that punitive measures aren't effective ways to combat nicotine addiction among youth and instead recommend more supportive and educational measures.

The vape sensors cost about $1,600 each, plus installation costs, according to district spokesperson Jennifer Snyder.

What does it mean for students? Mesa schools look at adding vape sensors to bathrooms

Weapons detectors to be placed at high school entrances

The Mesa Public Schools governing board approved a second safety measure at its Nov. 28 meeting: weapons detectors at entrances to the district's high schools.

The detectors will be piloted at Skyline High School before being installed at the six other district high schools, Snyder said. Students and staff will have to walk through them before entering school.

Since August 2022, eight firearms have been found across the district's schools  six during the 2022-23 school year and two this school year, according to Snyder.

"Our students were shaken by certain incidents" last year, said Randy Mahlerwein, the district's assistant superintendent, during the Nov. 28 meeting.

The district owes it to students to create a safe environment "so they can come to school and do what they should be doing and being kids," he said.

The Opengate weapons detectors will be purchased from CEIA USA, which sells metal detecting equipment manufactured by its Italian parent company, CEIA SpA.

The detectors consist of two portable, 25-pound free-standing pillars that detect metal, though they are marketed as being designed for faster screening than the traditional metal detectors used in airports and prisons.

CEIA USA's Opengate weapons detectors will be placed at entrances of high schools in the Mesa Public Schools district.

CEIA's K-12 National Sales Manager Tom McDermott said that Opengate detectors, at certain settings, look specifically for types of metals known to be in weapons so that students don't have to remove innocuous items like keys, cellphones and belts as they walk through them.

For that reason, the detectors, which CEIA began selling in March 2021, are less intrusive than traditional metal detectors, making it easier for schools to purchase them "without feeling like they're locking the school down," McDermott said.

Still, because schools can adjust the detectors' sensitivity levels, they can choose to detect all types of metals, which would mean that innocuous items would set off the detector. McDermott said that most schools are looking for mass casualty threats, like a gun with a magazine clip. At that sensitivity level, students have to remove their laptops from their backpacks, he said.

Mesa Public Schools is planning to program the detectors to detect firearms and large knives, Snyder said.

The detectors will cost the district about $20,000 each, she said.

Mesa's decision to purchase weapons detectors aligns with a national trend. According to Nikita Ermolaev, a research engineer at IPVM, a security and surveillance industry trade publication, over the past few years, there has been a "dramatic increase in the number of school districts that spend multiple million dollars on these kinds of systems for screening in their schools."

He's skeptical, though, of the title "weapons detectors," which implies the technology detects weapons, he said.

"If you are a school district that is concerned with detecting everything," including small box cutters and pocket knives, "you'll crank up the sensitivity very high," Ermolaev said. "And the downside of that is that you'll cause more false alarms on benign objects."

"There's a trade-off between the number of missed weapons and the number of false alerts," he said.

Several Arizona districts have installed weapons detectors

At Skyline, the detectors will be piloted at three entry points. Each one will be staffed with security guards, administrators and teachers, said Gregory Mendez, Skyline's principal, during a Nov. 14 governing board discussion. School police officers will be on call if an alarm goes off, he said.

"We have a practice of greeting every kid in the parking lot as they're walking in anyways," Mendez said. "It would just be one more thing they would walk through to come onto our campus."

Mesa Public Schools is not the first Arizona school district to pilot weapons detectors at its schools. The Phoenix Union High School District also decided in early November to pilot the Opengate detectors at two schools where a student brought a gun to campus in the past year.

McDermott said about 750 U.S. school districts have purchased CEIA's Opengate detectors.

In Arizona, three school districts have purchased them: Agua Fria Union High School District in the West Valley, Sunnyside School District in Tucson and Tempe Union High School District, he said. It's not clear how many school districts in the state have similar systems from other companies.

Agua Fria Union purchased Opengate detectors for all five of its high schools early this year, according to district spokesperson Megan Griego. Between July 2021 and January 2023, there were seven incidences of firearms found on campuses, she said. The district was alerted to those through reports from students. Since the detectors were installed, there have been none, she said.

Districts that pilot the detectors, like Mesa Public Schools and Phoenix Union, rent them for $1,500 per detector per month, according to McDermott. They receive 80% of that cost back if they ultimately decide to purchase them, he said.

At its next meeting on Dec. 12, the Mesa Public Schools governing board is set to vote on another safety update: an agreement with the Mesa Police Department to allow its Real Time Crime Center to have access to the district's approximately 3,000 camera views, specifically for emergencies and 911 calls.

Lawsuit filed: Ex-Trump aide Stephen Miller's legal group suing Mesa schools over transgender policies

Madeleine Parrish covers K-12 education. Reach her at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Weapons detectors, vape sensors coming to Mesa schools. What to know
Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next years elections, Meta said Thursday.

The network of nearly 4,800 fake accounts was attempting to build an audience when it was identified and eliminated by the tech company, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The accounts sported fake photos, names and locations as a way to appear like everyday American Facebook users weighing in on political issues.

Instead of spreading fake content as other networks have done, the accounts were used to reshare posts from X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that were created by politicians, news outlets and others. The interconnected accounts pulled content from both liberal and conservative sources, an indication that its goal was not to support one side or the other but to exaggerate partisan divisions and further inflame polarization.

Facebooks $725M settlement is huge, but how much will you actually get?

The newly identified network shows how Americas foreign adversaries exploit U.S.-based tech platforms to sow discord and distrust, and it hints at the serious threats posed by online disinformation next year, when national elections will occur in the U.S., India, Mexico, Ukraine, Pakistan, Taiwan and other nations.

These networks still struggle to build audiences, but theyre a warning, said Ben Nimmo, who leads investigations into inauthentic behavior on Metas platforms. Foreign threat actors are attempting to reach people across the internet ahead of next years elections, and we need to remain alert.

Meta Platforms Inc., based in Menlo Park, California, did not publicly link the Chinese network to the Chinese government, but it did determine the network originated in that country. The content spread by the accounts broadly complements other Chinese government propaganda and disinformation that has sought to inflate partisan and ideological divisions within the U.S.

To appear more like normal Facebook accounts, the network would sometimes post about fashion or pets. Earlier this year, some of the accounts abruptly replaced their American-sounding user names and profile pictures with new ones suggesting they lived in India. The accounts then began spreading pro-Chinese content about Tibet and India, reflecting how fake networks can be redirected to focus on new targets.

Meta often points to its efforts to shut down fake social media networks as evidence of its commitment to protecting election integrity and democracy. But critics say the platforms focus on fake accounts distracts from its failure to address its responsibility for the misinformation already on its site that has contributed to polarization and distrust.

For instance, Meta will accept paid advertisements on its site to claim the U.S. election in 2020 was rigged or stolen, amplifying the lies of former President Donald Trump and other Republicans whose claims about election irregularities have been repeatedly debunked. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence that the presidential election, which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden, was tainted.

When asked about its ad policy, the company said it is focusing on future elections, not ones from the past, and will reject ads that cast unfounded doubt on upcoming contests.

Is NameDrop really a privacy threat? The truth revealed

And while Meta has announced a new artificial intelligence policy that will require political ads to bear a disclaimer if they contain AI-generated content, the company has allowed other altered videos that were created using more conventional programs to remain on its platform, including a digitally edited video of Biden that claims he is a pedophile.

This is a company that cannot be taken seriously and that cannot be trusted, said Zamaan Qureshi, a policy adviser at the Real Facebook Oversight Board, an organization of civil rights leaders and tech experts who have been critical of Metas approach to disinformation and hate speech. Watch what Meta does, not what they say.

Meta executives discussed the networks activities during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, the day after the tech giant announced its policies for the upcoming election year  most of which were put in place for prior elections.

But 2024 poses new challenges, according to experts who study the link between social media and disinformation. Not only will many large countries hold national elections, but the emergence of sophisticated AI programs means its easier than ever to create lifelike audio and video that could mislead voters.

Platforms still are not taking their role in the public sphere seriously, said Jennifer Stromer-Galley, a Syracuse University professor who studies digital media.

FILE - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks about "News Tab" at the Paley Center, Oct. 25, 2019, in New York. A House committee called off a vote Thursday, July 27, 2023, on a recommendation that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg be held in contempt of Congress for failing to fully supply documents related to an investigation into supposed censorship by tech companies of conservatives. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Stromer-Galley called Metas election plans modest but noted it stands in stark contrast to the Wild West of X. Since buying the X platform, then called Twitter, Elon Musk has eliminated teams focused on content moderation, welcomed back many users previously banned for hate speech and used the site to spread conspiracy theories.

Democrats and Republicans have called for laws addressing algorithmic recommendations, misinformation, deepfakes and hate speech, but theres little chance of any significant regulations passing ahead of the 2024 election. That means it will fall to the platforms to voluntarily police themselves.

Metas efforts to protect the election so far are a horrible preview of what we can expect in 2024, according to Kyle Morse, deputy executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, a nonprofit that supports new federal regulations for social media. Congress and the administration need to act now to ensure that Meta, TikTok, Google, X, Rumble and other social media platforms are not actively aiding and abetting foreign and domestic actors who are openly undermining our democracy.

Some major brands are giving up on Threads as engagement craters

Many of the fake accounts identified by Meta this week also had nearly identical accounts on X, where some of them regularly retweeted Musks posts.

Those accounts remain active on X. A message seeking comment from the platform was not returned.

Meta also released a report Wednesday evaluating the risk that foreign adversaries including Iran, China and Russia would use social media to interfere in elections. The report noted that Russias recent disinformation efforts have focused not on the U.S. but on its war against Ukraine, using state media propaganda and misinformation in an effort to undermine support for the invaded nation.

Nimmo, Metas chief investigator, said turning opinion against Ukraine will likely be the focus of any disinformation Russia seeks to inject into Americas political debate ahead of next years election.

This is important ahead of 2024, Nimmo said. As the war continues, we should especially expect to see Russian attempts to target election-related debates and candidates that focus on support for Ukraine.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Meta said Thursday that it removed 4,789 Facebook accounts in China that targeted the United States by posing as Americans and spreading polarizing content about U.S. domestic politics and U.S.-China relations.

In its Q3 Adversarial Threat report, Meta, which owns Facebook, said it was able to identify and remove the accounts before they gained traction with real people and communities.

The accounts included fake photos, names and locations in an effort to appear like average American citizens expressing views on U.S. politics. In reality, the accounts originated in China, Meta said.

The large network of accounts posted real content copied from politicians and other people on other platforms. That content represented polarizing views across the political spectrum, suggesting the purpose was not to support one political side but rather to sow further division.

Meta noted this is contrary to other efforts to interfere in U.S. politics in the past, which spread fake stories, because these accounts posted real content. In the report, Meta included examples of posts copied verbatim from politicians, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.).

Meta highlighted the danger of the foreign political campaigns, particularly ahead of the 2024 presidential election in the United States.

These networks still struggle to build audiences, but theyre a warning, said Ben Nimmo, who leads investigations into inauthentic behavior on Metas platforms, The Associated Press reported.

Foreign threat actors are attempting to reach people across the internet ahead of next years elections, and we need to remain alert, Nimmo added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced theyd arrested the Milledgeville Fire Departments chief for simple battery.

According to the GBI, Fire Chief William Taft Collier Jr. was under investigation after the Milledgeville Police Department requested GBI look into an incident involving Collier and a former fire department employee during an October fundraiser.

The incident, which happened at the Baldwin County High School Gymnasium on Oct. 22, was put under investigation three days later.

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The GBI announced Colliers arrest Wednesday.

Officials said the investigation is active and ongoing.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the Milledgeville Fire Department about the chiefs current active status with the department and are waiting for their response.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A city bus pulls up to Milwakuee Area Technical College's main campus in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sept. 21, 2022.

The search is on for the next president of Milwaukee Area Technical College.

The goal: To select the new president in late April, with a start date of July 1, 2024.

With just over 29,000 students enrolled last fall, MATC is the largest of Wisconsin's 16 publicly funded technical colleges based on full-time-equivalent enrollment. Current president Vicki Martin, 69, announced in September her plans to retire after 35 years in various roles at the school.

The nine-person board overseeing MATC solicited bids from 17 executive search firms to lead the presidential search process. From eight proposals, the board on Nov. 10 selected a $120,000 contract with Greenwood Asher & Associates Executive Search on Nov. 10.

The board met in an open meeting Nov. 28 to outline a draft timeline for the monthslong search process. Some dates in that timeline could change. The college plans to post updates about the presidential search at https://rb.gy/z21ydu.

Public listening sessions begin Dec. 4

The search firm will hold virtual and in-person listening sessions during the weeks of Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 with students, faculty, staff, administrators, community members, and others who will be affected by the selection of a new president.

The search firm will also meet with members of the MATC board individually about their priorities.

Feedback from listening sessions, plus a written survey, will be used to create recruitment priorities for the search process. That includes language used in the advertisement for the position and the job description, according to the search firm.

The search firm will ask a series of standard questions during listening sessions and written anonymous surveys:

What personal qualities, skills and abilities will be important for your next president?

What are the key challenges and opportunities?

What does the new president need to accomplish in the next one to three years and next three to five years?

What do you want prospective candidates to know about MATC and this opportunity?

What are your points of pride? What brought you here? What keeps you here?

Those questions were predeveloped by the search firm, said Tracey Weldon, who is managing the MATC search for Greenwood/Asher & Associates. In response to a question from board member Bria Burris, Weldon said there is room to edit those questions but cautioned that listening sessions begin Monday.

"My experience on this is if people have something to say, they find a place within the questions to say what it is," said MATC board vice chair Lauren Baker. But that doesn't mean the board should not think about those questions to make sure participants can "dig deep and tell us the things they believe," she said.

Active recruitment between late December, early January

An eight-week active recruitment window will begin in late December or early January. By that time, the search firm and board will have finalized a position profile and advertisement.

The search firm will solicit applications using three main methods: responses to advertisements, nominations and active recruitment. In particular, the firm will look for candidates at two-year tech colleges in urban settings that are similar in size to MATC, community colleges with a "technical college mission" and employees of four-year institutions who have experience working with technical colleges.

Current faculty, staff and others at MATC are encouraged to nominate candidates for the role.

Anti-bias workshop in February

The MATC board will take part in an 1.5-hour anti-bias training led by Greenwood Asher & Associates as part of the search process.

The workshop's purpose is to "create awareness around the common occurrences of bias in the search, to explore the outcomes of bias" and discuss techniques to minimize bias in the process, Weldon told the MATC board on Tuesday.

The MATC board chair and vice chair will meet with the search firm ahead of the anti-bias workshop to review its slide deck, and to "get a sense of the campus climate and culture to make sure that we are using language that is consistent with the language that you typically use around diversity, equity and inclusion," Weldon said.

Board to narrow down candidates during series of spring meetings

The board and search firm will meet in late February to review applicants. The goal is to select 12 to 15 applicants for virtual interviews in early March.

Typically, those interviews last one hour each and include eight to 10 questions. Board members will ask questions preselected by the search firm, Weldon said Tuesday night.

The goal is to finish two days of early March interviews with a handful of candidates selected for whom to check references.

Week of April 15: Three final candidates travel to campus for in-person interviews

After two weeks of referencing calls, the board and search firm plan to meet in late March to review information gleaned during the reference process. At that point, the board will select three final candidates who will be invited to MATC's campus for in-person interviews.

Those finalists' names will be made public.

On-campus, in-person interviews are scheduled for the week of April 15, according to the draft timeline. Teachers, staff, faculty and others will again be asked for feedback about those finalists, which will be shared with the board.

On April 23, the board is scheduled to select the next president, according to the draft timeline.

Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What are the next steps for MATC's presidential search?
The meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which began in the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje, was ignored by ministers from 13 of the 31 members of the North Atlantic Alliance due to the presence of Sergey Lavrov, Russias Foreign Minister.

Source: European Pravda article OSCE did not saddle Lavrov: how attempt to "bend" to Russia's top diplomat only deepened problems

Details: The process of boycotting the OSCE meeting due to the participation of the Russian Foreign Minister was launched by Dmytro Kuleba's demarche. It was publicly supported by the Baltic states and Poland, which together participated in the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

"According to European Pravda, 13 out of 31 NATO member states refused to travel to Skopje and did not board the charter that transported ministers from one meeting to another," the article says.

But even those ministers who did arrive in Skopje, after a joint dinner, which Lavrov did not attend, decided not to be present at the meeting itself and left their deputies, assistants or even ambassadors to speak instead.

These included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU diplomat Josep Borrell, who entrusted the speech to Lithuanian diplomat Ambassador Rasa Ostrauskaite. The foreign ministers of the UK, Canada, Italy, Poland, Belgium, and others did not attend the event.

In addition, during Lavrov's speech at the meeting, Ukraine and representatives of several other countries demonstratively left the room. The Russian foreign minister reacted with a nervous phrase, "Leave me alone!"

At the same time, Hungarian Minister Peter Szijjarto, who called for an end to arms supplies to Ukraine, and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, who met with Lavrov "at the request of the OSCE" and called for "no fear of dialogue," expectedly met separately.

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Mint Hill man arrested for assaulting officer during Jan. 6th U.S. Capitol breach

MINT HILL, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Mint Hill man involved with the January 6th post-election Capitol building attack has been identified and is now facing charges, the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday.

David Daniel, 36, of Mint Hill, N.C., faces multiple charges including assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers and civil disorder.

Photo Credit: DOJ

Court records state that around 2:46 p.m. on January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., Daniel joined another rioter in leading a violent push against a barricaded Senate Wing door and officers who were attempting to hold the door closed.

The Charlotte FBI offices and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina are among the departments involved in the arrest.

Daniel is among more than 1,200 people who have been charged in the deadly riots that occurred following President Bidens 2020 election win over former President Donald Trump.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
A member of a Juarez women's empowerment group who was missing for more than a week was found slain and buried in a junkyard, reigniting outrage over the continuous murder of women in the city.

Karina Dominguez Rubio, 38, was an activist and a counselor with Renace y Vive Mujer, the civic association said in a statement. The group, whose name means "Reborn and Live Woman," provides various support programs and workshops for women.

Immigration: La perdida - The loss: Deadly disaster at El Paso, Juarez border

The deadly disappearance occurred shy of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Nov. 25. Femicides, or the murder of women and girls, has been a decades-long problem in Juarez.

Dominguez had dedicated her work in the association to promoting a life free of violence for women and was a single mother striving to provide an honest living for her family, the group stated.

Karina Dominguez Rubio, 38, a member of Juarez women's empowerment group, was found slain and buried in a junkyard in Anapra on Wednesday after going missing on Nov. 16.

Dominguez was last seen on Nov. 16 in the Valle Alto section of Juarez and was reported missing two days later on Nov. 18. with her last possible location being Anapra on the northwestern edge of the city, the Chihuahua Attorney General's Office said

Renace y Vive Mujer accused the specialized state police unit dealing with crimes against women of reacting too slowly to the disappearance and waiting 24 hours to start searching for missing persons.

Missing children: Mysterious disappearance of Juarez boy 'Tomatito' unsolved 5 years later

After Dominguez was reported missing, state police investigators began reviewing video taken by public safety cameras as well as technological inquiries, which indicated Dominguez was last located in Anapra, the attorney general's office said.

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, investigators carried out a court-approved police search of properties in Anapra, where Dominguez's dismantled car was discovered before her body was found a day later buried in a vehicle junkyard, authorities said.

The state attorney general's office has not officially confirmed that body is that of Dominguez, but Renace y Vive Mujer said it is that of their member.

'Sorry for the inconvenience, but they are killing us'

Renace y Vive Mujer has more than 10 years promoting a variety of programs for the empowerment of women, including anti-violence, physical fitness, beauty and economics.

Dominguez first arrived at the group while mourning the death of her husband from cancer before eventually becoming a counselor. She ran a micro-business, a clinic for women with aesthetic problems and organized sessions for women seeking to have liposuction, La Verdad Juarez news site reported.

There have been more than 1,050 homicides in Juarez this year, according to local news accounts. In Juarez, about 88% of all murders are related to organized crime, the Chihuahua attorney general has said.

Violence in Mexico: Murders flare in Juarez after woman's death ignites gang war

Women are fed up with having to live in fear in Juarez, the state of Chihuahua and the entire country of Mexico, Rocio Saenz, president of Renace y Vive Mujer, wrote in a fiery open letter on Wednesday, demanding justice.

"We are exhausted and angry of waking up every day with the terrible news of the death of a woman, the discovery of human remains abandoned in desolate places or landfills, the disappearance of girls, teens and women, and the subsequent discovery of a lifeless person days later," Saenz stated.

No one can remain silent amid the disappearances, femicides and other murders, Saenz wrote.

"And yes, we are frustrated. Frustrated by the situation of violence we are experiencing. Frustrated by the indignant actions of the authorities. Frustrated that raising our voice makes them uncomfortable. Sorry for the inconvenience, but they are killing us."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Missing Juarez woman activist found slain, car dismantled at junkyard
Authorities arrested a Mississippi Coast man on Wednesday after they searched his home and found methamphetamine and marijuana, the Harrison County Sheriffs office said in a news release.

Mario Christopher Lawton, 40, of Pass Christian is charged with possessing and trafficking the drugs after Harrison County narcotics authorities obtained a warrant to search his home in the 700 block of Cane Street. They searched the home about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and found two pounds of methamphetamine and felony quantities of marijuana, according to the news release.

Authorities also found multiple guns and money from drug proceeds, the release said.

Lawton faces charges of trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He is in the Harrison County jail on a $340,000 bond issued by Justice Court Judge Albert J. Fountain.

Pass Christian police assisted the investigation, the release said.

Lawton is one of several arrests made this month for drug cases on the Mississippi Coast. Authorities arrested two men last week for transporting 12 kilograms of fentanyl through Gulfport. In the beginning of November, police found guns, cash and over $34,000 worth of drugs after a traffic stop in Gulfport. And authorities charged a Mexican national in late October after they found nine kilograms of fentanyl -- worth about $540,000 -- in his car during a traffic stop on I-10.
A Picayune man could spend up to life in prison for multiple sex crimes against three children who he abused for years, District Attorney Hal Kittrell said in a news release Thursday.

Joshua Lowry Carr, 42, was convicted on Wednesday of four charges: three counts of touching a child for lustful purposes and one count of sexual battery.

Joshua Carr has lived under the radar as a child predator for years, Kittrell said in the news release. This conviction delivers justice to his victims and ensures that he will never again hurt a child.

Carrs conviction came Wednesday in the Circuit Court of Pearl River County before Judge Brad Touchstone.

Carr molested the three children for years before they came forward in 2021, the news release said. He could face fifteen years in prison for each count of touching a child for lustful purposes and could spend life in prison for sexual battery, according to the release.

Carr must register as a sex offender if released from prison.

Carr was arrested in September 2022 by the Pearl River County Sheriffs office, according to an arrest report in the Picayune Item. In the news release, Kittrell thanked the sheriffs department for its investigation.

Carrs sentencing is Dec. 14.
Last August, six former Mississippi police officers, including five former employees of the Rankin County Sheriff's Office (RCSO), admitted to punching, kicking, tasing, torturing, and humiliating two black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker, during an unlawful home invasion on January 24. The cops, who ostensibly were conducting a drug investigation, "tortured and inflicted unspeakable harm on their victims, egregiously violated the civil rights of citizens who they were supposed to protect, and shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as law enforcement officers," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. The officers "committed heinous and wanton acts of violence," said U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, thereby "violat[ing] their oaths," "disgracing the badge," and "becom[ing] the criminals they were sworn to protect us from."

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey also claimed to be shocked. "The badge worn by so many has been tarnished by the criminal acts of these few individuals," Bailey said at an August 3 press conference. "This is a perfect example of why people don't trust the police, and never in my life did I think it would happen in this department.I never, ever could imagine any of these five individuals [were] capable of these horrendous crimes.I'm just floored and shocked.These guys were so far past any boundary that I know of that it's unbelievable what they did.This was a bunch of criminals that did a home invasion."

But according to a joint investigation by The New York Times and Mississippi Today, Bailey, who has served as sheriff for 12 years and was reelected on November 7 after running unopposed, had plenty of reasons to think something like this would happen in his department. Similar things had been happening in Rankin County "for nearly two decades," the Times reports, and Bailey himself had repeatedly received complaints about them.

According to the Justice Department's description of the attack on Jenkins and Parker at their home in Braxton, the ex-cops admitted they had "kicked in the door" without a warrant or exigent circumstances. They handcuffed and arrested Jenkins and Parker "without probable cause to believe they had committed any crime." They "called them racial slurs" and "warned them to stay out of Rankin County." They "punched and kicked the men, tased them 17 times, forced them to ingest liquids, and assaulted them with a dildo." One of the officers, narcotics investigator Christian Dedmon, "fired his gun twice to intimidate the men."

Another officer, Deputy Hunter Elward, "surreptitiously removed a bullet from the chamber of his gun," shoved the gun into Jenkins' mouth, and "pulled the trigger." The gun "clicked but did not fire." Elward then "racked the slide, intending to dry-fire a second time." But this time "when Elward pulled the trigger, the gun discharged." The bullet "lacerated [Jenkins'] tongue, broke his jaw and exited out of his neck."

Instead of providing medical aid, the officers "gathered outside the home to devise a false cover story and took steps to corroborate it." They planted a gun on Jenkins, destroyed evidence, submitted "fraudulent drug evidence," filed false reports, charged Jenkins with "crimes he did not commit," made false statements to investigators, and pressured witnesses to corroborate their cover story.

The Justice Department noted that three of the defendants "admitted in court that they were members of 'The Goon Squad,' a group of RCSO officers who were known for using excessive force and not reporting it." Although "it's unclear when Rankin County deputies adopted their nickname," the Times says, last year "they ordered commemorative coins emblazoned with cartoonish gangsters and the words 'Lt. Middleton's Goon Squad.'" Lt. Jeffrey Middleton, their supervisor, was one of the five deputies who pleaded guilty on August 3 to a total of 16 federal felonies, including deprivation of rights under color of law, obstruction of justice, and firing a gun during a crime of violence. The defendants also included RCSO Chief Investigator Brett McAlpin. On August 14, the same deputies pleaded guilty to state charges, including aggravated assault and home invasion, stemming from the "horrendous crimes" that "shocked" Bailey.

At his August 3 press conference, Bailey complained that his deputies had lied to him about the attack on Jenkins and Parker. He said he had never heard of the "Goon Squad" until late July and had no inkling that his deputies were capable of such abuses. "Nobody's ever reported that to me," he said.

Bailey's claim of ignorance is hard to believe given the longstanding pattern of abuse described by the Times. "Narcotics detectives and patrol officers, some [of whom] called themselves the Goon Squad, barged into homes in the middle of the night, accusing people inside of dealing drugs," the paper reports. "Then they handcuffed or held them at gunpoint and tortured them into confessing or providing information, according to dozens of people who say they endured or witnessed the assaults."

Robert Jones, for example, said Bailey's deputies had tased him "while he lay submerged in a flooded ditch, then rammed a stick down his throat until he vomited blood." Mitchell Hobson said deputies had choked him with a lamp cord, "waterboarded him to simulate drowning," and beaten him "until the walls were spattered with his blood." Rick Loveday "said he was dragged half-naked from his bed at gunpoint, before deputies jabbed a flashlight threateningly at his buttocks and then pummeled him relentlessly."

The Times and Mississippi Today investigated "dozens of allegations" and "were able to corroborate 17 incidents involving 22 victims based on witness interviews, medical records, photographs of injuries and other documents." In those 17 cases, "accusers described similar tactics by deputies, almost always over small drug busts. Deputies held people down while punching and kicking them or shocked them repeatedly with Tasers. They shoved gun barrels into people's mouths. Three people said deputies had waterboarded them until they thought they would suffocate. Five said deputies had told them to move out of the county."

Although the case that drew national attention to police brutality in Rankin County involved two black victims, the Times notes that Bailey's deputies were equal-opportunity abusers. They "appear to have targeted people based on suspected drug use, not race," the paper says, noting that "most of their accusers were white."

Taser logs helped corroborate many of the allegations: "Electronically recorded dates and times of Taser triggers lined up with witness accounts and suggested that deputies repeatedly shocked people for longer than is considered safe." On at least 32 occasions during the last decade, the Times says, "Rankin deputies fired their Tasers more than five times in under an hour, activating them for at least 30 seconds in totaldouble the recommended limit. Experts in Taser use who reviewed the logs called these incidents highly suspicious."

Even without analyzing Taser logs, Bailey should have known something was amiss. "Many of those who said they experienced violence filed lawsuits or formal complaints, detailing their encounters with the department," the Times notes. "A few said they had contacted Sheriff Bailey directly, only to be ignored." McAlpin, one of the deputies involved in the torture of Jenkins and Parker, "was named in at least four lawsuits and six complaints going back to 2004." That did not stop Bailey from honoring McAlpin as investigator of the year in 2013. "I knew him well," Bailey told reporters in August, noting that McAlpin had been with the RCSO for two decades.

"Over the years," the Times reports, "more than a dozen people have directly confronted Sheriff Bailey and his command staff about the deputies' brutal methods, according to court records and interviews with accusers and their families. At least five people have sued the department alleging beatings, chokings and other abuses by deputies associated with the Goon Squad." The RCSO settled two of those cases, while two others "were dismissed over procedural errors by accusers representing themselves." According to one of the lawsuits that resulted in a settlement, McAlpin "kicked 19-year-old Brett Gerhart in the face and pressed a pistol to his temple in 2010 during a mistaken raid at the wrong address."

Despite all this, Bailey insists he had no reason to think his deputies were abusing their authority. "I'm gonna fix this," he promised in August. "I'm gonna make everyone a whole lot more accountable." Given his professed obliviousness, Bailey does not seem like the right man for that job. If he really believed in accountability, he would have the decency to resign. He refuses to do that. "The only thing I'm guilty of," he said, "is trusting grown men that swore an oath to do their job correctly." He added that "the people of Rankin County elected me to do a job," and "I'm gonna stay here."

The post Mississippi Sheriff Insists He Was Oblivious to His Drug Warriors' Long Pattern of Brutality appeared first on Reason.com.
FILE - This April 2, 2019 booking photo provided by the Mississippi Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Willie Jerome Manning. On Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, the Mississippi Supreme Court temporarily delayed ruling on whether to set an execution date for Manning, who is on death row for capital murder. (Mississippi Department of Corrections via AP, File)

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The Mississippi Supreme Court has temporarily delayed ruling on whether to set an execution date for a man on death row for capital murder.

The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Mississippi Attorney General's motion to lift a stay and set an execution date for Willie Jerome Manning, 55, would be held in abeyance until the Court rules on Manning's petition for post-conviction relief.

Manning was convicted in 1994 on two counts of capital murder in the December 1992 killings of Mississippi State University students Jon Steckler and Tiffany Miller. The bodies of Steckler and Miller were found in rural Oktibbeha County, and Millers car was missing. The car was found the next morning. Prosecutors said Manning was arrested after he tried to sell items belonging to the victims.

Manning has maintained his innocence and sought to have evidence in his case re-examined.

Mannings defense team petitioned in September for post-conviction relief based on newly discovered evidence and scientific developments undermining Mannings conviction. Attorneys submitted the petition days before the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to have evidence in the case tested at a specialized laboratory.

In 2013, shortly before Manning was scheduled to be executed, the U.S. Justice Department said there had been errors in FBI agents testimony about ballistics tests and hair analysis in the case. Mannings attorneys asked the Mississippi Supreme Court to stop the lethal injection, and justices voted 8-1 to delay the execution to allow the testing of evidence.

Mannings attorneys asked an Oktibbeha County circuit judge for permission to send items to a more specialized lab. The judge denied that request, and the ruling was upheld by the Mississippi Supreme Court.

On Nov. 9, the Attorney General's Office filed a motion to schedule an execution date for Manning. It also asked for additional time to respond to Manning's petition, and the Court approved a Dec. 29 extension.

In an email, Krissy Nobile, Mannings attorney and the director of the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel, said she is pleased the Court is requiring the State to respond to Mr. Mannings previously filed Post-Conviction Petition.

___

Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him at @mikergoldberg.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A fire that destroyed a mobile home Tuesday night is under investigation in the Brent community.

City of Pensacola finds compelling evidence of unmarked burial ground at Miraflores Park

Firefighters arrived just after 8 p.m. Tuesday to find smoke and flames coming from a single-wide mobile home on Concordia Boulevard. No one was hurt, and the fire was out within about 15 minutes.

The Florida Bureau of Fire and Arson is investigating what caused it.

ALSO ON WKRG.com: Heroes Plaza breaks ground in downtown Mobile

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
A mom was arrested after being accused of drowning her 9-year-old daughter who used a wheelchair, California officials said.

On Nov. 24, the girls body was found after police performed a welfare check at her Westminster home, McClatchy News previously reported.

The girls mother, Khadiyjah Aliyyah Pendergraph, 32, is accused of drowning her daughter, who could not speak, in the bathtub before leaving her body for days, according to Nov. 28 news release by the Orange County District Attorney.

The girls dad called police to report his daughter was missing and request a welfare check after getting concerning messages from Pendergraph regarding their daughter, officials said.

He had tried to pick his daughter up for Thanksgiving, but the apartments door was locked and no one answered, prosecutors said.

While families across America sat down to Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones, this little disabled girls lifeless body was left to rot in a bathtub after being drowned by her own mother, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release. Words simply do not exist to express the utter heartbreak knowing this little girl could not even scream for help as her mother pushed her underwater and cut her life so tragically and so unnecessarily short.

Pendergraph was arrested in a grocery store parking lot and has been charged with murder, officials said. If convicted, she faces 25 years to life in prison.

Westminster is about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

5-year-old from Merced drowns, grandfather still missing at sea, California officials say

13-year-old girl dies in camper consumed by fire as others escape, Florida cops say

Missing 7-year-old boy with autism found dead in pond near his home, Texas cops say
Majorities of Americans support cease-fires in the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, according to a new poll.

The new Economist/YouGov poll found that 68 percent of American respondents support a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, while 8 percent said they would not. In addition, 65 percent of respondents said they would support a cease-fire between Israel and the militant group Hamas, which are nearing their two-month mark of fighting. Meanwhile, 16 percent said they are opposed to a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

While most Americans were supportive cease-fires in each of the wars, Democrats were more likely than Republicans to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Among Democrats, 77 percent of respondents said they would back a cease-fire in the war, while 58 percent of Republicans said the same.

Similar shares of Democrats and Republicans supported a cease-fire in the Russia-Ukraine war, with 67 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of Republicans backing it.

This comes as Israel and Hamas agreed Thursday to a one-day extension of their temporary truce, meaning that Israel will hold off on its attacks on Gaza as long as Hamas releases a certain number of hostages. Hamas militants captured about 240 people during the groups initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which also left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. Israel has since carried out a series of airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, which have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Americans were more divided when asked whether they would support further aid to Israel or Ukraine. Overall, additional aid to Israel garnered more support from Republicans, while additional aid to Ukraine was more popular among Democrats.

Among all American respondents, 32 percent said they support the current level of aid to Israel, 21 percent said they want more aid to the country and 23 percent said they want less. Republicans were more likely to support more aid, with 34 percent in favor and just 15 percent saying they wanted to decrease aid.

In comparison, just 17 percent of Democrats said they wanted to see more aid to Israel, while 24 percent wanted to see the aid decreased.

Democrats were more likely to support additional aid to Ukraine, a finding that comes as many members of the House GOP are opposing authorizing more aid to the war-stricken country. Asked about Ukraine support, 35 percent of Democrats said they wanted to see more aid, while just 19 percent of Republicans said the same. Additionally, 44 percent of Republicans said they wanted to see aid to Ukraine decreased, but just 11 percent of Democrats agreed.

The poll was conducted Nov. 25-27 among 1,500 U.S. adult citizens and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.


Protestors rally against fossil fuels on September 16, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here.



More than 70,000 delegates from around the world are gathering at the U.N. climate talks in Dubai this week to negotiate (ostensibly) how to tackle the climate crisis. Many of the important conversations at COP28 will revolve around loss and damage, rules for carbon markets, and whether to phase down or phase out fossil fuels. Not exactly kitchen-table topics.

Read more

According to Marshall, who has 35 years of experience in corporate marketing, keeping the message simple, straightforward, and jargon-free is best. The phrase Later is too late increased peoples support for immediate action on climate change by an average of 11 percent in randomized controlled trials. It had nearly double the effect of a message about making polluters pay, the runner-up.

While people around the world are united in supporting government action on climate change, some of that support evaporated when it came to specific policies. They were most enthusiastic about clean energy instead of coal and subsidies for renewable energy companies, and least enthusiastic for phasing out fossil fuels and ending subsidies for polluters. Messages that used the words mandate, ban, or phaseout generated 9 percentage points less support, on average, than those that didnt. For example, only 54 percent were in favor of banning gas appliances in buildings, but 74 approved of requiring better technologies and smart upgrades in all new construction. That could be bad news for popular climate catchphrases like keep it in the ground.

I think the data is saying we need to lean in to the messages that get us the wins, as opposed to the messages that make us feel good about ourselves, Marshall said. Talking about upgrading appliances and heating and cooling systems and setting clean energy goals increased peoples support for climate policies. The only kind of limitation people liked was reducing pollution. For that reason, Marshall said, its important to stress that burning fossil fuels causes pollution thats overheating the planet.

Among the 23 countries surveyed, the United States had the lowest support for climate policies  but still, nearly 60 percent supported action. Germany, Japan, Australia, Norway, and Saudi Arabia also had relatively low levels of support, suggesting that political polarization and fossil fuel production might have something to do with it. The United States had the biggest difference between liberals and conservatives, with almost a 50 percent gap in policy support. Republicans had the lowest support for climate policies in the world, followed by Germanys far-right Alternative for Deutschland Party, or AfD. (Just as Republicans once claimed that a Green New Deal would eliminate hamburgers, AfD politicians have warned that elites are trying to take away schnitzel.)

On the other end of the spectrum, Chile, Kenya, Argentina, Colombia, and Indonesia all had strong support for action, with more than 70 percent of people in each country approving the climate policies tested.

In every country, people largely blame the government and businesses for climate change, not individuals, the report found. Only 26 percent of people worldwide said that individuals should be most responsible for tackling the problem.

People often underestimate the popularity of climate action, and Marshall said that its a mistake for politicians to shy away from talking about climate change directly. He thinks theres too much cleverness going on when it comes to how to talk about the problem. Its the largest crisis that humanity has ever faced, and we feel the need to go in the side door, he said. I hope this data helps people not chicken out  like, just go through the front door. Its not that hard.

This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/language/4-in-5-people-around-the-world-support-whatever-it-takes-to-limit-climate-change/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org



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The mother of Payton Wasson  a 22-year-old Nampa man shot and killed by Boise police this summer  has filed a tort claim against the city and is seeking millions in damages for the death of her son.

The complaint, obtained by the Idaho Statesman on Thursday afternoon from the city through a public records request, said Marah Wasson has suffered mental anguish, emotional distress and physical manifestations because of Payton Wassons death. The civil complaint asks for no less than $5 million.

The Chicago-based law firm representing the Wasson family alleged in the complaint that Marah Wasson is also entitled to damages under federal and state law for the costs of her sons hospitalization before his death, in addition to the pain and suffering he endured, funeral expenses and punitive damages. The claim also seeks compensation for the loss of Payton Wassons companionship, comfort, guidance, kindly offices and advice.

Marah Wassons beautiful, sweet, amazing baby boy is now gone, the complaint read. (Marah) Wasson never imagined that, one day, she would have to bury her own son.

Payton Wasson died at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise around 1 p.m. June 25. Boise police havent disclosed how many shots struck Wasson, but the Ada County coroners report showed at least one hit him in the head. According to the complaint, that bullet couldnt be removed surgically. Hospital personnel identified him as no longer exhibiting any brain activity, according to the complaint, leading Wassons family to decide to take him off life support.

Before someone can consider suing a public agency for allegedly violating state law, Idaho first requires that a tort claim be filed. The agency then has 90 days to respond.

City spokesperson Maria Weeg declined to comment Thursday, citing the initial stages of a legal process that a tort claims starts.

From time to time the information contained in the tort claim is different than what is contained in the following lawsuit, so commenting at this point would be premature and could interfere with future legal proceedings, Weeg wrote in an email to the Statesman.

Family still awaiting police body-camera footage

Jennifer McGuffin, a spokesperson for Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin, which is representing the Wasson family, told the Statesman by email that filing the tort claim was challenging because it requires details of the incident. The family has yet to be allowed to view body- or dash-cam footage to understand the truth of what happened, she said.

Wassons family also hasnt received any relevant reports from the police department, according to the complaint.

A Boise police officer shot and killed Wasson in downtown Boise this summer, in the early morning hours of June 24. Police had a patrol team in the area investigating possible gang-related crimes, including narcotics sales, Boise police spokesperson Haley Williams previously told the Statesman.

As part of an ongoing investigation, officers were focused on a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot near 5th and Main streets and the individuals associated with it, police said in a news release the night of the shooting. The individuals were later identified as Wasson, as well as Mario Garza, 27, of Kuna, and Garzas girlfriend, Jordan Smith, 26, of Caldwell.

Police vehicles approached Wasson, Garza and Smith, at the corner of 5th and Idaho streets at 2:12 a.m., according to security camera footage from a nearby retail store obtained by the Statesman. Wasson fled on foot and officers saw a gun in his hand, police said and Garza and Smith confirmed in interviews with the Statesman.

Garza was arrested, while Smith was released at the scene. Garza now faces three felony charges, including two counts of possessing fentanyl with intent to deliver, and a felony gang enhancement. Garza and Smith both told the Statesman that they never saw Wasson with a gun that day.

Officer Chance Feldner, who had 8 1/2 years with the department, was the lone officer to shoot Wasson, police said. Wasson was transported with life-threatening injuries. Marah Wasson wasnt contacted about her son being hospitalized until about 12 hours after the shooting, the complaint said, first receiving a social workers phone call around 2:15 p.m. June 24. Less than 24 hours later, the coroner pronounced Payton Wasson dead.

His cause of death was a gunshot wound of the head, according to the Ada County Coroners Office.

Citing the ongoing Critical Incident Task Force investigation, the Boise Police Department has repeatedly refused to say how many times Feldner fired his weapon, how many of those rounds struck Wasson, or where they hit him. The CITF investigation is triggered after any police shootings in Ada and Canyon counties. Police also have declined to release officer body-camera footage.

Garza awaits his scheduled trial in February.

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Maryann Mooney-Rondon and her son, Rafael Rondon, were sentenced on Wednesday for aiding in the theft of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's laptop during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, receiving 12 and 18 months of home incarceration, respectively.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb referred to their case as a "difficult" one, according to NBC News, saying that neither of the defendants were "criminal masterminds" and describing their actions on the day in question as being juvenile.

Prior to being handed down their time, Rondon admitted to the FBI that "he helped a man who was trying to rip cords out of Pelosi's laptop, which she used for Zoom meetings," per the outlet's reporting, saying "that was probably stupid of me." And Mooney-Rondon "admitted that she helped a man who took the laptop, giving him gloves so he wouldn't leave fingerprints behind," calling it a very bad lapse of judgment."

"Im a very  generally  measured, calculated person. I think things through. How the heck that happened, I really dont have a clue," the mother said. In a statement made prior to sentencing, she reflected further, saying, I was the adult in the room and I failed. I have brought embarrassment to my family.
A mother and son who aided in the theft of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) laptop when they participated in the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, were sentenced Wednesday.

Maryann Mooney-Rondon, 57, was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first 12 months to be served in home incarceration. She must also pay $3,657.51 in restitution, a fine of $7,500 and perform 350 hours of community service.

Her son, Rafael Rondon, 25, was sentenced to five years of probation, with the first 18 months to be served in home incarceration. He must pay $2,000 in restitution and perform 350 hours of community service. His sentence is to be served consecutive to a separate one in New York for possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun that he was convicted of seizing with several other firearms.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said the mother-son pair attended the rally on the Ellipse on Jan. 6, marched to the Capitol and then entered the grounds illegally. They entered the Capitol at about 2:23 p.m. through the Senate Wing door, the DOJ said.

They then went to the Speakers office suite, where they assisted a man in stealing Pelosis laptop, per the department.

Rondon later admitted that he helped the unidentified male disconnect cables from the laptop and put the device into a backpack, the DOJ said in its sentencing memorandum.

Mooney-Rondon later admitted that she assisted in the theft by providing the unidentified male with her gloves so he would not leave fingerprints on the laptop, the department said.

The two then went to the Senate Gallery and stole escape hoods intended to protect senators and staff from chemical attacks, according to the DOJ.

Rondon and Mooney-Rondon donned the escape hoods and exited the Capitol Building, where they remained on the East Stairs with hundreds of other rioters, the DOJ wrote.

The mother and son are among more than 1,200 individuals who have been charged in connection with breaching the Capitol building, including 400 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Mountain High announced it is ready to open for the 2023-24 ski and snowboard season.

Season pass holders can ride the slopes as early as 9 a.m. Thursday, the mountain resort says on its website.

The general public will be welcomed to the park Friday morning. Night riding will also begin on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The resort, located at 24510 Hwy. 2 in Wrightwood, is about a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles and Orange County and consists of three separate mountains with West, East and North resorts.

Mountain High posted several videos on its Instagram account in celebration of this years opening.

Guests should always check with MtHigh.com for mountain and road conditions before heading up the mountains.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The International Space Station is literally a sinking ship. Besides being a symbol of humanitys scientific prowess and ability to cooperate, the ISS also happens to be a 450-ton spacecraft thats subject to gravitational forces in low Earth orbit. The ISS has lasted beyond its intended lifespan, and it requires periodic boosts to stay in orbit. NASA plans to retire it by the next decade, but it could cost nearly $1 billion to do so, as the Scientific American reports.



The destruction of the ISS is scheduled to be complete by 2031, and the agency has a few options to go about it. All of them require the ISS to return to Earth in a fiery blaze, but the most feasible option is to rely on three Russian Progress cargo vehicles that would help the ISS fall in a deliberate, destructive descent.

Read more

Photo: NASA

NASA could push the ISS into higher orbit, which Scientific American refers to as the graveyard orbit where it would no longer be a risk, but doing so would also be expensive. And its likely that the station would disintegrate anyway due to its old age and sheer size, leaving behind an enormous amount of debris.



Even if Russias space agency, Roscosmos, agrees to assist with the vehicles needed for a controlled descent, recent events have cast a shadow on Russias ability to supply reliable craft for such an important mission. Russia has lately seen a number of failures that have called its once formidable space-faring capabilities into question. NASA will be looking at commercial proposals within the next few months for a custom deorbit vehicle capable of handling the mass of the ISS, but such a craft has never been needed. There are a few options but astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell says theyre not going to be cheap, according to the SA:

But if NASA wants a single deorbit vehicle with a design based on the current global space fleet, McDowell adds, it doesnt have many options. The things that seem obvious when you first start thinking about itthey just dont have the oomph to do this big final burn in a short time, McDowell says. The closest existing technology, he thinks, is the Artemis programs European Service Module, which powered NASAs uncrewed Orion capsule on a milestone trip around the moon last fall and is scheduled to help land humans on the lunar surface later this decade. Everything else, he says, is either far too weak or too forceful or simply unable to carry enough fuel for the taskhence NASAs solicitation of commercial proposals for a new, custom-built deorbit vehicle.

The ISS turned 25 this year, meaning it has passed its target lifetime of 15 years by a decade; the stations first modules reached orbit at the end of 1998. One way or another, the ISS will have to crash and burn back to Earth, and its deorbit will have to be carried out with or without Russia helping the U.S. It may just end up costing a billion to bring down the biggest object humanity has ever put into orbit.

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

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A fast-track schedule, along with delays developing SpaceX's moon lander and new Axiom spacesuits, make the first Artemis moon landing "unlikely" in 2025 and, based on past experience, a delay to 2027 could be expected, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Thursday.

"NASA and its contractors have made progress, including completing several important milestones, but they still face multiple challenges with development of the human landing system and the spacesuits," the agency concluded.

"As a result, GAO found that the Artemis III crewed lunar landing is unlikely to occur in 2025."

An artist's impression of the SpaceX Human Landing System moon lander on the lunar surface. / Credit: NASA/SpaceX

NASA is attempting to develop its moon landing system more than a year faster than average for such major projects. "The complexity of human spaceflight suggests that it is unrealistic to expect the program to complete development more than a year faster than the average for NASA major projects," the report said.

"GAO found that if development took as long as the average for NASA major projects, the Artemis III mission would likely occur in early 2027."

While late 2025 remains the official Artemis III launch target, NASA already was re-assessing the flight schedule. Agency officials have raised the possibility of "repurposing" the Artemis III mission if it turns out a moon landing isn't feasible in the near-term timeframe.

But NASA has not yet announced any such changes.

The Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program's last lunar landing in 1972. In so doing, the space agency would get there well ahead of China, which plans to land its "taikonauts" on the moon in the 2030 timeframe.

U.S. and partner-agency astronauts will fly to the moon in Lockheed Martin-built Orion capsules launched atop the agency's Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket, built for NASA by Boeing, United Launch Alliance and Northrop Grumman.

An initial, unpiloted around-the-moon test flight  Artemis I  was successfully launched last November and NASA hopes to launch four astronauts on a similar flight, Artemis II, in late 2024 or early 2025.

The Artemis III mission is intended to carry four astronauts to lunar orbit where they will rendezvous with a variant of SpaceX's Starship rocket, known as the Human Landing System, or HLS. Two astronauts then would move into the HLS for descent to the moon's south polar region.

Once on the surface, the first woman and the next man to walk on the moon will use new spacesuits designed by Axiom Space as a commercial venture. Once the initial six-day surface mission is complete, the astronauts would fly back up to the waiting Orion capsule using the HLS.

The HLS is a variant of the commercial Starship upper stage used by SpaceX's Super Heavy rocket. NASA awarded SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract in April 2021 to build the HLS system for the Artemis III flight.

An artist's impression of the SpaceX Human Landing System moon lander on the lunar surface. / Credit: GAO

The HLS will use most of its initial load of cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellants just getting into Earth orbit after launch atop a Super Heavy booster.

To get to the moon, the HLS must be refueled. SpaceX plans to launch a Starship propellant depot and multiple "tankers" to fill it with the required methane and liquid oxygen.

The HLS vehicle then would attach itself to the depot, take on propellants and then head for the moon to await the Orion astronauts. NASA's contract with SpaceX requires one unpiloted lunar landing mission before astronauts launch on the Artemis III mission.

The GAO noted that the initial flight test of the integrated Super Heavy-Starship rocket was delayed by seven months to April. "It was then terminated early when the vehicle deviated from its expected trajectory and began to tumble."

A second test flight was launched Nov. 18 and while the Starship upper stage successfully reached space, a problem of some sort apparently triggered its self-destruct system just before, during or after engine shutdown. SpaceX has not yet provided details or announced when a third test might be attempted.

But given the presumably high number of successful flights required to demonstrate reliability and to perfect the required autonomous refueling systems, a moon landing in 2025 is not likely, the GAO concluded.

"SpaceX must complete a significant amount of complex technical work to support the Artemis III lunar landing mission, including developing the ability to store and transfer propellant while in orbit.

"A critical aspect of SpaceX's plan for landing astronauts on the moon for Artemis III is launching multiple tankers that will transfer propellant to a depot in space before transferring that propellant to the human landing system."

The GAO said NASA documentation "states that SpaceX has made limited progress maturing the technologies needed to support this aspect of its plan."

The other major issue facing the space agency is development of the new moonsuits. NASA spent $420 million over 14 years to come up with a viable design before awarding Axiom Space of Houston a $229 million contract last year to continue development on a more commercial basis.

But the GAO said Axiom faces multiple challenges, including a NASA requirement for an emergency oxygen supply lasting a full hour. Axiom also must address supply chain issues and obsolescence in existing spacesuit elements.

"As a result, Axiom representatives said they may redesign certain aspects of the space suit, which could delay its delivery for the mission," the GAO said.

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On Nov. 7, thirty-seven local students ages 8-18 were honored by Nashvilles Metro Council for their vision in helping to chart a path forward for our city.

This was the culmination of "Show Us YOUR Nashville, a contest hosted by a non-partisan civic organization I founded, Kidizenship, in partnership with Vanderbilt Universitys Project on Unity and American Democracy.

We asked students throughout the city to dream up one positive change they would make in Nashville if the voters put them in charge.

Hundreds of entries poured in, each with a written proposal and a visual representation of the idea using media from paints and crayons to computer graphics.

The submissions were breathtaking in their creativity and scope. They included plans to build a citywide composting program in school cafeterias and a light rail system with solar-roofed playgrounds; plans for bail system reforms, school safety and food security, green roofs and urban agriculture, youth literacy programs, and visions for affordable housing and expanded local news.

About the organization: How Kidizenship is helping young citizens express themselves and be heard

Justin Jones and Bill Frist were among the contest judges

Our contest judges  Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Adrienne Battle, Rep. Justin Jones, former Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, and artist Ruby Amanfu -- were bowled over by the range and sophistication of the work.

Teens and tweens who participated in Kidizenship SHOW US YOUR NASHVILLE attended the Nov. 7, 2023, Metro Council meeting at Public Square in downtown Nashville, and met elected officials including Mayor Freddie O'Connell.

So was our mayor. Have you been reading my campaign memos?! Mayor Freddie OConnell asked 13-year-old Annika Abramson when she proposed a plan to bury power lines throughout Nashville.

Later, after exploring the proposals of each student gathered, the mayor added, I cant believe how many of these ideas reflect and expand on the work were trying to do both in (Metro Council) committees and in my administration. We want to plug you into that work.

This is the most recent iteration of Nashvilles deep history of youth-led civic action. In the 1960s, future leaders, including John Lewis and Diane Nash, used Nashville as a training ground for sit-ins and other expressions of nonviolent direct action that would soon spread across the South.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said at Fisk University, I came to Nashville not to bring inspiration, but to gain inspiration from the great movement that has taken place in this community.

Teens and tweens who participated in Kidizenship SHOW US YOUR NASHVILLE attended the Nov. 7, 2023, Metro Council meeting at Public Square in downtown Nashville, and met elected officials including Mayor Freddie O'Connell.

Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns.

Young people are leading the way to better outcomes in Tennessee

Today, a new civic movement led by Gen Z is taking place. We saw it percolating in June 2020, following the killing of George Floyd, when six Nashville teens led tens of thousands of people on a peaceful march to protest police brutality.

A sample entry by Esther Boehler and Margaret Rogers, both 10 years old, from the Kidizenship SHOW US YOUR NASHVILLE contest presented at the Nov. 7, 2023, Metro Council meeting at Public Square in downtown Nashville.

We saw it last April, after a mass shooter took six lives at The Covenant School, when thousands of students poured out of schools and gathered at the State Capitol with messages of peaceful protest.

And weve seen it in more subtle forms  in the work of young artists creating murals and civic art throughout the city; in our regions Youth Poet Laureates bringing voice to the power of civic engagement.

Weve also seen it behind the scenes in the work of high schoolers such as Katie Rush, the Hume Fogg student who proposed a bill in the Tennessee General Assembly that would increase the youth vote; and Clara Thorsen, the Hillsboro student who, at 16, became one of the youngest poll workers in the recent mayoral election.

Tennessee Voices video podcast: 'Flaming Moderate' author Bo Roberts fights for democracy and honors Howard Baker's legacy

Gen Z has begun to define its future and all of ours

The Kidizenship contest winners leave no doubt that this generation has powerful ideas that will guide our citys future. And so we will take Mayor OConnell up on his generous offer to connect kids to his administration.

Entries from the Kidizenship SHOW US YOUR NASHVILLE contest presented at the Nov. 7, 2023, Metro Council meeting at Public Square in downtown Nashville.

He understands that Gen Z is already reshaping the American body politic. No doubt, all 2024 candidates will have to reckon with the dreams and demands of young voters. The issues that matter most to kids in America  from jobs and the economy to climate change and mental health  are defining local and national political agendas.

As we gear up for a critical election year in which the oldest incumbent presidential candidate in history is squaring off against a fellow Boomer  we have lots of work to do to amplify young voices.

Kidizenship will soon expand our civics contest throughout Tennessee and into Kentucky and Georgia, three states with youth activation across party lines. We will publish the results in our national youth civics magazine, Watch Us Rise.

Not since the 1960s has it been so necessary and important to invite young Americans into a vibrant civil discourse about who we are as a city, a region, and a nation -- and who we want to become.

Because whether were ready for it or not, Gen Z has already begun to define its own future, as well as ours.

Amanda Little is the founder and director of Kidizenship, a non-partisan, non-profit media platform for students that reaches beyond the classroom, merging civics education with creative self-expression and community action. She is a journalism professor at Vanderbilt University, a columnist for Bloomberg, and the author of The Fate of Food: What Well Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kidizenship contest: Youth showed Nashville leaders Gen Z's impact
The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) listed the Belgian independent operator of the Fluxys gas system as an international sponsor of the war. The company promotes the export of Russian LNG, which provides financing for the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Source: NACP

The NACP explained that Fluxys provides capacity for the storage and transhipment of Russian liquefied gas Yamal LNG at its terminal in Zeebrugge.

At the same time, the majority share of Yamal LNG belongs to the Russian gas company Novatek, which is directly involved in the financing of military aggression and war crimes in Ukraine.

Quote: "A detailed analysis by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in 2022 showed that Fluxys and its shareholders profited by facilitating the export of Russian LNG to Asian, South American and Middle Eastern markets, especially in the winter months of 2021-2022, which exacerbated the European energy crisis and increased profits for Novatek.

The Novatek company is owned by Russian oligarchs Leonid Mikhelson and Gennady Timchenko. It is the main supplier of Russian liquefied natural gas to international markets. Mikhelson and Timchenko are part of Vladimir Putin's inner circle and with the help of his regime seized the shares of international companies in Russian oil and gas projects," the NACP said in a statement.

The NACP added that Novatek is the largest private producer of natural gas in Russia. In July 2014, the company was included in the sanctions lists of the USA and Canada. In 2016, the United States imposed sanctions against several subsidiary companies of Novatek. On 2 November 2023, the United States imposed sanctions against the Arctic LNG 2 project, intended to double Novatek's export capacity.

"At least a third of Russian budget spending goes to the war. Fluxys services help the Russian Federation to replenish it by EUR 800 million this year," said head of the NACP, Oleksandr Novikov.

It is noted that the main shareholders of Fluxys are Belgian municipalities (77.41%) and the Belgian federal government (3.44%).

Both sides say they have high regard for international humanitarian law, which prohibits deliberate attacks on civilians or critical civilian infrastructure. These commitments contradict the actual continuation of cooperation with the Russian company Novatek, NACP emphasises.

Thus, Fluxys continued cooperation with Yamal LNG and Novatek during 2022 and 2023. International experts say that Russia expects to receive up to EUR 800 million in export tax revenue, which is possible thanks to the transshipment of LNG in Zeebrugge in 2023. Only 7% of this gas goes to EU markets.

Fluxys receives EUR 50 million annually for this service under a long-term contract signed in 2015.

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The national Black Lives Matter organization on Thursday condemned a man once associated with a local BLM group after he endorsed Donald Trump for president.

In a joint statement with the Black Lives Matter Rhode Island Political Action Committee  which is fully separate from BLM RI  the two groups accused Mark Fisher of an attention grab.

"This is a publicity stunt," the statement read. "The right-wing continues to use and amplify fringe Black voices to create an idea of broad support for their corrupt candidates."

More: Did a Black Lives Matter RI founder endorse Trump? There's more to the story

A 2020 file photo of Mark Fisher speaking to reporters during a Black Lives Matter Rhode Island press conference.

Appearance on FOX & Friends as 'BLM leader' sparks response

The drama began earlier this week when Fisher appeared on "FOX & Friends," which billed him a "BLM leader." (He founded an organization called BLM Inc. in Maryland, but Gary Dantzler is the president of BLM RI.)

During his interview, Fisher expressed support for Trump and accused Democrats of pushing racist policies. The host described Fisher as a founder of BLM RI, which Dantzler denies. Registration documents with the state and the IRS paint a murky picture of the group's initial structure.

"Continuing to call Mark Fisher a Black Lives Matter leader is disingenuous and inappropriate," BLM and the PAC said. "Both the founder of BLM Rhode Island and BLM Rhode Island PAC have denounced Mark and have made it clear that he is an imposter."

The groups went on to criticize Trump as guilty of treason and racism.

Trump 'honored' to have his support

On Wednesday, Trump himself jumped in on the frenzy, stating on his alternative social media platform Truth Social that he talked with Fisher and is "very honored to have his and BLMs support." (The national BLM has made clear it does not support Trump.)

The same day, the PAC released a statement on its own, telling the public that Fisher has nothing to do with its group. The PAC remains a distinctly different organization from BLM RI, which does not have a very overt presence in the state. Tensions have also simmered between the groups, which have different membership.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Black Lives Matter denounces Trump endorsement by former BLM RI member
Ukrainian National Police are intensifying their efforts to combat domestic violence amid an increase of reports of gender-based violence, the police service announced on Nov. 29.

Speaking at a conference dedicated to supporting the victims of gender-based violence, National Police Chief Ivan Vyhivskyi said that the force is now operating 54 specialized units, featuring 62 mobile response teams dedicated to countering domestic violence.

The police response comes amid an "alarming surge" in reported domestic violence incidents, with nearly 244,000 incidents reported since the beginning of the year, with 76.5% of them coming from women, over 20% from men, and more than 3% from children.

Vyhivskyi says that ongoing stress stemming from the war have contributed to an increase in aggression and conflicts, leading to a rise in domestic violence cases.

The Police Chief noted that more than 2,300 criminal investigations have begun under Ukraine's Criminal Code. In one-third of the cases, emergency restraining orders have been issued against the offenders.

Domestic violence has been identified as the most prevalent form of gender-based violence in Ukraine.

Read also: Economy Ministry plans to reduce gender pay gap

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
China's AI computing power to see robust growth: industry report

Xinhua) 08:55, November 30, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's scale of intelligent computing power reached 260 EFLOPS last year and is expected to reach 1,117 EFLOPS in 2027, realizing a compound annual growth rate of 33.9 percent, according to a recent industry report.

EFLOPS is a measurement unit used to determine a computer's speed.

The evaluation report on the development of artificial intelligence (AI) computing power in China for 2023-2024 was released during the 2023 AI Computing Conference, which was held in Beijing on Wednesday.

The market size of global AI servers is projected to increase from 19.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 to 34.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2026, according to the report co-published by the International Data Corporation (IDC) and Inspur Electronic Information Industry Co., Ltd.

The report also said that the global share of servers dedicated to running generative AI is likely to rise from the current 11.9 percent of the overall AI server market to 31.7 percent in 2026.

Chinese enterprises generally have a high acceptance of generative AI. Currently, 67 percent of Chinese enterprises have started exploring opportunities for the application of generative AI within their organizations or have begun substantial investments in this area, Zhou Zhengang, vice president of IDC China, said at the conference.

As of August 2023, China has established intelligent computing centers in over 30 cities, with a total construction scale exceeding 20 billion yuan (about 2.82 billion U.S. dollars).

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
NatWest is planning to close the last remaining bank branch in the entirety of the Peak District.

The bank is closing the doors of its Bakewell branch, in Derbyshire, on Feb 22. This will mean that aside from local Post Offices, there will be no branches of any banks left in the 555-square-mile national park.

Since 2015, the NatWest Group has closed more branches than any other operator, shutting around 1,329 across the country.

Sarah Dines, the Tory MP for Derbyshire Dales, who is campaigning for the branch to stay open, told Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, in the Commons on Wednesday that the whole town of Bakewell was being debanked.

She said: As disturbed as I was [that] British politicians were being debanked by NatWest, you can imagine my horror that an entire town, Bakewell in Derbyshire Dales, is being debanked by NatWest.

And in the whole of Derbyshire Dales and the Peak District, there isnt a bank [branch] left. Can you share my concern please that as we are the national shareholder of NatWest, why are they ignoring my vulnerable, elderly people and also businessmen  it is a big, thriving market town.

Mr Sunak responded by saying that all banking customers wherever they live should have appropriate access to banking and cash services, pointing to rules brought in to combat the decline in bank branches and cash machines over the summer.

He added: I know there has been an assessment on access to cash in her area and the financial services sector will provide a new cash deposit service for her community and everyone can access the Post Office for regular banking services.

When the Bakewell branch shuts the closest branch will be in Chesterfield 13 miles and a 25-minute drive away. The other closest branch is in Matlock, a town outside the national park some nine miles from Bakewell.

There are Post Offices in the Peak District and Derbyshire Dales, including Bakewell, that offer some banking services.

Link, which runs cash machines across the country, has confirmed that construction of a banking hub will be used to continue certain services to customers.

Around 80 such hubs are set to be installed around the country over the next few years. These hubs will be run by the Post Office and have deposit and cash facilities from multiple banks.

NatWest said it decided to close the branch because staff were only serving six customers on a regular weekly basis, with counter transactions for personal customers decreasing by 55pc since 2019.

A spokesman said: As with many industries, most of our customers are shifting to mobile and online banking because its faster and easier for people to manage their financial lives.

We understand and recognise that digital solutions arent right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no one is left behind.

We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them.

NatWest, which is backed by British taxpayers, has been rocked by the Nigel Farage debanking scandal in which NatWest-owned Coutts bank attempted to close the prominent politicians account after judging he held xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views.

The debanking scandal, which began over the summer, led the Government to introduce strict new rules for banks to ensure accounts are not closed at short notice and that customers have access to cash.

The Financial Conduct Authority, the City watchdog, set down rules in August that state that people living in urban areas must have access to cash deposit and withdrawal services within one mile; for people in rural areas, it is three miles.

In total, 5,764 branches have shut their doors since 2015, according to the consumer group Which?

On Thursday, Lloyds Banking Group announced plans to close a further 45 branches across its network as face-to-face banking continues to disappear from the high street.

The company is shutting 22 Halifax branches, 19 Lloyds branches and four Bank of Scotland sites.

Metro Bank also confirmed it has launched a review of its seven-day-a-week opening hours and plans to axe around 850 jobs in a cost-cutting plan.

The lender, which was recently forced to strike a 925m rescue deal, said it would review the opening times of its 76 branches, including both days and hours.

It is in talks with the banking regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, about the impact on customers.

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If we lose cash, we lose our freedom

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A U.S. Navy warship shot down an Iranian-made drone launched from Yemen on Wednesday, the same day the Pentagon said it warned Tehran over its drone use in the region.

While in the South Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Carney shot down an Iranian-made KAS-04 drone launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

Although its intentions are not known, the UAV was heading toward the warship, CENTCOM notes.

At the time of the shootdown, the Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship, and another U.S. flagged and crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region.

There were no injuries to U.S. personnel and no damage to U.S. vessels, according to CENTCOM.

The incident comes as the U.S. military warned Iran over an unsafe and unprofessional drone maneuver near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group on Tuesday.

Washington accused Tehran of flying the drone within 1,500 feet of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group as it was conducting routine flight operations in the Central Arabian Gulf.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command head Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said the drone violated safety precautions by not keeping more than 10 nautical miles from the vessel.

Exactly one week ago the USS Thomas Hudner, also a Navy destroyer, shot down multiple one-way attack drones in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Navy has increased the number of its ships stationed in the Middle East following the start of the Israel-Hamas war Oct. 7, a conflict which has caused tensions to soar in the region and threatened to escalate into a wider fight.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Navy is looking to find budget savings and efficiencies to give it more flexibility under tighter budget caps, the services undersecretary said today.

Erik Raven, who oversees the business side of the Navy, said the sea service is working with its program managers and prime contractors to address cost overruns, as one way to address the lower-than-expected budgets that stem from this summers Fiscal Responsibility Act.

More broadly, the department is executing an internally focused effort to identify opportunities to better allocate funding, in what Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has called the Running Fix effort, Raven said at a Navy League congressional shipbuilding breakfast event Thursday.

The assistant secretaries for research, development and acquisition and for financial management and comptroller will co-chair the effort, which Raven says will build upon past efforts to identify efficiencies.

In fact, Comptroller Russell Rumbaugh said in announcing Running Fix during a September speech the Navy has had a constant call for efficiency for the last two decades. He said many of the same ideas have come up each time and still havent been implemented.

Rumbaugh noted the Navy has claimed $200 billion in efficiencies over the last 14 budget cycles, much which has been cost avoidance, which can include things like buying something sooner to prevent price hikes later.

But Raven said this current effort isnt only a drill about saving dollars and cents; this is a drill about increasing efficiency across the department of the Navy.

He offered information technology as an example: the Navy still pours money into its legacy systems, even though paying for newer systems would lead to larger savings down the road and bring the Navy up to current industry standards.

Through an effort called Cattle Drive, he said the Navy hopes to winnow down the number of IT systems  much like a cattle drive doesnt end well for the cows, he joked, this effort wont end well for legacy systems that hurt Navy efficiency, but persist through budget and programmatic inertia.

More broadly, Raven noted, increasing efficiency and accountability within the Department of the Navy is not just about buying a new computer system that can keep better track of things; its about improving our business processes.

At the same event, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., said the mindset has to change across the Pentagon: it has to change from saying were process-oriented to being outcome-oriented, which will involve taking some risks.

Running Fix, established this fall, aims to inform the fiscal 2026 budget request, which will be sent to Congress about 14 months from now.

Raven told Defense News Thursday any money saved through this department-wide effort would go to Del Toros top priorities of buying and maintaining platforms and supporting people.

As an incentive for commands to self-nominate their own efficiencies, though, he said in many cases a command that can demonstrate a cost saving will be allowed to repurpose that money within its own portfolio.
Fords EV dealer requirements have caused a bit of drama since they were announced in late 2022. With EV sales slowing, some dealers are getting antsy at the thought of sinking thousands or even millions of dollars into a lukewarm EV market. Still, 2,000 dealers bought into the program. Now, Electrek reports, hundreds of those dealers are pulling out altogether.

In December 2022, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced that nearly 2,000 dealers had joined the Model e program. Under the program, dealers would be required to invest hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars to get their dealerships ready to sell EVs. From Electrek:



Read more

The certified elite includes two public DC fast chargers, demo units, rapid replenishment, and a presence on Ford.com but will cost around $1 million to $1.2 million.

Farley said 1,659 chose the Certified Elite Tier; another 261 chose the Certified Tier for a total of 1,920 dealers in the program. There was pushback though. Some of it came from dealer associations that even went as far as accusing Ford of violating dealer franchise laws with the Model e program.

An Automotive News report last week revealed Ford would ease EV dealer requirements following changes in the market. The program has been met with its fair share of criticism. Last week, Illinois state motor vehicle board handed Ford dealers a victory after about 26 of them argued the companys EV program violated state laws. The changes include fewer L2 chargers and an extended installation deadline. Dealer training will also be cut in half to around $20,000.

Now with the realities of the market, Ford has eased those requirements, including giving dealers the ability to opt-out if they changed their minds. Now nearly 400 have dropped out of the program.

Even though dealers are dropping out, a Ford spokesperson confirmed to Electrek that the company still believes in the program. Ford stands by its voluntary Model e program, a spokesperson explained. The program is designed to ensure that Ford and its dealers provide EV customers with a class-leading experience.

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A mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict lies in ruin, in Khan Younis

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian and Qatari negotiators are pushing for a new two-day extension to the truce in Gaza along with more prisoner releases and an increase in the delivery of humanitarian aid, a statement from Egypt's state media body said on Thursday.

The efforts follow the last-minute extension of the truce for a seventh day on Thursday.

Thursday's extension includes the release of 10 Israelis captured by Hamas and 30 Palestinian prisoners, as well as the provision of the same levels of humanitarian relief as during the previous six days, the head of Egypt's state information service, Diaa Rashwan, said in a statement.

"Egypt will continue to exert its utmost efforts to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid to the north and south of the Gaza Strip," the statement said.

(Reporting by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Alex Richardson)
[Source]

Nepal registered its first same-sex marriage on Wednesday.

How it happened: Surendra Pandey, 26, and Maya Gurung, 36, registered their marriage at the municipal office of Dordi in the Lamjung district. Pandey was born and identifies as male, while Gurung was born male and identifies as female, according to Reuters.

The registration follows an interim order issued by Nepals Supreme Court in July. Despite the ruling, Pandey and Gurungs attempts to tie the knot were initially rejected over a supposed lack of necessary laws.

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This week, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued changes that enabled local administration offices to register same-sex marriages.

It was quite unexpected and it was a positive breeze for us, Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay former parliamentarian and founder of the Blue Diamond Society, Nepal's top LGBTQ+ rights organization, told the Associated Press.

About the couple: Pandey and Gurung have been a couple for nine years. They married via Hindu tradition in Kathmandu in 2016, but they had no legal paperwork.

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Still, they had married with the support of their families. They have since lived together as husband and wife.

Why this matters: The registration of Pandey and Gurungs marriage provides hope for other same-sex couples to follow suit. It also makes Nepal the first country in South Asia to make such progress.

"It is historic," Pant told the Associated Press. "It will open the door for them to jointly open bank accounts, own and transfer property like just any other couples."

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It began early in the morning on 21 August, 2013. A dozen rockets landed in a rebel-controlled suburb of Damascus, killing over 1,000 civilians. It was the worst chemical weapons attack since the Halabja massacre in 1988, when Saddam Hussein attacked Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq.

Bashar al-Assad had been fighting the rebels for months, and their forces were closing in. As they battled their way towards his palace, Assad resorted to the unthinkable. What followed was a shameful stain on the Wests honour. Despite a very clear red line drawn by US President Barack Obama, the White House and its allies blinked.

Rather than respond immediately, Obama turned to Congress for a vote of support. Combined with the British Parliament voting against intervention, the momentum was lost.

With the advantage of hindsight, this was an error that continues to have repercussions today. Putin, no doubt surprised, interpreted a failed red line for the West as a green light for Russia and Iran  recognising America had finally reached a limit to its will to utilise hard power to put out distant fires. This left a vacuum that Russia was ready and willing to fill, with consequences that are all too clear.

But while the world watches in Ukraine and Israel, Syria commands little global interest. Yet the country remains divided, and the tyrant Assad is still in his palace. Indeed, he is being slowly rehabilitated on the international stage; just see his invitation to COP28, as though he were simply another run-of-the-mill politician, rather than a man drenched in the blood of his own people.

Some, at least, have stood against this weakness. Thanks to Paris, Assad is now facing an international arrest warrant for complicity in crimes against humanity. The authors of this piece were intimately involved with the Government of the day, and on the ground in Syria; so it is with some satisfaction that we both applaud the French move to bring Assad to justice. But while this move, belated as it is, is welcome, we should consider what other steps should be taken.

The 100-year international taboo on the use of chemical weapons is evaporating. They are still used intermittently in Syria and, in 2018, were deployed with impunity in Salisbury on a far smaller scale. We cannot fully dismiss the possibility of a chemical attack in Ukraine if it might prevent Putin from conceding defeat. And with Russia sitting behind Iran, and Iran behind Hamas and Hezbollah, we cannot dismiss their use elsewhere.

Whether the attacks were truly a tipping point can be debated. But Russias emboldened authoritarian adventurism, Irans malign proxy influence across the Middle East and general hesitancy by a more risk-averse West cannot. Frances actions in pursuing Assad, just like Britains actions in arming Ukraine, have shown there is still a sense of international resolve that can be rekindled. We must do so while there is still time.

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A Las Vegas man accused of leaving antisemitic voicemail messages threatening to kill a US senator last month has been indicted by a federal grand jury over the calls and on charges he threatened to kill close relatives of that official and another senator, according to the indictment and the US attorneys office in Nevada.

John Anthony Miller, 43, was arrested last month and charged with threatening a federal official, the US attorneys office said, as fears of hate-motivated attacks in the United States have escalated following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and ensuing violence in the Middle East.

A federal grand jury then last week also charged Miller with two counts of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threatening a family member, according to the court record, which refers to two US senators without naming them.

Not guilty pleas on all three counts were entered Tuesday by the court on Millers behalf, federal records show. CNN has sought comment from an attorney for Miller, who is ordered to stay in custody until his jury trial, set for January 23. Conviction carries up to 10 years in prison, the US attorneys office said in a news release.

US Sen. Jacky Rosens office has said the Nevada Democrat  the third Jewish woman to sit in the US Senate  was one of the recipients of Millers threats, which authorities have said were antisemitic voicemail messages with slurs and threats to kill her.

The threats, prosecutors have said, began just days after the October 7 Hamas terror attack that left 1,200 dead and 240 abducted in Israel, which responded with an offensive thats slain more than 14,800 in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the West Bank, drawing its data from Hamas-run health authorities there.

The conflict has spawned mounting anxiety in the United States of hate-motivated attacks, with tensions highlighted by incidents including the death of a Jewish protester during a rally in Southern California and the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Vermont.

Rosen is an outspoken supporter of Israel, her website notes. She sponsored a bipartisan resolution condemning the Hamas attack and has called for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages, plus full US support for Israel, including military assistance.

Ive met with the families of those who were abducted by Hamas, and I promised them Id keep fighting until their loved ones were returned safely, she said, according to a news release.

Regarding the charges against Miller, Rosen trusts the US Attorneys office and federal law enforcement to handle this matter, a spokesperson for her office said in a statement, adding, Threats against public officials should be taken seriously.

Miller is accused of leaving numerous threatening voicemails at the office of a US senator between October 11 and 19, according to a federal complaint. The calls referenced the Israel-Hamas conflict that flared up in October, included slurs against the senator and threatened to finish what Hitler started, it said.

The caller tried to tie the senators support for Israel to her faith, saying, You done picked your side b*tch and you done chose evil, the complaint said.

Miller tried to get into the Las Vegas courthouse to see the senator on October 18 but was refused entry, the complaint states. He then walked down Las Vegas Boulevard yelling, To kill every last Israeli terror-f**king-rist, it says.

CNNs Chimaine Pouteau, Sara Smart and Stephanie Becker contributed to this report.

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An American citizen was among the latest group of hostages released by Hamas Wednesday, President Biden and officials from Israel and Qatar confirmed. Liat Beinin was one of a total of 16 hostages freed on the sixth day of the temporary cease-fire between Israel and the militant group that governs Gaza.

"I've got some very good news to report. Liat Beinin is safe in Egypt, she's crossed the border," Mr. Biden said in brief remarks Wednesday afternoon. "I talked with her mother and father, they're very appreciative, and, uh, things are moving well. She'll soon be home with her three children. That's all I have to say for right now." The Israeli government listed her name as Liat Binin Atzili, age 49.

"I am incredibly relieved and grateful that my daughter is alive and will soon be returned to her family," her father, Yehuda Beinin, said in a statement. "Although I am overjoyed that she will be reunited with us, I remain committed to the mission of bringing my son-in-law, Aviv, home as well." He thanked President Biden for helping secure the release of the hostages, and added, "We must keep working to bring all of the hostages home."

Beinin was part of a group of 10 Israeli and dual-citizen hostages released Wednesday, along with four Thai citizens, according to statements from the Israeli military and the Qatari foreign ministry.

"A short while ago, Red Cross representatives transferred the 10 Israeli and 4 Thai national released hostages to Egypt. The released hostages are currently making their way to Israel through Egypt to the meeting point with our soldiers," the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. It later confirmed they were back inside Israeli territory, where they would be taken to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

The 10 included five minors and five women, including a minor with Dutch-Israeli nationality and three women with German-Israeli nationality, said the Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson.

Earlier in the day, two other Israeli-Russian hostages were transferred to the Red Cross and later arrived in Israel, the Israeli military said.

Supporters welcome Israeli hostages as they arrive in a vehicle at Ofakim army base in southern Israel, early on Nov. 30, 2023, after being freed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. / Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

"We're glad to inform that 16 people who were being held hostage in Gaza have just been released, with facilitation from the ICRC.Our teams have transferred them and handed them over to the Israeli authorities," the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

Another 30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons Wednesday, including 16 minors and 14 women, Qatar said.

Wednesday could be the final day of the humanitarian pause in fighting that started Friday and has coincided with the release of about 100 hostages taken by Hamas in the militant group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Some 210 Palestinians have been released from Israeli prisons in return.

Talks, however, were being held in Doha to try to extend the pause even further, after both Israel and Hamas indicated they would be open to another deal. Under the current arrangement, three Palestinian prisoners are being released in the West Bank for every one hostage freed. The hostages released so far have only been women and children, but it is possible that men could be included in a future deal.



Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators have been meeting in Doha to help negotiate a continued pause in hostilities and release of the hostages.



Currently, Qatar is "focused on the mission at hand, which is the next 24 or 48 hours, expanding the truce and hopefully moving into a full suspension of violence in Gaza," Nawaf Al-Thani, the former Qatari defense attache to the United States and the former director of Qatari Defense Operations, told CBS News on Wednesday.



In the longer term, he said Qatar would like to help negotiate a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.



"It's not an immediate focus, but it's something they would like to see after things cool down and fighting ends... A viable, secure state of Israel next to a viable, secure Palestinian state."



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that after the hostages are returned by Hamas, Israel's operations in Gaza would resume.



"In recent days, I have heard a question: After completing this stage of the return of our hostages, will Israel go back to the fighting? My answer is an unequivocal yes," Netanyahu said in a statement. "There is no situation in which we do not go back to fighting until the end."



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New Orleans has a lot to look forward to in 2024, from an early Mardi Gras to The Rolling Stones headlining Jazz Fest for the first time ever.

You may be looking for a vacation though, far away from our citys nonstop celebrations  and youre in luck.

Cruise lines are set to sail out of New Orleans next year, giving travelers a chance to explore places outside of not only the city but the country.

Fighting your way through crowds in the recently packed Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport may not sound ideal to you. Neither may stuffing your car with suitcases and snacks for a long road trip ahead.

These cruise lines are leaving from New Orleans in 2024 for international and regional travels.

Carnival Cruise Line

This cruise line sets sail from New Orleans every month of the year, with a chance to travel to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and the Panama Canal. Cruises range from four to 14 days long.

For more information on dates and stops along the way, visit their website.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian is offering multiple trips to the Western Caribbean in the fall of 2024. The cruise includes stops in Mexico, Belize, Jamaica and more.

Visit their website for information on dates.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean is giving travelers the chance to set sail for five or seven days and explore the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with stops in different places, from the islands of Grand Cayman to Mexico.

Their website gives more details on the six cruises leaving New Orleans multiple times next year.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line is kicking off the new year in January with a four-night Western Caribbean cruise, with Mexico as the final destination.

In February, travelers will have a chance to explore Mexico, Grand Cayman and Jamaica for seven days.

The cruise line is offering additional trips throughout the Western Caribbean in winter months. For more information, visit their website.

American Queen Voyages

American Queen Voyages shows that you dont have to travel far to have a vacation.

The cruise line is voyaging the Mighty Mississippi to explore the gems of the South, with stops in the small towns of Louisiana and Mississippi, before reaching Memphis, the final destination.

Airfare is included. Visit their website to book a date.

American Cruise Line

American Cruise Lines is taking a trip down the Mississippi River to explore the ins and outs of Louisiana and Mississippi.

Louisiana stops include Baton Rouge, Houmas House and St. Francisville. The cruise line will stop at the historical cities of Natchez and Vicksburg in Mississippi.

Complimentary airfare is included. Visit their website for additional details.
One of Raleighs most prominent multimillionaires has scrapped plans for a family compound on conserved land on Topsail Island.

Two-plus years after signing a contract to purchase what locals call The Point  about 150 acres of pristine coastline at 1 Shore Line Drive in Pender County  Pendo CEO Todd Olson is backing out of the deal, citing the towns lack of collaboration.

The sale hinged on rezoning approval.

Solving problems requires collaboration, which the town appears to have been unwilling to do, Olson said in a 746-word statement released on Monday. Sadly, we have no choice but to withdraw our application.

Topsail planners snub Pendo founders vacation compound, but the deals not dead yet

Despite public pushback, Olson was seeking to build a private estate for his family on 30 acres on the islands southernmost tip that is currently zoned conservation.

In exchange, he promised to permanently conserve the remaining 120 acres with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, using his own private funds.

But he failed to get crucial backing from the towns planning board in May.

After commissioners refused follow-up requests to meet in person to discuss alternatives, Olson said he was forced to suspend plans, expressing frustration with the process.

Were extremely disappointed, he said, adding: It seems increasingly likely that a developer with deeper pockets and more experience will successfully develop this land, and in doing so, permanently alter the state of The Point.

Many residents in this quiet, mostly blue-collar beach town welcomed Olsons decision.

Roy Costa, who lives one mile north of The Point, said he and a group of residents are preparing to launch a public-private partnership to purchase the entire property for permanent conservation.

The land is currently owned by the McLeod family. Its valued at $2.96 million, according to latest county records.

Its an exciting opportunity to conserve one of the last undeveloped tracts of land [on Topsail Island, Costa said.
The claim: Donald Trump

A Nov. 21 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a man talking alongside an image of Donald and Melania Trump.

"Trump Has Selected His Pick For Running Mate - News Stuns Republican Party," reads the video's caption.

The video was shared more than 800 times in eight days. The same video was liked more than 18,000 times on YouTube.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-CheckTeam:

Our rating: False

Trump has not publicly announced a running mate for the 2024 election. The video does not provide evidence to support its claim.

No evidence Trump revealed 2024 running mate

While there's plenty of speculation about potential candidates, Trump hasn't publicly announced his running mate for the 2024 election. No such announcement appears on his social media accounts or campaign website, and there are no credible news reports of Trump's purported announcement.

The video does not repeat or support the caption's claim that Trump announced his decision. Instead, it includes an audio clip of a podcast interview with New York Times senior political correspondent Maggie Haberman, during which she says there is at least some basis for rumors that former Fox News host Tucker Carlson could be considered, the Huffington Post reported.

Its a real thing that I am hearing as a possibility, Haberman told The Dispatchs Jamie Weinstein. The likelihood of it, I dont know.

Trump has previously said he would consider Carlson, saying, "Hes got great common sense."

Fact check: Video altered to show US soldier asking to restore Trump as president

Historically, presidential candidates have announced their choice of running mates in the spring prior to the general election. In 2016, Trump named former Vice President Mike Pence as his vice presidential nominee that July, about four months before the election.

Trump has been leading his Republican rivals by a wide margin in the polls but has not yet secured the party's nomination for president. Still, there has already been speculation about who Trump would choose should he prevail in the primary.

For instance, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, said Nov. 29 that he would recommend Trump choose former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's first two years in office. Haley has also been vying for the party's presidential nomination.

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

PolitiFact also debunked the claim.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaperhere.

USA TODAY is a verified signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network, which requires a demonstrated commitment to nonpartisanship, fairness and transparency. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Meta.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim Donald Trump has announced 2024 running mate | Fact check
The Kennedale police and fire departments got a welcome surprise this month when a long-time resident donated $30,000 for public safety.

The person wishes to remain anonymous, according to a press release from the city. The police and fire departments each received $15,000 for equipment. The money could be used for drones, protective gear and training equipment.

The city of 10,000 is near Interstate 20 and U.S. 287 in southeast Tarrant County.
Southlake mayor John Huffman announced Thursday morning that he is running in the Republican primary for Michael Burgess seat after the longtime Denton County representative announced his retirement from Congress earlier this month.

Huffman said he is running to take back the government from the failed Biden administration.

Huffman is the third Republican candidate to announce his campaign for the District 26 seat, which takes in parts of Tarrant, Denton, Wise and Cook counties in rapidly growing North Texas.

Brandon Gill of Flower Mound and Scott Armey of Corinth are also in the running, and are listed as candidates on the Texas GOP site. Gill is also listed on the Texas Secretary of State website as an accepted filing.

Filing continues through Dec. 11. The primary is March 5.

Im running for Congress ultimately because of the insanity of whats going on in our government. Im afraid that we are losing the nation because of the Biden Administration, Huffman said.

Huffmans priorities include securing the U.S.-Mexico border and getting debt and spending under control.

Huffman and Keller mayor Armin Mizani recently traveled to several border cities where they met with mayors and U.S. border patrol officials.

Huffman said human trafficking and fentonyl must be stopped.

Border crisis sounds too localized; this is a national crisis, he said.

Huffman said other priorities include cutting taxes and having a balanced budget. He described how the Southlake City Council voted to cut the property tax rate during the past five years, thus giving homeowners and business owners a break.

On his campaign website, Huffman described supporting conservative school board candidates in the Carroll school district who defeated the Leftists and removed radical faculty and administrators.

Huffman, 40, owns a home renovation business and served on the Southlake City Council for six years before he was elected mayor in 2021.

Huffman and his family moved to Southlake in 2008.

Huffman said his family fully supports his decision to run for Congress.

Burgess, a physician, has represented District 26 since 2003.

Burgess plans to serve out his term, which ends in January of 2025.

He serves on the House Energy Committee, the House Rules Committee and the House Budget Committee.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utahns could be delighted with a night-time spectacle as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, may make a rare appearance along the Wasatch Front, as long as clouds dont get in the way.

According to forecasts from the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute, auroral activity will be extra high on Friday night, Dec. 1. Because of the increase in solar activity, the northern lights will stretch overhead across Canada, and down into 22 of the contiguous United States.

A look at the Northern Lights forecast on Friday, Dec. 1 (Courtesy: University of Alaska Geophysical Institute)

While Utah isnt one of those states where the lights will be seen directly overhead, the Geophysical Institute indicated the lights may be seen on the lower horizon.

Unfortunately for Utahns, a gorgeous view of the aurora borealis might be disrupted by an incoming storm. Cloud coverage has been building across the Beehive State since Tuesday evening as a storm clips southern Utah and another storm from the Pacific Northwest moves into the Wasatch Front.

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ABC4s 4Warn Weather Team said the second storm will impact Utah starting on Friday, bringing snow showers and  of course  plenty of cloud coverage. That storm is expected to be through the weekend, meaning there is little chance for a break to catch sight of the northern lights.

Should there be a break in the storm, however, keep your eyes on the sky and maybe keep a camera on hand. Just like the spectacular northern lights display in April earlier this year, if the lights are visible, they may be hard to see with the naked eye but easy to see through a DSLR camera.

The aurora borealis rarely makes a strong appearance in Utah. In April, NASA Ambassador to Utah Patrick Wiggins explained to ABC4 that Utah typically gets a couple of displays a year but they are usually kind of so-so-ish.

An aurora borealis appearance when the sun burps  or for a more technical term, the sun emits a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which hits the Earths atmosphere. The energy from the burp is usually pulled north or south thanks to Earths magnetic poles. On occasion, the burp can be just strong enough to resist that pull and make a surprise appearance farther south than usual.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Benjamin Netanyahu said he had told Antony Blinken the war would continue until Hamas was destroyed - GPO/AMOS BEN-GERSHOM HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, warned the United States on Thursday that nothing will stop Israels army from eradicating Hamas as he faced mounting diplomatic pressure to scale back the assault on Gaza.

As he left a meeting in Jerusalem with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, Mr Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until all hostages were freed and the Palestinian terror group was destroyed.

I told him we have sworn, and I have sworn, to eradicate Hamas. Nothing will stop us said the prime minister, who faces growing demands from Washington to adopt a more restrained stance once the ceasefire in Gaza ends.

Joe Biden, the US president, has reportedly warned Mr Netanyahu that he is concerned about Israeli plans to proceed into southern Gaza, where huge numbers of Palestinans have fled to since the outset of the war.

According to a US official, Mr Netanyahu said an operation in the south was essential to meeting Israels main goal of eliminating Hamas.

But Mr Blinken told the Israeli prime minister that the longer his countrys high-intensity military campaign goes on, the more international pressure will build on both the US and Israel to stop it, the American news website, Axios, reported.

Families reunited

In a separate meeting with Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, Mr Blinken called for the ceasefire to continue as it was producing results.

Since Friday, Israel and Hamas have exchanged dozens of prisoners and hostages each day as part of a truce which can be extended every 24 hours by mutual agreement.

We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families, Mr Blinken said.

Its also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately, he added.

So this process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue.

His remarks came as Emmanuel Macron, the French president, hailed the release of 21-year-old Mia Schem, a French-Israeli hostage from Gaza, as a great joy.

Ms Schem was abducted from the Reim music festival and taken hostage during the Hamas massacre on Oct 7.

Mia Schem is free, Mr Macron said. It is a great joy that I share with his family and all French people.

I also express my solidarity with all those who remain hostages of Hamas. France is working with its partners to obtain their release as soon as possible.

Ms Schems father told Israels Channel 12 news: Today I have the happiest day in the world, and I tell you that all the hostages will return, Im sure of it...I just want to hug her and not leave her.

Hamas-free zones

US media reported on Thursday that Israel is considering the exile of thousands of Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip as it seeks to shorten the war and leave the territory in a governable state once the fighting ends.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Israeli and US officials have explored the idea of expelling thousands of low-ranking members of the group to a number of countries, such as Turkey, Qatar, Iran, Russia and Lebanon.

The move would be aimed at preventing the group from retaking power after the war.

The proposal is similar to a 1980s-era agreement brokered by the US which allowed Yasser Arafat, the late Palestinian leader, and thousands of fighters to leave Beirut for Tunisia during an Israeli siege of the Lebanese capital.

Any expulsion would require the approval of the receiving countries and it is unclear if family members of those leaving would be included, the report said.

Another plan said to be under discussion in Israeli military circles is the creation of Hamas-free zones in Gaza ruled by a new governing power and backed by Gulf states.

Israel also said it had summoned the Spanish ambassador and recalled its envoy in Madrid, after Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, expressed doubts that it was respecting humanitarian law in Gaza.

Eli Cohen, the Israeli foreign minister, insisted: Israel conducts itself and will continue to conduct itself in accordance with international law.

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NANJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A freight train loaded with 100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo departed from Xuzhou City, east China's Jiangsu Province, on Wednesday, marking that the province had seen 2,000 freight trains launched this year.

The train will leave China via Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, heading for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

As of Wednesday, the number of freight trains operating from Jiangsu to Europe and Asia increased by 11.1 percent year on year.

This year, the province has opened three new freight routes to the Republic of Belarus, Laos, and Russia.

Currently, Jiangsu has stably operated 24 freight train routes, covering 26 countries in Europe and Asia. 
OLATHE, Kan.  The Olathe Police Department is asking the public for help in locating a 32-year-old man who hasnt been seen since the summer.

Police said Lance Nolan Morin was last seen on foot on June 24 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Teen charged after racial slurs lead to fight, protests at Shawnee Mission East

Morin is described as standing 59 and weighs 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Police said he has several tattoos to include a tattoo of trees on his neck, a feather on his left wrist, an arrow on his right wrist, and a crown with Ryan on his right arm.

Morin has ties to Jackson County, Missouri, Whitley County, Indiana, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, Blue Earth County, Minnesota and Hennepin County, Minnesota, according to police.

The case was initially reported to the Olathe Police Department and remains under investigation.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Olathe Police Department at (913) 971-6363 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed media reports revealing that a Russian lawmaker's family had illegally adopted a Ukrainian child abducted from a children's home in Kherson and changed her identity.

The guardian of the child's sister reportedly reached out to Lubinets, asking him to locate the abducted girl, as she wants to get custody over her as well.

Originally named Marharyta Prokopenko, the child was one of 48 children who went missing from Kherson Regional Children's Home when Russian forces took control of the city, according to a BBC investigation published on Nov. 23.

As the investigation revealed, Marharyta was taken from then-occupied Kherson to Russia by Inna Varlamova, the wife of Sergey Mironov, leader of the Just Russia Party and a staunch ally of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Later, Varlamova and Mironov adopted Marharyta, who received Russian citizenship and was renamed Marina Mironova, the BBC wrote. Her birthplace was purportedly shown in the records as Russian Podolsk instead of Ukraine's Kherson.

According to Lubinets, this is the first recorded case of a changed identity of a Ukrainian child illegally adopted by a Russian citizen.

The Russian media outlet Important Stories, which also did an investigation into Marharyta's story, called it "the first documented case of adoption of a Ukrainian child by a Russian politician of this rank."

Read also: Explainer: What we know about Russias deportation of Ukrainian children

Marharyta has a six-year-old sister living with that guardian, who contacted the official, and a three-year-old brother, whose whereabouts are unknown, Lubinets added. According to the BBC, Marharyta's brother was also abducted from the Kherson children's home by Russian officials.

"Adoption of Ukrainian children in the Russian Federation is illegal. According to international and national law, in order for foreigners to adopt a Ukrainian child, it is necessary to notify Ukraine and obtain consent to the adoption," Lubinets wrote.

"However, Russia tries to circumvent this and forcibly grants Russian citizenship to Ukrainian children, which is also a crime! Forced transfer of children from one ethnic group to another is genocide!"

The allegations against Mironov fall in line with accusations that Russian lawmakers have played a pivotal role in the forced removal of thousands 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 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.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Omid Scobie has responded to Piers Morgan describing his new book Endgame as a spiteful, lie-filled book after the broadcaster sensationally named the allegedly racist royals identified in its Dutch version.

Scobie, 42, said he has been operating within a bubble of no emotion since the release of Endgame, which became embroiled in controversy after the foreign language translation inadvertently named two senior members of the royal family in connection with a racism row that rocked the monarchy in 2021.

The book was pulled from shelves in Netherlands after it was revealed that Scobies book identified two royals who allegedly inquired about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs firstborn baby, Prince Archie.

Dutch journalist Rick Evers, who has read the translated book, revealed on Wednesday that the name of the first royal is very specific while the second one was a little bit vague.

While the British press has chosen not to name the royals, Morgan, 58, controversially confirmed their identities during an eight-and-a-half-minute takedown of Endgame and its author.

If Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can see these names, then you, the British people who actually pay for the royal family are entitled to know, too, Morgan justified his decision to announce the names.

He also demanded that Scobie or the Sussexes finally come forward with the evidence for their allegations of racism against the royals, while calling the Endgame author out for allegedly lying.

The man who said I have regular phone calls with Queen Camilla. Regular phone calls! Morgan said. Never had one phone call with Queen Camilla.

Morgan was referring to one passage in Scobies book, where he claimed that Queen Camilla thanked the broadcaster for quietly defending the Firm in the aftermath of Harry and Meghans estrangement from the royal family.

He described Scobie as Harry and Meghans client journalist during the scathing segment, accusing him of pouring fuels on the flames of the racism controversy that first broke out after Meghan told Oprah Winfrey that there were concerns and conversations about how dark Prince Archie might be and what that would look like during a bombshell interview in 2021.

Scobie shrugged off Morgans comments during Thursdays episode of ITVs This Morning and told hosts Craig Doyle and Alison Hammond that he doesnt think they were particularly credible.

I dont know what he says, I only go by the reporting I have, he said, referring to Morgans comments. Hes spoken a lot about his friendship with Camilla [so] I dont know what to make of that.

I dont think thats particularly credible, Scobie added.

Piers Morgan has named the two royal racists accidentally named by Omid Scobie in the Dutch version of his new book Endgame' (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock & PA)

Elsewhere during his appearance on This Morning, Scobie said he always knew the response to Endgame would be heated and controversial because it addresses themes such as xenophobia, misogyny, and prejudice in Britain which some people might feel uncomfortable having.

What was unsettling, he continued, was the severe backlash against him and his family after the books release.

A lot of it has been simply about me. [Theres been] unnecessary information, an assassination of my character, tabloid journalists harassing my father, trying to purport all sort of nonsense, Scobie said.

He admitted he was obviously frustrated that the racist royals were named in the Dutch version of his book, with thousands of copies expected to be pulped and reprinted in the coming days.

I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version, he told Doyle and Hammong. I am obviously frustrated. I wouldnt say I am upset about it because I have been operating in a bubble of no emotion.

Scobie has previously denied including the names of the royal family members in the books English manuscript, adding that a translation error led to them appearing in the Dutch translation.

Appearing on Dutch chat show RTL Boulevard, he said: The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch. But if there are translation errors, Im sure the publishers will have it under control.

I wrote and edited the English version, he added. Theres never been no version that Ive produced that has names in it.
TEGUCIGALPA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Honduran Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique Reina on Wednesday urged the U.S. government to stop meddling in its internal affairs after U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Laura Dogu spoke out about the naming of an interim prosecutor.

The situation in the Central American country is difficult, because a very small group in Congress appointed a so-called interim prosecutor, but this person is making decisions that do not align with the interim role, the ambassador told Honduran media on Tuesday.

The envoy sought to interfere again in a sovereign and internal matter, said Reina on social media.

Reina rejected Dogu's remarks as "devoid of any legal and logical basis that interim prosecutors have different functions than permanent ones."

"Our Constitution makes no distinction and on the contrary, it is their obligation, as it is the obligation of all public officials, to comply with and enforce the Constitution," he said.

"One cannot criticize or try to confuse the fact that interim officials do not comply with a function that the law gives them to prosecute crimes," Reina said.

Earlier this month, the Honduran Congress named Johel Zelaya as attorney general and Mario Morazan as deputy attorney general. Both are to remain in office on an interim basis until the different legislative factions reach a consensus with a qualified majority. 
Hamas gunmen opened fire on a bus stop during rush hour in Jerusalem on Thursday, killing three people and wounding six.

The terrorist group called for an escalation of resistance in the West Bank following the attack, which threatened to destabilise the precarious ceasefire in Gaza.

Two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian intervened and shot dead the assailants.

Footage from a CCTV camera showed two men exit a white car and run towards the bus stop, shooting a handgun and an M-16.

One woman seems to be struck by a bullet in her thigh but still manages to run away, with the rest of the fleeing crowd.

Responding to the attack, an Israeli man gets out of a red car and fires his own gun at the assailants as they try to re-enter their vehicle.

Another Israeli approaches from the side, shooting what appears to be a handgun. Both attackers were shot dead at the scene.

Israeli police and rescue workers at the shooting attack site in Jerusalem - Ohad Zwigenberg

Images from the bus stop later showed bodies lying on Weizman Boulevard, a main road leading into the city, as police searched the area.

Hamas on Thursday claimed responsibility for the shooting, citing recent deadly Israeli raids in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

Israels Shin Bet intelligence agency identified the attackers as brothers Murad and Ibrahim Namr, Hamas members who had previously been jailed for terror offences.

The proscribed terror group said in a statement: This operation is a natural response to the unprecedented crimes of the occupier in the Gaza Strip and against children in Jenin.

An eight-year-old child was among four Palestinians killed on Wednesday during a major Israeli incursion into Jenin, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups.

The attack did not prevent Hamas later releasing Israeli hostages, with the ceasefire holding until at least Friday morning.

Itamar Ben Gvir, Benjamin Netanyahus ultra Right-wing coalition partner, said the incident supported his policy of arming civilians.

This event proves again how we must not show weakness, that we must speak to Hamas only through the [rifle] scopes, only through the war, he said at the scene.

The two attackers were neutralised on the scene shortly after the attack by two off-duty IDF soldiers and another civilian who fired at them, police said.

A police search of the terrorists car revealed ammunition and weaponry, they said, adding that three of the wounded were in a serious condition.

Israeli police work at the scene and find ammunition in the terrorists' car - RONEN ZVULUN

Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Jerusalems deputy mayor, said the gunmen were probably from sleeper cells in the area.

People just going about their day, waiting for the bus, got cruelly shot by two gunmen with long guns, indiscriminately, and the hospital is now full of injured as well, she said.

The three people who died were identified in local media as 24-year-old Livia Dickman, Hanna Ifergan, a headteacher in Beit Shemesh said to be in her sixties, and Elimelech Wasserman, 73, who was a retired rabbinical judge.

Wasserman and Shemesh died of their wounds in the Shaare Zedek Hospital, while Dickman died at the scene.

The wounded are being treated in two hospitals in the Jerusalem area, with at least five people described in reports as having serious injuries.

Jack Lew, the US ambassador to Israel, condemned the shooting. Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence, he said.

Shots were fired at civilians at a bus stop, police said - MENAHEM KAHANA

Thursdays attack occurred at a bus stop where a bombing was carried out almost exactly one year ago, killing two Israelis and injuring 26 others.

The bomb was detonated around 7am on November 23, 30 minutes before a second was detonated at the Ramot junction on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

Tensions have also risen sharply in the occupied West Bank following the Oct 7 attacks and bombardment of Gaza.

More than 240 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 others injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

On Thursday, 45 Palestinians were detained by Israel following overnight raids in the West Bank. The majority were arrested during raids in Biddu, near Jerusalem.

It is thought that the total will rise as raids are ongoing in Tubas, Jericho, Bethlehem and Tulkarem.

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  One Texas inmate has turned himself in in Oklahoma, and another inmate is still at large after they both previously escaped from a North Texas jail over the weekend, the Fannin County Sheriffs Office said on Wednesday.

FCSO said Ramon Perez and Raymond Ross escaped from the Fannin County Jail on Nov. 25.

According to FCSO, Perez turned himself in in Bryan County, Oklahoma. Ross was seen near a high school in Bonham, which is northeast of Dallas.

From left to right: Ramon Perez, Raymond Ross | Courtesy Fannin County Sheriffs Office

Perez was in custody for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Ross was in custody for evading arrest with a motor vehicle and drug possession and felon in possession of a firearm, officials said.

Officials said Ross attempted to flag down someone for a ride, but he didnt get one. Bonham High School was on lockdown shortly before 1 p.m., but it was not immediately clear if it was still in place at the time this article was published.

2 inmates escape from North Texas jail

Additionally, a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter was also assisting with the search to find Ross, FCSO said.

This is a developing story. We will update this article as more details become available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Karl Oakman remembers how crack cocaine was policed decades ago, and he refuses to allow the missteps that still echo to be repeated with the latest drug epidemic.

We understood early that were going to do fentanyl the right way, where we did crack the wrong way, said Oakman, who was with the Kansas City Police Department in the 1990s during the height of the crack cocaine crisis and since June 2021 has been the Kansas City, Kansas, police chief.

With crack, he told The Star, It was Put everyone in jail. Youre in possession, youre using it, we dont care, youre going to jail.

Today, its fentanyl that has flooded the streets, killing more than 850 people in the nine-county Kansas City area since 2018, The Star found. And fighting the drug the right way  sending a police and prosecution team to the scene of every overdose death, focusing on the dealers and suppliers and using the users to get to them  has prompted results KCK police werent necessarily expecting.

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Karl Oakman knew that his department couldnt repeat the mistakes from the crack epidemic of the 1990s. With fentanyl, police are now aggressively going after the dealers and sellers.

The chiefs initiative officially launched in January 2022 and since then, police say, violent crime has significantly dropped with some rates being historical lows.

We relate a lot of that to the way that were attacking fentanyl, said Oakman, who spoke to The Star at length along with narcotics unit Capt. John Diaz.

And after search warrants were executed in fentanyl cases, narcotics detectives seized hundreds of guns and massive quantities of all types of drugs. Officers also have locked up sellers and distributors and helped get users into treatment.

That, police say, helped fuel the dip in violent crime.

As of Nov. 6, there have been 19 homicides this year, which is down 41% from the 32 the department saw in the same period in 2022. Rapes are down 38%, from 93 to 58. And there have been 222 aggravated batteries, a 45% drop from the 405 last year, according to statistics that KCK police provided.

Its too early to tell, with less than two years of solid data to compare, whether the apparent impact on violent crime numbers will continue. But law enforcement officials are hopeful, and so are some community leaders.

What we do know is that, obviously, drug trafficking is very detrimental to quality of life, said Melissa Bynum, the At-Large District 1 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas. The goal is to get the drug out of here.  I like all the aspects of the way that the chief is approaching it.

Melissa Bynum, At-Large District 1 commissioner for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas.

In addition to what he calls aggressive enforcement, Oakmans initiative includes an additional focus on education and prevention. That includes presentations at schools, meetings and to neighborhood groups. Diaz has done dozens of presentations this year.

The goal is to shed light on what is happening because of fentanyl.

Teens are buying what they think are painkillers or anti-depressants only for their parents and authorities to find out too late that the pills they took  and that caused their deaths  were made with fentanyl. Others  those who struggle with addiction  dont know the heroin or cocaine theyve bought was laced with the synthetic opioid, which is 100 times more potent than morphine.

This is not about putting your kiddos in jail, Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree told parents during a presentation with Diaz in September. This is about getting the folks who are putting this drug on our streets.

Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree, left, and Capt. John Diaz, of the KCKPD Narcotics Unit, spoke to Wyandotte High School sophomores on the dangers of fentanyl during a presentation Nov. 7, 2023.

Dupree and Oakman, who both grew up in KCK, are working in lockstep to fight the illicit drug.

The Star has reported in recent weeks about the devastation fentanyl has caused, with some families saying their loved ones deaths are written off as accidental overdoses and not investigated. Other cases, they say, are stalled because officers say they cant access cellphones, timely financial records and other evidence.

In an ongoing investigation, The Star has exposed the toll fentanyl has taken on the Kansas City region. The series initially focused on how dozens of babies and toddlers have died in Missouri and Kansas after exposure to the drug inside homes, hotel rooms and even in a city park. Then, the investigation narrowed in on the trail of destruction this crisis has left behind and how no age, race or demographic has been spared. The series also focused on investigations of fentanyl deaths and the police agencies that routinely dont present those cases to prosecutors for possible charges. The Star has helped distribute pocket-sized resource guides at six community events around the KC metro and partnered with health organizations to give out 1,000 doses of naloxone, also known as Narcan, a medication that reverses the effects of fentanyl. Those efforts were part of the series with the purpose of equipping our community to prevent opioid-related overdoses or poisonings. In the midst of the Star series, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a new initiative to address the drug crisis and keep local residents from dying. That includes hiring two overdose investigators and creating an overdose fatality review board to analyze real-time data to more quickly understand the devastation fentanyl is causing.

Police in KCK say their strategy is for detectives to investigate every overdose death  gaining crucial information and evidence in the moment  and to get dealers and sellers off the streets, which they acknowledge is not always possible.

One family hit hard by fentanyl says, at this point, they have doubts about KCK police.

They may say what theyre doing, but they arent trying hard enough because Ive had three deaths in my family in the last year basically from fentanyl, and no ones gotten in trouble for any of them, Max Burger said.

Jean Peters Baker, the prosecutor in neighboring Jackson County, said KCK deserves credit for policing fentanyl differently: We should learn something from our past mistakes, and our major attack on crack cocaine has a reverberating effect. What I really dont want us to do is go back down that kind of path again.

A new course

When KCK police get a call on an overdose death, Capt. Diaz is notified no matter the time of day. He then calls in one or both of his narcotics detectives as well as a support officer.

They all go to the scene immediately. An assistant district attorney, who responds to all deaths in the county, heads there as well.

Detectives begin the interview process, and the support officer collects evidence, Diaz said, starting with cellphones because drug deals are often set up through apps like Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and WhatsApp.

Theyre ultimately ordering on the app and then going to the gas station, parking lot, getting it and leaving, Diaz said. Theyre not just driving up to the street corner to go buy it. Its already been pre-arranged.

Capt. John Diaz of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Departments narcotics unit, answers questions after a presentation on the dangers of fentanyl at Wyandotte High School on Nov. 7, 2023, in Kansas City, Kansas. Wyandotte County has seen a sharp increase in fentanyl overdoses in the past year.

So we collect those cellphones and then ultimately get a search warrant, so we can find out who they talked to last before the drug was used.

With officers at the scene so quickly, police said family members often will tell them crucial information, including who sold their loved one the deadly drug.

Charging someone with causing a death, however, has proved tricky at times.

You have to have the fact that pill is the one that caused that person to overdose, Diaz said. So its really easy when I have a text message, Im gonna buy pills from you, (and) two hours later, Im lying on the ground.

But if that person bought pills from you and two days later is now lying on the ground, well, was it your pill? Or did they go to someone else in between?

If KCK police cant get enough evidence to charge dealers with causing a death, theyll try to get them on a distribution charge, Diaz said.

They may be the bottom-level dealer, Diaz said. We want to get higher and higher, because you chop the head off a snake, itll stop for a little bit. So our goal is to get as high as we can. And then when we cant get any higher, we take them all down.

KCK police said this year they have recovered more than 50 pounds of powdered fentanyl  8 to 9 million potential lethal doses  and 375,000 pills.

And besides drugs, they say they confiscated 275 illegal guns while executing fentanyl-related search warrants from January to August. As Oakman put it: That is 275 guns that cant be used in a homicide, cant be used in a robbery, cant be used in an aggravated battery or assault.

The Rev. C.L. Bachus, senior pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in KCK, said hes heard how police are combating fentanyl and has sensed a recent drop in criminal activity in the area.

It appears that you know we got some (crime), said Bachus, whos pastored the church since 1971. But it appears its not as brazen as it sometimes has been in the past.

It looks like something is impacting it in kind of a quiet way.  I appreciate what theyre doing and that theyre keeping crime under pretty good control.

Family wants answers

Kaylee Dawn Burger died three months ago.

In the early hours of Aug. 17  just one day, her family said, before a treatment bed was ready for her  Kaylee, 22, overdosed and was rushed to the University of Kansas Hospital.

She died on Aug. 25. Her autopsy said she had fentanyl and methamphetamine in her system.

In the time since that day, Max Burger said hes never spoken to police, no officer has called about his daughters death and he doesnt even know if its being investigated.

Amber Saale-Burger and husband Max Burger attend a Leavenworth rally against fentanyl in September with their family. Their daughter, Kaylee Dawn Burger, 22, died on Aug. 25 of this year and since then the couple has become involved in spreading awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. The Burgers are working toward presenting at school assemblies across Kansas.

He said he doesnt feel police are taking fentanyl serious at all.

A year before Kaylees death, his sister Monica Burger also died of fentanyl, he said. His grandchilds father also died from the drug in 2022.

They all lived in Wyandotte County, within blocks of each other, Burger said.

He said he has ideas about where Kaylee got the fentanyl that killed her: I would tell the cops if they even asked me.

They never asked me nothing. They never talked to me about nothing. I could have told them some people to ask. What I think is they dont care.

Narcotics officers responded to the scene back in mid-August and collected evidence, said Nancy Chartrand, a KCK police spokesperson. Kaylee had already been transported to the hospital but there was family there on the scene, Chartrand said.

Yes, Kaylees case is under investigation  yes, unequivocally, yes, she said. Hers is under very active investigation.

The other two deaths  Burgers sister and the father of his grandson  are also being worked by detectives, she said. Because of the difficulty of these cases, investigations can take months, even years, police said.

Chartrand said police only recently received the coroners report in Kaylees case.

I talked to the narcotics detective and theyre working on getting the social media records, phone records, all that kind of stuff, she said.

Burger and his wife, Amber Saale-Burger, said they didnt know much about fentanyl until people in their lives started dying from it. Now the two are directors of the Kansas chapter of Fentanyl Fathers, a nonprofit led by parents who have lost children to the drug.

Were just mad, said Saale-Burger, who had been in Kaylees life since she was 9 and helped raise her since she was 14. Were mad that it feels like nothings being done. Like, we cant just let our daughter die in vain. Her voice has to be heard.

Keep the faith

For all who have lost someone to the drug and seen no one charged yet, the district attorney has a message.

I say keep the hope and keep the faith, said Dupree, who is also a Pentecostal pastor. And I would also say my condolences. No one should have to endure what youre enduring.

Only a fraction of the 46 fentanyl deaths this year in KCK  the latest was a 17-year-old  have resulted in charges, a fact the district attorney says bothers him.

Do I wish we could file charges on every death? Dupree said. The answer is yes. But we have to have the evidence.

He described how an attempted undercover buy in April ended with three KCK officers being shot  one multiple times  when a tactical team tried to arrest suspected fentanyl dealers. The three suspects were also injured.

The officers received Officer of the Year recognition on Nov. 16.

Its not clear how many law enforcement agencies and prosecutors send someone to every drug overdose scene. But Oakman said he hopes more do, because its been critical for his departments fight against a drug unlike any it has encountered.

These departments that are struggling with violent crime, were really trying to get them to try to adopt that model of responding to these overdoses, taking them serious and start that investigation from that night, Oakman said.

If an officer calls a week or 10 days later, the families may be like, Whatever, I dont want to relive that. But if were right there when it happens, it makes you understand that were just as concerned about it as you are.
When a small group of farmers and concerned citizens banded together to form the Boone County Preservation Group, it was with the desire to protect the countys farmland from development.

Wed heard rumors that large parcels of farmland were being purchased. We later found out that the land was going to be used for the LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District  an enormous up to 11,000-acre advanced manufacturing park.

Our opposition was spurred by the fact that once farmland is built upon  it is never reclaimed. Farmland is a finite natural resource. Now, another natural resource is in danger from the LEAP project - water - and were helping form a multi-county grassroots coalition to protect it.

The state-sponsored project would pump as much as 100 million gallons of water per day from aquifers connected to the Wabash River to the LEAP district. Aquifers are underground layers of water beneath the river. The environmental impact to the Wabash River Corridor from the proposed pipeline is unknown.

Even if the amount of water doesnt pique your interest, maybe this will. The state has signed a $10.2 million contract with a company just to PLAN the 35-mile pipeline from Lafayette to Lebanon. Were hearing the costs to BUILD it could be in the $2 billion range. Those are your tax dollars. That doesnt include the cost of wastewater treatment or construction of a pipeline to transmit wastewater from LEAP.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says the pipeline wont impact the water supply, but we arent buying it. Now, Gov. Eric Holcomb has asked the Indiana Finance Authority to investigate whether water can be piped to Boone County without harming resources in other communities. Thats fine, but the state forgot to ask the affected communities how they feel about it.

Our coalition is bringing the fight to the local level, where we are seeing municipalities and counties begin to take control of their destinies through local ordinances and rules. They arent willing to just hand over such a precious resource as water without a fight.

Im a retired conservationist with Boone County Soil and Water. I know that even a mild drought could put the supply of those who rely on the Wabash River for water in jeopardy. Indiana faces a drought roughly every 10-12 years and with climate change, who knows how that could change in the future.

We arent the only ones taking a second look at the LEAP districts enormous water needs. Indianapolis-based Citizens Energy Group recently withdrew its petition to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to supply up to 10 million gallons of water per day to the development.

The IEDC began this project in secret, without transparency, and time is showing that it was poorly thought out. The Central Indiana area simply cannot meet the water needs of such a vast development. The Boone County Preservation Group cannot support a plan to take water from one area of the state (potentially harming their development future) to supposedly benefit another area now. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not a good water management strategy.

Theres a warning for all Hoosiers here. The residents of Boone County and those along the Wabash River never thought theyd be in the position of seeing natural resources devoured by a massive development. It could just as easily be your neighborhood next.

Brian Daggy is a Boone County Preservation Group board member.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Op/Ed: LEAP project puts another natural resource in danger
A Centre County restaurant closed its doors in November after nearly 40 years in business, while Rite Aid announced three of the countys four locations would shutter as part of the companys bankruptcy restructuring.

On the bright side of business news, though, a popular breakfast eatery damaged in an October fire reopened in early November, the State College area airport got a new name, and plans were unveiled for a third Jersey Mikes in county.

Heres a look at other business news you may have missed from the month.

Now open

The Waffle Shop in downtown State College reopened Nov. 5 after being closed for more than three weeks after a fire. While damage to the space was minimal, owner Duane Reese previously told the CDT that they were working on smoke mitigation and cleanup.

Elisabeth Joseph Jewellers announced its grand opening in downtown Bellefonte. The jewelry store was founded by goldsmiths Elisabeth Pfahl and Joseph Nadzom, who have a combined experience of more than 60 years, according to a press release. The store features fine jewelry and offers custom creations and repair and is located at 109 E. Bishop St.

Closings

Mr. Hot Dog & More, a restaurant that operated for 37 years in the Bellefonte area, closed its doors Nov. 22. Owners Jim, Sandy and Jeramy Condo announced the closure in a Facebook post, and said they plan to sell the business.

Centre County will lose three Rite Aid locations as part of the companys Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring. The closures were announced in waves through November, with State College area stores at 510 Westerly Parkway and 1927 S. Atherton St. and the Bellefonte location at 821 E. Bishop St., among more than 180 closures across the country. One location remains in Centre County  1536 N. Atherton St. in Ferguson Township  and a company spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that Rite Aid has not yet made, or confirmed, any decisions on additional specific store closures.

The Field Burger and Tap will temporarily close in early spring 2024 during the redevelopment project for Toftrees Resort, the restaurant announced over social media.

In the works

Plans submitted to College Township show a Jersey Mikes proposed for 430 Shiloh Road. Matt Patterson, a multi-unit franchisee of Central Pennsylvania, said that the new location is very much in the planning phase and would be in addition to the two other State College area locations.

New look

University Park Airport has officially been renamed State College Regional Airport. Local officials unveiled the new name and sign during a Nov. 3 event.

Just launched

Happy Valley Vodka is now available to purchase after a partnership between Boys & Blair Potato Vodka and Happy Valley United, a Name, Image and Likeness collective that supports Penn State student-athletes. A percentage of each bottle will benefit student-athletes, according to a press release.

People

Kealy Daye was named the new executive director of Leadership Centre County. Day previously served as program director at Krislund Camp and Conference Center.

Kish Bank announced the appointment of Keith Crissman to the position of executive vice president, chief revenue officer. He will develop and execute strategies to drive revenue growth, customer acquisition and retention, and market expansion, according to a press release.
The new Publix anchoring the Old Town Marketplace development on Veterans Parkway plans to open its doors next week.

Columbus Properties Inc., an Atlanta-based company, built the new development across the street from Old Town and initially expected the grocery store to open in 2024.

Instead, Publix will open on Dec. 6, Columbia Properties managing partner Dan ONeill told the Ledger-Enquirer.

Old Town developers planned on a grocery store coming to the area when they first envisioned the community more than 10 years ago, Wendy Elliot, vice president of the Woodruff Brokerage Company, told the Ledger-Enquirer.

Publix is the best (grocery store) in our market, she said. And we really wanted them. Were excited that were right at our 10-year anniversary, and theyre opening up a new prototype store.

Publix will occupy about 48,000 square feet in the development, Elliot said, with 15,000 square feet of shop space. The Old Town Marketplace is about 69,000 square feet in total, according to Columbia Properties.

Grand opening events will begin at 6:30 a.m. next Wednesday, Elliot said, with the store opening at 7 a.m.

Along with Publix, Old Town Marketplace will be home to the following businesses:

Luxury Nail Spa

Great Clips

Jersey Mikes

Brodwyn Chiropractic

Ageless Medical Aesthetics

Monarca Mexican Restaurant

Mongolian Bowl Cafe

Starbucks

Gutheries Chicken

Taco Bell

The upcoming businesses in Old Town Marketplace are part of the vision of Old Town, Elliot said. Old Town started as a family homesite, she said, and the owner wanted to give back.

Thats when he purchased more land and decided to develop Old Town to be able to give something back to the community, Elliot said.
The American public has a short attention span, often fixating on a subject for a while, then moving on as if it has been solved.

Twenty-two years ago, I found myself on various shows, talking about shark attacks which, while dangerous, were suddenly capturing an almost obsessive amount of public attention. In reality, they were happening at a rate on par with a statistical average.

In 2016, clowns were the rage. They supposedly were doing evil from New Zealand to Utah. People were terrified. Then, just as quickly, the clowns seemed to disappear.

In 2014, people began to dump buckets of ice over their heads to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrigs Disease. The stunt brought in a 187% increase in funding that year, which helped research tremendously, according to the ALS Foundation. But no one seems to be dropping buckets on their heads any more, even though the disease is still with us.

And in 2013, the nation went temporarily crazy about the government spying on regular people after Edward Snowden left the country and began talking. Snowden had been working at the National Security Agency on behalf of outside contractors, and he leaked a lot of documents that showed the extent of government surveillance on regular people.

The federal government tried to capture him, but he eventually escaped to Russia, where Vladimir Putin gave him Russian citizenship. American politicians, meanwhile, talked about having a national dialog about surveillance. Laws were changed. The USA Freedom Act was passed. People moved on.

But maybe they shouldnt have.

Writing for the Orange County Register this week, former CIA analyst and current senior fellow at the Cato Institute Patrick Eddington noted that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is up for reauthorization by the end of this year. Section 702 lets the government target foreign people outside the United States for surveillance.

If this section lapses, Eddington wrote, the government could rely on an old executive order to keep the program going with no judicial oversight, something the Cato Institute learned years ago after it sued.

A 2002 audit of the program found that it also targeted U.S. citizens overseas, and possibly domestically. The program, Eddington writes, was a total mess. Whether or not this still is happening, he said, it is a reminder about how much we dont know about the scope and duration of U.S. government surveillance efforts that implicate or indeed violate the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens in the post-9/11 era.

We dont know how many other classified federal surveillance programs have been or are operating and the extent to which they may, or already have, violated the First or Fourth Amendment rights of Americans.

And, of course, the emergence of artificial intelligence has opened entirely new avenues for spying.

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Writing for The New York Times, Paul Mozur and Adam Satariano reported earlier this year on new facial recognition software, as well as a brain wave reader that can detect lies. Miniaturized cameras that sit inside vape pens and disposable coffee cups. Massive video cameras that zoom in more than a kilometer to capture faces and license plates.

Add in drones, hacking software and computer vision algorithms, and these can all be bought and mixed together to make a snooping cocktail of startling effectiveness.

A Times editorial in 2018 noted that the Supreme Court ruled the government cant collect location data from cell towers without a warrant. Private companies, however, are gathering the data and selling it.

Maybe we still should be fixated on this topic.

In his book, Thinking Fast and Slow, psychologist Daniel Kahneman describes fast thinking as something that comes in handy during emergencies, or when we need to react to screeching tires. Unfortunately, if applied to complex subjects, it can lead to a false sense of instant certainty.

Slow thinking takes much more work and concentration. Eventually, it often overrides the conclusions of fast thinking.

Despite all the talk, we never really solved shark bites, scary clowns or ALS. We attacked them with fast thinking, then moved on. The same can be said for government surveillance.

In an increasingly dangerous world, law enforcement and the military need tools, but humans also desperately need basic rights and liberties. That presents a difficult, hard-to-solve problem.

We need some slow-thinking, ponderous and probing investigations of modern intelligence gathering. And we need it over and over again as new technologies continue to threaten privacy.
WARSAW  In October, Polish voters demonstrated that even extremely unequal elections against authoritarian incumbents can be won. The oppositions victory, and the countrys subsequent re-democratization, may hold useful lessons for like-minded forces in Hungary, Turkey, and elsewhere.

In Poland, the defeated populist leader, Jarosaw Kaczynski of Law and Justice (PiS), is relearning the rules of democracy the hard way in the newly elected parliament. For the past eight years, he did not entertain questions in the Sejm (the lower house of parliament) or elsewhere, nor did he engage with any media outlet that PiS did not control. The speaker of the Sejm, Elzbieta Witek, politely followed his instructions and even reversed votes that PiS had lost. The opposition was allowed only 30 seconds of questions, and Witek frequently fined opposition deputies and turned off their microphones.

Kaczynski would take the rostrum whenever he wanted, using it as a perch from which to insult opposition politicians, whom he smeared as treacherous murderers. He surrounded himself with security details, and had the Sejm fenced off with barriers and police  an absurd display in a nominally democratic country. Press passes for journalists covering parliament were strictly limited, and Kaczynski always entered through the speakers private entrance.

Read also: Francis Farrell: Ukraine could still lose the war. Lets get some things straight

In the recent election campaign, Kaczynski was so sure of himself that he relied solely on aggressive anti-EU rhetoric to mobilize the PiS base. He has long taken a page from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans playbook. As Orban said at a recent rally, Today, things pop up that remind us of Soviet times.  Fortunately, Brussels is not Moscow. Moscow was a tragedy. Brussels is just a bad contemporary parody  We had to dance to the tune that Moscow whistled, Brussels whistles, too, but we dance as we want to, and if we dont want to, then we dont dance.

Earlier this year, Kaczynski deployed the Orbanian tactic of announcing a referendum designed to scare Poles with the prospect that the country would soon be flooded with refugees.

But it didnt work, and since the new Sejm convened on November 13, Kaczynski has appeared completely lost. For the first time, he had to enter through the main entrance with everyone else. When reporters pressed him with questions, he lashed out, screaming: How much arrogance, such incredible rudeness, such German rudeness on the part of the Civic Platform. He then described Donald Tusk, the likely next prime minister, as a lout.

A half-hour later, he had to stand by and watch as the new parliamentary majority electedSzymon Hoownia, of the Poland 2050 party, to replace Witek as speaker, who then lost a vote to serve as a deputy speaker, owing to all her previous violations of parliamentary rules. Kaczynski and his PiS colleagues were completely unprepared for this. But they could hardly blame anyone: they had voted against all the other parties candidates (each party is granted one deputy in the Sejm presidium, though the PiS government did not adhere to this rule).

As of this writing, the seat for PiSs deputy speaker remains vacant. The party has decided not to field any other candidates, thus ceding any influence over the Sejms deliberations. Moreover, something similar occurred in the Senate, where PiSs deputy speaker candidate was also rejected.

During these proceedings, there was a symbolically poignant moment when Kaczynski tried to take the rostrum, but was denied by the new speaker  not out of spite but because Hoownia actually follows the parliamentary rules of procedure. Meanwhile, out on the street, ordinary Polish citizens dismantled the barriers around parliament and the Constitutional Court. Police officers who had hitherto been subservient to PiS did not stop them.

Read also: Ukraines victory will send a message to all dictatorships  Umerovs speech at Ramstein

Some might conclude that Kaczynski, who increasingly appears old and ailing, has simply become confused. But it is more likely that he has intentionally adopted a strategy of behaving outrageously to see which PiS members break ranks. Either way, the menacing strongman, now impotent, has become desperate and ridiculous.

Adding insult to injury, Kaczynski now must seek support from President Andrzej Duda, a former PiS member whom he brushed aside for years. Although Duda has shown no independence or ability to build a political base, he also knows that there will be no cushy sinecure awaiting him in the West after he leaves office. He therefore is launching his own bid for leadership on the Polish right, where his main competitor is Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

Thus, when Duda gave PiS the first attempt to form a new government, he saddled Morawiecki with the impossible task of creating a majority coalition where none exists. When his time is up after 28 days, the coalition agreement between Tusks Civic Platform, Hoownias Poland 2050, the Polish Peoples Party, and The Left will take effect. If there was any remaining doubt about who had truly won the election in October, it was put to rest when Hoownia soundly defeated Witek in the speaker race.

Kaczynski and his party have not only been lying to the Polish people. They also apparently have been lying to themselves. While they have been left reeling from the return of democracy, the rest of us can take inspiration from their defeat.

Editors Note: Copyright, Project Syndicate. This article was published by Project Syndicate on Nov. 30, 2023, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Its no secret that Utah is a great place to raise a family, recreate, start a business and lead a full life. Because of Utahs unparalleled quality of life, our kids and grandkids want to stay here, and folks from other states and even countries around the globe want to move here.

Today, 82% of our states population  more than 2.8 million people  live along the Wasatch Front and Back. By 2050, Utah is forecast to reach a population of approximately 5 million. With our nation-leading growth, we cant take our quality of life for granted. Our future quality of life depends on the decisions we make today.

While Utah is growing, the good news is that we have a plan! Its called the Wasatch Choice Vision. The Wasatch Choice Vision is our communities shared vision for coordinated transportation investments, development patterns and economic opportunities.

The vision is rooted in four key strategies for a thriving region and communities. The first strategy is to provide real transportation choices for our residents to get around  by driving, transit, biking and walking  so people can easily reach their important destinations. Second is to support housing options, of the types and in the locations that meet the needs of all residents. Third, ensure that we have ample and convenient parks, public spaces and open land for gathering and recreating. And finally, to create and enhance city and town centers as the hearts of our communities  walkable areas where activity is focused with places to live, work and play.

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These key strategies are consistent with the views expressed by the overwhelming majority of close to 20,000 Utahns who participated in the recent Guiding Our Growth statewide survey. The way to apply these strategies may differ from community to community; what works in South Jordan may differ from what works in Provo. No one size fits all  each community has to chart its course, in collaboration with its neighbors. But these key strategies apply to all communities, large and small, all across the state.

If we implement the Wasatch Choice Vision, it will have a measurable impact on quality of life, now and for generations to come. The average household will be able to access 30% more jobs within a typical commute. Well conserve 35 square miles of farmland and open land, save roughly $5 billion in local infrastructure costs and use 3 billion fewer gallons of water per year. And well help reduce household costs by providing more housing and transportation choices.

The Wasatch Choice Vision reflects collaboration among transportation and planning agencies, cities and counties, business and community organizations.

Utah is growing, and we have a plan. The Wasatch Choice Vision will maintain and even enhance quality of life for generations to come, even as we grow. We encourage you to explore the Wasatch Choice Vision and learn more at wasatchchoice.org.

Dawn Ramsey is the mayor of South Jordan City, chair of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and past president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns.

Michelle Kaufusi is the mayor of Provo City, chair of the Mountainland Association of Governments MPO Board, and serves as current president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa (L) shakes hands with a staff member from China's Sinomine Resource Group at Bikita Lithium Mine in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara)

BIKITA, Zimbabwe, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday officially commissioned China's Sinomine Resource Group's new spodumene processing plant and an expanded petalite processing plant at Zimbabwe's Bikita Lithium Mine.

"I commend Sinomine Resource Group for taking heed of my government's call for beneficiation and value addition of lithium ores by investing over 300 million U.S. dollars into the various stages of the project," said Mnangagwa.

He said the significant milestone aligns with the government's efforts to consolidate Zimbabwe's position as a regional and global hub for lithium mining and related industries.

"The investment is in sync with my administration's focus on mineral value addition and beneficiation towards propelling the multi-faceted growth of our economy," said Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwe is aware of its strategic responsibility to supply vital resources to a vast number of global industries for shared prosperity, he said.

Mnangagwa said that despite the commendable milestones achieved in the lithium sub-sector, players must remain on course to produce battery-grade lithium and other related value-added products.

Sinomine Resource Group Chairman Wang Pingwei said the development at Bikita Mine testifies to Sinomine's commitment to investing in Africa.

He said reaching full capacity at Bikita Mine enhances the processing plants' efficiency and quality of output.

"Looking ahead, we aim to enhance our mining operations, increase employee benefits, and extend our research and development into other minerals. We are also exploring the feasibility of a refinery plant to further expand our industrial chain and add value to our product, reinforcing Zimbabwe's position in the global new energy industry," said Wang.

He said Sinomine is committed to the socio-economic progress of the community through corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Mining and value addition is a key to achieving the country's growth ambitions, said Soda Zhemu, Zimbabwe's mines and mining development minister.

He said his ministry has drawn up strategies to ensure that the mining sector reaches its full potential, including promoting the exploration of minerals through engaging in partnerships with the private sector, establishing new mines across the country, and working on policies to encourage mineral beneficiation and value addition.

Zimbabwe holds Africa's largest deposits of lithium, a key battery mineral, and hopes to capitalize on the global push for green energy. 
Is Santa Claus real? He may not live at the North Pole and deliver presents to every girl and boy on his sleigh, sliding down chimneys and eating Christmas cookies.

But to John Hayes, 67, Kris Kringle is very real and is a big part of his life.

Is there a Santa Claus? Sure there is. And why? Santa Claus is an icon, he said. I might not be in a red sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. I do this through love, spirit and proxy.

Anyone needing further evidence might refer to Hayes Santa Claus birth certificate (from 383 A.D.), his international driving ID (which specifies eyes colored twinkle and snowy hair) or an envelope addressed to Santa Claus that was delivered to his house with an official USPS stamp.

Central Floridians who live in Orlandos SoDo District, Edgewood and Belle Isle may have noticed Hayes cruising around on his distinctive 2000 Harley-Davidson Road King, which is decked out with candy canes, reindeer antlers, festive lights, jingle bells and Bluetooth speakers that play Christmas carols.

On Dec. 1, during a special event at Edgewood City Hall, Hayes will forego the bike and instead descend from the sky in a helicopter piloted by former Edgewood Mayor Dan Drummond.

During the 8th Annual Santa Fly-In, families can find food trucks, a beer and wine bar, face painting, Christmas lights and bounce houses while Hayes will pose for pictures with children.

To me, one of the biggest honors I can ask for is that someone asks me to come into their circle of family and friends and try to find a way to make them smile, he said, hoping to carry on the tradition of the original Saint Nicholas. He kept his faith. [Saint Nicholas] started the most wonderful tradition of giving back in a pure way. This is why I do it all year long, just the way that history said.

Hayes began making appearances as Santa Claus in 2004 and soon after rediscovered the Christmas spirit in a roundabout way through personal loss and grief.

On Nov. 27, 2006, Hayes father called with a somber tone in his voice to inform him that his grandmother had passed away. His mother departed this world soon after.

It was Dec. 3 when he called and said, John, your mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. What do you do? he said. We had a double funeral with mom on one side and grandma on the other  You take some things for granted, thinking people will be around for longer.

Between his ongoing struggle with atrial fibrillation, which began in 2012, and losing his father in 2015, Hayes has turned to his red suit as a form of healing.

Each year, I wanted to be a little bit bigger and better as Santa Claus. Not only did it help me heal from losing mom, grandma, my dad and so many other close friends and family, it was a time to rejoice, he said. Its a time to find a way to give something back. This is why I do this.

At a Nathaniels Hope event, one child got out of his wheelchair by himself when he saw Hayes dressed as Santa in the distance. His eyes twinkled when he recalled the time he demonstrated how Santa uses a chimney, asking people if theyve seen any reindeer around or giving non-believing children a history lesson.

None of this stuff is scripted; none of this stuff came from a book. It all came from my heart that was messed up, Hayes said, referring to his health issues. Its like The Little Engine That Could, you know, I think I can, I think I can.'

While Hayes is slowing down amid his ongoing struggle with A-fib and a bad motorcycle accident years ago, he thanks Santas helpers in Edgewood and beyond for making his impact possible.

As I went on, Christmas was not in a tree or the presents, Hayes said. Christmas was in the love, spirit and proxy.

If you go

The 8th Annual Santa Fly-In is from 6-8:30 p.m. Dec. 1 with Santa expected around 6:30 p.m. at 405 Bagshaw Way in Edgewood. Admission is free. For more information, including parking details, visit edgewood-fl.gov or facebook.com/CityOfEdgewoodFL.

Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is visiting Dubai to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

The mayors office reports the purpose of the conference is to give climate leaders a chance to have conversations about building cleaner cities, growing a green job workforce and creating a healthier planet.

Over the past few years, our city has seen increasingly stronger storms, and more recently, life-threatening heat waves and a prolonged drought that damaged our greenspace and contributed to a saltwater intrusion that threatened our drinking water, said Cantrell.

2023 Atlantic hurricane season ends with 20 named storms, few U.S. landfalls

She continued, These negative impacts, as a result of climate change, speak to the importance of attending COP28 and meeting with fellow leaders, experts and advocates as we take collective, global action towards eliminating these risks and creating a safer, healthier environment for our people. My various participating roles at COP28 demonstrates how our city is a model for how other cities in the U.S., and across the world, can adapt to thrive in a changing environment. I look forward to joining various leaders in this space as we take a strong, science-based stance towards combatting the ongoing climate crisis.

According to the mayors office, Cantrell is attending the conference as a member of several delegations, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, C40 Cities and the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative.

She arrived in Dubai on Thursday, Nov. 30. She will return to New Orleans on Thursday, Dec. 7. The conference started on Nov. 30 and will run until Dec. 12.

Stay updated with the latest news, weather, and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play store and subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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The two-day ministerial summit of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia's Skopje began on Nov. 30 amid controversies regarding the presence of the Russian delegation.

North Macedonia, the current presiding country of the organization, is hosting 76 delegations from some of the 57 members, as well as observing countries.

The invitation of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sparked a rift among the OSCE members, leading to the boycott of the summit by foreign ministers of Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

"The Russian Federation is constantly sabotaging the OSCE, abuses the rule of consensus," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said on Nov. 28, adding that Moscow is "resorting to blackmail and open threats" in its OSCE dealings.

Nikolenko also pointed out that Russia continues to illegally hold three Ukrainian OSCE officials since the start of the full-scale invasion.

A dispute recently erupted within the organization after Russia and Belarus blocked Estonia's candidacy for the 2024 chairmanship, after which Malta received the appointment.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Bliknen arrived in Skopje on Nov. 29 but left for Israel before Lavrov's arrival.

Read also: Kuleba to boycott OSCE meeting over Russian delegations presence

Some OSCE member state representatives were more open to Lavrov's invitation.

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed the decision by the North Macedonian OSCE chairmanship: "We as the West must not be afraid to sit down with the Russians. I believe the tendency to delve into our own echo chambers in foreign policy is life-threatening."

The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, commented that "it will be a good occasion for him (Lavrov) to listen directly from the participants at this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated."

The chief of Russia's diplomacy arrived in Skopje late on Nov. 29.

At the sidelines of the summit, Lavrov held meetings with several foreign representatives, including Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, and Austria's Schallenberg.

Lavrov's flight encountered complications as Bulgaria reportedly withdrew its permission for the Russian delegation to fly over its airspace.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported that Sofia barred Lavrov's plane due to the presence of Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who is under EU sanctions.

The plane had to instead take a 4,000-kilometer detour over Greece, TASS said.

The meeting of OSCE's foreign ministers, scheduled to finish on Dec. 1, should confirm Malta's appointment as the organization's chair for 2024.

The OSCE was formed in the 1970s as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which provided a platform for dialogue between the Eastern Bloc and Western Bloc during the Cold War.

Ukraine has called for Russia's expulsion from the organization, warning that the OSCE faces "slow death" otherwise.

The OSCE's parliamentary assembly has recognized Moscow as a sponsor of terrorism.

Read also: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly recognizes Russia as state sponsor of terrorism

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More questions than answers remained Thursday about a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crash off the southern coast of Japan Wednesday that has left at least one airman dead.

The status of the other seven airmen who were aboard the aircraft, as well as what caused the incident, remained unclear. The crew was assigned to the Air Forces 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo.

The mishap is the latest fatal incident involving a U.S.-owned Osprey, in which dozens of service members have been injured or killed in accidents around the world over the past three decades.

Four fatal Osprey crashes, including Wednesdays accident, have claimed the lives of at least 13 American troops in the past two years.

This is the first fatal incident involving an Air Force-owned CV-22 since 2010, and potentially the services deadliest accident since 2018, when nine Puerto Rico Air National Guard troops died in a WC-130 weather reconnaissance plane crash.

What is the CV-22 Osprey?

The CV-22 Osprey that went down Wednesday is a variant of the V-22 model produced through a partnership between Boeing and Textrons Bell.

The tiltrotor aircraft  known for its towering nacelles that allow it to launch and land like a helicopter, and speed forward like a fixed-wing plane  began entering the U.S. inventory in 1999 with the Marine Corps MV-22.

That program started as a behind-schedule, over-budget invention that claimed dozens of lives during development. In the decades since, Ospreys have proven valuable for their speed and versatility, flying faster than conventional helicopters to approach enemies from unexpected angles or rush wounded troops to emergency care.

The Air Force received its first combat-ready CV-22 in 2007, and the Navys CMV-22 variant took flight in 2020 and deployed with carrier air wings in 2021. None of the sea services Ospreys have been involved in fatal mishaps. Japans military operates its own Ospreys as well.

The U.S. military now owns hundreds of Ospreys, largely operated by the Marines. Air Force special operations units use the CV-22 to slip in and out of areas without established runways, where fixed-wing planes may not be able to land with troops and supplies.

Ospreys can carry nearly three dozen service members or 10,000 pounds of cargo at a time, according to an Air Force fact sheet. Each is armed with a .50-caliber machine gun, and cost $90 million apiece as of 2020.

The Yokota-based unit involved in the most recent mishap activated squadrons in 2019 to operate and maintain CV-22 Ospreys as part of the Pentagons growing footprint in the Pacific.

But the technological advancements that the V-22 fleets brought to combat and training are still shadowed by concerns about the platforms longevity and safety.

CV-22 readiness keeps me up at night, then-Col. Dale White, who oversaw acquisition and sustainment for the Air Forces special operations platforms, said in 2019. Its not what it needs to be. Its a tough platform to maintain.

What problems has the Osprey faced lately?

A combination of pilot error and mechanical failures have contributed to periodic Osprey crashes that, when fatal, have killed multiple troops at once. The military has recently turned its focus to tackling a problem known as a hard clutch engagement.

Last year, Air Force Special Operations Command temporarily grounded its Ospreys following back-to-back safety incidents in which the Ospreys clutch temporarily slipped and then re-engaged, causing an uneven distribution of power to its massive rotors. Such slips can cause the aircraft to lurch dangerously.

A hard clutch engagement on both sides of a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey in June 2022 led to a crash that killed five Marines in California.

Then in February, the V-22 Joint Program Office  which manages the tri-service fleet  grounded an undisclosed number of Ospreys with more than 800 flight hours to replace aging clutch-related components.

The office claimed in July it had reduced the likelihood of hard clutch engagements, or HCEs, by 99%.

The V-22 community executed 22,258 flight hours between Feb. 3, 2023 and July 19, 2023, with zero HCE events, the Joint Program Office said at the time.

The following month, three Marines were killed when their Osprey crashed in northern Australia. The Marine Corps is still investigating what caused the accident.

I wouldnt right now apply a sweeping broad stroke across every incident linking them together, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said when asked in August whether a clutch malfunction was to blame for those fatalities.

Its unclear whether Wednesdays crash involved a hard clutch engagement.

According to the Associated Press, Japanese news outlet NHK quoted a local resident as saying he saw the aircraft turned upside down, with fire coming from one of its engines, and then an explosion before it fell to the sea.

A non-exhaustive history of Osprey accidents

October 2023: A Marine was injured after a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey experienced a hard landing during a training event in Nevada. Initial assessments indicate the incident was likely not mechanical in nature, a Marine Corps spokesman said in October.

September 2023: Three Marine Corps Ospreys diverted from scheduled flight paths in a single week due to caution indications in the cockpit. The service said the warnings did not appear to be prompted by clutch issues.

August 2023: Three Marines were killed in an MV-22 Osprey crash in Australia during a multinational training exercise.

October 2022: The engine of an Marine Corps Osprey caught fire during training at Air Station Miramar, California. No one was injured.

Summer 2022: Air Force Special Operations Commands CV-22 Osprey aircraft face two hard clutch engagement problems.

June 2022: A problem with the clutch of an MV-22 Osprey aircraft caused the June 2022 crash that killed five Marines, according to a Marine Corps investigation released this July.

March 2022: Marine Corps aviation investigators have determined that a fatal March 18 MV-22B Osprey crash near Bodo, Norway, that killed four Marines was pilot error.

September 2017: Two service members were injured when a Marine MV-22B made a hard landing in Syria.

August 2017: Three Marines were killed when their MV-22B Osprey crashed off Queensland, Australia.

May 2015: Marine Corps officials determined that decisions made by pilots in low-visibility conditions contributed to an MV-22B Osprey crash in Hawaii that left two dead and 20 more injured.

October 2014: One Marine died when he jumped from an MV-22B Osprey that nearly crashed shortly after taking off from the flight deck of an amphibious assault ship. The Defense Department reclassified his death as one that occurred in support of the militarys effort to combat the Islamic State group, making him the first official casualty of Operation Inherent Resolve.

June 2012: Five airmen were injured when a CV-22 was destabilized by the wake of another Osprey near Hurlburt Field, Florida.

April 2012: Two Marines died and two were severely injured when an MV-22 Osprey crashed in a Moroccan military training area while participating in a bilateral exercise.

April 2010: A CV-22 Osprey accident near Qalat, Afghanistan, killed four people and injured 16 of the 20 onboard.

April 2000: An MV-22 Osprey crash at Marana Regional Airport in Arizona killed 19 Marines.

Marine Corps Times reporter Irene Loewenson contributed to this story.
VIENTIANE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Laos' National Convention Center is preparing to welcome leaders and delegates attending the 44th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Lao capital Vientiane in 2024.

Lao national TV on Thursday quoted Head of the National Convention Center Kaisone Bounsomvang as saying that the finishing touches are being made to the interior decoration, while facilities, security and IT equipment are being upgraded and coordination with other agencies is underway to ensure the smooth and successful hosting of the summit.

Staff at the center are coordinating with the Lao Ministry of Public Security to arrange for guards to be on duty around the clock to ensure the safety of guests.

Laos will be the ASEAN chair for the third time, starting from Jan. 1, 2024, with its chairmanship taking the theme "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience" amid challenges facing the world and the ASEAN region.

Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn is on a visit to Laos from Tuesday to Thursday to monitor preparations for the country's chairmanship.

Leading an ASEAN secretariat team, Kao met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to discuss ways to provide full support and ensure the success of Laos' ASEAN chairmanship. 
An 84-year-old Pennsylvania man is accused of beating his wife to death after an argument over money for veterinary care for their cat.

Barton Seltmann was arrested Tuesday after police found his wife, Margaret Seltmann, 85, dead in the couples home in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Lower Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Richard Bell said in a joint statement.

The couple were arguing about money for veterinary care of their cat when the fight turned physical, the statement said. Evidence found on scene indicated that the victim was struck multiple times in the head while lying on the kitchen floor.

Barton Seltmann called 911 himself to report an unresponsive female, authorities said. When they arrived, police officers found the man on a rear porch with blood on his hands, face and clothing, according to authorities.

NBC Philadelphia reported that Barton Seltmann initially told 911 operators he believed his wife was dead and that someone beat her. Later, he said he beat his wife to death after she grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him, the station reported.

Seltmann said he grabbed a chair and pushed its legs into his wife, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He told investigators his wife then fell back and struck her head on the floor, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Seltmann said he didnt see a knife in his wifes hand but still repeatedly punched her and then used a candle holder to hit her in the head, the station reported. Seltmann said his wife stated, Youre killing me, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Investigators found a small kitchen knife under Margaret Seltmanns body, according to the station.

A forensic pathologist with the Montgomery County Coroners Office determined that the womans cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide, the district attorneys office said.

Seltmann was arraigned on first- and third-degree murder charges, online court records show. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 5. Court records did not list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Coca-Cola Philippines brought together a diverse group of stakeholders on November 16, 2023 to discuss locally relevant water issues and explore collaborative solutions for addressing these water-related challenges.

Among the speakers were Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Sen. Grace Poe, US Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing, Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony Del Rosario, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc. (CCBPI) Director for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs, Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tanada, and Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. (CCFPI) President Cecile Alcantara.

Water is the primary ingredient used in Coca-Cola beverages and is an essential resource for the well-being of communities around the world. With a presence in more than 200 countries and territories, The Coca-Cola Company believes it has a responsibility to protect local water resources and help people who live in places that face water scarcity.

In the Philippines, we invest in initiatives to reduce water in making beverages and to treat and reuse water where possible. The goal is to return to nature and communities the amount of water used to produce our finished beverages. Efforts to preserve nature and biodiversity and promote advanced water management practices are among our companys priorities, said Coca-Cola Philippines President Tony del Rosario. We have an array of partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and communities to generate an even bigger impact and we encourage others to join us in these efforts.

Photo from Coca-Cola Philippines

To accelerate its actions on water, The Coca-Cola Company launched this year its holistic 2030 Water Security Strategy, which focuses on the following:

- Achieve 100% circular water use across 175 facilities globally identified as leadership locations.

- Form partnerships to improve the health of 60 critical watersheds worldwide.

- Return a cumulative total of 2 trillion liters of water to nature and communities globally between 2021 to 2030.

Coca-Cola has significantly contributed to water stewardship and in the pillars of water access, sanitation and health, watershed conservation, and water for productive use. They have demonstrated that the private sector can be pivotal in addressing water-related challenges, said DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

US Embassy in the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Y. Robert Ewing also commended Coca-Cola Philippines for its efforts. Coca-Cola has been a long-standing partner of the U.S. government. I am proud of our strong partnership and shared commitment to providing water access, sanitation, and health services to underserved communities while conserving valuable water resources for future generations. Building a water-secure Philippines is a shared goal that we can achieve by working together.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe, Chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee, renewed her call for the creation of the Department of Water. "Water is indispensable for leading a life of human dignity. Let us work together to lift the floodgates of bureaucracy, attain sustainable consumption and production, and ensure that clean water flows to every household like a mighty stream.

Efficient water use in manufacturing

Photo from Coca-Cola Philippines

CCBPI has improved its national water use efficiency across 18 manufacturing plants nationwide through stringent water-saving initiatives. From 2015 to 2022, CCBPI saved approximately 11 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 4,400 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Our passion for water sustainability is evident in the way we operate. From conducting Source Water Vulnerability Assessments to understanding and monitoring our water sources, making sure that we improve on our water use in our plants, to ensuring that we have the right people and the right technological investments in our facilities, shared Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tanada, Director for Corporate & Regulatory Affairs of CCBPI.

Improving watershed health

CCFPI prioritizes nature-based solutions as a way to conserve watersheds using natural processes such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture. Together with WWF Philippines, the Foundation has worked to improve the health of Ipo Watershed, one of the main sources of water of Metro Manila.

Their 5-year partnership has replenished approximately 400 million liters of water per year due to decreased runoff, helped reduce 2,500 metric tons of CO2 per year from reforestation, and improved sustainable food supply for the people living in the community.

Helping communities access safe and clean water

Photo from Coca-Cola Philippines

Coca-Cola Philippines aims to return to nature and communities the amount of water used to produce its finished products and help increase access to drinking water, sanitation, and washing facilities for the most impacted communities.

Through the Foundation, the company collaborates with more than 25 partners nationwide to make these goals happen. For instance, CCFPIs partnership with the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation for over a decade has led to the installation of more than a hundred ram pump projects across the country, providing water for domestic use and helping reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases.

"The results of our water stewardship program testify to the power of collaboration on our shared advocacy on water security. We are committed to continue working with partners to reach more Filipino communities in the future, said Cecile Alcantara, President of CCFPI.

For more information on the sustainability initiatives of Coca-Cola Philippines, follow the companys social media channels: @CocaColaPhilippines on Facebook and @cocacolaph on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or visit www.coca-cola.com.ph.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  Listed D&L Industries Inc., a major player in the biodiesel industry through Chemrez, expects a strong bottom line once the Marcos administration pushes its plan to raise the biodiesel blend to 3%.

The demand will go up automatically by 50% So the effect on volume and margin, we expect it to be substantial, D&L President and CEO Alvin Lao said Wednesday.

He told reporters the mandated biodiesel blend has been frozen for 14 years at 2%.

But manufacturers have already jacked up their capacities, making the biodiesel industry ready to provide even up to 5% of coco methyl ester (CME), which is derived from coconut oil.

So what it means is the capacity to supply is 5%, but the actual demand is only at 2%," he added. "Low utilization means margin is low and everyone is operating at lower capacity."

While the increase may be gradual, the effect is still going to be significant, Lao said.

The industry expects to receive positive developments on this next year.

In October, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the government was eyeing to raise the coco biodiesel blend to curb soaring fuel prices.

Lotilla said the country would bank on robust coconut production, adding that increasing the blend by 1% will only require 2.6 billion nuts.

Refiners are directed to blend biofuels with regular gasoline and diesel to cut the importation of refined fuels while helping local farmers get higher income.

Aside from the biodiesel blend, the government is also looking at raising the voluntary ethanol blend to 20% from the current 10%.
Police are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect in an early Wednesday break-in at the Homer Community Schools Bus Garage.

HOMER  Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect in an early Wednesday break-in at the Homer Community Schools Bus Garage.

The break-in occurred at approximately 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, police said in a news release. Investigators have determined that a -inch Lincoln plasma cutter and an orange box containing cash were taken.

A -inch Lincoln plasma cutter, shown here, is among the items stolen from the Homer Community Schools Bus Garage early Wednesday.

Surveillance footage shows the suspects vehicle leaving the scene southbound on M-99.

Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to call the Sheriffs Office at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-781-9700.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Police investigating early Wednesday break-in at Homer Bus Garage
MIAMI  The Sarasota Police Department is investigating Florida Republican Party Chair Christian Ziegler, whose wife co-founded the conservative parents group Moms for Liberty, following allegations of sexual assault.

According to a heavily redacted police report obtained by POLITICO through a public records request, the alleged incident took place on Oct. 2 at a home in Sarasota and the victim filed a complaint two days later. The documents omit details about the victim's statement to authorities but include the words "rape" and "sexually battered."

The Florida Trident, the news platform for the open government watchdog Florida Center for Government Accountability, was first to report on the news.

Ziegler, through his attorney, acknowledged the police were investigating him and said he'd been "fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department."

"We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated," his attorney, Derek Byrd, said in a statement. "Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded."

Gov. Ron DeSantis, after debating California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Georgia, said Ziegler should resign as head of the Florida Republican Party.

"I think he should step aside. He's innocent till proven guilty, but we just can't have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny," he said, according to ABC News.

Ziegler is married to Bridget Ziegler, a school board member in Sarasota County and Moms for Liberty co-founder. The group has risen to prominence in Florida under the DeSantis administration, which emphasizes rooting out any traces of liberal indoctrination  particularly on the issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and race.

Bridget Ziegler did not respond to requests for comment.

The Trident article quotes anonymous sources who say the Zieglers were in a consensual three-way sexual relationship with the victim but that Bridget Ziegler wasn't there when the alleged sexual assault happened. POLITICO was not immediately able to substantiate the claims.

Moms for Liberty on Thursday indicated that it was standing by Bridget Ziegler, saying in a statement that we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than click bait. The group added that Bridget Ziegler stepped back from the organizations board in 2021.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top leaders, including Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., met with Moms for Liberty this year to plot out local school board candidates to oppose in 2024, following up on scores of endorsements and nominations in the 2022 cycle. Moms for Liberty has a growing national presence, with close to 300 chapters, while reporting more than $2 million in revenue for 2022.

DeSantis also appointed Bridget Ziegler to be one of the chairs for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing board that DeSantis tapped to oversee the district surrounding Walt Disney World after a heated fight about LGBTQ+ topics in public schools.

News of the alleged incident broke just hours before DeSantis was set to appear in a highly advertised debate on Fox News against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, who has criticized DeSantis for his policies on schools.

The Republican Party of Sarasota County said in a statement that it was "shocked and disappointed" about the reports regarding the Zieglers.

We are shocked and disappointed to hear of the reports concerning Republican Party of Florida Chair and Sarasota County State Committeeman Christian Ziegler, and his wife, Sarasota County School Board Member Bridget Ziegler, said the group's chairman, Jack Brill. The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators.

Nikki Fried, who chairs the Democratic Party of Florida, said the accusations against Ziegler "should be taken seriously" and called on him to immediately resign.

Five members of the Republican Party of Florida told POLITICO they'd seen the allegations in news stories but hadn't heard from party leaders directly.

In a text to POLITICO, Ziegler said hes still the head of the GOP in Florida.

Ziegler recently attended an event at Mar-a-Lago that former President Donald Trump hosted to honor Republican Party of Florida county leaders. He also organized a "Freedom Summit" fundraiser in Kissimmee, Fla., where both Trump and DeSantis spoke.


ST. LOUIS  The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office has charged a 25-year-old man with allegedly meeting young teens on social media and meeting them for sex.

According to a probable cause statement filed by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, authorities began investigating the matter in July 2023.

A detective met with a 14-year-old girl who told them that she met Curion Turner on Instagram. Turner claimed to be 17. Turner and the girl met and had sex.

In November, police met with a 13-year-old girl, who said she met Turner on Instagram earlier in the year. Again, Turner claimed to be 17. The girl told police Turner sent a rideshare to her middle school to pick her up and bring her to his apartment. The girl said she and Turner had sex.

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Also in November, a third victim, a 14-year-old girl, informed police that shed met Turner on Instagram. They spoke for several weeks. Turner told the girl he was 17 and arranged for a rideshare to bring her to him. The two met and had sex. Turner also provided the girl with marijuana.

Police eventually located and apprehended Turner.

Prosecutors charged Turner with four counts of second-degree statutory rape, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree statutory rape, and statutory sodomy  person less than 14.

Turner remains jailed without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon State Police is searching for the person responsible for poaching a Roosevelt Bull Elk and leaving it to waste near Scappoose sometime Tuesday night.

Authorities say the elk was left on Dutch Canyon Road sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. after someone had taken its antlers with no effort to remove any meat. Wildlife officials say the bull was well-known and considered to be part of the Miller Heard.

North Portland robbery suspect caught in the act connected to several other cases, police say

Anyone with information that could help identify a person of interest can call the Turn in Poachers hotline at 1-800-452-7888. You can also contact Sr. Trooper Scott Bernardi directly at 503-410-4165 or scott.bernardi@osp.oregon.gov.

Authorities say the elk was left on Dutch Canyon Road sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. after someone had taken its antlers with no effort to remove any meat. (Courtesy: OSP)

Authorities say the elk was left on Dutch Canyon Road sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m. after someone had taken its antlers with no effort to remove any meat. (Courtesy: OSP)

The Turn in Poachers program offers cash and/or point rewards for any information leading to the arrest or citation of a person involved in the illegal poaching of several big game animals, including wolves, elk, bears and cougars.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Patrolmen drew up a report on Santa for driving without a license

As snow arrived in Ukraine this week, so too did the holiday spirit  but apparently not yet for some patrol police in Rivne.

Santa Claus was spotted driving a cool motorcycle with a sidecar for his elves down the snowy Rivne streets in a video that surfaced on Telegram just days before Ukraine kicks off the holiday season with St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 5).

Read also: New dates for Christmas & St. Nicholas Day as Ukraine switches to a more European holiday calendar

The driver, wearing a red suit and a what seemed to be a fake white beard, was stopped because his passenger  who appeared to be rather large for an elf  was riding without a helmet.

Rivnes patrol police determined that Santa did not have a license to drive this type of vehicle (one imagines he only has the license to operate a sleigh  ed.), so Jolly Ole St. Nicks motorbike was confiscated and Mr. Kringle: was cited under Part 2 of Article 126 of the Code of Administrative Violations was filed against him.

The joyriding Father Christmas was fined $90 (UAH 3,400).

Lets hope that Mr. Claus can indeed find his license before it is time to deliver his gifts.

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
Update: Wayne Cunningham, 87, has been found safe, the Missouri Highway Patrol said Friday. A statewide silver advisory has been canceled.

Kansas City police are asking for help locating a missing 87-year-old man with dementia who was last seen Wednesday.

Wayne Cunningham was last seen around 8 p.m. in the area of his care facility near 68th Street and Troost Avenue wearing a green or brown jacket.

Cunningham is 5 feet and 9 inches tall and weighs around 144 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes.

He has dementia and requires daily medication.

Anyone who locates Cunningham should immediately call 911 or the missing persons unit at 816-234-5043.
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill.  Police are searching for two people of interest in a Thanksgiving murder.

They are looking for Scorian Johnson Jr. of Granite City and Michael Hunter of Belleville. They are considered armed and dangerous.

Tow truck operator killed in Illinois served as volunteer firefighter

Two teenagers were shot inside a stolen car one week ago on Adele Street in Cahokia Heights. One teen died from his injuries.

The Illinois State Police are assisting with the investigation. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGCPD) is searching for those responsible for a recent string of armed robberies.

So far, the suspects are linked to up to 10 robberies in the past month.

The most recent robbery happened Monday at about 7:25 p.m. at a restaurant in the 2000 block of University Blvd. in the Chillum area. An employee was hurt during the exchange when the suspect threatened him with a knife but their injuries were minor.

DC residents debate ACT now crime bill

The 10 robberies have been at a variety of businesses, primarily in the 2000 block of University Blvd. Detectives believe the suspects may have ties to the area.

PGCPD released the following surveillance photos of the suspects involved:

Police say a cash reward is available for information leading to an arrest and indictment of those involved. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (301) 516-2830.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 29)  The city government of Manila on Wednesday said it will request for new elephants from Sri Lanka to replace Vishwa Ma'ali, also known as Mali, who died possibly due to heart problem, pancreatic cancer, and multiple organ failure.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the Sri Lankan government earlier committed to former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno that it will give new elephants to the Philippines as a replacement for Mali, who died on Tuesday.

"Ngayon po sisimulan po namin ang pakikipag-usap ulit with the Sri Lankan government, kami po ay susulat ng pormal sa kanila to inform them na wala na nga po si Mali, at the same time, maka-request po kami sa kanila ng replacement po. Sorry pangit pakinggan, 'yung papalit po kay Mali," Lacuna said during a press briefing.

[Translation: We will be reaching out to the Sri Lankan government to inform them about the death of Mali, at the same time, we will also be requesting a replacement. Sorry if it doesn't sound good, but it will be a replacement for Mali.]

Dr. Heinrich Pena-Domingo, a senior veterinarian of Manila Zoo, announced the results of the necropsy conducted on Mali. The Asian female elephant showed signs of weakness only last week, officials said.

"Sa necropsy findings, nakita po namin, unang bumungad po sa amin 'yung pancreas, neoplastic, meaning matigas po siya at parang meron na po siyang cancer dahil sa age niya," Domingo said. "As we go on, nakita po namin 'yung mga nodules around the liver, pero yung liver naman po wala naman problema. 'Yung kidney niya slightly inflamed, possible dahil masyado malaki, kaya po parang may pressure, balot po ito ng taba."

[Translation: Based on the necropsy findings, we've first seen the neoplastic pancreas, which means that she may have had cancer due to her age. As we inspected, we also saw nodules around the liver, but her liver had no problem. Her kidney was slightly inflamed. That is why there might be pressure because of concentrated fats.]

"At the same time, nakita po namin 'yung aorta, yung tubo palabas ng kanyang puso, ito po ay may makapal na taba na nakabara," he also said. "Maaari po na ito ang cause ng pagkamatay niya, itong congestive heart failure."

[Translation: At the same time, we saw in the aorta thick fats that became a blockage. This may have caused her death, this congestive heart failure.]

Domingo noted that the lifespan of Asian elephants is usually from 40 to 45 years old.

The Manila Zoo authorities also clarified that Mali was given to the Philippines by Sri Lanka when she was 11 months old on May 14, 1981, which means she was 43 years old.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said that Mali used to have a companion named Shiva, the elephant that was given in 1977 but who eventually died in 1990.

Lacuna said past documents from previous administrations proved that Mali was given in 1981.

Preserving Mali's memory

The mayor said they are considering preserving the bones of Mali to display in a museum.

"Alam niyo naman po prized possession po namin si Mali, siya po talaga ay isa sa mga or the star attraction po dito sa Manila Zoo," the mayor said. "Nagsisimula na po kami ng talks with the experts kung papaano po magagawa na ma-preserve yung bones niya at mailagay po natin sa museum natin."

[Translation: We all know that Mali is our prized possession. She is one of the star attractions here in Manila Zoo. We have talked to experts on how we can preserve her bones to put them in a museum.]

Meanwhile, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia said in a statement on Wednesday that they have long before pleaded to put Mali in a proper sanctuary, where it said Mali could have enjoyed the company of other elephants.

"Instead, the Manila Zoo and the city of Manila sentenced Mali to decades of solitary confinement, torture for female elephants, who in nature spend their lives among their mothers and sisters, protecting one another and raising each other's calves and now she has lost any chance of happiness," PETA stated.

"Despite PETA's repeated warnings, zoo and city officials ignored Mali's clearly painful foot problems, the leading cause of death in captive elephants and if they caused her death, too, every person who denied her veterinary care and blocked her transfer to a sanctuary should be held accountable," it concluded.

CNN Philippines correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this story.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said the government would seek to restore permits for Ukrainian carriers, which is one of the demands of the carriers blocking checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Polskie Radio

Details: The prime minister added that he admitted to several carriers' demands, including restoring permits for carriers from Ukraine to enter the EU.

Quote: "Our delegation in Kyiv agreed on certain changes that may lead to the passing of those trucks that return empty across the border, and this will reduce, at least to a certain extent, the traffic jam and the protest at the same time," Money.pl wrote, citing Morawiecki.

Polish Minister of Infrastructure Alvin Gajadhur presented information about the current situation on the Ukrainian border in the Polish Sejm.

He said he was talking with representatives of the carriers for three hours. The minister noted they managed to reach some positive solutions. In particular, the protesters abandoned the blockade of two more checkpoints.

Background:

A protest rally by Polish hauliers began on 6 November and still persists at three border checkpoints between Poland and Ukraine, letting only a handful of trucks pass in an hour. The blockade of Medyka-Shehyni, another checkpoint, started last week.

On 28 November, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland stated that it turned to Ukraine with a proposal that may lift the blockade of the Polish-Ukrainian border. In addition, the EU Council will also discuss the situation on the level of transport ministers.

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A majority of Florida voters  including more than half of Republicans surveyed  told pollsters they support a proposed amendment that would add a right to abortion to the state Constitution.

The poll from the University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Lab, released Thursday, found 62% of state voters said they would vote yes if the measure appears on the November 2024 ballot.

UNF also said 67% of Florida voters are yes on a proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow adults in Florida to purchase and possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

The poll results suggest the measures could pass. Referendums require a 60% yes vote to become part of the Florida Constitution.

Abortion

The abortion question would enshrine a right to the procedure in the state Constitution. It would prohibit any state law that delays or bans abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the health of the patient.

The survey found 62% said they would vote yes, 29% no, and 9% said they didnt know or wouldnt answer.

It looks like the proposed abortion amendment is right at that threshold among these respondents, Michael Binder, a UNF political scientist and faculty director of the Public Opinion Research Lab, said in a statement accompanying the results.

Democrats: 77% yes, 17% no.

Republicans: 53% yes, 39% no.

No Party Affiliation, minor party voters: 58% yes, 30% no.

Men: 55% yes, 37% no.

Women: 68% yes, 22% no.

Related Articles

Marijuana

The marijuana referendum was supported by 67% of respondents, with 28% saying they would vote no, and 5% saying they either didnt know or declined to answer.

It asks people to allow people 21 or older to possess, purchase or use marijuana for non-medical, personal consumption, and allow state-licensed entities to cultivate and sell marijuana and accessories.

Democrats: 78% yes, 17% no.

Republicans: 55% yes, 38% no.

No Party Affiliation, minor party voters: 69% yes, 28% no.

Men: 61% yes, 33% no.

Women: 72% yes, 24% no.

Binder said the marijuana question looks like it has a good chance of passing, if the measure makes it through the courts, and that is a very big if.

Supreme Court

Supporters of the questions have two tasks: gathering sufficient signatures to get the referendums on the ballot and having the language of the ballot questions approved by the state Supreme Court.

If the court doesnt approve of the language, the amendments wont be on the 2023 ballot.

The court is conservative, with five of its seven justices appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Attorney General Ashley Moody, a close ally of fellow Republican DeSantis, has asked the court to reject the language of the amendments.

Fundraising to pay the expenses of signature gathering is a bigger challenge for supporters of the abortion-rights measure, who so far have raised more than $8 million.

The marijuana question is backed by far greater financial resources. The campaign has raised nearly $40 million, almost entirely from Trulieve, Floridas largest medical marijuana operator.

Fine print

The University of North Floridas Public Opinion Research Lab surveyed 716 voters. The poll, which used live callers for interviews by phone and online surveys, was conducted Nov. 6 through Nov. 26.

The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points for the full survey of Democrats, Republicans and independents. The margin of error for smaller groups, such as Republicans, Democrats, men and women, is higher because the sample sizes are smaller.

This report includes information from Sun Sentinel archives.

Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Facebook, Threads.net and Post.news.
WASHINGTON  An annual poll commissioned by the Ronald Reagan Institute found strong public support for arming Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Congress negotiates a path forward on President Joe Bidens $106 billion supplemental spending request to arm all three security partners in the weeks ahead.

The Reagan National Defense Survey, conducted by Beacon Research and Shaw & Co., polled 2,506 U.S. adults between Oct. 27 and Nov. 5 on national security issues. The Reagan Institute released the results on Thursday ahead of its annual National Defense Forum on Saturday.

Despite kind of a media narrative or what you might expect watching the debate on Ukraine aid in the U.S. Congress, there is not waning support for Ukraine, said Rachel Hoff, the policy director at the Reagan Institute. In fact, there is steady and strong consistent support for Ukraine.

A plurality of Republicans, a majority of Democrats, support continued U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, she said.

The poll found that 59% of respondents support U.S. military aid for Ukraine while 30% oppose it.

Support for arming Ukraine jumps even higher  up to 67%  when respondents are asked the question couched in the Reagan doctrine promising to support allies against aggressors.

Framing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in this context generates higher levels of supportboth overall and among partisan subgroups than when asked outside of this context, notes a Reagan Institute summary accompanying the poll.

For instance, the poll found 56% of respondents support and 28% oppose sending military equipment to Taiwan. As in the case with Ukraine, support for arming Taiwan jumped to 65% when the question was prefaced with a line stating The U.S. has historically provided security assistance to help its allies and friends defend themselves if they are willing to fight aggression against their own countries.

The poll only asked about arming Israel in the context of the Reagan doctrine, and found that 71% of respondents supported military aid for the U.S. ally while 23% opposed it.

A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted over an overlapping timeframe also found majority support for arming Ukraine and Israel. That poll found 53% of respondents favored sending weapons to Ukraine and 55% support arming Israel.

But a Reuters/IPSOS poll conducted later in November found that only 41% of respondents backed arming Ukraine with 32% opposed it. That same poll found 31% of respondents in favor of arming Israel with 43% opposed.

And an August CNN poll found that 55% of respondents opposed Congress passing another Ukraine package, though that question included both economic and military support for Kyiv.

Still, the Reagan Institute survey found that support for arming Ukraine has remained remarkably consistent with the two prior polls it conducted in June 2023 and November 2022, even when asked outside of the context of the Reagan doctrine.

Biden submitted his $106 billion supplemental spending request to Congress shortly after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. It asks for $44.4 billion to continue arming Ukraine, $14.3 billion in additional military aid for Israel and $2 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Indo-Pacific security partners, including Taiwan.

Congress is currently negotiating the package, but the debate has become complicated amid Republican demands for policy changes on the U.S. southern border, growing House GOP opposition to Ukraine assistance and a push among some Democrats to condition Israel military aid.

Aside from foreign military aid, the Reagan Institute poll found that 77% of respondents favored increased military spending while 20% opposed it. The May debt ceiling agreement caps fiscal 2024 base defense budget at $886 billion, a 3.3% increase over FY23 in line with Bidens military spending request that nonetheless excludes his $106 billion supplemental package Congress is debating.

The Reagan Institute poll also found that 67% of respondents were concerned that congressional budget cuts could reduce military capabilities while 29% remained unconcerned. If Congress does not pass full FY24 appropriations legislation, the debt ceiling agreement stipulates that a full year continuing resolution will go into effect funding the military with a 1% cut from FY23 levels.

The poll also added a new question this year gauging public support for U.S. military action in Mexico to counter drug cartels. It found only 41% of respondents favored U.S. military intervention in Mexico while 46% oppose it.

The majority of Republican presidential candidates, including frontrunner former President Donald Trump, have proposed using the U.S. military to attack drug cartels in Mexico.
Shanghai, Singapore join hands in making sustainable solutions for megacities

09:01, November 30, 2023 By Li Xin and Guo Rong ( Chinadaily.com.cn

The "Song of Our Homeland" China-ASEAN International Media Tour 2023 visits the SJTU Asia-Pacific Graduate Institute in Singapore on Friday. The SJTU-APGI was incorporated in June 2019, which is an extension of SJTU's education and research efforts, as well as a platform for overseas resource integration and internationalization. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In certain reservoirs in Singapore, people can spot several floating "swans". However, these are not real swans, but rather robotic devices disguised as swans for water quality monitoring.

These low-cost autonomous robotic swans are capable of real-time sampling in freshwater bodies with centralized data storage tools for diverse data acquisition by autonomous sensing nodes, effective visualization as well as interoperability with existing database and prediction models.

This is just one application case of the Energy and Environmental Sustainable Solutions for Megacities (E2S2) Programme, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), and funded by the National Research Foundation of Singapore.

E2S2 seeks to study sustainable solutions for coupled problems in the field of waste management and emerging contaminants in Shanghai and Singapore. It also aims to develop a platform to facilitate the understanding, design, and implementation of infrastructure and sustainability solutions for future cities, and serve as inputs for strategic policymaking and real-time environmental monitoring and response for coupled problems in future cities.

The "Song of Our Homeland" China-ASEAN International Media Tour 2023 visits the labs of E2S2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

E2S2 also provides a platform for technology transformation. One such instance is Aquashield Solutions, an innovative Sino-Singapore joint project, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the National University of Singapore, which is at the forefront of digital water quality monitoring and modeling sector.

Founded in 2023, Aquashield Solutions received support from NUS's research innovation project. With joint founders possessing over 20 years of research experience, the company has forged stable partnerships with leading entities in the industry, including local and international private firms and water agencies.

Their core technology comprises an integrated monitoring and modeling platform for digital water quality management, leading the field in monitoring and alerting against water pollution. Providing comprehensive, real-time and precise dynamic water quality simulations combined with cutting-edge analytical and modeling techniques, it sets a new standard in the industry.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has a thirty-year history with its MBA program and over a decade of remarkable joint research experience in Singapore, as well as longstanding dedication in facilitating talents and scientists exchange between SJTU and its Singaporean partners. This pioneering effort represents one of the earliest instances of Chinese higher education exploration overseas, especially in the Belt and Road countries.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The bicameral conference committee is eyeing the restoration of the Department of Information and Communications Technologys (DICT) confidential funds to help fight cybercrime, Senator Sonny Angara said on Thursday.

Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, told reporters that the panel will still be consulting Senator Grace Poe, who sponsored DICTs proposed budget, on how much confidential funds will be restored.

He said he will discuss with House Committee on Appropriations chair Elizaldy Co. DICTs appeal for the restoration of at least a portion of the departments confidential fund to increase cyber security.

Alam natin minsan ang giyera hindi nasa battlefield,  he said. "Hindi na barilan, kundi someone can disable your cyber networks"

[We know that war is sometimes not fought in the battlefield. It's not a shooting war, but someone can disable your cyber networks]

Such disruptions can cripple consumers who transact online and "our economy will come to a halt," he added.

In October, a small committee at the House of Representatives unanimously decided not to give confidential funds to some civilian agencies, including DICT, in the 2024 budget bill and realign them instead to those focused on national security.

Asked if there is a chance that the bicam panel will restore slashed secret funds of other civil agencies, including the controversial request of the Office of the Vice President, Angara said none have come up so far.

He said the vice president is still set on not pursuing the offices realigned 500-million confidential funds for its budget next year.

READ: Sara Duterte withdraws request for 650M in secret funds

Meanwhile, Angara and Co said they will also tackle the proposed 30 billion funding for PUV modernization subsidy.

Angara said the panel aims to ratify the national budget before Congress goes on its holiday break mid-December.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) Several progressive groups marched in protest on Thursday, calling for higher wages and freedom from poverty as the country commemorates the 160th birth anniversary of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) Several progressive groups marched in protest on Thursday, calling for higher wages and freedom from poverty as the country commemorates the 160th birth anniversary of revolutionary leader Andres Bonifacio.

The activists chanted, "Kalayaan mula sa Kahirapan, Karahasan at Pananakop" as they marched from Kalaw Street close to the US Embassy to Mendiola, near Malacanang. A phalanx of riot police stood by, preventing them from moving closer to the embassy.

The protesters included members of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Alliance of Genuine Labor Organizations, National Confederation of Labor, the All Workers Unity, transport groups, and some youth-led groups.

"Dapat umaksyon na ngayon si Bongbong Marcos sa pagtaas ng sahod ng manggagawang Pilipino sa antas na nakabubuhay. Hirap na hirap na po," KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis said.

[Translation: President Marcos should increase wages and make sure that this will be sufficient for Filipino laborers to live. They are really struggling.]

The youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (Spark) also joined the protest action to challenge the return of ROTC in schools.

"For too long, we have lived under a regime that has treated the country like its plaything," Spark said. "Our workers' hard-earned tax money is used as the tokens in imperial slot machines. Our students are set to be dressed up in fatigues, ordered to march into war just because our foreign "allies" told us to do so."

On Monday, some labor groups also asked for funds to increase the wages of government employees.

READ:

Labor groups want budget for gov't workers' pay hike

Labor groups demand higher salary, safer working conditions on Bonifacio Day

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide also joined the mobilization to continue their call to end the government's modernization program.

READ: TIMELINE: The government's PUV phaseout program

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army commemorated Bonifacio Day on Thursday in a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

"Make sure na tayo ay nagkakaintindihan at isa ang adhikain na makatulong sa ating bansa at mabigyan ng kapayapan ang ating bayan," Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said during the ceremony.

[Translation: Make sure that we are understanding our intention to help and maintain peace with our fellow Filipinos. ]

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also held a flag-raising and wreath-laying rites at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City.

"Ilaan natin ang araw na ito upang parangalan si Gat Andres Bonifacio at ang kaniyang kontribusyon sa pagtataguyod ng ating pagkakakilanlan bilang Pilipino. Inaanyayahan ko rin ang bawat isa na tularan ang kanyang kabayanihan at pagmamahal sa bayan at ipakita ang mga ito sa ating pang-araw-araw na gawain," according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s statement read by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who represented Marcos.

Also on Thursday, Senator Imee Marcos said, "Tulad ni Gat Andres Bonifacio, hindi natin isusuko ang soberanya at kalayaan ng mga Pilipino, teritoryo man o sistema ng hustisya, maging hamon man sa ekonomiya at kahirapan sa kabuhayan."

[Translation: Just like Gat Andres Bonifacio, we will not give up the sovereignty and freedom of Filipinos, whether it's territory or justice system, even if it becomes a challenge to our economy and livelihood.]

CNN Philippines correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this story.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The Department of Health (DOH) said it has recorded almost 200,000 flu-like cases in 2023, up by around 50% compared to last year, amid reports about the increasing number of respiratory illnesses among children in China.

Latest data from the DOH showed that 158,762 influenza-like cases were reported to the department through the Field Health Services Information System. The number is 45.68% more than the 108,982 cases reported in the same period in 2022.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source on Thursday, DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag said samples they tested showed that most of patients were infected by Influenza A or B viruses while others were positive for COVID-19.

The findings come as China reports a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses due to the pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae that is mostly affecting children.

In China, they have relaxed their restrictions in December and the way they are explaining this now, and also can hold true for the Philippines, is that those who were under strict restriction would have not developed enough immunity against other viruses or pathogens. Thats why when restrictions were relaxed and children went back to school then we see the number of cases from other pathogens other than COVID, Tayag explained.

Aside from China, he said The Netherlands has also reported cases related to the bacteria that causes an "atypical pneumonia or walking pneumonia.

Tayag said the Philippines has recorded similar cases before, but tests are not usually done to detect the disease and that physicians immediately prescribe antibiotics once patients exhibit symptoms.

He said the disease is contagious and symptoms can linger for a long time. It can be transmitted through close contact and is common in closed settings, like schools, prisons, and households.

Tayag said treating this type of pneumonia is challenging in China due to the high drug resistance there, adding that local researchers are currently checking the drug resistance rate here in the country.

He said the arrival of the pathogen would be a major concern for the DOH, especially if children below eight years old are infected.

We cannot give the same antibiotic to children less than eight because its contraindicated for them to get these antibiotics. So if children younger than eight years old will have Mycoplasma pneumonia, thats a very big concern, Tayag said.

The DOH on Wednesday allayed public fears, saying there is "no evidence of novel pathogens" or a new infectious disease in the country amid the latest situation in China.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, performed the Heimlich maneuver on Joni Ernst, a fellow senator who was choking on food, according to a report by multiple media outlets that was confirmed by Ernst on social media.

The news was first reported by POLITICOs Burgess Everett on X, who said the incident happened during a Senate lunch. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Ernsts Iowa colleague, noted the senators were enjoying chopped steaks from the Iowa Cattlemans Association.

Cant help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats, Ernst, an Iowa Republican, quipped in a social media post after Everett reported the news. Thanks, Dr. @RandPaul!

Ernst was OK, according to Everetts report.

God bless Rand Paul. I never thought Id say that, quipped Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who staunchly opposes Pauls anti-interventionist foreign policy views.

Sen. Mike Lee, a Paul ally from Utah, dubbed the Kentuckian a hero.

Not all heroes wear capes, Lee said in a social media post. Not all senators can quote Mises and Hayek -- while saving lives!

This is a developing story and will be updated.
PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report into the plane crash near Provo earlier this month that left two men dead and another injured.



The crash happened on the morning of Nov. 14, when a small plane crashed into the rugged terrain on the east side of Slate Canyon. Utah County officials identified the men killed as 26-year-old Evan Backers, of South Jordan, and 23-year-old Collin Niemela, of Santaquin.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 2 men killed, 1 hurt in plane crash near Provo

According to the preliminary report, the surviving passenger told investigators that he, the pilot and co-pilot were flying from the Spanish Fork Municipal Airport to the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport in Idaho.



The passenger believed that the pilots intent was to maneuver and remain outside of the Provo airport Class D airspace as well as the Salt Lake City Class B airspace.

Shortly after takeoff, however, the airplane flew north and east of the Provo airport and into Slate Canyon toward rising terrain, according to Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast data.

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The passenger said he was unable to make out what the pilot and copilot were saying regarding why the pilot decided to fly eastward into the canyon, the report states. The passenger also noted windy conditions, said he heard the airplanes stall warning horn, and said the plane was in a nose-high attitude before it hit trees.

According to the report, just after 11:15 a.m., Civil Air Patrol received an emergency locator broadcast. A search and rescue mission ensued, and the airplanes wreckage was located about six miles northeast of the Spanish Fork airport on a slope of Slate Canyon, about 2,000 feet below the summit, at an elevation of about 7,900 feet.

The report said the first identified point of contact was figured out by a severed branch of a 70-foot-tall aspen tree. A debris path was then marked with subsequent tree strikes that began following the initial tree strike.

The main wreckage was located about 170 feet from that first tree strike, where all major airplane components were accounted for. The airplane and engine were brought to a secure location in Phoenix, Arizona for further examination, the report states.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Despite all the angst about returning to the office for work, unionizing efforts, and workplace complexities, Washington state is the best place to find a job, according to an analysis by Wallet Hub.

Washington state stands out as the best place to find a job, securing the top rank in WalletHubs comprehensive job-market strength and economic health analysis, analyst Cassandra Happe told MyNorthwest. With a vibrant job market, diverse opportunities from tech hubs to rural areas, and one of the highest average monthly starting salaries at $4,332, Washington offers a compelling environment for job seekers.

With the unemployment rate at 3.9% and labor force participation at the highest level since the onset of the pandemic, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic vitality. The data set ranges from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time.

Following Washington in the rankings were Virginia, Utah, Vermont and Florida. The worst states for job-seekers are Louisiana, Kentucky and Mississippi, with West Virginia ranking dead last.

Washington has fewer than 4.2% of people living below the poverty line.

The states commitment to worker well-being, including robust employment protections and no state income tax, contributes to its status as the top choice for those seeking fulfilling and rewarding careers, Happe said. Workers can also feel confident with robust protections for things like paid sick leave, equal pay regardless of gender, measures against sexual harassment and more.

She explains that the past few years have been volatile for job seekers from massive unemployment to worker shortages.

Living in one of the best states for jobs can help you not just secure a career, but also improve your chances of getting competitive wages, good benefits and high job security, Happe said.

This story was originally posted on the My Northwest website.
A screengrab of Derek Myers as pictured on his campaign website

The latest Republican hopeful to succeed U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup spent a brief period in the office of embattled New York Rep. George Santos.

Derek Myers, 31, of Chillicothe, filed paperwork Tuesday to become the third Republican seeking to replace Wenstrup, a Republican. The other announced candidates include Ohio state Sen. Niraj Antani and Clermont County Republican Party Chairman Charles Tassell.

Wenstrup announced in November that he would retire from Congress when his current term expires, saying he wanted to spend more time with his wife and two children.

Myers hasn't held political office before, but his name might be familiar to some. In 2019 Myers started the news website Scioto Valley Guardian and served as its editor-in-chief until stepping down this month to run for Congress.

While covering the murder trial of George Wagner IV in Pike County, Myers' tactics drew the attention of other reporters and the judge. Myers' leaving and entering the courtroom in the middle of the proceedings resulted in him being removed from the courtroom, the nonprofit media institute Poynter reported.

Authorities in 2022 charged Myers with breaking wiretapping laws after the Scioto Valley Guardian published a recording of testimony in the trial. Journalism advocacy groups, such as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, rallied in support of Myers. The charges were later dismissed.

In February, Myers accused Santos of sexual harassment and ethics violations, claiming he worked for the New York congressman for about a week in January before the job was rescinded. Santos could face expulsion from the U.S. House after a litany of controversies, including reports he fabricated his resume on the campaign trail and multiple federal charges related to his campaign.

Myers posted on Feb. 3 to X, formerly known as Twitter, a letter he sent to the House Committee on Ethics. Myers, in the letter, stated he spent his first day on the job, Jan. 24, "performing work for the congressman and escorting him around the building," as well as answering phones, reading mail and writing to constituents.

Myers, in the letter, wrote that the next day Santos asked him whether he had a profile on Grindr, the popular gay dating app, invited him to karaoke and put his hand on his inner thigh and groin.

Santos told the news site Semafor his office had been in the process of hiring Myers when they decided against it due to the wiretapping charges.

The Enquirer checked congressional payroll records and found no record of Myers being employed in Santos' office.

When asked by The Enquirer about why he wanted to work for Santos, Myers said he didn't want to talk about it.

"I'm not here to talk about George Santos," Myers said. "I'm here to talk about me, and the things that I'm going to pursue. George Santos is on his way out of Congress, while I'm on my way in."

Over a 40-minute conversation, Myers deflected many questions about his biography back to his platform, making statements that "left-wing nut jobs are running amok" and alleging that there are "a bunch of pedos in disguise freely floating around our hometown."

Myers said he worked as a TV reporter in Florida and Louisiana before coming back to Ohio and managing his news site.

"We've had a very successful news operation in southern Ohio," Myers said. "The people have been very good to us here. And we're very grateful for them. And that's what has allowed me to see that I've had a voice. I've had the ability to give a voice to the voiceless. And I'm ready to take that to Congress."

Where is the district?

The sprawling district runs from Cincinnati's suburbs in the west to West Virginia in the east, covering most of southern Ohio. Almost all of the counties are considered part of Appalachia.

The district covers all of Clermont, Clinton, Pike, Adams, Brown, Highland, Ross, Scioto, Pickaway, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Lawrence, Gallia, and Meigs counties, as well as a portion of Fayette County.

What is the district like politically?

It's overwhelmingly Republican. In fact, it is the most Republican district of Ohio's 15, based on the 2020 presidential race results. President Donald Trump beat Joe Biden by about a 3-to-1 margin.

Wenstrup himself beat his most recent Democratic challenger Samantha Meadows in 2022 by the same margin.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who has filed to replace Wenstrup in the 2nd Congressional District?
Governor of U.S. state of California Gavin Newsom speaks at a press conference in Beijing

By Tim Reid and Alexandra Ulmer

(Reuters) -U.S. presidential candidate Ron DeSantis clashed with California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in an acrimonious debate on Thursday night, making a last-ditch pitch to Republican voters that he is the best option to take on President Joe Biden in next year's election.

The square-off with Newsom, a prominent Biden ally who is widely expected to pursue a future White House bid, quickly turned to insults.

DeSantis frequently called Newsom a liar in charge of a failing state, while Newsom ridiculed his Florida counterpart as a bully badly trailing Republican presidential rival Donald Trump in presidential polls.

"When are you going to drop out and at least give Nikki Haley a shot to take down Donald Trump," said Newsom, 56, referring to the former South Carolina governor who has been surpassing DeSantis in some polls as the top Trump alternative.

DeSantis, 45, gazed at Newsom in silence for a few seconds, before repeating several times: "You wish."

DeSantis was once viewed as Trump's most formidable challenger, but now trails frontrunner Trump in the race for the Republican White House nomination by over 40 points and has seen donor and media attention shift to Haley.

"This is a slick, slippery politician whose state is failing," DeSantis shot at Newsom. "People are leaving California in droves."

To emphasize his view that left-leaning California was misgoverned, DeSantis brought a map of what he said showed the quantity of human feces found on the streets of San Francisco.

DeSantis held his own and had a strong showing against Newsom, a skilled debater, but it was likely insufficient to revive his stuttering campaign.

The Trump campaign said in an email to supporters before the debate that DeSantis' face-off with Newsom was a "desperate" attempt to gain attention as his campaign struggles with infighting and shifts in direction.

John Feehery, a Republican strategist not affiliated with any of the campaigns, said the debate was a good chance for DeSantis to highlight his conservative governance in Florida but was unlikely to alter the trajectory of the Republican nominating race.

"Newsom is very slick, slicker than DeSantis," Feehery said.

DeSantis' aides say Newsom could be a presidential contender as early as next year, though the governor has pledged to stand behind Biden's bid. He strongly backed Biden again on Thursday.

"I will take Joe Biden at 100 versus Ron DeSantis any day of the week at any age," Newsom said, when pressed on whether Biden, 81, is too old to be president.

Abortion was another flash-point between the two governors. Newsom called DeSantis's six-week abortion ban in Florida "extreme", amid polls that show the issue of abortion restrictions has become a political problem for Republicans. DeSantis said: "I believe in a culture of life."

DeSantis is due to meet several of his Republican rivals in Alabama next week for their fourth debate. The Republican nominating contest kicks off in Iowa on Jan. 15.

(Reporting by Tim Reid and Alexandra Ulmer; Additional reporting by Caitlin Webber and Eric Beech; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Jonathan Oatis and Stephen Coates)
Former President Donald Trumps renewed focus on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare, has alarmed some Republicans scarred by the GOPs failure to deliver on promises to dismantle the law and who view the issue as a political loser with the American people.

Many on Trumps team said they were surprised by the former presidents recent declaration on his social media website Truth Social that replacing Obamacare would be a priority of his administration, as Obamacare had not been a focal issue in ongoing policy conversations and the campaign has not yet drafted any kind of health care policy alternative. One Trump adviser told CNN the post came completely came out of nowhere, and said the team has not been talking to him about health care.

Some Trump advisers who spoke with CNN also conceded that calling for the termination of a health care law that provides millions of Americans coverage and is largely viewed favorably by the public is a political loser going into 2024. Republicans have tried and failed for years to implement substantial changes to Obamacare and the party has largely abandoned efforts to campaign on the issue.

The resurrection of the health care battle has given Democrats fresh political ammo, and the Biden campaign quickly seized on Trumps threats. The campaign held a press call with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose state will become the 40th to expand Medicaid on Friday, to respond to Trumps comments. The campaign also on Thursday released an ad focused on health care and prescription drug costs, attempting to draw a sharp contrast with Trump. The ad  which features a pediatric nurse who calls Trumps health care policies troubling  will run in media markets in seven states that will be key to Bidens 2024 electoral map.

There are very few issues where Republicans are at a greater disadvantage than health care. The Biden campaign desperately wants the election to be about health care and abortion. If the election is about those two issues in 2024, then Democrats will have a great night in November, Ken Spain, a GOP consultant and former communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told CNN.

The concern that Republicans have always had about Trump is his lack of discipline. The question is, is this really an issue he intends to campaign and formulate a strategy around, or is this just another lapse in discipline? Spain added.

Health care was a loser in 2018 and its a loser now, one Trump-aligned Republican operative told CNN, referencing the 2018 midterm elections that ushered in a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

Trumps health care legacy while in office is viewed by many Republicans as lackluster at best. His failure to fulfill his core campaign promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare  even with a GOP monopoly on power in Washington  was an early blow to Trump, who had painted himself as the ultimate dealmaker.

Talk about the border, the operative said. Talk about the economy. Talk about no more foreign wars. Dont talk about health care.

Advisers to Trump said the catalyst for the former presidents posts was a recent article written by the Wall Street Journal editorial board that raised concerns that patients are seeing higher costs because insurers are using work arounds to an Affordable Care Act rule. Trump included a portion of the op-ed in his initial post on the issue.

The topic had also recently been brought up to Trump during a Mar-a-Lago meeting with Jeff Colyer, the former governor of Kansas. The two discussed health care policy over lunch, a Trump adviser told CNN.

Trumps online pronouncements about replacing the law with his own belied the fact that his campaign has not settled on health care plan.

The campaigns in-house policy team, led by advisers Vince Haley and Ross Worthington, has been drafting aggressive proposals for a potential second Trump term, but the campaign has not been actively working on a health care proposal, the Trump adviser told CNN. The team first started floating ideas for an alternative to Obamacare in recent days  but only after Trump started posting about it online.

One person familiar with the campaigns process said it was likely that Trumps team would also review health care proposals put forward by outside advocacy groups, including Project 2025, a partnership of groups organized by the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation. But this person stressed the proposals by the outside groups are merely suggestions and that the campaign would look at a range of ideas before putting forward its own unique proposal.

The campaign is not going to adopt a position thats suicidal, this person said, acknowledging how politically fraught the issue can be. But it is equally suicidal not to recognize the American peoples profound cry for health care reform.

Like many of the policy proposals Trumps current team is drafting for a potential second term, there are also serious concerns about how the former president could successfully enact them if reelected, acknowledging the necessary obstacles Congress and the courts could pose to a new health care agenda.

Trump bringing health care back to the forefront has also reignited talk of his failure to repeal and replace Obamacare in 2017.

Members of Trumps orbit have long blamed that failure on the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who famously voted that year against repealing the ACA with a dramatic thumbs down on the Senate floor, tanking the Trump administrations efforts.

And despite Trumps promises to release a health care plan that could replace Obamacare, Trump left office in 2020 without having produced one. Just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, Trump issued an executive order pledging to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, but the plan fell far short of a comprehensive proposal.

CNNs Betsy Klein and Tami Luhby contributed to this story.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  A transport group has filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint against Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza, accusing the official of corruption through the agencys digitalization of its processes.

Mendoza vehemently denied the accusation and described it as "baseless and absurd."

The Federated Land Transport Organizations of the Philippines (FELTOP), in its complaint obtained by CNN Philippines on Thursday, said that since 2017, its drivers and operators would register vehicles and renew drivers licenses through the LTO-IT system run by Stradcom Corporation.

The IT company would charge a computer fee in exchange for collecting, keeping, and uploading data to their database. The transport group said the LTO passed the computer fee to motorists.

In 2020, the LTO launched the government-run Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) which does not charge computer fee for motorists transactions.

In January 2023, former LTO Chief Arturo Tugade issued memorandum circular 2023-2373 fully implementing the LTMS for vehicle registration and subsequently phasing out the LTO-IT system.

However, FELTOP said that some of its members, part of Evergreen Transport, were charged computer fees worth 169.09, according to vehicle registration receipts dated between October and November 2023.

The group alleged Mendoza issued an unnumbered memorandum in August 2023 allowing the simultaneous use of both the LTO-IT and the LTMS system due to alleged lingering performance issues and unresolved service tickets brought about by its limitation.

Furthermore, memorandum circulars VDM-2023-2427 and VDM-2023-2440, both issued in October 2023, amended the receipt printing policy, so that transactions conducted under LTO-IT appeared to have been processed under the LTMS, resulting in computer fees charged to motorists.

In November 2023, Mendoza reportedly issued another unnumbered memorandum ordering regional directors, assistant regional directors, division heads of central and regional offices, heads of district or extension offices, and LTO employees to process new registrations and miscellaneous transactions for public utility vehicles under the LTO-IT.

FELTOP alleged that this was a violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, as Mendoza  a public official  acted in evident bad faith by issuing these memorandums and re-implementing the use of LTO-IT, as motorists had to pay the computer fee.

Mendoza also showed evident partiality or favor towards Stradcom, the transport group alleged in its complaint.

Mendoza denies the allegations

On Thursday night, Mendoza denied FELTOPs claims and said that he had been addressing the issues enumerated in the complaint since he assumed the LTO post in July.

On the digitalization for instance, we have already successfully consolidated all the online transactions using the LTMS, which means the transactions now are more convenient and hassle-free for all our clients," he said. "And this was done in just four months after I assumed office."

Meanwhile, your LTO is on the right track of addressing the millions of backlogs in the license plates since we are now producing one million metal plates a month, referring to another complaint filed against him before the Ombudsman.

He welcomed the filing of the cases and said it would be a good opportunity to prove that the allegations were baseless.
After months of public design workshops and planning meetings, the Great Streets project team on Forward 50 is hosting an open house to share new concepts intended to help strengthen the function and appearance of U.S. Highway 50 through OFallon.

The open house is set for Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., with a presentation at 5:15 p.m., in the council chambers in City Hall, 255 South Lincoln.

Community members of all ages are invited to join elected officials, city staff, and project team members in collaborating on the future of the OFallon thoroughfare.

The city has been studying Highway 50 as a part of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Great Streets Initiative.

After December, the next public meeting will be in April, and then the study is expected to be completed in June 2024.

Community Development Director Justin Randall said OFallon residents ideas, concerns, and preferences have been taken into consideration for refining the concepts. He said everyone will be able to view the emerging concepts in a storyboard format.

Highway 50 was the main thoroughfare through OFallon until Interstate 64 was built in 1975, and its function has changed over the years.

While it continues to support local access to businesses, schools, neighborhoods, health facilities, and parks for the citys 32,000-plus residents, the towns leadership believes segments of the corridor can operate better, especially when it comes to land use and mobility.

Randall said the study is to ensure the community is connected and supported throughout all the neighborhoods, look at market demands and potential changes in land use, identify strategies to improve safety for all modes of travel, and imagine aesthetic improvements to strengthen the areas appeal.

RDG, a national planning and design group with an office in St. Louis, is the project director.

This Great Streets Initiative allows residents to dream and plan for their ideal community asset - in this case, Highway 50, said RDG Senior Manager Cory Scott.

RDG has had ongoing conversations with city leadership and now, residents on mobility, land use and design, infrastructure, economic development and environmental and parks.

The project was launched in September after focus groups met  businesses, churches, educational groups, and civic and service organizations in August. Design meetings will continue this year, with a final open house set for April 2024 and completion expected in June 2024.

The west area is defined between I-64 and West 3rd St/Cambridge Blvd., while the central area is between West 3rd Street/Cambridge Boulevard and Weber Road, and the east is between Weber Road and Scott Troy intersection.

Marty Shukert, principal at RDG, has more than 40 years of experience in urban planning, and has been biking around town as he explores every facet of the city.

These are areas of real interest, corridors that have more potential than realized, Shukert said. We develop ideas with the community in mind, the connectivity that will benefit the district. We want to make it functional for everybody.

This highway study is part of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Great Streets Initiative. It is funded, in part, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In March, the city received a Great Streets grant for a detailed plan for Highway 50 from Exit 14 to Exit 19 and a portion of Lincoln Avenue. The grant is up to $500,000 and the citys portion is $100,000.

Great Streets programs are often an endeavor to do some place making and space making along with economic development, Randall said.

For more information about Forward 50, the city has begun putting information on their website: To see a schedule of events, a map of the project area, and more, visit:

https://www.ofallon.org/planning-zoning-division/pages/forward-50-great-streets-initiative

If you have any further questions or comments, contact Justin Randall, Community Development Director jrandall@ofallon.org, or by calling (618) 624-4500
Five major restaurants will open within days in what shapes up as a busy Christmas dining season.

As usual in Fort Worth, most will specialize in beef and brisket.

But the Stockyards is also getting  this is not a misprint  afternoon tea service:

 La Loteria, 122 E. Exchange Ave. in Mule Alley, is opening to the public to serve afternoon tea Wednesdays through Saturdays in December.

Its a chance for couples or families to enjoy a completely unexpected Stockyards experience in a club attached to Tannahills Tavern.

Afternoon tea at the Backstage Club in La Loteria is served four days a week through Dec. 23. Love Management

For $70 per person, chef Tim Love offers tea service and trays filled with items such as cucumber-Boursin sandwiches and Godiva profiteroles.

Tea service begins at 2:30 p.m. by reservation through Dec. 23 in the Backstage Club in La Loteria; 817-682-5224, laloteriaftx.com.

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Bricks and Horses

 Bricks and Horses, 3700 Camp Bowie Blvd., will open within days.

Its the much-awaited ranchhouse-style restaurant inside a new hotel, the Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection.

The menu ranges from steaks and venison to lobster Thermidor and a wild boar chop.

A rib-eye at Bricks and Horses in the Bowie House, Auberge Collection hotel, in Fort Worth. Noe DeWitt/Handout photo

The lunch menu offers platters, plus a choice of sandwiches for less than $20.

Theres a pie cart offering choices such as cnocolate-pecan mud pie, a yuzu meringue tart and sweet-potato pie.

Breakfast and weekend brunch feature biscuits and fixins.

Reservations are open for tables beginning Sunday, December 3, at resy.com.

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Heim Barbecues Burleson location is on an Old Town pedestrian plaza. Bud Kennedy/bud@star-telegram.com

Heim Barbecue

 Heim Barbecue, 139 W. Ellison St., Burleson, is scheduled to open Dec. 2 on the classy new city plaza in the middle of Old Town.

This is Emma and Travis Heims fourth location, and easily the most elaborate.

Above the old-school dining room, theres a rooftop patio and bar with a music stage. Theres also a large outdoor patio and play yard.

The new Heim is a half-mile west of Interstate 35W. Its open for lunch and dinner daily; 817-616-4346, heimbbq.com.

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Daynes Craft Barbecues new downtown Aledo location off the southeast curve of the traffic circle. Bud Kennedy/bud@star-telegram.com

Daynes Craft Barbecue

 Daynes Craft Barbecue, 100 S. Front St., Aledo, a Texas Monthly top-50 barbecue restaurant statewide, is putting the final touches on its new location for a mid-December opening.

Daynes has moved from pop-ups to a food trailer, first in the West 7th neighborhood and then on Camp Bowie Boulevard West.

Now, this downtown Aledo location is Ashley and Dayne Weavers first brick and mortar restaurant.

When it opens, it will serve lunch Wednesdays through Sundays; daynescraftbarbecue.com.

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Enchiladas Ole founder Mary Patino Vasquez and a mural in the Camp Bowie Boulevard location. Bud Kennedy/bud@star-telegram.com

Enchiladas Ole

 Enchiladas Ole, 6473 Camp Bowie Blvd., will open by mid-December.

Its the third location for Mary Patino Vasquezs Tex-Mex restaurants specializing in enchiladas with a choice of five fillings and seven gourmet sauces.

As you might expect in Fort Worth, the most popular order is a platter of brisket enchiladas with chili sauce. But dont miss the creamy Hatch green chile or Santa Fe red chile.

Enchiladas Ole will be open for lunch and dinner daily except Sundays; enchiladasole.com.

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Alexander Pumpyansky, the son of Russian oligarch and business tycoon Dmitry Pumpyansky, has won an appeal against sanctions imposed by the European Union, Reuters reported on Nov. 29.

The ruling from the European Union General Court in Luxemburg ordered that the EU council remove Pumpyansky off the sanction list stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The court's decision was grounded in the admission by the EU that, since March 9, 2022, Pumpyansky no longer held the positions of president and board member of Sinara, nor was he a board member of TMK. Both companies were accused of supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

TMK, a key supplier of manufactured steel to the Russian energy giant Gazprom, and Sinara, a prominent Russian investment bank, are both implicated in activities allegedly linked to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The EU now has two months to appeal the ruling before the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the EU highest authority.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022,Ukraine has remained persistent in seizing Russian assets associated to the financing of Russia's war. Just last month, Ukraine seized assets worth more than $464 million from three Russian oligarchs close to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Despite the European Union's efforts to implement sanctions on Russian oligarchs accused of supporting Russia's invasion, many continue to take to lawsuits to halt the EU's attempt to seize their assets. And while living under sanctions exemptions in Europe, some oligarchs continue to maintain luxurious lifestyles, spending more than $1 million a year in living expenses.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian general, 5 high-ranking officials reportedly killed in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PROVIDENCE  Far from the Washington D.C. political world where she is viewed by many as a rising star, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is still the pension-cutting former state treasurer whom retired public employees and union leaders love to hate.

The anger and distrust remaining more than a decade after she led a dramatic 2011 pension overhaul in Rhode Island surfaced again on Thursday at a meeting of a pension advisory group created to look at the "unintended consequences" of the benefit cuts she championed in her role as state treasurer.

The pension cuts have saved taxpayers nearly $3 billion in the years since, according to the state's pension consultant.

But Thursday's meeting at the State House gave the leaders of Rhode Island's public-employee unions a chance to lay out the changes they would like to see in state pension law.

It also gave firefighters' lobbyist Paul Valletta a platform to assail the Raimondo "reforms" as an "egregious," unnecessary and politically motivated assault on public employees to divert to Wall Street more than $1 billion in benefit dollars from retirees.

Union groups from across Rhode Island, joined by members of Occupy Providence, rally outside the State House on Nov. 8, 2011, to protest what they called severe pension cuts. [Bob Thayer/Providence Journal, file]

Evoking some of the angriest moments of the 2011 debate and its aftermath, Valletta told the pension study group:

"Everybody was willing to do something, but that wouldn't have played into the [treasurer's] plan ... Just think about that for a minute. Your benefits are taken for someone's political future and the payment of her political future. That's what this was done for."

Valletta then went on to describe how Engage Rhode Island, "the propaganda arm of this thing," used a town hall tour to, as he described it, turn "hardworking blue-collar" non-union and union Rhode Island workers against each other and tell the public, "if we don't change this pension, we're going to go bankrupt and your taxes are going to go through the roof."

"Ever wonder why an Enron billionaire, John Arnold, and his foundation launched Engage Rhode Island? What would an Enron billionaire care about Rhode Island's pension system?" he asked.

"People should be up in arms over this," said Valletta, to applause after he recounted the history through his lens, and the impact on firefighters forced to work into their 60s by the 2011 pension overhaul. One had a heart attack on the job; another a stroke.

"It's time to undo some of the harm caused by the 2011 legislation and restore the retirement benefits to both active and retired employees," said Frank Flynn, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers.

What do labor leaders suggest the state do?

One after another, union leaders spelled out the recommendations they hoped to see from the pension advisory panel assembled by current state Treasurer James Diossa at the direction of legislative leaders facing pressure from multiple directions to roll back some of the pension cuts.

The details varied from union to union. Most basically, they all want the state to lower the retirement age, raise the value of each year of work toward a pension and reduce the early-retirement penalty.

With teachers in half the school districts in Rhode Island ineligible for Social Security because both they and their employers did not contribute, Flynn urged the state to "mandate that all new employees be included in Social Security."

'We went too far'

Retirees want the state to resume giving them annual cost-of-living increases in their pension checks, aka COLAs.

The public employee unions are more focused on the benefits available to current-day state and municipal workers and public school teachers when they retire.

Today's public employees have to work years longer for a much smaller pension than their predecessors did in the decades before Raimondo sounded urgent alarms about the skyrocketing cost to taxpayers of Rhode Island's famously generous pension system.

In a recent interview, Patrick Crowley, the secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, told The Journal: "The labor movement acknowledged at the time ... [and] we have to acknowledge today that if we didn't do anything, that plan was going to collapse."

But "we went too far in 2011, and the unintended consequences are starting to hold the state back and they need to be addressed."

Labor leaders say pension cuts are making it hard to recruit

Union leaders and social service advocates are concerned, for example, about worker shortages in critical state agencies, such as the Department of Human Services. They do not believe the state's retirement package offers enough to attract and keep workers.

"When employees can travel to our nearest neighbors, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and obtain better pay, pensions and benefits, taking a job one state away is a logical choice," said AFSCME Council 94's Jim Cenerini in an advance copy of his testimony.

"The math is going to determine everything. It really is," Crowley, who is a member of the pension advisory panel, said recently.

Some suggestions

Crowley and others suggest the state lower the minimum retirement age and ratchet up the "accrual rate," which is pension-speak for the value of each year of work toward a pension.

For perspective: state pensions once paid a retiree up to 80% of their average pay in their final years of work and then guaranteed them 3%, compounded annual increases in their pensions.

Patrick Crowley at AFL-CIO headquarters: "The labor movement acknowledged at the time ... [and] we have to acknowledge today that if we didn't do anything, that plan was going to collapse." But, he added, "We went too far in 2011, and the unintended consequences are starting to hold the state back and they need to be addressed."

The current accrual rate is 1% of a salary for each year of work. "So after a 40-year career, their pension benefit would be 40% of their salary. It's not enough to live on," Crowley said.

He has suggested increasing the rate gradually to give the state enough time to adjust the required contribution for the active workers without adding time to the projected 2031 date when annual COLAs return.

Council 94's Cenerini also suggests an increase in the "multiplier" for each year of service, with each of the first 10 years in public employment worth 1.25% of pay towards a pension; each year between 11-20 worth 1.5 % and each year after that 2%.

By his math, a worker could retire after 38 years on the job with a pension that paid 51% of their pay, instead of the current 38%. (His suggestions for sheriffs and other public-safety workers are more dramatic.)

Could COLA's come back earlier?

Crowley questions why the COLA return date has to wait until the state-run pension system has 80% on hand of what it will need to pay all of its foreseeable pension obligations. "Why not 70%?" he asked rhetorically.

About COLAs, he said: "We cannot go back to the status quo on 3% annual compounded pensions. It's unfair for anyone to advocate for that without thinking it's going to destroy the pension system as a whole .... [But] is there a different way to do the COLA? Probably. Is there a simple COLA as opposed to a compounded COLA? That's an option."

More: He once chased Lincoln Chafee in a George W. Bush mask. Now, he's in line to lead RI AFL-CIO.

"If one of the concerns of the retirees, which is also a concern of the actives, is that 'by freezing my pension at a dollar amount ... diminishes my earning power, diminishes my purchasing power' .... How do we make sure that there is something more in retirees paychecks every month that doesn't completely blow up the [pension] plan."

"We know we have a budget surplus going into the general assembly session. There are going to be a lot of different groups laying claim to it, including us. And we think we have a compelling argument to make that the state will be better off if we address some of the concerns of the active employees."

The retirees will get the chance to make their case at a future meeting.

The alphabet-soup of unions that got invitations from the treasurer's office to send representatives to speak, includes: LIUNA, RIFTHP, NEARI, AFSCME  Council 94, SEIU Local 580, UNAP, International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), SEIU Local 401, Rhode Island Brotherhood of Corrections Officers (RIBCO), Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters, Rhode Island Troopers Association and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pension reform up for debate again at the RI State House
The rapper opened up about returning to his 235-acre farm in Georgia to recharge.

Rick Ross is in his farm boy era.

What started with a cow, followed by the purchase of a bull named Thor last year, has turned into a full-blown farming operation for the artist commonly known as Ricky Rozay.

Rapper Rick Ross walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022, in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Ross farming endeavors made headlines when several bison escaped his property. He made headlines again when he debuted a new cowboy fit, complete with hat and boots, on social media. Now, speaking to People magazine, hes gushing about life on his 235-acre farm on his estate in Fayetteville, Georgia, which hes dubbed the Promise Land.

The rapper-turned-farmer, who admitted to being a cowboy at times, said returning to his homestead provides him with a different vibe than the studio or his various business dealings.

You just wish many others get to try this, he said. Sit your fing phone down and just sit back and relax. Lets feed the cows some carrots. Lets talk to the horses. Lets fish for four hours. Lets do that.

He added, Maybe thats how I recharge my battery, and when I get around music, Im ready to go because I do a little bit of it all.

Ross is a jack of many trades, from Maybach Music to luxury beard and haircare to chicken wings and beyond. Ross is also far from the only Black celebrity to take up a life of agriculture. From Lenny Kravitzs compound in Brazil to Kelis California farmland to Questlove (who was advised by Ross), many famous faces are getting their hands dirty these days.

The rise in Black celebrity farming may reflect a broader trend. Recent reports have sounded the alarm that the Black farmer has nearly vanished in less than a century. In 1920, Black farmers made up roughly 14.3% of the industry. By 2017, they made up something closer to 1.3%, per CNN, inspiring a new generation of Black Americans to get back to basics and reclaim the tradition.

Leah Penniman, co-director and farm manager at Soul Fire in Rensselaer County, New York, told CNN, We are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of those who fled  all of the oppression associated with life on land in the South. Theres a bit of our cultural heritage and our soul heritage left behind.

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The post Rick Ross finds joy on the farm he calls the Promise Land appeared first on TheGrio.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30) The House of Representatives is aiming to approve all the resolutions concurring with the proclamations issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granting amnesty to former rebels before Congress goes on holiday break next month.

Speaker Martin Romualdez and other ranking congressmen on Wednesday filed House Concurrent Resolutions 19, 20, 21, and 22, which were already referred to the House Committee on Justice.

"We will act with dispatch on these concurrent resolutions and we will strive to approve them before our Christmas break so that rebels who sincerely desire to return to the fold of law and lead normal lives, along with the members of their family, and our nation in general, could enjoy the blessings of peace as soon as possible," said Romualdez in a statement Thursday.

Marcos earlier issued four proclamations granting amnesty to members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation Front, and former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front.

But the proclamations do not cover crimes such as kidnap-for-ransom, massacre, rape, and terrorism, among others.

The amnesty proclamations issued by the chief executive shall take effect upon concurrence by a majority of all the Members of the Congress.

Meanwhile, the Amnesty Commission shall issue the implementing rules and regulations covering the amnesty program not later than 15 days upon the effectivity of the amnesty proclamation.

The 19th Congress will adjourn session from Dec. 16, 2023 to January 21, 2024.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has decided not to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai to focus on the situation of 17 hostaged Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea.

The chief executive announced the decision on Thursday, adding that Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga would lead the Philippine delegation instead.

"Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers," Marcos said.

Earlier, Marcos said the Department of Foreign Affairs was closely working with its counterparts in Iran, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for updates.

READ: 17 Pinoy seafarers among crew taken hostage by Houthi rebels in Red Sea

Citing government sources, DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the hostages are in good condition and may eventually be released.

Efforts are ongoing for this to happen as soon as possible, she said.

The Filipinos were among the 25 crew members held hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels last week.

This came amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it recorded 29 poll-related killings during the recently-concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

They form part of the 331 election-related incidents which the PNP logged during the BSKE period from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29.

The PNP said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had the highest validated election-related incidents with 57.

It added that the nationwide tally includes cases that resulted in the injury of 100 people.

Meanwhile, 2,672 people were arrested for violating the gun ban  more than the 1,509 individuals apprehended in 2018.

Despite these crimes, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo described the elections as generally peaceful.

This was also the statement made by the Comelec (Commission on Elections) chair, si honorable George Garcia, because kahit may mga naitala po tayong insidente nationwide ay wala naman po tayong naitala na any failure of election sa anumang lugar dito sa ating bansa, she said.

[Translation: This was also the statement made by Comelec chair George Garcia, because even if such incidents were recorded nationwide, there was no failure of election in any part of the country.]

CNN Philippines Correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this story.
The Russians have carried out an airstrike on the settlement of Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast, killing one person on the evening of 30 November.

Source: Ukraines State Emergency Service on Facebook

Quote: "One person has been killed. The State Emergency Service and the National Police have rescued two people from the rubble. Three other people have been injured."

Details: The press service reports that a private household has been destroyed as a result of the strike. A search and rescue operation has been completed.

Update: The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office reported about three wounded civilians and gave details. Three neighbours were rescued from under the rubble: two men aged 44 and 70 and an 87-year-old woman. They were taken to a medical facility with concussions and a fracture.

Quote: "At 17:40, the invaders attacked Toretsk for the second time in a day. Preliminary data indicates that the enemy dropped two KAB-250 bombs on the city. They targeted the private residential buildings, where a 49-year-old local resident died from injuries incompatible with life."



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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that he doubts it is expedient to continue the work of the OSCE.

Source: Lavrov at the OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Skopje, European Pravda reports

In his speech, which was thoroughly riddled with traditional Russian propaganda cliches, Lavrov stated that "the OSCE is essentially being turned into an appendage of NATO and the EU".

Quote: "Let's face it, the organisation is on the brink of collapse. A simple question arises: does it make sense to invest effort into revitalising it?" Lavrov asked himself.

According to him, "there are now far more questions than answers".

Notably, after his speech, Lavrov left the room in a hurry and did not listen to the other participants. He was not present before the speech either.

The Ukrainian delegation walked out of the meeting when Lavrov began to speak. It was joined by several other delegations, the full list of which is not yet known.

On 28 November, Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba would not be attending the OSCE meeting due to the organisers decision to invite Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Subsequently, the foreign ministers of the Baltic states and Poland joined the boycott.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in the North Macedonian capital for the OSCE ministerial meeting via Greece, not Bulgaria  allegedly because of Sofia's decision that the overflight permit did not apply to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Source: European Pravda, citing TASS Russian news agency

Lavrov had already arrived in Skopje; his plane was flying over Turkiye and Greece, although it was initially expected that the Russian Foreign Ministry's plane would fly over Bulgaria.

"As TASS has learned, the Bulgarian side refused to allow the Russian Foreign Minister's plane to fly over if the official spokesperson for the Russian diplomatic mission, Maria Zakharova, was on board," the agency writes.

TASS allegedly has a note from the Bulgarian government stating that the permission for the Russian delegation to fly "does not apply to the director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, who is on the sanctions list".

Lavrov is also known to be under EU sanctions.

Earlier, commenting on the permit, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry clarified that it does not apply to other members of Lavrov's delegation who are under EU sanctions, as stated in the Bulgarian side's note.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine and four EU states  Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland  are boycotting the meeting in Skopje because of Lavrov's presence.

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People cross the street during a snowfall on the first snowy day of the season, in Moscow

By Andrew Osborn

LONDON (Reuters) - A Russian court has ordered a man to be jailed for 10 days after he used his finger to write "No to War" on a snow-covered turnstile at the entrance to an ice-skating rink at Moscow's Gorky Park.

According to court papers, the incident happened on Nov. 23 and the man, named as Dmitry Fyodorov, was sentenced the following day after being detained by the police.

Police decided his actions could amount to a civil offence under a law which targets anyone deemed to have acted publicly to discredit Russia's armed forces, a crime which in his case was punishable by a fine.

New laws cracking down on dissent were brought in soon after President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 in what he called a "special military operation."

For those opposed to Russia's war in Ukraine, speaking out in public has since become a risky thing to do and critics say nearly 20,000 people have been detained and over 800 criminal cases opened.

Fyodorov, who admitted in court that he'd written the anti-war slogan, was handed ten days in jail for disobeying the police and allegedly refusing to go to a police station, something he denied according to the court papers.

He was also fined an unknown sum - apparently for writing "No to War" - according to Russian media reports, though there was no mention of that in court papers posted online.

The authorities say maximum unity is needed at a time when Russia is locked in what Putin - who is expected to seek another six-year term in office next year - has described as an existential battle with the West.

Critics accuse the authorities of brutally shutting down and punishing any dissenting voices.

Earlier this month, a court in St Petersburg jailed an artist who replaced supermarket price tags with messages calling for an end to the war in Ukraine for seven years, a verdict her supporters called a disgraceful mockery of justice.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Russian security forces have searched the house of Crimean Tatar Abdul Gafarov, Head of the Alushta Muslim religious community, at dawn. After searches, they took him to the so-called police department in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Source: Crimean Solidarity Initiative on Alushta

Details: Abdul Gafarov lives in the village of Verkhnia Kutuzovka, Alushta City District.

The first information about the search of his house appeared at 06:20 in the morning on 30 November. Five minor children from 1 to 15 years old were in Gafarov's house at the time.

His wife, Fatma Gafarova, reported that the security forces forbade filming what was happening.

   

Searches in Abdul Gafarov house

Photo: CRIMEAN SOLIDARITY

The Centre for Countering Extremism's staff took Abdul Gafarov to the police department in Alushta after the search.

Photo: CRIMEAN SOLIDARITY

Photo: CRIMEAN SOLIDARITY

Gafarov was ordered with administrative arrest under Article 20.2.2 of the Russian Criminal Code (Organisation of a mass simultaneous presence and/or movement of citizens in public places resulting in a breach of public order) in August 2023. He was detained near the building of the Kyiv District Court in Simferopol, where he had come for an open court session.

Abdul Gafarov spent four days in the pre-trial detention centre then.

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What may be the last, desperate minutes of a Russian soldiers life are captured in the latest video released by the Ukrainian Armed Forces Rubak Wild Division. Its a First Person View (FPV) drone unit of the 82nd Separate Airborne Assault Brigade that have made it their daily business to hunt tanks and other vehicles, and yes, sometimes chase down individual soldiers. The video serves as a stark reminder of the rapidly changing reality of drone warfare, which is becoming far more 'personal' than it once was.

The incident captured, backed by a stirring musical score, shows drone-on-man combat and a soldiers hapless effort to survive.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1729893177732051235?s=46

The FPV drone is seen in the opening of the video approaching a Russian soldier standing near a cart. It swoops in ever closer and begins chasing him around it. A few seconds later, the video cuts to the view from another drone recording the deadly dance from afar.

The FPV drone approaches its victim. (Rubak Wild Division screencap)

Another drone captures the scene. (Rubak Wild Division screencap)

For the next 13 seconds, the video alternates between the drone camera views. At about the 24-second mark, the soldier, realizing he has no way to escape, picks up a stick in a last-ditch attempt to club his robotic attacker out of the sky. It's a desperate scene, to say the least.

Several more quick cuts between the two drones ensue as the FPV drone furiously circles the soldier who lunges in vain with the stick.

The Russian soldier desperately tries to swat away the FPV drone. (Rubak Wild Division screencap)

Then, at the 39-second mark, there is a bright white flash of the FPV drone detonates near the soldier, followed by a puff of black smoke.

After toying with the Russian, the FPV drone finally detonates on him. (Rubak Wild Division screencap)

The Twitter video cuts off there, but a longer version posted on the Rubak Wild Division Telegram channel continues for a few seconds more. It shows the soldier writhing around in obvious pain before lying motionless on the ground.

It is unclear what happened to him, but at best this was not a good day.

Rubak Wild Division, as noted earlier, has released a number of FPV videos, which all open with a cartoon of a metallic dragon, red laser shooting from its eye, dropping a munition from its steel claws.

Rubak Wild Division screencap

In a video released earlier this month, one of the unit's FPV drones is seen targeting a Russian soldier in a trench. Unlike the one by the cart, this soldier is armed and attempts to shoot the drone down. Though there is a shower of sparks, apparently from a direct hit on the FPV, the defense attempt via small arms is ultimately unsuccessful.

https://twitter.com/RussianPropX/status/1720990900418232337

This video shows the unit going after a Russian tank near Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

https://twitter.com/RussianPropX/status/1729562160265634199

You can see more of the Rubak Wild Division's work in this compilation video below.

https://twitter.com/KulakPiotr/status/1709094674994962744

The impact of FPV drones  which descend from racing drones  in this war cannot be overstated. They have provided highly-manueverable and hard to defend against precision strike capabilities en-masse over short ranges. They have begun to eclipse the utility of traditional anti-tank weapons in some regards and even artillery in certain applications. Ukraine and Russia are building them feverishly in the thousands. As of late, Ukraine's dominance on the battlefield with these weapons is eroding as Russia spools-up its own FPV drone production and strike teams.

Regardless, unmanned warfare has rapidly evolved during this nearly two-year-old all-out war, with drones now providing a much more up-close and personal threat to enemy troops nearly anywhere that has can be accessed from the sky.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1)  The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) saw possible violations committed by SMNI when one of its hosts claimed House Speaker Martin Romualdez spent 1.8 billion for his travels in just a year.

Both agencies attended a hearing by the House legislative franchises committee that tackled the allegation, which SMNI host Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz raised during the network's program "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan."

It was established during the inquiry that the information came from Celiz's sourcea Senate employee.

House officials said the information was false, noting that from January to October this year, the chamber spent over 39 million for official trips, including 4 million for the Office of the Speaker.

READ: SMNI host says travel cost claim comes from Senate source

"There appear to be infractions, Mr. Chair, on certain provisions of the franchise, particularly the reference provision on Section 4 on the responsibility of the franchisee not to use the station or its facilities for the dissemination of willful or false information," said NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco.

The 25-year franchise renewal of SMNI, which is legally operating as Swara Sug Media Corp., was granted in August 2019 through Republic Act 11422.

Section 4 of the franchise provides the network's responsibility to the public, which includes that "[t]he grantee shallnot use its stations or facilities for the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, speech, act, or scene; or for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest; or to incite, encourage, or assist in subversive or treasonable acts."

"It seems that SMNI is going in that direction where it is being used, the franchise is being used to attack individuals. Hindi 'yon ang mandato ninyo [That's not your mandate]," Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.

"It is very clear in section 4 that you should not disseminate fake news or unverified reports," he added.

Unaccredited announcers on air a possible violation

During the hearing, SMNI's legal counsel Rolex Suplico said Celiz and co-host Lorraine Badoy, a former anti-communist task force official, are talents of the network.

"The grantee of the franchise, Swara Sug, cannot tell them what to say, what to ask, when to ask, how to ask, they enjoy a certain independence from us," Suplico added.

Another lawyer for the network, Mark Tolentino, said Swara Sug Media Corp. is KBP-accreditedbut not its talents.

For the KBP, SMNI may have committed a violation when it allowed unaccredited announcers to go on air.

Atty. Rudolph Jularbal of the KBP explained that anchors and reporters of KBP member networks are given lectures on the code of ethics and are required to take an exam to pass the accreditation.

When asked if the body would initiate an investigation on the matter, Jularbal said: "Considering the information gathered during this hearing, your honors, I will report to the standards authority of KBP."

Hiding behind disclaimer?

SMNI's Tolentino insisted that the information about Romualdez's alleged 1.8 billion travel expenses was only posed as a question, which was "given not on behalf of SMNI but it is a statement given by an anchor of SMNI."

"Gumagawa po kami ng internal investigation kung may nangyari ba talagang statement [We are conducting an internal investigation if a statement was made] about the 1.8 billion because based on our initial investigation, there was none," he added.

Tolentino also said SMNI has a disclaimer that "any statement made by the anchors is not the official stand of SMNI," which caught the ire of lawmakers.

"You're responsible for anything that's aired there and disinformation like the accusation of 1.8 billion," said Paranaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, the panel's chairperson.

"Inamin niyo responsibilidad ninyo ang laman ng program, responsibilidad niyo rin na hindi sila magsalita nang hindi maayoshindi po kayo pwede magtago sa disclaimer," he also told SMNI president Marlon Rosete.

[Translation: You admitted that the content of the program is your responsibility, and for the anchors to speak properlyyou cannot hide behind a disclaimer.]
Russian forces shelled three areas in Sumy Oblast on Nov. 29, the local military administration reported on Telegram.

At least 15 strikes were recorded in the past 24 hours which hit the communities of Krasnopillia, Esman, and Velyka Pysarivka.

No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported.

The Russian military targeted the settlements with an onslaught of shelling, mortar fire, and grenade launcher attacks.

The community of Velyka Pysarivka, home to roughly 3,900 residents, experienced the most intense attacks, with 10 explosions originating from grenade launcher attacks recorded in the area. The town is located just 7 kilometers west of the Russia-Ukraine border.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. Residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements endure multiple attacks per day.

Read also: 3 killed, 3 injured in Russian attack on Sumy Oblast





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Russian troops attacked Darivka in Kherson Oblast overnight on 30 November, as a result of which a dozen residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a hospital were damaged, and four people were injured.

Source: Kherson blast Military dministration

Quote: "At midnight, the Russian army attacked Darivka. Enemy fire damaged a dozen residential buildings, a kindergarten, and a hospital. Four local residents were injured in their own homes.

A 59-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were taken to the hospital by ambulance. Doctors assess their condition as moderate. Two other women, aged 75 and 66, received medical assistance on the spot. They refused to be hospitalised."

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The Russian forces intensified their attacks on all fronts, trying to restore lost positions near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast five times; 101 combat clashes were recorded during the day in total.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 30 November

Quote: "During the past day there were 101 combat clashes. In total, the enemy inflicted 11 missile and 28 air strikes, and carried out 43 attacks from multiple-launch missile systems at the positions of our troops and settlements...

Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kupiansk, and Kurylivka in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as Novomykhailivka, Avdiivka, and Novoukrainka in Donetsk Oblast suffered from airstrikes.

Around 110 settlements in Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts came under artillery fire."

Details: In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, the Russians conducted assault operations near Synkivka, Petropavlivka in Kharkiv Oblast, as well as Stelmakhivka in Luhansk Oblast, where the Defence Forces repelled seven attacks.

On the Lyman front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 24 attacks in the areas of Serebrianka forest in Luhansk Oblast and east of Terny, Yampolivka, Torske in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut front, the Russians conducted unsuccessful assault actions near Ivanivske and Andriivka, Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian defenders repelled four attacks. In turn, the Defence Forces of Ukraine continued assault actions south of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, inflicting losses on the Russians in manpower and equipment, and continuing to consolidate their positions.

In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, the invaders, with the support of aviation, keep trying to surround Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers steadfastly held the defence, inflicting significant losses on the Russians. The Russian offensive operations near Stepove, Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Tonenke, Sevierne, Pervomaiske in Donetsk Oblast were unsuccessful. In those areas, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 22 attacks.

On the Marinka front, the Russians, with the support of aviation, conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the areas of Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk Oblast, where the Defence Forces repelled 11 attacks.

On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks south of Prechystivka, Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to restore the lost position in the area of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, five times. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers repelled nine attacks northwest of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

At the same time, the Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to advance on the Melitopol front, inflicting casualties on the occupying forces in manpower and equipment, and exhausting the Russians along the entire front line.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, the Defence Forces continue to hold occupied positions on the left bank of the Dnipro river, conducting counter-battery struggle and inflicting fire damage on the Russian rear positions.

In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation remains without significant changes.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russians maintain military presence in the border areas, carrying out active sabotage activities in order to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to other fronts.

The Ukrainian Air Force delivered two airstrikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment over the past 24 hours, and two more attacks on a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.

Units of Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck three command points, two ammunition depots and two clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment.

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Russia attacked Ukraine using 20 Shahed attack drones and eight S-300 missiles on the night of 29-30 November, and Ukraine's air defence forces destroyed 14 drones.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Quote: "The occupiers attacked our country again at night, using eight S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles and 20 Shahed-136/131 drones. Our defenders destroyed 14 attack UAVs."

Details: The General Staff reported that private houses, a three-storey residential building in the city of Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, and other civilian infrastructure facilities were destroyed or damaged as a result of the attack.

Later, Ukraines Air Force specified that the Russians attacked from two directions: occupied Crimea and Primorsko-Akhtarsk (Russia).

Fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups of Ukraine's Air Force and Defence Forces took part in repelling the air attack.

Background:

Earlier, Serhii Tiurin, First Deputy Head of Khmelnytskyi Oblast Military Administration, said wreckage from a downed drone fell on the territory of the former plant in the Shepetivka district in Khmelnytskyi Oblast, but there were no casualties.

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The Russians hit the settlements of Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka, and Myrnohrad in Pokrovsk District, Donetsk Oblast, with six missiles on the night of 29-30 November. As a result, at least 10 people were injured, and another five are being searched for under the rubble.

Source: Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs, on Telegram

Details: The Russians simultaneously launched six S-300 missiles on Pokrovsk District in Donetsk Oblast at night. The settlements of Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka, and Myrnohrad came under fire.

As a result of the attack, 10 people were injured, including four children. Five more people are being searched for under the rubble. Police paramedics rescued the baby.

A family with two children, a 16-year-old boy and a 6-month-old baby, in Pokrovsk, suffered from the attack. Another 13-year-old boy was injured. Early reports indicate that an apartment building, nine private buildings, a police station, cars, and garages were damaged.

One of the shells exploded in the yard of a house where a family with two children lived. As a result of the shelling, the roof and walls of the house were destroyed, and the entire family was buried under the rubble.

A police paramedic helped a man with a bloodied baby in his arms get out from under the ruins. After examining the boy, the policeman wrapped him up and quickly took him to hospital. Six-month-old Ilias life is beyond danger now.

      

Russians launched missiles on Pokrovsk District

Photo: National Police of Ukraine; Ministry of Internal Affairs

A high-rise building was hit in Novohrodivka. A 13-year-old child was injured. Police officers and the State Emergency Service employees continue to work at the scene. Five more people are likely trapped under the rubble, including a child.

The Russians hit Myrnohrad with two missiles from an S-300 air defence system. The police department was destroyed.

      

Russians launched missiles on Pokrovsk District

Photo: National Police of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs

Emergency services and police worked at the scenes all night. The search and rescue operation is ongoing, and the police are documenting the aftermath of the Russian strikes.

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Hong Kong (CNN)  Chinese leader Xi Jinping has visited Shanghai for the first time in three years, as his government steps up efforts to prop up the countrys economy and financial markets.

Xi made the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday and he visited the Shanghai Futures Exchange, a tech exhibition in the Zhangjiang High-tech Park, and a government-subsidised rental housing community, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.

He was accompanied by top government officials, including Vice Premier He Lifeng and Cai Qi, his chief of staff.

The visit, his first since 2020, comes as business confidence wanes in China and foreign companies pull out of the country. The worlds second largest economy is stagnating after decades of rapid expansion. Its beset with a series of problems, including a real estate crisis, record youth unemployment, debt-ridden local governments, and a rapidly ageing population.

Beijings tighter business control and strained relations with the West are scaring away foreign investors. A gauge of foreign direct investment into China has turned negative for the first time since 1998.

On Thursday, data released by the government showed the official manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index slipped to 49.4 in November from 49.5 in October, signalling a further contraction in factory output. Last month, the PMI unexpectedly shrank from September amid weak demand.

General Secretary Xi Jinpings visit to Shanghai sends important signals at a critical moment, an editorial by Xinhua said Thursday.

Finance should better serve the real economy, it said, adding that Xis inspection of the Shanghai Futures Exchange showed his high priority and ardent expectations towards building China into a financial powerhouse.

Xis visit to the sci-tech exhibition highlighted the core position of scientific and technological innovation in the overall development of the country, the commentary said. The president was seen inspecting a walking humanoid robot at the sci-tech exhibition, according to a video posted by state television CCTV.

Shanghai must be a vanguard of the countrys reform and opening up and a pioneer in its tech innovation and development, Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

In recent months, Xis government has ramped up efforts to promote growth and stabilize the financial markets.

In September, regulators relaxed capital controls in Beijing and Shanghai to entice foreign investment. In October, the parliament approved one trillion yuan ($138 billion) in additional sovereign debt intended for infrastructure spending.

On Monday, Xi hosted a leadership meeting in Beijing, which set the guidelines on how to further promote the development of Yangtze River Economic Belt, an area that comprises Shanghai and ten other provinces and cities along the Yangtze River. The area accounts for 47% of Chinas GDP and more than 40% of its population.

Earlier this month, Xi visited the United States for the first time in more than six years, where he met with President Joe Biden to amend ties between the two countries. In a meeting with top American business executives, Xi pledged to make it easier for foreigners to invest and operate in his country and vowed to create a world-class business environment.
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First supply chain expo looks to bolster global supply chains

09:04, November 30, 2023 By Hannan R. Hussain ( China.org.cn

The venue of the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing on Nov. 26, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China is holding its first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2 under the theme of "Connecting the World for a Shared Future." The event represents a landmark contribution to bolstering global industrial and supply chains and positions China as a global hub for connecting hundreds of domestic and foreign companies with international exhibitors and suppliers.

As the world's first national-level expo with a dedicated focus on bolstering industrial supply chains, the CISCE carries an important message about embracing interconnectedness and overcoming disruption risks. It is a big step toward fostering innovative exchanges among companies that have achieved technological breakthroughs and will help to link participants with a range of domestic suppliers in one place.

All of this delivers on China's understanding that the global industrial system is experiencing "a diversified layout, regional cooperation, green transformation, and accelerated digitalization." It also significantly reflects China's vision to share new opportunities for global supply chain resilience, particularly during a period of rapid global transformations in technology, science, and resources. The expo offers five designated supply chain areas to demonstrate those prospects. These include areas relating to smart vehicles, green agriculture, clean energy, digital technology, and healthy living, effectively catering to multi-sector collaborations.

Through a wide range of participating U.S. companies, the CISCE also reaffirms China's profile as a level-playing host to all businesses and manufacturers amid global division. After all, 20% of the CISCE's international exhibitors include U.S. companies, such as Amazon, Apple, Intel, ExxonMobil, Tesla, Intel, Qualcomm, Honeywell, and GE Health-Care. Their positive perception of the CISCE complements prospects of launching high-end U.S. products at a critical juncture. As two of the world's leading economies, China and the U.S. stand to benefit from a widening pool of trade and investment opportunities.

These opportunities may gather momentum across key expo sectors such as smart vehicles, green agriculture and clean energy, and make clear that all participants are united in their pursuit of a dependable and secure global industrial supply chain system.

"The first China International Supply Chain Expo showcases its strong appeal to American enterprises," said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). "As they pursue their own development goals, we also encourage these companies to actively contribute to the promotion of a healthy, stable, and long-term relationship between China and the United States."

China continues to represent a top destination for manufacturers and has consistently demonstrated that decoupling and supply chain disruption benefits no one. Leading firms are able to leverage mass production through conducive market conditions, fair pricing, and a sense of stability in China's sprawling manufacturing ecosystem. The CISCE reflects these rationales and promises a long-term platform to better integrate domestic and overseas markets under the banner of "Joint Contribution, Extensive Promotion, and Shared Benefits." Through high-level exhibitions and a dedicated platform to spur cross-cutting partnerships, companies can navigate the intricacies of a fast-changing global and industrial supply chain environment.

China's outstanding performance track record has also contributed to the launch of the inaugural CISCE. The country understands the value of resilient global supply chains to international economic development well, encouraging countries to establish a truly efficient and open supply chain system. A significant majority of foreign enterprises consider the Chinese market their primary consumption base, and China's manufacturing capabilities represent nearly a third of the global share.

As such, the CISCE puts all these merits on offer for international exhibitors and participants. By leveraging greater market opportunities, countries are best positioned to plug volatilities in the international supply chain system and drive long-term stability.

Hannan R. Hussain is a foreign affairs commentator, author and recipient of the Fulbright Award.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A former administrator for the comprehensive dentistry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio alleges in a lawsuit that she was terminated in retaliation for reporting wrongdoing by some doctors. The department is at 8210 Floyd Curl Drive. UT Health denies the allegations in the lawsuit. Google Earth Dr. Xiao-Dong Chen, professor in the comprehensive dentistry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He's accused in a lawsuit of directing a former administrator to make "suspicious financial transactions." UT Health denies the allegations in the lawsuit. UT Health San Antonio Chih-Ko Yeh, professor in the comprehensive dentistry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He's accused in a lawsuit of directing a former administrator to make "suspicious financial transactions." UT Health denies the allegations in the lawsuit. UT Health San Antonio Dr. Adriana Segura, interim chair of the comprehensive dentistry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She's accused in a lawsuit of brushing off Brenda Lujan's complaint that she was directed to make "suspicious financial transactions." UT Health denies the allegations in the lawsuit. UT Health San Antonio Brij Singh, associate dean of research for the School of Dentistry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He's accused in a lawsuit of directing a former administrator to make unlawful financial transactions. UT Health denies the allegations in the lawsuit. UT Health San Antonio

A former administrator in the comprehensive dentistry department at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio alleges she was fired in retaliation for reporting potential criminal wrongdoing by some faculty.

Brenda Lujan, who served as the departments finance and administration director for almost 20 months before her exit Aug. 11, sued UT Health for allegedly violating a Texas law that prohibits governmental agencies from terminating an employee who in good faith reports a violation of law.

Lujan says she reported possible crimes involving department faculty.

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UT Health disputed her accusations.

We deny any allegations of wrongdoing and will address the matter through the appropriate legal channels, when/if we are served with the lawsuit, a school spokesman said in an email.

Mark Anthony Sanchez, a San Antonio employment lawyer representing Lujan, declined to discuss details of her complaint, which was filed Nov. 13 in state District Court in San Antonio.

Ms. Lujan looks forward to her day in Court where she will firmly stand her ground and behind the claims in her lawsuit, Sanchez said in an email. She will decline further comment until the University of Texas Health Science Center makes a formal appearance in this litigation.

Suspicious transactions

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Lujan joined the dentistry department in September 2021, managing and supervising administrative aspects of clinical activities, her suit says. That included handling issues related to its budget, purchasing, general administrative services and coordination of dental staff activities.

Her performance evaluations consistently exceeded expectations, the complaint says.

In January 2022, it says, Dr. Xiao-Dong Chen and Chih-Ko Yeh began directing her to make suspicious financial transactions related to UTHSCSAs budgets, grants, and other expenditures of funds. The dentistry professors have done work in regenerative medicine involving stem cells. Chen also is a cofounder of StemBioSys Inc., a biomedical company that manufactures and develops stem cell technologies.

Lujan feared the expenditures the doctors directed her to approve violated the National Institutes of Healths fraud, waste and abuse regulations, the complaint says without providing details.

She reported her concerns to Dr. Adriana Segura, interim chair of the dentistry department, in summer 2022 but was brushed off.

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Lujan then went to Chris Green, an official in the office of sponsored programs, which supports UT Healths research. Her suit says he agreed the financial transactions she had been directed to make violated the False Claims Act  a law used to combat fraud against the federal government.

Green told her he would provide grant and financial training to Chen and Yeh, as well as Brij Singh, an associate dean of research, who Lujan also implicates, the lawsuit alleges. The three and Segura later began retaliating against Ms. Lujan in concert by removing her from job duties so she could no longer monitor the fraudulent activities, it adds.

Working conditions

Working conditions for Lujan became so intolerable that she filed a grievance with the human resources department and Dr. Peter Loomer, dean of the dentistry school, in August 2022, the suit says. She also filed a complaint with the National Institutes of Healths inspector general, saying Chen, Yeh and Singh coerced her to process fraudulent transactions, the complaint adds. The suit didnt provide any details on the status of that complaint.

Lujan also made a report to an official in UT Healths institutional compliance and privacy office, which directs compliance-related activities and investigations.

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The suit skips ahead to May, when it says she met with Lydia Leos, associate dean of administration for the dentistry school, and Jennifer Welch, a senior director in human resources. The complaint says the two officials offered Lujan money if she would sign a separation agreement and resign. Lujan rejected the offer, it adds.

On May 17, the suit says, Welch unjustifiably terminated Lujan in retaliation for reporting possible crimes. Lujan initiated a grievance with UT Health on Aug. 11, but the suit says it failed to take any action, forcing her to file suit.
Texas most dominant anesthesia provider, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, where some of the states most powerful physicians serve in leadership roles, was sued in September by the Federal Trade Commission for monopolizing the anesthesia market to reap higher profits. Mark Humphrey/AP file photo The U.S. Anesthesia Partners office building in Houston. Texas most dominant anesthesia provider, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, where some of the states most powerful physicians serve in leadership roles, was sued in September by the Federal Trade Commission for monopolizing the anesthesia market to reap higher profits. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Texas most dominant anesthesia provider, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, where some of the states most powerful physicians serve in leadership roles, was sued in September by the Federal Trade Commission for monopolizing the anesthesia market to reap higher profits. Dreamstime

The largest anesthesiology provider in Texas and its private equity owners were recently sued by the Federal Trade Commission, with the lawsuit accusing the company of scheming to monopolize the market and driving up prices for patients.

The company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners Inc., is the dominant provider in Houston and Dallas  and 10 times larger by revenue than its nearest competitor in Texas.

According to the complaint, private equity firm Welsh Carlson Anderson & Stowe noticed a fragmented market 11 years ago. It began a process of rolling-up anesthesia practices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Tyler and Amarillo, building a behemoth involving 1,000 doctors, 750 nurses and more than a dozen practices.

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As a result of its dominant position in its major markets, the FTC claims, the firm controls 60% of hospital-only anesthesia costs statewide and 43% of cases. With that, the company has been able to raise prices significantly, with reimbursement rates twice the median of other providers in Texas. The FTC quotes an email from a member of the firm who wrote Cha-ching after completing another anesthesia practice acquisition, on the expectation that investors would be able to extract monopolistic profits from their dominant position.

I have three reasons for mentioning this lawsuit.

The first and most trivial point is the dangers of email in business. This is in no way legal or financial advice, but seriously: Avoid writing Cha-ching in a celebratory email if you work for a private equity firm. Sure you can think it, and you might even say it to your buddy over post-acquisition drinks, just please dont write it down. That email could cost you and your partners a lot of money.

Antitrust crackdown

The second, more profound point, is that this case gives us insight on an important federal government and national business trend.

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We are in year three of a significant shift to a much more activist antitrust phase of the federal government in its enforcement of market competition. Lina Khan, the FTC commissioner, embodies this shift. She established herself as a leading scholar rethinking antitrust rules with respect to technology giants with an influential article entitled Amazons Antitrust Paradox, written while she was a law student at Yale University.

Most of the attention toward the FTCs actions in recent years  with Khan as chairwoman  has focused on how the commission might target tech industry giants, such as Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, and Apple for anti-competitive practices.

This anesthesia case in Texas is an example outside of the technology industry of the FTCs more activist stance. Traditionally the FTC focused on correcting situations where a monopolistic business might unfairly raise prices because of an absence of competition. But watch the tech space over the next year as the FTC is expected to bring more aggressive enforcement there on antitrust theories beyond monopolies lead to higher prices for consumers.

For its part, U.S. Anesthesia rejects the FTCs case and says it is based on flawed legal theories and a lack of medical understanding about anesthesia.

My third reason for bringing this up is personal. This is a follow-up to an earlier column I wrote in which I mentioned an anesthesia-billing problem I found to be absolutely egregious.

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I got an in-network preventive colonoscopy in June 2022 (to celebrate turning 50), covered by my insurance company Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. This procedure included anesthesia (because duh), but I learned 11 months later, in May 2023, that the anesthesiologist Alamo Sedation Associates was not considered in-network for my insurance at the time. I met the anesthesiologist who did the procedure approximately 90 seconds before going under, while gowned and sideways on a gurney. It never occurred to me to look over my shoulder and ask at that special moment, Hey, are you in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield?

Illegal billing

In May 2023, Alamo Sedation Associates sent me an invoice for $1,920 for the service. A month later this bill was reduced to $1,785.82 when B Blue Cross Blue Shield CBS paid $134.18 as an in-network payment. Over the course of the next four months I refused to pay the $1,785.82 balance.

Astute readers wrote to me after my column in August that a federal law passed in January 2022 made this kind of "surprise bill" illegal. Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives, when presented with this situation by me over at least a half-dozen phone calls, claimed this law only applied to emergency-room bills. Most times I called them they claimed, Oh, it should be resolved at some point, but we cant promise it will be.

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Four months later it wasnt resolved.

Meanwhile, collection agency Quantified Management Services, hired by Alamo Sedation Associates, began to threaten my credit for non-payment of $1,785.82 via letters and phone texts in late August.

From the Alamo Sedation Associates PLLC website: We accept any insurance that the facility where you are having the service accepts. Because we are an ancillary provider, we typically do not need to contract separately with your insurance to be processed in-network (several BCBS plans are the exception).

The first two sentences simply arent true, and the parenthetical phrase at the end is what drove me crazy, for months. Alamo Sedation Associates did not have a live person who would answer any of my phone calls, only an automated voicemail system and recorded messages about where to pay the invoice. Although I dont think they are part of U.S. Anesthesia Partners, the vibe the Alamo Sedation Associates PLLC website gives is that they are owned by a for-profit company based 3,000 miles away and unreachable on any day ending in the letter Y.

Legal help

Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to resolve the bill after six months and countless phone calls. I imagine this same scenario being played out among tens of thousands of patients, most of whom would either pay the bill or have their credit wrecked. The experience was awful, predatory, and I think, illegal.

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Charles Riley of Riley and Riley, Attorneys at Law in San Antonio, who represents patients in disputes with health care providers and insurance companies, disagreed with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Once I signed on with Riley, he wrote a letter letting them know he represented me and disputed the charge. The bill was zeroed out by Blue Cross Blue Shield, the anesthesia provider and the collection agency. I found out about Rileys success with my situation last week.

In terms of consumer and patient harm, ignoring the federal surprise billing law, threatening my credit and refusing to honor the in-network claim, I believe and my attorney believes that both Alamo Sedation Associates and Blue Cross Blue Shield were in dangerous potential class-action lawsuit territory. By zeroing out my bill, they avoided us finding out for sure. But if you are stuck in a similar situation, Id recommend you find an attorney like the one who represented me.

Theres nothing wrong with the practice of anesthesiology. This is essential medicine.

But the part of the business that involves surprise billing, jacking up prices in Texas, being jerked around by your insurance company for six months, and ignoring consumer protection laws isnt great.

Michael Taylor is a San Antonio Express-News columnist, author of The Financial Rules for New College Graduates and host of the podcast No Hill for a Climber.
If you cant find a neighbor, friend, or family member to take over caring for a community cat, you can contact the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty

Recently, I received a letter from Linda, who was worried about her 14-year-old semi-domesticated cat, Ginger.

Years ago, Linda trapped and neutered Ginger. She has fed and looked after Ginger ever since. About three years ago, Ginger showed how much he trusted Linda by coming into the house in bad weather to eat.

He still always went back outside and lounged in his favorite spots in the backyard and deck, Linda said.

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Earlier this fall, Linda said she was moving to Spain and worried about what would happen to Ginger when she left. She couldnt imagine transporting him overseas.

More Animals Matter: How to trap a 'trap-wary' community cat

I think he would have a hard time readjusting in a new home, she said. Transporting him through airports, trains and house hunting seems very difficult. I appreciate any advice on what I could do to leave him here  like finding a neighbor who would feed him, selling the house to a cat lover (if thats possible).

While our pets would much prefer to move with us even if the travel is challenging, community (feral) cats are the exception.

Community cats are not socialized with people. I know people who have moved with their community cats to other cities and states, and its worked out fine. But it all depends on the domestication of the cat. An international move with all its moving parts could be very traumatic for a community cat. The best option is to leave community cat or cats in place and find a new caretaker.

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If you are moving, the best option is to leave a feral cat in place and find a new caretaker. Billy Calzada/Staff

Linda can post on her neighborhood social media page and ask if someone can take over feeding Ginger. If she finds someone, that person can come over at feeding time to meet Ginger. It helps if Ginger gets used to the new caretaker before the old one leaves. And in Gingers case, Linda might want to discuss feeding options for him in bad weather. Will they let him in their home? Do they have a covered porch?

If Linda cant find a neighbor, friend or family member to take over caring for Ginger, she can contact the San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition. They may include Ginger in their outreach to supporters or know someone nearby who can help.

Linda also mentioned selling the house to a cat lover. Believe it or not, I have seen new homeowners take over caring for a previous owners community cat, so it never hurts to ask. That would be the perfect scenario for Ginger.

Thankfully, the best possible news came for Ginger about a month later. Linda said her move to Spain was canceled.

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"So, our sweet Ginger boy will continue his happy life here with us, she said.
Omar Martinez-Vargas was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing Michael Miranda-Hernandez in 2022. The men were co-workers in a remodeling job at a San Antonio apartment complex on the North Side. Courtesy, Bexar County Sheriff's Office

An Austin man accused of killing his co-worker at a San Antonio construction job in 2022 has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Omar Martinez-Vargas, 37, entered a plea of no contest Oct. 13 to a murder charge in the fatal shooting of Miguel Miranda-Hernandez.

State District Judge Joel Perez sentenced him to 30 years in prison Monday as part of a plea agreement reached between prosecutors Neal Cordero and Andera Vizcarra and defense attorney Johnathan Rightmyer. Following a pre-sentence investigation, Perez found Martinez-Vargas guilty of murder. He will have to serve at least half of his term before he is eligible for parole.

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CRIME & COURTS: Case dropped against SAPD officer accused of beating Eric Wilson

According to reports, Martinez-Vargas and Miranda-Hernandez were living at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of Nacogdoches Road near Loop 410 on the North Side while working on a remodeling job there.

A contractor who went to check on the job found Miranda-Hernandezs body around 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2022, police said. He had been shot in the head.

Police found Martinez-Vargas at a nearby gas station with a gun later determined to be the murder weapon, and arrested him. Authorities said the men got into an altercation the night before.

Omar Martinez-Vargas killed Miguel Miranda-Hernandez without justification. It was a senseless killing, Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in a statement. Our community rejects violence, and we are committed to holding criminals accountable and relentlessly pursuing justice.


Park search and rescue found Christy Perry, 25, alive after several days of searching the national park. She was transported to a hospital in Odessa to receive medical attention. Big Bend National Park/Facebook

After getting lost in Big Bend National Park for over a week, a Houston-area woman shared photos of the harrowing experience.

Christy Perry, 25, was reported missing Nov. 9 after failing to check in for her reservation at a campground.

A series of photos shared by Perry on TikTok show when the hike went from adventurous to life-threatening.

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The early photos show her smiling and excited, scaling rocks and posing.

Then things go wrong. A blurry selfie shows Perry with a terrified expression that reminded many viewers of "found footage" from unexplained disappearances.

Perry is also seen in one photo soaked by rain and lying on the ground, sheltered by rocks.

The final snapshot is of Perry in a hospital bed in Odessa, where she received medical treatment after her rescue.

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Eight days had passed before Perry was discovered by a National Park Service rescue team, a quarter of a mile down from the peak of the Lost Mine Trail.

Rain and foggy conditions in the park caused her to lose her way from the trail, Perry said in response to a TikTok user's comment.

She said she was confused when rescuers told her she'd been all over the national news.
2 Palestinian children killed by Israeli gunfire in West Bank: Palestinian medics

Xinhua) 09:31, November 30, 2023

Israeli military vehicles are seen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, on Nov. 29, 2023. At least two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli army gunfire during its raid on the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Wednesday. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli army gunfire during its raid on the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry said in a brief press release sent to Xinhua that two children were killed as a result of being shot by Israeli forces in the city of Jenin.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, the army conducted a wide-scale arrest campaign in the refugee camp, and evacuated residents in the Damaj neighborhood from their homes amid intense confrontations.

The sources added that the Israeli army also bombed a house with a drone, and demolished infrastructures such as water, electricity, and sewage networks with bulldozers.

Jenin has long been a center for Palestinian resistance groups. Israel says the camp is a hub for planning and preparing militant attacks as well as a safe haven for fighters funded by Hamas or the Islamic Jihad group.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fourth of six parts

This series is a collaboration between the Dallas Morning News and the San Antonio Express-News.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  Late one night last year on the western edge of Colorado, a car careened off a cliff and landed at the bottom of a ravine.

A few miles from the city center, rescue and emergency medical workers converged where the car had flattened hundreds of feet below.

By the time an air ambulance service arrived, there was no easy way for paramedics to reach the only survivor, a man with head and chest injuries. They couldnt safely land the chopper at the bottom. And then there was the incline, which was too steep to hike down.

The one thing they had on their side was the fact that the crash happened just five minutes by air from St. Marys Medical Center, a Level II trauma center that serves the western portion of the state. Still, it took hours to set up ropes and harnesses so emergency responders could rappel down to the injured man. His condition was serious, and he was still in the wreckage. Paramedics didnt want to delay his treatment, so they began a transfusion of red blood cells before lifting him up to the chopper.

The man made it to the hospital  alive.

The dramatic rescue is not unusual for the American West, where expansive geography and extensive trauma care deserts pose unique challenges for emergency medical providers  and imperil the lives of people who suffer critical injuries.

St. Mary's Medical Center, the largest hospital and only Level 2 trauma center between Denver and Salt Lake City, can be easily spotted from the Colorado National Monument rising above all the other buildings in Grand Junction, Colo. The Rocky Mountains act as a dividing line for trauma care in Colorado, and St. Marys serves the entire western portion of the state. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Unlike urban areas where trauma hospitals are easily accessible, in this part of the country injured patients can be several hours away from help. As a result, patients are more likely to succumb to their injuries before reaching a hospital, according to an analysis of federal data done by the Dallas Morning News in collaboration with medical researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

People have to have that understanding of, if you go out in the backcountry, youre on your own. Each year, medical researchers estimate tens of thousands of Americans bleed to death despite having injuries they could have survived, a reality that trauma physicians have decried as a health crisis. Traumatic injury is the top killer of children and adults under the age of 45, claiming the life of an American about every 3 minutes. Yet medical specialists argue it receives little federal funding for research that could help improve outcomes compared with other leading causes of death.

Nationwide, paramedics often lack the tools they need to treat severe internal bleeding, and patients have sporadic access to lifesaving interventions like blood transfusions before arriving at a hospital. Injured patients routinely bleed out before reaching a doctor, despite scientific advances that make blood transfusions on ambulances possible.

For decades, trauma specialists posited that seriously wounded patients should be treated at an equipped hospital within the golden hour immediately following their injuries. More recent research from the past several years suggests the critical window is closer to a half-hour for severely bleeding patients, whose risk of dying grows with each minute they dont receive blood and other crucial treatments.



Above-average proportions of people dying of their injuries before they reach a hospital indicate more lives could potentially be saved, researchers say.



PART TWO: Patients with traumatic injuries often bleed out en route to the hospital. A solution is emerging.

Patients in rural areas are more likely than those in urban areas to succumb to their injuries before reaching a hospital, data reveal. Dallas Morning News

The Dallas Morning News analysis found trauma care in the U.S. is starkly inequitable, in that where you live can determine whether you survive. Nationwide, there is unequal access to emergency medical services and trauma hospitals equipped to treat the most severe injuries. The problem is most severe in the more rural West and South.

The News used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mortality statistics to compare the number of prehospital to in-hospital trauma deaths for all U.S. states and most counties from 1999 through 2020. It also mapped the locations of high-level trauma hospitals nationwide and calculated the approximate travel times to them for every part of the U.S.

These analyses show:

An estimated quarter of all Americans live farther than a 30-minute drive from Level I or II trauma centers, which provide the highest level of care to injured patients. In rural areas, the risk of death is greater due to longer response and transport times, research shows.

Western states, with their vast expanses and rugged terrain, are far less equipped to treat critically injured patients than densely populated regions like the East Coast. In the region that includes Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, about 63% of trauma victims die before reaching a hospital, compared with about 41% in the best-performing region, covering Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Many states in the West  Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Idaho and Alaska  have no Level I trauma centers. Washington, Oregon and Utah have just one or two of these specialized hospitals each serving a combined population of more than 15 million people, according to data from the American Trauma Society.

Residents of Western states must travel significantly farther to high-level trauma centers. People in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado are, on average, 5.3 times farther from trauma hospitals than people in New York or New Jersey.

Parts of the South performed worse compared with the coasts. Texas had the 17th-worst rate of prehospital deaths, and huge swaths of the state lack timely access to high-level trauma centers.

In parts of Colorado and the surrounding region, the remote terrain leads to heavy reliance on volunteer emergency medical providers, who often respond less quickly and tend to lack the training and resources to treat major bleeding compared with providers in more populous areas.

If youre in downtown Dallas, you call an ambulance, you have five paramedics on scene in five minutes, said Dr. Glenn Burket, EMS medical director for Mesa County in Colorado, who advised paramedics by phone during the ravine rescue.

People have to have that understanding of, if you go out in the backcountry, youre on your own.

A mountain biker is followed by their dog on a trail high over the Lunch Loop Bike Park. Colorado is emblematic of the challenges rural states face in delivering high-quality trauma care across remote, hard to access landscapes. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Rural-urban divide

For a week last spring, the Dallas Morning News traveled to western Colorado, reporting on the ground from small towns isolated by mountains and wilderness. With the countrys ninth-worst proportion of prehospital trauma deaths and a neighbor to states that fared even worse, Colorado is emblematic of the challenges rural states face in delivering high-quality trauma care across remote landscapes.

Running through the heart of the state, the Rocky Mountains act as a dividing line for rapid access to care for seriously injured patients.

The eastern portion of Colorado includes the states 10 most populous counties, home to around 4.7 million people. The region contains 16 trauma centers equipped to provide the highest level of injury care.



On the western side of the mountains, there is one such hospital  St. Marys in Grand Junction.

The next closest hospitals to St. Marys are nearly 240 miles away, in the Denver area or Provo, Utah. The area surrounding Grand Junction is replete with national parks and wilderness areas, resulting in high numbers of patients with injuries from recreational activities.

The locations make sense for the hospitals, which need a steady volume of patients to treat. Most of the states residents are concentrated in the areas around Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs.

Rural areas face challenges beyond the locations of trauma centers. But it leaves many of Colorados counties, more than half of which are rural, without timely access to care when people are seriously hurt, according to a 2019 study by researchers at Colorado State University and University of Colorado Health.

Click here to explore county-level pre- to in-hospital death ratios >> Ari Sen / Dallas Morning News

The study, which analyzed differences in trauma outcomes across Colorado over two five-year periods, found rural counties  which tended to be an hours drive or more from high-level trauma centers  had significantly higher rates of injury-related hospitalizations and deaths than urban areas. The trauma mortality rate for rural counties was 93.8 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 71.6 for the states other counties.



While air ambulances can provide advanced life support in remote settings, extreme weather like high winds and snowstorms often prevent helicopters and planes from flying, the researchers noted.

Rural areas face challenges beyond the locations of trauma centers, the researchers wrote. There are fewer prevention resources, higher injury rates, longer emergency response and transport times, and emergency medical services have limited capacity and capability.

A role-player is loaded into an ambulance after being evacuated from a rocky hillside during an EMS training exercise near Fruita, last April. If state and federal officials want a stronger EMS infrastructure in remote, rural parts of the United States, the money has to come from somewhere, experts agree. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Unequal resources

The disparities in Colorado reflect the unequal access to trauma hospitals and emergency care across the American West.

Dr. Julie Dunn, one of the authors of the study on Colorado trauma outcomes, said she has spent her career trying to dissuade people of the notion that every hospital emergency department is equipped to handle complex trauma. Her hospital, UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, was designated as a Level I trauma center in July 2022.

Dunns hospital receives patients from rural towns on the eastern plains of Colorado and from as far as several hours away in southwest Nebraska and Wyoming, where hospitals dont have enough resources to treat severe bleeding. The condition those patients arrive in depends on whether the hospitals where they were stabilized had a surgeon on staff, Dunn said.

Those small hospitals can usually resuscitate hemorrhaging patients, but they are not equipped to stop the bleeding altogether, said Dunn, who also leads a regional trauma committee for the American College of Surgeons that includes Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah and the Dakotas.

Because of the dearth of high-level trauma centers in this part of the country, the most seriously injured patients must first go to a lower level trauma center or non-trauma hospital, or travel longer distances, delaying treatment, Dunn said.

Many of these states have the highest proportions of people dying before they reach a hospital, the analysis with the University of Alabama at Birmingham found.

Parts of the South, including Arkansas and Alabama, also have high proportions of prehospital trauma deaths.

The News analysis is based on a 2018 study that linked state levels of prehospital trauma deaths to timely access to high-level trauma centers. Dr. Zain Hashmi, a UAB trauma surgeon and the studys lead author, said he often sees patients from rural parts of Alabama who are near death because of how long it took to reach him.

Its really, really sad to see those patients, because we could have made a difference, truly, he said.

Top left: A Lower Valley Fire District ambulance drives a dirt road through the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area after a training exercise near Fruita. In most states, including Texas and Colorado, EMS is not classified as an essential service like police or fire departments, so municipalities are not required to provide access to emergency services. Top right: A Lower Valley Fire District medic puts on a device simulating a traumatic leg wound for a training simulation. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians who are graduating now likely arent interested in moving to Western Colorado, where they will be met with low salaries and skyrocketing housing costs. Bottom: A role-player was evacuated from a rocky hillside during an EMS training exercise last April. Dramatic rescues are not unusual in rural areas of the American West, where the lay of the land can imperil emergency medical providers and the outcomes of the injured. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News 1. A Lower Valley Fire District ambulance drives a dirt road through the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area after a training exercise near Fruita. In most states, including Texas and Colorado, EMS is not classified as an essential service like police or fire departments, so municipalities are not required to provide access to emergency services. 2. A Lower Valley Fire District medic puts on a device simulating a traumatic leg wound for a training simulation. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians who are graduating now likely arent interested in moving to Western Colorado, where they will be met with low salaries and skyrocketing housing costs. 3. A role-player was evacuated from a rocky hillside during an EMS training exercise last April. Dramatic rescues are not unusual in rural areas of the American West, where the lay of the land can imperil emergency medical providers and the outcomes of the injured. 4. A role-player was evacuated from a rocky hillside during an EMS training exercise last April. Photos by Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

He also recognizes that little data is available on the circumstances of injured victims who die before reaching a hospital. Those patients may never be evaluated by a medical professional, and local rules dictate whether they undergo an autopsy.

Thats a big black hole of information right now, Hashmi said.

On the East Coast  where states are smaller, population density is higher and trauma centers are more available  fewer patients die before reaching a hospital. Some cities have outsized trauma resources. Boston, a city of less than 700,000 people, has five adult Level I trauma centers  more than the states of Oregon, Washington and Nevada combined.

Dr. Joseph Amos, trauma medical director for Methodist Health System in Dallas, studied the growth of trauma centers in certain parts of the country for a 2021 paper published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open. In one area of Florida, his research team discovered for-profit hospital systems were choosing to become trauma centers  not out of need but because funding was available for facilities that treated uninsured trauma patients.

Nationally, no one regulates the placement or expansion of high-level trauma centers in the U.S. In Texas, they increased by nearly 40% over the last decade, according to Amos study.

Click here to see what your estimated travel time is to a Level 1 or 2 trauma center, specialized hospitals equipped to care for the most critically injured patients. Ari Sen / Dallas Morning News

Dr. Ernest Moore sees a similar pattern in his city, where what was then called Denver General Hospital used to be one of two trauma centers in the metro area. Now, the city has so many I couldnt count. The duplication of services hampers research and education. When hospitals treat larger numbers of patients, trauma specialists gain expertise and patient care improves, Moore said.

Meanwhile, other parts of the state remain starved of resources. The News analysis shows about 82% of trauma victims in Gunnison County, home to around 17,000 people in the heart of the mountains, died before reaching a hospital, compared with around 50% in Denver County, the states best-performing county.

We have way too many trauma centers along the front range of the mountains  we have too many in Fort Collins, too many in Denver, too many in Colorado Springs, said Moore, who served as chief of trauma at Denver Health for nearly four decades.

The Book Cliffs provide a backdrop for cyclists on trails in the Lunch Loop Bike Park in Grand Junction. Visitors from big cities may expect faster response times than what might be possible in Western Colorado, where some paramedics must carry backcountry bags in case they need to make camp with patients until weather conditions improve. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Beautiful yet hostile

When CJ Malcolm moved to Colorado in late 2015, he was looking for a challenge.

For years, he had worked for the National Park Service, first as a ranger paramedic at Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone, then managing the search and rescue program at the Grand Canyon.

When a job opened for chief of emergency services in Gunnison, a town of about 6,500 at the bottom of a valley in the Rockies, he wanted it. Covering around 4,400 square miles of mountains and backcountry, his jurisdiction was massive, one of the largest EMS districts in the state.

There was something about the landscape, beautiful yet hostile, and the challenge it presented, that attracted him.

In the past eight years, Malcolm and his medics have grappled with a fast-growing demand for emergency services due to a growing population and tourism.

People deserve good quality care, but I also think they have to take into account where they choose to live. His paramedics must often transfer patients with serious illnesses and injuries from Gunnison Valley Health Hospital, where theres no intensive care unit, to other facilities for a higher level of care. Those transports can be delayed if the only road into town is blocked by snow or other bad weather.

The nearest high-level trauma center, in Grand Junction, is more than a two-hour drive. Level I trauma centers in Denver and Colorado Springs are more than three hours away.

CJ Malcolm, chief of Gunnison Valley Health Paramedics in Gunnison, Colo., goes over a map of his service's expansive and rugged coverage area, the largest in the state. It covers around 4,400 square miles of mountains and backcountry. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Chris Rowland, EMS coordinator for Mesa County, which includes Grand Junction, said he and other people move to places like rural Colorado for the freedom that comes with living outside urban areas.

That freedom comes with unforeseen trade-offs.

People deserve good quality care, but I also think they have to take into account where they choose to live, Rowland said. If I choose to live four hours away from a trauma center, thats my conscious choice that I made ahead of time.

Visitors from big cities may expect faster response times than what might be possible in a place like Gunnison, where paramedics carry backcountry bags in case they are forced to make camp with patients until weather conditions improve. At times, paramedics must respond to calls by hiking or using snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles.

At least once a year year, Malcolms team  which runs around 1,600 annual calls for injuries, medical emergencies and hospital transfers  responds to a patient in an extremely remote area whose care consumes about 24 hours. His paramedics calls run several hours longer, on average, than those in big cities.

Its one of the reasons why Gunnison Valley Health Paramedics, which started as a mostly volunteer service, now hires medics with military backgrounds and is equipped with advanced life support ambulances, including some roomy enough to sleep in during extended calls.

In 2020, it became one of the first ground ambulance services in the state to carry blood products to trauma calls, recognizing it might be hours until critically injured patients make it to an emergency department. Earlier this year, emergency medical providers across Colorado formed a coalition to explore the creation of a statewide prehospital blood program.

The program will have to overcome a fundamental paradox of rural trauma care, said Dr. Shay Krier, Gunnisons EMS medical director. Outside of cities, fewer patients will need transfusions, putting units of blood at risk of expiring before they can be used. At the same time, extended travel times to hospitals make having blood on hand all the more urgent.

Burket, the EMS medical director in Grand Junction, said it might make more sense for rural paramedics to stock something like freeze-dried plasma, which is shelf-stable until it is reconstituted with water. Such products are used in countries like France and Germany but have not been approved by U.S. regulators.

A Crested Butte Fire Protection District ambulance moves between stations in Crested Butte, Colo. In 2022, Colorado lawmakers created a task force to study ways to preserve and expand access to emergency care across the state, especially in areas that are far from high-level trauma centers. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

About a half-hour up the mountains from Gunnison, Crested Butte Fire Protection District has faced its own reckoning.

Early in his tenure as EMS and fire chief in the quaint ski town, Rob Weisbaum saw that the agencys response times were dangerously slow. It took volunteers so long to reach a burning building in view of the fire station in 2015 that the occupant had already escaped. The fire killed a dog that was inside.

The incident was a wake-up call, Weisbaum said. The department needed to do better.

Now, Crested Butte has fully equipped response vehicles and three outlying fire stations outfitted with bedrooms and kitchens so paid staff can rest, and be ready, when a call comes in. The department has an agreement with Gunnison to share blood, if needed.

When Weisbaum flies to Denver, he is reminded why his department needed to be better prepared to respond to life-threatening calls.

Were at 9,000 feet here, and were constantly flying over 14,000-foot mountains, he said. It gives you an appreciation of the vastness of the forest and the mountains.

People ride horses on trails in the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area near Fruita. People have to have that understanding of, if you go out in the backcountry, youre on your own, said Dr. Glenn Burket, EMS medical director for Mesa County. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A personalized license plate on a vehicle parked at Lunch Loop Bike Park celebrates the recreational opportunities of the states Western Slope, but access to emergency medical care has its challenges there. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News A mountain biker prepares to "drop off" into the Lunch Loop Bike Park in Grand Junction, Colo., in April. Tourism and its related outdoor sports can provide challenges for emergency health care providers in the western portion of Colorado. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Band-Aids and baling wire

For many EMS agencies across rural Colorado and other Western states, the advanced care provided in Gunnison and Crested Butte is not currently possible.

Affluent taxpayers support Crested Buttes ambulance service, while the local hospital and private donations subsidize Gunnisons paramedics.

Earlier this year, Malcolm secured a major funding increase for his department after appealing to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, based on a provision in the agencys rules. As the only ground ambulance service in the area that transfers patients to other hospitals, his agency is entitled to an additional $500,000 to $1 million each year from the federal government  a significant proportion of Gunnison paramedics $3.5 million annual budget. The additional money will bring the service closer to breaking even, Malcolm said.

Malcolm said its the kind of money that can make or break an organization, especially as many EMS agencies nationwide grapple with scarce funding and staffing. Rural services tend to have so few calls, they cannot bring in enough revenue to attract paramedics and advanced emergency medical technicians.

Theyre very dedicated to the people that theyre serving (but) are limping it by on sweat and Band-Aids and baling wire and duct tape to keep the service in place. The problem has grown so dire that in 2022 Colorado lawmakers created a task force to study ways to preserve and expand access to emergency care across the state, especially in areas that are far from high-level trauma centers.

Donnie Woodyard, former branch chief for emergency medical and trauma services for the state of Colorado and executive director of the EMS Compact, said EMS agencies in remote regions of Maine, Pennsylvania and other parts of the East Coast face similar challenges.

In most states, including Texas and Colorado, EMS is not classified as an essential service like police or fire departments, so municipalities are not required to provide access to emergency services.

Federal and insurance reimbursements for EMS do not fully cover the cost of having staff and ambulances available at a moments notice or stocking supplies  especially expensive ones like blood, experts say.

James Robinson, who spent more than two decades working in EMS in Denver, said he didnt fully appreciate the challenges of providing emergency care outside of big cities until he moved to Loveland in northern Colorado, where he interacted with the volunteer-based services that operate in nearby rural areas.

He saw volunteer agencies struggle to recruit people for the stressful, often thankless job of responding to local 911 calls. Those who signed up usually lacked proper training and resources.

Theyre very dedicated to the people that theyre serving (but) are limping it by on sweat and Band-Aids and baling wire and duct tape to keep the service in place, said Robinson, now the chief of Thompson Valley EMS.

A firehouse dog relaxes as EMS and Fire Chief Rob Weisbaum (standing) address participants during a training meeting last April in Crested Butte, Colo. The public is encouraged to join for the regular twice-monthly Thursday-night trainings. Smiley N. Pool/Dallas Morning News

Thats the experience of Jeff Schanhals, who volunteers as a paramedic for ambulance services in Haxtun and Yuma, rural towns in the northeast corner of Colorado that have a few hundred EMS calls each year. One of the services has paid staff to ensure 24/7 coverage. The other relies on the availability of a few volunteers who have other jobs.

On any given day they are stretched so thin, they risk having a call go unanswered.

Volunteers like Schanhals, who has been a paramedic for more than 30 years, are starting to age out of EMS work. In December, one of his friends was running calls until a few days before he died.

Schanhals knows the paramedics and emergency medical technicians who are graduating now arent interested in moving to his area, and even if they were, they would balk at the low salaries and skyrocketing housing costs.

If state and federal officials want a stronger EMS infrastructure, the money has to come from somewhere, Schanhals said.

In the meantime, Schanhals will continue to do what hes always done: monitor his radio and, when a major trauma call comes in, keep his fingers crossed.

Its a sentiment that paramedics across the state can relate to, considering the challenges inherent in their jobs.

When the man was trapped in the ravine near Grand Junction, one of the first responders was Ben Linzey, a registered nurse and a critical care paramedic with the Lower Valley Fire District. He was certified to rappel down to the patient and give him blood, something he appreciated, considering how long it took to extricate the victim. Linzey estimated he didnt return to his station until eight hours after the call came in.

Because of that, the man didnt have to wait for care until he got to the top.
World War II veteran Maureen Davis who will be celebrating her 105th birthday this month, leads a group of seniors at Argent Court in Jourdanton in calisthenics. Davis was an Army captain during World War II and is still going strong at the assisted living facility in Jourdanton where she has resided since 2005. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Eunice Dahlveck, left, and Juan Villalobos, clients of the Walker Ranch Senior Citizens Center, speak with Vanessa M. Jimenez, middle, one of the citys three Reframing Aging facilitators, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

As families reunite with loved ones during the holiday season, younger adults may realize that their elderly relatives are in need of extra care.

Since 2010, San Antonios 65-and-over population has been increasing at a faster rate than its pool of potential caregivers, those between 20 and 64 years old, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

In 2010, about 11% of San Antonios residents were 65 or older. That rose to 14.2% in 2020, according to census data. At the same time, the percentage of residents between 20 and 64 years old dropped from 59% to 58.3%. That follows a nationwide trend, as the percentage of U.S. residents between 20 and 64 years old dropped from 60% in 2010 to 58.4% in 2020, while the percentage of U.S. residents 65 and older rose from 13% to 16.8%.

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According to an AARP report from March, young to middle-aged adults who are responsible for elderly relatives are also frequently responsible for the care of younger dependents like children and grandchildren. These individuals  known as the sandwich generation  are even more vulnerable to the issues that caregivers face, including social isolation, burnout and limited job opportunities, because of their dual responsibility.

For some families, the cost of getting outside assistance to help with this care is out of reach. In the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, the cost of an assisted living facility is about $41,000 per year, according to Genworths Cost of Care Survey. Thats nearly 50% of the median family income in the area.

Even the cost of adult day care  which offers hourly, community-based care for the elderly and those with disabilities  is about $10,300 a year.

Child care, especially for families with multiple children, also can be a financial burden for many. In Bexar County, the cost of an infant care center is $10,200. In nearby Hays County, child care is even more expensive.

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For households that cant afford these expenses, family members often step in to take care of their relatives.

The AARP Public Policy Institute estimated that 3.1 million Texans  or about 10.5% of the population  are unpaid caregivers for adults. Work that these unpaid Texas caregivers provide would otherwise be worth $41 billion. California, which has about 39 million residents, has about 4.4 million caregivers and is the only state with more people in that role than Texas.

The San Antonio metro area has about 46,500 parents and parents-in-law living in homes owned or rented by their children. While that statistic alone doesnt necessarily speak to whether the head of house is a caregiver, experts say many family members dont always recognize their role as a caregiver.

If someone is improving the quality of life for a loved one through their efforts, they likely are filling that role, said Andrea Williams, vice president of programs at CarePartners, an organization that provides assistance to family caregivers.

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We really emphasize and help people to understand that youre a caregiver and the importance of naming yourself as a caregiver, Williams said. It provides you with a way to speak to doctors and to speak to other people so that youre connected to the right resources.

Additionally, about 13% of Bexar County children under 18 living with their grandparents do so without a parent present. Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, Travis and El Paso counties  home to Texas largest cities  had similar percentages, hovering between 8% and 15%. Guadalupe and Hays counties have rates nearly double those of those larger counties.

Challenges of caregiving

Family caregivers often deal with social isolation and burnout, especially as people adapt to the role, according to CarePartners. Williams said that 93% of caregivers report never being taught how to provide care. In addition to dealing with the emotional toll, family members in these roles may end up stepping away from a job so they can be of further assistance to their loved one.

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Younger Black and Hispanic people are more likely to quit their jobs in order to take care of a loved one because they cant afford an alternative option, according to the AARP report. Their caregiving role is also more likely to involve more complex medical and nursing tasks. In addition, Black people are more likely to be the sole caregiver, and Hispanic and Latino caregivers tend to be younger and also need to take care of children.

According to the report, Black, Hispanic and Latino caregivers are more likely to feel a sense of purpose in family caregiving  even if the needs of the individuals theyre caring for are substantial. Communities of color are also less likely to have access to quality nursing homes and other care services close to their homes.

Grandparents who are taking care of children encounter similar problems to adults taking care of elderly relatives, according to Generations United, an organization that promotes connection among different generations.

Children living with grandparents may have experienced trauma through neglect or abuse that affects their mental health. The children also may face challenges receiving help for dealing with depression and behavioral issues.

Grandparents in these situations may encounter stress-related health issues as they try to best help their grandchildren. In addition, grandparents sometimes encounter legal barriers as they attempt to become a childs legal guardian, as well as an increased financial burden.

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Resources for caregivers

In 2021, Senate Bill 263 passed, allowing kinship families  the childrens siblings, aunts or uncles who are raising them  to receive financial support. Taxpayers also fund the Take Time Texas program, allowing family caregivers to have a break from their duties while someone else cares for their older or disabled loved ones.

According to Kathy Green, director of state and federal strategy at AARP Texas, AARP also advocated for higher wages for paid caregivers. In 2023, the minimum hourly wage for caregivers employed by companies that contract with Texas Health and Human Services Commission increased from $8.11 to $10.60, but Green said they would like to see a minimum wage of $15 per hour.

To be able to find somebody for what is often a very personal type of care for $8 or $8.50 an hour is very hard when they can make more working down the street at Chick-fil-A or wherever, she said.

Texas also has the Office of the Long Term Care Ombudsman to help adults and their families transition to an assisted living center or nursing home.

On the federal level, the RAISE Family Caregivers Act took effect in 2018 and serves to support family caregivers by increasing awareness and ensuring financial and workplace security. Green said AARP also has advocated for family caregivers to receive tax credits for their services.
A rendering proposal of what the curbside walkway would look like in the new San Antonio airport Terminal. Courtesy of San Antonio International Airport A rendering proposal of what the baggage claim area would look like in the new San Antonio airport Terminal. Courtesy of San Antonio International Airport The front entrance to San Antonio International Airports new terminal would feature native landscaping and open space for travelers. Courtesy of San Antonio International Airport

Hensel Phelps, one of the largest airport contractors in the country, will take the reins of San Antonio International Airports new $1.4 billion terminal project  if City Council approves its selection in December.

But judging from council members reaction Wednesday to the finalist for the mega-contract, the Dec. 12 vote may be a foregone conclusion. Only District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said he was concerned about awarding the contract to Colorado-based Hensel Phelps.

Pelaez said a project of this magnitude should be handled by local talent.

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When we do huge projects like this, this is an opportunity for us to help local businesses one day become a Hensel Phelps  one day become a big company, said Pelaez, a four-term councilman who is considering running for mayor in 2025.

Saying, I got a piece of the contract because that was contractually required by the city is very different than saying, I was one of the leads on a contract to build the airport in our city, he added.

As general contractor, Hensel Phelps would oversee most of the $1 billion terminal project, including the constructions of a 17-gate concourse, a new customs inspection area, a multi-story Ground Transportation Center and overnight parking spaces for airplanes.

The other $400 million allotted for the terminal project will pay for an executive manager, a master architect, as well as several smaller projects, such as demolition work to make way for construction.

The planned facility, to be built adjacent to Terminal B, will take up 832,500 square feet. By comparison, Terminal A is 378,524 square feet, and Terminal B 231,753 square feet.

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The Ground Transportation Center  for VIA Metropolitan Transit buses, hotel shuttles, taxis and rideshare vehicles  will include a few hundred parking spaces.

Construction will begin late next year, and the airports third terminal is expected to open in the second quarter of 2028.

Choosing this firm is like handing out the shovels to prepare for breaking ground, District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said.

Hensel Phelps won out over two other contractor groups, neither of which was led by a San Antonio firm.

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The second-place bid was from Dallas-based Austin Commercial, which had planned to team up with San Antonios Joeris construction company. The third-place bidder was a joint venture between Arizonas Sundt Construction and PCL Industrial Construction in Denver.

Hensel Phelps would bid out about 85% of the work to subcontractors.

Though other City Council members and Mayor Ron Nirenberg didnt take issue with the general contractor being from out-of-state, they said they want local firms to be awarded work throughout the process. Nirenberg said he hopes most, if not all of the subcontracted work will be awarded to local companies.

Every major capital project, every major capital program, is a jobs program, Nirenberg said. Its a small business development program. So hopefully, as Hensel Phelps is listening to the conversation, theyre ready to engage and partner with the local contractor community. Thats what we would expect.

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Hensel Phelps has worked on several major airport projects across the country, including in Seattle, Miami, Baltimore, Austin and Nashville.

Under a construction manager at risk contract, the budget for the new terminal will be capped at $1 billion. Hensel Phelps is expected to work with Dallas-based architect Corgan Associates throughout the project to keep costs down.

For smaller projects, the city often has designs drawn up first, then hires a general contractor who will bring the vision to life without direct coordination with the architect.

Building a new terminal is the first  and biggest  step in the 20-year master plan to remake San Antonios airport that City Council approved in late 2021.

The expansion comes the airport experiences a surge in travelers and breaks pre-pandemic travel records. To cope with construction-related tangles while the new terminal is being built, the airport is preparing to build a ground loading facility.

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READ MORE: San Antonio airport lands its first nonstop flight to Europe

Instead of using a typical jetway connector, passengers walk across the tarmac to board their flights at ground load facilities. They are most common in small airports, but they are beginning to turn up at larger facilities.

The new 37,000-square-foot building will add three new gates, increasing the airports total to 30. The facility, which should open in March 2025, will be able to expand to five gates and likely will be used by low-cost airlines.

The project  which includes the facility itself, the relocation of a gate and construction of an overnight plane parking area  will cost $62 million.
Eric Wilson sits in his fathers East Side home on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. In January 2020, Wilson was beaten by two San Antonio Police officers following an alleged minor traffic violation. On Wednesday, prosecutors dismissed a felony assault charge against one of the accused officers, Thomas H. Villarreal. Another officer, Carlos M. Castro, was charged with assault bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Medical images taken by doctors at Brooke Army Medical Center show injuries to Eric Wilsons left eye. When Wilson arrived at the trauma center, the bones surrounding his eye socket were broken. Inside, pressure was rapidly elevating, a condition that can lead to vision loss if not quickly corrected. Doctors performed emergency surgery on his eye, but Wilson continued to experience some vision loss for months. Photo Courtesy of the Wilson Family

Prosecutors have dismissed a felony assault charge against one of two San Antonio police officers accused of barging into a suspects East Side home, tackling him and repeatedly punching him in January 2020.

The second officer charged in the case still faces prosecution.

Former SAPD officers Thomas H. Villarreal and Carlos M. Castro had both been charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony. If convicted, the former officers faced up to 99 years or life in prison.

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On Wednesday, Daryl Harris, head of the Bexar County District Attorneys civil rights division, filed a motion to dismiss the charge against Villarreal for insufficient evidence.

Meanwhile, a new charge was filed against Castro: assault bodily injury, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $4,000.

Fired San Antonio Police Officers Thomas H. Villarreal, left, and Thomas H. Villarreal. Courtesy San Antonio Police Department Courtesy Fired San Antonio Police Officers Thomas H. Villarreal, left, and Thomas H. Villarreal. Courtesy San Antonio Police Department Courtesy

Prosecutors dismissed the felony aggravated assault charge against Castro at the same time they filed the new misdemeanor charge against him, court records show.

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The motions are the latest twists in a legal drama stemming from Villarreal and Castros arrest of Eric Wilson, a then-48-year-old Black man.

In the summer of 2020, Police Chief William McManus suspended the two officers indefinitely, a sanction tantamount to firing, for using excessive force and other violations of police procedure. McManus described their actions as indefensible.

In December 2021, a Bexar County grand jury indicted Villarreal and Castro on the felony assault charges. Last month, the two officers went to trial. Midway through the proceeding, defense attorneys discovered that four officers at the San Antonio Police Training Academy believed Castro and Villarreal acted reasonably.

The discovery prompted Judge Ron Rangel to declare a mistrial. Prosecutors then had to decide whether to retry the officers or drop the charges.

Police officers rarely face criminal charges for using force against civilians. In most cases  locally and nationally  prosecutors and grand juries determine that officers actions were justified. The law gives officers wide latitude to use force on the job.

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The allegations

According to police records and interviews with witnesses, Castro and his partner, Joshua Kies, followed Eric Wilson home Jan. 16, 2020, after an alleged minor traffic violation. The two officers got out of their car and told Wilson to stop.

Wilson, wary of law enforcement and certain that he had done nothing wrong, went inside and tried to shut the door, he said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News in 2020.

The two officers tried to kick the door in, and Wilson allegedly push back against them.

At the time, the officers did not have verbal consent, a search warrant or a compelling reason to enter the house, the police department determined later.

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READ MORE: FBI reviewing actions of four San Antonio police officers fired after accusations of excessive use of force

At one point, Villarreal attempted to use his Taser on Wilson, but he was unable to attach the probes to Wilsons clothing or skin.

Once the officers pushed the door open, they tackled Wilson. In their incident report, Villarreal and Castro said Wilson continued to resist arrest, at which point they punched him in the back and the torso.

Afterward, Villarreals hand was bruised and Castro had a minor abrasion to his forehead, according to a police report.

Wilson was also injured. The bones surrounding Wilsons eye socket were broken. He couldnt open his left eye, and his nose was broken.

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Inside his eye socket, pressure was rapidly increasing, a condition that can lead to vision loss if not quickly corrected. Doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce the swelling.

Villarreal and Castro reported that they found about 7 grams of ecstasy and 31 grams of marijuana in Wilsons possession. They arrested him on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest-second offense, both felonies, and possession of marijuana and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

All of the charges against Wilson were later dismissed.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced a bill earlier this month seeking to limit the use of preferred names. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced a bill that would bar the government from spending money on workplace efforts to enforce the use of preferred names and pronouns in referring to trans people.

The irony, critics point out? The senator, whose legal name is Rafael Edward Cruz, uses a preferred name himself: Ted.

The Safeguarding Honest Speech Act, introduced on Nov. 15, would "prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce measures requiring certain employees to refer to an individual by the preferred pronouns of such individual or a name other than the legal name of such individual, and for other purposes.

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"Forcing anyone to use pronouns that don't accord with a person's biological sex is an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment," Cruz said in a statement. "The government has no business compelling anyone to use pronouns that contradict biological reality."

The bill is not likely to go anywhere with a Democratic-controlled Senate, according to the Advocate, an LGBT news source.

"Anti-LGBTQ extremists attempting to erase trans people by purposely ignoring their pronouns, gender and authentic name are nothing new," Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, told the Advocate. "This latest attempt by Senator Cruz, who does not go by his own legal name, to prohibit the federal government, the nation's largest employer, from respecting employees' authentic name and pronouns, is not only dangerous and demeaning, it's hypocritical."

Cruz was joined by U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., in introducing the bill.

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We reached out to Cruz for comment after this article published. He didnt respond but took to Twitter to criticize the Express-News, asserting that our article distorted the purpose of his bill.

Lying hacks. My bill doesn't ban anyone from saying anything. The First Amendment allows you to call me 'Ted,' 'Rafael,' 'a wacko bird,' or whatever else you want," he tweeted. "Rather, my bill prohibits the federal government from FORCING anyone to use preferred pronouns or names. IE, it would ban the government from compelling you to call me 'Ted.'"

All Texas residents can apply for a legal name change under Texas Family Code Chapter 45. Residents may be able to change their name with or without a court order and during an adoption, divorce, gender marker change or U.S. naturalization.
Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, 19, in a photo provided by federal authorities. She was arrested in Puerto Rico last week for allegedly making threats to Uvalde residents, including family members of those killed in the May 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School. Federal court records

A woman who claims to have been the girlfriend of the Uvalde mass shooter has been arrested in Puerto Rico over alleged threats to Uvalde residents, including the mother of a victim of the Robb Elementary School massacre.

Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, 19, lived in Uvalde until 2020 and allegedly has been making threats against residents of the city since at least 2018, court records show.

Last week, the FBI arrested her in Puerto Rico, accusing her of continuing to make online threats and harassing the families of victims of the Robb Elementary shooting. In a filing Wednesday, federal prosecutors asked a judge to keep her incarcerated without setting bail.

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"Since 2018, Defendant has engaged in a pattern of threats directed at institutions (including a childrens hospital and schools) in Texas and at law enforcement involved in the investigation of her repeated threats," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz said in a court motion. "At least one of her threats resulted in the temporary closing of a school in Texas, disrupting the lives of teachers, students and parents."

Rodriguez-Morales allegedly began making threats when she was sent to a juvenile detention center in Texas.

"During her detention, on or about 2018, she sent email threats to kill public officials, shoot schools, and kill teachers and students," an FBI agent said in a court affidavit. "Per official documents related to the case, Rodriguez-Morales admitted the conduct."

As a condition for her release from juvenile supervision, she and her family relocated to Puerto Rico in May 2020, the affidavit said.

But the threats didn't stop.

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Body camera video shows Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, then chief of police for the Uvalde school district, in a corridor in Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, the day a teenage gunman massacred 19 children and two teachers. Federal authorities say Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, 19, a former Uvalde resident, falsely claimed to have warned Arredondo about the mass shooting four days before it happened. Courtesy City of Uvalde

"The pattern of threats directed at Uvalde officials and institutions continued throughout the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and continue to take place in 2023," the affidavit for her arrest said.

In September 2020, Rodriguez-Morales allegedly sent threatening emails and used her mothers and another relative's phones to repeatedly call the Uvalde police and fire departments, Uvalde High School, Morales Junior High School and the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the affidavit.

Many of her alleged threats referred to the mass shooting committed by Salvador Ramos, who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022. The threats were sent by email, social media posts and direct messages to people in Uvalde, Dilley and other towns and counties near Uvalde.

In some of them, Rodriguez-Morales said she was Ramos' former girlfriend and that they'd planned to commit the massacre together  though he didn't wait for her.

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A mother and son pay a solemn visit to a memorial at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where a teenage gunman killed 19 children and two teachers on May 24, 2022. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer

A law enforcement source familiar with Rodriguez-Morales said her claims, like many others Texas Rangers investigated, were untrue. It was one of several stories she concocted, the source said.

She allegedly made some of her threats and claims on Instagram and Facebook, the FBI affidavit said. In one Facebook post, she claimed to have warned Pedro "Pete" Arredondo, who was the chief of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District's police department, four days before Ramos committed the massacre.

"Pete Arredondo thought he had it but look how he ended, being hated by everyone," stated an Instagram post in May 2023. "That how i wanted to destroy him. Pete didnt listen to me and i told him i was going to send someone to shoot theirs school only at uvalde but he said  yeah come and proove it so i sended salvador my ex boyfriend to shoot a school from uvalde. He dint wait for me so he did the Robb elementary by himself. Sadly he got killed"

The post also said that "We Clowns" would commit a mass shooting at Uvalde High School and blow up Memorial Hospital in Uvalde.

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"When????? Its gonna be surprise," the post said.

The law enforcement source said there was no evidence Rodriguez-Morales contacted Arredondo to warn him of the impending shooting at Robb Elementary.

Arredondo, who was considered the on-scene commander at the school that day, was fired in August 2022 in the fallout over a flawed, slow-moving police response to the massacre.

Another post said Rodriguez-Morales would haunt everyone in the graduating classes of 2022 and 2023.

"Each and every single one of yall will die in the name of Salvador I have a whole clown crew waiting for my signal to start the plan the post said, adding that the victims of the Robb mass shooting "deserved to die."

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Kimberly Mata-Rubio, who lost her 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, in the 2022 Robb Elementary School massacre, launched an unsuccessful campaign for Uvalde mayor this year. Federal authorities say Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, 19, threatened to kill Mata-Rubio if she won the election. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News

Other posts said she and others would carry out bombings or shootings at various schools, hospitals and other facilities.

The FBI National Threat Operations Center received a complaint Oct. 2, 2023, from a person who, while watching a streaming session on a social media platform, witnessed another person, whose username was shooter_2022, enter the chat room and post We will shoot Uvalde Texas high school and Texas A&M college.

Rodriguez-Morales also sent emails to Uvalde school district employees, the affidavit said.

One social media post was directed at Kimberly Mata-Rubio, who lost her daughter, Lexi, in the mass shooting and ran for mayor of Uvalde this year. "If Mata Rubio wins the elections I will kill her," it said.

Mata-Rubio lost to Uvalde Councilman Cody Smith, a former mayor of the city, in the general election Nov. 7.

The FBI, which worked the case with help from the Secret Service, obtained search warrants for social media and email accounts linked to Rodriguez-Morales, some of which originated from a school she attends in Puerto Rico.

Her parents met with federal prosecutors and investigators while Rodriguez-Morales was still a juvenile in 2022 and noted that she had been receiving mental health treatment. But her mother expressed skepticism that her daughter had made the threats.

In some cases, Rodriguez-Morales made them with borrowed phones, investigators said.
On Tuesday, the state's Department of Public Safety released an update on a Blanco County auto wreck that killed Fort Worth construction CEO Zach Muckleroy and his two children.

About 7:15 p.m. Nov. 22, DPS troopers received a called about a wreck along U.S. 281, according to WFAA, an ABC affiliate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that cited a preliminary report from DPS. The Muckleroys were driving south as a Toyota Tacoma with a male driver headed in the opposite direction. The Muckleroys were being followed by a Nissan Versa.

The Toyota crossed the center line and hit the Muckleroys' Chevrolet SUV, WFAA reported, citing the report. Lauren Muckleroy, who was driving her husband and children at the time, is the lone survivor from the family. The Nissan proceeded to strike the Chevrolet from behind before rolling.

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Zach Muckleroy and his two children were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital, WFAA reported. The driver of the Nissan survived, and an investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Muckleroy & Falls, the commercial contractor of which Muckleroy was CEO, released a statement on Facebook regarding his death last week.

The Texas Department of Public Safety released a preliminary report on the head-on collision that killed Forth Worth construction CEO Zach Muckleroy and his two kids. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic passing of our beloved CEO, Zach Muckleroy, and his two children, Judson and Lindsay," wrote the company. "Zach had a charisma about him and the uncanny ability to light up any room he walked into. He had a charitable heart that made lasting impacts on the Fort Worth Community. He treasured his family and was a proud (alumnus) of TCU."

Muckleroy was passionate about construction and led with a "calming demeanor," the company continued.

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South San Antonio ISD board president Manuel Lopez in September. Trustees will vote Dec. 20 on a recommendation to close West Campus High School. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Rows of chairs sat empty in the Alan B. Shepard Middle School cafeteria on Wednesday as South San Antonio Independent School District trustees listened to a presentation theyd already heard several times this year.

Confronting a $9.5 million deficit, Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre said the district had two options: do nothing and crumble or take the overdue step of closing West Campus High School.

Yes, its a difficult decision  very difficult because it impacts not only our students but their families, their siblings and everyone else. But thats the decision, thats where we are at, he said.

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Trustees will vote on the recommendation Dec. 20. A majority of the board has cooperated with a Texas Education Agency conservator, Abe Saavedra, and is likely to adopt it. Saavedra, appointed in response to years of board dysfunction, has the power to impose it if they dont.

And when that happens, West Campus will be the 25th school  but the only high school  ordered closed this year in four school districts in central San Antonio, all of them dealing with years of declining enrollment even as new schools have been constantly under construction outside Loop 410 to keep up with growth.

South San Interim Superintendent Henry Yzaguirre listens to a presentation. The South San Antonio ISD school board had a quorum and was able to conduct business on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Ronald Cortes

Administrators warned that, without action, South San ISD only has enough money in its reserve fund balance to cover its costs for two more years.

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Its a familiar plea for trustees, who voted against a recommendation to close West Campus in January and avoided including it in a March vote to close three other schools, back when the deficit was worse, at $12.5 million.

The district has two high schools. West Campus now has 502 students, down from 520 last school year. Its optimum capacity is 750. South San Antonio High School has 1,614 students and could hold 2,644, so it could absorb all West Campus students with room to spare.

West Campus closed in 2007 due to flood damage, a full decade before Saavedra, then the superintendent, recommended closing an elementary and middle school to deal with falling enrollment in 2017.

The board agreed but in 2019, after an election ousted trustees who backed the closures, a new board majority bought out Saavedras contract and insisted on rushing all three schools back to life that year with the expectation that it would bolster enrollment. When the plan failed, the board castigated its new superintendent, Alexandro Flores, who had argued for more time to get parent surveys before reopening the campuses.

THAT WAS THEN: South San Antonio ISD board wants schools reopened  fast

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Trustees were eventually slapped by the Texas Education Agency for ignoring Flores warnings and micromanaging him, but the true reckoning over budget deficits was delayed until this year, when the district ran out of emergency federal funding from the pandemic.

In March, the board voted to close two elementary schools and one middle school, helping to plug the shortfall. But they held off on a decision to close West Campus even as Saavedra, then the districts state-appointed monitor, emphasized its urgency and said the board would have to face it again.

On Wednesday, trustee Joe Araiza said the board doesnt have much of a choice, given the tighter TEA oversight.

If we dont do something, theyre going to do something, he said. Either we try to manage it ourselves or theyre going to take over.

Unlike earlier community meetings, where families have rallied to support the school, only a handful attended the presentation, which was vaguely described on the districts website as a discussion about current and future allocations of direct resources to support student learning. In posts on social media, the district said it was for people to be informed about our district and its policies.

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Former board president Gilbert Rodriguez said during the public comment portion of the meeting that the district wants to point to an empty cafeteria and say community members did not show up when in fact theres been a deliberate intent to ensure that they dont show up.

During his tenure as a trustee, Rodriguez championed the reopening of the once-shuttered schools. His resignation from the board took effect in August 2022 after he walked out of a meeting.

Trustees were on the defensive, calling the deficit a problem they inherited. Cyndi Ramirez, who represents the district encompassing the West Campus community, said Rodriguez, in his attack on trustees, failed to mention his role in steering the district toward financial crisis.

He was part of the board that opened West Campus back in 2020 when there was a decline in enrollment without a plan and care as to where the money was going to come from, she said, adding that the board that opened closed campuses caused the aftermath that we are facing today.

Ernesto Arrellano Jr. said it was clear the old boards build it and theyll come mentality only created more challenges for the 100-year-old district, which has been subjected to several state investigations of board infighting and governance violations in recent years.

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The $20 million decision to reopen the closed schools has hampered the districts ability to recruit and retain educators and other employees. The presentation said South San Antonio ISD has the lowest custodian and food service pay and the second lowest teacher and bus driver pay compared to neighboring Southwest, Harlandale, Southside, San Antonio and Edgewood ISDS.

Three of those other districts also have been forced to close schools to address budget constraints. Harlandale ISD voted to close four elementary schools in March. It took effect in the fall, as did the South San closures. San Antonio and Edgewood ISDs this month approved the closure of 15 and two schools, respectively, starting next year.

South San ISD lost 25% of its students over the past decade and has a current enrollment of 7,338. Its school buildings are at 60% capacity, and its student body is expected to continue shrinking even in the best circumstances, administrators said.

According to the districts presentation, 269 West Campus students already travel to South San High each day for Career and Technical Education classes.

The transportation adjustments make West Campuss cost per pupil significantly higher than South San High  $11,517 compared to $7,243  despite it having fewer academic and extracurricular programs.

Why not have all the high school students go to the one high school, South San High School? It has all the advantages that any parent would want in a high school, Arrellano said. Lets just get this done. Pull off the Band-Aid and get it done.

Board president Manuel Lopez and trustee Ramirez echoed the sentiment. Abel Chillidogg Martinez Jr. said little, only asking what would happen to the buildings if they were to no longer be used as a school. Trustees Homer Flores Jr., who the board recently censured for deplorable behavior, and Shirley Ibarra were not in attendance.

It was easy to throw rocks at us, Lopez said, but now-departed trustees refused to listen to superintendents who strongly advised against reopening the schools.

This is survival of the South San ISD, Lopez said. Ive lived all my life in this district. The last thing I want to see is it just going down the drain because of mismanagement.

After the presentation, Yvonne Saldivar said she taught at South San High last year and observed constant vaping, fighting, facilities issues, students not being engaged in classrooms but instead looking like zombies on Chromebooks, and all sorts of nonsense happening in the hallways.

A South San High School graduate herself, her son currently attends West Campus and loves the small class sizes and learning environment. If he has to change schools next year, she said, she hopes the district will have a plan to integrate West Campus students to avoid adding to the chaos.
Books are lined up against the wall at a Texas middle school. House Bill 900 seeks to rid school libraries of inappropriate books by requiring book vendors to rate materials. A legal challenge says the law is too vague and broad. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

Federal appellate judges questioned a new Texas law requiring book sellers to rate the explicitness and relevance of sexual references in materials they sell to schools, though it was not clear if the court would allow the regulations to stand.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges inquiries centered on House Bill 900s definitions of sexual content and community standards. They came during a hearing this week in a legal challenge brought by book vendors who argue the law is unconstitutionally broad and vague.

The law seeks to keep so-called sexually explicit books off library shelves in the states more than 1,200 school systems by calling for the creation of new library standards. It requires school library vendors to assign ratings to books and materials based on the presence of sex depictions or references. And it compels vendors to recall materials already in circulation that are now deemed sexually explicit.

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A federal judge barred Texas from enforcing the law in late August. But a panel of 5th Circuit judges blocked that order and the full appellate court, one of the most conservative in the nation, is now considering the overall legal challenge. It is not clear when the appellate court will issue a ruling after Wednesdays hearing.

Hype Freedom School students Hailee Brown, 15, center, reads with Treyson Hall, 7, of Houston, during the Texas Freedom Network read-in demonstration on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Attendees read from some of the books being targeted for banning during a Texas Freedom Networks Teach the Truth Coalition read-in demonstration held at the Texas State Capitol Rotunda. (Rodolfo Gonzalez for the Houston Chronicle) Rodolfo Gonzalez/Houston Chronicle Nicolette Ardiente, of San Antonio, Tracy Boyd, of Austin, and Denee (cq) Barsalou, of Pflugerville, left to right, sit on a bench in the Capitol Rotunda under the portrait of Governor Ann Richards, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Attendees read quietly from some of the books being targeted for banning during a Texas Freedom Networks Teach the Truth Coalition read-in demonstration held at the Texas State Capitol Rotunda. (Rodolfo Gonzalez for the Houston Chronicle) Rodolfo Gonzalez/Houston Chronicle Olivia Barbosa takes notes on her book Lord of the Flies during Michael Guevaras 10th grade English class at Southwest High School. With the slashing of school budgets many teachers are having to find other ways to provide liturature books for their students. Bob Owen/San Antonio Express-News

Texas new law simply protects parents rights to decide what materials their children will read in a public school library, said Kateland R. Jackson, a lawyer for Texas. It promotes the states interest in preventing those very same schoolchildren from being exposed to harmful, sexually explicit material at taxpayer expense.

The law is being challenged by bookshops in Houston and Austin, the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild. They argue that HB 900 violates their constitutional rights for a myriad of reasons and that it is logistically impossible and cost prohibitive to comply with.

Laura Lee Prather, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told judges that the law would compel book sellers to apply imprecise standards to promote the states preferred message.

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Vendors who participate will be cornered into conforming with the states view, plaintiffs argue.

The book sellers here are not asserting the right to have books reach library shelves  theyre asserting the right to be free from compelled speech and the right to offer and distribute books without being forced to decipher incomprehensible and vague standards, Prather said. Unless the injunction is continued and the administrative stay is lifted, irreparable injury in the form of lost First Amendment rights will ensue.  Even if HB 900 is ultimately overturned, this bell cannot be unrung.

The Texas Legislature passed HB 900 earlier this year during a wave of efforts to restrict library materials that some parents and critics say explore themes that parents  and not publicly funded books  are better suited to address. Book bans have gained steam across the state since the law was passed, the Texas Tribune and ProPublica found.

I fought for and passed landmark legislation eliminating sexually explicit content from public school libraries, bill author Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, wrote on social media ahead of the hearing. Please join me in prayer for victory tomorrow for Texas families who oppose the radical sexualization of our children.

Librarians, literacy advocates and other parents say the recent challenges often target books and materials that explore sexuality and race  topics that, while uncomfortable to some, are important for youth who may not see their lived experiences in other literature.

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Texas new book law leans on criminal definitions of sexual conduct to outline what amounts to sexually explicit and relevant library content. As the law was being crafted earlier this year, critics said it was too general and vague. At this week's hearing, judges joined in questioning the definitions.

Both sexually explicit, sexually relevant  they talk about material that describes, depicts or portrays sexual conduct. How explicit must a reference be in order to qualify as sexual conduct? a judge asked the state.

Your honor, that is something that is likely going to be developed, Jackson responded. Again, this law has not had a chance to be developed or implemented yet.

But vendors face irreversible financial, reputational and constitutional damage even as the case shuffles through the courts, Prather said.

The new law will require vendors  some of whom are based in other states  to somehow opine about what the current community standards are in this state, Prather said.

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Referencing those remarks, a judge asked the state before the end of the hearing which communitys standards are supposed to govern how a vendor categorizes books?
Texas State Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, was one of 21 House Republicans who recently voted to remove school vouchers from an omnibus education bill. He deserves praise and voter support. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

On Nov. 16, San Antonio attorney Marc LaHood released a statement criticizing state Rep. Steve Allison.

The timing was no accident.

LaHood is challenging Allison in the 2024 Republican primary for Texas House District 121. When LaHood issued his statement, the House was on the verge of voting on a $7 billion omnibus education bill that included a provision for a school-voucher program.

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Vouchers, or education savings accounts, as the states Republican leaders euphemistically describe them, have been championed by both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Abbotts stubborn insistence on creating a state voucher program has been the primary reason that Texas lawmakers have been forced to slog through four special sessions this year.

Allison, a former Alamo Heights board trustee and an unwavering supporter of public education, opposes vouchers.

When Accuracy in Media, a right-wing group in favor of vouchers, showed up at Allison's home in October to harass him into changing his mind on the issue, it did nothing to shake his resolve.

In his statement, LaHood praised Abbott for his unwavering leadership on the voucher issue and blasted Allison for his continued opposition to giving parents better choices and better options in the education of our children.

LaHood said he entered the GOP primary race because he believes Allison is no longer serving the best interests of the families and children of our community but is instead more concerned with representing the institution of public education at the expense of his constituents.

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The next day, Allison joined 20 other House Republicans in voting for an amendment, introduced by state Rep. John Raney, R-College Station, that stripped vouchers from the education bill.

The voucher provision would have used taxpayer money to enable students who exit the states public education system to either receive $10,500 annually for private school expenses or up to $1,000 for home-schooling.

By an 84-63 vote, the House removed vouchers from the bill.

Texas Democrats deserve great credit for emphatically rejecting vouchers at every turn. But in our GOP-controlled state, it took a group of Republicans willing to defy their party leadership to block a proposal designed to siphon money from our states already underfunded public education system.

Theres no denying the pressure they were under. Abbott, in his full-court press to get vouchers enacted, hinted hell back primary opponents of any Republican who opposes vouchers. On Tuesday, Abbott announced his support for Hillary Hickland, who is challenging state Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple, who voted against vouchers.

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Shortly after Raneys amendment passed, the governor endorsed the 58 House Republicans who voted for vouchers who are seeking reelection. Included in that group was John Lujan, Allison's fellow San Antonio Republican.

Raney, who is not seeking reelection, offered an eloquent explanation for his amendment.

I believe in my heart that using taxpayer dollars to fund an entitlement program is not conservative, and its bad public policy, he said on the House floor. Expanding government-defined choice programs for a few without accountability  undermines our constitutional and moral duty to educate the children of Texas.

By blocking vouchers, Allison and the other 20 House Republicans simply did what was right for the children of Texas. They listened to the voices of their constituents and voted for their communities.

In doing so, however, they defied their party leadership, the will of deep-pocketed Republican donors and conservative orthodoxy, which disingenuously tries to define the issue as one of school choice and parental empowerment.

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Hong Kong: Vote for one candidate only: REO

The Registration & Electoral Office (REO) stressed today that electors can only vote for one candidate when casting votes for the District Council geographical constituency in the District Council Ordinary Election on December 10.

It reiterated the election guidelines following a recent appeal on the Internet calling for voters to stamp two ticks on their ballot papers, thereby rendering the ballot papers invalid.

The REO explained that it is clearly stipulated in the electoral legislation, that when electors cast their votes, they can only stamp one tick in the designated circle opposite the name of the selected candidate using the chop provided at the polling station.

It made it clear that there can only be one tick marked on the ballot paper. If more than one tick is made, the ballot paper will be deemed invalid.

According to the Elections (Corrupt & Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, it is an offence to engage in illegal conduct of inciting another person not to vote, or to cast an invalid vote, by activity in public during election period. Upon conviction, the offence warrants a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of $200,000.

To enable voters to have a better understanding of the polling procedures and the points to note, the REO has clearly presented the relevant information on the election website and publicised it on television, radio and online platforms.

Voters are also reminded of the polling procedures in the poll cards that have been mailed recently.

The REO added that on the polling day, the polling staff will remind electors that they can only vote for one candidate by explaining that only one tick can be marked on the ballot paper.

This story has been published on: 2023-11-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Turkiye to work for permanent truce in Gaza: Erdogan

Xinhua) 09:36, November 30, 2023

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye will step up its efforts for the release of the hostages and establishment of a lasting truce in the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"We will accelerate our contacts to release the hostages and make the ceasefire permanent," Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

"Hopefully, our initiatives will continue in a multi-dimensional manner in the future," he said.

The Turkish government continues to dispatch humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza and has so far sent 12 relief planes and one ship to Egypt, according to Erdogan.

A second ship carrying 1,500 tons of humanitarian aid set sail earlier on Wednesday, according to the Turkish president.

"We take care of the treatment of injured people, especially cancer patients and children, by transporting them to Turkiye. Examinations for locations of the field hospitals we will establish in Gaza are underway," Erdogan said.

Turkiye brought another 23 Gazan patients, along with their 21 companions, for treatment in the capital Ankara late Wednesday.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, who welcomed them at Etimesgut Airport in Ankara, said Turkiye has so far received a total of 200 people from Gaza, including 114 patients and 86 companions.

After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday.

The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages.

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

People stand in front of rubble in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

A man walks among the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

People ride bicycles in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were among several Republicans who left a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday to protest subpoenaing Dallas-based conservative donor Harlan Crow. J. Scott Applewhite, STF / Associated Press

WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were among several Republicans who left a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting Thursday to protest subpoenaing Dallas-based conservative donor Harlan Crow.

The committees Democrats are seeking records over payments, gifts and travel Crow reportedly provided Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, some of which were not initially listed on financial disclosures. The committees GOP members cast the subpoena authorization as a partisan attack against one of the most conservative members of the court and a private citizen.

The Republicans left the committee room as the roll call vote was taking place. Committee rules require a quorum of nine members including at least two members of the minority. But since the Republicans left during the vote, its unclear whether they counted toward a quorum.

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All 11 Democrats voted to authorize the subpoena and declared the move adopted.

If the vote holds, it gives the committee the power to issue subpoenas without the approval of the full Senate. Still, if Crow refuses to comply, enforcing any subpoenas will require a full Senate vote  which the committees top Republican, Lindsey Graham, said would never pass the required 60-vote threshold.

The move to subpoena comes as the Supreme Court faces calls for ethics reforms over lavish donations from partisan figures. Crow reportedly showered Thomas, one of the most influential figures in modern conservatism, with luxury vacations and paid for Thomas close relative to attend private school. Thomas originally did not list any of the gifts on his annual financial disclosures.

The committee also authorized to subpoena Leonard Leo, chair of the board of the Federalist Society. The group is one of the most active organizations in getting conservative judges appointed to federal courts.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have been destroying the Supreme Court; now they are destroying the Senate. I will not cooperate with this unlawful campaign of political retribution, Leo said in a statement. Crow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Graham derided the move to subpoena as garbage and a jihad against the court. Republicans filed 177 amendments to the subpoena resolution in an attempt to slow or block the measure.

During an earlier meeting of the Judiciary Committee, Chair Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, pushed back at the idea that Democrats were targeting individuals in a partisan manner, saying their inquiry was part of Congress constitutional oversight duty.

This committee is not engaged in a vendetta against conservatives, Durbin said. We are not seeking a subpoena authorization for political points.

Durbin pointed out that oversight and ethics reforms in the court were bipartisan priorities for years. Cornyn introduced in 2021 the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act, and Cruz co-sponsored. The bill required judges to disclose more financial transactions and created a searchable database of the disclosures. President Joe Biden signed it into law in May 2022.

Crow made his billions as a real estate developer and has donated handsomely to conservative causes and candidates, including Cornyn and Cruz. He has asserted that he never leveraged his gifts to sway Thomas in any way.

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Still, the scale of the gifts has made Democrats uneasy and led to calls for stricter ethics rules for the court that would be more in line with those for members of Congress.

Democrats on the committee already have asked Crow for more information about his gifts. Durbin said in a statement Crow claimed he was willing to cooperate, but ultimately made only a limited and insufficient offer.

The Judiciary Committee advanced legislation to the full Senate in July that would require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct. The bill, dubbed the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, also would amp up disclosure requirements for when justices have ties to anyone going before the court and require justices to explain any recusals.

Every Republican on the committee voted against the bill. The full Senate has not yet voted on the bill.

The Supreme Court introduced its own code of conduct on Nov. 13. The justices said in a statement when they unveiled the code of conduct that the Court has long had the equivalent of common law ethics rules.

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The absence of a Code, however, has led in recent years to the misunderstanding that the Justices of this Court, unlike all other jurists in this country, regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules, the statement said.
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper helps migrants who breached a concertina wire barrier along the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, July 20, 2023. Through Operation Lone Star, Texas has lined the banks of the river with concertina wire in an effort to keep migrants from entering the U.S. through the state. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Migrants wait to get through concertina wire after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. between Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas, Thursday, May 11, 2023. Thursday was the last day of Title 42 and groups of migrants were seen crossing the border into the U.S. seeking asylum. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Migrants get through the concertina wire barrier along the banks of the Rio Grande, in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, July 20, 2023. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News Migrants make their way around concertina wire after reaching the U.S. side of the Texas-Mexico border seeking asylum on the last day of Title 42, Thursday, May 11, 2023. Groups of migrants crossed the Rio Grande between Matamoros, Mexico and Brownsville, Texas, an area fortified with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Texas National Guard under orders from Gov. Greg Abbott. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

WASHINGTON  A federal judge denied Texas request for emergency relief against federal immigration officials cutting state-owned razor wire along the Rio Grande, even as she slammed the Biden administrations utter failure to stop border crossings.

Alia Moses, the chief federal judge in the U.S. Western District of Texas, late Wednesday denied the states request for a preliminary injunction in the ongoing dispute over the wire, a key piece of Gov. Greg Abbotts border crackdown.

READ MORE: Texas says Border Patrol responded to razor wire lawsuit by bringing out a forklift

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But Moses has yet to rule on whether Border Patrol is unlawfully tampering with the states wire, and wrote on Wednesday that the agency cannot claim the statutory duties they are so obviously derelict in enforcing as excuses to puncture the (states) attempts to shore up the  failing system.

Nor may they seek judicial blessing of practices that both directly contravene those same statutory obligations and require the destruction of the Plaintiffs property, Moses wrote. The law may be on the side of the Defendants and compel a resolution in their favor today, but it does not excuse their culpable and duplicitous conduct.

Texas immediately appealed the ruling to the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. That court is separately considering a lawsuit by the Justice Department to force Texas to remove a string of buoys it deployed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, where the razor wire dispute has taken place.

Attorney General Ken Paxton sued federal immigration officials last month to stop Border Patrol agents from cutting through miles of razor wire the state has strung up along the Rio Grande under Abbotts border crackdown. Border Patrol has said the wire is keeping agents from reaching at-risk migrants and increasing the risk of drowning as some struggle to leave the water.

Last month, Moses issued a restraining order that blocks Border Patrol from tampering with the wire after Texas alleged federal agents had spent 30 minutes pulverizing its fence with a forklift.

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But in her ruling this week, Moses wrote that Texas fell short in establishing that the wire-cutting is part of an unwritten policy or that it represents an official agency action the administration overstepped in taking. She said that evidence raises the possibility of such a policy, however, and that a determination would require further review of evidence and likely additional investigation.

Moses, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that the wire dispute appears unique to the Del Rio Sector, which includes Eagle Pass, the small border town that has been the epicenter of Abbotts efforts under Operation Lone Star. She noted testimony from federal agents that Border Patrols relationship with the Department of Public Safety has deteriorated over time, driven at least in part by an instance in which a state trooper threatened to criminally charge Border Patrol agents who cut wire.

Still, Moses was highly critical of the federal governments handling of the border. She wrote that Border Patrol cannot justify cutting or moving state wire whenever and wherever they find convenient  so they may passively observe migrants crossing. She also wrote that the types of medical emergencies the agency says it needs to cut wire to address can be used to swallow a rule against wire-cutting.

Cutting the wire to address a single individuals display of distress does not justify leaving the fence open for a crowd of dozens or hundreds to pass through, Moses wrote. In addition, an emergency that can be just as adequately addressed by less destructive means, such as by reaching one or more individuals by boat rather than on foot, does not justify opening the fence at all.
Deputy Minister of Defense of Iran, General Mahdi Farahi, has confirmed that Iran has successfully secured agreements with Moscow for the procurement of Russian-made Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 training aircraft.

This agreement, reported by the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim, marks a significant step in Iran's military procurement, representing Russia's largest acquisition in over three decades, as per to Yahoo News.

Iran-Russia Defense Deal Deepens

The procurement is expected to be mutually beneficial for both Moscow and Tehran, potentially reinforcing their respective positions in two geopolitically important capitals. The agreement represents an expanding defense alliance between Iran and Russia, especially significant in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This partnership has been characterized by a notable exchange of military resources, with Iran supplying Russia with a substantial number of loitering munitions, known as "suicide" or "kamikaze" drones, for use against Ukraine.

In addition to drone deliveries, Russia has reportedly compensated Iran with millions of dollars and captured Western weaponry, which Tehran could potentially reverse-engineer, including Javelin anti-tank missiles. However, until recently, the promise of fighter jet delivery remained unfulfilled.

In early September, signs of Russia's commitment to the deal emerged when Iran received its first two Yak-130s. This delivery was seen as an indicator that the more eagerly anticipated Su-35s might eventually follow.

The latest statement from Farahi adds clarity to Iran's selections, with the Mi-28 being the chosen attack helicopter over the Ka-52, which suffered significant losses in Ukraine.

While the primary focus of the deal is on aircraft, there has been speculation about Iran potentially acquiring new air defense systems, such as the S-400, an advancement over the S-300PMU-2s received from Moscow in 2016, according to Forbes.

Read Also: After 17 Days Rescuers Finally Reach 41 Trapped Miners in India

Wagner Group's Transfer Signals Russia-Iran Strategy Shift

The US intelligence, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, indicates possible plans by Russia's Wagner mercenary group to provide a medium-range Russian-built Pantsir-S1 air defense system to Hezbollah in Lebanon. This move could mark a significant convergence of Russia-Iran policy regarding Israel and the United States.

Despite previous speculations, including a potential purchase of 300 T-90 main battle tanks from Russia, Iran's procurement has been relatively modest, with only a small number transferred to allied groups in Syria.

However, the confirmation of this latest arms deal with Russia could be a significant boost for Tehran, offering a much-needed upgrade to its regular armed forces and dispelling concerns about an imbalanced exchange with Russia.

For Moscow, this sale could demonstrate its capacity to secure new arms export contracts despite the logistical challenges it has faced since its military actions in Ukraine.

Consequences of an unbalanced or potentially exploitative military-technical alliance between Iran and Russia could be further intensified by any substantial delays or failures in contract fulfillment.

Iran's air force, which includes a mix of Russian jets and aging US models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is set to undergo a significant transformation with these new acquisitions. This development comes alongside Iran's efforts to develop its military aircraft, such as the Kowsar fighter, believed to be a variant of the US F-5, Rauters News reported.

Related Article: India: Rescuers Change Strategy as 41 Workers Remain Trapped After 7 Days of Tunnel's Collapse

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Finland has implemented a substantial measure in reaction to what it regards as a strategic movement by Russia by closing its remaining border crossing with the country.

This decision comes after accusations that Moscow has been intentionally sending migrants to the Finnish border, a move seen as a reaction to Finland's decision to join NATO earlier this year, as per Fox News.

Finland Tightens Border with Russia, Cites NATO Security

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, in explaining the government's decision, emphasized that this action is a response to what Finland considers an orchestrated attempt by Russia to influence and undermine its national security.

The closure, effective between Wednesday and Thursday night and lasting until December 13, is a response to a surge in undocumented migrants from third countries seeking asylum on Finland's border with Russia. Since August, nearly 1,000 migrants have entered Finland through eastern border crossing points without visas. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen labeled the situation as a Russian hybrid operation and a matter of national security.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko called Finland's decision to close its border "simply irrational," indicating a divergence in perspectives between the two countries.

The Finnish-Russian border, stretching 1,340km (830 miles), not only represents the European Union's but also NATO's external border. Following the closure, asylum seekers will now only be able to apply for protection at open border crossing points for air and maritime traffic.

Finland's relations with Russia have deteriorated following the invasion of Ukraine and Finland's accession to NATO. The influx of migrants at the border has pushed Finland to find a balance between its national security and its international obligations.

While the Finnish government initially sought to shut the border completely, this proposal was deemed disproportionate. However, the government's subsequent proposal to restrict asylum seekers to ports and airports passed official scrutiny.

The situation raises concerns about how migrants, especially in freezing conditions, will be treated at the border. Prime Minister Orpo trusts the Border Guard's judgment in responding to various situations, while Rantanen emphasizes that migrants are responsible for deciding whether to come to the border, according to South China Morning Post.

Read Also: Himalayan Tunnel Collapse: Rescuers Rush To Save Dozens of Trapped Workers

Finland's Partial Border Fence Against Russian Pressure

The Finnish Border Guard noted that the pressure had been focused on the crossing points rather than Finland's long wilderness border, which is only lightly fenced. Finland began building a 200km fence along its Russian border in February as a precaution against potential use of migrants by Moscow as political pressure, but only 3 km of this fence is completed.

The legal complexities remain, as migrants can submit an asylum application even if they enter illegally. Orpo expressed hope for normalizing the situation on the border "as quickly as possible" in the interest of all parties, including Russia.

The situation has evolved rapidly, with Finland accusing Russia of driving asylum seekers to its border in retaliation for its NATO cooperation. This development has strained relations between the two countries, especially since Finland's NATO membership in April. The EU suspects that these incidents could be part of Russia's "hybrid" warfare tactics aimed at destabilizing Europe.

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in a joint press conference with Orpo, expressed solidarity with Finland, stating that defending the Finnish border is a shared responsibility.

He accused Russia of orchestrating these events to create problems and fragmentation in Western countries. Similar sentiments were echoed at a Nordic-Baltic summit in Stockholm, where Estonia claimed that Russia was weaponizing immigration on Europe's eastern borders, The Guardian reported.

Related Article: [UPDATE] New Delhi Air Pollution Worsens as Smog Becomes Visible From Space, Politicians Blame Each Other

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After a tumultuous three-hour meeting Tuesday night, Lynchburg City Council voted 5-2 to formally censure At-Large Counselor Martin Misjuns for disorderly behavior and misconduct. At the request of The News & Advance, city staff researched and found no evidence of a Lynchburg City Council having ever voted to censure a sitting member in its history.

The resolution, which Mayor Stephanie Reed motioned to add to the agenda at the beginning of Tuesdays meeting, admonishes Misjuns for threatening and insulting city staff; for attempting to illegally impose authority in city personnel matters that are by law and contract within the purview of the City Manager; and for attempting to solicit assistance for conducting a set-up for a colleagues town hall meeting with the intent of making said colleague look bad. In leaked internal emails from October, Reed accused Misjuns of soliciting a college student to covertly record Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi.

The censure imposes a fine equal to one month of Misjuns councilmembers annual salary of $10,000 due by Jan. 31, 2024.

To prevent further negative behavior, the Councilman is hereby placed on notice, and is strongly advised to change course or potentially face future reprimands permissible under Virginia Law, the resolution reads.

Reed, Faraldi, At-Large Councilmember Larry Taylor, Ward II Councilmember Sterling Wilder and Ward I Councilmember MaryJane Dolan were the five votes in favor.

Misjuns and Ward III Councilmember Jeff Helgeson both voiced disagreement with the censure during the meeting and were the two votes against.

During the meetings public comment period, seven speakers called for Misjuns resignation or removal, or criticized his conduct on social media. Four speakers praised Misjuns.

In my 35 years of observing Lynchburg City Council, I have never encountered such rancor and distrust among our elected officials, and I believe the primary source of that malevolence and resentment is one member of this council, Ward IV resident Michael Bremer said.

To help restore decorum and functionality to council, tonight I call for Martin Misjuns to resign. Mr. Misjuns, your impropriety and failure to adhere to standards or demonstrate accountability is cause for concern.

City resident Kimberly Wynn spoke in support of Misjuns, saying At best, the accusations against Councilman Misjuns are stunningly hypocritical, as I have witnessed divisive and contentious behavior from many councilmembers of this council.

The citizens of Lynchburg desperately need him to stay because he has been aggressively going after corruption in this city.

During the meeting, Helgeson called the resolution a hit job and criticized its addition to the agenda without more notice. General business items are typically discussed during a work session before the vote; part of Reeds motion to add the item to the agenda was to temporarily suspend councils rules of procedure in order to do so.

I think this is a very bad action. It looks nothing but political regardless of whatever motives you have on there I think its wrong.

Interviewed after the meeting, Helgeson said he was surprised by the censure and that its absolutely personal.

In support of the resolution, Wilder said, One thing that I have seen is positive is that he has united Republicans and Democrats together to say we are tired. I have never seen so many Republicans or Democrats, thank God, to come together and say we need to change this in our community. And the thing about it is, Im a Christian, and the Christ that I serve does not treat people like that.

Dolan said the last 11 months have been a disaster thanks to Misjuns distractions, staff humiliation, belligerent and threatening treatment of peers and community members.

I can tell you, same as Councilmember Wilder said, without hesitation, that I cannot go anywhere in this community without citizens from all political affiliations cornering me and asking me the same question: why do you not as a city councilmember do something about the actions of Councilmember Misjuns?

Taylor ran with Misjuns and Reed on the same Republican ticket last November and explained his support for the resolution.

Marty, we campaigned together. We campaigned together hard to have a majority on council. I love you brother, but your attitude has been out of order, OK? We need to bring it in and if you make an open apology to council, to city staff and we can just do this resolution and move forward. We can start all over again.

During his turn to speak on the motion Misjuns did not apologize, and instead went on the offensive, alleging a city staff member wrote the resolution  Reed later said it was written by outside counsel  and suggesting that members of staff were frightened by his election to city council as a working class candidate.

If you only knew what I knew. Ive got a whole list of things written down here that should never happen with your taxpayer dollars, Misjuns said.

Interviewed after the meeting, Misjuns said hes not worried about the censure.

I think what happened tonight was the lines were drawn and the citizens know who really is on which side. Youre either on the side of the government or youre on the side of citizens and Im on the side of citizens.

Asked about public commenters remarks, Misjuns said, They are citizens I get it, but I was elected by Republicans to govern as a Republican and Im going to do that.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Reed said the resolution for censure speaks for itself.

This was not personal between me or any other Councilmember and Councilmember Misjuns. As I stated in the meeting, the censure last night was issued in an effort to hopefully correct unbecoming behavior and also show our citizens that we do a better job in representing them as their local officials with integrity and respect.

Its my hope that we can move forward from here, get to work on the issues of the city and be a council that our citizens can be proud of.
With the General Assembly convening a little more than a month away, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance hosted Policy & Pancakes on Wednesday as a look ahead to the 2024 session.

Legislators representing the area had the opportunity to provide their viewpoint on the upcoming session and give a summary of different areas they will work closely on.

About 80 people  some university staff, local legislators and city officials  filed into the Liberty University Welcome Center to listen to the recently elected group and eat breakfast.

Sen. Mark Peake, Del. Wendell Walker, Del.-Elect Eric Zehr and Del.-Elect Tim Griffin attended the event.

Sen. Creigh Deeds could not be present, but he provided a written statement to guests apologizing for not being able to be there, but added the 2024 session should not be about confrontation and partisan disagreements.

He said minimum wage must continue to rise toward a living wage and abortion services should be available in the state.

Deeds added he will continue to work to protect the commonwealths natural resources, develop a sound energy policy and promote gun safety, adding weapons of war do not belong in our schools or our streets.

He said there will be a closer look into things both parties can find agreement on such as funding for K-12 education and working harder to fund mental health services.

If we put aside our partisan stripes for a few minutes, we can make great progress together, he said in his statement.

Peake said small businesses are the backbone not just of the state but the country, and protecting them will be a priority.

We have to do everything we can to protect yall, Peake said during his speech. We appreciate what you do.

Peake told The News & Advance after the event he will continue to fight for public safety and give support to law enforcement.

Weve got to support our law enforcement, and weve got to enforce small crimes. If you let people just get away with small crimes, they move up to bigger crimes, Peake said. I want to make sure we dont fall into that trap.

Walker said transportation is one of the big issues that needs to be worked on; and the standards of quality when it comes to education is going to be another battle.

Other key items the delegate named looking ahead to the session included mental health, public safety and as for the budget, money is going to be a lot tighter.

You know, what we are going to be looking at is just common-sense legislation going forward, he said. Elections are over with, politics are behind us, it is all about policy  working together to make Virginia the best place to live, to grow and to work.

Walker told The News & Advance after the event, workforce is key to the area. He said funding for career and technical education programs is important, because it creates a pipeline of students coming out of school with some type of credentials.

This leads to another top priority of his  making sure the workforce has every tool it needs to be better and stronger.

If we dont have the workforce, while we have this great industry, then what do we really have at the end of the day, he said.

Griffin mentioned bipartisanship and the fact there are certain things, with him being Republican, that he and colleagues can work with Democrats on such as disability support for students.

However, when it comes to reversing the industrial revolutions, going after unborn children and grabbing our guns, he wont be bipartisan.

Were going to protect our values. Were going to stand up for our region and were not going to let them walk all over us and if they and when they try, were going to stand up, were going to be strong against them, he added.

Both Zehr and Griffin will represent their respective districts in Richmond for the first time.

Griffin said in his speech Wednesday, they will learn from Peake and Walker and allow them to take a lead on certain issues with one being workforce development.

On a county level, Griffin said he will try to address issues with the Nelson budget.

In terms of Bedford County, he added he will seek to learn more from the experts and leaders in the county on what their agenda is, and what needs to be accomplished.

Zehr said one area Republicans will have to work with Democrats on is funding for schools. He added he doesnt want to just add personnel, but make sure the money is actually educating children.

So, were gonna be fighting to make sure that money is going into education, is going to the students and is going to actual education, he said.

Overall, however, Zehr said we got a fight in our hands.

We will make sure that were standing for the values that we hold here in this district, he said.

During their speeches, Zehr, Griffin, Peake and Walker all alluded to the commonwealth having the Democratic majority in both the House of Delegates and state Senate.

Walker told The News & Advance the sky is not falling and for Democrats, the shoe is on their foot right now to make sure they dont go too far left.

The pendulum swings from one party to the other party and if the Democrats go too far in these next two years, then that sets the stage for a comeback, he said.

Peake said he and other counterparts have a lot of work to do, saying in an interview that hes very much concerned.

He alluded to the difficulty of passing the budget last year.

As weve discussed as well, were not gonna have surpluses for the next two years, like weve had the past two years. Everythings gonna be under a microscope. Funding is gonna be a lot harder, he said.

The General Assembly convenes in Richmond on Jan. 10.
Every autumn, Japan's largest imoni-kai, or imoni soup party, is held in Yamagata City. At the center of the celebration is a 4-ton, 6.5-meter-wide pot that holds enough soup to feed 30,000 people.

For more than a century, imoni soup parties have been held in the Yamagata Prefecture to celebrate the changing of seasons from summer to autumn. Always cooked outside, these soups also have one defining ingredient, taro root, known as satoimo in Japanese.

We visited the largest imoni soup party in Yamagata City to see how the imoni is prepared in such big batches.
Pope Francis has canceled his much-anticipated trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate summit, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.

The decision, prompted by health concerns, marks a significant moment as Francis was expected to be the first Pontiff to attend the global climate conference, as per The Independent.

Pope Francis Withdraws From COP28 Amid Health Issues

The Vatican's press office director, Matteo Bruni, stated that the Pope is currently receiving intravenous antibiotics for lung inflammation but does not have pneumonia or fever.

Scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates from December 1-3, Pope Francis was set to address the summit and inaugurate the first Faith Pavilion at COP28. His presence was highly anticipated, given his vocal advocacy for climate action and his role as a moral authority on the global stage.

His tweets preceding the cancellation expressed hope that COP28 would accelerate the energy transition, underscoring the importance of the conference in combating climate change.

The Vatican's statement indicated that while the Pope's general health had improved, his doctors advised against the journey, and Francis regretted accepting this recommendation.

This cancellation came after the Pope had to recite the traditional Angelus prayer from his residence instead of the usual location overlooking St Peter's Square due to light flu symptoms.

Despite recent health challenges, including knee and hip pain, an inflamed colon, hernia surgery, and now respiratory issues, the Pope is still scheduled to lead his weekly audience on November 29.

These health issues have not deterred him from fulfilling his duties as the leader of over 1.3 billion Catholics, emphasizing the link between climate change and poverty, according to RTE.

Read Also: UN Report Warns of Spreading Haiti Gang Violence That Could Affect Access to Food Staples

Pope Advocates Major Emission Cuts

The Pope's address at COP28 was anticipated to be a powerful call for action against climate change, particularly urging countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

His previous writings, including the influential 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si" (Praise Be To You) and a recent text warning that the world is nearing a "breaking point" due to global warming, have played critical roles in shaping global discourse on the environment.

Pope Francis's absence from COP28 is a notable loss for the conference, given his influence in advocating for urgent climate action and bridging the divide between climate-vulnerable nations and wealthy polluters.

His writings have been instrumental in the past, contributing to breakthroughs in UN climate talks, such as the Paris Agreement in 2015.

Although unable to physically attend, the Vatican has indicated that Pope Francis still intends to participate in the conference in some capacity. This decision serves to point out his dedication to confronting climate concerns, regardless of the obstacles posed by health concerns.

The Pope's planned visit to Dubai was not only important for his participation in COP28 but also for marking the first time a pontiff would have attended such an event, reflecting the growing engagement of religious leadership in climate matters. The inauguration of the first-ever faith pavilion at COP was also set to symbolize this increasing involvement, CNA reported.

Related Article: UAE Allegedly Planned To Push for Oil, Gas Deals During COP28 Summit, Leaked Documents Suggest

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TOKYO, Nov 30 ( News On Japan ) - As efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral society gain momentum, there is growing focus on GX (Green Transformation).

Shinichi Sasayama, President of Tokyo Gas, announced Thursday, "We aim to offer optimal solutions considering how energy can be used economically and eco-friendly. It's about understanding the best ways to utilize energy."

Tokyo Gas is rolling out its new business brand 'IGNITURE,' which incorporates GX, starting today.

This brand will offer services that utilize solar power and storage batteries to reduce both electricity costs and CO2 emissions, targeting environmentally conscious individuals, businesses, and local governments. In the future, the plan is to use AI to automatically control whether the solar-generated electricity is used directly, sold to power companies, or managed in some other way.

Tokyo Gas is pushing forward with its GX business and aims to achieve sales of 310 billion yen by the fiscal year 2025.
P.E.O. Chapter LP

Chapter LP of the P.E.O. Sisterhood met on Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Social Hall of Our Saviors Lutheran Church for its regular business meeting.

The club heard comments from guest speaker Rachel George, newly appointed executive editor of The Nonpareil as well as the Columbus Telegram and Fremont Tribune in Nebraska. Georges topic, Staying on Top of the News, was eighth in a sponsored speakers series of 10 programs under the heading of For Excellence in Leadership ... Look to the Woman.

Upon arrival, members and guests were greeted with a colorful reception table of assorted desserts and sweet condiments plus pots of tea and coffee presented in a decor of Thanksgiving motifs served by hostesses Debra Ebke and Jamie Bellows.

Of special interest, the chapter and P.E.O. sisters were honored to initiate and welcome into the chapter as a new member, Antonia Krupicka-Smith, the director of the Council Bluffs Public Library. President Beverly Fletcher commented, It is a delight and a privilege to add Antonia to our roster.

The chapters business meeting followed with Fletcher presiding to address upcoming items of immediate consideration. Top of the agenda included the possibility of a pending merger currently under advisement. Committee reports included P.E.O. reciprocity, newsletters, publicity and membership.

The chapter will meet again on Dec. 12 in the Hearth Room of the New Horizon Presbyterian Church for the sharing of apple cider and Christmas cookies. It is preceded by an Encore Performance by the Bell Choir of New Horizon Church, directed by Cheryl Haines, who will also lead the singing of Christmas carols for Voices of Chapter LP and their visiting guests.

The chapter will then take a holiday break and resume its meetings in February with a commemoration of the founding of P.E.O. in 1869 at Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant. The Philanthropic Educational Association sisterhood now numbers about 14,000 members statewide and 200,000 members in North America.
A longtime fundraiser for police organizations in Omaha who was federally indicted earlier this year on fraud charges intends to take his case to trial, according to court documents.

Jack Olson, the Council Bluffs man indicted in April alongside former Omaha Police Department officers Johnny Palermo and Richard Gonzalez, is the only defendant in the case who has opted to go to trial. Palermo and Gonzalez both accepted or announced their intent to accept plea deals in recent months.

The jury trial for Olson is currently scheduled for April 8 and is expected to last eight days at the federal courthouse in Lincoln, Nebraska. He faces four felony charges: Wire fraud conspiracy, honest services fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

Olsons case is adjacent, though not directly related, to the prosecution of former Omaha City Councilman Vinny Palermo. Two grand jury indictments were handed down on the same day in April  one naming Gonzalez, Johnny Palermo and Olson; the other naming Gonzalez, Johnny Palermo and Vinny Palermo. Vinny Palermo and Johnny Palermo are not related.

The charges against Olson center on two distinct allegations:

That he took part in honest services fraud by conspiring with Gonzalez and Johnny Palermo to impede a rape investigation in which he was a suspect That he committed wire fraud when fundraising for the Latino Peace Officers Association by taking up to 80% of donations while misleading donors about where the money was going.

Neither Olsons federal public defender, Korey Reiman, nor prosecutors are authorized to comment publicly on the case. But at previous court appearances and in court filings, Reiman has said that the case is triable and suggested the charges against his client are overzealous.

In a May filing from Reiman arguing that Olson should be released from jail ahead of trial, Reiman said Olson had a written contract with LPOA that specified the high percentage of donations he would take. Reiman further said that Olson met with both the FBI and IRS and willingly disclosed the percentage he was taking from LPOA donations under his contract with the organization.

And regarding the sexual assault investigation, Reiman said Olson asking Gonzalez and Johnny Palermo for advice does not rise to the level of honest services fraud.

At most the wiretaps reveal Olsons friends advising him not to speak with police initially and hire a lawyer, Reimans filing reads. This is sound advice most friends would give whether they are in law enforcement or not. Asserting a constitutional right is not obstruction, nor is advising a friend to assert their constitutional rights.

Johnny Palermo is expected to enter a guilty plea on Jan. 10, though the details of his plea agreement are not yet known. Gonzalez, who faced 10 felony charges, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a singular count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He will be sentenced Jan. 16.
A new scholarship established by the Community Foundation for Western Iowa will honor the memory of a former Fremont County Sheriff's Office deputy.

Sgt. Ashton Luke and Jennifer Richardson, widow of Deputy Melvin Richardson, presented a check for $10,500 to the foundation on Monday to start the Deputy Melvin Richardson Be Good Memorial Scholarship Fund, according to a news release.

The scholarship will go to students from southwest Iowa who want to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Richardson died in a crash while on duty on June 15, 2022. He had been a member of the sheriff's office since Aug. 31, 2015, and also served on the Sidney and Percival volunteer fire and rescue departments.

Prior to serving as a deputy, he spent four years as a police officer in Sidney and five years as a police officer in Auburn, according to the release.

The scholarship was established by his wife, three daughters, family members and friends in his memory, alongside the sheriff's office. It is set up as an endowment fund, which will grow over time and fund scholarships on a permanent, perpetual basis.

Donations to the fund can be made through the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. The fund was created in time for Giving Tuesday 712, an initiative of the foundation's SHARE Iowa, so it was able to receive matching donations as it began to grow its endowment.

Learn more about the fund and the others held by the foundation at givewesterniowa.org.
Rep. Randy Feenstra took a tour of All Care Health Center in Council Bluffs while taking a swing through the district over the congressional Thanksgiving break.

Feenstra met with CEO Joel Dougherty, Medical Director Cristella Torres and other members of All Care's leadership team, as well as state Rep. Josh Turek and other dignitaries, during the tour on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

"I just want to say thank you for all you do," Feenstra told the center's staff. "It is just a privilege that I get to know your center here and what I can do to help."

Torres told the congressman that All Care is starting to run out of space at its clinic, and All Care has provider vacancies that it's been unable to find qualified candidates to fill.

Mental health needs in the community have only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, too, with not enough beds for those who are looking for in-patient treatment.

"There's not a whole lot of psychiatric places to admit them to," Torres said.

Feenstra also discussed federal reimbursement rates and how insurance companies handle telemedicine claims. Officials said All Care uses telephone and video visits to check on patients who are unable to make appointments.

The Republican from Hull said he's familiar with the Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center, and he has a doctorate in business and health care administration. His dissertation was on maternal health care outcomes and health care desserts in rural America.

In his weekly column, Feenstra highlighted the need to expand behavioral health services for our farmers and rural communities. The All Care meeting included a discussion of the new mental health hospital planned in Council Bluffs as well as the county's efforts in public health.

Feenstra said in the column that 65% of rural counties lack a psychiatrist and 47% lack a psychologist.

"These statistics cannot be the norm," he said. "Our farmers and our families deserve access to high-quality care  no matter their ZIP code."

Dougherty said All Care is interested in opening satellite locations  which Feenstra called a "game changer"  expanding its reach outside the Council Bluffs region.

"There are just so many areas in Iowa that could benefit from comprehensive, affordable health care," Dougherty said.

While the community health center provides access to health care, it's not able to meet every need for every patient.

All Care doesn't offer urgent care services, but it does reserve some same-day access slots which provide a similar option for its clients, Torres said. Patients requiring emergency services might find themselves transported from All Care to a local emergency department.

The center sees some patients with Nebraska Medicaid, and Omaha community health centers are also able to see some patients from Iowa  although clinics on both sides of the river take a financial hit for accepting those patients, Dougherty said.

"All over the western part of Iowa, we have a diverse population," Feenstra said. "When you have diverse populations, there's uniqueness and different things that occur when it comes to public health and so forth."
Weather Alert

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON CST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM FRIDAY TO NOON CST TUESDAY... * WHAT...For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. For the Wind Chill Advisory, very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero. For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 50 below zero. Coldest wind chills are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. * WHERE...Portions of east central, northeast, and southeast Nebraska. * WHEN...For the Winter Storm Warning, from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Advisory, from midnight tonight to noon CST Friday. For the Wind Chill Warning, from 9 PM Friday to noon CST Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Travel will be hazardous. Areas of blowing snow will reduce visibilities, even after snow has stopped falling. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday evening and Friday commutes. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. &&
The 40-foot National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC, was damaged by strong winds, scheduled to be lit by President Joe Biden, to topple just days before the official ceremony.

The city experienced winds ranging from 10 to 20 mph, with gusts reaching 35 mph, as per Daily Beast.

National Christmas Tree Recovers for White House Ceremony

On Tuesday at around 1:00 p.m., the tree fell to the ground, prompting the use of a crane to prop it back up. The National Park Service, which is responsible for the tree, expressed hope that it would be in suitable condition for the tree lighting ceremony on Thursday. The tree had been delivered to the White House Ellipse on November 14.

Following an assessment of the tree's condition and the replacement of a snapped cable, the National Park Service confirmed it was upright again by 6:00 p.m. They reassured the public that they considered all possibilities to ensure this year's successful event.

This year's tree, a Norway spruce from West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest, broke tradition by being placed instead of planted, unlike previous years. The decision was made after a tree planted in October 2021 had to be removed due to a fungal disease.

It is common for National Christmas trees in Washington, DC, to face challenges with the strong winds. Several trees have fallen in the past, creating an exciting metaphor for some.

Critics of President Biden have already taken the opportunity to compare the fallen tree to his economic policies, even though he was not in DC at the time as he attended a memorial service in Georgia, according to The New York Times.

Read Also: Argentina's President Elect Javier Milei To Meet With Top Biden Adviser, Other Officials Over Economic Policies

Cut vs. Planted Christmas Trees Debate Gains Traction

The incident with the tree resonates with those who find the early celebration of Christmas relatable. Perhaps the tree was tired or felt overwhelmed by the pressure. The debate about using a cut Christmas tree or a planted one has been ongoing, and the tree community has strong opinions.

Despite the setback, workers used a crane to set the tree upright again as the tree's lights continued to shine, maintaining holiday optimism. While initially uncertain if the original tree could still play a leading role in the ceremony, the National Park Service confirmed that it would proceed as planned.

Since first lady Grace Coolidge allowed the planting of a tree on the Ellipse by the District of Columbia Public Schools a hundred years ago, multiple National Christmas trees have fallen. The area has experienced increasingly strong winds over the years. According to weather analysis, gusts have grown in intensity since the mid-2000s.

The fallen tree occurred when Arctic air brought the coldest weather to the region since March. Winds on Tuesday frequently exceeded 30 mph, with a maximum gust of 43 mph at Reagan National Airport. While such winds are not unusual for November, the frequency of days with high wind gusts has slightly increased over the past 15 years.

Since the 1970s, National Christmas trees have been planted on the Ellipse, and some have met unfortunate fates. Previous incidents include a tree falling off a truck and another succumbing to transplant shock. Notably, at least three National Christmas trees have failed due to strong winds, including one incident in 2011.

The tree that fell on Tuesday had only been planted two weeks earlier, after replacing the 2021 tree afflicted with a fungal disease. Despite the mishap, efforts are underway to ensure a successful and festive tree-lighting ceremony, The Washington Post reported.

Related Article: Ukraine Ramps Up Grain Shipment Through Black Sea Despite Russia's Warning

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Russia is mulling plans to dispatch 200,000 tons of wheat free of charge to countries in need on the African continent by the end of the year, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexey Yerkhov told Turkish daily Sabah.

Russia proposed an initiative to deliver wheat free of charge to the poorest African countries. We expect 200,000 tons of grain to be sent by the end of the year. Two ships already departed to Somalia and Burkina Faso. Additional shipments to Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Mali, and the Central African Republic are expected to follow soon, Yerkhov said.

The shipment to Burkina Faso and Somalia left early this month.

The Russian diplomat argued that despite the efforts of the UN, there are still no results on the revival of the grain deal. The deal came to an end on July 18 and Russia refused to be signatory over unfulfilled components related to facilitating Russian grain and fertilizer exports, a significant portion of the supplies redirected to affluent European States instead of African nations.

Following the refusal, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscows intent to deliver grain to six African countries as part of humanitarian aid.
A delegation from the ECOWAS Commission and Nigerias government, on Tuesday, (28 November) met with Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio, in an apparent show of solidarity for the countrys government following a recent deadly attack on the armory, expressing the West African blocs commitment to the deployment, if need be, of regional elements.

The envoys visited Sierra Leone on a solidarity and fact-finding mission in the wake of Sundays series of attacks on the armory at the Wilberforce Barracks in the capital Freetown that has been described as a failed coup attempt. ECOWAS is ready and committed to supporting the people of Sierra Leone, including to strengthen their national security and the deployment, if need be, of regional elements, said the head of the ECOWAS Commission Omar Alieu Touray, conveying the message of the chair of the 15-regional bloc and Nigarias President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. ECOWAS also said it was deeply concerned about recent events in the region, with three of its 15 member states, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea under military rule. Anything that will interfere with democracy, peace and security, and stability of Sierra Leone will not be accepted by ECOWAS or Nigeria, Nigerias National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said during the visit.

Meanwhile, Sierra Leones information minister has said 13 military officers were arrested in relation to the weekend assault in capital Freetown, while the police has declared 34 persons, including military officer and civilians, wanted for questioning over their roles in the attempted coup that started with an attack on the armoury on Sunday (27 November). Government authorities have also said at least 20 people were killed in the attacks and about 2,200 people also escaped from prisons that were attacked. Tensions remain in Freetown, where checkpoints have sprung up and schools and banks remain closed, while a curfew is in place from dusk until dawn. Frictions in the West African nation have been building since a contested election in June, with President Bio winning reelection amid concerns about the transparency of the election and also a rapid rise in the cost of living, which has triggered public frustration with Bio and his government.
Senegals navy has intercepted over three tons of cocaine from a ship moored off the coast in what is one of the countrys biggest drug hauls, as traffickers often exploit West African nations as transit points to transport cocaine from South America to Europe.

The patrol boat FOULADOU seized nearly 3 tons of pure cocaine aboard a ship intercepted 150 kilometers offshore, Senegals navy announced on Tuesday (28 November). The boat and its cargo were returned on 28 November 2023 to the Admiral Faye Gassama Naval Base and handed over to the competent authorities, it stated.

Photos posted by the navy on social media platform X showed a rusty-hulled ship at the dock, dozens of suitcase-sized bundles wrapped in colorful plastic, and police officers conducting identification, logging of the seized products and examining a white substance.

Since 2016, the majority of consignments transiting West Africa on their way to Europe begin their journey in Brazil. In 2021, coca bush cultivation and overall cocaine production in South America reached record levels, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes World Drug Report.

The global number of cocaine users, estimated at 22 million in 2021, continues to increase steadily. In 2020, 30% of the worlds cocaine users were in North America, but UNODC warns of strong potential for a large expansion of cocaine use in Africa and Asia. For the past three to four years, at least 57 tons of cocaine were seized in or en route to West Africa, 4.7 tons of which were in Senegal. In January this year, Senegal seized more than 800 kilos of cocaine off the coast of Dakar.
Somalia has finally been admitted to the East African Community (EAC) as its eighth member, thirteen years after its original application to join, as the economic bloc seeks to expand free trade across the region.

Somalia was officially admitted to the East African Community (EAC) at the Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State in Arusha, Tanzania, last Friday (24 November), in a move that the countrys President Sheikh Mohamud praised as historic. Mohamud also hailed the admission as a beacon of hope for Somalia and mutually beneficial for his country and the EAC, which is widely recognized as one of Africas most integrated regional economic communities. With the entry of the fragile Horn of Africa nation, the bloc has expanded its market by a further 17m people to more than 300 potential consumers and gained more than 3,000km of shoreline, presenting great opportunities for the blue economy.

However, others have criticized the admission of Somalia as premature, arguing that the move could portend more security challenges for the bloc as the country is struggling to stem a deadly rebellion by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group. Since the collapse of the Mohamed Siad Barre regime in 1991, cross-border trade with neighboring countries has decreased due to insecurity caused initially by civil war and later by al-Shabaabs terrorist attacks, according to a recent report published by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). Although there are many benefits to joining the EAC, the depth of Somalias security problems raises critical questions about the blocs readiness and capacity to ensure peace, security and regional stability, the ISS report adds.
France has completed the full withdrawal of its forces from Niger as requested by the current leaders of the West African country who seized the power on July 26, after removing west-backed Mohamed Bazoum.

Over 1,300 soldiers stationed in the country have left the country and headed to neighboring Chad and to France, Mali Jet reports citing a Nigerien army official.

The disengagement of French troops is proceeding according to the timetable announced by the Nigerien authorities, in good security conditions. Land and air convoys continue, the source said.

The source added that 80 per cent of military equipment has been also removed.

Relations between France and its former colony have turned sour since July 26 after a junta led by incumbent leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani, leading Bazoums own guard, removed and detained the President.

Niamey since then has severed ties with Paris and ordered some 1,500 troops stationed in Ouallam, Ayorou (Tabarey-Barey) and in the capital to leave.

France refused to abide by the decision but finally kick-started the forced-pullout on October 10 and completed it on Tuesday November 28.
Years of successive droughts emptied reservoirs pushing Morocco to speed up its desalination plans with new plants scheduled for Casablanca and Nador in 2027.

Dam filling rate has dropped to 23% in Morocco on average in November with some critical dams such as Al Massira- supplying Casablanca- completely depleted.

Construction works for the biggest desalination plant in Casablanca would start next year. It will be able to pump fresh water by 2027, according to the water ministry.

The Casablanca desalination plant will have a capacity of 300 cubic meters, enough to ensure water security of Moroccos largest city and its surroundings.

Morocco has achieved the first phase of a waterway connecting the water-rich basin of Sebou to a dam near Rabat that also supplies northern Casablanca.

This waterway helped avert water supply disruptions in Casablanca, pending the desalination plant.

The same waterway would channel water to the region of Oum Rbia, to bring fresh water needed for irrigation needs of the agricultural region of Doukkala.

Water Minister, Nizar Baraka, told MPs that later this month a tender will be launched for a desalination plant to supply Nador with a capacity of 250 million cubic meters.

Baraka said his department also considers a similar plant to supply Tangier, Moroccos second largest industrial hub.

Moroccos phosphates giant, OCP, has also joined the nations water supply effort by building a plant with a capacity of 110 cubic meters to supply the Atlantic cities of El Jadida and Safi by 2026.
The Palestinian ambassador to Morocco, Jamal Choubki, commended on Wednesday in Rabat Moroccos constant role, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, in supporting the Palestinian people, their just cause, and their legitimate leadership, and noted that the Kingdoms position on the Palestinian issue is one of principle.

Choubki, who was speaking at a meeting held to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, also welcomed the content of the strong Message sent by King Mohammed VI to the Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Sheikh Niang. He noted that the Sovereign reiterated in this Message the Kingdoms constant support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

The Palestinian diplomat also recalled King Mohammed VIs speech to the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, in which the Sovereign stressed that there is no alternative to real peace in the region, guaranteeing Palestinians their legitimate rights within the framework of the two-State solution.

Choubki recalled that Morocco hosted the 1974 Arab Summit, during which Arab countries first recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians.

He likewise praised the role played by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency in protecting Arab and Islamic rights in the Holy City and strengthening the resilience of its inhabitants by funding programs and projects in various sectors.

In his message the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, king Mohammed VI called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, and reiterated Moroccos unwavering position regarding the just cause of the Palestinian people and their legitimate right to statehood.

The Sovereign expressed hope that the international community will make concerted efforts to revive the peace process, and outlined that peace, a strategic option, is the only way to guarantee security and stability for all the peoples concerned and to protect them from wars and violence.
Algerias self-serving approach towards the Sahel kept away from forging a stability and security partnership with the US, notes the United States Institute of Peace.

In a study, headlined For Peace in the Sahel, Can the U.S. Work with Algeria?, the US think tank notes that Algeria has failed to help the Tuareg and the central government in Mali reach a deal despite multiple attempts.

The paper points to critics who often describe Algerias mediation efforts in the Sahel as designed to advance its own interests first.

In this context, the author of the analysis Thomas M Hill proceeds to explain contradictions between the Algerian and the US approach in the region which augur ill for cooperation between the two countries in the Sahel, which has been plagued in recent months by snowballing military coups.

He starts by explaining the close ties between Russia and Algeria, a relation that is founded on Algerias status as one of the main clients of Russian arms in Africa.

Russia in turn is deeply engaged in the Malian mayhem through its Wagner militias that helped Bamako forces take the strategic Tuareg stronghold of Kidal a few days ago, marking the effective collapse of Algiers 2015 power sharing deal.

Algeria has kept silent since then, probably out of fear of angering its arms supplier.

For the United States, the deepening presence of Russia and the Wagner Group is a direct threat to national security interests, specifically the U.S. drone operations run out of neighboring Niger, says the analysis.

It also points to the real motives of Algerian diplomacy which relegates Sahel security stability to a second rank, while prioritizing support for its Polisario proxies, that seek to unsettle Morocco in the Sahara territory.

The author also mentions Algerias growing perception in the ECOWAS region as an unreliable and uncredible mediator as it seeks to achieve its own goals in exporting terrorism outside its borders and pressuring neighbouring countries to parrot its discourse on the Sahara issue.

While the US recognizes Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, the author argues that any cooperation with Algeria in the Sahel would entail delink from the Sahara issue.

Algeria has also failed to mediate between the military junta in Niger and the ECOWAS.

That unsuccessful attempt raises a question whether Algeria can be readily accepted as a neutral arbiter by Nigers conflicting parties  or whether it still needs to cultivate that credibility, it said.
Nebraska animal health officials are urging veterinarians and pet owners to watch for signs of an unusual respiratory illness that has sickened dogs in several states, including Colorado, Oregon and New Hampshire.

Dr. Dustin Loy, director of the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, said animal health officials don't know what is causing the illness or whether it is something new or a flareup of a known respiratory disease, which periodically occur in dogs just as they do in people. As in humans, canine respiratory illnesses can be caused by different types of bacteria and viruses.

Researchers are investigating to determine the cause of the illness, which they say is causing lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia and doesn't respond to antibiotics. Some cases of pneumonia have progressed rapidly, making dogs severely ill within 24 to 36 hours.

The Lincoln-Lancaster Health Department and Lincoln Animal Control sent an alert about the illness last week. Loy, a member of the Lincoln-Lancaster Board of Health, said he is not aware of any cases in Nebraska. But agency officials sought to warn veterinarians across the state about the illness and provide residents with basic precautions to protect their dogs.

At the top of the list for dog owners, he said, is to make sure their dogs are up to date on vaccines. Dog owners should consult with their veterinarian to determine which ones are most appropriate, given dogs' needs can vary according to their activities and the places they live and visit.

Respiratory illnesses in dogs typically are transmitted through respiratory droplets, Loy said. Transmission is more likely to occur if multiple dogs mingle, particularly indoors. Therefore, other precautions include reducing contact with large numbers of unknown dogs and with sick dogs, as well as avoiding sharing pet water bowls.

Dog owners, he said, should consult a veterinarian if they believe their dog is showing signs of a respiratory illness, including coughing, sneezing, runny nose, tiredness and rapid or labored breathing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that the state would be making nearly $300 million available to local municipalities for the purpose of clearing out homeless encampments and assisting in finding housing for those experiencing homelessness.

The funds will be directed to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to not only remove camps on state property, but also to provide resources and assistance to the homeless population in finding alternative places to live, as per Fox News.

California Governor Allocates $300M for Homelessness

During a virtual news briefing, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying issues causing homelessness rather than simply displacing individuals from encampments. He stated, "We're trying to resolve the underlying issues in the first place and actually support people in getting them back on their feet to self-sufficiency."

To ensure accountability, agencies utilizing the funds will be held to minimum expectations and standards. Governor Newsom's office also revealed that over 5,700 encampments have been cleared since July 2021 as part of the state's Encampment Resolution Fund.

The $299 million made available to local jurisdictions will be awarded through competitive grants, requiring cities and counties to apply with the California Interagency Council on Homelessness. Applications will be accepted until the end of June or until the funds are exhausted.

Meghan Marshall, executive officer of the council, emphasized that housing is the key solution to homelessness. The grants aim to assist local partners in helping unhoused individuals move out of unsafe and unsightly encampments and into safe and stable homes.

Since 2021, 66 communities have already received $414 million from the Encampment Resolution Fund. The funds allocated to the transportation department will aid in relocating encampments away from hazardous areas, such as near freeways or park and rides, according to USA Today.

Read Also: Sierra Leone Arrests 13 Military Officials Over Alleged Attempted Coup Following Attacks on Barracks

Caltrans Chief's Pledge for Homeless Housing

Caltrans Deputy Division Chief Alisa Becerra highlighted their commitment to connecting people experiencing homelessness on their right-of-way to more secure housing situations provided by local partners.

The previous distributions from the Encampment Resolution Fund have already benefited over 13,000 homeless individuals, and this latest round of funding is anticipated to help another 10,000 people.

Governor Newsom emphasized that the efforts to clear encampments are motivated by safety concerns. He stated, "Encampments are not safe for the people living in them or for community members around them." The state's focus is to provide funding to move individuals into housing and address the persistent and dangerous nature of encampments.

Cities, counties, and continuums of care throughout California are eligible to apply for the grant money through the California Interagency Council on Homelessness until June of next year. The funds will support street outreach teams and facilitate partnerships between local governments and Caltrans in their efforts to address and resolve the issue of encampments.

Deputy Division Chief Alisa Becerra reinforced the collaborative nature of this endeavor, stating, "The strength of this effort relies on collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to creating real solutions that help the people who need it most," CBS News reported.

Related Article: 'Squad' Votes on Reaffirming Israel's Rights to Exist, Demands Hamas to Release Remaining Hostages

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln economic index suggests the state's economy will continue growing, although slowly.

Nebraskas Leading Economic Indicator, which is designed to predict economic activity over the next six months, rose 0.3% in October, according to the most recent report from the UNL's Bureau of Business Research.

"The modest increase in the leading indicator suggests that economic growth will continue through the first half of 2024, but that growth will be slow," said economist Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research.

The six components of the Leading Economic Indicator are business expectations, building permits for single-family homes, airline passenger counts, initial claims for unemployment insurance, the value of the U.S. dollar and manufacturing hours worked.

Two of six indicator components improved significantly during October.

Building permits for single-family homes increased, after declining the previous three months, but Thompson said the rise, "may reflect a rebound from low levels rather than the beginning of sustained growth."

Business expectations also were positive in Nebraska during October.

Nebraska businesses reported plans to increase employment over the next six months, Thompson said.

The UNL report was much less pessimistic than one released earlier this month by Creighton University.

That Rural Mainstreet Report, which covers a 10-state region, showed economic activity in November was at its lowest level in three years. The report also found that Nebraska's level of economic activity was lower than the region as a whole.
The Loachapoka Community Park project is moving forward once again, with a new contractor and construction expected to begin in early December.

On Monday, the Lee County Commission unanimously approved the awarding of the re-bid for the Loachapoka Community Park project to Beasley Construction Services Inc. in the amount of $435,000. Beasley was one of three companies to bid on the re-scoped project.

Lee County Parks Manager Ryan Norris said that he anticipates the site work that will be done by the Highway Department will begin next week.

I spoke with Mr. Hardee earlier today, and they are planning on beginning their portion of the site work next week, Norris said. We will close the park officially, hopefully next Monday, weather permitting. So well have a sign out there, and I think well put some construction fences and things like that just to make it a little more obvious.

In October, it was announced that Hudmon Construction, the company originally awarded the bid on the project, withdrew its bid, leaving the project without a contractor. The Hudmon bid was for $618,300. The project was re-scoped with the architect McKee & Associates to divide the work between the Highway Department and the new contractor.

Norris said they are hoping to reopen the park in the spring once all the work is complete.

The Highway Departments site work responsibilities will include demolition, earthwork, stormwater and drainage improvements, erosion control and performing G-treatment for a walking trail and parking area.

According to the rescoping plans, the contractors responsibilities are the pavilion work, septic system, sanitary and sewer work, domestic fire and water, all ALDOT required work and all concrete, striping, signage and fencing.

Hosey Lancour Construction also placed a $619,619 bid on the project, and Hudmon Construction re-bid with $575,400 bid according to a memorandum from Norris.

Lee County stays with Avenu for tax collection services

After several weeks and a few meetings worth of discussion, the Lee County Commission unanimously voted to move forward with Avenu Insights & Analytics for tax collection services. The county has been working with that company for over two decades on tax collection services. The county is proposing a two-year contract with Avenu at a fixed rate of $525,000 per year to collect all taxes for the county. According to Avenu, that would result in a savings of $150,000 per year, compared to 2023 rates.

Avenu Chief Operating Officer Mike Poth attended the meeting and presented Avenus proposal which included a three-year contract, but when asked about a two-year contract, said we can make that happen.

We distinguish ourselves with over 300 cities and counties in Alabama and throughout the country, providing this full service tax administration. And we think we differentiate ourselves from a lot of other people in groups, by the way that we go about it, Poth said. We collect all the tax types that are currently in use by the cities and counties within the state of Alabama.

According to Avenu, since 2020, the sales/use tax revenue for lee County has increased by almost $13 million per year. In 2020, they collected $31.8 million, and in 2023, $44.4 million was collected.

The renewal came after weeks-long debate between Avenu, which had a three-year contract with the county that expired on Nov. 1, and the Alabama Department of Revenue.

The commission originally approved a plan to earlier this fall to switch from Avenu to the Alabama Department of Revenue to collect taxes levied by Lee County. However, there was an error in that original agreement that included the department collection able franchise, video rental, severance and alcohol taxes, which it is unable to do.

An amended resolution that would have the department collect all sales and use, rental (no rental fees) and seller use taxes levied by Lee County, along with a resolution that would have Avenu collect cable franchise, video rental, severance and alcohol taxes were both tabled and the original resolution was rescinded.

The two key issues surrounding the debate was that the state is unable to collect cable franchise, video rental, severance and alcohol taxes, meaning the county would have to find another source to collect those. Additionally, County Administrator Holly Leverette said she believed the agreement with Avenu would be all-or-nothing, meaning they would not collect just those taxes.

Leverette proposed doing that through her office, but District 3 Commissioner Gary Long opposed that.

All I hear coming out of your office is that youre overloaded and now you want to take on more and I just do not see how thats going to be possible, Long said. Youre going to want to hire more people which has been super difficult, to hire qualified people. Im not in favor of us collecting those fees. I mean if we have to let Avenu do it all because the state cant then that would be my suggestion.

Additionally, in his presentation to the commission, Poth said that the state cannot accept paper tax forms, which is the submission method of choice for about 20,000 small business owners and mom-and-pops, but Avenu does. Poth said that if the county did not choose Avenu, those owners would have to find a different way to submit such as through the internet, but he cited the broadband limitations

Polling places modified

With the March elections on the horizon, the Lee County Commission made some slight modifications to the new polling places that were approved at the Nov. 13 meeting. The Box 3 polling place in Beat 6(Auburn) will now be located at Embrace Church, located at 2142 N. College St. In the Nov. 13 changes, Box 3 was set to the Farmville Volunteer Fire Department.

We have talked with the Embrace Church on North College and they have agreed to allow us to use their church which has much better parking and is a lot safer than being on Highway 280 after dark, English said.

For Smiths Station, Beat 14, will remain as one and the plans are in place to designate the gymnasium and auditorium as the polling places, with hopes of cutting down on the lines that resulted from 15,000 voters using one location. The initial plan would have divided the beat in two, but there was not a suitable facility south of Lee Road 240 that could accommodate that over 7,000 voters that wouldve existed in the southern beat.

Additionally, during the citizens comments portion of the meeting, Vikki Reed, a Waverly resident raised concerns over plans to change the Beat 4(Waverly) location to the Waverly Local, a restaurant. According to the resident, no one at the business knew about plans for the restaurant to become a voting location and she was unsure of the restaurants ability to fill that role.

The commission did not respond to the comments directly, but when they arrived to the poling places item on the agenda, Chairman Bill English did address them in saying that the plan to move to the restaurant came after discussions with the owner directly.

I spoke with the owner of the Waverly Local, they told us we can use it, English said. There was a discussion in the building last week that it was no longer available. So I went to the source of that discussion who said he hadnt heard that. So I will follow up tomorrow with the owner of the Waverly Local again.

Lee County Sheriff's Office exploring license plate fees

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is looking into the possibility adding fees to the purchasing license plate tags and registration. The proposal, which is still a rough draft according to Sheriff Jones, would create a $4 vehicle license and registration issuance fee on each new registration, transfer or renewal on all license tags.

Sheriff Jones said that since the passage of Act 2022-133, which removed the requirement of a permit for Alabama residents to carry a concealed handgun or have one in their vehicle, that revenue from concealed carry permits has decreased by about 70%.

According to Jones, in 2021, the fees for permits generated approximately $450,000. $330,000 of that remained with the sheriff's office while $119,000 when to the general fund of the Lee County Commission. Jones said in 2023, the permits have generated approximately $119,000 in total, with $91,000 for the sheriff's office and $28,000 for the commission.

Jones said that those funds were used to augment the office's budget, and cover various needs for the LSCO such as equipment, training, education and more.

According to the outline of the proposal in the commission agenda packet, the proceeds from the $4 fee would be distributed on a monthly basis by Revenue Commissioner Oline Price. Each month, half of the funds will be distributed to the sheriff to be deposited in the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund.

Jones said that the remainder of the fund generated would go to the Lee County District Attorney's office, which asked for additional funding from the commission earlier in the year. Jones said the DA's office collaborated with the office and the funding would go toward prosecuting more cases.

"The district attorney came and asked for a request for funding this year to assist with her office hiring additional prosecutors and hopefully getting more of the cases to trial, which certainly is of interest to us all," Jones said. "This was a joint effort between the District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office to kind of cover two different areas of need."

Price was at the meeting and shared that they sell around 184,000 tags per year. That means that the proposal as it is outlined currently would generate $736,000.

Jones emphasized that this plan is in the very early stages, and once he puts together a final draft and presents in to the commission, it would still have to go to the Alabama state legislature to be approved as a local act.

Other Commission business

The commission voted to rescind the approval of a liquor license for a Phenix City package store the owner of a nearby daycare voiced their opposition. Jones said that the owners of the store, called Thirsty's, had already invested "quite a sum of money" into the business.

The commission voted to provided the Lee County Youth Development Center with a $100,000 grant, which will go toward the center providing behavioral health care. The center is located at 1101 Spring Dr. in Opelika. The grant will be pulled from the America Rescue Plan Act funds that were provided to Lee County in 2021.

"The Lee County Youth Development Center is requesting assistance to offset the significant costs associated with behavioral health care and vulnerable behaviors with individuals," District 5 Commissioner Richard LaGrand said. " I feel that children are our most precious resource and our future. So I humbly ask the commissioners tonight that we grant the Lee County Youth Development Center $100,000 of the ARPA funds."

LaGrand said that the funding would go toward providing the following services: supervised vitiation for Lee County parents, family home based coaching and counseling for at-risk families in Lee County, teams at the Lee County Passages Treatment Program and the Lee County Detention Center Program.

The commission unanimously approved moving the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department into the Highway Department, and the item was led by District 1 Commissioner Doug Cannon. The department was previously under administration.

The commission unanimously approved the appointment of Shane Blankenship to a seat on the Smiths Station Fire Protection District Board. According to his citizen interest form, Blankenship has been a citizen in Lee County for 46 years and is an alumni of Smiths Station High School. He has owned and operated a small business for over 20 years with a residential and commercial inspection company.
in the words of Local Man : "Go fuck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hey Bob [Iger]."





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this dude is incapable of holding himself accountable for his own company huh

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"He says it got worse when he left as CEO/Chairman."



The other Bob wasn't there long enough to fuck up that much....he just inherited Iger's mess and got kicked out on a weekend. Lmao

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cheapek probably didn't even have time to get his own desk set up before being let go lmaoooo

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Here's my obligatory "fuck Disney" comment.



Disney and WB on a speed run to see which company pisses people off the most.



Edited at 2023-11-29 11:47 pm (UTC)

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other studios push the envelope without backtracking and stand behind what their people create, but I guess the lack of Bigot Dollars really hurt. Looking forward to other animation houses keep kicking their ass in every regard.

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speaking of



animated films would have been such a smart fucking way to go with some of these superhero properties, take chances, do things you cant do (without it looking terrible or like a cgi cartoon) in live action.



but lol nah



focus group everything into the ground!!! :)

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The DC animated universe is so superior to the live action one. More coherent too.

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funny how big hero 6 did so well and they haven't looked at other marvel properties that they could adapt the same way.

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they couldnt tell the stories well/ it was hard to include us so theyre going back to whats easier  is what i heard



Edited at 2023-11-29 11:31 pm (UTC)

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The fact that they find it hard to include POC... Fuck them

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I think it's less that the representation is hard to achieve...it's socializing yt folks to go see films about people that don't look like them because they're largely not used to it. Even romcoms get demeaned this way even though they are consistent performers, on the hetnorm grounds 'only chicks want to see them and guys don't'.



And yet, everyone saw Black Panther, Squid Game, sometimes people will just see something if it's excellent. But by definition, not everything can be can't-miss spectacular, and BIPOC-led film and TV shouldn't have to live up to a standard of best of the year to not be considered a flop, with any future projects abandoned.

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I mean it's not like they were doing that much anyways. Ok wow we won't get a gay couple in the background of a movie for like 2 seconds.

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one of the leads of strange world was gay and it wasn't the focus of the film at all, conservatives just threw a fit.

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or announcing the first gay character they've ever had!!!!! every year and a half

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yes bc the generation you should be marketing to (gen z) hates social awareness lol 



how difficult is it to understand that you need to keep with the times WHILE being good at entertaining? it doesn't have to be one or the other



but we all know he's just using this as an excuse bc doing something actually groundbreaking is harder than making the same shit over and over again



Edited at 2023-11-29 11:36 pm (UTC)

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Right lol "We can't get Gen Z to care about marvel, I know...make it ultra white again." I guess it'll get those incel dollars, enjoy that extra 5$m.

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"Fuck them kids. - Michael Jordan" - Bob Iger

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With all the money they have, there's no excuse not to be able to hire a quality team that can create a well done story while also being entertaining. Maybe they're sucking because no one wants to pay movie theater prices for uninspired entertainment. 



Edited at 2023-11-29 11:38 pm (UTC)

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!!!



and i know theres some incredible artists out there who have some great stories to collab on! but no they would rather recycle formulas again and again



then they wonder why no one is seeing their movies

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They have quality creatives. The suits just chip away all the creativity.

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And they also bury great work by failing to promote it the same way they do the yt dominant films. There's a reason why they spend equivalent to a blockbuster's budget on the marketing push, but they don't do this with a lot of BIPOC led films. And a lot of them get shuffled quickly to streaming, which lowers audience desire to see this type of film in theatre, and kills any chance of having a late surge in theatrical release.

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He says it got worse when he left as CEO/Chairman.



lol. Of course it did.

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Edited at 2023-11-30 12:25 am (UTC)

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Lets also get rid of our one tiny redeeming quality.

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glad they could take time from their busy schedule of smearing nia dacosta in the trades and refusing to fire an abuser to stop and kiss neckbeard rings w this sensationalist bullshit



annnnnd theres that glass cliff, right on timeglad they could take time from their busy schedule of smearing nia dacosta in the trades and refusing to fire an abuser to stop and kiss neckbeard rings w this sensationalist bullshit

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which abuser??

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in this case, i meant jonathan majors



but ugh youre right, theres multiple - i keep forgetting  (plus hearing rumors about josh brolin allegedly coming back for deadpool )

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Hes just embracing his own brand: old rich white man.



I find it hilarious that Iger says it got worse when he left because the company would have still been using his business plan for some time after Chapek took the reins.

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Iger says Disney has made too many sequels -- moving forward, will only greenlight sequels if the story is quality enough for it to stand up as a movie on its own.  Alex Sherman (@sherman4949) November 29, 2023



oh so they plan on doing more original movies huh.. watch it be just rip off versions of one another lol i would like to see some creative animations tho oh so they plan on doing more original movies huh.. watch it be just rip off versions of one another lol i would like to see some creative animations tho

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They've already greenlit and are working on Frozen 3 AND 4, Zootopia 2, Inside Out 2 is next year, so uh are the originals in the room w/ us Bob?

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theres no reason for a gd 3rd and 4th frozen!! its going to be bad when the 4th one is making news for completely bombing the box office



these idiots deserve it for not only pulling this but for all these outrageous prices at their parks (i just talked to someone who paid like $120 dollars more just for their fam of 5 to ride the star wars ride w/o a long wait like wasnt that what fast passes were for? ya know for free jfc)

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I heard that there's another unannounced sequel, too. There's more to it than that, but that's all I can really say right now.



There's another original one in the pipeline, but from what I've heard (third hand) I will legitimately be shocked if it ever is released for multiple reasons.

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I do think there have been too many sequels for the sake of the box office and not because there's a real idea there. But I don't believe for a second that Iger won't be driven by money.

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Barbers apparent takeaway is that neither stars nor large salaries are essential. Yeah, but now people know how you treated them so they're less likely to see the new movie. I don't think they realize how much this pissed people off.

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"He didn't need Neve. He doesn't need Jenna."





Mmmhmm. Have fun with your movie being a flop.

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He still has those damn indestructible twins who just wont die.

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ngl i was laughing my ass off when chad came in at the end in a gurney, they stabbed him like 7 times and he was left to die for hours how the fuck is he supposed to be alive. give his body to science at this point

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They stabbed him way more than 7 times lol. But then I think of the literal child who was stabbed almost 20 times (the slender man stabbing if you want to read on it) and she seems for the most part fine.



I also want to take this moment to say how cringey it was when both Ghostfaces wiped their knives in unison yet the directors thought omg so cool!

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That's the franchise in a nutshell with the main trio surviving like 7? different killers

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Dewey's legacy lives on in them.

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He didnt need Neve, he doesnt need Jenna, says one insider.



Scream VII's box office success made me fear that they're so far up their own ass and welp, here it is.

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there were rumors about Jenna asking for more money months ago, it sounded like bs but guess not

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I'll say it's in shambles and very raw. They've managed to kill the franchise in a matter of days.



If they can't get Neve back (which seems unlikely), I can see them going a prequel route with their mom. Wouldn't require anyone from 5 or 6.

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i believe that the guy in charge of spyglass is arrogant enough to believe that they dont need neve or jenna but they were also putting it out there HOURS after jenna left that they want neve back. someone at spyglass clearly believes (rightfully imo) they need at least one of them. it might do fine with an entirely new cast but i dont think it will do near as well as 6 did.



i can also buy that jenna was on her way out anyway, but the spin from spyglass that the way it played out had nothing at all to do with melissa being fired feels desperate. jenna was liking posts on IG in support of melissa the day after she publicly dropped out.

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(but also damn @ high seven figures. when i see



Edited at 2023-11-30 12:33 am (UTC) fuck spyglass and fuck gary barber. i hope neve doesn't come back(but also damn @ high seven figures. when i see #s like that it makes me realize i understand very little about actors' pay)

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" Many predicted that Scream VI would fail without Neve Campbell, but it ended up being the biggest movie in the franchise since the 1996 original."



That's not surprising cause Sydney being still in these movies is ad nauseam. She's basically there to be re-traumatized but be the hero again and again and again. Her story should've ended in 3.



" Some insiders say the situation is a shambles and very raw.



lol suck it!!



It's interesting to see how this all pans out.



Jenna asking for more money seems legit cause a lot of the new stars seem to be more demanding of that.

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Plus they had a good transition between the movies. Im sure it would have made decent money against the budget without the originals but they def helped. I know if Sid, Gale and Dewey (and Martha!!! She was a fun cameo) werent in the 5th movie I would have waited til it was streaming instead of being there opening weekend

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I maintain that Scream 5 simply did right what Scream 4 got wrong, which was introducing a younger cast and NOT killing them all off by movie's end.

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wait so jenna left because she wanted more money, not because of melissa?

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It was definitely Melissa, the money thing, possibly scheduling thing is a front.



Edited at 2023-11-30 01:04 am (UTC)

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yeah, you're def right. i keep tabs on some reliable insiders for the franchise and there were rumors circulating as far back as august/september that things were up-in-the-air about how jenna would featured in the movie. but the majority were saying that she was said to be talking about a cameo appearance at minimum as recently as last month



so, i wouldn't be surprised if they were still in talks with pay being a part of that, but melissa's firing/treatment being what ended up having her pull out fully



Edited at 2023-11-30 02:19 am (UTC)

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All of it.

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It says she anticipated Spyglass would "balk", so I think she purposely asked for money she knew they'd never agree to. So for Melissa in a roundabout way.

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Im honestly afraid theyll pick up the abandoned Stu lived plot and have an awful spin off. Im sure Matthew would be happy to reprise the role but I hope not 

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I could be wrong but I believe matthew had said pay neve. Granted, his tune could change when hes being paid.

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 Barbers apparent takeaway is that neither stars nor large salaries are essential. He didnt need Neve, he doesnt need Jenna, says one insider



Yeah hes an idiot. The two arent comparable. Neve is at this point not a huge star and the franchise had transitioned from the original cast and the need for her character. Thats not the same thing with Jenna Ortega.

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They really aren't. He's sorely underestimating Jenna Ortega's star power. She's going to be huge for years, maybe decades, maybe continuously/lifelong. There's just a handful of actors in that age range with box office draw for Scream's target demographics.

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I loved this series so much, but NOW I am elmo gif, delighting in the chaos of the downfall, because FUCK them.

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r.i.p. to my favorite horror franchise 

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mte. When the Weinsteins/Dimension lost the rights to Scream and they went to Spyglass I was relieved that maybe there wouldn't be so many problems as in the past.



But nope, it just went from one asshole to another.

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Is Blumhouse problematic at all? I swear they wanted the franchise at some point.

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Oil prices began to retreat on Thursday afternoon as it became clear that OPEC+ members were agreeing to voluntary cuts beginning in the new year, and that those cuts would be announced only by each member country instead of by the group as a whole.

OPEC+ announced during the full OPEC+ meeting on Thursday that because all the cuts agreed to today were voluntary, they would be announced not by the group, but by the individual member states. Immediately following the meetings kickoff, it was also announced that Brazil would join the OPEC+ group effective in January.

Three weeks ago, OPECs Secretary General HE Haitham al-Ghais said that the groups door was open should Brazil wish to join. Brazil has a goal of substantially increasing its crude oil production to become the worlds fourth-largest producer by 2030.

In September, Brazil exported $3.92 billion in crude oil, while importing $681 million, according to OEC data. This level of exports is a 13% increase year over year, with China as the primary destination.

Brent crude oil prices, which had been trading up around 1.5% during the JMMC meeting, sank to +0.16% on the day in the absence of an announced production strategy from the groups leadership. WTI slipped into the red with a loss of 3.43% on the day following the full meeting.

The specifics of what was agreed to for the first quarter of 2024 among the OPEC+ members:

Algeria agreed to cut oil production by another 51,000 bpd

Kazakhstan agreed to reduce oil output by an additional 82,000 bpd

Saudi Arabia agreed to extend its 1 million bpd output cut

Russias Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that it would deepen voluntary oil export cuts by 300,000 bpd, and said it would roll over the existing 500,000 bpd vountary production cuts

Oman will cut another 42,000 bpd

Iraq will voluntarily cut 211,000 bpd

Kuwait will cut 135,000 bpd

The UAE will cut 163,000 bpd

Angola not only didnt announce an additional voluntary cut, but it publicly rejected its current quota, and reiterated its proposal for a 1.18 million barrel quota beginning in January. It added that it will not stick to the new OPEC quota.

Not including cut extensions from Saudi Arabia and Russia, the additional voluntary cuts beginning in January and carrying through to the end of March is 684,000 bpd. All together, the total voluntary cuts for the first quarter is 2.184 million bpd.

The next OPEC+ meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2024.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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As the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) began on Thursday, delegates are telling media that OPEC+ could be discussing deeper oil production cuts for the first quarter of 2024 and that total cuts could be close to 2 million barrels per day (bpd).

Total OPEC+ cuts could approach 2 million bpd, depending on the willingness of the countries to contribute, according to delegates, commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo reported as the JMMC meeting began.

The figure includes a rollover of the Saudi and Russian cuts of a total of 1.3 million bpd.

The meeting of the OPEC+ monitoring panel will be followed by a full online OPEC+ meeting at which all decisions will be taken.

Theres a lot of confidence that OPEC plus will conclude a deal that leads to a deeper cut, Amena Bakr, Chief Opec Correspondent and Deputy Bureau Chief at Energy Intelligence, reported, but noted that its still not clear what the final number would look like.

Oil prices extended gains on the reports of deeper cuts next year and were trading 1.5% higher less than half an hour before the full OPEC+ meeting was set to begin.

Earlier today, sources close to the Saudi delegation told the Financial Times that Saudi Arabia, the leader of OPEC and its top producer, has won provisional approval for additional cuts, to which other OPEC+ members will contribute, too.

Saudi Arabia has warned other OPEC+ members that it could unwind its voluntary 1 million bpd cut if other producers dont agree to cut deeper, delegates told FT.

A preliminary agreement has been reached that OPEC+ could cut more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) next year, including Saudi Arabia extending its voluntary cuts and additional cuts from other members of the group, two sources at OPEC+ told Reuters earlier in the day.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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OPEC+ reached a deal on Thursday that would see the groups oil production cuts spill over into the new yearand at a level that is a deeper cut than is currently in place, delegates said following todays JMMC meeting.

The group agreed to cut production by an additional 1 million bpd starting in 2024, sources suggestedand this is in addition to the 1 million bpd Saudi Arabia has been cutting since the summer. This has been agreed to in principle and will be voted on at the full OPEC+ meeting.

For the specifics of what was agreed to among the OPEC+ members, Algeria agreed to cut January oil production by another 50,000 bpd, according to the countrys energy minister, cited by Reuters, while Saudi Arabia agreed to cut output by 1 million bpd. Russia will cut 500,000 bpd.

At the beginning of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting on Thursday, delegates told media that OPEC+ might discuss deeper oil production cuts for Q1 2024 and that total production cuts might be close to 2 million bpd, depending on the willingness of the countries to contribute. This figure was said to include a rollover of the 1.3 million bpd cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia. However, the final decision on the plan for 2024 production would only come from a meeting of the full online OPEC+ meeting that is to follow.

Oil prices had extended gains on the reports of deeper cuts next year and were trading 1.5% higher less than half an hour before the full OPEC+ meeting was set to begin.

The extra cuts from members other than Saudi Arabia give the OPECs heaviest hitter precisely what it wanted: the other members to chip in to help Saudi Arabia balance the market.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Around a year after the U.S. and Europe introduced sanctions on Russian energy, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine early in 2022, some countries and actors are circumventing sanctions and continuing to buy Russian energy products. In recent months, Russia has appeared to shrug off the sanctions as it continues to sell energy to several major consumers, such as China and India, to keep its economy ticking over. But now, the EU is planning to introduce stricter measures that could hit Russia hard and make it more difficult to evade sanctions.

Despite the ongoing U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas, the countrys crude appears to be making its way to the U.S., with 500,000 barrels of fuel derived from Russian crude found in New Harbor in October. The Stop Russian Oil Campaign at Global Witness, an international NGO that tracks shipments of fuel produced using Russian crude, exposed the situation. From January to September this year, the NGO found that around 30 million barrels of fuel were imported from refineries using Russian crude. This fuel was imported by BP, Sunoco, and Shell, among others, and made its way to at least seven different U.S. states.

Siberia, which holds most of Russias crude reserves, produces around 9.6 million bpd of oil. It continues to sell this energy to several countries outside of Europe and the U.S., including China, the UAE, Turkey, and India. Much of this oil is refined in India, and blended with other foreign oil to produce gasoline, diesel, and other products, before making its way back onto the market. These products can be legally bought by companies that are upholding sanctions on Russian energy, demonstrating the existence of a major loophole in the existing sanctions.

The amount of oil being processed at Indias Jamnagar refinery has increased significantly since the beginning of the war on Ukraine, as Russia reduced its crude prices to encourage alternative buyers to make big purchases. Despite India and the U.S. announcing they were strengthening ties earlier in the year, following the G20 summit held in Delhi, Prime Minister Modi made it clear that India plans to continue benefitting from Russias discounted crude. In 2022, Indias imports of Russian crude increased tenfold, a trend that has continued this year. K.C. Ramesh, the Executive Director of Indias Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), explained, By importing from Russia, India also has helped the global economy in the sense that [we] freed up some oil on the Gulf for other countries to source, particularly Europe. So, it was kind of a win-win situation. He added, [It has] a very huge impact on our economy, in terms of helping the [Indian] economy grow  the price being very reasonable that we get from Russia.

This month, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control exposed three vessels and shipping companies that imported Russian oil despite sanctions, resulting in penalties. The Treasury has since launched an investigation of around 30 ship management companies, covering 100 vessels, that are suspected of violating the price cap on Russian oil. The Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, stated, Shipping companies and vessels participating in the Russian oil trade while using Price Cap Coalition service providers should fully understand that we will hold them accountable for compliance. Adeyemo added, We are committed to maintaining market stability in spite of Russias war against Ukraine while cutting into the profits the Kremlin is using to fund its illegal war and remaining unyielding in our pursuit of those facilitating evasion of the price cap.

This revelation has shown the complexities of the sanctions on Russian energy and the difficulties in tracking shipments. Around 30 percent of Russian exports are thought to still be using commercial shipping. Dark fleets of ships that are 20 years old or more, many of which have been used to transport Venezuelan and Iranian crude, are being more widely used. Some of these vessels have been turning off their automatic identification system to avoid detection. The lead analyst of freight at marine intelligence firm Kpler, Matthew Wright, explained, Most vessels have been sold by owners based in Europe to owners who were not previously active in the tanker market The owners are based mainly in Hong Kong, China, India, and the UAE.

As Russias conflict with Ukraine continues, the European Commission announced this month that it is considering the introduction of a 12th round of sanctions on Moscow. Included in the sanctions could be new prohibitions on the sale of second-hand tankers, aimed at stopping buyers who are attempting to evade sanctions by concealing the origin or destination of cargo.

As several countries boost their imports of discounted Russian crude to process it and mask it in other products, it is getting harder to track on the international market. This challenge is exacerbated by companies continuing to purchase these products and the shipping companies that make it possible for them to do so. However, a crackdown on the sale of second-hand tankers could help close the loophole, making it more difficult to circumvent the sanctions.

By Felicity Brastock for Oilprice.com

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Portfolio managers continued to be bearish on crude oil prices ahead of the now-delayed OPEC+ meeting, further selling off Brent and WTI futures and options and halving the net bullish bet on oil in two months.

The bearish positioning in crude oil in the past eight weeks suggests that hedge funds and other money managers are skeptical about OPEC+ managing to offset non-OPEC+ supply rising faster than expected, as well as concerns about economic growth. Some of the moves down in oil were also triggered by technical selling, while some hedge funds have stayed on the sidelines waiting for the next decision of the OPEC+ group.

In the week to November 21, bullish bets were slashed - with net-long positions being cut by over 19,000 positions to the lowest since June, according to data from the ICE Futures Europe exchange and the CFTC.

The latest Commitment of Traders (COT) report was released on Monday, delayed due to Thanksgiving last week.

Unsurprisingly, given the weakness seen in the market, speculators continued to reduce their net long in ICE Brent over the last reporting week, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey said on Tuesday.

The net long position  the difference between bullish and bearish bets  in Brent Crude futures slumped by 15,880 lots to 155,105 lots as of November 21the smallest net-long position since early October. Most of the sell-off was due to the liquidation of long positions. Related: EU/US Yields Tumble Amid Slump In Industrial Confidence

In NYMEX WTI Crude, portfolio managers cut their net long by 19,751 lots over the last reporting week to 104,545 lots. This was the smallest bullish position since July, INGs analysts noted.

While longs are liquidating as sentiment in the market sours, there is also likely an element of speculators taking risk off the table ahead of the OPEC+ meeting, they said.

Amid record-high U.S. crude oil production, money managers have been selling WTI futures for eight consecutive weeks, reducing their position by the equivalent of 216 million barrels since the end of September, according to data compiled by Reuters market analyst John Kemp.

The combined net long in WTI and Brent has seen eight weeks of selling apart from a geopolitics-driven bid higher in the week of October 17, after the Hamas attack on Israel, Ole Hansen, Head of Commodity Strategy at Saxo Bank, said, commenting on the latest report on traders positioning.

During those eight weeks, the combined net long in WTI and Brent has more than halved to 260,000 lots, driven by 188,000 lots of long liquidation and 112,000 lots of fresh short selling, Hansen added.

Traders are now expecting the next move from OPEC+, which is set to hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, November 30, if the group doesnt delay it again, as some reports suggested on Tuesday.

A rollover of the current cuts is the likely scenario, according to OPEC+ sources who have spoken to Reuters. The alliance is said to be continuing talks with African producers about their quotas, but no agreement has been reached as of late Tuesday.

If the current cuts are only extended, they could erase most of the surplus on the market expected early next year, INGs analysts said.

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However, if OPEC+ want to provide more solid support to the market and ensure that we do not see stocks building early next year, they will need to agree on deeper and broader cuts, they added.

The Saudis and OPEC+ have made a habit of surprising markets in recent years when it comes to their meetings. However, with aggressive cuts already in place, it does leave one wondering the degree to which the group could surprise the market with deeper-than-expected cuts.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Initial leaks from the OPEC+ meeting suggested that the voluntary nature of additional output cuts is likely contributing to the negative market sentiment.

"Drowning in detail" is how another trader MSG'd as producers are going to have to come up with some hard numbers to convince the market that the cuts are real, and not just a repackaging of previously agreed measures.

But as the communique below shows, there appears to be none.

The full OPEC+ communique has just been released:

The 36th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), was held via videoconference, on Thursday November 30, 2023. The Meeting welcomed HE Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which will join the OPEC+ Charter of Cooperation starting January 2024. The meeting reaffirmed the continued commitment of the Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to ensure a stable and balanced oil market. In view of current oil market fundamentals, the Meeting: Reaffirmed the Framework of the Declaration of Cooperation, signed on 10 December 2016 and further endorsed in subsequent meetings including the 35th OPEC and Non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on 4 June 2023; as well as the Charter of Cooperation, signed on 2 July 2019. Noted that, in accordance with the decision of the 35th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, the completion of the assessment by the three independent sources (IHS, Wood Mackenzie and Rystad Energy) for production level that can be achieved in 2024 by Angola, Congo and Nigeria as follows: Angola at 1,110 t/bd, Congo at 277 t/bd and Nigeria at 1,500 t/bd. The 37th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting will be held on 1 June 2024 in Vienna.

The reaction is clear - oil prices are falling rapidly as the market had been led to expect 1 million barrels a day of extra cuts, but theres no mention of them at all in the communique...

Prices are coming off the lows a little...

...as the various nations have begun to announce their voluntary cuts:

Saudi Extends Voluntary Oil Cut of 1m B/D to End 1Q24: SPA

Russia Oil-Export Cuts increased by 200k B/D in 1Q 2024 to Reach 500k B/D

Kuwait Said to Make Additional 135k B/D OPEC+ Oil Output Cut

Algeria to Make Additional 51k B/D OPEC+ Output Cut

Oman to Make Additional 42k B/D Oil Output Cut in 1Q

Kazakhstan to cut oil output by additional 82k B/D in 1Q

UAE to Make Additional 160k B/D OPEC+ Output Cut

Angola has rejected its quota

Here's what Wall Street thinks about OPEC+'s actions (or lack of them)...

Alex Longley, Bloomberg

So why are we lower? Drowning in detail is how one trader put it to me. The additional cuts will be announced by OPEC+ members themselves. Others argue this is a repackaging of previously agreed measures, with some uncertain extras. Throw in a decent rally over the last few days (and not to mention month end and expiry day for Brent contracts!), and thats why we are where we are. Our latest oil futures take is here:

Julian Lee, Bloomberg:

What appears to be the voluntary nature of additional output cuts is likely contributing to the negative market sentiment. Theres a real worry that this might be little more than the repackaging of cuts that were already extended to the end of 2024 back in June. The producers are going to have to come up with some hard numbers to convince the market that the cuts are real. I agree with Arne Lohmann, the communication has been poor. Perhaps thats a reflection of the difficulty of getting everyone to agree, but that in itself raises concerns about how much of any extra cut will be real. Its looking increasingly like the additional 1 million barrels a day of cuts wont be formalized in new official output targets. Instead members will individually announce their contributions, just as they did in April for the voluntary reductions that came into effect in May. Those also amounted to a shade over 1 million barrels a day. ADVERTISEMENT

Giovanni Staunovo, UBS

It seems the OPEC+ production cuts are voluntary cuts, not part of an OPEC+ agreement. Hence the concern is that a large fraction of it could be a pledge on paper and effectively less barrels being removed from the market.

Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, A/S Global Risk Management

They did the right thing and reacted to the looming 2024 surplus. But the performance/execution has been really poor. Quotas being announced individually was not good communication. However, the risk probability of oil going significantly lower should now be small.

Dominic Ellis, UBS

Potential Reasons Why Oil Is Fading Post Announcement Of OPEC+ Cut. Trying to understand the fade in oil since the news earlier of the ~2mb/d OPEC+ cut for Q1. Potential causes for concern: 1.3mb/d of the total is an extension of the existing Saudi and Russian cuts which, are either already in most assumptions for 1Q24 (in the case of the Saudi 1mb/d) or can't fully be trusted (in the case of the Russian 300kb/d). Then there's the incremental 200kb/d cut from Russia, which would be new versus current expectations, but is probably heavily discounted by markets given historic weak Russian compliance. Finally, on the remaining 500kb/d, it isnt clear how much of this will actually result in barrels coming out of the market, rather than "paper" cuts against higher quotas, or cuts versus quotas that are already not being hit. I still find the drop in oil puzzling, particularly given news that Brazil will be joining the OPEC+ group from January 2024, but this is a good example of OPECs opacity being counterproductive.

There will be no press conference after today's virtual meeting.

Perhaps most notably, major producer Brazil will join OPEC+ from next year, the oil cartel announced on Thursday. Brazil is among the world's top 10 producers and has been the largest oil producer in Latin America since 2016.

"Considering that Brazil is a large oil producer and is driving oil production growth it is important to have them on board, but it seems that they are not cutting production like Mexico, so would conclude with: good for OPEC+, less relevant for oil market balances," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

By Zerohedge.com

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NASA's 2040 moon human settlement ambition fascinates lots of scientists and other experts. This is because although many researchers said that it is possible for humans to reside on the lunar body, achieving this would take hundreds or thousands of years.

But, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration seems to be quite confident with its ambitious plan to allow Americans to live on the moon's surface.

However, can the International Space Agency really achieve this? Here are other details you need to know about NASA's ambitious 2040 moon human settlement goal.

NASA's 2040 Moon Human Settlement Ambition Fascinates Scientists

Although many scientists are excited about NASA's 2040 moon human settlement goal, some experts doubt that the aerospace organization can achieve it within such a short period.

However, NASA claimed that achieving lunar habitation by 2024 is really entirely within reach. The space agency's Lunar Homestead project is inspired by the Artemis mission, which aims to bring humans back to the moon's surface and establish a sustainable presence.

The Lunar Homestead initiative envisions the establishment of moon architecture for habitable structures, which could allow humans, specifically Americans, to have a prolonged presence and scientific endeavors on the surface of Earth's natural satellite.

For the past few years, many experts have been doubting the dream of NASA to establish a prolonged human presence on the moon. Recently, Scientific American explained that people evolved and adapted to conditions on Earth.

The report stated that if people are moved off the Blue Planet, their bodies will start to fail psychologically and physically. For example, cosmic rays can lead to increased cancer risks.

Microgravity is another serious issue, which could drastically affect bones and other body parts of the human body. NASA is already aware of these problems since some of the warnings came from their former and current officials and staff.

This is why the International Space Agency has a plan to achieve moon human settlements, as reported by Fox News.

Read Also: NASA Planning To Help India Launch New Delhi's First Space Station

How NASA Plans To Achieve This

NASA is fully committed to allowing humans to live on the moon's surface, as well as other planets in the solar system. The agency's scientists and leaders are devising numerous plans just to make humans interstellar beings.

To achieve its moon human residences, NASA's scientists and engineers will design novel lunar constructions, as well as create methods for lunar inhabitants that can allow them to access essential resources.

Of course, NASA will also make drastic efforts to achieve groundbreaking engineering solutions, that can protect humans from the harsh elements on the moon, such as cosmic radiation, micrometeorite, and extreme temperatures.

NASA recently said that it will use lunar regolith-the moon's substance similar to Earth's soil-as its primary material for construction.

These are just some of the things NASA will do to achieve its 2040 moon human settlement goal. To learn more, you can click this link.

Related Article: NASA's James Webb Captures Heart of Milky Way, Provides Stunning Visuals of Mysterious Region

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
U.S. owners of electric vehicles have been experiencing on average more problems with their cars than the owners of vehicles with the traditional internal combustion engines, Consumer Reports said in its annual ranking of brand reliability.

This year, Lexus, Toyota, and Mini are found to be the three most reliable brands in CRs auto reliability brand rankings, with the two Japanese brands swapping spaces from last year.

This year Consumer Reports addressed the rapidly growing number of electrified offerings that automakers are producing: hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and electric vehicles (EV). As a result, CR added three new trouble areas: electric motor, EV/hybrid battery, and EV charging.

Comparing the average electrified powertrains to gasoline-powered vehicles, CR found that out of 20 trouble areas, hybrids have, on average, 26% fewer problems than gas vehicles.

However, EVs have 79% more problems than gasoline vehicles and plug-in hybrids fare even worse, with 146% more problems than gas vehicles.

As more EVs hit the marketplace and automakers build each model in greater numbers, we are seeing that some of them have problems with the EV drive system motors, EV charging systems, and EV batteries (which are different from the low-power 12-volt batteries that power accessories), Consumer Reports said.

Owners of the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia Niro EV and EV6, Subaru Solterra, Toyota bZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4 all reported some of these issues.

Earlier this week, a group of U.S. car dealers warned the Biden Administration that most U.S. car buyers arent interested in purchasing electric vehicles, incentives or not.

In a letter addressed to U.S. President Joe Biden, the group asks the Administration to pump the brakes on federal regulations that would require two-thirds of all vehicles sold in the United States in 2032 to be electricbecause it simply isnt what car buyers want, even with the current incentives.

The reality is that electric vehicle demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of BEVs arriving at our dealerships prompted by the current regulations. BEVs are stacking up on our lots, the letter read in part.

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OPEC will send a delegation to the COP28 in Dubai and host a special pavilion there, the group said in a press release, adding that the delegation will be led by secretary-general Haitham al Ghais and include experts from OPECs Environmental Matters Department.

We are immensely proud that our Member Country the United Arab Emirates will host this important global gathering during a critical juncture in history, Al Ghais said.

The pavilion will promote the remarkable efforts undertaken by the Organization and its Member Countries in developing, adopting and promoting various sustainable development and climate change mitigation initiatives and projects, especially with relation to the energy industry.

World leaders, decision-makers and leading experts, including officials of OPEC Member Countries, have descended on Dubai to hold discussions and crucial negotiations on global issues with far-reaching implications.

The choice of a venue for the COP28 and the presidency of Adnocs chief executive Sultan Al Jaber have become a target for activist attacks since Adnoc is one of the biggest producers of oil in the Middle East.

OPEcs participation, first announced in October, likely did not lead to cheers from the environmentalist crowd, either. Some analysts have noted, however, that this edition of the Conference of the Parties looks like it would be more of a trade fair than anything else, with three times as many attendees as previous COPs and pavilions like the one announced by OPEC itself.

Earlier this week, the latest scandal erupted when the BBC reported, citing leaked documents, that the UAE planned to use COP28 to seal oil deals. The report cited some of the information contained in these documents as consisting of talking points for potential business negotiations with, for example, China, on topics such as LNG exports from Mozambique, Canada, and Australia.

Al-Jaber slammed the report, saying "These allegations are false, not true, incorrect and not accurate," and adding that the aim of the report was to undermine the COP28 presidency.

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EIG Global Energy Partners expects to announce soon a deal of several billion U.S. dollars to buy an LNG asset in addition to a stake in an Australian project, EIG chief executive officer R. Blair Thomas said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

U.S.-based institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, EIG, via its unit MidOcean Energy, is currently looking to buy a 27.5% stake in the Australia Pacific LNG project in eastern Australia. The project is currently owned by ConocoPhillips with a 47.5% stake, Australias top energy retailer, Origin Energy, with 27.5%, and Chinese state-owned energy giant Sinopec with a 25% interest.

A consortium led by Brookfield and EIG has proposed to acquire Origin Energy, and if their $12.5 billion (AUS$19 billion) bid for the utility is successful, EIGs MidOcean Energy would buy Origin Energys 27.5% stake in Australia Pacific LNG.

But EIG is also close to announcing another deal in LNG, according to its CEO.

Our expectation is well be announcing another large acquisition in a different part of the world in the next few months, EIGs Thomas told the Journal but didnt specify which the target LNG asset was.

I would expect it to be comparable or larger to Australia Pacific LNG, he added.

The energy infrastructure investment firm is looking to boost its exposure to the LNG market in the Atlantic Basin, Thomas told the Journal.

Earlier this year, Saudi Aramco entered the global LNG business by signing a deal to buy a minority stake in EIGs MidOcean Energy for $500 millionthe first international investment in LNG for the Saudi state-owned oil giant.

The LNG stake agreement includes an option for Aramco to raise its shareholding and associated rights in MidOcean Energy in the future, the Saudi firm said in September.

Aramco signed in 2021 a deal with EIG to sell a 49% stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Company.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Commodity trading major Vitol will fund the restart of a coal mine in Australia that has not been operational in 16 years.

The company will provide $60 million for the mine, Dartbrook, which will be operated by a joint venture between Australian Pacific Coal and Tetra Resources. The two plan to begin production in the first quarter of 2024, Bloomberg reports.

The joint venture also inked a sales and marketing deal with the commodity trading major, which will provide 100% of the money necessary to restart the mine, Australian Pacific Coal said.

Thermal coal prices remain robust and we have received numerous inbound inquiries for Dartbrooks coal, Australian Pacific Coals interim CEO Ayten Saridas said, as quoted by Bloomberg. We are confident in Vitols marketing capabilities and we look forward to working with them as we bring this world class asset back to full operational status.

The mine could contribute to Australias expected 17% expansion of coal production in the 12 months to next June, totaling 252 million tons.

Coal has been a big target for transition advocates and for governments that have signed up for a fast transition but demand for the commodity has been on the rise in developing nations, most notably in China and India: the powerhouses of Asia.

China has been building even more coal generation capacity than it has been installing wind and solar systems, and India recently said it would triple its coal mining output to meet its growing energy needs.

This has been happening amid intensifying calls for the phaseout of coal and all hydrocarbons in generala topic expected to be discussed at the COP28 in Dubai that begins today. However, expectations for a decision on that topic is less likely with such major energy consumers prioritizing energy security over the transition.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Cirque du Soleils Corteo, which tells the story of a clown dreaming about his own carnival-like funeral, opens at the CHI Health Center on Thursday night.

There will be five performances in Omaha: Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m.

The original show was partly inspired by The Grand Parade: Portrait of the Artist as Clown, a 2004 exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada, and the movie I Clown, directed by Federico Fellini.

The principal characters in Corteo are clowns who perform a variety of spectacular acts, including acrobatics, juggling and aerial feats with a number of interesting props. The costumes are colorful and sumptuous, at one point employing more than 900 fabrics, plus beads, lace and gemstones, according to Wikipedia.

The show requires an elaborate setup that was underway Wednesday afternoon at the Omaha arena.

Corteo first premiered in Montreal in 2005 under a big top. The final performance of that show was in Ecuador in 2015. Cirque du Soleil announced an arena tour for Corteo in 2017, and it launched on March 2, 2018, in New Orleans.

When it visited Lincoln that same year, the Daily Nebraskan (student newspaper at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) said it left the audience dazzled.

Tickets range from $54 to $93, depending on the performance, and are available at ticketmaster.com.

Photos: Cirque du Soleil's Corteo rehearsal
Three Omaha men were sentenced this week to varying prison terms for their role in the fatal beating of a wheelchair-bound man this year.

The body of 68-year-old Gary Lew was found in a ditch near Denton, Nebraska, on April 11. Further investigation revealed that Lew, who had multiple medical conditions including dementia and spina bifida, had been beaten to death in the basement of his west Omaha home in early March.

Four people were arrested shortly after the discovery of Lews body: his only child, 37-year-old Christina Thornley; her husband, 39-year-old Justin Thornley; his cousin, 37-year-old Jacob Thornley; and a family friend, 26-year-old Braden Bongers.

This week, Bongers, Justin Thornley and Jacob Thornley learned their fates as they were sentenced after pleading no contest to reduced charges related to manslaughter and criminal conspiracy. Christina Thornley, Lews daughter, pleaded no contest in November to being an accessory to manslaughter, vulnerable adult abuse, evidence tampering, criminal conspiracy and false imprisonment, and she was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Bongers, who pleaded no contest to first-degree assault, was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison. Jacob and Justin Thornley pleaded no contest in October to identical charges of manslaughter, evidence tampering, abuse of a vulnerable adult, false imprisonment and criminal conspiracy. Justin Thornley was sentenced on Wednesday to 25 to 30 years in prison, while Jacob Thornley was sentenced to 29 to 30 years.

According to testimony from detectives at a preliminary hearing for the four defendants in May, Lew was fatally beaten March 3 in the basement of his home after he attempted to swipe at Christina Thornley and Justin Thornleys 9-year-old daughter. Justin Thornley slammed Lew into the ground and began beating him.

At some point during the assault, Bongers and Jacob Thornley joined in and kicked Lew in the head and ribs. Bongers also poured water on Lew and poked him with a broom, according to testimony.

Two young children were in the basement as the assault occurred.

According to Christina Thornley, Lew remained alive for a few days after the initial assault. She told police that she brought him food and water until she came downstairs and noticed that he was cold to the touch and bleeding from the ears.

On March 8, Christina Thornley, Jacob Thornley and Justin Thornley put Lews body into the trunk of his own car, drove to a remote part of Lancaster County and rolled his body into a ditch. They proceeded to lie about Lews whereabouts after his body was found by investigators about a month later.
Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the October killing of 16-year-old LaMarintae Swift in a mass shooting that also injured five other people in North Omaha.

In a press release issued Wednesday night, the Omaha Police Department said 19-year-old William Brown and 17-year-olds Javaris Hesseltine and William Willis were each arrested and charged with first-degree murder, five counts of felony assault and use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Brown, Hesseltine and Willis have been charged as adults, a police spokesman said.

Swift and the five other people were shot during a birthday party near 24th and Decatur Streets in the early morning hours of Oct. 1. The five injured in the shooting were 32-year-old John Boston, 34-year-old Dionta Walker, 25-year-old Ladayshianae Jones, 31-year-old Miriah Watson and 33-year-old Andrea Smith.

Swift was taken by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Swift was a junior at Omaha Burke High School.

The World-Herald previously reported that police believe Swift was shot outside the building where the party was being held and then walked inside, where he was found by paramedics. The five other victims were located both inside and outside the building, with some people sustaining injuries after bullets penetrated the walls.

Swift was killed just three days before his cousin, 19-year-old Dontayzhia Swift, was killed in a drive-by shooting outside a home in North Omaha.
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 moved away as a result of retirements or relocations for business or other reasons.

In less than a 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.

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.

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.

Florida, North and South Carolina, and Virginia are 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.

Remembering 9/11, in 53 photos World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center Florida World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center Pentagon Pentagon Pentagon Pennsylvania World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center World Trade Center
A Minnesota man has been identified as the victim in a fatal car crash that occurred in Seward County earlier this week.

Donald Amiot, 82, from the Twin Cities suburb of Stillwater died Monday in the crash between a 2014 Toyota Sienna minivan and a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

According to the Seward County Sheriffs Office, the crash occurred when the westbound Sienna, in which Amiot was a passenger, failed to yield at the exit 382 off-ramp from Interstate 80. It subsequently collided with the Silverado, which was going south on 238th Street.

The Toyota driver was taken to a Lincoln hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening.

The Silverado driver was treated at the scene by Milford Fire Department personnel and released.
BLOOMINGTON  Bonchon, an Asian fusion restaurant, will hit the restaurant scene next month at 1413 Leslie Drive in Bloomington.

Bonchon  which means "my hometown" in Korean  is a franchise that began in New York, and while there are locations throughout the Chicago area, this will be the first in Central Illinois.

Owned by Parke Regency Hotel & Conference Center owners, Uma Kailasam and Krishna Balakrishnan, and General Manager Hector Castro-Rodriguez, the restaurant plans to start with a soft opening Dec. 27.

The partners previously ran the Central Parke Bar & Grill, which previously occupied this space as part of the Hotel. That restaurant closed Nov. 25, as they wanted to try something that would catch the attention of more people throughout Bloomington-Normal.

"It's very unique. No one has it in town. So I said, perfect, that's what we need to bring here," Castro-Rodriguez said of his new venture. "It's a double-fried chicken. It's a hand-battered meat we use for the chicken ... when you are eating it, you're eating (the) crunchiness, not crazy, crazy fat stuff. It's a very, clean, clean process. It's amazing. It's going to be a lot of fun."

Bonchon Bloomington will also offer Korean tacos, doughnuts and drinks, bulgogi meat and bulgogi fries, and drumsticks. "Bulgogi" means thin, marinated slices of meat, most commonly beef, grilled on barbecue or on a stove-top griddle.

Castro-Rodriguez said the restaurant will play Korean pop music for those who like to dance, and will incorporate plenty of other Korean pop culture.

Castro-Rodriguez has been in the hospitality industry for nearly 24 years in both his hometown in Puerto Rico and in Bloomington. He also helped open The Original Pancake House in Normal.

"What we're looking (to do) is bring something different to the city," he said. "I'm just trying to give to the city a place that has a good vibe to hang out  not only with friends, families too. I would like to see all the kids here. I would like to see the families bringing their kids."

He added, "We have a beautiful patio, beautiful place. It's a nice gem here, and that's what we're trying to do here. That's the goal."

Bonchon will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The business is currently in the hiring process; for information on employment, visit the "Bonchon Bloomington" or "Parke Regency Hotel" Facebook pages.

Castro-Rodiguez said in the future, they plan to expand the franchise to Decatur and Champaign.

History photos: Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Bloomington 1935: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1938: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church 1953: Holy Trinity Catholic Church

An earlier version of this story, the ownership for the new restaurant was unclear.
A US V-22 Osprey carrying six people crashed into the sea off the western coast of Japan on Wednesday (November 29), killing at least one crew member and the condition of two others fished out of the water is still unknown.

The incident happened just before 15:00 local time (06:00 UTC), with witnesses saying that the Osprey's left engine appeared to be on fire as it approached an airport for an emergency landing, despite clear weather and light wind.

The Japanese Coast Guard told reporters that it found what appeared to be wreckage from the tilt-rotor aircraft. A representative of a local fisheries cooperative also said that half of the aircraft's crew - the deceased person and two others - were found some 3 kilometers off of Yakushima island by fishing boat crews.

Another Osprey which was flying alongside the stricken aircraft landed safely at Yakushima's airport on Wednesday afternoon at around the same time as the crash.

Read Also: Why Is the F-35 the Fighter Jet of Choice of Air Forces Trying to Upgrade?

Second Osprey Accident This Year

The US has about 54,000 military personnel in Japan, many of which deployed in the strategically important southern island chain, amid growing Chinese military aggression in the South China Sea, Reuters reported.

Yakushima is an island of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture, some 1,040 km southwest of Tokyo. It is known for its World Heritage-accredited wildlife and forests.

Aside from the US Marines and the US Navy, Japan operates the Osprey, and Wednesday's crash does not discourage Japanese military officials from continuing to keep its fleet of aircraft airborne.

The V-22 Osprey was jointly developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopter as an aircraft that could take off and land like a helicopter but could also fly like a fixed-wing aircraft. It has been a controversial aircraft as critics say it is prone to accidents despite the US and Japanese militaries saying it was safe.

Another Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia last August while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three US Marines.

Related Article: Joe Biden to Boost US Medicine Supply Chain by Invoking This Cold War-Era Measure-What is the Defense Production Act?

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BLOOMINGTON  A Lincoln man was charged and released from McLean County custody as he faces his fourth aggravated DUI charge.

Marcus S. Farmer, 31, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.16 or more (Class 2 felony).

Farmer was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of 0.8 or more and driving while on a revoked license (Class A misdemeanors); two other traffic citations also were issued.

According to court documents, Farmer had previously been charged in DUI cases in DeWitt County in 2017 and in Logan County in 2014 and 2022.

Prosecutors did not seek to detain Farmer.

An arraignment hearing is set for Dec. 15.

Bird's-eye view: A look at some Bloomington-Normal-area stadiums using drone photography BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL NORMAL COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL LEROY HIGH SCHOOL BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL OLYMPIA HIGH SCHOOL TRI-VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
BLOOMINGTON  A judge on Thursday ordered the release of a 23-year-old woman jailed on charges that she broke into a slain man's apartment.

Gabrielle A. Stine, of Bloomington, is accused of taking a laptop, electric scooter, clothing and other items that belonged to 31-year-old Jamere Bew, whose body was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a McLean County ditch on Saturday afternoon.

Stine is charged with one count of residential burglary, but she is not charged in Bew's death. Two Bloomington men have been charged with his murder, but First Assistant State's Attorney Brad Rigdon argued in court on Thursday that Stine had "direct involvement" with the case.

Her defense attorney, Assistant Public Defender Mackenzie Frizzell, said Stine had indicated that she removed Bew's possessions from the apartment because she was scared and didn't want them to be stolen.

Theres nothing  that indicates shes a person who wanted something bad  something heinous to happen to Mr. Bew, she said. She noted that Stine had referred to Bew as her boyfriend.

Describing the circumstances that led to Stine's charges, Rigdon said a landlord heard movement Saturday evening within the Bloomington apartment building on North Center Street and assumed it was Bew.

Having later learned of Bew's death, the prosecutor said, the property owner went to the apartment unit and found that items had been taken, a window was open and a door was unlocked. Stine reportedly later acknowledged taking the items and said it was easy to break into the apartment.

Circumstances of death investigated

McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane, whose agency was the first of several ultimately involved in the investigation of Bew's death, could not discuss specifics of Stine's involvement on Thursday.

However, he said: "What I can tell you is that although there are two people in custody in this case, the investigation is far from over."

Bew's body was found several hours after the search began Saturday morning, when deputies were called to a rural location south of Bloomington. Dispatchers were told that a female was looking for a man who had been shot; attorneys in court on Thursday acknowledged that the female was Stine.

Two Bloomington men  Justin G. Kletz, 26, and Derek P. Siebring, 18  were each charged with kidnapping, six counts of murder, and three counts of battery after an investigation by the Bloomington Police Department, McLean County's coroners and sheriff's offices and Illinois State Police. A judge on Monday ordered that both suspects would be jailed until their trial.

Bew was found dead at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in a ditch between McLean and Heyworth, authorities announced later that day. He died from several gunshot wounds, according to the McLean County Coroner's office.

Rigdon said Thursday that Stine told police she was present in the apartment on Springfield Road in Bloomington where Bew was beaten, tied and placed into the trunk of her car, and the rural location where Bew was shot by others, previously identified as Siebring and Kletz.

He said she and those individuals utilized her vehicle to drive there.

(Stine) had direct involvement within that murder, said Rigdon, adding that there were inconsistencies in statements she gave to investigators.

He said those differences concerned whether Stine had driven the vehicle herself or not, and what specifically occurred in the Springfield Road apartment overnight Friday.

Burglary charge

The owner of the residence said the only things left in Bew's apartment after Stine visited were a TV, box spring and mattress, according to Rigdon. There was no way to identify was else was taken because Bew had been murdered.

He said Stine was then interviewed shortly after, and she was dishonest with the detective in multiple ways about what had occurred.

Police were later able to recover some, if not all, of Bews property from Stine before arresting her, the prosecutor said. Rigdon said that included 37 articles of clothing, a laptop, a laundry basket, and an electric scooter.

Frizzell said there was no forced entry into the home, where Bew had been living for about a month and where Stine had visited frequently.

Frizzell said the property owner noticed there was a bag of items, including clothing, left on the front porch of the home. After the owner reported a burglary to police, she said, reports indicate that the landlord reached out to Stine.

The assistant public defender said her client was forthcoming with police and was the first to alert authorities to that Bew was a victim of a homicide.

While she couldnt say that Bew publicly acknowledged that he was in a dating relationship with Stine, Frizzell said her client did refer to him as her boyfriend.

Frizzell said her client took four pills of Xanax, a benzodiazepine medication that has a sedative effect, before her initial interview with police. Officers had trouble understanding her and she returned hours later for a second interview, during which she clarified that she "rode away" from the rural location where Bew was shot.

The assistant public defender asked the court to consider that substance use was a factor in her clients statements, that Stine did tell the truth and return Bew's property, and that she had no weapons or prior criminal history.

Judge's order

Rigdon argued that Stine should remain jailed under a provision of the state's new pretrial system that allows judges to detain defendants who pose a threat to the community. To keep a defendant jailed, a judge must also find that the threat cannot be lessened by other conditions, such as electronic monitoring.

He said that there was no reason she should not have knocked on the landlord's door and instead to enter through a window.

The biggest concern, he said, was obstruction of justice in both the murder and burglary investigations, which he said showed that Stine desired to hide, steal and avoid responsibility.

Rigdon said they couldnt predict what Stine would do going forward, or what evidence in either investigations could be available for destruction or concealment.

Judge Scott Kording asked Rigdon to elaborate on how the potential for future destruction of evidence could be a threat to the community. The prosecutor said that in state statues for denial of pretrial release, dangerousness standards can include forcible felony, intimidation, various acts of violence, and obstruction of justice.

Frizzell said prosecutors had not charged Stine with obstruction of justice and that Rigdon had not argued that Stine was at risk of fleeing prosecution.

Kording said there was no proof that Stine concealed evidence that was related to the investigation into Bews death. He acknowledged a connection between the burglary and homicide but said the correlation did not appear to be strong.

He also said detaining Stine before her burglary trial was not the least restrictive condition that would be effective in avoiding a real and present threat to the safety of the community. He ordered that Stine have no contact with the Center Street property owner or residence, refrain from using alcohol and drugs and remain in Illinois.

Stine is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on the burglary charge at 9 a.m. Dec. 15.

Rigdon declined to comment on the outcome of Thursdays hearing. He could not be immediately reached for additional comment on the murder investigation.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story did not include Stine's charge. This version has been corrected to include this information.
BLOOMINGTON  Dana Flanagan, officer manager for the Bloomington Fire Department, said departing Fire Chief Eric West has been a mentor for a lot of people.

But in the spirit of the department being a family, West also has been a friend and someone who strives to make sure everyone gets along.

"It's not very often that you see a chief wear their heart on their sleeve, but Eric West does," Flanagan said. "He is one of those guys that he'll cry with you, he'll hug you, he'll laugh with you, and he's not afraid to say, 'Hey, we did that wrong and let's not do that again.'"

West announced his retirement in September after 32 years of service to the City of Bloomington. In honor of his service, the department hosted a retirement ceremony at headquarters on Friday, his last day on the job.

He will be replaced by Deputy Chief Cory Matheny, the city announced earlier this week. Matheny has been with the department for 23 years.

West said his fire service began as a volunteer out of high school. After graduating from Illinois State University and landing a job in Indianapolis, BFD called him back to Central Illinois, where he has remained since 1991.

At that time, BFD only had three fire stations and averaged between 4,000 and 5,000 service calls a year. In 2022, the department responded to 13,272 incidents, including more than 10,000 EMS calls.

The department only had two transport ambulances in 1991 and relied on Lifeline Mobile Medic Service, which was offered by the BroMenn and OSF St. Joseph hospitals.

West said he also remembered a time when the Normal Fire Department did not typically notify Bloomington if a fire was reported in their area.

Although the department still faces problems hiring crew members and reducing response times, West said cooperation between fire districts changed for the better thanks to the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System.

"It gave us the ability to send crews to (Hurricane) Katrina in New Orleans when that happened," West said. "Mutual aid and automatic aid have changed and do nothing but improve services for our area."

West served as a battalion chief for four years and deputy chief for another five. He was named interim chief following the retirement of former Chief Brian Mohr in 2020, and later was appointed to the role full time following a nationwide search.

West said when he became deputy chief, one of his his goals was to prepare officers interested in career advancement for the administrative side of the job.

"As you move from the floor, where you're doing mainly the operations part, you didn't have much interaction with the budgets, you didn't have much interaction with policy-making and that kind of stuff," West said. "When I got to the deputy chief position, you kind of learned as you went."

Flanagan said if West was asked whether he'd rather manage the office or manage a structure fire, he definitely would prefer responding to a fire.

This attitude is common for incoming fire chiefs trying to acclimate to their new administrative responsibilities, which require more oversight than physical action, she added.

"For (fire chiefs), it's helping them take that step back and look at the big picture and look at the oversight they have to deliver, because now they guide us rather than physically do it," Flanagan said. "It's very hard for them to let go."

Bloomington Deputy Fire Chief Mike Hartwig said he has worked alongside West for 22 years, and he always has been a true leader and inspiration to those around.

"He was always just a calming person," Hartwig said. "You knew when he got on scene, he was going to make accurate, sound decisions."

Outside of his leadership, Hartwig said West helped to foster an atmosphere of teamwork and family.

"The guys he worked with, their safety and their needs were very, very high on his list of priorities," Hartwig said. "He wasn't afraid to train you (and) he wasn't afraid to teach you what he knew."

Although West's last day was Thursday, his dedication to community safety may continue.

West said he has served as an instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute in Champaign and would like to continue that work.

Outside of this role, West said he looks forward to more family time.

"I've got a family member that I go help farm in the fall and the spring, so I plan on doing that some more (and) maybe traveling a little bit with my wife," West said.

Photos: On the job with the Bloomington Fire Department 031322-blm-loc-2ridealong 031322-blm-loc-1ridealong 031322-blm-loc-3ridealong 031322-blm-loc-4ridealong 031322-blm-loc-5ridealong 031322-blm-loc-7ridealong 031322-blm-loc-8ridealong 031322-blm-loc-9ridealong
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SPRINGFIELD  No matter the time of year, the weather just always seems to be cold when candidates for state and federal office file their petitions for Illinois primary elections.

Last year, filing was held in March  pushed back more than three months from its typical end-of-November date due to the actual primary date making a one-time move from March to the end of June.

That time, March was still more lion than lamb. The temperature hovered around freezing that morning as light snow fell. It did nothing to dampen the carnival-like atmosphere outside the State Board of Elections, however, as nearly 500 candidates and their campaigns waited to file petitions.

Filing for the 2024 primary returned to its normal timeslot earlier this week. It was still cold at around 23 degrees, but at least it didn't snow.

Campaign 2024 is officially on. Here are a few more observations I could not get to on Monday.

McCombie clear-eyed about GOP challenges

It's hard to think of a time where Illinois Republicans were in a worse position.

They are shut out of all statewide offices, relegated to the superminority in the state legislature, at a 5-2 disadvantage on the state Supreme Court and hold only three of the state's 17 congressional seats.

Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, was realistic about the party's goals for 2024 when speaking with reporters at filing.

She said they are going to be "very targeted and measured" in the races they contest and hope to net a five-seat pickup. Republicans are currently at a 78-40 disadvantage in the House, which means that even that goal would leave the party in the superminority.

It's a far cry from some of the happy talk last year about Republicans riding an anti-crime wave back into the majority. But it's a start  and an acknowledgement of the effectiveness of the gerrymandered legislative map Springfield Democrats enacted in 2021 through the end of the decade.

"We can't control the map, unfortunately," McCombie said. "And that's our goal looking at 2030. This cycle is important, for sure. But it's about 'how does the cycle play into the next cycle into the next cycle?' So that's really where we're at. We have to look ahead at 2030 and not just the wins this year."

The map will likely ensure that Republicans are shut out from the majority through this decade. The party's best hope is to have a Republican governor in office during the next redistricting cycle, which would get them a seat at the remap table.

Republican primaries taking shape

McCombie was asked about the 12th Congressional District Republican primary between incumbent Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, and former state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia.

She was also asked about primaries some House Republicans are facing, most notably state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, who is being challenged by Marsha Webb of Macon in the 107th House District.

"Well, I'm not sure how you out-conservative Bost," McCombie said. "But I mean, folks will try to do so. It's kind of like the Halbrook race. How's that woman going to out-conservative Halbrook?"

It's an interesting observation and the sentiment is likely true. Bost and Halbrook are about as conservative as they come. But in each case, ideology appears secondary.

Or as Bost put it when describing Bailey's challenge, "You're running against someone that honest-to-goodness has the same views."

The difference is style and approach to the job.

In a tweet later Monday, Bailey criticized Bost for showing up to talk to the media but then not physically turn in his petitions, a task handled by a campaign aide.

The challenger then reiterated that he will "always be the boots, jeans, and Carhartt-wearing farmer who likes to get his hands dirty, talk with people face-to-face, and fight for what's right."

Absent any meaningful differences on policy, expect Bailey to make the campaign about personality.

For Halbrook, it appears to be a case of the old adage, "All politics is local."

Webb has received $6,900 worth of donations from businessman and former state Senate candidate Don DeBolt, $3,000 from former Shelby County Board member Jeff Slifer and $750 from former candidate for Shelby County Treasurer Missy Haynes.

There have been a number of issues dividing the county of about 20,000 people  most notably, the future of 240 acres farmland that's been owned by Shelby County for more than a century.

Slifer and Haynes have been on the record in support of keeping the farmland in county hands, something Webb said she supports too.

While Halbrook personally has been mum on the issue, several close allies have opposed the county's continued ownership of the land.

Halbrook, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, has $33,271 on hand compared with Webb's $13,828.

Another Republican primary to watch is in the 58th Illinois Senate District. Incumbent state Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, is facing Wesley Kash, a former Jefferson County assistant state's attorney from Scheller.

Kash is flush with more than $300,000 in contributions from family members. Bryant had more than $126,000 in the bank as of the end of October.

Expect a contentious contest in this Southern Illinois-based district.

Budzinski talks 2024 stakes

With an assist from a gerrymandered congressional map, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski helped flip a previously Republican-held seat blue in 2022.

On Monday, she said it was crucial for the party to keep her seat if they want a fighting chance to take back the House in 2024.

"I am one of the most competitive districts in the country," Budzinski said. "I'm considered a frontline candidate. And so me getting reelected is going to be critically important to taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. So I'm not taking anything for granted."

That's the sound of a candidate running as if she's 10 points behind. It's the right approach, even if she's not considered in serious danger.

Political operatives in both parties believe Budzinski, a strong fundraiser who works her district hard, will get a pass on a serious challenge this cycle.

She has two Republican challengers: Thomas Clatterbuck of Champaign and Joshua Loyd of Virden.

Miller files for reelection

U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Hindsboro, filed to run for reelction in the 15th Congressional District on Tuesday.

After defeating former U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, last year in a contentious incumbent versus incumbent primary, she is not expected to face a serious challenge this time around in the heavily Republican district.

How the Price of Gold Changed After Each Presidential Election Since 1980 How the Price of Gold Changed After Each Presidential Election Since 1980 Gold Prices Tend To Rise During Periods of Economic Instability, High Inflation, and Low Interest Rates Gold Prices Have Performed Slightly Better Following Democratic Presidential Victories 11. 1980 Presidential Election 10. 1984 Presidential Election 9. 1988 Presidential Election 8. 1992 Presidential Election 7. 1996 Presidential Election 6. 2000 Presidential Election 5. 2004 Presidential Election 4. 2008 Presidential Election 3. 2012 Presidential Election 2. 2016 Presidential Election 1. 2020 Presidential Election Methodology
FIDO, a leading financial services provider is proud to announce the launch of FidoBiz, a revolutionary credit and financing facility tailored for business owners. Fido, renowned for its innovative financial solutions, has once again expanded its offerings to support the entrepreneurial spirit and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.



FidoBiz is aimed at giving business owners the financial boost they require by addressing their unique needs and providing them with quick and hassle-free financing. With no paperwork, no collateral, no queues, and a seamless online application process, FidoBiz aims to empower entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and resilience.



FidoBiz is open to all registered business owners. A one-time registration is required on the Fido App, along with the submission of specific documentation necessary to verify business ownership and evaluate one's eligibility. Additionally, it is worth noting that existing Fido customers who have registered on the Fido app and have a positive credit history are also eligible.



Head of FidoBiz Ghana, Joseph Maxwell Appiah on the launch of the new feature has reiterated FIDOs commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower individuals and entrepreneurs to capture opportunities in Africa. We are steadfast in our effort to supportthe success of entrepreneurs and we believe expanding our credit financing to business owners is a step in the right direction, he said.



FidoBiz comes at a time when businesses need financial flexibility and stability more than ever. Whether it's expanding their operations, purchasing equipment, or navigating unforeseen challenges, FidoBiz stands as a reliable partner for businesses striving for success.



Fido invites business owners to power up their aspirations with FidoBiz. Together, let's unleash the full potential of your business. Fido App is available on Google Play and Apple Store and via the official short code*998#.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A sickle cell disease (SCD) advocacy group, Sickle Gene Action Foundation (SGAF) has been launched in Accra, with a call on society for a collective action in the fight against SCD in Ghana. The SCAG aims to identify the challenges of persons living with SCD in the country. The launch was held on Thursday (23rd November 2023).



SGAF is also advocating for legislative change to make SCD medications like Hydroxyurea and treatment guidelines widely accessible as with medications for HIV/AIDS which are easily accessible throughout the country.



The organization will collaborate with the Government of Ghana and other stakeholders to profer solutions to the challenges hindering the treatment and management of SCD in the country.



In her welcome address the Executive Director of SGAF, Ms. Victoria Awo Twumasi revealed that SGAF took its inspiration from a world renowned hematologist and Former President of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Ghana, the late Professor Kwaku Ohene-Frempong, who dedicated his time and career to support persons living with SCD. The sickle cell community is grateful for all his hard work that has saved many lives. She added.



She stated that the organization believes that early diagnoses, early access to affordable treatment and early public health awareness with quality sickle cell centers for prompt management of the condition is critical to saving lives.



According to Ms. Twumasi, measures such as stakeholder engagements, and



public health interventions such as counselling are some measures needed in a proactive strategy to help find solutions to the challenges in the treatment and management of SCD. She, therefore, made a call to action for all to join in



the fight against SCD by driving national awareness and strengthening the role of civil society in advocacy through a stronger voice both nationally and internationally.



A Pediatrician from the Child Health Department of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), Dr. Yvonne Brew noted that there is the need for newborns to be screened for SCD so that treatment can start early to save their lives. Early detection saves lives. We must know that if a child survives, society also survives.



She requested the government and stakeholders to make newborn screening for SCD and hydroxyurea (medication for severe SCD) accessible in all facilities to save more lives. She also, stated the need for families, friends and society to show love to persons living with SCD since that also contributes to treatment.



A presentation by the National Nurse Coordinator for Newborn Screening, Mrs. Mary Lamptey, informed guests about the importance of newborn screening for SCD and the process involved in it. Newborn screening started in the Ashanti region in 1992. It involves heel pricking which gives us someblood samples to carry out the test. Its quithe simple and done with consent from the babies parents.



She mentioned that although newborn screening for sickle cell disease started in 1992 and was extended to few health facilities, they could not scale up to cover the entire country due to lack of funding.



She used the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Prof. Ohene-Frempong who introduced newborn screening for SCD to Ghana and Africa. The ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional authorities, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and sickle cell warriors.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Kenya's parliament has banned the wearing of a suit, named after the late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda, within the building.



Speaker of Parliament Moses Wetangula said Kaunda suits, as well as traditional African clothes, were not welcome.



Kenyan President William Ruto often wears them on official occasions.



This has made the Kaunda suit - a safari jacket with matching trousers - popular with the political class.



The suit is named after the late Zambian president who loved wearing them.



It is often short-sleeved and is worn without a tie.



Mr Ruto has worn the suit sometimes with a short upturned collar.



On Tuesday, Mr Wetangula said his decision to ban the suit was due to emerging fashion trends that threatened the established parliamentary dress code.



He noted that a proper dress code for men "means a coat, a collar, a tie, long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, socks, shoes, or service uniform".



"For ladies, business, formal, or smart casual wear applies. Skirts and dresses should be below knee-length and decent. Sleeveless blouses are prohibited," he said.



The Kaunda suit has been allowed previously in parliament and some MPs have been known for often wearing them.



Mr Wetangula acknowledged that these suits had been "somehow tolerated" in the past but that it was now time to stop that amid a threat to the parliamentary dress code.



The Kaunda suit has trended on social media in Kenya in recent times, after Mr Ruto started wearing them on official occasions.



The banning of the suit has elicited mixed reactions on social media, with some wondering why "African attire" would be banned by an African parliament, while others supported it.



Some have also mocked the ban, saying the Kaunda suit would now be reserved for the president.



"Just when you think you've seen it all... I guess the Kaunda suits have now been reserved for [the president]," said a social media user on X (formerly Twitter).

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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It is estimated that one in five girls across the world is married by the age of 18. Even countries that have laws against child marriage sometimes fail to enforce them. But in Malawi some are seeing the first signs of change.



The third time we visited Tamara we were told she had left for the nearby fields early in the morning, to till the soil.



At nine months pregnant, there was no rest for the 13-year-old.



Tamara (not her real name) had been sleeping on the floor of her aunt's small hut for several months after her husband, a man in his 20s, had run away.



He had heard that social services were coming to rescue Tamara from their illegal marriage and took off before they arrived, leaving her to walk to her aunt's village.



A lot has changed in Tamara's life in the past few years. Born into a rural farming community in southern Malawi's Neno district, her family lived below the Malawian government's poverty line, like 65% of others in the region. The war in Ukraine, a direct trade ally to Malawi, added pressure - halting wheat and fertiliser supplies and pushing up prices.



When Tamara's parents fell ill and died, in quick succession, their only child was taken in by her grandmother.



But after a month, when Tamara returned from school one day, her grandmother had some news.



"She told me I had to get married," Tamara says. "She had already received money from a man."



A man whom Tamara had never met had paid 15,000 Malawian Kwacha for her - around $9, or 7.



Tamara's grandmother had already spent the money on maize for the family and the man was now impatient. He wanted the girl he had paid for to leave school and live with him.



Read Full Story .... HERE >>> :









Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A British-Nigerian man has confessed in a US court to defrauding and stealing more than $6m (4.7m) over seven years.



Idris Dayo Mustapha, 33, was part of a hacking ring that infiltrated email and brokerage accounts of US firms between 2011 and 2018, causing losses worth $6m (4.7m), officials said.



A dual national of the UK and Nigeria, Mustapha was extradited from the UK in August, two years after his arrest.



His crimes carry a jail term of up to 20 years.



He has not yet been sentenced.



Mustapha pleaded guilty plea at a court in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday to four charges: computer intrusion, securities fraud, wire fraud and access device fraud.



Authorities say Mustapha and his ring hacked into the computer servers of financial institutions in the US to access confidential user data, such as users' personal identifying information.



They then used the stolen information and passwords to wire funds and transfer securities from the accounts of their victims to accounts under their control.



They also used the hacked accounts to conduct stock trades without the knowledge of the account holder.



US authorities had been pursuing Mustapha for several years.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Atik Mohammed has fired shots at the Special Prosecutor over his public outcry against the Judiciary over cases of corruption he presents to the court.



At a press conference on Wednesday, November 29, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) voiced its frustrations over the increasing numbers of dismissive rulings in corruption cases he sends to the court for adjudication, cautioning that this growing trend could have grave implications for the countrys anti-corruption endeavors.



The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng stressed that corruption is a major threat to Ghana's economic development and erodes public trust in government, therefore warned that hastily dismissing corruption cases would have dire consequences on the country.



He also feared the Judges' rulings could impede the fight against this canker.



Special Prosecutor Criticizes Judiciary



Indeed I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public calling out variety as we do. And that if the office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the office and throw out all our cases.



It will be absolutely of no good should it be the case that the OSP is set against the judiciary or that the judiciary is against the OSP. That will surely spell disastrous consequences for this republic, especially in the fight against corruption to the glee of corrupt persons, he told the press.



I do not intend to sound as though Im predicting doom but we are facing doom. With this development, it will not be long, [before] a suspected murderer or armed robber will boldly walk to court with the unthinkable prayer that the court should injunct law enforcement agencies from investigating him, Mr. Agyebeng cautioned.



Incompetent Special Prosecutor



Assessing this speech, Atik Mohammed concludes that Kissi Agyebeng is an incompetent Special Prosecutor.



Atik argued on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Thursday morning that, with Mr. Agyebeng's years of experience in law practice, he expected something better from him than creating a negative impression about the Judiciary.



"I think we have an incompetent OSP on our hands and I don't mince my words when I say that. He is an incompetent OSP, absolutely incompetent!", he exclaimed.



"A lawyer should not even speak the way he is speaking. He is creating the impression that there is a grand agenda by the Judges to frustrate his work which is unacceptable. It's objectionable," he further blasted Mr. Agyebeng.



To him, since the appointment of Kissi Agyebeng into the Special Prosecutor's office, all he has succeeded in doing is too much talking and releasing series of press releases.



"Since this man came, which case has he successfully prosecuted?", he questioned, answering; "he is always in a rush to do something and he talks more than he actually works...as if he is the only one who understands the law or his understanding of the law is sacrosanct and that any other opinion other than his opinion is wrong".





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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French police detained the head of a global tantric yoga group on the allegation that he subjected his female followers to sexual exploitation via indoctrination.

Taken Into Custody

The Romanian guru, Gregorian Bivolaru, who is at the center of the Atman Yoga Federation, was taken into custody on Tuesday, November 28. A large police operation took place throughout the Paris area, according to a French court official, via a EuroNews report.

In addition to being a yoga instructor and author, the 71-year-old is also a member of the Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute (MISA), which is a federation that has its headquarters in England.

According to a source close to the inquiry, the movement is comprised of many yoga schools and branches. The number of followers is tough to determine, but it is "several hundred people," the individual said.

Apart from Bivolaru, several individuals who are believed to be essential leaders of the group in France have been taken into custody.

MISA was established in 1990 by Bivolaru, who was found guilty of raping a child in his home country of Romania. After rebranding as the Atman Yoga Federation, the group went global.

Also Read: France: 6 Teenagers Stand in Court for Beheading French History Teacher Samuel Paty in 2020

Sexual Assault, Psychological Manipulation Claims

After allegations of sexual abuse and psychological manipulation surfaced inside the organization in July of this year, French authorities reportedly launched an inquiry against Bivolaru and the Federation. It was not until July 2022 that former MISA members began informing authorities about the atrocities.

French officials said Bivolaru is facing charges related to human trafficking, organized abduction, rape, and the organized exploitation of weakness by sect members.

International police organization Interpol has issued a warrant for Bivolaru's arrest on behalf of the government in Finland. He is sought on charges of aggravated human trafficking, ABC News reported.

There is a widespread conspiracy to discredit Bivolaru, according to the Altman Federation and other websites covering him.

Across the French capital, Seine-et-Marne, Val-de-Marne, and the Alpes-Maritimes, 175 police officers were part of the raids, which led to 40 further arrests.

The operation targeted many places frequented by the organization, where women were allegedly brainwashed and forced into sexual activities. Known as "ashrams," these places reportedly housed women chosen by Bivolaru to undergo tantric yoga initiation.

According to the court source, the French inquiry revealed evidence of students being forced to engage in sexual acts, including participating in graphic video conversations, in exchange for financial benefit.

The official said that these actions, which were supposedly done in the name of tantric yoga principles, were part of a complex system of controlling and exploiting people financially.

Also Read: Italy Hails Largest Mafia Trial in 30 Years After Court Hands Down Conviction on Over 200 Gang Members

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Atik Mohammed has rebuked Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, over his criticisms of the Judiciary regarding corruption cases he sends to the court.



The Special Prosecutor, in a press conference on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, poured out his frustrations in having to see his cases prosecuted in the law courts.



Indeed I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public calling out variety as we do. And that if the office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the office and throw out all our cases.



It will be absolutely of no good should it be the case that the OSP is set against the judiciary or that the judiciary is against the OSP. That will surely spell disastrous consequences for this republic, especially in the fight against corruption to the glee of corrupt persons, he told the press.



He warned that the increasing rate of dismissive rulings in his corruption cases would have serious implications for Ghana.



I do not intend to sound as though Im predicting doom but we are facing doom. With this development, it will not be long, [before] a suspected murderer or armed robber will boldly walk to court with the unthinkable prayer that the court should injunct law enforcement agencies from investigating him," Mr. Agyebeng cautioned.



But to Atik Mohammed, the Special Prosecutor is by his words and actions courting public disaffection for the Judiciary.



He wondered what kind of a lawyer is the Special Prosecutor for him to keep sniping at the Judiciary whenever he fails to achieve his goal.



"Are you trying to blackmail the Judiciary? This is attempted blackmail . . . he creates an impression as if there is a grand agenda against him and once you do that, you are further whittling away people's confidence in the Judiciary. If you don't put your things in order and you are bounced, you say the Judges are having an agenda against you. Are you the only one who goes to court?", the former PNC General Secretary slammed Kissi Agyebeng.



To him, the Special Prosecutor is incompetent, stressing "he is always in a rush to do something and he talks more than he actually works".



" . . as if he is the only one who understands the law or his understanding of the law is sacrosanct and that any other opinion other than his opinion is wrong," he further lashed out while commenting during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" panel discussion programme.





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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Ugandan opposition MP and former music star Bobi Wine has made his first trip to the UK in a decade, more than three weeks after the UK government lifted a reported nine-year visa ban against him.



"London, it's been 10 long years!" he captioned a photo of himself outside BBC's London office on Wednesday.



Bobi Wine had allegedly been banned from visiting UK after the release of his 2014 song "Burn Dem", which rights groups said contained lyrics inciting homophobic attacks.



Bobi Wine was denied a UK visa shortly after releasing the song, forcing him to cancel two planned shows in the country.



At the time, the UK Home Office declined to confirm whether it had banned Bobi Wine's entry when it was contacted by the Guardian newspaper.



On 5 November, Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, said that he was finally able to return to the UK.



"I am very glad to inform you that the ban against me from entering the UK has finally been overturned, and I will soon be visiting the UK after more than 10 years," Bobi Wine shared on X.



He added that his legal team had relentlessly fought for the lifting of the travel ban.



He said the legal team had argued that it was "unfair" for the UK government to grant entry to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, whom he branded "a world-renowned tyrant", while banning him and "many others [who] are trying to build a free and democratic country".

Source: BBC









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The supreme sovereign authority of the World Diplomatic Federation WODIF in the United States has appointed Nana Owiredu Wadie I as the State Commissioner of Ghana.



The Provost Commissioner of Africa, His Rt Noble Lord Nana Obokom ATA IX, sent a delegation led by Her Ladyship Lilian Afreh-Sika Boateng, Secretariat Commissioner General.



He, as a result, accepted the proposal for the impending induction in January next year. The invitation is strictly based on one or more of the following accomplishments: involvement in community development programs/events, exceptional voluntary services, health and legal aid, civil society, traditional know-how, dispute settlement, youth and student support initiatives which have won him the accolade to work with our corporate organization as the STATE COMMISSIONER after the inaugural induction is held.



The World Diplomatic Federation (WODIF) is a nonpartisan, independent civil organization dedicated to international cooperation hitherto founded to create a diplomatic platform for economic growth and development through forums, conferences, dialogues, festivals, honorary award ceremonies, trade, finance, and investment integration, national cooperation and liberalization, managing international relations hence sustaining peace and security and managing, negotiating and resolving conflict.



WODIF is subject to projecting, promoting, and strengthening democracy, albeit to subverting dictatorial rule among nations, in accordance or conformity to rules and regulations about the United Nations and other international related organizations' core values by individuals whose presence raise honor to deal with world affairs of whiich Nana Wadie I is one of a kind.



A pivotal aspect of fellowship lies in the extensive networking opportunities it offers, allowing connections to be forged at various levels within the global fellowship community. The organization is registered in Newberg, Oregon, USA, having its Missionary Bureau in Ghana, aiming at inviting affluent, influential magnates and moguls from all walks of life into fellowship(Membership).



Membership is strictly by invitation after a thorough investigation is done on you, justifying your holistic personality without criminal records before induction into fellowship. WODIF has done thorough background checks on Nana Wadie I and has respectfully nominated, vetted, and approved the businessman for the position of the STATE COMMISSIONER of Ghana, awaiting a day of beckoning the inaugural ceremony at the Accra International Conference Center on the 13th of January 2024.



The organization has the privilege of inviting Entrepreneurs, Business moguls, Lawyers, Bankers, Physicians, Engineers, Security Experts, Medical/Health Scientists, Philanthropists, and high-profile Journalists to its membership.



Today's world needs the support of individuals and corporate societies to champion the cause of challenges facing communities and it is in this regard that the Supreme Sovereign Authority of the WORLD DIPLOMATIC FEDERATION (WODIF) has reverentially bestowed on him a special honorary title as His Honor Nana Owiredu Wadie I as the Diplomatic Chief Bureaucrat, ultimately responsible for all the programs in Ghana, in a capacity to represent, preserve, protect, defend, strategize, evaluate and assess the performance of the national bureau of the organization under the administration of the SECRETARIAT COMMISSIONER.



The prime purpose of this Federation is to establish a common platform that will bring together excellent achievers around the world to address international issues with one voice. Nana Wadies invitation to join WODIF is with the expectation that he will bring aboard his expertise knowledge and experience to bear on relative issues.



Profile of Nana Owiredu Wadie I



Nana Owiredu Wadie I, Kwahu-Nkwatia Nkosuohene, known in private life as Richard Kwasi Owiredu Wadie, is a businessman and philanthropist who believes in spreading the love of God through sustainable social interventions and community development programs.



Through his charity organization, Kabaka Foundation, he undertakes several philanthropic endeavours to ensure sustainable development in many communities across many sectors.In 2022, Nana Owiredu Wadie I made notable contributions to the realms of security, peace, and justice. This included constructing and gifting a 16-unit Police Bungalow to the Kwahu-Nkwatia Police Station.



Furthermore, a new Toyota Hilux was presented as a Patrol car for Kwahu-Nkwatia, and a court complex valued at 3 million was donated to the Kwahu East District, situated in Kwahu-Nkwatia. Nana believes in the importance of justice and security in promoting socio-economic development, and these projects will ensure Peace and Security in the Eastern Region.



Furthermore, it proves his willingness and tendency to support Eastern Regional Peace Council programs.In the field of education, Nana has recently completed and donated a 50-seater Smart lab and e-library facility for St. Peters Senior High School, Kwahu-Nkwatia, and has recently granted an orphan a full scholarship to study in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.



He has also donated school uniforms and bags to children in the Kwahu-Nkwatia D/A Basic School. On 1st October 2023, Nana Owiredu Wadie I cut the sod for the construction of a 3,500-capacity Assembly Hall for St Peters Senior High School, Kwahu-Nkwatia, which will be constructed by his charity organization, the Kabaka Foundation.



These projects were all done in 2022 and are a manifestation of Nana's belief in the importance of education in shaping up the leaders of tomorrow and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-4, which is ensuring Quality Education.



In less than two years, Nana Owiredu Wadie I successfully constructed and inaugurated a fully furnished, state-of-the-art multi-purpose Mother and Baby Unit Complex, encompassing a dedicated Mother Care Excellence Centre with a Nursing mothers hostel, conference room, and doctors offices for the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, as a donation to the entire Eastern Region of Ghana. In 2022, Nana Owiredu Wadie I renovated and refurbished the current NICU department, created two special maternity rooms at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, and regularly donates items to the hospital and mothers and their kids on admission at the NICU and maternity department.



He also donates food and health relief items to widows, the aged, persons with disabilities, and street children, occasionally in Kwahu-Nkwatia. In 2022, Nana Owiredu Wadie I paid for new registration and renewal of the National Health Insurance for over 1,500 indigenes of Kwahu Nkwatia, Aduamoah, Abetifi, and Abene.



These interventions aim at achieving SDG-3; Good Health and Well-being. Nana Owiredu Wadie I believes in building solid partnerships, which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals, and as such collaborated with Walkabout Foundation UK to distribute over 200 free brand-new custom-fit wheelchairs to persons with disabilities in Ghana, especially children with cerebral palsy in Nsawam, Begoro, Agona Duakwa, Takoradi, Ashiaman, Kumasi and Kwahu.



This project tends to reduce inequalities-SDG 10. On September 21, 2023, the Eastern Regional Peace Council Secretariat honored Nana Wadie I with the prestigious Peace Ambassador Award. This recognition was conferred in acknowledgment of his impactful social and community development projects spanning the Kwahu Traditional Area, New Juaben Traditional Area, and Akwamumuman, all within the Eastern Region of Ghana.Against this backdrop, we propose Nana Owiredu Wadie I as a nominee for the esteemed role of Diplomatic Chief Bureaucrat and a fellow of the prestigious WODIF.



His numerous developmental projects and their profound impact on diverse communities undeniably qualify him for this honorable recognition.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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East Legon Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology, is excited to announce its office opening in Accra held on 30th November.



With commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative smartphones, Motorola - Ghana aims to provide consumers with cutting-edge technology and exceptional user experiences.



Ghana is a vibrant and rapidly growing market where mobile technology plays a crucial role in connecting people, driving economic growth and empowering communities.



Recognizing the immense potential of the Ghanaian market, Motorola is dedicated to meeting the unique needs and preferences of consumers.



Key Initiatives:



1. Strategic Partnerships: To ensure seamless distribution and after-sales support, Motorola will establish strategic partnerships with local retailers and service providers across Ghana. These partnerships will enable easier access to Motorola products and services, as well as efficient customer support.



2. Commitment to Quality and Affordability: Motorola is committed to delivering high-quality smartphones at affordable prices, making advanced mobile technology accessible to a wider range of consumers in Ghana.



3. Local Job Creation: As part of its expansion into Ghana Motorola will invest in local talent and job creation. The company plans to establish local offices, contributing to economic growth and creating employment opportunities.

About Motorola

Motorola is a global leader in mobile technology, dedicated to delivering innovative smartphones and connected devices.



With a rich heritage of over 90 years, Motorola continues to push the boundaries of mobile technology, empowering individuals and communities around the world.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi has showered praises on former Education Minister and Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang who was also selected as Running Mate by Ex-President John Dramani Mahama into the 2020 elections.



The former President has been re-elected to lead the National Democratic Congress into the 2024 election and he is yet to choose his Running Mate.



Before he makes his decision, he has been presented with names like Julius Debrah, former Chief of Staff and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang among others for consideration.



However, there is an opposition against the choice of Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang to join Mahama again on the election field.



As the NDC awaits their Running Mate, the call for Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to partner Mahama for the second time remains vibrant.



Discussing the prospects of the NDC on his programme "Kokrokoo" on Peace FM, Kwami Sefa Kayi passed a commentary on the personality and character of the former Minister, admiring her acuity and credentials.



"She is powerful, knowledgeable, strong, intelligent. She has all the plusses her way but let's see about the politics," he opined.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Mr. Richard Ofori, a parliamentary candidate hopeful of the NPP in the Guan Constituency if the Oti Region has said with utmost confidence that he is the best candidate to partner the party's presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to win the seat for the ruling party in 2024.



Mr. Ofori insists he is the best candidate to break the #8 with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2024 crucial election when elected as the NPP's parliamentary candidate.



I am the candidate who can break the #8 with Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in the Guan constituency, when the delegates of our great party elect me as the parliamentary candidate", he emphasized.



Speaking in an interview with this reporter, Mr. Richard Ofori who is an Electrical Engineer and Tutor at Mfantsipim SHS, said that he is the true choice of the people; and "even the NDC and majority of the floating voters believe in me".



He thus prayed the NPP delegates would give him an overwhelming endorsement in the upcoming party's primary.



Mr. Ofori is seeking to become the first ever parliamentary candidate of the NPP in the Guan Constituency and possibly the first ever Member of Parliament.



He touted his vision of promoting quality education, quality healthcare, economic empowerment, agriculture and delegates welfare among others.



Mr. Richard Ofori is a member of the Council of Patrons of the Guan NPP, and supported the construction of party offices in three communities, namely; Likpe Bakua, Likpe Nkwanta, Likpe Todome.



He served as polling agent at polling stations during the 2016 and 2020 national elections.



He is also a philanthropist engaging in developmental activities in his community including the construction of toilet and sanitation facilities across the constituency, donation of food items, toiletries and essential medical equipment to support the aged, women and the vulnerable.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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M Social Phuket, the stylish, social and free-spirited new lifestyle hotel from Millennium Hotels & Resorts, is inviting global adventurers to step into an exciting new era of contemporary hospitality in the heart of Patong, Phukets most dynamic district.

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Newly-opened in October 2023, M Social Phuket is only the sixth M Social hotel globally, joining properties in top destinations such as Singapore, Paris and New York. For more information, please visit www.msocial.com/phuket.
China boosts inbound tourism

People's Daily Online) 09:36, November 30, 2023

The China International Travel Mart 2023 was held earlier this month in Kunming, capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The travel fair was attended by representatives from the tourism departments of countries like South Africa and Thailand, as well as by representatives from organizations such as the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the World Tourism Alliance.

Participants discussed topics such as the revival of inbound tourism in China and the enhancement of exchanges between China and other countries, injecting fresh momentum into the revitalization and growth of China's inbound tourism market.

Upon their arrival at the Kunming Changshui International Airport, Kunming, German travel agents who came to attend the China International Travel Mart 2023 were warmly greeted by students from a college in Kunming.

A bullet train runs along the China-Laos Railway in Mengla county, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Li Yunsheng)

Kunming was the first stop for these German travel agents to re-enter China after a three-year hiatus. They were here to gain a deeper understanding of local tourism resources.

Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, said China has implemented various policies and measures to facilitate the entry of foreign tourists and boost the popularity of the inbound tourism market since the end of March 2023.

According to an official from the National Immigration Administration, visa services are currently available at 99 border ports in 72 cities with a significant flow of inbound tourists. Regional visa-free policies have also been introduced in Hainan, Shanghai, and other areas.

These policies include a 15-day visa-free policy for cruise passengers entering Shanghai, a 30-day visa-free policy for citizens of 59 countries entering Hainan, and a 144-hour visa-free policy for ASEAN tour groups entering Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

These measures are aimed at facilitating exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign individuals.

Bangladeshi travel agents taste red jujubes from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the China International Travel Mart 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is actively adjusting visa and entry policies to provide more channels and convenience for foreigners visiting China, according to an official from the MFAs Department of Consular Affairs.

The China-Laos Railway, which passes through highlands, canyons, and plains, has become a popular choice for international travelers. Since the cross-border passenger services was launched in April this year, 348,000 passenger trips have been made on the railway. This has boosted tourism in destinations such as Xishuangbanna and Kunming in Yunnan.

Wang Jie, with the China Tourism Academy, said tourists from Southeast Asian countries have a strong demand to visit China. During this year's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, a travel agency in Kunming received around 150 inbound tour groups.

"For Laotian tourists, the cost of flying to China used to be relatively high. But they can now take the high-speed train to Kunming and enjoy the scenery along the way," said Wang.

The China International Travel Mart 2023 introduced seven themed tourism products to enhance the cross-border travel experience for visitors to China via the China-Laos Railway.

The fair, with an exhibition area of 90,000 square meters, attracted brands from various countries and regions to showcase their tourism resources and innovative developments.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
UKHSA issued an amber cold weather alert in northern England as ice and snow worsen across the United Kingdom. U.K. Health Security Agency officials said that the extreme cold weather is bringing hazardous travel conditions.

The health organization said that it will work with the Met Office to place the week-long amber alert starting on Tuesday, Dec. 5. For those who are not familiar with this warning, it is a part of the new system introduced for England.

The program went live this November because cold weather across the U.K. is not getting any better. If you are living in northern England and other parts of the United Kingdom, here's what you need to know.

UKHSA Issues Amber Cold Weather Warning in Northern England

According to The Guardian's latest report, the amber cold-health alert issued by UKHSA is the first one this 2023. It was implemented because the average temperatures are expected to be 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Some forecasts even estimated temperatures to be colder; with icy conditions, wintry showers, and some snow. An amber cold weather alert means that the extremely cold weather conditions in the U.K. are getting worse.

In comparison, a yellow alert means that elderly and vulnerable people will only be the ones affected by the cold weather. But, an amber alert is a sign that the extremely low temperatures could be felt across the entire health service of a country for a longer period.

Experts warned that if an amber cold weather alert is issued, it means that the entire population is at risk of the extremely low average temperatures.

UKHSA Head of Extreme Events and Health Protection, Agostinho Moreira de Sousa, said that the amber cold weather warning will inform people to check the most vulnerable individuals during the cold weather.

He suggested that residents who are taking care of their elderly family members or relatives should heat the rooms and ensure that they have enough medical supplies.

Read Also: UK's COVID Inquiry Told About How Children Were Neglected by Pandemic Policies

What UK Residents Should Do

U.K. residents, especially those residing in northern England, should know the things they must do to protect themselves and their families from the worsening cold weather.

Age U.K. provided some tips and advice that people can follow:

Make sure to get enough medical, food, water, and other essential supplies so you will no longer go out during the cold weather.

Always keep an eye on weather forecasts to know the latest updates about the worsening cold weather conditions in your area.

List down or save emergency numbers.

When going out, wear secured shoes and protective gear since the ground will be very slippery.

When driving to get supplies during the cold weather, make sure you already planned the routes you'll take.

Related Article: UK Braces for Arctic Blast That Could Bring Sub-Zero Temperatures

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Dripstone cut in two lengthwise, showing the different growth layers. Credit: Jenny Maccali

A recent study demonstrates how dripstones can be crucial for reconstructing past climates. The new approach can provide a detailed picture of the climate around early human occupations in South Africa.

"Dripstones, or speleothems, are unique natural archiveslike Earth's USB sticks. They store a wealth of information on past climate which helps us to better understand the environment in which early humans lived," Jenny Maccali explains. She is a scientist at SapienCE Centre of Excellence and led the study, now published in Climate of the Past.

South Africa has a highly dynamic climate resulting from its position at the convergence of two oceanic basins, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. The region is also located at the boundary of different climate zones (subtropical vs. temperate), and the proximity of the Antarctic ice sheet has a direct impact on its climate by influencing the easterly and westerly wind position and, hence, rainfall pattern.

"All these factors mean that climate in the past could have been different from today and also possibly highly variable," Jenny Maccali says.

She says that it is particularly important given that the region hosts key archaeological sites with records of significant cognitive, technological, and social developments, and it is important to understand the climatic conditions under which these occurred.

Map of southern Africa showing the study site (red circle) with the main rainfall zones (gray shading) and other sites from the literature (yellow circles). Major atmospheric circulation is indicated by thin black arrows and major oceanic currents are indicated by thick white arrows. BCBloukrantz cave, WCWolkberg cave (Holzkamper et al., 2009), LCLobatse cave (Holmgren et al., 1995), TCTswaing crater (Partridge et al., 1997), ECEfflux cave (Braun et al., 2020), CCCango cave (Talma and Vogel, 1992; Chase et al., 2021) and PPPinnacle Point (Bar-Matthews et al. 2010). Marine cores: MD02-2588 and CD154 17-17K (Simon et al., 2013), GeoB 1711 (Kirst et al., 1999), MD02-2594 (Dyez et al., 2014) and CBR (Peeters et al., 2004). WRZwinter rainfall zone (dark gray), YRZyear-round rainfall zone (gray), SRZsummer rainfall zone (light gray), ACAgulhas Current, BenCBenguela Current and ACCAntarctic Circumpolar Current. This map was created using Ocean Data View (Schlitzer, 2002). Credit: Climate of the Past (2023). DOI: 10.5194/cp-19-1847-2023

Archives for climate reconstruction

The recent study, "Multi-proxy speleothem-based reconstruction of mid-MIS 3 climates in South Africa," undertaken by a team of scientists from SapienCE, used new techniques to reconstruct past climate and its variability.

Maccali and her team of researchers have focused on the subterranean world of caves, where they explore dripstones, also known as speleothems, to study past climate. The study is based on scientific analyses of speleothems from Bloukrantz Cave.

"Dripstones forming in caves are excellent archives for climate reconstructions because their age can be accurately determined and a suite of methods can be used to reconstruct different aspects of past climate," Maccali says.

Insights to early human occupations

One of the dripstones from Bloukrantz cave, located on the southern coast of South Africa, provided the team with new climate data for a time window of 3000 years during the last glacial periodfrom around 45,000 years ago.

They used different methods that confirmed the average air temperature for this period of 18.8  0.5 C, which was slightly warmer compared to the present day, possibly because the sea level was lower, and the site was further away from the coastline than today. In addition, we could show, again based on multiple methods, that rainfall was highly variable with repeated drying events.

"Combining these insights, our study was able to increase confidence in the methods that were being used and further work will likely provide a detailed picture of the climate around the early human occupations during a crucial time period in South Africa," Maccali says.

More information: Jenny Maccali et al, Multi-proxy speleothem-based reconstruction of mid-MIS 3 climate in South Africa, Climate of the Past (2023). DOI: 10.5194/cp-19-1847-2023 Journal information: Climate of the Past
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The Ariane 6 rocket undergoes a successful dress rehearsal at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana last week.

The European Space Agency announced on Thursday that the long-delayed first launch of its next-generation Ariane 6 rocket will take place between June 15 and July 31 next year.

The rocket launcher system was initially planned to blast off in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic and repeated technical issues have kept it on the ground, depriving Europe of an independent way to send heavy missions into space.

ESA chief Josef Aschbacher told a press conference that the announcement of the 2024 launch date range came after the "complete success" of a dress rehearsal at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana last week.

That test involved firing up the launcher's Vulcain 2.1 engine and running it for more than seven minutes.

Aschbacher said it was a "good day" for European space efforts, adding that a more precise launch date is expected to be announced in March or April 2024.

Philippe Baptiste, the head of French space agency CNES, said that the decision about an exact date would follow a "general qualification review" of the launcher.

The Ariane 6 still has to pass two more tests under "degraded conditions" on December 3 and 15.

Martin Sion, CEO of the rocket's manufacturer ArianeGroup, said these tests will verify that the launcher's "reliability and robustness" meets expectations.

The Ariane 6 was designed to keep up with rising competition in the rocket market including from billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Its workhorse predecessor, the Ariane 5, blasted off for the last time in July after 27 years of launches.

With the smaller Vega C grounded following a launch failure in December and Russia withdrawing its Soyuz rockets in response to sanctions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, the ESA has been left without an independent way to launch missions until the Ariane 6 is ready.

 2023 AFP
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Framework of model fingerprints. Explanation of the framework that is used to compute model fingerprints. The five diagnostic indicator dimensions are shown in colors: responsiveness (green), mitigation strategies (yellow), energy supply (blue), energy demand (red) and costs and effort (purple). The framework uses the statistics of the ensemble to visualize the results of a single model, resulting in a circular diagram per model. The inner circle represents the median per indicator, calculated from the ensemble containing all model-scenario combinationsthat is, including all other models as well. The outer circle and the center indicate the medians  two standard deviations, respectively. Example ranges (yellow shaded, not based on data) for indicators M1M4 are shown: the ranges show the range that the respective model covers across its scenarios. These ranges exclude the scenario that includes only current implemented policies (referred to as the DIAG-NPI scenario. Credit: Dekker et al. (Nature Energy, 2023).

Over the past decades, environmental scientists and engineers have been trying to devise effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This has led to the creation of various energy models, frameworks that can be used to investigate emission mitigation scenarios in the hope of meeting the goals outlined by the Paris Agreement.

Some of these energy models are more detailed than others, and their structure, parameters and objectives can vary. When used to estimate what would happen following the introduction of specific climate policies and interventions, the models can thus produce different results.

Researchers at PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, Utrecht University, and other institutes in Europe recently set out to reliably quantify differences in the results produced by key energy models. Their paper, published in Nature Energy, identifies 'fingerprints' of energy models (diagrams outlining their unique characteristics).

"In many of our research projects, we intentionally include multiple energy modeling teams, because the community is already aware of the importance of different perspectives," Mark Dekker, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "Model differences can be rather significant in our field and this needs to be spelled out well before interpreting our results."

The recent study by Dekker and his colleagues is part of a broad project dubbed the European Climate and Energy Modeling Forum (ECEMF H2020). The key objective of this project is to inform the development of energy and climate policies that could be implemented throughout Europe or at a national level.

Before they started performing calculations to assess potential pathways for Europe to reach the goal of net-zero emissions, the researchers decided to run a series of diagnostic tests to compare results attained using different energy models. These tests were quite elaborate and time-consuming, yet they yielded interesting results.

"The idea to express diagnostic outcomes in 'diagnostic indicators," some of which originated from two previous papers published in Environmental Research Letters and Technological Forecasting and Social Change," Dekker said.

"The idea to create model 'fingerprints' rather than merely comparing such indicators individually (as done in previous literature) came to me during my own analysis of the results. A unique behavior of a model in one dimension sheds new light on its behavior in another, that is why we aimed to combine many dimensions into one simple framework and ultimately succeeded."

In their tests, Dekker and his colleagues tried to delineate diagnostic indicators of energy models focusing on five key dimensions. These dimensions included a model's responsiveness and its proposed mitigation strategies, as well as its estimated energy supply, energy demand, and mitigation costs/efforts.

"Energy models are crucial to understanding the future of our economy and climate: they give us insights in where our future energy may come from, how it is used and in levers for policy," Dekker explained.

"However, differences between these models make it difficult to navigate through these insights, for both fellow scientists and policymakers. This paper marks an important step in understanding our projections on energy by mapping where each model behaves uniquely and where they agree."

Dekker and his colleagues run their diagnostic tests on eight energy models, which they applied to 10 potential scenarios for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. These tests allowed them to create 'fingerprints' for these models, which are essentially diagrams that uniquely represent them, similarly to how fingerprints or DNA uniquely identify human beings.

"The most important practical implication of our study is that people can now place modeling studies in context, especially the ones that rely on only a single model," Dekker said. "That model's bias or behavior is now spelled out in relation to other models. For example, the model can be usually projecting more renewable energy that other models, which is important to know when reading its projections on renewables."

The work by this team of researchers could guide future studies that compare the predictions of different energy models or try to contextualize their estimates. Collectively, these research efforts could help to better predict the outcomes of climate policies and energy-related interventions, which could in turn inform the work of the EU commission and other European policymakers.

"We are currently investigating the role of model differences in general and how we can find structures in the large scenario databases, which may sometimes come across as 'spaghetti' for a general user," Dekker added. "Categorizing our scenario into groups of scenarios that each tells a different story can help understand the future of energy and climate better."

 2023 Science X Network
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

School students experience a wide range of achievement emotions during the years they spend attending school. Some of those emotions, such as joy and pride, are positive. Yet students also experience boredom and anger when they find achievement activities too difficult or too easy. These differing emotions are important for adolescents' development trajectories.

Researchers from the University of Tubingen therefore askedhow do achievement emotions develop during adolescence? The research team, led by Professor Michiko Sakaki and Professor Kou Murayama from the Hector Research Institute of Education Sciences and Psychology, focused on the achievement domain of mathematics, where previous research indicates that students experience fewer positive emotions and more negative ones.

For the study, published in Child Development, the researchers analyzed data from 3,425 students in grades 5 to 9 at vocational and academic high schools in Bavaria. The adolescents were surveyed annually from 2002 to 2006 about their emotions in relation to math.

The team analyzed the potential link between adolescents' achievement emotions with regard to mathematics and their performance in the subject. The researchers found that with increasing age, students overall experience a decrease in pride. Also, even though girls generally felt fewer positive emotions about mathematics, the difference between girls and boys did not increase over time.

Furthermore, the team found that adolescents with lower initial grades experienced a smaller increase in most negative emotions and a smaller decrease in the positive emotions. These findings suggest that the widespread expectation that initial inequalities will be magnified over time does not always hold true.

This study also provides evidence for the co-development of achievement emotions and academic performance. "The results of our study emphasize the significance of emotions for learning and suggest that it is important to promote positive emotions and prevent negative emotions in order to support high school students' academic performance," explains Michiko Sakaki.

She also emphasizes the importance of students' interest in the material. The findings indicate that high school pupils who maintain high levels of interest are more likely to maintain positive emotions and less likely to develop negative emotions over time.

More information: Michiko Sakaki et al, Developmental trajectories of achievement emotions in mathematics during adolescence, Child Development (2023). DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13996 Journal information: Child Development
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More than one million people have been displaced in Somalia by the floods.

More than two million people across the Horn of Africa have been forced from their homes by torrential rains and floods, according to an AFP tally compiled Thursday from government and UN figures.

Almost 300 people have also lost their lives in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia as the region grapples with its latest devastating climate disaster.

The heavy rainfall, linked to the El Nino weather pattern, has struck just as the region is emerging from the worst drought in 40 years that drove millions into hunger.

"It's a dire situation," the charity Action Against Hunger said in a statement late Wednesday, on the eve of the start of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.

"Regions that were struggling to recover from the economic and environmental impacts of prolonged drought are now doubly burdened with flooding," it said.

The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate changeeven though the continent's contribution to global carbon emissions is a fraction of the total.

Extreme weather events are occurring with increased frequency and intensity.

The latest disaster has exacerbated a deep humanitarian crisis in Somalia, one of the poorest countries on the planet that has also been battling a bloody Islamist insurgency for the past decade and a half.

Roads have been damaged or destroyed in Kenya, cutting off communities.

'Once in a century'

Flooding has cost the lives of more than 100 people, and displaced more than one million, according to a joint statement issued by the United Nations and Somali officials on Thursday.

Authorities in Mogadishu declared a state of emergency earlier this month over what the United Nations has described as "once in a century" flooding, and have warned against the proliferation of disease.

The deluge has engulfed homes and farmland and left many communities marooned, with roads and bridges damaged and hospitals and schools closed.

An estimated 1.5 million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition over the period between August this year and July 2024, the joint UN-Somali statement warned.

"Recurrent climate shocks, widespread insecurity and rampant poverty have pushed the people of Somalia to breaking point," UN envoy George Conway said.

Somalia is highly vulnerable to climate change.

The statement said that floodwaters could swamp more than 1.5 million hectares (3.7 million acres) of farmland in December.

In a move that could help alleviate the situation for some, the Somalia government said it had received 25,000 tonnes of grain from Russia that would be distributed urgently to flood-affected people, with another 25,000 tonnes expected later in December.

While the country narrowly avoided famine thanks to humanitarian aid, the UN's World Food Programme warned earlier this month that a quarter of its population - 4.3 million people - are forecast to face crisis-level hunger by the end of the year.

Cholera outbreak

In neighboring Kenya, the interior ministry said Thursday the death toll from the flood disaster had risen to 136, with more than 460,000 people displaced.

Another 57 people have perished in Ethiopia and more than 600,000 have been displaced, according to the UN's humanitarian response agency OCHA.

The Horn of Africa has only just emerged from a devastating drought.

In one of the hardest hit areas, the Somali region in eastern Ethiopia, cholera has claimed the lives of at least 23 people, with a total of 772 confirmed cases, Save the Children said Thursday.

"The cholera outbreak in Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa could spiral out of control if swift action isn't taken by government and donors to provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for communities forced out of their homes by floodwaters," it warned.

 2023 AFP
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The sun sets behind a burned forest near Mariposa, California.

This year is set to be the hottest ever recorded, the UN said Thursday, demanding urgent action to rein in global warming and stem the havoc following in its wake.

The UN's World Meteorological Organization warned that 2023 had shattered a whole host of climate records, with extreme weather leaving "a trail of devastation and despair".

"It's a deafening cacophony of broken records," said WMO chief Petteri Taalas.

"Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice is record low."

The WMO published its provisional 2023 State of the Global Climate report as world leaders gathered in Dubai for the UN COP28 climate conference, amid mounting pressure to curb planet-heating greenhouse gas pollution.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the record heat findings "should send shivers down the spines of world leaders".

The stakes have never been higher, with scientists warning that the ability to limit warming to a manageable level is slipping through humanity's fingers.

The 2015 Paris climate accords aimed to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levelsand 1.5C if possible.

But in its report, the WMO said 2023 data to the end of October showed that this year was already around 1.4C above the pre-industrial baseline.

'Not just statistics'

The agency is due to publish its final State of the Global Climate 2023 report in the first half of 2024.

But it said the difference between the first 10 months of this year and 2016 and 2020which previously topped the charts as the warmest years on record "is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking".

The report also showed that the past nine years were the hottest years since modern records began.

"These are more than just statistics," Taalas said, warning that "we risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise".

A chunk of Antarctic ice the size of France and Germany combined has disappeared this year.

"We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries."

The WMO warned that the warming El Nino weather phenomenon, which emerged mid-year, was "likely to further fuel the heat in 2024".

That is because the naturally-occurring climate pattern, typically associated with increased heat worldwide, usually increases global temperatures in the year after it develops.

The preliminary report also found that concentrations of the three main heat-trapping greenhouse gasescarbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxidereached record high levels in 2022, with preliminary data indicating that the levels continued to grow this year.

Carbon dioxide levels were 50 percent higher than the pre-industrial era, the agency said, meaning that "temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come", even if emissions are drastically cut.

'Climate chaos'

The rate of sea level rise over the past decade was more than twice the rate of the first decade of satellite records (1993-2002), it said.

And the maximum level of Antarctic sea ice this year was the lowest on record.

In fact, it was a million square kilometers less than the previous record low at the end of the southern hemisphere winter, the WMO saidan area larger than France and Germany combined.

Meanwhile, glaciers in North America and Europe again suffered an extreme melt season, with Swiss glaciers losing 10 percent of their ice volume in the past two years alone, the report showed.

Dramatic socio-economic impacts accompany such climate records, experts say, including dwindling food security and mass displacement.

"This year we have seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods and searing temperatures," UN chief Guterres said in a video message.

He called on the leaders gathered in Dubai to commit to dramatic measures to rein in climate change, including phasing out fossil fuels and tripling renewable energy capacity.

"We have the roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5C and avoid the worst of climate chaos," he said.

"But we need leaders to fire the starting gun at COP28 on a race to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive."

 2023 AFP
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A scuba diver swims through giant kelp. Credit: NPS

As California, the U.S. and the world work to make good on commitments to conserve 30% of oceans and lands by 2030, all strategies are on the tableand under the microscope. When it comes to the ocean, one valuable tool is marine protected areas (MPAs), regions that are defined, designated and managed for long-term conservation. Among other benefits, MPAs protect habitats and promote species diversity. They also hold value for communities and industries.

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute have published a new study on the impact of MPAs on the recreational scuba diving industry in California's Northern Channel Islands. Their conclusions provide strong evidence of the benefit of MPAs for the scuba diving industry in Southern California and highlight that the diving community should be considered a key stakeholder in decision-making about the future of MPAs.

"UCSB has a strong history of conducting marine science in the Channel Islands," noted first author Molly Morse, senior manager with the campus-based Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. "We hope this research contributes to that legacy of highlighting the measurable value of these ecosystems not only as a critical resource to fishers but also to those of us that place significant value in experiencing and exploring the "Galapagos of North America' with our mask and fins."

To conduct their study, the team analyzed patterns from millions of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data points from for-hire scuba diving vessels to glean long-term insight into how MPAs shape ecotourism at large. (AIS is an onboard vessel broadcast system that shares high-resolution vessel location and behavioral information.)

Based on a set of behavioral criteria confirmed through interviews with for-hire dive vessel captains, the researchers were able to identify vessel behaviors linked to non-extractive ecotourism (e.g., underwater wildlife viewing, photography) versus recreational lobster fishing and to compare the location of these activities within MPAs, on the MPA borders, or outside of MPAs.

They found that from 2016-2022, dive vessels engaged in ecotourism preferred MPAs and that dive vessels primarily conducting recreational lobster fishing preferred MPA border zones. Specifically, a high proportion of the most popular ecotourism dive sites (38%) were located in MPAs, a large proportion of the total number of unique ecotourism dive events (45%) were conducted within MPAs, and vessels engaged in ecotourism diving exhibited high selection of MPAs.

Meanwhile, scuba diving vessel behavior in the lobster scenario, where vessels were putatively engaged largely in recreational lobster fishing, showed quite different patterns. Most lobster fishing dive events (78%) occurred outside of the MPAs, but these dive vessels exhibited preferential selection for the buffer zones around the MPAs.

Of owner/operator survey respondents, 83% said they noticed that hunting (i.e., spearfishing, lobster fishing) was better near an MPA due to the so-called "spillover effect," where species are so abundant and productive in an MPA that they spill over into surrounding areaslike interest yielded from a savings account.

That effect is partly what attracts divers to these particular MPAs, according to Morse. But the most significant draws?

"People come from around the state and around the world to dive the Channel Islands, drawn by playful sea lions, underwater cathedrals of emerald kelp forests, and giant sea bass weighing four times more than the divers themselves," she said. "The dive captains we interviewed stated that the MPAs of the Northern Channel IslandsAnacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguelenabled more of these experiences for their clientele."

Past considerations about establishing new MPAs or changes to existing MPA management have tended to focus on engagement with fishers (large- and small-scale) and evaluations of how this management tool affects fishing.

"Given the significant role of the scuba sector in the blue economic portfolio of small and large coastal communities," Morse added, "it is important to understand how this stakeholder community relates to and is influenced by MPAs. Ocean ecotourism is a fast-growing sector of coastal economies with a significant stake in the health of coastal biodiversity and the future of coastal planning."

This study's focus on scuba divingan essential sector of the Southern California marine ecotourism industryis unique. Ecotourism is among the largest sectors in the ocean economy, constituting some 50% of all global tourism, equal to $4.6 trillion, the authors note. Yet it is an understudied benefit of marine protected areas.

"We stand at a critical time in history as state, national, and world leaders contemplate how to achieve goals of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030," said co-author Douglas McCauley, a professor of ecology, evolution and marine biology and director of the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory.

"Research like this sheds light on the diverse benefits that marine protected areas create for our local communities and economy. And these MPAs are only 20 years old; I think we can conjecture based on other research that these benefits will only increase as these protected areas mature."

The paper is published in the journal Marine Policy.

More information: Molly Morse et al, Preferential selection of marine protected areas by the recreational scuba diving industry, Marine Policy (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105908 Journal information: Marine Policy
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Credit: NASA/Jasmin Moghbeli

City lights stretch across the United States like a string of holiday lights in this image taken from the International Space Station on Nov. 10, 2023. At far left, the lights of Chicago, Illinois, are outlined by Lake Michigan. At far right, the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area shines through the clouds while the sun's first rays start to light up Earth's atmosphere (at top).

Since the space station became operational in November 2000, crew members have produced hundreds of thousands of images of the land, oceans, and atmosphere of Earth. Their photographs of Earth record how the planet changes over time due to human activity and natural events. This allows scientists to monitor disasters and direct response on the ground and study phenomena, from the movement of glaciers to urban wildlife.

Provided by NASA
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Jennie Stephens, deans professor of sustainability science & policy and director of strategic research collaborations at Global Resilience Institute. Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Environmental nonprofit organizations that have diverse leadership and work in equity-deserving communities receive considerably less philanthropic support than conventional, mainstream nonprofits, according to new research published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science.

That hurts everyone, says Jennie Stephens, dean's professor of sustainability science and policy at Northeastern University and a 2023 Radcliffe-Salata climate justice fellow at Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

"It means that the ideas, solutions and proposed actions are oriented toward more mainstream communities," Stephens says. "And it leads to reinforcing inequities among different households, communities and regions and perpetuates this landscape where 'environmentalism is not for everyone.'"

Stephens, author of the book "Diversifying Power: Why We Need Antiracist, Feminist Leadership on Climate and Energy," says governments around the world have not funded environmental action and decarbonization sufficiently.

That has led to increased dependency on philanthropy, or donations from wealthy individuals, trusts and organizations.

Unlike public funding, philanthropic resources are not allocated through democratic processes, Stephens says. Instead, they are often distributed because of connections, prior relationships and social networks.

Stephens joined Christina Hoicka, Canada research chair in urban planning for climate change and associate professor at the University of Victoria, to look at environmental philanthropy for the low-carbon energy transition, using the example of Canada.

While Canada set an ambitious climate goal in 2005 of reducing greenhouse emissions by 40% to 45% by 2030, Stephens says, it has not managed to bend the curve on emissions and continues to invest in fossil fuels and approve new fossil fuel development projects.

Many studies have shown, she says, that more funds need to be invested in marginalized communities.

"So one might expect more of the funding going toward organizations that are focused on marginalized groups," Stephens says. "But what we've found that is not the case yet."

Their research demonstrates that environmental philanthropy in Canada favors a large set of established organizations. Organizations with diverse leadership from marginalized populations, which more often address issues in equity-deserving communities (that have identified barriers to equal access, opportunity and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination) are funded nearly three times less often.

Out of 462 nonprofit organizations that the researchers identified as working on a low-carbon energy transition, only 106 were led by people from equity-deserving communities such as Indigenous people, youth, low-income households, people of color and seniors.

Philanthropic organizations funded 60% of all the low-carbon energy nonprofits, while only 25% of diversity-led organizations received philanthropic funding.

Among the diversity-led organizations, about half of the Indigenous-led organizations received philanthropic funding, but many other minority-led organizations did not receive any.

Few conventionally-led organizations reported a commitment to gender diversity, low-income households, racialized communities inhabited by people from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, immigrants and refugees, northern and coastal communities of Canada, persons with disabilities or seniors.

"Reliance on philanthropy is not inclusive, it is not democratic, it doesn't necessarily meet the public good or the needs of communities, and it can actually take away resources from the people who need them the most," Stephens says.

"It ends up reinforcing these patterns that the research has shown are really unhelpful in terms of making society-wide change, because it prioritizes some people and excludes and disempowers others."

For example, historically, a lot of environmental projects have focused on conservation and creating green spaces, Stephens says, and not as much on mitigating health-related consequences of climate change and environment pollution.

"Some of my team's previous research demonstrates that when we don't have diversity when thinking about energy and environmental issues, we tend to dismiss and disregard a lot of the health and economic injustices of our current systems," Stephens says.

Stephens believes environmental inequity is a big problem because the scale of change needed to address climate change and move toward a fossil fuelfree future is colossal and requires everyone's needs to be considered.

Diverse leadership is crucial, Stephens says, because women, Indigenous people and people of color have different lived experiences and bring different perspectives, priorities and principles to the leadership of organizations.

"When we support the same organizations that have been trying the same things over and over, we actually can't expect transformative change," she says. "We need new ideas, we need to expand the leadership base and who's getting funded."

More information: Christina E. Hoicka et al, Misalignment or exclusion? Investigating climate and energy philanthropy funding of diversity, Energy Research & Social Science (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2023.103317

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
For the first time since being reported to be sick, Pope Francis appeared to a crowd gathered for his weekly general audience on Wednesday (November 29).

The Vatican confirmed earlier this week that the pontiff would not travel to Dubai for COP28 at the request of his doctors.

According to EWTN, the pope could be heard breathing heavily as he stood to begin the general audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall with the sign of the cross.

Francis, 86, explained in a raspy, soft voice that he was "still not well" and would have an aide - the Monsignor Filippo Ciampanelli of the Vatican's Secretariat of State - read his speech regarding the "passion for evangelization."

At the end of the general audience, Francis spoke briefly, asking people to continue praying for Israel and Palestine, expressing hope that the truce between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters would continue to hold and that all of the hostages be released.

"I hope that the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza will continue, that all hostages will be released, and that necessary humanitarian aid will still be allowed in," he said.

"I heard from the parish there that there is a lack of water, a lack of bread, and people are suffering," he added, pertaining to perceived on-the-ground reports from Gaza's Catholic parish. "We ask for peace."

Read Also: Pope Francis Calls German Synodal Way a Threat to Catholic Church's Unity

State of the Pope's Health

In a written statement on Tuesday night (November 28), Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said that the pope has "influenza and inflammation of the respiratory tract," and his condition had since "improved."

"Doctors have asked the pope not to make the trip planned for the coming days to Dubai for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change," he wrote. "Pope Francis accepted the doctors' request with great regret."

The pope was taken to a hospital in Rome on November 25. A CT scan from the hospital "ruled out pneumonia, but it showed lung inflammation causing some breathing difficulties."

Despite his condition, Francis was able to continue meeting some individuals and groups in a scaled-back schedule this week, including the Paraguayan President Santiago Pena and French abuse victims.

Related Article: Pope Francis Cancels COP28 Trip After Doctor's Orders Amid Lung Inflammation

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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Hooded warbler in Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY, USA) Credit: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A new study of a migratory songbird shows that individuals with average-sized white tail spotsa trait that is critical to successful foraginglive longer than individuals with more extreme amounts of white in the tail.

The findings provide an infrequently observed example of stabilizing selection, whereby natural selection favors average individuals with traits that are close to the population mean.

The new research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, focuses on the hooded warbler, a small migratory songbird that breeds in forested habitats in eastern North America and winters in southern Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Throughout their complex migratory life cycle, hooded warblers employ an unusual feeding strategy called flush-pursuit foraging; by continuously flicking open their tails to reveal the white outer tail feathers, hooded warblers startle and flush winged insects that can then be pursued and captured in flight.

"We've known for some time that the white tail spots are important in hooded warbler foraging," says Professor Emeritus of Biology Ron Mumme of Allegheny College. "If you temporarily darken a bird's tail spots, foraging success drops substantially."

He also notes that there is strong experimental evidence from other species of flush-pursuit foragers that the extent of white in the tail is fine-tuned by natural selection; atypical tail patterns that depart from the population average are less effective at startling insect prey and lead to reduced foraging success.

"What we didn't previously know is whether natural variation in the extent of white in the tail affects long-term survival," Mumme says. "That's the question I wanted to answer."

Mumme addressed the question through his 14-year study of hooded warblers at Hemlock Hill Field Station in northwest Pennsylvania. From 2010 through 2023, he captured, color-banded, and measured the tail patterns of 625 hooded warblers that settled and bred at Hemlock Hill during the MayAugust nesting season. He then monitored the long-term survival of the color-banded birds that returned to the study siteor failed to returnin subsequent years.

First, he found that hooded warblers show considerable inter-individual variation in the extent of white in the tail that is highly repeatable across annual feather replacement that occurs during the late-summer molt; 75% of the variation in the extent of white is attributable to consistent differences among individuals, with only 25% attributable to annual changes within individuals.

"That's a very strong hint that the variation in tail pattern likely has an underlying genetic basis," Mumme says. He suspects that the plumage variation results from slight individual differences in how key feather coloration genes are regulated.

Second, while most hooded warblers had poor long-term survival and were present at Hemlock Hill for only 12 years, others were considerably more successful, surviving and returning to breed at Hemlock Hill for as many as nine consecutive seasons. That creates what evolutionary biologists call the 'opportunity for selection' to act on variation in traits that potentially affect survival.

Finally, long-term survival was not random with respect to tail white; birds with an intermediate extent of whitethose that were close to the population averagelived longer than individuals with more extreme amounts of white in the tail. The results strongly suggest that the extent of white in the tail is fine-tuned by stabilizing natural selection to maximize both foraging success and long-term survival.

"It's a great example of how stabilizing selection can act on slight plumage variations that at first glance seem completely inconsequential," Mumme says.

More information: Ronald L. Mumme, Stabilizing selection on a plumage-based foraging adaptation: hooded warblers with average-sized white tail spots live longer, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1752 Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B
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The world is currently far off course to meet its climate pledges.

The UN climate conference opens in Dubai on Thursday with nations urged to increase the pace of action on global warming and phase out fossil fuels, amid intense scrutiny of oil-rich hosts UAE.

The two-week-long climate negotiations being held this year in the glitzy Gulf city come at a pivotal moment, with emissions still rising and this year likely to be the hottest in human history.

Britain's King Charles III, world leaders, activists and lobbyists are among more than 97,000 people expected to attend what is being billed as the largest climate gathering of its kind.

The UN and hosts the United Arab Emirates say these talks, known as COP28, will be the most important since Paris in 2015, when nations agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius since the preindustrial era, and preferably to a safer limit of 1.5C.

Scientists say the world is not on track to achieve these targets and nations must make faster and deeper cuts to emissions to avert the most disastrous impacts of climate change.

On the eve of the summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the conference should aim for a complete "phaseout" of fossil fuels, a contested proposal supported by many nations and scientists that has dogged negotiations past.

"Obviously, I am strongly in favor of language that includes (a) phaseout, even with a reasonable time framework," Guterres told AFP before flying to Dubai.

A central focus will be a stocktake of the world's limited progress on curbing global warming, which requires an official response at these talks.

"Right now, we're taking baby steps where we should be taking great leaps and great strides to get us to where we need to be," said UN climate chief Simon Stiell on Wednesday.

On Friday and Saturday, about 140 heads of state and governmentPope Francis had to cancel at the last minute due to the fluare expected to articulate their ambition after a year of devastating floods, wildfires and storms across the globe.

Countries are under pressure to move away from all fossil fuels, replacing them with renewable energy.

Hosts under pressure

On Thursday, nations are expected to formally approve the launch of a "loss and damage" fund to compensate climate-vulnerable countries after a year of hard-fought negotiations over how it would work.

But it remains to be filled, with rich nations urged to make contributions so the money can start flowing.

The UAE sees itself as a bridge between the rich developed nations most responsible for historic emissions and the rest of the world, which has contributed less to global warming but suffers its worst consequences.

But the decision for it to host has attracted a firestorm of criticism, particularly after the appointment of Sultan Al Jaberthe head of UAE oil giant ADNOCto steer the talks as COP president.

The 50-year-old Emirati, who also chairs a clean energy company, has defended his record and resisted pressure from European and US lawmakers to stand aside.

Fears of a conflict of interest were given fresh life on the eve of COP28 when Jaber was accused of using the presidency to pursue fossil fuel deals in meetings with governmentsaccusations he strenuously denied.

Guterres said Jaber was in a better position to tell the oil industry that the "solution of the climate problems requires the phaseout of fossil fuels" than "if he was the member of an NGO with a very solid pro-climate record."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said COP28 should back a phase out of fossil fuels.

Thorny issues

Nations will navigate a range of thorny issues between November 30 and December 12, and experts say geopolitical tensions and building trust could be a huge challenge.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas may cross paths on Friday, as they are scheduled to speak within minutes of each other.

Neither US President Joe Biden nor Chinese President Xi Jinpingheads of the world's two biggest pollutersare attending, though Washington and Beijing did strike a rare common note on the climate this month that spurred optimism going into COP.

Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, said it was hoped that more than 100 countries would agree to triple renewable energy by 2030a flagship proposal being put forward by the COP hosts.

Rallying a common position on the future of fossil fuels will be more challenging.

Any decisions at COP are made by consensus, meaning nearly 200 nationswhether dependent on oil, sinking beneath rising seas or locked in geopolitical rivalrymust traverse these fault lines to reach any agreement.

"In the end, the proof is in the pudding," US climate envoy John Kerry said Wednesday.

 2023 AFP
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A laboratory Sphinx in the current of a water tunnel. The object is coated with clay and fluorescein dye, and the photograph captures the "streak volume" or 3D region of flow that has at some time entered the boundary layer and eroded the surface. Credit: Physical Review Fluids (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.110503

A trio of experimental physicists and applied mathematicians at New York University has found evidence that Egypt's Great Sphinx of Giza may have originated as a natural formation. For their study, published in the journal Physical Review Fluids, Samuel Boury, Scott Weady and Leif Ristroph, looked into natural erosion processes and tested the idea that the Sphinx got its start naturally via strong winds.

Anecdotal evidence has shown that strong winds in the desert can, over long periods of time, create shapes out of stone that resemble animals in resting positions. Such formations arise due to the differences in softness and hardness in various parts of a formation. These common formations are called yardangs.

Over the past century, scientists have suggested that similar conditions may have led to the formation of a giant stone that resembled a lion at restand that humans then did some carving of their own, resulting in the features that can now be seen on the Great Sphinx of Giza. Such theories have been bolstered by the fact that the Sphinx was made from a single stone, which means it had to have been carved, rather than built, like the pyramids. In this new effort, the researchers tested this idea by attempting to replicate the conditions that might have led to the formation of the initial Sphinx shape.

The work involved placing a clay-enclosed plastic cylinder in a tank filled with water. Flowing water served as a replacement for wind. They found that when they placed the cylinder in just the right part of the chunk of clay, the clay tended to erode into a shape eerily reminiscent of the Sphinx, with elongated paws and all.

Further testing showed that the erosion dynamics resulted from the harder part of the simulated rock (the plastic cylinder) funneling water downward, which led to erosion below. That left the cylinder as the head, towering over a thinning neck, and to some degree, the body. Swirling movements farther down led to the space between what would become the extended legs and paws.

More information: Samuel Boury et al, Sculpting the Sphinx, Physical Review Fluids (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.8.110503

 2023 Science X Network
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Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), named for the thin black band of plummage that extends from ear to ear, may be the most abundant species of penguin.

In humans, nodding off for a few seconds is a clear sign of insufficient sleepand can be dangerous in some situations, such as when driving a car.

But a new study published on Thursday finds chinstrap penguins snooze thousands of times per day, accumulating their daily sleep requirement of more than 11 hours in short bursts averaging just four seconds.

The flightless birds might have evolved this trait because of their need to remain constantly vigilant, according to the authors of the paper in Science.

The researchers argued that the findings show, contrary to prior assumptions, the benefits of sleep can accrue incrementally, at least in some species.

Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus), named for the thin black band of plumage that extends from ear to ear, may be the most abundant species of penguin. Their current population is estimated at nearly eight million breeding pairs that are found mainly on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Atlantic Ocean islands.

When nesting, single parent penguins have to keep watch over their eggs, guarding them from predatory birds called skuas while their partners are away on foraging trips that last several days.

They also have to defend their nests from other penguins that might try to steal nest material. Once a penguin partner finally returns, the couple switch roles.

A team led by Paul-Antoine Libourel of Lyon Neuroscience Research Centre implanted electrodes on 14 birds at a colony on King George Island in December 2019. They recorded electrical activity in the brain and neck muscles, and they used accelerometers and GPS to study body movement and location.

Combined with video recordings and direct observation over multiple days, they were able to identify numerous peculiarities.

The penguins' sleep occurred while standing or while lying to incubate their eggs, with the average bout lasting 3.91 seconds. In total they slept more than 10,000 times a day.

Penguins on the periphery got longer and deeper bouts of sleep than those in the centerwhich can be explained by the excess noise and physical bumping that occurs in the middle of a colony, or the heightened risk of nest material theft.

Although the scientists did not directly measure whether the birds were gaining the restorative benefits of sleep, the fact the penguins were successful at breeding led them to believe this was indeed the case, with the moments of neuronal silence providing windows for rest and recovery.

In humans, however, conditions that fragment sleep such as sleep apnea have impacts on cognitive function and might even precipitate neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's.

"Thus, what is abnormal in humans could be perfectly normal in birds or other animals, at least under certain conditions," wrote scientists Christian Harding and Vladyslav Vyazovskiy in a related commentary piece.

More information: P.-A. Libourel et al, Nesting chinstrap penguins accrue large quantities of sleep through seconds-long microsleeps, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adh0771 Christian D. Harding et al, Penguins snatch seconds-long microsleeps, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adl2398 Journal information: Science

 2023 AFP
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The crew moved the 22 prototype into place for insertion into the liquid argon cryostat, where it will collect data in the NuMI neutrino beam. Credit: Dan Svoboda, Fermilab

Long before the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment takes its first measurements in an effort to expand our understanding of the universe, a prototype for one of the experiment's detectors is blazing new trails in neutrino detection technology.

DUNE, currently under construction, will be a massive experiment that spans more than 800 miles. A beam of neutrinos originating at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will pass through a particle detector located on the Fermilab site, then travel through the ground to a huge detector at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota.

The near detector consists of a set of particle detection systems. One of them, known as the ND-LAr, will feature a liquid-argon time projection chamber to record particle tracks; it will be placed inside a container full of liquid argon. When a neutrino collides with one of the particles that make up argon atoms, the collision generates more particles. As each particle created in the collision travels out of the nucleus, it interacts with nearby atoms, stripping off some of their electrons, leading to the production of detectable signals in the form of light and charge.

ND-LAr is optimized to see both of these types of signals. DUNE scientists chose liquid argon for one of the near detector systems so that they can make direct, one-to-one comparisons when analyzing the results from both the ND-LAr and the far detector, which also relies on liquid argon for particle detection.

The prototype for ND-LAr received its name, the 22 prototype, because its four modules are arranged in a square. The final version of ND-LAr will feature 35 modules, each slightly bigger than those used for the prototype. Soon, the 22 prototype will be installed underground in the path of Fermilab's NuMI neutrino beam for testing.

"We're going to put this in what is currently the world's most intense neutrino beam," said Juan Pedro Ochoa-Ricoux, a professor at the University of California, Irvine who is co-leading the data analysis effort for the 22 prototype. "We're going to be able to test our prototype under realistic circumstances."

Sorting a flood of neutrinos

The 22 prototype, and eventually ND-LAr itself, will detect the neutrino beam close to its most intense point.

When a beam of protons from an accelerator collides with a target, it creates a spray of other charged particles that quickly decay into other particles, including neutrinos. The beam of charged particles used to generate neutrinos is tightly focused, but when this neutrino beam is created, they can no longer be guided or focused, since they have no charge. As the beam travels through space, the neutrinos spread out, and the beam becomes less dense.

"It's a little bit like a flashlight: When you aim a flashlight at a wall, if you're close to the wall, you see a little circle, but if you get away from the wall, the circle becomes bigger and bigger and bigger," Ochoa-Ricoux said.

Because the near detector will be close to the source of the neutrino beam, it will pick up more neutrino interactions in a smaller space than the far detector will. This powerful influx of neutrinos presents some challenges for efficiently recording the neutrino interactions in ND-LAr. While the far detector might only pick up one neutrino at the time, the near detector will see many more neutrinos interacting.

"All these interactions occur virtually at the same time," Ochoa-Ricoux said. "We need to be able to disentangle all of these interactions."

Fortunately, researchers at the University of Bern and DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been working on new designs and technology for a liquid-argon detector more suited to this high density of neutrinos.

The team at the University of Bern developed a novel design for liquid argon neutrino detectors. Instead of just one big volume of liquid argon, this design divides the detector into modules.

The new design not only results in a shorter distance for stripped electrons to drift toward the detecting surface, but also provides a better understanding of where the neutrino interactions are happening. Making the modules smaller shows the light produced in a neutrino interaction in one particular unit, narrowing down its location.

A modular design also means that fewer interactions take place in each module. As a result, it's easier to pair the detection of the light and the charged particles to understand the neutrino interaction. This kind of detector can more effectively handle lots of interactions happening in a short amount of time.

These two consequences of a divided detector make it ideal for ND-LAr, as this design allows for a more accurate three-dimensional picture of where a neutrino interaction happened, said Michele Weber, a professor at the University of Bern working on the prototype detector design and leading the ND-LAr effort.

"It is great to see a concept developed at our university finding application in DUNE through a collaboration with Fermilab," Weber said. "One challenge we had to address in order to know which signal belongs to which interaction is to improve the 3D view of each interaction."

Getting a clearer picture

Meanwhile, at Berkeley Lab, another team has created a new type of signal readout system that can address the massive amount of data expected in the near detector.

Traditionally, liquid-argon time projection chambers, or LArTPC, have used a series of layered wires across the side of the detector to catch the signal from stripped electrons that are released in an interaction between a neutrino and the argon. Combining the signals collected by the layers of wires, which provide a series of two-dimensional projections, supplies enough information to reconstruct a three-dimensional picture of the interaction.

However, when there are a lot of neutrino-argon interactions in the detectora phenomenon called neutrino pileupthis readout system doesn't provide as clear of a picture, said Brooke Russell, a Chamberlain fellow at Berkeley Lab working on the 22 prototype.

Instead, the readout system developed at Berkeley Lab uses a fully pixelated readout, which means each physical channel in the detector corresponds to one digital readout channel. Using this array of pixels directly shows the three-dimensional location of the interaction and can resolve all of the many neutrino interactions happening nearly simultaneously.

"This has major implications for the types of signals that we construct and the intensity of activity that we can be tolerant to," Russell said. "With the DUNE near detector, for the first time, we're in a regime where we have neutrino pileup. Such a readout is absolutely required in order to reconstruct the neutrino events."

Putting 22 to the test

The modules for the prototype were built and tested at the University of Bern, then shipped to Fermilab and tested again before their installation. Preparations are underway for the prototype's installation by the end of the year in order to test the neutrino detection when the NuMI beam turns back on this winter.

The experiment's installation team will place the prototype detector in a cryogenically cooled container and sandwich it between two repurposed detector pieces from the retired MINERvA neutrino experiment at Fermilab. MINERvA measured neutrino interactions from 2010 until 2019.

As the ND-LAr prototype detector isn't very big, it cannot measure the full path of some of the particles created when neutrinos interact with argon. Notable examples are muons, which typically travel for long distances before stopping. That's where the old MINERvA detector components come into play. Using those components to track muons exiting the prototype detector, scientists can distinguish muons from charged pions, another type of subatomic particle.

Placing the prototype between the MINERvA segments also helps identify muons that are passing through but didn't originate in the detector, distinguishing them from the muons coming from inside the detector as a product of neutrino interactions.

"We can use the MINERvA planes to help us track neutrinos that interacted in the rock upstream of the detector and made muons that went into the detector," said Jen Raaf, director of the Neutrino Division at Fermilab who coordinates the 22 prototype project. "We'll be able to connect the tracks to identify those [that didn't originate in the detector] and get rid of them, because that's not what we're interested in."

The MINERvA planes also allow the scientists to track particles created in neutrino interactions in the LArTPC, but which exit the argon volume before stopping. "MINERvA will allow us to track these exiting particles and measure their energy," Raaf said, "so that we can get an accurate estimate of the neutrino's energy when it interacted in the LArTPC."

When the 22 prototype is tested in the neutrino beam, not only will it ensure that the prototype is working properly, but researchers can also perform neutrino physics experiments, Ochoa-Ricoux said.

Even though the full-blown DUNE experiment won't start operating for several more years," he said, "we're already going to be producing some important physics results with this prototype."

Some of these pre-DUNE experiments in the 22 prototype include studying the reactions between neutrinos and the argon, and measuring cross sections, or the likelihood of particle interactions.

Between the modular design and the pixel readout, ND-LAr will be unique among liquid argon neutrino detectors. This means that building and testing a prototype is crucial to ensuring that the innovative design works as expected. As a new piece of technology is built, scientists must test each step of the construction to demonstrate its capabilities, Weber said.

"ND-LAr has an atypical design," Russell said. "We want to validate that some of the design principles that we think will work, will actually work."

It's also important that a prototype is built big enough to ensure that the final piece of equipment is possible to construct and install, Raaf said.

"Doing something on a smaller scale, but big enough that you would be able to identify difficulties in construction and assembly, is a really important step of all particle physics experiments," she said. "You want something that's big enough to experience the various things you have to do, like use a crane to pick it up and be able to move it in certain ways."

The DUNE collaboration is organized into consortia that focus on different aspects of the project. The development of the 22 prototype is part of the ND-LAr Consortium, of which the University of Bern and Berkeley Lab are only two among dozens of institutions.

"All of those people are participating in this prototype at some level, to make sure that what they've envisioned for the full-sized thing actually works on a smaller scale and that we don't need to tweak anything," Raaf said. "Maybe we will, which is finethat's why we do prototypes. We meet weekly and discuss, how's it going? What do we need to do next? What went well? What can we improve?"

For a task this big, collaboration between multiple institutions is necessary, said Weber, who serves as the lead of the ND-LAr Consortium. Between Fermilab's neutrino beam, the University of Bern's modular detector concept, Berkeley Lab's readout technology, and the data processing and analysis taking place at many institutions, each collaborator in the ND-LAr Consortium brings its unique capabilities to bear on this project.

"These efforts are too big for one institution alone," Weber said. "You talk to various people, and you share the load. It's a challenge to work with a lot of people, but it's the only way, and it's nice to see different ideas come together successfully."
The U.S. suicide rate will increase in 2022. This was revealed by a new report released by the National Center for Health Statistics. Aside from this, NCHS also claimed that men who took their own lives is higher compared to women.

This just shows that suicide cases in the United States are getting worse. Americans who committed suicide reached almost 50,000 in the previous year; most of them are males.

What's more alarming that is NCHS officials warned that the numbers they provided are provisional, meaning that the real suicide rate in 2022 might be higher than estimated.

US Suicide Rate Drastically Rises in 2022

According to Fox News' latest report, in 2022, over 23 men committed suicide in every 100,000 population. Meanwhile, more than 5 women took their own lives per 100,000 population.

NCHS said that the average rate for all Americans was more than 14 (14.3 to be exact) per 100,000 per population; this is considered the highest suicide record in the U.S. since 1941.

The National Center for Health Statistics released its data a few days after the Department of Veterans Affairs revealed its own report showing a spike in suicide cases among American service members.

VA officials said that American veterans who committed suicide increased by over 11% between 2020 and 2021 (6,392 suicide cases were reported in 2021).

"It's a disturbing trend that after going down for two years, we saw a spike. After COVID and the Afghanistan withdrawal ... it's probably not surprising that we saw an increase in veteran suicide," said Mission Roll Call Executive Director Cole Lyle.

"Anecdotally, we saw a lot of evidence that both of those events were negatively impacting the mental health in the veterans community and suicide rates," added Lyle, who is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

Read Also: China's Teenage Suicide Rates Surge as Students Struggle With Heavy Course Loads

How To Help Suicidal People

Western Michigan University explained that suicidal people need all the help they can get, especially from their partners, families, relatives, as well as close friends.

If you suspect that your partner, a family member, or a friend is suicidal, here's what you can do:

Check for warning signs of suicide risk and depression.

When listening to them, take their suicidal statements seriously.

Sometimes, suicidal people don't need your opinion. All they need is for you to actively listen.

Instead of giving cliche advice, try encouraging them to seek professional help.

If ever you suspect an individual at high risk for suicide, never leave them alone.

Related Article: UK: Landlord Blamed for Tenant's Suicide Case After Ignoring Noise Complaints; Housing Ombudsman Finds Maladministration

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Ten Army National Guard Soldiers from New Yorks Recruiting and Retention Battalion volunteered their time on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, to help send 131 Christmas trees from a Saratoga County tree farm to military families at bases in Virginia and Florida.

The Guard recruiters joined 30 other volunteers at Ellms Family Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, to load trees donated to the Trees for Troops program on board a truck and dispatch them for shipment by FedEx.

New York Army National Guard Sgt. First Class Derrick Zwack said he volunteered to help because he remembered how seeing a Christmas tree while he was deployed had cheered him up.

When you are overseas, your fellow Soldiers become like a second family, but you still miss your family back home, Zwack said. These trees give us a sense of home when we are away for the holidays.

Ellms Tree Farm, a family Christmas season destination for families throughout the Albany region, has served as a collection site for trees for 19 years.

Owner Sally Ellms said that she is always amazed by the generosity of the local growers.

When I checked a week ago, we had about 30 trees stacked on the trailer, Ellms said. So, I made some phone calls to thank and remind our growers and in our final week, we had another hundred donated.

Trees for Troops, a national program, was launched in 2005 by the Christmas Spirit Foundation, and with the help of FedEx, delivered more than 4,300 Christmas Trees to five U.S. military bases in its initial year, and up to 2022 had shipped a total of 293,392 trees.

This year will see us go past a third of a million donated trees, said Garth Ellms, who now runs the family farm.

Fresh cut Christmas trees are gathered at farm and retail lots before pick up by Trees for Troops partner FedEx, and routed through distribution centers for delivery to 84 military bases this holiday season.

This years trees from the Capital Region are going to a Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia and an Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. In previous years, Ellms said trees have gone to overseas bases in Afghanistan.

This year saw a wide array of volunteers, including veterans representing all service branches from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Gulf War, Cold War and Vietnam War.

The veterans were also joined by New York State Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh and volunteers from the Association of the United States Army. Even one of the FedEx drivers was a Marine Corps veteran.

Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Moseman said its all about giving back.

Its a great day when we gather these Soldiers together and load the trees onto the truck, Moseman said. With so many service members sacrificing time with their families for the holidays, it feels awesome to do this for them and remind them of how much we care.

Loading the trees is an unofficial start to the holiday season, Sally Ellms said.

This is my favorite part of Christmas. Its so appreciated (by) people who wouldnt otherwise have trees, she said.
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.

News staff reporter Stephen T. Watson contributed to this article.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  Two women from out of state who were connected to a string of car burglaries at the Nature Reserve were arrested in North Jersey, police said Wednesday.

Tanya Thomas, 54, of Cleveland, and Krista Luckenbill, 35, of Reading, Pennsylvania, were arrested in Oakland, Bergen County, and charged with theft by deception, receiving stolen property, forgery, money laundering, false identity and trafficking in personal identifying information. They were additionally charged in Voorhees and Audubon, Camden County, and West Deptford, Gloucester County.

Township police said that on seven different occasions in 2023 they responded to the Nature Reserve on Zion Road for reports of vehicles that were broken into in a specific way with similar items stolen consistent to a national trend. Each time, police said at least one vehicle was broken into through a smashed window.

These break-ins were similar to those being reported across the country, police said. They would occur at parks, local gyms or youth sporting events because they were the types of situations where a person would leave valuables in their vehicle rather than carry them.

Thieves would target pocketbooks, wallets, purses and backpacks, which would contain IDs, credit cards, cash and checkbooks. The smash-and-grabs would take only minutes, and then the suspects would depart the area and attempt to use the stolen items in other jurisdictions, usually an hour away or out of state.

Thomas and Luckenbill were confirmed by police to be tied to at least two of the burglaries that happened at the Nature Reserve.

On Friday, EHT police filed the same charges as above against Luckenbill for two incidents that occurred in Plainfield and Scotch Plains, Union County, where those stolen items were then used in the township, police said. Due to the specific incidents that occurred in EHT, Thomas and Luckenbill were both additionally charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit theft.

Police advised the public to consider leaving valuables at home if they will not fit in a pocket or if people are heading to an area where they wont carry these items. People also may lock items in their glove box or install a safe inside the vehicle. If that isnt possible, people should consider concealing valuables so they are not visible from outside the vehicle.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  A state education authority is expanding its student aid services in an attempt to increase New Jerseys education workforce.

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will begin making all types of student loans, including private ones, eligible for its New Jersey Teacher Loan Redemption Program.

It also will offer a $10 million stipend program for student-teachers navigating financial challenges while enrolled in college.

The organization made the announcement Wednesday at Stockton University.

The announcement comes two days after Gov. Phil Murphy, in an attempt to address the states teacher shortage, signed a bill establishing alternate education certifications.

State officials said taking steps to address the shortage is necessary to maintain New Jerseys high-quality level of public education.

With one of the top education systems in our nation, New Jersey is looking to grow and strengthen our educational workforce, Murphy said in a statement. Teachers are the lifeblood of our school systems, helping to prepare the future leaders of our state, country and the world. It is of critical importance that we create competitive initiatives that attract and retain top educator talent by ensuring financial barriers dont keep great teachers out of the classroom.

David Socolow, HESAAs executive director, said the authoritys move is made possible through funding in the state budget.

Coastal Prep celebrates Thanksgiving: Hometown briefs 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.

These two both address one of the challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers, which is the increasing concerns about the high cost of higher education, and how to pay off that student-loan debt on an educators salary, Socolow said Wednesday. Were tackling that problem in two different ways, both on the front end and on the back end of the education workforce pipeline.

Teachers in high-need fields, including science and mathematics, can obtain up to $5,000 per year, for a maximum of $20,000 for up to four years of schooling, paid for by HESAA, the organization said.

Teachers also must be employed at an eligible school. Locally, several districts, including Atlantic City and Bridgeton, are on HESAAs list.

Applications are being accepted until Feb. 1.

Under the stipend program, HESAA will issue $3,000 for student-teachers during their full-time clinical practice semester, as part of an approved Educator Preparation Program at one of New Jerseys colleges or universities. The funding helps prospective educators with the cost of housing, health care and other educational needs.

New Jerseys teacher shortage follows nationwide trends.

A report released late last year by the National Center for Education Statistics said 18% of public schools had one teaching vacancy and 26% had multiple teaching vacancies as of October 2022, adding that 4% of all public-school teaching positions were vacant.

State education officials, citing data, say the COVID-19 pandemic deepened the shortfall in recent years. Subjects including science, math and special education suffered the most from the shortage, state officials said.

Local chef continues feeding for Thanksgiving as nonprofit grows As the need for Thanksgiving dinners rises, local Chef Andre Murphy and his team are committed to meeting the demand.

Studies by state officials suggest the shortage may be linked to a drop in future teachers happening along with retirements.

Emily Loeb, a recent graduate of Stockton, has applied for student debt relief through the redemption program. Shes a current science teacher at Atlantic City High School.

Teachers are so much more than just educators, said Loeb. We are role models, mentors, advocates and educators, of course, all wrapped up into one.
ATLANTIC CITY  Residents in the Atlantic City Housing Authoritys Inlet Towers are trying to stay warm after almost a month of little to no heat and hot water, but some are doing it in a dangerous way: They are turning on their gas stoves and ovens.

We turn it off and on, said Emilio Martinez, 82, of the stove and oven. We worry about breathing (the fumes).

Wife Roberta Martinez said she is asthmatic and it isnt good for her to have the gas stove on so much, but its her only way of getting the apartment warm.

Even with it on, however, she and her husband wear layers of clothing, she said.

Inlet Towers is a 14-story, 156-unit high rise for seniors and the disabled on North New Hampshire Avenue with a view of Absecon Inlet.

The Housing Authority has been unable to get the heat and hot water working consistently at Inlet Towers or at Stanley Holmes Villages for most of this heating season.

Neither Housing Authority Executive Director Tom Sahlin or board Chair Stephanie Marshall responded to requests for information Wednesday about when the heat will be fixed in either complex.

Altman Terrace has struggled with similar issues as well.

More heat, hot water emergencies at Stanley Holmes, Altman Terrace The city's housing authority spent Friday morning dealing with a "significant underground leak" that flooded the courtyard of Stanley Holmes Village, while residents at another community, Altman Terrace, say they have been without hot water for nearly a week.

On Tuesday night, temperatures hit the 20s and never got out of the 30s during the day Wednesday.

The heating problems also are continuing as a group from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is due to make a site visit in a week or so, according to people familiar with the schedule who are not authorized to speak for the authority.

We havent had heat and hot water for 27 of the last 30 days, said Lynn McGee, who has lived in Inlet Towers for 13 years.

Each day she records on her calendar the status of the basic services in the building, she said.

Conditions are especially a problem for people who babysit grandchildren or just want them to visit, she said.

How are you going to bring your babies and grandkids to your home if you dont have heat? McGee said.

Its also been more than a month since one of the two elevators in the building stopped working, McGee said.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, has asked HUD to take over the authority, which residents say has been unable to provide basic services in many of its nine communities.

Atlantic City Housing Authority, residents spar over rent abatements at Stanley Holmes Village A year into a lawsuit by tenants alleging unsafe and unhealthy conditions at Stanley Holmes Village, the Atlantic City Housing Authority has requested more time from a judge to investigate the conditions of specific apartments to determine individual rent abatements.

Other Inlet Towers residents, like Mary Kuzmonich, 76, are relying on electric space heaters, which are safer than using cooking appliances but still far from ideal.

It got a lot worse this year. ... Before this year if something happened in the building it was fixed, Kuzmonich said as she sat in her living room in front of a small electric heater and wearing several layers of clothing.

Patricia Nellom, 72, Kuzmonichs neighbor on the 13th floor, has an electric fireplace she brought with her when she moved in several years ago. She didnt realize how much she would rely on it then, she said.

Kuzmonich has lived in the building 11 years and likes her apartment and neighbors, she said.

I dont want to move anyplace else, Kuzmonich said. We are all on fixed incomes. There is no way I could afford a regular apartment, living on Social Security.

But heat, hot water and a working elevator are essentials, she said.

We have people in wheelchairs and who need walkers, Kuzmonich said. If the other elevator also breaks, she will be stuck in her apartment.

I could never walk up 13 floors, Kuzmonich said.
British Library's customers have been informed that in the course of a recent ransomware assault, which has rendered the library's systems and website inaccessible for the last month, it is possible that their personal information was taken.

The British Library informed its customers this weeka message that TechCrunch has seenthat the hack, for which the Rhysida ransomware group has now taken credit, gained access to its customer relation management (CRM) systems.

"At a minimum, these databases contain the name and email address of most of our users. For users of some of our services, these databases may also contain a postal address or telephone number," the disclosure notice states.

Lishani Ramanayake, a representative at the British Library, refuses to disclose the estimate of the number of impacted clients.

Clients' Sensitive Data Stolen by Hackers

As stated on their dark web leak site, the Rhysida gang claims that 90% of the information that was stolen from the British Library has been made public. The listing said that there are more than 490,000 files, with a total size of 573 gigabytes, something that the British Library did not argue about.

Dark web leak sites are often used by ransomware organizations to force victims into paying a ransom for data.

Approximately $740,000 worth of cryptocurrency was the asking price when the Rhysida gang first listed the data for sale. The publicly accessible data includes sensitive employee information (such as pay details and passport scans), as well as internal documents (such as training records and invoices).

Also Read: Hackers Could Take Full Control of ownCloud's Servers Due to Security Vulnerability

Data Breach That Started in October

According to an earlier update provided last week, the British Library has verified that there was an internet breach of what appears to be from the library's internal human resources files. Back then, the company said it had "no evidence" of a data breach involving its customers.

The British Library has now come clean about the fact that it has outsourced all payment processing to third-party suppliers, thus users' financial information was not compromised in the hack.

"We are, therefore, confident that no credit or debit card data was on the affected network, and that any card details you may have used to make purchases with us," the library stated.

The incident, which began in October, has affected the British Library's website, online systems, and some on-site services, including access to collection objects. As a result of the cyber breach, the British Library is now suffering a "major technology outage," it said in a post on X (previously Twitter).

While the library hopes to restore additional services in the next weeks, it has already announced that certain services will be unavailable for at least "several months."

Were continuing to experience a major technology outage as a result of a cyber-attack. This is affecting our website, online systems and services, as well as some onsite services.



Our St Pancras and Boston Spa sites are open, and you can find details of the services available, pic.twitter.com/GPFaZN9iZ4  British Library (@britishlibrary) November 24, 2023

Also Read: China Allegedly Harassing AmericaownCloud'sorld's Largest Disinformation Scheme

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TRENTON  State lawmakers plan to hold a hearing Thursday on a bill to overturn the casino smoking ban exemption.

The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee has scheduled a hearing on the bill for 1 p.m., according to the Legislature's calendar.

It is one of 11 bills the committee is scheduled to take up during the hearing.

Six senators on the eight-person committee already sponsors or co-sponsors the legislation.

The bill would end an exception for casinos in New Jerseys indoor smoking ban, which was passed in 2006. Smoking is limited to 25% of a casino floor.

Gov. Phil Murphy has said he would sign the bill if it cleared the Legislature.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, at a recent news conference said lawmakers would likely consider the bill in the Legislature's lame-duck period, which falls between Election Day and when the Legislature reorganizes.

Casino workers have pressured lawmakers to take up the bill, arguing doing so would help protect their health by limiting their exposure to secondhand smoke.

Meanwhile, casino leaders have said the industry could suffer significant monetary losses, leading to about 3,000 layoffs and possibly casino closures.

About two-thirds of New Jerseyans support banning smoking in casinos, according to a Stockton University poll published in April 2022.

NJ Legislature pondering move on Atlantic City casino smoking ban State lawmakers are considering moving on legislation to end smoking in the resort's casinos during their lame-duck session.
State Sen. Vince Polistina, R-Atlantic, has asked the state Election Law Enforcement Commission to do a full investigation into the Jersey Freedom super PACs activities in the Nov. 7 general election.

Polistina wants ELEC to determine whether the political action committee was created to shield contributions and expenditures intended to interfere with a free and fair election in Districts 2 and 4.

He made the request in a Nov. 30 letter to ELEC Chair Thomas H. Prol.

In the 2nd Legislative District, where Polistina won reelection handily, Jersey Freedom supported third party conservative Libertarian candidate Shawn Peck with television ads and mailers, even though Peck had dropped out of the race over concerns that the super PAC was trying to benefit Democrats by splitting the GOP vote.

Jersey Freedom also paid for television ads and mailers backing third party conservative candidates in the 4th District who were either phantoms who conducted no campaign or recruited by Democrats to run as fake conservatives, Republicans allege.

The Fourth District covers parts of Camden and Gloucester counties and the Atlantic County towns of Buena and Buena Vista Township.

New Jersey Republicans are suing Jersey Freedom, alleging the group didnt follow state election law in disclosure documents.

On Nov. 3, Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael J. Blee ordered Jersey Freedom, based in Queens, New York, to stop any further expenditure of funds, political communications or electioneering in connection with the Nov. 7 election.

General election results official; Ward 2 Atlantic City race contest continues Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo said Monday he has certified the results of the Nov. 7 general election, making them official.

On Nov. 8, Jersey Freedom attorney William M. Tambussi filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying it is not based on facts or law.

Tambussi has been counsel to the Camden County Democratic Committee since 1989.

Politico reported Tuesday that a Nov. 27 filing with ELEC showed Jersey Freedom raised $225,000, all of which came from Brighter Future Forward, a South Jersey Democratic super PAC that also first came to the publics attention late in the campaign season.

Polistina said the group made a mockery of New Jersey election law.

The group listed no contributors on paperwork filed with ELEC before the election, even though it had spent at least $35,000 on mailers alone.

Does anyone believe that Creative Print Group would have extended credit in that fashion to someone who no one in New Jersey politics has ever heard of  and who had a bank account with no money in it? asked Polistina. The more you dig, the more you realize that none of this story makes any sense. To ensure that this type of election interference never happens again, I am calling on ELEC to conduct a complete and transparent investigation and prosecute any crimes that occurred. The people of New Jersey need to have the utmost confidence in their elections.

Atlantic County Democrats have denied any involvement in Jersey Freedoms activities.

Blee has set a trial date for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 11 and ordered Jersey Freedom Treasurer Eric Peterson and other representatives of the PAC to appear then.
The Pune Metro Rail Project is offering small business spaces within metro stations, it opens doors for entrepreneurs and retailers. The retail licensing process, currently underway, covers spaces under 100 sq. metres at selected stations in corridors 1 and 2. With 38 available spaces for a nine-year period, this initiative holds significant promise for those seeking a foothold in the bustling metro stations.

The bidding process is conducted online, promoting transparency in the allocation of these commercial spaces. For detailed information and participation, interested parties can visit the official Pune Metro Rail Project Tender page http://www.punemetrorail.org/Tenders.aspx . This move aims to invite dynamic businesses into the metro ecosystem, fostering a symbiotic relationship between commuters and local entrepreneurs.

The metro stations serve as prime locations, witnessing a daily influx of thousands of commuters from PCMC to Pune. This infusion of potential customers makes these retail spaces a lucrative investment. As of November 2023, the Pune Metro has already garnered a cumulative ridership of 8,818,761, averaging 53,000 passengers daily. The highest single-day ridership recorded stands at an impressive 1,69,512. These numbers are poised to surge further once the entire stretch becomes fully operational, showcasing the immense business potential embedded in this urban transit network.

The Pune Metro Rail Project, spanning two corridors - the North-South Corridor (Purple line) and the East-West Corridor (Aqua line), covers a cumulative length of 33.2 kilometers with 30 stations. The elevated section spans 27.2 kilometers, complemented by a 6-kilometer underground stretch. Commencing with the flag-off ceremony on March 6, 2022, 10 stations were officially opened to the public. Subsequent inaugurations by the Prime Minister on August 1, 2023, unveiled an additional 11 stations. Currently, 23.66 kilometers are commercially operational, while the remaining 9.62 kilometers are in active development.
Police take action on two breweries on the banks of Pavana river in Shirgaon area

Shirgaon police and anti-extortion squad conducted raids on liquor factories operating at two places on the banks of Pavana river within Shirgaon police station limits. In this, eight lakh worth of goods have been destroyed.

The Shirgaon police received information that a person had set up a liquor furnace in Shirgaon on the banks of the Pavana river. Accordingly, on Wednesday (29th) at five o'clock in the evening, Shirgaon police destroyed three thousand jaggery mixed chemicals worth 2 lakh 41 thousand rupees. A case has been registered against Kundan Prakash Nanawat (age 52, Shirgaon, Maval) in this case.

Another operation was carried out near Kanjar Bhat settlement on the banks of Pavana river at Shirgaon. According to the information received by the anti-extortion team, the police raided and destroyed 5,60,000 worth of jaggery-mixed chemicals needed to prepare 7,000 liters of Gavathi liquor. In this case, a case has been registered against Jatin Jitendra Rajput (age 27, Shirgaon, Maval).
Thanks to local labor unions, students in East Moline schools will receive brand-new winter clothing in coming weeks.

Joshua Schipp, staff representative of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Council 31, said participating local affiliates suspected an increased need for warm clothing items among East Moline students this year.

"...And, of course, the cost of these materials has gone up as well," he said. "I think, over the years, some of our leadership has learned about the unique needs here (East Moline schools). Students who are who are most at risk, unfortunately, may not be able to afford new coast to be able to have the proper protection for winter."

East Moline Superintendent Kristin Humphries spoke to these needs, noting how some district students will voluntarily miss recess because they lack a winter coat.

"This will be the first time some of our students are getting a new coat," he said, adding many East Moline families must choose between purchasing essential items like food, medicine or clothing. "Those choices are hard."

Humphries and Melissa McCullough, principal of the East Moline Early Learning Center, thanked participating AFSCME unions for their work to relieve some of this burden.

"Almost 100% of the children we serve have at-risk characteristics," McCullough said. "Our needs have increased over the years, especially after COVID. We've seen more developmental delays, more family and community needs. So we do need to provide more support, not just in the classroom, but supporting that whole child and the whole family."

Due to school district needs, the annual coat donation has become a tradition of AFSCME Local 46, which represents East Moline Correctional Center employees.

This year, AFSCME Local 2040 and 2025 unions (representing employees at East Moline school district and Rock Island County, respectively) joined in on the fundraising, garnering more coats, hats, gloves and other warm items for students.

"We always try to donate to some cause during Christmas time, annually," said Bob Schultz, president of Local 2040. "This year, we thought it would be very appropriate to donate to this coat drive, knowing we had some additional funds we could donate."

Noting Local 2040's close relationship with East Moline schools, he looks forward to participating in future coat donation drives.

"Our union specifically donated $500," Schultz said. "Next year, knowing this is going on, we would like to up that and match other locals."

Participating AFSCME locals raised approximately $4,250 total  an estimated 80 to 100 winter coat donations, Schipp said.

"It's a simple thing, it's an impactful thing," he said. "It's really what AFSCME does  everyday, our members are serving the community. This is one additional way that happens."

To unveil this year's donations, union reps joined East Moline school officials at the Early Learning Center on Wednesday.

Moving forward, Schipp encourages other local organizations to explore similar fundraising opportunities that, "don't take a lot of time, but will have a big impact."

Case in point, McCollough suspects that the majority of her students would benefit from a new coat.

"...So this is just amazing," she said. "From a different perspective, I think families sometimes (underestimate) the benefit of getting children outside to play."

Outdoor play is essential for young students' overall development, McCollough said, noting her schools' recess temperature guidelines.

"If it (feels like) 25 degrees or higher, they (students) should be outside, getting fresh air, movement and being able to explore their environment," she said.

Close A flag hung by the Operating Engineers Local 150 waved over the East Moline Labor Day parade on its 40th Anniversary. From left to right, Nadia Gryp, 5, August Burbridge, 7, and Dakota Gryp 1, keep cool under an umbrella at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Alma Tovar holds her niece, Cataleya Yanez, 9 months, as they watch the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Participants in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade hold signs, throw candy, and wave Monday Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march and hand out candy in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Mike Malmstrom, the founder of the East Moline Labor Day parade, was selected as the Grand Marshall in 2023 for the parade's 40th anniversary. A parade spectator watches as the Ironworkers Local 111 float passes by at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Easton Vandeneinde, 12, holds six-month-old Zayleigh Korch, who was dressed up for her first Labor Day parade in East Moline Sept. 4, 2023. Barry and Debbie Gruhl put out a statue in a bunny costume for each parade that goes by Debbie's business, the Dance Connection. Kids like taking photos with it and sometimes people are taken aback when they approach and see it's not a person. "He's our little mascot," Debbie said Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. A trumpet player in the Moline Marching Maroons gets a drink while marching in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. From left, Jordan and Michael Brand go after candy thrown at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday Sept. 4, 2023. Jordan Brand shows handfuls of candy he picked up at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Children grab candy during the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. High temperatures reached above 90 degrees Monday. Children toss candy from aboard a crane vehicle from a Quad-Cities crane rental agency at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. The 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade drew hundreds of participants and spectators Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, despite the heat. The Ironworkers Local 111 march in the 40th Annual Labor Day Parade in East Moline on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants throw candy during the 40th Annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants dance while holding a sign for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees at the 40th Annual Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Children hand out and collect candy at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Trey French, 1, starts on a sucker while sitting on Samantha French's lap watching the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Kaycen Christie, 3 months, Trey French, 1, Samantha French, and Jaedyn French, 12, pose for a picture Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Photos: 40th East Moline Labor Day Parade 2023 A flag hung by the Operating Engineers Local 150 waved over the East Moline Labor Day parade on its 40th Anniversary. From left to right, Nadia Gryp, 5, August Burbridge, 7, and Dakota Gryp 1, keep cool under an umbrella at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Alma Tovar holds her niece, Cataleya Yanez, 9 months, as they watch the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Participants in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade hold signs, throw candy, and wave Monday Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march and hand out candy in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Mike Malmstrom, the founder of the East Moline Labor Day parade, was selected as the Grand Marshall in 2023 for the parade's 40th anniversary. A parade spectator watches as the Ironworkers Local 111 float passes by at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Easton Vandeneinde, 12, holds six-month-old Zayleigh Korch, who was dressed up for her first Labor Day parade in East Moline Sept. 4, 2023. Barry and Debbie Gruhl put out a statue in a bunny costume for each parade that goes by Debbie's business, the Dance Connection. Kids like taking photos with it and sometimes people are taken aback when they approach and see it's not a person. "He's our little mascot," Debbie said Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. A trumpet player in the Moline Marching Maroons gets a drink while marching in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. From left, Jordan and Michael Brand go after candy thrown at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday Sept. 4, 2023. Jordan Brand shows handfuls of candy he picked up at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Children grab candy during the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. High temperatures reached above 90 degrees Monday. Children toss candy from aboard a crane vehicle from a Quad-Cities crane rental agency at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. The 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade drew hundreds of participants and spectators Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, despite the heat. The Ironworkers Local 111 march in the 40th Annual Labor Day Parade in East Moline on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants throw candy during the 40th Annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants dance while holding a sign for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees at the 40th Annual Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Parade participants march in the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Children hand out and collect candy at the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day Parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Trey French, 1, starts on a sucker while sitting on Samantha French's lap watching the 40th annual East Moline Labor Day parade Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Kaycen Christie, 3 months, Trey French, 1, Samantha French, and Jaedyn French, 12, pose for a picture Monday, Sept. 4, 2023.
Republican Henry County Board member Tim Yager is running for the 37th State Senate District in Illinois.

The district includes a portion of Rock Island County, along with all of Lee and Whiteside counties and parts of Bureau, DeKalb, Henry, LaSalle, Marshall, Ogle, Peoria, Stark, and Woodford counties.

Republican Sen. Win Stoller holds the seat. Stoller was elected in 2020 and announced in August that he would not seek reelection.

He plans to serve through the end of his term in 2025.

In Yager's announcement, he said Springfield needs leaders who understand the issues facing typical Illinoisians and know how to fight for solutions.

"We need leaders who lead," Yager said. "We must elect legislators who go to Springfield to make good policy, stand for commonsense values, and who bring ideas and incentives that make our economy, and our lives, better, safer, and healthier."

Yager serves on the Henry County Board and the Henry County Farm Bureau Board. He also served on Congressman Darin LaHood's Agriculture Advisory Council and is a six-generation farmer.

He has farmed since 1992 and became a full-time farmer in 2014.

His experience in local politics, Yager's announcement said, exemplifies a track record "of public service leading to the call to seek higher public office."

"My experience in the boardroom, on the farm, and as a husband and father prepared me to serve in the General Assembly," Yager said. "People know the kind of Senator I'll be for our region because of my proven track record, and I am asking for their prayers, support, and vote."

Yager describes himself as pro-life, an avid-supporter of the Second Amendment, believes schools should be controlled locally, supports law enforcement and believes basic law and order are necessary for strong communities.

Former State Sen. Todd Sieban said having a candidate with the experience and character of Yager is a "good thing" for the district.

"Illinois faces massive economic challenges but they can be solved if we have sensible leadership working on sensible solutions," Sieban said in Yager's announcement.

Yager also worked for Geneseo Communications and started the company iPCS Wireless Inc., which he eventually traded. It was sold to Sprint Nextel in 2009.

Yager faces two opponents from Dixon  Republicans Chris Bishop and Li Arellano, Jr.

Bishop is a current Dixon City Council member and Arellano formerly served as Mayor of Dixon.

Arellano completed eights years as mayor in May 2023. He also ran for the 74th Illinois House District last year but was defeated by Dixon Republican Bradley Fritts. Fritts is a first-time lawmaker and made history as one of the youngest elected officials to be sworn into the General Assembly at 23-years-old.

No Democrats have filed to run for the 37th Senate District so far, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections filing results.

The Illinois General Primary is in March, 2024.

Correction: One instance of the spelling of Yager's name has been corrected.

Close Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives are sworn in during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, looks on during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Jan. 11. State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, votes for Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, votes for Tony McCombie, R-Savana, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, votes for Tony McCombie, R-Savana, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, is sworn in as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Jan. 11. State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, hugs new Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savana, during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Sue Scherer applauds during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, hugs family after being sworn in as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Tony McCombie, R-Savana, speaks after being elected Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias makes the declaration of the order of business during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. House members take the Pledge of Allegiance on Wednesday at the start of inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield. Democrat Sharon Chung of Bloomington reacts after being sworn in Wednesday as representative for the Illinois House 91st District during inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield. Photos: Illinois lawmakers sworn in for 103rd General Assembly Illinois lawmakers were sworn in for new terms Wednesday. Scenes from the day: Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives are sworn in during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, R-Decatur, looks on during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Jan. 11. State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, votes for Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Bill Hauter, R-Morton, votes for Tony McCombie, R-Savana, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, votes for Tony McCombie, R-Savana, to be Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, is sworn in as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Jan. 11. State Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, hugs new Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savana, during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. State Rep. Sue Scherer applauds during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, hugs family after being sworn in as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Tony McCombie, R-Savana, speaks after being elected Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias makes the declaration of the order of business during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. Emanuel Chris Welch speaks after being elected Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives during the Inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday. House members take the Pledge of Allegiance on Wednesday at the start of inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield. Democrat Sharon Chung of Bloomington reacts after being sworn in Wednesday as representative for the Illinois House 91st District during inauguration of the 103rd General Assembly at the University of Illinois Springfield.
Penguin Random House, the Iowa State Education Association and some bestselling authors are suing the state of Iowa over a law that bans books with sexual content from public school libraries, arguing the law violates First Amendment free speech rights.

The publishing giant filed the lawsuit in federal court on Thursday, naming Iowa State Board of Education President John Robbins, Iowa State Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow, and a number of local school districts and officials as defendants.

Bestselling authors including John Green, Jodi Picoult and Malinda Lo are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. An anonymous high school student and their parent, along with three teachers also joined the lawsuit.

The lawsuit argues that the restrictions on books imposed by Senate File 496 are overbroad and an unconstitutional restriction on speech and the right to receive information.

The law, passed by Republican lawmakers this year and signed into law by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, prohibits books that include descriptions or depictions of any of a list of defined sex acts from public school libraries.

The law includes several other provisions, including a ban on teaching about gender and sexuality before seventh grade, a requirement that schools inform parents if a student asks to be referred to by a different name or set of gender pronouns, and other requirements intended to expand transparency at public schools.

It is the second lawsuit against the law filed this week. Iowa Safe Schools, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, filed a separate lawsuit challenging the law on Tuesday.

What does the lawsuit against Iowa's book ban argue?

The new lawsuit seeks to strike down only the portion of the law that restricts books in school libraries, while the ACLU lawsuit seeks to strike down the entire law.

The lawsuit argues the age-appropriate prohibition on descriptions or depictions of sex acts goes beyond prohibiting obscene or pornographic books, saying it is an overbroad prohibition that violates students First Amendment right to receive information.

Government authorities cannot violate the First Amendment right to free speech by pretending that school grounds are constitutional no-fly zones, said Dan Novack, vice president and associate general counsel at Penguin Random House in a press conference Thursday.

Penguin Random House has been involved in litigation over book banning legislation in other states, including a lawsuit against a school district in Florida over removal of library books.

Novack said there is a distinction between a school's curriculum and its library, which has traditionally been a place where students could freely access information regardless of its content.

He argued removing a book based solely on the presence of a sex act or LGBTQ themes circumvents existing obscenity laws and should not be the role of the state government.

"Sex, race, politics, no idea can be banned by government authorities," he said "There's a universal position here that applies with equal force."

The lawsuit also argues the law violates the due process clause of the Constitution by being too vague to be properly followed. It points to the term "description" in the law as not providing enough guidance about what statements would violate the law.

What do Republican lawmakers say?

Iowa Republican lawmakers have defended the law as a measure to prohibit pornographic books from public schools. But in implementing the law, some school districts have removed classic books such as George Orwells 1984 and Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse Five.

The sexualization of children in schools does not have a place in Iowa, Republican Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley said in a statement. This is a responsible and reasonable law that I believe all Iowans could get behind if the far left and the media would stop playing politics and accurately represent what is actually in the law."

A spokesperson for Reynolds pointed to an earlier statement in response to the ACLU lawsuit against the law, in which she said the laws goals shouldnt be controversial.

The real (controversy) is that it exists in elementary schools, she said. Books with graphic depictions of sex acts have absolutely no place in our schools.

Republican Senate Majority Leader said in an emailed statement that Senate Republicans "will continue to advance policies to empower parents so Iowa students receive the best education in the country."

The Iowa Board of Education has proposed rules for implementing the law, though school officials have said they do not clear up all the ambiguities and confusion school districts are facing.

What do authors say about the law?

Laurie Halse Anderson and Malinda Lo, two of the authors who joined the lawsuit, said during Thursday's press conference the law prevented students from reading their books and exploring perspectives they may identify with.

Anderson's 1999 award-winning novel "Speak," which centers on a 13-year-old who is raped at a party and her struggle to talk about the experience, has been removed from some Iowa schools because of the law. She said the law limits the ability of students to learn about important topics like sexual assault.

"When confronted with challenging topics like sexual violence, some people prefer to stick their heads in the sand," she said. "That makes children vulnerable to predators. And it ensures that another generation of adults will grow up to become predators ... Literature has the power to open hearts, fuel souls and promote growth and understanding."

Lo's 2021 novel "Last Night at the Telegraph Club," which has been removed from some Iowa school districts, details a Chinese-American teenager who realizes she is queer. Lo said the law serves to stigmatize LGBTQ identities by limiting access to materials about them.

"Seeing yourself in a book can be a transformative and empowering experience, one that I rarely had when I was growing up," she said. "This is why I write about queer and Asian American characters."
With the Family

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." But wait. A mouse is stirring because Santa missed his house last year.

Circa '21 will present the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf and a spunky little girl who visit the North Pole and just won't take no for an answer this holiday season with performances of the children's show, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."

Show-only performances, as well as brunch days, will available through Dec. 23.

Tickets are $13 to $25. Visit www.Circa21.com for more information and a complete schedule.

On A Date

Nightcaps Improv comedy troupe will present, "Shots and Giggles," this weekend.

Adult improv comedy and alcohol will crash together into one hilarious evening from 8-10 p.m. Saturday at The Speakeasy, 1818 3rd Ave., Rock Island.

Throughout the show, the performers will do shots and toasts with the audience while playing drinking-themed improv games that the audience suggests.

Participants must be 21 or older. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 309-786-7733, ext. 2 or visit thecirca21speakeasy.com.

In Real Time

Downtown LeClaire will come alive with free trolley rides, crafts, baked goods, silent auctions and plenty of opportunities for little ones to meet Santa Claus and other favorite holiday characters this weekend during Christmas in LeClaire.

Events will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday throughout the town.

The annual Tree Lighting will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday on the south end of the levee.

Saturday highlights will include Breakfast with Santa, the Ugly Sweater 5K and Reindeer Dash Kids' runs and the annual Light Up LeClaire Christmas Parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. and traveling along Wisconsin Street.

For more information, including a complete schedule, visit www.visitleclaire.com/events/christmas-in-leclaire.

Dine and Drink

On Saturday, the Center for Belgian Culture will be host their monthly Belgian Waffle Breakfast with a holiday twist  Belgian Saint Nick or Sinterklaas, as he is called in the old country, will be in attendance.

The breakfast will be held from 8-11 a.m. at Friends Circle Club, 701 18th Ave., Moline.

In addition to visiting with Saint Nick, the Happy Belgians will be serenading everyone with Dixieland jazz and Christmas tunes.

Proceeds benefit the Center for Belgian Culture in Moline.

A full waffle meal includes one waffle with fruit topping of your choice, two fat, juicy sausages and a beverage for $9. Add-ons and kids' meals are also available. Cash only.

Just For Fun

Join in the most wonderful run of the year when the Rock Island Rotary presents the Reindeer Ramble 5K Run/Walk on Sunday.

The 5K features a fast, flat and scenic out-and-back course along the bike path in Rock Island that begins at 9 a.m. at Schwiebert Riverfront Park.

Costumes and holiday outfits are encouraged. There will be a post-race party with hot cocoa, pie and pastries.

Registration is $30 with t-shirts guaranteed for runners who register in advance. Register online at http://getmeregistered.com/rotaryreindeerramble.

Packet pickup and race day registration will be held Sunday at the Holiday Inn, 226 17th St., Rock Island, from 7:30-8:45 a.m.

All proceeds benefit Rock Island Rotary programs for youth and the partnership with Earl Hanson Elementary in Rock Island.

Photos: Holiday Train comes to Davenport
Terry Tilka went to St. Ambrose College pursuing criminal justice, hoping to be in the FBI or work for the government. But it didn't quite work out that way.

After bartending full-time through college, Tilka decided to keep working in the bar industry after graduation.

"When I told my dad what I was going to do after college he wasnt too happy, Tilka said in a media release on Thursday.

But naming his first bar O'Meara's, after his mother's maiden name, eased Tilka's father's mind.

Now, almost 50 years later, Tilka is retiring. Rock Island Brewing Company, or RIBCO, will be open through Dec. 17, he said.

In his decades of experience in the Quad-Cities bar and live music scene, Tilka has owned OMearas Pub in Bettendorf; Pat McGuires in Davenport; Dubuque Street Brewing Company in Iowa City and RIBCO. He's also booked concerts at the Isle of Capri and Waterside Convention Center.

Asked via email, Tilka did not specify future plans for RIBCO, but said that the brewery will be open until Dec. 17.

The city of Rock Island introduced a proposal in April planning to remove the pedestrian mall outside RIBCO, on 2nd Avenue, between 18th and 19th streets in Rock Island. The change would replace it with a two-lane street street, with 25- to 30-foot-wide sidewalks on either side.

"A lot is changing with the new Downtown Alliance and upcoming streetscaping projects," said Miles Brainard, Rock Island's community economic development director, via email.

"Time will tell, but the future for RIBCO and the entire downtown looks promising."

Brainard added that the RIBCO building, and the 2nd Ave. Dance Club, remain for sale, and have been listed for "several years."

"As he transitions to a well-deserved retirement, the city hopes a new generation will pick up the mantle of RIBCO and the downtown as a whole," Brainard said.

To commemorate Tilka's retirement, RIBCO is hosting a show on Friday and Saturday, with Grateful Dead cover band The Schwag booked to headline. The event will be 21-and-up and entry will be $10. The show begins at 9 p.m.

Tilka said this is the last show he's booked at the venue.

Over the years, RIBCO has hosted indie music acts like Local Natives and Lydia Loveless, and Tilka has helped to bring live music to The District in Rock Island.

Tilka is planning to spend his retirement enjoying time with his siblings, grandchildren and children, all three of which have worked in his locations at some point.

"Its been an honor and a privilege to be a part of this community for over 50 years," he said in the release.

Correction: St. Ambrose was St. Ambrose College when Tilka attended. This version has been corrected.
Police announced on Wednesday they had arrested a man wanted for a July shooting in Rock Island.

The shooting happened in the early morning of July 13, according to the Rock Island Police Department. A wounded 21-year-old man arrived at the police station on a stolen electric bicycle. He had been shot in the chest. Officers provided aid until Rock Island Fire Department paramedics arrived and took the man to the hospital.

In the days after the shooting, the police department identified the suspected shooter as Darryl L. Smith Jr., 20. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office charged Smith with aggravated battery with a firearm in relation to the shooting.

At around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Rock Island police officers and Rock Island County Sheriffs Office deputies arrested Smith while serving a search warrant in the 500 block of 7th Street, according to the police department.

Authorities took Smith to the Rock Island County Jail, where he remained in custody pending a first appearance, the police department said Wednesday.
The Apple-Goldman Sachs partnershipone of the most prominent alliances in the technology and banking industrymight soon end.

This was confirmed by the iPhone maker, saying that it is considering ending its partnership with the American multinational investment bank.

Since the partnership between these two giant American firms is a prominent one, it would be a big deal for the tech industry. But, should Apple Card and services holders worry about it?

Apple-Goldman Sachs Partnership Could End Soon

Apple reportedly sent a termination proposal to end its partnership with Goldman Sachs. The giant gadget manufacturer said that it is planning to end the alliance within 12 to 15 months.

Entrepreneur reported that this means that the Apple Card, as well as the savings accounts, will be affected once the partnership reaches its end.

According to CNBC's latest report, once Apple and Goldman Sachs terminate their partnership, the iPhone maker needs to find a new financial partner if it wants to continue its Apple Card and high-yield savings accounts.

Although Apple offers its savings and credit card accounts via its official wallet app on iPhones, Goldman Sachs is still the one handling the banking back end.

For those who are unaware, the alliance between the two companies has been facing difficulties for the past few years. This is because Goldman Sachs has faced regulatory inquiries regarding its credit card operations.

These include alleged gender discrimination in credit valuations and billing errors. Aside from these external problems, internal issues also made Goldman Sachs the main spotlight in the news.

For example, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon was criticized because of his DJ side hustle. Because of this, he had to give up his off-hours gig after the board allegedly disapproved of it.

Read Also: Amazon to Start Selling Cars Online as Early as 2024! But, Will This New Shopping Experience Be Safe?

Should Apple Card, Savings Holders Be Worried?

Based on Apple's statements, credit card and savings holders don't have to worry if the partnership termination really happens.

"Apple and Goldman Sachs are focused on providing an incredible experience for our customers to help them lead healthier financial lives," said an Apple representative.

"The award-winning Apple Card has seen a great reception from consumers, and we will continue to innovate and deliver the best tools and services for them," added the official.

Apple Pay and Apple Wallet Vice President Jennifer Bailey also highlighted the importance of the company's credit card and savings services.

She explained that since there are no fees, no minimum balance requirements, and no minimum deposits, Apple consumers are provided an easy way to save their money every day.

Related Article: Credit Card Debt Crisis Looms: Experts Warn Huge Christmas Spending May Further Destabilize Weak Economy

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Rock Island-Milan school leaders sought to reassure students, staff and families Tuesday night in wake of continued concerns and issues with district infrastructure.

Portions of Rock Island High School (Rocky) had alarmingly low temperatures this week. Additionally, some parents and community members alleged other HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) issues at district elementary schools.

This came as the district continues a phased HVAC system replacement project for all school buildings, aligning with its 10-year facilities maintenance plan. The first phase of this work was approved by the school board in June of 2021, and included heating Rocky's fieldhouse, small gym and auditorium. The auditorium also saw air conditioning upgrades at this time, according to prior reporting.

The project also includes replacing the high school's chillers as part of Phase 3, currently in-progress.

At approximately 10:40 a.m. on Monday, the district sent out a mass text message informing Rocky families of the heating issues.

There may be some varying temperatures throughout the building. Contractors are on site dealing with the issue, the message read. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Rocky families received another mass text Tuesday afternoon, where district officials said they had identified "several factors" causing Rocky's heating issues and inconsistent temperatures.

Some of those issues have been resolved and others are still being worked on, the message read. We understand your frustrations. Our goal is to have appropriate temperatures consistently throughout the building and were diligently working on that. We will update you once we have more information. Thank you for your patience.

Rock Island-Milan school board vice-president Michael Matherly said he's had steady contact with staff and community members about building infrastructure throughout the year.

Speaking on behalf of the board and district cabinet, Matherly said no one wants for staff and students to endure cold temperatures.

Thats not acceptable, he said, assuring community members that district leaders were aware of the issues and community concerns.

Theyre being addressed  not as quickly as anyone would like, Matherly added, noting backlogged boiler system parts are another continued obstacle. There are workarounds and fixes that can be (used) to at least get us through.

District officials toured Rocky on Tuesday to gauge building and classroom conditions and chart an immediate path forward.

While some portions of the building had appropriate heating, temperatures at Rocky got as low as 49.6 degrees  though this classroom was kept empty.

By and large, most of the building was colder than what youd want it to be. Some of the numbers were in the high 50s, low 60s; one room was 68 degrees, Interim Superintendent Alan Boucher said. Thats not good. Thats not what we want, because kids cant learn optimally when theyre cold.

He elaborated on how the buildings age and internal structure lend to many disruptions during ongoing, sweeping HVAC system replacements.

Most of us have one furnace (at home), so if its broken, well then theres one problem, Boucher said. (Rocky) is such a big building, as you can imagine, and there have been additions over time  its a very complicated HVAC system.

As it awaits new, backlogged Fireye safeguards for Rockys central boiler system, the district plans to bypass recent heating issues by running the boilers manually overnight.

Building staff attempted this tactic  aiming to regulate temperatures before school hours  in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday (5 a.m. and 3 a.m., respectively), though Boucher said more time is needed for adequate, full-building heat.

Theyre out here every day, and theyre working with Dewinn (Hume) and his (building operations) team to figure out whats going on, Boucher said. ...We do care, we feel badly about this and there are a lot of people working very diligently.

Faulty HVAC control valves were identified as another culprit behind Rockys most recent heating issues, as this causes inconsistent (heat) convection across the building.

Specifically, Boucher said 18 out of 150 total valves were stuck shut when staff came to run the boilers early Tuesday morning.

As HVAC system replacements continue at all Rock Island-Milan buildings, the district will focus on bringing any impacted schools back to normal  namely, Rocky  in the meantime.

Still, Boucher said these things arent a quick fix.

We understand that this impacts learning, and its not good, he said. Hopefully, youll see big improvements real soon  to where its not much of a distraction for us.

To keep things organized and consistent, Boucher also urged community members to use building principals as their first contact for any school facility or maintenance concerns.

After Bochers update, several Rock Island-Milan parents brought their concerns to the board during public comment.

One parent, Isabel Pena, said Denkmann Elementary School  like Rocky  also experienced low temperatures after Thanksgiving break, urging for more prioritization of these building issues.

"I'm not against building the pool, I'm against pushing back infrastructures in our schools," she said. "It's kind of hard to talk about education when infrastructure is an important part of that."

She also shared concerns with district communication and accountability regarding infrastructure updates.

"To the teachers and staff members having to work with winter hats on and mittens, contact your union reps," Pena said. "This is unacceptable."

Later that night, the Rock Island-Milan school board unanimously approved fund transfers to finance the final phase of HVAC system replacements at Ridgewood, Earl Hanson and Eugene Field Elementary Schools.

On Wednesday, one Rocky student  senior Asa Mahn  said he believed the heating was back in gear during the school day.

"All of my classrooms have been comfortable," he said in a message to the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times around 3 p.m.

Rock Island-Milan leaders declined to comment on any additional details  other than those mentioned Tuesday night  regarding district HVAC work.

Photos and video: Rock Island marching band performs at 2023 Showcase of Bands (Oct. 16, 2023)
The Sgt. John F. Baker Jr. Mississippi River Bridge on I-280 is ready for motorists after undergoing millions of dollars in upgrades.

The bridge deck was original to the 1973 bridge and carries more than 28,000 vehicles a day, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Speaking to a room full of constituents at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Rock Island Wednesday morning, Pritzker said the commitment to repairing the bridge provides immediate relief but also security in knowing it will be safe in the future.

When we make smart investments in the roadways that working families and businesses rely on, were constructing a better future for the entire region  one where parents and their children can commute with confidence and where new factories and distribution centers are choosing to locate in Illinois, so they can reliably ship their products across the nation, he said.

The project began in 2021 with the demolition and replacement of the westbound bridge deck, coming in with a $49.7 million price tag. In 2022 the eastbound bridge deck was completed and the final stage, patching and resurfacing from the bridge to the Illinois 92 exchange, was finished next. This was combined with another $16 million improvement that extended the work from Illinois 92 to east of the Milan Beltway.

Work on the bridge was completed by local unions and workers. Sonia Shepard and Sabrina Duncan are both graduates of Black Hawk Colleges Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP) and worked on the I-280 bridge.

Duncan said the opportunity to enroll in the program was the first step she needed to securing a better future for herself.

State Rep. Gregg Johnson (D-East Moline) said the workforce in the Quad-Cities is the best in the country and the dedication to improving the region as a whole shows how strong the commitment is.

We call it the Quad-Cities for a reason: every town on both sides of the river needs one another to thrive, Johnson said. This bridge is not just connecting two neighboring states, it is connecting one community split by a mighty river.

Additional work included bridge painting and lighting upgrades at Illinois 92 with the Iowa DOT contributing $18.9 million to the bridge improvements. The improvements, according to a news release, improved more than 6.5 miles of I-280 through Coal Valley, Moline, Milan and Rock Island.

Omer Osman, Illinois Transportation Secretary, said improvements like these do not happen overnight, but take a great deal of collaboration. The Illinois and Iowa DOTs worked together to complete the project and ensure the ride from state-to-state would be smooth and safe.

These investments in I-280 will extend the life of another critical border bridge and strengthen the robust multimodal infrastructure system in the Quad Cities, Osman said. Im proud that we could make these improvements with our partners in Iowa. Working together, we have improved safety, mobility, and commerce between our two states and throughout the Midwest.

The man behind the Baker Bridge

Formally known as the John Franklin Baker Jr. Bridge, its named for the Davenport native born Oct. 30, 1945. Baker moved to Moline eight years later and attended Moline High School from 1963-1966 before leaving the school to join the Army. He remained in the Army until his retirement in 1989.

In September, 1966, Baker was part of Operation Attlebro while deployed in Vietnam, according to the Iowa DOT. Part of his role within the search-and-destroy operation was serving as tunnel rat; a soldier who entered Viet Cong-held tunnels to look for enemy soldiers and destroy weapon and supply caches.

On Nov. 5, 1966, Baker and his unit were called to assist another squad who were taking enemy fire. On the way, the enemy fired on his company and the lead solder was killed.

With the help of two other soldiers, Baker took over and assisted in destroying two enemy positions then moved forward to take two others. A hand grenade was thrown their way and knocked Baker to the ground.

Baker was able to recover, but the other two were wounded. By himself, Baker destroyed another bunker and recovered his fellow soldiers from the scene.

Despite taking further fire from enemy bunkers and snipers, Baker continually fell back to replenish ammunition and take back several wounded. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, along with Captain Robert F. Foley, a statement on the Iowa DOT website reads.

Baker is the only Medal of Honor recipient from the Quad-Cities, according to the Iowa DOT. On July 31, 2010 the bridge was dedicated and renamed the Baker Bridge in his honor.

Counties with the most bridges in Iowa Counties with the most bridges in Iowa #50. Harrison #49. Marion #48. Madison #46. Franklin #46. Ringgold #45. Mahaska #44. Sac #43. Jones #42. Taylor #41. Warren #39. Cherokee #39. Iowa #38. Hardin #37. Carroll #36. Jackson #35. Clayton #34. Bremer #33. Poweshiek #32. Cerro Gordo #30. Guthrie #30. O'Brien #29. Kossuth #28. Lyon #27. Grundy #26. Butler #25. Delaware #23. Cass #23. Scott #22. Story #21. Crawford #20. Cedar #19. Chickasaw #18. Marshall #16. Adair #16. Buchanan #15. Dubuque #14. Tama #13. Winneshiek #12. Fayette #11. Johnson #10. Benton #9. Clinton #8. Jasper #7. Sioux #6. Plymouth #5. Woodbury #4. Black Hawk #3. Linn #2. Polk #1. Pottawattamie
In her first semester at South Dakota Mines, Madison Phelps felt out of place while on campus. She didnt feel like she was doing well in her classes and sometimes even felt like she wasnt smart.

However, Phelps found and became more involved with the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) chapter on campus and it provided her with a community that she could connect with.

The connections she built through AISES helped her continue her education and she currently holds the president position with the society.

American Indian Science and Engineering Society is a national, nonprofit organization that builds a community by bridging science and technology with traditional Native values.

AISES provides opportunities for American Indians and Native Alaskans to pursue studies in science, technology and engineering fields through educational programs.

Phelps said she could even see how science works similarly to Native American cultures.

In my opinion, the way that we view the world and look at the world, we definitely include science into our culture without realizing it in a lot of different ways, Phelps said. I feel like it's a perfect mixture of that culture and science and technology tied together. It's beautiful.

At Mines, the program holds different visibility events along with bi-weekly meetings, scholarship announcements, K-12 outreach and career events. Visibility events allow students who are part of AISES to share and teach people more about their culture on campus.

Farynn Knutson, a member of the society, said the community and sharing information about her culture is a huge reason why shes a part of the society.

Being a part of people who share the same culture as me or came from similar places as me is really important, Knutson said. We get to come together and have ideas and say, This is how we can impact the school.

Knutson followed her brother, Chance, to Mines. While he did graduate before she enrolled, she said he was the example in her life, showing her what she could pursue.

She stays in contact with him and calls him to talk about some of their similar feelings when it comes to their classes.

Every single class, there are kids who are just miles ahead of you or they took like 30 dual credits in high school, Knutson said. You see that all the time, especially if you come from a small school or a reservation, you constantly feel behind.

Even if people are in different majors or pursuing different career fields, AISES brings people together.

Eva Knutson also struggled a little when she first started her higher education.

Because she lived on a reservation for her whole life before, she said South Dakota Mines was like a culture shock.

"When I came here, it felt isolating," Eva Knutson said. "Having AISES and stuff was just helpful because I didn't know other people who went through similar things."

Students also participate in and enjoy conferences such as the AISES National Conference which was Oct. 19-21 this year in Spokane, Washington.

They went to a career fair that had over 100 companies that offered jobs or internship opportunities. High schoolers, college students and professionals presented on various research projects.

Last year, Eva Knutson and Cody Marshall won the undergraduate oral research presentation for a project they collaborated on about authenticating Native American artwork.

It's just like a massive networking event for Indigenous people, Phelps said. I feel like I can meet so many different people and people there will tell you about any type of job or field that you'd want to go into.

They also get to meet previous Mines alumni at the conference who not only know the campus and professors but have continued on to find careers in their fields of study.

Cedric Collinge, director of inclusion at South Dakota Mines, and Dr. Carter Kerk, industrial engineering professor, support and help AISES and the students. The two lend an ear when a student needs it, but they also help students run events like high school visits.

St. Josephs Indian School in Chamberlain visited the campus on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Along with Collinge and Kerk, AISES members shared their stories with younger Native American students.

It also helps provide high schoolers with someone to look up to and show that it is possible for them to pursue higher education.

As president of the Mines chapter, Phelps said she feels like she has an opportunity to expose kids to STEM education, to make it fun and to show them they can also pursue a college degree.

Theres so many survival issues that are happening in our communities right now that focusing on higher education is not a reality for a lot of people, Phelps said. What we're trying to do is just show people that it is possible and we're going to be here for you if you do want to pursue this.
A 44-year-old Allen man was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to two years and nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release about a year after a drunk driving crash that killed his 36-year-old sister.

Llewellyn Running Hawk pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Sept. 6 for the Nov. 19, 2022 death of Barbara Little Whiteman. He initially faced additional charges of child abuse and driving under the influence with a minor in the vehicle, but the government agreed to drop those charges.

Running Hawk said at his sentencing he takes responsibility for his actions.

"I made the fateful mistake of doing what I did," he said. "I don't know what to say to my nieces and nephews."

Running Hawk's BAC was .16  twice the legal limit  when he drove a 2016 Nissan Altima eastbound on Highway 18 in Todd County, according to court documents. Running Hawk was heading from Allen to Nebraska to see his daughter after hearing news that her mother had died, Running Hawk's defense attorney Amanda Work said at sentencing.

Running Hawk's sister Little Whiteman and his son went with him. Little Whiteman sat in the front passenger seat, and the son sat in the backseat.

No one in the vehicle was wearing seatbelts when Running Hawk lost control of the vehicle going around a curve at over 100 mph in a 65 mph zone, according to the government and a factual basis statement Running Hawk signed when he agreed to plead guilty.

All three were thrown from the vehicle. Running Hawk and his son were injured, and Little Whiteman died at the scene.

"She was not the one who made the decision to drink and drive," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson on behalf of the government. "It's his actions that bring us here today."

Although no one spoke on Little Whiteman's behalf at the hearing, Albertson said she enjoyed cooking, was always helping others, and left behind numerous family, including three children and her husband.

Albertson asked Chief Judge Roberto Lange to sentence Running Hawk within the recommended federal guidelines of 33 months to 41 months.

The maximum sentence for involuntary manslaughter is eight years in prison. The defense asked Lange to sentence Running Hawk below the guideline range or at the lower end of it.

"Mr. Running Hawk is painfully aware of why he is before the court today," Work said. "He was around Barbara her whole life. They had a very close relationship," the defense attorney added.

In addition to asking for a lighter sentence, Work asked the judge to recommend Running Hawk is placed in a medical facility as well as given substance abuse treatment.

Lange granted the request. He said he is not unsympathetic to the injuries Running Hawk is dealing with as a result of his actions. Running Hawk attended the hearing in a wheelchair. Lange noted he sustained spinal injuries, leg injuries, and wrist injuries.

Lange said he hopes Running Hawk is placed at a federal medical facility in Rochester, Minnesota. However, the decision on where Running Hawk serves his sentence is ultimately up to the Bureau of Prisons.

The judge called the case "extraordinarily sad," but noted Running Hawk's history of driving while intoxicated.

He said Running Hawk was convicted of DUI at ages 23, 30 and 45. At 31, he was stopped for driving drunk, but was ultimately convicted of a different charge.

"That bothers the court," Lange said, adding that the deadly crash was the fifth time Running Hawk was caught driving while intoxicated.

"That's assuming you got caught every time," he said before announcing the sentence.

Running Hawk appeared out of custody, and the court granted the defense's request for him to surrender himself to whatever facility he is ultimately placed at rather than being remanded into custody immediately after sentencing.
Dakota Wesleyan University announced an expansion of its nursing program to Rapid City on Tuesday, with plans to begin the program in August 2024.

The South Dakota Board of Nursing approved the expansion in August and the universitys board of trustees approved it in October.

Dakota Wesleyan announced its plans on Tuesday during a press conference at the David Lust Accelerator Building in Rapid City.

The program is the first venture for the university into the Rapid City area.

We cannot be more excited to join this growing and vibrant community, Dan Kittle, president of Dakota Wesleyan, said. Since 1918, our university has offered nursing education through a hospital-based program through our on-campus instruction in Mitchell and on our satellite site in Sioux Falls.

Devin Constant, a graduate of the Dakota Wesleyan nursing program, was announced as the first faculty member for the Rapid City program.

Students with no Licensed Practical Nurse license can enroll in the Rapid City program for an associate of science degree. Graduates will earn a two-year Registered Nurse degree by the end of the program and with a passing score on the required state licensing exam.

Students can enter the program at any point in their career, whether or not they have healthcare experience.

They have also found willing partners with organizations such as Monument Health and Black Hills Surgical Hospital.

Nationally, it's known that there is a nursing shortage, and we are starting to feel that in the state of South Dakota, Dr. Penny Tilton, director of nursing at Dakota Wesleyan, said. We are nationally known that Dakota Wesleyan keeps about 90% of their nurses in the state of South Dakota and so we are hoping that we can help fill that need in Rapid City.

The university continues its search for a facility for this program. They are working with several partners to find a place for instructional classes and offices as well as equipment for simulation labs.

The program is the third in the area, along with South Dakota State University programs with the College of Nursing and the College of Nursing Native American Nursing Education Center.

This program is going to not only attract traditional students coming right out of high school, but were also going to attract non-traditional students, Tilton said. We need that in the healthcare field right now and so we're hoping that will help meet those needs on both the employer side and our student side.

Dakota Wesleyan is accepting applications for the program. Interested individuals can learn more at Dakota Wesleyan's AS Nursing Rapid City website or by contacting the DWU Admissions office at 605-995-2650 or by emailing admissions@dwu.edu.
If you have ever reeled at the taste of tap water when traveling in a new place, youve found first-hand that water is not the same everywhere. This is part of what two researchers are exploring with a new project using samples of water collected inside the Sanford Underground Research Facility.

The water underground at SURF is unique in that it sometimes contains extremophiles, microbes that live in extreme places on earth. Extremophiles are found in places such as the hot springs of Yellowstone, hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean, and the ground water that seeps into tiny cracks deep inside the earth.

Extremophiles are valuable to biologists because they have evolved unique properties that allow them to thrive in resource-poor environments. These properties make them excellent candidates for a host of applications, from the creation of new antibiotics to biofuels to biodegradable plastics.

There has been a lot of interest in searching for and understanding the microbes that live in SURF and the value these extremophiles have for science. But there has been less work on characterizing the chemistry of the water that they're living in at SURF, said Dr. Scott Beeler, a research scientist at South Dakota Mines, and the principal investigator on the study. And so, what we're doing is filling in data gaps in water chemistry.

Dr. Sarah Keenan, a geochemist and assistant professor of geology and geological engineering at South Dakota Mines, is the co-principal investigator on the research alongside Beeler. Their characterization of the water at SURF includes a suite of scientific instruments located in Keenans laboratory and at the Engineering and Mining Experiment Station located at South Dakota Mines.

In a nutshell, preliminary findings show that water chemistry varies widely throughout SURF providing numerous types of habitats for microbial life.

For example, the amount of elements in the water such as iron and manganese, which microorganisms can use as a source of energy, have over a thousandfold range in concentrations across different locations in SURF, said Beeler.

While the current work is focused on determining the amount of variability in water chemistry at SURF, the ultimate goal is to understand what controls this variability.

We're hoping to piece together the different water chemistry and how it might relate to the different types of rocks the water is interacting with underground at SURF. This can help us understand the types of microbial life different sites underground might be hosting, Keenan said.

The research might even have value in a future search for extraterrestrial life. This kind of study can show the types of water chemistry life favors.

And thats important because you might have instrumentation on future satellites, a spacecraft, or a rover on a distant moon that can test chemistry without being able to do an entire range of microbial sequencing, Beeler said.

Beeler and Keenans research is funded by the NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium. The research involves students at Mines who are gathering samples from various sites underground at SURF and testing those samples in labs at Mines.

Reghan DeBoer is a senior studying geology at Mines who was also an intern at SURF in the summer of 2022. For DeBoer, the opportunity to take part in this kind of study is valuable.

I love being able to help on this research, and I love going underground at SURF and learning how to use the testing equipment, DeBoer said. Im taking an aqueous geochemistry class right now and this hands-on experience is really helping me connect that classroom work with the real world.

A fellow student on the project, Riley Kortenbusch, agreed. He is a sophomore studying geology at Mines.

Im just getting introduced in my core geology classes and this gives me a chance to practice geochemistry to see if this is an area I want to pursue. Its a little out of my wheelhouse  but this real-world experience also helps me connect and fill in the gaps I might be missing in my classroom, Kortenbusch said.

The NASA South Dakota Space Grant Consortium grant funding this five-month study is intended to help researchers gather preliminary data needed to make the case for a larger project.

So that's exactly what we're doing, Beeler said. Hopefully, if our story and the data we collect is compelling enough, we will have enough for a proposal to do more of this extensive geochemical sampling underground in the Black Hills.

Besides SURF, the team is also taking water samples from multiple caves around the Black Hills. These caves are generally more shallow and in different types of rock than the sampling locations at SURF, but still hold unique and rare forms of microbial life. The effort is to build a better understanding of water chemistry and life in a broad area.
Bitterroot Building Industry Association donated $30,000 to the Linda Massa Youth Home on Tuesday.

The funds were raised at the BBIAs second annual Hard Hats and Heels charity auction.

BBIA President Angela Stringham said the event showcases BBIAs motto of Serving to Unify and Enhance the Building Industry in the Bitterroot Valley.

We are trying to be more involved in the community and want to help the youth, Stringham said. We are the building industry and this year we are building lives. We want the youth involved in building. Construction is the backbone of the Bitterroot.

More than 110 people connected to the building industry attended the event that had a dinner, a silent auction and a live auction.

BBIA Executive Officer Angela Previte-Barnhouse said the organization is happy with the success of the Hard Hats and Heels event.

We started it to show the community the building industry is involved, she said. We start the year with a call for nominations from our members who range across the valley from all industries. We have bankers, architects, draftsmen, flooring people and so many more. We dont know everything they are involved in, but they know.

Chris Carey is based out of Missoula and development director for seven youth homes in Montana. The Linda Massa Youth Home is one of those group homes.

Carey said the youth home organization is grateful.

The $30,000 we received is going directly toward connecting our home to city water and sewer, Carey said. It is certainly not the most glamorous project but as a charitable organization it has been hard. Our organization is on lean times and deferred maintenance is something we work on. Having the community behind us to support us in this way means a lot to our organization.

Carey said the home will also work on repairing landscaping next spring.

We want to be intentional about putting the yard back, he said. Maybe there is something we can do to benefit the kids. Its an opportunity for us to rethink how we use this space.

Deana Wolfe represents the Linda Mass Youth Home that was named to honor her mother. Wolfe also represents the BBIB as owner of the Massa Home Center. She is a board member on both organizations. Wolfe said LMYH has served over 900 youth since it was opened in 2002.

The BBIA members are generally pretty giving and thoughtful people, Wolfe said. Im so proud. To have the youth home be on the receiving end of it is amazing.

LMYH Development Coordinator Allisun Jensen said she has served on the Board of Directors for 16 years and sees the need.

[The donation] worked out great as we are in the process of connecting to city utilities  city water and city sewer, Jensen said. It is perfect timing.

The mission of the Linda Massa Youth Home is to take care of at-risk youth ages 10 to 18, in the Bitterroot Valley and across Montana.

Through covid, we all kind of hunkered down and now we are reaching out to the community to remind them we are here, Jensen said. We are still here raising children and needing help with funds to keep everything afloat. The home is starting to age a little so we are working on the windows and other ongoing needs.

The LMYH is fully staffed and is filling the eight beds that provide single rooms to youth.

We will have seven kids through the Christmas season, Jensen said. We are making a good Christmas for them.

To be involved, there is a tree with Christmas wishes at The Edge Restaurant and Bitter Root Brewing is conducting a drive for gift cards. The LMYH also does a Christmas appeal this time of year, reaching out to previous donors through a letter writing campaign.

We do a big drive just to get more money in the coffers to keep the house open, Jensen said. We do get some money to care for the kids placed in our care but in general it isnt even half of the money needed to raise a kid. We are tasked with raising the money to raise these kiddos. Any small amount that anyone can give us is super helpful.

Jensen said the staff works tirelessly and has their noses to the grindstone just raising kids.

Its a big job especially for the kids who have never had a place to call home, never had their own bedroom, maybe theyve never had a traditional Christmas, she said. Were giving them that and a safe place full of people who care about them. Were giving them a place to be angry, sad, and happy like all kids, and were still here, caring. That is powerful, its a neat place.

Jensen said she appreciates the BBIA for stepping up.

Having them help us in this way is just amazing, she said. We are so thankful for them.
The Ravalli County Election Office is mailing voter confirmation cards to every voter next week.

Ravalli County Clerk and Recorder Regina Plettenberg said it is early but now is the time to make checks to see if voters are registered and make any changes.

The cards have the voters address, Plettenberg said. If they vote at a polling place it has the polling place location, it also tells them if they are on the absentee list, which is very important. If they are on it and dont want to be they can contact us, or if they are not on it and want to be they can contact us. If their address is incorrect we want them to contact us.

If voters dont receive a card in the next couple of weeks call the Ravalli County Election Office at 406-375-6555 or visit the website ravalli.us\145\elections. Scroll down a bit and on the right click on the My Voter Page that takes you to the website of Montanas Secretary of State. There voters can put in their name and date of birth to check their status.

Reasons for not receiving a confirmation card include the Ravalli County Election Office not having a good address for a voter or voters are inactive (the result of not voting in the last election, either the general in 2022 or the school election in 2023).

Either case wed like to get them updated before the next election, Plettenberg said. Maybe they arent registered at all, we do have a lot of new people. This is a good reminder for people who have just moved here. I know its probably the last thing they are thinking about.

The election office is mailing voter confirmation cards for voters to check their status now, rather than waiting until just before the next election.

We went through the redistricting process and this gives voters time to think about the status of their registration, Plettenberg said. If someone doesnt receive a card in three weeks perhaps they are inactive and they have time to change that. We just get terrifically busy in March so now is a good time.

The next elections are this spring, with a school election in May and a primary in June.

It will be a super busy time, Plettenberg said. Im looking forward to it, we are going to be hopping. It is going to be busy next year, Im excited. A presidential election always brings a huge turnout. I love it.
Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson this week announced his bid for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court.

Swanson, 47, is in his third term as county attorney in Townsend, first elected in 2014. He served in the Iraq War and continues to serve in the Montana National Guard as a lieutenant colonel, with a recent deployment as part of Operation Spartan Shield. From a family that hopped around the Hi-Line, from Cut Bank to Gildford, Swanson has carved out a name for himself in Montana as a lead prosecutor in the high-profile case following Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore's death and as vice president of the Montana County Attorney's Association.

Swanson's candidacy pits him against former federal magistrate judge Jeremiah "Jerry" Lynch, who announced his campaign in early October. The contest for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court narrowed earlier this month when former state auditor John Morrison withdrew from the race and endorsed Lynch.

The vacuum here followed Chief Justice Mike McGrath's decision not to seek re-election. Associate Justice Dirk Sandefur is likewise retiring from the state's high court.

"Right now, with the retirement of two, long-term, practitioners and judges, there's an opportunity for us to say, 'What kind of court do we want to have?'" Swanson said in a phone interview Tuesday. "I want to be a member of the court that is committed to being fair, to judging every case based on the facts and the law in that case. There's a lot of clamoring in the public right now for judges to have this agenda or have that agenda, fight back against woke-ism, or fight back against right-wing-whatever. That's not the role of the judge. A judge should not be fighting for or against a particular side."

Swanson graduated from the University of Montana School of Law in 2004, after attending Carroll College and Montana State University. He said Wednesday he joined the National Guard as an undergrad at Carroll College because he wanted "to do something difficult."

He describes his military and law careers moving forward in a sort of parallel: being deployed right out of law school; taking the bar when he got back in 2006; building up a law practice in between deployments. While the military won't be his prevailing identity in this race, Swanson said it was an important factor in constructing his worldview.

"What it did allow me to do, I think, is to have the desire to become a prosecutor and a county attorney, because that's when you're meeting people in their moments of need," Swanson said, tracing comparisons back to his time during a violent deployment meeting Iraqi families who are trying to salvage a life from a worn-torn country.

It's changed his approach to settling criminal cases, Swanson said, from a hit-them-with-the-book style to conferring with defendants and their clients about, after a criminal sentence, what components can move into place to set up their life after the case.

"I think that comes from having had a broken heart in times of people being killed that you work with and just the belief that life can get better for everybody if you give them more chances," Swanson said.

Perhaps his highest-profile case to date was the prosecution of Lloyd Barrus, who in 2017 with his son ambushed and killed Broadwater County Deputy Mason Moore. The case was protracted and complex. Barrus was ultimately convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison after splintering loose legal ends emerged over his mental health.

"Along the way, I think we saw the ability of what the mental health system can do," he said. "But you compare it to other cases, and I think our mental health, specifically for criminal cases, forensic mental health system is lacking right now."

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, got through its own high-profile conflict with Republicans in the executive and legislative branches, a dispute that tested the separation of powers in Montana. After voters elected a Republican governor and greater majority in the Legislature, those officials brought scrutiny on the judicial branch, particularly over internal polls on legislation to determine whether or not to support changes to the courts. Judges and justices contended the GOP's outrage over those polls were manufactured crises meant to undermine public confidence in the courts.

Lynch, in an earlier interview with Lee Newspapers' state news bureau, called GOP's attacks "unwarranted."

Swanson said friction between the three branches of government may not be a bad thing, but instead a feature of the system.

"I don't think anyone came through that with clean hands," he said. "Everyone looking back now would say, 'there's a better way to do this,' and I certainly believe the goal of a leader is to sit down as a team and say, how do you get better? Let's have conversations where we look for mistakes so we can learn from our mistakes.  The most important thing is are we delivering justice to the individuals that are in the court before us. That's most important thing, more important than egos, more important than fights."

Swanson described his philosophy as judicial conservatism, deciding the case narrowly, within the facts of the case. A decision that is far reaching can disrupt normal procedures in peoples lives and jobs, he said.

But Swanson has never been on the bench before, perhaps the starkest contrast to his opponent in Lynch, once Montana's longest-serving federal magistrate. Why seek the Chief Justice position?

"I see, number one, the opportunity to carry on a lot of the good work that the court's done," he said. "But with two justices retiring, it begs the question of how is the court going to re-form and move forward in future years in terms of the membership. Right now I don't see anyone offering a choice on the Chief Justice race. And I think the voters should have a shot at a different type of candidate."

As of this story's publishing, District Court judges Katherine Bidegaray of Richland County and Dan Wilson of Flathead County have filed to run for Sandefur's opening on the Supreme Court.
The big green guy is back in action for the Tacky Lights season, Richmond.

For the first time in three years, Brett Aliotti, also known as the Live Grinch, will be donning his big red suit and Grinch mask to greet visitors and pose for pictures outside his brightly decorated house at 1411 Pennyslvania Ave. in Glen Allen.

I love putting smiles on peoples faces. It gives everybody such joy, Aliotti said.

The Live Grinch has become a Richmond tradition at the holidays and on the Tacky Lights tour.

It all started when Aliotti was watching the news one morning around Halloween. The host was at Premiere Costumes, formerly located in Carytown, and Aliotti spied a Grinch mask in the background.

My eyes lit up. I thought, I gotta have that, Aliotti said. I went there and bought it. I didnt know what I was going to do with it. I had the Santa suit already.

He had already been decorating his home in Glen Allen for the holidays for over 10 years.

I thought, Well, Ill dress up as the Grinch and see what everybody thinks, Aliotti said.

That was 20 years ago.

People seemed to like it. And then it got bigger and bigger every year, he said.

Aliotti will be dressing up as the Live Grinch on the following Friday and Saturday nights in December: Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16 and Dec. 22-23 from 7-9 p.m., weather permitting.

People like to stop and look at his brightly decorated house with over 40,000 lights and pose for selfies with the Live Grinch.

Aliotti, 59, paused the Live Grinch during the pandemic, due to safety concerns. Its been three years since he donned his red Santa suit and Grinch mask.

Everybodys been asking if Im doing the Grinch this year. People are real excited about it. Ive had people come visit since they were babies, Aliotti said.

The Live Grinchs house will be extra bright this year. I bought new decorations and new lights. Gave it a little makeover to make things special for the Grinch appearance after being out for three years, Aliotti said.

When hes not donning the Grinch mask, Aliotti is a truck driver and wakes up every morning at 3 a.m. to drive to Hopewell every day, delivering wood chips to the Dominion Energy power plant. Aliotti is married with one daughter and two grandchildren.

Hes been decorating his house since Halloween to get it ready.

Im hustling every day to get it together, he said. I have people drive here from Charlottesville, Virginia Beach and North Carolina. People come here from all over the world. Ive had people from Germany and China.

Last year, Aliotti said he met a couple from South Carolina who drove up and rented a motel room, just to see the Tacky Lights of Richmond.

They said they dont decorate in South Carolina. Not like in Richmond. This is the place to go, Aliotti said.

Tacky Lights: The Live Grinch at 1411 Pennsylvania Ave. 1411 Pennsylvania Ave. is known as the "Live Grinch" house on the Tacky Lights Tour. The house will be decorated this year after taking last year off. But the owner Brett Aliotti has decided not to dress up as the "Live Grinch" this year.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has been compiling Richmonds definitive Tacky Lights tour list for over 30 years. Its a do-it-yourself tour where you pick a few houses on the list and drive by to see the lights. The Tacky Light tour is free and open to the public.

Or you can rent a limo, rent a seat on a Winn bus or even hop on a trolley if you want someone else to do the driving.

Houses must have 40,000 lights to be on the list. Go to https://richmond.com/exclusive/tacky-lights/ if youd like to nominate your house.

An updated list will run in the Weekend section and online every Thursday. Tacky Lights season runs through New Years Eve.

Go to Richmond.com/exclusive/tacky-lights to see the full list of houses, pictures and a handy map.
A country in Europe is seeing an increase in the number of instances of mysterious pneumonia in children, while China is continuing to experience an alarming upsurge.

Unexpectedly High Pneumonia Rates on Kids in Netherlands

While hospitals in China are bracing for a potential hospital shortage due to a tidal wave of respiratory infections among children, the surprisingly high number of pediatric pneumonia cases in the Netherlands is causing concern.

According to the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), 80 out of every 100,000 children in the nation treated for pneumonia between the ages of 5 and 15 were hospitalized last week. A further alarming increase--from 124 to 145 per 100,000--was seen in instances of pneumonia in toddlers less than four years old, the New York Post reported.

NIVEL, the research institution based in Utrecht, said this is the largest pneumonia widespread in the last several years.

In 2022, when the flu season was in full swing, there were 60 cases for every 100,000 children aged 5 to 15.

There has been an unexpected spike in pediatric pneumonia cases, and neither NIVEL nor the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment have been able to explain it.

Also Read: China Claims Respiratory Illness Surge Isn't Caused by Novel Virus

Mysterious Rise in Pneumonia Infections in China

Meanwhile, there has been a frightening uptick in mysterious respiratory infections in certain regions of China, and it is unclear if this is related to the troubling trend in Europe.

Health authorities in China and the World Health Organization (WHO) both said that the pneumonia cases had not been associated with any novel or atypical infections.

The increase in infections is thought to be caused by children catching viruses that they had managed to avoid during the two years of COVID-19 restrictions, such as the flu, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus.

This is the first flu season in China after the COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed at the end of 2022.

Chinese doctors have speculated that the population's immunity has been compromised due to a lack of exposure to common illnesses during the lengthy lockdown.

However, the COVID-era restrictions have long since been removed from the Netherlands, leaving experts to wonder what may have caused this recent upsurge in occurrences of pneumonia in children there.

The recent release of disturbing footage of overcrowded hospitals in Beijing and other northern Chinese cities with ill children and their parents has sounded the alarm all across the globe.

In an unprecedented move, the WHO openly requested data on clusters of pneumonia cases in China from health authorities. These clusters were later shown to be caused by recognized viruses.

Maria Van Kerkhove, the interim head of the WHO's department of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said: "We asked about comparisons prior to the pandemic. And the waves that they're seeing now, the peak is not as high as what they saw in 2018-2019. This is not an indication of a novel pathogen. This is expected. This is what most countries dealt with a year or two ago."

Also Read: WHO Investigates Mysterious Pneumonia in China as Cases Increase

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
05-27-1985 (cutline): The horses on the 1920 carrousel at Buckroe Beach Amusement Park were painted by Beverly Wilson Schira and her father in 1949. A repainted left them all white. The steeds were one-of-a-kind.

03-18-1979 (cutline): Buddy Parrish of development office says Buckroe has to take advantage of uniqueness.

07-30-1961 (cutline): George C. (Skid) Abott (foreground) converted the old Gordon's fish packing house anchorage at Buckroe Beach to make a popular sport fishing pier which attracts anglers to the beach for both day and night fishing. Some families make a day of it fishing from the pier for blues, spot, trout, seas bass, small cobia, dog sharks and flounder.

05-28-1985 (cutline): The line at the gate was short for Buckroe Beach Park's last Memorial Day.

From the Archives: Who remembers Buckroe Beach?

Buckroe Beach is located in Hampton, Virginia, on the Chesapeake Bay. It is one of Virginias oldest recreational spaces. Originating in the 1600s as Buck Roe plantation, it was open to the public to use when new settlers arrived from England.

In the 1920s, the beach became a popular vacation destination for visitors up and down the East Coast. Several hotels and an amusement park stretched along the beach. Recreation areas were segregated until after the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

By the 1960s, Buckroe Beach lost its popularity, as many beach goers shifted to other areas like Virginia Beach. Also, there was amusement park competition from the nearby Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

In the early 2000s, investors contributed to a revival for Buckroe Beach. They installed walking paths, pavilions, barbecue grills and a playground into a mile-long boardwalk.
A Virginia state senator asked a court Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges her qualification to hold office over what her attorneys called baseless allegations that she did not meet the state's residency requirements.

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi has served in the state Senate since 2020 and handily won reelection earlier this month. She said in a motion and accompanying affidavit that she moved earlier this year from the family home where her husband resides into an apartment in order to reside in the newly redrawn 15th District where she ran, satisfying the requirement that candidates live in their district.

Contrary to the claims of the lawsuit, which alleged she had not abandoned her family home outside the district, Hashmi said the apartment she leased in February quickly became the center of her personal and professional life."

Hashmi moved furniture and personal effects into the apartment, began receiving personal packages there, and changed the addresses on her driver's license, car registrations and voter registration to reflect the address, according to the motion and supporting documentation submitted as exhibits.

She established a home office at the apartment, ate dinners there two to three times a week and hosted numerous meetings and events there, including a fundraiser for a fellow candidate at the apartment community's clubhouse, according to the court filing, which included a copy of an invitation.

Hashmi also submitted copies of maintenance requests for the apartment with Wednesday's filing.

The lawsuit against Hashmi, the state Board of Elections and Chesterfield registrar was filed by four Chesterfield County residents who live near Hashmi's family home, which was within the bounds of the district Hashmi first represented. Virginia adopted new legislative maps when the once-a-decade redistricting process ended in December 2021.

The plaintiffs wrote in their lawsuit that Hashmi regularly parked a car overnight at the family home and used the address when making political contributions. They argued Hashmi was not satisfying the residency requirements and was therefore ineligible to serve in the General Assembly, and they asked the court to enjoin the Board of Elections from certifying the election, a process thats scheduled to take place Monday.

In Wednesday's filing, Hashmi wrote that she believed the petitioners had surveilled her whereabouts for part of October, when she said she was spending more time than usual at the family home as her husband dealt with medical issues that required her care.

Since my husband's health has improved, I have returned to spending nights at the apartment, she wrote in the affidavit.

The political contributions were made with an account tied to the family home address, an account that's since been updated, she said.

Controversies over Virginia's residency requirements are not uncommon  others have bubbled up this cycle  though most do not result in legal challenges.

Reached by phone Wednesday evening, Paul Curley, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said his clients brought the case because they were frustrated with corruption in politics."

He said he was still in the process of reviewing Wednesday's filing. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for Friday morning.

Aaron Mukerjee, one of the attorneys representing Hashmi, said he expected the judge would quickly dismiss the case.

We are also confident the State Board of Elections will uphold its legal obligation to certify the election for Senator Hashmi, who received over 60% of the vote in her district, he wrote.

Hashmi, who ousted a Republican incumbent to win election in 2019, defeated Republican Hayden Fisher earlier this month.

Apart from what Hashmi's attorneys claim are the false factual allegations in the residents' complaint, Wednesday's motion also argued that it contains fatal legal deficiencies." Among them, according to Hashmi's attorneys, is that the court where the petition was filed does not have jurisdiction to hear such a post-election challenge.
Virginias Opioid Abatement Authority and Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted a fentanyl awareness and Narcan training session Wednesday at the New Life Outreach Church in Chesterfield County.

Narcan, or Naloxone, is a medication that can help treat the effects of narcotic overdoses  such as fentanyl. Several resource centers around Richmond offer the medication for free.

Each one of you in your own way is at the front line of an invisible war thats happening everywhere, Miyares said to the crowd of roughly 100 people who had gathered to learn how to administer Naloxone.

He noted how societal stigmas can make it challenging for people to seek or give help.

We have such a lie that it is somehow a sign of weakness to ask for help and its not, Miyares said. Asking for help is the bravest and most beautiful thing you can do.

The awareness efforts follow an uptick in drug overdose deaths amid ongoing issues with fentanyl in Virginia and nationwide. Researchers and studies have indicated that a rise in organ transplants reported by United Network for Organ Sharing is in part due to the rise in deaths from opioid overdoses. Over 100,000 people died in 2021 from overdose related deaths, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported.

The opioid crisis can largely be traced to Appalachian areas of states, including Virginia, where an opioid-producing company, Purdue Pharma, marketed OxyContin in the 1990s  leading to widespread opioid addiction. It reached a $6 billion settlement with several states in early 2022.

Author Beth Macy, who was a reporter at The Roanoke Times for 25 years, chronicled the roots of opioid issues in Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America. The New York Times-bestselling book was also adapted into a series on Hulu.

Miyares called the origin story of widespread opioid issues an example of companies using Virginia as a chemistry test.

With consumer protection a key role of the Attorneys General office, Miyares has announced settlements with several opioid producers across multiple states, the funding from which have gone to the Opioid Abatement Authority and local governments to help with recovery programs.

Amid growing concerns, Miyares also launched a one pill can kill public service announcement campaign last year and this past summer Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed Executive Order 26  outlining a multi-agency strategy to collect data and enhance enforcement. He also signed a number of laws created and passed by the General Assembly such as bills that make it easier for people to carry Naloxone and bills to implement addiction recovery programs in local and regional jails.

Meanwhile, at Wednesdays event a mother spoke about taking her teenage daughter to the hospital last summer believing she had the flu. The health emergency was later revealed to be intense withdrawal symptoms, she said, as her daughter has been a frequent user of narcotics with fentanyl.

The mother discussed how as her daughter copes with her addictions, she has encouraged her that if she must partake in drugs, to not do so alone and to have Naloxone with her in case she or someone around her needs it.

I knew we had to break the stigma of judgement, the woman said.

She added that issue isnt just affecting people who struggle with substance use disorders, but people who may try narcotics one time.

That one time could be the last time, she said.

The point was reiterated by the attorney general in a gathering with press outside of Wednesdays event. He described how some people are seeking to purchase other medications through drug dealers and social media and may be unaware their product is laced with fentanyl. Other times, Miyares claimed that some dealers see the addictive nature of lacing other drugs with fentanyl as a marketing tool.

This is part of why Miyares said he supports laws like one passed this year to designate the mixing of fentanyl as a weapon of terrorism.

While Democrats are largely advocated for treating drug issues as a public health issue, Republicans have pushed for prosecutorial routes to crack down on dealers.

Its about going after dealers with every tool you have in the toolbox and making sure that the dealers are held accountable, Miyares said.

31 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives
It was a quiet affair about speech.

There was little fanfare Wednesday as the University of Virginia hosted Gov. Glenn Youngkin along with representatives from every public college in the commonwealth, as well as some private institutions, for a Higher Education Summit on Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity.

The governor is so concerned about free speech on campus that his secretary of education spent more than a year planning the summit. The university, however, did not publicize the event, and it made no mention of the summit or the governors appearance on any UVa website.

The bottom line is Im extremely worried about the state of our college and university campuses today, Youngkin told the crowd assembled in the ballroom of Newcomb Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

Todays university students, he said, are afraid to express their viewpoints out of fear of retribution.

How do we ask serious questions and foster informed debate so that we can importantly get to critical answers? Youngkin asked the crowd. We have to challenge conventional wisdom. Challenging beliefs and fostering an environment for these debates is exactly why we exist.

A theme of the governors speech was diversity of thought, whats become a buzzword in conservative circles. The governor called for more perspectives to be welcomed on campuses and argued that there is now less room for free speech at universities than in the past.

In making his argument, he cited a 2023 study from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, also known as FIRE, a nonprofit group that works to protect free speech on college campuses and has received major funding from conservative groups such as the Bradley Foundation and Charles Koch Institute. FIRE gave a 45-minute presentation not long after Youngkin left the stage Wednesday.

Some UVa faculty were alarmed by the event, in part because of a certain item on the agenda: a roundtable discussion in which teams will develop a tangible plan including specific, measurable and attainable metrics.

How do you measure that? What would such a metric look like? asked Kathryn Laughon, an associate professor at the UVa School of Nursing, speaking with The Daily Progress after Wednesdays summit. I have a hard time envisioning a metric that measures diversity of thought in such a way that is not itself oppressive.

Laughon was not in attendance Wednesday.

But the summit was especially concerning for her and other faculty, who declined to speak on the record with The Daily Progress, due to a proposal recently floated by members of the schools governing Board of Visitors: tracking the political ideologies of faculty and students.

Why wouldnt we do that to try to convince ourselves that we have balance and that were serving the full range of needs from our constituents as a leading public university? Douglas Wetmore, a Youngkin appointee, asked at a June Board of Visitors meeting.

We have members of the Board of Visitors who have openly said we should be tracking faculty political ideology and now there was a summit with an agenda item that had to do with specific measurable and attainable metrics, Laughon said. It raises some alarm bells about what they mean by that.

She also noted that the event was not widely publicized nor livestreamed, catching the universitys own faculty unawares.

Its just an interesting fact that I find somewhat concerning. Why would it not have been publicized? Things like this typically are. There are press releases. UVa would be proud to be hosting such an event, Laughon said.

Michael Kennedy, who chairs the UVa Faculty Senate, was in attendance on Wednesday at the invitation of UVa President Jim Ryan. In an email, Kennedy told The Daily Progress he is not worried that faculty was excluded deliberately or otherwise because this event was specifically for university administrators. He said he plans to tell faculty what was discussed at the event and what was learned.

If my colleagues say after I make my report they want to convene a similar institute on speech with matching leaders from other Virginia universities, Id welcome the opportunity to lead or participate in such an event, Kennedy wrote.

Asked how the event came together, the university said the summit was convened by the governors office.

UVa was happy to provide the space and to have the Governor and so many presidents of Virginia colleges and universities on our Grounds to participate in working sessions on a topic that is so important in higher education and so essential to our history and identity as an institution, university spokeswoman Bethanie Glover told The Daily Progress.

Ryan delivered the opening remarks Wednesday, while fourth-year J.D. and MBA student Peter Lee Hamilton introduced Youngkin on the stage.

Citing an international classmate of his, Hamilton said American students need more freedom to speak their minds.

Theres a campaign in peoples eyes and faces where they want to silence you if you do not agree, Hamilton said, quoting his classmate.

After speaking, he told The Daily Progress that sometimes his classmates dont agree with his views; and thats fine, he said, because it helps him learn.

I think the issue is that when people are so afraid or the response is so disproportionate that it harms and limits the ability to engage in the productive conversation, he said.

Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, who organized Wednesdays summit, told The Daily Progress students must be able to listen well and treat others with respect in order to have civil discourse.

The future of our communities is dependent on universities getting this right and building a culture where people learn how to be exposed to ideas that theyve never been exposed to, Guidera told The Daily Progress.

Youngkin called free expression a hallmark of a free society, but then referenced the violence that occurred in 2017 before and during the Unite the Right rally-turned-riot. On Aug. 11 of that year, White supremacists marched across Grounds at UVa chanting Blood and soil and Jews will not replace us, eventually leading to a violent confrontation with students and community members at the base of the statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson standing in front of the UVa Rotunda. The next day, the same marchers took their violence and vitriol to downtown Charlottesville, eventually killing anti-racist counterprotester Heather Heyer.

We cannot look the other way or mask ourselves in protecting unbridled expression, while violent rhetoric escalates into visible violence, Youngkin said. This is hard. I know that.

Laughon also referenced that violence when adding context to her concerns about the free speech summit.

UVa was all about free speech, and they kind of fell for this idea that this was all free speech, and they let Nazis walk through the university because they felt like they couldnt shut down this free expression of fascism, she said.

She noted that the organizers of the rally were UVa graduates.

What is our responsibility in educating these men that held a literal fascist riot at our university and in our town, she said. So the idea that there is not enough free speech in that context, I think thats where faculty get their hackles up.

The summit included at least one representative from every public university and community college in the commonwealth as well as 17 of Virginias private institutions. Each was given a homework assignment.

As part of todays summit, the governor charged our higher education institutions to collaborate and create action plans to ensure free speech and intellectual diversity are hallmarks of a Virginia education, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter told The Daily Progress.

I cannot wait to read the final results, Youngkin said.
Even jetliners need to fill up at the pump.

The question at Richmond International Airport: Is it better to have one filling station or two?

The airport for decades has had two fixed base operators  the firms that fuel, maintain, park and tie down airplanes. But the airport is now seeking to have only one for the next 30 years, even though federal law says airports cant give exclusive rights to any firm.

We went this way to get the highest-quality FBO, said Perry Miller, commission executive director and president of the Capital Region Airport Commission, which operates the facility.

After the Federal Aviation Administration said the airport procurement was not consistent with agreements to obtain federal grants, the commission revised its request for proposals to say it would launch a second procurement process if firms were interested after it awarded the first 30-year contract for a fueling and airplane servicing firm.

We cant do exclusive contracts, Miller said. The day after we decide on this, anyone else is free to say they want to come  we would start another RFP (request for proposals) for them.

He said he hoped that would not mean thered be a time when only one FBO would operate  although one major airport customer has said it worries that could happen, adding that could mean it pulls out of Richmond.

Proposal is on fast track

The current request for proposal for such a plan is on a fast track. It published Sept. 22 and closes Thursday. It replaces one that opened in January that sought two FBOs, with selection scheduled for completion on June 19.

In the event, the commission didnt pick anyone by that date. On Sept. 8, the airport canceled that formal procurement process, reissuing the request for proposal document with the key revision that it now wants only one fueling and servicing firm.

A selection committee of airport officials couldnt agree that firms responding to the original request for proposals would meet the airports expectations.

When firms interested in responding to the revised request asked why, the airport said the issue was irrelevant. But it would not be correct to say the selection committees decision was a reflection on the quality of existing operators, airport attorney Warren David Harless said. He said he could not answer any questions about responses to the cancelled request for proposals, since that could be seen as giving firms responding to the second request an unfair advantage.

Meanwhile, the revision to seek only one fueling and servicing firm, we construe to be potentially problematic, the FAA told the airport, according to a Nov. 17 letter from Harless to a Texas lawyer who complained of what he called irregularities in the revised procurement.

After two meetings with FAA officials, the airport amended its request for proposal to say other firms could submit requests to open a second servicing operation, and that in response it would start a second procurement process.

But last month, ATP Flight School, which operates at the airport, said it was worried that there might be period when thered be only one FBO, and that could potentially result in ATP being forced to leave RIC before a second FBO is in place, using the three-letter abbreviation for the Richmond airport.

One problem would be that a single firm would mean no competition on fueling services, ATP vice president Mark Butler said in an Oct. 23 letter to Miller.

Additionally, we have concerns that if there is only one FBO, then they might have a preferred vendor for flight training services, which would preclude us from continuing to operate out of the Richmond airport, Butler wrote.

Miller told Butler that the airport is committed to the development of a second FBO following selection of a respondent to the pending FBO RFP (request for proposals), provided there is interest in doing so by one or more prospective developers. The Commission has placed no constraints on competition at the Airport by prospective FBOs.

Firms have to reach their own conclusions

In response to a question from one firm about when the airport would open the procurement process for a second fueling and servicing operation, the airport said that was undetermined at this time, public records show.

Asked, in essence, if the airport would allow a second firm to undercut the winner of the current procurement, the airport said firms have to reach their own conclusions regarding the risk associated with the presence of competing FBO entrants in the future.

And asked how awarding the current RFP to only one FBO meets an airport objective to offer competitive services to general aviation fliers, the airport said there are seven other airports within a 50-mile radius that offer services.

Weve been a proud partner of Richmond International Airport for more than 75 years and hope to remain so for many more decades to come, said Michael Clarke, president of Richmond Jet Center, one of the two FBOs currently operating at the airport.

He declined to comment on the RFP or the airports cancelation of the earlier one seeking two FBOs.

Gene McDonough, president of Million Air, the other FBO, did not return a call.

PHOTOS: Richmond International Airport
Main suspect in murder of Puerto Morelos woman captured in Mexico City

Puerto Morelos, Q.R.  The suspect in a recent Puerto Morelos murder has been captured in Mexico City. On Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) reported on the capture of Jorge Luis N.

Jorge Luis N was taken into police custody on an outstanding arrest warrant by the Attorney Generals Office of Mexico City (FGJCDMX) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) for the October murder of a Puerto Morelos woman.

According to the police investigation, on October 31, Jorge Luis N and Ana Karen N arrived at the apartment where they lived in Puerto Morelos. During a heated argument, Jorge Luis N is alleged to have strangled his 31-year-old girlfriend, Ana Karen N.

Before leaving the house, he wrapped Ana Karens body in sheets and hid her under the bed. He then fled to Mexico City, the FGR reported.

On October 31, a woman was found dead inside her Puerto Morelos home in the Villas Morelos subdivision of town. Her body was discovered by family members wrapped in a sheet.

Jorge Luis N was detained by Mexico City authorities in Iztapalapa of Mexico City and has already been transferred to the Quintana Roo Mens Preventive Prison.
Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club officially inaugurated

Tulum, Q.R.  A new hotel project in the town of Tulum has been officially inaugurated. On Wednesday, the Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club, the first all-inclusive, adults-only resort in Tulum, celebrated its official grand opening.

The inauguration included a ribbon cutting by Governor Mara Lezama who was accompanied by Bernardo Cueto, State Secretary of Tourism, Tulum Mayor Diego Castanon and hotel owners.

It is the companys 44th Inclusive Collection hotel in Mexico and the 12th in the Secrets Resort & Spa brand. The new hotel has 326 rooms and has created 500 direct jobs.

We are proud to officially join the Inclusive Collection portfolio with the opening of Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club following the grand opening ceremony, said Carlos Ancira, President of the Board of Directors.

The Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club was officially inaugurated November 29 after opening its doors in early October.

Photo: Govt Quintana Roo November 29, 2023.

This extraordinary hotel located in the heart of Tulum offers unique amenities and experiences near the Caribbean Sea with strong brand recognition under the largest portfolio of luxury all-inclusive resorts in the world, he added.

The Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club hotel began operating October 12, 2023, and is located in the heart of Tulum.
Seven INM officers found alive after vehicle hijacked leaving Cancun airport

Cancun, Q, R.  Municipal police and navy personnel were involved in the recovery of a National Immigration Institute (INM) van and subsequent rescue of seven officers.

Late Tuesday night, an INM van that was transporting seven immigration officers from a shift at the Cancun International Airport disappeared.

The INM van was reportedly highjacked by a group of armed men shortly after leaving the airport. The four male and three female INM officers were in the van heading to the INM office of Cancun when their vehicle was hijacked.

According to the Secretariat of Citizen Security of Benito Juarez, the van was found after a motorist 911 report of an abaondoned INM van in the Avante area of Cancun. At almost the same time, the INM office of Cancun reported that a unit with seven officers on board failed to arrive at the city center office as scheduled.

Authorities search for the seven missing INM officers after locating the missing van.

Photo: November 29, 2023.

Authorities began a search operation for the missing officers after locating the INM van. The van was found by military personnel crashed in weeds in the Avante neighborhood of Cancun early Wednesday morning. There was no one inside.

A search for the INM officers lead police to an area near the airport. Police were able to locate the missing INM staff using GPS that was found active on one of the INM officers phones. The seven kidnapped officers were found inside a criminal safehouse.

Authorities are seen searching the criminal safehouse after locating the missing INM officers. Photo: November 29, 2023.

The building was located in a private area behind the airport. At the scene, police were met with gunfire as those responsible for the kidnappings escaped on foot. Inside, the seven immigration officers were found in their uniforms laying face down on the floor.

An ambulance was requested to evaluate all seven before they were taken to the State Attorney Generals Office for statements. None of the agents were reported to be injured. A motive for the kidnappings is not known.
In Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal, Matt Martens has written an indispensable guide for Christians engaging with questions of criminal justice reform. While Dagan and Teles Prison Break: Why Conservatives Turned Against Mass Incarceration had outlined the hopeful story of bipartisan, and even conservative, criminal justice reform in 2016, the events surrounding George Floyds deathincluding the recent uptick in the murder ratehas plunged the reform conversation back into the pit of political polarization. So nothing could be more timely than this book, and Martens is certainly the man to have written it: not only has he served both as criminal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney on a huge range of cases over the course of a 25-year career, he also has a masters in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Perhaps most important is Martens tone, which is one of careful deliberation steeped deeply in the way of Jesus. One gets the sense that Martens is reading not just politics but the entire American legal system through the lens of scripture, and not (as is sadly too often the case) the other way around.

It feels a bit out of left field, but Martens opens the book with 20 pages of straight theology before even beginning to discuss the criminal justice system. By the time I was halfway through chapter 1, however, I saw what he was doing and why: he was weaving a straight path to avoid careening into one or the other of two theological ditches. On the one hand, the purely forensic notion of the gospel that can be found all too often on the theological right will tend to brush off worldly concerns about justice. The now cliched just preach the gospel means too often that we need not concern ourselves with trying to reform the systems of this world. On the other hand, proponents of the social gospel fall into the ditch on the other side with their vision of social activism as ushering in a man-made kingdom of heaven.

Speaking out of the Reformed tradition, Martens describes himself as a Christian realist. Reforming social institutions wont get rid of the sinfulness and brokenness in this world, but it will reflect obedience to a God of justice who imbues the state with the moral authority to punish evildoers and reward the good (Romans 13). The good news, after all, isnt only that I can be saved from the guilt of my sin and an eternity in hell but also that I can be saved from the power of sin and unto good works. Since the essence of all good works is love of God and neighbor, and the essential (and God-ordained) role of the state is the legitimate use of physical violence, any serious Christian ought to care deeply about wielding such a weighty responsibility justly. After all, the images of God are at stake.

So when it comes to the term social justice, Martens ends up taking a similar tack as my co-author and I did in Black Liberation Through the Marketplace. Rather than ceding the term entirely to the left, he returns to its original use by both Luigi Taparelli in 19th-century Catholic Social Thought and theologically conservative Protestant scholars in the 20th century like John Stott and Carl Henry. Social justice simply referred to a just social order. Martens doesnt want to over-realize the eschatonhe knows that the full justice of Gods restoration is not something that will come about prior to Christs returnbut he doesnt want to under-realize it either. Christians ought to be working toward a more just society as they serve in their various vocations. I might add, as weve seen from works like Tom Hollands Dominion, that this is nothing other than what Christians have always been doing. They rescued abandoned babies, created the hospital system, required that women consent to their marriages, educated the poor, and slowly established the institutions that protect equality before the law. So far, then, Martens has managed to open the book without alienating either political side, except perhaps the most extremeeither those on the right who resent the use of the term social justice no matter how its contextualized or those on the left who resent his suggestion that their own concept of social justice has become enslaved to ideology.

For most readers, Martens next move will probably seem quite strange. Through an extensive appeal to scripture, he argues that while love is much more than justice, it is certainly at least justice. Therefore, all true justice is motivated by lovelove for victims, for the good of the community, for the accused, anddare we say it?even love for the convicted. While the concept is certainly counterintuitive, I appreciated Martens arguments because of my familiarity with Aquinas natural law theory. Aquinas defines love as a desire for the good of another and a willingness to act to that end. For Aquinas, proper authority includes care for the common good of the community. But by common good, Aquinas does not refer to the utilitarian notion of aggregate happiness. Rather, Aquinas means that those in authority must care about the good of each member of the communitythat is, he (or they) must love each one and therefore must will their good and act to that end.

While its fairly obvious that keeping the community safe is a loving act toward the community, or getting justice for a victims family is a loving act toward that family, its not as obvious that rendering justice to the criminal is an act of love toward the criminal. But indeed it is. At the very least, it stops the criminal from doing more evil, damnable deeds. It gives the criminal an opportunity to repent. I would add that it acknowledges the criminals dignity by acknowledging his or her agency as a moral beinga being made in Gods imagewho bears responsibility for his or her actions.

The connection to Aquinas aligns well, I think, with Martens approach. As a matter of fact, he uses the example of just war theory (for which Aquinas is one of the most prominent explicators) throughout the work to explain the parallel logic behind criminal justice. After all, as he says, every act of criminal aggression is a kind of tiny war. Just as there are rules about when it is appropriate to go to war and how one must conduct oneself in war, there are restrictions on what can count as an act worthy of government retaliation, and there are appropriate and inappropriate ways for state actors to conduct themselves as they arrest, imprison, and try the accused.

Drawing heavily on scripture as well as a broad range of Christian thinkers from Augustine to Calvin, Martens lays out five major principles of biblical justice as it relates to crime: 1) Accuracy, 2) Due Process, 3) Accountability, 4) Impartiality, and 5) Proportionality. From the Torah, we glean that God is interested in genuine guilt and innocence, not just the appeasement of our desire for revenge. This first principle leads necessarily to the second, since this fallen world will be so prone to producing both false accusations and false alibis. Its not simply that the judgment must turn out ultimately to have been correct but that the system must have exhausted all reasonable means to ensure that it was correct. The fact that the state wields the sword against Gods image-bearers reminds us of the seriousness of these moral duties. This also means that when officers of the state fail to use all reasonable means to come to an accurate conclusion in a criminal case, they then become the Romans 13 evildoers and must be held accountable themselves.

Martens pulls no punches here: he clearly thinks that Christians involved in the criminal justice system must refuse to participate in elements of the system that are unjust. While Martens deftly avoids committing himself to concrete policy positions that he would rather leave open for debate, he ruthlessly questions practices of absolute immunity for prosecutors and qualified immunity for police officers since these violate the accountability requirement. The section on impartiality highlights Americas terrible history of racism in the criminal justice system, particularly as regards participation on juries. While I was familiar with this history, I hadnt entirely grasped its implications. I knew that white supremacists avoided putting black men on juries because they never wanted a white person to be convicted of violence against a black person. But they also wanted to convict as many black people as possible, both for convict-leasing purposes and to ensure that fewer and fewer black men would be eligible to vote or participate in the jury system. In case this seems like exaggeration, Martens peppers his discussion of each principle with devastating examples. To the extent that our system remains racially partial (even when other factors such as class are adjusted for, there are shocking disparities), it offends the standards of biblical justice.

Finally, Martens discussion of proportionality brings up the important limit that requiring the punishment to fit the crime places on our dreams of deterrence and reform. These are both worthy goals in the criminal justice system, but must always be subordinated to proportionality, which puts an upper limit on the nature and extent of punishment.

The second half of the book is dedicated to demonstrating that, while Americas system of justice has an excellent infrastructure for the proper balance of concern for victim and accused, its gone way off the rails in several major areas. As someone who has written on criminal justice reform, I didnt expect to learn much in this section. But the emphasis on our duty to God according to the moral authority he has ordained to the state provided an entirely new lens through which to view our problems. Writers on criminal justice may lament our high numbers of incarceration or our high crime rates, or unreflectively resonate with the accused or with the victim. But Martens pulls the reader back to the discipline of the five principles of biblical justice and their context in love for each person involved. For example, the prevalence of plea bargaining is unjust, not simply because it bypasses the trial process, but also because it generates a high number of false convictions. This means that not only is the accused harmed by being punished unjustly, but victims are harmed because they didnt get justice, and the community is harmed because the actual criminal is still out there. The fact that plea bargaining feels necessary to work through the sheer number of cases coming through the system may even be a signal to us that we have created too many laws.

While I was already deeply familiar with the under-supply and low pay of criminal defense attorneys for indigent accused, I was quite ignorant of just how prevalent it is for prosecutors to fail in sharing exculpatory evidence (Brady material, named after the Supreme Court case) with the defense attorney. This is a clear violation of the law, and because we are now tracking thousands of exonerations, we can see clearly just how often this occurs. The most shocking part of the story, though, is that these prosecutors experience no accountability for this failure, even when it costs the mistakenly convicted years and years of unjust imprisonment. Such egregious systemic injustice should shock the conscience.

While Martens leaves the sticky policy questions up to us to work out, this book serves as a fundamental reorientation of our minds to Gods standards for criminal justice, his love for each person involved, and the weight of our moral duty to only wield the sword as justly as it is reasonably possible to do. By staying so deeply rooted in scripture, Martens is able both to appreciate and to critique the American system in fresh ways that could re-motivate theologically conservative Christians to promote criminal justice reform. Rather than avoiding this subject because of the Defund and Abolish utopianism of the left, faithful and thoughtful Christians should bring their care and their creativity to the project of eliminating evil and injustice in our system. We do this by loving people: we keep the community safe within the bounds of proportional punishment, we get justice for victims and their families, and we acknowledge the dignity of the accused and convicted.
International mediators appeared to make progress on Wednesday (November 29) in their efforts to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas fighters to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and additional relief from Israel's military offensive.

If no deal would be brokered, the truce would end within the day.

How Israel May Destroy Hamas After the Truce

While Israel welcomed the release of hostages during the truce, officials say they were still committed to annihilating Hamas after its deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7.

According to the Associated Press, Yehya Sinwar and other Hamas leaders have likely relocated to the south, along with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians who have packed into overflowing shelters.

A ground invasion of the south by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) could eventually weed out Hamas leadership and demolish the rest of its militant infrastructure, including kilometers of tunnels, but at a cost of Palestinian lives and destruction that the United States - Israel's main ally - could be unwilling to bear.

Washington officials have told their Israeli counterparts to operate with far greater precision if they would resume the offensive, especially in the south. However, such an approach could make it difficult to annihilate Hamas any time soon, as international pressure for a more lasting ceasefire continued to mount.

"How far both sides will be prepared to go in trading hostages and prisoners for the pause is about to be tested, but the pressures and incentives for both to stick with it are at the moment stronger than the incentives to go back to war," former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Read Also: Israel, Hamas Blame Each Other for Violating Truce After Explosives Detonated, Shots Fired in Gaza

Racing Against the Clock

Negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar are trying to strike a deal with Israel and Hamas to make another extension to the truce before the day ends.

The Times of Israel reported that Hamas was willing to extend its truce deal with Israel for four more days to facilitate the release of hostages in exchange for freeing all prisoners detained.

Egyptian state information services chief Diaa Rashwan said that negotiations to extend the pause in the fighting and release more hostages have made progress and that it was "highly likely" that another extension would be announced by the end of Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been planning to revisit the Middle East this week, saying that the US would like to see an extension of the truce, the release of more hostages, and the delivery of more aid to Gaza.

While in Brussels, Blinken said he also wanted to discuss postwar arrangements for Gaza, in which the US, Israel, and the Arab world were deeply divided.

Meanwhile, Israel said on Wednesday that around 160 hostages remain captive in Gaza, including four children under 18 and 10 elderly individuals over 75. As information was hard to come by, authorities have only given approximate counts of the number of hostages still being held in Gaza.

As of Wednesday, a total of 60 Israelis are freed, with an additional 21 hostages from Thailand, the Philippines, and Russia also liberated.

Related Article: CIA Director Meets With Israeli, and Egyptian Counterparts in Qatar for Hostage Talks

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The Buchanan man who led Botetourt County Sheriffs Office deputies on a manhunt in March received a four-year sentence.

Lucas T. Moseley, 36, pleaded guilty Nov. 21 in Botetourt County Circuit Court to three charges: unlawful bodily injury, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and brandishing a firearm.

In exchange for his pleas, the commonwealth agreed not to prosecute three other charges: possessing a firearm as a felon, trespassing and assault and battery.

On March 3, Moseley entered his ex-girlfriends residence, where he encountered a man named Jeffrey Stump, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Chad Simmons said Wednesday. Moseley hit Stump over the head with the butt of a rifle, then fled the residence into the woods.

Simmons said the assault was domestic in nature, because there was almost like a love triangle. But Stump and Moseley didnt know each other.

Mr. Mosley was motivated by the thought that our victim was having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Simmons said. Mr. Stump, obviously, was caught off guard when Lucas Moseley shows up and starts threatening him and then hits him.

They were able to find him on a rural piece of property, basically hidden in brush, Simmons said. We really dont know if he was getting help, if he was just going from one abandoned shed to another abandoned shed. We really dont know where he was during that weeklong period.

The sheriffs office originally reported that Moseley was located with the help of dogs and drone spotters in the Springwood area of the county. Simmons said Wednesday that as a part of his plea agreement, Moseley will have to pay $10,000 in restitution to compensate the sheriffs office for their resources and overtime efforts.

We wanted some type of financial penalty for him to be held responsible for the financial obligations that went into securing his arrest, Simmons said.

Moseley was originally charged with malicious wounding in connection with Stumps head injuries. But the sheriffs office reported the victim of the assault declined medical treatment.

He had a very minor cut to his head. Didnt even need stitches, Simmons said. But under the law, breaking of the skin is sufficient for a malicious wounding charge.

The charge was amended in accordance with his plea agreement last week to unlawful bodily injury. On that amended charge, he was sentenced to five years of incarceration, suspended after he serves one.

On his firearm use charge, Moseley was sentenced to three years, the mandatory minimum sentence for the charge in Virginia, and on his brandishing charge, he was sentenced to 12 months, all of which were suspended. Once released, Moseley will be placed on four years of supervised probation.

Simmons said the commonwealth wasnt going to offer Moseley a plea deal until the firearm he used in the March 3 assault was recovered.

The last thing we wanted was some firearm that was discarded on the side of a road or in a field to be found by anyone, especially a child, the prosecutor said.

At a hearing in August, Moseleys case was continued, or rescheduled. Between that day and Nov. 21, Simmons said, the sheriffs office received information about where that firearm could be found, retrieved it and took it into evidence.

The firearm that was recovered matched the description of the firearm that the victim provided law enforcement, Simmons said. As part of this plea agreement, its forfeited to the commonwealth to be destroyed.

The prosecutor said Stump and other witnesses involved in the March 3 incident were made aware of Moseleys plea agreement and were happy that it was resolved in the manner in which it was.
Lawmakers from several states, including Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, said they are fasting for peace in the Middle East this week.

Rasoul, Virginias only Palestinian-American legislator, said he was contacted by a lawmaker from another state to join a hunger strike, and he agreed with the cause. He said hes participating Thursday and Friday in the five-day event.

To recognize the pain and suffering of the people who have not only gone through traumatic massacres, but have been cut off from a lot of food aid, Rasoul said. Wanting to be voices for peace. For me, its fasting for recognizing that.

A temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza is set to soon expire, following an October attack on Israeli civilians that escalated long-held tensions and led to weeks of retaliatory bombardment on Palestinians. The United States government provides billions of dollars worth of military aid to Israel each year.

I just believe that our tax dollars shouldnt be used in these large massacres of innocent civilians, Rasoul said. People from all walks of life  Israelis and Palestinian civilians  should be able to live in peace, and we certainly should not be funding the large-scale massacre of the most densely populated area on earth.

Other participants include Democratic Party state lawmakers from Oklahoma and Delaware, along with interest groups and the actor Cynthia Nixon, according to a report by progressive website Common Dreams.

Rasouls family settled in the Roanoke Valley from war-torn Palestinian territories in the 1960s. While hes been active at related protests and other demonstrations the past few weeks, he said this is the first time he can remember someone asking him to join a hunger strike.

Im calling it a fast for peace, Rasoul said. We all want to continue praying for peace.
Three of the Roanoke region's state legislators looked ahead Wednesday to next year's General Assembly session  where power will be split between a Republican governor and Democratic majorities in House and Senate  and said there are plenty of issues where they could reach across the aisle.

"We enjoy working together, trying to do things for the valley  even though a few differences of opinion get in the way sometimes," Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, told an audience at the annual pre-session legislative breakfast thrown by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, Roanoke Regional Homebuilders Association, and Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors.

"It's important to work together," echoed state Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County.

"Virginia is a purple state at the end of the day," added Del. Joe McNamara, R-Salem. "I don't think there's a mandate for a hard-left policy or a mandate for a hard-right policy."

More than 150 people attended the breakfast, including numerous local government and business notables. Held in a banquet room at the Salem Civic Center, the event featured questions from a moderator and from the audience.

McNamara, Suetterlein and Rasoul took turns weighing in, saying that funding for transportation, education and plans like the conversion of part of Catawba Hospital to substance abuse treatment were priorities that they could all support. Suetterlein and Rasoul said they were in favor of some form of refundable earned income credit for lower-income Virginians. Suetterlein said he would back McNamara's proposal to keep Virginia on daylight saving time year-round.

"There's plenty of room for us to be working together," Rasoul said, prompting applause.

As for working out the details, Rasoul, now Virginia's only Democratic state legislator west of Charlottesville, said that he sees the General Assembly's partisan divides as less rigid than those in Washington, D.C.

"It's just not that way in Richmond," Rasoul said. "Ninety percent of the work we're doing, we're just trying to get it right.  The culture is how do we get things done."

Suetterlein praised Rasoul for supporting Virginia's new redistricting procedure, which amended the state constitution so that the once-every-decade redrawing of districts is done by a non-partisan commission or the state Supreme Court rather than whichever party is in control at the time.

This month's election was the first for districts drawn under the new method, and "we did get much fairer lines," Suetterlein said.

Suetterlein said that the worst thing about Democrats taking control of the General Assembly was that it meant the House and Senate would have a lot of new, "highly ideological" members. He predicted that in the upcoming session, which convenes Jan. 10, Gov. Glenn Youngkin's veto power will be more significant because Democrats' majorities are too slim to necessarily override it.

The three legislators said that the General Assembly is going through a generational reshuffling after redistricting and numerous retirements. Suetterlein noted that at age 38 and in office since 2016, he has become 16th in seniority in the Senate.

Suetterlein said it was fortunate for the region that Rasoul serves on the House Appropriations Committee and can see that the area's needs aren't forgotten as budgets are written.

Rasoul and Suetterlein spoke about law enforcement reforms that Virginia enacted in 2020, with Suetterlein saying that some of the changes had not been well thought-out and needed to be revisited. Suetterlein was not specific about what he hoped would be addressed this session but said that poorer neighborhoods are bearing the brunt of what he thought were legislators' poor decisions.

Rasoul said that public safety "is top of mind for a lot of us" and that the reforms were prompted by findings that minorities and lower-income people were more harshly treated in some law enforcement situations. The General Assembly didn't have a perfect bill to fix this but will continue trying to address it, he said.

"We're having these tough conversations as a society, as a community," Rasoul said.

He said the region's residents should feel free to reach out to him and other legislators with their concerns.
BLACKSBURG  A panel discussion that was reported to have sparked controversy at Virginia Tech went off without it on Wednesday.

The panel is the first of a series of three scheduled throughout this and next week at the Carol M. Newman Library, dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on the panel series previously, saying that it had sparked controversy at Virginia Tech, specifically citing complaints from members of Hillel at Virginia Tech, a Jewish Student group.

Amanda Herring, the executive director of Hillel at Virginia Tech, expressed disappointment with the entire roster of speakers booked for the series.

We are disappointed with the university, Herring told the Times-Dispatch. Theres not a single academic who [will] present a  historically Zionist or even [a] centrist point of view.

One of the three speakers at the first panel, Lev Grinberg, is an Israeli emeritus professor at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and a regular contributor to Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper.

Grinbergs comments focused on how Hamas and the current Israeli government are responsible for the escalating violence that has occurred in the region over the last two decades.

What I try to do here very briefly is to explain how both Israel and Palestinian political arenas became dominated by religious zealot entities ready to launch a total war until victory, Grinberg said. This is the clear goal of Hamas leadership and the Israeli government, and it might be a disaster.

One of the speakers at the first panel, Lisa Hajjar, drew direct criticism from officials with Hillel at Virginia Tech, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch report.

Hajjar, a professor of sociology at UC Santa Barbara, was criticized for a post she made on X (formerly Twitter) showing a bulldozer with a Palestinian flag driving through an Israeli border fence. The post was made the day after the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7.

Hajjar said that she was not aware of the Hamas attacks when she posted the image, and the post has since been deleted.

In her speech, Hajjar focused on international law, and how international standards established in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 have been violated on both sides of the current conflict.

Hamas use of missiles targeting Israel, especially since they are not particularly refined weapons, that would be considered a deliberate targeting of civilians, Hajjar said. But Israel has also targeted civilians over time.

Hajjar spent a large portion of her remarks defining certain parameters of what constitutes a war crime under international law. In particular, what the international standard is regarding use of human shields, which the Israeli government has accused Hamas of doing on numerous occasions, and has been used as justification for targeting locations such as schools and hospitals in Gaza.

Even if individuals are used involuntarily as human shields, the attacking side must be mindful of that, because human shields dont lose their status as civilians, Hajjar said.

The first speaker at the panel was Lex Takkenberg, a Dutch professor, author, and former administrator for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, focused his remarks on the refugees, and the major events in the last century that have displaced them.

It is once again central in the current conflict, Takkenberg said, referring to the historical displacement of Palestinians. Since 7 October, according to the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs, 1.7 million of the total Gaza population of 2.3 million are internally displaced.

The panel was attended, in person, by about 30 people and, over Zoom, by 71 at the beginning, though many people left early, as the presentation started about a half-hour late due to technical difficulties.

There was no protest of the event, though police officers were posted outside the room as a precaution.

The next panel discussion is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, and is set to focus on historical context for the conflict.

Hillel at Virginia Tech has expressed interest in having another panel discussion added later, but the status of that plan is unknown. No representatives from Hillel at Virginia Tech immediately responded to requests for comment.

In the report from The Richmond Times-Dispatch, Herring said that she was concerned that the panels would  feed into the alienation of Jewish students  (and) subject (them) to further hate on their own campus.
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Amanita phalloides is what's known in the world of mycology as a "mutualist," according to Anne Pringle, the Letters and Science Rubenstein Professor of Botany and Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "A mutualism is, very simply, a relationship between two organisms of different species that result in a benefit for both organisms," says Pringle.

As an ectomycorrhizal fungus (a fungus that grows outside the plant's roots), the death cap mushroom forms this relationship with a host tree. The fungus grows in the soil and mingles with the tree's roots, drawing out nitrogen from the soil and bringing it to the tree in exchange for carbon.

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In California, where the death cap mushroom is fairly common  possibly due to its pleasant Mediterranean climate  the fungus normally grows in tandem with coast live oak. On the east coast, the fungus usually attaches to pine. And in the fungus' native Europe, it's a combination of beech and oak.
An investigation that the British government had commissioned revealed on Tuesday, November 28, the major shortcomings at the hospitals where a man convicted of murder had undetected sexual interactions with over a hundred dead bodies throughout 15 years.

After DNA linked David Fuller to the 1987 murders of two women and the discovery of millions of photos of sexual assault in his house, his necrophilia was exposed in 2020. Two morgues in southeast England were his workplace, and the photos and films showed him having sex with the corpses of women and girls.

"The offenses that David Fuller committed were truly shocking," the inquiry report said, according to AP News. "However, the failures of management, governance, regulation, and processes, and a persistent lack of curiosity, all contributed to the creation of the environment in which he was able to offend."

After pleading guilty to two charges of murder, 69-year-old Fuller is now serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He also admitted to dozens of other acts of necrophilia.

To put a stop to similar abuse in the future and to determine how Fuller managed to avoid punishment for an extended period of time, an investigation was initiated.

Horrible Crimes

In a report by Boston.com, the now-defunct Kent and Sussex Hospital employed Fuller two years after he murdered 25-year-old Wendy Knell and 20-year-old Caroline Pierce in two 1987 assaults in the town of Tunbridge Wells. Unsurprisingly, Fuller never mentioned his criminal record as a burglar in his employment paperwork. He then went on to work at Pembury's Tunbridge Wells Hospital for 33 years, during which time the murders in question remained unsolved.

The probe determined that between 2005 and 2020, Fuller perpetrated 140 acts of sexual violence against 101 females, ranging in age from 9 to 100. Photographs or videos documenting each incident have timestamps.

The investigation said that Fuller was daring in his criminal acts, especially because he committed them while other personnel were on the clock at the morgue. How he managed to commit the abuse while working without anybody noticing is something that the investigation has not been able to pin down.

The investigation found that Fuller, who was sometimes required to service the mortuary's refrigeration equipment, had unauthorized access to the department on a regular basis, visiting as much as 444 times in a single year.

According to Fuller, he used a logbook to choose his victims. Reportedly, he stayed away from those who had perished from infections or diseases like COVID-19.

See Also: France: Yoga Guru Arrested for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of Female Followers

Hospital Violations

Installing surveillance cameras in the morgue and post-mortem room was one of 17 suggestions given by the investigation headed by Jonathan Michael, a former chief executive of the National Health Service (NHS). Another proposal was that contractors and non-mortuary personnel should be escorted to the mortuary by another member of staff.

Miles Scott, who took over as chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in 2018, said that most of the suggestions from the study had already been implemented and that others will be shortly. He expressed his deepest regrets to the victims' families in a statement, acknowledging their pain.

Those victims' relatives who were questioned by the investigation but whose identities were redacted in the final report expressed shock at the news and the difficulty of moving on after this.

See Also: NY: Sexual Assault Lawsuits Increase Due to Adult Survivors Act Deadline; Advocates Call for Extension

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" " A tiny leaf cutter ant carrying a huge leaf in his mouth while zipping along the edge of a sidewalk in the Soberania National Forest in Panama. Mass and weight indeed. avid_creative/Getty Images

People tend to use the terms mass and weight interchangeably, but they're quite distinct. Weight is the measurement of gravity's pull on an object, whereas mass denotes the amount of matter an object contains as well as said object's ability to resist changes in its state of motion. Admittedly, the mass vs weight debate sounds complicated, but there are many fun facts that distinguish the two terms.

Climb Mount Everest and you're guaranteed to lose some weight, but not because of the exercise. A person who's standing at sea level weighs slightly more than they would atop the mountain's peak. There's an example of weight, as gravity pulls on an object. Weight varies, whereas a body's mass doesn't.

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Mass is a different beast altogether, one that's proven extremely hard to define. Let's say you're still on Mount Everest with your backpack of supplies. While you've lost a bit of weight due to your altitude, the mass of, say, your backpack remains constant. It may feel lighter, thanks to less gravitational force, but the object's mass measures the same. In this article, we'll explore five fun facts about mass, which will prevent you from confusing it with weight ever again.
Seguin, TX (78155)

Today

Areas of patchy fog early. Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 74F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Wind increasing. Mostly clear. Low 51F. S winds shifting to W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
The Taliban is actively exploring ways in which it can obtain a tactical nuclear weapon as it seeks to cement its grip on power in Afghanistan, the countrys former spy chief has claimed.

Rahmatullah Nabil, the former head of Afghanistans national security service, said the Taliban had ambitions to follow in the footsteps of the likes of North Korea, Iran, China and Russia in acquiring a nuclear weapon as the emblem of a modern military power.

The Islamist militant group is desperate for international recognition after seizing control of Kabul following the withdrawal of Western allied forces in August 2021. It has gone on to implement a brutal misogynist regime in the country, and the group has still not been recognised by the UN as Afghanistans legitimate government.

I have reports indicating that a group of the Taliban is looking into how to access tactical nuclear weapons. Whether they can get them from Pakistan or pay engineers to get them. That is going to be a disaster, Mr Nabil told the Herat Security Dialogue, an annual conference on the situation in Afghanistan that was held this week in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and attended by The Independent.

Experts at the conference voiced scepticism about the Taliban having the capabilities, connections or indeed motivation to acquire a tactical nuke, but in an interview on the sidelines of the conference, Mr Nabil told The Independent that the possibility was too dangerous to ignore.

This [Taliban regime] is a Jihadi machinery. They have the desire, [and are having] discussions on how to get there, how others are doing it [developing tactical nuclear weapons]. This definitely needs better attention than what it is getting right now, he said.

Over two years, it's proven that this terrorist group reached [greater] strategic depths. They have access to the most sophisticated weapons and ammunition of the Nato forces, he said, referring to equipment left behind by the hasty withdrawal of US, UK and other allied forces.

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They got access to sophisticated intelligence equipment and surveillance systems. Right now they're using this against Afghan people, he said.

Mr Nabil served as chief of the country's intelligence services in two stints, from 2010 to 2012 and then again from 2013 to December 2015, including the first year of the Ashraf Ghani administration that was ultimately toppled by the Taliban in 2021.

The 55-year-old resigned amid disagreements with Mr Ghani and went on to become a political rival. He has continued to be an important voice in regional discourse since the Taliban takeover.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations distributed by a humanitarian aid group in Kabul (AP)

Much of the international attention on the Taliban since it seized power has been on its social policies  denying women the right to education and removing them from workplaces, as well as parks and recreational spaces.

Mr Nabil suggested the rest of the world may regret not focusing more on the Talibans military activity during this period. When you look back at this, you will know they tried, he said. The talks about womens education are distracting from the Talibans strategic goals. Go to the Jihadi mentality [of the Taliban] and what they want for this region.

Even if the Taliban had the practical means to acquire a nuclear weapon, experts said such a move would come at a very heavy cost for the groups fight for legitimacy on the world stage, rather than present it as a major player.

Acquiring nuclear weapons brings in a lot of political baggage and Afghanistan is a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)  even if they were trying to acquire that, theres going to be a barrage of diplomatic pressure on them. And at this point, the only thing they dont need is more political pressure, said Dr Arian Sharifi, international security expert and lecturer at Princeton Universitys School of Public and International Affairs.

He added: In fact, the opposite is true because theyre seeking recognition from the international committee. Even now, gesturing anything about nuclear weapons is going to kill their potential recognition.

Another major hurdle to any nuclear ambitions harboured by the Taliban would be the enormous cost of purchasing and delivering such weapons, given the disastrous state of Afghanistans economy since the groups takeover. The group is also presumed not to have the technical capabilities to maintain such a weapon, Dr Sharifi said.

The Herat Security Dialogue aims to present a united front against the Taliban of stakeholders in Afghanistans future, bringing together former government officials, diplomats from the Ashraf Ghani administration and regional leaders. Hosted by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, it was held each year in Herat province before continuing into exile after the Taliban seized power.

The consensus there is that even if a small faction within the Taliban were to explore obtaining a nuclear weapon, by far the main focus for the group is the ongoing threats to its power within Afghanistan, both from the local branch of Isis and the small remaining pockets of resistance fighters.

The Taliban are not facing any threat from any state, Dr Sharifi said. The only military need is counterterrorism, particularly against Isis-K which is their main adversary and then a small number of smaller resistance armies who are resisting them. All of that requires tactical-level weaponry that could be used in counterinsurgency. There is no need for the Taliban to seek nuclear weapons now and in the near future.
Swedish Rye Bread Sale

Augustana Lutheran Church, 600 Court St., is doing their annual baking of Swedish rye bread on Dec. 1 and 2. Orders can be placed on the church website, augustanasc.org until Friday, Dec. 1, and can be picked up on Saturday, Dec. 2, or after service on Sunday, Dec. 3. Please call the church at 712-255-7694.

32nd Annual Cookie Walk

Calvary Lutheran Church, 4400 Central St., will host its 32nd Annual Cookie Walk from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Carmelite Board Meeting

The monthly Carmelite Board Meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 4, at the Carmelite Monastery, 2901 S. Cecelia Street with Mass at 7 a.m. and refreshments at 8 a.m. The business meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m., the rosary will start at 9 a.m., and prayers with the Sisters at 9:15 a.m.. Honorary members are always welcome.

GriefShare for the Holidays

GriefShare for the Holidays presentation will be held at host-church Calvary Lutheran, 4400 Central St., 51108, at two different times, 10:30 a.m. to noon, and 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4. All are welcome to join for this 1.5-hour presentation that is filled with coping strategies for dealing with the loss of a loved one at Christmas.

The presentation is free, and includes a free, informative, exercise booklet for all participants. You may register at www.calvaryleeds.com. Call 712-389-5226 with any questions.

Advent and Christmas Services

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S Lakeport, invites the public to join in celebrating the Advent and Christmas season. Advent services will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 13 and 20.

Wednesday, Dec. 6, will be The Light of Grace special service for the first week of Advent to celebrate Jesus as the Light of the World. The service will focus on the gracious gift of hope exemplified in the life of Zechariah.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, family fun will be had at the annual Family Christmas Party complete with cookie decorating and carnival games.

Christmas Cantata will be held at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 10. Don't miss the service in which the vocal and bell choirs will collaborate in a Christmas Cantata. Both services will feature traditional Christmas lessons and carols.

Wednesday, Dec. 13, will be a special Family Advent Service. There will be a chicken strip dinner at noon and from 5 to 7 p.m. This will be a family-oriented worship service with singing and handbells. The service will focus on the gracious gift of hope exemplified in the life of Isaiah for the second week of advent. Free will offering will go for the J.J. Wolf Missionary Family.

On Sunday, Dec. 17, there will be two special Christmas childrens programs with KinderCottage Preschool at 1 p.m., and Redeemers Sunday school children at 4 p.m.

Christmas Eve services will be held on at 8:15 and 10:45 a.m. Dec. 24 and also 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. candlelight services. Christmas Day will have worship at 9 a.m. with Holy Communion.

Holiday Pastry Sale

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Ladies Philoptochos Society, 900 Sixth St., is having their annual Holiday Pastry Sale. Pastries offered for sale include Christmas Tree Bread at $7 each; Baklava, Melomakarona, Kourambeithes, or Variety Pastry Packs at $17 for a package of 6, $32 for a package of 12, or a Holiday Package of 12 for $34; and Koulouria at $10 a dozen. Holy Trinity Cookbooks are also available for $25 each. Forms can be found online or by contacting Mary at 712-490-3555. Orders are due by Saturday, Dec. 8. Orders can be picked up Saturday, Dec. 16, or Sunday, Dec. 17.

30th Annual Cookie Walk and Craft Fair

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2915 Glenn Ave., will host their 30th Annual Cookie Walk and Craft Fair from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. Homemade cookies, candies, and crafts will be available for sale at $7 per pound.

Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner

St. Paul Lutheran Church, 31903 475th Ave., Elk Point, S.D., will host a lutefisk and meatball dinner from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 (in case of inclement weather, Dec. 11). Holiday baked goods will be available. All proceeds benefit the St. Paul Restoration Fund and Community Missions/Charities.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for kids 4 to 12 years old. Kids 3 years old and under are free. For tickets, visit the Lewis Drug in Elk Point or find the event link on Facebook.

Christmas Program and Bazaar

Peace Reformed Church, 4100 Outer Dr., will hold its Children's Christmas Program and Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 10. The Christmas Program will be during worship at 9:30 a.m. The Christmas Bazaar will be open from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and includes a silent auction. Items available will include homemade quilts, Christmas decor, baked goods and lots of different items.

Citywide confessions

In an effort to encourage the Catholic faithful to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation (confession), the four Catholic parishes in Sioux City are collaborating on citywide confessions throughout the next year.

Each parish will host one of four come and go confessions in the next 10 months to remind Catholics that the sacrament is available throughout the year  not just during the liturgical (church) seasons of Advent and Lent.

Confessions will be available at the following locations from 7 to 8 p.m. and the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for confession participants to pray in adoration if they wish. Multiple priests will be present at each citywide confessions event.

Dec. 19 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany at 1000 Douglas St.

March 19 at Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Church at 4241 Natalia Way

June 18 at Sacred Heart Parish at 5010 Military Rd.

Pastors of the four parishes include: The Rev. David Hemann of Holy Cross Parish, which includes Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael churches; The Rev. David Esquiliano of Cathedral Parish, which includes the Cathedral of the Epiphany, St. Boniface and St. Joseph churches; The Rev. Brad Pelzel of Mater Dei Parish, which includes Immaculate Conception and Nativity churches, and The Rev. Tim Friedrichsen of Sacred Heart Parish

Food pantry

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays.
It pays to go to high school theater cast parties.

Dominic Sessa did and discovered director Alexander Payne was looking for actors to play students at an all-boys prep school, circa 1970.

My theater teacher said, These casting people are going to come and maybe look for some background people, Sessa says. I just thought, Maybe if it goes well, I can sit at a desk or something.

Instead, he got one of the leading roles in The Holdovers  a young man whos left back at school over the holidays.

The part gave him something his now-Carnegie Mellon University classmates dont have  talk that he could be nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.

The movie was a little bit more challenging than what Id done in the past, Sessa admits. You just dont know what to expect.

THE HOLDOVERS Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully in director Alexander Paynes "The Holdovers."

Payne, however, was taken with Sessas natural qualityand 70s era hair. The casting director had seen 800 submissions by the time we found Dominic, he says. When I was coming down to the final decision, (star Paul Giamatti) was generous enough to read with both of the (finalists) via Zoom. We agreed Dominic was the one.

To give the young actor a sense of what he was going for with The Holdovers, Payne showed Sessa a number of films. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, for example, had the kind of dialogue speed he wanted in Holdovers. The Graduate, The Landlord, Harold and Maude, The Last Detail and Paper Moon were among other references. While prepping the film, he held his 70s film bootcamp for the films cinematographer, production designer, costume designer and Sessa.

Without trying to imitate any single one of them, I just wanted to remind ourselves of the world we wouldve been splashing around in had we been working back then, Payne says.

One of the settings  a restaurant called the Winning Ticket  made a particular impression. I remember it just being full of smoke  plumes of smoke, Sessa says. It looked different but, generally speaking, it was fairly reminiscent of how I experienced school.

Film Review - The Holdovers Dominic Sessa, left, and Paul Giamatti in a scene from "The Holdovers."

Sessa, a 2022 graduate of the Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, had been in a production of Neil Simons Rumors when the casting call went out.

Because the film was shot at a nearby school, Sessa was familiar with the territory. All of them, for the most part, are very much stuck in time, he says. Theyre very traditional.

Payne wanted the kind of feel that comes from shooting on location. That helped Sessa, Giamatti and co-star DaVine Joy Randolph feel like they were in a Holdovers world.

Its the best thing you can ask for, says Randolph, who plays the schools cook. All that stuff helps fill out the character. You dont have to work harder to imagine it.

Giamatti found his school desk drawers filled with period-appropriate items.

There was very little trickery, Sessa says.

THE HOLDOVERS From left, Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully, DaVine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb and Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham in "The Holdovers."

A scene in which he dislocates his shoulder felt real because the prosthetic he wore was so good. It was like that phantom limb sort of thing, Sessa says.

Running around the schools hallways brought plenty of joy. I laughed the hardest when (Paul) started running.

The experience taught Sessa plenty about the business. He thought celebrities went to their trailers when they werent on set. Instead, Giamatti and Randolph freely engaged and made him felt like he belonged.

I genuinely could not have asked for better people to do this with, he says.
OMAHA  A Winnebago, Nebraska, man was sentenced Thursday to nine years in federal prison for sex abuse crimes.

Alan Walker, 41, had pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Omaha to charges of abusive sexual contact with a minor and failing to register as a sex offender. Walker must serve five years on supervised release after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Walker entered a home in September 2022 and groped an 11-year-old child while it slept. The child woke up and reported Walker's actions to an adult, who notified law enforcement.

Walker was convicted in 2012 in Douglas County, Nebraska, of child sexual assault and was required to register as a sex offender but had failed to update his address for the registry beginning in September 2022.
SIOUX CITY -- The FBI, during a news conference Thursday at its Sioux City office, officially announced the formation of the Siouxland Safe Trails Task Force, a joint cooperative effort with other law enforcement agencies to tackle violent crime and drug trafficking on tribal lands.

The task force has informally been around for roughly a decade. However, the task force's first full-time officer from the Nebraska State Patrol was fully deputized in January.

Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said the FBI "recognized a need" for a partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies that would allow it to "hone resources on tribal lands." The task force identifies, investigates and prosecutes criminal enterprises and violent offenders.

"It's very challenging work. We can't do this by ourselves," Kowel said.

The task force participants are: Knox County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska National Guard Counterdrug Program, Walthill Police Department, Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services, Thurston County Sheriff's Office, Dakota County Sheriff's Office.

From January through November of this year, the task force has made more than 70 arrests in 48 different cases, recovered over 20 different weapons, located five children and conducted nine drug seizures.

The FBI Sioux City Resident Agency was one of 10 offices selected for "Operation Not Forgotten," which seeks justice for women and children who have been victims of crime in Indigenous communities. Kowel noted that the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI are "very aware and very focused" on missing and murdered Indigenous people. The operation, which took place in July and September and concentrated on investigations on the three Nebraska reservations -- Winnebago, Omaha and Santee Sioux, resulted in three arrests.

"It gives the federal people more boots on the ground and us even more resources," Knox County Sheriff Don Henery said of the task force. "The communication is fantastic."
SIOUX CITY  Four Iowa nursing homes, including one in Sioux City and one in Sergeant Bluff, have been added to the federal list of the nations worst care facilities.

Over the past four months, the homes have all been deemed eligible for inclusion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services national list of Special-Focus Facilities. They join six other Iowa care facilities already deemed eligible for inclusion on the periodic list of nursing homes that have recurring quality-of-care problems.

The four Iowa homes added to the list since July are: Embassy Rehab and Care Center in Sergeant Bluff; Harmony West Des Moines; the Ivy at Davenport; and Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City.

The four join six other Iowa facilities long considered eligible for special-focus status and increased oversight by regulators: Aspire of Gowrie, which has been eligible for seven months; Dunlap Specialty Care, which has been eligible for six months; Genesis Senior Living in Des Moines, which has been eligible for 17 months; Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, which has been eligible for 13 months; Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, which has been eligible for seven months; and New London Specialty Care, which has been eligible for 10 months.

Iowa has two care facilities that are officially designated as special-focus facilities and, as a result, are operating under additional scrutiny and oversight by the government: Aspire of Gowrie and Arbor Court of Mount Pleasant. Its not clear why CMS has designated Aspire of Gowrie as both a special-focus facility and a candidate for designation as a special-focus facility. CMS officials were unable to address that question Wednesday.

The four Iowa homes recently deemed eligible for inclusion on the federal list have a history of regulatory issues:

 Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City: This 85-bed facility, at 4201 Fieldcrest Dr., has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 48 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: In May, state inspectors alleged the home failed to complete a timely assessment and interventions for five of 18 residents whose care was reviewed. That failure, the inspectors said, resulted in a death and several hospitalizations and visits to an emergency room for treatment. The home was also cited for failing to adequately respond to a residents worsening foot injury that stemmed from an ingrown toenail. The lack of care allegedly led to an infection and the amputation of the residents toes.

Westwood Specialty Care is owned and managed by Iowas largest nursing home chain, the tax-exempt nonprofit Care Initiatives, based in West Des Moines. According to tax records, CEO Michael Beal collected a total of $608,638 in compensation from Care Initiatives and its affiliates in 2021. Board members of the nonprofit were paid $134 an hour for their services.

 Embassy Rehab and Care Center, Sergeant Bluff: This 60-bed facility, at 206 Port Neal Rd., has a one-star rating from CMS for both inspection results and for quality measures. In May, state inspectors visited the facility in response to four complaints, all of which were substantiated, and cited the facility for 40 state and federal violations, an unusually high number.

Among the violations: A resident complained that when he told a male aide the water in the shower was too hot, the aide turned the water to ice cold. The resident responded by telling the Filipino aide to go back to the jungle, at which point the aide allegedly placed his hand over the residents mouth and nose while pressing the residents neck down until the water from the shower went up the residents nose. The resident said he tried to yell for help but could not.

The business is owned by a for-profit entity called Kismet Sux LLC, and an affiliate, Lantis Enterprises. The individuals who have a significant ownership stake in the business include Cammy, Mary and Travis Lantis.

 Harmony West Des Moines: This 120-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for overall quality, and has been cited for 53 violations over the course of five inspections this year.

Among the issues: The home was alleged to have neglected, over a period of several days, a residents complaints related to an apparent bowel obstruction that eventually led to fissures and to feces being discharged through her vagina.

A nurse told inspectors the woman had complained of extreme pain. She was screaming, and you could hear her down the hall, the nurse told inspectors. She was saying her butt is on fire  It took an hour and a half before I got the order to send her to the ER.

At the hospital, the woman was diagnosed with septic shock, a life-threatening infection, and gangrene in the area surrounding her genitals. After two surgeries, the resident died.

CMS reports that it has no ownership information available on Harmony West. Real estate records indicate the property is currently owned by Manor Care Health Services.

 The Ivy at Davenport: This 75-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 38 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: Earlier this year, state inspectors published a 220-page report documenting 35 state and federal violations, including rodents, medication errors, illicit drug use and other problems. A nurse who was on the homes payroll told inspectors staffing levels were absolutely horrible and that she could not express how bad it was.

The home had failed to maintain clean floors, empty trash (and) clean resident equipment, inspectors said, leaving some areas of the facility with strong odors smelling of urine, body odor and garbage.

The home also failed to provide bed sheets or pillowcases to some of the residents, leaving them in beds that had no sheets. One resident had no nightstand, so their food was being placed directly on the floor. A nurse told inspectors rodents were seen recently throughout the hallways and in resident rooms.

The Ivy at Davenport is managed by Ivy Healthcare of Surfside, Florida. The companys president and CEO, Ryan Coane, is part owner of the facility and told the Iowa Capital Dispatch last year that his top priority is our residents health and well-being. He said the Davenport facilitys workers, and the love they have for every resident at the center, is unsurpassable.

Homes eligible for added oversight dont receive it

The federal Special-Focus Facilities list is updated monthly by CMS and includes homes deemed by the agency to have a history of serious quality issues.

Nationally, there are 88 nursing facilities on the list, with one or two slots filled by each state. Those homes are enrolled in a special program intended to stimulate improvements in their quality of care through increased regulatory oversight.

Because the number of Special-Focus Facilities is capped, new facilities  even those that have earned CMS lowest ratings for quality  cant be named a special-focus facility until other homes in that same state shut down or improve and graduate from the program.

Thats a process that can take four years or more. As a result, there are several homes in each state that are designated as eligible for special-focus status due to their ongoing quality-of-care issues, but they are unable to benefit from actual enrollment in the program. Iowa generally has 10 nursing homes on the list of eligible facilities.

Currently, the only Iowa home listed as having graduated from the program after a sustained period of improving care is Touchstone Healthcare Community in Sioux City. However, Touchstones graduation appears to coincide with the homes closing in July 2022 amid ongoing quality-of-care issues.

In fact, Touchstone was only added to CMS special-focus list six days after it closed and the last of its residents was moved out. Prior to that, Touchstone has been on the list for almost four years before graduating.

Typically, all of the homes that are deemed eligible for special-focus designation have about twice the average number of violations cited by state inspectors; they have more serious problems than most other nursing homes, including harm or injury to residents, and they have established a pattern of serious problems that has persisted over a long period of time.

Photos: Missing children in Iowa Close Daquan Nelson Missing Since: Oct 15, 2022 Missing From: Mason City, IA DOB: 2005 Age Now:17 Sex:Male Race:Black Hair Color:Black Eye Color:Brown Height:6'2" Weight: 190 lbs Daquan was last seen on October 15, 2022. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT 1-800-843-5678 or Mason City Police Department (Iowa) 1-641-421-3000 Jade Colvin Missing Since: Jun 10, 2016 Missing From: Des Moines, IA DOB: 2002 Age Now: 20 Sex: Female Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue Height: 5'4" Weight: 135 lbs When Jade was last seen, her hair was dyed auburn. She may dye her hair. Contact 1-800-843-5678 or Des Moines Police Department (Iowa) 1-515-283-4811 NCMEC: 1408941 Fredrick Workman Missing Since: Aug 2, 2013 Missing From: Des Moines, IA DOB:1998 Age Now:24 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color:Blonde Eye Color: Blue Height: 5'7" Weight: 145 lbs He was last seen on August 2, 2013. Fredrick has a scar under his chin. He may use the alias last name Shields. Fredrick may go by the nickname Fred. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Des Moines Police Department 515-283-4811 NCMEC: 1222001 Benjamin Roseland Missing Since: Feb 9, 2008 Missing From: Clinton, IA DOB: 1988 Age Now: 33 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue Height5'11" Weight: 175 lbs He was last seen at home on February 9, 2008. He has a vertical scar which extends from his lower lip to his chin, a scar on the right side of his mouth, a scar on the left side of his nose, and a scar on the upper left side of his chest. His nickname is Ben. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Clinton Police Department 563-243-1458 NCMEC: 1092332 Erin Pospisil Missing Since: June 3, 2001 Missing From: Cedar Rapids, IA DOB: 1986 Age Now: 36 Sex: Female Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Height: 5'3" Weight: 125 lbs She was last seen at home on June 3, 2001 and she has not been seen or heard from since that day. She has a small scar above her left eye. When she was last seen, Erin had red highlights in her hair. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Cedar Rapids Police Department 319-286-5491 NCMEC: 919997 Marc Allen Missing Since: March 29, 1986 Missing From: Des Moines, IA DOB:1972 Age Now: 50 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Blue Height: 5'0" Weight: 85 lbs He was last seen leaving his home is Des Moines, Iowa, on March 29, 1986. He was on his way to a friend's home, but never arrived. The last time he was seen, Marc was wearing a light blue t-shirt, blue jean shorts, white socks, and gray tennis shoes. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Des Moines Police Department 515-283-4811 NCMEC: 1053047 Eugene Martin Missing Since: Aug 12, 1984 Missing From: Des Moines, IA DOB: 1970 Age Now: 52 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Height: 5'0" Weight: 110 lbs He was last seen between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. as he was delivering newspapers. A paper bag was found outside of Des Moines with papers still inside. He has a scar on his right knee and has had a broken right wrist. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Des Moines Police Department- Missing Persons Unit - 515-283-4864 Or Your Local FBI NCMEC: 601815 John Gosch Missing Since: Sep 5, 1982 Missing From: Des Moines, IA DOB: 1969 Age Now: 52 Sex: Male Race: White Hair Color: Lt. Brown Eye Color: Blue Height: 5'7" Weight: 140 lbs He was last seen delivering newspapers. He has facial freckles, a gap between his front teeth, a birthmark on his left cheek, and a horseshoe-shaped scar on his tongue. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or West Des Moines Police Department 515-223-3211 Or Your Local FBI NCMEC: 601763 Kimberly Doss Missing Since: Sep 1, 1982 Missing From: Davenport, IA DOB: 1966 Age Now: 56 Sex: Female Race: White Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Height: 5'2" Weight: 120 lbs She was last seen in the Davenport, Iowa area on September 1, 1982. Kimberly has not been seen or heard from since. She may use the alias name of Kimberly Kathleen Gardner. She has a gap between her two front teeth. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Davenport Police Department 563-388-3664 NCMEC: 601057 Colleen Simpson Missing Since: Oct 5, 1975 Missing From: Bedford, IA DOB: 1960 Age Now: 61 Sex: Female Race: White Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Hazel Height: 5'7" Weight: 90 lbs She was last seen at home where she disappeared during the night. Colleen has a scar on her right forearm. Call 911 or 800-THE-LOST or Taylor County Sheriff's Office 712-523-2153 NCMEC: 601905 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9 +9
Rosalynn Carter, the 39th First Lady of the United States, has been remembered one final time before she was laid to rest at a private but televised funeral service on Wednesday (November 29).

The former first lady's remains were placed at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains prior to the service.

Among the mourners in the congregation was her husband, former US President Jimmy Carter, who was 99 when his wife died.

After the service, residents of Plains gathered on the sides of the road to pay their last respects to their hometown neighbor.

Read Also: Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter Dies at 96; Cause of Death Revealed

A Simple Funeral

The Associated Press reported that earlier tributes were held in nearby Americus and Atlanta.

Rosalynn Carter was not "just the first lady of the White House, Maranatha Pastor Tony Lowden told the gathering, but "served every nation around the world."

She would be buried in a plot of land near their old home in Plains, which she would one day share with her husband of 77 years, who left home hospice care to attend this week's memorial services.

Related Article: Rosalynn Carter's Loved Ones Attend Tribute Service to Share Former First Lady's Legacy

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SIOUX CITY -- The Junior League of Sioux City will host its annual Santa Day from 10 a.m. to noon, Dec. 9 at the Discovery Shop, 316 W. Seventh St.

The Discovery Shop will have special sales and promotions during the event. Kids will also receive a free Santa hat and a photo with Santa himself. A craft table will be set up to occupy kids as their parents shop.

The Discovery Shop is the main fundraiser for the Junior League of Sioux City. Proceeds made in the shop from donations provided by Junior League and community members go back into the community through various projects.

For the past 102 years, the Junior League of Siouxland has reached out to women of all races, religions and national origins who've demonstrated an intertest in and commitment to volunteerism.

For additional information on the Junior League of Sioux City or to request information, call 712-255-0072 or go to juniorleagueofsiouxcity.com.
Tens of thousands of people are heading to Dubai in early December for COP28, the annual international climate summit convened by the United Nations.

With time quickly running out to prevent fossil fuel pollution from causing irreversible harm, discussions between global leaders, negotiators, climate advocates and industry representatives have shifted to how the world should adapt to more deadly heatwaves, stronger storms and catastrophic sea level rise.

Despite the widespread impacts of the climate crisis, the annual negotiations have been contentious. The road to consensus on solutions has proven rocky, and has highlighted divisions between rich countries  which emit a majority of the worlds planet-warming pollution  and poor nations, which have contributed the least.

Heres what to know about the worlds most critical climate change conference.

What is COP28?

A little over 30 years ago, more than 150 countries signed a UN treaty to limit the alarming rise of planet-warming pollution in the atmosphere. While the science behind human-caused climate change was still young, scientists knew even then it would be life-changing.

The first COP  the Conference of the Parties to that agreement  took place in Berlin in 1995. Member states have been convening on climate change almost every year since. In 2015, at COP21, more than 190 countries approved the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, but preferably to 1.5 degrees.

Although the Paris Agreement was a landmark moment and set the world on a path that scientists supported, it didnt get specific about how countries should achieve its goal. Since then, COPs have sought to make the plans attached to the Paris Agreement more ambitious and to be more specific about the changes society would need to make.

The controversy at COP28

The climate summit is hosted at a different location each year. While there have been other host countries mired in controversy, the backlash to this years host  the United Arab Emirates  has been particularly sharp; not only is the UAE a major oil-producing nation, it has also appointed a top fossil-fuel executive as its COP president.

Critics say its a conflict of interest to have Sultan Al Jaber, the head of the UAEs national oil company, taking charge of the most important climate conference of the year. In facing that criticism, the UAE has embarked on a major campaign to boost its green credentials ahead of the summit, CNN has previously reported.

In May, more than 100 members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament called for Al Jaber to step down, claiming that his role could undermine negotiations.

Some key players  including U.S. climate envoy John Kerry  have praised Al Jabers appointment. The UAE has rejected criticism that the country is unfit to host the worlds largest climate summit, with the COP28 team previously telling CNN that the UAE was the first in the Middle East to set 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets.

The big names attending COP28

Heads of states and governments deliver speeches in the first days of the summit. More than 160 member nations, including the UK, France, Germany and Japan, have confirmed their attendance.

Perhaps the highest-profile attendees will be King Charles III, who will deliver an address at the summits opening ceremony.

Pope Francis was planning to be the first pontiff to attend COP, but the trip was cancelled Tuesday following his doctors advice.

The Popes state of influenza and inflammation of the respiratory tract has improved, but the doctors have asked the Pope not to make the trip planned for the next few days, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said in a statement. Pope Francis accepted the doctors request with great regret and the trip was therefore cancelled.

Absent from the speakers list are U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping  the leaders of the worlds top polluting countries. In mid-November, Biden and Xi pledged to significantly ramp up renewable energy in lieu of planet-cooking fossil fuels, and agreed to resume a working group on climate cooperation.

In lieu of Biden, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will attend the summit  a trip that was announced following pushback that Biden was missing global meeting on an issue important to young voters.

Leaders from major oil-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia and Iran, are among those attending.

There are concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could overshadow action on climate this year, particularly in the Middle East. But representatives from both Israel and the Palestinian territories are listed to speak in the first week.

The UAE has also invited many fossil fuel executives to the climate talks, where they are expected to announce new commitments to decarbonize. A list of Wall Street financial heavyweights led by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink will also be present, after missing the summit in Egypt last year.

COP28s global stocktake

Its been eight years since the Paris Agreement, yet the world has made barely any progress on slashing climate pollution, and the window is rapidly narrowing to do so, according to the agreements first scorecard  the global stocktake  which was published in September.

COP28 will be the first time that countries will be going into the negotiation rooms with an analysis that shows how seriously off-track they are on their climate targets.

It tells us clearly that the world is not on track to achieve our global climate goals, Melanie Robinson, the global climate program director for the World Resources Institute, told CNN.

But it also offers a really interesting concrete blueprint [and] mountain of evidence on how we can get the job done, so it should be a wakeup call of what we need to do but with a roadmap to get there.

COP28s biggest issues

Some of the biggest concerns that will take center stage in Dubai are continuations from COP27 in Egypt: finalizing a loss and damage fund and discussing how to ramp down planet-warming fossil fuels.

A major debate among the parties has been whether to phase out or phase down fossil fuels. At COP27, a number of nations, including China and Saudi Arabia, blocked a key proposal to phase out all fossil fuels  including oil and gas  and not just coal.

The most important thing is the outcome at this COP sends a really strong signal that the world must rapidly shift away from fossil fuels, Robinson said. I would note that its important for the language to refer to all fossil fuels.

Another focus this year will be on the so-called loss and damage fund, which countries included in last years agreement. The fund would help shuttle money from the richest countries, which are responsible for the vast majority of the climate crisis, to poor countries, where the impacts have hit hardest.

The goal is to get the fund up and running by 2024. With time running out, a special committee met in Abu Dhabi in early November and recommended the World Bank host the fund and serve as its trustee temporarily for four years.

The loss and damage fund is a delicate and nuanced issue, said Nate Warszawski, a research associate with WRIs International Climate Action team. I do think this could be one of the key issues that makes or breaks the COP, he told CNN.

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CNNs Ivana Kottasova contributed to this report.

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Climate change is lengthening growing seasons: How it's impacting every state How climate change is impacting farmers and gardeners Western vs. Eastern US Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennesee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming
A large cheese producer in far northeast Iowa has repeatedly failed for years to properly treat its wastewater that flows into creeks that feed the Turkey River, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Prairie Farms Dairy near Luana recently agreed to pay a $10,000 fine for the ongoing violations and to upgrade its wastewater treatment system by 2030.

DNR records show that the wastewater expelled by the facility has routinely violated limits for ammonia nitrogen, bacteria, suspended solids, chlorine and pollutants, dating back to 2018. Tests of the treated wastewater in March 2022 showed bacteria levels that were more than 40 times a limit set by the DNR. Tests in August and September 2023 showed ammonia levels that were more than three times the limit.

The facility discharges about 690,000 gallons of wastewater per day, according to DNR records. In recent years, the facility has installed various equipment that was meant to help the problems, but the violations continue.

They are exceeding their design capacity, said Michele Smith, a senior environmental specialist for the DNR who has investigated the issue.

A recent DNR order noted that the treatment system is meant to process about 820 pounds of total suspended solids per day, but this average was exceeded 51 out of the 53 months reviewed.

The facility underwent a massive expansion about eight years ago when it was operated by Swiss Valley Farms, according to that companys website. That expansion was expected to double the sites cheese production.

In 2017, Swiss Valley merged with Prairie Farms, which is based in Illinois, and the resulting company kept the Prairie Farms name.

Smith did not know whether the increase in production was a cause of the wastewater violations, and a Prairie Farms spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

Smith said she is not aware of any fish kills that have resulted from the pollution but that people have complained about murky, smelly creek water. Someone who lives about a mile south of the facility reported to the DNR in September 2023 that a creek downstream from the facility was discolored and emitted an unspecified odor.

The material has been present in his tributary for the last two days, according to DNR notes about the complaint.

Prairie Farms is still working on plans to rectify the problems, Smith said. Its unclear whether the company will completely replace the treatment system or attempt to modify it.

The recent DNR order requires Prairie Farms to employ an experienced and certified wastewater operator and to start construction of upgrades to the treatment system by August 2028.

In 2018, Prairie Farms agreed to pay the state a $100,000 fine for excessive air pollution that went on for more than a decade at the Luana facility, according to court records. That pollution was caused by Swiss Valleys unapproved removal of an emissions control device in 2004.

The device had been installed in 1981 after the DNR discovered part of the facility was emitting particulate matter into the air at a rate of nearly three times what was allowable.

Under an agreement with the state, Prairie Farms agreed to pay the fine and install $1.4 million worth of new emissions equipment.

Best public colleges in Iowa Best public colleges in Iowa #3. University of Northern Iowa
George Santos brief and benighted stint in Congress may come to an end this week. His colleagues are planning a vote for his ousterand, after a damning House Ethics Committee investigation and report, the votes on both sides of the aisle seem to be stacking up against him. Santos is in rare company; only five other representatives have ever been expelled.

Naturally, Democrats have taken to the Santos saga gleefully. (Earlier this week, the liberal activist group MoveOn debuted a 15-foot inflatable balloon of the congressman outside the Capitol.) Santos fabulous corruption has made for a tidy point of comparison for Dems, despite the fact, of course, that he only ended up in Congress by defeating them in the first place.

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But while Democrats have cheered his rightful possible removaland though they would never admit it openlythey are really going to miss Santos when hes gone. And nowhere will that be truer than in New York.

According to every road map in existence that must be used to get Democrats back to a House majority in 2024, Santos district (New Yorks 3rd Congressional District) is the very first to flipthe definition of a must-win.

But that flip got a little more difficult when Santos announced this month that he wouldnt run for reelection; it will get more difficult still if Santos is gone from the chamber entirely. There could be no easier villain to run against than Santos. Indeed, Democrats in that race will likely continue to shadowbox Santos on the campaign trail no matter who the subsequent Republican candidate is. But with Santos expelled, a special election will be held, and New York Democrats seem to have learned nothing from the saga that resulted in an obvious con man running away with a congressional seat in a district Biden won handily in the first place.

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During the 2022 midterms, New York saw Democrats worst underperformance in the country, and it cost Dems the House. In Long Island, the partys electoral fates have continued to be dreadful, despite Democrats prospects perking up in local and special elections all over the country and even in New Yorks Hudson Valley. The much-maligned New York Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, who is supposedly a Long Island specialist, has refused to take any accountability for his role in the dismal midterms. Theres no indication he has suddenly figured it out.

Meanwhile, the Democratic field has coalesced around a retread candidate to run for Santos vacated seat: Tom Suozzi. Self-styling as a devout centrist, Suozzi himself left that very seat in 2021 to engage in a preposterous run for New York governor against Kathy Hochul, another devout centrist. He attempted to run from her rightand there was already precious little daylight on the Democratic spectrum to Hochuls right. Suozzi finished third in the Democratic primary in that race.

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For a moment, in all of the uproar this year over Santos, it seemed as if the Democrats might at least embrace the possibility of a new, or younger, challenger: Zak Malamed, the 29-year-old hopeful who sprinted out of the blocks with some substantial fundraising totals. At a fundraising event I attended, he had some stern and correct words about the failures of the old guard of New York Democrats who helped lose the seat to Santos in the first place. But recently, Malamed dropped out and endorsed Suozzi, and the field has effectively been cleared. Suozzi, critically, has a yucky record on the all-important issue of abortion. In the past, he has opposed rolling back restrictions on Medicaid funding for abortions and directed millions of dollars to church groups for abstinence-based sex ed. He has been criticized routinely by major pro-choice groups and has never won an election in the post-Dobbs era. He also never released his full financial details when he ran for governorand still hasnt!

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A candidate who brings nothing to the table other than replacement-rate pro-business policies and a little bit of name recognition would probably be fine in a contest against George Santos, but Suozzi will not be running against George Santos. Hes more likely to be running against a replacement-rate Republican, who could be a formidable opponent for him.

Meanwhile, Santos antics have also provided cover for other members of the New York delegation, including the recently much-protested freshman representative Dan Goldman. For the bulk of the session, Goldman has fixated on Santos: He introduced the House Ethics Committee complaint in January that led to the damning, recently published report. He has been involved with several failed efforts to chastise Santos. And he has grandstanded constantly about Santos turpitude on TV. On Tuesday, Goldman introduced a resolution to expel Santos not long after Republican Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest introduced  a resolution to expel Santos, a duplicative move that has been charitably taken as an attempt to force Republicans hand. It was not the first time Goldman has introduced that resolution.

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In short, Goldman has gone to incredible lengths to sell himself as the anti-Santos and a tireless accountability bringer. (He built his reputation as a lawyer on the first Trump impeachment, a mismanaged and ultimately failed made-for-TV campaign that nevertheless delighted liberals and raised lots of campaign funds for Dems, so this makes sense.) But the truth is that Goldman needs Santos to look this good: He is well to the right of his very blue district of lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, which he won because of his massive personal fortune, a four-way split, and a divided progressive field. Oh, and a last-minute cash infusion from the Republican-aligned American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

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Goldmans commitment to the Santos bit, to ingratiate himself to some liberals, has helped distract from the fact that he is out of step with his very progressive district. On the campaign trail, he outed himself as having limited support for abortion rights. On the very rare occasion hes been called to actually do something in this do-nothing Congress, hes done things like vote with all but eight House Republicans to censure Democrat Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American in Congress, a stunning move coming from one of the bluest districts in America. That has resulted in sustained protests from his constituents. Better to focus on how bad George Santos is.

Related From Slate George Santos Didnt Compare Himself to Jesus, but He Came Pretty Close Read More

Goldman is not the only one. Right alongside him in the Tlaib censure vote was New York Democrat Ritchie Torres, whose Bronx district is even bluer than Goldmansarguably the bluest in the entire country. In January, Torres and Goldman teamed up to introduce the Stopping Another Non-Truthful Office Seekeror SANTOSAct. Pause briefly to roll your eyes.

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The SANTOS Act stipulated that a candidate who knowingly and willfully provides false information would be punished with a $100,000 fine, one year in prison, or both. Needless to say, this bill never got anywhere close to becoming a law.

In July, Torres again teamed up with Goldman to introduce a privileged resolution to censure Santos for conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress, including repeatedly lying to voters in his district, donors, and the American public about material aspects of his personal and professional life. That vote passed. (Torres has also co-bylined all of the aforementioned expulsion resolutions with Goldman.) When Torres hasnt been going after Santos, hes been busying himself not by stumping for the reinstatement of the popular child tax credit, which he was closely involved with implementing in 2021, but by doing things like spreading misinformation and attacking the president of the liberal Zionist group J Street for insufficient loyalty to Israel.

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For the New York Democratic Party, the Santos experience has been less scarlet letter than an effective sideshow, a distraction from a top-to-bottom failure to win elections against Republicans and also to support effective, aligned representatives in appropriate districts.

If the veil is ripped away, the failures of the partyand its unwillingness to correct coursewill resurface. Purging Santos does not equate to purging those responsible for New York Democrats face-plant, nor does it do anything to prevent it from happening again. For Democrats and Santos both, the party might be over, then the hard part begins.
Palestinian author and editor Atef Abu Saifwho since 2019 has also served as the Palestinian Authoritys minister of culture in the West Bankwas visiting the Gaza Strip when Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack, and when Israel then launched its military response on the territory. Saif took shelter in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, where he began writing daily diary entries documenting his experiences with friends and family there. Surviving airstrikes on the camp, he recently fled Jabalia to the south. He spent two days in Khan Younis, before moving to Rafah, where he has spent the past week.* Slate is publishing three of his diary entries from the days ahead of his move to the south, the first of which is below.

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Saturday, 18 November (Day 43)

Thousands have been forced to leave these homes this morning after renewed attacks targeted the peripheries of Jabalia camp overnight. From 9:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., the air raids never stopped coming, from the west, the north, and the east. Hell was poured on Jabalia. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed. When the sun rose, those who survived simply had to run with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Most of them headed toward the center of the camp. The schools are full, everyone knows, but they have nowhere else to go. The majority of this great flood of people came into the camp from areas adjacent to Beit Lahia and Beir Naja.

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I didnt sleep all night. I had decided to spend the night at my sister Asmaas place in the Falouja neighborhood. Yesterday was one of those days when I needed a change: I cut my hair and I shaved my beard. This has been the longest Ive ever gone without shaving. I almost forgot what I look like without a beard. Im now a new man. I told myself this would change my mood and give me renewed energy. God knows I needed it. Moments of silence and depression had started to creep into my day. Its happening to most of us. No one was prepared for such a long war. When people compare this war with the 2014 one, they say that this is a real war, whereas 2014 was just a massive onslaught. Back then, we had truces and temporary cease-fires now and then through the 51 days. In this war, the idea of a truce seems more complicated than the war itself. Two nights before, when I slept in the school shelter, everyone in the tents was shouting; men were singing prayers to God, women were saying blessings. Everybody was celebrating the rumor that there might be a truce that night. The celebration lasted for half an hour before they realized this was just a piece of wishful thinking someone had spread around to pacify them. Now were on Day 43, and the talk about a truce needs its own truce. No one believes any mention of it any longer, least of all on the news.

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I look at myself in the mirror. This is Atef, I say. The one you barely recognize, the one whose face war has etched its tiniest details into. I look thin, drawn. Last night I told my brother Mohammed that we had to stay at Asmaas place in Falouja. We can pass the evening talking with her and her husband and playing with her five little daughters. Asmaa has set up three camp beds for us in the living room, in between her two blue sofas. We talked. We played. We listened to news on the radio. Then we had to sleep.

When the attacks start, the building is completely dark. The light from the explosions washes into the living room through the windows, making all the pictures and mirrors sparkle. Any Gazan will teach you to listen for the explosion after the flash. Next comes the sound of debris raining down; we could hear it on all sides of the house, in the narrow alleyways behind and beside us, and in the main street out front. I insist its too dangerous to sleep in the living room, so we drag all our mattresses to the innermost part of the flat, a tiny corridor space next to the kitchen. The 10 of us lie there, waiting for sunrise. We pray for God to bring this night to an end. I try counting the missiles and explosions. I get up to 154, then I stop. There is one particular type of missile that hisses before it explodes. Mohammed says it is a new one. He has been in Gaza these past four years; he knows better than me.

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In the Tal Azzatar schools shelter, a missile kills dozens and injures hundreds more.

At 5:30 a.m., we all start to get up. I look out the window at the school shelter across the street, where I slept two nights before. People are all crammed into the classrooms on the first floor, having been forced to leave the tents during the night. Its dangerous these days to stand too long at the window; snipers might shoot you for the fun of it, so I dont look for too long.

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Yesterday evening I went to visit a friend, Mahmoud Mohaisen, whos been wounded and getting treatment in the Indonesian Hospital. The place was very crowded, of course, and bullet holes and missile craters could be seen in every corridor. Many things there were identical to what al-Shifa [hospital] had been like: people living in tents, temporary field hospital wards at the front, erected out of canvas, corridors full of displaced families, insufficient numbers of beds, with injured patients being treated on the ground.

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This morning, over in al-Shifa, the Israelis gave everyone inside one hour to leave, be they patients, doctors, nurses, or displaced people, as they intended to make their final push into parts of the hospital that hadnt been conquered yet. No one was to remain inside. According to reports, Israeli soldiers were taking bodies out of the hospitals mass grave, presumably thinking something else was being hidden down in that pit.

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The Indonesian Hospital sits at the top of a small hill and, with its Islamic architecture, feels a world away from the carnage of al-Shifa. That said, the place is barely functioning.

At 8 p.m. I turned in, sleeping soundly for four hours. Mohammed and my son Yasser likewise. No dreams, no nightmares, no waking up every five minutes to count the explosions or wonder where they were. Often, you need to forget the world around you and just turn off.

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This morning, I walk around the camp to take stock of the newly attacked areas. The more I walk, the more I see of last nights damage. Here and there, I realize its old damage from several days ago; its only new to me. Jabalia is disappearing, vanishing day by day. We are vanishing too. According to new statistics, more than 2 percent of the population of Gaza Strip is either killed, missing or injured, while 70 percent of us are homeless. [Editors note: The exact numbers are unclear, but CNN and the Washington Post have gathered similar statistics.]

Now the tanks are firing on the Fakhour schools, and early reports speak of around 200 dead. The attacks from north, east, and west of the camp are pushing those who remain south. Its clear the path to safety is getting narrower and narrower.
The United States and Israel are about to have their biggest, most consequential disagreement in many years. The dispute is over whether, and for how long, to extend the cease-fire in the war on Hamas.

President Joe Biden helped negotiate the deal in such a way to give Israel and Hamas incentives to prolong the pause in fighting. By contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his emergency war Cabinet say they want to resume the fighting by this weekend.

The truce, which began Friday, was originally to last four days. Over that period, Hamas was to release 50 of the 240 hostages that terrorists took during their Oct. 7 attack; Israel was to free 150 Palestinian prisoners; and Egypt was to let hundreds of trucks brimming with humanitarian supplies cross its border into southern Gaza.

In a key section of the deal, the cease-fire would stretch another 24 hours for every 10 hostages that Hamas freed. As of Wednesday, Hamas has freed more than 100 hostages and expressed a desire to keep the trade going (and keep more bombs from falling).

Israeli officials are leery of extending the cease-fire, fearing that Hamas would use the peace to regroup, relocate, and rearmand that the Israeli army, which had encircled Gaza City and was preparing to move southward, would lose momentum in its campaign to kill Hamas leaders and destroy its military infrastructure.

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Biden sympathizes with Israels goal of crushing Hamas as a force that continues to rule Gaza and pose further threats. But he and his top aides have also urged Netanyahu, from the beginning of the war, to minimize casualties among Gazan civiliansin part to allow aid to flow in and hostages to be let out, but also for the sake of peace itself.

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Many Israelis believe Hamas has released as many hostages as it has only because it was losing on the battlefield and feared a rout. They may be right, but at this point in the war, that view may be beside the point. Israels bombing of Hamas targets has killed an estimated 15,000 Gazansmore than 10 times the 1,200 Israelis killed in Hamas Oct 7 attack. (This figure comes from Gazas health ministry, which is Hamas-controlled, but U.S. intelligence officials agree with the assessment.) The estimate doesnt distinguish between Gazan civilians and Hamas fighters, but no one doubts that many thousands of civilians were killed, the majority of them women and children. Nor is there doubt that, if the war resumes, thousands more will die.

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Even so, there is no guarantee that continuing the war will wipe out Hamas. The Islamic Resistance Movement (for which Hamas is an acronym) is a movement as well as a military government. The more Palestinian civilians killed in the crossfire, the more their friends and relatives are likely to joinor at least sympathizewith the movement.

Bidens ambivalence on the issue of casualtieswanting to support Israels right to self-defense but also wanting to avoid complicity in its excessesis one reason he would prefer to see this war simply stop, at least as long as Hamas keeps up its part of the bargain by releasing all hostages.

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Hamas leaders will probably play a delay game for as long as they can, releasing a smattering of hostages, to keep Israels tanks and bombs at bay, while hanging on to some. They know that as soon as all the hostages are freed, Israel will attack relentlessly, blowing up or flooding all the tunnels. It has stopped short of doing that, in part because many hostages are still in those tunnels.

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So, the big questions for Israel are how to get Hamas to release all the hostages while bringing this war to a halt, and how to do that while protecting Israeli security in the long runi.e., without creating the impression that Hamas has won this war, and that others who mount similar acts of terrorism might also win in the future.

To deal with these problems, two things will have to happen. First, the moderate Arab countriesEgypt, Jordan, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabiamust get directly involved in Gaza and in Palestinian matters broadly. For more than a half-century, they supported Palestinians in wordas part of their campaign to blame all problems on Israelbut very little in deed.

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In the past decade, as tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslim Arabs came to dominate the regions politics, these countries sought a modus vivendi, in some cases formal alliances, with Israel, stemming from their shared enmity toward Iran and their desire for trade. As they did so, they shunted Palestinians aside altogether. (This is one reason Hamas attacked on Oct. 7to preempt emerging Saudi-Israeli talks, to put the Palestinian cause back on the table, and to assert itself as the agent of that cause.) The moderate Arabs need, finally, to take responsibilitywhich, in the current context, means sharing some of their wealth with Palestinian communities, strengthening the Palestinian Authority (which at least says it supports negotiations with Israel, though its leadership in the West Bank is too weak and corrupt to make any headway), and de-fanging Hamas.

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The moderate Arab leaders privately condemn Hamas attack, but they cant say so without stirring protests and possibly rebellions among their own people, who tend to be more radical than they are. In fact, except for the leaders of Bahrain and the UAE, they have stopped short of criticizing Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack and have suspended all visible contact with Israel.

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Well, they can no longer have it both ways. They cant reap the benefits of an alliance with Israel while sitting by as the Islamist terrorists murder Israelis. Hamas has fired off most of its rockets in the present war. Qatar, which has funneled money and other forms of aid to Hamas for many years, must make sure that new armaments dont get into Gaza. (Besides being a supporter of Hamas, Qatar is a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Biden should use his leverage to bring Qatar in line.)

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Biden has said that he hopes responsible parties in the region can use an extended cease-fire as the opportunity to begin a fervent hunt for a diplomatic settlement to the conflict. I dont know this for a fact, but its likely that, in the course of their incessant shuttle diplomacy in the region, senior U.S. officials have been discussing a possible long-term peace track with the moderate Arab leaderswho would very much like to resume normalization with Israel.

This leads us to the second step in settling the conflict: Netanyahu and his far-right-wing government must go. He almost certainly will be ousted from power the instant that the war is over. Besides his deeply unpopular proposals for judicial reforms, which roused massive weekly protests up until Oct. 7, most Israelis blame him for allowing the Hamas attack to happen.

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His departure is key because no Arab leader is going to get involved in Palestinian matters unless Israels leader at least expresses an interest in addressing the basic questionin negotiating some way for Israelis and Palestinians to share or divide the small chunk of land that both sides claim. Netanyahu has no interest in doing this, and the coalition partners that keep him in power have less interest still; in fact, they have expanded the number of settlements in the West Bank, and they have done nothing to arrest or prosecute the most radical settlers who have killed or looted Palestinian residents in recent months. These settlers violent actions have made more and more of these Palestinians supportive of Hamaswhich makes a peaceful solution all the more difficult.

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Meanwhile, what to do about Hamas? If it cant be wiped out, can it be diminished and contained? In an online event hosted by the Times of Israel on Wednesday, Israels former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, noted that Hamas attack couldnt have taken place if 200 Israeli troops had been where they should have beenthe terrorists wouldnt have advanced beyond the border fence. In the short run, if the border were rebuilt and adequately manned, if intelligence on Hamas activities was taken more seriously, and if moderate Arab leaders reduce Hamas strength, would that be enough to make Israelis secure? Again, in the short run, they may have no choice.

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There is another reason to stop this war, as long as Hamas frees the hostages and stops shelling Israel: the steep rise in antisemitic incidents throughout the United States and Europe. There have been troubling displays of antisemitism in many protests against the war; many of these protesters seem to know little about Israels history and ignore the reactionary ideas of Islamist militants. Nonetheless, the steep rise is a fact of life. It is endangering Jews around the worldwhich should concern Israeli officials, just as violence against Israel concerns Jews around the world.

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The consequences extend well beyond Jews. There are reports of an extremist domino effect of the war, with al-Qaida emphasizing its ties to radical Palestinians as a way of attracting recruits. Germanys domestic intelligence chief warned this week that the risk of Islamist attacks in the West is real and higher than it has been for a long time because of the Israel-Hamas war. We see calls in jihadist spectrums for attacks and for al-Qaida and Islamic State [ISIS] to tag on to the Middle East conflict, the chief, Thomas Haldenwang, said.

The war is threatening to spread. If Israels excesses are seen as the cause for the wars perpetuation, then the more the rest of the world suffers, the more the rest of the world will blame Israelrightly or wrongly. Its time for Israel and its allies to calculate the costs and benefitsand to find other ways to solve their very real problems.
Of all of the horrors coming out of the Israel-Hamas conflict, among the most horrible are the barbaric murders, rapes, sexual assaults, and kidnappings of women and young girls in Israel during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. And yet, deepening this distressing event, there has been a disheartening silence about, or worse, denial of these evils; reticence from the voices here at home in the U.S. who have, in the recent past, embraced other women who needed their support. Israeli and Jewish women find themselves isolated. For the past three decades, women have stood up for other women. When our sisters bodies and dignity were targeted and violated, women and allies of all ages and backgrounds organized, supported, and spoke out. Except somehow, not this time.

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Since Oct. 7, there has been overwhelming evidence that Israeli women and young girls were not just slaughtered, but raped, assaulted, tortured, and kidnapped. This is not overstating thingsfrom our work as prosecutors, lawyers, and feminists, we understand what it takes to build a solid criminal case for sexual assault. Here, there is voluminous evidence, more than what is typically available. While many victims cannot speak for themselvesthey are either dead or being held hostagesurvivor accounts and videos made by the perpetrators themselves speak for them.

Early on, Hamas circulated a video with the searing image of 19-year-old Naama Levy being dragged by her hair into the back of a truck by a group of men. Her pants were bloody. Slowly, the horror dawned upon us as we watched that she had been the victim of violent sexual assault.

A survivor recounted sexual violence she witnessed while hiding at the Nova rave. She said, The terrorists, people from Gaza, raped girls. And after they raped them, they killed them, murdered them with knives, or the opposite, killedand after they raped, theythey did that. They laughed.

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Another survivor saw terrorists gang-raping a woman who was alive until she was shot in the head by a man who was still raping her when he fired. Before she was killed, the witness saw them cut her breast off.

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We heard from a grandmother who watched helplessly as her daughter was raped and then murdered.

A combat paramedic found two young girls executed in their bedroom, at least one of whom had been raped. Her pants were down toward her knees. There was semen on her back. She was shot in the head. Israeli officials are reporting evidence of widespread torture and rape as they continue the painstaking work of trying to identify bodies, many burned beyond recognition.

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An Israeli nongovernmental commission led by Cochav Elkayam Levy has embarked on a grassroots initiative to assemble a comprehensive database of the sexual violence cases from Oct. 7, while offering trauma care to survivors and witnesses. And Physicians for Human RightsIsrael, a group dedicated to advocating for the health care rights of patients with limited access to the Israeli health care system, including migrants, refugees, and Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza, recently issued a position paper that calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the sexual terrorism Israeli women experienced on Oct. 7 as potential crimes against humanity.

While time will tell whether Oct. 7 will receive its due international legal scrutiny, the muted response from womens groups is unacceptable given the abundance of evidence. If survivor accounts, tortured bodies, and videos of attacks arent enough evidence, then no case would ever be prosecuted in a court of law. Such evidence of depravity typically galvanizes global action and demands for justice. Womens groups should rightfully be demanding prosecution. Beyond the courtroom, the evidence of what happened to women and girls in Israel far surpasses what has sparked women to come to the aid and support of other women in other situations.

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Historically, women have been at the forefront of advocacy. Here in the U.S., we demanded safety for victims of sexual assault in campus Take Back the Night marches in the 1990s. We advocated for women in other countries, creating hashtag and social media campaigns like #BringOurGirlsHome in 2014 to demand the return of 276 Nigerian girls abducted by the jihadi militant group Boko Haram. In 2017, we protested Donald Trumps sexism and misogyny by the millions at the Womens March. The #MeToo movement saw us sharing our stories to combat a culture rife with sexual harassment and assault. We supported Christine Blasey Ford when she testified against Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh at his confirmation hearing in 2018. We marched when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. We strive to center women of color and Indigenous women, whose stories dont always receive the respect they deserve. Again and again, we have demanded that women be believed, because we know that all too often, womens stories are unfairly questioned and ignored.

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Related From Slate What Does It Mean to Stand With Israel? Read More

But the expected outrage hasnt happened here in the U.S. or abroad, outside of Jewish groups. Some international organizations quickly issued statements about the heartbreaking suffering in Gaza, but are resolutely mute regarding the atrocities against women in Israel on Oct. 7. Worse yet, we have heard denials or sentiment that the victims deserved it. We would not tolerate victim-blaming in other cases of violence against women. Compassion for Gazan women and children is vital, but it should not negate compassion for victims on the Israeli side of the border on Oct. 7. Sexual violence should be abhorrent to all of us, no matter who it is perpetrated against or where they live.

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The victims of the Oct. 7 attack stand excluded from the worlds sisterhood. In the face of overwhelming real-time documentation, murmurs of support are few and far between. We must ask ourselves, from a place of empathy, for all who suffer: Does our outrage about rape and abuse depend on the identity of the perpetrator and the victim? Is rape acceptable, even justifiable, if the victims live in a nation whose policies you disapprove of? Can we blame these victims, many but not all of whom are Israeli, for what happened to them? If the answer to these questions is no, as it should be, then we must all speak out about the violence, no matter who it is perpetrated against or where they live. To express moral outrage and legal horror at the offenses perpetrated on women in Israel is not tantamount to approving the governing Netanyahu coalition, nor does it signal support for the bombings in Gaza. It is simply to assert the long-standing feminist argument that our bodies are not to be weaponized in global conflicts. Acknowledging these atrocities does not diminish the suffering of Palestinian women in Gaza. It is essential to reaffirming our shared humanity.
When Trump first ran for president in the 2016 cycle, a lot of people justified their support for him by insisting he didnt really mean most of the outlandish stuff he was saying. But seven years and one attempted coup later, that logic doesnt really fly anymore. And also, what hes saying is really, really bad? Dahlia Lithwick considers why the toxic rhetoric is still going down so smoothly.

Another way Trump still haunts us 

Lower court judges are trying to show Roberts and Kavanaugh whos boss on voting rights, even though the high court just reaffirmed the Voting Rights Acts core concept. Mark Joseph Stern explains how Trumps judges keep defying a surprise Supreme Court decision protecting multiracial democracy.

A troubling pattern 

Why exactly is Benjamin Netanyahu covering for Elon Musk on the heels of the tech moguls antisemitic remarks? Musks Israel visit sheds light on a larger pattern for the Israeli prime minister, Emily Tamkin writes: Antisemitism has never stopped Netanyahu from covering for people who serve his political purposes.

The myth of the Blue Zone 

Hot spots of super old folks are being studied for their supposed secrets to longevity. But that doesnt quite mean you can live an extremely long time by copying these peoples lifestyles. Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz scrutinizes these claims.

Hollywoods new favorite trick 

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Hollywood has an evil plan to exploit its most valuable franchisesand sadly, its working. Luke Winkie lays out how Squid Game: The Challenge and 007: Road to a Million show theres no IP that streamers wouldnt turn into a reality show.

Like an animated Wikipedia page 

Ridley Scotts Napoleon has some big ambitions, attempting to chronicle the legendary historical figures life and reduce him to human sizebut the hosts of the Culture Gabfest found that the film fails to conquer.

And ICYMI: Annie Rauwerda wrote about Napoleons actual Wikipedia page, too.

Today, Slate is   A RUNNER WHO IS ALSO A CAR THAT IS PLAYING POKER

 much like the candidates in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

Thanks so much for reading! Well see you tomorrow.
Digital marketing relies in part on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to foster the success of a website. Effective strategies drive organic traffic, boosting both sales and conversions.

Mistakes like not optimizing for essential keywords can lead to a drop in profits and sales. Remember, potential customers looking for online goods and services use keywords and phrases to start the process.

The Impact of SEO Mistakes

Understanding SEO is crucial for online success. For businesses considering how to start an SEO company, knowing these common mistakes can provide a solid foundation for offering effective SEO services.

Other SEO errors can cause problems for a websites search engine rankings:

Mistakes like broken links can cause a drop in organic traffic.

Misleading meta descriptions can damage the sites credibility.

Duplicate content can result in a decline in visibility on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPS).

The 16 Most Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid

Along with these mistakes, focusing on video SEO and YouTube SEO is equally important, as video content increasingly dominates the digital landscape. Sidestepping the following 16 SEO mistakes can help your site rank higher and boost sales.

Small Business Deals

1. Ignoring the Importance of Keyword Research

The Mistake

Neglecting this research reduces a websites visibility and potential traffic. Keywords are the basis of SEO. In effect, they are the phrases your audience uses to look for the goods and services you have to sell.

The Solution

You can use several research tools, including SEMrush and Google Keyword Planner. These can help you find high-volume, low-competition keywords. One strategy is to target long-tail ones and their variations.

2. Overlooking the Power of Meta Descriptions

The Mistake

Dont underestimate the critical nature of meta descriptions. Not using them properly can affect your visibility and click-through rates.

The Solution

A meta description should be around 150 to 160 characters, using the active voice to highlight unique selling points.

WordPress Has some excellent SEO plugins for these descriptions. The same goes for Yoast SEO.

3. Failing to Optimize for Mobile Users

The Mistake

Ignoring mobile optimization leads to lower rankings on mobile searches and higher bounce rates.

The Solution

A responsive design is the solution. These designs need to adapt to various devices and screen sizes.

4. Neglecting Internal Links

The Mistake

User navigation can be affected when you overlook these links. Another consequence occurs with indexing by search engines.

The Solution

An audit will help you identify pages with outdated links or lacking internal ones. Creating an internal linking strategy prioritizing relevant content is a good idea.

Its also an excellent strategy to optimize your menus and navigation bars to incorporate internal links

5. Overusing Keywords (Keyword Stuffing)

The Mistake

Overusing keywords can do much more than lead to a poor user experience. Search engines impose penalties for keyword stuffing.

The Solution

Writing content that appeals to users is part of the solution. Use words naturally so theres a sense of flow and readability.

Keywords need to be placed in strategic locations like a meta description, headings and titles. Density matters, and you should aim for whats organic, which is typically up to 2% of all of the content.

6. Not Utilizing Google Search Console

The Mistake

Google Search Control can help you troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the presence of a website in Google search results. Youre missing valuable insights if youre not using it.

The Solution

Fixing this problem starts with going to Google Search Control and adding your website URL. You need to upload your sites XML sitemap.

7. Ignoring Local SEO

The Mistake

Ignoring local SEO is a big mistake if youre looking to target local prospects. Not using the strategy will lower your rankings in local search results.

The Solution

Fixing this problem means creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing. Its also essential to optimize your content and website with location-based keyword phrases and keywords. Remember to ask satisfied customers to leave reviews on your GMB page.

8. Not Optimizing for Voice Search

The Mistake

Voice Search is a growing trend that you want to take advantage of. It can amplify your visibility.

The Solution

Finding conversational keywords that prospects might use when speaking is a solution. Usually, these are long-tail keywords. Youll also need to ensure your website is mobile-friendly because most searches are done that way.

9. Forgetting to Regularly Update Content

The Mistake

Your websites authority and relevance will suffer if you dont update content regularly.

The Solution

Its easier to schedule updates when you use a content calendar regularly. You can also consider updating old posts with brand-new information or statistics. New formats are another way to increase your rankings. Think podcasts, infographics and videos.

10. Overlooking User Experience (UX)

The Mistake

Lower engagement numbers and higher bounce rates result when ignoring user experience (UX).

The Solution

Make sure that your website performs well on mobile devices and is responsive. Optimize images and reduce unnecessary scripts. Streamline your navigation with user-friendly categories and menus and a logical site hierarchy.

Dont forget to use bullet points and headers to make content easy to read.

11. Poor Site Speed and Performance

The Mistake

Poor performance and slow speed can hinder user experience and your SEO rankings at the same time.

The Solution

A faster hosting provider might be the answer. Or you can minimize HTTP requests by reducing redirects and utilizing browser caching.

Start by using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify any performance issues.

12. Failing to Utilize Social Media Signals

The Mistake

Your brands visibility can be limited if you ignore your social media presence and dont maintain it properly.

The Solution

Sharing infographics, articles, blog posts, and videos will help engage with your target market. Remember to run contests and respond to any comments made on these channels.

13. Not Using Analytics to Drive SEO Strategy

The Mistake

Optimizing your SEO strategies begins when you utilize the information you get from analytics. Ignoring this critical part of the puzzle deprives you of the tweaks necessary for any campaign.

The Solution

You can track user behavior and website traffic using Google Analytics. This tool helps you identify trending topics and high-performing keywords. The information youll get through analytics will help you align your strategies with your target market preferences.

14. Inadequate Backlink Strategies

The Mistake

Your website authority will suffer, and your SEO performance drop if you dont use quality backlinks.

The Solution

Ensure you reach out to relevant locations for these. Guest posting to relevant and reputable websites is a great way to get links back to your website.

15. Overlooking the Importance of Meta Tags and Title Tags

The Mistake

Pay attention to title tags and the meta version. Your search visibility and click-through rates will be hampered if you dont.

The Solution

One solution is descriptive, compelling titles of less than 70 characters containing your keywords. Encourage links with a meta description that is less than 160 characters.

16. Not Addressing Broken Links

The Mistake

Youll need a constant effort to stay on top of these links that can negatively impact your SEO. Ignoring them or not checking them can cost you rankings and sales.

The Solution

Youll need to check for these periodically, and you can use tools like Screaming Frog.

SEO Best Practices

For those looking to deepen their SEO knowledge, exploring SEO courses can be incredibly beneficial. Additionally, learning how to improve writing and SEO can greatly enhance content quality and search engine rankings.

Here are five strategies to help you build a successful SEO strategy and avoid mistakes.

Optimizing your sites speed means minimizing HTTP requests and compressing images. Active profiles on social media mean engagement. Respond to comments and integrate social sharing buttons. Make informed decisions using Google Analytics to track popular content and website traffic. That includes deciding on relevant keywords. Look for reputable backlinks from quality websites through guest posting and quality content. Dont forget to optimize title tags and their meta counterparts.

Beyond these practices, creating a well-rounded SEO strategy and improving blog SEO are crucial steps. Remember, understanding mobile SEO facts is key in an increasingly mobile-first world.

Best Practice Description Tools/Resources Key Tips Keyword Research Identify relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for. Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush. Focus on long-tail keywords for less competition. Quality Content Create valuable and informative content that meets user needs. Content management systems, Grammarly. Regularly update your website with fresh, relevant content. On-Page Optimization Optimize individual web pages to rank higher. Yoast SEO, Moz SEO tools. Include keywords in titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Mobile Optimization Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Google's Mobile-Friendly Test, responsive web design. A mobile-responsive website is crucial for better ranking. Loading Speed Improve website loading times for better user experience. Google PageSpeed Insights, website caching tools. Fast loading speeds are crucial for both ranking and user experience. Quality Backlinks Build high-quality backlinks from reputable websites. Backlink analysis tools like Ahrefs, guest blogging. Focus on building organic backlinks over quantity. Local SEO Optimize for local searches, especially if you have a physical location. Google My Business, local directories. Ensure your business is listed on local directories and Google My Business. Image Optimization Optimize images for faster loading and descriptive alt-text. Image compression tools, descriptive file names. Use relevant alt-text and compress images for faster loading. Regular Analytics Review Regularly check analytics to understand traffic and user behavior. Google Analytics, Google Search Console. Use insights to refine your SEO strategies over time. SSL Certificate Secure your website with HTTPS for safety and ranking. SSL certificates from hosting providers. Websites with HTTPS are favored by search engines.





FAQs: Common SEO Mistakes

Here are some answers to common questions asked about these mistakes.

Should a small business pay a specialist to optimize a website for search engines?

Hiring a professional will give you expert implementation of the most innovative SEO strategies.

How often should a SEO strategy be reviewed?

Reviewing your strategy every 3 to 6 months will help you adapt to changing user behaviors, algorithms and market trends.

What are the key factors search engines consider when ranking websites?

The factors search engines evaluate include:

Content quality and keywords.

Backlinks and user experience, which include mobile-friendliness and website speed.

Technicalities like sitemaps, schema markup and proper website structure.

Domain Authority, which judges the credibility and trustworthiness of the site.

Engagement metrics, which include click-through rates.

How costly can an SEO mistake be?

An SEO mistake can lead to a significant drop in website traffic, visibility, and rankings. That can spell a decrease in organic search traffic and a loss of revenue.
Officers of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) arrested an armed Uber passenger on Wednesday (November 29) after a standoff in Los Angeles's Mount Washington neighborhood.

The standoff lasted over three hours before the suspect handed himself over.

A LINE UPDATE: Buses replace trains between Heritage Square and Highland Park due to ongoing police activity.



-Southbound buses board at Ave 57/Marmion Way adjacent to Highland Park



-Northbound buses board at Pasadena Ave between Ave 37th and 38th near Heritage Square pic.twitter.com/qSuY0XGM4b  LA Metro Rider Alerts (@metrolaalerts) November 29, 2023

Local media reported that the driver was able to contact LAPD to report a passenger who was brandishing a gun.

The driver managed to get out of his own vehicle and told officers that the armed passenger was refusing to exit.

Read Also: Michigan Boy Steals Forklift for Joyride, Smashes 10 Parked Vehicles

Train services for the LA Metro were halted, issuing an alert on social media that there would be no train service between Highland Park and Heritage Square due to police activity.

Bus service would be available for affected travelers, they added.

This is a developing story. Please follow HNGN for more updates.

Related Article: California To Spend $300 Million To Solve Homelessness Crisis

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Oplatky are a favourite among Slovak Christmas foods, even though in the west part of the country they are a relatively recent addition to the traditional meal.

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As Christmas approaches, stores and markets in Slovakia start to stock bundles of thin wafers called vianocne oplatky or oblatky, depending on the region. Crisp and slightly sweet, the wafers have Christmas-themed pictures imprinted on them. There are also savoury oplatky, often with caraway seeds.

Every year a few people in our village sell them, and so I a few years ago I asked one grandma if I could come over to learn how they are made. When I come over, Pani (Mrs.) Zvonarova was finishing up the oplatky batter. She poured melted butter through a sieve and stirred a pot of flour, milk, sugar, and butter. I asked her if she has a specific recipe or if she puts it together by eye, as they say in Slovak. By eye, she said. When I first started it was always too thick or too thin, but now I usually get it. If the batter sticks to the wafer iron, I put it in the fridge overnight and the next day it works.

She poured a small amount of batter into a little enamel cup, stuck in a spoon, and started to shuffle to the living room, where the wafer iron was set up. She stopped on the way out of the kitchen and added water. Its a little thick, she murmured.

A wood cooking stove in the kitchen radiated warmth, with a few pots containing lunch on top. I gravitated immediately to the stove; I grew up with a wood stove but didn't have one, and I missed its cosy warm dry heat. Pan (Mr.) Zvonar added a few more sticks of wood when he saw me warming my hands  even though they werent actually cold.

Making oplatky. (Source: Naomi Huzovicova)

Pani Zvonarova sat down to the oplatky maker, waiting for it to warm up. Her husband sat behind her on a bed, and resumed his task of tying golden thread around salonky, chocolate candy wrapped in bright colourful foil. The threaded salonky will be hung up on the Christmas tree, where children will sneak them, leaving empty wrappers, although adults say they shouldn't be eaten until after Epiphany, January 6.

Originating in Poland, oplatky were a symbol of the Eurcharist celebrated in Roman Catholic churches. As far as I understand, the wafers in Poland are still only flour and water and rather tasteless; the wafer is passed around the table and each person breaks off a piece. In Slovakia, milk, butter, and sugar are added to the batter to make a crisper, slightly thicker, wafer. At the beginning of the Christmas Eve meal, honey is drizzled between wafers to make oplatky sandwiches.

Its a tradition that has moved its way west fairly recently, however  as a child Pani Zvonarova had never heard of oplatky. The border between Slovakia and Poland has moved a few times, so parts of Slovakia were once part of Poland, and some traditions became shared.

Making oplatky (Source: Naomi Huzovicova)

She has been making them for about 10 years, selling them, as we say in English, like hot cakes. She sells as much as she makes, and is barely able to keep some back for her own family. Her son and daughter-in-law have joined her in making them.

Oplatky makers used to be flat rounds made from cast iron on the end of long handles that were held over the fire of a cook stove, with one of the stovetop rounds removed. Now they are electric  and not cheap, easily costing over 300 euro.

The first step in making oplatky is to run cloth covered beeswax quickly over the surface, to lessen the chance of the batter sticking. She then took the enamel cup and ran a soup spoon of batter across the surface, making a narrow line that spreads over the surface when the wafer maker is closed.

Making oplatky. (Source: Naomi Huzovicova)

She pressed the top of the iron down; it hissed, steam rising and excess batter oozing out the sides. Pani Zvonarova ran the end of a pointed stick around the wafer maker to take off the extra batter. She dumped it into a container that she then gives to the dog. The dog is starting to look like a pig, she said.

The wafer iron doesn't have a temperature gauge, only on and off, so she regulated the heat as the oplatky bakes, turning it on and off as needed. When its done she slid a thin knife underneath to lift it off. If she missed scraping down a side, she will use scissors to even it out.

Making oplatky takes patience. If a wafer sticks badly, she has to turn off the machine, wait for it to cool down, clean the gunk from the fine lines, and try again. Sometimes a wafer is too thin or breaks as she lifts it off.

With 10 years of experience behind her, it still takes 2.5 hours to make 60 wafers, she told me. The price for homemade oplatky suddenly doesn't seem so expensive.

Making oplatky. (Source: Naomi Huzovicova)

As the couple work alongside each other, they tell me stories from their life. They met at a communist communal dairy farm where they both worked. Even today, the farm still sends each of them a package of salonky at Christmas. Four children together, one daughter passed away young from cancer.

After about an hour the white enamel cup needed to be refilled and Pani Zvonarovas leg had started to cramp. She hobbled around, trying to get the blood flowing again. The muscles get so tight the blood doesnt go through, she explained, giving her leg a few bangs.

She gave me a bag of broken wafers for my children to snack on as I leave, their lunch on the wood stove now ready. The oblatky we eat on Christmas Eve will have that much more meaning now, knowing the stories of the hands that made them and the work that is involved.
Andrej Dubravsky's work of art was exhibited in the Slovak Public Radio building.

Andrej Dubravsky's painting (no.5 from left) was exhibited in the Slovak Public Radio building in October and November of this year. The exhibition was called Ne(s)putani. (Source: RTVS)

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Two kissing men portrayed in a painting by Slovak artist Andrej Dubravsky has outraged Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova.

Nominated for the post by the Slovak National Party, Simkovicova regularly appears on TV Slovan. This is a disinformation online television channel where she presents her anti-LGBT+ and anti-immigration views, among others. She criticised Dubravskys painting on TV Slovan earlier this week.

The painting has been on display in the Slovak Public Radio building in Bratislava.

The minister added that a lot of people reportedly contacted her about similar issues. She announced new legislation and expressed discontent over the lack of powers that she as minister possesses to deal with such matters.

Dubravsky told the Novy Cas tabloid that he feels distressed by what the minister had said.

The project manager of the Slovak Public Radio Art Gallery and the curator of the exhibition, Ivan Jancar, would consider it unfortunate if someone takes away their artistic freedom and imposes what they can and cannot do. He stressed that the painting in question is not pornographic, but he admitted that some people may be bothered by the fact that there is a homosexual couple portrayed in it.

The exhibition that featured the somewhat controversial painting has ended.

Recently, some viewers turned to the Advertising Self-Regulating Organisation (RPR) to complain about a Christmas commercial released by Slovak Telekom. They argued that the commercial promotes homosexuality, attacking traditional families and Christian values.

The regulator dismissed the complaints.
Have you ever found yourself thinking, This light-roasted coffee is just too dark for me? or, This barely-roasted coffee would be better if it were more caffeinated than normal coffee? If so, you might want to check out white coffee, a very-very-very light roast approach to coffee that maintains a nichebut steadyfollowing.

While some people use white coffee to describe a traditionally roasted coffee thats simply served milky, in this article were going to delve into the white coffee that refers specifically to the roast level of the coffee bean, leaving the finished product closer to white (really, more of an ecru) than brown.

Where did white coffee come from? Was somebodys roaster broken?

White coffee is said to have its origins in Yemen, where the mixture of ultra-lightly-roasted coffee and spices is a traditional way to consume coffee. The light roasting of the beans themselves may be done at home in a pan mixed with grains and spices. Yemeni white coffee may then be brewed and served with a sweet spice mixture called hawaij, which contains some variety of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, mace, cloves, nutmeg, and so on. Waitdid Yemen actually invent the PSL?

What does white coffee taste like?

White coffee can have a nutty, herbaceous flavor profile, absent the usual cozy, caramelized-sugar notes were accustomed to in fully roasted coffee. As such, most places that serve white coffee often add quite a bit of accoutrementjust as in Yemen.

One of the biggest coffee companies to popularize white coffee in the United States is the Dutch Bros chain. The company recommends its popular white coffee in formats like the White Coffee Coconut Chai Latte, the White Coffee Dutch Crunch Breve, and the White Coffee Jelly Donut Oat Milk Latte (with pumps of raspberry, salted caramel, and almond flavoringno actual donuts are harmed.) Want something simpler? As a matter of taste preference, the possibilities are endless, says Dutch Bros Roasting Production Supervisor Marshall Mcalpine, who assures Sprudge that any espresso-based drink at Dutch Bros can be made with a shot of white coffee.

The simplest way to drink it would be as an Americanoyes, you can still order it black, says Mcalpine, but I wouldnt personally recommend it. Instead, he says, most customers who prefer a more basic white coffee prefer to enjoy it as a shot served over milk or a milk alternative.

How much caffeine is in white coffee?

For many, the purported caffeine superdose of white coffee is part of its great appealthough how much actual difference in caffeine content takes place between a white roast and a typical light or medium roast is up for debate. Sprudge found multiple online coffee retailers claiming their white coffee had at least 50% more caffeine than regular roasts, but actual science suggests only about a 5% drop in caffeine content from unroasted to dark-roasted coffee beans.

Still, the perception that white coffee is an ultra-high-octane brew is clearly part of its marketing appeal. Tami Canaday of Denvers Wagon Coffee, which serves a white-roasted Brazilian coffee, says she receives a lot of buzzed feedback from her white coffee clientele (including, she says, a drug recovery fellowship that meets at her cafe that will swear it gives them a lot more energy and power.)

But isnt white coffee too hard (like, literally too hard) to grind in a standard coffee grinder?

Grinding white coffee would likely be too traumatic for a home grinder, or for a grinder with ceramic burrs. According to Lena Battegay, Head of Group Marketing for the Mahlkonig/Hemro brands, barely-roasted coffee is harder and less brittle than traditionally roasted coffee, so its more difficult for a lot of grinders to break down. Also, the beans are denser, she says, Almost as hard as pebble stones.

This hardness affects both the motor and burrs, says Battegay. Due to the non-elastic properties of ceramic, the likelihood of breakage increases for ceramic burrs, whereas with steel burrs this is not a concern. (Battegay assures Sprudge that all her companys brands feature steel burrs made in Germany.) Lastly, she notes that some grinders wont have enough torque to spin, and the lifetime will drastically decrease.

In order to keep up with their own white coffee demand, Dutch Bros. found it necessary to redesign whole process systems, as grinding white coffee with their burr grinders was creating bottlenecks and inefficiencies in our production, says Mcalpine. (Theyve since switched to a roller-style grinder, which offers faster output while keeping particle size consistent. The ground white coffee is then shipped to their cafes, ready-to-brew.)

What are the benefits of white coffee? (Why would I drink this?)

Besides the dubious perception that white coffee has an astronomical caffeine content, many people also believe white coffee keeps more of the beneficial chlorogenic acids of coffee than roasted versions retain. Unrelated to those particular acids, though, white coffee is also considered lower-acidity and supposedly easier on the digestion. Bear in mind that as white coffee is of limited popularity, most of these claims are not particularly well-researched yetwhich is to say, if you are drinking white coffee only for health, you might just consider switching to tea.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/report-pennsylvania-arizona-have-netted-almost-5-billion-from-aid-to-ukraine-1115292940.html

Report: Pennsylvania, Arizona Have Netted Almost $5 Billion From Aid to Ukraine

Report: Pennsylvania, Arizona Have Netted Almost $5 Billion From Aid to Ukraine

The US states of Pennsylvania and Arizona have reportedly been among the main beneficiaries of the record flow of funds from the Biden administration to arm Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, receiving almost $2.5 billion each.

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foreign military aid

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US media reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration has recently circulated a graphic in Congress to promote its new narrative that the generous aid for Ukraine actually benefits the United States itself. Pennsylvania received $2.364 billion, more than any other state, to produce munitions and tactical vehicles for Ukraine, while Arizona with $2.259 billion is in second place, according to the report. The US states of Texas, Arkansas, and Florida received $1.449 billion, $1.478 billion, and $1.011 billion, respectively. In total, US states have received as much as $27 billion in funding to supply Ukraine with weapons and munitions, the report said. In October, the Biden administration sent a $106 billion supplemental funding request to Congress that includes $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14.3 billion for Israel, as well as money for US border security. Having faced Republican resistance to more funds for Ukraine and a decline in public support for additional aid, the White House began urging Republicans and Democrats to defend and sell the continuation of the US aid for Ukraine as beneficial for the domestic economy, media reported. Nevertheless, the US House of Representatives passed an Israel aid bill earlier in November, separating the assistance from the broader request from the Biden administration, which also included aid for Ukraine. President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the proposal, instead favoring the joint aid request.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231117/ukraine-will-have-to-suck-it-up-after-us-passes-budget-bill-devoid-of-aid-1115028790.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/dublin-says-only-x-refused-to-take-down-vile-social-media-posts-during-anti-immigrant-riot-1115312736.html

Dublin Says Only X Refused to Take Down Vile Social Media Posts During Anti-Immigrant Riot

Dublin Says Only X Refused to Take Down Vile Social Media Posts During Anti-Immigrant Riot

Amid attempts to crack down on a riot that erupted in the capital city of Dublin last week, the Irish government has revealed it pressured social media companies to take down posts it said were fanning the flames of the violence.

2023-11-30T20:30+0000

2023-11-30T20:30+0000

2023-11-30T20:28+0000

world

dublin

ireland

leo varadkar

elon musk

x

hate speech

censorship

riot

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The admission came during Prime Ministers Questions in the Dail Eireann on Wednesday, during which Justice Minister Helen McEntee sat in for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. McEntee told lawmakers that X, the social media site renamed from Twitter by CEO Elon Musk, had refused to take down vile messages on the site amid the Dublin riot last week.McEntee was asked about police claims that far-right ringleaders had used sophisticated communication online to coordinate their activities during the riot. She said the Garda had been actively engaging with TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, or X to take down what she described as vile messages.The riot started on November 23 after a 49-year-old Algerian-Irish man was arrested and accused of stabbing five people outside a primary school in eastern Dublin, including three children, leaving a five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s in critical condition. Three passersby incapacitated the man, who had lived in Ireland for more than 20 years and became a naturalized citizen of the country. At the time of the attack, he had been staying at a special accommodation for homeless people, according to Irish media.As news of the attack spread, a crowd grew near the scene of the crime, with many believing the man had been an illegal immigrant. They carried signs and chanted anti-immigrant slogans, and many wore face-covering balaclava masks and carried crowbars and other devices fashioned as weapons. As they grew increasingly violent, the crowd of several hundred overwhelmed the Gardai and set fire to several vehicles, including a city bus and a tram, as well as several businesses, which were also looted.Police had subdued the riot after several hours and dispersed the crowd, with more than 35 people arrested during and after the riot.After the riot, Musk attacked the Irish government for attempting to suppress posts, accusing Varadkar of hating the Irish people and carrying out a massive attack on freedom of speech.Former mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor also attacked Varadkars government, claiming he was being made into a scapegoat for the riot after police said they were investigating his social media posts before and during the violence.The night before the stabbings, McGregor told his 10.3 million followers on X Ireland, we are at war, without further context.His next post that night simply said: You reap what you sow.The former MMA star has since condemned the violence, but characterized it as a justified response to the governments inaction on immigration, which he connected to a wave of recent violent attacks.Interestingly, Musk has recently praised McGregor, endorsing a hypothetical election campaign by the former MMA fighter as not a bad idea and repeating McGregors position that Varadkar hates the Irish people.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/uk-home-office-loses-17000-asylum-seekers-across-britain---starmer-1115286899.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/elon-musk-to-companies-pulling-ads-from-x-go-f-yourself-1115293389.html

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what prompted anti-immigrant riots in dublin, dublin anti-immigrant riot, prime minister's questions in dail eireann
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/elon-musks-power-as-geopolitical-arbiter-signals-decay-of-us-state-1115312074.html

Elon Musk's Power as Geopolitical Arbiter Signals 'Decay' of US State

Elon Musk's Power as Geopolitical Arbiter Signals 'Decay' of US State

SpaceXs owner traveled to Israel this week to discuss rising anti-Semitism online and the operation of Starlink satellite internet in Gaza. The Gaza war is the second major international crisis tat Starlink has waded into, leading to questions about the extent of the power of its private owner to act as a geopolitical arbiter.

2023-11-30T18:58+0000

2023-11-30T18:58+0000

2023-12-05T09:24+0000

analysis

pentagon

elon musk

donald trump

javier milei

israel

nasa

starlink

ukraine

gaza strip

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The power wielded by Elon Musk through his mega-constellations of small, low-Earth orbiting Starlink satellites in global conflicts of his choosing is a sign of states retreat from areas once reserved only for national governments, and the billionaire almost certainly represents powerful political and economic interests which remain behind the curtain, says geopolitical analyst Come Carpentier de Gourdon.Elon Musk is increasingly playing a role in US and world politics and certainly represents certain powerful interests in America and abroad who prefer to act through him, de Gourdon, the convener of the editorial board of World Affairs, a New Delhi, India-based international politics journal, told Sputnik.Elon Musk wants to be seen as a libertarian who feels that national governments are no longer the main actors on the global scene or even at home. He wants a space-going civilization and in principle opposes censorship. That has made him popular. He can bring outcomes through his financial and telecommunications-rooted power, but his satellites are also vulnerable in case of war if he is seen as an agent of American influence, and his financial base is not very strong because much of his wealth is paper wealth supported by speculations on the future success of his major companies, which are not producing much return, Carpentier de Gourdon explained.Indeed, notwithstanding his libertarian ideology, much of Musks initial technology-based wealth has come thanks to lucrative contracts with the Pentagon and NASA, and tens of millions of dollars in lobbying efforts on his part to support his growing list of companies, which besides SpaceX include X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla, the electric car company.Musks Starlink satellites now account for as much as half of all operational satellites in orbit around the world, and SpaceX has inked contracts to provide its services to the US and French militaries, even as Musk has occasionally wrangled with other American allies and client states, including Ukraine and Israel, regarding Starlinks use.His political views are vague and seem to support neoliberal capitalism with little state intervention, but that may be aimed at supporting his business interests and winning him support among all the opponents of socialism and excessive bureaucracy, de Gourdon said.He supports Trump and the new Argentinian president Milei, for example, but can change his views quickly and has no clear ideology. He is a genius at manipulating markets and creating a legend about himself but there is often more image-making and promotion than substance, the observer summed up.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/elon-musk-to-companies-pulling-ads-from-x-go-f-yourself-1115293389.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/has-power-of-starlink-turned-elon-musk-into-tech-oligarch-1115283015.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/f-you-mccarthy-reportedly-cursed-trump-after-speakership-battle-1115314629.html

F*** You: McCarthy Reportedly Cursed Trump After Speakership Battle

F*** You: McCarthy Reportedly Cursed Trump After Speakership Battle

Ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had a few terse words for former US President Donald Trump after the latter refused to offer assistance during his battle for the speakership, according to American media reports.

2023-11-30T23:27+0000

2023-11-30T23:27+0000

2023-11-30T23:24+0000

americas

us

kevin mccarthy

donald trump

liz cheney

republican party

federal election commission

house speaker

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Ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had a few terse words for former US President Donald Trump after the latter refused to offer assistance during his battle for the speakership, according to American media reports.F*** you, the former House speaker told Trump in a phone conversation after his ouster, according to sources McCarthy reportedly told about the interaction.McCarthy has publicly defended Trump, who remains the favorite to win the presidential nomination of his party in the 2024 election. The California lawmaker has even stood by Trump as 91 felony charges have been filed against the former president.Recent findings from former Rep. Liz Cheneys looming book, Oath and Honor, revealed that McCarthy in 2021 made a public visit to Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound to comfort the former commander-in-chief after his electoral loss the previous November.The visit resulted in criticism of McCarthy, who had blamed Trump for the January 6 riots at the US Capitol just days before, but it seemed to suggest a degree of respect between the two political figures. But the former president was reportedly angry that McCarthy didnt seek to expunge his two impeachments at the time of their phone call this year.Nevertheless, people familiar with Trump and McCarthys relationship say the two continue to share text messages with each other.McCarthy has previously been an important fundraiser for the Republican Party, which is currently having difficulties raising money, according to recent filings with the Federal Election Commission. Powerful donors have reportedly cut back on donations to the party in rejection of Trumps continuing influence.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/make-them-pay-trump-attacks-us-news-outlet-in-social-media-salvo-1115291809.html

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what did mccarthy say to trump, kevin mccarthy curses at trump, revelations from liz cheney's book, us house speakership
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/formal-vote-on-bidens-impeachment-inquiry-expected-in-coming-weeks--report-1115301384.html

Formal Vote on Biden's Impeachment Inquiry Expected in Coming Weeks  Report

Formal Vote on Biden's Impeachment Inquiry Expected in Coming Weeks  Report

Congressional Republicans are considering a vote on authorizing a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in the coming weeks, Axios has learned.

2023-11-30T13:13+0000

2023-11-30T13:13+0000

2023-11-30T13:13+0000

us

americas

joe biden

hunter biden

republicans

gop

house oversight committee

white house

influence peddling

pay to play

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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ordered the House of Representatives to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in mid-September over apparent influence peddling schemes by the Biden family.The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), is spearheading the initiative. Still, an official vote on the procedure has not been held so far.It was unclear when GOP lawmakers would formalize their impeachment probe, given that they have not presented a "smoking gun" directly implicating Joe Biden yet.Some observers have expressed doubts whether the Republicans would secure enough votes for the measure in the lower chamber: moderate GOP congressmen appear not to support Biden's impeachment investigation. Their votes would be critical, given the GOPs slim majority in the House.Still, on Wednesday, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) "teased a potential vote" during a closed-door Republican Conference meeting, the US press reports, citing several lawmakers present.House Republicans need the formal vote to get more legal leverage during their inquiry. Earlier, the White House made it clear that it would not allow staff to participate in House panel hearings on the Bidens' financial dealings. In November, the GOP-led panel filed numerous subpoenas seeking to interview Biden family members, their business associates, as well as White House staff.On November 28, Hunter Biden's lawyer signaled to lawmakers that the president's son was open to testifying publicly next month before the House Oversight Committee.Insisting on "public hearings," Hunter's lawyer Abbe Lowell claimed that Republicans "use closed-door sessions to manipulate, even distort the facts and misinform the public.""Mr. Biden will appear at such a public hearing on the date you noticed, December 13, or any date in December that we can arrange," Lowell wrote.In response, Comer (R-Ky.) said in a Tuesday statement that the first son is expected to testify during a closed-door hearing on December 13, adding that the younger Biden would be allowed to deliver a testimony publicly at a later date."Hunter Biden is trying to play by his own rules instead of following the rules required of everyone else. That won't stand with House Republicans," Comer stated. "Our lawfully issued subpoena to Hunter Biden requires him to appear for a deposition on December 13."GOP congressmen say that they have enough evidence proving that the Biden family capitalized on Joe Biden's name to get money and precious gifts in return for favors. The only problem is to prove whether the incumbent president personally cashed in on that money bonanza. There are indirect factors proving this, per Republican lawmakers. It is still unclear what article of impeachment they would bring forward ahead of the formal vote.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231121/most-voters-believe-joe-biden-participated-in-his-son-hunters-business-1115111674.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231127/theres-no-plan-b-democrats-need-to-go-all-in-on-biden-in-2024---analyst-1115241644.html

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joe biden, impeachment inquiry, impeachment probe, house gop impeachment investigation, hunter biden, james biden, influence peddling, smoking gun, formal vote on biden impeachment inquiry
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/french-govt-members-to-be-banned-from-using-telegram-whatsapp-starting-dec-8---reports-1115294952.html

French Gov't Members to Be Banned From Using Telegram, WhatsApp Starting Dec. 8 - Reports

French Gov't Members to Be Banned From Using Telegram, WhatsApp Starting Dec. 8 - Reports

The BFMTV broadcaster reported that French Prime Minister Borne signed a circular to the country's ministers and top staff on November 22, urging them to delete all messaging applications not approved by ANSSI by December 8.

2023-11-30T03:07+0000

2023-11-30T03:07+0000

2023-11-30T03:07+0000

world

whatsapp

france

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The BFMTV broadcaster reported that French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne signed a circular to the country's ministers and top staff on November 22, urging them to delete all messaging applications not approved by ANSSI by December 8. The decision concerns the use of such messaging applications as Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal, the report said. Instead, French cabinet members were called upon to install France's Olvid application on their phones and computers, which, like WhatsApp, uses end-to-end encryption to protect messages, the broadcaster reported.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/from-backpack-drones-to-plane-sized-behemoths-five-cutting-edge-uavs-of-2023-1115305029.html

From Backpack Drones to Plane-Sized Behemoths: Five Cutting Edge UAVs of 2023

From Backpack Drones to Plane-Sized Behemoths: Five Cutting Edge UAVs of 2023

The Ukrainian crisis has demonstrated the critical importance of unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare, with Russia and NATO flooding the battlefield with their latest reconnaissance, strike and kamikaze drone designs. In light of drones growing significance, Sputnik has put together a list of the most promising UAVs of the outgoing year.

2023-11-30T13:52+0000

2023-11-30T13:52+0000

2023-11-30T14:15+0000

military

russia

iran

ukraine

nato

lancet

pentagon

military & intelligence

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Drones deployed by Russia along the 1,000 km frontline running through the Donbass, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions have proven instrumental in thwarting Ukraines NATO-trained and equipped armies during Kievs ill-fated summer counteroffensive. They gave Russian forces much-needed reconnaissance data, and became a plague for the Western-made tanks which Washington and Brussels hoped would punch through Russian lines, cutting off the Crimean land bridge, and forcing Moscow to sue for peace.The Ukrainian crisis has pushed Pentagon officials to recognize the critical significance of drones on the modern battlefield, as well as the systems designed to disrupt them, with legacy media making clear that they cynically see the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine as a testing ground for NATOs latest equipment, UAVs included.Izdeliye-53Among the standout, totally new unmanned aerial vehicles deployed by Russia in the special military operation zone is Izdeliye-53  an upgrade to the deadly Lancet series of x-winged loitering munitions which Western observers say have turned into the scourge of the battlefield for Ukrainian forces. The new UAVs, recently shown attacking an enemy artillery system using an automatic guidance system, were developed by Kalashnikov Concern subsidiary ZALA Aero, and feature a payload of up to five kilograms. Izdeliye-53 drones, also known as Z-53s, are capable of flying in groups and coordinating with one another in selecting targets, and use the principles of network-centric warfare during operations to facilitate effective swarming. The UAVs have a reported range of between 60-70 km, with their ability to destroy NATO MBTs and other heavy weapons systems prompting British defense officials to name call the Lancet series one of the most effective new capabilities in Russias arsenal.Launched from portable launch containers that can be carried on everything from heavy-duty military vehicles to light trucks, Z-53s cannot be suppressed using conventional electronic warfare means, and are reportedly also fitted with a range of tamper-proof technologies designed to prevent the enemy from learning their secrets in the event of capture.Scalpel: Budget LancetWhile the Z-53 has already gained widespread recognition abroad as one of deadliest next-gen drones in Russias arsenal, a new, single-use suicide drone platform known as the Scalpel is just gaining traction. The UAV, which entered small-scale series production this fall and was first deployed in combat as recently as earlier this month, is designed by the Vostok Design Bureau, and characterized as a lower cost alternative to Lancet series drones.Featuring the characteristic dual X-wing dual of pre-Izdeliye-53 Lancets but distinguishable by its hexagonal, pencil-shaped fuselage instead of the smooth, rounded fuselage of Lancets, the Scalpel has a reported price tag of just 300,000 rubles (about $3,300 US) apiece, compared to roughly $20,000-$30,000 for a Lancet, depending on model.The Scalpel has a reported 5 kg payload capability, a 10.5 kg takeoff weight, a cruising speed up to 120 km per hour, a 40 km flight range and a two-hour flight time.Lower cost does mean cutting corners, including an inferior radio channel thats less resistant to interference. Still, amid dwindling readiness by NATO to continue to fund the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, the deployment of large quantities of inexpensive Scalpel drones on the battlefield could prove the maxim that quantity has a quality all its own.On top of that, improvements of the "budget Lancets" are already underway, and include plans to fit the drones with a new, camera-assisted target acquisition system, an improved launch catapult, and an interference-resistant control channel.China's Switchblade AnalogueRussia isnt the only NATO adversary making major strides in the development of drones. Last week, Chinese media posted footage of the testing of the XS101, a new Chinese-made kamikaze drone expected to dramatically improve the Peoples Liberation Armys drone-based capabilities.The miniature loitering munition, which appears to feature the same spring-loaded dual pair of wings design seen in US Switchblade 300 suicide drones, could be seen being launched from a bazooka-like launcher at an altitude of some 4,600 meters above sea level, and is reportedly being developed by Beijing Angfei Technology Co. Test footage showed the drone slicing through its target head on, with the UAV presumably equipped with autonomous navigation capability, which means continuous human guidance is not required.No other information about the drone is available, including its range, payload and other details. But if its anything like its American counterpart, the XS101 is expected to become an effective, man-portable alternative to close air support against concentrations of enemy troops, light vehicles and buildings thats light enough to be carried around in a backpack. The Switchblade 300 weighs 25 kg, has a 10 km operational range or 15-minute flight time, and flight speed of between 101 and 160 km per hour.Irans Shahin-1Another, cutting edge drone worthy of inclusion in this list is the Shahin-1, (lit. "King of the Birds") a brand new Iranian-made loitering munition unveiled just this week at a ceremony attended by the Islamic Republics top brass aboard the helipad of the new Deylaman totally indigenous Iranian destroyer.The Shahin-1 features a unique dual, under-fuselage/ over-fuselage dual wing set design, is based on a canister launch system, and, like many Iranian UAVs, is meant to be a universal combat platform, with the capability to deploy from both naval and ground-based systems. The Shahin-1 appears to have a similar design philosophy as Irans Sina and Meraj-521-series foldable-wing drones  but an upscaled version.Reports suggest the drone includes autonomous, remote piloting and autonomous target designation and engagement capabilities. The Iranians are tight-lipped about the UAVs range and payload characteristics, except to say that its missions will include enemy detection and strike missions.Mohajer-10: Irans Heavy, Long-Range Strike DroneAnother Iranian-made drone design worth mentioning in this list is the Mohajer-10, a do-it-all surveillance, reconnaissance, strike, electronic warfare and full-spectrum superiority UAV unveiled in August. The large, long-range endurance drone has an operational range of up to 2,000 km, a flight altitude of 7 km, a top speed of up to 210 km per hour, a 24-hour endurance time, and the ability to carry a payload of up to 300 kg, consisting of either missiles and bombs or equipment for surveillance and electronic warfare operations. The drone is 6.5 meters long, 4.2 meters tall and has a wingspan of 18.2 meters, essentially making it an aircraft replacement.The Mohajer-10 (which literally means "Immigrant-10") is the latest addition to Irans traditionally strong domestic drone industry, and was born some 38 years after the creation of the Mohajer-1, a single engine tactical drone used for tactical reconnaissance operation during the Iran-Iraq War.Summary: Sun Setting on American Drone DominationRussia, China and Irans ability to produce modern combat drones ranging from small, backpack-carried anti-personnel drones to large analogues to the US Air Forces winged behemoths demonstrates that the virtual monopoly that the Pentagon enjoyed in in the autonomous killing machines department during the 2000s and 2010s is over, and that the future of modern warfare will inevitably include an ever-greater reliance on aerial UAVs.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/russia-develops-compact-friend-or-foe-system-for-identifying-drones-1115277258.html

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Xi pledges China's continuous efforts to uphold justice on Palestinian issue

Xinhua) 09:38, November 30, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged China's continuous efforts to uphold justice on the Palestinian issue, actively promote peace talks and provide, as always, humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side.

In a congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Xi said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to work with the international community to build global consensus for promoting peace, and bring the Palestinian issue back to the right track of the two-state solution for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
US President Joe Biden recently made a significant announcement, informing nearly 1 million student borrowers via email that their loans have been forgiven.

This marks a key milestone in the Biden administration's efforts to address student debt, an issue that has burdened millions of Americans, as per Washington Examiner.

Biden Forgives 813,000 Student Loans in Education Push

The email sent to 813,000 borrowers celebrated the forgiveness of their loans through actions Biden took over his tenure. This initiative is part of the White House's commitment to educational reform and easing the financial strain on former students.

However, the selection criteria for these borrowers remain unclear, as White House officials did not elaborate on how these individuals were chosen for the email from the president.

In August, the Education Department made a one-time account adjustment to evaluate which borrowers had met the qualifying payment threshold on their repayment plans. This led to the relief for about 813,000 borrowers, a decision Biden proudly announced in his email.

He emphasized the administration's dedication to rectifying the failures and administrative errors of the student loan program. The ongoing relief efforts address issues in the income-driven repayment plans, designed to offer income-based repayments with the assurance of loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years.

However, many borrowers had yet to receive proper credit for payments made under these plans. The impact of this relief is significant, especially as federal student loan payments resumed in October after a three-year break brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Education Department has pledged to hold loan servicers accountable, with recent actions against servicer MOHELA for not sending billing statements on time.

Following the Supreme Court's decision in June to strike down Biden's initial broad relief plan, the Education Department is working on a new strategy for student loan forgiveness, according to Business Insider.

Read Also: Iowa Rights Groups File Lawsuit Against Law Banning LGBTQ+ Books in School to Raise Gender Identity

New Narrow Focus For Student Loan Forgiveness Rule

The final rule, to be developed with a group of negotiators in December, is expected to be more narrowly focused than the first attempt. Despite challenges and uncertainties, borrowers like George Tucker have expressed gratitude for the relief. Tucker, a 63-year-old borrower, told Insider how the loan forgiveness has significantly eased his family's financial burdens.

Biden's administration has proactively addressed student debt, canceling an additional $9 billion in loans in early October, benefiting 125,000 borrowers. This action aligns with Biden's commitment to alleviating the financial stress of unsustainable debt for college graduates.

Since taking office, Biden's administration has cleared $127 billion in debt for 3.6 million borrowers. These efforts reflect the administration's dedication to using every available tool to ease the burden of student debt, empower more Americans to achieve their dreams and contribute positively to the economy.

Despite some criticism and challenges, such as a report by the Government Accountability Office highlighting shortcomings in the original loan forgiveness plan, Biden remains committed to finding solutions to provide student loan relief.

His approach includes programs like public service loan forgiveness and the SAVE Plan, which links payments to borrowers' income.

As the administration continues navigating the complex landscape of student loan relief, the recent email announcement is a testament to Biden's resolve to address this pressing issue and improve lives, Mail Online reported.

Related Article: Rosalynn Carter's Loved Ones Attend Tribute Service to Share Former First Lady's Legacy

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/germanys-baerbock-accused-of-driving-europe-into-abyss-for-ukraines-future-lies-in-eu-claim-1115306416.html

Germany's Baerbock Accused of 'Driving Europe Into Abyss' For 'Ukraines Future Lies in EU' Claim

Germany's Baerbock Accused of 'Driving Europe Into Abyss' For 'Ukraines Future Lies in EU' Claim

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been excoriated on social media for saying that Ukraines future lies in the European Union (EU) and NATO.

2023-11-30T14:03+0000

2023-11-30T14:03+0000

2023-11-30T14:03+0000

world

germany

ukraine

annalena baerbock

european union (eu)

viktor yanukovych

peter szijjarto

nato

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been excoriated on social media for saying that Ukraines future lies in the European Union (EU) and NATO.We must do everything we can to support them on this path. With the NATO-Ukraine Council, we create a real working engine. Good to be in Brussels with you, Baerbock posted on the X (formerly Twitter) social media platform.X users did not hesitate to accuse the German minister, a notorious advocate of continuing to prop up the Kiev regime, of driving Europe towards an abyss.Some pointed out that NATO would never accept Ukraine, as the US wants a proxy war, no direct involvement.Some netizens warned that NATO was always such an aggressive and hateful union that is never interested in peace. The West was also accused by users of "destroying Ukraine since 2014," in a reference to the Euromaidan.Netizens on X added that it appeared "now it's time for the final show."Many wondered how someone like Annalena Baerbock "had ever become foreign minister."Ukraine has long been knocking on NATOs door, but all of the alliances countries agree that Kievs admission is impossible for now, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday."A consensus formula has been formed that it [the accession] would be possible if the conditions are met and the allies agree. These are the two conditions now, there are no changes here. There was no breakdown of the agreement that Ukraine's accession to NATO is unimaginable in current conditions," he stated after the end of the first day of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.The Hungarian top diplomat also called the consensus the right thing to do, as Ukraine's admission to NATO now would mean the beginning of World War III.As a result of the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 11-12, NATO leaders agreed on a package of three elements to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance. The first includes creating an assistance program for Ukraine that would make transition to NATO standards, training, and doctrines possible. The second element is the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, and the third involves the cancellation of the membership action plan for Ukraine, which will allow Kiev's accession process to be shortened from two steps to one step. However, no official invitation was extended by the bloc to Kiev.Ukraines possible membership in NATO would pose a security threat for Russia and would not increase Kievs own security situation, Moscow has repeatedly warned."As for Ukraine's membership in NATO, we have repeatedly spoken about this, this creates threats to Russia's security. Obviously. And as a matter of fact, the reason for the special military operation, one of the reasons, is the threat of Ukraine's entry into NATO. I am sure that this will not increase the security of Ukraine itself," Russian President Vladimir Putin underscored earlier in the year.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231128/all-nato-countries-agree-ukraines-admission-to-alliance-impossible-for-now---budapest-1115271505.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/stoltenberg-preparing-nato-to-accept-russian-demands-for-ukraines-neutrality---expert-1115285850.html

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german foreign minister annalena baerbock, ukraines european union membership, ukraine's nato membership, ukraine's accession to nato, nato's proxy war against russia in ukraine
https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/hamas-announces-extension-of-humanitarian-pause-with-israel-on-thursday-1115297042.html

Hamas Announces Extension of Humanitarian Pause With Israel on Thursday

Hamas Announces Extension of Humanitarian Pause With Israel on Thursday

Palestinian movement Hamas announced on Thursday the extension of the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip with Israel.

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2023-11-30T05:12+0000

2023-11-30T05:12+0000

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palestine-israel conflict

israel

gaza strip

middle east

qatar

israel defense forces (idf)

hamas

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"An agreement was reached to extend the truce for the seventh day  Thursday," Hamas said in a statement. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced early on Thursday that the humanitarian pause with Palestinian movement Hamas, which was about to expire, will continue in light of efforts to continue the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.On Monday, Qatar announced that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a two-day extension of the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip on the same terms as the previous one. Last week, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a four-day truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/israels-gaza-offensive-ends-in-political-and-military-defeat--scott-ritter-1115278076.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/kherson-region-governor-says-kiev-preparing-provocation-against-poland-to-blame-russia-1115295832.html

Kherson Region Governor Says Ukraine Preparing Provocation Against Poland to Blame Russia

Kherson Region Governor Says Ukraine Preparing Provocation Against Poland to Blame Russia

The official added that it is difficult to assess the likelihood of implementing such a "crazy" plan and the West's reaction to its implementation.

2023-11-30T03:27+0000

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2023-11-30T04:15+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

kiev

poland

west

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"According to the data received from our sources in Ukraine, we are talking about a provocation involving an attack with Western or [Ukraine's] own converted missiles, on the parts of which they want to put Russian markings to further blame Russia. "They will be ready to do so when they feel that the West has reduced support so much that the front for the Kiev regime is ready to collapse. It could happen in the very near perspective," Saldo said. The official added that it is difficult to assess the likelihood of implementing such a "crazy" plan and the West's reaction to its implementation. Last November, a missile fell on Polish territory near the border with Ukraine, killing two people. Warsaw said that the missiles were Russian-made but later clarified that there was a high probability that they were shot by Ukrainian air defense forces working to intercept incoming Russian missiles. In late September 2023, Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro confirmed that the missile was of Ukrainian origin.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/liz-truss-led-caravan-of-losers-in-washington-to-lobby-house-gop-on-ukraine-aid-1115310665.html

Liz Truss-Led Caravan of Losers in Washington to Lobby House GOP on Ukraine Aid

Liz Truss-Led Caravan of Losers in Washington to Lobby House GOP on Ukraine Aid

The former prime minister, who spent 50 days in office before being forced to resign in October 2022, arrived in Washington this week with Tory colleagues to try to convince the GOPs MAGA wing to reverse its stance on Ukraine funding. But given her sorry record at home, the ex-PMs chances are anyones guess, a leading UK politics expert says.

2023-11-30T18:01+0000

2023-11-30T18:01+0000

2023-11-30T18:09+0000

analysis

ukraine

united kingdom (uk)

washington

donald trump

liz truss

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gop

tory

white house

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With less than two weeks left in the current legislative calendar to pass Joe Bidens new proposed package of aid to Ukraine, the president has called out the big guns to try to lobby conservative Republicans.Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, a well-known "specialist" on Eastern European affairs, who once confused a pair of two Russian regions for Ukrainian ones, and vowed that London would always support its Baltic allies across the Black Sea, arrived in Washington, DC this week to explain to skeptical Republicans why the United States needs to shell out more money for Kiev in its failing proxy war with Moscow.Biden wants some $61.4 billion in assistance, as part of a $106 billion all-in-one bill which also includes US aid to Israel, funds to stoke tensions with China in Asia, and money to address the crisis at Americas southern border with Mexico.Truss, who expressed her support for a Republican returning to the White House in 2024 before heading off to Washington, is now in the US capital along with former Tory leaders Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard, as well as lawmaker Jack Lopresti, with the politicians planning to hold about two dozen meeting with conservative, MAGA-supporting lawmakers and think tanks through the week.Duncan Smith, who never made it to the prime ministers office himself, has sought to link Ukraine to Chinas purported threats against Taiwan, throwing red meat to Republicans with talk of a new axis of totalitarian states led by Russia and China that must be stood up to by the free world.Newly appointed Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has criticized attempts to speedily ram through funding bills focusing on an array of disparate issues, but expressed confidence this week that Congress would be able to push through supplemental funding for both Israel and Ukraine, so long as new aid to Kiev is accompanied by changes to the administrations border policy.Ukraine is another priority, the speaker said. What weve said is if there is to be additional assistance to Ukraine  which most members of Congress believe is important what we have to also work on [is] changing our own border policy. And so theres been a lot of thoughtful negotiation ongoing with that. I think most of our Senate colleagues recognize that those two things need to move together because we owe that to the American people.Unmitigated Disaster as Prime MinisterAlistair Jones, an associate professor specializing in British politics at De Montfort University in Leicester, England, says its anyones guess whether Truss can advance the Ukraine funding agenda, suggesting her disastrous record at home may be balanced out by her ideological familiarity with Republicans in the US.The idea here is to point out to the Republicans that if you let Russia get away with this aggression, other countries are going to do the same, the academic said.Now the delegation itself, if you were to ask people to identify who the delegates were, most people in the UK would not know, even though three of them, including Liz Truss, are former Conservative Party leaders, Jones noted.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221030/truss-spent-last-days-in-office-obsessed-with-weather-amid-russian-nuke-scare---reports-1102851429.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220211/uk-slams-russia-for-classic-propaganda-as-truss-refuses-to-recognize-russian-regions-in-geo-gaffe-1092941234.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/west-overplayed-ukraine-now-leaning-towards-dialogue-with-moscow---reporter-1115274364.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/malicious-stupidity-of-russophobes-moscow-slams-bulgaria-over-denying-diplomatic-overflight-1115298226.html

'Malicious Stupidity of Russophobes': Moscow Slams Bulgaria Over Denied Diplomatic Overflight

'Malicious Stupidity of Russophobes': Moscow Slams Bulgaria Over Denied Diplomatic Overflight

Bulgaria refused the overflight of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's plane since the initial approval did not apply to the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who was on board the plane.

2023-11-30T11:39+0000

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2023-11-30T11:40+0000

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maria zakharova

sergey lavrov

north macedonia

russia

osce

european union (eu)

bulgaria

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Bulgaria refused the overflight of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's plane since the initial approval did not apply to the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who was on board the plane.Zakharova noted that this was "not only stupidity, but the dangerous stupidity of some schemers among the Bulgarian authorities"."The fact is that the rules of air communication are regulated by the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. It stipulates that the territory of a state should be understood as 'land areas and adjacent territorial waters'. The term 'territory' does not include airspace. In this regard, the already illegal EU sanctions cannot apply to a non-stop flight by an aircraft of a person who is banned from entering the territory of the state," Zakharova explained.The 30th Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is running from November 30 to December 1 in the capital of the North Macedonia, Skopje, where the OSCE members will decide on a candidate for the chairmanship.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/western-russophobia-campaign-is-insane---daughter-of-chilean-political-prisoner-corvalan-1113286391.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/nato-refusing-ukrainian-membership-as-alliance-has-no-power-to-confront-russia-1115310516.html

NATO Refusing Ukrainian Membership as Alliance Has 'No Power to Confront Russia'

NATO Refusing Ukrainian Membership as Alliance Has 'No Power to Confront Russia'

While NATO wants to disarm and dismember Russia, its members are afraid of a direct war with Moscow they know they cannot win. That is why, despite Kievs failing position, they will continue to refuse its demands to join.

2023-11-30T18:33+0000

2023-11-30T18:33+0000

2023-11-30T18:34+0000

analysis

russia

nato

igor lopatonok

ukraine

encirclement

proxy war

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At a Brussels summit of the foreign ministers of NATO members and of Ukraine on Wednesday, the alliance put forward a new statement vowing to support Kiev for as long as it takes and would undertake steps to further integrate the operational ability of the Ukrainian military with that of NATO.However, the Western alliance once again stopped short of immediately offering Ukraine membership - something Kievs government has been constitutionally obligated to pursue since a US-backed coup seized power there in 2014. NATO has repeatedly refused demands by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to admit his country to the alliance and invoke its mutual protection clause, bringing 31 member states into a state of war - three of them nuclear-armed - with the Russian Federation, which also possesses nuclear weapons.Filmmaker Igor Lopatonok, who directed the documentary films "Ukraine On Fire" in 2016 and Revealing Ukraine in 2019, told Radio Sputniks The Backstory on Thursday that adding Ukraine to NATO was a real red line that would mean war between NATO and the Russian Federation, which many members understand and fear.Lopatonok noted that it wasnt Russia that moved its borders up to the edge of NATO countries, but NATO who moved its borders until they were against Russias.You remember that they tried to lie and cheat as usual and say and nobody promised [Soviet President Mikhail] Gorbachev to not enlarge NATO, until all the documents were released and delivered and everybody saw, yeah, that was not in the discussion, he said. They agreed together with [US President] Ronald Reagan, and then Gorbachev moved forward and dismantled the Warsaw Pact. And then Reagan just just dropped his promises and NATO was never dismantled.In 1999, NATO was bombing Serbia, together with the United States, for more than 80 days, with no reason. There's only one reason: it was not [Serbian President Slobodan] Milosevic, it was not Serbia, which posed no threat to anyone, it was just that NATO was on the verge of collapse because members did not understand why they need a military alliance when there is no threat, there is no enemy. And Russia was even trying to be accepted into NATO, to be a member of the alliance, for security. No, they were not interested in this. They needed [Russian President Vladimir] Putin as a perfect villain.He said doing so would have lead to very bad consequences because, you know, the perception of this will be wrong. Perception can make a big blow to the Russian stance and its standing in the international geopolitics big game. Russia is taking it slow and delivering the result . We all understand in 2024 there will be no peace in Ukraine. [Russian chief negotiator Vladimir] Medinsky revealed how [in the Spring of 2022] Ukraine destroyed the peace deal in whatever they negotiated in Istanbul.Lopatonok said that everybody understands that nobody [in Kiev] is interested in peace, nobody is interested in a position of national interest of Ukraine or national security of Ukraine. Everybody is interested in only one thing: how to bring a ring of fire to the Russian borders, how to make Russia weaker, how to divide Russia, split it into pieces, take away nuclear deterrence forces, and enslave the Slavic people who live in Russia. This is an existential conflict of Western and Eastern civilizations and Russia here it is not Western civilization, he said, noting that the Scythians were the ancestors of both Russians and Ukrainians and were never considered part of the West.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/zelensky-zaluzhny-spat-tempest-in-a-teapot-concealing-ukraines-true-masters-1115308061.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/kherson-region-governor-says-kiev-preparing-provocation-against-poland-to-blame-russia-1115295832.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/north-koreas-kim-yo-jong-blasts-us-double-standard-for-hysteria-over-spy-satellite-1115313942.html

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Blasts US Double Standard for Hysteria Over Spy Satellite

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Blasts US Double Standard for Hysteria Over Spy Satellite

In a statement carried by state media on Thursday, Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, decried the hysteria over the DPRK's recent launch of a reconnaissance satellite.

2023-11-30T22:25+0000

2023-11-30T22:25+0000

2023-11-30T22:23+0000

asia

kim yo jong

pyongyang

north korea

satellite

double standards

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I deplore the fact that the UNSC [United Nations Security Council], at which the purpose and principle of the UN Charter have to be strictly respected, is being turned into a land of lawlessness where the sovereignty of independent states is wantonly violated, extreme double standards are imprudently applied and injustice and high-handed practices are rampant due to the US and some forces following it, and strongly denounce and reject it, she said.She criticized the claims by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative at the United Nations, who described the DPRKs right to space development as illegal and claimed the US was a victim after the North Korean satellite photographed several of its military and command sites, including the White House. She compared it to the US deploying of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers near Korea, denouncing it as provocative.North Korea launched the Malligyong-1 satellite last week aboard a Chollima-1 carrier rocket from the Sohae Satellite Space Launching Station on the countrys western coast. Ironically, the DPRKs rocket program was spurred in part by Ukraine, which once helped the country service its Soviet-built rockets.The DPRK had previously put two short-lived satellites into orbit, which were used for monitoring weather, but Malligyong-1 is its first reconnaissance satellite.Kim Song, Pyongyangs envoy to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council that only Washington and Seoul had a problem with the DPRK launching a satellite. He mocked claims from Washington that the DPRK had used the launch to further hone its missile capabilities, asking if the US puts satellites into orbit "with a catapult."The diplomat also noted the extreme pressure the US has put on the DPRK, between whom a technical state of war still exists, since the 1950-53 war only ended in a ceasefire instead of a permanent peace treaty."It is a legitimate right for the DPRK as another belligerent party to develop, test, manufacture and possess weapons systems equivalent to those that the United States possesses or is developing, he added.After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the US put extreme pressure on the DPRK, denying the country aid in the wake of a series of natural disasters in 1994 and 1995 that destroyed its food supply, triggering a famine that killed between 240,000 and 3.5 million people. However, the socialist state did not collapse, and the government continued to pursue nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology in the interest of self-defense, eventually testing a nuclear device in 2006 and an intercontinental ballistic missile in 2017.Pyongyang has said it needs such weapons for self-defense in the absence of a permanent peace treaty and the departure of US troops from the Korean peninsula, where 28,000 of them remain. Efforts to reach a deal on denuclearizing the Korean peninsula in 2018 and 2019 failed after the US refused to lower economic sanctions before verifiable denuclearization had happened, despite the DPRK having already demolished several of its nuclear sites. Relations have cooled considerably in the years since.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231128/north-koreas-spy-satellite-makes-pyongyang-full-fledged-member-of-space-club-1115270011.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230915/matter-of-honor-n-korea-will-never-bow-to-us-pressure-despite-huge-weapons-sales-to-the-south-1113403665.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/poisoning-of-ukrainian-military-intel-chiefs-wife-likely-staged-to-oust-zaluzhny---ex-cia-analyst-1115301721.html

Poisoning of Ukrainian Military Intel Chiefs Wife Likely 'Staged to Oust Zaluzhny' - Ex-CIA Analyst

Poisoning of Ukrainian Military Intel Chiefs Wife Likely 'Staged to Oust Zaluzhny' - Ex-CIA Analyst

The poisoning attack on the Ukrainian Military Intelligence chiefs wife is a true who done it, Larry Johnson, retired CIA intelligence officer, told Sputnik, adding there are plenty of people and organizations with motives.

2023-11-30T13:51+0000

2023-11-30T13:51+0000

2023-11-30T13:51+0000

ukraine

valery zaluzhny

yury budanov

russia

main intelligence directorate

analysis

nato

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The recent poisoning attack on the Ukrainian Military Intelligence chiefs wife, Marianna Budanova, is a true who done it, Larry Johnson, retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official, told Sputnik.He added that there are plenty of people and organizations with motives.Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate spokesman Andriy Yusov confirmed to reporters on November 28 that the 30-year-old wife of the Ukrainian military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, was in hospital undergoing treatment for poisoning and is now suffering mild symptoms. He did not elaborate on the timing or circumstances of the suspected poisoning attack.Ukrainian media cited sources as saying that Budanov himself was in good health. However, the plot appears to thicken as several Main Intelligence Directorate personnel have also ostensibly shown signs of poisoning. As regards the attack on the spy chief's wife, sources said Budanova may have had food laced with the toxic substances, which were described as not of the kind "used in any way in everyday life or military operations. Authorities have launched a criminal probe. The poisoned woman's husband, Kyrylo Budanov, has been the head of the Ukrainian militarys Main Intelligence Directorate since 2020. A Moscow court issued an arrest warrant against Budanov in April, citing his suspected involvement in the October 2022 terror attack on Russias Crimean Bridge. Budanov is notorious for his threatening statements in relation to the residents of Crimea and the Donbass. In an interview with US media in May, when asked about his agencys possible role in the car bombing killing of Russian journalist Daria Dugina, Budanov confided that weve been killing Russians andwill keep killing Russians anywhere on the face of this world until the complete victory of Ukraine. The same month, he told German media that his agencys list of targets includes Russias president.Alternatively, some point the finger at General Zaluzhys crew because Budanov is suspected of being behind the recent birthday grenade death of Zaluzhnys chief of staff, the pundit speculated.Gennady Chastyakov, assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Valery Zaluzhny, died in an incident while celebrating his 39th birthday on November 6. The death raised several questions: while Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny noted in his statement that an "unidentified explosive device went off in one of the gifts" presented to his assistant, the nation's Ministry of Internal Affairs insisted that Chastyakov himself pulled at the ring of a grenade, which had been given to him as a present.Military expert Alexey Borzenko told Sputnik earlier that the death of Zaluzhnys aide was the result of an obvious terrorist attack, and suspected that Budanov was behind it, judging by previous attacks on Russian officials and media figures using similar methods. Zaluzhnys command abilities were slammed by Budanov publicly in September.The suspected poisoning attack comes as despite efforts on the part of NATO allies to offer life support to Ukraine amid the ongoing proxy war with Russia, the current bleak reality is a failed counteroffensive by Kiev, huge manpower losses, political dysfunction, infighting, and corruption. Furthermore, there has been a scandal brewing between Ukraines civilian and military leadership after Armed Forces Commander in Chief Valery Zaluzhny admitted to British media earlier that Ukraines counteroffensive had reached a stalemate. Zaluzhnys comments did not go over well, and triggered a partial reshuffle of Ukraines military leadership by President Volodymyr Zelensky.The blame game underway about responsibility for the counteroffensives failure, the behind-the-scenes power struggle in Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny's open defiance of Volodymyr Zelensky's war plans, and the latter's refusal to hold elections next year have all fueled speculations that regime change might be in the wings.Accordingly, going back to the suspected poisoning attack on the Ukrainian military intel chiefs wife, there is also the "Russian Nesting Doll explanation, Johnson speculated. He suggested that the targeting of Marianna Budanova may have been staged to implicate Zaluzhny in order to add fuel to the movement to oust him.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231128/poisoning-attack-on-ukrainian-military-intel-chiefs-wife-what-we-know-so-far-1115261691.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/ukraines-colosseum-west-watching-zelensky-zaluzhny-fight-will-give-thumbs-up-to-most-malleable-1115289048.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231127/ukraines-blame-game-begins-who-is-responsible-for-kievs-looming-defeat-1115235705.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/russias-lavrov-addresses-osce-ministerial-council-meeting-1115298361.html

Russia's Lavrov Addresses OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting

Russia's Lavrov Addresses OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting

Sputnik is live as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participates in Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Skopje.

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Sputnik comes to you live with a broadcast featuring Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attending a Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Skopje.This is Lavrov's first visit to Europe since last February. The last time Russia's top diplomat attended an OSCE Ministerial meeting was two years ago, in December 2021 in Stockholm, Sweden.Earlier, Lavrov said that there were several requests for meetings on the sidelines of the OSCE Foreign Ministers' Council, including from Western representatives.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/russias-lavrov-arrives-in-north-macedonia-for-osce-foreign-ministers-meeting-1115296111.html

Russia's Lavrov Arrives in North Macedonia for OSCE Foreign Minister's Meeting

Russia's Lavrov Arrives in North Macedonia for OSCE Foreign Minister's Meeting

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in North Macedonias capital, Skopje, to participate in the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), scheduled to be held from Thursday-Friday, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Lavrov is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit along with participation in the OSCE multilateral meetings. At the same time, Zakharova said Moscow was recording attempts by some countries of the West to interfere with Russias normal participation in the council. It is Lavrov's first visit to Europe since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Lavrov did not participate in a meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council last December in the Polish city of Lodz when Poland, as a then-chairing country of the OSCE, did not allow Lavrov to take part in the meeting as Warsaw said it believed it was necessary to "absolutely isolate" Russia in the international arena amid its military operation in Ukraine. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday that it had granted permission for Lavrov's plane to fly over the Balkan country's airspace to North Macedonia for the meeting. However, the minister's plane had to fly over the airspace of Greece as Sofia refused the overflight since the initial approval did not apply to Zakharova, who was on board. On Tuesday, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis announced in a joint statement that they refused to take part in the OSCE ministerial meeting. The three top diplomats said Lavrov's participation would "only provide Russia with yet another propaganda opportunity." Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko also announced that the country's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would skip the meeting over the decision to allow the Russian delegation to attend.The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the agenda of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been almost completely "Ukrainized" and that the key topic of the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, will be the crisis in the organization."The key topic of the upcoming Ministerial Council will be the crisis situation in the OSCE. We look forward to the opportunity to discuss the problems that have accumulated in the organization," the foreign ministry said on the website.The ministry said that "the current deep crisis of the OSCE has become a result of the destructive actions of a number of Western countries, using the organization in their own interests and neglecting the fundamental principles of its work." The ministry also said that "since 2022, the OSCE agenda has been almost completely 'Ukrainized,'" adding that "the practice of replacing consensus annual events with uncoordinated ersatz formats" has been widely used in the organization's work.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231104/russia-receives-invitation-to-osce-foreign-ministerial-council-plans-to-partake---moscow-1114710065.html

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The United States arrested and charged an Indian national over an assassination plot on a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York City.

On Wednesday, prosecutors announced the charges against an individual who they believe was part of the murder conspiracy. American officials first became aware of the plot last spring. They involved Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government.

Assassination Plot on Sikh Separatist Leader

The US Drug Enforcement Administration later interceded and set up a sting, having an undercover agent posing as a hitman. This came after the conspirators were said to have recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to murder the activist in exchange for $100,000.

While the Indian government official who directed the assassination plot was not charged or identified by name in an indictment, he was described as a "senior field officer." He was said to have responsibilities in "security management" and "intelligence" and previously served in India's Central Reserve Police Force, as per the Associated Press.

The recently filed charges were aimed at a different person, 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, a citizen of India. He was accused of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire as the charges carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

In a news release, US Attorney Damian Williams, the chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said that the defendant conspired from India to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin. He added that American authorities will not tolerate efforts to kill US citizens on American soil.

The charges against the Indian national were the second central recent accusation of complicity of Indian government officials in attempts to kill Sikh separatist figures living in North America. It comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September said that there were credible allegations that India had links to the assassination of a Sikh activist in his country.

Read Also: Finland Closes Eastern Border With Russia, Blames Moscow for Sudden Migrant Influx

Indian National Arrested and Charged

The victim was identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was killed in British Columbia. American intelligence agencies provided information to the Canadian government regarding the killing. On the other hand, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had offered no information about its progress on the case, according to the New York Times.

Furthermore, American officials have expressed concerns to the Indian government about the planned assassination days before the charges against Gupta were revealed. It was not immediately clear who would represent the suspect in the case.

The target of the assassination plot, Pannun, is an outspoken proponent of independence for the northern Indian state of Punjab. The region is home to a large number of Sikhs, who are considered to be a powerful minority group in the South Asian country.

In a statement, Pannun said that the attempt on his life represents a "threat to freedom of speech and democracy." This particular case, along with the killing of Nijjar in Canada, complicates relations between the United States and India on international issues, said CNN.

Related Article: France: Yoga Guru Arrested for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of Female Followers

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/syria-launches-initiative-to-establish-global-tribunal-for-chemical-weapons-1115310421.html

Syria Launches Initiative to Establish Global Tribunal for Chemical Weapons

Syria Launches Initiative to Establish Global Tribunal for Chemical Weapons

November 30 marks a day globally dedicated to remembering victims of chemical weapons. The Syrian Arab Republic has put forward an initiative to tackle the long-standing justice gap in international law by establishing a specialized global tribunal to address these atrocities.

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Diplomats from at least 44 countries on all continents took part in discussions on the initiative.Although the usage of chemical weapons was banned by the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention and the Geneva Conventions, they have been reportedly used a number of times with few perpetrators brought to justice. The proposed tribunal, developed over two years by Syrian rights groups, legal experts and others, aims to prosecute the use of banned toxic agents globally. The new court is intended to fill a critical gap, focusing specifically on chemical weapons atrocities.The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), has often been accused of biased approach in investigations. The organization has been prone to accuse the Syrian government, while neglecting atrocities committed by the Kiev regime or provocations of jihadists fighting against Damascus.Despite the fact that the OPCW confirmed Syria disposed of its chemical weapons in 2016, the organization has claimed it was the Syrian military who used chemical weapons in the April 2018 Douma chemical incident. Such inconsistencies have been plaguing the OPCW, raising questions regarding its credibility.The necessity of a dedicated tribunal is further underscored by the limited number of investigations relating to chemical attacks in Syria. The International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) has been inefficient in conducting investigations into chemical attacks in Syria. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, head of the IIIM, emphasized the lack of justice opportunities for victims of these attacks and expressed readiness to collaborate with the proposed court.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/vanessa-beeley-opcw-turned-into-accessory-to-wests-war-crimes-1109955085.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20200208/douma-incident-why-whistleblowers-accounts-hold-more-credibility-than-bald-assertions-by-opcw-1078261607.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/terrorist-attack-in-jerusalem-at-least-6-people-injured---israeli-media-1115297910.html

Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem, At Least 7 People Injured - Israeli Media

Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem, At Least 7 People Injured - Israeli Media

The terrorist attack in Jerusalem came amid escalation in the Middle East after Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack on Israel and the IDF... 30.11.2023, Sputnik International

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At least seven people were injured in a shooting in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported. The shooting took place at a bus stop near the entrance to Jerusalem.A 24-year-old woman was killed and at least five people were injured as a result of a shooting attack near the entrance to Jerusalem, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.Earlier in the day, media reported that seven people were injured and a 16-yera-old girl was killed.The number of people killed in the terrorist attack increased to three, the Magen David Adom ambulance service reports. According to Israeli media, a 73-year-old man has died. Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli has identified the man killed in the attack as Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman. Rabbi Wasserman served as a rabbinical judge in Israel's rabbinical courts."Two suspects have been neutralized at the scene. A large police force is being sent to the scene," local media reported, citing a police statement.According to police, two terrorists arrived at the Givat Shaul junction near the entrance to Jerusalem on Thursday morning and began shooting at civilians at a nearby bus stop before being shot and killed by security forces and a civilian at the scene.According to witnesses, people were running in different directions, trying to get away from the scene.According to doctors quoted by local media, the attackers were armed with an M16 rifle.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/israels-gaza-offensive-ends-in-political-and-military-defeat--scott-ritter-1115278076.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/ukraine-loses-up-to-270-soldiers-in-donetsk-direction-in-past-day-1115301862.html

Ukraine Loses Up to 270 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day

Ukraine Loses Up to 270 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day

Ukraine has lost up to 270 soldiers in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

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Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repelled two attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction, another two in the Kupyansk direction and one in the Krasny Liman direction, the ministry reported. Kiev has also lost 100 soldiers in the South Donetsk direction, up to 250 soldiers in the Krasny Liman direction and up to 45 soldiers in the Kupyansk direction.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/us-stifles-ukraines-nato-fantasy-1115293286.html

US Stifles Ukraine's NATO Fantasy

US Stifles Ukraine's NATO Fantasy

On todays episode of The Backstory, Host Rachel Blevins looked at conflicts in Israel and Ukraine and the latest moves by first son Hunter Biden, as the impeachment inquiry into his father heats up.

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U.S. Stifles Ukraine's NATO Fantasy On todays episode of The Backstory, Host Rachel Blevins looked at conflicts in Israel and Ukraine and the latest moves by first son Hunter Biden, as the impeachment inquiry into his father heats up.

In the first segment, Rachel interviewed Attorney and Political Analyst, Tyler Nixon, about Hunter Biden's pushing to testify publicly before the House about the foreign business deals he was involved in while his father was Vice President. According to Nixon, this move is likely a PR stunt by Biden and his team to make Republicans look like they are trying to hide things from the public eye. But Nixon suggested that the first son could end up hurting himself if he were to testify publicly. On the topic of Donald Trump's legal troubles in Georgia, Nixon said he believes the Fulton County prosecutors who are opposing plea deals for the former president and at least two of his associates are guilty of partisan political gamesmanship, leading to a miscarriage of justice.Next, Rachel talked with filmmaker Igor Lopatonok, the mastermind behind "Ukraine On Fire" and Revealing Ukraine. He argued that the use of military aid and Washington-based decision-makers to influence Ukrainian affairs is incredibly dangerous. Lopatonok called out war mongers such as former National Security Advisor John Bolton and former Vice President Dick Cheney, claiming they've benefited themselves and the military industrial complex with their influence on US foreign policy.In todays third segment, Rachel discussed the soaring migrant crisis with Robert Law, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Policy for the Center for Immigration Studies. He highlighted the ways in which President Biden's failed border strategy has turned every state into a "border state," and argued that providing work permits only rewards lawbreakers and sends a signal to would-be migrants to come illegally. Law noted that so-called sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago now have "buyer's remorse," as their residents are forced to pay the price for their policies.Finally, Rachel talked to Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro, an author and host of Committing High Reason, about the latest news from Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to save his career by arguing that he is the only one who can prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. Rabbi Shapiro noted that the Israeli leader is willing to say anything to try to gain support, and the average Israeli wants to live peacefully. While the US House of Representatives recently passed a resolution conflating Antisemitism with anti-Zionisim, Congressman Thomas Massie was the only one to vote against it. Rabbi Shapiro called Massie brave, and said that as a Jew, he is grateful to the congressman for speaking up.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/watch-russian-troops-deploy-linguists-to-encourage-ukrainian-soldiers-to-surrender-1115307393.html

Watch Russian Troops Deploy 'Linguists' to Encourage Ukrainian Soldiers to Surrender

Watch Russian Troops Deploy 'Linguists' to Encourage Ukrainian Soldiers to Surrender

Russian forces have deployed a unique acoustic system named the Yazykoved (lit. "Linguist"), a device mounted on a Tigr vehicle equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast messages in Ukrainian and Russian, urging Ukrainian soldiers  who are often conscripted into the military against their will  not to die for NATOs interests.

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The Russian Defense Ministry has published footage of Yazykoved special acoustic systems traversing the Kherson front area, urging Ukrainian servicemen to stop their suicidal attacks and save their lives by surrendering.The Ukrainian counteroffensive, initiated in early June, has completely failed. The Kiev regime's forces have been suffering heavy losses, with over 90,000 servicemen killed and wounded since the beginning of their counteroffensive attempt. This situation has led to a steep rise in desertions within the Ukrainian ranks. Furthermore, there's increasing evidence of Ukrainian soldiers defecting to Russia, demoralized by the relentless pressure and the effectiveness of Russian tactics.

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Watch Russian Troops Deploy 'Linguists' to Encourage Ukrainian Soldiers to Surrender Watch Russian Troops Deploy 'Linguists' to Encourage Ukrainian Soldiers to Surrender 2023-11-30T15:49+0000 true PT3M14S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/watch-russian-troops-wipe-out-german-made-leopard-1a5-in-special-op-zone-1115302272.html

Watch Russian Troops Wipe Out German-Made Leopard 1A5 in Special Op Zone

Watch Russian Troops Wipe Out German-Made Leopard 1A5 in Special Op Zone

Russian troops have successfully destroyed tank sent to Ukraine from Europe, as Kiev has been heavily reliant on military and financial aid from Western countries.

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Russia's Defense Ministry has published footage of a Russian anti-tank missile detachment eliminating a Leopard 1A5 tank in difficult weather and rough terrain.Despite substantial support, Ukrainian forces have faced decisive failures, as Russian troops continue to demonstrate their ability to destroy not only Ukrainian-made military equipment, but also that supplied by NATO countries. The destruction of the Leopard 1A5 is a prime example of Russia's ability to counter Western-supplied arms effectively. Such incidents have raised concerns among NATO countries, which are beginning to question the efficacy of continuing to supply Ukraine with more weapons. The pattern of Russian forces neutralizing these efforts has been increasingly evident, suggesting that no amount of Western weapons is sufficient to overcome the Russian military.

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Russian Troops Destroy German-made Leopard 1A5 in Special Op Zone Russian Troops Destroy German-made Leopard 1A5 in Special Op Zone 2023-11-30T13:19+0000 true PT1M00S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20231130/will-israel-defense-forces-resume-gaza-war-when-humanitarian-pause-ends-1115308310.html

Will Israel Defense Forces Resume Gaza War When Humanitarian Pause Ends?

Will Israel Defense Forces Resume Gaza War When Humanitarian Pause Ends?

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the extension of the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for the seventh day on Thursday. What will happen next?

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Ten Israeli hostages are reportedly set to be released on Thursday, as per a Hamas source quoted by AFP. The humanitarian pause took effect on November 24, envisaging the return of hostages by the Islamist group and the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The initial four-day pause has repeatedly been extended, and yet it is unclear how the situation will evolve when the temporary truce ends.Last Sunday, US President Joe Biden reportedly expressed concern about the potential continuation of the IDF ground operation in southern Gaza in a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, per Axios. Following Israel's evacuation of Gazans from the north, around two million Palestinians have concentrated in the southern part of the strip.Biden and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin are said to have warned Tel Aviv against waging the war in the south with the same intensity and scope as the IDF earlier demonstrated in the north. Per Gazas Health Ministry, 14,800 Palestinians, including 6,000 children, have been killed in the strip since the start of Israel's retaliation operation.Meanwhile, on Thursday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded the recent extension of the humanitarian pause: "The pause in fighting has demonstrated success in securing the freedom of hostages and in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza  we want to see it continue," he said.Tsipis suggested that apart from external pressure on Israel from the United States, the European Union, and other states, including Turkiye, there are other obstacles in the way of the operation's resumption.A military operation in the southern part of Gaza is "really risky, dangerous, and complicated because more than two-thirds of the Palestinians in Gaza now are located in this part," echoed Ayman Yousef, professor in political sciences and international relations at the Arab-American University in Palestine.Per the academic, if the number of Palestinian civilian casualties multiplies, the conflict may go out of control and spill over into "the West Bank and even Lebanon, the Golan Heights and Syria, and some other countries."Potential Consequences of South Gaza OpYousef suggested that Israel cannot uproot Hamas and that the fight would only bring more destruction and suffering until the international community steps in and enforces a cessation of hostilities. "Gaza has become a kind of hell on earth. It is not suitable for human living anymore," he said.Tsipis presumed that a continuation of the operation in the Gaza Strip would be costly for Tel Aviv, not in an economic, but in a diplomatic sense: "A large number of civilian casualties will bring down Israel's reputation on the world stage," he believes. "And a large number of anti-Israeli sanctions and anti-Israel UN resolutions will be applied."Israeli Civil and Military Officials Signal Readiness to Resume WarMeanwhile, the Israeli media is continuing to beat war drums: per the Jewish press, the IDF is using the humanitarian pause to enhance its readiness and develop future operational plans.Thus, on Monday, the IDF Southern Command carried out an operational forum focused on the Gaza wars lessons, according to JNS. The gathering was convened by the commanding officer of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman. Israeli military officials, named by the Israeli press as "key to prosecuting the next stages of the war," also participated in the forum.Furthermore, on Wednesday, PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Alternate PM Benny Gantz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi signaled readiness to immediately continue the operation once the humanitarian pause is over.On the same day, Israels envoy to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, subjected UN Security Council meeting participants to criticism for calling for an immediate and protracted ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. "Every call for a ceasefire means Hamas gets to live to see another day, terrorizing Israelis and impoverishing Gazans," said Erdan, referring to Hamas' staunch anti-Israeli stance and non-recognition of the Jewish state.1982 Beirut-Style Way OutMeanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported in November that some Israeli and American officials are discussing the idea of removing thousands of lower-level militants from the strip in order to wrap up the war. Per the publication, the idea evokes memories of the US-brokered deal that allowed the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters to leave Beirut during Israel's siege of the city.The US media outlet quoted one of the proposals put forward by an Israeli military think tank. It envisions the creation of "Hamas-free security zones" after the possible expulsion of the Palestinian group from the strip. According to the plan, these zones would be administered by the new Gaza authorities with the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Still, so far the plan has faced opposition from the United States, which favors the participation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in a post-war government in the Gaza Strip.The publication remarked that Israel, the United States, and Arab countries have yet to reach a compromise on who should govern the enclave in the future.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/number-of-people-living-in-shelters-across-gaza-strip-reaches-13mln---who-1115277401.html

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Two-time Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series champion Misty Coast began her quest for a First State hat trick with a commanding 1:53.1 win in her $20,000 first-round preliminary event for three-year-old pacing fillies on Wednesday (Nov. 29) at Bally's Dover.

Art Stafford Jr. kept the Powerful Mist-Cruisinthecoast filly reserved in fourth as Hold My Wine (Montrell Teague) worked to clear 66-1 outsider She Is Risen (Corey Callahan) for the lead just past a :27.3 first quarter. Misty Coast began her ascent out of midfield with nine-sixteenths to go, advancing uncovered as Hold My Wine controlled a :57.2 half and forging to the lead with three-eighths to go. Midway up the backstretch, Misty Coast sped clear of Hold My Wine and she immediately gained two lengths of clearance at three-quarters in 1:25.1 before using a :28 final split to equal her lifetime mark and defeat Hold My Wine by 2-3/4 lengths. She Is Risen finished third, 8-3/4 lengths farther behind.

Les Givens trains the Stephen Messick homebred, who now has won 13 times and earned $232,550 in her career. She paid $2.10 to win.

In the second division, Stafford and Chatty Kathleen ($26.60) mounted a grandstand-side rally to finish just short of 8-5 favourite Lulu Miss but was ultimately elevated to first after being deprived of her lane in deep stretch.

Lulu Mist (Trae Porter) launched her first-over attack from third as early pacesetter Spoiled Rotn Girl (Allan Davis) rated a :59 first half and dueled into the lead past three-quarters in 1:27.4. Meanwhile, Chatty Kathleen stalked the top flight from third-over before Stafford angled her three-wide into the final turn. Lulu Mist drew two lengths clear just inside the eighth pole and had ample pace to evade Chatty Kathleen's late charge by a head in 1:57.2, but she drifted into her rival's path and was disqualified to second. No Gel Nikki (Pat Berry), who rode the pocket throughout the mile, finished third, 2-1/2 lengths behind.

Dorothy Ann Conner owns and trains Chatty Kathleen, a Roddys Bags Again-Chatty Kathy filly who has won three times and earned $63,117 in her career.

Incaseyoudidntknow Takes Distaff Open

Incaseyoudidntknow grinded up first-over to win the $26,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace at Dover on Wednesday for her fourth consecutive victory.

Sparks were flying early as Tae, My Little Captain and Southwind Icenfire all raced for early position. Incaseyoudidntknow was able to drop into fourth approaching the quarter. Favoured My Little Captain was used hard and parked to the quarter in :27 before continuing to race on the engine, leading the field to the half in :55.3. Incaseyoudidntknow moved first-over down the backstretch and drew alongside the pacesetter as they reached the three-quarters in 1:23.4. In deep stretch, Incaseyoudidntknow powered on to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. My Little Captain was second and Disturbed Hanover was third.

Incaseyoudidntknow (Always B Miki-In Deep Thought) is trained by Les Givens and owned by James Magno and Joseph Fonte. Givens drove the winner. She returned $6 to win.

Sophomore male pacers will square off in a pair of $20,000 first-round DSBF series divisions to begin Thursday's (Nov. 30) 15-race card at Bally's Dover. First post is 4:30 p.m. (EST).

(With files from Dover Downs and Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)
Lous Pearlman, the 2021 Little Brown Jug champion, has been retired from racing and will stand stud in 2024.

The ownership group of Lous Pearlman p,3,1:47.4 ($1,263,185) has announced that their horse has been retired and will stand in Ohio at Hickory Lane Horse Farm beginning with the 2024 breeding season.

North Americas fastest two and three-year-old pacing colt of his respective freshman and sophomore seasons, Lous Pearlman retired as the second richest, and third fastest, stallion sired by Sweet Lou.

In 2020 at age two, Lous Pearlman started his career with a four-race winning streak, along with a 1:49.1 victory in a $119,100 Bluegrass Stakes division at Lexingtons Red Mile.

The following season, Lous Pearlman captured eight races, including an elimination heat and the final of the $661,800 Little Brown Jug, the $253,000 final of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and the $100,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial Consolation. He earned $593,519 during his 2021 sophomore campaign, defeating such top horses as Perfect Sting, Charlie May, Hellabalou and Southwind Gendry.

Lous Pearlman is a great horse from my favourite maternal family," leading trainer Ron Burke stated about his homebred champion. "His ultra-game Jug victory is one of my most enjoyable wins ever.

Royally-bred, Lous Pearlman is from the same maternal family as world champion and top sire Western Ideal p,2,1:54.3f; 1:48 ($1,455,422), and his full sister, My Girl EJ p,2,1:49.1-'23 ($715,835) won the 2023 Breeders Crown for two-year-old pacing fillies.

Handy on all sized tracks, Lous Pearlman took a 1:52.4 half-mile track record in his Jug victory on a track labelled good, and scored in 1:48.4 on Poconos five-eighths mile track.

This year at five, he earned $347,013, highlighted by a second-place finish behind stablemate Bythemissal in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace, defeating the likes of Tattoo Artist, Allywag Hanover and Abuckabett Hanover. He was also stakes placed in the $185,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and a $128,750 division of the Sam McKee Memorial.

Co-owner and breeder Mark Weaver is excited about the next phase of his horses career.

I'm thrilled that Lous Pearlman landed in Ohio," said Weaver. "With his speed and ability to cross with most mares, he is a great option for the best stakes program going.

Of course, this son of Sweet Lou heading to the breeding shed in the "Year of the Lou" may be no coincidence.

We are grateful to the ownership of Lous Pearlman for entrusting Hickory Lane with their Little Brown Jug-winning son of Sweet Lou, noted Kevin Greenfield, president of Hickory Lane Horse Farm. He is sure to be very popular with breeders throughout North America and has already been well-received in Ohio.

Lous Pearlman will stand for an introductory fee of $5,000. For more information regarding shares and breedings to Lous Pearlman, contact either R. Kevin Greenfield at 419-346-0609 or [email protected]; or Ashley Stickel, office manager, Hickory Lane Farm, at 419-422-3004 or [email protected].

(With files from Hickory Lane Farm)
Progress Pace winner Why Not Now topped the half-million dollar mark selling in an online auction on Thursday, Nov. 30.

Why Not Now p,3,1:48.2f-'23 ($706,880) sold for $502,000 to Greg Luther of Ohio via onGait.com.

A son of Always A Virgin-Star Of The Show racing for the partnership of Howard Taylor, trainer Dylan Davis and Jeffrey Billings, Why Not Now recently capped off a brilliant three-year-old campaign with a scorching 1:48.2 victory over Moment Is Here, El Rey and Cannibal in the $260,000 Progress Pace at Dover Downs -- his ninth win in 18 seasonal starts.

The Indiana Sire Stakes champion, who earned the bulk of his $706,880 bankroll this year, also won the Jennas Beach Boy and Hoosier Cup in addition to placing in the Pegasus and Monument Circle, all at Hoosier Park.

(With files from onGait.com)
Officials from the United Kingdom and Rwanda remain committed to their controversial deportation deal as support from Kigali cools due to delays.

The situation comes as Westminster has already paid the Rwandan government more than $170 million. However, nobody has been sent to the East African country just yet, as the first flight was initially scheduled for June 2022 but was canceled following legal challenges.

Controversial UK-Rwanda Deal

The policy was ruled unlawful earlier this month by the UK Supreme Court, which said that there was a risk that asylum seekers could be returned to their home country. This would be in breach of UK and international human rights laws. However, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted that the policy would continue.

The Foreign Office is believed to have been told by senior diplomats that Rwanda's commitment to the deal was at risk due to continuous flight delays. However, a government source said, "Negotiating a treaty involves finding mutually beneficial areas and working within agreed anticipated and understood parameters," as per The Guardian.

They added that while speculation exists about various points that suggest problems, the truth is that discussions are continuing with a partner country that is keen to work with them. The source noted that none of the speculation caused that position to change and that both parties are still interested in getting the process right and finalizing it as soon as possible for their benefit.

Whitehall sources also noted that they knew that Rwandan authorities were happy to move forward with negotiations. However, they are concerned that Rwanda President Paul Kagame's government has been "rubbished" by the ruling of the UK Supreme Court.

It is believed that Rwandan officials are exhausted from hearing that removing Rwandans from decision-making is the only way to make things fair and professional. The spokesperson for the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo, said that their country is a safe and welcoming nation for asylum seekers and migrants.

Read Also: Boris Johnson Joins London March Against Antisemitism

Sending Asylum Seekers to Rwanda

The situation comes after the Supreme Court issued a unanimous judgment that agreed with the Court Of Appeal. This is because there are substantial grounds for believing that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda could face ill-treatment, known as refoulement, according to Human Rights Watch.

The high court's decision vindicates what many have already said, which is that the deal is cruel and unlawful. The Supreme Court drew attention to Rwanda's poor human rights record, including various threats to Rwandans living in the UK.

There are also extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances, torture, and restrictions on media and political freedoms to worry about. When the UK-Rwanda agreement was announced last year, Human Rights Watch wrote to the UK Home Secretary. It expressed that the East African nation could not be considered a safe third country given ongoing human rights violations.

The UK's plan would involve sending more than 24,000 refugees to Rwanda. The Supreme Court's ruling on the deal greatly affected Sunak's much-touted migration policy. It could also fracture the ruling Conservative party ahead of the general election next year, said Aljazeera.

Related Article: Rishi Sunak Faces Criticism for Canceling Meeting with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Pre-Legislative Luncheon on Dec. 14.

This year, the luncheon, hosted by the Government Affairs Committee, will feature Senator Brian Hardin.

During the event, Hardin will present an overview of what has been accomplished this past year and what to expect for the next legislative session.

The luncheon will be held 11:30 a.m.  1 p.m. at the Scotts Bluff Country Club. The cost to attend is $20, chamber members, and $25 non-chamber members.

Deadline to register is Thursday, Dec.7.

RSVP to 308-632-2133 or email office@scottsbluffgering.net.
The Seward County Sheriff's Office responded to a two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon that left one person dead.

The crash happened around 3:50 p.m. on 238th Road, just north of the exit 382 interchange on Interstate 80 near Milford. It involved a 2014 Toyota Sienna and a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, according to a news release from the Seward County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators on scene determined the Sienna was traveling west on the exit 382 off-ramp when it failed to yield for oncoming traffic and crashed into the Silverado, which was traveling south on 238th Road, the news release said.

Donald Amiot, who was a passenger in the Sienna, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

The driver of the Sienna was transported to Bryan West Campus with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Silverado was treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to the sheriff's office.

The Nebraska State Patrol and the Seward County Sheriff's Office are still investigating the crash.
There are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. Caregiving is universal.

This famous quote from Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States, remains as powerful and relevant today as it did 36 years ago when she founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. It rings especially true this month as we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month  a special time to recognize and honor caregivers across the country.

This year, the theme for caregivers month is Caregiver Connect. It highlights how important it is for caregivers to build strong connections to access information, share experiences, and find support, said Judy Porter, oncology social worker and navigator at Iredell Health System.

Caregivers are the unsung heroes of health care, serving as the backbone of support for loved ones facing illness, disability, or other challenging circumstances. While caregiving can be rewarding, many caregivers experience emotional, physical, and financial tolls as they balance caring for a loved one with all of their other personal responsibilities. Being a caregiver is one of the most important jobs a person may have, but it can also be one of the most difficult.

Below, Porter and Jackie Negley, family caregiver specialist at Iredell Council on Aging, speak on the importance of family caregivers, shedding light on their invaluable role in maintaining the wellbeing of those they care for.

About caregivers

A caregiver is a person who assists another person with any need, which can be short term or long term. The term family caregiver describes an individual who provides care for a family member as well as a neighbor, close friend, or member of their church. A caregiver can provide assistance with everything from getting their mail to providing hands-on care with personal care needs, said Negley.

There are nearly 53 million caregivers in the United States, and that number is growing. Anyone can be a caregiver  a son, a daughter, a friend, a distant relative, or even a neighbor. Most caregivers are unpaid family members.

A caregivers role can take on various degrees of care. For example, a caregiver to someone in the beginning stages of dementia may provide medication reminders, meal preparation, shopping, errands, or light housekeeping. As the disease progresses, needs may increase to bathing, dressing, addressing incontinence issues, managing finances, managing of all medical appointments and needs, and financial decision making, said Porter.

Some caregivers provide a few hours of care per week, whereas others may provide 24/7 care.

A common misconception, many caregivers do not actually have any sort of special training. In many cases, caregivers come into their new role unprepared.

Most caregivers learn from trial and error. As the needs increase, they gather information to address the current need from other family, friends, neighbors, health care providers, and community resources, said Porter.

Caregivers need care too

Caring for an aging or disabled friend or relative can be very rewarding, but it can also be very tiring and stressful. Being a caregiver carries a high risk for burnout, and its important to find support from others and remember to also care for yourself.

In fact, according to a study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving, 23% of Americans say caregiving has made their own health worse. This percentage is up from 17% in 2015.

Being a caregiver can take a toll on your well-being. As a caregiver, you may alter your daily routine by adding increased responsibilities, time away from other family commitments, decreased socialization with others, decreased involvement with formally enjoyed activities, hobbies, said Porter. While some caregivers experience positive psychological effects such as personal growth, competency or mastery, increased self-worth, and closer relationships, others may experience negative psychological effects. The negative effects could be evident in anger, bitterness, anxiety, depression, isolation, self-neglect, and medical decline.

In addition to caring for others, more than 60% of caregivers have another full-time job. So, its important to seek support and take care of your own physical and mental health as well. When you feel better, you can provide better care to your loved one.

There is assistance as well as support for caregivers available in Iredell County. The Council on Aging provides assistance through support groups, training programs specifically for caregivers, as well as respite and some assistance with items such as incontinence supplies, lifeline systems, and medical equipment, said Negley.

Below is a list of free support groups from Iredell Health System and the Iredell Council on Aging.

Iredell Health System and Council on Aging Caregiver Support Group  third Wednesday of each month from 2-3 p.m. at the Statesville YMCA (828 Wesley Drive).

Council on Aging Caregiver Support Group  second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at the South Iredell Senior Center, 215 N. Main St., Mooresville.

Council on Aging Alzheimers Support Group  second Wednesday of each month from 10-11 a.m. at the Iredell Senior Center, 344 E. Front St., in Statesville.

Council on Aging Mens Caregiver Support Group  third Tuesday of each month from 9-10 a.m. at the Iredell Senior Center in Statesville.
A Smyth County traffic crash claimed the life of a 42-year-old Michigan woman last week.

The wreck occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 21, on Interstate 81 at the 39-mile marker. At 6:10 p.m., a tractor-trailer traveling south on I-81 ran off the left side of the interstate, according to the Virginia State Police. The tractor-trailer continued into the median, struck the guardrail and overturned. A portion of the overturned truck was in the left, southbound travel lane.

The driver of the tractor-trailer, Nichole J. Smith, 42, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was wearing a seat belt but was ejected from the vehicle, said a VSP news release. She came to rest in the median.

A minute later, the VSP said, a second tractor-trailer traveling south on I-81 encountered the overturned tractor-trailer in its travel lane and was unable to avoid striking it. The crashs impact caused the second tractor-trailer to run off the left side of I-81 and into the median, where it struck Smith.

Smith died at the scene.

The driver of the second tractor-trailer, a 64-year-old California man, was not injured in the crash. He was wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation. Rain fell heavily across the region Tuesday evening.
Two people wanted on murder charges out of Mississippi were taken into custody in the Sugar Grove area Thursday morning.

In a news release, Smyth County Sheriff Chip Shuler said deputies assigned to the United States Marshals Services Capital Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted Marshals in locating and arresting Jeffrey Dean Spence and Karen Elizabeth Spence.

Jeffrey Spence and Karen Spence were wanted on murder charges in the killing of 36-year-old Kirby Carpenter, a businessman from Tippah County, Mississippi. According to area news reports, Carpenter was found shot to death in his front yard on Nov. 30, 2022  exactly one year prior to the suspects arrests.

Capt. Bill Eller said the pair had been staying in Sugar Grove and had previously lived in Saltville. The release notes that the investigation into their whereabouts was a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies spanning the East Coast. . . 

Jeffrey Spence and Karen Spence are being held at the regional jail in Abingdon, where they will await court proceedings to send them to Mississippi to stand trial.
A resident of Jdeidet Artouz told Athr that beggar children in the area display "peculiar facial expressions".

In various areas of Damascus countryside, there is a concerning trend of sedative and sleeping drug usage among children and adolescents. Many youngsters are allocating their daily allowances to purchase these pills, often acquiring prescriptions from lenient doctors.

A woman residing in the Kiswah area expressed her distress to Athr about the escalating cases of child abuse involving drugs and hashish, particularly among beggars and school dropouts. She recounted witnessing two ten-year-old children sharing a cigarette while exhibiting signs of poor health.

A resident of Jdeidet Artouz in Damascus countryside shared with Athr that beggar children in the area display peculiar facial expressions, striking appearances, and abnormal physical signs.

Aya, a pharmacist from Jaramana, disclosed that there has been a recent surge in the demand for medical drugs containing narcotic substances, notably among children and adolescents. She highlighted that a significant portion of patients possess prescriptions from doctors to obtain these drugs.

Adding to the concern, Majd, a pharmacist in Jaramana, reported instances of 18-year-old girls seeking sedative and sleeping drugs with narcotic substances at the pharmacy. Majd emphasized the practice of refraining from dispensing such medicines without a valid prescription.

An old phenomenon

Pediatrician Dr. Ali Nofal informed Athr Press that while childrens misuse of prohibited pills is not a new issue, the prevalence of this phenomenon remains relatively limited. He emphasized that addressing this concern is closely tied to the initial awareness parents have regarding their children, their approach in dealing with them, and their ability to contain them. Dr. Nofal highlighted, The treatment of the child is contingent on several factors, with the most crucial being the quantity of narcotic pills ingested. The duration of treatment is determined based on the optimal timeframe for the drug to exit the childs body, achieved through a combination of healthy food, physical activity, and strict avoidance of forbidden pills.

In accordance with Syrian law, individuals who supply narcotic substances for unauthorized use or facilitate their use without lawful authorization are subject to punishment. The penalties include temporary detention for no less than 10 years and a fine ranging from 500,000 to 2 million Syrian pounds.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Prime Minister Hossein Arnous and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Reza Farzin, recently convened to discuss the utilization of local currencies in trade exchanges between Syria and Iran.

Prime Minister Hossein Arnous and the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Mohammad Reza Farzin, recently convened to discuss the utilization of local currencies in trade exchanges between Syria and Iran. The primary objective of the meeting was to establish direct communication channels between the central banks of Syria and Iran, seeking alternatives to payment systems affected by US and Western sanctions, as reported by the pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan.

During the discussion, Governor Farzin emphasized Irans keen interest in enhancing cooperation with the Syrian regime in the financial and banking sectors. He highlighted preliminary understandings with the Central Bank of Syria to activate banking cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.

Fahd Darwish, the head of the Iranian-Syrian Joint Chamber of Commerce, disclosed in July that Iranian investments in Syria, even in the smallest factory, range from $250 to $300 million, contingent on the plants size and economic status. Plans were unveiled for cultural and religious tourism investments across various governorates, with the anticipation of substantial commercial activity. Darwish noted that the first contract for religious tourism was expected to bring in 50,000 tourists.

Looking ahead, Darwish emphasized the necessity of establishing a joint bank between the two countries to facilitate upcoming commercial and tourism transactions, addressing obstacles that hinder fund transfers. He mentioned that the bank is currently in the process of construction and establishment.

In early 2023, a delegation from the Iranian-Syrian Friendship Organization concluded several agreements aimed at expanding Irans influence in the Syrian economy, particularly in the telecommunications, energy, and industrial sectors.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Jordan declared the successful prevention of a smuggling attempt involving 565,000 Captagon pills originating from Syria through the Naseeb border crossing, according to Nedaa Post.

Jordan declared the successful prevention of a smuggling attempt involving 565,000 Captagon pills originating from Syria through the Naseeb border crossing.

According to the spokesperson for the Jordanian Customs Department, customs personnel stationed at the Jaber border customs post, in collaboration with security services, thwarted the smuggling operation. The intervention was prompted by intelligence information, leading to a targeted and thorough search of a truck. The illicit cargo was discovered skillfully concealed within the trucks floor in a specially prepared compartment.

The spokesperson emphasized that the confiscated pills were handed over to competent security agencies for the necessary legal actions. He highlighted the continuous efforts of Jordanian customs personnel, working in tandem with national security agencies, to safeguard the national economy and citizens against various forms of smuggling, particularly drugs.

Additionally, he urged the public to promptly report any information or anomalies to security authorities that could potentially harm the national economy and citizens health.

Since the Syrian regime gained control of the Daraa governorate in mid-2018, Jordan has consistently encountered attempts to smuggle drugs through various means, including the use of drones.

On the second of this month, the Jordanian army reported the interception of a drone carrying a quantity of drugs after crossing the border with Syria.

In response to the escalating threat of Captagon smuggling, Jordan has recently requested the United States to deploy the Patriot system on its northern border with Syria.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Despite Iran's consistent denials, the majority of attacks targeting U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group aligned with Teheran.

On Tuesday, Iran reiterated its rejection of any involvement in the attacks on US bases in Syria since last October. Amir Saeed Irwani, Irans permanent representative to the United Nations, emphasized during a Security Council meeting that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never initiated any action or attack against US military forces in Syria or elsewhere. He underscored Irans dedication to advancing peace and security in the region, reaffirming its commitment to international obligations.

Irwani characterized the US accusations against Iran as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter in Syria. He urged the United States to cease what he labelled as illegal actions in Syria and put an end to its occupation of the region.

Despite Irans consistent denials, the majority of attacks targeting U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq have been claimed by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. This Iraqi militia, closely associated with Iran, continues to be linked to the incidents, casting a shadow on Irans repeated disavowals.

Gaza truce halted attacks on US bases

Gen. Pat Ryder, a spokesperson for the US Defense Department, reported a decline in Iranian militia attacks on US forces in Syria and Iraq in recent days following the truce agreement in Gaza. According to Ryder, the latest reported attack occurred on November 23, just hours before the truce and cessation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel for a prisoner exchange.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
A United States Navy warship shot down and destroyed an Iranian-made Houthi drone that was launched from Yemen, a military official confirmed.

American officials said that no damage was done to the US Navy destroyer USS Carney and that no injuries were suffered by the US personnel onboard the ship. At the time of the attack, the warship had been sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

US Navy Shoots Down Houthi Drone

In a statement, US Central Command said that while the intentions of the Houthi drone were still unclear, the UAV was traveling towards the warship. It added that at the shoot-down, the USS Carney was escorting the USNS SUPPLY (Oiler) and another US-flagged and -crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region.

The USS Carney was said to have shot down 15 drones and four cruise missiles fired from Yemen in the northern Red Sea last month in nine hours. According to Fox News, the American warship used its SM-2 surface-to-air missiles for the shoot-downs.

Unlike the drone on Wednesday, which was an Iranian-made KAS-04, it did not shoot down the missiles in self-defense as the projectiles were headed toward Eilat in Israel. The attempted drone strike also marks the latest in a string of threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

It came a day after another Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier. This happened while the carrier was conducting flight operations in international waters in the Arabian Gulf.

In a statement, the US Naval Forces Central Command commander, Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, said that the previous drone "violated safety precautions." It did not stay more than ten nautical miles away from the American carrier. It also ignored multiple warnings but later turned away.

Another Navy destroyer, the USS Thomas Hudner, earlier this month shot down a drone that was traveling toward it as it sailed in the southern Red Sea. According to Politico, the incident also occurred near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Read Also: V-22 Osprey Crashes off Japan's West Coast; At Least 1 Dead

A Series of Drone Attacks

The USS Hudner also shot down several other attack drones over the Red Sea that were believed to have been launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen last week. A statement from the command read that the ship and its crew sustained no damage or injury.

The Pentagon assessed that the American ship itself was not the target but argued that the drone was close enough to be of concern. American officials said that the attack drone was most likely on its way to Israel.

At the time, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh implied that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen were responsible for the attempted attack. However, she did not give an outright confirmation of the claim.

The official said they were still assessing the attribution but added that there was no reason to doubt that it would have come from the Houthis.

The US has also blamed the rebels for an act of aggression against an American drone earlier this month, noting that they shot the unmanned aircraft as it flew in international airspace off the coast of Yemen on Nov. 8, said ABC News.

Related Article: As Israel-Hamas Truce Ends, Mediators Aim to Broker Another Extension to Release Hostages

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The invitation extended to President al-Assad by the UAE had previously sparked controversy among Western nations and human rights activists.

The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), a pivotal event shaping the future of global climate action, commenced today at Expo City Dubai, continuing until December 12. COP28, hosted by the UAE, has garnered unprecedented participation with 500,000 attendees across its Blue and Green Zones, including over 180 heads of state and government representatives.

It was noted that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was not in attendance. This absence comes despite an official invitation from Abu Dhabi last May, inviting him to attend the summit in person. 1 who pointed out the environmental impact of Assads actions during the Syrian conflict and questioned the appropriateness of his presence at a climate-focused event.

Al-Assads absence from the summit, which is scheduled to run until December 12, has fueled speculations about underlying diplomatic dynamics, particularly given the Western disapproval of the UAEs invitation to him. There has been no official explanation from either the Syrian regime or regional entities regarding Assads non-participation, dismissing the possibility that it was due to mere protocol issues.

WAM news agency highlights that COP28 is not only the largest climate event globally but also a crucial platform for advancing the highest climate ambitions and fostering sustainable development. The conference is set to review the first global progress on the goals of the Paris Agreement from COP21, with an emphasis on transforming commitments into concrete action against climate change.

Government-owned SANA news agency reported that Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous arrived in the UAE today, leading the Syrian delegation at the Global Climate Action Summit, integral to COP28. The Syrian delegations arrival, welcomed by Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, underscores Syrias dedication to climate change discussions and solutions.

Sir Howard Morrison

Earlier, a report by Sir Howard Morrison KC, former Judge of the ICC, on the environmental damage caused by the Syrian war has been released, in light of President Bashar Al-Assads invitation to attend the COP28 summit at the end of November in the UAE. The full report is available here.

The report highlights the extensive environmental damage caused by the war in Syria including deforestation, oil spills, acid rain, and major health problems for Syrians. It recommends that Assads invitation by the UAE to COP28 be rescinded. The report emphasizes that the UAEs invitation to Assad risks the summit being misused in order to greenwash the widespread environmental crimes that Assad and his armed forces have perpetrated in Syria. The environmental effects of his war on the country should instead be addressed at COP28.
Critics argue that the regime's actions in combating drugs appear to be primarily motivated by a desire to deflect Arab pressure, al-Modon says.

Research centers have raised concerns about the measures implemented by the Syrian regime to address the drug industry and smuggling. Critics argue that the regimes actions in combating drugs appear to be primarily motivated by a desire to deflect Arab pressure, rather than a genuine commitment to curbing drug trafficking from Syria.

Submerged characters

Karam Shaar, the director of the Syrian program at the Observatory of Political and Economic Networks, has disclosed that the Syrian regime has handed down numerous death sentences in absentia to Syrians accused of drug trafficking. Notably, Shaar revealed on Facebook that all the sentences targeting fugitives involved obscured individuals. Meanwhile, the regime has taken no substantive action against well-known figures at both local and international levels, such as Wassim al-Assada relative of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Wassim al-Assad, along with his relative Samer al-Assad, faced US and European sanctions for their alleged involvement in smuggling Captagon.

Shaar contends that these death sentences in absentia serve as a tactical move to showcase the regimes purported commitment in addressing the drug issue, particularly in Arab countries. Despite extensive work by the Networks Observatory on the drug issue, Shaar emphasized that not a single identifiable figure has been linked to the names sentenced to death. Simultaneously, the regime has failed to hold accountable or take any measures against prominent figures overseeing and managing the drug industry.

Questioning the effectiveness of these measures in convincing countries demanding serious action against drug manufacture and smuggling, Shaar asserts, The regime realizes that the likelihood of believing its demonstrative practices is low, especially since the Arab Gulf states are fully aware of the regimes role in drugs. Shaar further exposes undeclared collaboration between the Syrian regime and certain Arab countries targeted by drugs, revealing that the regime contributed to the seizure of some drug shipments in Saudi Arabia by providing information. However, he adds that Saudi Arabia is cognizant that the regimes cooperation is a means of circumventionsimultaneously supporting some drug traffickers while selectively reporting on others to create an illusion of genuine anti-drug efforts to Riyadh.

Protected Traders

In addition to the issuance of death sentences in absentia, the regimes media persistently reports daily news of arrests on charges related to drug involvement, raids on manufacturing dens, and seizures of drug quantities. Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah al-Najjar, a researcher in security issues, highlighted to Al-Modon that pursuing and combating drugs is a standard practice in all countries, involving the arrest and sentencing of users and promoters. However, he emphasized that attention should be drawn to the fact that, in the case of the Syrian regime, these procedures predominantly target smaller figures and networks.

Najjar pointed out, The names proven to be involved in the production and manufacture of drugs enjoy protection from the Syrian regime, including Iran-backed militias and certain formations within the regimes army, such as the Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad. Echoing these concerns, Youssef Hussein, a member of the Free Syrian Bar Association, asserted to Al-Modon that the regimes actions against drugs primarily focus on members outside its controlled drug system.

Hussein added that the regime appears to be selectively targeting uncontrolled networks to create an illusion of comprehensive control over the drug trade. This, he suggests, is an attempt to deceive countries into believing that the regime is actively addressing the issue, despite the widely known fact that the regime has become reliant on drugs as a source of fundinga reality no longer concealed from public knowledge.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Mekdad reiterated Syria's strong condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, according to al-Baath.

Faisal al-Mekdad, Syrias Foreign and Expatriates Minister, has strongly condemned the war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by Israel during its aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip. In his address to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Mekdad emphasized that this aggression has been actively supported by the United States and its NATO allies, implicating them as partners in these actions.

This message was delivered during a special session held last night, marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Mekdad expressed deep disappointment with the United Nations (UN) failure to effectively address the Palestinian issue and restore rights to their rightful owners.

Highlighting the severity of the situation, Mekdad detailed the extensive damage inflicted by Israel on Gaza, including the targeting of hospitals, schools, places of worship, and residential areas. He noted that over 40,000 tons of explosives have been dropped, leading to the death and injury of tens of thousands of Palestinians, predominantly women and children. This is in addition to human rights violations against thousands in the West Bank and other Palestinian territories.

Mekdad pointed out that these brutal practices stem from a colonial ideology, supported by the logic of apartheid and ongoing settlement expansions, all under the auspices of the US and its NATO allies. He accused these allies of defending Israel, providing it with weapons, expertise, and justifications for its actions.

Furthermore, Mekdad stated that Israels aggression extends beyond Palestine, affecting Lebanese and Syrian territories as well. He cited repeated attacks on Damascus and Aleppo airports and other Syrian regions as attempts to escalate regional tensions and threaten international peace and security.

In his conclusion, Mekdad reiterated Syrias strong condemnation of Israels actions in Gaza and reaffirmed Syrias unwavering support for the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the end of Israeli occupation, including of the Syrian Golan. He also lamented the ongoing failure of the UN and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Syrians are taking the lead in an effort to create a worldwide tribunal dedicated to prosecuting chemical weapons attacks. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a US official reported that a single rocket targeted U.S. and coalition forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria.

U.S. forces in Syria targeted in first attack since Thanksgiving

U.S. and coalition forces at Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria were targeted by a single rocket attack on Wednesday, a US official said, according to CNN.

The rocket did not hit the base, the official said. There were no injuries or infrastructure damage reported.

Wednesdays attack is the first since November 23. It marks at least 74 attacks on U.S. and coalition forces since October 17, when the first occurred in the wake of Hamas attack on Israel.

Fighting in Gaza has been paused for six days, with negotiators continuing to work toward another potential extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas.

The U.S. has responded over the last month with airstrikes against targets linked to Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq. 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 U.S. forces.

Syrians lead the push to create a global chemical weapons tribunal

Reuters exclusively reports that Syrians are spearheading an initiative to establish a global tribunal for prosecuting chemical weapons attacks. This effort, launched in The Hague, aims to address the gap in international law for punishing the use of banned toxic agents. The proposal, driven by Syrian rights groups and international legal experts, seeks to create a treaty-based court with global jurisdiction.

During Syrias civil war, thousands were killed or injured in chemical attacks, many of them children. However, more than a decade later, there have been no prosecutions for these atrocities. The tribunal, seen as a beacon of hope by Syrians like Safaa Kamel, a teacher affected by the 2013 sarin gas attack in Ghouta, aims to change this.

Diplomatic meetings involving at least 44 countries have discussed the feasibility of this tribunal. While the initiative is led by Syrians, it is intended to have a global reach. The next step involves states agreeing on the treatys wording.

Currently, there is no global legal body to prosecute individual suspects of chemical weapons use. International courts have addressed war crimes, but none specifically focus on chemical weapons. The International Criminal Court lacks jurisdiction in Syria, and while the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) can investigate and identify perpetrators, it lacks prosecutorial powers.

The need for such a tribunal is underscored by the lack of justice for chemical weapon attacks in Syria, with only a fraction of war crime investigations relating to chemical attacks. The proposed tribunal is envisioned to work closely with agencies like the UNs International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) in building cases around chemical weapons incidents.

British war monitor challenges UK refusal to provide details of civilian death in Syria

The UK is one of the most transparent coalition members in the details it provides about air strikes it has conducted in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

But it is among the worst in terms of publicly disclosing the consequences of those strikes, particularly whether civilians were harmed, the UK-based watchdog Airwars told a tribunal.

The tribunal, which opened on Wednesday in London, is focused on the one civilian that the UK government has officially admitted to harming during its eight-year campaign against IS.

In May 2018, the minister of defence told parliament about an incident which he said had happened two months earlier in eastern Syria.

During a UK air strike targeting three IS militants, a civilian on a motorbike crossed into the strike area at the last moment and was unintentionally killed, the minister said.

There were limits, he said, to what could be provided given ongoing operations and consequent national security issues.

But using a Freedom of Information request, the civilian harm watchdog Airwars sought further information from the Ministry of Defence about the strike.

The ministry rejected the request, arguing that releasing the information could, among other impacts, threaten national security and harm international relations. The Information Commissioners Office upheld the decision.

Airwars is now appealing, arguing that the UK will remain far behind its allies without greater transparency about how the government assesses civilian harm.

In the US, we have a clear understanding of how that process goes, Joe Dyke, Airwars head of investigations, told the tribunal.

In the UK, we still have no understanding of what that looks like. That is why we are here in this particular case. It is one case and it is a snapshot, but we are using that one case to understand that civilian harm process.

Germany arrests French woman who allegedly committed war crimes after joining IS in Syria

The Associated Press reported that German authorities said Thursday they had arrested a French woman who allegedly committed war crimes in Syria after joining the Islamic State extremist group.

Germanys federal prosecutor said the woman, who was only identified as Samra N. in line with German privacy rules, was arrested Tuesday in the western city of Trier.

The woman is suspected of having participated as a member of two foreign terrorist organizations as a teenager, the prosecutors statement said.

She allegedly travelled to Syria in September 2013, where she first joined Jabhat al-Nusra, Syrias al-Qaida affiliate at the time, and married one of the groups fighters according to Islamic rites. In November 2013, the couple joined the Islamic State extremist group.

Syria was in the throes of a civil war that broke out following a brutal government crackdown on pro-democracy mass protests in 2011. Protesters took up arms and the unrest eventually devolved into a civil war that drew in Islamic extremists and fighters from around the world.

While in Syria, N. allegedly tried to persuade people living in Germany to also go to Syria to become a member of Jabhat al-Nusra. She also temporarily took in a woman who had been persuaded to leave the country in this way.

The suspect ran the household for her husband and helped him procure military equipment for IS, according to the charges.

On two occasions, when her husband was away on combat missions, she stayed in womens houses that IS had occupied after driving out the original residents, which Germany considers a war crime against property.

Rand Paul to force vote on Syria troop withdrawal

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Pauls office says he will force a vote in the coming weeks on a bill he introduced this month that could remove all U.S. troops  approximately 900  from Syria. Sources say a vote could come as early as next week.

The American people have had enough of endless wars in the Middle East. Yet, 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria with no vital U.S. interest at stake, no definition of victory, no exit strategy, and no congressional authorization to be there, Paul said in a statement provided to RS.

If we are going to deploy our young men and women in uniform to Syria to fight and potentially give their life for some supposed cause, shouldnt we as their elected representatives at least debate the merits of sending them there? Shouldnt we do our constitutional duty and debate if the mission we are sending them on is achievable?

Pauls resolution, introduced on Nov. 15, invokes the War Powers Resolution which says the Biden administration is required to remove the U.S. military from hostilities without a declaration of war from Congress. This resolution would remove the troops within 30 days of passage unless the president asks for and receives authorization for war from Congress.

Critics like Paul say the Syria operation is not covered by the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs). Nevertheless, the U.S. military has been engaged in kinetic warfare with several state and non-state actors there since Obama deployed troops during the Syrian civil war in 2015. Now, the forces remain in harms way without a clear mission and a war not far from the border in Gaza. From my colleague Adam Weinstein:

As COP28 looks at the conflict-climate overlap, northwest Syria should be exhibited A

The United Nations annual climate change conference, COP28, is addressing the intersection of conflict and climate crisis, focusing on the humanitarian impact in conflict zones like northwest Syria, The New Humanitarian said in a report.

This region is facing compounded challenges due to a prolonged drought since 2021, intensified by the effects of recent earthquakes and over a decade of civil war. Residents, NGOs, and academics have reported severe water shortages affecting agriculture, sanitation, and drinking water, exacerbated by displacement, poverty, and post-earthquake conditions.

The situation in northwest Syria, where about 4.5 million people live, is worsened by the most intense military escalation in three years, with over 70 fatalities and 120,000 displacements. The international communitys aid has been insufficient, and the political landscape complicates aid delivery. UN Security Council resolutions allowing aid entry from Turkiye face political hurdles, and the regions control by various groups, including some designated as terrorist organizations by the UN, presents additional challenges for humanitarian work.

The regions water crisis is further aggravated by regional politics and attacks on water infrastructure. For example, Turkiyes actions with the Maydanki Dam have affected water levels in the Afrin River. Human Rights Watch reports that Turkiye has also disrupted water and electricity supplies in northeast Syria.

Efforts to improve water availability, such as those around the Qastoun reservoir, have been made, but challenges remain significant. Local farmers are adapting as best they can, but the loss of water has led to substantial agricultural losses. The COP28 conferences focus on these issues highlights the urgent need for effective climate financing and support in conflict-affected areas like northwest Syria.
Bilal Al-Na'al is a prominent Damascus-born businessman, known for his significant contributions in the real estate and investment sectors

Bilal Al-Naal is a prominent Damascus-born businessman, known for his significant contributions in the real estate and investment sectors. His initial breakthrough was transforming a warehouse into Qasioun Mall, which marked his entry into the retail industry. Al-Naals business growth paralleled his political ascent, securing influential positions in the Damascus Governorate and Peoples Assembly. His portfolio expanded to include ventures like the Big5 restaurant complex and roles in companies like Falcon Company and Max 5 Chemicals Company. Crucially, his career is marked by close ties with the Assad regime, particularly in implementing policies impacting property control in Damascus. These actions align with the regimes strategies of demographic change and benefited businessmen aligned with Assad. Al-Naal also formed strategic relationships with key regime figures and extended his influence internationally, engaging in Syrian-Chinese and Syrian-Belarusian business relations. However, recent shifts within the Syrian regime suggest a potential decline in his influence. Al-Naals legacy is a blend of business success and political involvement, with his actions significantly affecting Syrian property rights and urban redevelopment. His story exemplifies the intricate connection between business and politics in Syria.

Early Life and Business Beginnings

Bilal Al-Naal, a native of Damascus, began his career primarily in the real estate and investment sector. His early notable venture was the transformation of a warehouse of the General Consumer Corporation in the Barzeh area of Damascus into Qasioun Mall. This move, facilitated through a commercial deal with Damascus Governorate Council member Bisher Al-Sabban, marked his foray into the retail sector and set the foundation for his future business ventures.

Political Ascendancy and Business Expansion

Al-Naals rise in the Syrian business world was closely intertwined with his political engagements. He secured positions of influence such as a member of the Peoples Assembly for Damascus Governorate and the Damascus Governorate Council. His business portfolio expanded beyond the Qasioun Mall to include the ownership of the Big5 restaurant complex. He also held significant roles in various companies, including Al-Naal Trading Company, Falcon Company, and Max 5 Chemicals Company, showcasing a diversification of his business interests.

Integration with the Assad Regime

A critical aspect of Al-Naals career was his deep integration with the Assad regimes controversial policies. He was particularly involved in the implementation of Decree No. 66 and Law No. 10, which facilitated the regimes control over properties in Damascus, significantly impacting Syrian refugees and displaced persons. His role in these policies was part of a broader strategy of demographic change in Damascus, aimed at reducing population centers hostile to the regime and benefiting businessmen close to Assad.

Al-Naal built strategic alliances with key figures in the regime, such as Fadi Saqr, leader of the National Defense militia in Damascus, and Ahmed Badr al-Din Hassoun, the former Mufti of Syria. These alliances extended into his business operations, notably in real estate development. His involvement with the Siaj Real Estate Development and Investment Company, founded by Hassouns sons, signified his deep engagement in the regimes economic and political frameworks.

International Relations and Business Endeavors

Al-Naals business acumen was not confined to Syria. He established significant connections internationally, being a member of the Russian-Syrian Business Center and the Syrian-Belarusian Businessmen Council. His chairmanship of the joint Syrian-Chinese parliamentary friendship committee further underscores his role in fostering international economic relations.

The Fall from Power and Current Challenges

The demolition of the Big 5 mall, a property owned by Al-Naal, symbolizes a shift in his fortunes. The changing dynamics within the Syrian regime, including the removal of his allies like Bisher al-Sabban, indicate a potential decline in his influence. Despite retaining considerable wealth, his current and future role in Syrias economic and political landscape is increasingly uncertain, especially given the regimes propensity for power shifts and the emergence of new players in the Syrian power matrix.

Bilal Al-Naals legacy is complex, marked by his business success and political entanglements. His role in the Syrian economy, especially in the context of the Assad regimes controversial policies, has garnered both attention and criticism. The public perception of Al-Naal is shaped by his involvement in schemes that have significantly impacted the lives of many Syrians, particularly in the context of property rights and urban redevelopment.

In summary, Bilal Al-Naals profile paints a picture of a businessman who leveraged political connections to build a diverse business empire, intertwined with the controversial policies of the Assad regime. His journey from a real estate entrepreneur to a figure entangled in the regimes power dynamics illustrates the complex interplay of business and politics in Syria.

Bullet points
Dima Moussa's role as a lawyer, feminist, and politician in the Syrian opposition highlights her as a key figure in the ongoing struggle for a free and democratic Syria.

In September, Dima Moussa, hailing from Homs, Syria, was elected as the Vice-president of the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC), serving as the deputy to Hadi Al-Bahra. As a Christian and Assyrian woman, her election adds significant value and a unique perspective to the SOC. Dimas amiable nature and extroverted personality are assets that will aid in navigating challenges and unlocking new opportunities for the coalition.

Dima stands as a testament to the power of resilient and principled leadership in the face of Syrias complex political challenges. Born in Aleppo and originally from Homs, her journey from a dedicated lawyer in the United States to a leading figure in the Syrian political opposition embodies her commitment to democracy, human rights, and especially womens empowerment. A founding member of the Syrian Womens Political Movement, Moussas advocacy and efforts have not only highlighted the plight of Syrian women under the Assad regime but also significantly influenced the international discourse on Syria. Living in Turkey since 2013, her work continues to bridge Western and Middle Eastern perspectives, making her an indispensable voice in the struggle for a democratic and equitable Syria.

Early Life and Background

Born in 1978 in Aleppo, Syria, Dima Moussa comes from a family originally from Homs. Her early life in Damascus, a city known for its rich cultural and historical heritage, played a significant role in shaping her perspectives. Moussas upbringing in a Christian family in a diverse society instilled in her an understanding of the complexities of Syrian culture and society.

Educational Journey

Seeking higher education, Moussa moved to the United States, where she embarked on an academic journey in engineering and law. She earned both a bachelors and a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. This technical background provided her with analytical skills and a methodical approach to problem-solving. Later, she pursued a Juris Doctor from DePaul University in Chicago, shifting her focus towards law, a field that would become central to her later activism and political involvement.

Legal Career in the United States

After completing her education, Moussa worked as an attorney in the United States. Her volunteering work also showed a commitment to human rights and advocacy, particularly focusing on issues related to Arab womens rights. Her work in the U.S. laid a strong foundation for her future roles in the Syrian political opposition.

Political Awakening and Involvement

The onset of the Syrian Revolution in 2011 was a turning point in Moussas life. She became actively involved in the movement, aligning with the aspirations of the Syrian people for democracy and freedom. Moussa co-founded the Syrian National Council, an early opposition group, marking her entry into the political landscape of Syria.

Role in the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces

In October 2016, Moussa joined the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (Etilaf), taking on significant responsibilities within the Foreign Affairs Department and the Legal Committee. Her legal expertise was crucial in these roles, particularly in navigating the complex international aspects of the Syrian conflict. In May 2018, she ascended to the position of vice president, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to the Syrian oppositions cause.

Advocacy for Womens Rights and Humanitarian Issues

Moussa has been a vocal advocate for womens rights in Syria. Her participation in the Conscience Convoy and her role in speaking out against the Assad regimes human rights violations highlights her dedication to bringing global attention to the plight of Syrian women. She has actively participated in international platforms, using her voice to advocate for change and justice.

Founding Member of the Syrian Womens Political Movement

As a founding member of the SWPM in October 2017, Moussa has worked tirelessly to ensure that womens voices are heard in the political sphere. Her involvement in SWPM underscores her belief in gender equality and her commitment to ending discrimination against women in all spheres of Syrian society.

Life in Turkey and Ongoing Involvement

Since moving to Turkey in 2013, Moussa has continued to leverage her expertise in supporting civil projects and initiatives in Syria. Her relocation has allowed her to be more directly involved in the Syrian civil and political domains, bridging her experiences in the West with the realities of the Middle East.

International Recognition and Impact

Moussas work has not gone unnoticed. Her advocacy and efforts in highlighting human rights abuses in Syria, especially during the siege of Homs and in the face of oppressive laws, have earned her international recognition. She has become a symbol of resilience and a source of inspiration for many, both within and outside of Syria.

Recent Perspectives on Syrian Politics

In her recent interviews and statements, Moussa has provided insightful analyses of the current Syrian political situation. She has commented on the regional and international implications of ongoing conflicts and has been critical of the Syrian regimes tactics in negotiations and political processes. Her views on the need for a comprehensive political solution, grounded in international resolutions like 2254, reflect her deep understanding of the complexities of the Syrian conflict.

In summary, Dima Moussas journey is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and gender equality. Her multifaceted role as a lawyer, feminist, and politician in the Syrian opposition highlights her as a key figure in the ongoing struggle for a free and democratic Syria.
Precious Metals Refiners Private Limited Vs Principal Commissioner of Customs (Madras High Court)

Introduction: The Madras High Court recently addressed the case of Precious Metals Refiners Pvt. Ltd. vs. Principal Commissioner of Customs, involving the detention of Gold Dore Bars imported from Guinea. The petitioner sought the release of goods, citing Customs Notifications and a Country of Origin Certificate. This article delves into the courts judgment, analyzing the petitioners arguments and the courts directive to release the goods upon payment of 100% duty.

Analysis: The petitioner, a Private Limited Company, imported Gold Dore Bars from Guinea, as per the Ministry of Commerces license. Despite providing necessary documents, including the Country of Origin Certificate, the goods were detained. The court considered the petitioners offer to pay 100% duty under protest and directed the release of goods within a week of payment. Additionally, the court instructed the authorities to expedite the adjudication proceedings within three months.

Conclusion: The Madras High Courts decision in the Precious Metals Refiners case provides clarity on the release of detained imported Gold Dore Bars. With the petitioner agreeing to pay 100% duty, the courts directive aims to resolve the matter promptly. This judgment emphasizes the importance of adhering to Customs regulations and the need for timely adjudication in such cases.

FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

This prayer in this Writ Petition is for issuance of mandamus to the respondents herein to release the goods, viz. Gold Dore Bars of Guinea imported vide Bill of Entry No.7994892, dated 25.09.2023 by extending the Benefit of Sl. No 1 of Customs Notification No.96/2008-Customs, dated 13.08.2008 and also AIDC Notification No.011/2021-Cus., dated 01.02.2021 by accepting the Country of Origin Certificate Reference No.066-66 AGUIPEX/2023, dated 22.09.2023 issued by Government of Guinea under Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries (Combined Declaration and Certificate).

2. The case of the petitioner in short is as follows:-

i) The petitioner herein is a Private Limited Company and registered under the Companies Act, 1956. The object of the petitioner-Company is to carry on the business of refining the Gold out of Gold Dore after importing Gold from Gold producing GEA Countries as per the terms of the License issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (in short, DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

ii) The petitioner has imported gold weighing 74,618.48 of Gold Dore Bars at USD 4,519,248.95 which were supplied by M/s. JSK Jewellery LLC, Dubai, vide Invoice No. JSK/DE/2023/237, dated 22.09.2023 and filed Bill of Entry No.7994892 dated 25.09.2023 and claimed the clearance of the goods for Home Consumption. The petitioner had also filed Airway Bill 176/5928 4831, dated 22.09.2023 and also declared the above goods as classifiable under 71081200 and the origin of the said goods as Guinea.

iii) The Ministry of Commerce viz., DGFT after perusing all the documents and after proper inspection and perusing the documents viz., NABL Certificate, NOC from Pollution Control Board, has issued Import  Export License vide License No.0111003811, dated 04.05.2022, for import of Gold Dore Bars up to 95% purity for a quantity of 10.0 MTS., and from all GEA Countries.

iv) As per the above license issued by the Ministry of Commerce, DGFT, New Delhi, the petitioner had imported the above goods viz., Gold Dore Bars and subsequently, by letter dated 04.10.2023, the petitioner had requested the respondents herein to release the goods provisionally under Section 110 A of the Customs Act. However, the respondents, without taking into consideration the Country of origin Certificate issued by the Ministry of Guinea or other related documents produced by the petitioner as regards the proof of Origin of the Goods, withheld the clearance of the goods imported by the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner has come forward with the present Writ Petition, seeking release of the goods.

3. Mr. A.K. Jayaraj, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Mrs. R. Hemalatha, learned Senior Standing Counsel for respondents 1-3 and Mr. V. Sundareshwaran, learned Senior Standing Counsel for respondent No.4 argued at length and during the course of arguments, the learned counsel for the petitioner has putforth a suggestion that, since the petitioner is suffering towards heavy airport warehouse charges and drastic fall in the market price of gold, the petitioner is ready to furnish bank guarantee or in the alternative agreed to pay 100% duty under protest, provided the respondents, pending adjudication proceedings may order for release of the detained goods forthwith. The learned counsel for the petitioner also insisted upon this Court to issue a direction to complete the adjudication proceedings in a time bound manner.

4. On the other hand, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondents submitted that since the petitioner imported the goods (viz., Gold) from some other Country and not from Guinea, the respondents have rightly detained the goods and hence, the petitioner is not entitled to seek exemption. However, with regard to the suggestion putforth by the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel have raised no objection for such course being adopted.

5. In the light of above facts and circumstances of the case and taking into consideration of the suggestion putforth by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is of the view that, it need not labour much to resolve the controversy raised in the Writ Petitions inasmuch as the petitioner has come forward to pay 100% duty under protest.

6. Thus, this Court, without going into the merits of the contentions raised herein, is inclined to issue the following direction:-

i) The Authority concerned is directed to consider the petitioners request and release the goods subject to payment of 100% duty by the petitioner within a weeks time from the date of payment of 100% duty made by the petitioner in accordance with law.

ii) The petitioner, after making the payment of 100% duty, is at liberty to make an appropriate application seeking release of the goods, which shall be considered by the Authority concerned.

iii) The respondents are also directed to adjudicate the matter relating to the issue of exemption of duty for import of gold by the petitioner accordance with law after affording an ample opportunities to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of . No costs. Consequently, connected Writ Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
Mudra Precious Metals Pvt. Ltd. Vs Principal Commissioner of Customs (Madras High Court)

In a recent development, Mudra Precious Metals Pvt. Ltd. found itself entangled in a legal battle with the Principal Commissioner of Customs, leading to a writ petition in the esteemed Madras High Court. The company sought the courts intervention for the issuance of a mandamus to release its imported goods  Gold Dore Bars of Guinea  against Bill of Entry No. 7909785, dated 20.09.2023.

Background and Petitioners Case:

Mudra Precious Metals Pvt. Ltd., a Private Limited Company registered under the Companies Act, 1956, specializes in refining gold from Gold Dore sourced from Gold producing GEA (Guinea, Ecuador, and Afghanistan) countries. The petitioner imported 133,513.30 grams of Gold Dore Bars from M/s. JSK Jewellery LLC, Dubai, with an invoice dated 18.09.2023, filed under Bill of Entry No. 7909785 dated 20.09.2023.

The petitioner claimed the clearance of goods for home consumption and sought the release by extending the benefit of Customs Notification No. 96/2008-Customs, dated 13.08.2008, and AIDC Notification No. 011/2021-Cus., dated 01.02.2021. To support its case, Mudra Precious Metals presented a Country of Origin Certificate Reference No. 062-62 AGUIPEX/2023, dated 18.09.2023, issued by the Government of Guinea under the Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries.

The Ministry of Commerce, DGFT, had issued an Import-Export License (License No. 0111008597) allowing the petitioner to import Gold Dore Bars up to 95% purity for a quantity of 10.0 MTS from all GEA countries.

However, despite complying with all necessary requirements and submitting relevant documents, the customs authorities withheld the clearance of goods. The petitioner, faced with heavy airport warehouse charges and a fall in the market price of gold, approached the Madras High Court seeking the release of the detained goods.

Court Proceedings and Decision:

In the court proceedings, the petitioners counsel proposed a solution to pay 100% duty under protest and furnish a bank guarantee. The court, taking this into consideration, directed the concerned authority to release the goods upon payment of 100% duty by Mudra Precious Metals within a week. The petitioner was also granted the liberty to file an application for the release of goods after making the payment.

Additionally, the court directed the customs authorities to expedite the adjudication proceedings regarding the issue of duty exemption for the import of gold. The authorities were instructed to complete the adjudication within three months, providing ample opportunities to the petitioner.

In summary, the Madras High Court, without delving into the merits of the case, facilitated a resolution by directing the release of goods upon payment of 100% duty and expeditious adjudication of the matter. The writ petition was disposed of with no costs imposed on either party.

FULL TEXT OF THE JUDGMENT/ORDER OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

This prayer in this Writ Petition is for issuance of mandamus to the respondents herein to release the goods, viz. Gold Dore Bars of Guinea imported vide Bill of Entry No.7909785, dated 20.09.2023, by extending the Benefit of Sl.No. 1 of Customs Notification No.96/2008-Customs, dated 13.08.2008 and also AIDC Notification No. 011/2021-Cus., dated 01.02.2021 by accepting the Country of Origin Certificate Reference No.062-62 AGUIPEX/2023, dated 18.09.2023 issued by Government of Guinea under Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for Least Developed Countries (Combined Declaration and Certificate).

2. The case of the petitioner in short is as follows:-

i) The petitioner herein is a Private Limited Company and registered under the Companies Act, 1956. The object of the petitioner-Company is to carry on the business of refining the Gold out of Gold Dore after importing Gold from Gold producing GEA Countries as per the terms of the License issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (in short, DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

ii) The petitioner has imported gold weighing 133,513.30 grams of Gold Dore Bars at USD 7,671,420.86 which were supplied by M/s. JSK Jewellery LLC, Dubai, vide Invoice No. JSK/DE/2023/236, dated 18.09.2023 and filed Bill of Entry No.7909785 dated 20.09.2023 and claimed the clearance of the goods for Home Consumption. The petitioner had also filed Airway Bill No.235-13615755, dated 18.09.2023 and also declared the above goods as classifiable under 71081200 and the origin of the said goods as Guinea.

iii) The Ministry of Commerce viz., DGFT after perusing all the documents and after proper inspection and perusing the documents viz., NABL Certificate, NOC from Pollution Control Board, has issued Import  Export License vide License No.0111008597 for import of Gold Dore Bars up to 95% purity for a quantity of 10.0 MTS., and from all GEA Countries.

iv) As per the above license issued by the Ministry of Commerce, DGFT, New Delhi, the petitioner had imported the above goods viz., Gold Dore Bars and subsequently, by letters dated 29.09.2023 and 05.10.2023, the petitioner had requested the respondents herein to release the goods provisionally under Section 110 A of the Customs Act. However, the respondents, without taking into consideration the Country of origin Certificate issued by the Ministry of Guinea and other related documents produced by the petitioner as regards the proof of Origin of the Goods, withheld the clearance of the goods imported by the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner has come forward with the present Writ Petition, seeking release of the goods.

3. Mr.A.K.Jayaraj, the learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Rajinish Pathiyil. Senior Standing Counsel, learned Senior Standing Counsel for respondents 1-3 and Mr.V. Sundareshwaran, learned Senior Standing Counsel for respondent No.4 argued at length and during the course of arguments, the learned counsel for the petitioner has putforth a suggestion that, since the petitioner is suffering towards heavy airport warehouse charges and drastic fall in the market price of gold, the petitioner is ready to furnish bank guarantee and also agreed to pay 100% duty under protest, provided the respondents, pending adjudication proceedings may order for release of the detained goods forthwith. The learned counsel for the petitioner also insisted upon this Court to issue a direction to complete the adjudication proceedings in a time bound manner.

4. On the other hand, learned Senior Standing Counsel for the respondents submitted that since the petitioner imported the goods (viz., Gold) from some other Country and not from Guinea, the respondents have rightly detained the goods and hence, the petitioner is not entitled to seek exemption. However, with regard to the suggestion put forth by the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel have raised no objection for such course being adopted.

5. In the light of above facts and circumstances of the case and taking into consideration of the suggestion putforth by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court is of the view that, it need not labour much to resolve the controversy raised in the Writ Petitions inasmuch as the petitioner has come forward to pay 100% duty under protest.

6. Thus, this Court, without going into the merits of the contentions raised herein, is inclined to issue the following direction:-

i) The Authority concerned is directed to consider the petitioners request and release the goods subject to payment of 100% duty by the petitioner within a weeks time from the date of payment of 100% duty made by the petitioner in accordance with law.

ii) The petitioner, after making the payment of 100% duty, is at liberty to make an appropriate application seeking release of the goods, which shall be considered by the Authority concerned.

iii) The respondents are also directed to adjudicate the matter relating to the issue of exemption of duty for import of gold by the petitioner in accordance with law after affording an ample opportunities to the petitioner, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, this Writ Petition is disposed of . No costs. Consequently, connected Writ Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
Thumbs up: Holiday giving

In the darkest, coldest time of year, the people of Cowlitz County are willing to open their hearts  and their wallets, too.

The Salvation Army rolled out their red kettles and put up its angel trees last week. The annual Doll Tea fundraiser, which has enjoyed 50 years of leadership by Beverly Gilmore, once again raised money that will go toward buying gifts for kids at the Christmas Center, this year located at the YMCA.

Many more groups and people are also looking to make the holidays a little better, too.

There are many opportunities to give during the holiday season, but it doesnt have to be limited to giving money or buying items to donate. Make no mistake, those things are valuable to these organizations. But giving your time can be just as valuable.

Gilmore is taking a step back at future Doll Teas after 50 years, and shes not the only one. As TDN reported earlier this month, service clubs across the region are reporting declining membership. So if you want to help, but cant find the room in your budget, or youre just looking for a way to help thats more hands-on, giving your time is also extremely valuable.

The old saying about charity, that need doesnt end in January, is also true about volunteering. These organizations do a lot in our community, and whether you choose to help them by donating time, goods or money, it will make a difference.

Thumbs down: Invasive mussels

Russian infiltrators have entered the Columbia River basin. But these arent KGB operatives, theyre highly aggressive shellfish armed with razor-sharp shells and voracious appetites.

The quagga mussel, native to Russia and Ukraine, was confirmed in the Snake River back in September. Theyre an invasive species that quickly crowd out native species. The Columbia River had been the last major waterway in North America which was free of them.

Fortunately, Idaho has responded quickly. But the solution they had to resort to was very drastic. They treated the middle Snake River with copper, which left the river with no traces of quagga or their larva. The treatment, however, also killed many fish in the river.

The microscopic larvae of quagga came to North America in the 1980s via ballast water, according to information from the state of Idaho. Its dangerously easy to spread them, and a single larvae can spread up to a million eggs in a spawning season. If we let them get a foothold, theyll devastate the rivers environment.

Quagga would devastate fish stocks even worse than the copper treatment. And we recognize the need to keep them out of the river by any means necessary. But rather than using toxins to essentially flush parts of the river, we hope that prevention can continue to win the day.

Making sure your boat is completely dry from the bow to the bilge pump can be a lot of work. But if youre coming from a waterway with quagga presence to the Columbia, its a necessary precaution. If we continue to be vigilant and keep boats clean and fully drained, well protect the river from potentially catastrophic damage.

Thumbs up: Moving city elections

Maybe youd never given much thought to why municipal elections always seem to happen on odd years. Well, we were pretty surprised to find out that cities were required in state law.

The state Senate is currently considering a bill to change that, which moved out of committee but hasnt yet hit the floor. The bill would allow cities to choose when they want to have their own elections, which we see as a positive.

If it passes, we think it will give voter turnout in city races a major boost. Unfortunately, nearly two thirds of Washington voters didnt cast a ballot in the Nov. 7 election, a figure that is far below turnout during even-numbered years.

So why does it matter, when the election still counts even if people didnt choose to vote? We often look at elections in terms of percentages, like 50% of voters plus one to win a race. But sheer numbers also matter in terms of telling candidates they have support. A higher voter turnout gives an elected leader a clearer picture of their support and gives other leaders a better picture of what the electorate wants.

The law still has a long way to go, and if it passes, the ball will be in the court of cities to decide if they want to reschedule their elections. But we consider this proposal a good first step to something that will help get more people voting on local elections.
Artificial intelligence is now on the agenda as world leaders, climate diplomats and thousands of others descend on Dubai for the United Nations climate summit. Boosters of machine learning are pitching it as tool for unlocking enormous cuts to emissions.

Some of the hardest to decarbonize sectors like cement and steel could particularly stand to benefit, according to a new report from the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum, an international climate forum organized by the government of Japan. The final version of the report will be presented at the COP28 climate talks that begin Thursday.

The industrial sector is responsible for about a third of global carbon emissions, but machine learning models can potentially help lower its climate toll. By determining the optimal amount of raw materials required to create things like steel and cement, it's possible to lower materials usage and corresponding emissions while also keeping quality up, said Alp Kucukelbir, co-founder and chief scientist at AI company Fero Labs, who co-authored the report.

The steel industry is already putting AI to work to do just that. In Brazil, steelmaker Gerdau used Fero Labs' machine learning models to improve efficiency at its plants. Gerdau was able to save $3 per ton while also reducing its emissions footprint by about 8%, according to the report. (For context, the current price of steel is around $900 per ton.)

This is the advantage of using software to mitigate climate change: the impact is immediate, he said.

The machine learning model helped the company calculate how it could increase recycled feedstock and decrease the amount of materials needed to keep quality consistent, ultimately eliminating the need to mine and refine 500,000 pounds of raw material annually.

AI could also be applied in an industrial setting to avoiding past mistakes by leveraging historical data, rapidly addressing production issues and minimizing energy consumption, report authors wrote.

The technology can also be used to develop new materials that are key to the energy transition like battery anodes and solar photovoltaics.

New materials typically get developed using a trial and error approach, with repeated experimentation until something clicks. AI can help reduce the time it takes to develop materials from months to weeks. By combining an early-prediction model that reduced the amount of time per experiment with an algorithm that reduced the number of experiments, one study on maximizing battery lifetime was able to reduce the time it took to identify charging techniques that are fast while minimizing battery degradation from over 500 days to 16 days.

Despite the technology's promise to lower emissions, AI also poses a climate risk thanks to its copious energy demands. Researchers have found that training a single AI-powered model can consume more electricity than 100 US homes use in an entire year. But lack of transparency and the industry's rapid growth have made it difficult to determine exactly how much energy AI is consuming.

AI can also be wielded to extend the life of fossil fuels. Oil companies are already using machine learning technology to predict the most productive places to drill at a time when research points to the need to wind down the use of fossil fuels. A recent EY survey found that more than 92% of oil and gas companies are either investing in or planning on investing in AI in the next two years.

In November, Microsoft Corp. published a paper on accelerating sustainability solutions with AI, which addressed the energy issue. As the infrastructure needed to support AI models expands, demand for resources such as energy and water will rise, the authors wrote.

One of the things that we are looking at within this paper is really understanding where the energy consumption is coming from, Chief Sustainability Officer Melanie Nakagawa said of Microsoft's evolving understanding of AI's energy issue.

Alongside energy consumption, safety is another risk to consider when it comes to applying AI to climate problems. AI models can get things wrong, with one study finding inaccuracies in over half of ChatGPT's answers to questions.

While it might not always be possible to eliminate the risk of inaccuracy or uncertainty, it's important that AI tools quantify and communicate uncertainty so that users can respond appropriately, according to Juliet Rothenberg, research group product manager of climate AI at Alphabet Inc.'s Google. Other human backstops can be helpful in mitigating risk, as well, such as having a person look at an AI-produced output, she said.

She said the company's project focused on traffic light optimization shows one path forward. Google's AI technology analyzed traffic patterns in cities and provided recommendations to planners on how to position stop lights in a bid to reduce idling and excess carbon emissions. Ultimately, traffic engineers had the final say in whether to take the recommendations or not.

Having that human and contextual awareness and partnering really closely with stakeholders is something that we believe is very important, Rothenberg said.
The UN commission of inquiry began to proceed with its investigation of war crimes in the Israel-Hamas conflict, which would focus on Hamas sexual violence on Wednesday.

Chair Navi Pillay, chair of the three-member commission of inquiry and a former UN human rights chief and International Criminal Court judge, launched an appeal for evidence and passed the evidence on to the International Criminal Court.

UN Investigates Alleged Hamas Sexual Violence

Pillay called for the court to consider prosecutions amid earlier criticism from Israel and families of Israeli hostages that the UN had stayed silent.

"I'm now sitting as chair of a commission with the power to investigate this. So there's no way we will not do so," Pillay said. She said that some people would provide testimonies about the abuses committed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, which would be handed over to prosecutors.

However, Pillay said that Israel still has not responded to cooperate with the commission, which it says has an anti-Israel bias. The commission would have difficulty gathering sufficient evidence to support future charges without access.

Israeli authorities opened their investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on October 7 in Israel and found victims disrobed and mutilated, which concludes a sexual crime as rape.

Military reservists who tended to the bodies in the identification process at the site of the attacks and other testimonies provided evidence about sexual violence.

Hamas denied the abuses and was not immediately available for comment. An Israeli government spokesperson was also not available to comment. The commission was composed of three independent experts ordered to collect evidence and identify perpetrators of international crimes. Pillay said it was about to release a public call for submissions for evidence on Hamas sexual violence.

The ICC's top prosecutor said that the evidence gathered by UN bodies would form the basis for war crimes prosecutions and could be drawn on by the ICC, which has jurisdiction over both the Hamas attack on October 7 and any crimes committed on Palestinian territory as part of Israel's response including bombings in the Gaza Strip.

Pillay has collaborated with Nazhat Shameem Khan, deputy prosecutor of the ICC, since the October 7 attacks to work on the evidence. She said she was impressed with Khan, emphasizing how seriously she wishes to investigate the incidents of sexual violence in Israel.

Pillay's 18-person commission requested the US and Egypt to help convince Israel to grant access to the investigation. However, Washington criticized the commission with other European allies as the investigation showed no end date and a perception among some Western states that it subjects Israel to disproportionate scrutiny.

Read Also: 'Squad' Votes on Reaffirming Israel's Rights to Exist, Demands Hamas to Release Remaining Hostages

Deaths of Reporters on October 7 Attack

Pillay prioritizes the investigation of the killing of reporters, including Reuters' visuals journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed on October 13 during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The killing spree in Israel on October 7 has killed 48 reporters, and six more Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza.

Sherif Mansour, the committee's coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, reported that successive cuts to internet and phone networks occurred during the rising number of media fatalities, which caused an information blackout in Gaza.

Related Article: Hamas Hostage Terror: 12-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Forced to Watch October 7 Attack Videos-Aunt Shares Haunting Experience of Victim





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ManageEngine unveiled its first dual-layered threat detection system in its security information and event management (SIEM) solution, Log360. The new feature, available in Log360s threat detection, investigation and response (TDIR) component, Vigil IQ, empowers security operations center (SOC) teams in organizations with improved accuracy and enhanced precision in threat detection.

A quality SOC ensures people, processes, and cutting-edge technology function well. However, enterprise security is made difficult by staffing shortages and solution orchestration complexities. Following recent upgrades to the security analytics module of Log360 designed to facilitate SOC optimization through key performance metric monitoring, the company has focused on addressing pressing challenges in security operations.

In a recent ManageEngine study, a majority of respondents revealed that their SOCs are understaffed. These resource-constrained SOCs grapple with significant obstacles, such as process silos and manual investigation of alerts, which are often non-threats, low-priority issues or false positives. These lead to extended detection and response times for actual threats. To overcome these challenges, we recognize the imperative adoption of AI & ML for contextual event enrichment and rewiring threat detection logic, said Manikandan Thangaraj, vice president at ManageEngine.

We pioneered a dual-layered, ML approach to heighten the precision and consistency of threat detection. First, Vigil IQ ensures genuine threats are discerned from false positives. Second, the system facilitates targeted threat identification and response. This advanced system significantly improves the accuracy of identifying threats, streamlining the detection process and allowing SOC analysts to focus their valuable time on investigating real threats.

Key Features of the Dual-Layered Threat Detection System of Vigil IQ in Log360

Smart Alerts: Vigil IQ, the TDIR module of Log360, now combines the power of both accuracy and precision in threat detection. With its dynamic learning capability, Vigil IQ adapts to the changing nature of network behavior to cover more threat instances accurately. It will spot threats that get overlooked due to manual threshold settings, thereby improving the detection systems reliability.

Proactive Predictive Analytics: Leveraging predictive analytics based on historical data patterns, Vigil IQ predicts potential security threats, facilitating the implementation of proactive measures before incidents occur. This predictive intelligence drastically reduces the mean time to detect (MTTD) threats.

Contextual Intelligence: Vigil IQ enriches alerts with deep contextual information, providing security analysts with comprehensive threat insights. This enrichment of alerts with non-event context accelerates the mean time to respond (MTTR) by delivering pertinent, precise information.
At AWS re:Invent, Amazon Web Services announced that Cathay, a premium travel lifestyle brand that includes Hong Kongs home airline Cathay Pacific, has selected AWS as its strategic cloud provider and is working with AWS to establish the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub. The program combines AWSs broad set of cloud technologies and comprehensive cloud skills resources with Cathays machine learning (ML) expertise to deliver companywide innovations across its global operations, unlocking business value and equipping employees with ML skills. As part of the companys ongoing digital transformation, Cathay will also move the majority of its IT workloads to AWS.

Working with AWS, Cathay has already identified hundreds of ML use cases and successfully deployed more than 50 ML models. For example, Cathay and AWS developed ML models that accurately predict the demand for inflight meals, to help minimize food waste, and dynamically forecast available cargo space for each flight. The Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub will advance this work by leveraging AWS technologies to identify use cases and accelerate ML innovations for its travel, lifestyle, and cargo business lines. In the long term, Cathay plans to make industry solutions developed through the Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub, such as cargo revenue planning and aviation route prediction, available to other companies in the commercial aviation sector.

Cathay is already seeing the impact of ML innovations driven by its work with AWS. For example, Cathay is working with AWS to create an end-to-end natural language processing (NLP) service that automates the classification of customer feedback from online and offline channels across more than 100 comment categories. This automation improves the accuracy of comment classification and labeling, and it helps the customer service team respond faster, improving the customer experience. In addition, Cathay Cargo, the companys cargo business, is using Amazon SageMaker, a full managed service to build, train, and deploy ML models, Amazon OpenSearch Service, real-time search, monitoring, and analysis of business and operational data, and Amazon Redshift, a cloud data warehouse, to build a revenue management model for its cargo business. The model allows the sales team to refine their revenue strategies, based on demand and availability, to increase profitability and customer loyalty.

AWSs proven, secure, and highly resilient infrastructure allows Cathay to provide a stable and seamless experience for customers and enhance its operational performance. Running on AWS, Cathay can scale to meet sudden demands in peak travel periods, like summer and holiday seasons, providing customers with a faster and more reliable booking and travel experience. To date, the travel company has successfully migrated more than 50% of its legacy and mission-critical enterprise workloads to AWS, reducing IT infrastructure costs by 40%. Throughout its cloud migration journey, Cathay has maintained zero downtime.

In addition, Cathay is collaborating with AWS Skills Guild, a comprehensive cloud skills enablement program, to provide training and certification to its employees in technical and business areas, which will help their workforce gain new skills to innovate using the cloud. The company plans to upskill 1,000 employees, including its senior management team, in the next three years.

AWS has been instrumental in Cathays digital transformation journey. AWS not only supported us with the technology we needed, but they have also been a trusted partner in strengthening our change capabilities and innovation culture for the organization, said Lawrence Fong, director of Digital and IT at Cathay. The Cathay Machine Learning Innovation Hub will empower us to use the latest technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, to enhance our customers travel experience and digital touchpoints. We believe the Hub will not only incubate Cathays internal innovation across various business units, but also foster advancements in the wider aviation industry.

AWS has provided Cathay with the technology foundation and organizational readiness to integrate machine learning and generative artificial intelligence into every part of their business to optimize operations and elevate the customer experience, said Massimo Morin, Global Head, Travel, AWS for Travel and Hospitality. Thanks to our longstanding work with Cathay, the company is poised to become a global brand that powers whats next in the premium travel lifestyle space.
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 Airlements prototype, a wall cornerpiece comprises four lightweight individual parts made of cement-free mineral foam. Credit: Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich

In the main hall of the research and robotics Arch Tec Lab on Honggerberg campus, several robotic arms hang from the roof, while half-finished beige-colored curved structures reminiscent of sand sculptures are dotted around the floor. On one side of the room, mysterious parts protrude from wooden crates.

Standing in front of one of these crates is Patrick Bedarf. He works in Professor Benjamin Dillenburger's Digital Building Technologies group and completed his doctorate at the end of September. As part of his doctoral thesis he studied how lightweight insulating construction elementsespecially more complex shapescould be manufactured to reduce materials.

To do so, he used sustainable insulation material produced by the ETH spin-off FenX using recycled industrial waste. "The mineral foam we use is an innovative construction material that contributes to a more climate-friendly industry," Bedarf explains.

The foam is mostly made from fly ash, a waste product from industrial blast furnaces. "This material has therefore already gone through the first material cycle, and can simply be recycled after use," Bedarf explains and crumbles between his fingers the random component he has just pulled out of the wooden crate. "The material can now be reused as a novel foam."

The research is published in the journal 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing.

Less material used

The production of insulating wall elements is a sustainable process: the doctoral researcher uses 3D printing to reduce material wastage and CO 2 emissions. "The formwork needed for pouring material is no longer required. Formwork is very time-consuming and can only be partially reused afterwards," Bedarf says. Excessive wastage is a particular challenge when producing more complex geometrical shapes.

Bedarf explains that combining 3D printing with robotics also allows inexpensive production of bespoke building parts. "Without automation, traditional construction methods that save on materials are very time-consuming and expensive, especially due to labor costs."

The researcher shows some initial samples of the hardened foam produced with a 3D printer. "Take this piece, for example, which looks like a pizza," he says, and points to a flat disk. "We printed several different types of these small "pizzas" to begin with, and then moved on to bigger pieces to see whether foam produced by 3D printing is also suitable for large-scale applications.

Credit: ETH Zurich

A 3D printer the size of the entire room

Someone looking for a typical 3D printer in the robotics lab will be searching in vain: the entire room functions as a 3D printer. Flexible mixing chambers ensure the correct mixture of raw material. The ends of the robotic arms hanging from the roof are fitted with printer heads which apply the material layer by layer to the print bed. "The robots can navigate precisely to every predefined point in the room," Bedarf explains. "We program the relevant path and specify where they travel and how quickly, as well as how much material should flow from the printer head, and at what time and place."

In the initial trials, Bedarf used concrete to strengthen the bespoke building parts. He then managed to produce robust components solely using foam, as shown in the prototype of the Airlement project: a monolithic corner column two meters high made of four 3D-printed segments. The four individual parts are stuck together with mortar and then sprayed with a white cement-free render.

Airlementsa word play combining "air" and "elements"comprise lightweight individual parts that are easy to lift manually and stack on top of one another. "The building parts can simply be printed in a factory, transported to the building site and positioned where required," Bedarf says. "To make the component more robust, the hollow core can be cast with high-density mineral foam, eventually making it strong enough to act as a load-bearing structure." To date, Airlements can only be used as insulating parts for internal or external walls.

'Like being in a sauna'

Each individual prototype is printed in less than an hour and hardened for one week inside the fabrication environment with a controlled temperature of 20C28C and relative humidity of 20%70%. Regulating air humidity and temperature is important to ensure the material hardens correctly and is not prone to fracture.

Bedarf has developed a special climatic chamber for this: A large transparent tent-like structure inside which the robot moves along the predefined printing path. "There was mist and dust everywhere, and it was like being in a hot sauna," he says, and points out that this new production method no longer requires energy-intensive processing. "This is an advance on earlier work with cement-free foams, which either had to be hardened with cement or by curing at high temperature in the oven afterwards." The corrugated texture of Airlements provides extra stability during the hardening process and in their final state.

Airlements could eventually be used in sustainable construction: On the one hand, the insulation materials reduce the building's energy consumption. On the other hand, 3D printing produces less waste than traditional methods for manufacturing building parts and concrete formworkwhich is damaging to the environmentis no longer required. Lastly, Airlements are completely cement-free, which ensures sustainable construction. "If the building part is no longer needed, it can be completely shredded and reduced back to dust, ready to be processed into new foam."

Inspiring others to build with machines

Bedarf now wants to continue to develop Airlements with FenX. A dedicated production line will be built in their factory in Turgi. "We will thoroughly analyze the load-bearing capacity and insulation properties to determine how this material acts as a wall element in a closed room. Infrared measurements will help us establish where the thermal insulation could be further improved, and how to eliminate any weaknesses by adjusting the printing path."

More information: Patrick Bedarf et al, Robotic 3D Printing of Geopolymer Foam for Lightweight and Insulating Building Elements, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (2023). DOI: 10.1089/3dp.2023.0183 Airlements: A Lightweight and Insulating Monolithic Wall System made with Mineral Foam 3D Printing
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Experts working in artificial intelligence, from technological to public policy roles, discuss this turning point in AI and what it means for the future.

It may feel like artificial intelligence was just invented with all the hype surrounding ChatGPT and other technologies built on large language models, but six Michigan experts explain how AI has been active in our lives for yearsand their hopes and concerns for the future.

Credit: University of Michigan

AI can be much more than a chatbot. Maggie Makar, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, builds predictive models that encode cause and effect relationships rather than discovering associations.

Joyce Chai, professor of computer science and engineering, builds robotic systems that can understand and act on natural languagebasically the way we speak normally.

And Rada Mihalcea, the Janice M. Jenkins Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, focuses on how to design AI to help human workers, with one current project providing feedback to counselors.

They offer perspectives on the promise of AIhow it might assist us with both physical and cognitive tasks, and detect wrongdoing on the part of corporations.

Credit: University of Michigan

AI comes with risks, however. Shobita Parthasarathy, director of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program, lays out how AI absorbs society's biases and what it could mean if AI continues to perpetuate thembut with a veneer of objectivity. She touches on the need for regulation to ensure that biased AI doesn't create barriers for people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups.

Our problem today isn't the looming catastrophe of sentient computers and killer robots, Makar argues. We are facing real violence right now due to the radicalization and civil unrest sown by AI algorithms running social media platforms.

And it's only going to get harder to escape over time, says Nikola Banovic, assistant professor of computer science and engineering who explores how to build trustworthy AI. He notes that AI is in the process of becoming as embedded in our lives as fossil fuels, and avoiding its ills may be as difficult as ending carbon emissions.

Finally Michael Wellman, the Richard H. Orenstein Division Chair of Computer Science and Engineering and Lynn A. Conway Collegiate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, explains that our laws are largely designed around human action and human intent. He recently testified before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs about regulating algorithmic financial trading. Who is responsible when AI chooses an expedient but harmfuland illegalpath to meet its goals?

These are the challenges that lay ahead for the field, for regulators and for society at large as AI continues to grow in abilityand ubiquity.
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United Auto Workers members walk the picket line during a strike at the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, in Sterling Heights, Mich., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. A six-week United Auto Workers strike at Ford cut sales by about 100,000 vehicles and cost the company $1.7 billion in lost profits this year, Ford said Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File

A six-week United Auto Workers strike at Ford cut sales by about 100,000 vehicles and cost the company $1.7 billion in lost profits this year, the automaker said Thursday.

Additional labor costs from the four-year and eight-month agreement will total $8.8 billion by the end of the contract, translating to about $900 per vehicle by 2028, Chief Financial Officer John Lawler said in a company release. Ford will work to offset that cost through higher productivity and reducing expenses, Lawler said.

The Dearborn, Michigan, automaker re-issued full-year earnings guidance that was withdrawn during the strike, but it trimmed its expectations. The company now expects to earn $10 billion to $10.5 billion before taxes in 2023. That's down from $11 billion to $12 billion that it projected last summer.

Ford said the strike caused it to lose production of high-profit trucks and SUVs. UAW workers shut down the company's largest and most profitable factory in Louisville, Kentucky, which makes big SUVs and heavy-duty pickup trucks.

The UAW strike began Sept. 15, targeting assembly plants and other facilities at Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. The strike ended at Ford on Oct. 25.

Shares of Ford fell almost 3% to $10.29 in midday trading Thursday. They are down more than 25% in the past year.

Ford, as well as rivals General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis, agreed to new contracts with the UAW that raise top assembly plant worker pay by about 33% by the time the deals expire in April of 2028. The new contracts also ended some lower tiers of wages, gave raises to temporary workers and shortened the time it takes for full-time workers to get to the top of the pay scale.

At the end of the contract top-scale assembly workers will make about $42 per hour, plus they'll get annual profit-sharing checks.

UAW President Shawn Fain said during the strike that labor costs are only 4% to 5% of a vehicle's costs, and that the companies were making billions and could afford to pay workers more.

At the Barclays Global Automotive and Mobility Technology Conference Thursday in New York, Lawler was asked about whether Ford would consider something like GM's $10 billion stock buyback program, which the company announced Wednesday.

Lawler said Ford plans to return 40% to 50% of its free cash flow to shareholders, on top of the current 15-cent per-share dividend. He said the company has faith that executing its plans will increase the stock price.

He also said Ford expects prices to fall next year by about $1,800 for internal combustion vehicles. About $800 of that would come from dealer profits, while Ford would offer $1,000 in discounts, he said.

The company, he said, has to be aware of affordability issues for consumers, who now spend an average of $45,332 on vehicles, according to J.D. Power.

Before the coronavirus pandemic in 2019, people spent about 13.5% of monthly disposable income on vehicles, Lawler said, but that increased to 15.7% in 2022. It's since dropped to 14.5%, and Ford expects it to return to pre-pandemic levels next year, Lawler said.

Electric vehicle prices, he said, already have fallen faster than Ford or other automakers expected, so he doesn't see much of a decline next year. But as people who aren't early adopters start buying EVs, the prices will come down, he said. "They are not willing to pay a premium" over gas powered vehicles, he said.

He foresees EV prices being equal to gas vehicles and said the company is working to reduce EV costs so profit margins equal gas vehicles by 2026 or 2027.

In October Ford announced it would delay $12 billion worth of EV capital spending as the growth rate for EVs started to slow. Lawler said Ford isn't changing its EV strategy, but is changing tactics "so that we can better match (manufacturing) capacity with demand."

The company has cut in half the size of a Michigan battery factory, delayed a battery plant in Kentucky and cut manufacturing capacity for electric motors and other components. "It's not about not moving forward on our electric plans. It's about the level of capacity that we're putting in place."

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Credit: Geo-spatial Information Science (2023). DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2023.2208472

In a research letter published on July 11, 2023, in Geo-spatial Information Science, a research group led by Deren Li and Mi Wang from Wuhan University unveiled the LuoJia3-01, an experimental satellite that integrates state-of-the-art technologies to provide unparalleled geospatial information services. This development is particularly noteworthy in an era dominated by transformative technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and AI.

The LuoJia3-01 satellite marks a transformative era in remote sensing with its innovative features and methodologies. Equipped with multi-mode imaging capabilities, including high-resolution continuous area imaging, real-time video imaging, and multi-angle 3D imaging, it offers versatile applications ranging from long-term hotspot observation to dynamic target tracking.

A key breakthrough of LuoJia3-01 lies in its on-orbit real-time processing technology system, addressing the challenge of processing massive remote sensing data with delays. This system, encompassing task planning, sensor calibration, target detection, and intelligent compression, ensures efficient data processing in constrained on-board conditions.

Furthermore, the satellite's interconnectivity feature facilitates seamless communication between the satellite, ground stations, and mobile devices, enabling the swift transmission of processed data to users' mobile terminals and significantly enhancing remote sensing information accessibility.

The launch of LuoJia3-01 represents a shift in remote sensing satellite services, adopting a B2C model that dramatically shortens the time from data acquisition to delivery at the user's end. This advancement not only accelerates the efficiency of dynamic emergency responses but also democratizes access to remote sensing data, indicating a significant stride towards "fast, accurate, and intelligent" remote sensing services for the future.

In another study published on July 7, 2023, also in Geo-spatial Information Science, Prof. Deren Li et al from Wuhan University have achieved a significant breakthrough in photogrammetry. Their work on Block Adjustment (BA) methods, vital for the geometric processing of satellite images, has led to revolutionary improvements in the accuracy and efficiency of geospatial data processing.

The study highlights the integration of BA with modern technologies like AI, cloud computing, big data, IoT, and UAVs, transitioning from traditional methods to advanced bundle block adjustments (BBA). This advancement, exemplified in various large-scale applications, marks a pivotal shift in the field, enhancing the capability of BA techniques in handling complex projects and setting a new standard in global mapping and remote sensing.

More information: Deren Li et al, Internet intelligent remote sensing scientific experimental satellite LuoJia3-01, Geo-spatial Information Science (2023). DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2023.2208472 Deren Li et al, Large-scale automatic block adjustment from satellite to indoor photogrammetry, Geo-spatial Information Science (2023). DOI: 10.1080/10095020.2023.2224837
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Hydrogen (H 2 ) plays an important role in the renewable energy system to secure electricity generation. New and existing power plants must therefore be made ready for H 2 operation. However, the conversion and new construction of power plants that can be operated with 100% hydrogen poses challenges. In addition, H 2 readiness is not yet clearly defined in regulatory terms. These are the findings of scientists at the Reiner Lemoine Institute (RLI).

In a recent study, researchers show what H 2 readiness for gas-fired power plants means in technical terms, what measures are necessary for a conversion, what costs are incurred and which legal provisions need to be adapted. In 14 key statements, they formulate proposals for the climate-friendly use of H 2 in power generation.

In the future, hydrogen power plants will provide energy when electricity from renewable energies is not available for a longer period of time. However, gas turbines for 100% hydrogen use in larger power plants are not yet commercially available. So-called H 2 -ready power plants are intended to contribute to the solution.

In its "Framework for the Power Plant Strategy," the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection has announced that it will promote thesewith a tender volume of ten gigawatts (GW) in the period from 2024 to 2026 and a further five GW for new or existing gas-fired power plants thereafter. They are to be operated with natural gas and later with green hydrogen. These power plants must be completely converted to run on hydrogen by 2035 at the latest.

Lack of legal definition of H 2 -ready makes implementation difficult

As the study shows, there is currently no legally established definition of what H 2 -ready means for power plants. This makes the planning of such plants more difficult. A clearly defined concept of H 2 readiness can provide a reliable framework for the realization of emission-free H 2 power plants.

Germany has so far only introduced an implicit definition in the Combined Heat and Power Act (KWKG). It states that the transition to 100% hydrogen use must be achievable for less than ten percent of the power plant's original investment costs. The definition should ensure that the actual reduction in emissions takes center stage.

"A blanket, cost share-based definition of H 2 readiness, as in the KWKG, favors investments in more capital-intensive combined-cycle gas and steam power plants (CCGT). These are more efficient, but often run for many hours a year, especially as CHP plants. Many operating hours mean a high demand for hydrogen.

"This is problematic as renewable hydrogen will be in short supply. Typical peak-load power plants with only a few full-load hours are usually gas turbine power plants (GT). With the cost-related criterion of ten percent in the H 2 -ready definition, these would probably hardly be eligible for funding," says Andreas Christidis, project manager of the study at RLI.

Conversion from H 2 -ready to H 2 means time and cost expenditure

The scientists came to the conclusion that the most extensive retrofitting measures relate to the fuel gas and gas turbine system. The costs for this are likely to be less than 10% of the initial investment for larger combined cycle power plants. They are likely to be significantly higher for GT power plants.

The need to convert H 2 -ready power plants to hydrogen operation will also be comparatively high in a short time frame and the capacities of manufacturers will be limited. Power plant operators should therefore plan for the conversion today and take into account factors such as the space required for new components. The German government must also set a binding deadline for the conversion in order to avoid further emissions.

No emission-free H 2 power plant without green hydrogen

The use of renewable, i.e., green hydrogen is crucial for the decarbonization of electricity generation. "If fossil hydrogen is used, such as blue hydrogen from natural gas, the emissions of H 2 power plants are similar to those of today's natural gas power plants," says Anne Wasike-Schalling, research associate at RLI and responsible for the topic of hydrogen in the research area of mobility with renewable energies.

A 400 MW power plant requires over 700 MWh of hydrogen per hourthe equivalent of 12 large H 2 lorry trailers. "We therefore need the necessary quantities of green hydrogen if decarbonization is to be successful. This is both a necessary condition and a challenge," says Wasike-Schalling. "Connecting the H 2 power plants to the hydrogen core network and supplying it with green hydrogen are essential."

The scientists also come to the conclusion that the required capacities of H 2 power plants are not a fixed value and that the German government must consider further measures to stabilize the energy system. In a policy briefing, they formulate 14 core statements with proposals for the climate-friendly use of H 2 in power generation.

More information: Study and policy brief: reiner-lemoine-institut.de/wp-  tudy-H2-ready-EN.pdf

Provided by Reiner Lemoine Institut gGmbH
A top Google expert claims that Chinese cyberattacks against Taiwan are alarmingly increasing. This was revealed by Google's Threat Analysis Division Senior Engineering Manager Kate Morgan.

She said that they have seen a drastic increase in malicious online attacks conducted by cybercrime groups backed by the Chinese government. Here are other details revealed by the software giant's division tasked with monitoring government-linked hacking campaigns.

Google Expert Claims Chinese Cyberattacks Against Taiwan Alarmingly Increase

According to Bloomberg's latest report, Kate Morgan said they have observed a massive spike in Chinese cyberattacks against Taiwan. This alarming increase was seen in the last six months.

She warned that the Chinese government-backed cybercrime organizations could be employing strategies that can add more stealth to their ransomware attacks and other malicious campaigns.

If this is true, then Taiwanese cybersecurity experts will definitely have a hard time tracking them. Among their cyberattack tactics are breaching into internet routers of small Taiwanese residences, as well as offices.

Kate said that Chinese hackers are most likely repurposing these internet devices to conduct their malicious schemes while hiding their true identities.

"The number of groups in China that are performing hacking and trying to get into technology companies or get into cloud customers is huge," said the top Google expert via Channels News.

"I don't have the exact number, but it is probably over 100 groups that we are tracking just out of China alone," she added.

Read Also: Ardent Health Services Breach Affects 30 Hospitals in Six US States-Forcing Patients to Find Other Medical Facilities

China's Taiwanese Targets Broadening

Aside from the rising cyberattack campaigns, another alarming thing about China's cybercrime operations is its Taiwanese targets are broadening.

Kate Morgan explained that these Chinese online hackers now have a wider focus on why and what they will target. She even claimed that China-backed cyberattackers are now after everything they can breach.

These include the defense sector, the government, and private industry of Taiwan. China allegedly started attacking Taiwan because of its relationship with the United States.

As of writing, the U.S. is considered to be the Asian island's top military backer. However, although the two nations' ties reportedly deteriorated to avoid conflicts, their connection with China was also depleted.

China and Taiwan are still in serious conflict because of numerous issues. These include China's dominance, human rights violations, artificial intelligence competition, etc.

But, the Google expert said that China is not the only threat that Taiwan needs to worry about when it comes to cyberattacks. Other countries should also keep an eye out for Russia, North Korea, and Iran.

Related Article: Russian Online Espionage Threats Against Finland Worsens; Supo Reveals How Russia Changes Spying Tactics

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The city of College Station has filed an official response to the lawsuit filed by owners of the Post Oak Mall for an alleged $41,000 in unpaid common area fees, according to court documents.

In documents filed Nov. 21, the city denies all of the allegations made by CBL & Associates Management in the original lawsuit that was filed Oct. 29. The city also claims that it is immune to such lawsuits under the Texas Tort Claims Act which limits the liability of municipalities.

The city argues that since it is a home-rule municipality, CBL must present sufficient evidence to waive the citys immunity.

In its response, the city is asking the court to dismiss all claims, order CBL to take nothing against the city in the lawsuit and to grant the city any compensation it is justly owed.

In a Nov. 1 statement released by the city, it said it cannot pay for the shared space because it is legally barred from paying into a private corporation by the Texas Constitution.

City officials also told The Eagle that before the old Macys building and parking lot were purchased, CBL had acknowledged the issue and told the city it would work on an alternative solution.

The city also said that it is willing to pay the maintenance fees for its property but must follow state law and that CBL has not yet provided the cost breakdown the city requested or proposed an alternative payment proposal.

The old Macys building was bought in August 2022 for over $7 million and the city said the decision was based on the location and significance of the area. The city said it is still negotiating with Texas A&M University regarding an e-sports facility and other related issues.

Texas A&M did not comment on the negotiating at the time of the lawsuits original filing.
Today, 16 more people have been returned to their families after being held hostage by Hamas for more than 50 days. Among them, is Liat Beinin-a high school teacher, a guide at Israel's Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem, and an American.

Jill and I are deeply gratified that she will soon be reunited with her three children and her father, who have been wracked with worry for her safety. And we remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on Israel on October 7, including Liat's husband Aviv.

READ ALSO: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Shooting in Burlington, Vermont

The deal to pause the fighting in Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages-a deal the United States worked intensively to secure, sustain, and extend-is now in its sixth day. This deal has delivered meaningful results. Nearly 100 hostages have been returned to their loved ones. And the United States has led the international community to use this pause to accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

More than 200 trucks loaded with aid, including food, water, medicine, shelter supplies, fuel, and cooking gas, have entered Gaza each of the last few days. For the first time since this conflict began, aid reached northern Gaza.

And yesterday, the United States airlifted more than 54,000 pounds of medical equipment and food aid to the humanitarian distribution center in Egypt-the first of three deliveries of critical supplies that will go to civilians in Gaza who need our help.

I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, and President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt for their continued partnership in this process and their ongoing commitment to bring every hostage home and to get more aid to the innocent people of Gaza.

READ MORE: Readout of President Biden's Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel

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The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions against Sinbad, a virtual currency mixer that has been put to use by the North Korea-linked Lazarus Group to launder ill-gotten proceeds.

"Sinbad has processed millions of dollars' worth of virtual currency from Lazarus Group heists, including the Horizon Bridge and Axie Infinity heists," the department said.

"Sinbad is also used by cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to malign activities such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, the purchase of child sexual abuse materials, and additional illicit sales on darknet marketplaces."

In addition to the sanctions, Sinbad had its website seized as part of a coordinated law enforcement action between agencies in the U.S., Finland, and the Netherlands.

The development builds on prior actions undertaken by governments in Europe and the U.S. to blockade mixers such as Blender, Tornado Cash, and ChipMixer, all of which have been accused of providing "material support" to the hacking crew by laundering the stolen assets through their services.

Sinbad, created by an individual who goes by the alias "Mehdi" in September 2022, told WIRED earlier this February that it was a legitimate privacy-preserving initiative and that it was launched as a response to the "growing centralization of cryptocurrency and the erosion of the privacy promises it once appeared to offer."

It also emerged as a replacement for Blender, with the Lazarus Group using it to launder virtual currency plundered following the hacks of Atomic Wallet and Harmony Horizon Bridge.

"Overall, more than one third of funds sent to Sinbad during its lifetime have come from crypto hacks," Chainalysis said. "Following the takedown of Tornado Cash and Blender.io last year, Sinbad emerged as the mixer of choice for DPRK-based hacking activities."

Sinbad has also been used by ransomware actors, darknet markets, and scammers, leveraging it to facilitate illicit transactions by obfuscating their origin, destination, and counterparties.

Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic said there is evidence to suggest that the same individual or group is highly likely behind both Sinbad and Blender based on an examination of on-chain patterns, the way in which the two mixers operate, similarities in their websites, and their connections to Russia.

"Analysis of blockchain transactions shows that, before it was publicly launched, a 'service' address on the Sinbad website received Bitcoin from a wallet believed to be controlled by the operator of Blender  presumably in order to test the service," the company noted.

"A Bitcoin wallet used to pay individuals who promoted Sinbad, itself received Bitcoin from the suspected Blender operator wallet. Almost all of the early incoming transactions to Sinbad originated from the suspected Blender operator wallet."

The development comes as Vitalii Chychasov, a 37-year-old administrator of the now-dismantled online marketplace named SSNDOB, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison in the U.S. for selling personal information, including the names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers.

Chychasov, an Ukrainian national, was arrested in March 2022 while attempting to enter Hungary. He was subsequently extradited to the U.S. in July 2022. SSNDOB was taken down in a joint operation led by the U.S., Cyprus, and Latvia in June 2022.
State testing scores throughout the Grand Island public school districts are showcasing positive growth trends in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemics upset to the statewide educational balance.

Said test scores, released on Nov. 22, show that in the 2022-23 school year, students across all tested grades rebounded by a number of percentage points across all three subject areas. These scores are even higher than pre-pandemic years in both the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) and the Northwest Public Schools districts.

English language arts and mathematics tests are given in grades three through eight, science is tested in fifth and eighth grades and juniors take the ACT assessment.

For the GIPS district, 43% of students scored proficient in English language arts  meaning they were either on track or advanced in the subject. This was an increase from 35% the prior year (2021-22). Proficiency in math was 51%, up from 36%. In science, 62% of students scored proficient, an increase from 58%. Proficiency percentages in each of the three categories came in below state averages.

Grand Island Public Schools Supt. Matt Fisher was positive about the districts overall proficiency growth since last year.

We are delighted to report that every GIPS School improved in proficiency rates across the district, Fisher said. The teaching and learning taking place in our 700-plus classrooms is making a positive impact.

For Northwest Public Schools students, 68% of students scored proficient in English language arts, an increase from 52% the prior year. Proficiency in math was 81%, up from 66%. In science, 87% of students scored proficient, an increase from 74%. Proficiency percentages in each of the three categories came in above state averages.

Scores for the 2020-21 school year, released two years ago, showed the first evidence of an academic slide, fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered school buildings in March 2020. Those test scores arent documented because more than 8,500 statewide students did not participate in testing at the time. That and other disruptions, from quarantines to remote learning, prompted state officials to caution about reading too much into those results.

Brian Maher, Nebraskas education commissioner, said in a Nov. 22 press conference that the Nebraska Department of Education expected the improvement, especially because the assessment included revised English language arts standards, which were new in 2022.

When there is a new assessment or a significant change to an existing assessment, new cut scores  the scores that determine levels of proficiency  are set, he said. These new cut scores better reflect student achievement in Nebraska when compared to their student peers nationally.

Maher said that while the improvement is positive, the scores show there are achievement gaps for student subgroups, such as those in special education, those who are low income or those who are English learners.

While Nebraskas statewide assessments showed student and school growth and improvement, it also showcased the need for focused efforts in several areas, Maher said. We need to continue to work together as a state to provide the best possible opportunities for every student to succeed and be prepared for life after school.

In addition to releasing test scores, state officials on Wednesday also released accountability ratings for schools and districts, labeling them as excellent, great, good or needing assistance based on state test scores and other factors.

Overall, the GIPS district received the rating of good. The Northwest Public Schools district earned a great rating.

In an effort to keep momentum going forward, topics like focusing on instruction will continue to be a district priority for GIPS, Fisher noted.

We can clearly see that our students of all ages are improving, he concluded. It will be critical to stay the course with focused instruction, implementation of effective Professional Learning Communities and positive supports.
KEARNEY  Second Amendment advocates packed the meeting chambers, demanded the Kearney City Council soften its stand regarding weapons on city property, and got the vote they wanted.

On Tuesday night, the five-member City Council heard at least one hour of testimony from 20 members of the gun-rights contingent, and then voted 3-2 to rescind an Oct. 10 resolution that emphasized the citys right to conspicuously post where weapons are prohibited on city property.

The 3-2 vote also denied an amended resolution prepared for council consideration. The amended resolution was intended to cut through concerns and confusion generated by the Oct. 10 resolution.

With neither of those two resolutions gaining council support, the city of Kearney now is without the local authority to post where weapons are prohibited. That means signage will be removed at City Hall, the Kearney Public Library, Peterson Senior Activity Center, Mitzis Pavilion at Yanney Park, and an assortment of other city venues.

With this action, the city doesnt have the authority to post signage, Mayor Stan Clouse said as he moved to deny and rescind the signage resolutions.

Voting with Clouse were council members Jonathan Nikkila and Bruce Lear. Voting against Clouses motion were Randy Buschkoetter and Tami James Moore.

Lear said after Tuesdays meeting that its likely the council has not heard the last of the weapons signage issue. He believes the gun-rights contingent has had its say, but other Kearney residents could come forward with opposing views. City Hall received 44 emails and other messages in the days before the meeting.

The council has the opportunity to revisit this at any time, Lear said.

The resolutions were drafted in response to LB177, the permitless-carry bill approved during the 2023 Legislature. Clouse and several other council members said LB177 has a number of flaws that the Legislature should address.

Until that happens, Kearney and other Nebraska municipalities could run into more problems with the permitless-carry law, Clouse said.

Although Kearney has no local law authorizing local signage, state law outlines where possessing weapons is prohibited. Many of those places are public in nature and include venues where people gather. They include courtrooms, voting places, public meeting rooms, financial institutions, bars and churches.

Posting signs where guns arent allowed turns those places into soft targets, according to some of the gun-rights people who spoke Tuesday. Some of those testifiers are members of the Central Nebraska Patriots, a gun-rights group.

The resolution is extremely broad, said Dan Moos of Amherst. He was among a handful of out-of-towners who testified.

Another said he was from Hays, Kansas, and said, Armed security should be provided in any place where you unarm people.

Bill Hoffman of Kearney said he was among first responders at the Columbine High School mass shooting in 1999. He said people prone to killing others are attracted to gun-free zones.

Bob Lewis of Kearney said, Armed officers is the only thing thats going to stop this, not a pretty sign.

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Vietnam among ANZs key markets: exec

By Minh Anh Thu, November 30, 2023 | 8:04 am GMT+7

Vietnam is one of ANZ's most important markets with promising growth potential, said the banks CEO Shayne Elliott.

At a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai in Hanoi on Wednesday, the exec revealed that his bank is supporting many high-tech manufacturers in the Southeast Asian country.

"Many foreign investors are interested in joining green transformation in Vietnam," Elliott said, expressing his wish to contribute to this process.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai (right) holds talks with ANZ's CEO Shayne Elliott in Hanoi, November 29, 2023. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal.

He asserted that ANZ, which was one of the first foreign banks licensed in Vietnam (in 1993) and the first bank to install ATMs in the country (in 2000), stands ready to support major Vietnamese enterprises to conquer the world market.

The CEOs statements were in response to Khais suggestions that ANZ invest in high tech, green transition, clean energy, and renewable energy in Vietnam.

The deputy prime minister also called on the bank to attract reputable investors to Vietnam, and share its governance experience with the Vietnamese banking system.

Khai noted that the strategic partnerships between Vietnam and Australia and New Zealand are deepening in many fields, with economic-trade-financial cooperation having made remarkable progress.

He said he hoped ANZ will contribute to those thriving relations by making investments that align with joint statements issued by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand during their Vietnam visits.

Khai suggested the bank share its experience in governance and digital transformation in the banking sector, foreign exchange services, trade-finance, and cash flow management, and help businesses access low-cost loans.

The deputy prime minister also asked ANZ to continue providing capital for green growth and green finance to accompany Vietnam in achieving its goals in these realms.
Learning Tools

Free AI Teaching Assistant and AI Tutor Designed to Enhance Teaching and Learning

Not-for-profit corporation Contact North/Contact Nord in Ontario, Canada, has released two free AI-powered tools for teachers and students: AI Teaching Assistant Pro and AI Tutor Pro.

Both of these tools are powered by AI and work on smartphones, laptops, and desktops. They do not require a login or track users, the company said.

AI Teaching Assistant Pro:

Creates multiple choice quizzes and essay questions with scoring capability at any level in any subject;

Creates a syllabus with course description, learning outcomes, and weekly topics; and

Makes lessons interactive as well as allows teachers more time to help students with critical thinking and conduct discussions.

For instance, the quiz creation feature asks teachers to input the subject, being as specific as possible (i.e., "Newton's law of gravity" rather than just "physics"), how many questions in the quiz, and how many answer options there are for each question. The AI then creates the quiz questions, shows the answer options for each, and shows the correct answer. The program urges teachers to double check the questions' accuracy.

Teachers can save the quiz, syllabus, or lesson by clicking on the "copy" icon and pasting into their own word processing program.

Watch a video presentation and try the program for free on this page.



For students, AI Tutor Pro, powered by ChatGPT:

Holds open-ended conversations with students, who can participate by expressing their thoughts and learning about any topic at an academic level;

Lets students learn at their own pace and individualize their learning experience;

Includes a review feature to help students remember what they have learned; and

Lets students copy and paste lecture transcripts, notes, and articles into the tutor and discuss the material with it.

Students can watch a video presentation here and try the program for free.

Established by the Ontario government in 1986, Contact North/Contact Nord provides free support services to underserved Ontario residents and students. Visit the About page to learn more.
Learning Tools

Swivl Debuts AI-Enabled Mirror Tool to Foster Student Reflection

Ed tech company Swivl has introduced its latest tool, Mirror, which automates helping students develop higher order skills of thought and reflection about their learning and gives teachers insights into teaching such skills.

"The time of exclusively grading based on results is behind us; assessing reflection is now crucial for advancing education," the company said in a release.

Portable but sturdy, the AI-enabled hardware/software platform device requires minimal setup and can be used as a self-service kiosk anywhere in the school, the company said. Teachers can generate goals and activities for individuals or groups, and students can use it at any time, talking to a reflection of themselves. It includes a 180 camera and whiteboarding features, and facilitates calls with remote teachers, specialists, or students, embeds content, and gives controlled access to generalized AI.

"Automated reflection can help solve the intrinsic motivation challenge by fostering goal alignment on both individual and communal levels, expediting learning processes, and establishing fresh assessment benchmarks," the company said.

Referencing a study conducted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Swivl noted that "American teachers only have three minutes per hour of instructional time to devote to activities that allow students to reflect on their learning. The Mirror makes it easier to apply reflection to more learning scenarios and will enable teachers to gather reflection insights quickly."

Brian Lamb, CEO and co-founder of Swivl, said their company believes that AI must be introduced into the classroom intentionally and that reflection should be part of that.

"Reflection is incredibly powerful, but it has been left behind other ed tech advances," he said. "Fortunately, the Mirror allows educators and students to easily and regularly reflect throughout the learning experience and develop skills, creating short-term and long-term benefits" such as "a more goal-aligned classroom and  stronger metacognitive skills  for thriving in an AI-driven world."

Visit this page to learn more and watch a video about how Mirror works.

Swivl has also launched a partnership campaign in which educators can buy a Mirror device and select a school they would like one donated to. Visit this page for more information on the campaign.
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Health officials warn that China's pneumonia outbreak could spread to European cities due to global travel dynamics. Dr. Veronika Matutyte warned that some areas in the region will be hit harder than others by the health crisis.

She recommended that it should be something that doctors take into consideration. She predicted that London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam could be Europe's first entry points for illness.

China's Pneumonia Outbreak

Matutyte reasons that these areas are "large, densely populated " and considered "transit hubs" for the rest of the world. The health expert added that the likelihood of the outbreak reaching Europe is closely tied to global travel dynamics.

She added that airports in various cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam are known for their extensive global connections. Matutyte said that these are not simply transit hubs but also facilitate the spread of respiratory infections to their environments.

The situation comes as Amsterdam has already seen cases of pneumonia skyrocketing in the past few days. The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research revealed that 80 out of every 100.000 kids aged between five and 14 were diagnosed with respiratory issues last week, as per The Sun.

So far, officials in the country have not been able to explain why these numbers are surging so quickly but are believed to be on alert. Matutyte advised that the four cities she mentioned and other places in Europe should start closely monitoring the people coming in and consider implementing "screening procedures."

She added that emphasizing basic hygiene practices, such as frequent hand washing and wearing masks in public spaces, is still fundamental. Matutyte said that in healthcare settings, stringent infection control measures are essential.

Her final tip was for people to be taught about the symptoms of the illness and the right ways to seek help if they fear that they have the disease. The situation comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) demanded China to provide fresh data amid the worsening outbreak.

Read Also: China Claims Respiratory Illness Surge Isn't Caused by Novel Virus

Potential Spread to European Cities

During a press conference on Nov. 13, Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission reported a surge in cases of respiratory diseases in the region. According to WHO, they attributed this rise in incidence to lifting COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2.

However, epidemiologists said that the high prevalence of pneumonia in the Asian country was unusual. The WHO previously requested information from Chinese health authorities, including laboratory results and data on recent trends in the spread of respiratory illnesses.

The request followed reports from the media and the Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases, a publicly available system. It is run by the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

An epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong, Benjamin Cowling, said he was not surprised by the wave of respiratory illnesses. He said that this is a typical "winter surge" in acute respiratory infections, said Nature.

Related Article: [BREAKING] First Human Infected With New Swine Flu Detected in UK

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
GRANITE CITY, Ill.  The last operating blast furnace at U.S. Steel's plant in Granite City will remain idled indefinitely, the company said Tuesday, extending a closure first billed as temporary.

The company on Tuesday also notified 600 additional employees that they might lose their jobs.

U.S. Steel spokeswoman Amanda Malkowski, however, said the company only expected to lay off a portion of those.

And a local union official said he thought the plant would keep operating with the same number of workers, at least for now.

The fate of the Granite City plant has been in question since last summer, when U.S. Steel revealed plans to sell a portion of the facility to Chicago-based SunCoke Energy in a deal that would eliminate nearly 1,000 of 1,450 jobs at the plant.

The companies are still in discussion.

Then, lending further uncertainty, U.S. Steel said this summer that it was considering a sale of the company.

The Pittsburgh-based steel company has not made any public announcements about finalizing either potential transaction.

The Granite City facility has two blast furnaces, used to make steel. One was previous shut down.

This fall, U.S. Steel shut down the second temporarily, predicting the closure would last less than six months.

But in a layoff notice filed with area officials, dated Tuesday, the company told 1,000 employees it now expects the closure will continue longer.

Of those, 400 workers were already on temporary layoff from the site. The notification this week warned 600 more that permanent layoffs could be on the horizon.

Dan Simmons, president of United Steelworkers Local 1899, said Tuesday afternoon that he expected the plant to keep operating with the same number of workers for now.

The company estimated that, of the 1,000 total workers who received the notices, 60% might ultimately be affected, Malkowski said.

The changes will begin as early as Jan. 28, according to the notice.

When the decision to idle the blast furnace was first announced in September, the company blamed softening demand from the automotive industry, due to the sprawling United Auto Workers strike. Officials pushed back on the company's assertion that the strike was to blame: U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, cast it as an attempt to "pit working people against one another."

The UAW walkout at the Big Three automakers  Ford, General Motors and Stellantis  ended in late October.

On Tuesday, U.S. Steel said the move to idle the blast furnace indefinitely was made to balance its production with customer demand.

The company's steel rolling and finishing operations at the site will continue, using metal slabs from other facilities.

Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson said he is already thinking about the buildings and land that will be left vacant as parts of the plant close. He said he is concerned with how those areas will be maintained, and is raising the issue with U.S. Steel.

"I'm going to force them to start thinking about that," Parkinson said. "My citizens deserve better."

Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
The Bull Swamp Rural Water Company has issued a boil water advisory for some water customers. The impacted areas are west of North and Woodford.

The advisory includes water customers on the following roads:

 Hayden Road

 North Road

 Creek Mill Road

 Salem Branch Road

 Finch Road

 Westview Drive

 Jones Wire Road

Water customers in the affected areas should vigorously boil their water for at least one minute before cooking or drinking.

Alzheimers Association plans Orangeburg County study The Alzheimer's Association of South Carolina will conduct a community and health care needs assessment in Orangeburg County in the coming year, association Director of Government Affairs Taylor Wilson said.

Water customers near the affected areas who have lost water or water pressure are also asked to boil water for at least one minute before cooking or drinking.

Bull Swamp has experienced a broken four-inch water line that requires the water to be turned off for repairs.

Orangeburg County School District: Plans created to improve 8 schools The Orangeburg County School District has created academic improvement plans for eight schools in the district that scored below average or unsatisfactory on their 2022-2023 school year report cards.

The boil water advisory will be in place until further notice by the Orangeburg Department of Public Utilities.

Orangeburg DPU is currently working to correct the problem for the BSRWC.

Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com Get the first 26 weeks for just $1 at https://go.thetandd.com/nov5

For more information, call the DPU Water Division at 803-268-4404 or after hours at 803-268-4000.
(TBTCO) - Gia ca phe hom nay (11/1) tai thi truong trong nuoc noi dai chuoi ngay i len. Ghi nhan cho thay, muc giao dich cao nhat trong cac ia phuong uoc khao sat la 70.500 ong/kg. Trong khi o, gia tieu dao ong trong khoang 78.000 - 80.000 ong/kg sau khi uoc ieu chinh giam ong loat. oi voi cao su, gia ky han tren hai san giao dich uoc ieu chinh tang duoi 2% trong phien sang nay.
THE HAGUE/BEIRUT Illegal chemical weapons attacks killed and injured thousands during Syria's civil war, many of them children, but more than a decade later the perpetrators go unpunished.

That could change under an initiative to create a new tribunal for such atrocities launched in The Hague on Thursday.

A dozen Syrian rights groups, international legal experts and others have quietly spent two years laying the groundwork for a new treaty-based court that could put on trial alleged users of banned toxic agents worldwide.

"The tribunal for us Syrians is hope," said Safaa Kamel, 35, a teacher from the Jobar suburb of Syria's capital Damascus, recalling the Aug. 21, 2013, sarin gas attack in the Ghouta district which killed more than 1,000 people, many in their sleep.

"The symptoms that we had were nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the face, some fainting. Even among the little ones. There was so much fear," she told Reuters from Afrin, a northwest Syrian town where she sought refuge. "We'll never be able to erase from our memories how they were all lined up."

Many diplomatic and expert meetings between states have been held to discuss the proposal, including the political, legal and funding feasibility, documents seen by Reuters showed.

Diplomats from at least 44 countries across all continents have been engaged in the discussions, some of them at ministerial level, said Ibrahim Olabi, a British-Syrian barrister, a key figure behind the initiative.

"While it's Syrians that are calling for it, for the use of chemical weapons in Syria, if states so wish, it could be far beyond Syria," Olabi told Reuters.

The Exceptional Chemical Weapons Tribunal proposal was launched on Nov. 30, the day victims of chemical attacks are remembered worldwide. The next step will be for states to agree on the wording of a treaty.

"Some kind of justice"

The use of chemical weapons is banned under the Geneva Conventions that codified the laws of war. That ban was strengthened by the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, a non-proliferation treaty joined by 193 states which is overseen by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

But political division over the Syrian war at the OPCW and the United Nations led to the blocking of efforts to bring accountability for the widespread violations in international law in hundreds of suspected chemical attacks.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has denied using chemical weapons against its opponents in the civil war, which broke out in March 2011 and has now largely settled into a stalemate. Its information ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Countries including France have opened prosecutions under so-called universal jurisdiction for war crimes, but in those situations where the International Criminal Court is not able to act, there is no legal body that can prosecute individual suspects of chemical weapons use globally.

"Having those voices say 'we need some kind of justice...I think that's going to be powerful," Dapo Akande, a British barrister and member of the United Nations International Law Commission, told Reuters.

There have been international courts for war crimes, from the Balkans to Rwanda and Lebanon, but none that focused on the specific crime of deploying chemical weapons, Akande said.

"It would be trying to fill a gap in the sense that it would essentially be for cases where the International Criminal Court is unable to exercise jurisdiction. And that would, I think, be particularly innovative about it."

The ICC, the world's permanent war crimes court in The Hague, has no jurisdiction in Syria.

The OPCW has the power to investigate claims of chemical weapons use and in some cases identify alleged perpetrators, but it has no prosecutorial powers. It said in January that the Syrian government was responsible for an attack in Douma in 2018 that killed 43 people.

A UN-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) found that the Syrian government used the nerve agent sarin in an April 2017 attack and has repeatedly used chlorine as a weapon. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use.

Syria's ally Russia has repeatedly vetoed attempts to extend the JIM's mandate, which expired in Nov. 2017.

Ten years late

For Dr. Mohamad Salim Namour, who helped treat hundreds of patients after the 2013 Ghouta atttack, the images of the choking and dying still bring him to tears. He recalled one child survivor lying among the bodies asking him: "Am I still alive?"

"We feel bitter that accountability is coming ten years late...We hope that we don't have to wait another 10 years," he told Reuters in The Hague.

"Let international law and justice take its course."

Only a tiny fraction of about 200 investigations into Syrian war crimes conducted by mostly European countries relate to chemical attacks, the UN body tasked with investigating Syria crimes, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) told Reuters.

IIIM head Catherine Marchi-Uhel said there are not enough justice opportunities for chemical weapons attacks in Syria and that her agency was ready to work with a new court.

"An international body with dedicated resources and a team that has developed expertise on building cases around chemical weapons incidents might be well placed to deal with these types of cases," she said.
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A New York federal judge dismissed a lawsuit this fall accusing Alec Baldwin of defaming the family of a Wyoming Marine killed in Afghanistan, and no settlement payout was made, sources show.

Rylee McCollums widow and sisters accused Baldwin of subjecting them to online harassment after he reposted a photo shared by McCollums sister, Roice, of her attending a demonstration on Jan. 6, 2021  the day of the United States Capitol riot. The lawsuit alleged Roice and the family was quickly subjected to hostile, aggressive, hateful messages.

Roice went to Washington to participate in the protest against the election of President Joe Biden, but she did not take part in the riot, federal court filings state.

The McCollum family first filed the lawsuit in Wyoming, but a judge tossed it because Baldwin wrote the social media posts in New York. The family refiled in Baldwins home state last year, but the case was closed on Oct. 23, federal court filings show.

On Wednesday, a journalist reported on Substack that Baldwin appear[ed] to have settled the $25 million defamation lawsuit brought against him, the article states. In that article, the McCollum familys attorney confirmed the matter is over.

Beyond whats already been published we have no further comment, Dennis Postiglione, the McCollum familys attorney, told the Star-Tribune on Thursday.

But Luke Nikas, a New York attorney representing Baldwin, told the Star-Tribune Thursday that Baldwin did not make any payout to end the legal dispute with the McCollum family.

Mr. Baldwin did not make any payment to settle this case, and the reports Ive read to the contrary are inaccurate, Nikas said in a statement.

Last year, Baldwins attorney filed a motion to dismiss all of the McCollum familys lawsuit for failure to state a claim, federal court filings show.

U.S. District Court Judge Edgardo Ramos ultimately filed an opinion and order in August, which granted Baldwins request, filings show.

Ramos ruled that Baldwins private messages, even when sent through social media, are not actionable because they were not shared with a third party, and Baldwins public comments are protected under the First Amendment.

The judge also ruled that Baldwins republishing of Roices Jan. 6 photo did not meet defamation standards, and there was no special relationship between them that could give rise to a duty of care on Baldwins part, the ruling states.

Even though Baldwins followers, as third parties, may have reacted to Baldwins opinion in an offensive manner, there is no obligation to protect a bystander to whom no duty is owed from an emotional injury, the ruling states.

Baldwin had an interaction with the McCollum family prior to this dispute.

Rylee was one of 13 American troops and over 100 Afghans killed by a 2021 suicide bomb at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. After Baldwin heard of the news of the fallen Wyoming marine, he sent Roice a $5,000 donation for their family, court filings show.

The McCollum family was granted time to file an amended complaint if they wished to continue the lawsuit, but they did not do so in a timely manner. So, the federal court closed the case.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Elon Musk shared a very simple message to advertisers leaving his social media platform. During an interview, the billionaire told X's fleeing ad partners to "go f*** yourself."

Although his message only has three words, Musk's statement clearly shows how serious X's advertising issues are. The tech executive talked about X's advertisers on Wednesday, Nov. 29. He said other things at the New York Times' DealBook Summit.

Elon Musk's Simple Message to X's Fleeing Advertisers is 'Go F*** Yourself'

During the DealBook Summit, Elon Musk talked about what he thinks about advertisers leaving X because of his recent antisemitic X post issue. CNN Business reported that the billionaire apologized for what he did, calling his post agreeing to the antisemitic content the "dumbest" one he ever posted.

However, he lashed out at advertising partners who left and were about to leave X just because of it. Elon Musk said that if advertisers are so worried about his conduct on X, they should stop spending on social media.

"If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*ck yourself. Go f*ck yourself," said the tech executive via The Wired.

He didn't stop there. Elon even mentioned Disney CEO Bob Iger, saying that if he was in the audience, he should know what the billionaire felt about Disney's decision to pause its advertisements on X.

Musk made his surprising remarks after X CEO Linda Yaccarino reassured advertisers and users that the social media company is against antisemitism and other harmful beliefs or activities against all kinds of groups.

Read Also: X Allows Misinformation Super-Spreaders on Its Ads Revenue Sharing Program, Claims Watchdog-Here's the Report

Can X Survive Without Advertisers?

Elon Musk's statements show that the billionaire is confident its platform will survive without advertisers against his activities on X. However, experts said advertisers' spending is critical for X to strive as a social media platform. Some even claimed that Musk's negative remarks about Iger indicate he is angry with Disney for pulling its funds out of X.

Aside from Disney, other giant firms also left Elon Musk's social media platform because of his previous antisemitic issue. These include Discovery, IBM, Paramount Global, Lionsgate, EU, Apple, Comcast, and Warner Bros.

As of writing, this trend is a sign that other advertisers and small money might soon leave X and find other opportunities elsewhere.

Related Article: Elon Musk Says Claims About Him Being Antisemitic Are Bogus; Netizens Show Their Support to Billionaire

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The last month of the year will be one to watch for those who are both for and against abortion access in Wyoming.

The week of Dec. 11 will feature two significant court hearings and the closing of a Jackson clinic  leaving only one physical facility to provide elective abortions in the state.

Its going to be a tense week, said Right to Life Wyoming president Marti Halverson, referring to the hearings.

Theres a lot hanging in the balance, obviously, echoed Sharon Breitweiser, executive director of Pro-Choice Wyoming. Right now, the lawsuits are the critical component to everything.

Between now and then, a Jackson judge is also expected to decide whether expert witnesses and an amicus brief should be allowed in the suit challenging the state bans, which the Legislature passed earlier this year. One restricts most abortions while the other targets medication abortions. Both are on hold while the courts weigh the matter.

Intervenors

The first big hearing next month concerns whether proposed intervenors will be allowed to join the suit challenging Wyomings abortion bans.

That group includes Reps. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, R-Cody, Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, and Right to Life of Wyoming. Rodriguez-Williams sponsored and Neiman co-sponsored the near-total ban, while both co-sponsored the medication ban. Neiman is also the House majority floor leader.

The 9th District Court in Teton County ruled in June that they  along with Secretary of State Chuck Gray  were not allowed to join the case. Later, the two lawmakers and RTLW appealed that decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

District Judge Melissa Owens denied their request on the grounds that their goal was the same as the attorney general  whos already involved in the case  and that they didnt have direct, substantial, protectable interests. The aspiring intervenors disagree and have stated that their interests arent being adequately defended.

Were hopeful, of course, Halverson said of the hearing. But we have no idea how thats going to play out.

Oral arguments have been set at 9 a.m. Dec. 12 before the Wyoming Supreme Court and will be broadcasted live online.

Summary judgment

Then, across the state in Jackson, arguably the months most important hearing regarding abortion in Wyoming is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 14.

Thats when Judge Owens will hear arguments about why she should issue a summary judgment siding with either those challenging the state abortion bans or those defending the bans.

Both sides of the case requested a summary judgment, arguing Owens should skip a costly trial because there are no fact issues in the case, only legal ones.

Plaintiffs in the case  women, health care providers and an aid group  argue Owens should side with their case, finding the bans unconstitutional in several ways and permanently bar the state from enforcing either.

Defendants  including the state, governor, attorney general, Teton County sheriff and Jacksons chief of police  argue the exact opposite, stating that the bans are constitutional and should be allowed to go into effect.

While she could rule Dec. 14, Owens doesnt have to make a decision that day and could deny both motions for summary judgment, sending the case to trial. Thats currently set for April.

Regardless of the outcome, the case is expected to be appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

Jackson clinic

The day after the big hearing at the Teton County Courthouse, only a 15-minute walk away, the Womens Health & Family Care clinic is slated to close its doors. Its one of only two clinics offering elective abortions in Wyoming.

The reason is solely financial, according to those working there.

The four doctors are expected to remain in the Jackson area, and two are slated to start working at St. Johns Family Medicine. However, the hospital says it will decide whether to allow them to perform elective abortions at its facilities at a later date.

In the meantime, that will leave Wellspring Health Access in Casper as the sole brick-and-mortar clinic offering abortions in the state. Others can still access abortion-inducing medications via Just the Pill or Aid Access.

Other things to watch

There are other legal arguments afoot that could affect abortion in Wyoming.

Judge Owens has yet to decide whether shell allow a proposed amicus brief into the abortion ban suit. That brief was filed by active and retired health care providers, including former state lawmaker Timothy Hallinan, writing in support of the abortion bans.

There is also an ongoing disagreement over whether expert witnesses should be allowed in the abortion ban case. The state has argued they shouldnt be allowed, but plaintiffs strongly disagree.

On the national level, all eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court, which has yet to decide whether itll take up a case regarding mifepristone  one of two medications regularly taken to induce abortion.

Lower courts found that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inappropriately approved and/or expanded access to the medication, though Supreme Court justices put a hold on specific restrictions for the drug as the case moves forward.

Others have noted that another medication used to induce abortions  misoprostol  can be used alone, but can cause more pain and bleeding without accompanying mifepristone.

In February, Wyoming signed onto a Mississippi-led amicus brief opposing the FDAs expansion of mifepristone access through telehealth and sent by mail.

Weve always said that mifepristone was hastily approved by the FDA, said Halverson. And the reason they were so able to approve it was they had to declare pregnancy an illness and mifepristone the cure.

If the nations highest court takes on the case, oral arguments could happen next year.

This all sets the stage for the Wyoming Legislatures budget session, which starts Feb. 12. While the session is likely focused on monetary matters, bills affecting abortion could always come forward, according to Breitweiser.

Weve seen this year, unfortunately, how willing a vast majority of the legislators are to jump on board and support these [abortion] restrictions, she said.

Halverson doesnt have anything on her radar yet. Im not tracking any pro-life bills this session, she said.
CHEYENNE  As several agencies within Wyoming state government continue to struggle to provide services due to a shortage of full-time employees, the Wyoming Department of Transportation this week announced a $2,000 hiring bonus program.

The strategic move is to help the department find enough staff to meet its mission in providing state services, according to a WYDOT news release, and is available to all permanent positions.

We recognize the importance of attracting skilled and dedicated individuals to join our team, said Taylor Rossetti, support services administrator at WYDOT, in the news release. This hiring bonus is a testament to our commitment to building a strong workforce that can meet the challenges and demands of our ever-evolving transportation landscape.

Doug McGee, a WYDOT spokesperson, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle there are currently 200 to 250 full-time openings out of 2,000 positions within the department. There are shortages of snow plow drivers, engineers, Highway Patrol dispatchers, Highway Patrol troopers and in maintenance dispatch centers, as well as mechanics in multiple locations.

The list goes on and on, but those are some very key positions, McGee said. Were short 40 fulltime plow drivers.

A Thanksgiving winter storm left Wyomings interstates covered in black ice and thick snow, creating a busy day for troopers as reports of accidents started to flood in. This level of vacancy creates challenges for the department all year round, McGee said, but staffing shortages have become an increasing concern with the winter season looming ahead.

Weve already had one pretty good sized storm, McGee said. Being short that many plow drivers, being short Highway Patrol troopers, being short dispatchers to send folks out to the trouble spots, thats a problem.

Staffing shortage issues have increased significantly for WYDOT since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, McGee said.

I would imagine just about any employer you talk to has been struggling with this, probably since about the time the pandemic hit, he said.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department joins WYDOT in its need to fill vacant, full-time positions. A 2022 report released in late October found that law enforcement position vacancy rates at Game and Fish were at nearly 20%.

A shortage of law enforcement for the department hasnt been an issue until recent years, according to the report. Game and Fish has struggled to hire and train enough law enforcement to replace those who retired or voluntarily left.

There was a steep drop in documented wildlife, fishing and watercraft violations from 2021, but Chief Game Warden Rick King said this was not because more people were choosing to follow the law.

This should not be interpreted as an increase in compliance with state laws and regulations, King wrote in the report. Rather, it should serve as a stark reminder of our ongoing recruitment and retention challenges facing most agencies.

Several senior game warden districts were vacant during the fall hunting season, and King noted that the Wyoming game wardens are stretched thin from being understaffed. In the midst of ongoing staffing shortages, King called on the public to help.

Now more than ever, your eyes in the field and reports of suspicious activity are needed, he wrote.
A 19-year-old Wyoming teenager was killed Wednesday morning in Sweetwater County when his car "jumped a large earth embankment," the Wyoming Highway Patrol reported.

Matthew Phillips was driving a Chrysler Sebring north on Wyoming Highway 430 near Rock Springs, the statement said. The crash happened at milepost 45.5 at 7:41 a.m.

Phillips was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, the statement said.

His "vehicle exited the roadway to the right where it jumped a large earth embankment, and rolled approximately two times," the statement said.

Speed, driver inattention and fatigue are being considered as possible causes, the statement said. The weather was clear in the area, and the roads were dry.

He was improperly using his seatbelt at the time, the statement said.

Phillips was the 133rd person to die on Wyoming's roads in 2023. At the same time last year, there were 124 in 2022, 107 in 2021 and 119 in 2020.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
A Montana landowner group has filed a brief asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to reverse a Wyoming district court judges 2023 ruling in favor of four hunters who corner crossed, according to reporting by WyoFile.

As a practical matter, this Court has been tasked with deciding whether corner crossing is trespassing or legally permitted throughout the Western United States, United Property Owners of Montana (UPOM) attorney Jack Connors wrote in an amicus brief to the court dated Nov. 13.

An amicus brief allows UPOM to argue in favor of Wyoming landowner Fred Eshelman as he appeals the judges ruling by citing legal arguments, even though UPOM is not a party to the lawsuit.

Wyoming case

Eshelman is challenging an April decision by U.S. Chief District Judge Scott Skavdahl who ruled that four Missouri hunters did not trespass when they crossed from Bureau of Land Management property at the corners where the public lands meet.

The corners are near Eshelmans Elk Mountain Ranch, of which 6,000 acres are public land. In 2020 and 2021 the hunters used a ladder to cross from one corner of BLM land to another. A survey marker identified the location of the corners.

In 2022, a jury found the hunters not guilty of criminal trespass, WyoFile reported. Eshelman then filed a civil suit against the four men.

onX Maps, a Montana online mapping company, has estimated there are more than 8.3 million acres of BLM land in the West only accessible by corner crossing.

UPOM

Formed as a nonprofit in 2007, UPOM has lobbied against bison reintroduction to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, sued Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks over elk hunting regulations and helped fight access groups seeking to open gated roads to the public.

The groups website calls corner crossing  moving from one corner of public land to another where they meet  a misnomer. Instead, UPOM calls the action trespassing and a threat to landowners.

There is no way to cross at a corner without traveling through private property, especially when commercial GPS is accurate only to within several yards, said Chuck Denowh, UPOMs policy director, in an email to the Billings Gazette. Regardless, there is no minimum amount of property that can be taken for public use without violating the Constitutional rights of the property owner.

Arguments

In UPOMs brief, Connors writes that although it is a laudable goal to increase opportunities for the public to recreate on federal property, such access must be achieved in an orderly and legal manner that respects private property rights.

Connors said county attorneys hesitate to bring criminal charges against corner crossers given the lack of concrete property damage and the more serious criminal matters that local prosecutors must address. And most landowners are unwilling to file civil litigation given the costs of litigation, the negative publicity the landowner would receive, and the other options available to deter trespassers.

He goes on to outline several arguments why the appeals court should overturn the lower courts ruling, including:

In the early years of cattle ranching in the West, a time when few fences existed to contain ranchers cattle, there was the idea of open range. In states like Montana and Wyoming, landowners are still required to fence out their neighbors livestock.

Arguing that livestock are permitted to cross onto private land without trespassing, while humans are not allowed to cross onto public land at corners without trespassing, may seem contrary to his clients interest. But Connors argued since the implementation of the Taylor Grazing Act in 1934, open public range grazing has been illegal and federally controlled through grazing permits. Therefore, the case law cited by the Wyoming judge  which allowed a rancher to cross private property to reach federal grazing lands  is no longer valid.

By applying the historical caselaw and statutes arising out of commercial livestock production on the open range to the unrelated issue of corner crossing private property for recreational purposes, a distinctively twenty-first century issue, the district court was attempting to fit a square peg in a round hole, Connors wrote.

He also said corner crossing is difficult and potentially dangerous because the corners of public land may be in rivers, on mountain tops or cliffs, places average hunters may not be able to access.

In establishing public access, it is necessary to consider the needs of the public in general and not the self-serving desires of a few hunters, Connors wrote.

UPOMs attorney also argued that allowing corner crossing could mean the Department of Interior, which oversees the BLM, may lose its ability to use eminent domain to secure access locations other than section corners since the power would no longer be necessary to secure access to public lands.

Corner-locked public lands act as de facto wildlife preserves, which would be overrun by hunters if corner crossing is allowed, hampering the federal governments ability to regulate access to its lands, Connors said.

Lastly, UPOMs attorney said landowners are entitled to compensation in exchange for granting access and that corner crossing deprives them of that economic benefit. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has a program to compensate landowners for voluntarily providing access to public land, Connors noted.

In return for participating, FWP can grant the landowner an annual tax credit of $750 per agreement with a cap of $3,000 per landowner. According to FWPs recreation map, only four such agreements exist in the state.

The state should be proactive in working with landowners to acquire access easements to landlocked public property, Denowh said. And they could enter into land swaps to trade away inaccessible property. These are alternatives that dont require stealing land from Montana farmers and ranchers.
REPORT IN HAND: Commission chairman Jerome Lynch, KC, with the final report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Paria pipeline deaths of the four LMCS divers, which will be handed to President Christine Kangaloo today. At right is commissioner Gregory Wilson.
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The Ministry of Works and Transport is being asked by citizens why it issued no warning to d
It was one of the best tributes (eulogies) I saw or heard, and perhaps the best speech Presi
A Black FedEx delivery driver decided to file a lawsuit against the American transportation provider after the 2022 shooting incident he had to go through. Before suing the company, the plaintiff named D'Monterrio Gibson was chased and shot at by two White males; Gregory and Brandon Case. The father and son duo were arrested after they allegedly shot at the Black man in January 2022.

Unfortunately, a mistrial was declared in August after the needed video wasn't turned over to the prosecution or defense by the Brookhaven Police Department. Now, Gibson is targeting FedEx in his new civil lawsuit. But, what does FedEx have to do with the 2022 shooting incident?

FedEx Sued by Black Delivery Driver

According to The Associated Press' latest report, FedEx forced Gibson to take the same route he was chased and shot at by the White duo shooters. This caused him to have stress, anxiety, loss of sleep, emotional pain and suffering, as well as depression.

The civil legal action was filed by the Black FedEx delivery driver's attorney, Carlos Moore, on Nov. 20 in the state court. However, the company's spokesperson strongly denies the allegations made on behalf of Gibson.

"Our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees. FedEx denies the allegations and will vigorously defend the lawsuit," said Austin Kemker on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

The Daily Beast reported that D'Monterrio Gibson is seeking at least $5 million from FedEx because of the emotional damage it caused after forcing him to take the traumatizing road.

Read Also: [UPDATE] Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Additional 27 Years in Prison for Financial Crimes

What Black FedEx Delivery Driver Experienced

Before the shooting incident in January 2022, Gibson was making his usual FedEx deliveries using a van with the Hertz rental car company logo.

However, after he left a package at a home on a dead-end public road, Gregory Case and his pickup truck tried blocking Gibson's van. After that, Brandon Case came outside with a gun and started walking toward the Black delivery driver.

District Attorney Dee Bates said that Gibson decided to drive his van around the pickup truck. While trying to escape the two White men, shots were fired; three rounds hit the van, as well as some of the driver's packages.

However, Gregory Case's lawyer, Atty. Terrell Stubbs, argued that the father saw Gibson's van outside of his mother-in-law's unoccupied home. Because of this, he went to check what the Black driver was doing there.

The lawyer claimed that Gregory tried asking the FedEx delivery driver. However, Gibson didn't stop.

"It was completely dark, completely dark, and somebody was in the wrong place. It wasn't my client," explained Stubbs.

Related Article: George Floyd's Killer Derek Chauvin Expected To Survive Prison Stabbing; Family Blasts Officials for Not Reporting Incident

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A 37-year-old Oro Valley man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a minor, police said Wednesday in a news release.

Oro Valley police say they were contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a man possessing child porn.

Detectives investigated and eventually, with the help of Tucson police, searched a home in the 10000 block of North Calle Del Carnero, the agency said in the news release.

Michael Contreras was arrested and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of 11 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, the release said.

The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are expected to be filed once it is complete, the release said.

Anyone aware of a potential victim in the case is asked to contact the Oro Valley Police Department at 520-229-4900. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, https://www.missingkids.org/home, can also take tips, the release said.
Dogs deserve ice cream, too.

It was last Christmas when Wendy Roberts gifted Virginia Roy take-and-make ice cream for dogs. Over a bottle of wine, the two came up with an idea.

"Baskin-Robbins for dogs," Roy says. "A dog-safe place where everything is just for them."

The idea became a reality last month when the duo opened Cones For Bones, Tucson's first doggy ice cream bar. There are eight flavors to choose from: peanut butter, banana, birthday cake, bacon, vanilla, cheddar, blueberry and a dog-safe version of chocolate. Toppings like cookies and mini sausages are also part of the fun. The ice cream comes in a package from a supplier, but Roberts, Roy and employee Lori Day spruce it up before putting it in giant tubs to scoop up for the dogs.

You can bring your pup to eat the ice cream inside the shop, 6121 E. Broadway, or you can get a pint to-go. There are tasters, too  like a beer flight but with doggy ice cream.

"Everyone who walks in here says, 'I wish there were more of these,'" Roberts says.

Beyond the ice cream, there are dog toys, racks of pet clothing and shelves of cookies soon to be supplied by Tucson's Dogs-n-Donuts. Cones For Bones also has an area that they plan to use for doggy birthday parties.

"I've heard of parties of every kind under the sun (for dogs)  birthday parties, adoption parties, even baby showers for your dogs," Roberts says. "There's parties for everything nowadays so we figured, why not? It would be a lot of fun and less mess for people to clean up at home. And who wants six or seven dogs at their house eating birthday cake?"

Cones For Bones provides dog-friendly birthday cake, plus treats to the partygoers. Roberts has even thought about using the space to host corporate events.

The entire concept for Cones For Bones is rooted in Roy, Roberts and Day's love for dogs. They started Karma's Corner, named after one of Roy's Australian Shepherds, which is an area of the shop where community members can drop off pet items to be donated to local rescues.

There's also a "Dogs of Tucson" wall  pay $20 to have a photo of your dog displayed. Half goes to the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC), the other half goes to printing services and the picture frame. Roberts hopes the entire wall will be filled one day.

Once the duo breaks even on the business, the plan is to donate proceeds to PACC after rent, utilities and products are paid for. Even though they aren't yet breaking even on the business, Roy says they're donating out of pocket to PACC each month because they want to remain true to their mission.

"What started as, 'Isn't this a cute idea?' turned into the giving spirit and compassion for animals," Roy says.

The business has been a hit so far. One dog came in and sniffed every single cookie before deciding on the one he wanted. Two friends came in with coffee, bought cookies for their dogs and simply enjoyed the space. One couple visited the shop on their first date, both their dogs in tow.

All three of the women behind the business have full-time jobs elsewhere, but Cones For Bones is their passion project and they're dedicated to making it work.

Of course, the three have their own dogs at home: Roy has two Aussies named Karma and Doodle; Roberts has an English bulldog named Maggie and a chihuahua named Max; and Day has a heeler named Bailey.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide a safe and fun space for pet parents to bring their best friends. In the long run, Roberts would love for Cones For Bones to open locations beyond Tucson to help rescues and pet organizations in other cities.

"I can't stress enough how passionate we are to save dogs and find homes for them," Roy says.

Cones For Bones, 6121 E. Broadway, is open 4-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; closed Monday. Ice cream is $4 for one scoop, $6 for two, $8 for three. For more information, visit the Cones For Bones website.
An advisory council to Arizonas governor recommended a far-reaching measure Wednesday that could for the first time usher in regulation of rural groundwater pumping  if it can get through an expected legislative gauntlet.

The Governors Water Policy Council recommended legislation to create a system that would authorize setting up state-designated and locally run rural Groundwater Management Areas. Local residents, county supervisors or state officials could propose such areas and the Arizona Department of Water Resources director would have final authority.

The council also recommended stepping up the measuring of groundwater use in those areas, where no government metering or other monitoring of individuals water pumping now exists.

These measures would represent a huge change in management of pumping in rural areas. Groundwater use there has remained unregulated even as urban areas have come under increasing scrutiny and water conservation requirements as a result of the landmark 1980 Arizona Groundwater Management Act.

In urban areas, including the Tucson area, officials are legally required to bring their water pumping in line with groundwater recharge by 2025.

The councils actions Wednesday wrap up a six-month effort, launched by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, to beef up management of rural groundwater pumping and to improve the states laws and rules requiring proof of an 100-year assured water supply for new subdivisions in urban areas including Tucson.

On that front, the council recommends a law change to require builders of build to rent housing to comply with the assured water supply law. Currently, all rental housing is exempt from that law.

The council also recommends  strictly for the Phoenix and Pinal County management areas  rule changes that would set up a new system for water providers to gain formal designations of an assured water supply that requires them to use more renewable supplies and to reduce groundwater pumping.

Giant leaps forward

In rural areas, the newly proposed Groundwater Management Areas would:

Have the authority to set long-term goals for an individual areas aquifer stability.

Be required to create management plans for how groundwater should be used.

Be required to have a mandatory water conservation program for all sectors of an areas local economy.

Be run by councils whose members would come from lists of recommended individuals submitted by federally recognized Indian tribes, cities, towns, counties, water providers, and state legislators within the area boundaries. Exactly who would appoint the council members remains unsettled.

Be required to regulate new well locations.

Be required to describe the appropriate physical and socioeconomic conditions in the area and how the goals relate to those conditions.

Be required to prescribe methods to monitor and report on the areas progress toward meeting their goals.

These are giant leaps forward for water policy and water management in the state, Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke told the Star Wednesday, speaking of the entire package of measures recommended this year by the council.

Just the fact in a six-month time frame we had pretty diverse interests come together, knowing that theres still more work to be done  even now, thats a pretty good step forward, to come to closure and get support where we needed it both legislatively and for rulemaking, Buschatzke said. These are very big ticket items and very necessary.

He added that state water officials and council members agreed at the meetings that the time is right to take some big policy steps forward in these two areas.

Key lawmakers opposition

For years, environmentalists, some rural activists outside the environmental movement and even some Republican county supervisors and legislators have said some reining in of the unregulated rural pumping is needed to prevent aquifer levels in those areas from sinking to the point where they can no longer supply water to farmers or other residents.

These efforts have died again and again in the Legislature due to opposition from legislative leaders and committee chairs who oppose any such regulation as infringements on private property rights. The most outspoken legislative opponent of state regulation of rural areas, Republican Rep. Gail Griffin of Hereford, has repeatedly blocked such legislation and many times refused to hold hearings on it as chairwoman of the House Energy, Natural Resources and Water Committee.

Griffin serves on this water policy council but didnt attend Wednesdays meeting. An aide to her read a statement at the meeting opposing some of the policy changes being proposed. Griffin was the only water policy council member who opposed the proposals for toughening rural groundwater regulation.

Two other committee members, Arizona Farm Bureau President Stefanie Smallhouse and Sen. Sine Kerr, resigned from the council last month in protest of what they felt was overreaching by the committee in its plans to set up the rural management areas. Their resignations signal the potential for these proposals to face tough legislative sledding next year.

Kerr, a Buckeye Republican, said at the time in a statement, The Governors Water Policy Council is nothing more than a forum to rubber stamp the progressive environmental goals of special interest groups. The radical agenda being pushed has the potential to damage our economy and kill the livelihoods of our farmers and ranchers.

Today, nearly 24,000 wells are pumping potentially large amounts of groundwater in unregulated areas of Arizona, ADWR told the governors council. They pump more than 35 gallons per minute of groundwater.

Money for well owners

On monitoring of water use, the council recommendation calls on ADWR to provide financial assistance to owners of such wells in these unregulated areas. In return, the well owners would voluntarily report their annual water use to the state.

Speaking of the rural groundwater areas proposal, Buschatzke said, Let me say that in this council process, there are some people who thought this framework went too far and some thought it didnt go far enough.

After we work on creating the details of this framework including a legislative package, we have the opportunity to put more on the bones to address the detail. I expect we will build a broad level of support we can bring forward to multiple legislators, hopefully in a bipartisan way, the director said.
Deputies arrested 26 people on suspicion of criminal trespass during a protest over the war in Gaza, the Pima County Sheriffs Department says.

More than two dozen people were arrested Thursday morning during a demonstration outside of Raytheon in the University of Arizona Tech Park on Tucsons southeast side, officials say.

Deputies were called about 7:30 a.m. to the protest over the war in Gaza, the Pima County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. The tech park is located near South South Rita Road near Interstate 10.

Multiple demonstrators entered private property, blocked the roadways and prevented employees from entering and leaving the facility, the release said.

Deputies arrested 26 people on suspicion of criminal trespass. Those arrested were cited and released, the news release said.
PHOENIX  A judge rebuffed Kari Lakes bid to get access to ballot envelopes, saying that would expose voters to harassment and potentially force them to defend the integrity of their own votes.

In a sharply worded ruling released Thursday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah acknowledged that, strictly speaking, the envelopes are public records.

But he said he also must consider whether disclosure might lead to substantial and irreparable private or public harm. He cited testimony by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer that disclosure in this case would create election integrity issues and depress voter participation.

Coupled with specific restrictions enacted by lawmakers on voter registration records, that trumps the request of Lake, the failed 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate, Hannah ruled.

Nothing in the new order affects Lakes ongoing efforts to get the state Court of Appeals to order a new election. But it denies the losing Republican contender access to the 1.3 million early ballot envelopes cast in the states largest county, undermining her ability to claim the county used improper procedures to verify signatures and allowed ballots with unmatched signatures to be counted.

Lake, in a post by her campaign on the social media platform X, blasted the decision.

The judge ruled that while these records are public, the public has no right to see them, the post said. We can no longer trust or verify. Corrupt election officials are allowed to handle the peoples business in back rooms knowing the judiciary will not hold them accountable.

Her goose failed

Hannah had his own criticism of Lake and her efforts.

The broad right of electoral participation outweighs the narrow interests of those who would continue to pick at the machinery of democracy, the judge wrote.

He chided Lake for trying to get access to voter signatures  something he said most people regard as private  in her year-long effort to void her 17,117-vote loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Ms. Lake regards the electoral process much like villagers in the famous fable regarding the goose that laid the golden eggs, except that her goose failed to lay the egg she expected, Hannah wrote of her loss.

Simply because she lost, he said, Lake insists something must have gone wrong.

If only she could cut open the electoral process and examine each of its 1.3 million pieces, she says, she would be able to figure out what happened and show that the prize has been there waiting for her all along, the judge said.

And even if she doesnt find what shes looking for, she suggests, the act of disassembly will strengthen everyones confidence that the machinery produces reliable outcomes, he continued. We will know it lays the right eggs.

But lost in Lakes efforts, Hannah said, is the big picture of democratic self-governance.

Yes, he said, its about counting votes to make sure as best we can that the right egg comes out. He said though, there is more at stake here.

Would turbocharge bad behavior

He cited the testimony of two people who said individuals had come to their door after the 2020 election, the one former President Donald Trump contends he was cheated out of.

They immediately began to pepper me with questions that they seemed to already have the answer to, said Bonnie Eckard, such as whether certain people lived there, did they vote Democratic, did they vote by mail, did anyone else vote from that house, and whether they received extra ballots. Eckard said about the only answer she got when she asked who they were was something about election integrity.

She said the questioners were extremely aggressive with me, at one point telling her about dead people voting and spouting unproved conspiracy theories.

Public disclosure of the ballot affidavit envelopes, most of which includes phone numbers that may be non-published or otherwise not readily available to the public, would facilitate this kind of offensive behavior at least, and turbocharge it at worst, Hannah said. That would have a corrosive effect on public confidence in the electoral process.

Lake, in the post by her campaign, disagreed. There is nothing on these envelopes that is not present on other government documents, she said. Anyone can see signatures on deeds and other documents filed with the recorders office.

They are being hidden, Lake said of the envelopes.

But Hannah said that argument fails on two fronts.

The mere perception of risk among potential voters like these, especially those who are elderly or otherwise vulnerable, would have serious adverse consequences, the judge said.

One of the witnesses said that she and her husband would hesitate to vote by mail if they thought their signatures might thereby become public records, he wrote. She expressed particular concern about the potential disenfranchisement of her elderly spouse, who cannot vote in person because of his poor health.

Sensitive personal information

Beyond that, Hannah said the law makes voter registration records off limits except for certain limited purposes.

The Legislature obviously meant for (the law) to protect the privacy of voters sensitive personal information, he said.

Construing the statute to protect all election records containing a voters signature advances that legislative purpose, he said. Affording protection to voter registration and change-of-address cards but not ballot affidavit envelopes would manifestly defeat the statutes purpose.

Lake had asked Hannah to note that Yavapai County Superior Court Judge John Napper, in a preliminary ruling earlier this year, said that ballot envelopes are not voter registration records. That would buttress her claim they are not confidential.

But he said Nappers action has no bearing until there is an authoritative final judgment on what county reorders use as voter registration records.

Until then, the present case must be decided on the facts as they now exist, not on the hypothetical facts of the world the plaintiff would prefer.

Lake also blasted the judge for not allowing her to present her witnesses: Shelby Busch and Chris Handsel with We the People Arizona Alliance Political Action Committee, which has aligned itself with her campaign, and Eric Speckin, a forensic document analyst.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

The recent four-day ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of hostages and the release of Palestinians from unjust detention in Israeli jails is welcome and should be considered a promising first step. Comprehensive peace talks that aim to establish a just and lasting solution for both Israelis and Palestinians that addresses socioeconomic disparities, land grabs, political grievances, and territorial disputes must be tackled. A permanent ceasefire can serve as a stepping-stone towards addressing the root causes of the illegal occupation of Palestine. Collectively, these actions would help set a path toward de-escalating the conflict and supporting a long-term diplomatic resolution that will save lives and improve the quality of life for both Palestinians and Israelis.

The world has recognized that the ongoing siege and military onslaught by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip have caused an unjustifiable level of human suffering and loss of life, leaving families torn apart and communities devastated. The ever-increasing death toll is staggering. It has been reported that over 1200 Israelis were killed on October 7, 2023. By November 28, over 13,000 civilians in Gaza have been killed, including an estimated 5,500 children who have died since October 7. Homes, hospitals, schools, and churches have been destroyed, some purposefully targeted. It is high time we recognize the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire for negotiations to end the occupation, as continued violence only perpetuates a cycle of destruction and hinders any prospects for lasting peace.

During a ceasefire, humanitarian aid organizations can provide much-needed assistance to those affected and offer respite to innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Permanent, longstanding demands for attention to their fundamental human rights can begin to be affirmed and addressed. Palestinians living under threat from IDF airstrikes or Israelis facing rocket attacks from Gaza need peace and a permanent ceasefire with good-faith negotiations.

The call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza is not only an appeal for immediate relief but also an opportunity to break free from the cycle of violence that has plagued that region for far too long. While a ceasefire can provide immediate relief from the direct violence, it must be accompanied by efforts to address underlying issues fueling the conflict.

Financing the weapons of war and destruction only ensures that they will be used sooner or later. Financing peace and reconstruction is a better use of US taxpayer dollars for both Palestinians and Israelis. The United States provides significant military assistance to Israel as a part of their longstanding strategic partnership. In 2016, the U.S. and Israel signed a new MOU that promised $38 billion in military aid over ten years, covering the period from 2019 to 2028. As a major stakeholder ally of Israel, the United States is best positioned to play an active role in demanding a ceasefire and facilitating negotiations for a longer-term agreement between Israel and Palestine.

To be an effective partner in this effort, Congress should reconsider its approach to the current bloodshed and violence and reject the false dichotomy of either supporting Israel via unchecked military aid or providing no support at all. This reductionist narrative overlooks vital elements of effective conflict resolution and peace building. Congress must hold the Biden Administration accountable and provide its comprehensive strategy for supporting a ceasefire to pave the way to a workable remedy viable for both sides in the conflict.

While the United States cannot and should not dictate peace terms, it must support multilateral diplomatic and political approaches to establish a permanent ceasefire, bring all parties to the table ready to negotiate, and open space for a comprehensive peace process. The U.S. should support an inclusive peace process that allows those most impacted to have a central role in shaping an outcome that meets the expectations of those involved.
When Carla Gibson first landed a server job at Mollys Landing, she thought it would just be a way to earn a little extra money.

I already had two other jobs, at a Red Lobster and at a bar, Gibson recalled. I was kind of a workaholic back then. But Mollys Landing was someplace special, and I realized that from the start.

For one thing, it was a high-end kind of place  I got my first ever $100 tip working at Mollys, she said. Working there was really a nice experience.

Mollys Landing, which has been an iconic restaurant along the Oklahoma stretch of Route 66 since it opened almost 40 years ago, was severely damaged Nov. 24 in a fire that officials said claimed the life of an individual. The victims name has not yet been released.

Gibson, who owns and operates Gibby Cs South in Your Mouth restaurant in Claremore, announced on her Facebook page that she is willing to hire some of the 22 employees of Mollys Landing for her own recently opened restaurant.

Ive already had four young men who came by yesterday, and I got them jobs, Gibson said. Were already fully staffed, but my crew has been taxed with overtime as were still trying to work all the kinks out of our systems, so more help is always welcomed.

Right now, were open Wednesday through Sunday, but once we get the new people trained, we may open an extra day to keep everyone working, she said.

A crowdfunding campaign has raised about $15,000 so far to benefit the 22 employees of Mollys Landing, according to the organizers.

Mollys Landing opened in January 1985, but opening a restaurant was not what brought owner Linda Powell to Oklahoma from Phoenix, Arizona, a year previously. It was a boat.

A 1991 story in the Tulsa Tribune recounted that Powells brother told her about a boat he thought she might want to buy.

The vessel, a 119-foot-by-38-foot pushboat called the Molly Smith, had guided barges up and down the Mississippi River for almost 30 years. It was retired in the late 1970s and had been donated to a church in Houston, which was looking to unload the craft after a recent hurricane made owning a boat problematic.

The Tribune story detailed how Powell sold her Arizona property, agreed on a deal for nine acres that would become the site of Mollys Landing, and closed the deal for the Molly Smith, which  in something of an ironic twist  was transported to the Kerr-McClellan Navigational Channel in Catoosa as part of a barge tow.

Where other people see 200 tons of floating rust, the 1991 Tribune story stated, Linda Powell sees a luxurious restaurant. She hopes to make her vision  a pushboat turned floating restaurant on the United States most inland port  a reality within the next two years.

That dream never materialized, but Mollys Landing, which started out as a club before being converted into a full-service, high-end restaurant, soon became one of the regions most popular dining establishments. Powell was later joined by sons Doug Powell and Russ White to help run the restaurants.

While the food was of high quality  premium steaks along with fish and seafood dishes, rarely seen items such as grilled quail  the look of Mollys Landing projected a sort of rural bohemian ambiance.

A 1991 review in the Tulsa Tribune described the restaurants unique decor as an instant party located within a barn-size log cabin with a porch overlooking the Verdigris River. Decorations from floor to ceiling beams make the place seem ready for a weird garage sale: sacks of peanuts, bad paintings, an endocrine gland chart, signs, flags, deer antlers, a sombrero, deer antlers, a duck decoy, an aquarium, milk can, grindstone, a calfs foot and strings of tiny, festive lights. The menus are painted on canoe paddles.

The canoe paddle menus later gave way to more conventional formats, but Mollys reputation as a serious steakhouse remained. In 2006, the restaurant was recognized by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry as a Made in Oklahoma Restaurant of the Year, in recognition of its use of locally produced products, including cheeses, wines, seasonings and the mushrooms used in one of its most popular appetizers.

The restaurant has also been praised for its willingness to contribute to local charitable causes. From 2002 to 2016, the restaurant was the host to the Ultimate Murder Mystery, a bimonthly dinner theater company.

In a 2006 Tulsa World feature on the restaurant, Russ White said one reason for the restaurants success was its employees and his familys commitment to treating those employees well.

We latched on employees who have been with us for years, White said. It really is a big family around here, and that makes it easier when its bad or when its slow.
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After panhandling incidents reported on Thanksgiving and the day before, Tulsa police want to remind those who are feeling charitable that donations on the street might be going to scammers or criminals.

Tulsa Police Officer Danny Bean spoke to the Tulsa World after the agency called attention to panhandling following two incidents the previous week.

On Nov. 22, officers met near 71st Street and U.S. 169 a panhandler who was a convicted rapist and had failed to register as a sex offender. He was arrested and is being held in the Tulsa County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

The following day, officers were checking on a group of panhandlers near 21st Street and Garnett Road because they werent wearing the required high-visibility safety apparel. The group also had posters that were familiar to police for several months, Bean said, with the same photo of a young boy.

The five adults who were doing this werent able to prove or have a shred of truthful evidence that they were raising funds for a funeral for an 8-year-old family member, he said.

Those five were issued citations under the city panhandling ordinance because they had no reflective vests, Bean said, but officers seized their posters and $250 in cash they had collected.

This goes straight into an investigation on the part that is a scam, and (that is) the lie of the funeral, he said.

In a social media post about the investigation, police said they encourage Tulsans not to contribute to people asking for money on the street.

Of course its never wrong if you want to help people out, Bean said. This is just people tugging at the hearts of good people trying to make a difference, trying to help someone who might be in a bad spot. Theres never anything wrong with doing that. What were trying to say is if you want to (donate), especially with how its getting now, if you want to donate to a good cause, you can pick out many causes with reputable sources.

Bean said the Tulsa Police Department donates to Special Olympics. Those who want their contributions to help homeless outreach can donate to organizations such as the Tulsa Day Center, the John 3:16 Mission and Housing Solutions.

Tulsa police conduct what they call pedestrian checks when officers encounter panhandlers while on patrol, Bean said, but they also receive calls from the community about panhandlers, especially when they get excessive.

We see a lot more panhandlers now that we have a city ordinance that allows them to do it.  If theyre obeying the laws, theyre allowed to do it, Bean said. Just in that aspect, we see a lot more panhandlers than we have before. Also, with the holidays coming up, we always see more people panhandling.

Tulsas former ordinance essentially prohibited anyone from engaging in any solicitation from the side of a road or from a median. The citys amended panhandling ordinance was approved in August 2022 after the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the First Amendment protects traditional public forums, including medians, sidewalks and streets.

What the ordinance allows Individuals 16 and older may sit, lie upon, step or stand on, and reach into a median to solicit a ride, donation, employment or business from the occupant of any vehicle without a permit  as long as they meet city requirements. Solicitations must be made without stepping into a roadway. Solicitations are permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Those soliciting must wear high-visibility safety apparel such as reflective vests.

Bean said the idea of scamming good Samaritans isnt new, noting the numbers of people who took advantage after Hurricane Katrina by saying they were refugees to get sympathy and money.

Police encourage motorists to report if they see red flags from people making solicitations on the street. Bean said incidents that threaten public safety can be considered aggressive panhandling, which is illegal. He said Tulsans shouldnt hesitate to call 911 if they see anything dangerous.

And if Tulsans see a possible scam solicitation, Bean said police can make contact and investigate.

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Despite a persistent shortage of officers, Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin said Wednesday that he adamantly opposes loosening his departments prerequisites.

I could fill an academy class if I wanted, Franklin said, but I would be pushing lower-quality people through, and I just wont do that.

The Tulsa Police Department is about 150 officers below authorized strength and has been similarly shorthanded for some time. Its 800 or so sworn officers are about 60 fewer than when Franklin became chief nearly four years ago.

As is the case for many employers, TPD has found both recruiting and retaining personnel more challenging.

Weve seen more officers leave with less time on (the force) in the last three years than at any other time, Franklin said.

He said officers are leaving not only TPD but law enforcement altogether for better-paying private sector jobs with more schedule flexibility and less personal risk.

To maximize the officers he does have, Franklin said hes shifted some jobs in areas such as information technology to civilians. He said hes also emphasized technology utilization, including the installation of new cameras in every squad car and launching the departments real time information system.

A text-to-9-1-1 system is expected to debut early next year.

But recruiting is perhaps particularly difficult for TPD. Aside from its other standards, the department is one of the few in the nation that requires at least a bachelors degree. Unlike many law enforcement agencies, it does not accept military service or training as an alternative.

Franklin, like chiefs before him, said people who sit on the couch and say they can do things better often encourage him to drop the requirement.

But Franklin said the completion of a bachelors degree seems to bring with it intangible qualities that seem to pay off in the long run. A 2020 research paper concluded that, nationally, college-educated law officers obtain a higher number of commendations; have fewer traffic collisions; use less sick time; have fewer disciplinary actions; are more likely to use technology, accept organizational change and new methods of policing; and are able to solve problems more readily than those without a college degree.

I cant say we dont have problems, but the problems we do have are so small compared to other departments, Franklin said. Maybe its training. Maybe its that degree requirement. If you ask our young people what brought them to Tulsa PD, the overwhelming majority say they came because of that degree requirement.

Franklin considers it so important that the department has worked out agreements with several universities, including Northeastern State and Oklahoma State University-Tulsa, that allows TPDs academy to count toward degree completion. This allows recruits who have met the other requirements to enter the academy ahead of graduation.

Ive spoken with (police) chiefs that have said, We just need to get people in. I have been advocating that we hold fast.

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Waking up under a thick white blanket on this day in 2006, many Tulsans hit the snooze button for a snow day, while others began the big dig out.

Just about everything was canceled or delayed due to a winter blast that dumped record amounts of ice and snow across northeast Oklahoma.

The two-day storm that lasted through Dec. 1, 2006, dropped 10.4 inches of snow in Tulsa and 15 inches in Bartlesville, breaking a November snowfall record set in 1972 when 5.6 inches fell in Tulsa.

"We've been shoveling snow and taking Advil . . . the show must go on," said Steve Goff, vice president of Ninde Funeral Directors, which postponed several services because cemetery workers could not dig graves.

A video rental store employee arrived at the business at 10 a.m. to find the roof collapsed and the store filled with snow.

"There was a tremendous load on that roof," said Tulsa Fire Department Capt. Larry Bowles.

State offices were closed, as were businesses, universities, colleges and hundreds of schools across Oklahoma.

Check out Tulsa World photos from the storm 16 years ago here.
China releases paper on its position on Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Xinhua) 09:39, November 30, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday released a paper stating China's position on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The following is the full text:

Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy civilian casualties and a serious humanitarian disaster. It is a grave concern of the international community. President Xi Jinping stated China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on a number of occasions. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and ending the fighting, ensuring that the humanitarian corridors are safe and unimpeded, and preventing the expansion of the conflict. He pointed out that the fundamental way out of this lies in the two-state solution, building international consensus for peace, and working toward a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.

Pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council shoulders primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and should thus play an active and constructive role on the question of Palestine. In this connection, China offers the following proposals:

1. Implementing a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the fighting. Parties to the conflict should truly implement the relevant UNGA and UNSC resolutions and immediately realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce. Building on UNSC Resolution 2712, the Security Council, in response to the calls of the international community, should explicitly demand a comprehensive ceasefire and end of the fighting, work for deescalation of the conflict, and cool down the situation as soon as possible.

2. Protecting civilians effectively. The UNSC resolution demands in explicit terms that all parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians. It is imperative to stop any violent attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities. The Security Council should further send a clear message on opposing forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population, preventing the displacement of Palestinian civilians, and calling for the release of all civilians and hostages held captive as soon as possible.

3. Ensuring humanitarian assistance. All relevant parties must, as per requirements of the UNSC resolution, refrain from depriving the civilian population in Gaza of supplies and services indispensable to their survival, set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to enable rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access, and avoid a humanitarian disaster of even greater gravity. The Security Council should encourage the international community to ramp up humanitarian assistance, improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, and support the coordinating role of the United Nations as well as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in humanitarian assistance, and prepare the international community for supporting post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza.

4. Enhancing diplomatic mediation. The Security Council should leverage its role in facilitating peace as mandated in the UN Charter to demand that parties to the conflict exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from widening and uphold peace and stability in the Middle East. The Security Council should value the role of regional countries and organizations, support the good offices of the UN Secretary General and the Secretariat, and encourage countries with influence on parties to the conflict to uphold an objective and just position so as to jointly play a constructive role in deescalating the crisis.

5. Seeking political settlement. According to relevant UNSC resolutions and international consensus, the fundamental settlement of the question of Palestine lies in the implementation of the two-state solution, restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital. The Security Council should help restore the two-state solution. A more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference led and organized by the UN should be held as soon as possible to formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. Any arrangement on the future of Gaza must respect the will and independent choice of the Palestinian people, and must not be imposed upon them.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Hamas reported that the ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, who was taken hostage, was killed in an Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip alongside his mother and brother.

Bibas was abducted from the Nir Oz kibbutz along with his four-year-old brother, Ariel, and their mother, Shiri. His father, Yarden, was also taken during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Hamas: 10-Month-Old Baby Killed in Israeli Bombing

A captured footage showed the family's abduction as Shiri was holding her two sons as they were sent away. While Yarden was seen with an apparent head injury.

Kibas' relatives campaigned for the family's release after they heard the brothers were not included in groups of those freed under the temporary truce on Wednesday. Hamas did not mention Yarden's death in a statement about the Israeli bombing.

The relatives commented on the statement of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and said, "Our family has learned of Hamas's latest claims. We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials. We thank the people of Israel for their warm support but kindly request privacy during this difficult time."

Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces were still trying to verify the claims. IDF representatives spoke with the Bibas family following the recent reports and stayed with them during this challenging time while assessing the accuracy of the information.

IDF said that Hamas must be held accountable for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. They added that Hamas's actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include risking nine children's lives, and Hamas must release the hostages immediately.

Bibas' relatives released a heartfelt statement and spoke about their devastation upon hearing Hamas' claims. They said that they were waiting and hoping to see and hug their family again, and it has been unbearably difficult for them since the beginning of the ceasefire.

The relatives demanded their family's immediate release due to the humanitarian emergency reasons that should not be ignored. On Tuesday, Yarden's sister, Ofri Bibas Levy, and cousin, Eylon Keshet, also expressed concern about the family living in a complete nightmare.

The Israeli authorities concluded that Hamas had handed over the family to another Palestinian militant group, which complicates the efforts to release them.

Read Also: UN Investigates Alleged Hamas Sexual Violence During Conflict Against Israel

Other Families Campaign for Hostages' Release

The families of two young men who were abducted from the Supernova music festival went to London to campaign for their release. Orit Meir, mother of Almog Meir Jan, who was taken hostage, cried as she watched the abduction footage of her son.

She said she saw him lying on the floor with four other young guys. She saw his terrified son covering his face with his hands, and she wanted to shout and cry.

The mother of the two reached out to the Red Cross to check on her son if he was still alive, as her first goal was to bring her son back.

Ilay David, brother of Evyatar, who was taken hostage, saw the horrible videos of Hamas featuring his brother. The family has been clueless about Evyatar's well-being for more than 54 days.

David said he also wanted to raise awareness about the male hostages who have not been included in the current hostage negotiation.

Related Article: Hamas Hostage Terror: 12-Year-Old Boy Allegedly Forced to Watch Oct. 7 Attack Videos-Aunt Shares Haunting Experience of Victim





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Japans Hiroshima University and some members of the Japan-Vietnam Specialists Association desire to bolster partnership with Vietnam in the education, semiconductor manufacturing, carbon neutrality, and smart city development fields, Prof. Mitsuo Ochi, president of Hiroshima University, told Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong on Thursday.

The Vietnamese state leader received a delegation from the Japan-Vietnam Specialists Association led by Prof. Ochi on the same day, as part of the formers Japan visit.

Prof. Ochi said that his university is willing to admit Vietnamese students and expects to get support from the Vietnamese state president and agencies.

In response to his proposals for cooperation, State President Thuong said that Vietnam is prioritizing projects in the above-mentioned spheres.

The top Vietnamese official also prompted the association to speed up its cooperation.

During their meeting, Thuong highlighted numerous achievements having been made over the past many years as a result of the two nations multifaceted partnership, with significant contributions from the Japan-Vietnam Specialists Association to the education and science-technology sectors.

The recent elevation of the Japan-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world will facilitate the associations cooperation with Vietnam, said Thuong.

He noted that many parts of Vietnam, mainly the Mekong Delta region, have been hit heavily by climate change, so he suggested the association expand its partnership with Vietnamese universities and localities to help the Southeast Asian nation tackle such climate change.

Several universities in Vietnam are studying the field, and are seeking cooperation with international organizations.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (R) shakes hands with Vietnamese students at Kyushu University in Japan. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

On the same day, the state president and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam visited Kyushu University, one of Japans five leading public universities.

As many as 53 Vietnamese people are studying at the university, and three Vietnamese are teaching there.

After engaging in a brief talk with Vietnamese students, State President Thuong dropped by the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy at Kyushu University.

Dr. Pham Hung Cuong is the only Vietnamese to work at the center, which is one of the worlds leading hydrogen energy research facilities.

The center has partnered with several major Japanese firms to initiate countless research programs.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (C) poses for a photo with some representatives of the Kyushu - Vietnam Friendship Association and top Vietnamese officials. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese state leader also met with chairman of the Kyushu - Vietnam Friendship Association Hoshino Hiroshi on the same day.

President Thuong, his spouse, and the delegation of Vietnamese officials left Fukuoka Prefecture to return to Vietnam on Thursday afternoon.

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The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth of Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam fell by 6.18 percent compared to last year, likely due to Samsung Vietnams export numbers falling during the same period, according to experts.

Bac Ninhs GRDP hit just VND134.81 trillion (US$5.5 billion) in 2023, a sharp fall from last year.

The decline is a stark contrast from the area's economic boom in recent years, according to Nguyen Huong Giang, chairwoman of the provincial administration.

Bac Ninh reported a GRDP growth of 19.12 percent in 2017, 10.6 percent in 2018, 1.1 percent in 2019, 1.36 percent in 2020, 6.9 percent in 2021; and 7.39 percent last year.

Earlier this year, the northern province set its GRDP growth target at 6.5-7 percent for 2023.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, a representative of the Vietnam General Statistics Office (GSO) attributed the negative growth rate to Samsung Vietnams sharp decline in exports in 2023.

Samsung Vietnam currently operates a 110-hectare mobile phone manufacturing plant in Bac Ninhs Yen Phong 1 Industrial Park.

The GSO representative added that five or six Vietnamese provinces are likely to record negative growth rates in 2023.

Statistics released by the GSO indicated that Vietnam exported roughly $44.02 billion worth of phones and phone parts in the year to October, equivalent to some 87 percent of the 2022 figure, with most of those items having been shipped by Samsung Vietnam.

According to a report recently released by the administration of Bac Ninh, in 2023, the GDP per capita in the province is an estimated VND70 million ($2,890); some VND65 trillion ($2.6 billion) was allocated to develop projects in the province; and it attracted $1.4 billion of new foreign direct investment, all exceeding its targets for this year.

Meanwhile, the province could be unable to fulfill some of its targets.

For instance, its import-export turnover and state budget revenue could reach an estimated $73.6 billion and VND27.9 trillion ($1.1 billion), lower than the respective targets of $93.2 billion and VND31.6 trillion ($1.3 billion).

The provincial administration attributed the negative growth to domestic and global uncertainties, including difficulties facing the real estate and electronics industries.

Additionally, the provinces ability to monitor and forecast socio-economic developments and the cooperation among departments, agencies, and localities remain ineffective, the provincial administration explained.

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Editors note: Emmanuelle Charrier, counselor of cooperation and cultural activities and director of the French Institute in Vietnam, expressed high expectations for the Vietnamese online version of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on its 20th anniversary. Her statement was translated and edited by Tuoi Tre News.

Established over 48 years ago, Tuoi Tre has solidified its reputation as one of Vietnams oldest, most credible, and reliable newspapers.

Despite my recent arrival in Vietnam for my current assignment, I quickly noticed Tuoi Tres extensive recognition and coverage.

In my view, Tuoi Tre is a highly professional newspaper, delivering not only timely news but also in-depth and well-crafted content.

I commend the quality of the articles and acknowledge the commitment and efficiency of the Tuoi Tre team in fulfilling their duties.

Notably, I appreciate the dynamic and dedicated nature of the journalists who regularly collaborate with us.

On the occasion of Tuoi Tre Onlines 20th anniversary, I hope the newspaper continues to leverage its strengths.

Beyond current affairs, I look forward to articles with in-depth research, exploring various perspectives and demonstrating expertise in the fields and topics covered.

I also want to express my gratitude to the Tuoi Tre team for their continuous support for the French Institute.

Your assistance significantly contributes to delivering accurate information to the public, meeting our expectations regarding the dissemination of valuable information related to the cultural and educational activities of the French Institute.

It is unfortunate that there is no French version of Tuoi Tre.

I have read the English version, Tuoi Tre News, which adopts a foreign journalistic style and offers a distinct perspective from the Vietnamese content.

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A vegan buffet run by a 29-year-old in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam provides hundreds of free meals on the 16th day of every lunar month.

Bui Hoai Phuong has owned Than Thien, literally translated as 'Friendly', Vegan Buffet for just over a year.

Though Phuong has been fortunate enough to grow the restaurant into a profitable business, he hasnt let success get to his head.

Rather than pocket his profits, he puts a portion of his cash towards treating hundreds of laborers, students, and people in need to a free buffet once a month.

In the four months since he launched the free buffet, he has given away over 2,000 meals.

By 9:00 am on Tuesday, November 28, which coincided with the 16th day of the 10th lunar month, Than Thien had already stocked its buffet with 15 free vegan dishes for lottery ticket vendors, students and low-income laborers.

The restaurant restocked its buffet and rice cookers until 2:00 pm.

Aside from offering dine-in at its free buffet, the restaurant also lets visitors take to-go boxes, free-of-charge.

Huynh Thi Banh, a resident of Cao Lanhs Ward 6, said she took two boxes of vegan food with her so she could eat breakfast and lunch.

I am a lottery ticket vendor and often have meals here. I take free meals every month.

"The dishes are delicious. The restaurant often feeds me for free when I have trouble selling lottery tickets, Banh said.

Guests can enjoy meals at the eatery or take their food to-go. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

Tran Van Tu, a lottery ticket vendor and resident of Cho Moi District in nearby An Giang Province, praised the quality of food at Than Thien and thanked the eatery for the free meals it provides.

The eatery owner Phuong has been a vegetarian since he was young and has a passion for cooking.

After graduating from a university, he worked a variety of jobs before opening Than Thien.

Since the seventh month of this lunar year, the eatery has offered free meals [on the 16th day of the lunar month]. We give away about 700 vegan servings each time.

I hope to begin offering free meals twice per month. Though the prices of rice and gas have increased, I try to keep my prices unchanged, Phuong shared.

Bui Hoai Phuong, the owner and chef at Than Thien vegetarian eatery. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

A group of students enjoy a free vegan meal. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

Vegan at Than Thien. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi Tre

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Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit Vietnam from Friday to Saturday this week at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

During his stay in Vietnam, Wang, who is a Politburo member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Deputy PM Quang will co-chair the 15th session of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation.

The top Chinese diplomat will also meet with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, as well as hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

Before leaving Vietnam, Minister Wang is scheduled to meet with Le Hoai Trung, head of the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations.

Previously, Deputy PM Quang had a meeting with Minister Wang during his visit to China on August 16 this year.

Deputy PM Quang affirmed Vietnams consistent stance on fostering relations with China and the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He suggested the two countries closely coordinate and prepare for high- and all-level delegation exchanges, while boosting sustainable trade cooperation and strengthening road and railway infrastructure connections.

The Chinese foreign minister stressed that China attaches importance to developing its relations with Vietnam and is ready to closely collaborate with the Southeast Asian nation to prepare for upcoming high-level visits and exchanges.

Wang agreed to effectively promote cooperation mechanisms between the two nations, especially the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Bilateral Cooperation.

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Vietnam and Turkey agreed to step up investment and cooperation to raise bilateral trade to US$4 billion during a press conference following talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz in Ankara on Wednesday.

Co-chairing the press briefing following the talks, part of the Vietnamese government leaders visit to Turkey between Tuesday and Thursday, both sides reached a consensus on continuing to intensify their political, economic, and diplomatic ties.

The two leaders agreed to enhance the practical and effective economic cooperation by opening markets to each others agricultural produce and other products in which their two countries have strengths, boosting negotiations over their free trade agreement, and increasing the frequency of cargo flights between the two nations.

Turkey was also committed to supporting Vietnam in developing the Halal industry, helping improve their two-way trade.

Halal refers to food products and services that adhere to Muslim law.

Turkey is currently the largest direct investor from the Middle East in Vietnam with a total registered capital of nearly $1 billion.

PM Chinh expected Turkish enterprises to channel capital into industrial manufacturing, hi-tech agriculture, consumption, green economy, and innovation sectors in the Southeast Asian country.

Regarding cooperation in national defense and security, the two sides will promote information exchanges and collaboration in crime fighting, tech training, and search and rescue missions.

The two leaders agreed to foster the exchange of information about each others large tourism events and simplify visa procedures to support tourists of the two countries.

PM Chinh suggested Turkish firms use more Vietnamese laborers at projects where they are contractors.

The Vietnamese prime minister also asked the Turkish government to make conditions more favorable for Vietnamese citizens living in Turkey so that they can contribute to this country's development and the Vietnam-Turkey bilateral relations.

Speaking at the press conference, Vice President Yilmaz hailed Vietur, a Turkish firm-led consortium which won a large bidding package of the Long Thanh International Airport project in Vietnams southern Dong Nai Province.

He expressed his wish that the two countries would strengthen investment cooperation in the years to come.

He also thanked Vietnam for supporting Turkey in addressing the aftermath of an earthquake in February this year, especially a donation worth VND14.6 billion ($600,000).

The Turkish vice president expected the two countries to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, and diplomacy.

PM Chinh's official trip is the first visit to Turkey by a Vietnamese prime minister and is the first high-level delegation exchange between the two countries over the past five years.

The visit celebrates 45 years of the Vietnam-Turkey diplomatic ties.

In the year to October, the two countries bilateral trade inched up 13.6 percent year on year to $1.9 billion.

Of this, Vietnam exported $1.5 billion worth of products to Turkey, up over 16 percent year on year, while importing $369.2 million worth of goods from Turkey, up 8.5 percent.

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Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong proposed Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture Hattori Seitaro and top officials from other prefectures in Japans Kyushu region foster partnership with certain Vietnamese localities, including Vinh Long, Binh Thuan, and Can Tho, heard their meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was part of the top Vietnamese officials Japan visit, which was scheduled to wrap up on Thursday.

The top Vietnamese leader also hinted at beefing up cultural and high-ranking delegation exchanges.

State President Thuong called on enterprises in the Kyushu region to invest in the processing, production, smart agriculture, and waste treatment fields in Vietnam.

The Japanese prefectures in these regions, along with Vietnamese localities, should enhance workforce training and worker exchange, he said.

Officials from the Kyushu region affirmed that the region expected to deepen partnership with Vietnamese localities and receive more highly-skilled workers from the Southeast Asian nation.

Thuong underscored that the elevation of the Japan-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world will open a new chapter in the two nations ties.

The upgrade of their relations coincides with the two sides celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Vietnam - Japan ties have made great strides in various fields over the past many years, with 100 pairs of localities forming twinning relationships, according to Thuong.

Thuong also expressed his pleasure in visiting the Kyushu region, which established a relation with Vietnam in the 16th century.

The top Vietnamese official appreciated the Kyushu regions efforts in boosting cooperation with Vietnam.

Furthermore, Thuong proposed the Japanese side continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to work, live, and study in Japan, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

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Catch up on the news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- State President Vo Van Thuong received Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture Hattori Seitaro and some top officials from other prefectures on Wednesday, as part of his ongoing visit to Japan through Thursday.

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to bolster multifaceted cooperation between the two countries at their meeting in Ankara on Wednesday (local time), as part of the formers ongoing visit to Turkey.

Society

-- Police in Tan Phu District under Ho Chi Minh City busted a massive drug trafficking ring in October, seizing 35 kilograms of narcotics, a shotgun and eight bullets. The police decided to launch criminal proceedings against five drug-traffickers for their alleged involvement in the ring, an officer said on Wednesday.

-- The Peoples Committee in Binh Tan District under Ho Chi Minh City will inaugurate its largest park in the Vinh Loc residential area on Thursday. The park was transformed from a polluted landfill.

-- A truck was traveling on the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet Expressway in Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam, when the vehicle caught fire on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in its cabin being charred.

Business

-- Over 50 firms and investors from Japan and Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam, attended a trade and investment promotion conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday to sound out cooperation opportunities.

-- Vietnam spent over US$4.4 billion importing 6.4 million metric tons of steel products from China between January and October, up 47.8 percent in volume and three percent in value year on year, according to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

-- Vietnam and Turkey agreed to step up investment and cooperation to raise bilateral trade to $4 billion during talks between PM Chinh and Vice President of Turkey Cevdet Yilmaz in Ankara on Wednesday.

Lifestyle

-- The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is compiling a dossier to propose recognizing the citys pho-cooking as a national intangible cultural heritage, director of the municipal department Do Dinh Hong said on Wednesday.

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Waste oil, fat, and grease directly discarded into sewers in Ho Chi Minh City is tormenting local drainage workers who are tasked with working amongst the foul smells and blockages caused by such wastes.

Drainage workers said they were tired of fat, oil, and grease building up in sewers.

Though some parts of the city have begun using machines to clean sewers, there are still some areas where the job must be done manually.

In certain places, workers must travel deep into the sewers and use crowbars to remove the build-up of waste oil, fat, and grease, according to Le Van Hay, a local drainage worker.

A worker uses a specialized machine to suck waste oil, fat, and grease from a sewer in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

A report by the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Center under the municipal Department of Construction showed that waste fat, oil, and grease deposits in sewers hinder the flow of wastewater, increase the risk of flooding when it rains, and cause unpleasant smells.

The Department of Construction has tasked related authorities to supervise restaurants wastewater discharge.

The city has also installed new manhole covers to improve the water flows, prevent garbage from drifting into sewers, and reduce foul odors.

A drainage worker goes into a manhole to clear waste oil, fat, and grease in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

The message 'Do not leave garbage here - Garbage clogs sewers and causes floods' is emblazoned on a manhole cover in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

A drainage workers hands are full of waste oil and grease after he emerges from a sewer in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

Phan Van Ut Nho, a drainage worker, said, The work is hard, but we always encourage each other to do a good job. We hope residents will not leave garbage or pour waste oil and grease into sewers. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

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Vietnam is expected to get US$15.5 billion from the United Kingdom and eight other countries to fund its transition to clean energy via a plan that will be announced at the COP28 climate conference held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between November 30 and December 12.

Mark George, climate counselor at the British Embassy in Hanoi, said the plan was finalized on Thursday last week after months of coordination with Vietnamese ministries, news agency AP reported.

The United Kingdom and eight other industrialized nations agreed to provide $15.5 billion to help Vietnam end its reliance on coal power and more quickly switch to renewable energy as a part of a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

A leader of the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that Vietnam and its international partners on December 14 last year announced a political declaration on the JETP establishment in Belgium to mobilize $15.5 billion over the next three to five years to support the Southeast Asian countrys clean energy transition.

In August this year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a decision approving a JETP implementation project.

Priority projects for JETP until 2025 include the development of the national grid, transmission lines, battery energy storage systems, Bac Ai pumped storage hydropower plant in Ninh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam, and offshore wind power plants.

Earlier this year, Vietnam unveiled its comprehensive national energy plan and the national power development Plan VIII with a priority giving to renewable energy.

In particular, the country expects renewable energy sources to make up 30.9-39.2 percent of its electricity supply by 2030 and 67.5-71.5 percent by 2050.

Green house emissions from power generation were projected to fall to 204-254 million metric tons by 2030 and 27-31 million metric tons by 2050.

The plan also includes a commitment of opening no new coal-fired thermal power plant after 2030.

Existing coal-fired thermal power plants will have to shift to running on biomass or ammonia after operating for 20 years.

Failure to do so will result in the closure of these plants after 40 years of operation.

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The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has announced a campaign to organize the US factories of non-unionized automakers, including Toyota, Tesla, Honda, and others.

The UAW aims to expand its membership significantly after negotiating record contracts with Detroit's Big Three automakers, as per The Washington Post.

UAW's Southward Organizing Drive

Following the recent ratification of new contracts with Detroit automakers, the UAW revealed plans to organize workers simultaneously at over a dozen non-union auto factories. This organizing drive will target nearly 150,000 workers at factories primarily in the southern region, where the union has struggled to recruit new members.

The UAW will focus on organizing US plants operated by Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo. Additionally, the union aims to include factories run by electric vehicle leader Tesla, as well as startups Rivian and Lucid.

President of the UAW, Shawn Fain, emphasized in a statement that workers do not have to live paycheck to paycheck and worry about their basic needs while the companies make billions in profits. The union aims to offer these workers the opportunity for a better life.

One of the factories with the strongest interest in the union is Toyota's assembly complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, which employs over 7,800 workers. However, Toyota declined to comment on the organizers' claims.

This organizing drive follows a series of strikes that lasted six weeks at factories run by Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, resulting in new contracts.

These contracts include a 33% increase in top assembly plant worker pay by April 2028, the elimination of lower tiers of wages, raises for temporary workers, and a shortened period for full-time workers to reach the top of the pay scale, according to The Guardian.

Read Also: 12-year-Old Hostage Forced to Watch Oct. 7 Attack Videos, Claims Aunt

Automakers Respond to UAW Organizing Efforts

In response to the UAW's organizing efforts, several automakers, including Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Hyundai, increased wages at their US factories and reduced the time it takes for workers to reach the top pay scale. The UAW viewed these moves as attempts to hinder their organizing efforts.

Furthermore, with a notice on their website, the UAW declared an end to the six-week labor conflict between the Big Three automakers on November 20, 2023. Although the agreement brought relief, both parties should not assume long-term peace between the UAW and automakers, given their history of labor disputes.

Both the UAW and automakers have exhibited a pattern of adversarial behavior, which creates a cycle of distrust and escalates with each contract negotiation. Academic studies on game theory suggest that engaging in collaborative and trust-based approaches rather than power-based strategies would be more beneficial for both parties.

To break the cycle of distrust, the UAW and automakers should negotiate how they will deal with it in the future, focusing on trust-building tactics and avoiding distrustful behaviors.

They should review a glossary of negotiating terms together to agree on fair and trusting negotiation tactics. Clear consequences should be established if either party fails to adhere to the agreed-upon trust-building tactics.

Building a trusting relationship between management and labor may require effort, but it will likely be less costly than the $10.4 billion in economic losses incurred during the recent strike, Forbes reported.

Related Article: After 17 Days Rescuers Finally Reach 41 Trapped Miners in India

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Seven West Media will be forced to hand over thousands of emails exchanged by Ben Roberts-Smiths legal team to Nine, following his failed defamation action.

The Federal Court this morning rejected an appeal for costs to be paid to the media companies who sought the documents.

Last month, Federal Court Justice Nye Perram described some of the emails as containing personally embarrassing content, while Seven lawyers warned their release could cause the company commercial harm in giving them to its direct competitor.

The Guardian reports Nine newspapers subpoenaed documents and correspondence sent between SWM Chair Kerry Stokes, commercial director, Bruce McWilliam, law firms representing Seven and lawyers for Roberts-Smith. Nine is arguing Seven exerted a measure of control over the defamation proceedings and should therefore be liable for costs.

Seven Network, Seven West Media, Stokes private company Australian Capital Equity (ACE), and Mark OBrien Legal, the firm which represented Roberts-Smith, had also appealed against the ruling.

Roberts-Smith denies all wrongdoing and is appealing against the June findings of Justice Anthony Besanko. The full court of the Federal Court will hear his appeal in February.

Nine-owned Stan is also set to screen a documentary around Roberts-Smith in December.

Source: The Guardian, The Age
Speculation around music television is continuing with a new rumour emerging, if rather short on detail.

According to Mixdown Mag,  the last months have been dred for Aussie music on TV with MTVs move to a global feed, and Ten bringing the axe down on Studio 10.

But we hear after acclaim after taking over production on the 2023 ARIA Awards (a step up from last years trainwreck), Rove McManus Roving Enterprises is keen to get a show going.

After delivering a huge 800+ ratings for Seven with the four hour Mushroom 50 telecast, we can only assume Mushroom Group and Seven should be set to work on another TV foray.

While the ARIAs was produced by Craig Campbell, it isnt clear how far advanced Roving Enterprises might be on developing a music series. Mushrooms outstanding The Sound left screens far too early, screening during the pandemic.

Earlier this month goddess Marcia Hines said, of her time on Countdown, Somebody needs a call to some television station to tell them that we need that on television again.
Bengaluru, Nov 30 (UNI) Manta Air, the Maldives' leading airline, has announced that it is starting direct flights from India to Maldives.



In a move aimed at redefining air travel between India and the Maldives, the airline will operate direct flights from Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport to the Maldives Dhaalu Airport, allowing visitors to avoid the hassles and additional expense of transiting through the main Velana International Airport at Male, and gaining direct access to many luxury resorts located in Dhaalu atoll.



Manta Air is the Maldives leading seaplane and domestic airlines operator and prides itself on providing its passengers with a seamless travel experience and exceptional customer service.



By flying directly to Dhaalu airport, customers going to resorts located in that atoll are able to save on the usual transit time and additional transfer costs incurred when entering Maldives through the traditional Male airport route.



Manta Air will provide easy immigration processes exclusively for its guests at Dhaalu Airport, enabling quick transfers. Dhaalu atoll is host to some of the countrys best resorts, including Kandima Maldives, Niyama Private Islands, St Regis Maldives, RIU, Baglioni, Angsana Velavaru, and Sun Siyam Iru Veli.



Flight schedules have been designed to allow guests to maximize their stay duration in the Maldives, with all flights arriving in the Maldives in the mornings and departing late in the evenings for India.



The flights are scheduled to commence in January 2024.



Ahmed Maumoon, Deputy CEO of Manta Air said, "This announcement marks a pivotal moment in our company's trajectory  we are progressing from being the leading domestic and seaplane carrier in the Maldives to an international airline operator.



"With Manta Air's expansion through a new direct flight route from India to the Maldives we anticipate a surge in travel interest and bookings from Indian tourists.



"This strategic move aims to enhance the guest experience and boost bookings for resorts in Dhaalu atoll, particularly Kandima, RIU Hotel, and Niyama Private Island, which are all located in close proximity to the airport.



"By facilitating easier and more affordable travel access to the Maldives, we foresee a substantial increase in travel demand from Bengaluru and across India in 2024 and beyond."



This strategic initiative signifies a major milestone for the homegrown Maldives' airline and recognizes India as a pivotal source market for the Maldives.



Manta Air, in collaboration with premium partner resorts, will curate combined exclusive packages for the respective properties that are conveniently connected to the Dhaalu Airport.



These thoughtfully designed offers ensure end-to-end convenience for international travelers from India, resulting in significant savings on flight time and costs.



With this initiative Manta Air aims to enhance the in-flight experience, streamline international travel processes, and eliminate the need for intermediary travel requirements or connecting domestic flights within the Maldives. UNI BDN
By Vu Hoa

HA NOI  Building smart cities in Viet Nam faces many challenges, although technology businesses have tried their best to accompany localities in orientation, planning and building, heard attendees at the Viet Nam - Asia Smart City Summit 2023 held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

The two-day event themed Data mining - Building a smart and sustainable city was jointly held by Ha Nois Department of Information and Communication and Viet Nam Software and information technology (IT) services (VINASA). It aims to introduce Ha Nois digital transformation and smart city development programme by 2025, with a vision towards 2030. It also seeks input from experts and businesses regarding the work and promotes business partnerships between local IT enterprises and their foreign counterparts.

Truong Gia Binh, Chairman of VINASAs Founding Council, said: Enterprises such as Viettel and VNPT have co-operated with 45 provinces and cities, building 36 provincial-level Intelligent Operations Centres (IOCs), and 45 district-level IOCs. Viettel has opened IOCs for more than 30 localities. FPT is also trying to advise cities to incorporate intelligence and AI into urban planning and development. Other technology businesses have been creating and bringing the most advanced and effective solutions such as AI, IoT, and 3D Digital Maps to help smarten the management and operation of departments, agencies, urban areas and industrial parks across the country. They are moving towards digital data exploitation and management problems.

However, he said the biggest challenge for the development of smart cities was that the legal corridor is unclear and not favourable for public-private cooperation, especially procedures related to investment, bidding, and hiring of IT services. In addition, urban areas have not focused on smart planning and basic and essential infrastructure.

Ha Noi needs distinctive and outstanding mechanisms to attract talents in Viet Nam and abroad, while taking the lead in IT training initiatives regarding both hardware and software, he said.

2023 is designated as the National Year of Digital Data. Creating a model for collecting, connecting, and data ensuring information security, and exploiting data to serve strategy building, operations, and decision-making in urban management has been the concern of all central and local governments, he added.

Many experiences in co-operation in digital data exploitation and enforcement mechanisms of urban areas such as Jakarta (Indonesia), Hue, a Nang, as well as from implementation consulting units such as Viettel, VNPT, FPT have been provided. Many smart platforms and solutions were introduced by domestic and international experts and leaders at the conference such as cloud platforms, 5G solutions, IoT products, virtual assistants, AI in healthcare, smart traffic and mobility.

Yudhistira Nugraha, D.Phil, Director of Jakarta Smart City, Department of Communications, Informatics and Statistics, said: When you're talking about smart cities, it is not only about the technology, smart cities, smart people but also how you will make people happier, improve the quality of life, improve the economic growth and the sustainability.

Sharing experiences from Indonesia, he said they implemented sensing and understanding and acting, which is called a CRM. It is a platform for citizen government to communicate with each other.

We implement this concept into our Citizen Relation Management to handle all the problems in our CRM system. With this system, the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta can handle more than 240,000 problems with 98 per cent solved, he added.

Nguyen Huy Dung, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, said smart city development is about implementing digital transformation within the scope and scale of the urban area but focusing on solving major urban problems, including traffic, environment, energy, waste treatment, and security. To achieve these in a systematic way, smart elements must be identified, calculated and included right from the urban and city planning. The development of smart cities at the local level must be closely integrated with the digital transformation process. The two should be inseparable and non-duplicative, and place people at the centre.

Smart city development is about building a modern and effective method of urban development and operation based on the application of innovative and creative technologies, not a discrete set of systems, application of specialised agencies because urban issues are closely related to each other. Localities must ensure a close connection with the local digital transformation process, without separation or duplication with the aim to be people-centred, he added.

Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, said that the sustainable smart city model that the capital aspires to achieve will provide a high-quality living environment of convenience, safety, and friendliness for all residents. The city aims to establish an administration that serves the development of organisations and businesses in a dynamic economy, with an increasing emphasis on the digital economy.

A sustainable city is a developed city with all smart amenities, expressed through smart choices, smart solutions, smart technology, he said, adding that Ha Noi acknowledges smart and digital transformation as its top priority.

Ha Noi targets to formulate a government for the growth of companies and organisations with a dynamic economic structure, in which the digital economy accounts for a large proportion. The summit is the opportunity for us to clarify and seek answers for the issues and give us new angles in smart city growth and sustainable development, he added.

On the second day of the event, outstanding smart city development trends in Viet Nam will be summarised and announced by the organising committee at the smart city award announcement and honouring ceremony 2023.  VNS
HA NOI  The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has brought competitive advantages to Vietnamese export products, but these goods have also faced the imposition of trade defence measures in CPTPP markets, according to experts.

Viet Nam's exports to CPTPP member markets in the Americas have grown strongly since the CPTPP came into effect in 2018. Bui Tuan Hoan, head of the Americas Division, Department of Europe - America Market, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said at a seminar on reducing trade defence risks when increasing exports to the CPTPP market held by the Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) Magazine early this week.

There are four American countries participating in the CPTPP, including Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. Of these, excluding Chile, which has a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Viet Nam, Canada, Mexico, and Peru are three markets that have an FTA with Viet Nam for the first time within the framework of the CPTPP, so the tariff incentives in the CPTPP have enabled Viet Nam to achieve impressive growth in export value to these markets.

In 2021, Viet Nam's exports to the four CPTPP countries in the Americas reached more than US$12 billion, including $5.3 billion from exports to Canada, 75 per cent higher than before having the agreement. Meanwhile, the export value to Mexico rose by 105 per cent to $4.6 billion compared to that before having the CPTPP.

Exports also surged by 85 per cent to $560 million to Peru and 63 per cent to $1.7 billion to Chile.

However, Phung Gia uc, deputy head of the Trade Remedies Authority of Viet Nam addressing foreign trade defence processing, said that many CPTPP member countries are investigating trade defence cases involving Vietnamese products. Statistics show that Australia has initiated 18 cases so far, and Canada and Malaysia over 10 cases.

The most vulnerable and likely-to-be-investigated products are those with rapid and strong growth, he continued, adding that the principle to initiate such a lawsuit is an increase in imports.

Vu Van Phu, vice chairperson and general secretary of the Viet Nam Aluminium Association, said that as trade defence measures in the world and in Viet Nam are increasing, aluminium enterprises have begun to pay attention and change their perception of related risks.

In addition to taking the tariff incentives of FTAs, businesses in the aluminium industry need to study carefully the export markets, including trade defence measures. At the same time, to reduce the risk of imposing trade defence measures in the export markets, they should build a strategy on diversifying export markets and products.

They need support in connecting supply and demand, expanding markets, and avoiding dependence on a single market when facing trade defence investigations, Phu said.

uc held that such cases will grow rapidly in the time to come. Therefore, businesses must regularly update changes in foreign laws. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will frequently organise dialogues on the issue with foreign investigation agencies.

The Vietnamese Government will protect Vietnamese enterprises but will also resolutely guard against businesses evading trade defence measures through illegal imports or origin evasion, he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese manufacturing and exporting enterprises need preparation and guidance to respond appropriately in case of being investigated by member countries of the Agreement or having trade remedies applied.

In addition, the authorities need to increase information dissemination and early warning of risks to help businesses avoid the risks of investigation or minimise the impact of being investigated for trade remedies. Thereby, export growth is more sustainable, taking advantage of opportunities from the CPTPP Agreement in the new context.  VNS
HA NOI  Despite the decreasing contribution of agriculture to Viet Nam's GDP, it still plays a strategic role as a crucial pillar for the country's security, well-being, and livelihoods in the long term.

Amid international integration, climate change, disease outbreaks and the fourth industrial revolution, digital transformation in the industry is an inevitable trend.

Viet Nam News reporter Cao Ly Ly spoke to Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of the Digital Transformation and Agricultural Statistic Centre, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to learn more about the process.

How can digital transformation boost the agriculture sector?

We are currently in a context of strong digital transformation, not just in theory but in practice, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who grasp the path of genuine and substantial digital transformation, focusing on the core aspects, will be the ones to seize great opportunities.

In fact, there is ample evidence that many young graduates are returning to rural areas, mountains to work and collaborate with farmers in places like Hoang Su Phi or other highlands, to create economically valuable products through digital transformation methods.

Therefore, we have the full potential to enrich agriculture, to increase its value through digital transformation within the agricultural sector itself.

We strongly believe that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those situated in remote or highland regions, as well as agricultural cooperatives, possess a wealth of distinctive agricultural products and specialities.

By leveraging digital methods, we have the opportunity to transform these products effectively.

Through digital transformation approaches such as traceability, value enhancement, and transparent product information sharing, we can showcase the stories behind the production, cultivation, and processing. These digital narratives add value to the products and resonate with consumers, fostering a stronger connection between producers and end-users.

What is the biggest challenge in the process of transformation?

The main focus should be on farmers and SMEs when it comes to driving digital transformation.

In the agricultural sector, the number of SMEs is significantly high. Currently, there are approximately 14,000 agricultural enterprises, and we also have around 19,500 agricultural cooperatives.

And it's not an easy task to guide and support farmers and businesses in this process. We all need to have a shared understanding, adopt common approaches and take unified actions.

This is where the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, related agencies, and our experts can seize the opportunity to create a practical handbook. This handbook will serve as a guide for SMEs, with a special emphasis on the food processing and distribution sector, which has great potential for adding value.

On the other hand, the current state of agricultural data is that there are over 100 databases encompassing the entire industry. However, only around 50 of these databases are actively functioning, while the others are either dormant or no longer operational.

These databases were established at different time points in the past, resulting in a lack of content and structural cohesion. Many of them are outdated, insecure, and suffer from poor system maintenance. Moreover, there is a lack of data synchronisation, and several sectors are still lacking comprehensive data.

What is the most crucial factor in the industrys digital transformation?

In the digital transformation journey, awareness plays a vital role. Technology is the tool we use, but our focus should go beyond adopting IT applications. It's about transforming human systems and entities within the agriculture sector.

We need to convert knowledge, whether it's crop cultivation, livestock farming, aquaculture, or forestry, from physical to digital, connecting businesses, government agencies and promoting transparency.

By doing so, we can enhance collaboration, reduce costs, and empower farmers with valuable insights through digital channels.

Viet Nam already has leading tech enterprises. Therefore, we don't need to worry about the technology aspect.

How do we promote digital transformation in remote areas?

Viet Nam has strong internet coverage and relatively well-developed information technology infrastructure, even in remote areas. Therefore, we can confidently reach out to remote regions in terms of IT infrastructure.

The trend of internet adoption in the country is faster compared to other countries in the region. Currently, about 63 per cent of farmers use smartphones, which is an advantage for Viet Nam.

Additionally, the government has made strong efforts in digital transformation. In 2023, the government focused on building digital platforms and digital data.

Moving forward, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and local agricultural institutions, we can conduct training sessions for farmers and cooperative groups.

These training sessions can be conducted online or in person, with the assistance of smartphones or other devices to facilitate easy access for farmers.

Regular and continuous training will improve farmers' skills and should be a consistent effort, rather than a one-time occurrence, for long-term benefits.  VNS
The Biden Admin wants to replace all lead water pipes in the United States. This was revealed by the U.S. government confirming this effort on Thursday, Nov. 30.

It proposed a new plan that will require drinking water pipes that contain lead to be replaced by new ones within 10 years. When Joe Biden became the U.S. president, he already promised to overhaul lead pipes.

He wanted to do this in the wake of the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, which exposed hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk of health issues.

However, the latest lead water pipe replacement proposal will be very expensive. Here are its other details.

Biden Admin's Wants to Replace All Lead Water Pipes in US Within 10 Years

According to Fox Business' latest report, almost 100,000 Americans were exposed to elevated lead levels in 2014 because Michigan changed its water supply.

This caused lead water pipes to corrode; contaminating the drinking water in the city. U.S. President Joe Biden doesn't want to repeat this alarming drinking water crisis.

This is why the Biden Administration decided to introduce its proposal to completely replace lead drinking water pipes in the U.S. Officials said that this effort would enhance the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule.

Aside from this, it would also allocate $15 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This budget will be used to replace lead service lines in water systems across the United States.

However, the billion-dollar budget that will come from the federal government is just half of what is needed for the lead pipe overhaul. Forbes reported that the latest proposed effort of the Biden Admin could cost between $20 and $30 billion over 10 years.

This means that the remaining costs will be settled by utility companies and customers. With these details, there's a chance that drinking water could become more expensive once the lead water pipe overhaul begins.

Read Also: EPA Takes Bold Action: Strengthening Lead Protections in Drinking Water Post-Flint Crisis

Will U.S. Lead Water Pipe Overhaul Really Happen?

Before the latest proposal of the Biden Admin starts, U.S. government officials should first agree to it. However, the Associated Press recently reported that some states already declined this effort.

These include Maine, Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. This is because they are not ready to pay for lead removal projects. Aside from this, finding lead water pipes is also a complicated operation.

Communities are also hesitant to take out loans to search for their lead pipes. However, Natural Resources Defense Council food expert Erik Olson said that U.S. states should not reject replacing lead water pipes.

"It's troubling that a state would decide to take a complete pass on the funding because part of the reason for the funding is to figure out whether you even have lead," he explained.

Related Article: Why Biden Admin's Pharmacy Middle Men Crackdown Might Not Work-Here's What Pharmacists Explained

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QUANG NINH  There is plenty of room for the northern Quang Ninh Province to lure Japanese investment , especially in the locality's prioritised sectors such as processing and manufacturing industry, high technology, smart technology, logistics, seaports, ecological agriculture and clean energy, experts have said.

Japan is now the province's third largest foreign investor with 12 projects valued at US$2.4 billion, accounting for 17.2 per cent of the total investment capital registered in the locality. Most of the Japan-financed projects came towards electricity production, processing industry, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishery.

According to experts, most Japanese investors appreciated Quang Ninh's sufficient transport infrastructure, such as a highway connecting the province with Ha Noi and Hai Phong and Van on International Airport. They also praised the endless efforts of local authorities in speeding up administrative reform over the years. That has offered the province a distinct comparative advantage compared to others.

Mizuta Kazunori, Director of Yazaki Hai Phong Co, told vov.vn that his company decided to open a factory in ong Mai Industrial Park after considering the province's favourable factors such as preferential tax policies, convenient location (near the company's main factory in Hai Phong City), competitive labour costs and quality of human resources compared to neighbouring localities and improved transport infrastructure.

The director said his company's automobile equipment manufacturing factory in the province has been operating stably since 2015.

At the same time, Quang Ninh has also taken initiatives to facilitate foreign investment attraction, especially from Japan. It has established the Japanese Business Support Division (Japan Desk Quang Ninh), which aims to help the provincial People's Committee implement activities to promote Japanese investment in the province.

The Japan Desk Quang Ninh is also in charge of researching and proposing authorities to revise or issue policies to attract Japanese investment while acting as a bridge to help Japanese investors address their difficulties.

Over the past 10 years, Quang Ninh welcomed 50 delegations of Japanese investors, including giants such as Mitsubishi, Sojitz and Sumitomo to come and seek investment opportunities in the province.

Earlier this month, Quang Ninh granted licences to some Japan-invested projects capitalised at over $80 million during an investment promotion conference in the province. These projects included the Castem Vietnam precision mechanical manufacturing factory, Parts Seiko Vietnam plant, Tamagawa Vietnam factory and Fujix Vietnam industrial product manufacturing factory.

In his speech at the event, acting chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy said his province had taken full advantage of the competitive edge brought by its sufficient and developed infrastructure.

He said that the combination of Quang Ninh's solid potential and the strength and experience of Japanese investors had created a solid foundation for success.

Local authorities said that the presence of leading corporations from Japan in the province had not only brought capital but also provided opportunities for cooperation and shared technology and management experience, contributing to improving the province's production and service capacities.

The provincial leader also said that Quang Ninh was willing to create the most favourable conditions for investors, including those from Japan in areas where the province had competitive advantages and potentials.
A delegation of 20 American business from Montgomery County in the US State of Maryland and the Vietnamese-American Business Council (VABC) has recently had a successful exchange session with 130 businesses in HCM City, with support from the U.S Commercial Service, the US Department of Commerce, the US Consulate General in HCM City.

Besides, the delegation paid a working visit to ong Nai to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in the southern province. During a working session with local officials, Mr. Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive, said the US region and its businesses wanted to set up bilateral relations with ong Nai.

According to Mr. Elrich, Montgomery County has many potentials and strengths in industrial development, especially in the areas of biotechnology and information technology, and US businesses are eager to cooperate with their Vietnamese partners in production and business.

The executive also said that Montgomery had many programmes and policies to support Vietnamese businesses in investing and setting up companies in the US.  VNS
HA NOI The People's Committee of Ha Nam Province awarded a certificate of investment registration to the ong Van III Industrial Zone on Wednesday.

The 223-hectare project, located to the east side of Cau Gie-Ninh Binh Highway, has a total investment capital of VN2.32 trillion (US$956 million) by Taseco Real Estate Investment Joint Stock Company.

Speaking to the press, Chairman of the province's People's Committee Truong Quoc Huy said the project is expected to significantly contribute to Ha Nam's industrial development. He asked local authorities to work alongside the project's investor in settling compensation and land clearance in a timely manner.

The province's departments were tasked with conducting environmental impact assessments, detailed planning, fire prevention, and protecting agricultural land.

He asked the investor to focus on financial resources, human resources, machinery, and equipment to implement the project on schedule, as well as vocational training and job creation for locals.

Pham Ngoc Thanh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Taseco Group, said the group will make all efforts to to implement the project and commit to complying with legal regulations regarding investment, construction, land, and environmental protection. VNS
ALGIERS  There is ample room for Vietnamese coffee in the Algerian market because importers and consumers in the African country favour the coffee's quality and taste, said Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Algeria Hoang uc Nhuan.

Nhuan said Algeria is now among the top 10 importers of Viet Nam's raw coffee. Vietnamese coffee accounts for 30-50 per cent of Algeria's total coffee import. For several years, coffee has also been Viet Nam's biggest export item to Algeria, making up over 60 per cent of Viet Nam's total export revenue from this market.

In the first ten months of this year, Viet Nam shipped 52,174 tonnes of coffee to Algeria, earning US$116 million, up 52 per cent in volume and 67 per cent in value year-on-year. This years export turnover is estimated at $125 million, marking a 47 per cent increase from 2022.

According to the trade counsellor, Vietnamese raw coffee also has the potential to expand its market share in other African countries, especially those in North Africa such as Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, which want to import raw coffee and green coffee beans for roasting and processing to meet the taste of local consumers, increase added value while generating more jobs for the local population.

He suggested that Vietnamese coffee exporters actively participate in trade promotion activities such as international fairs and exhibitions, online and offline trade conferences, and get help from the Vietnamese trade offices in North African countries to seek partners and importers for the upcoming harvest season.

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks of Algerian people but the country does not cultivate the tree so it imports 100 per cent of coffee needs.

With a population of over 46 million people, Algeria imports roughly 130,000 tonnes of various types of coffee beans each year, with a value of around $300 million. Robusta constitutes over 85 per cent of Algeria's total coffee import while the rest is Arabica.  VNS
HA NOI  The OCOP products of Quang Ninh are gradually asserting their quality and unique features, gaining trust from consumers both within and outside the province. They contribute to the economic growth of the province and provide high incomes for rural communities.

Since its launch in 2013, the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) Programme in the province has been recognised as a crucial domestic-oriented economic development initiative.

It fosters strong and sustainable connections between producers, processors and consumers, aiming to earn the trust of both domestic and international markets for Quang Ninh's agricultural products.

After a decade of implementation, Quang Ninh leads the nation with 565 OCOP products, including 193 three-star, 68 four-star, three provincial-level five-star, and three national-level five-star products.

These diverse OCOP offerings adhere to high standards of packaging, design, quality, and food safety. As a result, they have successfully established their brands and gained popularity among domestic customers.

Over 95 per cent of OCOP products in the province are labelled with electronic tags or have codes and barcodes.

Furthermore, the province has implemented many solutions to connect, promote, and expand the reach of OCOP products. Currently, there are 385 provincial OCOP products available on popular e-commerce platforms such as Postmart.vn, Voso.vn, Sendo, Tiki, etc.

In the province, there are 219 entities participating in the OCOP programme, including 54 businesses, 87 cooperatives, and 78 households.

This convenient accessibility allows consumers both within and outside the country to easily purchase Quang Ninh's OCOP products anytime and anywhere, thereby expanding the distribution channels and consumption of these locally made goods.

Quang Ninh Province boasts around 30 OCOP centres and sales points, offering a diverse range of products.

By showcasing their OCOP products online, the province not only caters to the growing demand of consumers but also promotes the unique identity and exceptional quality of their local agricultural produce.

OCOP links with tourism

In addition, Quang Ninh Province recognises the importance of building a strong brand for its agricultural products and fostering sustainable tourism.

Therefore, they have strategically integrated the promotion and connection of OCOP products with tourism development, providing captivating experiences for visitors while simultaneously boosting economic growth and showcasing the region's exceptional local offerings.

Since the beginning of the tourism season in 2023, alongside traditional forms of tourism like beach getaways, resorts, and spiritual journeys, the province has witnessed a surge in eco-tourism destinations and experiential activities that captivate a large number of visitors.

Notably, eco-tourism, which combines exploration, learning, and the opportunity to purchase OCOP products, has left a lasting impression on tourists, both from within and outside the province.

OCOP products have also gained significant exposure through their prominent presence at annual local tourism festivals and major events, including the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Quang Ninh Province, the 17th East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF), as well as various domestic and international tourism product promotion campaigns.

The province has focused on planning raw material areas and developing and managing the OCOP label as a strong brand. They aim to standardise and enhance the OCOP products along the value chain, aligning them with the advantages of production conditions and market requirements.

As a result, the province has created favourable conditions for organisations and individuals to invest in establishing agricultural processing plants, land clearance, raw material zones, and has provided mechanisms and policies to support infrastructure construction and investment in production equipment.

Given a wide range of unique local products and specialities, Quang Ninh Province concentrates on ensuring product quality while leveraging its indigenous advantages. This approach promotes market connectivity and fosters sustainable development for each OCOP product.

In order to enhance the reputation of agricultural products, the province is actively facilitating favourable conditions for businesses to embrace the opportunities of e-commerce, aligning with the trends of the fourth industrial revolution.

Simultaneously, there is a strong emphasis on the construction and development of agricultural brand identity, geographical indications and the promotion of local OCOP products.

The province is proactively strengthening connections among businesses within and beyond its borders, fostering collaboration, production linkages and the sustainable consumption of OCOP products and agricultural goods.

It is also actively standardising and improving the quality of OCOP products to meet market demands. The focus is on developing key provincial-level OCOP products in terms of quantity, increasing their value, ensuring high standards, and gradually aligning them with international standards to facilitate export.

In line with the strategy of adopting advanced production technologies and designs, Quang Ninh Province continues to leverage existing mechanisms and policies to support the growth of production, tourism, scientific research, and trade promotion. These measures aim to facilitate the development of individuals and economic entities participating in the OCOP programme.  VNS
HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Turkiye-Viet Nam Business Forum during his official visit to the Republic of Turkiye yesterday.

The event, held in the capital city of Ankara, was organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Vietnamese Embassy to Turkiye, and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye.

Notable attendees included leaders from various ministries, sectors, agencies, localities and nearly 200 business leaders from both Viet Nam and Turkiye.

The forum showcased the positive trajectory of trade and investment cooperation between the two nations, with major Turkish enterprises actively participating in the Southeast Asian economy's infrastructure projects as bilateral trade hit US$2.4 billion in 2022. Turkiye currently stands as the largest direct investor from the Middle East in Viet Nam, with registered capital nearing $1 billion.

During the forum, business from Viet Nam and Turkiye presented their potential and outlined areas of collaboration in investment and business, insights into successful experiences in collaboration and investment. The event also saw the signing of several cooperation agreements.

Turkish leaders and business leaders expressed their eagerness to collaborate with Viet Nam, including transportation infrastructure, household goods manufacturing, science and technology, finance, aviation, logistics, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and the Halal industry. Turkiye aims to strategically enter the Southeast Asian market, viewing Viet Nam as a gateway to the broader ASEAN.

In his address, Prime Minister Chinh extended congratulations to Turkiye for its impressive development, securing a position among the world's top 20 economies. He highlighted Viet Nam's foundation based on a socialist-oriented market economy, a socialist rule-of-law state, and a socially-oriented market economy, emphasising the focus on human well-being in the development process.

Viet Nam's foreign policy, characterised by independence and diversification, positions the country as a reliable partner and responsible member of the international community. Prime Minister Chinh emphasised ongoing efforts to create a strong and independent economy, deeply integrated into the global community and a culturally rich national identity.

The focus is on three strategic breakthroughs: institutional development, infrastructure development, and human resource development through administrative reforms and Viet Nam's commitment to creating a favourable environment for foreign investors. The Prime Minister expressed Viet Nam's interest in collaborating with Turkiye in the digital economy, green transformation, circular economy, knowledge economy, and sharing economy.

While recognising the significant potential for cooperation between Viet Nam and Turkiye, Prime Minister Chinh highlighted the limitations of existing cooperation mechanisms. He proposed that Turkiye recognise Viet Nam as a full-market economy, paving the way for negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement to facilitate smoother business operations for both countries.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister assured continued improvements in the investment and business environment, emphasising Viet Nam's strong commitment to supporting businesses, including those from Turkiye, and resolving challenges in a spirit of "harmonious benefits, shared risks."

On the same morning, the Vietnamese leader held a meeting with the Chairman of the Board of Directors of IC Holdings and the leadership of IC Holdings Group from Turkiye. IC Holdings, a leading conglomerate primarily in the construction sector, operates globally, including in Viet Nam, where it is part of the Vietur consortium working on the Long Thanh International Airport project. The group expressed appreciation for the investment and business environment in Viet Nam, with discussions focusing on the effective implementation of the airport project and potential opportunities for further cooperation in infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and more. VNS
Tourism beach hub ranked among most searched destinations by Indian travellers

A NANG  The central city of a Nang was ranked one of the most searched destinations by Indian tourists in terms of food, weather, shopping and historical site visits on the travel website Skyscanner  with a 1,141 per cent increase, the citys tourism promotion centre said.

It said 71 per cent of search hits by Indian tourists focused on food, while 65 per cent queried weather in the beach hub in central Viet Nam.

The centre also said a Nang joined the top 10 search destinations on Skyscanner, a list including Krabi (Thailand), Mahe (Seychelles), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan) and Osaka (Japan).

About 38 per cent of searches targeted the opportunity of tasting local cuisine in a Nang when visiting the coastal destination in 2024.

a Nang has more than 100 restaurants serving from 100 to 300 guests at a given time, and 30 Indian food restaurants.

The citys tourism department earlier hosted a promotion programme in New Delhi and Gurugram, India, and called on Air India, Vistara and IndiGo to launch more air routes between a Nang and India.

The department said 95,000 visitors from India had visited the city, accounting 50 per cent of total Indian tourists visiting Viet Nam in nine months of 2023.

Five-star Furama resort a Nang had already prepared for hosting MICE and weddings for Indian tourists, while low-cost carrier Vietjet Air resumed seven new international routes from a Nang to the five largest cities in India  New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bangalore  in early 2022.

Indian travel companies including One Above, In Time, Tourister Vinnaayak Holidays, Kesari Travels, Jain&Jain, While Board and Plutus Voyage, also paid attention to favoured locations on the beach in a Nang.

Basheer Adul Rahim, director of One Above from India, expects that the number of Indian tourists to a Nang would reach 3 million in the next two years, with new direct air routes launched between a Nang and New Delhi.

The complex of Furama resort a Nang-Ariyana was awarded with World luxury Awards 2023 in categories of the Best Luxury Beach resort in ASEAN, while Don Ciprianis restaurant was awarded as the Best Luxury Heritage restaurant in Asia.

Furamas International Convention Centre host of the APEC 2017  won as the Best Convention Centre in Viet Nam, and V-Sense Wellness & Spa in the resort took the Best Theme Spa design in Asia.

a Nang hosted 5.6 million tourists, of which 1.6 million were international arrivals, in three quarters of 2023. VNS
Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates Bader Almatrooshi wrote to Viet Nam News on the country's National Day

The UAEs National Day which is also called Union Day, is not only a celebration of unity but its also a reminder of our founding fathers who worked very hard to make a difficult dream come true. Anyone who understands the circumstances before the union would not believe that this country could tremendously advance in such a short period of time.

Today, the UAE is a leading model in the field of sustainable economic development on the global stage. The nation has achieved an unprecedented milestone in its foreign trade during the first half of 2023, hitting over 1.2 trillion UAE dirhams and marking an increase of 14.4 per cent in comparison to the previous year.

As part of its forward strategies, the UAE has solidified its commitment to space exploration, and recently we celebrated astronaut Sultan AlNeyadis significant space mission as the first Arab astronaut to conduct a lengthy stay and spacewalk on the International Space Station.

In the face of today's global challenges, climate change stands as one of the most significant. The UAE remains a global leader in adopting effective policies to address these challenges. The UAE is currently hosting the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) at Expo Dubai. The conference brings together world leaders and experts in an effort to mitigate the risks facing our planet. Through this global conference, the UAE prioritises accelerating sustainable development goals and expanding the scope of energy transformations.

As conflicts and global challenges continue to arise, the UAEs foreign policy solidifies its commitment to supporting peace and security. During its UN Security Council tenure, the UAE played a prominent role in addressing crucial challenges of our time.

This included promoting peaceful conflict resolution, prioritising humanitarian relief, safeguarding peace, addressing global health crises, harnessing innovation, developing the international framework to combat terrorism, supporting gender equality, and empowering women. The UAE's positions are distinguished by its support of development issues and humanitarian cooperation at the global level, which has earned it a position among the top ten donor countries in the world.

Since its founding, the UAE has become a member of more than 150 international organisations in various sectors of international cooperation. The UAE's accession to the BRICS group in 2024 will reflect its keenness on multilateralism in supporting peace and development to achieve the well-being and prosperity of peoples and nations around the world.

The UAE was announced last year as a Sectorial Dialogue Partner in ASEAN thanks to the support of all ASEAN countries, and we are working with the General Secretariat on the areas of cooperation for the years ahead.

This year we are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and I want to profoundly thank the Vietnamese government for making the bilateral journey so joyful and constructive, where one of the greatest achievements in the relations is the strong foundation that was cemented throughout the years by the blessings of the leadership and the hard work of both governments.

There are other reasons that make this year a special one in the relations including the recent meeting between UAEs President and Vietnamese Prime Minister on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC Summit, the visit of Viet Nam's Vice President and Minister of Industry and Trade to UAE, the visits of UAEs Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for International Trade to Viet Nam. We are also looking forward to the upcoming visit by the Prime Minister who will lead Viet Nams delegation to COP28.

Last year, our bilateral trade reached US$8.7 billion, making the UAE the biggest trade partner for Viet Nam in the region. We are confident that this exchange will increase after signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that is being negotiated.

Holding the second round of political consultations, the fifth round of the Joint Committee, and the admission of more than 30 Vietnamese companies to the UAE based World Logistics Passport Initiative are few out of many examples of the ongoing vibrant developments in the relations.

Both nations share a common commitment to economic growth, prosperity, culture, viewing international cooperation as essential pillars of global peace and stability, innovation, and sustainability.

The two countries collaborated in a joint project the Beyond 2020 Initiative related to the Zayed Sustainability Prize, where drinking water was provided to 10,000 people living in rural communities in Viet Nam. VNS
ANKARA  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, as part of his visit to the Middle Eastern country.

The Turkish President highly appreciated the historical significance of PM Chinh's official visit, especially at a time when Viet Nam and Turkiye are commemorating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations, marking the beginning of a new era in bilateral ties.

President Erdogan stressed Turkiye attaches importance to the development of multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, a country of special significance in Southeast Asia.

He expressed gratitude for the valuable support that the Vietnamese government and people provided to the Turkish people in overcoming the consequences of the earthquake in February 2023. President Erdogan praised the enthusiasm and high professionalism of the rescue team sent by the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Public Security to Turkiye to help deal with the disaster's aftermath.

PM Chinh expressed his joy in visiting the beautiful country of Turkiye on the occasion of its 100th National Day, congratulating Turkey on its significant achievements in becoming one of the world's top 20 economies, as well as its many contributions to the maintenance of peace, cooperation and development in the Middle East region and globally.

Both leaders agreed on several specific measures to further enhance multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

In terms of politics and diplomacy, they agreed to promote cooperation between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the ruling Justice and Development Party of Turkiye (AKP), as well as between the governments and parliaments of both countries.

The two countries' leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, emphasising the importance of adhering to international law to ensure peace, security and development in both regions and globally.

PM Chinh and President Erdogan acknowledged the significant untapped potential for bilateral economic cooperation. President Erdogan affirmed Turkiye's interest in promoting trade and investment cooperation with Viet Nam, setting a target of reaching a bilateral trade turnover of US$4 billion in the coming period.

He expressed pleasure at the successful investments made by some Turkish corporations in Viet Nam. Additionally, President Erdogan expressed a desire to expand cooperation in areas such as tourism, healthcare, and energy.

President Erdogan affirmed that he would instruct relevant ministries and sectors to actively implement the agreed-upon contents during PM Chinh's visit. This includes the early organisation of the 8th Meeting of the Viet Nam-Turkiye Joint Government Committee and the 5th Political Consultation Meeting between the two foreign ministries in the first half of 2024.

PM Chinh proposed that Turkey create favourable conditions for Viet Nam's strong export items, such as footwear, agricultural and aquatic products, to penetrate the Turkish retail system. He welcomed Turkish corporations and businesses to invest in areas such as hydrogen development, infrastructure and logistics.

Both leaders also agreed to promote cooperation in other areas such as the development of the Halal industry, tourism, agriculture, education and training, and increased people-to-people exchanges.

On regional and international issues, PM Chinh announced that Viet Nam would contribute US$500,000 through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

PM Chinh has extended the invitation from General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong for President Erdogan to make an official visit to Viet Nam in 2024.

President Erdogan has accepted the invitation with pleasure, expressing a desire to arrange the visit soon.  VNS
ANKARA  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Numan Kurtulmus in Ankara on November 29 (local time) as part of his official visit to Turkiye.

Speaker Kurtulmus highly appreciated the historical significance of PM Chinh's official visit, especially at a time when Viet Nam and Turkiye are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Congratulating Viet Nam on its achievements in socio-economic development, the Speaker noted with satisfaction the two countries active cooperation as well as potential for collaboration in the economy, trade, science-technology and defence industry.

PM Chinh, for his part, expressed his joy with the development in the two countries ties in recent times, affirming that Viet Nam wishes to consolidate and strengthen comprehensive cooperation with Turkiye on all channels of the Party, Government, National Assembly and people-to-people exchange, thereby contributing to deepening the relations between the two nations.

Also at the meeting, the two sides discussed and agreed on numerous measures to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries and parliaments in particular, including all-level delegation exchanges and education-training, especially in language, to improve mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The PM took the occasion to convey the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue to invite Speaker Kurtulmus to visit Viet Nam. The Speaker accepted the invitation with pleasure and expressed his wish to pay the visit in 2024.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the two sides agreed to increase contact and exchanges between the two national assemblies committees, friendship parliamentarians groups and young parliamentarians groups to share experiences in law-making, monitoring and decision-making on important issues of the country.

They also concurred to strengthen and support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums such as Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), and promote the two governments to effectively implement bilateral commitments and agreements.

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of common concern. PM Chinh shared Viet Nams stance on the settlement of conflicts by peaceful measures through dialogue. VNS
Shootings at a bus stop close to Jerusalem on Thursday morning, November 30, resulted in three Israelis' deaths and 11 others' injuries.

Authorities in Israel have said that two armed Hamas militants were responsible for the shooting. The terrorists reportedly arrived in an armed vehicle at the Givat Shaul intersection, which is located on the outskirts of the Holy City, and proceeded to open fire on innocent bystanders. When the police arrived at the bus stop, it was around 7:40 AM local time.

According to Fox News, three people were killed in the shooting incident in Jerusalem: Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73 years old; Hana Ifergan, 67 years old; and Livia Dickman, 24 years old.

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Bus Stop Shooting

Two gunmen, identified by Israeli authorities as being from east Jerusalem, were fatally shot by members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the region. In the course of the gunfight, another innocent person lost their life.

The gunmen were brothers and reportedly linked to Hamas, according to Israeli media. Additional suspects, if any, have been ruled out after the assault site was sealed off and searches have been launched.

"The initial investigation indicates that the terrorists arrived [to] the scene by car in the morning, armed with an M-16 rifle and a handgun," said the representative for Jerusalem District Police. "At a certain point, the terrorists began shooting at civilians before subsequently being killed at the scene. A police search of the terrorists' car revealed ammunition and weaponry."

Because of the wide range of injuries sustained by the survivors, they were taken to two hospitals in the vicinity.

Three people were sent to the Hadassah Hospital after being shot. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said that four more casualties were receiving medical attention for reasons other than physical harm.

Several other casualties were sent to Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, too. Tragically, two victims did not survive the injuries they sustained. Three others suffered serious wounds, and one was in a moderate state of health.

Jack Lew, the United States ambassador to Israel, denounced Thursday morning's shooting on the social networking site X (previously Twitter).

"Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I offer my sincere condolences to all those affected," he stated.

Also Read: Israel-Hamas Truce Gets 1-Day Extension

Attacks Targeting Israelis

In a separate incident, an Israeli checkpoint near Moshav Beka'ot in the Jordan Valley region was rammed, according to the IDF. The attacker was neutralized by the shots fired by Israeli troops who were present at the location.

Reportedly, two Israeli soldiers were taken to a hospital for treatment after suffering minor injuries. An active investigation is ongoing, and IDF personnel are still combing the area.

These events occurred at a time when Israel and Hamas were in the middle of observing a temporary cease-fire amid a bigger battle that began with Hamas' assault on Israel on October 7.

Also Read: UN Investigates Alleged Hamas Sexual Violence During Conflict Against Israel

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NEW YORK  United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appreciated Viet Nam's efforts to implement international commitments related to climate while hosting Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, at the UN headquarters on November 29.

Giang came to update the UN Secretary-General on the preparation for attending the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by the Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Guterres expressed his hope that Viet Nam will continue to play an active role at multilateral forums in promoting initiatives to respond to climate change. He affirmed that the UN will always accompany Viet Nam in this process, especially in mobilising resources and implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

For his part, Giang stated that Viet Nam is exerting efforts to realise commitments at COP26, particularly the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

At this conference, Viet Nam will join other countries in introducing many initiatives to promote global climate action; and continue to promote the implementation of the JETP, including the development of the Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP).  VNS
NEW YORK  The total elimination of nuclear weapons is the common interest of humankind and requires efforts and political determination of all countries, Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, stressed at the second meeting of state parties to the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

Addressing the meeting, which is taking place in New York from November 27 to December 1, Giang said international security is facing many serious challenges and expressed his concern over the level of destruction and humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.

The ambassador emphasised the need to enhance strategic trust, in which the key is to promote the compliance with basic principles of international law and the UN Charter, and strengthen international mechanisms on disarmament and counter-proliferation.

To effectively implement the TPNW, he called on member countries to fulfill their obligations under the document, and non-member countries to soon sign, ratify and join it, contributing to its universalisation.

It is also necessary to uphold the importance of the treaty, raise public awareness of the consequences of nuclear weapons, and promote international cooperation in capacity building for developing countries, Giang said.

The diplomat reiterated Viet Nam's consistent policy of supporting efforts in anti-proliferation and nuclear disarmament towards a world free of nuclear weapons, citing the issuance of Decree No. 81 in 2019 by the Vietnamese government on the prevention and control of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation.  VNS
NEW YORK  The Vietnamese Government will donate US$500,000 through the United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support efforts of the UN and demonstrate the spirit of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, on November 29 (US time) met with and handed over to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a letter of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, which underlined that Viet Nam highly appreciates the important role and contributions of UN agencies, especially the UNRWA.

Addressing a debate session on the Palestinian issue at the UN headquarters in New York on November 29, Giang expressed his concern over attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers, essential civil infrastructure facilities and services.

Viet Nam calls on parties involved to immediately cease fire, exercise maximum restraint, respect international humanitarian law and apply all necessary measures to protect people's lives, including ensuring the safety and release of hostages, he said.

The ambassador reaffirmed Viet Nam's strong stance on resolving the Hamas-Israel conflict by peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law and relevant UN resolutions, ensuring the legitimate interests of parties, and implementing the two-state solution. This process requires strong commitment from the international community, on both bilateral and multilateral channels.

On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (November 29), Ambassador Giang affirmed that Viet Nam always supports the just struggle of the Palestinian people for independence and freedom. Viet Nam is ready to join efforts of the UN and the international community to promote dialogue and seek a peaceful, long-term and sustainable solution to the current conflict.

The same day, Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong affirmed the State and people of Viet Nam strongly support and unite with the Palestinian people in their just struggle in a message sent on November 29 to UN Secretary-General, President of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People Cheikh Niang, and President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.

Viet Nam is ready to join the concerted efforts of the international community to promote dialogue and humanitarian assistance to people in conflict areas, contributing to ensuring peace, security and stability in the region and the world, he stated.  VNS
HA NOI - The coast guards of Viet Nam and China on November 29 began joint patrols on the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin.

This is the second joint patrol this year and the seventh since the Viet Nam-China agreement on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin expired on June 30, 2020.

The joint patrol stretches across 13 points within 255.5 nautical miles. A range of activities, including talks, inspections and supervisions over fishing boats operating in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line, and raising the awareness of the two countries' fishermen about law observance are held.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese side established an inter-sectoral working group to monitor Vietnamese fishing boats observance of legal regulations and the European Commission (EC)s recommendations on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Colonel Luong Cao Khai, Vice Commander and Chief of Staff of the Viet Nam Coast Guard Region 1, who led the Vietnamese joint patrol force, noted that the event demonstrates close cooperation between law enforcement forces at sea of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin, and called it a bright spot in this regard in the region, helping to promote the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The joint patrol will last until December 1. VNS
ANKARA  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted separate receptions for Turkish Minister of Budget and Finance Mehmet Simsek and Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir in Ankara on Thursday (local time).

Hosting Minister Simsek, PM Chinh stressed that Viet Nam and Turkiye hold strategically important geographical positions, capable of helping each other connect with major markets in Europe, the Middle East-Africa, and Asia.

Viet Nam values the strengthening of economic cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis between the two countries, he said.

As there remains huge room for bilateral collaboration and the two economies are complementary to each other, Chinh suggested the minister continue actively contributing to improving the effectiveness of bilateral economic ties. The measures include stepping up negotiations on the Viet Nam-Turkiye Free Trade Agreement (FTA), removing trade barriers for Vietnamese exports, recognising Viet Nam as a market economy, and increasing the sharing of experience with Viet Nam in building fiscal and monetary policies.

Simsek, for his part, affirmed that Turkiye and Viet Nam are well-positioned to develop ties. He affirmed Viet Nam is one of the priority economic partners of Turkiye, wished that their multifaceted cooperation will grow stronger.

Agreeing with cooperation directions set by the PM, he underscored the importance of combining efforts to enhance exchanges through promoting air connectivity, creating favourable visa conditions, and opening branches of commercial banks in Viet Nam.

He highlighted the need to reduce protective measures to facilitate trade cooperation, explore the possibility of initiating FTA negotiations to create breakthroughs in bilateral trade at an opportune time, aiming for a trade balance and establishing stronger cooperation frameworks in the future; and encourage Turkish enterprises to engage more in infrastructure development investment projects in Viet Nam.

Meeting Minister Kacir, PM Chinh expressed his wish to bolster coordination with Turkiye in national industrialisation process.

Hailing Turkiye as Viet Nam's biggest direct investor from the Middle East, he welcomed and committed all possible support to Turkish firms and groups doing business in the country.

The Vietnamese leader proposed that given Turkiye's experience in operating industrial zones (IZs), the country explore opportunities for investment and share management experience in operating IZs and hi-tech zones in Viet Nam. Both sides could discuss this matter in detail at the eighth session of the Intergovernmental Committee, he said.

In reply, Kacir affirmed that as an industrial and manufacturing nation, Turkiye wishes to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation with Viet Nam in areas of strength such as industry, high technology, automation, defence industry, automobile manufacturing, and satellite technology.

Suggesting further collaboration between Turkish electric car manufacturers and Vietnamese partners, he said it as a new but highly potential area.

He agreed with the importance of a network of free trade agreements in accessing and expanding markets, suggesting that both countries continue refining the legal framework to facilitate their cooperation activities in the near future.  VNS
ANKARA  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded his official visit to Turkiye and left Ankara for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on November 30 to attend the World Climate Summit in the framework of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and engage in bilateral activities at the invitation of the UAE Government.

Earlier on the day, the PM visited the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara and held a working session with the firm's executives to explore measures to promote bilateral cooperation in the defence industry in the coming time.

PM Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam considers the protection of national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity a vital and regular mission. To achieve this, the country must modernise national defence, he said.

He suggested that the two sides explore opportunities to enhance cooperation in a manner that aligns with the needs and capacity of each country, particularly in the field of defence industry.

The PM also visited the Anatolian Civilisations Museum in Ankara the same day.  VNS
HA NOI  President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary arrived in Ha Noi Thursday evening, beginning an official visit to Viet Nam from November 30-December 2 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue.

The Cambodia NA leader was met at the airport by NA Vice Chairman Nguyen uc Hai and Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha.

This is the first foreign trip by Samdech Khuon Sudary as President of the Cambodian NA right after the country held the elections of the 7th legislature and completed the national leadership in August this year.

The visit of the Cambodian NA President is an important event in the relations between the NAs of Viet Nam and Cambodia. It is a new milestone contributing to strengthening and developing the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two countries in general and the two NAs in particular.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport plans to raise the operating speed on certain 4-lane expressways to 90km per hour.

The Department for Roads of Viet Nam (DRVN), the Viet Nam Highway Department, Construction Investment Management Department, and Project Management Units (PMUs) of Ho Chi Minh, My Thuan 2, 6 and 85, and Thang Long highways have been instructed to examine the technical aspects of these divergent highways, currently designed for 80km per hour, and modify them for 90km per hour.

According to the Ministry of Transport's report, several 4-lane expressways, featuring intermittent emergency stopping lanes, operate at a maximum of 80km per hour.

In June of the previous year, DRVN established and publicised Highway Basic Standards for Design and Traffic Organisation applicable during construction investment phases. These standards allow the divergent highways of Ho Chi Minh, My Thuan 2, 6 and 85, and Thang Long to function at speeds up to 90km per hour.

DRVN has been tasked with advising investors on adjusting traffic organisation plans and implementing necessary technical solutions, such as traffic signage and lane markings, to accommodate the increased operating speeds.

PMUs must work with DRVN to deliver test results and assessment reports, review, and propose recommendations for the projects they oversee. They must also instruct contractors to modify and enhance project components based on the suggestions from the Ministry of Transport and DRVN to ensure safe traffic conditions at higher speeds.

The examination of technical elements for the speed increase must be completed and reported to the ministry by 31 December. The implementation of the increased vehicle speed is scheduled for next year.

Currently, highway speed limits are set at 120km, 100km, 80km, and 60km per hour, based on specific technical factors. VNS
By Thanh Nga

Known as the land of bamboo and rattan wickerwork, Phu Vinh Village has preserved the essence of a craft village through its exquisite products.

With love, passion and creativity, artisans continue the traditional art of weaving and breathe new life into rustic products, creating unique artworks that are highly acclaimed worldwide.

The village is located in Chuong My District, approximately 30km southwest of Ha Noi centre.

As we visit Phu Vinh on a brisk morning, we are enchanted by its peaceful scenery. Despite the passage of time, the village still retains the timeless beauty of a Vietnamese village, with charming old houses, moss-covered communal house roofs, and long-standing workshops, where craftspersons diligently work to create their masterpieces.

Phu Vinh villagers have been proud of their ancient craft, with a history spanning nearly 400 years.

"I have been in this profession for about fifty years. Like other artisans, I inherited a treasure trove of weaving techniques from our ancestors. Our generation simply refines and improves these techniques to create more intricate products. We continue to uphold the traditional working style of our ancestors."

Artisan Nguyen Van Tinh

Originally known as Phu Hoa Trang, meaning "God blessed people with skilful hands", the village's inhabitants possess remarkable weaving skills.

From one generation to the next, they have maintained their deep connection to bamboo and rattan, mastering the artistry and understanding the unique properties of these plants. Consequently, the craftsmanship has flourished, becoming an integral part of the village's rich tradition.

Phu Vinh is celebrated for producing high-quality bamboo and rattan wicker products in a staggering variety of types and designs. These include household utensils and furniture, decorations, as well as souvenir and gift items.

"I have been in this profession for about fifty years. Like other artisans, I inherited a treasure trove of weaving techniques from our ancestors. Our generation simply refines and improves these techniques to create more intricate products. We continue to uphold the traditional working style of our ancestors," artisan Nguyen Van Tinh told Viet Nam News.

"We constantly engage in research and innovation to craft more beautiful and competitive products. Each item is cherished because it is our brainchild."

As the owner of the Viet Quang Rattan and Bamboo Wickerwork company, one of the oldest workshops in the village, Tinh believes that their love for their craft and appreciation for their creations stem from the village's enduring tradition.

According to Tinh, their attention to detail and commitment to making sophisticated and high-quality products have allowed Viet Quang to conquer the market. The company has received nearly 20 four-star OCOP (One Commune One [Speciality] Product) certifications and won numerous first prizes in contests organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Artisan Nguyen Phuong Quang, Tinh's son, emphasised, "We combine traditional methods with modern knowledge in designing new products with unique types to cater to tourism and export."

Handcrafted by skilled workers and infused with a passion for their profession, each Phu Vinh product bears the mark of the individual artisan and the spirit of the homeland.

Thanks to the artisans' creativity, rattan and bamboo wicker vases, coasters, trays, and chairs adorned with beautiful patterns have come to life. The fruits of their creative labour have sustained many families and generations in this traditional craft.

"Established during the COVID-19 pandemic, when exporting faced challenges, we shifted our focus to producing environmentally friendly products that emphasise high aesthetic value and creativity. Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, we remain committed to our craft," Hoang Van Hanh, the director of the Viet Rattan and Bamboo Wickerwork Company, said.

Hanh's family has a long-standing tradition of crafting bamboo and rattan wicker products.

"My father used to craft bamboo and rattan wicker products for King Bao ai, such as fans and rattan beds. As the eighth child in the family, I learned the craft from a young age, guided by my parents. As I grew older, I expanded my craftsmanship through interactions with my brothers, friends and colleagues," he said.

Hanh's oval tea table recently won two first prizes in Vietnamese craft village competitions.

"The tea table showcases the traditional six-sided lattice weaving style. However, through extensive study, I developed a new 3D knitting style," Hanh explained.

Constantly researching and innovating, Hanh's workshop has successfully blended ceramics and rattan, infusing new vitality and adding value to traditional bamboo and rattan wicker products.

"I want to combine the products of two traditional craft villages, ceramics and rattan wickerwork, to create something new, so that bamboo and rattan products can be upgraded," said Nguyen Thi Han, the wife of Hanh.

Thanks to this creativity, many products from Hanh's household workshop have been exported overseas, including China, England, France, Germany and the US.

The artisans in Phu Vinh are not limited to creating household objects or decorations; they can also skilfully portray human figures through rattan portraits.

Nguyen Van Trung is a leading artisan in this field. With enthusiasm, passion and deft hands, Trung has earned high appreciation from customers for his rattan wicker portraits.

Weaving paintings using fine rattan threads is challenging, and depicting a person's portrait is even more difficult. Carefully refining each slender rattan and bamboo thread, employing up to 15-16 weaving styles, artisans weave the intricate artwork. Furthermore, using only two colours - black and white - the rattan weavers must research, calculate, and knit in a way that captures the soul of the character.

"If the painting is beautiful but doesn't resemble the character, it's useless. If it resembles the character but lacks soul, it's also useless," Trung said.

Tradition runs deep in Phu Vinh. According to Tinh, who is also the vice chairman of the Phu Vinh Rattan and Bamboo Craft Village Association, everyone born in the village knows how to make rattan and bamboo wickerwork.

In the past, all households in the village were involved in the craft. Currently about 90 per cent of the villagers continue the trade, and Phu Vinh artisans have spread their skills to many other provinces and cities in Viet Nam. The village is home to 19 nationally recognised master artisans.

"I was born and raised in the village. My brothers and sisters all do this job. We don't have to work outdoors in the sun or rain, and that's why we love our job even more," said 62-year-old Nguyen Thi Nguyet.

"I am very fortunate to live in Phu Vinh. My husband's family has this ancient craft, and everyone in the family has dedicated themselves to supporting and teaching me in the profession. Later, I developed my own ideas, specialising in jewellery, household utensils, and interior decorations. Some of my products have even won national prizes," Han said. VNS
As we undertook this responsibility last year, the global landscape grappled with multifaceted challenges: recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, looming climate threats, financial instability, and debt distress in developing nations, all amid declining multilateralism. In the midst of conflicts and competition, development cooperation suffered, impeding progress.

Assuming the G20 Chair, India sought to offer the world an alternative to status quo, a shift from a GDP-centric to human-centric progress. India aimed to remind the world of what unites us, rather than what divides us. Finally, the global conversation had to evolve - the interests of the few had to give way to the aspirations of the many. This required a fundamental reform of multilateralism as we knew it.

Inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive - these four words defined our approach as G20 president, and the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (NDLD), unanimously adopted by all G20 members, is testimony to our commitment to deliver on these principles.

Inclusivity has been at the heart of our presidency. The inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 integrated 55 African nations into the forum, expanding it to encompass 80 per cent of the global population. This proactive stance has fostered a more comprehensive dialogue on global challenges and opportunities.

The first-of-its-kind 'Voice of the Global South Summit,' convened by India in two editions, heralded a new dawn of multilateralism. India mainstreamed the Global South's concerns in international discourse and has ushered in an era where developing countries take their rightful place in shaping the global narrative.

Inclusivity also infused Indias domestic approach to G20, making it a Peoples Presidency that befits that worlds largest democracy. Through "Jan Bhagidari" (people's participation) events, G20 reached 1.4 billion citizens, involving all states and Union Territories (UTs) as partners. And on substantive elements, India ensured that international attention was directed to broader developmental aims, aligning with G20's mandate.

At the critical midpoint of the 2030 Agenda, India delivered the G20 2023 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), taking a cross-cutting, action-oriented approach to interconnected issues, including health, education, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

A key area driving this progress is robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Here, India was decisive in its recommendations, having witnessed the revolutionary impact of digital innovations like Aadhaar, UPI, and Digilocker first-hand. Through G20, we successfully completed the Digital Public Infrastructure Repository, a significant stride in global technological collaboration. This repository, featuring over 50 DPIs from 16 countries, will help the Global South build, adopt, and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth.

For our One Earth, we introduced ambitious and inclusive aims to create urgent, lasting, and equitable change. The Declarations Green Development Pact' addresses the challenges of choosing between combating hunger and protecting the planet, by outlining a comprehensive roadmap where employment and ecosystems are complimentary, consumption is climate conscious, and production is planet-friendly. In tandem, the G20 Declaration calls for an ambitious tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Coupled with the establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance and a concerted push for Green Hydrogen, the G20s ambitions to build a cleaner, greener world is undeniable. This has always been Indias ethos, and through Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), the world can benefit from our age-old sustainable traditions.

Further, the Declaration underscores our commitment to climate justice and equity, urging substantial financial and technological support from the Global North. For the first time, there was a recognition of the quantum jump needed in the magnitude of development financing, moving from billions to trillions of dollars. G20 acknowledged that developing countries require $5.9 trillion to fulfil their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2030.

Given the monumental resources required, G20 emphasised the importance of better, larger, and more effective Multilateral Development Banks. Concurrently, India is taking a leading role in UN reforms, especially in the restructuring of principal organs like the UN Security Council, that will ensure a more equitable global order.

Gender equality took centre stage in the Declaration, culminating in the formation of a dedicated Working Group on the Empowerment of Women next year. Indias Women's Reservation Bill 2023, reserving one-third of Indias Parliament and state legislative assembly seats for women epitomizes our commitment to women-led development.

The New Delhi Declaration embodies a renewed spirit of collaboration across these key priorities, focusing on policy coherence, reliable trade, and ambitious climate action. It is a matter of pride that during our Presidency, G20 achieved 87 outcomes and 118 adopted documents, a marked rise from the past.

During our G20 Presidency, India led deliberations on geopolitical issues and their impact on economic growth and development. Terrorism and the senseless killing of civilians is unacceptable, and we must address it with a policy of zero-tolerance. We must embody humanitarianism over hostility and reiterate that this is not an era of war.

I am delighted that during our Presidency India achieved the extraordinary: it revitalised multilateralism, amplified the voice of the Global South, championed development, and fought for the empowerment of women, everywhere.

As we hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, we do so with the conviction that our collective steps for people, planet, peace, and prosperity, will resonate for years to come.
Rallying outside the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, around 200 dog breeders and farmers for human consumption demanded that the government abandon a proposal to outlaw the contentious centuries-old industry.

As the police examined the blanket-covered cargo, they blocked dozens of farmers who had attempted to drive their trucks into the street in front of the presidential office with dogs in cages that they planned to unleash at the site.

Debate Surrounding Dog Meat Consumption

A measure has been proposed by the governing party of President Yoon Suk Yeol to outlaw the breeding and selling of dogs for human consumption. The bill also provides financial compensation to individuals involved in the industry who are compelled to close their businesses within a three-year grace period.

Party members have said that the people and the opposition party, which controls parliament at the moment, believe that the time has come to resolve the debate surrounding consuming dog meat.

With a population of over 51 million, South Korea is home to almost 6 million families who own gods as their pets. Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, have a total of six dogs, including a rescue and a retired guide dog.

Only 8% of Koreans reported eating dogs in the recent year, down from 27% in 2015, according to a Gallup Korea poll carried out in 2022, Reuters reported. Nearly two-thirds of respondents were against eating dog meat.

Also Read: South Korea: Low Birth Rates in Seongnam City Prompts Officials to Try Mass Blind-Dating

Dog Meat Farmers Protest Against Ban

At Thursday's event, November 30, industry representative Ju Yeong-bong said that politicians should not be allowed to dictate people's food habits or shut down businesses.

"We can't agree with the idea that it is barbaric, because all countries that have the tradition of animal husbandry have at some point eaten dogs and there are still countries where it's done," Ju pointed out.

Given that the farmers would be losing their livelihoods as a result of the law, Ju said that the proposed monetary compensation was grossly insufficient and that the farmers had been entirely excluded from the policymaking process.

In an effort to prevent the farmers from approaching the president's office, the police barricaded the street and clashed with the outnumbered farmers. Authorities apprehended three protestors, one of whom was Ju, during the mayhem, the organizers said.

Some farmers and restaurant owners still offer dog meat despite the fact that its popularity has been on the wane. They are making an effort to maintain it legal.

The farmers claim that First Lady Kim, who has been outspoken in her opposition to dog meat, put undue pressure on the rulers and the government to implement the ban.

Also Read: True Crime Fan Turns Real-Life Killer: South Korean Woman Commits Murder 'Out of Curiosity,' May Face Death Penalty

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These schools, identified as No.112-114, represent a significant stride in Cargills ongoing commitment to education and community development in the region, and bring the company closer to its goal of building 150 schools across Vietnam by the end of the decade.

The inaugurated schools have been strategically positioned to effectively address educational needs within ethnicity diverse communities. School No.112, Giao Thien Kindergarten, is located in Lang Chanh district in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa.

Similarly, school No.113, A Lu kindergarten, is situated in Bat Xat district in the northern province of Lao Cai.

School No.114, Hong Quang primary and secondary day-boarding school, is in Lam Binh district, Tuyen Quang province.

Remarkably, this marks the first Cargill Cares school in Tuyen Quang, elevating the total number of provinces covered by Cargill Cares schools to 54. Each of these educational institutions serves as a testament to Cargills unwavering commitment to fostering education in underprivileged areas.

The inauguration of Cargill Cares School No.114 in Tuyen Quang province

Luan Nguyen, country president of Cargill Vietnam, remarked on the strategic coordination of school inaugurations, "With meticulous planning, Giao Thien kindergarten welcomed students on September 9, closely followed by A Lu kindergarten on October 19. Hong Quang primary and secondary day-boarding school marked its opening on November 18."

"The successful establishment of all three schools within a mere three months demonstrates our commitment to prompt and impactful initiatives. The timing of Hong Quang schools inauguration is especially noteworthy, coinciding with Vietnamese Teachers Day," added Nguyen.

Hong Quang Primary and Secondary Day-Boarding School stands out as a beacon of hope in an underprivileged community where 58.1 per cent of households are categorised as living in poverty. This aligns with the Vietnamese governments resolution 30a, underlining the importance of Cargills intervention in communities with pressing needs.

Despite facing challenging weather conditions, the school was completed in less than three months, a testament to the collaborative efforts facilitated by the local government and school leaders. Featuring four new classrooms serving 122 students, its swift completion underscores Cargill's commitment to promptly delivering on its promises.

Khong Van Vinh, director of Lam Binh Department of Education and Training, expressed gratitude for the transformative impact of Cargills philanthropy.

He said, This invaluable gift from the Cargill Cares Council helps the local community overcome challenges and inspires our students to focus on their studies, promoting humanity and wellbeing throughout society.

Further affirming the positive impact of Cargills contributions, a student of Class 9A at Hong Quang School stated, It is wonderful that our school has a newly built facility that will serve grade 1 and 2 students very well. As I enter high school next year, I aspire to become a doctor and give back to the community. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Cargill for their generous donations that have improved our school and made it safer.

Cargills substantial investment of VND4.7 billion ($198,300) in these three schools underlines the companys dedication to making a positive and enduring impact on Vietnam's educational landscape.

When combined with the three schools (No.109-111) launched earlier this year, Cargills total investment has reached approximately VND9 billion ($379,750) in 2023, benefiting about 450 students across five provinces in northern Vietnam.

These endeavours go beyond mere infrastructure development, embodying a vision that empowers communities and plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the nation.

Cargill Vietnam empowers excellence The workplace culture at Cargill Vietnam embodies the company's vision, mission, and values. These principles are woven into the fabric of the organisation.

Cargills new facility backs up next phase of growth On September 25, Cargill opened a new Provimi Premix plant in southern Vietnam, enhancing its technology and increasing its capacity, fuelling the next phase of growth for its animal nutrition business. Duc Thang Pham, managing director of Cargill Animal Nutrition Thailand and Vietnam, spoke with VIRs Thanh Dat about the companys development journey.
Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital (VC) fund in Southeast Asia founded by Silicon Valley natives, and Venture East, one of Indias longest-standing VC firms, released The Essence of Climate Tech for India and Southeast Asia report on November 29.

The report reveals that over $70 billion was pumped into climate tech investments in 2022, nearly double 2021s record total. Southeast Asia and India net a humble 7 per cent, but this is set to change dramatically over the next 5 years, with their climate tech sector projected to hit $350 billion by 2030.

Michael Lints, partner at Golden Gate Ventures said, "We are witnessing an unprecedented moment in the history of climate tech. Every single government in Southeast Asia and India is doubling down on market-making policy shifts for the first time."

"Key technologies like sustainability accounting, vertical farming, energy efficiency, and electric mobility will reach mainstream adoption in the next five years, and one-fifth of the worlds largest corporations that have commitments to net-zero emissions are making impactful changes to their operations. We are on the threshold of a climate tech boom in Southeast Asia and India," Lints continued.

Across Southeast Asia and India, the strong regulatory momentum that started in 2019 has taken hold. In Vietnam, the government implemented new environmental protection laws in early 2022. These require Vietnam to create rules for managing and trading carbon credits and running domestic carbon trading platforms by 2027, with full operation expected by 2028.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will be authorised to certify carbon credits and emissions quotas as eligible to participate in carbon trading platforms.

Furthermore, regulators across India and Southeast Asia are rolling out a range of both demand- and supply-side incentives and increasing charging infrastructure with a clear goal of making electric mobility more mainstream.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is disrupting the traditional automotive sector, creating a more level playing field for new entrants across the entire value chain  from parts production to battery technology. The demand for batteries is rising in tandem with the growing EV market.

Among them, Vietnams EV sector is dominated by a single automotive manufacturer, VinFast, whose production covers electric two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and passenger buses. There are emerging private players such as DatBike, and Modmo e-bikes that also operate in the space.

The Vietnamese government has been encouraging the purchase of locally manufactured vehicles over imported ones. The main determinant of a vehicle's total cost of ownership now depends more heavily on its country of origin than on its fuel type.

In 2022, the Vietnamese government implemented free registrations for battery electric cars registered for the first time, effective for three years from March 1, 2022.

Vietnam turns climate change challenge into opportunity by 4.0 tech Vietnam, especially the Mekong Delta area, can take advantage of the achievements and technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to resolve challenges caused by climate change.

Funding for climate tech startups in Southeast Asia hits record high in 2022 Climate tech startups are creating a buzz in the Southeast Asia region thanks to a trend towards sustainable development.
Nguyen Quoc Hung, general secretary of the Vietnam Banks Association, detailed the challenges impeding the growth of consumer lending at a seminar on the issue in mid this month.

Debt collection taking on new hue, illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com

The sector is not only grappling with broader economic difficulties but also faces serious issues such as intentional loan defaulting and social media groups promoting such behaviour, severely hindering debt recovery efforts, Hung said.

This situation has led some financial institutions to reduce their consumer lending portfolios to prevent further escalation of bad debts. Legal challenges with borrowers, particularly in asset handover for debt recovery, are adding to the institutions woes, resulting in protracted legal processes.

Hung also highlighted the risks posed by bad debts and document falsification.

The misuse of technology for fraudulent activities is threatening both individuals financial stability and the reputation of financial organisations, he warned.

Meanwhile, some banks have also recommended measures to enhance consumer lending while controlling bad debts. Proposals included streamlined legal procedures for credit disputes, especially those secured by real estate, and integrating national population data for electronic information authentication.

A representative from Agribank pointed to recent economic challenges and a sluggish real estate market impacting loan security.

Borrowers with multiple small loans across different institutions complicate the debt classification process, and non-cooperation in asset handover for debt recovery necessitates time-consuming legal interventions, the representative explained.

Moreover, we recommend that the Vietnam Credit Information Centre adopt more nuanced debt classification policies for customers with multiple loans. For instance, a loan at Agribank should not be automatically classified as bad if a borrowers loan at another institution is classified as such.

Additionally, the representative underscored the necessity for a national database on real estate and collateral valuation, stating, Access to such a database would be crucial for credit institutions to accurately assess credit ratings and digitalise lending processes, significantly reducing associated risks, he said.

Highlighting the urgency for legislative action, Agribank advocated for new regulations to succeed Resolution 42 of the National Assembly, which is due to expire at the end of 2023. Timely legislation is essential to maintain the banking systems efficiency, particularly in managing non-performing loans, the representative said.

A BIDV representative suggested that the State Bank of Vietnam consider allowing credit institutions to use alternative authentication methods. For smaller online loans, exempting the verification of loan purposes could be beneficial, he said.

Bui Duc Tai, deputy head of the Criminal Police Department at the Ministry of Public Security, stressed the importance of utilising national population databases effectively for authentication, cleansing, and the elimination of ghost bank accounts.

We urge legitimate financial institutions to streamline their credit issuance processes, which will enhance state management efficiency and play a crucial role in combating illegal lending, Tai said.

Kian Foh Then, CEO of Asian debt restructuring group Collectius, said, Our approach involves leveraging top-tier technical solutions to optimise the customer experience in debt recovery. We combine this with an open communication strategy, focusing on understanding and meeting customer needs to formulate practical repayment plans. This assists individuals in effectively managing their debts, Then stated.

Then also noted the importance of regulatory frameworks in debt recovery.

Globally, countries have established specific regulations and standards for debt collection. In regions like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, stringent policies govern the outsourcing of debt recovery, ensuring financial institutions adhere to set guidelines. Non-compliance by external debt collectors is met with substantial penalties, he said.

NA deputies bemoan slow lending plans The slow deployment of a pro-business monetary policy is making it hard to provide timely assistance for enterprises, cooperatives, and household businesses.
The Best Places to Work in Vietnam is a prestigious award organised annually by Anphabe and implemented through surveys and objective evaluations by employees. This year, the survey saw the participation of more than 63,000 employees.

With objective evaluations from employees, Imexpharm ranks fifth among companies in the Pharmaceutical, Medical Equipment, and Healthcare sector for medium-sized enterprises, and 54th among the top 100 companies with the best working environment in Vietnam, rising five places compared to 2022.

According to the survey results announced by Anphabe, the brand awareness of Imexpharm in the pharmaceutical industry is 81.5 per cent, higher than the industry average of 76.7 per cent. The preference rate for choosing to work at Imexpharm is also 10 per cent higher than the industry average.

At the same time, one of the most prominent employer brand images that potential candidates perceive at the company is working environment and team cohesion. In 2023, the employee engagement level has significantly improved, as shown by the very low average resignation rate of around 3-4 per cent.

The award recognises Imexpharm's efforts in creating a happy and sustainable working environment for nearly half a century. Imexpharm firmly believes in a sustainable development strategy that places people at the core of its actions, while respecting the environment and the community.

Guided by the philosophy that "the lotus will still bloom after a thousand years," the company remains dedicated to creating even greater value for its employees and contributing to the sustainable growth of Vietnam's workforce.

Imexpharm Corporation reports dropping revenue during social distancing In August, Imexpharm Corporation recognised a decrease of 12 per cent in revenue and 14 per cent in profit due to social distancing.

Imexpharm making inroads in achieving sustainable efficiency After four decades of development, Imexpharm Corporation has reaffirmed its position as a market leader in Vietnams pharmaceutical industry by investing in sustainable technology and human resources.
On November 10, BW Industrial Development JSC started construction on Vinh Loc 2, a double-story warehouse in the Mekong Delta province of Long An, its ninth project this year. The facility is set to be completed by the end of 2024 within Vinh Loc 2 Industrial Park (IP).

One day earlier, SEA Logistics Vietnam commenced the development of SLP Bac Ninh Logistic, located in Thuan Thanh II IP in Thuan Thanh district of the northern province of Bac Ninh. This project is also expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and will provide modern logistics facilities, delivering comprehensive solutions to meet the evolving demands of the market.

Elsewhere, Indochina Kajima in October pre-opened its Core5 Factory Village in the northern port city of Haiphong. Located in DEEP C 2 IP, the complex is strategically located and boasts environmentally sustainable planning.

Frasers Property Vietnam (FPV) and GELEX Group jointly broke ground on the Industrial Centre Yen Phong 2C in Bac Ninh in September, to mark their first industrial and logistics project in North Vietnam since the signing of a partnership agreement in March. The centre is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of 2024 and will feature high-quality industrial and logistics space designed in accordance with FPVs premium estates concept.

Meanwhile, Singapores Sembcorp Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, and its state-owned joint venture partner Becamex IDC Corporation announced the addition of four new VSIPs in August.

The same month, Lineage Logistics also announced a joint venture with SK Logistics, a cold-storage warehouse operator based in Hanoi.

According to Brooke Miller, Lineages Asia-Pacific president, the cooperation with SK Logistics presents a significant opportunity to deliver top-tier cold storage solutions in the region while partnering with a successful family-owned business. The partnership aims to support diverse customers, including supermarket chains providing food for families, Miller said.

In July, Sumitomo Group from Japan signed an MoU with the north-central province of Thanh Hoa to develop an IP with an investment of $400 million. They are also considering developing a large IP in Nam Dinh province in the north.

According to a report released in October by Savills Vietnam, IPs nationwide have an occupancy rate of over 80 per cent, with the southern key provinces reaching the highest one with more than 90 per cent.

Regarding supply, by October, Vietnam had almost 400 IPs established with a total land area of approximately of 123,000 hectares. Of these, over 290 are in operation and the remainder are still being built.

Despite a large additional supply, rents still increase. In the north, rental prices rose by 30 per cent, reaching an average of $138 per sq.m per rental period, from $102 last year.

In large industrial provinces in the south, rent increased from $152 last year to $174 per sq.m this year. Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City have very high occupancy rates of at least 95 per cent.

John Campbell, deputy director and head of Industrial Services at Savills Vietnam said, Currently, only Long An and Ba Ria-Vung Tau have vacant spaces for rent, with occupancy rates of 85 and 78 per cent, respectively. The market is thirsty for new supply, especially in Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An.

According to data from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of October 20, foreign direct investment in the processing and manufacturing sector continued to lead, reaching nearly $18.85 billion, accounting for around 73 per cent of total registered investment capital and increased by 45.8 per cent over the same period of last year.

Hoang Hai, director of the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management under the Ministry of Construction, pointed out that the trend of shifting industrial real estate investment capital flows of multinational corporations into Vietnam in the past made the demand for IP real estate shift to positive growth in 2023.

Notably, industrial real estate in the north has high demand from the electronics sector, while in the southern region it is in the vehicle, garments and textiles, and packaging manufacturing, Hai said.

Duong Thuy Dung, managing director of CBRE Vietnam, said that due to limited land in hotspot provinces, industrial real estate investors had proactively expanded their portfolios to second-tier markets.

Thanks to the movement of tenants to the secondary market, the northern market is also attracting many large investors to expand production and business facilities. Going forward, the northern or southern regions will continue to be a huge attraction for the industrial real estate market, Dung added.

Industrial developer can offer supply chain boost for Vietnam As of the end of September, Vietnam has attracted new foreign direct investments (FDI) exceeding $20 billion for 2023, up 4.5 per cent on-year, indicating that the country's appeal to international investors has not diminished.

Industrial real estate developers ready to seize on economic rebound As Vietnam's economy is forecast to rebound in 2023, industrial real estate developers are looking to capitalise on opportunities in the market.
Despite a number of clear short-term challenges, Vietnam does remain an attractive market in ASEAN for international firms seeking to expand their presence in the region, be it as a manufacturer based in Vietnam with a focus on exports or as a company coming to the country to benefit from the growing local consumption story.

Tim Evans - CEO, HSBC Vietnam

We continue to see businesses from a broad range of countries showing strong interest in developing their presence in Southeast Asia. They see the demographic growth that is helping propel the region forward and, as a result, expect their sales in this dynamic region to grow by over 20 per cent per annum. This represents an increase that is 4-5 times the rate of GDP growth expected in the ASEAN bloc, as confirmed by data from the HSBC Global Connections Survey, published in September.

This survey covered more than 3,500 businesses in China, India, the UK, France, Germany, the US, Australia, Hong Kong, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait. Of these surveyed businesses, around 27 per cent have indicated that they already have a presence in Vietnam. Just over half of companies surveyed indicated that they were prioritising their growth aspirations in the market over the next two years.

Vietnams economy grew 8 per cent in 2022, benefiting from global supply chain diversification. Its economic resilience is also an attractive feature for international businesses. However, other key attributes that make Vietnam an appealing investment destination include the countrys competitive wages, its skilled workforce, its political stability, and the large number of free trade agreements that have been concluded over the past few years.

Over the past 30 years, ASEAN and Vietnam have been strong recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows. These flows have made their way to the market as investors see the enormous growth potential, the countrys cost-effectiveness, and trade agreements that provide access to key international markets and ongoing structural transformation.

HSBCs economists project that ASEAN will be the fourth-largest economy in the world by 2030, given that 17 per cent of global FDI has flowed into this region, which is twice the amount as before the pandemic. This achievement is a clear reflection of ASEANs strong fundamentals, favourable demographics, and competitive supply chains.

When thinking of FDI and the benefits it can deliver, Vietnam naturally stands out. The country has received substantial FDI inflows over the past several decades, turning itself into a rising star in the global manufacturing supply chain. While much of the investment initially entered into the lower value-add sectors of textiles and footwear, Vietnam has quickly ascended the value chain, growing into a key hub for electronics assembly.

Despite recent challenges that have impacted global trade flows, the country continues to be at the frontline of receiving high quality FDI flows. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments World Investment Report 2023, Vietnam was among the top ASEAN countries receiving FDI last year, registering $17.9 billion (up from $15.66 billion in 2021), only after Singapore and Indonesia. This is in stark contrast to developed economies such as the EU and North America, which saw a 37 and 26 per cent decrease in FDI flows, respectively.

This momentum has been carried forward into this year. According to Vietnams General Statistics Office, total registered FDI rose 14.7 per cent in the first 10 months of 2023. Despite a trade downturn, the trend provides hope for the nation to see a strong rebound when the cycle turns.

Vietnam and ASEAN have emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the supply chain realignment caused by US-China tensions. However, a significant contributor to the FDI story is the increasingly important position that Vietnam has created for itself along the global tech supply chain, as tech giants have been seeking to diversify their presence and have continued to actively invest in the market.

There is however more to Vietnam than purely an FDI in, export out story. The countrys fast-growing middle class is also a real opportunity for international companies who are looking to tap into the consumer story that will see the country become the 10th largest consumer market in the world by 2030.

The growth in Vietnams consumption story is strongly supported by the countrys stable economic growth and a population size. It has shown resilience and aspiration of its consumers with its rapid recovery in the consumer space in 2022, with retail sales rising by around one-fifth higher, making it a top two economy in ASEANs retail sales recovery. Vietnams monthly average spending per capita also rose three-quarters over 2012-2022.

Several international businesses see Vietnams growing consumer market as a real opportunity, with 27 per cent highlighting the appeal of increasing consumer prosperity. Business decision-makers from Chinese to Indian companies highlighted the opportunity to scale quickly in its sizeable market, with 32 and 41 per cent, respectively, pointing to this as a material opportunity for them.

Indian businesses also pointed to the opportunity to develop and test new products and solutions in the market, with 45 per cent of them saying this attracted them to expand in Vietnam.

It should come as no surprise that the growing digital economy also appears as a selling point for international business expansion in the country. Insider Intelligence forecasts Vietnams smartphone users will reach 67.3 million by 2026, accounting for around 97 per cent of internet users. This digital literate population is an instrumental enabler for the countrys e-commerce sector, which saw 20 per cent growth in 2022.

It is expected to post revenue of $20.5 billion in 2023, which translates to a 25 per cent on-year increase according to the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The reality, however, is that like all markets, Vietnam is not without challenges for international companies. Cultural differences and regulatory developments are the top challenges for foreign firms operating here. Almost one-third of foreign companies pointed to cultural difficulties, and the same proportion pointed to the challenge of adapting to fast-changing regulations and policies within the market.

Despite the hurdles, Vietnam remains an attractive destination for foreign businesses, and we continue to see strong interest in its story from customers throughout the HSBC network.

Vietnam shows outstanding Q3 growth Following its recent impressive economic progress, Vietnam has featured in the Global Economic Conditions Survey (GECS) report for the third quarter of 2023 by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Institute of Management Accountants (IMA).

Vietnams M&A flourishes over last 15 years At the Vietnam M&A Forum 2023, under the theme Thriving Together, experts discussed the many opportunities and challenges facing the Vietnamese M&A market, and ways to move forward.
The global minimum tax (GMT) is an agreement that was reached by G7 countries in June 2021 to combat multinational corporations shifting profits to countries with lower tax rates. It will come into effect on January 1, 2024, with the participation of 141 countries.

Under the resolution, multinationals with total consolidated revenues of 750 million (about $800 million) or more within two of four consecutive years will be subject to a minimum tax rate of 15 per cent.

KB Securities Vietnam (KBSV) feels that the new mechanism raises concerns about reducing Vietnam's attractiveness to foreign investment, as tax exemptions or reductions are a key factor in attracting FDI flows.

It believes applying the GMT is necessary in the current context, but Vietnam should also consider adopting other supportive policies in addition to improving the business environment in terms of labour, infrastructure, administrative procedures, and more.

The National Assembly continues to meet to discuss appropriate policies, and it is likely that these will be introduced in the foreseeable future.

Moving forward, Vietnam should remain an attractive destination for FDI, given its low-cost labour, favourable geographical location, free trade agreements, and a stable political system. Accordingly, FDI inflows into Vietnam should further support economic growth in the coming years, and will also act as a growth driver for industrial park developers, according to KBSV.

According to a report by Maybank Vietnam, foreign investments may cool next year, with a 15 per cent effective corporate tax rate imposed from January 1 as part of the GMT reform. About 122 foreign companies will face a significant increase in their tax bill, with a large amount shouldered by Samsung.

The estimated additional revenue of VND14.6 trillion ($601 million) annually could be used to bolster other investment incentives, but there remain concerns around the violation of global rules and legal complications with companies that do not qualify.

A draft plan published by the Ministry of Investment in August proposed that only high-tech companies with at least VND12 trillion ($495 million) of investment should benefit from cash subsidies to cover other costs, including training, research, and infrastructure. The exact measures will only be finalised next year.

FDI has maintained its increasing momentum and stands as a bright spot as international investment and trade decline, showing the confidence of foreign investors in the Vietnamese market.

Realised FDI from January to November rose by 2.9 per cent from a year ago to hit $20.3 billion, which marks a five-year-high. FDI registrations surged by 14.8 per cent on-year over the first 11 months, with a 40 per cent hike in the manufacturing sector.

Both FDI inflows and disbursement raising Over the first ten months, total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and disbursement reported an increase of 14.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent, respectively.

Samsung cements status as premier foreign investor in Vietnam In a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 31, Park Hark Kyu, president and CFO of Samsung Group, highlighted Vietnam as an essential global economic player, expressing the company's intention to maintain its position as the largest foreign-invested enterprise (FIE) in Vietnam for some time.
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas  and Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday  at the Amazon fulfillment center in Waco. The 700,000-square-foot, 24-hour operation seemingly is hiring on all cylinders as packages fly through the sky like Dunder, Blixem and Rudolph.

An additional 1,000 staffers have joined the festivities since October, fulfillment center manager Juan Lopez said during a tour Tuesday. A Venezuelan, Lopez came to Waco specifically to open the robotics-centric fulfillment center that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised during a rainy local visit in October 2020. Company projections that at least 1,000 people making a minimum $15 an hour would work there have been rendered obsolete.

The three-story center on Exchange Parkway employed 2,300 as of Tuesday, a figure swollen by peak-season hires that continue after two months into the process. Newbies make at least $17 an hour, Lopez said.

Initial concerns about finding enough people to staff a fulfillment center in Central Texas have vanished, Lopez said. Experience has revealed a labor pool stretching from South Dallas to Austin, with Temple, about 30 minutes away on Interstate 35, emerging as a contributor. He said local hires have shown an impressive mechanical aptitude for maintaining equipment and troubleshooting any potential problems with the robotic systems.

Amazon received incentives from Waco and McLennan County upon its decision to place a fulfillment center here, amounting to almost $9.5 million in property tax breaks spread over 20 years. Whether those incentives include residency requirements for employees could not be determined Wednesday.

Without knowing the number of employees residing in and outside McLennan County, it would be inappropriate to respond about the residency of Amazons employees, said Kris Collins, industry recruiter and senior vice president for economic development at the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

Collins said Amazon received a business grant from the city and county.

The agreements provide a grant from taxes paid by the company based upon the achievement of investment and employment metrics, Collins said in an email response to questions. The agreement required an investment of at least $200 million in real and personal property improvements and the creation of at least 1,000 new jobs by December 31, 2024. According to the McLennan County Appraisal Districts website, Amazon has more than $330 million in real and personal property investments for the building and equipment on the 2023 tax rolls and a substantial amount of taxable inventory.

Packages processed in Waco do not travel directly to local porches. Amazon spent an estimated $250 million to create a way station for sorting and packing inbound merchandise for delivery to resource centers. Waco deals only in items smaller than a microwave, Lopez said, naming books, iPads and earbuds as among the more plentiful gizmos on the premises. He said nearly 99% of items processed locally are bound for Texas addresses.

Numbers matter at Amazon, which provided a fact sheet about AUS 3, the facility in Waco, prepared by media contact Allie Payne.

She said Amazon in Waco accepts 285,000 items per day, on average, a number that climbs to 400,000 items daily during the peak season. An average of 257,000 items are shipped out daily during normal circumstances, but November and December produce counts of 385,000 items per day.

Payne said 40 million items are stored in Wacos fulfillment center.

An item spends 60 to 90 minutes wending its way through the building, moved along with assistance from 28 miles of conveyance, as well as employees using about 75,000 containers and 58,000 totes. Slip-ups are few and far between, Lopez said, mentioning a 97% success rate. He said bar codes track destinations and assist in matching labels to contents. An algorithm compares box weight with established norms, and kicks out those packages not falling within an acceptable range, Lopez said.

About 3% get kicked out, said Lopez, adding the process could be viewed as Amazons application of artificial intelligence.

He said robotics and robotic arms have their place at Wacos Amazon facility, primarily to eliminate repetitive motion and to eliminate the need to pick up heavy objects, both of which may cause bodily wear and tear.

Attempting to ensure staffers peacefully and safely co-exist with their robotic counterparts, Amazon fits some employees with jackets festooned with lights. They create a protective shield, of sorts, that prevents worker and robot from colliding should an employee need to enter the robots domain, possibly to retrieve a package that has fallen from a shelf, Lopez said.

The Amazon fact sheet also paints a picture of the companys presence in Texas.

The state is home to 50 Amazon fulfillment and sortation centers and 33 delivery stations. Amazon employs 88,000 full- and part-timers statewide.

A section dedicated to small business involvement with Amazon says more than 38,000 independent sellers in Texas conduct business in Amazons store. In the 12-month period ending December 2022, independents in Texas sold more than 180 million products on Amazon, the company said.

The companys direct financial impact is significant, but local real estate agent Gregg Glime said Amazons influence is felt beyond its campus at 2000 Exchange Parkway. Nearby development, including speculative office space right across Exchange Parkway from Amazon, has arisen.

Amazon is undeniably a prominent player and a significant newcomer in the market. We have been fortunate to witness several such entrants in recent years, Glime said by email. The space across the street is fully occupied, leaving us with only 9 acres of land available for sale.

Attracting these companies to our region and successfully securing their commitment to establishing a presence in our community requires extensive efforts from various industries, he said. Its an exciting time to be involved with real estate in the city of Waco and McLennan County.
The roommate of a Waco murder suspect testified Wednesday that he told her the day of the 2020 shooting that he had killed someone.

Earlier in the trial of Courtney ONeil Washington, 29, of Waco, a witness identified Washington as the man who shot Larry Bryant Jr., 50, on the morning of July 13, 2020, at a garage apartment in the 2600 block of Sanger Avenue.

The trial that started Monday in Wacos 19th State District Court is the third on the first-degree felony charge of murder against Washington. A hung jury led Judge Thomas West to declare a mistrial in July, and late-arriving evidence led to a mistrial before witness testimony could start in the first trial a month earlier.

Rolanda Bridgewater told the jury Tuesday she saw Washington shoot Bryant, who she described as a really good friend, as she sat and talked with him in the Sanger Avenue apartment.

Appearing in black and white striped jail uniform, Bridgewater has been serving a 20-month sentence in McLennan County Jail since March, after her probation was revoked on a state jail felony drug charge. She told the jury Tuesday she had been smoking methamphetamine and marijuana and drinking in the garage apartment since 11 p.m. the night before the shooting, which happened at about 5:15 a.m. July 13, 2020.

Bridgewater said she had been talking with Bryant and another man in the apartment for about half an hour to 45 minutes when Washington, also known as Cash, asked the other man to leave.

Larry got shot. Cash shot Larry, Bridgewater told the jury.

Bridgewater said she and Corey Walker, who lived in the apartment along with Don Williams, left the apartment and police were there by the time they returned about 45 minutes later.

Corey Walker, who had been sitting on the floor a few feet away from where Bridgewater and Bryant were talking, told the jury he knew everyone in the apartment well except for Courtney Washington.

No one I know well would do that (shoot Bryant), Walker told the jury. The person who shot him, I didnt know well.

Washingtons defense attorney, Nora Farah, asked Walker about what he first told police, saying he did not see anything.

Why do you keep asking me about what I first told the police? Walker responded to Farah. Im here right now telling you what I saw.

Prosecutor Will Hix asked Walker whether he wanted to be in court Wednesday testifying in a murder trial.

Im regarded as a snitch just for being here right now, Walker replied.

Walker said he lost the last place he lived and almost had to beat two people up after he testified in Washingtons trial in July.

In later testimony, a Waco police official told the jury some witnesses who move in the world of drugs are in fear of the lives or getting attacked if they cooperate with police, even for very serious crimes like murder.

Kristine Hutchins, who shared an apartment with Washington at the time of Bryants shooting told the jury Wednesday that she has been sober for two years but was using drugs in the summer of 2020 and her memories from the time are not entirely reliable.

When Courtney came home that morning, the day the police came to search the apartment, he said, I did it, I did it, I did it, I did it, Hutchins told the jury. He told me he had killed someone and he told me who.

Washington had also talked about getting rid of clothes and shoes, Hutchins said, though she wasnt trying to hear that or be involved in it.

Prosecutor Kristen Duron then asked her about the mother of one of Washingtons children coming to the apartment.

I let her in, Hutchins said. She came with Courtneys momma before the police came to search. I thought she was there to collect his valuables before he went to jail.

Hutchins said the women actually left the apartment with some things of Washingtons that were related to guns, maybe parts of guns.

When Hutchins did not want to answer one of Durons questions and Duron offered to play a video clip of Waco police Sgt. Sam Keys interview with her in a police vehicle as memory refresher, defense attorney Sandy Gately objected.

If this is to refresh her memory, it should be in private, Gately said.

Judge West sustained the objection and the jury took a break.

After Hutchins had a discussion in a side room with prosecution and defense attorneys and watched the video clip, Hutchins changed her testimony slightly.

When the jury returned, Hutchins said she had not known it was Larry Bryant who had died until after the police searched her apartment where she lived with Washington.

Police tested Bridgewater and Don Williams, who had been in the apartment shortly before the shooting, for gunshot residue, said Juan Rojas, a retired trace evidence examiner from the Texas Department of Public Safety who processed the tests. He said Williams test did not show any gunshot residue, and Bridgewaters was consistent with someone who was in the room where a firearm was discharged.

Key also said that when police spoke to Bridgewater outside the crime scene, she was concerned about her traffic tickets and drug paraphernalia an officer took from her, not being a suspect in Bryants shooting.

Rolanda displayed all the behavioral signs of having witnessed the shooting, Key said, explaining had been trained how to treat and interview victims of trauma.

After the state rested Wednesday, Washingtons defense presented two witnesses: a retired Waco police commander and a man called from jail who knew Washington at the time of the shooting.

Luis Almaguer, who had been the commander on overnight duty the day Bryant was shot before sunrise, told the jury he found some backpacks and a duffel bag in the bushes outside the crime scene tape that had no dust or moisture on them. He moved these inside the crime scene tape so evidence technicians would examine them.

The lead crime scene technician at the scene of Bryants death, Jenn Husak Koenig, had earlier told the jury about photographing the scene and collecting shell casings, finger prints and DNA samples the day of the shooting. She also testified about recovering three bullets from the floor of the garage apartment in the days after the shooting and setting up trajectory rods that showed the shooter had stood in the doorway. She did not mention the backpacks or duffel bag under prosecution questioning, and the defense did not ask her about them.

The last defense witness, Jujuan Mantrel Johnson, came from McLennan County Jail, where he is confined on $260,000 bail in a second-degree felony evading arrest charge and a second-degree felony drug charge.

Johnson told the jury Ray Walker had been at the apartment where Bryant was shot earlier in the evening and had approached him at his own apartment a few blocks away to ask Johnson to go get Ray Walkers bag from the garage apartment.

I went back there and looked in but I saw a body lying on the floor in the doorway and I didnt go inside, Johnson said.

Key interviewed Ray Walker about two months ago and determined he was not a suspect in Bryants death.
The first woman appointed as a state district judge in McLennan County, Judge Vicki Menard, retired Thursday after 18 years presiding over Wacos 414th State District Court.

Menard received her appointment from Gov. Rick Perry in 2005, when the Legislature created the 414th Court. From 2021 until earlier this year, Menard also served as administrative judge of McLennan County and presided over the county board of judges.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to appoint her successor in the 414th Court later this year. Judge Gary Coley of Wacos 74th State District Court accepted the duties of administrative judge earlier this year.

Menard thanked her husband and daughter and all the elected officials, colleagues and attorneys who came to a ceremony Thursday at the McLennan County Courthouse to wish her well in her retirement.

Elected officials and the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association gave retirement gifts, and the city of Waco proclaimed Thursday to be Judge Vicki Menard Day.

State Sen. Brian Birdwell presented Menard with a so-called Constitution chair, emblazoned with the Texas state seal.

Texas Rep. Charles Doc Anderson presented her with a Texas flag flown over the state Capitol and the House of Representatives.

Waco City Council Member Josh Borderud read a proclamation signed by Mayor Dillon Meek.

Patrick Brady, vice president of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association, also gave Menard a retirement gift and spoke about the graciousness and dignity with which the judge conducted all her court proceedings.

Before her staff and other courthouse officials hung banners in her courtroom and laid out a retirement lunch spread, Menard said she worked the morning of her last day holding hearings and signing official documents.
Decorated NASA astronaut Mary Cleave, who was the first woman space crew to fly in space after the Challenger explosion, sadly died at 76.

Her passing was confirmed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on Wednesday, Nov. 29. The international space union said that Cleave died on Monday, Nov. 27.

However, NASA officials didn't provide the main cause of her death. And doesn't show a sign that it will provide more information within the following days.

RIP Decorated NASA Astronaut Mary Cleave

Before she died, NASA astronaut Mary Cleave was the first woman to serve as an associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Aside from this, she also became the first woman to crew a space flight after the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, which shocked the world in 1986; killing all seven crew members.

NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana said that he was surprised and saddened by the passing of Mary Cleave.

"I'm sad we've lost trail blazer Dr. Mary Cleave, shuttle astronaut, veteran of two spaceflights, and first woman to lead the Science Mission Directorate as associate administrator," said the official via NASA's official website.

"Mary was a force of nature with a passion for science, exploration, and caring for our home planet. She will be missed," he added.

According to Fox News' latest report, Mary Cleave received numerous awards for her contributions to the space industry, such as the following:

Two NASA Space Flight medals

Two NASA Exceptional Service medals

American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award

NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal

NASA Engineer of the Year

Read Also: NASA's 2040 Moon Human Settlement Ambition Fascinates Scientists-Can Lunar Residences Really Be Achieved?

Remembering Mary Cleave

Mary Cleave was born in Southhampton, New York. She graduated from Colorado State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences.

Aside from this, the also studied at the Utah State University and acquired a Master of Science in microbial ecology, as well as a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering.

After that, she began her journey to becoming a NASA astronaut and official:

1980 : Mary Cleave was selected as a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to flight software verification in the SAIL spacecraft communicator.

: Mary Cleave was selected as a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to flight software verification in the SAIL spacecraft communicator. 1985 : She launched the STS-61B, her first mission, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis.

: She launched the STS-61B, her first mission, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. 1989 : Mary Cleave launched her second mission called STS-30 via the Atlantis space shuttle.

: Mary Cleave launched her second mission called STS-30 via the Atlantis space shuttle. 1991 : The decorated NASA astronaut was transferred from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

: The decorated NASA astronaut was transferred from the Johnson Space Center in Houston to Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. 2000 : She became the deputy associate administrator for advanced planning at NASA Washington headquarters' Office of Earth Science.

: She became the deputy associate administrator for advanced planning at NASA Washington headquarters' Office of Earth Science. 2005-2007: Mary Cleave became the NASA Science Mission Directorate associate administrator.

Related Article: RIP Frank Borman: NASA Apollo Astronaut Dies Just Days After Death of His Fellow Space Pilot

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By Grant Newman

The hard-working management team running the Wings over Wairarapa (WoW) Air Festival cannot seem to get a break. With previous airshows curtailed owing to COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, this year the team hoped to put the run of misfortune behind it, but a Roaring Forties weather bomb put paid to that. Planned for Friday 24 to Sunday 26 November 2023, Fridays flying programme was reduced and Saturday was cancelled altogether leaving Sunday as the only full display opportunity.

Amid the wind and rain, on Friday the team swung into damage control mode. We have a good team here and everyone has worked pretty hard, said show Chairman Ron Mark on Sunday morning before the show. After the last cancellations, we made some structural changes  Because of that, were able to keep going and hold the show despite everything.

The majority of the public who ventured to a blustery and mud-soaked Hood Aerodrome on the Friday afternoon were still entertained. This year, WoW introduced Take Flight, its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) initiative, that saw a range of activities provided for 11-13-year-old secondary school students. A variety of professional organizations were present, including Air New Zealand and the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy. Despite the rain, Take Flight saw more than a hundred children from across the lower North Island of New Zealand take part.

Following the gusting winds and unceasing rain of the previous two days, by mid-afternoon on Sunday, the wind had died down and the sun finally appeared.

Its important that we put some kind of display into the air today, said Mark on Sunday morning following the decision to go ahead. Many aircraft booked could not make the journey to Masterton, and had cancelled, but Mark and the team felt there were sufficient aircraft to enable a flying programme across the better part of the day.

The major commitment from the New Zealand Defence Force contingent was understandably cut back to just the Air Force Heritage Flight, comprising five T-6 Texan IIs and Spitfire IX PV270. P-51D Mustang ZK-TAF, the T-28 Trojan duo, the New Zealand Yak Formation Aerobatic Team were also unable to attend.

Meanwhile, the rest of the aerial performers were sufficient to make up for the cancellations. The vintage and warbird displays included an airshow debut, a welcome return, and a final farewell. Making its New Zealand debut was Achim Engels-built Fokker Eindecker ZK-EIN, which, along with The Vintage Aviator Ltd (TVAL) contingent, was grounded owing to the wind. Despite this, several TVAL aircraft were lined up for public perusal, prompting much pondering among the assembled audience over the intricacies of the unfamiliar pioneering technology present. Several of the aircrafts engines were started, including the Eindeckers.

The welcome return was the former-Royal New Zealand Air Force FG-1D Corsair ZK-COR, which, under new management, had received maintenance and a return to RNZAF markings by JEM Aviation of Omaka, Blenheim. This weekend was the aircrafts airshow debut in Mike Jones ownership, ably flown by the worlds most recent Corsair rating holding pilot, Frank Parker. There was a fear that the Corsair, awaiting a weather change in the South Island, would not make it across Cook Strait, but mid-morning on Sunday, the Corsair roared over the aerodrome and landed, to the delight of the awaiting crowd.

Parker took the Corsair aloft two times during the display. While many of us were accustomed to the vigor that former display pilot Keith Skilling used to fly this aircraft, Parker, performing his first public display in the type, got to grips with it through a neat presentation of solo aerobatics. Parker also provided the airfield defense element during the mock attack by the Roaring Forties aerobatic display team Harvards masquerading as enemy aircraft. This display was punctuated by ill-timed pyrotechnic bangs and flashes that seemingly went off at random and not in sequence with the approaching aircraft.

The final farewell from the New Zealand airshow display circuit belonged to veteran Spitfire pilot and owner of the two-seat Spitfire TR.IX MH367 ZK-WDQ Doug Brooker, who recently announced his retirement from flying it. Im getting too old for this, said Doug after his display. Ill put the aircraft up for sale and someone else can get some joy out of it. Three vintage de Havilland aircraft, two DH.82a Tiger Moths and a DHC-1 Chipmunk provided an entertaining interlude to the fast-paced warbirds, with the Chipmunk aerobating above the two Tiger Moths as they gracefully flew by. Adding dynamism were two jet warbirds: DH.112 Venom ZK-VNM and former RNZAF BAC Strikemaster NZ6372 ZK-BAC, each of which displayed singly.

It is always difficult to fairly critique an event decimated by weather without sounding unnecessarily cruel and overall, that Mark and his team were able to provide an event at all was a testament to their fortitude. For what it was, the flying aspect was excellently presented, with each aircraft timed to appear in good order. The commentary was expertly provided by veteran Australian commentator Peter Ando Anderson, no stranger to New Zealand events, with various guests throughout the afternoon. All in all, the event delighted, simply because of the show beating the ever-present threat of cancellation throughout the entire weekend. By Grant Newman.
WATERLOO  The attorney for a Waterloo man accused of shooting an acquaintance in the face in 2020 said his client acted in self-defense.

Robert Lee Williams Jr., 34, is charged with attempted murder and other offenses for allegedly shooting Tony Campbell at close range in an alley behind the 900 block of West Sixth Street in broad daylight on July 31, 2020.

As testimony in Williams' trial began Wednesday, defense attorney Maurice Spencer told jurors Campbell also had a gun during the encounter and had approached Williams.

Mr. Campbell went over with the intent to do violence. In self-defense, the defendant had to shoot, Spencer told jurors.

Security cameras in the area showed Campbell, dressed in red, rushing into the West Side Liquor, bleeding from the face and seeking help following the shooting.

At first, Campbell was holding a pistol, but he then exited the store and returned to the shop moments later without the weapon.

The video then showed him pacing in front of the store, gathering concerned looks from bystanders until police and paramedics arrived.

Prosecutors also showed video clips from the alley. Despite using magnification to zoom in on the action, the footage showed silhouettes partially shrouded by bushes and shadows.

Detective Nicholas Sadd with the Waterloo Police Department said Campbell could be seen standing between Williams on the right and another person on the left. At one point Williams silhouette extended an arm and Campbell quickly ducked.

The hand was directed at the head of the person in red, Sadd told jurors while narrating the video.

Campbell can be see darting to the left, then running off as subsequent bullets kicked up puffs of dust on the ground behind him.

Sadd noted Campbells silhouette didnt appear to be holding or pointing a gun at the time of the shooting.

Campbell, 38, survived the shooting and was later prosecuted on federal firearm charges for the gun he was carrying at the time of the shooting.

In April 2023, Williams was found guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in the August 2020 shooting death of Vincent Hemenway, who was unarmed, in a friends garage on Adrian Street. Williams was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

He is also awaiting trial in an August 2020 shootout on Argyle Street in which two people were injured.

Photos: Homicide, Adrian St. Aug. 15, 2020 081820jr-adrian-homicide-1 081620jr-homicide-search-1 081620jr-homicide-search-2 081620jr-homicide-search-3 081620jr-homicide-search-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-2 040622jr-robbery-trial-1 040622jr-robbery-trial-3 040622jr-robbery-trial-4 040622jr-robbery-trial-5 040722jr-robbery-trial-1 040722jr-robbery-trial-3 040822jr-robbery-verdict-1 042023jr-williams-trial-1 042023jr-williams-trial-4 042023jr-williams-trial-3 042023jr-williams-trial-2 042023jr-williams-trial-5 041923jr-williams-trial-2 041923jr-williams-trial-1 041923jr-williams-trial-3 041923jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-4 042123jr-williams-trial-1 042123jr-williams-trial-2 042123jr-williams-trial-3 042423jr-williams-trial-1 042423jr-williams-trial-2 Robert Lee Williams Jr. verdict 062823jr-williams-sentencing-1 062823jr-williams-sentencing-3 062823jr-williams-sentencing-2
WATERLOO  Soap and water and scrubbing werent enough to remove a hateful message that had been scrawled on a Waterloo teens car in 2020.

The victim Wednesday told jurors how she discovered KKK painted in large letters on the front and back passenger doors of the blue 2004 Ford 500 she had parked overnight at the Baymont Inn on LaPorte Road.

It made me very uncomfortable that someone had those feelings and did what he did, said the African-American victim, who was 19 at the time.

She felt her vehicle was targeted for the damage because she had written black lives matter on her own back window. It was June 2020, and protests and marches following the death of George Floyd were in full swing across the country.

Authorities allege the letters were painted by Gary Eugene Shelton, a 56-year-old Bloomington, Illinois, man who had been in Waterloo for work at the time. Shelton is charged with third-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights and trespass as a hate crime.

Testimony in his trial began Wednesday with the driver recounting how she had been at the Baymont to celebrate a friends high school graduation. She noticed the damage while leaving on the morning of June 5, 2020.

After snapping a photo and going home, she and her mother attempted to clean it off with soapy water. That didnt work.

An estimate to fix the damage professionally was in the $900 to $1,000 range, which the family couldnt afford.

They had a friend come over and try to buff it out, but still the letters remained visible. There were also some scratches left from the cleaning efforts, she said.

So the teen continued to drive the Ford with the moniker for the hate group written on the side to work, to hang out with her friends, for a year or so before trading it in.

The vandalism was investigated by Waterloo police and the FBI, which assigned it to Special Agent James McMillan. McMillan is based at the bureaus Quad Cities resident agency and investigates civil rights violations for the eastern third of Iowa as well as parts of Illinois.

McMillan said he reviewed surveillance video obtained by Waterloo police that showed Shelton park his boom truck next to the Ford in the hotel parking lot. The footage showed him exit and walk around to the passenger side, where he opened the trucks door and lingered for a bit before pulling out, the agent said.

McMillan questioned Shelton during a recorded interview at the Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln, Illinois, on Aug. 5, 2020.

In the recording, Shelton described how he saw a black man and his friend arguing with the hotel clerk at the front desk. He said one of the men briefly turned to him and cussed him out before leaving.

When asked about his parking job, Shelton told the agent he remembered the Ford but claimed it also had antifa kill all white people and F--- the police messages in addition to the black lives matter. But he denied writing anything on the car.

He said he initially parked next to the car and went to the passenger side to collect his bag but then decided to move the truck under a light where he could see it better from his room.

During the interview, the agent pointed out that Sheltons feet were pointed toward the Ford and said it looked like he was using the trucks door to shield what he was doing. He also noted Shelton wasnt carrying his bag when he eventually entered the hotel.

I know I wasnt doing anything illegal, Shelton told the agent. I did not touch that vehicle.

McMillan told jurors that Sheltons employer in Illinois had photographed the interior of the work truck when it returned, and a can of spray silicone was found inside the vehicle. He said Shelton claimed he used a silicone gel to fix a door handle on the truck at some point.

Police were never able to determine what substance was used to write the KKK letters.

Defense attorney Mark Seda told jurors there were gaps in the surveillance footage, time that wasnt recorded. And he said other people had been around the Ford acting suspicious.

States with the most hate crimes Intro #50. Arkansas #49. Maryland #48. Iowa #47. Pennsylvania #46. Mississippi #45. Florida #44. Illinois #43. Louisiana #42. Utah #41. Oklahoma #40. Wyoming #39. Georgia #38. Indiana #37. New Hampshire #36. Wisconsin #35. South Carolina #34. Idaho #33. Missouri #32. Maine #31. Nevada #30. Alaska #29. Texas #28. Rhode Island #27. Tennessee #26. West Virginia #25. Minnesota #24. Virginia #23. North Carolina #22. Connecticut #21. Delaware #20. South Dakota #19. North Dakota #18. Nebraska #17. New Mexico #16. California #15. Kansas #14. Hawaii #13. Arizona #12. Montana #11. New York #10. Ohio #9. Kentucky #8. Colorado #7. Oregon #6. Michigan #5. Vermont #4. Massachusetts #3. New Jersey #2. Washington #1. District Of Columbia
GOP theocracy

The Republicans have done it again. In their continuous effort to turn the USA into some theocracy, the new Republican speaker of the House would like a religious test to become a member of Congress. I have a better idea, make it a liars test. That should thin the candidates out. Would someone size this Johnson for a turban, you know, like the ayatollahs in Iran wear while they attack our troops.

Bob Black, Waterloo

Tax giveaway

I would like to know why Im not hearing more criticism of Iowas massive tax giveaway to private religious schools. Over $144 million dollars is going to be wasted in just the first year. And this boondoggle only benefits the churches that run most of the private schools. Hello? Anyone heard of the First Amendment? In America, you cannot establish religion and allow it to feed off public tax dollars. If we let this stand, there will be even more private schools springing up to gorge from the public trough. Iowas public schools will be left holding the bag because of lower enrollment.

Are you OK with this? Im not. If were going to give our tax dollars to private schools, we should at least require them to uphold the same standards as public schools. No more discrimination against LGBTQ+ staff or students. Teach science, including evolution, to all students. Teach history in all its messy complexity. Require state accreditation, hire fully accredited teachers, accept all students, provide special education, and provide free breakfast and lunch for qualifying students  none of which they are required to do now. Better yet, lets cut them off from our tax money. Stop this madness!

Doug Smith, Cedar Falls

US takes wrong turn

Its amazing! Recent polling by some of our most reliable polling companies shows that almost 76% of the people say the country is going in the wrong direction. If most of us agree that we are going in the wrong direction why dont we change? If we were taking a winter vacation down south where it is nice and warm and our compass showed that we were going north it wouldnt take us long to get turned around. Why cant President Biden and his band of socialists understand this? Joe opened the southern border to all kinds of drugs, human trafficking and terrorists. We have no idea who or what is coming into this country. President Biden made changes that caused this to happen by simply signing a bill, and he can change it back by signing another bill. A recent article on the front page of The Courier tells of the homeless problem Waterloo is having in the downtown area. Some of the businesses are considering closing because of possible danger to their customers and employees. Why are we surprised? Minneapolis, Chicago and Kansas City have been having these problems for a long time, and theyre only three or four hours away. All of the problems that theyre having will soon be ours. Lucky us! Dont you think its time to turn around? President Biden can begin to do this with a stroke of his pen. Come on Joe, its getting late.

Jerald Bartlett, Waterloo

Thanksgiving thoughts

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But alas, its that one day of the year that we have to be thankful. I guess. So heres my thankful list in no particular order.

Meat! Good hamburger, roast, hot dog, makes no difference, I am thankful for meat.

Bumper cars at amusement parks. Been a while since Ive been on one, but what a rush banging into other cars.

Potato salad.

GPS! Thank you to whoever invented this.

Blizzards. Ah, the DQ kind only!

Smell of gasoline. I know, I know, kinda weird, but ...

Thankful for a good old thunderstorm.

Love those grandkids. Dont you?

Desserts. Anytime, any kind, any place.

Elevators. Whens the last time you said thanks to Otto?

Salt and vinegar anything.

Buttered popcorn at the movie theaters.

Healthy foods. Never tried any but heard theyre good.

Thankful for those old songs of the 1960s. Whats your favorite?

Actually thankful that I grew up in the 1960s. Best era in all of time.

Thankful, very much so, for that first cup of coffee in the morning.

Karaoke. Dont do it often, but when I do  Big Bad John.

Looking at Christmas decorations, (but not yet).

John Sheda, Independence

Diversity absurdity

Diversity and its cousins, inclusion and equity, are woke Americas new guiding principles. Sports, education, media, government, military and big business are all-in on the DEI mantra. Rearrange the letters from DEI to DIE. Is that a more fitting acronym for where this recent liberal push may lead?

There is nothing wrong with diversity, as long as that extends to all aspects of humanity. Why only diversity of skin color and gender? Are those the only determinants of diversity?

A civil rights icon with a national holiday in his name once spoke of the true measure of his fellow man. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Diversity is now contrary to Martin Luther King Jr.s dream. What about diversity of thought, ideas, political views, and so on? How tolerant was the government, and its big tech and social media propaganda arms, over diverse views on COVID vaccines, masks, distancing, lockdowns, and off-label therapeutics? Can we have diverse views on transgenderism, Ukraine, or Trump?

Dave Smith, Waterloo

GOP on brink of ruin

Theres an astonishing scene in Thomas Hardys Far from the Madding Crowd which, for those who are not sanguine about the prospects and trajectory of the latter-day Republican Party, has special significance.

One of Hardys characters, Gabriel Oak, is a shepherd. In spite of hardship and failure farmer Oak has managed to cultivate a large flock. Then one night, for reasons that are unclear, one of Oaks sheepdogs starts harassing and chasing the flock.

As sheep are wont to do, the animals allow themselves to be guided entirely by the dog and are driven headlong over a cliff to their deaths. The dog remains perched above, unperturbed by the fact that everything farmer Oak has worked to achieve has been destroyed.

Our country  our democracy  needs a viable conservative party, the Republican Party. Since 2016 the Republican Party has been dominated by a man who is neither a conservative nor a Republican  he is in fact the ultimate RINO (Republican in name only).

Like Gabriel Oaks flock, the party of Lincoln is being led toward a cliff and certain ruin. For the sake of our country, lets hope the scales will fall from our eyes before its too late.

Daniel Baldwin, Decorah
5 quick and easy recipes to try this week

Thanksgiving and the many hours of cooking that come with it are over. That's why this week's recipe roundup is all about easy meals that come together in minutes.
Four Iowa nursing homes have been added to the federal list of the nations worst care facilities.

Over the past four months, the homes have all been deemed eligible for inclusion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services national list of Special-Focus Facilities. They join six other Iowa care facilities already deemed eligible for inclusion on the periodic list of nursing homes that have recurring quality-of-care problems.

The four Iowa homes added to the list since July are: Embassy Rehab and Care Center in Sergeant Bluff; Harmony West Des Moines; the Ivy at Davenport; and Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City.

The four join six other Iowa facilities long considered eligible for special-focus status and increased oversight by regulators: Aspire of Gowrie, which has been eligible for seven months; Dunlap Specialty Care, which has been eligible for six months; Genesis Senior Living in Des Moines, which has been eligible for 17 months; Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, which has been eligible for 13 months; Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, which has been eligible for seven months; and New London Specialty Care, which has been eligible for 10 months.

Iowa has two care facilities that are officially designated as special-focus facilities and, as a result, are operating under additional scrutiny and oversight by the government: Aspire of Gowrie and Arbor Court of Mount Pleasant. Its not clear why CMS has designated Aspire of Gowrie as both a special-focus facility and a candidate for designation as a special-focus facility. CMS officials were unable to address that question Wednesday.

The four Iowa homes recently deemed eligible for inclusion on the federal list have a history of regulatory issues:

 Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City: This 85-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 48 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: In May, state inspectors alleged the home failed to complete a timely assessment and interventions for five of 18 residents whose care was reviewed. That failure, the inspectors said, resulted in a death and several hospitalizations and visits to an emergency room for treatment. The home was also cited for failing to adequately respond to a residents worsening foot injury that stemmed from an ingrown toenail. The lack of care allegedly led to an infection and the amputation of the residents toes.

Westwood Specialty Care is owned and managed by Iowas largest nursing home chain, the tax-exempt nonprofit Care Initiatives, based in West Des Moines. According to tax records, CEO Michael Beal collected a total of $608,638 in compensation from Care Initiatives and its affiliates in 2021. Board members of the nonprofit were paid $134 an hour for their services.

 Harmony West Des Moines: This 120-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for overall quality, and has been cited for 53 violations over the course of five inspections this year.

Among the issues: The home was alleged to have neglected, over a period of several days, a residents complaints related to an apparent bowel obstruction that eventually led to fissures and to feces being discharged through her vagina.

A nurse told inspectors the woman had complained of extreme pain. She was screaming, and you could hear her down the hall, the nurse told inspectors. She was saying her butt is on fire  It took an hour and a half before I got the order to send her to the ER.

At the hospital, the woman was diagnosed with septic shock, a life-threatening infection, and gangrene in the area surrounding her genitals. After two surgeries, the resident died.

CMS reports that it has no ownership information available on Harmony West. Real estate records indicate the property is currently owned by Manor Care Health Services.

 The Ivy at Davenport: This 75-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 38 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: Earlier this year, state inspectors published a 220-page report documenting 35 state and federal violations, including rodents, medication errors, illicit drug use and other problems. A nurse who was on the homes payroll told inspectors staffing levels were absolutely horrible and that she could not express how bad it was.

The home had failed to maintain clean floors, empty trash (and) clean resident equipment, inspectors said, leaving some areas of the facility with strong odors smelling of urine, body odor and garbage.

The home also failed to provide bed sheets or pillowcases to some of the residents, leaving them in beds that had no sheets. One resident had no nightstand, so their food was being placed directly on the floor. A nurse told inspectors rodents were seen recently throughout the hallways and in resident rooms.

The Ivy at Davenport is managed by Ivy Healthcare of Surfside, Florida. The companys president and CEO, Ryan Coane, is part owner of the facility and told the Iowa Capital Dispatch last year that his top priority is our residents health and well-being. He said the Davenport facilitys workers, and the love they have for every resident at the center, is unsurpassable.

 Embassy Rehab and Care Center: This 60-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both inspection results and for quality measures. In May, state inspectors visited the facility in response to four complaints, all of which were substantiated, and cited the facility for 40 state and federal violations, an unusually high number.

Among the violations: A resident complained that when he told a male aide the water in the shower was too hot, the aide turned the water to ice cold. The resident responded by telling the Filipino aide to go back to the jungle, at which point the aide allegedly placed his hand over the residents mouth and nose while pressing the residents neck down until the water from the shower went up the residents nose. The resident said he tried to yell for help but could not.

The business is owned by a for-profit entity called Kismet Sux LLC, and an affiliate, Lantis Enterprises. The individuals who have a significant ownership stake in the business include Cammy, Mary and Travis Lantis.

Homes eligible for added oversight dont receive it

The federal Special-Focus Facilities list is updated monthly by CMS and includes homes deemed by the agency to have a history of serious quality issues.

Nationally, there are 88 nursing facilities on the list, with one or two slots filled by each state. Those homes are enrolled in a special program intended to stimulate improvements in their quality of care through increased regulatory oversight.

Because the number of Special-Focus Facilities is capped, new facilities  even those that have earned CMS lowest ratings for quality  cant be named a special-focus facility until other homes in that same state shut down or improve and graduate from the program.

Thats a process that can take four years or more. As a result, there are several homes in each state that are designated as eligible for special-focus status due to their ongoing quality-of-care issues, but they are unable to benefit from actual enrollment in the program. Iowa generally has 10 nursing homes on the list of eligible facilities.

Currently, the only Iowa home listed as having graduated from the program after a sustained period of improving care is Touchstone Healthcare Community in Sioux City. However, Touchstones graduation appears to coincide with the homes closing in July 2022 amid ongoing quality-of-care issues.

In fact, Touchstone was only added to CMS special-focus list six days after it closed and the last of its residents was moved out. Prior to that, Touchstone has been on the list for almost four years before graduating.

Typically, all of the homes that are deemed eligible for special-focus designation have about twice the average number of violations cited by state inspectors; they have more serious problems than most other nursing homes, including harm or injury to residents, and they have established a pattern of serious problems that has persisted over a long period of time.
With just over six weeks until Iowa voters cast the first official 2024 votes, the Republican race has come into focus: former President Donald Trump maintaining his big lead, and Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley battling for second.

That means the Iowa caucuses will likely produce two meaningful winners: the first-place finisher, where anything but a decisive Trump victory would be a big upset; and the runner-up.

Trump needs to win by a comfortable margin to maintain the momentum that has made him the odds-on GOP favorite. But a second-place finish will likely position one of his rivals to challenge Trump in future tests, even if its a distant second.

Thats because history tells us two things about the Iowa caucuses.

First, the caucuses wont necessarily decide anything. The last three Republican Iowa caucus winners -- former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz -- all lost the GOP nomination.

Second, with President Joe Biden so far facing only token Democratic opposition, the media will focus on the GOP race. And they will likely portray the results as showing a two-person GOP race between Trump and the second-place Republican as the race moves to the New Hampshire primary eight days later.

Thats why Haleys rise into second place in recent Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina polls is so important. While the former South Carolina governor trails Trump substantially in national surveys, the samplings in those three states are a lot closer, a result of her strong performances in the Trump-less GOP debates.

A second-place finish for Haley in Iowa would likely create momentum for a two-person Trump-Haley race in New Hampshire and South Carolina, less than would a DeSantis second-place finish. Thats because Haley already has the stronger campaign in New Hampshire, a state that loves outsiders, and in South Carolina. Her New Hampshire success may hinge on whether most of the large number of unaffiliated voters flock to the Republican primary, since the Democrats wont recognize the winner of their Biden-less contest.

If they do, the beneficiary would likely be either Haley or former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the most outspoken anti-Trump candidate. In recent weeks, Haleys campaign has substantially increased its financial investment there, while DeSantis put his entire early emphasis on Iowa.

The decision by fellow South Carolinian Tim Scott to drop out of the GOP race will probably prove a substantial benefit to Haley in her home state -- especially if she gets a boost from Iowa and New Hampshire.

Trumps commanding lead in Iowa is reminiscent of the way former Vice President Walter Mondale dominated the multi-candidate 1984 Democratic caucuses there, ultimately winning 50% of the vote with a 3-to-1 lead over the second-place finisher, Colorado Sen. Gary Hart.

But the main beneficiary was not the overwhelming winner, Mondale, but the runner-up Hart, thanks to the media consensus that it was now a two-candidate race.

Hart already had a substantial campaign under way in New Hampshire, co-managed by a little-known state senator named Jeanne Shaheen, now the states senior U.S. senator. By the weekend between Iowa and New Hampshire, the primary had become a heated two-man contest. On the following Tuesday, Hart was the upset winner.

His triumph gave the Colorado senator momentum. But it dissipated as the campaign headed south and Harts inadequate advance planning left him unable to counter the more heavily financed Mondale campaign.

Somewhat similarly, Texas Gov. George W. Bush scored a substantial victory in the 2000 Iowa Republican caucuses over his principal challengers there, publisher Steve Forbes and conservative activist Alan Keyes.

But he was upset the following week in New Hampshire by Arizona Sen. John McCain, who had wisely bypassed Iowa to stress the Granite States first-in-the-nation primary.

Like Hart in the 1984 Democratic race, McCain faltered as the campaign went south, where the Texas governor had a stronger base of support.

A strong showing by one of Trumps rivals in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina -- states with big clout but few delegates -- could easily produce a two-person race by the multiple big state contests on Super Tuesday, March 5. That could test the belief of some analysts that, despite Trumps big lead, his true base support is under 50%, presumably making him more vulnerable in a two-way race than in the current multi-candidate scramble.

On the other hand, some recent polling shows Trump would get a substantial share of his rivals support if they were forced from the race.

As for the race for second place in Iowa, DeSantis should have the same advantage of emerging as Trumps main rival there that Haley has in New Hampshire. But unlike her, his next step is problematic.

He has the support of the states governor, Kim Reynolds, a popular figure among Republicans, and Bob Vander Plaats, one of the states most prominent evangelical leaders. He claims an organization in each of the states 99 counties. As a result, failure to do well might doom the Florida governors candidacy, which started with substantial promise but has gone steadily downhill, in part due to his refusal to separate himself from Trump.

Meanwhile, with her strong debate showings, Haley has set herself up to become Trumps main rival. But it depends on what the Republican voters say, starting Jan. 15 in Iowa.
After Hamas massacred 1,200 Israelis, gang-raped teens and kidnapped hundreds of innocents, 30 student groups at Harvard issued a statement reading, "We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence."

The anger that followed went beyond this dismissal of Isis-type barbarity. It pursued Harvard president Claudine Gay after she issued a mealy-mouthed response.

This turned around a bit when prestigious law firms and other employers started rescinding job offers to students involved in these groups. Some companies may have objected to what they saw as overt displays of antisemitism. They may have also been shocked by the TikTok-level display of ignorance of the conflict's complexities, which these alleged top students had put on full display.

The main subject here isn't the current Mideast tragedy, but let us note: Students have every right to say stupid things, and employers have every right not to hire students who say stupid things. As for college administrators frightened of the children, that's a problem for the colleges.

This is about the undeserved reverence shown to these colleges no better than others with lesser brand names. How many times have my new acquaintances used the H-word to elevate their ordinary views?

Without a doubt, brilliant minds have attended and taught at Harvard, Yale and the rest. But so have many mediocrities whose rich parents hired consultants to turn their offspring into the perfect packages these institutions want. That meant tutors to ensure high scores alongside some angle, such as prowess in a sport or carefully selected do-gooding.

Many in the media play the Ivy worship game. Reporters commonly put "Harvard-educated" or "Yale-educated" in front of some expert's name. If the person being interviewed went to the University of Nebraska or, say, Colgate, the alma mater is left a mystery. Never mind if the interviewee's less-glamorous school exceled in the area of expertise they were writing about.

My late husband, a senior editor at Princeton Press, set me straight on the hot air that fills the balloons of Ivy puffery. (I went to New York University.) Himself a product of elite education from prep school on up, he talked of seeking out writers at small colleges in the Dakotas who were actually doing original things. He found the professors who had spent their entire lives climbing the grades, from kindergarten to Ph.D. with hardly a break, tended toward the immature.

The most interesting intellectuals had held regular, non-academic jobs at some point: They had worked on a road crew or run a shoe store or painted houses. He was grateful to have been shaken out of his assumptions by time spent in the Marines. (He laughed about having to hide his background as an "Ivy flower" while being schooled on Parris Island.)

If these latest displays of cowardice by administrators at Harvard, Columbia and Yale vacuum up some of the fairy dust the worshippers sprinkle around these schools, so much the better. And that goes double if they prompt some rich alumni to move their donations elsewhere. How about funding organizations that help kids from struggling backgrounds get a foothold in a secure life?

One of the reasons so many super rich graduates give multimillions to the richest colleges is the same reason so many parents want their children to get into them. It gives them an opportunity to hobnob with other rich people or those whom they consider socially desirable.

"Should Ivy League schools randomly select students?" was the subject of a recent essay about how the COVID shutdowns gave the well-to-do an extra leg-up in these admissions. The more interesting question would have been, "When can everyone stop worshipping the Ivy League?"
Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor who led the United Kingdom during the financial crisis of 2008, has passed away, according to a representative from his family. He was 70.

Darling passed away after a brief hospital stay. He was described as a "much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna" in a statement released by his family, BBC reported.

Darling spent 13 years in the government of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown after Labour's sweeping 1997 election victory.

His most notable contribution was to keep the UK economy afloat when half of its banking sector failed.

Embarking on a Career in Politics

Darling's birthplace was in London, but he relocated to Musselburgh, Scotland, to attend the renowned Loretto school.

According to BBC, he first became involved in politics in 1982 after winning a seat in the former Lothian Regional Council, even though his career began as a lawyer.

After waiting five years, he was elected to the House of Commons and was seen as a crucial ally of Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in their efforts to bring the Labour Party into the contemporary era, rebranding it as New Labour.

Ten years later, Darling joined the government and served as chief secretary to the Treasury. Following the failures of Barings and BCCI, he implemented extensive changes to financial regulation.

Delivering Labour's welfare reforms and shouldering responsibility for allocating one-third of the government's budget, he subsequently succeeded Harriet Harman as social security minister, a position now renamed work and pensions secretary.

Darling expressed a desire to be known as "the minister who began to eradicate poverty" while serving in this capacity.

See Also: Tony Award-Winning Actress Frances Sternhagen Dies at 93; Cause of Death Revealed

Amid the Financial Crisis of 2008

Brown appointed Darling chancellor in June 2007, and despite his lengthy experience in government, he was unprepared for the almost three-year role. The appointment came at a time when the economy seemed to be cooling down. But the financial crisis that characterized Number 11's reign was unlike anything Britain had experienced in decades.

In the face of public and market-driven bank runs, Darling decision to nationalize Northern Rock and, subsequently, the majority of British banks shaped the international reaction to the financial crisis of 2008. He recalled that the "scariest" part of the financial crisis was that afternoon when the Royal Bank of Scotland contacted him to inform him that they were about to run out of money.

"My initial reaction must have been a bit like that of the captain of the Titanic when he was told by the ship's architect that it would sink in a couple of hours. There were not enough lifeboats for all the passengers," recounted in his memoir.

See Also: RIP Jimmy Corkhill: Brookside Actor Dean Sullivan Dead at 68

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (29 November 2023)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Liman Perviy (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by helicopters repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade and 12th Special Operations Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the tactical situation at the forward lines and liberated Artyomovskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Over the past 24 hours, three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade, 77th Airmobile Brigade, and 5th Assault Brigade were repelled near Shumy, Artyomovskoye, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy lost up to 250 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one M777 artillery system, two D-30 howitzers, one D-20 howitzer, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare system, and one MLRS ammunition depot were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 79th Airborne Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Antonovka, and Nikolskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one MLRS Grad combat vehicle.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd Mechanised Brigade, and 71st Infantry Brigade near Kamenskoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, the AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers, and two D-20 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated one assembly workshop for production and repair of radar stations, one P-18 radar station, one S-300 anti-aircraft system, fuel and air-delivered ordnance depots, as well as manpower and hardware in 127 areas during the day.

The Russian Aerospace Forces Fighter Aviation intercepted one Ukrainian Air Forces MiG-29 aircraft near Mezhevoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and shot down one U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missile.

Air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 aircraft near Novoolenovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). 11 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles were intercepted during the past 24 hours

In addition, 38 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Novoolenovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Belogorovka, Novonikolskoye, Verkhnekamenka, Kremennaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), Ulyanovka and Romanovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 544 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,301 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,687 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,205 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,746 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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WtR
In October, people in need walked into Winona Volunteer Services food shelf 944 times to get the food they need to survive.

Last year, the food shelf averaged 651 visits per month.

With support from many volunteers and community members, the shelves were packed with non-perishable goods, along with fresh food, for those visitors, who were welcome to come from anywhere.

The volunteers and organization staff stepped forward to help make sure visitors' bellies were not just full temporarily, but that they also knew about other resources available to help them during hard times, according to Winona Volunteer Services executive director Sandra Burke.

10 Days of Giving

One of the biggest annual fundraising events is quickly approaching to ensure the food shelf is packed full and its help to the community is available for another year.

Each year, from Dec. 1-10, Merchants Bank in Winona teams up with the community to support the food shelf through its 10 Days of Giving fundraiser.

The money and food collected during the annual event helps the food shelf stock up throughout the year and cover other expenses associated with the effort.

We have a driving theme that we talk about internally about if our communities thrive and prosper, then we have a chance to thrive and prosper," said Andrew Guzzo, Merchants Bank chief banking officer and president of Merchants Banks Winona market.

The bank has supported the program for 35 years with the goal of helping the food shelf serve as many people as it possibly can.

A lot of work goes into the event each year to make sure that goal is met.

According to Chris Thrune, a mortgage lender and co-chair for 10 Days of Giving this year, many Merchants Bank employees work together to make 10 Days of Giving possible.

He said each years event starts to be planned two or three months before the annual fundraiser kicks off.

It's a really big joint effort of the community, not just Merchants Bank, but also the community members, our friends and neighbors, our customers, Ashley Harrison, mortgage operations specialist and co-chair for 10 Days of Giving this year, said.

Thrune said that each year, the bank tries to make it a record year for 10 Days of Giving.

Last year, the effort collected 18,000 pounds of food and $121,000 in donations, which allowed the food shelf to stock its shelves with about 260,000 pounds of goods.

Since the 10 Days of Giving annual event began 35 years ago, over 4 million pounds of food have been made available at the food shelf due to the fundraiser.

Burke said that, without major fundraisers like 10 Days of Giving each year, "We would not be able to supply the amount of food we do to our clients."

It feels pretty incredible, Harrison said about being able to support the food shelf with 10 Days of Giving each year.

Guzzo said that 10 Days of Giving has just continued to grow and deliver an amazing value for both the food shelf at the volunteer services, but also just the community engagement where businesses, individuals all come together to make sure none of our friends and neighbors have to go hungry through the holiday season and into the cold winter months of the Upper Midwest.

Since its start, the annual event has grown beyond Winona and into other areas that Merchants Bank serves. Other organizations that benefit from similar events include Friends in Need Food Shelf and Open Cupboard in Cottage Grove, Hastings Family Service in Hastings, Channel One Regional Food Bank in Rochester, 360 Communities Rosemount Resource Center in Rosemount and Hometown Resource Center in St. Charles.

Events

During 10 Days of Giving, a number of Winona businesses are stepping up to support the food shelf by donating 10% of their sales on certain days.

People can support the food shelf by stopping by 2 Brothers Bar & Grill from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 1, Sammys Pizza on Dec. 3, Benos Deli on Dec. 5, and Winona Eagles Club on Dec. 8.

Other events also are scheduled during 10 Days of Giving to help bring together the community and to collect donations for the food shelf.

On Dec. 2, from 3-6 p.m., people can stop by Peters Biergaten to participate in the 10 Days of Giving 35th Anniversary Extravaganza, which will include music, activities for kids, photos with Santa, food from Chefs Table, and hot drinks for adults. Attendees will be asked to donate non-perishable food items or a monetary donation for admission to the event.

On Dec. 3, from 2-4 p.m., people can listen to music from the Winona State Universitys Orchestra and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble during the Holiday Concert for the Hungry, held at WSUs DuFresne Performing Arts Center. Admission is the gift of non-perishable food items or a monetary donation.

On Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., people can enjoy a lunch at Merchants Bank downtown branchs parking lot for $8 during the Steak Shop Catering Red Trailer Luncheon.

On Dec. 8, from 4:30-7 p.m., there will be a fish fry dinner at Winona Eagles Club as part of 10 Days of Giving. The meal will cost attendees $13.

On Dec. 9, when the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train arrives at the Winona Amtrack Station at 3:30 p.m., Merchants Bank will serve refreshments at the event. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable foods or monetary donations.

And, on Dec. 10, to conclude the annual 10 Days of Giving fundraiser, Port 507 will host an Apps & Taps event from noon to 6 p.m. While watching the Minnesota Vikings game, attendees will have the chance to enjoy drink specials, along with appetizers from Backwater BBQ. People will be asked to provide non-perishable food or a monetary donation as admission.

Additionally, during 10 Days of Giving, multiple internal events will be held by Merchants Bank to raise donations for the food shelf.

For people who cannot attend these events, donations can also be made at Merchants Bank locations in Winona, along with at a variety of locations throughout the community.

Donations can be made online at www.winonavs.org/donate. Donors are asked to include 10 Days of Giving in the notes section.

To mail donations, send to Merchants Bank Downtown branch at 102 East Third Street, Winona, MN 55987.

Winona food pantry stocks up ahead of 10 days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving Winona food pantry stocks up for ten days of giving
Employee and client information was stolen in a cybersecurity attack on the Rock County Human Services Department, Rock County reported Wednesday.

The bad actor deployed a phishing email campaign targeting the Human Services Departments employees, Rock County said in a notice posted on its website that Rock County Administrator Josh Smith said was required by the federal HIPAA law.

The notice provided no timing for the incident, but an email sent by Rock County to clients that was obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal stated that the county discovered suspicious activity on its computer systems that included the encryption of certain systems on or about Sept. 29 and that systems may have been breached Sept. 22-30.

Such an attack is commonly called ransomware, and Smith told the State Journal in an email that the threat actor requested $1.9 million in ransom, which neither the County nor our insurance carrier paid.

A report from The Record, which tracks cybersecurity news, said the attack was claimed by the Cuba ransomware gang, which has no relation to the country of Cuba. The report said the gang did not say how much data was stolen but said the information included financial documents, tax information and more.

Researchers at Google and Ukraines Computer Emergency Response Team believe that the criminals behind the ransomware may be connected to the Russian state, as they have been seen targeting government systems in Ukraine and Montenegro, the report said.

The Rock County notice said, Employees are working as normal and consumers can access care as they always have.

Smith said an exception is the countys GIS (geographic information systems), which are taking some more time to restore and rebuild.

The county said in its notice that an investigation by its staff and third-party cybersecurity experts determined that there was unauthorized access to certain systems and some data was stolen that was determined to contain protected personal health information, with the county review ongoing.

The email to clients states that the information includes Social Security numbers, date of birth, medical information, drivers license numbers, financial account information and health insurance information.

The county said those who were impacted will receive a notice in the mail with guidance and free credit monitoring, should it be of interest. Rock County said it does not have evidence that any fraud or identity theft has occurred as a results of the attack.

Anyone with questions may call 855-544-2848.
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More Children's books in the U.K. are now featuring racially minoritized characters. This was revealed in the survey conducted by the Center for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE).

This is a good thing since more and more children can now see other characters aside from White people; giving them a chance to learn more about other ethnicities.

The survey analyzed children's books with racially minoritized characters from 2017 until 2022.

UK: Children's Books With Racially Minoritized Characters are Increasing!

According to The Guardian's latest report, more and more children's books with racially minoritized characters are being published in the United Kingdom.

When CPLE first conducted its survey in 2017, there was only a 4% increase.

However, in its 6th survey, this number reached 30% (2022). This shows that there's a rising trend in children's books featuring other ethnicities that are not White; 7% in 2018, 10% in 2019, 15% in 2020, and 20% in 2021.

CLPE Research & Development Executive Director Farrah Serroukh shared her excitement about the rising children's books with racially minoritized characters.

"We welcome the increase in overall output and were pleased to encounter more variation in the breadth of realities reflected in the literature we reviewed," she said.

However, the children's books they analyzed, such as "JoJo & Gran Gran Go," "Hairdresser" by Laura Henry-Allain, "Through the Forest" by Yijing Li, and "My Mum is a Lioness," have some parts that don't properly depict racially minoritized characters.

Because of this, CPLE said that this makes it "challenging to decipher presence and in other instances, the role allocation felt tokenistic or formulaic."

Farrah is currently encouraging publishers to improve the quality and volume of their children's books in order to properly reflect the realities that other ethnicities face.

"We encourage publishers and creatives to build on the traction of recent years and continue to strive towards improving the volume and quality of titles that meaningfully reflect realities available to young readers," she explained.

Read Also: AI-Generated Books Could Put Amateur Mushroom Pickers in Danger; Here's What Experts Say

Most Featured Racially Minoritized People

CLPE said that the children's books they analyzed mostly featured Black characters (6.8%). The second most featured racially minoritized characters are those with mixed heritage backgrounds.

They made up 4.6% of the children's titles. Meanwhile, over 1% of these books featured characters from South Asian backgrounds. These non-White ethnicities are mostly included in fiction titles.

From 2017 to 2022, racially minoritized characters are increasing in these fiction children's books. However, this is not the case for non-fiction and picture books since both of these genres saw drops in 2022.

Related Article: Iowa Rights Groups File Lawsuit Against Law Banning LGBTQ+ Books in School to Raise Gender Identity

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Governor released a statement saying in part quote "this is a devastating loss for Nevada law enforcement, the city of Las Vegas, and our entire state.
It wasnt the somewhat salacious history of The Lodge at Marconi that drew me to the new hotel on the shore of Tomales Bay.

I hadnt heard any of itnot about Marconis essential role in the development of radio transmissions in the 1910s, not about the drug rehab facility that moved in in the 60s, not about the cult that evolved out of the rehabs dubious psychological treatments in the 70s.

I had no idea that the recent renovation of The Lodge at Marconi on Tomales Bay, one of Northern Californias most magical places, was just the most recent chapter in a century of stories.

Its dark and drizzly when I turn onto the inky road that weaves through the lodges 62 acres. I pass the once-luxurious hotel that radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi built for staff and visitors of his trans-Pacific radio receiving station more than 100 years ago without even noticing the vacant stare of its empty window eyes. The night is like a shroud over everything that falls outside the beam of my headlights.

The view of Tomales Bay from The Lodge at Marconi. (Courtesy of Lodge at Marconi)

Its a little unsettling, this secluded hillside unpolluted by light, but the lodge's reception is an antidote to the darkness, warm and welcoming, with sunny colors in muted shades and a funky 70s vibe courtesy of Brooklyn designers Home Studios. In the great room, woven tapestries hang and stacks of windows wrap around a large tiled fireplace. Built-in couches line marigold walls in the lounge, accented by wood paneling and a giant game of Connect 4.

I almost gave you the room that has tiles made by cult members in the shower, the woman behind the desk says nonchalantly before leading me out the door to my room. Im sorry, what?! Made by cult members? I laugh, following close at her heels. She doesnt answer.

We pass through a courtyard, a large communal fire pit at its center, and head up the stairs of one of four forest-green buildings, each a swooping, angular construction in the sustainably minded Sea Ranch style that became popular along this stretch of Highway 1 in the mid-century.

She opens the door onto a comfortably dressed room with a touch of vintage coastal flair: graphic prints, framed black-and-white photos, retro details like pseudo-rotary phones. But I cant stop mulling over that cult comment. Once Im settled in, I pull out my phone and search Marconi Tomales Bay cult, thinking that maybe the original buildings had purchased their decor from a nearby communethe area certainly had a few of them back in the 70s.

A guest room at The Lodge at Marconi. (Steven J. Magner)

But Im way off base. It wasnt some art-producing hippie collective that had its fingers in the grout of Marconis mid-century bathrooms; it was the followers of something far more sinister. Beginning in the 1960s, the property had been a base of operations for Synanon, a drug rehabilitation program that morphed into a cult based on attack therapy, a supposedly therapeutic practice that subjected members to hours or days on end of critical verbal haranguing.

Followers were forced to shave their heads, undergo vasectomies, terminate pregnancies, and engage in violence. That tiled shower? That belonged to leader Charles Dederich Sr., who lived among his flock in what is now one of the lodges main buildings. When Synanon went bankrupt in the early 80s due to the $17 million the cult owed after its tax exempt status was revoked, the property was handed over to the state, eventually becoming the Marconi Historic State Park. Now its in the capable hands of Oliver Hospitality, the same group behind the Station House Inn in South Lake Tahoe.

That history has both nothing and everything to do with The Lodge at Marconi today, which emerges in its full beauty with the bright morning sun. From bed, I can see the sparkling blue waters of the bay and a lovingly restored property, embroidered with five miles of trails and a broad meadowwith picnic tables, volleyball courts, and lawn gamesthats open to the public.

Theres more to come at Marconi, too, chapters yet to be written that will include a restaurant, spa, and eventually the renovation of the original Marconi hotel from the propertys radio days. But even without those additions, the secluded hotel is a beautiful place to stay right at the heart of Tomales Bay.

The best hotels have a story to tell. At The Lodge at Marconi, there are more than enough to choose from.

// The Lodge at Marconi, 18500 CA-1 (Marshall), lodgeatmarconi.com
What are you going to do to make this years New Years Eve special? Watch the ball drop in Times Square? Been there. Join millions of revelers on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the worlds largest party? Bor-ing. Declare your love for Sally? Harry beat you to it. No, you need fresh ideas for 2024. Here are 10 great weird and wonderful ways to ring in the new year.

AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now An illuminated GlowTato signals the new year in Boise, Idaho. Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP

The Idaho Potato Drop

Boise, Idaho

Soon enough, your New Years resolutions will have you saying no to carbs. Before you swear off spuds, embrace the tater at the 11th annual Boise celebration of the mighty Idaho-grown potato. To celebrate this famous crop drop, Boise will once again host the free event on the grounds of the Idaho State Capitol for thousands of spectators waiting to watch the 2,000-pound illuminated GlowTato signal the new year.

What else: Purchase VIP (which, of course, stands for very important potato) tickets for a reserved space near the drop, craft cocktails and complimentary appetizers.

Where to stay: The Courtyard Boise Downtown is less than a mile from the event. Yes, its bistro serves french fries.

A 10-foot-tall acorn drops in City Plaza at the Raleigh Acorn Drop in North Carolina. AP Photo/The News and Observer, John Rottet

Raleigh Acorn Drop

Raleigh, North Carolina

Sometimes you feel like a nut, especially on New Years Eve. For more than two decades, Raleigh has paid tribute to its nickname (City of Oaks) by dropping a giant, 10-foot-tall acorn in City Plaza. Prep for the big eve with a full day of fun, including a childrens celebration in the early afternoon, Ferris wheel rides and local food vendors.

What else: The Acorn Drop and festivities are all part of Raleighs annual First Night celebration, which features live performances in many downtown locations. Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for children ages 6-12 and admission is free for children under the age of 5.

Where to stay: The StateView Hotel, walking distance from the lovely campus at North Carolina State, is about a 10-minute drive to the Acorn Drop.

A giant high-heeled red shoe kicks off the new year in Key West, Florida. Florida Keys News Bureau

The Red Shoe Drop

Key West, Florida

For the past 25 years, entertainer Gary Sushi Marion has descended at midnight in a giant high-heeled red shoe in front of the Bourbon Street Pub. Sushi retired after last years drop, but the show will go on this year with a new star, Christopher Peterson, and the same epic pump. (Fun fact: The heel is 4 feet tall.)

What else: Thousands crowd onto Duval Street to see the shoe drop, but there are other celebrations planned in Key West: a lowering of the pirate wench at Schooner Wharf Bar, a conch shell drop at Sloppy Joes Bar and a key lime drop at Sunset Pier.

Where to stay: Rooms fill up fast, and prices go up for NYE, but if you want to stay near the shoe drop, try the Duval Inn, within walking distance of the festivities, or the Southernmost Beach Resort on Duval Street.
In a historic decision, the highest court of Russia has labeled an "international LGBT public movement" as extremist, outlawing it. Gay and transgender rights advocates have expressed concern that this might further silence the LGBTQ+ community.

According to The Guardian, Russia has been steadily becoming more conservative ever since the conflict in Ukraine broke out, and this verdict effectively bans LGBTQ+ activity inside this nation. Anyone residing in Russia who identifies as gay, lesbian, transgender, or queer and is judged by the authorities to be a member of the movement might face long jail terms under the extremist classification.

Although the "international LGBT movement" is not a legally recognized organization in Russia, the government uses the phrase to describe a group of people who identify as LGBT in a broad sense. Earlier this month, the justice ministry asked to classify this group as extremist without specifying what exactly the term meant.

A Vague Phrase

Human rights advocates have argued that the ruling's vague language permits the Russian government to prosecute whomever it deems to be associated with the public movement because of the ruling's stated objective.

Igor Kochetkov, president of the rights group Russian LGBT Network, told The Guardian, "Even though there is no such thing as an international LGBT movement, it is clear that all legal activities of LGBT organizations will be impossible in Russia."

Lucy Shtein, a Russian political activist and member of the Pussy Riot art group, said that everyone who identifies themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ movement could now become a target.

See Also: Jesus Ociel Baena: Mexico's First Openly Non-Binary Magistrate Found Dead Following Death Threats

Russia's Stance on the Community

In the past, the Kremlin has prosecuted political opponents, human rights organizations, and independent media under extremist labeling. Among those who have been sentenced to long terms were those who were associates of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

A new campaign to promote "traditional values" has been spearheaded by Russian President Vladimir Putin since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. Anti-gay rhetoric has been central to Putin's political platform. Using the European Union's support for LGBT rights as an example, Putin has previously said that the West is "moving towards open satanism" in his statements.

The LGBTQ+ community in Russia has been the target of many other policies, according to ABC News. The "gay propaganda" bill, passed by the Kremlin in 2013, was the first piece of legislation limiting LGBTQ+ rights. It forbade the public promotion of nontraditional sexual relations among children. The 2020 constitutional changes that Putin successfully pushed through to secure two more years in power also contained a clause that made same-sex marriage illegal.

See Also: Vatican: Trans People Can Be Baptized Catholic, Become Godparents

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


Chair's Address to Shareholders

Perth, Nov 30, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The importance of new gas supply sources for the Australian east coast has been highlighted by the Government's release of its "Future Gas Strategy Consultation Paper".



In releasing the strategy paper, the Resources Minister Madeleine King has warned that decreasing gas supply faster than demand will lead to 'shortages, supply disruptions and high prices', while also 'worsening poverty and inequality', launching a strong economic defence for the fuel source's role in underpinning the nation's clean energy transition."



The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) also recently released its 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, providing a 10-year reliability outlook that signals development needs for each state in the National Electricity Market (NEM). It is further evidence that urgent and ongoing investment is needed to maintain energy reliability, with AEMO warning of a "material risk" to Australia's power supplies because of future gas shortfalls and a lack of investment in gas generation. It highlights "ongoing availability" of energy sources such as gas "will be critical to the reliability" of the NEM, along with over 1.5GW of new gas power generation capacity needed in New South Wales and Victoria by 2026/27 to meet current reliability standards



In the Government's Future Gas Strategy Consultation Paper1, a gas supply and demand graph is published combining the analysis of AEMO and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which shows a shortfall of supply to demand beginning in 2027 and widening significantly after that. The chart (See Fig 1* Gas supply is to decline on the east cost of Australia) is reproduced below and shows a forecast supply shortfall of approximately 800 PJ/Annum by 2034. This forecast shortfall is greater than the entire combined annual domestic gas use of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania (See Fig 2* Domestic gas use by jurisdiction).



Without the development of new gas resources eastern Australia, and particularly NSW, faces the very real prospect of supply shortfalls with consequent losses of jobs in gas-dependent industries, higher energy costs and disruptions to supply.



"Most of Australia's gas production is located far from where most Australians live. This limits the ability to move gas from where it is produced to where it is consumed. New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria are reliant on transport of gas to their markets. Their vulnerability arises from high demand, the forecast rapid decline of traditional supply from the Bass Strait and policies that discourage new local supply".



"On the east coast, the gas transmission system was developed to transport gas from south to north. This is because a large proportion of the gas that Australians have used over the past fifty years was sourced from offshore gas fields in Victoria."



Advent Energy Limited (in which BPH is a 35.8 % shareholder) can potentially play a significant and direct role in NSW's energy transition and help to reduce energy costs.



Prospective gas resources have been identified in PEP-11 of 5.7 TCF across multiple structures along the continental shelf. The prospective resource, if proven, has the possibility of supplying NSW with the bulk of its gas needs for 20 years.



As the Australian Energy Producers has highlighted: Gas meets almost 30 per cent of Australia's energy needs- More than 5 million Australian households use gas directly for heating and cooking. Gas is a critical component of products we rely on every day, including ammonia (for fertilisers) and the manufacture of bricks, glass, plastics and medical products.

Potential gas production offshore from Newcastle, from the Pep 11 Permit and the potential to use that same area to permanently store captured carbon emissions, can both contribute to meeting the challenges of climate change and sustaining secure employment in the region.



Over the past year significant developments have also occurred via MEC investee company Advent into Clean Hydrogen Technologies.



Clean Hydrogen is developing its "Commercial System" where it will satisfy scale and commercial objectives resulting in the development of income from sale of Clean Hydrogen Products. Clean Hydrogen's Commercial System means an end-to-end system which consumes and processes hydrocarbons, using Clean Hydrogen's own thermocatalytic reactor process and Clean Hydrogen's catalysts to produce hydrogen at commercial scale, enabling the sale of the Clean Hydrogen Products (being hydrogen and carbon black).



In addition, investee company Cortical Dynamics Limited has secured FDA 510(k) clearance in the USA for its flagship technology, the Brain Anaesthesia Response Monitor or BARM(TM) system version. FDA clearance is a major milestone in Cortical's development and lays the foundation for the commercialisation of the BARM(TM) system in the USA. The BARM(TM) "plug and play" version 1 was approved compatible by Philips with its IntelliView operating room monitors earlier this year.



These factors provide support for a positive 2024.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/FUB4WO96





About BPH Energy Limited





BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes.

The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license.

BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise.

BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT).

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King previously livestreamed the alleged altercation between him and his rapper dad that went down at the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game on Sunday, November 26.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - T.I. has nothing but love for his son King Harris. Despite appearing to get into an altercation with the teenager at an Atlanta Falcons game, the "Whatever You Like" rapper declared shut down reports suggesting that they were feuding with each other.

Sharing a snippet from his interview with King, T.I. wrote on Instagram, "Fck what dis internet talkin bout... Da HFamily Tied Like a Knot." He added, "We all We Got...4LIFE..."

"Ima RIDE to da heavens or da depths of HELL bout my Jr.& aint nothing gon change that," the emcee continued. "Now tune in to the new episode of #GOATTalk wit Me & my Jr. @the_next_king10 out now on @complex."

King livestreamed the heated argument that went down on Sunday. At the time, he filmed himself at the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game. Things seemed to be all fun before he was roasted for going to his grandma's house everyday.

After his mother Tiny Harris a.k.a. Tameka Cottle joined in the roast, the teen seemingly threatened to spill his family's secret as saying, "They try to say I was there trying to suck a paci but they ain't going to tell you everything like that. They trying to hide it. He cappin', he cappin'. You want to hide it for the world? I'mma put it out there for them to see. Hey man I ain't s**t!"

As things got heated, King appeared to confront his mother Tiny, who claimed that it was a joke. "I know you though! You know me. What's wrong with y'all. Why y'all doing that to me? You know I stay on business. Don't give a f**k who you are. Why did you let somebody play me like that? Why did you let him play me like that? Ain't no jokin! What you mean?" the teen screamed.

T.I. then stepped in to stop his son. "You are embarrassing yourself and your family! You are embarrassing yourself!" the actor/rapper told King. The camera started shaking as it seemed that Tip had gotten his kid in a headlock. King shouted, "Get off me n***a," to which his father replied, "You can't do nothing with me! There ain't s**t you can do with me!"

Following the altercation, King shared a series of cryptic messages on his Stories. "I stand on BUSINESS. DON'T GIVE A F**K WHO U ARE," he wrote. He added, "IDGAF u are MF can't play wit me n my face not goin for da Im a grown a** man now [sic]."

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Crystal, who currently resides in Atlanta with her three children, is reported to join the next season of 'LHH: Atlanta' and her 'possible' relationship with Safaree seems to be the base of her storyline.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Crystal Renay and Safaree Samuels may not be actually dating despite recent reports suggesting otherwise. The ex-wife of Ne-Yo and the rapper are allegedly not together romantically although they have been spotted hanging out together recently.

Sources tell TheShadeRoom that there's no truth to the dating rumors linking Crystal to Safaree. The news first surfaced earlier this week after several photos seemingly suggested that they were linked up.

Popular IG blog Tasha K unearthed photos showing Crystal sporting a necklace seemingly gifted to her by her rumored boyfriend. Another photo saw the mother of three seated at a table near the Jamaican-American artist at an event, seemingly suggesting that they attended the dinner party together.

Fans, meanwhile, believe that their sighting together hinted at Crystal joining the cast of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta". "Looks like her entrance to L&HH has arrived," one person remarked. Another claimed, "Love & hip hop entry," as a third weighed in, "Mona Scott has entered the chat."

Backing fans' speculation, Media Take Out reports that producers of the VH1 show are currently working to get Crystal to sign on for the new season. One of the producers tells the site, "We're confident that she'll be on the new season."

While the news outlet couldn't confirm their relationship status, it believes that Crystal's "possible" relationship with Safaree could be the base of her storyline. She and her three children, whom she shares with her ex Ne-Yo, currently reside in Atlanta.

Crystal filed for divorce from Ne-Yo in August 2022 after six years of marriage amid allegations that he was unfaithful throughout their marriage. She accused him of fathering a child with his former side chick Sade Bagnerise during their marriage and in September, it was reported that he got her pregnant again. Their divorce was finalized on January 26.

The former spouses share three children Shaffer Jr., seven, Roman, five, and Isabella, 2. He is also a father to Madilyn, 13, and Mason, 12, from his relationship with ex-girlfriend Monyetta Shaw.

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The 43-year-old actor addresses claims about his behavior on the set of the FOX teen drama, on which he starred as heartthrob Seth Cohen, that caused the writers struggling.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Adam Brody admits he "openly mocked" the latter seasons of "The O.C." in front of the cast and crew. The 43-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Seth Cohen on the FOX teen drama, which ran for four seasons between 2004 and 2007, and there have been several claims about his behavior on set in the new tome, "Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History".

It's claimed that the majority of the cast was "lackluster" towards the end of the series, but Adam's attitude was so difficult to disguise that they had to write it into the script, with Seth even getting addicted to pot. In the book, he admits he is "not proud" of how he acted.

He said, "I was polite to everyone. I liked the directors, and the crew and I got on really well and I didn't keep people waiting. I would never scream or yell at anyone, or say anything [redacted] mean. But I think I very much let my distaste for the later episodes be known. I didn't mask that at all, and I'm sure I openly mocked it a bit. So I'm not proud of that."

Series creator Josh Schwartz said, "By the time we got to season three, we were all burned out. We'd made so many episodes so quickly, and I think it wasn't a happy set for long stretches of it. Quite frankly, everybody was over it at that point. And I was one of those people who was over it at that point. It had been a great ride, but it had been a volatile ride."

Executive producer Stephanie Savage said the cast, also including Ben McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts) and Mischa Barton (Marissa Cooper), got "to be a bit petulant with directors, having an attitude, reading a book during rehearsal instead of paying attention."

Melinda Clarke, who played Julie Cooper, corroborated, "We were very aware in Season Three of how disliked the scripts were, especially by the kids. Adam and Ben were like, 'We're grown men and we're playing in high school still.' They didn't really ever talk to me personally about it, but that was the general understanding on set."

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Noor, who shares five-month-old son Roman with the "Godfather' actor, admits that she doesn't plan to take their relationship to the next level despite loving the Hollywood star.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Al Pacino's girlfriend doesn't want to get married. The "Godfather" actor has five-month-old son Roman with partner Noor Alfallah, and while she confirmed they are still together after recently reaching a custody agreement, she insisted they have no plans to take the next step in their relationship because it isn't "important" to her.

Asked if she and the 83-year-old star are still going strong, Noor told TMZ, "With Al? Al Pacino? I love him." And then asked if they will tie the knot, she said, "I don't think so, I'm not the marrying type. It's not important."

The 29-year-old beauty confirmed she will be spending Christmas with Al and their son. Asked if they will spend the holidays together, she simply said, "Yes." It is unclear where the family will be spending Christmas, however, because it was recently revealed that Al had agreed to pay his partner $110,000 to find a home for her and Roman under the terms of their custody agreement.

RadarOnline.com reported court documents showed the "Scarface" star agreed to pay $55,000 to the producer when she presents him with a lease agreement for a "new residence for her and Roman" and the remaining $55,000 when she shows evidence she has moved in. The money is to be used to assist Noor with relocating to a new home "for her and Roman," as well as any furniture, furnishings and moving expenses "that may be necessary for the same."

It was previously revealed Al will pay Noor $30,000 a month in child support but the documents obtained by the outlet showed the "Scent of a Woman" star felt it should be much lower and his partner wanted more, so they agreed to meet in the middle. The veteran actor, who was revealed to have no life insurance, will also turn over his tax returns every year as he has agreed to pay an additional percentage of any income over $2.5 million.

Both sides have agreed not to discuss the court case in front of Roman, or speak negatively about the other. The pair share legal custody of their son but Noor will have primary physical custody and the "Heat" actor will receive visitation. Al will put $15,000 per year in an education fund for the tot and both he and Noor will have an equal say in schooling decisions and extracurricular activities, as well as working together to determine holidays.

The 'Irishman' actor, who also has three adult children from previous relationships, has been paying $13,000 a month for a night nurse and will be solely responsible for any medical expenses outside insurance.

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The 'Mad Men' alum tied the knot with the 35-year-old actress at Anderson Canyon in California in June, revealing on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' that it was the same place they met in 2015.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Jon Hamm has spoken for the first time about his "perfect" wedding to Anna Osceola. The "Mad Men" star, 52, tied the knot with the 35-year-old actress at Anderson Canyon in California in June, and he has now revealed the couple had a beautiful intimate ceremony at the same place they met in 2015.

Speaking on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", Jon, who had previously sworn off getting hitched, quipped, "It only took me half a century, but I figured I might as well get it right."

He gushed, "It's very exciting. We did it this summer in beautiful Big Sur. It was a perfect day. It was very sparsely attended - by our decision, it was small. Man, it was great."

He quipped about the location, "We got married on a cliff, and we chose to walk the correct way after we got married."

The "Good Omens" actor is looking forward to his and Anna's relationship becoming "deeper and richer" now they are married. He told iHeartRadio's "Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi", "This is the exciting part of life and it's a signpost and a signifier of the next chapter and phase and ideally, it gives you and your partner a sense of stability and comfort and an identifying capacity that is better, deeper, richer, then 'it's my girlfriend' or 'my boyfriend' or what have you."

But Jon insisted he and his spouse have yet to decide if they are going to have children. Pressed on the subject, he replied, "TBD... TBD."

TBD is an abbreviation for "to be determined."

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The controversial TV personality's revelation comes after the Dutch edition of Omid Scobie's new biography accidentally leaks the names of the two British royal members.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Piers Morgan made shocking revelations on his show. While most people tried to keep the names of two royals who allegedly made racist comments on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Archie a secret, the controversial TV personality decided to reveal the names on "Piers Morgan Uncensored".

On Wednesday, November 29, the British broadcaster claimed that the royals in question were King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton. Their identities were first accidentally revealed in the Dutch edition of Omid Scobie's new biography "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival", prompting the sales to be halted immediately.

Morgan explained that while he didn't "believe any racist comments were ever made by any of the royal family," the 58-year-old said that Britain citizens had the right to know the information. "Frankly, if Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can pick it up and see these names, then you - the British people here, who actually pay for the British royal family - you're entitled to know, too," he shared.

Xander Publishers, who is in charge of distribution of the book in Netherlands, recently confirmed that the U.S. agent requested to halt sales of the book. "I can't talk about the details," a spokesperson for the publishing house said in a statement. "We have, however, received a request to put the title on hold, and that is what we have done. We are awaiting further instructions. I do not know how long this will be."

As for Omid, he called the mishap a translation error. Speaking to Dutch chat show RTL Boulevard on Tuesday, November 28, the author said, "The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch. But if there are translation errors, I'm sure the publishers will have it under control." He further insisted, "I wrote and edited the English version. There's never been no version that I've produced that has names in it."

Meghan and Harry first mentioned the shocking allegations during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey back in 2021. At the time, the Duchess of Sussex, who is biracial, said that she was told her son would not have a royal title or be entitled to security.

When the host asked if it was because of his race, Meghan confirmed that there were "several" conversations about Archie's skin. "About how dark your baby is going to be?" Oprah asked, completely baffled. The former "Suits" star then replied, "Potentially, and what that would mean or look like."

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Many experts claim that the satellite technology market could dominate numerous sectors in the near future. There's no denying that the satellite industry has lots of potential.

It is already making big impacts in other sectors, such as data analytics, national security, and many more. Aside from these, there are other markets the satellite technology could soon dominate.

Satellite Technology Could Dominate Numerous Sectors, Experts Claim

According to Entrepreneur's latest report, one of the most obvious sectors that the satellite tech market could dominate is data analytics.

This is because machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence can make more efficient analytics tools that can effectively interpret satellite imagery and other similar data.

Of course, the technology sector itself is also expected to be dominated by the satellite market, especially since more and more gadgets that rely on wireless connectivity are being released.

Unlike traditional wireless connectivity, satellite-based connectivity can provide a better experience.

Aside from these two sectors, the food industry can also greatly benefit from satellites. For example, the satellite tech market could offer tools that allow farmers to monitor crop health and predict yields.

Read Also: Japanese Scientists to Launch World's First Wooden Satellite Into Space

The potential that the satellite tech market has is just one of the factors that can help it dominate other sectors. Aside from this, Via Satellite reported that the rising tech trends can also help the satellite industry boom in 2024.

Here are some of the tech trends that can greatly impact the rise of satellite technologies in different industries:

Satellite-To-Cell Connectivity

For the past few years, numerous satellite firms and wireless companies have been exploring different ways to offer satellite-to-cell technology.

For example, Apple has some iPhones that can get signals directly from satellites; allowing consumers to have connectivity even in very remote areas.

Depleting GPS Navigation Techs

Although GPS is considered to be one of the most indispensable technologies in the world, the rising satellite jamming and spoofing are making GPS less effective.

Because of this, numerous companies and organizations are trying to develop navigation systems that rely on space-based techniques, such as satellites.

Worsening Climate Change

Not many people know that the worsening climate change is also leading to the development of satellite-based Earth observation (EO) technologies.

Since government, environmental organizations, and climate change activists want to have innovations that can monitor and solve this worsening environmental crisis; of course, satellite-based EO is expected to be one of these techs.

Related Article: Starlink Alternative: Xplore Launches Jupiter 3 Satellite, To Challenge SpaceX Internet Service

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While it was previously said that the actress dropped out of the next installment due to scheduling conflicts, a new report claims the 'Wednesday' star wouldn't return for the new sequel because of salary dispute.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - There's apparently more to the story behind Jenna Ortega's exit from the "Scream" franchise. After it was revealed last week that the actress would not return for "Scream 7", also written as "Scream VII", the real reason behind her departure has now been uncovered.

According to a new report, the 21-year-old's exit from the next installment wasn't that amicable. The rising star refused to reprise her role as Tara Carpenter in the new sequel because of pay dispute, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The site claims that Ortega, whose career has skyrocketed thanks to her role on "Wednesday", asked for a bigger payday for "Scream 7". She was paid sums in the six digits for her two previous appearances in the "Scream" films so far and her team was reportedly seeking for a pay rise into the seven figures.

In the end, no new deal was reached between Ortega's team and Spyglass, but it reportedly didn't come as a big surprise for the actress' team as they had expected that the studio would balk.

This wasn't the first time the "Scream" franchise lost a star due to salary issue. Neve Campbell returned in 2022's "Scream", but refused to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott in "Scream VI" due to a salary dispute.

Now, following Ortega's departure, producers are reportedly keen to convince Campbell to reclaim her iconic character. They allegedly also consider nabbing Patrick Dempsey as another option. The "Grey's Anatomy" alum had a scene-stealing turn in 2000's "Scream 3", but has never appeared in subsequent movies.

Besides Ortega, Melissa Barrera, who played Ortega's on-screen sister Sam Carpenter, will not return in "Scream 7" either. Unlike Ortega who had no deal in place for the seventh installment, the "In the Heights" star was cut from the next film due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.

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The woman, who goes by Carolyn in an article to keep her anonymity, also criticizes the retired restaurateur for claiming that he hadn't been kissed since his ex-wife, Toni, died in 2017.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Gerry Turner landed in hot water after his ex-girlfriend exposed how they broke up. The woman, who went by Carolyn in an article to keep her anonymity, revealed that "The Golden Bachelor" star refused to take her to his high school reunion because she gained some weight.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Carolyn said that she was shocked to see Gerry on national television trying to find love. She criticized the retired restaurateur for claiming that he hadn't been kissed since his ex-wife, Toni, died in 2017. Carolyn claimed that she and Gerry started their 3-year relationship only a month after Toni's death.

According to Carolyn, Gerry used the same lines that he used to swoon her to the women on the show. One of them was when he told Leslie, "I have to have you with my morning coffee, I have to have you when I go to bed at night."

Carolyn further shared that they moved in together in summer 2018, 10 months after they started dating, and that was when he started showing another side of him. Carolyn alleged that Gerry made her pay $850 a month to cover her expenses in addition to splitting the cost of all meals. He also made sure that Carolyn made the bed before having breakfast.

Seemingly the highlight of the expose, Carolyn claimed that Gerry stopped her from joining him at his high school reunion after she gained 10 pounds. "I'm not taking you to the reunion looking like that," Gerry allegedly said to her. That seemed to be the final straw as they broke up after the incident.

While Gerry has yet to comment on the allegations, he will conclude his journey of finding love in season finale of "The Golden Bachelor" on November 30.

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In other news related to the 'Vultures' rapper and his architecture wife, the married couple is pictured strolling around in Dubai in eyebrow-raising outfits.

Nov 30, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori has her husband's back. According to a new report, the Yeezy architectural designer will stand by her husband's side amid the anti-Semitism allegations against the rapper.

"She would defend Kanye until the end of time on this," a source told Daily Mail exclusively. "She knows that things get taken out of context. She knows that Kanye is not anti-Semitic and he is definitely not racist."

The insider added that the couple is determined to ignore bad comments online. "[They] do not read the awful things said about them," explained the source.

The informant was referring to Ye's new song "Vultures" which features Lil Durk and Ty Dolla $ign. On the song, Ye appeared to shut down the anti-Semitism allegations leveled at the "Donda" artist. "How can I be anti-Semitic? I f**ked a Jewish b***h," he raps on the track.

In other news related to Ye and Bianca, the couple was pictured strolling around in Dubai in eyebrow-raising outfits. They were seen enjoying some time at The Palm Atlantis in Dubai.

For the outing, Ye opted for his traditional all-black outfit. His architecture wife, meanwhile, flaunted her figure in a revealing brown bodysuit that allowed her to pull a leggy display. The 28-year-old further turned heads with her huge fur hat which stretched way above her head. She also had a matching stuffed animal in one of her hands.

Meanwhile, a recent report claimed that Ye and Bianca's overseas getaway would continue until Christmas. "Ye has loved being out of L.A.," a source spilled to The Sun U.S. "He's never been a huge fan of the city and has no immediate plans to return, despite having a place here and his Yeezy HQ."

The insider said that after Bianca "spent time back in Australia," the couple is "getting back on track and planning what to do for the holidays." It was also revealed that the twosome considered returning to Italy for Christmas.

"There is talk of them returning to Italy in the next few weeks where he's renting a place and having Kim fly the kids there, but it's up in the air at the minute," the source continued, referring to Ye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian and their four children together, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm.

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The 46-year-old rapper and Yeezy designer is called out by the groups for bragging over his hookup with a 'Jewish b***h' on his new track, which also features Lil Durk and Ty Dolla $ign.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kanye West's new song "Vultures" didn't sit well with Jewish advocacy organizations. The 46-year-old rapper and Yeezy designer was called out by the groups for bragging over his hookup with a "Jewish b***h" on his new track.

The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee put the hip-hop star on blast over the offensive lyrics. In a statement to TMZ, a spokesperson for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that it is "disgusting to see Kanye once again use his platform to spew Jew hatred" at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise globally.

Richard Hirschhaut, a spokesperson for the American Jewish Committee (AJC), issued a similar statement. Dubbing the lyrics "pathetic and sad," Richard noted, "To fuel the flames of antisemitism and promote such bile to his millions of followers, especially at this fraught and dangerous time for the Jewish community, is unforgivable."

Despite the criticism, Ye's wife Bianca Censori reportedly will continue to defend the rapper. "She would defend Kanye until the end of time on this," a source told Daily Mail. "She knows that things get taken out of context. She knows that Kanye is not anti-Semitic and he is definitely not racist."

The insider added that the couple is determined to ignore bad comments online. "[They] do not read the awful things said about them," explained the source.

On the song, which features Lil Durk and Ty Dolla $ign, Ye appeared to shut down the anti-Semitism allegations leveled at him. "How can I be anti-Semitic? I f**ked a Jewish b***h," the "Donda" artist raps on the track.

Kanye West, who performed the song live for the first time at a nightclub in Dubai, has yet to comment on the backlash. Meanwhile, Chris Brown, who landed in hot water for dancing to the song, vehemently denied the anti-Semitism accusations.

"Let me make this perfectly clear before y'all try to use me as a pawn," Brizzy wrote. "Ima Piru, I ain't Muslim or Jewish so don't start no s**t wont be no s**t!!! I'm trying to be peaceful but please do not wake up the demon in me. Go on about your f**king day."

He further stressed in a follow-up post, "IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM AM I ANTISEMETIC!!!" The 34-year-old musician added, "I AM PRO-LIFE AND I MAKE MUSIC FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!!"

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The 'Get Close' songstress goes off on the audience after someone threw an object at her during her performance at Rod Wave's concert, before her mic gets cut off and security intervenes.

Dec 1, 2023

AceShowbiz - Ari Lennox doesn't let a disrespectful person slide away with their act. The R&B artist has been caught on camera tearing into the audience at a show for throwing stuff at her, before she walked off the stage.

In a video circulating online, the 32-year-old stopped her performance to unleash her anger and frustration over the disrespectful act. "Who did it, b***h?" she demanded to know, scanning the audience for the culprit.

Ari continued lashing out, "Who f**kin' did it? Come here, b***h. You're a p***y, you're dumb, you're weak. You'll never be..." Her words trailed off as her microphone was abruptly cut off.

Meanwhile, a man, possibly a member of the security crew, got on the stage to intervene. She still continued her rant even after her microphone was turned off, before she was eventually escorted off the stage without any incident.

It's unclear what object was thrown at Ari that upset her, but according to a person who posted the video on social media, the culprit did it on purpose because they didn't want to see her perform. "Kids lame as hell they threw s**t at Ari Lennox to get off stage, cause they want rod wave," the said person wrote along with the clip.

Many have quickly jumped to Ari's defense, with one suggesting, "She needs to leave this tour . Not because she isn't good because ari is amazing , this just isn't a fit for her . I don't like this for her at all." Another echoed the sentiment, "This is so wrong. She was just talking about how much of a disconnect she's been having with his fans. Strictly r&b tours from here on Ari! Let them have that!"

A third defended the "Pressure" hitmaker for tearing into the audience, "& she's WELL within her rights because who tf raised some of yall!? What do you get out of throwing things at people you paid to see?! S**t is CRAZY!" Another added, "I hate when y'all try Ari. She don't be bothering nobody," as a fifth person weighed in, "Y'all done pissed off sweet ole Ari Lennox. The electric chair for whoever threw that at her."

Ari has been billed as one of supporting acts for Rod Wave's North American tour which kicked off on October 19. She has not publicly addressed the disrespectful treatment from the rapper's fan.

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In the heart of Sony SAB's much-anticipated show, Aangan - Aapno Kaa, lies a captivating tale that not only celebrates the unconditional bond between a father and his daughters but also unveils the diverse perspectives of the Sharma sisters on life and marriage. Ayushi Khurana, who essays the role of the youngest daughter Pallavi Sharma, Aditi Rathore as the obedient daughter Tanvi Sharma, and Neetha Shetty as the eldest daughter Deepika Sharma, each bring a distinct flavour to the narrative with their characters.

Pallavi, the youngest Sharma sister, has a unique take on marriage, questioning why women have to change their priorities after tying the knot and leave their parents behind, while the eldest sister, Deepika Sharma stands as a symbol of strength, embodying the perfect balance between home, responsibilities, and a flourishing career. On the other hand, Tanvi Sharma, in her role as the obedient daughter, wife, and daughter-in-law, brings a different dynamic to the trio. But despite their differences, the Sharma sisters' bond stays resilient, portraying the essence of familial bonds in a modern context. The show delves into the individual journeys of these sisters, offering a nuanced understanding of marriage, family, and societal expectations. As viewers immerse themselves in the heartwarming world of the Sharma family, they are sure to witness a narrative that not only embraces uniqueness but also celebrates the enduring strength of sisterhood and indomitable commitment towards parents.

Ayushi Khurana, who will be essaying the character of Pallavi Sharma, said, For Pallavi, her father and sisters are the core of her world. Witnessing her sisters' priorities shift dramatically after marriage, she questions the necessity of such a change. Pallavi's perspective on marriage is not wrong, it's just unique and also resonates with many young girls who have parents to look after, including myself.

Neetha Shetty, who will be essaying the character of Deepika Sharma, said, Deepika is a modern woman who defies stereotypes. She is an ode to women who give their all to work while perfectly managing their homes. Juggling the responsibilities of supporting her husband, finding time for her sisters, and flourishing as an air hostess, she is the epitome of a multifaceted, empowered woman.

Aditi Rathore, who will be essaying the character of Tanvi Sharma, said, Tanvi isnt like her outspoken and bold sisters. Firmly rooted in traditional gender roles, she prioritises her role as a wife and mother and is content being a dedicated housewife. Her journey mirrors the experiences of many women navigating the delicate balance between traditional expectations and personal fulfilment.

Stay tuned to this place for more updates on Sony SAB's Aangan - Aapno Kaa, which will light up your television screens on 11th December, Monday to Saturday 7.30 pm!
In a heated interview on Wednesday, billionaire Elon Musk lashed out at advertisers who had abandoned his social media platform, X, due to the presence of antisemitic content. Musk, who had previously apologized for endorsing an anti-Jewish post on X, acknowledged the severity of his mistake, describing it as possibly the worst among his history of messages.

Despite facing criticism and losing advertisers, Musk vehemently denied being antisemitic and rejected the idea of being blackmailed by departing advertisers, using explicit language to express his defiance. The controversy arose when Musk agreed with a user's false claim that Jewish people were promoting hatred against white people, referencing the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory. This theory suggests that Jewish people and leftists are orchestrating the replacement of white populations with non-white immigrants, leading to a "white genocide."

The backlash resulted in major companies, including Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and NBCUniversal parent Comcast, suspending their ads on X. Musk's trip to Israel, where he condemned antisemitism and hate speech, was characterized as independent of the controversy. He also engaged in a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who urged him to balance free speech protection with combating hate speech.
Google and Canada have reportedly reached an agreement to maintain news stories in search results. As part of this deal, Google will pay 100 million Canadian dollars annually to news publishers, as disclosed by media networks. This development follows concerns raised by the tech giant regarding Canada's online news law, which mandates internet firms to share ad revenue with news publishers. The Canadian Heritage Minister has stated that a collaborative path with Google has been established to facilitate the implementation of the Online News Act.
Federal Department of Home Affairs

Bern, 30.11.2023 - Switzerland and Oman are deepening and intensifying their relations. During the first Swiss presidential visit to the country, President Alain Berset and Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said acknowledged the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in the Omani capital Muscat on Thursday, 30 November. Bilateral agreements were signed in five thematic areas.

Among the topics discussed was cooperation in the energy sector, where Oman has considerable potential, including in the production of hydrogen from renewable energies. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding with the aim of facilitating research and exchange on these issues.

Further bilateral agreements signed in the presence of President Berset concern the promotion of tourism, cooperation between a Swiss pharmaceutical company and the Omani Ministry of Health, the employment situation for persons accompanying diplomats from both countries, and the training of Omani diplomats. The partnership on peacebuilding and mediation, which dates back to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2019, was also discussed. In this context, President Berset took part in the first Omani-Swiss mediation workshop. The focus was on the role of healthcare, which can make a significant contribution to social cohesion, peace and security.

President Berset was accompanied on his visit to Oman by a delegation drawn from the Swiss business and science communities. In addition to relations in these areas, discussions with the Sultan also covered vocational education and training. Other topics included the regular dialogue between the two countries on human rights, the situation in the Middle East and Yemen, the objectives of Oman's presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, cooperation at international level and the UN Security Council.

At a ceremony with President Berset to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Oman, the Omani postal service presented a special stamp featuring Jabrin Castle in north-west Oman and Waldegg Castle in the canton of Solothurn.

Next stop COP28 climate conference

From Oman, President Berset will travel to Dubai (United Arab Emirates), where he will attend the opening of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference. At COP28, resolutions are to be passed on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Stocktake, the participating countries will for the first time jointly take stock of progress made under the agreement and discuss how they can keep within reach the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

President Berset will attend the meeting of heads of state at the opening of COP28 on Friday, 1 December, and on Saturday, 2 December. As the conference progresses, Federal Councillor Albert Rosti, head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), will also represent Switzerland in Dubai.

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City in China's Hainan vigorously promotes protection, inheritance of ethnic cultures

People's Daily Online) 10:03, November 30, 2023

Wuzhishan city in south China's Hainan Province has actively promoted the creative transformation and innovative development of fine cultures of the Li and Miao ethnic groups, focusing on the protection, inheritance and development of Li and Miao ethnic cultures.

The Wuzhishan Ethnic Fashion "Village Show" series of cultural activities, which lasted nearly two months, wrapped up in the city on Nov. 11.

Models display wedding dresses of the Miao ethnic group at the Wuzhishan Ethnic Fashion "Village Show" in Wuzhishan city, south China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Wuzhishan municipal committee)

During the event, several "Village Show" performance teams highlighted local culture, art, agricultural produce, places of interest, and fork skills as they walked down the catwalk demonstrating unique rural cultures. Dressed in Li and Miao costumes, many of the models of the teams were native villagers and local primary-level officials.

"In recent years, we have been committed to promoting the inheritance and development of Li and Miao ethnic cultures. We hope to draw the people's attention to ethnic cultures through the creative and expressive fashion show," said Zhu Hongling, Party chief of Wuzhishan city.

Zhu explained that the event was aimed at stimulating the people's recognition of traditional culture, while driving the development of the industries of local ethnic groups and tourism.

"I watched every performance of this year's Fashion 'Village Show'," said a tourist surnamed Huang from south China's Guangdong Province.

Models strut on the catwalk during the Wuzhishan Ethnic Fashion "Village Show" in Wuzhishan city, south China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Wuzhishan municipal committee)

Records showed that over 40,000 people watched the "Village Show in person, and the event received more than 580,000 online views and achieved over 1.9 million likes.

Chen Mengli, a Li woman born in the 1990s, was a costume designer for the "Village Show." After graduating from college, she chose to return to her hometown to start a business making traditional Li costumes.

Chen's team incorporated elements of Li brocade, which is a traditional craft of the Li ethnic group, tree ferns, and hiking/biking culture into modern fashion designs. Chen said that people's high praise for the fashion show strengthened her determination to carry forward the Li brocade culture.

Chen has created a Li brocade brand, with her annual online and offline sales revenue exceeding 1 million yuan ($141,000).

"Umbrellas, hats, mosquito patches and other products featuring Li brocade elements are very popular. The maximum daily sales revenue of the brick-and-mortar store in Maona village surpassed 3,000 yuan," said Chen.

According to her, the best way to carry on the Li brocade culture is to integrate Li brocade into people's daily lives.

The "Village Show" boosted tourism in Wuzhishan city. During the eight-day combined Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period this year, the city received 173,000 tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of 156 percent, generating 66.36 million yuan in tourism revenue.

Photo shows spectators at the Wuzhishan Ethnic Fashion "Village Show" in Wuzhishan city, south China's Hainan Province. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Wuzhishan municipal committee)

The city has started planning for next year's "Village Show," encouraging more villagers to take part in the cultural event. It has also received an invitation from the organizer of the Hainan International Auto Show to showcase ethnic costumes, and is in talks with Henan Culture and Tourism Investment Group Co., Ltd. on the commercial operations of the "Village Show" to develop it into a regular cultural event to maintain revenue growth.

In August 2023, Wuzhishan collaborated with Istituto Marangoni, a prestigious fashion school in Italy, to promote the upgrading of Li brocade weaving techniques and the Li brocade's integration with the fashion industry.

This year, Wuzhishan sent three groups consisting of 50 intangible cultural heritage talents to showcase Li brocade costumes and weaving skills at the Milan Fashion Week and participate in cultural promotion events in Singapore and Malaysia. The city has also collaborated with renowned international fashion colleges to offer training on Li brocade costumes.

Models display costumes designed by Istituto Marangoni, a prestigious fashion school in Italy, for the Wuzhishan Ethnic Fashion "Village Show" during the show. (Photo courtesy of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Wuzhishan municipal committee)

"Participating in overseas events enables us to introduce the Li brocade and Li culture to more people, and allows us to learn about design concepts from other countries and regions and integrate more fashion elements into our products, thus giving a new lease on life to Li brocade weaving techniques," said Liu Xianglan, a national-level inheritor of the weaving, dyeing and embroidery techniques of the Li ethnic group.

Wuzhishan has established 22 organizations aimed at passing on the intangible cultural heritage and seven intangible cultural heritage workshops, according to Wang Yuzhao, deputy curator of the cultural center of Wuzhishan.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
North Carolina is set to benefit 600,000 adults from expanded Medicaid. Proponents of the program say it will help the long-term uninsured, as well as hospitals and local economies.

For low-income and otherwise resource-constrained individuals, the federal government and individual states work together via Medicaid to assist in paying for medical care.

The Medicaid Expansion

North Carolina lawmakers have approved a plan to expand Medicaid this year.

According to AP News, this will allow the state to cover more adults (between the ages of 19 and 64) with private health insurance premium subsidies, even if their income is too high to qualify for traditional Medicaid. As per the terms of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the majority of the expenses (90%) will be covered by the federal government.

By the end of the day, over 600,000 North Carolinians should be eligible, with around half already registered automatically as of Friday, December 1. As a result, individuals will have little or no out-of-pocket costs for yearly exams, prescription medications, and other services.

North Carolina is now the 40th state to join the Medicaid expansion program, thanks to its choice to enroll. There is also participation from the District of Columbia. After years of rejecting the expansion, many Republican-led states are now giving it some thought. Their main concern has been that federal policy may shift and force states to shoulder a larger share of the cost. The other ten states that do not participate are mostly located in the Midwest and the South and are governed by Republicans.

The uninsured rate among North Carolina individuals under the age of 65 should go down as a result of the expansion. The percentage of uninsured North Carolinians was 17.6% in 2022, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, which is far higher than the national average of 12.6%. At present, 2.9 million individuals in the state are enrolled in standard Medicaid programs.

See Also: Biden Admin's Effort to Curb Drug Store Middlemen Falls Flat-Here's What Pharmacists Say

Skepticism From GOP Lawmakers

Since assuming office in early 2017, Democratic Governor Roy Cooper has pushed for Medicaid expansion. However, Republican legislative leaders were wary about greater government insurance and the possibility Congress might slash its funding, according to ABC News.

North Carolina became more open to the proposal in 2022 when the federal government extended a two-year incentive of $1.8 billion in exchange for its participation.

By March, the bill had been enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, and Cooper had signed it into law.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced in November that hospitals in the state will be required to pay an enhanced assessment equal to 10% of the total cost.

State officials estimate that North Carolina will receive $8 billion in federal funding per year as a result of hospitals' participation in the Medicaid expansion and another federal program made possible by the new legislation. Hospitals in rural areas that serve a large number of uninsured patients should get some of the funds back. Through the healthcare system, it might potentially provide economic advantages as well.

See Also: Mental Health Problems Among Healthcare Professionals Is Becoming More Prevalent, CDC Warns

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Federal Department of Finance

Bern, 30.11.2023 - On 30 November 2023, Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter met the Belgian Minister of Finance, Vincent Van Peteghem, in Brussels. They discussed current financial and tax issues in the run-up to Belgium's presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The visit took place against the background of Belgium's presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2024. The aim of the meeting was to exchange views on Belgium's priorities and positions with regard to finance and taxation, and to present Switzerland's views. The meeting also provided an opportunity to deepen bilateral economic and financial relations with Belgium.

Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter and Minister of Finance Vincent Van Peteghem discussed the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the associated measures in Switzerland and the EU. In addition, they exchanged views on the stability of the international financial markets. They also discussed the EU banking package, the implementation of the OECD's planned minimum taxation rules for large multinational enterprises and the importance of the integrity of the Swiss and European financial centres. Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter stressed the value of such discussions: "Regular exchanges with the incoming EU presidency on financial and tax matters contribute to the understanding of mutual interests and improve cooperation."

Belgium is a founding member of the European Union. The country is one of Switzerland's ten most important trading partners, with trading volumes of around CHF 7.8 billion in goods and CHF 3.2 billion in services.

Address for enquiries

FDF Communications

Tel. +41 79 572 00 46

kommunikation@gs-efd.admin.ch

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Federal Department of Finance

https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html




A storied Birmingham shopping center is currently being demolished to make room for a new multi-use development.

Highland Plaza, once home to Western Supermarket, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Highland Package Store, and Taj India, among other businesses across more than eight decades, is being bulldozed to make way for a new development from Daniel Corporation. It has been a fixture of Birminghams retail culture since the late 1930s.

The Birmingham City Council voted in February to approve re-zoning of the site at 2230 Highland Ave. South for mixed-use development, such as apartments, retail and office space.

The complex, to be called The James, will feature 272 luxury apartment units, a 373-space parking garage and 10,000 square feet of retail and office space.

The building on 2.59 acres will be 68 feet tall and include an outdoor pool and courtyard.

City officials say the retail space that will be on the ground floor of the new complex will have room for businesses, such as restaurants, once it is completed.

A Daniel Corporation spokesperson said further information on plans for The James will be forthcoming.
A Florida man is charged with two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty causing death after deputies found the decomposed bodies of two dogs in kennels in the mans apartment, according to an arrest report obtained by WEAR.

Deputies in Santa Rosa County, Fla., were called to a Milton apartment complex on a report of a possible suicide, which had been reported by 30-year-old Caleb Phillips.

When deputies arrived, however, they noted the overwhelming odor of decaying flesh (death), which would be inconsistent with a suicide that had just occurred, according to the report.

Deputies noticed a door in the apartment with a towel placed at the base to cover the gap between the door and the floor. Entering the room, they were greeted by a gruesome site: two kennels, each with the body of a dog in an advanced state of decomposition and an empty food bowl.

The report says Phillips deliberately allowed the two dogs to starve to death rather than try to find them new homes.

He made no effort to call animal control or release the dogs to another party, deputies wrote in the report. (Phillips) left the two dogs inside these kennels, slowly starving them to death. In doing so, he inflicted unnecessary pain and suffering resulting in their cruel deaths.

Deputies also found narcotics and drug paraphernalia in the apartment.

Santa Rosa County Jail records show Phillips has been arrested at least 11 times previously on charges including larceny, fraud, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and probation violations.

As of Thursday afternoon, Phillips remained jailed under $15,000 bond.

Aggravated animal cruelty causing death is a 2nd-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
A Mississippi man will spend more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife by kicking her with steel-toed boots, fracturing her ribs.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office and court documents, Lee Garrick McMillan assaulted his wife in May on the Choctaw Indian Reservation in Pearl River County, Miss. Both McMillan and his wife are Choctaw Indians.

The initial indictment charged McMillan with assault with a dangerous weapon (the boots); assault resulting in serious bodily injury; assault by strangulation; and domestic assault by a habitual defender.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said this was McMillians third domestic violence incident.

McMillian was indicted by a federal grand jury in early June and initially pleaded not guilty, but in August he withdrew that plea and accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Under the agreement, McMillian pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and domestic assault by a habitual defender. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the other two charges.

McMillans 63-month sentence was handed down in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday. He had been facing up to 10 years on each of the two counts to which he pleaded guilty, as well as up to $500,000 in fines.

The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department and the FBI.
More than 1,800 Alabamians who either failed the old graduation exam or dropped out of high school before 2013 have finally earned their high school diploma, thanks to help from the Alabama Community College System.

Billed partly as a more useful credential than a GED, the program started strong in 2016, with more than 300 Alabamians earning a diploma.

Fewer people pursue the option now, but Alabama officials still consider the High School Diploma Option, or HDSO, a good option for former students.

[Getting a high school diploma] grants them the opportunity to transition into postsecondary training or to gain job opportunities that do not accept a GED for employment, Adult Education Deputy Director Alex Harris said.

In some cases, residents who earned their diploma through the high school diploma option were able to advance in the workplace or retain their employment with their diploma.

Nationwide, in 2021, graduates with high school diplomas earned $7,200 more each year compared to those without a high school diploma, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The Alabama Workforce Council and the Department of Education worked together to create a new way for students to earn a high school diploma in 2016. The Board of Education stopped requiring graduates to pass the high school graduation in 2013.

Between 2009 and 2013, around 5,000 students each year failed the graduation exam and received a certificate of attendance instead of a diploma.

Heres a look at how many people earned a diploma through the HSDO:

2016 - 301

2017 - 436

2018 - 325

2019 - 146

2020 - 169

2021 - 203

2022 - 171

2023 YTD - 66

The drop in numbers coincided with an increased statewide focus on workforce development and adult education programs that dont require a high school diploma, Community College Communications Director Ebony Horton said.

My presumption is that as a greater statewide focus was on helping residents find and retain employment, that more residents sought and are seeking those career-ready credentials, she said, not necessarily in lieu of the diploma but as an option for career training that does not require a high school diploma to complete.

How it works

The free program is offered through the community college system in partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education.

To be eligible for the diploma, a student must be at least 19 years old and have earned at least 10 credits while in high school.

There are two pathways to the diploma: one for students who earned all 24 credits but failed one or more portions of the high school exit exam, and one for students who earned at least 10 credits, but not all 24.

The process requires:

Students must contact the last Alabama high school they attended and obtain an official transcript

Students must ask their high school to send a transcript audit form to a participating adult education program.

A local community college will work with the student to determine whether they must take any more courses or tests like the Test for Adult Basic Education.

After all requirements are met, a student will receive a diploma from their last Alabama high school.

Its hard to say how much time it will take each person to earn their diploma because it all depends on how many credits are needed and which assessments the student has to take.
Lets raise our glasses to the Old Fashioned, a cocktail that dates back to the 1800s and  despite its name  never really goes out of style.

A craze for Cosmopolitans may turn into a rage for Appletinis or a thirst for Jalapeno Margaritas, but the Old Fashioned remains a staple: smooth, potent and appropriate for drinking at any time of year.

The Margaret, a bar in downtown Birmingham, offers a unique variation of the Old Fashioned thats become a favorite with customers. Its more aromatic than a traditional Old Fashioned, maybe a little sweeter, said Linley Bray, the bars manager. Its full-bodied, browner, more aromatic.

Known as Paulys Old Fashioned, the cocktail is one of seven signature drinks at The Margaret, all of which are grouped on the menu as New Orleans Classics. The list includes a Hurricane, a Sazerac, a Pimms Cup, a Brandy Milk Punch and more.

Pam Stallings and Theresa Holloway Cottrell, owners of The Margaret, opened the bar in January 2022, aiming to create a comfy, welcoming watering hole  a social spot with booze options aplenty  at 2113 First Ave. North.

Theres a lot of people who are, like, Whew, Ive got to go have a beverage! Ive got to meet my friends, Stallings said. The neighborhood bar is what were trying to be. I want that feel of New Orleans but I want people to know that I live in Birmingham. Im proud of Birmingham. Im proud of downtown.

Stallings, best known in Birmingham as co-owner of The Nick, founded The Margaret as a passion project, naming the bar after her late mother, Margaret F. Stallings of Cullman. The logo for The Margaret, which features a chandelier, was inspired by a chandelier Stallings inherited from her mom. This cherished piece of decor has place of honor at The Margaret, front and center above the bar in the main room and easily visible to anyone who walks in the door.

AL.com paid a visit to The Margaret on a recent afternoon, to sample the Paulys Old Fashioned and see what makes this cocktail a standout. Heres what we found.

Theresa Holloway Cottrell, left, and Pam Stallings are co-owners of The Margaret bar in Birmingham.(Courtesy of The Margaret)

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS?

Paulys Old Fashioned is made with Old Forester (a brand of Kentucky bourbon whiskey), Grand Marnier (a liqueur distinguished by flavors of orange and cognac), lemon, Peychauds bitters (with notes of anise and cherry), Angostura bitters (reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg) and orange bitters.

WHO CREATED IT?

Stallings credits the recipe for Paulys Old Fashioned to Paul Hayes, a longtime bartender in New Orleans who works at Harrys Corner on Chartres Street. Hayes and Stallings have been friends for about two decades. He is a wonderful person, Stallings said. Harrys doesnt serve a lot of high-end cocktails, but he said, Ive got this drink, its a variation on this drink, try it and see if anybody likes it. I would love to give you this recipe. So I brought it here and it stuck. People order it, and its delicious.

WHY IS IT SPECIAL?

Traditionally, an Old Fashioned is prepared with whiskey (usually bourbon or rye), simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water) and Angostura bitters (which have a warm and spicy flavor profile). The cocktail is typically garnished with an orange peel and maraschino cherry.

Paulys Old Fashioned offers a twist on the basic recipe by using a specific type of bourbon (Old Forester), plus Grand Marnier and three types of bitters. Lemon subs for the orange peel, and the syrup is created with Demerara sugar, which has a golden-brown color and richer flavor. Manager Bray, who tends bar at The Margaret at least four days per week, usually amplifies the garnish with a skewer of three cherries. I like to do three cherries, because I was always told its one or three, Bray said. Two is an insult. So three always.

Ice cubes shaped like the letter M add a little something extra at The Margaret, along with decorative skewers that depict leaves, disco balls and other cute and fun objects, Bray said. Price for the cocktail: $14.

Paulys Old Fashioned, a signature cocktail at The Margaret, a bar in downtown Birmingham.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)

DOES THE GLASS MATTER?

The whole experience of being in a bar matters, the POV of everything, Bray said. Its the room, the glass, its all of those things, that affect how youre going to taste the drink. It could be the same drink in a Solo cup, but its going to taste different when the presentation is different. It lends to the experience.

Thats one of the reasons to come to a bar, Stallings said. Most bars that serve cocktails have different-shaped glasses that are fun to experience. You dont get that at home. I like a fancy glass. I have no problem with a plastic cup, either.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE ONE?

About four minutes, Bray said, depending on how long of a conversation Im having with the person Im making it for. Thats the determining factor. But it works.

HOW POPULAR IS IT?

The Margaret doesnt keep track of the number of Paulys Old Fashioneds served every week or month. However, Stallings said the cocktail was introduced to the menu about six months after the bar opened, and quickly became a staple. Even though Im a tequila drinker, I drink it, Stallings said. Its good.

Although The Margaret tends to draw a late-night crowd, plenty of folks who indulge in afternoon or early evening cocktails will choose the Paulys Old Fashioned, Bray said. And visitors certainly dont gulp it down. Its a sipper, Bray said.

Linley Bray, manager of The Margaret, prepares a Paulys Old Fashioned. It's a signature cocktail at the bar in downtown Birmingham.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)

CAN I CUSTOMIZE IT?

Although Paulys Old Fashioned is created according to a specific formula, bartenders at The Margaret are happy to tailor the ingredients to customers tastes. People swap out the liquor, because we have such a good selection of whiskeys, bourbons, etc., Bray said. Theyll choose whatever they want. And the 30,000 bitters that we have. Theres so many different things that we can add or change. For Old Fashioned drinkers who want to broaden their horizons, this is a good jumping-off point.

HOW LATE CAN I ORDER IT?

The Margaret is open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. According to Stallings, the bar plans to be open even later in the future, closing at 3 a.m. every day except Saturdays.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE?

Aside from signature drinks with a New Orleans flair, The Margaret offers a menu of seasonal cocktails and non-alcoholic cocktails. Theres also wine, beer and a full array of liquor, including an absinthe fountain. (Its a ultra-strong liquor thats diluted with water and poured over a sugar cube. Most people liken the taste to anise or licorice.)

The Margaret doesnt serve food, but food trucks parked outside the bar provide sustenance for drinkers. Theres live music on Fridays, usually solo musicians, and the bar has been known to host art shows. The Margaret also offers games, pinball, a jukebox and more.
The time to find out if youre hoarder of worthless junk or a savvy antique collector is near. Popular History Channel show American Pickers returns to Alabama in February.

During its 24 seasons, the show has followed pickers Mike Wolfe, Robbie Wolfe (Mikes younger brother), Jersey Jon Szalay and shop manager Danielle Colby as the searched the countrys dusty crevices looking for forgotten valuable antiques.

Along the way they mix it up with colorful characters and learn the stories behind objects that offer a different glimpse into American history.

The show first visited Alabama for a 2010 episode. In that ep, Mike Wolfe and company came across items including a 1969 Kawaski motorcycle and gigantic Piggly Wiggly mascot head. In a 2011 episode they participated in a Possum Trot countryfied auction in Seale, Alabama.

During a pair of 2014 Alabama eps, the turned up a plantation home relic and a Lambretta scooter. American Pickers also visited the state for episodes in 2019 and two in 22, including an ep they found a rare Shelby Mustang car in an Alabama barn.

According to a press release, for the shows upcoming visit to the state:

The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a unique item, story to tell, and is ready to sellwe would love to hear from you! Please note, the Pickers DO NOT pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the public. If interested, please send us your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184.

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More than half of the United Methodist churches across Alabama have disaffiliated from the denomination, and the signs are becoming obvious  churches are literally changing their signs, reflecting the upheaval thats happened.

It started in many cases with a swoosh of black paint covering up the United, leaving behind Methodist Church. Some have since ordered new signs. The signs represent decades of pent-up infighting over theology, bureaucracy and human sexuality that finally brought the split to a climax this year with churches facing an end of the year deadline to seize an opportunity to leave and take their property with them.

Its happening across America, as more than 7,200 congregations voted to leave, about 24 percent of the congregations in the denomination. Its more obvious in the South. In the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, 348 churches left. In South Alabama and the Florida panhandle, 248 churches left and 45 filed a lawsuit saying they were prevented from leaving by the end of the year. Both North Alabama and the Alabama-West Florida Conference previously had more than 600 churches each.

Many towns across Alabama now have two Methodist churches instead of one. Many of those that left had to get rid of their old signs featuring the United Methodist cross and flame logos.

The cross and flame logo is a trademark of the United Methodist Church, said the Rev. Steve West, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville. West was the founding pastor from 1995-2004 of Morningstar Methodist Church in Chelsea, which left the denomination this year.

I didnt meddle in their decision, West said. I was personally sad.

When the church got rid of its red and black metal cross and flame signs, it offered them to West, whose church remained in the denomination. I took them up on it, West said.

Gift of a cross and flame

He gave one metal cross and flame logo to a new church start called Abundant Grace in Albertville, where people from several congregations who wanted to remain United Methodist started a new fellowship after the Albertville First Methodist Church disaffiliated.

We dont have it up yet, said the Rev. Carol Gullatt, pastor of Abundant Grace. Were meeting at the Chamber of Commerce right now.

That group of about 20 people also has a Wednesday night Bible study at an Albertville bakery, Gullatt said. Its been going slow, but its been a wonderful time of having meaningful conversations that help us name our values, she said.

So far, theres no building to put the cross and flame logo on, but there could be one day. We havent done our mission church application, but we are functioning as a United Methodist church, Gullatt said.

West gave another cross and flame logo to Pell City First United Methodist Church, where the dynamics of the split were as dramatic as anywhere. The 800-member church, with nearly 300 attending a church meeting a year ago, voted 65 percent to leave the denomination, but fell three votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to disaffiliate.

That added to the turmoil of the whole process, said the Rev. Rachel Gonia, who remains as senior pastor of Pell City First United Methodist. People knew it was a majority that wanted to disaffiliate. There were rumors in town that something nefarious happened. Some people didnt understand that it required a two-thirds majority.

About 200 people left and began a new congregation, called New Life, with the Rev. Wes Savage, the former associate minister at Pell City First, as pastor. That group, which has not yet affiliated with another denomination, has already bought property on U.S. 231 with plans for a future church, Gonia said.

The disaffiliation vote not only split the church, it split up some couples on Sunday mornings.

We have some wives in this church, but the husbands in that church, Gonia said.

The Rev. Steve West presents a cross and flame logo to the Rev. Rachel Gonia, pastor of Pell City First United Methodist Church. The cross and flame formerly belonged to Morningstar Methodist in Chelsea, which has disaffiliated from the denomination. (Photo courtesy of Steve West)Courtesy of Steve West

Pell City First previously had two services on Sunday mornings, a traditional and contemporary. It now alternates between those two worship styles on Sunday mornings and just has one service to bring everyone together.

Thats been well-received, Gonia said. Its kept our congregation as one body. Before, people didnt know each other as well. Now, theyre all together.

LGBTQ activists in the denomination have been pushing for greater inclusion since 1972, when the General Conference adopted a phrase in the Book of Discipline taking the stance that the church does not condone the practice of homosexuality and considers this practice incompatible with Christian teaching.

While the presenting issue of the disaffiliations has been over whether the United Methodist Church will lift its ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of openly gay clergy, it also involves complex theological and church bureaucracy issues.

There were lots of other reasons people left, Gonia said. For many of the people who voted to stay, it was not so much about that issue.

Many conservatives decided the denomination had become too liberal, so it was better to leave. Others had gripes with the way pastoral appointments are controlled by the bishops office, some wanted to have clear ownership of the church property, some wanted to keep their pastors, Gonia said.

Were just focused now on being welcoming, and being able to disagree, she said.

New sign in Trussville

In Trussville, theres a brand new sign out in front of Trussville First Methodist Church, replacing the one where the United was painted over for awhile. The new sign cost several thousand dollars and overall, the church spent more than $100,000 to make its transition to a new denomination, with much of that going to pay off its obligations to the North Alabama Conference to buy the property and pay off annual dues called apportionments, plus paying for pensions for previous pastors.

What we didnt take into consideration is how many things have a cross and flame on it, said the Rev. Steve Strange, pastor of First Methodist Trussville, which is now affiliated with the Global Methodist Church, a new conservative-leaning denomination. We changed the back awning, all the lettering on all the buses. We had to file for a new tax exemption, re-write bylaws and re-file those. We also had to change out our hymnals. We did go to a hymnal that returns to our roots.

More than 3,800 churches have affiliated with the Global Methodist Church since it launched last year, including most but not all of the churches that disaffiliated in Alabama, Strange said. Many have remained independent or joined the Free Methodist Church or the Foundry network of churches.

The new sign at Trussville First features the words, A Global Congregation, to indicate its new affiliation, but that part of the sign is an easily removable piece, just in case. I think well stay Global, Strange said. You just never know down the road.

Even road signs that say, United Methodist Church two miles ahead, had to be changed, Strange said.

Church linens that line the altar and robes worn by clergy had to be given away to United Methodist clergy and churches, he said. Half of ours had cross and flame on them, Strange said.

Strange said that 83 people left the congregation after the disaffiliation vote. They took on the name All Saints United Methodist and moved east on U.S. 11, with services at an Episcopal church, Church of the Holy Cross, led by the Rev. David Teel, former associate at Trussville First.

But Trussville First Methodist has also attracted new members from other congregations that didnt disaffiliate and wanted to be part of the Global Methodist Church, so attendance has remained at about 300, Strange said.

Were probably 50 members less out of 400, said Strange, who was previously pastor at Riverchase United Methodist Church for nine years. Riverchase fell seven votes short of disaffiliation in its vote, so some who wanted to leave now attend Trussville, he said.

Weve picked people up from Riverchase, and Asbury, Huffman, Trinity, a lot of churches that didnt vote, Strange said.

Calm after storm?

At First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, which avoided a disaffiliation vote, a calm has settled in, West said. Several families left anyway and started a new church that meets at the Hampton Inn in Jacksonville on Sunday evenings.

The people who remained are having a fresh start and finding renewal, because the decisions over, West said. A lot of churches are experiencing renewal and a refreshing openness. Its painful, but then you move forward, and theres renewal and refreshment.

The signs now point to the future.

I have a lot of hope, West said. These can become times of refreshing when you get back to basics. Well move forward.

See also: United Methodist split: 45 churches who sued bishop to disaffiliate file appeal to state Supreme Court

United Methodist split: 8 more churches disaffiliate, including 1 of Mobiles largest

United Methodists urge repeal of ban on same-sex marriage, openly gay clergy

United Methodists ask for loyalty from leaders, tighten rules on disaffiliation and downsize

Another 132 North Alabama United Methodist churches disaffiliate: Trussville, Helena, Gardendale

Division is of the devil, United Methodist bishop says as 193 churches disaffiliate
Fort Payne police say one person was killed this morning in a crash.

The incident happened in the area near Walmart on Glenn Boulevard and Alabama 35.

Officers were detouring traffic around the area as of 11 a.m.

Police did not identify the victim immediately but said they would release more information later.
Major General Sheryl Gordon is retiring after six years as adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday.

Ivey named Brigadier General David Pritchett to replace Gordon. Pritchett, an Alabama native, is currently director of staff for the Wyoming National Guard.

Pritchetts appointment is effective Jan. 1. The National Guard will hold a change of command ceremony on Jan. 5.

Ivey praised the leadership of Gordon, the first woman to lead the Alabama National Guard.

In 2017, when I tapped General Gordon to serve as adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, I noted she was a trailblazer and visionary leader, Ivey said in a press release. Her record throughout her tenure has proven that to be true, and I commend her for her service.

While it is important to applaud her for being Alabamas first female adjutant general, I am proudest of her decades of military service and steadfast leadership. I know General Gordon will continue contributing to this state we call home and our nation.

Ivey commended Gordon for helping Alabama win the competition to become a National Guard home base for new F-35 fighter jets at the 187th Fighter Wing at Dannelly Field in Montgomery, as well as for providing Alabama National Guard support on the nations southern border.

Ive been blessed with a long career, and I am certainly proud of one constant effort, and that has been supporting and equipping the outstanding Soldiers and Airmen of Alabama, Gordon said. My greatest accomplishments have everything to do with the Guardsmen  the Guardsmen being promoted, awarded and achieving their dreams, goals and potential.

I thank Governor Ivey for entrusting me with this duty. It has truly been the highest honor and pleasure to serve the nations finest men and women, and I wish General Pritchett even greater success in doing the same.

Pritchett is a Jefferson County native and Auburn University graduate.

We are fortunate to have General Pritchett return to Alabama to serve at the helm of the National Guard, Ivey said. His exceptional military experience and diverse leadership background will help us forge on with existing projects and missions and will help foster even more growth at the Alabama National Guard.
Beyonc? on the chrome carpet at the 'Renaissance' film premiere. MASON_POOLE/Mason Poole

Here are the major movies being released this week:

'Aalto'

Documentary about Finnish architect-designer Alvar Aalto. Part of the Finntastic! New Films from Finland series. Screens at 7 p.m. Friday at Rice Cinema, Houston.

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'Animal'

Action-drama from India about a contentious father-son relationship.

Unrated. Opens Friday throughout Houston.

'Annapoorani'

Tamil-language drama from India centering on a young woman who wants to become a chef despite her family's objections.

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Unrated. Opens Friday at Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond.

'Aurora'

Finnish comedy-drama in which the title character takes on the job of finding a romantic match for an Iranian immigrant. Part of the Finntastic! series.

Unrated. Screens 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

'Candy Cane Lane'

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Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver in Prime Videos Candy Cane Lane. Claudette Barius/Prime/TNS

Reginal Hudlin (House Party") directs Eddie Murphy in a comedy about a man who gets an elf to help him win a neighborhood decorating contest. Tracee Ellis Ross co-stars.

Rated PG. Begins streaming Friday on Prime Video.

'Extreme Job'

What happens when the restaurant run by undercover cops as a sting operation turns into the hottest eatery in town? That's the premise of this South Korean action-comedy, which has a won of ton of awards in South Korea.

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Unrated. Screens 5 p.m. Sunday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

'Godzilla Minus One'

Japanese reboot of the classic post-atomic monster, set in American-occupied Japan of the late 40s.

Rated PG-13. Playing throughout Houston.

'Holiday Twist'

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Sean Astin and Neal McDonough star in this Christmas-themed family comedy.

Rated PG. Opens Friday at AMC Willowbrook 24, Houston.

'How I Learned to Fly'

Lonnie Chavis and Marcus Scribner in 'How I Learned to Fly' Film Movement

After their parents die, two young brothers find themselves on their own in this coming-of-age drama starring Method Man and Cedric the Entertainer.

Unrated. Opens Friday at the AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston.

'How the Gringo Stole Christmas'

George Lopez stars as a dad who's shocked when his daughter brings a new boyfriend home for the holidays who's not Latino.

Rated PG-13. Opens Friday at America Cinemas, Houston; America Cinemas, Pasadena.

'Jhimma 2'

Marathi-language comedy-drama from India in which a group of women celebrate life together.

Unrated. Opens Friday at AMC First Colony, Sugar Land.

'Once I Moved Like the Wind Parts II and III'

In parts two and three of this documentary series, the directors look for a passage to the sacred place where Geronimo surrendered to the American military for the last time.

Unrated. Screens 7 p.m. Saturday at Rice Cinema, Houston.

'Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce'

Onstage and behind the scenes during Beyonce's Renaissance world tour.

Unrated. Opens Friday throughout Houston.

'Sam Bahadur'

War biopic from India that tells the story of Sam Manekshaw, the first Indian army officer to become field marshal.

Unrated. Opens Friday at Regal Greenway Grand Palace, 24, Houston; AMC First Colony 24, Sugar Land; Cinemark Longmeadow, Richmond.

'Silent Night'

John Woo ("Hard-Boiled," "Face-Off") returns after two decades for another one of his brutal action films. This one stars Joel Kinnaman as a man out to get revenge on the thugs who murdered his son.

Rated R. Playing throughout Houston.

'Teddy's Christmas'

A Christmas teddy bear just might be alive in this Norwegian-language family film.

Rated G. Opens Friday throughout Houston.

'Tove'

Biopic on the life of Finnish artist Tove Jansson, who ran up against the cultural guardrails of postwar Europe with a life of artistic and sexual freedom.

Unrated. Screens 5 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as part of the Finntastic! series.

'Waikiki'

English and Hawaiian-language drama is the feature debut of Hawaiian director-writer Christopher Kahunahana. He tells the story of an abused hula dancer in Honolulu who finds herself on a strange journey after meeting up with a homeless man.
Authorities in North Alabama have arrested eight people after finding an overdose victim and a juvenile in what they termed a one stop fentanyl shop.

The DeKalb County Drug Task Force, along with Sylvania Police Department and Dekalb Countys criminal investigators and deputies took part in the investigation.

Investigators said people at the residence on Alabama 75 in Sylvania cut, packaged, sold and delivered narcotics.

According to the sheriffs office, agents executing a search warrant found nine adults and one juvenile in the residence. One of the adults was found unresponsive and required four doses of narcan to be resuscitated. The overdose victim was transported to Dekalb Regional.

DHR responded and took custody of the juvenile.

According to the sheriffs office, a search turned up a trafficking amount of fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription medications, drug paraphernalia, two pistols and cash.

Caiden Bryan Gore, 21, of Fyffe, Jesse James Outlaw, 22, of Sylvania, and Richard Madison-Noel Hudson, 25, of Fort Payne, were all charged with drug trafficking, first degree marijuana possession, chemical endangerment of a child, resisting arrest, loitering, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of drug possession.

Amber Dawn Cleveland, 32, of Sylvania, was charged with chemical endangerment of a child, drug trafficking, first degree marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of drug possession.

Haley Nicole Smith, 24, of Gadsden, Dakota Rhea Orear, 27, of Scottsboro, Jesse Maurice Munguia, 19, of Rainsville, and Mauricio Michael Munguia, 18, of Rainsville, were all charged with drug trafficking, first degree marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, loitering, two counts of drug possession and chemical endangerment.

Warrants will be obtained for the person hospitalized.

According to Sheriff Nick Welden, the people arrested did business largely in the open, on Instagram and Snap Chat.

Fentanyl poisonings are at an all-time high, these are not isolated incidents. These are happening in every state and every county in America, leaving behind grieving families, Welden said.
The Alabama Democratic Party was admonished by a group fighting anti-Semitism after it likened Sen. Tommy Tubervilles views on the military to Adolf Hitler in a tweet that included a photo of the Nazi leader.

The party was responding to an anti-Tuberville ad that included a clip of Alabamas senior senator criticizing the American military as weak and that all this wokeness is infiltrating our military.

Tuberville is speaking in code here. Time to call it what it is. Wokeness refers to a military that has Black, brown, red, yellow, and female leaders. He prefers his military to look like Nazi Germanys Third Reich. Say what you mean @SenTuberville, the partys account on X, the social media site formerly known on Twitter, tweeted Tuesday.

The Alabama Democratic Party compared Sen. Tommy Tuberville's views on the military to Adolf Hitler in a tweet.Twitter/Screenshot

The X account belonging to the Anti-Defamation Leagues office in Atlanta condemned the Alabama Democratic Partys comparison, suggesting the tweet diminishes the impact of the Holocaust.

Say what you will about another persons politics, but drawing Hitler and Nazi comparisons  thereby trivializing the Holocaust  is not the answer, the ADL Southeast tweeted.

Say what you will about another persons politics, but drawing Hitler and Nazi comparisons  thereby trivializing the Holocaust  is not the answer. https://t.co/bZ8pLH6qOa  ADL Southeast (@ADLSoutheast) November 28, 2023

The Alabama Democratic Party could not immediately be reached for comment, but Chairman Randy Kelley told CBS 42 that he disagreed with the tweet, which he claimed was posted by a technology director for the party.

He also said the post would be removed, but it was still up as of Thursday morning.

Tuberville addressed the tweet in a media call with reporters earlier Wednesday.

We dont need to be indoctrinating our young men and women in the military when their number one objective is to protect the American citizens. Its just as easy as that. So I really dont care what the Democrats call me, he said, according to CBS 42.
A state senator who proposed cutting funding to the Alabama Department of Archives and History because it hosted a lecture on gay history wants to change the Board of Trustees that governs the agency.

Sen. Chris Elliott, a Republican from Mobile County, is sponsoring a bill that would remove the current board members and replace them with appointees of the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the Alabama House, and president pro tempore of the state Senate, offices all held by Republicans.

Elliott said his main concern is that under current law, the trustees appoint their own successors.

Currently, its a self-perpetuating board, where the board selects essentially its replacement members, Elliott said. And I think that in general state agencies and boards need to be more responsive to the people and to the elected officials that the people elect. So, thats essentially what this does, very simply, is say that like many other boards throughout the state that the members will be selected by and appointed by elected officials.

Under the current law, there are two board members for each Alabamas seven congressional districts, plus two at-large members. The governor serves as an ex-officio member. The board appoints members to fill vacancies, and those are subject to confirmation of the state Senate. Board members are not paid except for reimbursement of expenses related to board business.

In July, Elliott proposed a bill to take $5 million in state funding from Archives and History. Elliott said he wanted to send a message to the agency after he other state lawmakers objected to a program called Invisible No More: Alabamas LGBTQ History, which Archives and History presented in June as part of its Food For Thought series.

The bill, which Elliott introduced during a special session on redistricting, did not come up for a vote.

Elliott said Wednesday that the decision by Archives and History to proceed with the program after lawmakers objected was an example of not being responsive to elected officials.

The underlying issue is that board felt like it didnt need to respond or accommodate or listen to the concerns of the Alabama Legislature, Elliott said. So, here we are in a situation saying, Gosh, theyre not listening. Whats the answer? And the answer is they dont have to because theyre a self-perpetuating board. And you have to ask from a public policy standpoint, is that a good idea?

And I think the answer to that is no. They need to be responsible to the people through their elected representatives. And whether those are Republicans or Democrats or independents, or whatever, they need to be responsive to the people.

Elliotts bill has four co-sponsors, Sens. Lance Bell of St. Clair County, Sam Givhan of Madison County, Garlan Gudger of Cullman County, and Keith Kelley of Calhoun County, all Republicans.

During that disagreement last summer over the LGBTQ program, Archives and History released a letter from agency Director Steve Murray explaining the decision to proceed with program despite the opposition from some legislators.

Murray wrote that he spoke with nine legislators on June 14, one day before the program was held. Murray wrote that he respected the authority and responsibility of the Legislature to appropriate state funds. But he said the lecture was appropriate under Archives and Historys mandate as spelled out in state law, including the diffusion of knowledge in reference to the history and resources of the state.

On Wednesday, in response to questions about Elliotts new bill, Murray issued a statement.

In 1901, the Alabama Legislature created the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) and charged its governing Board of Trustees with selecting board members from each congressional district, subject to confirmation by the State Senate, Murray said. In the years since, this statutory provision has limited direct political pressure on the operations of the ADAH while also providing accountability to elected officials through the confirmation process in the Senate. The result has been agency stability with professional and non-partisan administration of the historical materials that document Alabamas past, including the foundational government records that guarantee the rights of Alabamians.

As currently composed, the Board of Trustees consists of two members from each congressional district, two at-large members, and the Governor or her designee. Demographically, not counting the ex officio Governor, the members are 73 percent white, 27 percent African American, 47 percent male, and 53 percent female. The trustees have diverse backgrounds and political persuasions. The characteristics most in common among them are an interest in history, a commitment to public service, and a belief in the mission of the ADAH as a place of stewardship and education. Every member of the Board has received Senate confirmation, and eleven members have been confirmed multiple times.

The ADAH respectfully encourages the Legislature to retain the governance structure that, for almost 125 years, has made possible the agencys legacy of service, integrity, and commitment to ensuring that Alabamas history is preserved for future generations.
A young Alabama musician known as 88 DayDay is one of two people indicted for their roles in a cyber-enabled check fraud scheme.

A federal grand jury indicted 22-year-old Daylin R. Banks, also known as 88 DayDay and 30Skiii Only 1, with conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and aggravated identity theft.

A second person, described as Banks co-conspirator, is also charged  19-year-old Gabriel Samuel Odiot, aka Motion of Kissimmee.

According to the indictment, Banks from August 2022 until July 2023 particpated in a scheme to sell stolen or otherwise fraudulent checks on a Telegram channel called Glass House Records.

Banks obtained checks that had been stolen from the custody of the U.S. Postal Service and marketed a portion of them for sale on the Glass House Records Telegram channel.

At the same time, Banks collaborated with Odiot and others to alter, duplicate, or forge other stolen checks and have them deposited into accounts controlled by the conspiracy, authorities said..

The charges against Banks and Odiot relate to an indictment filed in August against Mekhi Diwone Harris, an administrator of an Alabama-based scam Telegram channel called Work Related.

According to court documents, thousands of stolen or fraudulent checks totaling more than $15 million were posted to the Work Related channel.

If convicted, Banks and Odiot face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for two of the charges, up to 20 years on another charge and up to 15 years in yet another charge.

The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Alabama, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Heflin Police Department, and the Hueytown Police Department all assisted in the investigation.
A small southwestern Alabama school system continued with its political split on Tuesday by voting along the same 4-3 split for its new board president and vice-president as it did last month on a decision not to renew the superintendents contract.

Otherwise, for the Escambia County School Board, the meeting was somewhat business-as-usual despite a looming criminal case against one of its own that has thrust the unassuming rural county known more for its tribal casino and being home to the states Death Row inmates, into a national debate over press freedoms.

It was the first time the school board had met since Oct. 12. That meeting last month was a contentious one leading to a 4-3 vote to not renew Superintendent Michele McClungs contract, set to expire in June.

Escambia County School Board President Danny Benjamin at the board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

The only remarks on Tuesday that were made after the 4-3 votes on the new one-year terms for board president and vice-president came from outgoing board president Danny Benjamin.

He praised McClung.

Im thankful to have worked with nine superintendents, said Benjamin, who has been affiliated with the school system for 35 years. Ms. McClung has really, really stepped up to the plate and has done an amazing job for this school system.

No comments

The front page of the Atmore News dated Nov. 1, 2023.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

It was the fallout of the 4-3 vote to not renew McClungs contract that has created a stir in Atmore and beyond. A few weeks later, a series of criminal indictments were filed against 72-year-old Sherry Digmon related to her dual roles as a school board member and as publisher of The Atmore News.

Digmon faces a rare impeachment charge, two counts of ethics violation, and a charge of revealing grand jury secrets stemming from a story that ran in The Atmore News about the school systems handling of COVID-19 funds.

No local school board member has been impeached in Alabama in 17 years.

Digmon, who attended the entire meeting and voted in support of a variety of school projects that were on the agenda, declined to comment about the criminal case.

Atmore News reporter Don Fletcher observes the Escambia County School Board meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

Also attending the meeting was 69-year-old Don Fletcher, The Atmore News reporter who faces a charge of revealing grand jury secrets allegedly because he wrote the story about the pandemic relief funds. Fletcher was in attendance to cover the meeting for his newspaper, but declined to comment about his case noting that a condition of his bail terms is that he does not discuss it publicly.

Fletcher and Digmon are scheduled to go before a judge at 9 a.m. on Monday for a preliminary hearing at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton.

Also charged with revealing grand jury evidence is Ashley Fore, 47, a bookkeeper at the school system. She was not in attendance.

Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy speaks with the parents of Superintendent Michele McClung during a break at the Escambia County School Board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

Escambia County District Attorney Steve Billy, who vocally supported McClung during the Oct. 12 meeting, was also in attendance at this weeks board meeting but did not make any public statements. He, too, declined to comment to AL.com about the cases.

In fact, no one even signed up to speak during the meeting despite a large crowd inside the boards meeting room. The meeting was monitored by three uniformed law enforcement officers.

Escambia County School Superintendent Michele McClung at the school board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

McClung, whose parents attended what she said was their first ever meeting in person, said afterward that she was not going to comment about someone elses case.

The charges and fallout from last months superintendent vote have captured the national medias attention, with The New York Times and Washington Post writing articles about the journalists charged for printing a story.

No national news outlets were in attendance at this weeks board meeting.

Board politics

Press freedom groups have also weighed in, questioning the arrests of Digmon and Fletcher as a possible afront to their First Amendment rights.

American courts have long upheld the right to publish leaks if the information is obtained legally. Scholars have repeatedly pointed to high-profile cases such as the Supreme Courts 1971 decision that allowed national newspapers to publish the Pentagon Papers, which exposed classified Defense Departments documentation on the history of U.S. military action in Vietnam.

None of those issues were even brought up during or after the meeting.

Only local board matters were of concern.

Digmon sided with the majority in voting in support of Loumeek White as the new board president. The same 4-3 vote, with Digmon siding with the majority, backed Cindy Jackson as the board vice-president. The majority was represented by Digmon, White, Jackson and Kevin Hoomes.

Escambia County school board members Loumeek White and Sherry Digmon at the board's meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atmore, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com

Benjamin, the outgoing board president, voted with the minority on a 3-4 vote in support of Mike Edwards as board president, and Coleman Wallace for vice-president.

Benjamin handed over the board responsibilities to White toward the end of the meeting and before the board went into an executive session that lasted more than a half hour. The closed-door meeting was over a legal matter, but no decisions were made afterward.

Id like to note what we do is for the benefit of our children, said Benjamin. You are here today because you are concerned for our children. Our children are our leaders of tomorrow.

Accusations

The impeachment indictment against Digmon accuses her of not focusing on the well-being of the school system as a whole, nor the students, and only on her opportunity to benefit financially from the Escambia County Board of Education.

The impeachment indictment was filed on Oct. 27, and was provided to AL.com by Digmons attorney, Ernest White of Brewton, and the Alabama Association of School Boards.

The indictment accuses Digmon of violating the 11-year-old School Board Governance Improvement Act of 2012 that establishes training requirements, and accountability measures for all local school board members.

The indictment also accuses Digmon of failing to participate in school activities and functions in her role as a school board member, that she worked as a reporter to promote her newspaper business, The Atmore News, and for attending school conferences  spending several thousand dollars yearly.

Digmon faces two counts of ethics violation for allegedly using her school board position for personal gain by selling ads in the Atmore Magazine and/or Grace Publishing LLC, which she also has financial interest in, and for receiving more than $2,500.

Billy has also accused Digmon of ignoring McClungs record as a superintendent in Escambia County, saying she took leadership over a failing school system and had initiated about a dozen improvements that warranted a contract renewal, according to the impeachment indictment.

An attorney with the school system denied on Monday AL.coms request to review past job performance reviews of the current and past superintendents.

Sally Smith, executive director with the AASB, has raised concerns over Billys interpretation of the 2012 law. Digmons attorney -- Ernest White  has since called the charges politically motivated and a fallout over her vote to not renew McClungs contract.

Billy has been District Attorney in Escambia County since 2004, first elected as a Democrat. He was re-elected in 2010 and 2016 without opposition before switching to the Republican Party and running against for re-election in 2022. Digmon ran for the school board in 2022 as a Republican.
A visibly irate Elon Musk said advertisers who pulled spending from X/Twitter, following his post that endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory, were trying to blackmail the company and threatened to drive it into bankruptcy.

Musk, currently the worlds wealthiest individual, had a message to big advertisers including Disney that halted spending on his social network: Go fuck yourself... Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? he said Wednesday at the New York Times DealBook Summit. He lambasted advertisers who were making themselves appear as if they were acting virtuously while being evil.

Earlier at the DealBook Summit, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the companys decision to halt ad spending on X. I have a lot of respect for Elon and what he has accomplished, Iger said. However, given the position [Musk] took, in quite a public manner, Disney concluded that its association with Musk and X/Twitter was not necessarily a positive one for us.

Asked to respond, Musk said if a company like Disney is going to try and blackmail me with advertising they should not advertise on X. Hey Bob, if youre in the audience, thats how I feel -- dont advertise, said Musk, who wore a leather bomber jacket.

Musks X is dealing with an exodus of major advertisers, including Disney, IBM, Warner Bros. Discovery, Sony, Comcast and NBCUniversal, and Lionsgate. Those marketers suspended ad spending after Musk endorsed a post on X pushing the antisemitic replacement theory, writing You have said the actual truth -- which elicited a condemnation from the White House for his abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate. The advertiser freeze also followed reports by activist group Media Matters that found ads appeared next to pro-Nazi and white nationalist posts.

Musk, at the DealBook Summit, admitted, I should have not replied to that particular person... I essentially handed a loaded gun to those who hate me, calling it one of the most foolish posts hes ever made on X/Twitter.

Musk said he clarified his remark in subsequent posts. He said his point was that persecuted groups funded by Jewish organizations were calling for attacks on Jewish people -- a wholly illogical situation. What I was saying was that its unwise to support groups that want your annihilation, Musk said. He reiterated that he is not antisemitic and that, If anything, I am philo-Semitic.

Musk told DealBooks Andrew Ross Sorkin, who interviewed the mogul on stage, I have no problem being hated... hate away, adding that its a real weakness to be liked. Musk said to Sorkin, The only reason Im here is because youre a friend. Meanwhile, Musk said his trip this week to Israel, where he was hosted by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was not an apology tour.

Later in the session, which ran for about an hour and a half, Musk said he stopped using TikTok after he felt uncomfortable because the AI algorithm was probing my mind. He added as an aside that TikTok is rife with antisemitic content.

Sorkin also asked if X/Twitter was in fact throttling the loading time of links to the New York Times website; the slowdown also affected Meta sites and those of other news orgs. Musk appeared to interpret the question as relating to Xs algorithmic prioritization of posts, and he responded that businesses must buy a subscription, starting at $1,000 per month, or else their posts will not be recommended. Sorkin asked what that suggested for free speech, to which Musk said, Free speech isnt free, its going to cost a little bit.

Last week, X filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, alleging the group was waging a blatant smear campaign against Musk and X using manipulated research. Media Matters called the lawsuit frivolous and said the organization stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court.

In late October, just over a year after Musk closed a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, X notified employees eligible for stock grants that they would receive shares at a valuation of $19 billion.

Musk, who also serves as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and has a hand in multiple other businesses, is bullish on the future of X, which he wants to turn into the everything app, including processing payments and managing users entire financial life.

As the owner of Twitter, Musk among other things has overseen an 80% reduction in headcount; partially dismantled Twitters blue check-mark system designed to boost trust in the authenticity of notable accounts and now grants verified status to $8-per-month X Premium subscribers; and launched a test to charge users $1 per year to post to the platform (which he says is necessary to combat bots).

 2023 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville appears to be looking for an end to his blockade of military promotions, now in its ninth month.

But time may be running out among his Republican colleagues.

The Hill is reporting that some GOP lawmakers are considering a resolution that would allow the promotions to proceed in one bloc. However, many are reluctant to curtail the power of any one senator.

Earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) promised to bring the resolution to the floor in coming weeks that would swiftly confirm the hundreds of highly qualified and dedicated military leaders being held up by Senator Tuberville before the end of the year.

That resolution needs 60 votes. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told The Hill that he will throw his weight behind the resolution if no solution is reached by January.

I dont want to change the rules of the Senate, that would be devastating down the line, and Im a little afraid at this point that weve got too many Republicans that would vote on the Democratic side, Tuberville said in a Wednesday press call.

Hopefully this doesnt happen. Theres no reason to be in a hurry, Id like to get it done in the very near future, but well see what happens.

You just get the feeling that Sen. Tuberville is about to find an off-ramp, Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Service Committee, said.

U.S. News and World Report laid out several options:

A possible lawsuit against the Pentagon, which would take the matter to the courts and out of the Senate.

A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would roll back funding for the abortion policy, though Democrats are unlikely to agree.

Allowing some lower-level promotions to move forward.

But, according to The Hill, Tuberville has dismissed the lawsuit option, and there will not be a conference to marry the House and Senate versions of the NDAA.

I dont know, Tuberville told reporters when asked how hell resolve the impasse. I dont know yet.

Earlier this week, Tuberville reportedly told his colleagues in a closed door lunch, Listen, everyone. I got yall into this mess. Im gonna get you out.

Other Republicans publicly say they expect a solution soon.

I think were pretty close to getting there, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, (R-Okla.) a member of the Armed Services Committee, said.
Decatur police have arrested a man who they say subjected a 13-year-old to sexual contact.

Starsky Vashan King, 47, turned himself in to his parole officer in Lawrence County on Wednesday. He is being held in the Morgan County Jail on $150,000 bond.

According to police, King is accused of second degree sexual abuse, adult sex offender-prohibited residence location, and adult sex offender-registration with local law enforcement.

Police say investigators received a report on July 1 of sexual abuse with a juvenile occurring at a residence in the 1700 block of Robinhood Way S.W.

According to police, King is a registered sex offender who registered an address in Courtland with the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office, claiming it as his residence.

In a statement, Decatur police stated its SORNA Unit was familiar with King and his sex offender status due to him and his wife previously inquiring if he could live at the residence on Robinhood Way. They were both told it was not a compliant address, due to being located within 2,000 feet of multiple childcare facilities.

Police say King failed to update his registration information to local law enforcement as he is required to do, per state law.
Former President Donald Trump will not be in Alabama on Wednesday while the rest of the Republican field vying for the partys presidential nomination are expected to be on the debate stage at the University of Alabama, the states party chairman confirmed Wednesday.

John Wahl, chairman of the state GOP, said he received confirmation this week that Trump, the frontrunner in the Republican primary contest, has a commitment in Florida on Wednesday.

We are not expecting a visit to the debate process, said Wahl. He wont be participating in the debate or events around the debate.

The New York Times, citing two people familiar with Trumps plans, said the ex-president will attend a fundraiser next week for his super PAC, MAGA Inc., in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Trump has declined attendance at the previous three debates, citing his strong lead in polling. He held a campaign rally in Florida the same day as the third presidential debate took place in Miami.

Wahl said he is hopeful Trump will return to Alabama soon. The former president was last in the state on August 4, when he was in Montgomery speaking at a state GOP dinner. Prior to the event, a majority of the states GOP leaders announced they were backing Trump in the 2024 presidential contest.

The state of Alabama has a great relationship with Donald Trump and we always enjoy a visit from our former president, Wahl said.

NewsNation is broadcasting the fourth debate at Frank Moody Music Building on the campus of the University of Alabama. It is scheduled to take place from 7-9 p.m.
A Vestavia Hills man is charged with laundering about $2.3 million in illicit funds.

A federal grand jury issued a seven-count indictment against Robert Carleton Howard, 39, charging him with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.

The indictment was announced Thursday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

Authorities said the illicit funds were derived from business email compromise schemes targeting American businesses.

According to the indictment, from at least July 2021 through August 2021, Howard was part of a scheme that used fake email accounts designed to spoof or impersonate companies third-party vendors.

The fake email accounts were created to trick those companies into wiring large amounts of money into bank accounts controlled by the conspiracy.

Howard opened and controlled at least one bank account into which he received approximately $2.3 million in business email compromise proceeds within two days.

Howard immediately converted those proceeds to cryptocurrency and transferred them to other members of the conspiracy and to his personal bank account, authorities said.

FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jack Harrington is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Howard faces up to 20 years in prison.
Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, a retro-inspired restaurant serving tavern-style pizza, serves friends and family ahead of their opening on Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Esquire snubbed Houston among its recent 50 picks for best new restaurants in America, but a Montrose restaurant did get a nod as the countrys Pizza Joint of the Year.

If readers scroll about halfway down the digital version of the magazines story, theyll find Nonnos Family Pizza among a trio of special category winners. The entry praises chef Martin Stayers cracker-thin Chicago tavern-style pizzas, paired with the cocktails and fun vibes of the restaurant.

The pizza parlor, located next door to Stayers popular bar Toasted Coconut, has been one of the years hottest openings. On any given night, the dining room is buzzing with Houstonians who not only order pizzas but also find other Italian-inspired classics theyve come to know from Stayers first restaurant Nobies.

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The whole focus of Nonnos is what youve had 100 times, but doing it right each time, Stayer said.

Heres what to know about the Houston restaurant thats now on the radar of pizza lovers across the country.

Whats the 411 on Nonnos?

Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, a retro-inspired restaurant serving tavern-style pizza, serves friends and family ahead of their opening on Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Stayer and his wife, Sara Stayer, debuted this pizza parlor at 1613 Richmond back in late July. They described the project not only as an expansion of their business, but its also their passion project.

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The fun space, adorned with vintage Pizza Hut lamps and arcade games with plenty of 80s and 90s nostalgia, pays homage to Chicagos tavern-style pies. Chicago is also where the couple met before moving to Houston.

Pizza takes center stage, but there are other chef-y items on the menu  think pastas, a Houston-themed riff on a Philly cheesesteak and even mussels doused in dry vermouth, garlic, shallots and herbs.

HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants

Why did Esquire name Nonnos Pizza Joint of the Year?

Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, a retro-inspired restaurant serving tavern-style pizza, serves friends and family ahead of their opening on Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Freelance writer Omar Mamoon, whos based in the Bay Area and has contributed to Esquires best new restaurants coverage in the past, came to town in September to hit up a number of new openings. While his scouting work didnt push any Houston restaurants onto the main list, he did fall in love with Nonnos.

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The publication snuck Nonnos in as one of three special category winners. Baroo in Los Angeles and Superiority Burger in New York City both won Comeback of the Year awards.

When I was a kid, I would go to Shakeys  it was Americas first pizza chain. I loved it for the mediocre but still delicious pizza, the excellent Mojo Potatoes, and the arcade, of course, Mamoon wrote in the one-paragraph entry. Nonnos in Houston evokes the retro pizza parlors of my youth, Pac-Man and all, but the pizza is much, much better.

Whats the dining experience like at Nonnos?

Edward, 7, pulls a long string of cheese from his pizza while eating with his family during a friends and family service at Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, a retro-inspired restaurant serving tavern-style pizza on Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Fun and casual is how the Stayers often describe Nonnos. Its as comfortable to belly up to the bar for a frozen Negroni as it is to bring children for pizza on a school night.

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There are no televisions because the Nonnos team wants customers to interact more, they said, and the sprawling dining room is set up with vintage arcades. Upbeat music is often playing in the background as a flashback to the 90s.

MORE FROM BAO ONG: TikTok famous food critic Keith Lee dropped his first Houston restaurant reviews over the weekend

What is Chicago tavern-style pizza?

Line Cook Javier Perez prepares a pizza during a friends and family service ahead of the opening of Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern, a retro-inspired restaurant serving tavern-style pizza on Saturday, July 29, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

Deep dish gets all the attention, but anyone whos spent significant time in the Windy City knows tavern-style pies are more popular.

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Theres no stretching or tossing of the dough, but it does take a few days to make the thin crust of each pizza at Nonnos: Fermentation takes three days, and theres an overnight curing process that helps make each square slice stay crisp, according to Martin Stayer. The kitchen uses a dough sheeter to make it extra thin. He added that the goal for Nonno's is to be able to turn out a high volume of pizzas quickly.

Customers can order traditional cheese pizzas, but the Stayers offer other options with cheeky names like the Maui Wowee (Spam, pineapple, smoked jalapeno) and Meat Head (capicola, pepperoni, sausage).

What should you order at Nonnos?

Chicago tavern-styles can be paired with any number of cocktails at Nonno's

Pizza, obviously. But salads, sandwiches, pastas and even red-sauce classics like chicken piccata are options for diners. The frozen Negroni is not to be missed.
Birmingham police are asking for the publics help in bringing justice in the death of a 20-year-old man one year ago.

Cornelius Arthour May Jr. died Dec. 2, 2022, in a shootout on a busy Birmingham road. Two others were injured.

No arrests have been.

The volley of gunfire erupted about 8 p.m. near the Chevron gas station at 1525 Finley Boulevard.

North Precinct officers were initially dispatched to the scene on a report of multiple people shot and multiple people shooting at each other. When they arrived, they found a vehicle that had crashed into the tree.

Inside the vehicle, police found the 20-year-old May and a female, both of whom had sustained gunshot wounds.

May was pronounced dead on the scene. The female was taken to an area hospital and survived.

A shootout on Birmingham's Finley Boulevard Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, left one person dead and two others injured. (Carol Robinson)

Officers then found a third victim who was on foot in the area. Though shot as well, his injuries also were not life-threatening.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said it appeared the shooting began in the 1600 block of Finley Boulevard. Numerous shell casings were marked in the intersection.

Let me explain just how bold this incident was, Fitzgerald said at the time. An officer told me you had two groups shooting at one another in vehicles.

One vehicle was trying to flee the scene, and a person gets out of another vehicle in the parking lot and fires additional shots, at the fleeing vehicle, he said.

He said at least some of the shots were fired from the Chevron parking lot.

When you have individuals shooting at one another in a gas station, not to mention one of the busiest thoroughfares that we have in Birmingham, you risk multiple people getting shot, Fitzgerald said. Unfortunately, tonight we had 3 people shot and its just a tragic night.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A 36-year-old woman sought in connection with theft of $200,000 from the Arc of Shelby County is now in custody.

The U.S. Marshals on Wednesday took Jennifer Massey into custody, the Shelby County Sheriffs Office announced. Sheriffs officials said Jennifer Massey eluded arrest for more than a month following the surrender of her mother, Cindy Massey, who is the former chief financial officer of the agency.

Jennifer Massey is being held without bond in the Shelby County Jail on a first-degree theft of property charge. She has no bond because of a previous probation violation.

Cindy Massey, 65, of Pell City, served as CFO for The Arc of Shelby County, an advocacy agency for child and adults with developmental disabilities.

Cindy Massey was booked into the Shelby County Jail in October on a theft of property charge and released the same day after posting a $30,000 bond.

According to charging documents, Cindy Massey was issued a company credit card, and later several replacement cards  as CFO of The Arc of Shelby County.

The cards were only to be used for business purposes and it was her responsibility as CFO to ensure the cards were used appropriately, the complaint state.

Cindy Massey (Shelby County Jail)Carol Robinson/crobinson@AL.com

From May 1, 2022, through Aug. 15, 2023, Cindy Massey and Jennifer Massey used the cards to make hundreds of purchases in St. Clair, Shelby, and Jefferson counties, as well as over the internet, and in Florida, records state.

Those purchases included rent on a personal residence, car payments, car repairs, veterinary services, at least one Florida vacation, cosmetic surgery procedures, inmate phone credits at the Shelby County Jail and internet purchases delivered to Pelham.

Cindy Massey then used her position as CFO to use Arcs funds to pay the credit bills, according to the complaint.

Anyone with additional information on the case is asked to call sheriffs Sgt. Chris Curenton at 205-670-6173 or email CCURENTON@shelbyso.com. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A former Madison County sheriffs deputy was arrested on 12 charges stemming from the theft of narcotics evidence, the agency said Wednesday.

Alex Huddleston, who was placed on administrative leave Oct. 23 pending an internal investigation, resigned before the investigation was completed, the sheriffs office said.

The investigation continued, and a separate criminal investigation was opened into possible mishandling of narcotics evidence.

Huddleston was arrested Nov. 17.

The Madison County District Attorneys Office was notified of Huddlestons arrest and is reviewing any cases involving the former deputy, the sheriffs office said.

To be a professional law enforcement officer, you must have integrity, and once that is compromised, there is no place for you in this profession, said Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner. The Sheriffs Office will not tolerate any employee being involved in criminal behavior. Incidents like these give law enforcement a black eye, but the Sheriffs Office will always deal with these situations appropriately and hold those responsible accountable.

Huddleston was charged with five counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of drug possession and five counts of theft of property charges, according to WAAY.

His bond was set at $20,000, the station reported.
Historic neighborhood McThornmor Acres National Register of Historic Places marker was unveiled on Nov. 19, nearly two years after it was added to the register.

The neighborhood is believed to be the first neighborhood in Alabama on the register that was linked to the U.S. space race. Engineers and technicians who were part of the effort that landed man on the moon lived there.
Emails and other records from U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine on transgender medical care for children will have to be produced by the Justice Department after a federal judge ruled they are relevant to a case challenging Alabamas ban on such care.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and lawyers defending the state from the lawsuit had been repeatedly rebuffed by Justice Department lawyers who claimed Levines work is too broad and high level for searches of her email account or documents to result in relevant information pertaining to this lawsuit, according to court records.

Levines records were argued as part of Boe v. Marshall, the federal lawsuit brought by five parents who claim a 2022 state law strips them of the right to make important decisions about their childrens healthcare. The Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act (SB184), which was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey, bans puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries for minors. The law punishes not only doctors, but also any other individual who prescribes or administers the treatments with a felony conviction and up to 10 years in jail.

In defending the states ban on gender-affirming care for children, lawyers for Alabama argued that Levine, who is the first Senate-confirmed transgender official in a presidential administration, has highly relevant communications and documents to the lawsuit.

It is not hyperbole to say that Admiral Levine is the leading public-facing official in the United States government when it comes to transitioning treatments for minors, the state said in its motion for Levines records, pointing to her public statements on gender-affirming care and her background as a pediatrician specializing in LGBTQ medicine.

On Nov. 21, U.S. District Court Judge Liles Burke ruled in Marshalls favor.

Given that Adm. Levine is a public official, the Court rests this finding in part on the parties representation that the production would neither interfere with her official duties nor burden her personally, Burke wrote in his ruling.

On Wednesday, Marshall hailed the decision:

I am glad the court granted our motion to require HHS to search Admiral Levines emails for documents relevant to our defense of Alabamas law, Marshall said in a statement. Levine has been at the forefront of the Biden Administrations reckless promotion of sex-modification procedures for children. There is no doubt about that, nor about the Admirals close involvement with radical organizations like WPATH whose Standards of Care mandate the use of sterilizing hormones and surgeries to treat vulnerable children suffering from gender dysphoria. We look forward to reviewing the documents HHS produces as we continue to defend Alabamas children.










English News China voices to lead global AI governance

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 30 Novembre 2023



At a crucial juncture of global AI governance, the China-proposed initiative will effectively build consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and develop open, fair, and efficient governing mechanisms, in a bid to promote AI technologies to benefit humanity.

By He Yin, People's Daily Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will put forward the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, demonstrating China's leading role in global AI governance.



In recent years, AI technology has advanced rapidly with increasingly wider applications. As one of the most disruptive emerging technologies, AI has brought tremendous dividends to socio-economic development, but it is also accompanied by risks and challenges.



The international community has been highly concerned about the legal, ethical, and humanitarian aspects triggered by this technology, as well as the complex and far-reaching impacts it has brought on international politics, economy, military, and society.



In the face of the unpredictable risks and complicated challenges posed by AI, the international community urgently needs to strengthen AI governance, capitalizing on strengths and avoiding shortcomings, avoiding harm, so as to steer the development of AI in a positive direction.



As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out, the world needs to "approach this technology with a sense of urgency, a global lens, and a learner's mindset." Countries should coordinate efforts, set boundaries, and work tirelessly to promote AI for the benefit of humanity.



As a responsible AI power, China has always attached great importance to the governance of AI. China insists on the equal emphasis on development and security, and continuously strengthens research on AI-related legal, ethical, moral, and social issues.



Guided by the principles of prudence, inclusiveness, and adherence to bottom lines, China is gradually establishing and improving relevant laws, regulations and institutional systems to ensure the healthy, orderly, and secure development of AI. The country aims to provide strong support for and inject positive energy into the global development of AI.



The Global Initiative for AI Governance clearly outlines China's proposals on the development, security and governance of AI. It adopts a systematic approach that emphasizes both development and security, upholds a people-centered approach in developing AI, adheres to the principle of developing AI for good, and upholds the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit in AI development.



The initiative opposes drawing ideological lines or forming exclusive groups to obstruct other countries from developing AI. It calls for efforts to bridge the AI divide and ensure that the AI dividend benefits all nations, making the development of AI beneficial for human civilization.



The initiative emphasizes the importance of security, controllability, privacy protection, fairness, and non-discrimination. It reflects the main concerns of all parties regarding AI security and proposes specific goals and measures such as joint governance and intelligent governance.



These actions are not only in line with the needs of technological development but also help prevent and resolve potential security risks. The initiative aims to ensure that AI technology truly contributes to global development and empowers the better life of humankind.



The initiative calls for increasing the representation and voice of developing countries in global AI governance, and ensuring equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal rules for all countries in AI development and governance. It says efforts should be made to conduct international cooperation with and provide assistance to developing countries, and develop AI governance frameworks, norms and standards based on broad consensus with full respect for differences in policies and practices among countries.



This initiative represents a strong voice from developing countries calling for equal opportunities, and demonstrates China's role as a responsible major country in improving global governance.

The initiative provides constructive solutions to the widely concerned issues of AI development and governance, providing a blueprint for relevant international discussions and rule-making. It is another action taken by China to contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.



In comparison to the deliberate policies of some Western countries that create "small yard and high fence" and foster an AI divide, this initiative reflects China's mature experience in AI governance, demonstrating China's broad-mindedness and unselfishness as a major power.



At a crucial juncture of global AI governance, the China-proposed initiative will effectively build consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and develop open, fair, and efficient governing mechanisms, in a bid to promote AI technologies to benefit humanity.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Full text of President Xi Jinping's 2024 New Year message China's first domestically-made large cruise ship makes commercial maiden voyage China to work with rest of world for common good of humanity Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Strengthening partnership the right choice for future of China-U.S. relations

Alwihda Info | Par pd - 30 Novembre 2023



Both sides should take the San Francisco meeting as a new starting point to truly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance mutual understanding through communication and dialogue, eliminate biases and misjudgments by developing a right perception, and jointly promote the continuous improvement and development of China-U.S. relations.

By Zhong Sheng, People's Daily Recently, at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping flew across the Pacific Ocean on a trip to San Francisco. At the century-old Filoli Estate, Xi held a meeting with Biden to find the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other.



At this critical juncture of history, the San Francisco meeting between the Chinese and U.S. presidents achieved significant outcomes, making a key step to steer China-U.S. relations toward a healthy, stable and sustainable direction.



Xi pointed out that China and the United States should jointly develop a right perception, manage disagreements effectively, advance mutually beneficial cooperation, shoulder responsibilities as major countries, and promote people-to-people exchanges. This has built together five pillars for China-U.S. relations and established the "San Francisco vision" oriented toward the future.



To jointly develop a right perception comes first in the five pillars, which mirrors Xi's profound thinking on the real challenges and future direction of China-U.S. relations.



"I have always had one question on my mind: How to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations clear of hidden rocks and shoals, navigate it through storms and waves without getting disoriented, losing speed or even having a collision?" Xi said at a welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States.



"In this respect, the number one question for us is: are we adversaries, or partners? This is the fundamental and overarching issue," said Xi.



Xi's important remarks made at the welcoming dinner were thought-provoking. China and the United States are two major countries with extensive common interests and bear important responsibilities for world and regional peace, stability, and prosperity. For China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides.



In recent years, China-U.S. relations have encountered challenges and difficulties. The root cause is U.S. misperception toward China and the China-U.S. ties.



Some people in the United States hold onto the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game mindset, seeing China as a primary competitor and the most consequential geopolitical challenge, which severely distorts the perception of China. It will only lead to misinformed policymaking, misguided actions, and unwanted results.



To find the right way to get along with each other, China and the United States need to jointly develop a right perception. Only by doing so can the foundation for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation be laid.



Jointly developing a right perception means the two countries must accurately understand each other's strategic intentions.



Xi pointed out that China's development is driven by its inherent logic and dynamics. China is promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. It will not take the old path of colonization and plundering, or the wrong path of seeking hegemony with growing strength. It does not export its ideology. It has no plan to surpass or unseat the United States. Likewise, the United States should not scheme to suppress and contain China.



China is consistently committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States. China never bets against the United States, and never interferes in its internal affairs. China has no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it. Instead, China will be glad to see a confident, open, ever-growing and prosperous United States. Likewise, the United States should not bet against China, or interfere in China's internal affairs. It should instead welcome a peaceful, stable and prosperous China.



In recent years, some people in the United States, out of their strategic anxieties, have seriously misjudged and deliberately distorted China's strategic intentions. They stubbornly view China, which is committed to peaceful development, as a threat and thus play a zero-sum game against it. They are going further down the wrong path.



To prevent the giant ship of China-U.S. relations from getting disoriented, losing speed or having a collision, such misperception toward China must be eliminated first.



Jointly developing a right perception means the two countries must practically respect each other's legitimate rights and interests. China hopes to see win-win cooperation with the United States. At the same time, China has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.



Over the past decades, the relationship between China and the United States has experienced ups and downs, and the U.S. side should have a clear understanding of this.



Taiwan question remains the most important and most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations. The U.S. side should take real actions to honor its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop arming Taiwan, and support China's peaceful reunification. China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable.



U.S. actions against China regarding export control, investment screening and unilateral sanctions seriously hurt China's legitimate interests, and go against the U.S. promise of not seeking to contain or suppress China's development.



Development of China is innovation-driven. Stifling China's technological progress is nothing but a move to contain China's high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development. It is important that the U.S. side take China's concerns seriously and adopt tangible steps to lift its unilateral sanctions so as to provide an equal, fair and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese businesses.



The world is developing, and the times are changing. China and the United States cannot repeat the outdated history of major-country confrontation. Instead, the two countries should be partners that respect each other, coexist in peace, and work together for mutual benefit. This is the right choice for the future.



In recent years, China-U.S. relations have been at a low ebb, leading to an increase in discussions about the "Thucydides trap" in the international community. The crux of the "Thucydides trap" lies in a cognitive error rather than objective conflicts of interest.



Xi once pointed out that there is no such thing as the so-called Thucydides trap in the world. But should major countries time and again make the mistakes of strategic miscalculation, they might create such traps for themselves, he explained.



This time in San Francisco, he once again stressed that the world is big enough to accommodate both countries, and China is ready to be a partner and friend of the United States.



What he said demonstrated profound wisdom in grasping the development of China-U.S. relations while following the logic of historical progress and the trend of the times, and showcased a broad-mindedness in planning the development of China-U.S. relations at the level of the future of humanity and Planet Earth.



China and the United States, the largest developing country and the largest developed country, must handle their relations well.



Both sides should take the San Francisco meeting as a new starting point to truly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance mutual understanding through communication and dialogue, eliminate biases and misjudgments by developing a right perception, and jointly promote the continuous improvement and development of China-U.S. relations.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Full text of President Xi Jinping's 2024 New Year message China's first domestically-made large cruise ship makes commercial maiden voyage China to work with rest of world for common good of humanity Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
Who is calling for a ceasefire in Israel and calling for a reprieve in the war to fight the terrorists that slaughtered over 1300 Israelis on October 7th? Are these protesters Palestinian, Middle Eastern, or Muslim? Some are, but many are college kids, teachers, and middle-class people whose ideas have been shaped by Western education. Their view of Israel, Hamas, and the Palestinians are seen through the lens of oppression ideology. This frame of reference creates a skewed view of the world which often ignores history, ignores facts, and has a callous disregard for the value of life.

The absurdity of this view can be seen in the support for Hamas that comes from LGBQ groups, womens groups, and even some Jewish groups. They are supporting a group whose stated goals include genocide, not only of Jews but of Christians and of anyone who is not a Muslim. Being gay in Gaza is a death sentence. Women are treated as chattel under an enforced Sharia law.

These groups, if they ever encountered Hamas directly, would be killed. The very cause they support would slaughter them in the name of Allah. In the case of LGBT folks or the Jews and in the case of women, forced to follow Sharia law where they had to wear burkas and hijabs, and where womens rights do not exist. Under Sharia, women are nothing more than property. Yet these groups are marching to support a cause where, if that cause were to prevail, it would annihilate the very group offering support. How is such support not against these groups' own self-interest? How is it that propaganda and instruction have led these people to support a cause so hostile to their existence?

How do we understand when a college student is protesting and chanting, From the river to the sea.? Is it normal that college students are calling for genocide?

Israel completely left Gaza in 2005, leaving Hamas as the elected authority over all of Gaza, yet there has never been a year that Hamas was not firing rockets into Israel targeting Israeli civilians, attempting to kill as many Jews as they could. The attack on October 7th was a continuation of their efforts to eradicate the Jews. The oppression that so many claim when Israel does not allow the free flow of people in and out of Gaza is nothing more than reasonable self-protection. When Palestinians leave Gaza, some would be wearing suicide vests and would blow up innocents inside Israel. Hamas has never stopped trying to kill Jews. They do not care if the Jews are innocent women, babies, or just bystanders. Hamas has stated its goal the killing of Jews, in Israel and across the world.

The propaganda and support for Hamas cannot be better summarized than by the views expressed in when the Oakland City Council voted for a cease-fire in Israel. The words of these speakers are laced with denials reminiscent of the Holocaust, denials fomented by Iran since the 1980s. These denials are blatant lies designed to support anti-Semitic rhetoric. They are a form of Jew hate. Some even claimed that the Jews killed their own people on Oct. 7th. There is ample evidence of the truth, of the horrors of Oct. 7th. Yet it is buried while anti-Semitism reigns. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and most European countries, yet they are painted as an oppressed group. One story, among many, is that of a baby killed in an oven while the parents were forced to watch. Evidence of rape, torture, beheadings, and kidnappings is ample, yet millions are denying that this occurred. They are justifying the killing of Jews en-masse. It never stops with just the Jews.

These protests are a mirror to Germany in the 1930s when the Nazis created narratives painting the Jews as the cause of economic ills and Jews as the cause of any struggle the people faced. These stories grew and were used to first strip the Jews of property and livelihoods, then to herd them into ghettos, and lastly to move them to concentration camps where millions died. It was not just the Jews who went into the death camps, the places such as Auschwitz and Treblinka where killing became an industrial activity with gas chambers and crematoriums. The Jews were exterminated along with Catholics, Romany, and anyone that stood up to the Nazi regime.

It all started with false narratives, justifying the extermination of the Jews. The stories that we are hearing about Hamas being oppressed as they rule the Palestinians in Gaza are the start of such narratives. Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2005 and has used its own people as human shields when shooting thousands of rockets into Israel. Hamas has torn up the electrical grid, sewer, and water systems to manufacture rockets and weapons with which to attack Israel leaving their own people, the Palestinians, without essential services. Even after the invasion of Gaza, Hamas has stated they plan to keep on killing Jews.

The truth must be spoken to counter these narratives, to foil the stories that somehow this terrorist group has the right to kill as many Israelis as they can. The videos of the atrocities committed by Hamas need to be widely distributed and people encouraged to understand that what they are supporting is not just against their own self-interest but is a step toward their becoming the monsters they are rooting for. If allowed to go unchecked the hate represented by these groups will justify another Holocaust.

The voices trying to counter this movement, speaking against this misdirected support of terror and genocide are too few. The Jews have a saying regarding the Holocaust, Never Again!! The horror of Oct. 7th has resurrected that saying. Israel refuses to live under the constant bombardment of rockets into their civilians. Israel was not the aggressor here. For years, Israel has tolerated these terrorist attacks from Gaza with limited response. Hamas says it will not stop trying to kill Jews. Israel cannot tolerate or maybe survive another Oct 7th massacre. These protests are supporting hate in a way not seen since WWII. To think it will stop with the Jews is mistaken. It wont stop until it is all of us.

It is time for good people, people armed with the truth about Hamas and about the history of Israel, to speak up. If left unchecked this terror will spread and it will be the Christians, the LGBT community, and women who will become the dead and oppressed.

Image: John Enghart
Pat Cleveland attends MAC, Nordstrom And The CFDA Host The After Party For "The Times Of Bill Cunningham" at Bistrot Leo on February 13, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image Model Pat Cleveland eats a sandwich backstage during the Battle of Versailles fashion show to benefit the restoration of the Chateau of Versailles on November 28, 1973. The Battle of Versailles featured the top five American designers matching their talents with five French couturiers. The Americans triumphed. (Photo by Reginald Gray/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)/Penske Media via Getty Images Pat Cleveland attends the 2023 CFDA Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)/Variety via Getty Images Pat Cleveland walks the runway at the LuisaViaRoma & British Vogue Runway Icons show at Piazzale Michelangelo on June 14, 2023, in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)/Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images Models in costume stand onstage during the fashion show to benefit the restoration of the Chateau of Versailles, five American designers matching talents with five French couturiers at the Versailles Palace on November 28, 1973, in Versailles, France. (Photo by Reginald Gray/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)/Penske Media via Getty Images Models in costume stand onstage during the fashion show to benefit the restoration of the Chateau of Versailles, five American designers matching talents with five French couturiers at the Versailles Palace on November 28, 1973, in Versailles, France. (Photo by Reginald Gray/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)/Penske Media via Getty Images

Its been nearly 60 years since model Pat Cleveland was in Houston, walking the catwalk for Ebony Fashion Fair, a traveling fashion show with dazzling clothes and runway performances.

That was before she made history in the famous Battle of Versailles show in Paris in 1973 that pitted five French fashion designers against five American designers. Cleveland was one of 10 Black models wearing couture looks by Oscar de la Renta, Stephen Burrows, Halston, Bill Blass and Anne Klein. Having that many Black models on the runway was unheard of then, and, in many ways, it still is now.

With the 50th anniversary of Battle of Versailles, Cleveland has been making appearances across the country and returned to Houston this week to celebrate with the premiere of The Girl From 7th Avenue, an animated short film that tells of Clevelands rise in the fashion industry and her experience in the Paris show. Cleveland also sings in the film.

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Pat Cleveland and daughter Anna Cleveland attend the photocall for the Luigi & Iango Unveiled Exhibition Opening at Palazzo Reale on September 21, 2023, in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images)/Getty Images

Cleveland was the first African American fashion model in a Paris couture show and one of the first to grace the cover of a fashion magazine. In 1971, she moved to France, promising not to return to the U.S. until a Black model was on the cover of Vogue. She moved back after Beverly Johnson became the first Black model on the magazines cover in 1974.

In Houston, Cleveland showed her new film, which is written and directed by Antonio Contreras, at Avant-Art Gallery with a fashion show featuring Houston designer and "Project Runway" contestant Chasity Sereal.

Cleveland talked with the Houston Chronicle about making history, her new film and her daughter, who is now following in her modeling footsteps.

Q: What does it mean to you that you were a part of history in the Battle of Versailles?

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A: We wore the clothes in a way that they had never seen in France, and the way we moved and how we presented the clothes. So, for many girls of color in America, that opened doors for them to work with more countries in Europe. For the Americans, it opened the door to bring ready-to-wear worldwide as being recognized as high fashion. So, it was a historic thing.

Q: Did you know you were making history?

A: I think the fact that there were so many girls of color in the show who hadnt been recognized was a change. We knew it. Many of the girls I worked with had never been to Europe or had never had opportunities like that. There was a lot of racism going on in America, and it gave girls of color recognition to be seen as beautiful.

Q: How did The Girl From 7th Avenue come about?

A: I noticed artist Antonio Contreres' fashion cartoons on Instagram, and I kept following him. One day, he responded to me, and we got in touch. Before you knew it, he was making these sketches of me. He made over 2,000 drawings for this wonderful illustrated film, and my voice is narrating.

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Q: How has fashion changed?

A: It is a bit of a conveyor belt now. In the shows when I was coming up, we were individual women with individual looks. Now, its the same type of look on every girl. Its not individual.

Q: Has the industry gotten better in terms of cultural representation?

A: Yes, definitely, but its all political. You know, one year, they want Russian girls, then Chinese girls and then you wont see those models next season. Fashion is ruled by politics, and thats the truth. Its an industry about money.

Q: Are there any young models who you see yourself in?

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A: Yes, my daughter Anna Cleveland. Shes one of the top models. Shes on the cover of many magazines, more than I did. Shes really special.

Q: Have you given her any advice about the fashion industry?
Repeating something over and over again does not make it true, and Brad Bannons Joe Biden is a good man essay at The Messenger is just plain embarrassing. As Bannon suggests in the title, Democrats Have Much To Be Thankful For This Year thanks to a level-headed leader at the helm. Yes, Bannon is being completely serious.

Below are a few excerpts from Bannons campaign adoopsI mean, honest press piece, for Biden.

Excerpt 1:

Only history will determine whether the steps that Biden has taken to revitalize our economy and guarantee Americas prosperity in the future make him a great man  but in my view, he is unquestionably a good man. I see Trump as neither great nor good  ranking as our second worst president behind James Buchanan, according to U.S. News polling. Some of his own relatives have called him vindictive, selfish and dangerous.

He says that Biden is a good man, and may even be a great man, yet he gives no examples. Do great men hunt down their daughters in the shower? Do great men refuse to acknowledge their own grandchildren? Do great men raise crack-addicted tax cheats who cant stop buying prostitutes? I didnt think so.

When the leftist rag U.S. News polls leftist historians, they clearly dont care about Trumps domestic and foreign success. Results dont matter.

As for relatives, Bidens relatives probably love him because he lines their pockets with kickbacks from shell companies for doing nothing. Maybe, they should interview Navy, Bidens granddaughter who has never met him, and ask her what kind of man he is?

An unquestionably good man or a good or great president would not

Refuse to meet or recognize his granddaughter for years. Why should we believe he cares more for the rest of us?

Fail to visit East Palestine, Ohio when there was an environmental catastrophe. The public was told he didnt have time, but the truth is he didnt care.

Brag about how well the withdrawal of Afghanistan went when 13 service members died because of the chaos. For their homecoming, he showed zero interest in their lives and sacrifice, infamously yawning and checking his watch. The media should stop pretending that Biden is empathetic.

Continue to fund Iranwhich in turn funds terrorists and pledges to destroy Israelwhile pretending he has always supported Israel.

Refuse to abide by his oath of office to enforce border laws. Enriching cartels is unquestionably bad!

Abuse the office of the president by forcing those who didnt take out student loans to pay off the debt for those who actually borrowed the money.

Fire people, including military members, for exercising freedom to decline a vaccine.

Keep schools closed, and block poor kids, especially minorities, from going to better schools because his political contributors demand it.

Hire an attorney general who colluded with the White House and the National School Boards Association to threaten parents who dared speak out against cultural Marxism.

Support the same AG who treats peaceful prayers at Planned Parenthood harshly, while virtually ignoring violent groups who destroy crisis pregnancy centers.

Continually lie and assert Trumps tax rate cuts only benefited the rich and cost the country trillions, when the changes actually helped all taxpayers and resulted in substantial revenue increases.

Excerpt 2:

Biden calls Trump and his MAGA supporters every name in the book. Trump is repeatedly compared to Hitler.

Biden continually lies about what Trump said in Charlottesville to gin up racial division and hate.

Biden and other Democrats repeatedly seek to divide the country by race, sex, and class.

That is not appealing to the better angels.

Excerpt 3:

Biden searches for the soul of America, and our nation has a bright future if he can find it. Meanwhile, Trumps sour pessimism has infected his party.

I sure hope that Biden is not seeking the soul of America!

Teaching kids that the U.S. is a racist country, and telling white kids that they are privileged and racist since birth? This is not true, and its not good.

Abortion on-demand? Craven and wicked.

Requiring girls to compete with boys? Illogical and cruel.

Telling young children that they can change their sex, and teachers keeping parents in the dark? Appalling and dangerous.

I could go on and on, but the narrative holds true: most journalists are more than willing to prostitute themselves to keep Democrats in power, consequences be darned.

Image generated by AI.
Not long ago, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy posted a video of himself saying that America is an idea. That is a fatuous statement because America is, in fact, a country, not an idea. However, McCarthy was edging close to something important, which is that America, unlike all other countries, is built primarily around an idea or, actually, a collection of ideas. Its those ideas that Marxists have been attacking with stellar success, and its why we are more wobbly even than other countries when pushing back.

My point has its genesis in Max I. Dimonts marvelous and very readable Jews, God, and History. He argues that Jews have defied history by being the oldest continuously surviving coherent people in the world, who still hew to an identity and a belief system stretching back to the Bronze Age. No other people can make that claim. This isnt how its supposed to work.

Dimont explains that Oswald Spengler, one of the great early 20th-century historians, argued that nations have a lifespan, just as people do:

In Spenglers view, civilizations are foredoomed to death. Civilizations go through the spring of early origins, mature into the summer of their greatest physical achievement, grow into the autumn of great intellectual heights, decline into the winter of their civilization, and finally die.

The problem for Spengler was that the Jews refused to fit into his thesis. He responded by ignoring them.

Image: The tragedy of the Jews in exile (in Babylon) by Eduard Bendemann, 1832. Public domain.

What Spenglerites dont understand is that Jewish nationhood revolved around ideas rather than geography or genetics. In the ancient animist world, when gods were tied to locations or objects, the Jews had an abstract, omnipresent God. Thats why, during the Babylonian captivity, they maintained their beliefs and the memory of an affiliated geographic location (If I forget you, O Jerusalem) without the Temple itself.

The Jews eventually returned to Jerusalem, only to be ousted 500 years later with the Roman conquest. But again, they were held together by the Torahan idea about God, morality, rules of conduct, and their portable identity as a distinct people. Not only were they Jews wherever they went, but they were also able to welcome into this portable nation any other people who chose to embrace the same ideas.

No other country on earth was like that. Either the people vanished from the land, or conquerers vanquished their unique identity. If they relocated to other lands, voluntarily or not, they lost their national identities.

One of the deep insecurities that plagues those Africans whose genetic brothers sold them to be dispersed throughout the world is that they have no sense of their national identity. They could bring some of their culture with them but, because they were non-literate, from many tribes, and lacked a binding identity, they invariably became an amorphous group of dark-skinned people on foreign soil. Here in America, the descendants of those blacks celebrate Kwanza, a Marxist holiday with no African connection, and wear kente clothes, which are uniquely Ghanaian, but its a poor simulacrum of a true historic identity.

And then theres America: We do not have a shared genetic lineage, for our people come from all five continents. For the same reason, we dont have much of a shared cultural lineage. Geographically, were a peripatetic people with limited ties to any specific location in America. What binds America isnt the idea of America but the ideas of America.

These ideas can be traced to three distinct documents: The Judeo-Christian Bible, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. The principles in these documents are what bind our nation together. Everything else is window-dressing.

Its these ideas that leftists have so assiduously attacked. They denigrate each document as a pathetic remnant of a white supremacist, slave-based, sexist, homophobic worldview. Yet it is these documents that define America as a country and a people. These definitional concepts are

That people are subordinate to the Creator;

That He created man and womanand only man and womanin his image, meaning that we share inherent rights that the state cannot take away, with these rights limned in the Bill of Rights

That the government is the Peoples servant, not its master;

That the moral laws that God gave Noah and Moses are not only divinely mandated but that they create the optimal society in which all people can prosper; and

That the tie that binds us together is our willingness to accept that these ideas create the American nation and the American people.

If Marxists can destroy these ideas, there is nothing left. Moreover, Americans are without the binding notions of being genetically Irish, French, Italian, or Dutch, with millennia-long ties to the land. This means that when were under attack from within, without binding ideas we dont have an alternative platform from which to fight back.

However, and heres the kicker, if we fight to reaffirm our ideas, we dont need to point to genetic similarities or a 2,000-year history on the land. Instead, America, like the Jewish people, can and will defy Spenglers historical determinism. Keep the ideas alive, and you reaffirm our nation.
We're in the best of hands.

So we are told to think as we've learned that the CIA employed someone so emotional she can't keep her Palestinian advocacy to herself in public forums, in this case. You would think CIA officials would keep themselves a little classified, a little mysterious, but not this one. She's into social media. She's into what are known as "stickers," colorful little advocacy buttons posted on her own selfie photos on her social media accounts. It's plausible that people like her communicate through emojis. And she's doing it because all the kids are doing it.

Here she is, associate deputy director for analytics, and has been the person who prepares the president's daily briefing as gatekeeper for what intelligence the president sees each morning when he gets briefed and what he doesn't:

EXCLUSIVE: Meet The Senior CIA Official Caught Posting Pro-Palestinian Content On Social Media

Associate Deputy Director for Analysis Amy McFaddenhttps://t.co/Pz90eVfq7i via @dailycaller pic.twitter.com/qk6dQqdokR  Trumpish Retired NCO (@virgofiveeight) November 28, 2023

Love the 1991-look suit redolent of the woman in the Zombietime 2008 Obama fund-raising photo under the caption: One half of a glamorous power couple from a bygone era. Like teenagers, the swamp has its own way of dressing. Her, too.

In any case, her loudly pro-Palestinian and, yes, pro-Hamas message, posted on publicly available social media, drew the attention of even the Financial Times, as well as other media outlets, raising questions as to her impartiality.

The CIA said she wouldn't dream of being impartial.

According to the Washington Free Beacon:

"CIA officers are committed to analytic objectivity, which is at the core of what we do as an Agency," a CIA spokeswoman told the Free Beacon in an emailed statement. "CIA officers may have personal views, but this does not lessen theiror CIAscommitment to unbiased analysis." The agency declined to say whether McFadden would be subject to disciplinary action or termination.

Sure she is. That's exactly what Defense Intelligence Agency traitor Ana Montes told her investigators when it came to light that she was a supporter of Puerto Rican Marxist separatists aligned with Cuba. She eventually went to prison for spying for Cuba but claimed at the time that even with her personal views, she was completely objective.

Meanwhile, over at CIA, McFadden also did this:

Although McFaddens particular beliefs on Israel are unclear, she "liked" one post by the International Crisis Group in the last week. That post shared an article in Foreign Affairs that chastised Israel for "making the utter defeat of Hamas its top priority."

The Beacon noted that one of that group's analysts had been recently outed as an Iranian propagandist, and another top official is under investigation as an Iranian agent.

How great to have our CIA officials agreeing with an Iran propaganda operation.

But rest assured, she's completely objective.

Instead of doing anything about it -- like get her moved to some anodyne duty or firing her for being on the side of an enemy of a critical U.S. ally that just got done raping women, beheading kids, and baking a baby in an oven -- the CIA moved to defend her, saying she is completely objective and said she didn't mean anything by that.

A US official told NBC that an email had been sent to staff as simply a reminder of existing policy, and that McFadden had not been disciplined. The official also noted that she has an extensive background in all aspects of the Middle East and this post was not intended to express a position on the conflict.

Not intended to express a position? It looks like a pretty specific position to us, one that takes work to do, and did she do it on office hours?

Didn't they just say their personnel were entitled to their own opinions earlier? And isn't that claim a little laughable on its face? She stuck pro-Hamas propaganda on her face, after all.

They announced a reissue of its "guidelines" for social media posts but didn't condemn here, kind of like the way Congress issued a general condemnation of bigotry of all stripes back when Rep. Ilhan Omar was posting about Jews being "all about the benjamins."

According to the Times of Israel:

The US Central Intelligence Agency issued staff guidelines reiterating the need for objectivity after a senior analyst shared pro-Palestinian posts online. The move come amid reported dissatisfaction among some US government workers with President Joe Bidens strong support for Israel in the wake of the October 7 Hamas assault on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 240 kidnapped to Gaza. The incident was first reported Tuesday by the Financial Times, which said that the agencys associate deputy director for analysis had posted a picture of a man waving a Palestinian flag. The report did not identify the analyst, citing concern about her safety. It also noted that several years ago she had posted a selfie with a sticker saying Free Palestine superimposed on the photograph on Facebook.

Feel confident?

How did this person ever pass a background check? She's pro-Hamas, doing Hamas's bidding under the tired old rubric of love for the Palestinian children, whom the Palestinian Hamas leaders sure as heck don't love, using them as human shields and suicide bombers. As a CIA official, she should know that Hamas has a vast propaganda operation which includes TikTok spreading through U.S. campuses, which accounts for all the poster-ripping and keffiyeh-wearing. She either is aware of this and is all for it or isn't aware of this, raising questions about the entire quality of the U.S. intelligence apparatus.

Seriously, why did she do that, and why was she so sure that when she did it, no negative attention would come, no questions about her impartiality would be raised, because "everybody does it." I suspect there's a whole nest of them with those views, and they like to reinforce each other the way teenagers do with their selfie stickers and the like.

A good CIA analyst needs to hear and understand multiple points of view, including the one the U.S. public supports, which is to support Israel. Apparently, she's never bothered to pay attention to anything outside her swamp world, which despises Israel.

The sheer blase quality of both the posts and the CIA's response suggests something is wrong at that agency, every bit as wrong as the kind of Trump-hate seen at the FBI.

The agency is going to have to put out more serious proof that it's unbiased in its assessment as it claims, and it needs to get rid of her in any sensitive post, or else it needs to go on the congressional chopping block. Taxpayers shouldn't be paying for this.

Right now, we know what this person "likes," and it's not what decent Americans or anyone decent 'likes.' We are going to need a lot better from the CIA to regain any confidence in its objectivity.

Twitter screen shot
It's not fun having to solve problems, especially when you are a Democrat and ran your campaign making all kinds of promises. Or maybe this is just another case of "blue on blue. Who knows? We do know that the Mayor of the Windy City is talking. Here is the story:

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said he "inherited" the Windy Citys migrant crisis from his predecessor, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, during a press conference touting construction of the citys first government-run migrant tent encampment. "Look, the international crisis that I inherited six months ago, Ive made it very clear that we are going to make sure that we remove people out of police districts: women, children who are living on floors and sleeping outside, that were going to create spaces that provide more dignity," Johnson said Tuesday.

Who knew that people would actually come to sanctuary cities? Are you surprised too?

The problem is that Mayor Johnson is not blaming the source of the problem or the Biden administration that opened up the border. The mayor is talking about the international crisis that he inherited, but who did he really inherit it from? I am not a fan of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, but blaming her is a bit of a stretch.

As the article points out, the other problem is that the local homeless population (estimated at 68,000) is very unhappy. They were promised a better life but the new arrivals are displacing them. Talk about stabbing your base on the back.

So what are they going to do with all of those migrants when the temperatures in Chicago go below zero? So far no Democrat has offered to invite them into their homes.

They are desperately hoping that President Biden can sneak a few billions in the Ukraine or Israel package for "humanitarian" assistance. I don't think that's going to happen. So Mayor Johnson will have to deal with this challenge all by himself and solve problems for a change.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Wikipedia
An inclusive society just means a world in which white peoplebut especially straight, white malesare excluded. Take a look at this rant from Humza Yousaf, a Minister in the Scottish government:

Scottish PM Humza Yousaf, son of Pakistani immigrants to Glasgow, hates white Europeans. Real racist.pic.twitter.com/Y0oVJmS0d9  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) November 30, 2023

White people participating in society and governance too? The horror!

Now, for a little contextual backstory on Yousaf, relayed via Mandy Rhodes at Holyrood:

Yousafs parents were both immigrants who came to Glasgow in the 60s. His father arrived from Pakistan with his family in 1964 as typical Asian economic migrants simply seeking a better life post-partition while his mothers family, who were of south Asian descent, fled from Kenya post-independence as hostilities towards Indians increased.

As we also learn from Rhodess piece, the last straw for Yousafs maternal grandparents before migrating to Scotland came when his grandmother was attacked with an ax by native Kenyansand where else but the safety of a white Judeo-Christian nation.

Yousaf, the son of blue-collar migrants, received a solid education and made it all the way to the top level of the government thanks to the white culture and hospitality of its people; yet he has the audacity to complain about the country that made that all possible? Well, hes a leftist, so of course he does.

Did he happen to notice that 95% of the Scottish population is white? Did he take a moment to even think about what he was saying? (Again, hes a leftist, so of course he didnt.) It would be as absurd as me going to Kenya, with its 97% black population, and crying that all the government posts were black people.

A persons skin color is first determined by genetics, but news flash, it also has everything to do with where different established populations live(d). Things are different now that global movement is as simple as hopping on a plane, but when populations were much more permanent in an area, you found that people who lived near the equator were dark, while people who lived in areas where the sun was not nearly as present, like modern-day Scotland, were much lighter.

For comparison, the average annual sunshine in Scotland is around 1,100 hours; in Pakistan, that number is nearly 3,100solar exposure has had a tremendous impact on the adaptation of different people to their environments, so it doesnt take a rocket scientist to understand why ethnic Scots would be whiter, while people from whats now called Pakistan would be browner or darker. Darker skin has a natural sun protection barrier that acts as a sunscreen and according to one site, black skin is more than four times more protected than white skin.

Ya know, if he really hates whites that much, he could try Kenya, the place where his grandmother nearly got hacked to death with an axlike I said, its 97% non-white!

Ironically, Yousaf is a product of the whiteness he hates so much.

Image from X.
Just what is it with anti-Semitism? The horrific October 7 pogrom brought the Jew-hating progressive cockroaches out of the woodwork on our college campuses, in our cities, and in the cities of Europe. Allan Dershowitz says, This has become an International war against the Jews.

This brings forcefully to mind the oft-recurring puzzle: Why do so many hate the Jews? Exactly what is the reason for this? Many of us have pondered this puzzle for years.

Chris Christie has an explanation. Naturally, he blames it on Donald Trump.

However, moving on to the plausible, Rabbi Benjamin Blech tells us that the driving motivation for Jew hatred is hatred of morality and its proponents. To drive home the point, the Rabbi quotes historys number one Jew-hater, Adolf Hitler, who declared, Conscience is a Jewish invention like circumcision. My task is to free men from the dirty and degrading ideas of conscience and morality.

Are conscience and morality dirty and degrading? Is the loathing of conscience and morality what is really behind the surging popularity of Jew hatred?

Image: Moses and Joshua with the Ten Commandments from the 1890 Holman Bible. Public domain.

A hatred of Jews flowing from hatred of morality means a hatred of Biblical morality, for it is in Holy Scripture that Jews find the principles of morality. When the Holy One gave humans existence and life, He also declared a two-pronged Prime Directive: Be holy (Leviticus 11:44) and Choose Life (Deuteronomy 30:19). These two commands should probably be considered as one because they are logically equivalent; that is, each entails the other. In fact, the command Be Holy is reiterated at least seven times in Holy Scripture, in Leviticus 11:44, 11:45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26, 21:8, and Deuteronomy 23:14.

Moreover, a hatred of Biblical morality directed at Jews is likewise directed at Christians because Christians proclaim Biblical morality alongside Jews.

Rabbi Blech further explains, Jews are hated not because they are bad but because they persist in reminding the world of what it means to be good. Anti-Semitism is nothing less than a visceral reaction to the cry of a guilty conscience.

Therefore, anti-Semitism is self-condemnation. It is the projection of self-hatred onto the Jews. Might that also explain why the Chinese Communist Party hates and persecutes Falun Gong, which promotes a doctrine of truthfulness, benevolence, and forbearance?

It has long been evident that the smears the left hurls at its opponents are projections of the evil lurking in the hearts of the left. This may be the most concise description of the etiology of Jew hatred: The projection of guilt from the heart of the hater.
In early January 1992, the container ship Evergreen Ever Laurel departed Hong Kong for Washington. Among the millions of things that Ever Laurel was carrying was a consignment of plastic childrens bath toys manufactured in China for the Japanese toy company The First Years Inc. Four days later, on 10 January 1992, the freighter ran into a storm in the North Pacific. Hurricane-force winds and waves thirty-six feet tall rocked the 28,900-ton ship from side to side. Under the strain of the pitching and rolling, two tall columns of containers stacked six high above the deck snapped loose from their steel lashings and crashed into the sea. At least one of the containers burst open, spilling several dozen cardboard boxes containing approximately 29,000 bath toys into the ocean.

Photo: 88390133  Teen00000 / Dreamstime.com

The cardboard rapidly broke down in the saline waters and under the harsh sun, discharging thousands of little packages onto the sea. Each package contained four hollow plastic animalsa red beaver, a blue turtle, a green frog, and a yellow duckpacked in a plastic shell with a cardboard back. Within a day, the water dissolved the glue releasing the plastic animals and setting them free from their plastic prison. The spill happened at approximately 44.7N, 178.1E, about 500 miles south of Shemaya Island in the Western Aleutian Islands and 1,000 miles east of Hokkaido, the northern extreme of Japan.

The news of a container ship losing 29,000 rubber toys attracted the attention of Seattle oceanographers Curtis Ebbesmeyer and James Ingraham, who were working on an ocean surface current model at that time. The standard method of tracking ocean currents is to release drift bottle, five hundred to one thousand at a time, and chart their movement. Usually in such experiments, 98 percent of all floaters get lost, so researchers expect to recover only about 10 or 20 bottles from each drop. But here was 29,000 pieces of easily recognizable plastic, drifting about in the ocean and all released from a single spot. It was an opportunity that Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham could not afford to miss.

It wasnt the first time Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham had turned a mid-ocean spill into an oceanographic experiment. Three years earlier, an eastbound freighter got caught in a storm five hundred miles south of the Alaskan Peninsula, and several containers had gone overboard, including a shipment of eighty thousand Nike shoes. As the sneakers began washing up along Vancouver Island five months later, Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham used the information from beachcombers and reconstructed the drift routes of some two hundred shoes. When the two scientists learned about the rubber duck spill in the North Pacific, they alerted their global network of beachcombers to keep their eyes out for the shiny plastic toys.

Travel route of the friendly floatees. Image by NordNordWest/Wikimedia Commons

Ten months after the incident, the first rubber ducks began to wash up along the Alaskan Coast, 2,000 miles from where they fell. By August 1993, some 400 of them were found over a stretch of 850 km of coastline along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Alaska. Over the next several years, these friendly floaties were discovered at various locations all over the world, from Scottish islands to Newfoundland, Eastern Australia to Tacoma, and along the coast of Hawaii and Japan. By studying the route of these floaties, Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham developed a model of the ocean currents and from this model they correctly predicted where and when these yellow ducks and blue turtles are going to wash up.

Ebbesmeyer and Ingrahams model correctly predicted landfall of the toys in Washington state in 1996. They theorized that after their first appearance in Alaska, the floaties had travelled westward to Japan, back to Alaska, and then drifted northwards through the Bering Strait and become trapped in the Arctic pack ice. They moved slowly with the ice across the Pole taking five to six years until they reached the North Atlantic. When the ice thawed, the floaties were released and from there the ocean currents took them to the eastern coast of the United States and to coast of the UK.

Oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer with flotsam he uses to monitor ocean currents. Photo: Rick Rickman/Wikimedia Commons

Nearly three decades later, the floaties are still making rounds of the ocean, occasionally washing up on distant beaches where they instantly become prized items, some reportedly fetching prices as high as $1,000. The ducks and beavers have been bleached white, but otherwise intact. The turtles and frogs still have their original colors. The slow rate of degradation proves that plastic pollution is effectively indestructible, and all the plastic garbage that we dump into the seas and oceans will be around for centuries to come.

Over the decades, Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham have tracked many similar spills, such as the Lego spill of 1997 where millions of Lego pieces fell overboard in the sea off Cornwall. Those Lego pieces have drifted some 62,000 miles since then. Ebbesmeyer and Ingraham is expected to have many such opportunities to study ocean currents in future. Containers routinely get lost at sea. A 2011 survey by the World Shipping Council estimated that an average of 675 containers were lost at sea each year between 2008-10. In 2014, the average annual loss between 2011-13 was approximately 2,683 containers.

Now funded by NASA, Ebbesmeyer and Ingrahams model, called Ocean Surface Currents Simulation (OSCURS), has many practical applications aside from predicting the movement of flotsam, such as helping fishing vessels navigate and locate shoals of fish.

References:

# Donovan Hohn, Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists & Fools Including the Author Who Went in Search of Them

# The Friendly Floatees, British Sea Fishing

# Friendly Floatees, Rubber Ducks Revealing Ocean Secrets, Science Reporter

# Eric Heupel, How does a floating plastic duckie end up where it does?, Scientific American
In August, cybersecurity researcher Randy McEoin discovered a new type of malware disguised as a software update. He named it ClearFake. ClearFake deceives users by exploiting hijacked WordPress sites, leading them to download fake browser updates which then infect their systems with malware. Initially, ClearFake focused on Windows systems, deploying a campaign with a fake Chrome update. Recent findings by security researcher Ankit Anubhav reveal a shift in tactics, with ClearFake now targeting Mac users through a counterfeit Safari update, delivering iOS malware.

ClearFake has used two primary methods to deliver payloads to victims systems. Initially, compromised websites were redirected to a Cloudflare worker host, enabling the injection of malicious JavaScript. Security experts detected and easily dismantled this approach because it was hosted on Cloudflare. Subsequently, the group adopted a new strategy, leveraging the security benefits of the blockchain, specifically the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) JS library.

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The download of a third-stage payload is initiated by fetching malicious scripts from the blockchain. Exploiting the decentralized nature of the blockchain, attackers are more capable of evading takedowns. The payload is no different, it presents users with fake browser update overlays that lead to installing a malicious executable.

ClearFake uses templates that almost identically mimic legitimate Safari and Chrome updates

Hackers obfuscate code to conceal their malicious intent and evade detection by security measures. By transforming code into a complex, convoluted structure, they slow analysis and make it challenging for security tools to identify and interpret their activities. Originally named for its non-obfuscated JavaScript, ClearFake ironically evolved into a formidable challenge to detect due to its blockchain-based injection method.

According to a report by Malwarebytes, the recent Mac campaign by ClearFake distributes a distinct malware variant, Atomic Stealer. Atomic Stealer offers cybercriminals a comprehensive toolkit, enabling the theft of account passwords, browser data, session cookies, and crypto-wallets. Distributed through a dedicated Telegram channel, the malware author provides web panel access and a disk-image-based installer for $1000 per month.

Disguised as installers for legitimate applications, ClearFakes payload masquerades as Safari or Chrome updates. Upon downloading Atomic Stealer, the malware mimics another Safari update, prompting users for an admin password for command execution.

Social engineering attacks often disguise malware as software updates or application installers. Again, ClearFake uses Safari and Chrome templates that are nearly identical to those used by Mac and Google. Mac users should be alert against this new social engineering attack attempting to steal sensitive information.
Google has pulled its decision to block news links in Canada after reaching an agreement with the government. The Mountain View-based company had previously threatened to remove news links from its search, Google News, and Google Discover pages in response to the Online News Act (Bill C-18) in Canada which comes into effect on December 19. However, the two sides have now come to a deal that will see Google continue to provide Canadian users with access to local news.

The deal is not unlike the agreement that Google made with the Australian government back in 2021, where both it and Meta came to an agreement to invest cash in local news outlets within the country.

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The Canadian Minister of Heritage shared the good news on X. She wrote, Following constructive discussions, our government and Google have reached an agreement  they will contribute to the #OnlineNewsAct. We worked hard to make this possible. She further added, This Act is good news for journalism, for online platforms, and Canadians.

Google agreed to pay CAD 100 million per year to news publishers

Google has reached an agreement with Canadian news publishers to pay them about CAD 100 million (roughly $74 million) annually. This figure is substantially lower than the governments initial estimate of $172 million in annual payments. However, it aligns with Googles assessment of its financial obligations.

Before finalizing the deal, Google was worried about having to negotiate with each media organization separately. Instead, they will only need to negotiate with a group representing all the media organizations. This could help avoid any disagreements or disputes. However, the deal will be finalized once Google and the media representatives finish their negotiations.

Meta continues to block Canadian news links on its platforms

While Google has reached an agreement with the Canadian government, Meta has remained hesitant to engage in negotiations and continues to block Canadian news links on its platforms. CBC reports, that Meta has not shown any interest in resuming discussions with the government regarding the Online News Act (Bill C-18). Google and Meta are the only two companies that fall under the scope of this legislation.
Lakeland Village Center is one of the village centers planned in the Bridgeland community in Cypress. Courtesy of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Lakeland Village Center is one of the village centers planned in the Bridgeland community in Cypress. Courtesy of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Lakeland Village Center is one of the village centers planned in the Bridgeland community in Cypress. Courtesy of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. Lakeland Village Center is one of the village centers planned in the Bridgeland community in Cypress. Courtesy of Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.

The Bridgeland master-planned community is continuing its expansion in Cypress with the addition of two new businesses to the Lakeland Village shopping center.

Space City Orthodontics will look to open its third Houston area location in December at 10519 Fry Road, offering treatments such as braces and Invisalign, as well as virtual appointments.

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Foxfire Candle Works boutique is expected to open its second location at 10611 Fry Road next year in February. The local candle boutique has more than 100 fragrances and offers custom candle scents, lotion, hand soap and more.



Space City Orthodontics and Foxfire Candle Works are our two latest additions to Lakeland Village Center, and both share our commitment to exceptional customer service, with Foxfire Candle Works introducing a new, interactive fragrance studio to our selection of popular community-building experiences. We are excited to welcome these new amenities to Lakeland Village Center, Marissa Moreau, senior manager of leasing for Howard Hughes, said in a press release.

Lakeland Village Center is one of the four village centers that are planned in the Bridgeland community.
If youre in the know about the Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro, youre aware of their prominent AI features. Recently, the Pixel 8 Pro received an update for the integrated AI Core app, elevating its AI capabilities. This update is currently exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, leaving the door open for speculation about its future availability on other Tensor-enabled Pixel devices.

This distinctive AI Core app doesnt have an app icon that shows up in the app drawer or on your home screen. Instead, it operates in the background as a service, helping any app that taps into the power of artificial intelligence.

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Possible additions to the Pixel 8 Pro with the AI core update

Earlier 9to5Google noticed a Google Play Store listing for the app that describes, powers features across Android and provides apps with the latest AI models. However, the listing has now been taken down. Possibly because Google has plans for a separate announcement for the app or its functions that you get on a Pixel device.

The exact functionalities of AI Core remain shrouded in mystery due to the absence of an official statement from Google. However, insights from the Pixel 8 Pro launch event suggest that the device runs some impressive generative AI models on-device. It enhances numerous functions like the Magic Eraser feature in Google Photos with swifter performance. This AI Core update appears to intend just that with Googles latest on-device foundation models.

The AI features have become standard on leading smartphones. However, the extent to which AI processing occurs locally versus in the cloud varies. The AI Core app likely manages local AI processing in the Pixel 8 Pro. Supporting the AI cores with the latest GenAI models indicates more efficient processing on the latest Pixel.

Will it remain exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro?

While this update appears to be exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro as of writing this, its likely that Google will push the latest foundation models to at least the Pixel 8 if not older tensor-enabled Pixels in the near future.

With the chips getting powerful and efficient and the development in the AI front, this on-device AI processing strategy is also expected to reflect on devices from other manufacturers like the upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is rumored to embrace the title of the companys first AI phone.
A few days back, Samsung released the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update for the Galaxy A53 in Europe. The premium mid-range phone is now receiving a new update in Latin America but it doesnt bring Android 14. The company is only pushing the latest security patch in the region. The November security update is also available for the Galaxy F41, which isnt eligible for Android 14.

Galaxy A53 receives November security update widely

Samsung plans to update most Galaxy devices to Android 14 before the end of the year. In previous years, it prioritized flagship and high-end models but that isnt the case this year. For example, the Galaxy A14 has already received the update but the Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are still waiting. The Galaxy A53 has also picked up Android 14 in Europe.

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However, in Latin America, Samsung is rolling out a new update to the phone with the latest security patch. Android 14 or One UI 6.0 isnt part of the package. The Korean firm has already pushed the November SMR (Security Maintenance Release) to the Galaxy A53 in the US, while the new security patch came with Android 14 in Europe. So the big update should be available in the rest of the world soon.

The new update for the 2022 handset in Latin America comes with the firmware build number A536EXXS7CWK3 or A536EXXS7CWK1 depending on the country. Despite varying build numbers, the changelog is the same. The update is all about this months security fixes. The November SMR contains fixes for more than 60 vulnerabilities. At least five of those are critical security issues, Google confirmed.

If you are using a Galaxy A53 in the US or Latin America, the next update following the November security patch should bring Android 14 and One UI 6.0. You can check for OTA (over the air) releases by going to Settings > Software update and tapping on Download and install. You may also get a notification when the update reaches your Samsung smartphone.

The Galaxy F41 is also picking up the latest security patch

Samsungs Galaxy F41, which is pretty much limited to India, Brazil, and Panama, is also picking up the November security update. The new SMR is available in the latter two countries with the build number F415FUBS3CWK2. It should arrive in India shortly. Debuting with Android 10 in October 2020, the device received updates to Android 11 and Android 12. It isnt eligible for further feature updates.
A week after all of the drama surrounding OpenAI has settled, it looks like the company is ready for things to get back to normal. All of the drama started with the companys non-profit board firing CEO Sam Altman. Well, OpenAIs got a new board, and Microsoft is now a member.

If you recall, shortly before Thanksgiving, we got the news that Sam Altman was fired from OpenAI. More information made its way to the public as time went on. Since then, Altman has made his way back to the company and all of the drama has subsided.

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Its not 100% clear as to why the company ousted the CEO. According to sources (one including Reuters), researchers at the company warned the board about a potential breakthrough that they feared could be potentially dangerous. The breakthrough project is allegedly called Q*. We dont know any information about this project, so well need to wait for details to come to light.

Microsoft is now on OpenAIs board

While we wait for more information about this project, we have news about OpenAIs biggest backer. Microsoft holds a massive 49% stake in the company, and were surprised that it hasnt had a seat on the board until now.

As per the report, Microsoft will have a non-voting seat on the board. So, the Windows maker wont be able to contribute to any large decisions that the company makes. Rather, this is just so that it can have a Window to look in. It wants to have a clearer view of the inner workings of OpenAI.

During all of the drama, Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella hinted at the company being pretty indifferent about the situation. During an interview with CNBC, he told the interviewer that Microsofts priority is to push AI forward regardless of the company thats doing it. I care about just making sure that we can innovate.

Now, it seems that Microsoft is taking more of an active role in OpenAIs development. Its invested more than $13 billion in the company so far (yes, we know, thats pocket change for Microsoft). So, the future of OpenAI seems to be looking up yet again.
Mac Mayo of Kingwood rescued a cat that was floating in Lake Conroe under the FM 1097 bridge Wednesday. Mac Mayo A black and white cat was rescued from Lake Conroe Wednesday by Mac Mayo of Kingwood. Mac Mayo

A Kingwood man was shocked to find a cat clinging to life as it struggled to stay afloat in Lake Conroe under the FM 1097 bridge.

Mac Mayo, 66, was fishing with a friend on Wednesday when they decided to call it a day and head home. However, the two men noticed something in the water near a bridge pylon.

We were going from pylon to pylon catfishing and crappie fishing, Mayo said. I thought it was a bird. It was hard to tell because the wind had picked up and the water was choppy.

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Once the men got closer, they were shocked to see what was in the water.

I said, thats a darn cat, Mayo said. He was drifting along and barely moving when we got to him. He was near death, he used up a couple of lives yesterday.

Mayo is no stranger to fishing but said this is the first time this has ever happened to him. Originally from Florida, Mayo said he and his brothers grew up fishing. He moved to Texas about 40 years ago and has lived in Kingwood for 25 years.

Mayo said he didnt see the cat go into the water but said it either fell or was thrown from the bridge since it was so far from land.

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It was at least a mile to high ground, he said. Some guys fishing on the bank asked if we caught anything and I said look at this big cat!

The cat, about 3 months old, Mayor said, is currently being cared for by the Mayo family but they hope to find a good home for him.
Former chancellor Alistair Darling has been remembered for his calmness in a crisis and his wry good humour following his death aged 70.

Mr Darling, who spent almost three decades as an MP and 13 years in government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, died after spending time in hospital being treated for cancer.

A statement issued on behalf of his family on Thursday said: The death of Alistair Darling, a former chancellor of the Exchequer and long-serving member of the Labour cabinet, was announced in Edinburgh today.

Mr Darling, the much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna, died after a short spell in Western General Hospital under the wonderful care of the cancer team.

After holding a series of government posts, including transport secretary and Scottish secretary in the Blair government, Mr Darling was appointed chancellor when Mr Brown took over at Number 10 in 2007.

While chancellor, he steered the UK through the financial crisis of 2008, with Mr Brown recalling that he guided the Treasury and the United Kingdom through traumatic financial events.

Describing Mr Darling as a statesman of unimpeachable integrity whose life was defined by a strong sense of social justice, former prime minister Mr Brown said: I, like many, relied on his wisdom, calmness in a crisis and his humour.

The two men also worked together in Better Together, the cross-party campaign set up to keep Scotland in the UK in the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum, which Mr Darling chaired.

Gordon Brown made Alistair Darling his chancellor when he became prime minister (Danny Lawson/PA)

Mr Brown said Mr Darling had been resolute and courageous in making the case for Scotlands place in the United Kingdom.

After leaving the House of Commons, Mr Darling joined the House of Lords, but retired five years after being made a life peer.

Paying tribute to him, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: Alistair lived a life devoted to public service. He will be remembered as the chancellor whose calm expertise and honesty helped to guide Britain through the tumult of the global financial crisis.

He was a lifelong advocate for Scotland and the Scottish people and his greatest professional pride came from representing his constituents in Edinburgh.

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Alistair Darling. My heart goes out to his family, particularly Maggie, Calum and Anna, whom he loved so dearly. pic.twitter.com/o8xEconrIx  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 30, 2023

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have benefited from Alistairs counsel and friendship. He was always at hand to provide advice built on his decades of experience  always with his trademark wry, good humour.

Alistair will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. His loss to the Labour Party, his friends and his family is immeasurable.

Sir Keir later told the PA news agency in Dubai, where he is attending the Cop28 climate summit, that Mr Darlings death had brought real shock and profound sadness across the labour movement.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Alistair Darlings passing is a huge loss to us all.

He was a dedicated public servant who served this country though challenging times.

He said Mr Darling was vital in keeping our union together during the 2014 referendum.

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who led the campaign for independence in the 2014 referendum, described Mr Darling as a hugely significant figure in UK politics and an effective politician.

The two men clashed in TV debates ahead of the vote, and Mr Salmond described Mr Darling as a formidable opponent  but said outside of those debates, they did not ever exchange a cross word.

Alistair Darling campaigned against Alex Salmond, the then Scottish first minister, in the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum (PA)

Mr Salmond added: Alistair was an extremely courteous man.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said Mr Darling had dedicated his life to public service, and was a giant of Scottish and UK politics.

He added: I disagreed with Alistair on big political issues, but what is much more important is the courteous and respectful manner with which he conducted himself throughout his political career. He will be hugely missed from our public life.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Alistair's passing. He dedicated his life to public service and was a giant of Scottish politics. My thoughts with his wife Margaret, children, family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. https://t.co/xd0NjLnNWb  Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 30, 2023

Sir Tony Blair described the veteran politician as having been a rarity in politics, adding he never met anyone who didnt like him.

He added: He was highly capable, though modest, understated but never to be underestimated, always kind and dignified even under the intense pressure politics can generate.

He was the safest of safe hands. I knew he could be given any position in the cabinet and be depended upon.

I liked him and respected him immensely as a colleague and as a friend.

Sir Tony Blair described Mr Darling as the safest of safe hands (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Lord Mandelson, another key figure in New Labour, said: This is a terrible loss for Alistairs family and for all of us who knew him as such a wonderful colleague.

His inner strength and streak of independent judgment saw the economy through the financial crisis in 2008.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, who was Tory leader while Mr Darling dealt with the global financial crisis, remembered the then chancellor as a thoroughly kind and decent man.

He said Mr Darling led the Better Together campaign  which came when Lord Cameron was prime minister  with great distinction and tenacity, securing Scotlands place in our union.

Other former Conservative prime ministers joined in the tributes, with Boris Johnson saying Mr Darling was a towering figure in Labour politics who always brought wit, wisdom and intellect to his work.

Theresa May said he was a committed public servant, a proud unionist and a calm, kind and decent man.

Sir John Major said: Alistair was a decent man who brought civility, reason and intelligence to politics.

Jeremy Hunt, the current occupant of 11 Downing Street, described Mr Darling as being one of the great chancellors.

He added: Hell be remembered for doing the right thing for the country at a time of extraordinary turmoil.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey praised Mr Darling as a dedicated public servant who he worked closely with during the financial crisis.

He added: He steered the British economy ably during a time of great uncertainty.

My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
The British Museum chairman has pledged to continue working on an exchange deal to allow the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece despite a diplomatic fallout sparked by Rishi Sunak.

The Prime Minister scrapped a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis after accusing him of grandstanding about the return of the ancient artefacts.

But George Osborne, chairman of the London museum where the friezes are on display, said he was pressing on with negotiations on the marbles, also known as the Parthenon Sculptures, whether or not Rishi Sunak meets the Greek Prime Minister.

Mr Osborne, a former Conservative chancellor, said it was clear from events this week that Mr Sunaks administration would not support an exchange.

But he said the stance taken by Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer  who met Mr Mitsotakis in London this week  could pave the way for it to happen under a future Labour government.

A spokesman for Sir Keir has said his potential premiership would not spend any time legislating on this matter but that it wouldnt stand in the way of a mutually beneficial agreement between the museum and Athens.

The 1963 British Museum Act prohibits the removal of objects from the institutions collection, a position in law that Mr Osborne said would ensure Greece would have to return the sculptures following any exchange.

The debate over the Elgin Marbles has reignited this week following a diplomatic spat caused by Mr Sunak opting to cancel talks with Mr Mitsotakis at the 11th hour after accusing him of reneging on a promise not to campaign for their return while in Britain.

No 10 said the Prime Minister felt reassurances were broken after Mr Mitsotakis used a BBC interview on Sunday to compare the current situation with the marbles to the Mona Lisa painting being cut in half and displayed separately.

Greece has long demanded the return of the historic works, which were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century when he was the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, in Londons British Museum (Matthew Fearn/PA)

Part of friezes that adorned the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple on the Acropolis, the Elgin Marbles have been displayed at the British Museum in London for more than 200 years.

The remainder of the friezes are in a purpose-built museum in Athens.

In comments made on his podcast Political Currency, Mr Osborne reiterated that he has been exploring with the Greek government on behalf of the museum an arrangement that would allow the sculptures to be displayed in Greece.

He told co-host Ed Balls he has been looking to reach a deal where the sculptures spend time in both London and Athens, with Greek treasures coming our way in return.

Mr Osborne continued: And that is, I think, something worth exploring.

And we can go on doing it whether or not Rishi Sunak meets the Greek Prime Minister or not.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been at the centre of a diplomatic fallout with Greece (Justin Tallis/PA)

In fact, if anything, things have been rather clarified by this week. We obviously know were not going to get any particular support from the Conservative Government.

But in fact the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, also said that while he supported the British Museums efforts, he wasnt planning to change the law.

And if you dont change the law, then there is no prospect anytime soon of them just being restituted to Greece, returned with nothing, simply handed back, which anyway wouldnt be a decision for the museum.

And so to my mind, as chair of the British Museum, it is all the more reason to press on with our efforts to try and reach an agreement with the Greeks.

On Thursday, Mr Sunak attempted to draw a line under the row despite only a day earlier in the Commons accusing the Greek leader of grandstanding over the marbles and trying to relitigate issues of the past.

The Prime Minister, quizzed by broadcasters during a visit to Guildford, insisted he was focusing on issues that mattered to voters and refused to say more on the row which has soured relations with an international ally.
Charlotte Church said she couldnt have been prouder of a choir made up of young carers from Wales who she performed alongside at a charity gala.

Church joined Action for Children as a vocal coach for its 12-strong choir comprised of members aged between six and 19, ahead of the charitys inaugural Starry Night gala on November 30  which she also headlined.

The singer-songwriter first met the group earlier in the year, when they were invited to her wellness retreat, The Dreaming in the Elan Valley, where she informed them she would be coaching them.

Charlotte Church spoke of her pride on seeing the choir perform (James Veysey/Shutterstock)

The choir has come a long way since the first time I met them in the summer  theyve really grown in confidence, Church said.

To know that their lives can be so heavy but to see them on stage tonight with great big smiles on their faces, genuinely enjoying themselves was fantastic.

I couldnt have been prouder of them tonight!

Stars including television personality Alison Hammond, television and radio presenter Kate Thornton, actor Larry Lamb and ex-Love Island winners Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan were also in attendance at the event at Battersea Arts Centre in London.

The choir is made up of young carers (James Veysey/Shutterstock)

Thornton, who hosted the gala, added she did get a little emotional at times.

As glitzy and exciting as events like this can be, its important not to lose sight of why were here and where the money raised goes, she said.

As a parent, you just want the best for your children but the cost of living is putting additional pressure on families who struggle to afford the basics, let alone the extra costs involved during the winter months.

Its great that there is help available through Action for Children, but they simply couldnt do what they do without the generosity of their supporters and guests.

Kate Thornton hosted the event (James Veysey/Shutterstock)

Celebrities including documentarian and journalist Louis Theroux donated a signed book as an auction prize, while actress Emma Thompson donated a blanket.

The gala aimed to spread awareness for the charitys Secret Santa campaign, which provides vulnerable children with warm clothes, a hot meal or a Christmas present.

More information about the campaign can be found on this link: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/support-us/secret-santa/donation-shop-test/
The latest round of international climate talks are set to begin at Cop28, with observers around the world hoping that countries will advance progress on reducing emissions and stopping dangerous levels of global warming.

Hosted in Dubai, the UNs Conference of the Parties will see world leaders and their delegations gather in the Middle Eastern city to try accelerate climate action  though many campaigners have voiced their scepticism because of its location.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the worlds chief oil exporters and there have been recent allegations that the country was planning to use the conference to make commercial oil and gas deals with other countries.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that climate chaos will continue wrecking lives if the talks are not successful (Jane Barlow/PA)

Cop28s president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also CEO of UAEs national oil company Adnoc, has denied this.

Countries have been meeting through various Cops for nearly 30 years and while there has been some progress on climate action to reduce emissions and grow clean energy networks, experts have said much more needs to be done to avert total climate disaster.

The King is attending the summit and is set to address the conference later in the week.

On Thursday he is expected to meet with dignitaries as well as students working on clean energy technology.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is also expected to join the King in Dubai for a number of events on Thursday.

The summit was also due to be attended by Pope Francis, but his trip was cancelled on Tuesday due to ill health.

In the Paris Agreement in 2015, countries agreed to limit the average global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels and make every effort to stop it rising above 1.5C.

Cop28 is the first time that countries will assess progress towards this goal in what is being called the Global Stocktake.

It is unlikely to be positive given the UN has the Earth on track for a catastrophic 3C increase by the end of the century under the emissions reduction policies currently in place.

The UN wants countries to rectify this policy gap and rapidly reduce fossil fuel use  the main cause of the rising emissions.

At #COP28, governments must agree WHAT bolder actions need to be taken and HOW to deliver them. It's time for us all to get to work. pic.twitter.com/hoOYOvjcnr  Simon Stiell (@simonstiell) November 29, 2023

Also on the table will be rich countries committed obligation to provide billions of dollars in funding to developing countries to help them adapt to the climate chaos they are already experiencing due to the carbon consumption of the developed world.

The funding is also supposed to go towards helping economies develop through clean energy instead of oil and gas and there will be pressure on countries such as China and India to rein in their use of dirtier sources of power like coal to reverse their increasing emissions.

Ahead of #COP28 later this week, The King has hosted global business leaders and investors at Buckingham Palace. Earlier in the day, #GIS23 highlighted the UK's growth in sectors such as digital technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and green industries. pic.twitter.com/thYIhboOA2  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 28, 2023

Meanwhile WH Smith, DHL, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Virgin Media O2 have joined more than 200 businesses to call for an international agreement to phase out all fossil fuels at Cop28.

The companies are among the most recent to sign an open letter urging world leaders to agree a timeline to ditch unabated fossil fuels at the summit.

It is thought to be the first time such a large group of companies have come together to urge governments to move away from fossil fuels.
Matt Hancock has accused Dominic Cummings of creating a culture of fear in Government which undermined the pandemic response as he defended his record as health secretary.

The former minister painted Boris Johnsons ex-chief adviser as a malign actor who subjected his staff to abuse as they grappled with the emergence of Covid-19.

Mr Cummings sought to grab power from the then-prime minister while shutting out ministers from key meetings, Mr Hancock told the UKs official pandemic inquiry.

Mr Hancock played a key role in the response to the pandemic, but his performance has been repeatedly criticised by a number of other witnesses, including Mr Cummings.

Hitting back as he gave evidence on Thursday, the former health secretary said Mr Cummings had attempted to exert influence over decision-making in a way that was inappropriate in a democracy.

As the Cobra system was running in February, the prime ministers chief adviser decided that he didnt like the Cobra system  thats on the record  and he decided instead to take all of the major daily decisions into his office and he invited a subset of the people who needed to be there to these meetings, Mr Hancock said.

He didnt invite any ministers. He didnt regard ministers as a valuable contribution to any decision-making as far as I could see in the crisis or, indeed, any other time.

He added: There is a proper Government emergency response system and it was actively circumvented and in one of these early meetings the chief adviser said decisions dont need to go to the prime minister.

Now that is inappropriate in a democracy. I saw it simply as essentially a power-grab but it definitely got in the way of organising the response for the period it was in operation.

Mr Hancock suggested Mr Cummings had subjected his staff to abuse, telling the inquiry: Was it unpleasant? Yes, it was unpleasant for a whole load of my staff as well who were subject to this sort of abuse from the chief adviser.

It went further, wider than I thought at the time, but my job was to lead the health and care system, the whole thing.

He rejected claims he lied to colleagues about having a plan for the outbreak, describing these as false allegations.

Instead he pointed the finger at Mr Cummings for, he suggested, presiding over an atmosphere in which blame was attributed rather than allowing people to spend all of their effort solving the problems.

It was deeply, deeply frustrating weve discussed the structural problem which was essentially an adviser trying to take executive authority away from the prime minister for a period until the cabinet secretary stopped it and put in place the MIG (Ministerial Implementation Group) process, Mr Hancock said.

But there was also effectively a cultural problem which is that there was a culture of fear inculcated by the behaviour of this particular individual.

Matt Hancock denied being a liar in his evidence on Thursday (UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)

Referring to the resignation of former chancellor Sajid Javid, Mr Hancock added: He did in the middle of this, in the middle of February, effectively cause the resignation of the chancellor of the exchequer.

Critics have questioned the former health secretarys record on key issues during the pandemic response, like Covid testing for nursing homes and asymptomatic cases.

Also known for his appearance last year on ITVs Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Mr Hancocks political career was torpedoed after footage emerged in 2021 of his embrace with aide Gina Coladangelo which broke social distancing guidelines.

But in Thursdays evidence he insisted that he had taken precautionary measures, in some cases overriding the scientific advice he had been given, and described himself as in the pro-lets worry about asymptomatic transmission camp.

Giving an example, Mr Hancock said he overruled guidance from Public Health England (PHE) during the early pandemic suggesting there was not a need to quarantine people being brought back from Wuhan in China.

Matt Hancock insisted his department rose to the challenge of the pandemic ( UK Covid-19 Inquiry/PA)

While Mr Hancock accepted the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) had not got everything right, he said his department had effectively tried to raise the alarm to wider Government as early as January, but its concerns were not taken as seriously as they should have been.

We were on occasions blocked, he told the inquiry.

He and the DHSC faced deep unpleasantness from the centre of Government during the early months of the pandemic while the rest of Whitehall was slow to react, Mr Hancock said.

A healthy culture involves scepticism, an unhealthy culture involves false allegations and extremely unpleasant language, he added.

Hancock talking rubbish on asymptomatic1/ it's in the whatsapp group 11/3 Hancock claiming tests don't work on asymptomatic & Vallance telling him 'wrong' tests DO work  Hancock kept repeating this false idea (badly confusing the PM on the issue & he repeated the  Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) November 30, 2023

Mr Hancock said he believed No 10 was preventing Mr Johnson from speaking publicly about the virus in February 2020 and said he was also not allowed to give radio interviews about the subject.

Meanwhile, he insisted he had warned the then-PM to lock down as early as March 13 2020, but conceded there was no entry in his own Pandemic Diaries memoir to back up that claim.

Messages from that time show him advocating a global suppression strategy, the inquiry heard, but he could not say whether he used the words immediate or lockdown at any point in these interventions.

Rebuking Mr Hancocks account in a broadside on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cummings said he was outright lying by claiming to have privately pushed Mr Johnson to impose the measure and talking rubbish to the inquiry.

Allies of the ex-minister told the PA news agency in response: Cummings is not a reliable witness and this tweet is wrong.

The former aide was among a number of senior figures who questioned Mr Hancocks approach in their evidence, with the inquiry hearing that the countrys most senior civil servant at the time, Lord Sedwill, wanted the minister sacked.

In one WhatsApp exchange with the permanent secretary at Number 10 Simon Case  who is the current Cabinet Secretary  Lord Sedwill joked it was necessary to remove Mr Hancock to save lives and protect the NHS.

WhatsApp messages shared with the inquiry also revealed that Mr Cummings repeatedly pushed Mr Johnson to fire the former minister.

Dominic Cummings repeatedly urged the then prime minister Boris Johnson to sack Mr Hancock (James Manning/PA)

At one stage, Mr Cummings claimed Mr Hancock had lied his way through this and killed people and dozens and dozens of people have seen it.

Helen MacNamara, who served as deputy cabinet secretary, also claimed in her evidence that Mr Hancock displayed nuclear levels of overconfidence  assertions that he rejected on Thursday.

There was a huge amount of uncertainty and a huge amount of worry and I basically felt it was my professional duty to try to keep going, to try to keep driving forward, Mr Hancock said.

Sir Christopher Wormald, a senior civil servant in the Department of Health, suggested it was a very small number of people claiming that the minister was actually telling untruths.

But he added that there were a lot who thought he was overoptimistic and overpromised on what could be delivered.

Meanwhile, the inquiry has confirmed Mr Johnson will face two days of questioning over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic when he gives evidence next week.
Hundreds of trafficking victims trying to start new lives in Britain have suffered as a result of a secret internal policy operated by two home secretaries, a campaign group has alleged during a High Court hearing.

Asylum Aid said that from early 2022 to April 2023 the Home Office operated a secret policy to frustrate the right to remain of at least 1,600 confirmed victims of trafficking and modern slavery.

Government lawyers dispute the claims.

The allegations were made during a High Court damages fight involving an asylum-seeker and the Home Office, relating to periods when Priti Patel and Suella Braverman were in office.

Dame Priti Patel was in office when the secret policy was in operation, the campaign group says (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Lawyers representing the asylum-seeker, who is being supported by Asylum Aid, have told a judge that a serious misuse of power has been exposed.

The man, an Albanian in his 20s who has not been named during the litigation, says, as a result of the secret, unlawful policy, he was denied the right to leave to remain in Britain for more than a year.

He claims that denial of the right to leave to remain breached his human rights  and he wants damages.

Ministers are fighting the claim and a barrister leading the Home Office legal team told Mr Justice Lane on Thursday that the issue was delay not secret policies.

Lawyers representing the man outlined allegations in a written argument.

Chris Buttler KC and Zoe McCallum told the judge: This claim exposes a serious misuse of power.

They said there was a policy granting modern slavery victims leave to remain in Britain  in accordance with a European convention against trafficking.

The two lawyers said, in October 2021, a High Court judges decision required the Home Office to grant recognised modern slavery victims leave to remain where they had a pending asylum claim.

They said that decision created a right to leave to remain to a class of victim of modern slavery not hitherto thought by the Home Office to have such a right.

But they alleged that there had been a secret internal policy telling officials not to grant the right to leave to remain created by that decision.

Outside court, a spokeswoman for Asylum Aid said that evidence had been garnered from documents disclosed during the litigation.

Cathryn McGahey KC, who is leading the Home Office legal team, said: This case is about delay.

It is not a case about secret or unpublished policies.

Ms McGahey added, in a written case outline, that the man had not suffered any significant detriment as a consequence of the pause in decision-making.

She said he had continued to receive state support in the form of housing, education, medical care and state benefits  and told the judge that his claim should be dismissed.
About 700 Eurostar passengers have been stranded on a broken down train with no power or working toilets for more than eight hours.

The Amsterdam-bound service departed London St Pancras as scheduled at 8.16am but broke down around half an hour later near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Kent.

Eurostar said the incident was caused by an overhead electric cable falling on the train.

Passengers reported that the train has no power and the toilets are not working.

We're sorry for the delay to the #ES9114 today. The train is being detached from the overhead power lines but this is taking longer than expected. Due to a lack of power on board, it's not possible for announcements to be made. We apologise for the inconvenience.  Eurostar (@Eurostar) November 30, 2023

On social media platform X, Eurostar described the situation onboard as very challenging.

A spokesman for the operator said: An overhead cable has fallen on the 8.16am Eurostar train between London and Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel.

There are around 700 passengers and crew on board. They are confirmed to be safe.

Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, its meant that certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before we could move the train.

The train is currently in the process of being brought back to London.

All affected passengers on board will be met in London with refreshments and will receive enhanced compensation.

Eurostar are sorry for issues caused that customers have experienced today.

One of the passengers, Ben Williams, told online newspaper The Independent: I think the staff are all very stressed themselves, and I dont think theyre being kept very well up-to-date.

We were offered one free food item, that was after wed been stationary for about four or five hours.

By that point, Id already bought myself a sandwich, having been stationary for a couple of hours.

To be honest, Ive been pacing myself just because, obviously, the toilets arent functioning.

Another passenger, Jessica Chambers, told the BBC: It truly feels like an emergency situation but theres no communication from staff.
A 15-year-old who used a hunting knife to murder a schoolboy who was walking home has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 13 years.

The youth, who was aged 14 when he knifed Rohan Shand in the chest on a grassed area beside a busy road, remained calm in the dock as he was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court.

Jurors convicted the teenager of murder in August after a trial heard he used a combat-style knife in a revenge attack lasting less than seven seconds, close to a war memorial on Harborough Road, Northampton.

Rohan Shand (Northamptonshire Police/PA)

The court was told Rohan, known as Fred, was targeted after one of his killers friends was injured in a dispute between schoolboys outside a branch of McDonalds the previous day.

Sentencing the youth, who cannot be named because of his age, on Thursday, Mr Justice Morris said: This was a horrendous attack in broad daylight on the streets of Northampton.

At the time it must have been a terrifying experience for all who witnessed it.

Addressing the teenager killer directly, the judge added: I find you intended to cause serious bodily injury.

This was a brazen and shocking attack leading to the senseless death of a young man.

During last summers trial, prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC said the 14-year-old boy had stabbed Rohan after riding to the scene of the attack on an electric scooter with a 16-year-old youth.

The identity of the other youth, now aged 17, is also protected by a court order.

He was sentenced to an 18-month youth rehabilitation order for possession of a different knife to that used in the killing.

Rohan, a student at Kingsthorpe College who suffered a single stab wound, was pronounced dead at the scene of the attack on the afternoon of March 22 this year.

Ms Bickerstaff told the trial: He was wearing his uniform and he was in company with his friend.

Both defendants can be seen on the CCTV footage dressed in black.

The youth convicted of murder was wearing a balaclava, the court heard, while the older youth, who was found not guilty of killing Rohan, was wearing a surgical mask.
A UK minister has described the Falklands as an important part of the British family ahead of a visit to the islands after Argentinas new president suggested it was time to get them back.

David Rutley is arriving in Stanley on Thursday where he will meet governor Alison Blake as well as members of the legislative assembly and the youth parliament, the Foreign Office said.

The trip comes after Javier Milei, who won Argentinas presidential election earlier this month, reportedly said Buenos Aires had non-negotiable sovereignty in the region.

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean known as Islas Malvinas by people in Argentina, was the subject of a bloody conflict in 1982 after Argentinian forces invaded and briefly occupied the territory.

The war claimed the lives of 255 British servicemen, three islanders and 649 Argentinian personnel.

UK ministers have repeatedly cited the results of a 2013 referendum which saw close to 100% of voters on the islands, which have a population of about 3,500, opt to remain a British Overseas Territory.

The Falklands are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.

Foreign Office minister David Rutley is visiting the Falkland Islands on Thursday. Issue date: Friday March 10, 2023.

Mr Rutley, the minister for Americas, Caribbean and the Overseas Territories, said: During my visit to the Falkland Islands, I will reiterate that the UK stands firmly behind the Falkland Islanders rights of self-determination, as an important part of the British family.

The Falkland Islands has a flourishing economy and is making great strides in the fight against climate change, which I look forward to learning about first-hand.

He will meet Government officials and legislative assembly members to understand issues facing the islands and attend a youth community reception to hear how young people are contributing to Falkland Island society, the Foreign Office said.

Since the 1980s, UK ministers have been keen to shoot down talk of Argentina having any claim to the territory.

Javier Milei (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)

But Mr Milei reportedly said during a TV election debate earlier this year that Argentinas sovereignty was non-negotiable.

In an interview with La Nacion, a daily newspaper in Argentina, he proposed that the UK hand over the Falklands to his country in a similar way to how Hong Kong was given back to Chinese rule in 1997.

The populist politician, who has described himself as an anarcho-capitalist and is said to have lauded Margaret Thatcher  the British prime minister during the Falklands conflict  said the views of people living on the islands cannot be ignored.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps earlier this month said it was undeniable the islands were British, while Downing Street described Falklands rule as an issue that was settled decisively some time ago.
Microsoft has unveiled plans to invest 2.5 billion over the next three years to expand datacentres for artificial intelligence (AI) across the UK.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hailed the move as a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK.

The tech giant said it is committing to more than double the footprint of its UK datacentres.

This will involve bringing more than 20,000 advanced graphics processing units (GPUs), which are used for machine learning and the development of AI models, to the UK by 2026.

BREAKING NEWS  2.5bn investment in UK AI infrastructure by @Microsoft. Powering the discovery of new drugs & tackling global challenges such as climate change by connecting research centres with high performance computing. pic.twitter.com/Td8VimoNSf  HM Treasury (@hmtreasury) November 30, 2023

Microsoft said it plans to expand sites in London and Cardiff, and is also looking at a potential expansion into northern England.

The US firm said the investment will help with training more than one million people for the AI economy, while it also pledged to support AI safety and research efforts alongside the Government and universities.

Microsoft vice chairman and president Brad Smith said: Microsoft is committed as a company to ensuring that the UK as a country has world-leading AI infrastructure, easy access to the skills people need, and broad protections for safety and security.

Mr Sunak said: The UK started the global conversation on AI earlier this month, and Microsofts historic investment is further evidence of the leading role we continue to play in expanding the frontiers of AI to harness its economic and scientific benefits.

Microsoft UK chief executive officer Clare Barclay said: The pace of change in AI demands action today to build a prosperous future for the UK tomorrow.

Today marks the single largest investment in our more than 40-year history in the UK.

It comes months after Microsoft criticised UK regulators and lobbied the Government earlier this year after its proposed deal to buy computer games giant Activision Blizzard was blocked.

However, the Competition and Markets Authority later approved the the case after Microsoft came back with changes.
The Puddery in Pearland, 5517 Broadway, specializes in banana pudding. Courtesy of The Puddery Janel Prator, owner of The Puddery in Pearland located at 5517 Broadway, renamed her "Oreo Craffle" to "The Keith Lee Craffle" following a review by the TikTok food critic. Courtesy of The Puddery A selection of banana pudding from dessert shop the Puddery in Pearland The Puddery / Yelp The Puddery, a dessert shop in Pearland, is shown Nov. 30, 2023. Pooja Bhakta

Customers formed a line around The Puddery Wednesday following TikTok food critic Keith Lee's review of the Pearland dessert shop during his Houston area food tour.

Lee posted a video on Tuesday night commending its signature banana pudding and Oreo "Craffle," a mashup dessert of a croissant and waffle. The video had generated more than 12 million views as of Thursday morning.

Janel Prator, the owner of shop at 5517 Broadway, was overwhelmed by the number of people who lined up to try the items from Lee's video. Prator renamed the popular Oreo dessert "The Keith Lee Craffle" and has temporarily limited the menu "due to the Keith Lee Effect," according to the business website.

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The line began to form before the shop opened at noon, and they sold out within a couple hours, according to customer TikTok videos.

The shop is used to having five or six customers a day and received more than 100 customers on Wednesday, the day after the video went viral, Prator said.

"I'm still in shock," she said. "It's been amazing. I've already had support from the community before he came, but it wasn't a lot because they didn't know who I was, and I didn't have a lot of exposure."

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Prator, originally from Compton, California, began making pudding at her corporate job and was convinced to sell her banana pudding by raving coworkers.

"I was always an entrepreneur, even as a child," she said. "I started doing corporate bakes sales at my job. Then, I started doing events in the community like festivals."

The business owner moved to Pearland and decided to open the dessert shop with her 26-year-old daughter almost 2 years ago.

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Customers on Wednesday offered to volunteer over the weekend to accommodate the busy days due to Lee's review, Prator said.
Inmates at a prison in need of urgent improvement slept with covers over their mouths to stop cockroaches crawling in, ministers have heard.

Bedford Prison was issued with an urgent notification to improve in November, after inspectors found violence, squalid conditions and high rates of self-harm.

The category B reception prison is the fifth to be given an urgent notice in the last 12 months.

An inspection by HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) found levels of violence against staff were at the highest rate in any adult male prison in the country, while it had the third highest rate of recorded self-harm.

Examples of unprofessional behaviour and excessive force were seen by inspectors, with the use of force remaining high.

The inspection also found new prisoners being placed in dirty cells with limited induction while three quarters of inmates lived in overcrowded conditions with a widespread infestation of rats and cockroaches.

Raising the conditions in the prison, Labour MP for Bedford Mohammad Yasin told the Commons: I have been told that prisoners sleep with covers over their mouths to stop cockroaches crawling in while they sleep.

The inhumane segregation unit, once described as a rat-infested dungeon, was supposed to have been shut down years ago, but endless delays to the new unit means it is still in use.

So will the minister explain what he believes prisons are for?

Locking people away in these conditions does not keep society safe.

Where is the rehabilitation in this system?

Who can leave these conditions a better person, or less likely to reoffend?

Overcrowded, squalid, and unsafe prisons will never help or allow people to turn their lives around and move on from a life of crime and hurting others.

Edward Argar (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Yasin called on ministers to set out their plans to improve the prison, suggesting huge investment and moving inmates to other institutions to tackle overcrowding.

He said: In 2017, when HMP Liverpool was described as having the worst living conditions ever seen by inspectors, the prison was successfully turned around by significant population reduction, huge investment, and resources were channelled towards the prison.

Bedford needs this level of sustainable investment now, but in the context of the current capacity crisis, will the minister confirm if such a decanting measure is even possible?

Justice minister Edward Argar responded: I am deeply concerned by the recent HMIP findings at HMP Bedford, particularly in regard to safety and living conditions, and I have been clear the situation needs to improve quickly.

This is, as he set out very clearly, the second time an urgent notification has been invoked at HMP Bedford, and I agree that the circumstances leading to this are not acceptable.

The minister said his boss, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, would set out his response to the HMIP inspection by December 15, including an action plan to address the conditions and staffing problems faced by the prison.
The final member of a people-smuggling gang linked to the deaths of 39 men, women and children in Essex has been jailed for seven years.

Haulage boss Caolan Gormley, 26, from Co Tyrone, was driven by greed when he plotted to bring migrants into the UK from mainland Europe three times in October 2019, the Old Bailey heard.

One of the trips was scuppered by French border officials, with some migrants from that trip believed to have died days later in a fatal run overnight on October 22-23 2019.

Gormley had denied being involved, claiming he thought he was helping bring alcohol into the UK illegally.

CCTV image showing lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 26, leaving Purfleet port in Essex (Essex Police/PA)

On Monday, a jury deliberated for just over an hour to find Gormley guilty of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

His conviction brings the total number of people to be convicted over the plot to 11, five of whom were also convicted of the manslaughters.

On Thursday, Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced Gormley to seven years in prison.

The judge said the defendant had succumbed to temptation and greed when he got involved in the extremely lucrative business of smuggling migrants.

Referring to the tragedy of October 23, he said: But for those deaths, I have no doubt whatsoever that this illegal importation of illegal immigrants would have continued, as would your involvement.

He noted ringleader Ronan Hughes had twice tried to call Gormley shortly after the bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry container in the early hours of October 23 to let him know what had happened.

Judge Marks told Gormley: You had built up a good business and were working hard and making good money, but when approached by the ringleader in all of this, Ronan Hughes, succumbed to temptation and greed.

The judge said Gormley had claimed he was being paid up to 3,500 per load of migrants but the evidence showed they were paying up to 22,500 each.

He added that even though Gormleys involvement was short-lived, he had been drawn into a sophisticated and profitable conspiracy, which was well-planned and well-organised for financial gain.

Previously, prosecutor Ben Holt told jurors the people smugglers exploited the victims desperation to get to the UK, charging more than 10,000 a head.

Irish haulier Ronan Hughes, from Co Armagh in Northern Ireland, admitted 39 counts of manslaughter (Essex Police/PA)

The migrants would be loaded into a container lorry on the continent and transported across the English Channel to be picked up for onward transfer in the UK.

Gormley was recruited by fellow haulier Hughes and deployed his driver Christopher Kennedy to help move the human cargo.

On the first trip, residents near Orsett in Essex saw migrants jumping out of the back of a lorry before being whisked away by vehicles to their destinations.

Mr Holt told jurors: The other trip was thwarted by customs officials in France. Remarkably, the driver on that occasion  Kennedy  was effectively given a slap on the wrists and told to go on his way. The migrants were similarly allowed to go.

Tragically, some of those migrants would end up in the lorry part of the 39 men, women and children who died during the night (of) October 22 and 23.

On that occasion, another driver, Maurice Robinson, picked up a container at Purfleet docks and found all 39 Vietnamese people aged between 15 and 44 dead.

He opened the doors after being instructed by Hughes to give them air quick but not let the migrants out.

Snapchat message from Ronan Hughes to Maurice Robinson on October 23 (Essex Police/PA)

Following the discovery, Robinson called his boss Hughes before dialling 999.

Giving evidence in his trial, Gormley said he was taking a break at a truck stop in Sandbach, Cheshire, on his way to deliver racehorse bedding to Cambridge when he spoke to Hughes.

He said: He called me the night before and I was returning the call. I remember when he answered he sounded different, panicked, making no sense at all. It was just mumbo jumbo. He was making zero sense.

At 3.46pm, Gormley got a text from his mother in Co Tyrone asking if the truck in the news belonged to one of Hughess brothers.

He replied: Dont know and neither do u (sic).

Gormley told jurors he was trying to stop his mother from gossiping because she works in a doctors surgery and thought there might be repercussions.

He described his total disbelief this had happened, adding: I was just shocked, to be honest.

The victims (Essex Police/PA)

Later the same day, Gormley dumped the burner phone he used to communicate with Hughes.

Gormley was asked why he denied to the bitter end being the owner of that phone when interviewed by police.

He said: I lied about it because I didnt want to confess (to) a crime I had committed in relation to alcohol smuggling.

I had contacted Ronan Hughes on the phone. At that time the news had come out about what happened with the 39 dead and I didnt want any affiliation with that.

Gormley also told jurors he had no reason to question Kennedys explanation for being caught with migrants in his lorry on October 14.

He said: Kennedy said he stopped at the supermarket to buy alcohol and cigarettes on his way to the crossing. At that time he was actually covering his tracks for what had happened.

He just said they must have got in the trailer while he was in the shop. Its a very hot spot for migrants in the Calais area. Its very common. I had no reason not to believe his account.

A consignment of biscuits from Belgium was ruined during the October 18 people-smuggling run, the court was told.

Following the sentencing, Russell Tyner, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Caolan Gormley was involved in an unscrupulous network of organised criminals who profited from smuggling desperate people into the country.

Not only did this criminal network breach UK border security, but in doing so they also risked the lives of those they transported with their utter disregard for safety. It is devastating that 39 vulnerable people have lost their lives as a result of their greed and recklessness.
The son of partygate investigator Sue Gray has been selected as a Labour candidate to become an MP at the next general election.

Liam Conlon will contest Beckenham and Penge in south-east London after being selected as the partys candidate for the constituency.

The election is widely expected to take place in 2024.

Congratulations to Liam Conlon who has been selected as our Labour candidate for Beckenham and Penge  pic.twitter.com/kLUDwtL5QM  London Labour (@LondonLabour) November 29, 2023

Mr Conlon tweeted: Thank you everyone who supported me and engaged in this process.

The past weeks have shown the incredible potential of our new local party.

Look forward to campaigning to win Beckenham and Penge together.

He praised his rivals for their engaging campaigns and said he was proud to call them friends.

The long-time Labour activist announced his decision to run for selection in the newly created seat last month.

According to Jill Rutter, an associate fellow at think tank British Future, Mr Conlon has been active in the party for longer than his mother.

Sir Keir Starmer (Jeff J Mitchell/PA)

Ms Gray, who investigated parties held in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdowns, quit her position this year as a senior civil servant to take on the job of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff.

Her report about lockdown breaches in government played a key role in the downfall of Boris Johnsons premiership.

Since Ms Grays job change in September, she has been credited with taking a leading role in attempting to unite the party after splits emerged following Sir Keirs decision not to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

She is regularly seen around the parliamentary estate in Westminster, having been tasked with preparing the party  which is consistently well ahead of the Conservatives in the polls  for potentially entering 10 Downing Street after the next election.

The partygate investigation saw Ms Gray go within months from an influential but little-known arbiter of conduct in government to a household name.

Her decision to leave the civil service to work for the Opposition irked Mr Johnson and some Conservative MPs, who claimed a conflict of interests after her involvement in the investigation.

Honoured to have been selected to be our candidate for Beckenham & Penge Thank you everyone who supported me & engaged in this process. The past weeks have shown the incredible potential of our new local party Look forward to campaigning to win Beckenham & Penge together  https://t.co/nTR2MnGIfc  Liam Conlon (@LiamConlon2) November 30, 2023

Anti-sleaze watchdog the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments recommended a six-month delay between her leaving the civil service and starting the job with Sir Keir  advice Labour accepted.

Her son now has the potential to be an MP in the House of Commons serving under Sir Keir after the general election.

Mr Conlon lists himself on his website as vice chairman of Lewisham West and Penge Constituency Labour Party (CLP), national chairman of the Labour Party Irish Society and a disabilities officer at the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

He has previously shared pictures of himself on social media campaigning in the run-up to Labours by-election wins in Mid Bedfordshire and Selby and Ainsty.

The Tories initially selected Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham, as the partys prospective parliamentary candidate for Beckenham and Penge.

But Col Stewart relinquished the party whip this month after being convicted of racist abuse and later announced he would be standing down at the next election.

The Beckenham and Penge seat was created after a review by the Boundary Commission for England to make Westminster seats more uniform in population size.
Sunak will not allow zealots to dictate climate policy as he heads to Cop28

Rishi Sunak has said he was not in hock to ideological zealots over climate change as he prepared to head to the Cop28 international summit.

The latest round of climate talks are being held in Dubai, with observers around the world hoping countries will advance progress on reducing emissions and stopping dangerous levels of global warming.

The Prime Minister insisted he was proud of his record on tackling climate change despite criticism for pushing back the timing of net zero measures on cars and boilers, and backing North Sea oil and gas drilling.

He said: We are a world leader when it comes to climate, thats what the stats show. Weve reduced carbon emissions in this country faster than any other major economy.

Our targets for the next few years are also more ambitious than any other major economy and, because of that, I thought the right thing to do was to ensure that we get to net zero in a pragmatic and proportionate way that saves working families thousands of pounds.

Im not in hock to ideological zealots on this topic. Of course were going to get to net zero, of course its important, but we can do that in a sensible way that saves people money and doesnt burden them with extra costs.

Mr Sunak will join world leaders at the UNs Conference of the Parties (Cop) to try to accelerate climate action  though many campaigners have voiced their scepticism because of its location.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the worlds chief oil exporters and there have been recent allegations the country was planning to use the conference to make commercial oil and gas deals with other countries.

Cop28s president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also CEO of UAEs national oil company Adnoc, has denied this.

(PA Graphics)

Countries have been meeting through various Cops for nearly 30 years and while there has been some progress on climate action to reduce emissions and grow clean energy networks, experts have said much more needs to be done to avert total climate disaster.

The King is attending the summit and is set to address the conference later in the week.

On Thursday he was expected to meet with dignitaries as well as students working on clean energy technology.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is also expected to join the King in Dubai for a number of events on Thursday.

The Government has faced criticism for the King, Lord Cameron and Mr Sunak flying to the climate conference on separate planes.

The King visiting Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus at the start of the summit (Andrew Matthews/PA)

In the Paris Agreement in 2015, countries agreed to limit the average global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels and make every effort to stop it rising above 1.5C.

Cop28 is the first time that countries will assess progress towards this goal in what is being called the global stocktake.

It is unlikely to be positive given the UN has the Earth on track for a catastrophic 3C increase by the end of the century under the emissions reduction policies currently in place.

The UN wants countries to rectify this policy gap and rapidly reduce fossil fuel use  the main cause of the rising emissions.

On the first day of the summit, world leaders reached an agreement on a new loss and damage fund for rich countries to provide billions of dollars to the poorest and most vulnerable countries to help them adapt to the climate chaos they are already experiencing.

The UK announced its commitment of 40 million to the fund and a further 20 million for other arrangements.

Ahead of #COP28 later this week, The King has hosted global business leaders and investors at Buckingham Palace. Earlier in the day, #GIS23 highlighted the UK's growth in sectors such as digital technology, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and green industries. pic.twitter.com/thYIhboOA2  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 28, 2023

Meanwhile, the UAE and Germany both pledged to provide 100 million US dollars (79 million) each while Japan contributed 10 million dollars (7.9 million) and the US committed 17.5 million dollars (13.8 million).

The funding is also supposed to go towards helping economies develop through clean energy instead of oil and gas, and there will be pressure on countries such as China and India to rein in their use of dirtier sources of power like coal to reverse their increasing emissions.

Meanwhile, WH Smith, DHL, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Virgin Media O2 have joined more than 200 businesses to call for an international agreement to phase out all fossil fuels at Cop28.

The companies are among the most recent to sign an open letter urging world leaders to agree a timeline to ditch unabated fossil fuels at the summit.

It is thought to be the first time such a large group of companies have come together to urge governments to move away from fossil fuels.
Three further suspects are to be questioned under caution in relation to the deaths of hundreds of patients at scandal-hit Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

An independent police investigation was launched into the community hospital in Hampshire after a probe found that hundreds of patients had their lives shortened through the use of opioids.

In 2018 the Gosport Independent Panel report concluded that the lives of more than 450 people had been shortened because of the routine practice of prescribing and administering opioids until the year 2000, and that probably at least another 200 patients were similarly affected.

The Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, which is managing the investigation, codenamed Operation Magenta, has said it is reviewing the records of more than 750 patients.

The force previously said that 19 suspects had been identified to be interviewed for alleged health and safety offences but this number had now risen to 22.

Deputy Chief Constable Neil Jerome said: The independent investigation into deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital is one of the largest and most complex of its nature in the history of UK policing.

Members of the families of people who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital outside Portsmouth Cathedral after the disclosure of the Gosport Independent Panels report in 2018 (Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

Our team consists of serving and retired detectives who have so far assessed more than three million pages of documents including the medical records of over 750 patients, and taken witness statements from more than 1,150 individual family members.

The families of those who died at the hospital were informed at the start of the investigation that the full range of criminal offences would be considered, including homicide and any that may have been committed under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The families have since been updated that among the suspects identified by Operation Magenta are a number who are due to be interviewed under caution in relation to alleged health and safety offences.

The investigation is ongoing and continues to make good progress.

Whilst we have never provided anyone with an estimate of how long our inquiries will last, family members and the general public can be confident we are working as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure Operation Magenta is the decisive police investigation into what happened at Gosport.

In June, the High Court agreed with the request by the families of Gladys Richards, Arthur Cunningham and Robert Wilson for new inquests to be held into their deaths.

Inquests were originally held into Ms Richardss death in April 2013 and into Mr Cunningham and Mr Wilsons deaths in March and April 2009.

The 2018 report said there was a disregard for human life and a culture of shortening lives of a large number of patients at the hospital.

It stated there was an institutionalised regime of prescribing and administering dangerous doses of a hazardous combination of medication not clinically indicated or justified.

The inquiry, led by the former bishop of Liverpool James Jones, did not ascribe criminal or civil liability for the deaths.

The families say repeated ineffective investigations into hundreds of deaths at the hospital have left them without any justice or closure and have called for a new judge and jury inquest to be held rather than it be conducted by a coroner.
Frequent use of social media could be linked to harmful behaviours in children and young people, such as drinking, taking drugs, smoking and gambling, a study has suggested.

Exposure to alcohol advertising on different platforms had the strongest evidence of harm, researchers said.

A team from the University of Glasgow, the University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland examined the impact of social media on young people aged 10 to 19.

They looked at data from 73 studies carried out between 1997 and 2022, comprising 1.4 million teenagers with an average age of 15.

The analysis found daily social media use was associated with the likelihood of drinking alcohol (48%), drug use (28%) and smoking (85%) compared with infrequent users.

In terms of alcohol use, researchers identified stronger associations in people aged 16 and older, with those spending at least two hours a day on social media doubling the odds of drinking compared with people who spend less than two hours a day on the platforms.

Smoking and tobacco use was more frequent in low- to middle-income countries compared to high-income countries.

Researchers acknowledged that the findings, published in the BMJ, could also be influenced by unmeasured factors such as the behaviour of parents.

They added that, while social media use is associated with adverse health risk behaviours in young people, further research is needed to establish causality, understand effects on health inequalities, and determine which aspects of social media are most harmful.

Frequent social media use was also linked to risky sexual behaviours, researchers said, such as sexting, transactional sex and inconsistent condom use (77%).

Those who were on the platforms daily were also more likely to engage in anti-social behaviour and were also more likely to gamble.

The team said experimental and risk-taking behaviours are an inherent part of adolescence and safeguards for a digital world are still evolving.

Precaution across academic, governmental, health and educational sectors may be warranted before the risks of adolescents use of social media is fully understood, they added.

However Peter Etchells, a professor of psychology and science communication at Bath Spa University, said despite being methodical and systematic, the study does not tell us anything new or useful about the links between social media and harmful behaviours.

He added: The vast majority of the data on which the paper relies is self-report social media use, and we know from other recent research that we shouldnt have much confidence in the accuracy of subjective measures of screen time.

We also continue to struggle with specific theoretical mechanisms as to why we might see some of the effects reported  for example, the authors note that more than two hours of social media use per day is associated with increased alcohol consumption. This seems to be a very specific number, and its not clear to me why screen time cut-offs like this would have any theory-driven effect.

While this study suggests that there may be some sort of link between social media use and risky behaviours, it cannot tell us anything about causality. If we want to move this field forward, we need to get much better at clearly defining what specific sorts of harm we think might be linked to social media use, and how these interact with beneficial impacts.
Author Omid Scobie has been accused of being behind a stunt to sell books during a television interview where he claimed never to have named the two race row royals in his expose.

This Morning co-host Craig Doyle quizzed the journalist about his royal family book Endgame, saying it seemed bizarre to the public that two members of the monarchy, accused of racism by commentators, had been identified in the Dutch version of his book.

Copies of Mr Scobies book were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands on publication day on Tuesday, when they were found to have named two members of the royal family alleged to have raised concerns about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan took the decision to name the pair on his TalkTV show on Wednesday night, saying the British public had a right to know as Dutch readers were aware of their identities.

Later the website Mail Online claimed to have found the translator of the books Dutch edition, with the individual telling the website: The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them. I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch.

Endgame claims the names were discussed in letters exchanged between the Duchess of Sussex and the King, and media lawyer Mark Stephens called on the Sussexes to take legal action to stanch their distribution.

Mr Stephens, a partner with law firm Howard Kennedy, said: If Harry and Meghan are really interested in privacy, as they profess, it is pretty surprising that they havent sought an injunction to prevent this information being revealed further either by Omid Scobie or anyone else.

Doyle asked his guest how the names appeared in the Dutch version of Endgame: That just seems bizarre to everybody out there because you dont accidentally put in a name, and you cant put it down to mistranslation, can you?

It does feel like a stunt to sell books  which I understand.

Piers Morgan has named the two race row royals (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Scobie said he wrote the English language version of his book but does not speak the other languages it was translated into, so the only time you hear about the book is once its come out in the public domain. Im as frustrated as everyone else.

He claimed: The reality, though, is that this is information that is not privy just to me, journalists across Fleet Street have known those names for a long time.

I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Harry and Meghan alleged an unidentified member of the monarchy  but not Queen Elizabeth II or her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh  had raised concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born.

Mr Scobie states in his book that two people, not one as Meghan said, made the comment about Archie, widely interpreted as a racist remark.

Media lawyer Mark Stephens. Peter Macdiarmid/PA

Mr Stephens said legal action was not open to the monarchy as it would identify those royals alleged to have made the comments.

Harry and Meghan can do so without any difficulty, and if they believe this information should not be in the public domain it would be a way of demonstrating that and possibly a route to rapprochement with London, said the lawyer.

He added: Theyve been awfully silent, they havent even condemned Omid Scobie and its also extremely unclear how a translator puts names into a transcript that were not there for translation.

Its an astonishing proposition that a translator has inserted names, the names must have been there otherwise he wouldnt have translated them.

Mr Scobie has recently dismissed reports he is Meghans pal but there is still speculation about whether the Sussexes helped him with Endgame.

The book asserts that the future of the monarchy is in a crisis and it is in a fight for survival.

Craig Doyle, co-host of the ITV1 show This Morning, said to Mr Scobie: A lot of it feels like a bit of a hatchet job against the royal family.

He went on to ask what the journalists relationship with Meghan and Harry was like, and Mr Scobie replied: Im not their friend, Ive never sat down with Meghan privately for interviews, Ive never exchanged information with Meghan, Im not in their private world in any way whatsoever.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

RAFAH, Gaza (Reuters) - About 1,000 Palestinians who were stranded outside the Gaza Strip when war broke out between Israel and Hamas have returned home during the seven-day truce, braving the prospect of renewed bombardment, a Palestinian border official said on Thursday.

At the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, yellow taxis with suitcases and cardboard boxes piled high on their roofs and trunks so full of luggage they could not be closed were carrying Palestinians back into their ravaged homeland.

One of them was Abu Nader, who said he had travelled to Turkey on Oct. 4 to accompany one of his daughters who was starting her studies there. The war began three days later, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel.

Abu Nader flew to Egypt on Oct. 24 but could not return to Gaza as the Rafah crossing was closed. He found himself stuck in Egypt until the truce.

He said his house in the al-Nasser neighbourhood in Gaza City had been destroyed by an Israeli strike and he had lost relatives, but was nevertheless desperate to get home to be with his other children and the rest of his family.

"No one leaves their children or their country, even if they lose their house. All Palestine is my home, not just Gaza or the house in al-Nasser, the whole nation is my home," he said.

Egypt had announced via the Palestinian embassy in Cairo on Nov. 23, the day before the truce came into effect, that Palestinians wishing to return to Gaza would be allowed, though not compelled, to do so.

The border official who spoke to Reuters on Thursday said crossings had begun on Nov. 24 and had carried on since then.

MOONSCAPE

The returnees will find a very different Gaza from the one they left behind.

Much of the northern half of the Strip, including Gaza City, has been blasted into a moonscape by seven weeks of Israeli bombardment, while in the south hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in tents and schools.

Hospitals have stopped functioning, food, water and fuel are scarce, and diseases are spreading in what the United Nations has called a humanitarian catastrophe.

Despite all that, Intisar Barakat said she still wanted to return.

"You can't leave your country, your children, your home, your husband," she said. "God willing, may everyone come back and peace prevail."

The truce was initially agreed for four days but has repeatedly been renewed, for 24 to 48 hours at a time. Mediators were pressing on with attempts on Thursday to extend it further.

The war was triggered by Hamas militants who rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people including babies and children and taking 240 hostages of all ages, according to Israeli numbers.

Vowing to destroy Hamas in response, Israel launched an air, sea and ground assault on the densely populated Gaza Strip that has killed more than 15,000 people, 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health officials.

(Additional reporting by Fadi Shana; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Gareth Jones)
A Pennsylvania man is in custody after police alleged he killed his wife over their cat's veterinary care.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a Wednesday news release Barton Seltmann, 84, of Lower Pottsgrove Township was arrested Tuesday for first-degree murder and third-degree murder of his wife Margaret, 85. Detectives said the couple was arguing over money for their cat's veterinary care when the fight turned physical.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's office didn't immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on Thursday.

Lower Pottsgrove Township police found Barton Tuesday on a rear porch with blood on his hands, face and clothing, Steele wrote. He added Barton had called police around 2:26 p.m. for an unresponsive woman.

"Evidence found on scene indicated that the victim was struck multiple times in the head while lying on the kitchen floor," the release states.

According to Montgomery County Magisterial District Court records, Barton faces first-degree and third-degree murder charges. No attorney was listed for Barton.

Barton is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

Montgomery County Coroner's Office Forensic Pathologist Dr. Julia de la Garza said in the release Margaret died from blunt force injuries to the head and her death is a homicide.

Barton has a preliminary hearing scheduled on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pennsylvania man allegedly kills wife in dispute over cat's vet care
Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter, which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

Light, tasty and simple to make, egg fried rice has long been a beloved dish in China and one of most recognizable icons of Chinese cuisine around the world.

But in recent years, the popular stir-fry has become a highly sensitive subject for Chinas online nationalists, especially around the months of October and November.

Emotions are running so high this week that one of the countrys most famous chefs has been forced to apologize  for making a video on how to cook the dish.

As a chef, I will never make egg fried rice again, Wang Gang, a celebrity chef with more than 10 million online fans, pledged in a video message on Monday.

Wangs solemn apology attempted to tame a frothing torrent of criticism about the video, which was posted on Chinese social media site Weibo on November 27.

Angry nationalists accused Wang of using the video to mock the death of Mao Zedongs eldest son, Mao Anying, who was killed in an American air strike during the Korean War on November 25, 1950.

Wangs video was solely about making egg fried rice, but for some Chinese nationalists, any mention of the dish around the anniversary of Mao Anyings death or birthday on October 24 amounts to a deliberate act of insult and mockery.

However, by attacking mentions of egg fried rice by famous chefs and other online influencers, the nationalist users have inadvertently promoted the very rumor their government is trying to quash.

The controversial account has it that Mao Anying, an officer in the Peoples Liberation Army, disobeyed orders to take shelter during the air raid. Instead, the hungry young man fired up a stove to make egg fried rice, which sent smoke into the air and gave away his position to enemy jets.

That version of events was mentioned in the memoir of Yang Di, a military officer who worked alongside the younger Mao at the commanders headquarters. But Chinese authorities have repeatedly refuted it as rumor.

Celebrity chef Wang Gang says he won't make egg fried rice again. - Chef Wang/YouTube

Under leader Xi Jinping, the Chinese government has cracked down on voices that criticize national heroes or question the official narrative about them. In 2018, the country passed a law to ban the slander of national heroes and martyrs, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

Last May, former investigative journalist Luo Changping was sentenced to seven months in prison for insulting martyrs who froze to death during a Korean War battle. He had used a pun on social media to suggest that Chinese soldiers portrayed in a blockbuster movie about the war were stupid.

On the 70th anniversary of Mao Anyings death in 2020, the Chinese Academy of History  an official think tank launched by Xi to counter incorrect views of Communist Party history  called the egg fried rice story the most vicious rumor.

These rumormongers have tied up Mao Anying with egg fried rice, dwarfing the heroic image of Mao Anyings brave sacrifice to the greatest extent, the academy said in a post on social media site Weibo. To put it in one sentence  their hearts are evil.

It discredited Yangs memoir as full of flaws and cannot withstand verification at all. Citing other eyewitness accounts and declassified telegrams, the post concluded that Mao Anying was killed because enemy forces detected radio waves from the busy telegraphs coming in and out of the headquarters in the days leading up to the air raid.

Despite official denials, the disputed egg fried rice story has persisted. In some corners of the Chinese internet, November 25 is celebrated as the Egg Fried Rice Festival or Chinese Thanksgiving  a nod to the belief that if the younger Mao had survived the war, he might have inherited power from his father and turned China into a hereditary dictatorship like North Korea.

In 2021, a Weibo user in the southern city of Nanchang was detained by police for 10 days for commenting in a post that the greatest achievement of the Korean War is egg fried rice.

Thank you egg fried rice. Without it, we would be the same as (North Korea) now, the post said.

My biggest mistake

Wangs egg-fired rice video, posted two days after the anniversary of the younger Maos death, was seen as particularly egregious as it was far from his first transgression  at least in the eyes of Chinese nationalists.

In 2018, Wang posted a video introducing his homemade egg fried rice recipe on October 22. Two days later, on Mao Anyings birthday, Communist Party mouthpiece the Peoples Daily shared Wangs video. The move raised eyebrows and drew accusations that even the partys flagship newspaper had been corrupted.

In 2020, Wang posted a video of himself making Yangzhou fried rice  a deluxe version featuring ham, shrimp, peas and carrots in addition to eggs  on October 24, which sparked a nationalist outcry. Wang responded by issuing a swift apology.

I only found out about this situation after I posted the video today and saw everyones comments, he wrote in comments underneath the video. Im only sharing the delicious food and have no other motives.

After the latest backlash on Monday, Wang explained in his apology that his team had posted the video without his knowledge.

This video has caused a lot of trouble and a very bad experience for everyone. I apologize again, he said after taking down the cooking video. I was busy with personal matters recently and did not participate in the release of the video. This was my biggest mistake.

Wang, 34, who hails from a rural village in Sichuan province, said his grandfather had been a veteran of the Korean War and spent six years in North Korea.

He said he looked up to his grandfather and dreamed of becoming a soldier since childhood, but failed the physical examination to join the army at 17. In my mind, soilders are very sacred, he said.

But Wangs critics are not letting it go easily.

It might be a coincidence the first time. But can it be a coincidence every single time? a comment said of Wangs egg fried rice videos.

Some called for Wang to be banned on Chinese social media, while others urged authorities to punish him for insulting national heroes and martyrs, citing the 2018 law.

But some have also come to Wangs defense, noting that the chef has posted egg fried rice in other months throughout the year.

You dont need to apologize. It is society that should apologize to you, a Weibo user said in support of Wang.

Why dont we clearly stipulate a complete ban on eating and making egg fried rice in November, or simply retire egg fried rice from Chinese cruisine all togther, another supporter quipped.

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief for Global Times and a prominent nationlist voice, cautioned that many people are still unaware of the rumors about Mao Anying. He called for public opinion to be more tolerant of unintentional mentions of relevant elements around the younger Maos birthday and death anniversary.

Being more tolerant of each other and not making this into a hot topic is by and large a comfort and protection to martyr Mao Anyings heroic spirit. It will help the issue gradually quiet down and weaken the rumors damage, Hu wrote.

Otherwise, it is possible that a controversy after another will only strengthen the rumors impact.

On Tuesday, Wang removed the video of his apology and closed the comment sections on his Weibo page.

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Dee Foster, owner of Miss Dee and Friends, standing in front of her hair taxi in a parking lot earlier in 2023. Dee Foster

After more than a month of searching, a Houston children's hair care specialist has received confirmation that her stolen mobile hair salon trailer was found.

Business owner Dee Foster said she got a call Tuesday from an officer who told her the missing "Miss Dee and Friends" cargo trailer was in the Acres Homes area.

Foster had used the trailer to provide haircuts for children, teens and adults with disabilities and special needs until a vehicle, captured on surveillance footage, took it out of the Extra Space Storage on Interstate 10 near Heights Boulevard on Oct. 22.

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HOUSTON NEWS: Church searching for 18-foot trailer taken from storage unit

"Well, as soon as I got the message, I called (the officer) back and then he told me everything that I needed to know," she said. "Somebody saw it on the news, called it in, and they said something about a 'suspicious vehicle.'"

Dispatch received a call Tuesday around 12:35 p.m. stating a trailer, considered stolen, was seen at a driveway of a house under construction on Utah Street and Wilburforce Street. The Houston Police Department spokesperson said the trailers license plates were scanned and they determined it was Fosters missing mobile salon.

Foster added the officer told her that he didn't find additional vandalism to the trailer. Since she was not able to get the trailer around that time, Houston police towed it back to their storage lot. The only initial damage was the fender torn off from when the trailer was first taken from the Extra Space storage unit.

"I talked to the officer assigned to my case," she said. "He said, most likely, (the thief) realized the heat that the stolen trailer got, and then also that they could do nothing with it."

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Foster was notified and officially went to see the trailer on Dec. 5 in an Instagram livestream video. She explained in the video that whoever took the trailer took some decals, scraped the paint and covered up specific places from the exterior but left the chairs used for clients, the pictures and her gumball machine inside.

In another live video posted, Foster was seen taking down her pictures while in tears.

"I know it's just material things, I know that, but I just feel like I've kind of just let our hair taxi down," she said.

Foster told the Chronicle she had a mix of emotions since the trailer had been stolen. According to her, she appreciates everyone who donated money for a new trailer and the trailer she received from a news station.

"I've already given it up to God, I've already done the grieving ... I've mourned (the trailer), I let it go and now it's back," she said. "I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around a lot of this part of it, having it back, now, it's a whole 'nother thing. Some people will say, 'Oh, it's a blessing to have it back,' I love that my passion project has been recovered."

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Foster plans to give back the money to anyone who wants a refund from the GoFundMe account created by one of her clients. If there are people who want her to keep the donations, Foster will use the proceeds to start a program offering free haircuts to children who can't afford the service.

She also updated everyone in an Instagram post on Nov. 29 about her thoughts on the trailer being found.
The spread of false narratives around three recent extreme weather events in Latin America shows how climate change misinformation in Spanish and Portuguese can undermine efforts to address and mitigate the effects of global warming in the region, according to a new study released Wednesday.

Environmental organizations Roots and Friends of the Earth, which are part of the Climate Action Against Disinformation Coalition, commissioned progressive research firm Purpose to analyze how cyclone floods in Brazil and Peru as well as wildfires in Chile became fertile ground for misinformation to flourish online.

Online posts in Brazil, Peru and Chile falsely attributed the events to dam breakages, arson and climate research centers that study the atmosphere  sowing confusion, deflecting conversations about extreme weather preparedness, and politicizing climate action, the study concluded.

The new research points to a troubling cycle, Max MacBride, counter-disinformation lead at Roots, said in a statement.

A few conspiracy theory posts  and a massive reach online

A cyclone battered the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil in September. The storms unusually heavy rains and wind gusts caused intense flooding and landslides that killed more than 30 people and severely damaged countless homes.

While news sources online reported on the flooding in the context of a climate catastrophe, disinformation spreaders were falsely claiming the floods were the result of three dams gates being opened.

The false narrative began circulating a couple of days after the storm as center-right local leadership in the region publicly inquired about the opening of the gates to the company operating the dams, as stated in a media release, according to the study. The company responded, saying there was no evidence suggesting the dams had influenced the flooding.

Image: Police officers check a house as residents wade through a flooded street after floods caused by a cyclone in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, on Sept. 4, 2023. (Diogo Zanatta / Futura Press via AP)

The Brazilian states environmental department then confirmed the floods were caused by the cyclone and had no connection to the dams, but the false narrative kept spreading online.

The study examined 66,800 posts, including posts on the social media site X and news portal comments, about the floods and cyclone. A small number of them (1,800 posts) were found to also discuss the dam gates. But this small portion reached a significantly larger audience of over 5.2 million people, suggesting how social media algorithms can boost misinformation.

We wont be able to protect people in Latin America from climate change if professional disinformers keep manipulating weather disasters by gaming social media algorithms, Michael Khoo, the climate disinformation program director at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement.

X did not respond to a request for comment.

In Brazil, videos and discussions posted to TikTok and YouTube spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about open dam gates  instead of the cyclone  causing the floods. These garnered hundreds of thousands of views and were key to the spread of such misinformation on both platforms.

TikTok said it prohibits climate change misinformation that undermines well-established scientific consensus. The platform relies on moderators, experts and fact-checkers to monitor content, and users can also use TikToks misinformation reporting tool to report false content.

YouTube did not respond to a request for comment, but it previously shared with NBC News some of its efforts to combat climate misinformation in languages other than English. A spokesperson said in August that YouTubes systems dont generally recommend or prominently surface content that includes climate change misinformation, and instead feature videos from authoritative sources in search results and recommendations. It also employs monetization policies prohibiting ads that contradict authoritative scientific consensus on the existence of and causes behind climate change.

The study also cites a Brazilian local newspaper investigation that found the spread of misinformation on WhatsApp about the dam causing the floods. It appears that hundreds of thousands of people watched videos shared on the encrypted messaging app that included false claims politicizing the disaster, as the dam at the center of the misinformation was built by the left-wing party currently in power.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, did not respond to a request for comment.

Like Brazil, Peru was also ravaged by a cyclone in March. Cyclone Yaku killed more than 50 people and damaged more than 20,000 homes.

In the storms aftermath, social media posts emerged suggesting Cyclone Yaku was created by HAARP  a program that studies parts of the atmosphere and has long been the target of conspiracy theories and even flat Earth theories  and by the Jicamarca Observatory in Peru, a radar facility also used to study parts of the atmosphere.

Spanish-language climate misinformation related to HAARP is incredibly common globally, with study researchers identifying 10,655 posts across multiple social media platforms between Jan. 1 and Oct. 5. The posts had a combined reach of over 32.2 million people, according to the study.

But the presence of the Jicamarca Observatory in Peru served as a link to connect the broader HAARP conspiracy theory to Cyclone Yaku.

Such posts garnered hundreds of thousands of views across multiple social media platforms such as X, TikTok and Facebook, researchers found.

Making arson the single cause of forest fires

In Chile, when parts of cities in the central and southern regions experienced more than 400 forest fires in February amid extreme heat and drought, a small number of posts on X solely blaming the wildfires on arsonists gained over a million views, according to the study.

Wildfires at the time were mainly caused by a combination of factors: a historic drought, a persistent heat wave and an increase in the amount of unattended agricultural land vulnerable to wildfires.

However, local authorities in Chile arrested at least 17 people who allegedly started some forest fires intentionally or negligently while doing activities such as welding and burning animal wool.

According to the study, these arrests were followed by Chilean political leaders, mainly right-wing and conservative ones, falsely claiming that arson was the single cause of the devastating wildfires, the report stated.

A volunteer helps fight a forest fire in El Patagual, Chile (Guillermo Salgado / AFP via Getty Images file)

When researchers analyzed a random sample of 20,000 X posts and news portal comments, they found 184 posts that mentioned the words arsonists or terrorists. Those posts reached over 1.5 million people, in part due to high-profile individuals sharing them online, according to the study.

This helped steer the online conversation away from the impact of climate change and how it can exacerbate wildfires by suggesting that criminal acts were the cause of the worsening fires, the study found.

According to the report, online misinformation surrounding the three events blamed the destruction on a specific scapegoat, eliciting anger from local audiences, and perpetuated political divisions or existing false narratives  such as that HAARP changes the weather  and in turn deflected the conversation away from ongoing climate issues and ways to address them.

While some social media companies have implemented content moderation guidelines to curb climate change misinformation on their platforms, members of the Climate Action Against Disinformation Coalition say they need to take much stronger action to stop the spread of misinformation online in all languages, MacBride and Khoo said.
Bake up a global holiday tradition with these cookies from around the world.

Photo by Jenny Huang / Food Styling by Tyna Hoang / Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka

No matter where you are in the world, December brings a craving for holiday cookies. Weve worked with bakers from Germany to Japan, Indonesia, Greece, and Italy to collect recipes that reflect their traditions with butter, nuts, chocolate, and fruit. Join bakers from across the globe when you pull out your baking sheets and heat up your oven to bake a few batches of cookies that mark holiday celebrations all over the world.

Brown Butter-Cardamom Spitzbuben

Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

German for "cheeky boys," these Bavarian cookies will be the star of your holiday cookie platter. Brown butter and cardamom make this simple cookie into a fragrant treat. Take the time to freshly grind the cardamom  its robust, citrusy flavor is worth it.

Get the recipe

Swedish Butter Cookies

 Chris Court

The recipe for these smor bullar  light, crumbly pecan cookies similar to Mexican wedding cakes  includes just a few ingredients, making them an easy addition to any holiday cookie box.

Get the recipe

Billionaire's Shortbread

To add her spin to the popular British confection known as Millionaire's Shortbread, pastry chef Jennifer Yee sprinkles the chocolate with flaky sea salt, and then encourages bakers to add other toppings, like crushed pretzels, candied ginger, and toasted nuts.

Get the recipe

Candy Cookies

 Fredrika Stjarne

These truffle-like cookies have an unexpected piece of candy in the centers. They're adapted from a traditional holiday cookie that Renato Poliafito discovered during his travels in Germany.

Get the recipe

Kourampiedes (Greek Christmas Cookies)

Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Blanched and toasted almond pieces bring a lovely crunch to these crumbly, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Greek Christmas cookies.

Get the recipe

Tortellini Dolci al Forno (Emilian Fruit-Stuffed Christmas Cookies)

Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

These classic Emilian Christmas cookies are made from a tender, flaky dough filled with a sweet-tart trio of fruit: cherry preserves, rich saba (cooked-down grape must), and candied citron.

Get the recipe

Lebkuchen

 Rick Poon

Lebkuchen are traditional delicately spiced German molasses-ginger cookies. This recipe, from mixologist Jeffrey Morgenthaler, was passed down from his great-grandmother to his grandmother to his uncle.

Get the recipe

Matcha-Butter Cookies with White Chocolate Drizzle

Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Matcha powder adds festive color to these crisp butter cookies from Aiko Cascio, a Japanese cooking instructor with the League of Kitchens in New York City.

Get the recipe

Sorrel Thumbprints

West Indian spices like nutmeg, allspice, and cloves are combined with hibiscus spread in Ramin Ganeshrams bite-size holiday cookies inspired by a Caribbean liqueur.

Get the recipe

Haselnussmakronen (Raspberry-Hazelnut Macaroons)

 Nicole Franzen

These German raspberry-hazelnut macaroons require just five ingredients and are extremely no-fuss.



Get the recipe

Date and Walnut Rugelach with Tahini Glaze

Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

Faith Kramers rugelach recipe has spiced date and walnut filling wrapped in a scented butter and cream cheese dough and is drizzled with a sweetened tahini glaze.

Get the recipe

Putri Salju Pandan (Pandan-Flavored Indonesian "Snow White" Cookies)

Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Traditionally in Indonesia, Putri Salju ("Snow White" or "Snow Princess") cookies are made with almonds, peanuts, or cashews inside and are popular during the holidays, including Christmas, Ramadan, and Chinese New Year. This version adds pandan, a tropical plant with fragrant leaves that's a popular flavoring in Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. It imparts a vanilla-citrusy flavor and a naturally vivid green color to these melt-in-your-mouth cookies.

Get the recipe

Hausfreunde

 Nicole Franzen

This classic German recipe calls for dipping buttery almond-apricot sandwich cookies in bittersweet chocolate. The phenomenal results are well worth the effort.

Get the recipe

Basler Leckerli

 Nicole Franzen

These spiced cookie bars are an essential part of a German Christmas. They are an excellent make-ahead sweet; in fact, they get more tender and flavorful the longer they sit.

Get the recipe

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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
On election night 2010, Jessica Post, then a junior staffer at the Democratic Legislative Leadership Committee, watched as Republicans won over 680 state legislative seats across the country and flipped 22 state legislative chambers.

Two years later, she watched Republicans make more inroads, even as former President Barack Obama claimed a second term. And in 2014, "we went into, sort of, our all-time low," Post said.

But this month, Post, who was the president of the DLCC from 2016 through 2020, watched as Democrats held on to the state Senate and took back the state House in Virginia, ensuring the party's voice in state government for the next two years  and kicking off a year of fights between Democrats and Republicans for control of state governments around the country in 2024.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Republicans have total control of the legislatures in 28 states and Democrats have total control in 19. Two states have divided chambers, including Virginia for a few more weeks, while one, Nebraska, has a nonpartisan, unicameral legislature.

"2024 is the year of the states," Post declared. "We had such success in 2022 and 2023. And such successful state legislative sessions in 2023 from these new Democratic trifectas [in Michigan and Minnesota]. Hopefully people realize that there is so much power and so much power has moved to the states."

A new target map

Hoping to build on the committee's recent success, the DLCC's goals include not only flipping state legislatures and protecting existing majorities, but also trying to break GOP legislative supermajorities in states like Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina and Wisconsin next year.

Democrats are also keen to protect their existing majorities in the Minnesota House, the Michigan House and the Pennsylvania House while targeting both chambers of the GOP-controlled Arizona and New Hampshire legislatures, as well as the Pennsylvania Senate.

On the other side of the aisle, the GOP's committee focusing on state legislative races hasn't officially outlined its 2024 targets yet, but some of the majorities Democrats hope to protect are in some of the most closely divided state chambers in the country  natural targets for the GOP next year.

In Michigan's state House, for example, Democrats have just a two-seat majority. And in the Pennsylvania House, Democrats have a one-seat majority over Republicans. In Arizona, one of the DLCC's targets, Republicans have two-seat majorities in both chambers.

Democrats credit enthusiasm for protecting abortion rights as one reason for their wins in 2022 and 2023  and they hope the issue will propel them next year, too.

People hold signs and protest in front of the Ohio State House. (Joe Maiorana / AP file)

"We realized that we had a winning strategy and that abortion was still very important issue to voters," said Heather Williams, the DLCC's interim president.

Still, one issue legislative candidates didn't have to litigate in 2022 and 2023 was President Joe Biden's deep unpopularity. Next year, though, he'll be on the ballot with hundreds of legislative candidates across the country.

The latest NBC News national poll found Biden's approval rating at 40%  the lowest level of his presidency.

Williams said that even though Biden wasn't on the ballot in the last two years, he was still on voters' minds.

"Sure, he wasn't on the ticket, but there is no escaping  right?  like, the Democratic Party from Biden  like, he's the leader of the party," Williams said.

But, she added, state legislators' involvement in the community helps voters form opinions about candidates that are distinct from their opinions about Biden.

"I will say something that we are seeing is that our level of the ballot  state legislators, right?  they are really still in these communities. They live there," Williams said.

Both sides plan to take advantage of early voting

Despite Republican losses in the Virginia House and Senate this month, the DLCC's opposite, the Republican State Legislative Committee, touted a new early and absentee voting strategy as something that will help it in legislative races around the country next year.

"I think Republicans have a blueprint for success heading into the 2024 cycle. One of our larger goals as we head into the 2024 cycle is really tackling the [absentee and early voting] gap and starting to chip away at the Democrats' advantage on this front," Max Docksey, the RSLC's political director, told reporters this month.

Docksey added that after the 2022 midterm elections, "Democrats were highly effective at turning out low-propensity voters in battleground states across the country, including states like Pennsylvania and Michigan. By investing in low-propensity voters, the Democrats were not only increasing their [absentee and early vote] advantage, but they were actually expanding their base of voters overall."

A voter arrives at her polling place (Matt Rourke / AP file)

"This showed us that [absentee and early voting] needs to be treated as an additional campaign operation, not just a small component of the larger campaign plan," Docksey said.

He also said the RSLC plans to continue encouraging absentee and early voting options in next year's legislative races.

"We truly believe that as Republicans look ahead to the 2024 cycle, this is the absentee and early vote model that needs to be adopted across the country," he said.

While Democrats retained an advantage among early and absentee voters in Virginia this year, they took notice of the GOP's efforts.

Williams said: "As you move to 2024, the Republican voter is willing to accept and trust early, early in-person voting options, whether that's satellite locations or extended hours or what have you. But ... the trust of mail-in ballots is still questionable for the average Republican voter. So I think ... that's one of the things certainly that we're, like, looking at."
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri says he thinks former President Donald Trump will ultimately be the GOP nominee for president. But he hasn't taken the step of making a full endorsement in the primary campaign.

"No offense to anybody else who's running, but I just said I don't think the primary is a real contest. I think he's going to be the nominee, and I will absolutely support him against the current president," Hawley said.

It's a consistent narrative on Capitol Hill. Many Republicans who supported Trump in his two previous presidential campaigns believe he has already clinched the GOP nomination for president, given his commanding lead in the polls, and they say there's no need for them to endorse him.

So far, only 13 of the 49 Republican senators on Capitol Hill have officially announced their endorsement of Trump, including Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rick Scott of Florida.

"If he's the nominee, for certain  I just haven't made a decision yet on the primary at this point. I mean, it's not gonna make a difference one way or the other, but I haven't announced anything on that," Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said. Rubio faced off against Trump in 2016 for the GOP presidential nomination and dropped out after he lost the Florida Republican primary.

Even some of Trump's most fervent supporters in the Senate aren't endorsing him yet.

"I don't endorse in primaries. I don't endorse," Sen. Ron Johnson said while running into an elevator in the Senate basement. In 2022, Trump endorsed Johnson for a third term even before the Wisconsin senator had decided to run again.

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who was endorsed by Trump during his Senate reelection campaign in 2022, declined to say whether he would endorse Trump during the primary campaign.

"I don't have anything for you on that," Sen. Kennedy said in response to a question from CBS News.

Trump's highest-profile Republican Senate endorsement came from Montana Sen. Steve Daines, the head of the Senate's GOP fundraising arm, who said he would like to see more Republicans come out and endorse Trump.

"He's going to be the nominee," Daines said.

Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio  one of the 13 Republicans who has been outspoken in his support of the former president  said he has been lobbying for more of his colleagues to endorse Trump, declaring the primaries are "effectively over'' before voting in the Iowa caucus has even begun.

"Look, whether you like him or not, he's going to be the Republican standard bearer, and I think we have to get behind him," said Vance.

No votes have been cast yet in the GOP presidential primaries. The Iowa caucuses, the first contest of the 2024 primary calendar, takes place on Jan. 15. Longtime Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says he won't be endorsing before the caucuses.

"I do not plan on endorsing, and I believe that Joni Ernst has the same view I have. And the reason we haven't endorsed anybody is because when there were 13 candidates, we wanted everybody to come to Iowa and keep Iowa first in the nation," Sen. Grassley said.

But Trump has criticized Grassley in recent weeks, arguing that he helped both Grassley and Ernst win their previous elections. During a "commit to caucus" event in Fort Dodge, Trump said, "I got a lot of guys elected right here, including Grassley, who was having a problem and including Joni Ernst, who had a big problem."

Grassley, who won reelection to his eighth term in the Senate in 2022, doubts Trump's endorsement was much of a factor.

"I've had 36 elections. Long time before Trump ever knew who Chuck Grassley was, and I won every one of them," Grassley said.

Other Republican senators are still shopping for a GOP presidential nominee and deciding whether to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Mitt Romney, the junior senator from Utah, said he hopes the GOP will have "a nominee other than former President Trump."

"Nikki Haley is a very capable person. People didn't think she had much of a shot, but she's proved them wrong before, and she's doing it again," Romney said.

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana says he thinks Haley has run a "great campaign" and believes she "certainly could win a general election." But Young stopped short of giving his full endorsement.

Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said Burgum, his state's governor, still has his full support, but is leaving the door open after the primaries.

"I'll let him get past these primaries and see what happens," Cramer said.

When asked if he thinks Burgum, who is polling at about 1% among likely Republican primary voters, should stay in the race, Cramer responded, "I would never encourage him to do anything other than do whatever his pocketbook and his heart tells him."

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The potential for drenching to locally severe thunderstorms will continue in parts of the southern United States through the start of the weekend, AccuWeather meteorologists say. Along with a continued risk of severe weather, drought-easing and travel-disrupting rain will ruin outdoor plans, with the chance of flash flooding as a second storm emerges.

The first storm that crossed the region Thursday into Thursday night produced rain that extended from the Gulf of Mexico to much of the Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys. Thunderstorms, some packing flash flooding, shifted slowly from central Texas to northeastern Texas and western Louisiana.

The first storm moved northward into the Northeast on Saturday as more rain and thunderstorms gathered near the central Gulf coast as a second storm took shape. By Saturday morning, some locations along the Gulf coast had already picked up 3-6 inches of rain. In Pensacola, Florida, there were reports of floodwaters covering roadways.

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According to the United States Drought Monitor, much of the region is experiencing conditions ranging from abnormally dry to exceptional drought - the worst drought category.

In total, 4-8 inches of rain can pour down across the Florida Panhandle, extending into southern Alabama and southwestern Georgia, in the timeframe spanning Friday night through Saturday night. There is an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 12 inches.

Too much rain may pour down too quickly in some urban areas, such as Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, which could result in ponding on some city streets and highways.

"It is as the second storm begins to roll northeastward from the Gulf into Saturday night, that just enough warm air may be pulled northward to allow a zone of severe thunderstorms from southeastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said.

The scope of the severe weather will depend on how much warm air expands versus a wedge of cool air east of the Appalachians. The severe weather risk may extend farther to the east along the southern Atlantic coast for a time Saturday night.

Some of the worst drought conditions continue across portions of Louisiana and Mississippi, where rainfall in some areas is only one-quarter of the historical average since the start of July and before Thursday's storm.

The bulk of the rain will leave the region during Saturday night. However, as a cold front approaches and pushes through the region on Sunday, one more round of showers and perhaps a thunderstorm is in store from the northeast Gulf to the Carolinas and southern Virginia.

The same storm system will spread drenching rain into the mid-Atlantic by Sunday with snow in northern New England from Sunday night to Monday.

By Monday, the cold front will slide slowly southward through the Florida Peninsula with spotty showers and thunderstorms as dry air expands over the Southeast region. Much of the new week will be dry before moisture returns from the Gulf of Mexico towards next weekend.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
Michelle Faye/FX

When it comes to stripping down on screen, Jon Hamm is only concerned about the room temperature.

The actor, 52, portrays murderous sheriff Roy Tillman on season 5 of Hulus Fargo, which premiered earlier this month. For episode 2, Hamm was asked to get naked while filming an exterior scene of the show, which was filmed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

I thought I had a rider in my contract where nakeds fine, cold naked is not great, Hamm, 52, quipped during his Tuesday, November 28, appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Im more of a warm naked guy.

Hamm explained that while the show takes place in North Dakota and Minnesota, he filmed in Canada where he often faced below-freezing cold temperatures. In Celsius, zero is freezing.  But then it gets down to, like, minus 30, and you go, This is not safe, he joked.

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Committing to the role. Over the years, actors have filmed nude scenes and decided to wear body prosthetics instead of completely exposing themselves on screen. Eric Dane, who plays Cal Jacobs on Euphoria, previously explained what goes into working on such a vulnerable part of the project. Those scenes are very difficult to shoot. It []

During the scene in question, Hamms character gets interrogated by two FBI agents while basking in a hot tub naked. As he exits the jacuzzi, viewers are given a flash of Hamms backside while he seemingly exposes himself to the agents.

FX/YouTube

When host Jimmy Kimmel asked about what the actors playing the FBI agents saw while shooting the scene, Hamm said with a smirk, The glory of Gods creation, really.

Hamm added that there was actually a flesh-colored sock that gets cinched tightly around him, which he described as not pleasant.

They call it a ck sock, Jimmy, Hamm said of the contraption. When Kimmel, 56, wondered if there was a handler who dealt with the sock, Hamm said, If there is one, I did not use one. I handled that myself. Going on 52 years of experience. Im real good.

The Mad Men alum also got candid about the prosthetic nipple rings he wore on set, sharing that there is a department that is dedicated to making the accessories look authentic.

They were real nipple rings pierced through a fake nipple, he explained. There is a prosthetic department. Magic doesnt happen by itself. That guys whole job was making nipples. He added, laughing: Theres the people at Gerber and then theres this guy.

FX/YouTube

Hamm first opened up about the faux-nipple process during a Fargo screening earlier this month.

I had to have some very blue latex put on my nipples, and then they cast a resoundingly lifelike pair of nipples, which they then pierced and placed over my own nipples, and we shot said nipples, he explained at the time. The crew doesnt get enough credit.

Hamm stars alongside Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Joe Keery for season 5 of the anthology series, which is inspired by the 1996 movie of the same name. Fargo, which premiered on FX in 2014, was created by Noah Hawley and is executive produced by Joe and Ethan Coen, who directed the original film.

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Jon Hamm is set to take center stage as the leading man of season 5 of FXs hit anthology series Fargo. In June 2022, it was revealed that the Top Gun: Maverick actor will star in the shows latest installment as a character named Roy. Juno Temple was also cast as Dot and Jennifer Jason Leigh []

This idea that in polite society, people dont know how to bend, Hawley teased of season 5s inspiration during the shows screening. They just break because theyre putting it all down and putting on this brave face. And of course, they become these passive-aggressive people. But I look around and I dont see a lot of passive aggression anymore. I see a lot? of aggressive aggression. So, the question really becomes, what happens to the basically decent people that we tell stories about all the time, to put them into this situation where their neighbors are now turning on each other?
Tom Morello and Pussy Riot Join Forces to Release New Single, 'Weather Strike'

Four women stride on stage. Fists clenched at their sides, chanting in Russian, in rhythm, words from Riot Days, the book by Maria Masha Alyokhina. Masha is one of three members of Pussy Riot sent to prison for two years in 2012. A decade on, the Pussy Riot Russian feminist protest art collective has grown, and here at the Bottoom Lounge in Chicago on November 6th for their Riot Days tour, they spread the message: WE WONT DISAPPEAR.

Pussy Riot formed in 2011 in response to Vladimir Putin winning a third presidential term in an election widely condemned as rigged. Members had been involved in performance art collectives prior, but Putins power grab sparked their urgency to warn the world.

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The world definitely noticed Putin Has Pissed Himself, Pussy Riots punk show performed in Moscows Red Square in January 2012, clad in neon balaclavas. Their subsequent protest, Punk Prayer, a 40-second disruption inside Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior in February 2012 sought to expose Putins embrace of the Russian Orthodox church and its Patriarch Kirill to solidify his regime. For their hooliganism, Pussy Riot members Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Kat Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Nadya Tolokonnikova served two grueling years in penal colonies.

Pussy Riot members, from left, Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, sitting in a glass-walled Moscow court cage in 2012 for sentencing after their convictions for hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. The charges stemmed from the groups Punk Prayer protest staged at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior. (Credit: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Gtty Images)

This is the subject of the Riot Days tour  and its a cautionary tale.

I warned the world that he will do more, says Masha, and there will be more blood. Now its not an authoritarian regime. Its a terrorist state. Ive seen how it works from the inside.

Pussy Riot members prophesied Putin becoming a dictator. They witnessed his seizure of Crimea in blatant violation of international law, the war in Ukraine, the war crimes in Bucha, the mass abduction of Ukrainian children, and, at home, his repression of the Russian LGBTQ community.

But these crimes have only increased the volume of Pussy Riot members in exile, who use their voices and art to sound further warnings of nationalism on the rise and democracy threatened.

Masha escaped Russia to Lithuania in May 2022 by posing as a food courier, though she hesitates to call it an escape. She says shes not afraid. She wants to return. She deeply loves her country. She has been imprisoned numerous times, but that doesnt deter her from her mission, her actions, as she calls them, and the Riot Days tour is her way of speaking to anyone who will see it.

An activist of Ukrainian feminist group Femen poses after felling an Orthodox crucifix in Kiev in support of Pussy Riot in 2012. (Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The tour began on November 1st. in Montreal, where Masha also opened Velvet Terrorism: Pussy Riots Russia art exhibition at the Musee dart Contemporain de Montreal (it runs through March 10, 2024). On stage, Masha was joined by group members Olga Borisova, an ex-policewoman in Russia who quit her job to protest against the regime; Diana Burkot who participated in the Punk Prayer but was never caught; and Alina Petrova, a multi-instrumentalist and co-founder of the Kymatic ensemble. The 22-city Riot Days tour is more than music, its a multi-media performance with subtitled video footage of their preparations for Punk Prayer, footage of their sham trial, and of their transport to the penal colony. There are photos of Putin embracing the Patriarch, dead bodies in the streets of Bucha, and quotes from the trial.

I think its several missions, says Masha when asked about the motivation for the tour.

First, its super important to us to bring Riot Days to United States now because we want people to do their own actions and we want to show our story. This story is an example of what can happen if people do not fight for democracy and for freedom. And I believe that stories like this, unfortunately, can happen anywhere. And current news unfortunately proves this. You will have elections next year and I already saw once how easily Donald Trump took the power. And by the way, Donald Trump was the only president during my life who was not covered by Russian propaganda as an enemy. He was super friends, he was super cool, and Russian propaganda is really working in very similar way to Nazi Germany propaganda. I just want to shout it as loud as I can, because I dont want conservatives, Republicans, or people like Donald Trump to take the power in the United States and help Putin with this crazy wish to rebuild the dead body of Soviet Union, with rockets and tanks and bombs.

After her initial years in the penal colony and multiple subsequent prison terms, Pussy Riot creator Nadya Tolokonnikova makes art as a geo-anonymous person. The Russian Interior Ministry has placed her on its most wanted list.

A benefit event for Pussy Riot at Death By Audio in Brooklyn, N.Y.C., in 2012. (Photo by Rebecca Smeyne/Getty Images)

She travels the world to speak and perform. This full-scale invasion of Ukraine really put us back many steps as whole human civilization, she says. And we see consequences of Putins action all around the world today. I dont think it will stop with just Russias war in Ukraine, unfortunately.

Nadya has seen the impact of Putin on Ukraine firsthand. When the war in Ukraine started, my first reaction was devastation. I have a lot of friends in Ukraine, comrades, people I love dearly. And I saw streets that I was walking being destroyed and I couldnt believe my eyes. So first reaction was just crying, as any other normal human being. And then I retreated into action, she says.

That action was an NFT art piece of the Ukrainian flag which raised $7.1 million to support Ukrainian defense efforts. That numbed my pain because it showed me that much more people support Ukraine than I thought. They came not just with their word, but actually with their wallet, and it was really awesome to see.

She also created an art performance and installation called Putins Ashes where a large photograph of Putin burns after balaclavaed Pussy Riot members push a button for him to be neutralized. Bottles of his ashes result.

Its a metaphor. He has to be stopped, says Nadya.

Putins Ashes, by Pussy Riot.

In 2018 Nadya put her experiences into words, as a guide for activism, in a book titled Read & Riot. Reminiscent of Abbie Hoffmans Steal This Book, Nadya dispenses such wisdom as be a woman  proud witch and bitch, and make your government shit its pants.

But making ones government shit its pants comes at a cost. In 2018, former Pussy Riot spokesman Pyotr Verzilov was poisoned, but recovered. He had been working with three Russian journalists suspiciously shot and killed in the Central African Republic in July of that year. Today he fights with Ukraines armed forces.

Numerous Pussy Riot members have been subjected to house arrest  not allowed to even dispose of their garbage. And two years ago, Pussy Riot members Nika Nikulshina and Sasha Sofeev fled to Georgia. Their crime in Russia? Displaying the Pride flag in Moscow.

We came up with an action against homophobia, said Sasha, and on Putins birthday we hung rainbow flags on the main government buildings. Nika says that this action had cultural resonance. Its a lot of bureaucracy in Russia and, you know, Russia is all about flags, banners, things that lalalalala. And we thought about, okay, just one time, it would be cool to make this demonstration for something great. That summer it was the law against LGBTQ. Its illegal to have marriages. If youre kissing, if youre a boy and a boy, you will be beaten up. Even if youre holding hands. So its like super bad. And we were like, okay, thats what we should hang on the buildingnot the three color bloody flag.

Sasha recalls Nika and her placing the rainbow flag on the main FSB building on Lubyanka as probably one of the most important and happiest moments in my life.

Sasha says, Today almost all of us have been forced to leave Russia due to political persecution and false criminal cases. And Russia has been continuing its aggression against Ukraine and its people for almost two years now. In these dark times, the language of action is no longer, for me, capable of changing reality, because the time has come for direct action.

Nika also finds herself stymied. Its a bit hard to talk about this. Now Im in Georgia and I cannot do performances anymore because its just my ideological thing that when I have a Russian passport and Im in foreign land, I cannot do this. Because the action is with performance art. For me its totally political and as an artist, you have to put your body in danger. You have to. Its your sacrifice for art. And here, I will be totally fine, and so thats just a little bit two-faced for me. She has switched to film. Im making a movie about war in Ukraine, she says.

Pussy Riot doing Riot Days. (Credit: Les Insoumises)

Long-time Pussy Rioter Lusine Djanyan has a more personal knowledge of authoritarian terror, having experienced it in her home country of Azerbaijan, where she was a member of the beleaguered Armenian minority before fleeing to Russia in 1988.

When asked about the anti-Armenian atrocities of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Lusine replied, Oh my god, Im almost crying. You are probably the first journalist who asked me this question. As an Armenian, Lusine feels invisible, unseen, ignored. Her art seeks to wake people up to the repression, violence, and mass displacement that Azerbaijans Amerian minority is subjected to.

Being outspoken about Aliyev and Putin as a member of Pussy Riot had consequences for Lusine and her family. Our first son was born in Russia and everything changed. Now you have some human being, and you have to protect him. After my husband spent 15 days in prison after one of his actions, secret services came to our home and they threaten me that they will put us both to jail and our son will grow up in some kind of kids house and it was absolutely terrifying. I was attacked with my son in the streets. [The secret service] just keep attacking people. Youre playing in a playground and be attacked by secret services. You come home and they follow you. We decided that its absolutely impossible to continue like that.

Today, after a stint as refugees in Russia which her Pussy Riot activities put an end to, Lusine and her family are refugees in Sweden, where Lusine used blankets as canvas for art. I collected the blankets among my refugee families because a lot of refugees take blankets when you flee. And I took blankets and draw some family portraits. Its recreating memories, dealing with trauma.

On stage in Chicago, members of Pussy Riot throw water on the crowd, simulating the cold rain and wilds of the Ural Mountains and the penal colony. Its meant to shock the senses and spur people to get involved. There are currently more than 600 political prisoners in Russia, read the words on the screen before a dozen or so photos of victims flash up. The fight continues a decade after Masha, Nadya, and Kat were part of that statistic.

When asked if she gets discouraged or scared, Masha, without even a pause, replies, History doesnt give a fuck about my feelings.

Nadya Tolokonnikova directing God Save Abortion at the Indiana Statehouse in 2023. (Credit: Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Riot Days tour continues through the beginning of December and raises money for the Ohmatdyt, a childrens hospital in Kyiv. More information can be found at riotdays.com.

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FALL RIVER  You've seen it all over your social media. It's gone viral on TikTok. Now you can get a taste of this foodie trend right here in the city.

Fall River's melting pot of cuisines from across the globe continues to grow with the addition of Chicken Story, a takeout restaurant that specializes in Korean street food.

Owner Jaewoo Choi is riding the wave of popularity Korean food has experienced in recent years at his 111 Stafford Road location that opened this past spring, drawing folks in with its made-for-Instagram culinary creations.

"Korean fried chicken is Korea's soul food," Choi said. "Since K-food is getting more popular, I wish one day I would be able to introduce Korean food to locals."

Jaewoo Choi is the owner of Chicken Story in Fall River, which debuted at 111 Stafford Road this past May.

The space is small and unassuming, yet certainly stands out. Passersby are drawn to Chicken Story's bright yellow facade, which matches the colorful cuisine being cooked up inside.

Highlights include their eye-catching best-seller, the Korean corn dog, as well as boba "bubble" tea and Korean fried chicken.

Jaewoo Choi's story starts in Providence

Fall River's Chicken Story is the latest chapter of 30-year-old Choi's journey in the restaurant business.

Choi is a Korean native who moved to the United States in 2012 at age 19, and ever since has been expanding his culinary background and knowledge. Upon graduating from Johnson and Wales University in Providence in 2016, where he studied Culinary Arts and Nutrition, he did a two-year stint in New York to experience and learn from its diverse food scene.

The hot Cheetos Korean corn dog is among the specials at Chicken Story in Fall River on Wednesday Nov. 22, 2023.

"You can easily find new 'trendy' and 'cool' restaurants in Manhattan. Maybe you can see them in every single block. If someone wants to open a 'trendy' restaurant, they are willing to open in the city because there are more resources," Choi said.

That drew him back to Rhode Island, where he really hit the ground running.

In 2018, Choi opened his first restaurant in Providence, O'Boy, which he described as a modern Asian fusion restaurant and wine and cocktail bar.

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These days, in addition to the Chicken Story, Choi also splits his time between his two other Providence restaurants  Wok & Pot, which debuted on Westminster Street in 2020 and features authentic Korean and Chinese cuisine, and PVD Noodle Bar on Mathewson Street, which opened this past May.

The wheels actually got turning on Chicken Story before the Noodle Bar's debut, but Choi said the long-vacant Fall River space  formerly a barber shop  required extensive renovations that led to a delay in opening.

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Chicken Story's Fall River location welcomed its first customers on May 27, and a New Bedford location on County Street opened soon after in September.

Bringing a 'trendy' and 'cool' menu to Fall River restaurant scene

With his latest Chicken Story project Choi hopes to diversify the culinary landscape in Fall River and make these unique foodie finds more accessible to folks outside big cities like Providence.

"Every single person deserves to have the experience of 'trendy' and 'cool' restaurants and food nearby," he said. "I have noticed that there is quite a big population in the Fall River area but nothing like a trend. Therefore, I chose to open the first Korean Fried Chicken restaurant in Fall River. It is a great opportunity for ourselves as well as locals."

Korean corn dogs, bubble tea and more on the menu

For the uninitiated, a Korean corn dog is essentially a souped-up version of a traditional corn dog, but covered in interesting, out-of-the-box crusts  from hot Cheetos to bread crumbs to cubed potatoes.

The dish starts with a skewered hot dog dipped in a thick batter that is fried, but you can also get mozzarella cheese or half hot dog, half cheese inside. According to Choi, their top seller is the half-and-half with french fry crust.

A strawberry boba "bubble" tea is prepared at Chicken Story in Fall River on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.

Other popular Chicken Story menu items include their Korean fried chicken  wings and sandwiches (the secret is in their tasty sauces, Choi said)  as well as their wide variety of boba teas, which Choi noted is originally from Taiwan but is embraced by Korean culture as well. Sides include dumplings, kimchi fries, honey garlic cheese fries and more.

According to Choi, they are mixing things up on their menu every month. Their current special is potato twists, but they have also featured a chicken teriyaki sandwich, different boba flavors and corn dog toppings.

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And it seems the community is really embracing the culinary variety Chicken Story offers.

"We got more love than we expected, it's kind of overwhelming," said Choi, noting their customer base is growing and slowly gaining regulars.

A spread of Korean corn dogs and Korean fried chicken sandwiches is displayed at Chicken Story in Fall River on Wednesday Nov. 22, 2023.

Choi said he sees a mix of two types of customers  those who are familiar with Korean cuisine and seek it out and those who don't really know what they are about but are excited to explore the unique menu.

He's also seeing crossover with familiar Providence patrons popping up in their SouthCoast Chicken Story spots.

Taiyaki shop coming soon with the viral fish ice cream

Choi is hopping on another foodie trend that's gone viral with the addition of yet another shop right next door to Chicken Story.

Fish ice cream isn't something that sounds very appetizing. But this treat, which you've likely been introduced to via drool-worthy Instagram posts, is not what it seems.

Korean fried chicken wings are available at Chicken Story, with locations in Fall River and New Bedford, coated in a number of sauces, such as K-Buffalo, Korean Secret, sweet soy garlic and gochujang BBQ.

Choi's upcoming Stafford Road dessert stop will be serving up Taiyaki, a popular Japanese street food that's basically a baked cake, shaped like a fish, with ice cream filling.

Plans are still in the works for that venture, but Choi said he hopes to open it by next summer.

Chicken Story looking to expand

Even though he has a lot under his belt, Choi said he is always looking for new projects. As more and more people familiarize themselves with Chicken Story's unique flavors, Choi hopes to expand the brand to more locations in the future.

Fall River's Chicken Story is solely a takeout operation. However, there is some limited seating inside its New Bedford site.

Both Chicken Story locations are open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, check out Chicken Story's Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River, New Bedford restaurants offers taste of Korean street food
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler is under criminal investigation for allegations related to sexual battery, including rape, according to a complaint filed with the Sarasota Police Department.

A heavily redacted 13-page report released Thursday includes mention of rape and had been sexual batteredon 10/02/2023. The report offers few additional details other than mentioning that the alleged incident happened in Sarasota, where Ziegler is from.

Zieglers name does not appear in the redacted document that was released publicly, but it was provided by the police department after NBC News specifically asked for a complaint filed against Ziegler, who did not return a request seeking comment.

The Florida Center for Government Accountability was the first to report on the news.

"We acknowledge the reports that there is an investigation being conducted by the Sarasota Police Department regarding Mr. Ziegler. Mr. Ziegler has been fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department," Ziegler's attorney Derek Byrd said in a statement. "We are confident that once the police investigation is concluded that no charges will be filed and Mr. Ziegler will be completely exonerated."

"Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain. I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded," he added.

Ziegler and his wife are among the states most prominent Republicans. He leads the statewide Republican Party and Bridget Ziegler is a well-known school choice advocate who helped start Moms for Liberty, a group focused on getting conservative women elected to school boards across the country.

In a now-deleted post on X, the group said the allegations were "another attempt today to ruin the reputation of a strong woman fighting for America."

Tiffany Justice, the co-founder and president of Moms for Liberty, said she was the one who tweeted the post  and then deleted it because of the response it was receiving.

"The things people were saying were so horrific I didnt want to give an outlet to it," she told NBC News.

"Bridget was an original founder of Moms for Liberty, but she stepped back from the organizations board in 2021," Justice added. "We have learned long ago to not believe everything we read online, and we are confident she will get to tell her side of things to those who are interested in more than click bait."

Bridget Ziegler is also a member of the Sarasota County School Board and was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, which oversees much of the business operations of Walt Disney World. The creation of the board was championed by DeSantis amid a political fight with Disney.

News: Christian Ziegler and his wife, Sarasota County School Board member Bridget Ziegler (Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald Tribune via USA Today Network file)

Bridget Ziegler did not return a request for comment.

Speaking to reporters after his debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sean Hannity's Fox News show, DeSantis called the allegations "serious" and said Ziegler should resign.

"I dont see how he can continue with that investigation ongoing given the gravity of those situations," DeSantis said. "And so, I think he should step aside. I think he should tend to that. Hes innocent until proven guilty, but we just cant have a party chair that is under that type of scrutiny. And so, I hope that  I hope the charges arent true. Ive known him, Ive known Bridget, theyve been friends. But the mission is more important."

Rumor of the criminal investigation began to spread Wednesday night and have now left the Florida GOP, which dominates state-level politics, reeling as 2024 fast approaches.

Word of the criminal complaint and sexual escapades of the Zieglers has been spreading like wildfire over the last 24 hours, a Republican operative said. Its all politicos from Sarasota to Tallahassee have been talking about.

Last week, Ziegler approached party staffers to inquire about rules related to removing a chairman. At the time, the inquiry confused the staffers, who were unclear why the chairman would ask about those specific rules, according to a Florida Republican directly familiar with Zieglers line of questions.

The scandal is surfacing on the heels of what was a national spotlight moment for Florida Republicans, who earlier this month hosted their Freedom Summit, an event that featured Ziegler on stage with most of the GOP presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and DeSantis. Based on the complaint released by law enforcement, the alleged incident occurred almost one month to the day prior to the Nov. 4 summit held in Orlando.

The party released a statement saying it was aware of the allegations against Ziegler.

"An investigation is being conducted by the authorities and RPOF will not comment on an ongoing investigation," the statement read.

Ziegler became chairman of the party in February after a bruising battle against party Vice Chairman Evan Power, who lost by roughly 20 votes in a race that involved heavy doses of presidential politics.

The race to lead Floridas Republican Party headed into the 2024 presidential election cycle was viewed as a proxy war between Trump supporters who backed Ziegler and supporters of DeSantis, who for the most part supported Power.

I think [Ziegler and Power] are strong conservatives. And in general, the lines might be blurred a bit, but I think you can definitely see some semblance of a proxy war, state Rep. Alex Andrade told Politico in January of the Donald Trump and DeSantis dynamic in the chairmans race. I dont know if it is intentional or not, but you can see it.

Some DeSantis supporters have said they see subtle signs that under Ziegler, the party has leaned toward Trump in the GOP presidential primary.

The Florida Republican Party has recently seen a staff exodus, including its executive director and top political and communications staffers.

The Florida Democratic Party has already called for Ziegler's resignation.

Allegations of rape and sexual battery are severe and should be taken seriously, Chairwoman Nikki Fried said. I applaud the accusers bravery in coming forward against a political figure as powerful as Christian Ziegler, and I trust that the Sarasota Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations of criminal behavior."
Former chancellor and veteran Labour politician Alistair Darling has died aged 70.

The long-serving MP died after spending time in hospital being treated for cancer, a spokesman for his family said.

A statement issued on behalf of his family said: The death of Alistair Darling, a former chancellor of the Exchequer and long-serving member of the Labour cabinet, was announced in Edinburgh today.

Mr Darling, the much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna, died after a short spell in Western General Hospital under the wonderful care of the cancer team.

He served as a Labour MP from 1987 to 2015 and was chancellor during the financial crisis of 2008.

He retired from the House of Lords in 2020 just five years after being appointed a life peer.

Mr Darling led the pro-Union Better Together campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Alistair Darling led the Better Together campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum (Philip Toscano/PA)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Alistair Darling. My heart goes out to his family, particularly Maggie, Calum and Anna, whom he loved so dearly.

Alistair lived a life devoted to public service. He will be remembered as the chancellor whose calm expertise and honesty helped to guide Britain through the tumult of the global financial crisis.

He was a lifelong advocate for Scotland and the Scottish people and his greatest professional pride came from representing his constituents in Edinburgh.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have benefited from Alistairs counsel and friendship. He was always at hand to provide advice built on his decades of experience  always with his trademark wry, good humour.

Alistair will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. His loss to the Labour Party, his friends and his family is immeasurable.

Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown during Prime Ministers Questions (PA)

Gordon Brown, prime minister during Mr Darlings time as chancellor, said he was deeply saddened by his death.

He said: Alistair will be remembered as a statesman of unimpeachable integrity whose life was defined by a strong sense of social justice and who gained a global reputation for the assured competence and the exercise of considered judgment he brought to the handling of economic affairs.

Mr Brown said that as chancellor from 2007 to 2010 Mr Darling guided the Treasury and the United Kingdom through traumatic financial events.

He added: He was held in the highest esteem by me and all who worked with him for the way in which he handled the fall of the major banks and negotiated international agreements with fellow finance ministers.

I, like many, relied on his wisdom, calmness in a crisis and his humour.

Mr Brown said Mr Darling was resolute and courageous in making the case for Scotlands place in the United Kingdom as chairman of the Better Together Campaign.

He added: Alistairs family were central to everything he did. I send my deepest condolences to his loving wife Maggie and their children Calum and Anna. He will be missed by all who knew and respected him and benefited from the great work he did.

I am deeply saddened to hear of Alistair's passing. He dedicated his life to public service and was a giant of Scottish politics. My thoughts with his wife Margaret, children, family, friends and colleagues at this sad time. https://t.co/xd0NjLnNWb  Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) November 30, 2023

Former prime minister Sir John Major said Mr Darling will be much missed across the political spectrum.

He said: Alistair was a decent man who brought civility, reason and intelligence to politics.

He was an adornment to Parliament  both in government and in opposition  and a fine example for others to follow.

Jeremy Hunt, the current occupant of 11 Downing Street, said: One of the great chancellors, hell be remembered for doing the right thing for the country at a time of extraordinary turmoil.

My deepest sympathies to his family.

Scotlands First Minister Humza Yousaf also paid tribute.

He posted on X, formerly Twitter: I am deeply saddened to hear of Alistairs passing. He dedicated his life to public service and was a giant of Scottish politics.

My thoughts with his wife Margaret, children, family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.
The new Tim Hortons at 8910 Westheimer. Tim Hortons is opening another location in the Houston area, this time in Cy-Fair. The first cars in line for its Dec. 1 opening also will get a full year of free coffee from the Canada-based coffeehouse. Tim Hortons The new Tim Hortons at 8910 Westheimer. Tim Hortons is opening another location in the Houston area, this time in Cy-Fair. The first cars in line for its Dec. 1 opening also will get a full year of free coffee from the Canada-based coffeehouse. Tim Hortons Tim Hortons is opening another location in the Houston area, this time in Cy-Fair. The first cars in line for its Dec. 1 opening also will get a full year of free coffee from the Canada-based coffeehouse. Tim Hortons/Handout

Tim Hortons is opening another location in the Houston area, this time in Cy-Fair.

The first cars in line for its Dec. 1 opening also will get a full year of free coffee from the Canada-based coffeehouse.

ALSO SEE: Expect a rainy commute Thursday morning as storms move into Houston area

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The first 50 cars in line for the 5 a.m. opening of the new location at 13451 Northwest Freeway will receive the free coffee for a year offer in the form of 160,600 reward points, or enough points for one coffee a day for 365 days.

Guests who show up between 6-9 a.m. can win merchandise from a spin on a prize wheel.

Tim Hortons recently opened a location that is open 24/7 at 8910 Westheimer Road.

According to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, more Houston locations are planned for Airport Boulevard in April 2024, Greenhouse Road in August 2024, Texas 6 in November 2024 and League City in March 2025. All dates listed in the filings are estimates.

Tim Hortons is known for its coffee and donuts, and the coffeehouse is currently serving holiday drinks such as peppermint lattes and baked goods such as peppermint Timbits and hot cocoa crumble muffins.
Saving enough money for retirement is always a challenge.

But for anyone who doesnt have emergency savings, or who has student loans to pay or who is a long-term part-time worker, that challenge is especially hard.

Starting next year, however, the two most recent retirement laws  Secure Act and the Secure Act 2.0  contain four provisions that may make it easier for some to bolster their retirement savings while also meeting more immediate financial obligations.

A lot will be up to your employer, however, for two reasons. First, of the four provisions they are only required to implement one of them. The others are optional, said Brian Graff, CEO of the American Retirement Association.

And second, even employers who choose to implement one or more of the provisions may not do so until later in the year as they are still awaiting IRS guidance on outstanding questions and figuring out the administrative complexities of implementation, Graff noted.

1. Making student loan payments could help boost your 401(k)

Paying off student loans can put a crimp in how much someone can save for retirement. Recent college graduates on staff may be most likely to have student loan debt, but their older colleagues do, too.

The National Institute on Retirement Security found that the 13% of employed Gen Xers  those next in line to retire after the Baby Boomers  still have student loan debt, with a median of $25,000 and an average of $40,000.

And, NIRS noted, The average amount of retirement savings is consistently lower for Gen X households with student loan debt than those without.

Starting next year, Secure 2.0 will let employers offer matching contributions to employees who are making student loan payments and put that match into the employees 401(k) account. That way, the employee can accrue retirement savings even if they arent able to make significant contributions themselves.

A survey by ARA found that a third of employers said they were seriously considering offering a match and Graff thinks more may get on board by 2025. A lot of employers think its a good benefit to attract and retain younger workers, he said.

Apart from Secure 2.0 provisions, Congress passed a separate law that lets employers give workers up to $5,250 tax free to offset the payment of principal and interest on their workers federal and private student loans. That provision is only in effect, however, until December 31, 2025.

Such a benefit, if an employer offers it, might free up an employee to put more into their 401(k).

2. Getting easier access to 401(k) money for emergencies

Secure 2.0 includes two provisions that pertain to emergency savings. Both are optional for employers to implement.

The one companies are most likely to adopt, at least initially, is essentially an additional form of a hardship withdrawal from your 401(k), Graff said.

When the ARA surveyed plan sponsors, 10% said they will add it and another 44% said they are taking a hard look at it.

This provision lets you take out up to $1,000 a year, penalty free, from your 401(k) for any type of emergency, no explanation required. The withdrawal will still be subject to income tax.

Employees may choose to pay the money back within three years through regular paycheck contributions, and they would get a tax deduction for those contributions just as they do for regular 401(k) contributions. But in order to take a second withdrawal of $1,000 in another year, the first amount withdrawn must have been paid back in full.

3. Building emergency savings, get a 401(k) match

The second emergency saving provision is often referred to as the side car. It involves an employer creating an emergency fund for an employee within their 401(k) plan, and letting an employee make direct contributions to that fund. The employer would cap how much may go into the fund, but under the law it cant exceed $2,500.

Your employer would match your contributions to the emergency fund but that match would go into the retirement portion of your 401(k).

Your contributions to the emergency fund would be subject to income tax, so you would be funding it with after-tax money. The employer match, however, would still be treated as tax deferred to you  meaning the amount wont show up as taxable income to you in the year it is made. And it will be allowed to grow untaxed until you withdraw it in retirement.

Once you have hit the cap in the emergency fund, you may either stop making contributions or redirect further contributions to your 401(k) retirement savings account, Graff said.

4. Lowering the bar for 401(k) participation

The provision that employers must implement as a result of both Secure Act and Secure 2.0 pertains to long-term part-time workers and their eligibility to participate in a companys 401(k) plan.

It used to be a part-time worker had to work at least 1,000 hours over a consecutive 12-month period to be eligible. But thanks to the Secure Act passed in 2019, a part-time worker who has worked at least 500 hours over a 12-month period for three consecutive years (e.g., from January 1, 2021 until December 31, 2023) will be eligible to participate in their employers 401(k) plan in 2024.

And Secure 2.0, which was passed at the end of the last year, made the eligibility criteria even easier, requiring that part-time workers who log at least 500 hours a year only need to do so for two consecutive years to be eligible. But that provision wont take effect until after December 31, 2024. That means in 2025, any part-timer who has logged 500 years annually in 2023 and 2024 would be eligible to start saving in their employers 401(k) and would be eligible for the employer match.

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ELLWOOD CITY  When it comes to travel photos, Sarah Beatrice might have us all beat.

The Ellwood City resident's photo of herself grinning and gripping a rosary at the Mount Everest base camp is quite a conversation starter.

Sarah Beatrice at Mount Everest base camp.

The photo doesn't show the tears of emotion she wept or suggest the hospital visit required amidst her 11-day Himalayan hike to an elevation of 17,598 feet.

Her triumphant trek came intertwined with peril.

"There's a path, but there are some steep ledges, and yaks are going up and down it all day long, so you have to hug the mountain because yaks can  and have  pushed people over the cliff and killed them," Beatrice said.

Here's the story of an amazing journey.

Sarah Beatrice of Ellwood City at Mount Everest base camp.

Challenge, celebration & commemoration

Beatrice, 38, loves to travel.

The 2004 Lincoln High School graduate purposely chooses a jack-of-all-trades occupational path  like driving seasonally for UPS and working security at Pittsburgh Steelers games  to retain the flexibility to embark on worldwide adventures.

She annually tries to take one autumn trip that celebrates and honors the life of her father, Jim Beatrice, who died in 2016 and would have turned 80 this year.

Beatrice and traveling companion, Ashley Kinley, a friend she met when living and working in Jackson, Wyo., initially kicked around the idea of journeying to Greece and Turkey, or Spain and Morocco, before arriving on the Mount Everest base camp as their destination.

"It was collaborative, tossing around ideas. It wasn't a lifelong dream," Beatrice said.

They never planned to try to reach the summit of Mount Everest, an extraordinarily dangerous climb of 29,032 feet, appropriate only for the world's premier, highly trained mountain climbers.

But the hike to base camp, and an elevation of well over 3 miles, would require stamina and fortitude, so Beatrice did some training.

"I ran a lot," she said. "I ran up hills a lot."

She'd average three miles a day at Rock Point Park in Wayne Township, near Ellwood City.

"I got my lungs healthy. But other than that, we didn't do a lot of training," Beatrice said.

Packing the necessities of a sleeping bag, fleece puffer, underwear, socks, warm clothes and a water bladder (soft-sided, flexible plastic containers for water), their quest to Mount Everest base camp in Nepal started in October, during warm enough weather for the women to still wear T-shirts.

Though the higher they hiked, the bigger and more perilous came the challenges.

A photo snapped by Sarah Beatrice of Ellwood City on her hike to Mount Everest base camp.

No warm water or heat, with thin air

"When we got to 14,000 feet, 15,000 feet, 16,000, I put on my fleece and down jacket," Beatrice said.

Along the way, they slept in tea houses, which like in many parts of Asia included a common area for food and drink, with separate rooms for lodging, similar to a hostel, and shared restrooms.

Common rooms typically drew heat from burning yak dung, "though the sleeping spaces were not heated. We slept in sleeping bags."

Beatrice kept her feet warmer by pressing them up against a Nalgene water bottle filled with boiling water from the teahouses.

"There's no hot water above 14,000 feet. No showering. No soap," Beatrice said. "Toilets are flush to the ground."

Vehicles can't travel that narrow, elevated path. Yaks and sherpas, highly skilled Tibetan mountaineers who assist foreign trekkers and mountain climbers, carry supplies to that height.

A photo snapped by Sarah Beatrice of Ellwood City on her hike to Mount Everest base camp.

"I saw one of the sherpas hauling a refrigerator-sized container on his back," Beatrice said.

Be it four-footed or two-footed transportation, that supply chain journey takes multiple days, so Beatrice and Kinley heeded advice not to eat meat, which could have spoiled without refrigeration.

"Basically, we were vegetarians most of the trip."

Onward and upward they tread.

The higher they climbed, the heavier their sleeping bags and supplies felt, so they hired a Sherpa porter ($12 a day for them both) to carry those items.

"Around 14,000 feet I started to get sick," Beatrice. "I had a headache, coughing. My nose wouldn't stop running."

So, she visited the hospital in the town of Dingboche, heeding the advice of a doctor to stay at that altitude for three nights to build up her strength and immunity.

She rested there for three days before the hike continued upward.

At 16,000 feet came gnarly headaches.

"I kept checking my oxygen level on my oximeter, thinking 'I'm going to die.'"

While nearing the end of their Everest hike, a 30-year-old woman on a similar hike died in her sleep from altitude sickness at Gorek Shep, elevation 16,942 feet, the final village before base camp, "making it all seem so real," Beatrice said. "We walked past the wrecked helicopter, heard the news of her dying and heard constant rescue helicopters."

But Beatrice and Kinley powered on and reached their base camp destination.

When Beatrice spotted the marked boulder designating base camp, she climbed up it, laid on her back and felt awash in feelings.

Sarah Beatrice at Mount Everest base camp.

I laid on that rock and cried and cried and cried because it was a very emotional journey," Beatrice said.

She thought about her dog, Bailey, a chocolate lab-mix who had died at age 15 not long before her trip.

Beatrice had brought along a few of Bailey's hairs and ceremoniously left them at base camo.

Sarah Beatrice at Mount Everest base camp.

And Beatrice thought about her late dad, imagining the conversation they would have had:

"He'd have said, 'Oh, Sarah, why? I want you to do it because you want to. But Everest? That's so dangerous.' I'd say, 'Dad, it's fine.' He'd say, 'iIt's not, but I want you to do what makes you happy.'"

She posed for a photo at base camp with the rosary given to her by one of her father's friends, Pudue, who had checked in on her frequently.

Sarah Beatrice of Ellwood City at Mount Everest base camp.

What a view

It took 11 days to hike up to base camp and two more days down to the Nepali town of Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital, where Beatrice and Kinley took a helicopter out.

When hiking the Himalayas, "every day you're in awe," Beatrice said.

"On a clear day, you can see everything, and we had clear skies every day."

"You can look and see Mount Everest peeking through at the top, behind other mountains."

Past base camp lies glacial ice and dangerous crevices where the hardcore, life-risking climbers use ladders.

"We saw some avalanches," Beatrice said. "I heard a loud noise, and said, 'What was that, a thunderstorm? ... Oh god, it's an avalanche.'"

She'll never forget the noise made by glacier-like ice falling thousands of feet into the lake below.

"It makes the coolest sound."

A photo snapped by Sarah Beatrice of Ellwood City on her hike to Mount Everest base camp.

Reaction & hopeful response

For some of her previous trips, Beatrice didn't share photos on social media until her journey had finished, but she posted pictures during her Himalayan hike, so friends followed along and gave her encouragement.

"People were very blown away by it," Beatrice said. "A lot of people were asking questions. Everyone was super interested and had really positive things to say. Though some said I'm crazy or asked, 'Why did you keep going?'

"I had a goal," she said. "I had to."

Beatrice hopes to use the opportunity to educate people, beginning with the kindness of the Nepalis.

"People there are amazing," she said. "So nice, and they don't want a thing. Some places you visit, everyone's real nice though then you realize they just want a tip. But people there helped and genuinely didn't want anything in return."

Beatrice enjoyed dining on chow mein, and found it interesting that the noodle dish was served with ketchup every time.

"I don't know if it was because we're Americans and they assume every time we order something we expect ketchup," she said,

Tea houses also served tasty fry bread, eggs and fried rice.

Beatrice heeded the advice of locals and regularly ate garlic soup.

"Supposedly that thins your blood which helps with altitude," she said.

Garlic soup is a taste she doesn't miss.

Hiking to base camp physically drained her.

"I lost 12 pounds. It's great when you accidentally do that," Beatrice said. "My goal is to keep it off."

Her longer-term goal is to uplift others.

"I want to inspire people to travel and do what they want to do," Beatrice said. "Often the only limits you have are the ones you put on yourself.

"I do whatever I can to make money to go on my next sustainable adventure."

She might visit Jamaica next, to soak in the sun.

Or maybe Patagonia, the Camino de Santigo, the Inca Trail. or a Spain and Morocco twofer.

"I could go on and on," Beatrice said with a laugh. "People think the world is dangerous and that mostly comes from people who do not travel. I've only felt in danger one time in the 23 countries and 49 states I've been to.

"I'd like to start a travel company; host hikes, do pickups at the airport. But I don't know how to pull the trigger on that."

Well, she already can draw from experience and an inspiring story.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ellwood City woman hikes to Mount Everest base camp; 17,000-feet up
By Kantaro Komiya and Tim Kelly

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan said it has asked the U.S. to suspend all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one fell into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan, marking the country's first fatal U.S. military plane crash in five years.

The U.S. Air Force said the cause of the mishap during a routine training mission, which killed at least one person, is currently unknown. Search and rescue operations to find the remaining seven crew are still ongoing.

"The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region... and we are requesting the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe," Minoru Kihara said in parliament on Thursday.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, will suspend flights of the transport aircraft until the circumstances of the incident are clarified, another defence ministry official said.

A spokesperson for U.S. military forces in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Our focus is on the ongoing search and rescue operations, and we're praying for a safe return," Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, said in a post on X.

Witnesses said the aircraft's left engine appeared to be on fire as it approached an airport for an emergency landing in clear weather and light winds, media reported.

Developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopter, the hybrid V-22, which can land and take off like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft, is operated by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy, and the SDF.

The deployment of the aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics of the U.S. military presence in the southwest islands saying it is prone to accidents. The U.S. and Japan say it is safe.

Japan hosts the biggest overseas concentration of U.S. military power, with the country home to the only forward-deployed U.S. carrier strike group, its Asian airlift hub, fighter squadrons and a U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary force.

In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three U.S. Marines.

Another crash-landed in the ocean off the southern island of Okinawa in December 2016, the first such incident in Japan, prompting a temporary U.S. military grounding of the aircraft.

The last fatal U.S. military aircraft crash in Japan was 2018, when a mid-air collision during a training exercise killed six people, according to the defence ministry.

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, Kantaro Komiya and Tim Kelly; Writing by John Geddie; Editing by Kim Coghill and Gerry Doyle)
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The Djoser pyramid in Egypt is known as the oldest in the world at 4,700 years old. A new paper published in Archaeological Prospection calls that record into question with the strong claims of a prehistoric pyramid in Indonesia that is up to 27,000 years old. Not everyone is buying the research, however, and now the journal has launched an investigation into the study.

Im surprised [the paper] was published as is, Flint Dibble, archaeologist at Cardiff University, told Nature, which first reported the investigation into the paper. Dibbles questions pertain not so much the data from the Gunung Padang site, but rather to the conclusions drawn by the authors.

The papers authors write that they have compelling evidence of a complex and sophisticated megalithic site. Using seismic tomography, the researchers have come to believe that hidden cavities or chambers exist, showing the presence of multi-layer constructions.

There could be other explanations.

The Gunung Padang site in West Java, Indonesia, includes a raised earth site. If underneath the soil lies human-built caverns and rooms, it would offer up not only the oldest known pyramid by thousands of years, but also the oldest known use of stone masonry. This would completely undo previous beliefs surrounding civilization advancement in the Paleolithic era.

These findings offer valuable insights into the construction history of Gunung Padang, the authors wrote in the paper, shedding light on the engineering capabilities of ancient civilizations during the Paleolithic era.

To arrive at their conclusions, the authors used ground-penetrating technologies to uncover what they believe are four layers of construction that include rooms throughout differing phases of build. The first layer is dated to 27,000 to 16,000 years ago, and was done by carbon dating the soil drilled from the site. They also believe that the technology shows sculpted stoneworkmeticulously sculpted, to be exactand the arranging of rocks in a planned way.

But theres two giant question marks. Does all this technologyand no visual evidencereally show the work of human (or hominin) hands, or could the ground have shifted over thousands of years, forming layers that left voids in the soil? And what does it mean that no researchers have found evidence of human activity in that area dating that far back, let alone any record of known organized settlements or societies?

Dibble, according to Nature, claims that the natural movement and weathering of rocks can sculpt stone and roll down hills to make it appear planned. But Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, geologist at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia and study co-author, told Nature that the stones were neatly arranged, shaped, and too large for easy natural transportation. Dibble counters that theres no evidence to believe that the rocks were shaped by humans.

Then comes the dating. Bill Farley, archaeologist at southern Connecticut State University, told Nature theres been no evidence that an advanced civilization existed at that site during the last ice age. And while soil samples may well be from 27,000 years ago, without the telltale signs of human activity (such as charcoal or bone fragments), theres no reason to believe that there was any sort of large settlement in existence during that timeespecially in Indonesia. The oldest known complex societies with settlements, which would be required to build pyramid-type structures, is 9,000 years old and located in modern-day Turkey.

The looming question marks on the paper have been enough to warrant another look by the publisher. A deeper investigation into the paper may also spark a more intense scrutiny of Gunung Padang.

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Christmas commercials have become a staple of the holiday season for many retail giants, from Disney to British department store John Lewis, with morals and miniature stories often contained within them.

But one little bar in Northern Ireland, Charlies Bar, has eclipsed them all this year, producing a heart-warming commercial that has gone viral, as social media users praised its beautiful message and poignant storyline.

The video, posted Friday on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, depicts an old man laying flowers at his wifes grave before walking down the streets of Enniskillen, attempting to greet strangers - who take no notice of him.

He enters a bar, where he sits alone until he is approached by a friendly little dog, shortly followed by the dogs young owners, and they all enjoy a festive drink together.

The video, which is just over two minutes long, finishes with a quote often attributed to the poet W.B. Yeats: There are no strangers here, only friends you havent yet met.

Theres often a lot of loneliness at Christmas timeand so the story was about kindness, Aoife Teague, a content creator who filmed and edited the commercial, told CNN.

It was about spreading love and being aware that there are people out there who are on their own at Christmas time that dont find it a magical time of the year and find it quite lonely  Its about being a friend and the dog sort of represents a person making the first move to go over to speak to somebody and the impact that can make to their day.

Charlies Bar has served the residents of Enniskillen, a small town in Northern Ireland about 80 miles southwest of the capital, Belfast, since 1944 and has stayed in the same family for that time.

Its manager, Una Burns, worked closely with Teague to produce the commercial. Teague said Burns and a friend came up with the storyline after encountering several customers who were lonely and came to the bar in search of company.

Then, after the three of them storyboarded the commercial basically on a piece of paper, it wasnt  the professional way, Teague filmed it over the course of three hours.

The four stars of the commercial are all local residents, Teague said, explaining that the couple were Unas friends who just happened to have a lovely dog, Missy, and Martin McManus, who plays the old man, performs in local community theater.

As of Thursday, the video had accumulated 1.2 million views on TikTok alone since it was posted on Friday evening, as well as more than 147,000 likes on Facebook, a response that Teague says still hasnt really sunk in.

And its impact stretched beyond social media, she added, with people from all around the world, including Canada, the United States and Germany, sending messages saying either they relate to the video or the video means an awful lot to them.

Theres also been  even strangers who have rung up the bar and donated money towards someone who might be coming into the bar this Christmas on their own to just buy them a drink or offer them a chat, she said.

I think this video has really impacted people in ways that wed hoped but in some ways that we never imagined, either.

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Lori Vallow has a new home hundreds of miles away from Idaho.

The so-called cult mom, who was convicted earlier this year for the murders of her two children in the Gem State, was very chatty with deputies the 18-hour drive to Arizona where she faces conspiracy charges in the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

A new mug shot was taken as she was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on Wednesday, showing her with a wide-eyed expression.

At a press conference on Thursday, Sheriff Paul Penzone revealed Lori was very talkative on the long ride to Arizona, and described her demeanor as sociable.

I just understand that she was very sociable... talked the entire trip, he said. He did not give details on what was said, but added he was not aware that she gave any specific statements related the investigation. I just know she was very chatty.

The 50-year-old made her initial appearance at the Maricopa County Superior courthouse when they arrived early Thursday morning. She asked if her two cases would be combined, to which the judge explained that there would be two separate proceedings. Her first hearing date is set for 7 December.

Lori Vallow is seen in her new mug shot following her extradition to Arizona (Maricopa County Jail)

Lori has been incarcerated at the Pocatello Womens Correctional Center since August when Judge Steven Boyce handed down three life sentences for the murders of her children, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, and 7-year-old JJ Vallow.

She was also found guilty of conspiring to commit the murder of her alleged cult leader husbandChad Daybells former wife, Tammy Daybell.

Last month, Idaho Gov Brad Little signed an extradition warrant allowing Arizona officials to temporarily take custody of Vallow so she can face more criminal charges.

According to a statement provided to East Idaho News by the Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone, deputies in Arizona travelled to Idaho to pick Daybell up in a vehicle as weather created complications to have her travel by air.

On Nov. 30, deputies arrived back in Maricopa County just after midnight. Suspect Vallow was booked in the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office ITR facility. This is one example of the exceptional, understated and efficient operations conducted by the Extraditions Detail of MCSO, Mr Penzone said.

Suspect Lori Vallow will stay in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office. The Maricopa county Attorneys Office will assume prosecution of the allegations. Pursuing criminals and bringing them to justice is what we do, and were very good at it.

Charles was shot and killed by Loris brother, Alex Cox. Cox told police he acted in self-defence, and he was never charged. Cox died later that year of what investigators said were natural causes.

Shortly after Charles died, Lori and her kids moved to Idaho. Prosecutors said she made the move to be closer to her then-boyfriend, Mr Daybell, and that together the two plotted to remove any obstacle to their happiness.

Two weeks before they got married on a beach in Hawaii while the children were missing, Mr Daybells then-wife Tammy died of what was initially believed to be natural causes.

But authorities became suspicious when Lori and Mr Daybell married just two weeks later, later determining Tammy had been asphyxiated.

Charles and Lori Vallow pictured together. Lori is charged with conspiracy to murder Charles in Arizona (Provided)

Meanwhile, another person connected to the family reported an attempted shooting.

Brandon Boudreaux, who had recently divorced Loris niece, said someone driving a Jeep had shot at him outside his home. The Jeep matched the description of one that had been purchased by Charles before his death.

The Arizona indictment charges Lori with conspiring to kill Charles and Mr Boudreaux. If found guilty of the conspiracy charges in Arizona, she could face another life sentence.

Charles death was the first step in a wider plot by Lori and her current husband Mr Daybell to rid their lives of obstacles as they termed their spouses and her children, as her reial heard in text messages entered into evidence earlier this year.

Mr Boudreaux was married to Vallows niece Melani Pawlowski (she remarried in November 2019 to Ian Pawlowski, who testified at Vallows trial). Melani was very close to Vallow and believed in many of the same bizarre doomsday prophecies espoused by her and Mr Daybell.

This ultimately ended her marriage to Mr Boudreaux with whom she shared custody of their five children. From evidence heard at Lori trial, it was apparent that he too was considered an obstacle and  in their beliefs  a dark spirit had possessed him.

Google location data allegedly showed Alex Cox travelling from Idaho to Gilbert, Arizona, in early October 2019.

On 2 October an attempt was made on the life of Mr Boudreaux when he was shot at after returning home from the gym. He had earlier taken his older children to school and dropped the youngest off at Ms Pawlowskis home.

The shots were fired from the back window of a grey Jeep Wrangler that had had its back spare tyre removed. Video footage from a storage facility in Idaho showed Cox and Vallow placing the spare tyre in a storage facility the day before he drove south to Maricopa County and then taking it back out a few days later.

Mr Boudreaux gave heartbreaking testimony at Vallows trial about the end of his marriage to Ms Pawlowski and broke down as he recalled having to be the person who identified JJ Vallows remains.

Cox died in December 2019, after telling Zulema Pastenes  whom he had married shortly before  that he feared he would be the fall guy for Mr Daybell and his sister.

Mr Daybell has been in the Fremont County Jail since he was arrested in June 2020.

He is set to stand trial 1 April on murder charges in Ada County, where his wife was tried. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case is due to stand trial for separate sex offences (PA) (PA Media)

A man under investigation for the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann will stand trial in Germany on five separate sexual assault charges.

Convicted child abuser Christian Brueckner, who is behind bars in Germany for raping a woman in the same area of the Algarve region of Portugal from where Madeleine went missing in 2007, was formally identified as an official suspect in the McCann case in April 2022.

Under German privacy rules, a spokesperson would not give the name of the suspect, who is charged with three counts of aggravated rape and two counts of sexual abuse of children in Portugal between 12 December 2000 and 11 June 2017.

The court in the German city of Braunschweig set 16 February as the start date for the trial.

Christian Brueckner is already serving a jail sentence for raping a woman (Via REUTERS)

Brueckner was first named as an arguido, or formal suspect, in Madeleines disappearance in April 2022 after coming to the attention of the authorities in 2017.

He had reportedly been using a yellow and white VW T3 Westfalia campervan in and around Praia da Luz  near the resort where the McCanns were holidaying at the time Madeleine vanished.

German prosecutors say telecomms data shows Brueckner received a phone call on 3 May 2007 near their apartment, despite him denying he was in the area at the time.

At the end of May 2023, a major search was undertaken of a Portuguese reservoir that Brueckner had allegedly described as his little paradise.

On 1 June, German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said: A number of items were seized as part of the investigation. These will be in the evaluated in the coming days and weeks.

Portuguese police apologised to Kate and Gerry McCann earlier this year (PA)

Whether individual items actually have a connection to the Madeleine McCann case cannot yet be said. The investigations conducted here in Braunschweig against the 45-year-old suspect are expected to continue for a long time.

Police in Germany claim to have concrete evidence that the British girl is dead though this has not been proven.

This development comes shortly after Portguese police travelled to London earlier this year to apologise to the McCann family on how they handled the investigation.

In September 2007, four months after their daughter had vanished, Kate and Gerry McCann were named as suspects, and were questioned by detectives who believed they had strangled and concealed Madeleines body.

Mrs McCann later said she was offered a deal to admit covering up her daughters death in exchange for a shorter sentence.
Two teen boys have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting a 30-year-old man, police said.

Officers Thursday arrested a 15-year-old boy in the Oct. 7 shooting of Maurice Moore, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department news release. Police earlier arrested a 13-year-old boy Monday.

Police found Moore shot on the 2900 block of Baltimore Avenue, near Remount Road, at about 9 p.m.

The 13-year-old attended Turning Point Academy, an alternative school for students who violated Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools code of conduct, officials confirmed.

According to North Carolina statutes, a juvenile 13 or older charged with a Class A felony, such as first-degree murder, must be transferred to adult criminal court without a transfer hearing.

On the same block in March 2022, a 13-year-old boy and 14-year-old Kyrin Parker were shot near Southside Homes. Parker, who attended Randolph Middle School, later died at the hospital, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Harris County detention officer Robert Robertson was arrested Wednesday as he reported to work at the Harris County Jail at 701 N. San Jacinto. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

A Harris County detention officer has been indicted in connection with selling drugs and other contraband to inmates, according to authorities.

Grand jurors on Wednesday indicted the 24-year-old officer, Robert Robertson, with a charge of engaging in organized criminal activity after investigators determined he had been smuggling contraband  including drug-laced paper  into the jail. The criminal complaint states Robertson gave methoxy dimethyl oxobutane" to an inmate on Nov. 12.

Authorities arrested Robertson on Wednesday morning as he reported to work at 701 N. San Jacinto. He had worked for the sheriffs office for six years. Its unclear if Robertson has hired an attorney.

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He has no known criminal history in Harris County, records show.

More from the Houston Chronicle: Extent of scheme to bring drug-laced paper into Harris County Jail revealed through court records

The indictment comes amid a recent crackdown at the Harris County Jail aimed at blocking drugs from entry. Authorities have restricted how attorneys give jailed clients documents as an investigation turned to a Houston lawyer, Ronald Lewis, who was arrested earlier this month on allegations that he passed contraband to inmates in the form of paper laced with synthetic marijuana and other drugs.

The drug Robertson is alleged to have brought into the jail is the same as what Lewis allegedly smuggled in, according to court records.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who said more investigation is needed, did not link Robertson to Lewis or the recent deaths in the jail. A pair of overdose-related deaths prompted authorities in June to launch an investigation into the flow of drugs there. During that time, authorities seized more than 700 pieces of drug-laced paper that entered the jail.

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Court indicates more than one attorney may have helped bring tainted paper into the jail. Only one lawyer has been charged.

Robertson is scheduled to appear Thursday in the 488th District Court. Prosecutors intend to ask a judge to set bail at $50,000 after learning Robertson had plans to move to another state, according to court records.

This is the unraveling of a deadly drug smuggling ring, said Kim Smith, a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorneys Office.
Nattawat Chearananta | Dreamstime.com

The Nicaraguan government has barred Karen Celebertti, the director of the Miss Nicaragua beauty pageant, from re-entering the country. Following the victory of Miss Nicaragua Sheyniss Palacios in the Miss Universe pageant, photos of Palacios attending a 2018 anti-government rally went viral and she has become a symbol of the opposition to President Daniel Ortega. When Celebertti and her daughter arrived back at the Managua airport, they were placed on a plane to Mexico. In addition, police reportedly searched her home and briefly detained her husband. It isn't clear what grounds the government is citing to bar Celebertti, a Nicaraguan national, from returning to the country.

The post Brickbat: You Can't Go Home Again appeared first on Reason.com.
A South Dakota woman is headed to prison after officials say she cruelly punished multiple children for years.

Tina Sully, 53, was convicted of six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of felony child abuse.

The charges stem from her physically abusing and starving two children between 2003 and 2021, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office, District of South Dakota.

Sully was a foster and adoptive mother to several children, prosecutors said. Investigators accused her of abusing two of the children by beating them with belts or hangers and withholding food from them for days as punishment.

In a statement to McClatchy News, Sullys attorney Tracye L. Sherrill said, During both trials my client maintained her innocence and continues to do so to this day.

In September, Sully was found guilty of the six counts following a four-day jury trial in federal district court.

She was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also must pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $800.

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One of the Palestinian American college students shot in an attack in Burlington, Vt., over the weekend says the incident is very hard to grapple with and made him question his safety in the United States.

In the West Bank, were not safe because of the occupation, and as a Palestinian American, Im not safe in America because of people like this that might come out, Kinnan Abdalhamid, 20, told The New York Times in an interview a day after he was discharged from the hospital.

Abdalhamid was walking in Burlington last Saturday with two of his friends, Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, when a man approached them with a handgun and fired at least four rounds, according to the Burlington Police Department.

Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, said the shooting altered his perception of the Untied States. He questioned if it would make parents less willing to send their children to schools in America, The Times reported.

We kind of have this image of this place, he said. Its just kind of disheartening that now I feel like this is kind of shattering that image.

Awartani and Ali Ahmad remained in the hospital as of Wednesday, The Times reported. The Hill has reached out to Burlington police for an update on their status.

Awartanis mother, Elizabeth Price, told news outlets earlier this week her son has an incomplete spinal injury and that he may never walk again after a bullet lodged in his spine.

The three victims, all 20 years old and of Palestinian descent, were in Burlington visiting one of the victims families for the Thanksgiving holiday and were on their way back from bowling when the shooting occurred. Two of the men were wearing keffiyehs at the time of the shooting, police said.

Following a search of the area of the shooting, Jason Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday. When officers arrived at his apartment, Eaton didnt identify himself but told them he had been waiting for them, The Associated Press reported, citing a police affidavit.

He pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted second-degree murder Monday and is being held without bail ahead of his next court appearance.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the FBI, are assisting in the investigation, including determining whether the shooting was a hate crime, Attorney General Merrick Garland said earlier this week.

Sarah George, the states attorney of Chittenden County, said Monday that police did not currently have evidence of a hate crime enhancement, while noting, there is no question this was a hateful act.

Police are still investigating motive and asked the public and media to avoid making conclusions based on statements from people who know even less than we currently do.

The shooting sparked increased fears on U.S. campuses , which have already seen tensions spill over from Israels war with Hamas, which began after the militant groups Oct. 7 attack.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Jonathan Saul

LONDON (Reuters) - Commercial ships face increasing dangers at sea after armed groups have attacked and seized vessels in waters around the Red Sea and off the coast of Yemen, adding to perils for seafarers, shipping officials said on Wednesday.

An attempted hijacking of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday appears to have been carried out by armed Somali pirates and not Yemeni Houthis, despite the firing of missiles from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen afterwards, the Pentagon said on Monday.

The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since a brutal war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas broke out on Oct. 7.

On Nov. 19, Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader car carrier which was taken to the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, the vessel's owner said.

Both vessels had ownership links to Israeli business magnates, according to shipping records.

The International Chamber of Shipping association said the "attacks must stop immediately, and the innocent seafarers released".

"In all cases, these vessels are conducting their right of freedom of navigation and innocent passage," the ICS said in a statement.

An Israeli container shipping line said on Sunday it expected longer sailing times for its vessels.

"In light of the threat to safe transit of global trade in the Arabian and Red Seas, ZIM is taking temporary proactive measures to ensure the safety of its crews, vessels, and customers' cargo by re-routing some of its vessels," ZIM said.

U.S. maritime administration MARAD said in an advisory on Sunday that vessels faced multiple threats after the attacks.

"Exercise caution when transiting these areas and remain cognizant of evolving threats in this region," MARAD said.

Insurance industry sources said they expected war risk premiums to rise in the area, especially for Israel-linked shipping.

(Reporting by Jonathan Saul, additional reporting by Carolyn Cohn)
The tractors are back at work clearing land and building access roads for a $10 billion transmission line that the Biden administration describes as an important part of the nations transition to renewable energy. But Native American leaders have vowed to keep pushing the federal government to heed their concerns about the project cutting through a culturally significant valley in southern Arizona.

Billed by California-based developer Pattern Energy as an infrastructure undertaking bigger than the Hoover Dam, the SunZia transmission line will stretch about 550 miles (885 kilometers). It will funnel electricity from massive wind farms in central New Mexico to more populated areas as far away as California.

Executives and federal officials gathered in New Mexico in September to break ground on the project, touting negotiations that spanned years and resulted in the necessary approvals from the Bureau of Land Management.

In Arizona, federal land managers briefly halted work this month along a 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of the line through the San Pedro Valley after the Tohono O'odham Nation, other tribes and archaeologists raised concerns that the BLM had not formally consulted them before work began.

The Bureau of Land Management lifted the temporary suspension and work resumed Wednesday. The agency scheduled a Dec. 11 meeting with tribal leaders.

Federal land managers in a letter sent Monday to the developer said the timing of the information provided by the tribes relative to the many years that have gone into planning and permitting did not support pausing work. The agency noted that the right of way through the valley was issued in 2015.

The SunZia transmission line project is an important part of transitioning our nation to a clean energy economy by creating jobs, lowering energy costs and boosting local economies, and the BLM is committed to implementing it with as little impact as possible, agency spokesman Brian Hires said in a statement.

The BLM said it had met with tribal representatives during the pause and that it would work with tribes to evaluate whether the valley could be classified as a traditional cultural property while mitigating effects from the transmission line on cultural and archaeological sites. The agency said it has not received information on any additional cultural sites beyond those previously identified.

Tohono O'odham Chairman Verlon M. Jose said he was disappointed but not surprised that the federal government opted to move ahead before meeting its obligation to consult with the tribes.

Its more than a slap in the face. Its a punch to the gut, he said during an interview Wednesday. They reversed course and allowed construction to continue before the meeting could actually take place. You know, it is difficult to describe this decision as anything other than acting in bad faith.

Jose said bulldozers have been clearing roads and pads for the massive towers that will support the high-voltage lines so damage already has been done to land that contains what he described as a high concentration of sacred sites. He said tribal members are frustrated.

This means a lot to us, he said of the rolling hills and mountains that make up the region. There has not been true, meaningful consultation on this  all these years. And if we had worked together to address these issues, Im sure we could have mitigated the concerns here.

He added that the Tohono O'odham people have cultural and traditional responsibilities that call for them to care for the land and for people. As part of that, he said the tribe supports efforts to address climate change but insisted that development needs to be done in such a way that cultural and historic sites are given appropriate consideration under federal laws and regulations.

Like Jose, other tribal leaders have complained that the federal government often treats the consultation process as a check-the-box practice despite promises by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that tribes would have a seat at the table. From Nevada and New Mexico to Alaska, permitting decisions over mining projects and oil and development for example have highlighted what some tribal leaders say are shortcomings in the process.

Developers of the SunZia project argue that they have worked with tribes over the years and surveys were done to identify cultural resources in the San Pedro Valley.

Natalie McCue, Pattern Energys assistant vice president for environmental and permitting activities, said the company will continue to support the consultation process between the federal government and tribes and will adopt mitigation measures that might result from the talks.

More than a decade in the making, SunZias line would be capable of transporting more than 3,500 megawatts of new wind power to 3 million people in the West. It's expected to begin commercial service in 2026.

In New Mexico, the route was modified after the U.S. Defense Department raised concerns about the effects of the high-voltage lines on radar systems and military training operations. Environmentalists also were worried about impacts on wildlife habitat and migratory bird flight patterns in the Rio Grande Valley.

There are similar ecological concerns in the San Pedro Valley. The transmission line is at the heart of a legal challenge pending before the Arizona Court of Appeals over whether state regulatory officials there properly considered the benefits and consequences of the project.
Ron DeSantis Iowa prospects appear dim. The Florida governor trails Donald Trump by 30 percentage points and is taking fire from both the former president and Nikki Haley, running third in the Hawkeye State and closing in. But DeSantis supporters are stubbornly optimistic.

The governor recently secured coveted endorsements from Gov. Kim Reynolds and leading evangelical activist Bob Vander Plaatsabout as powerful of a political one-two punch as there is to score in Iowa. And the 21st century is littered with underdog candidates who came from behind, late, to win the Republican presidential nominating caucuses over presumably strong frontrunners. Still, neutral Republican operatives in Iowa are doubtful DeSantis can replicate the recent past.

They were lucky to get Reynolds and [Vander Plaats] but it doesnt change the fact that hes a bad candidate who has underperformed, said Republican strategist David Kochel, a veteran of several Iowa caucus campaigns who is not supporting a candidate this time around. I think hes a zombie candidate at this point.  I just dont see his path anymore.

DeSantis is undeterred. After all, Trump has lost a lead in Iowa before. Indeed, on November 30, 2015, he was leading Ted Cruz by more than 8 points in a Republican primary field overloaded with nearly a dozen candidates. Sixty-three days later, the future 45th president lost the 2016 caucuses to the Texas senator by more than 3 points. (Granted, Trump was not the GOP juggernaut he is now, and his lead then was nowhere near what it is now.)

So, to get a handle on DeSantis strategy and better understand why some Republican operatives supporting the governors bid believe the effort isnt futile, The Dispatch spoke to sources familiar with his voter turnout operation in Iowa. Trump is in trouble, uniquely, in Iowa, an official with Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis and running his voter turnout operation, told The Dispatch in an interview. I wouldnt be comfortableif Im him.

This unproven, some might say Pollyannaish, assessment is built on a foundational analysis of the national Republican electorate that itself appears reasonable.

On any given day, likely primary voter and caucusgoers are divided into three basic cohorts, according to Never Back Down: Forever Trump, who usually comprise about 35 percent of voters overall; likes Trump but considers others, who equal about 45 percent; and Never Trump, 25 percent. Of the key likes Trump but considers others category, only about one-third of voters say they plan to vote for Trump for sureand thats on his best day, which usually coincides with court appearances related to his four criminal indictments, sources familiar with the tracking data say.

But lest conservative populists presume Never Trump is synonymous with moderate voters, or essentially Republicans in Name Only, think again.

Fifty-two percent of this group self-identify as conservatives and 48 percent as moderate. And in Iowa, thats moderate according to the standards of Republicans in the Hawkeye State. When you put Never Trump people in a room, they dont look alike, the Never Back Down official said. They dont agree on abortion; they dont agree on Ukraine funding. They have one unifying principle, and thats that they dont like Trump, not one bit.

Thats the kind of data thatperhaps in vainDeSantis is resting his hope on. Hes not alone.

Since late August, just after the first Republican debate in Milwaukee, Haley has been surging in Iowa, relative to the field of second candidates DeSantis has generally led since launching his campaign in late May. The former South Carolina governor and ex-U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is now running third, just 3 percentage points behind DeSantis. (Haley tops him in New Hampshire, where she is running a solid second.)

Some Republican insiders in the state believe shenot DeSantisis the non-Trump candidate to watch. However, they concede Haleys get-out-the-vote effort is lacking, which particularly matters in a caucus and could hamper her ability to make a run at the former president. That is the case because the ambassador has run a frugal campaign that has raised far less than Trump and did not begin the race with a super PAC flush with tens of millions of dollars to invest in a voter turnout operation, a la DeSantis and Never Back Down.

Haley is the real deal right now in Iowa. The question for me is if she has, or will build, an organization to harness the energy she has, said a neutral Republican operative, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. She has a real chance to finish second in Iowa, but there is no question that Trump and DeSantis, via Never Back Down, have significant organizational advantages over her.

Enter Americans for Prosperity Action. The large and sophisticated grassroots organization, part of the Koch network of political groups, endorsed Haley this week and plans to put money and manpower behind the ambassador in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. That means she stands to get a boost in data analytics, door-knocking, digital outreach, and direct mailthe sort of comprehensive ground game Haley has lacked, until now. (The group declined to reveal budget or personnel deployment numbers dedicated to boosting Haley in the early states.)

Since last spring, Americans for Prosperity has reached out to more than 6 million voters in key states across the country. With every door knock and phone call, AFP has been learning more about each voter, AFP Action spokesman Bill Riggs told The Dispatch in a statement, adding that the group will use the data it has accumulated to tell voters why Nikki Haley is the candidate they should get behind.

So why are DeSantis supporters confident in his ability to hold off Haley in Iowa and emerge as the consensus alternative to Trump heading into New Hampshire? It might have something to do with the aforementioned 52 percent-48 percent, conservative-moderate breakdown of the Never Trump voting bloc. DeSantis dominates among the conservatives. And although Haley leads among the moderates, she currently tops out at about 30 percent, per Never Back Downs data.

Incidentally, Never Back Down pegs Haley in the high single digits with the likes Trump but considers others segment, trailing DeSantis significantly.

DeSantis supporters are additionally buoyed by the consolidation of the primary field. Especially in Iowa, it is significant that both former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina recently exited the race. Wealthy biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy remains a threat, but after stagnating in the low to mid single digits for months, DeSantis supporters view him as a nonfactor.

Vander Plaats, who endorsed the three previous Iowa caucus winnersCruz, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabeeinsists the polling in the Hawkeye State, and the conventional wisdom that Trump is a sure thing flowing from it, is off base (though he stops short of guaranteeing an upset).

On Caucus Day he predicts DeSantis will get approximately 42 percent, Trump will have a high water mark of 35-37 percent, Haley will notch about 18 percent, and the leftovers will go to Ramaswamy. It is game on in Iowa, he told conservative talk show host Steve Deace (also a DeSantis backer) in an interview. DeSantis has a lot of blue sky.

Read more at The Dispatch

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By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) -The North American wolverine, a fierce mountain predator closely related to badgers and skunks, gained U.S. protection as a threatened species on Wednesday under a Biden administration policy citing threats to the animal's snowy habitat from climate change.

The listing under the Endangered Species Act reverses a 2020 Trump administration determination that such a classification was unwarranted, leading to a federal court ruling in Montana last year requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider.

The agency under the Obama administration first proposed listing wolverines for protection in 2013.

The final rule issued by Fish and Wildlife on Wednesday classifies the reclusive animal as threatened in the contiguous United States, where only about 300 are believed to roam the high country of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Washington state.

The designation does not apply in Alaska or Canada, where wolverines number in the thousands.

Viable populations once roamed expansive tracts of the northern Cascades, the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada before widespread trapping and poisoning severely diminished their numbers and range.

In listing them for protection, government biologists warned that the few isolated populations remaining in the Rockies and Cascades were being pushed toward extinction primarily due to rising temperatures and declining snowpack that has increasingly fragmented wolverines' mountain habitat.

Environmental groups, which originally petitioned the government to list wolverines as threatened in 1994, hailed Wednesday's move as long overdue.

"This long-awaited decision gives the wolverine a fighting chance at survival," Earthjustice attorney Timothy Preso said in a statement.

The wolverine is the largest land-dwelling species in the mammal family called Mustelidae, making it a close cousin of weasels, ferrets, skunks and badgers.

A muscular and solitary carnivore resembling small bears with bushy tails, the wolverine is known as a ferocious predator capable of taking down prey many times its own size, while also feeding on anything from birds to berries.

The creatures build their dens, reproduce and store food in high-elevation areas of deep snow. Fish and Wildlife biologists cited new science showing that backcountry winter recreation and human disturbance is likely to increasingly infringe on wolverine habitat as snow cover continues to dwindle.

New research also found that large highways in southern British Columbia appear to be restricting dispersal of female wolverines from Canada into the U.S., undermining genetic diversity, according to the agency.

Regulated trapping in southern Canada for wolverines, prized for their pelts, may have impaired their populations more than previously thought as well, the agency said.

Wolverines may cover more than a dozen miles (19 km) a day across rugged terrain in search of food, believed to be the main factor driving their movements and explaining the vastness of their natural home range, according to experts.

The Endangered Species Act generally outlaws killing or harming animals classified as threatened or endangered without a special permit.

But the wolverine listing makes exceptions on an interim basis for mortality caused by "incidental trapping," research activities or forest management designed to reduce wildfire risks.

As implemented, the wolverine listing gives the government one year to designate critical habitat where commercial activities will be restricted to further the animal's recovery.

Noah Greenwald, an endangered species program director for the conservation group Center for Biological Diversity, said the final listing marks an improvement over the original 2013 proposal, which would have allowed for broader exceptions and had ruled out critical habitat protections as climate change was considered the species' overriding threat.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Sandra Maler)
The US Navy has announced that fuel was extracted from a spy plane that crashed into an environmentally sensitive bay off the Hawaiian island of Oahu earlier this month.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft crashed into the water on 20 November after ploughing off the runway at a US Marine Corps base, military officials said.

Rear Admiral Kevin Lenox told reporters that the Navy team had extracted more than 2,000 gallons of fuel aboard and continued to work on a plan to remove the aircraft from the water. No fuel was released into Kaneohe Bay.

The jet is currently sitting on a mixture of coral and sand.

Rear Admiral Lenox said that the Navy was looking into possibly floating the jet and then lifting it onto the runway.

There might have been some minor damage. We havent really looked at where it impacted, but from what we can tell from the ground, I mean there is no massive chunks missing, Commander Mark Anderson said, according to CNN. Theres nothing, you know, that is of grave concern right now.

Nine people were on board the plane, but there were no casualties in the incident, Marine Corps spokesperson 1st Lt Hailey Harms said at the time.

The US Navys Third Fleet said the jet, which is used for US Navy operations and can carry both torpedoes and cruise missiles, was on a detachment in support of maritime homeland defence at the time of the crash.

The aircraft is normally based in Whidbey Island, Washington, a military spokesperson said, and can also be used to hunt for submarines and for intelligence-gathering missions. P-8 aircraft are also flown by the Australian, New Zealand, British, Norwegian and Indian militaries, according to Boeing.

The cause of the crash remains unclear and an investigation is underway.

In 2020, a US Navy P-8A aircraft was intercepted by two Russian Su-35 aircraft while flying over international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the US Navy sent a P-8A aircraft through the Taiwan Strait, prompting China to scramble its fighter jets, escalating tensions between Taiwan and China.
SURAMA, Guyana (AP)  Congregants of an Anglican church in a sparsely populated rainforest village in Guyana gathered recently to bid on a bounty of bananas, squash and other produce during a community event. They sang hymns and rang a bell after each successful bid.

They offered grateful devotions typical of a harvest festival but also asked for peace for their community amid what they see as an existential threat. Their village, Surama, is part of Guyanas Essequibo region  a territory larger than Greece and rich in oil and minerals that Venezuela claims as its own and whose future it intends to decide Sunday with a referendum.

The practical and legal implications of the vote, which among other things calls for turning Essequibo into a Venezuelan state, remain unclear, but the referendum has left area residents on edge.

We are praying, we are hoping and we are having faith that nothing negative will come, said Loreen Allicock, who led the congregation during the harvest festival. We want to continue living a peaceful life in this beautiful land of ours.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has thrown the full weight of his government into the effort, using patriotic rhetoric to try to summon voters to the polls to answer five questions over the territory, including whether current and future area residents should be granted Venezuelan citizenship.

Guyana sees the referendum as a case of annexation and asked the International Court of Justice on Nov. 14 to halt parts of the vote. The court has not issued a decision, but even if it rules against Venezuela, Maduros government intends to hold the election Sunday.

The 61,600-square-mile (159,500-square-kilometer) area accounts for two-thirds of Guyana. Yet, Venezuela has always considered Essequibo as its own because the region was within its boundaries during the Spanish colonial period, and it has long disputed the border decided by international arbitrators in 1899, when Guyana was still a British colony.

Venezuelas commitment to pursue the territorial claim has fluctuated over the years. Its interest piqued again in 2015 when ExxonMobil announced it had found oil in commercial quantities off the Essequibo coast.

The latest chapter on the dispute has sowed anger among area residents, the majority of whom are Indigenous people, against Guyanas government. Information on the referendum has reached them mostly through inaccurate social media posts that have only created confusion among the Guyanese.

We feel neglected as the people of this land. Nothing is being done for us at the moment, said Michael Williams, an Indigenous leader for the Essequibo village of Annai. The government (...) only comes when they want our votes. Now, theres this dispute. Nobody is here to tell us, These are the issues. This may come. Let us prepare for it. We are negotiating. We hope for the best. Nobody is coming to tell us that.

The disputed boundary was decided by arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States. The U.S. represented Venezuela on the panel in part because the Venezuelan government had broken off diplomatic relations with Britain.

Venezuelan officials contend the Americans and Europeans conspired to cheat their country out of the land and argue that a 1966 agreement to resolve the dispute effectively nullified the original arbitration. Guyana, the only English-speaking country in South America, maintains the initial accord is legal and binding and asked the world court in 2018 to rule it as such.

Venezuelan voters on Sunday will have to answer whether they agree to reject by all means, in accordance with the law, the 1899 boundary and whether they support the 1966 agreement as the only valid legal instrument to reach a solution.

Maduros government held a mock referendum Nov. 19 to get voters acquainted with the issue, but it has not said how many voters participated or what the results were. Officials also have not offered a timetable or specific steps on how they would turn the Essequibo region into a Venezuelan state and grant area residents citizenship should voters approve the proposed measures.

Juan Romero, a lawmaker with the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, told state media that one of the actions the government would have to pursue if people vote in favor of the measures is a constitutional reform to incorporate English as one of Venezuelas official languages. Meanwhile, another ruling party lawmaker, William Farinas, has claimed Essequibans already feel Venezuelan.

That, however, could not be further from the truth.

People in Essequibo are proud of their Indigenous heritage. They point to the names of landmarks, given in their native language, as an example of why they believe the region never belonged to Venezuela. And they insist they do not want their lives disrupted by the referendum.

The International Court of Justice is expected to issue a decision this week on Guyanas request to halt parts of the referendum. But the court is still years away from ruling on Guyanas broader request to deem the 1899 border decision as valid and binding. Judges accepted the case last April despite Venezuela's opposition.

In the meantime, Essequibo resident Jacqueline Allicock has one question for Venezuelan voters: Why would you want to take away something that doesnt belong to you?

____ Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.

____

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Foreign-funded companies upbeat about China's insurance brokerage business

Xinhua) 10:06, November 30, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two foreign-funded insurance brokerage companies have obtained permits for insurance brokerage business in China, marking the expansion of the country's financial opening-up.

According to the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), BMW (China) Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd. and ERGO-FESCO Broker Company Limited (ERGO-FESCO) are the first foreign-funded companies to be approved in the sector since 2018.

The companies received authorization to conduct insurance brokerage business, including working on insurance plans for policyholders as well as reinsurance brokerage, in the Chinese mainland.

"The Chinese government has achieved open, transparent and efficient communication. We are honored to be another proof of China's financial openness," said Andreas Glunz, the legal representative of BMW (China) Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Glunz said moving forward hand in hand with the limitless potential of the Chinese market, the company will benefit the real economy, Chinese consumers, and themselves.

According to him, the company has currently formed three major pillar businesses: corporate insurance, retail insurance and employee welfare protection. The company plans to accelerate business expansion in 2024, assisting the BMW Group's industrial chain to accelerate its transformation toward electrification, digitization and circular sustainability.

"We will strive to bring new products, new services and even innovative business models with an international management perspective to China's real economy," he said.

The company was jointly set up by two companies affiliated with the BMW Group, while ERGO-FESCO was co-established by ERGO -- one of the major insurance companies in Germany and Europe -- and Beijing Foreign Enterprise Human Resources Service Co., Ltd. (FESCO).

Jurgen Schmitz, chief executive officer of ERGO China, said the health insurance market has developed rapidly in China. Meanwhile, government healthcare policies and resources continue to improve and innovate, so that companies can better provide customers with tailored care and service plans.

In its strategy "Ambition 2025," ERGO regards China as one of its main strategic investment markets.

"It demonstrates our long-term commitment to the Chinese market as well as our confidence in China's insurance sector," he added.

According to a central financial work conference held in Beijing in late October, efforts should be made to better facilitate cross-border investment and financing to attract more foreign-funded institutions and long-term capital to China.

In Beijing alone, the NFRA Beijing bureau welcomed more than 100 visits of the management of foreign-funded banks from their headquarters or regional offices in the first three quarters of this year, while some multiple foreign-funded financial institutions have been approved to set up, raise investment and expand business in the city.

Zhang Liqing, director of the Center for International Finance Studies at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said the further opening-up in the finance sector has directly led to a substantial increase in the number of foreign-funded financial institutions in China and the continuous expansion of their business scope.

"This will stimulate domestic enterprises to engage more in international and domestic competition, thus enhancing their capacity in innovation and development," said Zhang.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Breaking news Houston Chronicle

A Spring Branch ISD police officer fatally shot a man Thursday morning after he allegedly killed his father, possibly attempted to enter a nearby elementary school, and carjacked two people as he tried to flee from law enforcement, officials said.

Officers around 7:10 a.m. received a call about a shooting in the 2500 block of Mona Lee Lane, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. A woman told dispatchers her son had come home, engaged in an argument with his father, and that shortly after she heard a gunshot. She then ran outside the home and called police.

Police responded and found the father dead at the home, Finner said.

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MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Harris County detention officer accused of selling drugs to inmates

Dispatchers with the Spring Branch Independent School District Police Department then took a call around 7:20 a.m. saying someone had been trying to steal vehicles at Buffalo Creek Elementary School, less than a mile away from the shooting, officials said. Officials were also investigating whether he might have tried to enter the school.

The man allegedly tried to carjack a woman who was dropping her children off, but wasnt successful, Finner said. A district officer noticed the man and he took off.

The man then carjacked one vehicle, sideswiping several other cars, before jumping out of that car and carjacking a second vehicle, District Police Chief Larry Baimbridge said. Officers pursued him briefly before he came to a dead-end street, left the second vehicle, hid behind a building and fired at least once at an officer, according to authorities.

District police officers then returned fire, Baimbridge said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the General Service Administration (GSA) is launching a probe into the agencys site selection process for the new FBI headquarters.

The GSA announced the selection of Greenbelt, Md., to house the new FBI headquarters earlier this month, drawing fierce backlash from Virginias congressional delegation, which accused the administration of allowing politics to taint the selection process.

In a letter to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) on Thursday, acting Inspector General Robert Erickson said his office is initiating an evaluation of GSAs selection of the site.

I have received your letter of November 15, 2023, expressing your concerns about the General Service Administrations (GSA) site selection process for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Headquarters site, Erickson wrote in a letter to Warner, who formally requested the investigation in a letter on Nov. 15 to the OIG.

Our objective will be to assess the agencys process and procedures for the site selection to relocate the FBI Headquarters. We intend to begin this work immediately and will share with you and the relevant committees a copy of any report which may result from this evaluation, Erickson added.

GSA said it welcomed the review in a statement to The Hill on Thursday.

As a part of our longstanding commitment to transparency, we proactively and publicly released our site selection plan, decision-making materials, and results of our legal review evaluating the FBIs concerns. We carefully followed the requirements and process, and stand behind GSAs final site selection decision, a GSA spokesperson said.

The selection of Greenbelt came after a years-long process that ultimately left three finalists, including Landover, Md., and Springfield, Va. Members of Virginias and Marylands congressional delegations, along with state officials, lobbied hard for the headquarters, which will bring with it jobs and an economic boost.

In a statement Thursday, Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) led a bipartisan group of Virginia members saying they welcomed the news that the OIG will investigate the selection process.

Given the overwhelming evidence suggesting that the General Services Administration (GSA) administered a site selection process fouled by politics, we agree that an inspector general investigation is the appropriate next step, the statement read.

We applaud the inspector general for moving quickly and encourage him to move forward to complete a careful and thorough review. In the meantime, the GSA must pause all activities related to the relocation until the IGs investigation is complete, the statement continued.

The statement was signed Virginia Reps. Don Beyer (D), Gerry Connolly (D), Morgan Griffith (R), Jen Kiggans (R), Jennifer McClellan (D), Bobby Scott (D), Abigail Spanberger (D), Jennifer Wexton (D) and Rob Wittman (R).

The selection of Greenbelt, Md., came after GSA lowered the importance of proximity to FBIs Quantico facility in the selection process criteria, decreasing its weight from 35 percent to 25 percent, thereby making Greenbelt a more favorable option.

FBI Director Christopher Wray reportedly told agency employees about his concern regarding a potential conflict of interest in the selection process, pointing to a senior GSA officials previous employment with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which owns the Greenbelt site.

The GSA has defended the Greenbelt selection, saying it is fully consistent with the decision-making process as well as all laws, regulations, and ethical considerations.

GSA and FBI teams have spent countless hours working closely together over many months, so were disappointed that the FBI Director is now making inaccurate claims directed at our agency, our employees, and our site selection plan and process, U.S. General Services Administrator Robin Carnahan said in a statement earlier this month.

Updated: 1:36 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A state commission created to come up with a plan to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire has failed to find consensus on a proposal top lawmakers in both parties had hoped would provide a template for legislation.

Instead, the commission will file a report that contemplates state-created franchises to sell recreational cannabis under the control of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission without recommending the policy actually become law.

There is a clear majority saying we dont want to move this forward, Rep. Tim Cahill, a Republican from Raymond, said moments before the committee voted 7-2 to issue the report.

The unexpected outcome followed a lengthy debate of procedure, the commissions role, and what options lawmakers had when it came to recording the commissions judgment of its own report.

A state commission created to come up with a plan to legalize marijuana in New Hampshire has failed to find consensus.

This is cheesy maneuvering, Rep. Susan Homola, a Republican from Hollis, said deep into the debate of the commission report that backers hope may still provide lawmakers with a model.

Trust me, someone is going to file something, said Sen. Daryl Abbas, the Salem Republican who led the committee.

As drafted, the committee proposal would permit adults to buy recreational cannabis through stores franchised by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.

The state would impose a 15% fee on retail outlets' gross sales. Revenue would be earmarked for tax relief, law enforcement, and mental and behavioral health issues.

The committee could not reach agreement on penalties for public use of marijuana, or if the policy should trigger automatic annulments of past personal use marijuana infractions.

Gov. Chris Sununu, who has generally opposed the legalization of cannabis but also called it inevitable, has signaled he could permit recreational marijuana to be legalized if its sales and marketing were tightly regulated by the liquor commission.

But his desire for specific new controls  including a limit on political activity by franchise holders, and a 15 store cap on cannabis outlets  were late-breaking wrinkles as the committee struggled to find agreement.

I can tell you from the point of view of the governors office, we are adamant about that number," said David Mara, Sununus advisor on addiction and behavioral health.

Citing free speech concerns, the committee quickly scuttled Sununus idea to limit political activity by people in the cannabis business, but did back the governors proposed cap on stores, over the opposition of Paul Morisette, who lives in New Hampshire and is a partner in Maine-based East Coast Cannabis.

You are not going to collect the tax you are projecting in 15 stores. You are setting up the liquor commission to fail, Morrisette warned the commission.

But by the meetings close, the likelihood that New Hampshire will quickly join every other New England state in permitting adults to use marijuana recreationally felt far off.

From the outset Monday, some longtime participants in this debate were emphasizing that any work the commission completed would inevitably be revised by lawmakers anyway.

This isn't the end, Republican Sen. Tim Lang of Sanborton noted. We are just getting to the beginning.

These articles are being shared by partners in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH marijuana commission fails to find consensus for legalization
Gerry Turner

Consider this a word to the wise: Reality TV is just that TV.

America fell in love with the wholesome image of Golden Bachelor star Gerry Turner, a real-life widower portrayed as a grandpa who's been pining for love since his wife of 43 years died suddenly in 2017.

But it turns out that the 72-year-old may have stretched the truth about his romantic and professional life.

In a scathing expose, The Hollywood Reporter interviewed a woman who claims to have had a nearly three-year relationship with Gerry. The outlet confirmed her story through interviews with the woman (identified as Carolyn, a pseudonym to protect her identity), her friends, documents and her text messages.

The stunning new allegations are in stark contrast to the charming picture producers painted of the teary-eyed senior talking about his late wife. We feel a little less sorry for the Midwestern charmer and little misled by his comments that he was "dying inside" over eliminating a contestant.

Read on to find out more about Gerry Turner's IRL romantic past!

Has Gerry been in a relationship since his wife died?

That's apparently a yes. Incredibly, "Carolyn," who is 14 years younger than the Golden Bachelor, told THR that their romance started just a month after his wife died.

She was working as an accountant at the Vera French Mental Health Center in Davenport, Iowa, where she befriended Gerry, who was toiling as a maintenance man at the facility.

Did Gerry stretch the truth in his 'Golden Bachelor' stint? ABC

When did Gerry and 'Carolyn' hook up?

Carolyn and Gerry were allegedly work friends before his wife died in 2017. According to THR, she had planned his retirement party when he moved from Iowa to his lake dream home in Indiana with Toni.

The two didn't begin their relationship until after Toni's death in July 2017. In August, Gerry returned to Iowa to settle his late wife's estate and asked "Carolyn" for help. The two had dinner which led to a series of flirty texts that escalated quickly.

The idea that Id go out with a recent widower just mortifies me, "Carolyn" told THR. I just really didnt see it. Until I went back and looked at my text messages, I never realized Gerrys texts had turned hot and heavy so relatively soon.

Gerry has had fun with lots of activities with multiple 'Golden Bachelor' ladies. ABC

Did Gerry live with another woman after his wife died?

Yes, according to the shocking THR report. Gerry allegedly was so smitten that he begged "Carolyn" to move in with him.

After 10 months of long-distance dating, she moved into Gerrys lake home in Indiana in July 2018, but their cohabitation wasn't a rosy as she had envisioned.

She soon learned he was a cheapskate who asked her to split household expenses and even restaurant checks when they dined out.

Will Gerry be 'dying inside' over an ex-girlfriend's allegations? ABC

When did Gerry break up with his girlfriend?

Their relationship really hit the skids In October 2019, when Gerry was planning to attend his high school reunion. His girlfriend told the mag that he said he was offended by her 10-pound weight gain.

Im not taking you to the reunion looking like that, "Carolyn" quoted Gerry to THR.

That's not the caring attitude he has shown toward the women on The Golden Bachelor, which means he may not be quite as sincere as viewers want to believe.

They split a couple months later and she claims Gerry told her to move out of his house by Jan. 1, 2020. At least he offered to cover her U-Haul expenses.

Did Gerry Turner own a restaurant?

Although Gerry once owned a restaurant, he hasnt done that work in years, according to THR. The show trumpeted Gerrys career as an ex-restaurant owner, he sold his Mr. Quick hamburger franchise way back in 1985.

Did Gerry hide his real work history?

Hide may be a strong word here. More likely, he omitted his odd jobs after selling his restaurant. According THR, he's worked in sales and management in the meat industry, installed hot tubs and worked as a maintenance man.

Has Gerry Turner dated other women before The Golden Bachelor?

The Sun has reported that Gerry had other relationships hes never mentioned on the hit ABC reality show.

Heather Lanning-Adams, a former waitress at the Shady Nook bar and restaurant in Hudson, Indiana, located near Gerrys home, claimed in the last six years, He dated a couple of women. They werent all long-term, but they  werent short-term either. He was with a couple of women for a decent amount of time, but it just didnt work out.

Has Gerry responded to the scandal?

ABC and Gerry declined to comment for The Hollywood Reporter article.

How to watch The Golden Bachelor finale

On Thursday night, fans will be on the edge of their seats for the dramatic season finale in which Gerry will choose between dancer/fitness trainer Leslie Fhima, 64, and financial services professional Theresa Nist, 70.

But will they also be talking about the star's troubling controversy?

Tune in to The Golden Bachelor finale and After the Final Rose from 8 to 10:04 p.m. Thursday night on ABC.

ABC
OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN  If you were on Virgin Atlantic Flight 100 from London to New York on Tuesday, you could be forgiven for thinking it was just a typical flight.

It wasnt. Virgins Flight 100 was the world's first transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable aviation fuel on a commercial jet and garnered the airline and its partners a prize of 1 million pounds from the British government for their efforts. The flight occurred with relatively little pomp and circumstance, and with standard cabin service, it was like a regular slog across the Atlantic on a Boeing 787.

That was the whole point.

This flight is super important because its showing us that we can go all the way, Alastair Blanshard, sustainable aviation lead at the consulting firm ICF, one of the partners that helped organize the flight, told USA TODAY. Its easy to show that a technology works in a laboratory, but to show that it works 24 hours a day for 20-plus years is a very different challenge.

While Virgin Atlantics demonstration flight may have shown that more sustainable aviation is technically possible, executives and airline experts onboard acknowledged that the industry isnt ready to convert to SAF across the board tomorrow.

Flight100, Virgin Atlantics world first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) transatlantic flight by a commercial airline is fuelled ahead of its take off from London Heathrow to New York JFK on Tuesday 28 November 2023.

Is sustainable aviation fuel safe?

Safety seemed to be one of the biggest questions on everyones mind before the plane took off. Current regulations only allow airlines to fly with 50% sustainable aviation fuel or less on revenue flights, so Virgins 100% SAF flight required special approval from regulators on both sides of the Atlantic and was not allowed to carry paying passengers.

Those onboard were confident things would be fine, but some expressed skepticism before the flight took off. One industry executive in the business class cabin told his colleagues he felt it was a little bit like the Titanic as everyone was settling in, and the founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, said in a speech after the flight that he saw some white faces on fellow passengers as departure neared.

Needless to say, Flight 100 made it across the Atlantic without incident, and that was also the point.

We knew coming in today that wed gone through all the safety checks needed to make this as safe as any other flight, Holly Boyd-Boland, Virgin Atlantics sustainability lead and vice president of corporate development, told USA TODAY. What we had to do for the flight today from a regulatory perspective is demonstrate the fuels performance.

Those safety checks required months of experimenting with the exact fuel blend and testing on the ground to prove to regulators that it would perform just like traditional petroleum-based jet fuel.

The view out the window from Virgin Atlantic flight 100.

When can I take a sustainable aviation fuel flight?

Not any time soon.

I dont think youre going to see that in the next 10, 15 years, Boyd-Boland said. What todays flight test demonstrates is that the regulatory cap we have at the moment is something we can look at again.

But even if the technology is ready for prime time, the production capacity hasnt quite caught up.

Right now, SAF production is really scarce, said Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantics chief customer and operating officer. It needs to scale up about 150 times, is what we calculated, to be able to hit the 10% mandate by 2030.

British regulators plan to require airlines to fly with 10% SAF on all flights by 2030, and thats still far shy of the 100% SAF blend used on Tuesdays flight.

We are in early days for sure, but we are flying in the right direction and we just took off, Federica Berra, senior vice president at Air BP, one of the fuel suppliers for the flight, told USA TODAY. Everyone in the industry has collaborated to make this happen.

Dave Kettner, president and general counsel at Virent, the other fuel supplier for the flight, agreed.

Its all about scale. Its the big talk in the industry now. How can you get sustainable aviation fuel into the market? he said. We need to all be able to work together to understand how do you bring this new market into reality?

Behind the scenes: This company makes jet fuel out of just air and water

How else can flying be more eco-friendly?

Fuel burn is a significant contributor to flyings overall climate impact, but its not the only thing.

The contrails airplanes produce also contribute to warming temperatures, and Flight 100 was also used to study that phenomenon.

Its about how you fly the plane. You plan your routes, and while some of those are easier to change and some are tricky, at least its not a solution that requires completely new engines or a new way of traveling, said Thomas Koch Blank, managing director for climate aligned industries at the Rocky Mountain Institute, one of the research partners on the flight. We dont need air balloons or whatever to make flying better for the environment.

Kettner from Virent said that because SAF can burn more efficiently than traditional jet fuel, it may also be more eco-friendly from the perspective of maintenance and fuel loading.

Were hearing word that the engines on the plane are running cooler, which is good because then that does engine longevity, he said. From our other demonstrations, weve also seen that fuel efficiency is better, so you can also burn less fuel.

Virgins Koster said that while the airline was excited to be at the forefront of SAF flying for a day, theyre not planning to hide what theyve learned from others.

Anything that is learned in the testing or the runup to the flight on certification, anything that is learned today from analyzing this flight, its profile, its emissions, on the ground, end to end, anything that gets learned gets shared transparently with the industry and anyone that wants to see it, Koster said, acknowledging that all stakeholders need to work together to address the climate impacts of flight.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What it was like onboard Virgin Atlantic's SAF flight to New York
By Andrew Gray, Francois Murphy and Ingrid Melander

BRUSSELS/VIENNA (Reuters) -Member countries are divided over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's annual foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday with Baltic nations and Ukraine refusing to attend over the presence of Russia's Sergei Lavrov.

The 57-member OSCE is the successor to a Cold War-era organisation for Soviet and Western powers to engage but is now largely paralysed by Russia's ongoing use of the effective veto each country has.

The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. They are attending while making a point of denouncing Moscow's actions - a stance that some of Ukraine's closest allies have little truck with.

"How can you talk with an aggressor who is committing genocide, full aggression against another member state, Ukraine?" Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are siding with Ukraine on the issue.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Your decision to allow Lavrov to participate is in line with our common objective to keep multilateralism alive," Borrell told North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at a joint press conference in Skopje.

"Lavrov needs to hear again, from everyone, why Russia is being condemned and isolated," Borrell said. "Then he will be able to come back to the Kremlin and report to the Kremlin master."

Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia blocked it for months. A last-minute deal for neutral Malta to take over the chairmanship must be formally approved at the meeting on Thursday and Friday.

NO 'BUSINESS AS USUAL'

The OSCE issue reflects broader diplomatic questions about Ukraine. While only Belarus regularly sides with Russia at OSCE meetings, this week's absentees worry that Western powers' commitment to Ukraine is wavering.

The United States has been at pains to reassure them while arguing that the OSCE, which upholds standards that Russia has agreed to, is the right place to hold Moscow to account.

"First of all ... we have no planned interactions with Russia. We will also not accept any return to business as usual in the midst of this aggression, which has resulted in the largest land war on the European continent since World War Two," U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter told reporters.

"A lot has been done to expose Russian atrocities, and I expect that that will be the theme, of condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine, in all its forms."

It later became clear, however, that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken would only attend meetings with his counterpart from North Macedonia and other like-minded countries on Wednesday then leave before the Ministerial Council formally begins on Thursday.

The OSCE is not the only international body where the West and Russia meet. Lavrov still attends Group of 20 events around the world and the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In terms of substance, the stakes in Skopje are low. With the chairmanship settled, the main open issue is whether four top OSCE officials, including Secretary-General Helga Schmid, will have their terms extended.

The absentee countries, however, fear that Lavrov will use the meeting as a platform. "It just so happens that the aggressor country is having a veto, and in a sense trying to hijack the agenda of the OSCE. I think that is simply wrong," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins.

(Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Brussels and Aleksandar Vasovic in SkopjeWriting by Francois Murphy, Editing by William Maclean and Cynthia Osterman)
MUNCIE, Ind.  Prosecutors want a 17-year-old Delaware County youth charged as an adult in connection with drug overdoses that killed two other local teens.

The youth appeared Wednesday at a hearing in Delaware County's juvenile court at the Youth Opportunity Center.

In addition to the two drug-related deaths, Deputy Prosecutor Diane Frye referred to several other incidents  in Delaware, Blackford, Henry, Jay and Madison counties  in the past two years that could have resulted in criminal charges against the teen had he been an adult.

In the Blackford County case, the teen is accused of conspiring with his father to try to smuggle meth to his older brother, at the time being held on auto theft and fraud charges in that county's jail.

At Wednesday's hearing, Frye presented the testimony of five police officers who alleged the teen had been a participant in local drug transactions that eventually led to the two overdose deaths  of an 18-year-old Muncie man in July and a 17-year-old Delaware County high school student in September.

The 24-year-old Muncie man who allegedly sold the teen the pressed fentanyl tablets that led to the deaths, Ricky Lamiez Taylor, was charged last week with aiding, inducing or causing dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison.

That charge specifically stems from the September death.

One of the officers testifying Wednesday also said the teen had purchased a computer from a Ball State University student  with counterfeit money  and then sold it to Taylor in exchange for cash and fentanyl pills.

Frye told Amanda Yonally, a juvenile court magistrate, that the teen was "beyond rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system."

The deputy prosecutor said that "just to make a little money, (the teen) sells (pills) and kills people."

"I don't think the court can keep him here," she said. "He's going to be 18 in May."

Family members of both overdose victims also asked Yonally to waive the teen into adult court.

The teen's attorney, Ana Quirk  who sat at the defense table with her client and his grandparents  urged Yonally to allow the teen to remain in juvenile jurisdiction, where any punishment for his alleged crimes would not continue beyond his 21st birthday.

Quirk said no efforts had yet been made to help her client address any drug-related issues he might have.

She also said it was "speculative" to suggest the fentanyl pills he is accused of dealing were the same pills that led to the overdose deaths.

"I think it's in his best interest to remain in juvenile court," she said.

Yonally took the case under advisement, and said she would issue a ruling within a few days.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Prosecutors want Delaware County teen charged as adult in OD deaths
Washington  GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia backed off plans to force a House vote on a second resolution targeting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with impeachment, saying she received assurances from House leaders that an earlier effort will proceed at the committee level instead.

House lawmakers blocked Greene's first effort to impeach Mayorkas earlier in November, instead voting to send the resolution to the Homeland Security Committee. Eight Republicans voted with all Democrats to send the motion to the panel, which is investigating Mayorkas for his handling of the situation at the border.

Greene introduced her latest resolution to impeach Mayorkas on Wednesday as "privileged," setting a two-day deadline for the House to act on it. But plans to take up the resolution were shelved Thursday afternoon. Greene said she was assured by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green that the process would move forward in committee.

"There were members that were upset that we weren't going through the process. That was upsetting to them, but again, we need to be doing this, we need to move forward," she told reporters at the Capitol. "And so I got guarantees, so we will move forward with impeachment."

Greene declined to comment on the timeline for the committee to act but said, "It's going to happen very soon."

Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the committee, called the impeachment effort a "political stunt."

"Apparently, their baseless, so-called 'investigation' was just a shell game to justify a pre-determined, evidence-free impeachment over policy differences rather than any Constitutional grounds," he said in a statement.

The Mayorkas impeachment push

Greene's latest seven-page resolution accused Mayorkas of violating federal law and the Constitution by failing to "maintain operational control of the border" and prevent an "invasion."

Republican Rep. Tom McClintock of California, who voted for the Democratic-led motion to refer the last resolution to committee, said Wednesday that Mayorkas is guilty of "maladministration, malfeasance and neglect of duties on a truly cosmic scale."

"But these are not impeachable offenses," he said on the House floor.

If Greene's impeachment push were to succeed, McClintock said he expected Democrats would move to impeach conservatives on the Supreme Court and Republican officials the next time they have the House majority.

"There will be nobody to stop them because Republicans will have now signed off on this new and unconstitutional abuse of power," he said.

Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and Virginia Foxx of North Carolina  who all voted to refer the last resolution  said earlier this month that an investigation into Mayorkas should be allowed to be completed before an impeachment vote.



A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said earlier this month that Greene's impeachment measure was a "baseless attack" that is "completely without merit and a harmful distraction from our critical national security priorities."

"Every day, the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security work tirelessly to keep America safe. They need Congress to stop wasting time and do its job by funding the government, reforming our broken immigration system, reauthorizing vital tools for DHS, and passing the Administration's supplemental request to properly resource the Department's critical work to stop fentanyl and further secure our borders," the spokesperson said.

Jaala Brown contributed reporting.

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Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) may be getting pushed out of Congress, but hes making it clear that he wont be leaving quietly.

The embattled lawmaker announced Thursday morning that he will move to force a vote on expelling Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) from the House, just more than a month after the New York Democrat was charged with a misdemeanor for falsely pulling a fire alarm in a House office building ahead of a key vote. He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor and agreed to pay a fine and write an apology to the Capitol Police.

Santos  who faces 23 federal criminal counts  unveiled his plans during a farewell tour-esque press conference outside the Capitol on Thursday, one day before the House is poised to hold a vote on expelling him after the House Ethics Committee released a damning report on the congressman.

During the early-morning media availability, Santos declined to unpack the allegations against him but lashed out at the Ethics Committee, labeling the panels final report slanderous and unprecedented.

They go ahead and release this report littered, littered in hyperbole, littered in opinion, that would have  no decent cop would bring this to a prosecutor or a [district attorney] and says heres our report, go ahead and charge.

This is what the Ethics Committee put out, he continued. God bless them and what they think theyre doing and what their work is. You know, I believe they do good work when its relevant, but this aint it.

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The Ethics Committee found that Santos violated federal criminal laws and said he used campaign funds for personal use, including trips, Botox and for purchases from OnlyFans, a subscription platform that is largely used for adult content.

The panels report sparked the current push to expel Santos, which could be successful after a wave of lawmakers who backed the embattled congressman in the past now say they are in favor of booting him. The New York Republican already survived two expulsion efforts earlier this year.

On Thursday, Santos once again said he believes the effort to oust him will be successful, pointing to a prediction from Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.)  one of the Republicans leading the charge against him  who said 120-150 GOP lawmakers will vote to expel.

Congressman LaLota said he has 150 votes. So I mean, if he has 150 votes  as he said already, on the record  he has the votes, he added. This is just plain and simple.

But he reiterated that he will not leave on his own volition despite the grim outlook, telling reporters that he will not resign.

If I leave, they win, Santos said. If I leave, the bullies take place. This is bullying.

Santos said he will call his measure to expel Bowman to the floor as a privileged resolution when the House opens for legislative business at noon, a maneuver that forces the chamber to act on the measure within two legislative days. Leadership, however, will likely hold a procedural vote instead of a referendum on the actual legislation, shielding the chamber from having to weigh in on expelling Bowman directly.

I think that thats consistency, Santos said Thursday morning. Lets hold our own accountable, but lets make sure that we do it with the precedent of the House.

Now if the House wants to start [a different] precedent and expel me, that is going to be the undoing of a lot of members of this body, because this will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts, he added.

Bowman, who for months has called on Santos to resign, was charged with a misdemeanor last month after he pulled the fire alarm during a vote to fund the government.

He called Santoss expulsion effort meaningless.

No one in Congress, or anywhere in America, takes soon-to-be former Congressman George Santos seriously. This is just another meaningless stunt in his long history of cons, antics, and outright fraud, he said in a statement.

Bowman has said he pulled the alarm by mistake when he was rushing to get to the House chamber before a high-stakes vote closed. Republicans, however, accused him of pulling the alarm on purpose to delay the vote.

Bowmans office said he made an agreement with the D.C. attorney general to withdraw the charge in three months if he writes an apology to the Capitol Police and pays a $1,000 fine.

Last week, the House Ethics Committee announced it would not launch an investigation into the Bowman incident. Santos reacted to that determination, writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: Im just going to leave this here and let the people draw their own conclusions

Santos and Bowman have clashed in the past. In May, after the House voted to refer a Santos expulsion resolution to the Ethics Committee, Santos was addressing the press on the steps of the Capitol when Bowman and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) began yelling for him to leave Congress.

Resign.  Save yourself, have some dignity, Bowman said. New Yorkers need better.

Republicans, kick him out. Cmon, Bowman added.

Santoss push to expel Bowman is unlikely to be his last act before leaving Congress. On Thursday, the embattled New York Republican said he will be filing a slew of complaints in the coming hours of today and tomorrow to make sure that we keep the playing field even.

Because at this point, I have been nothing but generous and kind with my time. I have not raised my voice or a single finger against a single other member of this body, but now I guess its fair game to continue to do that, he added.

Updated at 9:16 a.m. ET

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rishi Sunak has escalated a diplomatic row with Greece, accusing the countrys leader of trying to grandstand over the Elgin Marbles.

The Prime Minister cancelled a planned meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis following his Greek counterparts push for the Parthenon Sculptures to be returned from the British Museum to Athens.

Defending his actions in the Commons, Mr Sunak said: It was clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss substantive issues for the future, but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past.

At Prime Ministers Questions, Sir Keir Starmer  who met Mr Mitsotakis during his visit to London  accused Mr Sunak of trying to humiliate the Greek premier.

The Labour leader accused the Tory leader of small politics over the row.

The Prime Minister told Sir Keir: Of course, were always happy to discuss important topics of substance with our allies, like tackling illegal migration or indeed strengthening our security.

But when it was clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss substantive issues for the future, but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it wasnt appropriate.

But furthermore, when specific commitments and specific assurances on that topic were made to this country, and then were broken, it may seem alien to him but my view is when people make commitments they should keep them.

Downing Street has claimed it received assurances that Mr Mitsotakis would not publicly push for the return of the Elgin Marbles during his visit, but the Greek leader discussed the topic during a BBC interview ahead of the planned meeting with Mr Sunak.

There was no immediate response from Mr Mitsotakis to Mr Sunaks Commons attack on his actions.

But a senior Greek official said: In the spirit of the good, long-standing relations between the two countries, which we intend to preserve, we have nothing more to add on this matter.

Greeces foreign minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, pushed for the sculptures to be returned to Athens at a summit also attended by Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.

Natos foreign ministers gathered in Brussels, with former prime minister Lord Cameron and Mr Gerapetritis meeting on the margins of the summit.

Mr Gerapetritis said: As regards my meeting with Secretary Cameron, once again I would like to say that the Greek government has made a statement concerning the cancellation of the meeting with Prime Minister Sunak.

What I have to say is that the unification of the Parthenon Sculptures is a claim which is based not only on history, not only on justice, but its a claim of ecumenical cultural values.

Irrespective of this, it is my understanding that we need to work on a bilateral basis with the UK and were going to serve this purpose in the future in order to deepen this long-standing history we have, the two nations.

Sir Keir Starmer met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in London on Monday (Leon Neal/PA)

No 10 played down the significance of the talks, saying it was not a bilat or a formal meeting in any sense, but insisted Lord Cameron had set out our position on the sculptures very clearly.

Environment minister Mark Spencer said Mr Mitsotakis had made a mistake to voice the issue publicly.

Asked whether the UK-Greek relationship has been damaged, he told Sky Newss Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge: I think its not been helped by the topic. And I think it was a mistake by the Greek prime minister to raise that so publicly as he did, but you know, were big enough to get over that and well continue working with our friends in Greece.

The Greek government has suggested Mr Sunaks decision to scrap talks with the countrys leader was motivated by the Tories domestic political woes.

A spokesman for the Greek prime minister said there were domestic reasons for the cancellation of Tuesdays meeting and pointed to Mr Sunak being quite behind in the polls ahead of a likely general election next year.

Downing Street denied the PM was insulting the leader of a Nato ally to distract from political turmoil over rising migration figures at home.

The sculptures once adorned the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens but were removed by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century, while Athens was still under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and have been in the British Museum since 1816.

Athens wants them back, with Mr Mitsotakis claiming on Sunday morning that their removal was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

Asked why it then took until Monday to cancel the planned meeting, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: There were discussions on Monday and then the meeting didnt go ahead.

There have been talks around a potential loan of the sculptures, but No 10 has insisted that Athens would have to accept they belong to the British Museum for that to even be an option.

Meanwhile, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle hosted Greek ambassador Yannis Tsaousis in Parliament on Wednesday.

Aides said it was a long-planned visit as part of the Speakers regular meetings with diplomats.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mohammad Salem and Humeyra Pamuk

GAZA/TEL AVIV (Reuters) -Hamas on Thursday released eight Israeli hostages in Gaza under a last-minute extension of a truce deal and Israel freed 30 Palestinian prisoners as negotiators sought to renew the pause in fighting again.

Israel identified two women who were released first on Thursday as 21-year-old Mia Schem, among those seized at a dance party that Hamas militants attacked on Oct. 7, and 40-year-old Amit Soussana.

Photos released by the Israeli prime minister's office showed Schem, who also holds French nationality, embracing her mother and brother after they were reunited at Hatzerim military base in Israel.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas then freed six more hostages, transferring them to the Red Cross, the Israeli military said. Four were women aged 29 to 41 including one Mexican-Israeli dual national, according to official information.

Television images showed some of the women walking past ambulances once they reached Israeli territory.

The other two newly released hostages were a brother and sister, Belal and Aisha al-Ziadna, aged 18 and 17 respectively, according to the Israeli prime minister's office. They are Bedouin Arab citizens of Israel and among four members of their family taken hostage while they were milking cows on a farm.

Wahid Alhuzail, who chairs a group for Bedouins kidnapped on Oct. 7, said he was happy they were freed. "But it's not completely fulfilling. We want everyone to come home and for nobody to be stuck in the hands of the terror organization Hamas," he told Reuters.

As part of the agreement, 30 Palestinians were released from jails, the Israeli prison service said.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Until the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks. Palestinian health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 Gazans have been confirmed killed.

While Israel required Hamas to release 10 hostages daily in to continue the Qatari-mediated truce, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson said there would be no more hostages freed on Thursday beyond the eight.

Israeli officials accepted eight rather than 10 hostages because Hamas on Wednesday released two extra hostages, the Qatari spokesperson said. They were Israeli-Russian women whose liberty the Palestinian faction described as a goodwill gesture to Moscow.

TWO-DAY EXTENSION SOUGHT

Israel and Hamas agreed to add a seventh day of a humanitarian pause on Thursday, while Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working to negotiate a further extension of two days, Egypt's official state media agency said.

With fewer Israeli women and children left in captivity, extending the truce could require setting new terms for the release of Israeli men, including soldiers. Thus far during the truce, Palestinian militants have freed 105 hostages and Israel has released 240 Palestinian prisoners.

The truce has allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million people was reduced to wasteland in the Israeli assault.

More fuel and 56 trucks of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza on Thursday, Israel's defence ministry and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said.

But deliveries of food, water, medical supplies and fuel remain far below what is needed, aid workers say. At an emergency meeting in Amman, Jordan's King Abdullah on Thursday urged U.N. officials and international groups to pressure Israel to allow more aid into the beleaguered enclave, according to delegates.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Israel during his third visit to the Middle East since the war began, agreed that the flow of aid into Gaza was not sufficient.

Blinken said he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel must do more to protect civilians before any further military operations, and Netanyahu and his cabinet supported this approach.

"Israel has ... one of the most sophisticated militaries in the world. It is capable of neutralizing the threat posed by Hamas while minimizing harm to innocent men, women and children. And it has an obligation to do so," Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

HAMAS KILLS FOUR IN JERUSALEM

Separately, the armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting in Jerusalem, which Israel called further proof of the need to destroy the militants, although there were no signs of this scuppering the truce or release of hostages.

Shortly after the last-minute extension of the truce, two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during morning rush hour at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least four people. Both attackers were "neutralised", police said.

"This event proves again how we must not show weakness, that we must speak to Hamas only through (rifle) scopes, only through war," said hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the site of the attack.

Hamas said the attackers were its members, and its armed wing claimed responsibility for the attack in response "to the occupation's crimes of killing children and women in Gaza".

But neither side appeared to treat the attack as an explicit renunciation of the truce. A Palestinian official familiar with the truce talks said its terms did not apply to what he characterised as responses to Israeli attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Mohammed Salem and Roleen Tafakji in Gaza, Humeyra Pamuk in Tel Aviv, Ari Rabinovich and Emily Rose in Jerusalem and Reuters bureaux; Writing by Peter Graff, Alexandra Hudson and Cynthia Osterman; Editing by Gareth Jones, William Maclean and Grant McCool)
Traffic travels eastbound towards downtown Houston near Houston Avenue on Interstate 10 on March 3, 2021. Houston's smog problem has been getting worse in recent years, fueled by emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer A Houston Refinery is seen in the background as a child climbs on bleachers Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, at Hartman Park in Houston. The city's smog problem has been getting worse in recent years, fueled by emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer An air monitor sits on top of a post Friday, June 16, 2023 in the Fifth Ward neighborhood in Houston. The city's smog problem has been getting worse in recent years, fueled by emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer

Houston's smog problem has gotten worse over time, and a new report from the Environmental Integrity Project shows how the change has had unequal impacts across the region.

The report, released Thursday, said official air quality monitors measuring the levels of smog-producing ozone in the Houston area surpassed national health standards on 55 days in 2023. It also showed that over the past three years, people of color and low-income residents were significantly more likely to live near the air monitors that recorded those spikes.

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The environmental nonprofit looked at 16 years of ozone data across 42 monitoring locations in Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Montgomery counties to draw the conclusions. Its researchers honed in on the demographics of communities located within 3 miles of the monitors with the worst ozone measurements over time.

"I was surprised that the impact on communities of color was as extreme as we found," said Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.

Black and Latino residents made up at least 90 percent of the people living near four of the six monitors with the highest ozone readings in 2023: monitors in Houston East, Clinton, Haden Road and Park Place.

Many of the worst locations for ozone in the urban area are situated near the Houston Ship Channel or other industrial hotspots.

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Houston has struggled with its ozone levels for decades, and is now in "severe nonattainment" of federal air quality standards, though federal and state representatives are at loggerheads over how to regulate and reduce the levels of emissions types that create the pollutant: volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

Volatile organic compounds are a broad group of gasses that include substances emitted by industrial plants, paints, solvents, evaporating gasoline and many natural sources.

Ozone can have negative health consequences for the lungs, hearts, central nervous systems and vision of people who regularly breathe it in at unhealthy levels.

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At a press conference launching the report, Loren Hopkins, the Houston Health Department's chief environmental science officer, said the city had done its own research on the health effects of ozone exposure using 911 call logs which mirrored these expectations.

"We found two key health effects that are associated with high levels of exposure to ozone (in Houston), asthma attacks and cardiac arrest," Hopkins said.
One of Haitis most controversial figures is back in his troubled homeland after being deported from the United States on Thursday.

Guy Philippe, the former Haitian police commander who led a rebellion in 2004 that overthrew President Jean Bertrand Aristide and then spent nearly a dozen years evading U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, arrived aboard a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement flight along with more than a dozen others deportees. The flight departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, at 5:57 a.m. and arrived in Haiti at 9:49 a.m.

Philippes presence was confirmed by the Office of National Migration, which is tasked with receiving deportees returned to Haiti. Upon landing, he was immediately taken into custody by the Haitis judicial police.

The ICE flight is the latest deportation trip by the Biden administration, which has been asked by immigration advocates and the United Nations to halt all deportations to Haiti, given the countrys ongoing armed gang and humanitarian crisis.

Tom Cartwright, a refugee advocate who tracks U.S. deportation flights, says despite the demands, Haiti has been averaging about one ICE flight per month since last December, usually with fewer than 50 people onboard.

Since President Joe Bidens Jan. 20, 2021, inauguration, the U.S. has deported more than 27,200 Haitians back to their country, said Cartwright, who added that Thursdays flight is the 289th ICE deportation flight under this administration.

Guerline Jozef, co-founder of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a San Diego-based immigrant rights group that works with U.S. asylum seekers, said Philippes deportation makes no sense in the current context, which includes the Biden administrations support for an armed force from Kenya to be deployed to Haiti to help the Caribbean nations fragile police force combat gangs.

It is in fact very contradictory to the U.S. governments own narrative and will further destabilize Haiti, she said. This is a clear example of how U.S. foreign policies toward Haiti continue to be a major contributing factor to the destabilization of Haiti.

Prior to this extradition to the U.S. to face drug trafficking charges, Philippe was the subject of a Haitian police arrest warrant after being accused of involvement in a deadly 2016 attack on the police headquarters in the southern Haitian city of Les Cayes. At least six people were killed including one police officer.

Sources told the Miami Herald Philippe was being held on that warrant Thursday after he was taken to the headquarters of the Haitian judicial police. It was not immediately clear if he would be transferred to prison or allowed to go home.

Philippes return has been anticipated for months by his supporters and could well change the political dynamics in Haiti, where the government of Prime Minister Ariel Henry has failed to reach an agreement with opposition parties and civil society groups to move Haiti toward its first elections since 2016.

In 2017, Philippe was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Miami federal judge after pleading guilty to a money-laundering conspiracy charge involving allegations that he had pocketed more than $1 million from Colombian cocaine traffickers. Despite cutting a plea deal with federal prosecutors to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison, he continued to maintain his innocence and accused U.S. authorities of kidnapping him from Haiti, where he was on his way to being sworn in as a senator when he was arrested by Haitian police.

In September, Philippe, 55, was released from a federal prison in Atlanta and transferred to immigration custody after trying several times to get his sentence reduced while representing himself both before and during the pandemic era.

Several Haitian officials contacted by the Miami Herald ahead of the flights arrival said they had not been warned by the Department of Homeland Security of Philippes pending return. A manifest of the flights passengers, sent to Port-au-Prince, initially only had 17 names, all of whom were people being repatriated after violating U.S. immigration law, Haitis Office of National Migration said.

Philippes presence back in Haiti, a country still reeling from the 2021 assassination of its president and now seeing the steady expansion of armed gangs out of the capital and into its countryside, has raised concerns given the volatile landscape, the ongoing leadership void and Philippes popularity and political connections.

He was once accused by Human Rights Watch of participating in extrajudicial killings as he rose to prominence during the political turmoil that eventually led to the ouster of Aristide.

The head of Philippes National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties runs a service brigade, known by its French acronym BSAP, that is supposed to be in charge of Haitis environmentally fragile areas. Critics, however, say that the organization, which is part of the countrys security apparatus, has become more of a paramilitary group whose armed agents get into scuffles with the police and the public. Last year Haitis environment ministry announced that it had canceled Consortium agents badges due to reports about inappropriate behavior. The group, however, remains active.

READ MORE: UN says armed gangs have spread to rural Haiti, calls for sanctions and an armed force

Despite a 2005 U.S. indictment on drug trafficking and money laundering charges, Philippe ran for the Haitian Senate in 2016 while openly campaigning alongside presidential candidate Jovenel Moise. Philippe won a seat in the second round to represent the southwestern rural GrandAnse region. His arrest came two months later, in early January 2017, as he was visiting a radio station in the capital ahead of his swearing-in for the six-year term. He was then turned over to the DEA.

Though Philippe tried to claim immunity from prosecution as a senator-elect in Haiti, he ended up pleading guilty in April 2017 in a Miami federal courtroom to the money-laundering conspiracy charge. The deal allowed him to avoid going to trial on a more serious trafficking charge that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life.

Instead, he faced up to 20 years on the money-laundering conviction and got less than half that time from U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga.

Philippes sentencing culminated a federal investigation into drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption at the highest levels of Haitis government that began in the 2000s when the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the neighboring Dominican Republic, became a notorious hub for shipping South American cocaine into the United States.

For years, Aristide, who was ousted in 2004 in an armed revolt led by Philippe, had been investigated by a Miami federal grand jury on suspicion of accepting drug bribes, though charges were never filed.
The United Auto Workers union says it has started an effort to organize workers at 13 non-union automakers with US factories.

The union says it is seeing widespread grassroots support from employees at the plants after reaching labor deals with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis that granted members an immediate raise of at least 11% and subsequent raises and cost-of-living adjustments that could raise wages more than 30% over the life of contracts that run through April of 2028.

The effort includes three US-based electric vehicle makers - Tesla, Rivian and Lucid - as well as 10 foreign automakers that build cars in the US - BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

The union said there are about 150,000 employees at 36 non-union auto plants operated by the companies it is targeting in this campaign. That is slightly more than the unions representation at the three unionized automakers, which have about 145,000 UAW members between them.

The union said that one of the strongest campaigns is at Toyotas Georgetown, Kentucky, assembly complex, where it said 7,800 workers make Toyota Camry and Lexus ES sedans and the Toyota Rav4 SUV. The union quoted one employee there, Jeff Allen, saying he supports the organizing campaign despite the recent wage increase Toyota announced.

Weve lost so much since I started here, and the raise wont make up for that, said Allen. It wont make up for the health benefits weve lost, it wont make up for the wear and tear on our bodies. We still build a quality vehicle. People take pride in that, but morale is at an all-time low. A union contract is the only way to win whats fair.

At least four of the non-union automakers - Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Subaru - have confirmed their own pay raises since the contracts were reached to end a six-week strike at the three unionized automakers. The union is calling those raises the UAW bump, and is using the contract gains as a central part of its organizing efforts.

To all the autoworkers out there working without the benefits of a union: now its your turn, said UAW President Shawn Fain in the video Wednesday. Since we began our Stand Up Strike, the response from autoworkers at nonunion companies has been overwhelming. Workers across the country, from the West to the Midwest and especially in the South are reaching out to join our movement and to join the UAW.

The time is right, Fain said. And the answer is simple. You dont have to live paycheck to paycheck. You dont have to worry about how youre going to pay your rent or feed your family while the company makes billions. A better life is out there.

Most of the automakers did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Those that did comment on the organizing effort directly said their employees are better off without a union.

We do not believe an outside party would enhance the excellent employment experience of our associates, nor would it improve upon the outstanding track record of success and employment stability Honda manufacturing associates in America have achieved, said the statement from Honda.

Our history reflects that Nissan respects the right of employees to determine who should represent their interests in the workplace. However, we believe our workplace is stronger without the involvement of a third party, said Nissans statement.

Referring to unions as third parties is a common management tactic when attempting to defeat a union. But if a union organizing campaign is successful, the union will be made up of workers from the company.

Appearing at The New York Times DealBook Summit in New York Wednesday evening, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a frequent union critic, again launched into an attack on unions when asked about the UAWs organizing efforts at the company.

I think the unions naturally try to create negativity in a company and create a kind of lords and peasants situations. There is no lords and peasants [at Tesla], said Musk.

Musks official title at Tesla is Technoking. He is also one of the worlds richest people.

I say if Tesla gets unionized it will be because we deserve it and we failed in some way, he added. But we certainly try hard to ensure the prosperity of everyone.

This is not the first time the union has attempted to organize any of these companies. It has been able to get enough support at Volkswagens plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee to have union elections there twice, and twice at plants operated by Nissan in Canton, Mississippi and Smyrna, Tennessee.

The union is making it easier for employees at the companies to sign cards requesting union representation that are needed to call for an election by having the cards available on its website.

But most organizing efforts, such at its efforts to represent workers at Tesla, have fallen short of gaining enough support to enable collective bargaining. The union has filed complaints accusing many of the automakers of unfair labor practices during those earlier organizing efforts.

- CNNs Samantha Delouya contributed to this report

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We're all about the thrill of the hunt.

If youre prone to thinking that thrift stores and consignment shops are just warehouses of other peoples junk, its time to reconsider. Shopping in such places often requires a little imagination and some digging, but the extra effort makes discovering a hidden gem amongst everything else all the more exciting. Take, for instance, the time I found a silver-plate punch bowl and eight matching cups on the outskirts of a souvenir coffee mug display at a consignment store outside of Atlanta. They dont call it the thrill of the hunt for nothing. Here are the unexpected things you just might find on your next trip to the thrift shop.

Michael J. Lee; Interior Design: Sabbe Interior Design

Vintage Cookbooks

Never overlook the bookshelves! Used books may not be the flashiest of finds, but you can nearly always count on the reading selection to include vintage church and Junior League cookbooks, which are treasure troves of nostalgic and fail-proof recipes. Well admit that weve also seen plenty of our own Southern Living Annual Recipes cookbooks on the shelves; well pretend not to be offended that someone donated Great Aunt Marys entire collection (rather than keeping them as beloved family keepsakes) so long as their tenure on the shelves yields a new home where theyll become appropriately smudged in butter and dusted by flour.

Silver-Plated Pieces

While youre less likely to uncover sterling silver at the thrift store, dont skip out on the assortment of silver-plated goods, as this is an item thats often marked up much higher in antique shops. A tray that may retail for $100 at a fine antiques store will only set you back $10 or $15 (maybe even less!) in this environment. And once its polished up and set on the dining room sideboard, nobody will ever know that you found it for such a steal.

Someone Elses Family Heirlooms

While it's easy to imagine that items are mistakenly donated to thrift shops all the time (havent we all lost a sweater or two this way?), every now and then, the accidental donation is something much more heartbreaking. In the case of one Oklahoma family, the local Goodwill found WWII documents in a hidden compartment of the lockbox theyd donated. Recognizing that these papers likely held great sentimental value for the family, the staff tracked them down and returned them for safe keeping. Should you ever stumble upon such a find in your local thrift shop, consider bringing it to managements attention before taking it home. You might just reunite a family with a cherished possession that theyll be thrilled to have back.

Pretty Frames

Always peruse the art offerings. Even if you dont find the works themselves to be particularly compelling, the frames are worth a closer look, especially if they include a nice mat. Custom framing is expensive, so finding a quality one at the thrift store is a nice way to showcase the piece of your choice in a more budget-conscious way. Simply remove the existing artwork (or cut it out, if the frame is backed in paper) and replace it with your own.

High-Quality Furniture

Before you resign yourself to inexpensive but poorly made furniture in the name of saving a buck, browse the assortment at your local consignment shop. Vintage wooden furniture (like dressers, dining tables, or ladderback chairs) are often constructed better than their new counterparts. Sturdy, well-made sofas or club chairs are often hiding beneath outdated fabrics; sometimes, the perfect living room perch just needs a deep clean and new upholstery. Check all pieces for makers marks as these can shed some light on their quality.

Priceless Antiquities

Of course, the most unexpected things to find at a thrift store are the ones youd never, ever predict in a million years. An antiques dealer in Austin, Texas, had the surprise of her life when she brought home a marble bust from Goodwill. Shed paid $34.99 for the 50-pound statue, only to learn after some research that her find was around 2,000 years old and a looted portrait of a Roman general that had once been part of a Bavarian kings art collection. Her thrift store discovery even had a stint on display in the San Antonio Museum of Art before heading back to its proper home in Germany.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.
By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) - An Illinois firearms retailer and a national gun rights group on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a second time to block a Democratic-backed state ban on assault-style rifles and large capacity magazines enacted after a deadly mass shooting in Chicago's Highland Park suburb in 2022.

The National Association for Gun Rights, Robert Bevis and his firearms store, Law Weapons & Supply, made the request after a lower court denied their bid for a preliminary injunction against the ban, as well as a similar ban enacted by another Chicago suburb, Naperville.

The plaintiffs also asked the Supreme Court for an injunction at an earlier stage of the case, but were rebuffed in May.

Illinois passed the ban in response to a massacre at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park in 2022 that left seven people dead and dozens more wounded.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed into law in January by Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, banned the sale and distribution of many kinds of high-powered semiautomatic "assault weapons," including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, as well as magazines that take more than 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns.

The National Association for Gun Rights, billed as a group that accepts "no compromise on the issue of gun control," as well as Bevis and his store, challenged Naperville's ordinance restricting the sale of certain assault rifles and the state's broader ban as a violation of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment, which protects the right to "keep and bear" arms.

The case is one of several contesting the state's ban in federal and state courts.

The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Nov. 3 ruled against the challengers, finding that the bans were likely lawful in part because the Second Amendment applies to weapons meant for individual self-defense, not the military.

Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, the 7th Circuit found, "are much more like machine guns and military-grade weaponry than they are like the many different types of firearms that are used for individual self-defense."

The availability of assault-style rifles is one of numerous contentious debates in a nation bitterly divided over how to address firearms violence including frequent mass shootings.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of the Second Amendment, broadening gun rights in three landmark rulings since 2008.

In 2022, the court recognized a constitutional right to carry a handgun in public for self defense, striking down a New York state law. That ruling also required gun restrictions to be "consistent with the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation" in order to comply with the Second Amendment.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
The U.S. military on Wednesday warned Iran over an unsafe and unprofessional drone maneuver near an American aircraft carrier a day prior in the Central Arabian Gulf.

Washington accused Iran of flying an unmanned aircraft near the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group as it was conducting routine flight operations on Tuesday, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.

The U.S. forces detected the drone, which it visually identified as Iranian, and claimed it came within 1,500 yards of the American vessels despite multiple hails and warnings which were ignored.

No injuries were reported and no aircraft was damaged, but Cooper said the Iranian action violated safety precautions outlined in a daily Notice to Airmen. The notice directs manned and unmanned aircraft to remain greater than 10 nautical miles from the aircraft carrier to ensure safe flights of military and civilian aircraft.

This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior by Iran risks U.S. and partner nation lives and needs to cease immediately, he added.

Warnings from the U.S. to Iran have jumped in the past month amid the war between Israel and Hamas, which began after the militant group attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Israel has responded by relentlessly bombing the Gaza Strip, killing more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to the territorys health ministry.

The conflict has set off a spike in attacks against U.S. forces and assets in the region, strikes that Biden administration officials say are carried out by Iranian-backed militants.

President Biden last month sent a rare message to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cautioning Tehran against attacks on U.S. troops.

My warning to the ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel, Biden told reporters Oct. 25.

From Oct. 17 to Nov. 23 there were more than 70 attacks on U.S. forces. The near-daily drone and rocket strikes targeted American troops 36 times in Iraq and 37 times in Syria, injuring dozens of U.S. personnel who are in the countries to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State militants.

But there have been no attacks on American troops in Iraq and Syria since Nov. 24, when a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas mediated by Qatar went into effect.

Under the agreement, Hamas released hostages it had taken on Oct. 7 and Israel freed Palestinian prisoners.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.


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The new iPhone feature called NameDrop has resulted in warnings from various police departments across the country despite the fact that concerns over the feature have been overblown and misunderstood, according to multiple experts.
The 'Panadero' Statue. Courtesy photo from Arandas Bakery

Customers at the Arandas Bakery location on Airline Drive have been welcomed by a statue of a baker in the bakery's parking lot for three decades. That is until someone stole the beloved artifact last week.

The Arandas Bakery's "Panadero" mascot statue, which had been on the property for 30 years, was stolen Thanksgiving around 6:30 p.m., the bakery's owners said in a statement Wednesday. Panadero means baker in Spanish.

The owners said they have connected with the person who stole the statue through a mediator and are giving the person until Friday evening to return the statue to them. If it is not in their possession by that time, the bakery owners said they will contact the police.

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The baker statue has no monetary value, (but) for us it holds a deep sentimental value," the Arandas Bakery Family said in a statement.

"Arandas Bakery has been here at Airline Drive for over 30 years and the 'Panadero' our iconic baker statue was our first branding signage that was placed on our property. We are giving the person who stole this an opportunity to return the statue this week without involving police.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The European Union is committed to peace and stability in the South Caucasus and is investing important, high-level, political capital in this process, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos said in an interview with Armenpress.

The Ambassador said that the EU will also consider further support to the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh whove settled in Armenia after the Azerbaijani attack in September.

Ambassador Maragos said that the EU is actively working with Armenian partners to identify ideas for further cooperation in various areas.

Armenpress: Mr. Ambassador, as you know, after the large-scale Azerbaijani military attack, Nagorno Karabakh was depopulated, thousands of Armenians were forcibly displaced, leaving their homeland and place of birth. In essence, Azerbaijan implemented its policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. First of all, I would like to hear your opinion about this situation, about the behavior of Azerbaijan. Until this moment, we have heard condemning statements, but why does the EU not take active steps to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: Let me be clear, the European Union is committed to peace and stability in this region and we are investing important, high-level, political capital in this process. As you said, the European Union has made very clear its position against the use of force and in support of the human rights of Karabakh Armenians. As EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar gave extensive comments on the matter in his interview with ARMENPRESS a couple of days ago, I would not make further comment on these issues.

Armenpress: Azerbaijan has violated the territorial integrity of Armenia, since May 2021, Azerbaijani forces have invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia in some parts. I would like to ask you again to present your position on this fact. How can the EU influence on the diplomatic level the restoration of territorial integrity of Armenia, how can the EU exert pressure on Azerbaijan regarding this issue and the return of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Azerbaijan?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: The European Union, including through the EU Mission in Armenia and our contacts with both Yerevan and Baku, has a very clear understanding of the situation on the ground. We are also aware of the importance these issues have for Armenia and more broadly for peace and stability in the region, which is our primary aim. The EU has repeatedly called on the sides to ensure non-use of force and a distancing of forces to reduce tensions and potential escalation on the ground. We have also called for all issues to be addressed peacefully in the framework of meetings of border delimitation commissions and the broader normalisation process. We hope that some understanding can be reached in the near future on this and other issues, including during the next meeting of Armenias and Azerbaijans border commissions, now scheduled for 30 November 2023.

Armenpress: The EU announced that it provides another 5 million euros in humanitarian aid for the needs of forcibly displaced people from Nagorno Karabakh. However, later in the European Parliament, the Prime Minister of Armenia announced that Armenia needs the support of the international community to help those forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. Is the EU considering additional support?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: So far, the EU together with its Member States has provided over 50 million for the emergency support for the refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. This support has been channelled via different means. We have already provided assistance in kind and we are working with humanitarian partners to deliver this on the ground. Our humanitarian support has focused on food, hygiene, shelter, but also livelihood. More than 60% of the refugees have already benefited from our support. We are also working together with the government to deliver the 15 million budget support package which was announced in Granada by President von der Leyen and will contribute to the governments multi-purpose support schemes addressing among others cash support food, energy and temporary accommodation needs of refugees. In the context of our current discussions with the government on further strengthening EU-Armenia relations, further support will be also considered. The EUs focus remains to attend to the humanitarian needs of the over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians that have fled to Armenia, and to their livelihood.

Armenpress: The civilian mission of the European Union operates in Armenia, which carries out patrols on the Armenian side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and submits a report to the EU. What records, conclusions has the European Union made so far based on these reports? We have not come across an official statement. There are opinions that the mission is late in responding to border incidents, how would you react to this? Does the EU plan to expand the number of mission members in the near future?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: The EU Mission in Armenia is tasked with observing and reporting on the situation on the ground on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border; contributing to human security in conflict-affected areas and based on the above, aims at contributing to building confidence between populations of both Armenia and Azerbaijan and, where possible, their authorities. All EU civilian missions report to the EU and its Member States on their observations. Since its deployment, there has been a move towards stabilisation of the situation on the ground, thus the missions presence is clearly delivering on its mandate. As far as the Missions expansion is concerned, as mentioned recently by High Representative Borrell, we are working to ensure we have more monitors and more patrols. I would like to add that since I arrived in September 2023, I have met most of the monitors and am following very closely their activities. I am impressed by their professionalism and dedication. I am also impressed by the warmth of the reception by the Armenian population which is very much appreciated by the EU and facilitates the Missions work.

Armenpress: The Prime Minister of Armenia after his recent visit to Granada, stated in an interview that there is a consensus in the European Union regarding the deepening of relations with Armenia. Can it be assumed that, apart from the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, there are or will be other arrangements as well?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: Both EU and Armenia are before all interested in acceleration of CEPA implementation. CEPA on its own holds great potential, and many initiatives take place based on CEPA. We are now actively working to further realise the potential of this agreement and bring more benefits to the citizens and the businesses in Armenia. The European Council of 26-27 October invited the High Representative and the Commission to present options on how best to strengthen EU-Armenia relations in all their dimensions. At the 13 November Foreign Affairs Council a first discussion on the various areas of cooperation including security cooperation took place.

We are actively working with Armenian partners to identify together ideas for further cooperation. In this regard, a team from the European External Action Service and the European Commission visited Yerevan this week to discuss various options for strengthening EU-Armenia relations with our Armenian partners. The High Representative will also invite the Armenian Foreign Minister to join EU Foreign Ministers in the margins of the next Foreign Affairs Council in December, to continue the discussion.

Armenpress: Now many citizens of Armenia have difficulties to book a visa day at the embassies of EU countries. When can the visa liberalization dialogue begin?

Ambassador Vassilis Maragos: Let me be very clear that Armenian applicants are largely benefiting from the Visa Facilitation agreement, and there has been an increase in the issuance of multi-entry visas. However, we are well aware of the challenges, and we are actively working to address them. A couple of weeks ago, we had a very productive meeting of the visa facilitation joint committee, which recognised the progress achieved and thoroughly discussed all issues.

Concerning the increased number of appointment requests, the Commission has asked the member states to improve their operational capacity to address the issue of increased number of visa applications by providing more appointment slots. I want to recall that the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place on 13 November 2023, also discussed options for visa liberalisation for Armenia. We will actively work in the next period to explore such options.

Interview by Anna Grigoryan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The actual number of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan is a lot higher than Baku has officially acknowledged, prominent lawyer and international law expert Siranush Sahakyan has said.

Azerbaijan has so far officially confirmed that it holds 55 Armenians captive. These captives are civilians, POWs, and political prisoners, Sahakyan said at a press conference on November 30.

According to Sahakyan, this figure includes 6 civilians, 41 prisoners of war and 8 high-ranking ex-politicians and ex-military officials, who are considered to be political prisoners. But this is just the number of officialized captives, Sahakyan said, adding that Azerbaijan is actually holding at least 80 more Armenians captive, both civilians and POWs, and hasnt officially confirmed this.
YEREVAN, 30 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 30 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.15 drams to 402.65 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.29 drams to 439.49 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 4.54 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.50 drams to 509.03 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 285.50 drams to 26498.78 drams. Silver price up by 4.19 drams to 323.18 drams.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan on Thursday received the delegation headed by Lionel Rapaille, director of expansion and neighborhood affairs of the European Investment Bank.

Maciej Czura, Head of European Investment Bank (EIB) Regional Representation for the South Caucasus also attended the meeting.

As the Deputy Prime Ministers Office said, welcoming the guests, the Deputy Prime Minister underscored the framework of cooperation established with the European Investment Bank and emphasized ongoing commitment to strengthen and expand that collaboration.

According to the source, Tigran Khachatryan provided a comprehensive overview of current macroeconomic indicators and highlighted economic policy priorities.

During the meeting the parties also touched upon the possible support tools needed to ensure long term stable living conditions for the Armenian population displaced from Nagorno Karabakh, emphasizing the need for cooperation in the mentioned directions.

It is noted that various aspects of bilateral cooperation were discussed during the meeting, encompassing collaboration in areas such as energy, transport, water supply, urban development, and infrastructure development.
A hung Assembly stares at Mizoram, where the incumbent MNF may score well but not well enough to form a government

New Delhi: It appears two-all for the Congress and the BJP in the semi-finals of the election match. The exit polls in the five states have predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and an advantage for the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. In Rajasthan, the exit polls indicate the continuation of the revolving door phenomenon, with the exit of the Congress and the BJP having a strong possibility of forming a government. However, a hung Assembly stares at Mizoram, where the incumbent MNF may score well but not well enough to form a government.

The Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram are seen as a semi-final to the big match -- the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

NDTV's poll of exit polls suggested a win for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Congress, it said, will get Chhattisgarh and Telangana while Mizoram may get a hung Assembly. In Mizoram, according to the news channel, the MNF might settle with 14 seats, the ZPM can secure 17 seats and the Congress can play a game changer in the state and is expected to win 7 seats.

Dismissing the exit poll predictions, Telangana chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said his party will be back with a win on over 70 seats. "I promise you, for those of you who are friends of the BRS and want KCR to come back... I promise you that on December 3, we are coming back. We are coming back with anywhere above 70 seats," he said.

In Madhya Pradesh, where 230 seats are under contest, five pollsters out of nine projected the Congress' win, but the NDTVs poll of polls suggested a BJP win.

India Today-Axis My Poll and India TV-CNX said the BJP will be way above the halfway mark of 116. While India Today-Axis My Poll gave the BJP 140162, saying Shivraj Singh Chauhan hasnt lost his charm and remains the most preferred chief minister, it gave 6890 seats to the Congress.

Similarly, India TV-CNX predicted 140159 for the BJP and 7089 for the Congress. However, the ABP News C-Voter polls predicted a win for the Congress, with the party getting 113137 seats and the BJP 88112.

Jan ki Baat played safe as it predicted 102-125 for the Congress and anything between 100-123 seats for the BJP. Interestingly, MPs highest circulation newspaper, Dainik Bhaskar, had a completely different take. The only print group to conduct exit polls said the BJP in MP will not even cross the halfway mark and will get around 95115 seats, while it gave the Congress a better chance with 105120 seats.

In Rajasthan, where voting took place for 199 Assembly seats out of 200 and the target at present is 100, seven out of ten exit polls have indicated a BJP government formation. It appears that in-fighting between Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot may cost the party dearly, as Mr Gehlot may not be able to break the revolving door phenomenon in the state.

However, with close contests here, other parties like the BSP and the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party are going to play an important role in government formations. The India Today-Axis My Poll has predicted 86106 for the Congress and 80100 for the BJP, while the other parties will bag 910 seats. Jan ki Baat has predicted 100122 for the BJP, 6285 for the Congress and 1415 for others. Dainik Bhaskar has predicted 98105 for the BJP, 8595 for the Congress and 10-15 for others.

In Chhattisgarh, where there are 90 Assembly seats, though the pollsters have played safe by terming it a close contest, the numbers favour the Congress marginally. The halfway mark in the state Assembly is 46. All nine out of nine exit polls plus the NDTVs overall average predict a victory for the Congress.

The India Today-Axis My India Polls has predicted 4050 seats for the Congress here and 3646 for the BJP. It said incumbent chief minister Bhupesh Baghel remains the preferred choice for the chief minister's post. Dainik Bhaskar has given 46-55 to the Congress and 35-45 to the BJP.

Telangana, with 119 seats, is witnessing a triangular fight between the BRS, the Congress and the BJP. All exit polls predicted higher chances for the Congress to form a government in the state. But for TV9 Bharatvarsh, others claimed that the Congress is expected to easily cross the halfway mark of 60 seats.

However, it is Mizoram, which has 40 Assembly seats, where maximum drama is expected. Here the exit polls are predicting a hung Assembly but a better situation for the six-party alliance ZPM.

Outgoing chief minister Zoramthanga's Mizo National Front (MNF) had predicted there will be no hung Assembly and his party will be back in power. He even snapped ties with the BJP prior to the Assembly elections to neutralise any negative sentiments due to the Manipur crisis. The MNF is in contest with the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and the Congress, which is fighting hard to make a comeback.

The ZPM is looking strong but will still need support to form a government. Though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had termed the MNF-ZPM entry points for the RSS and the BJP in the state, the Congress may have to back either of the two for a seat at the table.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 13: The Win Without War Education Fund has put together a temporary memorial art installation on the National Mall during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war to mourn the number of deaths, call for a safe return of hostages, and call for a ceasefire to safeguard people in Israel and Gaza from further violence on November 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Win Without War

Torn vinyl was all that remained of a billboard that, until this week, had encouraged prayers for Israel. The vandalism was being investigated by the Houston Police Department and could be seen off Southwest Freeway near Bissonnet Street.

Authorities responded to 9533 Southwest Freeway at 9:15 a.m. Monday and found a Pray for Israel billboard destroyed, according to Houston Police spokesperson Shay Awosiyan. In its place, police say a small Palestinian flag was propped on the steel pole. Officials believe the mischief happened in the overnight hours between Sunday and Monday.

JGI Outdoor Advertising, based in Katy, owns the billboard. The Chronicle reached out to the business for more information, including who paid for the advertisement, but had not received an immediate response.

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The call for prayers comes as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry estimates more than 13, 000 Palestinians have died since the start of the war. The Associated Press reported Hamas captured 240 hostages during its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, which set the war in motion. A truce between Hamas and Israel initially set to end on Monday put a pause on what many describe as the worst fighting in decades.

Officials say Israel agreed to extend the truce by one day for every 10 hostages released. To date, 159 people remain in Hamas control. On Tuesday, Hamas released 12 hostages including 10 Israelis.
At least 200 farmers tried to rally at the presidential office with a lorry full of caged dogs but police stopped them before they could release the animals. Failure to include farmers in the discussions over the bill to ban dog breeding for human consumption and poor compensation for going out of business were the main cause of the protest.

Seoul (AsiaNews)  At least 200 South Korean farmers who breed dogs for human consumption took to the streets today in Seoul, at the presidential office. Brandishing placards and chanting slogans, they called on the government to drop the bill to ban the controversial but centuries-old practice.

Dozens of farmers accompanied by a lorry full of caged dogs planned to release the animals at the presidential office but were stopped by police after the latter inspected the vehicle and found the animals covered with blankets,

A few weeks ago, President Yoon Suk-yeol's party introduced a bill to ban the breeding and sale of dogs for human consumption, offering financial compensation to farmers forced to close their business within a three-year grace period.

For the government, the time has come to end the controversial practice of eating dog meat, given a broad consensus among South Koreans as well as in parliament, where the opposition holds a majority.

Dog meat has been part of Korean culture for centuries, especially as the main ingredient in a soup called "bosintang," which is believed to boost virility and have beneficial health effects.

It was traditionally eaten on the hottest days in the year according to the lunar calendar, that is in July and August. It is also included in "gaesoju", a drink used in traditional medicine.

However, in recent years an increasing number of South Koreans, in particular young people, have turned against the practice.

In a country of about 51 million inhabitants, more than six million households own dogs as pets; one of them is President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee, who own six dogs, including a guide dog and a rescue dog.

A 2022 poll by Gallup Korea shows that nearly two thirds of respondents were against eating dog meat, and only 8 per cent said they had eaten it in the past year, down from 27 per cent in 2015.

Ju Yeong-bong, who represents an industry group and led today's rally, slammed politicians who he says have no right to shut down an industry or decide what people can eat.

We cant agree with the idea that it is barbaric, he said, adding that there are still countries where its done.

For farmers, one of the reasons for the protest is that they have been excluded from the discussions related to the bill as well as the inadequate compensation offered to cover the losses of going out of business.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The peaceful opposition of local communities on the island of Flores in Indonesia against the government project that is expropriating several native lands. The latest demonstration ended with a clash with security agents who violently removed the demonstrators

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - On Saturday 25 November, numerous indigenous communities organized a new protest demonstration against the geothermal power plant of the public energy company PLN which is taking shape on the slopes of Poco Leok, a volcano in the western part of the island of Flores, Indonesia.

Their protest took place in the area of the mining project and was suddenly violently opposed by security personnel who attacked several peaceful demonstrators to secure the area. Our land has nourished our daily lives.

We are cultivating these lands and we have no intention of selling our soil, read a protester's banner. Among the issues dearest to the protesters is the request to the head of the Manggarai district to revoke the permit for mining in the Poco Leok area which according to them was granted illegally.

This case is one of many that are increasingly happening across Indonesia where indigenous people are forced to uproot themselves from their lands due to natural resource extraction projects. Two different interests in this case are clashing in the shadow of the Poco Leok volcano, on the one hand the inhabitants who have lived here for generations and who have expressed their concerns and objections against the PLN extraction project. On the other hand, the public company that talks about a "prestigious national energy project" for which it has already raised huge funds.

Already last August, around a hundred indigenous people organized a protest demonstration, supported by at least 10 gendang (local tribal groups) on the island: Gendang Tere, Gendang Lungar, Gendang Rebak, Gendang Cako, Gendang Jong, Gendang Nderu, Gendang Mori , Gendang Mocok, Gendang Mucu and Gendang Racang.

Several hundred gathered near the cathedral of the diocese of Ruteng, and all the demonstrators wore their traditional clothes, showing their marked primordial identity and the bond that unites them to the land and to each other, even in their protest against the government project .

We don't want our next generation to have no source of life and no land to call home, the protesters added. These indigenous people accuse the Manggarai district administration of having illegally granted the land. An accusation that has always been rejected by the local administration.

In a statement, at least 11 human rights groups expressed their concern about the violent gestures carried out by the plant's security personnel during last Saturday's peaceful protest by the inhabitants of Poco Leok. Among those who signed the press release there are two Catholic religious groups active in the defense of human rights: Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Words and Justice and Peace of the Order of Friars Minor.

These realities argue that the presence of the influx of security personnel in the area indicates that behind the appropriation of the lands there is a 'pressure' implemented with force from above and against the local populations: "Under the mask of a national strategic energy project, such a move represents a serious abuse of the inhabitants of Poco Leok and the refusal to let them express their opinion. This is also a denial of Regulation no. 12 of 2005 on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights".
Speaking impromptu to members of the International Theological Commission (which has only five women members), Francis announced that the next meeting of the Council of Cardinals will be dedicated to the Churchs feminine dimension. Speaking about the 1,700th anniversary of the profession of faith of the Council of Nicaea, which will be celebrated in 2025, he again called for the celebration of Easter on the same day for all Christians.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis spoke to members of the International Theological Commission in audience at the Vatican this morning. In his address, the pontiff said that The Church is woman. And if we do not know what a woman is, what the theology of a woman is, we will never understand what the Church is.

Thank you for what you do. Theology, theological reflection, is very important. But there is something about you that I do not like; pardon my sincerity, he said realising that only five of the 28-member commission were women, all pontifical appointment.

We must advance in this, he noted. Women have a capacity for theological reflection that is different to that of us men. It will be because I have studied the theology of a woman a great deal. I was helped by a good German woman, Hanna-Barbara Gerl, on Guardini.

Francis announced that, at the next meeting with the Council of Nine Cardinals representing all continents who help him governing the Church, we will reflect on the feminine dimension of the Church.

In fact, One of the great sins we have had is to masculinize the Church. And this is not solved by the ministerial path; that is something else. It is resolved in the mystical way, the real way.

Balthasars thought has brought me so much light: Petrine principle and Marian principle. This can be debated, but the two principles are there. The Marian is more important than the Petrine, because there is the bride Church, the woman Church, without being masculine.

And you will ask me: where does this discussion lead? Not only to tell you that you should have more women here  that is one thing  but to help reflect. The Church as woman, the Church as a bride. And this is a task that I ask of you, please. To make the Church less masculine.

In addition to these few words spoken without a prepared text, Pope Francis  who is still struggling with a respiratory inflammation that makes it hard for him to speak and forced him to cancel his trip to Dubai  spoke to the International Theological Commission stressing the importance of the anniversary of the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea whose profession of faith will be celebrated in 2025 to coincide with the jubilee.

For the pontiff, rediscovering this council is important for three reasons. The first one is spiritual. In Nicaea, faith was professed in Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father: He who was made man for us and for our salvation is God from God, light from light. This is not only the light of an unthinkable knowledge, but the light that illuminates existence with the love of the Father.

The second reason is synodal. In Nicaea the first ecumenical Council was held, in which the Church was able to express her nature, her faith, her mission to be [. . .]. Theologians are entrusted with the great responsibility of unleashing the richness of this wonderful humanizing energy.

Lastly, there is an ecumenical motive. How can we not recall the extraordinary relevance of this anniversary for the journey towards the full unity of Christians? Indeed, not only does the Symbol of Nicaea unite Jesus disciples, but precisely in 2025, providentially, the date of the celebration of Easter will coincide for all Christian denominations. How beautiful if would be if this marked the concrete start of an always common celebration of Easter!
by Melani Manel Perera

Freddy Gamage, a Catholic activist, received the Order of Timor-Leste, the countrys highest award, from President Jose Ramos Horta for his support of its right to self-determination. With his online publication Meepura, he promotes human rights at home.

Dili (AsiaNews)  Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta presented the countrys highest award, the Order of Timor-Leste, to Freddy Christo Gamage, a well-known Sri Lankan Catholic journalist and activist who supported its fight for independence from Indonesia.

The ceremony coincided with the celebrations for the 48th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Portugal in 1975, followed a year later by the Indonesias invasion and annexation, which lasted until 2002.

Freddy Gamage played an important role in promoting the cause of Timor-Leste's independence, campaigning around the world, as well as in his own country, Sri Lanka.

He formed an organisation called "Friends of the Third World and engaged in various social activities. Because of this, he had to face death threats and had to live in the Philippines as a political refugee to save his life during the 88/89 terror, said Aruna Shantha Nonis, convenor of Janodanaya Movement.

During his exile he worked with the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), an advocacy group based in the Philippines, and it was in this context that he began to work on the cause of Timor-Leste.

Back in Sri Lanka, he continued to fight for justice by starting a new regional publication, Meepura, which plays a leading role in the struggle for human rights in Sri Lanka.

Gamage is also the convenor of the Action Committee for Media Freedom, a platform for journalists' organisations in the northern, eastern, and southern regions of Sri Lanka.

We respect him for his great dedication to creating a better society and congratulate him on receiving the prestigious award from the State of Timor-Leste," said Aruna Shantha.
The Kona Electric is no Ioniq 5, and that's A-OK. The world needs commuting appliances that aren't extra fancy. The 2024 model-year zero-emission Kona got its efficiency tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Here's what you need to know.

kWh

EV

Strictly battery-wise, the newest Kona Electric can be had in two flavors: either with a 48.6-energy storage unit or with a 64.8-kWh high-voltage battery. Both share the same buffer of 0.6 kWh. The former should ensure a range of around 200 miles on a full charge, while the latter might take you 119 miles farther. That's, of course, true only when the weather is nice and the trip starts with a state of charge of 100%. Moreover, it's just Hyundai's measurements saying that.Fret not; the Environmental Protection Agency is here to steer us clear of any optimistic manufacturer data. The technicians put on their lab coats and tested the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric "Long Range." That's the model sporting the larger 65.4-kWh gross battery.The testing procedure revealed an efficiency of 29 kWh per 100 miles or 3.4 miles per kWh. You should be able to go 261 miles on a full battery. However, do keep in mind that you will likely experience a lower real-life range because of how the EPA runs these tests. The high-voltage energy storage unit is charged to 100% and depleted.drivers rarely do that because it can harm the cells.The 2024 Kona Electric "Long Range" enjoys a three-mile bump in range over the outgoing model. But that's to be expected, considering the usable battery grew in size only by 0.8 kWh. Unfortunately, the electricity consumption followed suit.The 2023 Hyundai Kona sporting the 64-kWh energy storage unit was 2 kWh per 100 miles more efficient than the new one.Still, that's not necessarily underwhelming. Incremental upgrades are welcomed when they are on par with pricing.Don't forget that Hyundai could improve the front-wheel drive crossover SUV 's efficiency via over-the-air updates. The Robocop look certainly fits this Kona generation, and it can become a success in the states where it's going to be sold.Pricing for the US market hasn't been released yet, but the South Korean brand is accepting maple bucks for it . More specifically, the unit has a starting price of CAD 46,399 (USD 34,202) in Canada. Over the pond, in the UK, Hyundai is selling the most affordable Kona Electric at a VAT-including price of GBP 34,995 (USD 44,177). British buyers who want the best (which would be the "Ultimate" trim) will be looking at a minimum price of GBP 43,040 (USD 54,336).Finally, the 2024 Kona with the smaller 48.4-kWh battery built on a 300V platform will have an output of 154 hp, while the larger 64.8-kWh energy storage unit built on a 400V platform guarantees a power figure of 215 hp. The torque figure is similar for both models  188 lb-ft.
The segment's best-selling utilities got better. Coming to dealers nationwide in late 2024 for the 2025 model year, the refreshed Tahoe and Suburban pride themselves on improved exterior design, a larger touchscreen, rear suspension refinements, AutoSense Power Liftgate, and Super Cruise.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Photo: Chevrolet

Let's kick this off with Super Cruise, which is the automaker's way of saying hands-free driving technology. Not a fully autonomous driving system, the Super Cruise suite is considered a Level 2 system (according to the), referring to partial automation. Otherwise put, the vehicle cannot handle all the aspects of driving without human intervention.AutoSense Power Liftgate is exactly what it sounds like: a power liftgate that automatically opens when it senses the key fob behind the vehicle. It's pretty simple in theory and pretty neat in practice. To be manufactured exclusively at the Arlington assembly plant in Texas, the 2025 Tahoe and 2025 Suburban soldier on with a choice of three powerplants.The list starts with the 5.3-liter small block, the standard engine for the LS, LT, RST, Z71 and Premier trim levels. For the slightly more powerful and torquier 6.2er, you'll have to upgrade to the High Country to get it as standard. The larger V8 is also available on the RST, Z71, and Premier grades.To be added to the lineup right after the late 2024 market launch, the 3.0-liter turbo diesel inline-six lump is 10 percent more powerful and 7.6 percent better in terms of peak torque compared to the first-gen Duramax I6. The Detroit-based automaker quotes 305 horsepower and 495 pound-feet (671 Nm), coming courtesy of new injectors and steel pistons, revised temperature control and piston-cooling oil jets, and a retuned turbo compressor.All engines are connected to GM's Hydra-Matic 10L80 torque-converter automatic for longitudinal applications, with all engines rocking a 3.23 final drive ratio. How does the six-cylinder diesel stack up against the naturally-aspirated small blocks? Although it doesn't offer the same kind of power as the 5.3 and 6.2 engines, it develops 305 ponies lower in the engine speed range (3,750 revolutions per minute compared to 5,600 revolutions per minute).It's torquier than both gasser, and being a diesel, it develops peak torque much earlier than both gasoline-fueled V8s (2,750 revolutions per minute compared to 4,100 revolutions per minute). When it comes to exterior design changes, the most obvious difference over the pre-facelift Tahoe and Suburban is the front signature lighting. The 2025 model year further sweetens the deal with two new exterior colors: Lakeshore Blue Metallic and Cypress Gray. The interior is dominated by a ginormous 17.7-inch touchscreen, which is standard across the board.An 11-inch digital instrument cluster is also standard for each and every trim level, whereas the Premier and High Country are gifted with standard welcome and walk-away exterior lighting animations. That's not all, though, because the Premier and High Country also get animated swipe turn signals.Last but not least, the Silverado 1500-based family haulers benefit from an updated multi-link rear suspension for an improved ride and  get this  better handling. Air Ride Adaptive Suspension and the range-topping Magnetic Ride Control remain optional extras. GM also made small calibrations to the steering system, although the benefits of said calibrations aren't clear from the release published by the biggest automaker of the Big Three in Detroit.
While the US has been getting a whole lot of RV attention from myself and other news outlets, there's plenty of magic happening elsewhere in the world, too. For instance, Europe's Compact motorhome from Adria is one notable machine we need to explore. Welcome to European on-road living.

Photo: Adria Mobil

Photo: Adria Mobil

Photo: Adria Mobil

Folks, Adria is an RV brand that's been a name in the industry since 1965, and if the name doesn't sound familiar to you, chances are that you don't live in Europe. Nonetheless, once we're done exploring all that the Compact has to offer, you may find yourself buying a trans-Atlantic flight just to get one and ship it over Now, to be more precise, I chose to bring this lineup to light simply because it comes across as boasting all that Adria is about without forcing future owners to break open the bank. For example, Adria doesn't showcase a particular cost for this unit on their website - or I couldn't find it - but in my search for a rate, I ran across a price range of around 73K to 78K, so around $92K to $99K (at current exchange rates). It's not a bad price, considering this team is known for crafting flawless machines.Speaking of flawless, take a look at that exterior. It's sleek, modern, compact, and light and includes all the little extras we typically need while traveling. Within that seven-layer shell of wood, polyester, and insulation, Adria hides a gear garage, access to drainage, and above all, everything is enclosed, making this bugger all-season worthy , assuming you're not traveling through Siberia or something like that. Did you happen to notice that massive skylight?All that's set up on a Citroen Jumper or Fiat Ducato base vehicle, depending on the floorplan, and off you go. Throw on a bike or kayak rack on the rear, possibly the roof, and the next time you stop, you'll find yourself on a beach in Greece or Spain. Going on a ski trip? Yes, going on a ski trip. Load it all up and punch it!As I mentioned, three floorplans are available for this lineup: the DL, SC, and SL. But my personal favorite, simply because of the amount of pace it offers, is the SC. Why this floor plan? I enjoy it most as it ditches the three-person bedroom found at the rear of the other two units for a double bed with a walkaround, offering a less cramped feeling Upon entering this mobile home, I was first left in awe of the flawless interior design that Adria has delivered once again. Come to think of it, this is nothing new for this crew, but the whole private airline feeling is simply overpowering here.From leatherette and composite and modular tabletops to brushed semiprecious accents and handrails, this thing screams "delicious!" Honestly, Adria's European sense of style has been so appreciated that even a few American teams have begun to incorporate it into their units and lineup. Another crew responsible for influencing this push toward European styling is Hymer (currently part of the Thor Industries family of brands), but we'll talk about them some other day.Picture yourself turning into an RV park, on the edge of some vineyard overlooking the French Riviera, or the edge of the Alps parking your mobile home, and without even getting out to stretch your legs, you do so inside; there's plenty of space to do so.Even now, you and your significant other decide to skip out on the exterior activities and first whip up a bite to eat on the three-burner gas top. Enjoy your meal over at the modular dinette with extension while having a look at the world you're about to step out into.Another aspect I personally enjoy about Adria's work is their bathrooms. Don't underestimate a bathroom; I use them as a clear indicator of how serious a manufacturer is about their units because if any drop of water leaks out from this space, it can destroy your unit, little by little, and before you know it, it's too late.Now, before stepping out into the world, you'll need to dress appropriately, and to do that, there are countless overhead storage bins from where you can grab your change of clothes or head to the bedroom once again and access the wardrobe. I just love the whole airline overhead storage feel of these cabins.All ready to go, you finally step outside, and because this is a ski trip, your first step out of the Compact, and the crunch of snow and the smell of winter floods your ears and nose. Extend that awning, unload your outdoor cooking setup, skis and snowboard from the garage, and enjoy the day.Once you've had your fill of fun in the snow, come back to your home, kick off the boots and snow, and head back inside, where Truma has been keeping your unit at the right temperature. If you grabbed solar power, too, even better.For the next few days, you live it up like this, and once the snow starts to harden or disappear altogether, hop into your Compact, drive down south, and enjoy a day at that beach, I mentioned. The real beauty of mobile living and Adria's Compact seems to have more than enough pizzazz to make it happen whenever and whenever. All you need to figure out now is how to get one over to the US.
Photo: Stellantis

MPGe

AWD

Said to feature "ballistic and shatterproof protection," the Alfa Romeo Tonale police vehicle features the typical livery that mixes white and blue and a hint of the Italian flag. It comes with emergency lights, a radio, and all the necessary gear to help it fight crime. Powering it is the 1.5-liter electrified mill with 163 horsepower and a 7-speed automatic transmission.In total, Stellantis will have to supply a total of 850 cars to the Italian State Police in the first half of 2024. The Tonale follows in the footsteps of other Alfa Romeos that took on this role over the decades, including the Giulia and its predecessor, the 159, as well as the 1900 Super TI, Giulietta 1300, Giulia Super 1600, and others.This isn't the Tonale's first venture into the world of crimefighting, as it also joined Italy's Carabinieri earlier this year as part of a lot comprising 400 cars. Just like the one used by the State Police, it packs the same engine in the same configuration, taking under eight seconds to hit 100 kph (62 mph). Partial armoring is on deck, alongside a slightly modified interior to house long firearms and bulletproof vets, and the usual strobe and emergency lights, siren, and the Carabinieri attire on the outside.A sibling to the Dodge Hornet, the Alfa Romeo Tonale entered production last year. It builds on the same platform as the second-gen Jeep Compass and sits under the Stelvio in the brand's lineup. In the United States, the company offers it in three trim levels, including the Sprint, Ti, and Veloce. Pricing starts at $43,845 for the most affordable variant, $46,155 for the mid-spec, and $50,195 for the range-topper, excluding the $1,595 destination charge.Regardless of your choice, all versions of the Tonale pack an electrified 1.3-liter gasoline engine that enjoys a combined output of 285 horsepower. This model comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, returning 77on average, no matter the grade.The Dodge Hornet comes with a 2.0L straight-four rated at 268 horsepower in the GT and GT Plus trim levels, with a nine-speed automatic transmission and. Pricing starts at $31,400 and $36,400, respectively. The RT and R/T Plus feature the 1.3L hybrid with 288 hp, and they carry respective MSRPs of $41,400 and $46,400. The average fuel consumption of the latter two is identical to that of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, whereas the more affordable versions return 24 mpg.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, second from right, looks up along with U.S Border Patrol agents as a drone flies overhead as he tours a section of the border wall May 17, 2022, in Hidalgo. Joel Martinez, POOL / Associated Press FILE  Migrants make their way toward law enforcement personnel to surrender and begin their immigration process, in Eagle Pass, Texas on Sept. 23, 2023. Like the Trump administration, President Joe Biden has tried to limit the asylum process to deter unauthorized migration. (Veronica G. Cardenas/The New York Times) VERONICA G. CARDENAS/NYT U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visits with the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. Jerry Lara/Staff photographer

WASHINGTON  Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the head of Border Patrol traveled to Uvalde on Wednesday for a briefing on the nearby stretch of border that is one of the busiest crossings in the nation.

The trip comes as the latest surge of migrants into Texas earlier this week prompted federal authorities to close one of two international bridges in Eagle Pass, about 60 miles southwest of where Mayorkas and Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens were expected to be.

The Department of Homeland Security said the two would receive operational updates from the U.S. Border Patrols Del Rio Sector and meet with members of the workforce. The agency provided no additional information on the visit, which was closed to media.

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Border Patrol reported 38,211 encounters with migrants in the Del Rio sector in October, making it the second-busiest crossing that month, according to the latest available data.

On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection closed International Bridge I in Eagle Pass to people and vehicles crossing into the country from Mexico. The agency said it was closing the bridge and also reducing vehicle crossings at an international bridge in Lukeville, Ariz., to cope with increased levels of migrant encounters at the Southwest Border, fueled by smugglers peddling disinformation to prey on vulnerable individuals and encourage migration.

Law enforcement is in overdrive at the border and our trade is suffering by the minute, said U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, a San Antonio Republican who represents most of the border. Ending this chaos should be everyones number one priority  Congress, the White House, and everyone in between.

Mayorkas was in something of unfriendly territory as he visited a district represented by Gonzales, who has led a push to impeach the secretary.

Gonzales backed an impeachment resolution filed earlier this month by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia after two of her constituents were killed in a car crash not far from Uvalde involving a suspected human smuggler from Houston.

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Were sick of the Biden administrations refusal to crack down on border security, Gonzales said at the time. Were tired of feeling unsafe in our communities and were fed up with a Washington establishment that uses the border as a political tool.

The House essentially blocked the effort, however, by voting 209-201 to refer the matter to the House Homeland Security Committee.

The trip also comes as the Biden administration has been at odds with Texas Republicans for months over Gov. Greg Abbotts border security initiative, Operation Lone Star, which has focused on the nearby stretch of border for much of this year.

Texas sued federal immigration officials, including Mayorkas, last month in an effort to stop Border Patrol agents from cutting through miles of razor wire the state has strung up along the Rio Grande. Border Patrol has warned that the wire is keeping agents from reaching at-risk migrants  including families with infants and unaccompanied children  and increasing the risk of drowning as some struggle to leave the water.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has sued Texas to try and force the state to remove a string of buoys Abbott deployed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass earlier this year.
With a name like Radical Ducati, the workshop run by Yann Thomas over in France doesnt keep any secrets about its modus operandi. Yann and his team have undertaken some of the wildest custom projects based on Bolognas machines, never afraid to break new ground and do things differently. Sometimes, that means customizing a top-spec model few other builders would ever think of touching.

Photo: Radical Ducati via Pipeburn

Photo: Radical Ducati via Pipeburn

A model, perhaps, like the special-edition Ducati 1198S Corse released for the model-year 2010. It marked the Italian brands racing successes from the 2009 season of World Superbike and Superstock, when they took home the Manufacturers Title for both classes. And, because its Ducati were talking about here, the occasion clearly had to be celebrated with some sort of limited-edition release.That came in the form of two Corse variants, one for the 1198S and the other for its R-rated sibling. It is not known how many copies have been built, but you can be sure theyre not easy to come by and will cost a small fortune. This hasnt deterred the Frenchmen over at Radical Ducati whatsoever, though, because theyve taken an 1198S Corse and had it transformed into a beastly cafe racer with looks to die for.Right off the bat, we can say this custom Duc is bound to make a lot of purists very angry for obvious reasons, but let's not judge it based on that. The truth is: Yanns bike-modding gurus have built one hell of a machine, and a little bit of controversy wont change this fact. Of course, the biggest visual difference youll see here is the lack of any fairings to conceal the motorcycles trellis frame and ruthless L-twin engine.As a matter of fact, all the stock bodywork besides the fuel tank and front fender was removed to make way for a bespoke attire. Starting with the Ducs rear end, we now see a tailor-made aluminum subframe built from scratch. Above it lies a svelte cafe-style tail and seat pan combo, seamlessly joining up with the factory fuel tank a bit further ahead. There's also a stylish two-piece saddle placed in between the tank and tail.It was put together in-house using high-density padding and brown leather upholstery, while the gas tank has been topped with a quick-action aftermarket filler cap. As for the license plate, it now lives down low on a swingarm-mounted trellis bracket, so as to keep the rear end as clean as possible up top. At the front, this modded 1198S is even more of a departure from the original configuration.Where its gorgeous front fairing and accompanying magnesium bracket had once been, youll see a bright aftermarket LED headlamp fitted on custom mounting hardware. Most of the equipment in the cockpit area remains stock, except for a pair of bar-end mirrors that keep the bikes profile nice and low. Some brown grips to match the seat upholstery wouldve been a cool addition, but the standard ones still suit the overall aesthetic just fine.Needless to say, there was no need for Radical to perform any sort of upgrades to the 1198s running gear. Still, they did treat its premium Brembo brakes to a trio of higher-spec floating rotors, while leaving all the Ohlins suspension goodies completely untouched. The S variant came with TiN-coated 43 mm (1.7-inch) forks and a state-of-the-art TTX monoshock straight off the assembly line, so it made sense to keep these as they were.The same goes for its 1,198cc Testastretta Evoluzione powerplant, which holds a whopping 170 ponies and 97 pound-feet (132 Nm) of torque at its disposal. However, the engines exterior looked a little messy since it was meant to be fully hidden behind the bodywork. Removing the fairings left it exposed, and the Frenchmen had to tidy it up before going any further.They added transparent clutch and timing belt covers in the process, while plumbing the radiator back up with red silicone hoses from Samco. As with any self-respecting custom build, some refreshing updates to the exhaust pipework were of utmost importance. To address this, Radical went with a high-performance setup developed by SC-Project.Its header was heat-wrapped prior to installation for improved temperature management, and the whole ordeal ends in a race-spec muffler on the right-hand side. Some saucy carbon fiber add-ons take this 1198S cafe racer across the finish line, comprising a small rear wheel hugger, a snazzy swingarm cover, and an all-new front sprocket encasement. Radical Ducati chose not to cover the fuel tank and tail in any paint, instead opting for a brushed alloy finish that looks the part. This draws extra attention to the Ducs red trestle skeleton, and the Samco coolant hoses are a very nice touch, as well. Now, the motorcycle weve just looked at may come across as polarizing, but what else do you expect from a workshop with the word radical in its name?
SUV

The Japanese automaker has boasted lots and lots of all-new, first-ever, or refreshed models  plus a bucket load of special editions. This month, they opened the ball with the 2025 Camry mid-size sedan and 2025 Crown Signia crossoverat the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. Then, they moved to Europe to unveil the Yaris Cross facelift with a new Hybrid 130 powertrain, and in Thailand, the IMV 0 concept of a modular truck morphed into the dirt-cheap ($13k) Hilux Champ. Last but not least, at home in Japan, they reintroduced the Land Cruiser Series 70 with a design worthy of the 1980s and modern features contemporary with the 2020s.You would think that's enough to end the year on a high note, right? Well, the rumor mill believes that Toyota has at least one or two novelties left in the goodie bag  the next-gen 4Runner or the reported Land Cruiser FJ , perhaps? On the other hand, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators also came up with a third option  the compact 'Land Hopper' as a rival to the likes of Ford's Bronco Sport.Toyota fans might remember this nameplate was used for a mobility concept at the inaugural edition of the Japan Mobility Show (better known as the Tokyo Motor Show for almost seven decades before its reinvention). However, some outlets still believe it could be a ruse by the Japanese automaker to hide its true intentions. For example, the good folks from the AutomagzPro channel on YouTube have some AI-assisted CGI thoughts about a hypothetical hybrid compact Toyota SUV.As such, it seems they join the pack of Toyota 'Land Hopper' supporters with a new vision from their resident pixel master. It's not the first time we have seen them portray this unofficial body-on-frame TNGA-F compact rugged SUV as the smallest Land Cruiser family member and a worthy FJ Cruiser heir. But now it's also with a hypothetical electrified powertrain under the hood.As for the charming old-and-new-school looks, this compact 4-door Toyota SUV sure looks like a worthy successor to the FJ Cruiser. However, do remember that all these renderings should be taken with a grain of salt as nothing is official from the Japanese automaker just yet. Alas, suppose a compact SUV slotted below the all-new 2024 Land Cruiser comes to life. In that case, it should clearly be a hybrid  albeit the powertrain would obviously arrive courtesy of the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid rather than the Tacoma and Land Cruiser's i-Force Max series.
The Porsche 911 Turbo remastered by Sonderwunch was unveiled at the Icons of Porsche Festival in Dubai. The model is a tribute to the first-ever 911 Turbo, which belonged to Ferdinand Porsches daughter, Louise.

Photo: Porsche

The 1974 model is now called the "911 Turbo Nr. 1." Sporting the narrow-chassis body from the 911 Carrera, unlike the models that would follow, it was made as gift for Louise Piech's 70th birthday. She received the car on August 29, 1974, from her brother, Ferry, who was five years her junior. The 911 Turbo featured a different sheet metal from that of the 911 Carrera and debuted the big Turbo rear wing.It was powered by an air-cooled 2.7-liter turbocharged engine, which generated 260 horsepower, as opposed to the following examples that were powered by a 3.0-liter unit. It sported a wide body kit and that huge wing at the back, which made it look every inch a race car.The Porsche 911 Turbo was finished in silver with black and red Porsche lettering on the sides. Louise Piech handpicked the red upholstery herself, in combination with Tartan fabric seat inserts. The heir of the original 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo the 2023 Porsche 911 Turbo, comes with a similar silver paint finish and the Porsche lettering, looking almost identical to that on the 1974 model. Furthermore, it rides on five-spoke wheels with a black matte finish, inspired by those of the original 911 Turbo.The one-off 911 marks the model's 60th anniversary, but also the carmaker's 75th year on the market. The project is the result of the collaboration between Style Porsche, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, and the Porsche Middle East and Africa regional office. The team got a helping hand from the Heritage & Museum experts.The people at Porsche came up with the idea about a year ago. They wanted to create a modern iteration of a car that was, as Patrick Gallas, manager of Porsche Executive Manufaktur says, truly unique. And so they chose to remaster one of the greatest icons wearing the Porsche crest: the original 911 Turbo that had been in the hands of Louise Piech.The largest inflatable vehicle on earth, officially registered by Guinness World Record, was also present in Dubai for the festival. Placed in the center of the entire exhibition, it measures 20 feet (6 meters) in height, 26 feet (8 meters) in width and 66 feet (20 meters) in length.The third-generation Porsche Panamera , which the Germans unveiled last week, was also on display in the United Arab Emirates, alongside the all-new 718 Spyder RS and the Vision 357 Speedster concept car.One of the vehicles that enjoyed the spotlight in Dubai was a Mission X hypercar. Approximately 27,000 guests attended the Icons of Porsche Festival this year.
As you might already know, Triumph will be discontinuing the Thruxton lineup come 2024, thus ending a two-decade production run. The manufacturer is marking this occasion with the Thruxton Final Edition, and we also want to see the model go out with a bang since it is leaving us so soon. We will therefore be featuring numerous custom-made Thruxtons over the coming months, so as to bid a proper farewell to this beloved cafe racer.

Photo: Tamarit Motorcycles

Photo: Tamarit Motorcycles

The nameplate has long been popular in the custom bike community, and it only makes sense for us to acknowledge this legacy as best we can. Of course, many of the Thruxton-based projects were going to inspect in the near future will be coming from Tamarit Motorcycles  the worlds leading Triumph customization specialists. No introduction is needed for this Spanish firm, because their work has garnered attention far and wide.Pictured above these paragraphs is the 141st entry in their project archive, completed and revealed a little while back. Going by the name of TurXton, this sexy thing used to be a stock Thruxton 1200 R prior to Tamarits custom treatment, and it still retains its original cafe racer allure. The transformation process was fairly straightforward by this workshops standards, but it did tick all the right boxes.First things first, the Thruxton R came with highly capable Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes straight out of the box, so there was no real need to upgrade these goodies. Instead, Tamarits gurus focused their efforts on the cosmetic side of the equation, with some fresh bodywork, a striking livery, and more tasty accessories than you can shake a stick at.Without further ado, lets go ahead and examine what went on here. The donors unmistakable fuel tank was retained, but all the other bodywork components have been ditched while it was being taken apart. A smaller, yet equally effective fender can now be spotted at the front, secured in place by means of bespoke mounting hardware. Higher up, we see Tamarits proprietary gyroscopic LED headlight.Used on many of their previous builds, this module features an adaptive beam responsive to handlebar movement and tilts. It provides lighting where it is most needed when cornering, thus making night rides a lot safer and more enjoyable. You will still find the OEM dials sitting above the headlamp, and the clip-on handlebars with much of their accompanying equipment are also stock.However, there are now Motogadget bar-end mirrors and turn signals placed at their tips. Moving on to the TurXtons rear portion, the first thing that catches our eye is a new cafe racer tail fabricated from scratch. Its design isnt too far from that of the factory unit, but it did allow the installation of a much prettier solo seat. The saddle was once again put together in-house, using high-density padding and premium black leather upholstery.It is flanked by off-the-shelf side covers from the shops own catalog of aftermarket parts, and the subframes underside has also been enclosed to keep road debris at bay. The motorcycles rearmost section is home to a compact tail tidy, complete with an LED taillight and Motogadget blinkers. This creature may not be a scrambler, but Tamarit still gave the engines underside some protection in the form of a sump guard with circular cut-outs.Just like the headlight and side covers, this is yet another bolt-on part from the workshops inventory. The same goes for the new aluminum chain guard fitted a bit further back, while the badges adorning the engine covers are bespoke items fabricated specifically for this project. They showcase the build name and number in a subtle, yet very stylish fashion.Now, its time for us to look at our favorite thing about this bike  the mesmerizing custom exhaust system. The pipework is a pie-cut affair made of stainless-steel, gracefully snaking its way around the stator covers before ending in downward-facing tips. Were guessing that Tamarit also added internal baffles to keep noise levels within acceptable parameters , but this isnt mentioned in their presentation.The air intake was due for some snazzy modifications, as well, gaining new manifolds and a premium pair of Free Spirits pod filters facing forward. Taking the TurXton across the finish line is a delicious color scheme, which employs a mixture of black and cyan done in a glossy finish. The Triumph fuel tank badges made room for Tamarit-branded replacements, partially chromed to keep things nice and shiny.Were used to seeing a lot more chrome, nickel, and brass plating on the motorcycles built by these guys, but here theyve tweaked the formula for a breath of fresh air. Although it isnt quite as intricate as some of their other builds, this restyled Thruxton R certainly doesnt fail to impress. Oh, and just imagine how sweet it must sound with that new exhaust!
Mercedes-AMG believes you are ready to extend the Holidays well into 2024. The maker of incredibly cool high-performance vehicles has set up a comprehensive learning experience. The best part? It's all taking place in northern Europe, and it includes a lot of practice sessions. Here's the gist of it.

AMG

three-day Level 1 training course in February;

four-day Level 1 training course in February and March;

three-day Level 2 training course in February that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi";

four-day Level 2 training course in January, February, and March that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi" and an in-depth analysis based on recorded data and video;

five-day Level 2 training course in January, February, and March that includes a ride in the "AMG Ice Taxi," an in-depth analysis based on recorded data and video, and a competition between participants;

five-day Level 3 training course in January, February, and March that ups the ante and includes all the above plus a team rally;

five-day Level 4 training course that gives each participant an individual crew, solo access to the AMG Ice Taxi, and all the other perks.

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Is 2023 ending with no chance of getting close to Santa's home in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland? Fret not; Mercedes-has an idea. The marque created a comprehensive program that allows anyone with some spare cash lying around to develop impressive driving skills  on ice!Some of the available vehicles are the A 45 S , the C 63 S E Performance, the GT 63 S 4-door, the SL 63, and the GT 63 Coupe. As you may have expected, considering the playing field, all the cars included in the program are all-wheel drive (4Matic+).Mercedes-AMG took into consideration that some participants may be more experienced than others. So, it has put together four training levels. If you want to enjoy the maximum amount of fun, there's no avoiding the intermediate stage.However, if you can afford to spend more time and money in Europe, starting from the bottom and working your way up would be a good idea. That's how you can enjoy every vehicle available and become a true expert in handling hundreds of horsepower on slippery surfaces.The Affalterbach-based company is organizing a:Participants will also be treated to accommodation at luxurious four-star hotels, special dinners, and exclusive beverages.Mercedes-AMG makes things even more interesting with the four-day G-Class Winter Expedition. Besides driving the iconicthrough snow and on ice, participants will also drive on breathtaking routes, sleep in the world's most well-known ice hotel (literally "The Icehotel"), and experience a snowmobile run in pitch-black darkness. If you're extra lucky, maybe the aurora borealis will make that night even more memorable.No matter what you choose, Mercedes-AMG promises to put professionals in charge of your experience. They will ensure everything goes smoothly.The training courses happen on Lake Galtisjaure, near Arjeplog. That's just 306 miles away from Santa's home in Rovaniemi, Finland. After you learn to master powerful V8-powered cars and plug-in hybrids sporting F1-inspired tech, one or two days in Santa's village may just put the cherry on the cake.But all this exquisite fun doesn't come cheap. For example, Mercedes-AMG charges 9,390 ($10,311) for the G-Class Winter Expedition.The cheapest experience is the three-day Level 1 adventure on the 24-inch thick frozen lake that boasts a track mimicking Nurburgring's North Look (aka the old Nordschleife). That'll set you back 2,090 ($2,295). Add an extra 1,000, and the three-day experience turns into a four-day incursion into Sweden's northern territory.The Level 2 training course starts from 3,690 ($4,050), while the Level 3 event will set you back over 10,000 ($10,977). The complete package costs 12,490 ($13,710), but you become a racing driver with a complete team for five days.No matter what you choose, Mercedes-AMG thought of a great schedule for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of taming internal combustion engine-powered beasts on snow and ice.
Earlier this month, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo confirmed that people living in the City of Light (or Love, if you prefer) would be invited to vote on February 24 on a sensitive topic  making parking more expensive for SUV drivers. Here's why it's a great and unbelievably smart initiative. Unless you just bought an SUV to commute to your office in Paris, that is.

Photo: StockSnap on Pixabay

Figuring out the best course of action

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Photo: J Utah on YouTube

The "smart" part

Photo: ElRatonVaquero on Reddit

The first step is admitting we have a problem

Photo: LeVentNoir on Reddit

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Last year, Paris was in the world's top three most congested cities. The average speed was about nine miles per hour. That's half the posted speed limit. Such traffic conditions are horrendous for the local environment because cars emit the most exhaust gases and generate a large amount of brake dust when drivers move slowly from one stoplight to another.Paris tried to find a solution that didn't imply tearing down historic buildings to add more lanes, and it landed on the Crit'Air sticker. That air quality certificate costs around 4 ($4.4) and helps the authorities automatically identify who must pay extra to drive in certain low-emission zones. When writing, getting it is compulsory in only some cities like Toulouse or Nice.From 2025 onwards, however, all densely populated places will have to implement low-emission zones and force drivers (no matter if they live there or are visiting) to pay for the Crit'Air sticker and other fees based on their vehicles' emission standards.But that's not enough to lower transport pollution, which represents almost 15% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions. Road transport accounts for over 75% of the total transport emissions , so internal combustion engine-powered vehicles are an issue. And it's not just greenhouse gases that are a worry. The noise is an issue, too!Paris doesn't want to remain congested and polluted. France's Capital already has problems with various other health-, security-, and cleanliness-related topics. However, the Mayor isn't ready to make drastic decisions by herself. So, Hidalgo decided to involve every citizen in this matter. Parisians will have to vote on February 4 regarding the fate of SUVs.They won't decide if these vehicles should be banned but vote on drastically increasing parking fees. The hike would apply to both public and private parking offered. The latter includes shopping centers. However, get this: this public policy change will not affect residents who already have a parking permit and own anand the models used by public authorities or emergency services. All Paris residents who register until January 8, 2024, will be eligible to vote.The public consultation, however, is a double-edged sword. The last referendum took place this year. That's how Paris decided to ban electric scooters. However, that happened after only about 7.5% of the population voted. Still, nine of the 10 people who participated in the public consultation were in favor of putting an end to the scooter-sharing system The Mayor didn't say which SUVs will be subject to this increase or how much more expensive the parking fees will be if the Capital's inhabitants vote in the proposal's favor.Will Paris differentiate between a BMW X5 and a crossover SUV like the X3? Will parking cost more for vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLS? Or will the increase target pickup trucks like the Toyota Hilux for the Ford Ranger, too? Will battery-electric SUVs be exempted? Are high-riding hatchbacks like the Hyundai Kona or VW T-Roc going to be included on the no-no list? It remains to be seen.The best thing about this proposal is that it takes things one step at a time without scaring anybody. There's no risk of a general pushback that could delay the efforts to discourage SUV usage. Local authorities might have enough data to confirm that most SUV owners going through Paris are coming from neighboring towns.That could have encouraged them to go forward with asking the public about what should be done about bigger vehicles. They might have anticipated a positive outcome that would pave the way for more ambitious public policies.The issue is the ambiguity of the term "SUV" because it could encompass a plethora of vehicle body types. Can you imagine an Audi A6 allroad quattro falling victim to this change?If the public consultation results in pricier parking for SUV owners from outside Paris, then, in a few years, elected officials could bring forward even more stringent anti-SUV measures. They could also decide on expanding the low-emission zone to cover the entire city, just like London did The SUV issue is real. This type of vehicle occupies more space, consumes more fuel than a sedan or hatchback, needs larger tires, generates more brake dust, and is not ideal for efficient personal mobility. Even the idea that SUVs can provide enhanced safety for occupants is a bit of a stretch because they have a high center of gravity and can roll easily.Besides that, most of today's SUVs aren't even true off-roaders. BMW, for example, calls the X5 a Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV). That's more like it, considering that most buyers of high-riding vehicles won't ever take them off the beaten path. The Bavarians are honest about their products. Even pickup trucks have become a status symbol. They're not workhorses any longer.Then, you have full-on road monsters like the F-150 Raptor R, the XM, the Urus, the DBX 707, the TRX, or the Escalade V. Nobody needs a thirsty V8 hidden under the hood of a large vehicle to move around. However, that's what luxury is all about. When you don't care about the price of gas or how many miles per gallon your car returns, such top-of-the-line vehicles are incredibly attractive.Well-off car buyers might not be particularly fond of this trend that goes against SUVs and pickup trucks. But the data isn't lying. We can't keep buying these vehicles if we want to truly fight global warming.In the US, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard made it easier for automakers to prioritize bigger cars because the mileage targets are more relaxed. Ford, for example, discontinued every sedan apart from the iconic Mustang.But it's not just the CAFE standard that forced the hands of carmakers to focus on crossovers and SUVs. In 2022, almost half of all the new vehicle sales comprised SUVs globally. The US, Europe, and India were the main markets that accelerated this growth.It's a peculiar move for people living in the Old Continent because Europe is known for having a knack for smaller vehicles. But Americans have always made an impression on our friends over the pond. Units like the Rivian R1T or the Ford F-150 are desired, and some people are willing to put up with the import hassle.These shifting preferences led to the formation of organizations like the "Tire Extinguishers," who believe that deflating crossover and SUV tires in the middle of the night will convince people to switch back to sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons. They don't care if your SUV is an X5 M or an iX. If it's bigger than a normal car, it's a target. In some cities, they even deflated the tires of crossovers.In a way, it's understandable. When a 10,000-lb behemoth like the HummerSUV can reach 60 mph in about three seconds, one can only wonder what environmental impact such a "zero-emission" vehicle can have. Is it really greener than a Chevy Suburban?However, one key difference between the US and most of Europe is the multiple reliable public transportation systems. Subways, trams, buses, and publicly or privately owned trains connect important destinations, and people can depend on them.What Parisians will decide remains to be seen. But, at the end of the day, one thing's clear: many people want SUVs to become uncool. Gen Z's preferences (and finances) will surely reveal the path forward. Until then, Millennials get to have their fair share of motoring fun. That is, of course, if they can come up with enough money for a pricey SUV or fancy pickup truck.
Rolls-Royce unveiled the Spectre one year ago as a full-sized luxury electric car. But how far can it actually drive before it needs to be plugged in again, according to the EPA rating?

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kWh

WLTP

kW

The luxury carmaker kept postponing the moment it would switch to electrification and claimed the arrival of an electric car would happen at the right time. The right time for Rolls-Royce came last fall, when the company, through its social media channels, unveiled the Spectre, its first-ever production, which they had previewed a year before.The Spectre entered production back in September, with the deliveries set to commence sometime during the last quarter of 2023.For a luxury car that costs almost half a million dollars, the Rolls-Royce Spectre isn't going too far compared to cars that cost ten times less. For instance, the Tesla Model 3 comes with an estimated EPA range of 270 miles and is expected to start at around $40,000 on the US market when it finally arrives.The model rides on the same platform as the Phantom and the Cullinanand is equipped with a 102-lithium-ion battery pack, the same used by the BMW i7, which provides it with a range of 321 miles (517 kilometer), within thetesting cycle. The unit can charge from 10 to 80 percent in 34 minutes with a maximum charge rate of 190But the EPA is not as generous, rating the luxury EV at way below the European figures: 264 miles (425 kilometers) for the Spectre Black Badge, wearing the 23-inch wheels before it needs to be plugged in again. This is the lowest rating in the lineup. The car shod with 22-inch wheels will be able to drive as far as 280 miles (451 kilometers). Meanwhile, the standard Spectre is capable of 291 miles (468 kilometers).What should help range is the low drag coefficient of 0.25. the figure makes the electric coupe the most aerodynamic car that Rolls-Royce has ever built, despite the upright front grille, big side mirrors, and quite angular shape at the front.Rolls-Royce explains that there is no need for a longer range since the average RR owners only cover around 3,000 miles with their cars per year.The Spectre is set in motion by a pair of electric motors, one mounted on the front axle and the other one mounted at the rear. Together, they generate 577 horsepower (585 PS and 663 pound-feet (900 Nm) of torque. The EV accelerates from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph) in 4.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph)2022 was the first year in Rolls-Royce's 118-year history that the company sold more than 6,000 cars. The Spectre electric coupe starts at $422,750 in the US.
Apple launched the AirTag with a simple purpose in mind: to let customers track their devices, be they wallets, keys, or cars.

However, the AirTag ended up becoming a double-edged sword, as the small form factor and the way it works turned it into a stalker's favorite tool.A 46-year-old man was arrested earlier this month after misusing the AirTag in the most horrible way.It happened in Florida, where Azoy Cruz planted an AirTag into his boss's car. The device provided the man with permanent location information, letting him know precisely where the vehicle was parked at any given time.The victim says he received an alert on his iPhone that an AirTag was moving with them but didn't know what the message meant. Days later, his daughter checked the notification and started looking for the AirTag in the vehicle. She eventually discovered a black magnetic case holding an AirTag.The woman tried to connect to the tracker and got access to the last four digits of the owner's phone number, at which point the family started the detective work. The father looked in his iPhone's phonebook to search for potential matches and discovered a phone number whose last four digits were the ones indicated by the AirTag.It belonged to one of his employees, so he filed a police report to investigate the car.The officers contacted Apple to receive a confirmation that the AirTag indeed belonged to Azoy Cruze. A few days later, the iPhone maker revealed the AirTag owner's information, pointing to Azoy Cruz as the owner.The police arrested the man, who is now facing an aggravated stalking charge. His explanation is laughable, as he told the police he was only test-driving the AirTag, as he wanted to see how it works before using it for other personal reasons.Apple's AirTag is a pill-shaped tracker whose battery life can reach up to six months. It doesn't come with a built-in Internet connection but looks for nearby iPhones to communicate with the master device. It connects to iPhones in proximity to broadcast its location, so the owner can access the information in the Find My application on their smartphones. The AirTag can be hidden virtually anywhere , as its small form factor makes it difficult to see.However, the device comes with anti-stalking protection, alerting nearby iPhone owners when moving with them. The potential stalking victims can't access the complete information about the owner, but based on the device's serial number, the police can request additional details from Apple. The iPhone maker looks up the account information and can eventually point to a suspect, helping law enforcement track down people who misuse the device.Starting with Android 14, devices running Google's mobile operating system can also automatically detect nearby AirTags.
Not sold in the European Union due to emission regulations, the Cayenne Turbo GT is Porsche's most performance-oriented Cayenne without hybrid assistance. Stupidly quick from a dig for a vehicle this heavy, the swoopy crossover doesn't hold a candle to the Tesla Model X Plaid on the drag strip.

Photo: DragTimes on YouTube

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Filmed at the Bradenton Motorsports Park in Florida by Brooks Weisblat of DragTimes, the go-faster sport utility vehicles clock 119.11 miles per hour and 141.85 miles per hour first time out on the strip. In metric, that would be 191.68 and 228.28 kilometers per hour. Care to guess which one required 9.8 seconds and which crossed the finish line in 11.5?Of course, Tesla's three-row crossover proved the quicker and faster of the two performance SUVs. In the second and final race, the owner of the Model X Plaid was joined by no fewer than five passengers to give the guy in the Cayenne a chance of winning.Spoiler alert: internal combustion enthusiasts will be disappointed once again. It's not the Porker's fault, though, but the cold and hard truth of electric muscle versus internal combustion in the quarter mile. With peak torque generated much quicker than a twin-turbo V8 gets into its sweet spot, the Tesla's three-motor powertrain is far superior in this scenario.There is, however, a drawback to going electric. 5,390 pounds (2,445 kilograms) of curb weight is obviously detrimental to the vehicle's handling. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT is a bit on the heavy side of SUVs as well at 5,055 pounds (2,293 kilograms), and it's not even the heaviest Cayenne of the lot.Unleashed in August 2023, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid with a monstrous 729 horsepower and 700 pound-feet (950 Nm) on deck. Over in the United States, the German automaker lists a whopping 5,664 pounds (2,569 kilograms), meaning that it's heavier than the Model X Plaid.Slowly but surely, Porsche will electrify its production vehicles out of necessity rather than desire. The last model to switch to electric propulsion exclusively will be the 911, which is certain to survive the 2035 ban on the sale of new combustion-engined passenger vehicles in the European Union.How come? As it happens, the European Commission accepted to make an exception for certain internal combustion vehicles running on synthetic fuels rather than dinosaur juice. However, it remains to be seen how much a gallon of synthetic fuel will cost in 2035 compared to a gallon of gas.Regarding the Palo Alto-basedmanufacturer, did you hear that the Cybertruck is right around the corner? Deliveries kick off November 30, but alas, production output for the Cybertruck at Giga Texas will leave much to be desired in the first year or so.
What can you do with a tank when youre a civilian and have a YouTube popularity to defend? You smash, crush, crash, destroy, devastate, obliterate, demolish, pulverize, uproot, and film the havoc. All from the safety of the hand-held wireless console that can control the tanks drivetrain from afar. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Views are earned. Whether you like it or not, in this day and age, when video documenting is as commonplace as reading and writing  if not more so  the battle for social media dominance sometimes involves serious weapons.

Sometimes, if you have money to burn, you can just click Buy on a specialized website, and voila, you have a nice little tank. Alright, I may be exaggerating - its anything but little at 56 tons, but the idea is the same. Once the Main Battle Tank (MBT) of the British Army, the Chieftain Tank  or, in military parlance, the FV4201 (FV stands for Fighting Vehicle).Having shelled out like theres no tomorrow after purchasing his decommissioned tank from the UK a while back, WhistlinDiesel the YouTuber in question here  put his money where his mouth was and delivered. Since the tanks new primary purpose in its new American dream life is to generate attention-grabbing, revenue-making, investment-returning visual content, thats what it did.Now, what are tanks most famous for, traditionally? Their looks? The quarter-mile score? Lavishness? Rarity? Ease of maintenance? User-friendliness? Cost-effectiveness? Thats right, none of those things apply. However, all-terrain capability, indifference to bullets, medium-caliber ordnance rounds (and sometimes even large caliber shells), and absolute field dominance are some features that best describe a tank.Together with sheer mass, heavy armor, and a rugged build , the attributes are perfect for putting a massive hunk of steel through anything. Or over anything, depending on the situation  and chosen victim. But filming inside a tank isnt nearly as captivating as doing it outside. And, if that isnt enough, why not drive the tank while not inside it?No sooner said than done  WhistlinDiesel certainly knows a few wrench-turners who are happy to contribute to his wildly popular videos. This time, he had the engineering wizards turn his tank into an RC-TRV (Remote Controlled Tracked Recreational Vehicle  since the fighting elements have been disabled).The video at the bottom of this story shows what came from those mechanical hobbits hands. From the inside footage, we can see a pneumatic-actuated controller moving the steering tillers. However, the solution chosen for acceleration and gear shifting is not fully disclosed (must be a close-guarded secret available only to tank nerds). Not that it would matter much when the whole point is to point (pun intended) the tank at whatever obstacle the console operator chooses and go full-throttle.Cody Detwiler (the civilian name of the WhistlinDiesel YouTube Channel host) is in charge of the show, and the first obstacle course he tests his RC Chieftain tank against is a van. With the delicate tenure of an angry bison, the tank gently climbs on top of the GMC Savana 2500 van  and flattens it to smithereens. But a mingy means of transportation is not an adversary for a main battle tank that was considered the best in the business at its launch.With that in mind, the next challenge for the Chieftain is to drive straight through a tree  something it does without even breaking a sweat. What broke is the trunk of the tall oak that drops straight on top of the charging fortress of steel. Its time to level up, so the tank gets another go  against a vertically-flipped 40-foot container.The height difference is visible from the far side of the moon, so a five-foot ramp (1.5 meters) is built next to the towering prism of steel to boost the tank. At full speed (20 mph / 32 kph off-road), the clunking mass of the war machine plunges gun barrel-first through the container, opening it up like a tuna can. Tank 3  Opponents 0.Since the British armored chariot of fire proved spectacularly apt at falling trees, the Texan YouTuber puts it at work again. And again. And again  until the amassed logs are enough to build a small cabin. With little else to put the Chieftain through, the final test is a drive up and down a 45-degree ramp. A walk in the backyard couldnt have been less of a challenge for the tank. Still, karma finally catches up and smacks the terrestrial battleship where it hurts  In the gearbox.The eight-speed transmission  six forward, two reverse gears  can no longer drive backward. It's a wrap for the day regarding the YouTubers remote-operated tanking ambitions  the tank can go to sleep (for now) and add another page to its decade-old service record.The Chieftain main battle tank entered service with the British Army in 1966, and it last saw action around 1996. However, the UK has exported this tank to several countries  Iran being the primary beneficiary (before the 1979 revolution)  and some of those 1,800-built Fighting Vehicles are still on active duty today. On the other hand, Cody's example was decommissioned long ago, and his war-waging capabilities have been neutered twice.Once under British laws, and the second time when it got imported to the U.S.A. because the rules were different on the other side of the Atlantic, while the Brits are perfectly alright with a weld on the guns breech, America mandates that the barrel must be plugged and bored. The breach needs to be cut off.However, the YouTube star tank was a formidable weapon when it was battle-ready. At 56 tons, the massive Chieftain was the world's first tank to transition from WWII-era designs to the modern day. Largely considered the first Main Battle Tank in the world, it combines the maneuverability and versatility of a light tank with the firepower of heavy tanks.The 120 mm rifle-bore gun was considered to have no rival in its heyday, and the sloped armor (between 120 and 195 mm thick) effectively provided the crew with 390 mm of solid steel protection. Due to the steep angle of the turret and hull, the actual thickness of the armor increases proportionally with inclination.The engine setting this mastodont in motion is an odd-ball multi-fuel vertically-opposed two-stroke double-six-piston unit with 1,200 cubic inches of displacement (19.6 liters). The engines architecture is its most striking feature. Six cylinders accommodate three pairs of reciprocating pistons  two in each cylinder sleeve.Unlike traditional engines with a combustion chamber at one end of the cylinder, the Chieftain engine  a Leyland L60 powerplant  has a different architecture. See the gallery for a cutaway diagram of the powerplant that could deliver up to 750 hp and 1,460 lb-ft (1,980 Nm), depending on the fuel used.When in service, the tank had to abide by NATO standards that stated that all military vehicles had to be able to run on multiple fuels, from heating oil to fighter jet kerosene. Being a two-stroke, the engine is a chain smoker, as we can see in the video, but thats just one of the perks of owning a full-sized tank.
Melanie Miles and Julian Ramirez will face each other in the runoff for City Council At-Large District 1. Houston Chronicle

Although City Council races are nonpartisan, the two candidates vying for the At-Large 1 seat in the Dec. 9 runoff have strong connections to the Republican Party  but one is now receiving Democrat endorsements.

Melanie Miles and Julian Ramirez won 25.2% and 24.3% of the vote in Harris County, respectively. Miles, a family law attorney for over 25 years, ran for family court judge in 2018 as a Republican. Ramirez, a county prosecutor with over 27 years of experience, campaigned for district court judge as a Republican in 2022.

2023 HOUSTON RUNOFF VOTER GUIDE: A comprehensive guide to the local runoff elections that your vote will decide on Dec. 9

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In spite of Miles running as a Republican in the past, shes garnered support from multiple Democratic groups  including the Greater Heights Democratic Club, Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Houston Black American Democrats and Harris County Democratic Party.

Miles' involvement with the Republican Party had to do strictly with the judicial races, she told the Chronicle on Monday. The Harris County Family Court judges in 2018 were predominantly white, and that had been the makeup of the court for over 25 years, she said.

There was no representation, Miles said.

Around the same time in 2018, Miles ran for a precinct chair for the Harris County Democratic Party and won with 70% of the votes.

They knew the work that I was doing (and) they knew that I was involved in the community, Miles said. They know where my heart is.

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Mike Doyle, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party, said the group was fully aware of the qualifications and background of each of the candidates they unanimously endorsed.

Since 2018, Melanie Miles has worked with the Democratic Party at both the Harris County and state level to help our voters elect outstanding Democratic candidates, including serving on the HCDP finance committee and representing Senate District 13 on the Texas Democratic Nominations Committee, Doyle said. Along with the other endorsed Democrats, her actions have underscored her dedication to the Democratic principles of equity, justice, and community empowerment.

Miles voted Republican on Nov. 3, 2020, but voted Democrat on March 1, 2022, according to Lexis-Nexis. When contacted about her voting record, Miles did not respond for comment.

Although Miles ran and voted as a Republican previously, she maintains that her stances and values havent changed.

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Ive always been involved in community activism and advocacy, even prior to 2018, Miles said. I was representing communities where I thought there were either inequities or lack of representation.

The candidates will look to win the seat currently occupied by councilmember Mike Knox, a Republican whos challenging incumbent Democrat Ed Gonzalez to become the new Harris County Sheriff in 2024. Knox and the Harris County Republican Party endorsed Ramirez ahead of the Nov. 7 election.

He trusts me to carry the torch, prioritize public safety and continue to make our community safer, Ramirez said in September about Knoxs support. His endorsement means a great deal to me.

From 'Flowers' to 'Miles'

Ramirez accused Miles of playing to Democrats to get elected, suggesting she readopted the surname of her ex-husband, Democrat state Sen. Borris Miles.

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Melanie has shown herself to claim whatever political party and to take whatever positions are necessary to win an election, Ramirez said. She was Republican when the county was majority Republican, and now is a Democrat when the tides have turned. She was Flowers when she ran as a Republican.

Ramirez said hes been a member of the same political party and has had the same political philosophy for almost 30 years.

Miles said she changed her surname from Flowers after divorcing her second husband.

I believe its every persons right, particularly every womans right when she changes her name that she can change her name back or that she can restore her name, she said.

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Her law license, drivers license and health insurance have all contained the name Miles since 2015, she said.
New Zealand is one of the richest sources of inspiration when it comes to fresh, ultra-modern tiny house designs. Local builders have turned this into an art form, one that perfectly balances comfortable living with a seamless connection with the outdoors. The lavish Casa Mia is as practical as a classic family home, yet welcoming and exotic, like a sanctuary in the middle of nature.

Photo: Cocoon Tiny Homes

Photo: Cocoon Tiny Homes

Photo: Cocoon Tiny Homes

Photo: Cocoon Tiny Homes

Anyone would be proud to call this stunning dwelling "Casa Mia" ("my home"). A container-style home with two loft bedrooms, this spacious abode can comfortably sleep up to six people. The lower level is 10.5 meters long (34.4 feet) and three meters wide (9.8 feet), while the upper level extends up to 11.5 meters (37.7 feet). These dimensions are generous enough for full-height loft bedrooms and a stunning double-height lounge on the main floor.Cocoon Tiny Homes' Casa Mia is not only delightfully spacious but also full of clever surprises. For instance, the luxurious lounge easily turns into a third extra bedroom, which means that Casa Mia can accommodate up to six people in full comfort.During the day, the lounge welcomes guests with two bench-style sofas by the windows. At night, they can be converted into a large bed. This might become everyone's favorite sleeping area, thanks to those high ceilings and large windows. It's even better than sleeping in a conventional luxury mansion.Like most Kiwi designs, this tiny home features wide tri-fold doors made of glass, which help turn the lounge into an indoor/outdoor space. As you can tell, the lounge gets plenty of natural light, which makes it seem even bigger. The natural ply walls add a warm touch to the overall interior style, and the long windows are another elegant detail. There's enough room for a highly-customized decor. As for storage, the two benches come with integrated drawers.The largest section of the main floor is dedicated to a contemporary, high-end kitchen. You couldn't ask for more storage  there are more than 20 drawers altogether. The kitchen is packed with all the premium appliances you could wish for, including a full-size stainless steel fridge, elegantly integrated into a custom-made piece of furniture with added storage. The best part? A gorgeous sliding coffee station that slides out of the drawers in the staircase.This is certainly a unique feature and a very practical one. Since the custom-made staircase boasts ample storage, the top few drawers were used to add a modern coffee station for easy access and an uncluttered design. This leaves the ample countertop space free for preparing meals, and it's an elegant way to have fresh coffee every morning. This is one of the luxurious features that make Casa Mia ideally suited for vacation rentals, in addition to the ample accommodation.Another Kiwi signature feature is the breakfast bar that literally opens to the outdoors. Most tiny homes built in New Zealand feature extra-wide sliding doors and multiple windows that bring the outside in. The foldable windows, in particular, allow the breakfast bar to be accessed from the outside as well  a perfect setup for summer BBQ parties.In addition to the breakfast bar, the Casa Mia comes with a second dining nook, one that's more private and formal. A beautiful foldable table is nestled between the kitchen and the lounge room, creating an elegant transition. It's not only a generous dining table for the whole family but can also double as a home office or workstation with plenty of natural light and wonderful panoramic views.The sophisticated staircase also doubles as a separating wall between the kitchen and the end of the house. In this area, you'll find the bathroom and a large storage unit with enough space for the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, and other appliances.Plus, it doubles as a wardrobe. To make things even more comfortable, the Casa Mia has a separate back door for direct access to this utility room. As for the bathroom, the best thing about it is the extra-wide shower cabin, a luxury in itself.The upstairs configuration includes another ingenious addition. It's a large wardrobe built above the staircase, which can be easily accessed from each bedroom. It's not just a wardrobe but can also double as an elegant bookcase.The main bedroom boasts 11.5 square meters (123.7 square feet) and full standing height. It's a true cocoon for rest and relaxation, big enough to fit in a king-sized bed and additional furniture. The second one has a total of 8.5 square meters (91.4 square feet) and would be ideally suited for two twin beds.Each bedroom is fitted with multiple big windows that bring in an abundance of light, which is always a plus for loft spaces. The natural ply walls throughout the house create a warm and cozy ambiance, complemented by the calming neutral color palette. A single staircase leading to both bedrooms, which are connected instead of fully separated, is another practical feature that amps up the comfort level.The Casa Mia successfully blends the elegance and comfort of a classic mansion with the outdoor connection and relaxed ambiance of an exotic vacation retreat. Rare features like the sliding coffee station and the utility room turn into a perfectly modern home for those who want to enjoy a luxury lifestyle and also connect with nature.The fully-built version of the Casa Mia starts at NZD 259,000 ($160,000) and is delivered on a high-quality triple-axle trailer with a one-year registration.
The first-ever Tesla Model S to roll off the production line at the factory in Fremont, California, has just made it to the Petersen Automotive Museum. The owner donated the first Model S ever to the museum in Los Angeles.

Photo: Steve Jurvetson | X

EV

kWh

Making history never looked so good.

I always knew the first Model S would end up in a museum, and I am happy to say it now resides in the Petersen Museum, along with the other early Teslas I donated to them.



I have compiled some reviews from its 2012 release and they still pic.twitter.com/LZspoHoOqL  Steve Jurvetson (@FutureJurvetson) November 29, 2023

The Tesla Model S is the car that started the S3XY lineup, with the Model 3, Model X, and Model Y following in its footsteps. Back in 2012, Tesla was only able to build 15-20 cars per week. The carmaker eventually ramped up production, hitting 1,000 cars per week in 2015. Now, the owner of the first-ever Model S produced has donated his all-wheel drive Tesla Model S P85 and shared photos of the event together with a photograph showing him and Elon Musk in a Model S during his first test drive.Steve Jurvetson also shared several quotes from publications that, back in 2012, wrote stories about the electric sedan. Jurvetson is an entrepreneur and early Tesla investor."The Model S could become the Model T of Ann approaching petroleum-free era," The New York Times predicted 11 years ago. Meanwhile, The Street referred to the car as "an eye-opener like the automotive world has never seen in its entire history."Furthermore, Road & Track noted back then: "The Model S isn't just the most important car of the year. Its the most important car America has made in an entire lifetime." Rivals such as the Mercedes EQS, the BMW i5, or the Lucid Sapphire took quite a long time to hit the market and play the part of the opponents in the segment of luxury electric sedans.Jurvetson said that he always knew that his car, the first of its kind produced by Tesla, would end up in a museum. From now on, the electric sedan will reside at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which boasts of having the most comprehensive collection of Tesla vehicles ever curated.A Tesla Cybertruck prototype from 2019, the year it was unveiled, is in there, and, over the years, the museum might as well receive the first-ever mass production pickup truck bearing the Tesla badge. The model rolled off the assembly line back in July, when the carmaker confirmed it began production of the model at the Giga Texas.Jurvetson donated other Teslas as well. His Tesla Roadster and Model S are also on display at the museum in LA.Back in 2012, Jurvetson managed to take the first production Model S home after spotting the pricing for the vehicle on an internal Tesla document. He wrote a check for the amount written on it, ignoring the fact that CEO Elon Musk had already announced the company had stopped taking reservations for the. With massive demand from all across America, Tesla simply could not keep up the pace.The price Jurvetson paid for the car is undisclosed, but the entry-level Model S, equipped with the 40battery pack, was $57,400. At the opposite end of the range, the Performance version starts at $84,400.
Do you remember that video of Elon Musk taking delivery of his new McLaren F1 in 1999? He was under 30 then, which must have been a happy moment. If you want another inspiring story about McLaren's iconic machine, Jay Leno has one you'll like.

McLaren Mercedes MP4-13

Photo: eBay/user fluxmr2spyder

McLaren F1 GTR

Photo: Dragos Chitulescu

Horsepower

McLaren P1

McLaren Senna

Photo: Dragos Chitulescu

McLaren F1

Photo: Dragos Chitulescu

I can't remember when I fell in love with the McLaren F1. But it's never vanished from my bucket list. Even if I may never afford one, I'd still be happy to take one for a drive around the block or, better yet, around the racetrack. That explains why some of the only Hot Wheels I'd never let go of are replicas of this '90s supercar.As I was admiring them earlier today, I'm looking into the topic of Hot Wheels McLarens and sharing the knowledge with you, too. It all started in 1969 with the M6A racer that Ira Gilford designed. It was only available that year, but Mattel released multiple variations, most featuring Spectraflame paint jobs. These days, you'll have to pay hundreds of dollars to get just one iteration, so buying them all will be tricky at best.In the past 50+ years, the diecast manufacturer has only developed 12 McLaren castings, but one never made it into stores. I chose the best five for a more detailed analysis, so here they come.The McLaren Mercedes MP4-13 is truly a forgotten gem. Michael Kollins designed this casting for its 1998 Pro Racing World Champions debut. Only two iterations are available, one for each of the team's drivers that season: Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. They finished P1 and P3 in 1998, with Michael Schumacher getting second place with Ferrari.The two collectibles were sold as part of the same package, and Mattel reportedly only made less than 10,000 units. I'd dare to say that these are two of the best Hot Wheels F1 cars ever, and it's almost shocking to see you can buy them for $30 to $60 today. The diecast manufacturer recreated the MP4-14 casting next, but then there was a long hiatus with no new McLaren castings.Over a decade had gone by since the tiny Formula One car replicas, so fans of the British brand must have been excited to see the F1 GTR in 2010. Fraser Campbell designed the model, and it's certainly on my Top 10 favorite Hot Wheels castings of all time. That's because the only way to make an F1 better is to turn it into a race car. This model was off to a great start as part of the Speed Machines series, featuring a Metallic Silver and Orange color combo and CM6 wheels.Three more similar iterations followed, and I'm a massive fan of the red and yellow design. In 2011, Mattel ditched the Co-Molded wheels in favor of something more basic for a Walmart-exclusive release. After two more less-than-exciting Speed Machines variations, the F1 GTR entered the Mainline series in 2017. I still have this and the following two models in my collection, as seen in the photo gallery. One of the best variations of this casting came out in 2019 as part of the Car Culture: Gulf series.The blue and white livery looked sublime with the orange Real Riders Exotics wheels. Mattel copied this recipe for the 2021 Car Culture: Britishseries but used a lighter shade of the Gulf livery this time. In 2022, the F1 GTR took a stroll through the iD series, but some fans would rather have the NFT Garage iteration instead. There are 18 different releases of this car for a complete collection, and the most expensive ones will cost anywhere between $200 to $700.Mattel's P1 came out five years after the F1 GTR. Ryu Asada designed this replica of the iconic hypercar, which debuted in the HW Workshop: HW Garage. Ten-spoke wheels were the go-to option for the first four variations before briefly changing to a five-spoke design in 2017. In all these years, Mattel has released only one Premium iteration of the P1.I'm talking about the 2017 Car Culture: Cars & Donuts model in orange. It was disappointing, and if it weren't for the Real Riders wheels, it was less exciting than most Mainline designs. Currently, there are 19 variations of the P1, all of which are relatively inexpensive. But I don't think we've heard the last of it, and I wonder what a Super Treasure Hunt iteration would be like.Mattel credits Ryu Asada and Alvin Chan for designing the McLaren Senna casting, which debuted in the 2019 HW Exotics series. The second iteration arrived soon after, featuring an exciting McLaren Orange finish and PR5 wheels. If you're a big fan of Hot Wheels Zamacs, you're probably aware of the 2020 Nightburnerz iteration, which is slightly more expensive than the average Mainline model.The Senna looked great in Spectraflame Burton Blue for the iD series, so you might need to pay as much as $90 for one this year. The only version of this casting I've held on to is the 2021 1/4 Mile Finals model in Volcano Yellow. It would have been the perfect color for the Premium Exotic Envy release, which looked rather dull in Dove Grey.The 2022 McLaren Car Culture 2-Pack Senna had the same problem with its Abyss Black paint job. But Mattel finally got it right with the Hot Wheels: Rift Rally Collectors Edition earlier this year. Spectraflame Volcano Orange is the color I'd like to have on an exclusive supercar. Naturally, this is the most expensive Hot Wheels Senna, as prices can go as high as $275.Mattel first attempted to release a replica of the F1 in 1995 but, for some reason, failed to do so. It took the company almost 26 years to get back on track, and I'm sure most Hot Wheels collectors were ecstatic about the 2021 HW Exotics of this vehicle. Even with a color like Metalflake Magnesium Silver, it was great to look at, but the best was yet to come.There are six variations on the market, four of which are Mainline items. I like the orange one the most, and I've been thinking about the 2022 Car Culture: Jay Leno's Garage recently. The wildest version of the F1 so far has got to be the 2023 NFT Garage model in Spectraflame Silverstone Green, rolling around on 10-Spoke Modern Real Riders wheels.It should be rarer than the other iterations, but prices can increase to over $200 in some cases. A new Premium release is coming soon, and we might have another Mainline F1 in 2024, so keep an eye out for that.
Navigation apps help make every trip faster, more convenient, and more predictable, but they can also become a double-edged sword, turning a journey into a horrible experience.

Photo: Google forums

Photo: Google forums

Photo: autoevolution

A bunch of F1 fans recently learned this the hard way . The group was traveling back from Las Vegas to Los Angeles when Google Maps suggested a detour from Interstate 15. A sandstorm was wreaking havoc on the highway, so the drivers were directed to an alternative route that was supposed to be some 50 minutes faster.The line of cars using the route was huge, and nobody thought it'd be dangerous to follow Google Maps' directions until they entered an unpaved road.After driving for a while, several cars got damaged during the off-road experience, so the entire convoy decided to make a U-turn and go back to the interstate. Google apologized for the mishap , claiming it had already removed the unpaved road from the routing engine for people traveling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.Graham Anderson, a cattle farmer from Queensland, Australia, also learned the hard way that the broken Google Maps guidance could cause massive disruption.The man says Google Maps sent hundreds of drivers looking for Isla Gorge to his doorstep despite the park's entrance being some 20 kilometers away. However, because the Isla Gorge is located just next to his property, Google Maps suggests the route as a shortcut, sending drivers to his 2,800-hectare land in an attempt to get them to the park faster.There's no entrance to the park from the property, the cattle farmer tells every driver. He says around 200 groups entered his property in the last few years, all sent by Google Maps.The man turned to an unusual but efficient solution to fight the herds of travelers entering his property. He erected a dedicated sign to tell drivers they're not following the correct route even if they use Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions."Trust me, not Google Maps," the sign reads, along with a direction arrow indicating that Isla Gorge is located 17.5 kilometers away on the highway. Anderson says the sign was effective, as the number of people knocking on his door for information has reduced significantly lately.Google told the local media that it also updated the information on Google Maps to prevent drivers from being directed to private property. However, Anderson says he leaves the sign where it is, especially because it serves its purpose right.The man says the hardest part was to come up with a message that convinced drivers they were following the wrong directions. He knew most drivers trust Google Maps blindly, so simply erecting a sign telling them where Isla Gorge was located wasn't enough. He needed a "bold statement," he explains, adding that the humorous message convinced more drivers to look up the right directions in Google Maps.The search giant says it resolves these blunders as quickly as possible but recommends drivers to download offline maps when traveling through the bushes, as it's critical to have up-to-date information even when driving in a region without a cellular signal.However, it's not always that easy, and authorities in various regions worldwide learned it the hard way. Google sometimes needs weeks or even months to correct the errors on Google Maps, so city officials in several countries turned to dedicated road signs to tell drivers that the navigation app is wrong. They erected signage to correct broken navigation routes suggested to drivers by the app, as even the smallest error can disrupt small and quiet communities.The case also highlights the importance of always planning a trip. When used correctly, Google Maps is a fantastic tool, but the application can suggest alternative routes that could eventually be dangerous, especially when looking for unpaved roads.Google is trying to address this problem with a feature whose rollout is taking place gradually worldwide. Immersive View for routes is a new route preview option that relies on overwhelming data to make every journey more predictable. It includes information from Street View, satellite imagery, traffic details, and weather conditions to create a multi-dimensional view with realistic information on the mobile device.Drivers can preview the route and access essential information that allows them to get familiar with every turn, eventually preparing for the journey when driving on a route they've never used before. Immersive View for routes is available in limited regions, but Google is working around the clock to expand it to more users.Meanwhile, if you come across a Google Maps navigation error , the best thing you can do is report it to Google. The company promises to correct the incorrect information as quickly as possible, so use all the available tools to signal the problem, including the built-in Google Maps reporting feature and the official community forums where community specialists could forward the report to the company.
The talks, described by the Russian Foreign Ministry as a short conversation, were held on the sidelines of a meeting in North Macedonians capital Skopje of the foreign ministers of OSCE member states.

The ministry said Lavrov and Mirzoyan discussed bilateral ties and the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process. It reported no concrete understandings reached by them.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued an unusually short statement on the talks. It said only that Mirzoyan once again presented the Armenian sides positions regarding the Russian policy and the steps taken on bilateral and regional agendas.

Russian-Armenian relations have significantly deteriorated over the past year primarily because of what Armenia sees as a lack of Russian support in its conflict with Azerbaijan. Tensions between the two longtime allies rose further in the run-up to and after Bakus September 19-20 military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian of systematically destroying those relations and reorienting his country towards the West. Pashinian and other Armenian leaders charged, for their part, that Russia has failed to honor its security commitments to its South Caucasus ally.

The deepening rift is increasingly calling into question Armenias continued membership in Russian-led military and trade blocs comprising several ex-Soviet states. Pashinian last week did not rule out the possibility of pulling his country out of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

According to the Russian readout of the Skopje talks, Lavrov reaffirmed Moscows readiness to vigorously facilitate an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal based on understandings brokered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yerevan now seems to prefer Western mediation of the peace talks. It has ignored Lavrovs recent offers to host fresh talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers. Moscow claims that peace efforts by the United States and the European Union are primarily aimed at driving Russia out of the South Caucasus.
30 November 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Being one of the main factors affecting surroundings, humankind has tried to adapt the environment according to its needs throughout history. Even in pre-historic times, as humankind spread from Africa to other continents, many local animals and even plants started to go extinct in places where humankind stepped upon them. Later, it impacted the environment by domesticating animals and plants. However, human activity affecting the environment soared after industrialization and reached such an extent that nature commenced threatening humankind itself.

Comprehending the real danger, every year the leaders of countries throughout the world have come together to determine, identify, assess, and cope with climate issues since the Rio Summit in 1992, which is dubbed the COP (Conference of the Parties). Under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries around the world try to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. In COP21, which was held in Paris, it was determined to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.

This year, Dubai is holding COP28. As usual, more than 100 heads of state and government, as well as about 100,000 representatives, are expected to attend the said event to identify the climate risks stemming from human actions and to discuss how to cope with them.

Azerbaijan is also participating in COP28 with a large delegation and will discuss and inform the world community about its achievements in the fields of ecology and climate.

It is worth noting that after ratifying the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1995, Azerbaijan joined international efforts to mitigate the negative effects of global climate change.

In accordance with Article 12 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as a (developing) country not included in Annex 1 of the Convention, Azerbaijan submits a report on its emissions to the Secretariat of the Convention every four years.

In addition to the Convention, the Republic of Azerbaijan ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 and set a goal of a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to the base year (1990) as its contribution to initiatives to mitigate the effects of global climate change.

Increasing the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production to 24% by 2026 and to 30% by 2030 is envisaged in the "Socio-economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026".

Azerbaijan will be represented for the first time with its own pavilion at the said event. In the pavilion built on an area of 254 m2, it is planned to hold parallel meetings (side events) and seminars with various local, regional, and international organisations, in addition to the display of virtual exhibits that reflect the work done by our country in the field of combating climate change, mitigation, and adaptation measures.

Azerbaijan has many things to demonstrate to the world in decarbonization as examples. The green energy concept of Azerbaijan ranks first. So to say, the green energy concept is Azerbaijan's source of pride. As is known, Azerbaijan is a country of fossil fuels, with one-third of its GDP accounted for oil and gas and 90 percent of its exports comprised of energy. Despite being rich in oil and gas reserves, Azerbaijan pays special attention to the development of the renewable energy sector and will become an exporter of green and hydrogen energy in the near future. The country intends to ensure 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Azerbaijan has 200 GW of electricity potential, and the country aims to turn 25 GW of this potential into electricity in the coming years. Azerbaijan intends to export 5 GW of electricity to Europe by 2030. A total of 4 GW will be exported under the Black Sea, and one GW will be exported from Nakhchivan through Turkiye.

For this purpose, Azerbaijan signed contracts with the leading green energy companies in the world, such as Masdar, ACWA Power, Fortescue, bp etc, to construct power plants.

Note that in October of this year, the 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar Power Station built by the Masdar company was inaugurated in Azerbaijan. It is the largest solar power plant in the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region.

Besides, on May 18, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev, who met with public representatives in Agdam, declared that the entire Garabagh zone will be a "green energy" zone. In Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, 170 megawatt hydroelectric power stations were put into use in 2021-2023. By the end of 2024, this number will reach 270 megawatts. In a few years, the total capacity of hydroelectric power stations in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation will be 500 megawatts.

No doubt that the more electricity or energy generated from renewable sources, the safer the world will be.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 November 2023 15:29 (UTC+04:00)

By Sara Ganjiyeva, AZERNEWS

The signing of a memorandum on NGO cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is noted as an initiative organised within the framework of the forum held in Fuzuli.

This step will further strengthen the cooperation of non-governmental organisations in the two countries and will have an important impact on social development in the region.

It will also enable the development of relations between humanitarian organizations in the two countries.

In a comment to AZERNEWS on the issue, the economist and MP, Vugar Bayramov, said that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan is very deep and covers all sectors except NGOs and civil societies. So, according to him, it was expected that the two countries would cooperate and share their experiences in this sector as well.

The deepening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in all fields is observed. Strategic relations between the countries are expanding. This, of course, made the establishment of new cooperation inevitable not only at the official or business level but also at the level of non-governmental organisations and civil society. In this context, of course, the strengthening of cooperation between non-governmental organisations will also allow countries to share their experiences in this direction. The memorandum will serve to strengthen cooperation in the field of civil society between the countries. Joint meetings, implementation of joint projects, sharing of experience, and presentation of facts about countries should be evaluated from the perspective of this memorandum, the MP said.

V. Bayramov emphasised that the memorandum will play an important role in developing relations in this sector. Besides, it will pave the road for further opportunities in other sectors as well. In addition, he thinks that the two countries will create a special fund for the implementation of joint projects.

The main purpose of the memorandum is to strengthen the activity and contribute to the deepening of strategic cooperation between the countries. At the same time, of course, there are great opportunities for cooperation in other areas. Opportunities for cooperation in the field of business are increasing, and in this direction, I think that both the creation of a special fund and the implementation of joint projects will make a special contribution to the rapprochement of the countries. In terms of Azerbaijan's contribution to the sector of non-governmental organisations, of course, this is important both in terms of the implementation of joint projects and, of course, in terms of sharing these experiences. It can also be noted that applying for joint funds is considered important from the point of view of the implementation of joint projects. From that point of view, non-governmental organisations of both countries will be able to benefit from this cooperation, Vugar Bayramov said.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 November 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

The presentation conference Country Climate and Development Reports, which explores economic growth and analyses it in terms of climate change, is one of the new significant research tools of the World Bank, and Azerbaijan is one of the first countries selected to conduct this research on a global scale.

Stefanie Stallmeister, the Country Manager for the World Bank in Azerbaijan, told Azernews during the presentation conference of the World Bank Group held on the Azerbaijan Country Climate and Development Report.

Azerbaijan is fairly impacted and faces risks due to the global de-carbonization efforts, and at the same time, it is also impacted by climate change. For example, we will see increased water scarcity and increased heat in Azerbaijan," she said.

The WB Country Manager also mentioned how it can affect agriculture in the country.

"This will especially impact agriculture, where a large portion of people in Azerbaijan work. So the report has two major sets of recommendations. One set of recommendations looks at the transition and decarbonization efforts and how to achieve them. One of the key recommendations is to accelerate the transition and increase the share of renewable sources in the energy mix. This will also help Azerbaijan eventually export the energy generated from renewable sources to Europe. The second set of recommendations looks at adaptation to climate change. One of the key recommendations, for example, is to invest in irrigation systems. The important message is in the self-interest of Azerbaijan, and it is good for Azerbaijan, Stefanie Stallmeister added.

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Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 November 2023 12:13 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's Digital Economy Strategy will focus on two main building blocks, Azernews reports, citing the First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev, telling at the "InMerge Innovation Summit" held in Baku.

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30 November 2023 14:38 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

A joint project on the preparation of the book Economics of the countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has been launched between the Centre for statistical, economic and Social Research and training on Islamic countries of the organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Centre for analysis of economic reforms and Communication (CAERC), Azernews reports

According to the CAERC, the project is being implemented within the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two institutions.

During the online meeting, CAERC Executive Director Prof. Dr. Vusal Gasimli informed about the scope of the book "Economics of the Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation" to be prepared under the joint partnership of the two organisations. He noted that the preparation of joint research materials will be related to the joint activities of OIC countries and the dissemination of their best practices on issues such as pandemic preparedness, climate change, transition to renewable energy, digital transformation, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, V. Gasimli stressed that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to cooperation with OIC countries, noting that this cooperation is successfully implemented within the framework of both bilateral and international organisations. Azerbaijan is taking new steps to strengthen ties between the countries of Islamic solidarity.

Also at the working-level meeting, Mazhar Husein, Director of the SESRIC Research Department, and his Chief Researcher, Kenan Bagchi, talked about the methodology of the book and SESRIC's support in attracting authors from the 57 OIC member countries. The importance of joint activities with local research institutes and information sharing in addressing the economic challenges faced by the member countries was emphasised.

Ramil Huseyn, deputy executive director of CAERC, Ayaz Museyibov, adviser to the executive director of CAERC, Gunay Guliyeva head of the Economic Analysis Department, Zanura Talibova, head of the Public Relations Department, and Vusala Jafarova, senior adviser of the Strategic Planning Department, participated in the online discussion.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Democratic precinct chairs raise their hands to show their disagreement with Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs behavior and values during a news conference urging Harris County Democratic Party leadership to pass a resolution admonishing Ogg on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023 at Chateau Crystale in Houston. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer

A group of precinct chairs is asking the Harris County Democratic Party to pass a resolution condemning District Attorney Kim Ogg, accusing the second-term Democrat of not representing the party's values.

Ogg  who is facing a primary challenge in March from former prosecutor Sean Teare  has rebutted their claims, dismissing them as "misinformation" in an Oct. 26 campaign email to her supporters.

Could the party pass the resolution?

As of Tuesday, over 100 out of 549 precinct chairs had signed on to the proposed resolution, organizer Daniel Cohen said.

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The measure will be considered at a resolutions committee meeting on Wednesday evening.

THE VOTE: Harris County Democrats delay proposed resolution condemning DA Kim Ogg

If the resolution advances, it also would need to be approved at the party's Nov. 30 steering committee meeting. Supporters are hoping to bring it to a final vote at a Dec. 10 meeting of the party's county executive committee, at which point it would need the support of a simple majority of the precinct chairs in attendance in order to pass.

What's in the resolution?

Ogg's critics claim she "has abused the power of her office to pursue personal vendettas against her political opponents, sided with Republicans to advance their extremist agenda, and stood in the way of fixing the broken criminal justice system."

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The resolution contains more than a dozen accusations about topics including bail reform, abortion and what critics say are politically motivated attacks on other Democrats.

'DON'T CROSS HER': How DA Kim Ogg has repeatedly aimed her power at Harris County officials

Democrats pushing for condemnation say Ogg has undermined their efforts to reform the misdemeanor cash bail system, citing an amicus brief she filed in 2019 opposing the changes and the invitation she sent to over 100 police chiefs asking them to attend a federal court hearing opposing the bail reform agreement.

The group also criticizes Ogg's refusal to sign a national letter pledging not to criminalize abortion.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision in 2022 that ended Roe v. Wade, five Texas district attorneys signed the letter vowing to "refrain from prosecuting those who seek, provide, or support abortions." Ogg did not sign the letter. She did, however, publicly support Houston police leaders who said they would not prioritize criminal allegations against people assisting with abortions.

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Critics also cite a recent Chronicle investigation that found Ogg has launched multiple criminal investigations against officials within her own party with whom she was publicly feuding.

In the resolution, precinct chairs say Ogg "abused the power of her position as the top law enforcement official in the county to bully and intimidate elected officials, judges, and public servants she disagrees with by threatening them with criminal prosecution, draining their bank accounts, damaging their reputations, and intentionally creating a paralyzing culture of fear across local government."

The resolution takes no punitive steps, but signals that the local party does not support her.

What are Ogg supporters saying?

Ogg's supporters within the party have defended her record, arguing that some of the complaints in the resolution stem from actions she was required to take and, in other instances, laws that prevented her from taking the actions her critics wanted.

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FACT CHECK: What we know about the petition to admonish Harris County DA Kim Ogg
30 November 2023 17:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

During a speech at the inMerge Innovation Summit, Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transportation Farid Ahmadov informed that the Ministry of Digital Development and Transportation is currently working with the World Bank on a data management strategy, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transportation.

MInister F. Ahmadov emphasised that one of the key aspects of digital infrastructure is the infrastructure that enables data sharing. Whether it's developing new products or improving existing products, the government has data that needs to be used for its own purposes. We tend to associate information sharing only with the government, but it's a two-way process. After all, companies have data too, and they need to be willing to share it.

In conclusion, deputy minister F. Ahmadov noted that he is currently working with the World Bank to develop a data management strategy. All the aspects I emphasized will be reflected in this strategy in the country.

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30 November 2023 16:51 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

Alastair Lukies, Chairman of the FinTech Alliance, told journalists on the sidelines of the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku that Azerbaijan has the potential to become a leader in innovation in the region, Azernews reports.

"It is absolutely clear to me that Azerbaijan has all the necessary conditions to create a successful innovation environment. We have heard from ministers, senior leaders, and innovators that everyone wants to work together to make this possible. Only when people work together do they have a chance of success," he emphasised.

According to Lukies, it is important that big banks, governments, and regulators realise that collaboration with fintech companies can be of great benefit to the entire society.

It should be noted that the Innovation Summit "InMerge" is held in Baku from 30 November - to 1 December.

"InMerge", considered the largest innovation summit in the region, is designed to bring together leading companies, startups, and investors to discuss the topic of innovation and possible collaborations.

"The FinTech Alliance looks forward to developing close cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan in the fintech sector. "said Alastair Lukies

"I believe Azerbaijan has a unique opportunity to become a leader in the region. Fintech plays an important role in the development of every country, and if Azerbaijan continues on this path, other countries will see it as a role model," Lukies emphasized.

Lukies also added that FinTech has been involved in various initiatives, such as the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan, and has collaborated with many other countries in the field of fintech, including Australia, Canada, Singapore, and South Korea. The company is looking for opportunities to develop fintech, and it is clear that the potential for this in Azerbaijan is extremely promising.

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30 November 2023 18:16 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina within the framework of the 30th session of the OSCE Ministerial Council, Azernews reports.

It was reported that the meeting discussed topical issues of the current agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, regional and international issues, as well as the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and prospects of negotiations.

During the meeting, the importance of regular political dialogue and the development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO as a partner and contributor to peace and security in the region and beyond were noted.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov informed the other side in detail about the factors determining the anti-terrorist measures implemented by Azerbaijan in less than 24 hours and the steps taken by Azerbaijan to advance the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest were exchanged at the meeting.

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30 November 2023 18:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Asim Aliev

The specialties to be taught at Khankandi and Garabagh University have been announced.

Minister of Science and Education Emin Amrullayev informed at a briefing on November 30 that the university plans to train 1,000 students in the new academic year, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijan's Minister of Science and Education.

The minister claimed that the plan is to have teachers travel to Khankandi for intensive modules and organise online teaching. "It is also planned to place 30-40 faculty members there on a permanent basis. In the initial phase, some faculty members will live in the immediate vicinity."

E. Amrullayev emphasised that freshmen and young people studying in SABAH groups will be able to study there on the basis of entrance examinations of the State Examination Center: "In addition, there will be exchange programs or double diploma programs. In the first phase, it is planned to have 4 faculties, further on, in the second phase, the number of major choices will be increased."

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30 November 2023 10:18 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

On 30 November, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov embarked on a business trip to Skopje, the capital of Northern Macedonia, Azernews reports.

The Press Service of the Foreign Ministry said that within the framework of the visit, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will participate and make a speech at the 30th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as hold meetings with officials of other countries participating in the event, the Foreign Ministry's Press Service Department reported.

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30 November 2023 11:37 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The Western Azerbaijan Community made a statement on the occasion of spreading information that the European Union will provide military assistance to Armenia within the framework of the "European Peace Fund," Azernews reports.

The statement of the Western Azerbaijani Community reads:

"Following France, the European Union arming Armenia is a very wrong and dangerous step.

The transfer of arms to Armenia under the name of the "European Peace Fund" is irony and mockery. The Western Azerbaijan Community believes that the arming of Armenia by the European Union following France is a very wrong and dangerous step and serves to increase tension in the region and strengthen revanchism in Armenia.

The EU should put an end to the policy of arming Armenia and bringing geopolitical competition to the South Caucasus region," the statement emphasises.

Earlier, France agreed to supply weapons to Armenia, including air defence systems. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu made the announcement on October 21.

"It is necessary to allow Armenia to protect its civilian population and ensure the defence of its borders," Minister Lecornu said while explaining France's arming of Armenia.

According to the French minister, following the contracts signed on October 22, Armenia was enabled to 'protect its skies'.

The Armenian side noted that the issue of Paris providing military assistance to Yerevan has been raised by the Armenian authorities before. On October 5, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian said on the France 2 TV channel that the country needs a new military partner besides Russia. "France has expressed its strong intention to help us and to support us in order to strengthen our defence capability. Our goal is to defend ourselves and stop Azerbaijan's ambitions because the final goal is to live in peace with our neighbour," the Armenian president stressed.

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30 November 2023 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The Deputy Prime Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Shahin Mustafayev and Mher Grigoryan, will discuss issues of the delimitation of borders between the two countries. The meeting of the deputy prime ministers will be held at the Gazakh-Ijavan border, Azernews reports.

Recall that, on November 21, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reacted to the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry and said that Yerevan is ready to participate in negotiations with Baku.

The statement noted that the Armenian side reaffirms its political will to make efforts to normalise relations with Azerbaijan as well as to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

It should be noted that official Baku said that Azerbaijan is ready for direct negotiations with Armenia on a bilateral basis to conclude a peace agreement as soon as possible.

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30 November 2023 12:32 (UTC+04:00)

Abbas Ganbay Read more

The Western Azerbaijani Community made a statement that a group of deputies from Lithuania visited the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, recently met with representatives of the EU mission in Armenia, and continued the inappropriate practice of looking at Azerbaijan through binoculars, Azernews reports.

The statement reads:

"Lithuania continues its policy of hostility against Azerbaijan at all levels. Probably they are aware of the audio recording of Lithuanian MPs made public a few years ago that Lithuanian diplomats supported occupying Armenia rather than Azerbaijan, whose territory was occupied in the past conflict, on religious grounds.

Lithuanian MPs are reminded that most of the places they visited were villages where Azerbaijanis were deported.

Lithuanian MPs with a crusader mentality, instead of seeking adventures in the South Caucasus and being Don Quixotes, let them go and defend the rights of an oppressed ethnic minority in their country".

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30 November 2023 14:19 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the allocation of 5 million manat ($2.9 million) for the reconstruction of the Barda-Aghdam (40 km)-Asgaran highway.

In order to reconstruct the Barda-Aghdam (40 km)-Asgaran highway with a length of 18 kilometers, five million manat ($2.9 million) has been allocated to the State Road Agency of Azerbaijan from the amount specified in subparagraph 1.31.25 of "Distribution of funds provided in the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023 for state capital investments (investment expenditures)" approved by the Order No. 3720 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated January 23, 2023.

The Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan is entrusted to provide financing in the amount specified in Part 1 of this Decree.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan is entrusted to solve issues arising from this decree.

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30 November 2023 15:20 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a law on approval of the "Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda", Trend reports.

According to the law, the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda on exemption of holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements" signed on September 20, 2023 in New York, was approved.

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Roy Morales and incumbent Letitia Plummer will face each other in the runoff for City Council At-Large District 4. Houston Chronicle

Both candidates in the race for the At-Large 4 seat on Houston City Council believe public safety is a top priority for the city, but they offer different approaches to voters.

Incumbent Councilmember Letitia Plummer and her opponent in the Dec. 9 runoff, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Roy Morales believe the Houston Police Department needs more officers to patrol the citys streets. They also agree that investing in community policing could improve the relationship between officers and the communities they serve.

Plummer, however, said she takes a data-driven approach to public safety and is focused on the need for services such as mental health crisis and domestic abuse teams the city funded with federal COVID-19 relief. Morales, on the other hand, has pitched himself as being tougher on crime and has proposed using technology such as artificial intelligence to track down violent criminals.

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Morales said he disagrees with some of the positions Plummer has taken on City Council, including the budget amendment she proposed in 2020 to eliminate 199 vacant civilian positions within HPD and redirect $11.8 million toward police reforms. Mayor Sylvester Turner opposed the amendment, which failed.

I want to protect our citizens, and I think shes a little bit soft on crime, Morales said.

2023 Houston Runoff Voter Guide: Mayor, Controller and City Council races

Plummer, meanwhile, criticized Morales after the Houston Chronicle reported that he told a Harris County group that he wanted the city to rejoin the controversial federal 287(g) program targeting immigrants without legal status. Morales said during a news conference Tuesday that he intended to say he wanted to study the idea but is undecided on rejoining the program. He also said he wants to target only those who commit violent crimes, though the federal program applies to all criminal offenses.

The positions that I take are holistic and preventive and data-driven, Plummer said. My approach does not create fear or anxiety.

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Morales hopes his focus on crime will appeal to enough voters as he faces an uphill battle against Plummer in the runoff. Plummer took 47.9% of the vote during the Nov. 7 general election, falling just short of the 50% plus one vote threshold she needed to be reelected. Morales finished with 33.3% of the vote.

Guided by data

Plummer pointed to the citys ShotSpotter program as an example of how data informs her positions. Plummer initially voted against a $3.5 million contract for the controversial program, which critics have called unreliable, but later acknowledged that early data showed it was effective in one HPD patrol division. Earlier this year, though, she reaffirmed her opposition after the Chronicle obtained data that showed ShotSpotter was delaying police response times without curbing violence.

She also points to her push for apartment inspection reform, which led to the city using federal COVID-19 relief funds to hire more inspectors. She pointed out that the citys Blue Star Multi-Housing Program is designed to reduce crime by improving living conditions in apartment buildings.

If we can clean up these areas that harbor crime, it will be a safer place to live, she said.

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Read more: Houston City Council candidate Roy Morales wants return to ICE program

Morales also wants to use data to keep Houston safe. His proposals include an analysis of every police officers beat or the area theyre assigned to patrol. The analysis would include looking at crime statistics and response times to determine whether officers have the equipment and resources they need.

Using technology

Morales suggested using data mining tools to identify crime trends and track down suspects, as well as using DNA from ancestry websites to identify suspects in rape cases. Critics have raised privacy concerns over the use of genealogical data in criminal investigations, particularly because results are typically less reliable than forensic tests done by law enforcement agencies.

Morales acknowledged the privacy concerns related to AI and ancestry websites but believes that identifying crime suspects is more important.

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I worry about civil rights, too, but I worry about our citizens being attacked by criminals, he said.

AT LARGE 4: What to know about the candidates

Morales said he has the experience to bring crime-fighting technology to Houston because he is a former assistant director and chief technology officer for the Houston Emergency Center. The Chronicle reported in 2009 that Morales was fired from that job, but he maintains that he was pushed out over a disagreement with a supervisor from another city department. He provided copies of emails from April 2005 that showed a supervisor subsequently asked him to remain on-call and represent the city at a security conference until Morales resigned in June 2005.

Community policing

Both Morales and Plummer have said HPD needs more officers to address a staffing shortage. The department has about 5,200 officers, but the Houston Police Officers Union has said it needs 2,000 more to be fully staffed. Plummer said the bare minimum is for the city to replace every officer who retires or leaves the department.

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Plummer also said its important to consider how officers are being deployed. She believes community policing programs could be beneficial because residents may feel safer if they see familiar officers in their neighborhoods. She also believes that familiarity could improve relationships.

Having police officers in communities, especially communities of color, that they recognize and they know, I believe is important, she said. Weve got to improve the ways in which we have relationships.

Morales also believes in community policing programs, as well as opening more police storefronts in neighborhoods. He has proposed hiring more civilians for desk jobs within HPD and moving more officers to patrols.

If we have officers that are behind a desk and theyre fit, then we need to look at putting them out on the street, Morales said.

Investing in programs

One of Plummers top priorities if she is reelected is maintaining the mental health and domestic violence teams the city funded with COVID-19 relief funds. She said it would be devastating to eliminate or reduce those programs but believes there are opportunities to fund them through grants.

She is also hoping to find funding for a program that would use private security officers to patrol neighborhoods to discourage break-ins at businesses. Plummer said HPD would oversee the program and that the private security officers would not be responding to active crimes or trying to catch suspects.
30 November 2023 17:43 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto within the framework of his participation in the 30th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Azernews reports.

The Foreign Ministry reported that various aspects of co-operation between Azerbaijan and Hungary, as well as current issues of regional and international security, were discussed at the meeting.

J.Bayramov stressed satisfaction with the level of development of bilateral and multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary, emphasised the importance of mutual contacts and visits in discussing prospects and expanding the cooperation agenda.

Hungary's constant support to Azerbaijan country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially within the framework of international organisations, was noted with gratitude.

The two countries have various, including economic, trade, energy, investment, ties, etc. development of cooperation in the fields, and the successful implementation of joint projects was highlighted.

The other side was informed in detail about the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, as well as the efforts made towards the normalisation and promotion of the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest during the meeting.

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30 November 2023 18:59 (UTC+04:00)

The Spanish Civil Guard detained two minors on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

According to their information, the detainees are accused of distributing "propaganda materials of the terrorist organization Islamic State, which contained incitement" to commit attacks.

"At present, both in Spain and in Europe, an increase in the number of investigations against minors in the context of jihadist terrorism has been recorded," the Civil Guard added.

Now Spain has declared the fourth level of the terrorist threat out of five possible. Alleged extremists are regularly detained in the country.

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30 November 2023 19:42 (UTC+04:00)

The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) has not completely abandoned the idea of invading Niger, where the rebels came to power, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

The association "only suspended" consideration of such a scenario, hoping for the effect of sanctions. This was announced by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musa.

"I would not say that we have abandoned the military option. We have suspended its execution, waiting for the sanctions to bring results. We already have evidence that they have an impact on the junta," he said in an interview with the magazine.

Musa added that ECOWAS has never said that military intervention is "the first option" of putting pressure on the rebels," Musa said.

The community used sanctions and tried to use diplomatic means to "reach consensus". "Now Niger is in international isolation and is subject to sanctions," the representative of the organization said.

Earlier it was reported that the rebels who came to power in Niger refused to take part in at least three meetings with representatives of ECOWAS. The military keeps in touch only with Togo, one of the member countries of the association.

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30 November 2023 21:45 (UTC+04:00)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday departed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to attend the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, or COP28, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan will address the UN climate summit on Friday. He is also expected to hold talks with leaders of some participating countries on the sidelines of the conference.

The UAE is set to host this years climate conference between Nov. 30 and Dec. 12, with the aim of keeping the Paris Agreement warming target of 1.5C (2.7F) alive.

Turkiye is among the countries making the most significant contribution to the Paris climate accord with its 2053 net zero emissions and green development targets.

Ankara works for a cleaner and greener Turkiye by implementing many projects, including a zero-waste initiative.

In 2017, under the auspices of first lady Emine Erdogan, Turkiye launched the zero-waste project to highlight the importance of eliminating waste in fighting the climate crisis.

The project has drawn international praise, with UN chief Antonio Guterres expressing his gratitude to the first lady during a conference in New York last September.

Last December, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on the zero-waste initiative presented by Turkiye, declaring March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste.

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Mayor Sylvester Turner and mayoral candidate John Whitmire. Houston Chronicle

Outgoing Mayor Sylvester Turner said the mayoral front runner, state Sen. John Whitmire, owes him and the city an apology over claims of a lack of diversity in the top levels of City Hall.

Data shows claims made by Whitmire on the lack of Asians and Hispanics at the uppermost rungs of city leadership are correct  but they're also a part of a larger story of municipal government demographics across the country.

In a FOX 26 debate Monday, Whitmire criticized the demographic composition of the Turner administrations top leaders and said they didnt represent Houstons diversity.

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Look at the department heads, Whitmire said in the debate. Pull them up. Google them. Look at whos running the city of Houston. Its not the Asian community. The Hispanic community is severely underrepresented. So lets practice what were so proud of.

MAYORAL RUNOFF DEBATE: Four takeaways from the first Houston mayoral runoff debate between Jackson Lee and Whitmire

Of the citys 41 past and current department heads appointed by Turner, 18 are Black (44%) and 16 are white (39%), according to data provided by the Mayors Office. Five are Hispanic (12%) and two are Asian (5%).

In comparison, Houstons overall population is 23% Black, 24% white, 45% Hispanic and 7% Asian, the latest U.S. Census data shows.

However, research reveals the underrepresentation of Hispanic and Asian top-level officials in City Hall is not confined to Houston and can also be seen in other large metros across the country.

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In Chicago, for example, while Hispanics and Asians make up 29% and 6.4% of the city population, respectively, they hold just 19% and 5% of the city governments management-level positions, Chicagos city data shows.

The issue also applies to the general city government workforce. In Houston, 35% and 28% of its over 21,000 city employees are Black and white, respectively, according to the citys latest payroll data. Only 28% are Hispanic, despite the group constituting nearly half of the city population. Seven percent of the city staff are Asian.

Similarly in other cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City, both Black and white individuals tend to be either proportionately represented or overrepresented in the city workforce, whereas Latinos are consistently underrepresented, and Asians see mixed experience in different cases, according to each citys official statistics and census data.

At Wednesdays council meeting, Turner highlighted the numerous Asian and Hispanic department heads he has appointed including former Police Chief Art Acevedo and Fire Chief Samuel Pena.

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Outside city department directors, the mayor also noted other key appointed officials who have served under his tenure such as METRO Chair Sanjay Ramabhadran, Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz and Priya Zachariah, the chief resilience and sustainability officer of the Mayors Office.

Saying that there is no diversity in the top levels of City Hall is a blatant misrepresentation, Turner said during the Wednesday meeting. He owes me an apology. Quite frankly owes the whole city of Houston an apology.

Later, Turner continued, Ive lived 69 years. I know when youre sending a dog whistle. This city deserves better. It deserves better, and Im not going to let that slide."

MAYORAL ENDORSEMENT: Sylvester Turner endorses Sheila Jackson Lee for Houston mayor as race enters December runoff

Turner, who is term limited and is finishing out his final month in office, has endorsed Whitmires opponent U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in the mayoral race.

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Whitmire's campaign declined to provide a response to Turner's comments from the Wednesday City Council meeting.
Understanding that there are two firm positions concerning the Open Border Crises, but many realties regarding its current, and, or projected real impacts to the functioning, sustainability of this Constitutional Republic: What position below best represents what you know to be true regarding this impactful policy?

0% The United States' must continue the Executive initiative of Open Borders until a Democratic Congress can codify full Demographic Inclusion by keeping the Biden /Harris Open Borders policy in place.34.62% Our United States' borders are sovereign just as are our self-governed citizens, where borders must be maintained, monitored and defended, which is the position of core Republicans.3.85% I am in favor of Open Borders to make my America more of a global community; however, the federal government must now fix problems that "Red State" governors have caused in our cities.61.54% I do NOT favor the Democratic Socialists' disruption of the cultural fabric of my Representative Republic, and there will be Treasonous Hell to Pay when the certain calamity begins in earnest.
Murphy Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Eliminate Costly Health Care Fees

Press Release:



Washington, D.C. Today, Congressman Murphy introduced the No Fees for EFTs Act, bipartisan legislation to protect health care providers and patients from unnecessary fees associated with electronic fund transfers and payment transactions.



"Fees associated with electronic transactions for physician services are an unnecessary and costly burden on providers and patients," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Greedy health insurers attempt to scalp doctors and patients every step of the way throughout the care process to line their pockets. We don't tolerate paying fees to receive direct deposit of a paycheck, likewise, doctors and patients should not be forced to pay predatory fees on electronic payments on essential health services."



"Our doctors and hospitals in small and rural areas are already struggling to provide timely care without having to factor in the even greater administrative burdens and fees brought on by electronic fund transfers, or EFTs, and payment transactions," said Congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks, M.D. "As a doctor, I know how important it is to prioritize patient care. I also understand how the debilitating EFT fees, tacked on by an outdated Affordable Care Act provision, can shutter a practice, by mounting practice cost expenses, especially in a time of high inflation, when reimbursement does not keep pace. Our bill, the No Fees for EFTs Act, addresses the deceptive business practices of EFTs and protects a doctor's ability to provide quality patient care."



"Healthcare plans forcing doctors to pay a fee to be paid for their services creates yet another hurdle in the healthcare system and prevents physicians from getting the compensation they deserve," said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. "I am proud to continue to be a voice for physicians in the House by introducing this bipartisan legislation in hopes of prohibiting these excessive fees impacting our medical providers at a time when we are experiencing severe doctor shortages nationwide."



"As we work towards a more efficient and fair health care system, the 'No Fees for EFTs Act' represents a crucial step forward," said Congressman Derek Kilmer. "It's unacceptable that health care providers are burdened with unnecessary fees for simply receiving payments electronically. These costs not only hinder our medical professionals financially but also divert critical resources away from patient care. This bipartisan effort underscores our commitment to eliminating predatory practices in our health care system and ensuring that every dollar is directed towards improving patient outcomes."



"Medical Group Management Association thanks Representatives Murphy, Kilmer, Griffith, Bera, Miller-Meeks, and Schrier for their leadership in introducing the No Fees for EFTs Act. MGMA has long called for a prohibition on the practice of health plans and their payment processing vendors charging medical groups rapacious fees for receiving reimbursement via the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) method. Medical practices often find themselves charged a percentage (typically 2-5%) per EFT transaction simply to get paid - proving especially detrimental for the majority of groups who receive over 75% of their annual revenue through EFT. If passed, this critical legislation would clarify in plain language that plans and their vendors are prohibited from imposing fees for EFT payment, helping to protect the financial viability of medical practices and their ability to provide cost-effective care."



"The American Medical Association applauds Reps. Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), Morgan Griffith, (R-VA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Derek Kilmer, (D-WA), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) for looking out for patients and their access to care," AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., MPH. "Insurers have slashed reimbursement rates, foisted prior authorization requirements on physicians, and created narrow networks. But requiring physicians to pay fees to get paid? This bill would give much needed relief to physician practices and score a victory for common sense."





Contact: Alexander Crane

Email: alexander.crane@mail.house.gov


Google has finally agreed to pay C$100 million ($73.6 million) yearly to news publishers in Canada, Canadian government officials reported on Wednesday.

Backtracking from its pledge earlier this year, the tech giant will not also block links from Canadian news outlets on its platform over the controversial Online News Act.

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said Canada and Google "have found a path forward" to address core issues within the law.

Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, reported that the two are currently working "through the exemption process" for the regulation, including a "clear commitment threshold" to news publishers.

The news came after previous negotiations with Google fell apart. Canada initially required the tech giant to pay C$127 million ($93.4 million) in accordance with the law.

Google and Meta previously threatened to pull links to news content in Canada in response to the law, which goes into effect in three weeks, Dec. 19.

Also Read: Meta Insists It Would Rather Block News in Canada Than Pay Publishers

What is the Online News Act?

The Online News Act, which was passed in June, was met with criticism from online platforms when it was first announced.

Aimed to "ensure that dominant platforms compensate news businesses," the law targets digital platforms getting huge advertising revenues generated from news content published on their site.

The Canadian government asserted that tech behemoths like Google and Meta receive roughly 80% of the $14 billion ad profits in 2022.

The new law requires a "minimum threshold" for online spaces to "contribute to the sustainability of the Canadian news marketplace."

Google and Meta Response to Online News Act

Google called the legislation "unworkable" and could affect the availability of news content on the search engine's platform in Canada.

Meta has yet to resume negotiations with Canada after threatening to remove news content on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram from its Canadian users.

Canada's new law follows after Australia passed a similar regulation in 2021.

The government later amended the law to allow Google and Facebook to strike deals with publishers rather than a standard fee.

Related Article: Meta News Blackout In Effect for Canadian Facebook and Instagram Users
ASCs in many markets are facing major anesthesia provider shortages and declining reimbursements, affecting their ability to provide care.

"Anesthesia used to be a seemingly unlimited commodity," Jeff Dottl, principal at Ventura, Calif.-based Physicians Surgery Centers, told Becker's. "They were lucky to be invited to work at your surgery center. The tables have turned, and now if centers have anyone to cover anesthesia, it usually comes at a hefty price."

Many are feeling the effects of the shortage. Portland, Ore.-based Providence Portland Medical Center and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center had to delay several hundres surgeries this year due to a shortage of anesthesiologists. Billings (Mont.) Clinic was seeing a shortage of 35 or more full-time anesthesiologists late last year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some leaders worry this shift might slow the migration of procedures to the ASC setting. Anesthesia costs are on the rise, but payers have not adjusted their reimbursement rates to keep up and there are no stipends being given to ASCs to offset rising costs.

"The shift of inpatient to outpatient cases is a given, but this trend may be slowed by the abysmal Medicare reimbursement for anesthesia cases," Andrew Lovewell, CEO at Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, told Becker's. "When salaries, wages and benefits are higher for an outpatient total joint than the anesthesia reimbursement, we have a problem. This is a double-edged sword as the case migration needs to happen to save Medicare money on the facility side, but they [Medicare] have to step up the anesthesia reimbursement if this is going to work."

Additionally, anesthesia providers were further affected by the No Surprises Act and its independent dispute resolution process  payers are using the process to "reduce their required reimbursement by refusing to go in network with the anesthesia providers," according to a VMG Health report. Because of this, VMG Health has received an increasingly high number of requested subsidy arrangements for ASCs.

The decline comes as the anesthesia workforce continues to shrink. More than 2,872 anesthesiologists left the workforce from 2021 to 2022, according to a report from Definitive Healthcare. Additionally, in 2021, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicted a shortage of 12,500 anesthesiologists by 2033.

Some leaders are optimistic  they believe ASCs could have an edge in recruiting anesthesia staff. Jack Dillon, CEO of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Anesthesia Practice Consultants, told Becker's the predictable hours and steady work ASCs can provide could attract anesthesia providers.
Rhode Island dentists and patients are facing several challenges that have led the state to reach a "tipping point," the Cranston Herald reported Nov. 29.

Six notes:

1. The state is currently dealing with workforce shortages, stagnant reimbursements, increasing costs and rising demand for services.

2. Frederick Hartman, DMD, president of the Rhode Island Dental Association, told the news organization that the state is reaching a "tipping point," while adding that he is one of 22 oral surgeons in the state, compared to more than double the amount of oral surgeons who were in the state a decade ago.

3. Dr. Hartman also said the state has one of the oldest populations of dentists in the U.S., with 47 percent of dentists age 55 or older.

4. Aaron Guckian, the dental association's executive director, told the Cranston Herald that in addition to the state lacking a dental school, many dental hygiene students who graduate from the state's community college end up practicing in Massachusetts because they can make more money.

5. The state failed to pass a bill that would have established a medical loss ratio similar to what was passed in Massachusetts last year.

6. Dr. Hartman said similar legislation is being considered for the state's next legislative session.
Kaiser Permanente has purchased land in San Jose, Calif., allowing for a possible expansion by the Oakland, Calif.-based health system.

Kaiser paid Hudson Pacific Properties $43.5 million for the vacant site, documents filed with the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder's Office show, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The land is on Technology Drive near San Jose Mineta International Airport and next to land that houses a current Kaiser medical office building.

"As one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare providers in the country, Kaiser Permanente is continuously looking for opportunities to better meet the needs of our members, and support the communities we serve," the health system said in a statement shared with Becker's on Nov. 29. "Evaluating potential acquisition opportunities and acquiring real estate is part of our normal, day-to-day business operations. The land purchased in North San Jose is adjacent to our [153,000 square-foot] Skyport Medical Offices and will allow for an expansion of services at a yet to-be-determined date."

Kaiser did not provide additional information about the expansion or what new services would be added. Its existing medical office building includes physician offices, a laboratory and a pharmacy, according to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. However, it does not include a hospital or offer emergency or urgent care.
A former University of Iowa Community HomeCare staff member and a former patient filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against UI Community HomeCare and UI Community Medical Services, part of UI Health Care, alleging the organization was negligent during a March data breach, The Gazette reported Nov. 28.

Becky Kaefring and Kimberly Sullivan claim that a data breach at UI Community HomeCare on March 23, which affected more than 67,000 individuals, could have been avoided. According to the suit, the Iowa City, Iowa-based health system deliberately opted for "calculated decisions" to sidestep their data security responsibilities by employing inadequate and cost-cutting security measures.

The women are seeking a court mandate for the university entities to implement cybersecurity measures such as removing the private information of individuals within the class outlined in the lawsuit unless the university can provide a valid reason for retention.

They also request the engagement of independent auditors and internal staff to oversee security, conduct simulated attacks and initiate annual information security training programs for employees.

Executive Director Shane Sedenka told the news outlet that UI Community HomeCare utilizes a distinct EHR system from UIHC, but did not comment on the lawsuit.

"There is no indication that any UI Health Care protected health information was impacted as a result of UI Community HomeCare's security incident," Mr. Sedenka told the publication. "The privacy and security of patient information is a top priority, and we are confident that UI Community HomeCare's data security program is consistent with industry standards."
Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System is donating 200 beds to hospitals in Tanzania, Nigeria and Lebanon, local news outlet WCIA reported Nov. 29.

The beds will come from five HSHS facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois. The health system is in the process of standardizing its beds, and the donations are made up of the out-of-service beds getting replaced.

So far, 129 beds are on the way to Africa and the Middle East.

"It's been a huge success," Erica Smith, executive director of HSHS mission outreach, told WCIA. "We had one example of beds that we got in Green Bay that were on a container to Tanzania within two weeks. So it's amazing, it is a blessing for us, and it's also a blessing for many people around the world who otherwise may not have something as simple as a hospital bed to receive care or recover in."
Multiple regions in China release latest influenza data; residents reminded to take precautions

Global Times) 10:45, November 30, 2023

Multiple regions across China including North China's Tianjin, East China's Zhejiang Province and South China's Guangdong Province have released the latest influenza monitoring data, mainly featuring type A H3N2 or B Victoria cases. The authorities reminded residents to take precautionary measures such as getting vaccinations and paying attention to personal hygiene, following the rise in respiratory infectious diseases recently.

Tianjin municipal health authorities have analyzed the influenza data for recent years and have formed an early warning system, as well as relevant suggestions to guide the public in prevention and protecting those most at risk. Every week, the relevant information will be released to the public, the Tianjin Center for Disease Control (CDC) said on Wednesday.

The influenza outbreak in Tianjin is classified as Level III, with the most common cases being type A H3N2, according to the Tianjin CDC. The CDC reminded residents to be cautious as the influenza level is expected to be high from Monday to December 3, and it may reach the yellow alert level.

The Zhejiang provincial CDC also released an article on Tuesday noting that winter has always been a peak season for influenza, with lower temperatures conducive to transmission of the virus.

In the past three years, the influenza levels in Zhejiang Province have been relatively low, and there has also been a low vaccination rate, which means there is a lack of influenza virus antibodies in the local population.

The main transmission channel is respiratory droplets, followed by direct or indirect contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and eyes. The predominant strain of the influenza virus in Zhejiang is primarily the A H3N2 subtype. The majority of reported cases are among children and students aged 3 to 15, said the Zhejiang CDC.

Shenyang municipal authorities in Northeast China's Liaoning Province said on Wednesday that the monitoring data showed there has been an increase in influenza-like cases recently, and the mycoplasma pneumoniae infections have showed a downward trend.

In Meizhou, Guangdong Province, the city has seen an upward trend in influenza infections since October. The city has seen a relatively high prevalence of influenza, and it's predicted that it will last for a while, the city CDC said.

The recent rise in respiratory infectious diseases is being caused by known pathogens, mainly the influenza virus, while mycoplasma pneumoniae, the adenovirus and the respiratory syncytial virus have been detected as well, according to the National Health Commission, Xinhua News Agency reported.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
OpenAI has always always been a closed book when asked where its training data is scraped. A group of researchers conducted random tests on ChatGPT, only to find the trick for it to reveal sensitive data, as well as snippets of copyrighted works.

A Dangerous Discovery

A group of researchers from Google DeepMind, the University of Washington, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of California Berkeley, and ETH Zurich started testing out the response of the chatbot to certain prompts and found what looks to be an opportunity for threat actors.

ChatGPT was asked to repeat certain random words without stopping, and even through it did in the beginning, it started to generate other words as well. The concerning part is that these were sensitive data of real people or companies.

The researchers asked the chatbot to repeat the word "poem" forever, which eventually led to it revealing the phone number and email address of an undisclosed founder and CEO. The group continued to do this to determine the extent of the newfound bug.

The next word they used was "company" and in the same process, the chatbot generated the email address and phone number of a law firm in the US. The researchers continued to do this and managed to acquire various data from people.

This included snippets from websites and copyrighted research papers, names, birthdays, email addresses, social media usernames, explicit content from dating sites, fax numbers, and even Bitcoin addresses, as reported by Engadget.

With just the cost of $200, the group got a hold of 10,000 examples of personally identifiable data. For fraudsters, this can be a price since they can squeeze out significantly more money through phishing attacks or selling the data to other threat actors.

Throughout the entire experiment, the researchers concluded that 16.9% of the generated content from the specific prompts contained sensitive data. "It's wild to us that our attack works and should've, would've, could've been found earlier," they expressed.

Read Also: Class Action Suit Against Stability AI to Be Amended Due to False Copyright Claims

How Is That Happening?

This could be due to the fact that OpenAI is sourcing its training data from publicly available data, although that has been denied by the company. That did not stop others from filing a lawsuit against the AI company, accusing it of doing what they have been denying.

Back in late June, a class-action suit states that ChatGPT was trained using "massive amounts of personal data" that were stolen by OpenAI. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI did so by crawling the web including social media sites.

The data scraped included private information and private conversations, medical data, and information about children. It was allegedly taken all without the consent of the owners of the data, as mentioned in Business Insider.

As a consequence of these allegations, the lawsuit aims to have OpenAI's commercial development temporarily frozen, as well as access to its products until they implement better regulations and safeguards.

This continues to be a growing issue, and not just with OpenAI. Several other AI companies have been hit with lawsuits as they were accused of the same offense. Companies, of course, continue to deny this.

Related: Universal Music Accuses Against AI Startup Anthropic of Copyright Infringement
Approximately 60 employees took advantage of the voluntary separation opportunity at Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health, a spokesperson told Becker's on Nov. 29.

The 12-hospital health system announced the voluntary separation opportunity this summer, citing financial challenges.

"With financial headwinds stemming from rising costs, decreased reimbursement, staffing shortages and other industry factors, we must continue to focus on being a more efficient organization," Baptist Health President and CEO Bo Boulenger told staff.

Executives at the director level and above were eligible to apply for the voluntary separation opportunity, and there was no specific target number. End dates for those who accepted the opportunity may vary depending on organizational needs, a spokesperson said.

Baptist Health South Florida, which employs about 27,000 people total, is not the only system to recently offer buyouts. Urbana, Ill.-based Carle Health initiated a voluntary separation program for some employees earlier this month, citing a need to reduce expenses in the long term. And Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham announced this month that it is offering employees in its technology division buyouts. The health system said the buyouts are to trim its workforce in today's changing healthcare environment.
Seattle-based Swedish Health Services is kicking off a $1.3 billion-plus North Tower project on its First Hill Campus, Puget Sound Business Journal reported Nov. 29.

The 750,000-square-foot medical tower will have a new acute care facility, an additional outpatient and imaging services building, and office space. The 12-story tower will also feature 24 advanced operating suites and an emergency department with 31 rooms, eight dedicated to behavioral healthcare. While North Tower will open with an initial 72 beds, 108 more will be added.

Plans for an additional 900,000-square-foot second tower are also in the works. The project, which began planning in 2015, will more than double the campus size, from 1.5 million to 3.15 million square feet.

"This project is essential for us," Elizabeth Wako, MD, president and CEO of Swedish Health, told the publication. "We need it to be able to continue operations to continue to provide service to our community. It is very much a replacement of some very aged facilities."

While an amount was not disclosed, the board of trustees of Providence, which affiliated with Swedish around 10 years ago, approved the North Tower funding strategy Sept. 27 and secured a construction loan, which Swedish will pay down over time with the help of philanthropic support. Swedish currently employs 13,500 people systemwide and more than 4,100 people on First Hill.
Chris Shride, president of Ascension Saint Joseph-Joliet (Ill.), has resigned from his role  just over a week after nurses at the hospital completed their second strike in three months.

Members of the Illinois Nurses Association, which represents 500 nurses at the facility, launched the most recent two-day strike Nov. 21. Union members contend that hospital management has failed to reach an agreement on wages in members' three-year contract, and that members are faced with unsafe patient loads amid chronic understaffing.

Mr. Shride  who assumed the hospital's helm on Feb. 5, 2022, when it was still AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center Joliet  "made the difficult decision to step down, leaving the organization effective Sunday, December 31, 2023," an Ascension spokesperson confirmed to Becker's in a Nov. 30 statement. The St. Louis-based health system did not directly respond to Becker's inquiry regarding a specific reason for the departure.

"He has been a dedicated servant leader and we wish him every happiness and success as he moves on to the next chapter in his career," the statement read.

An interim president has been named, but the spokesperson declined to specify who. The unnamed leader will begin prior to Mr. Shride's exit to ensure a smooth transition.
Bassett Healthcare Network in Cooperstown, N.Y., will undergo a CEO change at year's end as Tommy Ibrahim, MD, exits the top role.

The health system announced Nov. 28 that Dr. Ibrahim, president and CEO, has decided to leave at the end of 2023.

Dr. Ibrahim has led the five-hospital, independent rural health system as president and CEO since July 2020, previously serving as executive vice president and chief physician executive for Oklahoma City-based Integris, according to his LinkedIn page. In summer 2022, Dr. Ibrahim extended his contract with BHN through the end of 2029; it was originally set to expire in December 2024.

"The board is supportive of Tommy's decision to leave the organization to pursue new leadership opportunities in healthcare," Doug Hastings, chair of Bassett Healthcare Network's board of directors, said in a system news release. "We wish him and his family the very best in this next chapter."

BHN's board has voted to appoint Staci Thompson as interim CEO, effective Jan. 1. Ms. Thompson joined BHN in May to serve as the system's executive vice president and COO. She previously spent 10 years as COO of Guthrie Medical Group in Ithaca, N.Y.

"My immediate focus is the Bassett team," Ms. Thompson said in the release. "Bassett's physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, other clinical professionals, and administrative and support staff ensure that Bassett can provide the care that our communities deserve. Recruitment and engagement of the Bassett team is at the core of operational excellence and a top priority for me in this role."
Harold Naramore, MD, CEO of Maryville, Tenn.-based Blount Memorial Hospital, is resigning, effective Jan. 1, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to multiple media outlets.

Dr. Naramore was named CEO on June 9, 2022, after serving as the hospital's chief medical officer for more than 12 years. He succeeded Don Heinemann, who decided to retire.

Dr. Naramore's tenure has been tumultuous. On June 13, 2022, local mayors sent a letter to the hospital's board, raising concerns about the process used for choosing the new CEO. They questioned whether state law and hospital policies were strictly followed during the process of choosing a new CEO, according to NBC affiliate WBIR. The hospital defended the selection process.

Following the letter, the hospital and Blount County Commission became involved in a battle over hospital assets and property, according to WBIR. In December 2022, Blount Memorial Hospital filed a lawsuit declaring independence from local government. The suit alleged only the hospital board and management have the power to operate and manage the hospital and that Blount County local government has no authority to remove any hospital directors. Late last year, the Blount County Commission voted to immediately remove three hospital board members appointed by the county.

In February, Ed Mitchell, the mayor of Blount County, sought to transfer operations ownership of the hospital to Knoxville-based University of Tennessee Medical Center. Dr. Naramore subsequently accused the mayor of interfering in hospital operations, and lawyers representing the hospital demanded that the University of Tennessee Medical Center "cease and desist" any discussions with local government authorities to take over operations.

In March, the Blount County Commission approved talks between Mr. Mitchell and the University of Tennessee Medical Center about the future of the hospital. Discussions about a merger between Blount Memorial Physicians Group and Knoxville-based Covenant Health then started in April, according to WBIR.



According to ABC affiliate WATE, Dr. Naramore's successor has not been announced.
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Nurses from HCA Healthcare facilities held a rally on Nov. 30 outside of HCA's West Florida Division Office in Tampa, Fla.

The rally comes ahead of 2024 contract negotiations involving members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United.

Union members say the rally is to demand better from management ahead of the negotiations, according to a Nov. 27 NNOC/NNU news release. Nurses represented by the union at several HCA facilities will begin bargaining new contracts next year as their current agreements expire. Nurses say contract negotiations will be an opportunity to address issues such as staffing, which they will also discuss at the rally.

"When it comes to staffing, when it comes to recruitment and retention, when it comes to all these ridiculous technological schemes that only make it harder for nurses to provide high- quality patient care, HCA is failing us and our patients," Cheryl Rodarmel, RN, who works at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., said in the union release. "We're so excited to stand alongside our union siblings from HCA hospitals nationwide to let management know we're standing together through thick and through thin."

HCA, which is based in Nashville, Tenn., shared the following statement with Becker's: The "small protest by NNU is no different than their protests against countless health systems across the country. We expect that NNU will continue protesting and making unfounded claims about our hospitals and the quality care that we are proud to provide, especially as we enter negotiations for a new contract, as we will with this labor union next year. We are proud of the excellent care we provide to our patients, which includes earning 338 quality achievements for best in specialty for 2024 from Healthgrades, placing our facilities among the top of all short-term acute care hospitals evaluated."

The union represents more than 10,000 registered nurses at 20 HCA facilities in 17 cities across seven states, including Florida, Texas, California, Nevada, Missouri, Kansas, and North Carolina.
In a milestone moment in the Mile High City, on Nov. 27, Denver Health administered the first live Ebola vaccine for preventative measures to some patients, 9News reported.

In 2015, HHS designated Denver Health one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Treatment Centers in the U.S.  serving as an infectious disease training and care hub for six states in its region.

It is one of the first health systems in the country to administer the vaccine, according to the news outlet.

The vaccine, Ervebo, was first approved by the FDA in 2019 for anyone older than 1.

While outbreaks have continued across the globe, Ebola is less frequently seen in the U.S. but nonetheless is extremely deadly with a mortality rate between 70% and 90% when left untreated, according to the CDC.

"Importation of Ebola disease to the United States by an infected traveler from an outbreak area is a recognized risk with the potential for spread to other people," the CDC states. "During the 2014-2016 Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa, 11 people were treated for [Ebola] in the U.S., and two of them died. Nine of these cases were imported into the U.S."

The other two cases were contracted by healthcare workers treating the patients, according to the agency.

It is unclear how long the vaccines provide immunity, but at the moment the dosage is just one shot, Maria Frank, MD, a hospital medicine specialist with Denver Health, told 9News.

She was one of the first recipients of the vaccine, which at this time is only available to frontline workers at high risk of contracting the disease.
Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy is collaborating with Microsoft and with a panel of 45,000 patients involved in testing to explore how AI can assist both patients and staff, Fox 25 reported Nov. 29.

"We have thousands and thousands of policies and procedures," Joseph Kelly, chief transformation and business development officer for Mercy, told the publication. "We're a heavily regulated industry and nurses are incredibly burdened right now. There's a national nursing shortage. Instead of them going into where all of our policies reside and going through 16,000 to 20,000 policies, we can put a large language model over that, that can be trained on all of those."

Mr. Kelly highlighted that nearly 40% of a physician's time is consumed by administrative tasks, such as note filing and organizing patient data. This often leads to physicians engaging in "pajama work," where they return to the hospital's digital portal in the evening to complete pending paperwork. The integration of AI aims to alleviate this burden, potentially attracting and retaining healthcare professionals.

Beyond benefiting staff, the AI also holds promise for patients, according to Mr. Kelly. AI could simplify various challenges, including appointment scheduling, lab result interpretation and bill comprehension by streamlining complex processes.
Former President Donald Trump is taking to social media to renew calls for the replacement of the Affordable Care Act after a stretch of time in which the healthcare law was not a central issue in U.S. political campaigns.

The 2022 elections were the first in more than a decade in which security of the Affordable Care Act, enacted by then-President Barack Obama in 2010, was not a central issue and the Republican Party cast aside its long-running campaign to repeal it.

On Nov. 28, Mr. Trump took to Truth Social, the online platform under the Trump Media umbrella, to identify healthcare as one agenda item for his 2024 presidential campaign with plans to replace the landmark law if he wins a second term.

Mr. Trump has opted to skip every Republican primary debate  including the fourth, scheduled for Dec. 6  making his social media posts an atypical view into the leading GOP candidate's real-time agenda crafting.

"Getting much better Healthcare than Obamacare for the American people will be a priority of the Trump Administration," Mr. Trump wrote Nov. 28 on Truth Social. "It is not a matter of cost, it is a matter of HEALTH. America will have one of the best Healthcare Plans anywhere in the world. Right now it has one of the WORST!"

A follow-up post one hour later from Mr. Trump read: "I don't want to terminate Obamacare, I want to REPLACE IT with MUCH BETTER HEALTHCARE. Obamacare Sucks!!!!"

Mr. Trump did not provide details on replacement legislation.

The message caught numerous Republican lawmakers off guard, The Hill reported.

President Joe Biden's reelection team has indicated the White House is ready to make the ACA a focal point of the 2024 campaign. The president already tapped former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to warn about threats to the ACA, and his campaign is planning advertisements in battleground states that contrast Mr. Trump's "threats" to the law with Biden administration efforts to lower drug costs, Reuters was first to report.

The ACA is the most challenged statute in American history, including its seven Supreme Court challenges in a decade, according to professors at Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University. Most recently, in 2021, the Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to the ACA, in which plaintiffs argued that the law should be struck down due to the 2017 elimination of the ACA's tax penalty.

At the time of the Republicans' push for a "skinny repeal" of the ACA in 2017, Newsweek identified at least 70 GOP-led attempts to repeal, modify or limit the Affordable Care Act since its inception.

In May 2023, 59% of Americans held a favorable opinion of the ACA and 40% held an unfavorable opinion, according to polling from KFF. Broken down by political parties, 77% of Republicans held unfavorable views and 85% of Democrats held favorable views. (More than 10 years of polling conducted by KFF on the ACA can be found here.)
A street in Detroit can now automatically charge driving electric vehicles thanks to a new technology installed in the very road.

The quarter-mile segment of 14th Street in Corktown is equipped with copper inductive charging coils to charge EVs while driving, idling, or parked above the mechanism.

Only EVs with a special receiver can wirelessly charge from the road installations.

The Michigan Transportation Department and the Detroit local government are proud to be the first to bring the technology in the country. The project is completed in cooperation with Electreon Wireless.

As for the safety of pedestrians, Electreon assured that the charging coils will not be a danger to people and wildlife when they come into contact.

Electreon already completed similar projects in Israel, Sweden, Italy, and Germany.

The three are currently studying the technology's efficiency and potential for public transportation in the US.

The Transportation Department has signed a five-year contract with Electreon to develop more self-charging roads in the state. The project was first launched in 2021 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Detroit Revolutionizing Electric Car Industry

The wireless charging roads are part of the State of Michigan's effort to rehabilitate the Michigan Avenue in Detroit.

Ford Motor is also working with the Detroit government to restore the old Michigan Central station near where the first batch of charging coils were installed.

Both projects aim to revitalize the once-thriving car industry in Detroit. This time with electric cars and up-to-date technologies.

Stefan Tongur, Electreon vice president of business development, said the initiative will help Michigan achieve "widespread EV adoption, addressing limited range, grid limitations, and battery size and costs."

The project came in time as US President Joe Biden committed to build half a million EV charging stations across the country to meet the rising number of EV owners.

Also Read: The Electric Drive Experience: Embracing the Advantages of Electric Car Tech

Future of EVs in the United States

As of 2022, the government estimates that there are 3 million electric cars driving around the United States.

With rising environmental concerns in using traditional vehicles, more politicians and automakers are pushing for EVs.

Several companies have also rolled out their electric self-driving taxis to ease pollution in the country.

Related Articles: 5 Reasons Why You Should Get an Electric Car
Great Falls, Mont.-based Benefis Health System and Montana State University broke ground on the first of five nurse teaching buildings being constructed thanks to a $101 million donation, the Great Falls Tribune reported Nov. 29.

The donation was given in 2021 by philanthropists Mark and Robyn Jones and is the largest gift given to a nursing college in the nation, according to the report. MSU's college of nursing was named after the Joneses in honor of the gift.

The donation will be used to construct five nurse teaching facilities at MSU campuses in Great Falls, Billings, Kalispell, Bozeman and Missoula, as well as create five endowed professorships, a scholarship fund and a new nurse practitioner midwifery program. The new buildings will allow the nursing program to double its number of graduates. Benefis will provide curriculum input and hands-on training through the partnership.
Since 2018, Nevada has discovered 11 discharge issues among seven Las Vegas-area hospitals, resulting in fines of $800 and $1,500, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Nov. 30.

The state's Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance fined Prime Healthcare Services' North Vista Hospital $800 in 2018 after a patient on suicide watch lacked a safe discharge plan. Four years later, Universal Health Services' Valley Hospital was fined $1,500 after a wheelchair user was escorted "with only a walker" without "a plan for self-care," the Review-Journal found.

North Vista also failed to notify a guardian before discharging a patient who had a mental illness in 2022, which did not result in a fine.

"Patient safety and quality care is our top priority at North Vista Hospital," a spokesperson told Becker's. "In reference to both incidents, our staff have been re-educated and trained on safe discharge processes and understand their role and accountability in ensuring that the process is followed."

Six of the 11 hospital discharge problems happened at UHS hospitals, with three repeat offenses at Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center.

A spokesperson for Valley Health System told Becker's the Las Vegas-based system had no comment. Becker's has reached out to Universal Health Services and will update the story if more information becomes available.

It's rare for the state to report a hospital discharge incident, and experts said the problem is larger than it seems. There's sparse national data on discharge failures, and anecdotes suggest unsafe discharges are a significant issue, Charleen Hsuan, PhD, an assistant professor of health policy and administration at Pennsylvania State University, told the Review-Journal.

Among the nine discharge problems that did not result in a fine, reasons ranged from failing to notify a guardian to "discharging a partially blind, diabetic woman to an unregulated facility."

What's missing from these reports is a growing problem of hospitals discharging patients to homeless shelters.

Kathi Thomas, who works for the city of Las Vegas as the director of community services, told the Review-Journal a discharged patient who is medically fragile shows up at least once a week at the homeless resource center.

"They have come in Ubers or taxis. Or they show up in a hospital gown with their hind parts showing," Ms. Thomas said. "We don't always know the backstory. But it happens frequently enough that we've been concerned.  I think it's a disservice to human beings."

Read more here.
Mullica Hill, N.J.-based Inspira Health has ramped up security at its hospitals following a patient suicide earlier this year.

Police were called to Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, N.J., on Sept. 9 on reports of an active shooter, and the hospital was locked down per its security protocol. Police determined the shooting was an isolated incident, and the health system confirmed the patient died after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under the hospital's care. The patient, Michael Romanik, 57, was a retired Millville, N.J., police officer who suffered from a long-term, terminal ailment, police said, according to the Cherry Hill Courier-Post.

Inspira told Becker's on Nov. 29 that it has since "been continually upgrading physical security and entry systems, surveillance processes, hosting safety seminars and engaging in situational plans for each location. We're relentless about continuing to make this essential to our institutional DNA."

Inspira Health Network Vice President for Marketing Kathy Scullin-Marinelli told the Courier-Post the health system is also "continuing to train our clinical and administrative staff on awareness of risk factors and threat assessment, continuing to invest in technologies that help reduce exposure to critical incidents and are introducing new video training modules on situational awareness."

She added that "as caregivers, we are mindful that anytime a loved one or friend may share suicidal ideation that contacting the police is essential, as law enforcement has the ability to often skillfully intervene before a person takes their life."

The suicide took place about 8:30 a.m. in a room in Inspira Medical Center's intensive care unit, according to the Courier-Post. Workers evacuated the building or sheltered in place.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources.

To learn more, click here.






Visiting nurses in Connecticut are calling for increased state and federal protections for home healthcare workers following the homicide of Joyce Grayson, 63, of Willimantic, Conn., NBC Connecticut reported Nov. 28.

Ms. Grayson was a home care nurse for Elara Caring, a Dallas-based home health service agency. She disappeared after visiting one of her patients in late October. Her body was later discovered in the basement of the residence where the patient-turned-suspect lived  a halfway house for convicted sex offenders.

The suspect, Michael Reese, a 38-year-old male, was arrested on charges unrelated to her death. Court records show in 2006 he was charged with sexual assault charges and pled nolo contendere  a plea in a criminal prosecution case where the defendant accepts conviction like when entering a guilty plea, but does not equate to the admission of guilt.

"Something needs to change," Laura Crean, a former coworker of Ms. Grayson, told NBC Connecticut. "It's terrifying some days to go into places nurses have concerns, including going into homes alone."

State Senator Matt Lesser, D-Conn., spoke at a vigil for Ms. Grayson, stating: "Joyce was not the first visiting nurse in this country to be the recipient of an awful, despicable act of violence. My hope is  at least in this state  working together if we put our minds to it, if we set that goal, I hope that she will be the last."

At this time, though, Mr. Reese has not been charged with the homicide.
Experts say China's current outbreak of respiratory illness is another example of what played out in the U.S. last year when COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus peaked simultaneously, allaying fears that a new virus is behind the surge.

China is getting hit now, infectious disease experts said, because the country lifted COVID-19 mitigation measures much later than the U.S. and most other countries. This marks China's first full winter without strict measures.

"This already happened [in the U.S.] last year," Amesh Adalja, MD, senior scholar and adjunct assistant professor at Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins, told Politico in a Nov. 27 report. "This is just what you expect  when you give these respiratory pathogens a break, the number of susceptible individuals in your country goes up, and then you can get an outsized outbreak."

In an interview with CNN, Leana Wen, MD, an emergency physician and the city of Baltimore's former health commissioner, echoed that analysis, adding, "I don't think the spike in respiratory illnesses should cause global concern" based on what is currently known.

"What would be worrisome to the international medical community is if a new pathogen is emerging, as it did in the form of COVID-19 in the winter of 2019," Dr. Wen said. "This does not appear to be the case now."

The World Health Organization requested information from China on Nov. 22 in response to unspecified media reports and surrounding "undiagnosed pneumonia" at children's hospitals in Northern China, drawing the attention of infectious disease experts. A day later, Chinese health authorities presented data that showed an unusual or novel pathogen was not the cause. Instead, they provided the WHO with data attributing the increase in respiratory diseases to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The rise in pneumonia cases is due to a number of known respiratory viruses that are spreading, as well as mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chinese authorities said.

China's lack of transparency surrounding COVID-19 data and delay in alerting global authorities about the virus has left many asking: Can the data be trusted?

"I always think the key is, to quote President Reagan, 'trust but verify,'" Ashish Jha, MD, the former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told Politico. The U.S. has its own verification symptoms in place, including data on travelers, "to make sure we are not seeing anything different," he added.
Tampa General Hospital will soon provide healthcare services in Babcock Ranch, Fla., the first town in America to be powered entirely by solar power.

The master-planned community  a project of the private real estate development company Kitson & Partners  is currently under development on the Lee and Charlotte County line in Southwest Florida. It spans 18,000 acres, and is planned for 19,500 residences and 6 million square feet of commercial space. Half of the land will be set aside for greenways, parks and lakes.

Tampa General plans to construct a 6,500-square-foot TGH Urgent Care Powered by Fast Track at the entrance of the community, according to a Nov. 30 news release. The clinic will be open seven days a week for 12 hours each day, serving the 8,000 residents who currently live in Babcock Ranch and those in surrounding communities.

The urgent care will not be the only healthcare option in the community; the Lee Memorial Physician Group offers services there, as does WellWay, a company offering health services and clubs alongside concierge wellness packages.

"With the new TGH Urgent Care Powered by Fast Track planned in Babcock Ranch, we're bringing world-class care to Southwest Florida," Adam Smith, Tampa General's chief ambulatory care officer, said in the news release. "Area residents will have access to care for common illnesses and injuries in a convenient location. Should a patient need further care, we can help connect them with the services of our nationally recognized academic health system, with best-in-class providers located across the state."
One-hundred percent of interns at Northwell Health and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital would recommend the programs to a friend, according to a recent analysis from the resume building website Resume.io.

Resume.io analyzed data from Glassdoor for 4,404 of the job recommendation site's most popular companies with at least 1,000 employees and at least 500 reviews. Reviews left by U.S.-based interns were evaluated to determine whether interns would recommend the internship program to a friend.

Northwell and NewYork-Presbyterian came as the two most recommended internships in New York City across all industries; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center came in 10th place in the city, securing 99% of interns' recommendations. Resume.io also determined the top 20 internship programs in Los Angeles and Chicago, but no health systems were among them.

These 20 healthcare and pharmaceutical companies received the highest scores from interns nationwide, according to the report:

1. Genentech

2. Medtronic

3. Stryker

4. Pfizer

5. Boston Scientific

6. BD

7. Amgen

8. Merck

9. AbbVie

10. Kaiser Permanente

11. Bayer

12. Bristol Myers Squibb

13. Optum

14. Eli Lilly

15. Thermo Fisher Scientific

16. Regeneron

17. Johnson & Johnson

18. Abbott

19. GE Healthcare

20. Philips
Healthcare technology is about to enter a new era of innovation with an increased focus on targeted care, according to Ronjon Paul, MD.

Dr. Paul is a spine surgeon with Duly Health and Care in Downers Grove, Ill. He recently spoke with Becker's about how he expects technology to evolve in the next year and what he's most proud of from 2023.

Editor's note: These responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.

Question: What are you most proud of from the last year?

Dr: Ronjon Paul: There's a lot to be proud of. Healthcare is about to enter a supercycle of innovation. It's going to be built on technologies, some new [and] some older but related to an artificial intelligence-based paradigm. I think we're going to see more precise, personal and targeted care. I think it's going to transform orthopedic surgery, spine surgery [and] healthcare delivery overall. I think that's where we're headed and that's where we've been trending for a few years, but I think over the next 12 to 18 months we're going to see more and more innovation. I think it's going to be spearheaded by physicians, along with people in the technology industry. There's going to be vast advancements in medtech, but we're also going to see quite a bit of advancement in healthcare delivery.

Q: What excited you most about AI?

RP: These are really just technologies to take better advantage of the data that's already out there. I am optimistic that we're going to come up with ways that make healthcare decision-making in particular far more personal. I think we're going to have care navigation become far more effective, and not just with algorithms and regular decision-making but things that are very specific to the patients, more complex and more nuanced in the information it's leaning on to make those recommendations for patient care. I think all of this needs to be done through the lens of a physician. I'm not necessarily advocating that this be automated in any way, but I think having physicians really involved in innovation is what I'm most excited about this next year.

Q: What trends in healthcare are you following?

RP: The trend I'm seeing most is physicians getting more involved in innovation, [particularly with] digital pharmaceuticals and adaptive real-time treatments. The reason I think physicians are going to be more involved is many doctors, especially experienced doctors, have already been implementing these sorts of processes intuitively in their heads, just based on years of experience. I think their ability to make that more consistent [and] more congruent to take some of those inherent abilities and apply them using the new technologies is going to enhance analytics and streamline healthcare delivery.

In that vein of enhanced analytics, I think we're going to see more precise disease diagnosis. I think we're going to see more impressive patient monitoring that's more relevant. I think we're going to see better patient population risk stratification. We're going to see better and better adaptive clinical workflows. I think we're going to see optimized health management even at the systems level [and] at multiple levels. And I think this is all going to be very disruptive for healthcare.

Q: What are you most excited about for 2024?

RP: Some of these innovations are really being adopted and developed in the venture capital and startup ecosystem. It's been a very troubled space recently. I'd like to be optimistic and believe that we're going to see some improvements in that space over the next year and during 2024. To that extent, I'm hoping some of these newer technologies that are really patient-centered get to evolve and flourish.
(Photo : Unsplash/Joshua Hanson)

American Airlines flight attendants will not be on strike over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. The attendants' union requested that federal mediators start a 30-day countdown to a strike, but their request was turned down.

Aviation On Strike

American Airlines flight attendants won't go on strike over the holidays after the union's request to begin a 30-day countdown for a potential strike was denied by federal mediators. The National Mediation Board directed the airline and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants to move forward with contract negotiations. President Julie Hedrick of the union promises to keep up the pressure on the business despite the setback. The main contention in the dispute is pay increases where flight attendants are asking for a 35% increase, while American is offering an instant 11% raise and 2% yearly increases. The talks are ongoing in a challenging economic climate, and the parties are still very far apart.

Federal Intervention

Federal mediators intervened to keep American Airlines flight attendants from going on strike over the upcoming holidays. Citing unresolved issues in contract negotiations, the airline's cabin crew union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, had requested permission to start a 30-day countdown toward a strike. The request was denied by the National Mediation Board, which had directed the airline and the flight attendants' association to continue their contract negotiations. Due to flight attendants' complaints regarding pay disparities and their claim that they haven't received raises since 2019, tensions between the two parties have increased due to this decision.

READ ALSO: Labor Landscape: A Deep Dive into America's Labor Crisis

Point of Contention

The suggested pay increase is one of the main issues in the negotiations. American Airlines has offered an immediate 11% upfront raise, followed by yearly increases of 2%. The union representing flight attendants advocates for a 35% increase, with additional annual raises of 6%. The airline claims that its plan, which includes payment for boarding, would amount to an 18% increase. American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, proposes to match Delta's decision last year to pay flight attendants during boarding.

The disagreement highlights more significant difficulties in the aviation sector, where labor unions and airlines frequently negotiate over intricate matters like pay, benefits, and working conditions. Voting to approve a strike and setting up pickets outside the airline's Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters, American Airlines flight attendants have shown determination.

Numerous obstacles are preventing a strike under federal law, which governs the airline sector. Declarations of impasse by federal mediators initiate a 30-day "cooling-off" period that expires before a strike where the law permits Congress to impose settlement terms on both sides and the president to postpone a strike, which is a rare case.

With the holidays quickly approaching and the negotiations still in progress, the airline and its flight attendants are unstable. Potential strikes may affect more than just the parties directly involved; they may also have broader ramifications for travelers and the airline sector.

RELATED ARTICLE: Cooling Job Market Presents Tougher Challenges for Seasonal Job Seekers

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Popular Belfast establishment House have confirmed it will offer free Heineken 0.0s to all designated drivers for the month of December.

The restaurant, bar and hotel venue based on Botanic Avenue said it is offering the alcohol-free beer to help ease the burden of those trying to get taxis over the festive period.

The south Belfast spot said the initiative will also promote responsible driving and help people safely get home during the Christmas party season.

NolaClan, the group behind House, said the complimentary drinks will be given to designated drivers throughout all its venues.

We are delighted to launch this initiative across our venues nationwide, including House Belfast, to encourage the vital message of getting home safely this Christmas said Alan Clancy.

Lisa Doyle, head of marketing for the group, added: Everyone knows the nightmare it can be trying to get a taxi home during the festive season, and undeniably we all have memories of being stuck over the years.

"As much as this offer is aimed to help reduce traffic accidents this Christmas, its also aimed to simply help people get home safely after a great night out in one of our venues.
The Raddison Blu Hotel was listed for sale in 2020

Irish hotel chain iNua has acquired the Radisson Blu Hotel in south Belfast, according to reports.

The Irish News reported that the four-star hotel in the Gasworks estate has been snapped up by the group, three years after it was placed on the market with a 16m asking price.

iNua is a major hotel group with a portfolio of four and five star hotels across the Republic. This will be its first venture in Northern Ireland.

The Belfast hotel was first opened in September 2004 and offers 120 rooms and seven meeting rooms which can accommodate 300 delegates. The hotel also features food and beverage facilities including the Gasworks Restaurant and The Gaswork Bar.

The 60,000 sq ft Lighthouse office building, which was previously occupied by the Department for Communities (DfC), remains on the market for an undisclosed asking price.

The iNua group is believed to have completed the purchase of the hotel and is now on site.

The Cork-based hotel chain is owned by Sean O'Driscoll and Paul Fitzgerald, who led a management buyout in early 2020.

Mr ODriscoll is chief executive of the iNua Collection, while Mr Fitzgerald is chief executive of the groups new services business, Cliste Hospitality.

It is understood that the hotel group is preparing a 3m renovation and rebrand of the Belfast venue, which was opened in September 2004 by Tony Devlin and David Donnelly.

It has been reported that the iNua group has lined up a new InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brand and that the hotel will become the first Voco Hotel in Northern Ireland.

Launched in 2018, Voco is IHGs fastest growing hotel brand, with 55 locations in 25 countries, including nine in the UK.

iNua already runs Radisson Blu hotels in Cork, Limerick, Athlone and Sligo, as well as Springfield Hotel in Leixlip, Fairways Hotel in Dundalk, Ariel House in Dublin, and Dublin One. iNua has been contacted for comment.
Hospitality businesses have urged Aslef to follow the lead of RMT ahead of week-long planned disruption (Revolution Bars Group/PA)

Hospitality businesses have cheered Britains biggest rail workers union accepting a pay deal, but urged Aslef to follow suit ahead of week-long planned disruption.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end their long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

It follows an 18-month row with the Government, resulting in regular strike action causing havoc for passengers across the country.

The vote has been welcomed by hospitality firms, including pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels who have been hammered by strike action leading to fewer commuters and travellers into city centres.

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, which represents more than 130,000 venues, said: Hospitality businesses will be breathing a sigh of relief that the critical festive period will be protected from strikes from RMT members.

Businesses, workers and the public now have a degree of certainty when it comes to their Christmas plans.

We are not out of the woods yet, with strikes by Aslef set to cause significant disruption next week.

I would urge Aslef to follow the lead of the RMT and commit to holding no further strikes in December and the New Year.

Any further strikes would decimate the essential Christmas trading period for businesses, prevent millions from working and interrupt families festive plans.

Members of Aslef, which represents train drivers, at 16 train operating companies are planning to walk out over a series of strikes between Saturday and December 8, and will refuse to work overtime from Friday to December 8.

UKHospitality said the planned rolling strikes and overtime ban is estimated to cost the sector at least 500 million in lost sales.

Rob Pitcher, the chief executive of Revolution Bars Group, which runs 45 Revolution bars across the UK and other venues, joined calls to Aslef ahead of expected nationwide disruption.

He said: We are very pleased to see that the RMT wont be striking anytime soon but hope for this to be permanent.

We really need Aslef to do the right thing by the British public too.

Everyone deserves their first uninterrupted Christmas season in four years.
Sir Elton John has urged political leaders to do more to eliminate the Aids epidemic, telling Parliament the UK can be the first country in the world to defeat this awful virus.

The music superstar, 76, was honoured at a reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV and Aids at the Speakers House, in recognition of his commitment to ending the epidemic through the Elton John Aids Foundation.

It comes after Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced the UK Government will be expanding the roll-out of a HIV testing programme to 46 accident and emergency departments across England.

Sir Elton described it as truly wonderful news that the programme will expand from the current 33 sites to every high prevalence area.

He also urged whoever wins the next general election to do more to help end Aids worldwide by 2030.

I implore you not to waste your allotted time as political leaders, Sir Elton said.

Take action and push things a little further than might feel comfortable. And as you do, I can promise you this: I will be there with you.

Fighting for equal access and fair treatment. Giving everything I can for the rest of my life to ending HIV and Aids. Because we must stay the course.

I long to applaud a room like this, after this epidemic has gone.

Sir Elton suggested the UK should be at the forefront of the fight and showing other nations how its done.

We can be the first country in the world to defeat this awful virus, he said.

He also stressed the importance of the UK doing more internationally, including helping the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

He said: If the Government is serious about ending Aids, I call on it to fully restore the UKs commitment, to pledge 1.46 billion pounds this current three-year cycle and ensure the Global Fund is fully financed.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer (Leon Neal/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said: An incoming Labour government will hit the ground running, because we must meet our target of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030.

Thats why the Labour Party will commission an update to the HIV Action Plan as soon as we come to government.

It comes as World Aids Day will be commemorated on December 1.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said: Sir Elton has been an unwavering advocate in the fight against HIV and Aids for four decades.

His efforts have helped de-stigmatise the disease, promote education, and provide crucial support to those affected, making him a true champion in the goal to end Aids.

Founded by the musician in 1992, the Elton John Aids Foundation funds frontline partners to prevent HIV infections, tackle stigma and provide care for vulnerable communities.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has lent his support to Irish language rappers Kneecap ahead of their gig this weekend to raise money for critical medical supplies in Palestine.

The west Belfast group said they had a great chat with Mr Corbyn in frozen London in a video shared to social media.

"Sunday, The Devenish  fundraiser for Irish Artists For Palestine, to raise funds for aid, medical supplies and so on. Its desperate, its absolutely desperate; 14,000 people have already died in Gaza, many more in the West Bank  people having operations with no anaesthetic, children short of food, babies short of milk formula, and so much else.

"Obviously, there has to be ceasefire. Obviously, there has to be an end, but in the meantime weve got to do everything we can to support some very desperate people. Give generously, listen to the music, when youve enjoyed it, give even more, the rappers said in the video.

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The Kneecap trio gave thanks to the Islington North MP, adding that it was great to have a chat about Palestine and politics with the former Leader of the Opposition on Thursday.

They will join other acts on Sunday evening at The Devenish bar in west Belfast for their fundraising night, which is being held in partnership with Feile an Phobail.

They continued: There are some other great acts and we really would appreciate if you bought a ticket for the gig so we can send our solidarity and much needed medical supplies to Palestine.

Known for their provocative politicism, Kneecap have been staunch supporters of Palestine throughout its ongoing conflict with Israel.

Around 1,200 people in Israel, many of them civilians, were killed in an attack by Palestinian terrorists Hamas on October 7, and about 240 Israelis were taken hostage by the extremists.

It is estimated more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since then by Israeli forces.

Over 70 hostages have been released so far by Hamas over the last seven consecutive days.

Kneecap also paid tribute to The Pogues frontman, Shane MacGowan, who passed away on Thursday aged 65.

The group said: RIP to the very best Irish songwriter there ever was.

They also quoted the song, Paddy Public Enemy No. 1, from Shane MacGowan and The Popes band.
A Co Antrim man has been remanded in custody accused of drugging and sexually abusing his young daughter.

The 40-year-old defendant also allegedly molested a niece as part of a campaign against unsuspecting child relatives.

He faces charges of rape, voyeurism, administering a substance with sexual intent, sexual assault and sexual activity with a child family member, sexual communication and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Further counts relate to making and distributing indecent images, as well as improper use of a public communications network.

The man cannot be named to protect the identities of the alleged victims.

In a case which involved an undercover police investigation, a previous court heard claims that he began to abuse his daughter when she was two and only stopped when she became old enough to understand what was happening.

He is accused of spiking the girls drink with sleeping tablets and committing some offences as she slept.

Police have also claimed the man raped his five-year-old niece during a sleepover.

In 2022 the alleged abuse widened out to an unrelated 10-year-old girl in the Belfast area.

During online chats she was persuaded to send indecent images of herself which were then distributed to others, the court heard.

Following his arrest the man insisted that anything said to the undercover officer was nothing more than fantasy.

A preliminary enquiry hearing is due to be held in a bid to establish if there is enough prima facie evidence to have him stand trial.

But at Belfast Magistrates Court today proceedings were adjourned to next month.

It was confirmed that the defendant will be remanded in custody until then.
A Belfast man who sexually assaulted his partner whilst their young child slept in the same bed will be sentenced for five offences next month, a court heard on Thursday

A Belfast man who sexually assaulted his partner whilst their young child slept in the same bed will be sentenced for five offences next month.

The 33-year-old, who can't be named to protect the identity of his now former partner, appeared at Belfast Crown Court for a plea hearing.

After listening to submissions from both the prosecution and defence, Judge Paul Ramsey KC said he wanted time to reflect before he passed sentence.

Saying he would sentence the father-of-one in January, the judge said: The nature of this offending is such that clearly he is in peril of a custodial sentence.

Before this, Judge Ramsey was told by Crown barrister Sam Magee KC that the defendant's offending occurred over a period from December 2018 to January 2021.

Mr Magee said the defendant engaged in multiple occasions of non-consensual sexual activity which consisted of repeatedly sexually assaulting his partner over a sustained period of time.

She described the defendant's behaviour as persistent" and selfish which she said left her fearful.

The court heard that on one occasion she was woken from her sleep to find her partner sexually assaulting her and when she protested as their baby daughter was in the same bed, the defendant said don't worry, she will not wake up.

The relationship ended in December 2020 and the victim contacted the PSNI in March 2021.

The defendant was interviewed by police in August 2021 when he confirmed he had previously been in a relationship with the victim.

He denied he sexually assaulted his former partner and when he was asked about a specific sexual incident after attending a First Communion, he claimed that sexual activity was consensual.

He then refused to answer further questions from police  but later admitted his criminality and pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault and four counts of sexual assault by penetration.

Defence barrister Neil Connor said his client has learning disabilities including a complex development history and low intellectual functioning.

Mr Connor also spoke of his client's remorse and an acceptance of the harm his actions have caused to his ex-partner.

Saying he needed time to reflect on the submissions, Judge Ramsey addressed the defendant and ordered him to return to court for his sentencing on January 25.
Victims of the Troubles are being made to weep again by the UK Governments new legacy laws shutting out any hope of ever achieving justice, the High Court heard today.

As a major challenge to the controversial legislation closed after eight days of argument, a judge was urged to stop them being exposed to vicious further traumatisation.

Mr Justice Colton reserved his verdict on the legal bid to block The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act.

He pledged: I will give the case priority and try to give judgment as soon as I can.

The Act, which came into effect in September, offers a conditional amnesty to those accused of crimes during more than 30 years of sectarian violence.

It will also end future civil litigation and inquests into conflict-related deaths not completed before the cut-off date of May 2024.

Victims organisations, political parties and the Irish Government are all fiercely opposed to the new law.

A raft of judicial reviews have been brought by some of those who either lost loved ones or were injured in the Troubles.

They claim the legislation is unconstitutional, denies access to justice and incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The British Government has described the Act as an attempt to draw a line under Northern Irelands troubled past.

It involves the establishment of an Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) headed up by former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan.

Self-confessed perpetrators who fully cooperate with the legacy body may be offered immunity from prosecution.

Lawyers for some of those mounting the challenges have claimed the objective of the Act is to protect British Army veterans and other security force personnel from prosecution for any wrongdoing in Northern Ireland.

In a legal battle ultimately expected to reach the Supreme Court, proceedings issued by Martina Dillon, John McEvoy and Lynda McManus are among the lead cases.

Ms Dillons 45-year-old husband, Seamus, was shot dead in a loyalist attack at the Glengannon Hotel in Dungannon, County Tyrone, in 1997.

Mr McEvoy survived a loyalist shooting on the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo, County Down, in 1992 which claimed the life of 42-year-old Peter McCormack.

Ms McManus's father, James, was among those wounded in the Sean Graham bookmakers massacre earlier in the same year.

Read more Parliament entitled to shut out compensation claims by Adams and others unlawfully interned under legacy law, court hears

Five people were murdered when loyalist gunmen opened fire inside the betting shop on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast.

In closing submissions counsel for the applicants insisted that they were at the heart of the case.

John Larkin KC said: All of them in their different ways reflect experiences which are unique to them but share an anguished commonality with so many people in this community.

Not only are the themes which they developed in their affidavits common to each other and to the great number of victims of serious crime in our troubles, they are reflective of a larger aspect of the human condition.

Citing a passage from the epic Latin poem The Aeneid, he quoted the translation by Seamus Heaney as there are tears at the heart of things.

Mr Larkin said: The experiences of the Troubles, year by year, continues to confirm that.

Legislation is sometimes incapable of ensuring that all tears are wiped away, its simply impossible for legislators to achieve.

What the applicants seek, individually and collectively, is not that the legislation will wipe away their tears, but that legislation will not cause them to weep again and impose, as this Act does, a particularly vicious form of secondary victimisation by shutting out emphatically any prospect of redress or justice.

He told Mr Justice Colton: Your Lordship can stop that secondary victimisation and invite you to do so.
The Department of Education is to speed up surveys at 180 more schools across Northern Ireland, with 120 buildings already inspected for the presence of RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete).

It comes after a pupils at a Belfast Primary School were sent home following the discovery of the crumbling concrete in the roof of a main school building on Wednesday.

Children P4-P6 were sent home from Carinshill Primary School, though they are expected to be back in school next week.

A teaching union has said its now vital that surveys of schools in Northern Ireland are completed as quickly as possible to put parents minds at ease.

Read more Pupils sent home after collapse-prone concrete found at Belfast primary school

The Department has now confirmed the process of surveying almost 200 more schools is ongoing.

The safety of our teachers, staff and pupils in our schools remains the highest priority for the Department of Education, the Department said.

The programme of RAAC surveys is ongoing. An initial tranche of 122 schools were identified for priority survey on the basis of building fabric, age and type of construction.

Following completion of visual surveys at these schools, further investigations of areas of these 122 schools with more restricted access are taking place.

The Department has also commissioned EA to carry out surveys at a further 180 schools.

"Once all these surveys are complete, a decision will be taken on the most appropriate next steps in regard to the remainder of the schools estate.

RAAC is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s and was used as a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce, easier to install and aerated.

However, it has been found to be less durable and has an expected lifespan of around 30 years, meaning that over time the material is liable to crumble and potentially cause building collapses.

The discovery at Cairnshill Primary is the first time the product has been identified in a school in Northern Ireland and President of the National Association of Head Teachers, Liam McGuckin, said it was a difficult situation for the school, parents and pupils.

Its a terrible one and some kids will obviously not be in school tomorrow but Im sure the Department of Education and the Education Authority will work as quickly as possible to put something in place to help those kids back into school, he said.

He added that the school would need a temporary solution very quickly, as the affected block would need to be rebuilt.

Parents at Cairnshill are expected to be updated on the situation on Friday.

We have been assured that the remainder of the building is completely safe and no other areas of the school have been affected, said principal Joanne Currie after an inspection found an eight classroom block was unsafe for continued use by engineers.

Read more Defective concrete is found at seven of Ulster Universitys Coleraine buildings

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT said it was inevitable that the concrete product would eventually be discovered in a local school

The most important thing now is to get to the bottom of how many schools may be affected and complete the survey of school buildings as quickly as possible, he added.

Parents, pupils and school staff need reassurance to ensure safety remains the highest priority.

NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland Justin McCamphill added: Nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of children and the staff who work in our schools.

Children and young people should not be facing the prospect of having their education disrupted as a result of lack of investment by the Executive in Northern Irelands schools.

Officials must, as a matter of urgency, take all steps to ensure we have a detailed picture of the situation as soon as possible.
Teachers on the picket line at St Pius X College

Denver Charles, Leanne McNally, Claire Chambers, Laura McAleece, Rachel Smyth, Anne Grant, Mark Thompson and Richard Palmer on the picket line

Teachers Mark Thompson, Anne Grant, Rachel Smyth, Laura McAleece, Leanne McNally, Claire Chambers and Denver Charles outside at Magherafelt High School

Teachers took to the picket lines on Wednesday, with the promise of more action to come if a resolution to the pay and conditions dispute cannot be reached.

Most schools remained closed until noon, and with four more days of strikes planned after the Christmas holidays, further disruption seems likely.

Staff at Magherafelt High School and St Pius College were among those to walk out.

They told stories of teachers taking second jobs to make ends meet, of moving from a better-paid job in Wales to be closer to family members who needed their support, and of colleagues heading to Donegal, where teachers in the same role are paid 20,000 a year more.

Denver Charles, Leanne McNally, Claire Chambers, Laura McAleece, Rachel Smyth, Anne Grant, Mark Thompson and Richard Palmer on the picket line

None of us wants to be here, but we have not been listened to, said Denver Charles outside Magherafelt High School.

Its ridiculous that were on 33% less pay than elsewhere in the UK or Ireland.

That has an effect on pensions. A teacher retiring tomorrow will be much better off than anyone on this picket line.

This is a vocation, and we love the profession, but there are delivery jobs we could be doing for more reward. Thats a disgrace.

Colleague Anne Grant said she had left a job in Omagh three years ago at the same time as a fellow teacher.

I came here and she went to Donegal. Shes now earning around 20,000 more a year. Thats not right, she added.

We do this job because we care. We have gone through college and university, but still society undervalues us.

We could take jobs stacking shelves and earn more money, and some have done just that.

We need the government to start showing they care about future generations. Schools cant afford even basic supplies.

Teachers outside St Pius X College in Magherafelt

Across the street, outside St Pius X College, striking staff had similar complaints.

Teachers have been papering over the cracks in the system, said Ciaran Quinn.

We have been going above and beyond to ensure that our pupils dont see what pressure schools are under.

Theres a recruitment crisis, (but) how do we sell teaching as a profession when there is no equity with the rest of the UK and Ireland?

Year on year, we are delivering, yet were consistently being told Sorry, the cupboards empty. Were not making extortionate demands. We just want parity and respect.

We dont accept theres no money. Its not being spent in the right place. The money is there, its being used in other places.

Some people might say theres a futility in what were doing, but if we dont use our collective voice, well lose it.

Colleague Padraig OKane added: If anything, its got worse since the last strike in April.

Theres a recruitment crisis and teachers often have a second job to make ends meet.

Were living month to month and struggling to make ends meet. We feel like were begging, but what choice do we have?

Teachers on the picket line at St Pius X College

Back at Magherafelt High School, Leanne McNally said she had returned to Northern Ireland after teaching in Wales for six years.

I had to be closer to my family to look after them, but I took a big pay cut, she added.

Today, I have more training and Ive been working longer, yet my wages are going down.

Its difficult knowing someone I went to university with, who I got the same degree as, is now earning so much more.

The National Association of Head Teachers joined the four other main unions on strike for the second time this year, having never before taken industrial action in its 126-year history.

There will be more disruption on Friday, with school support staff due to stage a 24-hour strike over pay.
(Photo : Unsplash/Ludomi Sawicki)

Granite City: The final blast furnace in the United States will stay closed indefinitely, as the company announced on Tuesday, prolonging what was initially reported as a temporary closure. The company informed 600 more workers on Tuesday that they might lose their jobs. However, Amanda Malkowski, a spokeswoman for Steel, stated that the company only anticipated firing some of those. A local union official also said that he believed the plant would continue to employ the same number of people, at least initially.

Industry Challenges

U.S. Steel is attributing the shutdown of the furnace to a combination of challenging market conditions and supply chain disruptions worldwide. There has been uncertainty over the Granite City plant's future since the U.S. In a deal that would eliminate almost 1,000 of the 1,450 jobs at the facility, Steel disclosed plans to sell a portion of the facility to Chicago-based SunCoke Energy, adding more uncertainty. The Pittsburgh-based steel manufacturer has not released any information regarding the completion of either possible deal.

Workers' Dilemma

The Granite City plant produces Steel in two blast furnaces. One was shut down earlier.

It can be recalled that in June 2022, U.S. Steel declared intentions to sell two blast furnaces at its Granite City, Illinois plant, possibly resulting in the loss of 550 of the 1,500 jobs that were previously there. SunCoke Energy, the buyer, planned to make pig iron in the furnaces.

This autumn, the U.S. Steel announced a temporary closure of the second, saying it would not last more than six months. However, the company informed 1,000 workers that it anticipates the closure will last longer in a layoff notice filed with local officials on Tuesday.

Four hundred employees had already been placed on temporary layoffs at the company, and 600 more were alerted this week that permanent layoffs might be imminent. United Steelworkers Local 1899 President Dan Simmons stated on Tuesday afternoon that he anticipated the plant to continue running with the current workforce for the time being. According to Malkowski, the company calculated that 60% of the 1,000 employees who received notices may ultimately be impacted, whose changes will take effect as early as January 28th.

As the affected employees struggle with the possibility of being laid off and the community evaluates the broader effects, the focus shifts to the steel industry's and Granite City's workforce's adaptability and resilience.

READ ALSO: The Five Best Reasons To Use Outplacement

The Uncertain Future

The prolonged United Auto Workers (UAW) strike and declining automotive industry demand led the company to close the blast furnace. Authorities, such as U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski of Illinois, disputed the company's assertion, characterizing it as an effort to create employee disagreements. Late October saw the end of the UAW strike at significant automakers, but on Tuesday, Steel decided to close the blast furnace permanently to match output with customer demand.

As also reported, the company will use metal slabs from other facilities to finish their ongoing steel production. Given the areas that will remain unoccupied, Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson voiced concerns about the plant's future, which he brought up with U.S. Steel.

RELATED ARTICLE: Labor Landscape: A Deep Dive into America's Labor Crisis

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A man and a woman aged in their 30s who were arrested by police in Derry on suspicion of assault following the report of a disturbance at a hotel have been released from custody.

The man was issued with a Community Resolution Notice for resisting police and disorderly behaviour. The woman was released unconditionally.

The pair were arrested on suspicion of assault amid an incident at a hotel in Derry on Thursday evening.

A PSNI spokesperson said officers attended after a report of a disturbance at the hotel in the Crescent Link area.

The Belfast Telegraph understands that a number of police units were called to the Premier Inn shortly after 7:30pm.

Video from the scene showed five PSNI Landrovers and seven police cars at the incident with officers standing in the doorway of the hotel.
The team behind the Charlie's Bar viral advert receive some gifts from John Lewis.

Staff at a Co Fermanagh pub have expressed their gratitude after English department store John Lewis sent them an array of gifts after the venue went viral on social media.

John Lewis is renowned for its famous Christmas ads, which people throughout the UK and beyond look forward to every festive season.

However, this year they were arguably outdone by Charlies Bar in Enniskillen, who made a low-budget short clip using just a smartphone and some regular customers.

Northern Irish pub goes viral with heartwarming Christmas advert

The Charlies Bar team shared a photograph on social media of the group behind the viral endorsement on Thursday, stating: Were not crying, you are. Thanks so much John Lewis & Partners for our presents.

Among items gifted are a box of chocolates, some plush teddies and a few unknown bits that are still inside a John Lewis branded bag in the picture.

And of course, Missy features front and centre, dressed appropriately in a doggy Santa outfit.

Rosslea man Martin McManus (74) is the central character in the promo, which focuses on the themes of isolation and companionship.

Meagan Daley (27) and her fiance Alex Middlemass (32) star as the young couple in the commercial with their pet pooch Missy.

Charlies Bar regulars from nearby Kesh were approached by the owner who thought they would be the perfect fit.

Publican Una Burns came up with the theme after someone suggested the bar, which is known for humorous social media posts, produce a Christmas ad.

Ms Burns recruited local content maker Aoife Teague (23) to shoot the video two weeks ago and it was done within three hours on a shoestring budget.

Coming in at just over two minutes long, the advert follows Mr McManus character as he walks to a graveyard, then continues on his journey looking lonely and forlorn throughout the town.

He then enters Charlies Bar and is soon joined by Ms Daley and Mr Middlemass, and of course, canine star Missy.

It finishes with a quote from WB Yeats: There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met.

The ad has been viewed millions of times over, worldwide on social media, making headlines in the US and garnering the local celebrities airtime on shows such as Good Morning Britain.

Some online users have even dubbed the pubs Christmas efforts to be even better than John Lewis, but the retail giants dont appear to hold a grudge, as this week they sent presents to the ads stars and bar staff.
Emma DeSouza, who mounted a legal challenge against the Home Office over its immigration rules, has revealed that her husband will finally be receiving his Irish citizenship in a few weeks time.

Mrs DeSouza, who also ran as an independent candidate in last years Assembly election, had a lengthy court battle to be recognised by the Home Office as Irish under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

The political activist took a case against the Home Office almost a decade ago, when an application for a residence card for her American husband Jake was rejected.

The governmental department had deemed her British, but she has never held a British passport.

The GFA allows people born in Northern Ireland to identify as British, Irish or both.

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The Derry woman withdrew her case in 2020, after she and US-born Jake secured a concession from the Home Office that British and Irish citizens born in Northern Ireland will be treated as EU citizens for immigration purposes.

The changes conceded allowed Jake to remain in the UK on the basis of his wife's Irish citizenship.

Taking to the online platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, Mrs DeSouza said: Just home to the news that the Irish nation is about to get a new member!

"Jake will be officially receiving his Irish citizenship on December 18th. After years of defending Irish citizens' rights in the North, this is an end, and a very exciting beginning for us.

Once a person who is married to an Irish person has completed three years of residency in Ireland, they are able to qualify for Irish citizenship.

Responding to a social media user who asked Mrs DeSouza about the process, she said: There's a lot of paperwork, and it takes some time to process - Jake's application took 2.5 years, but unlike the Home Office they don't take the big payment til [sic] the end. Cost a little over 1000.
Northern Irelands chief constable Jon Boutcher has been pressed over delays in the release of information to inquests into deaths during the Troubles.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said her party has huge concerns around the length of time the disclosure of information is taking to legacy inquests, which she said is causing delays to proceedings and frustrating families.

She raised the ongoing inquest into the death of GAA official Sean Brown, 61, who was abducted and killed by loyalists as he locked the gates at Bellaghy Wolfe Tones Club in Co Derry in May 1997.

No one has been convicted of his murder.

Bridie Brown, the widow of murdered GAA official Sean Brown, holds a picture of him, outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast, ahead of a review hearing in the inquest into the fatal shooting of Mr Brown in Co Londonderry in 1997 (Liam McBurney/PA)

His inquest began in March but has been delayed due to disclosure issues.

A number of legacy inquests are currently at hearing against the backdrop of the Governments new Legacy Act, which states that any legacy inquests that have not reached the point of verdict by May 1 2024 will be discontinued.

Counsel for the PSNI in a number of legacy inquests have argued that there is a huge demand for disclosure with limited resources to carry all the requests out.

Ms McDonald said: To date the inquest has not been completed and now, more than 26 years after the killing, 18 new files of sensitive material have just been made available for review.

Such delays are corroding wider community confidence.

This is another defining moment for policing here, much has been done, but there is more to do, and all relevant bodies must work together to ensure that happens.

Ms McDonald led a delegation from her party to meet with Mr Boutcher on Thursday.

The former Operation Kenova chief became PSNI chief constable in early November after the resignation of Simon Byrne following a string of controversies.

These included a critical High Court judgment which found that actions taken against the junior police officers were unlawful.

PSNI chief constable Jon Boutcher (PA)

It also said they had been disciplined over the policing of an event to remember an atrocity in Belfast during lockdown, to allay a threat that Sinn Fein could withdraw its support for policing.

Sinn Fein has said several times that there was no such threat.

Ms McDonald said she also emphasised to Mr Boutcher that rebuilding trust and confidence in policing with the community must be the number one priority.

We wished Jon Boutcher well in his new role, and we look forward to working with him positively and constructively to ensure that people here have an effective and efficient policing service, she said.

The huge scale of the task in front of him must not be underestimated and there is clearly a job of work to be done to rebuild trust and confidence in the PSNI and that must be the number one priority.

That includes rebuilding public confidence in policing with the community, but also rebuilding trust with PSNI officers, staff and their families following the huge data leaks.

Ms McDonald added: This is the time for all of us in political leadership, in the Policing Board and the PSNI to refocus on the task of delivering an efficient and effective policing service that works with and within the whole community impartially.

A PSNI spokesperson said the meeting between Mr Boutcher, members of the Service Executive Team and Sinn Fein had been constructive and a timely opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including the ongoing financial challenges faced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
The pair were regular drinking buddies but things turned sour during one boozing session in the last few weeks

As previously revealed, the former South East Antrim (SEA) UDA chief was ordered out of the country last week after a series of incidents, including three attacks on people by his pitbull-type dog.

It has now emerged the SEA leadership moved after rival terror group the UVF warned if he wasnt kicked out of the country, they would shoot him dead.

The threat was issued on the back of a bizarre incident in which McLean bit a senior UVF figure on the cheek during a drunken row, according to sources.

The Sunday World reports McLean had struck up a friendship with the UVF member after he returned to Carrick following a period living in Newtownards, where he was made commander of the SEA UDA faction based in the Co Down town.

Sources say the pair were regular drinking buddies but things turned sour during one boozing session in the last few weeks.

A row erupted which ended with McLean launching an attack on his drinking buddy, biting him and taking a chunk of flesh out of his cheek.

The incident prompted the UVFs South East Antrim brigadier to warn his opposite number in the UDA that unless they took action against their man, he would be killed.

Patience with McLean had already been wearing thin. He had been on the wrong end of a kicking carried out by the organisation after a drunken rampage outside a womans house in Carrick.

The woman had once been close to him. When he arrived at her home under the influence of alcohol, her current partner  a UDA member  rang a leading member in Rathcoole. He, in turn, sent a team to dish out the beating.

Last week we revealed the convicted woman beater had fled the country after being given 72 hours to get out.

His increasingly unpredictable behaviour is being put down to addictions. He escaped with a probation order when he appeared in court in Belfast last month after battering his girlfriend. During a vicious domestic assault, he had ripped clumps out of her hair.

The goon admitted attacking his now ex-partner and smashing up her flat. He was handed a two-year probation order for the shocking attack which resulted in the panic-stricken victim fleeing the area and moving home.

The order requires McLean to comply with rehabilitative programmes as required by his probation officer.

He was one of three men who were tried and acquitted of the murder of Geordie Gilmore in Carrickfergus in 2017.

There are now fears that with nothing to lose, he might be tempted to exact revenge for his exile by spilling the beans on the Gilmore shooting as well as the murder in January 2020 of terminally ill Glenn Quinn.

Mr Quinn was battered to death by members of SEA UDA. No one has ever been convicted but McLean was part of the UDA unit based in the Glenfield estate in the town believed to have been behind the attack.

McLeans loyalty during the year-long Gilmore feud, to the then-leadership, was rewarded with promotion to commander in an SEA faction, according to sources.

That faction was believed to be based in Newtownards where he was a close associated of feud boss Adrian Price.

Read more Two hospitalised after hammer and knife attack at Irish pub following funeral of murder victim

Prices faction was jettisoned by SEA in March this year and was then locked in a feud with North Down UDA. Homes were attacked and dozens threatened during the six-month feud.

By the time the violence ended, McLean had left Newtownards to return to his old stomping ground in Carrick. He headed the North Down and Ards Peninsular unit which was mired in the drugs trade, but he quit and left Price to fight his own battles.

Brian thought he was a big shot, said a source. He was warned so many times but he ignored it and in the end it was inevitable.

It is understood he was given 72 hours earlier this week to leave the country but was gone within a day. It is believed that he has returned to his native Scotland.

Last month, McLean was lucky to escape jail. Laganside Magistrates Court heard how his then-girlfriend had been asleep on the sofa at her home in Newtownards when McLean turned up drunk in the late afternoon and started attacking her.
Garda leader tells Dail committee that he is dedicated to role as hes quizzed over unrest

The centre of Dublin was devastated by riots last week

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris arriving to appear before the justice committee at Leinster House following riots in Dublin last week. PA

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has told the Dail Justice Committee: I am not going to resign. I care too much about this job.

Questioned about his handling of the Dublin riots last week, he went on to say: I have too much work to do, and part of that is responding to this, so I have no intention of resigning.

Former justice minister Michael McDowell said he was glad to hear it.

Some of those calling for his resignation had used violent disorder as a tactic in the past, and I wont say further than that, he said.

Mr Harris said it would have been an impossible and forlorn task to attempt to do more earlier on last Thursday, but rejected Sinn Fein TD Louise OReillys suggestion that gardai had lost control.

Asked by Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy if violent emerging protests would be dealt with quicker in future, the Commissioner replied: The simple answer to that is yes, referencing water cannon and use of Tasers, as well all gardai being issued with incapacitating spray.

Mr Harris said he was in contact with senior officials in the Department of Justice last Thursday afternoon, but was primarily engaged in direction and control of An Garda Siochana. Asked about contact with Justice Minister Helen McEntee, he said he met the minister at the Department of Justice at 8pm.

He first became aware of the stabbing incident at 2.19pm and drove back to Dublin from an engagement in Waterford. He then had his first communication with the minister at 2.49pm.

Senator Vincent P Martin of the Green Party suggested gardai lacked riot gear on the day because of an issue with locker space.

Anne Marie McMahon, Deputy Commissioner of Policing and Security with An Garda Siochana, acknowledged that some public order members stored their gear at home. Shields were particularly bulky and space was at a premium in stations, she said.

The Commissioner added there was a huge amount of misinformation on the internet since Thursday, including efforts to set up a further protest.

These had been policed and nothing had transpired. There had also been efforts to set up a false trail, Mr Harris said. A lot of what is put up on the internet is nonsense, he added.

Justice Committee chairman James Lawless TD asked Commissioner Harris about the lack of foot patrols in Dublin city centre, a point also raised by Senator McDowell. Mr Harris replied that Operation Citizen was ongoing, and there had been an uplift in numbers of gardai on patrol since the Minister allocated an extra 10m funding.

There would be increased public order and uniform presence over Christmas, with a refocus on visibility, he said.

WhatsApp messages were used for public order personnel and to seek overtime, he said.

Members were often mustering themselves, seeing what was going on and knowing they would be called upon.

Resources at Parnell Square East were being constantly built up, while some in uniform went back to their stations to change into public order gear, he said.

Pa Daly, Sinn Feins justice spokesman, asked about awareness building from social media messages online and whether there was any contingency plan in place.

The school had one itself for a serious incident, Mr Harris said, adding: We have plans in place for responding to a serious incident.

The stabbing of children could not have been foreseen, he added. Right from the first minute, I knew this was a serious incident, he said, and there had soon been a huge attempt by rioters to impose anarchy.

A riot is, in effect, an uncontrollable event, Mr Harris added. At 4pm we were already supplementing public order numbers. But he said the force did not have sufficient numbers until about 7.30pm to attempt any kettling, or containment.

The centre of Dublin was devastated by riots last week

A difficulty was so many side streets and alleys in Dublin city centre, he added.

Alan Farrell TD asked if there was a chilling effect on the use of force. Mr Harris said there were competing rights in this area. Clarity in respect of that would be welcome, but at the same time we have our own decision-making, which is informed by a code of ethics, he said.

He added that the organisation was short of personnel  lacking 1,000 against Government plans, while it was accepted that the force needed a total of 15,000 members. We are an organisation growing, but too small at this moment in time. We want to concentrate more resources in the city centre in terms of visibility... to make it feel a far more safer place to operate.

Mr Harris added: This was a spontaneous incident. The scale and speed with which misinformation spread, the repeated lies put out there, all added to the tension. We would always respond in terms of how the situation developed.

There was no prior indication of the scale of this. There was no failure in terms of those dealing with the situation.
The High Court in Dublin has dismissed a defamation action taken by a schoolteacher and Sinn Fein constituency organiser against the Sunday Life newspaper.

Liam Lappin, with an address in Drumcondra, Dublin, had claimed he was defamed in an article published by the newspaper in March 2020, which contained a photograph of him and 13 others at a Sinn Fein Christmas party.

Also in the photograph were Sinn Feins then Finance Minister Conor Murphy and Frank McCabe, an IRA commander whose gang was implicated in the notorious murder of Paul Quinn.

In a judgment issued today, Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected Mr Lappins claim that the article, either in its ordinary meaning or by innuendo, meant he was a murderer and an IRA member.

The judge said he did not think a reasonable reader would attach such meanings to the article.

Although he appeared in the photograph, Mr Lappin was not named in the piece, which focused on the presence of Mr Murphy and Mr McCabe at the gathering.

The ruling came following an application from the newspapers owner, Mediahuis UK Limited, and the journalist who wrote the article, Suzanne Breen, for the striking out of defamation and injurious falsehood claims.

Lawyers for Mediahuis, whose publications include the Belfast Telegraph, stated in court the meaning Mr Lappin claimed could be inferred from the article "stretches credulity".

As part of the proceedings, Mr Lappin also sued journalist Ruth Dudley Edwards, who tweeted about the article. His claim against Ms Dudley Edwards was not the subject of the dismissal application.

Mediahuiss lawyers said Ms Dudley Edwards, who is separately represented, was not an employee and tweeted from her personal account.

Mr Lappin also alleged breaches of his privacy and data protection against Mediahuis UK, but these were also not part of the strike-out application.

His case is one of 18 legal actions taken by Sinn Fein politicians and party activists against media organisations, journalists, public representatives and other individuals over the past decade. More than a third of these cases are ongoing.

The actions include defamation claims taken by party leader Mary Lou McDonald against RTE and former leader Gerry Adams against the BBC.

The most recently filed lawsuit saw Dublin TD Chris Andrews sue The Irish Times and one of its political correspondents personally over an article reporting on a comment he made on social media the day after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

In the his judgment, Mr Justice Meenan said the photograph complained of by Mr Lappin was taken at a Sinn Fein Newry and Armagh Christmas party in December 2019 and had also apparently appeared on a Sinn Fein website.

The article, which had the headline Sinn Fein man seen socialising with IRA chief whose gang is accused over attack related to the presence at the party of Mr Murphy and Mr McCabe.

There were clear red circles around the two men in the photograph and Mr Lappin was not identified in the piece or accompanying captions.

The article said Mr McCabe was the officer commanding of the IRA in South Armagh when its members lured 21-year-old Cullyhanna man Paul Quinn to a barn in Oran, Co Monaghan and beat him to death with iron bars and nail-studded cudgels in 2007.

It stressed there was no suggestion Mr McCabe played a role in the killing.

Mr Lappin commenced proceeding in August 2020 for defamation and injurious falsehood in respect of the article, photograph and the tweet. The claims against Mediahuis UK were denied by the publishers.

In his pleadings, Mr Lappin described the IRA as a criminal and terrorist organisation.

As well as claiming the article and photograph in their ordinary meaning and by innuendo conveyed he was a murderer and an IRA member, he also claimed to have been portrayed as a blackguard and untrustworthy.

However, Mr Justice Meenan said he was satisfied the meanings contended for by Mr Lappin were strained, forced and utterly unreasonable.

The judge also said he was satisfied Mr Lappins claim for damages for injurious falsehood should be struck out.

Mr Justice Meenan said, subject to submissions from the parties, he was of the view Mediahuis and Ms Breen were entitled to the costs of the motion and the costs of defending the proceedings to date in respect of the claims for defamation and injurious falsehood.
This photo released by the Houthi Media Center shows Houthi forces boarding the cargo ship Galaxy Leader on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. [Houthi Media Center via AP]

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday he would dispatch a high-level delegation to Iran to help negotiate the release of 17 Filipino seamen who were aboard an Israeli-linked cargo ship seized by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Citing the urgency of the situation, Marcos made a last-minute decision to cancel his trip to Dubai, where he was due to attend this years United Nations climate change summit, referred to as COP28.

In light of important developments in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea, I have made the decision not to attend COP28 in Dubai tomorrow, Marcos said in a statement.

Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers.

When the Philippine delegation would leave was unclear, and the foreign department did not answer reporters questions about the composition of the negotiating team.

Yemens Iran-backed Houthis took control of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on Nov.19 in the southern Red Sea, following a daring helicopter-borne attack. Some 25 crew members from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Mexico and Romania are reported to be on the ship.

The Philippine hostages were reportedly in good condition and would eventually be released, according to Ma. Teresita Daza, a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Efforts are ongoing for this to happen as soon as possible, Daza said.

The Houthis have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians following Hamas surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The Galaxy Leader, a Bahamas-flagged car carrier, is chartered by Japans Nippon Yusen. It is owned by a firm registered under Isle of Man-headquartered Ray Car Carriers, which is a unit of Tel Aviv-incorporated Ray Shipping, according to LSEG data, according to reports.

After seizing control of the vessel, the Houthi gunmen raised Palestinian and Yemeni flags, according to reports.

The Filipino hostages are among the countrys estimated 10 million-strong expatriate workforce, whose remittances have traditionally propped up the economy. The Philippines is one of the leading suppliers of manpower in the global shipping industry, which currently employs about 400,000 Filipinos.
Girl group NewJeans received Artist of the Year, considered the top honor, at the 2023 MAMA Awards billed as the biggest annual year-end K-pop awards ceremony.

The quintet won the Samsung Galaxy Artist of the Year on the second of the two-night ceremony held at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The one-year-old group beat out other big-name nominees, such as BTS members Jungkook and Jimin, Seventeen and Stray Kids, and NCT Dream to take the honor.

Artist of the Year is one of the big four categories of the ceremony hosted by Mnet, a Korean music cable channel.

In addition to the honor, NewJeans also won Samsung Galaxy Song of the Year, another one of the four main categories, for its hit single "Ditto," Best Female Group and Best Dance Performance Female Group, bringing their total number of awards for this year to four.

NewJeans was absent from the ceremony, also opting not to deliver an acceptance speech through a video feed.

Samsung Galaxy Album of the Year, the last of the big four, went to boy group Seventeen on Wednesday night for "FML."

This marks the first time that the band has lifted a major MAMA trophy since its debut in 2015.

K-pop juggernaut BTS received the Samsung Galaxy Worldwide Icon of the Year, also one of the big four, for the sixth consecutive year the previous night.

Seventeen also won four other awards -- Best Male Group, Best Dance Performance Male Group, Worldwide Fans' Choice and Bibigo Culture & Style -- for a total of five wins this year.

Including Worldwide Icon of the Year, BTS garnered a total of three prizes, with the remaining two being Worldwide Fans' Choice and Best OST for "The Planet."

When the four awards won by individual BTS members are added to their total, the group took home a total of seven awards.

Jungkook won Best Dance Performance Male Solo and shared the Best Collaboration award for his debut solo single, "Seven (clean version)," with its featured artist, American rapper Latto Suga clinched the Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance award with "People Pt. 2 (feat. IU)," a song released under his other solo stage name Agust D, while Jimin was named Best Male Artist.

BLACKPINK member Jisoo received the best female artist award while the honors for best new male artist and best new female artist went to boy group Zerobaseone and girl group tripleS, respectively. (Yonhap)
A man released as a part of the first batch of Thai nationals by the Palestinian group Hamas walks through a crowd, after being held for nearly two months in Gaza, at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi airport, Nov. 30, 2023.

Seventeen Thais freed by Hamas returned home Thursday to a joyous welcome from their families even as they mourned dozens of compatriots killed in the fighting that followed the Palestinian groups deadly attack on Israel in early October.

They were the first group of ex-Thai hostages to return home. Six more freed Thais were in an Israeli hospital undergoing medical check-ups, and nine were still being held by Hamas, who captured 240 people and took them to Gaza as prisoners after the Oct. 7 attack.

The 17 arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok while their families waited anxiously in a room there to welcome them.

Pornsawan Pinakalo, 30, ran to his father, Kong Panasudlamai, as soon as he spotted him, and fell to his knees, before the two hugged and cried.

Now Im most happy in my life. I am lost for words, but I would be happier if none of my fellow workers had died, Pornsawan said to the media gathered at the airport.

Another freed hostage, Uthai Sangnual, was in tears and called for a moment of silence in honor of the 39 fellow Thais who were killed either in the Hamas attack or in the fighting that followed between Israel and the Palestinian militant group. As many as 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, were killed in the Oct. 7 attack.

Id like to convey my deepest condolences to our fallen 39 compatriots, Uthai said, after which all gathered to greet the freed hostages bowed and stayed quiet for a minute.

After the moment of silence, Uthai said: I congratulate all of my fellow Thai laborers who made it safe here.

The Thais were abducted from agricultural areas in southern Israel after Hamas broke through a fence sealing off the Gaza Strip from the Jewish state.

Some 30,000 Thais were estimated to work in Israel before the conflict began, mostly in the agricultural sector. About a third of them have chosen to return to Thailand since Oct. 7. And around 8,500 Thai nationals have been repatriated from Israel since then.

Thai hostages who were freed from Hamas observe a minute of silence upon their arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand, Nov. 30, 2023. [Sakchai Lalit/AP]

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who flew to Israel to meet with released Thai hostages earlier this week, accompanied this first group of ex-hostages on their homeward trip, and said he shared their feelings.

When I met with the 17 Thai nationals who were recently released, my joy was overwhelming and so was my relief, Parnpree told reporters.

It was a relief to see that they were happy and that they could smile and it was a moment that was emotional for me.

He added that the support of friends and allies helped secure the release of the Thai hostages, and the government would continue its efforts to secure the release of those who remained captive, the Reuters news agency reported.

Following the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, Parnpree visited Qatar and Egypt and met 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 militants.

And Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also helped, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The Thai PM expressed his gratitude to Anwar when the Malaysian PM visited Thailand for a day on Nov. 27.

I told him that we just did our utmost best in our efforts to bring back the hostages but it is the wisdom of Hamas and Egypt that paves the way for them, Anwar told reporters.

Thailands Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (front right) reacts after arriving in Thailand with Thai nationals, who had been kidnapped and taken hostage by Palestinian group Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport on Nov. 30, 2023 . [Lillian Sunwanrumpha/AFP]

Meanwhile, the Thai PM gave the freed hostages a virtual welcome at the airport.

Throughout the period since October 7, all Thai people have been concerned about all of you, given moral support, and tried to do our best. Im happy that today you returned to Thailand, Srettha said, according to local news website Khaosod English.

The prime minister also inquired about how the freed hostages were treated when they were held captive and asked about whether they had any idea where the remaining nine who are still being held by Hamas might be.

We really dont know their whereabouts, Uthai said.

[Hamas] treated us okay. Quite good.

In a statement, the Thai PM said the extension of the truce on Thursday, when it was set to end, was a good sign and called for the complete cessation of violence.

Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed to extend the truce by another day, the foreign ministry of Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides, said in a statement.

The extension would be on the same terms as the truce that first began on Nov. 24 and was subsequently extended, which are a cessation of all military activities and the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Additionally, under the terms, at least 10 Israelis a day, as well people from other nations, have been released during the truce, in exchange for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners, the Associated Press reported.

West Bank settler violence condemned at UNSC

A day earlier, the United Nations Security Council held a meeting on the Middle East crisis, with the top diplomat of China  the current chair of the 15-member body  calling for an immediate ceasefire of Israel-Hamas hostilities.

[L]etting the fighting drag on would only bring more death and damage, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his statement to the Security Council.

[R]esumed fighting would only most likely turn into a calamity that devours the whole region.

He also said that protection of civilians is a red line in international law that cannot be crossed and any action that violates international law, in particular international humanitarian law, should be condemned.

Israels air and ground attacks on Gaza after the Hamas strike have killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, almost all civilians, according to the Palestinian enclaves health ministry.

The Israeli attacks have also destroyed civic infrastructure and crippled hospitals, leaving Gaza in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis, U.N. officials have warned.

Top diplomats of Arab and majority-Muslim countries had met with Wang in Beijing earlier this month as part of a globe-trotting itinerary during which the ministers planned to visit with officials of all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

In addition to China, the Arab and Muslim nations aim was to convince permanent members the United States, Russia, France and Britain to coax Israel into ending hostilities in Gaza.

The U.S., Israels closest ally, has led a bloc of Western countries in resisting international and U.N. calls for a ceasefire, with Washingtons envoy to the world body vetoing or voting against official resolutions on this question.

Thai national Nattawaree Moolkan, who had been kidnapped and taken hostage by Palestinian Hamas militants during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, gestures as she speaks during a news conference after arriving in Thailand at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport on Nov. 30, 2023. [Lillian Sunwanrumpha/AFP]

At the Security Council on Wednesday, Linda Thomas-Greenfieled, the American ambassador to the United Nations, had not changed that position.

We want to see this humanitarian pause extended, she said in her statement.

But the U.S. and Israel dont want a ceasefire, claiming that would enable Hamas to regroup and commit more attacks.

The fact that some Security Council members are refusing to condemn the Oct. 7 attack is outrageous and unacceptable, Thomas-Greenfield said.

She also mentioned that the United States was deeply troubled by the sharp rise in violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Permanent member France agreed that the council must condemn the Oct. 7 attack, but went a step further on the West bank issue.

France condemns the violence in the West Bank by settlers against Palestinians. This has claimed the lives of numerous Palestinian civilians, said French Ambassador to the U.N. Nicolas de Riviere.

Unlike the U.S., though, he called on Israel to immediately halt this violence, adding that the truce must become a ceasefire.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir speaks at the United Nations Security Council in New York, Nov. 29, 2023. [Via Twitter @ZambryOfficial]

The top diplomats of Southeast Asian nations Indonesia and Malaysia  both of which dont have diplomatic relations with Israel and have not condemned Hamas  also attended the Security Council meeting in New York as part of the Muslim and Arab countries push to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the humanitarian pause was too narrow and fragile and wouldnt enable a better situation in Gaza.

Indonesia is increasingly very concerned with the evolving situation in the West Bank with the increasing number of attacks on the Palestinians, including refugee camps. , I want to repeat what Ive said last month in this room, that the UNSC has a big responsibility to maintain peace and security, she told the body.

The council must ensure that the hostilities do not return with a vengeance and work together to go beyond the humanitarian pause into a durable ceasefire.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir, similarly, said his country called on the council to hear the resounding cry of concerned citizens of the world who have been demanding a ceasefire.

Too much time has been wasted and too many innocent lives have been lost. The whole world is looking and counting on the U.N., especially the Security Council, he told the 15-member top U.N. group.

This body has failed for Palestinians too many times and for far too long. It is time to deliver.

Ili Shazwani in Kuala Lumpur, and Nani Yusof and Ika Inggas in Washington, contributed to this report.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 32F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
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BENNINGTON  The Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless is planning a search for a new executive director following the resignation this month of Chloe Viner Collins.

Naomi Parekh, the president of the BCCH board, said following a meeting on Tuesday that an updated job description and other details of the job posting are being worked out by board members and staff.

She said the board accepted Viner Collins resignation on Nov. 13. The former executive director began in the post in 2021.

Parekh said she could not comment further on the resignation.

We wish Chloe the absolute best of luck in her future endeavors, she said. We cant comment on someones personal decision as its their own. We are looking toward the future for BCCH as we seek a new executive director.

Collins said in a Facebook message, I have no statement to make at this time.

Assistant Director Roxanne Carelli is serving as executive director in the interim, Parekh said.

BCCH board meeting

During the boards meeting Tuesday via Zoom, the officials said they will consider whether job description revisions for the executive director and the assistant director should be considered going forward.

The job will likely be posted early in 2023, Parekh said, adding that the board has full confidence in Carelli to oversee the coalitions programs.

The organization provides two year-round shelters for those experiencing homelessness  an adult shelter on Main Street and a family shelter on Pleasant Street.

We are looking over the (job description details) before we go live, Parekh said in an email, and, of course, we are looking for community involvement.

She hopes assistance from the media and other sources will help spread the word of the opening, in addition to expected posts on job search sites.

On Tuesday, the board also said the need for any bylaw updates for the organization is under consideration, and members cited a current need for donations of coats and jackets for shelter residents.

Parekh also noted in an email, As mentioned (during the board meeting), we are about to launch our annual giving campaign and would appreciate the communitys support.

HIRED IN 2021

Viner Collins previously co-ran the states largest low-barrier homeless shelter in South Burlington, a short-term project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Viner Collins was born in Louisiana and raised in Cambridge, Mass. She graduated from Bates College with a bachelors degree in philosophy. She came to Vermont to attend Vermont Law school, where she graduated with a JD and masters degree in environmental law and policy.
Netflix's apocalyptic horror series "Sweet Home" is set to return for its second season after three years, promising a bigger scale and intensified battles among humans, monsters and in-between creatures.

Based on Naver's eponymous webtoon, the first season of the original Korean series took off instantly after it went on air in December 2020. Its twisted post-apocalyptic tale, fantastical elements and outlandish gore backed by a powerful ensemble cast captivated a global audience.

The second season has improved in every sense of the word, with its world view greatly expanded, producer Lee Eung-bok said at a media event to promote the upcoming series in Seoul on Thursday.

"In the first season, we focused more on the growth stories of each character (than on the characteristics of the genre), as we didn't have much experience in the creature genre," he said.

"But in this season, we have tried to improve in every aspect, be it filming, art or visual effects," he said.

In preparation for Season 2, Lee said he spent a lot of time in discussing the storyline with the original webtoon writers.

"We have collected unsolved stories from Season 1 to broaden them with new characters based on the original story," he said.

While "Sweet Home 1" centers around the struggles of the main protagonist, Cha Hyun-soo, played by Song Kang, and other survivors of the mysterious "infection" that transforms people into monsters in the Green Home, the second season escalates into an all-out survival war as individuals battle the monster curse in the open space.

Unlike other zombie series, the monsters in "Sweet Home" are actually the result of a curse, not an infection, which makes finding a cure even more challenging.

Song Kang plays the "special infectee," Hyun-soo, a former recluse who becomes more mature in Season 2 and voluntarily heads to an experimental center to help the authorities find a cure, only to learn that his supernatural power becomes more powerful.

"I thought a lot about Hyun-soo's feelings and guilt, and tried to constantly keep them in mind even in my real life" to absorb himself in the character, he said.

"'Sweet Home' made me who I am now ... For me, it is really like a great stepping stone to grow as an actor," said the 29-year-old actor, who is expected to begin his mandatory military service in a few months, as required by Korean law.

The director said Song Kang has grown a lot since they filmed the first season years ago.

"I think Song Kang's growth and that of Hyun-soo went almost side by side ... I got emotional to see how mature he had become during our meetings before the shooting," the director said.

Encouraged by the global success of Season 1, Netflix confirmed in June last year the simultaneous production of the second and third seasons.

The release of the third season "won't take as long as three years," the director said.

The 8-part series is set to premiere Friday. (Yonhap)
Police are seeking dash cam footage to assist in the investigation of a Wednesday robbery at NBT Bank on Merrill Road.
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LENOX  When registered voters troop into Thursdays special town meeting at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, theyll find an especially robust agenda.

There will be big-money items, including a multimillion dollar road and sidewalk project requiring a supermajority; a major change to the large-scale solar installation bylaw, and a sharpening up of the towns legal lodging definitions to prevent conversion of already scarce apartments to short-term rentals.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Duffin Theater at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, 197 East St. Details on the warrant articles are at townoflenox.com or in the town clerks office at Town Hall, 6 Walker St.

The four spending proposals, endorsed by the Select Board and the Finance Committee, include $3 million in road and sidewalk projects, as well as protection for taxpayers from the impact of $70 million in facility upgrades.

 Voters will be asked to sign off on a $2 million funding plan to repave the heavily traveled 1.3-mile portion of Housatonic Street from the Route 7/20 bypass to Crystal Street in Lenox Dale. The project includes sidewalk reconstruction from the bypass to East Street, and a first-time sidewalk from East to Crystal Street. A two-thirds supermajority is needed for approval. Voters last May approved $750,000 to fund a portion of that project.

Also included for downtown: A $1 million project for replacement of sewer lines along Church Street, expansion of service lines for fire suppression and streetscape enhancement.

In a letter to voters, Town Manager Christopher Ketchen described "the installation of new sidewalks in the village center along Church and Franklin streets, as well as Housatonic Street between Main and Church. The existing pavers will be removed and replaced with concrete sidewalks six feet wide in most areas, accented with brick borders."

That brings the bottom line to nearly $4 million.

 Creation of a special fund to ease the future impact on taxpayers of two mega-projects approved at last Decembers special town meeting. Now, voters will be asked to endorse the transfer of $1.75 million from the towns $4.6 million in free cash reserves, much of that total consisting of lodging tax revenue.

The debt service stabilization fund would cover future interest payments on borrowing for the $45 million, federally mandated wastewater treatment plant upgrade, and the $25 million public safety complex to be built on Housatonic Street at Route 7/20 opposite Caligaris Hardware.

Were building it into our financial plan now even though we dont have any bills to pay for several years, Ketchen said at a recent Select Board meeting.

 A $100,000 appropriation for technical assistance during the EPA-GE cleanup of PCBs from the Housatonic River. With the failure of court appeals challenging the 2020 GE work permit, Ketchen wrote, "This project has fully entered the implementation phase. As such, the polluter (GE) will be submitting numerous work plans to EPA for review and public comment.

"The Town has engaged an engineering firm (Weston & Sampson) to assist with review and analysis of those work plans that impact Lenox. This process will take many years and will require annual appropriations from Town Meeting. The request under this article represents the first of those annual requests."

 An infusion of $95,055 into the towns Affordable Housing Trust from $380,000 in short-term rental tax receipts during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The Planning Boards proposed revision in the definitions of hotels, motels and inns would close a loophole allowing property owners to convert apartment units, especially downtown, into short-term rental units without complying with the towns short-term rental bylaw.

The goal of the revision, which requires a two-thirds supermajority, is to step up regulation of the use of apartment units as short-term rentals, Ketchen said.

The Planning Board also is asking voters to approve an expansion into the residential 1 acre-plus zone to allow potential large, ground-mounted solar installations. Currently, those are restricted to two limited commercial zones and an industrial sector, which could be challenged in court as an unreasonable regulation under state law.

The proposed new bylaw, which eliminates special permit requirements, opens up more town land to applicants and defines large-scale (one acre or more) and small-scale (less than one acre) installations based on land coverage. while maintaining site plan review by the towns zoning board. A two-thirds vote in favor of the bylaw is needed for approval.

Roof-mounted solar arrays are not regulated by the zoning bylaw.
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A large crowd gathers on land and in the water for "Live on the Lake" this past summer at Onota Lake in Pittsfield.
The remaining four members of K-pop megastar BTS  RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook  will begin their mandatory military service next month, music industry sources said Wednesday.

According to the sources well informed of the matter, RM and V will enlist on Dec. 11, followed by Jimin and Jungkook the next day.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years. The members were allowed to postpone their military service until the end of the year when they turn 30, under a conscription law revised in 2020.

They will follow their three bandmates  Jin, J-Hope and Suga  who are already serving in the military.

The four members are expected to be discharged from the military in June 2025 if they enlist next month.

BTS' agency, BigHit Music, announced a week ago that the four began taking steps necessary to fulfill their military duties, without giving the exact time frames. It then vowed to provide details of their plans when fixed.

In December last year, Jin became the first member of the septet to begin his military service, followed by J-Hope in April. They are now serving as drill instructors at different Army boot camps. Another member Suga started his military service as a social service agent in September as he was ruled unfit for regular combat duty.

BTS has assured fans that the group will return in 2025 after all members have completed their military service. (Yonhap)
It can be incredibly painful when someone we love decides to leave Christianity. According to the Pew Research Center, while more than 85 percent of American adults were raised in the Christian faith, nearly a quarter of those raised Christian no longer identify as such. Nineteen percent of American adults consider themselves former Christians.

Many of these people are our family members  spouses, children, and others we love deeply.

As Christians, its extremely difficult to watch loved ones turn away from or even outright reject the faith. We grieve for these people and genuinely worry for their salvation as well as the general course of their lives. Perhaps we blame ourselves, thinking we did something wrong or didnt do enough to help them.

Sometimes a family member called themselves a Christian at one time; they attended church, got baptized, want to Bible study, and prayed with us. But as they learned more about authentic faith, they decided real Christianity was not something they agreed with after all. They rejected Gods word or Gods way when they discovered the truth.

Much like the parable of the four soils found in Matthew 13:1-23, these people were like the first three soils  they had no root. Perhaps they converted to another religion or left religion entirely, choosing the world and its ways. Or perhaps they were somehow swayed by false teaching.

Sometimes a family member has left the faith because they are running from God. Much like the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, this person is rebelling against God, choosing the temporary pleasures of the flesh or other worldly concerns instead of the Jesus way.

Whatever the reason, we know that we can and should always go to the Lord in prayer when this happens, knowing that God hears our prayers.

Here, then, are six prayers for a family member who leaves the faith.

Photo credit: Getty Images/pcess609
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According to a recent survey, the prevalence of the HIV virus among the population in South Africa has seen a decline, dropping from 14% in 2017 to 12.7% in 2022.

This translates, according to the latest data, to about 7.8 million people living with HIV in South Africa in 2022 compared to 7.9 million in 2017.

This key finding is contained in the sixth South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Behaviour (SABSSM VI) survey released on Monday, 27 November by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The survey highlights the progress toward ending HIV in South Africa, which remains the epicentre of the HIV endemic in the world.

The HSRCs divisional executive of the public health, societies, and belonging division, Khangelani Zuma, said several factors contribute to HIV prevalence.

These factors include fewer people getting infected with HIV, more children born HIV-negative, Aids-related mortality, and people aging and dying from natural causes, Zuma said.

He is also the surveys principal investigator.

In addition, he said the increase in the population of the birth of HIV-negative babies would also increase the denominator of HIV-negative people in the country.

The epidemic curve also shows an aging population of people living with HIV who are living longer as the epidemic stabilises, he added.

In addition, the 2022 survey shows significant progress toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and Aids (UNAids) 95-95-95 targets.

UNAids envisions that by 2025, 95% of all people living with HIV have to be aware of their HIV status, 95% of those aware of their status to be on antiretroviral treatment (Art), and 95% of those on treatment to achieve viral-load suppression.

HIV awareness and treatment advancements

Meanwhile, the survey indicated that among those aged 15 and older living with HIV in South Africa in 2022, 90% were aware of their status, 91% of those aware of their status were on Art and 94% of those on Art were virally suppressed.

This is an improvement compared to 2017 when the UNAids target was 90-90-90 but South Africa achieved 85%-71%-87%.

This is attributed to the change in treatment guidelines in 2016, which made provision for treatment to be given to everyone requiring HIV treatment immediately regardless of their clinical status, which previously needed to include a CD4 count below 500 cells/mm3.

The data also revealed that 81% of people aged 15 and older living with HIV were virally suppressed in 2022 compared to 62% in 2017.

Viral suppression, the HSRC noted, was higher (83%) among women when compared to men (79%) and lower (70%) among younger adults aged 15 to 24.

The lowest percentage of viral-load suppression (66%) was among men aged between 25 and 34.

According to the survey, half of all young men aged between 15 and 24 were medically circumcised compared to 43% in 2017.

This is an important achievement as studies have shown that male circumcision can reduce the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by approximately 60%.

Addressing gaps

While the research indicates that progress has been made, the survey also shows gaps that remain in addressing the HIV epidemic in South Africa.

The impact of the HIV epidemic in South Africa is unequal across geographic regions and populations, particularly affecting black Africans, women, and young people.

HIV prevalence varied geographically, ranging from 8% in the Western Cape to 22% in KwaZulu-Natal among the 15-year-olds and older.

Furthermore, HIV prevalence was nearly twice as high among women (20%) compared to men (12%).

By race, HIV prevalence was the highest among black Africans (20%), followed by Coloureds (5%), and lowest among Whites and Indians/Asians (1% each).

The most pronounced differences in HIV prevalence by sex were seen among younger populations, which calls for focused interventions, Zuma explained.

Among females, HIV prevalence was highest in ages 35 to 39 years at 34.2%, whereas among males, HIV prevalence was highest in ages 45 to 49 years at 27.1%.

Compared to males, HIV prevalence was approximately two-fold higher in females aged 15 to 19 (5.7% versus 3.1%), and 20 to 24 years (8% versus 4%), and three-fold higher in females aged 25 to 29 (19.5% versus 6.3%).

SABSSM VI is a large cross-sectional, population-based household survey conducted from January 2022 to April 2023.

The survey marks 20 years, with the first survey commissioned and funded by former president Nelson Mandela through his foundation in 2001.
A global effort to prevent and eliminate child labour has seen renewed vigour with certain of the timeframes for Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 drawing to a close in coming years. Included in this goal is the ambition to end child labour in all its forms by 2025. Moving toward this aim in South Africa, the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has recently teamed up with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to launch a European Union-funded project to end child labour in the agriculture sector.

Kate Collier, Partner, Webber Wentzel

Conventional wisdom often associates child labour with the employment of young children below the age of 15 years which is prohibited in our law. While the lawful employment of children who are 15 years old and above is provided for in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) rightly identifies any worker below the age of 18 years as a child.

There is a period of overlap in which the work a child carries out may constitute child labour, as opposed to youth employment. The distinction depends on the danger to which the child may be exposed and whether the work is age-appropriate.

Identifying when this distinction shall apply is, therefore, crucial for employers in the agriculture sector where work is often strenuous or includes the use of motorised equipment and pesticides. Child labour, distinct from youth employment, is the exploitation of children through work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity.

Global businesses face spotlight on child labour risks in Africa

In the context of the globalised nature of business operations and relationships, a particular focus has been on the supply chains and value chains of "high-risk" regions or industries, many of which are seen to be in Africa where socio-economic tensions and challenges tend to heighten the potential for child labour which constitutes a human rights violation.

The term hazardous work is defined in the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour[1] as work that exposes children to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse, or work that is harmful to their health or development. This includes work that is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children.

Every employer who hires a child worker or allows a child to work under their supervision must conduct a risk assessment for that work. This involves identifying and evaluating the risks and dangers the child might face, carefully looking at and understanding these risks, and implementing a plan to make the work safer.

SA employers face stringent child labour protection regulations

The Regulations on Hazardous Work by Children in South Africa published in terms of both the OHSA and the BCEA (Regulations) provide guidance as to what employers must consider when assessing the risks inherent in the work performed by child workers.

Employers must document a plan outlining safe work procedures and include steps to either eliminate or mitigate the risks. Additionally, employers must establish a monitoring plan to oversee the effectiveness of the implemented safety measures.

Beyond these primary responsibilities, employers must consider specific factors relevant to the nature of the work and the unique vulnerabilities of children, such as risks associated with:

 Children's characteristics, for example, adolescent growth spurts making youth more prone to injuries involving ligaments and tendons from repetitive movements, deviations in size rendering personal protective equipment (PPE) ineffective, heightened biological sensitivity to various agents, factors affecting sleep patterns, vulnerability to coercion or abuse, limited experience and maturity in safety judgments, adaptability to work routines, perception of dangers, understanding of safety messages, appropriateness of machinery and equipment, implications of skeletal development, and physiological and hormonal vulnerabilities during puberty;

 The types of work carried out by child workers, such as driving tractors, exposure to high voltage or electrical equipment, working with sharp tools, lifting heavy loads, or spraying crops; and

 The conditions in which child workers carry out such work, for example, night work, noisy environments, work that does not provide for adequate breaks, and working alone for extended periods of time which is common in shepherding increasing vulnerability to abuse.

Notably, the Regulations also regulate work performed by children in hot or cold environments, which may rule out early morning work in cold winters if a child worker is exposed to temperatures below 6 degrees Celsius for a period of one hour, unless suitable PPE is provided by the employer, for example.

SA tightens child labour rules with emphasis on training, supervision

The Regulations also require employers to display a summary of the health and safety of children at work, in the workplace where it can be read by all workers, including child workers who are at the workplace.

Greater care is not only required in terms of the types of work and conditions in which such work is to be carried out but also with respect to the instruction provided to child workers to enable age-appropriate understanding and training for healthy and safe work practices. In addition, the supervision of child workers is a simple but important consideration in distinguishing between lawful youth employment and child labour.

Children have shorter attention spans and have less prior experience in handling equipment or performing certain jobs. In this regard, the Regulations advise that training sessions should be short, simple, relevant, and frequent.

Employers should minimise distractions, use visual aids and encourage questions to safeguard youth in their employ. Those responsible for supervising child workers must recognise and accommodate adolescent characteristics, assign age-appropriate tasks, assess the physical capacity and maturity of young workers, and ensure the child's ability to comprehend written instructions and safety signs.

Specific health and safety topics must be covered during orientation and training for child workers, such as tractor safety, irrigation safety, tree fruit harvest safety, and working near embankments or excavations.

SA boosts child labour protection with focus on hazards, training

Additionally, considerations like hot and cold environments, lifting heavy objects, and working at night are often encountered in agricultural settings. Machine safety, transportation and travelling safety, and water safety are crucial components, given the prevalent use of machinery in agricultural work. Training on personal protective equipment, electrical safety, and working with or near chemical substances are also specifically provided for in the Regulations.

The heightened obligations for employers associated with preventing physical injury to child workers are particularly important as children are more likely to become injured and are also more likely to suffer longer-term harm as a result of such injuries, which may result in long-term incapacity concerns in the child's adult life.

Distinguishing between legitimate youth employment and exploitative child labour must focus on the inherent risks associated with the work and working conditions child workers are exposed to. Differentiating child labour from lawful employment involves risk assessment, guided by the Regulations on Hazardous Work by Children which the ILO Convention in turn informs on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

These regulations are geared toward fostering an environment where child workers receive age-appropriate training, supervision, and care, ensuring their physical and psychological well-being.

An approach to developing safe systems of work through risk assessments and plans, tailored training, and proper supervision underscores the collective responsibility to safeguard the rights, dignity, and future of child workers in the agricultural sector and prepare them to be our next generation of farmers.
Learners compete to show they can read for meaning.

Hlelo Kana, a grade 4 learner at Samora Machel Primary School, won second place at the Philippi Arts Centres book quiz on Friday. Photos: Qaqamba Falithenjwa

More than 40 grade 3 and 4 learners from four schools in Philippi competed in this years book quiz at the Philippi Arts Centre on Friday.

The organisation partnered with the Ntshona, Zanemfundo, Masivuke and Samora Machel primary schools. Facilitators were sent to each school to build libraries and to help learners to read with understanding.

During the quiz, ten learners from each school were asked to read a page from a childrens isiXhosa book and then tested on how much they had understood.

The three learners who won were from Zanemfundo Primary and Samora Machel Primary schools. Books the learners were quizzed on included Abahlobo Abakhulu and Eli Lilungelo Lam.

Philippi Arts Centre director Lizwi Nyandu, said the Centre employs about 100 facilitators, some working in schools to assist learners with reading and creative arts. They often have to get additional books from the public libraries in Nyanga and Browns Farm.

The Centre was started in 2020 by a group of artists from Philippi who transformed an abandoned property in the area.

It offers visual arts, music production, photography, dance, drama, literacy and other after school programs. It is mostly funded by the Philippi Economic Development Initiative (Pedi), the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, and Business and Arts South Africa (Basa), Nyandu said.

Learners from Ntshona, Zanemfundo, Masivuke and Samora Machel primary schools in Philippi took part in the book quiz.

Published originally on GroundUp.
I fear a further delay may begin to jeopardise the election process itself, says independent candidate Zackie Achmat.

The Constitutional Court has not yet issued judgment on a crucial case about next years election. The case was heard in August. Archive photo: Ciaran Ryan | GroundUp

The Constitutional Court heard a case in August that will have vital implications for independent candidates in next years election.



It has still not delivered judgment.



Zackie Achmat, who is standing as a candidate in next years election, has written a letter to the Chief Justice expressing concern about the time the court is taking over the judgment.



Mbekezeli Benjamin from Judges Matter told GroundUp the court could issue a ruling and give its reasons later.



the court could issue a ruling and give its reasons later. The Office of the Chief Justice did not respond to our request for comment.

Activist Zackie Achmat, who is contesting the 2024 general election as an independent candidate, has sounded the alarm on the Constitutional Courts failure to hand down a judgment in a crucial challenge to election laws. If not resolved soon, it could jeopardise the election process.

In a letter to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Achmat said while he was not a litigant in the challenge to sections of the Electoral Amendment Act, which was enacted in April this year, it could not be denied that the matter was of immense public importance.

The 2024 election will be the first time independent candidates will be allowed to run for office.

The court heard arguments in the matter at the end of August. The application was brought by the Independent Candidates Association and Build One SA which argued that the Act was unconstitutional because it unfairly restricted the participation of independent candidates in the elections and their representation in the National Assembly, compared to political party candidates.

The applicants claimed the playing field was not equal and independent candidates would require more votes to obtain a seat.

The application was opposed by Parliament and Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi.

Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chair Mosotho Moepya recently told a Home Affairs parliamentary hearing that the fact that the court judgment was outstanding was creating anxiety.

He said the IEC could only finalise plans for the elections once the judgment had been handed down. It had been hoped that this would happen before the end of September.

In his letter to the Chief Justice dated 23 November, Achmat requested an estimated timeframe within which the judgment - or even an order without reasons - could be expected.

I am currently collecting the roughly 13,000 signatures required by the impugned statute to obtain nomination in the Western Cape region.

I am also, to the best of my knowledge, the only independent candidate nationwide to have made public their candidature. I understand that other prospective candidates are awaiting the courts ruling before deciding whether or not to declare themselves.

Achmat said the court had directed on 11 August 2023 that the matter would be heard on 29 August and this was taken as an indication that the ruling could be expected with similar alacrity and that the country would have certainty about the contours of this crucial election.

I appreciate that the court is faced with an immensely difficult task which is not to be rushed, he said, noting though that it had been almost three months since the argument was heard.

With the dates for nomination and election drawing every closer, the lack of certainty exacerbates what is already a venture into uncharted waters. Aside from the impact that this decision has on me and my campaign, and on would-be candidates whose time to gather the necessary signatures is ticking by, I fear a further delay may begin to jeopardise the election process itself.

Achmat asked that the court provide the public with an estimated date by which the judgment can be expected or that an order without reasons be issued in the interim.

He also suggested that the most pressing issue of the signatures required for nomination by independent candidates could also be dealt with separately by the court if only to allow independent candidates some certainty in respect of the nomination process.

The Office of the Chief Justice has not yet responded to a request for comment by GroundUp.

Mbekezeli Benjamin from Judges Matter told GroundUp: While a judgment of this gravity understandably takes time to deliver, the circumstances of the 2024 election do require the Constitutional Court to act with some urgency.

Ahead of the 2021 elections under Covid the Court handed down an order with reasons later. Theres no reason why a similar approach cant be taken. It would strike a fair balance between giving the judges time to deliver a reasoned judgement, while giving both the Independent Electoral Commission and independent candidates time to prepare, said Benjamin.

In the past, the Constitutional Court has ruled quickly on electoral questions. For example it heard a case in which the IEC was the first respondent on 19 March 1999. It handed down its judgment on 1 April 1999. It heard another case against the IEC on 4 March 2009 and ruled on 12 March 2009.

This article was originally published on GroundUp.

 2023 GroundUp. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
By Lee Yeon-woo

Efforts to enhance clarity in the Korean virtual asset market are emerging, as both the government and the National Assembly have actively announced their plans to intensify crypto monitoring.

On Wednesday, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) announced the launch of two teams exclusively responsible for virtual assets, which will specialize respectively in supervision and investigation.

Before the institutionalization of virtual assets, the FSS had supported related legislation, with its dedicated research team conducting research and monitoring markets.

However, since the passage of the Virtual Asset Act by the National Assembly in July, there has been a growing need to establish an organization capable of overseeing the field.

"In response to the expansion of the virtual asset market and to prepare for the enactment of the Virtual Asset Act in July next year, a specialized organization has been created to ensure market order and safeguard its participants," an FSS official said.

The supervisory bureau is responsible for the supervision and inspection of virtual asset operators, market monitoring and institutional improvements. The team aims to establish a regulatory framework for virtual assets and promote market stability.

The investigation bureau is to rigorously enforce actions against market disruptions by investigating unfair trade practices. It aims to prevent disorder in the market and protect its participants from harm resulting from unfair trading practices.

In addition, the Ministry of Government Legislation announced Thursday that starting Dec. 14, high-ranking officials will also be required to report their transactions involving virtual assets, similar to the reporting of stock transactions.

The National Assembly is also making efforts to enhance the soundness of the domestic virtual asset market by proactively supplementing existing institutions.

"Massive renewals for virtual asset businesses are expected in the latter half of 2024," Rep. Yun Chang-hyun from the ruling People Power Party said.

He is focusing on refining the renewal examination process within the Specified Financial Transaction Act. This revision aims to exclude business operators that do not meet critical requirements, such as fulfilling anti-money laundering obligations and ensuring user protection.

"The law would contribute to fostering a healthy ecosystem in the virtual asset market by clearly specifying the grounds for renewal rejection and requiring improvements as a condition for accepting renewals," he explained.

Efforts to gain public trust are underway in the private sector as well.

Bithumb, one of the main domestic crypto exchanges, is planning to go public on the Kosdaq market by the second half of 2025 at the latest. The company has stated that its upcoming IPO will enhance corporate trust and strengthen transparent operations.

"Although we are experiencing a crypto winter, the advancement of regulatory frameworks both locally and worldwide suggests that the blockchain and virtual asset industries are poised to achieve stability," an industry official said.
The Inter Hotel Challenge (IHC) concluded last night, 28 November, with the announcement of its 2023 winners during a gala event at the Southern Sun Cape Sun in Cape Town. The annual competition, sponsored by Heineken Beverages, aims to identify and nurture the next generation of hospitality talent in South Africa.

This year, a record number of entries from 26 leading hotels across the country showcased their skills in a variety of categories, from wine stewarding and mixology to cooking and baking. The judging panel, comprising industry experts, was impressed by the high standard of entries and the evident passion and dedication of the participants.

Source: Supplied

"Theyre smart, ambitious, and primed for success," said Millicent Maroga, corporate affairs director for Heineken Beverages, of the finalists. "Its our view that when you show talent and determination, every effort should be made to help you get ahead, she said during the gala event.

"Its a win-win all round. The challenge is structured to fast-track training in hotel and restaurant services. That raises hospitality standards, expands job creation, and promotes economic inclusion. Its an opportunity for all the sponsors to cultivate brand ambassadors and it also helps South Africa to offer local and international tourists a world-class experience, enhancing the countrys competitiveness as a foremost travel destination," added Maroga.

"Across the board, standards have continued to rise year after year," said Chania Morritt-Smith, co-founder of the IHC.

Wine Steward of the Year

Nkanyiso Zikhali, a waiter from The Oyster Box in KwaZulu-Natal, took the top honours as Wine Steward of the Year. His prize includes a two-week internship at Margot Janses acclaimed SAAM restaurant in Amsterdam, where he will experience the fine dining culture of the Netherlands and learn more about the Heineken brand.

Chef of the Year

Cornelius Suthse, a commis chef from Sun City Convention Centre, was named Chef of the Year. He will embark on a three-week immersion programme at Swakopmunds upmarket Strand Hotel in Namibia, a popular tourist destination.

Pastry Chef of the Year

Phathiswa Plaatjie, a pastry chef de partie from The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town, was awarded Pastry Chef of the Year. Her prize includes a three-week placement at Chateau de La Creuzette in Boussac, France.

Most up and coming Wine Steward

Londeka Mkhize, a wine steward from Durbans Beverly Hills Hotel, was recognised as the Most Up & Coming Wine Steward and recipient of The Wonga Award. She won an online bursary worth R30,000 from the International Hotel School.

Other notable awards

 The Rio Largo Most Promising Chef Award went to Shantel Ndlovu of The Silo Hotel in Johannesburg.

 The Scanpan Excellent Kitchen Practice Award was jointly given to Cornelius Suthse of Sun City Convention Centre and Thando Mahlekelele, a pastry chef from Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani in Durban.

 The Lancewood Pastry Chef of the Year Award went to Phathiswa Plaatjie of The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa.

 The KitchenAid Africa Bio-Wheat Baker of the Year Award was awarded to Senzo Khumalo of The Oyster Box in KwaZulu-Natal.

 The top three Avanti SA baristas (per area) were Vusumzi Sithole (54 on Bath), Mpoe Charles Maboshigo (Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel) and Vuyo Kenneth Zuma (Sun City Convention Centre).

 The Best Food & Wine Pairing Award was given to chefs Keelyn Scheepers and Ruaan van Helden of Southern Sun Cape Sun, who presented a dish of Fish4Africa WWF-SASSI green list Cape yellowtail tartare paired with Nederburg The Winemasters Chardonnay 2022.

Overall, the 2023 Inter Hotel Challenge was a resounding success, showcasing the extraordinary talent and passion of South Africas hospitality industry. The winners and all participants can be proud of their achievements and the bright future that lies ahead in their chosen fields.
Exxaro reported a decline in its safety performance and a mixed outlook for its key commodities in the first 10 months of 2023. The company also announced a higher capital expenditure for its coal business and a strong net cash balance, as well as plans to sell its ferroalloys unit to a Black-owned business by the end of June 2024.

Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, Exxaro CEO delivering the interim results in August 2023. Source: x.com

According to a pre-close statement released by Exxaro on Tuesday, the company recorded eight lost time injuries resulting in a lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) of 0.06, which is above the set target of 0.05 and a 50% regression from the same period last year.

The company also reported three high potential incidents across the group, compared to five for the full year ended 31 December 2022. To prevent potential incidents, various safety initiatives have been deployed across all its business units.

Finance director Riaan Koppeschaar said that the global economic performance exceeded expectations in early 2023, led by the post-pandemic recovery. However, as the year progressed, global sentiment changed and weighed negatively on global economic activity and commodity markets.

Exxaro aims to enhance the economic participation of Black-owned companies in the South African economy. In line with this intent, Exxaro has earmarked the ferroalloys disposal process to target Black ownership. The sales process is anticipated to be concluded in 2Q24

Coal prices still low

The company expects the average price of coal exported from South Africa's Richards Bay terminal to be $122 per tonne, which is less than half of the price in the previous financial year (FY22), which was $271 per tonne. The price is free on board (FOB), which means that the seller is responsible for the product only until it is loaded on board a shipping vessel, at which point the buyer is responsible.

The company also expects the average price of iron ore fines, which are small particles of iron ore, to be $119 per dry metric tonne, which is almost the same as the price in FY22, which was $120 per dry metric tonne. The price is cost and freight (CFR), which means that the seller is responsible for arranging and paying for the transportation of the product to the destination port, which is China in this case.

The API4 coal export price index is the benchmark price for coal exported from South Africa's Richards Bay terminal. It is calculated as an average of the Argus fob Richards Bay assessment and McCloskey's fob Richards Bay marker.

The coal price decrease was exacerbated by warmer than usual winter temperatures, robust performance in renewables and nuclear, and significantly lower gas prices"

Production remains flat

The company's total coal production (excluding buy-ins) is expected to remain flat, and sales volumes are expected to decrease by 2%. The company also expects the capital expenditure for its coal business to be about 57% higher when compared to FY22, mainly driven by higher spend at Grootegeluk and Belfast.

A slight resurgence in Indian demand on the back of the lower coal prices helped minimise losses slightly.

As at 31 October 2023, the company had a net cash balance of R13.5bn (excluding Cennergis net debt of R4.1bn). The company said that it will retain cash of between R12bn and R15bn to fund its growth strategy.

Exxaro will provide a detailed account of FYE23 business performance and an outlook on the subsequent six months (1H24) when it announces its annual financial results on or about 14 March 2024.
When many people hear the term business rescue they immediately think the worst  that the business is no longer financially viable or that all its assets are in a state of disrepair. However, this is not always the case, says Wesley Cowan, director for Galetti Corporate Real Estate.

Source: Supplied. Blue Mountain Berries, a profitable and fully operational berry and avocado farm just outside of George that is being sold via sealed bid after being placed in business rescue.

Entering business rescue is a commonly used pathway for companies in financial distress to reorganise and restructure their assets to maximise the likelihood of being able to continue operations and repay its creditors, Cowan says.

In many cases, the business will choose to sell off lucrative assets that it owns, such as properties, in the process of financial restructuring. These properties are often well-maintained and excellent investment opportunities, available at a lower price point because of the owners desire for a quick sale.

Cowan points to Blue Mountain Berries, a profitable and fully operational berry and avocado farm just outside of George that is being sold via sealed bid after being placed in business rescue.

Blue Mountain Berries is a strategically located farm with a long history of supplying to major grocers like Pick n Pay, Checkers and Woolworths as well as being a major exporter to overseas markets in search of the farms top-quality produce. It being sold under business rescue has no bearing on its profitability or the state of its facilities.

However, the mechanics of buying a property in business rescue differs slightly from that of a traditional sale.

Business rescue property purchase

When companies enter business rescue, a Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) is appointed to draw up a business rescue plan that balances the rights and interests of all relevant stakeholders during the financial restructuring process. This often includes the sale of the business immovable property to pay creditors.

Only the BRP may enter into any agreement whereby the entity chooses to sell a property, explains Cowan. The property conveyancer will need proof of the BRPs appointment and a copy of the business rescue plan to show that the sale is in accordance with it.

The new owner will be protected from any outstanding municipal debt associated with the property and once the sale is agreed upon by the BRP, it functions as a normal commercial property transaction. In the case of Blue Mountain Berries farm sale, we have worked closely with the BRP to ensure that all necessary protective measures have been taken to ensure the best possible outcome for both the buyer and seller, adds Cowan.

As such, we anticipate a multitude of competitive offers from savvy investors who recognise the opportunity presented by this valuable asset prior to the 30 November 2023 deadline for sealed bids.

The pros and cons

Naturally, there are both advantages and disadvantages of buying a property in business rescue, which Cowan unpacks as follows:

The primary advantage here is with regards to pricing, as the BRP is invested in concluding the transaction in the shortest possible time frame and therefore more likely to consider a wider range of offers. This increases the likelihood of securing an asset at a discounted price point as opposed to a similar property that is not in business rescue.

Cowan also highlights that in many cases, properties in business rescue come fully kitted out with the BRP looking to sweeten the deal for the new owner. For instance, Blue Mountain Berries comes complete with farmhouses, equipment, staff accommodation, a community centre, fully operational cold rooms as well as packing and storage facilities. Theres also the option to purchase a robust inventory list of moveable assets.

Properties in business rescue offer a huge amount of versatility, as the new owner has the opportunity to either continue a legacy or view it as a blank canvas and start from scratch.

As to the cons, the largest one, especially for new investors who want to pick-up where the previous owners left off in terms of continuing operations, may be overcoming the negative stigma associated with business rescue.

Investors whove capitalised on the attractive price point and other advantages of this kind of property and are wondering what next? should take the time to understand its operating structure and scrutinise its history to understand what mistakes may have been made previously, and what they can do differently going forward, shares Cowan.

However, in the current market, strategically located properties with a profitable history like Blue Mountain Berries dont come around often - and are rarely offered to investors with a business-rescue discount. Breaking down the stigma of what this term means will go a long way in opening the market for savvy buyers looking to capitalise on versatile commercial-property opportunities, he concludes.
With Africa continuing to bear the burden and risks of catastrophic climate change-related impacts, African heads of state and governments, global leaders, development partners, civil society organisations and other high-level stakeholders will attend the United Climate Change Conference (COP28) from Thursday 30 November to discuss, among other things, Africas decarbonisation agenda, current challenges and opportunities.

In September this year, the African Climate Summit (ACS) in Nairobi, Kenya culminated in the Nairobi Declaration, which is also expected to be the basis for Africas common position in the global climate change process at COP28 and beyond. In this regard, key agenda items from the Nairobi Declaration will also feature at COP28 in Dubai. They include:

A reassertion of the commitment to provide $100bn in annual climate finance as first promised at COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009.



The operationalisation of the Loss & Damage Fund as agreed at COP27 in 2022, which was specifically targeted at developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts (the majority of which are African nations).



A call for collective global action to mobilise the necessary capital for both development and climate action. (No country should ever have to choose between development aspirations and climate action  Paris Pact for People and the Planet).



A plea to the international community to contribute towards Africas vision of economic transformation in harmony with its climate needs.

The Nairobi Declaration included the following climate needs as priorities for Africa:

A commitment to increasing Africas renewable generation capacity from 56 GW in 2022 to at least 300 GW by 2030, both to address energy poverty and to bolster the global supply of cost-effective clean energy for industry.



The facilitation of access to and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, including technologies to support Africas green industrialisation and transition.



The designing of industry policies that incentivise global investment to locations that offer the most substantial climate benefits while also ensuring benefits for local communities.



The implementation of a mix of measures that elevate Africas share of carbon markets.

Given previous criticisms of the slow progress in addressing these issues, despite numerous commitments from the previous conferences, Africa will be emboldened by the relative success of the ACS to demand urgent and bold action towards climate change mitigation and adaptation at COP28.

It is hoped that the commitments and pronouncements made at the ACS will influence and impact the overall push by Africa during COP28 for the fulfilment and implementation of pledges, funding and resource sharing, especially as the adverse effects of climate change continue to be witnessed across the continent.
The CIO Association of South Africa bestowed its inaugural 2023 CIO of the Year Award to Jorg Fischer, Group CIO of Standard Bank at an event attended by over 300 IT leaders and professionals from various sectors. This recognition of Standard Banks IT strategy and performance shows the impact of Fischers strategic vision and leadership.

Jorg Fischer, Standard Bank CIO

The award is an initiative of the CIO Association of South Africa and honours a nominee who has shown exceptional leadership and innovation, contributing to their organisations success over several years.

In addition to the CIO of the Year title, Fischer also claimed the Strategy & Leadership Award, a testament to his outstanding leadership in developing and implementing effective IT strategies. His efforts in the realm of cybersecurity were also recognised, earning him the Cybersecurity Award which celebrates a CIO who has shown exceptional leadership in developing and implementing effective cybersecurity strategies.

We are very proud of the commitment and dedication shown by our IT teams, who under Jorg and his teams leadership, focused on building trust with our clients through various initiatives, including our Back-to-Basics campaign. Their commitment to driving both excellence and efficiencies, continues to be impressive, ensuring our Group remains competitive now and into the future, said Margaret Nienaber, Standard Bank COO.

Culture of collaboration

Commenting on the accolades, Nienaber said Fischer and his team have fostered a culture of collaboration, agility, and excellence within the team and across the organisation. The team has embraced the adoption of innovative technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, enabling Standard Bank to offer personalised, omnichannel, and secure solutions to clients.

We are delighted that his achievements have been recognised by the industry and we congratulate him on this well-deserved award, continued Nienaber.

More than 99% of all transactions done at Standard Bank are now digital, highlighting the consumer shift to the convenience and security offered by digital platforms.

Challenges and opportunities

Fischer joined Standard Bank in 1997 and has held various senior roles across the group. As the group CIO, he is responsible for overseeing of the groups IT infrastructure, systems, applications, security, and innovation across 20 African countries and six international financial centres.

We are proud of our IT achievements and the impact we have made on our clients, employees, and society. We are also aware of the challenges and opportunities ahead, and we are committed to continue innovating and improving our IT capabilities and solutions. We believe that technology is a key platform enabler and differentiator for us, and we will leverage it to drive Africas growth and prosperity, concluded Nienaber.
Spotify Wrapped 2023 demonstrated that South Africans are consuming more local songs, compared to 2022 with artists like Makhadzi, Tyler ICU and Kabza De Small in the top streaming data. Spotify Wrapped is the streaming giant's thorough look into the music and podcasts that defined the year for South African users.

Mnike by Tyler ICU has taken the world by storm. Source: YouTube.

Local music consumption has grown exponentially, increasing by 101% in 2023.

Most streamed songs

Tyler ICUs Mnike and Lady Amars Hamba Juba lead the most streamed songs in South Africa, in a list dominated by local songs. Nine out of ten of the top streamed songs in South Africa are all South African, a major difference from the two previous years when international songs dominated the list. On the same token, the top streamed song; Tyler ICUs - Mnike (feat. DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha808, Ceeka RSA & Tyron Dee) also tops the most added song to user-generated playlists list.

The South African music industry is evolving and growing with every song released. We are glad to see the local creators resonating with South African users, says Phiona Okumu, Spotify Sub-Saharan Africas head of music.

The search function on Spotify is one of the key tabs of discovery for many users. Its intuitive searching capabilities in South Africa landed Kelvin Momo on the second most searched artist list behind Drake. In addition, Drakes Slime You Out (feat. SZA) is the number one most shared song on Instagram.

Age

South African users like to share what they are listening to, especially on social media. Correspondingly, Drake and SZA are the top two most shared artists on the same platform. The majority of the social platforms users, 18-24-year-olds listen to more non-South African artists than 25-34-year-olds. However, they have one artist in common, Drake, who tops both their lists.

The local resonance can also be attributed to artists innovation, for example, Sjava and Big Zulus partnership. The duo named Inkabi Zezwe who released their first album project this year, appear in two lists. Their single Umbayimbayi sits at number ten on the most streamed South African songs in SA, while the album, Ukhamba makes an appearance at the same spot on the most streamed albums in SA list.

Sjava also appears in two lists. He is the third most streamed South African artist in SA and his album Isibuko, is the third most streamed South African album in SA. The duos appearance on the Bhinca culture-leaning playlist Bhinca Nation can be one of the reasons they featured in the two lists. Bhinca Nation is the fifth most streamed South African playlist.

The playlist rounds up the top five most streamed South African playlists in SA led by Amapiano Grooves. Other playlists on the list include Made In South Africa, Afrikaanse Hits, and Hot Hits South Africa.

Amapiano

Amapiano continues to dominate the lists. The most streamed songs are Amapiano songs, and the top two on the most streamed South African artists list are Amapiano artists. Kabza De Small remains the most streamed South African artist for the second year in a row, with two of his projects KOA II Part 1 and The Konka Mixtape : Sweet & Dust respectively rounding up the top five most streamed South Africa albums in SA.

Furthermore, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa are the only two South African artists to feature in the top ten most streamed artists overall in South Africa, ranking second and third after Drake.

Male artists are still dominating the most streamed lists, however, female artists are making notable progress in average streams overall. The average streams year on year increase is at 49%. Female Amapiano artist Lady Amar appears on the most streamed South African songs in SA list.

While Taylor Swift leads the most streamed female artists in South Africa, Makhadzi is the most streamed South African female artist, followed by Ami Faku with Nkosazana Daughter, Lwah Ndlunkulu, Nomfundo Moh, MaWhoo rounding up the top five, respectively. Lwah Ndlunkulu also appears in the top ten on the most searched South African artists.

SA exports

South Africas top exported list features Master KG, Black Coffee, Lucky Dube and Lebo M.

On the podcast side, Wisdom & Wellness with Mpoomy Ledwaba is the most streamed South African female-led podcast in SA. Podcast and Chill with MacG retains its number one spot on the most streamed South African podcast in SA list.

The full breakdown of South Africans streamed on Spotify this year:
A pivotal continental convergence for sustainable business leadership

Shift Impact Africa and the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) takes great pride in announcing that the Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVLS) will once again be hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, from 24-25 October 2024. This will be the second time the ASVLS takes place in Nairobi, made possible with the support of distinguished local partners.

This summit, a flagship event of the Shared Value Africa Initiative and facilitated by Shift Impact Africa, aims to be a beacon for companies looking to solidify their roles as catalysts for societal progress through profitable, sustainable business models.

Tiekie Barnard, the visionary founder and CEO of Shift Impact Africa Group, states: "Since its inception in 2017, the Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit has been at the forefront of fostering a new narrative for business in Africa. This event has become a pivotal platform for private sector engagement in sustainable development across the continent and will continue to drive this momentum forward."

The partnership with Safaricom showcases the summit's calibre, reflecting the tech giants enduring commitment to societal transformation in East Africa. Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom, shares: "Our ongoing collaboration with SVAI demonstrates our unwavering resolve to making meaningful contributions to 'the Africa we want'. Safaricom is excited once again to bring our transformative agenda to this prestigious event."

Nation Media Group (NMG), as a leading African media entity, continues to craft narratives that resonate across Africa. CEO Stephen Gitagama affirms: At NMG, we are at the forefront of storytelling, shaping the future of Africa. Our support for the Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit aligns with our mission to drive a purposeful, impactful African agenda."

As per the previous Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit, hosted in Kenya in 2019 it will return to Radisson Blu and the national airline, Kenya Airways will once again be the travel partner for the flagship event. As a purpose-driven organisation, delivering on their sustainability and ESG objectives in various ways, alignment with the Summit is evident in a partnership such as this one.

Emphasising the summit's wide reach, Barnard adds, This Summit is a convergence of ideas and innovation from across the continent, offering a hybrid experience that promises to extend its impact beyond the borders of Kenya.

Nairobi is poised to be more than just the centre to convene leadership from across Africa; it will be where Africas Shared Value community charts the course for an era of inclusive business prosperity.

About Shift Impact Africa and the Shared Value Africa Initiative

Shift Impact Africa and the Shared Value Africa initiative lead the charge in advocating and lobbying for integrating Shared Value strategies into the business landscape of Africa, championing economic growth in harmony with societal development.

For more information on the event and sponsorship, visit https://africasharedvaluesummit.com or contact acirfa.tcapmitfihs@eikeit / +27 82 445 5274.

About the organisers

The Shift Impact Africa Group, encompassing Shift Impact Africa and the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI), is a leading African business and advocating consortium advocating for the Shared Value Business Management model. SVAI, with a global reach including India, Hong Kong, Australia, the Americas, and Europe, focuses on creating private sector ecosystems for impactful partnerships and sustainable, ethical business practices, with a strong emphasis on genuine ESG reporting.

The Shared Value principle, developed by Harvard economists Michael Porter and Mark Kramer, urges businesses to integrate societal and environmental concerns into their core operations, promoting both social justice and environmental sustainability.

SVAI offers diverse services like training, membership, program development, and strategic alliances, targeting African organisations aiming to tackle SDGs through business solutions. The Shift Impact Africa Group aim to provide tailored solutions to uniquely African challenges.
By Lee Kyung-min

Over 250 local exporters and 90 foreign firms from 21 countries attended Global Public Procurement Marketplace (GPPM) 2023, to foster investor relations and fortify business networks, the countrys public procurement service agency said on Wednesday.

The two-day event jointly organized by the Public Procurement Service (PPS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) was held face-to-face for the first time in three years at the Ambassador Seoul  A Pullman Hotel in Jangchung-dong, Seoul. Export contracts of $5 million (6.4 billion won) were signed.

A briefing session was held to exchange experiences and know-how on ways Korean exporters can enter the overseas procurement market in relation to United Nations (U.N.) projects. Speakers included officials of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

A variety of booths were established where local firms and overseas procurement buyers were able to deepen their understanding on the importance of identifying joint projects for mutual growth.

Among those that drew the most attention from participants were expert consultations on customs and trade disputes, mostly on how best to bolster local firms competitiveness in export products by leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs). Others showed keen interest in how to prepare for trade patent disputes and measures to fortify overseas intellectual property rights protection.

The attendees said they were thrilled to attend this years event to explore joint business opportunities.

Kamal Sharma, CEO of Kambill Systems, a simulator services technology firm and a drone manufacturer in India, said he seeks partnerships with high-tech Korean firms in the field of digital twin and global information systems.

The world is going to become more digitized, a reason we are mostly going to invest in digital twins, so that the global information system becomes more feasible, more informational as well as more reliable for all the human beings.

The CEO said discussion is ongoing with Koreas two digital services providers for cooperation.

We are evaluating some of the companies here. We already discussed some projects with MMP and IGIS. After we have the software, stitch it together to make a digital twin feasible business model.

Varun Trehan, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Marketing and Business Development at Lumax, Indias leading auto headlamps, lighting and gear shifter manufacturer established 70 years ago, said the event deepened his understanding of advanced technologies in parts suppliers.

I came to know a number of different suppliers and what theyre doing and where the technology is going. In India, theres a bit of a lag in technology. It was a good opportunity to understand what is going globally and then replicate the same in India.

In India, the deputy general manager added, market observers say that Koreas auto titan Hyundai Motor and its affiliates Kia and Lumax would work together.

There is discussion that SL-Lumax will work with Hyundai and Kia, he said. SL is a Korean auto parts manufacturer and business partner of Lumax.

In India, the No. 1 (automaker) is Japans Suzuki and No. 2 is Hyundai Kia. So Hyundai and Kia are equally important for us to how we can introduce our product lines.

Bhoomika Rawat, Deputy General Manager of Business Development, Regulatory Affairs and Exports at DSS, a biotechnology healthcare and life sciences firm in India, said the quality of Korea-made medical products is very good, a reason she said her firm is looking for further partnerships with strong local players here.

Korean companies have cutting-edge technologies, and we are planning to bring such products to India. We have an ongoing partnership with Sol Inc., a semiconductor-based cell counter manufacturer. Sol Inc. is coming up with new products for the diagnostic sector and also for the pharmaceutical sector so whenever they come up we are going to expand that partnership to include those products also.

Diana Win, Senior Managing Director of Royal Queen Services, a management consultancy, said the event helped her connect Korean businesses seeking to enter Singapore.

I'm very keen to work with these Korean suppliers because Korean companies are very high-tech and very innovative.

PPS Administrator Kim Yoon-sang said this years event is a meaningful occasion where prospective business partners are able to cooperate and bring sustainable growth.

Less than one percent of local exporters have entered the U.N. procurement market, a reason why more strong industry players are encouraged to expand their presence in the global market of great potential. The government will spare no efforts to bolster export capabilities of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their entry into overseas markets.
NH NongHyup Bank stops selling ELS products

By Anna J. Park

Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun strongly criticized banks over their possible mis-selling of equity-linked securities (ELS) products, as large-scale losses are expected during the first half of next year due to the plunge of the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI).

The head of the state-run watchdog agency said banks hold some accountability over the problematic sales of these products, although the banks claimed that they followed thorough legal procedures that are required for selling such high-risk products to customers.

Regardless of whether banks have followed legal procedures in providing explanations to investors, I think we need to review whether such banks acted appropriately, and closely examine whether it was appropriate to recommend such high-risk products that could result in huge losses to senior citizens mostly in their 70s who simply wish to reinvest their retirement savings safely," Lee told reporters after attending a meeting with the heads of asset management companies in Seoul, Wednesday.

Since earlier this month, the FSS has been conducting on-site inspections on KB Kookmin Bank, which has sold the largest portion of ELS products in the country so far. The watchdog agency plans to expand the investigation over other major banks, including Hana, Shinhan, Woori and NH NongHyup, as well as key brokerages.

Lee stressed that his agency will review whether banks have complied with the principle of suitability: "The purpose of the principle of suitability under the financial consumer protection act is that financial institutions are obliged to understand a consumer's situation accurately and to recommend products that are suitable for the purpose of subscription," Lee said, adding that there are doubts whether the principle was properly observed by banks, considering that a large amount of ELS products were sold mostly to senior citizens at a particular period of time.

He went on to lash out at banks, saying that even he cannot easily read the information of the products in question and thus, he is highly suspicious as to whether the banks could be exempt from any responsibilities, just because they followed all procedures required for the sales of such products.

KB Kookmin Bank alone sold nearly 8 trillion won ($6.2 billion) worth of ELS products that are tied to the HSCEI to clients out of the entire sales amounting to 20.5 trillion won, as of June this year. Shinhan, Hana, NH NongHyup and Woori followed the list, as they sold ELS products amounting to 2.3 trillion won, 2.17 trillion won, 2.13 trillion won and 41 billion won, respectively.

With the index plummeting to only 50 percent of its peak, large losses are expected as expirations occur in the first half of next year.

With the possibility of large-scale losses looming large, NH NongHyup Bank stopped selling ELS products at its branches nationwide last month.

It was the first time that a commercial bank has taken a measure to suspend ELS sales amid growing concerns over the massive losses expected to be incurred during the first half of next year due to the plunge of the Hong Kong index.

"As ELS products that use the HSCEI as an underlying asset are expected to suffer losses due to the plunge of the index, the bank has decided to stop selling products with even the slightest chance of principal loss starting last month, an official from NH NongHyup Bank said.

Other local banks are still examining whether to stop selling ELS, including KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank. A KB Kookmin Bank official told The Korea Times Wednesday that the bank is currently considering the matter.

Shinhan Bank and Woori Bank said they had already stopped selling equity-linked products that are tied to the HSCEI as underlying assets since late last year.

"At Shinhan Bank, we sell them in the form of either an equity-linked fund (ELF) or equity-linked trust (ELT). But the sales of both ELF or ELT products that are tied to the HSCEI have been suspended since last November," an official from Shinhan Bank explained.
Naomi Baron 68 (Photo Credit: Nikhil Bhattacharya)

Will a future relative of ChatGPT be writing my next book instead of me? asks linguist Naomi Baron 68 in her latest volume, Who Wrote This? How AI and the Lure of Efficiency Threaten Human Writing (Stanford University Press, 2023).

Its not a rhetorical question, says Baron, professor emerita of linguistics at American University.

Over the past year, OpenAIs chatbot, drawing on a sophisticated artificial-intelligence tool known as a large language model, has exponentially accelerated debates around safeguarding self-expression and human creativity, preventing disinformation, and protecting democracy.

Within months of ChatGPTs public release in November 2022, OpenAI had launched even more-advanced versions. Google and Meta responded with their own large language models.

These chatbots can write essays, poems, and computer code; compose music; generate images from verbal descriptions; and answer test questions. Their veracity, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired. They sometimes make up information and draw the wrong conclusions.

Here, Baron answers some fundamental questions about our future with generative AI. What might it cause us to gain  and lose  as individuals and as a culture? What should we relinquish to AI? And what should we protect?

How do AI large language models like ChatGPT produce text?

They work by predicting what the next word is likely to be. The words with the highest frequency are most readily predicted, and these are generally less-interesting words. You could identify text produced by the original version of ChatGPT because it was plain vanilla.

By Circuits Deftly Spun Brandeis Magazine asked ChatGPT-3.5 to generate a Shakespearean-style sonnet on whether AI can write better than humans. This is what it produced.

But the technology has evolved. Were now up to GPT-4. These days, you can harness a large language model in almost any way you can imagine. You need a sonnet? ChatGPT can write one, no problem. (See the sidebar.)

My hunch, and that of most people thinking about generative AI, is that however remarkable GPT-4 might be, it wont be producing writing like Shakespeare, or Aeschylus, or Joyce could produce. Great literary works have appeal across time because they reveal truths about the lived human condition, truths readers identify with.

AI has no lived experience, no cultural perspective. And, at least so far, it lacks genuine eloquence.

What makes the act of writing uniquely valuable for humans?

Writing gives us an opportunity to see right before our very eyes what were thinking. It helps us think.

Consider all the times youve started writing and thought, I dont quite know what I want to say, or even what I believe. You try to figure this out by putting some ideas down. You look at your words and think, Now I see the argument. Or you ask yourself, Am I being consistent here? Have I forgotten something? What would someone else say about my argument?

A week or so after ChatGPT was launched, Norwegian teachers of language and literature spoke out. They were concerned that if students used ChatGPT, they would lose the motivation to hone their own thinking skills. Without such skills, you dont know how to construct an argument; you dont know how to choose among arguments. These teachers in Norway were worried about raising the next generation of members of a democratic society.

Do automated language tools jeopardize self-expression?

Early in my research career, I developed a sense that language is something very personal. Its something I can mold and control. I can use language to differentiate myself from other people.

We know your brain changes when you become literate. What does that do to the rest of your thinking, broadly? The links between language and thinking are highly intricate, and no one understands how all of them work.

If we dont use language to spur our thinking, to refine our thoughts, we become less smart. We also become less empowered.

So it matters that what AI produces  a poem or an essay, for example  lacks human intent?

Yes. Knowing a living person created a written work is meaningful. We lose that human connection to creativity if we look only at the text.

Over the years, there have been literary theories, like New Criticism, that said, Just look at the work. Dont look at the author, dont look at the times, dont look at the historical context. Perhaps one could do that in a time before a large language model could create poetry. But these days, I think its especially important to contextualize creativity, including in writing.

Even if a piece of music, or art, or writing that is AI-generated seems incredibly creative, we tend to value it less than an equally impressive work that is human-made. We still go to live concerts, even though flawless recordings by artists are available. We pay many times more for a handmade Oriental rug than for an equally elegant one thats machine-made.

Can generative AI be genuinely creative?

This is a tricky question, in part because its so hard to define creativity, but also because AI technology keeps evolving. As human societies, and as individuals within them, we make different judgments about whether something is valuable. So maybe another way of assessing creativity is asking if we believe a work is valuable.

How can we manage AIs potential dangers while harnessing its abilities?

In one word, education.

AI tools can do fascinating things. You might use them to better your English, for example. And its wonderful to take a 20-page article written in a language you cant read, put it into Microsoft Translator, and get the whole thing translated for you. Is it exactly the way a human would translate the article? Probably not, though its not bad.

But we need to give people motivations to write for themselves, reasons to feel its worth doing. One reason is that knowing how to write  and write well  is a vital tool for maintaining ones individuality. The output of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools is often described as beige, meaning neutrally acceptable but in no way distinctive. Participants in my research speak of wanting what they write to convey their personal voice. For that to happen, students need to do the work.

A second reason is that you may not always have AI tools for writing or editing at your disposal. Can you still write when the internet is down? If not, youre in trouble.

It sounds like youre making a case for the liberal arts.

Which I really do believe in. I would love to see a cultural shift toward honoring writing as a means of thinking and self-expression. However, now that AI can work its magic in both editing and composing, its hard convincing students they need to nurture their own writing skills.

At the same time, I do foresee a positive role for AI in the human writing process, particularly as a pedagogical grammar aid and an idea generator.

We will need to figure out the balance between humans using their own writing skills versus turning to AI assists.
Polish truckers have been protesting near several border crossings with Ukraine over what they see as unfair competition from their Ukrainian peers, as well as hurdles for European Union truckers operating in Ukraine.

The protesters in Poland, an EU member state, have been blocking access for trucks moving commercial goods and letting only a handful of trucks pass per hour. Exemptions include humanitarian items, perishable goods and military supplies for Ukraine, which is not in the EU.

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Here are the main information about the protest:

When did it start?

Polish truckers started their protest on November 6th, demanding that the EU reintroduce a permit system for Ukrainian truckers entering the bloc and for EU truckers entering Ukraine.

The permit system was lifted after the EU and Kyiv signed an agreement on June 29th, 2022, four months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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On November 27th, the truckers were joined by farmers who started a round-the-clock blockade of access to one of the busiest border crossings with Ukraine, Medyka.

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Four out of eight road crossings are being blocked, leaving lorries stranded for days in queues that stretch for miles. The protesters are restricting movement in both directions near three crossings and Ukraine-bound traffic near the fourth.

What are the truckers demanding?

Reintroduction of a mutual permit system for Ukrainian and EU road haulage operators moving goods between Ukraine and the EU, with exemptions remaining in place for humanitarian aid and military supplies for Ukraine.

Exemptions allowing empty EU trucks re-entering the EU from Ukraine not to register in the Ukrainian electronic queuing system, which is being applied uniformly to fully loaded EU trucks as well as empty ones, causing unnecessarily long waiting times for the latter.

Enforcing existing EU legislation which permits Ukrainian haulage companies to move goods to and from Ukraine but not local carriage between or within EU member states.

A ban on registering haulage companies by entities from outside the EU, with a particular focus on countries east of Poland, and a review of such businesses already operating.

What does Ukraine say?

Ukraine has said it wants its export routes via Poland to be unblocked before it holds talks with Warsaw and the European Commission, the EU executive, aimed at ending protests.

Kyiv has said it will not compromise on licences for Ukrainian drivers, one of the protesters' main demands.

The European Business Association in Ukraine said last week that accumulated losses from the blockade had reached over 305 million hryvnias ($8.5 million), hitting both exporters and importers.

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Taras Kachka, Ukraine's trade representative and deputy economy minister, told Reuters the protests would reduce Ukraine's overall imports by about a fifth in November, compared to October, and could cost Kyiv one percentage point of GDP growth if they drag on.

EU involvement

European transport commissioner Adina Valean said on November 29th that Ukraine and the EU cannot be "taken hostage" by the Polish truckers blockading the border. The situation is "unacceptable" and Brussels reserves the right to intervene in ensuring rules are respected and the law applied, she said.

Polish politics

The commissioner also complained of a lack of involvement by Polish authorities in trying to resolve the conflict.

Poland's president on November 27th swore in a government under the Law and Justice (PiS) party that finished first but lost its majority in an October 15th election. Prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the permits system worked well and that his government would push to get it reinstated.

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But his government is not expected to win a vote of confidence in parliament, and an alliance of pro-European parties that has a parliamentary majority is expected to form a government under pro-EU Civic Coalition leader Donald Tusk.

This means Poland is unlikely to have a stable government before mid-December, complicating efforts to find a solution to the truckers' dispute.
A Garda union official has described the next intake of recruits into the force as an attempt to make the figures look better.

The deputy general secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Ronan Slevin, said the next intake group just at the end of the year will be sent home and not commence training until January.

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The Minister for Justice confirmed on Wednesday that 151 new gardai will graduate early on December 15th, with a substantial cohort deployed in Dublin from December 16th.

The Department of Justice said one more class is due into the Garda College on December 27th, meaning between 700 and 800 recruits will enter this year.

However, Mr Slevin said the target figures for 2024 did not address the overall issue of the current deficit of 1,000 gardai.

The existing job and training allowance of 305 was still insufficient to attract anybody with a normal cost of living away from a career or to go into the garda training college for eight months on such a miserable amount of an allowance.

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Apart from the difficulties in recruiting new members to the force, there was also a retention issue with between 450 and 500 members resigning or retiring every year. This was a very worrying trend, he said. Every intake the target was around 225 trainees, but barely 175 were joining the force, Mr Slevin claimed.

With regard to the promise of more equipment such as body cams, tasers and pepper spray, Mr Slevin said the GRA would give a cautious welcome any additional equipment which would help to ensure the health and safety of our members on the frontline.

We would like to see more public order training for all members of An Garda Siochana back to the way it used to be. So you have a basic level of understanding on how to handle riotous situations like what happened last Thursday. And we'd also like to see the roll out of tasers across more frontline units that allow members to deal with more violent situations which are happening on a more regular basis across the country and not just in Dublin.

Mr Slevin added that the GRA was still concerned that a number of issues which had been identified had not been addressed to ensure that our members have a safe working environment going forward.

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When asked about comments on language used by the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice to describe those involved in the riots in Dublin last Thursday, Mr Slevin said some of this stuff is just detracting from the main issue. And that issue is that, yes, there was outrageous scenes witnessed on Thursday night.

But the main thing we have here is the safety of members. And our focus here is to protect the public, to restore law and order, and to ensure that all our members are working in a safe environment.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has travelled to Dubai to attend Cop28, where he will deliver Irelands national statement on Saturday.

Cop28  or the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  runs until December 12th at Expo City Dubai.

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World leaders are meeting with the aim of agreeing on targets to tackle climate change and assess the progress made on the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.

Mr Varadkar is expected to hold several meetings with world leaders to discuss climate issues, but the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East are also expected to be discussed.

The summit was also due to be attended by Pope Francis, but his trip was cancelled on Tuesday due to ill health.

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Speaking from Dubai, Mr Varadkar said the conference is a crucial opportunity.

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Weve had a year of record-breaking temperatures and alarming severe weather events, including some on our own shores, which have had disastrous consequences for the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people around the world.

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The Global Stocktake will assess what the world has actually achieved since the Paris Agreement of 2015, when 196 countries agreed to limit global warming. We must work harder and faster to secure a safe, healthy, prosperous environment for all.

One of the most effective ways to help individuals is a better system of climate finance.

Sadly, the countries suffering most from climate change often have the greatest difficulty getting access to the finance and resources they need to deal with it.

So, I look forward to Cop28 making progress on a new loss and damage fund.

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Ireland has committed to 225 million a year from 2025 to climate finance, the highest ever in our history, and I fully expect us to reach that target.

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At a time when the world is divided in so many ways, the urgent need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and bring down our emissions is one challenge that unites us all.

We also need to scale up and prioritise adaptation.

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He added: Climate change is happening even faster than most people anticipated. The international community must achieve the goals it has committed to.

The transition must be just and fair. Im really conscious that both the effects of climate change and the actions needed to prevent it do not affect people equally, so we must make sure we protect the most vulnerable in everything we do.

Whatever is agreed here at Cop28, it will have consequences for the future of our planet and its people.
A spokesperson for concerned citizens in a small Leitrim village has denied reports of road blocks in the area during a protest last Friday night about plans to accommodate asylum seekers in a hotel.

Fiona McPadden told RTEs Morning Ireland that there had been a lot of tension in the Dromahair area when rumours started last Friday that buses were transporting 91 men from City West to the Abbey Manor hotel.

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On November 22nd a crowd of 400 residents of the village had gathered to raise their concerns, she claimed. The organisers had asked people not to bring signs or placards and the event was very peaceful.

However, the protest on Friday night was attended by people we didnt know. Ms McPadden said the community was frustrated at the lack of communication and consultation by the Department of Integration.

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There was a lot of tension at the gathering outside the hotel on Friday night, she said. The gardai were alerted, but it took an hour and a half for them to arrive from Manorhamilton.

Friday was a little bit different in that there was tension there. And there were also people that had arrived that we didn't know.

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Efforts were made by local political representatives to get confirmation from the Department, added Ms McPadden.

On Wednesday, when we had organised the gathering, it was organised very quickly and we had about 400 people arrive at the hotel. All residents from here. And we had asked them to come and not bring any signs or placards or banners or anything that we just wanted to peacefully voice their concerns and have them acknowledged.

We didn't foresee that anything was going to happen very quickly. We knew the hotel was ready for occupancy, but we didn't expect refugees to arrive so quickly. And on Friday I had basically in the evening rumours started going out that there was 91 on the way.

We were worried about 91 men. I mean, we're worried about 31 men coming up. But I suppose people were afraid and I suppose they were frustrated at the lack of communication and the lack of consultation. That didn't seem to have been any respect for the community and what had happened up to that point.

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When asked if international protection applicants were welcome in Dromahair, Ms McPadden said Drumahair was not saying no to refugees, they just wanted the Department to reconsider the numbers and to send families.

The population of the village was 939 in the last census, she said. A petition had recently been signed by 800 saying they would prefer families only.

We would like to have a say in who lives in Dromahair. We're very happy to welcome families here.

Ms McPadden said the concern was that if 155 people were put into a small building in any village you give them 38 a week and theres nothing to do, youre going to have issues regardless of where they come from.

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There were concerns about single men being accommodated in the same building as children, which she feared contravened Government guidelines.

We have an obligation to make sure that the children that are coming to this centre are safe as well. And it just seems to be huge gaps everywhere in this process. There's accommodation standards that are also issued by the Government and they don't seem to be being met in the hotel.

Ms McPadden also expressed concern about the planning process and if a new planning application had been made for change of use from short-term residency to long-term residency.
Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute on Thursday to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day to allow more hostages and prisoners to be released.

But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting as Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.

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Hamas freed two Israeli women on Thursday afternoon and more hostage releases are expected to follow, the Israeli military said.

Palestinians visit their houses destroyed in the Israeli bombings in Al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City (AP)

At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.

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International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

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Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has vowed to resume the fighting  with the goal of dismantling Hamas  once the ceasefire ends.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on October 7.

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Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, centre, is supported by her mother after she was released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah (AP)

The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said he hoped the ceasefire could be extended and more hostages could be released.

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This process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue, he said.

Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role in mediating, are seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypts state information service.

On Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police.

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In response to the increasing number of the sick & injured, our team distributed essential medical supplies for the European Gaza Hospital yesterday, including:

medication & pain relief

 blood bags

Our team continues to perform life-saving surgeries and support medical teams. pic.twitter.com/pchSj0g87f  ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) November 29, 2023

The two attackers, brothers from an area in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed.

After the attack, six other members of the family were detained, and the government ordered their house be demolished.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli crimes.

The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence  including Israeli raids  in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants.

There are hopes that the ceasefire will continue (AP)

Mr Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

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Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it to operate with far greater precision if it does so.

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for the release of civilian men and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out.

The 210 Palestinians released, including at least seven Israeli Palestinians, have been women and teenagers. The teenagers were largely accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Sixteen more people are going home after being held hostage by Hamas. Among them is Liat Beinin, an American.



Jill and I are deeply gratified that she will soon be reunited with her family.



We remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas.  President Biden (@POTUS) November 30, 2023

A number of the women were detained for pro-Palestinian social media posts that Israeli authorities said constituted incitement of violence. Several were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers, some of them after being found carrying scissors or knives near security positions.

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With Thursdays releases, a total of 75 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released, including several men.

Before the ceasefire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details. The 27-year-old attended a music festival where at least 360 people were killed and several others were kidnapped on October 7.

I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah about the conflict in Gaza and measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank. I reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state. pic.twitter.com/8WYzlqEYPj  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 30, 2023

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed more than 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only ever provided approximate figures.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

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The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since November 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.
Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute on Thursday to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.

But any further renewal of the deal, which has seen dozens of hostages and prisoners released, could prove more challenging since Hamas is expected to demand greater concessions for many of the remaining captives.

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Later on Thursday, the Israeli military said two Israeli hostages had been released from captivity in the Gaza Strip.

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The army said the Red Cross had transferred the two women to Israeli forces. They were to be taken to an Israeli military base.

Israel is set to free some 30 Palestinian prisoners later on Thursday.

As word of the extension came, gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main motorway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three and wounding several others, according to police.

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In response to the increasing number of the sick & injured, our team distributed essential medical supplies for the European Gaza Hospital yesterday, including:

medication & pain relief

 blood bags

Our team continues to perform life-saving surgeries and support medical teams. pic.twitter.com/pchSj0g87f  ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) November 29, 2023

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The two attackers, brothers from a Palestinian neighbourhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed.

Hamas said they were members of its armed wing and celebrated the assault, calling it a natural response to Israels actions in Gaza and elsewhere.

It is unclear if the attack was ordered by Hamass leaders or if it will have an impact on the truce.

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue for as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

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An Israeli warplane circles over Rafah on Thursday (Hatem Ali/AP)

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said my heart goes out to the victims of the Jerusalem attack.

Mr Blinken is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

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This process is producing results. Its important and we hope that it can continue, he said.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, however, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP)

The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Qatar, which has played a key role in mediating with Hamas, said the truce was being extended on Thursday.

In the past, Hamas has released at least 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff, with Hamas saying Israel rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Israel later said Hamas submitted an improved list, but gave no details.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group.

US President Joe Bidens administration has told Israel it must operate with far greater precision if it expands the ground offensive to the south, where many Palestinians have sought refuge.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home.

A mini-bus carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas and Israeli military personnel arrives at the Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel, early on Thursday (Leo Correa/AP)

But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could quit his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

The initial truce  which began on Friday and has now been extended twice  called for the release of women and children.

Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who will all be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

It is not clear how many of the women might be soldiers.

For soldiers and the men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to push for comparable releases of Palestinian men or prominent detainees  a deal Israel may resist.

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.

So far, Hamas has released some men  mostly Thai labourers.

A Palestinian man sits in an armchair outside a destroyed building in Gaza City on Wednesday (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for the release of civilian men and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out.

Thus far, most Palestinians released have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of trying to attack soldiers.

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Palestinians have celebrated the release of people they see as having resisted Israels decades-long military occupation of lands they want for a future state.

With Wednesdays releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual-nationals, have been freed during the six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken.

Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released.

Before the ceasefire, Hamas released four hostages and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details.

Israeli media say the 27-year-old attended a music festival where at least 360 people were killed and several others were kidnapped on October 7.

Images of human eyes are placed on empty chairs tied together in an art installation depicting hostages held by Hamas in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed more than 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and captured around 240.

Authorities have only provided approximate figures.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The toll is likely much higher because officials have only sporadically updated the count since November 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under rubble.

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Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

During the pause in fighting, Palestinians in Gaza have been consumed by the search for aid and horror at the extent of destruction.

Residents described entire residential blocks as levelled in Gaza City and surrounding areas in the north. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of the city who, along with other volunteers, searched for the dead.

Released Israeli hostage Liat Binin Atzili on the phone with her family after being freed by Hamas (IDF/AP)

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 lorries a day. But humanitarian officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid.

More than one million displaced people have sought refuge in UN-run shelters, with many forced to sleep outside in cold, rainy weather because of overcrowding.

At a distribution centre in Rafah, large crowds line up daily for bags of flour but supplies run out quickly.

Every day, we come here, said one woman in line, Nawal Abu Namous.

We spend money on transportation to get here, just to go home with nothing.
Frequent social media use could be linked with harmful behaviour among children and young people, research has suggested  including drinking, gambling, smoking and drugs.

A team from the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland examined the impact of social media on young people aged 10-19, looking at data from 73 studies carried out between 1997 and 2022, comprising 1.4 million teenagers in total.

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Exposure to alcohol advertising was associated with the strongest evidence of harm, the research found. Daily social media use was linked with the likelihood of drinking alcohol (48 per cent), drug use (28 per cent) and smoking (85 per cent), compared with youngsters who used social media less frequently.

So, how can parents help model healthy boundaries with social media for their pre-teens and teens? A parenting experts shares some suggestions

Encourage open communication

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Photo: Alamy/PA.

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Matt Buttery, CEO of global parenting programme provider Triple P UK and Ireland and associate professor at the University of Warwick, believes establishing good, open communication patterns within families is important.

Children are more likely to discuss their worries regarding what they have been viewing online if you establish open communication, said Buttery.

Parents can achieve this by opening conversations about whats new online and anything thats bothering them, and offering support and guidance along the way to help keep children as safe as possible.

Create positive incentives for regulating screen time

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Photo: Alamy/PA.

Phones and social media are designed to be addictive  so we all need to take care to maintain healthy habits and boundaries with screen time.

When supporting children and teens to put down their devices independently, sometimes we need to give them some encouragement to understand why doing so is important, said Buttery.

You can negotiate access to devices as rewards for doing chores or homework, but be careful to use this approach sparingly. Instead, focus on positively supporting and guiding your childs development, rather than using screen time as a bargaining chip.

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Set family limits and create screen-free zones

This can be a team effort, if you think about how the entire family can get involved.

Decide when youre all going to switch off, said Buttery. Situations such as shared meals and short car rides might offer chances for family time. It can also be great for your child to see you showing self-control and discipline when using your devices.

Promote good sleep hygiene by limiting screen time before bed

Its sometimes easier to address issues as they come up, especially when it comes to sleep hygiene.

Buttery added: Young people often see the most harmful and inappropriate content in the evenings, when they take their phones to bed and have free rein over what they are browsing.

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Reduce late night scrolling by having a rule that devices are not taken into bedrooms in the evening, and especially at bedtime, he suggested.

Photo: Alamy/PA.

Evenings could also be a good chance for some quality family time and shared activities or hobbies. Remember  parents are modelling behaviour with phones too, so if you are scrolling constantly on the sofa, thats what children will see.

Try and encourage your child to come off their device by setting up something interesting to do together  whether thats planning a trip out, playing a game or watching a favourite show or film together, said Buttery.

This can become difficult if your child needs to use a device for their homework. Rather than leaving your child to themselves, pop your head in from time to time to ensure they havent switched from studying to social media.
Nation's COP28 pavilion ready to tell stories of Beautiful China

10:47, November 30, 2023 By Shan Jie and Wan Hengyi ( Global Times

China Pavilion in the Blue Zone of Dubai Expo City is ready to welcome visitors during COP28 on November 29, 2023. Photo: Shan Jie/GT

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is set to officially kick off on Thursday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A day before the world's attention is on this grand event, China was already prepared to tell the world about the efforts and stories to build a Beautiful China.

The Chinese delegation will hold a series of side events and activities in the China Pavilion, located in the Blue Zone of Dubai Expo City. On Wednesday afternoon, when the Global Times visited the pavilion, organizers were busy preparing the venue, while senior leaders from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment were also visiting and providing guidance on site.

The China Pavilion is located in Zone B5 BLDG 58, with two conference areas and one exhibition area. In addition to English panels detailing China's achievements in carbon reduction, a drawing of a panda mascot in the center of the venue was particularly eye-catching.

From 9 am on Thursday, the China Pavilion will welcome its opening ceremony as well as the first briefing session, themed "Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practices."

During the COP28 period, more than 100 side events will be hosted by related government departments, local governments, research institutes, industrial associations, enterprises, and NGOs, covering topics such as China's policies and actions on climate change, international cooperation, green and low-carbon development, synergies for reducing pollution and carbon, and green finance.

Apart from the China Pavilion, other pavilions, such as those of the UAE, South Korea, were also in the midst of final decoration and tuning work.

Wednesday afternoon at the COP28 venue was the peak time for conference registration, with delegates from various countries already lining up, causing the time for security checks and registration to exceed half an hour.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP28, including member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Business leaders, climate scientists, indigenous peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders also number among the participants, according to the official website of the UNFCCC.

China's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on the upcoming COP28 climate conference to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the progress in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, urging developed countries in particular to honor their pledges of solidarity in tackling climate change, so as to create more favorable conditions for the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement.

In recent years, extreme weather events have become frequent and the adverse effects of climate change have become prominent, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, who added that the report released by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) once again reminds the world that efforts to tackle climate change are far from adequate.

As a responsible major developing country, China has already exceeded its 2020 climate action targets ahead of schedule, and will complete the world's highest reduction in carbon intensity, and achieve carbon peak to carbon neutrality in the shortest time in global history.

Wang also pointed out that the efforts of developed countries to mitigate climate change are still inadequate and developed countries should take the lead in significantly reducing emissions and achieving net zero emissions much earlier than 2050.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Ven. Jaseung, a former leader of Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, immolated himself, the order said Thursday, after he was found dead in a temple fire a day earlier.

"Ven. Jaseung left a warning to all Buddhists with his self-immolation, praying for the stability of the religious group and the salvation of the world through the dissemination of the Dharma," Ven. Wubong, the spokesman for the Jogye Order, said in a press briefing.

Self-immolation is a Buddhist practice of burning oneself alive as an offering to Buddha.

He announced the former head passed away at age 69 in a fire that erupted at Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday.

His body was found at a dormitory for monks in the temple, where he was staying alone, after firefighters extinguished the fire there in about three hours.

The police discovered notes apparently written for the temple's chief priest in Jaseung's car parked nearby. They read: "I'm sorry for causing a lot of troubles by ending my life here. ... This building will be restored by my disciples, and I'm both sorry and grateful."

The police and firefighting authorities jointly inspected the site of the fire to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The police were also analyzing all closed-circuit TV footage from the temple. The analysis conducted so far has found no other visitor to the dormitory than the deceased, according to the police.

The police said the body found at the scene was tentatively identified as him but that they were conducting DNA tests for more clear identification.

The Jogye Order said it will hold a five-day funeral led by its current leader Ven. Jinwoo at Jogye Temple situated in downtown Seoul. A funeral ceremony will take place Sunday morning.

Born in 1954, Ven. Jaseung became a Buddhist monk at age 19 and served as the president of the Jogye Order from 2009 to 2017.

He assumed the chairmanship at the Korean Council of Religious Leaders from 2011-2017 and also served as co-chairman at the Korean Conference of Religion and Peace from 2014-2017. Before his passing, he worked as the head abbot of Bongeun Temple in southern Seoul.

His death shocked the Buddhist sect, especially as he had shown a strong desire to further spread the religion until recently.

"As a former president of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jaseung had been concerned about the status and role of Buddhism. He had a strong will to solve the problems facing the order, such as the declining population," Ven. Jugyeong, head of the order's legislative organization, told Yonhap News Agency. He appeared visibly disconcerted by the news of his death.

Park Jeong-gyu, a public relations official of the order's labor union, also did not hide his shock, saying the death is "too unexpected." (Yonhap)
Astronomers have, for the first time, discovered a disc of gas and dust around a young star in another galaxy, describing it as a special moment.

An international team of experts led by Durham University reported the detection of the star and its rotating disc structure outside the Milky Way, around 163,000 light years from Earth.

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Located in the neighbouring galaxy called the Large Magellanic Cloud, the event was observed in a region known as N180  where many other new stars are actively forming.

The structure is known as the accretion disc  which is formed by material such as gas, dust, and other debris gradually being drawn towards the growing star due to gravitational forces.

The event, reported in the journal Nature, was detected using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (Alma) in Chile.

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The region in the Large Magellanic Cloud where a disc around a young massive star has been detected

Lead author Dr Anna McLeod, from the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy at Durham University, said: When I first saw evidence for a rotating structure in the Alma data, I could not believe that we had detected the first extragalactic accretion disc; it was a special moment.

We know discs are vital to forming stars and planets in our galaxy, and here, for the first time, were seeing direct evidence for this in another galaxy.

The astronomers managed to find evidence of this disc by measuring the movement of the dense gas around the star.

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The disc rotates faster closer to the centre than the outer edge and researchers say this difference in speed is the smoking gun that confirms the presence of an accretion disc.

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The star is thought to be massive, around 15 times the mass of the Sun.

Researchers say massive stars can be challenging to observe in the Milky Way and are often obscured from view by the dusty material surrounding them.

However, the material from which new stars are born in the Large Magellanic Cloud is fundamentally different from that in the Milky Way, allowing astronomers an unobstructed view of star formation.

The team said studying star and disc formation across different galactic environments will help astronomers understand more about how stars are formed.

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Dr McLeod said: Being able to study how stars form at such incredible distances and in a different galaxy is very exciting.
Seventeen Thai workers released from captivity by the militant Hamas group have been greeted by family and friends, officials and journalists in an emotional homecoming at Bangkoks international airport.

The 17 are among 23 Thais freed so far, with six left temporarily behind in Israel because doctors said they were not yet fit to travel.

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Thai officials says another nine Thai hostages are still being held in Gaza.

Ratree Sampan, who travelled from the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, arrived early at the airport for the reunion with her son Buddee Saengboon.



A Thai man freed after being taken hostage by Hamas waves from a bus after arriving at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

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After the war broke out, I could not contact him, said Ms Ratree, 57. For one month and 18 days, I assumed he was already dead.

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I waited for a miracle, and it happened. He survived, she said.

There were about 30,000 Thai workers  mostly labourers in the agricultural sector  in Israel prior to the October 7 attack by Hamas, when militants stormed through a border fence and killed hundreds of Israelis  and 38 Thais.

Israel responded to the attack with devastating airstrikes and a ground offensive, and has vowed to crush Hamass military capabilities.

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A ceasefire has now held for seven days, and Hamas has released 81 hostages, mostly Israeli nationals but also others, while Israel has freed 180 Palestinian prisoners.

The Thais generally come from poorer regions of Thailand, especially the northeast, and take the jobs in Israel because they can earn as much as five times what they would at home. They started being recruited for such work several years ago to replace Palestinians who had been doing the same jobs.

Since the war broke out, about 9,000 Thais have been voluntarily repatriated, but some have already said they hope to return to Israel because of the money they can earn.



Freed hostage Nutthawaree Munkan talks to reporters after arriving at the airport (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

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The freed hostages, several clad in white T-shirts with a picture of Thai and Israeli flags, arrived on a flight of the Israeli airline El Al and were shepherded to a hectic airport press conference. They are the first to make it home.

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There were no dramatic stories of their captivity, however. Thai officials have followed the Israeli governments lead in urging the released workers, their families and the media not to make public details of their time as prisoners to help ensure the safety of those still being held.

Most were spare with their words, but Nutthawaree Munkan  the only woman among the 17  seemed to speak for all of them when she briefly addressed the media. Thank you for all your support to bring me home, she said, fighting back tears.

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Former hostage Uthai Saengnuan called for a minutes silence to remember the 39 Thais known to have died in Hamass unprecedented October 7 incursion into Israel.

The releases are being seen as a triumph for Thai diplomacy and a number of Middle Eastern countries who have lobbied on the behalf of the hostages.

Thailands prime minister put in a live video call to the airport to greet them.



Thailands foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, seventh from left, poses with freed hostages (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

Are you happy? Youre home now, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The formalities finished, the workers were directed to get into a bus to head for their hometowns.

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One of the freed hostages, 30-year-old Pornsawan Pinakalo, was separately picked up by his father. They both hugged while Mr Pornsawan kneeled down to hug his dad. Both cried with joy.

I thought wed lost him and now hes back. Its like the meaning of his name: a blessing from heaven, his father, Kong Panasudlamai, told reporters.

Thai foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who had travelled to the Middle East to pursue the workers release and to greet them when they had been sent back to Israel from Gaza, was among the officials at the airport on Thursday.

We will continue to work on this mission to ensure that the remaining nine hostages receive freedom and return to Thailand, he vowed at the press conference.
Israel has released another group of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 16 hostages freed earlier by Hamas in Gaza.

A bus carrying some of the Palestinian detainees was seen arriving in the West Bank city of Ramallah before dawn on Thursday.

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The releases came on the sixth day of a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

On each day of the truce, hostages have been traded for Palestinian prisoners, leading to the release of a total of 97 hostages in exchange for an updated total of 210 released prisoners.

Thai nationals gesture from a bus as they leave the Shamir Hospital in Ramle, Israel, on their way back to Thailand, after being released from Hamas custody (Maya Levin/ AP)

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Most prominent among those freed was Ahed Tamimi, a 22-year-old activist who gained worldwide fame in 2017 after a video of her slapping an Israeli soldier went viral on social media.

Israeli troops arrested her at her West Bank home on November 6 for inciting to terrorism on her Instagram account. Her mother said Ms Tamimis account had been hacked.

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The latest swap for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel under the Gaza truce comes as international mediators raced to seal another extension to allow further exchanges and prolong the halt of Israels air and ground offensive.

Hamas released 16 hostages late on Wednesday. The Israeli military said a group of 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals had been returned to Israel, where they were being taken to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

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Earlier, two Russian-Israeli women were freed by Hamas in a separate release.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Negotiators were working down to the wire to hammer out details for a further extension of the truce beyond its deadline of early Thursday.

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The talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, and the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives.

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Still, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

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After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes, he said. There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by US secretary of state Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. Mr Blinken arrived in Israel late on Wednesday.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys  an eight-year-old and a 15-year-old  during a raid on the town of Jenin, Palestinian health officials said.

Security footage showed a group of boys in the street who start to run, except for one who falls to the ground, bleeding.

The Israeli military said its troops fired on people who threw explosives at them but did not specify if it was referring to the boys, who are not seen throwing anything.

Separately, the military said its troops killed two Islamic Jihad militants during the raid.

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So far, the Israeli onslaught in Gaza seems to have had little effect on Hamas rule, evidenced by its ability to conduct complex negotiations, enforce the ceasefire among other armed groups, and orchestrate the release of hostages. Hamas leaders, including Yehya Sinwar, have likely relocated to the south.

With Israeli troops holding much of northern Gaza, a ground invasion south will likely bring an escalating cost in Palestinian lives and destruction.

Most of Gazas population is now crammed into the south. The truce has brought them relief from bombardment, but the days of calm have been taken up in a frenzied rush to obtain supplies to feed their families as aid enters in greater, but still insufficient, amounts.

The US, Israels main ally, has shown greater reticence over the impact of the war in Gaza.

The Biden administration has told Israel that if it launches an offensive in the south, it must operate with far greater precision.
Hamas has freed eight Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.

However, any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.

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Hamas freed two Israeli women on Thursday afternoon, and in the evening six more hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were being brought to Israel, the Israeli military said.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip (AP)

At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.

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It comes as 30 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel have been welcomed home in the West Bank early on Friday in the city of Ramallah.

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Dozens of men, some holding green Hamas flags, greeted the prisoners. The men were hugged and the crowd chanted: God is great.

International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

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Palestinians visit their houses destroyed in the Israeli bombings in Al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City (AP)

Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has vowed to resume the fighting  with the goal of dismantling Hamas  once the ceasefire ends.

The ceasefire is set to expire early on Friday, though international mediators are working to extend it.

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The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on October 7.

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, centre, is supported by her mother after she was released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah (AP)

The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers.

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US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said he hoped the ceasefire could be extended and more hostages could be released.

This process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue, he said.

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Qatar and Egypt, which have played a key role in mediating, are seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypts state information service.

On Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police.

In response to the increasing number of the sick & injured, our team distributed essential medical supplies for the European Gaza Hospital yesterday, including:

medication & pain relief

 blood bags

Our team continues to perform life-saving surgeries and support medical teams. pic.twitter.com/pchSj0g87f  ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) November 29, 2023

The two attackers, brothers from an area in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed.

After the attack, six other members of the family were detained, and the government ordered their house be demolished.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli crimes.

The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence  including Israeli raids  in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the ceasefire.

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On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants.

There are hopes that the ceasefire will continue (AP)

Mr Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it to operate with far greater precision if it does so.

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for the release of civilian men and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out.

The 210 Palestinians released, including at least seven Israeli Palestinians, have been women and teenagers. The teenagers were largely accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Sixteen more people are going home after being held hostage by Hamas. Among them is Liat Beinin, an American.



Jill and I are deeply gratified that she will soon be reunited with her family.



We remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas. Advertisement  President Biden (@POTUS) November 30, 2023

A number of the women were detained for pro-Palestinian social media posts that Israeli authorities said constituted incitement of violence. Several were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers, some of them after being found carrying scissors or knives near security positions.

With Thursdays releases, a total of 83 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released, including several men.

Before the ceasefire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details. The 27-year-old attended a music festival where at least 360 people were killed and several others were kidnapped on October 7.

I spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah about the conflict in Gaza and measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank. I reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state. pic.twitter.com/8WYzlqEYPj  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 30, 2023

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed more than 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only ever provided approximate figures.

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Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since November 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov faced western critics while attending international security talks in Northern Macedonia, where he blamed Natos reckless expansion to the East for war returning to Europe.

Mr Lavrov arrived in Skopje to attend meetings hosted by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe.

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The diplomats of several OSCE member nations, including Ukraine, boycotted the event due to Mr Lavrovs planned attendance amid Russias war in Ukraine.

He spoke for 15 minutes on Thursday before walking out of the meetings.

He blamed what he described as western tolerance of the ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv for the war, which started with Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The very existence of Russians and their decisive contribution to the history of Ukraine are denied, Mr Lavrov said.

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Mr Lavrov walked out of the meetings (Boris Grdanoski/AP)

There are plenty of facts. The OSCE and its relevant institutions are silent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly alleged that Ukraines government is made up of neo-Nazis, even though the country has a democratically elected Jewish president who lost relatives in the Holocaust.

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Mr Putin and other Russian officials have invoked the Holocaust, Second World War and Nazism to legitimise the invasion of Ukraine.

Historians see their rhetoric as disinformation and a cynical ploy.

Western ministers attending the OSCE meeting were sharply critical of Mr Lavrov after he spoke.

Russias attempts to blame others for its own choices are transparent, said Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who was speaking when Mr Lavrov walked out.

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We will not compromise on the core principles of the European security order or allow Russia to deny Ukraine the right to make its own independent foreign and security policy choices  principles that Russia itself has agreed to, he continued.





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Based in Vienna, Austria, the OSCE is an intergovernmental organisation focused on promoting security, stability and co-operation among its participating states.

Nato member North Macedonia lifted a ban on Russian flights to enable Mr Lavrov to attend the meeting.

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Russian state news agency Tass reported that the minister flew a longer route over Turkey and Greece to reach the summit after Bulgaria blocked his plane from using its airspace.

Greek officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had said they would not attend the talks due to Mr Lavrovs participation.

The Russian minister arrived in Skopje hours after US secretary of state Antony Blinken made a brief stop in North Macedonias capital late on Wednesday.

James OBrien, a US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, attended the event on Thursday and accused Russia of trying to undermine the OSCEs work.

I add my voice to those of my colleagues calling to Russia to stop its violations of the basic principles of the organisation, but Im not sure that they are  willing to listen, Mr OBrien said.

North Macedonias foreign minister, Bujar Osmani, said the OSCE has endured as an organisation despite Russias actions in Ukraine.

War undermines trust, dialogue and our capacity to deliver. Above all, it devastates the lives of ordinarily people, Mr Osmani said while hosting Thursdays meetings.
The son of partygate investigator Sue Gray has been selected as a Labour candidate to become an MP at the next British general election.

Liam Conlon will contest Beckenham and Penge in south-east London after being selected as the partys candidate for the constituency.

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The election is widely expected to take place in 2024.

Congratulations to Liam Conlon who has been selected as our Labour candidate for Beckenham and Penge  pic.twitter.com/kLUDwtL5QM  London Labour (@LondonLabour) November 29, 2023 Advertisement

Mr Conlon tweeted: Thank you everyone who supported me and engaged in this process.

The past weeks have shown the incredible potential of our new local party.

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Look forward to campaigning to win Beckenham and Penge together.

He praised his rivals for their engaging campaigns and said he was proud to call them friends.

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The long-time Labour activist announced his decision to run for selection in the newly created seat last month.

According to Jill Rutter, an associate fellow at think tank British Future, Mr Conlon has been active in the party for longer than his mother.

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Sir Keir Starmer. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/PA.

Ms Gray, who investigated parties held in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdowns, quit her position this year as a senior civil servant to take on the job of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff.

Her report about lockdown breaches in government played a key role in the downfall of Boris Johnsons premiership.

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Since Ms Grays job change in September, she has been credited with taking a leading role in attempting to unite the party after splits emerged following Sir Keirs decision not to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

She is regularly seen around the parliamentary estate in Westminster, having been tasked with preparing the party  which is consistently well ahead of the Conservatives in the polls  for potentially entering 10 Downing Street after the next election.

The partygate investigation saw Ms Gray go within months from an influential but little-known arbiter of conduct in government to a household name.

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Her decision to leave the civil service to work for the Opposition irked Mr Johnson and some Conservative MPs, who claimed a conflict of interests after her involvement in the investigation.

Honoured to have been selected to be our candidate for Beckenham & Penge



Thank you everyone who supported me & engaged in this process. The past weeks have shown the incredible potential of our new local party



Look forward to campaigning to win Beckenham & Penge together  https://t.co/nTR2MnGIfc  Liam Conlon (@LiamConlon2) November 30, 2023

Anti-sleaze watchdog the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments recommended a six-month delay between her leaving the civil service and starting the job with Sir Keir  advice Labour accepted.

Her son now has the potential to be an MP in the House of Commons serving under Sir Keir after the general election.

Mr Conlon lists himself on his website as vice chairman of Lewisham West and Penge Constituency Labour Party (CLP), national chairman of the Labour Party Irish Society and a disabilities officer at the Communication Workers Union (CWU).

He has previously shared pictures of himself on social media campaigning in the run-up to Labours by-election wins in Mid Bedfordshire and Selby and Ainsty.

The Tories initially selected Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham, as the partys prospective parliamentary candidate for Beckenham and Penge.

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But Col Stewart relinquished the party whip this month after being convicted of racist abuse and later announced he would be standing down at the next election.

The Beckenham and Penge seat was created after a review by the Boundary Commission for England to make Westminster seats more uniform in population size.
Visitors are enjoying their final chance to say farewell to the UKs only giant pandas before they return to China after 12 years in Scotland.

From around 3.30pm on Thursday, Yang Guang and Tian Tian will no longer be on public view at Edinburgh Zoo as they prepare for their journey next week.

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They arrived at the zoo in December 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association which was later extended by two years.

It had been hoped female panda Tian Tian and male Yang Guang would breed while at the zoo, but they did not produce a cub.

Professor Simon Girling, head of veterinary services at the RZSS, said the pandas have been popular with staff and visitors alike and will be missed.

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Yang Guang enjoys some bamboo on the final day the public can visit the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo (Jane Barlow/PA)

He told the PA news agency: I think were all quite sad to see them go, they are two lovely individuals, lovely characters, and weve got to know them really well.

Ive been working with them ever since they came. I went over to China to see them before they came in and have been with them for the last 12 years.

Everybody is pleased that they are fit and healthy and theyre going back to China in really good condition, but at the same time sad that after 12 years we wont be seeing them here in Edinburgh any more.

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Prof Girling said the pandas presence at the zoo has helped with research and conservation efforts.

Its sad that Tian Tian hasnt bred here, we would obviously really have liked her to have done so, but this is not unusual with giant pandas, they are difficult to breed, there is a reason why theyre endangered, he said.

But at the same time weve been able to collaborate with so many researchers around the world and weve been able to draw so many members of the public in to understand our conservation message here, and I think that has been a really positive thing, and weve got two lovely healthy pandas so were really pleased with that.

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Giant panda Yang Guang took a stroll around his enclosure while visitors looked on (Jane Barlow/PA)

The pandas have been in quarantine since the start of November and will also spend time in quarantine when they arrive in China, where they will live at a sanctuary in Chengdu.

They will each travel in a specially-designed metal crate on the flight to China, accompanied by a keeper from Edinburgh Zoo and an RZSS vet.

Michael Livingstone, a senior animal keeper at the zoo, will join them on the journey.

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He described looking after the pandas as the highlight of my career and said he will be sad to see them go.

He told PA: Theyre very different to look after, as a team we have looked after many different species of bear and we were fairly confident we knew what kind of hurdles we might need to cross and jump over for looking after pandas, and when they arrived it was completely different to what we thought.

Professor Simon Girling said staff and visitors alike will be sad to see the pandas depart (Jane Barlow/PA)

They are a very sensitive, very specialised species so we very quickly learned all the different things we needed to do with them or around them.

It is sad for us that they are going back, I think its always been one of those things thats just been in the future and now were at the point where its actually happening.

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Now that the day is creeping closer and closer, I can speak for myself and the other keepers in the team at the zoo that have looked after them its going to be a bit of a sad and emotional time.

David Field, RZSS chief executive, said Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had an incredible impact by inspiring millions of people to care about nature.

He said: Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care  which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China.

It is encouraging that in recent years the outlook for giant pandas in the wild has improved, which gives real hope for the future.
By Park Han-sol

Ven. Jaseung, a prominent former head of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea, passed away in a fire that occurred at a temple in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the country. He was 69.

The ex-leader of the Jogye Order was on an overnight visit to Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, when a fire broke out in the yosachae (living quarters of the monastery) around 6:50 p.m. His body was discovered after the fire was extinguished three hours later. The Jogye Order officially confirmed his death past 11:00 p.m. on the same day.

Investigative authorities, including police and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), have launched an inquiry, Thursday, examining the circumstances of the incident leading up to the monks death and whether there is a possibility of arson or third-party involvement.

The police said that they will transfer the body to the National Forensic Service to verify the identity and compare the extracted DNA with that of the late monks belongings and his bereaved family members.

Notes presumed to have been left by Ven. Jaseung were also found at the scene, stating: There is no need to conduct an autopsy. I have decided to change my own fate. Everything has been recorded on CCTV cameras, so please do not trouble yourselves. A handwriting analysis will be conducted to confirm whether the alleged documents have been personally authored by the late monk.

Although no official investigation report has been released, during an emergency media briefing held in central Seoul on Thursday, Ven. Wubong, the head of the Jogye Orders planning office, described Ven. Jaseungs death as an act of self-immolation done to pray for the stability of the (Buddhist) order and the salvation of the world through the dissemination of Dharma.

The sudden passing of the influential Buddhist leader came as a shock to the religious circle nationwide as he had expressed a strong commitment to propagating the Buddhist ideology until very recently.

Just two days before his death, on Monday, the monk told local reporters that he planned to dedicate all my passion to spreading the spiritual message to university students for the next decade.

Born in 1954 in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, he entered monastic life at the age of 19 and began his service with the Jogye Order in 1986.

He served two consecutive terms as the president of the countrys largest Buddhist sect from 2009 to 2017. During these years, he also held the chairmanship at the Korean Council of Religious Leaders from 2011 to 2017 and at the Korean Conference on Religion and Peace from 2014 to 2017.

He visited North Korea on three occasions in 2002, 2010 and 2011 to promote active exchanges in Buddhism between the two Koreas.

Even after his term ended, Ven. Jaseung remained a prominent figure in the Buddhist community, wielding influence as a senior monk at Bongeun Temple in southern Seoul.

His funeral ceremony will be held on Dec. 3 at Jogye Temple in Seoul after days of mourning, according to the Jogye Order.
She cant believe shes been imprisoned for fiddling the leccy, (tampering with her electricity meter to steal electricity, an increasingly common reality in the UK) to keep the power on, and sees her life slip away in a matter of days. The only carer she has for her kids is her alcoholic mother, her boss fires her, and soon her kids are taken into care.

When she does eventually get out, the system is so overwhelmed that the prison cant find a place for her in a halfway house or hostel, they offer her a tent. Again, something drawn from real life.

Kelsey discovers shes pregnant to her toxic drug-dealer boyfriend and initially decides to keep the baby as it might help her get an earlier release. But she becomes the series beacon of hope among the bleakness of prison life, which comes with its own quotidian horrors, such as the nonchalance with which one woman reveals shes given up trying to get out to see her son.

Abis story - she has a dark secret about the murder she committed - is just as brutal, despite sharing similarities with Sean Beans character, in that unlike most of the inmates, shes come from a life of relative privilege.
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Black cardboard cut-outs representing those killed and taken hostage in Hamas October 7 attacks were placed on the foreshore of Bondi Beach on Thursday afternoon as a delegation of family and friends of victims remembered their loved ones.

Several hundred Israel-Australians joined the gathering, which occurred less than 24 hours after a fringe group of pro-Palestinian protesters in Melbourne targeted the visiting families.

Amit Parpara and Ofir Tamir say they miss their friend Noa Argamani, taken hostage by Hamas in October. Credit: Louise Kennerley

Amit Parpara and Ofir Tamir, 26-year-old students from Israel, spoke to the crowd of their friend Noa Argamani, who was taken hostage by Hamas militants in the shock October 7 attack that left 1200 people  mainly Israeli civilians  dead. Israeli rockets and ground attacks have since killed at least 15,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

I saw the terrorists going through Israel and I knew Noa was at the party, Parpara said. He could track her location via her phone and, after her location didnt update for a while, it began to move as Hamas terrorists took her hostage.
Two Sydney beaches, including the site of the citys last fatal shark attack, will be patrolled by lifeguards for the first time, as local councils prepare for a busy summer.

Malabar Beach and Little Bay Beach in Sydneys eastern suburbs will now be patrolled as of December 1 after a series of near-drownings and fatal incidents.

The beaches sit within Randwick City Council, which has hired four full-time and 10 part-time extra lifeguards as part of the move.

The council, which receives millions of swimmers annually, had previously patrolled only Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly beaches.
Firefighters have worked to contain a fire that fully involved parts of a golf club in Brisbane overnight.

Emergency services were called to the scene after reports The Brisbane Golf Club in Yeerongpilly was on fire about 7.55pm.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Superintendent Darren Welsh said 22 firefighters responded and worked to isolate the fire to the workshop and commercial shop.

It took crews more than three hours to bring the fire under control.

Welsh said the cause of the fire was unknown but said there were a number of batteries inside the workshop at the time.

The crews did a great job in containing the fire, [and] it did not spread, he said.
To you and me, Camilla is the wife of King Charles III  Queen of the United Kingdom and Australia. But for food writer Tom Parker Bowles, she is just mum, who once snuck him into a screening of Crocodile Dundee when he was underage and still occasionally cooks for him.

No, I am not cooking for my mother, says Parker Bowles, who is also a restaurant reviewer, author and TV host, during a lightning visit to Melbourne to hang out with his mate, restaurateur Scott Pickett.

Tom Parker Bowles is in Melbourne for four days to hang out with his friend, restaurateur Scott Pickett. Credit: Jason South

She might cook sometimes  when shes at home, where I grew up, he said.

Oh, just like scrambled eggs on toast or roast chicken, which I can bang on about until the cows come home.
Whatever your views, we all expect Victorians to act with decency and humanity. Deputy head of mission for the Israeli embassy in Australia Chris Cantor said the delegation of family members had finished meeting Jewish community members when they encountered the protesters on Wednesday night. Crowne Plaza Melbourne was targeted by the protesters. Cantor said the delegation was led into a secure area inside a police station until officers cleared the hotel and allowed them back to their accommodation about two hours later. For us, its totally unacceptable that these people who came here to meet politicians, meet civil society organisations, meet the media  have to meet in plain Melbourne city, a mob of people shouting and protesting against them, he said.

Loading Victoria Police confirmed officers moved on a group of about 20 protesters who had walked into the lobby of the Spencer Street hotel with flags and signs about 10pm. No one was injured. In a statement released on social media, the pro-Palestinian protesters, who identify as an autonomous group of pro-Palestine activists, said the protest was aimed at Israeli embassy officials and the Crowne Plaza hotel for hosting them. The group of activists is committed to non-violence. The Israeli delegation came seeking military support and war, it read. A Free Palestine Melbourne spokesperson said the group did not organise or condone the protest.

Free Palestine Melbourne played no part in this action. Palestinians understand the pain of being unjustly separated from those we love, organiser Muayad Ali said. We are hopeful that all of the hostages will be freed in exchange for the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli custody. Pro-Palestinian protesters block the entrance to a Melbourne hotel hosting families of Israeli hostages. Police Minister Anthony Carbines also condemned the protest and confirmed he spoke to Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon overnight. Asked whether there was a gap in Victorias move-on laws, Carbines said changes to anti-vilification laws were being addressed.

The Attorney-General is currently in broad consultation on anti-vilification laws in Victoria and the work that needs to be done to strengthen those laws and that is currently underway and being led by the attorney, he said. The attorney is leading that work and so Im sure thatll come to the parliament as soon as possible. Police Minister Anthony Carbines has condemned a protest at a Docklands hotel. Credit: Chris Hopkins Carbines said it was up to hotel management and police to determine whether the protesters were trespassing or intimidating others. Caulfield MP David Southwick, who is Jewish, said the protests beggared belief, given some of those staying at the hotel had children murdered in the October 7 attack. The Liberal MP said others had loved ones still being held hostage in Gaza, more than 50 days after the war began.

Among those in the delegation are relatives of Israelis killed on October 7, including Elad Levy, the uncle of soldier Roni Eshel, and Tali Kizhner, the mother of Supernova Festival victim Segev Kizhner. Also travelling with the pair are Mika Shani, the sister of recently freed hostage Amit Shani, and Ofir Tamir, a close friend of Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. Caulfield MP David Southwick. Credit: Luis Ascui The group met Victorian MPs at parliament on Wednesday afternoon, before attending a Q&A event at Mount Scopus Memorial College in Burwood that evening. The delegation attended a gathering at Sydneys Bondi Beach on Thursday afternoon. Melbourne is on show to the rest of the world and its at its worst today, Southwick said.

Southwick said he would seek further information from police on Thursday. Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said incidents like the protest were tarnishing Melbournes international reputation. Crowne has a lot to answer for, starting with how these radical activists knew that the delegation was staying there, and why did they allow them to ambush the guests and not remove them earlier, he said. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionism Federation of Australia and Zionism Victoria also condemned the protest.
Victorias premier, treasurer and opposition leader have all admitted to trying cannabis at various points, a day after the Labor government announced it was open to talks on decriminalising personal use of the drug.

But Premier Jacinta Allan appeared to tone down suggestions of a significant shift in the states approach to drugs on Thursday after Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt said the government was amenable to engaging with experts, the community, and the Legalise Cannabis party about allowing personal use.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas in parliament. Credit: Joe Armao

Of course we would get advice, of course we would seek advice, and in this instance advice from health experts. Thats what we have indicated in the house yesterday that we would do, Allan said.

But it doesnt necessarily mean that theres a change to government policy as a consequence of those discussions.
Less than a fortnight ago, OpenAIs co-founder and chief executive, Sam Altman, was ousted by the board of the non-profit entity that sits above the for-profit company that Microsoft owns 49 per cent of and which commercialises the groups AI products. A revolt by the staff  95 per cent of whom threatened to leave unless Altman was reinstated  and a Microsoft announcement that it would employ Altman and set up a new internal generative AI business led to Altman returning to OpenAI and to the displacement of a board that had a charter to prioritise safety over profits with new directors who may or may not have the same priorities. Amazon unveiled a new product this week. Credit: AP Reuters and The Information have reported that the catalyst for Altmans original sacking was a letter from OpenAI researchers to the board that warned of a breakthrough in AI the company had made. Q apparently has the ability to solve fairly basic mathematical problems, which requires a level of understanding of maths, abstract concepts and an ability to reason logically and make deductions that would be a step beyond what AI models have been capable of.

The reason this might have agitated OpenAI researchers is that it would be a step towards artificial general intelligence (AGI), or a level of intelligence approaching, or eventually surpassing, that of humans. The founder of Googles DeepMind AI lab, Shane Legg, has said he believed there was a 50-50 chance that AGI would be achieved by the end of this decade. Loading There are plenty within the AI research community who have downplayed the implications of Q*, if it is as it has been described, but the outcome of the battle between OpenAIs not-for-profit directors and Altman and Microsoft sends a clear signal. If theres a choice between safety and profit, profit will win. Thats partly from necessity  developing the large language models that power generative AI devours cash  but also because, to attract executives and developers, the companies need to compete with other tech companies offering big salaries and huge equity upside.

OpenAI has been valued (for the purpose of creating an opportunity for staff in the for-profit entity to cash out some of their equity) at $US86 billion. When that sort of money is on the table any qualms about risks to humanity would be relegated to, at best, second order issues. The outcome at OpenAI  the removal of those who prioritised safety over profits  says quite strongly that, in their scramble to develop generative AI and keep up with their competitors, the big tech companies cant be trusted to self-regulate. The legislators will need to do that. Joe Biden issued an executive order late last month requiring companies to share the results of their safety testing and to develop tools and tests to ensure the models are safe. The Europeans have passed draft laws forcing transparency and restricting some of the perceived more risky applications. The pace at which AI developments are moving, however, creates the risk that the legislators will either significantly lag the development of AI or, if they are too heavy-handed, limit what might otherwise be transformative innovation.

Its not just the big US and, to a much lesser degree, UK and European tech companies that are ploughing vast amounts of capital into AI. In the first half of this year China shaded the US for the number of AI start-ups receiving funds. Chinas tech giants, Tencent Holdings, Baidu and Alibaba, are investing in start-ups while also pouring capital into their own large language models. If theres a choice between safety and profit, profit will win. Chinas government is also a major funder of AI developers (it has a particular interest in facial recognition and in military applications) and, given the authoritarian nature of the state and sheer size of the population, has vast amounts of data that can be drawn on to develop the models in a race for AI supremacy that is reliant on access to huge amounts of data. The geopolitical implications of AI development add to the pressure on governments and regulators to ensure that legislation and regulation driven by safety concerns dont inhibit their developers.
In Moroccos Marrakesh on the last two days of September this year, the daily maximum temperature was a scorching 40 degrees. The citys historic average daily maximum for September is eight degrees less. On August 11, the city recorded its highest ever temperature, 48 degrees. On the same day the Inezgane Airport weather station in the coastal city of Agadir recorded 50.4 degrees, the first time anywhere in Morocco saw temperatures above the half century.

Romes Trevi fountain which saw crowds at 6.30am this year. Credit: iStock

The world keeps getting hotter, and that might force a rethink in your holiday plans, particularly if those plans involve Europe, where the effects of climate change are having an impact on the visitor experience right across the continent.

In Rome in August, the Trevi Fountain was packed with visitors at 6.30am while the Colosseum opened an hour later to allow visitors to explore in relative cool. In Athens, authorities erected sunshades for visitors to the Acropolis, and even closed the monument for periods in July.

Quite a few visitors to London, Paris and other major cities endured hot, uncomfortable nights in hotel rooms in August, since air-conditioning is not a common feature in many of Europes city hotels.
Buenos Aires: Argentina will not be joining the BRICS bloc of developing economies next year as scheduled, a senior official in President-elect Javier Mileis team said.

We will not join the BRICS, Diana Mondino, who Milei picked as foreign minister once he is sworn into office on December 10, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Javier Milei. Credit: AP

The move appears to be a preview of the drastic shift in foreign policy that will be implemented in Argentina once right-wing populist Milei takes over.

Milei, a libertarian, harshly criticised China while on the campaign trail and threatened to break diplomatic relations with the country, saying in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that I am not going to do business with any communist.
Siddiqui was arrested by NSW Police on Nov. 2, after he was charged by ASIC for contravening section 184(2)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001. He was granted bail on that same day of his arrest with conditions preventing him from leaving Australia.
Even if a lender, such as Pepper Money or CBA, doesn't ask for bank statements or salary credits, the aggregator may still require three months of bank statements, Alanm said. The aggregator's own risk criteria, which may differ from the lenders, could prevent the broker from processing the loan through their platform.
It wont just be a leg up into homeownership with savings from a smaller deposit  it will provide long-term relief to Australians who are part of the scheme. In fact, Help to Buy could help eligible new homeowners save hundreds every month on their mortgage.
Fifth-grade students throughout Joliet Public Schools District 86 read the book Thunder Rolling in the Mountains by Scott O'Dell and Elizabeth Hall in their Wit and Wisdom English Language Arts unit about the history of Nez Perce tribe. Students in Maida Cornelio-Sauseda's classroom at A.O. Marshall Elementary School also had chance to meet with Joyce McFarland, the Education Manager for the Nez Perce Tribal Nation in Idaho, via Zoom, to learn the history about the Nez Perce tribe, see pictures of the Nimiipuu (The People) in their traditional homelands in present day states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, and hear more about the tribal nation.

"I had the pleasure to join the Zoom call and see the students' eyes light up when Ms. McFarland shared details about the Nez Perce Tribe," said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse, "Thank you to our staff members for arranging this added and impactful component to the curriculum."

"I am so grateful our students had this opportunity to expand their learning." A.O. Marshall Elementary School Principal Dr. Emilia Herrera added.
Fujirebio Holdings, Inc. (President & CEO: Goki Ishikawa) and Sysmex Corporation (President: Kaoru Asano) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to expand their Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) partnership for Sysmex's Automated Immunoassay System HISCL-Series to include the field of neurodegenerative diseases, following the discussion based on the Basic Agreement on Business Collaboration in the field of immunoassay signed in October 2023*.

While Fujirebio has been developing dedicated reagents for Sysmexs HISCL-Series since 2020, the two companies agreed in October 2023 to deepen their partnership, based on a common belief that combining their respective expertise and strengths in immunoassay will accelerate their global expansion, and will contribute to the development and advancement of immunoassay. Since then, the two companies have been discussing how to strengthen their collaboration.

Under the terms of the new agreement, in the field of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's Disease, Fujirebio will develop reagents for Sysmex's HISCL-Series for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-based testing as well as blood-based testing. This will accelerate the expansion of Sysmexs testing parameters in the diseases field, further propelling the expansion of its global footprint in immunoassay.

Fujirebio and Sysmex will further collaborate to develop and launch the tests as early as possible.

*Press release Fujirebio and Sysmex Enter into Basic Agreement on Business Collaboration in the Field of Immunoassay issued on October 10, 2023

About Fujirebio

Fujirebio, a member of H.U. Group Holdings Inc., is global R&D-driven company constantly developing new in vitro diagnostics testing technologies and unique biomarkers with high clinical value. Our group mission is to create new value in healthcare and thereby contribute to human health and the future of medical care.

Our global teams located in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the US focus on delivering products with the highest quality standards to our customers and partners. We value partnerships with other leading companies in the industry, sharing knowledge, capabilities, and critical materials to supply, develop, or manufacture diagnostic solutions on a wide variety of platforms.

For more information about Fujirebio, please visit www.fujirebio.com.

About Sysmex Corporation

Sysmex Corporation, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics. Since its foundation in 1968, Sysmex has focused on diagnostics as the core of its business, and today, it supports the health of people in over 190 countries and regions worldwide. Sysmex continues to innovate in diagnostics, and to collaboratively create unique values in the areas of personalized medicine and novel treatments, under its long-term vision of "Together for a better healthcare journey." To realize this vision, Sysmex identifies and verifies prioritized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and materiality (priority issues), thereby maintaining its growth as a company that generates both social and economic value. Through its unique technology, solutions, and co-creation with various partners, Sysmex delivers new value and addresses the universal desire of people to live longer and healthier lives. For more information about Sysmex, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129527249/en/
Both trials met their primary endpoints, demonstrating treatment with RelabotulinumtoxinA resulted in a statistically significant improvement in frown lines and crows feet. 1,2

Results reinforce the rapid onset of action of RelabotulinumtoxinA, with some patients reporting improvement as early as day one in both trials. 1,2

Results also underscore the durability of RelabotulinumtoxinA with at least a third of patients rating their frown lines as improved or better through to month 12 in one study. 2

Treatment was well tolerated and all treatment-related adverse events were reported as non-serious.1,2



Galderma announced today topline results from two phase IIIb trials investigating RelabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar lines (GL  frown lines) and lateral canthal lines (LCL  crows feet). Both studies met their primary endpoints, demonstrating that RelabotulinumtoxinA, a novel liquid formulation botulinum toxin A, significantly improves both frown lines and crows feet, with a rapid onset of action as early as day one and long duration.1,2

These results provide an additional layer of confidence in the long-lasting efficacy, speed and convenience of RelabotulinumtoxinA, which not only represents the innovation of our neuromodulator portfolio, but also demonstrates our commitment to responding to the real needs of healthcare professionals and patients. BALDO SCASSELLATI SFORZOLINI, M.D., Ph.D. GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D GALDERMA

43QM2106 is a phase IIIb, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the aesthetic improvement and onset of action of RelabotulinumtoxinA in patients with moderate to severe frown lines. The trial met its primary endpoint, with 92.9% of those treated with RelabotulinumtoxinA rating their frown lines as improved or better on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) at month one, compared to 9.1% of those treated with placebo (P<0.001).1

Results reinforced the rapid onset of action and durability of RelabotulinumtoxinA, with 40% of patients rating themselves as improved or better on the GAIS as early as day one, and more than a third (38%) of patients rating themselves as improved or better at month 12. In addition, 68% and 43% of patients rated themselves as improved or better at months six and nine respectively, and 40% of patients also reported at least a one grade improvement of frown line severity at month nine. RelabotulinumtoxinA was well tolerated; the majority of patients did not experience any adverse events and there were no related serious adverse events reported.1

43QM2107 is a phase IIIb, open-label, single-center study to assess aesthetic improvement of RelabotulinumtoxinA in patients with moderate to severe crows feet and frown lines. It also met its primary endpoint, with 100% of patients treated with RelabotulinumtoxinA rating their crows feet and frown lines as improved or better on the GAIS at month one.2

RelabotulinumtoxinA demonstrated a rapid onset of action for both crows feet and frown lines, with the majority of patients (68% and 60% for crows feet and frown lines, respectively) rating themselves as improved or better on the GAIS starting at day one. By day two, 100% of patients noted improvement for crows feet and 96% noted improvement for frown lines. This was reinforced by Subject Live Assessment results using a validated scale, which showed that 40% of patients on day one and 96% of patients on day four received a score of zero or one on a four-point scale for crows feet severity at maximum expression. For frown line severity, 32% of patients on day one and 92% of patients on day four received a score of zero or one. RelabotulinumtoxinA was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported in 92% of patients.2

Results from both studies are in line with those previously seen for RelabotulinumtoxinA.3,4

About RelabotulinumtoxinA (QM1114)

Developed by Galderma, RelabotulinumtoxinA is a highly-active, innovative, complex-free, and ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin A with a proprietary strain and manufactured using a unique state-of-the-art process. It is designed as a liquid, avoiding the traditional requirement to reconstitute from powder and eliminating variability, errors and risks associated with reconstitution, which would be expected to improve the consistency of results. RelabotulinumtoxinA is currently being investigated globally by Galderma to expand its neuromodulator portfolio as part of the broadest Injectable Aesthetics portfolio on the market.

About Galderma

Galderma is the emerging pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market though Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human bodys largest organ  the skin  meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin we are in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com.

References:

Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2106 trial Galderma data on file: initial results of the phase IIIb 43QM2107 trial Shridharani, S., et al. Treatment of moderate-to-severe glabellar lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, a new liquid botulinum toxin: Clinical efficacy and safety results from the READY-1 Phase III trial. Poster presented at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic Dermatology 2022, Las Vegas, NV, June 8-11, 2022 Ibrahim, SF, et al. Treatment of lateral canthal lines with RelabotulinumtoxinA, a new liquid botulinum toxin: Clinical efficacy and safety results from the READY-2 Phase III trial. Poster presented at Vegas Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetic Dermatology 2022, Las Vegas, NV, June 8-11, 2022.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129534821/en/
Revived US-North Korea talks could result in Washington Declaration annulment

By Jung Min-ho

The possibility of a return of Donald Trump to the White House would likely revive talks between the United States and North Korea and could raise doubts over any commitments made by Washington to Seoul under President Joe Biden, who is struggling in recent polls against Trump, experts said, Thursday.

Speaking at a forum held in Seoul on the 70th anniversary of South Koreas alliance with the U.S., scholars expressed concerns over the possibility of Trumps second term. If he wins the presidential election next year, he is expected to seek another round of negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, they said.

In the early phase of his term, Trump will likely seek to make a deal. Trump appears to have the view that the negotiation efforts during his time in office are an unfinished legacy, said Chung Sung-yoon, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-funded think tank.

Trump and Kim may have failed to reach a deal during summits in 2018 and 2019, but their personal relationship may continue to this day. After leaving office, Trump told associates that he remained in contact with Kim, according to Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America, a book released last year. Just six months ago, Trump posted a congratulatory message for Kim on his Truth Social site after North Korea obtained a seat on the executive board of the World Health Organization.

Experts believe the chances of a successful deal between Washington and Pyongyang is low since the gap in opinion over North Koreas nuclear weapons proliferation will likely remain wide. But it is not entirely impossible, Chung said.

For Seoul, the worst-case scenarios include a partial or complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from South Korea or the annulment of whats agreed to under the Washington Declaration, as those issues could be discussed as part of U.S. negotiations with North Korea, experts said.

Hwang Ji-hwan, a professor of international relations at the University of Seoul, thinks a U.S. future government under Trump is unlikely to be bound by the Washington Declaration, a package of U.S. guarantees for deterrence against North Korean threats including the operation of a joint Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), given that the agreement is not legally binding.

If Trump is elected, the South Korea-U.S. alliance will likely change profoundly, Hwang said. Trump may demand more for defense costs  possibly more than the previous amount. He would also perceive the operation of the NCG or the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula as money issues.

Just hours before the forum, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean dictator, said in a statement that the country's development of advanced military hardware cannot be compromised for talks with the U.S.

The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, the DPRK (North Korea) will never sit face to face with the U.S. for that purpose, she said.

Experts said the statement ironically shows North Koreas intention for negotiation with the U.S.

With the assumption that it can have the upper hand in possible negotiations with the U.S. by developing more things it could use for compromise, North Korea is expected to continue to advance its military capabilities, Hwang said.

According to a survey released in early November by The New York Times and Siena College, Biden is trailing Trump in five of the six most critical battleground states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Biden is ahead only in Wisconsin, it showed.
--Wella Professionals and OPI Achieve #1 Status Globally in Salon Color and Salon Nail--



--Company Releases Environmental and Social Impact Report 2022--

Wella Company, an innovative global leader in the $100 billion hair and nail segment of the beauty industry, today marked its third year as an independent company, demonstrating broad-based growth balanced across brands, categories and geographies. Wella Company achieved high single-digit growth in constant currency in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), which closed at the end of June, cementing its foothold as one of the fastest-growing companies in the sector. Wella Companys portfolio of iconic professional and retail hair, nail, and beauty tech brands includes Wella Professionals, OPI, ghd, Briogeo, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional, and Clairol.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129450933/en/

Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Product Line, including Miracle Hair Rescue, a patented, leave-on hair repair treatment that can reverse hair damage in 90 seconds. (Photo: Business Wire)

Since its inception in 2020, Wella Company has reported year-over-year growth in both developed and emerging markets. Continuing on the success of its leading professional hair color brand, Koleston Perfect (KP), which sold 1.5 tubes per second globally in FY23, the company has established its professional color credential as the No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the World, and continues to invest behind elevating its core through expansion into hair care, as well as across the nail and beauty tech portfolio. The company has also grown its eCommerce sales at a rate of more than 2x market growth by increasing partnerships with top eComm retailers, investing in digital-first brand building, and consistently improving user experience on its owned eComm platform WellaStore to meet the needs of salon professionals.

"Looking at 2023, we are beginning to realize the benefits of the successful brand transformations across our portfolio and breakthrough innovations. We are also seeing our business mature and expand across channels and markets. All of our brands and geographies are growing ahead of the category, which is an indicator that we have tremendous upside yet to unlock, said Annie Young-Scrivner, Chief Executive Officer of Wella Company. She added, In Fiscal Year 23, we grew our top line and profitability and expanded our market share, and we expect Fiscal Year 2024 will continue that growth trajectory.

Breakthrough Innovations and Modernized Brand Experiences Capture Top Share Wins

With Wella Professionals established as the No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the Worldi, OPI also claims its position as the No. 1 Professional Nail Salon Brand Worldwide. In addition, Wella Companys portfolio of brands is #1 in Professional Hair Care in Brazil, one of the companys highest growth markets. The companys innovations touted patented technology in several areas, while continuing to elevate the look and experience of its brand portfolio.

Addressing consumers top concern about hair damage, Wella Company launched revolutionary hair product innovations combining both speed and performance results. Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair line with its Miracle Hair Rescue, is a patented, leave-on hair repair treatment with the ability to reverse hair damage both inside and out in 90 seconds. Ultimate Repair is Wella Professionals entry into the prestige haircare segment and has been one of the companys most successful launches in Care to date. After just a few months in market, Ultimate Repair is quickly gaining share in both salons and in prestige retail. To complement through in-salon demand services, Shinefinity, the professional glazing product and new category entry last year, continues to drive incremental growth. The brand now has more than 40 shades in more than 30 markets around the world as a result of its wide popularity.

Wella Professionals refreshed its packaging across its haircare line, including shampoos and conditioners, contributing to driving double-digit revenue growth globally.

ghd, a leading global beauty tech brand and the UKs No. 1 recommended styling brand by professionals, created a new category in wet-to-dry with the introduction of ghd Duet Style. Duet Style is the first ever, 2-in-1 wet-to-dry styler that dries and styles at the same time with no heat damage and 45% less energy consumption. Since its launch in February, ghd Duet Style is the brands #3 bestselling product behind Platinum+ and Gold stylers.

Addressing the growing trend in scalp care, Wella Company introduced two top-performing entrants into the space. Nioxin Ultimate Power Serum is a highly effective leave-on scalp treatment designed to strengthen hair from the root and increase hair anchorage. Nioxin Ultimate Power Serum launched in May in one online retailer, recording double-digit growth in North America. Ultimate Power Serum is attracting new users, with 93% of buyers being first-time users of the Nioxin brand. Product ratings are driving preference, with 91% of reviewers on one site sharing they would recommend it to a friend, and more than half of reviewers on another site giving 5-star ratings.

Briogeo, the award-winning, all natural, inclusive hair care line, entered the scalp care category in January with the launch of Destined for Density, a holistic scalp + hair care system to boost hairs density for thicker, fuller, healthier looking hair. To date, the collectionwhich includes Density Serum, Shampoo, Conditioner and Supplements has been the brands highest and best performing launch. The hero SKU, Density Serum, became the brands #1 SKU at a top prestige beauty retailer in North America during launch.

Clairol also revamped the legendary at-home hair color brand showcased in theIts So Me campaign, part of a multi-year effort to introduce Clairol to a new generation of DIY color users. Its So Me highlights the full Clairol portfolio, including heritage brands like Nice n Easy permanent hair color, and new innovations for 2023: Natural Instincts Bold, Blonde It Up Crystal Glow Toners, and Root Touch Up Spray 2-in-1. These initiatives have helped the Retail Hair business in the US achieve record share levels of 13.5% in the past 6 months ending September 2023ii and 10+ months of consecutive share growth.iii

OPI introduced several standout innovations this year that have driven OPIs record market share +4 share points vs YAiv in U.S Premium Retail and +2 share points vs YA in the U.S Food, Drug, Mass channel in the Nail Color and Treatments category.v Globally, the brand is also gaining share across both Retail and Pro channels.viOPI Repair Mode, a patented bond building treatment to repair nail damage from the inside in 6 days, is an important entry into the premium price segment and has overdelivered its year one sales forecast. Another key launch in the U.S. was OPI xPRESS/ON Press-On Nails, which successfully entered the highest growth segment in nails, artificial nails. The OPI x Barbie The Movie collection this spring was the largest nail partnership to date in 2023 in U.S FDM.vii And the brands first natural nail lacquer OPI Nature Strong continues to gain share in U.S Food, Drug, Mass channel, reaching 35% of the total Naturals category,viii and CY 23 sales-to-date in U.S Premium Retail are over 2X higher than the leading natural mass market nail brand.ix



Inaugural Wella Company Environmental and Social Impact Report Issues Today

Wella Company today issued its Environmental and Social Impact Report 2022, the first measured analysis of the companys efforts to positively impact People, Planet and through its Products. Key highlights include:

People: During 2023, Wella Company successfully deployed We Own Our Way (WOW), a broad-based employee ownership program ensuring that every Wella Company employee has a vested financial interest in the companys future. Now, Wella Company employees across all levels have the opportunity to benefit with wealth creation when Wella Company succeeds. x Making strides in DEIB, the company has increased female representation to 59% across its global employee population, and 58% on its Board of Directors. The company also reached its commitment to 100% gender pay parity across all levels one year ahead of goal.

During 2023, Wella Company successfully deployed We Own Our Way (WOW), a broad-based employee ownership program ensuring that every Wella Company employee has a vested financial interest in the companys future. Now, Wella Company employees across all levels have the opportunity to benefit with wealth creation when Wella Company succeeds. Making strides in DEIB, the company has increased female representation to 59% across its global employee population, and 58% on its Board of Directors. The company also reached its commitment to 100% gender pay parity across all levels one year ahead of goal. Planet: Committed to reducing carbon footprint as well as water use and waste, in 2022 Wella Company decreased Scope 1-2 carbon emissions by 10% and reached Zero Waste to Landfill at 2 of its 3 factories and all 8 directly controlled distribution centers. The company also decreased water withdrawals by 5.5% and waste generated by 13.7% per unit produced in its three factories.

Committed to reducing carbon footprint as well as water use and waste, in 2022 Wella Company decreased Scope 1-2 carbon emissions by 10% and reached Zero Waste to Landfill at 2 of its 3 factories and all 8 directly controlled distribution centers. The company also decreased water withdrawals by 5.5% and waste generated by 13.7% per unit produced in its three factories. Products: Gains achieved include 80% of product ingredients by volume being biodegradable and 77% of total packaging being recyclable, reusable or refillable. The company is also continuing the portfolio-wide transition to packaging made of recycled materials, including aluminum tubes, paper boxes, and caps.



For a company so young in our tenure, we believe we are progressing our environmental and social impact journey with the right momentum and delivering against our stated ambitions with integrity and purpose, said Hilary Crnkovich, Wella Companys Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer.

About Wella Company

We are Wella Company, an innovative global leader in the beauty industry that combines its iconic 140+ years history and industry expertise with its emerging status as a category-leading high-growth company.Since 2020, Wella Company has galvanized the transformation of our business and brands to become one of the fastest-growing companies in the beauty sector. Our portfolio of leading professional and retail hair, nails, and beauty tech brands include Wella Professionals, OPI, ghd, Briogeo, Nioxin, Sebastian Professional, and Clairol. Wella Professionals is the No. 1 Salon Color Brand in the Worldxi and OPI is the #1 Professional Nail Salon Brand Worldwide. With an ambition to become the best beauty company in the industry, we inspire consumers and beauty professionals through our brands to look, feel, and be their true selves. We approach the product creation process by rigorously combining science, technology, and artistry to develop performance-led products, often distinguished by patented technology, a mark of the legendary Wella difference.

Guided by our company values and led by purpose to deliver positive impact on people through our products and towards our planet and society, we deliver sustainable growth to all stakeholders. We proudly support the salon industry and the artists and stylists we serve across the 127 countries in which we operate. Each day, we impact a diverse community of more than 91 million beauty lovers and industry professionals, social influencers, ambassadors, followers, employees, customers, and suppliers across the globe. This is our Wella Family. Our belief to be better by doing better guides our business, and our environmental and social progress. Continuing our journey to sustainably improve our products, reduce our impact on the environment, and create a culture where all employees lead as owners invested in our shared success, we ensure Wella Company prospers for generations to come. For more information on Wella Company, visit www.wellacompany.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

i Based on Wella Master Brand USD sales on the 2022 Salon Hair Care Study for the hair coloring products category published by Kline

ii Source: Nielsen, last 6 months ending Sept. 2023

iii Source: Nielsen database, YTD w/e 10/28/23

iv Source: US NPD Jan-Sept 2023

v Source: Nielsen Discover 52 w/e 11/04/23

vi Source: Euromonitor and Kline 2022 CY

vii Source: Nielsen Discover Jan-Oct 31, 2023

viii Source: Nielsen Discover 52 w/e 11/04/23

ix Source: US NPD Jan-Sept 2023

x The We Own Our Way (WOW) Program is a financial benefit program which is paid following the successful transition of full ownership from Wella Companys majority owner, KKR, Inc. All eligible employees are enrolled at hire with no personal financial contribution required.

xi Based on Wella Master Brand USD sales on the 2022 Salon Hair Care Study for the hair coloring products category published by Kline

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129450933/en/
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has released photos of a U.S. Army chemical corps company conducting joint drills with South Korean forces near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) amid heightened tension along the border with North Korea.

American soldiers from the 59th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Company have been training together with U.S. Forces Korea and South Korean troops near the DMZ to bolster the combined defense posture, the command said in a post Wednesday (local time), without specifying the schedule.

The New York-based company has been on a nine-month rotational deployment in Camp Casey in Dongducheon, 41 kilometers north of Seoul, since July in support of the 2nd Infantry Division and Eighth Army stationed in South Korea. The company attended the Ulchi Freedom Shield, an annual joint military exercise held by South Korea and U.S. forces in August.

The training focused on reconnaissance and decontamination missions as well as countering weapons of mass destruction, and chemical, biological and nuclear hazards, according to the command.

The announcement of the drills came amid high tension as North Korea has recently redeployed troops and heavy arms to the DMZ after vowing to scrap a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement aimed at preventing tension and accidental clashes near the heavily fortified border. (Yonhap)
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 8:50AM

Screenshot: SamMobile

Samsung Internet is a fast and feature-rich browser app for Android devices that outperforms Google Chrome in some aspects. However, it lacked a desktop version until now. Samsung has just launched Samsung Internet for Windows. You can download the app from the Microsoft Store and use it on any Windows PC or laptop, not just Samsungs.

The main advantage of Samsung Internet on a desktop OS is the ability to sync your browsing data between your Samsung phone and PC. This feature was missing before and discouraged many users from making Samsung Internet their default browser app on their mobile devices.

However, Samsung Internet for Windows does not support full sync yet. You can sign in with your Samsung account, but you can only sync your browsing history, bookmarks, saved pages and open tabs. Password sync is not available, but we hope it will be soon.

Samsung Internet on Windows also offers ad blocker support, a secret (incognito) mode, extension support, light and dark mode themes, and more. Since Samsung Internet is based on the open-source Chromium project, like Chrome and Microsoft Edge, it should work with extensions and add-ons from those browsers. However, the install button for all extensions is currently disabled.

SamMobile reports that Samsung Internet on Windows has poor performance, though. Scrolling is very choppy, as if the browser does not support even a 60Hz refresh rate, let alone higher refresh rates on modern desktop monitors. This is in contrast to the smooth performance of the Android version of the app, so Samsung needs to improve it.

Source
By now, youd probably think the Honda HR-V is my favorite punching bag; after all, it was the subject of our first head-to-head comparo I d...
A bomb hoax at Seoul's Yonsei University prompted about 100 people to evacuate Wednesday night, but police found no explosives, officials said Thursday.

An unidentified person claimed in an internet post to have sent a tumbler containing a bomb to the university in anger over a professor.

After police received a report about the post at 11:38 p.m., about 20 police personnel, including commandos, and 33 firefighters were sent to the school and searched four buildings in the engineering college for two hours, but no explosives were found.

About 100 people had to evacuate during the operation.

The internet post, which was uploaded on Everytime, an online platform app for university students, was later deleted. Police are hunting down the writer.

The app, which guarantees the writers' anonymity, is only accessible once a student verifies their enrollment at the school.

In 2017, a Yonsei University graduate student was arrested for sending a homemade bomb to his professor's office, injuring the professor, who suffered burns after opening the box containing the explosive. (Yonhap)
Welcome to Cartoon Brews series of spotlights focusing on the animated shorts that have qualified for the 2024 Oscars. There are several ways a film can earn eligibility. With these profiles, well be focusing on films that have done so by winning an Oscar-qualifying award at an Oscar-qualifying festival.

Todays film is the Irish short Worry World from director Jessica Patterson. The film earned its Oscars qualification by winning the James Horgan Award for best animated short at the Galway Film Fleadh.

In the film, a young factory worker dreams in color of escaping her black-and-white world, where everyones thoughts are on display and thinking in color is forbidden. After a serendipitous meeting with another free thinker, she and her new like-minded companion contemplate escaping their oppressive surroundings together.

Cartoon Brew: Corporate dystopias have been popular in media for several decades. What did you do to ensure that your world would feel unique?

Jessica Patterson: We decided against going down a traditionally sci-fi or particularly dark, dystopian route. We didnt want the world of the film to feel too far from reality, so instead, we based it on what we knew. Hugh OConor had built a very in-depth sense of the world into his script, and from there, I began to explore the visual setting, which was very much inspired by my time spent in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Belfast has this wonderful mix of traditional and industrial; Georgian architecture next to Modernist next to towering ship-building cranes and tall factory chimneys further along the coast in Larne. Physical examples of past societal division can still be seen dotted about the city, long stretches of dividing walls and gates that close between communities. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was normal to queue to enter and exit the city center. What really stuck with me was that, despite this, people just got on with life. It felt like the right fit for a story about finding connections in a disconnected world.

What was it about this story or concept that connected with you and compelled you to direct the film?

Worry World was written by Hugh, whose work as an actor and director I was very familiar with, so when he got in touch about a script for an animated short, I was excited to take a look. His idea of a world where all thought is visible caught my imagination straight away, but as a person who would often internalize their thoughts, as Im sure many people do, the concept of a world where this would be impossible certainly struck a chord. It got me thinking about how we manage dealing with our own heads, what we think about when were not necessarily aware or conscious of our thoughts, and how much would I pay for the ability to turn mine off if this world existed. It also struck me that, in a way, were not too far from this idea as a society already. Many of us habitually share our every thought across multiple social media platforms daily, so little windows above our heads seemed like a not-so-far-off concept I was excited to explore further.

What did you learn through the experience of making this film, either production-wise, filmmaking-wise, creatively, or about the subject matter?

I found it to be the most intense experience of having to kill your darlings. With the scope of the world and potential for ideas behind the root of our story, What if everyone could see your thoughts, we could have gone any number of ways with the depth of Hughs script. We explored so many different ideas, sequences, styles, and additional characters; it could have been a 30-minute special at one point, but we realized we needed to pull it back and simplify the concept right down to what we really cared about and wanted to show. We had such a strong base in our producer Shauna Cullen, who grounded us when we began to over-think and kept the team energized and moving throughout a production that spanned two lockdowns; a difficult task at the best of times but certainly on theme if were talking disconnection and dystopia.

Can you describe how you developed your visual approach to the film? Why did you settle on this style/technique?

We knew quite early on that we didnt want the visuals to compete with the potential scale of the concept. There was so much going on within the narrative and the world of the short that I felt if we over-complicated the design, particularly for the characters, an audience may drift from the heart of the story.

We knew we would need to visually separate thought from reality to allow our characters or the camera to transition in and out in a readable way throughout the story. With this in mind, we assigned structured colorless linework to reality, allowing for full color, pencil texture, and a lack of linework to represent the fluidity of thought.

When looking at our characters, the overarching theme of disconnection led us to explore minimal, intentionally incomplete line work, constantly boiling and uncertain. The idea of capturing a feeling or expression through the least number of lines also appealed to me as an artist, and to this end, I drew a lot of inspiration from the work of cartoonist and author Liana Finck, how she approaches big, human topics through the most minimal but gestural illustrations.
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a suspended prison term for former Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu for assaulting a taxi driver and attempting to destroy evidence.

The top court said there was no misunderstanding of legal principles in the lower courts' imposition of a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, on Lee.

Lee was indicted for assaulting a cab driver in November 2020 under the influence of alcohol when the driver tried to wake him up after arriving at his home. He was additionally charged with giving the driver 10 million won ($7,743) right after the incident and asking for the deletion of footage from the taxi's black box.

Lee resigned as vice justice minister in May 2021, about six months after his appointment, as the case made headlines. (Yonhap)
A close aide to opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was sentenced to a five-year prison term on Thursday on bribery and illegal political fund charges connected to a high-profile development corruption scandal.

Kim Yong, a former deputy head of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's Institute for Democracy think tank, was indicted in November on charges of receiving illegal political funds in 2021 from a real estate developer at the center of the corruption-ridden project to build apartment complexes in the Daejang-dong district of Seongnam, south of Seoul.

He was also charged with pocketing 190 million won ($147,343) in bribes from 2013-14 from Yoo Dong-gyu, a former senior official at Seongnam's city development corporation, in return for business favors related to the project.

The Seoul Central District Court found Kim partly guilty of the charges, acknowledging illegal political funds worth 600 million won and bribes of 70 million won.

Prosecutors had demanded a 12-year prison term for Kim.

Kim was immediately taken into custody at the courtroom after the five-year prison sentence, with the court expressing concerns about the potential destruction of evidence. (Yonhap)
Group guilty of animal cruelty for using live canines as props in demonstration: activists

By Lee Hae-rin

Hundreds of Korean dog meat farmers and traders from across the country gathered near the presidential office, Thursday, to make frantic last-ditch efforts against the government's plan to shut down their "cruel industry."

Korea is a democratic country that grants in its Constitution the peoples right to choose what to eat and freedom to choose their profession. We have done nothing wrong but work hard all our lives as diligent providers of dog meat to the nation and we urge the government to protect the rights of us, the farmers! said Ju Yeong-bong, secretary-general of the Korean Association of Edible Dog, an association with nearly 1,000 members nationwide.

The group also brought a dozen trucks loaded with nearly 100 canines, after making previous threats to bring 2 million.

According to animal advocacy groups, this is not the first time the group has used live animals as props in its demonstrations.

The group is holding these animals captive in confined spaces for hours, possibly without any water or food, as they have done multiple times in the past, Jeung Seung-yong, leader of the local animal advocacy group Catch Dog, told The Korea Times next to trucks loaded with canines. He said his group plans to sue the dog farmers for animal cruelty.

Lee Sang-kyung, a campaigner at Humane Society International (HSI) Korea, also criticized the protesters cruel practice as distasteful shock tactics that show no regard for animal welfare.

The group repeatedly threatened to release the dogs during the rally. But police prevented that from happening for safety reasons.

The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in May that the associations deployment of canines during demonstrations was an act of animal cruelty and advised the group to use photos or replicas instead.

At around 2 p.m., about an hour into the rally, a clash broke out between protesters and police, knocking over a guardrail. The groups president, Kim Byeong-guk and two other members were taken to Yongsan Police Station under the allegations of violating the law on assembly and demonstration.

The heated protest came after the government and political parties pushed to end the countrys fading and contentious tradition of eating dog meat.

First lady Kim Keon Hee repeatedly vowed to end dog meat consumption during President Yoon Suk Yeols term, while the rival parties set an end to the dog meat trade as their main political agenda before the general elections next year. Each has proposed bills which are pending at the National Assembly.

The two parties seek to pass a legislative ban that contains a roadmap to assist and fund the farmers transition to alternative professions by year-end, which the group argues goes against the public consensus and threatens their livelihoods.

According to a government study last year, there are 1,150 dog farms in Korea raising over 520,000 dogs for consumption, which is a dramatic 35 percent drop compared to five years ago.

The dog meat traders, however, claim there are over 3,500 dog farms nationwide.

Dog meat consumption has also declined dramatically in recent years, many surveys show. Only 22 percent of Koreans consume or have consumed dog meat, while 13 percent said they still plan to consume dog meat, according to a survey last year by Chun Myung-sun, a professor of veterinary medicine at Seoul National University.

Resisting this ban wont change the indisputable fact that the vast majority of people in South Korea dont eat dog meat ... Transitioning to crop growing at a time when South Korea just launched a national strategy to promote plant-based eating would be a truly visionary approach, supporting farmers in choosing to be a part of the countrys future food plan instead of anchoring them in the past, HSI Korea campaigner Lee said.




Current and former Hamilton County and city of Chattanooga officials today posthumously paid tribute to the first Hamilton County Executive Dalton Roberts and former County Mayor Claude Ramsey with an unveiling of two plaques commemorating the landmark achievements of both pioneering men.Dalton Roberts and Claude Ramsey guided Hamilton County for 32 years as the first two county executives, and both played a pivotal role in the transformation of Southeast Tennessees economy, said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp.Theres no doubt that the quality of life in Hamilton County would not be what it is today if it werent for these two men of humble beginnings who made bold investments in the future while leading our county.Officials said, "The vision for this well-deserved dedication to both former leaders was set forth nearly seven years ago by Ramseys loving wife, Jan Ramsey, and current County Commissioners Greg Beck and Joe Graham."Dalton Roberts and Claude Ramsey were two of the most honorable and distinguished county leaders that I have encountered in my life of politics in Hamilton County, said Commissioner Beck. Their commitment to the development of our community has set a standard of service that will be remembered for years to come.Many of the Hamilton County successes that we cherish today were built upon the vision of these two gentlemen, said Commissioner Graham. Their hard work and dedication throughout their decades ofservice is the reason our county remains in great shape to this day.Serving as the first county executive  now known as county mayor  Mr. Roberts laid the groundwork that has made Hamilton County the ideal place to live, work, play and retire. Known for his vivacious and colorful personality, Mr. Roberts doubled as a visionary of county government as well as a passionate musician, author and philosopher.Born in 1933, Mr. Roberts was raised in the rural Highway 58 area of Hamilton County and attended Tyner High School, Kirkman Technical School, Trevecca College and the University of Tennessee, where he earned a masters degree in special education. When the Tennessee Constitutional Convention of 1978 enacted a new executive-commission form of government, Mr. Roberts, the county manager at the time, offered himself to serve as first Hamilton County Executive, defeating his Republican opponent in the 1978 race. As the inaugural head of Hamilton County, Mr. Roberts took the bull by the horns and led the transition to a new form of county government, implementing a forward way of thinking that set the bar high for his successors.Mr. Roberts was instrumental in the development of four industrial parks, including setting forth initial plans toward acquiring the former Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant now the Volkswagen assembly plant site. The forerunner and original thinker on several successful projects in Hamilton County, Mr. Roberts was re-elected as county executive three times before retiring in 1994.Current Hamilton County Commission Chairman Jeff Eversole says the whole of county government is better to this day, due to the laudable example set by both Mr. Roberts and Mr. Ramsey.As commission chairman, I am honored to recognize the work of these extraordinary men, said Chairman Eversole. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Ramsey set the precedent for how county government should operate, and it is my continued duty to lead this body in a manner they would both be proud of.Mr. Ramsey rose from a third-generation strawberry farmer to deputy governor of Tennessee, known for never losing an election in his more than 40 years of public service.Mr. Ramsey began his career in 1972, when he scored an upset win for a state House seat over incumbent Laban DeFriese. After two terms, he won a seat as a delegate on the states last constitutional convention in 1977, and in 1978, Mr. Ramsey was the only Republican elected to the nine-member Hamilton County Council, which is now known as the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners. Following his brief role as a county commissioner, Mr. Ramsey was elected assessor of property in 1980 and served for 14 years before his 16-year run as county mayor. In 2010  shortly after winning his fifth term as county mayor  Mr. Ramsey was appointed byformer Governor Bill Haslam to serve as deputy to the governor, where he would go on to retire from politics three years later.The longtime public servant was known for his steadfast commitment to expanding opportunities in economic development in Hamilton County, most notably continuing the work of his predecessor by playing a key role in attracting Volkswagen to Chattanooga.Claude was always quick on his feet and up for a challenge, said Jan Ramsey. It didnt matter where he was or what he was doing  if someone needed him, he would be there in a heartbeat. Everything Claude did, he gave it one hundred percent. He would always say how blessed and humbled he was to have the opportunity to represent the great people of Hamilton County. His legacy of hard work and passion for serving will live on forever.In the coming weeks, both plaques will make their way to their new homes  one on the Tennessee Riverpark and the other on what will be known as Claude Ramsey Parkway, adjacent to Enterprise South Industrial Park.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led 16 other states in fighting back against the Administrations Health and Human Services proposed Placement Rule, which would unlawfully condition federal funding on the States compliance with new requirements for treatment of LGBTQI+ youth by state-run, private-facility, and family-based foster care providers.

As stated in a comment letter sent to HHS, the proposed rule would illegally expand HHS authority into the traditionally state-regulated area of family law, risk violating providers right to freedom of speech and religion and would likely harm rather than help foster youth by further increasing the already extensive costs and compliance burdens foster providers must shoulder, said officials.

Under the proposed rule, Tennessees federal funding for its foster-care program would hinge on ensuring that foster-care providers undertake sufficiently affirming care to LGBTQI+ youth, as defined by HHS officials. Yet the governing statute does not give HHS its claimed power to dictate how state foster systems and individual foster-providers must accommodate LGBTQI+ youth in areas implicating controversial social issues. HHSs directive risks penalizing foster-care providers for declining to violate their own conscience or religion by requiring them to provide access to sexually explicit literature or to irreversible gender-related treatments that are illegal in Tennessee and other states.

The comment further explains why HHSs rule also would be counterproductive to the goal of protecting foster children. Foster providers unable to afford compliance with the new requirements, or who are saddled with legal bills based on the broad new liability the proposed rule imposes, would have to close their doors to children in need. This result would add to the nations foster-care woes and could create a shortage in care that would place all youth in the foster system at further risk.

We all need to do our best to protect kids in foster care, and unfortunately our federal officials dont appreciate how big an impediment these onerous new rules will be. Its hard enough to run a foster care program without this extra bureaucracy and increased litigation risk, Attorney General Skrmetti said in a statement. The proposed rule exceeds the agencys authority and raises serious constitutional concerns. It also hampers the ability of the states to protect kids by forcing childrens services agencies to police pronoun usage with the same urgency they address physical abuse.

Tennessee and the co-signing States are committed to adopting and enforcing rules to ensure every child in the States foster system receives the most appropriate placement available. Experience shows that local members of each States foster-care ecosystem are best placed to address foster providers and the children they serve, said officials.

The commenting letter can be read here.
Special agents assigned to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Squad have arrested and charged a Jasper man in connection to an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.

After receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, agents began investigating John Harley Dobbs, 38, on Nov. 21. During the investigation, agents determined Dobbs to be in possession of child sexual abuse material.

On Tuesday, agents secured a warrant, charging him with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. Agents subsequently served Dobbs with the warrant at the Marion County Jail, where he was being held on an unrelated charge.

At this time, it remains unclear whether there may be an additional victim/s in relation to this case. For that reason, the TBI is releasing the booking photograph of Dobbs and urges anyone with information to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Police say a Florida man whose vehicle hit a family of three on Frazier Avenue rammed another vehicle just prior to the wreck, then fought paramedics who arrived on the scene.

A mother and her 22-month-old son were killed and the father was critically injured. in the tragic accident on Saturday afternoon. Anna Posso Rodriguez died alongside her 22-month-old son, Jonathan. Anna's husband, Octavio Devia, remains in a coma.

It happened at the corner of Frazier and Forest Avenue just across from the Walnut Street Bridge.

Randy Vega, 44, of Tampa, Fla., had been in the hospital since the wreck, but he was moved to the Hamilton County Jail on Wednesday morning.

He is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Police said Vega was in the right lane heading east and another vehicle was to his side going in the same direction. Police said both drivers were traveling at unsafe speeds in the congested area.

The other driver said Vega was driving aggressively before going out of his lane and hitting his bumper. The Vega vehicle then spun onto the sidewalk and into the gift shop at the corner, heavily damaging it.

Police said Vega was showing signs of impairment at the crash site.

After the wreck, police said Vega was highly aggressive, fighting with EMTs who came to treat all the injured.
A woman on 6th Avenue Court told police ex-boyfriend had come to her residence, knocking on her door, inquiring about his Xbox games. She told him that she did not have his belongings at her residence and requested that he leave her property. In response, he became increasingly agitated, demanding the return of his items. He began shouting obscenities and causing a disturbance, prompting her to contact the police. She told police of her desire for him to be trespassed from her property and the East Lake area, as she asserted he should not reside with her or anyone else nearby.Police spoke with the ex-boyfriend, who claimed that she had invited him to retrieve the remainder of his belongings. However, upon arrival, she informed him she did not have any of his possessions. He said their disagreement escalated into an argument until police arrived. Police conducted background checks on both of them. Given that the ex-boyfriend was causing a disturbance on the housing property and had no legitimate reason to be present, police issued a trespass notice, banning him from East Lake Courts and all surrounding Housing Authority properties. He was provided with the trespass notice and subsequently left the scene without further police involvement.* * *While patrolling the parking lot of an apartment complex on Citico Avenue, police noticed a vehicle which was not normally seen in that area. Police observed a false temp tag (TN) displayed on the rear of the vehicle. Police verified the tag with Dispatch and the tag came back to a different vehicle. Police then verified the VIN came back to a stolen vehicle out of Knoxville. Police fingerprinted the vehicle and found four separate prints located around the outside of the vehicle, which were turned in to Property. Expressway Towing towed the vehicle.* * *Midnight shift observed a man sleeping at the dental office at 4933 Brainerd Road. The business owner wanted the man to move along. Police spoke with the man, who was just gathering a few of his belongings prior to leaving. He gave police no problems.* * *A woman at the Douglas Heights Apartments on Douglas Street told police she had an altercation with a heavy-set black male in a silver Chevy Traverse. She said she parked a parking spot away from a vehicle, when the driver got out of his vehicle and came toward her. She said he said, Roll down your window. You have to face me." The woman then drove away to the UTC Police station and called CPD. Police followed her to her apartment per her request. The woman parked crooked into her parking spot and next to a vehicle she said was the one she previously had an altercation with the driver. The vehicle she pointed out was a GM Terrain bearing a TN tag. Police advised her that if that was the vehicle she was having an issue with, she might want to park in a different spot, considering the spots are not assigned. The woman moved her vehicle and went inside her apartment.* * *Police responded to a business alarm on Belle Arbor Avenue. Police spoke with a man and his wife who are at the property. They said they were perspective buyers of the property, which was for sale, and were there with the realtor, who had already left, to look at the property.* * *A woman at the hotel at 901 Carter St. heard a commotion in the room behind her. She said she heard a man and woman arguing, which woke her up. She also heard what she believed was someone being pushed into an empty bathtub. The woman alerted the front desk clerk of what she had heard. An employee at the hotel told police a black female came up to the front desk and said the guy she was staying with in a room was trying to drown her and that she had already called the police and her own case worker. The woman then left the property and the employee said she saw the man walk back to the room. The employee described him as a black male with shoulder-length dreads, no shirt, a jean jacket and black pants. The employee wanted the man trespassed from the property. Police knocked on the door of the room and receive no answer. The employee opened the door for police and the room was unoccupied. The employee told police the man had the room key with him. Police asked her if she could lock out the man from using his key, and she said she didn't know how. The employee said the room was checked out in the name of another employee and police have no information on who the victim or the suspect are.* * *While looking for a possible suspect from a separate vandalism at John A. Patten Community Center, 3202 Kellys Ferry Road, police observed what appeared to be a vandalized water meter at 3520 Cummings Hwy. The water meter's access door was tied open with a black cord and the metal box protecting the piping was destroyed. Police notified info channel of the incident and will investigate for a suspect.* * *A woman on N. Orchard Knob Avenue told police that when she had gone out to warm up her vehicle that morning, she found her steering column was broken and the ignition was on the floor. She had video of a male friend (unknown DOB or real name) at around 3 a.m. The video did not show him enter or exit the vehicle, but showed him just coming from the vehicle to the front door to ring the door bell. There is not enough evidence to charge the man with any crime. The woman said she would try to gather video from neighbors to see if anyone caught who attempted to steal her vehicle. The cost to fix the damage will be around $1,000. The woman will go through insurance to have her vehicle fixed.* * *A woman on Latimore Street told police someone had cut the screen on her window the previous night and she believed the person was attempting to gain entry to her home. She had declined to call police during the night, but wanted to document the property damage.* * *A suspicious man was reported at the Captain D's, 2008 Gunbarrel Road. Police spoke with the man, who said he wanted police to know he was going to be moving to a hotel near Sam's Club off Lee Highway. The man began to talk about how people were following him and he could hear them talking about him. Police verified the man was not having thoughts of hurting himself or anyone else. He said he did not need any assistance; he just wanted to verify that it was documented he was moving to the new area.* * *A woman on Sequoia Drive told police someone attempted to steal her Kia Soul. She said sometime between 1-6 a.m. the person broke out the rear left window ($500). They then entered the vehicle and took off the steering column plate and attempted to wire it. It is unknown why the person abandoned the incident. There is no suspect information.* * *A man called police and reported that his stolen vehicle was recovered and towed to First Response towing. He said when he and his mother went to clean out the vehicle, they found several spent shell casings in the vehicle. Police recovered four spent 40S&W nickel shell casings inside the vehicle. Police collected the casings and turned them into Property.* * *A woman on Holland Lane told police she believes her wedding ring was stolen a couple of weeks ago. She said she sold a bunk bed to a black female in her mid-twenties who identified herself to the woman. She brought a man with her to assist in getting the bunk bed from the woman's residence. The woman does not know if either of them stole the ring at that time. They buyer was unable to be contacted by police.* * *A handgun was found by housekeeping in a drawer of one of the rooms at Hotel Indigo, 300 W 6th St. Management was unable to provide police with any information about the renter, since the room was purchased online by a separate company (Expedia).* * *A man on Hixson Pike told police his credit card was fraudulently used. Police met the man at the animal hospital at 6393 Lee Highway in reference to his card being run for $7,760.65. The animal hospital stated a woman (unknown DOB) brought in a dog named Bandit, and paid using the man's card. The man was now disputing the charge. The animal hospital said the man called in requesting to know who used his card. The animal hospital stated due to HIPPA violations, they could not provide him with that information. The following charges have been completed: $748.22, $428.15, $5,613.50 and $970.78. The man said he had already reported the card as well as some checks stolen. Police asked the man if he knew a woman by the name of the one who made the charges at the animal hospital, to which he said he did not. He said he does know the dog, Bandit, or the owners of the dog; the ones who stole his card and checks. The animal hospital said they would review footage and provide a photo of the woman using the card. Police provided an email address to the staff.
China accounts for 30% of global manufacturing value added and the largest share of global manufacturing and industrial output. There are widespread expectations that Industry 4.0  the comprehensive digitalisation of industrial production processes  will simultaneously boost economic growth and achieve energy-savings targets. However, there is disagreement within the scientific community as to whether Industry 4.0 can in fact reconcile these two goals.

One conclusion of the RIFS study is that the often postulated mantra of "increasing energy efficiency through digitalization" is mostly ineffective for sustainability goals and the decarbonization of industry. RIFS/ Kathleen Friedrich

A study by the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) analysed ten Chinese manufacturing sectors between 2006 and 2019 with the aim of identifying correlations between Industry 4.0 and energy indicators. Although some studies have already analysed the impact of digital technologies on energy consumption, few have focussed on the Chinese context. Moreover, previous studies did not properly address the concept of Industry 4.0," says lead author Stefanie Kunkel. For example, some studies of Industry 4.0 in the Chinese context oversimplified the concept and equated the use of robots in manufacturing with artificial intelligence, for example. In doing so, these studies ignore the knowledge and innovation dimensions of Industry 4.0. In addition, few of the previous studies examined aggregate energy consumption. Instead, most focused on relative energy consumption or energy efficiency. However, gains here can distract from the goal of reducing total energy consumption, which is vital for the decarbonization of the industrial sector.

Is there a significant link between industry 4.0 and energy consumption? The main aim of the study is to understand the extent to which the uptake and degree of Industry 4.0 technologies impacts on overall energy consumption and energy intensity in the Chinese manufacturing sector  and whether the thesis that Industry 4.0 contributes to efficiency and thus energy savings is supported by statistical findings.

The term energy intensity measures the energy consumed within a given sector per euro of output. Kunkel and her co-authors conducted a panel data analysis that included data from ten industrial sectors over a period of 14 years (2006 to 2019). The manufacturing sectors covered included the textile industry, metal industry and the food industry, among others.

Digital rebound and growth versus efficiency effects As far as total energy consumption in the manufacturing sector in China is concerned, the results show that there is no significant link between the degree of Industry 4.0 and energy consumption. "The relationship is positive, but not significant," comments Kunkel. For example, using robots instead of manual labour in textiles manufacturing, which is currently less digitalised, may likely increase energy consumption in that sector. So-called "digital rebound effects" often occur when efficiency gains achieved through digitalisation lead to cost savings. These savings can then be fully or partially reinvested, thus neutralizing some or all of the efficiency gains and thus expected resource savings. In addition, digitalisation generally has a growth-promoting effect, which is also likely to increase energy consumption.

The findings of Kunkel et al. contradict other studies, which found that the use of robots and industrial digitalisation reduced the energy intensity of industry and manufacturing  in other words, that they delivered efficiency gains. The RIFS study, on the other hand, was only able to identify a negative correlation between Industry 4.0 and energy intensity for sectors that are already highly digitalised. One explanation for this could be that Industry 4.0 innovations can be better integrated into strongly digitalised sectors, such as transport, enabling potential gains in efficiency to be realised to a greater degree.

One challenge for the analysis of the effect of industry 4.0 on energy indicators is that digitalisation-related offshoring and thus reductions in energy intensity may be attributed to digitalisation itself. In order to partially capture such effects, Kunkel et al. included the indicator "CO2 imports" as a proxy for the energy intensity of imported goods. There were significant positive associations between CO2 imports and the extent of Industry 4.0, which suggest that an increasing degree of Industry 4.0 is associated with increasing CO2 imports. However, further research is needed to understand the underlying dynamics.

Conclusion Energy consumption in industry accounted for 37% of global energy consumption in 2022, with China accounting for the largest share. Reducing energy consumption and improving the environmental performance of industrial production in China will therefore be critical to efforts to mitigate climate change.

A key finding of this RIFS study is that focussing exclusively on potential gains in energy efficiency through digitalisation can undermine efforts to achieve sustainability goals and decarbonise industry as growth and offshoring dynamics driven by digitalisation may result in an overall increase in energy consumption. Other factors must be considered, such as impacts on industrial offshoring, the sector-specific impacts of different digital technologies, human capabilities to enable the absorption of innovations and harness their benefits for sustainability, as well as the simultaneous integration of renewable energy in industrial manufacturing.

In addition to energy variables, the Kunkel et al. also recommends including other sustainability indicators such as resource consumption and electronic waste from digital technologies in future studies on the sustainability of Industry 4.0. Such analyses of the relationship between energy and Industry 4.0 are of considerable relevance to industry representatives and political decision-makers beyond China. The European Union and countries around the world are hopeful that digitalisation can be harnessed in the pursuit of more sustainable development. This study shows that achieving this outcome is not a given, but that it will require careful steering.
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President replaces 5 senior secretaries

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol reinstated the position of chief of staff for policy in a restructuring of his secretariat that came earlier than expected, in an apparent bid to address declining confidence in the administration's abilities following a devastating failure in Busans bid to host the World Expo 2030.

Yoon also replaced the senior presidential secretaries for political affairs, civil and social agenda, public relations, economic affairs and social policy. They will begin work on Dec. 4.

Outgoing senior presidential secretary for public relations Kim Eun-hye said, Thursday, Yoon promoted Lee Kwan-sup, who served as the senior presidential secretary for policy planning, as the first policy chief of the Yoon administration, which is a minister-level position.

The new chief of staff for policy will oversee the offices of the senior secretary for economic affairs and the senior secretary for social policy. Also, a new position of senior secretary for science and technology will be created under the policy chief, and the office will announce an appointee in the coming weeks.

The creation of the chief of staff for policy position is aimed at improving coordination between the Cabinet and the ruling party, enabling the faster implementation of policies and checking economic policies more thoroughly so that we can take better care of the peoples livelihoods, Kim said.

The presidential secretaries who will report to the senior secretary for policy planning are the secretaries for national planning, national agenda, policy coordination, government information and speech and communication.

Until the announcement, Yoon had kept two minister-level aides  the presidential chief of staff and the director of national security  while his predecessor, Moon Jae-in, had three  the presidential chief of staff, the director of national security and chief of staff for policy.

When taking office, Yoon abolished the chief of staff for policy post under the view that the presidential office should be a slim and agile organization. However, concerns have grown that policies have been virtually missing during Yoons 18-month presidency, especially in terms of the three major reform agendas of labor, pension and education.

Since those agendas require coordination between multiple ministries, the chief of staff for policy is expected to synchronize policies among ministries. This appears to reflect past criticism over the government flip-flopping the lengthening of the legal cap on the workweek and expanding the countrys medical school quota earlier this year

The post is a minister-level position, which is higher than a vice-minister-level senior presidential secretary, meaning the policy chiefs words and directions will have greater influence on ministries. An official at the presidential office said the position was created to serve as the control tower of government policies.

Hours after promoting Lee, presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki announced that Yoon replaced five senior secretaries.

The current secretary for state affairs monitoring, Han O-sup, was named senior secretary for political affairs, and former news anchor for broadcaster KBS, Hwang Sang-moo, was appointed as senior secretary for civil and social agenda.

Presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon will be the new senior secretary for public relations, and Bank of Korea Monetary Policy Board member Park Chun-sup will be the new senior secretary for economic affairs. Vice education minister Jang Sang-yoon was appointed as the new senior secretary for social policy.

The staff changes came earlier than initial expectations that Yoon will replace his aides when secretaries exit the office early next month to run in the general elections in April next year.

This is viewed as reflecting Yoons efforts to refresh his secretariat and dispel growing criticism of the governments diplomatic capabilities following the failed bid to have Busan host the World Expo 2030.

During the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris, early Wednesday, Busan won 29 out of 165 votes by member states, lagging far behind Saudi Arabias Riyadh which won 119 ballots. Since Riyadh gained more than two-thirds of the total ballots, no second-round voting took place.

This was far from the governments initial prediction based on meetings with diplomatic contacts that the Korean city was staging a neck-and-neck race with Riyadh, and it was almost certain that Busan would pass the elimination round and stage a final showdown in the second-round of voting.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called the botched attempt a diplomatic failure and called for a thorough scrutiny into why the government relied on inaccurate information.

The failure revealed the governments lack of access to information and diplomatic limitations, DPK spokesperson Rep. Yoon Young-deok said Thursday. The government should use this as an opportunity to review its own capability.

DPK Rep. Kim Young-ho said the government must thoroughly check the reasons behind its inaccurate predictions. Without self-reflection and improvement, we may fail to demonstrate our true capabilities in future efforts to attract international events, Kim said.

Against this backdrop, Yoon on Thursday called off his scheduled attendance in two meetings on state policy and national cohesion. A day earlier, he also postponed a national defense innovation meeting slated for Wednesday afternoon. A senior official at the presidential office said Yoon was being briefed on related state affairs.
Some of the most powerful women Ive met are successful attorneys.

For a long time, women who work as lawyers have had to fight to prove themselves to be just as smart, efficient, and powerful as men who practice law.

There has been a long line of magnificent female lawyers in the U.S. who have shown how well women can work in law during times when it was considered unusual and unconstitutional for them to practice.

Belva Ann Lockwood was a trailblazer for those women, as she was the first woman admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Belva was born in Royalton, New York, in 1830. Growing up, she was always passionate about breaking norms and wanted to seek higher education. But at the time, she was only deemed eligible for an education that would make her a suitable wife and mother.

So, when Belva was 18, she married local farmer Uriah McNall and had a daughter with him. But when she was only 23 years old, Uriah died, leaving her a widow with no way of supporting herself.

In the mid-1850s, Belva sent her daughter to live with her grandparents while she moved to Lima, New York, so she could study at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and Genesee College, known today as Syracuse University.

In school, Belva became more and more passionate about womens rights and joined the cause of fighting for equal opportunities for men and women. In 1866, she moved to Washington, D.C., with her daughter, where she became more involved in the suffrage movement, attended political meetings, and worked with peace organizations.

During that time, she married her second husband, Reverend Ezekiel Lockwood, a Civil War veteran who supported her interests in law and politics.

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During a trip to Poland, this 23-year-old woman and her friend arrived at their hostel but couldnt get into the building. For some reason, the door wouldnt open despite the women having the security code.

While outside, two men approached who said they were also staying at the hostel. The men tried to help, but the door still wouldnt open. Finally, they were all able to get inside when someone was leaving the building.

At the start, the two men seemed kind and helpful. They offered to assist the women in carrying their luggage up the hostel stairs. However, the women werent able to check in right away like they assumed theyd be able to.

Surprisingly, there was no one at the check-in desk, even though the owner specifically asked that we check in at this time, she said.

Since the women knew which rooms theyd been assigned, the two men showed them where their room was, and they all introduced themselves to one another. The two men were 32 and 33, and the women told them how old they were as well.

After the men left, the women realized that since they hadnt been able to check in, they didnt have a key to get into the building or lock their room door. At this point, they started to feel uneasy about the converted apartment building that they were going to be staying in. She rationalized that this is the kind of hostel that you can expect for only $11 a night.

From there, things got even weirder.

We then hear a brief knock on the door, and without waiting for a reply, these two dudes come back into our room to talk. The younger one of the two starts talking to us about going out that night and asking more questions about us, and at this point, my friend and I are exchanging looks. He mentions that he thinks Im the one in charge because my friend looks young, and then he proceeded to stroke his hand down her cheek, she shared.

The women were rightfully uncomfortable, but the men didnt seem to want to leave, especially the younger of the two.

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Growing up in the coastal city of Singkawang in Indonesias West Kalimantan province, Samuel Junaedi remembers that whenever he got sick, his parents would drive him to Bethesda Health Ministries, a missionary hospital in the remote village of Serukam. The 30-mile journey could take more than two hours due to the rough and bumpy road.

But when we met with Dr. [Wendell] Geary and his team  we felt as if half of our illnesses were already cured, the 61-year-old recalls. In a region on the island of Borneo where witch doctors have long required payments in animal sacrifices to heal the sick, the practice of Western medicine was similarly seen as transactional. Those with money, connections, and prestige would get help, while the poor and lowly were out of luck.

Yet Bethesda was different. No matter a patients class, ethnicity, or ability to pay, the doctors would see them. They serve us not only with their expertise but also with their hearts. This has differentiated Bethesda from other health centers, Junaedi said.

Today, although he has much closer options, Junaedi still drives more than an hour to get to Bethesda when he or his family members suffer from serious illnesses. I prefer to come to Bethesda because of the professionalism, good communication, and loving care offered by the staff here, he said.

Despite support from locals like Junaedi, the hospital may need a miracle to continue operating. Founded by the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society (CBFMS) about six decades ago, Bethesda was once a lifeline for members of the indigenous Dayak people as well as residents of major cities in West Kalimantan seeking high-quality care.

Yet things have since changed. The last missionaries left in 2016, and with them much of the donations. Bethesda has also struggled to transition from foreign to completely local management, especially as its remote location has made it difficult to recruit qualified administrators. The construction of new hospitals and government-funded clinics in the region has also led to fewer patients coming through Bethesdas doors. Today, the hospitals funds are running out.

Like mission hospitals in many parts of the world, Bethesda is at a crossroads as the world around it changes. The board, staff, and the local community believe there is a continued need for Bethesda in West Kalimantan: A hospital run on Christian principles that treats patients equally and shines as a light in a profession often associated with greed, said Gearys son Paul, now a doctor and organizational consultant for Bethesda.

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Whether were going to survive, I dont know, he said. We might have to close or wind down into something really small. Or the crucible of pressure and debate  might squeeze us out of this fire into something better.

A legacy in the rainforests of Borneo

In 1964, American missionaries Wendell Geary, his wife Marjorie, and their two young sons (including Paul) first arrived in the remote hamlet of Sungai Betung, home to a few hundred animist Dayaks living in simple wooden homes surrounded by the lush rainforest. Their job: revive a wooden makeshift clinic without electricity that was built in the late 50s by missionary John Bremen.

CBFMS, now known as WorldVenture, took over the ministry when Bremen left and assigned two American nurses to work there in 1962. Gearys arrival allowed the clinic to treat patients suffering from more serious illnesses, including those needing surgery. Most of the patients were Dayaks living in scattered hamlets and villages in the Kalimantan hinterlands and nearby towns. Malays and Chinese Indonesians in the area also started to come to the clinic.

Image: Courtesy of Paul Geary

With no other medical clinic in a 25-mile radius, patients quickly flooded to the clinic. Some suffered mild illnesses such as skin irritations or fevers, while others came for treatment of more serious problems: malaria, pneumonia, TB, or injuries like those caused by animal attacks. About 50 to 100 patients arrived each day.

To meet the rising demand, the clinic expanded and CBFMS sent more foreign doctors and nurses to help, including American doctors Bert and Beth Ferrell. Marjorie, a nurse, recruited 15 local young adults and taught them the basics of nursing, including how to use medical equipment, care for patients, keep the 20 beds clean, and ensure the kerosene lamps were lit in the evenings.

This training in nursing later grew into a nursing academy at Bethesda, which provided skilled nurses and medical professionals for the clinic and for other health centers in Indonesia.

In the late 60s, the Gearys and the hospital staff protected 300 Chinese Indonesians in their hospital and nearby church during a Communist guerrilla uprising and a spurt of attacks between the Dayaks and the Chinese, according to Gearys letters.

In 1974, Bethesda moved to Serukam, a neighboring village not much larger than Sungai Betung. CBFMS built a full hospital with 100 beds and its own electricity and water supply. The facilities included several simple houses for doctors and staff and dormitories for paramedics. They also built an airstrip next to the hospital where light planes operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship could transport patients for emergency treatment.

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Not even mentioned on the map

Since the 1980s, Indonesian doctors have joined the mission and have gradually replaced foreign doctors who have been increasingly barred from working in the health sector by the Indonesian government. At the same time, Bethesda started to handover ownership from foreigners to a board made up of Christian Indonesians.

Sri Sjamsudewi, from Sumatra, was the first Indonesian doctor to join the hospital in 1982. My friends scolded me as crazy when I decided to join Bethesda, she recalled. They could not understand why I wanted to work in a place that was not even mentioned on the map.

Sjamsudewi ended up working at Bethesda for 31 years until she moved to Singkawang in 2013. During her time at Bethesda, her faith in Christ grew as she saw God miraculously provide for both her big and small needs. There was the time Geary was unavailable and she had to operate on a man whose liver and lung tissue had been punctured by a bucks antler, a procedure she had never done before. With a prayer on her lips, she swiftly cleaned and treated the injuries and the man recovered.

Another time, while assisting Geary in an extremely high-risk emergency operation, they miraculously found a tube that exactly matched the severely damaged abdominal aorta they needed to replace.

Yet God also answered much smaller prayers. She remembers how, shortly after joining Bethesda, she prayed to God for some practical needs: a thermos and an alarm clock. A few days later, the wife of one of her patients dropped off a gift. Inside was a thermos and an alarm clock.

Many Indonesian doctors have since followed Sjamsudewis path, joining Bethesda and working under the mentorship of Geary. They have gone on to specialize in fields such as surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, and oncology, and now serve in hospitals across the country. Geary also inspired Willy Ken from the Dayak Iban subtribe to pursue medicine. He became the first doctor from his community and served as Bethesdas director in the 90s.

Beyond medical care, Geary also shared the gospel with patients and preached at the hospitals church. In 2012, Geary and Marjorie moved back to the United States after nearly five decades in West Kalimantan. Geary passed away in 2019 and Marjorie earlier this year.

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Bethesdas financial woes

Due to the hospitals remote location, Paul thought that the most difficult part of the transition would be finding doctors and nurses. But instead, they found it even harder to staff the hospitals administrators, accountants, managers, and IT department. The lack of good governance at Bethesda meant that it was unprepared to handle the government health policy changes, the steep drop in donations, and the dwindling of patients.

When the Gearys left, foreign donations to the hospital left with them, Paul said. Today it makes up less than 10 percent of Bethesdas revenue. About three-quarters of the revenue comes from patients with Indonesian health insurance, but the number of patients coming to Bethesda has also decreased. This is because of the wider implementation of the countrys health insurance system that requires patients to get a referral from community-level clinics before they can see specialists at Bethesda. At the same time, some of the bigger cities have opened their own new hospitals.

Dewi Citra Puspita, the director of Bethesda, noted that Bethesda has faced serious financial problems for years and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem.

Image: Courtesy of Paul Geary

When COVID-19 hit this province, we decided to open isolation wards to treat patients suffering from the virus, said Puspita. The 20-bed ward was almost always full during the peak of the pandemic as there were no other isolation centers near here.

The virus spread to the hospitals doctors and paramedics, nearly paralyzing the hospitals services. Yet even with limited staff, we were able to substantially contribute to the treatment and curing of the COVID patients, she noted.

Because the hospital received very few non-COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, their revenue dropped even further. Yet the hospital was able to keep its doors open thanks to special funding allocated by the government for health centers treating COVID-19 patients. Paul estimated that the funding would only last until the end of this year.

In addition, Bethesda has struggled to find a full-time internal medicine physician. Currently Bethesda only has a part-time internist practicing only once or twice a week. This limits its service and decreases the number of patients it can see. The average bed occupancy at Bethesda hovers at less than 20 percent.

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Bethesdas Uncertain Future

Today, Bethesda is at a crossroads. Paul took an extended leave from his practice in Minnesota to spend more time in Serukam during this transitional period. He held discussions and informal surveys with members of Bethesdas board, doctors, paramedics, managers, and local community representatives to figure out what to do next. He also reached out to a consulting firm in West Java with experience in hospital development and management.

Nearly everyone believes Bethesda should continue serving the community, Paul said. Yet they acknowledge that it would require significant reforms, including a shift to a missional hospital model that serves a mix of middle-class and poor patients so that it can increase salary levels and stay sustainable. Bethesda board member Francisca Badudu, an oncologist in Bandung, West Java, noted that the hospital may need to relocate to a more populated city.

But the hospital should firmly continue upholding its vision and mission to witness the love of Christ, said Badudu, who served in Serukam in the 1980s and held the position of chairperson of its board until recently.

To resolve some of Bethesdas governance issues, Paul is hoping that Bethesda can open an office in a larger city to recruit highly skilled people to manage the hospital remotely. Hes also looking to find more qualified people to join the hospitals boardinitially, the board was made up of rural farmers or pastors with no experience running a large hospital. Today about half of the board has the professional qualifications for their position.

The hospital has also found potential financial supporters in the people it has served. One businessman in Jakarta, who was born in West Kalimantan, told Paul that he was keen to support the hospital if it has any major plans in the future. The man had often heard his parents speak fondly about Bethesdas ministry.

Junaedi and his family are deeply grateful that God brought Geary and Marjorie to the jungles of West Kalimantan.

I just could not fathom why they agreed to come to such a remote place like this, he said. The only answer behind it must be their genuine and unreserved love for God.

And the fruits of their obedience are just amazing, he said. The Lord has marvelously blessed their ministries through Bethesda.

Additional reporting by Angela Lu Fulton.
On a hot night in August, Yong Shao, a small group leader of a house church in a major city in northern China, was about to start the weekly Zoom Bible study when he started receiving a barrage of messages from his small group members with an unexpected problem: Zoom wasnt working for them.

An IT professional, Yong went into troubleshooting mode. He suggested they update the Zoom app and switch to using cellphone data instead of Wi-Fi. In the past, these tricks worked when Zoom was downbut this time, nothing. As a backup, they decided to switch to an audio-only group call on WeChat, which Yongs church typically avoided due to government surveillance and censorship on the app. (CT has changed all names of people in China in this article due to security concerns).

Thankfully, the group didnt face any interruption or abrupt termination even as they mentioned sensitive religious words like Christ and eternal life. Yet the app limited the number of participants to 15 people, so some were unable to join, and the groups worship leader was unable to share the audio of the worship songs they planned to sing.

Since that night, Yong and the small group have continued to face problems with Zoom and have no choice but to continue to use WeChat.

Other Christian ministries in China have faced similar issues using Zoom in the past three months, according to interviews CT conducted with nine Chinese church leaders and ministry workers. While the company has not made any official announcement of being kicked out of China (Zooms service status website states it is operational in China), users on Reddit and Zooms website have also complained about the outage as well. Zoom did not respond to CTs request to comment.

With a number of tech companies banned in Chinaincluding Meta, X (formerly Twitter), and GoogleZoom had become a lifeline for house churches turning to online gatherings during the pandemic and beyond. Not only is the app user-friendly, it is considered relatively safe for unregistered churches who want to keep their communications free from government monitoring (although the company agreed to suppress sensitive speech in order to remain in China). While WeChat has been known to cut off conversations or delete messages with sensitive terms, Christians havent faced these problems with Zoom.

The full scope of the issue is still unknown. Some have said they found that Zoom accounts set up outside of China within the last year now no longer work in China. Some found that free accounts were unable to join Zoom meetings. Others wonder if the technical difficulties could be the result of the app complying with regional regulations.

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Still, amid an ever-changing climate for Christians, house churches have learned to be flexible in adjusting to new modes of worship. If Zoom no longer works, theyll find other ways to gather and worship God, whether thats using a different video conferencing platform, downloading virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent Chinas Great Firewall, or only meeting in person.

Zooms Challenges in China

Zoom, an American company with a sizable development team in China, is not without concern for Chinese Christians. After Chinese authorities blocked Zoom in 2019 claiming the company wasnt doing enough to suppress anti-government speech, CEO Eric Yuan visited China and agreed to monitor conversations on topics the Chinese Communist Party found sensitive, according to court documents uncovered by CyberScoop. After that, Zooms service resumed in China.

Evidence of that monitoring came in 2020, when the company shut down Zoom vigils on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacreone of the most sensitive historical events in Chinaand suspended the accounts of overseas dissidents at the request of Chinese authorities.

Zooms annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission expressed the risk of working in China: The Chinese government has at times turned off our service in China without warning and requested that we take certain steps prior to restoring our service, such as designating an in-house contact for law enforcement requests and transferring China-based user data housed in the United States to a data center in China.

Since August 2020, users in China have been unable to buy products directly from Zoom. Instead they need to purchase services through local third-party partners. Some Christians concerned about government surveillance responded by purchasing Zoom licenses in the US to use in China.

Still, Zoom has become an important tool for churches. Jeremy Liu, a minister in a small city in northern China, said that besides Bible study, his church uses Zoom for livestreaming Sunday worship, online devotionals, and discipleship training on topics like marriage, parenting, and mental health. When the COVID-19 lockdown began, his congregation divided into smaller groups and started using Zoom for all of its meetings. One benefit of the online meetings was that it widened the reach of Lius church: It allowed some of the Christians who live in the countryside surrounding the city and some who are elderly or sick to participate.

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Yet last month, Lius church was also unable to log into Zoom. Liu, who also has some background in IT, was eventually able to get Zoom to work but only after spending a large sum of the churchs modest budget to purchase a specific software. (Liu did not share the specifics for fear that it might give the Chinese government ideas and help their censorship.)

Solomon Li, an overseas ministry leader to urban house churches, has heard widespread complaints about Zoom in the past few months. I think its part of the Great Firewall in China, and also China is forcing Zoom to comply with some local laws, he said. Zoom is becoming more and more difficult for local churches and organizations to use, no doubt about it.

Thats been the experience of Sarah Cheng, who works at a seminary in eastern China. She said that since August, 18 of the 20 Zoom licenses her team had purchased for the seminary and the house church associated with it had been inactivated. (By October, the remaining two also stopped working.)

Cheng said they had spent $2,000 buying the one-year licenses in the US in May. When she called Zoom, the company said their activity had violated local laws and the American version of Zoom was not allowed in China. Zoom also refused to refund the nine remaining months left on the license.

Recently, Cheng noted that Chinese users of the free version of Zoom have received error messages when they try to join Zoom meetings set up by foreign accounts. She believes that the Chinese government is trying to force locals to use third-party partners, which comes with greater risks. The tradeoff is everything you record, who joins the meeting, that data will be stored in China, Cheng said. To us, thats very dangerous.

Only Zooms business accounts (which require users to buy at least 10 licenses) work in China. Now, the seminary largely uses Webex, a conference platform that is not as user-friendly as Zoom, especially for recording or setting up meetings.

In-person-only churches

Not all house churches use Zoom or other online conferencing apps. Some even intentionally avoid meeting online. Pastor Shi Ming in Shanghai said his church used Zoom during the COVID-19 lockdown, but they have stopped since February when they resumed in-person meetings. Their reasoning was more practical than security-driven: As long as Zoom is permitted, people would find excuses not to come to the in-person church meetings, Shi said.

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To prepare for future tech bans, Yong, the small group leader, also believes churches need to rely less on technology. Instead, pastors and church leaders should carry out offline pastoral care as much as possible, even if the number of people who can gather together is small, Yong said. Pastors should put more time and energy into visiting church members in person as much as possible to take care of every believer.

Aaron Zhao, the pastor of a house church in a big city in central China, agrees and noted that his church does not livestream their Sunday worship on Zoom. However, his congregation still uses the video conferencing app for online prayer meetings. When they do, more and more people have told us that it has become impossible to join the online meeting. Sometimes they cannot enter the Zoom meeting, sometimes there is no sound or video. Because they do not use Zoom often, this has made only a small impact on their church life.

If one day Zoom is eventually banned completely, we will switch to other online conference tools, Zhao said. Yet he noted that they would not use Chinese apps like Tencents VooV or Alibabas DingTalk, as those are known to be tightly monitored by the government. Instead, they would need to use foreign apps that may need a VPN to access.

Debate over VPNs

House churches have different stances on whether or not they encourage their congregants to use VPNs, which are illegal in China. In some rare cases, the government has fined and arrested VPN users.

On one hand, churches like Zhaos encourage the use of VPNs. He said it helped the church communicate without barriers and avoid censorship. In addition, it allows believers to have more sources of information and listen to both sides of the news story so that they will not be brainwashed by the Communist Partycontrolled domestic media.

On the other hand, Lius church does not encourage its members to use VPNs, even if he uses one personally. Thats because most of his church members are older and less educated people for whom the technique is too difficult  and VPN tools that normally can only be purchased from the black market have their own safety risks, including malware, he said.

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Sayah Tu, a church leader on the east coast of China, has similar reservations about using VPNs. But he believes that it may become inevitable for house churches and fellowships to use VPNs to access needed Christian resources.

In the past few years, the government has blocked online Christian websites and WeChat accounts while shutting down independent Christian publishers.

I hope that Christians in China  would not always be limited by the Great Firewall for knowledge and education, but will learn more about the outside world and continue to have a forward-looking vision, Tu said. He believes that being aware of the true situation in China through foreign sources helps Christians prepare for future challenges their ministry faces.

Yet as the government severs Chinese peoples access to the outside world, the church needs to focus not only on day-to-day operations but also on how Chinas current situation presents an opportunity for better discipleship of the congregation.

There may be a day when no tool can climb over the Great Firewall and the Chinese network will become a closed intranet, Tu said. When that happens, it seems to me that the help that Christians outside the Great Firewall can provide is limited. So, it is more important that Christians in China can experience spiritual renewal under the current circumstances of persecution.

[ This article is also available in , , and . ]
Home Books Mike Pence on prioritizing family over politics, the 'Billy Graham Rule' and what's next

Throughout his career, from serving as governor of Indiana to vice president of the United States, Mike Pence has led with a simple yet profound truth: the prioritization of the family, in tandem with faith, will lead to a richer, more fulfilling life and a stronger nation.

The wellspring of our nation's strength has always been the faith of the American people and American families, the 64-year-old told The Christian Post. And when our faith is strong, when our families are strong, America is strong.

And in an era where professional demands often overshadow personal time and loneliness is an "epidemic," Pence is advocating for a return to the dinner table in his new book, Go Home for Dinner: Advice on How Faith Makes a Family and Family Makes a Life,co-authored with his daughter, Charlotte Pence Bond.

For the former vice president, the book, which follows his autobiography So Help Me God, is not just a memoir but a testament to the balance he has strived for between public service and private life  a balance he's quick to stress wouldn't be possible without biblical principles and wise practices.

Pence shared how, during his political ascent, from Congress to the governorship of Indiana, and finally to the vice presidency, he often faced the question, "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

His consistent reply, "Home for dinner," wasn't just a clever retort but a principle he lived by; he made a commitment to be home, every night, with his wife, Karen, and their three children.

Despite the intensity of political life, he maintained that the dinner table was where his family's bond was nurtured, echoing Ronald Reagan's sentiment that "all great change in America begins at the dinner table."

When I think about the concern that tens of millions of Americans have for the future of this country, I want to encourage people, 'Focus on your own, make your family a priority, he said. I hold the view that faith makes a family, and family makes a life. And in these busy days, I hope they go home for dinner. The encouragement and the stories in this book hopefully make people smile, but also may also make them think about their own corner of the world and being there for their spouse and for their children in new and renewed ways. We will strengthen America by strengthening families and faith.

Pence's book delves into how such familial practices have shaped his decision-making process and provided a sanctuary from the busyness often celebrated by mainstream culture.

For example, early on, Mike and Karen Pence made intentional choices, such as relocating their family to Washington, D.C., to ensure they remained a unit, a commitment they extended through Pence's tenure as vice president.

Go Home for Dinner also candidly addresses personal challenges the Pences faced, including infertility and career setbacks. Pence shared how these experiences, while difficult, solidified his commitment to family and faith  and how, paradoxically, focusing on what matters at home has consistently opened unforeseen professional doors.

If God didn't exist, it would never make sense to put your family ahead of your career because there would be a cost to that, Pence said. The truth is, our culture likes to tell young people that you can have it all, you can have everything, and you actually can't.

"But I have come to believe, since I put my faith in Jesus Christ as a young man and have been working ever since to make that walk with the Lord real in my life, that when we make God's priorities our priorities, that He blesses us. I don't mean in material ways; I mean in deeper and more meaningful ways in terms of richness in relationships and satisfaction in life.

Now the grandparents of three young girls, Pence said he and Karen continue to make family a priority and spend time with their three children, who are scattered across the nation: "Over the last three years, we've done a lot of traveling around the country ... and Mrs. Pence almost invariably finds a way to spend time with our kids that are in California, Arizona and Florida, as we speak. I have a sense that's accelerated a little bit since our granddaughters were born over the last three years," he said with a chuckle.

It was this commitment to protecting his marriage and by extension, his family, that compelled Pence to follow the Billy Graham Rule both in his personal and public life. The rule, named after evangelist Billy Graham, is a practice of avoiding situations that might be perceived as compromising to one's marriage.

For Pence, this means avoiding dining alone with women other than his wife and not attending events serving alcohol without his wife by his side, something he famously told The Hill in a 2002 interview. The revelation garnered both support and criticism from the corporate press: some viewed it as a means of safeguarding relationships, while others derided it for potentially limiting professional opportunities for women.

Reflecting on the polarizing reactions to his adherence to the rule, Pence stressed that maintaining professional boundaries has not hindered opportunities for women in his team, instead fostering a respectful work environment.

It was remarkable that we were being criticized for putting a premium on respecting our marriage and avoiding the appearance of impropriety and also creating conditions in the workplace that were respectful of the men and women that worked with us, Pence said.

But it wasn't long after that criticism came that the #MeToo movement emerged and many really tragic stories have occurred out of corporate America. I'm pleased that some positive changes have happened in workplaces around the country. But for us, I can tell you, whether it was that criticism, or when Mrs. Pence as second lady of the United States was criticized for teaching at a Christian school in suburban Washington that adhered to a biblical view of marriage, we take those things in stride. As the Bible says, we count it all joy.

The former vice president revealed hes also choosing to rest in Gods sovereignty after suspendinghis presidential campaign in late October.

While we worked hard on the campaign, as I announced a few weeks back, we concluded this is not my time, he said. And while we feel disappointment about that, people have said, How are you doing? and I say, Everything in my life that matters is great. My wife loves me. My kids are healthy. I stopped counting after that. And I think when we really focus on making God's priorities our priorities in our life, the disappointments that come in our careers are put in their proper perspective.

Looking toward the future, Pence said he remains open to opportunities to serve the country while continuing to advocate for conservative values. He emphasized his commitment to life issues, indicating that his future endeavors would prioritize the sanctity of human life and support for families, including adoption reform.

The American people, he said, are "the most faith-filled, freedom-loving, generous, hardworking, and idealistic people the world has ever known  and he hopes the U.S. government will someday match the caliber of its citizens.

He highlighted that the values uniting Americans, like cherishing freedoms, faith and family, outweigh the divisive details of policy and opinion. And amid the busyness of the holiday season, Pence encouraged families to engage in civil discourse, to remember shared histories and to cherish the unity that familial relationships foster.

In doing so, he believes America can find a path to reconcile its differences and rediscover its foundational strength.

I honestly believe that for most Americans, what unites us in this country will always be much greater than whatever divides us, he said. Most Americans cherish our freedoms. Most Americans cherish faith, love their families, and want what's best for their kids, their grandkids and their future. It's that we get to the details of policy where we have differences of opinion, we have differences in some values. But I really do believe it's around that dinner table, with a family member across the table, where you're reminded that you've got history, you've got common experiences, and that creates conditions where you can have dialogue.

"Some of the divisions in the public square are related to people spending more time out there than around that dinner table and with their families, he continued. [My family] hopes that if folks take nothing else from this book, they know that we're a family where our faith in Christ, our commitment to each other, our imperfect ways to live out that faith, are a priority for us and have richly blessed us through extraordinary and tumultuous times in our life."
Home Education Christian university fires renowned theologian for inappropriate behavior

Crandall University, a Baptist Christian liberal arts school located in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, has fired renowned religion scholar John G. Stackhouse Jr., following a six-month investigation that found he engaged in inappropriate behavior with colleagues and students.

Stackhouse, who recently married a former student, specializes in explaining contemporary culture to Christians and explaining Christianity to contemporary people around the world, according to his website. He was fired on Nov. 22, Crandall University said in a press release.

The law firm Pink Larkin was engaged by the University on the recommendation of its Board of Governors in April of 2023. The firm was asked to serve as the independent investigator following anonymous accusations of inappropriate behavior by an unnamed employee or employees contained in social media posts. The firm presented their findings to the Board late this past week. A decision to terminate Dr. Stackhouses employment, effective immediately, was approved by the Board today, the release said.

Sheila Cummings, former Crandall Board of Governors chair, who oversaw the investigation, co-signed a letter to the university community along with the chair, Douglas Schofield, and Crandall President Bruce Fawcett, expressing regret, especially to any student or students who were made to feel threatened, diminished, or victimized by the words or actions of a faculty member.

Paramount at Crandall University is the safety and security of its students. We cannot and will not tolerate behavior from its administration, faculty, or staff that in any way violates the Universitys mission and identity, the letter said.

The independent investigation by Pink Larkin featured interviews with dozens of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other community members, as well as a review of communications such as emails and social media posts, including from the #dobettercrandall campaign on Instagram.

Asummary of findings from the investigation focused on inappropriate or sexually oriented statements or conversations, whether spoken or written, over a period of nine months in 2020 and 2021.

Many of the Instagram posts referenced the subject faculty member. An interviewee described him as  having an incredible reputation for being brash and a bully. And according to the investigator, while being brash and somewhat bullyish in academia is not necessarily the exception, the line is crossed where the behavior rises to the level of harassment, or abuse of authority, the report said.

The investigator stated that he did not think the faculty member set out to harass or to sexually harass studentsor even to bully them by abusing his authority. However, that irrespective of his intention, his demeanor in class, and particularly his interactions with certain (female) students, created an unwelcoming environment and, in some cases, anxiety, the report noted.

In the investigators review, the faculty member ought to have known that his antics and his sense of humor were unwelcomed and unappreciated. In the investigators view, jokes (or stories) that might have come across as charming 25 years ago are no longer acceptable. In the investigators view, they constitute sexual harassment, it added. The investigator states that he believes his (Stackhouses) antics detrimentally affected the learning environment. In the investigators view, the faculty members conduct with some of his students in the classroom was unwelcome, it was of a sexual nature (which includes gender-based comments, sexist remarks, comments about a persons looks, dress and appearance). The conduct was found to be persistent.

In the Instagram campaign against Stackhouse, it was alleged that he was accused of sexual harassment at a previous educational institution. The investigator said when Stackhouse was asked about the allegation, he evaded a direct response to it, stating, there was no open complaint at the time of my leaving. He further noted that once a sexual harassment complaint is resolved it remains confidential.

It was further noted by the investigator that even though Stackhouse is married to one of his former students, the investigation did not show that he became romantically involved with her when she was his student.

In the end, the investigators recommended severe disciplinary action against Stackhouse.

I believe he is deserving of severe disciplinary action, the investigator said. Crandall needs to move quickly on this, and its actions need to be as transparent as the law on fairness and confidentially allow.
Home Business Corporate support for DEI in the workplace is dropping: report

The number of companies that are giving support and planning for diversity, equity and inclusion has declined compared to last year, according to a newly released report.

Paradigm, a consulting company specializing in DEI programs, released a report titled The State of Data-Driven DEI: 2023 Trends & 2024 Opportunities, which drew from data collected in September that analyzed 143 organizations with employment numbers in the hundreds of thousands.

According to the report, the number of companies with budgets directed toward DEI programs has declined 4 points, from 58% last year to 54% this year. Additionally, companies that have a DEI strategy has dropped 9 points, going from 60% last year to 51% this year.

Reasons for this decline, according to the report, included economic uncertainty that not only led to reduced spending across the board, it also firmly shifted the power balance back to Employers, the anti-diversity political attacks on DEI became increasingly aggressive, and many DEI champions becoming understandably fatigued.

Overall, we found that while organizations made some positive strides on impactful DEI efforts in 2023, many of the trends we see, combined with the effects of the current economic and political environment, show there is significant risk to DEI progress in 2024 and beyond, stated the report.

The topic of DEI programs has been a source of controversy, with supporters arguing that the measures are important to advancing racial and gender equality, while critics argue that they discriminate against certain groups and are unnecessarily divisive.

In an op-ed piece published by CP earlier this year, John Stonestreet and Maria Baer of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, noted:

Despite how quickly the trend has grown in recent years, its not working. In 2019, after spending $114 million on an initiative aimed at increasing and promoting diversity, Googles workforce was still only 3% African American. Last summer, The Economist published findings that suggested DEI programs do more to protect against litigation than to reduce discrimination. Partly behind the failure of DEI initiatives to accomplish their stated goals is how the terms are defined. Diversity is never measured in terms of belief, political party, or religion but, particularly in corporate settings, is reduced down to only categories of race, gender, and sexuality. This is why Time magazine evaluated the success of Googles diversity program based only in terms of the ethnic breakdown of their employees.

The report also referenced the U.S. Supreme Court decision Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, in which the high court ruled that schools could not use race as a factor in student acceptance.

The Supreme Courts affirmative action decision will make it harder for companies to hire a diverse workforce in the coming years, the report claimed.

Specifically, by preventing colleges and universities from considering race in admissions, the Courts decision will likely diminish the diversity of skilled entry-level professionals in the workforce.

The report did find a six-point increase in companies that have a senior DEI leader, a

three-point increase in organizations who track race and ethnicity representation

"within each executives line of business," and an eight-point rise in organizations who had gender representation goals.

In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266, a measure prohibiting public universities and colleges from funding DEI programs.

At the official bill signing, DeSantis defended the new law as a way to reorient our universities back to their traditional mission and to treat people as individuals, not to try to divvy them up based on any type of superficial characteristics.

Were going to elevate merit and achievement above identification with certain groups, and in order to do that, we had to look at this new concept, relatively new concept of diversity, equity and inclusion, he said.

What this concept of DEI has been is the attempt to impose orthodoxy on the university, and not even necessarily in the classroom, but through the administrative apparatus of the university itself.

DeSantis added that DEI programs have been basically used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda, adding that if you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination. And that has no place in our public institutions.
Home U.S. Ex-CIA head Michael Hayden: Gun-toting Christian 'no different' than Hamas suicide bomber

A former director of the Central Intelligence Agency took to social media days before the Thanksgiving holiday to endorse a comparison between a Bible-bearing, gun-toting American Christian and a heavily armed Hamas suicide bomber.

In response to a post on X featuring the side-by-side images of an unidentified woman holding an American flag, a Bible, and a pistol alongside a photo of Reem Riyashi, a Palestinian woman who killed four people and herself in a 2004 suicide bombing, Gen. Michael Hayden, a former director of the National Security Agency before being appointed to head the CIA by former President George W. Bush, replied, No different at all.

No different at all. https://t.co/ukHfLSxK02  Gen Michael Hayden (@GenMhayden) November 22, 2023

Riyashi is believed to be the first mother to conduct a suicide attack against Israelis during a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, The Washington Post reportedin 2004.

Its not the first time a photo of Riyashi has been used to compare a radical Islamic terrorist to a gun-toting Christian: in 2014, a conservative Christian commentator and Hobby Lobby supporter was criticizedfor recreating the image of Riyashi, who held a Quran and a long gun in the original photo.

Last month, Hayden, 75, a retired four-star general who served as head of government intelligence agencies under former Presidents Bill Clinton, Bush and briefly under Barack Obama, appeared to suggest Republican pro-life Sen. Tommy Tuberville should be removed from the human race.

In a reply to an X post asking whether Tuberville should be removed from his seat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Hayden replied, How about the human race?

He later clarifiedhis words, saying that he meant Tuberville should not be considered a member of the human race.

In response to the post, Tuberville said he reported Haydens comments to Capitol police and called his statement disgusting and repugnant to everything we believe in as Americans.

Hayden is listedas a member of the advisory board to NewsGuard, which provides AI tools to media brands to purportedly counter misinformation and false narratives spreading online. However, NewsGuard consistently gives low scores to Christian and conservative news outlets and high scores to progressive secular corporate media outlets.

He was also one of three former CIA directors, along with nearly 50 other current and former intelligence community officials who, weeks before the November 2020 election, signed a letter that falsely claimed the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop was Russian disinformation.

In March 2022, a Washington Post analysis concluded the laptop contents were "authentic communications," and found no evidence of any Russian tampering.
Home Politics 'Political revolution' approaching in US, Steve Bannon tells Tucker Carlson

"War Room" host Steve Bannon warned Tucker Carlson on Monday that the critical tensions afflicting Ireland over unrestrained illegal immigration and other issues are also simmering in the United States and could lead to political upheaval.

Bannon spoke to Carlson on the recent episode of the former Fox News host's show on X to discuss the unrest in Dublin, where riots erupted last week after an Algerian immigrant stabbed three children and one adult care worker outside a Catholic primary school.

A 5-year-old girl remains in a serious but stable condition as of Tuesday, according to the BBC.

The suspect in the stabbing, whom Irish police have yet to identify, is a man of French Algerian origin in his 50s who has lived in Ireland for 23 years and was previously arrested in 2003, according to the Sunday Times. He reportedly became a naturalized Irish citizen in 2008 after his deportation order was revoked following a review by Ireland's High Court.

Carlson opened his interview with Bannon by noting that The Washington Post suggested the Algerian man was not an immigrant because he had lived in Ireland for over 20 years. The outlet also quoted police who blamed the riots that flared after the attack on a "lunatic faction driven by a far-right ideology."

The host said that the suspect has been living in Ireland for 23 years "at public expense."

"He has never had a job, and then last week, he stabbed children," Carlson said.

Carlson also claimed that Irish authorities are using hate crime legislation to crack down on anyone "who questions government policy." MMA fighter Conor McGregor and a "large number" of other people are being investigated for allegedly inciting people to hatred by their speech, according to The Irish Independent.

Carlson and Bannon agreed that profound resentment among native citizens toward the effects of mass illegal immigration is seething not just Ireland, which Bannon described as a "powder keg," but throughout the Western world, including the U.S.

Bannon, who served as an adviser to former President Donald Trump, predicted that the U.S. is also headed toward "political revolution" in the coming years as younger Americans realize they are "Russian serfs" who effectively own nothing and never will because of the nation's ruinous financial situation.

"We are beyond broke," Bannon said. "We are technically at bankruptcy right now."

Citing Center for Immigration Studies statistics that suggest an additional 6 million illegal immigrants are slated to cross the border before the next presidential election, Bannon predicted that the country's political situation is "only going to get worse in the confrontation with the invasion of this nation by illegal aliens, exacerbated by radicals and globalists."

Carlson questioned how the average American could not be radicalized as elites encourage things that drive people to despair and give up on reproducing while simultaneously pushing for millions of immigrants to pour in.

Bannon replied that "every Maoist, every Marxist revolution [focuses] on breaking down the nuclear family" and that the corporate class wants unrestrained immigration "because they want to drive down wages at the lowest possible level and, quite frankly, they want bigger markets. They want more consumers."

"And so, this situation is going to cause a political revolution in this country," Bannon predicted, claiming that the financial and immigration situations are "five times worse" than when Trump ran in 2016.

The two also discussed the potential crackdown against dissenting opinion amid political unrest.

"If you have a different opinion from the state, they're trying to criminalize that," Bannon said. "They're trying to do that every day here in the United States. If they can't criminalize it to actually use the courts and the police state like the FBI to come after, they'll basically partner with Big Tech, either deplatform you or to 'other' you. We're seeing this here in the United States."

Bannon concluded by reflecting on how the "complexity" and "viciousness" of the political problems afflicting the U.S. have increased in recent years.

"People have to understand this is like Damocles' sword over the head of this nation," he said. "It is going to take at least a decade of tough decisions, tough people  tough, but fair people  to sort this out."
Home World Gov't employees may be barred from wearing religious attire, EU court rules

The European Union's highest court has ruled that member state governments can prohibit public employees from wearing religious attire, such as Muslim female head coverings.

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in the case of OP v. Commune d'Ans on Tuesday, siding with a Belgian municipality of Ans, which barred a Muslim woman from wearing a hijab while at work.

The EU court was asked whether the municipality's rules prohibiting public employees from wearing "signs of conviction," like religious attire or political messages, violated the European Union's equality framework directive banning discrimination based on disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age in the workplace.

The court concluded that the rule was not directly discriminatory to Muslim women because it applied to "any manifestation of belief, including religious belief, without distinction."

"[T]he desire of a public body, such as the municipal authority, to pursue a policy of political, philosophical or religious neutrality is, in absolute terms, capable of constituting a legitimate aim," the court's opinion states.

The EU directive allows member states a "margin of discretion" to take "account of the diversity of their approaches towards the place accorded to religion or belief within their respective systems," the court ruled, adding that states have discretion when it comes to maintaining a "fair balance" between "achieving the necessary reconciliation of the different rights and interests concerned."

The ruling drew strong condemnation from the Muslim rights group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which also urged the U.S. State Department to condemn the ruling. The group contends that such legislation meets the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act's definition of a religious freedom violation and warrants condemnation from the U.S. government.

"The Court of Justice of the European Union has trampled on the basic principles of religious freedom by denying Muslim women the right to wear a hijab at work," CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said in a statement. "This decision and past rulings in European nations clearly target Muslims and seek to eliminate expressions of Islam from public spaces."

For the past several years, many European nations have debated whether to restrict or ban certain traditional Islamic head and face coverings for Muslim women, citing reasons such as adherence to secular principles and preserving national identity.

In 2011, for example, France passed a ban on wearing full-face veils in public that carried the punishment of fines and/or citizenship training. The European Court of Human Rights upheld the law in a 2014 decision.

John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Program director at Amnesty International, said in a statement that he believed the 2014 ruling was "deeply disturbing to all those who value the freedom of expression."

"If one strips the court's ruling to its barest essence, it is saying you cannot wear full-face veils because it makes people feel uncomfortable. This is not grounds to ban behaviour or a form of expression  religious or otherwise  that in itself does no harm to others," stated Dalhuisen at the time.

"[T]his ruling will end up forcing a small minority to live apart, as it effectively obliges women to choose between the expressing [of] their religious beliefs and being in public."

The EU court ruling comes as assorted measures aimed at curbing religious expression among public employees in the United States are being removed.

In November, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a law that eliminated a 1949 measure that banned public school teachers from being allowed to wear religious attire.

Known as Senate Bill 84, the proposal had received overwhelming bipartisan support.
Verdict of Hong Kong's largest national security case will be an important precedent: legal experts

10:48, November 30, 2023 By Chen Qingqing ( Global Times

Photo taken on May 4, 2020 shows the High Court in Hong Kong, south China. (Photo: Xinhua)

The largest national security case in Hong Kong entered the final stage as dozens of former local politicians and separatist activists involved in the infamous "35-plus" political project in 2020 began the closing argument on Wednesday.

Some legal experts believe the verdict of this case will become an important precedent in Hong Kong's legal system.

The Hong Kong Police Force arrested 53 people including Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting and anti-government lawmakers and district councilors such as Joshua Wong in February 2021. The case entered the trial process in March 2021 and was successively transferred from the district court to the High Court, during which 31 people pleaded guilty and 16 others denied the charges.

The prosecution argued that the intent of the legislation was to safeguard national security and that even if the defendants believed the primaries were legal, it does not constitute a defense. And the judge estimated that it might take an additional three to four months to reach a verdict, according to local media reports.

During the prosecution's closing arguments, it was noted that Article 22 of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong categorizes illegal acts into two types: those involving "force or the threat of force" and those involving "other unlawful means." For the latter, the court should adopt a broader interpretation to ensure national security and fulfill the legislative intent of combating and punishing actions that threaten national security.

The prosecution explained that in the past, subverting the government often required armed revolution, but in today's era, people can use social media platforms and other means to endanger national security non-violently, such as by spreading rumors online. Therefore, the definition of "unlawful means" should not be limited to the use or threat of force.

The prosecution further argued that the misuse of legislative council member powers in itself constitutes "unlawful" activity, according to media reports.

The case was originally scheduled for a 90-day trial. However, due to extended proceedings involving the summoning of witnesses by both the prosecution and defense, and the defendants' testimonies, the trial ultimately exceeded expectations, lasting 115 days, culminating in closing arguments by both sides today, Louis Chen, a member of the Election Committee and general secretary of the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

After the oral submissions are completed, the court will adjourn to set a date for announcing the verdict and for sentencing the remaining 31 defendants who have pleaded guilty. It is believed that they can be processed in 2024, Chen said.

"It is the first case under the NSL for Hong Kong and has attracted a lot of international attention," the expert said, noting that the verdict of this case will become an important precedent in Hong Kong's common law system.

It will also set an example for national security legal issues potentially in other common law jurisdictions and set some standards and directions for the NSL for Hong Kong.

In response to a question about the closing argument on Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that this is not a diplomatic question. But he also emphasized that Hong Kong is a city of rule of law, and the central government supports local judiciary institution to fulfill responsibilities in accordance to the law.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution urging China to stop sending North Koreans back to their country.

The resolution, which passed with support from 253 out of 260 lawmakers in attendance with seven abstentions, also calls for China to recognize North Koreans in the country as refugees and allow them to move to South Korea or other countries.

It also urges the South Korean government and international organizations to step up efforts to prevent such forced repatriations.

The Assembly also passed a motion extending the deployment of a South Korean military contingent in the United Arab Emirates, also known as the Akh unit, and the Cheonghae Unit, dispatched in the Gulf of Aden, until the end of 2024. (Yonhap)
Home Podcast Richard and Brittni De La Mora talk overcoming tormenting spirits

Ex-porn star Brittni De La Mora and her pastor-husband Richard De La Mora shared why tormenting spirits provoke Christians and how believers can overcome spiritual warfare.

In a recent episode of their "Let's Talk Purity" podcast, the De La Moras said tormenting spirits that can provoke Christians include the spirits of fear and anxiety.

Brittni recalled a time in her life when she struggled with the tormenting spirit of anxiety, which stemmed from a violent incident in her life.

Before I became a Christian. I was dating a guy that was killed in front of me. And so after that, I became very afraid. I was always looking over my back. It was a very trauma-based fear that I had to work through, she said.

Over time, Brittni said she learned to continuously combat fear and learned to not act in fear even when she's afraid.

Christ is covering you. You are in Him. But sometimes, when the enemy attacks and you feel that fear, rather than staying under the covering of Christ, you basically enter into that fear, and you say, 'OK, Im going to allow this realm of fear to now dictate my moves,' Brittni added.

She learned to combat the tormenting spirits of fear and anxiety by not allowing them "to grow in my mind."

"Whatever you focus on will grow in your life," Brittni stressed. "Whenever a fearful thought comes into me, I instantly say, Nope, not going to go there. I'm going to do it anyway.

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It's almost like, I'm going to prove you wrong, fear, right? But sometimes, when that fearful thought comes, and if we receive it and allow it to dictate that move, guess what? It comes back stronger the next time, stronger the next time, to eventually youre in a place where now your brain has been rewired, and you just operate in fear.

When it comes to the tormenting spirit of discouraging thoughts, Richard said a Christian must act fast to eliminate any thought before it becomes stronger.

"You have 15 seconds to cast that thought down from becoming a feeling to an action," warning that if a Christian doesn't reject it, the thought "turns into a feeling, then the feeling starts to become an action."

I've been learning that, too, because Ill be like, Alright, youve got 15 seconds. Cast that down. Because, if not, if you stay there ... it starts growing and growing and growing," he continued.

"I just think, for a lot of us, everybody has different fears. But learning how to cast those down and stepping in Christ in faith, is really going to help us and challenge us and grow us to be able to be that person that God has called us to become."

One of the tormenting spirits that can hinder Christians in their walks with God is the spirit of torment itself, according to the De La Moras.

Brittni said she dealt with the spirit of torment during a season in her life when she was having a drink of wine every night to decompress from the day.

At that time, she said she felt God was calling her to stop drinking at night. Instead of obeying what she believed God was calling her to do, she wasn't able to sleep at night and wrestled with a spirit of torment that provoked her every night. She chose to drink a glass of wine before bed instead of just going to sleep.

I would say, I'm going to have one drink because my schedule is so busy, life is overwhelming, and I just want to debrief. But God was saying, No Brittni, you don't need to have a drink. You need to rest in Me, Brittni recalled. "I was refusing to surrender. I would have a drink. And then boom, I started getting tormented."

I would have one drink and I would not sleep all night. I might get one hour, if I was lucky, and I would take Melatonin. I was taking a Benadryl to help. Nothing worked.

After some time of being tormented in this manner, Brittni said she surrendered to what she felt God was calling her to do, stopped drinking at night and was finally able to sleep peacefully since then.

The couple said that Christians should evaluate their lives to see if there are any areas of disobedience against God that might be leading them to be spiritually attacked.

A tormenting spirit will try to invade your life when you're not living a surrendered life because the torment comes in a place that you're not surrendered at. For me, I used to get tormented in my mind, literally anxious thoughts  because I wouldn't surrender. I wouldn't surrender to fully lean on God, Richard detailed.

I leaned on my distractions. And I think that's the open door we're talking about. Because of that spirit of torment, the open door of that is when you don't surrender. And it sits there tormenting you.
Home Education Feds investigating Harvard, other schools over antisemitic incidents

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has recently opened an investigation into Harvard University over claims of antisemitic incidents on campus.

The OCR opened a Title VI Shared Ancestry Investigation into the Massachusetts-based Ivy League school on Tuesday, along with a similar investigation into the New York City Department of Education.

This type of investigation is centered on Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination based on race or national origin, including harassment based on a person's shared ancestry or ethnicity.

Harvard and the NYC Education Department are included on a list of current investigations, with other recently opened investigations involving claims of bigotry on the campuses of the University of Tampa in Florida, Columbia University in New York, Cornell University of New York, Lafayette College of Pennsylvania, Wellesley College of Massachusetts, the University of Pennsylvania and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art of New York.

"The inclusion of an institution on this list does not mean that the institution violated a federal anti-discrimination statute; rather, it means that a complaint was filed with OCR and the agency determined the complaint should be opened for investigation, or the agency has opened a compliance review," an Education Department disclaimer reads.

Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton said in a statementthat the university supports "the work of the Office of Civil Rights to ensure students' rights to access educational programs are safeguarded and will work with the office to address their questions."

There has been a reported increase in antisemitic sentiment following the start of the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by the terrorist group's Oct. 7 attack on Southern Israel that killed 1,200 people. More than 240 people were taken hostage.

In response, Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, seeking to eradicate Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, and secure the release of hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims about 15,000 people have died in Gaza since the start of the war.

In response to Israel's offensive, there have been many large-scale protests across the globe.

Shortly after the Hamas attack, the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups released a letter co-signed by over 30 student organizations that blamed Israel for the outbreak of violence and refused to condemn the Islamic terrorist group's actions.

Following extensive backlash to the letter, multiple student groups that had originally signed onto the letter  among them Amnesty International at Harvard, Harvard College Act on a Dream, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association  withdrew their signatures.

A spokesperson for Act on a Dream claimed that its board members were unaware that their organization had signed the letter and that it did not reflect their views on the conflict.

"As an organization, we want to express our empathy and solidarity for all the victims who have been affected by the violence in the region," AOD said in a statement.

While Harvard leadership released a statement denouncing Hamas' actions, former Harvard President Larry Summers argued that the statement was "delayed" and "fails to meet the needs of the moment."

"Why can't we find anything approaching the moral clarity of Harvard statements after George Floyd's death or Russia's invasion of Ukraine when terrorists kill, rape and take hostage hundreds of Israelis attending a music festival?" he tweeted.

"Why can't we give reassurance that the University stands squarely against Hamas terror to frightened students when 35 groups of their fellow students appear to be blaming all the violence on Israel?"

On Nov. 7, one month after the war between Israel and Hamas began, the OCR sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter to schools reminding them of their "federal legal obligations to ensure nondiscriminatory environments" in response to "an alarming rise in disturbing antisemitic incidents and threats to Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students on college campuses and in P-12 schools."

"It is your legal obligation under Title VI to address prohibited discrimination against students and others on your campus  including those who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian," continued the letter.

"All students, including students who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian, as well as students who come from, or are perceived to come from, all regions of the world, are entitled to a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin."
Home World Hamas forced child hostage to watch footage of Oct. 7 massacre, threatened to shoot child captives

Hamas forced a child hostage to watch footage of the terrorist groups Oct. 7 rape and slaughter of Israeli families while in captivity, according to a recent interview with a 12-year-old boys aunt after his release.

Eitan Yahalomi was released Monday as part of a multi-day pause in the fighting as part of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, which officially went into effect last Friday. The terrorist group held the boy hostage for over 50 days.

Per the agreement, Hamas will release at least 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for triple the number of Palestinian prisoners held on terror charges before the Israeli military resumes operations against the terror group in Northern Gaza Strip.

In a Tuesday interview with the French media outlet BFM, Yahalomis aunt, Deborah Cohen, said Gazan residents beat her nephew when he arrived in the city as a hostage. She also described Hamas terrorists using their rifles and threatening to shoot the abducted children when they cried.

I wanted to hope that he was treated well, but it turns out he wasnt; theyre monsters, she said. Now that I know this, Im worried. His father is still there, and there are 160 people who have not yet returned.

Yahalomis father was wounded in a gun battle with Hamas terrorists before they captured him and took him into Gaza, according to the report. While the boy was originally taken hostage alongside his mother and two sisters, his family managed to escape, whereas Yahalomi was taken into Gaza on a moped.

During his captivity, Cohen said that Hamas forced her nephew to watch videos of the terror groups onslaught against southern Israel last month when the terrorists murdered 1,200 people and injured thousands of others. Hamas also seized around 240 people as hostages during its attacks.

As The Times of Israel reported in an article updated Wednesday, Hamas has released 30 children during the temporary ceasefire agreement, but nine remain in captivity.

One of the hostages is 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, along with his brother, Ariel, and his parents, Yarden and Shiri. The outlet reported Tuesday that the Israel Defense Forces had said Hamas transferred the family to another Palestinian terror group after it abducted them.

As The Christian Post reported earlier this month, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews hosted a private screening at the Israel Embassy in Washington, D.C., showing the atrocities Hamas committed on Oct. 7.

The footage shown to attendees came from body cameras worn by Hamas terrorists, security cameras, social media posts, cell phone cameras and first responders.

In the first set of clips, Hamas militants are seen breaking through the border, and after infiltrating Israel, the terrorists begin shooting at cars driving along a highway. The footage then showed the terrorists dragging the dead and bloodied bodies out of the vehicles battered by bullet holes. Another clip showed a terrorist trying to use a farming tool in an attempt to decapitate a lifeless body.

Other video clips showed Hamas militants shooting at attendees of the Supernova Music Festival, which resulted in the murder of over 300 people at the event. Some clips also showed attendees attempting to flee through a nearby field as Hamas terrorists shot at them.

A separate video showed first responders arriving at the scene of the festival, walking by piles and piles of dead bodies in search of survivors. The first responder recording the video continued walking around the festival grounds, asking any survivors to give a sign of life. At one point, he checked behind a bar, only to find more dead bodies.

Hamas militants also broke into peoples homes, with footage from an in-home security camera showing a father and his two young sons trying to flee their home, but the father was killed by a grenade.
Home World Israel accuses Hamas of breaking ceasefire as more hostages are released

Multiple Israeli soldiers suffered injuries as Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating their agreement to temporarily pause the fighting as hostages are swapped for Palestinian prisoners.

On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces shared on X that three explosive devices were detonated near its troops in two different locations in northern Gaza, with the post noting that such an action is "in violation of the truce agreements."

"In one of the locations, terrorists also opened fire at the troops, who responded with fire," the IDF wrote. "A number of soldiers were lightly injured during the incidents. IDF troops were located in positions as per the framework of the operational pause."

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, blamed Israel for the ceasefire disruption. Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obaida said Tuesday that there was a "field clash" due to the "enemy violating the terms of the truce."

"We are committed to the truce as long as the enemy is," Obaida said in a statement.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said three explosive devices were "activated" in locations near IDF forces in northern Gaza "contrary to the ceasefire agreements," according to The Independent.

The temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect last Friday and is set to expire Thursday after being extended. As a result of the truce, the terror group has agreed to release the civilian hostages it took captive on Oct. 7 in exchange for Palestinians serving time in Israeli prisons for security offenses.

Israel agreed as part of the truce to allow humanitarian aid and fuel into the Gaza Strip, and the country plans to resume military operations after the truce to continue its goal of eradicating Hamas.

In response to Hamas' assault, Israel launched airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza last month to eliminate the terror group and secure the hostages' release. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says around 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.

On Tuesday, the terror group released 10 Israeli citizens and two Thai nationals from captivity.

According to a Tuesday statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officials informed the hostages' families of their loved ones' release and return to the country.

"The Government of Israel embraces the 12 hostages  ten of our citizens and two Thai nationals  who returned to Israeli territory today," the statement read, adding that the Israeli government remains committed to the return of all hostages.

"The Government, together with all of the security agencies, will assist them and their families," the statement continued, citing Jeremiah 31:15, which states," And they shall come back from the land of the enemy."

The citizens released by Hamas on Tuesday include Tamar Metzger (78), Ditza Heiman (84), Noralin Babadila (60), Ada Sagi (75), Ofelia Adit Roitman (77), Rimon Kirsht (36) and Meirav Tal (53).

Another set of hostages released by Hamas included the Leimberg family  Gabriela Leimberg (59), Mia Leimberg (17) and Clara Marman (63).

On Wednesday, 16 more hostages were released, including dual American-Israeli citizen Liat Beinin Atzili, who was abducted from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

In a Wednesday statement, the Israeli prime minister's office said that two hostages, Yelena Trupanov (50) and Irena Tati (73), were expected to be released on that day by Hamas.

Around 240 people were kidnapped by Hamas during the group's surprise attack against southern Israel on Oct. 7. The attack, which took place during a Jewish holiday, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, a majority of them civilians, and over 5,000 people were left wounded as a result of the onslaught.

One of the hostages Hamas released during the third day of the ceasefire was 4-year-old Abigail Edan. The American-Israeli girl was released alongside 17 other individuals taken captive by the terrorist group.

Hamas abducted Edan last month during its attack against Israel after killing her parents, and the little girl celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity. Another hostage released by Hamas was an elderly woman who had to be airlifted to a hospital in Israel due to her poor condition. The other freed captives were escorted through the border fence from Gaza to Israel.
Home Church & Ministries Louie Giglio urges Christians to take authority over enemy of darkness: 'Shake it off'

Megachurch Pastor Louie Giglio stressed the importance of spiritual warfare to a crowd of young adults earlier this month, telling them they have more authority over the darkness of this world than they think they do.

The 65-year-old pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, preached a Nov. 8 sermon at The Porch, a young adult ministry of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas.

Giglio said that "even shipwrecks don't wreck God" because what the enemy has planned for those who trust Jesus will never prevail against the living God.

"The message of the story is not that we're on a ship. The message of this story is that even shipwrecks don't wreck God," Giglio preached.

"When evil came against you and when evil came from you, in the pain of it all, in the brutal of it all, in the broken of it all, in the darkness of it all, He brought you through it all. And the enemy said to you, 'You will not survive.' But you did. The enemy said, 'You will not make it.' But you did."

Giglio focused on Acts 27, which describes the Apostle Paul's trip to Rome, which involved a shipwreck and, later on, being bitten by a poisonous snake that miraculously did not kill him.

"The enemy said: 'You will not live. You will die.' But you didn't die. And you're living now. And He's giving you breath. The Word says, 'He gives all things life and breath and everything else.' And He's promised you that He can't be thwarted if you put your life in His hands," the pastor continued.

Giglio told the young adults they are "part of a generation that needs to know that you have way more authority [over the enemy] than you think you do."

"When you get under God's authority, you can take authority. And you could tell the darkness, 'not here,'" he preached. "A lot of us in this room right now have stuff hanging on our hand that we need to, in Jesus' name, shake off."

There are many avenues that a Christian can take to receive deliverance from spiritual warfare, Giglio said. But he also felt that some Christians, particularly generations of younger adults, don't realize how much authority they can have over the "darkness" of "the enemy" through the Holy Spirit.

"I'm not saying that we don't need help, friends, accountability, counseling, mentorship, process, healing. I'm not speaking against any of that. But, I'm saying right here in this moment tonight, some of you have got the authority to shake things off of your life in Jesus' name, right here and right now," Giglio preached.

"You don't need a process. You just need to wake up to the fact that this thing that came out of the fire is going back in the fire tonight. Because I am on a mission. I am called by God. I am chosen and anointed by God, and I have authority in the name of the One whose authority I'm under tonight," Giglio added as the crowd erupted in cheers and clapping.

"I'm telling you, 'Dread, get off of me. In Jesus' name, get off of me. All these crazy desires of the flesh, get off of me.'"

Giglio said some Christians will allow their fears of a difficult situation caused by spiritual darkness to keep them from commanding with authority for the enemy to leave them alone.

"I think the mentality sometimes that we have is, 'Oh my gosh, a viper has come out of the fire. Do you guys see this? Is everybody looking at this? Do you realize what has happened to me? Do you understand how grave of a situation I'm in right now?'" Giglio said.

"Are you convinced of Whose and who you are? And are you convinced of the power of the name that you bear?"

Giglio said many will silently wrestle with spiritual warfare because they are under the false impression that their struggle is something that only a group of Christians or a pastor can rid their life of.

"Is there something tonight that you can speak to? You don't need a pastor to take authority over it. You need to take authority over it. You don't need your small group to take authority for you. You need to take authority. You don't need another coffee. You don't need two more lattes," Giglio said.

"You need to take authority over it and say, 'Get off of me.' And you may need to say 'get off of me' every hour for the next 45 days or 45 months. But, you won't relent, and you will stand in authority, and you will say, 'Get off of me.'"

Giglio stressed that "it's time to shake it off and let God write something new on you."
Home U.S. No arrests yet after pastor is shot dead in front of 100 witnesses

Nearly six months after Pastor Jonathan Frazier of Roam Ministry in Orlando, Florida, was shot dead in front of nearly 100 people during an event at his church that he also operated as a banquet hall, police have yet to arrest a suspect and the family is frustrated.

We feel broken, [we have] unanswered questions, Fraziers niece, Shantel White, told WFTV9. His children and his wife and all of our loved ones  we need answers.

Frazier, who was a 37-year-old father of seven, was the second person to die in the aftermath of the shooting at Unity Banquet Hall on June 24, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

Police say at about 12:10 a.m. on the fateful day, deputies responded to reports of a shooting at the banquet hall and when they arrived on the scene, they found a man inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. The man, later identified as Willie Bell Jr., 28, was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators subsequently learned that three other men, all in their 20s and 30s, including Frazier, were also shot.

Despite the police releasing a video of the moment Frazier was shot in the presence of nearly 100 people at the scene, no one identified the culprits. The church remains closed, and Fraziers family is frustrated no one has come forward to help identify the killer.

[It] makes you feel empty, White said. It makes you feel hurt.

Shortly after the shooting, Pastor Stovelleo Stovall of God is Able Church said Frazier, who was only 5 feet tall, died trying to protect a young woman from getting shot.

"A young lady was trying to show her man a good time by throwing him a surprise birthday party," Stovall told FOX 35 News. "He covered her up when the shooting went on."

Stovall said despite Fraziers height, "His heart was so big, and he was a giant."

Many people who knew of Frazier and his ministry, like his godmother, Helen Morris Robbins, noted how he had changed his life by going from prison to the pulpit.

Gun violence has hit my family again, Jonathan Frazier. I am in shock my boys are hurting. This one hurt me, she wrote on Facebook. My godson changed his life, preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He went from prison to the pulpit. Why? Please tell me why. I am at a loss for words right now.  Praying for his wife and kids. I love you guys to pieces.

Fraziers family said if he was alive and someone else was the murder victim at his church building, he would have tried his best to get them justice.

We know that God can do everything, White said. But we need to help the community as well. He would have come forward to try his best to give answers to the community on what happened to their loved one.
Home U.S. Pastor of historic Georgia church charged with possession of mushrooms, MDMA, other drugs

Officials at the historic St. John Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, remained tight-lipped Wednesday about the recent arrest of their pastor for possession of controlled substances and the use of drug-related objects during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 80.

When asked if their 50-year-old leader, George Perry Lee III, would remain in the pulpit of the largest African American congregation in historic Savannah, in the wake of the arrest, a church spokesperson who did not give her name told The Christian Post that they couldnt answer that question.

Lee, who has been the pastor of St. John Baptist Church since Dec. 19, 2005, was arrested by Tybee Island Police around 4 a.m. Saturday, WJCL reported. While he bonded out of jail the same day, WSAV noted that the pastor was charged with purchasing, pressing, manufacturing or distributing marijuana as well as possession of illegal mushrooms, MDMA and THC oil.

When contacted for further details Wednesday, Tybee Island Police said the case was still under investigation. Jail records show that in addition to his drug related charges, Pastor Lee was charged with speeding and failure to maintain his lane.

Lee was previously arrested by Savannah Police in Chatham County in March 2018 for drunk driving. He was sentenced to probation in 2021 after he pleaded guilty to the DUI charge. In addition to his recent arrest, Lee also has an open case in Chatham County for driving on a suspended license and operating an unregistered vehicle.

According to his bio on the churchs website, after taking over the pulpit in December 2005, Lee flourished in the role and 1,900 souls surrendered to Christ.

The love for this young man of God quickly grew as he affectionately became Pastor Lee. As a foundation for the vision of his ministry at St. John, Pastor Lee uses the words of Paul as written in 1 Corinthians 2:9, But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared to them that love Him, the bio noted. During Pastor Lee's short tenure at St. John, over 1,900 souls have surrendered their lives to Christ. The weekly Bible study, known to Savannah and surrounding counties as The Mighty Fortress Hour has grown in attendance from less than 50 persons to well over 300.

Lee, who also released a gospel album titled I Have No Doubt in 2011, was also praised by his church for spreading the Gospel through his music.

As Pastor Lee continues to chart the course for St. John Baptist Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, St. John has been blessed by Pastor Lee's ministry, the church said. His vision and his words of wisdom are ever present reminders of the blessings of our Father  All that I am is because of Thee; all that I am NOT because of me.
Home U.S. Pastor charged after one of his sons accidentally shoots his brother

A North Carolina pastor is facing criminal charges after one of his young sons accidentally shot his brother.

The Burke County Sheriffs Office released a statement Monday to announce that it was charging Adam Vines with Failure to Store a firearm to Protect Minors. The charge against Vines comes six weeks after his 2-year-old son was accidentally shot on the grounds of River Valley Baptist Church in Morganton, where Vines serves as a pastor.

According to the Burke County Sheriffs Office, the shooting occurred on Oct. 15. After emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene, the toddler was transported via helicopter to CMC Main Hospital in Charlotte. The law enforcement agency said the investigation is ongoing and information will be released as the investigation develops.

Areport from local news outlet WCNC from last month details how the victim, Daniel Vines, was shot in the back of the head in the back of Vines vehicle by his 3-year-old brother as the car sat in the church parking lot. The shooting took place after Vines 3-year-old son found the firearm, which belongs to the pastor, and fired it at his brother by mistake. Court documents obtained by WCNC reveal that Vines is accused of not properly securing the weapon. Vines is due in court on Jan. 5, 2024.

Thelaw the pastor stands accused of violating makes it a class 1 misdemeanor for anyone who resides in the same premises as a minor and owns or possesses a firearm to leave the firearm in a condition that the firearm can be discharged and in a manner that the person knew or should have known that an unsupervised minor would be able to gain access to the firearm if a minor gains access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minors parents or a person having charge of the minor causes personal injury or death with it.

If found guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor, Vines could face up to 45 days of community punishment as well as the possibility of having to pay a fine. Under North Carolina state law, examples of a community punishment include house arrest with electronic monitoring, community service, period or periods of confinement in a local confinement facility, substance abuse assessment, monitoring, or treatment, educational or vocation skills development program, or satellite-based monitoring.

Vines provided an update on the condition of his son, Daniel, to WCNC two weeks ago, nearly one month after he was injured in the accidental shooting. Daniel is getting stronger every day and he can now drink on his own, he said. The pastor noted that his son was receiving treatment at Levines Childrens Hospital and was expected to return home in about three weeks.

The situation in North Carolina is not the first example of a parent facing consequences after a weapon ended up in a minors hands. In Newport News, Virginia, the mother of a 6-year-old child who shot his first-grade teacher was charged with the misdemeanor offense of recklessly leaving a loaded firearm as to endanger a child.
Home Church & Ministries Pope Francis reportedly strips US Cardinal Burke of salary, evicts him from apartment

Pope Francis is reportedly stripping conservative U.S. Cardinal Raymond L. Burke of his salary and Vatican apartment as punishment for fomenting "disunity" in the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis announced he was taking such actions against the conservative American prelate during a Nov. 20 meeting of the heads of Vatican offices, according to two sources who attended the meeting and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

One source told the outlet that Francis was evicting Burke from his subsidized Vatican apartment and stopping his retired cardinal's salary because he was using such privileges against the church. Another source claimed the pontiff accused Burke of sowing "disunity."

"Cardinal Burke is my enemy, so I take away his apartment and his salary," the pope said, according to an anonymous source at the meeting who spoke to conservative Italian newspaper La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, as noted by Catholic News Agency.

Burke had not yet received notification of the papal punishment against him as of Tuesday, his secretary told the AP.

Burke, who was made a cardinal in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, has attracted support from traditionalist Catholics amid his outspoken criticism of Francis, whose leadership he said in 2014 has given some Catholics "a strong sense that the Church is like a ship without a rudder."

Burke has twice joined other conservative cardinals in firing off "dubia"  or formal requests for clarity  to Francis regarding contentious doctrinal questions.

Francis did not respond to their first request for clarity about his outreach to divorced and remarried Catholics, the AP noted.

In July, Burke and five other cardinals requested clarity regarding the interpretation of Divine Revelation, the blessing of same-sex unions, synodality, ordination of women, and repentance as a necessary condition for sacramental absolution, according to Vatican News.

Francis responded to the dubia days before the Synod on Synodality that began on Oct. 9, which Burke criticized in an Oct. 2 press conference.

"It is unfortunately very clear that the invocation of the Holy Spirit by some has for its purpose the advancement of an agenda that is more political and human than ecclesial and divine," Burke said.

Burke faced repeated demotions during Francis' papacy.

In 2014, the pope removed Burke from his position as head of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, which is the Vatican's highest court to which he had been appointed by Benedict XVI in 2008.

Burke has also lost his position in the Congregation for Divine Worship and his patronage of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Burke and Francis also seemed to clash over COVID-19 vaccinations, with Francis hitting at vaccine "negationists" among the College of Cardinals and referencing Burke as one of them in 2021, according to the AP.

The pope's reported actions against Burke come weeks after he removed Joseph E. Strickland  another outspoken American critic of his papacy  from his post as bishop of Tyler, Texas.

Strickland blasted reports of Burke's punishment as "an atrocity that must be opposed" if true. "If it is false information it needs to be corrected immediately."

If this is accurate it is an atrocity that must be opposed. If it is false information it needs to be corrected immediately. https://t.co/at0IDpWWtf  Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) November 28, 2023

The Vatican has not denied the reports, with spokesperson Matteo Bruni referring reporters to Burke and saying, "I don't have anything particular to say about that," according to the AP.
Home Living Post-abortion depression is 'widespread globally,' study finds

The tendency of women who have had an abortion to experience depression following the procedure is "widespread globally," a recently published study suggests.

BMC Psychiatry, an open access, peer-reviewed journal, published a study late last month by a group of Ethiopian medical researchers led by Natnael Atnafu Gebeyehu and Kirubel Dagnaw Tegegne titled "Global prevalence of post-abortion depression: systematic review and Meta-analysis."

The study, which analyzed 15 papers that had a total of 18,207 research participants based on a total of 657 articles, found that, overall, 34.5% of women who had an abortion experienced depression.

"The prevalence of post-abortion depression varied based on geographic location, World Health Organization (WHO) regions, World Bank income category, screening approach, and study design," explained the researchers.

For example, the largest "proportion of post-abortion depression" was found in Asia at 37.5%. In comparison, "the greatest rate of post-abortion depression" was found in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region at 43.1%. Additionally, the greatest frequency of post-abortion depression was found in lower-middle-income countries at 42.91%.

"In conclusion, the occurrence of post-abortion depression has been observed to be widespread globally," continued the study. "Healthcare providers should prioritize the provision of post-abortion counseling, care, and emotional support to women."

In an analysis last week, Dr. Hibah Khaja of Psychiatry Advisor wrote that the recent study findings "indicate that a large proportion of women who have undergone an abortion experience depression."

However, Khaja also warned that "this study may be limited by the variability in depression measurements, absence of data from certain geographic areas, and reliance on self-reported responses."

Randall O'Bannon, the director of education and research for the National Right to Life Committee, wrote in an op-ed that the study "mixed together data about induced abortion with spontaneous abortion or miscarriage."

"Their thesis, valuable in its own right, was that pregnancy loss of any sort was traumatic, whether the abortion was intentional (e.g., chemical or surgical abortion) or not (as in the loss of a wanted child through miscarriage)," O'Bannon wrote. "I knew that this wouldn't settle the critics who claim that post-abortion depression is a myth or at most a temporary, fleeting phenomena experienced by just a handful of women already dealing with some latent psychological disorders."

"But when sorted out, what the studies show is that it was a much lower incidence of grief over a miscarriage that gave an overall lower percentages of women with depression," O'Bannon added. "Studies that focused on abortion tended to show higher rates of depression."

O'Bannon contends that the titles of studies that specifically use the term "post-abortion" or "induced abortion" point to "a rate of depression of at least 22.5% (China, 2021) or as high as 54% (Iran, 2018), averaging out to 31.4% when data is taken as a whole."

"All the data taken from the studies related to miscarriage yield a percentage less than half that, with 15.6% reporting depression after the pregnancy loss," O'Bannon wrote. "It may not be what researchers set out to prove, but their meta-analysis tends to lend support to abortion is much more likely to lead to depression than miscarriage."

The study's conclusion that post-abortion depression is a common side-effect of terminating a pregnancy contrasts with the past conclusions of other research organizations, including the American Psychological Association.

In a report by the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion released in 2008, researchers concluded that "among adult women who have an unplanned pregnancy the relative risk of mental health problems is no greater if they have a single elective first-trimester abortion than if they deliver that pregnancy."

"Across studies, prior mental health emerged as the strongest predictor of postabortion mental health," stated the APA report. "Many of these same factors also predict negative psychological reactions to other types of stressful life events, including childbirth, and, hence, are not uniquely predictive of psychological responses following abortion."

The 2008 APA report noted that "evidence regarding the relative mental health risks associated with multiple abortions is more equivocal."

"Positive associations observed between multiple abortions and poorer mental health may be linked to co-occurring risks that predispose a woman to both multiple unwanted pregnancies and mental health problems," the APA added.
In yet another closure of diplomatic missions, North Korea has been shutting down its embassies in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo, foreign news reports showed Wednesday.

They are the latest in the list of overseas missions Pyongyang has shut down in the past months, including those in Angola, Hong Kong, Nepal, Spain and Uganda. North Korea has said the closures are part of efforts to enhance its diplomatic efficiency.

Last week, the North closed its embassy in Dhaka and notified the government that its diplomatic mission in India will be taking over relevant affairs, according to a report by The Daily Star, a local daily.

The two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1973. Four North Korean diplomats, including the ambassador, had been dispatched to the now-shuttered embassy in Bangladesh.

NK News, an online outlet specializing in North Korea, reported that Pyongyang is set to shut down its embassy in DR Congo.

The outlet said the North gave no reason for its closure, adding its diplomatic mission in Ethiopia will take over.

Since establishing diplomatic ties with DR Congo in 1964, the North has sustained close ties with the African country, mainly through arms exports and gold mining.

Earlier this month, the North said it is closing and opening new diplomatic missions "in accordance with the changed global environment and national diplomatic policy," without elaborating on which countries the plan would affect.

Rather than receiving funds from Pyongyang, the North's diplomatic missions are known to secure funds for operations through illicit trade and commercial activities and send remittances to their home country, according to former North Korean diplomats who have defected to South Korea.

South Korea's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, assessed the recent shutdowns as an apparent sign of its faltering economy, worsened by global sanctions. (Yonhap)
Home World Reporter asks if Israel values Palestinian lives less than Israelis: 'Astonishing accusation'

A Sky News reporter asked Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy during a recent interview whether Israel agreeing to release 150 security prisoners in exchange for 50 hostages held by Hamas means the country values Israeli lives more than Palestinians.

Israel's temporary ceasefire agreement with the terror group officially went into effect last Friday.

The agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, has brought a pause to several weeks of conflict sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack that resulted in the murder of 1,200 people and abduction of around 240 others.

The attack prompted Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive in Gaza, seeking to eradicate Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, and secure the return of hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims around 15,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war.

During Levy's interview last week to discuss the agreement, Sky News' Kay Burley said she had spoken with a hostage negotiator who reportedly made a comparison between the 50 hostages Hamas would release in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.

"And he made the comparison between the numbers and the fact that does Israel not think Palestinian lives are valued as highly as Israeli lives?" she asked, a question that left Levy visibly stunned.

The spokesperson replied that was an "astonishing accusation" and asserted that Israel would release one prisoner for every hostage if it were possible, noting that the Israeli government is currently operating under "horrific circumstances."

Levy noted that the Palestinian prisoners that Israel agreed to release as part of the agreement had been convicted of violent crimes, while the hostages taken by Hamas were innocent civilians.

"Notice the question of proportionality doesn't interest Palestinian supporters when they are able to get more of their prisoners out," he said.

"It is outrageous to suggest that the fact that we are willing to release prisoners who are convicted of terrorism offenses, more of them than we are getting our own innocent children back, somehow suggests that we don't care about Palestinian lives? Really, that's a disgusting accusation," Levy continued.

The spokesperson shared a clip of the interview in a Nov. 23 post on X, writing that the question left him "speechless (but only for a second)." At the time of this report, the post has reached over 16 million impressions on the platform.

Sky News did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

Burley moved on to another question about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking whether his political career would survive after the war, touching on the criticisms Netanyahu has faced for the security failures on Oct. 7.

Levy responded that those questions, including about what happened on the day of the attack, will likely be addressed after Hamas is destroyed.

At one point in the interview, Levy indicated that Israel would continue its campaign to destroy Hamas and that it hopes to secure the release of all of the victims taken hostage by the terrorist group.

"This is the terror group that, on October 7, abducted little children from their beds," Levy said. "If we leave them in power, it will do it again because Hamas has told us it wants to perpetrate another and another and another October 7 massacre."

One of the hostages released as part of Israel's temporary ceasefire agreement with Hamas included 4-year-old Abigail Edan, an American-Israeli girl. Hamas terrorists killed the girl's parents on Oct. 7, the day of Edan's abduction, leaving her an orphan. While she was in captivity, Edan celebrated her fourth birthday.

According to CNN, Edan's siblings  a 6-year-old sister and a 10-year-old brother  witnessed the terrorist group murder their parents. The siblings' great-aunt, Liz Hirsh Naftali, said that the pair hid for 14 hours to avoid the same fate as their parents.
Home Politics Supreme Court's Dobbs decision saves 32,000 babies from abortion: report

As many as 32,000 babies were saved from abortion in the 13 states that have a total ban on abortion following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling inDobbs, according to a new report.

TheDobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, handed down in June 2022, led to the reversal of the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide after determining that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.

Data compiled by the pro-life advocacy group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America show that in the past year, 25 states have implemented strong pro-life protections that ban abortions at 15 weeks gestation or earlier.

The IZA Institute of Labor Economics published a report earlier this month, titled The Effects of the Dobbs Decision on Fertility. According to the paper, In the first six months of 2023, births rose by an average of 2.3 percent in states enforcing total abortion bans compared to a control group of states where abortion rights remained protected, amounting to approximately 32,000 additional annual births resulting from abortion bans.

The IZA report identified 13 states that had near-total bans on abortion by the end of 2022, and highlighted the relative increase in births to abortions in each of those states: Alabama (18.6%), Arkansas (11.2%), Idaho (11.1%), Kentucky (31.0%), Louisiana (23.3%), Mississippi (26.9%), Missouri (2.4%), Oklahoma (14.7%), South Dakota (12.7%), Tennessee (24.6%), Texas (30.2%), West Virginia (29.7%) and Wisconsin (10.1%).

Conversely, the report classifies the right to abortion as protected in 24 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America describes these states as having few or no protections for unborn babies, as all of them allow abortions until at least the point of viability, referring to the point in pregnancy where the unborn baby can survive outside the womb.

The IZA report included a third category, excluded, to describe the remaining states that either attempted to enact or enforce a ban but did not effectively do so by the end of 2022, enacted only a gestational age ban by the end of 2022, or are viewed as hostile to abortion and at high risk of enforcing a ban.

Human Coalition Action, which describes itself as a public policy advocacy organization, advocating for preborn children by assisting governing officials in advancing pro-life policies, informing voters about pro-life candidates, and supporting pro-life legal arguments in the Courts, reacted to the report in a statementpublished Tuesday. Every life matters, said Human Coalition Action National Legislative Advisor Chelsey Youman.

We supported these transformative laws such as the Texas Heartbeat Act because we knew they would save children and shield women from the horrors of abortion, Youman added. We rejoice at every single life protected by these laws.

The IZA report does not take into account the lives saved by pro-life laws that restrict abortions before 15 weeks gestation but do not completely ban the procedure. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America lists Georgia and South Carolina as states that have enacted six-week abortion bans, while identifying Nebraska and North Carolina as states with 12-week abortion bans and Florida as a state that has passed a 15-week abortion ban.

The pro-life advocacy group includes two states categorized as excluded by the IZA report as states with near-total abortion bans: Indiana and North Dakota. The IZA paper clarifies that Indiana was excluded from the list of states with abortion bans because its law went into effect in August, suggesting that it did not have an effect on fertility in 2023. Similarly, North Dakota was excluded from the list because its abortion ban did not take effect until April.

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America singles out Arizona, Iowa, Ohio, Utah and Wyoming as states where pro-life protections are tied up in court. The pro-life organization estimates the number of lives saved by pro-life protections enacted in the 25 states that ban abortions at 15 weeks gestation or earlier, including in the states where the post-Dobbslaws are in litigation, to be 181,849.
Home U.S. Texas man sentenced to 10 years for setting synagogue on fire in anti-Semitic hate crime

A Texas man was sentenced to 10 years in prison plus three years of supervised release on Wednesday for attempting to burn down a synagogue in an anti-Semitic attack.

Franklin Sechriest, a 19-year-old resident of San Marcos, pleaded guilty to arson and hate crimes charges in April, stemming from a 2021 crime in which he tried to burn down the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Austin, which dates back to 1876.

In addition to the prison time and supervised release, he must pay the Jewish congregation $470,000 in restitution.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement that Sechriest is "being held accountable for this depraved, antisemitic attack on Congregation Beth Israel."

"This hate-filled act of violence against a house of worship was an attempt to sow fear in the Jewish community and was intended to intimidate its congregants," stated Clarke.

"Attacks targeting Jewish people and arsons aimed at desecrating synagogues have no place in our society today, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute antisemitic violence."

According to court documents, Sechriest drove to the synagogue on Halloween 2021 and was seen in surveillance video carrying materials that would be used to set fire to the building.

Sechriest also admitted to the crime in a journal and later confessed to it, noting that he specifically targeted the congregation because it was Jewish.

Sechriest's sentencing comes at a time when many are concerned about a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the United States amid the war between Israel and Hamas, which was sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that took the lives of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Last month, authorities arrested 21-year-old Patrick Dai from Pittsford, New York, over online posts in which he allegedly threatened to kill Jewish students at Cornell University.

Cornell President Martha E. Pollack released a statement denouncing the online threats and declaring that the university "will not tolerate antisemitism at Cornell."

"The virulence and destructiveness of antisemitism is real and deeply impacting our Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community. This incident highlights the need to combat the forces that are dividing us and driving us toward hate," Pollack stated.

"Regardless of your beliefs, backgrounds or perspectives, I urge all of you to come together with the empathy and support for each other that we so greatly need in this difficult time."

According to Amnesty International, there has been a rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks in the United States since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.

Amnesty International USA Executive Director Paul O'Brien released astatement in early November condemning this apparent trend, saying it "should concern everyone."

"The escalating conflict in Gaza and Israel has spilled over to cities across the US. It has manifested as a rise in discriminatory rhetoric, along with threats and physical attacks targeting people who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian or Arab," stated O'Brien.

"Antisemitism, Islamophobia and targeting individuals and communities for their ethnicity or nationality are hatred. The right to be free from discrimination is a fundamental principle of human rights law, and all governments are obliged to combat discrimination in all its forms."
Home World 'They are raping us': Hundreds of migrants sexually assaulted en route to US

Doctors Without Borders is reporting a surge in sexual violence impacting migrants traveling from Latin America to the United States as concerns about securing the southern border continue to loom large in American politics.

The international nongovernmental organization, which works to "deliver emergency medical aid to people in crisis" in more than 70 countries, published a statement last week revealing that it has treated 397 survivors of sexual violence in 2023 as they have crossed into Panama. Ninety-five percent of the victims are female.

The group noted that it had assisted 107 survivors of sexual assault in October alone.

In one week in October, Doctors Without Borders encountered 59 sexual assault victims. Many of the survivors were underage, with the group identifying three of the most recent victims as children aged 11, 12 and 16 years old.

The nonprofit organization suggested that the number of sexual assaults occurring in the notoriously dangerous 60-mile stretch of wilderness in Colombia and Panama known as the Darien Gap, one of the most dangerous migrant crossings in the world, is much higher.

According to Doctors Without Borders, over 460,000 migrants have crossed the Darien Gap so far in 2023 on their journey toward the United States.

"Not all people who experience sexual violence receive timely attention due to the stigma against victims surrounding this form of violence, threats from perpetrators, lack of recognition of forms of sexual violence, and the fact that people do not feel safe asking for help," Doctors Without Borders Medical Coordinator Carmenza Galvez said in a statement.

"In addition, there is the fear that reporting the crimes may delay their journey north."

Doctors Without Borders shared testimony from a Venezuelan migrant who witnessed sexual assaults and other mistreatments firsthand as she journeyed through Latin America. She said the entire group she traveled with was kidnapped by armed men.

"They beat me on my legs with a bat because those of us who had no money were beaten," she recalled. "Those who said they didn't have any money, but when searched were found to have some, were hurt even more. They said, 'Oh yes, she has some money,' and they raped them. I saw many people raped. I saw them left naked and beaten. One, two, or three of them grab you and rape you, and then the next one comes and rapes you again, and if you scream, they beat you."

The woman said that "some young men were also beaten and thrown onto the ground for trying to defend the women," adding, "They killed a boy in front of us with a shot to the forehead." She pleaded for "no more deaths or rapes," remarking, "It is not fair that they do this to us."

"We understand there are rivers, animals, and snakes, but most harmful are the men inside the jungle. They are raping us and ending our lives," she added.

Doctors Without Borders is calling on governments to "ensure an effective presence in the Darien Gap to end the many risks to which migrants are exposed, including sexual violence."

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a record-breaking 2.4 million encounters between illegal immigrants and law enforcement officials at the southwest border in fiscal year 2023, which came to a close in September.

The surge in border crossings has strained resources in border towns and the largest cities in the U.S. Dissatisfaction with federal immigration policy is reflected in President Joe Biden's negative approval ratings as measured by the RealClearPolitics average of polls.

While he has a 40.6% approval rating overall, Biden's approval rating on the issue of immigration is 34.5%. By contrast, 62.5% of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the issue.

Apoll conducted by Rasmussen Reports this month found that 55% of likely U.S. voters approve of the congressional effort to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. In comparison, 33% disapprove of the attempt to oust the agency leader tasked with ensuring an orderly immigration system and national security. The survey questioned 997 U.S. likely voters and had a margin of error of +/-3 percentage points.

Earlier this month, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. If approved by the Republican-controlled House, two-thirds of the 100 U.S. Senators would need to support his conviction in order to ensure his removal from office.
Home Opinion How faith and technology helped me earn a second chance

Finding myself knee deep in addiction before I started high school, I dropped out shortly after because my primary focus in life was pursuing the ever elusive perfect high. For the next 13 years, I continued a downward spiral that eventually culminated with an arrest for manufacturing methamphetamine in January 2014.

I was a liar, a thief, a manipulator, and oddly enough, the fact that I was a high school dropout seemed to stick with me throughout my life among all the other nonsense that I was doing. Eventually, I ended up in solitary confinement, which is where everything changed for me. I was taken to my sentencing hearing directly from solitary and sentenced to three years for my crimes. I had never even been to jail before, but now I was going away for three years. Walking back to my cell, I was numb, the clink, clink sound coming from my shackled hands and feet was the only thing breaking the eerie silence ringing in my ears.

After being placed in my cell, I heard a country song playing on the little, built-in radio in my cell wall. I blindly changed the station and the radio happened to stop on the local Christian station. I felt the presence of God fill the room. I grew up in and out of church, but at that moment, for the first time in my life, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. While I didnt know it at the time, the revelation I had in that moment came straight out of Scripture. For years, I had been a foolish man who built his house on sand. That moment was my rock bottom, and I dedicated myself to rebuilding on a new foundation. I told Jesus that day that I would trust him with my life and stop trying to find my fulfillment in everything but Him. Little did I know that one of the main tools He would use to mold me to be the man and leader I am today was education.

The moment I got to my parent institution, I signed up for GED courses and started studying. My incredible teacher, Mrs. Shaw at Grafton Reintegration Center in Ohio, quickly realized that my reading comprehension was strong, but my math skills needed work. I found the smartest man in the education wing and paid him in potato chips to tutor me five days a week for up to two hours per day. I took my GED test and passed on the first try.

After clearing that hurdle, college seemed like a possibility for the first time in my life. I saw one of my friends carrying around a tablet and asked him about it. He told me he was working toward a college degree through Ashland University on a Securus Technologies tablet. After completing some prerequisite classes, I promptly enrolled in college through the innovative technology of the Securus tablet. Two short years later, thanks to this important technology and the Lords grace, I walked across the stage and received my associate degree from Ashland University. The Lord took me a long way and my future seemed quite different. I went from a 15-year drug addict, high school dropout with no future, to a man with a college degree who had the potential to contribute positively to his family and his community.

And, it wasnt always easy. When I was first released, many of the same temptations and bad influences were waiting for me on the outside. Going back to the person I was, however, wasnt going to happen. Id spent 15 years heading down the wrong path. Instead, I used my newfound relationship with Jesus to respond differently to my circumstances and transform my future.

All these accomplishments, and yet, my past still haunts me. After release, my wife and I were finally financially prepared to move into a nice condo and everything looked good for approval until it came time for the background check. I was upfront about my record, and yet, they denied us the home. But God had other plans. Through an appeals process, we eventually got our home. The reality, however, is that no matter how much I worked, Ill always carry the stigma that comes with a felony record.

I have been clean and sober since my release in 2017, I got a job at Christian Healthcare Ministries, became an ordained pastor, and even went back to school and obtained my bachelors degree in religion/ministry leadership. The secret to my success started with my newfound faith in Christ. With that inspiration motivating the changes I needed to make in my life, Im grateful for the technology made possible through the Securus tablet helping to facilitate my transformation.
Home Opinion Raping for the resistance is the new normal

Misogyny and cultural norms subjugating women are widespread in much of the Islamic world. These include female genital mutilation, forced marriages, persecuting women for not dressing according to strict Islamic standards, honor killings and much more.

The worse weapon in Hamas inhuman massacre of over 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7 was the raping of Israeli women in the process. Its been described as a sexual pogrom.

Adding insult to injury, groups and people that should be advocating for womens rights and under any other circumstance would be calling out such criminal behavior have turned a blind eye to the forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts and confessions of Hamas terrorists as if the victims and sexual crimes didnt matter just because they are Jews. The evidence is clear. Medical examiners have reported that some of the rapes were so violent that the womens pelvises were crushed.

A growing chorus has condemned ignoring these crimes, some even denying that they happened, using the hashtag, #Metoo_unless_UR_A_Jew.

If the crimes happened to anyone else in the world, womens groups, human rights organizations, the UN and others would be decrying it. But the silence to these crimes that depict a depraved pattern of sexual violence used by the terrorists against their victims is criminal in and of itself.

If Hamas goal was to murder as many as possible, how did the terrorists allow themselves to stop for a gang rape? How is rape in any way part of any resistance that Hamas claims and the Islamic world celebrates? How did those fighting for the resistance ever think this was acceptable? The answer is simple. It was premeditated. It is inhuman evil at its worst. Its the marrying of worship of massacring Jews with the overall repression of women. Its a marriage made in Hell.

This inhuman behavior does not stop at the borders of Gaza. It is at the core of how the Iranian Islamic regime treats women, and which trickles down to other adherents of the religion of peace. This is documented widely, including in the book A Love Journey With Godby my friend Marziyeh Amirizadeh. If not for public outcry after her arrest and death sentence for converting to Christianity in Iran, shed likely have experienced much more of the suffering that many Iranian women whom she knew in prison did, including the raping of virgins before they are executed as executing virgins goes against Islamic values.

The threat of raping Jewish women in support of Hamas inhuman behaviors also made it to the celebrated halls of Ivy League colleges. Last month, Patrick Dai, a junior at Cornell, was arrested on federal charges of posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications.

In public online posts, Dai threatened to shoot up a campus building targeting Jews, said he would stab or slit the throat of Jewish men, and rape or throw off a cliff Jewish women on campus.

Other than the threatening remarks being horrific enough, its impossible to imagine how anyone could allegedly advocate for the Palestinians in upstate New York by threatening to rape Jewish women. Its obscene.

The raping of truth also comes from women who are charged with protecting women from sexual violence. The University of Alberta fired Samantha Pearson the head of the campus sexual assault center who signed an open letter denying Hamas terrorists raped women during the October 7 massacre. The letter censured Israel for repeating the unverified accusation that Palestinians were guilty of sexual violence.

Naturally, antisemites around the world including women who would never question the allegations of rape by anyone else, are challenging the facts specifically because Israel is sharing these. Fortunately, non-Israelis have witnessed and reported on this reality. After witnessing the gruesome evidence of rape, filmed and broadcast by the terrorists themselves, journalist Jotam Confino wrote he saw, Two dead women lying on the grass at musical festival  both with no pants on. One has her panties taken half off. The other doesnt appear to have any on at all.

He saw an eyewitness describing how she saw a woman being raped by several Hamas terrorists, pulling her hair as they raped her and took turns. One of them cut her breasts off  the others played with them like a toy. The last terrorist to rape her shot her in the head and continued to rape her until he finished.

Most of the most horrific documentation has not been widely released out of respect for the victims, and because this is part of ongoing investigations and likely additional criminal charges. But the terrorists confessions alone are abundant.

One terrorist was asked during his interrogation: And why take the kids and babies? He replied, To rape them. Another terrorist also confirmed that babies were abducted and raped.

These captured terrorists were not acting as freelancers. Theres documented evidence of Hamas commanders issuing specific orders to the terrorists who perpetrated the massacres not only to kill and kidnap as many Jews as possible but to rape and sexually mutilate Israeli women.

In any other circumstance where women ranging from babies to the elderly had been the victims of such ferocious and repeated sexual attacks, the #MeToo masses would have swung into full action. But thats not happening. UN Women which published numerous articles decrying the situation of women in Gaza, has ignored crimes against Israeli women. There has not been any recognition of Israeli women who were burned alive, beheaded, raped, had their breasts cut off, had their babies cut out of their stomachs, or been violently kidnapped.

Rape and sexual assault as a tactic in the context of terrorism and war is a war crime. The Geneva Convention requires women shall be especially protected against any attack on their honor, in particular against rape or any form of indecent assault. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court states that rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, or any other form of sexual violence is a crime against humanity.

In numerous previous wars, crimes against women were a cornerstone of international criminal indictments. Based on the silence of the world about these heinous Hamas crimes against women, seems like basic justice and decency are relics of a bygone era.
Home Opinion Street preacher shooting serves as stark warning in anti-Christian America

On a seemingly ordinary day in Glendale, Arizona, a tragic event unfolded that sent shockwaves through the Christian community. Hans Schmidt, a 26-year-old military medic, Christian father of two and outreach director at Victory Chapel, was shot in the head while preaching on a street corner. This horrifying incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 15 near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Peoria.

Schmidt, who had recently moved to Arizona, was promoting a nearby church service when the shooting took place. The injuries were initially thought to be the result of an assault, but medical staff later realized it was a gunshot wound. As of now, Schmidt is hospitalized in critical condition.

The authorities are still investigating the shooting and are seeking tips to identify who was responsible for the attack. It remains unclear whether Schmidt was targeted or if the shooting was a random act of violence. Paul Sanchez, who works nearby, reported that people passing by Schmidt when he was preaching would scream and curse at him.

Its both interesting and disappointing that, almost two weeks later, local police still have no idea who it was that shot Schmidt. Even more notable is the deafening silence from mainstream (aka regime) media outlets on such a horrific crime.

On Nov. 27, Allie Beth Stuckey remarked on X that Hans Schmidt was shot in the head last week while preaching on a sidewalk in Glendale, Arizona. Last report I read said he is still in critical condition and the criminal is still at large. An attempted murder for the crime of preaching the gospel. I dont expect much from our government or media when it comes to the persecution of Christians, of course, but this should be much bigger news. We need justice.

Shes right  this should be a much bigger story. So why isnt it?

This entire horrific incident raises a disturbing question: Is this yet another manifestation of a rising tide of anti-Christian sentiment in America?

The answer, unless proven otherwise, appears to be yes. Christians are rapidly becoming the most persecuted demographic in America. The godless media and secularists cheer this on  which is why they want to bury any stories that would wake people up to this fact.

Christians are, of course, no strangers to persecution and even being murdered for their faith. Our history is replete with martyrs who were killed for nothing more than the crime of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While we can (sadly) expect to hear reports of Christians being violently attacked for sharing their faith around the world in Islamic nations or imprisoned for holding underground church services in China, isnt America supposed to be a country built on Christian values? One that, from its founding, offered religious freedom to Christians to not only worship but live out their faith in the public square?

Marxism, critical theory, and wokeness (but I repeat myself) have been working overtime to change all that and to drive Christians out of politics, out of public gatherings, and underground. Theyve spun false narratives of oppressor vs. oppressed, labeled Christians as oppressors, and essentially told two generations that we are hateful bigots who deserve whats coming to us. In typically woke cognitive dissonance, they tell us that Christians arent being persecuted but its good that we are.

Young Hans Schmidt getting shot in the head while sharing the Gospel up-ends their narrative. And it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that Christians face in America today. While Americans often pride themselves on being a nation that values freedom of religion, incidents like this prove that there is a growing and violent intolerance towards Christian beliefs.

The shooting of Hans Schmidt is a wake-up call for all of us. Its a call to stand up against intolerance and violence, to defend our Christian and American right to practice our faith, and to ensure that America remains a nation where Christian religious freedom is not just a constitutional right but a lived reality.

We must not let this incident pass unnoticed. We must raise our voices, not just in prayer but in defense of Christians all across our communities. We must work together to ensure that such acts of violence are not repeated  which means that the perpetrator must be found and brought to swift, biblical justice.

In an article at ChurchLeaders.com, Schmidts pastor, Gary Marsh, was reported to have told his congregation,

I know theres probably folks that are wondering how brother Hans is doing, and unfortunately at this point in time, we dont have a lot of victory reports to bring on his behalf. Hes struggling, hes hurting, hes in [a] serious, serious situation. Were believing God for a miracle on his behalf. So, keep praying for Hans Schmidt, and lets keep believing.

Amen. Let us remember Hans Schmidt and his family in our prayers. Let his story be a reminder of the challenges we face as Christians in an increasingly secular society that hates both Christ and His followers. Our nation needs Jesus  badly.

Its important to recognize the rising tide of anti-Christian hatred in America, but its even more important not to fear it. Remember the words of Jesus, who commanded us in Matthew 10:28 to not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. In Christ, we know we have nothing to fear from the hands of mortal men, and we have no need to fear the wrath of God because our sins were dealt with at the cross.

To that end, I pray that thousands more young men would be inspired by Hans and step boldly out onto sidewalks in every city, following in his footsteps and proclaiming Christ crucified, dead, buried, and resurrected for the forgiveness of sins.

But given the devils roaming our streets, they will need to be smart about it. Christians can both pray for our enemies, preach the Gospel, and push for changes in our society to roll back this dark and rising tide of anti-Christian persecution.

Because if we dont, Hans Schmidt wont be the last victim  he might end up being one of the first.

Originally published at the Standing for Freedom Center.
Christians feel more confident sharing faith with some than others

Most Christians feel confident about sharing their faith - but with some people more than others, according to research by London City Mission (LCM).

People were most likely to share the Gospel with friends and family (42% each), followed by non-Christian work colleagues (37%).

They were less likely to share the Gospel with people from a different social background (30%) or marginalised groups like homeless people or asylum seekers (20%).

However the study found that most Christians feel confident to share their faith with people who are not Christian (74%), and an even greater number recognise the importance of this (89%).

Over three quarters (76%) said they would like to talk more often about their faith with people who aren't Christians.

The findings have prompted LCM to warn that some social groups may be missing out on the Gospel, while encouraging Christians to get "outside of their comfort zone" and engage with people they might not normally.

It has created a new resource hub and podcast called Everyday Evangelism to help them do that.

Efrem Buckle, Deputy CEO and Director of Training at London City Mission, said, "We know that half of all Londoners live in gospel poverty which means they don't know a Christian who can share their faith with them. We also know that those Londoners who live in gospel poverty are also likely to be part of our most deprived communities.

"It's down to us to act and start to build bridges to share the gospel with people on our doorsteps. I see opportunity in these numbers  an opportunity to reach someone we haven't met yet with the life-changing message of Jesus' love."

"This may be outside of our comfort zone, but my advice is to start with one person. There may be someone you see as part of your everyday life that you can open a conversation with.

"I've got to know the delivery driver who I've been able to share my faith with. I recognise that they're a person to be seen and valued of care, not just to meet my convenience. Let God keep our eyes open as we go about our routine and we will begin to notice those we can start to get to know to begin to share God's love with."

Jason Roach, Director of Ministries at London City Mission, said, "Everyone needs the opportunity to hear the gospel during their lifetime in a way they can understand.

"There are millions of people on our doorstep, disconnected from church, who may miss out. The problem is clear, the need to act obvious, but knowing exactly what to do in the heat of the moment can seem daunting and unfamiliar. Christians are willing but need encouragement and strengthening."
Religious workers have higher job satisfaction, study finds

British workers with a faith are more trusting, satisfied and optimistic than their atheist counterparts, a new study shows.

The research by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) looked at the experiences of 2,004 workers across the UK.

Over three quarters (77%) of workers who identified as religious said they were satisfied with their job, compared to only half of atheists.

Religious workers were also far more trusting of their colleagues than atheists (77% vs 49%).

Although confidence in the economy was low for both, religious workers were more likely to feel optimistic (35%) than atheists (16%).

The report was authored by the IIFL's Dr Rakib Ehsan, who said, "The fact that religious Britons are notably more likely to be satisfied with their job than non-believers could be down to a number of factors.

"There is mounting evidence that faith can contribute towards psychological resilience and mental strength. This can position one to better withstand the inevitable pressures that come with working life - in turn consolidating levels of job satisfaction.

"It is also possible that employer accommodation of religious practices and spiritual beliefs plays a critical part in shaping job satisfaction among workers of faith.

"Britain's world-leading anti-discrimination protections and considerable religious freedoms have fostered a broader workplace culture which is generally accommodating of those of faith.

"This should be a source of national pride."
Strong families and strong faith make a strong America, says Pence

Former US Vice-President Mike Pence wants Americans to get back round the dinner table and make their families a priority.

This is the key message in his new book, Go Home for Dinner: Advice on How Faith Makes a Family and Family Makes a Life, which was co-authored with his daughter, Charlotte Pence Bond.

Talking to The Christian Post about the book, he said strong families were vital for the future of the country.

"The wellspring of our nation's strength has always been the faith of the American people and American families. And when our faith is strong, when our families are strong, America is strong," he said.

Pence was formerly governor of Indiana and served as US Vice President in the Trump administration from 2017 until 2021.

He shared how throughout his political career, strong family bonds remained a priority for him and he made a commitment to be home every night with his wife, Karen, and their three children.

His suggestion is that if people really want to fix the country's problems, they can start by making sure their own house is in order.

"When I think about the concern that tens of millions of Americans have for the future of this country, I want to encourage people: focus on your own, make your family a priority," he said.

"I hold the view that faith makes a family, and family makes a life. And in these busy days, I hope they go home for dinner.

"The encouragement and the stories in this book hopefully make people smile, but also may also make them think about their own corner of the world and being there for their spouse and for their children in new and renewed ways."

He added, "We will strengthen America by strengthening families and faith."
Experts warn of possible Russian role to take N. Korea's satellite program to next level

By Kang Hyun-kyung

North Koreas spy satellite, Malligyong-1, which entered Earth's orbit on Nov. 21, is being increasingly perceived as less threatening than initially feared after a technological setback was revealed in its images. The photographs taken by the spy satellite are believed to have a resolution far below what is required for military purposes.

However, analysts say North Korea will ultimately resolve this problem as it did in the past when it developed and upgraded its nuclear and missile programs. And if the North accomplishes that, experts warn the potential security risks will become much more damaging than originally thought.

Nam Sung-wook, a professor of North Korean Studies at Korea University and president of the Convergence Institute for National Unification at the school, said South Koreas military should remain vigilant about the Norths space program, rather than underestimate it.

Weve seen that North Korea learned a lot from its past failures, he told The Korea Times on Monday.

While repeating one failure after another, someday they will master the technology to fix the current problem. We shouldnt downplay its space capability, Nam added.

In an analogy of North Koreas successful reconnaissance satellite launch after two previous failures, Nam, a former official at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), likened Russia to a skillful instructor helping a student (North Korea) stuck on a math problem.

He said South Korea should be fully prepared for major security risks posed by North Korean-Russian military cooperation. The spy satellite, he claims, is an example of the disastrous consequences that threaten the security of South Korea and the United States.

North Korea has been touting the achievements of the spy satellite since it was successfully placed into orbit last week.

Technical assistance from Russia is believed to have played a critical role.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the North received photos taken by the spy satellite of the White House, Pentagon and U.S. aircraft at a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia.

KCNA said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un viewed them at debriefings on Monday and Tuesday.

Earlier, the North claimed its reconnaissance satellite photographed military bases in South Korea, Guam and Hawaii, without disclosing any of those photos.

The Norths announcements seem to be part of its propaganda and the target audience is North Korean residents, Lee Ho-ryung, director of the Center for Security and Strategy at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA), told The Korea Times in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

About two months ago, she said there was a reshuffle in North Korea's space program. Kim Jong-un promoted the bureau in charge of the space program to the National Aerospace Development Administration.

The successful launch of the spy satellite came months later, she said, stressing that North Koreas state media seems to be telling the public that the regimes thorough plan for space technology bore fruit.

For the North, receiving photograps from the satellite is something to celebrate. North Korea began its space program many years ago, but no progress was made as they were unable to receive photos from their satellites, she said.

Now, they received and viewed them, according to North Korea. Hence, the fuss, Lee added.

She said North Korea has not disclosed any of those photos probably because of the poor quality of those images.

Technological setback

Malligyong-1 is believed to have a three-meter spatial resolution. Spatial resolution refers to the size of the smallest object that can be seen. In a spatial resolution of three meters, anything smaller than that cannot be discerned. Only objects three meters in size will appear as a single pixel.

Its spy satellites three-meter spatial resolution is much lower than that of commercial satellites and considered not sophisticated enough to be used for military purposes. Pleiades Neo satellites operated by Frances Airbus have a 30-centimeter spatial resolution, and SkySat has about a 70-centimeter special resolution.

Nam said North Korea will try hard to fix this problem and further advance its space technology. He added the North will try to lift its space technology to the next level by making the most of its military cooperation with Russia.

The worst-case scenario will be North Korea obtaining the technology that was used in Russias GLONASS space-based navigation satellite system. If this happens, the consequences will be out of control, not only for South Korea, but also for the United States, he said.

According to the European Space Agency, GLONASS provides reliable positioning, navigation and timing services to users on a continuous worldwide basis.

I believe North Korea will keep asking Russia for help to share the technology, because Russias possible technical assistance will help the North save time and money to drastically upgrade its space program, he said. The question is whether Russia will do that for North Korea. Well  Russia at the moment is unlikely to do that.

He claimed that North Korea-Russia military cooperation will remain a security threat posing the greatest menace to South Korea in the next few years.

In North Korea, there are about 120 manufacturing factories producing artillery shells. They are operating 24 hours a day and seven days a week, under the goal of producing 500,000 artillery shells per month, he said. Demand for artillery shells will continue to be high as long as the war in Ukraine goes on. The problem is that the war seems unlikely to end in the near future. For this reason, its fair to say that Russia-North Korea military cooperation will continue for the time being.

Lee said North Korea-Russia military ties are expected to continue until the end of the Ukraine war.

But I am cautious about the prospects of whether their military ties will continue even after the Ukraine war, she said. North Korea and Russia work together because they need each other. It remains uncertain whether North Korea will still be a useful partner to Russia even after the war. My take is it wont.
By Kim Hyun-bin

The German Embassy in Seoul is scheduled to hold a special exhibition, titled "Journey into Tomorrow," in collaboration with the Deoksugung Palace Management Office of the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center under the Cultural Heritage Administration.

This exhibition is set to run from Dec. 9 to 17 at Deoksu Palace's historic Dondeokjeon Hall, marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Germany.

The exhibition, inaugurated by German Ambassador to Korea Georg Wilfried Schmidt and the palace management office Director Kwoen Jeom-su, strategically utilizes the symbolic Dondeokjeon Hall, once a hub for diplomatic activities during the Korean Empire. Following its restoration, the hall was opened to the public in September.

Divided into three sections  Past, Present and Future  the exhibition unfolds the rich tapestry of Korean-German relations.

The first section delves into the 140-year history, from the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce in 1883 to the present day. Through captivating photographs and videos, visitors are invited to explore pivotal moments such as the 1899 state visit of Emperor Gojong, the dispatch of Korean miners and nurses to Germany in the 1960s and glimpses of the first German-language educational institution in Korea, the Hansung State German Language School, established in 1903.

The second section, dedicated to the present, begins with a commemorative video for the 140th anniversary. It reflects on the various events that unfolded throughout the year, celebrating the enduring diplomatic relations between the two nations. The third and final section embraces an interactive approach, envisioning an advanced future through digital installations focusing on climate change, societal transformations, emerging technologies and other shared challenges.

The opening day on Dec. 9 promises additional excitement, with a special program scheduled in the Archive Room on the second floor of Dondeokjeon Hall. Visitors can engage in a unique dialogue session with German Ambassador Schmidt, gaining insights into the bilateral diplomatic ties. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a German language workshop.

The German Embassy in Seoul expresses its aspiration that this special exhibition will serve as a meaningful platform for visitors to reflect on the profound 140-year-old friendship between Korea and Germany, as well as to envision the shared future they will shape together.
Concurs de selectare a companiilor interesate sa elaboreze un sondaj de opinie pentru Societatea de Cruce Rosie din Moldova
Consultant/a sau echipa de consultanti care sa elaboreze un joc de societate ce va contribui la educatia juridica a adolescentilor
Yoon apologizes to nation for failing to host world's largest fair

By Jung Min-ho

Despite strong support from the public, major Korean business conglomerates and world stars such as BTS, Busan lost its bid to host the World Expo 2030.

At Tuesdays (local time) General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris, Riyadh, Saudi Arabias capital, received 119 out of 165 votes by member states to win the right to host the event. Busan won 29 votes, while Italys Rome secured 17 ballots.

Before the vote, Riyadh was widely considered as the frontrunner, propelled by the kingdoms well-funded marketing campaign.

After launching a bidding campaign belatedly in July 2022, two months after President Yoon Suk Yeol stepped into office, the Korean government and business leaders exerted tremendous energy and effort for a chance to host the World Expo in Busan.

Yoon apologized to the nation for the disappointment, saying the failed bid was due to his own shortcoming.



"Our predictions based on the contacts made by the private and public sectors were far off," he said during an unscheduled briefing at the presidential office in Seoul.

"I offer my sincere apology for disappointing our people, including the citizens of Busan. It is all because of my own shortcoming."



Praising how the nation's private and public sectors worked hard together, the president said, "I am solely to blame as president, as I failed to effectively orchestrate and win the bid."

Saying that the Expo campaign was about achieving balanced development between Seoul and Busan as well as raising the southern port city's international profile, the president vowed to continue that strategy regardless of the outcome.

"We will foster Busan as a maritime, international finance, advanced technology and digital hub, and build infrastructure as planned to organically connect the southern parts of the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, and ensure all economic activities can run smoothly in the southern region, with Busan as the base, even without coming to Seoul," he said.



He added that the promise, made during the campaign, to return the favors it received from the international community after the 1950-53 Korean War, still stands.

In Paris, after the announcement of the result, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said the campaign efforts were not in vain, and vowed to continue building up global networks and explore the possibility of making a bid for the 2035 event.

(During the campaign) Busan was highly recognized for its competitiveness and great potential by many countries around the world  Based on this, I will speak with the central government and Busan residents to review whether we should bid for the World Expo in 2035, he said. Busan will continue to take on the challenge to create a better future for humanity.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who led the bidding campaign with the mayor, expressed disappointment, but thanked everyone who supported it.

I sincerely apologize for not adequately reciprocating the generous support people gave us. I feel a heavy sense of responsibility (for the result), he said.

He also stressed the value of the diplomatic ties Korea and Busan have been able to develop through the campaign.

Under the theme, Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future, the Korean campaigners tried to convey a message of hope and vision, believing that their countrys extraordinary economic achievements, of rising from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War, could be an inspiration to other countries.

In their last-ditch effort, they had brought in high-profile figures such as former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and K-pop star BTS for the final presentation ahead of the vote. The presenters promoted Busan as a symbol of Koreas success in the past and the future, emphasizing its history as the base for international help during the Korean War and its technological capabilities.

The ruling People Power Party also congratulated the team.

Although it did not succeed, we saw the potential of Korea. The government, the National Assembly and companies were united and did their best until the end with their eyes on the same goal, Park Jeong-ha, a spokesman for the party, said. They presented a vision of Korea as one of the global powerhouses  Their tears and efforts will not be in vain.

After the first event was held in London in 1851 and spread quickly to other countries, the Expo  also known as the World Fair  has been a platform for great inventions and creative ideas. Taking place every five years and lasting up to six months, the event draws tens of millions of visitors from all over the world, providing a rare opportunity for the host city to promote its vision for the future and to transform itself.

The most recent event was held in Dubai, attracting over 24 million visitors in six months. The next one takes place in 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

Meanwhile, concerns are being voiced over potential diplomatic repercussions after Kim Yi-tae, a professor of Pusan National University who served as an adviser to Busan's bid committee, told reporters that "vote buying" took place, adding that Saudi Arabia promised to provide astronomical development aid to developing countries to win the bid.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  An elevator suddenly dropped around 200 meters (656 feet) while carrying workers to the surface in a platinum mine in South Africa, killing 11 and injuring 75  14 of them critically, the mine operator said Tuesday.

It happened Monday evening at the end of the workers` shift at a mine in the northern city of Rustenburg. All the injured workers were hospitalized.

Mine operator Impala Platinum Holdings CEO Nico Muller said in a statement it was the darkest day in the history of Implats. He said an investigation had begun into what caused the elevator to drop and the mine had suspended all operations on Tuesday.

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe said there would be a government investigation into the tragedy. He visited the mine and was briefed, the government said.

All 86 workers killed or injured were in the elevator, Implats spokesperson Johan Theron said. Some of the injured had serious compact fractures, he said. Theron said the elevator dropped approximately 200 meters, though that was an early estimate. He called it a highly unusual accident.

The huge elevator has three levels, each with the capacity to hold 35 workers, Implats said. The mine shaft is approximately 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) deep.

South Africa is the world`s largest producer of platinum. The Impala Rustenburg mine has nine shafts and was the world`s largest platinum mine by production last year.

The country had 49 fatalities from all mining accidents in 2022, down from 74 the year before. Deaths from South African mining accidents have steadily decreased from nearly 300 in the year 2000, according to government figures.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
UTTARKASHI, India (AP)  Forty-one construction workers emerged dazed and smiling late Tuesday from a collapsed tunnel where they had been stranded the last 17 days __ a happy ending to an ordeal that had gripped India and involved a massive rescue operation that overcame several setbacks.

Locals, relatives and government officials erupted in joy, set off firecrackers and shouted Bharat Mata ki Jai __ Hindi for Long live mother India __ as happy workers walked out after receiving a brief checkup by doctors. Officials hung garlands around their necks as the crowd cheered.

Nitin Gadkari, the country`s minister of road transport and highways, said in a video posted on the social media platform X that he was completely relieved and happy that all of the workers were rescued from the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi, a town in India`s northern state of Uttarakhand.

This was a well-coordinated effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years, Gadkari said.

No one was seriously injured or killed when a landslide caused a section of the 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) tunnel about 200 meters (220 yards) from the entrance to collapse early on the morning of Nov. 12. The workers were finishing their shifts and many were likely looking forward to celebrating Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, that day.

The workers had light in the collapsed tunnel, and since early in their ordeal, they were provided with food, water and oxygen through pipes. More than a dozen doctors, including psychiatrists, were also at the site monitoring their health.

Officials said all 41 workers made it through the ordeal in good health. Before emerging to the cameras and crowds and being whisked away in ambulances, each was given a checkup at a makeshift medical camp in the tunnel entrance.

The rescue was expected to be straightforward and last only a few days, but a series of setbacks led to its expansion and to the workers being trapped for more than two weeks.

During the final stretch, about a dozen rescuers took turns digging through rocks and debris overnight Monday into Tuesday using hand-held drilling tools, said Kirti Panwar, a state government spokesperson.

Rescuers resorted to digging by hand after the machine they had been using broke down Friday. The machine had bored through about 47 meters (51 yards) of the roughly 57-60 meters (62-66 yards) needed to reach the workers.

The workers were extracted one by one on a wheeled stretcher that was pulled through a roughly meter-wide (yard-wide) tunnel of welded pipes that crews had pushed through the dug-out space.

Devender, a rescuer who only gave his first name, told the New Delhi Television channel that the trapped workers were overjoyed when they spotted us in the tunnel. Some rushed toward me and hugged me.

Most of the workers were migrant laborers from throughout the country, and many of their families traveled to the site and camped out for days in hopes of seeing them rescued.

He also praised the many people who took part in the rescue.

Everyone involved in the mission has created an amazing example of humanity and teamwork, Modi said.

The tunnel the workers were building was designed as part of the Chardham all-weather road, which will connect various Hindu pilgrimage sites. Some experts say the project, a flagship initiative of the federal government, will exacerbate fragile conditions in the upper Himalayas, where several towns are built atop landslide debris.

Large numbers of pilgrims and tourists visit Uttarakhands many Hindu temples, with the number increasing over the years because of the continued construction of buildings and roadways.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A multinational company that maintains power plants operated by electric utilities cannot turn to its customers owner-controlled insurance program for coverage after a losing a jury trial that resulted in a $222 million verdict.

A panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a US District Court decision to dismiss Team Industrial Services lawsuit against Zurich American Insurance and other carriers. Team had argued that it had inherited coverage from Westar Energys OPIC when its parent company purchased a subcontractor that participated in the program.

Coverage under the OCIP and the Zurich policy was for work conducted by a particular insured contractor, the 10th Circuits opinion says. It made a difference who was doing the work. No contractor could participate in the OCIP unless Westar authorized the company to submit an application for enrollment and Westar approved the application.

Team contracted with Westar to maintain its Jeffrey Energy Center, a coal-fired power plant located seven miles north of St. Marys, Kansas. Team performed maintenance work on steam release valves that were used to lower excess pressure in the system.

On June 3, 2018, operators in the plants control room received a signal that steam was being released before the plant was running at full capacity, according to court pleadings. Westar employees Jesse Henson and Damien Craig Burchett took an elevator the 14th floor of the facility to investigate. When the elevator doors opened they were engulfed by flesh boiling steam that had been released by a defective valve, according to a civil complaint filed by Burchetts children.

The two men were airlifted to the University of Kansas Medical Center, but died hours later. Both men were 45.

The families of both victims filed wrongful death lawsuits against Team Industrial Services and other parties. Hensons widow, Kelli Most, filed suit in Fort Bend County, Texas, where Teams corporate headquarters is located. The South Texas jury awarded Most $22 million in damages and found Team liable for 90% of the award and Westar 10%.

Team sought coverage from Zurich as an insured under Westars OPIC. After the claim was denied, the company filed a lawsuit at the US District Court in Kansas City.

Team claimed that it stepped into the shoes of another subcontractor, Furminate America, after its parent company acquired Furminate in 2016 and it took over its responsibilities under a master services agreement with Westar. Team said it reported its payroll to Westar as required by the agreement and Westar paid premiums to Zurich and other insurers in the OPIC based on those payroll figures.

Zurich countered that each subcontractor enrolled in Westars OPIC had to apply separately and were approved separately. Whats more, nothing in the service agreement required Westar to offer insurance to its subcontractors. Instead, the agreement said Westar, at its sole discretion, may offer insurance through its OPIC.

The 10th Circuit panel rejected Teams argument that it obtained coverage when the Furminate contract with Westar was consolidated under a change order to the master service agreement with Team that was made in 2017. The panel said the agreement clearly states that Furminates contract was retired in that transaction.

The change order contains nary a mention of insurance coverage or the OCIP, the opinion says. There is no ambiguity in the language of the change order from which one could infer that Team would thereafter be provided insurance coverage through the Westar OCIP or otherwise.

Top photo: The Jeffrey Energy Center near St. Marys, Kansas is shown. The plant is operated by Westar Energy, which is now a subsidiary of Evergy, Inc.
The chief of a hotel adjoining the site of last year's deadly crowd crush in Seoul was sentenced to a fine Wednesday for an illegal extension that made the narrow accident alley even narrower.

A total of 159 people were killed in the crowd crush on a narrow downhill alley in Seoul's Itaewon district on a Halloween weekend last year.

The chief of Hamilton Hotel, whose outer wall borders the alley, was indicted in January on charges of installing illegal structures extending to the alley and unlawfully occupying the path.

News media and critics have pointed out the hotel's extended structures may have made the narrow alley even narrower.

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the 76-year-old Hamilton Hotel chief, identified only by his family name Lee, to a fine of 8 million won ($6,207).

Prosecutors had earlier demanded a one-year prison sentence for him.

The sentence marks the first court ruling on those indicted in connection with the deadly crowd crush.

Currently, trials are under way for multiple officials indicted on charges related to the bungled disaster and first-aid response, including Yongsan Ward office chief Park Hee-young, who administers the Itaewon district, and former Yongsan Police Station chief Lee Im-jae. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this week over proposals requesting President Yoon Suk Yeol exercise his veto power against four contentious bills unilaterally passed by opposition parties earlier this month, his office said Thursday.

The meeting, scheduled for Friday, is expected to handle the motions asking Yoon to reject a pro-labor bill, commonly known as the "yellow envelope bill," and three other bills on broadcasting laws.

The "yellow envelope bill" is aimed at limiting companies from making claims for damages against legitimate labor union disputes, while revisions to broadcasting laws are intended to reduce the government's clout over public broadcasters.

On Nov. 9, the National Assembly, controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), passed those bills, after the ruling People Power Party (PPP) called off its plan to use a filibuster to block their passage.

Yoon is widely expected to exercise his veto power against those bills. The deadline on the president's exercise of the veto is set for Dec. 2.

Previously, Yoon rejected two opposition-led bills -- a nursing act aimed at stipulating the roles and responsibilities of nurses and a revision to the grain bill requiring the government purchase of surplus rice.

The PPP has said the yellow envelope bill will ruin the economy and the revisions to broadcasting laws will turn public broadcasters into in-house broadcasters for the DP. (Yonhap)
By Bhaskar Anand

The pervasiveness of food waste in our society poses a grave environmental and climate concern. The majority of discarded food ends up in landfills due, in part, to the absence of any legislation to deter it. As food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2, further intensifying climate change. The "Food Waste Index Report" by the United Nations Environment Program stark revelation that 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from food waste. Not only does this highlight the detrimental impact of food waste on climate change, but also underscores the squandered resources and energy expended on food production and transportation.

Globally, a staggering 1 billion tons of edible food go to waste each year, while over 800 million people are food insecure. Food waste permeates the entire supply chain, from farm to fork, driven by factors such as spoilage, improper storage, consumer behavior and deliberate disposal. While the extent of food waste is alarming, its concealed carbon footprint poses a graver concern. An astounding one-third of all food produced for human consumption, amounting to a staggering 1.3 billion tons, is discarded annually, generating an estimated 2,000 to 3,600 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per ton of wasted food. This avoidable waste could be repurposed to nourish over 2 billion people, more than twice the global population facing food insecurity.

The interlinked environmental and climate repercussions of food waste pervade the entire food supply chain, creating challenges from resource-intensive production to greenhouse gas-emitting decomposition. The Environmental Protection Agency promotes the "Food Recovery Hierarchy" to manage surplus food, as a comprehensive approach to source reduction, food donation to feed those in need, animal feed, industrial uses, composting and landfill/incineration (as a last resort). Adhering to this hierarchy not only addresses hunger but also mitigates associated emissions.

A significant portion of the world's food-insecure population inhabits regions particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, forming a detrimental cycle interconnecting food waste, climate change and hunger. Tackling food waste in affluent nations is an achievable goal. Simple practices like planning meals, making shopping lists and utilizing misshapen produce can make a significant difference. Proper food storage, freezer utilization and creative leftover strategies are efficacious measures for reducing food waste. Legislative actions against avoidable food waste in landfills hold the potential to significantly reduce global emissions. The success of South Korea's two-decade-old ban on food scraps in landfills, repurposing most scraps to animal feed, fertilizer and household heating fuel, serves as an exemplary case study.

Amid a world grappling with food scarcity, the disposal of perfectly edible food in landfills, leading to methane emissions and exacerbating global warming, is indefensible. Tackling this issue demands a holistic approach that encompasses awareness campaigns, policy adjustments and individual accountability. Collective efforts are indispensable to mitigate the environmental, climate and social consequences of food waste and pave the way towards a sustainable and resilient global food system.

Bhaskar Anand (abhaskar@hanyang.ac.kr; https://www.bhaskaranandjha.com) is a postdoctoral research fellow working at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul.
By Simon Hutagalung

The United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea is a game-changing initiative that has brought together the forces of 17 countries to guarantee South Korea's safety. In the complicated terrain of the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea claimed exclusive legitimacy for unification, and traces of the Cold War persist, a critical analysis of the UNC's role and impact becomes vital. This essay seeks to dispute North Korea's narrative of unilateral unification, examine the benefits and drawbacks of the United Nations Command, and urge diplomatic restraint between China and the United States. The ultimate objective is to improve lines of communication and ultimately find peaceful solutions to the complex problems plaguing the Korean Peninsula.

Despite making important contributions to regional stability, the UNC in South Korea faces obstacles that call for a nuanced evaluation. North Korea's belligerent claims, as well as the Cold War's lingering impact on the Korean divide, make it all the more important to understand the UNC's function. More importantly, regional peace and prosperity depend on diplomatic restraint between China and the United States, making it crucial to encourage such moderation. This method appears to be a viable means of dealing with the difficulties of the Korean Peninsula.

The involvement of 17 nations inside the UNC symbolizes a cohesive stance against potential security challenges. Cooperation strengthens military might and encourages a combined effort to maintain peace in the region. The UNC acts as a deterrence, discouraging aggressors while assuring South Korea of international backing. The presence of a multinational force demonstrates a dedication to maintaining stability in the area. The UNC emphasizes the value of collective security within the context of international law. To solve regional security issues, it provides a legal basis by preserving the ideals of the United Nations Charter.

Some people believe that having the UNC there restricts South Korea's ability to make its own decisions about its security. Concerns have been raised about the level of input that contributing countries have in policymaking. The UNC has played a role in maintaining the status quo of the frozen conflict between North and South Korea. Using military deterrence for an extended period could stymie efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

The complex historical context cannot be reduced to North Korea's claim that it alone can unify the Korean Peninsula. Dismissing South Korea's legitimacy is ignoring its sovereignty and political evolution, as both North and South Korea originated as products of Cold War dynamics, affected by external powers.

The hostility between China and the United States has been escalating, which has led to a rise in tensions on the Korean Peninsula. By stressing the necessity for restrained rhetoric, we draw attention to the value of constructive conversation and emphasize the avoidance of conflict through diplomatic means.

The UNC is a complex organization with pros and cons that must be considered when managing the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. The UNC is a group of 17 countries working together to combat security challenges and promote regional peace and stability. It is crucial in preventing aggression against South Korea and maintaining the country's faith in international solidarity by providing deterrence and security guarantees.

The necessity for nuanced assessment is highlighted by the critiques regarding the UNC's effect on regional autonomy and its possible involvement in prolonging frozen conflict dynamics. The presence of the UNC raises concerns about the impact of its security guarantees on South Korea's ability to pursue its security objectives. The UNC has contributed to escalating tensions between North and South Korea, highlighting the difficulty of finding common ground while maintaining a credible threat of force.

Recognizing the nuanced historical circumstances that molded both countries throughout the Cold War reveals the importance of challenging North Korea's claim of unilateral unification. It would be a simplification of the complex political evolution and sovereignty of the region to dismiss South Korea's legitimacy.

Reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula also requires diplomatic efforts to encourage caution between China and the United States. The lack of inflammatory speech stresses the vital necessity for productive discussion, where diplomacy takes precedence over combative posturing. As a result, the world community can help establish a more peaceful and secure Korean Peninsula, where dialogue is preferred over war. Prioritize in-person meetings among relevant parties to discuss regional concerns. Promote conversations between all the major stakeholders to create a comprehensive strategy for regional stability, and help facilitate these talks.

The UNC developed as a nuanced institution in the Korean Peninsula situation, offering security guarantees while also posing obstacles to regional authority. One of the most important things that can be done to improve communication is to reject North Korea's unilateral unification claim and to advocate for diplomatic moderation between China and the United States. The international community may greatly contribute to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula if it chooses negotiation over confrontation.

Simon Hutagalung is a retired diplomat from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and received his master's degree in political science and comparative politics from the City University of New York. Presently he is a freelancer writing articles on terrorism, international security and AI.







Elon Musk said Wednesday that he won't vote for President Joe Biden in the 2024 election, even if former president Donald Trump is the Republican nominee.

"I would not vote for Biden," Musk said during a wide-ranging interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit in New York. "I'm not saying I'd vote for Trump."

When asked what he'd do if those were the two nominees, Musk said, "This is definitely a difficult choice here."

Musk, who says he supported Barack Obama's candidacy, has moved rightward in his politics in recent years, writing in a tweet last year that "today's Democratic Party has been hijacked by extremists."

While he hasn't endorsed a specific candidate for the 2024 election, Musk said last year that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was his preferred choice at the time. He also hosted DeSantis's campaign launch on X, formerly Twitter. More recently, Musk has said that Vivek Ramaswamy is "looking like a strong candidate."

Musk told Sorkin on Wednesday that he disagrees with Ramaswamy on climate issues, but he shares some of the candidate's views on government overreach and censorship. DeSantis's name did not come up in the interview.

When asked if he could support Nikki Haley among the Republicans, Musk said no and described the former South Carolina governor as a "pro-censorship candidate."

In terms of which party is more favorable towards freedom of speech, Musk said that "on balance, the Democrats appear to be more pro-censorship than Republicans," which he characterized as a change from the past.

"We certainly get more complaints from the left than the right," Musk said.
Spirit Airlines is offering voluntary exit packages to salaried employees, the budget carrier's latest cost-cutting measure as it expects financial strains to continue next year.

The airline has been facing weak off-peak demand and last month said it will have to ground an average of 26 Airbus A320neo aircraft for inspections of engines made by RTX unit Pratt & Whitney after that company disclosed a manufacturing defect in August, straining its capacity.

"The last few months have been a testament to our resilience and dedication as a company, but we must return to profitability, which will require a series of tough decisions," CEO Ted Christie said in a staff memo on Wednesday, which was seen by CNBC.

The airline had already paused training for new pilots and flight attendants, CNBC reported last month. It has also restricted expense budgets and tweaked its network, including a plan to exit Denver.

"Now, we're taking the next difficult step  enacting an Early Voluntary Out program for salaried Team Members," Christie wrote in the memo. The company had a similar plan during the height of Covid pandemic. "Based on the success of that plan, we're implementing a similar set of opportunities to help us right-size our organization for our current fleet and business constraints."

JetBlue Airways is in the process of trying to acquire Spirit, a deal the Justice Department has already sued to block with a trial that's set to wrap up in the coming days in Boston.

The Wall Street Journal reported the Spirit Airlines buyouts earlier Wednesday
This story is part of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which details how people around the world earn, spend and save their money. Just a year after graduating from college, Karun Vij turned his dream of owning property into a reality. It started with an "aha moment." While earning an engineering degree at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Vij noticed that rental units near the school charged by the room, rather than the whole house. Things just clicked: He realized catering to students could be more profitable than renting out properties to families, and decided he wanted to try his hand at it. It took a few years to save up, but by 2016, the year he graduated, he had saved enough money to afford a home near McMaster's campus. "I knew the area, I liked the area  not too expensive or too cheap," Vij tells CNBC Make It. Plus, "it's like a top five university in all of Canada. It was solid." At 26, Vij made a 20% down payment of around $64,781 for a Hamilton home worth $323,904, and rented it out to seven college students. (Conversions from CAD to USD were done using the OANDA conversion rate of 1 CAD to 0.73116 USD on Oct 3, 2023. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.)

Karun Vij at home. Courtesy of Karun Vij

However, he didn't plan to be a landlord full-time. After graduating, Vij worked as an application engineer, and later an account manager, at a global workplace automation firm in nearby Cambridge. With his rental earnings and increased salary, Vij was able to buy more rental properties in southern Ontario. Now 33, Vij lives with his wife and daughter in Chicago, where he earns just over $183,000 and owns four Canadian rental properties worth a total of about $2.3 million. "When I bought my first property, it was the most exciting and nerve-wracking time of my life," he says. "I had no idea what it would take to be a landlord, but I knew in my mind this was my business."

Saving up to buy his first home

Growing up in Brampton, Ontario, part of the greater Toronto area, Vij says he was raised in a "traditional family," where he was encouraged to "go to school, get a job  engineer, doctor, lawyer  and buy one or two houses." Vij "worked [his] ass off" doing "whatever it took to make money," he says. That included mowing lawns, delivering groceries, and eventually, a door-to-door sales job selling vacuums. "In every situation, I do try to be my best," he says of his competitive nature. "If I didn't come up No. 1, I'd go back to the drawing board and I would try to learn from my mistakes."

Karun Vij with his family. Courtesy of Karun Vij

While at McMaster, Vij was selected by a Fortune 500 company to take part in a paid co-op program for two years. During that time, he earned about $45,000 while living in a rent-free apartment provided by the company, which helped him save money for future down payments. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical and biomedical engineering, Vij was hired full-time by the company to work as an application engineer.

Investing in rental properties

Vij's first rental property was a two-story detached home with seven rentable rooms, two miles away from McMaster's main campus. As a first-time landlord, Vij was initially surprised by the number of calls he got from tenants about everything from fixing door locks to changing light bulbs. "I was picking up calls at three in the morning," he says. "I had to quickly learn to put things into perspective and prioritize the major concerns." For non-urgent requests, Vij learned that good communication and follow-through actually mattered more to tenants than him being available "100% of the day." "If you say you're going to fix something in five days, get it done in five days," he says.

Karun Vij in downtown Chicago. Jeremy Applebaum for CNBC Make It

In 2017, Vij put down a deposit of a "few thousand dollars" down on a pre-construction condo in Mississauga, a city near Toronto, that he intended to live in. Otherwise, whatever money Vij made from his job and rental property went straight into savings for more rental properties. In 2018, he put 20% down on another house in Hamilton, worth $316,227. And in 2021, he purchased an adjacent third property for $403,042. He also put 5% down on a pre-construction condo in Milton, Ontario. In 2022, Vij accepted a more senior role with his company in Chicago. Knowing that he had to move out of Canada, he hired a property manager and sold the condo he bought in 2017 for roughly $519,000  more than double the purchase price. With that money, he was able to pay down debts, including his student loans, and put a $50,000 down payment on a property in Windsor, Ontario. All told, Vij has 28 rentable rooms across four properties as of October 2023. He has no interest in cashing out, even though his properties are currently worth about $2.3 million.

Karun Vij outside his home in Chicago. Jeremy Applebaum for CNBC Make It

"I don't care what the price is because I'm never going to sell, that's my mentality," says Vij. "I want to own as many assets as possible that generate cash flow and use any extra cash to buy more assets." In 2023, Vij broke even on his rental properties. He doesn't mind that he's not turning a profit yet because he expects recently purchased properties to have higher upfront costs for furnishings and renovations in the first couple years of ownership. All told, his expenses, including utilities, repairs and property management fees, come to about $11,000 a month. He typically brings in that much from his tenants as well, but any profit he makes in a given month is either used to pay down lines of credit or put into his savings account. "I absolutely love debt," Vij says. "But I'll say I only like good debt," such as mortgages and lines of credit, he adds. "Good debt is debt that you have a strategy for. My long-term strategy is to buy up as much real estate as possible."

How he spends his money

As the sole earner in the household, Vij covers all of the family's expenses with his income. Here's how he spent his money in October 2023.

Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Elham Ataeiazar | CNBC Make It

Housing and utilities: $4,439 for rent on a two-bedroom condo, parking and heat

$4,439 for rent on a two-bedroom condo, parking and heat Discretionary: $2,644 for baby supplies, online shopping, travel and Fiverr

$2,644 for baby supplies, online shopping, travel and Fiverr Savings and investments: $1,209, including $1,076 to his 401(k) and $133 to his health savings account

$1,209, including $1,076 to his 401(k) and $133 to his health savings account Food: $794

$794 Insurance: $356 for health, dental, vision, life, disability and renters insurance

$356 for health, dental, vision, life, disability and renters insurance Company car: $100 fee paid to employer

$100 fee paid to employer Subscriptions and memberships: $51 for Spotify, Amazon Prime, Google Suite, calendar app and Cloud services

$51 for Spotify, Amazon Prime, Google Suite, calendar app and Cloud services Phone: $50 for his wife's phone In August, Vij and his wife Seema welcomed a newborn daughter, so a significant portion of their discretionary expenses go toward baby stuff, like bedding and clothing. In addition to typical benefits, like health and dental insurance, Vij gets a few nice perks through his employer. For $100 a month, he's able to rent a company car, including gas. Likewise, his phone is paid for through work, so he and Seema only spend $50 a month on her phone.

Karun Vij and his wife Seema at Walt Disney World. Courtesy of Karun Vij

Vij owes around $18,700 in credit card debt. That amount is unusually high because of the newborn, as well as some unexpected dental expenses, he says. He's also making a strategic choice to not pay it off right away: "I'm using the money to buy more assets." Vij also has four lines of credit that he uses exclusively to finance his properties, two of which have outstanding balances totaling $9,798. As of October 2023, he has more than $100,000 in investments, including index funds, company stock and an inactive company-sponsored pension from when he worked in Canada. Vij also has just over $73,000 in savings earmarked for another property in Windsor, Ontario.

Plans for the future
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Thursday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) An automaker and two social media companies were in focus among Thursday's analyst calls. Goldman Sachs raised its price target on General Motors after the stock's best day since early 2021. Meanwhile, Jefferies upgraded shares of Snap and Pinterest to buy, citing a strong setup heading into 2024 . Check out the latest calls and chatter below. 8:39 a.m. ET: JPMorgan upgrades STMicroelectronics as end market downturn nears bottom JPMorgan is getting bullish on shares of STMicroelectronics , upgrading the semiconductor manufacturing company to overweight from a neutral rating as its end market downturn nears a bottom. Sandeep Deshpande placed shares on a positive catalyst watch. The company, he said, looks poised to beat 2024 consensus estimates given the current negative sentiment. According to Deshpande, Wall Street's failed to account for an approaching recovery within the company's consumer-exposed end markets. This includes exposure to Apple and consumer smartphone products, among other things. "After a downturn that started in 2H22, this end market is bottoming out and will likely improve in 2H24," he wrote in a Thursday note. Deshpande also thinks that shares look cheap, trading at a discount to the large cap technology universe. The company's leadership in silicon carbide should also benefit pricing given the tight supply. Shares of the Switzerland-based company rose more than 2% before the bell.  Samantha Subin 8:36 a.m. ET: Spirit AeroSystems is a 'turnaround story,' Baird says in upgrade It's time to buy Spirit AeroSystems as the stock can rebound, and potentially double from here, according to Baird. Analyst Peter Arment upgraded shares to outperform, and raised his price target, saying the aerospace company has several catalysts ahead that will boost the stock after its selloff this year. The stock is down by more than 11% in 2023. The analyst approved of the new interim CEO Pat Shanahan's speed in addressing "high-urgency problem areas" within Spirit AeroSystems to improve financial performance. He also named the revision of the Airbus production contract set for February as the "likely next catalyst" for the company. Arment's $36 price target, raised from $30, implies the stock can climb 37% from Wednesday's close. But the analyst said he thinks the stock can climb to more than $50, which could mean shares could roughly double. "Sentiment is improving on SPR and we see an opportunity for multiple expansion in 2024, especially if unit economics on Airbus shipsets are revised," Arment said. "SPR is a turnaround story with a potential path to $50+," he added.  Sarah Min 8:35 a.m. ET: Citi raises SolarEdge price target, grows more confident in recovery Citibank is growing more confident that SolarEdge can make a turnaround after meeting with the company's CFO Ronen Faier in Asia. The investment bank maintained its neutral rating on the Israeli inverter manufacturer, but raised its stock price target by $12 to $89, implying a 13% upside from the last closing price of $78.55. "We walked away more confident in demand recovery and potential for upside in both the guided revenue and margin ranges," analyst Vikram Bagri wrote. Higher electricity prices and attractive payback periods in Europe indicate strong fundamentals, according to Bagri. SolarEdge got thrashed this year as high interest rates suffocated demand, leaving the company stuck with too much inventory on its hands. Citi expects inventory normalization to take about two to three quarters, though the investment bank cautioned there are still downside risks.  Spencer Kimball 8:01 a.m. ET: JPMorgan downgrades Nokia, sees no near-term positive catalyst Analyst Sandeep Deshpande downgraded shears of Nokia to neutral from overweight on Thursday, saying first half of 2024 should be "particularly challenging" for telcos. The major U.S. companies have indicated capex will decline in 2024. Muted demand in the U.S. is also expected in at least the first half, with no potential seen right now of another part of the world compensating, he said in a note to clients. "Nokia's restructuring will help 2H24 earnings but with initial indications of 1H24 to be so difficult, it is difficult to stay bullish despite the valuation, which is well below historic levels (P/E of 7.6x vs. historic mid-cycle multiple of 14.7x.)," Deshpande wrote. U.S.-listed shares of the Finland-based company, down 23% year to date, slipped 1.4% in premarket trading.  Michelle Fox 7:53 a.m. ET: Jefferies says hold Hyperfine with portable MRI maker still in 'very early stages' Despite seeing a first-mover advantage for a little-known maker of portable portable magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, machines, Jefferies has reason for pause. Analyst Young Li initiated coverage of Hyperfine at a hold rating with a $1.25 price target. That target implies the stock could slide about 0.8% from Wednesday's close. Li said Hyperfine has an edge on its portability, workflow, time, costs and quality as a first in the new space of portable MRI scanners. But he noted that being early with its Swoop scanner is also an "unenviable position" because the company must develop a new market and win share from larger, more traditional counterparts despite having limited scale. "While HYPR's Swoop portable MRI is unique, differentiated, and has advantageous features, it is still in the very early stages of commercialization ... and lacks predictability in the selling cycle as each sale is still unique," Li told clients on Wednesday. Shares are up about 50% compared with the start of 2023. But they still trade at less than half of the price they did during highs seen earlier this year.  Alex Harring 7:51 a.m. ET: Deutsche Bank initiates Lattice Semiconductor with a buy Deutsche Bank said that, while near-term cyclical headwinds won't escape Lattice Semiconductor , the long-term outlook is still favorable. The firm initiated coverage of the chip stock with a buy rating and a $70 per share price target, or about 19% upside from Wednesday's close. "We see LSCC (~$8b market cap) as offering the rare combination of above-industry revenue growth alongside industry leading gross margins (second only to NVDA & AVGO)," analyst Melissa Weathers said. "While in the near-term LSCC will not be immune from cyclical headwinds plaguing the broader semis industry (and we've consequently de-risked our near-term estimates as a result), we believe further downside to fundamentals is already priced into shares." The chipmaker has struggled in 2023, losing nearly 9%. LSCC YTD mountain LSCC in 2023  Brian Evans 7:36 a.m. ET: Bernstein upgrades Restaurant Brands, sees upside for Burger King Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo upgraded Restaurant Brands International to outperform from market perform, saying in a note to clients on Thursday that the stock can start to rise again now that the company has weathered a difficult period. "With fears of consumer spending slowdown, and pressures in the BK US system, investors have maintained a neutral stance on the stock over the past 6 months (-4%). Yet, with the momentum built up since the beginning of the year we now see a clearer path toward QSR's LT value creation," Gargiulo said. Restaurant Brands' different franchises include Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeye's. Burger King in particular could be due for a rebound, Gargiulo said. "We believe that the underutilized ad fund will help BK outperform peers in 1H24 in the battle for traffic; store re-imaging should yield positive net impact starting in 2H24, serving as FY25 catalyst with ramping renovations," Gargiulo said. Bernstein hiked its price target on Restaurant Brands to $85 per share from $77. The new target is 22% above where the stock closed Wednesday.  Jesse Pound 6:55 a.m. ET: Analysts are growing more cautious on Okta stock following third quarter results A solid third-quarter earnings print isn't enough to keep analysts on Wall Street bullish on Okta . Despite beating on the top and bottom line, concerns over a recent data breach in October have underpinned analyst downgrades following quarterly results over the looming ramifications of the event moving forward. "While we continue to view identity as a top priority within security and Okta as a potential long-term consolidator, given the mis-execution since the Auth0 acquisition and uncertainty on the duration and the degree to which the breach may have an impact going forward, we see risk/reward as balanced with shares trading at 24.8x FCF and 4.8x revenue vs. the 10-20% growth peers at 31.6x FCF and 6.5x revenue," KeyBanc analyst Eric Heath wrote on Wednesday. The firm downgraded Okta stock to sector weight without a price target. "We believe Okta's focus on margin expansion at a critical time like this is an oversight. We believe the company should be more focused on driving revenue growth acceleration to assuage investor concerns regarding shares losses related to the breach," Wells Fargo analyst Andrew Nowinski said. The firm lowered its rating on Okta stock to equal weight and slashed its price target to $70 per share from $80, which equates to about 1% upside from Wednesday's $70.77 close.  Brian Evans 6:32 a.m. ET: BTIG downgrades 'unanalyzable' Farfetch BTIG is moving to the sidelines on Farfetch following mixed signals on an effort to take the company private by chief executive Jose Neves which could lack critical support. The firm downgraded shares of the luxury apparel company to neutral from buy and removed its price target. Shares closed at 97 cents on Wednesday and have slumped more than 79% this year. FTCH YTD mountain FTCH in 2023 "While we appreciate the stock has already declined significantly and a positive outcome is still possible, we believe moving to the sidelines until the dust settles is the best course of action as the situation has become too binary for our liking," analyst Marvin Fong said. "Existing shareholders may want to see their investment through, but we would suggest investors new to the name take a wait-and-see approach."  Brian Evans 6:18 a.m. ET: Here's what analysts are saying after Salesforce's third quarter results Analysts on Wall Street are sticking by Salesforce after the company's stronger-than-expected third-quarter results. "We continue to believe that Salesforce is on track to become the next quality GARP stock. While margin expansion is likely to be more gradual from here, we believe it remains on a path to rule of 50+," Bank of America analyst Brad Sills said. The bank reiterated a buy rating as well as a top pick label, accompanied by a $300 per share price target. BofA's forecast implies more than 30% upside from Wednesday's close. Goldman Sachs also maintained its buy rating and increased its target price to $345 per share from $340. The new target implies about 50% upside moving forward. "Despite fears of high-single digit growth, 4Q guide of 10% growth looks conservative in the context of strong renewals and a large customer win," analyst Kash Rangan said. "Results validate our view (since March) that revenue growth is likely to trough in FY24 before re-accelerating in FY25."  Brian Evans 5:58 a.m. ET: Jefferies moves Snapchat and Pinterest to buy on revenue growth forecasts Jefferies says both Snap and Pinterest will be beneficiaries of strong growth channels moving forward. The firm upgraded both stocks to buy from hold. Jefferies' $41 price target on Pinterest implies about 23% upside for Pinterest, and its $16 forecast for Snap calls for a 23% increase moving forward. "We are upgrading SNAP and PINS to Buy on the view that both have catalysts for rev growth upside in FY24," analyst James Heaney said. "SNAP is our more controversial call where we believe the stock re-rates higher on North America rev growth reaccelerating into the mid-teens in '24 (vs. -7% in FY23). Our PINS upgrade is based on increasing conviction in PINS's ability to grow rev 20%+ in FY24." Shares of both companies are up sharply this year. Snap has rallied 445% in 2023, while Pinterest has gained 37%. SNAP PINS YTD mountain SNAP and PINS in 2023  Brian Evans 5:45 a.m. ET: Morgan Stanley upgrades Hewlett Packard Enterprise on promise of AI growth While Morgan Stanley thinks more "derisking" would be preferable for Hewlett Packard Enterprise , the company's multiple isn't like to compress further. The bank upgraded shares of the information technology company to equal weight from underweight. To be sure, it maintained its $16 per share price target, which implies more than 3% downside from Wednesday's $16.52 close. "We would have liked more derisking of Intelligent Edge estimates heading into FY24, but given where we are in hardware cycle, and the longer term AI opportunity, we see little opportunity for further multiple compression," analyst Meta Marshall said. HPE shares are up just 3.5% this year, lagging the broader market.  Brian Evans 5:45 a.m ET: Goldman raises GM price target Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney increased his price target on General Motors to $45 from $42 after a series of bullish moves by the auto giant. On Wednesday, GM announced a $10 billion share buyback, hiked its dividend and reinstated its full-year guidance. Shares rallied more than 9% for their best day since early 2021. Goldman's new price target implies shares will rally another 42%. GM YTD mountain GM in 2023 "We believe investors will view the business update as an incremental positive overall given that the company expects that it can sustain the underlying core profitability of its business with cost reductions and efficiencies helping to offset labor cost and mix headwinds in 2024," Delaney said. "Additionally, we believe the $10 bn ASR underscores the strong cash generation of the business and will be viewed positively by investors."  Fred Imbert
On Sept. 27, 2023, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, will take part in a ceremony at the Planalto Palace to sign the concession contracts resulting from the 1st Transmission Auction of 2023.

Brazil will join the influential OPEC+ oil coalition that unites some of the biggest crude-producing nations in the world, according to Brazilian Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira.

The announcement was made during a postponed OPEC+ meeting to discuss oil output strategy over 2024, amid languishing prices weighed by fragile demand recovery in China, geopolitical risks and uncertainty over supplies from U.S.-sanctioned OPEC members Iran and Venezuela.

In footage shared from the meeting, Silveira said that President Lula da Silva had approved his country's membership, starting next year.

"I would like to conclude my words by informing you that the honorable President Lula confirmed our entry into the OPEC+ cooperation charter from January 2024," he said.

"It is important that our technical crew analyzes the content of the document that we just received, the charter of the cooperation. It is part of our government protocol to do this," he added.

The so-called document of cooperation of OPEC+ underpins the coalition and must be accepted by all group members.

"Brazil received an invitation to join OPEC+. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, analyzes the issue," the Brazilian energy ministry said in a Google-translated response to a request for comment on the country's membership.

It was not immediately clear if Brazil would have to carry out any production cuts starting next year, as a result of its membership.

Both the OPEC+ alliance and the OPEC subset of the group have been on the hunt for new members, as an increase in the number of aligned producers will also raise the coalition's market share  and, implicitly, the impact of its coordinated policies over supply inventories and prices.

The announcement of Brazil's membership to the Saudi Arabia and Russia-dominated OPEC+ comes after OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates were over the summer invited to join the BRICS groups of emerging markets, which includes Brasilia.

Correction: Brasilia is the capital of Brazil. An earlier version misstated the city.
An attendee checks a smartphone whilst walking past Al Wasl dome in the Blue Zone ahead of the COP28 climate conference at Expo City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. More than 70,000 politicians, diplomats, campaigners, financiers and business leaders will fly to Dubai to talk about arresting the world's slide toward environmental catastrophe.

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here .

November gains

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended Wednesday near the flat line, but the major averages were on track for their biggest monthly gain in 2023. The 30-stock Dow rose 13.44 points, or 0.04%, to close at 35,430.42. The S&P 500 ticked down 0.09% to end at 4,550.58, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped by 0.16% to 14,258.49.

Of growth and rate cuts

The U.S. economy grew at an even stronger pace then previously indicated in the third quarter, helped by better-than-expected business investment and stronger government spending, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. Gross domestic product accelerated at a 5.2% annualized pace, the department's second estimate showed. The acceleration topped the initial 4.9% reading and beat the 5% forecast from economists polled by Dow Jones. These are probably not conditions that would prompt monetary policy easing. After all, interest rate cuts don't happen during good times, something important for markets to remember as they anticipate easing next year from the Federal Reserve.

The force is rising

Salesforce shares rose 7% in extended trading on Wednesday after the cloud software vendor's third-quarter earnings topped analysts' estimates. Revenue increased 11% from $7.84 billion a year earlier. Salesforce revenue, which has historically rise by well over 20% a year, has seen growth rates slip in recent quarters as businesses have cut spending due to economic uncertainty and high interest rates.

Autos unionization

The United Auto Workers union is launching an unprecedented campaign to organize 13 non-unionized automakers in the U.S. after securing record contracts with the Detroit automakers. The union said Wednesday the drive will cover nearly 150,000 autoworkers across BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Lucid, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. Meanwhile, shares of General Motors popped 9% Wednesday after the company said it was working to regain Wall Street's confidence heading into 2024 with several investor-focused initiatives following a tumultuous year of labor strikes and setbacks in its plans for electric and autonomous vehicles.

Jensen says

U.S. chipmakers are at least a decade away from "supply chain independence" from China, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin. Nvidia warned in its third-quarter earnings on Nov. 21 that it expected a negative impact from U.S. export controls during the fourth quarter. Huang also added that artificial intelligence will be able to complete tests in a "fairly competitive" way compared with human intelligence within the next five years.

[PRO] Beware crowded trades

The S&P 500 is up more than 8% in November, putting it on track for its biggest monthly gain since July 2022. However, Morgan Stanley warned hedge funds were crowding into some names, raising the possibility of volatile moves in the near term. The bank has screened for stocks hedge funds are most partial toward within the Russell 1000 index, based on regulatory filings.
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Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  Countries at the U.N. COP28 summit on Thursday agreed on deal details for a disaster fund to help nations reeling from damages caused by the climate crisis. This agreement, struck on the opening day of the conference in the United Arab Emirates, builds on a deal for a loss and damage fund brokered at COP27 in Egypt last year  widely seen as a historic breakthrough and potential turning point in the climate crisis. Many key arrangements were left unresolved at the time, such as who should pay into the fund, how large should it be and who should administer the money. The operationalization of the fund on Thursday prompted a standing ovation from delegates in the audience.

A man wearing a thawb walks past flags of nations participating in the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference the day before its official opening on November 29, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images

So far, the pledges to the fund include $100 million from Germany, $100 million from the United Arab Emirates, $17 million from the U.S. and $10 million from Japan. The U.K. has also pledged sums into the fund. Payments are made into the fund on a voluntary basis, and all developing countries are eligible to directly access the resources. The World Bank will be the interim host to the fund for a period of four years  an issue that has previously fueled tensions between high-income and low-income countries. In emailed comments, Friederike Roder, vice president of sustainable development advocacy group Global Citizen, described the announcement of a loss and damage fund as a "historic decision," but added that "a fund is worthless without any dollars in it" and urged wealthy countries to step and announce significant pledges. "The needs for loss and damage and other climate finance will continue to increase. This is why we also need, additionally, to tap into other financing sources, such as international taxes," Roder said. High-income countries, which account for the bulk of historical greenhouse gas emissions, have long opposed the creation of a loss and damage fund to compensate low-income nations. Advocates argue that the fund is required to account for climate impacts  including hurricanes, floods and wildfires or slow-onset impacts such as rising sea levels  that countries cannot defend against, either because the risks are unavoidable, or because they lack the financial resources to do so. Avinash Persaud, special climate envoy to Barbados, said that the deal reflects "a hard fought historic agreement." "It shows recognition that climate loss and damage is not a distant risk but part of the lived reality of almost half of the world's population and that money is needed to reconstruct and rehabilitate if we are not to let the climate crisis reverse decades of development in mere moments," he added.

A boost to momentum?
Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC), the temporary leader of the House of Representatives and the speaker pro tempore, holds the gavel in the House Chamber as they prepare to vote on a new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2023.

WASHINGTON  One of crypto's most powerful allies in Congress is fighting this week to make sure that an industry-backed regulation bill gets tacked on to the must-pass defense funding legislation.

If he is successful, Rep. Patrick McHenry's (R-N.C.) hardball tactics could hand the cryptocurrency industry a big win. But they are frustrating his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle.

The bill is intended to clarify how crypto is regulated by federal agencies. It could also go a long way towards resolving a burning question in tech policy: Whether cryptocurrencies should be treated by regulators as commodities or as securities. The answer could impact U.S. regulation of digital currencies for decades.

But McHenry's bill has never been put to a vote in the full House, let alone in the Senate.

Instead, McHenry, who chairs the Financial Services Committee, is pushing to attach his bill to the massive annual Pentagon funding measure the National Defense Authorization Act.

Congressional leaders are hoping to pass it before the end of the year, and the House and Senate are currently working to reconcile their respective versions into a single package that can win enough votes to pass both chambers.
1 confirmed dead after U.S. military aircraft crashes off SW Japanese island

Xinhua) 10:51, November 30, 2023

This file photo taken on Nov. 25, 2023 shows Osprey military transport aircrafts at a U.S. base in Okinawa, Japan. A U.S. Osprey military transport aircraft carrying eight people crashed off Japan's southwestern island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday, local media reported. (Xinhua/Feng Wuyong)

TOKYO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. Osprey military transport aircraft carrying six people crashed in waters off Japan's southwestern island of Yakushima on Wednesday, with one man found near the site confirmed dead, local media reported.

One person found near the accident site who is believed to have been on the aircraft was confirmed dead, and what appeared to be a large amount of debris from the Osprey was spotted floating on the sea, Kyodo News reported, citing the Japan Coast Guard.

The coast guard, which has dispatched patrol boats and aircraft to search the area, also revised the number of crew members aboard the crashed Osprey to six after saying earlier there were eight.

The coast guard received an emergency call about the crash at around 2:47 p.m. local time (0547 GMT) after the Osprey departed from the Iwakuni U.S. base in the Yamaguchi Prefecture heading for the Kadena base in Okinawa, public broadcaster NHK said.

The aircraft, which was assigned to the Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and used by the U.S. Air Force, disappeared from radar at around 2:40 p.m. local time, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which can fly both like a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, has a track record of accidents and mishaps both in Japan and abroad.

In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia, killing three crew members. Another crash-landed in the ocean off Japan's southern island of Okinawa in December 2016.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Develop immigration policy suitable for multiracial era

Koreans might have to be more aware of potential language barriers when ordering in restaurants starting next year.

On Monday, the government said it would expand the industries where foreign workers with non-professional employment visas (E-9) can work, including hospitality, mining, and forestry.

Only Koreans and Korean Chinese have, so far, done restaurant-based jobs. Currently, the government allows unskilled migrant laborers to work in four areas: farming, fishing, manufacturing, and construction. The latest move aims to fill numerous vacancies in the services sector.

Korea will bring in 165,000 migrant workers next year, up sharply from 120,000 this year. The number stood at 52,000 in 2021, meaning that the nation needs a foreign workforce over three times larger than three years ago. Thats hardly surprising. This countrys birthrate threatens to drop below 0.7, and nearly one in every five Koreans is 65 or older.

However, Korean and foreign workers do not welcome the policy.

Labor unions criticize the government for not improving the work environment to induce more Koreans to join the job market. Unionists point to about 500,000 jobless Koreans aged 15-29 not seeking employment, as they call for better working conditions. Migrant workers are equally concerned. They warn that the influx of guest workers will result in adverse side effects, including abuse, if unaccompanied by steps to protect them.

They are right to be worried.

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration slashed the budget for migrant worker support centers from 7.18 billion won ($5.35 million) this year to zero won in 2024. The Ministry of Employment and Labor says the central government will handle that job directly, but foreign workers doubt that. Guest workers visit these centers on weekends as they have no or few days off during weekdays. However, government offices are not open on weekends. How can foreigners seek support, then?

Abuse of migrant workers has long been a problem in Korea.

Their long overdue wages have exceeded 120 billion won, accounting for 12 percent of all workers who didnt get paid. Two Cambodian farm workers froze to death during a winter cold spell a few years ago while living in makeshift shelters built by their employer. Early this year, two Vietnamese brothers fell to their deaths at a building site, but officials didnt explain the details to the bereaved family. Not all Korean employers are harsh, and extreme cases make headlines. Still, one cant deny abuses and discrimination against foreigners amid official acquiescence.

Due to the Yoon administration's fiscal stringency, the labor ministry might have had no option but to sacrifice expenditures for these support centers. Korean workers are unhappy with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's economic policy that they claim favor the haves rather than the have-nots. But migrant workers cannot complain.

On behalf of these workers, their governments seem to have taken action. According to the Hankyoreh newspaper Thursday, eight Asian countries expressed concerns about the virtual closure of these support centers. The labor ministry said these were simple inquiries, but their embassies in Seoul said they were genuinely concerned. And they should be.

Migrant workers union leaders say that some Korean officials and employers still regard them as being disposable. Their complaints have grounds. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will bring in 100 foreign housekeepers on a pilot basis next year. Mayor Oh Se-hoon says their monthly wage should not exceed 1 million won, half of the minimum wage, to produce any policy effects. Oh revealed his ignorance of the importance of housework and discrimination against foreigners.

In contrast, Japan has succeeded in introducing foreign domestic helpers. Tokyo gave them equal wages, limited their work to housekeeping and not caring for children, and guaranteed their privacy.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon says Korea must set up an Immigration Office. He recently proposed the government turn E-9 visas into E-7-4 visas for foreigners who can speak fluent Korean and worked hard for 10 years here by themselves. A migrant worker said they cant master the Korean language due to overwork. The worker asked, Will Minister Han work overseas for 10 years without his family to get a visa for skilled work?

In this era of low birthrates and declining populations in industrial countries, attracting foreign talent is key to the aim of continued growth. Korea cannot build a superior foreign workforce unless its leaders change first.
SpaceX's next-generation Starship spacecraft atop its powerful Super Heavy rocket is launched from the company's Boca Chica launchpad on an uncrewed test flight, near Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2023.

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In one sense, we're now two weeks (and a holiday breather) on from SpaceX's most recent test flight of a Starship prototype. In another sense, the test is ongoing and we're still in the middle of a massive research and development effort.

One thing is clear: Starship is a spectacle. The rocket is a 40-story skyscraper, producing unprecedented amounts of power, and launching a few miles away from the viewing public. And, in addition to the company's own livestreams of the launches, enthusiasts broadcast around the clock views of SpaceX's activities in South Texas for thousands to online parse the movement of equipment and rocket parts.

The extremely public display, as well as SpaceX's polarizing owner, is a double-edged sword for understanding Starship test flights. The dramatic views of the launch get people excited about Starship's potential, but at the same time they open the company up to criticism.

One person's "glorious success" is another person's "massive failure." Few call the Starship launches what they are: research.

SpaceX repeatedly emphasizes the "test" aspect of these flights and, indeed, from the R&D perspective of making progress, there were a number of successes: All 39 Raptor engines worked, the ground infrastructure seems to be in good shape, the "hot-staging" separation process meant the second flight made it further than the first, the rocket reached space, and the flight termination system (a.k.a., onboard safety method to intentionally self-destruct) appeared to trigger much more quickly than before.

Important steps forward, sure. Next stop, Mars? No.

Starship failed to complete the test mission's profile by splashing down off the coast of Hawaii, falling short of a lower bar than even the most low-risk Falcon 9 launches for SpaceX. Starship's booster ripped apart shortly after separation, and Starship itself was destroyed because it was underperforming  or, in SpaceX's words, "a safe command destruct was appropriately triggered based on available vehicle performance data."

Not great, given the flight time was only a fraction of the planned mission, but not the setback that images of a distant fireball may have you believe.

Readers, especially space enthusiasts, love to hear estimates of when Starship is going to land on the moon or send people to Mars. But the unfortunate truth is that those timelines are aspirational when talking about missions that rely on technology that's firmly in the R&D stage. That's a big reason why I regularly emphasize the comments by SpaceX leadership that Starship won't be flying people until after completing "hundreds" of successful flights.

Starship needs to get to orbit, deliver satellites, demonstrate orbital refueling, safely re-enter the atmosphere and more before I start taking announcements like "landing cargo on the moon by so-and-so year" seriously, let alone fly people. In the middle of all those technological advancements, government regulators face allegations that SpaceX is moving too fast and breaking things, as well as criticism from the company that federal licenses aren't getting approved quickly enough.

There are plenty of ways to read the tea leaves for how quickly the Starship program will play out. You can chart the momentum of Falcon 9 launches over the past 13 years and assume a similar trajectory for Starship. Or you could extrapolate the lag between initial estimates of when Starship would be ready to launch again (as early as June) to when it actually was ready to get back off the ground (October).

The reality is that Starship is still firmly in the R&D stage. Any purported timelines aren't nearly as firm.
A helicopter with Israeli hostages released earlier by Hamas lands at Sheba Medical Centre on the sixth day of the temporary truce after Hamas blamed technical issues on the delay as family and friends wait nearby in the early morning hours of November 30, 2023 in Ramat Gan, Israel. Alexi J. Rosenfeld | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Qatari and Egyptian negotiators are working on brokering a new two-day extension to the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, the head of Egypt's State Information Service said in a statement. "There are ongoing Egyptian-Qatari contacts to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days, in an effort to cease fire, release more prisoners and detainees, and bring more humanitarian and relief aid into the Gaza Strip," the statement by said. "The intense Egyptian-Qatari efforts have resulted in overcoming many obstacles, which was facing the implementation of the armistice agreement today," it added. The news coincides with a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel, his third since the war began. The visit took place as a shooting by Palestinian gunmen in West Jerusalem killed at least three people, Israeli police said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) hold a meeting in Tel Aviv on November 30, 2023, following the announcement of an extenstion of the truce between Israel and Hamas just before it was due to expire. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire by at least a further 24 hours on Thursday morning, just minutes before the fragile truce hit its deadline. The pause in fighting, now in its seventh day, so far has seen almost 100 hostages released from Hamas' captivity in Gaza  just over 70 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals, mostly Thai agricultural workers  and 210 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli detention, as of Wednesday. Under the terms of the deal between the warring parties, three Palestinian prisoners are exchanged for every one Israeli hostage. "The operational pause 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 Israeli Defense Forces posted on its official X account on Thursday morning.

Newly release Israeli hostages sit among soldiers as they arrive inside a van at Ofakim army base in southern Israel early on November 30, 2023, after being freed from the Gaza Strip following the October 7 attacks in Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Menahem Kahana | Afp | Getty Images

Qatar, a key mediator of the arrangement which has also been home to Hamas' political division since 2012, noted the continuation of humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza under the terms of the cease-fire. "Palestinian and Israeli sides reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip for an additional day under the same previous conditions, which are a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid, within the framework of the joint mediation of the State of Qatar," Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed Wednesday that one of the freed hostages was a dual Israeli-American national. Top officials from Qatar, Egypt, the U.S. and Israel have been involved in the cease-fire talks, with many working to extend the deal that was meant to expire on Thursday morning. Both sides have accused the other of violating the pause in fighting at times.

Blinken visits Israel, stresses protection of Gaza civilians

Blinken met with government leaders in Israel during his third visit to the country since the outbreak of the war. He joined a meeting of Israel's war cabinet, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would brief the U.S.'s chief diplomat on the "next phase" of the war with Hamas. Blinken also praised mediation efforts for the cease-fire, saying that "this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue." "We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," the secretary said. "And that should continue today. It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately." Blinken also emphasized the need to protect civilians in Gaza, which has been hammered by Israeli bombardment for seven weeks.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a meeting at the Muqata, the presidential compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on November 30, 2023. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

The secretary of state "stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement, adding that he "urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm." Blinken later traveled to Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank, to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian attack in Jerusalem kills 3, Israeli police say

The secretary of state's visit coincided with a violent attack by two Palestinian men at a bus stop at the entrance to West Jerusalem, which killed at least three people and wounded a further eight, according to Israeli police. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Israeli forces investigate the site where at least 3 Israelis were killed and 3 injured in an armed attack in Jerusalem on November 30, 2023. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images) Mostafa Alkharouf | Anadolu | Getty Images

"I just finished a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, shortly after Hamas murderers murdered Israelis here in Jerusalem," Netanyahu told press. "I told him: This is the same Hamas." Blinken acknowledged the attack during his remarks in Israel, saying that the killings show "the threat from terrorism that Israel and Israelis face every single day. And like you, my heart goes out to the victims of this attack."

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Palestinian authorities said Wednesday that Israeli troops killed two Palestinian children, an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old, in a raid on the West Bank city of Jenin. Israel's military says the two people killed were militants. As of Wednesday, 242 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since Oct. 7 by Israeli forces or settlers, authorities in the occupied territory say. Netanyahu has stressed that the war in Gaza will continue after the truce comes to an end, saying that it is the only way to achieve Israel's stated aim of "eliminating Hamas."

Israeli troops gather with their military vehicles on the border with the Gaza Strip on November 30, 2023, on the 7th day of a truce in battles between Israel and Hamas militants. Gil Cohen-magen | AFP | Getty Images
A press release shared with CNBC Make It back in March stated that the trip would cover over 130,000 miles and visit 375 ports across 135 countries and seven continents. The prices started at $29,999 a year and payment options started at $2,499 per month.

Now, less than two weeks before its maiden voyage, Life at Sea has acknowledged to anxious passengers that there is no ship, and that the once-in-a-lifetime trip has been canceled, CNN reported.

In March, Life at Sea Cruises announced it was accepting reservations for its three-year cruise around the world. The ship was scheduled to set sail on November 30, with the original November 1 departure date having been rescheduled several times.

When the cruise was first announced, prices were starting at $29,999 a year/

The three-year cruise was initially set to depart from Istanbul, Turkey on November 1. Shortly before that date, it was postponed to November 11 and relocated to Amsterdam, then rescheduled to November 30.

On November 17, passengers were informed by Miray Cruises, Life at Sea's parent company, that the company could not afford to buy a ship after "investors declined to support us further due to the unrest in [the] Middle East," according to ABC News. The company had been trying to buy AIDAaura, a 20-year-old ship, which was sold in November to another cruise company.

In a statement to the news outlet, Miray Cruises owner Vedat Ugurlu said the cruise wasn't canceled but postponed until May 2024.

"We just had to extend our approval," he said. "Because as you know, three-year cruises is a mega project. The reason for this is our vessel capacityneeded to exceed more than 600 cabins. And right now, we only have 104 cabins."

A statement posted on Miray Cruises' Instagram page in Turkish on November 27 stated the Life at Sea Cruises trip was postponed because the number of passengers was below expectations and had no mention of the company rescheduling because it couldn't acquire a ship.

Life at Sea Cruises also stated in the translated statement that any customers who want a refund will receive it, including money spent on acquiring visas and other travel expenses. They also told ABC News that those who have already paid will have a cabin waiting when the ship is ready.

According to reports from ABC News and CNN, some passengers are now faced with what to do next after having sold their homes to embark on the three-year journey.

Representatives for Life at Sea Cruises and Miray Cruises did not immediately respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, attends a U.S. Senate bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Insight Forum at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Sept. 13, 2023.

In its latest quarterly report on adversarial threats, Meta said on Thursday that China is an increasing source of covert influence and disinformation campaigns, which could get supercharged by advances in generative artificial intelligence.

Only Russia and Iran rank above China when it comes to coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) campaigns, typically involving the use of fake user accounts and other methods intended to "manipulate public debate for a strategic goal," Meta said in the report.

Meta said it disrupted three CIB networks in the third quarter, two stemming from China and one from Russia. One of the Chinese CIB networks was a large operation that required Meta to remove 4,780 Facebook accounts.

"The individuals behind this activity used basic fake accounts with profile pictures and names copied from elsewhere on the internet to post and befriend people from around the world," Meta said regarding China's network. "Only a small portion of such friends were based in the United States. They posed as Americans to post the same content across different platforms."

Disinformation on Facebook emerged as a major problem ahead of the 2016 U.S. elections, when foreign actors, most notably from Russia, were able to inflame sentiments on the site, primarily with the intention of boosting the candidacy of then-candidate Donald Trump. Since then, the company has been under greater scrutiny to monitor disinformation threats and campaigns and to provide greater transparency to the public.

Meta removed a prior China-related disinformation campaign, as detailed in August. The company said it took down over 7,700 Facebook accounts related to that Chinese CIB network, which it described at the time as the "largest known cross-platform covert influence operation in the world."

If China becomes a political talking point as part of the upcoming election cycles around the world, Meta said "it is likely that we'll see China-based influence operations pivot to attempt to influence those debates."

"In addition, the more domestic debates in Europe and North America focus on support for Ukraine, the more likely that we should expect to see Russian attempts to interfere in those debates," the company added.

One trend Meta has noticed regarding CIB campaigns is the increasing use of a variety of online platforms like Medium, Reddit and Quora, as opposed to the bad actors "centralizing their activity and coordination in one place."

Meta said that development appears to be related to "larger platforms keeping up the pressure on threat actors," resulting in troublemakers swiftly utilizing smaller sites "in the hope of facing less scrutiny."

The company said the rise of generative AI creates additional challenges when it comes to the spread of disinformation, but Meta said it hasn't "seen evidence of this technology being used by known covert influence operations to make hack-and-leak claims."

Meta has been investing heavily in AI, and one of its uses is to help identify content, including computer-generated media, that could violate company policies. Meta said nearly 100 independent fact-checking partners will help review any questionable AI-generated content.

"While the use of AI by known threat actors we've seen so far has been limited and not very effective, we want to remain vigilant and prepare to respond as their tactics evolve," the report said.

Still, Meta warned that the upcoming elections will likely mean that "the defender community across our society needs to prepare for a larger volume of synthetic content."

"This means that just as potentially violating content may scale, defenses must scale as well, in addition to continuing to enforce against adversarial behaviors that may or may not involve posting AI-generated content," the company said.

Meta added that while industry and civil society experts have been sharing information related to covert operation campaigns, "threat sharing by the federal government in the US related to foreign election interference has been paused since July."

WATCH: Meta is a company with an "identity crisis."
A 0.25 mg injection pen of Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy is shown in this photo in Oslo, Norway, on Aug. 31, 2023.

Novo Nordisk on Thursday said it sued two compounding pharmacies in Florida for allegedly selling impure and "potentially unsafe" drugs claiming to contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in the drugmaker's blockbuster weight loss treatment Wegovy and diabetes medication Ozempic.

The actions come as Novo Nordisk grapples with shortages of Wegovy and Ozempic in the U.S. as demand skyrockets for the drugs, which are known for their ability to cause significant weight loss.

That has left patients scrambling to find alternative, but sometimes dangerous and unproven, methods for shedding unwanted pounds.

Novo Nordisk is the sole patent holder of semaglutide and does not sell that ingredient to outside entities, which raises questions about what compounding pharmacies, clinics and other companies sell to patients. Compounding pharmacies prepare custom-made versions of commercially available treatments to meet the specific needs of a patient.

The Danish drugmaker found that all the products tested from Wells Pharmacy Network and Brooksville Pharmaceuticals were impure, meaning that they contained unknown and unauthorized substances other than semaglutide, according to the two lawsuits filed in federal court in Florida. One product's level of unknown impurities was 33%.

The unknown impurities in the products "potentially pose safety risks" to consumers, including "possibly serious and life-threatening reactions," Novo Nordisk said in the suits.

The Danish drugmaker is not seeking monetary damages but is asking the court to bar the pharmacies from selling their products.

Wells Pharmacy Network and Brooksville Pharmaceuticals did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.

Novo Nordisk first sued Brooksville Pharmaceuticals over copycat versions of Wegovy and Ozempic in July. A federal judge in Florida dismissed the suit in October and later gave the drugmaker time to refile its complaint against the pharmacy.

Including the newest lawsuits, Novo Nordisk has filed 12 legal actions against compounding pharmacies, medical spas and weight loss clinics allegedly selling dupes of Wegovy and Ozempic. The company said it has received preliminary injunctions in six of those cases.

Rival Eli Lilly has taken similar action against businesses selling knockoffs of its popular diabetes drug Mounjaro, including its own lawsuit against Wells Pharmacy Network.

Novo Nordisk's new suit against Wells Pharmacy Network claims that its products contained a substance called BPC-157, which was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September. The FDA said it did not have enough data to know whether the substance was harmful to humans but noted it could cause dangerous immune system reactions.

Novo Nordisk added in the lawsuit that products from Brooksville Pharmaceuticals had lower levels of semaglutide than advertised. That puts patients "at risk of taking drug products that are less effective than expected based on their labeling," according to Novo Nordisk.

"Compounded products do not have the same safety, quality and effectiveness assurances as FDA-approved drugs, and adulterated and misbranded injectable compounded drugs may expose patients to significant health risks," Jason Brett, Novo Nordisk's executive director of medical affairs, said in a statement.

The FDA in May warned about the safety risks of unauthorized versions of Ozempic and Wegovy after reports emerged of adverse health reactions to compounded versions of the drugs.

Several states have also threatened to take legal action against compounding pharmacies that make or distribute unapproved variations of Novo Nordisk's weight loss treatments.



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French President Emmanuel Macron (C-L), President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenaa (Rear 2nd R), Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon (Rear), President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis (L), Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz (2nd L), and European Council President Charles Michel (3rd L) attend day two of the European Union (EU) leaders summit at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on October 21, 2022. Dursun Aydemir | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

For most of the 21st Century, the world's relative order has been maintained by a combination of the United States-led economic and political institutions, the rising role of China, and the counter-balancing effect of Europe, with its strong economic ties not only to the U.S. and China but also to numerous other countries and regions such as Russia and the Middle East. However, ever since the retirement of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel nearly two years ago in December of 2021, the lack of a leading global role for Europe is increasingly felt in all regions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine only three months later served to provide an immediate driver for greater political unity within Europe. At the same time, however, it proceeded to further isolate Europe as a political leader, not only in its relationship with Russia, but more importantly, with China and with much of the non-aligned world. Although efforts have been made to establish a cohesive and leading role for Europe in areas such as trade, economic development, and even regional tensions such as the recently erupted Israel-Hamas conflict, the lack of a clear European leader on the international stage is creating a significant void. For the world, the global post-war order and its institutions have increasingly come under attack. China, Russia and even the United States under Donald Trump have expressed dissatisfaction with institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the United Nations.

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The void is particularly apparent at the WTO, where the lack of European leadership on trade as the U.S. turned inward is particularly felt. The push for free trade, in particular, took a significant hit with the U.K.'s Brexit vote in 2016. The subsequent negotiations made trade between the EU and one of its largest former members take a significant step toward bureaucracy and protectionism which served to turn Britain largely inward and away from a leading global role. Perhaps nothing shows the consequences of the lack of European strength in preserving these institutions than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin directly referenced Ukrainian aspirations to join the EU and NATO as significant factors in the necessity for the conflict. Germany in particular was hamstrung in its prior role in helping to engage Russia. Where previously, German demand for Russian natural gas was seen as a significant tool for engagement and peace, Russia instead used the gas supply as a threat to discourage German involvement. Ironically, when Germany did align with other EU members and Britain against the invasion, the cutoff of that Russian gas actually further diminished its economic leadership due to a decision made by Merkel back in 2011 after Fukushima to implement a stalled plan to remove Germany's nuclear reactors and rely on Moscow for natural gas. The significantly higher energy prices and diminished German economic prospects have placed the European economy at a disadvantage compared to rising powers such as India and Southeast Asia. Engagement with China as an equal partner separate from the United States has also suffered. Previously, Europe could rely on a robust demand for its products in China, especially German cars, to help give it a separate channel for negotiations. However, the combination of a split over Ukraine, and internal divisions within Europe, have prevented any way for Europe to play a key role with China. Nowhere was this more apparent when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron made separate visits to China last April which the Chinese were able to use to play up European divisions, especially at home. Even a planned EU summit with China next month is coming on the heels of a much more heralded visit by President Xi Jinping to the U.S. for the APEC Summit, where Europe was very much on the sidelines. With the ongoing instability in the Middle East and Africa, the lack of a clear European position and ability to engage as a third-party broker is apparent. The internal divisions in many European countries over Hamas' terrorism and the resulting Israeli bombardment and its civilian casualties is paralyzing Europe, rather than giving it reasons to be publicly able to engage both sides, or even make a unified call for a cease-fire.

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Activist investor Nelson Peltz's renewed fight for Disney (DIS) board seats is a positive for shareholders because he will push for a level of financial discipline that the company has lacked. Peltz's Trian Partners, a major Disney shareholder, said Thursday it will launch a new challenge to get board representation. "Trian intends to take our case for change directly to shareholders," the statement said. Jim Cramer first reported the news Thursday morning. As part of its release, Trian said the investment firm's Disney stake is currently worth roughly $3 billion. Disney also put out a statement Thursday, saying Trian's intended proxy fight stems from a grudge that Peltz ally Ike Perlmutter has against the media and theme park giant. The release said this "dynamic is relevant" in evaluating Peltz's board nominees because the former Marvel boss Perlmutter was fired from Disney earlier this year. On Wednesday, Disney appointed two new members to its board, including the outgoing Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman and Sir Jeremy Darroch, a long-time media veteran and former executive of British media company, Sky Group. We believe Gorman is a great addition because he's been a great leader who has successfully transformed Morgan Stanley (MS), which like Disney is a Club portfolio holding. Trian said the Gorman and Darroch "represent an improvement from the status quo" but would not, in its view, "restore investor confidence or address the root cause behind the significant value destruction and missteps that this Board has overseen." DIS YTD mountain Disney YTD Peltz will "keep the heat on Disney and this is a positive for us as shareholders," Jim said Thursday while urging new Club members to "buy Disney right here, right now." Earlier this year, Peltz launched a brief proxy battle to get on Disney's board. But the activist investor ended it in a live CNBC interview with Jim  shortly after Iger unveiled in February his cost-cutting plan, which included thousands of layoffs. Peltz told Jim at the time, "Disney plans to do everything we wanted them to do," referring to Iger's first major action since he returned as CEO last November. However, roughly a year back on the job, Iger's turnaround plan has not produced results fast enough for Peltz  or the Club. To be sure, Disney does appear to be getting on the right track with cost cuts and improving its free cash flow. Alongside the company's latest quarterly earnings , management noted progress in revamping its expense structure. Iger added $2 billion in targeted savings, bringing his new cost-reduction plan goals to $7.5 billion. The CEO also said he would like to see the board reinstate the company's dividend, which was suspended during the Covid pandemic. Still, these restructuring efforts take time, and we're still waiting to see material changes come through via the stock price. We're also waiting for profitability to come in for Disney's streaming business. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long DIS. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Nelson Peltz, founder and chief executive officer of Trian Fund Management, during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Priority Summit in Miami, Florida, US, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Marco Bello | Bloomberg | Getty Images
A woman's silhouette holds a smartphone with the Robinhood Markets logo in the background. Rafael Henrique | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Online investments app Robinhood said Thursday that it's set to launch its platform in the U.K. in early 2024, marking the company's third attempt at cracking international expansion. Features include the ability to choose from 6,000 U.S. stocks and 24-hour trading five days a week. Robinhood currently offers 24-hour trading in the U.S., allowing trades to happen outside 9:30 a.m. ET and after 4 p.m. ET. Robinhood won't offer U.K. stocks to begin with but will look to add them as it brings more products into the platform. The U.K. version won't include options and other derivatives at launch, either. Jordan Sinclair, Robinhood's U.K. chief, said he expects 24-hour trading to be popular, as it will let users trade on market-moving news. "You wake up in the morning, you read the news headlines, and then you have to wait," Sinclair said. "Customers actually can make a trade and choose their investment strategy and actually act on that market news."

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Robinhood has already tried to launch in the U.K. twice. A waiting list it rolled out in 2019 saw over 300,000 people sign up, but the company pulled the plug on its U.K. expansion plans, citing soaring demand at home during the Covid pandemic as interest in retail investing climbed dramatically. Then, last year, it sought to acquire British crypto-trading app Ziglu. That deal faltered, however, and Robinhood was forced to write off the value of its investment, with the company reporting a $12 million impairment charge on the failed transaction. Brits will be able to join a waitlist starting Thursday and will be notified when they can sign up for early access at a later point in time. In a bid to get more traction fast, Robinhood is also asking users to share a unique referral link with friends and family to move them up the queue. "My aspiration is to be one of the largest employers in England, nothing would make me happier," Tenev said. "And, you know, there's a lot of great talent. So this, this could be a centre of excellence for Robinhood." Dan Moczulski, U.K. managing director of EToro, a rival stock trading platform, said the arrival of more competition in the retail trading market marks "an exciting time for the industry." "More competition will always be a good thing for investors," Moczulski told CNBC. "As one of the leading trading and investing platforms in the UK, it also keeps us on our toes and pushes us to continue innovating and broadening our product range for our users."

Not scared of 'deja vu'

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said he doesn't fear "deja vu" with the firm's third attempt to launch in the U.K. "We've made sure we taken care of all of the details, the platform is much more robust," Tenev told CNBC in an interview. "So I don't think that it'll be deja vu. I think that we're very confident we'll be able to serve the customers here tightly."

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson shake hands in front of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg prior to their meeting, on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 10, 2023.

BRUSSELS  Sweden expects Turkey to approve its NATO membership "within weeks," the country's foreign affairs minister told CNBC after a monthslong impasse over Stockholm's future within the alliance.

Sweden sent a formal application to join NATO back in May 2022, alongside Finland. The latter became an official member in April 2023, but Sweden has been kept waiting by member nations Hungary and Turkey.

Turkey raised issues regarding around what, it says, is Sweden's harboring of militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Hungary, on the other hand, has raised concerns over previously made comments in Sweden criticizing Hungary's lack of democratic values.

During a NATO summit in July, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, agreed to let Sweden into the alliance. However, the Turkish Parliament is yet to approve it.
Former President Donald Trump on Thursday ripped Jamie Dimon as an "overrated Globalist" after the JPMorgan Chase CEO praised rival Republican Nikki Haley and urged business leaders to help her presidential bid.

Dimon "is quietly pushing another non-MAGA person, Nikki Haley, for President," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Haley served in the Trump administration as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

"I've never been a big Jamie Dimon fan, but had to live with this guy when he came begging to the White House," wrote Trump, the current front-runner in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

"I guess I don't have to live with him anymore, and that's a really good thing!" he added.

JPMorgan declined to comment on Trump's post.
Seoul needs nuclear subs for Blue Water Navy



By John Merrill

Earlier this month, Admiral Kim Myung-soo, the new chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs, called for South Koreas acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, reviving a debate about their inclusion in the countrys submarine fleet.

Former President Moon Jae-in first raised the issue in 2017 when he endorsed the idea as part of his plans to create an independent military force less reliant on the United States.

South Korea currently operates a mix of conventional diesel-electric and air independent propulsion (AIP) submarines, most of them of German design. AIP technology makes it possible to build low-cost, highly-capable submarines well suited for coastal defense. But they also need to resurface after a few weeks to recharge their batteries.

Supporters of nuclear submarines note that they can stay underwater for months to avoid detection. Nuclear submarines can also go faster, reaching speeds of up to 40 knots at depth, twice that of diesel-electric submarines.

They would also help turn the ROK Navy (ROKN) into a true blue water fleet able to project power at greater distances around the world and support its growing diplomatic interests.

South Korea would become the ninth country in the world to operate nuclear submarines, following the U.S., Russia, France, the U.K., China, India, Brazil and Australia.

The proposal has encountered controversy, however, due to the high cost of developing and constructing the nuclear submarines, which could impact the entire defense budget. AIP submarines are much cheaper to buy, although the operational cost of nuclear submarines is considerably lower as they rarely need to be refueled.

Another main obstacle is that South Korea would have to find a reliable, long-term fuel supplier. Seoul has nuclear fuel supply agreements with the U.S., but for civilian applications only. It is unlikely that Washington would provide highly enriched nuclear fuel for military purposes since it poses a non-proliferation threat.

Nonetheless, several recent developments could bring a South Korean nuclear submarine closer to reality. One is that there appears to be growing bipartisan support for the project. A majority of South Koreans believe that their country should have some form of nuclear capability. The liberal opposition shares Moons vision of a more self-reliant military force, while the ruling conservatives see nuclear submarines as an effective countermeasure to the growing threat of North Koreas submarine fleet.

North Korea recently unveiled a heavily modified Sinpo-class submarine allegedly capable of carrying four submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Supporters claim that nuclear submarines would allow the ROKN to better track North Korean submarines and help block their deployment in the coastal waters surrounding South Korea.

Seoul might hope to persuade Washington to supply nuclear fuel by arguing that the ROKN nuclear submarines would be a useful asset to counter North Korea, China and Russia, which also pose a direct threat to the U.S. But the U.S. is likely to decide to refuse to sell nuclear fuel, since it believes that a nuclear ROKN force could destabilize the geopolitical balance in Northeast Asia.

One alternative source of nuclear fuel, however, has emerged: France. The NATO country is viewed as a potential partner since its nuclear submarines made a transition years ago from highly enriched to low enriched uranium fuel for their reactors, which obviates many nuclear proliferation concerns.

Paris was livid when Australia, in 2021, canceled a $66 billion contract for a French-built fleet of AIP submarines. Canberra instead decided to buy up to eight nuclear submarines from the U.S. and U.K. as part of the new AUKUS defense alliance.

France would no doubt be happy to thumb its nose at the U.S. if it was able to win a submarine order from one of Washingtons closest defense allies and it might be willing to offer a competitive price to South Korea to seal the deal.

Cooperation with France, however, would likely mean that South Korea would have to give up its own plans to develop a domestic nuclear submarine. Seoul had been considering modifying several of its latest Dosan Ahn Chang-ho class submarines, the first to largely use local technology, into nuclear ones.

A template for Franco-Korean cooperation would be one that France has concluded with Brazil. France is providing the technology for Brazils first submarine, which will be built near Rio De Janeiro.

But even if a deal with Paris is signed soon, it will take at least a decade -- and probably more -- before South Korea operates its first nuclear submarine due to long lead times. It is thus essential that Seoul makes a decision as soon as possible on the issue.

John Merrill (jmerrill05@gmail.com) is a visiting scholar at the Institute of Korean Studies at George Washington University.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov both blamed the West for creating global insecurity and instability.

Member countries are divided over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's annual foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday with Baltic nations and Ukraine refusing to attend over the presence of Russia's Sergei Lavrov.

The 57-member OSCE is the successor to a Cold War-era organisation for Soviet and Western powers to engage but is now largely paralysed by Russia's ongoing use of the effective veto each country has.

The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. They are attending while making a point of denouncing Moscow's actions - a stance that some of Ukraine's closest allies have little truck with.

"How can you talk with an aggressor who is committing genocide, full aggression against another member state, Ukraine?" Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are siding with Ukraine on the issue. Russia's Tass news agency reported Lavrov arrived in Skopje on Wednesday after a circuitous five-hour flight that avoided the airspace of countries that have barred Russian aircraft.

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Your decision to allow Lavrov to participate is in line with our common objective to keep multilateralism alive," Borrell told North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at a joint press conference in Skopje.

"Lavrov needs to hear again, from everyone, why Russia is being condemned and isolated," Borrell said. "Then he will be able to come back to the Kremlin and report to the Kremlin master.

Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship but Russia blocked it for months. A last-minute deal for neutral Malta to take over the chairmanship must be formally approved at the meeting on Thursday and Friday.

 Reuters
The government has permitted exports of specified quantities of wheat, wheat flour, and broken rice to five countries, including Bhutan, Mali, and Indonesia, a notification said on Thursday.

The quantity notified for Bhutan includes 14,184 tonnes of wheat grain, 5,326 tonnes of atta, 15.226 tonnes of maida/semoline, and 48,804 tonnes of broken rice.

Broken rice shipments are also permitted to Mali (1 lakh tonnes), Senegal (5 lakh tonnes in six months), Gambia (50,000 tonnes in six months), and Indonesia (2 lakh tonnes).

The export is permitted through National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL), the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

NCEL is a company set up with cooperative societies as its promoters. Though exports of wheat and broken rice were banned to boost domestic supply, outbound shipments are allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to certain countries to meet their food security needs and on request.

"Export of (wheat grain, atta, maida/semolina, and broken rice) food commodities are permitted through National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL)," it said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  The sacrifices made by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are difficult to put into words. Seeking employment abroad, they leave behind what they know and cherish in pursuit of new opportunities overseas. Their selflessness benefits both their loved ones and all Filipinos. The money they send back to support their families in the Philippines, known as remittances, not only support millions of households, but also are a driving force of the Philippine economy.

In fact, this past June, remittance payments reached a new six-month high. As the global economy recovers in a post-pandemic world, Filipinos are feeling the impact at home. Cash remittances sent back by OFWs rose by 2.1% to USD 2.81 billion in June. This trumps last Junes payments, which reached a total of USD 2.75 billion.

Remittances have steadily morphed into a driving force of the nations economy. In 2020, remittances accounted for 9.2% of the nations GDP. In 2022, remittances sent home to the Philippines by OFWs reached a record-high total of $36.14 billionaccounting for nearly 9% of the nations overall GDP and 8.4% of the gross national income. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) estimates that remittances will increase by 3% in 2023 for another record-high year.

A recent study confirms that the U.S. is by far the largest source of remittance payments back to the Philippines. In 2021, payments sent from income earned in the U.S. accounted for over 41% of all remittances sent to the Philippines. In particular, the U.S. healthcare sector is a powerhouse in this space. OFWs take on a diverse range of jobs, but remittances are particularly driven by healthcare workers. The Philippines remains the largest supplier of nurses internationally. As a result, international healthcare employment benefits individual families, while simultaneously stimulating the broader domestic economy.

Remittances, sent back to loved ones, are spent in the Philippines, and power our nations consumption-driven economy. Remittances provide a stable income stream for millionsgiving them the resources to buy goods, invest in education, alleviate poverty, and increase savings. A 2021 report published by the BSP found that 96% of households spend remittance payments on everyday households needs, 50.5% spend on education and 45.8% put them towards medical expenses. In short, remittance payments touch just about every facet of our economy.

In fact, in 2022, as remittances hit an all-time high, the economy grew by 7.6%the fastest rate since 1976. Increased spending leads to increased value-added taxes collected by the government. At Davos 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remarked that remittance payments from overseas workers were a stronghold of the Philippine economy, defending against recessionary forces for the good of citizens nationwide.

OFWs are often referred to as modern day heroes, and with good reason. These workers sacrifice not only for their families, but for the betterment of all Filipinos. It is difficult to overstate the impact that remittance payments have on the larger economy. As such, any forthcoming labor legislation must foster an environment conducive to robust remittance payments. Administrative red tape should be removed, increasing the ease with which OFWs can remit their earnings back home.

Remittances play a vital role in our domestic economy, and in an increasingly globalized world, they are all but certain to become even more of an economic engine. Filipinos must come together to collectively acknowledge that OFWs are undoubtedly the champions of the Filipino households as well as the Philippine economy.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Over 30 young entrepreneurs showcased their ingenious business ideas at the first-ever Kiddo-preneur Fair at SM Aura last November 26, 2023.

Creativity and youthful acumen filled the air as kiddo biz owners displayed their entrepreneurial spirit, offering an array of products ranging from handmade accessories to stickers, grocery items to food and drinks, and an assortment of novelty items.

Beyond the lively market atmosphere, the event provided invaluable lessons from none other than SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans "Chico" Sy, Jr. He not only celebrated the young entrepreneurs' endeavors but also shared pivotal lessons from his own journey.

Kiddo-preneur co-founder Maiki Oreta interviews SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans "Chico" Sy, Jr., gaining insights for tomorrow's future tycoons. Photo from SM Supermalls

Chico learned valuable business lessons from his grandfather, the late SM founder, Henry Sy, Sr. He recalled how his grandfather stressed that one's reputation and treatment of others lay the foundation for lasting success. How you deal in business or how you treat people is more important than money, he said. Your reputation the way people perceive you can never be bought with money. Money can be lost, money can be gained, but your reputation is forever.

As parents also joined the event, assisting their children with booth setup, SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans "Chico" Sy, Jr. urged them to maintain a balanced approach, ensuring they provide just enough for their kids, drawing from his own experience of growing up in a family that valued moderation and comfort without excess. Photo from SM Supermalls

For budding entrepreneurs, Chico's advice was simple yet profound: Love what you do and persist through challenges. He stressed the significance of genuine passion and continuous innovation, emphasizing that dedication eventually paves the way for success.

My first and most important tip is to love what you do. Find that spark. But once you learn and do what you love, I am saying this: Keep doing it. There will be difficult times. There might be times when you do not have sales, but try to ask yourself: What can I do differently?

At the end of the event, awards were given to promising young entrepreneurs and their business ideas. The Best Design was awarded to Candy Stix and its purveyors, Cassy (10) and Cara Pineda (6), for having the most visually appealing booth, which caught the attention of bazaar-goers. Beatrice Yu (9) was given Best Service for providing an exceptional customer experience while tending to her grocery store, Beas Supersavers. The B Force Squad, composed of siblings Faith Bea (5) and Brice Yap (9), and Beatrix (4) and Bryce Go (8), won the Best Concept award for having a unified execution from advertisement, packaging, to service and branding in selling giftable novelty items such as tote bags, tumblers, and educational toys. Lastly, Zo Keepers 7-year-old owner, Zoe Van de Leon, won the Best Ad award for garnering the most impactful social media ad for her products, reusable and eco-friendly snack containers.

The kiddo-preneur winners with their awards in Best Design, Best Service, Best Concept, and Best Ad. Photo from SM Supermalls Candy Stix, run by 10-year-old Cassy (right) and 6-year-old Cara Pineda, received the Best Design award for their visually appealing booth that captivated bazaar-goers. Photo from SM Supermalls Beatrice Yu, aged 9, earned the Best Service award for delivering an exceptional customer experience at her grocery store, Beas Supersavers. Photo from SM Supermalls 7-year-old Zoe Van de Leon of Zo Keeper received the Best Ad award for creating the most impactful social media ad featuring her products: reusable and eco-friendly snack containers. Photo from SM Supermalls The B Force Squad, aged 5 to 9, won the Best Concept award for their cohesive execution in advertising, packaging, service, and branding while selling giftable novelty items. Photo from SM Supermalls Previous Next

Catch the next Kiddo-preneur Fair at The Podium Level 2, Atrium, on January 20 to 21, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about SM, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday defended its decision to bar Smartmatic from participating in future procurements after the company called the ruling unfair and questioned its basis.

The poll body said it has the administrative power to disqualify Smartmatic, even for reasons that are different from the main grounds raised in the petition against the technology provider.

If you go by jurisprudence, when we acted in an administrative capacity  different from acting in a quasi-judicial capacity  reasonable justification is enough, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said in a press briefing. I believe the decision supplies naman our basis.

The Comelec en banc handed down its decision on Wednesday, saying the unresolved bribery claims against Smartmatic in relation to the 2016 elections affect the integrity of the polls.

The company has been accused of bribing former Comelec chairman Andres Bautista in exchange for being awarded a contract for election machines  a claim which both have denied.

This basis of the Comelec ruling has been questioned since it is not the grounds cited in the disqualification petition filed in June, where the alleged irregularities in the 2022 polls were instead brought up.

But according to Maceda, the commissions hands should not be tied when it is the credibility of the elections already at stake, just as the Supreme Court has recognized in several cases.

No due process?

In a statement also on Thursday, Smartmatic lamented allegedly not being given the chance to respond to the bribery claims. Had it been allowed to explain its side, Smartmatic said it is confident that the unfair disqualification would not have been meted out.

For one, the service provider argued that the basis for the ruling is not only false, but non-existent, as it said it is not facing any formal charge in the United States.

In its ruling, the Comelec said the US government has asked for its assistance, as it probed Bautista and other entities for alleged violation of US laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.

But even if there is a pending investigation or indictment, Smartmatic said this does not automatically amount to guilt and that the poll body should abide by the constitutional tenet of presumption of innocence.

To this, Commissioner Rey Bulay argued that even as the probe on the alleged bribery is still ongoing, the Comelec cannot afford to use a system that will bring doubt to the results of the elections.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia also insisted that Smartmatic had the chance to defend itself.

He said that while the bribery allegations were not part of the June petition, it was in a supplemental document later lodged by the same petitioners.

There was an opportunity to be heard," he added. "Pina-hearing pa ng Comelec. Hindi lang po natapos sa hearing, pinag-file ng memorandum [Comelec also held a hearing. And it didnt stop there, we asked them to file a memorandum], he added.

Perpetual disqualification?

Asked to clarify if Smartmatic is banned from all election-related procurements and not just for the 2025 polls, Garcia said it is best not to use the term perpetual disqualification.

That decision may change depending on the composition of the en banc, or in the future, that may change, depending on the circumstances, he said. But as far as the present en banc is concerned, the company is disqualified from hereon."

Garcia said they anticipate Smartmatic to challenge the ruling but added that they do not see the case affecting the bidding process for the 2025 automated election system (AES).

Smartmatic had questioned the timing of the Comelec decision, which it noted comes in the middle of the bidding for procurement of voting machines.

The net effect of the surprise disqualification is to exclude Smartmatic from the bid process, eliminating the biggest competition for the remaining bidders, the company said.

The Comelec has set the deadline for the submission of bid documents for the 2025 AES on Dec. 12.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The Philippines at the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) will urge developed nations to fulfill their climate commitments to developing countries and gather support for the governments initiatives, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga will head the Philippine delegation, representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who is chairperson designate of the Climate Change Commission.

Marcos said he will not attend the conference in order to focus on the situation of 17 hostaged Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea.

READ: Marcos cancels COP28 trip amid 'developments' involving 17 hostaged PH sailors

Our participation in COP28 seeks to amplify calls for developed nations to fulfill their commitments to developing countries in the areas of climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building, Loyzaga said Thursday.

Moreover, our exposure internationally will open opportunities for access to financial and technical support that we need as a country vulnerable to climate change.

One such commitment is the development of a Loss and Damage Fund for countries hard-hit by climate change, which developed nations will be tapped to fund.

In the Philippines, this would mean financing for social development and resilient infrastructure.

Loyzaga said the fund would be essential for the country due to rapid sea level rise and widespread destruction by super typhoons such as Yolanda and Odette.

The cost of really trying to recoup and recover from this is way beyond what we are able to afford as a country, she said.

Aside from the fund, the Philippines will work on six other major negotiating work streams at COP28: climate finance; adaptation; the conclusion of the Global Stocktake (GST); the transition and upskilling of labor to a renewable energy future; and mitigation and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and avoidance.

The GST under the Paris Agreement refers to the assessment of how far the world has come in combating climate change. It is the first of its kind and governments are expected to come up with a decision on the assessment at the COP28.

The COP28 will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Thursday ordered the immediate dismissal of the Quezon City police officer who allegedly fired his gun unprovoked outside a bar, and who was also implicated in a fatal hit-and-run incident.

Abalos directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to sack PLt. Col. Mark Julio Abong after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) denied the latter's appeal, particularly over his hit-and-run and drunk driving case.

This came just days after Abong  a former chief of the Quezon City Police Districts (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit  was arrested over the gun-firing incident. He was released from detention on Thursday afternoon after posting bail.

In August of last year, the officer was also involved in a hit-and-run that killed a tricycle driver and injured a passenger. He was later relieved from his post and was reassigned.

He is a disgrace to his uniform and the police organization as he continues his rogue acts, said the Interior secretary.

The DILG  which said Abongs appeal was bereft of merit"  affirmed the September decision of the National Police Commission that found him guilty of three administrative charges.

It said Abong is guilty of grave misconduct, grave neglect of duty, and conduct unbecoming of a police officer when he maliciously falsified evidence to put the blame on his driver. These charges, the department noted, warrant a penalty of dismissal from the police force.

Abong has been given due process and his exhaustion of administrative remedies stops here. He can no longer delay his dismissal from service, Abalos said.

May this serve as a stern warning to all police officers in the country that no one is above the law, the DILG chief added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Pag-IBIG Fund's service innovations using digital and social media, publication to communicate its 40-year legacy, and excellence in leadership won three (3) Gold Stevie Awards during the recently held International Business (Stevie) Awards in Rome, Italy and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York City, USA.

Winning two Gold Stevie Awards at the International Business Awards held in Rome were the Pag-IBIG Fund Official Facebook Page and The Lingkod Pag-IBIG Coffee Table Book. The agency's social media page was hailed as the Most Innovative Facebook Page for reflecting Pag-IBIG Fund's efforts in advancing digital engagement among members, while its coffee table book was lauded in the Company History Publication category for ably showcasing the dedication of agency's workforce which shaped its 40-year history.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta capped the agency's three-gold haul by winning the Gold Stevie for Female Executive of the Year at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York City. This recognition comes after Acosta was recognized last month as a Circle of Excellence Awardee, Woman Leader of the Year, by the 2023 Asia CEO Awards.

The awards bring the number of local and international recognitions gained by Pag-IBIG Fund for the year 2023 to ten. These wins span various categories which include service, communications and leadership excellence.

Earlier this year, Pag-IBIG Fund's service excellence was lauded in the international stage as its mobile service branch, the Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels, won at the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) Awards held in Kazakhstan, and the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Awards held in Malaysia. The mobile branch's vital role in extending Pag-IBIG Fund benefits to all Filipino workers across all sectors, and in promoting financial inclusion and development, made it stand out in the Asia-Pacific region. Pag-IBIG Fund also won a Silver Award for the Best Government PR Team at the ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) PR Excellence Awards in Vietnam.

At the heart of all these achievements is Pag-IBIG Fund's guiding principle, Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso  a promise to provide honest and heartfelt service to the Filipino worker. This year's wins are not just awards but affirmations of the agency's enduring commitment to serve with integrity, professionalism, and excellence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  The Philippines is the second highest in Asia and 20th in the global rankings for high levels of English proficiency, the 2023 EF English Proficiency Index revealed on Thursday.

The Philippines maintained its overall score of 578 from the 2022 index to land under the category of "high proficiency" countries. It comes second after Singapore, which ranks second globally with a score of 631 in the annual report of international education company Education First.

In its more detailed index for each country, Education First found that the Cordillera Administrative Region tops the country in English proficiency with Baguio hailed as the top city.

It said the top age group for proficiency among Filipinos is the 26 to 30 age bracket.

Netherlands topped the overall chart with a score of 647 while the Democratic Republic of Congo placed last with 385.

The annual index is based on data from test results of 2.2 million adults in 113 countries and regions worldwide.

The EF Standard English Test taken by the participants is an online, adaptive English test of reading and listening skills which is designed to classify test takers' language abilities into one of the six levels established by the Common European Framework of Reference.

Education First is a company that focuses on language, academics, cultural exchange, and educational travel.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 30)  Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) host Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz said his information on the alleged 1.8 billion travel expenses of House Speaker Martin Romualdez came from a Senate employee, which could set an awkward situation on the interparliamentary relationship of Congress.

With such information, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises will send a transcript of the hearing on the travel fund allegation to the Senate in hopes it would issue a response over the matter.

"Bakit nanggaling pa sa Senate ang source [Why did the source come from the Senate]?" said House Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. "That is a big question mark to me and I think of my colleagues."

The House panel on Thursday conducted its investigation into SMNI after Quezon Rep. David Suarez delivered a privilege speech about the issue and called the committee to exercise its oversight function.

Celiz, a self-proclaimed former rebel, is a talent and one of the hosts of SMNI's "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan," where he said in an episode that he received information Romualdez spent 1.8 billion for travel expenses for almost one year.

Lawmakers pressured Celiz to disclose the identity of his source but the SMNI talent insisted he would not name the person.

He cited the Sotto Law, which protects journalists and other practitioners involved in news dissemination from being compelled to name their sources.

According to Republic Act 11458, which expanded the coverage of the Sotto Law, journalists can only be forced to reveal their sources if the court, the House of Representatives, the Senate, or any committee of Congress "finds that such revelation is demanded by the security of the State."

Celiz, however, said the source was a Senate employee. He said this after Rep. Suarez pointed out that during the TV episode, Celiz said his information came from a source in Congress.

"Due to the revelations of Ka Eric, I think we are treading on very dangerous waters when it comes to interparliamentary relationship with the Senate," Suarez said.

Paranaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, the panel chairperson, also approved Suarezs motion to send the transcript and video of the hearing to the Senate to seek its response.

During the hearing, House Secretary-General Reginald Velasco said the total travel expenses of Congress in its official trips from January to October 2023 was 39.6 million, including over 4.3 million for the Office of the Speaker.

House finance department head Dante Maling also confirmed the amount.

Celiz said he takes "full responsibility" for his false information.

"I take full responsibility on behalf of the program anchor and my personal capacity, and even from the station, to take responsibility that this is a hard lesson learned na pwedeng makuryente at mapaso tayo kapag hindi nagkaroon ng tinatawag na pag-observe ng [that we can get a bum steer if we do not observe] due diligence, prudence, and propriety in the source verification," Celiz said.

Celiz said he would apologize "if that will heal the wound of the degree and amount of insult that was forwarded to Congress."

The House committee is set to continue its inquiry next week, with lawmakers asking for more resource persons to come into the chamber.
By Robert Neff

On Nov. 21, 1896, a large crowd gathered to witness the laying of the cornerstone of the Independence Arch, a symbol of Korean independence. According to the English version of The Independent  a newspaper published in Seoul:

The day was perfect: cloudless, warm and still; a more ideal day for an outdoor function could not be imagined. The road which leads from the city to Independence Park was filled with people at an early hour; and the grounds of the park, long before the hour for the ceremonies arrived, was crowded with spectators, both foreign and Korean.

The site was decorated with evergreen branches and the different flags of Korea; conspicuous among which was the new flag of the Independence Club, a pennant decorated with the usual design of the Korean flag, and the name of the club. Honored guests were provided with chairs and sheltered from the elements by a large awning.

Speeches were given by influential members of the community including missionaries, the governor of Seoul, the editor of The Independent and the minister of foreign affairs who strangely compared the United States and Poland. According to the newspaper:

He made very logical and convincing arguments, that if the people work for the bright future, it will have great influence upon its being bright. He cited the histories of the United States of America and Poland. The greatness of America today is due to a few handfuls of men who worked for the independence of their country, a little over a century ago. The downfall of Poland is due to lack of harmony on the part of the Polish people. Therefore, Koreans can choose to be either an independent and great people like Americans, or become a part of some other nation and lose their sovereignty as well as their equality.

Elizabeth Greathouse attended the celebration and was very impressed with the speeches and the performance of the Korean schoolboys who sang and did some very good drilling. While her description was anemic, The Independent provided much more detail and indicated that the students came from various schools  many of them educated by foreign instructors:

The Royal English School students gave an exhibition of drilling, and as usual, they showed themselves worthy of being called the crack company of Korean schools. More than two thousand school children from the Government and elementary schools sang several patriotic songs and waved their flags and colors, which each school brought with them. The Royal Russian, French and Japanese Schools were, also, ably represented by a large number of bright looking scholars who sang several patriotic songs.

After the ceremony, selected guests were invited into the Independence Club House for refreshments. Greathouse was especially impressed with the treatment she and her companions received: [We] all gathered nearby to a large building, where a long table was filled with splendid viands and we were all waited on by the rank and they seemed very proud to do it.

Toasts were made by the various diplomats or their staff. Horace N. Allen assured Korea that the United States would always be one of its best friends. The Russian representative expressed Russias desire to always do her neighborly duty by assisting in the maintenance of order in Korea and to ensure the perpetuity of Koreas independence. The Japanese representative hoped that Korea [would] prosper and her independence be strengthened. The British and German representatives were called upon to offer their own toasts but, disappointingly, they had already left the building. The celebration ended at dusk.

In her diary Greathouse proclaimed, I am very glad I went, [I] never enjoyed myself more.

Not everyone enjoyed themselves. John Jordan, the British consul general, was less than impressed with the arch and informed his superior that it was needless to say, [that he] took no part in the proceedings He then, somewhat bitterly, explained:

The American missionaries, who aspire to play a political role in this country, and who, apparently, guide the policy of their Legation, and a few Coreans in high position who received their education in the United States, are responsible for the folly of this undertaking, which was supported by contributions from the Russian Minister and his wife, who show great tact in humouring and controlling American opinion here.

He caustically noted the absurdity of an independence symbolized by the presence of the King in a foreign legation. At the time, King Gojong and the crown prince were temporarily residing in the Russian Legation.

Apparently Jordan was not the only one who found fault with the Korean kings situation or policies. Shortly after the celebration, the newspaper reported:

There are various reports in regard to the plot which some of the army officers are said to have planned, but at present the exact truth cannot be learned. Some say they intended to take His Majesty to the Palace when he comes to [Deoksu] Palace to offer sacrifices to the late Queen; others report that they planned to kill the Cabinet officers when they were returning home from the ceremony of the laying of the corner stone of Independence Arch last Saturday; and still another report is that they tried to bury dynamite either in the Russian Legation or [Deoksu] Palace for the purpose of blowing up the buildings and the inmates.

The accused were quickly rounded up and, in a subsequent trial, it was learned they had planned on kidnapping the Korean monarch from the Russian Legation and moving him to Gyeongbok Palace. According to The Independent, justice was administered to all parties concerned; the innocents went free and the guilty ones banished for fifteen years after receiving one hundred blows.

Freedom and independence often comes with a cost, and all too often those who are held as patriots and friends are also seen as villains and profiteers  it is all a matter of perspective.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
Colorado Springs artist Nancy Stage Robinson's new show, "Transformation," features mixed media paintings and sculptures. It opens with a free VIP reception Thursday at Cottonwood Center for the Arts and a second free opening reception Friday during First Friday Downtown.
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By Robert Neff

According to legends, long before tigers smoked pipes, Korea was ruled by giants.

In the early months of year 42, a strange event occurred in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. The people heard a curious sound in the sky and upon looking up they saw a purple straw rope hanging down to the ground where a golden box, wrapped with red cloth, had appeared.

When the box was opened they discovered six golden eggs. The box and eggs were taken to a safe location and after 12 hours, when the box was reopened, the crowd was astonished to discover the eggs were gone and replaced by six young boys whose faces had full, well developed figures.

The people welcomed them and each day the boys grew bigger and stronger. After only 10 days, one of the boys (Suro) stood 272 cm tall, and five days later, he ascended the throne and became the first king of Geumgwan Gaya. His five siblings also became kings of the other Gaya states. King Suro was not only a giant in stature but also in longevity  reigning for 157 years. Another legend surrounding him claimed that his 16-year-old wife, Queen Heo Hwang-ok, was an Indian princess. Like her husband, she was long-lived: she died in 189 and he died a decade later  both were allegedly 157 years old.

The kingdom of Silla had its own giants.

King Talhae, the fourth monarch of Silla (r. 57-80), was said to stand between 207 cm and 307 cm tall and possessed a massive skull with a circumference of about 100 cm. According to legend, he, like many of the monarchs, was hatched from an egg. There is even an account that he and King Suro of Gaya had a fierce battle, each drawing upon their own magic. First, Talhae transformed into a hawk which Suro countered by changing into an eagle. Talhae then adopted the form of a sparrow and Suro a sparrow hawk). Talhae was no match for Suro and was forced to flee.

King Jijeung, the 22nd ruler of Silla (r. 500-514) had such an extremely large and long body that his search for a suitable wife was unsuccessful until he made a rather unsettling and dirty discovery in a pond which led him to his wife, Queen Yeonje  a woman who had a physique better than a strong man.

King Jinpyeong, the 26th monarch of Silla (r. 579-632) was said to stand more than 330 cm tall and was so heavy that when he stepped on a stone stairway he broke three of the steps. He was a giant amongst his people as the average height of a man was said to be only 163 cm.

While his height is an interesting part of his rule, I find this legend associated with him to be even more amazing. In 582, the ghost of the previous monarch, King Jinji (r. 576-579), impregnated a peasant woman. She bore a son, whose appearance in the world was heralded by the trembling of the sky and earth. When King Jinpyeong learned of this strange event, he ordered the boy, who was known as Bihyeong, to be brought to the palace and raised. As he grew older, the youth was offered high positions in his benefactors court, but he refused and frolicked in the forest with a host of ghosts. Perhaps as a test, King Jinpyeong ordered Bihyeong to utilize his supernatural companions to build a bridge in a single night. The youth complied and the bridge was named Gwigyo (Ghost Bridge). It was through Bihyeong's efforts that the king appointed a ghost to his court.

Jinpyeongs daughter succeeded him and was named Empress (Queen) Seondeok (r. 632-647). Her legacy lives on through the colossal construction feat of Cheomseongdae (star gazing tower), but, despite her father being so tall, no legends are associated with her height.

However, her successor and cousin, Queen Jindeok, the 28th ruler of Silla (r. 647-654), was known for her height. She stood around 172 cm tall which was about 20 cm taller than the average woman.

Sillas 35th monarch, King Gyeongdeok (r. 742-765), was also a giant. We dont know how tall he was but according to legend, his penis was nearly 240 cm long. Despite being (or perhaps because he was) so well-endowed, he was unable to have a son with his first wife so he took another queen and sought heavenly aid. A priest soon informed the king that he would be blessed with the birth of a daughter but the monarch was not pleased and insisted on having a son. On behalf of his monarch, the priest again beseeched the gods and was subsequently chastised for disturbing heaven with the concerns of mortals. He was further warned that should a son be born to the king that it would bring great danger to the kingdom. Gyeongdeok ignored the warning and in 756, a son, who came to be known as Hyegong, was indeed born.

Gods will not be ignored or disobeyed without consequence. As a child, Hyegong enjoyed carrying a small silk purse, dressing up and playing like a little girl  much to his fathers displeasure. When his father died in 765, he ascended the throne (his mother, Queen Gyeongsu, acted as his regent). He has been described as a man by appearance but a woman by nature and, over the last couple of years, it has been suggested that he was perhaps transgender.

Hyegongs rule was one plagued with unrest and evil omens including the fall of several meteors, the appearance of a tiger in the palace, swallows gathered in a large number in a pear tree and the appearance of ghosts. Whether it was his weakness of rule or his effeminate nature, Hyegongs reign was short-lived, as was his life. In 780, he and his queen were murdered during an insurrection.

Perhaps Hyegongs successors learned from his experience that all acts have consequences, even those of a monarch, and defying the gods is done at ones own peril. The giants ceased to rule and about 150 years later, Silla ceased to exist.

Giants, however, were not confined just to the ruling class and were found in all walks of life  as we shall see tomorrow.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Diane Nars for her assistance and allowing me to use some of her images.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
When it comes to lawsuits, courts generally dont like to involve themselves in supernatural affairs. There are real-life problems they have to take care of above all else, like protecting our beloved corporations from dastardly civilians. Sometimes, though, it becomes necessary to get an official ruling on the sort of disagreement or concern usually limited to the pages of a fantasy novel.

Here then are four legal rulings involving mythical creatures

4 Protected Elf Habitats Pixabay Get the flyswatter, and I  ll see you in court! If youre looking to start a new bit of large-scale construction, youre legally obligated to make sure it wont negatively impact any important local ecosystems. At least, if your bribing chest is empty. No matter how helpful you claim that new highway will be, youre going to have to snake it through historical sites and assuage local concerns about its impact. Nothing puts a coffin nail in a new development, though, like the habitat of an endangered species. In Iceland, theres one particular protected species that I have to imagine is the most frustrating of all, given that their existence is debatable at best. This isnt some rare, red-breasted something or other, or a bunch of sick turtles either, but instead elves. The well-being of the huldufolk, or hidden people, is something that genuinely has to be considered when planning new construction, lest you get caught up in a snafu equal parts conservationist and magical. An attempt to remove a boulder known as Ofeigskirkja brought the construction of a highway to a standstill for eight years while they faced off with local elf-lovers, including one who claimed the elves had contacted him directly. Even if you make it through the red tape in one piece, you might not be homefree. Tales of machines breaking down and workers becoming ill when they ignore elven land claims arent uncommon, according to Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir. Elves aside, Iceland, cmon, youre killing my keyboard.

3 A House Thats Legally Haunted Pixabay That moaning is the sound of a great deal! Advertisement A combination of a haunted house and legal drama sounds like something that would immediately rocket to the top of my Netflix queue, but in this case, its a real-life lawsuit from 1991. A house was sold by Helen Ackley to a man named Jeffrey Stambovsky. Handshakes, champagne, the usual ensued, but almost immediately after selling, Stambovsky discovered an unspoken and undesirable characteristic of his new house: It was haunted. Something Ackley had made clear via multiple publications including Readers Digest. Stambovsky was pissed, having thought hed bought a standard, ghostless house, and sued to rescind the sale. Credit where credits due, the court did their absolute damnedest to take it seriously, and established eerie precedent in the process. The first court dismissed the case, though they did admit that as a matter of law, the house is haunted. They made a ruling based on caveat emptor, meaning the seller cant be held responsible for not mentioning something the buyer should be able to discover during due diligence. Stambovsky appealed, meaning two courts had to deal with this shit, and they actually ruled in his favor, saying caveat emptor didnt apply because the ghosts in question werent guaranteed to be located even during a thorough inspection. Its like reproducing a computer bug  the elevator full of blood never shows up when you want it to. Advertisement Advertisement

2 Where You Can and Cant Kill Bigfoot Pixabay Stay out of Texas, big guy. Perhaps the most hunted cryptid of all time is a large-footed and famously blurry fellow. Bigfoot, Sasquatch, my best friend whatever you choose to call him, people have been trying to track him down forever. If youre doing so in the State of Washington, though, make sure youve brought your non-lethal loadout. If youre in Skamania County, Washington, stick to tranq darts and net guns, because if not, you could end up in jail. Compromising Bigfoot to a permanent end in this area will end up in your own capture, to the tune of five years in jail. Advertisement In Texas, however  to no ones surprise  theyre a lot more forgiving about your methods of Bigfoot neutralization. Down there, youve got the official thumbs-up to shoot and kill Sasquatch, which we know because someone sent an email asking about it. David Sinclair of Texas Parks and Wildlife, told the aspiring cryptid killer, A nonprotected nongame animal may be hunted on private property with landowner consent by any means, at any time and there is no bag limit or possession limit. Which also, I guess, means that if you wanted to keep the corpse for slippers and stew, the government would have to fight you on it.
Adoption is a matter of migration; both sending, receiving countries accountable

Editors note This article is the eighth in a series about intercountry adoptions. While over 160,000 Korean children have been adopted abroad since the 1950-53 Korean War, it is believed that many cases have infringed on relevant laws or violated children's right to know the truth about their filiation. The series will review such violations in transnational adoptions of Korean children and elsewhere, and discuss receiving countries' moves for their own investigations. This series is co-organized with Human Rights Beyond Borders.  ED.

By Lee Kyung-eun

My research focuses on the movement of children across borders, specifically migration matters related to intercountry adoption laws and policies. During my exploration of these issues, a question that has always lingered in the depths of my mind is whether Korea can ever reckon with its history of sending over 200,000 children overseas for adoption and confront its legacy of children's rights violations.

Adoption's intrinsic link with child welfare has made discussions about human rights abuses a heated matter. The Korean government has justified its use of intercountry adoption as a benevolent act despite evidence of wide-scale rights abuses. It continues to argue that sending children overseas was a response to a lack of domestic child welfare support  something it claims was beyond its control  and under such circumstances, it shouldn't be held accountable. However, an examination of the migration policies and laws tells otherwise.

In adoption, migration measures have been seen as more of a bureaucratic legal hurdle to overcome, but these are not haphazardly assembled policies. On the contrary, countries strictly control who can enter, leave and reside within their borders. Consequently, when migration measures are intentionally relaxed to facilitate the sending and receiving of children at the cost of those children's human rights, then that is a deliberate act of government. While sending countries often shoulder much blame for adoption abuses, a review of migration laws and policies reveals that receiving countries also bear responsibility for rights abuses.

Receiving countries have claimed that they cannot be responsible for the negligent practices of sending countries. They support this assertion by saying they rely on sending countries' public authorities to ensure ethical adoption practices. But this logic does not address why receiving countries accept wide disparities between the child protection systems of sending countries and their own.

In receiving countries, child protection systems function as an essential public service, and these states provide this as part of their duty to protect the rights of their citizens. In other words, instead of demanding a sending country reform their child protection systems, so the children can remain in their country of origin, receiving countries engage in what Samford Law School professor David Smolin describes as "slash-and-burn adoption."

This vicious cycle involves a large number of adoption-related agencies being established in sending countries, which usually have populations living in poverty, high degrees of child trafficking and poor government oversight and capacity. The competition between receiving countries to "procure" children leads to a rapid rise in intercountry adoptions at the cost of highly abusive practices, such as obtaining children through fraud and corruption. Eventually, wide-scale abuses become an issue in the sending countries, resulting in an end of or a slowdown to intercountry adoptions from those countries. At this point, receiving countries move on to new countries to resume the cycle. Put simply, receiving countries play a willful role in intercountry adoption abuses, and this intent is apparent in their immigration policies when they adopt children despite those children's rights having been violated during the adoption process.

Adoption linked to societys child protection system

In adoption studies, the abuse of adoptees have been given a higher degree of attention than the systematic impact "slash-and-burn adoption" has on the sending countries. Under slash-and-burn practices, the sending countries' systems and processes erected to promote and facilitate the export of children hamper the development of other public services, such as birth registration, family and community support, and alternative care, just to name a few. In many cases, the effects have been such that sending countries lose the opportunity to develop comprehensive child protection systems, and as a result, their child services continue to suffer problems to this day.

To illustrate what I mean by these lingering problems, I provide three examples of Korea's struggle to reckon with its legacy in the 21st century. First, Korea has yet to ratify the Hague Adoption Convention. This legal instrument, although far from a panacea to address abusive adoption practices, is meant to establish minimum global standards to reduce child trafficking. With 100 state parties since its drafting in 1993, South Korea only signed the convention in 2013 with a promise to ratify it within five years. Although 10 years have passed, Korea has yet to reform its domestic practices for ratification, which reveals the lack of protection provided to children in this country.

Second, a list of statistics on major sending countries published by International Social Services, a Geneva-based children's rights NGO, in 2020 shows that South Korea was the third major sending country. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world came to a standstill and all other sending countries' intercountry adoptions declined, South Korea was the only country to increase the number of children it sent overseas.

Third, after authorities discovered thousands of unregistered children due to a broken birth registration system, the National Assembly responded, but rather than attempting to address the problems, it passed a special act to allow anonymous births. Human Rights Watch condemned this law. Not only does it violate children's rights, it does nothing to address discrimination against unmarried pregnant women. Instead, it serves as another demonstration of the government's unwillingness to protect the rights of its most vulnerable citizens and another attempt to evade its responsibilities.

If Korea wants to confront its legacy, it must face the truth by launching an official comprehensive investigation. A genuine undertaking of such an endeavor can only be done when guided by the principles of justice and rectification. Just as slashing and burning may allow for cultivating new crops when the soil is properly prepared, so too may Korea heal its social landscape when it commits to excavating the truth from the lies it has told itself for over half a century.

Lee Kyung-eun (kyung.lee@hrbb.org) is director of Human Rights Beyond Borders and author of the Korean-language book, "The Children-selling Country," and the English book, "The Global Orphan Adoption System; South Korea's Impact on Its Origin and Development."








By Lee Min-hyung

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) hosted a two-day trade fair in Seoul to help boost the nations IT, bio and healthcare exports, the association said Thursday.

A total of 152 companies from 26 countries took part in Korea Grand Sourcing Fair 2023, and representatives held meetings with some 800 Korean companies in the IT, bio and healthcare sectors during the event held on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buyers from the United States, Vietnam, India, China and Japan, accounted for more than half of all invited overseas companies, according to KITA. This reflected the growing popularity of Korean culture and content in the aforementioned countries.

The invited buyers included Pan Pacific International Trading, which operates Japans largest discount store, Don Quijote, and Wincommerce General Services that runs more than 3,400 supermarkets and stores in Vietnam.

The preference for Korean content is surging among the young population abroad, so we visited the fair to watch potential items to import from Korean companies, a buyer from an overseas retail firm said.

The trade association also held diverse events to help Korean firms expand sales abroad by inviting diplomats from 12 countries. They offered advice on the investment environments of their countries and helped Korean firms seek more business opportunities there.

The organization also offered a series of seminars to help attendees can get a clearer picture of the 2024 global trade environment and the outlook for exchange rates. Officials from KITA also shared their insight on how Korean firms can build their marketing strategies in the era of the artificial intelligence.

We expect the Korea Grand Sourcing Fair to have offered practical help to local firms facing difficulties in their trade activities this year due to the ever-complex global trade environment and growing economic uncertainties, Kim Gi-hyun, vice president of the KITAs international affairs group, said.
By Ko Dong-hwan

Nongshim has launched an initiative to help local beekeepers by planting trees that honeybees need in order to make honey, according to the major instant noodle and snack producer, Thursday.

The company on Monday jointly hosted an event with the Korea Beekeeping Association and Buan County Office to commemorate the plan for planting the trees, which are threatened by climate change. The event at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences in Wanju County, North Jeolla Province, saw the parties agreeing to plant six different tree species at a beekeeping test site of the institute and a honeybee farm in Buan, also in the same province. A total of 450 bee-bee trees, Japanese raisin trees, false acacias, Amur maples, stalkless-flower eleutheros and Amur cork trees will be introduced for the project.

The event follows the company's agreement last year with the institute and the association to jointly support the country's beekeeping industry after finding that climate-related ecosystem changes were affecting tree numbers, reducing honey production and shaking the industry.

The predicament presented a threat to the company as well because it has been purchasing 160 tons of acacia honey from local beekeepers annually to manufacture its Honey Twist Snack, a signature product for the past 50 years. Each bag of the crunchy bites needs three grams of honey, according to the company.

"Domestic acacia honey is a key ingredient for one of our most popular products so any problem for the local beekeeping industry means a problem for our operations as well," said an official from the company.

Since signing the agreement last year, Nongshim has been supporting local beekeepers by providing disease diagnosis kits for honeybees, smart devices for outstanding honeybee farms and mentoring programs for fledgling beekeepers in their 20s and 30s.
"English tutor robots" will be introduced to elementary and middle schools in Seoul next year to assist in students' one-on-one English conversations, the municipal education office said Wednesday.

The use of robots in English speaking education for young students was announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education as part of efforts to reinforce the subject in public schools.

The English tutor robots, to be developed with a private company, will be supplied to five elementary and middle schools in the capital for a trial run in March next year, the office said.

The artificial intelligence-based robots will look similar to restaurant serving robots and have the ability to conduct one-on-one English conversations with students, it explained, adding they will act as an assistant teacher in the classroom and demonstrate English conversation like a native speaker.

The robots will also offer customized one-on-one learning, including correcting individual students' pronunciation, the office said.

The office said it plans to expand the distribution of the English tutor robots if the trial run produces satisfactory results.

In addition, the office will expand the use of voice chatbot apps in English listening and speaking education and local students' non-face-to-face exchanges with foreign students. The chatbot apps, which can be installed on individual mobile phones or desktops, will enable students to engage in a free conversation with the software on topics selected by the users. (Yonhap)
By Ko Dong-hwan

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has formed a new partnership with Canada's small modular reactor (SMR) developer ARC Clean Technology and the country's state-run utility company NB Power to pursue a new SMR construction project in eastern Canada, according to the nuclear reactor operator, Wednesday.

KHNP, however, declined to release the location and time of the signing due to the project's confidentiality.

The carbon-free nuclear technology of SMRs is considered a new growth engine for the world's energy industry as it can better sustain power generation for smaller cities than large conventional power plants.

The three companies expect the new project at Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station in the Atlantic Canadian province of New Brunswick to be a critical starting point for developing the technology and commercializing it in the future. They have agreed to jointly work on planning, construction, project management, operation, maintenance and repairs of ARC Clean Technology's new SMR.

In 2018, ARC Clean Technology and NB Power started developing the ARC-100, which can produce 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to support 75,000 households, according to the Canadian company. Each SMR can produce up to 300 MW, while its larger predecessor is capable of generating 700 MW or higher.

The ARC-100's key features include the use of sodium instead of water as a coolant, allowing the reactor to operate at lower pressures in order to improve the efficiency and safety of the system. It can consume its own recycled spent fuel, limiting the amount of fuel waste. Its less-than-a-city-block size and modularized components allow it to be shipped and installed using regular commercial equipment, while it can operate for 20-plus years without refueling.

ARC's President and CEO Bill Labbe said its partnership with KHNP, together with its years-long connection with NB Power, will help the ARC-100 gain international recognition. NB Power CEO Lori Clark said the new partnership will help phase out coal power by 2030 and eliminate Canada's carbon emissions by 2035 by using SMRs.

"This is a critical step to proceed with our future SMR development phase," KHNP CEO Whang Joo-ho said. "I expect our 40-year-long know-how in project management, operations and maintenance of nuclear reactor construction and operation will help our new partnership with the Canadian firms."
OIL PRICE FORECAST:

Oil Failed at the 200-Day MA as the Technical and Fundamental Factors Weighed on the Price.

OPEC+ Announce 2 Million bpd Cuts for Q1 2024 but it Appears Markets Expected More.

Will the Bulls Recover or is a Retest of $70 a Barrel on the Cards?

To Learn More About Price Action , Chart Patterns and Moving Averages , Check out the DailyFX Education Section .

Most Read: Oil Price Forecast: WTI Faces Technical Hurdles as OPEC+ Rumors Swirl

Oil prices rose this morning coming within a whisker of the psychological $80 a barrel mark. However, the OPEC+ meeting which was supposed to inspire a break back above the $80 handle had the opposite effect with a selloff ensuing in the aftermath.

Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter

OPEC+ VOLUNTARY CUTS AND BRAZIL TO JOIN

The OPEC+ meeting today through up a host of challenges if sources are to be believed. There was a lot of differing views from sources as markets waited with bated breath for an announcement on potential cuts.

The announcement finally came that an agreement had been reached for voluntary cuts of around 2 million barrels a day for Q1 next year. Saudi Arabia extending its voluntary output cuts as the virtual meeting today failed to find a solution. Eventually however members did agree to go along with voluntary cuts with Saudi, Kuwait, Russia, Algeria and Kazakhstan said cuts would be gradually unwound after Q1 of 2024.

Some of the cuts announced by OPEC+ members were 42k barrels/day from Oman, Iraq 220k barrels/day, UAE 163k barrels/day and then of course the extended cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia leaving the total around 2.19 million barrels per day. The last surprise that came out of the OPEC+ meeting was the invite to Brazil to join the group with the Brazilian Energy Minister saying he hoped to join by January.

Another concern for oil producer and the US came from EIA data today which showed that Crude and Petroleum products supply fell in September to 20.09 million barrels per day which is the lowest since April. This could further fuel concerns of a global slowdown as we head into 2024.

Recommended by Zain Vawda How to Trade Oil Get My Guide

LOOKING AHEAD

US Data lies ahead and could have an impact on Oil prices. Part of the decline today could be attributed to a stronger US Dollar and rising US yields which had an impact on risk appetite.

Tomorrow, we have manufacturing PMI data as well as speeches by Fed Policymakers which get more interesting by the day. Todays comments (at least to me) struck a more hawkish tone than we have heard over the past couple of days and could also in part explain the rise in the US Dollar.

For all market-moving economic releases and events, see the DailyFX Calendar

TECHNICAL OUTLOOK AND FINAL THOUGHTS

From a technical perspective WTI failed to close above the 200-day MA today despite trading above the moving average for large parts of the day. As i mention in my article yesterday (see here), WTI did remain in a bearish structure with a break above the and daily candle close above the $78.06 swing high needed to confirm a shift in structure and put the bulls in control.

As things stand there is a real chance that Oil could remain rangebound between the recent lows around the $73 mark and the $78 a barrel handle. We are seeing a death cross pattern complete today as well with the 50-day MA crossing below the 100-day MA which could embolden bears heading into the weekend.

WTI Crude Oil Daily Chart  November 30, 2023

Source: TradingView

Key Levels to Keep an Eye On:

Support levels:

75.00

73.00

70.00

Resistance levels:

76.95

78.06

80 (psychological level)

IG CLIENT SENTIMENT

IG Client Sentiment data tells us that 86% of Traders are currently holding LONG positions, up from 82% yesterday. Given the contrarian view to client sentiment adopted here at DailyFX, does this mean we are destined to revisit recent lows?

For a more in-depth look at WTI/Oil Price sentiment and how to use it, download the free guide below.

Oil - US Crude Bullish Data provided by of clients are net long. of clients are net short.

Change in Longs Shorts OI Daily -9% 38% -1% Weekly -14% 40% -6%

Written by: Zain Vawda, Market Writer for DailyFX.com

Contact and follow Zain on Twitter: @zvawda
By Lee Min-hyung

POSCO Group has completed the construction of two factories producing lithium hydroxide and electric steel, as part of plans to tighten its position as a manufacturer of key materials used for eco-friendly vehicles, the company said Wednesday.

POSCO-Pilbara Lithium Solution, a joint venture between the Korean steelmaker and Australias Pilbara Minerals, aims to set up a stable production system for lithium hydroxide with the new factory in South Jeolla Province. Lithium hydroxide is considered a key material for secondary batteries.

The facility has a production capacity of 21,500 tons of lithium hydroxide each year. The company also plans to open its second factory with the same capacity sometime in 2024. This will allow POSCO to produce 43,000 tons of the material annually, which is enough to manufacture batteries for around 1 million electric vehicles (EVs).

POSCO Group has succeeded in producing the material by itself, eliminating dependence on imports, after developing and applying its technology for extracting lithium from raw materials, the company said. The achievement signifies that the company has contributed to stabilizing domestic supply chains for raw materials needed for secondary batteries.

The company also finished building another plant manufacturing Hyper NO, its non-oriented electrical steel, on the same day. The facility comes with a capacity of 150,000 tons each year. According to the steelmaker, the plant will meet growing demand for eco-friendly vehicles and high-end steel products for electronics.

The company is considering a plan to build a new electrical steel plant in North America, and plans to stabilize supply chains so that it can manufacture 100 tons of electrical steel each year by 2030 amid increasing demand for EVs.

POSCO Group has secured a leading position in the global eco-friendly vehicle market, as it can produce the key secondary battery materials independently, POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jung-woo said. We have established a cornerstone for enhancing national competitiveness and becoming a leading eco-friendly future materials company.
Hong Kong: Space delegation visits universities

The China Manned Space delegation this afternoon visited Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) in groups to share the latest developments in national aerospace technologies.

The delegation also took part in in-depth discussions with teachers and students on topics including aerospace technologies, life in space and astronaut training.

Delegation head Lin Xiqiang led seven members to attended the dialogue session with about 700 teachers and students at PolyU.

Speaking at the session, Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin said the delegation's visit demonstrated the nation's care and importance attached to Hong Kong students. She noted that participants not only have the opportunity to meet the astronauts, but also experience the motherlands vigorous developments in aerospace technologies through the sharing sessions and witness the spirit of perseverance and self-improvement in space exploration.

Ms Choi stated that the country has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology hub in its National 14th Five-Year Plan, adding that it is also determined to establish a comprehensive national science centre in the Greater Bay Area.

Last year, the country recruited payload experts in Hong Kong for the first time, which encouraged our young people to contribute to the national aerospace industry. It also signified the high importance and recognition that the country places on scientific research talent in Hong Kong.

On this front, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been dedicated to the promotion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education, aligning with the strategic direction of invigorating the country through science and education. It will shape new driving forces and advantages for development, and cultivate future talent for both the country and Hong Kong.

The education chief pledged that the Government will fully support collaborations between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and enhance exchanges and co-operation in scientific research, so as to achieve win-win outcomes and take up a crucial role in supporting the country to become the world's leading space-faring nation in a concerted effort.

Apart from the event at PolyU, nine other delegation members met about 400 teachers and students at HKUST this afternoon.

The teachers and students attending the sessions noted that the delegation's visit would deepen Hong Kong citizen's understanding of the country's developments and achievements in aerospace technologies, and foster a greater interest in innovative technology among the younger generation.

They also said the visit encouraged post-secondary institutions to actively engage in national scientific research and aerospace developments, and nurture talent for both the country and Hong Kong.

This story has been published on: 2023-11-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Inbound tourism recovers fast from pandemic

11:12, November 30, 2023 By Yang Feixue ( China Daily

Visitors to the Bund in Shanghai in April pose for a photograph, with the Pudong financial district in the background. WANG GANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

New policies introduced to attract more overseas, regional visitors

Beijing tour guide Shi Jinjie had a hectic week in the middle of this month.

With more than 10 years' experience in serving inbound travelers to the city, he welcomed some 60 such arrivals from the United States and a total of 12 from Germany and Indonesia.

"We put in a lot of extra hours during the week, averaging more than 12 hours of work each day," he said.

Since the start of this year, the number of inbound tourists to the Chinese mainland from overseas and regions such as Hong Kong and Macao has risen significantly, boosting Shi's business. He now leads a team of dozens of tour guides offering services in languages that include English, German, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Korean.

He has even higher expectations for the future thanks to a series of policy support measures. The Foreign Ministry announced late this month that China will grant unilateral visa-free entry for up to 15 days to travelers holding passports issued by France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia.

In response, Malaysia has published a visa-free policy for up to 30 days for Chinese travelers, which will take effect on Friday.

The trial policy will be in effect for one year from Dec 1. Citizens of the five European countries and Malaysia can enter China without a visa for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes. The measure is aimed at facilitating cross-border travel and promoting high-quality development and opening-up, the ministry said.

During the summer and National Day holidays, the services offered by Shi and his team were chosen by hundreds of visitors from countries such as Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Austria, the US, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

"This year has been exceptionally busy. The number of overseas tourists we served nearly doubled, and our financial turnover during the summer grew more than two times compared with the pre-pandemic period," Shi said.

Although the work has been hard, Shi considers this a blessing, as just a year ago, he was struggling.

"Inbound tourism was really slow, and we had to rely on customized domestic tours to make ends meet," he said.

Such tourism took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said that in the first quarter of this year, just 52,000 inbound tourists were catered to by travel agencies nationwide, compared with 3.7 million in the same period in 2019.

The China Tourism Academy said that from 2020 to this year, the number of inbound tourist visits to China is estimated to have fallen by about 370 million, resulting in a loss of some $362 billion in international tourism revenue.

However, inbound tourism is still widely considered to hold great potential in China. In the first 10 months of this year, the number of foreign visitors to the country reached 26.51 million after it optimized its COVID-19 policies, the National Immigration Administration said.

British internet celebrity Lee Barrett has traveled around China since he settled in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, five years ago.

Barrett, who has more than 360,000 fans on YouTube, said: "China is an amazing country, with a lot of places to see and a lot to do. There is super-modern Shenzhen, the international city of Shanghai, culturally-rich Xi'an, and beautiful Kunming."

He said he enjoyed coffee and cake at a street cafe during a trip with friends this month to Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, when he "felt the world pass slowly by".

"Each city has a different style of food, with hundreds of dishes to try," he added.

Tourists wait to pass through immigration at Beijing's Capital International Airport. LI XIN/XINHUA

Popular destination

In 2021, a China inbound tourist intention and attitude research report jointly conducted by Google and Ipsos, a leading market research company, said the nation remains attractive to global visitors as confidence in international travel is restored after the pandemic.

The report surveyed people from 19 countries who intend to visit China. The nation's cultures, landscapes and diverse experiences were identified as the top three attractions for global tourists.

This potential is likely to be tapped further, as more favorable policies were announced at the three-day China International Travel Mart 2023, staged this month in Kunming.

During the event, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said more services are being offered to inbound travelers, such as simplified visa application procedures and the temporary exemption of fingerprint-taking for those who meet certain conditions. The official was speaking at an inbound tourism policy conference hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

In total, nearly 100 Chinese embassies and consulates currently offer appointment-free visa application services, and by the end of this year, all such appointments will no longer be necessary.

The ministry said 260 Chinese embassies and consulates around the world will continue to improve the quality of visa services, making it easier for applicants to submit their paperwork.

In addition, the nation's 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit policies have been extended to visitors from 54 countries, the National Immigration Administration said.

Speaking at the China International Travel Mart, Mao Xu, director of the administration's foreigners management department, said visitors from countries with transit visa exemptions are allowed to travel or conduct business-related activities in certain areas permitted by port visa authorities.

Large cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, apply the 144-hour visa-free policy, while Changsha, capital of Hunan province, Harbin, the Heilongjiang provincial capital, and Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, implement the 72-hour policy.

In Chengdu, the authorities are preparing for the arrival of more tourists.

Guo Degang, a senior official at the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcast-TV and Tourism, said, "The inbound tourism market has grown slowly but surely over the past 10 months."

In the same period in 2019, before the pandemic emerged, the city received 469,000 inbound tourist visits.

Guo said the local inbound tourism market has great potential for further growth, adding, "Chengdu has a unique appeal as a destination for inbound travelers, especially those from Southeast Asia, with its leisurely lifestyle and distinctive cuisines, as well as the chance to see giant pandas."

The city is a center for visitors planning trips to leading tourist attractions across Sichuan, such as Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, Huanglong  the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, and ethnic Tibetan, Qiang and Yi residential areas.

Guo believes that Chengdu will benefit greatly from the favorable inbound tourism policies.

"At the start of this year, we began to offer training in inbound tourism services to more people to cater to the increasingly high demand," Guo said.

"Visitors not only want explanations about tourist attractions, they are also keenly interested in everything during a tour, such as folk customs, food culture, and even social and economic development."

A foreign visitor dresses up as a vendor at a temple fair in suburban Beijing in January. DU JIANPO/FOR CHINA DAILY

New partnership

Chengdu has formed a partnership with leading online travel agencies, including Trip.com Group, to attract independent inbound travelers.

Themed tours, such as those featuring giant pandas and snow-capped mountains, have been developed based on the preferences of travelers from different countries.

"Everything is being done to develop products to cater to the various needs of inbound travelers," Guo said.

Data from Trip.com Group suggest that the recovery in inbound tourism is accelerating.

Bookings in the first 10 months of this year grew by 125 percent compared with the same period last year, and reached nearly 80 percent of the number in 2019, the agency reported, adding that its bookings in the third quarter rose by 34 percent from the second quarter.

The most popular destinations for inbound tourists include Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, and Qingdao, Shandong province.

The major source countries for such arrivals are the US, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand and the UK.

Leading players in the industry are also planning to benefit from the favorable travel policies.

For example, Trip.com Group has signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the China International Culture Association to promote inbound tourism.

The travel agency will promote on its platforms the association's Nihao! (Hello!) China campaign, which aims to foster and promote cultural exchanges and establish friendships between China and visitors from around the world. It will also create content to showcase specific services related to China's rich history and cultural heritage.

In addition, Trip.com Group will collaborate with Chinese cultural centers, tourism boards and other organizations to promote the country's attractions and experiences.

James Liang, executive chairman of the board at Trip.com Group, said, "To boost inbound tourism, the group will use its technological expertise to enhance ease of access for incoming visitors.

"In addition, we will consolidate resources to foster tourism promotion, while highlighting China's distinctive tourism attractions to draw in global visitors."

Trip.com Group said demand for trips to China should rise shortly, due to the efforts made by the government and the industry to facilitate travel.

Liang said that in some major economies, inbound tourism revenue accounts for 1-3 percent of GDP, adding that if China's inbound tourism revenue reaches 1.5 percent of GDP, it could generate more than 1 trillion yuan ($139.8 billion) in market growth.

A seafood market in Qionghai, Hainan province, attracts visitors from home and abroad in August. YUAN CHEN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Joint efforts

Trip.com Group has also joined hands with financial technology company Ant Group and several other travel agencies, including Our Tour. They plan to work together to enhance the entire inbound tourism experience by focusing on areas such as service portals, mobile payments with overseas bank cards, overseas promotion of domestic destinations, and the quality of group tour services.

An inbound tourism service platform will be set up on Trip.com Group's international website to assist travelers to China.

Our Tour advocates increased marketing and promotion efforts for Chinese destinations, optimized inbound tourism products and routes, and strengthened multilingual communication and development of tour guide teams.

Ant Group has proposed enhancing research and development of cross-border payments technology to support overseas visitors using electronic wallets, and linking foreign bank cards to digital payment systems.

Shi, the tour guide in Beijing, thinks that compared with before the pandemic emerged, international visitors are showing an increasing preference for customized itineraries that offer more freedom.

"Ancient Chinese architecture, history, culture and distinctive cuisine are highly attractive to these visitors," Shi said.

He added that in Beijing, popular tourist experiences include exploring the Forbidden City, walking the Great Wall, savoring zha jiang mian(dry-tossed noodles with hot bean sauce), and strolling the city's hutong, or alleyway, areas.

While Shi acknowledges that inbound tourism has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, he feels that many of those operating in the industry are now much busier.

"Confidence has also risen in the industry, as increased business from travel agencies is now coming our way," he said.

Shi thinks that next year, inbound tourism will likely recover to about 60-70 percent of the pre-pandemic level.

"We are fully prepared and eagerly looking forward to welcoming visitors from around the world," he added.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
By Ko Dong-hwan

An increasing number of retailers and food firms are introducing voluntary retirement schemes for their employees as businesses struggle with falling sales and rising costs, according to industry officials, Wednesday.

Older employees and those with longer career experience are targets of the downsizing. Companies are offering incentives like jobseeker training and supplementary funds to cover education for applicants' children or other daily living costs.

Local e-commerce platform 11street has begun accepting resignations from employees aged 35 or older who have worked for five years or longer. Those who quit due to "operational difficulties," according to the firm, can walk out with four months' worth of wages. The company has yet to set a number on resignations it is seeking and is watching how the workforce responds to the offer.

This is the first time in the company's 5-year history that it has taken such a measure. It has been on the market for acquisition, but its negotiations with candidate buyers continue derailing.

Lotte Homeshopping, another online shopping platform, has launched a similar measure in response to increasingly challenging market conditions. To streamline its structure, it is letting go of those aged 45 or older who have worked five years or longer.

Dairy product maker Maeil already started accepting resignations in August. It seeks to let go of employees aged 50 or older with a bundle of perks like a lump sum wage equivalent to 18 months, provision of supplies for congratulations-and-condolences for two years and a training session for jobseekers.

Paris Croissant is another local food producer that has been pushed to downsize its workforce. One of the two giant food product developers under SPC, the company began nudging employees who have worked 15 years or longer at its 14 sub-brands including Paris Baguette, La Grillia and Shake Shack Korea.

"We put up the notice internally about 10 days before the news broke earlier this month," said an official from SPC. "Incentives include a lump sum pay equivalent to up to 18 months, plus an education fund for a maximum one year. We are also giving resigning employees a session to help them start their own businesses or move to other firms."

While the firms are downsizing mostly out of managerial desperation, there are some that have been reducing workforces for different reasons.

GS Retail began accepting applicants for voluntary retirement until this month. But an official from the company said it has posted the notice every year, not because of operational setbacks but rather as a service.

"We are actually leading the market right now. Nonetheless, we introduced the measure years ago to rather support our employees in their late 40s and into their 50s to find new opportunities outside the company. Those in that age group automatically receive an email from our management notifying them of such opportunities," said the official.

"Office hierarchies in a pyramid structure naturally put senior employees in difficult positions at some point. So, our self-resignation practice rather helps those who decide to quit and start the next chapter of their life."
1. In March, which one of these people was banned from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election?

a) Jeremy Corbyn

b) Jeremy Clarkson

c) Jeremy Paxman

d) Jeremy Kyle

e) Jeremy Hunt

1. In March, which one of these people was banned from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election?

2. Nigel Farage is the latest politician to appear on I'm A Celebrity. Which one of these politicians has not been on it?

a) Nadine Dorries

b) Edwina Currie

c) Matt Hancock

d) Robert Kilroy-Silk

e) Jacob Rees-Mogg

2. Nigel Farage is the latest politician to appear on I'm A Celebrity. Which one of these politicians has not been on it?

3. Recent reports revealed that Brad Pitt's son Pax described the star in a 2020 online post as:

a) 'A pop in a million'

b) 'Not just my dad but my best friend'

c) 'The one guy in the world I love the most'

d) 'Awesome'

e) 'A f***ing awful human being'

3. Recent reports revealed that Brad Pitt's son Pax described the star in a 2020 online post as what?

4. Match the Desert Island castaway with their chosen book:

a) Ade Edmondson

b) Adam Kay

c) Jeremy Bowen

d) Katherine Ryan

e) Stanley Tucci

i) The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson

ii) The Complete Novels of George Orwell

iii) York Notes for the Complete Works of Shakespeare

iv) Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett

v) Westward Ha! by S.J. Perelman

4. Match the Desert Island castaway with their chosen book (Pictured Stanley Tucci)

5. At the beginning of November, The Beatles released a new song. What was it called?

a) Back And Forward

b) Now And Then

c) Up And Down

d) This And That

e) Home And Away

6. Which person who died this year...

a) Once said: 'I suppose one grows up with a desire to murder one's parents, but you can't really go and do that. So I suppose I tried to murder them symbolically on stage.'

b) Once served as a junior transport minister?

c) Received a knighthood the day before their death?

d) Appeared in all three Austin Powers movies?

e) Had been the mother-in-law to the daughter of Fred Trueman?

i) Raquel Welch

ii) Glenda Jackson

iii) Barry Humphries

iv) Martin Amis

v) Burt Bacharach

6. Which person who died this year did the following? (Pictured: Raquel Welch)

7. In July, which one of these changed their name to Bannau Brycheiniog?

a) The Brecon Beacons

b) Billy Bragg

c) The baccalaureate

d) Kemi Badenoch

e) The Braemar Games

8. Pair these royals with their previous titles:

a) Queen Camilla

b) Duke of Edinburgh

c) Princess of Wales

d) Earl of Wessex

e) Duke of Cornwall

i) Earl of Wessex

ii) Duchess of Cornwall

iii) Viscount Severn

iv) Duchess of Cambridge

v) Duke of Cambridge

8. Pair these royals with their previous titles

9. Who is Mel Stride?

a) A former Spice Girl

b) A former presenter of The Great British Bake-Off

c) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

d) A late-night Radio 1 DJ

e) A veteran U.S. talk-show host

10. On This Morning, Sir Cliff Richard revealed he had turned down the opportunity of a snap of himself with Elvis Presley. What reason did he give?

a) 'I was going through a skinny phase, and I thought, if I'm having a photograph taken with him and it's going to be hanging on my fridge, I've got to look good.'

b) 'I knew he'd had lots of hits and I thought, if I'm having my photograph taken with him and it's going to be hanging on my fridge, I'd better crack America first.'

c) 'I was acutely embarrassed on his behalf that he'd never come second in the Eurovision'

d) 'He'd put on a lot of weight . . . I thought, if I'm having a photograph taken with him and it's going to be hanging on my fridge he's got to look good.'

e) 'No one gave me his address.'

Answers: 1 a. 2 e. 3 e. 4. aiv; biii; cii; di; ev. 5 b. 6 aiii; bii; civ; dv; ei. 7 a. 8 aii; bi; civ; diii; ev. 9 c. 10 d.
The phrase is straight out of Yes Minister. Michael Gove's evidence to the Covid Inquiry on Tuesday was cut off for straying into what a smooth-talking Government lawyer deemed 'a somewhat divisive issue'.

Gove, a Cabinet minister for most of the past 13 years, ventured to state that 'there is a significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made'.

This goes further than any British official has previously dared. Gove is an exceptionally clever man - and I have no doubt his intervention was deliberate. He has been long aware of the overwhelming evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid, was genetically engineered to become a human pathogen in a laboratory in the city of Wuhan in China.

As Yes Minister's Sir Humphrey might put it, the Secretary of State apparently forgot what it was he wasn't supposed to know. In fact, what Gove called the 'significant body of judgment' is overwhelming.

Chinese molecular biologists took a coronavirus that occurs naturally in bats and altered its genes - to an extent that cannot occur naturally - so as to make it exceptionally contagious in humans.

Chinese molecular biologists took a coronavirus that occurs naturally in bats and altered its genes - to an extent that cannot occur naturally - so as to make it exceptionally contagious in humans, writes PROFESSOR ANGUS DALGLEISH

Gove, a Cabinet minister for most of the past 13 years, ventured to state that 'there is a significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made'

Any notion that this novel coronavirus arose from contaminated bat meat sold in the wet market at Wuhan is a fairytale for the credulous, a juvenile explanation that insults the intelligence of every serious virologist.

The Chinese are to blame for the Covid pandemic and the deaths (estimated at seven million globally) and long-term illnesses it caused, as well as the incalculable damage to the world's economy - to the extent that it would not be inappropriate for nations to demand substantial reparations from Beijing.

READ MORE: I'm NOT a liar, Matt Hancock tells Covid Inquiry: Ex-health secretary furiously rejects claims he misled colleagues about pandemic plans as he attacks 'malign' Dominic Cummings - but admits he didn't read minutes from meetings of SAGE experts in early 2020 Matt Hancock stressed his 'vast' responsibilities as health secretary today as he kicked off his evidence at the Covid Inquiry Advertisement

The mere fact that this disease arose in the same city as the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China's premier top-level 'biosafety' laboratory, should be enough to make any investigator suspicious.

Yet shamefully, the Covid Inquiry lawyer Hugo Keith KC slapped down Mr Gove for even beginning to approach the subject.

Gove's point ought to be central to the Inquiry. He was admitting that the Government was 'not as well prepared as we should have been' because 'the virus was novel'. In other words, the medical establishment was blindsided. This virus was unprecedented because it was in part created by man.

All this I can say with certainty because I was the co-author of a scientific paper that first made Government officials aware of the facts, in March 2020.

Working with my colleague in Norway, Dr Birger Sorensen (with whom I had collaborated to improve his pioneering therapeutic HIV vaccine in 2006), we realised that the Covid virus was simply incompatible with natural evolution.

I discovered, to my intense frustration, that no major journal wanted to publish our evidence. Many claimed it was 'not in the public interest'. Nonetheless, my warnings about the origins of the virus brought me to the attention of the former chief of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove.

Understandably curious to know why an NHS cancer specialist was taking such an interest in Covid, he arranged for me to be quietly vetted, without my knowledge.

It gives me little pleasure that my bona fides were quickly established which helped persuade Dearlove that I was as a sceptical scientific voice whose findings were repeatedly ignored - and repeatedly shown to be right, far too late.

Like Cassandra in ancient myth, I have an unwelcome habit of telling my peers news that they do not want to hear.

When I applied to use immunotherapy for cancer patients, a decade before it became standard practice, my funding was refused. The body overseeing grants ruled that immunotherapy worked on mice but would be ineffective on humans. It is now one of the leading treatments for cancer.

Shock and disgust greeted my suggestion that thalidomide, the drug that did so much damage to unborn babies in the 1960s, might be adapted for other treatments. But after I provided my research to a U.S. company called Celgene, Lenalidomide was developed - now the frontline treatment for the blood cancer myeloma in the NHS.

Most pertinently, I was the first researcher to identify the role of a specific 'receptor' for the HIV virus. In simple terms, this receptor is a protein on the surface of a human cell that provides a gateway for a virus to enter and infect that cell, triggering disease.

It was this feature of SARS-CoV-2 that piqued my interest in Covid, as the 'spikes' on its surface serve a similar function, facilitating access for the virus to human cells

The Chinese are to blame for the Covid pandemic and the deaths (estimated at seven million globally) and long-term illnesses it caused, as well as the incalculable damage to the world's economy (Stock Image)

It was this feature of SARS-CoV-2 that piqued my interest in Covid, as the 'spikes' on its surface serve a similar function, facilitating access for the virus to human cells.

Indeed, the giveaway that the Covid virus is man-made are those telltale receptors, one of which is known as the Furin Cleavage Site. HIV fixes mainly on to one receptor - but the Covid virus binds to several, allowing it to lock into cells in the nose, mouth, lungs and elsewhere in the body.

This gives the virus what we call a hypercharge, making it much more positively charged than any virus has been before.

Think of it like a fridge magnet, so powerful that it rips itself out of your hand and flies across the kitchen, landing hard enough to dent the metal. That's the hypercharge effect.

The Covid virus is designed for maximum impact - no such structure has occurred naturally in other coronaviruses.

And if that is not evidence enough, consider this: in 2013, molecular biologists in the Wuhan Institute announced that such a viral structure had been created by genetic modification in the lab. They openly admitted they were working on this technique to magnify the viral charge, in so-called 'gain-of-function' research.

So in SARS-CoV-2, we have a wildly contagious virus that mirrors man-made genetic mutations previously produced by scientists. And all of this happens in a city where China's foremost virus research labs are based, with some specialising in coronaviruses isolated from bats found in caves many hundreds of miles away from the city.

The Covid Inquiry lawyer Hugo Keith KC slapped down Mr Gove for even beginning to approach the subject

Michael Gove was warned not to speak of this because it was a 'somewhat divisive issue'. The only division, as far as I can see, is between the blatantly obvious and the wilfully blind

Michael Gove was warned not to speak of this because it was a 'somewhat divisive issue'. The only division, as far as I can see, is between the blatantly obvious and the wilfully blind.

If the Covid Inquiry was genuinely interested in discovering the truth behind the pandemic, the origin of this novel virus - and its intriguing genetic specificity - would be its main focus.

We have to find out why the Chinese government was funding such suicidally dangerous research, and to what extent Western governments, especially the Americans, knew about it - and whether or not, as has been suggested, they were actually contributing to research funding.

My own belief, given the close ties I know to exist between U.S. and Chinese virology scientists, is that there must have been close co-operation.

The big unanswered question is 'Why?'. The official explanation is that it was to promote vaccine research to prepare for a future coronavirus pandemic, without appreciating the irony that the research itself caused a pandemic.

Other people have pointed out that a bio-weapons research team is stationed in the Wuhan lab.

In addition, big pharmaceutical companies were interested in vaccine development, to prepare for a pandemic.

Mad scientists concocting deadly plagues in their laboratories are the stuff of B-movies. It's an image none of us wants to contemplate. But we have to face reality.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid was the result of genetic engineering. It is clearly a man-made disease.

If the public inquiry refuses to consider this, or even to allow the thought to be voiced, the hearings are pointless.

Professor Angus Dalgleish is the co-author, with Dr Steven Quay, of The Origin Of The Virus, published by Clinical Press.
It was after leaving her full-time job during lockdown that Catherine Sweet had a 'now or never' moment.

Blessed with a creative mindset, the self-taught artist had already begun producing her own abstract designs on canvas. Using acrylic, oils and a range of other materials and believing there was a strong demand for art like hers that was beautiful, original but - crucially - affordable, in May 2021 she used GoDaddy to start her own online business, BobCat Gallery.

Catherine now uses the site to sell her own artwork alongside handmade, original works by other artists she commissions herself. Everything costs under 500, including shipping.

Art lover Catherine Sweet started her own online business, BobCat Gallery, in May 2021

'I want my customers to know they can own something unique and beautiful without breaking the bank,' she says.

'But I don't push my artists to create the same thing again and again if they don't want to. If they are not happy with what they are creating, our customers won't be happy either.'

4 tips for turning your hobby into a lucrative online business Many people have turned their hobbies into profitable online ventures. If you're ready to get started, here are some handy tips: 1 - Identify your niche: Before you jump into setting up a business, it's crucial to know if there's a market for your passion. The first step is to identify your niche. To discover what this is, ask yourself who might be interested in what you have to offer, whether it would make money and what makes it different to the rest of the market. 2 - Create a product: Once you've identified a profitable niche, it's time to create a product or service that you can sell. This might be a physical product, an online course, a service like dog walking, or even a membership site. It should be something that is unique and fulfils a need of your target audience. 3 - Showcase your expertise: Once you have a product or service ready to go, it's time to create an online presence. That means launching a website, starting a blog and setting up social media profiles. You may also want to create an email list of potential customers. GoDaddy Website Builder has all you need to get online like a pro. 4 - Get the word out: Now that you have an online presence and something to offer, it's time to get the word out. Techniques include content marketing (where you create engaging content like blog posts, videos and podcasts), social media marketing and mailing lists.

Catherine puts a lot of her entrepreneurial success down to careful planning and always thinking of what her customers want.

'If you put the effort in upfront to get a plan in place, some of it might be adapted along the way, but overall, you'll know where you're heading to in the long run,' she says.

'I considered all the best bits about buying art and have tried to make those come to life online.

'I hand-pick the artists I work with so that my customers know they can buy with confidence, and I am always available if they have any questions.'

The proud new business owner has enjoyed helping her customers find art they love at the same time as supporting 24 fellow artists looking for an outlet for their work.

But things haven't always been easy, with Catherine forced to adapt the way she works due to a condition called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

This leads to deteriorating motor function, making it harder for her to grip paint brushes. As a result, she's been experimenting with palette knives, stencils and spray paints, as well as other techniques like air-drying clay, collage and stitching.

A resilient person, Catherine prides herself in bouncing back when things don't go to plan. Summing up her philosophy, she says: 'You have to believe in yourself - feel the fear and do it anyway.'

As an online business, BobCat Gallery is heavily reliant on the website to reach customers and make sales.

Over the years, Catherine has tried many different website builders and content management systems but chose the GoDaddy Website Builder for its ease of use and cost effectiveness.

'There are tonnes of great templates to get you started, a range of features you can customise to make sure your website reflects your brand, and great tools to help with SEO and content marketing,' she says.

'I love how easy it is to edit the categories in the online shop. It means my customers can browse and buy according to their budget, their favourite style or by searching for a particular artist.

'For me, obviously, the way it looks is really important - and there's some really nice visuals here that can make that pop.'

Catherine designed her website with GoDaddy Website Builder. She says: 'For me, obviously, the way it looks is really important - and there's some really nice visuals here that can make that pop'

GoDaddy is designed to make it easy for entrepreneurs like Catherine to set up online, sell products and reach new audiences - with no need for any expertise in website development.

And for peace of mind, 24/7 telephone and live chat support is available if you ever need help.

'I like how simple it is to drop in HTML on any page if you need to embed something like a virtual gallery space to showcase artwork collections or exhibitions,' says Catherine.

'I do this once a month, and with a couple of clicks it appears exactly as I need it.'

Catherine is one of millions of people who have been able to turn a passion she previously pursued as a side hustle into a standalone business.

GoDaddy makes it easy for entrepreneurs to set up online, make sales and reach new audiences. Here is how Catherine's site appears on mobile

Starting a side hustle can be a great way to boost your financial security, with UK online side hustlers generating 21,400 a year on average*, according to research by GoDaddy.

Meanwhile, an impressive 70 per cent of online entrepreneurs* quizzed by researchers say they now hope to turn their side hustle into their primary business.

Now she's in charge of her own career, Catherine feels anything is possible and is excited for what the next few years have in store.

She's been running pop-up exhibitions across London and is working towards plans for a physical gallery in the future to complement her virtual offering.

Feeling inspired? Visit GoDaddy today to discover how you can start your own online journey.

*https://uk.godaddy.com/blog/u-k-side-hustlers-on-fire-new-godaddy-research-study-shows
By Lee Min-hyung

Chanel, Hermes and Nike have corrected what were cited as unfair business practices regarding a number of terms concerning customers and posted the changes on their brand websites following a review by the nations antitrust agency.

According to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), Wednesday, the brands had some controversial terms concerning the resale of their products by customers.

Earlier, Chanel Korea announced that customers may be deprived of their memberships if their shopping patterns are presumed to be aimed at reselling. Nike Korea also said it has the authority to restrict orders or cancel contracts with customers if the shoemaker believes the purpose of a customer is to resell them, according to the authority.

The brands argued that the act of resale might cause damage to other customers, as they end up buying luxury or limited items at a higher price.

But the FTC did not accept the claim, saying that customers have the right to decide whether to resell the products. According to the watchdog, the restriction of resale by the brands is unconditional and goes against local laws on contract terms.

The authority also took issue with what it cited as a lack of objective criteria by the brands on how to discern the purpose of a customer's order.

Customers have the right to determine whether to keep possessing certain products or sell them in second-hand markets, the watchdog said. The brands should not force buyers not to sell their products to a third-party in an unconditional manner.

In response, the three companies corrected a total of 10 unfair terms concerning customers.

The FTC also ordered the brands to correct other unjust terms.

For example, Chanel said it retains the right to edit customers online product reviews, and Nike also stated it possesses the rights to reviews posted by customers.

The watchdog argued that such terms possibly infringe on the copyrights held by customers.

The brands should receive permission from copyright holders when using their comments, the FTC said. Even if they authorize the use of their online comments, the usage should be limited. The companies should also stop using them when customers do not utilize their service any longer.

Following the order, the brands rectified the terms to make it mandatory to receive consent from customers when using their online reviews. The brands also decided to delete certain terms that gave them the right to permanently use the online comments posted by customers.

We will keep stepping up our monitoring of unfair terms at other companies in line with customers changing consumption patterns, the watchdog said.
With less than a month to go until the big day, you can almost taste that turkey. Don't let the sound of jingle bells give you gift stress by ticking your nearest and dearest off your list!

Here are Checklist's top 10 tips for Christmas gifting this week.

Experiences to remember

This festive season, ditch the mundane and surprise your loved ones with the magic of memories that last!

Explore unique, interest-tailored experiences for each special person on your list with Buyagiftthe go-to for the UK's leading online provider for experience days. Dive into the festive fun and explore an array of unforgettable experiences no matter your budget from pamper days to gourmet delights, quick getaways to speedy driving days, and so much more!

Whether you're looking for a quick and easy stocking filler, or wanting to splash out on something more lavish for that special someone, with over 4,500 options to choose from, give them something sensational this Christmas with Buyagift.

Even better, Buyagift offers last shipping dates up to Friday, December 22nd and with our e-voucher option, you can send a gift until the very last second on Christmas Day (if you're extra cheeky!).

The info: Click here to shop now.

A little can for a big night out

As party season arrives, everyone is talking about Bounce Back, the UK's first 'post social' replenishment drink.

Developed by two biochemists, Bounce Back helps you wake up feeling replenished and ready to take on the day following an evening of festivities.

Designed to be enjoyed before bed, this caffeine-free, low-calorie drink is scientifically formulated with a blend of 17 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and prebiotics that work their magic overnight, so you can start the next day refreshed.

It's the first drink in the UK with choline to support maintenance of normal liver function. It also includes vitamin B12 to help reduce tiredness and fatigue, vitamin B6 to aid energy, and zinc and selenium to support immune function.

Enjoy Bounce Back this festive season, now available in Asda, Costco and online.

The info: Click here to shop with code 'DAILYMAIL20' for an exclusive 20% off.

Nail repair like never before

Its no secret that the perfect party season manicure starts with the perfect prep! This Christmas, give salon worthy holiday manicures at home with OPI, the #1 Salon Brand worldwide* and their latest, award winning, breakthrough innovation launch, Repair Mode.

With Patented Ulti-Plex Technology, this bond-building nail serum absorbs into the nail to deeply repair 99% of keratin protein and build 4x stronger nails that are smoother and more resistant to breakage, in just 6 days!**

Nails look improved after the first application, and with continued use, you can expect smoother, stronger nails with an improved appearance of ridges and colour. It's repair like never before. Simply apply twice daily, once in the morning and once at night for six days. After six days, use once daily to combat Keratin breakdown with zero dry time.

The info: Click here to create an account and receive 10% off your first order.

*'Professional Nail Care: Global Market Brief 2022' report - Kline Group.

**When used as directed.

Terms and conditions apply.

Give the gift of wellness

Crossing over into the new year, many of us are inspired to self improvement. For inspiration for your loved ones can rely on, Technogym's solutions offer personalised wellness gifts to help them achieve their goals.

With the Technogym App, it's never been easier to achieve fitness goals with a wide choice of on-demand video workouts and a personalised plan. Every day, the app suggests the suitable workout for you by combining scientific research, AI and engaging video content.

For friends who enjoy alternating weight exercises with workouts with accessories, treat them to the Technogym Bench - the all-inclusive training solution designed to combine the greatest variety of exercises with the smallest possible footprint.

Then, for the running enthusiast in your life, Technogym Run is the quietest and lowest consumption treadmill ever - offering a wide variety of on-demand workout modes and programs.

The info: Click here to find out more.

Scoot into the new year

Why not give someone the gift of freedom this year with the Busbi Firefly E-Scooter* - the perfect fusion of power, style and convenience.

Weighing only 14.5 kilograms, this e-scooter is impressively lightweight and easily manoeuvrable. Not to mention, you can experience the thrill of reaching a top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) with its 250W motor.

The Busbi Firefly also offers a range of up to 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) on a single charge. Plus, with a quick charge time of just 3.5 hours, you'll spend more time riding and less time waiting.

You can explore with ease thanks to its remarkable 10-degree (17.5%) gradient capability, as well as 8.5-inch puncture-resistant tires that provide a smooth, comfortable ride across various terrains while ensuring optimal grip and stability.

Safety is paramount too, with an advanced braking system featuring a reliable rear disc brake and front hub electronic brake. This means precise stops whenever needed, ensuring a secure and controlled ride.

The info: Click here to shop now.

*Please note: It is illegal to use this item on pavements and public highways. It can only be used on private land with the owner's permission. Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment must be worn at all times. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. This product is not intended for use as a mobility vehicle.

Give the gift of better tasting water

If youre looking for a great value stocking filler, then this ingenious water bottle fits the bill.

The Doulton Taste 2 Bottle with Filter offers a gateway to freshly filtered water wherever and whenever you want. It filters as you sip, to ensure better quality refreshment on the go every time.

Leveraging their extensive expertise, Doulton has engineered a high-performance filter with activated carbon that revolutionises your water. Heavy metals, chlorine, organics and microplastics are reduced, leaving you with better tasting HO.

Plus, the bottle is BPA-free double insulated, which keeps your liquid nice and chilled. It also includes a flip top lid with integrated carry handle.

And of course, reusable water bottles are a great way to reduce single use plastic and save money too!

The info: Click here to shop now and get 20% off until 8 December.

For the musician in your life

Hit the high note this Christmas with a gift from RockJam, one of the leading providers of entry-level musical instruments.

RockJam Music was formed over 20 years ago by a small but dedicated group of people with a passionate love of music and a shared vision. They have a strong belief that instruments should be accessible to all, so that everyone can experience the joy of music.

RockJam has a brilliant selection of musical instruments. In fact, its keyboards and electric guitars are now best sellers on Amazon in the UK, mainland Europe, America and Canada.

This Christmas, why not gift the aspiring musician in your life the ultimate all-in-one piano. The RockJam RJ541 54 key piano, (usually 79.99, but now only 49.99) is a favourite for musicians of all ages. This fantastic electronic keyboard is packed with features to ensure that you have everything you need to create incredible music.

With over 50 demos, 350 instruments and 350 rhythms, you can explore your creativity and play with various sounds and styles until you find yours. It also has teaching modes for beginners, with three in-built modes to ensure that you receive the support that is right for your level.

As a RockJam customer, you will also receive access to exclusive Simply Piano content to help you master the keys, and also receive note stickers. The stickers in conjunction with the sheet music stand, make this keyboard the perfect choice for those who are learning piano.

The info: Click here to shop now.

A delectable beer, a century in the making

Born under the heat of the Andalusian Sun back in 1904, Cruzcampo is a Spanish lager (4.4%) which has finally arrived in the UK this year. Originating from the beautiful city Sevilla, the beverage is made to be shared and enjoyed just as the locals do.

Sevilla is a place of full magic and light, warmth and buzz, and with Cruzcampo, British beer lovers can now embrace the Sevillian way - by savouring every moment. The beer itself is brewed with subtle and hoppy notes with fruity characteristics. And, of course, the beer pairs perfectly with Spanish tapas.

On the label, you'll find a gentleman named Gambrinus - this has been the brand's icon for over 100 years. He represents a key part of the drink's history and is a lesson on how to enjoy each day as it comes.

The info: Click here to shop now.

Always drink responsibly. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.

For where wheels can't go

If you're scratching your head as to what to get the adventurer in your life, opt for something that will make adventuring even easier. A hiker is only ever as good as their gear after all, which is why the Farpoint 55 Travel Pack makes the perfect travelling companion.

Designed to keep up with fast- globetrotters, the Farpoint Travel Pack adopts features from Osprey's more technical packs, but at minimal weight. These include fine-tuneable torso adjustments, load-lifting Light Wire frames and breathable harnesses/hip belts blended with practical travel functionality.

Internal organisation has been optimised for travel purposes and rugged compression straps keep your load stable, whether you're bringing your whole kit along or slimming down for excursions.

Other key features include a mesh-covered airscape back panel, Bluesign-approved materials, adjustable torso fit, dual compression straps, a removable daypack and a stowaway back panel, harness and hip belt.

The info: Click here to shop now.

Give the gift of adventure

From joyously fun brainteasers to the ultimate outdoor app, inspire adventures this festive season.

Gift memories and special places, with perfectly personalised maps. Whether its framed on the wall or folded in their pocket  the bespoke Ordnance Survey Custom Made map will help make magical memories all year around.

Know someone who loves getting outside? Treat them to an OS Maps premium subscription for a year and inspire endless adventures in the outdoors. The perfect Christmas gift for any outdoor enthusiast; whether you're looking to explore the wilds or just find some inspiration closer to home.

The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book: Legends and Landmarks  returning with the most fiendish and intricate set of puzzles yet, the bestselling series returns with brainteasers to test the whole family. Meet iconic figures from British history, track down hidden treasures, decipher geographical details and pit wits against puzzles.

The info: Click here to shop now.

If you've enjoyed reading this article and are interested in more inspiration on everything from education and culture to business and family life, why not follow Checklist on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or sign up to the newsletter? Checklist is dedicated to providing the best free online competitions too - discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.
A travel expert has slammed Disney's luxurious Riviera Resort - revealing he paid more than $500 for one night at the 'aggressively bland, dull and uninspiring' hotel, which got him a 'stuffy and claustrophobic' room with a Murphy bed.

Jake Williams, 25, from Ontario, Canada, has stayed in some of the most coveted hotels across the globe while uploading detailed reviews of each one to his YouTube channel, Bright Sun Travels, where he has racked up more than 89,000 subscribers.

The vlogger recently visited one of the top hotels at Disney World, the Riviera Resort, but he was left horrified by its 'cheap feeling' and lack of theming, as well as what he described as a 'dark, tiny and filthy' room - especially considering its immense price.

After spending a night at the resort, Jake branded it as a 'complete joke' and 'cynical cash grab,' explaining in a recent video that it felt more like he was 'staying in the world's most expensive dorm room' rather than an elite Disney hotel.

A travel expert has slammed Disney's luxurious Riviera Resort - revealing he paid more than $500 for one night at the 'aggressively bland, dull, and uninspiring' hotel

Jake Williams, 25, from Ontario, Canada, has stayed in some of the most coveted hotels across the globe, while uploading detailed reviews of each one to his YouTube channel

The vlogger recently visited one of the top hotels at Disney World, the Riviera Resort, but he was left horrified by its 'cheap feeling,' lack of theming, and dark, tiny, and filthy room

He said it got him a 'stuffy and claustrophobic' room with a Murphy bed that he had to pull down from the wall and make himself

'Ever since Disney's Riviera Resort opened in 2019, I've never really seen it as the next big resort for Disney World, or the most luxurious one built on the property, which is what people often tout it as,' Jake began in his video. 'Today, I'm gonna try it out for myself... let's see if the resort lives up to the hype.'

Disney's Riviera Resort was opened in December 2019, and is located right next to the Caribbean Beach Resort.

Disney's Riviera Resort was opened in December 2019, and is located right next to the Caribbean Beach Resort

Its rooms range from a 'spacious villa' with three bedrooms, which can cost an upwards of $5,160 per night, to something called the 'Tower Studios,' which start at $423 a night and is what Jake booked.

He paid $541 for his one-night stay - and he was less than impressed with his accommodation.

The hotel room consisted of one living area with a couch, TV, desk, two storage ottomans and a few shelves, as well as a bathroom and private balcony.

The bed is built into the wall, which means you have to pull it down and set it up yourself when it's time to sleep.

Jake told his viewers as he entered the room: 'Upon first impressions, this is a very small room. At 220-square-feet it is probably one of, if not the smallest, hotel room I have ever stayed in.

'You might be asking yourself, "Where do you sleep?" Well, this room isn't big enough for a bed so it's hidden in the wall as a Murphy bed.

Its rooms range from a villa with three bedrooms, which can cost an upwards of $5,160 per night, to something called the 'Tower Studio,' which is what Jake booked (the floorplan is seen)

Jake claimed that not only was his 220-square-foot room so small that it couldn't fit an actual bed, but he also said the bars on the balcony outside the window made it feel like a 'Mickey-themed jail cell'

He also pointed out that the outlets didn't work - which left his phone nearly dead by morning - and slammed the lack of storage

'Because of this resort's price caliber, I figured the bed would at least be made for you during turndown service.

'But then I learned there is no turndown service here and guests staying in the room would be responsible for building their own bed.'

When it came time for him to make the bed, Jake was left disgusted when he moved the storage ottomans to the side and discovered 'a few clumps of dust and hair.'

'Not sure how this was missed during cleaning,' the repulsed YouTuber said.

He also slammed the minimal 'thin wool blanket' that was provided, despite 'Disney promo photos showing a bed with a full duvet set.'

In addition, he was upset by the extremely 'loud air conditioning unit' and the 'finicky' outlets.

He paid $541 for his one-night stay. The hotel room consisted of one living area with a couch, TV, desk, two storage ottomans, and a few shelves, as well as a bathroom and a private balcony

The bed is built into the wall, which means you have to pull it down and set it up yourself when it's time to sleep

When it came time for him to make the bed, Jake was left disgusted when he moved the storage ottomans to the side and discovered 'a few clumps of dust and hair'

'The plug had to be in the exact right position to deliver power. Neither of our phones were charged by morning,' he revealed. 'And the problems don't stop there.'

He described the room as too small and 'weirdly dark,' adding, 'Some travel agents and Disney affiliates may market it as a "cozy room." I like cozy and warm spaces but this was definitely not one of them.

'The lighting inside the room was weirdly dark - even with the relatively large windows during the day, the space feels stuffy and a bit claustrophobic, and at night, it's even worse.

He also slammed the minimal 'thin wool blanket' that was provided

'It doesn't help that the primary window for the room looks more like a jail cell themed like Mickey.

'The design of this room is weird right down to the way it's laid out, and the lack of usable storage here is also a bit of a problem.

'Typically, we're pretty clean people, in fact, I like to keep a hotel room looking as clean as possible while I'm staying in it.

'But here, there was just so little space to put our stuff, that it looked like a disaster zone.'

The one positive of the room, according to Jake, was the bathroom, which he described as 'surprisingly large for such a tiny room,' as well as the 'decent size' balcony, which boasted stunning views of a nearby lake.

'There are some upsides to this room that I actually liked. Mainly, the bathroom, which was surprisingly large for such a tiny room,' he dished.

'It doesn't help that the primary window for the room looks more like a jail cell themed like Mickey,' Jake scathed

The one positive of the room, according to Jake, was the bathroom (left), which he described as 'surprisingly large for such a tiny room,' as well as the 'decent size' balcony (right)

'The shower was particularly a standout with a large standing area and a rainfall showerhead, which felt luxurious,' he said

Jake pointed out that the room did come with some other nice features like a built in touch-screen device 'similar to Amazon's Alexa,' microwave, mini fridge, and toaster

'In fact, it feels like the bathroom comes close to matching the living space's square footage.

'The shower was particularly a standout with a large standing area and a rainfall showerhead, which felt luxurious.

'Almost as nice was the balcony, coming in at a decent size with a pretty okay view here on the fifth floor. But that's where the good ends.'

Jake pointed out that the room did come with some other nice features like a built in touch-screen device 'similar to Amazon's Alexa,' microwave, mini fridge, and toaster.

'But there's no outlets [near the counter] so I guess you'll be toasting your bagels on the floor,' he added

'But there's no outlets [near the counter] so I guess you'll be toasting your bagels on the floor,' he added.

'The whole space feels cumbersome and unintuitive on how it's actually supposed to be used.

'Sure, you can put your bed up every morning to increase your space, but how many people are actually doing that?

'It's extra work to assemble your own bed in a luxury hotel that you're paying an ungodly sum for. It's honestly pretty insane.'

When it came to its theming, which Disney is well-known for, Jake described the room as 'aggressively bland,' and said the rest of the hotel was just as bad.

Every Disney resort has its own theme, and this one supposedly 'takes its inspiration from Europe and the Mediterranean,' he explained.

When it came to theming, Jake described the hotel as 'lackluster,' explaining that it's supposed to 'takes its inspiration from Europe and the Mediterranean' but is 'like a big, gray box'

'The interiors aren't much better,' he said. 'It's gotta be one of the smaller lobbies and it's filled with generic looking modern furniture, it's just white walls and what appears to be fake marble'

When it came to its amenities, the resort has two pools - a 'large family one (left) with a slide and children's water play area' (right) and a 'quiet pool' for adults

But he called the Riviera 'lackluster,' and slammed it for not 'invoking the "wow" factor' like many other properties at the Happiest Place on Earth.

'The building itself is almost as bland as the Tower Studio we stayed in,' he said. 'From the exterior, it does have some nice touches but as a whole it looks very dull and kind of uninspiring.

'It's like a big, gray box. I think they went this route because it was easier, and cheaper to build, despite it being one of the most expensive resorts on property for the consumer.

'The interiors aren't much better. Disney hotels of the past have always presented a grand lobby with significant architectural details that draw you in to a unique atmosphere.

'But here, well, it's gotta be one of the smaller lobbies for a resort of this caliber. It's filled with rather generic looking modern furniture with an LED chandelier. While aesthetically nice, it's just white walls and what appears to be fake marble.'

When it came to its amenities, the resort has two pools - a 'large family one with a slide and children's water play area' and a 'quiet pool' for adults - a gym, bar, cafe, and restaurant, which he described as 'pretty standard for Disney resorts.'

'Other than that, this resort doesn't give you much else in public spaces to explore,' he said.

'The basics are there, but it doesn't offer much on top of that. There aren't the vast grounds or unique architecture to explore like other Disney properties.'

It also offers a gym, bar, cafe, and restaurant (pictured), which he described as 'pretty standard for Disney resorts'

He added that it also has a Skyliner station onsite - Disney's transportation system that can bring you right to Hollywood Studios or Epcot - which makes it convenient to get to the parks

In the end, however, Jake said the price for the resort was 'unfathomable' considering the size of the room and the amenities that it offered

While he didn't get to eat at the restaurant, which is called Topolino's Terrace, he said he has 'heard great things about it.'

He added that it also has a Skyliner station onsite - Disney's transportation system that can bring you right to Hollywood Studios or Epcot - which makes it extremely convenient for those going to the parks.

In the end, however, Jake said the price for the resort was 'unfathomable' considering the size of the room and the amenities that it offered.

'The resort is a little cheap feeling and definitely not on the same caliber as other Disney hotels,' he concluded.

'It is truly unfathomable how this product is priced. Our room sucked. It's $540 for a room that has a bed that you need to pull down and build yourself.

'It's $540 for a room with less space than one at Disney's value resorts built 30 years ago.

'Disney skimped out on making this an actual luxury experience, it fails to deliver when stacked up against any of its competition on or off property.

'All of Disney's other resorts offer more room, a better resort, and all cost less. I have no idea why anyone would want to spend their money on this room or lackluster resort.

'$500+ here a night is an abomination. Our room for $540 a night felt like a complete joke. It felt like we were staying in the world's most expensive dorm room. No one should pay that price for this room.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Disney for comment.
A mother has issued a warning parents after she noticed a surprising quirk on her teenage daughter's hoodie.

An unnamed British mother who goes by @resolutera on TikTok recently posted a clip to her account detailing her horror to her 37,000 followers - but people think she's overreacting.

She started the nine-second video pointing at a grey camo print hoodie which her caption explained she had bought an entire 11 months ago.

The mother said: 'PSA for the Christmas shopping parents, I bought this for my daughter last year, I thought these were fairies'.

Pointing to the silver zippers, the mortified mother explained that she'd got it totally wrong, saying: 'Uh, uh, [they're] strippers. And on deeper inspection, the whole pattern is strippers!'

One British mother was shocked to see the silver detailing on her 11-year-old daughter's hoodie was of a stripper, although some TikTok users have contested these claims

One commenter reassured her that design wasn't clear at first glance, saying: 'To be fair, looks like camo', and another reminded her of popular Italian sportswear brand Kappa and its similar designs.

Another chimed in to say everyone has been there in their younger days.

'Like when we were teens walking around with Playboy clothes not knowing what it stood for,' the wrote.

And another admitted she was slow to notice the provocative detailing, saying: 'Damn so did I! My daughter has been walking around in it for a year'.

However, although some users admitted it took them time to notice the pattern, many didn't take issue with the clothing and insisted the silhouette of a woman's body wasn't shameful.

One user asked the TikToker: 'Why do you assume they are dancers? What's wrong with being a dancer? It's just silhouettes of women'.

However, the parent hit back and clarified that she herself had dabbled in pole fitness - but that she didn't feel it was appropriate for her daughter aged 11.

Another user added: 'I don't see them as strippers, just women celebrating their bodies. And even if they were, it's a legit job'.

And one user explained: 'It's not meant to be sexual, it's just the print. Named Collective is the brand, not all their hoodies have this design'.

The Named Collective unrealistic ideals hoodie in snow camo retails for an eye-watering 80 - and just looks like a normal hoodie until you check the zip

TikTok users slammed the content creator, who later hit back by explaining she used to do pole fitness

A different user said: 'It's literally just a silhouette of a woman, it's not that deep'.

A pole dancer in the comments expressed her adoration for the item of clothing, saying: 'I want this, I need this'.

The content creator replied recommending the purchase, saying: 'I used to do pole fitness [and] had the best time! You should definitely get one'.

The hoodie is listed on the Named Collective's website as the Unrealistic Ideals hoodie in snow camo, retailing for 80.
A 'dream proposal' has been branded 'embarrassing' online after a man dropped to one knee on the dancefloor of Popworld nightclub at 1am.

Jess Williams and her colleague Dan Ormrod had been together for two years when the the smitten 22-year-old got down on one knee at the Liverpool brand of the cheesy nighclub chain - once voted the worst in the UK.

But 21-year-old Jess claims that her decision to share the video online last Sunday turned their dream location into a 'hate scene' as people mercilessly mocked her new fiance's choice of time and location.

The clip shows the loved-up pair dancing to 'their song' - Taylor's Swift's Love Story - while surrounded by friends and fellow clubbers at Popworld in Liverpool.

Dan drops to one knee in time with the pop star's lyric 'fell to the ground and pulls out a ring' then asks Jess to marry him while the crowd cheers.

McDonald's workers Dan Ormrod, 22, and Jess Williams, 21, got engaged at Popworld nightclub in Liverpool

Dan got down on one knee and proposed to Jess on the dancefloor of the club , surrounded by friends and fellow clubbers

An unknown bride-to-be at a hen party even puts a veil on Jess's head as she stands stunned with her hands covering her mouth before finally nodding to say yes.

The video captioned 'the best night of my life' has been seen more than 300,000 times but some have branded it 'embarrassing' because of the setting.

Located up and down the country in cities including London, Leeds and Birmingham, Popworld nightclubs were once voted the worst in the UK in a national student survey.

Today the clubs have a reputation for cheesy music, extremely drunken revellers and sticky floors.

One person even claimed they'd 'run away and never look back' while another joked Dan had 'probably got stuck to the floor' while kneeling.

Jess has hit back claiming the proposal was the 'perfect moment' and revealed the pair's first night out was in Popworld and she'd even told him she'd love him to propose there.

The self-confessed 'lightweight' had been on a pub crawl with Dan and friends from 5pm and had to go home shortly after the moment as she was 'overwhelmed'.

Popworld even commented on the video, shot by a fellow clubber in July, to offer the pair free entry to the club.

Jess, from Bootle, Merseyside, said: 'It was my dream moment and it's not like he's done it out of nowhere.

'When we'd speak about him proposing I actually said I'd love it if he proposed in Popworld because it's our place and he actually did.

At the moment that Dan proposed, an unknown bride-to-be who was celebrating her hen party at Popworld placed a veil on Jess's head

Jess was stunned by Dan's proposal, covering her mouth with her hands before nodding to say yes

Jess says Dan had been showing her friends the engagement ring all evening so they knew he'd be popping the question

'I put it up because it's a special moment in my life and I wanted to share it.

'I just wanted Popworld to notice it but I didn't want the whole world to notice it.

'Someone reposted it and her video has become a hate scene for my engagement.

'People were questioning why it was in Popworld and saying the floor's sticky but isn't that every nightclub when you go out?

'It upset me a little bit so I turned off the comments because I didn't want negativity around it.

'I think people commented because they don't understand the meaning and they think Dan did it for the fun of it.

'Love Story has been our song since before we were even together and we'd scream it in the car.

'When I turned 18 Popworld was the first place that he took me for a night out. So it was our first night out together.

The loved-up couple, who met at McDonald's two years ago, are yet to set a date for their big day

'People can have their own opinion of Popworld but I love the music in there and it's the perfect place for me. The only people it matters to is us.'

Jess says Dan, who is from Walton, Merseyside, had been showing her friends the engagement ring all evening so they knew he'd be popping the question.

She says it was a friend's birthday night out but Dan had asked if it was alright to steal the limelight.

Jess said: 'I had no idea it was going to happen. Everyone had their phone so I just thought it would be a cute video. I was drunk as well so I wasn't thinking.

'It took me ages to say yes because I had to realise this was actually happening.

'On the video you can see me looking around and I didn't mind people looking at me.

'I went outside and called my family and took it in. I tried to dance but I couldn't because I was too happy and we ended up going home because I was so overwhelmed by the moment.

'Within half an hour we were going home so I could process what had just happened.'

Jess gave birth to the couple's first child, Archie Ormrod, aged one, last year

The couple received hurtful comments about Dan's choice of location for the proposal when the video was posted online

The pair, who met at McDonalds and had Archie Ormrod, one, last year are yet to set a date for their big day.

After sharing the video online, Jess was inundated with commenters mocking their chosen location.

One commented: 'He probably got stuck to the floor when he got on one knee.'

Another added: 'Probably knelt down in a mix of sick and someone's spilled vodka cranberry.'

A third said: 'I'd make him ask again somewhere nicer.'

Jess replied: 'It was actually what I really wanted and had a lot of meaning behind it. people who don't know us wouldn't understand.'

A fourth simply added: 'Embarrassing.'

However not everyone agreed and some thought it was romantic.

One said: 'This makes me cry. I'm so happy for you both.

Another said: 'We were the girls who gave you the veil haha. Congrats xx'

Popworld have been contacted for comment.
She became a world leader aged just 34.

So it's no wonder Sanna Marin is celebrating some much needed downtime.

The former Finnish Prime Minister, who has traded in parliament and diplomatic chats for partying and rubbing shoulders with celebs, has shared snaps from her recent travels.

Pictures show the former politician, now 38, enjoying a dip in the sea, as well as relaxing on a balcony and sipping on coffee.

A carousel of pictures shared to Instagram also features '38' balloons in a luxurious hotel bath tub indicating her recent birthday.

Former Finnish Prime Minster Sanna Marin has shared snaps from her recent travels, including relaxing on a European beach

Sanna also appeared to have visited Notre Dame with Finnish MP Ilmari Nurminen (left), a fellow Social Democratic Party MP who has been described by Marin as her 'bestie, and dentist friend Aapo Hettula (right)

Sanna also appeared to have visited Notre Dame with Finnish MP Ilmari Nurminen, a fellow Social Democratic Party MP who has been described by Marin as her 'bestie, and dentist friend Aapo Hettula.

Other snaps show her enjoying a drink in a wine bar, a posing with her former chief of staff Tuulia Pitkanen.

Sanna, who was known as the 'party Prime Minster' for going out and enjoying herself while in office has been enjoying a single girl summer after losing the Finnish general election and divorcing her husband.

Over the summer, she headed to Flow - a music festival in Helsinki.

Appearing much more like a typically 30-something than a former world leader, the 'rock star' politician opted for chunky heels with a mini skirt and bralette in a series of photos she shared to Instagram.

One outfit simply isn't enough for Sanna. On another occasion, she flaunted a festival chic look in a sheer black dress and reflective sunglasses.

The former Prime Minister, who was just 34 when she took office in 2019, really let down her hair down in - what she calls a - 'proper summer vacation for the first time in a while'.

And it seems that she is continuing her fun, as she recently headed to LA where she met list A-lister Sharon Stone among others in the Beverley Hills set.

Sanna is working as a strategic counsellor for Tony Blair's institute and is regularly rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty.

Sanna, who was known as the 'party Prime Minster' for going out and enjoying herself while in office has been enjoying a single girl summer, she is pictured in a wine bar

Sanna takes a selfie with former chief of staff Tuulia Pitkanen

One snap shows '38' balloons in the bath, showing her recent birthday celebrations

While in Los Angeles she joined the Basic Instinct actress, 65, for a lunch at the Finnish Consulate. Sharon invited for her was activism work.

It appears the pair became fast friends after discussing democracy, human rights, and equal opportunities over lunch.

Sanna shared a snap of the unlikely pair, Sharon gushed: 'You are so cool so smart and so beautiful. That must be too tough for the men to cope with,'.

Sharon may be referencing Sanna's recent divorce. She split amicably with husband of three years, Markus Raikkonen in May.

While in Southern California, Sanna also shared snaps from the Beverly Hills Hotel - an exclusive A-list hangout. She also chatted to students at UCLA.

The trip may be the latest hint the former party girl is ditching dancing and diplomacy for directing.

In another picture, Sanna took a selfie in the mirror while enjoying a hot drink of the balcony

The former party PM also shared a selfie with glamorous make-up on

Hints she has aspirations on the silver screen were first seen in September, when Variety reported hat the ex-politician had signed with talent management firm Range Media Partners, who have worked with the likes of Keira Knightley, Tom Hardy and Bradley Cooper.

The outlet also revealed that in June, HBO had released a docuseries about Sanna's challenges as a woman in the political space.

'Thank you LA and see you next time!' she wrote in a caption of an Instagram post hinting at her return stateside.

Sanna - who lost the Finnish general election and divorced her husband - had been enjoying a fun-filled single girl summer where she ditched blazers and suits for chunky heels and mini skirts.

But it now seems the raver outfits have been switched again for cocktail dresses and casual luxury.

Last month, she headed to Paris Fashion Week, where she took a prime seat at Victoria Beckham's show - in one of VB's dresses of course.

She shared a series of glamorous selfies from behind-the-scenes of the A-list event attended by Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Pamela Anderson, David Beckham, and Eva Longoria.

With a bright red lipstick and trendy 1024 Victoria Beckham draped mini sleeve dress, Sanna appeared more like an influencer than a politician.

She also shared pictures and videos behind the scenes at the show (to her one million followers), including various details of sleek black outfits - including one suit that she paired with trainers because she 'loves walking'.

The new fray into glamorous living comes at the end of a long year for Sanna, who was at one point the youngest leader of a nation, having taken high office at just 34 years old in 2019.

She stepped down from her role as chair of the centre-left Social Democrats party earlier this year, after her party narrowly lost an election in April.

Last month she headed to Paris Fashion Week, where she took a prime seat at Victoria Beckham 's show

She shared a series of glamorous selfies from behind-the-scenes of the A-list event attended by Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Pamela Anderson, David Beckham, and Eva Longoria. Pictured with Anna Wintour

She also shared pictures and videos behind the scenes at the show, including various details of sleek black outfits - including one suit that she paired with trainers because she 'loves walking'

The new fray into glamorous living comes at the end of a long year for Sanna, who was at one point the youngest leader of a nation, having taken high office at just 34 years old in 2019. Pictured posting from Paris Fashion Week

She has since joined Tony Blair's Institute for Global Change, a London-based policy think-tank, as a 'Strategic Counsellor'.

The pair, who have a five-year-old daughter together, said in a statement at the time: 'We are grateful for the 19 years together and our beloved daughter. We will remain best friends.'

After her tumultuous spring, she took some time to enjoy herself, and was spotted at Flow, a music festival in Helsinki, in August. She was joined by a group of friends, including fellow MP Nasima Razmyar.

In another post, she explained how it's her first holiday 'in a while'. 'This summer I've had a proper summer vacation for the first time in a while,' she wrote.

'It has included, among other things, being busy with [her five-year-old daughter] Emma, sports, friends, good food and unforgettable trips.

'Have a lovely summer everyone. And thank you to those who are working in the summer and taking care of us!'.

Sanna - who lost the Finnish general election and divorced her husband - had also been enjoying a fun-filled single girl summer and ditched blazers and suits for chunky heels and mini skirts

After her tumultuous spring, she took some time to enjoy herself, and was spotted at Flow, a music festival in Helsinki, in August

Sanna became the youngest world leader and the Scandinavian country's third female prime minister

After leading her country through COVID-19 lockdowns and the ensuing economic turmoil, Marin became a vocal supporter of Ukraine after Russia's invasion last year and successfully pushed to end Finland's military non-alignment in favour of NATO membership.

While many called her a millennial inspiration who encouraged younger people to be less apathetic towards politics, she was still a controversial figure in Finland.

Finnish voters concerned with issues like immigration and a growing public deficit in April handed Marin a narrow defeat to the right wing National Coalition and the far-right Finns party, triggering the government's fall.

She weathered several publicity storms while in office, including over her nightclubbing during the pandemic, hosting private parties at her official residence and voluntarily taking a drug test - which returned negative - after a party video was leaked to the media.

Scores of complaints were filed to Finland's chancellor of justice, Tuomas Poysti, after Sanna was shown dancing and partying with friends and celebrities, which made headlines around the world.

She weathered several publicity storms while in office, including over her nightclubbing during the pandemic, hosting private parties at her official residence and voluntarily taking a drug test

At the time of the scandal, Marin said she spent 'an evening with friends' and that the videos were 'filmed in private premises'

But the chancellor, an independent office responsible for overseeing the legality of government activities and to which any citizen can lodge complaints, concluded that Sanna had not neglected her duties as prime minister.

Poysti said that there was 'no reason to suspect the prime minister of unlawful conduct in the performance of her duties or of neglect of her official duties'.

At the time of the scandal, Marin said she spent 'an evening with friends' and that the videos were 'filmed in private premises'. 'I am human. And I too sometimes long for joy, light and fun amidst these dark clouds,' she said.

Complaints to the chancellor alleged that Marin was unfit to work 'due to alcohol consumption', claimed her behaviour was inappropriate for a prime minister and that she undermined Finland's 'reputation and security'.

But the chancellor said the complaints failed to establish that Marin had omitted or jeopardised a 'specific official duty'.

Assessing the 'moral and social' dimension of a prime minister's leisure activities is 'a matter for parliament,' the chancellor said, adding that: 'Political accountability is also weighed periodically in democratic elections'.

In August, Marin took a drug test, which was negative, to clear up any suspicion voiced by some that comments heard on the video referred to narcotics - something heavily debated on social media and strongly denied by the prime minister.

Complaints to the chancellor alleged that Marin was unfit to work 'due to alcohol consumption', claimed her behaviour was inappropriate for a prime minister

The backlash over the incident led to several prominent female political figures around the world showing their support for her.

In August former secretary of state Hillary Clinton tweeted: 'As Ann Richards said, "Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels." Here's me in Cartagena while I was there for a meeting as Secretary of State. Keep dancing, @marinsanna'.

Sanna was also heavily criticised after she was spotted at a nightclub in the small hours of the morning, shortly after she had made contact with her health minister who had just tested positive for COVID-19.

In August last year, the politician was once again thrown into controversy after influencer Sabina Sarkka had to apologise for a taking a topless kissing photo with another model at the bathroom of the premier's official residence, Helsinki Times reports.

That same month, according to the outlet, she and Sabina were also filmed dancing seductively with one another in a night club.
Christmas has arrived at Windsor Castle where the Royal family have unveiled lavish decorations.

The Berkshire royal residence has been transformed with 20ft Christmas tree in St George's hall, festive garlands and twinkling lights.

This year also marks the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter on top of the Christmas tree.

And the celebratory atmosphere can also be felt in the Waterloo Chamber, where a huge dining table is decorated with statement pieces, including trays of golden pears and fruits.

However, it will tough for the family to start getting into the Christmas spirit amid an ongoing race row following the release of Omid Scobie's book Endgame this week.

Christmas has come early at Windsor Castle this year as the royal family have shared pictures of the lavish decorations

The Berkshire royal residence has been transformed with 20ft Christmas tree, festive garlands and twinkling lights

The author doubled down to defend his work on UK TV today and refused to take the blame for the racism scandal over the naming of two royals in the Dutch translation, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

The Sussexes' favoured royal reporter has squarely blamed the publisher in the Netherlands - and denied it was part of a money-spinning 'stunt' to shift more copies globally.

In an interview with ITV's This Morning, which started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece', Omid offered no mea culpa or apology for the error and when asked if he was upset he said: 'I am obviously frustrated. I wouldn't say I am upset about it'.

And the celebratory atmosphere can also be felt in the Waterloo Chamber, where a huge dining table is decorated with statement pieces, including trays of golden pears and fruits

The huge festive fir, adorned with red and golden baubles and tinsel, stands tall and proud in St. George's Hall

This year also marks the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter on top of the Christmas tree

Mr Scobie also offered no explanation as to how the version of Endgame being pulped in the Netherlands ended up pointing the finger at two members of the Royal Family now accused of asking about the colour of Archie's skin before he was born.

Asked if the Dutch farrago was a 'stunt to sell books' in the face of poor reviews, he said: 'I wish it was the case' and that 'an investigation is underway'.

'I had never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version', he said. 'I wrote and edited the English version of the book with one publisher. That then gets licensed to other publishers. I can't speak Italian, German, French, Dutch or any of the other languages that it's come out in'.

Mr Scobie's appearance on the This Morning sofa with Craig Doyle and Alison Hammond began with an immediate denial that he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece', 'her cheerleader' or just 'some mouthy fan'. He claimed he had been treated 'unfairly' and these pro-Sussex monikers are all part of 'a character assassination'.

Ornate candle stands are also situated next to the china and glassware, and a small Christmas tree also graces the centre

A huge, ornate, Christmas tree towers over St George's Hall in Windsor Castle today as the festive spirit kicks in

Pictured: Royal Collection Trust staff adding the finishing touches to a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle

In order to hammer home his point he said: 'I have very little interest in what they [the Sussexes] are doing in California. Harry and Meghan are irrelevant to the future of the Royal Family'.

But he admitted he had been 'sympathetic', claiming he had witnessed unfair treatment of the Duchess of Sussex when she was a working royal 'so I did go on television and talk about the racism she faced'.

Denying that he was 'Meghan's mouthpiece', he said: 'I'm not their friend. I have never sat down privately with Meghan for an interview, exchanged information with Meghan. I am not in their private world'.

He also said that he and Endgame had been unfairly criticised. He said: 'I knew this book would be controversial, whether it's about race or the Palace's relationship with the press. I never expected it to be presented fairly.' He said: 'There have been unfair attacks on me'.

He said that he believed that he has been victimised because he was saying 'loudly from the start' that Meghan suffered racism. He added that because he is mixed race he has a different perspective on the racism she had  but insisted that he not just some 'mouthy fan'.

Mr Scobie was asked how the names had appeared in the Dutch version now pulled from the shelves. Piers Morgan said them on live TV last night.

He said: 'It's still being investigated now. I wrote and edited the English version of the book with one publisher. That then gets licensed to other publishers. I obviously can't speak Italian, German, French, Dutch or any of the other languages that come out.

The family's festive celebrations are likely to have been marred by a race row following the release of Omid Scobie's book Endgame this week

The author doubled down to defend his work on UK TV today and refused to take the blame for the racism scandal over the naming of two royals in the Dutch translation, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'

'I'm as frustrated as anyone else. I make it very clear in this book that I in every way possible want to adhere to the laws surrounding this subject. It's why I've been very careful in how it's described in the book and it's why I've never spoken about it beyond what I've said in the public domain before.

'The reality is though is that this is information that is not privy just to me. Journalists across Fleet Street have known those names for a long time. We've all followed a certain code of conduct when it comes to talking about it. It's frustrating that now what's going on in the Netherlands with the book that was obviously immediately rescinded and is now being reprinted has happened, and I'm glad to hear so. But for me I can only talk about the English version of the book that I wrote and produced.'

Scobie told ITV's This Morning that coverage of Meghan Markle was often 'steeped in xenophobia, misogyny and prejudice'.

He said: 'I do think when Meghan was a working member of the royal family she was massively mispresented in a lot of the coverage. A lot of it was steeped in xenophobia, misogyny and prejudice, and I've always said that very loudly from the start.

'It's the thing that has made me a target for many people in terms of someone who is just seen as like some mouthy fan of her rather than perhaps OK, I'm a mixed race member of the press pack and I've got something different to say about it.'

Omid said he had never used the 'racist' word in relation to the comments over Archie's skin colour, adding that it was described as 'unconscious bias'.
ueen Maxima, 52, was dressed for the winter sunshine in a colourful ensemble

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands displayed her style credentials once again on Thursday as she attended a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.

The smiling Dutch royal, 52, was dressed for the winter sunshine in a tailored pink dress and a knee-length brocade jacket.

Cinched at the waist with a slim suede belt, the dress looked stylish and sophisticated, showing off Maxima's slender figure.

Meanwhile, the jacket, by Belgian designer Natan Couture, was embroidered in blue, gold, pink and silver, and was complemented by Maxima's jewelled earrings featuring a combination of more than six coloured stones.

The mother-of-three, who hails from Buenos Aires, wore brown suede court shoes and carried a matching clutch bag.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore a tailored pink dress and a brocade jacket to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague on Thursday

The Dutch royal, 52, injected a new lease of life into an outfit that she was first pictured in eight years ago in Paris

Radiant as ever, Maxima was seen laughing as she walked in the sunshine with an associate in The Hague

Holding a notepad in her right hand, she looked ready for business as she attended the meeting of the National Coalition for Financial Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.

The coalition brings together a number of businesses that are committed to improving the financial health of their employees.

With her blond hair loose, Maxima injected a new lease of life into an outfit that she was first pictured in eight years ago when visiting Paris in 2015.

Earlier this week Maxima was again in Paris, joining French first lady Brigitte Macron at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs.

There, the Dutch royal turned heads in a striking gown by Iris van Herpen as she prepared to open an exhibition by the Dutch designer.

The floor-length frock featured a high neck and cape, plus embroidery and a shimmering full skirt, ensuring all eyes were on the Argentine-born royal as she stepped onto the red carpet.

Maxima wore her blonde locks in a neatly-pinned but relaxed updo and opted for statement earrings with her glamorous dress.

At one point struggling to contain her laughter, Maxima was in excellent spirits on Thursday

The mother-of-three offset her colourful ensemble with brown suede court shoes and a matching clutch bag

Maxima made a speech at the National Coalition for Financial Health at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague

Bringing together a number of businesses that are committed to improving the financial health of their employees, the coalition is one of a number of causes that Maxima has thrown her weight behind

Meanwhile Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte, 70, channelled her signature Parisian chic style in a white coat and black heels.

The event, in the French capital, saw both women step out without their partners, as neither King Willem-Alexander nor Emmanuel Macron were present at the event.

The Dutch Queen's appearance was to mark the opening of the Sculpting the Senses exhibition at the museum, by Iris van Herpen.

As she stepped out of the car to greet the French first lady, Brigitte seemed to gesture towards Maxima's jaw-dropping gown in acknowledgment of her style prowess.
Kate Middleton and Prince William's red carpet appearance at the Royal Variety Performance amid a week of turmoil for The Firm was 'emotionally revealing', according to a body language expert.

UK-based Judi James told FEMAIL the Prince of Wales's 'steering hand' as he and the Princess arrived hand-in-hand at the Royal Albert Hall this evening appeared to be gratefully accepted by his wife, who seemed 'vulnerable'.

The 41-year-old royal couple's appearance at the event comes after The Firm was plunged back into a race row reignited by Omid Scobie's book Endgame, which was published this week.

Referring to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's claims in 2021 that members of the royal family had allegedly expressed 'concerns' over the colour of Prince Archie's skin before he was born, Scobie suggested there were two members of the family who had engaged in such discussions.

Initially Scobie did not name the two people alleged to have made the comments - but shortly after Endgame was published in the Netherlands, the Dutch version was pulled from shelves and pulped after it named the two royals alleged to have raised concerns.

The Prince of Wales offered a 'romantic gesture of support' to his wife Kate this evening as the couple arrived at the Royal Variety Performance, a body language expert has claimed

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world tonight, including the Guardian and The Times, as King Charles and Kate.

Amid the fallout from the controversy, about which the Palace is said to be 'considering all options', the Prince and Princess of Wales put on a brave face as they attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington.

Dressed in a stunning 1,745 teal gown from Safiyaa, with flared sleeves, statement shoulders and a diamante high neck, the Princess beamed as she arrived at the event with William.

However, according to Ms James, the couple's red carpet appearance showed signs that the Prince of Wales is acting as a support for his wife.

Judi pointed to Prince William's 'steering hand' as he 'presents his beautiful wife to the world' as they arrive on the red carpet

The body language expert noted Kate appeared 'slightly vulnerable' upon arrival, but she soon relaxed in William's presence

She said: 'Williams gestures here look deliberate as he presents his beautiful wife to the world on the red carpet.

'He uses a steering hand but he also extends his arm and hand in a romantic gesture of support which she accepts, throwing him a grateful-looking smile as she does so.

'This is not their usual A-list red carpet cosplay. Following the insults and rumours from Scobies book the couple seem to have taken a regal approach that is also very human and more emotionally revealing in terms of their shared love than ever before.

'As a body language statement it appears to nail all the negative comments, from the suggestion of being dull to the Stepford wife quote.

'Kate does look slightly vulnerable here, with less of a statuesque posture than normal for her red carpet appearances but her smile becomes warm as she connects with William with more shared eye contact than usual.'

As the royal family reels over the claims made in the Dutch version of Endgame, it remains unclear how the royal names made their way into the book.

Today, Scobie appeared on ITV's This Morning where he insisted the English version of the book did not contain the names when it was sent to the translator.

However, Saskia Peeters, who translated the book from English to Dutch, told MailOnline ealrier today: 'As a translator, I translate what is in front of me.

'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them.

'I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch.'

When told the book's author Scobie had denied the names were in his manuscript Mrs Peters said: 'I don't know why he would say that.

'I have been translating for many years. This is the first time anything like this has happened.

'This is not something I wanted to be involved in. This has been upsetting. I do not want to talk about it much more.'
Australians who have moved overseas have named the number one pantry item they struggle going without.

Rather than the beloved Vegemite or Tim Tams, Aussies abroad miss hot chips covered in a generous amount of chicken salt.

Caitlin, from Melbourne, returned Down Under earlier this month and packed a 200g canister of Mitani chicken salt into her luggage before flying back to London.

But when she landed she was questioned by officials at the airport.

'Got asked to open my bag at Luton because of a suspicious substance. It was just my chicken salt,' she wrote.

Most Australians who live overseas have admitted they miss chicken salt. Caitlin packed a 200g canister of Mitani chicken salt into her luggage before flying back to London. But when she landed she was questioned by officials at the airport

Many agreed they desperately miss the taste of chicken salt and wish it was readily available outside Australia.

Others laughed with one person commenting: 'How to tell you're Australian without telling you're Australian.'

'Class A right there,' another said, a third dubbed it 'brilliant'.

'And the best chicken salt there is!' another claimed.

Others shared their own struggles trying to get their hands on chicken salt.

'I had mine confiscated at Sydney Airport on the way to London,' one said.

'I have come to learned that no where sells chicken salt like wtf,' someone else wrote.

Chicken salt is largely only found in Australia and hardly anywhere else in the world. It was also invented in the 70s in Gawler, South Australia.

Chicken salt is largely only found in Australia and hardly anywhere else in the world. It was also invented in the 70s in Gawler, South Australia (stock image)

It comes after another Aussie revealed the long list of activities and foods she's excited to be reunited with after a year of travelling through Europe.

Lauren, from Sydney, travelled around various 'dream' places like England, Greece, Italy, and more during her year abroad.

But the traveller's mind kept coming back to home and all the things she'd been missing since she left.

Her list included Red Rock Deli chips, high-quality Australian coffee, spending time at the fresh fruit and vegetables section at Coles, walking through the aisles at Kmart, and eating chicken salt.

She also missed iconic Aussie Tim Tams and Bunnings snags - and swore to visit her nearest location for a sausage sizzle as soon as she touched down.
An Australian stay-at-home mum has caused a stir by saying she is teaching her young daughter to 'serve' her family and 'depend' on her future husband.

Jasmine Dinis is a self described 'traditional wife' who is raising her daughter to want the same instead of getting a university education or career of her own.

Many were quick to criticise Jasmine's old-fashioned parenting style and pointed out while there is nothing wrong with being a stay-at-home mum, the notion of a woman 'serving' her husband could be 'anti-feminist'.

'I'm teaching my daughter that it's perfectly acceptable to depend on a man and that serving her husband and bearing children will be her greatest joy,' the mum-of-one wrote in an online video.

Jasmine has more than 145,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram as she posts snippets of her life 'encouraging traditional motherhood and marriage'.

Scroll down for video

Jasmine Dinis is a self described 'traditional wife' who is raising her daughter to want the same instead of getting a university education or career of her own

'In a world full of women teaching their children that their only goal is to go to university, get a good job and make money, I'm teaching my little girl to live a slow life, to be a biblical women that wants a husband and a beautiful family that she can serve daily,' she captioned the video.

'That joy comes from God and family, not from a career.'

The controversial video was seen more than 3.4million times with viewers quick to slam Jasmine for 'deciding' her daughter's future.

'I hope you will support her in other career options if she expresses she doesn't want what you wanted,' one woman said.

'Ah yes. What could go wrong here???' asked another.

Jasmine has more than 145,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram as she posts snippets of her life 'encouraging traditional motherhood and marriage'

@jasminedinis2 In a world full of women teaching their children that their only goal is to go to university, get a good job and make money, Im teaching my little girl to live a slow life, to be a biblical women that wants a husband & a beautiful family that she can serve daily. That joy comes from God & family, not from a career  #homesteading #tradwife #motherhood #foryoupage #stayathomemom #conservative  original sound - Jasmine Dinis

'You don't know what her biggest joy will be. Let her decide on her own,' a third wrote.

'Girls - don't depend on anyone else but YOU! You are your own rock, your own foundation, your own future,' added a fourth.

But not everyone was outraged by Jasmine's sentiment.

'This is absolutely beautiful,' one woman said.

'You're an incredible mother and living this way is fulfilling in the deepest level,' a second agreed.

'She's teaching her daughter there is still empowerment in creating a home. If it doesn't apply to you that's fine,' another replied.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned a cryptocurrency mixer for serving as a "key money-laundering tool" of a North Korea-linked hacking group, in the latest effort to prevent Pyongyang's cyber activities meant to fund its weapons programs.

The department added Sinbad.io, a virtual currency mixer used by Lazarus Group, to its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)'s sanctions list. It described the group  already sanctioned in 2019  as a "state-sponsored cyber hacking group" of the North.

The designation came after Pyongyang launched a space rocket last week to put a military reconnaissance satellite into orbit. Seoul and Washington view the launch as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.

"Mixing services that enable criminal actors, such as the Lazarus Group, to launder stolen assets will face serious consequences," Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo was quoted as saying in a press release.

"The Treasury Department and its U.S. government partners stand ready to deploy all tools at their disposal to prevent virtual currency mixers, like Sinbad, from facilitating illicit activities," he added.

The department said that Sinbad has processed millions of dollars' worth of virtual currency from Lazarus Group heists.

The mixer is also used by cybercriminals to obfuscate transactions linked to malign activities such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking and additional illicit sales on darknet marketplaces, the department said.

Seoul and Washington have stepped up efforts to stop the North's cryptocurrency theft and other cybercrimes as they can be used to help bankroll its weapons programs.

"The Lazarus Group has operated for more than ten years and is believed to have stolen over $2 billion worth of digital assets across multiple thefts," the department said.

"Due to the pressure of robust U.S. and U.N. sanctions, the DPRK has resorted to using illicit tactics, such as heists perpetrated by the Lazarus Group, to generate revenue for its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," it added. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In its recent report, the U.N. Panel of Experts on UNSC sanctions against the North said that Sinbad had laundered close to $100 million in Bitcoin from hacks attributed to the Lazarus Group. The report cited an analysis by Blockchain research company Elliptic.

Citing an estimate from another firm, Chainanalysis, the panel also said that the North's state-sponsored hackers were responsible for cryptocurrency theft worth nearly $1.7 billion last year.

Accusing Iran of generating revenue to fund its "destabilizing" regional activities and support multiple proxy groups, including the Hamas militant group, the Treasury Department sanctioned more than 20 individuals and entities.

"The United States remains committed to exposing elements of the Iranian military and its complicit partners abroad to disrupt this critical source of funds," Treasury's Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said. (Yonhap)
READ MORE: Coles respond after being slammed over Christmas gift

December first is not the best day to put your Christmas tree up, according to experts, who say people should hold off on decorating for the festive season.

According to the Experts at Christmas Tree World traditional advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas - which means the perfect date can vary from November 27 to December 3.

This year it falls on December 3 - which means that is the perfect day to kick off celebrations.

According to Christian rules there's also a perfect day to pull down your decorations - the twelfth day of Christmas.

December first is not the best day to put your Christmas tree up, according to experts, who say people should hold off on decorating for the festive season

And while this sounds simple it isn't as clear cut as there are arguments about when the twelve days of Christmas begin.

But as long as you take it down around the fifth or sixth of January you are in the clear.

The Christmas tree experts noted many people choose to ignore the religious tie-ins and put their trees up on December 1 every year.

'Many households like to set up their tree and other festive decorations on the first day of the month to mark the start of the official countdown to the big day,' they said.

Some Australians go even earlier - with South Australians popping their trees up after the annual Christmas pageant - which happens in early November.

Others say they leave their trees for 'the first weekend in December'.

While some 'put it up following advent, on Christmas Eve'.

They also revealed which countries are 'the biggest believers' in Santa - and it turns out Australia is second on the list.

According to Google search data the Land Down Under is second to Ireland when it comes to asking questions about the man in red.

There were over 500 searches per 100,000 people, making Australia the Christmas capital of the southern hemisphere.

'It is lucky that Aussies believe in Santas magic, as it would take him 34 hours to fly from near the North Pole to Sydney commercially,' they said.
READ MORE: Ditch Noosa for this hidden beach with clearest water in Australia

It is just north of Byron Bay with stunning beaches

A little-known coastal town sitting in between two of Australia's most popular travel destinations has been hailed as a new must-visit hidden gem.

The word is starting to get out among travellers about Bogangar which is in between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay in New South Wales' Tweed Shire.

The quiet beachside haven is home to a number of award-winning restaurants, hip cafes, and boutique accommodations offering visitors a relaxing stay away from hoards of tourists.

Cabarita Beach lines the coast along Bogangar and was named the best beach in the country by Tourism Australia in 2020 for its stretching white sands and vibrant waters.

Beach-goers can relax on the stunning enclave peppered with rocks and trees while taking in the unmatched scenery and watching surfers catch a wave.

The little-known coastal town of Bogangar is making its way onto many Aussie travellers' must-visit list for its award-winning culinary scene, luxury stays and incredible beaches

The word is starting to get out among travellers about Bogangar which is in between the Gold Coast and Byron Bay in New South Wales ' Tweed Shire

Cabarita Beach lines the coast along Bogangar and was named the best beach in the country by Tourism Australia in 2020 for its stretching white sands and vibrant waters

Further inland, visitors have their pick of incredible stays including the unique Triangle House, a 'magical' 1970s A-frame said to be 'like something out of a fairy tale'.

Down the road is Halcyon House, a lavish retro-meets-modern hotel that has won a litany of awards since it opened in 2015.

Halcyon House's on-site restaurant is the one-hatted Paper Daisy offering diners a gourmet menu and sparkling ocean views.

Those after a more relaxed vibe will love Bogangar's thriving cafe scene while the local Surf Life Saving club is the perfect place for a classic pub lunch by the sea.

Halcyon House is a lavish retro-meets-modern hotel that has won a litany of awards. Its on-site restaurant is the one-hatted Paper Daisy offering diners a gourmet menu

Those after a more relaxed vibe will love Bogangar's thriving cafe scene while the the local Surf Life Saving club is the perfect place for a classic pub lunch by the sea

From Norries Headland at the bottom on Cabarita Beach there are breathtaking views of the expansive coastline and out over the Pacific Ocean.

Just north of the up-and-coming travel gem is the Cudgen Nature Reserve with opportunities for outdoor adventures like bushland walks, fishing, canoeing, picnicking and bird watching.

Bogangar's proximity to untouched nature reserves and national parks mean the town has undergone minimal development keeping it as a small and close-knit township.

Bogangar's proximity to untouched nature reserves and national parks mean the town has undergone minimal development keeping it as a small and close-knit township

The coastal community's population sits at 3,313 according to the ABS 2021 Census growing by only 253 residents since 2016

READ MORE: Inside the $600 per night 60s beach house in Cabarita Beach Instagram stars love Advertisement

The coastal community's population sits at 3,313 according to the ABS 2021 Census growing by only 253 residents since 2016.

Many locals have a strong affinity with the town including Jess White who runs the Cabarita Beach Farm retreat.

'Being part of this community for almost 20 years and having four horse-riding kids actively involved in the Cabarita Beach Pony Club, I can vouch for the wonderful facilities that define our tight-knit town,' she told Domain.

'Our family holds dear the beaches, rivers, and lush land of Bogangar  a blend that captivates visitors and is deeply appreciated by locals like ourselves.'
The number of nurses registered to work in the UK has hit a record high, the nursing regulator has said, at it warned against unethical recruitment from countries with their own shortages.

Some 808,488 nurses, midwives and nursing associates are now registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council  a rise of 37,091 in a year.

This includes 748,528 nurses, 42,974 midwives and 10,560 nursing associates  all more than ever before.

But it comes amid a rise in the number of people joining the register from so-called 'red list' countries, such as Nigeria and Ghana.

Some 808,488 nurses, midwives and nursing associates are now registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council  a rise of 37,091 in a year

These nations have their own workforce problems and guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care tells the NHS not to actively recruit from them.

Figures from the NMC show that 3,071 people joined the nursing register from red list countries in the six months to September 30.

Overall there were 24,905 professionals from red list countries on the register on September 30 2023.

The new NMC figures also show a growing number of UK joiners, following a recent expansion of nursing training places.

Some 30,103 people joined the nursing register in the six months to September 30, including 15,067 from the UK.

Meanwhile the proportion of nurses from black and minority ethnic backgrounds is now 29.1 per cent.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive and registrar at the NMC, said: 'Strong recruitment and steady retention have taken our register of nurses, midwives and nursing associates to another record high.

There are concerns of a rise in the number of people joining the register from 'red list' countries, where active NHS recruitment is banned. This graph shows the growth in nurses and midwives joining the NMC register based on where they originally trained. While recruitment of UK-trained, as well as Indian and Filipino professionals has grown, numbers from supposedly red list countries have exploded over the past five years, going from just a handful to thousands

'This is very encouraging given the well-publicised pressure on health and care services at a time of rising demand for care.

'Our register is now showing 50-50 recruitment between UK and internationally educated nursing and midwifery professionals.

'All these professionals make a vital and welcome contribution to people's health and well-being.

'However, it's important that employers continue to be mindful of the Government's ethical recruitment code, since we're seeing many joiners from 'red list' countries.

'People from across the world want to come and work in the UK.

'However, employers must not undermine health systems in countries with the most pressing workforce challenges through active recruitment.'

Professor Nicola Ranger, chief nurse at the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'The headline findings of this report don't reflect what nurses are seeing on the NHS frontline.

'Since 2019, the NHS waiting list has grown four times faster than the nurse workforce, meaning there aren't enough staff to provide the outstanding care patients deserve.

'The Government's over-reliance on unethical international recruitment from red-list countries has become the norm and cannot continue. It's a false economy.

The NMC data also shows how new joiners to the register are now 50/50 split between British trained professionals and those from other countries. In total 30,103 people joined the nursing register in the six months to September 30, including 15,067 from the UK, just 31 more than from international sources

Despite the rise of international recruits as whole British trained professionals still account for the vast majority of those on the NMC register

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'The Government should invest in nursing staff in the UK, funding nurse education and fair pay  not destabilising other health care systems.'

It comes after nurses said they were 'appalled' by the deal struck between the Government and consultants in England, which will see some get a pay rise of around 19 per cent.

The RCN did not agree to the pay deal which saw them get a 5 per cent pay rise 2023/24 and a cash sum for last year, but union members decided not to continue with strikes after it was imposed in the summer.

However, the RCN reacted angrily over the pay award offered to the nation's top doctors, suggesting the news would make nursing strikes 'more likely in the future'.

It has called on the Government to reopen talks about nursing pay.

Dr Billy Palmer, senior fellow at the Nuffield Trust, a health think tank, said: 'Healthcare services are not benefiting equally from the growth in registered nurses with, for example, numbers of registered learning disability nurses continuing to fall.

'Crucially, while there has been an increase in UK-trained nurses joining the register, many will not join the NHS.

'We have stressed the need to plug the leaks in the pipeline for homegrown clinicians, and policymakers need to gain a better understanding of why so many are taking jobs outside of the NHS, including in the private sector.

'We are relying on overseas nurses more and more to fill the gaps where we struggle to attract domestic staff.'

Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said: 'While overseas healthcare workers in the UK are invaluable, the rise in joiners from 'red list' countries is concerning.

'International recruitment must be done ethically, in line with the Department of Health and Social Care's Code of Practice.

'The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to drive domestic training alongside international recruitment.

'For this to be realised, the plan must be adequately funded by the government.'

Sean O Sullivan, head of health policy at the Royal College of Midwives, said there is a shortfall of around 2,500 midwives in the NHS in England, adding: While its positive to see the number of people trained and registered as midwives is rising, this is not the same as the number of midwives working in the NHS.

Ruth May, chief nursing officer at NHS England, said: Nurses are integral to delivering high quality care to millions of patients each and every day and I am thrilled that we now have record numbers of registered nurses in England.

Recognising that we need to go further, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan commits to doubling the number of adult nurse training placements by 2031 so that we can build on the important progress that has already been made.
Taiwan is urging children, elderly and immunocompromised patients not to travel to mainland China amid an outbreak of a mystery pneumonia in the country.

Taiwan's health ministry has told its vulnerable populations 'not to travel to China unless necessary', it revealed in a statement Thursday.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi insisted hours before the new travel order that authorities have the situation 'under effective control'.

Scenes of hazmat suit-clad workers spraying disinfectant through schools and streets, and images of crowds in hospitals wearing masks in hospitals, have chilling similarities to the earliest days of Covid.

The World Health Organization says it has scene data showing China's outbreak is a result of common respiratory illnesses rather than a new pathogen.

A patient being transported in the Chinese city of Shanghai as the nation battles a surge in respiratory illnesses it insists are not down to a new pathogen but a various seasonal bugs

Taiwan - which has been wary of its neighbor since the original 2003 SARS cover-up - is urging its people not to travel to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau unless necessary.

It said that if travel to China was unavoidable, then people should get the flu and Covid vaccinations before traveling.

Chinese and WHO officials have insisted that the surge is being caused by a flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterial infection that leads to pneumonia.

The country had one of the longest and harshest lockdowns of the pandemic, which is thought to have robbed people, especially children, of vital immunity against seasonal illnesses.

China's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that the rise in respiratory illnesses in China was a common issue faced by all countries and that Chinese authorities have it under effective control.

'That is a very common phenomenon in many countries, and in China that has been put under effective control,' he told reporters at the United Nations in New York.

'China's interactions with the international community will not be affected by any factors, and we welcome more visits from friends from across the world,' he said.

Denmark and the Netherlands are reporting similar surges in pediatric pneumonia, as is Sweden - which did not lock down at all during Covid, raising more questions about the source of the outbreaks.

China's wave of cases sparked global concern due to its lack of transparency when Covid was first spotted in Wuhan in late 2019, shortly before the virus swept the globe.

And yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) requested more data from China on its outbreak of pneumonia in children.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said the agency was 'following up with China' as hospitals across the country continue to be overwhelmed.

Face masks and social distancing are again being recommended in the secretive nation, in a chilling echo of the early days of Covid.

The country's pneumonia spike has been dubbed 'white lung syndrome' because of the way the lung damage shows up on scans.

However, China and has insisted a post-lockdown rebound in respiratory illnesses is to blame rather than an entirely new virus.
Danish health experts said they had were expecting this 'epidemic' for some time

Denmark is currently being hit by a surge in the same type of pneumonia that has rocked China and sparked fears of a fresh pandemic.

Danish health chiefs say rates of mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterial infection for which some antibiotics are useless, has reached 'epidemic' levels.

Beijing has pointed to the same pathogen as being partly to blame for its 'mystery' wave of pneumonia  characterised by a dangerous inflammation of the lungs  in children.

In a chilling echo of the earliest days of Covid, face masks and social distancing are being recommended in the secretive nation. Hazmat suit-clad workers have been videoed spraying disinfectant through schools, hallways and outdoors.

Denmark's Statens Serum Institut (SSI) revealed rates have tripled over the past five weeks and warned more kids will be struck down this winter.

It comes just days after the Netherlands reported its own alarming spike in children battling pneumonia, with similar reports in Denmark's neighbour Sweden.

A patient being transported in the Chinese city of Shanghai as the nation battles a surge in respiratory illnesses it insists are not down to a new pathogen but a various seasonal bugs

This graph, produced by the Danish Statens Serum Institut, shows the number of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections recorded per week (orange bars), the percentage of testing kits submitted for testing that are returning positive results for the pathogen are also on the rise (dotted black line)

The spread of cases has raised fears that an European outbreak of the infection is spreading across the continent.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae normally causes a mild flu-like illness, sometimes called 'walking pneumonia'. Cases are most common in younger children.

Some antibiotics, such as penicillin, have no effect.

SSI senior researcher Hanne-Dorthe Emborg said the outbreak wasn't unusual and experts had been predicting one for some time in the wake of Covid.

READ MORE: WHO demands fresh data from China amid outbreak of 'white lung syndrome' as Chinese are told to wear masks and social distance again - in chilling echo of Covid Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said the agency was 'following up with China' following a surge in cases of pneumonia in the country Advertisement

Denmark tends to suffer nationwide epidemics of mycoplasma pneumonia roughly every four years, typically in autumn and early winter.

Ms Emborg added that, with the last outbreak recorded in 2018, the Scandinavian country had been due for surge in cases.

'For the past four years, the number of mycoplasma infections has been extremely low, and it is therefore not unusual that we have an epidemic now,' she said.

'We have actually been waiting for it since we closed the country after the Covid pandemic.'

Like Chinese health officials, Ms Emborg said the recent wave of cases could be higher than normal due to children lacking exposure to the bug over the pandemic.

'Precisely because the number has been so low in the past three-and-a-half years, and there is therefore a group of children who have not built up immunity, we can probably also expect a higher incidence this season than what has been seen during previous mycoplasma epidemics before the pandemic,' she added.

The SSI added this was not a Danish-only phenomenon and that, in addition to China, a rise in mycoplasma infections has been seen in Sweden and Singapore.

Beijing has also pointed to other countries suffering similar outbreaks as it faces concern over its transparency.

As the nation faces requests for more data on its outbreak, China's foreign minister Wang Yi said the nation had the situation in hand.

'That is a very common phenomenon in many countries, and in China that has been put under effective control,' he told reporters at the United Nations in New York.

He added: 'China's interactions with the international community will not be affected by any factors, and we welcome more visits from friends from across the world.'

Other respiratory illnesses, such as flu and RSV, have also been blamed for the surge in China, which had chilling echoes of the earliest days of Covid when reports of the cluster of pneumonia cases first emerged.

Footage has emerged of health workers in China spraying disinfectant in streets and schools

Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline the Danish assessment of the situation made sense.

He said data showed waves of mycoplasma typically strike countries every three to seven years.

Professor Hunter added that research suggested the last global wave hit in 2019/2020 and that, combined with the bacteria's comparatively slow rate of reproduction, incubation and transmission, it may have taken it until now for the outbreaks to be observed in multiple countries.

He said the current situation in the UK remains unclear, but that Britain had also seen similar gaps of multiple years between mycoplasma in the past.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told this website the wave of cases was most likely not linked to a new strain of the bacteria, which evolve far slower than viral pathogens like Covid.

'I doubt it is anything special as bacteria evolve much more slowly.'

He said that it was much more likely it is a 'bad year', which is 'probably amplified by the lockdowns'.

Lockdowns designed to interrupt Covid transmission interrupted the natural spread of other bugs, leaving countries susceptible to bigger outbreaks of those other illnesses.

China had one of the most brutal and longest lockdowns of any country in the world, which the World Health Organization (WHO) says robbed children of vital immunity against seasonal illnesses.

'In the case of lockdowns the restriction on movement would have kept what would have been a natural immunisation cycle from happening meaning a bigger susceptible population when the next natural uptick occurs,' Professor Jones said.

The Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL) said, by the week ending November 16, 103 per 100,000 children aged five to 14 had been diagnosed with pneumonia (shown in blue dotted line). At the peak last year, there were just 58 cases per 100,000

'By this reasoning we should expect something like this in most countries that went through lockdowns although when the uptick will occur is not certain.'

China's wave of cases sparked global concern due to its lack of transparency when Covid was first spotted in Wuhan in late 2019, shortly before the virus swept the globe.

And yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) requested more data from China on its outbreak of pneumonia in children.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO epidemiologist, said the agency was 'following up with China' as hospitals across the country continue to be overwhelmed.

Face masks and social distancing are again being recommended in the secretive nation, in a chilling echo of the early days of Covid.

The country's pneumonia spike has been dubbed 'white lung syndrome' because of the way the lung damage shows up on scans.

However, China and has insisted a post-lockdown rebound in respiratory illnesses is to blame rather than an entirely new virus.

Beijing's lockdown was one of the most brutal and longest in the world, which the WHO says robbed children of vital immunity against regular seasonal illnesses.

The Netherlands, while observing a rise in pneumonia cases, hasn't pinned the increase on a spike in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.
Eight A&E's up and down the country are 'inadequate'. Does yours make the list?

Half of England's A&E's are failing to achieve basic safety and quality standards, a shock analysis suggested today.

Eight casualty units are ranked as 'inadequate'  the lowest possible rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Another 98 of 197 in total 'require improvement'.

The analysis, compiled into a search tool by MailOnline, comes amid fears already struggling A&E units could be battered this winter.

Norovirus rates have already began to rise, piling pressure on wards before winter stresses peak.

Here are the eight NHS hospitals named in recent analysis as having an inadequate rating from the health and care watchdog

Your browser does not support iframes.

The audit of CQC ratings, done by the Mirror, relates to the two lowest ratings any healthcare provider can receive.

'Inadequate' means a site is performing badly and the regulator has taken action to help patients, such as setting out notices to improve conditions by certain date, direct supervision, fines, or prosecutions.

The majority of the eight named sites were dotted across the North West, although two were in London.

Nicola Wise, a senior CQC official, told the Mirror: 'We have repeatedly highlighted challenges we see facing urgent and emergency care services and the importance of system-wide service collaboration in its delivery.

'Ultimately, new models for urgent and emergency care are needed so that people receive the care they need, where and when they need it.'

READ MORE: Patients should be able to see SAME GP every time, safety watchdog says after death of cancer-stricken man who saw EIGHT different doctors Graph shows the ratio of GP patients to practices since 2015, with an average of 9,755 patients per surgery in May 2023 Advertisement

NHS stats today revealed a quarter of patients taken to hospital by ambulance last week had to wait at least 30 minutes before being handed over to staff.

Some of these handover delays will have seen patients forced to wait outside in the vehicles. Others may have been left in corridors.

Ambulance handovers are supposed to take place in 15 minutes.

Delays can occur due to A&Es being overwhelmed by a lot of ambulances at once as well as a lack of beds.

Figures also revealed there were 17 A&E diversions, where patients arriving by 999, had to be sent to another emergency department.

Separately, the NHS is already juggling an increase in norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Official data shows 351 patients with the bug were in hospital last week, nearly triple the number logged for the equivalent period last year.

Health chiefs warned the impact on hospitals from seasonal viruses like norovirus is likely to be made worse by the current cold weather.

Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'We all know somebody who has had some kind of nasty winter virus in the last few weeks.

'Todays data shows this is starting to trickle through to hospital admissions, with a much higher volume of norovirus cases compared to last year, and the continued impact of infections like flu and RSV in children on hospital capacity  all likely to be exacerbated by this weeks cold weather.'

He added that pressure in the NHS is likely to only increase in the weeks ahead.

'It is clear that, even before we enter December, the demand on hospitals and staff is high... and we know that is likely to grow considerably before Christmas,' he said.

NHS Providers, a membership organisation for NHS services, said this winter could be even tougher than last winter's.

Just 70.2 per cent of emergency department attendees were seen within four hours in October, NHS data showed today. NHS standards set out 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window. This was last met in July 2015

Health chiefs warn the NHS faces a tough winter that could be worse than last year's, when patients had to sleep on the floor in the A&E at Aintree University Hospital due to a lack of beds

Paramedics were forced to assemble makeshift wards in the corridors of Aintree University Hospital A&E last winter due to a surge in demand

Miriam Deakin, the body's director of policy and strategy warned: 'Demand for and pressure on the NHS continue to bite.

'Last winter was the worst that many in the NHS can remember and this time could be even tougher.

'As temperatures plummet, pressure on the NHS hots up with winter illnesses and bugs like flu adding to already high demand on services and staff.'

She said the NHS had 121,000 vacancies across England, with the health service also losing 571,500 work days to staff absence from anxiety, stress or depression.

'Trusts are doing all they can to ensure patients receive timely care in the right settings, including investing in urgent community response services and more support at home where appropriate, as well as working hard to reduce handover delays when patients arrive at hospital in ambulances,' she said.

'However, to be able to give patients the best possible care this winter and beyond the NHS needs the right numbers and mix of staff, better supported social care, more beds and more investment to modernise buildings and equipment.'

The latest data on NHS England A&E waits, for October, showed more than 1,400 patients were forced to wait at least 12 hours in A&E every day.

In total some 44,655 people waited half a day before admitted, transferred or discharged last month.

Just seven in 10 were seen within four hours  the health service's target.

October's performance data is the lowest recorded since December 2022.
Doctors in parts of Massachusetts and Ohio are reporting a spike in child pneumonia cases similar to the outbreak spreading in China and parts of Europe.

In Warren County, just 30 miles outside Cincinnati, there have been 142 pediatric cases of the condition  dubbed 'white lung syndrome'  since August, a figure health officials there described as 'extremely high'.

'Not only is this above the county average, it also meets the Ohio Department of Health definition of an outbreak,' the county's health department said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in western Massachusetts, physicians are seeing 'a whole lot' of walking pneumonia, a milder form of the lung condition, which is being caused by a mixture of bacterial and viral infections.

Neither outbreak is being caused by a novel pathogen and not all of the pneumonia cases are being caused by the same infection. Experts say a mixture of several seasonal bacterial and viral bugs are hitting at once, putting pressure on hospitals.

It has raised fears that the outbreak that has overwhelmed hospitals China could hit the US this winter. Several European countries are battling similar crises.

The above shows a pediatric hospital in California in January 2021, when hospitals in the US were hit by a wave of sick children

The above highlights the two locations where rises in pneumonia cases in children have been reported in the US so far. They are Warren County, Ohio, and East Longmeadow, in Massachusetts

The above graph shows deaths from pneumonia and flu among children aged under 18 years old since the 2019 to 2020 flu season. It shows that despite reports the current season nationwide is 'not out of the ordinary'

But a source at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told DailyMail.com that, nationally, 'nothing is out of the ordinary' in the data.

Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, told DailyMail.com: 'I would caution against extrapolating one Ohio county to a country of 330million people.'

But he would not be entirely surprised if 'some places in the US are above baseline' this year, as it appears several bacterial and viral infections are rebounding post-Covid.

An 'ongoing investigation' is underway in Ohio into what is triggering the wave of illness.

Patients in the county - which is home to around 200,000 people - have tested positive for mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacterial lung infection for which some antibiotics are useless, adenovirus, a normally benign respiratory infections, and strep.

The average age of patients is eight, though some are as young as three.

There are several theories, one of which is that children's immunity has been weakened by lockdowns, mask-wearing and school closures during the pandemic  leaving them more vulnerable to seasonal illnesses.

Bacterial respiratory infections usually flare up every five years, normally as people are recovering from a wave of flu or other viral illnesses.

The above image pictures the lungs during 'white lung syndrome' or acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is diagnosed via the white spots or opaque areas appearing in the lungs. The above patient was a 57-year-old man in 2014

Most infections are mild, but those who have recently recovered from a respiratory infection are at higher risk.

In a release from the Warren County Health District, officials said: 'We do not think this is a novel/new respiratory disease, but rather a large uptick in the number of pneumonia cases normally seen at one time.'

It added: 'As we approach the holiday season, when many of us will be gathering together with family and friends, please remember to take necessary precautions to protect your health.

'Wash your hands, cover your cough, stay home when ill and stay up to date on vaccines.'

Doctors say patients are mostly suffering from a fever, cough and fatigue.

It is unclear if any deaths have resulted from the illness and officials have not responded to requests for more information.

In Massachusetts, doctors say the main issue is RSV, a respiratory virus that kills more than 10,000 Americans each year, mostly young children and the elderly.

Dr John Kelley, from Redwood Pediatrics in East Longmeadow, told Western Mass News: 'This is the season for RSV and we're seeing a whole lot of it a lot of kids with upper viral respiratory infections, cough, runny nose, some fevers and the thinking with RSV is that it can cause lower viral respiratory infections, so they get spread to your lungs.'

He said 80 percent of the kids with walking pneumonia develop the infection as a result of first having RSV, while the remaining 20 percent of the cases are usually attributed to bacterial infections like mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Dr Adalja believes the pneumonia outbreaks cropping up around the world could be due to the 'cyclical' nature of mycoplasma.

Pictured above is Dr Clint Koenig, who warned that hospitalizations in Warren County, Ohio, have been rising over the last few week

Dr John Kelley, from Redwood Pediatrics in western Massachusetts, said they were seeing a spike in pediatric hospitalizations in their area

'Mycoplasma goes through epidemic cycles every few years and that may be what's occurring globally at the moment.'

He said China may be getting hit by a double-whammy of viral and bacterial infections. China is entering its first winter without pandemic restrictions, and is reporting surges in Covid, flu and RSV as well as mycoplasma.

The US, Canada and Europe  where Covid restrictions were lifted earlier  were hit by massive upswings in those viruses last year.

'So what's happening in China makes sense', Dr Adalja said, adding: 'Last year we were dominated by so much Covid, flu and RSV when we opened up.'

He said he thinks this year's winter outbreak will be 'less severe' that last year's, when thousands of children were hospitalized with RSV and flu.

But Dr Adalja admitted that lockdowns have contributed to the emerging global phenomenon.

'When children are born they haven't experienced any infectious diseases so more of them you have in population so lower threshold for outbreak to start.

'That group of children born provide new people for illnesses. The pandemic allowed the number of these susceptible people to build up over years.'

In Ohio, the county was first alerted to the spike after schools said they were recording more children out sick than normal.

The 142 cases were reported to the county from multiple school districts across their area. There are 12 school districts in Warren County, Ohio.

Footage has emerged of workers in Hazmat suits spraying classrooms allegedly in the city of Sanhe, about 40 miles east of Beijing. It was posted by activists based in New York who said the footage was recent

Pictured above are more snippets from the footage, including a worker being filmed spraying disinfectant inside a classroom

Speaking to local reporters, Warren County's medical director Dr Clint Koenig said: 'We have seen hospitalizations [for child pneumonia] tick up in the last couple of weeks so we do ask parents to be vigilant.

'Our school districts have called in starting roughly in August, but really picking up in mid to late October.

'We've also been noticing a lot of cases of kids being absent and the resulting diagnosis being pneumonia.'

A source at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said their data showed childhood pneumonia levels in other states were following 'seasonal trends'.

'Nothing is flagging out of the ordinary, but we are continuing to monitor,' they said.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae normally causes a mild flu-like illness, sometimes called 'walking pneumonia'. Cases are most common in younger children.

Some antibiotics, such as penicillin, have no effect.

Dr Amesh Adalja, from Johns Hopkins University, cautioned it was important not to attach too much to just one outbreak in Ohio. Dr Scott Roberts, from Yale, said this may be another sign that children still have weaker immunity than before the pandemic

Strep also normally causes a mild illness and tends to leave patients with sore throats. It's more common among those aged five to 15 years old.

And adenovirus, which has also been detected in patients in Ohio, causes symptoms similar to the common cold.

It was thought to be one of the viruses driving a spike in childhood hepatitis cases last year in children in the US.

CDC director Dr Mandy Cohen pictured testifying today on Capitol Hill

Dr Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases expert at Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut, said the uptick in cases was likely still being driven by weakened immunity in children.

He told DailyMail.com: 'This is probably a recurrence of known pathogens that are hitting us a bit harder because of low immunity to them.'

He suggested children's immune systems could still be suffering from the effects of Covid restrictions which blocked their exposure to 'good germs' for building immunity. He also pointed out that immunity wanes over time.

It comes after the Netherlands and Denmark also said they were recording mysterious spikes in pneumonia cases, many of which are being attributed in part to mycoplasma.

CDC director Dr Mandy Cohen said while testifying in Congress today that the uptick in respiratory illnesses in China was not down to a novel pathogen.

Dr Cohen told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee: 'We do not believe this is a new or novel pathogen.

'We believe this is all existing [pathogens]  meaning Covid, flu, RSV, mycoplasma. But they are seeing an upsurgence.'

The CDC has been coming under pressure to reveal everything it knows about the China pneumonia outbreak, with members of Congress sending a letter to the agency yesterday.

China has been recording a surge in childhood cases of pneumonia since May which only came to light last month.
READ MORE: Kardashians' 'healthy' holiday gift guide is full of 'pseudoscientific' products that are a waste of cash, say experts

Doctors have accused Kourtney Kardashian of promoting 'dangerous pseudoscience' by claiming that a supplement made from her blended-up placenta can help prevent postpartum depression.

On Thursday morning, the mother-of-four, who recently gave birth to her first child with new husband Travis Barker, posted an image of $400 capsules she claimed 'helped' after she gave birth.

She reported a range of benefits that 'some report,' including 'higher energy levels,' 'enhanced bonding experience with baby,' 'balanced mood and hormones,' and 'lesser chance of baby blues and postpartum depression.'

The reality TV star also claimed the product helped return the uterus to 'pre-pregnancy size.'

The supplements - made by wellness brand Mommy Made Encapsulation - are made using the blended-up placenta of a woman who has just given birth.

On Wednesday, Kourtney Kardashian claimed that placenta pills were 'super helpful' for her postpartum recovery - including preventing depression

This makes for 'a daily nutritional supplement rich in vitamins, minerals, iron, protein, stem cells and hormones made by your body, for your body,' according to the firm, which was founded by California-based Juliane Corona, who is not a medical professional and has a degree in Business Administration.

The 'naturally occurring elements' promote healing, the website reads, including: 'increased milk production, no baby blues, lots of energy' and a feeling of an 'overall bounce-back to pre-baby body.'

Mommy Made Encapsulation claims that each placenta makes about 160 to 180 pills. The process costs $400.

The placenta is an organ that grows in the uterus during pregnancy and provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Some claim that the tissue is a powerhouse of essential goodness that provides a range of health benefits when eaten.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, medical experts are damning about such products - as well as celebrity endorsement of them.

Dr Ellie Cannon, a general practitioner in the UK and specialist in pediatric health, told DailyMail.com: 'No healthcare professional with any integrity would endorse these pills.

'There is no scientific basis for any benefit whatsoever, physical or mental.

Mommy Made Encapsulation charges $400 to take the mother's placenta, steam it, and press it into pills

'But also, when high profile people say they can do things like help postpartum depression, it's dangerous.

'There's a real risk that the public will choose to take this unproven, pseudoscientific treatment rather than seek medical help.'

Meanwhile, Dr Ashfaq Khan, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist also based in the UK said there are 'no scientific studies' that suggest consuming a placenta boasts any health benefits. This view is echoed in several review papers published in medical journals.

Consuming the placenta has long been a popular habit among wealthy and high-profile women.

Some even choose to eat it whole. Specialist supplement companies all over the US have popped up all over the US in recent years, offering a 'placenta encapsulator' service.

The placenta is packaged up immediately after birth and shipped to the firm, which combines extracts from the organ with herbs and other natural compounds to make supplements.

Teen Mom star Kailyn Lowry made headlines last month when she posted a series of photos and videos to Instagram showing her blending her placenta into a smoothie (below).

Her children also used the organ to make arts and crafts.

Experts have previously voiced concern about the potential risks of placenta supplements.

In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning against placenta pills after a child in Oregon became infected with the bacteria group B streptococcus.

Kourtney first posted support of placenta pills in 2015, claiming they were 'life changing'

The 44-year-old welcomed her first child with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker earlier this month

The Oregon Health Authority said that contaminated placenta pills that the mother was taking might not have been properly sterilized - and likely caused the infection.

It is thought that the infection passed from the mother to the child via breast milk - although this was not firmly concluded in the report.

The report did not name the company where the mother got the pills.

Mommy Made Encapsulation claims that it steams the organ for 30 minutes before blending, which 'rids the placenta of ANY type of bacteria, virus, or infection and makes it safe to eat.'

Though mice data shows some preliminary effects, experts have warned that there is no evidence that placenta pills have any benefits in humans.

A 2015 review in the journal Archives of Women's Mental Health found that 'studies investigating placenta consumption for facilitating uterine contraction, resumption of normal cyclic estrogen cycle, and milk production are inconclusive.'

And a review in the journal Animals found that preparing the placenta through methods like steaming and dehydrating could eliminate any potential health benefits.

They are also not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which means there are no safety standards for processing the placenta.

'A company promoting fake, non-scientific remedies can't be trusted to regulate anything and is not safe health treatment at all,' Dr Cannon said.

She added that any supposed benefit is likely a placebo effect - and related to the fact those who can afford the eye-watering price tag are likely taking other steps to protect their health.

'These women are able to afford childcare, healthy foods, and a gym membership - as well as other things that make parenting easier,' she said.

'All of these things also make it less likely someone will develop postpartum depression or other complications.'

Meanwhile, she says, women who have fewer means are most likely to fall for bogus health claims as they navigate what's best for their baby.

'It's taking advantage of mothers at their most vulnerable,' she said.

This isn't the first time Kourtney Kardashian has promoted placenta pills.

In 2015, following the birth of her third child Reign Aston Disick, she wrote on Instagram: 'Yummy...PLACENTA pills! No joke...I will be sad when my placenta pills run out. They are life changing! #benefits #lookitup.'
His testimony will kick off with two days of transcribed interviews in January

Anthony Fauci has finally agreed to testify in Congress on his involvement in the public cover-up of Covid's origins.

The onetime White House doctor will be grilled on his former department's funding of dangerous experiments in Wuhan and the stark difference between his public and private comments about the possibility Covid escaped from the lab he was funding.

He is due to speak in front of the House in January, which will be the first time he has testified under oath since his infamous showdown in front of the Senate in July 2021.

Since then, leaked emails show Fauci was aware virus manipulation research was being done on coronaviruses in Wuhan in the lead up to the pandemic.

Senator Rand Paul got in a heated exchange with Dr Anthony Fauci at a hearing in July 2021 when he again pushed the nation's top immunologist on the US funded gain of function research in Wuhan. Fauci responded with: 'You do not know what you are talking about'

Fauci's testimony will kick off with two days of transcribed interviews behind closed doors on January 8 and 9 for seven hours each day. A public hearing, expected to be highly contentious, will take place after that.

The former White House medical adviser has been slammed for playing down the possibility the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the US's links to the research there.

Rep Wenstrup, who chairs the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, previously said the investigation of Covid's origin 'must begin with where and how this virus came about so that we can attempt to predict, prepare or prevent it from happening again.'

Earlier this year, the Energy Department concluded with 'low confidence' that the pandemic 'likely' originated from a laboratory leak in Wuhan, according to a classified report shared with those sitting on the House and Senate Intelligence committees.

A month later, Christopher Wray, the FBI director, said that the FBI believed Covid probably originated from a 'potential lab incident' in Wuhan.

Dr Kristian Andersen, a Danish evolutionary biologist, co-authored a now-notorious research paper published in March 2020 that denounced the lab leak idea as a conspiracy theory and xenophobic.

The notorious proximal origin paper was partly commissioned by Dr Anthony Fauci, the then-head of the US's national research agency that had been funding risky virus research on Covid's relatives at the lab in Wuhan, partly at the expense of the US taxpayer.

But emails dated February 1, 2020 showed Fauci acknowledged that 'scientists in Wuhan University are known to have been working on gain-of-function experiments to determine that molecular mechanisms associated with bat viruses adapting to human infection, and the outbreak originated in Wuhan.'

On July 13, 2023 the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic released the emails sent by Dr Fauci about a conference call regarding the origins of Covid attended by Dr Fauci, Dr Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, and other researchers.

Dr Anthony Fauci (speaking to DailyMail.com in July) still believed Covid emerged naturally despite mounting indirect evidence of a lab accident

Emails dated February 1, 2020 show Fauci acknowledged that 'scientists in Wuhan University are known to have been working on gain-of-function experiments to determine that molecular mechanisms associated with bat viruses adapting to human infection, and the outbreak originated in Wuhan'

In one email, Dr Fauci admitted the scientists had concerns that Covid might have been genetically engineered and that these were worsened by the fact that gain-of-function research was taking place in Wuhan before the pandemic.

Gain-of-function research is medical research that genetically alters a virus to make it more deadly or infectious to try and get ahead of natural mutations that might occur.

At the hearing in July, Fauci 'stated that the NIH has never and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology,' Paul said in the committee chamber.

'And yet, gain-of-function research was done entirely in the Wuhan Institute by Doctor Shi [Zhengli] and was funded by the NIH,' he said.

Paul then cited the paper by WIV scientists titled 'Discovery of a rich gene pool of bat SARS-related coronaviruses provides new insights into the origin of SARS coronavirus'.

The paper specifically talks about ongoing efforts to produce a 'chimeric' coronavirus, which means it has been altered by man  otherwise known as 'gain of function.'

Fauci told DailyMail.com in July that he believed natural origin was still the most likely explanation but left the door open, saying we would likely never know how Covid emerged.

Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, previously accused Dr Fauci of lying under oath over his knowledge of dangerous virus research in China.

Dr Fauci, 82, testified in front of a Senate committee in 2021 that his former department has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.'

Dr Fauci was the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) until the end of 2022 and was responsible for signing off on research grants.

Senators are also demanding answers about a laboratory in Montana where US taxpayer money was used to manipulate coronaviruses before the pandemic.

DailyMail.com revealed last month how government-sponsored researchers infected bats with a 'SARS-like' virus in 2018 as part of a collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which is at the center of the Covid cover-up scandal.

Republican Senators Joni Ernst, from Iowa, and Eric Schmitt, from Missouri, will today send a letter to the National Institutes of Health demanding 'to learn more about potentially risky research carried out at Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML).

The senators letter, seen by DailyMail.com, read: There is no room for error and no excuse for carelessness, since even a minor mishap can be catastrophic when dealing with dangerous biological agents, especially those with pandemic potential.

The letter laid out 10 questions, including how many live bats are currently being housed at the lab and future planned experiments.
Brits will be told to 'go in, stay in, tune in' if the UK is hit by a 'radiation emergency', according to new advice from health chiefs.

The guidance was published today by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

It comes amid rising global tensions involving nuclear powers such as China and Russia.

Last year Russian state TV even brazenly simulated how Vladimir Putin could launch a nuclear strike on London, declaring there would be 'no survivors'.

While the document makes no mention of nukes, it does explain what Britons should do in a 'radiation emergency', which could be caused by a leak at a nuclear power plant or during the transport of radioactive material.

The primary advice is to get indoors as soon as possible, with health chiefs stating this can reduce exposure to radiation by 85 per cent compared with being outdoors.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued advice on what Brits should do in the event of a 'radiation emergency' such as an incident at a nuclear power plant

The new guidance comes at a time of rising global tensions among nuclear-armed powers

Being indoors also reduces the amount of radioactive material inhaled by 40 per cent, the advice reads.

While some buildings are better than others, getting indoors in any way possible should be the priority, according to health chiefs.

'Buildings made of brick, stone, concrete or similar materials provide the best protection, but being inside any building is better than being outside,' it states.

'If you are already inside a building, stay there.'

It warns that Brits may be advised to stay indoors for up to two days  a procedure called 'sheltering-in-place'  to reduce further potential exposure.

People who were outside and nearby the side of the emergency would be at risk of their clothes, skin and hair being contaminated.

As a result, they may be advised to self-decontaminate, which involves taking off clothing  which removes 90 per cent of any contamination  and showering.

Nuclear disasters overseas have hit the UK before, this map, issued to MPs in 1993, shows areas of the UK hit hardest by fallout from the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in 1986

Last year Russian state television put up a map appearing to show how long it would take for Russian missiles to hit the UK, France and Germany if launched from Kaliningrad

Once sheltered, Brits should follow official Government advice on what to do next via the radio, television, internet, social media or the police, the UKHSA said.

As well as incidents at nuclear power plants or when transporting radioactive material, the UKHSA acknowledges that emergencies overseas could see the material land in the UK, depending on weather conditions.

Such an incident has already happened in British history.

On April 26, 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the then-Soviet Union saw radioactive material carried by wind to Western Europe.

While spared most of the fallout, the UK was not completely unaffected. The upland areas of Wales, Cumbria, Scotland and Northern Ireland reported the heaviest deposition of radioactive material in Britain from the disaster.

The exposure led to the slaughter of sheep found to have concerning levels of radioactive material in their meat.

Health chiefs may also deploy iodine tablets in the aftermath. The pills block radiation from damaging the thyroid  a gland in the neck that secretes hormones vital for regulating the metabolism.

Black plastic bags containing layers of contaminated topsoil scraped away to remove radiation in the town of Futaba, which suffered fallout from the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in 2011

The UKHSA's new guidance also sets out the potential of long-term measures to protect human health in the aftermath of a radiation emergency.

If levels are considered to be hazardous in certain regions, people could be forced to abandon their homes, either temporarily, or in extreme cases 'permanently'.

Such measures have been enacted in other countries facing a nuclear disaster.

Thousands of people were forced to evacuate when the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan released dangerous amounts of radiation after being damaged by a devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami in 2011.

Some residents only returned to their homes last year, nearly 12 years after the disaster.

High or extended radiation exposure has a number of potential immediate and longer term health risks.

Radiation, which is impossible to see, smell or taste, can burn the skin in the event of an atomic blast and damage tissues deeper in the body, causing a condition called radiation sickness.

In the longer term, exposure to food and water contaminated by radioactive material can increase the risk of developing cancers.
International pressure grew on Israel and Hamas to extend a truce on Thursday after another exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid was delivered to the besieged Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, 16 more hostages were released by Hamas on the final day of a two-day truce extension, which is set to expire early on Thursday. Israel's prison service said it released 30 more Palestinians from its jails in a sixth round of swaps. The exchanges are a core component of the arrangement, which was initially set at four days.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, and was set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"Looking at the next couple of days, well be focused on ... doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in," Blinken said at a stop in Brussels.

Citing Israeli officials, Israeli media reported that the military would resume the attack on Gaza at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) if the government did not receive a list of hostages to be released that met its criteria by that time. Israel, according to the reports, is demanding that at least 10 hostages be released on Thursday and that women and children be prioritized.

Jordan on Thursday will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

The six-day truce has brought the first respite to Gaza in seven weeks. During that time, Israel bombarded the territory in response to a rampage by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza. Health authorities in Gaza say Israel's bombardment has so far killed more than 15,000 Gazans.

Biden determined to secure release of all hostages

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

Some 97 hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual nationals, officials said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one U.S. dual citizen.

The pause and release of hostages and prisoners was mediated by Qatar, another country pushing for an extended truce.

"Qatar remains hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached," Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe," and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

"Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce  which we strongly welcome  but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire," he told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

China's foreign ministry said in a position paper on the conflict that the U.N. Security Council should respond to "the general call of the international community that a comprehensive ceasefire be put in place to stop the fighting."

Two Palestinian officials told Reuters that talks were continuing over a possible extension of the truce, but no agreement had yet been reached.

A Palestinian official said negotiators were hammering out whether Israeli men would be released on different terms than the exchange of three Palestinian detainees for each Israeli hostage that has applied to the women and children.

The handover of hostages was overshadowed by an unconfirmed claim by Hamas, the largest militant group in Gaza, that a family of Israeli hostages including the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, had been killed during earlier Israeli bombardment. (Reuters)
It will require tech firms to commit to tackling online scams and fake adds

The Government is taking measures to force tech companies to crack down on online fraud.

The Home Office has announced the Government will join forces with 11 of the world's biggest tech companies to crack down on online fraud.

It will see tech companies sign an 'Online Fraud Charter', pledging to take action to protect their users against online scams and to block fake adds and fraudulent content affecting their users.

The tech companies involved in developing the charter are Amazon, eBay, Facebook, Google, Instagram, LinkedIn, Match Group, Microsoft, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. The Home Office says it is the first agreement of its kind in the world.

The Government has developed a charter which tech firms will sign voluntarily, pledging to block fraudlent adverts and online scams

The charter is voluntary so there are no penalties if companies are found to not be doing enough in line with the terms.

Our sister title Money Mail has been campaigning for the Government to force tech companies to step in and stop the scammers.

Earlier in the year, we revealed how Facebook Marketplace had become a hotbed of scammers - and earlier in the week, how thousands of fake car adverts are on the platform.

Britain's five biggest banks endorsed a landmark letter from Money Mail to the Prime Minister calling on him to force social media firms to crack down on scammers operating on their platforms.

Under the new pledge, tech companies will be required to take measures which include verifying new advertisers and promptly removing any fraudulent content.

There will also be increased levels of verification on online marketplaces under the charter, and people using online dating services will have the opportunity to prove they are who they say they are.

The charter will be supported by an action plan, agreed by the Online Advertising Taskforce, to crack down on illegal adverts and ads for age-restricted products, such as alcohol or gambling, being seen by children.

The action plan will be published today and will set out the steps industry and Government are taking to tackle scams and increase protections for children.

The Prime Minister said: 'Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with online scammers targeting the most vulnerable in society.

'By joining forces with these tech giants we will continue to crack down on fraudsters, making sure they have nowhere to hide online.'

Paul Davis, director of fraud prevention at TSB, said: 'We've campaigned for years for tech companies to do far more to prevent the fraud that's become rife on social media platforms.

'Now we have the Charter, it's down to all signatories to match their commitment with meaningful concerted action - putting the right protections in place to reduce fraud and take responsibility to protect millions of consumers on their platforms.'
That's it. I've drawn a line in the sand when it comes to self-checkouts in shops.

They're relatively convenient in supermarkets if you've got a couple of items, but for everything else, they're an infuriating queue-creating nuisance.

While nothing new, the trend seems to have been ramped up significantly this year. To the point where recently I was in retailer Matalan with my wife and the only option now was the self-checkout.

Fast push: This year, it feels like more shops are pushing us to self checkout tills with ever growing queues

I was expected to scan the clothes and pack them myself. I'm no primadonna, but it just felt wrong. It's one thing lobbing some bananas and milk into a 60p paper carrier bag*, but for new clothes, it's a different ball game.

If that's the future, I want nothing to do with it. Part of the shopping experience is to exchange pleasantries with staff, have them fold the clothes nicely and take the tags out. For me, it forms part of the bill.

Why does the onus now fall on us, the paying shopper, to do that?

There was one member of staff helping in the shop we were in, and a gentleman - who I would describe as a septuagenarian - was completely bamboozled.

Can't you just open a till? was my cry. The tills are open, they are here, said the staff member while trying to help the elderly gentleman make sense of it all.

I'm taking a stand and will not visit shops that only now offer this option. It's totally ridiculous. So, bye Matalan.

Supermarkets are at it too. On the same day as my Matalan visit, a major Sainsbury's store a stone's throw away had queues backed up, as only a handful of manned tills were opened.

What I abhor is the stripping away of choice  that includes forcing loyal customers to serve themselves on these robotic machines that often don't accept cash.

Many shoppers were being diverted to the self-service tills like sheep into a narrow holding pen.

Even those with big baskets and relatively sizeable trolley loads. And many now make you scan the receipt on the way out... the indignity of it all.

Hat tip here to northern supermarket group Booths which has recently decided to remove self-service checkouts in all but two stores following customer feedback. More of this please. Queues are getting worse in my opinion, not better.

I'm also no technophobe. What I abhor is the stripping away of choice  that includes forcing loyal customers to serve themselves on these robotic machines that often don't accept cash.

And what about the elderly for example, whose chats with staff members might be their only interaction of the day and who are probably completely exasperated about how hard it is to simply buy a loaf of bread and pint of milk with coins and notes.

It feels like customer service is being put out to pasture and the whole shopping experience being made redundant - is it any wonder so many now just fill up virtual baskets and shop online.

Clubcard: You now enter Tesco without its loyalty scheme at your peril

Then we have supermarket loyalty schemes. More and more of them are at it  pricing for 'members only'. Frankly, it drives me around the bend.

The two biggest supermarkets have gone fully down this route: Sainsbury's and Tesco.

Put simply, you must now be part of Clubcard or Nectar schemes, or face paying far more at the checkout.

A process that involves handing over personal data - and if you so-happen to pop into one of these stores without your card, either physical or on an app, you can either pay the higher price - or walk out.

I did the latter recently in my local Tesco Express. I popped in with my five-year-old. She fancied one of those yoghurts in a pouch.

Price: 95p. Clubcard price: 60p. I didn't have my phone, so no Clubcard. I could either suck up the 35p difference, or explain to my daughter how I would refuse to buy it because of a loyalty scheme, and face a barrage of subsequent 'why?' questioning.

I'm not a Tesco regular and sometimes dash into this particular store as it's close-by, but I'm seeing more examples of this price madness that I'm semi-boycotting it. Daft 'member-only' prices have firmly put off this casual shopper.

It must have finally convinced some loyalty card refuseniks to get one - but out of grin-and-bear it necessity, rather than wanting to be part of an exclusive club collecting points and feeling like a valued customer.

Daft 'member-only' prices have firmly put off this casual shopper.

This is Money's own Simon Lambert, a man who has been heard to utter the phrase 'life is too short for loyalty cards', says he shamefully admits to having finally snapped at Sainsbury's otherwise-inflated prices last week and signed up to a Nectar card.

Yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority said it will be probing these schemes in January 2024.

All of this has led me to become a big name Grinch this Christmas. Instead, I'm going independent.

Indeed, our local high street seems to be going through a bit of a renaissance - maybe helped by the above, and the fact you can still pay by coins for the local car park, rather than forcing us to download an app.

I'm finding more that I feel like a valued customer at these smaller shops who, on the whole, are delighted to take your cash, put your items nicely into a bag, without two-tier loyalty pricing systems. Sure, they might not be the very cheapest, but I come away feeling happier.

An option to pay by cash via a manned till without having to wob out a loyalty card - it's not too much to ask for... is it?
Jeremy Hunts Autumn Statement proved the Chancellor understands Britains wealth creators needs, say business leaders.

Last week he unveiled 110 initiatives to boost business investment by 20billion within a decade.

It followed a period of uncertainty after Liz Trusss mini-budget last year, and comes as Labour woos business and financiers.

Hunts flagship initiative, which he said was the biggest tax cut for business in modern British history, was making the full expensing regime permanent.

This lets firms claim back the cost of investment in equipment and machinery. For every 1million invested, 250,000 is lopped off the tax bill in the same year.

Approval: Last week Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) set about wooing the City ahead of next year's election by unveiling 110 pro-growth initiatives to boost investment

Martin Sorrell, the executive chairman of agency S4 Capital, praised Hunts targeted reforms, such as the permanent UK tax break on capital investment and the national insurance tax cut. He said: It shows he is taking it seriously.

Other measures included a 50million pledge to invest in skills, and plans to speed up the planning process.

Hunt plans to boost foreign investment, open AI innovation centres and end late payments for small businesses.

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a 4.5billion manufacturing plan to boost industry.

And on Monday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced nearly 30billion of investment pledges.

Airbus UK chairman John Harrison said: It gives businesses like ours the confidence to innovate and invest.

Fhaheen Khan, economist at Make UK, representing manufacturers, said that Hunt understands industrys needs and is committed to delivering a strategy to boost investment.
In the running: Acting BP chief exec Murray Auchincloss

BPs search for a chief executive is set to extend into next year.

The oil company has been in turmoil since Bernard Looney quit in September, and its shares have dropped 9 per cent, while rival Shells have gained 2 per cent.

Murray Auchincloss, previously the chief financial officer, is the acting chief executive role and there has been speculation he will get the official job, but reports suggest no decision will be made until 2024.

Chairman Helge Lund continues to lead a probe into whether Looney breached company rules.

BPs code of conduct says: having an intimate relationship with someone whose pay, advancement or management you can influence represents a conflict of interest, which should be disclosed.

Yesterday, BP took full control of the solar power developer Lightsource BP as it presses ahead with the transition strategy conceived by Looney.

It will pay an initial 254million for the 50 per cent it does not already own.
Metro Bank is planning to slash its branch opening hours and axe hundreds of jobs as part of proposals to save it from collapse.

The lender said it will make 20 per cent of its 4,266-strong workforce redundant, which means more than 850 jobs will be lost.

The move to cut its business hours is a blow for customers as the banks seven-day-a-week operation was one of its selling points when Metro opened its doors in 2010.

It had looked to capitalise on public anger over high street branch closures by mainstream banks since the 2008 financial crisis by focusing purely on branch services.

Part of its strategy was to help bank customers avoid the lunchtime sprint by being open between 8am and 8pm every day of the week.

Job cuts: Metro Bank said it will make 20% of its 4,266-strong workforce redundant, which means more than 850 jobs will be lost

Analysts believe the bank will probably cut its opening hours at the weekend.

Metro added that the measures were part of plans to cut costs by 50million a year. This was up from a previously announced target of 30million.

This week Metro received shareholder approval for a 925million refinancing plan and is in talks to sell a 3billion mortgage book.

In a disastrous day for British high street banking, Lloyds announced that it will be closing 45 branches.

And NatWest has warned that there are more cuts to come after it last week said that it would shut 19 sites.

Thousands of branches have been axed over the last few years and more than 500 have shut in 2023 as customers switch to online banking.

But the cuts affect elderly and vulnerable people, and small businesses that need easy access to cash.

Metro Bank said that it was in talks with the financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, about the effect that reducing its opening hours would have.

The lender has about 2.7m customers and 76 branches in the UK.

Metro Bank said it remains committed to stores and the High Street and still has plans to open around 11 new sites, mainly in northern England, by the end of 2025.

This week Metro received shareholder approval for a 925m refinancing plan and is in talks to sell a 3bn mortgage book

Most branches are in and around London, but the lender is looking to expand in other cities including Exeter, Norwich and Nottingham.

But it will transition to a more cost-efficient business model, by automating some service and back-office jobs, and improving its digital service.

The company is reviewing seven-day opening and extended store hours across the store network and is in discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority about the customer implications of any such changes, it said.

The bank yesterday confirmed it had completed a 150million share placing that was a core part of the rescue package that was secured in October.

More than 90 per cent of its shareholders voted to approve the deal this week.

Billionaire Jaime Gilinski Bacal, from Colombia, will become the banks controlling shareholder following the placing.

His Spaldy Investments will inject 102million into the lender, which will increase his stake from 9 per cent to 53 per cent.

Metro had signalled that it was in trouble in October following a series of blunders in recent years.

They included accounting errors, leadership departures and delayed regulatory approval for key capital relief plans.

It revealed last month that it needed hundreds of millions of pounds to shore up its balance sheet and had to refinance 350million of debt within a year.

Metro chief executive Daniel Frumkin said: The support shown from our investors through this transaction will allow Metro Bank to accelerate its growth plans with the new capital allowing us to unlock the potential in the business and deliver sustainable profitable returns as we strive to be the number one community bank.
Dr Martens has posted its fourth profit warning this year as its US business takes a kicking.

The boot maker said profits tumbled 55 per cent to 25.8million in the six months to the end of September, with its performance across the Atlantic being a particular sore spot.

Group sales fell by 5 per cent to 395.8million during the half-year, compared with the 418.6million in the same period of 2022.

But the major problem was the US, where sales tumbled 18 per cent to 147.7million.

The Northamptonshire firm blamed the unseasonably warm weather putting consumers off its sturdy boots, as well as a wider economic pressure on Americans.

Profit warning: Dr Martens said profits tumbled 55% to 25.8m in the six months to the end of September, with its performance across the Atlantic being a particular sore spot

Dr Martens is also feeling the fall-out of issues at its Los Angeles distribution centre, which has led to major problems with shipping products to customers throughout this year.

Shops have also been reluctant to buy large batches of the Dr Martens stock  ultimately cutting into revenues.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said Dr Martens results suggest that the post-pandemic US consumer spending boom looks to be on its last legs.

When times are good, Dr Martens has shown it is possible to make decent returns from its iconic products, he said.

But when the economic outlook is more uncertain, the company suffers from having its products priced slightly above the level at which someone wouldnt think too hard about paying.

Dr Martens chief executive officer Kenny Wilson said: We are undoubtedly facing some more challenging headwinds in the US, but we are continuing to invest in the business.

The update sent shares in the retailer tumbling 21.4 per cent, or 24.6p, to 90.2p, pushing it towards the bottom of the FTSE 250.

It also put Dr Martens at a new all-time low  a far cry from its 370p float price in January 2021.

It caused huge excitement at its London debut and was eight times oversubscribed, giving the company a market value of roughly 3.7billion.

But it has struggled to keep that momentum going with production and material costs continuing to spiral.

In 2021, Dr Martens raised the price of its classic 1460 boots by 10 to 159 a pair.

And today a pair of these boots will now set you back 169, according to the companys website.

Its air-cushioned soles were originally developed by Munich-based Dr Maertens and Dr Funck, with their UK patent rights sold to R Griggs Group in the 1960s  and the Dr Martens brand formed.

The clunky boots soon became synonymous with the punk era in the 1970s and they got a new lease of life two decades later with Britpop.
The disappearance of Lynette Dawson is one of the most notorious cold cases in Australian history.

The mother-of-two vanished on January 8, 1982, never to be seen by family or friends again.

Her husband and former rugby league player Chris Dawson maintained his innocence for 40 years, before he was found guilty of her murder at the age of 74.

On December 2, 2022, Chris was sentenced to 24 years in prison for Lynette's murder, despite her body never being found.

MailOnline delves into the four reasons why the ex-PE teacher was found guilty.

The disappearance of mother-of-two Lynnette Dawson on January 8, 1992 was among the most notorious cold cases in Australia (pictured: Chris and Lynette Dawson)

40 years after Lynette went missing Chris Dawson was found guilty for her murder December 2, 2022 (pictured: Chris Dawson in 2022) and was sentenced to 24 years in prison

MailOnline take a look at the four reasons Chris Dawson was convicted for Lynette's murder

1. His obsession with 16-year-old JC

On August 30, 2022, Dawson, then 74, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Lynette at New South Wales Supreme Court.

Justice Ian Harrison determined the ex-Newtown Jets rugby league player was guilty, citing his infatuation with a teenage student - only known in court at JC - as a reason.

Sixteen-year-old JC was a student at Cromer High school - where Dawson worked as a PE teacher.

The pair struck up an affair between 1980 and 1981, and the teacher was leaving affectionate notes in the student's bag.

JC was a live-in babysitter for the family, regularly taking care of the Dawsons' daughters, who were aged two and four at the time.

But in 1981, the affair began to reach boiling point as Lynette told the teenage babysitter that she was well aware JC had been 'taking liberties' with her husband.

Shortly after this, JC and Dawson attempted to flee to Queensland in December 1981, in a bid for a fresh start together.

However their plans quickly went awry after JC wanted to come back home, as she also revealed she wanted to leave the former rugby player.

The pair later spent Christmas together. This was the first time the father-of-two had not spent the holiday with his young family.

JC and Dawson also celebrated New Year's Eve together, however the duo were not together on January 1 or 2 1982 as the teenager had ventured with family and friend to South West Rocks for a camping trip.

Justice Harrison was in agreement with prosecutors, who claimed the father-of-two had a 'possessive infatuation' with JC.

Harrison stated that the 16-year-old's trip north to South West Rocks was not within Dawson's 'physical reach and emotional control'.

He added: 'I am satisfied that the prospect that he would lose [JC] so distressed, frustrated and ultimately overwhelmed him that, tortured by her absence up north, Mr Dawson resolved to kill his wife.

The Judge also acknowledged - as previously stated by prosecutors during the trial - the teacher had come to the conclusion that it was time to be 'out with the old and in with the new'.

On August 30, 2022, Justice Ian Harrison determined Dawson's infatuation with 16-year-old student JC was a reason to find him guilty for Lynette's murder (Pictured: Lynette and Chris Dawson)

Lynette confronted teenage babysitter JC about her affair with her husband prior to her disappearance (pictured: Chris and Lynette before their engagement)

2. Numerous lies from Dawson

Justice Harrison also shared that his decision had been strengthened by the falsehoods told by Dawson after Lynette disappeared.

The judge separated these lies into four groups:

Falsehoods Dawson told to JC about their partnership

Assertions that he wanted to remain married to Lynette

Hinting Lynette left the home voluntarily

Implying his wife could still be alive

The judge determined that these falsehoods were constructed by Dawson in order to divert 'all or any attention away' from himself.

Lies Dawson told in his 1991 police interview were brought to light, as well as those that were dug up in various account told to the court.

Chris Dawson did not provide evidence whilst he was on trial for the murder of Lynette in 2022.

Justice Harrison said his decision was strengthened by the lies told by Dawson after Lynette went missing (Pictured: Lynette Dawson)

The judge determined that these falsehoods were constructed by Dawson in order to divert 'all or any attention away' from himself (Pictured: Chris Dawson in a police interview in 1991)

3. Lynette would not have left her children voluntarily

The ex-teacher alleged he had taken Lynette to Mona Vale, as his wife was going shopping on January 9, 1982.

And even though Dawson's lawyers tried to argue Lynette had voluntarily departed the family's Bayview home, Justice Harrison sided with the prosecution - noting that their reasoning was 'strongly persuasive'.

The court heard numerous reasons from prosecutors why it was not likely that Lynette would willingly leave her children, who she adored.

They also pointed out that the mother-of-two was mentally sound and had not packed any of her belongings.

The prosecution also added that Lynette was optimistic about mending her partnership with Dawson even in light of his affair.

Chris Dawson lawyers attempted to argue that Lynette voluntarily left their family Bayview home in 1982 (Pictured: Chris with one of his daughters in the 1970s)

Prosecutors said it would have been highly unlikely the mother-of-two would have walked out on the children she adored. They also told how she did not pack any belongings. Justice Harrison branded their arguments as 'strongly persuasive' Pictured: Lynette with daughter Shanelle)

4. Phone calls from Lynette that never occurred

Dawson alleged that Lynette had rang him several times after she went missing, claiming he had heard from her on January 9, 10 and 15.

No one else came forward with claims Lynette had tried to contact them.

Equally, Dawson maintained this correspondence would always happened when no one else could hear.

Justice Ian Harrison labelled Dawson's claims as 'simply absurd' adding that it would be out of the ordinary for Lynette to be get in touch with the person who was the reason she had left.

Harrison also concluded that various alleged sightings of the mother-of-two on January 8, 1982, did not happen.

He reasoned that some of the reported sightings of Lynette had not been called in until decades after she went missing.

Dawson alleged his missing wife attempted to call him several times - and always when nobody was in hearing distance. Justice Harrison maintained his claims were 'simply absurd' (pictured: Chris and Lynette Dawson in 1970 on their wedding day)
How one longs for the princes of Scottish Nationalism to discover the power of deadly understatement. Or quiet, self-deprecating humour, instead of constantly fire-hosing us with totally pointless venom.

Like Stephen Flynn the other day, weighing in on the barnacled issue of the Elgin Marbles, central to a hissy fit earlier this week between the Greek and British governments.

An issue, as was immediately evident, this dunderheid of an SNP Westminster leader knows nothing about  and not only did he embarrass himself, he embarrassed us.

It all took off with a weird spat between Rishi Sunak and his Hellenic counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Stephen Flynn has weighed in on the issue of the Elgin Marbles

A frieze which forms part of the "Elgin Marbles", taken from the Parthenon in Athens

A planned grip-and-grin was called off after the Greek premier publicly emoted about the Parthenon sculptures, as our more affected Leftist lounge lizards like to call them, after allegedly promising not to.

Some senior Tory subsequently briefed the papers: The Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong here.

It is reckless for any British politicians to suggest that this is a subject of negotiation.

Absolutely agree, this shouldnt be subject to negotiation, the SNPs Westminster leader promptly flared. The Elgin Marbles were stolen and should be returned. Easy.

Actually, they werent, and they shouldnt be. Parliament concluded way back in 1816 that Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin, had acquired the sculptures quite fairly, in his capacity as our ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

He was accordingly given leave to sell them to the British Museum, where they have been ever since.

And, in so doing, Lord Elgin almost certainly saved these treasures for posterity  after centuries when the Parthenon had been seriously shelled and tourists were constantly hacking off bits to take away.

It may have been a bit patrician. Even high-handed. But, had the Scot not intervened, it is unlikely these sculptures would have survived.

But the Greek government has been hollering for their return since at least 1983, has long involved Unesco  whose offers to mediate we continue politely to decline  and is constantly kicking up a fuss about the historic rocks.

Our line has always been that the Elgin Marbles were obtained lawfully, that handing them meekly to Athens would establish a precedent that could see the stripping of all sorts of treasures from the great museums of the world, and that their display in the British Museum  in the context of artefacts from many other ancient cultures  usefully complements the other significant collection of Parthenon sculptures, in Greeces Acropolis Museum.

Left unsaid is that in 1816 the Greek state did not exist. It was only finally established as a confection by the Great Powers in 1830, and it has been a bit of a basket case for as long as anyone can remember.

There have, for instance, since 1830 been 14 successful military coups  to say nothing of untold failed ones, the latest in 2018.

And the Greek government has always been faintly ridiculous, from its ongoing feud with the reconstituted Macedonia to its reaction when its late former king, Constantine II, braved a 1993 holiday in the land of his birth.

Furious ministers in Athens had him pursued by gunboats, shadowed him with military planes, and  a year later  confiscated all his Greek belongings, trumping that by stripping Constantine of his citizenship. Not the sort of small, independent country that SNP panjandrums might be wise to highlight.

Well, so much for the Elgin Marbles. What is far creepier is Stephen Flynns endeavours here to rewrite history  and in this, of course, the Nationalists have serious form.

Nationalists do not, for instance, like to be reminded that, as late as the 1983 general election, their party stridently opposed membership of what is now the European Union.

And, hilariously, Alex Salmond himself has been unpersoned. Quite written out of the partys history on the SNP website. The 2014 independence referendum campaign was spearheaded, innocent visitors are assured, by Nicola Sturgeon  who struck all mention of her predecessor from the official record, much as Stalin airbrushed Trotsky out of the pally photos with Lenin.

On her final downfall in February, the retiring First Minister herself tried to rewrite events, complaining of the intensity and brutality of public life these days and that she had somehow become a lightning rod for irrationality.

A bit rich right after our Nicolas protracted insistence that a convicted, incarcerated rapist was actually a woman.

But if top Nats have been less than candid about their own history, there have been disturbing efforts to twist and distort that actually taught to our children in Scotlands schools.

In December 2020 horrified historians Sir Tom Devine and Chris Whatley slammed an averred Timeline to devolution in 1999 that had been taught to our children for several years and was proudly displayed on a Scottish Government website for all to see.

It was basically a portrayal of Scots as the Most Oppressed People Ever  a chronicle of our sufferings at the hands of the dastardly English since 1296.

It left out such minor details as the prominent part of many important Scots in slavery, and was clotted with such falsehoods as the suggestion that in 1919 Churchill had dispatched English troops to suppress a major revolution in Glasgow.

Arrant propaganda, thundered Devine, dangerous nonsense.

It was, said Professor Whatley quietly, a perversion of history... frightening as it was blatantly political and clearly designed to support the cause of independence.

The material was shortly removed from the Education Scotland website to ensure, said a spokesman shamelessly, our resource is not open to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

History is messy and often inconvenient. Few Scots today are comfortable with our long (and lucrative) part in colonisation. Or our enthusiastic plantation of Ulster, with all the trouble that ensued.

Or that the worst religious persecution in Scotlands history happened under a Scottish dynasty, the Stuarts  with such atrocities that, when the current King assumed the throne in September 2022, the very first oath he had to take was one to uphold the Protestant and Presbyterian order of the Church of Scotland.

Or that more Scots actually fought against Charles Edward Stuart in the 45 than for him. Or that the Highland Clearances were largely administered not by English gentry but home-grown clan chiefs and their Edinburgh lawyers.

And then there is the wee white rose of Scotland Nationalist pols like to don as a buttonhole.

Its a mawkish allusion to a poem by Hugh MacDiarmid  indeed, a poem most petty and parochial. And MacDiarmid himself was a truly nasty piece of work.

A sponger, a plagiarist, who flirted in his career with both fascism and Stalininism.

For a party banging on about its outward-looking civic nationalism, is it wise to identify with a man who in 1941 said I regard the Axis powers, though more violently evil for the time being, less dangerous than our own government in the long run and indistinguishable in purpose?

Months earlier, he had mused, Although the Germans are appalling enough, they cannot win, but the British and French bourgeoisie can and they are a far greater enemy.

Then there was a horrid poem crowing about the London Blitz.

This is the man Nationalists delight to honour with their boutonnieres, who seriously thought Scotland would be better off with Hitler.

This is not culture: it is historical illiteracy. And, in Mr Flynns latest exhibition of himself, we are reminded that, even in its present agonies, the SNP is less a political movement than an unnerving cult.
A schoolgirl told a friend she was pregnant at the time she was in a relationship with a man later accused of killing her, a court heard.

Tracy McFetridge, 44, said she didnt believe 14-year-old Caroline Glachan but then accompanied her when she took a pregnancy test, which was positive.

Ms McFetridge told the High Court in Glasgow that Robert OBrien  who is accused of Carolines murder in 1996  was in a relationship with another schoolgirl, Donna Marie Brand, who is also charged with the murder.

She said she warned Caroline not to mention the pregnancy to Brand, who was aged around 17, because she was angry that they were both apparently seeing the same boy.

Caroline Glachan, 14, whose body was found in Alexandria on 24 August 1996.

A police diver searches at the spot where schoolgirl, Caroline Glachan was found dead on the banks of the River Leven in nearby Renton

The court heard Ms McFetridge had told police in 2020 that Brand threatened to batter Caroline for spending time with OBrien.

She said she heard Brand utter the threat in a conversation with another friend weeks before the schoolgirl was found dead in the River Leven.

Brand, 44, is on trial with OBrien, 45, and Andrew Kelly, 44, accused of murdering the schoolgirl, from Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, on August 25, 1996.

Prosecutors allege they arranged to meet the teenager at a bridge near a towpath beside the river between Renton and Bonhill.

They are then alleged to have assaulted her, shouted and swore at her and repeatedly kicked and punched her on the head and body.

It is claimed the trio threw bricks or similar instruments causing injuries to her head and body before pushing or causing her to fall into the river, and ultimately murdering her. OBrien, Brand and Kelly have all pleaded not guilty and lodged a special defence of alibi.

Asked by Advocate Depute Alex Prentice whether there had been a conversation involving Caroline and a suspected pregnancy, Ms McFetridge replied: Yes. She said she had missed her period and she might be pregnant.

The witness said she initially did not believe the schoolgirl when she said she might be pregnant, adding: She told wee white lies.

She then told the court she accompanied her friend as she took a pregnancy test, which returned a positive result.

However, forensic pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner said there was no sign the teenager was pregnant at the post-mortem examination.

Ms McFetridge told the court that Caroline had been spending time with OBrien, but that he had also been with Brand at the same time, and the older girl was not happy with the situation.

She went on to tell the court that the schoolgirl was aware OBrien was seeing Brand and that she had advised her not to say anything about the potential pregnancy around her.

The witness added: Donna said she was not happy and said she was going to batter her. I told her, Naw, you canny do that, she is only 14.

[Donna] was angry, as you would be if someone was seeing your partner at that age.

Ms McFetridge also told the court Caroline visited her at her fathers house the night before her death, but this was something she only felt confident revealing during the reinvestigation of the case in 2020.

Asked by Brands solicitor, Thomas Ross, KC, why she had made absolutely no mention of the visit in three statements she made to police in the three months after the schoolgirls death, she said she was scared of repercussions.

OBrien faces a separate charge alleging that on various dates between June 1, 1996, and August 25, 1996, he assaulted Caroline at locations including Balloch Country Park, Renton, Vale of Leven and elsewhere in Dunbartonshire.

It is alleged OBrien assaulted the teenager by punching her face, placing his hands around her neck and compressing her throat. He denies the charge.

The trial, before judge Lord Braid, continues.
Harry and Meghan are playing their most dangerous game yet.

These two cowards, who set off this slow-release stink bomb of racist accusations two-and-a-half-years ago  yet still have no problem hypocritically trading on their titles, that most tenuous association with a royal house they have trashed as bigoted  must now say something.

It is Day Three since the odious Omid Scobie's 'Endgame' hit shelves, revealing, in the Dutch version, the so-called royal 'racists'.

Since then we've seen a smug, unbothered Scobie insist that he never wrote those names in any draft, that their inclusion must have been the fault of translators.

Here's the thing: You can't mistranslate something that was never there.

How hubristic of Scobie, in a British morning show appearance on Thursday, to yet again insist that his manuscript never contained the names.

Hours later, the translator who worked on the book confirmed to the Mail: 'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them.'

It doesn't get more explicit than that.

Harry and Meghan are playing their most dangerous game yet. These two cowards, who set off this slow-release stink bomb of racist accusations two-and-a-half-years ago - yet still have no problem hypocritically trading on their titles, that most tenuous association with a royal house they have trashed as bigoted - must now say something.

It is Day Three since the odious Omid Scobie 's 'Endgame' hit shelves, revealing, in the Dutch version, the so-called royal 'racists'. Since then we've seen a smug, unbothered Scobie insist that he never wrote those names in any draft, that their inclusion must have been the fault of translators. Here's the thing: You can't mistranslate something that was never there.

Let's hope Scobie's enjoying this ill-gotten round of media hype. Blaming one's publisher for such an egregious, possibly litigious error is a great way to ensure no other publishing house will ever work with you again.

Indeed, a source told the Mail that 'I understand the palace is considering all options open to them'.

Piers Morgan, not a little controversial, divulged the names of the accused royals  who the Mail has chosen not to reveal at this stage  on his show last night.

His stated reason was that if the names are out there somewhere, the public deserve to know.

It is a decision that some have described as reckless. But Morgan has now removed the final arrow from Scobie's  and by extension, Harry and Meghan's  quiver.

On Wednesday, Scobie went on TV to say  threaten, really  that at some point, he may choose to reveal those identities. That has now been taken from him. How satisfying. How deserved.

Not so much the morning sun rises over their idyllic Montecito mansion  to paraphrase Scobie's florid description of House Sussex in 'Endgame'  as does the blast radius from this most noxious explosion.

As if we needed more proof that anything related to H&M redounds to their own seedy striving, their own perverse definitions of thriving, relevance, freedom. And, of course, the truth.

The Dutch publisher, Xander Uitgevers, has been alarmed enough to pull and pulp all extant copies.

As for Scobie's ludicrous protestations that he never wrote those names, note the stark difference in the English-language version of 'Endgame': 'Laws in the United Kingdom', he writes, 'prevent me from reporting who they were'.

Not so much the morning sun rises over their idyllic Montecito mansion - to paraphrase Scobie's florid description of House Sussex in 'Endgame' - as does the blast radius from this most noxious explosion. As if we needed more proof that anything related to H&M redounds to their own seedy striving, their own perverse definitions of thriving, relevance, freedom.

Meanwhile, Uitgevers's official line has been to dodge Scobie's 'mistake of translation' excuse.

As their statement read: '[We] temporarily removed the book from sale due to an error that occurred in the Dutch edition'.

'Error'. Not 'mistranslation'.

Sloppy, reckless and accusatory  which just about sums up Brand Sussex.

One would think that if Harry and Meghan truly had nothing to do with this ugly, viperish book and its horrific claims, they would have denounced it immediately.

One would think if they believed the royals aren't racist  as Harry retroactively insisted this year, while plugging his own memoir 'Spare'  they'd have been out front with a strongly-worded statement.

Here in the US, no less an A-lister than Chris Rock mocked Meghan's tale of racist woe in his 2023 Netflix special 'Selective Outrage'.

'Some of that s**t she went through was not racism', Rock said. 'It was just some in-law s**t. Because she's complaining, like  what the f**k is she talking about? 'Oprah they're so racist, they wanted to know how brown the baby was going to be.' That's not racist! Even Black people want to know how brown the baby is going to be'.

Recall that the original story, as relayed to Oprah in 2021 by Meghan, referenced a single senior royal.

One. Now, suddenly, it's two.

But even during the ninety-minute sit-down with Oprah, the Sussexes couldn't keep their story straight.

Meghan  at this point alone with Oprah  said she wouldn't name the accused royal as it would be 'very damaging to them', but she did divulge that there were 'several conversations' about what color Archie would be while she was pregnant.

Later in the interview, joined by Harry, Oprah asked the prince about the claims.

He also declined to identify the family member  but note this key difference: 'That conversation [singular] I'm never going to share but that was right at the beginning [of our relationship] before we even got married.'

Not, in other words, when Meghan was pregnant.

One would think that if Harry and Meghan truly had nothing to do with this ugly, viperish book and its horrific claims, they would have denounced it immediately. One would think if they believed the royals aren't racist - as Harry retroactively insisted this year - they'd have been out front with a strongly-worded statement.

It was classic Harry and Meghan: Moving the goalposts, changing specifics, shambolic and dissembling.

If this sorry saga really took place as they allege  if it were as traumatic and earth-shaking as they'd have us believe  you'd think they'd remember every single detail and never once waver.

Yet here was Harry telling Tom Bradby in January this year that neither he nor Meghan have ever said that any member of the royal family was racist: 'The British press said that' Harry said. 'Did Meghan ever mention, "They're racists"?'

That's how slippery these two are. Even the sympathetic Bradby looked stunned.

Let's be clear: While Meghan may never have said the word 'racist', she certainly sat there with the gravest expression, dropping this claim  one of the most disgusting and damaging imaginable  and nodding as Oprah overdid her shocked-and-appalled reaction.

Harry did nothing to disabuse her either.

Surely it's not coincidental that Oprah  once a Sussex BFF  has since kept a very public distance from the pair.

Funny that this allegation never came up in Meghan's one-season, since-cancelled 'Archetypes' podcast. Or the couple's six-part Netflix doc  you know, the one in which Meghan savagely mocked her curtsy to the Queen. Or in her acceptance speech at this year's 'Women of Vision' awards in New York City, which was followed by what an H&M spokesperson called a 'reckless' two-hour, high-speed chase in Manhattan that night, one even New York's mayor Eric Adams said was 'hard to believe'.

For so many of us, Harry and Meghan are fabulists at best, reputation destroyers at worst.

Scobie, too, has a penchant for falsehoods: Once lying about his age  in 2020 he told an interviewer he was 33 when he was actually 40  and, earlier this month, while promoting 'Endgame', claiming to another journalist that he had never flown private, only to be asked about a photo from his own Instagram of him flying private.

'Okay, that was a private jet', Scobie admitted. 'But that was only going from L.A. to Palm Springs. It was very short'.

You see: truth is fungible, facts are subjective, and accountability is for other people. Scobie may have written the book, but something or someone else is at fault for adding those names. Right?

It throws the credibility of the entire book into question.

For so many of us, Harry and Meghan are fabulists at best, reputation destroyers at worst. Scobie, too, has a penchant for falsehoods: Once lying about his age and, earlier this month, claiming to another journalist that he had never flown private, only to be asked about a photo from his own Instagram of him flying private.

A book which seethes with a fury painfully similar to that of Harry and Meghan, two spoiled brats who will never be satisfied and seethe with resentment at being also-rans.

Here's Scobie on why the royal family loves Kate Middleton: 'Like Diana, Kate became a sparkling showpiece for the Firm, a symbol of refined beauty and those white, English Rose genetics the British newspapers love so much'.

Now who's racializing the royals?

As for Scobie's assertions that he has not been fed any information by the Sussexes  well, who provided the contents of the private letters between Charles and Meghan which named the accused 'royal racists'?

It certainly wasn't the Palace  a senior source confirmed as much yesterday.

It's no coincidence that Scobie viciously assails every member of the royal family in his book except for Harry and Meghan, who are given quite the halo effect. They are faultless. If anything, their stars shine too bright for the existing royal firmament.

We're not stupid.

If Harry and Meghan have an ounce of self-preservation left, they'll speak out, dispel confusion, and clarify where they stand.

Then again, after saying the royals are bigots-but-not-racist-at-all  who would believe them?
Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day ceasefire by at least one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.

The truce has allowed much needed humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million was reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on Oct. 7.

"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," the Israeli military said in a statement, released minutes before the temporary truce was due to expire at 0500 GMT.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement the truce would continue for a seventh day.

The conditions of the ceasefire, including the halt of hostilities and the entry of humanitarian aid, remain the same, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson from Qatar, which has been a key mediator between the warring sides, along with Egypt and the United States.

"A short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue," the Israeli prime ministers office said in a statement.

Hamas earlier said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

Hamas had said a family of three Israeli hostages, including the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, had been killed during Israel's bombardment of the enclave.

Before the agreement, both Israel and Hamas had said they were ready to resume fighting.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual nationals, officials said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one U.S. dual citizen.

Diplomatic push

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had arrived in Tel Aviv earlier on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack, to discuss extending the pause in fighting.

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israel's northern Gaza attacks.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe," and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a "concrete" timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting" settlement of the Palestinian issue. (Reuters)
The two will make the argument for why their state and governance is better

The debate will air at 9pm on Fox News, and Sean Hannity will be the moderator

After months of increasingly contentious sparring Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom will finally square off in a highly-anticipated one-on-one debate on Thursday night at 9pm.

The governors will each make their cases for why Florida or California is run better in the ultimate battle between red and blue states on Fox News.

It is a showdown that could preview a future presidential race - and will give viewers their chance to see alternatives to Donald Trump and Joe Biden in action.

DeSantis is currently running in the 2024 Republican presidential race, consistently polling second, but far behind Trump.

He has already participated in three Republican presidential primary debates against his GOP competitors without Trump.

'The next debate will be the biggest one yet,' DeSantis campaign manager James Uthmeier said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com regarding the one-on-one with Newsom.

Meanwhile, Newsom spokesman Nathan Click claimed the debate is already rigged for DeSantis.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) will go one-on-one in a highly anticipated debate over which of their states  and governing styles  are best

'We are under no illusions  this is a 2 on 1 match with the refs in the tank for the home team,' Click told Dailymail.com. 'But Gov. Newsom has long believed that Democrats have to go on offense in enemy territory, and that's exactly what he intends to do.'

Here, DailyMail.com breaks down the upcoming debate and what to know ahead of the matchup.

DETAILS OF THE DEBATE

Florida Gov. DeSantis doesn't have to go far for the debate, which is in Alpharetta, Georgia, about 300 miles away from the Florida capital of Tallahassee.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Newsom has a much longer trip of approximately 2,500 miles to make it to the debate location.

Fox News is hosting and airing the 90-minute debate live on Thursday night at 9:00 p.m.

Longtime Fox host Sean Hannity will serve as the lone moderator.

The event came to fruition after Hannity brokered the conditions between the two governors when they both publicly expressed openness to going head-to-head.

'As Democrats ramp up their efforts to replace the historically unpopular and failed Joe Biden as their nominee, Ron DeSantis' showdown with Gavin Newsom is even more timely,' Uthmeier said in a statement.

'A Newsom presidency would accelerate America's decline, and November 30th will be the first chance to expose to a national audience just how dangerous his radical ideology would be for the country.'

'Ron DeSantis will take this responsibility seriously and looks forward to sharing the stark contrast between his vision to revive our nation and Newsom's blueprint for failure.'

Newsom insists he does not have ambitions to run for president this year, but DeSantis falls among those speculating that he might mount a 2024 bid if Biden, 81, for some reason is no longer in the race.

Click told DailyMail.com that viewers should '[e]xpect him to defend the President and use the opportunity to contrast the President's record of delivering for the middle class with Desantis' (sic) and the rest of the GOP field's enthusiasm for taking away Americans' freedoms.'

'Look, [Newsom] is running a shadow campaign, even people in his own party are saying that,' DeSantis said in an interview this month. 'A lot of Democrats want to move Biden out.'

He added: 'But I think it's important that Republican voters get the sense that we may not be running against Biden.'

Fox News host Sean Hannity helped broker the debate and will serve as the lone moderator on Thursday night

Sean Hannity, the longest-serving primetime anchor on Fox News Channel, will referee their match-up. He has interviewed DeSantis frequently as he bids to topple Trump, and his few chats with Newsom have been well-watched and led to a good relationship between the two.

Hannity told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview on Tuesday how he personally brokered the terms of the upcoming debate, and managed to get them in a room together.

The Fox News host said he stepped-in to navigate the back-and-forth between the governors and revealed that those chats included at least one of the men requesting no in-studio audience.

'I personally negotiated or navigated  I don't know what you want to call it,' Hannity said. 'I took on the crazy position of personally handling this myself. I thought it was too important.'

THE RISING FEUD BETWEEN NEWSOM AND DESANTIS

Over the last year, DeSantis and Newsom have publicly expressed their displeasure with each others' policies  intensifying the debate over whether Florida or California is the 'better' state.

DeSantis often touts the exodus of California residents who moved to Florida since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will highlight this phenomenon with a press conference in the afternoon to hear from California 'refugees' who fled the Golden State for the Sunshine State.

Between July 2019 and July 2022, there were 1,044,494 Californians that left for other states. Meanwhile, 737,433 people moved to Florida from other states.

The wealth level of those living in the states have also faltered due to the in and out migration.

California lost $55.7 billion in adjusted gross income between 2019 and 2021 from population migration, according to the latest IRS data, while Florida gained $80.6 billion.

Newsom has slammed DeSantis' highly conservative policies, especially as it relates to illegal immigration, education and LGBTQ issues.

Fox News has titled the head-to-head between the governors 'The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate'  and it comes as Newsom and DeSantis have been at each other's throats over their state's policies.

Specifically, the two will square-off on their diametrically oppositional approaches to issues like COVID-19 lockdowns, crime, immigration, taxes, climate and school choice.

Both men have lofty ambitions that reach all the way to the White House.

Newsom initially challenged DeSantis to a debate in September 2022. At the time, DeSantis was not yet running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

In an interview with Hannity in June, Newsom, a liberal, again said he would debate DeSantis, a conservative, with the Fox host moderating. DeSantis officially agreed in August, telling Hannity: 'I'm game. Let's get it done. Just tell me when and where.'

'We were shocked when he accepted,' Click said to DailyMail.com

'Newsom had been challenging Desantis (sic) for months to debate, and the fact that he finally accepted as his campaign was circling the drain shows just how bad Desantis (sic) needs to distract from his disaster of candidacy,' he added.

The debate will not have any audience and even if the two men have their respective staff in the room during the televised event, they won't be able to talk to them even during commercial breaks, Hannity said.

Besides Fox, no other media outlets are permitted access to the room where the two men will go head-to-head.

'I know both of them. So I just felt it was up to me to kind of pull this together in a way that would work for both governors,' Hannity told DailyMail.com.

'Maybe a heavier lift than I thought in the beginning.'

He added: 'But I did promise everybody I would keep the behind the scenes negotiations private and I'm gonna keep my word on that.'

A September DailyMail.com poll found that 46% of Americans would rather live in Florida and 40% would rather live in California. Republicans overwhelmingly favored Florida and Democrats favored California, independents tipped the result in favor of the Sunshine State when asked where they would prefer to live

FLORIDA V. CALIFORNIA EDUCATION POLICIES

While California has grown increasingly liberal since Newsome became governor in 2019  Florida has skewed the other way after DeSantis rose to power at the same time.

The governors have very different styles of leadership, and have nearly always taken opposing sides on issues ranging from economy to personal freedoms.

While California spends significantly more on their K-12 education  about 45 percent more  their test scores are much lower than that of Florida.

Only 30 percent of California fourth graders tested proficient in math in 2022, compared to 41 percent in Florida.

Many point to prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns as the cause for learning loss in California.

DeSantis is also known for his 'anti-woke' policies in schools and for pushing to get more parental approval for their childrens' education.

His Parental Rights in Education law was dubbed by liberal and progressive critics as the 'don't say gay' bill because it prevented in-classroom education of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Newsom and other Democrats say DeSantis' policies are anti-LGBTQ.

FLORIDA V. CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT AND HOMELESSNESS

Florida, notably, was one of the leaders in reopening schools and getting children back in the classroom in the wake of the pandemic.

Additionally, employment has only increased in Florida while declining in California.

Since January 2019, 1.031,030 more people are employed in Florida, while in California the employment has declined by 85,438.

This change was also likely driven by long-term lockdowns in California and shorter-term shutdowns in Florida.

Newsom kept the state closed so long that businesses moved their operations and workers moved their families to places where they could not only continue operating, but with lower tax burden and cost of living.

Florida, the third largest state in terms have population, has 22.2 million people living in the state and rising, while California, the largest state by population, is 39 million and declining.

California has, however, seen a massive rise in homelessness over the last few years with 171,521 living on the streets compared to just 25,959 in Florida.

Newsom backed Prop. 47 in California, which has decriminalized drug use and makes it harder to get addicts who are living on the streets into treatment.

Shocking and graphic images have emerged of homeless people taking drugs on the streets of some of California's largest cities, like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
An Australian academic charged over an alleged love triangle murder plot could be hit with more charges after being suspected of committing financial crimes while on the run.

Lisa Lines, 43, was recently arrested on an outstanding Interpol warrant on the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau over an alleged murder attempt on her ex-husband Jonathon Hawtin, 36, which left him paralysed from the neck down in 2017.

Dr Lines, who has PhDs in history and creative writing, left Australia in 2020 with the two children she shares with Mr Hawtin and relocated to Taiwan.

She was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder and has since been extradited back to Adelaide.

Taiwanese authorities have confirmed they're now combing through Lines' bank and income records as part of a separate investigation of her activities there.

Taiwanese authorities have launched an investigation into Lisa Lines' activities since moving there in 2020. She's pictured being extradited back to Australia on November 24

Authorities launched an investigation a month ago after South Australia Police alerted them of their own probe into the alleged murder plot.

'SAPOL notified us of the (attempted) murder case and we started looking into everything about her and then we found out something fishy about the financial stuff so then we began a separate investigation,' Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau Investigator Jimmy Tan told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'It might be a long one because we need all the records we can get and getting these records can take time,' he said.

He wouldn't elaborate on the alleged crimes Lines was suspected of committing in Taiwan.

'I can't really talk about anything other than (to say) financials,' Mr Tan said.

It's understood evidence seized from her workplace and home in Taipei will form a key part of any police evidence brief.

Mr Tan confirmed Taiwanese authorities tracked Lines for a month before orchestrating her arrest in Palau, where she had gone to apply for an extension of her Taiwanese visa.

'We started putting surveillance on her since we became aware of this case, which gave us an idea of her whereabouts,' he told the publication.

They notified SAPOL and Australian Federal Police once they became aware of Lines' plans to leave Palau to contact local authorities to make the arrest.

Lisa Lines (pictured) will spend Christmas behind bars, charged with two counts each of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder

An alleged murder attempt on Lines' ex-husband Jonathon Hawtin (pictured) left him paralysed from the neck down

Lines, along with her then-lover and co-accused Zacharia Bruckner, 36, allegedly attempted to murder Mr Hawtin, in a brutal axe attack in 2017.

Bruckner was arrested on November 15 in Brisbane.

He is charged with one count of attempted murder and two counts of conspiracy to murder before being extradited to Adelaide.

They allegedly planned to have Mr Hawtin and his mother killed by a hitman who turned out to be an undercover police officer.

Lines appeared in court along with Letiticia Fortune who is jointly charged with her for one of the alleged attempts to kill Mr Hawtin.

They allegedly planned to have Mr Hawtin and his mother killed by a hitman who turned out to be an undercover police officer.

This was allegedly set to happen while he was already paralysed and recovering from the axe attack at a rehabilitation centre in January 2018.

In the convoluted series of events, Mr Hawtin was charged with attempted murder for shooting Bruckner, 30, with police assuming the younger man was acting in self-defence.

But a jury of six men and six women unanimously acquitted him in 2019 after three hours of deliberation.

Taiwanese authorities tracked Lisa Lines (pictured during her extradition) for a month before contacting their Australian counterparts and orchestrating her arrest in Palau

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 prosecution will allege that while Lines was abroad she conspired with Bruckner to hire a hitman to 'finish the job', in an alleged plot to kill Mr Hawtin and his mother.

Craig Caldicott, appearing for Lines, said his client denied the allegations and would plead not guilty.

He asked the court to release Lines on bail so she could see her children regularly.

But magistrate John Wells refused bail due to the seriousness of the charges and because Lines 'remains an unacceptable flight risk'.

Both Lines and Mr Bruckner have been remanded in custody until May next year.

Fortune will reappear in court next week for a continuing bail application.
Almost 100,000 people could be left with a single library under drastic cost-cutting measures.

Campaigners say proposals to shut down 16 libraries would be a backwards move that could severely dent literacy levels among youngsters.

Cash-strapped Stirling Council, which is facing an estimated budget black hole of 13million in the next financial year, says that operating all 17 of its libraries and two mobile vans costs it 2.4million a year.

To save money, it has set out two proposals, one of which would involve closing up to half of the countys public libraries and a second that would see all but the central library in Stirling close.

It is thought that the latter could save the council, which provides services for around 95,000 people, up to 1.4million.

Stirling Central Library would be the last survivor under the plans

But the proposals have sparked outrage among literacy campaigners who say it will impact on low-income households who cannot afford to buy books. Scottish Book Trust chief executive Marc Lambert said Stirling Council would be letting down a lot of people.

He added: Local libraries are essential and the people that will feel the brunt of it are the people who wont be able to go into Waterstones to buy books for their children, so this is a disaster.

We know that access to books is worth an extra two years of education to a child  this is a real backwards move.

Scottish Conservative local government spokesman Liz Smith said: These damaging closures are the sad but inevitable consequence of the SNP Governments brutal and sustained underfunding of Scotlands councils.

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland urged the council to reconsider its decision. A spokesman said: Providing libraries is a legal obligation and libraries, placed at the heart of communities, are used by millions and provide life-changing access to books and IT.

They support learning and social mobility whilst reducing isolation and improving health and wellbeing.

Any council that values its communities also values its libraries and these cuts will cause significant long-term damage if taken. They are an essential part of an economy for the future.

Stirling Councils move to close its libraries follows similar decisions made across Scotland in recent months.

In January, Midlothian Council proposed replacing public library staff with self-service machines and introducing e-books instead of replenishing the physical stock across its nine libraries.

Aberdeen Councils attempts to close six of its libraries were thwarted following a public backlash, while Glasgow City Council cut back its library services earlier this year.

A Stirling Council spokesman said: The council faces an estimated budget gap of 13million, despite making significant savings of around 6million in the current financial year.

This is a situation mirrored at local authorities across Scotland.
Former Conservative MP and Scottish Office minister Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has died at the age of 81.

The second son of the 14th Duke of Hamilton, he served in the Scottish Office under Margaret Thatcher and John Major before becoming an MSP in 1999.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross described Lord James as an extremely distinguished politician at both Westminster and Holyrood.

He added: He was a true gentleman whose popularity crossed all political divides.

His career in local government, Holyrood and Westminster was distinguished by the courtesy and respect he showed to everyone.

Lord James was a popular figure

As a young page boy carrying the Queens train

Inspecting the Grenadier Guards

In 1999, the newly created Scottish parliament benefited from the wisdom and gravitas Lord James brought to proceedings, and which was honed during his 23 years as a highly effective MP and latterly government minister.

He will be sadly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson also praised Lord James, who sat in the House of Lords as Lord Selkirk of Douglas.

She said: As well as unstinting service to politics, public service and our party, Lord James added a heap of personality too. Kind, witty and a gentleman.

Former Deputy First Minister, John Swinney recalled: He was MP for Edinburgh West as I grew up and he always asked after my parents when we got to know each other later in life.

As the premier peer of Scotland, the Duke of Hamilton is the hereditary keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarchs official residence in Scotland.

A former page of honour to the Queen, Lord James twice carried the long train of the Queens robes as a boy and was part of the coronation procession in 1953.

He married Susan Buchan, a granddaughter of the novelist John Buchan, in 1974, with the couple going on to have four sons.

Lord James, who lived in North Berwick, was first elected to Parliament at the October 1974 election, going on to hold the Edinburgh West seat until 1997.

He gave up his inherited earldom in 1994 in order to keep voting in the Commons. He served as a list MSP for Lothian from 1999 to 2007 and sat in the Lords as a life peer from 1997.

News of his death was announced by the Lord Speaker yesterday.

Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine, the current MP for Edinburgh West, wrote online: I met him often in my career and he was always such a gentleman, with a kind word and genuine concern for those he served.
An outraged family has accused a pharmacy of making a mistake that forced their grandmother into a care home after medication burned her from the inside out.

Lisa Carratelli accused the Melbourne pharmacy of incorrectly filling out the medication for her 87-year-old mother Maria over a year ago.

Maria had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis when she was prescribed methotrexate - a chemotherapy drug that is also used to treat cancer.

The grandmother's condition quickly spiralled with the medication burning her insides, causing her to lose hair and making her unable to look after herself.

Maria is now in a nursing home unable to walk or eat on her own.

Ms Carratelli accused the pharmacy of incorrectly prescribing the right dosage claiming her mother was given seven times the prescribed amount of the drug.

An outraged family has accused a pharmacy of making a mistake that forced their grandmother into a care home after medication burned her from the inside out

Maria first started to complain about a sore throat, and went to Maroondah Hospital in Victoria after doctors' visits fell through.

Doctors checked her Webster pack - a container with separate sections for days of the week - which is packed by pharmacists.

The doctors were alarmed by what they discovered.

'The hospital started questioning her medication and called the pharmacist,' Ms Carratelli told Yahoo.

'She was supposed to take two [tablets] once a week but the pharmacy had packed the Webster packs with two tablets daily'.

Ms Carratelli claimed the extra dosage had destroyed her mother's organs.

'It burnt all inside of her mouth and down her throat. She was in hospital for quite a long time,' she said.

Maria was later sent to Box Hill Hospital, where her discharge document suggests the grandmother was experiencing 'methotrexate toxicity resulting in Mucositis with Pancytopenia', which is low levels of red blood cells.

'Then she ended up in rehab for months before we had to put her in a nursing home because she's not been able to recover,' Ms Carratelli said.

Apart from burning her internally, Maria also lost her hair from the strong dose of the chemotherapy drug.

Her daughter has said her mother is 'very fragile,' and is convinced 'the pharmacist nearly killed her'.

The pharmacist, who Ms Carratelli does not want named, allegedly apologised, and sent the family flowers.

He claimed he was not the one who filled the Webster pack and the family have not heard from him again.

Doctors at Maroondah Hospital, Victoria, made a startling discovery when they looked at the grandmother's Webster pack

Ms Carratelli father is now forced to pay for his wife's care on a pension.

'When you're on a pension, they don't really get a great deal [of money],' she said.

The daughter, in an effort to prevent such mistakes happening again, sought legal advice, but was disappointed with multiple solicitor responses.

'They keep saying, because of her age, that there was nothing that they could do for us,' Ms Carratelli said.

After contacting the Pharmacy Board of Australia to report what she thinks could be pharmaceutical malpractice, they told her the same thing.

'I'm not after any money or anything. I just want it not to happen to someone else,

'I want to help people to understand why they should always check the medication and not just trust the pharmacist.'

Her daughter knows the scenario could have been worse, acknowledging her gratitude the 87-year-old is still alive, but she furious the mistake could have been fatal.

'As they get older, it doesn't mean that they just get pushed aside,' she said.

In Australia, using a double-checking system when dispensing medication is solely regulated by a pharmacist.

Currently, two pharmacists are not required for the dispensing of medicines.

'When dispensing medicines, pharmacists should be guided by professional practice standards, the Pharmacy Board of Australia's code of conduct and guidelines for pharmacists,' an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency spokesperson said.

including guidelines for dispensing of medicines and Guidelines on dose administration aids and staged supply of dispensed medicines.'
A crocodile caught striking a bizarre pose has left Aussies stumped over the strange move as experts weigh in on the reptile's unusual behaviour.

The croc was seen spreading its forelegs while swimming on the surface of the water in Cahill's Crossing, a known crocodile habitat around 286 kilometres east of Darwin recently.

A photo of the crocodile showed the animal remaining perfectly still as it appeared to float on the water with the claws on its two front legs splayed and pointing upwards.

A crocodile caught striking a bizarre pose (pictured) has left Aussies baffled after the reptile was seen in the strange position in a Darwin waterway

The image which has since been uploaded to Facebook left many users baffled as to what the deadly creature was doing by adopting the unique position.

Some saw the funnier side of the pose, saying the animal was after a cuddle.

'He just got his nails done,' one user wrote.

However, experts say the pose is a fishing technique crocs use to catch their prey.

Crocodile biologist and founder of the Crocodylus Wildlife Park Professor Grahame Webb, said the odd position allows the reptile to catch fish swimming at a distance either side of the croc.

Users on social media were clueless about what the croc was doing lurking in the unusual position

'(It) allows them to sense a wider area and if they encounter a swimming fish within it, can strike accurately within the 'capture area,' Professor Graham told the NT News.

Special pressure points around a crocodile's body, including on their hands, means they can detect the smallest movements in water around them - and then pounce on their prey.

Brandon Sideleau, a crocodile expert at Charles Darwin University, agreed and said the outstretched position allows the reptile to hunt for food more effectively.

Mr Sideleau said smaller and medium-sized crocs were more likely to position themselves in the unusual pose but it's not known whether they are likely to use the technique whenever they hunt.

Professor Graham (pictured left) said the odd pose was a type of fishing technique the reptile uses to catch its prey

Charles Darwin University croc expert Brandon Sideleau (pictured) said smaller crocs are often found using the technique to hunt for food

'Studies need to be conducted to determine if it is unique to certain locations or if the behaviour is widespread,' he said.

The pose also allows crocs to hunt for fish when there's a change in the tide in rivers and waterways where they often lurk.

By remaining still they use the position to wait for fish to swim towards them as crocs aren't quick enough to go after fish.
Robert F Kennedy Jr has struck a private deal with an obsessed stalker after the Biden administration refused repeated demands to provide security for the independent presidential candidate.

Jonathan Macht, a realtor from Pacific Palisades, has agreed to stay at least 100 yards away from the head of the Kennedy dynasty after breaking into his California home twice on the same day, and sending him hundreds of emails.

Kennedy, 69, the son of his assassinated namesake, was at the home in Brentwood with his wife Cheryl Hines at the time of the break-ins on October 25, and was due to seek a restraining order in court today.

But he has settled for a promise by the 28-year-old to stay away for the next five years, and not to not harass, intimidate, attack, strike, threaten, assault, hit, abuse, destroy, personal property of, or disturb the peace of Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, 69, has struck a deal with an 'obsessed stalker' after his pleas for Secret Service protection were denied by the Biden White House

Jonathan Macht, 28, broke into Kennedy's Brentwood, California, home twice in one day

Kennedy and his wife Cheryl Hines were both at home at the time of the beak-ins

Hines has accused Biden of refusing federal protection for fear it would lend credibility to his opponents maverick challenge.

'If they do give Bobby protection, then they are acknowledging that he's running as a political candidate, she said earlier this month.

But Kennedy said Machts home invasions underscored the threats he is facing.

'He has written me 435 emails in a three-month period, including one last week, which was about me getting a bullet in my brain,' he said.

Kennedy told the court that Macht first climbed over a fence in the back yard of his home in Mandeville Canyon Road at around 9.30am and managed to reach the second story of the building before he was spotted and detained by Kennedys own private security detail.

Hines watched from a window as he was bundled through the yard by staff and held until police arrived and arrested him.

He was served with an emergency protective order but returned immediately after his release and arrested again.

De Becker, Kennedys security firm, had repeatedly notified the Secret Service about 'this specific obsessed individual' in recent months and passed over his emails, Kennedys campaign said.

Two months earlier a man carrying two pistols and impersonating a police officer was arrested after showing up to a campaign event in LA just two miles from where Kennedys father was assassinated while running for president in 1968.

Four rifles with long range scopes and significant quantities of ammunition were found by police who raided the home of Adrian Paul Aispuro, 44.

Kennedys uncle, President John F Kennedy, was also assassinated during his first term in the White House in 1963.

Candidates from a major party polling above 15 percent and independent candidates polling above 20 percent are eligible for Secret Service protection, according to Title 18 U.S.C. 3056(a)(7).

The late Sen. Ted Kennedy, the candidate's uncle, was given Secret Service protection 441 days before the 1980 presidential election, in which he challenged incumbent Democratic President Jimmy Carter.

Former President Barack Obama was afforded Secret Service protection 551 days before the 2008 election due to racist threats when he was running in the Democratic primary.

The guns that were found when law enforcement searched the home of Adrian Paul Aispuro, after his arrest at a Kennedy campaign event in September

RFK's father was assassinated moments after the then US senator from New York claimed victory in California's pivotal Democratic presidential primary in 1968

The former attorney general died a day later at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles

Macht had made it to the second story of the couple's home before he was detained by staff

An InteractivePolls survey found Kennedy polling just seven percent nationwide last week, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has now refused three formal applications to provide Secret Service protection.

It's disappointing to say the very least that the administration is not giving Bobby protection,' Hines said.

'They know what's happening and they know what has been happening,' the actress added. 'I can't believe that they are not responding.'

It takes a lot of effort to protect the candidate, but it's exactly what the Secret Service should be doing.'
The city of Los Angeles is following in New York's footsteps and requiring Airbnb owners to obtain a police permit after the city council voted unanimously to approve the new law Wednesday.

Airbnb rental options in New York City have shrunk after cumbersome new governmental restrictions went into effect in September and essentially became a ban on vacation rentals.

Council President Paul Krekorian claims that the new law will crack down on illicit behavior at rentals.

DailyMail.com highlighted an Airbnb host who had his $3.8million California mansion hijacked by a guest who refuses to leave after spending more than 540 days in the home unless she is paid $100,000 in September.

While the council voted 14-0 to approve the new law, some worried that it would create unnecessary burdens on the LAPD, who now must issue permits.

The city of Los Angeles is following in New York's footsteps and requiring Airbnb owners to obtain a police permit after the city council voted unanimously to approve the new law Wednesday

LAPD Lieutenant Scott Moffit said that the new ordinance will triple the force's workload.

'Key on that is that we would be draining from existing department resources,' Moffitt said.

The laws are said to be part of a deal between Los Angeles and hotel workers' unions, according to the LA Times.

The unions were trying to organize to get a measure on the ballot related to hotel rooms and the housing of homeless Angelinos.

Hotel developers must, under the new law, replace any housing demolished for new hotels by building new residential units.

Krekorian says that operators should not expect a particularly difficult process.

'My goal is to make [obtaining a police permit] as easy and painless and nearly automatic as I can,' Krekorian said. 'The idea will be that if someone applies for it, unless there's some complaint from someone, that it would be routinely granted.'

Airbnb has yet to comment on the ordinance which appears to be much less strict than the laws passed in the Big Apple.

Council President Paul Krekorian claims that the new law will crack down on illicit behavior at rentals

While the council voted 14-0 to approve the new law, some worried that it would create unnecessary burdens on the LAPD, who now must issue permits

The regulations require hosts to register with the city - or face a $5,000 fine - and guests must have access to the entire property.

If the rental is under 30 days, the host must stay with the guests. Rentals are also limited to two people, which effectively eliminates many families from using Airbnb in the Big Apple.

'The city is sending a clear message to millions of potential visitors who will now have fewer accommodation options when they visit New York City: You are not welcome,' Theo Yedinsky, Airbnb's global policy director, said in a statement.

However, backers of the law say the regulations are needed in the industry and will help eliminate complaints that come from short-term rentals such as noise and parties.

The New York City regulations went into effect and have led to far fewer listings in the five boroughs. Existing short-term rental reservations with check-in dates on or after December 2 will be canceled and refunded, the company said.

The home-sharing giant told its NYC hosts that they would have to comply with the new law, otherwise their rentals could be deactivated.

Airbnb estimated last month that there were about 15,000 active hosts renting out homes in the city. By August 28, the city had gotten about 3,250 registration applications for the new rules and only 257 of them were approved.

Also known as Local Law 18, the Short-Term Rental Registration Law was passed in January 2022. City officials said renting homes to tourists, not New Yorkers, worsens the city's housing shortage and drives up living costs.

New York City 's restrictions on short-term rentals went into effect on Wednesday and included hosts staying with the guests and rentals needing to register with the city

Supporters of Airbnb hold a rally outside City Hall in New York in 2015

Airbnb tried to fight the new regulations in a lawsuit but the case was dismissed. Pictured: An Airbnb rally outside of New York City Hall in 2015

The city should have enforced the law in March this year, but Airbnb fought the law in court, saying the new rules would hurt travelers looking for affordable stays.

The company also said the registration system was too complex and argued the law was basically a ban.

That case was dismissed in August, setting up the regulation to go into effect.

Airbnb could lose millions of dollars in one of its biggest and most profitable markets. The company said in the lawsuit that it earned $85 million in net revenue in 2022 in New York City.

Airbnb stock price was down about one-half a percent to $142.07 by late-trading Wednesday.

The regulation could benefit the hotel industry, which competes with platforms like Airbnb. According to STR, a company that analyzes hospitality data, New York City experienced the highest occupancy level (85.4 percent) among other markets, which was up 1.7 percent year over year, and was the only market to post an average daily rate over $300.

Airbnb could lose millions of dollars in one of its biggest and most profitable markets. Pictured are two New York City rentals that remain active on the site and seemingly meet the new regulations

NYC hosts have been asking for help as the new rules went into effect. By August 28, the city had gotten about 3,250 registration applications for the new rules and only 257 of them were approved

In a Facebook group for professional hosts on Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com, NYC hosts have been asking for help.

'New York is basically shutting down STRs for everyone unless its 31 days or more pre a class B dwelling . Anyone from the NYC market that has any advice on how to proceed?' Jamaal Johnson asked in the group.

While, Hannah Nguyen said she has been a long-term host that is now left in the cold.

'I started Airbnb since 2011 in Brooklyn, New York. I had gone through many difference changes with Airbnb and NYC, and starting Sept 5th I cant even allow to do Airbnb roomshare as the newest laws,' she wrote.

Renters have also been fuming over the new regulations that saw many vacation dreams dashed.

'This hit just two days ago, and it caused my first Airbnb in two years to be canceled less than twelve hours from my arrival. This lead to a long stint with customer service to get me a new place,' Facebook user Eric Cherry stated.

'When your NYC Airbnb host bails on you 20 days before your trip and everything else is either booked or 3x the price,' X user Mariah Kenner stated.

Airbnb estimated last month that there were about 15,000 active hosts renting out homes in the city

While some social media users who said hotel prices have spiked with the new Airbnb rules in place, the leader of the city's hotel association disputed those claims.

'The rise in hotel price has no relation to the law,' Vijay Dandapani, the president of the Hotel Association of New York City, told Dailymail.com.

'The Hotel Association fully supports the law, which is not a law against Airbnb or any platforms, but against converting homes to hotels,' he added.

Dandapani argued that the law was not unique for New York City, but existed in similar forms in all large cities like Paris and Barcelona.

'It's not the Hotel Association's job to accommodate everyone who want come to New York to come to New York,' Dandapani said.
A council covering a huge area of rural Australia has rejected a push to remove Indigenous Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies.

The Shire of Harvey, which covers 1,800 square kilometres of southwest Western Australia, has rejected a bid by Councillor Craig Carbone to ditch the rituals after strong opposition by Indigenous groups but decided to review the practices.

Cr Carbone argued last month that after the defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum showed a shift in attitude away from the 'tokenistic' and 'virtue signalling' ceremonies.

Welcome to Country acknowlegdements have become a fixture of Australian life (above is one before Carlton Blues Vs Collingwood Magpies at the MCG in round 10

'It's time for us all to start getting over our colonial past and look to our multicultural future... it's time we embrace everyone, from all walks of life and move forward as a nation,' he said.

'I think I made it loud and clear that people want to get rid of these "wokeisms" that are dragging our country down.'

Cr Carbone did not consult with the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation or the area's other major Indigenous body, the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, before making the motion.

Harvey Aboriginal Corporation Chairman Greg Little rejected these descriptions, despite the body previously stating Acknowledgment and Welcome ceremonies had become overused.

'It is not tokenism and actually delivered with heart, and desire for unity,' Corporation chairman Greg Little told the ABC.

'We are blessed with the acceptance... for Aboriginal people that exist in the Harvey community, and this community does not need division.'

South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council chairperson Megan Krakouer said the idea was 'disgraceful' and 'appalling'.

Shire of Harvey president Michelle Campbell said she was happy with the council's decision to review the rituals because the debate was causing distress.

'For our Indigenous community they're still reeling from the outcome of the referendum,' she said.

Shire of Harvey Councillor Craig Carbone moved an unsuccessful motion to ditch Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country ceremonies

'They were hurting as a result of this and I suppose the lack of consultation ... [on] how this [the proposal] was brought to council for discussion.'

Ms Campbell asserted the broader community did not support Mr Carbone's proposal and claimed to have received many submissions from locals opposing it.

After the meeting the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation posted a statement on social media that it was disappointed by the debate but respected the council's decision.

'We look forward to working with the shire and other community members on the review of this policy,' it said.

Earlier this month the Northern Areas Council, which covers a huge tract of land 200km north of Adelaide, passed a motion to remove the official Acknowledgement from meetings and remove it from official correspondence.

Councillors decided to dump the ritual because Australia was 'one country'.

The Shire of Harvey covers 1,800 square kilometres of south west Western Australia

Mayor Sue Scarman said an Acknowledgement of Country had been read at the start of council meetings for two years but dumping it was democracy in action.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson this month called for a ban on Welcome to Country after the referendum loss.

She said she wanted to hold leading Voice architect Professor Marcia Langton to her vow made in April that a No vote would end her performances of the ceremony.

WHAT ARE WELCOME TO COUNTRY AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY? A Welcome to Country can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place. It is usually performed by a local Aboriginal Elder to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands. It is also a sign of respect and protocol, but organising a Welcome to Country can take weeks, involving several different Indigenous groups. If a Traditional Owner is not available to do a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country can be delivered instead. An Acknowledgement of Country is a way to show awareness and respect for Traditional Custodians of the land where a meeting or event is taking place. Its purpose is to recognise the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country, and can be delivered by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. There are three types of Acknowledgement of Country: Generic  this should be used if you dont know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered, or if there are disputes about the land (multiple Aboriginal peoples identify as Traditional Custodians for that area). The words are: 'I begin today by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.' Specific  this should be used where there are no disputes and you know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered. The words are: 'I begin today by acknowledging the people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.' General (to be used Australia wide or in a webinar, on a website, or in printed material) - The words are: 'In the spirit of reconciliation the [organisation] acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.' Advertisement

'We can only hope this promise is lived up to,' said senator Hanson in a post on X of a speech she was unable to give in Parliament because of a censure motion.

She claimed Australians, some of them Indigenous people, were 'sick' of the ritual.

'They're recited at the beginning of every parliamentary sitting day, every council meeting, and every zoom meeting held by public servants,' she continued.

'We hear them at the conclusion of every domestic flight  you can hear the groans in the cabin every time.

'They have effectively lost all meaning for their constant repetition.

'Australians  including many Indigenous people  are sick and tired of them. They are sick of being told Australia is not their country.'
An elderly woman has claimed that she lost her $260,000 Tampa Bay home after her neighbor convinced her to sign a blank piece of paper - that he then used to take ownership of her land.

Susan Eatman, 80, of Thonotosassa, said Mark Oliver approached her in April with a 'high pressure sales tactic' and a blank piece of paper, which he begged her to sign.

Oliver operates a farm next to the 3.5 acre family property in Hillsborough County - and soon after the pestering, Eatman's home changed ownership.

Now the family are desperately trying to get the home back into their possession.

Eatman told WFLA: 'We were at a birthday dinner. He was very aggressive. He continues to say just sign the paper and I'm saying "I'm not signing anything, I don't even know you".

She conceded: 'I did sign it. A blank piece of paper.'

Susan Eatman, 80, of Thonotosassa, said her neighbor Mark Oliver, approached her in April with a 'high pressure sales' tactic and a blank piece of paper

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigators say that surveillance video shows Oliver inside an office as he filed the paperwork with the alleged falsified signature

The woman said she hadn't even seen Oliver before the encounter.

She soon realized she was in trouble. She added: 'I've done something stupid.'

Eatman believes that her neighbor used her signature and placed it on a quitclaim deed that removed her name from the real estate holding.

She told Fox News: 'There was a detective that investigated and talked to everybody and said that it was fraudulent. We'll do whatever we have to do to get it back.

'My parents paid for that property, and they wanted it to be Jackie's.'

Eatman's sister, Jaquelyn 'Jackie' White, lives in the home on the contested property and is named in the lawsuit.

An elderly woman has claimed that she lost her $260,000 Tampa Bay home after her neighbor convinced her to sign a blank piece of paper - that he then used to take ownership of her land

According to Oliver, she was compensated with $40,000, an air conditioning unit, and healthcare payments.

Oliver said Jackie had given him permission to put 'his animals on her property.'

According to the Sheriff's report, White was also made to sign a 'blank' paper.

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigators say that surveillance video shows Oliver inside an office as he filed the paperwork with the alleged falsified signature.

The issue is now with the state attorney, who is yet to file any charges.

Bryant Camareno, Oliver's criminal attorney, told 8 On Your Side: 'My client has not been charged with a crime. And he has not been found guilty of a crime.'

Oliver claimed 'the deed is not fraudulent and was not signed under fraudulent terms.
Japan suspended flights by its Osprey aircraft Thursday, officials said, the day after a U.S. Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed into the sea during a training mission.

Tokyo says it has also asked the U.S. military to ground all Ospreys operating in Japan except for those searching for victims of the crash.

A senior Defense Ministry official, Taro Yamato, told a parliamentary hearing that Japan has suspended flights of Ospreys beginning Thursday until details of the crash and safety are confirmed.

The U.S.-made Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster, like an airplane, during flight.

Ministry officials said a planned training flight Thursday at the Metabaru army camp in the Saga prefecture in southern Japan was canceled as part of the grounding of all 14 Japanese-owned Ospreys deployed at Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force bases.

Japanese officials say they also asked the U.S. military to suspend all Ospreys in Japan until the crash is fully examined and safety confirmed, except for the purpose of joining the ongoing search and rescue operations at the crash site. One U.S. Osprey has joined the rescue operation since the crash, Japanese defense officials said.

The occurrence of such a major accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region and it is truly regrettable," Defense Minoru Kihara said in a parliamentary hearing Thursday. We have requested the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after their flight safety is confirmed," he said. His language was vague and did not clearly say that all Ospreys should be stood down.

Defense officials said they hoped the U.S. side got the message, but NHK national television said a number of Ospreys flew in and out of a U.S. air base on Okinawa.

The U.S. Osprey crashed Wednesday off Japans southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members. The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known.

The coast guard, as well as Japanese troops, searched through the night, and on Thursday the coast guard started using sonar to search underwater for the broken aircraft that might have sunk to the sea bottom, at a depth of about 30 meters (100 feet).

Ospreys have had a number of crashes, including in Japan, where they are used at U.S. and Japanese military bases, and the latest crash rekindles safety concerns and controversy over the deployment in Japan. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki had said he would ask the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan.

On Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel at her ministry, asking the United States to promptly provide information to the Japanese side." Emanuel said the focus now is the search for the missing crew members and he thanked Japanese troops, coast guard and local fishermen for being side by side."

NHK public television and other news outlets reported that the aircraft had requested an emergency landing at the Yakushima airport about five minutes before it was lost from radar. NHK quoted a Yakushima resident saying he saw the aircraft turn upside down, with fire coming from one of its engines, and then an explosion before it fell into the sea.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

The aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japanese officials said.

Last year, Air Force Special Operations Command ordered a temporary stand-down of its Osprey fleet following back-to-back safety incidents where the Osprey clutch slipped, causing an uneven distribution of power to its rotors.

The Marine Corps and Navy have reported similar clutch slips, and each service has worked to address the issue in their aircraft, however clutch failure was also cited in a 2022 fatal U.S. Marine Corps Osprey crash that killed five.

According to the investigation of that crash, dual hard clutch engagement led to engine failure.

Separately, a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey with 23 Marines aboard crashed on a northern Australian island in August, killing three Marines and critically injuring at least five others who were taking part in a multinational training exercise. (AP)
An Aboriginal elder has called a regional council's decision to dump Acknowledgements to Country' before meetings and on official correspondence as 'racist'.

However, the councilors who voted to to ditch the tradition have hit back and said their intension is now to acknowledge every elder, irrespective of their cultural background, rather than singling out those who are Aboriginal.

Northern Areas Council, 200km north of Adelaide, earlier this month passed the official motion to drop the ceremony last month.

But Ngadjuri elder Parry Agius said he was at 'a loss' as to why the ceremony had been removed from council proceedings.

'[I'm] feeling that Ngadjuri people are not wanted in that place, in that region,' Mr Aguis told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

Ngadjuri elder Parry Agius (pictured with SA Premier Peter Malinauskas) said he was at 'a loss' as to why a Welcome to Country had been removed from council proceedings

'The reason behind an Acknowledgement is really about acknowledging that there were Aboriginal people before the area was colonised.

'There are Aboriginal people who are now wanting to come back into the region for work, for play, for pleasure, for reconciliation, and now it's dampened that approach.'

Mr Agius emphasised that although an Acknowledgement of Country might occasionally come across as 'bland,' its significance should not be underestimated.

The motion to 'delete the Acknowledgement of Country' was initiated by Councillor Hank Langes and seconded by Councillor John Barberien. Although it was passed, only five voted in favour while four voted against it.

'Our ancestors are in that space and by actually acknowledging the statement, our ancestors are connecting to that statement and the people who are making that Acknowledgement,' Mr Agius said.

'So it's not lost, that relationship is still going.'

Adnyamathanha elder Vince Coulthard also declare the move to dump the acknowledgment as 'racist attack'.

'it's absolutely disgusting that the council that represents the interests of the council's electorate area can just not acknowledge the First Nations people,' he said.

The motion to axe the ritual was initiated by Councillor Hank Langes and seconded by Councillor John Barberien, however the vote was not unanimous

'I think there's no room for reconciliation once this kind of thing happens.'

However, Cr Langes has defended the decision, telling Daily Mail Australia it was 'not a racist attack' and instead an attempt to include all races.

'I wanted to acknowledge every elder, regardless of race, who made this country what it is today. That's all I ever wanted,' he said.

'We're going to discuss this further at the next council meeting where we will acknowledge everybody.

'I agree that we need to acknowledge the past, but not just for one race.'

Mr Aguis said while the welcome may feel 'bland' it was essential for the council's relationship with Indigenous ancestors and elders (pictured, a Welcome to Country ceremony)

Cr Hank Langes (left) said his motion to remove the welcome was not a racist attack but instead an attempt to acknowledge everybody that has made Australia what it is today

The decision comes after the overwhelming defeat of the Voice to Parliament and growing criticism that Welcome to Country has become overused in Australia.

South Australians surprised the Yes campaign by overwhelmingly voting against enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the constitution, with 61.47 per cent voting no.

All 10 of its federal electorates also voted No.

A second South Australian council has since voted to stop reading a Welcome to Country at the start of every meeting.

The Playford Council, situated in the northern region of Adelaide, made a decision on Tuesday night to discontinue the practice of verbally reciting an acknowledgement of country.

Instead, they have opted to feature an 'inclusive' acknowledgement on their website. Additionally, they will reserve the verbal acknowledgement for special events, such as the swearing-in ceremonies of councillors.

Councillor David Kerrison who introduced the motion said reading an Acknowledgement of Country at every meeting was 'going overboard'.

'I listen to the younger generation who attend university and colleges  it's being read out before every lecture,' Cr Kerrison said.

'I think it's gone a little too far and, for me, I also don't think it's balanced.'

The Northern Areas Council - which is located 200km north of Adelaide - says its wards are located on the ancestral lands of the Ngadjuri and Nukunu traditional owners

An Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country is seen as an opportunity to show respect to Indigenous culture and Traditional Owners.

By incorporating the ritual into meetings, gatherings and events it reminds Australians they live and work on Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander lands, according to Reconciliation Australia.
The top general overseeing North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has launched an investigation into allegations of workplace drinking after discovering alcohol containers in classified workspaces.

The probe follows questions from USA Today, which on Wednesday reported that a secret day-drinking tavern known as the 'John Wayne Saloon' had operated inside NORAD and NORTHCOM headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado.

A spokesperson for the commands confirmed the investigation in a statement to DailyMail.com, saying that NORAD and NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck 'takes these allegations seriously'.

'NORAD and US Northern Command are aware of reports about allegations of concerning behaviors in the commands' headquarters,' the spokesperson said, adding that VanHerck had launched 'an investigation into alleged behaviors and command culture' upon learning of the allegations.

'There is no indication of any impact to operations, and NORAD and USNORTHCOM continue to conduct our missions,' the spokesperson added.

NORAD has been under close scrutiny since a January incident in which a Chinese spy balloon penetrated US airspace and loitered over sensitive military installations.

Gen. Glen VanHerck (above) has launched an investigation into allegations of workplace drinking after discovering alcohol containers in classified workspaces

VanHerck also confirmed the investigation to CBS News earlier on Wednesday, saying that he launched the probe after finding 'a relatively small number' of beer and liquor containers in 'a classified workspace behind a cipher lock'.

The general told USA Today that he had directed the walk-through inspection after the newspaper inquired about the allegations last week.

'Based on your inquiry, what I did was immediately direct a walkthrough of all spaces in the command with the intent to corroborate any of the allegations,' VanHerck told the outlet.

'We did find the John Wayne poster outside a door. Behind the locked door, what we found was an office space with a refrigerator that did contain some alcohol. We did find some beer...some hard liquor.'

Citing sources, USA Today reported that the room was in Building 2, secured by a keypad lock, and contained half a dozen bottles of top-shelf liquor.

The 'saloon' was named after a poster of actor John Wayne affixed to the door, and no cellphones were allowed inside, the sources said.

VanHerck told CBS that in his preliminary assessment, workplace drinking was not a widespread problem in his commands, and he did not believe there was an impact on their mission to defend North America, including the spy balloon incident.

'I don't assess there was any impact on any of our recent operations to include the high altitude balloon,' he told CBS.

'As a matter of fact, I'm really confident and comfortable from a readiness perspective of where we are, but I do look forward to the investigation to see what actions may need to be taken,' the general added.

NORAD and NORTHCOM are both headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, but it was not immediately clear whether VanHerck had discovered the illicit booze containers at that facility.

NORAD is tasked with monitoring and defending airspace in Canada and the continental US, while NORTHCOM protects US territory and national interests in much of North America.

The general said that while alcohol is not totally prohibited in workspaces, there are approval processes restricting where and when it can be consumed.

VanHerck said that he was not aware of allegations about illicit workplace drinking being elevated to command staff.

'I've been here since August of 2020, and all I can tell you is that nobody has come to me and expressed concern about the consumption of alcohol in the workspace,' he told CBS.

'We have conducted multiple climate surveys, and I don't recall any direct, specific allegation and concern of alcohol in the workspace.'

NORAD and NORTHCOM been under close scrutiny since a January incident in which a Chinese spy balloon (above) penetrated US airspace and loitered over military installations

Following the spy balloon incident last January, NORAD has been working to expand its early detection capabilities.

Last month, Defense One reported that the Pentagon plans to build six new radar facilities in the northwestern US and Canada to detect hypersonic Russian low-flying cruise missiles.

The new 'over-the-horizon' northern radars will be designed for early detection if Moscow decided to send such missiles over the Arctic.

Four large plots of land are being bought by the US Air Force in the US and two in Canada for radar systems.

Earlier this year, NORAD commander VanHerck told Congress of the urgent need for such 'over-the-horizon' radar to protect against emerging threats of cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons from Russia.

He said it would provide 'proven, affordable technology that will ensure our ability to detect threats from surface to space in the approaches to North America.'

He said: 'Rather than fielding the capabilities in eight to 10 years, maybe we can shorten that to four to five years. And by the way, I need Canada to do the same thing. A fielding of a capability a decade from now is not where we need to be.'

VenHerck said Alaska may be the 'most strategic location on the planet' partly because it is the 'shortest avenue approach for ballistic missiles from Russia, potentially China and (North Korea) to our homeland.

'The bottom line is if you can't detect something, you can't defeat it, and you certainly can't deter.'
Elon Musk on Wednesday denied that his trip to Israel this week was 'an apology tour', despite the visit coinciding with a furore about his backing an anti-Semitic post.

The world's richest man was in Israel on Monday, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and seeing the sites of the October 7 terror attack for himself.

Musk has faced a storm of controversy after his November 15 support for a post declaring that Jewish people supported immigration from developing countries to the West, which would see themselves outnumbered and was therefore ill-advised.

Musk said the 'replacement theory' post spoke 'the actual truth'.

He apologized on November 19, and insisted he was not anti-Semitic, but companies pulled their advertising in protest - a move which internal documents suggested could cost X as much as $75 million.

Musk on Wednesday, speaking at the DealBook Summit hosted by The New York Times, said the post was 'one of the most foolish things' he had ever done - but insisted his visit to Israel was not to pay penance for his remarks.

Yet an hour before Musk was seen being shown through a devastated kibbutz in the southern part of the country, he tweeted: 'Actions speak louder than words' - an apparent swipe at his critics.

Elon Musk on Wednesday insisted that his visit to Israel two days previously was not 'an apology tour'

'The trip to Israel was independent of the post - it was not like some apology tour,' he said.

'I want to be clear. It was independent of that. It was not in response to it at all.'

During his visit to Israel, he promised continued support for the country in its retaliation against Hamas, while promoting the idea of a 'prosperous future' for Gaza.

Musk's unusual visit to Israel began Monday morning, during a four-day pause to the fighting, and saw him hold a live online discussion with Netanyahu.

Hearing Netanyahu describe the destruction of Hamas - which Israel has set as a war goal - as necessary for any prospective peace with the Palestinians, Musk expressed his general agreement.

'There's no choice,' said Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX. 'I'd like to help as well.'

The visit also comes in the wake of the release of Jewish hostages by Hamas, including four-year-old American-Israeli Abigail Edan.

'Those that are intent on murder must be neutralized,' Musk said. 'The propaganda must stop that is training people to be murderers in the future. And then, making Gaza prosperous. And if that happens, I think it will be a good future.'

On the same day as Musk's visit, the Qatari government announced that the truce in the conflict had been extended by two more days.

As part of his visit to Israel, Musk was shown a 44 minute long film detailing the atrocities that took place on October 7

The Tesla founder was shown a baby's crib that now contains expelled gun shells from the terror attack

Earlier this month, Musk was roundly criticized for his response to this message on X

An hour before Musk was seen being shown through the devastated area, he tweeted: 'Actions speak louder than words,' an apparent swipe at his critics

Less than two weeks ago, Musk replied to a social media post featuring an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory calling it 'the actual truth.'

During his conversation with Netanyahu, Musk called his visit to the war-torn areas of Israel as 'jarring' and described the videos he was shown of the attack as 'troubling.'

The prime minister used much of the conversation to justify the bombardment of Gaza with Musk saying that it was vital to 'get rid of the ones who are hellbent on murdering Jewish people while also brining up the need to minimize civilian casualties.

The SpaceX founder is also working with Israeli officials to allow Starlink, his service that provides internet access to areas that typically do not have it, to operate in Gaza.

Government officials banned its use, alleging that it was not be used by aid workers but rather by Hamas terrorists.

Israel's communications minister Shlomo Karhi tweeted on Monday that an 'understanding is vital' between Musk and his department in order for Starlink to become operational.

In an X post addressed to Musk, Karhi said he hoped the visit to Israel 'will serve as a springboard for future endeavours, as well as enhance your relationship with the Jewish people and values we share with the entire world'.

Earlier on Monday, Musk walked with Netanyahu through the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where 62 people were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

In a video released by the Israeli government, Musk is shown in a small flak jacket solemnly listening as a member of the IDF explains how the terror unfolded on that fateful day. The South African remains silent, stopping only to take pictures of the ravaged community.

Kfar Aza was among the 20 or so kibbutz that were ransacked and assaulted by Hamas. Among the homes visited by Musk was that of the community's security chief Ofir Libstein, who died while trying to repel Hamas terrorists.

Since the barbaric assault perpetrated by Hamas, Musk has faced waves of criticism for turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism on X, formerly known as Twitter. That criticism has led to a reported loss in ad revenue.

In a particularly poignant moment, the Tesla founder was shown a baby's crib that now contains expelled terrorist gunshot shells.

Musk was also told about Mor Edan, the Israeli-American who was just released yesterday after spending six weeks in captivity after her parents were slaughtered by gunmen. On Monday, she was reunited with her aunt.

Netanyahu and Musk inside one of the homes that now lies empty in Kfar Aza

Four-year-old orphan Abigail Mor Edan was released Sunday after 49 days in captivity, she celebrated her birthday as a hostage, on Monday Musk was shown her former home

'Netanyahu showed Musk the horrors of the massacre in the kibbutz from the events of the Saturday of October 7,' a statement from the prime minister's office read.

'Musk heard the story of the heroism of the late Ofir Liebstein, the head of the regional council who was murdered on the morning of October 7 in an exchange of fire with terrorists who infiltrated the kibbutz,' the release also said.

Netanyahu last met with Musk in California on September 18 and urged him to strike a balance between protecting free expression and fighting hate speech after weeks of controversy over anti-Semitic content on X.

Musk responded by saying he was against antisemitism and against anything that 'promotes hate and conflict,' repeating his previous statements that X would not promote hate speech.

Antisemitism and Islamophobia have risen in the United States and worldwide, including during the now seven-week-old war between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian faction Hamas.

Earlier this month, Musk was accused of promoting anti-Semitism again after he responded to a man who posted a screed on X criticizing a Foundation to Combat Anti-Semitism campaign video.

In the video, a father is seen talking to his son about the online hatred the son has spewed, and calling him out for his rhetoric.

The X user dismissed the video, writing: 'Jewish communties (sic) have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.

Kfar Aza was among the 20 or so kibbutz that were ransacked and assaulted by Hamas, here Musk hears how the attack unfolded

At one point during his tour of the kibbutz, Musk stopped to take what looked like a video of the surroundings

Musk and Netanyahu were told by an IDF servicemember how Hamas gunmen infiltrated the kibbutz

During a video released by the Israeli government, Musk did not speak as he was told about the atrocity

The visit comes as Musk faces condemnation worldwide for the proliferation of hate speech on his social media app, X

An IDF servicemember held an umbrella over Musk's head during the visit to the now-deserted kibbutz

'I'm deeply disinterested in giving the tiniest s*** now about western Jewish populations coming to the disturbing realization that those hordes of minorities that support flooding their country don't exactly like them too much.

'You want truth said to your face, there it is.'

Musk, who has 163 million followers, replied: 'You have said the actual truth.'

The father of 11 has a long history of toying with dog-whistle rhetoric about Jewish people, in particular George Soros, who enraged him in May by selling his Tesla stock.

On Sunday, Abigail Mor Edan's grandfather, Carmel, said that even though he is filled with joy that his granddaughter is now on her way home, he knows that 'there are many people who haven't yet come back.' Abigail was the first American released in the negotiated cease-fire between Palestine and Israel.

'I greatly want them to be returned and that the IDF finish what it has promised: All the hostages [back] and Hamas [destroyed],' he said.

The grandfather has not been allowed to speak or meet with Abigail yet, but plans to smother her with kisses when they reunite.

'There's nothing to say,' he added.

The first picture of Abigail since her release: seen in a Red Cross ambulance (right) after being released by Hamas as the first American to be set free

Edan was one of 17 hostages released Sunday, 49 days after the war broke out and militants stormed her kibbutz in southern Israel.

Fighters gunned down her parents, Roy Edan, 43 and Smadar Edan, 40, in the attack.

The girl's siblings, aged ten and six, survived after hiding out for hours in the family home. Carmel Edan said he hasn't told them about their younger sister's release yet.

Abigail, who celebrated her fourth birthday in captivity, is now in the hands of Red Cross officials.

President Joe Biden said, after her release, that what the youngster has endured is 'unthinkable' and that she has suffered a 'terrible trauma.'

'I wish I were there to hold her,' Biden said. 'Today she's free, and Jilly and I, together with so many Americans, are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright.'

The grandfather thanked Biden saying: 'We love him very much for all the help he is giving us, to Israel. Keep going. Keep going. We don't admire you. We love you.'

The terror group has been keeping captives since its October 7 surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead.

Over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli counteroffensive.
Neighbours described the men as quiet and friendly

Two bodies found inside a home in an affluent beachside suburb 15 hours apart in suspected murder-suicide are believed to be of an elderly man and his son.

Emergency services were called to a Glenelg North home in Adelaide on Tuesday afternoon where a man, 88, was found dead at the scene.

Police were unable to establish a cause of death and launched an investigation.

Officers were called to the same address shortly after 4am on Wednesday where a second man, 63, was found dead.

It's understood the two men found dead were father and son who lived at the home together.

Detectives and forensic officers have spent the last two days examining the Kibby Avenue home.

Investigations are continuing after an elderly man, 88, and his son 63, were found dead at this Glenelg North home

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Police have removed two large desk computers from the home, along with brown bags of evidence.

South Australian Police confirmed that the incident is being treated as a murder-suicide.

'The investigation is in its early stages and police need to conduct further investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding both deaths,' a police statement read.

'Both men are known to each other and resided at the address.'

The deaths have rocked residents in the quiet leafy street who described the men who lived there are quiet and friendly.

They also detailed their final sightings of the younger man hours before he died.

Shocked neighbours recalled seeing the distraught son, 63, going for a walk with a woman believed to be his partner shortly after the coroner attended the home on Tuesday afternoon.

'The man actually put his arm around her,' one woman told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'And because they were hugging and walking down the street there I thought they're obviously distressed about what's happened.'

Police were seen at the home taking away brown bags containing evidence

Shocked neighbours described the men who lived at the home as quiet and friendly

Keith Miller overhead the pair saying that the older man had been feeling unwell that morning and had gone back to bed after breakfast.

'I don't believe it. They were lovely people, I don't believe it,' he said.

'But everyone in the house got along fine. I never heard any loud or strange noises coming from the house, and they were all very friendly when we'd see each other.'

The home last sold for $425,000 in September 2005, according to real estate records.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The deaths come on the back of a shocking spate of domestic violence murders in South Australia that occurred within the space of a week.

If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, 1800 RESPECT or Mensline Australia: 1300 789 978.

Detectives and forensic officers spent Wednesday examining the Glenelg North home where a father and son were found dead 15 hours apart in a suspected murder-suicide
Another council in South Australia has decided to stop reading an acknowledgement of country during its meetings.

On Tuesday night, the City of Playford, encompassing Adelaide's northern suburbs, approved a motion to discontinue the verbal Acknowledgement of Country during meetings.

Instead, they will feature an 'inclusive' acknowledgement on their website and reserve verbal acknowledgements for special events, such as the swearing-in of councillors.

Earlier this month the Northern Areas Council recently opted to eliminate acknowledgements at meetings and from all official council correspondence.

The decision comes after the overwhelming defeat of the Voice to Parliament and growing criticism that Welcome to Country has become overused in Australia.

South Australians surprised the Yes campaign by overwhelmingly voting against enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the constitution, with 61.47 per cent voting no.

All 10 of its federal electorates also voted No.

Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson has hit out federal departments spending $125,000 on training public servants to conduct acknowledgement of country ceremonies with more 'enjoyment, excitement, love and fun'.

The Education, Climate Change and the Environment, which forked out $55,000 alone, paid for the training, according to an analysis of contracts by The Daily Telegraph.

Perth-based company Acknowledge This! was one of the training providers.

It is run by Rhys Paddick, who is a member of the Wajarri people from the midwest region of Western Australia, and American expatriate Emma Gibbens.

It has been revealed that federal government has spent $125,000 on Acknowledgment of Country training

In a video promoting their training programs, Mr Paddick said 'the point' of doing Acknowledgment to Country is that be done from 'enjoyment, excitement, love fun'.

In his profile on the firm's website Mr Paddick is listed as an 'expert in cultural desensitivity'.

'Rhys specialises in moving people and businesses out of ticking boxes into a place of authenticity,' the profile says.

The profile for Ms Gibbens, who worked as a political operatives for Democratic candidates in Wisconsin and California, says she 'activates leadership in change, one conversation at a time'.

'We've seen the ripples of change within an organisation from even one session with us,' she says in the video.

The Australian Public Service Commission said it had paid $55,000 to different provider Pretty Dardy, which is also Perth-based, to design and deliver cultural awareness workshops for the department's graduate recruits over this year and last.

Around 400 graduate recruits attended four virtual sessions in 2022, while year six sessions were delivered for approximately 500 participants.

Senator Hanson questioned the value of this calling Acknowledgment and Welcome ceremonies 'pathetic virtue signalling' and 'divisive'.

'At the Voice referendum, an overwhelming majority of Australians rejected the kind of racial division and useless virtue signalling these practices represent,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

Senator Hanson has hit out at federal government departments paying $125,000 to train public servants in performing Acknowledgments of Country

Emma Gibbens (pictured left) and Rhys Paddick deliver training programs for their consultancy Acknowledge This!

In August it was revealed the federal government had spent over $45,000 on Welcome to Country ceremonies in the last financial year.

However, the total cost could be much higher, with more half the major departments and agencies unwilling or unable to say what they spend on the practice.

Figures obtained by Sky News from Budget Estimates sessions in Federal Parliament show that the Welcome to Country ceremonies typically cost between $5,000 and $7,500 but can reach up to $10,500 for the opening of parliament.

Half the federal government's departments ignored parliament's request to provide the amount spent on Welcome to Country, with two saying they 'could not' give figures.

Sky News says one department official told them Welcome to Country costs couldn't be revealed because of 'commercial and cultural sensitivities'.

Of the agencies that did respond, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations spent the greatest amount on Welcomes to Country, more than $14,000 on 20 ceremonies.

Home Affairs spent almost $12,000, the ABC forked out more than $7000, while Treasury allocated $2950.

Four other departments said they spent between $1,600 and $2800 each.
A high profile radio executive who oversees the Kyle and Jackie O show has admitted to an assault on his ex after their relationship broke down.

Duncan John Campbell, 60, appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday after pleading not guilty to two charges of common assault, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, and destroying property.

He was due to fight the charges at a defended hearing, however he entered a last-minute guilty plea to one count of common assault.

The police prosecutor subsequently withdrew the remaining three charges.

The court heard the Australian Radio Network chief content officer had invited his ex-partner over to his Sydney apartment after the two attempted to resolve an ongoing dispute.

Duncan John Campbell, 60, appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday after pleading not guilty to two charges of common assault, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, and destroying property

The couple spent the night together, but Campbell told the younger man to leave in the morning after they started arguing again.

The court heard the victim tried to force his way past the 60-year-old to enter the apartment, but he was rebuffed.

Campbell hit the younger man in the face and then swung a shopping bag at him.

The 60-year-old allegedly struck the victim several times on his back, hands, and leg before kicking him.

Mr Campbell is a high-ranking executive for ARN which owns and operates several popular radio stations around Australia, including KIIS FM, which has the Kyle and Jackie O show, and WSFM

The man went to hospital several days later, sparking a police investigation into the alleged domestic violence assault.

Magistrate Daniel Reiss convicted Campbell and fined him $1000.

The victim will be protected by a two-year apprehended domestic violence order.

Mr Campbell was one of more than 640 people arrested in a major police operation targeting domestic violence offenders across the state.

He is a high-ranking executive for ARN which owns and operates several popular radio stations around Australia, including KIIS FM and WSFM.

KIIS FM has been made into a national success by its headline breakfast show, The Kyle and Jackie O show
Sitting in the classroom one day, listening to her science teacher, something just clicked in 14-year-old Aisha Ali-Khan's brain. It was a discussion about genetics and an explanation of how genes are passed from parents to their children; how some genes are dominant and some recessive and the risks inherent when both parents are carriers of a recessive gene.

Gripped by the subject, Aisha suddenly began to understand the potentially devastating impact that so-called 'cousin marriages'  the union of closely-related individuals  can have on the offspring. 'I remember going home from school and asking my mum and dad, 'Is this why my brothers died?' ' she tells me.

Aisha grew up in the former mill town of Keighley, about eight miles from Bradford, where one in four of the population is Pakistani and Muslim. For many, cousin or 'consanguineous' marriages have been the norm.

Her Pakistani-born parents, Mohammed and Barkat, were first cousins and had seven children. Sadly, three of Aisha's siblings died young: her twin brother Ahmed was just two, Sarfraz, four, and another brother, Kasim, had cerebral palsy and did not live to see his 18th birthday.

The boys were all born with serious health problems, including hearing impairments and epilepsy, and needed mobility aides, such as wheelchairs or strollers.

Aisha Ali Khan from Keighley, West Yorkshire, whose has lost siblings to genetic problems (pictured with her parents)

Aisha, now 43, appears perfectly healthy. But she has hypercholesterolemia  raised levels of 'bad' cholesterol  so has to take statins for the rest of her life

Aisha also has an older sister Tahira who has special needs.

The physical and mental health issues suffered by the youngsters were, says Aisha, most likely a consequence of the consanguineous marriage. But her parents would not accept that being related could have affected so many of their children in this way.

'They kept saying, Allah di marzi  it's God's will.'

While cousin marriages aren't illegal in the UK, they remain a taboo. In Pakistan, however, about 60 per cent marry their first cousins, the highest rate in the world.

And many of the first generation of Pakistani and Kashmiri immigrants starting a new life here feared their children would lose their cultural values over time. To maintain those ties, they encouraged or, in extreme circumstances, forced their children to marry a relative from abroad.

Marrying a cousin guarantees wealth and property stays in the family. It is also believed that if the bride is a relative, she will be more dedicated in looking after her husband's family.

Of course, families from all ethnicities can be affected by genetic disorders. But some of these  known as recessive disorders  are more common where couples are blood relatives.

While most babies born to such couples are healthy, a recessive disorder can occur when both parents carry the same 'recessive' gene and pass it on to their child.

It means that, with two first cousins carrying the same such genes, there is a one-in-four chance of a child being born with congenital anomalies. For every 100 babies born to unrelated couples, around three have a genetic ailment, while for every 100 babies born to closely related couples, six do. In other words, the risk is doubled.

Problems can include blindness, deafness, blood disorders, heart or kidney failure, lung and liver problems and complex neurological disorders, all of which may require long, complex and costly treatment and therapies, hospitalisation and possibly residential care.

Growing up, Aisha had the added responsibility of being a carer for her siblings, while her peers were free to play or study. Nevertheless, she graduated with a degree in history and politics from Bradford University followed by a teaching qualification. Today, she works at a special needs school but still shares caring duties for Tahira.

'She's 45 and needs round-the-clock care,' Aisha explains. 'She's capable of going to the toilet and feeding herself, but can't be left alone. She just doesn't understand the concept of danger. She's still [mentally] a child.'

Aisha, now 43, appears perfectly healthy. But she has hypercholesterolemia  raised levels of 'bad' cholesterol  so has to take statins for the rest of her life. Another surviving sibling has epilepsy (which he manages with medication), and the other has asthma as well as type-2 diabetes.

The physical and mental health issues suffered by the youngsters were, says Aisha, most likely a consequence of the consanguineous marriage

Aisha's brother Sarfraz who died in 1988 aged four

Aisha's twin brother Ahmed, passed away just aged two

'We look 'normal' from the outside, but no one knows about these conditions,' she says.

With this family history  and after seeing members of her wider family affected, too  it is no surprise that Aisha was resolute in her decision to never marry a cousin or other close relative.

She is not the only one in her generation making a stand.

New figures reveal consanguineous marriages in Bradford are falling at last. Ten years ago, a seminal research project called Born in Bradford (BiB) showed a staggering 62 per cent of babies in the city were born to Pakistani parents who were first or second cousins.

But a new follow-up study of mothers in three inner-city wards in Bradford finds the figure is now less than half  at 46 per cent.

There are several reasons for this. The first is that the BiB study, a research project based at Bradford Royal Infirmary that tracked the lives of tens of thousands of children born in the West Yorkshire city, has been key to raising awareness.

Aisha credits it with helping people make the link between genetic illnesses in their families and cousin marriages.

There have also been changes in immigration rules which make it harder for foreign cousin-partners to come to the UK. (In 2012, the Government introduced a minimum income requirement of 18,600 before tax for anyone applying to bring a partner from outside the EU to the UK. Home Office figures show partner visas fell from 40,317 in 2019, to 25,841 at the end of June 2022  a 36 per cent drop.)

Most importantly, young people in ethnic communities are better educated and this is leading to a change in attitudes.

A decrease in the number of consanguineous marriages is certainly welcome. This is a problem that has affected almost every Pakistani family  including my own.

My grandparents were from Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In our family, marrying a cousin used to be the norm. But my generation and the next know better: we are saying no to such unions.

While, thankfully, there were no disabilities or serious diseases in our family, Pakistani friends have shared heartbreaking stories of children born with a range of health problems as a result of cousin marriages.

No parent wants to condemn their offspring to a life of suffering or early death and it was the BiB study that first showed the scale of the problem developing in Britain. One of the most ambitious research projects in the world at that time, it set out to discover why so many children born in the city died young or had profound disabilities.

A total of 12,453 pregnant women were recruited  without regard to ethnicity  between 2007 and 2010. Researchers discovered while 1.7 per cent of babies in England and Wales are born with a birth defect, the figure in Bradford was 3 per cent.

Within the Pakistani sub-group, 77 per cent of babies with birth defects were born to parents in consanguineous marriages.

This tragic outcome is repeated across multiple towns and cities in the UK with communities where cousin marriages are prevalent. In 2021, Birmingham announced an emergency taskforce to investigate high levels of infant mortality after it emerged deaths of newborns were twice the national average. Poverty and deprivation were a factor but a report from the city council found a fifth of all infant deaths were a result of genetic problems caused when cousins marry.

Babies of Pakistani and South Asian heritage were disproportionately affected, with one in 188 stillborn compared to one in every 295 white babies.

Oldham, in Greater Manchester, with a high percentage of people of South Asian heritage, has the worst rate of infant mortality in the North-West, at 6.2 per 1,000 people  significantly higher than the national rate of 3.9. A 2018 report estimated 20 births annually in Oldham are affected by consanguinity-related disorders.

Back in Bradford, a 2022 report by the city's child death overview panel revealed that the rate of child deaths for those from Asian backgrounds was still three times higher than for their white counterparts. And although rates of cousin marriage are falling, this has not yet filtered through to birth rates of children with genetic problems. It explains why, of the 142 child deaths in Bradford from 2019 to 2021, genetic and congenital anomalies were a factor in 43 per cent in 2020-2021, up from 33 per cent in 2019-2020.

There is hope. Dr John Wright, chief investigator of the BiB project, says: 'In just under a decade we've had a significant shift from cousin marriage being, in a sense, a majority activity to now being just about a minority activity. The effect will be fewer children with congenital anomalies.'

Aisha Ali-Khan agrees. 'Youngsters now don't want to marry a cousin,' she says. 'They've seen what their parents have gone through and how they've suffered.' Her son Ahmad, 20, is firmly against cousin marriages, she says, while her 22-year-old nephew, Islam Hussain, believes a tougher stance is necessary. 'I don't think [cousin marriages] should be allowed.' This is despite his own parents being first cousins.

Aisha is adamant that more couples from her community should undergo genetic screening, to help prevent the pain that she and her family endured. Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, a constituency a few miles from Bradford, would go further: 'If it were down to me, I would ban first cousin marriages altogether. The health consequences are pretty stark.'

While he is 'delighted' the figures for consanguineous marriages have declined, he says the subject still isn't being addressed sufficiently. 'People shy away from talking about it. But when you have severe health consequences then to hell with cultural sensibilities. It's terrible and heartbreaking for the families in many cases.'

But education is key and many young people in Bradford I spoke to are keenly aware of the issue.

Ali, who is self-employed, says the figures are 'still not good enough', but believes that attitudes in the younger generation have changed significantly.

'Nowadays if someone has a girlfriend, their parents don't say anything,' he says. 'I'm 33 and my parents are telling me, 'Just find someone and give us grandkids!'

For 21-year-old Safwan, who is studying chemical engineering at Bradford University, cousin marriages are a relic from his parents' and grandparents' generation.

'We've got a lot more freedom. People meet each other online. No one I know would get married to anyone in the family.'

Indeed, many young Muslims are eschewing the traditional arranged marriage route. Muzz, an app enabling Muslims to meet potential marriage partners, now has over nine million members worldwide and claims 500,000 marriages.

CEO Shahzad Younas says: 'Younger Muslims are a lot more open to meeting someone from a different background.'

Even in Pakistan and Kashmir, societal attitudes in the cities are changing rapidly, as cousins Kiran and Shaneeza tell me. It is not uncommon for young people in Mirpur city, where they're from, to bypass parental introduction and meet each other online.

'You see people making videos on TikTok or Snapchat, telling the world how they met on social media,' says care worker Kiran, 29.

We should not be complacent about child deaths and disability as a consequence of cousin marriages. But people like Aisha Ali-Khan, her son, nephew and other youngsters in Bradford allow us to believe change for the better is imminent.
Newsnight is to be cut from 40 to 30 minutes and will lose more than half its staff as the BBC tries to save 500 million.

The flagship BBC2 current affairs programme  which launched in January 1980  will also drop its team of dedicated reporters and stop doing its own investigative films.

Last night Newsnight presenter Mark Urban condemned the move, saying: 'I have worked on the programme for 32 years, around the world, risking my life many times for its journalism. You can well imagine my feelings at cuts to our staff and budget of more than 50 per cent.'

It is understood that more than half of the nearly 60 jobs on the programme will be lost. According to the National Union of Journalists, wider changes in the corporation's news division will result in 127 posts being axed in total.

The union added that 'funding cuts' would also hit Panorama, saying these combined with the Newsnight savings were a 'major blow'.

Newsnight, which is currently presented by Kirsty Wark, is to be cut from 40 minutes to 30 minutes in length

The show has become known for its investigative reporting and hard hitting interviews, including Emily Maitlis's (pictured) face-to-face with Prince Andrew in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal

Overall changes across its news division are expected to save 7.5 million, as the BBC looks to find 500 million savings across the organisation.

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Former BBC journalists lambasted the cuts, with ex-Newsnight reporter John Sweeney saying it was a 'sad day' for 'people who care about holding power and money to account'.

The corporation's former home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the cuts 'don't make sense' and will leave the BBC 'badly exposed'.

As part of the changes, the corporation announced the BBC News At One bulletin will be lengthened to an hour and relocate to Salford. BBC Breakfast will be extended by 15 minutes.

BBC chief executive of news and current affairs Deborah Turness said the changes continued the organisation's 'shape-shift from broadcast to digital'. She said the corporation found itself in a 'tough financial situation' and the move to digital meant it was forced to make 'some difficult choices'.

Newsnight made Jeremy Paxman a household name for his aggressive interviews. The show also made headlines in 2019 when Emily Maitlis interviewed the Duke of York over his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But in recent years it has been accused of losing its relevance, with its linear TV audiences in decline.

Last month, veteran presenter Kirsty Wark revealed she will quit the show after the next election. The show's editor, Stewart Maclean, reportedly has also announced he is leaving.

Ms Maitlis, who left the BBC last year, said last night: 'Of course there will still be interviews and debates and the theme music will carry on. But once the bosses send out a signal they don't really 'care' about a flagship investigative news programme  the guests and the audience start to wonder why they should.'

Among the more infamous episodes was an interview with Michael Howard where Jeremy Paxman (pictured) asked him the same question 12 times in a row

The show has been aired on the BBC since 1980. Pictured: Presenters and reporters from the first edition of Newsnight (left to right) Fran Morrison, Peter Snow, David Davies and Charles Wheeler

She added that the Prince Andrew interview could not have happened in this new 'iteration' of Newsnight. A BBC insider said: 'Staff are extremely angry about Newsnight and managers trying to persuade us it will be 'made up for' by extending a lunchtime bulletin!'

They added: 'It's being seen as a deliberate strategy. Although our bosses are saying the programme's future is secure because it is valued, if you wanted to make Newsnight less valuable to sink the ratings then this is what you'd do. Chop it down.'

Ms Turness added: 'Linear TV is in decline, and Newsnight's viewing figures reflect this general trend. It simply no longer makes sense to keep a bespoke reporting team dedicated to a single news programme with a small and declining audience, however good that programme is.'
CCTV footage shows the moment two Palestinian boys are shot dead in broad daylight during an Israeli raid in the West Bank, officials in the territory say.

The two children, named by the Palestinian health ministry as eight-year-old Adam al-Ghul and 15-year-old Bassem Abu el-Wafa, were allegedly killed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the city of Jenin on Wednesday.

CCTV footage circulating online and on television news shows a boy being struck by a bullet and falling in the street, sending other children fleeing.

Other images show a teenager also being hit by a bullet and falling, then appearing to call for help as more shots hit the ground around him and other people run for cover.

The teenager can be seen struggling on the ground in apparent agony for at least half a minute.

CCTV footage shows the boy, circled in a red above, being shot during an Israeli military raid in Jenin

Red Crescent first aiders check the damage of a house in Jenin following the Israeli raid on Wednesday

Palestinians use a digger to clear rubble away from a building that was damaged in the incident

An official with the Palestinian Red Crescent told AFP that the boy and the teen had been on a side street of central Jenin's main thoroughfare, an area theoretically off limits to the Israeli military as it is under the sole control of the Palestinian Authority.

The IDF said in a statement in a statement that during 'activity in the Jenin camp, a number of suspects hurled explosive devices toward IDF soldiers'.

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'The soldiers responded with live fire toward the suspects and hits were identified.'

It is not clear if this is referring to the boys in question, with CCTV footage of the shooting not appearing to show them throwing objects.

In the aftermath of the shooting footage showed the body of one of the children, Basel, being wrapped in a Hamas flag as he was prepared for burial in a crowded hospital morgue.

One relative of the child told the BBC it was not what Basel would have wanted, adding: 'He's innocent, not from the militias He's perfect in school, a good boy, kind.'

The shooting took place amid a surge in activity in Jenin, with the IDF saying that during an overnight raid in the town's refugee camp its troops 'killed two high-ranking terrorists'.

The IDF reported these to be senior commander for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Zubeidi, and another called Wissam Hanoun who had been inside a building with him.

Zubeidi was accused by the IDF of being involved in a pair of attacks that had left Israelis dead or injured in May. The Israeli military added it had arrested 17 wanted persons in the raid.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, confirmed two of its local commanders were killed.

Emergency services and Palestinians congregate outside a house damaged by fighting in Jenin

Masonry and rubble lie on the floor next to a damaged car following the raid in Jenin refugee camp

Israeli military vehicles travel in a single-file line as the convoy moves through Jenin during Wednesday's raid

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) infantry troops walk through the streets of Jenin in the Palestinian West Bank on Wednesday

A man peers out from a damaged house which has masonry, rubble and parts of the roof hanging in front of it following the raid

Palestinians inspect a bullet ridden wall of a building after the raid which Israel said killed two terrorist commanders in Jenin

The Red Crescent reported having provided aid to six Palestinians wounded by gunfire during the raid.

Photos taken in the aftermath show heavy damage to buildings and vehicles in the area of the raid, with emergency services and rescue works digging through rubble.

Since the October 7 attack on Israel and its ensuing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, violence in the West Bank has flared, with nearly 240 Palestinians killed by either soldiers or Israeli settlers, according to the health ministry.

Also on Wednesday, the Israeli army arrested a 12-year-old boy in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group said.

The boy would become the youngest Palestinian prisoner in Israeli detention, with nearly 200 women and males aged 18 or under released in recent days under an agreement pausing fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Mahmud Ghawanmeh, father of Karim Ghawanmeh, told AFP that via his brother, Israeli soldiers had summoned him to bring in his son.

'I thought I would be with him for his interrogation, but the officer told me to go back home,' he added, without specifying the accusations against his son.
A Long Island man has been sentenced to 25 years to life after he was convicted for killing his pregnant girlfriend, as he was caught on video dumping her on the side of the road.

Goey Charles, 33, was found guilty by a jury on November 14 of second-degree murder in the October 2020 death of then-29-year-old Vanessa Pierre.

On the morning of October 23, Charles drove Pierre's white Dodge Challenger on the Horace Harding Expressway in Queens.

Pierre, a nurse practitioner who was six months pregnant, was sitting in the passenger seat.

He got out of the car at 3:30 a.m. and took Pierre from the backseat and left her there.

Goey Charles (pictured left), 33, was found guilty by a jury on November 14 of second-degree murder in the October 2020 death of then-29-year-old Vanessa Pierre (pictured right)

Pierre could still be seen moving around in the vehicle eight minutes later but an hour after that, according to authorities, Charles dragged her lifeless body out of the car, left her on the sidewalk and drove away.

Charles has been given the maximum sentence afforded for the offense, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

'We asked for the maximum sentence because of the brutality of the crime and the defendant's remorseless discarding of the lifeless body of his girlfriend, the woman who was soon to be the mother of his child,' Katz said in a statement.

'The sentence does not bring Vanessa back, but it achieves justice in her memory.'

Though testimony from officials was cited, much of the evidence against Pierre came from the gruesome video.

In the clip, released by the NYPD in the days after Pierre's death, the man identified as Charles can be seen pulling the body out of his vehicle and then running off to get back into his car.

Bruising was found around the woman's neck, leading investigators to believe she had been strangled.

Neighbors shared that police had been watching the home Charles resided in all weekend.

The NYPD released footage that allegedly showed Charles disposing of the nurse practitioner's body

Pierre, who was six months pregnant, was found on the side of the Horace Harding Expressway near Bell Boulevard in Bayside

After dumping the woman's body, the man in the video jumps in his car and drives off

They also shared that the pair had been dating for a year but it is unknown whether Charles was the father of the child.

'It's horrible what happened,' Herlin Pierre, the woman's father, shared. 'She was pregnant too.'

'She was six months  that's what she told me. It looks like I lost two people. I was prepared to have a baby shower for her, and that's the bad news I heard.'

Her sister, Melissa, told the New York Post in 2020 that she knew Charles couldn't be trusted.

'She loved him and she wanted a family but I told her this man is not it,' Melissa said.

'I kept telling her this man is not it. Something was just off about him. He was a pathological liar. They moved really fast, been together about a year, less than that. From what it looked like, it looked like he wasn't really working.'

Charles, a native of Long Island, was arrested just three days after Pierre's body was found.
Let's see a joined-up plan to cut migration

We are living in a strange political world when Labour feels confident enough to attack a Tory prime minister over his failure to get a grip on immigration.

For years, this issue has been the party's Achilles heel. Tony Blair started the ball rolling by throwing open our borders. In 2010, Gordon Brown was caught calling a grandmother a bigot because she expressed concern about mass migration.

And Sir Keir Starmer has opposed virtually every piece of legislation intended to control the influx  illegal or otherwise. He's even campaigned against the deportation of dangerous foreign criminals.

So it has really come to something when Rishi Sunak can be duffed up over immigration by Labour's leader, who crowed in the Commons that the Government has 'lost control of the borders'.

Sir Keir Starmer has opposed virtually every piece of legislation intended to control the influx  illegal or otherwise

So it has really come to something when Rishi Sunak can be duffed up over immigration by Labour's leader, who crowed in the Commons that the Government has 'lost control of the borders'

True, the Prime Minister says that ministers are taking the 'toughest action ever' to reduce the numbers arriving. But where has this rhetoric got us?

In the past two years, net migration has hit a scarcely believable 1.3million  equivalent to the population of Birmingham. This is neither sane, nor sustainable and it's hardly what people expected 'taking back control' would look like.

Nothing has done more to undermine trust in the Conservatives than their failure, despite oft-repeated promises, to curb immigration.

Voters know from bitter experience that when too many people are allowed to settle in this country, the result is downward pressure on wages, housing shortages, intolerable strain on public services and the breakdown of social cohesion.

What's needed is a tough, joined-up approach to restricting both illegal and legal routes. What we've got is a mess.

Take yesterday's contradictions. In one part of Westminster, the Chancellor was insisting it was 'wrong' for businesses to fill vacancies with people from overseas.

Yet in another, No 10 was hinting that the controversial 'shortage occupation list', which makes it easier for companies to recruit from abroad, might be retained.

How could migration be cut? Perhaps by reducing the ballooning number of family members being brought in by foreign students and workers. Or by bumping up the work visa salary threshold  to 40,000.

For the coalition who voted Tory in 2019, immigration is now the most salient issue of the day  way ahead of the economy.

The election is a year away. If ministers can't, or won't, put in place a workable migration plan, fed-up voters might decide on one for them  involving the Tories being deported from Downing Street.

A callous proposal

In its latest pompous pronouncement, the Paris-based OECD says ministers should scrap the pension triple lock to pay for controversial net zero policies.

Leave aside that it's no business of the endlessly perplexing think-tank what the UK spends on retirement payouts, which are already among the lowest in the West.

Does this brains trust really think that for the liberal elite to pursue a hare-brained scheme to hit unachievable green targets, our pensioners must bear the burden?

Brexit bloc-heads

With unshakeable arrogance, top Eurocrat Ursula von der Leyen says Britain should rejoin the EU to 'fix' what she says is the mistake of Brexit. Why on earth would we?

True, our economy is not firing on all cylinders, but at least we're not sliding into recession, like Germany. We are stopping the small boats (slowly), while illegal migration into Europe is surging.

And with populist parties on the march on the Continent, the bloc's future looks decidedly shaky. Perhaps the answer is not us rejoining the EU but them joining us.
The Government is refusing to investigate the 'dangerous' influence a controversial Chinese health giant holds over British academia, it can be revealed.

Serious national concerns have been raised over the lucrative deals struck between genetics company BGI Group and UK universities.

Dozens of academics have warned against allowing the firm so much access to the UK's DNA research given its close ties to Beijing's communist government and military.

BGI is facing long-held allegations of complicity in human rights abuses and questions over what it does with the genetic data it collects. However, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is continuing to resist calls to launch an independent inquiry to determine how much of a threat the firm poses.

The Daily Mail revealed in July how millions of pounds of taxpayers' money had been awarded to universities  including Oxford  over the past decade to collaborate with BGI.

Serious national concerns have been raised over the lucrative deals struck between genetics company BGI Group and UK universities

The Daily Mail revealed in July how millions of pounds of taxpayers' money had been awarded to universities  including Oxford  over the past decade to collaborate with BGI

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is continuing to resist calls to launch an independent inquiry to determine how much of a threat the firm poses

In response, campaign group Stop Uyghur Genocide and more than 40 academics called on ministers to pause all partnerships between UK universities and BGI until they had carried out an independent inquiry.

They highlighted the firm's alleged links with the Chinese military, which it said had shown an interest in using DNA research to develop bioweapons.

In her response, seen by the Mail, Mrs Keegan said the Government took the issues 'very seriously'. But she stopped short of agreeing to a full inquiry, arguing universities were expected to 'make their own judgments' on who to collaborate with.

Dr Sheldon Stone, of Stop Uyghur Genocide, said it was 'concerned' by the response, adding: '[BGI's] influence carries ethical, security and privacy dangers to our universities'.

A spokesman for BGI said it does not engage in unethical practices. The Government said it was reviewing how it supports the academic sector to keep research secure.
Kyle Rittenhouse has revealed he suffers 'nightmares and PTSD everyday' after shooting dead two people in self-defense during a BLM riot in 2020.

Rittenhouse, 20, was a teenager when he shot and killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum amid Black Lives Matter protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He's now releasing a new book to justify the actions he took.

Rosenbaum, a 36-year-old man grappling with mental health problems, confronted Rittenhouse amid the civil unrest in August 2020 - two days after police shot Black man Jacob Blake in the back as he attempted to get into a car with his children.

During the riots, Rosenbaum aggressively pursued Rittenhouse, threw items at him and ultimately attempted to reach for his gun, according to eyewitness testimony, before a 17-year-old Rittenhouse shot and killed him.

After being acquitted of all charges, Rittenhouse became a poster boy for Second Amendment rights advocates and right-wing political commentators.

Rittenhouse said: 'I have nightmares every night of being attacked and being ambushed and them trying to steal my gun and pointing guns in my face. It's not an easy thing to do'

Piers Morgan asked Rittenhouse: 'You killed two people and wounded a third, how do you feel about that?'

Rittenhouse bit back: 'Well, Piers, they attacked me. They left me with no choice.

'I have nightmares every night of being attacked and being ambushed and them trying to steal my gun and pointing guns in my face. It's not an easy thing to do.

'But I did what I had to do to stay alive and if I didn't, I would be dead.'

Morgan further quizzed: 'I'm just curious on a human level, you know, you're very young even now. You've killed two human beings and wounded a third, I just wonder how that feels?'

Rittenhouse answered the journalist: 'I don't think that's an appropriate question to ask how it feels. It's not an easy thing to do, it's something I live with every single day, it's nightmares I have.

'It's something I have to deal with, I have to deal with the PTSD and the trauma from having to do that.'

The journalist then said that his answers were 'more about him' rather than how he feels about having taken two people's lives.

But Rittenhouse answered: 'And like I just said, it's something that I deal with every day I deal with the PTSD and the trauma and the nightmares. It's not easy to deal with it.'

Despite being acquitted on homicide and attempted homicide charges in 2021, Rittenhouse, 20, was sued by the estate of one of the men he killed during the chaos in Kenosha.

Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, was shot and killed by Rittenhouse on August 25, 2020

Anthony Huber was killed by Rittenhouse during BLM riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin in 2020

The estate of Joseph Rosenbaum has launched a lawsuit against Rittenhouse, as well as a number of law enforcement officers and personnel.

These claims, totaling 13 accusations including negligence and wrongful death, seek 'compensatory and punitive damages' for Rosenbaum's family, according to Texas Scorecard.

'I stood my ground, and I won't back down. I did what was necessary to protect myself, and it's clear the truth prevailed,' declared Rittenhouse.

'Every step forward is an uphill battle. I face unwarranted scrutiny and threats due to the false narratives spread by these lawsuits. No one should ever have to continually prove their innocence in a clear case of self-defense.'

The lawsuit alleges: 'Joseph Rosenbaum met his unfortunate demise due to the actions of Defendant Rittenhouse,' while demanding compensatory damages.

Lawyers for the Rosenbaum estate say that police did not enforce curfews and made no attempts to prevent armed individuals from getting involved in the protests.

'The law enforcement defendants deputized these armed individuals, conspired with them, and ratified their actions by letting them patrol the streets, armed with deadly weapons, to mete out justice as they saw fit,' the lawsuit claims.

'As a result, defendant Rittenhouse fired his assault rifle indiscriminately multiple times at citizens on the street. He shot and killed two men, seriously injured a third, and narrowly missed a fourth.

Kyle Rittenhouse, left, with backwards cap, walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, with another armed civilian

'They did not disarm him. They did not limit his movement in any way. They did not question him. They did not stop him from shooting individuals after he started. They did not arrest him, detain him, or question him even after he had killed two people.'

Besides Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse fired at two more assailants.

One of them, Anthony Huber, lost his life, while Gaige Grosskreutz sustained injuries.

Grosskreutz, who testified that he had pointed a pistol at Rittenhouse and was then shot during the 2020 riots, in February this year also decided to sue Rittenhouse for 'damages for emotional distress, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life, and other pain and suffering on all claims'.

Grosskreutz 'must live with the physical and emotional wounds inflicted by Defendant Rittenhouse and the Defendants who deputized and enabled him,' the lawsuit says.

Rittenhouse told Fox News Digital in response to Grosskreutz's suit: 'I guess it came as a shock to why he's filing a lawsuit because he admitted that he pointed a gun in my face and that he chased me down.'

He said that it would come with a hefty price tag, but said he was ready to prove his innocence 'again'.
An Aussie couple just seconds away from boarding a holiday cruise has been left behind after the company Royal Caribbean overbooked the voyage.

The married couple arrived at Port of Brisbane on Tuesday ready to embark on an eight-night cruise through the South Pacific aboard the Quantum of the Seas.

However, just as they were about to walk on board, they were refused entry and told that none of the ship's 2,090 cabins were available.

They were then handed a letter on behalf of Royal Caribbean International which confirmed the voyage had been overbooked.

The disappointed guests had paid at least $595 each for the cruise only to have their holiday ruined.

A couple has been left furious after their South Pacific cruise holiday on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas (pictured) was ruined because the ship had been overbooked

The letter from Royal Caribbean said the cruise company had been 'unable to allocate a stateroom number' to the couple's reservation.

'The time and effort you took to plan your cruise is important to us, and we apologise for the inconvenience,' it read.

'Every aspect of your time with us should be enjoyable, so we have put together some alternate options that we hope will work for you.'

The couple were then given four options, including the offer of a refund with a 25 per cent discount on a future cruise.

Another option offered them US$100 credit to use on board if they decided to wait for a cancellation to open a spot on the cruise they originally booked.

The other options included changing their booking to a nine-night cruise with a similar itinerary on January 29; or choose another seven or eight-night cruise with a complimentary upgrade 'if available'.

The couple were handed a letter from Royal Caribbean telling them they had four options for compensation to choose from instead of boarding the cruise costing at least $595 each

The frustrated customers took the chance to abandon the cruise and get a full refund and 25 per cent off the cost of a future trip.

Royal Caribbean International told Daily Mail Australia that demand for the cruise had gone 'beyond the rooms that were available'.

'Unfortunately, efforts to accommodate all those who wished to sail that fell short for a group of our guests, and some were unable to sail as planned,' the company said in a statement.

'We take these disruptions seriously, and we apologise for the inconvenience this has caused.

'We have worked with each guest that was affected to rectify the inconvenience this has caused.'
A white Kansas teenager has been charged with causing bodily harm after he punched a black female fellow student, breaking her nose.

The 15-year-old boy, who has not been named, has been charged as a juvenile for the November 15 attack at Shawnee Mission East High School, south of Kansas City.

He is caught on camera calling the black girl the 'n-word' before beginning to punch her. She then hit him back in self defense.

Both students were suspended - with the girl's five-day suspension, due to her hitting him back, sparking a walk out of 100 students. They accused the school of punishing the victim.

The boy is now known to be facing separate felony charges, connected to a case in June. He has been charged in that case with two felonies and a misdemeanor, including aggravated battery, aggravated assault and battery, The Kansas City Star reported.

The boy is being held in custody.

At the beginning of the fight, the white student can be seen marching towards the female student and using the N-word repeatedly

The two begin striking each other as he continues to use a racial slur

The fight started when two girls were in a verbal row with the black girl. As she walked away, the boy got involved.

He yells at her: 'Man, shut the f**k up!'

The black girl turns around, and yells down the hall: 'Who said that!?'

The male student storms towards the girl, throws his bag to the floor, and physically attacks her, shoving her against a wall.

Despite being at a size disadvantage, she continues to fight back against the assault.

'He said n****r! He said n****r!,' the person filming the altercation says repeatedly.

The attack comes to an end when a teacher appears and manhandles the male student, separating the pair.

The gathered students tell the teachers that the white boy threw the first punch.

The female student was hospitalized with a broken nose, reports The Kansas City Star.

Despite being at a size disadvantage, the female student fights back against her attacker

The brawl continues up through the hallway of the school

The gathered students tell the teachers that the white student struck first

On Monday, in protest at the five-day suspension of the girl, 100 students walked out of class holding placards.

'We demand action! Protect students of color!,' read one sign.

'We don' feel safe' and 'Take action now,' read others.

Chants included: 'We want change,' 'Have our backs,' and 'How many more times?'

The newspaper reports that protesters are demanding stronger punishments for the use of racial slurs in schools.

A school district spokesperson told the Star that their office takes 'incidents of racism and physical violence very seriously. We do have a code of conduct in place, and we follow our policies and procedures.'

The Defender, citing students' accounts, said that there have been other incidents at the school, including one where the principal called black students 'intimidating' and saying that they look like they might 'jump someone.'

One senior, Charlize Littlejohn, told the Star that racism is 'ongoing' at the school.

'There are multiple situations that have happened over and over again. I think we're all just really tired of trying to get change and it just not happening,' said Littlejohn.

'We're just exhausted. Trying to go to class, it really affects us.'

The female student was hospitalized with a broken nose, reports The Kansas City Star

According to US News & World Report, 82 percent of students at Shawnee East are white while 1.6 percent are black. Just over five percent identify as mixed race

Littlejohn said that the victim of the attack did not attend the protest on Monday but she drove past and waved at her classmates.

Speaking about the suspension of the white student, Littlejohn said: 'There was no follow-up, no email was sent, and no announcement was made. It was not recognized.

'We were all there. We all watched it. It was emotional and it was traumatizing.

'I want things to change. Everybody who was there watching it, they're not going to feel safe. I'm not going to feel safe in class.

'Because that could have been anybody. He could have done it to anybody.

'And I think that's just scary something like that can happen inside of a school.'

The brawl sparked a mass walkout at the Kansas school

Students held up signs saying 'Enough is enough', and 'School should feel safe' in the wake of the attack on the black student

According to US News & World Report, 82 percent of students at Shawnee East are white while 1.6 percent are black. Just over five percent identify as mixed race.

In total, there is a minority enrollment of 18 percent. It is ranked at the second best high school in the state in terms of performance in state-required tests.

A former teacher, David Muhammad, also spoke about the incident, telling the newspaper that students felt 'vulnerable' at the school.

'People don't talk about this stuff because they don't feel equipped to have a conversation,' he said.

'The reality is you have these students who are looking to teachers and administrators to be the educated ones in the room to guide them in these situations.

'They're in a vulnerable state. You can't fix that just by saying we have a mission that everyone belongs here and we expect people to carry themselves in a certain way.

'It doesn't work. There has to be a commitment to figuring out what's really going on,' he said.

In 2021, a video of Muhammad hosting a discussion among students at the school about the merits of the confederate flag went viral.
BBC broadcaster Nicky Campbell has revealed he experienced a 'couple of breakdowns' as a result of abuse he suffered and witnessed at a prestigious Scottish private school.

The presenter said 'evil' teacher Iain Wares, 84, who faces over 80 charges of historic abuse relating to scores of victims aged as young as nine, was a 'sad, dark manifestation of the human condition'.

Mr Campbell saw abuse by 'predatory' Wares at Edinburgh Academy  and described him as a 'slow-acting poison that is still in the veins'.

The Scot, who was molested by another teacher at the school, urged the South African courts to extradite 'multiple paedophile' Wares to Scotland to face trial for his abuse at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College, alma mater of Tony Blair.

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Mr Campbell, 62, spoke out in a BBC Panorama documentary to be screened tonight.

Nicky Campbell, pictured here on the Panorama episode due to air on Thursday, November 30, has spoken out about the abuse he suffered at the hands of a teacher

His teacher Iain Wares, pictured here on the programme, faces 80 charges of historic abuse relating to scores of victims aged as young as nine

He said Wares is 'one of the worst, [most] predatory paedophiles this country has ever known'  but said he hopes he will be brought to justice, adding: 'I really believe that good will triumph over evil.'

READ MORE HERE: Nicky Campbell lifts the lid on abuse from private school teacher he says is 'up there with Savile' ahead of Panorama documentary on his fight for justice Advertisement

The tearful presenter said: 'I've had some really difficult times. I've had a couple of breakdowns.

'I have a problem with being touched  unless I have total trust. That has been difficult.'

Wares, who moved to South Africa  where he taught until 2006  is set to face trial in Cape Town over abuse charges in February.

Mr Campbell told Panorama: 'Wares was a poison  but I think a long, slow-acting poison that is still in the veins.'

He said 'one of the most incredible things about the past year is that as much as the evil behaviour of Iain Wares is a sad, dark manifestation of the human condition, what we've seen in terms of the courage, the coming together, the camaraderie [of abuse victims] is a wonderful, inspiring aspect of the human condition'.

In July last year, Mr Campbell revealed he had experienced and witnessed abuse at Edinburgh Academy. He said he saw Wares sexually assault a classmate in a changing room when they were ten years old.

He said attempts to extradite Wares to Scotland had hit 'brick wall after brick wall', adding: 'For God's sake  he's a horrible, old, multiple paedophile. South Africa, come on!'

Mr Campbell, pictured here as a child, said he had had 'a couple of breakdowns' as a result of the abuse

The alleged abuse took place during Mr Campbell's time at Edinburgh Academy, a private school in Scotland

Alex Renton, a journalist who has investigated abuse at elite schools, told Panorama it was 'insane' that 'two of the poshest, best-regarded, grandest schools in Scotland tolerated for ten years the repeated offences of a violent, sexual predator  a psychopath'.

READ MORE HERE: Nicky Campbell tells Scottish Child Abuse inquiry how he was molested in class at Edinburgh Academy by history teacher, was beaten in school corridor, and witnessed other pupils being sexually assaulted by staff member he compared to Jimmy Savile Advertisement

He said that by 1977, Wares had a 'growing capacity for sometimes extraordinary violence' and by 1979 it was 'over for him at Fettes'  but the school still gave him a 'glowing reference'.

Abuse victim Neil Douglas, a pupil at Edinburgh Academy from 1967-79, said that as an adult he wrote to the school. 'The rector at the time asked me to just let it go and to my deep regret I agreed to let it go,' he added.

The rector Mr Douglas spoke to told Panorama: 'I am unable to recognise Mr Douglas's account.'

Jed Gordon, a pupil at Fettes from 1974 to 1981, said the school had 'behaved despicably'.

Last night Fettes College said: 'We sincerely and unreservedly apologise to those who suffered.'

Barry Welsh, current rector of Edinburgh Academy, told Panorama there were a 'number of complaints made to the school over the course of the 1970s', but the letters 'have not been kept'.

He said: 'If the school was aware that Wares was a prolific abuser and were merely allowing him to move on elsewhere and carry on that abuse, then that is unforgivable.'
Fellow inmates who have earned more rights infuriated with former nurse

Baby killer Lucy Letby is currently comfortably spending her incarceration in a privately-run jail while receiving round-the-clock protection, angering a number of her fellow inmates.

Letby, serving a whole life sentence for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six others, currently has access to an en-suite shower, a desk, phone and TV. One source claimed she was being treated with 'kid gloves' because of her status.

The 33-year-old is yet to get a prison job and has been able to dye her hair brown during her time behind bars.

The former nurse was recently moved to the privately-run HMP Bronzefield near Ashford, Surrey, from the notoriously rowdy Low Newton jail in County Durham.

Letby's treatment is said to be infuriating a lot of the fellow prisoners, who have earned more rights to watch TV, spend their cash and have visits.

Lucy Letby, serving a whole life sentence for murdering seven babies, currently has access to an en-suite shower, a desk, phone and TV. She is also has round-the-clock protection

The ex-nurse was recently moved to the privately-run HMP Bronzefield near Ashford, Surrey

Letby's cushy treatment is said to be infuriating a lot of the fellow women at the prison

A source told the Sun: 'Letby seems happy as Larry. She is in a nice cell and on her own. The facilities at Bronzefield are much nicer than most jails, because its privately run.

'She is with prisoners who have earned more rights to watch TV, spend their cash and have visits. It is a disgrace and it's no wonder she's been looking so happy. She seems to be treated with kid gloves because of who she is.'

A Bronzefield spokesman said: 'We can't comment on individual cases.'

Letby, of Hereford, carried out her attacks at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.

She was originally held in HMP Bronzefield, but was subsequently moved to HMP New Hall in Wakefield for the trial.

After sentencing, she was taken to Low Newton, located in the village of Brasside near Durham, and was held in segregation at first to stop her being attacked by fellow inmates.

She was imprisoned alongside Joanna Dennehy, who murdered three men during a ten-day spree in 2013 and was also given a whole life sentence.

READ MORE: Inside the uni halls-style prison where Lucy Letby could spend the rest of her life Advertisement

The only other women to have faced such a punishment are Moors murderer Myra Hindley - who died in 2002 - and Rose West.

Past inmates at Low Newton have included Cromwell Street killer Ms West, Baby Ps mother Tracey Connelly and Britain's youngest female murderer Sharon Carr, who randomly selected and killed her victim when she was 12.

At the top security prison in County Durham, killer women get the chance to pet sheep and goats and look after a rabbit and birds as a way to keep them 'calm'.

Letby will remain on suicide watch at HMP Bronzefield, as staff would be heavily - and very publicly - criticised if such a prominent prisoner were to take her own life.

However, a suicide watch cannot be continued indefinitely, certainly not for years or decades, as it places too great a strain on the staff.

It is a matter of judgment when a watch is lifted, and it is not a precise science.
Furious parents and former students at one of Australia's most prestigious all-boys private schools have threatened legal action over its plans to go co-ed.

Newington College in Sydney's inner-west recently unveiled plans to overturn more than 160 years of tradition to welcome its first intake of girls in 2026 and become fully co-educational by 2033.

The Uniting Church school will welcome girls to its prep schools for kindergarten and year 5 in 2026, and at its senior campus for years 7 and 11 in 2028.

Parents and 'old boys' from the college against the plans quickly banded together to threaten legal action.

The group enlisted commercial law firm Brown Wright Stein to send a letter to chairman of the Council of Newington College this week.

The group argues the school's council as the trustee of a charitable trust does not have the power to change the original purpose for establishing Newington College, which it says 'was to educate boys and young men'.

Newington College plans to proceed with its bold plan to become fully co-ed by 2033. Pictured are Newington students on a previous overseas trip

They also question whether the move breaches the terms of the trust.

'The college upon its inception, was intended to be (and has been) a college in particular for the advancement of education of boys and young men,' the letter obtained by the ABC states.

'Upon establishment of the college (and indeed the establishment of the charitable trust of which the council holds property), it was never contemplated that girls and young women would be educated by the college'.

The letter was also sent to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley and the president of the 'Old Newingtonians Union'.

'We have included the attorney-general of NSW, on the basis that the attorney-general is the protector of charitable trust, and that in the event that proceedings are to be commenced, then the attorney-general is to provide approval and will be a necessary defendant,' the letter reads.

'We will be separately corresponding with the attorney-general (again as the protector of charities) with respect to the possible commencement of 'charitable trust proceedings'.'

Parents opposed to plans at Newington College are now threatening legal action

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Brown Wright Stein for comment.

An online petition launched by former alumni John Ramarque has attracted more than 1,700 signatures within 10 days.

'The decision to make our school co-ed is not just a change in policy; it's an erosion of our heritage,' the petition states.

'Newington has always been a place for boys to grow into men, surrounded by their brothers. It's where we learned about camaraderie, leadership, and respect - values that have shaped us into who we are today.'

'The decision to transition into a co-educational institution didnt include alumni or current students, but is apparently supported by the majority of the schools community.'

Newington College wouldn't comment on the letter but recently acknowledged the co-ed plans received overwhelming but not unanimous support.

'We appreciate that there are some in our community who disagree with this decision,' council chairman Tony McDonald states in an open letter on the school's website.

Commercial law firm Brown Wright Stein wrote to the Council of Newington College (school pictured) this week on behalf of angry parents

'We appreciate that everyone is entitled to their view, however we know that the best interests of Newington and its students in the future is co-educational and one that prepares all our students for an enriching, positive and thriving future, beyond their time at school.'

The school spent almost two years examining the bold proposal and getting feedback.

'We believe this decision is best for the long-term future of Newington, and especially the futures of each of the young people we educate now, as well as those students who will join us in the years to come,' Mr McDonald added.

'The decision was made with a high degree of confidence in the ability to make Newington an even better school. It's carefully staged so that we underwrite both our current and future direction.'

Established in 1873, Newington College charges annual fees of up to $38,884 for Years 11 and 12.
Father David Lancini, who served for 49 years as the Catholic priest in the Townsville Diocese, in Far North Queensland , has been charged with eight counts of indecent treatment of boys under 14

A high-profile priest has been charged with child sex offences allegedly committed more than 50 years ago.

Father David Lancini, who served for 49 years as the Catholic priest in the Townsville Diocese, in Far North Queensland, has been charged with eight counts of indecent treatment of boys under 14.

The charges relate to acts allegedly committed between 1969 and 1971.

It's understood the charges relate to one child who was living in Townsville at the time.

Lancini, 77, was charged on November 13.

A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Townsville said Lancini 'strongly denies any involvement in the alleged offences'.

The priest was seen blessing the North Queensland Cowboys during their campaign to the NRL Grand Final in 2015

'Fr Dave Lancini is currently not involved in any public ministry until such time as the legal proceedings has concluded,' they said.

'The Diocese of Townsville has full confidence in the legal system.

'The Diocese of Townsville is committed to doing all it can to ensure victims of such abuse receive justice and healing.'

The priest was seen blessing the North Queensland Cowboys during their campaign to the NRL Grand Final in 2015.

He will face court in Townsville on December 5.

Lancini was ordained as a priest in August, 1972.
Read more: Hopes fade in search for missing fisherman

The body has not been identified

A body has been discovered floating in a river on the Sunshine Coast.

Police said a member of the public called in at about 8.30am on Thursday to report what they believed to be a body floating in the Maroochy River under a bridge, believed to be the Sunshine Mwy Bridge, in Maroochydore.

Paramedics were called to the scene near Bradman Avenue but left a short time later.

Firefighters assisted police to retrieve the body and bring it to shore.

A body has been found floating in the Maroochy River under a bridge, believed to be the Sunshine Mwy Bridge, in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast (stock image pictured)

A body discovered in the Maroochy River is yet to be identified (pictured is the Maroochy River, Maroochydore)

Detectives remain at the scene and have yet to identify the body.

Earlier this week, fisherman Matthew Balange, 43, went missing off the coast at nearby Mooloolaba and his body has not yet been found.

Mr Balanges boat was discovered off Cape Moreton on Monday with the engine still running.

Coast Guards believe he may have fallen into the water while trying to reel in a fish and the boat had continued on without him.

The search was on Thursday called off.

More to come.
A map of Australia's most bushfire-prone areas has revealed this summer could rival that of the devastating bushfires over 2019-20.

The map was released by the Australian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) on Thursday and highlighted massive areas across the nation that have an 'increased risk of fire'.

AFAC believes record-breaking dry conditions during winter and a warmer than average start to spring has left the nation susceptible to large-scale bushfires.

Massive areas of New South Wales, Queensland and inland Northern Territory have been identified as being a potential powder keg during a bushfire.

Meanwhile every other state and territory, except for the ACT, also has regions that are under threat.

A map of Australia's most bushfire-prone areas (pictured) has revealed the nation could be in for a summer that rivals that of the destructive Black Summer over 2019-20

Almost all of Queensland has been designated as high risk this summer, with only some areas along the coast and encroaching on the South Australian border not being highlighted.

After already experiencing numerous fires prior to the start of summer, New South Wales' coastline, northeast and centre are also in the firing line this summer.

AFAC also highlighted large areas covered in dry grass across inland Northern Territory, including Alice Springs and as far north as Elliot, as contributing to a higher risk of bushfires.

While not as expansive as NSW, Queensland or the NT, Major cities such as Perth Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart are all either in, or close to, vulnerable regions.

The southwest coast of Western Australia, including the Margaret River and Albany, was found to be in jeopardy.

An stretch of land from just west of Melbourne and reaching along the coast through Geelong almost to Portland was found to have an increased risk as well as the state's east around Genoa.

Meanwhile a small stretch of area in Tasmania to the northwest of Hobart was found to have become much drier than usual and could lead to a bushfire.

Many of the areas highlighted as being at risk of bushfires this summer had been in the thick of the Black Summer blazes just three years ago (pictured, firefighters during Black Summer)

AFAC boss Rob Webb said the map should provide Aussies with more than enough warning to prepare themselves for bushfire season this summer.

'Wherever you live, work or visit this summer, know where to find bushfire information, prepare your property, and talk to your family and friends about what you will do in an emergency,' he said.

He said firefighters had already been busy putting out fires across the nation well before the start of summer.

Mr Webb urged Aussies to help out their local fire agencies by being bushfire prepared before the fire season starts.

However AFAC noted that the map should only be used as a guide, warning that the potential for a bushfire to form and spread varies greatly at even small scales.

'State and territory fire authorities will continue to monitor local bushfire conditions closely through summer,' a statement from the council reads.

'Communities should stay informed and prepared, and check official sources for advice and warnings.'

Some of the high-risk areas for this bushfire season were also in the thick of the Black Summer blazes three years ago.

The nation's east coast has since been largely affected by mostly wet and cold weather, meaning the charred remains of the deadly bushfires have been rejuvenated.

However this year's return of El Nino, mostly dry and hot weather, has since caused those areas to now more closely resemble kindling.

Throughout Black Summer (pictured), about 100 bushfires burnt through about 21.4million hectares of land - mostly in Victoria, NSW and the ACT - between July 2019 and May 2020

The bushfires destroyed just under 2,800 homes, killed 34 people and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3billion animals all while affecting about 80 per cent of the nation

The same had happened during the 2019-20 summer, with droughts gripping the nation for three years prior and turning swathes of the nation bone-dry.

Areas such as Bega and East Gippsland, along the coastal regions of the Victorian and New South Wales Border, had about 60 per cent of its land burnt.

To add insult to injury, Bega was also hit with torrential floods and Covid-19 lockdowns that resulted in four deaths and about 500 homes destroyed.

A total of 21.4million hectares of land - mostly in Victoria, NSW and the ACT - was burnt from June 2019 to May 2020.

The fires destroyed just under 2,800 homes, killed 34 people and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 3billion animals.

Economists believe the fires are one of the most devastating in Australian history, affecting about 80 per cent of Aussies and costing about $7888billion in property damage and economic losses.
A three-year-old Queens boy was left to die on a commercial highway after a driver pulled out of a parking lot outside a Dunkin Donuts, hit the child and then drove away.

The boy was in the area crossing the middle of the street in front of a Dunkin Donuts on College Point Boulevard in Flushing at around 6:41 p.m.

Police told DailyMail.com that the driver was pulling away from their parking spot when it struck the three-year-old.

The driver was in a white, four-door sedan and drove away from the scene, continuing south on College Point Boulevard.

The child, who was unidentified, was left to die in the street until someone eventually called the authorities.

A three-year-old Queens boy was left to die on a commercial highway after a driver pulled out of a parking lot outside a Dunkin Donuts, hit the child and then drove away

The boy was taken to Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing, but he was later declared dead.

According to PIX11News, there are plenty of surveillance cameras in the area as officials look for the driver.

Detectives were on the scene for about three hours on Wednesday night.

DailyMail.com cameras captured NYPD Highway Patrol officers doing a survey of the scene of the tragedy.

No arrests have been made at this time, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

Police told DailyMail.com that the driver was pulling away from their parking spot when it struck the three-year-old

The driver was in a white, four-door sedan and drove away from the scene, continuing south on College Point Boulevard

The child, who was unidentified, was left to die in the street until someone eventually called the authorities

The investigation is ongoing.

Crime is down just under one percent in New York City in 2023, with murders down 11.6 percent.

However, the numbers remain staggeringly high when compared to the crime levels in recent years.

Overall crime is up 26 percent from 2021 and 19 percent from the same period in 2010, according to the city's own statistics.
An adult content creator who made headlines after targeting teenagers at Schoolies now has her sights set on festivalgoers.

Kay Manuel announced this week that she's started attending random music festivals, including Spilt Milk, in search of strangers to create raunchy content with.

'You heard about Schoolies, now I'm heading to Spilt Milk to find some strangers to film with!' she gushed on TikTok.

In a follow-up video, the 21-year-old said she was going to fly 'five lucky fans' to her hotel on the Gold Coast to film videos that she plans to sell online.

Manuel has earned a reputation for pulling outrageous sexual stunts on social media in a bid to go viral.

Adult content creator Kay Manuel (pictured) is seeking out strangers at local music festivals to film raunchy videos with her as part of a shocking social media stunt

Manuel has earned a reputation online for pulling outrageous sexual stunts on social media in a bid to go viral and gain attention

She went viral earlier this year after filming an encounter with an Uber driver, which led to the driver getting sacked.

Last week, Kay and her pals were labelled 'degenerates' after descending on the Gold Coast to film racy videos with teenagers during Schoolies.

The sex workers promised to sleep with dozens of young men aged over 18 in a shocking stunt that they promoted all over social media and in radio interviews.

Kay, 21, and English escort Bonnie Blue, 24, told Daily Mail Australia at the time that they were excited to 'have fun' with Schoolies attendees.

'America has Spring Break, we have Schoolies, so everyone in Australia is gonna look at this and go, "Wow! I wanna see this!"' said Kay.

'All their friends will want to watch it,' added Bonnie.

Last week, Kay and her pals were labelled 'degenerates' after descending on the Gold Coast to film racy videos with teenagers during Schoolies

To ensure that everything was safe, legal, and professional, the bawdy broads checked the IDs of all participants and had them sign extensive consent forms.

'I've got a group of lads,' gushed Nottingham-born Bonnie. 'I live in the Hilton and it's filled with Schoolies.'

'We're giving them the option to do what they wanna do,' explained Kay.

The stunt sparked outrage at the time, but the women defended their actions and insisted that all participants were sober, of legal age, and had fully consented.

To ensure that everything was safe, legal, and professional, the bawdy broads checked the IDs of all participants and had them sign consent forms

'These people are 18  they're consenting adults,' sex worker Leilani May told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

'They're not 17, we check ID, we have a process  they are consenting and they are signing consent forms,' added Bonnie.

The women also insisted they would not film with anyone who was drunk or on drugs.

'A lot of the comments we've got are, "You're going after them, they've been drinking and there's drugs involved"  there's not,' Leilani said.

'The first thing we do is we tell them they can't drink until after filming. They have to be sober  they're signing legal documents.'
Barnaby Joyce has been called out for skipping the second last sitting day in Canberra - despite a heated debate about one of the National party's top issues - to instead join protesters at a rally in Sydney.

The Nationals MP, who recently married his former staffer Vikki Campion in an outback ceremony, earns more than $220,000 for his role as an Opposition frontbencher.

His absence from Parliament House did not go unnoticed on Thursday, particularly during a heated debate over the Murray Darling Basin Bill which eventually passed through both houses.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud rallied against the bill and delivered an emotional speech about the changes to water buybacks it will have on the regions, describing it as 'the lowest point' for these communities.

Labor Senator Tim Ayres, the Assistant Minister for Manufacturing, told Daily Mail Australia Mr Joyce was 'more interested in fringe culture war nonsense than country towns' he has been elected to represent.

His absence from Parliament House did not go unnoticed on Thursday, particularly during a heated debate over the Murray Darling Basin Bill which eventually passed through both houses

'On the day the Australian Government rescued the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, youd think the Nationals would want to be involved in delivering healthy and sustainable water for regional Australia,' he said.

'But instead of being in parliament and doing his job, Barnaby Joyce decided to hang out with Craig Kelly, Alan Jones and their anti-renewables friends in the middle of Sydney.'

Mr Joyce joined Mr Kelly and Jones on the steps of NSW Parliament to protest against the Federal Labor government's plans to vastly expand renewable energy in Australia.

In footage shared to Mr Joyce's social media channels, the high-profile politician was seen wandering through a crowd of protesters before standing up to deliver his own speech.

'We are being ripped off,' he told the cheering crowd.

'Wind farms are not farms. Farms grow potatoes. They grow cattle. They grow carrots.

'They're not an environmental solution, they're an environmental catastrophe.'

Mr Joyce joined Kelly and Jones on the steps of NSW Parliament to protest against the Federal Labor government's plans to vastly expand renewable energy in Australia

The 56-year-old two-time deputy prime minister tied the knot with his former adviser, Ms Campion, in an outdoor bush bash-style wedding at his sprawling property on November 12

Voters took to the comment section of Mr Joyce's video from the Sydney event to question why he wasn't in Parliament.

One wrote: 'Barnaby why aren't you in Parliament today like all working honest workers?

'That's why you get paid. The average worker doesn't get time time to disappear whenever they like.'

And another added: 'Shouldn't you be in parliament doing your job?'

There is just one joint sitting day remaining in the calendar year - next Thursday.

The Senate will be working through the week, but MPs are not required to be in Canberra.

The 56-year-old two-time deputy prime minister tied the knot with his former adviser, Ms Campion, in an outdoor bush bash-style wedding at his sprawling property on November 12.

Vikki Campion wore a strapless cream dress with black cowboy-style boots (pictured)

On the first sitting day after the wedding, Mr Joyce was again not present during Question Time, although it is understood that he postponed any honeymoon arrangements until after the sitting year had concluded and work had quietened down.

In December, 2017, Joyce used the parliamentary debate on same sex marriage to confirm he was no longer with his wife of 24 years.

His affair with Ms Campion was then confirmed in February 2018 - when she was two months away from giving birth to their first son Sebastian.

Once their relationship was exposed, Joyce resigned as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader.

The then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed Joyce for what he called a 'shocking error of judgement'.

It led to Mr Turnbull introducing a so-called 'bonk ban' on coalition MPs to stop them having sex with their ministerial staff.

Ms Campion has spoken candidly about their affair, previously admitting their relationship 'wasn't perfect' but insisting she doesn't regret the drama surround their infidelity.

'Even until the day he said in Parliament that I was his partner, I didnt believe it to be accurate. He said he would be there in the labour ward and I didnt believe that either,' she previously said.

'You swap your job for harsh stares, paparazzi and paranoia, schoolyard rumours cooking up in Ultimo newsrooms, many without a yolk of truth and you stop answering the door,' she went on.

'He has asked me a thousand times: "Would you go through it all again?" And my answer has always been yes.'
An Iranian asylum seeker who arrived at Australia's shores by boat a decade ago will finally spend his first night as a free man.

Ned Kelly Emeralds has been holed up in immigration detention since fleeing Iran in 2013 in fear of persecution after he renounced his faith, an illegal act in his home country.

On Thursday, he became the 142nd long-term detainee to be released from immigration detention after winning a Federal Court challenge in the wake of the High Court's recent landmark NZYQ decision.

The former metallurgical engineer legally changed his name to Ned Kelly Emeralds in a nod to the 19th century Australian outlaw.

Some of the other asylum seekers recently released by the Anthony Albanese government have convictions for serious criminal offences, including murder and child rape, while four refused to wear ankle monitoring devices.

The case of Mr Emeralds, who has never been sentenced for a crime or had a visa cancelled, was the first to be heard since the High Court recently ruled that indefinite detention was unlawful.

Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Kennett ruled that Mr Emeralds' detention in Western Australia was unlawful because there was 'no real prospect' of his deportation 'becoming practicable in the reasonably foreseeable future'.

Ned Kelly Emeralds is a free man, 10 years after he fled Iran and arrived in Australia

Justice Kennett described it as a 'particularly disturbing case' and ordered the immediate release of Mr Emeralds to enjoy his first taste of freedom in Australia after a decade of being transported from one detention centre to another.

'Tonight I will sleep in my own bed,' Mr Emeralds said in a statement released by the Human Rights Law Centre.

'When I wake tomorrow, I will be able to decide where I go, what I do, who I see.

'This is basic freedom, it is something you and I share. I haven't had this for over ten years.

'Over ten years ago, I came to Australia to seek protection from torture in my country, and instead I was tortured. I had no way to escape. I could not go home, and the government chose not to release me.

'Nobody should be asked to choose between their life and their freedom. What happened to me should not have happened, and it should not happen to anyone else.'

Mr Emeralds was detained while his protection visa application was being processed, according to Human Rights Law Centre.

Ned Kelly Emeralds (pictured with supporter, songwriter Dawn Barrington) is enjoying his first taste of freedom in Australia

He's been mute for almost a decade after he tried to take his own life while in detention on Christmas Island soon after arriving in 2013.

He has also experienced anorexia, engaged in a hunger strike and made other suicide attempts during his time in detention.

Mr Emeralds was agonisingly close to be released in 2021 when the Federal Court ruled that he be placed in 'home detention' at the home of close friends in Perth until the Commonwealth resolved his status.

He was so close that he was sitting at a bus stop outside Perth Immigration Detention Centre, waiting to be picked up before he was escorted back into the facility.

Then-immigration minister Karen Andrews had exercised her personal powers at the 11th hour to prevent him from being removed from Australia or housed with his friends.

A suicide attempt while in immigration detention robbed Ned Kelly Emeralds of his voice

Nauru also advised Australia it would not accept Mr Emeralds on the day the home detention order was to come into effect.

Mr Emeralds' lawyer Sanmati Verma welcomed Thursday's verdict.

'Indefinite detention means subjecting people to these experiences day after day, year after year, without end in sight,' she said.

'People like Ned who are now walking free from their indefinite detention have survived these experiences.

'They have had years of their lives taken from them, just because of their visa status. They deserve unconditional support to rebuild their lives.'
Thousands of New Yorkers braved the chill on Wednesday night to watch the Rockefeller Center's Christmas tree being lit - as protesters a block from the event loudly chanted for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

Ugly scenes unfolded as pro-Palestine protesters - some holding swastika placards - attempted to get past metal barricades separating the demonstrators from those there to celebrate. Several people were arrested.

'We allow people to exercise their first amendment, but by no means do we allow anyone to come out here to do hate, crime or assault,' said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.

The tree lighting passed without serious disruption, and hours later it was announced that the Israel-Hamas truce, begun on Friday and initially expected to last four days, had been further extended.

The hope is that more of the hostages will be freed during the lull in fighting, and more aid allowed to enter the stricken Gaza Strip.

Thousands gathered on Wednesday night for the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree

Police are seen pushing back pro-Palestine protesters on Wednesday night who tried to disrupt the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree

Protesters waving swastikas are seen on Wednesday night, accusing Israel of behaving like Nazis

Protesters waved offensive placards on Wednesday, including one likening Israel's actions to those of Hitler

Around 500 people attended the pro-Palestine rally in New York City on Wednesday night

Chants of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' rang out - a call many Israelis find deeply offensive, arguing it advocates the erasure of their country.

Many held up expletive-filled signs condemning Israel, which is currently embroiled in a war with Hamas, sparked by the terror group's October 7 terror attack. The attack killed 1,200 Israelis; in response, Israel bombed Gaza, killing 15,000 so far.

One protester on Wednesday night held a sign reading: 'Stop doing what Hitler did to you', with the slogan: 'Zionism is terrorism'.

The rally began outside the News Corp building, one block from the tree, with around 500 people, ABC News reported.

The group unfurled a large Palestinian flag and briefly tried to push north towards the tree, but were met by a line of NYPD officers and barricades.

As the group turned back, there were scuffles and a handful of arrests, ABC said.

Protesters are seen on Wednesday night confronting NYPD officers

Activists demanding a ceasefire in Gaza are seen on Wednesday night in front of St Patrick's cathedral, by the Rockefeller Center

Protesters yell slogans on Wednesday night as the Rockefeller tree was being lit

Pro-Palestine protesters demand an end to the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday

The pro-Palestine demonstration on Wednesday night drew around 500 people

The Rockefeller tree is pictured on Wednesday night in all its glory

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, is seen at the lighting along with Jerry Speyer (third left), whose company controls the Rockefeller Center; Kelly Clarkson (fourth left); and TV presenter Craig Melvin (right)

Clarkson first performed for the tree lighting ceremony 20 years ago, when she had just won American Idol

Clarkson is seen performing to the crowds on Wednesday evening

Barry Manilow, 80, also performed at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday

Manilow is seen with his band, performing during the television broadcast before the lighting

Manilow is seen before the tree is lit on Wednesday night

One block away, the Christmas season was being officially launched in Manhattan.

Kelly Clarkson sang, festively-dressed in a white coat with a featured a faux fur collar and cuffs.

The 41-year-old Texan first performed on Christmas in Rockefeller Center in 2003, one year after she became the first winner of American Idol.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, took part in the lighting, before a cheering throng and a chorus sang 'Joy to the World.'

The ceremony also featured appearances by Cher, Barry Manilow and the Rockettes.

Starting in the 1930s, the Christmas tree tradition has drawn thousands of visitors to the city each year during the holiday season.

The tree will remain lit from 5am to midnight every day until January 13.

On Christmas day, it will be lit for 24 hours.

This year's tree came from Vestal, New York, and stands 80 feet tall and weighs about 12 tons.

The tree has been decorated with 50,000 LED lights and a Swarovski star.

And its lighting was followed by good news from the Middle East.

With just minutes to go before a six-day ceasefire was set to expire, Israel and Hamas reached a deal to continue the pause in an effort to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that 'a short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue.'

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff earlier Thursday, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes.

The extension was originally announced in a post on X from the Israeli Defense Forces.

'In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the abductees and subject to the terms of the agreement, the ceasefire will continue,' they wrote in Hebrew.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, under which Hamas has released 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.

With just minutes to go before a six-day ceasefire was set to expire, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to continue the pause in an effort to free the remaining hostages

The expectation had been to extend the pause in fighting for at least another day or two, with the focus on releasing women and children.

The talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, as the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

International mediators had been working to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas terrorists to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further relief from Israel's air and ground offensive.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, the Israeli military said Hamas handed over twelve Israeli and four Thai hostages on the sixth day of the temporary ceasefire.

The truce, extended from its initial four days, has brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement that the truce would continue for a seventh day.

The militant group earlier said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war

Hamas' military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are present as the prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas

A helicopter carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas arrives in Petah Tikva

Military personnel talk with each other as a helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Both sides had said they were ready to resume fighting.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

'After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes,' he said.

'There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.'

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases.

Blinken arrived in Israel late on Wednesday.
But the family of baby Kfir face agonising wait for confirmation of his death

Truce was extended by another day with just minutes to spare early this morning

With just minutes to go before a six-day ceasefire was set to expire, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to continue the pause in an effort to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that 'a short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue.'

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff earlier Thursday, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes.

'In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the abductees and subject to the terms of the agreement, the ceasefire will continue,' the IDF said.

But talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, as the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Meanwhile, the family of baby Kfir Bibas await confirmation that the 10-month-old, along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, was in fact killed in captivity.

Hamas yesterday claimed that the trio were killed in an Israeli airstrike shortly before the initial truce was struck on Friday, without providing evidence. The fresh claims came just days after it was suggested Kfir and his family members had been handed to another militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

'Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims,' the Bibas family said, who now face an agonising wait for the Israeli military to either confirm or deny Hamas's claim.

'We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials,' the statement said. 'We thank the people of Israel for their warm support, but kindly request privacy during this difficult time.'

Liam Or, 18, is reunited with his father shortly after his arrival in Israel last night after being released by Hamas

Hamas has claimed Kfir Bibas, a baby who was snatched and taken into Gaza by the terrorists, was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his mother and brother before the truce was announced six days ago

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war. It was hoped that they would be released tonight

The Israeli military said in a statement that they had spoken to Kfir's family about the claims, before condemning Hamas for their 'cruelty' and 'inhumanity'.

The IDF said: 'The terrorist organisation Hamas continues to act in a cruel and inhuman manner. IDF representatives spoke with the members of the Bibas family, informed them of the publication [of the claims] and are accompanying them at this time.

'The IDF is examining the reliability of the information. The responsibility for the safety of all the abductees in the Gaza Strip lies fully with the terrorist organisation Hamas.'

Speaking on the renewed truce, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the terms of the extension would reflect the same as previous ones - Hamas is expected to release 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

Last night, the Israeli military said Hamas handed over twelve Israeli and four Thai hostages on the sixth day of the temporary ceasefire.

The truce, extended from its initial four days, has brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement that the truce would continue for a seventh day.

The militant group earlier said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war

Hamas' military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are present as the prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas

A helicopter carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas arrives in Petah Tikva

Military personnel talk with each other as a helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Both sides had said they were ready to resume fighting.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

'After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes,' he said. 'There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.'

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday.

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives.

However, Israel has vowed to resume the war in an effort to end Hamas' 16-year rule of Gaza, but it's facing mounting international pressure to extend the truce and spare southern Gaza a devastating ground offensive like the one that has demolished much of the north.

Hostages who were abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross

A helicopter carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan

Newly released Israeli hostages sit among soldiers as they arrive inside a van at Ofakim army base in southern Israel

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes.

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza.

The father of Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for 50 days, has vowed to do 'whatever it takes' to help his nine-year-old daughter recover after revealing how she spent her ninth birthday running from missile strikes in Gaza.

Four days after his daughter's emotional release, Mr Hand told The Sun: 'She was a happy noisy kid, now she whispers. She's been terrorised by terrorists in hell but as her dad it's my job to make it better and I will.'

Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday on his third trip to the region since the start of the war, and is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

Released Palestinian prisoners gesture as they disembark a bus upon returning from the Ofer Israeli military prison to Ramallah

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israel's northern Gaza attacks.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an 'epic humanitarian catastrophe,' and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a 'concrete' timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a 'comprehensive, just and lasting' settlement of the Palestinian issue.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the truces calm has been overwhelmed by the search for aid and by horror at the extent of destruction.

In the north, residents described entire residential blocks as leveled in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of Gaza City who along with other volunteers searches for the dead under rubble or left in the streets.

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 trucks a day. But aid officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid. Overwhelmed U.N.-run shelters house over 1 million displaced people, with many sleeping outside in cold, rainy weather.
A Minnesota dental clinic has been ordered to pay a pregnant woman nearly $100,000 after she was fired from her job for being 'very hormonal.'

Christina Vescio-Holland was expecting twins when she was sacked from her job at PL Dental in Coon Rapids - but this triggered a discrimination investigation with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

After informing her employer she needed to start parental leave in late December 2020, the office manager 'told Vescio-Holland that she decided to terminate her employment because Vescio-Holland was 'very hormonal,'' according to the MDHR.

Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said: 'State law has prohibited pregnancy discrimination for decades, and this case is a reminder how critical it is for employers to have supportive policies in place for pregnant employees.'

PL Dental will now pay $97,000 to Vescio-Holland - after they tried to blame the sacking on performance problems, which the department found no evidence of.

Christina Vescio-Holland was expecting twins when she was sacked from her job at PL Dental in Coon Rapids - but this triggered a discrimination investigation with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights

She is pictured with her colleageus (far right) in front of her former place of work

As well as the monetary settlement, PL Dental must submit regular reports to state authorities to monitor their compliance with anti-discrimination policies.

The $97,000 is roughly three annual wages for the mother.

Vescio-Holland said in a statement: 'I just want people to know that they have options when something like this happens.

'And don't give up just because one door closes  keep fighting.'

Images posted on the dental surgery's social media show the mom smiling with her colleagues just months before she was fired.

'Pregnancy discrimination can include an employer denying a temporary reasonable accommodation to a pregnant employee or an employer firing or denying a promotion to an employee based on the employee's pregnancy,' according to the MDHR.

After informing her employer she needed to start parental leave in late December 2020, the office manager 'told Vescio-Holland that she decided to terminate her employment because Vescio-Holland was 'very hormonal,'' according to the MDHR

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received more than 2,200 reports of pregnancy discrimination last year.

This comes after a pregnant PR executive was fired from her $120,000-a-year post at a New York City firm after her boss claimed she 'could not be trusted' because of her 'pregnancy brain', a lawsuit claimed.

Rachann McKnight, 37, alleges that she was fired by Press Hook after she was 'cruelly and unlawfully gaslit' by the company's founder and CEO, Michelle Songy, during a 'campaign of gender-based harassment'.

McKnight alleges that Songy, also 37, made a series of harmful comments before she was fired, including 'squeeze tight and keep the baby in longer', court filings allege. She also told other staff 'no one else better get pregnant', it is claimed.

Songy, who lives in a $2 million home in Atlanta, Georgia, is further accused of failing to support McKnight while she suffered with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of sickness, during the pregnancy.

In a statement to DailyMail.com Songy said McKnight's claims are 'completely unfounded' and that she and her company 'are prepared to launch a full legal defense'.
A female prison psychologist has admitted to being in a sexual relationship with a former inmate patient who was jailed over an aggravated burglary.

But despite having been found to have engaged in 'professional misconduct', Caroline Gorman is being allowed to keep seeing clients.

Ms Gorman started treating the prisoner in September 2018, assessing him at clinical sessions, including a violence risk assessment, and signing his psychological reports until November 2019 when he was moved to another jail.

The man was released in October 2020 and contacted Ms Gorman on Facebook the following month, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) heard.

Within two months, in January 2021, they were in an 'intimate and sexual relationship', which continues to this day.

Prison psychologist Caroline Gorman (pictured) has admitted to being in a sexual relationship with a former male inmate patient who was jailed over an aggravated burglary

Though VCAT reprimanded Ms Gorman on Monday for her behaviour, it did not suspend her registration as a psychologist.

The Australian Psychological Society's (APS) code of ethics says psychologists must not 'engage in sexual activity with a former client  within two years after terminating the professional relationship with the former client'.

If a psychologist wants to have a sexual relationship with a former patient after two years, they must 'explore with a senior psychologist the possibility that the former client may be vulnerable and at risk of exploitation'.

They must also 'encourage the former client to seek independent counselling on the matter', the APS ethics code says.

VCAT heard that Ms Gorman breach the code by engaging in the sexual relationship 14 months after last treating her patient and by also not taking the required steps before doing so.

READ MORE: Good news for pot smokers as talks to legalise cannabis in one Aussie state to get underway Advertisement

Ms Gorman admitted her conduct was 'wrong' and apologised, but said her clinical relationship with the prisoner was not an 'extended or consistent one'.

The tribunal was told that no 'specific harm' is alleged to have happened to the man since their sexual relationship started in January 2021.

The psychologist agreed not to repeat her error, said she would in future adhere to the APS Code of Ethics and submitted that 'her error was a solitary lapse of judgment and out of character'.

In August 2021, the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) imposed conditions on Ms Gorman's registration, meaning she could only practice in places approved by the board.'

She also had to be supervised by a registered psychologist about 'maintaining professional boundaries'.

Ms Gorman followed the conditions - which she said helped her gain 'substantial insight into her error' - and they were removed from in March 2023.

The PBA said Ms Gorman should not only be reprimanded, but should be suspended for six months and then have further conditions imposed on her registration at the end of that period.

But VCAT ruled that suspending Ms Gorman's registration or imposing new conditions were not necessary, despite there being a 'power imbalance' between her and her ex-prisoner partner.

'It is not an equal relationship. Ms Gorman's conduct was a boundary violation of a substantial nature, not a minor or moderate departure of standards,' tribunal members Judge Caitlin English, Marian Power and Carolyn Manning said.

'It is a clear violation of the APS code of ethics.'

Ms Gorman started treating the prisoner in September 2018, assessing him at clinical sessions, including a violence risk assessment. A man's arms are pictured poking through jail cell bars

'It is not in the public interest to suspend Ms Gorman's registration as it will be disruptive to her patients and not in keeping with the facilitation of access to services, particularly at a time when demand for services is high and the availability and access is low,' they added.

The decision also referred to 'the high degree of insight shown, and rehabilitation undertaken, by Ms Gorman'.

The tribunal heard the psychologist and her partner are in a 'stable, happy and long-term relationship' and 'no harm was done to (her partner) because of her relationship with him'.

Ms Gorman now works for Succoris Psychology in Sunbury, where she 'focuses on supporting her clients to achieve their goals through a range of therapeutic approaches'.
EXCLUSIVE

A dozen grey-haired climate activists showed up at the office of a conservative think tank and defaced the building's interiors before hanging eviction notices on every wall.

The mostly mature-aged members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) stormed into the Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) at 131 Macquarie Street, Sydney, about 2pm on Thursday and spray painted on the portico and in the lobby.

The group of radical retirees has accused the CIS of receiving funding from the US-based Atlas Foundation which has ties to fossil fuel industry lobbyists.

A CIS spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that employees had to call the police on the 'misguided' protesters after they refused to leave and that one demonstrator was tackled to the ground by officers.

'It's a conspiracy fairy tale that we were founded by the Atlas Foundation and are funded by the Atlas Foundation,' the spokesperson said.

'Neither is true, but it's a fairy tale that seems to have become popular among the misguided over the past month or so.'

A dozen mostly mature-aged climate activists from Extinction Rebellion descended on the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney armed with spray paint and eviction notices

The group defaced the building's portico and lobby with graffiti at 2pm on Thursday

NSW police arrived within 15 minutes and arrested two protesters, aged 35 and 76

READ MORE: XR protesters glue their hands to Picasso painting Advertisement

An eyewitness said the group mostly consisted of 'very polite looking retirees' and a younger woman with orange hair who was throwing paint on windows outside.

The younger woman was armed with a carton of drained eggs which had been re-filled with paint and thrown towards the offices on level one.

Inside the building an elderly woman, Trish, graffitied 'CIS = Atlas Network = fossil fuel $$$ = climate lies dressed as the truth' in orange paint on the lobby floor.

Trish was also seen hanging eviction notices throughout the building which were 'filed by the plaintiff Extinction Rebellion and Friends' against CIS and lodged in the 'Justice Court of public opinion'.

Grounds for eviction included 'aggressive lobbying', branding climate activists as 'terrorists' and CIS' alleged role in the continued support of fossil fuel industries.

The CIS spokesperson said several protesters briefly tried to access the building's first floor office space but were thwarted by a security door.

Outside orange and yellow spray paint was used to write similar messages as several members stood at the bottom of the steps and preached to passers-by.

Police responded to the reports of damaged property after employees inside the building initially tried negotiating with the activists to stop what they were doing.

Officers arrived within 15 minutes of the call and quickly arrested two women, aged 35 and 76, who are now assisting police with their inquiries.

Other protesters were searched by police outside the building before the group was disbanded and made to move on.

One protester, Trish, was seen actively graffitiing the interior of the lobby and hanging several eviction notices on walls

The notice of eviction is pictured put up by protesters is pictuerd

A CIS spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the protesters were peddling 'a conspiracy fairy tale' and that there are more productive ways to protest fossil fuels

Police searched the group's belongings before disbanding them and leaving CIS employees to deal with the wreckage

The CIS spokesperson said that they were still trying to remove the graffiti as the office closed at 5:30pm and that they had no idea how to reach the splatters from the egg bombs that were plastered on the level one office windows.

The Centre for Independent Studies is a think tank nestled among prominent buildings including the NSW Parliament and the Opera House.

It was founded in 1976 and consists of academics who group together to produce research that goes on to influence public policy.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Extinction Rebellion for comment.
Snow fell across Britain today from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands as weather warnings were issued amid concerns over ice and temperatures falling to -8C (18F).

London mayor Sadiq Khan activated a 'severe weather emergency protocol' which opened accommodation to rough sleepers as temperatures fell below freezing in the capital early this morning and will drop to -3C (27F) for the next three nights.

More than 30 schools in Cornwall either closed for the day today or were opening late due to hazardous conditions, while a further four in Devon were also shut.

A Met Office snow and ice warning covering Britain's east coast from the top of Scotland down to Essex will begin at 5pm tonight and end at 11am tomorrow  coming after a similar alert that was in place between 5pm last night and 11am today.

There is a separate snow and ice warning in South West England from 3am until 4pm today, and an ice warning for Northern Ireland from 5pm yesterday until 10am today.

Road users were warned over the icy conditions and the Met Office said people could suffer slips and fall injuries in one of this winter's first icy periods. Up to 4in (10cm) of snow is expected to fall on higher ground, with 0.8in (2cm) at lower levels.

Forecasters were also advising of the chance of disruption to road, bus and rail networks - with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued warnings of its own, with yellow and amber cold-health alerts for northern regions of England until next Tuesday.

Snow on roads in the Cornish village of Polperro today as Met Office warnings were imposed

Rooftops were dusted with snow in the Northumberland village of Swarland this morning

Looe in Cornwall issued warnings to road users to be cautious of icy conditions on the streets

Wintry scenes in the village of Eastgate in County Durham this morning next to a nativity scene

Cars were covered by the dusting in Tow Law in County Durham after overnight snowfall

Met Office put warnings in place as towns like Dore near Sheffield brace for the chill

A frosty stag at Windsor Great Park in Berkshire stands in the chilly mist this morning

Snow has swept across the South West of England, parts of Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland, with more expected throughout the day.

Millions of drivers 'ignore weather alerts' Millions of drivers ignore severe weather alerts, a survey suggests. A third (33 per cent) of respondents to a poll of more than 12,000 AA members said they would go ahead with planned journeys even if a red warning for snow was issued by the Met Office. Some 62 per cent said they would ignore amber alerts. AA analysis of Department for Transport figures found 487 people were killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads in snowy conditions between 2017 and last year. Nick Powell, AA patrol of the year, said: 'It's clear that many people will risk their vehicles and themselves on wintry roads - even when the worst weather is predicted. 'The AA will be out on patrol as usual but there are some simple and common sense precautions drivers need to take to avoid a winter nightmare in the first place.' He said this included allowing extra time for journeys and properly de-icing the vehicle's windows as well as clearing snow from the lights. Advertisement

Met Office spokesman Oli Claydon said parts of Dartmoor could potentially see 2in( 5cm) to 4in (10cm) of snow throughout the day, with other areas of the South West seeing 'more modest accumulations' of one to three centimetres.

Overnight there is expected to be widespread frost, with temperatures dropping to -8C (18F) in the rural south and -7C (19F) in rural parts of Wales.

Mr Claydon said: 'The cold conditions are set to remain for the remainder of this week and into the weekend.

'For those inland it will remain dry, crisp and cold but showers will continue along the east, becoming more north into the weekend.'

In County Durham, police said snowy conditions had led to some crashes on the roads.

Durham Constabulary said: 'There has been the first main snowfall of the winter across the force area which has led to roads being covered in snow.

'We have already had collisions reported due to the weather. Please be careful if you need to drive this morning, drive to the conditions and allow extra time for your journeys.'

Yorkshire saw its first snowfall in the North Yorkshire hills earlier in the week, but it was reported to have settled in Leeds, York and parts of Bradford this morning.

Network Rail said it had not seen any 'significant disruption' as a result of the cold weather but advised passengers to check before they travel.

East Midlands Railway said passengers should expect some short notice cancellations and delays of up to 45 minutes due to a shortage of trains after damage caused by ice on the Corby/London St Pancras route.

A warmly-dressed woman plays with her dog in the snow at Swarland in Northumberland

A school crossing guard at Tow Law in County Durham wears a high-vis coat among the slush

Motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads as snow continues to fall

A van is driven through snowy weather at Swarland in Northumberland this morning

Motorists are left stuck in tailback as icy conditions made it dangerous to be on the road

The sub-zero chill brought the Christmas spirit early to some towns and villages

Snow on the rooftops of homes in the Northumberland village of Swarland this morning

Snowfall at Tow Law in County Durham this morning as the wintry weather continues

Traffic comes to a standstill as motorists try to get around safely amid icy conditions

Motorists defrost their cars as they get ready to embrace a further three days of cold spells

Snow at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland today as road users are warned of icy conditions

Residents put grit on the road to make sure drivers can get around in safe conditions

The first snowfall of winter in Cornwall this morning as the UK endures very cold weather

Wintry scenes at Tow Law in County Durham this morning after overnight snowfall

Snow falls in Cornwall this morning as motorists battle hazardous conditions on the roads

A very frosty Windsor is seen this morning as a runner goes for a jog on the Long Walk

The sun rises over the Lee Park Golf course in Liverpool today amid frosty weather

One yellow warning - covering areas in North East England, the East Midlands, the east of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland - is active from 5pm tonight until 11am tomorrow.

READ MORE Are YOU due a new Cold Weather Payment from today? Check your postcode to find out if you're eligible Advertisement

Another, affecting Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will be in place until 4pm today.

An earlier warning remains in place until 11am today for eastern Scotland and north-east England down to North Yorkshire, where snow caused closures on the A169.

A yellow ice warning for Northern Ireland was in place until 10am today.

Motoring organisation the RAC urged drivers to 'ensure they're winter ready as some get their first real taste of snow and ice'.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: 'We've already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and north-eastern England.

'As the cold air continues to spread across the UK, we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of South West England.

'Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a north-easterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE Are you winter driving ready? 10 tips to prepare your car for harsher conditions Advertisement

'Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing.'

For the rest of today, southern counties of England can expect cloudy weather with patchy rain at times, falling as snow across the hills in the southwest.

It will be sunny elsewhere, with wintry showers towards coasts in the east. However, most places will remain dry with sunny spells that will develop into a widespread frost overnight.

Come this evening, wintry showers may develop near the North Sea coasts and in parts of Northern Ireland.

Moving into tomorrow, the weather will remain cold with sunny spells and some wintry showers, mainly towards coastal areas.

It comes after temperatures plunged to a low of -7.2C (19.04F) in England yesterday as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

However, the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria yesterday, with a low of -7.2C (19.04F) in Bridgefoot, -6.5C (20.3F) in Shap and -6.1C (21.02F) in Keswick.

A man walks along a snow-covered pathway at Tow Law in County Durham this morning

Snow is cleared from cars this morning after falling overnight at Tow Law in County Durham

Snow on cars at Tow Law in County Durham early this morning after falling overnight

Snow falling on a residential road in the Halifax area of West Yorkshire early this morning

A social media user took this picture of snow in the North East of England early this morning

The BBC reported that parts of the UK had their coldest November night since 2010, and that it was -8C at Aonach Mor in the Scottish Highlands.

READ MORE Will it snow for Christmas 2023? Met Office reveals weather prediction for December Advertisement

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said yesterday that it had already recorded snow in eastern Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire - with about 0.8in (2cm) in some eastern coast areas and 2in (5cm) at Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

The UK is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia, causing a cold snap for many in the North.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop to single-digit figures this week and night temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for large parts of England and Scotland.

Ladbrokes' latest betting odds for snow to fall anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day are 1/2, and it says Edinburgh and Newcastle are the 'most likely destinations to see snow'.

But the Met Office urged people to take a prediction this far in advance with a 'pinch of salt'.

Ms Maxey added: 'Christmas is still a month away, so it is impossible with this lead time to have any confidence in a detailed forecast.'

The Met Office added that next week could bring 'milder conditions'.
A 21-year-old man has been mauled by a shark while swimming in Far North Queensland.

Queensland Ambulance Service responded to a call for help just after 12.30pm on Thursday after a young man was bitten by a shark at Clack Island, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, north of Cooktown.

It is understood he sustained injuries to his shoulder and bicep area and is in a stable condition.

A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene from Cairns and he has been taken to hospital.

A man in his 20s has been bitten by a shark at Clack Island, in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, north of Cooktown

A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene from Cairns and he has been taken to hospital

The young man had been fishing for se cucumbers before the shark attacked him

It is understood the man was fishing for sea cucumbers when he spotted the 1.8 metre shark about 11.30am Thursday morning.

Paramedic Valerie Hurlbatt said he was swimming alongside the shark when its behaviour suddenly shifted, the Cairns Post reported.

She said the shark attacked him, taking a bite out of his right arm near his shoulder and bicep.

Ms Hurlbatt said the injury was non-life threatening but had caused significant bleeding.

The man was assisted by people near the scene who applied a tourniquet to the wound.

'The tourniquet and some basic first aid saved his life' Ms Hurlbatt said.
A toddler is fighting for life after after a ute reversed over her on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island).

She was unresponsive after the accident about 10am on Thursday and her father initially performed CPR on her.

Her parents then drove their daughter to the eastern side of the island and waited for emergency services to arrive.

The child was flown to hospital by a LifeFlight rescue helicopter after being treated by paramedics.

The little girl suffered extensive bruising and tyre marks on her leg, back and ear.

A toddler is fighting for life after a ute reversed over her on K'gari (pictured)

The child was flown to hospital by a LifeFlight rescue helicopter after being treated by paramedics on K'gari (pictured)

The ute's tyres rolled over the girl at slow speed, pushing her into the sand.

'The patient was airlifted by rescue chopper in a serious but stable condition to Queensland Children's Hospital' in Brisbane, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

A police Forensic Crash Unit team is investigating the incident.
Just Stop Oil staged a disruptive protest outside Rishi Sunak's 6.6million home in Kensington last night.

The eco group were seen holding banners and placards that slammed new oil and gas licencing and crashed pots and pans together while singing with a microphone as residents tried to sleep.

Just Stop Oil took to social media to claim 14 protesters were arrested by police outside the Prime Minister's house during the stunt.

Officers have since confirmed 16 protesters were arrested and taken to a number of central London police stations where they remain in custody.

The group wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: '18 Just Stop Oil supporters are outside Rishi Sunak's house in Kensington, enjoying a performance of ''We Tried'' by @louisehmusic.

'They made themselves heard by beating pots and pans and carrying placards reading ''COP Failure=Crop Failure'', ''No Rest For The Wicked'', ''Arrest the Real Criminals'' ''Charge Him With Genocide''.'

It comes after Greenpeace protesters managed to climb on Mr Sunak's home and drape it in black fabric while he was away on a family holiday in August.

Just Stop Oil staged a disruptive protest outside Rishi Sunak 's 6.6million home in Kensington last night

Louise Harris (pictured) belted out her original song 'We Tried' into a microphone at the protest

The eco group were seen holding banners and placards that slammed new oil and gas licensing and hit pots and pans

Footage shared by the group last night shows one of its members, Louise Harris, belting out her original song 'We Tried' into a microphone before a police car approaches the scene.

Harris filmed herself crying on top of the gantry above the M25 motorway on November 7 last year before police were forced to use ropes to bring down Just Stop Oil protesters.

She posted a video documenting her relief at having her ankle tag taken off just in time for Christmas that year, which she was forced to wear after pulling the dangerous stunt on the motorway.

Her X bio to her 1,000 followers now reads: 'I'm that girl who cried on the gantry above the M25.'

Harris, of Caddington, Bedfordshire, previously said her environmental activism was an 'act of self defence'.

She believes civil resistance is the only way to get people to see the perils of oil.

Reacting to last night's protest, people took to social media to share their view, with one writing: 'Targeting MPs and their families when they are at home is disgusting.'

In August Greenpeace activists, who arrived at 6am in the morning, clambered on the Prime Minister's 2million mansion in Richmond, North Yorkshire, while he spent ten days in the US with his wife and two daughters.

Just Stop Oil took to social media last night to claim 14 protesters were arrested by police outside the Prime Minister's house during the stunt

Police can be seen attending the protest last night in which 14 people were apparently arrested

The area was cordoned off after Just Stop Oil gathered outside Rishi Sunak's house

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond in August

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond

Four Greenpeace activists climbed on the roof of Rishi Sunak's home in North Yorkshire in August

Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond

They draped it in what they described as '200sq m (2,150sq ft) of oil-black fabric' in a protest at his backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling.

At the same time, two further activists on the ground unfurled a banner featuring the words 'Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?' across the grass in front of the house.

The group claimed they knocked on the door upon their arrival and said: 'This is a peaceful protest.' But there was no answer. It is not known who reported them to police, but by the time officers arrived in force, the four were on the roof, 40ft above the ground. They eventually removed the banner and climbed down from 12.30pm.

One of the four roof activists was identified as Alex Wilson, who lives in Newcastle with their partner but is originally from East Yorkshire. They said they are a 'volunteer climber with Greenpeace' and were sitting on the roof with 'Amy, Mike and Matteo'.

Posting a video message from the roof, Wilson said: 'We're all here because Rishi Sunak has opened the door to a new drilling frenzy in the North Sea while large parts of our world are literally on fire. This will be a disaster for the climate.'
Three people were killed and eight wounded before police killed attackers

Two men armed with assault rifle and pistol opened fire at crowded bus stop

Hamas has claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem shooting horror that left four dead including a pregnant teacher today and called for an 'escalation of resistance'.

Eight people were also wounded in the shooting carried out by two terrorist brothers in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured today in a ramming attack on a checkpoint in the West Bank.

Israeli police said the shooters in Jerusalem 'were neutralised on the spot' after the attack near a bus stop on the western side of Jerusalem, where there are no checkpoints guarding entrance to the city.

Officials said that 24-year-old Livya Dickman, Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, and Hanna Ifergan, 67, were killed in the attack which happened just as the morning rush hour got underway.

Late last night local media reported a fourth person had died in the Jerusalem terror attack, and it was revealed to be the civilian who had shot the terrorists.

Israeli rescuers place the body of a victim on a gurney at the site of a shooting in Jerusalem near the Jewish settlement of Ramot with nine casualties reported, on November 30, 2023

Israeli armed police stand guard at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

The weapons used in the shooting are seen in this image provided by Israeli police

Officials said that in the confusion security services had fired at the man critically injuring him and he had died from his wounds.

Dickman was pregnant with her first child at the time of her death, according to the Haredim 10 news outlet.

It later transpired the shooters were brothers from East Jerusalem named as Murad Nemer, 38, and Ebrahim Nemer, 30.

Both were known Hamas operatives - Murad served time between 2010 and 2020 for terror offences linked to the Gaza Strip police sources said, while Ebrahim was imprisoned in 2014 for terrorist activities.

'Two terrorists arrived in a car, one of them armed with an M-16 (assault rifle) and the other with a pistol,' and opened fire, Jerusalem police chief Doron Torgeman told reporters at the scene.

The attack came just hours after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel was extended for a seventh day, moments before it was due to expire.

Hamas has today claimed responsibility for the shooting attack in Jerusalem and called for 'an escalation of the resistance'.

'This operation is a natural response to the unprecedented crimes of the occupier in the Gaza Strip and against children in Jenin,' in the West Bank, Hamas said in a statement.

Footage from the scene circulating on social media shows armed police surrounding two bodies sprawled on the ground - both appear lifeless.

Other clips showed crowds of people sprinting from gunshots while cars accelerate away from the scene.

Two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured in a ramming attack on a checkpoint in the West Bank today, the Israeli army said, adding the assailant had been 'shot and neutralised'.

The military was 'searching the area for additional suspects', it added in a statement.

The gunmen can be seen clambering out of the silver car next to the bus stop where they starting shooting

People are seen fleeing from the bus stop as the gunmen fire indiscriminately into the crowd

Israeli officials work at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

Israeli officials work at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, was one of those killed in the Jerusalem attack

The body of rabbinical judge, Elimelech Wasserman, who was killed in a shooting attack at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem, is placed ahead of his funeral on November 30, 2023

Friends and family gather to mourn rabbinical judge, Elimelech Wasserman, who was killed in a shooting attack when Hamas gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem, ahead of his funeral in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

Israeli army soldiers stand guard near a car ramming attack site near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on November 30, 2023

Israeli army soldiers stand guard near a car ramming attack site, near Tubas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on November 30, 2023

Speaking of the Jerusalem attack, Magen David Adom spokesperson Zaki Heller told Army Radio: 'The bus station was very crowded, which is why so many people were wounded.'

A year ago, a bomb exploded at the same bus stop, killing a 16-year-old boy and wounding 18.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said 'my heart goes out' to the victims of the Jerusalem attack.

US ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said: 'Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence.'

The latest shooting comes two weeks after an Israeli soldier was gunned down in an attack on a checkpoint on the eastern side of Jerusalem at the entrance to a tunnel linking the West Bank with the city.

Another five Israeli security personnel were also wounded, with Israeli police shooting dead all three assailants.

That attack was claimed by the armed wing of Hamas.

Blinken is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages in spite of today's shooting.

'This process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue,' he said.

Israeli officials work at the scene of a violent incident in Jerusalem November 30, 2023

First responders load the body of one victim into an ambulance

Armed Israeli police stand guard at the scene of the shooting at a crowded bus stop

Qatar, which has played a key role in mediating with Hamas, said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, with Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israel's release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel later said Hamas submitted an improved list, paving the way for the extension.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children captured during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. The terrorists are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume its offensive aimed at eliminating the group.

With Israeli troops holding much of northern Gaza, a ground invasion south - where most of Gaza's population is now concentrated - will likely bring an escalating cost in Palestinian lives and destruction.
An American influencer has revealed the things she dislikes most about Australia, igniting a heated debate.

Lo Swo, a digital creator and OnlyFans model, took to social media last week to share some of her pet peeves about life Down Under after visiting Sydney and Perth recently.

'I just spent 10 days in Australia and I have words,' she told her TikTok followers in a viral video.

Lo began her video by praising the country for its 'clean and fresh' air, but she quickly moved onto the thing that bugged her, starting with flies.

'Australians, I don't know how you're surviving with the flies,' she declared

While Lo admitted mosquitoes were a problem in her home town of Florida in the US, she said they were not nearly as bad as the flies in Australia.

The influencer then turned her sights to the iconic Australian magpie, describing her horror at seeing some of the birds engaged in a 'gang fight'.

'It was like a five-on-one fight. Pretty sure they killed the one. I don't know why but it happened. I saw it. It was terrifying,' she said. .

Next up, Lo claimed that there was a critical lack of nightlife across the country.

'Nothing is open past 7 or 8pm, all the restaurants close at like 5 and then all of the stores close at like 7,' she said.

'Also, nothing is open on the weekends, like after midnight... Perth was like 'Mmmm, it's late, go to bed, everybody go to bed'.

Lo Swo (pictured), a digital creator and OnlyFans model, took to social media last week to share some of her pet peeves about life in Australia

Lo also said she had discovered a dark side to the country, claiming there was 'a lot of racists like America'.

She was particularly offended by one habit she had observed.

'A lot of Australians thought it'd be funny to compare every racist thing they would say to Mexicans, as if my partner and I would think that was funny because we're American. And I don't because most of my family lives in Mexico now,' she said.

'So that wasn't cool. That sucked.

'I felt bad for anybody who was a minority living in Australia dealing with that.'

The content creator did however have some more positive things to say about the country, giving praise to Western Australia's Rottnest Island and the 'amazing' public transport system.

She also was pleased to see that kangaroos could be found 'hanging out' just outside the city.

Lo said she wasn't sure if she would return to Australia.

'I don't know if I would do it again anytime soon,' she said.

'But, yeah, Australia you're all right, minus the flies, that was terrible, but you're all right.'

The influencer's video sparked debate online, with many criticising her for forming opinions after only visiting two cities (stock image pictured)

The video, which has amassed more than 345,000 views, received mixed reactions from Aussies.

Many were critical of her takes, observing that she only visited Perth and Sydney and not the rest of the country.

'Don't judge all of Australia by Perth. Perth is nice but everything closes early,' one viewer said.

'Perth is 20 years behind the rest of Australia,' another claimed.

'Shops and restaurants don't close early in other states like Victoria'.

While a third quipped: 'should have come to the east coast'.

Others took to the comments section to defend the West Australian capital.

'Perth closes early because we respect our service industry and retail workers. Work life balance here is important!,' one said.

Many users however agreed with Lo that there was a fly problem in Australia.

'The flies are part of the reason we have a slight murmur when we talk,' one joked.

Another said the flies were 'absolutely doing my head in'.
A teenager accused of murdering Brianna Ghey told her co-accused she wanted to kill her because she was prettier, a court has heard.

Two 16-year-olds, who were both 15 at the time of the killing, are currently on trial over Brianna's death after she was found with 28 stab wounds in a park in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire on February 11.

Girl X and Boy Y, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are alleged to have murdered the teen, who was found face down by a dog walker after the 'sustained and violent assault' which left her with 'unsurvivable' injuries, including stab wounds to the heart and jugular.

On Wednesday a court heart how the two teens were 'preoccupied with violence, torture and death' and discussed wanting to kill Brianna to 'see pure horror on her face'.

Both Girl X and Boy Y deny murdering Brianna.

Brianna Ghey (pictured), 16, was found with 28 stab wounds in a park in Cheshire on February 11

Brianna's mother Esther Ghey (left) arrives at court on Monday

Manchester Crown Court heard a series of messages sent between Girl X and Boy Y in the days and weeks leading up to Brianna's death.

Discussing their plan to stab Brianna, Girl X complained that Brianna was 'stealing my lines the greedy b****' - an apparent reference to drug taking - and added: 'and she's prettier'.

The night before her death, the pair talked about what type of knife they should bring to the park the following day, where they had arranged to meet Brianna.

Girl X asked Boy Y which knife he would bring when they met Brianna the next day.

'The hunting knife I showed you in person as well as on the phone,' he replied.

Girl X asked if it would 'definitely 100% kill her' to which Boy Y replied: 'Yes.'

She also told her co-defendant she was watching her favourite film, Sweeney Todd, for the '9,000th time', adding he should watch it too.

She added: 'He kills people with one of the sharpest blades in the world.'

Earlier, after Brianna failed to turn up after their first alleged attempt to lure her to the park on Saturday, January 28, Girl X tried to rearrange the meet-up for the following week, jurors heard.

But Boy Y said he was unable to carry out the killing on a 'school night'.

Girl X wrote: 'I don't want to wait, I just want her to die. I want to see pure horror on her face and hear her scream in pain.'

In an earlier message, the pair discussed killing another child, an intended target who can be identified only as Boy R.

'He's an easy kill... he deserves to die,' Girl X wrote.

Continuing the conversation, she said: 'I just want him dead ASAP.'

Boy Y responded: 'Then you distract him, I go from behind with the knife and stab him in the neck.'

A handout photograph of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, who died after being stabbed 28 times in February

Peter Spooner, father of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, arrives with his partner at Manchester Crown Court on Monday

Brianna (pictured), 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near her home in Warrington

The court has heard they later turned their attention to killing another boy, referred to as E, but he 'smelt a rat' and blocked their attempt to contact him using a fake Instagram account.

Click here to listen to the Mail's new podcast The Trial The Trial...takes listeners behind the headlines and into the courtrooms of some of the biggest trials in the world. The first series 'The Trial of Lucy Letby' was a global hit, with more than 13 million downloads, while season two focused on the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old teacher from Ireland. Its third season follows the tragic case of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl killed in Warrington, England. Follow the evidence as the jury hears it, in twice-weekly reports from The Daily Mail's Northern Correspondent Liz Hull and broadcast journalist Caroline Cheetham. Advertisement

'I want him to suffer,' Girl X said in a message to Boy Y.

The pair then decided that if they could not kill Child E, they would instead kill Brianna.

On Wednesday jurors also heard a statement from Esther Ghey, Brianna's mother, which told how her daughter had fallen ill in the same week Girl X had talked to Boy Y about giving her an overdose of prescription medication.

'She appeared to be in real pain and was screaming and crying for me to help her,' Ms Ghey said.

'I went into the kitchen to start tea when I heard Brianna screaming. My initial thought was she had self-harmed and hurt herself.

'She was screaming in pain, saying 'I think I'm going to die'.

'It was quite frightening, I have never seen Brianna like that, she is not a sickly child, and she was clearly in distress, and I wondered if it could have been appendicitis. She kept saying 'Don't leave me'.'

Ms Ghey said she went downstairs to get her phone and heard a 'splash' as Brianna was sick 'all over the floor'.

As she cleaned it up, she saw what she thought were grape skins within the vomit, she said.

According to the prosecution, these may have been traces of the medication she swallowed.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC told the jury that there was 'no dispute' that Briana was murdered, and that the issue was whether Girl X and Boy Y participated.

'They both accept they were in the park and Boy Y accepts he took his hunting knife with him,' she said.

'But they both deny participating in her killing in any way and each blames the other. Plainly they cannot both be telling the truth.'

Only Girl X was in the dock on Wednesday. Boy Y listened remotely via video link from his secure accommodation unit.

Boy Y, who is from Leigh, Greater Manchester, had been diagnosed with autism following his arrest, jurors have been told, along with a 'high level of social anxiety'.

Girl X, who is from Warrington, has been found to have 'traits of autism and ADHD'.

Trial judge Mrs Justice Yip told the jury they may notice that Boy Y is playing with a fidget or tangle toy, or has a crossword book with him, which experts have told her helps him concentrate.

'Whatever helps to manage conditions I'm perfectly happy with,' she said. 'Whatever helps us get through the evidence, that's helpful.'

The trial continues.
Her daughter has now confirmed she died aged 80 from heart failure on Tuesday

Victoria Maria Aragues Gadea performed in Benidorm for more than 35 years

The grieving family of Benidorm legend Sticky Vicky have described the performer's last moments in hospital before she died of heart failure aged 80 yesterday.

The mother-of-two, 80, passed away around 6am yesterday at the Villajoyosa Hospital near the Benidorm resort where she rose to international fame.

Her daughter, Maria Aragues Gadea, said Vicky sadly died on her 42nd birthday, adding it was a day she will 'remember for the rest of my life'.

'My mum was in hospital for the last 12 days of her life and as a family we've been with her and have been able to say goodbye to her.

'I was by her bedside when she died this morning. She passed away as they were changing her morphine bottle,' she told The Sun.

'She has gone, surrounded by her family, with all of our love. I thank God for being able to always be by her side, I am left with a broken heart,' Maria wrote on the official Sticky Vicky Facebook page yesterday.

'I regret these words, my mother Sticky Vicky passed away today at 6 in the morning, I can't believe it,' her daughter (left) wrote on the official Sticky Vicky Facebook page

The exotic dancer, whose real name was Victoria Maria Aragues Gadea, passed away early on Wednesday. She had been unwell for some time, according to reports

Benidorm legend Sticky Vicky has died aged 80, it has been announced

Maria shared the news yesterday, writing on her mother's page to confirm her passing.

Vicky retired from her act in 2016, aged 72, after stunning generations with her X-rated tricks that made creative use of household objects including ping-pong balls, razor blades and beer bottles.

She endured health complications as she got older, fighting cancer and undergoing at least two hip replacements.

Maria, who took over her mother's act after her retirement, confirmed two years ago her mother had 'won her fight against cancer with radiotherapy and chemotherapy' but had since been diagnosed with dementia.

'It's something that's come on quite recently and her memory is still good but it's obviously something that's going to get worse.

'I'm living with my mum and am acting as her full-time carer,' she said at the time.

Born in 1943 in Tenerife, the trained ballet dancer - who was also known as Vicky Leyton - became an icon in Spain's touristic city of Benidorm thanks to her exotic, x-rated performances of her vaginal magic show.

The mother-of-two moved to the city in south-east Spain in 1980 where she became a legend of the holiday hotspot visited by millions of British tourists.

Her show - which ran for move than three decades - involved pulling a variety of objects from her private parts, including ping pong balls, razor blades, eggs, handkerchiefs and machetes.

It would end with the lights dimming and her producing a lit light bulb.

An estimated six million people saw the show - which she would invariably perform six times in a night, six days a week - since she started it in the mid-1970s.

And she once marked the third series of ITV's comedy show Benidorm starring Johnny Vegas by officially opening Mel's Mobility Shop before it caught fire.

She was once described by a guide to Benidorm as such a 'must-see' that leaving without experiencing her show would be like buying fish without chips or turning on the TV to see Ant without Dec.

Vicky finally retired in 2016 aged 72 after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and her daughter Maria Gadea Aragues has since taken over.

Vicky said she did not characterise herself or her show as pornographic.

'To do what I do you must have a lot of delicacy. It is necessary to give it a touch of elegance,' she said at the time.

She also once thanked the 'English public' for her success, saying she would never have imagined she would have become a performer. 'I never thought I could be on a stage at my age, and it is all thanks to the English public,' she said.

Vicky invented her X-rated show after a magician friend taught her tricks during hard times after the death of former dictator Francisco Franco, which at the same time brought the easing of sexual censorship in Spain.

She boasted of keeping in shape with regular gym workouts and a healthy lifestyle.

Tenerife-born Vicky (pictured in 2011) spent 35 years entertaining millions of tourists with her X-rated routines. The mother-of-two moved Benidorm, in south-east Spain, in 1980 where she became a legend of the holiday hotspot visited by millions of British tourists

The retired dancer - real name Victoria Aragues Gadea - was hospitalised earlier this year after she smashed her knees while getting into a car

Vicky (right) is pictured with her daughter in a social media post. Maria Gadea Aragues continued her mother's performance in Benidorm

Vicky carried on performing her raunchy magic tricks well past the normal-retirement age after postponing plans to hang up her props so she could fight rival performers she denounced as imposters.

She once went to court against another adult entertainer, traditionally known as Sticky Barbara, after learning she had registered the name Sticky Vicky as her own.

Judges sided with the real Sticky Vicky in 2009.

They said Spaniard Maria Rosa Pereira had acted in 'bad faith' and telling Vicky Leyton she was the legal owner of the trademark.

In July, she was hospitalised after hurting her knees when getting into a car.

She was released after a few days in hospital, but was returned quickly when she experienced pain and a possible infection.

Her cause of death has not yet been officially announced.

Vicky's daughter spoke at length about her mum's battle against cancer and other health problems two years ago.

Barcelona-born Maria, who was then combining her job as the Benidorm legend's full-time carer with private lessons focused on gymnastics, strength and stretching for children and athletes including dancers, said at the time: 'My mum's won her fight against cancer with radiotherapy and chemotherapy but she's due to have her second replacement hip operation in just under a fortnight's time.

'With the coronavirus pandemic everything's been delayed. She's using a walker at the moment and she needs help and can't be on her own in case she falls.

'She's also got early onset dementia. It's something that's come on quite recently and her memory is still good but it's obviously something that's going to get worse. 'I'm living with my mum and am acting as her full-time carer.

'She's 78 and obviously not as mobile as she was but she's still looking very beautiful. I don't think she's ever had Covid and she's had her two vaccines.

'She's living a peaceful life and spending lots of time at home but hopefully she'll be able to get out a bit more once she has had her second hip operation.'

The grandmother-of-two was intending to return to the stage after her first hip operation but shelved the plans after discovering she had uterine cancer.

The veteran entertainer confirmed on her Facebook page in February 2016: 'Just to let everyone know that the Legend Sticky Vicky Leyton and her [...] daughter Demaria Leyton have both retired from sexy magic shows.

'Vicky at the age of nearly 73 has retired to spend more time with her family and her daughter has other projects that have nothing to do with sexy magic shows.'

While the statement in 2016 suggest her daughter was retiring, she since picked it back up and continues to perform to this day.

An estimated six million people saw Vicky's show since she started it in the mid-1970s. She was originally a ballet dancer

Vicky Leyton, AKA Sticky Vicky, performs a show in her younger days

Sticky Vicky (right) is seen with her daughter, Maria Gadea (left)

With the news of her death, tributes flooded in from Vicky's fans, many of whom responded to her daughter's post of Facebook.

'God bless you and your family your mum put Benidorm on the map,' one person wrote. 'When you said Benidorm every one said Sticky Vicky.

'What a beautiful woman a true entertainer RIP.'

Another person wrote: 'I was 14 years old when I first heard of your beautiful mum... I finally got to see her numerous times in my 40s and your show too.... Benidorm will be now dark at night....after losing it's biggest star.. absolute legend... Bless you.'
Africa's first female billionaire is fighting an application to freeze up to 580million ($736 million) of her assets in the UK, including a 21million London townhouse.

Isabel dos Santos told London's High Court yesterday that she is the victim of a 'campaign of oppression' by Angola.

Dos Santos  whose father Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years until 2017  has faced corruption accusations in the southwestern African nation for years.

She denies the allegations and says she is the target of a long-running political vendetta, which has seen her assets frozen or seized in Angola and Portugal.

The businesswoman, whose 21million house in St Mary's Place, close to the Albert Hall, is listed online as the most expensive house in South Kensington, is being sued by Unitel SA, a company she founded during her father's decades-long reign as president, which came to an end in 2017.

Isabel Dos Santos, the daughter of former President of Angola Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, is fighting against a 580m UK freezing order

The case has been brought over accusations that she benefited from 'corruption and kleptocracy, as well as of looting Angolan state companies'

Isabel dos Santos, pictured between Nicole Sherzinger and Paris Hilton, has had her assets frozen by an Angolan court in an attempt to recover state funds

She is accused of taking out hundreds of millions of pounds worth of loans from Unitel through another company she owned, which were never repaid.

Lawyers for Unitel are asking London's High Court to freeze her UK assets, including banning her from sale of her 'very high value real property' whilst they pursue the 580m they say they are owed.

But lawyers for Ms Dos Santos say the allegations against her are 'trumped up' and politically motivated, and are asking for the application to be dismissed on the basis that the Angolan government is pursuing a 'vendetta' against her.

As part of her defence, they claim a freezing order against her in Angola was obtained 'on the basis of fabricated evidence,' including bizarrely 'a forged copy of her passport, featuring the signature of Bruce Lee'.

Isabel dos Santos is the eldest child of Angola's former President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the country from 1979 to 2017.

She was once considered Africa's richest woman, according to Forbes magazine, with a net worth exceeding US$2 billion.

But since 2018 she has faced attempts by the Angolan government to prosecute her over allegations of corruption.

She was dropped from the Forbes list in January 2021 after the freezing of her assets in Angola, Portugal and the Netherlands.

Paul Sinclair KC, for Unitel, today told Mr Justice Bright that the company 'seeks a worldwide freezing order ('WFO') against its former chair, Isabel dos Santos, in support of wide-ranging claims against her'.

'Isabel dos Santos, touted as Africa's first female billionaire, is a controversial figure, accused of benefiting from the kleptocratic regime of her late father, the former longtime President of Angola,' he said.

'She, and companies associated with her, have been the subject of freezing injunctions - which have been breached - and adverse judgments in jurisdictions across the world.

'She has been found to have committed forgery, is subject to criminal investigation, and is barred from the US for corruption.'

'She faces allegations of benefiting from corruption and kleptocracy, as well as of looting Angolan state companies,' he added, going on to claim that Ms Dos Santos owes the company 580m in unpaid loans and interest.

'There are obvious legitimate reasons to pursue her. On its case, she caused (Unitel SA) to transfer hundreds of millions of its euros and tens of millions of its dollars to an entity she wholly owns, UIH.

Isabel dos Santos, daughter of Angola's former dictator, is facing charges of fraud, the court was told

dos Dantos' father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, ruled Angola from 1979 and 2017

The billionaire was filmed at a Dubai restaurant earlier this year where she ate steak directly from a knife

'Then she let UIH default on the loans, and directed it not to constitute the security it promised. Those are classic circumstances in which a company would sue a former director.'

He denied 'that Unitel is, in effect, the Angolan state or is a puppet of it, and that this litigation is being run as part of a state-sponsored vendetta against her.'

'This is wrong. The litigation is brought for commercial reasons,' he said.

But for Ms Dos Santos, Richard Hill KC told the court that the freezing order sought is 'oppressive and unnecessary'.

He also said the Angolan freezing order was obtained with 'fabricated evidence, which included a forged copy of her passport featuring the signature of Bruce Lee'.

He claimed she is the victim of a 'political campaign' which was launched to discredit her and protect 'persons responsible' for a 'fraud' she says she uncovered when she was chair of a state oil company in 2016.

'Unitel does not have a good arguable case and certainly not for the sum it claims,' he told the judge.

'This is not by some distance a suitable case for a freezing order.

'Its claim for loss is fundamentally flawed. There is no real risk of dissipation, as demonstrated not least by the fact that this application has been on foot for more than a year and yet Ms Dos Santos has taken no steps to dissipate her assets.'

He told the judge there is 'extensive freezing relief' already in place in other countries, saying it was 'difficult to see what useful purpose the claimant thinks the proposed order will serve'.

He also argued that properties and other assets owned by her though companies were not a legitimate target for any freezing order that might be made.

The hearing continues.
The Royal Navy is sending one of its most advanced warships to the Gulf to protect international vessels from terror attacks.

HMS Diamond will seek to thwart Iranian attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important passages of water.

Her deployment comes days after Iranian-backed Houthi rebels descended by helicopter and seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship.

While earlier this week Tehran released footage of one of its drones flying over the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier which was sailing in the Strait.

Both incidents were thought to be related to the Israel-Hamas conflict and raised fears of increased regional tensions.

Royal Navy warship HMS Diamond is being deployed to the Gulf in a show of force by the British Government

Footage filmed by Iran-backed rebels shows them approaching the Bahaman-flagged 'Galaxy Leader' ship in the southern Red Sea via helicopter

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the deployment of HMS Diamond last night

Last night, UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Recent events have proven how critical the Middle East remains to global security and stability.

'Following the onset of the renewed conflict in Israel and Gaza and the unlawful and brazen seizure of MV Galaxy Leader by Houthis in the Red Sea, it is critical the UK bolsters its presence, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world.

'Today's deployment will help to keep critical trade routes open and prove that our commitment to regional security not only endures but is enhanced.'

HMS Diamond, known as a jewel of the Royal Navy, is a Type 45 destroyer packed with cutting-edge military sensors, such as Sampson radar, and sophisticated weapons. Due to her sleek design she is also almost invisible on enemy radar.

Her Sea Viper anti-air missile system will protect commercial and military ships including the Royal Navy's HMS Lancaster and three UK mine-hunting ships, HMS Bangor, HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Middleton already deployed there.

Portsmouth-based HMS Diamond has a crew of up to 200 sailors and is equipped with a Wildcat helicopter, which can be used by Royal Marine commandos to board hostile ships.

More than 150 commercial vessels carrying an estimated 6billion in goods pass through the strait every day, underlining its importance to the global economy.

HMS Diamond (pictured) is equipped with a host of cutting-edge weapons

These ships are vulnerable to attack due to the narrowness of the strait, just 30 miles in places. The strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Israel condemned the attack on the Galaxy Leader which was on route from Turkey to India when it was seized off Yemen.

Reports suggested it is owned by an Israeli billionaire. Her 25 crew of various nationalities were taken hostage.

Terrifying footage from the hijacking showed armed gunmen swooping in on the tanker by helicopter before storming the bridge and capturing the vessel.

The ship had been chartered by a Japanese group, and was flying the flag of the Bahamas at the time of the raid.

A photographer said the Galaxy Leader was anchored at the rebel-controlled Hodeida port in northwest Yemen and was closely guarded. It was now flying the Yemeni and Palestinian flags.

A helicopter approached the Galaxy Leader and dropped off several Houthi fighters

The rebels approached the bridge with weapons drawn

The cargo ship (pictured) travelled south past the Arabian peninsula on its way to India . It is registered under a British company which is partially owned by Israeli tycoon Abraham Ungar

The Houthis have declared themselves part of the 'axis of resistance' of Iran's allies and proxies, and have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel.

In a chilling threat following the raid, the Iran-backed terror group declared: 'All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets.'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called the seizure of the cargo ship an 'Iranian act of terror'. While the Israeli military branded the hijacking a 'very grave incident of global consequence'.

Earlier this month the Houthis shot down a US military drone off the coast of Yemen.

It followed a string of attacks by the rebels against American warships. Last week a US Navy vessel in the Red Sea shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched by the Yemen-based rebel group Red Sea.

Navy warship USS Thomas Hudner (pictured in 2021) shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen while operating in the Red Sea

The drone attack follows a wave of drone and missile attacks against US forces stationed in Iraq and Syria , launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that there was no injury sustained by the crew nor damage to the ship

The drones were destroyed by USS Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer on Wednesday morning.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that there was no injury sustained by the crew nor damage to the ship.

The attack followed a similar incident last month which saw US Navy destroyer USS Carney blasting down an Iranian-made Houthi drone.



There was no damage to the Carney or any injuries to the American crew on board. The warship had been sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the time of the attack.
Today is the centenary anniversary of the death of John Maclean, a dedicated Marxist and class fighter, famous for playing a leading role in militant workers movements such as Red Clydeside in Glasgow. We pay tribute to his revolutionary legacy.

[Originally published at socialist.net]

30 November marks 100 years since the death of one of Britains greatest revolutionaries: John Maclean.

Maclean sacrificed much of his life for the class struggle. He was persecuted by the establishment for his vocal opposition to imperialism and capitalism.

One hundred years after his premature death, with the world still shaken by imperialist wars such as that in Ukraine, we must look to the legacy of figures like Maclean for inspiration.

Marxist educator

John Maclean was born in 1879 in Pollokshaws, then on the outskirts of Glasgow, to parents who had come to Glasgow following the Highland clearances.

Following the death of his father, Maclean saw his mother struggle to raise a family of six children. This influenced his decision to become a socialist and join the Socialist Democratic Federation (SDF) in 1903.

Maclean was an extremely active SDF member, particularly through his educational work. He worked as a school teacher. And he carried his pedagogical practices over into his political work, organising evening, weekend, and summer classes to teach workers about Marxism. At their height, in 1919, Maclean ran a total of 43 classes, with over 2,000 workers attending.

Red Clydeside

One of Macleans key contributions to socialism was his activity in opposing World War One. In doing so, he stood apart from the vast majority of so-called socialists internationally, including those in the British Socialist Party (BSP), the successor to the SDF.

6 tanks were brought in to suppress striking workers in the Battle of George Square, 1919 / Image: public domain

Due to the BSPs pro-war stance, Maclean worked with a small group of followers to carry out his anti-war propaganda in Glasgow.

As workers became more and more frustrated with the war, and their treatment by the ruling class, Maclean and other socialists started to attract a wider following. And from this, the events of Red Clydeside evolved.

The 1915 rent strike was a key episode within Red Clydeside. Maclean and other socialists, such as Mary Barbour, successfully led tenants in a militant movement against landlords, who were opportunistically raising rents as munitions workers moved into the city.

Following on from this victory, Maclean increased his support, with around 500 workers regularly attending his Sunday economics class, and many thousands going to his open meetings held in Glasgow city centre.

Accuser of capitalism

The ruling class was increasingly worried by Macleans work. As a result, he was arrested for sedition in February 1916 and sentenced to three years of hard labour.

Following the February revolution in Russia, which saw the overthrow of the Tsar, militancy in Glasgow grew. On May Day 1917, 250,000 lined the streets calling for Macleans release. The ruling class feared that Glasgow would follow in Petrograds footsteps, and so Maclean was released in June of that year.

After the Russian Revolution, Maclean was made Russian Consul for Glasgow by the Bolsheviks. In this capacity, he addressed many Hands Off Russia rallies.

With the Glasgow working class becoming more and more militant, and the ruling class fearing a revolutionary outbreak, Maclean was again imprisoned for sedition in April 1918.

It was during this trial that he made his famous speech from the dock: I am not here, then, as the accused; I am here as the accuser of capitalism, dripping with blood from head to foot.

Militant struggle

MacLean delivering his speech from the dock, 1918 / Image: public domain

Maclean was released in November 1918, after the armistice. A huge crowd came to greet him as he got off the train from Peterhead jail in Glasgow city centre.

The next few months saw Maclean leading the militant struggle for a 40-hour week in Glasgow. This culminated in the battle of George Square in January 1919, as tanks and troops from across Britain were brought in to stem the movement.

Following the defeat of the 40-hours movement, the working class in Glasgow went into retreat.

Maclean continued with his educational classes. But, having spent much of his adult life in prison, including a period of hunger strike and forced feeding during 1918, he died in 1923 at the age of just 44.

For Marxists today, Maclean leaves behind an important legacy: providing an inspiring example of how Marxist ideas can take root within the working class, and showing the importance of Marxist education.
Crime on the London Underground has skyrocketed by 56 per cent in a year fuelled by a shocking rise in theft and robberies, worrying figures have revealed.

The number of crimes between April and September this year on the underground was 10,836, compared with 6,924 in the same period in 2022.

This included a rise in the number of thefts recorded from 2,935 in 2022 to 5,378 this year. Meanwhile the number of robberies soared from 164 to 340.

Offensive weapon offences recorded went from 24 to 62, hate crime increased from 422 offences to 553, and violence from 1,203 to 1578.

According to the latest data from Transport for London (TfL), reported offences are up 30 per cent overall across all services this year.

Services included in the TfL total are London Overground, London Underground, Trams, DLR, Elizabeth Line, Cable Car and bus.

The figures rose from 17,160 offences within the six months reviewed last year to 22,294 in 2023.

Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall hit out at Sadiq Khan as she said his 'weak leadership' has let crime skyrocket.

According to the latest data from Transport for London (TfL), reported offences are up 30 per cent overall across all services this year

Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall hit out at Sadiq Khan (pictured standing) as she said his 'weak leadership' has let crime skyrocket

Crime on the London Underground has skyrocketed by 56 per cent in a year fuelled by a shocking rise in theft and robberies, worrying figures have revealed

Bus related offences rose from 8,980 crimes between April and September 2023 compared with 8,449 crimes during the same period in 2022; six per cent additional recorded crimes.

Also, a survey showing results from July to September this year revealed that 32 per cent of passengers felt worried on public transport and seven per cent of Londoners were completely or temporarily deterred from using public transport due to a worrying incident.

The most cited worrying incidents on the bus network were overcrowding, drunken passengers, and youth related anti-social behaviour.

Incidents people worried about most on the underground network were drunken passengers, threatening behaviour or language of others and seeing someone begging.

Women were more likely to come across drunken passengers, whereas men were more likely to encounter youth related anti-social behaviour.

Sarah Olney, the Lib-Dem MP for Richmond Park, told the Standard: 'Londoners should be able to feel safe on their public transport, yet these shocking figures tell a different story.

'This Conservative Government and the Mayor of London need to end their endless bickering, get around the table, and come up with a strategy to tackle this surge in crime.'

A rail union is calling for increased investment on the London Underground to counter a rise in crime.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said a 56 per cent increase in reported crime on the Tube this year was fuelled by a big rise in thefts and robberies.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'These soaring crime rates come as no surprise to Tube workers who are on the frontline every day in this increasingly hostile environment.

'RMT has been warning for many years that instead of an agenda of austerity and constant cutbacks we need decent staffing levels and investment to ensure a safe and secure transport network for London.'

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, told MailOnline: 'Everyone should feel safe on London's transport network and it is the Mayor's priority to ensure the transport network remains a safe and low-crime environment.

'Working closely with the police, TfL has thousands of police officers and their own enforcement staff patrolling the network every day to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside operations to target offenders. The public transport crime trends in London reflect national trends which are rising due to the lower volumes recorded during the pandemic.

Bus related offences rose from 8,980 crimes between April and September 2023 compared with 8,449 crimes during the same period in 2022; six per cent additional recorded crimes (stock image)

'City Hall and TfL have been actively promoting the importance of reporting crimes, especially those that are underreported such as hate crime, sexual offences and harassment and work-related violence and aggression. City Hall and TfL will continue to encourage anyone who witnesses a crime on the transport network to report it, in order to take action against offenders and put measures in place to prevent this happening again.'

Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement, told MailOnline: 'The safety of our customers and staff is our top priority and working closely with the police. We have more than 2,500 police and police community support officers and 500 TfL enforcement staff patrolling the network at all times of the day to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside operations to target offenders and hotspot locations.

'All stations are staffed from first train until last train and we have more than 4,500 station colleagues available across the network to assist customers and keep them safe.

'We have also been actively promoting the importance of reporting crime, especially crimes that are underreported such as hate crime, sexual offences and harassment and workplace violence and aggression.

'We encourage anyone who witnesses a crime on the transport network to report it, so we can take action against offenders and put measures in place to prevent this happening again.

'Crime on the TfL network largely reflects national crime trends rising from the lower volumes recorded during the pandemic. We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure that our transport network remain a safe environment to work and travel.'
An academy trust head has admitted he 'cries' over the violence at a school where teachers are threatened with sexual assault and having their throats cut by knife-wielding pupils.

Oasis Academies founder Steve Chalke, said he was 'really sorry about this situation' of the school on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent where teachers went on strike because of the conditions.

'I cry about it, to tell you the truth,' he added.

The school has seen 20 teachers gone on strike for three days over the violence and intimidation they experience daily from children as young as 11 or 12. Lisa, who did not want to give her surname, said this week: 'We are collectively striking because there have been too many incidents of violence and threats of violence against staff.

'We have had chairs thrown; been pushed and shoved... physically assaulted. We have the n-word used on a regular basis to our black teachers.'

Protestors outside the Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey, which saw 20 teachers go on strike due to poor working conditions and abuse

Oasis Academies head Steve Chalke (pictured) has admitted he 'cries' over the violence at a school where teachers are threatened with sexual assault and having their throats cut by knife-wielding pupils

'It is shocking, isn't it?' head Mr Chalke told BBC Radio Kent about the ongoing crisis at Oasis Academy in Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey. 'It's a terrible thing and it's a thing of great regret, but the reality is... that we also run six schools in Croydon and lots of schools around the country.'

He blamed issues over pupil behaviour on the pandemic, and said it was a national issue, but admitted it was a 'different level' on the Isle of Sheppey.

Mr Chalke said: 'Behaviour in schools has deteriorated across the country and deteriorated fast since the pandemic, it's a national crisis.

'But it's deteriorated even further - to a different level - on the Isle of Sheppey and I am very sorry, I'm really sorry about this situation. I cry about it, to tell you the truth.

'I know that may sound namby pamby or ineffectual but we have strained and worked at it.'

The academy head said he has been invited to the school but told the radio programme that he is 'constantly on the Isle of Sheppey' and getting involved with the community which understand the 'wider socio-economic issues'.

He said the community also understands 'that this is a societal problem as well as a problem that shows itself in school'.

Mr Chalke added: 'So I apologise to every one of those teachers, honestly I do, I care about this.'

'But I don't have a magic wand,' he added.

The crisis at the school came as Ofsted released their annual report where outgoing chief Amanda Spielman, stated that absenteeism and disruptive pupil behaviour is becoming more commonplace.

She also warned that secondary schools are plagued by a growing number of children playing 'internal truancy', where they wander corridors and hang out in toilets instead of going to lessons.

The walk-out in Kent is believed to be the first time teachers in England have gone on strike because of the fear of pupil behaviour. Although last month there was a three-day strike at Caldicot Secondary School in Monmouthshire, Wales, over what they called the 'violent and aggressive behaviour' of some pupils.

The strike action in Kent - which teachers considered a 'last resort' - was forced, teachers say, due to the threat of violence from pupils, after four physical assaults in the past two weeks alone.

Behaviour ranges from threats of sexual violence against female staff and gang fights, to large groups of children attacking one pupil, and others throwing tables and chairs at staff.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) on a picket line outside Oasis Academy in a dispute over pay in July

Oasis Academy - rated inadequate in four categories by Ofsted when they visited last year and reported on unsafe pupils and 'rife bad behaviour'  has been in trouble for a long time

The school - which was rated inadequate in four categories by Ofsted when they visited last year and reported on unsafe pupils and 'rife bad behaviour' - has seen various attempts to turn it around.

But these attempts, which included a multi-million-pound investment in school infrastructure, have failed to make an impact.

The reasons why are complex, although some of the roots undoubtedly lie in a difficult mix of social deprivation, well-intentioned but ultimately futile overhauls and endless staff turnover, which has served only to further estrange pupils, parents and teachers.

The Isle of Sheppey was found to be in the top ten most deprived areas in the country when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published its index of what it called 'multiple deprivation' earlier this year.

The Government is investing 10million in 'behaviour hubs' which launched in April 2021, which it says will allow schools with exemplary positive behaviour cultures to work closely with schools that need help. It has also updated guidance on good behaviour in schools.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: 'Strike action is damaging to pupils' learning and disruptive for parents, and we are disappointed to see strikes are continuing at the Oasis Academy, Isle of Sheppey.

'We are considering a proposal from two strong local trusts to replace the existing school with two new ones, extending parental choice in the area and ensuring children receive a high quality education.'
Rwanda's support for the UK's flagship migration policy cannot be taken for granted amid continued delays to getting flights off the ground, it was claimed today.

The Supreme Court's ruling against the plan earlier this month was only the latest setback to a scheme originally launched by Boris Johnson in April 2022.

Senior diplomats have warned the Foreign Office that the longer that flights are delayed, the more officials in Kigali will question whether the scheme is sustainable.

The reports in The Times come as Rishi Sunak prepares to introduce emergency legislation into Parliament that would confirm Rwanda is a safe place for migrants.

Government sources told the newspaper that criticisms of the country from the bill's opponents would be 'hard for Kigali to swallow'.

Rwanda's president Paul Kagame with Boris Johnson in 2022. His government is said to be growing increasingly frustrated at delays to the Rwanda scheme and criticism of its record

New foreign secretary Lord Cameron - seen in Brussels on Tuesday - has reportedly been advised to robustly defend Rwanda in public

In response, new foreign secretary Lord Cameron has reportedly been advised to robustly defend Rwanda in public.

When approached for comment, the Home Office directed MailOnline to a summary of Mr Sunak's conversation with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda following the Supreme Court's judgment.

'Both leaders reiterated their firm commitment to making our migration partnership work and agreed to take the necessary steps to ensure this is a robust and lawful policy and to stop the boats as soon as possible,' it read.

The Rwandan government has described the Supreme Court's judgment as 'disappointing' and rejected the idea it was unsafe for refugees.

READ MORE - Home Office officials travel to Rwanda to put the 'finishing touches' to a revamped asylum pact Advertisement

Spokeswoman Yolande Makolo told Sky News the judgment had been based on 'hypocritical' and 'dishonest' assessments by the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR).

Speaking this morning, security minister Tom Tugendhat said James Cleverly was 'extremely well placed' to keep Rwanda signed up to the Government's asylum plan.

Mr Tugendhat said the Home Secretary's previous role in the Foreign Office meant he was able to address any concerns from Kigali.

'I know that the Home Secretary as foreign secretary has had a good working relationship with the Rwandan government at various different points and I'm sure he is extremely well placed to make sure that any concerns the Rwandan government may have at any points will be alleviated,' Mr Tugendhat told Times Radio.

He added: 'I'm very pleased that James Cleverly is there because what he is going to be doing, clearly, is making sure that this commitment - the Prime Minister's commitment - is delivered on so that we achieve the aim of dissuading evil traffickers from exploiting vulnerable people and risking their lives by carrying them across extremely dangerous seaways, not only the English Channel but the Mediterranean where we have seen thousands of lives lost.

'This is a cruel trade and we've got to be absolutely clear that allowing this trade to continue is allowing criminal groups to exploit the most vulnerable in our society.'

Mr Cleverly told Conservative MPs on Tuesday that around five other countries were prepared to agree Rwanda-style deals with the UK.

He had stoked the ire of right-wing Tory MPs by suggesting the scheme was not the 'be all and end all' of the Government's immigration approach following the Supreme Court judgment that ruled it unlawful.

A group of migrants are brought ashore at Dover by a Border Force clipper on Sunday

Mr Sunak's plan to save the policy involves the signing of a new treaty with the African nation and the introduction of emergency legislation allowing Parliament to deem the scheme safe, but this has been delayed.

Mr Cleverly on Tuesday told Conservative backbenchers angered by the hold-up that a successful Rwanda scheme could pave the way for similar deals with other countries, the Independent reported.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride expressed his support for negotiations with alternative nations.

He told Times Radio yesterday: 'I can't speculate on which countries the Home Secretary may have in mind.

READ MORE - Whereabouts of more than 17,000 asylum seekers unknown to Home Office Advertisement

'But if he is reaching out for alternatives to Rwanda, then that would probably - along with pursuing the Rwanda policy that we're absolutely committed to doing - would probably be a sensible thing to do.'

Mr Stride added the Government remains 'absolutely committed' to pursuing the Rwanda option through the new treaty and emergency legislation despite the 'setback' of the Supreme Court verdict.

No 10 had said in the hours after the November 15 Supreme Court defeat that the treaty would be laid before Parliament in the 'coming days' so deportation flights could take off 'as soon as possible'.

Negotiations on a new treaty are in their final stages, the Home Office's top civil servant said on Wednesday.

Permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told MPs that officials were in the capital Kigali 'as we speak' as they put the 'finishing touches' to the talks.

The Government now faces questions over how much it has already paid Rwanda and if more payments are due to be made, after MPs were told they would have to wait months to learn if it was more than the 140 million previously disclosed.

Sir Matthew hinted more cash could be paid but would not say if any additional payments had since been made when pressed on the matter, instead saying ministers had decided they would not reveal that information until the summer.

Speaking to the Commons Home Affairs Committee, he said: 'The negotiation of that treaty is ongoing. In fact, there's a Home Office and wider team in Kigali as we speak, putting the finishing touches to that negotiation. And I think it'd be premature to say anything about the content of that.'

Mr Cleverly told Conservative MPs on Tuesday - when he is pictured - that around five other countries were prepared to agree Rwanda-style deals with the UK

A hostel in Kigali that was due to be used by asylum seekers sent to Rwanda from the UK

Asked by committee chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson whether 'anything else had been given to the Rwandan government', in addition to the confirmed 140 million, he replied: 'So there are additional payments each year and ministers have decided that the way to keep you and other colleagues in Parliament updated is once a year to set out the total additional payments to the government of Rwanda.

'And we'll do that in the annual report and accounts. So the figures that you set out, the 120 million (initial payment when the deal was initially signed) plus 20 million are the payments from the 2022 to 2023 financial year and then any payments in 2023/24, we will announce in the normal way in the next annual report.'

Dame Diana said his responses made it 'quite hard to effectively scrutinise the flagship policy of the Home Office, and how much money is being spent on it, when we're only getting the figures at the end of the year.'

To which Sir Matthew replied: 'Ministers have decided that the way to update Parliament is annually, rather than giving a running commentary.'

Labour's shadow minister for immigration Stephen Kinnock described suggestions that Britain could send more money to Rwanda, despite no migrants being sent there yet, as an 'affront to the hard-working British taxpayer'.

His comments came a day after Downing Street said Mr Sunak was still considering how to make sure the plan was legally watertight amid reports Government lawyers warned attempting to opt out of international rights treaties could delay flights.

The Prime Minister has been urged, including by sacked home secretary Suella Braverman, to adopt tough legislation that includes 'notwithstanding' clauses that can prevent judges from applying protections in the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to asylum cases.

But Government lawyers reportedly warned that instructing the courts to ignore the ECHR risks opening up more avenues for migrants to challenge the legality of deportation flights, on the basis that it would breach Britain's convention obligations.

Mr Cleverly warned Tory right-wingers that seeking to override the ECHR could see the plan defeated in the House of Lords.

The new Home Secretary has also faced calls for new measures to tackle net migration after official figures published last week showed it reached a record 745,000 last year.

The Government's hope of sending asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on a one-way trip to Rwanda is a key plank of Mr Sunak's pledge to 'stop the boats'.
Russia today banned the 'international LGBT movement,' claiming it was an extremist group, a move that cements a long crackdown on the community as the Kremlin pushes conservative social values.

Over the past decade, President Vladimir Putin has told Russians to adhere to conservative social values promoted by the Orthodox Church.

The Supreme Court handed down the ruling in Moscow today.

It did not say whether certain individuals or organisations would be affected by the ruling.

The judge ruled that 'the international LGBT public movement and its subdivisions' were extremist, and issued a 'ban on its activities on the territory of Russia '.

Over the past decade, President Vladimir Putin has told Russians to adhere to conservative social values promoted by the Orthodox Church (File Photo)

He said the order was effective immediately.

If applied to individuals, the 'extremist' label means gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could face years in jail.

The hearing took place behind closed doors and without any defence present, Russian media reported ahead of the verdict.

'One day it will be over but for now we need to try to continue to live and save ourselves,' the Feminist Anti-War Resistance, which is critical of Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, said on social media in response to the verdict.

Other NGOs, including transgender rights group 'Center T', said they would publish safety guidelines for members of the LGBTQ community.

LGBT activists wave their flags during a rally to cancel the results of voting on amendments to the Constitution in Moscow, Russia, on July 15, 2023

Its director, Yan Dvorkin, who fled Russian citing security concerns, called the legal proceeding a 'new low point of insanity'.

Russia's conservative turn accelerated after it deployed troops to Ukraine last year.

Dvorkin said he believed LGBTQ people were being used as scapegoats by Russian authorities.

'They're losing the war. This makes people very frustrated and dissatisfied with the government. It's very easy to take that anger out on LGBTQ people.'
The wife of French serial killer Michel Fourniret, dubbed the 'Ogre of the Ardennes', told police Joanna Parrish 'fought back' before her husband beat the 20-year-old unconscious, raped her and strangled her to death in 1990, a court has heard.

Monique Olivier, 75, is on trial for complicity in the abduction and murder of three women including Parrish. Her husband was charged with abduction, rape and murder in the cases but died in 2021, aged 79, before he could be brought to trial.

On the second day of the trial in Nanterre on Tuesday, a Belgian prosecutor said Olivier described how she and her husband picked up Parrish near a train station at Auxerre, two hours southeast of Paris, and kidnapped her.

'Michel asked the girl if she was a virgin, if she had a boyfriend. He told her to get undressed and she refused, Olivier told police in a statement that she later retracted.

'He hit the young girl until she was unconscious then raped her. Then he strangled her. He then took her naked body and threw it in a river,' she added.

Parrish, a Leeds University student, was killed in 1990 while spending eight months working in France as a teaching assistant. Before his death, Fourniret admitted to her murder, was convicted of killing seven and confessed to killing three more.

Monique Olivier, ex-wife of serial killer Michel Fourniret, arrives in the courtroom for her trial at the assize court in Nanterre, Paris' suburb, on November 28, 2023

Joanna Parrish, 20, from Newham on Severn, near Gloucester, whose body was found by fishermen at Auxerre, France, in 1990

Self-confessed French serial killer Michel Fourniret readies to leave Police Headquarters in Dinant, July 8 2004

'I acknowledge all the facts,' Olivier said on the second day of her trial. The 75-year-old was briefly questioned in the afternoon. 'I regret everything that happened,' she added.

Her husband, dubbed the 'Ogre of Ardennes', was jailed in 2008 for the murders of seven girls but it was a decade before he confessed that Parrish had been another of his victims.

He died before he could be tried for three killings, including that of Parrish. Now, her case has been reopened 33 years after her death as prosecutors claim Olivier had some involvement.

Olivier has already been convicted twice of aiding and abetting some of her husband's crimes. She received a life sentence in 2008, and could face a second in the present trial.

The crimes under investigation date back to 1988 in the case of Marie-Angele Domece, who disappeared aged 18 from Auxerre, and 1990 for 20-year-old British woman Joanna Parrish, whose naked body was found in the Yonne river that runs through the department of the same name in central France.

Francis Nachbar, a former public prosecutor who questioned Fourniret and Olivier between 2004 and 2008, said the accused had admitted involvement in the killing of Parrish and Domece - but then took it back and accused her husband of making her confess.

'Monique Olivier explained that Fourniret had abducted a girl at Auxerre station. We had no knowledge of this kidnapping, this murder, which was of Joanna Parrish,' Mr Nachbar said.

'Monique Olivier gave details of the cords used [to tie] the girl and the sexual abuse to which she was subjected in the van in Monique Olivier's presence.

'All of a sudden, she tells us: "The body was thrown into a stream, it was Fourniret who did it." She also says that Fourniret raped the victim.'

Nachbar said Olivier also retracted the claim that her husband had beaten Parrish before killing her, which he had strongly denied.

He also said Olivier had said Parrish had 'fought back' against Fourniret's attack.

The day before, the defendant had claimed that her ex-husband had 'used' her to commit his crimes, denying any 'criminal pact' between them.

'Monique Olivier is a pathological liar and makes herself out to be the victim,' the prosecutor said.

He said they were both 'monsters of inhumanity, perversity and cruelty. They were both dangerous.'

'This woman's duplicity is beyond comprehension,' said the retired magistrate, recounting how he had witnessed Olivier's interrogations by Belgian investigators in 2004.

Olivier is charged with aiding and abetting the kidnapping and murder of Marie-Angele Domece and Joanna Parrish.

Her third charge is for complicity in the 2003 disappearance of nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin.

Monique Olivier, ex-wife of serial killer Michel Fourniret, sits in the courtroom for her trial at the assize court in Nanterre, Paris' suburb, on November 28, 2023

A digger arrives to the site where French police and gendarmerie units conduct searches to find the body of French missing girl Estelle Mouzin near Issancourt-et-Rumel, northeastern France, on April 8, 2021

(FILES) Monique Olivier, the wife of French self-confessed serial killer Michel Fourniret, waits at the Charleville-Meziere courthouse, northern France, on May 29, 2008

The bodies of Domece and Mouzin have never been found two decades on, despite intensive searches.

In 2018, Olivier was given a further 20 years' jail for her part in the killing of Farida Hammiche, the wife of one of Fourniret's former cellmates.

Her husband was arrested in Belgium in 2003.
A 'difficult' luxury wedding organiser and her husband who refused to get out of a tycoon's 7million country mansion have been handed a 250,000 court bill after a judge ruled they were 'trespassing'.

Alo Brake, 58, and husband Andrew, 68, were sued by medicinal cannabis entrepreneur and wedding venue owner Dr Geoffrey Guy's company after they refused leave his Dorset country pile, Axnoller House, for over three years.

Sprawling West Axnoller Farm - where the mansion is sited - was previously owned by Mrs Brake, who with her husband transformed it from a derelict state to a high-class wedding venue, where actor Sean Bean married his fifth wife, Ashley Moore.

However, the credit crunch of 2008 forced the couple into looking for outside investment, resulting in the farm and wedding business eventually being sold to a company run by Dr Guy, a medicinal cannabis multimillionaire nicknamed 'Dr Pot'.

Initially, the Brakes continued to work for him after his 2017 purchase, living in a cottage on the land or in the farm's 'jewel in the crown' Axnoller House when it was not needed for an event.

Alo Brake (front), 58, and husband Andrew, 68, were sued by Dr Geoffrey Guy's company

But they later fell out with Dr Guy and in November 2018 were fired and told to get out of the house, which is set in the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

However, they refused to leave until April last year.

Now after a judge found they were 'trespassing' on Dr Guy's company's property and had spun 'a web of lies' in court, they have been ordered to pay over 250,000 in damages.

Ordering them to pay the damages to Dr Guy's company at the High Court, Judge Paul Matthews slammed the couple for being 'difficult' with their former boss and landlord.

Dr Guy made his multimillion-pound fortune after founding GW pharmaceuticals, which is known for its multiple sclerosis treatment derived from the cannabis plant, before going into the wedding business.

According to a previous ruling by the judge in the long court battle, Mrs Brake bought the picturesque farm, near Beaminster, Dorset, in September 2004.

At the time it was derelict, but with the help of her husband, she transformed it into a holiday letting business and high-class wedding venue, with adjoining equestrian 'arena.'

However, the credit crunch of 2008 forced the couple into looking for outside investment, leading them to form a partnership with a businesswoman in 2010 and contribute the farm as their stake.

The partnership ultimately failed and the farm was in 2015 sold by receivers to another company, a corporate vehicle for Mrs Brake's friend, The Hon Saffron Foster, daughter of the third Lord Vestey.

M edicinal cannabis entrepreneur and wedding venue owner Dr Geoffrey Guy's company sued the couple after they refused leave his country pile, Axnoller House, for over three years (Dr Guy is pictured)

The farm was then sold again in July 2017, passing to Dr Guy's company, The Chedington Court Estate Ltd, for more than 7million.

Initially, Mrs Brake continued running the wedding business on behalf of his firm, but the relationship between the parties 'broke down' and the Brakes were both sacked and told to leave in November 2018.

But they refused, claiming they had a right to stay there because Mr Brake was an agricultural tenant and relying on alleged promises that they would be allowed to stay on.

At the High Court in February last year, Judge Matthews ruled Mr Brake was not an agricultural tenant, because the farmland he tended was simply a 'stage set' for the wedding business.

There had also never been an assurance that they could stay on, he said.

In a new judgment, he has now ordered the couple to pay Dr Guy's company 236,818.27 in damages for their trespass on the property after being told to leave in 2018 and before they eventually moved out last year.

He said that, in her evidence, Mrs Brake had told the court that, had Dr Guy 'treated us properly,' they would have moved out of the house and into a cottage on the farm.

But that only went to show that, in fighting against their removal from the house 'in response to Dr Guy's behaviour,' the Brakes 'were simply being difficult,' he found.

The judge said the couple had occupied the house personally, not even allowing access for routine inspection and maintenance, and also the equestrian arena.

But they had also excluded Dr Guy's events company, Chedington Events Ltd, from land immediately outside the house, to the detriment of the business, he said.

The pair refused to get out of a tycoon's 7million country mansion for over three years

'This included a lawn, a terrace, a gravel path and car parking area and a bridle path. These were previously and - but for the defendants' trespass - would have been used for the purposes of the wedding and events business which the claimant carried on. In particular, the lawn in front of the house would have been used for the wedding ceremony.

'To avoid confrontations, the claimant sensibly did not attempt to use them, but it continued to maintain them at its expense, in order to maintain the 'look' of the whole property for its business.

'I find that this amounted in practice to exclusion of the claimant from those areas.

'The defendants did not exclude the claimant from other parts of West Axnoller Farm, including the party barn and the other two holiday houses.'

But he continued: 'They had the benefit of the use of the property from almost the end of 2018 to the spring of 2022, during which they had no need to pay for anywhere else to live or indeed for the utilities needed to run it.

'The evidence is that they drove, walked and rode horses over it as they wished. They deliberately deprived the claimant of the use of the house and the arena during the same time.

'Lastly, the defendants kept the claimant at bay during this time by obtaining repeated adjournments of the trial, eventually making an entirely unsuccessful case to remain, buttressed by what I found to be 'a web of lies' at trial.'

He ordered them to pay 236,818.27 damages, with interest running at eight per cent from January 2019 - meaning the bill will hit about 250,000.
Britons are marking the beginning of the festive season by showing off the worst Yuletide decorations their local councils can muster...

From limping Christmas trees compared unfavourably to Poundland, to barely visible fairy lights - the competition seems surprisingly stiff.

Baffled locals in Denton, Greater Manchester, took to social media to complain about 'shocking' lights on two trees in their town centre.

Several existing trees which sit around the Christmas tree in the town square have been decorated with lights. However, two of these sets appear to have only a handful of working bulbs on them.

A post on a local Facebook group attracted almost 350 comments. One described them as a 's**t show' while another commented: 'Beautiful, no expense spared!'

Only a handful of fairy lights appear to work in a set draped around a tree in Denton town centre in Greater Manchester

The diminutive tree in the centre of Deal, Kent, has been mocked by locals after the wrong one was delivered to the council

Residents have reacted in fury over a 'shocking' Christmas tree that has been put up in Hattersley in Hyde, with pictures showing the threadbare spruce missing some of its boughs, while the ones remaining appear very thin

The poor state of a Christmas tree in Hattersley has prompted severe criticism from residents

A Tameside Council spokesman said they had erected an official Christmas tree in the town centre but denied having anything to do with the lights added to the existing trees nearby.

The spokesman said: 'The council has provided a real cut Christmas tree with lights - as is our offer for all our towns - as well as the lights on the town hall. If any other lights have been lit, we will investigate, but they are not part of our offer.'

The council cited 'continuing government funding cuts' as the reason it was unable to add more lights in the towns across its area.

Tameside Council has already vowed to replace a tree in nearby Hattersley after a backlash from locals there. The 'living tree' was planted outside The Hub, a community centre on Stockport Road which includes a police post and council offices, a few years ago. But the threadbare spruce hasn't thrived.

Residents hit out after they noticed workmen had decorated it in lights and put barriers around it on Monday morning in time for Friday's lights 'switch-on'.

Following the festive furore, council officials have promised to provide a 'cut tree' in time for the switch on and replace the 'living tree'.

Elsewhere, shoppers in a seaside town in Kent say the small Christmas tree in their high street is a laughing stock - after the wrong one was delivered to the council.

The tiny festive tree was put up in Deal, Kent, on Sunday by Dover District Council (DDC) but has been mocked by locals.

And now the council have admitted that the one they put up was not the one they had ordered.

The small spruce sits at the entrance to the town's pier.

Peter Marsh, who has lived in Deal for 13 years, joked: 'You can get bigger ones in Poundland.

'It's underwhelming. It's almost as tall as the pampas grass but not quite as big.

'I would have expected a better one. If you're going to do it, do it properly.'

The 77-year-old is however pleased the council 'isn't spending too much money'.

Jill Breen, 72, another Deal resident, agreed that the tree had a particularly small stature, adding: 'It could be bigger.

'It's not the best I've ever seen but at least it's not leaning to one side as I thought it might be.

'It's not too bad though. I think it should have a star. I think maybe at night it would look lovely.'

A 30ft high Christmas tree which has been erected in Walsall town centre has angered residents, local politicians and business leaders for its 'shabby' appearance

The council has already sent six workers (pictured) to try to smarten up the tree

It added that officials will be carrying out 'quality checks' on the tree in the coming days

Grace Gabrielli commented: 'I think maybe we don't need to spend a lot of money on a tree.

'There's a cost-of-living crisis. Maybe there are other things money needs to go into. I think with the lights on it would be fine.'

Vanessa Hood, 67, who was visiting from Faversham with her husband Malcolm, said 'a lot of people like to moan'.

'It's got lights so once they are on in the evening it would be nice,' she said.

'It's a nice gesture by the council to put a tree up in the first place - it makes people feel better. I think a lot of people like to moan.'

Dover District Council leader Cllr Kevin Mills insists a more impressive version is set to be installed 'as a matter of urgency'.

'I find it unacceptable that this has happened and it makes the council department that dealt with it look bad,' the Labour councillor said.

'The tree wasn't the one that was ordered and the company that supplied it will be replacing it with the correct one as a matter of urgency.

'I have insisted this has to be done as soon as possible.'

A Dover District Council spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that the tree installed was not in line with what we had ordered. We are arranging for a replacement to be installed over the next 24 hours.'

In the West Midlands, furious residents blasted a 'Scrooge' council for putting up a 'shabby' Christmas tree with barely any lights on - to save cash.

Walsall Council announced it was trying to make a "number of savings" after identifying a potential overspend of 18million next year.

The 30ft high Christmas tree has been erected in the town centre but it only has a 'handful' of lights hanging from its branches.

The council refused to fund a lights switch on event for the town in another cost-cutting measure. Local politicians and business leaders blasted the "shabby" tree and said it was an "embarrassment".
The fact Home Office officials have no idea of the whereabouts of 17,000 asylum seekers is an 'absolute shambles', Tom Tugendhat appeared to admit today.

The extraordinary revelation at the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday has prompted fresh claims that the Government has lost control of Britain's borders.

Mr Tugendhat, the security minister, told LBC today that the Home Office was working to locate the missing asylum seekers.

Host Nick Ferrari branded the situation an 'absolute shambles' and asked the minister 'what's going to be done about it?'

'You're absolutely right, it is incredibly important we identify where individuals are and we grip it,' Mr Tugendhat said.

Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, told LBC today that the Home Office was working to locate the missing asylum seekers

He said the new Home Secretary James Cleverly would be working to 'get to the bottom of what's gone on.'



Sir Matthew Rycroft, permanent secretary at the Home Office, and his interim second-in-command Simon Ridley, faced questions from the Commons Home Affairs Committee yesterday about department's asylum backlog.

Home Office figures show 17,316 asylum applications were withdrawn in the year to September. This is more than four times the number for the previous year when there were 4,260, the department said.

The Prime Minister has tasked the Home Office with clearing some of the backlog of 'legacy' cases - asylum applications made before June 28 2022 - by the end of December.

Questioning the officials, committee member Tim Loughton asked: 'Isn't it strange that conveniently, when faced with a very stiff target, there has been a three-fold increase (in withdrawals) for undetermined reasons, people magically not going forward with their claims, and where are those people?'

Mr Ridley replied: 'In most cases, I don't know where those people are.'

Asked if they had gone home, Mr Ridley said: 'I don't know.'

Pressed again, Mr Loughton said: 'So you have no idea where those 17,316 people are?'

To which, Mr Ridley replied: 'I don't think we know where all those people are, no.'

He told the committee that a claim was withdrawn when asylum seekers did not turn up for interviews or complete questionnaires and were 'not engaging with the system that leads to a decision'.

Sir Matthew Rycroft, permanent secretary at the Home Office, (left) and his second-in-command Simon Ridley, were quizzed by the Commons Home Affairs Committee yesterday

Other reasons included when someone had already left the UK before their claim was considered or if they chose to pursue another application for permission to stay in the country, according to the department.

Despite the figures being published less than a week ago, Mr Ridley was unable to confirm whether the numbers being quoted were accurate, prompting committee chairman Dame Diana Johnson to ask: 'Why don't you have the figures for withdrawals, why are you not able to confirm what Tim Loughton just said?'

Mr Ridley replied: 'I just haven't got the precise number in front of me.'

Dame Diana branded it 'amazing' that officials did not have the information, given it was a 'key Prime Minister priority' which MPs were bound to question them on, adding it was 'really disrespectful to the committee that you don't come prepared for questions'.

Data published last week showed the backlog of asylum applications - rather than individuals - stood at 122,585 as of October 29 this year, down 12 per cent from a record 138,782 at the end of February.

The 'legacy' backlog of asylum applications stood at 33,253 as of October 29, down nearly a half (47 per cent) from 62,157 on July 30.

To meet the target, around 16,630 applications would need to be cleared per month before December 31.

Some 12,620 were cleared between September 24 and October 29, and 9,604 cleared between August 27 and September 24, figures showed.

Asked if ministers were making a 'realistic estimate' that the target to clear the legacy backlog would be met by the end of next month, Sir Matthew told MPs: 'We have always been confident of that.'

He added that extra resources had been brought in and there was an 'increase of productivity' to tackle the backlog.

More than 28,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boast so far this year.
This is the inspiring life story of a quadruple amputee father who scaled Ethiopia's highest mountain after losing his arms and legs to a Strep A infection.

Alex Lewis, 43, was a perfectly healthy man when he fell ill in 2013 - putting his symptoms down to 'man flu'.

But when the stay-at-home father from Hampshire collapsed he was rushed to hospital and given a three per cent chance of survival having contracted Strep A, followed by Septicaemia.

Alex lost his limbs after they turned black as well as parts of his nose and lips as doctors desperately fought to save him.

Now Alex has told MailOnline's YouTube human interest series 'My Story' his incredible journey - from living a 'listless' existence as an alcoholic landlord to climbing Ethiopia's highest mountain using the amputee 'superpower' that transformed his life.

To watch the full episode click here.

Alex Lewis, 43, lost all four limbs and part of his face due to a Strep A infection

Alex was a perfectly healthy man when he fell ill in 2013 - putting his symptoms down to 'man flu '

Alex, pictured before the illness, said he lived a 'listless' existence before his limbs were amputated and struggled with finding direction

Alex has travelled and made it his mission to understand the needs of amputees like himself

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Alex, from Stockbridge, Hampshire, said: 'I'm loving being a quadruple amputee. I love it. I was never happy being that Alex Lewis with legs and arms. I should have been.

'I had no lust for life. I was restless. I didn't know what I was doing. Falling ill was a saviour, really.'

Growing up, Alex had a 'privileged' childhood and was sent to public school, he said, but did not appreciate the opportunities handed to him.

'I had an amazing childhood. I was very fortunate and privileged,' he said. 'I went to a prep school and had a very good education.

READ MORE: Young father aims to walk down the aisle as he takes first steps since losing all four limbs to flesh eating bug Advertisement

'Unfortunately, I squandered that education, didn't really put my mind to anything, didn't focus.

'I sort of drifted through life as a decorator to becoming a builder and ultimately meeting Lucy, who was a saviour, really.' Lucy and Alex are still together and share a son, Sam.

In 2013 Alex suddenly came down with 'cold flu symptoms' - including painful aches and a bad headache.

'At that point, I was running a pub in a little village. I was a landlord, but I was alcoholic and for felt I had no real, I had no lust for life. I was restless,' he said.

He woke up one morning in the house alone with just his dog and could hardly feel his limbs.

'I couldn't put my jeans on. I couldn't put a shirt on. I didn't know what was going on, what was happening. And I remember a knock on the back door and almost sliding down the stairs, I was living in the pub at the time,' he said.

'Somehow I managed to unlock it. The key was in the lock and I sort of then stumbled backwards. And then Lucy opened the door and she was with my stepfather.'

He added: 'My skin was turning purple, my eyes were completely glazed over. I could barely speak.'

Lucy and Alex's stepfather called paramedics and he was rushed into Winchester ICU. Within the space of around 12 minutes he had been diagnosed with having Strep A.

Strep A is a common type of bacteria. Most strep A infections are mild and can be easily treated, while some are more serious.

Alex has told of his inspiriting journey - from living as a 'listless' alcoholic to living life to the full as an amputee

'I'm loving being a quadruple amputee. I love it,' he said

Alex thought he had 'man flu' back in 2013 but collapsed and was rushed to hospital

Alex with his wife Lucy Townsend and son Sam (pictured together before his illness)

'I'm placed on life support. I've got no idea what's going on. And I was on life support for four days,' said Alex.

'Now, over the course of that period of time, my chances of survival dwindled from about 30 per cent down to 1 per cent.'

Lucy and Alex's mother were due to be called in to say their 'final goodbyes' in the morning, but Alex was offered a lifeline when an ICU consultant looking after him suggested a new trial in the US being used on Strep A patients.

'It was just an inordinate amount of steroids,' said Alex. 'In the end they would probably kill a normal human being.

READ MORE: I broke out of North Korea TWICE only to become a slave in China before finally escaping to the West: Brave defector who now lives in Britain shares her incredible life story Advertisement

'But because I was so ill...it kept the strep at bay and it sort of almost tried to stop it in its tracks.'

A few days later Alex thought he was in recovery when doctors told him they could not continue his care at Winchester ICU, telling him they would have to move him to Salisbury.

'They wouldn't say why that was. I went into a private room. We were all unawares as to what was going on,' he said.

It was then that Alex's life would change forever - as he was told by his plastic surgeon, Alex Crick, that multiple body parts were going to have to be removed.

'She was definitely going to amputate my left arm above the elbow,' he said.

'She was definitely going to have to take my feet and ankles and she felt she might be able to save my knee joint.'

Alex was also told he would have to have his face rebuilt with a portion of his right shoulder.

'Then she kind of walked out of the room and I was lying there thinking that I must be on drugs. She didn't say that, surely,' he said.

'I remember my best friend coming in and I was freaking out. I said, we have to escape and we have got to get out. She's going to take all my limbs.'

Following 135 hours of surgery Alex ended up losing three out of four limbs - keeping one arm - while his face was almost unrecognisable with huge pieces of skin stretched over his face.

Alex woke up one morning in the house alone and could hardly feel his limbs

Lucy and her stepfather called paramedics and Alex was rushed into Winchester ICU

Alex needed facial reconstruction after contracting Strep A

The father said the 'lowest' point of his life was when he was reunited with son, Sam, for the first time after surgery.

'I was desperately looking forward to seeing him. His eyes met mine and he hid behind Lucy's legs, couldn't get his head round what he was looking at, who he was looking at,' he said.

'All I wanted to do was give me a cuddle. I was just desperate, and he wouldn't do it. That's probably the lowest I've ever been in my life.'

When Alex first arrived at Winchester ICU he was around 13 and a half stone, he said. But when he left Salisbury in June 2014 he was just five and a half stone.

Alex's recovery process was heavily focused on rehabilitation and going into London to learn how to walk, he said, with very little focus on arm strength.

'It's one thing to be able to walk to a kitchen worktop, but what if I get to the workshop and I can't operate a coffee machine? I struggled with the rehabilitation and the mindset around it,' he said.

'I couldn't really get stuck into it because I was worried about my face if I had fallen over or damaged my face. There was no other bit of skin available.'

In July 2014 Alex broke his last remaining limb - his arm - and was forced to have it amputated in order to keep learning to walk.

'I immediately said, Let's amputate. I'm not going to hold up my life anymore,' he said.

'From now on, we were just going to do everything in our power to enjoy it, get stuck into it, learn about it, and do as much as I possibly could.'

'Just live for the moment.

'Really. My son, he was the reason I probably had more fight in me than I ever knew. And Lucy, you know, I did it for those two.

'At that point, I didn't know what I was going to go on to do, but I just took every opportunity that came my way.'

Alex has since gone on to try skydiving, kayaking around the southern tip of Greenland, and public speaking at schools, businesses and colleges.

Speaking about his adventures in Africa, Alex said: 'It's amazing, it is full of adventure and it's just really cool. But all you're doing is personal development. I wasn't actually doing something to make a difference for others like me.

'At around 2016 or maybe early 2017, I had another shift in my outlook, and the more you travel, the more you realize how fortunate you are that you have the NHS, you have wheelchair services, you have rehabilitation, you have access to prosthetics.

Within the space of around 12 minutes after being seen in hospital Alex was diagnosed with having Strep A

'They might not be great prosthetics, but there are things available that aren't the case globally. So, I think it became a bit of a mission that how do we balance that out?'

Alex has since made it a goal to understand the needs of amputees like himself, he said - even assisting in making wheelchairs in Ethiopia.

'The ultimate so far was the Ethiopian trip. We enhanced that facility over there that made wheelchairs,' he said.

At the time Alex had been working on a project at Southampton Uni where they were developing a cycle for him.

'I was going to cycle through the Simien mountains and then ultimately climb Ras Dashen. That's the highest peak,' he said.

'That was the real change and point where we could actually leave something behind of benefit. We could link Southampton university with a university there.

'We could forge relationships and ties with Ethiopia. So, we didn't just parachute in, leave in some money and go. Now we were leaving something behind that we could support.'

He added: 'Climbing the highest mountain was great, but it was never about that in my eyes. It was always about the impact that we could have in Ethiopia in terms of developing affordable wheelchairs, showing people, communities that feel that disability should be hidden away, that we were proud of what had gone on.'
In the movies drugs busts are portrayed as high-octane and deadly affairs, with cops kicking down doors, charging into rooms and tackling suspects to the floor.

But the reality can perhaps be a little less flashy - as officers from 'Britain's FBI' seemingly proved when they took down a suspected 140million cocaine cartel.

Cops from the National Crime Agency (NCA) were filmed calmly busting gang members allegedly behind the huge UK-based narcotics operation.

Far from booting doors in, investigators were seen waiting patiently outside the alleged cartel HQ, instead knocking on the door, walking in and then leading a man out in handcuffs.

The operation was part of a co-ordinated series of raids across the north west of England this week which officers arresting nine people suspected of being part of the smuggling gang.

It comes as the agency continues its probe into the 'massive' 1.3-tonne haul of cocaine, which was discovered at the Port of Felixstowe, Suffolk, in August last year.

National Crime Agency officers investigating a 140m cocaine ring carried out a series of busts this week in the north west of England

It comes after a 1.3-tonne shipment of smuggled drugs was found at Felixstowe port last year (pictured are the sacks of cocaine)

Officers from the NCA are seen leading out on of the suspects during a raid on Wednesday

The illicit cargo was hidden inside a shipping container on a vessel from Sierra Leone, with the drugs - stashed in 20kg sacks with a 'cover load of flour' - bound for an industrial estate in Wigan, Lancashire, the NCA said.

Richie Davies, NCA Branch Commander, said: 'This was a massive haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of 140million.

'There is no doubt these drugs would have been sold on into communities across the UK fuelling violence, exploitation and misery.

'Since the seizure of the drugs the agency has been working intensely to identify and pursue those responsible.'

Six of the suspects detained by the agency in the sting this week are allegedly directly linked to the huge seizure.

Three of the alleged gang members were arrested over other conspiracy to supply Class A drugs offences.

The men are in their forties, fifties and sixties.

Two suspects were detained at properties in Bootle, one in Crosby and one man was arrested in Birkenhead, all Merseyside.

NCA officers surrounded a property before knocking on the door and entering it

One suspect is pictured (middle) being led to a car by two NCA investigators

Four suspects were arrested at properties in Chorley, Lancashire. While one man was produced from prison and also arrested.

The men allegedly had various roles within the conspiracy from orchestrating the importation to organising premises and logistics.

All are currently in custody awaiting interview.

Five suspects were arrested in late 2022 over the importation and were later released under investigation, with three having been rearrested on Wednesday.
China's Giant Panda National Park signs memorandum with two UK national parks

Global Times) 13:04, November 30, 2023

This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows giant panda Xiang Xiang at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base in Ya'an, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Female giant panda Xiang Xiang met the public at the Bifengxia Giant Panda Base in Ya'an on Sunday. The panda left Ueno Zoo in Tokyo of Japan on Feb. 21, 2023 and flied back to China, her home country. (Photo: Xinhua)

China's Giant Panda National Park on Tuesday signed a memorandum with two UK national parks to strengthen cooperation on the capacity of building and protecting national parks, as well as educating the public. The signing of the memorandum came as British public say goodbye to the only giant pandas in the UK who are set to return to China in early December.

The Chengdu bureau of the Giant Panda National Park administration signed the memorandum with UK's Lake District National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, according to media reports.

The signing of the memorandum will be the beginning of more cooperation, and we believe that the British side can help provide better solutions, said Tim Standbrook, Deputy Consul-General of the British Consulate-General in Chongqing at the signing ceremony.

Standbrook said that the national giant panda conservation has realized significant achievements in protecting the increasing population, promoting interconnected ecological systems, and rural revitalization. The current period is a time for exploration on how to further improve China-UK relations, and this collaboration demonstrates the value of cooperation between the two countries in the face of global challenges, he noted.

"The signing of the memorandum will further strengthen the cooperation between China and the UK in terms of resources, capabilities, willingness, and determination," said Zhang Zhihe, deputy director of the Chengdu bureau of the Giant Panda National Park administration.

"The national giant panda conservation is China's first group of national parks, with the protection of wild giant panda population and their habitats as well as landscape conservation as its core, and it has become an important window to showcase China's image," said Zhang.

On Tuesday afternoon, a group of experts from the UK's national parks authority and the London Zoological Society conducted a field visit to the Dayi area of the national giant panda conservation in order to visit and understand the natural habitat of giant pandas.

Previously, the UK has collaborated with the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in south China's Hainan Province, to establish corridors to expand the habitat of the endangered Hainan Gibbon, and currently, the population has stabilized and even seen growth, according to one of the experts, noting that the current practice can be further promoted in the Giant Panda National Park to benefit giant pandas and other rare species.

The cooperation between UK's national parks with the Giant Panda National Park comes at a time when British people are saying goodbye to the only Pandas in the UK as they will soon be returned to China.

Yang Guang and Tian Tian have lived at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

RZSS Chief Executive David Field said: "With more than a million species at risk of extinction and our natural world in crisis, Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had an incredible impact by inspiring millions of people to care about nature.

"Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care - which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Omid Scobies new book on the royals might be inaccurate and poisonous, but the true blame for the lurid speculation about 'racism' lies with Harry and Meghan.

Thats the view of Richard Eden, writing in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential newsletter.

There should be no doubt over who is really to blame for the explosive new controversy over the identity of the royal racists, he says.

It was the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who set the hare running in their shameful interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

Omid Scobie has been criticised for the poisonous contents of his new book. But the true blame lies elsewhere, writes Richard Eden

Scobie arrives at ITV Studios ahead of today's broadcast promoting his new book

Harry and Meghan on tour in Australia in their pre 'Megxit' days

Once Meghan had set the 'royal racists' hare running in her Oprah interview, the result was inevitable, writes Eden

Eden believes the result was never in doubt once Meghan had decided to claim  in front of an audience of millions - that concerns had been raised by members of the Royal Family about the likely colour of her unborn childs skin.

This was then narrowed down by their friend Gayle King, who made clear they were not referring to Queen Elizabeth or Prince Philip.

Quite rightly, Omid Scobie has been receiving much criticism for his badly written, inaccurate and poisonous new book about the Royal Family, Endgame, which was published on Tuesday, he writes.

Having done my duty and read some of the turgid tome, I am planning to ask my local bookshop to move it from the Biography section to the Fiction one.

But, he continues, the identification of the two royals, which happened in the initial Dutch editions of Scobies book, was the inevitable result of Harry and Meghans appalling lack of judgment two years ago.

The so-called royal racists appeared to have been named in a Dutch translation of the book now withdrawn from sale

Richard Eden says the Sussexes have only themselves to blame for an outbreak of unfair speculation that they might well have preferred to avoid

I suspect that they are probably now almost as annoyed with Scobie as the rest of the Royal Family.

Over recent weeks, the Sussexes had been desperately trying to mend fences with King Charles, phoning him on his birthday and friends dropping hints about how they would like to be invited to Sandringham for Christmas.

From what I hear, any invitation that might have been forthcoming will now be withdrawn.

To read more of Richard's expert Royal commentary, click here
The COP-28 summit is set to formally approve the launch of a 'loss and damage' fund to compensate climate-vulnerable countries as world leaders gather in Dubai.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be among those arriving by private jet in the oil-rich UAE for the latest climate gathering.

Among the issues to be negotiated will be a commitment by rich countries to provide billions of pounds to poorer nations to help them adapt to climate change.

The establishment of a global 'loss and damage' fund was agreed at the previous COP-27 in Egypt following hard-fought negotiations.

But there could yet be a row over how it is funded - with pressure being piled on big polluter China and wealthy petrostates in the Gulf to stump up cash.

The US has also been keen to stress that pledging money to the fund should not represent a legal liability for climate issues by developed nations.

The COP-28 summit is set to formally approve the launch of a 'loss and damage' fund to compensate climate-vulnerable countries as world leaders gather in Dubai

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be among those arriving by private jet in the oil-rich UAE for the latest climate gathering

A coal-fired power plant is pictured in northern China's Hebei province. Pressure is being piled on China and wealthy petrostates in the Gulf to stump up cash for a 'loss and damage' fund

Mr Sunak - who recently watered down some of Britain's Net Zero commitments - is expected to join both the US and EU in pledging money to the loss and damage fund during his visit to Dubai.

The money will likely come from the 11.6 billion the Government has set aside in its 'International Climate Finance' pot for spending between 2021 and 2026.

The EU has pledged a 'substantial' contribution, but wants countries whose economies have boomed in recent decades, like China and the UAE, to follow suit.

'Everyone with the ability to pay should contribute,' said the EU's climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra.

He added he wanted to 'broaden the donor base beyond the usual suspects, simply because that reflects the reality of 2023.'

Adnan Amin, CEO of COP-28, said the aim of the summit was to secure several hundred million dollars for the fund, adding he was 'hopeful' the UAE would make a contribution.

Samoa's ambassador to Europe, Pa'olelei Luteru, who is also the chairman of the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) negotiating bloc, said: 'We cannot rest until this fund is adequately financed and starts to actually alleviate the burden of vulnerable communities.'

John Kerry, America's climate envoy, said US President Joe Biden's administration had 'actively worked very hard' to create the fund.

On a call with journalists this week, as reported by Politico, Mr Kerry said: 'We think this fund  the way it's designed  will meet the needs of vulnerable countries.

'We've worked hard with our partners to propose ways in which this fund can be stood up quickly but confidently.'

He also emphasised the White House view that the US cannot be held legally responsible for climate issues, following previous claims that such a fund would represent 'reparations' from historic polluters to developing nations.

'It's important the fund does not represent any expression of liability or compensation or any sort of new legal requirements,' Mr Kerry added.

'But it is going to try to be there for those in the developing world who have taken some of the brunt.'

Mr Sunak, King Charles and Lord Cameron are flying separately to Dubai on private jets to attend COP-28.

No10 yesterday defended the decision for the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary to fly separately - and said that lower ranking ministers and officials would fly out on commercial flights.

The PM's official spokesman said that Lord Cameron 'has different travel plans, which is not unusual for a Foreign Secretary', adding: 'The Government's approach to tackling climate change, as we have set out repeatedly, is not about banning or reducing people from flying.

'It is through investing in new technologies of the future as evidence by the flight just yesterday using sustainable aviation fuel.

'You can expect most ministers flying to COP mto fly commercially, the PM's plane will use sustainable aviation fuel and obviously we are using carbon offsetting.'

But Liberal Democrat climate spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse said: 'Sunak and Cameron travelling to this vital summit in separate jets is not just a waste of taxpayers' cash, it sends all the wrong signals about the UK's climate commitments,

'The UK should be playing a leading role at COP28 and driving our planet forward to a cleaner future.

'Instead, this Government is slashing net zero targets at home while taking polluting private flights abroad.'
A British man has described his horrifying encounter with a Peruvian wolf spider that laid its eggs in his toe during a romantic cruise holiday, he claims.

Colin Blake, from Cramlington, Northumberland, revealed that pus oozed from his purple foot in a French hospital before one spider tried to eat its way out.

After his toe turned purple overnight, he was terrified and rushed to the ship's doctor who told him that a Peruvian wolf spider had bitten him and laid eggs in his toe.

It happened while he and his wife were having a meal outdoors in Marseille.

Colin told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime show he was 'totally unaware' he had been bitten as the spider numbs its prey before laying its eggs.

Colin Blake, from Cramlington, Northumberland, was bitten while he and his wife were having a meal outdoors in Marseille.

Colin's toe as he lies in hospital in France. He said the medical staff cut his toe open with a scalpel and a milk-like pus came out

He said: 'My wife thought it may be because I had new sandals and they were rubbing on my big toe and that was causing it to be red.'

The next day his toe had become swollen and turned purple, prompting a trip to the ship's doctor.

The medical staff cut his toe open with a scalpel and a milk-like pus came out.

The pus looked like it contained tea leaves, which turned out to be spider eggs.

Peruvian wolf spiders now live in France after arriving in the country on cargo ships.

Colin in hospital in France. He said 'My wife thought it may be because I had new sandals and they were rubbing on my big toe and that was causing it to be red'

Peruvian wolf spiders now live in France after arriving in the country on cargo ships (File Photo)

Back in the UK, Colin was treated at hospital and was given a course of antibiotics to reduce the swelling.

Once the swelling subsided, the spider's fang marks could be seen as well as the toxin making his way through his foot.

Four weeks after the bite, he discovered a 'foreign body' in his foot.

He said: 'One of the spider eggs hadn't been flushed and must have hatched.

'They believe the spider was making its way out - eating its way out of my toe.'

The antibiotics had killed the young spider and doctors then removed it by cutting open his toe.

'I did ask if I could keep it, but they said no!' said Colin, who is set to make a full recovery.
Broadchurch star Sarah Parish has slammed the employment tribunal system as 'corrupt' after the doctor who saved her baby's life lost his high-profile whistle-blowing case.

The British actor launched a scathing attack on the tribunal service during an interview after attending a party at Winchester Rugby Club, thrown in honour of hospital consultant Martyn Pitman.

The 55-year-old star of Broadchurch and Bancroft was one of around 50 people who turned out at the party to show their support to Mr Pitman, with the actor presenting the 'brilliant' obstetrician with 2,000 raised to send him and his wife on holiday.

Mr Pitman, 57, took Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) to an employment tribunal claiming he was sacked for 'blowing the whistle' after complaining about the 'avoidable' death of a mother during childbirth.

The hospital consultant was also Parish's maternity consultant for both her pregnancies at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, Hants.

Parish (pictured) says it was thanks to Mr Pitman that both her and her daughter, Nell, (pictured with her father James Murray), now 14, are alive and healthy

The first being in 2007 with Ella-Jayne, who sadly died at eight months after being born with a congenital heart defect.

Parish fell pregnant again at 41, with second child Nell, and was coming up to 34 weeks while working abroad when she felt something wasn't right.

Parish says it was thanks to Mr Pitman that both her and her daughter, now 14, are alive and healthy.

The doctor, who served HHFT for decades, also claimed he was targeted for warning about clinical negligence, midwifery staffing levels, deteriorating midwifery morale, and patient safety.

However, his case was unanimously dismissed at Southampton Employment Tribunal, Hants, last month.

Mr Pitman was due to take HHFT to court again, this time claiming unfair dismissal, but at the party he announced he is waving the white flag and has withdrawn the claim.

Speaking during the interview, Parish said: 'The system is corrupt, there is no doubt and because of that there is no point.

'It would have been terrible for his mental health to carry on but we certainly haven't heard the last of him.

The British actor attended a party, at Winchester Rugby Club in honour of the hospital consultant

The hospital consultant was Parish's maternity consultant for both her pregnancies at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester

Dr Martyn Pitman and Sarah Parish appeared on Good Morning Britain to speak about his experience

'We all know Martyn Pitman and how brilliant he is - hundreds of women have told incredible stories, there is no way that man has done anything wrong.

'All he did was speak up and try and make it better.

'I have to care because someone like Martyn Pitman is fired from the job he is so brilliant at it leaves people in a position where they could get hurt as there isn't going to be a Martyn Pitman to save their lives any more.

'They have lost the best obstetrician in Winchester rather than fessing up which tells me that they don't care about the future of their patients and that frightens me.'

Broadchurch star Parish was one of the many guests to attend the party at Winchester Rugby Club, where people contributed to a photo wall, stalls, and a raffle.

The 55-year-old actress stars in British crime drama, Broadchurch, on ITV

The actor presented him with 2,000, raised by members of the 'Friends of Martyn Pitman' Facebook group for him and his wife to go on holiday.

Mr Pitman also alleged the employment tribunal process is 'corrupt'.

Writing online after the party he said: 'I knew, beyond any reasonable doubt, that I had been wronged, that numerous significant and negligent errors had been made in the handling of my case and that my legal position against HHFT was strong.

'I entrusted the legal system, perhaps naively, to deliver fair justice.

'It failed in this regard and failed spectacularly. Instead, I have been forced to realise, as so many others have been before me, that the current Employment Tribunal system is corrupt and broken.

'Put simply, it is currently unfit for purpose, in relation to hearing whistleblowing claims.

'Employment Tribunals are not the least bit concerned with the truth, the factual accuracy of presented evidence or professional integrity.

'Instead, they are swayed by legal reputation and have a focussed determination, particularly in NHS cases, to side with the state-funded behemoth.

'They are the appointed protectors of 'Goliath' over the impudent 'David'.'

Mr Pitman said he regretted the impact proceedings had had on his family, adding: 'I have been irreparably damaged through what I have been forced to endure, in simply attempting to clear my name.

'I fully realise now that, given the process in which I had no real alternative but to follow and in which I have placed my faith, I have been fighting an essentially un-winnable battle.

'I have therefore decided not to pursue my cases against HHFT any further.'

Mr Pitman claimed the decision was not an 'admission of defeat' but instead a 'stark realisation' that it would be 'utterly futile' to continue.

The NHS trust that sacked Martyn Pitman has called Broadchurch star Sarah Parish's critical comments 'deeply unfair'.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) said that Mr Pitman's claims of whistleblowing had been dismissed unanimously by the employment tribunal.

Responding to the British actor's comments, which were made after a party thrown for the obstetrician, the trust said it would 'never treat anyone negatively for raising safety concerns'.

A Hampshire Hospital spokesperson said: 'We dispute, in the strongest terms, the deeply unfair criticisms levelled at our dedicated, professional, and hardworking obstetric and midwifery teams who provide outstanding and safe care to hundreds of patients.

'Mr Pitman was dismissed following an investigation which concluded that his working relationships with his clinical colleagues had irretrievably broken.

'The unanimous verdict of employment tribunal, initiated by Mr Pitman, found that his complaints of detriment on the grounds of whistleblowing, 'fail and are dismissed'.

'Every employee needs to operate with respect for colleagues.

'If they are not someone others can work alongside, and if their conduct is having a significant impact on a team - in the way that Mr Pitman's did - then a responsible employer has a duty to act, especially when patient care is a factor.

'As the employment tribunal confirmed, and as this trust has consistently said: Hampshire Hospitals has never - and would never - treat anyone negatively for raising safety concerns.

'We value and appreciate everyone who speaks up.'
A man has died after falling from a bridge and being hit by a lorry on a busy London road in the early hours of this morning.

The A40 is closed heading into London causing lengthy tailbacks after the incident, which took place in Greenford, near Ealing.

The London Ambulance Service said it was called to the scene at 12.59am this morning and treated a man at the roadside.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was confirmed to have died.

The man is believed to be in his 20s and his next of kin have been informed.

Police said the driver of the lorry stopped at the scene and is assisting police with their enquiries. He has not been arrested.

The incident took place at the Target roundabout on the A40 in west London (file image)

Road closures remain in place from Target Roundabout in Northolt to the Greenford Flyover.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Police were called at 00:58hrs on Thursday, 30 November following a collision involving a lorry and a man on the A40 Western Avenue, at the Target Roundabout.

'The man, aged in his 20s, is believed to have fallen from height from a bridge beforehand.

'He was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

'The driver of the lorry stopped and is assisting police with their enquiries. He has not been arrested.

'Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has dash cam footage that could help police, should call 101 or post @MetCC ref CAD 242/30 Nov.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson added: 'We were called today (November 30) at 12:59am to reports of an incident on Western Avenue, Greenford.

'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including an incident response officer, an ambulance crew, and a medic in a fast-response car. We treated a man at the scene, but sadly, he was later pronounced dead.'
A star of The Apprentice is embroiled in a row with her local council in a historic market town after painting her new baby and toddler shop 'yellow' without planning permission.

Marianne Rawlins, who made it to the final weeks of Lord Sugar's infamously antagonistic reality series in 2019, opened her store Stork of Stamford, in Stamford, Lincolnshire in September.

The Tudor building had been empty for more than two years when the businesswoman was handed the keys  prompting her to give it a fresh lick of paint in 'cherished gold', a Dulux heritage colour, before opening the doors.

But the local authority claims that she should have sought planning permission because the building's history, and its location in a conservation area, afforded it certain statutory protections.

The 40-year-old - once branded a 'pernicious troll' by one of her fellow Apprentice competitors - now faces having to remove the paint if her retrospective planning application is unsuccessful.

Marianne Rawlins outside the shop with husband Simon and children Theo and Hayley

The family as they cut the ribbon to open the newly-painted shop in September

The unit, inside a Tudor building, had been unused for two years before Marianne took it on

Ms Rawlins said the colour, called cherished gold, had been plucked from Dulux's heritage range while the black was chosen to match the existing Tudor beams.

But the town civic society told planning officers: 'The application of the so-called "heritage colour" has a negative impact on the building and should be reconsidered.'

Stamford Town Council added: 'Yellow is not an acceptable colour in the conservation area.'

Ms Rawlins is now locked in a dispute with the council and says she was 'surprised' to be told the paint job was not in keeping with the image of the quaint market town.

She added: 'I'm a little surprised. I think we have done a great job to preserve the heritage of the building.

'The last thing we want to do is detract from the character - we tried to accentuate it more than anything else.'

Ms Rawlins said she was shocked to be told she may have to change her shopfront after just a single complaint.

The mum-of-two spent around 2,000 on paint, turning the previous 'eyesore' into a 'warm and inviting' business.

She said: 'It wasn't lost on me that this building may be the one of the oldest buildings in arguably the most historically preserved town in the UK. It's absolutely stunning.

'You have to be careful what you do as it's a listed building, so I was careful. I thought I was within the bounds.

'There's black and gold on quite a few shops. There's one just a few shops down, then there's even a pink shop on the high street.

'I was really surprised because everyone seems to love it. I've not heard any negative comments about it at all.

'Before I came along, it was vacant, empty and dirty for two years, it was an eyesore. I wanted to use a different colour.'

Marianne chose the colour from a Dulux 'heritage' range to respect the building's history

Marianne (back row, second from right) was one of the entrants in the 2019 series of the BBC's infamously antagonistic business reality show The Apprentice with Lord Sugar

She added: 'I went with this because of it being a heritage colour. Surely, a historian working for Dulux would know more about colours than me.

'It's warm and inviting and I thought it was culturally significant. Apparently it was just a single complaint but it wasn't the civic group who initially complained.

'I'm still waiting to hear back but it doesn't look good. It is ultimately the district council that makes the decision. I won't even dare decide what to repaint it to, I'll have to ask them.

'I wouldn't be surprised if I hear back in the next couple of weeks but I will challenge it.'

Dulux's heritage collection was developed by historian and paint analyst, Patrick Baty, and 'inspired by periods of historical significance between 1714 to 1939'.

Ms Rawlins, a mother-of-two young children who lives in Stamford, opened Stork of Stamford, which offers clothing, toys and equipment for babies and children.

She said previously: 'I've been wanting to set up a shop in Stamford since 2021 when my son was born.

'I must have looked at - or enquired about - every available commercial lease in the town centre since then, and am so thrilled to have found the perfect spot.'

Marianne, who is from California and also runs a business consultancy, moved to the UK in 2017 to be with her husband, a pilot who was based at RAF Wittering.

Officers from South Kesteven District Council's planning department will now make a decision as to whether the store can stay yellow and black or if it must be repainted.

Ms Rawlins left the Apprentice in a dramatic double-sacking - and told MailOnline she felt Lord Sugar 'didn't like her' when she entered the show.

She said at the time: 'I dont think anything would have got me to the end [of the process]. Lord Sugar couldnt relate to me.'
A 70-year-old Ugandan woman has given birth to twins after becoming pregnant through IVF treatment, the hospital where she received treatment said.

Safina Namukwaya became the oldest woman to give birth in Africa after she delivered a baby girl and boy on Wednesday afternoon, the Women's Hospital International and Fertility Centre in the Ugandan capital of Kampala said.

Medics at the hospital said the mother and her two babies are doing well after they were delivered via a caesarean.

'This story isn't just about medical success, it's about the strength and resilience of the human spirit,' the hospital said.

Ms Namukwaya told the NTV channel that this was her second delivery in three years, after she gave birth to a girl called Sarah in 2020.

Safina Namukwaya became the oldest woman to give birth in Africa after she delivered a baby girl and boy yesterday

Medics said the mother and her two babies are doing well after they were delivered via a caesarean

The mother said she had suffered some complications and difficulties during her pregnancy, including the father of her children leaving her.

'Men don't like to hear that you are going to have more than one child,' Ms Namukwaya says. 'Even after I was admitted, my man never showed up.'

Ms Namukwaya said in the past she had suffered miscarriages, lost her husband in the 1990s, and faced stigma within her community for not having any children.

'One time, a very young boy heckled at me saying I had been cursed by my mother to die without a child,' she said.

Ms Namukwaya had revealed after the birth of her first child that she had been judged for not giving birth after 40 years of trying.

'Many people judged and abused me for being barren but, I decided to leave everything to the Almighty God who has finally answered my prayers,' she said shortly after the birth of her first daughter.

While Ms Namukwaya's case is a rare one, it's not the first time a woman has given birth at a more advanced age.

In 2019, Erramatti Mangayamma, from India, gave birth to twins through IVF at the age of 74 - becoming the world's oldest mother.

Mangayamma, of Andhra Pradesh state, gave birth to two healthy baby girls with her husband of 57 years, Sitarama Rajarao at her side.

In 2019, Erramatti Mangayamma (with her husband Sitarama Rajarao who has since died), from India, gave birth to twins through IVF at the age of 74 - becoming the world's oldest mother

Mangayamma, of Andhra Pradesh state, gave birth to two healthy girls

It is believed the Ahalya IVF clinic in Guntur city paid for most of the procedure as medics knew it would be a historic achievement.

Mangayamma has no other children and went through the menopause 30 years ago. But her husband Rajarao died of a heart attack in 2020 at the age of 84.

The previous record holder for the world's oldest mother was Bousada de Lara, who was 66 years old when she gave birth to twin baby boys, Christian and Pau, in December 2006.

De Lara admitted lying about her age in order to receive fertility treatment at a private clinic in Los Angeles, for which she paid a reported 30,000.

The babies were delivered prematurely by caesarean section and weighed 3.5lbs (1.6kg) each.

Omkari Panwar, from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, claimed to be the oldest mother in the world when she gave birth to twins in 2008. But her claim to have been 70 was not provable.

Britain's oldest mother is Elizabeth Adeney, from Lindgate in Suffolk, who gave birth to a son in May 2009 at the age of 66.

The NHS normally only offers the procedure to women under 43.

But some private clinics will offer IVF to women over that age.

When a woman goes through the menopause she is no longer able to get pregnant naturally.

But IVF is still possible through the use of eggs frozen earlier in the mother's life, or eggs from a donor.
This is the hilarious moment a Channel 4 weather broadcast went off air as presenter Liam Dutton was interrupted mid-forecast.

Dutton appeared in his element during last night's show as he gave a prediction of this morning's frosty temperatures plummeting to -3C (26.6F).

But his attention was quickly swayed after an intruder appeared to come on to the set.

He said: 'It's going to be a cold night, a widespread frost, temperatures below freezing and a risk of a few - somebody's just opened the door.'

A wide-eyed Dutton then appears to give a weary sigh as the segment is cut, with viewers left staring at an intermission screen.

[BLOOPER] The wrong take of tonight's Channel 4 Weather was played out in error.



Tune in tomorrow to find out who was at the door.  pic.twitter.com/ti4kLqWwwp  Clean Feed @ The TV Room (@cleanfeed_ttvr) November 29, 2023

Channel 4 weather presenter Liam Dutton appeared in his element as he gave a prediction of this morning's frosty temperatures plummeting to -3C (26.6F). But his attention was quickly swayed after an intruder came on set

Dutton said: 'It's going to be a cold night, a widespread frost, temperatures below freezing and a risk of a few... somebody's just opened the door'

Dutton later laughed off the gaffe on X, formerly Twitter, and explained the wrong take of the pre-recorded weather broadcast was aired

Users on X, formerly Twitter, poked fun at the incident after Dutton revealed the wrong take had been used

Dutton later laughed off the gaffe on X, formerly Twitter, and explained the wrong take of the pre-recorded weather broadcast was aired.

'Thanks for asking, but no need to worry, I'm fine,' he reassured viewers.

He added: 'Who was at the door shall remain a mystery...'

The TV Grump posted: 'There was a definite whiff of Ghostwatch about it.'

Andrew Manning wrote: 'Was it Jack Frost?'

Autisticus messaged: 'Just watched on +1 and was convinced you were being kidnapped. So glad you're grand.'

Weather presenter are not immune from cringing interruptions on air, despite usually pre-recording their takes in the safety of studios.

In June last year, Good Morning Britain's Laura Tobin was accosted by a mischievous Austrian weatherman live on air.

Laura, 40, was at the Nordkette mountain range in Innsbruck, Austria, to present the weather for the ITV programme live from the countrys largest nature park.

She joined 30 other weather presenters from 20 channels from around the world for the annual International Weather Summit.

However, when Laura attempted to perform her live segment and speak to hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard, she was repeatedly interrupted.

One Austrian weatherman tried to offer her a slice of cake before breaking into song, while another Polish weatherman also started to perform a tune earlier in the show.

This is the amusing moment Good Morning Britain's Laura Tobin was interrupted by a mischievous Austrian weatherman live on air

Viewers were left puzzled by the scenes and took to Twitter to suggest the group of presenters were drunk after a Polish weatherman also started to perform a tune earlier in the show

I'm bringing you the traditional Austrian cake called Sachertorte, said the Australian weatherman whilst Laura was trying to present the weather.

As she ushered him off the screen, he started breaking out into song.

Viewers were left puzzled by the scenes and took to Twitter to suggest the group of presenters were drunk.

That Polish weatherman is clearly drunk, one wrote, while a second added: The Austrian weather guy is p****d.
This is the emotional moment the latest of the released Israeli hostages were reunited with their families in Israel after weeks spent in Hamas captivity.

Photos shared today show freed victims embracing loved ones and calling relatives from medical centres and military bases in Israel following their release on Wednesday.

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, held her sister and greeted her dog after arriving in Israel. She was among the ten Israeli and four Thai released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas late yesterday.

Moran disappeared after the massacre at the Supernova music festival on October 7 where at least 260 were killed and 40 were taken back into Gaza by gunmen.

US-Israeli citizen Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, was also pictured at the Hatzerim Air Force Base late on Wednesday following her release. She was taken from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel last month.

The six-day truce between Israel and Hamas was extended another 24 hours in a last-minute deal made on Thursday in an effort to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement today that 'a short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue.'

Meanwhile, the family of hostage Kfir Bibas face an agonising wait for confirmation that the 10-month-old, along with his four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, was killed in captivity.

Hamas yesterday claimed that the trio were killed in an Israeli airstrike shortly before the initial truce was struck on Friday, without providing evidence.

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, embraces her sister, Lea Yanai, following her arrival in Israel after being held hostage, at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, in a handout image shared November 30

LEFT: Moran Stela Yanai embraces her sister following her arrival in Israel in an image released November 30. RIGHT: 49-year-old former Israeli hostage Liat Beinin Atzili speaks to her family at the Hatzerim Air Force Base following her release by Hamas amid an exchange operation of hostages against Palestinian prisoners, on November 29, 2023

18-year-old former Israeli hostage Itay Regev (L) reunited with his mother at the Hatzerim Air Force Base in southern Israel's Negev desert, following his release on November 29, 2023

The fresh claims came just days after it was suggested Kfir and his family members had been handed to another militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

'Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims,' the Bibas family said, who are waiting for the Israeli military to either confirm or deny Hamas's claim.

'We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials,' the statement said.

'We thank the people of Israel for their warm support, but kindly request privacy during this difficult time.'

The wider extension of the truce followed a last-minute standoff earlier Thursday, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes.

'In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the abductees and subject to the terms of the agreement, the ceasefire will continue,' the IDF said.

'The deal has delivered meaningful results,' US President Biden said of the pause so far.

'Nearly 100 hostages have been returned to their loved ones. And the United States has led the international community to use this pause to accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza.'

Ten Israeli citizens, including US-Israeli citizens, were released on Wednesday as part of the hostage deals.

They were: Raz Ben Ami, 56, Yarden Roman, 35, Liat Atzili, 49, Moran Stela Yanai, 40, Liam Or, 18, Itay Regev, 18, Ofir Engel, 17, Amit Shani, 15, Gali Tarshansky, 13, and Raaya Rotem, 54.

Hamas earlier released two dual Russian-Israeli citizens, Yelena Trupanov, and her mother Irena Tati, as part of a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin, unrelated to the deal with Israel.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally.

With Wednesday's releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed, most of whom appear physically well but shaken.

Another 24 hostages - 23 Thais and one Filipino - have also been released.

Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers. Hamas has released some men - mostly Thai laborers.

So far, most of the Palestinians released in return have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.

Palestinians have celebrated the release of people they see as having resisted Israel's decades-long military occupation of lands they want for a future state.

But talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, as the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, greets the family dog following her arrival in Israel, at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on November 30, 2023

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, embraces her loved ones following her arrival in Israel in this handout image obtained by Reuters on November 30, 2023

With Wednesday's releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken

Liam Or, 18, is reunited with his father shortly after his arrival in Israel last night after being released by Hamas

Hamas has claimed Kfir Bibas, a baby who was snatched and taken into Gaza by the terrorists, was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his mother and brother before the truce was announced six days ago

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war. It was hoped that they would be released tonight

The Israeli military said in a statement that they had spoken to Kfir's family about the claims, before condemning Hamas for their 'cruelty' and 'inhumanity'.

The IDF said: 'The terrorist organisation Hamas continues to act in a cruel and inhuman manner. IDF representatives spoke with the members of the Bibas family, informed them of the publication [of the claims] and are accompanying them at this time.

'The IDF is examining the reliability of the information. The responsibility for the safety of all the abductees in the Gaza Strip lies fully with the terrorist organisation Hamas.'

Speaking on the renewed truce, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the terms of the extension would reflect the same as previous ones - Hamas is expected to release 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The truce, extended from its initial four days, has brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement that the truce would continue for a seventh day.

The militant group earlier said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war

Hamas' military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are present as the prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas

Military personnel talk with each other as a helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Both sides had said they were ready to resume fighting.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

'After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes,' he said. 'There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.'

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday.

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives.

However, Israel has vowed to resume the war in an effort to end Hamas' 16-year rule of Gaza, but it's facing mounting international pressure to extend the truce and spare southern Gaza a devastating ground offensive like the one that has demolished much of the north.

Hostages who were abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross

A helicopter carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan

Newly released Israeli hostages sit among soldiers as they arrive inside a van at Ofakim army base in southern Israel

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes.

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza.

The father of Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for 50 days, has vowed to do 'whatever it takes' to help his nine-year-old daughter recover after revealing how she spent her ninth birthday running from missile strikes in Gaza.

Four days after his daughter's emotional release, Mr Hand told The Sun: 'She was a happy noisy kid, now she whispers. She's been terrorised by terrorists in hell but as her dad it's my job to make it better and I will.'

Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday on his third trip to the region since the start of the war, and is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

Released Palestinian prisoners gesture as they disembark a bus upon returning from the Ofer Israeli military prison to Ramallah

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israel's northern Gaza attacks.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an 'epic humanitarian catastrophe,' and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a 'concrete' timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a 'comprehensive, just and lasting' settlement of the Palestinian issue.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the truces calm has been overwhelmed by the search for aid and by horror at the extent of destruction.

In the north, residents described entire residential blocks as leveled in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of Gaza City who along with other volunteers searches for the dead under rubble or left in the streets.

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 trucks a day. But aid officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid. Overwhelmed U.N.-run shelters house over 1 million displaced people, with many sleeping outside in cold, rainy weather.
A HMP Wandsworth locksmith who made concrete moulds of a cell key and two wing keys while boasting of selling them for 100,000 to start a new romantic life in Trinidad has been jailed for four years and five months today.

Married Andrej Martynov, 44, exchanged flirtatious online messages with a colleague at the south-west London prison - where he is destined to start his sentence - urging her to join him in the Caribbean.

He was employed by private facilities management firm Carillion, who had a government contract at the prison and began working there despite hardly speaking a word of English.

Lithuanian-born Martynov, of Beckton pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office on or before September 12, 2019, namely while the 'lock and key controller' made moulds of keys and removed them.

'Anyone with access to those keys could release any of the fifteen hundred prisoners and allow them access to the grounds, up to the prison wall,' prosecutor Richard Job told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court today.

Locksmith Andrej Martynov,44,arriving at Kingston Crown Court today, November 30, 2023

Andrej Martynov previously pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in public office

Married Martynov, 44, exchanged flirtatious messages with Sabrina Ghany (pictured)

HMP Wandsworth is a Category B prison, housing murderers, terrorists and members of organised crime, said Governor George Pugh in a statement.

At least 422,000 was spent changing 840 locks and 1172 keys.

'The maximum sentence for these offences is life imprisonment and the defendant's culpability is plainly high. It is grave offending, motivated by financial advantage,' said Mr Job.

'The level of harm is high because of the obvious risk to the public and in the words of the Governor the 'eye watering' cost of rectifying the damage done by this defendant.'

Martynov always denied there was any sinister or financial motive for creating the moulds, claiming he innocently wanted to familiarise himself with how high-security prison keys work.

The court held a Newton Hearing and he gave evidence, but his claims were rejected by the Judge Rajeev Shetty, who also heard from HMP Wandsworth work colleague Sabrina Ghany, who said Marynov had a crush on her.

He told her he could fund their new life in the Caribbean by selling the moulds to an underworld figure.

His boasts were reported by Ms Ghany and police raided Marynov's matrimonial home and discovered in a sock drawer the two quick-drying cement moulds, containing three key impressions.

Ms Ghany, a project escort, who accompanies outside contractors and tradesmen within HMP Wandsworth, earlier told the court she was one of only two fellow-workers who joined Martynov for his birthday drink in a local pub.

Martynov always denied there was any sinister or financial motive for creating the moulds

Martynov began working at HMP Wandsworth in April, 2017 and was fully trained in sensitive security procedures

'He told me he fancied me and he was interested in me and made two sets of keys and was going to sell them. He said he was going to sell them for fifty thousand pounds each and start a new life.

'It sounded like a joke and I did not take it seriously. It didn't sound genuine.

'Later we had a beer on Wandsworth Common and he said he wanted to sell the keys and that he had a buyer.

'He said there was a woman interested and that we could go to Trinidad, where | am from and have a comfortable life there.

'He was very serious and very determined and I kept it very casual and did not show him any reaction, but he was saying it one too many times so I reported him.

'There was an extremely flirtatious facebook element, but I deleted it and apologised to him,' added Ms Ghany.

The court heard there was no evidence Martynov used the moulds to manufacture any keys

'He specifically told me he made a set of Class One and Class Two keys.'

There is no evidence Martynov used the moulds to manufacture keys, but after their discovery all the keys and locks in the entire prison were changed.

Judge Shetty told Martynov, who was supported in court by his wife and his brother: 'You made moulds of three different types of prison keys using a form of quick-drying cement.

'The moulds could have been used to make keys that would open cells and wings, but was only discovered when you told a fellow worker about your activity and you were romantically interested in her.

'You said that you had a buyer lined up to pay 100,000 which would allow you to start a new life abroad.

'She was not interested in you and reported you also for your talk about importing mobile phones into prison for profit.

'I reject that these mould were made for fascination or interest. It was done for profit, although there is no evidence you ever had a buyer or made any money.

'Some of what you told her was boastful or bravado.

'This was in breach of a huge amount of trust placed in you.

'The moulds, which could have been used to make keys to the wings and cells, could potentially have led to prisoners escaping.

'The very purpose and fabric of the building is to prevent prisoners escaping. This could have caused great damage to society and the public.'

Mr Job told the court Martynov began working at HMP Wandsworth in April, 2017 and was fully trained in sensitive security procedures.

'He would be in possession of prison keys that he would collect at the start of his day's work and have access to the wings and the cells.'

Police raided his former home in Earlsfield on September 13, 2019.

After the plot was discovered HMP Wandsworth increased security at the gate and identity checks

At least 422,000 was spent changing 840 locks and 1172 keys at the prison (stock image)

'When officers searched a chest of drawers they found two blocks of cement, each bearing the impression of keys and he said they were moulds of prison keys,' explained Mr Job.

'He used quick-drying cement, but said he had no intention to supply them to anyone else.

'Using the keys one could get from the cell to the prison grounds with only the wall to scale and as a result all the keys and locks in the prison had to be replaced.'

Police also found two containers of cannabis, which Martynov claimed he bought from a cyclist in Wandsworth Park for 80 and he paid a 246 fine, plus a total of 107 in court costs on his first appearance.

With the assistance of an interpreter Martynov told the court he innocently made the moulds to assist his understanding of prison locks.

'The prisoners block the locks and I thought I could make a tool to open the locks, like a tool bit,' he explained.

'I wanted to train myself how to pick the locks, I wanted to know how prison locks work so I could complete call-outs quicker and go home.

'I made the moulds and one day took them home in my pocket. I did not want to throw them away in case someone recognised them as prison keys.

'I realised I made a stupid mistake and I wanted to smash the moulds when my wife was out, but I did not get the opportunity.'

Martynov laughed at the suggestion he could charge 50,000 per key, insisting he did not discuss this with Ms Ghany.

'About prison keys we talked nothing at all. We have not talked about prison keys,' he said.

'It was a bad idea to make the moulds, I recognise that. That is why I took them out to destroy them.'

While on bail awaiting sentence Martynov travelled to his native Lithuania to attend his father's funeral.

'He carries an extra layer of guilt because it was news of this case, passing to his father in Lithuania, that led to the stroke that killed him,' said Ryan Brennan, defending.'

The lawyer questioned if the moulds would have been any use to the underworld.

'It is questionable if workable keys could have been made from these moulds. There is still a distance to be travelled from the making of these moulds to harm.

'He is likely to go back to Wandsworth today and that is likely to be very difficult for him. It may be like a prison officer going into custody and being on the other side of the glass.

'He made a catastrophic error, something that is out of character,' added Mr Brennan, asking the court to give credit for Martynov returning to the UK after the funeral and not being tempted to take flight in Lithuania.

'He will suffer greatly as a result of this one mistake.'
Jurors have heard a harrowing 999 call made by the woman who discovered Brianna Ghey after she was stabbed 28 times in the trial of two teenagers accused of her murder.

Dogwalker Kathryn Vize was in a park in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire on February 11 when she saw two teenagers stooping over what she initially thought was a dog, the court heard.

As the young people ran off, Ms Vize realised it was in fact an injured girl, who she said was 'bleeding heavily' and 'very hurt', adding she could describe 'the attackers clearly because I was really suspicious of them'.

It came as the CPS released CCTV footage of Brianna aboard a bus as she travelled to the park on the day of her death.

Two 16-year-olds, Girl X and Boy Y, who were both 15 at the time of the killing, are currently on trial over Brianna's death. Both deny murdering her.

Jurors heard the frantic 999 call, made at 3.13pm, in court on Thursday in which Ms Vize told an operator: 'Someone has been attacked'.

Brianna Ghey, 16, was found with 28 stab wounds in a park in Cheshire on February 11

Two 16-year-olds, Girl X and Boy Y, who were both 15 at the time of the killing, are currently on trial over Brianna's death - both deny murder

Describing Brianna, Ms Vize said: 'She's very hurt. They probably need the air ambulance because of where she is. She's halfway down some stairs, she's bleeding heavily.'

She continued: 'She's bleeding, she's got blood on her legs, she's got blood on her back. She's really hurt.

'We thought it was a dummy at first. I don't want to touch her either. I don't know if she's alive.'

In the call Ms Vize sounded distressed and her voice became incomprehensible at times as she asked why emergency services had not yet arrived.

She headed towards the park's car park to direct emergency services while her husband waited with Brianna, jurors were told.

The call revealed the moment Ms Vize realised Brianna had been stabbed after spotting a wound on her back: 'I think she's been attacked. She may have been stabbed. There's blood coming out of her back.'

She added Brianna was covered in so much blood she was afraid to 'do anything to her', adding: 'I don't think there's anything you can do for her, I really don't think there is.

'It's just so horrible, it's awful. Please hurry.'

Ms Vize told the operator she had seen two 'attackers running away', adding she could provide a detailed description because they appeared 'suspicious'.

She said: 'The attackers have run towards Culcheth Linear Car Park.

'I can describe them clearly to you because I was really suspicious of them.'

Brianna (pictured), 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near her home in Warrington

Brianna was stabbed 28 times in February, resulting in wounds that penetrated her heart and jugular vein

Dogwalker Kathryn Vize was in a park in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire, on February 11 when she saw two teenagers stooping over what she initially thought was a dog, the court heard

Ms Vize described 'a girl and a boy, I'd say they're late teens' and said one was wearing a 'red checked coat'.

Click here to listen to the Mail's new podcast The Trial The Trial...takes listeners behind the headlines and into the courtrooms of some of the biggest trials in the world. The first series 'The Trial of Lucy Letby' was a global hit, with more than 13 million downloads, while season two focused on the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old teacher from Ireland. Its third season follows the tragic case of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl killed in Warrington, England. Follow the evidence as the jury hears it, in twice-weekly reports from The Daily Mail's Northern Correspondent Liz Hull and broadcast journalist Caroline Cheetham. Advertisement

'The other one had a hoodie, like a coat with a hoodie. The boy pulled his hood up so we couldn't see his face.'

Later in a police interview, Ms Vize told police she initially believed Brianna to be a dog when approaching the scene with her own dog and husband.

She said the pair walked across the path and into the field, which she thought was in order to keep the dog she still assumed they had with them away from her dog.

'Then they started running. It wasn't a sprint, it wasn't a walk.'

She described them 'lolloping', the girl  wearing a red duffle coat - slightly ahead.

'They obviously saw us and thought they had to go because their pace quickened after they saw us. They were silent.

'She made eye contact with me and it frightened me,' she said.

The man  who appeared 'grubby' - had a 'longish coat' on, was 'stooping' and 'held his hood with his right hand'.

'My husband said: 'They've left something  lazy scavengers'.

'It looked like a big bag had been dumped.

'I thought it was a prank [...] she was so white, this girl.

The court heard that her husband tried to reassure Brianna, telling her: 'It's ok, we're going to help you.'

Mrs Vize said the call handler told her to go to the car park half a mile away to guide emergency workers to the scene but then asked her to attempt CPR on Brianna.

'I said 'Don't you understand, I'm not with her'. I said 'I'm on my own, there's murderers about'.'

Cross-examining Mrs Vize, Richard Littler KC, representing murder-accused Boy Y, said there was 'no dispute' that the male she saw in the park was his client.

Asked whether she saw a large knife, Mrs Vize replied: 'No.'

'You didn't see any violence or any aggression?' Mr Littler asked.

'No,' she answered.

Asked to confirm that the scene she witnessed was 'silent', she said: 'Yes.'

Mrs Vize said that before leaving across the field, the girl stopped and stared at her for 8-10 seconds.

Asked by Richard Pratt KC, representing Girl X, whether she could be 'mistaken' about the teenager making eye contact with her, she replied: 'Absolutely not.'

She added: 'I feel I have got a good memory. I gave the best description I could give, it was hours later.'

Mrs Vize said she had made notes 'immediately' as she knew she had witnessed a 'serious' incident.

In a video interview with police shown to the court, Mrs Vize's husband Andrew said he thought he heard Brianna 'sigh' when they stumbled upon her body.

'I wasn't sure if it was a breath or a sigh, I thought I saw her chest move,' he told police in an interview shown to the jury.

Mr Vize said he told the girl  who he now knows to have been Brianna  'Don't worry, we're phoning the police, hang in there.'

But there were no further signs of life before a police officer arrived and started giving CPR, he added.

He said that before they came across her bloodied body, the two youths ran away in a 'very furtive' manner across a field of cabbages at a slow jog.

The court previously heard Brianna was found face down by a dog walker after the 'sustained and violent assault' which left her with 'unsurvivable' injuries, including stab wounds which penetrated her heart and jugular vein.

On Wednesday, a trial at Manchester Crown Court heard messages exchanged between Girl X and Boy Y in the run up to the stabbing, in which they discussed killing Brianna.

In messages sent on the evening of February 10, Girl X asked Boy Y which knife he would bring when they met Brianna.

He said: 'The hunting knife I showed you in person as well as on the phone.'

Girl X asked if it would 'definitely 100% kill her' and boy Y replied: 'Yes.'

She told him: 'I've just put my favourite film on. I'm watching it for like the 9,000th time.'

In the messages read to the court, Girl X said the film was Sweeney Todd and told Boy Y he should watch it.

She added: 'He kills people with one of the sharpest blades in the world.'

The court heard they planned to meet Brianna on January 28 but 'last minute' she was unable to come.

In earlier messages, on January 23, Girl X told Boy Y she knew a lot about US serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as The Night Stalker, adding: 'I could talk about him for like two hours, including quotes and dates of stuff.'

In a statement which was read to the court, Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey, said generally her daughter would stay in at weekends as she suffered from anxiety and did not go out on her own.

She added: 'I know she would sometimes spend time with Girl X after school. Brianna was always home from school before I get home from work, so I don't know how often they spent time together.'

The trial continues.
A disabled man and his carer both drowned in a shocking double tragedy after the man with special needs fell into icy waters before his carer jumped in after to try and save him.

Aaron Ritchie, 49, fell off a canal pier during a walk on Tuesday in Wigan, Gtr Manchester.

His carer, a 60-year-old man who has not been named by police, heroically jumped in after to try save him.

Tragically, both men were pulled from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Crank Wood, in the Abram area of the town.

It is believed they were out on a walk when Aaron fell in. His carers' next of kin have been informed of his death, Greater Manchester Police have said.

Aaron Ritchie, 49, tragically drowned after falling into icy waters while out on a walk with his carer

In a statement released by the police, Aaron's heartbroken family said: 'It's come as a complete shock to us as a family surrounding the tragic accident of what happened on Tuesday afternoon.

'Aaron was a loveable character who made a big impression on everyone who knew him.

'Aaron had special needs and he loved the outdoor life and as long as he had his puzzles, laces and spinning tops he was happy. Aaron is surely going to be missed by us as a family.

'We would like to pass on our sincere condolences to his carers family and a special thank you to the emergency services who attended trying to save them.

Police said they were called to the waterway at around 2.15pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised about their welfare, sparking a huge rescue operation involving specialist boat crew.

Aaron Ritchie, 49 and his carer were pulled from a canal in Wigan. It is understood the carer, 60, jumped into the water to try and save Aaron before they both drowned

A spokesman for the force said their deaths are not being treated as suspicious but officers are continuing to establish the circumstances behind their deaths. A scene remains in place at the canal.

They said: 'At 2.15pm on Tuesday Greater Manchester Police were called to reports of concerns for welfare at Crank Wood canal, Abram, Wigan.

'Specialist officers in a multi-agency emergency response attended the location, and two men aged 49 and 60 were taken to hospital for treatment. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, both men sadly passed away yesterday afternoon.

'Detectives believe that two men had entered the water and come into difficulty and at this time there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances, however, officers are currently working to establish the exact timeline of events leading up to this incident and enquiries remain ongoing.'
Heuermann has pled not guilty to the murders of three sex workers

Cheek swab samples taken from Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann's estranged wife match DNA found on victims, police have revealed.

Asa Ellerup, 59, provided a cheek swab sample to investigators on the night they arrested Heuermann, 60, for the murders of three women whose bodies were found along a remote beach highway on Long Island.

The samples were a match for hairs found on burlap used to wrap the remains, as reported by ABC News.

Investigators have cleared Ellerup as a suspect to the murders, as she was out of town when they took place.

Officials had previously said Heuermann left his wife's hair on three of the prostitutes he is accused of murdering and his own DNA on another's body.

Asa Ellerup, 59, provided a cheek swab sample to investigators on the night they arrested her husband for the murders of three sex workers in Long Island

Investigators have cleared Ellerup as a suspect to the murders, as she was out of town when they took place. Her estranged husband Rex Heuermann, pictured, has pled not guilty

The news comes as Ellerup agreed to participate in a Peacock documentary which will feature her family as they go through her husband's trial, which is slated to begin next year.

Ellerup was reportedly paid at least $1million for the deal with NBC's streaming service.

Authorities have said that she wasn't aware of her husband's alleged killings. The money she earned from the show also won't be going to his defense, as New York law prohibits defendants from selling their story to the media.

A Peacock spokesperson confirmed with DailyMail.com that it is developing a multi-part documentary series.

'Asa Ellerup was not paid for her participation in the series, and has no creative control over the outcome of the series,' the spokesperson said.

'As is common with documentaries, she was paid a licensing fee for use of her archive materials; the payment cannot go towards the defendant or his defense funds.'

The spokesperson added that they also 'reached out to all victims' families to appear in the documentary, all of whom either did not respond or declined.'

The mother of two adult children filed for divorce from Heuermann six days after he was charged with the murder of three sex workers, whose bodies were among 11 found on the desolate stretch of coastline close to their Long Island home between 2010 and 2011.

Heuermann was arrested in July and has pled not guilty to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Lynn Costello, who disappeared in 2009 and 2010.

Ellerup was reportedly paid at least $1million in a deal with NBC's streaming service Peacock

The first victim, Melissa Barthelemy, 24, was discovered by Suffolk County Police on December 11, 2010. The body of Megan Waterman, 22, was found two days later

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25 years old when she went missing (left). Amber Lynn Costello was 27 years old. Their bodies were found near Barthelemy's the same day

Authorities said he is also the 'prime suspect' in the killing of Maureen Brainard-Barnes.

At the time of his arrest, prosecutors said they had analyzed DNA from a pizza crust that Heuermann had discarded in a Manhattan trash can and matched it to DNA from hairs found on Waterman's body. Prosecutors then got permission from the court to collect DNA from a cheek swab of Heuermann as further proof of his link to Waterman's killing.

The arrest of Heuermann, an architect, came 13 years after police searching for a missing woman found 10 sets of human remains buried in the scrub near Long Island's remote Gilgo Beach.

Authorities suspected that a serial killer had committed some of the murders but have long said they did not believe all of the victims were killed by the same person. The majority of the killings remain unsolved.
Rishi Sunak today attempted to draw a line under the Elgin Marbles row with Greece as he insisted he was focusing on 'issues that really matter'.

The Prime Minister appeared to try and cool tensions with Athens - a day after he accused his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of 'grandstanding'.

In the latest row over ownership of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, Mr Sunak this week snubbed a planned meeting with the Greek PM.

It came after Mr Mitsotakis made a fresh push for the ancient artefacts, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, to be returned to Athens from the British Museum.

The Greek premier used a BBC interview to claim keeping the 2,500-year-old sculptures in London was akin to cutting the Mona Lisa painting in half.

But the remarks enraged Mr Sunak who scrapped planned talks with Mr Mitsotakis as No10 accused the Greek PM of reneging on a vow not to discuss the issue in public.

Rishi Sunak attempted to draw a line under the Elgin Marbles row with Greece as he insisted he was focusing on 'issues that really matter'

In the latest row over ownership of the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, Mr Sunak this week snubbed a planned meeting with the Greek PM

Kyriakos Mitsotakis enraged Mr Sunak with his comments in a BBC interview in which he claimed keeping the sculptures in London was akin to cutting the Mona Lisa painting in half

Mr Sunak's actions - dubbed a 'hissy fit' by critics - have been mocked by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who did hold talks with Mr Mitsotakis in London this week

What are the Elgin Marbles? The Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon sculptures, were made between 447BC and 432BC. They decorated the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. Lord Elgin removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the ruins of the Parthenon between 1801 and 1805, before they entered the British Museum. These have since been the subject of a 200-year-old dispute over ownership between Athens and London. Of the 50 per cent of the original sculptures that survive, about half are in the British Museum and half in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. An exhibition in the Greek capital combines the original marble sculptures with plaster copies of those held in London. Advertisement

Mr Sunak's actions - dubbed a 'hissy fit' by critics - have been mocked by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who did hold talks with Mr Mitsotakis in London this week.

The Greek government has also taken a swipe at the PM, with Athens claiming Mr Sunak had 'domestic reasons' for his snub of Mr Mitsotakis.

They pointed to the Tory leader being 'quite behind in the polls' - despite Mr Sunak's frequent attempts to 'reset' his premiership - ahead of the looming general election.

The PM was quizzed about the Elgin Marbles row on a visit to Guildford, Surrey, this morning, ahead of his trip to Dubai for the COP-28 climate summit.

Mr Sunak was pressed on whether the subject was worth a diplomatic row with Greece  or whether he was just seeking to create a 'wedge issue' with Labour.

'I addressed this in Parliament yesterday,' the PM said. Instead, Mr Sunak added, he was 'focusing on the things that really matter to people'.

He said he would be talking to 'dozens of world leaders' at COP-28 'about the issues that really matter  international security, supporting Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, tackling illegal migration, or indeed climate change'.

Earlier, security minister Tom Tugendhat declined to say whether the PM was right to cancel the meeting with his Greek counterpart.

'Look, I think my own view is that the PM had to make a decision,' Mr Tugendhat said.

'He's got many, many calls on his time, and prioritising is a very difficult thing to do in No10.'

Mr Tugendhat told Sky News that Mr Mitsotakis had 'his own domestic politics' so 'of course he is going to make comments like that', in relation to his call for the Parthenon sculptures to be returned to Athens.

The PM's teams 'spend weeks before a meeting like this deciding what they're going to talk about', he said.

'And you get to a point where, if you haven't agreed what you're going to talk about, frankly, maybe the meeting is not worth having,' Mr Tugendhat added.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Sir Keir used Prime Minister's Questions to claim Mr Sunak had tried to 'humiliate' Mr Mitsotakis.

'Never mind the British Museumit is the PM who has obviously lost his marbles,' the Labour leader told MPs, as he accused Mr Sunak of 'small politics'.

Mr Sunak replied: 'Of course we are always happy to discuss important topics of substance with our allies, like tackling illegal migration or strengthening our security.

'But when it was clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to discuss substantive issues for the future but to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past, it was not appropriate.

'Furthermore, specific commitments and assurances on that topic were made to this country and then broken.'
A 90-year-old woman declared dead by doctors was found alive in a body bag by a horrified crematorium worker in Brazil.

Norma Silveira da Silva was still breathing when the shocked worker found her skin was still warm hours after she had been pronounced dead at the Sao Jose Regional Hospital, in Greater Florianopolis on November 25 at 11:40pm.

Hospital officials told local media that they are investigating how she came to be sent to the morgue while she was still alive - and left in the body bag for nearly two hours before she was found at 1:30am on Sunday.

Norma sadly died in the early hours of Monday morning after being rushed back to her ward.

Caregiver Jessica Martins Silvi Pereira, 30, who had gone with her to the hospital, said Norma's family now plans to sue the hospital. She said: 'It's a case of neglect that I would not wish on anyone.'

Picture shows Norma Silveira da Silva, 90, in the hospital, undated

The Sao Jose Regional Hospital, in Greater Florianopolis, Brazil, where Norma Silveira da Silva was found still alive after being declared dead on Saturday

'On Saturday afternoon, I went to visit her and she opened her eye,' Jessica told local media.

'She didn't have much stimulation, but she managed to open her eye and saw that we were there.'

But by Saturday evening, the family received notice Norma had died.

Her first death certificate, dated 25th November, gives her cause of death as an infection.

Jessica said the body was sent to the morgue without time for the family to see her.

She said that the crematorium worker had then immediately seen that Norma was alive, adding: 'When he opened the bag she was breathing very weakly.

'And, as she was no longer conscious, she couldn't ask for help, she tried to breathe and couldn't.

'I mean, from 11:40 pm until 1:30 am she was inside the bag almost dying asphyxiated.'

Norma's family have still not been told what her cause of death was, according to Jessica.

In the second death certificate issued, seen by local media, the document lists the cause of death as 'septic shock' caused by 'sepsis with undefined focus'.

Picture shows the first death certificate of Norma Silveira da Silva, which listed her cause of death as an infection

Brazil's Medical Ethics Committee and the Death Commission will also investigate the case, according to local media reports.

The Regional Council of Medicine of the State of Santa Catarina stated that it 'was aware of the situation and will institute appropriate procedures to monitor the case'.

Norma was cremated on 27th November.
A guard in an Arizona hospital has been accused of raping an elderly woman's corpse after witnesses caught him in the act.

Randall Bird, 46, was arrested on Tuesday and fired from the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix following an investigation that began in October.

Police were called to the medical center on October 24 after workers reported seeing Bird inside a freezer in the morgue. He was reportedly found on top of a gurney with the body of a 79-year-old woman who had died of natural causes.

According to court documents, two witnesses realized something was off when they found the doors to the hospital morgue locked from the inside, and they could see a light inside the freezer.

Randall Bird, 46, was arrested on Tuesday and fired from the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix following an investigation that began in October

Police were called to the medical center on October 24 after workers reported seeing Bird inside a freezer in the morgue on top of a gurney with a 79-year-old woman's body

Investigators said: 'Witnesses observed [Bird] inside the freezer sweating profusely and acting very nervous.

'They stated that [Bird] had removed his duty belt, which they observed on top of a gurney where a bagged deceased body was placed.

'[Bird's] zipper on his uniform pants was wide open, and the rest of his uniform looked all messy.'

When the witnesses walked in the morgue, Bird reportedly immediately tried to cover the victim's body.

Bird then told the other guards that he had a medical episode and had grabbed the victim's body as he fell down while fainting, ripping the body bag and zipper.

But witnesses claimed neither the bag nor zipper had been broken. The body bag was completely unzipped and the victim's body was facing down, police said.

The witnesses said that was unusual as the bodies are never placed that way and the body bags are not supposed to be unzipped by guards.

As a guard at the hospital, Bird participated in the intake process at the morgue, which consists of taking the deceased bodies to the morgue, verifying their identities and placing them inside a large freezer.

However, he was not supposed to open the body bags or handle the bodies at any point.

After the hospital contacted police, investigators found Bird's DNA on the victim's body, as well as injuries. The victim is not being named.

Bird repeated the claim that he had a medical emergency and couldn't remember what happened when police interviewed him after his arrest.

Following Bird's arrest, the hospital said in a statement: 'We are saddened and appalled by the alleged actions of an individual. Recently, Banner team members identified and reported concerning behavior of an employee in the hospital morgue. Banner initiated an internal investigation, filed a report with law enforcement and terminated the employee.

'Banner Health has and remains committed to high standards that require each of our team members to treat everyone, at every stage of life, with compassion, dignity, and respect. We are grateful for the work of the Phoenix Police Department in the investigation and handling of this matter, and we will continue to cooperate with law enforcement.'

Bird faces five counts of crimes against a dead person, all felony charges.

He does not have a criminal record and is on supervised release until a preliminary hearing scheduled for January.
his year, 28,620 cases of larceny-theft have been reported to authorities

The suspect was allegedly part of a roving group of thieves that targeted businesses along the city's troubled Market Street

The teen was charged in connection with a string of 15 robberies between April and November

San Francisco police arrested a 14-year-old girl in connection with more than a dozen retail thefts totaling more than $30,000 in stolen merchandise.

Investigators were looking into a string of incidents at stores in the Tenderloin District. During their investigation, they identified the teen, whose name has not been released, as a suspect.

According to police, the girl was part of a roving band of adults and youths who targeted stores on the 800 block of Market Street, which includes several upscale retailers and the struggling San Francisco Centre mall.

The thefts happened between April 11 and November 24, with the suspects netting between $140 and $6,600 worth of merchandise each time.

The girl was arrested as San Francisco continues to deal with surging crime and city officials try to stop the so-called 'doom loop' from consuming the city.

A 14-year-old girl was arrested in connection with a string of retail thefts in San Francisco's burdened Tenderloin District

According to police, the girl was part of a roving groups that targeted businesses on Market Street, netting between $140 and $6,600 worth of merchandise each time

Police are attempting to crack down on retail theft through a citywide operation that is being funded by a $15.3 million state grant. However, retailers continue to pull out of the area

A police bulletin was sent out for the girl's arrest for an outstanding warrant from Alameda county and in connection to the robberies.

She was arrested Friday after police responded to a theft in progress at an unnamed store on Market Street. The teen was charged in connection to 15 thefts, most of which were committed alongside other people.

The 14-year-old was booked on suspicion of charges including felony organized retail theft, second-degree burglary and grand theft. She is being held at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center.

Market Street has become a popular target for thieves. Last month, undercover San Francisco police officers busted nine looters in one night at the San Francisco Centre.

The operation was part of a citywide operation that is being funded by a $15.3 million state grant aimed at combatting retail theft.

The streets in the Tenderloin District are scattered with homeless tents and drug paraphernalia. Rising crime rates have prompted many businesses to withdraw from the area, despite authorities' efforts to combat the lawlessness.

The San Francisco Centre, the city's biggest mall, has become a popular target for looters

In May, Nordstrom announced that it would be closing all of its stores in the city. The location in the San Francisco Center was left eerily bare by the end of August

Streets surrounding the area are littered with trash and drug paraphernalia. The city is on track to set a record for fatal drug overdoses this year, despite state and federal intervention

Since June, city, state and federal authorities have poured resources into the area. However, the city is on track to set a record for fatal drug overdoses this year, and 20 percent of reported drug crimes have occurred within a block of Market Street.

This year, 2,651 burglaries have been logged along with 28,620 reports of larceny-theft, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

This figure is down from last year, when a whopping 61,715 larceny-thefts were reported to police.

In May, luxury retailer Nordstrom announced that it would be closing all of its San Francisco stores, blaming the 'changed dynamics' of the city.

The company's chief merchandising officer, Jamie Nordstrom, blamed the state of the city in recent years for reducing foot traffic 'and our ability to operate successfully.'

Just last month, San Francisco Superior Court judge named Gregg Williams of Trident Pacific Real Estate Group as receiver for the San Francisco Centre, which houses upscale retailers like Louis Vuitton and Rolex.

Williams, who founded the Newport Beach-based realty group, will be paid $30,000 a month to 'take possession, custody and control' of the troubled mall.

Economists have cautioned that the city is spiraling into an 'urban doom loop,' triggered when employees withdrew from their offices during the pandemic in favor of remote work.

This left downtown San Francisco relatively empty, forcing ailing businesses to shutter and making the area even less appealing.

Jesse Barron, a contributing writer for the New York Times, says the 'doom loop' idea has persisted due to the city's 'multiple overlapping problems' including a fentanyl crisis and insufficient homeless services.

Twenty percent of reported drug crimes in 2023 have occurred within a block of Market Street

Downtown San Francisco has been plagued by business closures including a host of them in nearby Union Square

In the meantime, business owners wait with bated breath to hear the fate of a bill intended to reduce organized retail theft.

Assembly Bill 1708, which was introduced to the California State Assembly in February, allows shoplifting charges to be pursued as misdemeanors or felonies if the person has multiple previous offenses.

Alternatively, shoplifters can be placed into a rehabilitation program with a judge's approval. The session is currently in recess.

Under the current law, theft can only be charged as a felony if the amount of goods is worth at least $950 in most cases. If AB 1708 is signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, that amount decreases to $400.

The bill reverses some of the changes implemented by Proposition 47, a voter-approved initiative on the November 2014 ballot that reduced some felony theft offenses to misdemeanors.

Among them were commercial burglary, petty theft with priors and possession of stolen property.
Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino doubled down on Elon Musk's 'go f**k yourselves' message to advertisers who are pulling their money from the platform or threatening to in a protest over hate speech fears.

Musk has been criticized for loosening Twitter's grip on what some perceive to be hate speech, and has even been accused of stoking antisemitism on the site by not cracking down on certain accounts.

It is part of his original strategy for the platform - to do away with heavy-handed oversight and allow users to share their own thoughts free from interference from typically left-leaning big tech.

Yaccarino - who previously attempted to temper criticism of Musk by emphasizing X's position as not allowing any form of hatred or antisemitism - is now standing by his latest remarks.

Yaccarino - who previously attempted to temper criticism of Musk by emphasizing X's position as not allowing any form of hatred or antisemitism - is now standing by his latest remarks

'Today, Elon Musk gave a wide ranging and candid interview at DealBook 2023. He also offered an apology, an explanation and an explicit point of view about our position.

'X is enabling an information independence that's uncomfortable for some people. We're a platform that allows people to make their own decisions.

'And heres my perspective when it comes to advertising: X is standing at a unique and amazing intersection of Free Speech and Main Street  and the X community is powerful and is here to welcome you.

'To our partners who believe in our meaningful work -- Thank You,' she said.

Disney CEO Bob Iger led the boycott, withdrawing the company's ads from X.

Elon Musk told advertisers to 'go f**k themselves' at the DealBook summit last night

Musk took him on squarely, telling Deal Book host Andrew Sorokin: 'If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself.

'Go f*** yourself, is that clear? Hey Bob, if you're in the audience. That's how I feel, don't advertise.'

He apologized for his controversial support of one user who claimed Jews 'have been pushing this exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.'

Musk endorsed the user's perspective, tweeting: 'You have said the actual truth.'

At Deal Book last night, he said his comment was 'foolish'.

He visited Israel earlier this week in an attempt to smooth things over.
She also threatened to 'bomb' children's' hospitals and 'kill each and every one' of the community

The self-proclaimed 'ex-girlfriend' of Uvalde mass shooter Salvador Ramos has been arrested for making threats against the community - including planning to shoot up schools and bomb hospitals.

Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales, 19, is charged with 13 counts of making interstate threats between May and October 2023.

The sick taunts were aimed at schools, hospitals and law enforcement in the Texas town of Uvalde - the site of a devastating mass shooting by Ramos.

Ramos, 18, shot and killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022 and injured 17 before he was killed by police.

Many of Rodriguez-Morales' alleged threats reference the shooting, including calling the victims 'little losers' who 'deserved those bullets' per an FBI indictment.

Victoria Gabriela Rodriguez-Morales is accused of making threats against the community of Uvalde including threatening to shoot up schools and bomb hospitals

The 19-year-old claims to be the ex-girlfriend of Salvador Ramos (pictured) who killed 21 children and teachers during a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in the Texas town

The Puerto Rican teen used Instagram, Gmail, Facebook and Kick.com to make the shocking threats, which resulted in the temporary closure of at least one Texas school, according to the Department of Justice.

Among the alleged threats are messages and posts which said: 'I will haunt everyone from class 2022 to 2023. Each and every single one of y'all will die' and 'We will shoot Uvalde Texas high school and Texas A&M college'.

Several of the communications reference the mass shooting, including naming Pete Arredondo, the Texas school district police chief fired for his response to the massacre.

In one chilling post, an account under the name Gabriela Morales wrote: 'Don't believe me, try me. Ask Pete Arredondo what happened four days before the massacre. Me and Salvador wanted to kill them kids together but by that time I couldn't get there'.

Another from an account which prosecutors have linked to Rodriguez-Morales said: 'The kids at Robb Elementary deserved those bullets they deserved to die. I'm glad though that my ex achieved something we both wanted to do'.

Rodriguez-Morales previously faced juvenile delinquency proceedings in Texas and was detained in 2018. During this time she admitted to threatening to 'kill public officials, shoot schools, and kill teachers and students'.

In May 2020, she was freed, but forced to return to Puerto Rico as one of the conditions of her release.

But prosecutors say the twisted teen has continued to make chilling threats against the community.

Prosecutors say Rodriguez-Morales used social media accounts to make a barrage of threats against Uvalde officials

The Puerto Rican teen previously admitted making similar threats while facing juvenile delinquency proceedings in Texas

The FBI said the teen has been under investigation since at least 2020 after the threats continued to come

As well as schools, she is said to have threatened hospitals, writing: 'Your children's hospital may blow in pieces If y'all don't do as I say' and 'there will be bombs at the Uvalde memorial hospital', according to the criminal complaint.

Threats were also made against Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose daughter was killed in the Uvalde shooting and who ran to become mayor of Uvalde.

Prosecutors allege Rodriguez-Morales said: 'If Mata Rubio wins the elections I will kill her'.

Investigators have been looking into the teen since 2020 and claim she made repeated calls to the Uvalde Police, the Uvalde High School, the Morales Junior High School, the Texas Public Safety Department - Texas Rangers Uvalde, the Uvalde Fire Department, and the Uvalde High School Department of Human Resources from phones belonging to her mom and another relative.

Messages sent from email address schoolshooter893@gmail.com also demanded '$830,000 cash' to prevent an attack, according to the indictment.

One directed to City Hall on September 24 had the subject line, 'kill you all' and read: 'We will kill each and every one of you We will shoot and blow up Uvalde Texas high school and Texas A&M college.

'Dont try me I got people there that will help me do that shit I dont regret for a second the plan that I did with Salvador Ramos Im glad that some of them kids blood runs in my hands.'

Each the thirteen counts of conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison - with Rodriguez-Morales facing up to 65 years in prison in total.

Rodriguez-Morales faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all 13 counts

Sick taunts allegedly made by Rodriguez-Morales include claiming the victims of the Uvalde massacre 'deserved those bullets'

Prosecutors have also linked her to the email address schoolshooter893@gmail.com, which sent threatening messages to several agencies

If the defendant is found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

'The U.S. Attorney's Office has no tolerance for illegal threats, especially threats that target people who are the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas,' said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow.

'We hope that this arrest brings a sense of peace to those who were targeted by the defendant.'

'Threatening with violence, under any context, is unacceptable behavior. Making threats of violence to schools and other public institutions, is a federal crime,' added Joseph Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office.

'School shootings are one of the most heinous of violent acts, and those impacted by this tragedy, such as the family, friends and co-workers of the victims of the Uvalde school shooting, deserve to grieve and process their experiences in peace.

'The subject in this case was hundreds of miles away from the place she intended to torment through threats of violence. Yet she was still identified, located and arrested. May this serve as public notice that this behavior will not be tolerated, in Puerto Rico or anywhere else in the nation.'
An elderly man in Pennsylvania is accused of beating his wife to death during an argument over their cat's medical bills.

Barton Seltmann, 84, allegedly killed his 85-year-old wife, Margaret Seltmann on Tuesday at their home in Lower Pottsgrove Township - about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Law enforcement authorities say Barton called the cops himself to report an 'unresponsive female' at his home.

Responding officers noted Margaret was 'obviously deceased' when they arrived.

Authorities launched a homicide investigation and determined that the couple had been 'arguing about money for veterinary care of their cat when the fight turned physical.'

It's unclear how much the care totaled.

Barton Seltmann, 84, was charged with first- and third-degree murder for allegedly beating his wife to death in their Pennsylvania home on Tuesday

Maragaret Seltmann, 85, was found by authorities 'obviously deceased' at the house the couple had shared for decades of their marriage

According to a statement from the Montgomery County District Attorney made jointly with the police chief, law enforcement found Barton 'on the rear porch, with blood on his hands, face and clothing.'

The octogenarian was taken to a local hospital, where he received treatment for a hand injury.

'Evidence found on scene indicated that the victim was struck multiple times in the head while lying on the kitchen floor,' read the release.

Autopsy results found that Margaret died from blunt force injuries to her head.

According to NBC Philadelphia, a probably cause affidavit says that Barton first told 911 operators that he believed his wife was dead and that someone had 'beat her.'

Officers then said he told the medics treating him at the scene that he had hurt his wife during a fight and that police later discovered a kitchen knife under her dead body along with glass shards from a broken candle jar.

In an interview with police, Barton said his argument with his wife was about their cat's veterinary bills. The fight escalated when Margaret grabbed a knife and threatened to kill him, according to the affidavit.

He said he then responded by shoving a chair into her, which caused her to fall and hit her head.

The 84-year-old reportedly told investigators he hadn't seen the knife in his wife's hand, but proceeded to punch and hit her in the head anyway.

The affidavit said Barton told authorities his wife said: 'You're killing me,' during the fight. He then told them that she 'went to sleep.'

The elderly Pennsylvania man was subsequently charged with first- and third-degree murder and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correction Facility.

He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary court hearing on December 5.

The house the couple shared was built for them from the ground up by Barton

Ron Seltmann, brother of Barton Seltmann, and his wife Sandy Seltmann said they were shocked and distraught by what had happened, adding that there were no signs something like this might occur

Members of the man's family told a local news station that Barton may have been experiencing issues with his memory. In recent weeks, Margaret had indicated she was worried that he may be suffering from dementia.

His sister-in-law Sandy Seltmann said: 'In the last five or six weeks, Margaret said he was suffering from dementia. He wasnt remembering things. Like if he went somewhere, he wasnt remembering where he was at and things, and she was concerned about it.'

Ron Seltmann, Barton's brother, who lives next door to the couple, said they had been married for more than 30 years and seemed happy together.

He said they spent their lives together surrounded by family in the home that Barton had built them from the ground up.

'This just tore up apart,' he said. 'It's difficult when it's close with a family like that, you know, living right next door to me.'
The family of Kfir Bibas, a baby who was snatched and taken into Gaza by Hamas, faced yet more anguish today after the terrorists offered to hand over the bodies of three hostages to Israel.

Hamas claimed that Israel had refused its offer to hand over the three bodies without naming the dead.

But it comes a day after the terrorists claimed - without providing evidence - that the ten-month-old, his four-year-old brother Ariel and his mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, were killed in an Israeli bombardment before Friday's truce was announced.

Kfir's father Yarden, 34, who was also taken hostage by the terrorists, was not mentioned in the statement.

The Israeli military said yesterday it is checking the claims by Hamas that the baby was killed alongside his mother and brother while they were being kept hostage by the terrorists.

The IDF, which slammed Hamas as 'cruel and inhuman', said they have spoken to the Bibas family about the claims, which are massively overshadowing last-minute negotiations to extend the truce further.

Last night, Kfir's anguished family expressed hope that Hamas' claims that the trio had been killed will be found to be a lie, saying they are waiting for the allegations to be refuted by Israeli military officials.

But today, Hamas appeared to suggest they are willing to hand over their bodies after saying it had offered to exchange three hostages' bodies. The terrorists claimed Israel had refused their offer.

The terrorists failed to name the dead in their statement and if their claims do turn out to be untrue, it will be another example of the cruel mind games used by the terrorists ever since they launched their barbaric assault on Israel.

Hamas has claimed Kfir Bibas, a baby who was snatched and taken into Gaza by the terrorists, was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his mother and brother before the truce was announced six days ago

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war. It was hoped that they would be released tonight

Video showed the sobbing mother clutching onto Kfir and Ariel as they were kidnapped, as horrified neighbours screamed: 'She has a baby'.

The world watched in horror on October 7 when footage emerged of Hamas terrorists dragging Shiri and her young family from their home in Nir Oz Kibbutz towards a waiting motorbike.

Video showed the sobbing mother clutching onto Kfir and Ariel as they were kidnapped, as horrified neighbours screamed: 'She has a baby.'

The family has not been heard from since but there were hopes that they would be released by Hamas as part of a prisoner exchange during the truce between Israel and the terrorist group.

But Hamas claimed yesterday - without providing evidence - that Kfir, Shiri and Ariel were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza in the days before the truce was announced.

If it is true, that claim could provoke an explosive reaction from Israel as the family were among the highest-profile civilian hostages yet to be freed.

Previously, there were fears that nine-year-old Israeli-Irish hostage Emily Hand had been killed by Hamas terrorists but she was later found to be alive. The schoolgirl, who spent her ninth birthday in captivity, has since been released.

The Israeli military said in a statement last night that they had spoken to Kfir's family about the claims, before condemning Hamas for their 'cruelty' and 'inhumanity'.

But Hamas today claimed that Israel had refused the terrorists' offer to hand over the bodies of three hostages, in an apparent reference to Kfir, Shiri and Ariel.

Earlier this morning, Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement to extend their ceasefire for another day, and Washington said it hoped the truce could be extended further to free more hostages and let aid reach Gaza.

But up until the extension was agreed, Hamas was blaming Israel for a potential end to the ceasefire.

The terrorists, without providing evidence, accused Israel of 'refusing to receive seven women and children detained today and the bodies of three of the same category of detainees who were killed as a result of the Zionist bombing of Gaza'.

The terrorists did not specify who the dead were - but there are growing fears they were alluding to Shiri and her two young sons.

With his red hair and toothless smile, Kfir's harrowing ordeal has become for many a symbol of the brutality of Hamas' attack on October 7, which saw the terrorists massacre 1,200 Israelis inside their homes or as they tried to flee a music festival.

Hamas' armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades claimed, without providing evidence, that Kfir, his mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, and four-year-old brother Ariel (pictured), were killed in an Israeli bombardment before the truce was announced

Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, is pictured here with her two young sons Ariel and Kfir

Shiri is pictured playing with her baby Kfir. The pair were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists, who now claim - without providing evidence - they were killed in an Israeli aistrike

Ariel Bibas is pictured here playing with bubbles. He was captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7

Yesterday, Kfir's family had said the baby, who has now spent more than a fifth of his young life in captivity, his brother and parents were not on the list of hostages set to be released later tonight.

Yossi Schneider - Shiri's cousin - told Israel's Morning News that Kfir and his family members were not included on Wednesday's list, and accused Hamas of 'passing him from hand to hand like an animal'.

His comments came after an IDF spokesperson said Shiri, Ariel and Kfir are believed to have been handed off to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) - a jihadist group that seeks to destroy Israel and has historically rejected any diplomatic engagement.

'It's like our personal Schindler's list,' Schneider said. 'Every day we wait to see who will return and who won't. This is like the list that chooses who will live and who will die.'

He questioned why Hamas had taken the 10-month-old baby and the four-year-old child in the first place, questioning what value they had as 'bargaining chips'.

'What were the Hamas terrorists exactly thinking of when they kidnapped them? What exactly were they afraid of? What did they think that Kfir could do to them?

'They are passing him from hand to hand like an animal. I don't understand it.'

'There is no precedent for something like this, for a baby who was kidnapped when he was 9 months old,' Eylon Keshet, Kfir's father's cousin, told reporters on Tuesday. 'Is baby Kfir the enemy of Hamas?'

Kfir's family, like other relatives of captives, have been tormented since October 7. They have received no sign that he is still alive and wonder how such a helpless infant can cope with being in captivity for so long.

Schneider said waiting for news was 'unbearable'.

'The days are very long and we just wait for the list to come out today once again we have been left disappointed,' he said, explaining that the family had learned that the young hostages had been passed on by Hamas to another terror group.

Palestinians shop in an open-air market among the ruins of houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the conflict, amid a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday

A man holds a child as Palestinians shop in an open-air market near the ruins of houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday

Raz Ben Ami, 57, reunites with her daughters following her arrival in Israel, after being held hostage by Hamas in Tel Aviv on Thursday

Children near destroyed houses in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Thursday

He said: 'They have been sold like some kind of pet. What sort of people are they using a 10-month-old baby boy as an asset?

'They're using him like a chess piece or a Monopoly card.

'The world needs to wake up and understand what's happening. This [Hamas] is an evil organisation. Obviously, I'm happy for those who are coming out but we need our family back together.

'Hamas are playing with people's lives. They're not playing by the rules.

'We haven't seen our family for 55 days. Kfir hasn't seen the light for 55 days. It's crazy. We've heard from the hostages who have come back that they don't have any food, they have lice, they are not able to take a shower. An adult could just about cope with this but can a child? Can a ten-month-old baby? I don't think so.'

On October 7, Shiri and her husband Yarden, who was armed only with a pistol, had frantically sprinted to their safe room with their two young children as soon as they heard the gunmen trying to smash down their front door.

Yarden had texted relatives 'I love you all' as they sheltered, with militants firing semi-automatic weapons outside their window, according to reports. Half an hour later, he ominously wrote 'they're coming in', before communication ceased. The family has not been heard from since.

Their had hoped the Bibas family would be released during the truce, which is scheduled to expire on Friday after another extension was agreed today.

International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel, which has demanded Hamas release at least 10 hostages per day to keep the ceasefire going, said it received a list at the last minute of those who would go free on Thursday, allowing it to call off plans to resume fighting at dawn.

'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,' the Israeli military said in a statement, released minutes before the truce was due to expire at 0500 GMT.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages on Wednesday while Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners, also said the truce would continue for a seventh day.
Daniel was airlifted to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery

A North Carolina pastor has been charged for failing to properly store a firearm after his three-year-old son shot his two-year-old brother in the head.

Burke County Sheriff's Office charged Adam Vines, 29, just weeks after his son David, 2, was shot in the River Valley Baptist Church parking lot after a church service on October 15.

According to the criminal summons obtained by WBTV, the gun was stored or 'left in a condition that the firearm could be discharged and the defendant knew or should have known that the minor would be able to gain access to the firearm.'

The charge is a misdemeanor weapons offense for failure to store a firearm to protect minors.

Vines said his other son, 3, found the gun in the back of a vehicle and shot Daniel in the head.

Daniel Vines, two-years-old, was shot my his three-year-old brother on October 15

Daniel was airlifted to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery

When officers responded to the scene, the child was airlifted to the CMC Main in Charlotte and is expected to make a full recovery.

'As far as the charge is concerned, all I can say is to God be the glory. It could have been worse but the Lord watched over us all,' Vines told WSOC.

He added: 'Daniel is doing wonderful. Just so thankful to be home.'

At the time of the shooting, Vines told WYFF the bullet did not hit the child's brain and he is able to talk and move.

'It did go in behind his ear, but it went across the corner on the lower side instead of going through the brain. His talking, communications, his moving ability, all of that part is still intact.'

Days after the shooting the pastor said: 'Hes improving; were just watching and waiting and taking it one day at a time.

'Hes done really well, and were very grateful; the Lord is still working.'

Shattered glass in the church parking lot after the shooting. The bullet did not hit the child's brain and he is able to talk and move

The boys father and pastor at River Valley Baptist Church, Adam Vines, has been charged for failing to properly store the firearm

Kevin Barlow, who lives next to the church, said he heard the gunshot and screams the night of the shooting.

'I dont think he should go to jail or anything. But hes aware of that now, and keep secure the firearm and everything,' Barlow said.

Church members Joann McClellan said, 'Hes been through enough. The devil has pushed him in every which way he can. Let that go. Thats the way I feel about it.'

WCNC reported the criminal summons cites a state law that requires anyone who has a firearm and lives with a minor to secure the weapon so the minor cannot access it.

If the pastor is found guilty, he could face up to 45 days of community punishment.

Vines has a court date scheduled for January 5.
Colleagues of the two 'experienced' Dutch translators of Omid Scobie's book said it is 'unthinkable' the women added the names of the two 'royal racists' into the transcript themselves.

Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern are named in the preface to the book 'End Game' which was withdrawn from sale in Holland after two members of the royal family were named in the racism scandal engulfing the group.

The publisher initially claimed the names were revealed due to a 'translation' mix up but later said an 'error' led to their printing on pages 128 and 324 of the book which has the title 'Final Battle' in Holland.

Colleagues who work translating books from English into Dutch told MailOnline it would be 'unthinkable' for the women to have chosen to insert the names themselves unless they were already in the manuscript.

Paul Janse, who runs a book translation service, said: 'I find it really unthinkable that a translator would mention names that weren't there in their English version, especially such a sensitive matter.

'To me it does not make sense. As a book translator you work with what is in front of you. I think they must have used a version with the names in it.'

Saskia Peeters and Nellie Keukelaar-van Rijsbergern (pictured) are named in the preface to the book 'End Game'

Omid Scobie (pictured) spoke about the royal book 'translation error' on live TV this morning

Another experienced book translator based in Amsterdam also said the pair responsible for the Dutch version of End Game would not have written the names unless they were in the manuscript already.

'Why would they choose these particular names out of all of those they could use,' said the translator.

'They are very experienced professionals who have so many credits to their name. Why would they risk doing this and who is to say they got the right names.'

The two women credited with the translation have so far refused to comment.

Peters, who has run a translation service based in Arnhem, has 20 years experience translating manuscripts from English into Dutch.

On her LinkedIn page she lists fiction and non-fiction books as well as for children and youth books.

She also specialises in cook books with dozens translated from English into Dutch.

Her colleague Nellie Keukelaar -van Rijsbergern also has vast experience of translating famous authors, mostly focusing on fiction.

Her credits include Nicholas Spark's Dear John and Wilbur Smith's The Warriors Cry.

The publishers of Scobie's 'poisonous' book have refused to make any comment about the controversy.

A spokesman for Xander Uitgevers based in Haarlem said:' There will be no further comment.'

All copies of the paperback book were removed from bookstores across Holland on Wednesday and will be back on sale on December 8.

However, the controversy has so far failed to boost sales with bookstores not reporting any demand for advance orders.

The biggest bookstore in Holland  boasting enough books to cover 2.2km  only had seven orders prior to their being taken off the shelves.

A member of staff at Scheltema in Amsterdam city centre said they had not seen any surge in demand for the royal book.

Other stores in the city said they had not any advance orders for End Game.

Zoe Blauboer, assistant manager of the Scheltema bookstore, said it was unusual for a publisher to demand books be withdrawn the day they go on sale.

'I've never come across such a thing.

'We just had an email from the publisher saying they were not to be sold and to send them back.

'We did not have a big display planned, so it was not a problem.'

Colleagues of the two 'experienced' Dutch translators of Omid Scobie's book said it is 'unthinkable' the women added the names of the two 'royal racists' into the transcript themselves

Other bookstore owners said the only time they could recall a similar incident was in the 1980s when 'The Satanic Verses' book had to be withdrawn.

Fred Lafire, who runs the Old English Bookshop, said:' It is unusual for a publisher to recall a book as soon as it goes on sale.

'The only other time I can recall was whe Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses came out and the cover had to be changed. That was back in the 1980s.'

Despite making headlines around the world over the racism scandal few people in Amsterdam were aware of the controversy.

Student Elena Giordano said she would not rush out to buy the book.

She said:' 'It is of little interest to people in Holland. We do know about Harry and Meghan and how they have attacked the royal family, but I doubt I will buy the book.'

Student Jette Calot said:' We have our own royal family so we do no follow what happens in England that much.

'But it always seem to be about Harry and Meghan. I think they like putting themselves in the news.'

Her friend Julia Hassinla added: 'I don't think it is that interesting.'

Today Mr Scobie brushed off the naming of two royals as alleged racists in the Dutch version of Endgame, coyly claiming their identities have been known 'for a long time'.

The Sussexes' favoured royal reporter has been accused of 'virtually confirming' the names in his first British TV appearance on ITV's This Morning today.

But the journalist squarely blamed the publisher in the Netherlands, declaring: ''I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

He said: 'The reality is though is that this is information that is not privy just to me. Journalists across Fleet Street have known those names for a long time. We've all followed a certain code of conduct when it comes to talking about it. It's frustrating that now what's going on in the Netherlands with the book that was obviously immediately rescinded and is now being reprinted has happened, and I'm glad to hear so. But for me I can only talk about the English version of the book that I wrote and produced.'

Yet royal experts, several of them experienced journalists, told MailOnline today that Mr Scobie is mistaken if he believes that the names were common knowledge, with some doubting whether the accusations in his book can be correct.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower said: 'Scobie has re-opened a vicious proxy war against the Royal Family by coyly revealing the names of the alleged racists. His allegations are not only grossly untrue and unfair but also ridiculous. The names Scobie provided would never be together with Harry to discuss the unborn baby's skin colour.

'Moreover, Harry admitted during his book Spare's promotion tour that the conversation was not racist. Scobie has reignited the bitter accusations to sell his fabrications and glorify Meghan'.

It came as it was revealed that Buckingham Palace is today 'considering all options' - including legal action - over the royal race row stoked by Mr Scobie's 'poisonous' new book on the monarchy. Legal experts have also suggested Harry and Meghan should sue Endgame's author for breach of privacy, after he revealed he had seen the names on letters exchanged between Meghan and King Charles III.

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline: 'This whole situation is getting murkier by the day. Two royals have been named in the past - in books as well as online - and only one of them was named by Piers Morgan last night and virtually confirmed by Omid Scobie today. The other is a new name to me.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their baby son Archie in South Africa in September 2019. They told Oprah that a member of Harry's family speculated about what colour his skin would be. The Queen later said that 'recollections may vary'

'The onus is now very much on Harry and Meghan. He claimed in an interview with Tom Bradby that it was the British press who called the royals racist not them. But why did they mention it in the Oprah Winfrey interview at all then if they weren't unhappy?

'They can't have it both ways and if they are not behind this book and don't believe the royal relatives are racist they should now come out and say so. Their silence speaks volumes and I can't see any reconciliations any time soon'.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'It was surreal to watch Omid Scobie on This Morning answer questions about Endgame, as though he were only responsible for the English version of the book.

If he ''never submitted a book which had their names in it,'' then how could they possibly have been included in the Dutch copy of the book?

'These are names which can't be mistranslated and it is a question of how they appeared in the book, which he, as its author, is surely responsible for'.

'Scobie claims he is ''as frustrated as everyone else'' about how the names were included in the Dutch edition. Many will conclude that this was an attempt to publicise a nasty book. Others may conclude that the Sussexes may have been behind it or even instigated it'.

MailOnline has asked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to comment. Sources close to the couple have denied having anything to do with the book.

In an interview with ITV 's This Morning, which started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece', Mr Scobie offered no mea culpa or apology for the error and when asked if he was upset he said: 'I am obviously frustrated. I wouldn't say I am upset about it'.

Mr Scobie also offered no explanation as to how the version of Endgame being pulped in the Netherlands ended up pointing the finger at two members of the Royal Family now accused of asking about the colour of Archie's skin before he was born.

Asked if the Dutch farrago was a 'stunt to sell books' in the face of poor reviews, he said: 'I wish it was the case' and that 'an investigation is underway'.

'I had never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version', he said. 'I wrote and edited the English version of the book with one publisher. That then gets licensed to other publishers. I can't speak Italian, German, French, Dutch or any of the other languages that it's come out in'.

Mr Scobie's appearance on the This Morning sofa with Craig Doyle and Alison Hammond began with an immediate denial that he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece', 'her cheerleader' or just 'some mouthy fan'. He claimed he had been treated 'unfairly' and these pro-Sussex monikers are all part of 'a character assassination'.

In order to hammer home his point he said: 'I have very little interest in what they [the Sussexes] are doing in California. Harry and Meghan are irrelevant to the future of the Royal Family'.

But he admitted he had been 'sympathetic', claiming he had witnessed unfair treatment of the Duchess of Sussex when she was a working royal 'so I did go on television and talk about the racism she faced'.

Denying that he was 'Meghan's mouthpiece', he said: 'I'm not their friend. I have never sat down privately with Meghan for an interview, exchanged information with Meghan. I am not in their private world'.

He also said that he and Endgame had been unfairly criticised. He said: 'I knew this book would be controversial, whether it's about race or the Palace's relationship with the press. I never expected it to be presented fairly'. He said: 'There have been unfair attacks on me'.

He said that he believed that he has been victimised because he was saying 'loudly from the start' that Meghan suffered racism. He added that because he is mixed race he has a different perspective on the racism she had  but insisted that he not just some 'mouthy fan'.

Mr Scobie was asked how the names had appeared in the Dutch version now pulled from the shelves. Piers Morgan said them on live TV last night.

He said: 'It's still being investigated now. I wrote and edited the English version of the book with one publisher. That then gets licensed to other publishers. I obviously can't speak Italian, German, French, Dutch or any of the other languages that come out.

'I'm as frustrated as anyone else. I make it very clear in this book that I in every way possible want to adhere to the laws surrounding this subject. It's why I've been very careful in how it's described in the book and it's why I've never spoken about it beyond what I've said in the public domain before'.

Scobie told ITV's This Morning that coverage of Meghan Markle was often 'steeped in xenophobia, misogyny and prejudice'.

He said: 'I do think when Meghan was a working member of the royal family she was massively mispresented in a lot of the coverage. A lot of it was steeped in xenophobia, misogyny and prejudice, and I've always said that very loudly from the start.

'It's the thing that has made me a target for many people in terms of someone who is just seen as like some mouthy fan of her rather than perhaps OK, I'm a mixed race member of the press pack and I've got something different to say about it.'

Omid said he had never used the 'racist' word in relation to the comments over Archie's skin colour, adding that it was described as 'unconscious bias'.

He admitted he 'knew this book would be controversial' and it 'obviously goes into areas that often royal correspondents often shy away from'. He added that he 'never expected it to be presented fairly by newspapers' and it was also 'frustrating' to see so much written about the book 'that just wasn't true'.

King Charles III and President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a bilateral meeting in a hotel in Dubai, as they attend the Cop28 summit. He brushed off the scandal today
An annual ceremony to mark the traditional Jewish holiday of Hanukkah has been cancelled by a London council due to fears it would 'inflame tensions' amid increasing Israel and Palestine divisions.

Havering Council in east London said they took the 'difficult decision' to cancel the traditional menorah instillation out of fears it would be vandalised.

The nine-branched candelabrum instillation was usually lit to mark the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah outside Havering Town Hall in Romford.

It comes amid rising tensions Israel and Palestine conflict which has seen numerous protests being held across the capital.

There has also been a rise in both anti-Semitic and Islamophobic attacks.

The instillation which hosts the menorah ceremony will not go ahead due to council fears it would 'inflame tensions'

The nine-branched candelabrum is lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Pictured: The menorah in Trafalgar square being lit back in 2019

There have been numerous protests recently in London. Pictured: Tens of thousands gather for the anti-semitism march on November 26, 2023 in London

In a statement, Havering Council wrote: 'The Council has taken the difficult decision to pause the planned installation of the Chanukah Menorah outside Havering Town Hall this year.

'We appreciate this is a hugely sensitive issue but in light of escalating tensions from the conflict in the Middle East, installing the candelabra now will not be without risk to the Council, our partners, staff and local residents.

'We would also be concerned with any possible vandalism or other action against the installation.

'There will still be a temporary installation and event to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah. This will be taken down after the event and we will look at a longer-term installation next year.'

They continued: 'However, due to an increase in the number of hate crimes in Havering, both towards the Jewish and Muslim community, and after consulting with the Leader of the Council, we believe it would be unwise to move forward with the installation, which could risk further inflaming tensions within our communities.

'When we started work on the installation no one could have foreseen the recent international events and we have been fully committed to installing the candelabra with a number of council teams working to support it.

'Sadly, there are some who are politicising this and making accusations of anti-Semitism. This is categorically untrue and such statements are likely to incite further unrest in our communities.'

'The council flew the Israeli flag in solidarity following the heinous terrorist attack against the people of Israel and we continue to stand by our local Jewish communities.

'However, while the war is ongoing we feel we must postpone the planned installation. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we will revisit next year when we hope that community tensions will have subsided.

A recent anti antisemitism march attracted 60,000 people. Pictured: Protesters wave Israeli flags and hold photos of people held hostage by Palestinian militant group Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government reached a deal to continue the ceasefire earlier today

There have been numerous pro-Palestine marches recently in London. Pictured: Thousand of people attend the pro-Palestine march on November 25

'Havering Council does not take sides in the current conflict and regrets the loss of life, injury and distress on both sides.

'We have informed our community and faith partners and will continue to provide support to all our communities and work with the local Police to ensure that everyone feels safe in Havering.'

Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas reached a deal earlier today to continue the ceasefire an effort to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that 'a short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue.'

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff earlier today, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes.
Visitors have flocked to Edinburgh Zoo for a final chance to say farewell to the UK's only giant pandas before they return to China.

Yang Guang and Tian Tian, also known as Sunshine and Sweetie, will no longer be on public view at Edinburgh Zoo from around 3:30pm on Thursday as they prepare for their journey next week.

They arrived at the zoo in December 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association which was later extended by two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It had been hoped female panda Tian Tian and male Yang Guang, who were the first pandas to live in the UK for 17 years, would breed while at the zoo, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful in having a cub.

Following their departure, the pandas' enclosure will be used to house another new species which is set to be announced by the zoo in the new year.

Female Tian Tian who is set to return to China after spending 12 years at Edinburgh Zoo

Male Panda Yang Guang will also be returned home, with the pair expected to be on public view until around 3.30pm on Thursday as they prepare for their journey next week

Visitors have flocked to Edinburgh Zoo for a final chance to say farewell to the pair, who are the UK's only giant pandas

Professor Simon Girling, head of veterinary services at the RZSS, which runs the zoo, said the pandas have been popular with staff and visitors alike and will be missed.

He said: 'I think we're all quite sad to see them go, they are two lovely individuals, lovely characters, and we've got to know them really well.

'I've been working with them ever since they came. I went over to China to see them before they came in and have been with them for the last 12 years.

'Everybody is pleased that they are fit and healthy and they're going back to China in really good condition, but at the same time sad that after 12 years we won't be seeing them here in Edinburgh any more.'

Prof Girling said the pandas' presence at the zoo has helped with research and conservation efforts.

'It's sad that Tian Tian hasn't bred here, we would obviously really have liked her to have done so, but this is not unusual with giant pandas, they are difficult to breed, there is a reason why they're endangered,' he said.

'But at the same time we've been able to collaborate with so many researchers around the world and we've been able to draw so many members of the public in to understand our conservation message here, and I think that has been a really positive thing, and we've got two lovely healthy pandas so we're really pleased with that.'

The pandas have been in quarantine since the start of November and will also spend time in quarantine when they arrive in China, where they will live at a sanctuary in Chengdu.

They will each travel in a specially-designed metal crate on the flight to China, accompanied by a keeper from Edinburgh Zoo and an RZSS vet.

Yang Guang (pictured) and Tian Tian arrived at Edinburgh Zoo in December 2011

They arrived part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Pictured: Tian Tian the panda

It had been hoped female panda Tian Tian and male Yang Guang (pictured) would breed while at the zoo, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful in having a cub

The two pandas were the first to live in the UK for 17 years. Pictured: Tian Tian the panda

Professor Simon Girling, head of veterinary services at the RZSS, which runs the zoo, said the pandas have been popular with staff and visitors alike and will be missed

Michael Livingstone, a senior animal keeper at the zoo, will join them on the journey.

He described looking after the pandas as the 'highlight of my career' and said he will be sad to see them go.

He said: 'They're very different to look after, as a team we have looked after many different species of bear and we were fairly confident we knew what kind of hurdles we might need to cross and jump over for looking after pandas, and when they arrived it was completely different to what we thought.

'They are a very sensitive, very specialised species so we very quickly learned all the different things we needed to do with them or around them.

'It is sad for us that they are going back, I think it's always been one of those things that's just been in the future and now we're at the point where it's actually happening.

'Now that the day is creeping closer and closer, I can speak for myself and the other keepers in the team at the zoo that have looked after them it's going to be a bit of a sad and emotional time.'

David Field, RZSS chief executive, said Yang Guang and Tian Tian have had an 'incredible impact by inspiring millions of people to care about nature'.

He said: 'Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care - which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China.

'It is encouraging that in recent years the outlook for giant pandas in the wild has improved, which gives real hope for the future.'
Alec Baldwin was spotted smiling as he picked up bagels in NYC just a day after the reported settlement of a lawsuit between the actor and family of a dead marine.

Baldwin, 65, allegedly settled a $25 million defamation lawsuit with the sister of a Marine killed in Afghanistan, after publicly shaming her for attending the January 6 Capitol riot, it was reported on Wednesday.

But the actor's lawyer has contested the claim, telling DailyMail.com: 'Mr. Baldwin did not make any payment to settle this case.'

On Thursday morning, the actor was seen strolling around Greenwich Village after grabbing breakfast. He stopped to casually chat to couple on the streets - and appeared to be in a good mood.

Baldwin's 39-year-old wife Hilaria was also spotted beaming while out and about in NYC as she joyfully went for a run around the West Village.

Alec Baldwin was spotted as he picked up bagels in NYC on Thursday - just a day after the alleged settlement between the actor and family of a dead marine

Baldwin stopped to casually chat to couple on the streets of NYC - and appeared to be in a good mood

As Baldwin stepped out for a bagel run - his wife Hilaria Baldwin, 39, looked cheerful as she went for a run in NYC

Hilaria smiled and waved as she ran through the West Village

Hilaria Baldwin wrapped up in a black fleece and black leggings as she jogged around with a huge smile on her face.

The ex-yoga-teacher wore a huge pair of Beats headphones and happily waved at someone she spotted on the street.

Journalist Emily Miller reported on Wednesday that 65-year-old Alec Baldwin had settled the defamation case against the family of Rylee McCollum.

The family's attorney Dennis Postiglione told Miller: 'My clients are happy that this matter is over. They look forward to moving on, without Alec Baldwin in their lives.'

But Baldwin's attorney told DailyMail.com: 'Mr. Baldwin did not make any payment to settle this case.'

Lawyers for both parties refused to comment further. Family members also said they could not talk further about the case.

McCollum was one of the service members who died in the bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul during the withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the Marine's family's GoFundMe, set up by Roice McCollum, Rylee's sister, before learning she attended the Capitol riot on January 6.

The actor then bombarded her with messages, and later posted her Instagram handle to his millions of followers, telling her 'good luck'.

Roice had posted a carousel of three photos when she attended the riot, none of which included her face. One showed a different woman wearing a MAGA hat.

In the comments section of a photo on Roice's Instagram, Baldwin wrote: 'Are you the same woman that I sent the $ to for your sister's husband who was killed during the Afghanistan exit?'

Baldwin's lawyer contested the $25 million payment, telling DailyMail.com: 'Mr. Baldwin did not make any payment to settle this case'

It was reported that the 65-year-old actor settled the defamation case against the family of Rylee McCollum

Baldwin's ex-yoga-teacher wife wore black liquid leggings a huge pair of Beats headphones for her morning run

The 39-year-old was in high spirits despite her husband's alleged $25 million lawsuit

Baldwin chatted to a couple on the streets on NYC during his morning bagel run

The actor allegedly bombarded Roice McCollum with messages after donating to the gofundme, and later posted her Instagram handle to his millions of followers, telling her 'good luck'

Baldwin clutched a brown bag of food and wrapped up in a jacket as he made his appearance in New York City

Baldwin had previously donated $5,000 to the Marine's family's GoFundMe, set up by the marine's sister Roice McCollum, pictured here holding a picture of her late brother

McCollum, seen here, was one of the service members who died in the bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul during the withdrawal from Afghanistan

Baldwin said it was 'ironic' that she was a rioter when her brother, seen here, had died fighting for the country

In a private message to Roice McCollum, Baldwin said: 'When I sent the $ for your late brother, out of real respect for his service to this country, I didn't know you were a January 6th rioter.'

Roice McCollum pushed back, saying she was not involved in the riots and was never accused of any crimes during the mayhem.

She said she'd been interviewed by the FBI who cleared her of any involvement, telling Baldwin: 'Protesting is perfectly legal in the country and Ive already had my sit down with the FBI. Thanks, have a nice day!'

That didn't stop the 30 Rock actor from commenting back in a direct message.

Baldwin then replied: 'I dont think so. Your activities resulted in the unlawful destruction of government property, the death of a law enforcement officer, an assault on the certification of the presidential election.

'I reposted your photo. Good luck.'

Publicly, Baldwin said it was 'ironic' that she was a rioter when her brother had died fighting for the country.

He then replied to her handle in the comments section of his own Instagram post, revealing her name to his 2.4million followers.

Roice was inundated with abuse from trolls, some of whom told her her brother - who was due to become a father when he died - deserved to be murdered.

'Get raped and die, worthless c**t (kiss emoji). Your brother got what he deserved,' one commenter wrote, according to the lawsuit.

US District Judge Edgardo Ramos had previously dismissed the lawsuit against Baldwin, saying his comments were protected by the First Amendment

In a private message to Roice McCollum, Baldwin said: 'When I sent the $ for your late brother, out of real respect for his service to this country, I didn't know you were a January 6th rioter'

The 65-year-old actor's fans are predominantly Democratic and hateful of President Trump, according to the McCollum family - who support Trump

Roice McCollum is seen here posing with former President Trump in one of her Instagram posts

Within 20 minutes of Baldwin's post, Roice began to 'get hostile, aggressive, hateful messages from his followers', the lawsuit reads.

She posted one on her feed, which Baldwin said he found 'abhorrent', but she maintains that he knew what he was doing with his original post.

US District Judge Edgardo Ramos had previously dismissed the lawsuit against Baldwin, saying his comments were protected by the First Amendment.

Judge Ramos had given the family a September 12 deadline to file a revised complaint.

It was also previously rejected for being filed in the wrong state, Wyoming rather than New York.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams fears he is about to be indicted on federal campaign violation charges, sources tell DailyMail.com.

Adams is said to have expressed his fears this week to people close to him as the FBI investigation into his campaign finances gathered steam, and after his former top fundraiser Brianna Suggs retained her own lawyers, foregoing the team that is currently representing City Hall.

Between 2018 and 2021, Adams' campaign accepted $18,000 in total from Turkish individuals and organizations. He returned $5,000 to fall in line with donation limits.

The FBI is investigating whether those donations breach campaign laws that prohibit contributions from foreign governments or individuals working on their behalf.

If an indictment is filed, Adams will either be forced to battle through a legal fight while in office or step down. Should the latter scenario arise, it could lead to a chaotic, 60-day open election to find a replacement with no clear front runners.

Mayor Eric Adams has expressed concerns he may face indictment over campaign donations from Turkish individuals and organizations, according to DailyMail.com's sources

Suggs had been represented by WilmerHale, the firm that is currently representing Adams and the campaign.

This week, she retained Rebecca Ricigliano, a former federal prosecutor who previously worked for the Southern District of New York and now works for white collar crime firm Crowell & Moring.

In a statement this week, Ricigliano said they were cooperating with the government's investigation.

City Hall today denied that Adams was at all concerned about charges.

'Stop spreading lies, especially from people who have no involvement in this matter,' a spokesman told DailyMail.com, directing his comments towards the sources who indicated Adams' concerns.

A source close to the campaign also denied that he was worried, citing the fact investigators are yet to make any specific allegations against him.

'This is nothing more than a political stunt from an opponent of the mayor trying to stir things up,' they said.

According to campaign finance records, Adams' team took $6,000 from three US citizens who sit on the board of the Turken Foundation, between 2018 and 2021.

The campaign returned $1,000 which exceeded the limit for individual donations.

FBI agents raided the home of Brianna Suggs, one of Adams' aides, earlier this month

The campaign also received $12,600 from two board members of the advocacy group The Turkish American Steering Committee.

The campaign returned $4,000 of the contributions after being cited for violating donation limits.

Brianna Suggs, Adams top fundraiser in 2021, has retained her own team of lawyers

The Turken Foundation, a group that builds housing for Muslim students in the US, was founded by the son of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish politicians have in the past questioned whether the Erdogan family was using the Foundation to stash money overseas.

The Adams campaign had to give back more than $8,000 of those contributions due to campaign contribution limit rules.

Should Adams step down in the face of an indictment, his resignation would trigger a 60-day open election.

His current term ends in 2025 and it remains unclear if he will face any strong opponents.

If Adams resigns, his immediate responsibilities would fall to Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, then City Comptroller, Brand Lander.

A special election would then be held 60 days after Adams' resignation.

Potential candidates include former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who left the role amid a sexual harassment scandal, his aide Melissa DeRosa, and New York State Director of Operations Kathryn Garcia.

Adams' team has been cooperating with the FBI's investigation into the donations and his campaign since agents raided the home of Brianna Suggs, earlier this month.

The agents seized multiple phones, laptops and paperwork from the Brooklyn property.

Three board members from The Turken Foundation contributed to Adams' 2021 campaign. The company was incorporated by Bilal Erdogan, the son of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan

In 2018, Adams - then the Brooklyn Borough President - attended a breaking ground ceremony for the Turken House, the organization with ties to the Turkish President's son. It builds student housing for Muslim students in the US

If Adams resigns, he would be immediately replaced with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for 60 days until an election is held. Williams previously advocated for defunding the police and is a staunch migrant advocate

Adams, speaking after the raid, insisted he was cooperating with the investigation and had done no wrong.

The possibility of an indictment against Adams himself comes a day after Suggs switched lawyers from the firm that is representing Adams and his campaign, to her own team of attorneys.

Suggs has been reassigned from fundraising to another role.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Adams said: 'With Brianna, she's no longer doing fundraising for the campaign.' He declined to elaborate.
A Brazilian conman has been sentenced to 28 months for scamming a woman he met on a Tinder date.

Renan Gomes, 37, was also instructed to pay the victim $4,050, the Sao Paulo Public Ministry announced Wednesday.

Gomes created profiles on multiple dating apps, including Inner, Happn and Loovo, under a fake name, Augusto Keller, and targeted at least seven upper-middle class women. He had been already sentenced to 19 years.

He claimed he was an engineer and that he was the son of German parents who had died in an accident.

Sao Paulo prosecutor Paulo Ferreira described Gomes as a 'sentimental embezzler,' according to court documents.

On Wednesday, a court in Brazil tacked on two years and four months to the four years and six months sentence that Renan Gomes is serving for scamming at least seven women he met on dating apps, including Tinder. The latest ruling ordered Gomes to repay one of the victims $4,050

Renan Gomes was described by a prosecutor as being a 'sentimental embezzler'

Gomes told the victim in question that he needed a loan for about $3,449 to cover personals debts.

The woman obliged and wired him the money on three separate occasions before he vanished.

Authorities had been searching for Gomes since December 2001 and apprehended him in September 2022 following a wild police chase in which he wrecked his vehicle.

He would tell his victims that he was single and had no children and that he lived in the Sao Paulo City upscale neighborhood of Jardins.

'I've been single for a year,' Gomes' Tinder profile read. 'I joined the app looking for a serious relationship, if you're looking for sex or fun, please skip my profile.'

Wednesday's sentence was tacked on to the four years and six months prison term that a court handed down in February for embezzlement.

Gomes, who is in pre-trial detention, will not be able to appeal the latest verdict.

Renan Gomes created profiles on multiple dating apps that he used to target upper-middle class women in Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, telling them he was the son of German parents, who died in a car crash. He would tell his targets he was in financial problems before he conned them into loaning him money before disappearing

One victim recalled seeing Gomes' profile on a dating app and met him at a mall for their first date.

The woman said he was working on starting up his own business and asked her to become a partner. She loaned him $20,285 in cash before he went missing.

She described Gomes as 'a very affectionate, careful man, who makes you look like a queen. He treats his wife like a queen.'

Another victim introduced Gomes to his mother while they were dating and allowed him to borrow $3,245 before he disappeared.

There was also another woman, who was identified as a teacher, who dated him for four months in 2021 and loaned him $28,000 before he also vanished.
Forbes has published a new 'Hall of Shame' with 10 people it regrets featuring on its famous 30 Under 30 list in recent years.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was the first person named on the new list after he was found guilty of $10billion in crypto fraud on November 2. He was featured on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2021.

Caroline Ellison, his ex-girlfriend and former co-CEO of FTX sister company Alameda, was also included in the Hall of Shame.

She was named in Forbes' finance class in 2022 but pleaded guilty to seven offenses including wire fraud and money laundering later that year.

Other names Forbes regrets listing include Frank founder Charlie Javice and real estate investor Nate Paul who have been indicted on fraud and conspiracy counts, and Defense Distributed founder Cody Wilson who was convicted of having sex with a minor.

Forbes has published a new 'Hall of Shame' with 10 people it regrets featuring on its famous 30 Under 30 list in recent years which includes Sam Bankman-Fried (center)

His ex-girlfriend and former co-CEO of FTX sister company Alameda Caroline Ellison was included in the Hall of Shame

Other names Forbes regrets listing include Frank founder Charlie Javice (center) who has been indicted on fraud and conspiracy counts

Forbes has included over 10,000 rising stars on its famous 30 Under 30 lists over the years but acknowledged there are some 'we wish we could take back'.

It began its Hall of Shame list with Bankman-Fried, 31, who was recently convicted of seven counts of fraud and conspiracy in New York federal court.

Forbes estimated he had a net worth of more than $26billion when he was featured in 2021. Only Mark Zuckerberg had made as much money that young.

But it was later reported that Bankman-Fried's company had overly close ties with its sister trading firm Alameda Research and FTX filed for bankruptcy days later.

He and other executives were accused of using customer funds for property and other luxuries.

His ex-girlfriend Ellison was also listed on the Hall of Shame after she pleaded to fraud charges last December.

She testified against him during the high-profile trial and is likely to receive a lighter sentence in return for her cooperation with the government.

Javice was also listed. She was the founder of a startup named Frank which helped college students get financial aid and named on the 30 Under 30 finance class in 2019.

She sold the company to JPMorgan Chase for $175million after she claimed it had 4.25 million users, according to a lawsuit filed by the bank.

The Department of Justice alleged Javice defrauded JPMorgan because the company had just 250,000 users.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was the first person named on the Hall of Shame list after he was found guilty of $10billion of crypto fraud on November 2

Javice was the founder of a startup named Frank which helped college students get financial aid. She sold it to JPMorgan Chase for $175million after she claimed it had 4.25 million users, according to a lawsuit filed by the bank, but prosecutors allege it had just 250,000

She pleaded not guilty to charges which include fraud and conspiracy. Her trial is scheduled for October.

Real estate investor Paul was included in the Hall of Shame list as his business was valued at around $1billion before he was accused of lying to lenders and charged with fraud and conspiracy in June.

He founded the World Class Capital Group and initially featured on Forbes finance class in 2016.

Paul has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his trial is scheduled for July.

Gun activist Wilson, who became famous for posting blueprints online on how to 3D print a working gun, also made the top 10.

He was featured on Forbes' Under 30 Law and Policy list back in 2014.

Wilson was arrested for paying $500 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl he met on website called Sugardaddymeet.com and pleaded guilty to injury to a child in 2019.

He was required to register as a sex offender.

'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli, who appeared on the 30 Under 30 list in 2013, was listed on Forbes' new Hall of Shame.

He became known as the 'most hated man in America' when he shot up the price of a vital medication used to treat parasitic infections from $17.50 to $750.

Shkreli was hauled before congress where he pleaded the fifth and refused to testify.

But the Federal Trade Commission sued and won, fining him for $65million and slapping him with a lifelong ban from the pharmaceutical industry.

He also served four years in prison for misrepresenting financials and attempting to manipulate a stock.

James OKeefe, who ran conservative media company Project Veritas and was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2012, was also named on the Hall of Shame.

Gun activist Cody Wilson, who became famous for posting blueprints online on how to 3D print a working gun, also made the top 10. He was arrested for paying $500 to have sex with a 16-year-old girl and pleaded guilty to injury to a child in 2019

Real estate investor Nate Paul was included in the Hall of Shame list as his business was valued at around $1billion before he was accused of lying to lenders and charged with fraud and conspiracy in June

'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli, who appeared on the 30 Under 30 list in 2013, was listed on Forbes' new Hall of Shame. He became known as the 'most hated man in America' when he shot up the price of a vital medication used to treat parasitic infections from $17.50 to $750

He led the company for 13 years before he was ousted following complaints from employees and board members about his management style and misuse of donor funds.

Magazine editor Phadria Prendergast was featured on the prestigious Forbes list in 2023 but has already made the Hall of Shame list.

She launched Women of The City Magazine but was allegedly running a pay-to-play operation where cash got you coverage.

Around 11 former customers complained she ran off with around $195,000, according to a Forbes investigation.

Steph Korey was the co-founder and CEO of luggage brand Away and Forbes put her on the cover of the 2018 Under 30 issue.

But a report published in 2019 included accounts from several employees who accused her of bullying coworkers and enforcing a grueling workload.

Lucas Duplan rounded off the top 10 Hall of Shame list. He was featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 in 2014 as the founder of mobile payments company Clinkle.

He raised $30million during one seed round but the company did not produce a viable product and was forced to make massive layoffs.
Comes after police confirmed Momeni  sister of murder suspect Nima Momeni  was booked into county jail on DUI and hit-and-run charges Monday

Footage shows what appears to be a large whippets canister in plain view alongside Momeni's designer handbag on the driver's seat of her Mercedes

Khazar Momeni, 38, is seen in video obtained by DailyMail.com as she's cuffed by San Francisco cops after crashing while allegedly high on nitrous oxide

Video exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com shows the ultra-glam sister of the man accused of killing tech executive Bob Lee, desperately trying to keep herself out of jail Monday after she slammed into several parked cars  allegedly while high on nitrous oxide.

'You're not taking me in, right?' Khazar Momeni, 38 asks as she trembles when a cop handcuffs her behind her back.

'But I'm not going anywhere, why are you placing me in handcuffs?' she whines. 'But that means, are you taking me to jail?'

A witness to the exchange told DailyMail.com that Momeni appeared to be 'as high as hell'.

Video footage obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com shows the moment a shaken Khazar Momeni pleads with police officers during her DUI arrest in San Francisco on Monday

Momeni was taken into custody late Monday morning after she was seen allegedly slamming into multiple parked cars in the Tenderloin district while under the influence of nitrous oxide

Momeni leaves court after her brother's hearing in October

Bystander footage also shows what appeared to be a large 'whippets' canister in plain view alongside Momeni's designer handbag on the driver's seat of her swank car.

The bizarre episode played out at around 11am Monday on a homeless and drug-infested block of San Francisco's Tenderloin District, a mile from the luxury condominium that Momeni shares with her plastic surgeon husband, Dino Elyassnia.

Momeni is the sister of Nima Momeni, who is currently being held in San Francisco County Jail awaiting trial for Lee's murder. Lee allegedly had a casual sexual relationship with her before his April 4 death.

She was also booked into the lock-up, charged with driving under the influence, two counts of a hit-and-run, failure to drive within the lane and failure to provide insurance at the scene of an accident.

She did not appear to be wearing her wedding ring which had been visible on her finger last month when she attended a court hearing for her brother, who was denied bail for allegedly killing the Cash App founder.

Momeni had been seen flashing her huge ring on the steps outside the court, donning a glamorous all black outfit, large black sunglasses, with her blond hair hanging long on her V-neck blouse.

But when she was arrested Monday, her gold locks were pulled back in a ponytail, and she was dressed much more casually in camel-colored sweatpants, a white sweatshirt, and sneakers.

She leaned nervously against her car, a white Mercedes AMG C 63, red-topped convertible valued at more than $150,000.

Officers were called to the incident at Geary and Larkin streets on the edge of the Tenderloin where they located her along with onlookers who had gathered at the scene.

Bystander video showed what appeared to be a canister of 'whippets'  a popular party inhalant drug found in the front seat alongside her designer handbag during her arrest

Momeni had one passenger in her white Mercedes AMG C 63, red-topped convertible valued at more than $150,000

Video obtained by DailyMail.com show Momeni's legs shaking as she faces questioning

Officers were called to the incident at Geary and Larkin Streets on the edge of the Tenderloin where they located her along with onlookers who had gathered at the scene

A damaged car parked on Larkin Street where Momeni, 38, was identified as the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash on Monday by the San Francisco Police Department

Witnesses claimed she and a young male passenger had pulled up to Alma's Smoke Shop at the corner of Larkin and O'Farrell.

She parked outside the grungy shop, where they purchased two canisters of N20, popular party inhalants known as whippets, hippy crack or laughing gas that can cause a rapid rush of euphoria, according to witnesses.

A short while later, she pulled away.

One bystander who witnessed the incident told DailyMail.com that once behind the wheel, Momeni immediately sideswiped a Toyota sedan parked in front of her, but continued driving.

Half-way down the block, the male passenger  who witnesses described as a young black man  got out of the Mercedes.

Momeni then apparently clipped him with the car as well, causing him to limp off, according to witness accounts.

She then slammed into two more parked cars before mounting the curb and striking a street garbage can next to a Motel 6, witnesses told DailyMail.com.

When bystanders approached the car, they saw Momeni clutching a can of nitrous oxide and say she was reluctant to hand it over or to forfeit her keys.

A witness named Tiffany said she overheard Khazar saying, 'I think I'm hallucinating'.

Even at that point, though, she was allegedly still wanting to drive off.

Witnesses claimed she and a young male passenger had pulled up to Alma's Smoke Shop at the corner of Larkin and O'Farrell to pick up the canister shortly before she got back behind the wheel

She is alleged to have bought two canisters of N20, popular party inhalants known as 'whippets,' which are priced between $40 and $60 at the store

San Francisco police officers identified Momeni as the driver and conducted a sobriety test and determined she was driving under the influence

'She said she just wanted to go park her car, but she was trying to get away,' another witness told DailyMail.com.

It was then that several onlookers called 911.

'She was in front of the trash can, and her wheel was on the curb,' a witness who goes by Callaway told DailyMail.com.

'I was trying to help. I was telling her to hand me the whippets off her lap.'

'She was like, 'No, I have to go, I can't go to jail,' Callaway recalled her saying.

Whippets are also known as hippy crack or laughing gas and can cause a rapid rush of euphoria

An emergency vehicle arrived moments later and it was the paramedics who shut her car engine off, Callaway said.

Another witness, Lisa, said: 'The paramedics were trying to get the keys from her because she was high as hell.

'Her eyes were dilated and she kept trying to put the car in drive so she could keep on going.'

San Francisco Police eventually arrived at the scene and removed her from the vehicle.

Video obtained by DailyMail.com show Momeni's legs shaking as she faces questioning.

'Don't take her pretty a** to jail,' one woman at the scene can be heard telling the cops.

Naim Pickett, 25, whose Honda Accord was among the vehicles hit, walked up in disbelief.

'You're off on drugs, that's why you're shaking,' he told Momeni, before telling the officers that he needed her information.

Prosecutors believe Momeni's brother Nima (left) killed Cash App founder Bob Lee in April after quizzing him about his alleged sexual relationship with his married sister

Momeni, who is married to prominent plastic surgeon Dr. Dino Elyassnia, was seen with her husband supporting her brother in court last month

Police then assured the man that he would be able to get her details after she is processed.

'There's going to be a police report,' the officer tells him. 'You're going to get a case number, information, everything, okay?

'She's obviously not right. We're dealing with her right now because she's doing whatever she's doing.'

Momeni, her arms behind her back, then protested some more.

'I'm not stupid,' she told the officer. 'I'm not taking off.'

A woman who works at the nearby motel told DailyMail.com that the crash was captured on surveillance cameras.

She viewed the motel's footage herself and said it shows the male passenger exiting the car, the Mercedes hitting him, him limping off, and then the car striking two parked vehicles.

San Francisco police officers identified Momeni as the driver and conducted a sobriety test and determined she was driving under the influence.

'On November 27, 2023 at approximately 11.08am, San Francisco Police Officers responded to Geary St and Larkin St on a report of a vehicle collision,' a police statement read.

'Upon arrival, Officers located the involved driver and witnesses.

She was booked into San Francisco County Jail and charged with driving under the influence, two counts of a hit-and-run, failure to drive within the lane and failure to provide insurance at the scene of an accident

Khazar Momeni, the sister of a man accused of killing tech entrepreneur Bob Lee, has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and a hit-and-run

'Officers conducted traffic collision investigation. In the course of their investigation, officers developed probable cause to determine that the driver of the vehicle was driving under the influence.

'The driver, identified as 38 year old San Francisco resident Khazar Momeni, was booked at San Francisco County Jail.'

She has regularly supported her brother in court since his arrest on April 13. Momeni has pleaded not guilty to killing Lee and faces 26 years to life if convicted.

His arrest came more than a week after Lee was found bleeding in the early morning hours of April 4. He later died at a hospital.

Surveillance video of Lee's final night shows him entering the posh Millennium Tower downtown, where Khazar lives.

Video footage then shows Lee and Nima Momeni leaving the building together shortly after 2am and driving off in Momeni's car.

Lee was found shortly after 2:30am in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, which has tech offices and condominiums but little activity in the early morning hours.
Brown University president Christina Paxson was exposed for deliberately cutting the words 'Star of David' and 'yarmulke' from a speech at a vigil on campus Monday night.

Paxson spoke at a ceremony honoring a Palestinian student wounded in a shooting in Vermont before getting interrupted by rowdy students heckling and calling for the university to participate in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.

The prepared speech released on Brown's website notes the president was to say: 'Every student, faculty and staff member should be able to proudly wear a Star of David or don a keffiyeh on the Brown campus, or to cover their head with a hijab or yarmulke.'

However, when Paxson spoke at the vigil, she left out the two Jewish-related words - changing the line to 'every student, faculty and staff member should be able to proudly don a keffiyeh on the Brown campus, or to cover their head with a hijab.'

The president made no mention of a Star of David or yarmulke, as first reported by the National Review.

A Brown University spokesperson claimed Paxson was only 'abbreviating' the speech in order to be able to finish amid the disruption.

Brown University president Christina Paxson was exposed for deliberately cutting the words 'Star of David' and 'yarmulke' from a speech at a vigil on campus Monday night

When Paxson spoke at the vigil, she left out the two Jewish-related words - changing the line to 'every student, faculty and staff member should be able to proudly don a keffiyeh on the Brown campus, or to cover their head with a hijab' (Photo: National Review)

A Brown University spokesperson claimed Paxson was only 'abbreviating' the speech in order to be able to finish amid the disruption.

'The remarks on the website are those prepared for delivery, as noted on that page. At the point students began to disrupt the remarks, President Paxson began to abbreviate them with the hope of being able to finish. It's not unusual for there to be some deviation between remarks as prepared and remarks as delivered, and certainly that was the case here given the disruption,' the Ivy League school told DailyMail.com.

Paxson was blasted online by those outraged by her deliberate decision to cut 'Star of David' and 'yarmulke' from a speech about what students should be proud wearing on campus.

'This is almost unreal,' journalist David Zweig noted on X.

'The president of Brown University made these edits, in real time, while delivering her speech. She cut "Star of David" and "yarmulke" from her remarks. Instead, she said students and faculty should only be able to proudly wear a keffiyeh or hijab.'

Paxson was blasted online by those outraged by her deliberate decision to cut 'Star of David' and 'yarmulke' from a speech about what students should be proud wearing on campus

A Brown University spokesperson claimed Paxson was only 'abbreviating' the speech in order to be able to finish amid the disruption

The president made no mention of a Star of David or yarmulke, as first reported by the National Review

'How much does Brown University get from Qatar?' Another user questioned.

Recent reports show the Sharia-law monarchy nation of Qatar has been funding American universities and accused of trying to influence other countries' governments.

Qatar has given $1 billion to elite American universities since 2011, according to Department of Education data, and many schools are hiding the origins of that funding.

Others were disappointed but not surprised. 'Serious question: are you surprised by this? I'm certainly not - it's all about where a certain "type" fits on the Oppressor / Oppressed matrix these people use to guide their thoughts,' one user reacted on X.

The vigil was for a Palestinian student left paralyzed in a suspected hate crime, who broke his silence, emphasizing that the shooting was not isolated and 'did not happen in a vacuum.'

Three 20-year-old students - Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ahmed - were shot in Burlington, Vermont, Saturday afternoon while returning from dinner.

Awartani is a student at Rhode Island's Brown University

Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed were wearing keffiyeh scarves and speaking Arabic when they were shot on Saturday night

Awartani, through a message shared by a Professor of Palestinian studies at Brown University Beshara Doumani, stated the shooting is part of a 'larger story,' at a vigil on campus Monday night.

He proceeded to condemn Israel as part of his statement, despite the alleged non-Jewish shooter having no ties to the country and revealing no motive.

'I'd like to start off by saying that I greatly appreciate all the love and prayers being sent my way. Who knew that all I had to do to become famous was to get shot,' Doumani read on Awartani's behalf.

'On a more serious note, it's important to recognize that this is part of the larger story. This hideous crime did not happen in a vacuum.'

'I am but one casualty in this much wider conflict,' he continued. 'This is why when you send your wishes and light your candles for me today, your mind should not just be focused on me as an individual, but rather as a proud member of a people being oppressed.'

In his message, Awartani suggested different outcomes if the incident occurred in the West Bank.

He said that if he had been shot in the West Bank, instead of Vermont, 'the medical services that saved my life here would likely have been withheld by the Israeli army.'

'The soldier who shot me would go home and never be convicted. I understand that the pain is so much more real and immediate because many of you know me, but any attack like this is horrific, be it here or in Palestine.'

Jason J. Eaton, 48, is in custody. He is accused of shooting the three Palestinian students on Saturday

Israel has in-fact consistently provided medical care to Palestinians, including leaders of Palestinian resistance movements and terrorist groups, over the years.

Additionally, Israel provides medical care, including surgery, to terrorists who were injured while committing their crimes.

Israeli doctors saved the life of Hamas leader Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar - who is said to have led the October 7 massacre - when he was in prison in the country, as reported by Business Insider.

Israeli doctors carried out a brain surgery and successfully removed a tumor in Sinwar while he was serving multiple life sentences for the kidnapping and murder of two Israeli soldiers in 1988.

Additionally, Israa Riad Jabes, a woman slated for release by Israel, disfigured herself after failing to detonate a suicide bomb in 2015. She was treated by Israel following her terrorist attack attempt.

She is included on the list of 300 Palestinians who might walk free in return for 50 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7.
This is the moment two turkey thieves made off with 70 live bronze turkeys costing a devastated farmer 7,000 in the run up to Christmas.

The brazen burglars were caught on CCTV breaking into Old Ways Farm on the Symondsbury Estate, in Dorset at 1.30am on November 27, before entering a turkey pen to grab the festive birds.

The thieves, who were wearing balaclavas and hoodies, were seen aggressively grabbing the birds by the neck, before carrying them one by one into a vehicle parked outside.

As well as the birds, which are worth 100 per head, the pair also made off with a plucking machine and specialist knives. It is thought they may kill and butcher the turkeys and try to sell them on the black market over the next few weeks.

Farmer Alasdair McNab said he only started farming less than a year ago and this was his first flock of turkeys, which were due to be slaughtered for Christmas.

Mr McNab said he hopes people will recognise 'the scumbags who've done this' from the CCTV image released by police

Farmer Alasdair McNab had 70 out of his 100 bronze turkeys stolen, with the brazen burglary costing the devastated farmer 7000

Mr McNab called the thieves 'despicable scumbags'.

He said: 'It appears someone broke in wearing balaclavas and hoodies. They made their way onto the farm and it seems they took down the pen and just loaded them by the neck onto a vehicle.

'I am quite despondent about it and it is very frustrating.

'I had 100 bronze turkeys, it has a big impact as they are worth 100 a head, so we have lost thousands. The birds are insured but I don't know how much I can recoup, if any.

'I am in the first year of farming on my own and it is a big deal going into agriculture. It is not easy, it takes a lot of time and care and (animal) welfare is huge on my list of priorities.

Mr McNab said that to see the thieves tackling the turkeys by the neck made him 'feel that people don't care about the animals'

Mr McNab called the turkey thieves who made off with his birds 'despicable scumbags'

'To see in the footage tackling the turkeys by the neck, it makes you feel that people don't care about the animals.

'The treatment of the birds was despicable. They will have been processed straight away I'm sure, but the thought of how it took place is the thing which makes me angry.'

He said he hopes people will recognise 'the scumbags who've done this' from the CCTV image released by police.

He added: 'These are six months old and I have just started processing them now. Whoever has taken them has done it knowing that. The work I have put into them is all for nothing.

'I am questioning whether I will do turkeys again next year.'

The Old Ways Farm uses regenerative farming methods and high-welfare farming to improve the land and produce free-range eggs, Christmas turkeys, bacon and sausages.

The bronze turkeys leave the brooder at eight weeks old and spend the rest of their life on pasture, much like free-range hens.

Mr McNab keeps his birds for longer than conventional farmed turkeys so they develop the intra-muscular fat, which improves cooking and flavour.

He has reported the crime to Dorset Police but no arrests have been made yet. He is urging anyone with information about his stolen turkeys to report it to the police, and for other farmers with turkeys to be vigilant with security.

Police Constable James McClements, of Dorset police, said: 'This burglary has had a significant impact on the victim's business, and we are carrying out a number of enquiries to identify those involved.

'I would urge anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the vicinity, including unusual vehicle movements, during the early hours of November 27 to please contact us.

'Finally, I would like to hear from anyone who has come across live or freshly butchered turkeys being offered for sale in the area in suspicious circumstances.'
A street vendor in Washington DC sold a random assortment of toiletries in close proximity to a CVS Pharmacy across the road where shelves were cleared by shoplifting gangs.

Shocking photos shared on X depict personal care products, including toothpaste, lotions, and shampoos, arranged on the table of a street vendor in Columbia Heights.

Meanwhile, the CVS across the road was repeatedly ransacked by looters, leaving most shelves empty with only a few items remaining behind glass.

'People keep stealing stuff, and the police aren't doing anything about it.' a CVS staff member told AI reporter Timothy B. Lee, who shared the images.

This 'coincidence' occurred weeks after the same store was robbed by up to 50 teenage looters amid America's shoplifting crisis.

The CVS across the road was repeatedly ransacked by looters, leaving most shelves empty with only a few items remaining behind glass

This 'coincidence' occurred weeks after the same store was robbed by up to 50 teenage looters amid America's shoplifting crisis

Shoplifting gangs repeatedly strip shelves at the CVS pharmacy in Columbia Heights, as FOX 5 reported last month.

In photos shared by Lee, most shelves of the CVS can be seen empty with only a few bags of laundry detergent left behind glass.

'The CVS staffer said the store isnt closing, they are just planning a renovation,' Lee wrote along with the shocking pictures he posted.

'Im not sure how a renovation is going to save them from getting robbed over and over again but it bet it wont be a nicer experience for paying customers,' the post reads.

Amid the shoplifting crisis, CVS has joined rival drugstore chains Rite Aid and Walgreens in closing over 1,500 stores combined in the coming months

The drug store chain has announced that it is shuttering 900 stores across the US due to the shoplifting crimewave, which the National Retail Federation says is costing the industry $112 billion a year

Weeks ago, Fox 5 reporter Sierra Fox visited the same store and said: 'When you walk into this CVS, you'd think the store is closing because there's barely anything on the shelves.'

'I did ask an employee what gets stolen the most, and they just laughed and said "everything".

'A big group of kids, like 45 or more, walk in before school, after school and late at night to steal chips and drinks.

'They even throw the food and beverages on the ground and stomp on them, leaving behind a big mess.'

Amid the shoplifting crisis, CVS has joined rival drugstore chains Rite Aid and Walgreens in closing over 1,500 stores combined in the coming months.

The drug store chain has announced that it is shuttering 900 stores across the US due to the shoplifting crimewave, which the National Retail Federation says is costing the industry $112 billion a year.

The decision to close 900 locations by the end of 2024, roughly 10 percent of all its stores, is part of the company's strategy to move much of the business online and away from potential thieves.

The strategy has been fueled by a string of disturbing incidents, including the fatal shooting of CVS store manager Michael Jacobs, 49, in September by an accused shoplifter in Arizona.

Last month, another CVS pharmacy in Washington DC was forced to replace almost all its stock with photographs in an attempt to combat rampant shoplifting

Customers have to press a button to request staff fetch the products from storage in a dystopian attempt to combat rampant shoplifting

Last month, another CVS pharmacy in Washington DC was forced to replace almost all its stock with photographs in an attempt to combat rampant shoplifting.

Framed images of items such as toilet paper and kitchen towels stand in place of the real thing, according to pictures shared to X, while customers have to press a button to request staff fetch the products from storage.

'This is how we live in America now?' questioned conservative commentator Joey Mannarino, who shared the images. 'This is the third world!'

Mannarino said in his post that while American pharmacies may resemble the 'third world', he had a very different experience in a recent trip to Spain.

Drawing a comparison to the CVS's empty shelves, he said: 'I was in Barcelona, Spain a few months ago and saw Mac laptops sitting out in the middle of the store.'

The commentator also shared an image of a display filled with MacBooks out in the open, asking: 'Where has America gone wrong?'

Analysts at UBS predict that at least 50,000 shops will close in the US over the next five years driven by the move to online shopping and the impact of theft on their bottom line.
An immigration watchdog says America's foreign-born population has swollen massively under President Joe Biden and reached a record-breaking 49.5 million, or 15 percent of the country's population.

The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a conservative think tank, says the influx of 4.5 million people since Biden took office in January 2021 includes 2.5 million people estimated to have entered the US unlawfully.

Steven Camarota, the group's research director, said the foreign-born population was growing by 137,000 people each month  far higher than under Biden's predecessors  straining schools, hospitals and other services.

The Center for Immigration Studies says America's foreign-born population has swollen by 4.5 million people since Biden took office

Migrants as they approach the US-Mexico border this week, part of a surge that has divided the country

Chaotic scenes at the southern border have become a hot-button issue, stoking fears of an 'invasion' that divides Democrats and Republicans, even as business owners say more workers are needed to grow the economy.

'The administration's decision to curtail immigration enforcement and release so many people into the country certainly pleases employers and immigration advocacy groups, said Camarota,' author of the report.

'But little consideration seems to have been given to what this level of immigration means for taxpayers, schools, hospitals, American workers, national security, to say nothing of the rule of law or our ability to assimilate so many newcomers.'

Camarota's study comes amid scenes of chaos at the southern border and as the cities many of them travel to  including New York, Chicago, and Denver  struggle to provide food and shelter for the newcomers.

Even Democratic mayor Eric Adams has warned that the people-flow crisis 'will destroy New York City' and Republican hardliners have gone as far as to try to impeach Biden and his Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Texas Gov Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Wednesday vowed to keep bussing migrants from his border state to sanctuary cities until the Biden administration takes measures to secure the southern frontier.

Steven Camarota, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies, has long called for reduced people flows

Camarota's study shows that immigrant numbers are at a record high, both numerically and as a share of the total population

Republicans hardliners are pushing to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his alleged failure to secure the southern border

Breaking the country's decades-long deadlock on immigration reform is set to be a hot topic in Wednesday night's debate between California's Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and his Republican counterpart from Florida, Ron DeSantis.

For his study, Camarota used data from the federal government's Current Population Survey.

He found that the rate of growth of the foreign born population was 'truly enormous.'

Since Biden got the keys to the White House, it has grown by 137,000 people each month, he said.

That's much faster than under his predecessors Donald Trump, when it grew by 42,000 each month in the period before the Covid-19 outbreak saw borders shutter, and Barack Obama, when it grew by 68,000 each month.

Camarota said his findings made the government's official population forecasts 'obsolete.'

The foreign-born population was not expected to reach 15 percent of the total number until 2033. According to Camarota's number crunching, the country has already reached that point.

Most of the newcomers are from South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East, says his report.

Immigrants can be a boon, opening businesses that breathe new life into run-down areas, like this Chinese restaurant in downtown Los Angeles

Immigrant street vendors have rallied against the lack of licenses for their small businesses in New York City

Even though there's been a most uptick in non-legal immigration, some three quarters of America's foreign-born population are in the country legally  mostly through employment and family-based immigration routes.

Social media users have shared Camarota's study as further evidence of a migration crisis.

Still, others say the US should keep its borders open for those fleeing violence and poverty in their home countries on humanitarian grounds.

A coalition of 100 advocacy groups wrote to the departments of Homeland Security and Justice on Thursday railing about the lack of government-funded interpreters to help asylum seekers in their immigration screenings.

'All people deserve meaningful opportunity to access the affirmative asylum process,' said My Khanh Ngo, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Others still say America needs more foreigners to grow its economy and keep pace with growth in China, India and elsewhere.

Camarota's organization, CIS, has been criticized for being alarmist and inaccurate, and even as a racist hate group by the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center.

The report may well inform a debate in Washington over how to reform an immigration system that politicians on both left and right routinely describe as 'broken'  even if they cannot agree on how to fix it.

The Biden administration has asked Congress for a $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs sits, while Republicans insist on U.S.-Mexico border policy changes to halt the flow of migrants.
Passengers stuck on a Eurostar train for up to eight hours complained of 'inhumane' conditions yesterday as toilets overflowed and people were forced to urinate into cups.

Families heading from London St Pancras to Amsterdam via Brussels on the 8.16am train were stranded in Kent when an electrical cable snapped and fell onto it.

Those travelling on service 9114 said they were about to enter the Channel Tunnel before the train stopped when it was hit by the cable amid sparks and loud bangs.

Disgusting conditions were reported as the lavatories overflowed with urine, faeces and paper - with people left 'urinating into cups' and 'c***ping on the toilet floors'.

Others urged staff to open the doors because the air conditioning had to be turned off, while babies were crying loudly and people even started smoking on board.

The incident caused major knock-on cancellations and delays to other Eurostar services as trains attempted to overtake the stationary service on other tracks.

Eurostar major huge criticism and has admitted it was a 'very challenging situation' on board the train', adding that it was 'extremely sorry for the experience'. It also said that the 'position of the train and the track infrastructure' complicated the situation.

Workers pictured outside the Eurostar train from London which was stranded for hours in Kent

Eurostar passenger Surash Patel tweeted this picture of his view as he waited for updates

@EurostarUK @Eurostar please explain Your website says my train has arrived in Amsterdam, when in reality my train has been stuck for 3hrs outside Dover ! No aircon, no food, no electricity, no loo roll, minimal updates from staff. No Train Operator should operate like this. pic.twitter.com/0NXEC5T8C5  Modini (@RL_E52) November 30, 2023

Politico reporter Ashleigh Furlong was among those stuck on the train and saw the black cable hanging down the side of the carriage as staff investigated the issue.

The train manager is said to have told passengers that 'the news is not good' and they would be stuck for a long period while a rescue train came from London.

Passenger Evan James tweeted Kent Police to say: 'Hi there, we are being held on a Eurostar train for over eight hours now, no access to food, water or the toilet. There is no fresh air in the cabin and there are many children here. Getting extremely dangerous.'

Russell Caten said: 'Toilets are now full to the brim with human faeces, and overflowing, it's dark, we can't go to the toilet, and now food and drinks have ran out. Stuck for seven hours. What a great way to travel!'

Earlier, he said: 'People are now smoking on the train and c***ping on the toilet floors. We feel trapped! It's been over five hours now, people are losing it! Get us off this train!'

Fellow traveller Barbara said: 'It's been seven hours. Please open the doors so people can breathe. There are elderly and small children in the train, no water, no food or toilets. We should've been supported or evacuated by now. It is time for decisive action.'

Another user called @ccaared tweeted a disgusting video of an overflowing toilet, and said: 'Sorry but this is actually inhumane, Eurostar. The toilets have been out of order for almost over five hours and we're still being told to use them by staff when they look like this? An actual nightmare - never again, Eurostar.'

And X user @BrownELJ said: 'People on the train are urinating into cups. Meanwhile Eurostar provides no useful info, food or drink. Train Manager just says five minutes every ten minutes. Absolute mess.'

Surash Patel added: 'Six hours, around 900 people including young families please give us some positive news.'

And Doug Wood said: 'Nearly six hours, it'll be getting dark soon, no update from what was last posted an hour ago, babies are screaming, terrible smell coming from toilets You need to communicate more and get more help on the scene.'

Maia Brons tweeted: 'We need urgent attention now. Open the doors, get a replacement train, give us some clarity, anything! This might soon turn into a serious health risk for dozens of people.'

And X user @RL_E52 said: 'Passengers are stuck on a train with no air on, broken toilets, minimal updates from Eurostar, children are sleeping on the floor, fractal matter and urine overflowing in the toilet. I've been stuck in my carriage for over 3.5 hours.'

A Eurostar spokesman told MailOnline: 'Yesterday, an overhead cable had fallen on the 8.16am Eurostar train, between London and Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel. There were around 700 passengers and crew on board who were confirmed safe.

Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before the train could move.

'Further to this, the collapse of the overhead line meant that power was out on the train.

'The backup battery power on board expired after a few hours, putting the lighting, heat toilets and public address systems out of service. During the disruption, food and beverages were provided with emergency provision available.

'All affected passengers on board were taken back to St Pancras station, which entered onto the platform around 5.15pm. They were met with water and snacks as well as staff meeting them to help with their compensation package claims, travel and accommodation.

'Eurostar is very sorry for what our customers had to experience. Eurostar and its staff prides itself on running a reliable service. We are taking immediate action into reviewing how the disruption was handled especially the processes and communication with infrastructure partners.'

Eurostar added of the compensation it was offering: 'Customers can either exchange their booking for travel or receive a full refund.

'In recognition of the extremely difficult onboard conditions, Eurostar is also providing customers with an e-voucher of twice the value of their original ticket. So for a ticket of 100, customers are offered exchange or full refund plus 200 value of e-voucher.

'Hotels, taxi and subsistence costs will also be refunded to passengers who stayed overnight in London.'

The operator earlier told one passenger on X: 'We're sorry for the disruption today. The train is being detached from the overhead power lines but this is taking longer than expected and we are awaiting authorisation from the infrastructure managers to proceed further.'

It told a second passenger: 'We sincerely regret these travel conditions. Our teams are doing their utmost to restore the situation as quickly as possible, you are going to be informed on board.'

And it informed a third: 'Hello, we are aware of the very challenging situation on board 9114, and are extremely sorry for the experience. The train has now begun its way back to London. The situation was complicated due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure.'
Alfie Phillips, the 18-month-old toddler whose parents were today jailed for life for beating and smothering him to death, is one of a growing list of children killed in lockdown.

As millions of Brits were confined to their homes at the height of the Covid pandemic for their own safety, little Alfie suffered a 'myriad of bruises', broken ribs, arms and legs, after a barbaric attack in his stepfather's caravan.

Traces of cocaine and alcohol were also found in Alfie's system, as his mother, Sian Hedges, blamed the restrictions for increasing her anxiety, which compelled her to take drugs on a weekly basis.

It follows a familiar, grim pattern of abusive parents using lockdown 'as a cover' to carry out their cruelty, with similar violence dished out to a host of other young victims including Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, whose cases tugged at the heartstrings of a nation.

Experts have explained how usual safeguarding methods or chances to spot serious abuse such as schools, health workers and children's clubs were absent or moved online during the pandemic, meaning abusers could harm children in their care with impunity.

18-month-old Alfie Phillips was beaten to death and smothered in an overnight attack by his mother and her former partner after a night of 'violent discipline'

Star Hobson was just 16 months old when she was murdered by her mother's girlfriend Savannah Brockill in September 2020

Five-year-old Logan Mwangi was murdered by his mother, step-father and teenage step-brother on July 31, 2021

Five-year-old Alijah Thomas begged her mother Martina Madarova, 41, not to kill her as she strangled her to death at their home in Ealing, west London

The case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes shook the nation for its sheer depravity when the six-year-old was murdered by his cruel stepmother Emma Tustin on 17 June, 2020

On October 10, 2019 Kyrell Matthews, aged two, was left with 41 rib fractures and internal injuries by the time of his death

Aflie joins a heartbreaking rollcall of children killed in lockdown, including two-year-old Kyrell Matthews, who was left with 41 rib fractures and internal injuries by the time of his death after weeks of cruelty at the hands of his mother Phylesia Shirley and her boyfriend Kemar Brown.

Meanwhile, the case of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was poisoned and tortured in what should have been a safe home, shook the nation for its sheer depravity when the six-year-old was murdered by his cruel stepmother Emma Tustin on 17 June, 2020.

She was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 29 years and the boy's father Thomas Hughes was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter.

Similarly, Star Hobson was just 16 months old when she was murdered by her mother's girlfriend Savannah Brockill in September 2020.

In the lead-up to her death, she had suffered months of abuse in her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire, during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020.

Elsewhere, two-year-old Lola James was tragically killed by her evil stepfather, suffering 101 injuries including brain damage similar to what is sustained in high-speed car crashes in July 17, 2020.

Then on October 10, 2020 16-year-old, Kaylea Titford, who suffered from spina bifida, was found dead at her home in Newtown, Powys, after her parents allowed her to become morbidly obese during lockdown.

In another tragic example, five-year-old Logan Mwangi was murdered by his mother, step-father and teenage step-brother on July 31, 2021.

His body, which suffered 56 'catastrophic' injuries consistent with a 'brutal and sustained assault' was found in the River Ogmore near his home in Sarn, Bridgend county.

Alijah Thomas, five, who begged her mother Martina Madarova, 41, not to kill her as she strangled her to death at their home in Ealing, west London, on September 14, 2021 is another victim.

Sian Hedges, 27, will face life imprisonment for the murder, which took place in Benham's caravan in Hernhill, near Faversham, Kent

Jack Benham, 35, of Hernhill, Kent, and Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, will be sentenced on December 19

The boy was discovered blue and floppy on the morning of November 28 2020, and paramedics said it was 'immediately apparent' to them that Alfie had been dead for some time

Benham (pictured) said they left the toddler to fall asleep without being cuddled, while together they drank whisky and Coke, 'getting drunk, but not too drunk'

The court had heard from Jack Benham, Alfie's stepfather, how he and Hedges began their relationship around September 2020 through meeting regularly at the same friend's house where they would buy drugs.

Tests showed the pair had used cocaine and Hedges admitted to police she had taken a 40 bag over the course of three hours after Alfie went to sleep, the prosecution said. Benham also said he smoked some cannabis, which he did regularly.

The boy was discovered blue and floppy on the morning of November 28 2020, and paramedics said it was 'immediately apparent' to them that Alfie had been dead for some time.

The youngster was taken back to the caravan at 7pm and was not seen again by anyone other than Benham and Hedges until about 11.30am the following morning. It was during these hours Alfie was brutally murdered by the pair.

He said they left him to fall asleep without being cuddled, while together they drank whisky and Coke, 'getting drunk, but not too drunk', with Hedges telling police they had their last drink at about 1am and then went to sleep in the same bed as Alfie.

Benham told police Alfie was 'whingey and upset' when he was put to bed between 7pm and 8pm on the night of Friday, November 27.

The despicable pair denied harming Alife on the night that the toddler had his life cruelly snatched away from him, with Hedges and Benham pointing the finger at each other.

Hedges said Alfie stirred but went back to sleep with his dummy. She said he was 'fine and normal'. She then recalled Benham woke her up saying 'What the f***'s wrong with him? Oh my God. He's under my leg'

The court heard Benham, who is not Alfie's father, said he thought he had suffocated him.

Hedges said Alfie was floppy and his lips looked blue and she had a gut feeling he was dead but denied having caused him any injury and said she had no idea how Alfie could have fractured his arms or sustained any serious injury.

But Jurors had heard about older injuries Alfie sustained in the months before his death , such as a cut under Alfie's eye which was explained by the toddler playing with keys and his fingers being caught in the dog gate in Benham's parents' home.

A skeletal survey and post-mortem examinations indicated many of the breaks to his bones would have occurred in the hours before Alfie's death.

In interviews, Benham told police he did not consider himself a step-father figure and rarely did anything for Alfie.

He described Alfie as a 'mummy's boy' and admitted he did not like him. But during the trial he claimed he treated the toddler like 'one of my own'.

Jurors reached a unanimous guilty verdict for the murder of little Alfie following deliberations that took nearly 10 hours, that began on Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecutor Jennifer Knight KC had told jurors: 'It is clear that he had been deliberately injured on more than one occasion, culminating in an assault perpetrated on him during the night of 27 to 28 November 2020 that led to his death.'

She added: 'Jack Benham and Sian Hedges were in the caravan together throughout the night.

'Had either defendant not been joining in with the assaults, that defendant who was not part of it would have stopped the attack and removed Alfie Phillips from the caravan, and from the presence of the other who was carrying out these attacks.

'The fact that this did not happen can only be because both defendants agreed that the assaults should take place...they both agreed in meting out some sort of aggressive, violent discipline to Alfie that night which resulted in his death.'

Speaking after the verdicts were announced, Alfie's family told of the anguish of having to endure a three-year wait for justice, with many questions still unanswered.

They said: 'We have had to listen to the horrific details of what Sian and Jack did to Alfie, how they assaulted him again and again.

'He suffered so much pain. In these years, we have not had the closure, and even after the trial we feel that we still deserve answers.

'The only people with these answers are Sian and Jack but they have refused to say what happened to him.

'Still to this day, they have refused to take responsibility.

'They have never shown any remorse for what they did, and we will never know the truth about what happened to Alfie.

'Alfie was so cruelly taken from us that day. Every day we are hurting. Our shining light, that shone so bright, will always be in our hearts.

Kaylea Titford, 16, who suffered from spina bifida, was found dead at her home in Newtown, Powys, after her parents allowed her to become morbidly obese during lockdown

Two-year-old Lola James was tragically killed by her evil stepfather, suffering 101 injuries including brain damage

'We have such special memories of our short time with Alfie and these memories keep us going on the darkest of days.'

Alfie was described as 'good as gold' and 'lively' by his father, Sam Phillips, adding there was 'never a dull moment' with the toddler, who he said was always playing and laughing.

Benham, of Hernhill, Kent, and Hedges, of Yelverton, Devon, will be sentenced on December 19.

Reacting to the verdict, Kent Police's senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Kath Way, said: 'Today's verdict will not bring Alfie back, but it does mean that Hedges and Benham lose their right to freedom and life as they know it.

'Alfie should have been protected and loved by his mum, instead Hedges and Benham inflicted unimaginable suffering on him during a sustained and lengthy night of violence.'

She added that the pair refused to admit what they had done and instead subjected Alfie's family to a trial where details of 'horrendous abuse' were detailed.

'Alfie would have been four now and would have recently started school. Instead, his life was cruelly taken away by those he should have been able to trust the most.'

An NSPCC spokesperson also commenting on 'heart-breaking' case said the cruelty inflicted on Alfie is 'devastating'.

They added: 'We know that very young children are particularly vulnerable to abuse because they are completely reliant on the adults around them for care and protection.

'It is so important that anyone who is worried about a child's safety speaks out about their concerns. People can contact the local authority, the police or the NSPCC Helpline.'
A black Kansas high school student has said she was defending herself when a white 15-year-old boy attacked her when she confronted him for yelling a racist slur.

Brey'anna Brown, a sophomore, says she was left with a broken nose after the assault by a fellow student at Shawnee Mission East - who has been charged with felony aggravated battery for punching her.

The 15-year-old boy, who has not been named, was seen on video calling Brown the 'n-word' before beginning to punch her.

She then hit him back in self defense, which prompted the Prairie Village school to also suspend her.

'I feel like outside of myself for doing what I did... I'm upset that I got suspended,' Brown told KSHB.

'The thought in my head was either, I protect myself, or I run away from it or I get beat up, and I don't know what else to do, so I chose to stand up for myselt.'

'I'm kinda scared to go back because I don't know what to look forward to,' the girl added.

Brey'anna Brown, a sophomore, says she was left with a broken nose after the assault by a fellow student at Shawnee Mission East

At the beginning of the fight, the white student can be seen marching towards the female student and using the N-word repeatedly

Both students were suspended after the fight on November 15 - with the girl's five-day suspension sparking a walk out of 100 students on Monday. The protesters accused the school of punishing the victim.

'We demand action! Protect students of color!,' read one sign. 'We don' feel safe' and 'Take action now,' read others.

The boy is now known to be facing separate felony charges, connected to a case in June. He has been charged in that case with two felonies and a misdemeanor, including aggravated battery, aggravated assault and battery, The Kansas City Star reported.

He is being held in custody. The fight started when two girls were in a verbal row with the black girl. As she walked away, the boy got involved.

He yells at her: 'Man, shut the f**k up!' before repeatedly saying racial slurs. The black girl turns around, and yells down the hall: 'Who said that!?'

The male student storms towards the girl, throws his bag to the floor, and physically attacks her, shoving her against a wall.

Despite being at a size disadvantage, she continues to fight back against the assault. 'He said n****r! He said n****r!,' the person filming the altercation says repeatedly.

The attack comes to an end when a teacher appears and manhandles the male student, separating the pair.

Brown's mother, Linyka, said that as someone who went to school in the same district, Johnson County, she was not surprised by the incident

The brawl sparked a mass walkout at the Kansas school

According to US News & World Report, 82 percent of students at Shawnee East are white while 1.6 percent are black. Just over five percent identify as mixed race

The gathered students tell the teachers that the white boy threw the first punch.

A school district spokesperson told the Star that their office takes 'incidents of racism and physical violence very seriously. We do have a code of conduct in place, and we follow our policies and procedures.'

The Kansas Ciy Defender, citing students' accounts, said that there have been other incidents at the school, including one where the principal called black students 'intimidating' and saying that they look like they might 'jump someone.'

One senior, Charlize Littlejohn, told the Kansas City Star that racism is 'ongoing' at the school.

Brown's mother, Linyka, told KSHB that as someone who went to school in the same district, Johnson County, she was not surprised by the incident, but left 'mad' nonetheless.

According to US News & World Report, 82 percent of students at Shawnee East are white while 1.6 percent are black. Just over five percent identify as mixed race.

In total, there is a minority enrollment of 18 percent. It is ranked at the second best high school in the state in terms of performance in state-required tests.
Six more hostages have now been released by Hamas, bringing the total to eight

This is the moment a 21-year-old Israeli woman who was snatched from the Nova music festival and then paraded in a chilling Hamas hostage video was reunited with her parents after spending seven weeks as a hostage.

Mia Schem was one of the two women released by Hamas today after the ceasefire deal was extended minutes before it was due to time out tonight.

The deal is now frantically being renegotiated, with sources saying that officials are working to have it extended again for another two days, hours before it it set to run out in the small hours of the morning.

Six more hostages have since been released by Hamas, and are now in the hands of the IDF, which has taken the seventh group of freed hostages back to Israeli soil.

They have been named as: Aisha Ziyadne, 17, Bilal Ziyadne, 18, Nili Margalit, 40, Shani Goren, 29, Sapir Cohen, 29, and Ilana Gritzewsky, 30.

This brings the total number of hostages released in the seventh round of exchanges under the ceasefire deal, extended at the eleventh hour, to ten, according to Qatar's foreign ministry, which said that the two Russian citizens freed as a gesture to Vladimir Putin 'were counted on this list.'

The six new hostages are being taken to the Hatzerim Base for initial medical tests, before bring reunited with their families.

Mia Schem (pictured, centre) was one of the two women released by Hamas today after the ceasefire deal was extended minutes before it was due to time out

The French-Israeli hostage had been held captive for 54 days since October 7 when she was dragged away in to Gaza

Mia, flanked by gunmen and surrounded by hundreds of screaming men, looks petrified as she is put into a Red Cross vehicle

The hostages released tonight, pictured top-left to bottom right: Bilal and Aisha Ziyadne, 18 and 17, Ilana Gritzewsky, 30, Nili Margalit, 40, Shani Goren, 29, Amit Soussana, 40, Sapir Cohen, 29, and Mia Schem, 21

The hostages were handed over to the Red Cross, which has been facilitating the transfers

Six more hostages have been released under the extended ceasefire deal tonight

Qatar said that the two Russian nationals freed as a gift for Vladimir Putin counted under the ceasefire deal

30 more Palestinian prisoners, made up of 23 minors and seven women, are set to be freed from Israeli prisons in exchange

Among the six hostages freed tonight were young siblings Bilal and Aisha Zyadna.

The pair, along with their older brother Hamza and their father Yousef were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Holit on October 7.

Hamza and Yousef are believed to still be held by Hamas.

Teacher Shani Goren and software engineer Sapir Cohen, both 29, were also taken from their homes.

Sapir's partner Alexander Trupanov is still in Hamas custody, while his mother and grandmother were both released yesterday.

Another of the hostages freed tonight is 41-year-old Nili Margalit, a nurse who was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, which saw a quarter of its residents killed or kidnapped by Hamas

One in four residents of the kibbutz is believed to have been killed or kidnapped by Hamas, including many children.

Margalit's neighbour was Yocheved Lifschitz, one of the first two hostages to be released by Hamas.

Mexican citizen Ilana Gritzewsky, the final hostage to be released tonight, immigrated to Israel at just 16, and had arrived back from a trip to Mexico two weeks before Hamas' deadly incursion.

She was also taken from Nir Oz along with her partner Matan Zanguaker, who is still in Hamas custody.

30 more Palestinian prisoners, made up of 23 minors and seven women, are set to be freed from Israeli prisons in exchange, though they have not yet been named.

T he world watched in horror as Mia was paraded by the Hamas terrorists in October in a chilling video where she pleaded with Israeli officials to 'get her out of Gaza'

It's not clear why the two women were freed before another eight were expected to be released tonight.

Terrifying footage shows Mia Schem surrounded by a screaming mob and guarded by masked Hamas gunmen as she was walked from a car and handed over to Red Cross operatives this afternoon.

The French-Israeli hostage had been held captive for 54 days since October 7 when she was dragged away in to Gaza. In that time she was forced to film a propaganda video which showed the captive receiving treatment for injuries she sustained in her kidnapping.

She was seen tearfully hugging her parents upon being reunited with them tonight.

A person believed to be a male relative of hers was seen kissing her forehead after not seeing her for seven weeks.

But today she was finally released alongside 40-year-old Amit Soussana in Palestine Square in the centre of Gaza City in a very public hostage exchange. Many of the previous exchanges took place on empty highways.

Mia's gaunt appearance and frightened demeanour during the handover was a far cry from videos that showed her full of life and beaming with happiness as she danced with friends at Nova Festival.

The world watched in horror as Mia was paraded by the Hamas terrorists in October in a chilling video where she pleaded with Israeli officials to 'get her out of Gaza'. The video showed her injured arm being treated by an unidentified medical worker.

Mia, 21, who was seized at the Nova music festival on October 7, was released by Hamas today

Mia had been paraded by Hamas terrorists in a chilling video in which she pleaded with Israeli officials to 'get her out of Gaza'

Amit Soussana, 40, who was also taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, has now been released

Video shows a terrified Amit being met by a Red Cross worker and quickly being placed in a waiting vehicle in front of the baying mob.

Seconds later, Mia, flanked by the gunmen and surrounded by hundreds of screaming men, looked petrified as she was put into a Red Cross vehicle.

Their release comes after the warring sides agreed to extend their ceasefire for a seventh day, while mediators pressed on with talks to extend the truce further to free more hostages and let aid reach Gaza.

Her heartbroken mother, Keren Schem, was left reeling after she discovered her daughter had been abducted from the Nova festival, where 260 Israelis were massacred by Hamas terrorists.

But now, Mia has been released by the terrorists and handed over to the Red Cross.

Harrowing video showed Keren breaking down in tears and laughing in disbelief as she was told on the phone that her daughter had been released after an agonising seven weeks.

Video shows a terrified Amit being met by a Red Cross worker and quickly being placed in a waiting vehicle in front of a baying mob

Terrifying scenes show the two French-Israeli hostages being taken from a vehicle by balaclava-clad Hamas terrorists in front of screaming crowds

 Asi recibio Keren Schem la noticia de que su hija Mia Schem fue liberada por Hamas. pic.twitter.com/X4VR8maKVg  Enlace Judio (@enlacejudio) November 30, 2023

French president Emmanuel Macron also expressed his 'great joy' upon news of Mia's release, saying Paris will keep working towards the release of those still detained by Hamas.

'I share this great joy with her family and all French people,' Macron said in a statement on X. He failed to mention Soussana, who is also a French national.

Mia's father David told Israel's Channel 12 TV on Thursday that when he sees his daughter again, he will not ask her about her time in captivity. 'I don't want to ask her questions, because I don't know what she endured,' he said.

On October 7, as the murderous gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns shot at the revellers at Nova festival, Keren said her daughter sent a friend a panicked message that read: 'They're shooting at us. Please, come save us!'

Mia Schem, 21, had been held captive for 54 days since October 7

Mia looked full of life and beaming with happiness as she danced with friends in images filmed at the ill-fated Nova Festival

And then there was silence. For more than a week, Keren had no idea if her daughter was dead or alive. But on October 16, Hamas released the chilling footage of Mia pleading with Israeli officials to save her.

The video, which was published on the group's official Telegram channel, shows the young woman speaking Hebrew as she addresses the camera directly.

She says she is from central Israel and that her captors are taking care of her.

In a heartbreaking message to the Israeli government, she says: 'I only ask that you get me out of here as soon as possible. Please.'

After seeing the video of her daughter, Keren had begged 'the world to bring' her daughter home, with the anguished mother saying at the time she feared what the terrorists would do to 'her baby'.

But today, that agonising wait is over, with Mia released by the Hamas terrorists in front of a baying mob in Gaza City during an extended truce.

Amit Soussana, 40, holds French and Israeli nationality

Amit Soussana, 40, was also taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas

The truce has halted bombing and allowed some humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million people was reduced to wasteland in an Israeli campaign in retaliation for a deadly rampage by Hamas on October 7.

The release of Mia and Amit comes after photos showed other freed hostages embracing their loved ones and calling relatives from medical centres and military bases in Israel following their release on Wednesday.

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, held her sister and greeted her dog after arriving in Israel. She was among the ten Israeli and four Thai released as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas late yesterday.

Moran disappeared after the massacre at the Supernova music festival on October 7 where at least 260 were killed and 40 were taken back into Gaza by gunmen.

US-Israeli citizen Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, was also pictured at the Hatzerim Air Force Base late on Wednesday following her release. She was taken from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel last month.

The six-day truce between Israel and Hamas was extended another 24 hours in a last-minute deal made on Thursday in an effort to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement today that 'a short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue.'

Hostilities are expected to resume at 7am on Friday if an extension to the ceasefire deal is not reached.

Meanwhile, Hamas has claimed Israel is refusing to take back the bodies of the Bibas family, including 10-month-old Kfir.

The terror group said in a statement, along with a heartbreaking video of father Yarden Bibas, shared to its Telegram channel: 'The resistance offered to hand over the three bodies, but the occupation government refused to receive them and is still maneuvering and bargaining.'

Yarden, 34, was seen distraught and weeping as he said: 'Bibi (Netanyahu) your airstrike took away my beloved family, now do what you can to bring them home so they can be buried at home.

'I'm begging you, bring me, my wife and my children back home. Please, I'm begging.'

MailOnline is not publishing the video.

Mia Schem, 21, in a TikTok video... she has now been released

The heartbreaking message comes after Hamas claimed yesterday that 10-month-old Kfir, four-year-old Ariel and their mother Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, were killed in an Israeli bombardment before Friday's truce was announced.

The claim has not yet been independently verified, and IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in response to the video of Yarden: 'Hamas' claims about the Bibas family are still unverified, the published documentation is psychological terrorism.'

The heartbreaking video came just days after it was suggested Kfir and his family members had been handed to another militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

'Our family has learned of Hamas' latest claims,' the Bibas family said, who are waiting for the Israeli military to either confirm or deny Hamas's claim.

'We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials,' the statement said.

'We thank the people of Israel for their warm support, but kindly request privacy during this difficult time.'

The wider extension of the truce followed a last-minute standoff earlier Thursday, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in previous Israeli airstrikes.

'In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the abductees and subject to the terms of the agreement, the ceasefire will continue,' the IDF said.

'The deal has delivered meaningful results,' US President Biden said of the pause so far.

Video released by her family showed Mia dancing and smiling with friends at the Nova Festival

Keren, mother of Mia Schem, had been campaigning for her daughter's release

'Nearly 100 hostages have been returned to their loved ones. And the United States has led the international community to use this pause to accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance into Gaza.'

Ten Israeli citizens, including US-Israeli citizens, were released on Wednesday as part of the hostage deals.

They were: Raz Ben Ami, 56, Yarden Roman, 35, Liat Atzili, 49, Moran Stela Yanai, 40, Liam Or, 18, Itay Regev, 18, Ofir Engel, 17, Amit Shani, 15, Gali Tarshansky, 13, and Raaya Rotem, 54.

Hamas earlier released two dual Russian-Israeli citizens, Yelena Trupanov, and her mother Irena Tati, as part of a gesture to Russian president Vladimir Putin, unrelated to the deal with Israel.

Another 24 hostages - 23 Thais and one Filipino - have also been released.

Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers. Hamas has released some men - mostly Thai laborers.

So far, most of the Palestinians released in return have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces.

Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.

Teenager Liam Or was seen hugging his mother for the first time in seven weeks

He was seen in good spirits as he was flown into Israel

Liam's mother was seen weeping tears of joy upon her son's arrival

Palestinians have celebrated the release of people they see as having resisted Israel's decades-long military occupation of lands they want for a future state.

But talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, as the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

The Israeli military said in a statement that they had spoken to Kfir's family about the claims, before condemning Hamas for their 'cruelty' and 'inhumanity'.

The IDF said: 'The terrorist organisation Hamas continues to act in a cruel and inhuman manner. IDF representatives spoke with the members of the Bibas family, informed them of the publication [of the claims] and are accompanying them at this time.

'The IDF is examining the reliability of the information. The responsibility for the safety of all the abductees in the Gaza Strip lies fully with the terrorist organisation Hamas.'

Speaking on the renewed truce, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the terms of the extension would reflect the same as previous ones - Hamas is expected to release 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The truce, extended from its initial four days, has brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on October 7.

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, embraces her sister, Lea Yanai, following her arrival in Israel after being held hostage, at Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan

Moran Stela Yanai embraces her sister, Lea Yanai, following her arrival in Israel (left), and Liat Beinin Atzili speaks on the phone with her family, at the Hatzerim Air Force Base in Israel, following her release by Hamas

Former Israeli hostage Itay Regev, 18, is reunited with his mother at the Hatzerim Air Force Base in southern Israel's Negev desert, following his release

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, greets the family dog following her arrival in Israel, at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel

Moran Stela Yanai, 40, embraces her loved ones after her release

With Wednesday's releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken

Liam Or, 18, is reunited with his father shortly after his arrival in Israel last night after being released by Hamas

Hamas has claimed Kfir Bibas, a baby who was snatched and taken into Gaza by the terrorists, was killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his mother and brother before the truce was announced six days ago

The Bibas family, father Yarden, mother Shiri, baby Kfir and four-year-old Ariel, were taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Nir Oz

The image of the two young boys being carried by their weeping mother, Shiri, as they were marched from their homes was one of the most striking to be published in the early days of the Israel-Hamas war. It was hoped that they would be released tonight

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said in a statement that the truce would continue for a seventh day.

The militant group earlier said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that has killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Both sides had said they were ready to resume fighting.

30 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prison tonight

The release came after Hamas released ten hostages over the day

They were seen celebrating in the streets of the West Bank

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

'After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes,' he said. 'There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.'

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday.

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip.

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives.

Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war

Hamas' military wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are present as the prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas

Military personnel talk with each other as a helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal

However, Israel has vowed to resume the war in an effort to end Hamas' 16-year rule of Gaza, but it's facing mounting international pressure to extend the truce and spare southern Gaza a devastating ground offensive like the one that has demolished much of the north.

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes.

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza.

The father of Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for 50 days, has vowed to do 'whatever it takes' to help his nine-year-old daughter recover after revealing how she spent her ninth birthday running from missile strikes in Gaza.

Four days after his daughter's emotional release, Mr Hand told The Sun: 'She was a happy noisy kid, now she whispers. She's been terrorised by terrorists in hell but as her dad it's my job to make it better and I will.'

Hostages who were abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over by Hamas militants to the International Red Cross

A helicopter carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan

Newly released Israeli hostages sit among soldiers as they arrive inside a van at Ofakim army base in southern Israel

Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday on his third trip to the region since the start of the war, and is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israel's northern Gaza attacks.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an 'epic humanitarian catastrophe,' and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

Released Palestinian prisoners gesture as they disembark a bus upon returning from the Ofer Israeli military prison to Ramallah

Hamas' ability to negotiate and implement the ceasefire suggests that Israel's air and ground campaigns have not seriously challenged the group's control of Gaza, despite killing thousands of Palestinians and driving three out of four people in the territory from their homes

Those who have been released now face a long road to overcoming the trauma of their extended captivity in Gaza

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a 'concrete' timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a 'comprehensive, just and lasting' settlement of the Palestinian issue.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the truces calm has been overwhelmed by the search for aid and by horror at the extent of destruction.

In the north, residents described entire residential blocks as leveled in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of Gaza City who along with other volunteers searches for the dead under rubble or left in the streets.

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 trucks a day. But aid officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid. Overwhelmed U.N.-run shelters house over 1 million displaced people, with many sleeping outside in cold, rainy weather.
A heartbroken mother of a man hacked to death by a gang armed with machetes in broad daylight outside KFC says she held him as his life ebbed away.

Christine Ward held son Kelvin after he was murdered trying to stop the thugs from killing their intended target  his teenage son.

Chilling footage showed 50-year-old Mr Ward being ambushed and chased by the masked group holding up machetes and zombie knives as he desperately tried to fend them off.

Fighting back tears, Mrs Ward, 78, told MailOnline how moments after that footage she was told by one her grandsons that Kelvin, a carpenter, had been knifed.

She said: 'I jumped in his car and I thought he was taking me to hospital but he drove me to where it happened. Police were everywhere, but the officers let me through the cordon.

Christine Ward holds a photograph of her son Kelvin (left) at her home in Birmingham

Kelvin Ward (left) being swung at by an attacker with a machete on April 18 2023 - moments later, he suffered a fatal wound to the heart

Kelvin Ward, 50, died after the savage attack in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham - of which the original target had been his son

'It was dark at that point, I couldn't see any blood or anything like that. But I knelt down to where he was laid out and noticed someone had covered him partially with a blanket and had put a pillow underneath his head.

'I held his hand, kissed his face over and over and whispered in his ear to wake up because he looked like he was sleeping.

'I was telling him "Come on now, get up and stop making a scene" because I didn't want to believe he had gone.

'But a police officer guided me away from his body and said that forensics needed to keep the area around the body clear.

'It was the worst moment any mother could ever go through. It was horrific.'

Kelvin died trying to protect his son, 19, who cannot be named. The teenager had been friends with the gang members, but they had fallen out.

Coventry Crown Court heard in April this year the gang of four followed him as he drove with his father to a KFC drive-thru in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

As they went to leave, the gang smashed a stolen Ford Kuga into their Vauxhall Corsa in the car park of the fast-food chain.

Mr Ward's son managed to drive off and then fled on foot. His father jumped into the gang's Kuga and drove in the direction his son had run off in.

He aimed the vehicle at one of the gang  but missed and crashed into the railings on the side of the road.

Two of the gang were then caught on CCTV stabbing Mr Ward in the middle of the road.

Emergency services rushed to the scene but nothing could be done to save him despite the efforts of medics.

A major police investigation revealed Mr Ward's son had been friends with some of the attackers, but they had fallen out, leading to Mr Ward's family home being attacked in the days before the killing.

Leighton Williams (left), 28, and Tyrone Hollywood (right), 17, were found guilty of murdering Kelvin Ward

Aaron Coates (left) and Rusharn Williams-Reid (right), both 18, were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Kelvin Ward's son. Coates was also found guilty of manslaughter

West Midlands Police released footage of Leighton Williams being arrested for murdering Kelvin Ward

Williams (pictured being arrested), Hollywood, Coates and Williams-Reid will be sentenced in January

The four thugs  Tyrone Hollywood, Leighton Williams, Rusharn Williams-Reid, and Aaron Coate  were all jailed.

Hollywood, 17, and Williams, 28, were convicted of murder. Coates, 18, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Williams-Reid, 18, was cleared of murder and manslaughter.

All four were found guilty of conspiracy to murder Mr Ward's son. Sentencing is due to take place in January next year.

Speaking from her home in Birmingham, Mrs Ward said: 'I haven't been able to watch the footage of my son's last moments. It would break my heart.

'I keep asking myself why it happened. I still don't know.

'My grandson had been friends with some of the gang members and they used to hang around together.

'But there had been a dispute between them and he wanted away from them. I don't think he wanted to be associated with them any more because of their violence and the trouble they caused.

'My grandson is heartbroken and feels guilty for what happened. I feel so sorry for him because his life has been torn apart.

'He goes and spends time at his dad's grave every day, no matter what the weather.

'Kelvin made the ultimate sacrifice in protecting his son but his family meant everything to him. I always taught him to defend himself with his fists and that's what he did. Knives are for cowards.'

Mr Ward seen walking to his son's Vauxhall Corsa at the KFC drive thru moments before the gang struck

Moments later the gang rammed the car using a stolen Ford Kuga crossover and chased Mr Ward's teenage son on foot

Terrifying footage released by West Midlands Police showed the moments before Mr Ward was fatally stabbed through the heart by his killers

Mrs Ward  a retired cook for the Territorial Army - brought up Kelvin and his older brother David as a single mum when she split with their Barbados-born father in the early 1970s.

She said her youngest son had forged a successful career in the building trade and lived in Coleshill in Warwickshire with Tammy McKenzie, his partner of some 30-years, and their son.

The couple have two older daughters aged 28 and 24.

Mrs Ward said the last time she saw her son was on March 19th when he and brother David, 55, gave her some flowers for Mother's Day.

Clutching a photo of that day showing her grinning with her two sons, she said: 'It was a special day, I didn't know it then but it would be the last time I would ever see him.

'I actually spoke to him some 15 minutes or so before he died, he'd called me on the phone and said he was at a KFC waiting for some food but would be over that weekend to see me. That day will never come.

'Kelvin wasn't an angel by any stretch of the imagination but he was a loveable rogue. He was the life and soul of the party and would light up any room straight away.

'He loved to joke around and had mischievous smile and infectious laugh.'

In a tragic twist, Mrs Ward revealed how her son had tried to help some of his killers escape a life of crime just two years earlier.

He had offered to find them jobs and urged them to stop 'hanging around street corners'.

Police at the scene of the murder in April this year. Mr Ward had chased down his son's would-be attackers in an attempt to protect him

His son's damaged Vauxhall Corsa sitting in the middle of the road close to where Mr Ward was killed

The stolen Ford Kuga that was used to ram Mr Ward's son's car at the KFC drive thru is taken away on a flatbed lorry for examination

Mrs Ward, 78, said: 'Kelvin knew some those who would end up being involved in his death and had tried to actually help them.

'They were hanging around with his son at the time and about two years ago, he told them: "Look, you don't have to keep getting in trouble and hanging around street corners. I'll help you to get work when you're ready."

'They were teenagers and coming up to either leaving school or going to college but he wanted to help them and stop them slipping into crime.

'Kelvin had been a bit of a tearaway in his youth but he turned his life around - he wanted to do the same for them.

'But how did they repay him? By butchering him in the street.'
'Congratulations! I erased your student loans. Now will you vote for me?'

That's what President Biden should have said in an email to more than 800,000 student loan borrowers  because his latest scheme to 'forgive' some of their $1.78 trillion in outstanding debts is nothing more than a bribe.

'Your student loan has been forgiven because of actions my Administration took to make sure you receive the relief you earned and deserve,' read the White House message sent to in-boxes on Tuesday.

Gee  Democrats are so generous with other people's money.

What had these lucky few done to 'earn' and 'deserve' this multi-billion dollar 'relief?'

Very little.

In a bit of bureaucratic sleight of hand, Biden and his dutiful ministerial assistants transformed an obscure Education Department repayment program into a brand new entitlement program.

The monthly payments of hundreds of thousands of borrowers will be capped at five percent of discretionary income, and if they pay these tiny installments for 10 to 20 years their entire remaining loan will be wiped away.

Millions more may find they owe $0 in payments.

And presto!

An estimated $475 billion in unpaid federal student loans is set to vanish into thin air.

What's the catch?

Those billions of dollars in liabilities will simply be moved from around the necks of these educated elites to above the heads of each and every American.

In a bit of bureaucratic sleight of hand, Biden and his dutiful ministerial assistants transformed an obscure Education Department repayment program into a brand new entitlement program.

Those billions of dollars in liabilities will simply be moved from around the necks of these educated elites to above the heads of each and every American.

Liabilities of approximately $1,800 for every taxpayer.

It's hardly a small amount of money when America's already running multi-trillion-dollar deficits and existing entitlement programs, like Social Security, are barrelling down the road to insolvency.

This Frankenstein's monster from the bowels of the bureaucracy may amount to the single most expensive regulation is U.S. history.

And the real motivation behind this bailout isn't some urgent financial crisis, as Democrats and the mainstream media would have us all believe.

Yes, Americans owe nearly $1.8 trillion in student loans. But millions are also on the hook for $1.5 trillion in auto loans and $1 trillion in credit card debt  and we don't hear anyone clamoring outside the White House gates to cancel those charges.

No, this is about raw, craven, cynical politics  pure and simple.

Polls show that Biden is struggling with young voters, usually a sure-fire Democrat voting bloc. Without these college-educated 18 to 34 year olds, he can't win re-election.

How better to win back their loyalty than with a good old-fashioned quid pro quo? Elect me and the gravy train keeps chugging along.

But here's the most appalling part of this all  those who have never set foot inside a college classroom and those who have diligently scrimped and saved to avoid crushing debts  are taken for suckers.

I worked nights as a security guard from the first day of my freshman year of college to help pay my way. I piled on the coursework in order to graduate in three years and save on tuition.

What do I get from Biden's voting buy scheme?

Nada. Just a big middle-finger.

As it turns out, I should've just hit the frat parties, taken my sweet time and then exploited Biden's plan and milked the taxpayer teat.

At the end of the day, my woes are nothing compared to the generations of working-class Americans who will be saddled with this grotesque act of unfairness.

How better to win back their loyalty than with a good old-fashioned quid pro quo? Elect me and the gravy train keeps chugging along.

Polls show that Biden is struggling with young voters, usually a sure-fire Democrat voting bloc. Without these college-educated 18 to 34 year olds, he can't win re-election. (Above) A November NBC News survey shows President Biden trailing Donald Trump in a poll among voters aged 18 to 34 years old

Here we have an executive fiat that offers all the benefits to the young college-educated, who earn a median salary of $52,000 a year, and zero benefit to the young who didn't go to college and earn a median annual wage of $30,000.

Democrats are supposed to support 'progressive' policies that help the working class, not 'regressive' policies that help the affluent.

Here we have an executive fiat that offers all the benefits to the young college-educated, who earn a median salary of $52,000 a year, and zero benefit to the young who didn't go to college and earn a median annual wage of $30,000. That salary gap has only grown in the last few decades.

Mad enough to burst a blood vessel? Wait  it gets worse.

Biden may get away with this.

The President's first attempt to do an end run around Congress and cancel up to $400 billion in college debt was stymied by Missouri, which claimed that his machinations would cripple their state's loan authority, one of the country's largest servicers and holders of student debt.

The Justices agreed and ruled that Biden exceeded his executive authority. All those borrowers, who thought they suddenly had more money in their pockets, were severely disappointed. Especially the one-third who spent it already.

However, this time around, there may not be anyone with standing to sue. 'This is just as illegal, just as brazen as the first round. But there may not be anyone in a position to call them out,' attorney Caleb Kruckenberg told USA Today.

Either way  I doubt Biden cares.

By the time the courts weigh in on this iteration of the President's corrupt payoff plan the votes for 2024 will likely have been cast.

Good luck to all the gullible folks who spend the extra cash believing they won't have to pay it back.

Don't expect an email from the White House on that anytime soon.

Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is an independent journalist and co-host of the BASEDPolitics podcast
Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito, said on the occasion of his 58th birthday Thursday that a review of official duties is needed as imperial family members age or leave the royal house.

"It would be difficult to pass on (official duties) if the number (of imperial family members) decreases," the crown prince told journalists in Tokyo earlier this week.

The Japanese imperial family has been shrinking as female members are required to give up their royal status upon marrying commoners under the 1947 Imperial House Law. The current total stands at 17, with 12 being women.

As to roles as a patron or honorary patron of various associations and organizations that imperial members assume, the crown prince said, "Regarding those specialized in certain fields, imperial family members should not take on roles unless they are interested" in those particular areas. ...continue reading
A haulage boss who was part of a deadly people-smuggling ring which led to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants has been jailed for seven years.

Caolan Gormley, 26, from Co Tyrone, was driven by 'greed' when he plotted to bring foreign families into the UK from mainland Europe three times in October 2019, the Old Bailey heard.

One of the trips was scuppered by French border officials, with some migrants from that trip believed to have died days later in a fatal lorry run overnight on October 22-23 2019.

The victims suffocated due to a lack of oxygen on the journey from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet, Essex, after the temperature inside reached a sweltering 38.5 degrees during their crossing. Their bodies were discovered in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Grays, Essex, on October 23 2019.

Gormley, director of CDG Transport Ltd in Northern Ireland, had denied being involved, claiming he thought he was helping bring alcohol into the UK illegally. But on Monday, a jury took just over an hour to find him guilty of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

And today, Judge Richard Marks KC sentenced him to seven years in prison after saying Gormley had 'succumbed to temptation and greed' when he got involved in the 'extremely lucrative business' of smuggling migrants.

Caolan Gormley, 26, has been jailed for his role in the people-smuggling ring which led to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants

The 39 Vietnamese nationals died in the sealed container as it was being transported by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet in October 2019

Although not accused of direct involvement in the operation that led to the deaths, Gormley has now become the 11th man to be convicted of involvement in the deadly people smuggling ring, with five having been jailed for manslaughter.

Judge Marks told Gormley: 'You had built up a good business and were working hard and making good money, but when approached by the ringleader in all of this, Ronan Hughes, succumbed to temptation and greed.'

Referring to the tragedy of October 23, the judge added: 'But for those deaths, I have no doubt whatsoever that this illegal importation of illegal immigrants would have continued, as would your involvement.'

He noted ringleader Ronan Hughes had twice tried to call Gormley shortly after the bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry container in the early hours of October 23 to let him know what had happened.

The 39 migrants were on the organised crime group's 'VIP route' which meant the driver was 'in on it' and knew they were being smuggled rather than being placed on a lorry with an unwitting driver.

As 'VIPs' they would have paid around 13,000 if they had survived the journey, the court heard.

Bereaved families in Vietnam have been left in debt after borrowing money to pay for their relatives crossing.

Trucker Hughes had packed as many migrants as he dared into each badly ventilated container. The victims suffocated on the final run as temperatures inside soared to 38.5C.

Some tried to batter their way out with a pole as others wrote final heart breaking text messages to relatives and partners as those around them sobbed in the darkness.

Family photos of the 39 Vietnamese victims who died in the lorry trailer on October 23 2019

Pictured is the lorry where the migrants were found dead in 2019

Jurors in the original trial saw horrifying footage of steam gushing from the container which became a tomb as Robinson opened the doors after pulling up in Eastern Avenue, Grays at 1.13am on October 23 2019.

Who were the 39 Vietnamese victims? On October 23 2019, 39 Vietnamese nationals, including men, women and children, were found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. The victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh

Nguyen Minh Quang

Nguyen Huy Phong

Le Van Ha

Nguyen Van Hiep

Bui Phan Thang

Nguyen Van Hung

Nguyen Huy Hung

Nguyen Tien Dung

Pham Thi Tra My

Tran Khanh Tho

Nguyen Van Nhan

Vo Ngoc Nam

Vo Van Linh

Nguyen Ba Vu Hung

Vo Nhan Du

Tran Hai Loc

Tran Manh Hung

Nguyen Thi Van

Bui Thi Nhung

Hoang Van Tiep

Tran Thi Ngoc

Phan Thi Thanh

Tran Thi Tho

Duong Minh Tuan

Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh

Tran Thi Mai Nhung

Le Trong Thanh

Nguyen Ngoc Ha

Hoang Van Hoi

Tran Ngoc Hieu

Cao Tien Dung

Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen

Dang Huu Tuyen

Nguyen Dinh Luong

Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai

Nguyen Tho Tuan

Nguyen Dinh Tu Advertisement

Previously, prosecutor Ben Holt told jurors the people smugglers exploited the victims' desperation to get to the UK, charging more than 10,000 a head.

The migrants would be loaded into a container lorry on the continent and transported across the English Channel to be picked up for onward transfer in the UK.

Gormley was recruited by fellow haulier Hughes and deployed his driver Christopher Kennedy to help move the human cargo.

On the first trip, residents near Orsett in Essex saw migrants jumping out of the back of a lorry before being whisked away by vehicles to their destinations.

Mr Holt told jurors: 'The other trip was thwarted by customs officials in France. Remarkably, the driver on that occasion - Kennedy - was effectively given a slap on the wrists and told to go on his way. The migrants were similarly allowed to go.

'Tragically, some of those migrants would end up in the lorry part of the 39 men, women and children who died during the night (of) October 22 and 23.'

On that occasion, another driver, Maurice Robinson, picked up a container at Purfleet docks and found all 39 Vietnamese people aged between 15 and 44 dead.

He opened the doors after being instructed by Hughes to 'give them air quick' but not let the migrants out.

Following the discovery, Robinson called his boss Hughes before dialling 999.

Giving evidence in his trial, Gormley said he was taking a break at a truck stop in Sandbach, Cheshire, on his way to deliver racehorse bedding to Cambridge when he spoke to Hughes.

He said: 'He called me the night before and I was returning the call. I remember when he answered he sounded different, panicked, making no sense at all. It was just mumbo jumbo. He was making zero sense.'

At 3.46pm, Gormley got a text from his mother in Co Tyrone asking if the truck in the news belonged to one of Hughes's brothers.

He replied: 'Don't know and neither do u (sic).'

Gormley told jurors he was trying to stop his mother from 'gossiping' because she works in a doctors' surgery and thought there might be 'repercussions'.

He described his 'total disbelief this had happened', adding: 'I was just shocked, to be honest.'

Later the same day, Gormley dumped the burner phone he used to communicate with Hughes.

Caolan Gormley, 26, appeared at the Old Bailey (pictured) and has today been jailed

Gormley was asked why he denied 'to the bitter end' being the owner of that phone when interviewed by police.

He said: 'I lied about it because I didn't want to confess (to) a crime I had committed in relation to alcohol smuggling.

'I had contacted Ronan Hughes on the phone. At that time the news had come out about what happened with the 39 dead and I didn't want any affiliation with that.'

Gormley also told jurors he had no reason to question Kennedy's explanation for being caught with migrants in his lorry on October 14.

He said: 'Kennedy said he stopped at the supermarket to buy alcohol and cigarettes on his way to the crossing. At that time he was actually covering his tracks for what had happened.

'He just said they must have got in the trailer while he was in the shop. It's a very hot spot for migrants in the Calais area. It's very common. I had no reason not to believe his account.'

A consignment of biscuits from Belgium was ruined during the October 18 people-smuggling run, the court was told.
More than 500 children at an exclusive private school were evacuated today following a bomb scare.

Talbot Heath Preparatory School, in Bournemouth, Dorset, which costs up to 17,301 a term, called the police at 9.36am after receiving a 'security threat'.

Parents were seen arriving to take their children home throughout the morning but then the school decided to evacuate as a precaution.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'All I know from the headteacher is that it is a bomb scare.'

Dorset Police closed off the road surrounding the school and carried out a search with sniffer dogs.

Emergency services at the scene as more than 500 pupils were evacuated due to the bomb scare

Dorset Police closed off the road surrounding the school and carried out a search with sniffer dogs. Pictured, an ambulance which was also on standby

Fire and ambulance crews were also there on standby.

Luckily, nothing suspicious was found but an investigation is ongoing.

Paul Davis who was up a ladder while working on a house opposite the prep school said: 'Police came rushing around at about 10am and then all of a sudden the road was closed off.

'There have been parents picking up their children from the school all morning since.'

A Dorset Police spokesman said: 'Dorset Police received a report at 9.36am from a school regarding a security threat made to the school.

One woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'All I know from the headteacher is that it is a bomb scare'

The road surrounding the school was closed off as a precaution. Parents were seen arriving to take their children home throughout the morning before the school was evacuated

'School staff made the decision to evacuate pupils and officers attended to carry out a search of the premises as a precaution.

'A thorough search has been completed, nothing of concern has been located and emergency services will be resuming from the scene.

'We would like to thank members of the public for their patience and understanding during this incident.

'An investigation into this matter is ongoing, with support from the school.'

Police cordoned off Oaks Park High School after receiving a hoax bomb threat email last Friday

It comes after a school in London was forced to evacuate pupils two times in four days after receiving an 'identical' email about a hoax bomb threat.

The Oaks Park High School in Carshalton, south London, informed parents at 8.19am that police had asked teachers to urgently evacuate pupils onto the playing fields.

The school had the same incident on Friday which was the day after pupils had taken part in a practice drill on what to do in case of a threats like these.

In text messages sent to parents, seen by MailOnline, the school said: 'The police have asked us to evacuate the school this morning after receiving an identical threat as on Friday at the same time.'

One mother who has a 13-year-old boy at the school described the latest ordeal as 'terrifying'.

She told MailOnline: 'Everything goes through your head... You don't know if it's real or not. Anything that could happen. Imagine if they said to the pupils that you can go in and something happens.

'I would rather collect my kid from school but you just have to trust the police have done their job.'

Oaks Park High School is a mixed comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 19.
Republicans are hauling in two former White House officials to talk about censorship on social media.

Robert Flaherty, the former White House digital strategist who is now Biden's deputy campaign manager, and Andrew Slavitt, the former senior advisor to the Biden administration's pandemic response team, have been hit with subpoenas by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan.

Flaherty is at the center of a case where the Biden administration is accused of pressuring social media companies to take down posts they deem to be 'misinformation.'

In September, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans said the White House, the Surgeon General, the CDC and the FBI cannot 'coerce' social media platforms to take down posts the government doesn't like.

Republicans are hauling in two former White House officials to talk about censorship on social media

Robert Flaherty, the former White House digital strategist who is now Biden's deputy campaign manager, and Andrew Slavitt, the former senior advisor to the Biden administration's pandemic response team, have been hit with subpoenas by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan

The opinion noted that, at least since early 2021, 'a group of federal officials has been in regular contact with nearly every major American social-media company about the spread of 'misinformation' on their platforms.'

Those platforms included Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), YouTube, and Google, which were peppered with government requests to remove content, the judges found.

At one point, a White House official told an unnamed platform to take a post down 'ASAP,' and instructed it to 'keep an eye out for tweets that fall in this same genre,' according to the filing.

The topics spotlighted in the suit included COVID-19 vaccines, the Wuhan lab leak theory, the FBI's handling of Hunter Biden's laptop and election fraud allegations.

But last month the Supreme Court temporarily blocked the lower court ruling that would have curbed the Biden administration's ability to communicate with social media companies.

It agreed to take up the government's appeal in full at some point in its term.

Jordan had requested Flaherty and Slavitt appear over the summer, but they rebuffed. Now with the weight of a subpoena the pair are further pressured to oblige.

In his letter the chairman said he found Flaherty and Slavitt had played a 'central role' in communicating the Biden White House's censorship efforts to social media companies, 'including the White House's demands to censor true information, memes, satire, and other constitutionally protected forms of expression.'

The subpoenas dropped a year after the so-called 'Twitter Files' were released, unveiling the companies' censorship policies before the takeover of Elon Musk.

That prompted a congressional hearing where Jordan brought in Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger, two who were given access to the files. Taibbi is testifying again in a second censorship hearing on Thursday.

'To develop effective legislation, such as the possible enactment of new statutory limits on the Executive Branch's ability to work with social media platforms and other companies to restrict the circulation of content and deplatform users, the Committee must first understand the nature of this collusion and coercion,' the letters to Flaherty and Slavitt read.

Documents obtained by the Judiciary Committee revealed Flaherty worked closely with Google-owned Youtube on taking down information that could cause vaccine skepticism.

Flaherty wrote in an email, first obtained by Fox Business, to Google team members in April 2021 that he wanted to 'connect  about the work you're doing to combat vaccine hesitancy, but also crack down on vaccine misinformation.'

Flaherty asked about trends around Covid misinformation on the site and offered to have White House-endorsed Covid experts partner with Youtube to create content.

Google noted after meeting with Flaherty that he was 'particularly dug in on our decision making for borderline content,' meaning content that does not violate community guidelines but brushes up against the line.
Rapper Kasher Quon has claimed he once drove a doctor to the brink of taking their own life after scamming him two hundred times while posting as an IRS agent.

The Detroit-based artist, who has albums titled 'Scam Jesus' and 'Scam Likely' in his discography, made the remarks during a recent appearance on a Say Cheese podcast.

'I scammed this man 200 times, no over exaggeration, 200 times. For two years straight, he lost his job, his wife divorced him,' Quon said.

'Bro, this s**t is real. This shit is really real. This man lost his wife, he damn near tried to slit his wrists.

'He went to the hospital and sent me a picture of him trying to slice his arm because I am taking all his cash.'

The Detroit-based artist, who has albums titled 'Scam Jesus' and 'Scam Likely' in his discography, made the remarks during a recent appearance on a podcast

Speaking to the Say Cheese podcast, seen above, he said he had managed to scam one man 200 times

Quon continued: 'I am telling him I work for the IRS you sent me $20,000 already, the IRS is investigating this.

'I got his social and as soon as he got paid I would call him and tell him to leave work right now and send me that, or they [IRS] would f**k you up.

'This man is working at the hospital cutting people heart open, a doctor. A real doctor making $2,500 a week.

'He'd [say] "bro I'm in the middle of surgery", leave your work to go MoneyGram me his whole check.

Quon also added at the end: 'If the feds see this I might go to jail.'

In a post to Instagram, Quon later added: 'I ain't never seen this many people mad. I finessed bro a whole decade ago, I was 15 years old.

'Then in the interview I said I regret it and definitely got some bad karma from it, leave me alone.'

He also added: 'I just told what I did in the past everybody mad over some s**t that was a decade ago.'

DailyMail.com has been unable to verify the details of the alleged incident, and have been unable to contact Quon. The name of alleged victim has not been revealed.

Since the clip was shared on social media, Quon has been widely condemned for his alleged behavior

Quon said he had regretted his behavior, which he claims he undertook while still a teenager

Since the clip was shared on social media, Quon has been widely condemned for his alleged behavior.

One person posted: 'That's messed up. I wouldn't be able to do that to someone with a good conscience.'

Another commented: 'Why does he sound so proud to be a thief? I bet theyll blame the person interviewing him for his self snitching because its ALWAYS someone elses fault when the cops pick em up.'

While another said: 'So this is the achievement he wants us to clap for?'

Nearly 8million reports of suspected IRS scams were made in 2022 - and estimates put the annual cost to businesses and consumers as high as $27billion.

In a South Bend, Indiana, case earlier this year around 20 women claimed they were tricked by a fake company who promised to complete their returns for a fee of $500.

After handing over their personal information - and cash - many of the victims realized they'd been scammed.

When some tried to access their records on the IRS website, they received error messages which said their information was incorrect.

Other victims claimed they later received letters from the IRS that said their returns were being reviewed.

Always check and double check an individual or company before paying them to help with your taxes.

Never sign up with a stranger through Facebook simply because of the promise of low rates. Where possible, check out a company's reviews. If in doubt, shop around.
The Dutch translator who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book has insisted the names of two royals at the centre of a racism scandal were in the manuscript she was sent.

Saskia Peeters said she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book Endgame.

Speaking to MailOnline from her home in Arnhem, she said: 'As a translator, I translate what is in front of me.

'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them. I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch.'

Her claims appear to contradict Scobie's who told ITV's This Morning that he did not include the names of the two royals accused of discussing the skin colour of Harry and Meghan's son Archie when he submitted the completed manuscript to his publisher.

Dutch translator Saskia Peeters (pictured today) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book has insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript she was sent

Her claims appear to contradict Scobie's (pictured today) who told ITV's This Morning that he did not include the names of the two royals

The alleged racist comments were made about 'concerns' over Prince Archie's skin colour. Pictured: Harry and Meghan in Sydney in 2018

Saskia said she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book Endgame (pictured)

'I never submitted a book that had those names in it,' Scobie insisted today.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world tonight, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate.

The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book  called 'Final Battle' in Holland  being withdrawn from sale on the bookshelves and pulped.

Bookstores were ordered to remove the paperback from their shelves and return to the publisher. The book will go back on sale next week.

TV presenter Piers Morgan first revealed the names of the pair on his evening show last night.

Mrs Peeters was clearly shocked and nervous at the firestorm her translation has caused.

She did not say when she received the manuscript from the Dutch publisher Xander Uitgevers.

She said that the pages were distributed between herself and fellow translator Nellie Keukellar-van Rijsbergen to transcribe.

When told the book's author Scobie had denied the names were in his manuscript Mrs Peters said: 'I don't know why he would say that.

'I have been translating for many years. This is the first time anything like this has happened.

'This is not something I wanted to be involved in. This has been upsetting. I do not want to talk about it much more.'

The original claim was made by Meghan Markle in the Sussexes' infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview (pictured) when she revealed there were 'several conversations' between herself, Harry and Royal Family members about 'how dark' Archie would be

The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book  called 'Final Battle' (pictured) in Holland  being withdrawn from sale on the bookshelves and pulped

Omid Scobie before the Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3, 2022

Mrs Peters and her colleague Keukellar-van Rijsbergen are credited with the translation in the preface for the book which has been described as 'poisonous' for its attacks on the royal family, in particular Charles, Camilla and the Princess of Wales.

It is understood they were sent the English version of Endgame by Xander Uitgevers.

Mr Scobie, 42, issued a statement yesterday afternoon in which he insisted it was a 'error in the translation' in the Dutch version and he was 'happy' that it was being corrected.

King brushes off Omid Scobie race row: Charles jokes 'he's alright... just about' as Palace considers legal action - after Piers Morgan named two royals accused of racism Advertisement

But Netherlands publisher simply referred to 'an error that occurred in the Dutch edition' - not making any reference to a translation issue, suggesting there may be a difference in opinion as to what actually happened.

Colleagues of Mrs Peeters said would be 'unthinkable' that the experienced translators would add the names without checking with the publisher.

Paul Janse, who runs a book translation service, said: 'I find it really unthinkable that a translator would mention names that weren't there in their English version, especially such a sensitive matter.

'To me it does not make sense. As a book translator you work with what is in front of you. I think they must have used a version with the names in it.'

Another experienced book translator based in Amsterdam also said the pair responsible for the Dutch version of Endgame would not have written the names unless they were in the manuscript already.

'Why would they choose these particular names out of all of those they could use?' said the translator.

'They are very experienced professionals who have so many credits to their name. Why would they risk doing this and who is to say they got the right names.'

Peeters has over 20 years' experience translating books from English into Dutch, including fiction works and cooks books.

Her colleague has translated books for best-selling authors Nicholas Sprks and Wilbur Smith.

It comes as well-placed sources told the Mail that Buckingham Palace is today 'considering all options' over the royal race row stoked by Scobie's new book.

Sources say that while King Charles is determined to focus on important state business in Dubai, where he is holding bilateral meetings ahead of giving a keynote opening speech at the COP28 summit on Friday, aides are seriously looking at how they should, if at all, respond.

While it is clear that courtiers will be looking at the various legal options open to them, it is incredibly unlikely that they would actually sue Scobie. They would not want to get into a protracted legal battle.

But a source told the Mail: 'I understand the palace is considering all options open to them.

'However the key thing for them is His Majesty responding in the most eloquent way possible by getting on with business and not letting it distract from vastly more important issues regarding the future on the planet and bilaterals with other world leaders including those impacted by the situation in the Middle East.'

Other options available to them could be sending out a legal warning to those tempted to further repeat the names, particularly given there has been no confirmation that these are indeed the people concerned or whether there is any truth even to the allegations themselves in the first place.

An indomitable King Charles today brushed off the row over Endgame

King Charles receives a parrot figurine at the Commonwealth and Nature reception

The other option would be to publicly release a statement, much like the late Queen Elizabeth did in the wake of Harry and Meghan marking their original allegations in their Oprah interview in 2021 when the Duchess of Sussex alleged that a senior royal express their 'concern' about her son, Prince Archie's, skin colour.

Then the late monarch said famously that while the issues around race were concerning, 'recollections may vary' and vowed to deal with the matter privately.

It has been reported that the King and his daughter-law subsequently exchanged letters about the matter in which he is said to have expressed his sadness that she felt that way but took great pains to explain that there would have been no 'ill will or casual prejudice' intended on behalf of those involved.

It is said that he wanted to clear up something he felt strongly about.

An indomitable King Charles III today brushed off the row over Endgame as he landed in Dubai where he will give a keynote speech at the COP28 climate change conference.

When asked by Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu how he was, the monarch replied: 'I'm all right very much, just about'.

He added: 'Having had a rather ancient birthday recently recovering from the shock of that' - a nod to turning 75 earlier this month.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were also out and about amid the race row - as they welcomed the future Queen of Sweden and her husband to Windsor Castle today.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

As the royals got on with business as usual, Scobie appeared on UK TV to square the blame on the Dutch publisher, declaring: 'I never submitted a book that had those names in it'.

In an interview with ITV's This Morning, which started with a denial he is 'Meghan's mouthpiece', Omid offered no mea culpa or apology for the error and when asked if he was upset he said:

'I am obviously frustrated. I wouldn't say I am upset about it'.

Asked if the Dutch farrago was a 'stunt to sell books' in the face of poor reviews, he said: 'I wish it was the case' and that 'an investigation is underway'.

'I had never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version', he said. 'I wrote and edited the English version of the book with one publisher. That then gets licensed to other publishers. I can't speak Italian, German, French, Dutch or any of the other languages that it's come out in'.

He also said that he and Endgame had been unfairly criticised. He said: 'I knew this book would be controversial, whether it's about race or the Palace's relationship with the press. I never expected it to be presented fairly'. He said: 'There have been unfair attacks on me'.

He said that he believed that he has been victimised because he was saying 'loudly from the start' that Meghan suffered racism. He added that because he is mixed race he has a different perspective on the racism she had  but insisted that he not just some 'mouthy fan'.

Scobie said he was 'as frustrated as anyone else', adding: 'I make it very clear in this book that I in every way possible want to adhere to the laws surrounding this subject.

'It's why I've been very careful in how it's described in the book and it's why I've never spoken about it beyond what I've said in the public domain before.

'The reality is though is that this is information that is not privy just to me. Journalists across Fleet Street have known those names for a long time. We've all followed a certain code of conduct when it comes to talking about it.

'It's frustrating that now what's going on in the Netherlands with the book that was obviously immediately rescinded and is now being reprinted has happened, and I'm glad to hear so. But for me I can only talk about the English version of the book that I wrote and produced.'
A female American Airlines employee was left permanently scarred after a male passenger repeatedly punched her, according to a report.

The reported incident happened on Monday night when Bruce Luke Machiavelo, 29, from Fairfield County, Connecticut, was on a flight from Miami to LaGuardia Airport in New York.

Machiavelo had told a flight attendant that he suffers from panic attacks and that he wanted to retrieve his medication that was in his checked luggage, according to a Miami-Dade police report.

Once the attendant explained to the passenger that he wasn't going to be able to get his medication, he told her that he 'took planes down with panic attacks in the past', the report said.

Machiavelo was then escorted off the aircraft, arrested and hit with multiple charges including aggravated battery, battery, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence.

Bruce Luke Machiavelo, 29, reportedly left an American Airlines passenger permanently scarred after he repeatedly punched her. He then went on to shove a gate agent to the floor, police said

The violent incident began after Machiavelo told a flight attendant that he gets panic attacks and needed to access his medication in his checked bag

When he was taken off the airplane, Machiavel reportedly pushed and screamed at the American Airline's manager who approached him, police said.

He punched her several times in the face before he threw her to the floor, causing her to bash her head on the gangway, according to authorities. As he rushed off the plane, Machiavelo also shoved a gate agent to the floor, leading her to injure her hands.

The manager was taken to a nearby hospital with permanent scarring to her face and head, the report said.

Officers met the frantic passenger at the gate after American Airlines employees informed them of the conflict.

They witnessed him on the floor as he kicked and screamed, while several passengers held him down.

The suspect initially resisted arrest but was soon taken into custody before he was brought to a hospital, the report said.

Once the flight attendant told him he would not be able to get his medication, Machiavelo said that he 'took planes down with panic attacks in the past,' according to a report

In response to the manic incident, American Airlines issued a statement that said: 'Yesterday evening, law enforcement was requested at Miami International Airport due to a disturbance on the jetbridge where a customer physically assaulted a team member.'

'Acts of violence against our colleagues are not tolerated by American Airlines and we are committed to working closely with law enforcement in their investigation.'

'Our thoughts are with our team member, and we are ensuring they have the support they need at this time,' the statement said.

According to NBC News, Machiavelo was expected to be booked into jail after he was cleared at the hospital, but it is unclear if that happened.

DailyMail.com reached out to the Miami Dade Police Department but officials did not respond in time for this report.

The latest incident was a string of ongoing run of bad behavior seen at airports and aboard planes.

On Sunday night, a Southwest Airlines passenger escaped a stationary plane by opening the emergency hatch and running across the tarmac at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

The unidentified man was arrested at a New Orleans-area airport after attempting a bizarre escape out of the emergency hatch of a plane Sunday night

After the passenger jumped out of the aircraft, he hoped on the wing of the plane and then sprinted across the tarmac and tried to hijack an airport service truck.

The 38-year-old man was taken to a hospital for an evaluation and authorities say that 'deputies believed he was suffering from a mental health emergency.'

The man has not been named by Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, but they said he is believed to be a resident of Atlanta.

Officials said that he is not expected to face criminal charges locally, but the investigation has now been referred to federal authorities.
Eaton has been charged with three counts of attempted murder in the shooting of Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed

In one incident, a girlfriend told police he had a history of mental illness and wanted his gun removed from her home

Jason Eaton, 48, was involved in several domestic disputes in upstate New York

The man accused of shooting three Palestinian college students in a suspected hate crime had a 20-gauge shotgun confiscated by New York police after a domestic dispute years ago.

Jason Eaton, 48, was arrested after opening fire on Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed as the young men visited Awartani's grandmother for a Thanksgiving meal.

Before settling in Vermont, Eaton lived in upstate New York, and police records show his then-37-year-old ex-girlfriend told police that he had a history of mental illness.

In a 2013 property complaint call in Syracuse, New York, the woman explained she and Eaton had just broken up and were no longer living together. She said she wanted Eaton's firearm removed from her home.

'She has a history of domestic violence with Eaton,' Officer Justin Smith wrote in the report.

Jason Eaton, 48, is accused of opening fire on three Palestinian students. Police records show his involvement in several domestic disputes in upstate New York before moving to Vermont

Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid and Tahseen Ahmed were wearing keffiyeh scarves and speaking a mix of English and Arabic when they were shot on Saturday night

Eaton appeared before a judge at a virtual court hearing Monday where he pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder

Syracuse police say no criminal charges were filed involving Eaton or the woman.

But, officers took a Deerslayer 20-gauge shotgun inside the home and stored it as evidence. The weapon was legally obtained, according to authorities.

Records also show that two weeks before the domestic all, Eaton called authorities about a custody dispute involving a child he and the woman shared.

The 48-year-old was named in 37 police reports between April 11, 2007 to November 16, 2021. The reports were mostly minor incidents, including a traffic accident and a car break-in.

Eaton was listed as either a complainant or victim in 21 of those reports, according to Lt. Matthew Malinowski, the department's public information officer.

Another ex-girlfriend called police in 2019, claiming Eaton had been sending her 'numerous text messages, emails and phone calls.'

The messages 'were sexual in nature but not threatening' and came after the woman said she did not want 'to communicate with him or see him anymore.'

When police arrived, the woman asked for a domestic incident report to be filed so she could possibly use it in securing a restraining order against him, records show.

Eaton was never arrested in connection with any of the incidents.

Officers encountered Eaton in his apartment Sunday afternoon, when he allegedly said 'I've been waiting for you' and informed them that he had a shotgun inside

In 2013, an ex-girlfriend called Syracuse police and told them she wanted a shotgun removed from her home, as she and Eaton had broken up. She also said that he had a history of mental illness

The three victims were taken to a nearby hospital and treated after the attack. Authorities say the gun used was purchased legally in Vermont

Police have not yet declared a motive in Saturday's shooting but are investigating it as a hate crime, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad.

'In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime,' he told reporters. 'I have already been in touch with federal investigatory and prosecutorial partners to prepare for that if it's proven.'

Vermont police said the 48-year-old did not appear to be known to them beyond several vehicle-related tickets from 1998 to 2016. He moved from Syracuse to Burlington over the summer.

Eaton was seized on Sunday afternoon and appeared in court the following day to enter a not guilty plea.

In an earlier statement, police said the victims had been walking on Prospect Street when they were approached by a 'white male with a handgun.'

Two of the three students were wearing black-and-white kaffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian nationalism, and the trio were speaking a mix of English and Arabic, according to investigators.

'They stated that the person had not made any comments to them and had merely approached them while they were walking down the street, essentially minding their own business,' Murad said.

Awartani, 20, was shot in the spine and remains paralyzed. He shared a photo from his hospital bed on Instagram

Students held a vigil for the victims on the grounds of Brown University on Monday

One of Awartani's roommates (pictured) spoke at the vigil. Abdalhamid and Ahmed attend Haverford College and Trinity College, respectively

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said the incident is currently being investigated as a hate crime, adding: 'In this charged moment, no one can look at this incident and not suspect that it may have been a hate-motivated crime'

Awartani, pictured with his mother, was shot as he and his friends visited his grandmother's house for Thanksgiving dinner

Burlington police encountered Eaton during a canvas of the homes in the area Sunday. After knocking on the door of his apartment, he allegedly told federal agents, 'I've been waiting for you,' and said he had a shotgun inside.

After executing a search warrant, authorities found a Ruger .380 pistol and ammunition inside a bedroom dresser.

The red-tipped bullets were identical to those found at the scene, according to a probable cause affidavit. Ballistics tests confirmed the match.

Investigators also located a .22-caliber rifle and two shotguns. The pistol used in the shooting was obtained legally in April through a federally licensed firearms dealer, Murad said.

Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College, suffered minor injuries. Ahmed, who attends Trinity College, was shot in the chest, and Awartani, who attends Brown University, was struck in the spine.

All three were treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center, but Awartani faces a grueling recovery as he was left paralyzed in the attack.

The longtime friends graduated from the same school in the occupied West Bank before attending separate colleges in the United States.

A vigil was held for the victims on the grounds of Brown University, where one of Awartani's roommates spoke.

Eaton is being held without bail pending a hearing on the three charges of attempted second degree murder. His attorneys have declined to comment.
Approval was given days after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan dined with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a $40,000-a-head dinner in San Francisco

The acquisition, which was announced in May last year, was finally confirmed this month after it received approval from China's anti-monopoly regulator

Around 2,000 jobs will be lost at VMware following Broadcom's $69bn takeover

Broadcom has announced nearly 2,000 job cuts at VMware just one week after it took over the cloud computing giant in a $69 billion deal.

The layoffs were confirmed following Chinese approval for the takeover, which came just days after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan paid $40,000 to dine with President Xi Jinping in San Francisco.

A total of 1,267 jobs are expected to be lost at VMware's Silicon Valley offices and around 600 more will be cut at its locations in Washington, Colorado and Georgia.

Broadcom, one of America's largest semiconductor businesses, announced the takeover of VMware in May 2022. The deal received regulatory scrutiny across the globe over concerns it could limit competition in the sector.

China's anti-monopoly regulator was the last to approve the deal - a decision announced just days after Tan met Xi at a dinner with American business leaders in San Francisco. It proved the final act in Broadcom's intensive lobbying of Chinese officials to get approval for the deal.

China's competition regulator approved Broadcom's takeover of VMware after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan met President Xi Jinping (pictured) at a $40,000-a-head dinner in San Francisco

Tan's (pictured) meeting with Xi Jinping proved the final act in Broadcom's intensive lobbying of Chinese officials to get approval for the deal, which also needed sign off from regulators in several other countries

Earlier this week, Jill Turner, Broadcom's vice president of human resources, told company staff by email that it was anticipated 1,267 jobs would be lost at VMware's Silicon Valley office.

'This will not result in closure of the entire facility, but will only impact certain employees selected for layoff,' the email said.

'This planned action is expected to be permanent. Affected employees do not have a right to displace or bump any other employee, and they will not be recalled to work.'

Affected VMware staff were told: 'Broadcom recently completed its acquisition of VMware. As part of integration planning, and following an organizational needs assessment, we identified go-forward roles that will be required within the combined company.

'We regret to inform you that your position is being eliminated, and your employment will be terminated.'

Xi dined with Tan and other business executives including Apple CEO Tim Cook and BlackRock chief Larry Fink during the Chinese president's visit to America in mid-November.

Xi also met President Joe Biden during his visit, which was aimed at cooling tensions with the United States. The trip was also viewed as an attempt to lure foreign investment in China

Xi, Biden and other world leaders on stage at an APEX 2023 event in San Francisco on November 16

Xi met President Joe Biden during a visit aimed at cooling tensions with the United States, and luring foreign investment in China.

Following the dinner, China also gave permission to Mastercard to issue yuan-denominated credit cards in the country, after years waiting for approval.

Nearly 1,300 jobs are expected to be lost at VMware's Silicon Valley headquarters

Broadcom's acquisition of VMware was announced in a blog post on November 22, in which Tan wrote: 'While an important moment for Broadcom, it's also an exciting milestone for our customers around the world.'

In October, officials at China's antitrust regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation, indicated to Broadcom that they were ready to sign off on the deal, which had already been delayed three times.

Tan also recently met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during Wang's visit to Washington in late October.

During their meeting, Tan mentioned the Broadcom-VMware deal and Wang reportedly responded that Beijing continued to welcome foreign investment.

Eric Zheng, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, described the approvals for Mastercard and Broadcom as isolated successful cases.

'These should be standard business practices, based on established laws and regulations,' Zheng said. 'Foreign businesses want such events not to be politicized.'

Tan (pictured giving an address at the White House in November 2017) spoke with the Chinese foreign minister last month, but fell short of securing approval then

Some business executives warn that the Broadcom and Mastercard deals are unlikely to open the doors to more investments in China.

A poll released by New York-based think tank the Conference Board on Thursday shows CEOs of multinational companies are becoming less confident about the country.

American businesses face several challenges including ambiguous data localization laws, raids on foreign due diligence and consulting firms, and exit bans on executives.

James Zimmerman, a partner at Perkins Coie LLP, who counsels foreign companies on corporate and regulatory issues in China, described China as 'an operating environment where every license, permit and approval...can become highly politicized.'

'More so when U.S.-China relations go south,' he added.
The father of the six-year-old Palestinian boy stabbed to death last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the family's landlord, who has been indicted on murder and hate crime charges.

Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother, Hanaan Shahin, were stabbed repeatedly, allegedly by landlord Joseph M. Czuba, 71, who was renting the family a room in his home in Plainfield, Illinois.

Wadea died after suffering 26 stab wounds and his mother is still recovering from her injuries, according to the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Now Wadea's father, Oday Al-Fayoume, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Czuba in Will County.

Following the attack Shahin told police how Czuba appeared at their door spouting hateful, anti-Muslim slurs.

Joseph M. Czuba, 71, has been indicted on murder and hate crime charges.

Wadea's father, Oday Al-Fayoume, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Czuba in Will County

He allegedly tried to choke Shahin, who fled inside and called 911, and then produced a knife on the mother and son.

He then reportedly plunged the serrated, military-style weapon into Shahin more than a dozen times before turning on the boy.

The attack was so vicious the 12-inch kitchen knife remained embedded in the child's body until the autopsy.

Czuba, was a friendly neighbor who built a treehouse for the little boy, but became obsessed with the coverage of the Hamas terror attack of October 7 and 'flipped', a local activist told CNN.

He was arrested outside the house and is being held in custody until his next court date in March.

Al-Fayoume, later explained that his son and ex-wife knew the landlord and had even shared a 'good relationship' with him before the horrific attack.

'It is hard to picture this man holding a knife about to stab my son,' he said.

'I keep thinking that my son was probably running towards him before getting stabbed, trying to give him a hug.'

The boy and his mother. He has one older sibling who was not harmed in the Saturday attack

Wadea Al-Fayoume had recently turned six. He was killed in a crime which authorities believe was influenced by the Israel-Hamas war

Wadea was stabbed 26 times and killed in a Sunday attack. His mother, Hanaan Shahin, was stabbed more than a dozen times

Wadea Al-Fayoume, six, was killed on Sunday, allegedly by landlord Joseph M. Czuba, 71, who was renting the family a room in his home in Plainfield, Illinois. He is shown as a younger boy, waving an American flag

Wadea's father, Oday Al-Fayoume, (pictured, wearing white sweater) has spoken out, explaining that his son and ex-wife knew the landlord

The landlord was renting a room to the family in his home in Plainfield, Illinois. On Sunday, he first attacked the mother by trying to choke her, then stabbed her and her son

Paying tribute to his young son, he told The Daily Beast that Wadea was 'basically a small angel in the form of a person'.

Speaking at a press conference, the boy's uncle, Yousef Hannon said: 'We are not animals, we are humans.

'We want people to see us as humans, to feel us as humans, to deal with us as humans, because this is what we are.'

The family moved to the US from the West Bank twelve years ago. Wadea was born in the US.

Czuba has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

In text messages to Wadea's father, the boy's mother said the landlord yelled: 'You Muslims must die!'

The Muslim civil liberties organization called the crime 'our worst nightmare,' and part of a disturbing trend since the outbreak of violence in the Middle East.

In response to the increased threats, the Illinois State Police are communicating with federal law-enforcement and reaching out to Muslim communities and religious leaders to offer support, according to a press release from Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

There are a number of American flags, pro-police and religious signs outside the house

Paying tribute to his young son, Oday told The Daily Beast that Wadea was 'basically a small angel in the form of a person'

'This is a heavy day that we hoped would never come. As they say, the smallest coffins are the heaviest,' Ahmed Rehab, executive director of CAIR-Chicago, said in a statement

Community members in metro-Chicago mourned the loss of Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, during a funeral on Monday

The child's school district said that counseling staffers would be available on Monday at the boy's school

'To take a six-year-old child's life in the name of bigotry is nothing short of evil,' Pritzker said.

'Wadea should be heading to school in the morning. Instead, his parents will wake up without their son. This wasn't just a murder - it was a hate crime. And every single Illinoisan - including our Muslim, Jewish, and Palestinian neighbors - deserves to live free from the threat of such evil.'

President Joe Biden commented on the boy's death, saying in a statement: 'This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are.'

He later wrote on X about his and his wife's reaction at hearing the news.

'Jill and I were sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a child and the attempted murder of the childs mother yesterday in Illinois.

'Our condolences and prayers are with the family. This act of hate against a Palestinian Muslim family has no place in America.

'As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal.'

The Justice Department said it opened a hate crime investigation into the attack.

'This horrific act of hate has no place in America, and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are,' President Joe Biden said.
A New York appeals court Thursday reinstated a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel after he disparaged a law clerk in his New York civil fraud trial.

The move came hours after Trump ripped the judge overseeing his $250 million fraud case, saying he should be impeached, and went after his wife with online posts accusing her of being a partisan. The court later said the judge's wife didn't even have a Twitter account and the posts weren't hers.

The decision from a four-judge panel came two weeks after an individual appellate judge had put the order on hold while the appeals process played out.

The trial judge, Arthur Engoron, imposed the gag order October 3 after Trump posted a derogatory comment about the judge's law clerk to social media.

A New York appeals court Thursday reinstated a gag order that barred Donald Trump from commenting about court personnel after he disparaged a law clerk in his New York civil fraud trial

The post, which included a baseless allegation about the clerk's personal life, came the second day of the trial in New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit.

James alleges Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals. Trump denies any wrongdoing.

Engoron later fined Trump $15,000 for violating the gag order and expanded it to include his lawyers after they questioned clerk Allison Greenfields prominent role on the bench, where she sits alongside the judge, exchanging notes and advising him during testimony.

Trump's lawyers filed a lawsuit against Engoron that challenged his gag order as an abuse of power.

Trump has gone after the judge, his chief law clerk, and his wife in online postings

Judge Engoron's 'gag' order had been on hold pending the appeal

Engoron slapped Trump with a $15,000 fine following an attack on his law clerk when the gag was in place. Trump has repeatedly attacked the judge and prosecutors while his lawyers defend him in his New York fraud trial

They sued the judge under a state law known as Article 78, which allows lawsuits over some judicial decisions.

The panel's ruling came hours after Trump once again went after the judge, his clerk, and the judge's wife.

'Judge Engorons Trump Hating wife, together with his very disturbed and angry law clerk, have taken over control of the New York State Witch Hunt Trial aimed at me, my family, and the Republican Party. This is such an embarrassment to all within the New York State Judicial System, as murder and violent crime rage like never before!' Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site.

However the court said in a statement that Justice Engoron's wife 'has not sent social media posts regarding the former president. They are not hers. She does not have an X, formerly Twitter, account,' CBS reported.

He then called for the judge to be impeached, while once again tearing into New York AG Letitia James, who brought the fraud charges against Trump and his company and accused the firm of massively inflating values to secure lending.

Trump has hammered James for her own valuation of Mar-a-Lago, based on county tax assessments, as an amount he calls ridiculously low.

'Judge Engoron and Letitia James should be impeached and removed from office for fraudulently reducing my Asset Values, by many times, in order to hurt and demean me. The bank, a major lender, totally disagrees with their numbers, and the fact that they would sue me on a loan that was PERFECT. It is a political Witch Hunt, and a great embarrassment to New York State. REMOVE THEM AND DISMISS THIS RIDICULOUS, NO VICTIM, NO JURY, CASE!' Trump wrote.

Trump has also gone after Judge Engoron's wife. His most recent post about her simply said 'Judge Engorons Wife' and reposted a tweet showing her apparent response to a tweet by Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.) calling Engoron a 'PATHETIC CIRCUS CLOWN!' and calling James 'racist,' a label Trump has himself leveled.

A poster with her name responded that 'The only racists are you white male politicians and those who vote for you.'

Trump also reposted a series of attacks on her by conservative activist Laura Loomer.

More to follow
FUKUOKA, Nov 30 ( News On Japan ) - Phan Thi Thanh Tam, the current Spouse of the President of Vietnam, tried her hand at painting Hakata dolls during a cultural exchange in Fukuoka City on Thursday.

President Tuong and Mrs. Tam, who have been visiting Japan since Nov 26, came to Fukuoka on Wednesday in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the friendship alliance between Fukuoka Prefecture and Hanoi, Vietnam.

At around 10:30 AM, Mrs. Tam visited the "Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan" where, after observing the weaving of Hakata-ori textiles, she carefully painted a pure white doll.

Mrs. Tam, the President's wife, remarked, "It's tricky."

Hakata doll artisan Yoshiaki Matsuo said, "I didn't think she can complete the face in such a short time, but she finished painting both the lips and eyes. She was very concentrated."

The President and his wife are scheduled to return to their country later Thursday.

Fukuoka Prefecture's Governor Hattori also plans to visit Hanoi next January for cultural exchanges.
The worst cities in he U.S. for shoplifting have been revealed - and surprisingly to many, the crime-ridden city of San Francisco did not take the top spot.

A study using law enforcement data compared current rates of shoplifting to pre-pandemic numbers in 24 major U.S. cities.

San Francisco - a city renowned for theft, drugs and homeless - saw a five percent decrease in shoplifting from January 2019 and June 2023.

Reported incidents in the Northern California city also fell 35 percent when comparing the first half of this year to the same time period in 2022 - which was the largest decrease seen out of the 24 cities included.

However, these figures may not show the whole story as it only included reports made to the police.

And data showed San Francisco's 22.99 incidents reported per 100,000 residents was much lower than the average - which was 38.6 across the other 23 cities.

A study using law enforcement data compared current rates of shoplifting in 2023 to pre-pandemic numbers from 2019 in 24 major U.S. cities

San Francisco - a city renowned for theft, drugs and homeless - surprisingly saw a five percent decrease in shoplifting from January 2019 and June 2023, according to data released showing how 24 U.S. cities rank in terms of shoplifting

The per capita data showed that their 22.99 residents incidents reported for 100,000 residents was much lower than the average - which was 38.6 across the other 23 cities (Pictured: Local Walgreens chains up the frozen food section to deter theft)

The rampant looting and theft caused the downfall of San Francisco's main shopping area - Union Square - and forced many major chains and local businesses to permanently shut their doors

The largest increases in shoplifting since before the pandemic were seen in New York, Los Angeles, Virginia Beach, Dallas, Raleigh, Boston and Pittsburgh.

Only those seven cities saw an increase in crime since January 2019 - with the remaining 17 seeing a negative percentage of change in shoplifting.

Other cities with surprisingly low rates of shoplifting included Chicago, Nashville and Minneapolis.

San Francisco saw a huge wave of crime during the pandemic especially during the BLM protests that came after the death of George Floyd.

Looting specifically became a huge problem for the city after protests in the city became so bad the Mayor London Breed had to impose an 8 pm curfew.

The rampant looting and theft caused the downfall of San Francisco's main shopping area - Union Square - and forced many major chains and local businesses to permanently shut their doors.

Starbucks, Whole Foods, IKEA, Nordstrom and the Disney store were all retailers that shut their San Francisco locations down as a result of the city's drastic issues with crime.

Meanwhile - shops that remain like Target and CVS have been forced to lock up their stock behind glass to deter shoplifters.

Despite losing half of its downtown stores since COVID hit - the data shows that San Francisco crime is on the decline following the pandemic.

Despite losing half of its downtown stores since COVID hit - the data shows that San Francisco crime is on the decline following the pandemic

Shops that remain like Target and CVS have been forced to lock up their stock behind glass to deter shoplifters

San Francisco plans to ramp up their police presence this holiday season to crack down on shoplifters - despite defunding the police just two years ago amidst BLM protests.

Union Square - the main shopping area in San Francisco - will see an increase in police officers patrolling the area surrounding Powell and Market streets just in time for the holiday shopping season.

Officials say the increased police presence will deter criminals and make the area safer for stores and shoppers.

The call for escalated police presence is in tandem with the city's efforts to discourage retail crime, control theft and encourage visitors to return to downtown San Fran after the crime-ridden city gained a reputation for drugs, homelessness and lawlessness.

Union Square - the main shopping area in San Francisco - will see an increase in police officers patrolling the area surrounding Powell and Market streets just in time for the holiday shopping season

Officials say the increased police presence will deter criminals and make the area safer for stores and shoppers

The increased police presence in Union Square is part of San Fran's Safe Shopper Initiative - which was announced by Breed in 2021 after a wave of looting swept over the city which primarily targeted luxury stores in Union Square.

New York took the top spot with a 64 percent increase - which comes as no surprise after the NYPD has been continuing to battle a growing wave of thefts at pharmacies and department stores.

According to Mayor Eric Adams - nearly a third of all shoplifting arrests involve the same 327 seasoned criminals.

Adams announced a new plan in May which involved a streamlined way for businesses to report shoplifting to the NYPD, establishes a neighborhood retail watch program, and creates specialized task force to respond to shoplifting incidents.

Los Angeles came second place for worst shoplifting city - with a 61 percent increase. This didn't come as a shock after the Southern California city saw a shocking 109 percent increase in the first six months of this year.
A married Texas car dealership heir has been found guilty of plotting to kill a sex worker and her boyfriend after they tried to blackmail him.

Erik Charles Maund, 48, paid two ex-Marines and an ex-Israel Defense Forces soldier $750,000 to kill Holly Williams, 33, and her partner William Lanway, 36, in 2020.

Williams and Lanway were both found shot several times in in his crashed Acura, which had veered off a road, down an embankment and into a tree in a Nashville construction site.

Maund was arrested over a year after the murders, along with Austin residents Gilad Peled, 47, and Byron Brockway, 46, and North Carolina resident Adam Carey, 30 - all former military men who worked with private security companies.

Prosecutors said Maund, the grandson of an automotive tycoon, plotted to kill the couple after he began receiving texts demanding $25,000 to conceal the extramarital encounters he had with Nashville-based Williams.

Erik Charles Maund, 46, paid two ex-Marines and a former Israel Defense Forces soldier $750,000 to kidnap and kill Holly Williams, 33, and her partner William Lanway, 36, in 2020

Holly Williams (right), 33, and William Lanway, 36 (left), were found dead in Lanway's crashed Acura sedan on March 12, 2020

Lanway's 2005 white Acura sedan (pictured) had veered off a construction road, down an embankment and into a tree, and its occupants were both fatally shot several times

The father-of-two began an investigation after receiving the threatening texts that resulted in the couple's murder just 11 days later.

Maund was found guilty of the murders after an 11-day trial earlier this month, in which former Marines Brockway and Carey were also convicted. They each face life in prison and will be sentenced next year separately.

Former IDF member Peled, on his part, pleaded guilty before the trial and was the star witness against the other defendants.

Maund had an encounter with Williams after texting her in February 2020 saying he was traveling to Nashville. The two had previously hooked up about a year earlier.

Peled claimed in court that Maund told his wife he was traveling to the city to visit their son in college, per transcripts seen by Fox News Digital.

'He told me that he went to visit his son, and while he was there, he was using escort services,' Peled testified, adding that Maund said he would be 'devastated' if his family discovered his extramarital escapades.

The 'hitmen': Former marines Byron Brockway (left), and Adam Carey of North Carolina (right), were found guilty of murdering the couple in the murder-for-hire plot

Former IDF member Gilad Peled Peled pleaded guilty before the trial and was the star witness against the other defendants

On March 1, William's boyfriend Lanway began sending a series of texts demanding money in exchange for keeping quiet about Maund's use of escort services.

The next day Maund contacted Peled and offered to pay him $60,000 to conduct an investigation into the sender of the texts.

Maund then enlisted family friend Brockway, who recruited Carey.

The two ex-marines and the former IDF fighter then traveled to Nashville to follow Williams and Lanway, but did not manage to make contact with them for 10 days.

Meanwhile the March 11, 2020, as the deadline for payment set by Lanway was approached, Mound panicked, prompting Brockway to go back to Nashville to 'solve the problem by taking Lanway out,' per Peled's testimony.

William's boyfriend Lanway tried extorting Maund after he had an encounter with the escort in 2020. Williams and Lanway are pictured together

Maund took up the offer and agreed to pay $100,000 each to Brockway and Carey. The heir also gave $550,000 to Peled, per prosecutors.

Brockway then shot Lanway in the parking lot of William's apartment building, and Carey killed Williams after driving to the construction site where the bodies were found.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire said after the verdict: 'It's not going to bring Holly and William back, but they now know that the people who murdered them are going to be held accountable for what they've done.'

The Maund automotive group, which operates its flagship location out of 6900 Burnett Road in Austin, is prominent in the Central Texas area.

In 1945, Maund's grandfather opened a used car lot in Port Arthur at the age of 18, and eventually acquired four more lots. Over time, he bought out four car dealerships in the area, according to the company's website.
The son of Partygate investigator - and now Keir Starmer's chief aide - Sue Gray has been selected as the candidate for a Labour target seat.

Liam Conlon will stand in Beckenham & Penge at the general election after being picked by local activists last night.

The campaigner and disability rights activist saw off rival Melanie Ward in a fierce contest, and could now find himself in Parliament next year.

The new seat in south-east London has been created by the Boundary Commission's review.

The area is currently represented by retiring MP Bob Stewart, who recently surrendered the Tory whip after being convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence. He is appealing against the verdict.

Liam Conlon will stand in Beckenham & Penge at the general election after being picked by local activists last night

Mr Conlon is the son of Partygate investigator - and now Keir Starmer 's chief aide - Sue Gray

Mr Conlon posted on the X social media site to say he was 'honoured' to have been chosen

Pollsters believe that Labour is on track to win the constituency comfortably if there is not a dramatic shift in public opinion.

Mr Conlon posted on the X social media site: 'Honoured to have been selected to be our candidate for Beckenham & Penge Thank you everyone who supported me & engaged in this process.

'The past weeks have shown the incredible potential of our new local party Look forward to campaigning to win Beckenham & Penge together.'

Mr Conlon also thanked his rivals, saying they had 'run fantastic, engaging campaigns and I'm proud to call them friends'.

Ms Gray was the mandarin who led the Partygate investigation, delivering a bruising verdict about the culture in Downing Street under Boris Johnson.

But news that she had been tapped up by Sir Keir to become his chief of staff sparked a huge row about Whitehall impartiality.

Supporters of Mr Johnson said that it proved her controversial probe into the former PM's behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic was a 'cynical stitch-up' by his political opponents.

Labour has insisted that Ms Gray's experience in Whitehall will help Sir Keir hit the ground running should he become PM next year.
The mother of a 6-foot 6-inch autistic teenager who viscously beat a teacher aide unconscious in Florida has claimed prison is a 'death sentence' for her son.

Leanne Depa spoke out for the first time since Brendan Depa, then 17, violently attacked Joan Naydich at Matanzas High School in February after he was told to stop playing on his Nintendo Switch.

The teenager, now 18, was seen punching and kicking the educator in the back and head until she lay on the ground unconscious. He pleaded no contest as an adult for first-degree aggravated battery.

'I am terrified for my child,' Leanne told NewsNation's Banfield through tears. 'I feel like if he gets sentenced to prison, its a death sentence for him.

She apologized to Naydich for the attack but pleaded for her to 'show mercy' after the victim called on the teenager to be locked up for the maximum of 30 years.

The mother of a 6-foot 6-inch autistic teenager who viscously beat a teacher aide unconscious in Florida has claimed prison is a 'death sentence' for her son.

Leanne Depa spoke out for the first time since Brendan Depa, then 17, violently attacked Joan Naydich at Matanzas High School in February after he was told to stop playing on his Nintendo Switch

He pleaded no contest as an adult for first-degree aggravated battery. Pictured: Brendan appears in a Florida court on October 30

Brendan is set to be sentenced for the attack on Naydich in which she suffered five broken ribs, a severe concussion and loss of hearing in one of her ears.

The teacher's aide alleged she was placed on an unpaid leave of absence shortly after returning to work in August under a different title and has been surviving on charity from the community. Her gofundme campaign has raised $120,000 so far.

Naydich has been vocal in her calls for the teenager to face the harshest possible sentence.

But his mother Leanne has begged her to show him mercy. 'I am so sorry for what my son did,' she said.

'Nobody should ever have to go through that but at the same time but please consider he has had a hard life and he has gone through so much trauma in his life.

'He has autism. Please show mercy to him.'

She added: 'Hes scared and to have your child call and cry and say I dont want to die, its awful.

'Its devastating that my heart is breaking.'

Leanne has questioned why Brendan was charged as an adult and said she was told his severe autism was not a defense.

'He was originally charged as a juvenile and two days later he was direct filed and his [autism] was not considered,' she said.

'My understanding is that autism is not a defense and it cant even be considered until the sentencing phase.'

Leanne does not understand why her son's Nintendo Switch was allowed to be part of his day and that previous attempts to remove it from him resulted in a crisis team being called.

'Thats something I ask every day and I dont understand why,' she said.

'In his IEP it was stated that in the intensive behavior group home that he was living in, if they ever had to remove it as a consequence, they called in the crisis team.

'The original IEP called for a token economy to motivate him to do his work so he could earn tokens to go to things like a snack closet.

'I am terrified for my child,' Leanne told NewsNation's Banfield through tears. 'I feel like if he gets sentenced to prison, its a death sentence for him'

The teenager, now 18, was seen punching and kicking the educator in the back and head until she lay on the ground unconscious

Naydich has been vocal in her calls for the teenager to face the harshest possible sentence

Naydich suffered five broken ribs, a severe concussion and loss of hearing in one of her ears following the attack

'This year he had a new teacher. It was her first year teaching and I dont know if she didnt understand the IEP, or if she didnt read it.

'But she approached the group home and asked the group home to send it in.'

She added that she did not want to send him to public school but had no choice.

'He originally was in an autism behavioral hospital back before Covid hit. He was placed in a behavioral group home and I questioned it at the beginning,' Leanne said.

'I had always home-schooled him because he didnt handle the school environment. I asked the group home, did he have to go to public school, could he not do school online.

'I was assured by them that all their clients went to public school.

'So even though he was a level six, I never thought he belonged in public school. I didnt have a choice.'

Naydich previously told Fox35: 'I was attacked on February 21st and I feel like I'm just constantly being attacked.

The educator said she has been struggling to get her workers' compensation case resolved.

She claimed she returned to work in August under a different title but was placed on unpaid leave just a few days later.

Naydich said she is frustrated with the lack of support from the Flagler County School District. She also revealed she has not watched the harrowing video of her beating since it was released and does not want to.

Naydich said Brendan was angry with another member of staff who did not allow him to play on his Nintendo Switch.

She confirmed she did not take his device from him before the attack.

She has visited several different doctors who are searching for a diagnosis for some of the neurological symptoms she now has.

'Everybody that knows me or knew me [before the attack], knows that I'm a totally different person now,' she said. 'My whole life was just turned upside down.'

Naydich claimed her speech has slowed, she has issues with patience and frequently has difficulty with routine cognitive functions.

Naydich claimed her speech has slowed, she has issues with patience and frequently has difficulty with routine cognitive functions

Naydich said she is frustrated with the lack of support from the Flagler County School District and that she is living off donations from the community

Depa is currently being held at the Flagler County jail on $1 million bond and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 31

'Unfortunately, a lot of my injuries that are not visible I'm going to have for the rest of my life,' she added.

Brendan has pleaded no contest to the charge and now faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison which is what Naydich wants.

She said she is willing to speak up at the court hearing if necessary.

'I want to make sure he is not able to walk the streets freely,' she added.

'I have no idea what closure looks like right now. I just want to be whole again.'

Brendan had three prior battery arrests before the February attack and was in a prison fight in September, the Post reported.

He was led shackled into court in Florida wearing an orange jumpsuit on October 30 to plea to the charges. The minimum recommended prison sentence is just short of three years.

His lawyer, Kurt Teifke, sought to have him declared incompetent to stand trial, because he is autistic.

A court-appointed psychologist found Brendan was in fact competent to stand trial and Circuit Judge Terence Perkins will decided his fate early next year.

Brendan's family had hoped to minimize or eliminate prison time altogether and instead focus on probation and treatment for their son, but the prosecution appears to have been unwilling to negotiate.

Naydich has also 'shown no interest in mitigating what penalties Depa might face'.

He is currently being held at the Flagler County Jail on $1 million bond and his sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 31.
Alistair Darling is being widely remembered for two things - his wisdom and his calmness in a crisis - following his death at the age of 70.

Both of those characteristics were on display when the long-serving Labour MP endured his greatest political test in 2008.

With Britain facing economic meltdown amid the global credit crunch, Lord Darling emerged from the chaos with an enhanced reputation.

This followed what was widely regarded as his careful stewardship of the Treasury - and his bold bailout of Britain's biggest banks - during those deeply worrying days.

But it was not to be the final act of his long political career, as Lord Darling took the fight to the 'Yes' campaign during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

He engaged in bruising TV debates with then SNP leader Alex Salmond as he battled to save the Union in his role as chairman of the Better Together campaign.

His side was ultimately successful as Lord Darling hailed how Scots had 'chosen unity over division and positive change rather than needless separation'.

Ex-Labour chancellor Alistair Darling, pictured in October last year, has died aged 70 after a short spell in an Edinburgh hospital being treated for cancer

Lord Darling served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2007 and 2010, during which time he helped lead Britain through the chaos of the global credit crunch

Lord Darling hugged his wife Maggie outside 11 Downing Street as he prepared to present what would be his last Budget as Chancellor in March 2010

Lord Darling pictured having breakfast with his wife Maggie and private secretary Ann Coffey in Downing Street in 2009

He and Gordon Brown did not always have the easiest relationship as Chancellor and PM, with Lord Darling once revealing how Mr Brown's No10 team had unleased the 'forces of hell' on him

Born in London in 1953, Lord Darling was educated at Aberdeen University  from where he was given an honorary doctorate in 2018  earning a degree in law.

After a legal career, he embarked on a near-28-year spell in the House of Commons when he was first elected Labour MP for Edinburgh Central in 1987.

He continued to serve as an MP in the Scottish capital when redrawn constituency boundaries saw him represent the new Edinburgh South West seat between 2005 and 2015.

Lord Darling entered ministerial office immediately after New Labour's landslide general election win in 1997, when he served as Sir Tony Blair's Chief Secretary of the Treasury.

He went on to be appointed Work and Pensions Secretary, Transport Secretary, Scotland Secretary and Trade and Industry Secretary during several reshuffles under Sir Tony's premiership.

When Mr Brown replaced Sir Tony as prime minister in 2007, he appointed Lord Darling to succeed him as Chancellor.

Lord Darling went on to lead the Treasury for the entirety of Mr Brown's premiership, until Labour's defeat at the 2010 general election.

It was during his time in charge of the nation's finances when Lord Darling faced his toughest test in politics as the 2008 financial crisis hit.

He led a multi-billion pound bailout of Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB and HBOS to help them survive the credit crunch.

This effectively nationalised some of Britain's biggest banks as the Government intervened to save them from a devastating collapse.

Lord Darling hit the headlines in August 2008, before the scale of the financial crisis was clear, when he was quoted by The Guardian as saying the economic challenges 'are arguably the worst they've been in 60 years... and I think it's going to be more profound and long-lasting than people thought'.

The comments infuriated Mr Brown who was wondering whether to call a general election at the time. In the end he called one in 2010.

Lord Darling later revealed how Mr Brown's team in No10 had unleashed the 'forces of hell' on him after his stern warning in the newspaper interview.

With Britain facing economic meltdown amid the global credit crunch, Lord Darling emerged from the chaos with an enhanced reputation

Lord Darling, pictured in 1992, spent nearly 28 years in the House of Commons as an MP representing Edinburgh

Lord Darling, pictured at the Labour Party conference in Blackpool in 1998, entered ministerial office immediately after New Labour's landslide general election win in 1997

Lord Darling pictured in May 1982, when he was a Labour councillor

Lord Darling and Mr Brown reunited as they campaigned together during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum

Speaking in a documentary on the 10-year anniversary of the financial crash, Lord Darling laid out just how close RBS came to collapsing.

'I had to go to one of these meetings of European finance ministers, and I was asked to come out and take a call from the then chairman of RBS (Tom McKillop) who said the bank was haemorrhaging money,' he told the BBC in 2017.

'Remember this was not only the biggest in the world, it was about the same size as the entire UK economy.

'I said to him, 'How long can you last?' And what he said to me shook me to the core. He said, 'Well we're going to run out of money in the early afternoon'.'

Despite the feuding between the top two figures in government at the tail end of New Labour's spell in power, Lord Darling and Mr Brown reunited as they campaigned together during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

Lord Darling was chosen as chairman of the Better Together campaign, which launched in 2012, and took part in two highly-publicised TV debates with then Scottish first minister Alex Salmond

These featured testy exchanges between the pair ahead of the vote on September 18 2014, which saw Scots choose by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay in the UK.

In a speech delivered after the result, Lord Darling said Scots had 'chosen unity over division and positive change rather than needless separation'.

Lord Darling and Mr Brown were also both on the Remain side during the EU referendum two years later.

He was nominated for a peerage in 2015, when he formally became known as Baron Darling of Roulanish.

He retired from the House of Lords in 2020.
The 59-year-old neighbor of a missing Indiana teenager has been arrested for her murder after police found her body stuffed under rubble in a barrel on the man's yard, just 100 yards from her family home.

Valerie Tindall, 17, vanished on June 7 from Arlington, Indiana. She was last seen with neighbor Patrick Scott, 59, who she worked for.

Yesterday, police found her remains in a barrel on Scott's property. He is now in jail on a murder charge.

Patrick Scott, 59, has been arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Valerie Tindall. Her remains were found in a barrel on his property yesterday

Valerie vanished from her home on June 7. Her body was found in her neighbor's yard yesterday just 100 yards from where she went missing

Details of the case including Scott's motive and why they were together the day she vanished remain unclear.

Valerie worked for his landscaping company and was also friends with his granddaughter.

Now, her family is reeling from the fact she was killed by someone who posed as a friend.

'How the hell could you come in my yard, look us in the eyes and act like our friends?' Valerie's grief-stricken mother said on Thursday.

Valerie was last seen leaving home on the afternoon of June 7, sparking a desperate police search.

Agents searched Patrick Scott's home yesterday in Arlington, a suburb of Indianapolis, and found the teenager's body. It's unclear whether this was the first search of the home

Her family say Scott tried to console them as they waited for news, telling them she had likely run away.

When interviewed by police, Scott lied by claiming he'd seen Valerie get into a 'pale blue car' .

He said the vehicle was being driven by a man whose face he could not make out.

Valerie's mother said the family 'moved away from violence' to a neighborhood where they thought they would be safe.

It's unclear where they had been living before.
A police officer who conned a vulnerable elderly widow out of more than 18,000 has been jailed for 20 months.

Police Constable Sam Smith befriended a frail 81-year-old and then used her bank and credit cards to buy a number of expensive goods including a 65-inch television, motorcycle gear and computer gaming kit, while he was living in Kingsbridge, Devon.

A court heard how the fraudster even went as far as to sign for gaming chair using the name of the victim's late husband as part of his spending spree between March and August 2020.

The 31-year-old first met the pensioner, who was suffering from cancer and alcohol-related dementia, while on-duty when he was called to her South Devon home to check on her welfare.

The housebound victim, who died in November 2020, had no family or support network and did not use the internet. Smith's fraudulent exploits were therefore only uncovered when the victim's solicitor raised suspicions about the online expenditure on the woman's bank statement.

Police Constable Sam Smith befriended a frail 81-year-old and then used her bank and credit cards to buy a number of expensive goods

Mr Smith, now of Long Lane, London, admitted eight counts of fraud - totalling 18,276 - when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court today and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

The court heard how Mr Smith first met the victim in November 2019 when he attended her home in the Dartmouth area and subsequently visited the address numerous times while on and off-duty.

The victim lived alone and was struggling to care for herself as her poor health deteriorated further.

Smith went on to spend thousands of pounds online whilst off-duty on items such as gaming and computer kit, a 65-inch television, a soundbar, an air weapon and accessories, and motorcycle gear.

A number of the items were found in Smith's Kingsbridge home when officers searched the property.

The crimes were uncovered when a solicitor appointed to review the victim's financial affairs became concerned over the online transactions.

Suspicion was raised as the victim had never embraced the internet, did not use e-mail or own a mobile phone. She had never made purchases on the web or with her cards.

The solicitor's concerns were originally reported to police in September 2020, but an initial investigation did not identify Mr Smith's involvement.

However, the case was reviewed and reopened in May 2022 and a link made between the online purchases and Smith.

He was on an unpaid career break when his involvement in the frauds was uncovered. Mr Smith resigned from the Force in July 2023.

Smith went on to spend thousands of pounds online whilst off-duty on items such as gaming and computer kit, a 65-inch television, a soundbar, an air weapon and accessories, and motorcycle gear

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Emily Sheppard said: 'I never knew or met the victim as she sadly passed away in November 2020, but I felt I got to know her a little while investigating these offences.

'She lived an extremely interesting life and remained fiercely independent until her final year when her health sadly deteriorated.

'Throughout my enquiries she has always been in my thoughts. I am deeply saddened that I have had to investigate the actions of a former colleague for these offences.

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'His actions do not represent the values held by the majority of officers who diligently do their best to help and serve the public every day.'

Superintendent Jo Arundale, head of Devon and Cornwall Police's Professional Standards Department, added: 'We note and welcome the sentencing of Sam Smith today for what are appalling crimes involving a vulnerable victim.

'Smith's actions were wrong, illegal and he now faces the consequences of that.

'All police officers have a privileged role in being part of a Force responsible for the safeguarding of vulnerable people.

'Devon and Cornwall Police takes any reports of illegal or inappropriate conduct extremely seriously.

'All officers and staff are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics and ensure the highest standards of behaviour, both on and off duty.

'I can reassure the public that the overwhelming majority of our officers and staff work diligently to help to keep the public safe, uphold our high standards and provide an exceptional service to our communities.

'We will always take the appropriate action when standards fall below those expected and continue to learn from any instances where they do.'

















The offences happened while Smith was off-duty and was living in Kingsbridge, Devon.
Meta has shut down thousands of fake American Facebook accounts set up by 'foreign threat actors' in China to sow discord ahead of the US election.

The social media giant - which owns Facebook and Instagram - identified a network of 4,789 fake accounts masquerading as everyday American people.

The profiles had fake photos, names and locations and were sharing political messages from across the political spectrum, including some from US politicians like Ron DeSantis and Nancy Pelosi.

The accounts shared content from both liberal and conservative sources, suggesting its goal was not to support one side or the other, but to exaggerate partisan divisions and further inflame polarization.

Ben Nimmo, who leads investigations into inauthentic behavior on Metas platforms, said the network is a 'warning'.

Meta's Q3 'Adversarial Threat Report' gave examples of some of the fake accounts and the posts they shared

The fake accounts shared messages from figures across the political spectrum, copying and pasting them directly onto their own profiles

He said: 'These networks still struggle to build audiences, but theyre a warning.

'Foreign threat actors are attempting to reach people across the internet ahead of next years elections, and we need to remain alert.'

He warned that malicious actors in China, Russia and Iran had all actively set up fake profiles recently and were the 'most prolific geographic sources of foreign influence operations'.

Meta said it also removed 'six Facebook accounts, one Page, and three Instagram accounts in Russia that targeted global English-speaking audiences.

'The network posted primarily in English about Russias invasion of Ukraine and ran fictitious media brands.'

The most recent China network of fake profiles started off sharing 'normal' content of pets or fashion before moving to political posts designed to influence debate around Chinese foreign relations.

Some of the accounts then 'unusually' abruptly changed their usernames and profile pictures to suggest they lived in India, before sharing content related to China and Tibet.

The accounts shared posts from across the political spectrum including messages from Nancy Pelosi and Ron DeSantis to fuel polarization in the US

Meta warned there are foreign actors attempting to use social media to sow discord in America and other countries ahead of the November election

In its Q3 'Adversarial Threat Report' Meta warned: 'We anticipate that if relations with China become an election issue in a particular country, it is likely that well see China-based influence operations pivot to attempt to influence those debates.'

The most recent network demonstrates how foreign powers can utilize social media to spread disinformation and influence voters ahead of the November US election.

Meta determined the accounts were created in China, but did not publicly link the them to the Chinese government.

But the type of political content shared by the accounts is typical of other Chinese government propaganda campaigns which have sought to divide Americans.

A report by the US government earlier this year laid out what it sees as a coordinated campaign to change public opinion in America by buying content, setting up fake profiles and repressing unfavorable accounts.

The new Meta report also warned that even if they do not directly influence the election, China, Russia and Iran could carry out 'perception hacking' where they damage people's perception of the electoral process.

The report said: 'Perception hacking aims to sow doubt in democratic processes or in the very concept of facts without the threat actors actually having to impact the process itself.'

Meta said that in this instance they managed to remove the accounts before they gained traction with real people and communities.

China's President Xi Jinping is pictured. Concerns are growing over his country's funding of America's public schools

This week, Congress warned that the US has little grasp of how deep China's network of espionage and influence operations runs through the nation.

Members of the bipartisan House China Select Committee have released a memo detailing how the U.S. has failed to combat Beijing's infiltration - and it could get worse.

The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) presence on American soil has already revealed itself in the network of secret police stations in major cities and the 'Little Red Classrooms' in kindergartens.

The threat comes from the united front, a political strategy Xi Jinping has called his 'magic weapon'.

It's the plan the CCP uses to influence beyond its circle without the information appearing to come directly from the Chinese government.

China spends billions on the united front system each year. United front is affiliated with some 600 groups in the U.S., according to a 2020 Newsweek report, that are all in regular touch with the CCP.
Surveillance footage has captured the moment an elderly mobster punched a restaurateur in a reported attempt to collect a $86,000 gambling debt.

Jurors were shown the clip at an ongoing Brooklyn trial against Anthony 'Rom' Romanello, 86, an alleged capo in the Genovese family.

Romanello is accused of shaking down Shuqeri 'Bruno' Selimaj and attacking him inside Lincoln Square Steak restaurant in Manhattan in 2017.

In the video, the two men can be seen engaging in what appears to be a heated discussion, before Romanello delivers a right-handed punch to Selimaj's jaw.

Selimaj can be seen raising his hands as he backs away from Romanello and another man, who the New York Post identified as Irish bookie Mike Regan.

The two men can be seen engaging in what appears to be a heated discussion, before Anthony Romanello delivers a right handed punch to Shuqeri Selimaj's jaw

Romanello is accused of shaking down Selimaj and attacking him inside Lincoln Square Steak restaurant in Manhattan in 2017

Others inside the restaurant try to break up the trio before Regan and Romanello walk out of the establishment.

According to the Post, Selimaj recalled on Wednesday: 'Rom kept saying, 'I'd like to punch you'  I said, 'You have no guts to punch me. A few seconds later, he punched me.'

Selimaj also testified that he then informed the two men that they had been recorded on his restaurant's security camera, with Romanello telling Regan: 'Let's get out of here.'

Romanello's lawyer Jerry McMahon told the jury the punch was nothing to do with an extortion plot, and that Romanello had been defending his honor.

McMahon told the court that Selimaj had insulted him, saying he was a 'washed up Italian' that 'had no balls' and 'was nothing'.

The Post also reported McMahon had said prosecutors wanted to portray Romanello as having delivered a blow akin to that of 1950s boxer Rocky Marciano.

McMahon then said: 'People who have viewed the video will say my client punches "like a girl."'

Prosecutors have alleged that mafiosos had visited Selimaj three times in an attempt to threaten him so he would pay off a relatives' debt.

Alleged Genovese associate Joseph Celso, seen here, is also said to have been involved in the incident

Others inside the restaurant try to break up the trio before Regan and Romanello walk out of the restaurant

Selimaj had appeared as the first witness in the case, and claimed that he offered to pay his nephew's $6,000 debt, but not his nephew's brother-in-law's $80,000 debt.

That decision is said to have thrown Romanello into a rage, causing him to appear at the restaurant.

Selimaj reported the incident to the police but he recanted the next day after his brother passed him a message allegedly given by Genovese soldier Joseph Celso, he told the court.

Celso is on trial alongside Romanello on extortion charges, and another charge of obstruction of justice for the alleged threat on Selimaj.

Prosecutors say Celso and Romanello were roped into an extortion scheme by alleged Genovese associate Luan Bexheti.

Joseph Celso, 49, (left) and Romanello, 86, (right) are both purported to be members of the Genovese crime family. They are seen here in May of this year after being indicted

Prosecutors say Celso and Romanello were roped into an extortion scheme by alleged Genovese associate Luan Bexheti, seen here

Celso's lawyer Gerrard Marone told the court on Wednesday that his client had nothing to do with the case.

He said: 'He didn't menace anyone, certainly didn't punch anyone. My client is not involved in the drama.'

Selimaj testified that he knew the visits from the two were a means to intimidate him, and he eventually paid the debt due to it.

He said: 'I was afraid this mafia guy was going to hurt me, [hurt] my nephew.'

The Post also reported that Brooklyn federal prosecutor Rebecca Schuman told the jury in her opening statement: 'Bruno knew that crossing Romanello could have real consequences  violent consequences.'

Romanello faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty, while Celso faces up to 60 years if convicted.

In 1993 Celso was acquitted for the murder of Manuel Maya, 18, a Dominican student who was chased for 17 blocks by a group of white men before being beaten to death with a baseball bat and a fire extinguisher, after the teen had been spotted spraying graffiti in a park.

Celso was identified as a member of the group, but he was acquitted after the witness testifying against him left the country and refused to return.

Romanello dodged a firearms charge in 2012 when the witness testifying against him suffered a heart attack before the trial.
A massive military intelligence aircraft finds itself stuck on a reef in a Hawaii Bay after it overshot a runway at a Marine base in Hawaii and crashed into the ocean last week.

The U.S. Navy released underwater footage on Wednesday, revealing the plane's tires lodged in the coral as fish navigate through rock fissures.

The video provides a glimpse of the aftermath of the crash that occurred last week when the U.S. Navy P-8A plane missed its mark while attempting to land at a U.S. Marines base, located ten miles from Honolulu, on October 20.

Nine people on board were forced to swim back to shore after smashing into the sea in the rainy weather. None of them were physically harmed.

The recently released video 'depicts the two points of contact the aircraft has with the coral and the remainder of the aircraft floating above,' authorities said.

A massive military intelligence aircraft finds itself stuck on a reef in a Hawaii Bay after overshooting a runway at a Marine base in Hawaii and crashing into the ocean last week

The U.S. Navy released underwater footage, revealing the plane's tires lodged in the coral as fish navigate through rock fissures

The U.S. Navy P-8A plane missed its mark while attempting to land at a U.S. Marines base, located ten miles from Honolulu, on October 20

The US Navy P-8A plane landed in shallow water offshore of Marine Corps Base ten miles away from Honolulu after it missed mark on October 20.

On Sunday, a Navy team removed 'just about all' of the estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel on the plane, Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox said.

No fuel was leaked Into Kaneohe Bay as state officials monitored the defueling, Lenox confirmed.

The crash damaged some coral, but has done limited harm to the area, which is a 'critical ecosystem and a cherished part of the local community,' Lenox told Honolulu Civil Beat.

The Navy is still investigating what caused the plane to overshoot a runway, and is developing a plan to remove the aircraft.

The salvage plan will prioritize 'safety of people, safety of the environment and restoring combat capability of the aircraft,' the Navy said Wednesday.

The recently released video 'depicts the two points of contact the aircraft has with the coral and the remainder of the aircraft floating above,' authorities said

Marine Corps Base Kaneohe is home to over 25,000 Marines, sailors, family members and civilian employees

Aircraft expert Peter Forman said the runway in Kaneohe is shorter than usual, and bad weather and Kona winds may also have played a part.

'The pilot probably didn't put the plane down exactly where he wanted to on the runway,' he told Hawaii News Now.

'It's probably a combination of all those factors put together.'

The P-8A, a Poseidon reconnaissance plane used for intelligence, is manufactured by Boeing and shares many parts with the 737 commercial jet.

Marine Corps Base Kaneohe is home to over 25,000 Marines, sailors, family members and civilian employees.
UNHCR, November 17, 2023

Caroline Gluck

Abdul made the decision to leave Pakistan, the country where he had spent all his 23 years, in a matter of hours.

He and his family, who include a baby son, hurriedly packed what they could in the night and set off for the border with Afghanistan the next morning. It was just one day before a 1 November deadline set by the Government of Pakistan for over 1 million undocumented foreigners to return to their countries. After the deadline, immigration enforcement measures would be applied.

Refugees like Abdul were officially exempted from the Governments repatriation plan, which was announced on 3 October, but UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other UN agencies, have received reports that registered refugees and other Afghans holding legal documents are also facing pressure from law enforcement authorities to leave Pakistan.

Abdul had heard similar reports from Afghan community leaders in Karachi. It was better to leave than being caught and arrested by the police, he said. In 24 hours, our lives changed.

In total, more than 350,000 people have returned to Afghanistan since the announcement, and the number arriving at borders exhausted and in need of emergency assistance continues to grow.

Starting from zero

Pakistan is host to 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees while another 840,000 hold Citizenship Cards that give them some protection. A further 1.5 million Afghans are estimated to be living in Pakistan without any documentation, including some 600,000 who arrived in the country following Afghanistans takeover by the de facto authorities in August 2021.

Days after arriving in Afghanistan, Abdul is still dazed by his familys sudden departure. At a UNHCR centre in Samarkhel, in north-eastern Nangarhar province, they have received protection counselling and been provided with assistance, including a return cash grant, vaccinations and health checks. But Abdul remains concerned about their future. Like many of those arriving, it is his first time in Afghanistan. He was born in Pakistan, where he worked as a shopkeeper, selling fabrics in a local market.

Im the elder son and responsible for the family. Finding work is our main concern, he said. My father went as a refugee to Pakistan and started from zero, just as we are doing now.

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.

At the border crossing point in Spin Boldak, father-of-eight Assadullah has just arrived from Pakistan in a colourfully painted truck loaded with household belongings. He left Afghanistan at the age of eight, following the Soviet invasion in 1979, and spent 44 years in Quetta, Pakistan. Despite his many years there, he felt he had no choice but to leave.

Recently, we felt so much harassment. They were searching our homes, arresting us on the streets, taking our money and not accepting our refugee cards. We thought things would improve, but they got worse day by day.

Restrictions imposed by the Government of Pakistan mean that returnees cannot bring with them more than 50,000 rupees (US$173) in cash. Like Abdul, Assadullah is worried about starting over in Afghanistan. We have no house, no job, nothing. But at least there is peace, and no-one is harassing us.

Competing humanitarian needs

In recent years, the number of Afghan refugees choosing to return home through UNHCRs voluntary repatriation programme has been relatively low  6,424 in 2022. This year, more refugees have been approaching UNHCR requesting to return, with numbers rising dramatically in October after the return deadline was announced by Pakistan and reaching 24,000 by mid-November. UNHCRs programme provides support to returning refugees, including protection assistance and a cash grant.

Many recent arrivals, like father-of-12, Obaidullah, are currently staying with relatives in Jalalabad and elsewhere until they can find housing and work.

I have a big family and Im worried how Im going to support them; how we can find a proper place to live. Im finding it hard to find daily work.

His eldest son, Imran, is trying to get a passport to find work to help support the family. Meanwhile his English-speaking daughter, 18-year-old Kainat, is devastated by the move. I studied in Pakistan and my dream was to become a doctor. This opportunity is closed to me in Afghanistan, she said.

The abrupt return of hundreds of thousands of Afghans just before the onset of winter is expected to worsen the countrys already severe humanitarian crisis, with greater competition for scarce resources  including housing, health services, and jobs. At the same time, humanitarian agencies are struggling with substantial funding shortfalls as well as trying to respond to the devastating earthquakes in western Herat province in October.

The mass arrivals couldnt have happened at a worse time, said UNHCRs Representative in Afghanistan, Leonard Zulu. We are dealing with many competing humanitarian needs and now huge numbers of arrivals, many without any family support or coping mechanisms here. It makes for a very grim winter and a difficult time ahead.

The de facto authorities and ordinary Afghans are also rallying to support the new arrivals  providing tents, cash assistance for families, help with transport, food and other items  but the challenges ahead are enormous.
The family of a TV journalist who was found dead is seeking a judicial review after claims police mishandled an investigation into allegations she was the victim of domestic abuse.

Teresa McMahon, 43, who worked as a producer and news editor for ITV, was found hanging inside her home in Little Hulton, Salford, on August 3, 2021.

Her aunt Lorna McMahon, 60, told a pre-inquest review in February last year that the mother-of-one was physically abused in the days before hear death.

She said Ms McMahon had been assaulted 'on a number of occasions' and had even talked of fleeing to London for three months to escape her situation.

Mrs McMahon also said she raised 'safeguarding concerns' around her niece.

Reports of concerns of abuse were made to police before her death, by friends, colleagues and relatives, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.

But an investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had ruled out any criminal activity.

Teresa McMahon, 43, who worked as a producer and news editor for ITV , was found hanging inside her home in Little Hulton, Salford, on August 3, 2021

At another pre-inquest review, in August, last year, coroner Timothy Brennand, described Ms McMahon as 'a vulnerable individual locked in a coercive and controlling relationship', which he also described as 'toxic'.

Ms McMahon's family have previously called for a criminal investigation into her death but GMP have ruled one out.

A further pre-inquest review took place at Bolton Coroner's Court on Thursday where Mrs McMahon said she had made an application to the High Court for a judicial review.

She argued there if there was evidence police had not carried out a proper investigation into her niece's death there was a wider 'public interest' at stake.

Mrs McMahon claimed she'd been told she could direct questions at police officers in attendance, but coroner Alan Walsh said she could only do so at the full inquest, with a date yet to be decided.

But Mr Walsh did address some of Mrs McMahon's concerns, making a direction for all police officers who had attended the scene to provide statements and for enquires to be made about members of the public seen on body worn video.

He called for 'transparency' from GMP to avoid breeding 'suspicion' and also directed the disclosure of the body warn footage - noting there was no photograph of the scene - and audio of a three-minute telephone call Ms McMahon made to a friend.

Reports of concerns of abuse were made to police before her death, by friends, colleagues and relatives, Bolton Coroner's Court (pictured) heard

ITV producer Teresa McMahon, 43, was the victim of abuse in the days leading up to her death, her aunt Lorna told a pre-inquest hearing in February last year

In January, the police watchdog report revealed that GMP delayed seeing Ms McMahon for nine days due to 'resourcing issues' after she made a report of domestic abuse in July 2021.

She was found dead less than two weeks later.

The force, the report said, also failed to inform Ms McMahon of her former partner's violent history when she requested it under Clare's Law, and lost vital bodycam footage of her discussing her concerns.

GMP were ordered to review a complaint of how it handled an investigation into Ms McMahon's death after her family complained to the police watchdog.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the investigation of the family's complaint 'was not adequate, reasonable or proportionate' and that 'lines of enquiry had not been pursued'.

The IOPC directed the force 'to reinvestigate the complaints in line with procedures outlined in their domestic abuse policy'.

But it emerged in July that the GMP's review of its original investigation had found it wasn't flawed and a criminal investigation was not warranted.

The IOPC then concluded, in September, that GMP's investigation was reasonable and proportionate, and it's this response which has prompted the family's application for a judicial review.

The IOPC and GMC were contacted for comment.
The M&M manufacturer said it has a plan to end child labor in its supply

Mars, the maker of some of America's most beloved candies, has been exposed for using child labor to harvest cocoa beans in Ghana, a new bombshell report found.

CBS News visited Ghana's remote cocoa belt and found children as young as five working on farms that supply the chocolate giant - despite the company's pledge to protect children.

Shocking footage shows small children carrying machetes into the fields, with one nearly taking his fingers off as he hacked open a cocoa pod.

The M&M and Snickers manufacturer said it has a monitoring system to keep children in schools - but CBS News obtained copies of the list and confirmed that some of the kids were working in the fields.

'Personally, I've made up lists before. And I can say on authority that almost every data, almost every data is cooked,' said one cocoa field supervisor.

A CBS News report found children who were listed as attending school were actually working to harvest cocoa beans

Even children that do attend school carry machetes with them to harvest before and after class

Field supervisors contracted by Mars gave children backpacks and school books with the phrase 'I am a child, I play, I go to school' on them

Munira, 15, is one of those children listed as in school but still working in the cocoa fields.

She said last year she was visited by field supervisors contracted by Mars who gave her a backpack and school books with the phrase 'I am a child, I play, I go to school' printed on them.

'I feel sad. I want to be, like, a medical doctor, but my family doesn't have money for school,' said Munira.

She said last year her family was only able to harvest one 140 pound bag of decent-quality cocoa which earned them just $115.

The reporter spoke with other children named on the list and all said they do not attend school - and that no one has come to check if they do.

CBS News found in some cases names on the list were made up. They visited one farm where a child was listed as the farmer's daughter, but does not exist.

Even children who do attend classes carry machetes with them to go work in the fields before and after school.

The company, led by CEO Poul Weihrauch, was founded in 1911 by the Mars family which has become one of the wealthiest families in the world.

According to its Protecting Children Action Plan, Mars said it supports providing farmers with livable wages.

'Mars supports the Living Income Differential of $400 per metric ton announced by the governments of Cote dIvoire and Ghana in July 2019 to ensure that farmers receive a higher income.'

'The governments have also indicated that, from the 2020/2021 main crops, 70% of a $2,600 per metric ton minimum price will be paid to farmers for their cocoa.'

An M&M plant in New Jersey. A report found children as young as five years old were harvest cocoa beans for the M&M manufacturer

The company, lead by CEO Poul Weihrauch (pictured), was founded in 1911 by the Mars family which has become one of the wealthiest families in the world

In a statement to CBS in response to the report, a Mars spokesman said: 'Our cocoa suppliers in Ghana have agreed to adhere to our robust Supplier Code of Conduct and we have also been clear that they must have a Child Labor and Remediation System (CLMRS) in place by 2025 that complies with the industry leading International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) standard.

'Over 65 percent of our cocoa supply in West Africa is already covered by CLMRS which is implemented by our suppliers on the ground, with audits conducted by certification bodies as part of Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certification requirements.'

The company added: 'Mars unequivocally condemns the use of child labor. We are also transparent in saying that we know that more needs to be done and we continue to work diligently with parties across the cocoa sector to further help advance respect for human rights in the cocoa supply chain.'
Chairman of the Florida Republican Party Christian Ziegler is under criminal investigation after a woman claiming to be part of a three-way relationship with Zeigler's wife alleged he raped her.

Ziegler's wife is Bridget Ziegler, a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing parental rights group and Sarasota County School board member. Together, the couple holds powerful influence in Florida GOP politics.

A heavily redacted police complaint, which was obtained by the Florida Trident, was submitted on October 4 and alleged the rape occurred in her Sarasota home. The words 'rape' and 'sexual battery' remained unredacted, according to the Trident.

According to the outlet, the woman alleged she and both Zieglers had been involved in a longstanding, consensual, three-way sexual relationship prior to the incident.

The alleged assault happened when Bridget was away from the home, according to the report.

No criminal charges have been filed in the case and Christian Ziegler's lawyer denied the allegations saying the chairman would be 'completely exonerated.'

Chairman of the Florida Republican Party Christian Ziegler (left) is accused of rape by a woman who says she was in a three-way relationship with Ziegler and his wife Bridget Ziegler (right)

Bridget Ziegler is a co-founder of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing parental rights group, and Sarasota County School board member

Together, the couple holds powerful influence in Florida GOP politics

The alleged incident, now under investigation by Sarasota police, say happened when Christian and the unnamed accuser were alone in her home on October 2, according to the Trident.

Sources cited by the Trident also said a search warrant had been executed on Christian's cell phone and that authorities are in the process of conducting a forensic examination of the device.

The GOP heavyweight is also alleged to have secretly videotaped the sexual encounters between the couple and the woman.

Christian Ziegler was elected chairman of the Sunshine State's GOP in February. He formerly served as vice chairman of the state party. Before that he was a Sarasota County Commissioner.

Bridget Ziegler is considered a rising star in the conservative movement. She previously received the personal endorsement of Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis for her school board seat.

She has become well known in her own state and across the country as the co-founder of Mom for Liberty, a group founded in the wake of COVID-19 school policies that parents across the nation felt were unnecessarily impeding their children's development.

She helped establish the framework for what would become DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education Bill, which became known in the media as the 'Don't Say Gay' law.

The alleged incident, now under investigation by Sarasota police, say happened when Christian and the unnamed accuser were alone in her home on October 2. Pictured: Christian and Bridget Ziegler with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (middle)

Bridget Ziegler is considered a rising star in the conservative movement. She previously received the personal endorsement of Florida Governor and 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis for her school board seat. Pictured: Bridget with Casey DeSantis

No criminal charges have been filed in the case and Christian Ziegler's lawyer denied the allegations saying the chairman would be 'completely exonerated'

According to the Trident, DeSantis has publicly praised Bridget Ziegler in addresses about education.

'Bridget Ziegler, we should have her in every county in Florida. We have to do a better job in these school board races,' DeSantis has said.

At present, Bridget also works for the Leadership Institute, a conservative group that runs workshops and develops curriculums to train the next generation of conservative leaders.

She oversees a program that 'trains mom and dads how to run for school board, win, and then govern!'

In a statement posted to X, Moms for Liberty defended Bridget: 'Yet another attempt today to ruin the reputation of a strong woman fighting for America.'

Bridget Zeigler has not responded to a request for comment from Dailymail.com.

In a statement posted to X, Moms for Liberty defended Bridget: 'Yet another attempt today to ruin the reputation of a strong woman fighting for America'

In 2014, Bridget was first elected to the Sarasota County School Board and was reelected in 2018. In August 2022, she was elected to a third term

Bridget is the co-founder of Mom for Liberty, a group founded in the wake of COVID-19 school policies that parents across the nation felt were unnecessarily impeding their children's development

Bridget also works for the Leadership Institute, a conservative group that runs workshops and develops curriculums to train the next generation of conservative leaders

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that Ziegler's attorney, Derek Byrd, said he is confident his client 'will be completely exonerated,' adding that he has been 'fully cooperative with every request made by the Sarasota Police Department.'

'Unfortunately, public figures are often accused of acts that they did not commit whether it be for political purposes or financial gain,' he said.

'I would caution anyone to rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded. Out of respect for the investigation, this is all Mr. Ziegler or myself can say at this time.'

The GOP of Sarasota County, where the couple and their young family are based, issued a statement declaring their 'shock' and 'disappointment' in the reports.

'The Republican Party takes all such allegations of potential criminal conduct very seriously and will fully cooperate with investigators,' read the statement.
The restaurant chain recently made over 50 changes to their burgers

The classic Big Mac has had a makeover to compete with restaurant chains that many consumers are loving more than McDonald's.

The fast food giant made more than 50 changes to its burgers and have been working on improving the Big Mac since 2016.

Big Mac changes include two smaller cooked all-beef patties, more special sauce, and fresher lettuce, cheese and pickles.

The burger buns will continue to be round and buttery, but the sesame seeds will also be scattered to create a more homemade look.

The revamped Big Mac will help McDonald's take on the popular restaurant chain Five Guys, which is known for its popular burgers, hot dogs, and french fries.

McDonald's changed their classic Big Macs by implementing changes like smaller beef patties, more special Big Mac sauce, and fresher cheese, pickles, and lettuce

The fast food chain had begun making changes to the Big Mac in 2016 and has recently made over 50 other changes to its burgers

All of the Big Mac changes are happening after McDonald's only ranked 13th among US chains with customers calling their burgers desirable earlier this year.

The ranking was based on a survey with 49,000 consumers conducted by Technomic market research firm, with only 28 percent of participants saying the crave McDonald's burgers.

A TikTok user - spoofing popular food reviewer Keith Lee - even posted a video last month to show people why McDonald's burgers taste like 'a cereal box with ketchup on it.'

He took a bite of a napkin after swallowing the bite he took of the sad and cereal-like McDonald's burger, and said they both tasted the same.

The burger was not good enough to for @youfilmme.tv to keep eating, and he ended up throwing it out the window as fast as he could.

TikTok user @youfilmme.tv tried a McDonald's burger at one of their Atlanta restaurant that he said tasted like 'a cereal box with ketchup on it'

He eventually compared the bite of the McDonald's burger to a bite of a napkin, and after saying that they both taste the same, he threw the food right out the window

Watchers who commented on the video loved @youfilmme.tv's statements and some even agreed with what he said about the McDonald's burger.

Other than 'a cereal box with ketchup,' @youfilmme.tv said that the burger patty with diced onions looked like a 'burger with eczema' - aka a burger with a skin condition.

'Why is that so accurate,' one TikToker wrote after repeating the 'burger with eczema statement.'

TikTokers also joked about the napkin that @youfilmme.tv that took a bite of, and even though one user called the napkin 'innocent,' he did not disagree with a McDonald's burger tasting like one.

TikTokers loved the video posted by @youfilmme.tv earlier this month, some even agreeing with his statements about McDonald's burgers

Unfortunately, TikTokers are not the only people who think the McDonald's burgers are not the best.

A Chicago chef named Chad Schafer cooked a regular McDonald's double cheeseburger without any of the new changes, and told The Wall Street Journal that it was 'kind of dry' and 'cracked.'

The burgers were hotter and meltier - so melty that Schafer was able to sink his fingers into the bun.

All of the burger changes have also led the McDonald's company to urge their franchises to clean toasters daily and monitor grill temperatures.

Chef Chad Schafer cooked a McDonald's in the new style that will be implemented in all restaurants, and the burger came out hotter and meltier

The burger makeover seven years in the making was tested in Australia in 2018 and is now in West Coast and Midwestern US stores.

The restaurant chain is hoping to get all of its locations to implement the new burger cooking method by early October 2024.
Annie had forgiven her husband many times for alleged infidelity during their relationship, which began when they were teenagers in Sheffield. The couple married in November 2021 but have now split after a 13-year relationship where they had three sons together while Kyle, 33, built a glittering football career, most recently as a 160,000-a-week defender with Man City and England. But off the pitch Annie, 30, always took back Kyle despite claims he was unfaithful, including with a reality star in the back of his 200,000 Bentley. There were also allegations he held a sex party in lockdown with escorts and shared texts with a Playboy model while away with England. After Kyle was caught on CCTV in a bar apparently flashing friends and fondling a mystery blonde woman's breasts last year, his wife famously posted on social media: 'No matter how good you are to people, it won't make them good to you'. But it appears it was his on-off relationship with Lauryn Goodman that was the trigger for the split after an alleged promise to Annie that he was no longer in contact with her was broken and he was kicked out of the family's 2.4million Cheshire mansion. Lauryn has hinted heavily that Kyle is the father of her two children and lives in a 2.5million seaside home the footballer may have paid for.
A woman who was sexually assaulted by a multi-millionaire tech tycoon during a business trip says his conviction shows that 'no amount of money or power puts you above the law'.

As Lawrence Jones  once dubbed 'Britain's nicest boss'  today faces a lengthy jail sentence for preying on three women, one of his victims said she hoped their courage at facing him in court would help 'protect other young girls' from being abused at work.

The married 55-year-old built a reputation as a business guru, playing chess against Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island and regularly featuring on the BBC.

His success in creating a 700million business empire along with his glamorous wife Gail  who is standing by him - saw him appointed MBE for services to the digital economy, and he twice donated 100,000 to the Conservative Party.

But the Bentley-driving entrepreneur's public image  staff at his Manchester-based web hosting firm, UKFast, were given perks including an on-site bar, ice rink, recording studio and even a 'den' for taking naps  hid the reality of how he treated female employees, two trials heard.

UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones (pictured) faces a lengthy jail sentence for preying on three women

Multi-millionaire businessman Lawrence Jones (pictured) was convicted of raping two women in the early 1990s while earning a living as a hotel pianist last week

The businessman at the height of his success playing chess with Richard Branson, left

Last week Jones was convicted of raping two women in the early 1990s while earning a living as a hotel pianist.

Following their verdicts, it was revealed that back in January he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman employee of UKFast back in 2013.

That conviction  which has seen Jones spent the past ten months behind bars on remand  could not be reported at the time to avoid prejudicing the jury in the second trial.

Ahead of his sentencing, the former employee has spoken to the Daily Mail about why she came forward alongside a former co-worker, whom Jones was cleared of raping.

Jones' downfall has been dubbed 'Manchester's #MeToo moment' after he survived multiple allegations of sexism and accusations of being a 'dinosaur in a suit'.

The sex assault victim  who was told by Jones 'Let me see your knickers' as he grabbed her legs  confirmed she had been motivated by the global fightback against powerful abusers.

'The MeToo movement was significant in understanding that actually, people would be believed, and no amount of money or power puts you above the law,' said the victim, referred to as Woman D because her lifelong anonymity is protected by law.

'With Jones having endless resources, it's hard to see how you might get the result you want.'

Lawrence Jones (pictured), who received honorary doctorate in business administration from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2016, has been stripped of the award after he being found guilty of drugging and raping two women 30 years ago

She told police how Jones instructed her that as part of her role she needed to 'look like a Bond girl'.

The millionaire  the father of four daughters - then tried to push her thighs apart and get on top of her, she alleged, as she cried out: 'No!'

'He was pulling my dress down, pulling the top down,' she added.

'I was terrified, I was really scared.

'I felt like he was trying to have sex with me if I'm being honest.'

After the terrifying incident, Jones offered her a pay rise and a bonus, his trial heard.

She refused to accept the offer and handed in her notice, later filing an employment tribunal claim which she withdrew after she was offered a 13,000 pay-out and signed a non-disclosure agreement.

It was the fear that other naive young women  seduced by UKFast's reputation as growing business with a fun workplace culture  would face a similar ordeal which motivated her to go to the police in 2019.

Jones shared this photo on his blog with the caption, 'Stress free in the Maldives'

Later that year Jones and his wife cut their ties with UKFast after a bombshell Financial Times article in which unnamed female employees accused him of bullying and sexual harassment.

'The ultimate goal was to make people aware of this behaviour - to protect other young girls from going through the same,' Woman D said.

'I should have done this at the time, but I didn't feel mentally strong enough - I took the easy route, rather than the right route and I wanted to redeem that.'

Having been made aware that a co-worker had also gone to police, she said she felt 'a duty to myself' to do the same.

'It was also part of the healing process,' she added.

Describing the time she spent working at UKFast, she said: 'The culture was toxic, it was volatile and all depended on what mood he was in.

'If Jones was in a good mood, you'd know about it.

'If he was in a bad mood - there would be swearing, shouting, slamming doors etc.

'There were often threats of job loss, name-calling and people being taken into a room at 3pm on a Friday to never come back.'

Later that year Jones and his wife cut their ties with UKFast after a bombshell Financial Times article in which unnamed female employees accused him of bullying and sexual harassment

Jones' loyal wife Gail - with whom he shares four daughters - had stood by him during the trial

Lawrence Jones arriving at Manchester Crown court earlier this year with wife Gail

Before his downfall, the father-of-four had built a 700million fortune and a reputation as a business guru, playing chess against Sir Richard Branson

Her reaction to Jones being convicted of sexually assaulting her was an 'overwhelming feeling of relief, that the jury came through and could see the truth,' she said.

And she said her message to anyone else who has fallen victim to powerful abusers was that 'it's never too late to come forward'.

'The court process isn't easy, but it does allow for some sort of closure - whatever the result.

'The defendant is held to account, and must face what they have done.'

Jones's lawyers told a bail application hearing that being in prison had a 'devastating' effect on the family finances, with 19 people losing their jobs as a result.

This week, Manchester Metropolitan University 'formally rescinded' the award of honorary doctor of business administration it bestowed on Jones in 2016.

He is due to be sentenced on Friday.
Two SNP politicians were caught having a torrid affair during lockdown after intimate text messages were uncovered on a mobile phone.

The bombshell revelations swept through Holyrood today as details of the extramarital fling between the politicians began to emerge.

The secret relationship is said to have carried on during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when the SNP forced the rest of the country to stay at home under tough lockdown restrictions.

The pair were caught cheating when steamy text exchanges between them were discovered on a mobile device.

One devastated spouse told the Mail that the clandestine trysts had 'wrecked' his marriage.

The affair is alleged to have taken place before and during the Covid pandemic in 2020, during which Scotland was under tough lockdown restrictions. Pictured: A Scottish government poster urging people to socially distance in Glasgow in January 2021

The politicians were caught having the torrid affair during lockdown after messages between the two were found. Pictured: A motorway sign on the M8 in Glasgow urging people only to travel if necessary in Mach 2020

The Scottish Daily Mail knows the names of those involved, but cannot reveal them for legal reasons.

It echoed former UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock's affair with an aide the same year, when he was caught on CCTV breaching Covid rules and was later forced to resign.

The heartbroken husband also revealed the betrayal was made even worse after he was warned he could not make any details public.

READ MORE HERE - Poll blow for hapless Health Secretary as majority of Scots say iPad bill row minister MUST quit Advertisement

He told the Mail he was left feeling afraid for his own safety and for the safety of his family if he opened up about the affair.

The man, who has asked not to be named, told the Mail: 'The affair wrecked my marriage. I've thought long and hard about going public about this, but I feel I can't.

'I am fearful about the repercussions if I did, and I have to protect my family at all costs. That's the most important thing for me.

'However, I'm relieved that people now know that there was an affair. The whole thing has been devastating for me.'

It is understood the names of the people involved and details of the affair have been discussed within the SNP.

Rumours of the infidelity are also well known around both the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and at Westminster among politicians, political aides and journalists.

A source close to the story said: 'There were a lot of rumours about the affair and the politician's other half was well aware of them, but they didn't want to do anything without evidence.

'It all came to a head with these texts.'

There are fears within the party that any scandal over an affair would deal a damaging blow to the SNP's electoral hopes at the ballot box next year.

The SNP have already seen their commanding lead in the polls wiped out by Labour and lost heavily in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

A number of their politicians have also either quit or defected to other parties, including to the Tories.

The bombshell revelations swept through Holyrood (pictured) today as details of the extramarital fling between the politicians began to emerge

And voters are becoming increasingly frustrated at the party's failure to deliver at Holyrood, where they have ditched or delayed a string of unpopular and poorly thought out policies.

The SNP is also at the centre of a police investigation into allegations of large-scale fraud within the party finances, including that 600,000 of donations had gone missing.

In a further devastating blow this week, former First Minister Alex Salmond announced he was suing the SNP Government and senior officials over the way an investigation into alleged harassment claims against him was handled.

The SNP was approached about the lockdown-breaching affair today, but declined to comment.

Details of when and where the extramarital relationship between the pair took place are now considered to be a matter of public interest, especially if Scotland's lockdown rules were broken.

For much of the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, it was illegal to mix with anyone from outside your own household.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock was forced to resign in June 2021 after it was revealed had been having an affair during lockdown with Gina Coladangelo, an adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care.

READ MORE HERE - Stewart Hosie to quit as deputy SNP leader after affair with love triangle hack Serena Cowdy - blaming high blood pressure Advertisement

At the time, the SNP said Mr Hancock may have broken the UK ministerial code by appointing Ms Coladangelo to a Whitehall role and called for an inquiry.

SNP MP Kirsten Oswald was quoted as saying: 'While aspects of this may be private, public appointments, use of taxpayers' money and conflicts of interest warrant proper scrutiny.'

It would not be the first sex scandal to hit the Scottish Nationalists in recent years.

A 'love triangle' involving MPs Stewart Hosie and Angus MacNeil hit the headlines in 2016 after both men had affairs with Westminster journalist Serena Cowdy.

Both men subsequently split from their wives, but Mr Hosie continued the relationship after he divorced former health secretary Shona Robison, now Deputy First Minster and Finance Secretary, and married Miss Cowdy in Arbroath in 2018.

The love triangle - revealed by the Mail in 2016 - caused huge ructions at Westminster. Shortly before the story was published, Mr Hosie revealed he was separating from Miss Robison, one of Nicola Sturgeon's closest friends.

Mr MacNeil had already announced his separation from his wife Jane in 2015, not long after his affair with Miss Cowdy ended.

Miss Cowdy, who was born in Peterborough, is a former actress who also appeared on TV nature programmes and regularly illustrated her website with glamorous pictures.

She was a freelance writer for the parliamentary magazine The House, and is said to have told friends that she found Nationalist MPs to be romantic revolutionaries, describing them as 'the Mujahideen of British politicians'.

In 2017, Miss Robison broke her silence on her husband's cheating, saying it had been a 'difficult time' for her and her teenage daughter.

She said: 'I wasn't sorry to see the end of 2016. It was mixed and there were some good things, but generally it was a tough year.

'For anyone to go through a marriage breakdown is difficult, but when it is on the front page of every newspaper, it is hard.

'You are also trying to protect family from that as well but, you know, it is character building. It can make you stronger.'
Boomers are spending far more money on travelling than their parents did - leaving their own millennial kids without childcare as they jet off on vacations.

Psychologist and millennial mother Leslie Dobson, 40, said she wishes her dad Ted Dobson, 71, was around to spend more time with her sisters and his grandchildren.

But Dobson's dad is busy enjoying retirement on his boat in Mexico, he said 'I haven't spent a nickel less on my kids. I just spent some on me.'

The Los Angeles psychologist said that she wasn't alone in feeling disappointed by her father - and that many of her millennial clients are facing the same feelings of abandonment and resentment towards their parents.

Millennials are having children later in life - and many modern households include two working parents.

Boomers are leaving their millennial children to handle the childcare of their grandchildren while they jet off on vacations - like Ted Dobson, 71, in this picture who moved to Mexico after retiring and bought a boat

Psychologist and millennial mother Leslie Dobson, 40, said that she wishes her dad Ted was around to spend more time with her sisters and his grandchildren

Even though the boomer parents - born between 1946 and 1964 - are mostly retired by the time they need them to step in for childcare, members of the older generation are jetting off on vacations instead instead of lending a helping hand.

Bank of America analyzed consumer-spending habits and found that, not only are boomers outspending other generation on travel and dining out - they are also spending far more on their travels than their own parents in the silent generation.

Dobson told Business Insider: 'It is a really common struggle. You have children, and it feels even more like an abandonment that they've chosen their life over meeting their grandchildren and building these relationships.'

She described the phase as a three-fourth life crisis in which boomers realize that their life is almost over and frantically want to make the most of it.

Ted Dobson's three-fourth life crisis involved uprooting his life in California after working there as a businessman and fleeing to Mexico - where he bought a boat and lives in a luxury community.

The younger Dobson said her father 'feels like this is the right choice' - but admitted the decision has upset her and her sisters, who are now raising their own children and envisioned having a grandfather around to dote on their kids.

Bank of America analyzed consumer-spending habits and found that, not only are boomers outspending other generation on travel and dining out - they are also spending far more on their travels than their own parents in the silent generation

But the retired businessman insists that even though he's now enjoying his dream lifestyle of boating and pickleball - he still did plenty to help kids kids out with financial support.

'They've all got nannies,' he said. 'We didn't have a damn nanny. They drive expensive SUVs. I drove a fricking minivan.'

The 71-year-old said the last time he went to visit his kids in the U.S. they couldn't squeeze him into their busy schedule.

'Life revolves around the children, and you're either on board or you're not,' he said.

Another millennial facing similar rejection from her mother is Kristjana Hillberg - who grew up always having her grandmother around for childcare whenever her parents took a trip or needed help.

Hillberg, 33, told Business Insider: 'If Mom and Dad ran out of town, we were at Grandma's. Grandma wasn't going anywhere, and we always knew that.'

The mom-of-three doesn't receive the same help from her parents - especially at short notice and only on their terms.

'We have to make sure that we are asking months in advance,' she said - adding that her parents 'own travel plans' also needed to be accounted for in childcare arrangements.

Another millennial facing similar rejection from her mother is Kristjana Hillberg - who grew up always having her grandmother around for childcare whenever her parents took a trip or needed help

Hillberg said it's especially hard to recruit her 61-year-old mother Nella Hanson for babysitting duty after she remarried in February.

Hanson was 'a saint' before her recent wedding, according to Hillberg - who said her mother was always on hand to watch her daughter.

The newlywed turned down Hillberg's recent request to watch her three young children while she went on a girls vacation to Costa Rice with her friends.

'I thought it would be a shoo-in and she would automatically come and watch the kids,' she said. 'But she said, 'I recently married, and I don't want to leave for seven days.''

'Watching your mom find love at 60 is overwhelming in a good way.' Hillburg said. 'She took us everywhere alone when we were kids. My dad was always working. All of my memories are of her.'

Hanson said she understood that her daughter was put out by her lack of availability - and said she adores her grandchildren - but it was the "right time" to put herself and her new husband first.

While boomers - who own more than $78 trillion in assets - have been living life to the fullest in their later years, childcare has been steadily and steeply inclining.

Recent data shows that the average family was spending $700 a month on daycare - which is 32 percent more than what was being spent in 2019. The cost of childcare has tripled since 1991.
Border Force have ramped up efforts to deter asylum seekers from arriving illegally in Australia by boat following the recent High Court decision.

The Australia Border Force and Operation Sovereign Borders have launched a joint agency taskforce in response to what they believe is an increase in activity by people smugglers who are using the decision to release 141 asylum seekers from detention to tempt more to make the journey.

OSB commander Rear Admiral Justin Jones has starred in a series of deterrence videos - translated into 16 languages - to clear up rumours about Australia's borders.

Rear Admiral Jones warns those travelling illegally to Australia by boat have a 'zero chance' of success' despite what people smugglers may be telling them.

In November, at least 141 asylum seekers were released from indefinite detention after a landmark High Court ruling found they were being held unlawfully.

'The recent High Court of Australia decision does not change Australia's tough border protection policies. People smugglers will spread lies about this decision in an attempt to take your money, put your life at risk and offer you a futile journey in return,' Rear Admiral Jones said in one of the OSB video.

'Let me be clear: Anyone, anywhere, who attempts to illegally migrate to Australia by boat will be stopped, returned to their country of origin or point of departure, or transferred to a regional processing country.

'You will never settle in Australia. Australia's border and defence personnel are constantly working. Our borders are watched, and every vessel is closely monitored, all day, every day. You have zero chance of success.'

The stark warning comes after 12 asylum seekers arrived undetected on an isolated stretch of the Anjo Peninsula, on the northern tip of Western Australia.

The all-male group then walked through rugged bushland in 35C heat arriving at the remote Truscott North Kimberley Airport last Wednesday.

They were given food and water by airport staff who described them as being in 'poor shape' before they were flown to Nauru within 41 hours.

It marked the second group to be sent to the detention centre since 11 people were intercepted in September.

Before then, asylum seekers had not been sent to Nauru for nine years.

State Liberal Party MP Neil Thomson told Daily Mail Australia that news of the arrivals is an 'obvious concern' for Australians and indicative of the Federal Government's stance on asylum seekers.

'It does raise issues around the broader messaging that Australia has been sending in recent days, particularly with the release of those convicted persons who were released by the by court decision,' he said.

Just 24 hours after the latest interception, Indonesian police stopped a group of Bangladeshi nationals from boarding a boat to Australia.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil of being 'asleep at the wheel' following two interceptions on Australia's borders in September

Those preparing to set sail had reportedly paid $10,000 to travel from Citepus, a town in Western Java, to Christmas Island.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil of being 'asleep at the wheel' following the interceptions - including the 11 asylum seekers that were sent to Nauru in September.

Mr Dutton said she had failed to protect Australians following a string of cyberattacks and wasn't doing enough to deter illegal arrivals by boat.

'It's obviously been a very difficult 18 months or so for Australians though,' he said.

'We've had a lot of theft of data on this minister's watch, who I think has been asleep at the wheel.

'I think Clare O'Neil has been pretty embarrassed by what we've seen on her watch in terms of failures in the cybersecurity space and now obviously people who are being put onto Nauru as well.'

Ms O'Neil said the government's commitment to OSB was 'resolute' and said the government had invested $1.59billion in protecting Australia's borders.

'We support it and we implement it and that's why everyone who has tried to come to Australia by boat since we were elected is either awaiting return in Nauru or already back in their home country,' she told The Australian.

'Our government has no hesitation whatsoever in resourcing this properly, and making the tough decisions needed to keep our borders safe.'

Meanwhile, an Iranian asylum seeker who arrived at Australia's shores by boat a decade ago has spent his first night as a free man.

Ned Kelly Emeralds (pictured with supporter, songwriter Dawn Barrington) is enjoying his first taste of freedom in Australia after he was released from immigration detention

Ned Kelly Emeralds is a free man, 10 years after he fled Iran and arrived in Australia

Ned Kelly Emeralds was kept in immigration detention since fleeing Iran in 2013 in fear of persecution after he renounced his faith, an illegal act in his home country.

On Thursday, he became the 142nd long-term detainee to be released after winning a Federal Court challenge in the wake of the High Court decision.

The former metallurgical engineer legally changed his name to Ned Kelly Emeralds in a nod to the 19th century Australian outlaw.

Some of the other asylum seekers recently released by the Albanese government have convictions for serious criminal offences, including murder and child rape, while four have refused to wear ankle monitoring devices.

The case of Mr Emeralds, who has never been sentenced for a crime or had a visa cancelled, was the first to be heard since the High Court ruling.

Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Kennett ruled that Mr Emeralds' detention in Western Australia was unlawful because there was 'no real prospect' of his deportation 'becoming practicable in the reasonably foreseeable future'.

Justice Kennett described it as a 'particularly disturbing case' and ordered the immediate release of Mr Emeralds to enjoy his first taste of freedom in Australia after a decade of being transported from one detention centre to another.
Oklahoma has executed a death row inmate despite a clemency recommendation from the state's Pardon and Parole Board over claims he shot dead two men in self-defense.

Phillip Hancock, 59, received a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Thursday and was declared dead at 11.29am.

He requested a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, dark meat only with no sides, as his final meal which he had with a root beer he bought on his own from commissary, according to a prison spokesman.

Hancock, while strapped to the gurney inside the execution chamber, thanked his legal team and reiterated his claim that the killings were in self-defense. He added that he hoped to be exonerated after his death.

Earlier this month, Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend Republican Governor Kevin Stitt spare Hancock's life. But Stitt had taken no action on the recommendation by early Thursday morning.

Oklahoma has executed death row inmate Phillip Hancock, 59, despite a clemency recommendation from the state's Pardon and Parole Board over claims he shot dead two men in self-defense

He received a three-drug lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on Thursday and was declared dead at 11.29am

Earlier this month, Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend Republican Governor Kevin Stitt (pictured) spare Hancock's life. But Stitt had taken no action on the recommendation by early Thursday morning

Hancock has long claimed he shot and killed Robert Jett Jr., 37, and James Lynch, 58, in self-defense after the two men attacked him inside Jetts home in south Oklahoma City.

Before his execution, he criticized Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office, which handled his post-conviction prosecution.

'They're vile. They're virtueless. They're without honor,' Hancock said. Drummond, who witnessed the execution, did not appear to react.

Reverend Don Heath, chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said in a statement: 'I can't imagine the anxiety that Phillip Hancock must have felt as Governor Stitt again waited until beyond the last minute to reject clemency.'

A spokeswoman for Stitt did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the governor's decision to deny clemency or why it was delayed until after the execution's scheduled start time of 10am.

Hancock's attorneys claimed at a clemency hearing this month that Jett and Lynch were members of outlaw motorcycle gangs and that Jett lured Hancock, who was unarmed, to Jett's home.

A female witness said Jett ordered Hancock to get inside a large cage before swinging a metal bar at him.

After Jett and Lynch attacked him, his attorneys said, Hancock managed to take Jett's pistol from him and shoot them both.

'Please understand the awful situation I found myself in,' Hancock told members of the Pardon and Parole Board via a video feed from the penitentiary.

'I have no doubt they would have killed me. They forced me to fight for my life.'

Robert Jett Jr. (pictured), 37, is one of the men Hancock claims to have killed in self-defense

James Lynch, 58 (pictured). Hancock's attorneys said Jett and Lynch attacked him before Hancock managed to take Jett's pistol from him and shoot them both

Two Oklahoma Republican state lawmakers who strongly support the death penalty, Representatives Justin Humphrey and Kevin McDugle, also testified to the board on Hancock's behalf.

'If any one of us were in that same exact situation ... we would have fought for our lives,' said McDugle, of Broken Arrow.

Hancock's lawyers also have said his trial attorneys have acknowledged they were struggling with substance abuse during the case and failed to present important evidence.

'We are profoundly sad that Oklahoma executed Phil for protecting himself from a violent attack,' Hancock's attorney, Shawn Nolan, said a statement issued after the execution.

'This was a clear case of self-defense and the Governor and the state ignored a wealth of evidence showing that Phil was fighting for his life.'

Attorneys for the state had argued that Hancock gave shifting accounts of what exactly happened and that his testimony didn't align with physical evidence.

Assistant Attorney General Joshua Lockett also cited a witness who testified that after Hancock shot Jett inside the house, he followed him into the backyard.

There, the witness said, a wounded Jett said: 'I'm going to die.' Hancock responded, 'Yes, you are,' before shooting him again, Lockett said.

'Chasing someone down, telling them you are about to kill them and then doing it is not self-defense,' Lockett said.

Jett's brother, Ryan Jett, said after the execution was over that both his and Lynch's family had waited more than 20 years for Hancock's execution.

'We've waited a long time for justice to be served,' Jett said.

Hancock also was convicted of first-degree manslaughter in a separate shooting in 1982 in which he also claimed self-defense.

He served less than three years of a four-year sentence in that case.

Hancock is the fourth person Oklahoma has executed this year and the 11th since Oklahoma resumed executions in October 2021 following a nearly six-year hiatus resulting from problems with lethal injections in 2014 and 2015. Oklahoma has executed more inmates per capita than any other state since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty.

Hancock's execution was the last one scheduled in the U.S. for 2023.

The next execution scheduled in Oklahoma is James Ryder on Feb. 1. Ryder was sentenced to death for the 1999 killing of Daisy Hallum, 70, and to life without parole for killing her son, Sam Hallum, 38, in Pittsburg County.
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In 1984, two years after Alistair Darling had been elected to Lothian Regional Council at 29, Labour leader Neil Kinnock went to Edinburgh to read the riot act to a council that had been dubbed 'loony Left' because it was charging illegally high rates.

As Darling was seen as one of the ringleaders of the revolt, Kinnock stabbed his finger at him and bellowed: 'That bearded Trot must never become an MP!'

Years later, the man affectionately nicknamed 'Red Ally'  who died on Thursday aged 70  insisted that it was a case of mistaken identity and Kinnock had been pointing at someone else.

But Bob Thompson, a former chairman of the Labour Party, said of the young firebrand: 'He was a Trotskyist and played the part with his backside sticking out of his jeans and sandals on bare feet, long hair and a beard.'

Ironically, Darling was a product of Scotland's oldest boarding school, the 40,000-a-year Loretto, whose motto is Spartam nactus es, hanc exorna: 'You were born with talents, develop them.'

At the end of 1985, he did just that. With his straggly beard neatly trimmed, the former solicitor and barrister, who first got involved in Labour politics while studying law at Aberdeen University, won the selection battle to run for Labour in Edinburgh Central at the 1987 General Election and captured the seat from the Tories.

Darling was a product of Scotland's oldest boarding school, the 40,000-a-year Loretto, whose motto is Spartam nactus es, hanc exorna: 'You were born with talents, develop them'

George Osborne and former Chancellor Alistair Darling visit the Hitachi Rail Europe plant in June 2016

Alistair Darling as a Labour councillor for Haymarket and Tollcross. Left Val Woodward and right Ian Newton pictured in 1982

When Tony Blair , the young Shadow Employment Secretary, came to a Burns Night supper in Darling's constituency in 1991 and spoke for 20 minutes without mentioning Scottish poet Robert Burns, Darling could only look on in rapt admiration

In Parliament, he struck up an immediate friendship with fellow Scottish MP Gordon Brown. But when Tony Blair, the young Shadow Employment Secretary, came to a Burns Night supper in Darling's constituency in 1991 and spoke for 20 minutes without mentioning Scottish poet Robert Burns, Darling could only look on in rapt admiration.

From that day forwards he was a cheerleader for Blair, Brown's great rival, who went on to take the party leadership in 1994.

Darling, who shaved off his beard shortly before the 1997 Blairite landslide, was a well-liked and respected MP, with friends on both sides of the political divide.

A shrewd operator, he had an uncanny ability to weather crises, with the result that 'Teflon Darling' was one of only three ministers to serve in the Cabinets of both Blair and Brown from 1997 through to 2010.

Clever and collegiate, he always exuded an air of calm and had a dry sense of humour, qualities that served him well as he climbed the greasy pole: first Chief Secretary to the Treasury, then Work and Pensions Secretary, Transport Secretary, Scottish Secretary and Trade and Industry Secretary.

But it was as Chancellor between 2007 and 2010 that Darling forged an international reputation, as he and Blair's successor as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, devised a package to save the banks during the financial crisis of 2008.On Darling's watch it became evident that British banks had taken on billions of pounds worth of 'toxic' loans on the American property market

Lord Darling hugged his wife Maggie outside 11 Downing Street as he prepared to present what would be his last Budget as Chancellor in March 2010

Ex-Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling, pictured in October last year, has died aged 70 after a short spell in an Edinburgh hospital being treated for cancer

Lord Darling, pictured at the Labour Party conference in Blackpool in 1998, entered ministerial office immediately after New Labour's landslide general election win in 1997

He and Gordon Brown did not always have the easiest relationship as Chancellor and PM, with Lord Darling once revealing how Mr Brown's No10 team had unleased the 'forces of hell' on him

In 2008, Darling warned that Britain was on the brink of its worst economic crisis for 60 years, a doom-laden prediction that triggered one of Gordon Brown's increasingly frequent volcanic rages (Pictured in 2014)

Lord Darling served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 2007 and 2010, during which time he helped lead Britain through the chaos of the global credit crunch

The first sign that there might be trouble ahead came in 2007 when there was a run on the former building society Northern Rock, which forced Darling to give it 20 billion in guarantees. When this failed to stop the rot, he nationalised it.

In 2008, Darling warned that Britain was on the brink of its worst economic crisis for 60 years, a doom-laden prediction that triggered one of Gordon Brown's increasingly frequent volcanic rages.

Darling later remarked that the 'forces of hell' had been unleashed on him and his loyal second wife Margaret, a former journalist known affectionately known as 'Wee Maggie', could not contain her fury.

She raged at one friend: 'The f***ing c***s are trying to stitch up Alistair! The c***s! I can't believe they're such c***s!'

Darling was proved right later that year when the US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed and he had to inject tens of billions more into the banking sector.

He later claimed that, prior to the bail-out, Britain came within two hours of cashpoints running out of money and that the country might have 'come within hours of the breakdown of law and order'.

But he steered the country through the crisis prompting his admirers to remark that the man with the most striking pair of eyebrows in Westminster also had the safest pair of hands.

Towards the end of 2009, his relationship with Brown  who was trying to run the Treasury from No 10  had totally disintegrated.

But Darling refused to budge and Brown was only prevented from sacking his former friend and replacing him with his confidant Ed Balls by a series of Blairite resignations from the Cabinet which put his own survival at risk.

After Labour's defeat in 2010, Darling returned to the backbenches and became a prominent figure in the Scottish independence debate as chairman of 'Better Together', which was formed to defend the Union.

In 2015, Darling joined the board of the blue-chip merchant bank Morgan Stanley, a far cry from his days distributing Marxist leaflets at Edinburgh railway stations.

He also became a member of the House of Lords as Baron Darling of Roulanish but retired in 2020, citing the distance from his home in Edinburgh. He wanted to spend more time with his wife Maggie with whom he has two children Calum and Anna.

As the tributes poured in last night, one former Tory Cabinet minister told me: 'Alistair Darling was one of the nicest men in Parliament He will be sorely missed.' He certainly will.
A California attorney has revealed how she fled to Florida after being driven out of the liberal state by violent homeless people, draconian lockdown restrictions and soaring rents.

Krystle Meyer, 40, ditched the Golden Gate state after two decades due to the spiraling costs and lack of safety.

The lawyer had been renting a $3,500-a-mont one bedroom home in Marina del Ray but was forced to move out after a 'terrifying' encounter with a machete wielding homeless man.

She was forced to upgrade to a $5,000-a-month one bed property with enhanced security and began to feel the pinch.

'My salary increases were not outpacing my rental increases,' she told the LA Times. 'I was losing money every year.'

Krystle Meyer, 40, left California for Florida citing the spiraling homelessness crisis and cost of living in the state for her move

California is the epicenter of a massive homelessness and drugs crisis under the watch of Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom with scenes like this one in San Francisco cropping up in many cities

Meyer said she was forced to upgrade to a $5,000-a-month one bed property with enhanced security and began to feel the pinch

But the outbreak of Covid-19 was 'the last straw' according to Meyer, who recalled the devastating impact of the state's harsh lockdown restrictions on her mental health.

'When I landed in Florida, no one was wearing masks. No one cared,' she said. 'Everything was open. I was like, wait, you guys have been living like this for so long and you're not dead? I was like, 'What the hell am I doing?''

Her 'awesome' new life in Palm Beach sees her living in a beautiful apartment double the size of her home in California which is just steps from the ocean.

'I have no regrets,' she said of the decision to move.

Meyer is among the 51,000 Californians to relocate to Florida in the last year, according to census data.

The Dem-led state's population has declined by 500,000 under Governor Gavin Newsom.

The state is currently at the epicenter of a homelessness crisis and is gripped by rampant drug use in many of its major cities.

By contrast, Florida Governor Ron De Santis has presided over a population boom of 700,000 and the lack of individual state income tax draws in ever more Americans.

Matt Pressberg left Century City for Boca Raton along with his wife. The couple say their quality of living is higher in Florida as salaries stretch further

Cheryl Ainsworth moved from Florida to California in 2007 due to fears the Sunshine State was becoming, 'more restrictive and less appreciative of diversity, cultural and otherwise'.

The state is known as a haven for the ultra wealthy, including the likes of Ivanka Trump, Jeff Bezos and Tom Brady who all reside in the exclusive 'billionaire's bunker' of Indian Creek.

The favorable economic conditions are partly what motivated Matt Pressberg and his wife to move to the state from Century City in 2021.

'Despite a lot of the bad politics and legislation in Florida that I don't agree with, the overall quality of life for me and my wife is significantly better here,' Pressberg said.

The couple swapped their small condo for a 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom house in Boca Raton which allows Pressberg to work his PR job from the pool house.

'It's easy for right-wing people to say Californians are moving because they're unhappy with progressive politics,' said Pressberg, who voted for Newsom.

'There are certainly quality-of-life issues in California that can be attributed to political choices, but it's not that simple. It's housing and economic opportunity.'

It was the same for talent manager Guerin Farley who moved from West Hollywood back to his parents' home in the panhandle.

'What really, really unfortunately hit was my pocketbook,' said Farley, 38. 'Even if you're making six figures in L.A., you're barely scraping by.'

Florida draws economic migrants who want to take advantage of the lack of state personal income tax which has also attracted the super wealthy including Ivanka Trump and Jeff Bezos who own property in the exclusive 'billionaire's bunker' pictured

Conversely, some Floridians told how the state's conservative politics forced them to relocate to California.

Cheryl Ainsworth, a friend of Meyer's, refers to herself as a 'recovering Floridian'.

She left the Sunshine State during Obama's campaign for office amid concerns it was becoming, 'more restrictive and less appreciative of diversity, cultural and otherwise'.

For Valsin Marmillion and his husband, attitudes to LGBTQ+ issues, such as the controversial Don't Say Gay bill were what forced him to leave.

'Just the feeling of openness  that's what we missed,' he said. 'The feeling of acceptance, the understanding that individual rights are very important and they should be protected and strengthened, not taken away.'
'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow has been captured in her latest prison mugshot following her extradition from Idaho to Arizona to face two murder charges.

She is accused of killing her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and attempting to shoot her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, in 2019.

Vallow, 50, who was convicted of murdering her two children - seven-year-old JJ and 16-year-old Tylee - in 2019, sported a smirk in the image, with her dyed blonde hair fading. This marks the fourth mugshot of her this year.

After the extradition that lasted for 18 hours, Vallow was transferred from the Pocatello Womens Prison to the woman's-only Estrella Jail in Phoenix after midnight, Thursday morning.

She will be placed in isolation in a high-security area, Sheriff Paul Penzone said during a Thursday afternoon press conference.

'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow, 50, has been captured in her latest prison mugshot following her extradition from Idaho to Arizona to face two murder charges.

Vallow smirked in a mugshot taken in August after she was sentenced to life in an Idaho prison for murdering her children, JJ and Tylee

Vallow was previously pictured in mugshots from 2020(left) and 2022(right)

Vallow was previously pictured in mugshots from earlier this year

Penzone said: 'She is as much of a morbid threat to others as any other dangerous criminal we've had in our custody.'

Deputies departed Maricopa County by vehicle on Monday, traveling to Pocatello, Idaho, to take custody Vallow due to air travel complications caused by weather.

Vallow was 'very chatty' and 'sociable' along the way, according to officials driving with her, Penzone said.

'On Nov. 30, deputies arrived back in Maricopa County just after midnight. Suspect Vallow was booked in the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office ITR facility.

'This is one example of the exceptional, understated and efficient operations conducted by the Extraditions Detail of MCSO.

'The Maricopa County Attorney's Office will assume prosecution of the allegations. Pursuing criminals and bringing them to justice is what we do, and we're very good at it,' Penzone said.

Vallow (pictured in May, 2023) was 'very chatty' and 'sociable' along the way, according to officials driving with her, Penzone said

After the extradition that lasted for 18 hours, Vallow has been transferred from the Pocatello Womens Prison to the woman's-only Estrella Jail in Phoenix after midnight, Thursday

A district judge in Idaho confirmed that the seven-year-old Joshua 'JJ' 's body will be released to his next of kin after he was found dead in June 2020

The extradition of Vallow occurred weeks after the body of her murdered son, JJ, was returned to his next of kin. JJ was discovered dead in June 2020.

This past summer, Vallow was convicted of the killing of her two youngest children as well as conspiracy to murder her husband Chad Daybell's ex-wife Tammy Daybell.

She has since appealed her conviction, but also faces two cases in Arizona - one on a charge of conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and one of conspiring to kill her niece's ex-husband.

Charles Vallow was shot and killed in 2019, but her niece's ex survived an attempt later that year.

The case began in July 2019, when Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in a suburban Phoenix home.

Cox, who died later that year of what authorities determined were natural causes, told police he acted in self-defense.

Vallow was already in a relationship with Chad Daybell at the time, a self-published author who wrote doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings.

She moved to Idaho with her children and brother to be closer to him.

The young children were last seen alive in September 2019. Police discovered they were missing a month later after an extended family member became worried.

Their bodies were found buried in Chad Daybell's yard the following summer.

Vallow killed seven-year-old Joshua (JJ), left, and 16-year-old Tylee, right, and avoided authorities in the aftermath

In 2020, police discovered JJ and Tylee's remains in shallow graves in Chad Daybell's yard

Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in November 2019, about two weeks after Daybell's previous wife, Tammy, was killed.

Tammy Daybell initially was described as having died of natural causes, but an autopsy later showed she had been asphyxiated, authorities said.

Defense attorney Jim Archibald argued during the trial there was no evidence tying Vallow to the killings, but plenty showing she was a loving, protective mother whose life took a sharp turn when she met Chad Daybell and fell for his 'weird' apocalyptic religious claims.

Archibald suggested that Daybell and Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, were responsible for the deaths.

Daybell told her they had been married in several previous lives and she was a 'sexual goddess' who was supposed to help him save the world by gathering 144,000 followers so Jesus could return, Archibald said.

Vallow's former friend Melanie Gibb testified during the trial that Vallow believed people in her life had been taken over by evil spirits and turned into 'zombies,' including JJ and Tylee.

The family and the case was featured on the popular Netflix TV documentary, 'Sins of our Mother.'

Netflix's series, which features her surviving child Colby Ryan, 26, reveals the details behind the killings, and Lori's beliefs that convinced her there was a 'dark spirit' inside her daughter, and the only way to 'free the spirit is to kill the body.'

Chad Daybell, husband of Lori Vallow, was in court last month ahead of his own death penalty trial.

Daybell's trial is expected to begin next year and run for about two months.
Police are searching for an escaped inmate who fled a Philadelphia prison after telling a guard he was going to the toilet while working in an orchard on Thursday.

Gino Hagenkotter, 34, has a history of retail theft, burglary, and probation violations and is a prisoner at the Riverside Correctional Facility.

He was working in an orchard outside the nearby Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Facility on State Road when he left without permission.

It is the same prison that two inmates escaped from earlier this year, sparking a ten-day manhunt.

According to a document obtained by Action News Hagenkotter was with a prison guard when he escaped, no force was used and no injuries were reported.

Gino Hagenkotter, 34, has a history of retail theft, burglary, and probation violations

He was last seen in CCTV footage wearing a white shirt and blue pants

He was performing supervised work duties at an orchard when he 'excused himself to use the restroom' shortly after 12.10pm.

About 10 minutes later a guard went to check the restroom and found that he was gone and had 'left the location'.

All of the prison facilities were then locked down by 12.20.

Sources told CBS that he left a prison yard, crossed through some woods and passed through part of a sanitation facility. He then crossed the Ashburner Street I-95 overpass and headed onto Torresdale Avenue.

Hagenkotter's last known addresses are the 7700 block of Cottage Street, the 3500 block of Shelmire Avenue and the 11800 block of Brandon Road in Philadelphia.

His last arrest was for retail theft and he was released on charges by Philadelphia on Nov 16, but he was in custody for a probation violation in Bucks County.

The police memo described him as a 180-pound white male, approximately 56, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue pants.

A massive police presence could be seen in the area immediately surrounding Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center Thursday afternoon.

The Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center which two other prisoners escaped from by cutting a hole in a fence earlier this year

HAPPENING NOW: FLURRY of police activity here on State Road at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center. Police source tells @KeeleyFox29 search is on for a prisoner who escaped. State Road is closed at Ashburner St. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/XvmVUW4dhg  Jennifer Lee (@JennLeeTV) November 30, 2023

A Philadelphia Department of Prisons spokesperson told NBC: 'Hagenkotter is serving a sentence for charges related to theft and burglary and met the criteria to have an outside work assignment.

'Although this individual was in minimum custody, he should not be approached and anyone who sees him or is contacted by him should immediately call the police.'

DailyMail.com contacted the Philadelphia Department of Prisons for comment.

A parent of a student at the nearby New Foundations Charter School told NBC10 the school was advised to shelter-in-place for the remainder of the school day due to the escape.

The notification said: 'About 20 minutes ago, we received a notification from police that a prisoner escaped from the prison. Per our conversation with the local district, this prisoner is part of a work-release program and is not deemed to be an immediate danger to the community.

'That said, we have been advised to shelter-in-place for the remainder of the school day out of an abundance of caution.

'A shelter-in-place means that instruction and school continues as usual, but there is no entering or exiting the building. There will be no early dismissals permitted.'

Nasir Grant, 24, escaped while awaiting trial on conspiracy drug and weapons charges. Ameen Grant, 18, who goes by the moniker Demon Time, is accused of killing four people between December 2020 and March 2021

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his anger at the escape and said that a full investigation into what happened will take place

It is the same prison that Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24, escaped from in May sparking a 10-day manhunt.

The two prisoners, including a Hurst who is accused of four murders, brazenly escaped prison by cutting a hole in a fence but authorities did not become aware of the break out until the following afternoon.

Grant is in prison on drug and gun charges while Hurst, who goes by the moniker Demon Time, is accused of four murders, the first occurring in 2020. He was referred to as a 'very dangerous individual' by one law enforcement official.

They were found at a home in Philadelphia and taken into custody.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said at the time: 'Clearly the system screwed up and people didn't do what they were supposed to do.

'I'm really angry about it. There is no reason for this. And if everybody followed through and do what they are supposed to do, we wouldn't have this problem.'

Danelo Cavalcante tried to run away, but a K-9 chased him through the woods, bit him and brought an end to the manhunt September 13. He was treated for injuries at the spot

Another notorious prisoner escaped from a different prison in Philadelphia - Chester County Prison - earlier this year.

Convicted killer Daniel Calvacante was on the run for two weeks after escaping in August.

The 34-year-old was serving a life sentence for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and awaiting transfer at the Chester County prison in Pennsylvania when he escaped by climbing a wall on August 31.

Cavalcante was seen on surveillance camera in the prison's outdoor area looking at the camera before 'crab walking' between two walls, scaling a fence and jumping over razor wire during the daring break out that took place in broad daylight.

That sparked a massive manhunt for the suspect, that included him being spotted several times in the Pennsylvania woods.
Residents of Solano County erupted in fury and questions for the Silicon Valley billionaires who secretly bought land to build a 'utopian city' in California.

At a town hall on Wednesday, residents of Vallejo - a city in Solano County - explained their fears about the proposed city, which is slated to be developed on farmland in the surrounding region.

The development is being called 'California Forever.' Its architects plan to turn 50,000 acres of Solano County farmland into a brand new city of about as many people.

Flannery Associates, the parent company of California Forever, has purchased some $900million of land for the new city.

One attendee at Wednesday's meeting said she felt the secretive nature of the land buying undermines any trust that could be had in the project.

'Its the secrecy,' said Paula Conley, according to the San Francisco Standard. 'This is whole city, not a shopping center. I think it nullifies the whole point here of them trying to be open about it.'

HAPPENING NOW: Community members in Vallejo are at a town hall regarding the new city being proposed in Solano County by California Forever- the billionaire backed company behind the project. The meeting has been heated at times as the CEO takes questions. @abc7newsbayarea pic.twitter.com/8nKoQ2ld8R  Tim Johns (@tim_johns_) November 30, 2023

Some residents of Solano County, California have rallied against a proposed Utopian City, that developers plan to build. The backers have spent $900million on land for the city

Former Goldman Sachs trader and CEO of California Forever Jan Sramek has the backing of a large handful of the wealthiest tech investors and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley for the project

Jan Sramek, the CEO of California Forever, began purchasing the necessary land in 2017. Later, he was joined by an elite group of tech investors, including Marc Andreessen and Chris Dixon, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Steve Jobs' widow Laurene Powell Jobs, and former Sequoia Capital Chairman Mike Moritz.

On Wednesday, they faced the people who could soon be their neighbors.

Some residents would love to see the nearly $1billion investment be pumped into their already existing city.

'You could help us come in and help us fix our city 'cause we have no money,' said former Vallejo City Councilwoman Katy Miessner.

Anne Carr, a native of Vallejo said: 'Its heartbreaking. Theyre gonna build this utopia, but we could use the jobs and development here.

'It doesnt do good to have service jobs here, what Vallejo needs are big corporation jobs where theres advancement and you can devote yourself.'

Marge Grow-Eppard, a Miwok Tribe member, had other concerns.

'What about the Native American graves that youre going to be excavating and building on without even consulting us, the natives of this land?

'Youre already talking about $900 million, but you have not said anything about the respect for the native people of this land. This is very disrespectful for us.'

California Forever claims the proposed new city will be 'walkable and green,' in addition to creating thousands of jobs and 'bring(ing) back the California Dream.'

But controversy has been ongoing and earlier this year, Flannery Associated hit out at a group of farmers who refused to sell their land, accusing them of collusion to inflate its value.

The land purchases also concerned lawmakers including U.S. Representative John Garamendi, who is worried about the project's proximity to Travis Air Force Base.

Those fears inspired a national security investigation by the Treasury Department that continued even after the billionaire backers were unmasked at the end of August.

Aside from concerns about changing the area around their home, some residents feel the billions of dollars being pumped into California Forever should be invested into already existing cities

Flannery Associates says the proposed new city will be 'walkable and green,' in addition to creating thousands of jobs and 'bring(ing) back the California Dream'

'Its the secrecy,' said Paula Conley, according to the San Francisco Standard. 'This is whole city, not a shopping center. I think it nullifies the whole point here of them trying to be open about it'

Despite mounting tensions, the group has said its project is gathering pace - indicating that they now have all the land necessary to begin construction on the city

Despite mounting tensions, the group has said its project is gathering pace - indicating that they now have all the land necessary to begin construction on the city.

'With regards to future purchases, except for a few remaining properties that Flannery has under contract and will close on in the coming weeks, Flannery has assembled all the land it needs and does not anticipate making any additional purchases,' the company said in a statement.

The investors aim to build 'a new community, solar farms, and a greenbelt of agriculture and habitat in eastern Solano County,' according to the project website.

'Doing so would bring thousands of good paying jobs, new paths to middle-class home ownership in safe, walkable neighborhoods, and a new source of clean power for every resident of Solano County.'

Next November, Solano County residents will vote on whether to change a local growth ordinance to allow the development of a new city.

California Forever's ballot proposal, which is due out early next year, will include the most detailed description of the project to date.

Until then, the group is attempting to rally community support, hosting town halls and earlier this month announcing a 'Community Advisory Committee' of 21 residents.
Human smugglers on the border between Arizona and Mexico taunted a news crew as they used power tools to blow a hole through the wall.

A fleet of SUVs belonging to a cartel pulled up to the border in Lukeville and eight people were escorted out of the vehicles.

Migrants including a family and an elderly man with one leg were assisted through the small gap in the wall by the smugglers.

The leader of the crew, who covered his face and refused to share his name, called NewsNation Border Correspondent Ali Bradley over to speak and began recording her.

The cartel crew were later spotted trying to put another hole through the border fence as they goaded the television crew who were filming them.

Human smugglers on the border between Arizona and Mexico taunted a news crew as they used power tools to blow a hole through the wall

Migrants including a family and an elderly man with one leg were assisted through the small gap in the wall by the smugglers

A family were spotted making their way through a hole in the fence with the help of the smugglers.

The elderly man with one leg clutched onto his walker for support as he squeezed through the small gap, as seen in the striking NewsNation footage.

He was closely followed by a family of five who said they were all from Peru.

A man then called the NewsNation reporter over to speak and said he was not a cartel member or a smuggler even though he was spotted helping people cross the border.

He was asked how much he was paid to smuggle the family into the United States but he refused to answer.

Around two hours later, the cartel crew returned with electric power tools to cut a new hole in the wall.

They used electric saws and drills as well as a generator for the task before they began taunting the television crew.

The smugglers blew kisses and laughed as they continued to cut a hole through the wall.

Eventually Border Patrol were alerted and arrived on the scene and the cartel began to pack up and retreat.

The elderly man with one leg clutched onto his walker for support as he squeezed through the small gap. He was closely followed by a family of five who said they were all from Peru

A man then called the NewsNation reporter over to speak and said he was not a cartel member or a smuggler even though he was spotted helping people cross the border

The smugglers blew kisses and laughed as they continued to cut a hole through the wall

It comes after Arizona Border Patrol revealed it will stop sharing updates on the migrant crisis - despite a 'demoralizing' number of illegal crossings.

Chief John R. Modlin, of Tucson, made the statement on Sunday after seeing a record 15,300 illegal crossings last week.

'In light of the ongoing migration surge, all Tucson Sector Border Patrol social media accounts will be paused until further notice,' he said.

'We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this challenging time. Honor First.'

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seen Southwest border encounters increase exponentially every fiscal year. So far this year there have been nearly 2million crossing in the region - a figure that doesn't include August and September.

Cochise County, Arizona, is being slammed with waves of migrants transported from other counties after crossing the border.

'The intellectual avoidance and abandonment with intended consequences' by those leaders in Washington, DC, reference our southern border continues to be a slippery slope for those doing everything we can to protect our quality of life here in Cochise County!' Sheriff Mark Dannels said.

'The migrants being released are from outside Cochise County but were bussed to Cochise County, processed and then released,' Daniels noted in a Facebook post.

'I applaud the local [Customs and Border Protections] agents and their leadership for doing all they legally can during this on-going crisis.'

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seen Southwest border encounters increase exponentially every fiscal year

So far this year there have been nearly 2million crossing in the region - a figure that doesn't include August and September

It's unclear exactly how many migrants the processing facilities in Tucson can accommodate or how many have been transported to other locations such as Cochise County.

The US border has seen a flood of migrants from across the world, not just Central and South American nations such as Venezuela and Mexico. There have been migrants from China and other places entering via the porous southern border.

The 2022 fiscal year saw record-breaking numbers of encounters with migrants at the Southwest border with 2,378,944 reported crossings from October to September.

In 2023 through July there have been 1,973,092 - many of them coming as Title 42 expired.

The jump in crossing has grown in recent years with a mere 458,088 crossing reported in 2020 during the worldwide COVID pandemic.

According to CBP records, Tucson's field office have filed a record-breaking number of Title 8 inadmissibles in July 2023 with 3,346 migrants being deported and banned from entering the U.S. for at least five years.

An inadmissible is a migrant who misrepresents documents to try and enter the US.
NewsNation Organizers are setting up five lecterns in preparation for next week's high-stakes Republican presidential debate  fueling speculation that Donald Trump might finally face his rivals in person onstage.

Amid the intensifying clash among Republicans hoping to take on President Biden, organizers are building a set for the live televised smackdown, which comes just weeks before the Iowa Caucuses.

An image obtained by DailyMail.com shows five white lecterns evenly arrayed onstage at the Frank Moody Music Building on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa where the candidates will debate. That would include one for the former president, who has skipped the first three televised contests, while mocking participants and calling the prior debates 'not watchable.'

A representative of NewsNation, which is hosting the debate, also held a phone call with a Trump representative to discuss logistics for attending the event, a source familiar with debate plans told DailyMail.com.

Pipe dream? Set construction at the site of the fourth presidential debate shows plans for five lecterns  enough to accommodate Donald Trump as well as four leading candidates

The Trump representative wanted to know specific information about a drop-dead deadline for giving notice to join. 'He asked how much time before the debate would the president need to make a final decision,' said the source.

The answer is determined by the Republican National Committee, which set ground rules for the debate. Participants must provide note 48-hours in advance, giving the Trump camp just days to reach a final decision before the debate, set for Wednesday at 8 pm  assuming Trump is even interested.

Organizers also spoke with the leading rival Republican campaigns set to attend.

The inquiry from Trump world came on a call where organizers spoke to each of the potential participants about key information including the debate rules and format, security for arriving candidates, and green rooms where candidates can steel themselves and gussy up before the cameras roll.

An appearance by Trump would be a shocker due both to his success so far even while skipping the debates, and reports Thursday that he is planning a Miami fundraiser for December 6, the same date as the debate.

It comes a week after a source told DailyMail.com the Secret Service conducted a sweep of the venue, raising questions about whether Trump might attend, since he is the only GOP candidate who gets Secret Service protection.

Former President Donald Trump has amassed a polling lead of nearly 50 percentage points while skipping the debates he used to climb to the top of the pack in 2016

The last debate featured a few attacks on Trump, amid backbiting among his distant rivals

Missing the action? The third debate in Miami featured fireworks between former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. But Ron DeSantis and other contenders have been struggling to gain ground on Trump in polls. Sen. Tim Scott (R) has suspended his campaign

The fourth GOP debate is set for December 6 at the Frank Moody Music Building at the University of Alabama

But a source familiar with the Trump campaign's planning appeared to reject the idea at the time, stating unequivocally: 'President Trump will not be attending the next debate.'

The event will be moderated by NewsNation anchor Elizabeth Vargas along with Megyn Kelly of SiriusXM and Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon.

Having Trump onstage being questioned by Kelly would be a throwback to the blockbuster Fox News debate where he Trump sparred with the moderator during the 2016 campaign.

DailyMail.com has reached out to NewsNation and the Trump camp for comment.

Trump has consolidated his polling lead over his rivals even while skipping the first three presidential debates, a stature that puts him in a position to resist the pressure from DeSantis and others to attend. He holds a 48-point lead over DeSantis in the RealClearPolitics polling average.
The number of asylum seekers winning refugee status has hit the highest level since records began nearly 40 years ago.

Official figures show 38,761 asylum claims were granted by the Home Office in the year to September  more than during the asylum crisis in the early 2000s.

Home Office caseworkers made just under 42,000 initial decisions on asylum claims in the year  the highest level in two decades.

Of those, 75 per cent led to the applicant being given asylum or another form of humanitarian protection.

A Home Office document said: 'The number of people granted (38,761) is the highest since records began (in 1984) and higher than the previous peak in 2002 (when 33,460 people were granted and the grant rate was 34 per cent).'

Official figures show 38,761 asylum claims were granted by the Home Office in the year to September  more than during the asylum crisis in the early 2000s (File Photo)

Home Office caseworkers made just under 42,000 initial decisions on asylum claims in the year  the highest level in two decades (File Photo)

Tory MP Tom Hunt said he was concerned that the UK was seeming to grant refugee status much more liberally than many other countries

The 'grant rate' is the proportion of asylum applications which lead to refugee status at the initial stage. Before the pandemic this was about a third of applications.

This rate has rocketed in the past year as the Government introduced schemes to clear a backlog of cases. Rishi Sunak announced in December last year that more than 92,000 cases in the backlog would be 'abolished' by the end of this year.

One of the results of this policy has been the surge in cases approved, including some nationalities which were made eligible for fast-tracking.

The number soared as civil servants rushed to meet the Prime Minister's target, with 22,614 awarded from July to September. Previously, the number was between 4,000 and 6,000 per quarter.

The data showed the largest number of applications came from Afghans  more than 10,000  of which 99 per cent were granted.

The successful asylum claims in the year included 982 Albanians, data revealed, for which the grant rate was 14 per cent  far higher than in other European countries. The rate was just 9 per cent in France, according to figures. In Germany, Greece, Belgium and Sweden it was zero. Since 2003, Albania has been designated a 'safe state' under UK law.

Tory MP Tom Hunt said: 'It concerns me that we seem to be granting refugee status much more liberally than many other countries.' The Home Office was approached for comment.
The Biden administration can keep cutting razor wire at the Texas-Mexico border to stop migrants crossing, a judge rules on Thursday.

The White House scored a victory in the immigration battle with the Republican state, which has now vowed to appeal.

Texas put up the concertina fence in Eagles Pass, one of the busiest sections for crossings along the Mexican border.

But border guards then started to cut the wires to help migrants up the embankment of the Rio Grande and into the U.S.

U.S. District Judge Alia Moses rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying the barrier with Mexico.

The Biden administration can keep cutting razor wire at the Texas-Mexico border to stop migrants crossing, a judge rules on Thursday

In a written order, she criticized the Biden administration for its 'utter failure' to prevent unlawful entry into the United States.

But, she said Texas was unlikely to prevail on its claims that a federal policy of removing the fencing was illegal.

Moses denied the state's motion to block federal officials from destroying the wire fencing pending the outcome of the state's lawsuit filed in October.

The judge last month had ordered the federal government to temporarily refrain from cutting or removing the razor wire while she considered the state's motion.

The U.S. Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, said in a statement that his office was appealing the decision.

The White House scored a victory in the immigration battle with the Republican state, which has now vowed to appeal. Border guards are seen cutting the wire in Eagle Pass, Texas

'I am disappointed that the federal governments blatant and disturbing efforts to subvert law and order at our States border with Mexico will be allowed to continue,' Paxton said.

The concertina wire fencing was installed on private property along the Rio Grande river by the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star, an initiative launched by Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2021 aimed at deterring illegal border crossings.

Paxton's lawsuit claims U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents recently stepped up an existing practice of cutting, destroying or otherwise damaging wire that the state had strategically placed with landowners' permission.

On Thursday, Moses said Texas had not shown at this early stage of the case that the federal government's conduct amounted to a 'final agency action' that can be challenged under a federal law governing rulemaking by agencies.

Texas is separately defending its authority to install floating buoys in the middle of the Rio Grande to deter migrants.

A federal judge at the Biden administration's request in September ordered the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier removed, but an appeals court allowed it to remain in place temporarily while Paxton's office pursues an appeal.
A British-Israeli whose family member is still being held by Hamas has described it as psychological torture and says 'the waiting is unbearable'.

Pazit Ziv, who lost three members of her family in the October 7 attacks, has spoken of her 'tearful' reunion with surviving relatives who were freed by the terrorists.

She flew to Israel earlier this week after the six were exchanged but also revealed one was still being held in Gaza.

The university academic from West Yorkshire told the Mail: 'It's great to see them again but we will not be happy until we are all together and one is still being held.

'I don't want to go into too much detail because we don't want to jeopardise anything, but the waiting and the watching is terrible.'

Pazit Ziv lost three members of her family in the attacks. Pictured: Pazit speaking at an event for hostages taken by Hamas

Yahel Shoham, aged three, upon her arrival in Israel after being freed

Naveh Shoham, aged eight, upon his arrival in Israel after being freed by Hamas

Earlier this week members of her extended family were released, and they included Yahel Shoham, three, and her brother Naveh, eight.

Their mother Adi Shoham, 38, and her mother Shoshan Haran, 67, were also freed following 50 days in captivity.

However, their father Tal, Adi's husband, is still being held, while another relative Sharon Avigdori, 52, and her daughter Noam, 12, were reunited with family in Israel.

But tragically three of Pazit's relatives were killed in the October 7 attacks at the Be'eri kibbutz which is just three miles from Gaza.

They were Sharon's brother Avshalom Haran, 66, and Shoshan's brother Eviater Kipbnis, 65, and sister-in-law Lilach Kipnis, 60, who was killed along with their Filipino carer Paul Castelvi.

Pazit was born in Israel but has taken British citizenship and her trip was funded by the Jewish community in London.

She said: 'It's overwhelming to know that they have been released but everything is still very raw.

'It's a huge happiness for us but there are people still missing and we just want them back.

'I was watching Yahel who has lovely blonde curly hair getting on to the bus and it was frightening and emotional to watch.'

Pazit, 52, who came to Britain in 2013, and the younger members of her family were freed with Irish Israeli Emily Hand, nine.

Tal Shoham, who is still being held hostage

Shoshan Haran stands next to Adi Shoham, 38, and her son Nave Shoham, 8, following their arrival in Israel on November 25 after being held hostage by Hamas

She said: 'There have been tears but it's going to take a long time to get things back to normal.

'The children are talking in whispers because they were told to keep quiet by the terrorists.

'When it happened, the messages were being sent to different members of the families - they murdered my cousin, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law.

'Others were taken hostage but have now been released but I don't want to go into too much detail, about who is held because we don't want to attract any attention.

'But what I want to say is that it is almost two months, and we know nothing of the conditions that the remainder are being held.

'We need them all back urgently, the waiting is unbearable for us. It's psychological torture.

'The ones who have been released are slowly coming to terms with what happened, and they didn't even know some had passed away.

'Actually, I should say murdered, not passed away because they were killed. They were violated and destroyed.

'They haven't gone into too much detail, but I can tell you it wasn't a vacation in the Maldives for them.

'They were kept underground in tunnels with limited food and they were moved around and some were split up. They didn't see any light for weeks.

'In the minutes we have spent talking there are people still being held and we must get them back as quickly as possible.'

She went on: 'Even in the face of all this I'm getting hate mail, some people are so awful. I've had ten members of my family killed or kidnapped and people want to attack me.'
A Muslim family has appealed to Hamas terrorists to release a 17-year-old girl snatched along with her father and two brothers.

Aisha Ziadna was working in a dairy with her dad Yosef, 53, Bilal, 18, and Hamza, 23, when Hamas invaded on October 7, killing more than 1,200 and kidnapping 240.

Aisha, who wears a hijab, speaks Arabic and would have been easily identifiable as a Muslim, is one of eight children still being held in Gaza

Her family invited the Mail into their home at Rahat in the Negev desert about 60 miles south from Tel Aviv and just a few minutes' drive from the border with Gaza.

The family  who are Bedouins and Israeli citizens  have worked at dairy at the Hulit kibbutz for decades.

Aisha Ziadna was working in a dairy with her dad Yosef, 53, Bilal, 18, and Hamza, 23, when Hamas invaded on October 7

Aisha's uncle Ali Ziadna, 58, told the Mail: 'At first we thought they may have been killed and their bodies burnt because of the devastation but then the Israeli army contacted us to say they were alive and being held in Gaza'

The family's home at Rahat in the Negev desert is about 60 miles south from Tel Aviv and just a few minutes' drive from the border with Gaza

During the October 7 attack at the kibbutz terrorists killed 11 people  including two Americans  and snatched several people as hostages.

The kibbutz became famous as it was the scene of a 17-hour tank battle by an all-female Israeli crew who saved dozens of lives as they fought off the Hamas thugs.

Aisha's uncle Ali Ziadna, 58, told the Mail: 'At first we thought they may have been killed and their bodies burnt because of the devastation but then the Israeli army contacted us to say they were alive and being held in Gaza.

'They showed us footage from traffic cameras, and we recognised them as they were being taken away  and now we just want them back.

'The family are Muslims. Hamas must know they are Muslims  why have they taken them? It just doesn't make any sense.'

Ali Ziadna said: 'They showed us footage from traffic cameras, and we recognised them as they were being taken away  and now we just want them back'

Aisha's father Yosef, 53. Yousef has two wives and 18 children

Aisha's brother Hamza, 23, who was also kidnapped during the October 7 attack

Aisha's brother Bilal, 18, who was also taken on October 7, when Hamas invaded, killing more than 1,200 and kidnapping 240

Sitting in front of his simple home, with a canopy over the front as shade from the fierce sun, Ali added: 'It's the waiting that is the hardest. We have been waiting for almost two months with no news.

'We just have to hope that the ceasefire continues and they come back as quickly as possible. Yosef is diabetic and needs medicine. How do we know he is getting insulin?'

The family's home is at the end of a dirt track that slices through the desert, and across the featureless flat landscape the Gaza strip can just been seen on the horizon.

Rubbish litters the road and minarets tower at Rahat showing the Arabic influence of the town and it is the largest Bedouin urban area in the world.

Yousef has two wives and 18 children. Aisha had only recently become engaged and Ali said she was 'the apple of her father's eye'.

Offering traditional Arabic coffee to the Mail and dates, Ali added: 'We later saw photos of terrorists with guns standing over them. It terrified us to see.

'I just don't know why Muslims would do this to other Muslims, let alone any other human beings.

'There is a ceasefire, and they should have been released. I just don't know why they haven't been.

'The family is Muslim and probably praying with the Hamas terrorists so they should know they are the same religion and should free them.

'Now there is talk of the ceasefire stopping in the next few days. We need them back home as soon as possible.

'Israel and the rest of the world must do all it can. Many have returned last few days but why have they not returned?

'I'm happy for those that have been reunited with their families, but we want to have some joy as well.

'My mother hasn't stopped crying - the whole village is crying. If I don't get news soon I will go to Gaza myself to fight the terrorists and bring them home.

Ali added: 'We later saw photos of terrorists with guns standing over them. It terrified us to see'

The bedouin village near Rihat, Israel, where the family live

Ali said: 'We just have to hope that the ceasefire continues and they come back as quickly as possible. Yosef is diabetic and needs medicine, how do we know he is getting insulin?'

Ali Ziadna and members of the family

'They loved working at the kibbutz and were friends with everyone there. They had dinner and swam together - it was one big family.'

Retired policeman Ali said: 'The whole family are believers, and they pray every day. Hamas must recognise this. They deserve mercy as do all the other hostages.

'My brother and his family are just simple labourers. They were doing their job - they weren't there to fight.

'What the terrorists of Hamas did contradicts Islam. Islam is against killing. This has nothing to do with religion.'

Aisha, along with ten-month-old Kfir Bibas, and his brother Ariel, four, are believed to be the only children still being held by Hamas.

Israel's ambassador to Azerbaijan, George Deek, said: 'It is evident that, unlike the other children and young girls. Aisha is not being released by Hamas because it is ashamed to admit that is also kidnapped Muslims.

'Her case must remain in the spotlight because it shows that Hamas's contempt for human lives is more important than religious solidarity.'
Harry and Meghan must distance themselves from Omid Scobie's explosive book, royal experts have claimed - as the race row deepened even further today.

Mr Scobie today brushed off the naming of two royals as alleged racists in the Dutch version of Endgame, denying he was responsible in his first British TV appearance on ITV's This Morning.

The Sussexes' favoured royal reporter, who was speaking hours after Piers Morgan identified the two senior royals alleged to have raised 'concerns' over Prince Archie's skin colour, squarely blamed the Dutch publisher.

'I never submitted a book that had those names in it,' he declared.

But fresh questions have been raised after the Dutch translator of Endgame revealed to MailOnline that the names of the two 'royal racists' were in fact in the manuscript she was sent.

The pair identified in the book were named widely by media organisations around the world tonight, including the Guardian and the Times, as King Charles and Kate.

Today, royal commentators fumed that the Sussexes 'can't have it both ways' and should distance themselves from the book which has been described as a 'rant against the Royal Family'.

Harry and Meghan (pictured in Johannesburg in 2019) must distance themselves from Omid Scobie's explosive book as the race row deepened even further today, royal experts have claimed

Mr Scobie today brushed off the naming of two royals as alleged racists in the Dutch version of Endgame, denying he was responsible in his first British TV appearance on ITV's This Morning (pictured on show today)

Meghan Markle first made the claim in the Sussexes' infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview when she revealed there were 'several conversations' between herself, Harry and Royal Family members about 'how dark' Archie's skin would be.

But almost two years later, Prince Harry denied the Sussexes had accused the Royal Family of racism and blamed it on the British press. He said the question about Archie's skin colour was an example of 'unconscious bias'.

King brushes off Omid Scobie race row: Charles jokes 'he's alright... just about' as Palace considers legal action - after Piers Morgan named two royals accused of racism Advertisement

Royal author Phil Dampier told MailOnline today: 'This whole situation is getting murkier by the day. Two royals have been named in the past - in books as well as online - and only one of them was named by Piers Morgan last night and virtually confirmed by Omid Scobie today. The other is a new name to me.

'The onus is now very much on Harry and Meghan. He claimed in an interview with Tom Bradby that it was the British press who called the royals racist not them. But why did they mention it in the Oprah Winfrey interview at all then if they weren't unhappy?

'They can't have it both ways and if they are not behind this book and don't believe the royal relatives are racist they should now come out and say so. Their silence speaks volumes and I can't see any reconciliations any time soon'.

Investigative journalist Tom Bower added: 'Scobie has re-opened a vicious proxy war against the Royal Family by coyly revealing the names of the alleged racists. His allegations are not only grossly untrue and unfair but also ridiculous.

'Moreover, Harry admitted during his book Spare's promotion tour that the conversation was not racist.'

The original claim about racism was made by Meghan in her infamous Oprah Winfrey interview of March 2021 when she revealed there were 'several conversations' between herself, Harry and members of the Royal Family about 'how dark' their unborn baby Archie would be

Two years later, Harry told ITV's Tom Bradby in an interview that he and Meghan had not called anyone in the Royal Family racist

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with their children Archie and Lilibet in December 2021

And royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: 'It was surreal to watch Omid Scobie on This Morning answer questions about Endgame, as though he were only responsible for the English version of the book.

'If he ''never submitted a book which had their names in it,'' then how could they possibly have been included in the Dutch copy of the book?

'These are names which can't be mistranslated and it is a question of how they appeared in the book, which he, as its author, is surely responsible for.

'Scobie claims he is ''as frustrated as everyone else'' about how the names were included in the Dutch edition. Many will conclude that this was an attempt to publicise a nasty book. Others may conclude that the Sussexes may have been behind it or even instigated it'.

MailOnline has asked the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to comment. Sources close to the couple have denied that they had any 'affiliation' with the book.

Mr Fitzwilliams described Endgame as a 'rant against the Royal Family', adding: 'What Omid Scobie is doing is proving that he is the ultimate figure when it comes to seeking sensation, I'm afraid.

'In his book Scobie makes clear he thinks the monarchy is in decline, possibly terminal decline. He has taken a chance in weird circumstances to embarrass it'.

Mr Scobie said that he had not named the royals in his book for legal reasons - only to pop up in the Dutch version, which he called an 'error'.

Dutch translator Saskia Peeters (pictured today) who worked on Omid Scobie's controversial book has insisted the names of two royals at the centre of racism scandal were in the manuscript she was sent

The inclusion of the names led to 5,000 copies of the book  called 'Final Battle' (pictured) in Holland  being withdrawn from sale on the bookshelves and pulped

It comes as well-placed sources revealed that Buckingham Palace is today 'considering all options' over the royal race row stoked by Scobie's 'poisonous' new book.

Sources have told the Mail while King Charles is determined to focus on important state business in Dubai, where he is holding bilateral meetings ahead of giving a keynote opening speech at the COP28 summit on Friday, aides are seriously looking at how they should, if at all, respond.

While it is clear that courtiers will be looking at the various legal options open to them, it is incredibly unlikely that they would actually sue Scobie. They would not want to get into a protracted legal battle.

But a source told the Mail: 'I understand the palace is considering all options open to them.

'However the key thing for them is His Majesty responding in the most eloquent way possible by getting on with business and not letting it distract from vastly more important issues regarding the future on the planet and bilaterals with other world leaders including those impacted by the situation in the Middle East.'

This afternoon, Saskia Peeters, the Dutch translator who worked on Scobie's book, said she did not add the names to the Dutch version of the book Endgame.

Speaking to MailOnline from her home in Arnhem, she said: 'As a translator, I translate what is in front of me.

'The names of the royals were there in black and white. I did not add them. I just did what I was paid to do and that was translate the book from English into Dutch.'
The internet has created new forms of sexism and allowed them to spread

Society has slipped backwards in its treatment of women as the internet fuels a new wave of misogyny, a scientist claims.

Deborah Cameron, professor of language and communication at Oxford University, says the internet has allowed sexism to evolve into a new modern form.

Rather than becoming a thing of the past, Professor Cameron argues that figures such as Andrew Tate and Donald Trump have promoted new forms of misogyny.

TikTok and other online forums have created spaces where sexist ideas can freely be promoted, leading to a rise in verbal threats and abuse against women.

Professor Cameron says that sexism has now become part of 'ordinary and unremarkable' mainstream advertising, comedy, and news reporting.

Andrew Tate has been the beneficiary of algorithms that promote controversial and harmful content according to Professor Cameron

Who is disgraced 'manosphere' influencer Andrew Tate? Andrew Tate is a British-American former professional kickboxer. He appeared on Big Brother in 2016 but was removed from the show after a video emerged showing him striking a woman with a belt. Tate amassed millions of followers promoting an extreme form of masculinity and sexism. Tate claims he is 'absolutely a misogynist'. He is currently awaiting trial for charges of human trafficking and forming a gang to abuse women. Separate charges under investigation could lead to indictments of money laundering and trafficking of minors. Advertisement

In her book, 'Language, Sexism and Misogyny', Professor Cameron argues that sexism has evolved into a form that reflects today's conditions and digital culture.

Part of this change has been the rise of a new, particularly extreme version of masculinity which has been spread through extremely active online communities.

'The internet has enabled the most extreme, obsessive and dangerous misogynists to find each other and interact intensively,' Professor Cameron told MailOnline.

In the past, Professor Cameron says these individuals 'might only have shared their views or their violent fantasies with a few trusted confidants in the pub or the locker room.'

'This is the effect of what's called the "manosphere", a collection of forums hosting subcultures like incels, pick-up artists and male supremacists who are often also active in other kinds of extreme politics like white nationalism or neo-Nazism,' she added.

Professor Cameron says that figures like Andrew Tate have been particularly influential in spreading this new extreme form of misogyny online.

Tate, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking and creating a criminal gang to exploit women, has amassed millions of followers and is particularly popular among young men and boys.

Professor Cameron says that Tate has been the beneficiary of social media algorithms that promote controversial and harmful content.

Mainstream political figures like Donald Trump have brought a language of sexism into the mainstream according to Professor Cameron

'He has billions of followers because he knows how to work the algorithms which decide what users of platforms like TikTok and YouTube will be invited to view,' Professor Cameron says.

'Tate's influence is partly about the content he produces, if it had no appeal to anyone he wouldn't be the phenomenon he is, but it's also about the way technology scales things up.

'A Victorian misogynist who communicated via church sermons or printed treatises might have reached quite a lot of people, but not billions across the globe.'

Recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was urged by MPs to tackle the radicalisation and 'brain-washing' of school children by Andrew Tate's content.

However, she also claims that Tate is only part of a wider, normalised acceptance of sexism and misogynist language in everyday life.

Professor Cameron says that this new wave of sexism in society has led to women facing more abuse both on and offline.

'Digital interactive media make it very easy to harass people anonymously with abusive and threatening messages,' Professor Cameron told MailOnline.

Prominent women like Vice-president Kamala Harris have been the target of torrents of sexist and racist abuse online

'We know that since the beginning of the digital era there has been a very large increase in online abuse targeting women specificallyespecially women with a public profile'.

Influential public figures like vice-president Kamala Harris and eco-activist Greta Thunberg have been particularly exposed to a rise in sexist abuse, Professor Cameron says.

While Professor Cameron says that threats and harassment have always been a risk for women in public life, the ease of communicating over the internet has 'vastly increased the scale of the problem.'

She adds that there is a mounting concern that 'extremely graphic rape and death threats' are making it harder for women to take part in politics and public life.

Meanwhile, online groups like the 'Tradwife' movement are actively advocating for a return to a time when women are not involved in public life at all.

Tradwives promote a style of living where the woman in a relationship is entirely subservient to their husband and makes maintaining a home and raising a family their primary concern.

Self-described Tradwife Estee Williams advocates for a lifestyle where women remain at home and out of the workforce, putting care of their husbands and children ahead of other goals

READ MORE: Bad news for 'tradwives': Mothers who believe that men should hold the power in the family are less responsive parents Advertisement

Professor Cameron also told MailOnline that AI tools like ChatGPT are amplifying sexism reflecting the biases of the data they are trained on.

Since Large Language Models require vast amounts of data sourced online, they incorporate the sexism that is coded into that data.

For example, Professor Cameron suggests that if most pictures of doctors online are of men, then AI will only generate images of male doctors.

'A bias that already exists gets not just reproduced but exaggerated,' says Professor Cameron.

However, Ms Cameron adds that 'AIs don't know that: they don't know anything about the world, just the way it's represented in the texts and images they can process.'
It's taken Amazon a while, but the tech giant has finally jumped on the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot bandwagon.

The firm has just unveiled its version of ChatGPT called 'Q'  which may be a reference to the ingenious tech boffin in the James Bond films.

Q  designed for employees in fields such as IT, software, customer service and more  lets workers ask questions that are specific to their companies.

Among its skills are summarising meetings, explaining programming code and locating information from hundreds of company documents.

Q comes soon after Elon Musk announced his own 'sarcastic' AI bot called Grok that will be integrated within X (formerly known as Twitter).

Tech giant Amazon is finally joining the AI chatbot party with its own offering, called 'Q', which is geared towards businesses

READ MORE Elon Musk launches 'sarcastic' AI Grok responds with 'a little humor' Advertisement

In a blog post, Amazon said the new assistant is specifically for work and can be tailored to a customer's business  much like ChatGPT Enterprise, the version of ChatGPT for workers.

Currently, Q is available only for users of Connect (Amazon's service for contact centres) in parts of the US, but it will roll out to other services and countries soon.

Some of the companies already using Q are automotive giant BMW, IT firm Accenture and pharmaceutical company Gilead, as well as Amazon itself.

'Q can help you get fast, relevant answers to pressing questions, solve problems, generate content, and take actions using the data and expertise found in your company's information repositories, code and enterprise systems,' the firm says.

'When you chat with Amazon Q, it provides immediate, relevant information and advice to help streamline tasks, speed decision-making, and help spark creativity and innovation at work.'

Q can be connected to a business's data, information and systems, so it can source numerous answers that are relevant to the company  but these are secure and not publicly-available.

The name Q may be a reference to the ingenious tech expert in the James Bond film series, played here by Desmond Llewelyn

'Your AI-powered expert': Among its skills are summarising meetings, explaining programming code and locating information from hundreds of company documents

READ MORE ChatGPT vs Bard - which is best? MailOnline fed the bots the same set of seven questions Advertisement

Employees can ask about things they would have before had to search for across different sources, such as Google Drive, Microsoft 365 and Dropbox  saving them from the tedious task of searching through multiple documents.

In this way, Q will save time and increase productivity for a business, although it is also able to perform the sort of jobs that the general public already turn to ChatGPT for.

Q can help with tasks like generating a blog post, summarising documents, drafting emails and creating meeting agendas.

Amazon said Q has been 'built with security and privacy in mind' and never uses content from its business customers 'to train its underlying models'.

In other words, no sensitive company data is used to train Q and the tool only accesses company information through a secure Amazon service account.

It follows controversy surrounding ChatGPT's creator OpenAI, which is being taken to court over claims it breached copyright rules by 'ingesting' books without permission.

Amazon is the latest tech firm to jump on the chatbot bandwagon after the huge success of ChatGPT, which was released a year ago.

Amazon's Q comes just over a year since ChatGPT was released - and soon after revolutionised the way we get information online. Unlike Amazon, Google was so panicked by ChatGPT it rush-released its own chatbot, Bard, in March

Q comes soon after Elon Musk announced his own 'sarcastic' AI bot called Grok (pictured) to be integrated within X (formerly known as Twitter)

Elon Musk (pictured here in the UK on November 2) said Grok is currently only available to 'a select group' before being rolled out more widely

Earlier in the month Elon Musk revealed Grok for X, which offers 'spicy' responses and a little humour, as an alternative to the formal language used by others.

Grok will be built within X, but only for users who are subscribed to X Premium+, the top tier of X's paid subscription option, which costs a hefty 16 per month

Meanwhile, Google rush-released its offering, Bard, in March after fears that ChatGPT could replace Google Search as the best way to get information online.

Other chatbots include My AI built into social media app Snapchat, YouChat from US search engine You.com and Ernie Bot from Chinese company Baidu.
A Maine lobster seems to be worth a lot more as a social media star than it would be if it were served on a roll.

Not only is this unusual animal half blue and half 'regular' (brownish-orange), but the two sides are also opposite sexes.

Jacob Knowles, who shares his life as a Maine lobsterman on social media, has gained nearly 150,000 new Instagram followers since he posted his first video of the lobster in mid-November, according to an analysis by Social Blade.

Knowles and his internet followers have named the lobster 'Bowie,' a nod to David Bowie's famously flashy and gender-bending fashion back in the '70s.

And whereas the rock star was dressing up for art, Bowie the lobster exhibits a trait called 'gynandromorphy,' which means it has both male and female reproductive organs.

This type of mutation happens during the very earliest stages of embryonic development, when an animal's cells are first dividing inside its egg.

Lobsterman Jacob Knowles holds up the gynandromorph lobster that his friend found in one of his lobster traps

Knowles identified Bowie as a gynandromorph by its swimmerets, the small swimming legs at the base of the tail.

The male one is stiff, but the female one is more flexible. These flexible swimmerets are covered in small hairs that hold eggs in place when the animal reproduces.

Gynandromorphy has been observed in fossilized crustaceans - the group lobsters belong to - from as long as 70 million years ago, and it seems to arise from some sort of genetic error during these early stages.

It's not uncommon for some crustacean species to be hermaphrodites, meaning they contain complete male and female reproductive parts (simultaneous hermaphrodites) or they turn from one sex to the other in their lifetime (sequential hermaphrodites).

Lobsters are not one of these animals. Male and female lobsters have distinct anatomy.

In addition to the swimmerets, the female also has a wider tail that holds its clutch of eggs underneath.

The blue half of Bowie appears to be male, and the normal side looks female - as indicated by the flexible swimmerets on the female side, tail structures that hold eggs in place

But because they are crustaceans, scientists suspect it is easier for them to become gynandromorphs during early development.

Gynandromorphy is not the same as intersexuality.

In a gynandromorph, the animal is a 'mosaic' of male and female traits, with genetically male and female tissues found throughout.

An intersex animal, on the other hand, will appear both physically and genetically to be all male or all female, but has some partial sexual anatomy from both sexes.

Some researchers have found evidence of an intersex condition called 'ovotestis' in lobsters, where the male reproductive organs exhibit some qualities of ovaries.

In a case study of an apparently male lobster from 2012, the animal reportedly had unfertilized egg cells alongside its sperm cells.

Bowie the lobster is split almost perfectly down the middle, with male reproductive parts on the blue side and female ones on the other. It's not clear whether Bowie can reproduce with itself

The study's author proposed that this could have happened due to endocrine disrupting chemicals in the lobster's environment.

And some scientists suspect that human pollution could be making this phenomenon more common.

What's definitely not common is Bowie's split colors.

But there is some confusion around exactly how rare this phenomenon is, especially as news coverage bandies about exact numbers.

An oft-cited statistic, attributed to the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine in Orono, says it occurs in only about 1 in 50 million lobsters.

Most news stories on Bowie have cited this stat.

But perhaps those numbers need to be updated.

'They're uncommon, but not that uncommon,' the Lobster Institute's then- executive director Robert Bayer told National Geographic back in 2015. 'We see them every year.'

It's not clear why Bowie ended up the way it did, but it's lucky that it ended up on the internet rather than in someone's belly.

Because of its size, Bowie could have legally ended up on a plate.

According to Maine law, lobstermen can keep and sell a non-breeding lobster that measures between 3.25 and 5 inches from its eye to the beginning of its tail.

And Bowie fits that bill.

But who would want to eat this rockstar crustacean?

Bowie will live in an enclosure where scientists figure out whether it will be able to reproduce with itself

Knowles calls Bowie 'the rarest lobster in the world' because of its combination of rare traits - blue, gynandromorphism, and split-color.

Bowie's sexual mutation is certainly unique, but it isn't the first example of a strangely colored lobster.

In 2010 one was found near East Yorkshire. Named 'Harley Quinn' after the colorfully dressed comic character (and the Batman villain), this one also had an unusually straight line down its back that divided its bicolored halves.

But unlike Bowie, Harley Quinn's claws were the opposite color from its body on opposite sides.

Knowles was keeping Bowie in a cage in the harbor, but after a storm this week, he decided to bring it to some scientists at the Bar Harbor Oceanarium in Maine, where it will be safer.
The mystery of Mexico's 'aliens' is deepening after an analysis claimed the DNA of tiny corpses is not human but of an 'unknown species.'

The nation's Congress has been a circus for the past two months as controversial UFO enthusiast and journalist Jaime Maussan has held court several times to prove the mummified remains found in Peru are extraterrestrial life.

In his recent attempt, Maussan ushered in a team of researchers who performed a DNA analysis on the figures that showed 30 percent is 'not from any known species' and stated that the figures were 'authentic,' comprising a single skeleton.

The other 70 percent has not yet been revealed.

DailyMail.com revealed that a UFO expert who has handled the tiny bodies suggested humans put them together - and the pair could have been made with now-extinct animals 1,000 years ago.

The mystery of Mexico 's ' aliens ' is deepening after an analysis claimed the DNA of tiny corpses is not human but of an 'unknown species'

'This is the first time extraterrestrial life has been presented in this manner, Maussan said to Congress.

'We have a clear example of non-human specimens unrelated to any known species on our planet.

'The public has the right to know about non-human technology and beings. This reality unites humanity rather than dividing us. We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this truth.'

Maussan added that the two corpses have sturdy bones, are toothless, and contain implants made of the soft, slivery-white metal cadmium and the bluish-white metal osmium - rare elements on Earth.

He revealed in September that 30 percent of the DNA was unknown, but it was not until recently that claims of an unknown species surfaced.

The nation's Congress has been a circus for the past two months as controversial UFO enthusiast and journalist Jaime Maussan has held court several times to prove the mummified remains found in Peru are extraterrestrial life

The figures underwent carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which determined the bodies had three-fingered hands, no teeth and were more than 1,000 years old, Maussan claimed

The figures underwent carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which determined the bodies had three-fingered hands, no teeth and were more than 1,000 years old, Maussan claimed.

'These specimens are not part of our terrestrial evolution [...] These aren't beings that were found after a UFO wreckage,' Maussan said to Congress in September.

'They were found in diatom [algae] mines and were later fossilized.'

He later added: 'Whether they are aliens or not, we don't know, but they were intelligent and they lived with us. They should rewrite history.'

'We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this reality.'

Maussan said that the two corpses have sturdy bones, are toothless, and contain implants made of the soft, slivery-white metal cadmium and the bluish-white metal osmium - rare elements on Earth

Experts also indicated that their DNA is hybrid, suggesting the bodies were descendants of the being human

Earlier this month, Maussan ushered in a string of doctors who all said the bodies were those of real, once-living organisms - some experts claimed to have studied 'five similar specimens over four years.

The experts also indicated that their DNA is hybrid, suggesting the bodies were descendants of the being human.

'We have a hybrid being, we have other beings that are apparently more evolved than uswe are facing something truly extraordinary,' said Maussan.

While Mausaan and his team declared the mummified corpses, named Clara and Mauricio, 'are real,' the experts did not have an origin story and did not imply the bodies were 'extraterrestrial.'

At the hearing, he focused on proving the bodies were not fake by providing insights from medical experts.

'None of the scientists say [the study results] prove that they are extraterrestrials, but I go further,' he said, suggesting that they could be evidence of non-Earthly life forms.

Ufologist Will Galison - a close friend of the archaeologist who first analyzed the supposed 'aliens' - said he believes the 'corpses' are dummies that are 1,000 years old

Maussan brought a squad of medical experts who carried in a letter signed by 11 researchers from San Luis Gonzaga National University in Ica, Peru, declaring the same.

Anthropologist Roger Zuniga of San Luis Gonzaga National University in Ica Peru said Tuesday: 'There was absolutely no human intervention in the physical and biological formation of these beings.'

However, the letter made clear that the team was not implying the bodies were 'extraterrestrial' but did not answer where the remains originated.

Argentine surgeon Celestino Adolfo Piotto also took the stand, claiming he reviewed the results of testing done on the bodies and made the bizarre case that 'they were an evolved version of today's human beings, calling them 'our descendants.'

But ufologist Will Galison - a close friend of the archaeologist who first analyzed the supposed 'aliens' - said he believes the 'corpses' are dummies that are 1,000 years old.

Galison said they may have been made from animal remains a millennia ago, possibly for ritual purposes, with the heads bearing a 'remarkable similarity' to alpaca skulls.
Scientists hope they will one day help people with serious health conditions

These 'anthrobots' can be made from a person's own cells

Scientists have developed tiny robots using human cells that could one day patrol our bodies, searching for and healing diseased cells and tissue.

So-called 'anthrobots,' assembled from human cells can repair damage to brain cells in a dish, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Advanced Science.

Scientists at Tufts University in Massachusetts developed the microscopic robots to eventually heal diseases. There are multiple additional steps before that happens, but they foresee the technology repairing cell and tissue damage from conditions such as Alzheimer's.

These bots - whose name means 'human robots' - were made from human airway cells.

In the future if this technology advances to the point that it can be deployed in hospitals, the fact that the bots can be made from a person's own cells, with their own DNA, would help ensure that the body does not reject them, senior author Michael Levin told DailyMail.com.

You also would not need immunosuppressants - the kind of drugs needed after an organ transplant, said Levin, professor of biology at Tufts.

'You've got the patient's own cells doing various things in the body that are helpful,' he continued.

This anthrobot was made from human lung cells, coaxed into a new shape that can crawl around and repair damaged tissue

To build the anthrobots, Levin and his colleagues started with samples of the cells that line human lungs. Then they put them into a dish and coaxed the cells to grow into clumps.

The clumps developed cilia, tiny hairlike projections all around the outside of the cells, that help them get around.

Lung cells naturally grow cilia, which is a big part of why the team chose to use them, said Gizem Gumuskaya, first author on the study who completed the work during her time as a PhD candidate in Levin's lab.

In past work on creating cell structures that don't exist in nature, scientists have done this by altering DNA. But Gumuskaya and Levin didn't want to do this.

'We don't want to create genetically modified organisms,' she said. 'If your goal is to take these robots and put them into human bodies, you want as little off-target interference as possible.'

When you introduce new genes, you increase the odds that the body will reject it, she explained.

Instead, they made the cells develop into a new shape by changing their growing environment.

Observed on their own, the clumps of cells moved around without any help - self-propelled anthrobots.

The anthrobots moved around on their own, propelled by the tiny hairlike projections called cilia around their outsides

Next the team put the anthrobots to the test, in a simulation of what it might look like for them to repair human brain tissue.

In a dish of lab-grown brain cells, the team slashed a wound down the center, severing the connections between neurons.

Then they placed the anthrobots into the dish and let them get to work. There was no reason to suspect these cells would be able to move once they were plopped into the relatively sticky cell dish.

At first, the tiny bots moseyed down the center of the slash, like they were walking down the street.

An anthrobot made from human lung cells strolls down a scar left in a dish of lab-grown brain cells

But once they plopped a larger anthrobot down onto the gap between the brain cells, forming a temporary link, something amazing happened: The nerve cells started regrowing, stretching across to bridge the gap.

A microscopic anthrobot (green and yellow) made a dish of lab-grown human brain cells (red) began to repair damage

The new work builds on previous research from the same team, who built xenobots from frog embryo cells.

In that case, embryonic cells provided a great starting place to grow the bots, but for use in humans, human cells were necessary to ensure that a person's body didn't treat them as a foreign invader and attack, triggering a potentially dangerous immune response.

After being treated with the anthrobot, this scratched and damaged sheet of brain cells began to recover

But since human embryo cells can't be used for research, they had to make do with the lung cells. Fortunately, due to the explosion in human respiratory disease research since the COVID-19 pandemic, these types of cells had become plentiful.

Their next steps include testing the anthrobots in tissue that models human disease like dementia, to see if the bots can repair damage.

Putting them into humans is a long way off, they said, but they are optimistic that one day the anthrobots will play a role in precision medicine.
Tens of millions of Americans will have views of the Northern Lights tonight as solar storms push the spectacular display further south.

More than 20 states from the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest will be able to catch their best glimpses of the phenomenon, known as the aurora borealis, between 10PM and 2AM local time.

The lights should start to be visible as far down as Iowa and Ohio after nightfall  and could carry on into Friday evening, although the aurora won't be as visible then, according to space weather forecasters.

Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota will have the best seats in the US.

But sky-watchers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine will also get a chance see these lights shimmer.

The aurora will look, to the naked eye, like a green or red glow in the northern sky.

The Northern Lights is most commonly seen over places closer to the Arctic Circle such as Scandinavia and Alaska, so any sighting over the continental US is a treat for skygazers

The aurora forecast for tonight, November 30, 2023, will spread deeper into the continental United States than usual, according to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, thanks to a wave of incoming solar storms. Tomorrow night's forecast sees less Northern Lights due south

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Space Weather Prediction Center, no less than four 'coronal mass ejections' (CME) have erupted from the sun's surface and are now headed toward Earth.

Often a byproduct of solar flares and other turbulent conditions on our sun, CME events launch a potent magnetic field and a mass of plasma passed the sun's outer 'coronal' edge and out into the wider solar system.

For tonight and tomorrow, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center upgraded their predictions to a G3 Watch ('Strong' on a scale of 1 to 5), as they've observed these CMEs begin merge in space.

'With 3 CMEs already inbound, the addition of a 4th, full halo CME has prompted SWPC forecasters to upgrade the G2 Watch on 01 Dec to a G3 Watch,' NOAA posted to their forecasting site.

'This faster-moving halo CME is progged [projected] to merge with 2 of the 3 upstream CMEs, all arriving at Earth on 01 Dec,' the federal agency said.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center upgraded their predictions to a G3 Watch ('Strong' on a scale of 1 to 5), as they've observed these CME 'solar storms' merge in space: 'This faster-moving halo CME [will] merge with 2 of the 3 upstream CMEs, all arriving at Earth on 01 Dec'

Both Northern and Southern Lights (auroras) have mystified humans for centuries due to their wild colors. Above, an aurora glows over Rovaniemi, Finland on February 6, 2020

The aurora forecast for tonight, November 30, 2023, will spread deeper into the continental United States than usual, according to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, thanks to this pile-up of incoming solar storms.

Tomorrow night's forecast is slightly less strong, with less of the Northern Lights visible due south as this wave of CMEs cascades farther out in our solar system toward Mars and Jupiter.

US sky-watchers should not lose hope if they miss Thursday night's rare local aurora borealis, however, as astronomers and NOAA's space weather forecasters are predicting more CME events like it in next few months.

Since December 2019, the sun has been undergoing an 11-year cycle where the polarity of its magnetic poles completely reverses, and that process is nearing its most turbulent, high-energy phase.

Dubbed, Solar Cycle 25, this 11-period has been expected to be 'a fairly weak cycle' according to the National Weather Service.

But nevertheless, it will ramp up its intensity continually from now until July 2025, with a forecasted a peak of 115 sunspots, stronger CMEs, and other solar storms like coronal hole high speed streams (CH HSS).

According to the Hill, new forecasts show the storms 'could come quicker and be stronger than previously thought from January to October next year.'

While that does promise more beautiful nighttime light shows from these northern lights down south, the CMEs could also impact our infrastructure, such as knock-on effects that could disrupt satellites.

According to Royal Museums Greenwich, most of the particles from these solar events are deflected, but some become captured in the Earth's magnetic field.

They're accelerated down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere, which is why an aurora is usually best seen nearer the magnetic poles.

'These particles then slam into atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere and essentially heat them up,' said Royal Observatory astronomer Tom Kerss.

'We call this physical process "excitation," but it's very much like heating a gas and making it glow.'

This results in beautiful displays of light in the sky, which come in all sorts of different colors.

Oxygen gives off green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple.
A 90-year-old great-grandfather fulfilled a life-long ambition when he took to the skies for his first-ever flight.

Malcolm Shedlow made a memory to cherish forever after flying from Leeds Bradford Airport with his family with Jet2.com to visit his son in Dordogne, France.

Malcolm said: 'I was fast-tracked through the airport and treated like a celebrity!'

He added: 'Jet2.com's team could not have been more helpful or friendly, and they made the whole flying experience seamless.'

Once aboard the aircraft, Malcolm said the cabin crew 'were very attentive and reassured me I was in very capable hands'.

Malcolm Shedlow fulfilled a life-long ambition by boarding a flight for the first time at age 90. The great-grandfather flew to France with Jet2.com. He is pictured above in the cockpit

Upon landing in France, Malcolms granddaughter informed cabin crew member Tina Murphy that it was his first ever time flying.

To help make the occasion even more special, Tina presented Malcolm with one of the airlines First Flight Club certificates as a keepsake and arranged for him to visit the flight deck and have his picture taken.

His daughter, Claire Baskind, said: 'We're so delighted that my dad had such a positive experience on his first flight in 90 years! It was such a joy to see the pictures and to hear how much he enjoyed his experience.

'Meeting the pilot and being asked to sit in the cockpit was an absolute highlight that our family will treasure forever. Thank you to the Jet2.com staff for making it so special for him.'

Malcolm was presented with a 'First Flight Club' certificate by cabin crew member Tina Murphy (pictured right)

Malcolm is a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather and was married to his late wife Lena Shedlow for nearly 60 years. The two are pictured above on their wedding day

Malcolm has four children, ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one more on the way.

The devoted family man was married to Lena Shedlow, who passed away a month before their 60th wedding anniversary.

Although Malcolm has never taken to the skies before, his first experience with aircraft dates back 70 years to his service in the RAF.

Malcolm contributed towards the peacetime conscription following World War II by completing clerical duties during his National Service call-up.

'My work helped to keep the pilots flying, yet I never went in a plane myself. But that has all changed now thanks to Jet2.com!' he explained.

'I really enjoyed the flight  it was an incredible experience. I look forward to flying with Jet2.com again next year as they have whetted my appetite for flying. I certainly won't be waiting another 90 years to take my second flight!'

He added: 'If Jet2.com needs any more pilots, Captain Malcolm is available!'

For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com
Alessandra Ambrosio stunned at the premiere of fantasy romance film HWJN at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday.

The model, 42, looked incredible in a gorgeous risque sand-coloured halter-neck dress and open-toed heels.

She paid tribute to the country's culture by pairing the cleavage-exposing dress with a sheer headscarf

Her dress was a halter neck and floor-length. It featured splits that reached as high as the Brazilian's waist.

Alessandra completed her look to day one of the Festival with a huge pair of dangling silver earrings.

Alessandra Ambrosio, 42, stunned at the premiere of fantasy romance film HWJN at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday

The supermodel, 42, looked incredible in a risque sand-coloured dress and matching open-toed heels

She paid tribute to the country's culture by pairing the cleavage-exposing dress with a headscarf

The opening night was star-studded, with Johnny Depp making brave appearance following the loss of his friend Shane MacGowan of The Pogues.

Alessandra's appearance at its screening comes after she was spotted showcasing some out-of-control PDA with on-again, off-again boyfriend Richard Lee.

Richard, 41, is a male model, and he and Alessandra have been linked to one another since January 2021.

Alessandra has two children - Anja and Noah - with her ex Jamie Mazur whom she split from in 2018 after 10 years together.

She was also romantically linked to Nicol Oddi from 2018 until 2020.

Alessandra is best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2004 to 2017 and she was also the first spokesmodel for the company's PINK line.

She has modelled for fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Next and four years ago she launched her own swimwear line GAL Floripa.

The Red Sea Film Festival ends on 9 December.

Her dress was a halter neck and floor-length. It featured splits that reached as high as the Brazilian's waist

Alessandra completed her look to day one of the Festival with a huge pair of dangling silver earrings

Alessandra saw Saudi film HWJN, directed by Yasir Al Yasiri, which debuted at the festival after the rights to the film were bought by British-American company AGC International

The opening night was star-studded, with Johnny Depp making an appearance despite the loss of his friend Shane MacGowan of The Pogues

Alessandra's appearance on Thursday comes after she was spotted showcasing some out-of-control PDA with on-again, off-again boyfriend Richard Lee

Alessandra has two children - Anja and Noah - with her ex Jamie Mazur whom she split from in 2018 after 10 years together

Alessandra is best known for being a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2004 to 2017 and she was also the first spokesmodel for the company's PINK line
Kim Kardashian opens up about her first ever photo shoto for a dog publication called K9 Magazine on The Kardashians Season 4 finale.

The family - except Kourtney - were celebrating Scott Disick's 40th birthday at the top of the episode, as family members were making toasts.

After Khloe gave a heartfelt speech, Kim - who recently promoted her shapewear SKIMS' annual sale - raised her glass to Disick.

I have known Scott for 19 years. Scott has supported me through thick and thin, cause thats who you are, as Scott jokes, Ive loved you thick and thin.

Kim adds, You were with me through every phase, as Scott adds, When you were on the front of Dog Fancy, as Khloe corrects, Its called K9 Magazine.'

First cover: Kim Kardashian opens up about her first ever photo shoto for a dog publication called K9 Magazine on The Kardashians Season 4 finale

K9 Magazine: Kim adds, You were with me through every phase, as Scott adds, When you were on the front of Dog Fancy, as Khloe corrects, Its called K9 Magazine

Kim jokes, Anything for a cover. If anyone wants to know what my first cover is, K9 Magazine, as they show Kim on the cover of the magazine with an adorable pooch.

Scott adds, And I was like, you dont like dogs. And now youre an attorney-at-law, a Vogue cover model.'

Kim adds, Guys, guys, we scammed the system. We did it. Whatever it is, we figured it out and we did it. We put in some hard work.

Kim adds in confession, Scotts my motivator. Hell always say, God, can you believe you did it, and Im like, I cant. This is crazy!

They bring out a white cake with a heart that reads, The Lord is 40 as they all sing Happy Birthday to Disick.

We arent supposed to be here, you know. How did we get in this cool party? We werent the cool kids, like how did we do it? Kim adds in confession.

Kim continues in confession, Scotts birthday party was so much fun, but I have to get ready and go back to New York. Im filming American Horror Story. No days off.

Kim spent the majority of the episode in New York City filming her role as Siobhan on the FX series American Horror Story.

Scammed: Kim adds, Guys, guys, we scammed the system. We did it. Whatever it is, we figured it out and we did it. We put in some hard work'

Cool party: We arent supposed to be here, you know. How did we get in this cool party? We werent the cool kids, like how did we do it? Kim adds in confession

She chatted with co-star Emma Roberts on the set and says, 'I did write all my sisters and my mom and everyone today and I said, You guys, I just want you to be really appreciative. This s**ts like really long hours. You should be really lucky that you have to roll out of bed and film in your f***ing house, as Emma starts laughing.

Kim adds, with makeup, without makeup, whatever you wanna do, like, its such its a lot of work, as Emma admits, Its a different beast, definitely.

Kim adds in confession, I have like eight days of full back-to-back work, while Emma says shes going to get dressed, so youre not waiting on me.

Kim adds, I have so much respect for actors. These long hours are really, really crazy.
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Toni Collette's ex-husband Dave Galafassi is continuing to pack on the PDA with Australian actress Claudia Karvan.

The 47-year-old musician, who split from Toni, 51, late last year, confirmed his shock new romance with Claudia, 52, earlier this month when they were spotted kissing during a surfing date at Bondi Beach.

And just days after the sighting, the pair returned to the very same beach to put on another cosy display.

Images show Claudia playfully piggy-backing Dave and wrapping her arms around his waist as they floated in the water.

The couple later emerged from the ocean together before drying themselves off on the sand.

Toni Collette's ex-husband Dave Galafassi, 47, was spotted packing on the PDA with Australian actress Claudia Karvan, 52, at Bondi Beach in Sydney days after they debuted their romance in the waves at the very same beach

Earlier, Dave and Claudia arrived at the beach together, with Dave's arm draped over his new love's shoulder.

Claudia looked fit in a black bikini and grey shorts, while Dave went shirtless and wore a pair of blue board shorts.

The pair kept sun safe and both applied sunscreen while the actress wore a brimmed hat and sunglasses.

Images show Claudia playfully piggy-backing Dave and wrapping her arms around his waist as they floated in the water

Claudia looked fit in a black bikini as she emerged from the water

The actress was glowing as she emerged from the surf with her new beau

The couple spent a lot of time chatting on their beach date

It comes after the pair were spotted for the first time smooching during a romantic surfing date at Bondi Beach.

Photos showed the couple, both dressed in wetsuits, exchanging kisses in the waves as they floated around on their surfboards.

An onlooker told Woman's Day magazine the pair arrived at the beach and left together, adding: 'They just seemed really happy together and weren't bothered by anyone seeing them.'

Earlier, Dave and Caludia arrived at the beach together, with Dave's arm draped over his new love's shoulder

Dave went shirtless and wore a pair of blue board shorts

The pair kept sun safe and both applied sunscreen

The actress wore a brimmed hat and sunglasses

The sighting also confirmed Dave's split from his former lover, Sydney chiropractor Shannon Egan, who he was first spotted kissing at the beach in December last year.

Claudia's last known romance was with ex-partner Jeremy Sparks, who she dated for 22 years before splitting in 2017.

The former couple maintain a harmonious relationship and co-parent their daughter Audrey, 22, and son Albee, 17.

The pair brushed off the sand from their feet before leaving together

Claudia later covered her bikini with a Cat Power band T-shirt and wrapped her towel around her waist

Dave meanwhile shares daughter Sage, 15, and son Arlo, 12, with ex Toni.

Toni and Claudia have plenty in common.

Aside from their strikingly similar looks and their shared hometown of Sydney, the actresses have both enjoyed successful careers in cinema, television and the stage.

Toni is best known for her roles in Muriel's Wedding, Hereditary, Little Miss Sunshine and About A Boy.

The sighting also confirmed Dave's split from his former lover, Sydney chiropractor Shannon Egan, who he was first spotted kissing at the beach in December last year

Claudia braces the hot road as she went barefoot, while Dave strolled in a pair of thongs

Claudia is meanwhile most recognised for her roles in The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, Bump and Daybreakers.

Dave, who was a drummer in an indie rock band when he met the About a Boy star, confirmed his split from Golden Globe winner Toni in December 2022 when he was pictured passionately kissing Egan at Manly Beach in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Toni's management about the photos, and hours later she announced the couple had split in a joint statement released on her newly reactivated Instagram account.

'It is with grace and gratitude that we announce we are divorcing,' the pair wrote.

It appears the pair met up after parking their cars close by

Dave looked very happy to see his new lady love

'We're united in our decision and part with continuing respect and care for each other.

'Our kids are of paramount importance to us and we will continue to thrive as a family, albeit a different shape. We're thankful for the space and love you grant us as we evolve and move through this transition peacefully. Big thanks.'

The pair met in 2002 at the launch of Galafassi's band's debut album Metal Detector in Sydney, and their second encounter came just a few days later at a house party.

They were married with Buddhist rituals on her property at Berry on the NSW south coast less than a year after they met, in January 2003.

Toni and Claudia have plenty in common. Aside from their strikingly similar looks and their shared hometown of Sydney, the actresses have both enjoyed successful careers in cinema, television and the stage
Travis Scott 'owes over $100,000 in back taxes' in the state of California according to legal documents obtained by The Blast.

The Sicko Mode rapper, 32, was hit with a lien from the state's Franchise Tax Board for the year 2021.

Scott reportedly owes a total of $106,968.18, and has been warned in the documents that further fees and interest will continue to accrue until the lien is paid in full.

The Texas native  who recently spoke about being 'devastated' by the Astroworld tragedy which left 10 dead  has an approximate net worth of $80 million, as per the outlet.

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Scott for comment.

Legal woes: Travis Scott 'owes over $100,000 in back taxes' in the state of California according to legal documents obtained by The Blast; pictured November 16

The musician has been involved in legal battles following the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, which resulted in the death of ten people and numerous injuries during a crowd surge at his November 5, 2021 concert in Houston.

The tax lien comes weeks after Scott was hit with another Astroworld lawsuit.

In the filing, Scott and Live Nation were accused of 'negligence and willful misconduct' by a company named Ceremony of Roses (CoR), as per The Blast.

The company alleges that they have incurred 'substantial financial harm' after investing in the festival.

Earlier this month Scott revealed he is 'devastated' by the Astroworld disaster.

Scott, who previously broke his silence on the tragedy in 2021, told GQ he thinks about the disaster 'all the time' and has had 'rough moments' in the two years since as he worked on comeback album, Utopia.

Those killed, who ranged in age from 9 to 27, died from compression asphyxia, which an expert likened to being crushed by a car.

Scott said: 'Making music, you think about things that go on in life and things that happen in your life, and you dial in on things. That moment for families, for the city, you know, it was devastating. And when it came to making, like even finishing the albumI got back into it probably like, I dont know, months and months and months after.

Back taxes: The Sicko Mode rapper, 32, was hit with a lien from the state's Franchise Tax Board for the year 2021. Scott reportedly owes a total of $106,968.18; seen November 5

Net worth: The Texas native has an approximate net worth of $80 million, as per the outlet; seen November 29 in New York City

'And the idea of just even getting back into music, working on music and just even getting into that, was therapeutic of being able to channel some of the energy into production and sounds and finishing it.

'I mean I was just overly devastated, you know. Yeah... Yeah, I always think about it. Those fans were like my family. You know, I love my fans to the utmost.

'It has its moments where it gets rough andyeah. You just feel for those people. And their families.

The star also revealed his heartbreak at his attempt at putting Houston on the map as a city to rival New York and Los Angeles and inspire children had been 'ruined' - after previously saying he wanted to be a 'hometown hero' and not a 'villain.'

In December 2021, speaking out about the November 5 tragedy Scott sat down with podcaster Charlemagne Tha God for an interview

In the interview, Scott blamed his 'in-ear' person for not urging him to stop the show sooner, and claimed that he wasn't aware of or responsible for the fatal stampede and crowd crush

Scott said that he is '1000 percent' certain he did everything he could have to prevent the tragedy, and claims he didn't hear the screams and cries for help as the crowd went out of control.

'Things happen, you know, and it's just been such a time, and I'm just trying to just really figure things out,' he said when asked why he was breaking his silence.

Lawsuit: The tax lien comes weeks after Scott was hit with another Astroworld lawsuit; seen performing at Astroworld in 2021

Tragedy: The musician has been involved in legal battles following the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, which resulted in the death of ten people and numerous injuries

'My heart wasnt there to be the villainI was there to be a hometown hero.'

Scott struggled to contain his emotion at times as he spoke about the families that lost loved ones in the crowd stampede.

'They lost their loved ones, I just always wanna be there for them, I'm gonna fix this problem and make sure this doesn't happen in the future and be the number one voice for this. We gotta figure it out,' he said.

Scott claimed that he was only told that the show was going to end after the guest, referring to Drake, came on stage.

He said he was never told why the show was ending or what was occurring in the crowd.

'That's what came through my ear,' he said.

Scott blamed the media for pinning responsibility for the tragedy on him.

'Yeah, you know, the media, they want to put it on me, but at the end of the day I don't think it's more so about that, it's more so about stepping up to figure out what the problem is,' he said. 'Yeah, you know, I'm the face of the festival, I'm a artist, so yeah.'

Following an investigation by Houston Police, no charges were filed against Scott after a grand jury in June declined to indict him and five other people on any criminal counts related to the deadly concert.

Family: Scott shares two children with ex Kylie Jenner, 26 - daughter Stormi, five, and son Aire, 21 months (pictured June 2021 with Jenner and Stormi)

A judge earlier this year scheduled the first trial from the lawsuits for May 6, 2024. That first trial would take place nearly 2.5 years since the deadly concert.

Documents filed in court in April listed more than 1,500 active cases, many of which were filed against Scott and Live Nation, the concert promoter.

Of these, 992 were cases with physical injuries and 313 were cases of 'emotional distress, pain, suffering and mental anguish.' Orthopedic surgeries have been completed in 17 of these cases, with other surgeries recommended in another 21.

Some of the lawsuits have since been settled, including those filed by the families of three of the people killed during the concert.

Scott shares two children with ex Kylie Jenner, 26 - daughter Stormi, five, and son Aire, 21 months.
Kayla Itsines' sister has revealed the fitness guru will be shirking a major wedding tradition during her upcoming nuptials to fiance Jae Woodroffe.

Leah Itsines revealed behind-the-scenes gossip during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, where she said Kayla, 32, won't be having bridesmaids at her wedding.

The news came out after some eagle-eyed fans noticed Leah wasn't looking for a bridesmaid dress for her sister's matrimonial ceremony.

With many speculating the mum-of-one wasn't asked to be in the bridal party, one fan asked her if that was the case.

At first, Leah played off the question, posting a pictured of her and Kayla posing together during the influencer's hens party earlier this month.

Kayla Itsines', 32, (right) sister has revealed the fitness guru will be shirking a huge wedding tradition during her upcoming nuptials to fiance Jae Woodroffe (left)

'No, she banned me after I wore this to her hen's lunch,' Leah joked, referencing the brightly-coloured suit she wore to the happy occasion at the time.

However, she quickly went on to explain, 'Kidding ya'll. She isn't having bridesmaids,' and revealed Kayla got the idea from her own wedding ceremony.

It comes just a few weeks after Kayla celebrated her bridal shower with loved ones as she prepares to marry her partner Jae.

Leah Itsines revealed behind-the-scenes gossip during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, where she said Kayla won't be having bridesmaids at her wedding

Unable to wipe the smile off her face, the fitness queen shared a series of photos from the happy event to her Instagram on November 11.

Garbed in white linen slacks and a glittering silver crop top, the multimillionaire looked every inch the bride-to-be as she spent the day with her friends.

After going out for lunch by the beach with her soon-to-be husband and their loved ones, the Sweat co-founder spent the afternoon with her closest girlfriends.

The news came out after some eagle-eyed fans noticed Leah (left) wasn't looking for a bridesmaid dress for her sister's matrimonial ceremony

It comes just a few weeks after Kayla celebrated her bridal shower with loved ones as she prepares to marry her partner Jae

The celebration took place over a year after Jae got down on one knee and proposed to the Adelaide native with a gorgeous diamond ring.

'YES #engaged @jaewoodroffe @itsjlahhere,' Kayla wrote alongside a caption of images in which she flaunted her engagement ring and cuddled up to Jae.

Little is known about Jae, who is one of the 732 people Kayla follows on Instagram, but his social media activity suggests he enjoys travelling and motorcycles.

The pair went public with their relationship more than a year after Kayla confirmed her split from ex-fiance Tobi Pearce in August 2020.
Whitney Port was spotted out in Los Angeles on Wednesday  weeks after the heartbreaking revelation that her surrogate suffered two miscarriages.

The Hills alum, 38, swung by a general store in Studio City but walked out empty handed.

She sported a comfy color-blocked Under Armour sweatshirt styled with muted purple leggings.

Port completed her low-key look with white socks and New Balance sneakers.

She wore her brunette hair pulled back in a bun and shielded her eyes with white sunglasses.

Whitney Port was spotted out in Los Angeles on Wednesday  weeks after the heartbreaking revelation that her surrogate suffered two miscarriages

The reality TV star kept her iPhone close by holding it as she exited the store.

Port was last seen publicly on November 15 as she shopped in Los Angeles with her husband Tim Rosenman.

It marked the couple's first outing since revealing to fans that their surrogate has suffered two miscarriages over the past year.

Whitney and Tim have a son called Sonny, six, but have walked a tortuous path in their bid to add another child to the fold.

They announced this June that they were weighing the option of surrogacy after Whitney herself miscarried multiple times.

Now on a recent episode of her podcast With Whit, the couple shared that they did indeed hire a surrogate - who has now suffered the loss of two pregnancies.

'We decided to go down the surrogacy road at the end of last year,' Whitney revealed. 'After just like a really long journey of not being able to conceive on our own and just, yeah, having so many things go on.'

She explained: 'And we ended up doing two transfers with the surrogate. Both transfers ended up miscarrying. The last miscarriage was just a month ago.'

'And it's worth saying,' said Tim: 'that both were after seven and a half weeks where we were told we had a 97 percent chance of a successful baby.'

He added that 'the odds are really crazy,' for two 'back-to-back' miscarriages considering the circumstances, 'so now we're thinking that there might be something going on, either with the surrogate or with our embryos.'

Whitney outlined the present situation, which is that 'we still have three embryos left, two that are tested, one that's untested, and we're deciding: Do we try a new lab? Do we do another round of egg retrieval to get new embryos? Like are maybe all these embryos from the last batch not good?'

Another option is to 'put in one of the embryos that's already made in the surrogate right now and just like get that going while we make a plan to do another egg retrieval,' but no course of action is set in stone yet.

She sported a comfy color-block Under Armour sweatshirt styled with muted purple leggings

Family matters: The Hills star and Rosenman have a son called Sonny, six, but have walked a tortuous path in their bid to add another child to the fold

Whitney mused that although she Tim were 'not back to square one' inasmuch as they still have three embryos, every miscarriage 'feels' like having to start over.

Tim sighed that 'all the emailing and the scheduling' involved makes their whole arduous ordeal seem 'like another job.'

'It's so much,' said Whitney. 'And I will say, like, I'm so grateful that you're such a great partner in this with me but it makes me so sad for people that don't necess- may not have someone like you to hold their hand through it.'

In June they said they were 'seriously' considering hiring a surrogate to carry one of their frozen embryos after suffering a chemical pregnancy and three miscarriages in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

'We're right now, going through the motions of surrogacy, like, really thinking seriously about that and we have embryos [stored],' the content creator told Us Weekly at the time.

'I'm still figuring things out and nothing is, like, 100 percent yet and so it's one of those things where you're scared to put it out into the universe until you know what's happening. But for me, like, I suffered from secondary infertility, and it has just been such a process both physically and mentally to get to that second baby.'

Whitney stressed that she and her man are 'not in the journey yet' but hopes it happens 'soon' as she wasn't able to be a 'present, happy, decent version' of herself when she was physically pregnant: 'We'll see!'

Last year, Family Match Consulting founder Stephanie Levich told TODAY that the total cost - including surrogate compensation, agency fees, legal fees, insurance, etc. - of the process is approximately '$125K to $175K.'

Whitney and Tim are already proud parents of son Sonny Sanford, who celebrated his sixth birthday on July 27 with a backyard Star Wars-themed party.

The LA-born socialite told the outlet: 'I was going to get him [a] LEGO Star Wars The Razor Crest situation to keep busy with this summer!'

Candor: Whitney mused that although she Tim were 'not back to square one' inasmuch as they still have three embryos,' every miscarriage 'feels' like having to start over

The Hills alum Whitney and Tim Rosenman revealed in June 'seriously' considering hiring a surrogate to carry one of their frozen embryos after suffering a chemical pregnancy and three miscarriages in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (pictured Monday)

Port and Rosenman's only child graduated from preschool Exploring Minds Montessori on June 16, and they plan on spending the entire summer visiting family in Vermont and New York.

Whitney originally met Tim while he was working as associate producer on her MTV spin-off, The City.

Rosenman not only shoots and edit the Love, Whit designer's YouTube vlogs, he currently stars in her reaction videos to MTV reality show Siesta Key.

Tim's last real producing credit was on Fox music competition The X Factor way back in 2012.

Port keeps busy recording her Dear Media podcast With Whit and she's every bit the influencer doing paid partnership posts for brands like Perelel, Amazon Home, and ULUM Resorts.
Sebastian Stan will play a younger incarnation of former President Donald Trump in a film titled The Apprentice, which documents Trump's rise in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Emmy-nominated actor, 41, will be joined in the cast by Succession star Jeremy Strong, 44, who plays Trump's late lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn; and Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova, 27, who will play Trump's late ex-wife Ivana Trump, Deadline reported Wednesday.

Production began earlier this week on the motion picture directed by Ali Abbasi, and starring the Constanta, Romania-born actor, the outlet reported.

Variety reported that the film's title would be The Student, adding that a logline for the forthcoming film described it as 'an exploration of power and ambition set in a world of corruption and deceit.

'It's a mentor-protege story that charts the origins of an American dynasty. Filled with larger than life characters, it reveals the moral and human cost of a culture defined by winners and losers.'

Sebastian Stan, 41, will play a younger incarnation of former President Donald Trump in a film titled The Apprentice, which will documents Trump's rise in the 1970s and 1980s. Pictured last year in LA

Stan will be joined in the cast by Succession star Jeremy Strong, 44, who plays Trump's late lawyer and mentor Roy Cohn; and Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova, 27, who will play Trump's late ex-wife Ivana Trump

The screenplay for the film was penned by writer Gabriel Sherman, who authored the 2014 book The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News  and Divided a Country.

The book was subsequently adapted into the 2019 Showtime miniseries The Loudest Voice.

Stan is surging professionally, having garnered nominations for an Emmy and Golden Globe after playing the role of Tommy Lee in Hulu's Pam & Tommy.

He was rumored to be playing Ric Flair in a film after meeting with the pro wrestling icon this past May in New York City. (Aaron Dean Eisenberg plays Flair in the upcoming The Iron Claw.)

Stan has been seen in multiple movies this past year, including Dumb Money, Sharper and Ghosted.

Stan, who has also been seen in multiple MCU films playing Bucky 'Winter Soldier' Barnes, is the latest in a line of performers who have played Trump.

Few of those have been for dramatic productions, with the most recent being Irish actor Brendan Gleeson in the 2020 Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule.

Trump has been spoofed for decades on NBC's Saturday Night Live, with actors including Alec Baldwin, Darrell Hammond, Jason Sudeikis, Taran Killam and the late Phil Hartman playing the role at different points.

Trump was pictured in NYC in a limo in August of 1987, a timeframe the film spans

Cohn and Trump were pictured at the October 1983 opening of Trump Tower in NYC

Trump and his late wife Ivana were pictured in September of 1984

Stan, who has also been seen in multiple MCU films playing Bucky 'Winter Soldier' Barnes, is the latest in a line of performers who have played Trump

Trump remains battling multiple legal cases in multiple states as he remains the favorite to garner the Republican presidential nomination next year.

Strong, coming off his strong run on Kendall Roy on the HBO hit Succession, is also working in a Broadway production of Henrik Ibsens An Enemy of the People alongside The Sopranos alum Michael Imperioli. Previews are slated to commence at Circle in the Square Theatre February 27, with the play set to open March 18.

Bakalova, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, has been featured in multiple films this year, including Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Fairyland.
Sydney Sweeney is continuing to reimagine what it means to be a grease monkey as she collaborates with Ford on a new workwear line.

Months after releasing her first collection with the automotive giant, the Euphoria bombshell is back just in time for the holidays with a brand new drop.

This go-around the line consists of five pieces inspired by Sweeney's very own classic 1965 Mustang, which she proudly calls 'Britney.'

While most people would immediately think of the pop superstar, Britney Spears, the car's moniker was actually inspired by Brittany Blue, which is the shade of blue paint first introduced by Ford in the 1960s.

'I've always loved Mustangs,' Sweeney confessed to WWD of her latest vintage automobile project.

'Blue is my favorite color, so when I saw the color scheme of it, I thought it was the prettiest thing I've ever seen.'

Sydney Sweeney is continuing to reimagine what it means to be a grease monkey as she collaborates with Ford on a new workwear line

It turns out she loved the color scheme of the classic Mustang so much she used it for her new collection with Ford.

This pastel hue can be found on the khaki zip-up jacket, complete with racing stripes, that sells for $99.99, as well as the brim of a two-tone cap that is available for $34.99.

In fact, she can be seen posing in the new racing jacket in front of her very own Mustang that's decorated with that classic Brittany Blue.

The new line endorsed by Sweeney also includes a ribbed t-shirt ($29.99), denim coveralls ($119.99) and a lanyard keychain ($14.99).

Th new pieces are manufactured by Dickies and come emblazoned with a 'Syd's Garage' logo featuring two bolts bent into a heart.

'I was obsessed with overalls and the corduroy hat,' Sweeney said of her two favorite items from the original drop.

Explaining her transition to the new dark wash denim jumpsuit, the actress revealed, 'I wanted to expand the collection while also staying true to what Ford slash Syd's Garage is.'

Sweeney originally launched Syd's Garage, her TikTok account, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic when she was working on the renovations for her 1969 Ford Bronco.

Slowly but surely during those renovations, she began to realize the impact she could have on other females with an interest in automobiles, or people who just like the style that a car like a Ford Mustang represents.

'I really wanted to empower and support women in the space because it's a very male-dominated industry,' the actress added.

Having grown up in a family of mechanics and automobile lovers, Sweeney knows a thing or two about the importance of the new items having a blend of both style and functionality.

Months after releasing her first collection with the automotive giant, the Euphoria bombshell is back just in time for the holidays with a brand new drop

This go-around the line consists of five pieces inspired by Sweeney's very own classic 1965 Mustang, which she proudly calls 'Britney'

Th new pieces are manufactured by Dickies and come emblazoned with a 'Syd's Garage' logo featuring two bolts bent into a heart

The Euphoria star can be seen modeling the new dark denim coveralls

'I really wanted to empower and support women in the space because its a very male-dominated industry,' the actress confessed to WWD

Sweeney also took to her Instagram page to share some more Ford x Syd's Garage photos

As part of the new campaign, Sweeney models her latest Ford collaboration alongside an all-female team of mechanics

The racing stripes on the new jacket are a perfect match to her 65' Ford

The auto enthusiast proudly holds up the Ford Mustang chrome off her 65' Mustang

'I've always loved Mustangs,' Sweeney told WWD. 'Blue is my favorite color, so when I saw the color scheme of it, I thought it was the prettiest thing I've ever seen'

The second Ford x Sydney Sweeney collection is available to shop now at merchandise.ford.com.

'I love working in the garage and was so excited to partner with Ford on a clothing line that's comfortable in and out of the shop,' the Hollywood starlet said of the collaboration.

She continued, 'I was so thrilled that Ford wanted to use auto enthusiasts to model the clothing and create content that teaches people how to do basic maintenance tasks on their vehicles. Being able to take my car into my own hands has been so empowering for me  and I hope this can inspire others who may have never considered working on their vehicle themselves to give it a try.'

Sweeney would also take to her Instagram page and share some more images of her second Ford workwear collaboration.

'ahhhhhhh!!!!!! im super excited to share my newest workwear collection inspired by my new baby, a vintage @fordmustang #ad,' she gushed in the caption

Sweeney is also proud to be modeling her latest line alongside an all-female team of mechanics.

As for Sweeney and her restoration project, the actress still has some maintenance to do on her 65' Mustang, but she'll be calling in the experts when it comes to replacing her engine and refreshing her power steering.

The second Ford x Sydney Sweeney collection is available to shop now at merchandise.ford.com.
Helen Skelton has revealed how Strictly Come Dancing boosted her confidence again after a whirlwind 12 months including the breakdown of her eight-year marriage.

The Countryfile presenter, 40, signed up for the 2022 series of the BBC ballroom dancing contest after she split from Richie Myler that April.

Helen went on to reach the final of the competition, growing in confidence throughout including a very sexy cabaret routine with pro partner Gorka Marquez.

Despite eventually losing out on the coveted Glitterball trophy to Hamza Yassin and partner Jowita Przystal, Helen still sees herself as a 'winner'.

Helen said on Tom Bryant's podcast Outdoors in Mind: 'I think everybody at some point needs a little reminder of, "Actually, youre really good at this, heres your invisible crown, pop it on."

Helen Skelton has revealed how Strictly Come Dancing boosted her confidence again after a whirlwind 12 months

Helen went on to reach the final of the competition, growing in confidence throughout

'I was like, "OK, Im hurtling towards 40, Ive just had another child. Im on my own. Ive moved my life, Ive moved my house".

'I was on a bit of a sticky wicket but the [pro] dancers are all like, "Oh my God, you have three children, thats incredible. You bought a house, thats incredible."'

While juggling work and three children with her time on the show, Helen said Strictly brought her 'back to life'.

Helen is a mother of three and has Ernie, eight, Louis, five, and Elsie, two, with ex Richie.

She announced her split from England and Leeds Rhino rugby star Richie in April last year - and finally broke her silence earlier in October.

While she was left devastated by the break-up she said she wants to keep the sportsman in her life to a certain extent for the sake of her children.

Helen has opened up about her love life in her new autobiography In My Stride, in which she wrote according to The Sun: 'I was in shock.

'I know that following break-ups, people often say they didnt see it coming and it sounds like a cliche, but that was me.'

End of the road: The television presenter announced her split from England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league star Richie in April last year

Helen's heartache sparked her decision to join Strictly last year, with the presenter previously admitting that she struggled to feel 'sexy' even when encouraged by her professional dance partner Gorka Marquez.

She penned: 'In week two, Gorka asked me why I didn't feel sexy. It was an awkward question that immediately made me cringe.

'Why ask me that? I was just there for the banter. I have never sexy, I was the cute and funny type.

'He was asking a woman with three children under six, whose husband had just left her and was with another woman, TO BE SEXY.

'I thought, "Who would feel good about themselves in that scenario?"'

But later on, Helen revealed she had regained her ability to feel sexy as the show went on.

Appearing on Loose Women in February, Helen reflected on her journey on the show and how dance partner Gorka Marquez helped make her remember 'who I am'.

'In the first few weeks I didn't know how to own it and be sexy and sassy but then it got easier,' she said.

Helen signed up for Strictly in 2022 after she split from Richie Myler earlier that year

'Then I stopped questioning it and I just stopped caring less. I was conscious it would be over in the blink of an eye so I just gave it my all.'

Helen went on to talk about her racy cabaret routine where she dressed up in black lingerie and stockings - with many fans going on to call it the ultimate 'revenge' dance.

She said: 'The cabaret routine was about being fierce and powerful and that's my version of sexy.

'It made me remember who I am this show. By the end I wasn't thinking "oh my god" I just wanted to have a good time.'

Despite her hurt she will ensure Richie is a constant in her life so her children always have a father figure.

And she is refusing to delete pictures of herself and Richie taken during the happy times they shared together which she has posted on social media.

She insists: 'I want them to know that we loved each other, but things change and thats OK too.'

Helen was so distraught after her split from Richie that she was unable to tell her parents at first.

Family: Helen, who shares sons Ernie, eight, Louis, six, and 22-month-old daughter Elsie with Richie, wants the sportsman as a constant in her life so their children have a father figure

She claims she kept it a secret from them for some time as she did not want to 'inflict' pain on them.

But when her father noticed her spending a lot of time on her own with her children at her marital home, he surprised her with a visit from Cumbria.

Helen wrote: 'He immediately stepped in, knowing I needed him, even though I didnt want to admit it.'

Since his split from Helen, Richie has gone on to have a baby with new girlfriend Stephanie Thirkill, 32, the daughter of Leeds Rhinos president Andrew.

Helen is said to have also begun dating again.

Helen and Richie married in 2013 and moved into their Yorkshire property together seven years later.

In August Helen quit her Radio 5 Live show on air after just a year to spend more time with her children.

Helen is supporting Hats On For Mind, showcasing their own designed hat [and flask] from the collection available to purchase online and in-store at partner retailers. 100% of profits from the campaign will go to Mind.
Nova's popular breakfast program Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie is set to receive a huge shakeup which insiders fear may threaten the dynamic of the show.

From early next year, long-time co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, 47, will be relocating to Adelaide with his family - but will continue to present the show remotely.

However, an industry insider is worried this move could impact the undeniable chemistry between the co-hosts and potentially turn away listeners.

'Fitzy moving to Adelaide and doing the show from there is a huge risk. The chemistry is never the same when hosts are not in the same studio,' they told Yahoo.

'Nova will have to work hard to maintain the same energy so the long distance doesn't convey on air.'

Nova's popular breakfast program Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie is set to receive a huge shakeup next year which insiders fear may threaten the dynamic of the show. Pictured L - R: Ryan 'Fitzy Fitzgerald, Kate Ritchie and Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli

They added it was a particularly risky move because if the show loses listeners as a result, then the hosts contracts may not be renewed.

The show has been struggling for some time and it was reported earlier this month that since Kate Ritchie, 45, joined in March the program's rating have been dwindling.

The Radio Ratings 2023, Survey 7 results which were recently released revealed the breakfast show had fallen 0.2 points, from from 7.3 to 7.1.

From early next year, long-time co-host Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald, 47, will be relocating to Adelaide with his family - but will continue to present the show remotely

Radio king Kyle Sandilands was quick to offer up his own theory as to why listeners were switching off.

'What's going on at Nova? They moved Kate Ritchie into the breakfast show with Fitzy and Wippa to try and make it not like a boys club,' he began.

'Failure, it's down to 7.1. It was on 7.3, it's slowly whittling away.'

However, an industry insider is worried this move could impact the undeniable chemistry between the co-hosts and potentially turn away listeners. 'The chemistry is never the same when hosts are not in the same studio,' they told Yahoo

And earlier this year, Fitzy, Wippa and Kate were shocked as one of their beloved stars quit live on air.

In November, longtime newsreader Matt de Groot announced he was stepping down from the role after 10 years.

An emotional de Groot, 35, held back tears as he surprised listeners with the news, revealing that he is relocating to London with his family early next year.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu has earned half a million pounds this year after winning Love Island in 2022.

The reality star, 29, has had a number of amazing jobs since leaving the villa including landing six-figure deals with brands OhPolly and BPerfect Cosmetics.

The actress also jetted off to America earlier this year to film the US version of The Traitors, which is set to air in the States in January.

Ekin-Su's income works out at an impressive 11,000 per week and is reported in first trading figures for ESC Risley, which is her own firm.

She set the business up in August 2022, just two months after winning Love Island alongside boyfriend Davide Sanclimenti.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu has earned half a million pounds this year after winning Love Island in 2022

The reality star, 29, has had a number of amazing jobs since leaving the villa including landing six-figure deals with brands OhPolly and BPerfect Cosmetics

Ekin-Su has reported its line of work as other business support services not elsewhere classified.

Accounts signed off by the influencer on Tuesday report 589,947 worth of assets.

Ekin-Su retains 372,281 in her firm after allowing for bills.

Her asset nest egg comprises 589,886 in cash and 61 in monies due offset against 217,666 worth of bills, with corporation tax owed at 126,722 and social security and other taxes due at 85,421.

ESC Risley is the only firm set up so far by the TV personality and its accounts run the year ended 31 August 2023.

Meanwhile her boyfriend Davide is set to become a multi-millionaire according to new figures.

The new stats mean the hunk will become one of Love Island's richest boys after he has signed a number of huge deals.

He has recently become a brand ambassador for protein and fitness nutrition brand, Sci-mx after signing a 1million contract.

The actress also jetted off to America earlier this year to film the US version of The Traitors , which is set to air in the States in January

Ekin-Su's income works out at an impressive 11,000 per week and is reported in first trading figures for ESC Risley, which is her own firm

Meanwhile her boyfriend Davide is set to become a multi-millionaire according to new figures that show the hunk will become one of Love Island's richest boys

After a successful year promoting clothing brand BoohooMan, they have agreed to keep Davide on his six-figure deal beyond the usual one year for islanders.

The Italian reality star also has five-figure contracts with the likes of PRET, Boots Opticians, Prezzo, Hello Fresh and Google.

The news comes after Ekin-Su looked incredible in a strapless white minidress as she cosied up to dapper on-off boyfriend Davide at the Beauty Awards on Monday.

The couple dressed to impress for the star studded evening held at City Central at the HAC in London.

Ekin-Su looked nothing short of sensational as she put on a busty display in the dazzling floral skater dress.

She elevated her frame in a pair of silver metallic heels and toted her belongings around in a coordinated clutch.

The actress simply accessorised with a gold pendant necklace and a dazzling silver bracelet.

Ekin-Su styled her long brunette tresses in a neat half up do and applied a flawless palette of makeup to accentuate her beauty.

Meanwhile Davide cut a very smart figure in a black dinner jacket which he teamed with a crisp white shirt and a satin bow tie.
Chinese firm inks deal to boost supply of internet products in East Africa

Xinhua) 13:16, November 30, 2023

NAIROBI, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- FiberHome International Technologies, a Chinese telecom firm, has signed an agreement with Kenyan-based CP Cables to boost the supply of high-speed internet products in the East African market.

Bruce Wang, the deputy chief executive officer (CEO) of FiberHome International Technologies, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Tuesday evening that under the two-year pact, CP Cables will become the master distributor of their fiber products in Kenya and Uganda.

"The agreement will enable East Africa to have access to advanced optical communication products that help consumers enjoy high-speed internet at affordable prices," Wang said.

He revealed that FiberHome is committed to supporting Kenya's goal to roll out fiber optic cables across the country in order to expand access to broadband internet.

Ranjit Thakur, CEO of CP Cables, said that the partnership will ensure that the East African region has access to sufficient stocks of quality fiber products that keep up with rising demand.

"We hope to leverage FiberHome's innovations from its research to boost internet penetration in East Africa," he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
After it was announced on Wednesday that Jamie Lynn Spears had quit the I'm A Celeb jungle, fans tuned in for the star's final moments on this year's series.

The American actress still starred in the first half of the episode which was made up of footage recorded prior to her exit.

And fan's were left in hysterics after the star's ungrateful response to the treat of ready salted crisps after Danielle Harold and Fred Sirieix returned victorious from their Deals on Wheels challenge.

As they returned with a rather small pile of crisps, Jamie Lynn said: 'Could they not have kept them in the bag?' as she looked disappointedly at the pile.

Taking to Twitter fans picked up on the star's low tone as they wrote: 'Its good Jamie has left. Everyone's happy about the crisps and shes p****d off????'

Fans are left in hysterics as Jamie Lynn Spears quits the jungle after pitiful serving of crisps: 'It was the crisps that tipped her over the edge'

Fred Sirieix and Danielle Harold returned with a rather small pile of crisps from their trial and Jamie Lynn said: 'Could they not have kept them in the bag?' as she looked disappointedly at the pile

'Why didnt we see Jamie Lynn leave like she complained about crisps but that was it, I bet that was the final straw for her,' added a second.

A third commented: 'God Jamie was so b*****y miserable. Couldnt even be happy when she got a crisp. #ImACeleb'.

Viewers then ran with the joke that Jamie Lynn saw the pathetic salty snack and decided enough was enough.

One wrote: ' BREAKING NEWS - Jamie Lynn leaves due to lack of crisps', while another penned: 'Jaime left over those crisps dont lie'.

A third chimed: 'Jamie saw the crisps and said yep, thatll do it' as another agreed 'It was the crisps that tipped @jamielynnspears over the edge'.

Another commented: 'I genuinely believe the stale ready salted crisps were the final nail in the coffin for Jamie Lynn lmfaooo'.

A sixth quipped: 'So it was the crisps that were the final straw for Jamie,' and a seventh questioned: 'Wait. So what made Jamie Lynn leave was the crisps not being in the packet?'

In a hilarious meme, another viewer shared a clip of someone storming out of work with the caption 'I'm gone' as they wrote: 'Jamie Lynn to the medical team after eating her 2 stale crisps'.

The sister of pop icon Britney has had a very emotional time in camp and has frequently been filmed in floods of tears over the difficult conditions and missing her family back home

Fan's were left in hysterics after the star's ungrateful response to the treat of ready salted crisps after Danielle and Fred returned victorious from their Deals on Wheels challenge

Viewers then ran with the joke that Jamie Lynn saw the pathetic salty snack and decided enough was enough

Her exit comes as it was revealed the star was reportedly in talks to quit the show for days, it has been claimed.

According to The Sun, Jamie Lynn was actually in exit talks with show bosses for several days before she decided to leave.

Producers of the show reportedly labelled the actress a 'flight risk' and did not think she would last the duration of the series.

The publication claims bosses managed to coax her to stay for 11 days which was helped by her strong performances in the Climb of Cruelty and Scarena Series tasks.

However, viewers saw the star cry numerous times in the jungle as she told how she was missing her daughters Maddie, 15, and Ivey, five.

On Tuesday's episode, Jamie Lynn appeared near breaking point as she said: 'I hate it here so much, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it here.

'This place is where people go to have the worst days of their lives.'
Kyle Richards said she reached out to her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky via text after learning her half-sister Kathy Hilton recently broke her silence on their split.

Fans were shocked when it was revealed in July that Kyle, 54, and Mauricio, 53, were separating after 27 years of marriage and three children together.

But Kathy  who resolved her ugly feud with Kyle earlier this year  did not speak publicly on the matter until her Monday appearance on Today With Hoda And Jenna.

In the interview, Kathy, 64, expressed heartbreak over the separation while also strongly hinting that the decision is a serious one.

'When she said that, I was like, "Oh, my gosh, that's just going to start a whole thing too," and actually I texted [Mauricio],' Kyle dished to former RHOBH co-star Teddi Mellencamp on Extra.

Kyle Richards said she reached out to her estranged husband Mauricio Umansky via text after learning her half-sister Kathy Hilton recently broke her silence on their split; seen in March

In a new interview, Kathy, 64, expressed heartbreak over the separation while also strongly hinting that the decision is a serious one

'I'm like, 'I know you're going to see this,' and he's like, 'I just saw. I'm not even looking at these things anymore. I'm not going to do any deep dives.''

Kyle told Teddi that, despite it being 'upsetting' to see her split play out in the headlines, she doesn't believe Kathy meant any ill will.

She is thankful to have the support of Kathy and their sister Kim Richards, 59, but they do not know the ins and outs of her marriage with Mauricio.

'Here's the thing, the truth is, my sisters have been very supportive by offering their support, texting me, calling me, but I haven't shared with my sisters anything about really what's going on in my marriage, to be honest,' the Halloween star revealed.

She added: 'I tend to keep to myself when I'm going through a difficult time.'

Kyle recently told ET that things are 'amicable' between herself and Mauricio.

'All I know is we love each other. We still live under the same roof and we both want the best for each other,' she said.

'I am so happy that it is amicable right now and I hope it stays that way. We are just taking it a day at a time and putting our family first.'

They spent the recent Thanksgiving holiday together with their children.

Kathy showed her support for Kyle during Monday's Today show sit-down with daughter Paris Hilton.

When asked if she thought her sister and the real estate agent would get back together she snapped, 'Honestly you're asking me? There's no way that Kyle would've gone this far unless she really thought about it.'

'When she said that, I was like, "Oh, my gosh, that's just going to start a whole thing too," and actually I texted [Mauricio],' Kyle dished to former RHOBH co-star Teddi Mellencamp on Extra; seen in 2019

She is thankful to have the support of Kathy and their sister Kim Richards, 59, but they do not know the ins and outs of her marriage with Mauricio; seen on November 5

She continued: 'She's a Capricorn. She's opinionated. When she makes a decision...she didn't just pull that out of a hat. She's a wonderful mother. Wonderful wife.

'She's going to do the right thing. They care about each other. Their [four] children are very important to them. It is what it is...but try to make it nice.'

Kathy told the hosts that Kyle is 'very strong, she's resilient,' and can handle this bump in the road.

She then recalled the moment she learned the news and how it 'just broke my heart.'

She also said she loved Kyle's kids: Together Kyle and Mauricio have three daughters: Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15. Kyle also has 35-year-old Farrah with ex-husband Guraish Aldjufrie.

She told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager that she just wants Kyle 'to be happy'

Paris, 42, tried to keep the tone positive as she mentioned that her aunt is 'looking hotter than ever' after ramping up her workouts.

Kathy added: 'Then the dating's going to start.'

The formerly estranged sisters reunited on Tuesday night as Kathy hosted a DIRECTV-sponsored Christmas party at her $55M Bel-Air mansion.

'There will be caroling and collecting all the [toy drive] gifts to bring everybody together for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California,' Kathy said of the charity event to Forbes last week. 'Everyone will leave that night feeling like they did their part.'

It was truly a family reunion for the wealthy siblings - who only ended their feud five months earlier in Aspen - as they posed alongside their middle sister Kim Richards.

Kathy and Kyle stopped speaking after she allegedly told their former co-star Lisa Rinna that she would 'f***ing ruin Kyle' during an off-camera meltdown in February 2022.

The formerly estranged sisters reunited on Tuesday night as Kathy hosted a DIRECTV-sponsored Christmas party at her $55M Bel-Air mansion

It was truly a family reunion for the wealthy siblings - who only ended their feud five months earlier in Aspen - as they posed alongside their middle sister Kim Richards

By June 24, the blonde philanthropist told Richards, 'I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault' while posing together at high-end western wear store Kemo Sabe in Aspen during their niece Whitney Davis' wedding festivities.

Other prior fights involved the brunette Bravo-lebrity's outing their sister Kim as an alcoholic in 2010 as well as her Paramount Network's 2018 series American Woman about their family.

Catch more of Richards in the 13th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which airs Wednesdays on Bravo.

The Halloween Ends actress will also soon begin filming her role as Wilde's (Taylor Frey) 'lively and involved mother Lola' in Jake Helgren's LGBTQ holiday romance The Holiday Exchange now that the SAG/AFTRA strike is over.
Australian radio host Kent 'Smallzy' Small has been left humiliated after he was snubbed by actor Eddie Murphy on the red carpet in LA.

The Nova FM radio host, 39, flew all the way to Hollywood from Australia to interview the star at the premiere for his upcoming comedy film Candy Cane Lane.

Unfortunately, Smallzy ended up only having seconds to chat to Murphy before he swiftly brushed past him.

Sharing a video of the awkward encounter, Smallzy can be seen shouting 'Eddie! Merry Christmas from Australia,' as Murphy hurried past him.

The actor, 62, scanned the media scrum with his eyes as he replied: 'Merry Christmas.'

Smallzy turned back to the camera with a bewildered look on his face, before smiling and exclaiming, 'I got it!'

The radio star posted the moment to his Instagram account where the video replayed in slow motion.

'Icon. King. And the world's shortest interview,' he captioned the post, before adding in the comments, '15 hours on a plane for 15 seconds.'

Australian radio host Kent 'Smallzy' Small, 39, has been left humiliated after he was snubbed by actor Eddie Murphy on the red carpet in LA

The Nova radio host flew all the way to Hollywood Los Angeles to interview the star at the premiere for his upcoming comedy film Candy Cane Lane

Sharing a video of the awkward encounter, Smallzy can be seen shouting 'Eddie! Merry Christmas from Australia,' as Murphy hurried past him

Murphy and his fiancee Paige Butcher cozied up to each other at the Candy Cane Lane premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

The comedian and his longtime partner, 44, put on a loved-up display as they walked the red carpet in style.

Murphy, who stars in the holiday-themed movie with Tracee Ellis Ross, wore a satin, ivory, Gucci bomber with red, black, and white trim.

Smallzy turned back to the camera with a bewildered look on his face

He then smiled and exclaimed: 'I got it!'

It was layered over a black turtleneck and he added black pants and shiny black shoes.

For her part, Paige, an Australian actress, wore a black blazer dress with cutouts at the sides.

Her dirty blonde hair was parted on the side and ironed into a sleek straight style that fell over her chest.

Murphy and his fiancee Paige Butcher cozied up to each other at the Candy Cane Lane premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday night

She wore a diamond necklace and drew attention to her short, nude pink manicure with her stunning engagement ring.

She put on a leggy display in a pair of sheer black pantyhose and thigh-high suede black boots with a pointy toe.

Her deep blazer teased her cleavage and she looked beautiful in a face of flattering makeup with peachy pink tones.

The 62-year-old comedian and his longtime partner, 44, put on a loved-up display as they walked the red carpet in style

The longtime couple, who began dating in 2012, flashed their smiles as they laughed while posing for photos.

Eddie, who rose to fame on Saturday Night Live in the early 80s, looked typically handsome with his signature thick mustache.

His hair was cut very low and he wore a diamond stud earring in one of his ears.

Murphy, who stars in the holiday-themed movie with Tracee Ellis Ross, wore a satin ivory Gucci bomber with red, black, and white trim

For her part, Paige, an Australian actress, wore a black blazer dress with cutouts at the sides

Butcher's dirty blonde hair was parted on the side and ironed into a sleek straight style that fell over her chest

Paige is the mother of Eddie's eighth and ninth children.

The couple share two children, daughter Izzy, seven, and son Max, five on November 30.

Eddie also has eight other children from past relationships: five with ex-wife Nicole Mitchell and one each with former flames Mel B, Tamara Hood Johnson, and Paulette McNeely.

He and Butcher met on the set of Big Momma's House 2 in 2006.

The actor told The Mirror in 2021, 'I am going to be 60 in April and I have all these babies. I love fatherhood. That is the center of everything.'

His hair was cut very low and he wore a diamond stud earring in one of his ears

'The whole idea of being out there and doing three movies a year, that s*** is over. I found over and over again and along the way I realized that if you put your children first you never make a bad decision,' he added.

The star's forthcoming holiday film is about a man who makes a deal with a mischievous elf that casts a magic spell which brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life.

Ellis joined the cast in January and played Eddie's character's wife.

Candy Cane Lane is the first product of Eddie's three-picture first-look deal with Prime Video, which he secured in 2021.

The agreement came after Eddie scored a professional triumph on Prime Video with Coming 2 America, the sequel to his iconic 1988 movie Coming To America.

Eddie's wife-to-be wore a diamond necklace and drew attention to her short, nude pink manicure with her stunning engagement ring
Elsa Pataky's younger half-brother Cristian Prieto is looking to follow in his glamorous sister's footsteps by making a mark in showbusiness.

On Wednesday, the hunky 32-year-old was spotted in Queensland working on the set of Oscar winning director Ron Howard's latest movie Eden.

Cristian rocked a laidback look in a navy t-shirt which he paired with black jeans and sneakers.

The Spanish native accessorised with a ring on his finger, had a pair of sunglasses tucked into the neck of his shirt and sported a rugged five o'clock shadow.

He wore his long brunette hair tied in a bun and carried a camera in one hand as he closely followed Howard, 69, around the coastal shore set.

Elsa Pataky's brother Cristian Prieto (pictured) is looking to follow in his sister's footsteps by making a mark in showbusiness. On Wednesday, the hunky 32-year-old was spotted in Queensland working on the set of Oscar winning director Ron Howard's latest movie 'Eden'

As he strolled across the set, Prieto exuded a laidback charm and also showcased his impressive physique, flexing his bulging muscles and heavily tattooed arms.

The upcoming movie is a survival thriller helmed by A Beautiful Mind director Ron Howard and written by Tetris screenwriter Noah Pink.

The younger brother of Elsa Pataky, 47, previously worked with his brother-in-law Chris Hemsworth, 40, as a camera operator on his National Geographic documentary series Limitless.

He wore his long brunette hair tied in a bun and carried a stills camera in one hand as he closely followed Ron Howard (pictured), 69, across the coastal shore set

Cristian and his wife, nurse Silvia Serra, live in a property in Suffolk Park, Byron Bay.

Before making the big move to Australia to Madrid, he and Silvia often stayed with Chris and Elsa in their mansion in Byron Bay.

According to his Instagram, he is a budding photographer and filmmaker and he regularly posts artistic shots to his page.

Cristian rocked a laidback look in a navy t-shirt which he paired with black jeans and sneakers

He has worked in the film industry since he was young, having nabbed a gig on the film Giallo, starring his sister Elsa and Elsa's former flame Adrien Brody, at age seventeen.

In June 2010, he completed the New York Film Academy Filmmaking course by showcasing a graduation project starring Elsa, titled Bye By Baby, which he wrote, directed and produced.

A year later, he was selected to work on the short film Prodigal, which was directed by Benjamin Grayson and starred Kenneth Branagh.

The talented creative also recently photographed an editorial for fashion brand Spell Byron Bay starring Elsa.
Jennifer Garner looked like she was having the time of her life as she took to the red carpet at the premiere for her new Netflix comedy Family Switch in Los Angeles.

The actress, 51, goofed around in front of the cameras as she posed for a series of playful snaps, which included high kicks and funny dance moves.

The star appeared in great spirits as she laughed and joked while performing the red carpet routine, while still looking glam in a short red dress.

Jennifer shunned a pair of heels for comfortable trainers, which no doubt made it much easier to bust some moves at the screening.

She was joined at the premiere by her co-lead Ed Helms, 49, and Marvel actress Xochitl Gomez, as well as several of stars.

Jennifer Garner looked like she was having the time of her life as she took to the red carpet at the premiere for her new Netflix comedy Family Switch in Los Angeles

Loving life: The star appeared in great spirits as she laughed and joked while performing the red carpet routine, while still looking glam in a short red dress

The premiere had a party atmosphere as the cast and guests showed off a coordinated dance on the red carpet

Jennifer and Ed star in the film as Jess and Bill Walker, a married couple with children.

After a rare planetary realignment shifts their reality, they wake up one morning to discover that they have switched bodies with their oldest teenage children.

The family comedy is set to be released on Netflix on Thursday, November 30.

Jennifer had all eyes on her during her red carpet appearance thanks to her sizzling dress.

The bright red mini dress was sleeveless and emphasized her toned arms, while its short skirt, which was loosely ruffled, put the spotlight on her fit legs.

The 5ft8in Party Down actress stood tall in a pair of black open-toe heels with oddly shaped straps around her ankles.

The ex-wife of Ben Affleck wore her shoulder-length brunette locks with a side part that exposed one of her dangling starburst earrings and highlighted her impeccably made-up face.

Her co-star Ed Helms looked dapper in a mottled grayblue suit.

Jennifer shunned a pair of heels for comfortable trainers, which no doubt made it much easier to bust some moves at the screening

Part of Jennifer's routine included some Irish dancing as she showcased her moves

At one point she was joined by her co-star Emma Meyers (right)

Jennifer's short dress showed off her toned legs

Jennifer didn't hold back as she performed the seemingly rehearsed routine

She cradled a dog while posing for photos

He kept his suit jacket buttoned but dressed down the classy outfit with a brilliant white sweater and off-white sneakers.

Also making a splash at the premiere was the actress Xochitl Gomez, whose breakout role was as America Chavez in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

The rising star looked chic in a black-and-white off-the-shoulder dress featuring a long black skirt and a white corset-like bodice.

Joining Xochitl on the red carpet was her fellow Dancing With The Stars contestant Harry Jowsey.

The Australian Too Hot To Handle star contrasted her stylish ensemble with a plain white T-shirt and black sweatpants, along with black-and-white sneakers.

Xochitl also posed on the red carpet with Brady Noon, who plays one of the body-swapped teens in Family Switch. He looked cool in a silky black suit with a matching black shirt and boots.

Jennifer and Ed Helms star in Family Switch as a married couple with children. After a planetary realignment shifts their reality, they wake up to discover that they have switched bodies with their oldest teenage children

The bright red mini dress was sleeveless and emphasized her toned arms

The ex-wife of Ben Affleck had on black open-toe heels before later switching into trainers

She was joined at the premiere by her co-lead Ed

He kept his suit jacket buttoned but dressed down the classy outfit with a brilliant white sweater and off-white sneakers

Also making a splash at the premiere was the actress Xochitl Gomez, whose broke out with Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Emma Myers, who plays Brady's sister in the streaming movie, contrasted his look with a lustrous green satin maxi dress.

It featured a bust decorated with black lace with long black ribbons draped from her shoulders, and she completed the look with black open-toe heels.

Among the guests was the comedian Hannah Stocking, who is credited as 'Lightning' in the film.

She wore a plunging sheer dress that reached down to the ground and was covered in sparkling sequins creating a floral design.

The actress Katherine McNamara, who played a major role late in Arrow's run, looked ready for business in a black-and-white plaid suit with pointy black heels.

The model Jordan Leftwich put on a stylish display with a deconstructed black suit.

The outfit's jacket was cut off below her bust and attached to a bustier-like item made of acid-wash denim, which also revealed her toned midriff. Her pants were cut off at the top to reveal a waist of similar jeans material.

The premiere also featured the TurkishAmerican composer Pinar Toprak, who provided the music for Family Switch.

Joining Xochitl on the red carpet was her fellow Dancing With The Stars contestant Harry Jowsey

Xochitl also posed on the red carpet with Brady Noon, who plays one of the body-swapped teens in Family Switch

Emma Myers, who plays Brady's sister in the streaming movie, contrasted his look with a lustrous green satin maxi dress

The actress Katherine McNamara, who played a major role late in Arrow's run, looked ready for business in a black-and-white plaid suit with pointy black heels

Among the guests was the comedian Hannah Stocking, who is credited as 'Lightning' in the film. She wore a plunging sheer dress that reached down to the ground and was covered in sparkling sequins creating a floral design

The model Jordan Leftwich put on a stylish display with a deconstructed black suit. The outfit's jacket was cut off below her bust and attached to a bustier-like item made of acid-wash denim

The premiere also featured the TurkishAmerican composer Pinar Toprak, who provided the music for Family Switch

The Love, Simon actress also carried an adorable French Bulldog in her arms. The sweater-wearing pooch appeared to be the same dog featured in the film and on its poster

Family Switch will be released on Netflix on Thursday, November 30

Toprak is best known for her score to the blockbuster superhero film Captain Marvel, and she also provided cues to other comic book films including Justice League and Avengers: Endgame.

She had on a cream-colored sleeves blouse that was tied off over her midriff, along with a long black skirt that reached down to the ground.

The premiere had a party atmosphere, and Jennifer Garner could be seen putting on a pair of red-and-white trainers before joining the rest of the cast and guests for a coordinated dance on the red carpet.

The Love, Simon actress also carried an adorable French Bulldog in her arms. The sweater-wearing pooch appeared to be the same dog featured in the film and on its poster.
Sydney Sweeney looked a little worse for wear while on set of her upcoming survival thriller Eden in Queensland, Australia on Thursday.

The 26-year-old actress appeared to rehearse being seasick while surrounded by film crew in Brisbane.

The normally blonde beauty sported a darker hair colour as she stepped into her role for the project - which is being directed by Ron Howard.

She also donned a pale blue polka dot buttoned up top with a matching skirt and a pair of red Mary Jane heels.

Her hair was parted to the side and styled into a chic chignon for the busy day of filming.

Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney wore a life jacket while leaning over the side of the boat, pretending to be sick, while on the set of her upcoming Eden in Brisbane

The Euphoria star wore a life jacket while leaning over the side of the boat, pretending to be sick, before wiping her face with the back of her hand.

She was later seen surrounded by other cast mates, as well as filmmaker Ron Howard.

Sydney's fair skin was often sheltered from the sun with a large Bunnings umbrella which was held up by a crew member.

On Thursday, the 26-year-old actress appeared to be 'vomiting' off the side of a boat before wiping her face with the back of her hand

The beauty sported a darker hair colour as she stepped into her role for the project

Along with Sydney, the star-studded cast also includes Daniel Bruhl, Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby.

The premise 'follows a group of people fuelled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos,' according to an IMDB synopsis.

Producers on the thriller - which also includes Howard - informed Deadline last month in October the film 'explores the human condition in ways that are unexpected, absurd, humorous, sexy, but above all thrilling and deeply suspenseful.'

Both Sweeney and Kirby replaced actresses Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alicia Vikander who had initially been cast in the project.

Noah Pink has written the screenplay for Eden - which was originally titled: Origin Of Species.

Sydney is currently in Australia for the upcoming survival thriller

According to Deadline, Hans Zimmer will score the film and this will be the composer's 10th time collaborating with Ron Howard.

During an interview with Business News Australia earlier this month, Ron expressed his excitement to return to Queensland - which was where he also filmed Thirteen Lives.

'I have always been impressed with the professionalism and creative spirit of the Australian film community,' the filmmaker stated.

'My experience with our Queensland crew on Thirteen Lives only confirmed that and more,' he added. 'I'm thrilled with the opportunity to bring Eden to Queensland and continue the collaboration.'

She was later seen surrounded by other castmates, as well as filmmaker Ron Howard

Last week, an Aussie man's fantasy came true when he received a private message from Sydney.

The blonde beauty messaged TikTok user Mileshep after he posted a video about seeing the American actress on a Gold Coast beach as she was coming out of the surf.

After the video went viral, Sweeney wrote to him 'You should have said hello.'

Sharing a screenshot of the message with his followers, Mileshep said he then asked her out on a date.

The beauty is known for her long blonde locks

'Ahaha yeah well how about I take you out and i can say hi for real x,' he said in his response.

Sadly he has not received a reply.

In his original TikTok video about his sighting of Sydney, Mileshep said he was 'still processing' the experience, comparing the encounter to meeting a 'Bond girl' or supermodel.

'Sydney Sweeney, a genuine A-lister in her prime too,' he gushed.

'...My eyes were blessed with something i'll ever forget that image is locked in here forever,' he said, pointing to his head.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed his surprising Spotify Wrapped list for 2023.

The steaming giant's annual feature reveals the songs you've played the most over the past year.

Wrapped also showcases your most played albums, artists and podcasts of the year, as well as the top tunes of Spotify's 456 million users overall.

The 60-year-old politician, known for quoting lyrics in his speeches from Midnight Oil or Bruce Springsteen, might be expected to have a rock-infused list.

However, the artist he listened to most this year was none other than Americana pop diva Lana Del Rey.

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has revealed his surprising Spotify Wrapped list for 2023. Albo, known for quoting lyrics in his speeches from Midnight Oil or Bruce Springsteen , might be expected to have a rock-infused list

Also in the PM's top 5 was Taylor Swift and Aussie hip hop band Hilltop Hoods.

Albo has a reputation as a music-lover, and has even performed DJ sets with a surprisingly eclectic track list including Courtney Barnett and Alex the Astronaut alongside old favourites.

You can access your Wrapped lists by opening the Spotify mobile app and looking for the Wrapped feed on your home screen.

However, the artist he listened to most this year was none other than Americana pop diva Lana Del Rey (pictured)

Also in the PM's top 5 was Taylor Swift and Aussie hip hop band Hilltop Hoods

Albo has a reputation as a music-lover, and has even performed DJ sets with a surprisingly eclectic track list including Courtney Barnett and Alex the Astronaut alongside old favourites

Tap through your personalised cards, and if you see one you'd like to share, simply tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen.

Spotify desktop users can see their personalised Wrapped experience by heading to Spotify.com/Wrapped.

You'll be given the option to share on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Here's how to find your Spotify Wrapped list as the top artists and songs of 2023 are revealed by the streaming giant

How to find your 2023 Spotify Wrapped Spotify app If you use the Spotify mobile app, simply open it and look for the Wrapped feed on your home screen. Desktop and web Spotify desktop and web browser users can see their personalised Wrapped experience by heading to Spotify.com/Wrapped. Advertisement

Aside from the personalised Wrapped experience, Spotify unveiled the top songs, albums, artists and podcasts around the world in 2023.

Spotify Wrapped usually drops in the first couple of days of December, although this year it's gone for the last day of November.

The streaming giant revealed the most-streamed songs globally for the year are Flowers by Miley Cyrus in first place followed by Kill Bill by SZA.

The streaming giant also revealed the most-streamed songs globally for this year are Flowers by Miley Cyrus (pictured) followed by Kill Bill by SZA

As It Was by Harry Styles and Seven (feat. Latto) (Explicit Ver.) by Jung Kook, Latto also made the list.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift has been crowned the most listened to artist globally, with more than 26.1 billion global streams.

Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Drake also made the list for the most-streamed artists.

In fifth place was Peso Pluma, followed by Feid, Travis Scott, SZA, Karol G and Lana Del Rey.

As It Was by Harry Styles (pictured) stayed on the top ten most streamed global songs list, dropping from number one in 2022 to third place this year
Jay-Z, though his company Roc Nation, has donated a case packed with rare memorabilia items for auction, with proceeds from the sale benefitting the Brooklyn Public Library.

The case donated by the iconic rapper, 53, is being sold through the auction house Christie's, People reported on Wednesday.

The auction of the case will extend from November 29 through December 5.

The case and items will be showcased from December 1-5 at New York City's Christie's Rockefeller Center.

The 99 Problems performer, whose real name is Shawn Carter, autographed the Pinel et Pinel black leather case the memorabilia is housed in, according to the outlet.

Jay-Z, 53, though his company Roc Nation, has donated a case packed with rare memorabilia items, with proceeds from the sale benefitting the Brooklyn Public Library. Pictured last year in Atlanta

The case donated by the rapper is being sold through the auction house Christie's, People reported on Wednesday

The case of memorabilia donated by the Big Pimpin' artist includes 13 unique metal library cards featuring art from his solo studio albums; a bookmark made of metal; and a library card commemorating The Book of HOV.

The donation comes as the museum has an exhibit in tribute to the Empire State Of Mind rapper titled The Book of HOV, which opened July 14 and has had more than 600,000 people viewing it, People reported. It ends December 4.

The 13 cards in the case are replicas of the ones people who attended the exhibit received.

The library's president, Linda Johnson, told People that 'thousands of new patrons have visited Central Library to see The Book of HOV and be inspired by Jay-Z's extraordinary journey from Brooklyn to the world stage' over the past four months.

Said Johnson: 'We are grateful for the continued support and generosity of Roc Nation and Jay-Z fans across the world.'

Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez told the outlet in a statement that the exhibit was presented 'as a reminder that genius lives in us all and there should be no barrier to knowledge and opportunity.'

According to the auction house, 'The immersive display features a replica of the historic Baseline Studios, thousands of rare artefacts and more' and showcases Jay-Z's 'journey from growing up in Brooklyns Marcy Projects to becoming an international icon.'

Christies said that the Central Branch of the library has seen five times as many people sign up for library cards amid the span of the exhibit, totaling more than 36,000 new members.

The case of memorabilia donated by the Big Pimpin' artist includes 13 unique metal library cards featuring art from his solo studio albums

The 99 Problems performer, whose real name is Shawn Carter, autographed the Pinel et Pinel black leather case the memorabilia is housed in

The auction of the case will extend from November 29 through December 5

The donation comes as the museum has an exhibit in tribute to the Empire State Of Mind rapper titled The Book of HOV, which opened July 14 and has had more than 600,000 people viewing it

The Brooklyn Public Library 'provides millions of New Yorkers access to free books, records and media, cultural programming, classes and more,' the auction house said.

Proceeds from the sale will be earmarked to help the library's operation expenses and future programs and showcases, Christie's said.

They include 'justice initiatives, small business and entrepreneurial support, teen and children's programs, bridging the digital divide, and efforts to combat censorship.'
Hailey Bieber was the epitome of model off-duty as she stepped out in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday night.

The Rhode skincare founder, 27, was photographed arriving with her husband Justin Bieber, 29, at Churchome  a celeb-loved Christian church in the heart of Beverly Hills.

The couple are devout Christians and Hailey previously confessed that she and Justin 'wouldn't even be together' if it weren't for their faith.

For their mid-week worship, Hailey rocked an oversized black knit sweater dress that showed off her legs.

She slipped on a pair of knee-high leather boots and slung a suede purse over her shoulder to complete the look.

Hailey Bieber was the epitome of model off-duty as she stepped out in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday night with husband Justin Bieber

The couple were photographed arriving at Churchome  a celeb-loved Christian church in Beverly Hills

The runway maven sported minimal makeup and her now-signature slicked back bun.

Despite it being dark out, Hailey wore her go-to YSL sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Justin was noticeably dressed down in very baggy jeans and an oversized gray sweatshirt.

The singing sensation layered the hoodie over a charcoal gray T-shirt and he wore a black snapback hat with a heart-shaped 'Grandma' patch on the front.

For a fun pop of color, the Baby hitmaker threw on neon pink slides with bright green soles.

Justin arrived carrying a brown paper bag that appeared to have a large, slender item inside of it.

He and his wife were flanked by security as they exited their chauffeured SUV and made their way towars the church's entrance.

For their mid-week worship, Hailey rocked an oversized black knit sweater dress that showed off her legs

She slipped on a pair of knee-high leather boots

She slung a suede purse over her shoulder to complete the look

The runway maven sported minimal makeup and her now-signature slicked back bun

Hailey stepped out in her stylish oversized dress and leather knee-high boots in Los Angeles

She flashed her sun-kissed skin in her stylish ensemble and held the door open for Husband Justin

The pair appeared to be in great spirts as they enjoyed an evening out together

The couple recently returned to LA after spending a week away celebrating Hailey's 27th birthday.

She shared glimpses at the birthday getaway on Instagram while Justin published a sweet tribute to his wife in which he said she '[makes] life wonderful.'

Justin and Hailey live in a sprawling $20million Beverly Hills mansion with their two dogs Oscar and Piggy Lou.

And before heading to church on Wednesday, Hailey spent some quality time with her pups.

Taking to her Instagram Story, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin captured a short clip of Piggy Lou giving her a surprise kiss on the face.

She also shared some new Rhode skincare-related content after the brand's fan-favorite lip tint sold-out after Black Friday.

As she applied it to her lips, Hailey reassured her 50.7million followers that she and her team are 'working as fast as they can to get tints back in stock.'

Meanwhile, Justin was noticeably dressed down in very baggy jeans and an oversized gray sweatshirt

The singing sensation layered the hoodie over a charcoal gray T-shirt and wore a black snapback hat with a heart-shaped 'Grandma' patch on the front

For a fun pop of color, the Baby hitmaker threw on neon pink slides with bright green soles

Justin arrived carrying a brown paper bag that appeared to have a large, slender item inside of it

She launched Rhode in June 2022 with three products: a serum, moisturizer and a peptide lip treatment that instantly sold-out.

At the time Hailey explained that she launched the trio for consumers seeking to achieve a 'glazed and dewy' look.

She's since expanded the line by launching her lip tint range.

Though her business and modeling work are important to her, Hailey's love for her husband takes first place.

The couple married young as they tied the knot at a courthouse in 2018 after dating on/off for three years.

They previously admitted that their first year of marriage was incredibly difficult and Hailey said that it was religion that saved their relationship.

'If we didn't have that, we wouldn't even be here. We wouldn't even be together,' she admitted on her YouTube channel in 2021.

They're in a healthy place now and spend most of their time together  whether it be dinners in Santa Monica or kicking back at home.

Before heading to church on Wednesday, Hailey spent some quality time with her pups

Taking to her Instagram Story, the daughter of Stephen Baldwin captured a short clip of Piggy Lou giving her a surprise kiss on the face

She also shared some new Rhode skincare-related content after the brand's fan-favorite lip tint sold-out after Black Friday

As she applied it to her lips, Hailey reassured her 50.7million followers that she and her team are 'working as fast as they can to get tints back in stock'

As for kids, Hailey revealed earlier this year that she wants children 'so bad' but she is 'scared' about raising a family in the public eye.

'I literally cry about this all the time!' Hailey told the Sunday Times in May.

'I want kids so bad but I get scared. Its enough that people say things about my husband or my friends.'

She continued: 'I cant imagine having to confront people saying things about a child. We can only do the best we can to raise them.

'As long as they feel loved and safe.'
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Kate Beckinsale, Kate Hudson and Yara Shahidi led the glamour at the 2023 WIF Honors cocktail party in Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of the big ceremony.

Beckinsale showed a lot of leg in a shocking outfit while Hudson and Shahidi looked ultra chic in boxy blazers.

The starry soiree is in celebration of Shahidi, who is this year's recipient of the WIF Max Mara 'Face of the Future Award.'

The honor goes to an actress whose professional endeavors and activism have led to 'a turning point in her career.'

Other honorees include: America Ferrera, Celine Song, Eva Longoria, Greta Lee and Linda Yvette Chavez.

Kate Beckinsale, Kate Hudson and Yara Shahidi led the arrivals at the 2023 WIF Honors cocktail party in Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of the big ceremony. The starry soiree was in celebration of Shahidi, who is this year's recipient of the WIF Max Mara 'Face of the Future Award'

Beckinsale was among the first to arrive and she swiftly made her way to the red carpet.

The actress strutted her stuff in a tiny black vinyl jumper styled with a plain white tee.

It highlighted her incredibly toned legs and allowed her to show off her edgy platform boots.

The mother-of-one rocked a large black bow that dwarfed her curly light brown ponytail.

Hudson flaunted her taut midriff by rocking a tiny black bandeau top under her gray blazer.

The Fool's Gold star styled it with matching wide-legged slacks that hid her shoes from view.

Her signature blonde strands were tucked behind her ears and she kept her makeup light.

Shahidi had legs for days as she styled her black mini shorts with semi-sheer tights and shiny patent leather heels.

Beckinsale was among the first to arrive and she swiftly made her way to the red carpet

She posed for a photo with Max Mara's Maria Giulia Maramotti

It highlighted her incredibly toned legs and allowed her to show off her edgy platform boots

Hudson flaunted her taut midriff by rocking a tiny black bandeau top under her gray blazer

The Fool's Gold star styled it with matching wide-legged slacks that hid her shoes from view

Shahidi had legs for days as she styled her black mini shorts with semi-sheer tights and shiny patent leather heels

The starlet's hair was slicked back and she paired her tuxedo jacket with a crisp white shirt

She was joined by her family at the celebration

Shahidi put on an animated display with Hellraiser star and BFF Odessa A'zion

Beckinsale brought along a pal

Leonie Hanne and Yara Shahidi posed inside

Shahidi and Odessa A'zion

Shahidi with musician/actor Trevor Jackson

Shahidi threw up a peace sign beside Evan Ross

Lili Reinhart put on a very glamorous display in a smart pink suit with sheer detailing, which she wore over a gold bra

She showed off her stunning features with a high-glamour make-up palette and a slick of red lipstick

Nicky Hilton delighted shutterbugs while posing in a sparkly strapless shift that put her legs centerstage

She styled her leggy dress with bedazzled heels

The starlet's hair was slicked back and she paired her tuxedo jacket with a crisp white shirt.

Nicky Hilton delighted shutterbugs while posing in a sparkly strapless shift that put her legs centerstage.

Pretty Little Liar star Lucy Hale wowed in a plunging black tuxedo vest with flared pants.

Jaime King stunned in a silky cream blouse that she tucked into matching pants.

Zoey Deutch turned heads while modeling a business chic look that included a classic button-up and flared black trousers.

Australian actress Bella Heathcote flashed her chiseled abs in an all-pink getup that included a sparkly crop top.

Australian supermodel Lara Worthington smoldered for the cameras in a head-to-toe black outfit that drew eyes to her tiny waist.

Zoe Lister-Jones dared to bare in a see-through dress with bizarre cream draping that protected her modesty.

Pretty Little Liar star Lucy Hale wowed in a plunging black tuxedo vest with flared pants

Jaime King stunned in a silky cream blouse that she tucked into matching pants

Zoey Deutch turned heads while modeling a business chic look that included a classic button-up and flared black trousers

Leonie Hanne, Lucy Hale, and Zoey Deutch posed for a photo at the event

Australian actress Bella Heathcote flashed her chiseled abs in an all-pink getup that included a sparkly crop top

She posed on the red carpet with Australian supermodel Lara Worthington

Lara Worthington smoldered for the cameras in head-to-toe black that drew eyes to her tiny waist

Zoe Lister-Jones dared to bare in a see-through dress with bizarre cream draping that protected her modesty

Dylan Mulvaney went sans pants for the occasion as she modeled a stylish gray blazer and sky-high Mary Jane heels

Skai Jackson packed punch by pairing a glossy red lip with a chic cream pinstripe romper

Maddie Ziegler oozed confidence in a strapless pinstripe minidress and brown patent leather stilettos

Dylan Mulvaney went sans pants for the occasion as she modeled a stylish gray blazer and sky-high Mary Jane heels.

Skai Jackson packed punch by pairing a glossy red lip with her chic cream pinstripe romper.

Maddie Ziegler oozed confidence in a strapless pinstripe minidress and brown patent leather stilettos.
Travis Barker's son, Landon, admitted that he has not spent much quality time with his baby brother, Rocky, who was born November 1.

While appearing on Wednesday's episode of SiriusXM's TikTok Radio, the rising star, 20, confessed that he 'actually' has not 'held' his newborn sibling yet.

As for whether he has stepped up to help his dad and Kourtney Kardashian change diapers, the Friends With Your Ex hitmaker replied: 'I have not. And I will not be.'

The musician, who is currently dating TikTok star Charli D'Amelio, also addressed his past comments about wanting to be the 'only Barker boy' as he confirmed he 'totally was rooting for a little girl.'

Honest: Travis Barker's son, Landon, admitted that he hasn't spent much quality time with his baby brother, Rocky, who was born November 1

'Now, I feel like I can't say that, you know what I mean?' Landon said, with a laugh.

Previously, Landon stated his father was expecting 'another boy, unfortunately.'

Following Rocky's birth, reports emerged that Kardashian has a strict 'invite-only' rule for loved ones wishing to meet her latest addition.

'Kourtney is going to be introducing the new baby to her family on an invite-only basis,' an insider told the US Sun. '[Kourtney] and Travis have communicated that they will be taking 'family only' time for the newly blended family and for Kourt to rest.'

Eventually, the couple do plan on 'inviting the extended family over on an individual basis.'

The source noted 'everyone's talking about where Kim will be on the list' and that her mom, Kris Jenner, will 'obviously' be 'first' to visit her 13th grandchild.

'Kourtney has said it's a germs thing  to protect the baby and not expose him to any risk  but it's, like, part of her new strategy to keep everyone at arm's length,' the insider concluded.

This is a fourth child for Kourtney as she already has three children  Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, eight  with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, 40.

Funny: As for whether he has stepped up to help his dad and Kourtney Kardashian change diapers, the Friends With Your Ex hitmaker replied: 'I have not. And I will not be'

Disappointed: The musician also addressed his past comments about wanting to be the 'only Barker boy' as he confirmed he 'totally was rooting for a little girl'

And it is a third child for Travis who shares two children  Landon, 20, and Alabama, 17  with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, 48. The rock star also considers Shanna's daughter with former boxer Oscar De La Hoya - 24-year-old model Atiana De La Hoya - his child.

In mid October she told Vanity Fair Italia she had conceived naturally after failed attempts at IVF for two years.

'I just say: how could you question God's plan? Because that's how I see this pregnancy, which came when both Travis and I weren't even thinking about it anymore and a year after we stopped IVF,' she said.

Kourtney revealed last December that she'd officially stopped her IVF journey 10 months prior after she said it caused her to spiral into a deep depression among other symptoms.

Her pregnancy was not been easy.

In September, she had a scary experience when she had fetal surgery to save her unborn son's life. Travis flew home from his tour to be by her side.

The star also said: 'It was terrifying. I feel that sooner or later I will go into detail because I hope that it could help others, but I don't feel ready yet because it was really frightening.'

The Poosh founder revealed her pregnancy news to the public in mid June while Barker performed on stage at his concert. She held up a sign that read: 'Travis, I'm Pregnant.'

Blended family: This is a fourth child for Kourtney as she already has three children  Mason, 13, Penelope, 11, and Reign, eight  with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick, 40

It was a nod to the band's iconic All The Small Things music video, in which a similar sign appears.

After catching a glimpse of his wife's message, Travis jumped down off the stage, made his way towards her and the couple shared a passionate kiss.

She later confirmed the news on her Instagram Story by sharing a video of the surprise reveal.

Kourtney and Travis became romantically involved in late 2020 after nearly a decade of friendship. They made their relationship Instagram official in February 2021 and were engaged by that October.

The couple wed at a courthouse in Santa Barbara in May 2022 before jetting off to Portofino, Italy a week later to hold a lavish wedding at the Dolce & Gabbana mansion in front of their friends and family.

Kourtney has been open with fans about her attempts to conceive a child with Barker through in vitro fertilization.

Growing brood: Rocky is Travis' third child; he shares Landon, and Alabama, 17 with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, 48 (pictured in 2022)

In 2022, Kourtney first detailed her struggle with IVF on Hulu's The Kardashians.

In the episode, Kourtney was at her Calabasas home as mom Kris Jenner came to visit, asking how the doctors went, as Kourtney responded: 'Awful.'

Kourtney revealed in confession that their doctor took them 'down this road of doing IVF, and it hasn't been the most amazing experience.'

She also claimed that the 'medication that they have been giving me, they put me into menopause, literally into menopause.'

Along with the Kourtney said that it also put her into a depression and caused weight gain.

'I think because I'm so clean and careful about what I put into my body, it's just like having the complete opposite reaction and working as a contraceptive instead of helping us,' she told audiences at the time.

'I have everything in the world to be happy about. I just feel a little bit off and not like myself. Super moody and hormonal, like I am a lunatic half the time.'
Eva Longoria looked sensational as she attended the TIME Latino Leaders Event at Soulmate, Hollywood, with her husband Jose Baston on Wednesday.

The Desperate Housewives star, 48, wore a plum sheer blouse which featured a long necktie which flowed to her hips.

She kept the look modest as she paired the garment with a vest top and a matching high-waisted culottes.

Eva used a chunky belt to cinch in her toned waist and donned a pair of 600 nude Hardot 'More' heeled pumps.

Eva completed her look with a pair of gold spiral earrings and wore a diamond ring on her centre finger.

Eva Longoria, 48, looked sensational as she attended the TIME Latino Leaders Event at Soulmate, Hollywood, with her husband Jose Baston, 55, on Wednesday

The Desperate Housewives star, 48, wore a plum sheer blouse which featured a long necktie and nude culottes for the outing

The actress smiled posed alongside Jose who looked sharp in a black suit and glasses.

Eva was pictured with many celebs at the star-studded event as she stuck a pose with Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, and Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal News.

TIME Latino Leaders Event celebrates prominent U.S.-based Latino leaders across industries who are making an impact on Hollywood.

Eva wed her third husband, Jose in May 2016, in a ceremony attended by her close pals Victoria and David Beckham.

The couple initially met on a December 2013 blind date arranged by a mutual friend in Mexico City, with Eva revealing her future husband had no idea who she was.

They got engaged in Dubai in December 2015 after going public with their relationship in November 2013.

In December 2017, the couple confirmed they were expecting their first child and in June 2018 they welcomed their first child, their son Santiago Enrique Baston.

Eva, pictured with TIME CEO Jessica Sibley, kept the look modest as she paired the garment with a vest top, a matching skirt and a pair of 600 nude Hardot 'More' heeled pumps

Eva completed her look with a pair of gold spiral earrings

She was pictured with many celebs at the star-studded event as she stuck a pose with Jessica, and Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal News

TIME Latino Leaders Event celebrates prominent U.S.-based Latino leaders across industries who are making an impact on Hollywood

Santiago is the first child for Eva, but the fifth for Jose, who was previously married to Mexican actress Natalia Esperon.

His other children are Natalia, born February 1996, and triplets Mariana, Jose and Sebastian, all born November 2016, however, Sebastian died shortly after being born.

When asked in a 2019 interview what the secret is to her happy marriage, Eva explained that she and her husband have respect for each other, and support each other's goals and dreams.

The star said: 'When I was younger it was so much about what I needed to accomplish.

'I've accomplished so much already that I can really sit back now and enjoy the success and continue to dream bigger with a partner.'

Until October Eva had gone on strike with many stars and staff who work in Hollywood as part of the first strikes in 16 years called by the Writers Guild of America.

An estimated 11,500 members have downed tools after talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers over pay fell apart. The strikes ended on September 27.
Ekin-Su Culculoglu put on a very glamorous display as she stepped out at The House Of CB Christmas party with the likes of Georgia Harrison and Georgia Steel.

The Love Island stars pulled out all the stops as they dressed to the nines for the glitzy event at the Old Sessions House in London on Wednesday evening.

Ekin-Su, 29, dazzled in a gorgeous beige sparkling gown which showed off her incredible figure with its plunging back.

She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of strapped heels and kept her essentials in a small black handbag.

Georgia Harrison, 28, put on a very leggy display in a pink mirror sequin mini skirt, which she styled with a velvet corset-style top with faux-fur lined cuffs.

Ekin-Su Culculoglu put on a very glamorous display as she stepped out at The House Of CB Christmas party with the likes of Georgia Harrison and Georgia Steel

The Love Island star pulled out all the stops as she dressed to the nines for the glitzy event at the Old Sessions House in London on Wednesday evening

She added some height to her frame with a pair of black platform heels and showed off her toned legs in black stockings.

The reality TV star toted a small black velvet handbag with a silver strap and accessorised her look with a pendant necklace and hoop earrings.

Meanwhile, Georgia Steel, 25, put on an elegant display in a busty black strapless top with a white lace-up front and a fitted white satin skirt.

She completed her look with a pair of black stilettos as she posed up a storm outside the venue, before mingling with the stars.

Fellow Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague also attended and seemingly put rumours of trouble in her relationship to bed as she stepped out wearing her engagement ring.

The influencer, 24, has been pictured on several occasions without the 600,000 ring in recent days after it was claimed she was 'mortified' by her fiance Tommy Fury's partying in Abu Dhabi with Chris Brown last week.

Fans of the couple had shared their concerns online after she chose to take the ring off and it was reported on Wednesday he was yet to return home to the 3.5million pad he shares with his fiancee in Cheshire.

Ekin-Su, 29, dazzled in a gorgeous beige sparkling gown which showed off her incredible figure with its plunging back

She gave herself a few extra inches in a pair of strapped heels and kept her essentials in a small black handbag

Ekin-Su wrapped up in a beige jacket and was seen looking thrilled as she tucked into a delicious pizza

Georgia Harrison, 28, put on a very leggy display in a pink mirror sequin mini skirt, which she styled with a velvet corset-style top with faux-fur lined cuff

She added some height to her frame with a pair of black platform heels and showed off her toned legs in black stockings

Meanwhile, Georgia Steel, 25, put on an elegant display in a busty black strapless top with a white lace-up front and a fitted white satin skirt

She completed her look with a pair of black stilettos as she posed up a storm outside the venue with Francesca Allen

Molly Mae Hague seemingly put rumours of trouble in her relationship to bed as she stepped out wearing her engagement ring

The influencer, 24, has been pictured on several occasions without the 600,000 ring in recent days after it was claimed she was 'mortified' by her fiance Tommy Fury's partying in Abu Dhabi with Chris Brown last week (pictured with her ring back on)

During the evening out, Molly-Mae looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a corset top and dramatic feathered sleeves

The silk skirt of the gown also tightly hugged her physique, as she styled the look with a pair of strappy heels

Despite the recent reports of trouble in her relationship Molly Mae appeared on fine form during the night out

Also in attendance was Helen Flanagan, who put on a very busty display in a black mini dress, which she styled with black boots (pictured with make-up artist pal Ashley Elizabeth Parkin)

Helen presented her ample cleavage in the plunging garment and flaunted her slender physique in the corset-style dress

The former Coronation Street actress, who recently revealed she was ghosted following a string of dating disasters, put on a show-stopping display

Molly-Mae has reportedly told her husband-to-be that he needs to change his ways, with a source saying she 'has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard'.

However, the couple appeared to have put the drama behind them now, after Molly-Mae was pictured sporting her ring at The House of CB Christmas party.

During the evening out, Molly-Mae looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a corset top and dramatic feathered sleeves.

The silk skirt of the gown also tightly hugged her physique, as she styled the look with a pair of strappy heels.

She carried a black padded Chanel bag, but otherwise kept her accessories to a minimum, aside from her dazzling diamond ring.

Also in attendance was Helen Flanagan, who put on a very busty display in a black mini dress, which she styled with black boots.

Love Island's Molly Smith was seen wearing the same sparkling gown as Ekin-Su, but styled it with a fluffy white jacket

She looked every inch the fashionista as she posed up a storm outside the venue

Francesca Allen put on a glamorous display in a strapless black gown, which she styled with buckled heels

Tanya Manhenga and Shaq Muhammad looked as loved-up as ever as they stepped out hand-in-hand

Sharon Gaffka stunned in a fitted white satin gown embellished with droplet beads

The Coronation Street actress added a pop of colour to her ensemble with a bright red handbag as she strutted her stuff.

The blonde beauty appeared to be in great spirits as she was pictured arriving at the star-studded bash with her hair and make-up artist pal Ashley Elizabeth Parkin.

Also among the guest list were the likes of Love Island's Molly Smith, Francesca Allen, Tanya Manhenga and her boyfriend Shaq Muhammad and Olivia Nolan.
Laura Anderson has hit back at mum-shamers who claimed her baby daughter Bonnie was sunburnt in holiday snaps.

The former Love Island star, 34, shared a slew of adorable pictures with her baby girl Bonnie, three months, on their first holiday in Dubai last week.

She cradled Bonnie in her arms, who was wearing a little sunhat and tiny sunglasses, however several people took to the comments with mean posts to the reality star, claiming that her daughter was sunburnt.

She has now hit back at trolls telling The Sun: 'I think it's few and far between - I think sometimes people can pick up on it and focus on the negative.'

She continued: 'I think since becoming a mum, my social media space has become more positive and I can resonate with mums and talking about real stuff.

Laura Anderson has hit back at mum-shamers who claimed her baby daughter Bonnie was sunburnt in holiday snaps

The former Love Island star, 34, shared a slew of adorable pictures with her baby girl Bonnie, two months, on their first holiday in Dubai last week

'I get so many DMs on the daily about silly little daily things and it means so much to engage with my community. But it's all about the delivery, it's all about how you say it.

'But I think people messaging me saying 'I'm not being mean, but just to let you know' and I appreciate that. It could be sound advice that I wouldn't have known.'

Several since-deleted comments focused on the colour of Bonnie's skin and some even accused Laura of endangering her baby.

One comment that remains, reads: 'Face looks red on baby but nice shot enjoy'.

Laura's supportive followers immediately came to her aid and spoke up for her, with one writing: 'Give this beautiful lady a break guys she knows what she doing so please stop with the nasty comments and be nice'.

Another agreed, writing: 'Have the best time with your beautiful well loved and looked after baby fk the rest of the squad  X'.

And a third echoed: 'Women who come here to comment on someone's else baby I have one question - who asked you??!! Mind your own business ladies! @lauraanderson1x looking amazing with your little one'.

Someone else gushed: 'Amazing first holiday for Bonnie. You're a natural amazing mummy xxx Enjoy every moment.'

She cradled Bonnie in her arms, who was wearing a little sunhat and tiny sunglasses, however several people took to the comments with mean posts to the reality star

Several people took to the comments to mum-shame the reality star, claiming that her daughter was sunburnt

Laura's supportive followers immediately came to her aid and spoke up for her underneath the post

Others complimented Laura on her sensational postpartum figure, with one person writing: 'U look amazing.. fair play to you! What a gorgeous baby'.

Another added: 'If I had that figure I would be posting hundreds of photos you do you you look amazing xx'.

While a third said: 'Laura you look like a real life Barbie doll stunning photos xx' and a fourth commented: 'Looking incredible'.

It comes after Laura revealed that she gave her relationship with on-off beau Gary Lucy another shot before giving birth to their daughter Bonnie.

The reality star and the former EastEnders actor, 41, split shortly before she announced her pregnancy earlier this year.

However, Laura revealed last month that they attempted to reconcile after ahead of the birth in September.

Speaking about whether she will be getting back together with Gary, Laura told OK! Magazine: 'Well, we did try before the birth, but it's just not really worked out so far.'

She continued: 'When we first got together and decided to have a baby  because Bonnie was planned  it was what I wanted. But it's quite common for parents not to be together for whatever reason.

'And I've found a community, connecting with a lot of women on Instagram who've reached out to me and said that seeing me manage on my own has made them feel that they can do it too.'

Laura added that she and Gary are 'friends' and focus co-parenting Bonnie, but did also quip: 'No-one knows what the future holds!'

It hasn't been smooth sailing for Laura and Gary but the pair appear to be putting on a united front following the baby's birth.

The couple met on Celebs Go Dating last year, however they split shortly after Laura announced she was expecting back in February.

Yet fans had been speculating about the pair's current status after Laura announced the birth with a gushing Instagram post which saw the pair holding hands.

But Laura shut down any reply to such rumours in the caption, which she wrote from Bonnie's point of view.

It comes after Laura revealed that she gave her relationship with on-off beau Gary Lucy another shot before giving birth to their daughter Bonnie (pictured together)

The reality star and the former EastEnders actor, 41, split shortly before she announced her pregnancy earlier this year

She wrote: 'Hi everyone, my name is Bonnie Rose Lucy Anderson. I was born 02/09/23 at 06.03am and weighed 6.10lbs.

'My Mummy & Daddy are sooooo happy and in love with me, this is our first week together.

'I'm sorry it's taken me some time to introduce myself, I hurt my mummy a little bit and scared my daddy too (oops) we're all now recovering well at home.'

Laura finished the caption on the post with: 'Please don't question My Mummy & Daddy on their relationship - This.. is all about me.'
Jamie Lynn Spears will be paid her full I'm A Celebrity fee after she quit the show on her 11th day in the jungle.

The sister of Britney Spears, 32, is rumoured to bank 250,000 for her stint after she dramatically left camp on 'medical grounds' on Wednesday.

The rules for payment state a celebrity will receive their full fee if they stay in camp for at least 72 hours.

It comes as reports claim Jamie was in talks with producers for days over her want to leave the jungle.

Viewers saw the star cry numerous times in the jungle as she told how she was missing her daughters Maddie, 15, and Ivey, five.

Jamie Lynn Spears will be paid her full I'm A Celebrity fee after she quit the show on her 11th day in the jungle

The sister of Britney Spears , 32, is rumoured to bank 250,000 for her stint after she dramatically left camp on 'medical grounds' on Wednesday

But bosses are said to have managed to coax her to stay for 11 days which was helped by her strong performances in the Climb of Cruelty and Scarena Series tasks.

After a shaky start, Jamie began to win over viewers with her strong performances in the Climb of Cruelty and Scarena Series tasks, with many tipping her to win the competition.

But Jamie Lynn is now out of the running for the jungle crown but will get her full fee for her participation in the show.

The rule came to light after TOWIE star Gemma Collins quit the 2014 series three days in.

She later revealed she didn't get her fee in full and ended up donating what she did get to charity. Her rep confirmed: 'I can confirm that the 4,800 fee was the full and final fee that Gemma received for her participation in last year's I'm A Celebrity.

The star opted to donate the money in full to Save The Children.

Last year Olivia Attwood still received her full 125,000 fee despite withdrawing from camp just 24 hours after arriving, thanks to a clause in the celebrities' contracts.

The Love Island star had left the jungle because of 'medical grounds', but a TV source revealed that due to a particular clause in her celebrity contract, she still received her full fee, which was understood to be approximately 100,000 -125,000.

An insider told The Mirror at the time: 'Olivia wanted to continue and because it was the medical team's decision she has done nothing wrong and so should be in line to get paid. She definitely didn't quit and wouldn't have quit, she wanted to stay.'

Jamie Lynn was reportedly in talks to quit I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! for days

Producers of the show reportedly labelled the actress a 'flight risk' and did not think she would last the duration of the series

Jamie Lynn had become emotional early on in the show about how much she missed her daughters Maddie, 15, and Ivey, five (all pictured)

Jamie Lynn is the second campmate to leave the jungle this series on medical grounds after Grace Dent who was reportedly booked for a fee of around 100,000

Jamie Lynn is the second campmate to leave the jungle this series on medical grounds.

Grace Dent departed on day eight in the I'm A Celebrity jungle also on medical grounds.

The MasterChef critic, 50, was reportedly booked for a fee of around 100,000.

Insiders revealed to MailOnline that Grace's jungle exit was mutually decided between Grace and show bosses, who had intervened after seeing her visible deterioration in camp.

A source close to the MasterChef star revealed: 'Grace decided to leave the jungle soon after it was announced that she would be doing the latest Bushtucker Trial.

'Knowing that she would be facing another tough challenge was the straw that broke the camel's back.'

They continued: 'It was mutually agreed that she would stand down from the competition, it was clear that she wasn't being herself, she had lost all energy when usually she's witty and fun to be around.

'ITV's duty of care and welfare teams had stepped in, and rightly so.

'She had struggled since living in the camp with less amenities, the weather this year has been particularly miserable and as a restaurant critic, not eating well proved to be harder than she could have ever imagined.

'Grace is looking forward to seeing her loved ones now and after a few days of rest and recovery will be fine.'

It was revealed she had decided to leave after 'losing all her energy' in camp and reaching breaking point as she faced the prospect of doing another Bushtucker Trial.

Within three hours of the announcement being made Grace was spotted at Brisbane Airport as she made her return to the United Kingdom.
Paris Hilton has revealed how she once enjoyed a night out with Princes William and Harry during a visit to London.

The media personality, 42, spoke about her surprise interaction with the Royals during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

Appearing on the show alongside her mother Kathy, they were both asked whether they had ever met any member of the Royal Family.

Paris then confirmed that she and Christina Aguilera had once partied with Princes William and Harry during a night out at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

Revealing that she had met the brothers, Andy then asked her: 'You've met both of them! Really? Any energy there? Like flirty energy?'

Paris Hilton has revealed how she once enjoyed a night out with Princes William and Harry during a visit to London during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

To which Paris said of their encounter 'years ago': 'They were really nice. We hung out in London.'

'It was at the Park Lane Hilton. They used to have like this bar downstairs,' Paris went on.

'We had a fun night. It was me, Christina Aguilera, and the boys and a group of people. It was a fun night.'

'I saw a picture of it,' Kathy added, referring to a photograph which showed the group socializing inside the bar.

Kathy also confirmed that she met the late Princess Diana at the Met Ball, while she also encountered King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace.

Paris and Kathy were on the Bravo talk show promoting season two of Paris In Love that will premiere Thursday on the Peacock streaming service.

The first season focused on Paris as she prepared for her wedding to Carter Reum, 42.

Paris recently welcomed baby girl London via surrogate, a younger sister to her eldest child Phoenix, 10 months.

Paris confirmed that she and Christina Aguilera had once partied with Princes William and Harry (both pictured in 2022) during a night out at the Park Lane Hilton

She said of the night: 'It was me, Christina Aguilera, and the boys and a group of people. It was a fun night' (Paris is pictured with Christina in April 2022)

Andy relayed a question from a viewer who wanted to know if Paris and Carter wanted another baby.

'We'll see. I'm just loving having my little boy and girl right now. But I'm probably going to want a little sister for London,' Paris said.

It comes after Paris once again hit out cruel trolls for making comments about the size of her son Phoenix's head, telling how her motherly instinct kicked in.

She told People that she can usually ignore criticism but couldn't stand it this time around as it was about her infant son.

Paris said: 'Usually, I wouldn't even dignify anything like that with a response, but I was just heartbroken that there are such cruel people in the world.

The heiress said it would have been a different story if she was the one who was on the receiving end of criticism but she couldn't bear the thought of Phoenix being made fun of.

She explained: 'I couldn't believe that they could be mean and vicious about a little innocent baby.

'You can say what you want about me, but this is my little angel. And if anyone ever says anything to hurt him or his feelings, I will always be there to protect him.'

Last month, the socialite was forced to hit back at trolls who made vile comments about the size of her baby son's head.

Andy also asked Paris if she and her husband Carter Reum (pictured in February) want another baby after welcoming two children together, and the star did not rule it out

It comes after Paris once again hit out cruel trolls for making comments about the size of her son Phoenix's head, telling how her motherly instinct kicked in

Paris also recently surprised her fans on Thanksgiving by announcing she has welcomed a baby girl named London

The socialite, who welcomed Phoenix via surrogate, posted sweet snaps of her son's first trip to New York City to Instagram - but the comment section was swiftly flooded with cruel remarks.

Paris also recently surprised her fans on Thanksgiving by announcing she has welcomed a baby girl named London.

The star shared the happy news by posting a pink baby outfit with the name 'London', writing: 'Thankful for my baby girl.'

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!!'
Britney Spears was up to her usual Instagram antics on Wednesday, hours after her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears suddenly quit I'm A Celebrity.

The pop star ignored the family drama, posting a throwback video of herself dancing in her underwear.

She showed off her moves in a glittering red bralet, telling her followers: 'This was shot TWO MONTHS ago !!! I have 4 hours of this footage in heels no lie !!! And barefoot !!!'

'I posted only two short 45 second videos !!! Looking back I was like why did I throw the rest of it away ??? But I didnt !!! I found it and since Im a giver I decided to graciously share !!! '

Britney Spears was up to her usual Instagram antics on Wednesday, hours after her younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears suddenly quit I'm A Celebrity

Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears shocked UK reality show I'm A Celeb with her exit on Wednesday , after just 11 days of filming in the Australian camp

On her Stories Britney added she was doing some yoga and cardio, telling her fans: 'A little goes a long way!! And mediation because of my big forehead that thinks too much.'

She also twerked for the camera, adding: 'It's extremely important to let your ass be known in certain situations!!! Ps messing around because I'm bored as hell!!! Pssss need roots done I'm Bamm-Bamm from The Flinstones.'

Britney's younger sister Jamie Lynn Spears shocked UK reality show I'm A Celeb with her exit on Wednesday, after just 11 days of filming in the Australian camp.

On Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for the show confirmed her sudden exit, saying: 'Jamie Lynn Spears has left I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! on medical grounds.

'She's been a fantastic campmate who has triumphed at trials and bonded well with her fellow celebrities.'

She has had a very emotional time in camp and has frequently been filmed in floods of tears over the difficult conditions and missing her family back home.

Jamie Lynn openly admitted she missed her two children, daughters Maddie, 15, and Ivey, five, but in recent days appeared to have settled into camp life.

During her time in the camp, Jamie Lynn discussed her fractured relationship with her sister, insisting she's learned not to speak publicly about any difficulties between her and her pop star sibling, 41, but admitted her family 'fights better than most'.

She showed off her moves in a glittering red bralet, telling her followers: 'This was shot TWO MONTHS ago !!! I have 4 hours of this footage in heels no lie !!! And barefoot !!!'

On her Stories Britney added she was doing some yoga and cardio, telling her fans: 'A little goes a long way!! And mediation because of my big forehead that thinks too much.'

She also twerked for the camera, adding: 'It's extremely important to let your ass be known in certain situations!!!'

American star Jamie claimed both she and Britney had 'complicated' upbringings which they'd both dealt with in different ways but, despite their differences, Britney would be 'concerned' about her suffering in the jungle.

She insisted Britney would be 'checking on me heavily' and would have been concerned about her daily crying at the start of this year's ITV series.

In camp, Sam asked Jamie Lynn: 'Do Britney's kids really like you? Are you like the cool aunt? Do you think she's watching you on this?'

Jamie Lynn said: 'I can imagine she'd be worried about me on here. I think she's probably checking in on me heavily.

'I do think she's probably like, 'Why would she do that?' She asked me that before I came here, she was like, 'You're really going to do it?' I was like, 'I'm going to go to Australia and check it out.'

'My crying, she'd probably be like, 'Ya'll get her the f*** out of there, right now!' She's a good big sister, she is.

During her time in the camp, Jamie Lynn discussed her fractured relationship with her sister Britney, insisting 'families fight' (pictured in 2017)

'Yeah, I love her. Me and her throw down. The world's seen that. I've learned to stop talking about it publicly, but you know what, family's fight. Listen, we just do it better than most.'

Sam replied: 'But everyone does man. Everyone's got stuff they argue about all the time.'

Jamie Lynn said: 'Me and her both have had a very complicated upbringing. We've had very complicated circumstances and we both had to deal with them in different ways.

'Sometimes we took it out on each other when perhaps we shouldn't have.

American star Jamie claimed both she and Britney had 'complicated' upbringings which they'd both dealt with in different ways

'I've never, ever I've been the one person in her life - and she can say this - I've never taken anything from her, you know? I've been the one person in her life who's always said, 'I just want to be your sister'.

'We just had a really weird life so we can't explain it to many people, but at the end of the road I know that that's my family, I love them.'

Britney was said to have imposed a strict ban on her sister Jamie Lynn ahead of her stint on I'm A Celebrity, warning her not to mention her name as the pair attempt to rebuild their relationship.

The hitmaker reportedly finds it 'sad' that her estranged younger sister continues to use her stardom to make money, and has encouraged her to land contracts in her own right.
Anna Heinrich flaunted her baby bump while dressed to the nines on Thursday.

The Bachelor star, 36, stepped out to attend Crown Sydney's Summer Launch party.

Anna chose a sophisticated all-white ensemble for the occasion, a nod to the event's summery vibe.

Heinrich was the epitome of chic in a sleeveless white jumpsuit.

The blonde beauty opted for a natural makeup palette and wore her blonde locks styled in soft waves, allowing them to cascade over her shoulders.

Anna Heinrich flaunted her baby bump while dressed to the nines on Thursday. Pictured

The Bachelor star, 36, stepped out to attend Crown Sydney's Summer Launch party

It's not the first time the influencer has shown off her developing pregnancy.

Last month, she took to Instagram to share her pregnancy progress.

In a luxurious marble bathroom, Anna posed for a mirror selfie which displayed her growing tummy and added a caption saying 'Bumping along nicely.'

Anna chose a sophisticated all-white ensemble for the occasion

But just because she is pregnant, it does not mean she can't be stylish and sexy, wearing an off-white knit bikini in the photo.

The couple hosted a gender reveal party earlier this year in the backyard of their $6 million mansion in Sydney's Dover Heights and revealed they're having a girl.

The couple and their eldest daughter Elle, two, joined with their extended family for the celebration, including Anna's sister Andrea.

Tim and Anna met on The Bachelor in 2013 and are regarded as a golden couple of the Australian Bachelor franchise, marrying in Italy in 2018.

It's not the first time the influencer has shown off her developing pregnancy. Last month, she took to Instagram to share her pregnancy progress
A BBC Morning Live interview ended on a cheekier note than usual on Thursday, when viewers watched Helen George's dog partake in some self-grooming.

Fans took to Twitter to react in shock after they watched the Call the Midwife star, 39, blush in embarrassment as she watched her dog, Charlie, lick itself on her bed while conducting the interview from home.

Unable to ignore the dog's dirty antics, host Gethin Jones joked that the animal had become the show's star as they talked about Helen's latest show, The King.

He said: 'You sure are the star of the stage, but quite frankly, Charlie has been the star of today's Morning Live.'

Helen, who donned a pink knitted jumper, gasped as she put her hand over her mouth and shouted, 'Charlie, stop it'.

A BBC Morning Live interview ended on a cheekier note than usual on Thursday, as viewers watched Helen George's dog partake in some personal self-grooming

Fans took to Twitter to react in disgust after the Call the Midwife star, 39, blushed in embarrassment as she watched her dog - Charlie - lick itself on her bed

Unable to ignore the dog's dirty antics, host Gethin Jones joked that the animal had become the show's star as they talked about Helen's latest show, The King

'Yeah maybe this is a good time to say goodbye', she added as she blushed down the camera.

The theatre performer then gave Charlie some privacy as she held her out in front of the lens.

Quickly, viewers took to social media to share their reaction, with some mocking that animals would always be the star of the show.

One penned: 'Probably wise to wrap the interview there.'

Another tweeted: 'Pets Will Always Upstage You: Helen George edition.'

'So funny Helen George's cute dog Charlie on Morning Live, classic!' one fan wrote while another added: 'BBC Morning Live Charlie was very funny in that interview'.

Luckily, Gethin was quick to make light of the situation and wrap up the interview before Charlie embarrassed the star even further.

Unphased by Charlie's antics, some fans were more distracted by Helen's clothing as one fan wrote: 'Beautiful jumper'.

Quickly, viewers took to social media to share their reaction, with some mocking that animals would always be the star of the show

Another fan penned: 'hi please could you tell me where your pink Cure jumper is from? Absolutely wonderful thank you.'

Helen will return to the stage next year following The King and I's record-breaking season at The London Palladium and sell-out UK Tour.

She will reprise her role as Anna when the production returns for a limited six week run at London Palladium from January 20.

After receiving rave reviews for her performance, Helen said that she is 'delighted' to be able to continue in the show and playing on the West End will be 'an honour.'

Set in 1860s Bangkok, The King and I tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher.

Helen plays the British schoolteacher who is hired by the King of Siam to educate his many wives and children.

The King And I is one of the best-loved musicals of all time, crammed with huge show tunes including Shall We Dance? and Getting To Know You.

The Daily Mail gave the production a glowing review saying: 'We left the London Palladium on a bright cloud of music - joyous!'

One of Helen's friends who will no doubt be keen for a ticket is her Call The Midwife co-star Olly Rix after they sparked rumours of a growing connection following their recent breakups.

Helen and Olly are said to be supporting each other as they navigate through their heartbreak.

The actors are known for their roles as on-screen married couple Trixie Franklin and Matthew Aylward in BBC drama, Call The Midwife.

Morning Live airs weekdays from 9.15am on BBC One.
Abbie Chatfield and Tony Armstrong have been announced as hosts of the TikTok Awards next week.

The pair will take to the stage alongside TikTok sensation Kat Clark, who was crowned 2022's Creator of the Year.

Set to take place on Wednesday, December 6 at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, the ceremony is set to bring together popular creators, the biggest viral trends and the most talked about moments from 2023.

The dynamic duo are set to bring an unprecedented level of energy and excitement to the Awards, with Chatfield hinting at a night filled with surprises.

With 10 awards to be presented, the event aims to honour a diverse array of content creators, from those who have kept fans laughing throughout the year to the musicians who have provided the soundtrack to countless TikTok videos.

The Bachelor's Abbie Chatfield and Tony Armstrong have been announced as hosts of the TikTok Awards next week. Both pictured

The pair will take the stage alongside TikTok sensation Kat Clark, (pictured) who was crowned 2022's Creator of the Year

The categories range from the prestigious Creator of the Year to the Video of the Year, with special recognition for those driving positive community change through the TikTok for Good award.

In a move that reflects the democratic nature of the platform, fans are given the power to choose their favorites, with voting already open through the TikTok app.

The nominees for this year's awards are a mix of established names and rising stars, highlighting the platform's role in shaping new trends and influencers.

The Creator of the Year category alone boasts a diverse group of contenders, including Andy Hearnden, known for his culinary creations, and the adventurous Outback Tom.

The Creator of the Year category alone boasts a diverse group of contenders, including Andy Hearnden, (pictured) known for his culinary creations, and the adventurous Outback Tom

The Video of the Year category reminisces about the viral sensations that have captured the imagination of the global TikTok community.

Meanwhile the Comedy Creator of the Year and Sport Creator of the Year categories recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective niches.

For the first time, the TikTok Awards will also acknowledge the burgeoning talent from New Zealand with the NZ Creator of the Year award, as well as international creators who have captured the hearts of the Australian and New Zealand audience.

American rapper Armani White (pictured) is set to take to the stage during the ceremony

As will ARIA Award nominee Peach PRC (pictured)
Passengers crowd into the Embarcadero BART Station trying to find ways to get home after a person inside the Transbay Tube caused the agency to shut down all service across the bay Wednesday afternoon. Harsha Devulapalli/The Chronicle Eastbound BART commuters are stopped at Montgomery Station after reports of person in Transbay Tube on Wednesday afternoon. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Commuters wait at Embarcadero Station after BART stopped service into and out of San Francisco due to a person on the tracks Wednesday afternoon. Harsha Devulapalli/The Chronicle

A person who evaded police inside the Transbay Tube forced BART to shut down the key transportation tunnel for nearly two hours during the peak afternoon commute, sending frustrated passengers scattering for alternative transit across San Francisco Bay.

BART first announced the closure, and related systemwide delays, just after 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, forcing homebound passengers to figure new arrangements to the East Bay. By 6:20 p.m. authorities said the person was no longer on the tracks and normal service resumed.

A spokesperson for the transit agency said the person was able to get into the tube through the Embarcadero Station tracks. BART police searched for more than an hour but never found the person, who eventually left the tracks on his own, according to the spokesperson. BART police continued to investigate after normal service was restored and released a photo in hopes of identifying the person.

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BART has managed to recover only about half of its pre-pandemic ridership, but recent efforts have bumped up commuter numbers, especially between the East Bay and San Francisco. About 25,000 commuters take BART through the Transbay Tube each weekday, according to the transit agency.

During Wednesdays disruption, eastbound trains turned around at Embarcadero Station, while commuters heading into San Francisco werent able to get past West Oakland Station. Instead, overhead announcements urged thousands of commuters to use ferries or transbay bus lines to get home. Long lines quickly formed in the Ferry Building and outside bus stops headed east.

Passengers crowded inside the Embarcadero BART station around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, trying to find ways to get home after a person inside the Transbay Tube caused BART to shut down all service across the bay. Yoohyun Jung/The Chronicle

The delays also caused BART to stop some travel within the East Bay. Starting at 6 p.m., red and green line service was suspended, with travelers having to pivot to the orange and blue lines. Service eventually resumed as normal when the tube reopened.

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With trains stranded at stations or turned back from the tunnel, downtown San Francisco platforms became increasingly crowded as the commute wore on. Hundreds of passengers clustered inside Powell, Montgomery and Embarcadero stations, while others poured out into the streets of downtown San Francisco, trying to figure out how to make it across the bay. Many stood either clutching phones to their ears or glued to a screen, informing loved ones theyd be late coming home.

Noeli Sanchez, 27, and Neil Obrezo, 35, stayed later than usual at work after a busy day and were trying to get to Pittsburg when they found out about the BART issue. Getting home later than expected put a damper on their night.

It feels like were only going to have time to get home and go to sleep to come back here the next day, Sanchez said while waiting at Embarcadero Station for a new train to arrive. Its very frustrating.

Eastbound BART commuters are stopped at Montgomery Station after reports of person in Transbay Tube on Wednesday afternoon. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Oakland resident Marina Khamhaengwong, 28, was commuting from work in San Francisco to her 6 p.m. class at Berkeley City College, but she had to get off at 16th Street Mission Station due to the delay. She said on a normal day she gets home in an hour, but on Wednesday, she expected it would take her three hours.

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It took a while to get a train to get to Embarcadero, she said. Every time I come into work something like this happens. I love public transportation though, and I love the ferry. Its not a big deal, but its not ideal.

The last time a person got into the Transbay Tube was August 2022, but delays lasted only about 20 minutes before police removed the person. This time, no arrest was made. BART asked anyone with information about the identity of the person seen on the tracks to contact BART police at 510-464-7040.

We are very sorry for the service disruption this individual caused and we are looking to hold them accountable, BART said in a statement.

Emma Stiefel and Yoohyun Jung contributed to this report.
Timothee Chalamet has revealed that he didn't ask Johnny Depp for advice on playing Willy Wonka for his new movie.

The actor, 27, is starring as the famous chocolatier Willy Wonka in a new musical movie exploring the origins of the iconic Roald Dahl character.

The character was previously bought to life on screen by Johnny Depp in Tim Burton's 2005 movie Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

But Timothee - who dated Johnny's daughter Lily-Rose Depp for 18 months until April 2020 - has revealed that he didn't ask Johnny for advice on playing the candymaker.

'[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory] came out when I was about 10 or 11 years old. And I just thought it was very bold,' Timothee told E! at the Wonka world premiere in London.

Timothee Chalamet has revealed that he didn't ask Johnny Depp for advice on playing Willy Wonka for his new movie

The Dune star said he also loved the 1971 musical adaptation of the classic novel, starring Gene Wilder, saying it was the one he 'saw first' and 'grew up on'.

It is not the first time Timothee has spoken about Johnny's version of the character, as he made reference to the film at a fan event in Japan, according to Variety.

'If you would've told me when I was 12 years old watching the Johnny Depp version of Willy Wonka that I'd get to be here in Tokyo promoting this movie as Willy Wonka, standing next to Hugh Grant, I would've told you you were lying,' he gushed.

Timothee's new origin tale on Willy Wonka - based on the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - hits UK theatres on December 8 and US theatres on December 15.

Timothee earned $9million to portray the titular character after beating out Tom Holland, Donald Glover, Ezra Miller and Ryan Gosling for the role.

Reviews and reactions have already been pouring in for the movie with fans raving about the film, while critics have hailed it as 'surprisingly good'.

Those lucky enough to catch a preview screening of the movie ahead of its release have hailed leading man Timothee as 'whimsical' and 'charming'.

'Im not a film critic and so many others are doing it on such an eloquent level, so Ill just say this about Wonka. Wonka. GOOD! Very good. I of course cried. Give it all the golden tickets,' posted one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The character was previously bought to life on screen by Johnny Depp in Tim Burton 's 2005 movie Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Timothee said he also loved the 1971 musical adaptation of the classic novel, starring Gene Wilder, saying it was the one he 'saw first' and 'grew up on'

'#WonkaMovie was so cute!! I really enjoyed it and would totally watch it again. Timothee Chalamet was whimsical as Willy Wonka, and Calah Lane as Noodle was amazing! Dont go in expecting Charlie or golden tickets. This movie is about Willy and how he became a famous chocolatier!' added another.

'I loooooooved #Wonka everyone else did too right? Its so tender and entertaining with Colman a superb villain and Chalamet proving he can sing, too. Plus great songs and visuals. Take all of your kids.'

Others felt justified in their early hopes for the movie, despite criticism of trailers and promo material.

'People being surprised that Wonka is good I never doubted Paul King, director of Paddington! Not for a second!!' posted one fan.

'It should be shouted from the rooftops that WONKA is that it is written by the same team that wrote/directed PADDINGTON and PADDINGTON 2, Paul King and Simon Farnaby. It's genuine, not saccharine, and yes, I cried. It has Billy Wilder-style fast moving comedic dialogue.'

Other moviegoers put any fears to rest that the film wouldn't live up to the 1971 adaptation of Dahl's novel starring Gene Wilder.

'OK, I can finally say it. The embargo is down @RealChalamet is Woknalicious in #Wonka I am old, so I love the original movie, but this is a new story with an amazing energy & joyfulness and it is just as delightful. It made me laugh and smile, and I can't wait to see it again,' posted one delighted fan.

Critics have also added their praise to the movie with Collider senior producer Perri Nemiroff writing: '#Wonka is a super charming delight powered by an exceptional & pitch-perfect performance from Timothee Chalamet.'

'It can get quite silly and there's a few plot points that are a tad on the thin side, but that couldn't stop such an impossibly sweet film with a hefty & very effective dose of sincerity from warming my heart,' he added.

The actor, 27, is starring as the famous chocolatier Willy Wonka in a new musical movie exploring the origins of the iconic Roald Dahl character

Reviews and reactions have already been pouring in for the movie with fans raving about the film , while critics have hailed it as 'surprisingly good'

As well as Timothee leading the cast, Olivia Colman is also among the star-studded cast of the origins story

Variety/The A.V. Club film critic Courtney Howard called Wonka 'a winning confection, filled with perfect amounts of charm, whimsy & poignancy, powered by pure imagination & bright, nimble musical numbers'.

'Timothee Chalamet is a charisma factory. His full committal is intoxicating,' Howard added.

Roger Ebert associate editor Robert Daniels 'surprisingly, mostly, enjoyed WONKA' and called Timothee 'a really gifted comedic actor, smartly leveraging his star persona for laughs.'

Wonka also features stars including Keegan-Michael Key, Matt Lucas, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Olivia Colman, Hugh Grant, and newcomer Calah Lane.
Billy Porter has opened up on the 'worst year of his life' after he was diagnosed with diabetes, filed for bankruptcy and became HIV positive over the course of five months in 2007.

The Pose star, 54, candidly admitted that he survived 'a lot of trauma' after coming out at 16 years old and grew up being 'essentially cursed' for being a gay black man.

He said that the fact he has survived this long as 'an accomplishment', stating: 'I'm not supposed to be here.'

Billy added that his endurance shows that people can get through tough times, and 'can transcend whatever befalls us, get back up again'.

Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, he explained: 'I've lived through a lot of trauma. I came out in 1985 when I was 16 years old.

Billy Porter has opened up on the 'worst year of his life' after he was diagnosed with diabetes , filed for bankruptcy and became HIV positive over the course of five months in 2007

The Pose star, 54, candidly admitted that he survived 'a lot of trauma' after coming out at 16 years old and grew up being 'essentially cursed' for being a gay black man

He said that the fact he has survived this long as 'an accomplishment', stating: 'I'm not supposed to be here' (pictured last week)

'We went straight to the front lines to fight for our lives during the AIDS crisis. I was diagnosed with HIV in 2007, I grew up in an environment that essentially cursed me.

'I grew up in the black church. They told me from their pulpits as often as they could that I would never be blessed. The structure of our societies that look at me as a black man and look at me as a gay man and completely dismiss me from existence on the planet as a human being, all of these things weigh into my art.

'The only way I know how to respond is through my art and inside of the art. I'm alive - what an accomplishment. I'm not supposed to be here.

'2007 was the worst year of my life. February, I was diagnosed with diabetes, March I had to file for bankruptcy and by June I was HIV positive. I had become the statistic that they all said I would be.

'And guess what? None of that matters. None of the rhetoric has any credibility anymore because this is what all of that looks like now.

'This is what the queen looks like. This is what the diabetic looks like. This is what the HIV positive looks like. This is what bankruptcy looks like. This is what it looks like.

'We can all transcend whatever befalls us, get back up again. We fall down, but we get up.'

Billy revealed he is HIV positive for the first time in 2021, saying he kept his diagnosis secret for 14 years because he was 'ashamed'.

Billy added that his endurance shows that people can get through tough times, and 'can transcend whatever befalls us, get back up again' (pictured at 2019 Met Gala)

Speaking on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, he explained: 'I've lived through a lot of trauma. I came out in 1985 when I was 16 years old'

He added: 'This is what the queen looks like. This is what the diabetic looks like. This is what the HIV positive looks like. This is what bankruptcy looks like. This is what it looks like' (pictured last week)

The Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winner admitted that he kept his diagnosis shrouded in secrecy for more than a decade because he feared, in part, that it would harm his career.

He only recently told his mother after initially deciding he would only go public with his diagnosis after she died.

Billy said he kept his secret from his mother for so many years because she had already faced so much 'persecution' from her Pentecostal church after he came out as gay as a teen.

The actor said he has been using his Pose character Pray Tell - who is also HIV-positive - as his proxy, saying that it helped him 'work through the shame'.

Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Billy spoke about his survivors guilt from losing so many friends to AIDS over the years and said he saw his queerness as a 'superpower', rejecting the words 'acceptance' and 'tolerance'.

He said: 'There are two words that I can't stand in relation to the queer community, and that's acceptance and tolerance. I don't need anybody's acceptance or tolerance to give me permission to exist on this planet. I don't need any of that.

'The demand is respect for my humanity as I respect everybody else's, period. That's it. If you can't do that, move out of my way. Move because there's work to do.

'So I am an artist first and all of the work that I choose is based on service. How can I be of service through the work that I do for a living? What does that look like?

Billy revealed he is HIV positive for the first time in 2021, saying he kept his diagnosis secret for 14 years because he was 'ashamed'

The Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winner admitted that he kept his diagnosis shrouded in secrecy for more than a decade because he feared, in part, that it would harm his career

The actor said he has been using his Pose character Pray Tell (pictured) - who is also HIV-positive - as his proxy, saying that it helped him 'work through the shame'

'I was watching Oprah over 20 years ago and she had Maya Angelou on and they were talking about service. And their theory is when you shift your intention to service, everything else will work itself out.

'And I asked myself what that looked like right after that show. And it hit me like a tonne of bricks. It's your queerness. It's that thing that everybody is telling you is your liability. Everybody told me my queerness would be my liability.

'And it was for decades. It was. And now it's my superpower. I am just so grateful that I lived long enough to see this day I'm alive. What an accomplishment.'

He went on: 'I lost more friends to AIDS by the age of 21 than my 85 year old grandmother had. We've been through some stuff. My generation, we have.

'And for those of us who are still here, I used to have survivor's guilt and ask why am I here and why am I here?

'And boy did Pose, I never would've imagined when I got into this business in the eighties, that Pray Tell and Pose would ever be a thing.

'I spent the first 25 years of my life just trying to be straight enough in other people's eyes or be perceived as straight enough so that I could eat.

'So what's happening right now in the world, to me in general, in the queer community, in the black community, in our evolution as humanity, it's magical.

Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Billy spoke about his survivors guilt from losing so many friends to AIDS over the years and said he saw his queerness as a 'superpower', rejecting the words 'acceptance' and 'tolerance' (pictured in 2020)

Following his hardships, Billy returned to trauma therapy during the pandemic in order to find self-love and compassion for himself (pictured in 2021)

'And of course with that comes a pushback. There's a lot of good s**t happening in the world. And we always lean into the negative, speak life into yourselves. Y'all speak life into us.

'And that doesn't mean ignoring the truth. That actually means honouring the truth, honouring what's real, and honouring your truth, honouring my truth, honouring the truth, and being able to engage with the world properly.'

Following his hardships, Billy returned to trauma therapy during the pandemic in order to find self-love and compassion for himself.

He recalled: 'I went into trauma therapy during Covid, I had a chance to slow down and stop, which is not something as a workaholic that I ever think about doing.

'If the world hadn't stopped and we were all forced into this shutdown thing, I don't know that I ever would've had the time, made the time, knew that I needed to make the time to do a different kind of work to heal the trauma in my life so I could really move forward.

'I had gotten to a place where I had gone as far as I could go emotionally, spiritually, physically, everything, and I needed some more excavation.'

He continued: 'I'm so hard on myself. I had no compassion for myself and my trauma therapist spent the first three months just working on self-compassion.

'And it's not second nature to us as humans to have self-compassion because that means that you have to forgive yourself. You have to sit in the uncomfortable situation of not having all the answers, not being perfect, feeling bad, and allowing myself to feel bad today.

Billy concluded: 'I'm 54 years old. It's like it is time to hit it. I got things to do, darling. We're busy' (pictured in April last year)

'That's how I feel today. And this too shall pass, just working through one's humanity. When we can figure out how to breathe and just put one foot in front of the other every day, it will all be okay. It will be okay.

'And don't cry for me, Argentina. I have a lot of blessings in my life. Even the blessing of coming to the knowledge of understanding that a healing needed to take place to begin is the gift.

'So many people don't even know that. So many people don't even recognise that work needs to be done internally on yourself.

'I'm not a person to ever blame anybody for anything. I take responsibility for all things in my life. Now, with that said, I had to find some compassion in that process. That was the space where I would really just beat myself up.

'It's really empowering in the greatest way and as I get older, the choices I make in life have gotten way more specific and way more grounded and way more present, calculated, measured.'

Billy concluded: 'I'm 54 years old. It's like it is time to hit it. I got things to do, darling. We're busy.'
Claire Sweeney and Sue Jenkins have led tributes to Brookside star Dean Sullivan who has died aged 68 following a battle with prostate cancer.

The death of the beloved actor, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, was confirmed on Thursday in a statement from his family.

Claire, who played Jimmy's daughter Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside, shared a tribute to her onscreen father on Instagram.

'I will miss you Dean, Love you. It was wonderful to be reunited together as a family this year for the Soap Awards. RIP Dean Sullivan,' she wrote alongside a photo of them from June 2023 at the British Soap Awards.

Claire Sweeney has led tributes to Brookside star Dean Sullivan who has died aged 68 following a battle with prostate cancer

The death of the beloved actor, known to millions as drug dealer Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, was confirmed on Thursday in a statement from his family

Dean and Claire reunited at the awards do along with Sue, who played Jimmy's wife Jackie.

Posing for the family reunion, Claire, who played Lindsey on and off for 12 years, admitted at the time it felt very 'emotional' to see Dean again.

Sue shared her own tribute on X. Calling her onscreen husband 'a sweet, funny, kind human,' Sue said she was with her close friend in the final hours of his life, writing that she 'feels privileged to have to been with him yesterday.'

Sharing photos from their times together over the years, the actress said: 'Its honestly hard to find words to express my sadness at the loss of Dean. What a time we had as Jimmy & Jackie. A consummate professional, superb, much loved actor, a sweet, funny, kind human being I feel privileged to have to been with him yesterday. Rest in peace.'

Dean shared what looks to be the last public photo of himself, taken in September as he supported Sue in a play in Liverpool.

Louis Emerick, who played Mick Johnson in Brookside, paid tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.

'Morning all Happy @Ballstocancer #TbThursday, there can be only1 #Tb today,as we mourn the very sad loss of #DeanSullivan aka Jimmy Corkhill, yesterday! If U took a poll of fave Brooky characters, Jimmy wud top the list! A fine actor,collegue,friend,Goodnight Deano,' the actor wrote.

Actress and comedian Crissy Rock, who appeared with Dean in panto, shared her own heartfelt message, tweeting:

The actor is pictured with his Brookside co-stars Claire Sweeney, Sue Jenkins, and George Christopher

Sue Jenkins shared her own tribute on X, calling her onscreen husband 'a sweet, funny, kind human'

Dean shared what looks to be the last public photo of himself, taken in September as he supported Sue in a play in Liverpool

'I cant believe the lovely Dean Sullivan has passed away. We had such a happy time in panto, he was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed x'

A statement from Dean's family confirmed the sad news of his death on Thursday. 'It is with deep sadness we must tell you that actor Dean Sullivan passed away on 29th November 2023 peacefully following a short illness.

'To millions he was and very much still is remembered as 'Jimmy', to family and friends he was 'Dino'. Dean's family wants to thank Arrowe Park Hospital for their unwavering and consistent support.'

'We ask that you respect their privacy in their time of grief,' read the message from Hamilton Management and his family.

Louis Emerick, who played Mick Johnson in Brookside, paid tribute, calling Dean 'a fine actor, colleague, friend'

Actress and comedian Crissy Rock, who appeared with Dean in panto, shared her own heartfelt message, tweeting: 'I cant believe the lovely Dean Sullivan has passed away'

Heartbeat star Tricia Penrose shared a photo of herself with her 'gorgeous friend'

The charity Prostate Cancer UK thanked the late actor for his support

Sullivan was scheduled to appear in a Southport production of Jack And The Beanstalk from December 7, but pulled out on November 17 due to 'unforeseen circumstances.'

The Atkinson Theatre, where he was expected to tread the boards for a three week run, confirmed his departure in a tweet shortly after his withdrawal.

They wrote: 'There has been a change to the line-up for this years Jack and the Beanstalk pantomime.

'Dean Sullivan will no longer be performing in the role of Fleshcreep, as previously advertised and the role will now be played by Mark Paterson.'

The former Brookside actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was finally discharged by his consultant last year after undergoing radiotherapy treatment.

Looking back on his battle with the disease in August, Sullivan told how he put himself 'in the hands of fate' during his ill health and tried to continue living his life.

He told the Liverpool Echo: 'The way I dealt with it was that I just sort of put myself in the hands of fate. If this was my time, then this was my time so I was quite philosophical about it really.

'I know that people would worry themselves into an early grave as it were but I'm not that sort of person, I try to keep positive about things and I just got on with my life.'

Liverpool born Sullivan told how he wasn't displaying most of the symptoms of prostate cancer other than a reduced flow.

However, he felt like something wasn't right and went to the doctor, who just told him to keep an eye on it, but he returned to another doctor a few weeks later.

He said: 'If I'd have listened to the first doctor, it might have been a different story so always trust your gut, 11 times out of 10, you're right, we've still got that fight or flight instinct.'

The former Brookside actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was finally discharged by his consultant last year after undergoing radiotherapy treatment

The soap star is pictured at the Miss Swindon Beauty Contest with Jodie Oram in 1997

The actor admitted early detection was key to his successful radiotherapy treatment and urged other people to get checked if they are concerned.

In 2019, Sullivan opened up about his 'shell shock' cancer diagnosis, admitting he never thought he had an issue with his prostate as he wasn't displaying many of the typical symptoms.

He told The Mirror at the time: 'I remember being a bit shell shocked really, because even though we know these days that one in three of us will be diagnosed with cancer of some sort, you never think it will be you.'

Sullivan admitted he didn't immediately share the news with his loved ones or friends because he isn't the type of person to 'elicit' support from their pals.

He kept the news to a few close friends and family members, explaining: 'You're the one living with it and dealing with it and my way of dealing with it was not to let it be a major part of my life.'

In 2019, Sullivan opened up about his 'shell shock' cancer diagnosis, admitting he never thought he had an issue with his prostate as he wasn't displaying many of the typical symptoms (pictured in 2016)

In June Dean reunited with his Brookside daughter Claire Sweeney and wife Sue Jenkins for an appearance at the British Soap Awards

Sullivan, from Liverpool, joined Brookside in 1986, four years after its launch and remained on the soap until it was axed in 2003

He added: 'Also, there's the situation when you think "I don't want to tell this story again", so only my closest family and friends knew. It was one of those when I thought "just get on with it and what will be will be".'

Sullivan, from Liverpool, joined Brookside in 1986, four years after its launch and remained on the soap until it was axed in 2003.

He was at the centre of many of the soap's most memorable storylines- including the moment Jimmy discovered the body of villain Trevor Jordache under a patio two years after his murder.

Dean won two British Soap Awards during his time on the show - including a special recognition award and held the record of filming more episodes than any other actor on the show.

He also appeared in BBC's Doctors, ITV's The Royal and ITV's Crime Stories. Among his most recent roles was an appearance in 2022 Netflix short film Wings.

The actor also performed on stage, playing Scullery in the North West premiere of Jim Cartwright's Road in Bolton, and starring in a one-man monologue tour of Chip In The Sugar by Alan Bennett.
Priyanka Chopra cuddled daughter Malti Marie as they left a eatery where they were enjoying a family breakfast in LA on Wednesday.

The actress, 41, was pictured giving the little one, who is 22 month old, a sip of water after their mother-daughter breakfast at Sweet Butter Kitchen Cafe in Los Angeles.

Priyanka and Malti wore similar sporty ensembles for the outing.

The Love Again star donned a striped tracksuit in different shades of blue, while she dressed Malti - who she shares with husband Nick Jonas - in some denim bottoms and a beige top.

Malti also wore a cream winter hat and white and pink trainers to finish off the adorable look.

Priyanka Chopra cradled her baby daughter Malti Marie as they enjoyed a mother-daughter outing at the Sweet Butter Kitchen Cafe in LA on Wednesday

Priyanka gave 22-month-old Malti a sip of water as they headed out for breakfast, both dressed in casual, sporty ensembles

Priyanka wore her brunette tresses loose and wavy for the outing, adding a pair of sunglasses to the laid-back look.

The former Miss World winner welcomed daughter Malti with husband Nick - who she wed in 2018 - in January 2022 via surrogate.

Priyanka and Malti's latest mother-daughter outing comes after they were pictured heading out for lunch in Studio City, California earlier this month.

Priyanka was seen beaming while cradling the youngster.

The actress' latest outing in LA comes after she opened up about the challenges of motherhood in a candid interview with People.

When questioned how often she felt overwhelmed with parenthood, Priyanka responded: 'I think every day.

'I think when you put them to bed, it's extremely overwhelming because every single day you worry about what you can do wrong and what mistake you might make.

'But you have to check yourself, and I check myself with my family.'

Priyanka regularly shares adorable photos of baby daughter Malti Marie on social media

Priyanka and husband Nick Jonas - who welcomed daughter Malti Marie in January 2022 - tied the knot in 2018

She added: 'I look at [my daughter's] smile, and I'm like, "Okay, okay. I'm doing good so far".

'It's the greatest thing I've ever done, but it's extremely scary'.

Priyanka and Nick avoided showing Malti's face on social media up until January, when the little one made her first public appearance with her famous parents at Nick's band the Jonas Brothers' Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in L.A.

Priyanka cradled baby Malti as the pair supported Nick Jonas at the Jonas Brothers' Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in LA back in January

During his speech, Nick gave his daughter a sweet shoutout as he told her: 'Malti Marie, I can't wait to come back here with you in 15 years and embarrass you in front of your friends.'

He added of Priyanka: 'To my beautiful wife, you are the calm in the crazy, the rock in the storm, and I love being married to you.

'It is the greatest gift. I love being a parent with you.'
Nick Knowles steps out with his fiancee Katie Dadzie as they walked arm-in-arm through central London on Thursday morning.

Katie, 33, flashed her dazzling engagement ring during the outing, after the couple confirmed they are set to tie the knot after he proposed in New Orleans in July.

The mother of two was seen chatting on her phone while walking beside the DIY SOS presenter, 61, revealing the diamond sparkler on her wedding finger.

Katie wrapped up in a coat with a fur-trim hood, which she styled with a pair of blue jeans and a printed scarf.

Meanwhile, Nick looked equally casual in a navy quarter zip, teamed with a pair of beige jeans and lace-up boots.

Nick Knowles steps out with his fiancee Katie Dadzie as they walked hand-in-hand through central London on Thursday morning

Katie, 33, flashed her dazzling engagement ring during the outing, after the couple confirmed they are set to tie the knot after he proposed in New Orleans in July

Katie wrapped up in a coat with a fur-trim hood, which she styled with a pair of blue jeans and a printed scarf

Their outing comes shortly after Katie was forced to hit back after she was shamed by trolls for stripping down to her lingerie to advertise her brand.

One Instagram user said: 'U should respect ur man and not show all off on social media tbh.

'It's not nice for him to know that everyone is looking at u ...should only be for him...'

Katie hit back, commenting: 'Sod that!' before adding: 'He's a ok with it, but thanks anyway.'

The commenter then added: 'I am not being a hater or anything. Just makes me sad that women still do this when they have a lovely man at home... It's just a shame. You seem lovely and don't need to do this really.'

But Katie shot back: 'I have kids to feed and rent to pay, on my own - if advertising lingerie for my company helps that, then it's about us not anyone else.

'It's probably more of a shame that you think having a partner means you have to be ashamed of yourself and hide away.'

TV star Nick, who split from his wife Jessica Rose Moor in 2016, made his first appearance with Katie in September 2021 after ending his romance with PR guru Emily Hallinan in February 2020.

The mother of two was seen chatting on her phone while walking beside the DIY SOS presenter, 61, revealing the diamond sparkler on her wedding finger

Meanwhile, Nick looked equally casual in a navy quarter zip, teamed with a pair of beige jeans and lace-up boots

The couple were out on a shopping spree as Nick carried a paper carrier bag

The couple made their public debut as a couple at a restaurant in Bath after being friends for several years.

Nick and Katie are now preparing to tie the knot when he got down on one knee and proposed with a gummy sweet as Katie beamed from ear to ear.

Katie previously addressed the 28-year age gap between herself and Nick as she joked that he acts like a 'teenage boy'.

She shared the secret to their happy relationship as she gushed over the Nick who recently slammed criticism of their romance.

Katie addressed their age gap and insisted she doesn't notice it because she acts older than she is, while Nick has a 'Peter Pan complex'.

She told The Sun: 'Nick has a Peter Pan complex, he doesn't act the age he is at all. He is like a teenage boy and has so much energy, I also act a bit older, so it works out.'

Katie went on to reveal that the secret of their successful relationship is having separate homes and keeping their own independence.

Nick and his fiancee walked close beside each other during the outing

Katie was spotted chatting on the phone during their outing

Their outing comes shortly after Katie was forced to hit back after she was shamed by trolls for stripping down to her lingerie to advertise her brand.

Giving an insight into their relationship, Katie gushed that they are 'really happy' and said they make sure to have time apart for their work and to be with their children.

Nick was also previously married to Gillian Knowles from 1996 to 2000.

Katie has daughters Savannah, eight, and Alex, five, from a previous relationship, whereas Nick has four children from three different relationships.

He shares his daughter Tuesday and son Charlie with his ex-wife Gillian, while he shares another son, TJ, with dancer Paula Beckett.

Nick also has son Eddie, who was born in 2014, with his ex-wife Jessica, and the presenter met girlfriend Katie through his youngest son.

Katie advertises her lingerie brand on her Instagram page but some trolls have taken issue with it
Fans in London were left baffled on Thursday after a video went viral that seemingly showed Tom Cruise filming yet another hair-raising stunt in London.

The actor, 61, has become famous for never steering away from a challenge and taking on even the riskiest of stunts for his films.

Several stunned passersby shared videos of a man doing several dangerous looking stunts during a movie shoot.

The stuntman looked every inch the action star as he posed in a perfect superhero landing crouch, while balancing on the roof of a moving car.

He then took on another death-defying stunt, as he swung in midair while holding onto a long rope, seemingly with no safety net beneath him.

Fans in London were left baffled on Thursday after a video went viral that seemingly showed Tom Cruise filming yet another hair-raising stunt in London.

Several stunned passersby shared videos of a man doing several dangerous looking stunts during a movie shoot

The stuntman looked every inch the action star as he swung in midair while holding onto a long rope, seemingly with no safety net beneath him

And in his classic spy outfit of a black suit with a white tie and black tie, fans couldn't help but assume the actor was Tom filming for the eighth Mission: Impossible film.

One person wrote: 'Tom Cruise is a legend' with another quipping: 'I'm starting to feel like the missions are possible'.

A third joked: 'The screams in the background are the insurance company representatives having heart attacks.'

Another added: 'Damn this man never gets old' while a fifth said: 'THE GOAT OF HOLLYWOOD!!!'

A sixth said: 'Bro he is literally hanging without any harness' and someone else wrote: 'Stay alive Tom! Cinema needs you!'

And an eighth commented: 'Somehow watching him doing the stunts is x25 better than watching the actual movie'.

However, the man in the video was in fact a stuntman named Bobby Holland Hanton, who has worked as Chris Hemsworth's stunt double.

The daredevil shared a behind-the-scenes snap of the risky stunt on his Instagram, writing: 'Anyone need a transit van man? Just shooting movies at Buckingham Palace'.

Tom, 61, has become famous for never steering away from a challenge and taking on even the riskiest of stunts for his films (pictured in Dead Reckoning Part One)

And in his classic spy outfit of a black suit with a white tie and black tie, fans couldn't help but assume the actor was Tom filming for the eighth Mission: Impossible film

However, the man in the video was in fact a stuntman named Bobby Holland Hanton, who has worked as Chris Hemsworth 's stunt double (pictured together)

Bobby is currently in a relationship with Love Island star Maura Higgins, after they were first spotted together on a date in London in May.

The couple were then seen enjoying several passionate kisses on holiday in Ibiza in June.

Maura wasted no time in liking Bobby's exhilarating post and jokily commented with a gif of Mr Bean holding out his thumb to hitchhike a ride on the side of a road.

Bobby flirtingly replied: 'hahaha definitely you that'.

He has previously appeared with Tom himself in the Mission: Impossible franchise, standing in for Henry Cavill in 2018's Mission: Impossible  Fallout.

According to his website, Bobby has performed as a stunt double in 50 full feature films, working closely with Chris as his stunt double for 10 years.

Speaking to Hit Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge in 2020 Bobby revealed what the Thor star is really like.

The UK-based athlete told the Australian radio hosts that he has 'a great relationship' and 'understanding' with Chris.

The daredevil shared a behind-the-scenes snap of the risky stunt on his Instagram, writing: 'Anyone need a transit van man? Just shooting movies at Buckingham Palace'

Bobby is currently in a relationship with Love Island star Maura Higgins, after they were first spotted together on a date in London in May.-

The couple were then seen enjoying several passionate kisses on holiday in Ibiza in June (pictured)

Maura wasted no time in liking Bobby's exhilarating post and jokily commented with a gif of Mr Bean holding out his thumb to hitchhike a ride on the side of a road

'The actors I work with work really hard, especially Chris,' Bobby said.

Bobby went on to reveal how Chris does most of the stunts, unless a dangerous move could see the actor risk an injury, leading to a delay in production.

'Chris will say, "Bob, you jump in and do this", because if Chris was to pick up an injury by doing it, it's not that he can't do it, it's if he picked up an injury by doing it, then it would mean the production would have to stop.

'That obviously costs a lot of money so it's a knock-on effect.'

Meanwhile, back in 2018, Bobby told Daily Mail Australia just how far he pushed himself while filming several Hollywood blockbusters.

'During [films] Green Lantern and Thor Ragnorak, I ruptured my [spinal] L4, L5, S1 discs which caused drop foot on both sides [an inability to lift the front part of the foot],' Bobby explained.

He has also worked on films with Christian Bale, Harrison Ford, Robert Downey Jr, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Charlize Theron, Johnny Depp, and Leonardo di Caprio.

Bobby began his career as a gymnast and competed as a National Squad Member and National Gold Medalist.
Jamie Lynn Spears has broken her silence after quitting I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

The sister of pop star Britney, 32, took to Instagram to describe her time in the camp as 'incredibly special'. despite quitting the show 'on medical grounds'.

Jamie Lynn's exit comes as yet another blow for the disastrous series, which has been thrown into chaos by weather problems, disappointing trials and two celebrities' decisions to quit over three days.

The singer faced an emotional time in the camp, where she threatened to quit on multiple occasions and broke down about missing her two children.

She wrote: 'I can't wait to share with y'all everything about this once in a lifetime experience, but I don't even know where to start when trying to describe what an incredibly special time and place I had with some of the absolute best humans I have ever met and consider family now.

Jamie Lynn Spears has broken her silence after quitting I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

The sister of pop star Britney took to Instagram to describe her time in the camp as 'incredibly special,' despite quitting the show on 'medical grounds'

Jamie Lynn shared a gushing caption reflecting on her time on the show, adding that would be 'taking some time to recover'

'THANK YALL for welcoming me into your living rooms night after night, and for supporting me through all the highs and lows.

'I'm am so grateful for this show, and all of the wonderful people apart of it! I will be taking some time to recovery and spend time with my family, but looking forward to sharing all about my journey on @imacelebrity with everyone! LOVE YALLLL.'

Jamie Lynn's decision to leave the camp was first revealed on Wednesday, with her final scenes in the airing later that evening.

There has been speculation that the real reason Jamie Lynn departed is because she saw her last window of opportunity to leave.

Friends and family of the celebrities have been touching down in Brisbane Airport for the past week, but the Zoey 101 actress conveniently quit before her two young daughters had to make the arduous 14-hour flight.

Wednesday night was the last chance for the mother-of-two to quit the show before it was too late and her daughters Maddie, 15, and five-year-old Ivey arrived in Brisbane to stay in Surfer's Paradise for two weeks.

ITV sources are acutely aware she quit the US version of SAS: Who Dares Wins, Special Forces: The World's Toughest Test after three weeks for similar reasons and take a dim view of her decision.

Jamie Lynn's shock exit from I'm A Celebrity on Wednesday echoed her departure from the US show earlier this year in which she admitted she felt like a 'c**p mum' before leaving to see her daughters.

There has been speculation that the real reason Jamie Lynn departed is because she saw her last window of opportunity to leave

After leaving the jungle, Jamie Lynn revealed she'd finally been reunited with her luxury item and was enjoying a bowl of ice cream

Jamie Lynn had a very emotional time in camp and has frequently been filmed in floods of tears over the difficult conditions and missing her family

During her time in the camp, Jamie Lynn discussed her relationship with her pop star sister Britney (pictured in 2017)

Despite ITV insisting she exited for 'medical reasons', Jamie Lynn has had an emotional time in the camp and has frequently been filmed in tears over the conditions and missing her children.

On Wednesday, before she quit, the actress spoke to Sam Thompson and said: 'I hate it here, this is where people go to have the worst days of their lives. Dear God, please help me to make it.

'I think I've got to leave, I think I've got to leave.'

Celebrities reportedly receive their I'm A Celebrity pay packet only if they stay for more than 72 hours in the Jungle.

When Jamie Lynn threatened to quit last week she had not completed that quota.

The actress decided to stay but there were allegedly exit talks with ITV executives and her own management for days, who were able to support her for 11 days on the show - delaying her leaving.

Speaking about the departure, the show's hosts Ant and Dec said: 'She had such a turnaround we thought she had come out the worst of it and she's gone. It's such a shame. But, hey, that's showbiz!'

The show got its pound of flesh with Jamie Lynn as she gave the audiences what they wanted by opening up about her pop superstar sister Britney Spears.

While in camp, Jamie spoke about Britney's heartbreak at losing out on a Grammy to Christina Aguilera in 2000.

Jamie said: 'Christina won it and by the way, Christina is wonderfully talented but that year I mean c'mon Britney was it, Like yeah it's Britney b***h. Like always.

Jamie Lynn's shock exit has thrown the I'm A Celebrity camp into chaos.

Insiders at the channel say they are 'struggling to keep up with the drama' following the American actress's exit for medical reasons.

One source describes the situation on the popular programme as a 'mess,' while they fear there could be more departures in the coming days as the atmosphere in the jungle becomes even more tense.

It is the first time in the show's 23-series history that two contestants have left on medical grounds, with insiders claiming staff on the programme 'aren't sleeping' due to the stress.

While questions will be raised over what has changed this year, one anonymous source insisted the producers carried out stringent psychiatric tests on the participants before they joined and blamed the problems on 'bad luck'.

Britney is also 'disappointed' that her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, has quit I'm A Celebrity - but insiders claim the singer 'isn't surprised' by the 'unprofessional behavior.'

Insiders close to the star have claimed Jamie Lynn had zero intention of staying on the series for longer than 72 hours - the amount of time required to bank the hefty paycheck for participating.

'Britney is disappointed, but nothing surprises her anymore when it comes to her family's unprofessional behavior,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'Jamie Lynn knew damn well going into this that all she had to do was last 72 hours and she was going to get paid. So that is what she did.

'She never intended on staying any longer than this. This was just a quick paycheck for her  same as the Special Forces was.'

The source continued: 'Unlike her sister, Jamie Lynn does not see anything through to the end.'

They appeared to question her reason for leaving the show, claiming she 'does not have any ailments,' and added: 'Using a medical condition surely gets her off the hook without having to explain herself.'
Sofia Vergara was nearly unrecognizable in the first official trailer for Netflix's upcoming limited series, Griselda.

The actress stars as Colombian drug cartel leader Griselda Blanco in the six part series which debuts January 25.

While portraying the notorious drug lord, known as the Cocaine Godmother, the 51-year-old actress was completely transformed into Colombian businesswoman.

The series is from the makers of the smash hit series Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, and in the new clip, one of the characters from those series is seen: Colombian drug lord Helmer Herrera, played by Alberto Ammann.

In the trailer, the Modern Family alum can be seen flexing her drug lord muscles as law enforcement talk about how her 'deadly' business is 'incredibly successful.'

Sofia Vergara was nearly unrecognizable in the official trailer for Netflix's upcoming limited series, Griselda, in which she stars as Colombian drug cartel leader Griselda Blanco

Blanco is considered one of the most profitable cartels in history

Sofia's Blanca is seen entering the US drug market, which does not go down well with the male drug dealers already in place.

One man is seen trying to kill her, but he fails.

According to Netflix, the bilingual crime series is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious of Blanco, who they describe as a 'devoted mother' that 'created one of the most profitable cartels in history.'

The synopsis also noted 'Blancos lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family.'

The rest of the star-studded cast includes Alberto Guerra as Dario, Vanessa Ferlito as Isabel, and Christian Tappan as Arturo.

This marks Vergara's first scripted live-action project since announcing her divorce from Joe Manganiello, in July 2023, after seven years of marriage.

In 2022, the mother-of-one revealed it took two hours in the makeup chair to transform into her character.

In 2022, Vergara revealed it took two hours in the makeup chair to transform into her character

Griselda, which will hit Netflix in January 2024, comes from the creators and executive producers of Narcos and Narcos: Mexico

This is how Sofia normally looks as she takes a selfie in her closet

Blanco is considered one of the most profitable cartels in history.

The career criminal, who was only five feet tall, was involved with pickpocketing and prostitution from a young age - but it didn't take long before her crimes began to escalate.

Having been plunged into the cocaine industry by her second husband, who she later killed, Griselda built a thriving drugs empire that saw her earning more than $80 million every month.

She embraced her criminal persona - her nicknames were The Black Widow, The Godmother of Cocaine and The Boss - and was not afraid to flaunt her ill-gotten gains.

Chilling: In the 36-second first teaser, the Modern Family alum can be seen pulling up in a car as a group of men silently stare and wait for her arrival

'You've thought a lot about me, haven't you?' Vergara begins. 'I've heard that you liked my product. We can make a lot of money together'

She is also seen beating a man with a baseball bat near parked cars

Vergara's Blanca makes it known she is in charge and won't be bullied by the old male guard

There is also romance as Griselda is seen kissing a man in a black shirt

When other women see her, they notice she is not like a 'girlfriend' but rather a 'boss'

The drug lord is in the power position in Miami as men flock around her

But things began to unravel after she was incarcerated as authorities sought to press charges against the devoted mother for more than 200 murders.

Griselda went on to serve 10 years behind bars before being deported back to Colombia where she was shot and killed aged 69 as she stepped out of a butcher's shop.

She still ranks among the most notorious drug lords in history and has been a central figure in documentaries such Cocaine Cowboys (2006) and Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' with the Godmother (2008) - as well as film The Cocaine Godmother (2017) starring Catherine Zeta Jones.
Helena Bonham Carter showed off her quirky sense of style as she promoted her new drama, One Life, at London's Rosewood Hotel on Thursday.

The actress, 57, sported another typically eccentric look in a black Press Primrose Hill James jacket worth 535 and a 1970s black crepe skirt with a pink lining.

She teamed the unique outfit with a pair of black Nike Zoom double stacked trainers and a khaki green blouse.

The Harry Potter star finished off the look with a choker featuring an eye-catching heart pendant and a long gold chain.

Helena grinned from cheek to cheek as she posed with her One Life co-star Romola Garai.

Helena Bonham Carter showed off her quirky sense of style as she promoted her new drama, One Life, at London's Rosewood Hotel on Thursday

Helena grinned from cheek to cheek as she posed with her One Life co-star Romola Garai

Romola looked effortlessly chic for the red carpet in al all-black textured co-ord.

BAFTA winner Helena will join two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn in the feature drama set during the Holocaust.

The production is inspired by the true story of Nicholas Winton - a London stockbroker who devised an elaborate plan to rescue hundreds of children in Czechoslovakia from invading Nazis.

The title is paraphrased from the Jewish Talmud: 'Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.'

Helena will play Winton's mother, Babi Winton, who was of German-Jewish ancestry but had settled in North West London with her husband.

Helena is currently in a relationship with academic Rye Dag Holmboe, 36, who is 21 years her junior.

She has been dating the art historian for five years following her split from film director Tim Burton after meeting at a wedding in 2018.

Last year, speaking to the Daily Mail, Helena admitted she feels 'very lucky' to have met Rye.

The actress, 57, sported another typically eccentric look in a black Press Primrose Hill James jacket worth 535 and a 1970s black crepe skirt with a pink lining

She teamed the unique outfit with a pair of black Nike Zoom double stacked trainers and a khaki green blouse (pictured with Johnny Flynn)

However, she added that she's in no hurry to exchange vows, pointing out: 'I wasn't married the first time.'

Helena and her former long-term partner, director Tim, 65, famously lived in inter-connecting houses during their 13-year relationship, with each property decorated to their own his 'n' hers tastes and personal styles.

However, the Daily Mail reported in 2021 that she had decided to share a home with Rye, even adding to their domestic bliss by adopting house rabbits.

Explaining how they met, she told The Guardian: 'A totally random thing, which both of us nearly didn't go to, so it was one of those moments that was so chance and ended up determining so much. A really happy accident, and it's an amazing thing.'

Dismissing the couple's two decade age gap, Helena previously told The Times: 'Everybody ages at a different rate. My boyfriend is unbelievably mature. He's an old soul in a young body, what more could I want?

'People are slightly frightened of older women, but he isn't. Women can be very powerful when they're older.'

Helena shares children Billy, 20, and Nell, 16, with ex-boyfriend Tim, who she split from in 2014.

One Life will be released in UK cinemas on January 1 2024.
Molly-Mae Hague stepped out in London on Thursday after putting her engagement ring back on amid rumours of trouble in her relationship with fiance Tommy Fury after his party trip to Abu Dhabi.

The influencer, 24, wrapped up warm in a khaki padded coat while her huge 600,000 sparkler was clearly visible.

It came as Tommy picked up his 180k Mercedes the same afternoon after being slapped with parking tickets while partying abroad earlier this week.

The TV personality and boxer, also 24, has returned to Cheshire where he lives with with Molly-Ma after jetting to the UAE capital for the Grand Prix.

The trip sparked rumours of trouble in their relationship as after videos emerged of him on nights out - including with Chris Brown - she was pictured on several occasions without her 600,000 engagement ring.

Molly-Mae Hague stepped out in London on Thursday after putting her engagement ring back on amid rumours of trouble in her relationship with fiance Tommy Fury after his party trip to Abu Dhabi

It came as Tommy picked up his 180k Mercedes the same afternoon after being slapped with parking tickets while partying abroad earlier this week

The influencer, 24, wrapped up warm in a khaki padded coat while her huge 600,000 sparkler was clearly visible

It was claimed she was 'mortified' by her fiance's behavior and told him to 'ditch his partying pals' - yet she has now put her ring back on.

Molly-Mae reportedly told her husband-to-be that he needs to change his ways, with a source saying she 'has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard'.

It has now been confirmed he has returned to the 3.5million pad he shares with Molly-Mae as he was seen picking up his car in the local area.

However Tommy would have had a small shock when he returned home as his 180k Mercedes G Wagon racked up multiple parking tickets.

Tommy left his prize possession at Wilmslow Station without paying for parking in his excitement for his lavish trip.

The vehicle is thought to have been slapped with three 70 fines, with the total at over 200.

Despite him being back in Cheshire he will still not reunited as Tommy's return to their home town coincided with Molly being in London for the House of CB Christmas party on Wednesday night.

While out the morning after Molly-Mae teamed her khaki coat with black jeans, UGG boots and a light grey scarf.

The trip sparked rumours of trouble in their relationship as after videos emerged of him on nights out - including with Chris Brown - she was pictured on several occasions without her 600,000 engagement ring

It was claimed she was 'mortified' by her fiance's behavior and told him to 'ditch his partying pals' - yet she has now put her ring back on

Molly-Mae reportedly told her husband-to-be that he needs to change his ways, with a source saying she ' has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard'

The TV personality and boxer, also 24, has returned to Cheshire where he lives with with Molly-Ma after jetting to the UAE capital for the Grand Prix

Despite him being back in Cheshire he will still not reunited as Tommy's return to their home town coincided with Molly being in London for the House of CB Christmas party on Wednesday night

She toted a small brown Louis Vuitton bag and had glasses on the top of her head while letting her blonde tresses fall in loose waves.

The boxer's behaviour recently raised eyebrows among fans after he was spotted partying with girls and unlikely pal Chris in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.

Fans also accused Tommy of posting an old snap of his daughter Bambi to cover his tracks.

The sportsman shared a cute image of the tot on Instagram Stories with the caption: 'Oh how I've missed that cheeky face.'

It was claimed this week that Molly-Mae has warned her fiance that he needs to change his ways, with a source telling The Sun: 'Molly has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard.

'This weekend has ended up being a real embarrassment to her. She was mortified when she kept getting tagged in videos while she was just trying to enjoy a festive weekend with Bambi.'

The insider concluded: 'She has told Tommy it really has to stop now he's a dad and has told him to ditch some of his pals, who she thinks are a bad influence.'

Tommy sparked concern between his and Molly-Mae's fans after he was spotted in a clip being targeted by an attractive brunette - who playfully grabbed his face as he dances directly behind her.

In the TikTok clip, the girl is seen grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks before Tommy turned his head away.

He then turns back to look at the female as she carried on dancing amongst a crowd of other revellers in the club.

While out the morning after Molly-Mae teamed her khaki coat with black jeans, UGG boots and a light grey scarf

She toted a small brown Louis Vuitton bag and had glasses on the top of her head while letting her blonde tresses fall in loose waves

She looked in good spirits as she stepped out in chilly London on Thursday night ahead of the weekend

She accessorised her casual look with gold hoop earrings and wore a natural covering of dewy makeup

The boxer's behaviour recently raised eyebrows among fans after he was spotted partying with girls and unlikely pal Chris in Abu Dhabi over the weekend (pictured)

Tommy sparked concern between his and Molly-Mae's fans after he was spotted in a clip being targeted by an attractive brunette - who playfully grabbed his face as he dances directly behind her (pictured)

Molly-Mae was then seen without her engagement ring as she shared a 'get ready with me' video

While Tommy enjoyed a solo holiday, Molly-Mae remained in Manchester with their young daughter, where she was first seen without her engagement ring on Sunday (pictured after their engagement in July)

While Tommy enjoyed a solo holiday, Molly-Mae remained in Manchester with their young daughter, where she was first seen without her engagement ring on Sunday.

Molly-Mae posted a picture without her engagement ring to her Instagram Stories while enjoying a festive day with her daughter Bambi.

The influencer was without her ring as her husband-to-be lived it up in the UAE.

Molly-Mae has been holding the fort at home, looking after their little girl after he jetted to the country for a wild weekend.
Ricardo Cano covers transportation for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, he covered K-12 education at CalMatters based in Sacramento and at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix as the newspapers education reporter. He received his bachelors degree in journalism at Fresno State.

He can be reached at ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com.
Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has revealed that she has been training Nigel Harman to 'dirty' up his dances during an appearance on Steph's Packed Lunch.

The professional dancer, 34, appeared with her celeb partner on Thursday's episode of the show - which will be axed in December - to chat about this week's Musical performance.

The actor, 50, blushed as Katya and Steph praised his exceptional dance moves, which they likened to show veteran Anton Du Beke's style.

She then explained that while she appreciated his elegance, she had been on a mission to 'dirty' his dancing moves ahead of their Mary Poppins performance.

She said: 'He has that poise and elegance about his moves. He always makes, even the rumba, which can be quite awkward for male celebrities; it looks so effortless and natural, so you either have it or you either have it or you don't, and he definitely has it.

Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has revealed that she has been training Nigel Harman to 'dirty' up his dances on Steph's Packed Lunch

The professional dancer, 34, appeared with her celeb partner on Thursday's episode - which will be axed in December - to chat about this week's Musical performance

'But we have been trying to deconstruct him for this week and I am like ''NO''.'

The twinkle-toed star then asked Nigel, married actress Lucy Liemann, to do an impression of his chimney sweep from Mary Poppins.

Nigel chipped in and said: 'Basically I have been told I am not dirty enough. I'm not dirty enough for this dance so I am trying to dirty it up.

The couple then grinned cheek to cheek, as they laughed down the camera doing their Disney-themed dance impressions.

He later revealed that he finds himself with his 'mouth open a lot' during the dance as Katya said that she has been telling him to 'get down'.

This comes after Nigel was caught kissing Katya on the cheek as they rehearsed for their week 10 Strictly Come Dancing routine ahead of the live show on Saturday.

They were seen perfecting the moves of their steamy Rumba routine as they hoped to impress last week.

After 'storming off' the dance floor at Blackpool the week before, Nigel and Katya performed the ballroom routine to It's All Coming Back To Me Now by Celine Dion.

The actor, 50, blushed like a tomato as Katya and Steph sang praises for his exceptional dance moves, which they likened to Anton's style

Nigel is married to actress Lucy Liemann (pictured in 2020) and recently revealed that his wife and his daughter have been supportive throughout his Strictly journey

They worked hard to perfect their moves during rehearsals in West London earlier in the week and gave their all to the very intense routine.

The pair appeared thrilled with their efforts. Nigel was seen grinning and kissing Katya on the cheek in celebration as they shared a hug after the dance.

They also teased some of the moves in their steamy routine as they danced very close to one another, with Katya placing her hand on Nigel's chest.

This comes after Nigel was caught kissing Katya on the cheek as they rehearsed for their week 10 Strictly Come Dancing routine ahead of the live show on Saturday
Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis paid loving tribute to their Sex And The City co-star Frances Sternhagen, who has died at 93.

Sternhagen featured on the sitcom from 2000 to 2002 as Bunny MacDougal, the domineering society matron who becomes Charlotte's insufferable mother-in-law.

Davis, who played Charlotte, remembered Sternhagen on her Insta Stories Wednesday after the older actress' family announced her death.

Posting a picture of them together on Sex And The City, Davis wrote: 'Just heard that glorious Frances Sternhagen has passed away.'

She continued: 'She lived a wonderful, full life and was a joy to work with. Thinking of her family,' and added a white heart emoji.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Kristin Davis paid loving tribute to their Sex And The City co-star Frances Sternhagen, who has died at 93; Kristin's in memoriam post is pictured

Meanwhile Sarah Jessica Parker remembered her late castmate by posting a publicity shot of Sternhagen as a younger woman

Parker is pictured playing Carrie Bradshaw on Sex And The City in 2000

Meanwhile Sarah Jessica Parker remembered her late castmate by posting a publicity shot of Sternhagen as a younger woman.

'Class,' wrote Parker in the caption accompanying the picture. 'It was a privilege to know and work with you. All who did, I know feel the same. You were a beautiful human and actor. RIP Frances Sternhagen and Godspeed. X, SJ'.

The veteran actress passed away peacefully of natural causes in New Rochelle, New York according to her family.

Her loved ones released a statement on Wednesday which read: 'We continue to be inspired by her love and life.'

Playing the mother to Kristin Davis' character on the highly-popular show was not her only signature matriarch role as she also portrayed the overbearing Esther Clavin - who was the mom of John Ratzenberger's Boston postman character Cliff Clavin - on classic sitcom Cheers.

The talented thespian had received Emmy nominations for both roles.

The acting legend also earned two Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress (Dramatic) in 1974 for the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's The Good Doctor and in 1995 for the revival of The Heiress.

She had been nominated for awards which recognize excellence on Broadway five more times including being part of the casts of Equus (1975), On Golden Pond (1979), The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window (1972), Angel (1978), and the 2002 revival of Paul Osborn's Morning's at Seven.

Sternhagen is seen in New York back in March 2002

Sternhagen was most famous for her role as Charlotte York's insufferable mother-in-law Bunny MacDougal in Sex and the City from 2000-2002 - seen left to right Sternhagen, Kyle MacLachlan, and Kristin Davis

Playing the mother to Kristin Davis' character on the highly-popular show was not her only signature matriarch role as she also portrayed the overbearing Esther Clavin - who was the mom of John Ratzenberger's Boston postman character Cliff Clavin (pictured) - on classic sitcom Cheers

She definitely had a knack for playing eccentric characters who had an overbearing often no-nonsense attitude.

Sternhagen previously told the Los Angeles Times in 2002: 'I must say its fun to play these snobby older ladies. Its always more fun to be obnoxious.

'I have known women like that, and I can imitate them, I guess.'

Her career spanned 63 years from 1951 to 2014 as she first began to act on stage on the East Coast.

She definitely had a knack for playing eccentric characters who had an overbearing often no-nonsense attitude; she is pictured in Sex And The City

The acting legend also earned two Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress (Dramatic) in 1974 for the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's The Good Doctor and in 1995 for the revival of The Heiress.; she is pictured in New York back in July 2009

Sternhagen (seen in July 2009) previously told the Los Angeles Times in 2002: 'I must say its fun to play these snobby older ladies. Its always more fun to be obnoxious. I have known women like that, and I can imitate them, I guess.'

The talented star made her film debut in 1967 with Up The Down Staircase which starred Oscar-winners Sandy Dennis and Eileen Heckart, along with Patrick Bedford and Jean Stapleton.

She had several big-screen roles including The Tiger Makes Out (1967), The Hospital (1971), Bright Lights, Starting Over (1979) ,Big City (1988), See You In The Morning (1989), Misery (1990), The Mist (2007), Julie and Julia (2009), Dolphin Tale (2011) and And So It Goes (2014).

More recently she played the mother of Kyra Sedgewick's protagonist character LAPD Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson in TNT's The Closer which aired from 2005 to 2012.

Another notable television role included playing the grandmother - named Millicent 'Gamma' Carter - of Noah Wyle's character John Carter on ER.

Her career spanned 63 years from 1951 to 2014 as she first began to act on stage on the East Coast; she is pictured with Kyra Sedwick in season 2 of The Closer in 2006

Sternhagen (pictured in October 2010) is survived by her children Paul, Amanda, Tony, Sarah, Peter and John

In 1955 she starred in a off-Broadway production of Thieves' Carnival at the Cherry Lane where she met her future husband Thomas A. Carlin.

The two married the following year in 1956 and were together until he died in 1991.

Sternhagen is survived by her children Paul, Amanda, Tony, Sarah, Peter and John.

The iconic actress will be memorialized with a celebration of her career and life which is planned for mid-January which is close to what would have been her 94th birthday.
Molly Mae Hague snubbed her fiance Tommy Fury's return home from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday as she headed out with pals in London, according to a report.

The influencer, 24, has been pictured on several occasions without her 600,000 engagement ring in recent days after it was claimed she was 'mortified' by the boxer's partying in UAE with Chris Brown last week.

She stepped out wearing her engagement ring again on Wednesday evening while enjoying a night out in the capital.

Meanwhile, Tommy was out in Manchester with their daughter Bambi, after finally returning home to their mansion in Cheshire.

A source told The Sun: 'Tommy is now back in the UK and is spending time with his daughter Bambi. Molly decided to go to an event in London last night and has stayed for the day after.'

Molly Mae Hague, 24, snubbed her fiance Tommy Fury's return home from Abu Dhabi on Wednesday as she headed out with pals in London, according to a report

Meanwhile, Tommy, 24, was out in Manchester with their daughter Bambi, after finally returning home to their mansion in Cheshire

They added: 'She very rarely goes out with her pals but needed a bit of a break from all the speculation and noise about Tommy.

'She is wearing her ring again and they both know there is lots to talk about when she gets back.'

During the evening out, Molly-Mae looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a corset top and dramatic feathered sleeves.

Fans of the couple had shared their concerns online after she chose to take the ring off and it was reported on Wednesday he was yet to return home to the 3.5million pad he shares with his fiancee in Cheshire.

Molly-Mae has reportedly told her husband-to-be that he needs to change his ways, with a source saying she 'has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard'.

The boxer's behaviour recently raised eyebrows among fans after he was spotted partying with girls and unlikely pal Chris in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.

It was previously reported by The Sun that Tommy hadn't returned home to Cheshire since his wild antics, as his car was still at the train station collecting parking tickets.

It was thought that Tommy returned home to UK earlier this week, but was yet to collect his vehicle.

It was claimed that Molly-Mae was 'mortified' by the boxer's partying in UAE with Chris Brown last week

A source told The Sun: 'Tommy is now back in the UK and is spending time with his daughter Bambi. Molly decided to go to an event in London last night and has stayed for the day after'

Fans also accused Tommy of posting an old snap of his daughter Bambi to cover his tracks.

The sportsman shared a cute image of the tot on Instagram Stories with the caption: 'Oh how I've missed that cheeky face.'

It was claimed on Tuesday that Molly-Mae has warned her fiance that he needs to change his ways, with a source telling The Sun: 'Molly has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard.

'This weekend has ended up being a real embarrassment to her. She was mortified when she kept getting tagged in videos while she was just trying to enjoy a festive weekend with Bambi.'

The insider concluded: 'She has told Tommy it really has to stop now he's a dad and has told him to ditch some of his pals, who she thinks are a bad influence.'

Molly-Mae was pictured without her engagement ring on again as she shared a GRWM [Get Ready With Me] video in which she had her hair in curlers, but her ring continued to be off, as it has been since Sunday.

Molly-Mae, who is pictured here without her engagement ring, has reportedly warned Tommy that he needs to change his ways

Fans of the couple had shared their concerns online after she chose to take the ring off (pictured after their engagement in July)

Tommy sparked concern between his and Molly-Mae's fans after he was spotted in a clip being targeted by an attractive brunette - who playfully grabbed his face as he dances directly behind her.

In the TikTok clip, the girl is seen grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks before Tommy turned his head away.

While Tommy enjoyed a solo holiday, Molly-Mae remained in Manchester with their young daughter, where she was first seen without her engagement ring on Sunday.

Molly-Mae posted a picture without her engagement ring to her Instagram Stories while enjoying a festive day with her daughter Bambi.
Jennifer Metcalfe was spotted carrying a bouquet of flowers as she went on a shopping spree in Liverpool on Thursday.

The actress, 40, wrapped up in a long blue coat and let her brunette locks flow out of a bright yellow beanie but displayed her toned midriff in a tiny white crop top.

The Hollyoaks star - who has played the role of Mercedes McQueen on the Channel 4 soap since 2006 - was seen wearing a pair of simple black leggings and white trainers.

The soap star opted for a dark shade of red lipstick to complement her natural complexion and let her the bottom of her coat flow freely in the breeze.

In her right hand, Jennifer carried the huge bunch of flowers whilst in her left she balanced two cartons of strawberries.

Jennifer Metcalfe was spotted carrying a bouquet of flowers and baring her toned midriff as she went on a shopping spree in Liverpool on Thursday

The soap star was later seen carrying two shopping bags just as preparations for the festive period began to kick in

The actress sported a long blue coat and sported her toned midriff for the outing

In another snap, the actress could be seen texting on her phone whilst carrying a huge box full of Christmas decorations in time for the festive period.

And in one final snap, Jennifer could be seen locking the boot of her luxury car amid the shopping spree.

The outing comes just days after it was revealed that Claire Cooper will be returning to Hollyoaks as Jennifer's on-screen sister Jacqui McQueen after a decade away.

The actress, 43, played feisty Jacqui McQueen on the Channel 4 soap opera from 2006 until 2013 and the character left for Spain after managing to con a local gangster out of 50,000, but will make a comeback amid the sudden disappearance of her sister

An insider told The Sun: 'Bosses know that fans want to see their favourite characters from the soap's long history and Jacqui was on the top of the wish list.

'She's iconic and feisty and it's going to be a true pre-Christmas treat for fans to see what she's been up to. Mercedes has vanished and the family are desperate to find her.'

Hollyoaks legend Claire Cooper is to return as Jacqui McQueen 10 years after making a shock exit

Jennifer Metcalfe (pictured in 2008) has played the on-screen sister of Jacqui for almost 20 years

The insider went on to add that it will soon become 'very clear' to viewers that Jacqui is involved in her sister's mystery disappearance and teased that even more members of the infamous soap clan will be heading back to the Chester village.

The source added: 'It soon becomes clear that Jacqui is involved. And shes not the only McQueen return on the cards with bosses making rebuilding the family as a priority'.'

But Claire - who in real life is married to fellow Hollyoaks star Emmett J. Scanlan - will only be making a one-off appearance in the serial.

However, the outlet went on to claim that the door is 'very much left open' for another comeback in the future.
Priyanka Chopra looked youthful in purple-tinted aviator sunglasses as she arrived at a hotel in New York City on Thursday morning.

The 41-year-old actress layered up with several pieces of warm clothing as she crossed the sidewalk.

The former Miss World, who was recently spotted while lovingly holding her daughter Malti Marie, wore a purple and black spotted sweat suit that matched her shades.

Chopra tucked the bottoms of her trousers into a pair of high-top leather sneakers and wore a sizable black trench coat.

The Quantico star also donned a matching scarf and accessorized with a $3K patterned purse from Louis Vuitton and lavender tinted sunglasses.

Priyanka Chopra was pictured as she arrived at a hotel in New York City on Thursday morning

The performer's gorgeous brunette hair fell onto her shoulders and chest as she arrived at the hotel.

Chopra is currently preparing for the release of the upcoming action comedy film Heads Of State, in which she will star.

Development on the project was revealed to the public in 2020, when Idris Elba and John Cena signed on to appear in the movie.

The Hollywood Reporter also announced that Amazon Studios had obtained the rights to the film.

The upcoming feature's stars also worked together in the 2021 superhero feature The Suicide Squad.

Peter Safran, who co-chairs DC Studios alongside The Suicide Squad's director James Gunn, serves as one of the movie's producers.

Ilya Naishuller, best known for directing the 2021 action film Nobody, was hired to helm the project last year.

Deadline revealed that Chopra had signed on to appear in the movie this past April.

The former Miss World, who was recently spotted while lovingly holding her daughter Malti Marie, wore a sweat outfit

Chopra tucked the bottoms of her trousers into a pair of high-top leather sneakers and wore a sizable black trench coat

Chopra is currently preparing for the release of the upcoming action comedy film Heads Of State, in which she will star; she is seen earlier this month

Development on the project was revealed to the public in 2020, when Idris Elba and John Cena signed on to appear in the movie; Elba is seen in March

Although plot details are currently being withheld from the public, Heads Of State's creative team have cited Midnight Run and Air Force One as influences on the project.

Other performers set to appear in the film include Stephen Root, Paddy Considine and Carla Gugino.

Principal photography for the project commenced in London this past May, and its crew later moved to Italy.

Heads Of State currently does not have a scheduled release date.
Ronnie Wood was in high spirits as he planted a kiss on wife Sally's cheek while celebrating pal Christian Horner's birthday at Mount Street Restaurant in London on Thursday.

The couple, who have been married since 2012, looked more loved-up than ever as they cosied up in a taxi.

The Rolling Stones icon, 76, looked dapper in a blue velvet dinner jacket which he teamed with an open collar white shirt and black trousers.

Ronnie kept warm in a pair of black leather gloves and carried a grey jumper as he linked arms with his glamorous wife, 46, on arrival.

Sally looked nothing short of sensational for the evening in a figure hugging short sleeved silver dazzling midi dress.

Ronnie Wood seemed in high spirits as he planted a kiss on wife Sally's cheek as they celebrated pal Christian Horner's birthday at Mount Street Restaurant in London on Thursday

The Rolling Stone icon, 76, looked dapper in a blue velvet dinner jacket which he teamed with an open collar white shirt and black trousers

The couple, who have been married since 2012, looked more loved-up than ever as they cosied up in a taxi

She teamed the sequin number with a pair of coordinated heels and toted her belongings around in an eye catching silver clutch.

Sally styled her dark tresses in a neat up do and added a pop of colour to the look with a swipe of bright pink lipstick.

During the evening, Ronnie was reunited with his close friend and former Faces bandmate Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster.

Ronnie and Rod have been friends since 1969 when they were both members of rock group Faces.

Although the band parted ways in 1975, the pair kept in touch, with Rod serving as best man to Ronnie's wedding to Sally Humphreys in 2012.

During the birthday celebrations for Christian, his wife Geri Halliwell performed alongside her former Spice Girls bandmate Emma Bunton, Rod, Ronnie and Take That star Gary Barlow.

She shared a gallery of photos from the party to mark the Formula One Team Principal of Red Bull's 50th birthday.

Geri penned: 'A surprise belated birthday celebration for @christianhorner And the Supergroup! @officialgarybarlow, youre amazing!'

Ronnie and Sally share two children, twins Gracie Jane and Alice Rose, six, and Ronnie has a further four children from his previous relationships.

Ronnie kept warm in a pair of black leather gloves and carried a grey jumper as he linked arms with his glamorous wife, 46, on arrival

Sally looked nothing short of sensational for the evening in a figure hugging short sleeved silver dazzling midi dress

During the evening, Ronnie was reunited with his close friend and former Faces bandmate Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster

During the birthday celebrations for Christian, his wife Geri Halliwell performed alongside her former Spice Girls bandmate Emma Bunton, Rod, Ronnie and Take That star Gary Barlow (L-R Emma, Garry, Rod, Geri, Ronnie)

The music icons later posed around the piano with their partner (L-R Ronnie, Sally, Christian, Emma, Geri, Gary, Ronnie, Penny)

Rod, 76, and Ronnie, 74, have been friends since 1969 when they were both members of rock group Faces (pictured in 2020)

Ronnie's outing comes after The Rolling Stones became the first band in Britain to gross a billion dollars.

The iconic rockers struck gold through electrifying live performances and shifted over $250 million in album sales.

And In 2021, fans splurged $130.9million on just 14 gigs during the band's No Filter tour in the U.S.

Cliff Dane, the money whiz who ranked the rockers for The Sunday Times Rich List, applauded the Stones, alongside Led Zeppelin, for kickstarting mega stadium tours.

Even though the remaining members made up of Ronnie Wood, 76, Mick Jagger, 80, and Keith Richards, 79, now play fewer shows, their devoted fans happily part with top dollar for tickets as they're generally older with more disposable income.

The person behind the Stones' financial affairs today is Joyce Smyth, who rejigged the U.S. leg of the Stones tour after Mick's heart surgery four years ago.

She's been their secret financial weapon and was introduced to the rock stars by Prince Rupert.

Rupert is a private banker the band hired who later became known as 'Rupie the Groupie'.

And despite Mick dropping out of his finance and accounting degree at the London School of Economics, he has consistently displayed a sharp entrepreneurial instinct.

He recently opened up saying: 'I dont actually really like business, I just have to do it. Because if you dont do it, you get f***ed.'

Ronnie's outing comes after The Rolling Stones became the first band in Britain to gross a billion dollars

The Rolling Stones original line-up (pictured top - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts [deceased]. Bottom - Brian Jones [deceased] and Bill Wyman)

Not ones to shy away from what needs to be done, the band have happily cashed in on partnerships with corporate giants like Budweiser, LVMH, Chase Manhattan, and more.

Microsoft even reportedly dished out millions to use 'Start Me Up' in a Windows 95 commercial.

And Mercedes shelled out $1.5 million to use 'Sympathy for the Devil' in a 2013 Super Bowl ad.

On Saturday, FC Barcelona debuted their limited edition match shirt which featured the infamous tongue and lips logo of the iconic band and retails at an eye watering $400.

It comes after the three remaining members released their first original album on October 20 after 18 years.

Hackney Diamonds, the bands twenty-fourth studio album, went straight in at number one - the 11th time the band have achieved this feat.

It is already the fifth fastest-selling album of the year and is currently the third most streamed album on Apple Music.

Six tracks from the new record  Angry, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, Get Close, Bite My Head Off, Depending on You and Mess it Up  made this weeks top 100 singles midweek chart.
Jennifer Garner proved she can look fabulous in any ensemble as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The 51-year-old actress, who recently dazzled at the premiere of Family Switch, looked sporty in a comfortable outfit as she was spotted enjoying a morning walk with a friend.

Rocking a navy and tan plaid flannel jacket over a simple gray T-shirt, the mother of three made the sidewalks of Brentwood a personal runway.

She pulled her white gym socks over her black leggings for the outing, as she paired the low-key style with a set of white sneakers and designer sunglasses.

The early morning jaunt comes after the Golden Globe winner revealed she turned to her two daughters that she shares with ex Ben Affleck - Violet, 17, and Seraphina, 13 - for some advice while filming her new movie Family Switch.

Jennifer Garner proved she can look fabulous in any ensemble as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday

The 51-year-old actress looked sporty chic in a comfortable wardrobe as she was spotted enjoying a morning walk with a friend

In the over-the-top comedy, all the members of the household wake up one day and discover that they have swapped bodies with each other.

'You're turning the volume up so much because it's all so exaggerated,' Jennifer told People. 'But yes, I definitely went to my teens and asked a bunch of questions.'

Violet and Seraphina took the typical teenage view of their mother's enthusiasm, as Jennifer fondly shared: 'They were all like: "Mom, you're crazy."'

She added: 'My kids are funny and they're smart, and they work really hard. And their teenage antics are at the very lowest, G-rated level, so Im doing okay.'

Jennifer also shares 11-year-old son Samuel with Ben.

The actress recently opened up about being a working mom and how she deals with the 'guilt' that is associated with it.

'Working moms get such a bad we get all freaked out because we're told constantly "you have 18 summers,'" "you have this much time," "time is fleeting," and it makes you panic,' she revealed to Access Hollywood.

'So, if you come from a place of expansiveness instead of feeling just like "I can't be a mom because I'm also working, and I'm supposed to be guilty all the time", you better just lean into wherever you are any day exactly like right now just be here when your kids show up be there and we'll have a great time.'

She pulled her white gym socks over her black leggings for the outing, as she paired the low-key style with a set of white sneakers and designer sunglasses

The early morning jaunt comes after the Golden Globe winner revealed she turned to her two daughters that she shares with ex Ben Affleck -- Violet, 17, and Seraphina, 13 -- for some advice while filming her new movie Family Switch

Jennifer said her positive perspective came from her own mother, Patricia Ann Garner.

'My mom has always said to me "you're their mom forever, don't worry you can do your job. You're their mom forever.

'"I wish I had worked, I would have been a better mom. Your kids are going to be so proud of you,"' Jennifer explained.

'You're turning the volume up so much because it's all so exaggerated,' Jennifer told People . 'But yes, I definitely went to my teens and asked a bunch of questions; seen in 2018

In Family Switch, all the members of the household wake up one day and discover that they have swapped bodies with each other

'My kids are funny and they're smart, and they work really hard. And their teenage antics are at the very lowest, G-rated level, so Im doing okay' seen with ex Ben Affleck in 2019

'She's always given me that that kind of grounding in that sense,' she added.

With such stable footing, Jennifer has been able to be a co-parenting champ with her famous ex.

Jennifer and Ben met on the set of Daredevil in 2003 and later married in 2005. They welcomed their big brood before splitting in 2015.
Kylie Jenner tried out a radically new look while promoting Kylie Cosmetics in a new set of photos that were shared on her Instagram account on Thursday.

The 26-year-old entrepreneur donned a wig similar to the one made famous by Sia as she revealed that her 10 shades of the company's Precision Pout wooden lip liners would be released on December 6.

The social media figure, who recently headed to London to support her boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, also wore a sleek black dress that showed off much of her upper chest as she posed for the snaps.

Jenner showed off her chiseled form in a new pair of promotional snaps for Kylie Cosmetics that were shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday.

In her first snap, the reality television mainstay wore a light beige long-sleeve undergarment while posing in front of her brand's new power plush longwear concealer.

Kylie Jenner tried out a radically new look while promoting Kylie Cosmetics in a new set of photos that were shared on her Instagram account on Thursday

The model also wore a pair of white fishnet leggings and completed her look with high-heeled shoes.

The entrepreneur's gorgeous brunette locks remained tied back into a loose bun for the length of the photoshoot.

Jenner later changed into a sheer white dress that showcased her curvy physique during another promotional shoot.

The social media powerhouse also accessorized with a single bowtie-shaped earring, and her hair cascaded onto her chest and shoulders.

The entrepreneur co-founded Kylie Cosmetics alongside her mother Kris in 2014, and its first products were made available to the public the following year.

The reality television mainstay has taken a hands-on approach to promoting her brand and often appears in its advertisements.

The brand became the subject of controversy in 2020 after it was revealed that it had falsely valued itself at over $1 billion in 2019.

Jenner spoke about her brand during a conversation with Jennifer Lawrence for Interview Magazine and revealed that she was initially unsure if her line would be successful.

The social media figure also wore a sleek black dress that showed off much of her upper chest as she posed for the snaps

The 26-year-old entrepreneur donned a wig similar to the one made famous by Sia as she revealed that her 10 shades of company's Precision Pout wooden lip liners would be released on December 6; seen in 2016

Sia is seen earlier this month in New York City

Jenner showed off her chiseled form in a new pair of promotional snaps for Kylie Cosmetics that were shared on her Instagram account on Wednesday

Jenner later changed into a sheer white dress that showcased her curvy physique during another promotional shoot

'We didn't know where to start. We didn't have anyone helping us. And my mom thought I was going to be stuck with lip kits in my garage for the rest of my life,' she said.

The socialite added: ''She was like, "You better be ready, Kylie, because you might have a lot of lip kits in your garage for the rest of your life, so you better love these colors."'

The reality television personality then stated that she was greatly relieved when her brand performed well with consumers early on.

'We were a new company, so growing in front of a lot of people was hard...But it wasnt a bad thing. It was so successful and it was the best time of my life,' she said.
Molly-Mae Hague showed off her dazzling engagement ring in latest snaps for her collection with online clothing brand PrettyLittleThing.

The former Love Island star and her fiance Tommy Fury have sparked a concerned frenzy in recent days after the influencer was spotted without her engagement ring while her husband-to-be enjoyed a party trip over in Abu Dhabi.

While fans worried that there was trouble in paradise for the pair, Molly-Mae made sure to put the rumours to bed for good in the promotion picture for PrettyLittleThing X Molly-Mae.

The star, 24, looked sensational as she looked to purposefully angle her hand to ensure her huge 600,000 sparkler was clearly visible.

Known for her impeccable style, she posed in a stunning Sage Khaki Peached Oversized Hooded Puffer Coat from the online brand.

Molly-Mae Hague continued to show off dazzling engagement ring in recent PrettyLittleThing snaps on Wednesday after her and Tommy Fury sparked concerns over their relationship

The star, 24, looked sensational as she looked to purposefully angle her hand to ensure her huge 600,000 sparkler was clearly visible

Wrapping up warm she completed the look with a grey scarf, white top and black jeans.

It comes as Tommy picked up his 180k Mercedes the same afternoon after being slapped with parking tickets while partying abroad earlier this week.

The TV personality and boxer, also 24, has returned to Cheshire where he lives with with Molly-Mae after jetting to the UAE capital for the Grand Prix.

The trip sparked rumours of trouble in their relationship as after videos emerged of him on nights out - including with Chris Brown - she was pictured on several occasions without her 600,000 engagement ring.

It was claimed she was 'mortified' by her fiance's behaviour and told him to 'ditch his partying pals' - yet she has now put her ring back on.

Molly-Mae reportedly told her husband-to-be that he needs to change his ways, with a source saying she 'has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard'.

On Wednesday evening Molly-Mae appeared to confirm the pair had put the drama behind them, after she was pictured sporting her ring at The House of CB Christmas party in London.

It has now been confirmed Tommy has also returned to the 3.5million pad he shares with Molly-Mae as he was seen picking up his car in the local area.

However Tommy would have had a small shock when he returned home as his 180k Mercedes G Wagon racked up multiple parking tickets.

Known for her impeccable style, she posed in a stunning Sage Khaki Peached Oversized Hooded Puffer Coat from the online brand

During the evening out, Molly-Mae looked incredible in a form-fitting black dress with a corset top and dramatic feathered sleeves

It came as Tommy picked up his 180k Mercedes the same afternoon after being slapped with parking tickets while partying abroad earlier this week

Tommy left his prize possession at Wilmslow Station without paying for parking in his excitement for his lavish trip.

The vehicle is thought to have been slapped with three 70 fines, with the total at over 200.

Despite him being back in Cheshire he will still not reunited as Tommy's return to their home town coincided with Molly being in London for the House of CB Christmas party on Wednesday night.

While out the morning after Molly-Mae teamed her khaki coat with black jeans, UGG boots and a light grey scarf.

She toted a small brown Louis Vuitton bag and had glasses on the top of her head while letting her blonde tresses fall in loose waves.

The boxer's behaviour recently raised eyebrows among fans after he was spotted partying with girls and unlikely pal Chris in Abu Dhabi over the weekend.

Fans also accused Tommy of posting an old snap of his daughter Bambi to cover his tracks.

The sportsman shared a cute image of the tot on Instagram Stories with the caption: 'Oh how I've missed that cheeky face.'

The boxer's behaviour recently raised eyebrows among fans after he was spotted partying with girls and unlikely pal Chris in Abu Dhabi over the weekend (pictured)

Tommy sparked concern between his and Molly-Mae's fans after he was spotted in a clip being targeted by an attractive brunette - who playfully grabbed his face as he dances directly behind her (pictured)

Molly-Mae was then seen without her engagement ring as she shared a 'get ready with me' video

It was claimed this week that Molly-Mae has warned her fiance that he needs to change his ways, with a source telling The Sun: 'Molly has made no secret of the fact she doesn't like it when Tommy parties too hard.

'This weekend has ended up being a real embarrassment to her. She was mortified when she kept getting tagged in videos while she was just trying to enjoy a festive weekend with Bambi.'

The insider concluded: 'She has told Tommy it really has to stop now he's a dad and has told him to ditch some of his pals, who she thinks are a bad influence.'

Tommy sparked concern between his and Molly-Mae's fans after he was spotted in a clip being targeted by an attractive brunette - who playfully grabbed his face as he dances directly behind her.

In the TikTok clip, the girl is seen grabbing his face and squeezing his cheeks before Tommy turned his head away.

He then turns back to look at the female as she carried on dancing amongst a crowd of other revellers in the club.

While Tommy enjoyed a solo holiday, Molly-Mae remained in Manchester with their young daughter, where she was first seen without her engagement ring on Sunday.

Molly-Mae posted a picture without her engagement ring to her Instagram Stories while enjoying a festive day with her daughter Bambi.

The influencer was without her ring as her husband-to-be lived it up in the UAE.

Molly-Mae has been holding the fort at home, looking after their little girl after he jetted to the country for a wild weekend.
She's known for her quirky outfits and unique fashion choices.

But Helena Bonham Carter cut a chic figure as she attended a special screening of One Life at the Picturehouse Central in London on Thursday evening.

After the star's photocall earlier in the day, the actor changed into another stylish outfit for the carpet.

Keeping with neutral colours the 57-year-old donned a silk beige blouse which was adorned with stitched detailing and a black collar.

She paired the top with a black skirt with a intricately embroidered mesh hem.

Helena Bonham Carter, 57, cut a chic figure in silk blouse and platform shoes as she attended for the One Life screening at the Picturehouse Central in London on Thursday evening

Keeping with neutral colours the 57-year-old donned a silk beige blouse which was adorned with stitched detailing and a black collar

The Harry Potter star posed confidently with her hands on her hips while her signature curls were piled on top of her head in a gorgeous up do.

The star added a few extra inches to her height in a pair of quirky platform black brogues.

Helena completed the look with an array of accessories including and pearl arrow necklace, silver diamante choker and dangly pearl earrings.

She kept her makeup fairly natural but added a pop of colour with some subtle pink eyeshadow.

BAFTA winner Helena will join two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn in the feature drama set during the Holocaust.

The production is inspired by the true story of Nicholas Winton - a London stockbroker who devised an elaborate plan to rescue hundreds of children in Czechoslovakia from invading Nazis.

The title is paraphrased from the Jewish Talmud: 'Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.'

Helena will play Winton's mother, Babi Winton, who was of German-Jewish ancestry but had settled in North West London with her husband.

Meanwhile Helena was joined by her fellow co-star Romola Garai who wowed in an embroidered navy sequined figure-hugging dress.

She paired the top with a black skirt with a intricately embroidered mesh hem

She's known for her quirky outfits and unique fashion choices and after the photocall earlier in the day, the actor changed into another stylish outfit for the carpet

Helena completed the look with an array of accessories including and pearl arrow necklace, silver diamante choker and dangly pearl earrings

She kept her makeup fairly natural but added a pop of colour with some subtle pink eyeshadow

The actress displayed her array of expressive facial expressions

The star added a few extra inches to her height in a pair of quirky platform black brogues

Helena looked to be having fun as she messed around for the cameras

Helena was joined by her fellow co-star Romola Garai who wowed in an embroidered navy sequined figure-hugging dress

The 41-year-old actress looked sensational in the gown, while she swept her blonde locks back in a slick back bun

The 41-year-old actress looked sensational in the gown, while she swept her blonde locks back in a slick back bun.

Earlier in the day the pair grinned together in snaps as they attended the photocall.

Helena had sported another typically eccentric look in a black Press Primrose Hill James jacket worth 535 and a 1970s black crepe skirt with a pink lining.

She teamed the unique outfit with a pair of black Nike Zoom double stacked trainers and a khaki green blouse.

The Harry Potter star finished off the look with a choker featuring an eye-catching heart pendant and a long gold chain.

One Life will be released in UK cinemas on January 1 2024.

Earlier in the day Helena showed off her quirky sense of style

Helena grinned from cheek to cheek as she posed with her One Life co-star Romola
Attorney Saam Zangeneh, center, stands with other attorneys and Mahnaz Momeni,center, mother of Nima Momeni, as he addresses the media after a hearing for Nima Momeni, who is accused of murdering tech executive Bob Lee, at the Hall of Justice on Thursday, November 30, 2023 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Lawyers for Nima Momeni, the man accused of stabbing tech mogul Bob Lee to death last spring, asked for a change of venue in his upcoming trial, contending that photos of their client in his jail cell published this week on a San Francisco news site prejudiced public opinion and potential jurors. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Lawyers for Nima Momeni, the man accused of stabbing tech mogul Bob Lee to death last spring, asked for a change of venue in his upcoming trial, contending that photos of their client in his jail cell published this week on a San Francisco news site prejudiced public opinion and potential jurors.

In my 27 years (of practice) I have never seen a photographer go into jail and take pictures like this  its highly prejudicial, next-level stuff, Momenis attorney Bradford Cohen told a San Francisco Superior Court judge at a Thursday hearing to set a trial date.

He said photos that ran in the San Francisco Standard showing Momeni in his city jail cell, in a county-issued orange jumpsuit, and a story that ran with it describing how he passed his time there, was one of the most disgusting things Ive ever seen in a case where a defendant is innocent until proven guilty.

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The lead attorney for Momeni, Saam Zangeneh, said after the hearing that neither he nor his client gave permission for the photos to be taken.

Attorney Saam Zangeneh, center, stands with other attorneys and Mahnaz Momeni,center, mother of Nima Momeni, as he addresses the media after a hearing for Nima Momeni, who is accused of murdering tech executive Bob Lee, at the Hall of Justice on Thursday, November 30, 2023 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

No stone will go unturned in our investigation to get to the bottom of how this happened, whos liable  and the people who are liable are going to have to deal with a very angry defense team, he said. This was a hit job.

The main trouble with the portrayal of Momeni in a cell, Zangeneh said, is that it presents him as a prisoner in the minds of any potential jurors, or people interpreting the case.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi said she was also concerned about the photos, and scheduled a Jan. 25 hearing to consider the venue change request. She also tentatively set the case for trial on March 15.

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I notified the sheriff, and theyre looking into all of it, Giorgi said. The sheriff is taking this very seriously. There are internal investigations and external investigations going on. We are all taking it seriously.

Jonah Owen Lamb, the Standard reporter who wrote the Nov. 28 story, tried to ask Momenis attorneys questions after the hearing but was rebuffed. Lamb declined to comment.

Mahnaz Momeni, left to right, mother of Nima Momeni; and Attorney Saam Zangeneh walk in the hallway as they leave the Hall of Justice after a hearing for Nima Momeni on Thursday, November 30, 2023 in San Francisco, Calif. Nima Momeni is accused of murdering tech executive Bob Lee, Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Julie Makinen, editor in chief of the Standard, said in a statement to the Chronicle that the photographer had permission to take photos inside the jail and Nima Momeni gave the photographer permission to have his photo taken. We contacted Momenis legal team prior to publication and they did not raise objections or concerns about the publication of the images. The Standard believes the images were entirely newsworthy.

Zangeneh dismissed the Standards explanation.

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If you look at the statement, it says Momenis lawyers didnt tell us not to run it, but they never talked to us,  he said. But even if they did, we would have needed to see the pictures. That didnt happen.

He added that his client didnt give permission, either. Nima said, I saw the guy taking the pictures, and I said I didnt want that happening.  Zangeneh said.

The San Francisco Sheriffs Office is in charge of the jail, and on Thursday its spokesperson Tara Moriarty said the photos, taken by Paul Kuroda in August freelancing for the Los Angeles Times, apparently violated jail rules.

In August of 2023, the San Francisco Sheriffs Office granted jail access to a Los Angeles Times reporter and photographer for a story on administrative separation cells, in accordance with our commitment to transparency and openness with the media, Moriarty wrote in a statement sent to the Chronicle. The SFSO maintains clear rules for journalists covering our operations, which were communicated to the LA Times, including its photo editor, both in written and verbal forms.

Regrettably, the LA Times photographer violated our established media rules, thereby unethically violating the conditions imposed, which were put in place to protect the security and privacy of those incarcerated. While the LA Times did not publish any unauthorized photos, its photographer proceeded to monetize the unauthorized photographs with other media outlets, resulting in a further violation of our media rules and a blatant disregard for the agreed upon conditions.

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The SFSO condemns such actions unequivocally, as they compromise the mutual trust between law enforcement agencies and the media, compromising the well-being of incarcerated individuals, and the integrity of information shared with the public.

Momeni was brought into Thursdays brief hearing in the same type of orange jail jumpsuit shown in the Standard photos, and his hands were shackled behind his back before he was freed to stand before the judge. He said nothing. His mother was in the gallery and declined to comment after the hearing.

Photographer Kuroda, a longtime journalist, said he was at the jail doing an unrelated story on solitary confinement for the Times and happened upon Momeni while touring the cells. He said he recognized Momeni, took the pictures and the Standard offered to buy them. Kuroda has also previously worked for the Chronicle as a freelancer.

I cleared it with (the jail representative with him on the photo assignment), and she said we could use the pictures if we got permission, Kuroda said. When I talked to the Standard, I said we needed approval from his attorneys, and they said something to the effect that they had it.

The Standard reported Thursday that Momenis lawyers were made aware of the photos before they were published and did not seek to prevent them from being displayed.

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Its been more than seven months since the discovery of Lees body in the early morning hours of April 4.

Prosecutors say Momeni killed Lee after an argument about his relationship with Momenis sister Khazar Momeni, who investigators say was drinking with Lee hours before the attack. The two men had gone to Khazar Momenis home in Millennium Tower on the night of the slaying, and security footage shows them leaving the tower together after 2 a.m. and getting into a white BMW. Khazar Momeni also is known as Khazar Elyassnia.

Further footage taken on nearby Main Street then shows an attacker, who prosecutors say is Nima Momeni, lunging toward Lee, who staggers up the street before collapsing.

Momenis lawyers have argued that the slaying was not intentional, but prosecutors scoffed at the notion, noting that Lee was stabbed three times and left for dead on the street.
Sydney Sweeney and her co-stars Daniel Bruhl and Felix Kammerer as they wrapped a day of filming on the water in Queensland, Australia.

On Thursday, the trio of actors were seen returning to shore after being on board a boat filming scenes for the upcoming survival thriller Eden.

They all came to land via a charter boat that picked them up from their set.

Sydney gracefully and effortlessly hopped off the boat before walking up a ramp alongside fellow actor Daniel.

The normally blonde beauty sported a darker hair colour as she stepped into her role for the project - which is being directed by Ron Howard.

Sydney Sweeney and her co-stars Daniel Bruhl and Felix Kammerer as they wrapped a day of filming on the water in Queensland , Australia

Her hair was parted to the side and styled into a chic chignon for the busy day of filming.

She also donned a pale blue polka dot buttoned up top with a matching skirt and a pair of red Mary Jane heels.

The Euphoria star chatted and smiled with Daniel as they docked at the marina.

On Thursday, the trio of actors were seen returning to shore after being on board a boat filming scenes for the upcoming survival thriller Eden

The actors and crew members all came to land via a charter boat that picked them up from their set

Sydney was seen chatting and smiling with her co-star Daniel

Meanwhile, Daniel sported a white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of khaki trousers.

The Spanish-German actor also slung a black bag over his shoulder.

Felix sat on the side of the boat wearing his shirt unbuttoned and sporting a scarf tied around his neck.

Along with Sydney, Daniel and Felix, the star-studded cast also includes Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby.

Felix sat on the side of the boat wearing his shirt unbuttoned and sporting a scarf tied around his neck

Sydney gracefully and effortlessly hopped off the boat

The normally blonde beauty sported a darker hair colour as she stepped into her role for the project - which is being directed by Ron Howard

The premise 'follows a group of people fuelled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos,' according to an IMDB synopsis.

Producers on the thriller - which also includes Howard - informed Deadline last month in October the film 'explores the human condition in ways that are unexpected, absurd, humorous, sexy, but above all thrilling and deeply suspenseful.'

Both Sweeney and Kirby replaced actresses Daisy Edgar-Jones and Alicia Vikander who had initially been cast in the project.

Sydney donned a pale blue polka dot buttoned up top with a matching skirt and a pair of red Mary Jane heels

Daniel sported a white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of khaki trousers

Along with Sydney, Daniel and Felix, the star-studded cast also includes Jude Law, Ana de Armas and Vanessa Kirby

Noah Pink has written the screenplay for Eden - which was originally titled: Origin Of Species.

According to Deadline, Hans Zimmer will score the film and this will be the composer's 10th time collaborating with Ron Howard.

During an interview with Business News Australia earlier this month, Ron expressed his excitement to return to Queensland - which was where he also filmed Thirteen Lives.

'I have always been impressed with the professionalism and creative spirit of the Australian film community,' the filmmaker stated.

The film 'follows a group of people fuelled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos'

Director Ron expressed his excitement to return to Queensland

'My experience with our Queensland crew on Thirteen Lives only confirmed that and more,' he added. 'I'm thrilled with the opportunity to bring Eden to Queensland and continue the collaboration.'

Last week, an Aussie man's fantasy came true when he received a private message from Sydney.

The blonde beauty messaged TikTok user Mileshep after he posted a video about seeing the American actress on a Gold Coast beach as she was coming out of the surf.

After the video went viral, Sweeney wrote to him 'You should have said hello.'

Sydney seems to be enjoying her time in Australia

Last week, an Aussie man's fantasy came true when he received a private message from Sydney

Sharing a screenshot of the message with his followers, Mileshep said he then asked her out on a date.

'Ahaha yeah well how about I take you out and i can say hi for real x,' he said in his response.

Sadly, he has not received a reply.

In his original TikTok video about his sighting of Sydney, Mileshep said he was 'still processing' the experience, comparing the encounter to meeting a 'Bond girl' or supermodel.

'Sydney Sweeney, a genuine A-lister in her prime too,' he gushed.

'...My eyes were blessed with something i'll ever forget that image is locked in here forever,' he said, pointing to his head.
Rorie Buckey kicked off the birthday tributes to Robert Irwin by gushing over her boyfriend as he celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday.

The 19-year-old, who is Heath Ledger's niece, shared a photo to her Instagram story of her beau walking along the sand while looking out into the distance.

'Happy birthday to the most radiant, beautiful human being. You are my everything,' she wrote.

Rorie also shared a sweet photo of the couple to her page and expressed her love to Robert.

'Happy 20th birthday to my partner in crime and best friend. I love you,' she added.

Rorie Buckey shared a heartfelt tribute to her boyfriend Robert Irwin as he celebrated his 20th birthday on Friday: 'You're my everything'

Meanwhile, Irwin's sister Bindi, 25, paid tribute to Robert by posting two sweet pictures to Instagram to commemorate their remarkable bond.

The first photo from 2008 captures Bindi towering over a young Robert while a more recent one from this year show's them once again smiling for the cameras.

'Now I'm standing on my tiptoes to take a photo with you. Happy birthday to the best. 20 years and a lifetime of adventures ahead of you - remember, you can always call your sister. Love you,' she wrote next to the snap.

Meanwhile, Irwin's sister Bindi, 25, paid tribute to Robert by posting two sweet pictures to Instagram to commemorate their remarkable bond. The first photo from 2008 captures Bindi towering over a young Robert

Robert's mother Terri, 59, also celebrated her son leaving his teen years by sharing a photo of young Robert taking a drive with her through the outback and looking at a huntsman spider on their jeep roof.

Terri wrote some precious words next to the adorable footage.

'Happy birthday Robert. How is it that you are already 20? Thank you for making every day special,' she began.

Robert's mother Terri (right), 59, also celebrated her son leaving his teen years by sharing a photo of young Robert taking a drive with her through the outback and looking at a huntsman spider on their jeep roof

'Always keep your curiosity and enthusiasm because having such passion to savour life the way you do is a true gift. I feel incredibly blessed to share the journey with you. I'm a lucky mum indeed. I love you now and forever,' Terri wrote

'You have always marvelled at each experience and adventure, and your happiness brings light to my soul.

'Always keep your curiosity and enthusiasm because having such passion to savour life the way you do is a true gift. I feel incredibly blessed to share the journey with you. I'm a lucky mum indeed. I love you now and forever.'

And Robert's brother-in-law Chandler Powell, 27, shared a sweet tribute to the Wildlife Warrior by posting a photo of Robert posing up a storm with Bindi and Chandler at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast.

'Happy 20th birthday to my brother-in-law. From surfing, to spotlighting for reptiles, to running around with Grace,' he began.

Robert's brother-in-law Chandler Powell (right), 27, shared a sweet tribute to the Wildlife Warrior by posting a photo of Robert posing up a storm with Bindi and Chandler at Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast

'We have so much fun. I can't wait to see what the next 20 years bring!'

It comes after Robert and Rorie went Instagram official in August, after months of rumours they were dating.

Rorie reportedly completed an Irwin-approved 'wildlife warrior boot camp' before she and Robert became an official couple.

Woman's Day claimed last month that Rorie had to win over the family by having a willingness to get out into nature.

The pair are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth.

The 18-year-old shared a photo to her Instagram story of her beau walking along the sand while looking out into the distance

Robert is reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend Rorie.

According to New Idea magazine, the 20-year-old could propose when his girlfriend visits him in Africa while he films I'm A Celebrity in the coming months.

'Everyone is convinced he is aiming to pop the question when they're in Africa,' an insider said.

'Robert is crazy about her and is planning something unforgettable when he formally proposes. They both know it is part of their plans so he's been dreaming up special ways to make it a surprise.'

Rorie also shared a sweet photo of the couple and expressed her love to Robert. 'Happy 20th birthday to my partner in crime and best friend. I love you,' she added

The source went on to say Robert and Rorie are taking their relationship 'very serious' and have been planning a future together.

Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, have plenty in common and both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member.

Heath was at the top of his Hollywood career when he was found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose.

Robert's father Steve Irwin, known to the world as the 'Crocodile Hunter', died aged 44 on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray.

Robert and Rorie went Instagram official in August, after months of rumours they were dating
Tim Minchin opened up on Thursday about what prompted his heartbreaking decision to go ahead with his Sydney gig after the death of his mother a day before.

The comedian, 48, performed An Unfunny Evening with Tim Minchin at the State Theatre on November 10 and made the shock announcement at the end of the show.

Minchin has now revealed the reason why he decided to not cancel the performance.

'I really care that when I play gigs that people have an experience that feels honest. It was the day after my mum died, so I thought I'd be honest,' he told news.com.au.

'Not because I wanted to manipulate them or get pity, but because everyone goes through those experiences.

Tim Minchin opened up on Thursday about what prompted his heartbreaking decision to go ahead with his Sydney gig after the death of his mother a day before. Pictured: Tim and his mother Ros in 2016

'Thats our job as artists to go, "I've experienced this and this is how I unpack it and maybe you'll get something out of me talking about it and playing songs",' he added.

During the show last month, a tear-eyed Minchin moved the audience by inviting them to sing along to an encore of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, in honour of his mother Ros.

He had shocked the crowd by making the tragic personal announcement on stage.

'My mum died yesterday,' Tim told the stunned audience.

He had been sharing several stories about his mother and played a variety of songs he had written about her during the show.

During one of his stories, Tim revealed his mum Ros was diagnosed with terminal blood cancer back in 2020.

The comedian, 48, performed An Unfunny Evening with Tim Minchin and his Piano at the State Theatre on November 10 and made the shock announcement at the end of the show

He received a standing ovation at the end of the show before making the devastating announcement.

Many audience members praised Tim on sharing such a candid confession.

'Fifth time seeing Tim Minchin tonight. Absolutely incredible show without question his best! Very emotional ending to the night,' one person wrote on X.

Tim and his wife Sarah, who he married in 2001 and shares a daughter and son with, returned to Australia from Los Angeles in December 2017.

During the show, a tear-eyed Minchin moved the audience by inviting them to sing along to an encore of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, in honour of his mother Ros
Tiffany Haddish could be legally restricted from consuming drugs or alcohol in the wake of her most recent DUI arrest, which marked her second in less than a two-year span.

Haddish, 43, was arrested early Friday in Beverly Hills, California in connection with DUI when officers found her sleeping in her automobile with the engine running, which was on the busy Beverly Drive at the time.

The Emmy-winning actress-comedian was previously taken into custody in January 14, 2022 in Peachtree City, Georgia after officers found her sleeping behind the wheel of her car.

The Afterparty star was arrested in connection with DUI and improper stopping on a roadway, as authorities believed she was under the influence of marijuana.

In new court docs reviewed by TMZ Thursday, Georgia state prosecutors said they 'want a court there to modify the bond conditions' the Girls Trip star received in her 2022 arrest to prohibit her from using any drugs or alcohol, with weekly testing for both.

Tiffany Haddish, 43, could be legally restricted from consuming drugs or alcohol in the wake of her most recent DUI arrest, which marked her second in less than a two-year span. Pictured last month in LA

In new court docs reviewed by TMZ Thursday, Georgia state prosecutors said they 'want a court there to modify the bond conditions' the Girls Trip star received in her 2022 arrest to prohibit her from using any drugs or alcohol. Pictured earlier this month in Arizona

The Like a Boss star is full of 'regret' after her arrest on suspicion of DUI charges, and is keen to shut down any suggestion she has an alcohol problem, according to insiders.

Haddish, who is relieved that no one was hurt by her 'mistake', is reportedly conscious of being defined by the incident.

'Tiffany regrets that she is in the news for being arrested, but is grateful that nobody got hurt,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'She is going to tackle it all head-on and get the right lawyers.

'She doesn't want this to define her or have people think she needs help. She made a mistake, and it is not because she has an alcohol problem. It was just a bad thing that she got herself into and she is working on moving on from it.'

The insider added: 'She's looking forward to getting back to work and heading into the new year with the outlook of finding new love and new film and TV opportunities.'

DailyMail.com has contacted reps for Haddish for comment.

On Friday, Beverly Hills police officers received a call at 5:45 AM about a person 'slumped over the wheel while the car was running,' according to TMZ. The vehicle was located in the middle of the busy Beverly Drive, which is lined with stores including Pottery Barn and Sephora.

In a video obtained by the outlet, the actress and comedian can be seen with her hands cuffed behind her back as she is escorted to a patrol car. The arrest was said to be 'peaceful' with no resistance.

Haddish is said to be full of 'regret' after her arrest on suspicion of DUI charges in Beverly Hills on Friday morning

Haddish had been performing at the Laugh Factory just hours before her arrest

Haddish took to the stage for the club's 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community

The Laugh Factory is about a 15 minute drive from Beverly Hills - where Haddish was found

Haddish was seen smiling in her mugshot after her DUI arrest in January 2022

The arrest came hours after she performed a stand-up set at The Laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood for the club's 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community. The Laugh Factory is about a 15-minute drive from Beverly Hills.

Pictures from Thursday's event show Haddish on stage wearing a floral top similar to the one she was wearing at the time of her arrest.

She acknowledged the incident 24 hours later during another set at The Laugh Factory.

Responding to an audience member who asked 'what happened,' she said: 'I prayed to God to send me a man with a job. A career. Preferably in a uniform. God answered my prayers.'

In January 2022, when she was arrested under a similar circumstance in Georgia, she made a similar joke while discussing the incident with Jimmy Fallon.

She addressed the arrest days later during an appearance on The Tonight Show, telling host Fallon: 'I can say this, Jimmy  Ive been praying to God to send me a new man. A good man. And God went ahead and sent me four. In uniform.'

She continued: 'And now I got a really great lawyer, and were going to work it out. Ive got to get my asking of things to God a little better!'
David Tennant's upcoming Macbeth play co-starring Cush Jumbo OBE has received a trigger warning for its violent content.

The actor, 52, will star in Donmar Warehouse's production of Macbeth from December to February alongside Cush, 38, star of The Good Wife.

Donmar has a content advisory section on the play's homepage, where all the potential triggers in the show are accessible through a hyperlink.

The page warns that 'this production explores psychosis and contains suggestions of post-combat and postnatal mental health concerns.

'On stage there is blood, scenes of violence and depictions of death.'

David Tennant's upcoming Macbeth play co-starring Cush Jumbo OBE (pictured) receives a trigger warning for its violent content

The actor, 52, will star in Donmar Warehouse's Macbeth from December to February alongside Cush, 38, star of The Good Wife

Shakespeares most extraordinary psychological drama is a spellbinding story of love and murder, the renewing power of nature, and of the internal struggles of a damaged man as he tries to control his destiny.

The tragedy tells the story of soldier Macbeth who becomes the King Of Scotland through heinous means due to the promises of witches and the urging of his wife.

Donmar's version of the famous play uses binaural sound technology to place the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, and encourage them to ask themselves if people are ever really responsible for our actions?

Although David has a healthy stage career, he is playing Hamlet for the first time. However, he did play the character in a 2022 two-part BBC Radio 4 broadcast.

It will he his first Shakespearean role on stage since the Scotsman played Richard II in the Royal Shakespeare Company production between 2013 and 2016.

He and Cush will be directed by Donmar Associate Director Max Webster who has also directed Henry V.

Hamlet will be the final production of the 30th-anniversary season for Donmar, which started life a banana-ripening warehouse.

Tickets for David Tennant and Cush Jumbo's Macbeth, which opens on 8 December and closes on 10 February, are sold out.

Donmar has a content advisory section on the play's homepage, where all the potential triggers in the show are accessible through a hyperlink

In November, David thrilled fans when he appeared in Doctor Who's long-awaited 60th anniversary celebrations, reprising his role as the Time Lord alongside Catherine Tate who played his companion Donna Noble.

The pair's return to the BBC show, in the first of three specials, 15 years after they last travelled in the TARDIS together, was lauded by fans.

It was a reunion that had sparked questions, because Donna's memory of The Doctor was wiped in a bid to save her life during their last adventure in 2008.

However, showrunner Russell T Davies created an unlikely loophole that reinstated Donna's memories, allowing her to see The Doctor again after they tackled another alien threat.
Millions of Americans are struggling with student loan debt, but the issue is not spread out evenly over the country, new data has revealed.

Borrowers in Maryland are facing the highest college debt, at an average of $43,116, according to data from higher education organization Degree Choices.

Maryland residents owe almost 44 percent more than those living in North Dakota, who have the lowest debt owed, at an average of $30,000 per borrower.

Degree Choices analyzed data from the Office of Federal Student Aid - while also considering each state's average cost of college, typical earnings of bachelor's degree graduates and the percentage of the population with a degree.

Around 44 million Americans owe a combined $1.7 trillion in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve. Federal loan repayments resumed on October 1 following a pandemic-era pause that began in March 2020.

Borrowers in Maryland are facing the highest student debt, at an average of $43,116, according to data from higher education organization Degree Choices

Following Maryland, Georgia is the state with the highest average debt burden per borrower, at $41,775, according to the data.

Virginia is ranked third, with an average debt of $39,599 per person.

Fourth on the list is Florida, where borrowers owe an average of $38,683, and fifth is South Carolina, where residents typically owe $38,360 in student debt.

According to the study, the states with the highest overall student loan debt are unsurprisingly the most populated states: California, Texas, Florida, and New York. California has the most student loan debt in total, at $149 billion.

When it comes to the cost of college, New Hampshire is the most expensive state, researchers found.

Degree Choices' cost data does not refer to tuition, but rather to the net cost of college  which is the average amount students pay after financial aid.

The study found the cost of college in the state is $28,269 on average.

Of course, many students move to a different state for college, or relocate after graduating.

States with a high level of educational attainment may have a strong, highly skilled job market with more opportunities for well-paying jobs.

This could lead students to be willing to take on higher levels of debt with the expectation that they will be able to earn more after graduation, making it easier to repay their loans, the study noted.

Maryland only just breaks the top 15 most expensive states for the cost of college - ranking 12th with an average cost of $20,521.

However the state does have a high level of residents with at least a bachelors degree.

According to the study, it is the fifth most educated state by percentage of the population with a bachelor's education - at 42.5 percent.

While the student debt burden may differ by geography, borrowers across the country have in common that they appear to be looking for ways to manage their loans.

According to the White House, borrowers in every congressional district signed up for SAVE, an income-driven repayment program the Biden administration announced earlier this year.

The SAVE plan was finalized after the Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student debt forgiveness initiative in June, dashing the hopes of 16 million people who had already been approved for the relief.

Nearly 5.5 million borrowers enrolled in the program, which calculates payments based on income and family size, and about 2.9 million borrowers have had their payments reduced to $0 a month, officials said.

The Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden's $400 billion student loans forgiveness plan in June

Around 44 million Americans owe a combined $1.7 trillion in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve

It comes as new data from research agency Opinium found that 40 percent of US adults with student loans say that paying back the debt is not manageable.

Some 45 percent of respondents admitted that student debt had been a barrier to making big financial life steps.

Some 28 percent said it had deterred them from saving for retirement, 27 percent said it had stopped them saving to buy a home, and 10 percent said it had prevented them from starting a family.

A separate survey also revealed nearly half of US companies intend to eliminate bachelor's degree requirements for some job positions in 2024.

And 55 percent said they had already eliminated degree requirements this year, according to an Intelligent.com survey of 800 US employers, carried out in November. Walmart, IBM, Accenture, Bank of America and Google are among those to announce similar plans.
Ecozen gives farmers complete control over pumps

Haryana: A key player in cleantech, Ecozenspecialises in developing climate-smart technology solutions that help farmers improve in farm yield, reduce waste and increase farm earnings. As a leading brand in the solar pump sets in India, Ecozen has positively impacted over 1,60,000 Indian farmers through their advanced Ecotron smart solar pump controllers. Farmers in Haryana now get India's first 4G-enabled smart solar-powered pump controller, known as the Ecotron, available through Ecozen Solutions under PM KUSUM Yojana with a 75% subsidy.To ensure that the pumps are installed quickly under the PM Kusum Yojana, Ecozen has partnered with Mahindra Solarize. This partnership helps the farmers of Haryana get Ecozen's advanced technology backed by the wide and efficient installation network of the Mahindra team.

LIC launches jeevan utsav plan

New Delhi: In tune with our market talk, Corporation of India launched LICs Jeevan Utsav is Individual, Savings, Whole Life Insurance plan. It is a Limited Premium plan with Guaranteed Additions throughout Premium Paying Term Identification Number (UIN) for LIC
Tata Power arm Tata Power EV Charging Solutions and Kanpur Municipal Corporation have collaborated to install 12 electric vehicle charging stations across six strategic locations in Kanpur.

"Tata Power EV Charging Solutions Ltd (TPEVCSL), a Tata Power Group Company, signed a Memorandum of Association with the Kanpur Municipal Corporation to install 12 EV charging stations across six strategic locations in Kanpur," a company statement said.

According to the statement, this collaboration signifies the beginning of a trailblazing initiative to revolutionize the EV infrastructure landscape in Kanpur.

These charging stations will be located strategically at key points across the city, including the zonal offices in Zone-2 and Zone-5 of Krishna Nagar, Sen Para Police Chauki between Apna Ghar Ashram and Road, Moti Jheel Parking /Kargil Park, the vicinity of Medical College at Gol Chouraha, and the Children's Park near OEF at Vijay Nagar Chauraha.

Each of these locations will be equipped with two charging guns, totalling 12 charging points across the city. EV users will be able to locate these points using the Tata Power EZ Charge mobile app.

"Our partnership with the Kanpur Municipal Corporation is a significant stride in our journey, where we have consistently forged multiple partnerships with both government and private organizations to propel sustainable mobility initiatives nationwide," stated Virendra Goyal, Head - Business Development (EV Charging), Tata Power.

Shivasharanappa G N, Municipal Commissioner, Kanpur Municipal Corporation, said in the statement, "Tata Power's hi-tech and reliable charging solutions will undoubtedly play a crucial role in accelerating our transition towards a sustainable future."

The state government aims to set up EV charging stations across various municipal cities, including Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Prayagraj, with an additional 100 at heritage sites and around 200 at popular tourist destinations like Mathura-Vrindavan and Varanasi-Ayodhya.

Furthermore, the plan includes establishing 400 charging stations in national and state parks across Uttar Pradesh.
Aligning Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana PMKVY with the industry to match local economic needs is crucial to making skilled trainees employable

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), launched in 2015, has trained 13.7 million candidates over seven years. However, only 18% or 2.4 million of these candidates have been successful in securing a job. This low placement rate is one of several concerning issues highlighted by a Lok Sabha standing committee. The committee also identified underutilized funds, infrastructure deficiencies, dropouts, a disconnect with industry, and insufficient state engagement as significant problems. To increase the effectiveness of the program, PMKVY must be aligned with the local economy's needs.

Currently, only 2.4% of India's 530-million-strong workforce has received formal vocational education or training. This means that a vast majority of the workforce remains unskilled, making them less productive. Additionally, a quarter of India's workforce has less than primary education, further emphasizing the importance of skill development programs in reducing unemployment rates. Despite this, the latest data from the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports an unemployment rate of 6.8%, with a youth unemployment rate (for ages 15 to 29) of 17.3%.

The PMKVY has undergone three versions, with PMKVY 2.0 having the highest number of trained and placed candidates, with a placement rate of 19.5%. However, this rate has since fallen to 5.8% for PMKVY 3.0, the lowest yet. Overall, approximately 11 million trained candidates have completed certification. The government must take immediate action to address these concerns, align PMKVY with the local economy, and improve the program's effectiveness.

It is imperative to note that Uttar Pradesh is the state with the highest number of candidates trained, with a staggering 1.59 million individuals, however, the placement rate in the state is only a meagre 20%. On the other hand, Telangana takes the lead with the highest placement rate of 35.1%, followed closely by Puducherry at 34.6%. Haryana and Punjab are not far behind with placement rates of 31.7% and 29.6% respectively. Maharashtra and Kerala, however, need to work on their placement rates, as they stand at a disappointing 9.3% and 10.4% respectively.

It should be noted that NSDC primarily partnered with private vocational training providers due to the lack of private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) at the time. However, the shorter training duration of NSDC courses (3-4 months) compared to the 1-2 year programmes offered by ITIs is a major challenge that needs to be addressed.

Poor utilisation of funds: According to government data, the programme's fund utilization was poor in 2016-17, with only 56% of the allocated funds being used. Although the number improved to 98% in 2020-21, it fell back to 72% in 2021-22. The Lok Sabha standing committee reported that the suspension of training and placement operations due to COVID-19 restrictions led to a significant drop in enrollment and certification, resulting in low disbursement and utilization of funds. However, it is expected that the ongoing training under PMKVY 4.0 since January 2023 will lead to an increase in expenditure upon its completion.

Connect to industry is missing: NSDC, established in 2008, collaborates with partner trainers to conduct skill development programmes. However, the lack of industry participation and a disconnect between NSDC and the industry is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. The current skill development programmes do not align with the actual regional demand for skills, creating a mismatch between training and local economic needs. This leads to a gap between the skills imparted and the market requirements, which is unacceptable.

The quality of training and the choice of the particular skill being imparted must meet the market standards. Unfortunately, the skill centres are not adequately equipped for practical training, resulting in theoretical training with little practical exposure. This is unacceptable, and immediate action needs to be taken to bridge this gap. The Lok Sabha's standing committee has also highlighted this disconnect and suggested surveying industry representatives to better understand their needs. It is time to take the necessary steps to ensure that the skill development programmes align with the industry needs and bridge the gap between the skills imparted and the market requirements.

Candidate dropout, infra deficiencies: A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration between 2016 and 2021 revealed that 20% of candidates who enrolled under PMKVY dropped out. The reasons for this were medical issues, family obligations, social challenges, lengthy commutes to training centres, marital status changes, increased livelihood demands, limited job opportunities, and perceived skill stagnation. Female candidates also dropped out due to pregnancy, marriage, and course duration.

The standing committee noted that the Ministry needs to take immediate action to address the factors that lead to candidate dropouts, such as distance to training centres and accessibility to jobs. For the female dropouts, the committee suggested that the Ministry should collaborate with ASHA and anganwadi centres to create awareness about the benefits of skilling and encourage them to resume training as soon as possible after delivery.

It is unacceptable that out of 818 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs) or training centres allocated in all districts of India, only 722 have been established so far. Of the remaining, 58 PMKKs were surrendered to the government by private vendors due to operational difficulties. This is a significant issue and requires immediate attention from the government. The lack of eligible trainers is another issue that is preventing many centres from becoming operational. As a solution, the government must create a pool of National Assessors and Trainers under PMKVY 4.0. The government must take necessary actions to ensure that the PMKVY program is successful in creating a skilled workforce and reducing unemployment in India.

Limited state participation: State disparities driven by varying economic and employment histories result in limited state participation. This is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed with a sense of urgency. For instance, while some states have a significant agricultural workforce that relies on programmes like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, others like Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu have more employment opportunities. Therefore, it is imperative to adopt localised, demand-driven approaches that extend employment schemes from metropolitan areas to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, thus addressing specific regional challenges.

In 2016-20, PMKVY 2.0 introduced state participation to enhance support and monitoring and enable targeted training that aligns with local needs and aspirations. However, the state-managed model encountered several issues, including delays in the release of funds from the state treasury to respective departments, a shortage of trainers with the necessary eligibility criteria, a lack of available placement partners, and delayed payments to training partners. These issues need to be addressed immediately to ensure that the programme is efficient in achieving its objectives.

Moreover, the online management system for the state-managed component was operational in only 15 states and union territories, and this has affected coordination with the Union government. It is imperative to expand this system to all states and union territories to ensure that the programme runs smoothly.

In conclusion, enhancing the programme's effectiveness and aligning PMKVY with the industry to match local economic needs is crucial to making skill training programmes employable. It is time to take bold steps to address the challenges facing the programme and ensure that it achieves its objectives.

(The writer is a Co-Founder and MD of Orane International, a Training Partner with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and a Network Member of India International Skill Centres;Views expressed are strictly personal)
Milt Commons, seen at ACTs Geary Theater on May 14, 2020, in San Francisco, worked as a stage manager and dresser for 70 years. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

In the last performances of A Christmas Carol at San Franciscos Geary Theater before COVID-19 hit in 2020, Milt Commons was the dresser who ensured that costuming for the more than half-dozen boys in the cast went without a hitch.

It was eight shows a week and the nights were long, but Commons kept up with the kids, seeing to it that they all had their mittens and hats before taking the stage. He had something to prove. He was 92.

His was the life of a stage manager and a dresser, backstage jobs that Commons filled for nearly 70 years, after figuring out there were more paying jobs out of the spotlight than in it.

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He would have worked for 72 or 73 years, but the COVID-19 lockdown put him into early retirement after a career that went all the way back to Broadway productions starring Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston and Jean Stapleton.

Commons suffered a stroke March 19 after attending a pancake breakfast at Old St. Marys Cathedral, where he had long served as stage manager of the Old Cathedral Players. Witty until the end, he wanted to make sure that his final words were places, please, as if he were still backstage, said his longtime friend and caregiver Joanie Juster.

He died in an assisted care facility on Nov. 6. He was 96.

Stage manager Milt Commons passes the front of ACTs Geary Theater in San Francisco on May 14, 2020. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle

Milt was the ultimate theater professional. He lived and breathed it, said Juster, who met Commons during a production of Greater Tuna in 1987. He took great pride in being part of the grand tradition that is theater.

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Though he worked some of the biggest stages in America, he also worked some of the smallest. None were smaller than the productions in his hometown of Macksville, Kan., population 471.

His first show was as an actor in a melodrama in Colorado in 1950. From there it was summer stock and regional theaters.

Within seven years he had climbed all the way to sharing a bill with Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall, at a show on Long Island. But he was a realist and understood that he might get no closer than that to the bright lights of Broadway.

The odds of steady work were more in his favor as a stage manager, so he made the switch.

I really didnt know what a stage manager was until I became one, he told Chronicle theater critic Lily Janiak in a 2020 interview in the lobby of his Nob Hill apartment building, where hed lived since 1974.

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He described the job as a combination of a kindergarten teacher and a ringmaster.

He moved to San Francisco in 1974 but found his steadiest work as a stage manager in Los Angeles, at the Mark Taper Forum and El Teatro Campesino. In San Francisco, he worked at ACT, the Magic Theatre and at Word for Word, the literary troupe that puts works of fiction on the stage, as actors recite every word of the text.

Stage manager Milt Commons, left, and actor Ken Ruta are seen backstage at ACTs Geary Theater for A Christmas Carol in 2019. Traci Peace-Greco/American Conservatory Theater 2019

He was 79 when he took on the job of stage manager for 4 Adverbs, a show of four short stories by Daniel Handler, staged in 2006. It involved a heavy set piece nicknamed Gigantour, which had to be moved around the stage during the show, and Commons did not foist this duty onto the younger crew.

Milt took charge and knew exactly where Gigantour had to be, said the shows director, Sheila Balter. He made sure that everything about the show was precisely on target.

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Each night the cast and crew left around 11 p.m., and Commons would have been headed to the nearest Muni stop to catch the bus if Balter had not offered him a ride in her old two-door Honda Civic.

At first he was pretty gruff and standoffish, she said. By the end of the run I adored him, to the point that I wanted to make a documentary film to celebrate his amazing life and career, but I never did.

Milton Donald Commons was born June 17, 1927, in Macksville, a farming town where his dad was a pharmacist who ran the town drugstore. It had a soda fountain, and Milt displayed early talent in creating window displays, according to his sister, Carol Commons Ladbury. He also had the less glamorous duty of hauling in blocks of ice and chipping them for the sodas. His mother was a schoolteacher who also worked at the drugstore.

At Macksville High School, Commons played drums in the marching band and became the drum major, while also acting in school plays. He graduated in 1945 and came west to UC Santa Barbara because he heard it had a theater department. But the cost was prohibitive and his parents convinced him to transfer back to the University of Kansas, where he earned a bachelors in English education, and a masters in drama, in 1950.

That same year he was cast in a melodrama in Cripple Creek, Colo. It was an itinerant life, with productions in Phoenix, Hollywood, Maine, New York and Minneapolis, where he spent five years stage managing at the Guthrie Theater, one of the largest regional stages in the country. These productions were interspersed with visits to his Aunt Bernice in San Francisco.

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Stage manager Milt Commons, then 92, laughs in front of ACTs Geary Theater in San Francisco on May 14, 2020. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle

He got lucky in finding his first apartment, which became his last apartment: a rent-controlled third-floor studio across from the Ritz-Carlton. The monthly rent was $150 in 1974 and is still under $1,000.

Over the years Commons apartment became a theatrical museum, said Juster. It was filled with show posters and playbills and programs from every show he had seen or worked on for 70-some odd years.

During a three-year run of the surprise hit Greater Tuna, at the Mason Street Theater, Commons served as stage manager while Juster was house manager. They were the first to arrive each night and the last to leave, after turning on the ghost light onstage, a theatrical tradition.

He taught me about professionalism, Juster said, taking every part of the job seriously and doing it correctly so you could put on the best possible show every night.

Commons stage notes were so precise that an entire performance could be re-created just by reading his notes, which were handwritten. He never learned how to use a computer.

Ever practical, Commons could foresee himself aging out of stage managing work, so in his 70s he downscaled his job description to dresser. Rather than have to learn email as a stage manager, he learned to sew and joined the wardrobe union, dressing performers at American Conservatory Theater, BroadwaySFs Golden Gate Theatre and San Francisco Opera, among others, along the way becoming the oldest active member of the wardrobe union, Local 784.

Whether stage manager or dresser, he approached every performance the same way.
As AI continues to grow, its ethical considerations must be evaluated to ensure that it provides an equitable, inclusive, and successful learning environment

As the world of education continues to evolve, technology is playing an increasingly important role in the transformation of traditional teaching methods. A particularly significant development in this field is the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence in Educational Technology. This integration can fundamentally alter how we learn, instruct and interact with educational material.

AI has made a huge impact on a lot of different industries, and it's no different in the education industry. AI is becoming more and more popular and it can be used in a variety of ways to get better and more diverse results. It can be used in schools, for professional learning and assessment, for lifelong learning or enterprise workforce learning and assessment.

Lets discuss the various ways in which advanced AI is reshaping the EdTech space and its implications for the future of education;

Personalised Learning, AI can tailor educational content to meet individual student needs, adapting to different learning styles, speeds and preferences. The increasing acceptance of personalized learning by students is revolutionizing the way learning and assessment are conducted, as it is based on the student's capacity and career objectives, which enable them to achieve their professional and personal goals. AI-driven software can analyse student performance and the content available to them and suggest tailored study plans that are based on their strengths and weaknesses, as well as integrate data on market skill demand to provide clearer options and advice for students when they finish their studies.

Predictive Analytics for Early Intervention: By analysing large volumes of information, AI can detect trends and anticipate potential difficulties that students may encounter. Through predictive analytics, educators can be alerted early on and provide additional support to those students who are at risk of lagging. By taking a proactive approach, educators can provide more personalised and targeted intervention, resulting in improved student performance and a decrease in dropout rates.

Automated Grading: Another important aspect to discuss here is Automated Grading. Educators may find the process of grading and assessing to be laborious and time-consuming. Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms facilitate the automation of these activities, enabling rapid and precise assessment of assignments, tests and assessments. Not only does this save educators time, but it also provides students with prompt feedback, encouraging a continuous learning process. Adaptive Learning Platforms: One of the most significant applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of Education Technology (EdTech) is the creation of adaptive Learning Platforms (ALPs). AI-powered adaptive learning platforms leverage the power of machine learning to analyse student performance data and create educational content that is tailored to the individual needs and preferences of the learner. Adaptive learning platforms are distinct from traditional adaptive learning approaches in that they offer an individualised learning experience, allowing each student to progress at their speed.

Refined Workflows: As the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the sector increases, tools will facilitate the automation of day-to-day operations and the reduction of mistakes. Schools will benefit from the elimination of redundant study materials and the assignment of appropriate learning models.

Barriers and challenges associated: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Educational Technology (EDTech) offers a range of advantages; however, it is important to consider ethical considerations and difficulties. Privacy, algorithmic biases and digital divide are some of the issues that need to be addressed. It is essential to strike a balance between the utilization of advanced AI to improve educational outcomes and providing equitable access to all students to develop EdTech solutions responsibly.

Another key aspect is Enhanced Engagement, which explains that Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) applications that are powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), can provide students with an immersive learning experience.

For example, medical students may be able to perform virtual surgeries; history students may have the opportunity to explore ancient civilizations.

AI can also assist in developing and updating educational content based on current trends and student performance data. Advanced technological features like Chatbot generate a complete lesson plan and curriculum for teachers by just asking for it. AI is revolutionizing the way students learn, providing them with personalized experiences, immersive simulations and predictive analytics. The potential of AI in EDTech is boundless, and its potential to transform education is undeniable.

(The writer is the CEO & CTO, of Greatify, views are personal)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday appealed to the corporate sector to contribute generously to the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund (AFFDF) and ensure the well-being of the brave soldiers who spend their lives safeguarding the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

He made this appeal here while addressing the corporate heads during the AFFDF Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conclave organised by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence.

Expressing gratitude to the retired and serving Armed Forces personnel for their unmatched valour and sacrifice, Rajnath asserted that it is the collective responsibility of the entire nation to ensure the welfare of the soldiers and their families. He stated that the soldiers fulfill their duties in difficult circumstances and deal with challenges with courage and promptness.

The defence minister described the heads of businesses, industries and the corporate sector as wealth creators who contribute to the economy and ensure prosperity and security of the nation. He urged the corporate sector to share the created wealth or profit with other people in the society, especially the Armed Forces personnel, beyond their tax paying obligations.

He emphasised that voluntary contributions hold more importance than compulsory obligations. When the tax money reaches the soldiers, it is like a legal obligation. But, it is not the same with voluntary contributions. A soldier will feel attached to even `5 given as voluntary contribution more than `100 given as tax, he said.

On the occasion, Rajnath also felicitated the prominent CSR contributors to the AFFDF, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank Limited, Indus Towers Limited, General Insurance Corporation, BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, ECGC Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited , LIC Golden Jubilee Foundation, Container Corporation of India Limited and Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Limited.

A number of initiatives have been taken by the government for the welfare of the ex-servicemen. Recently, Medical Treatment Grant for the veterans/dependents was increased to `50,000 from Rs 30,000, Vocational Training Grant for Widows was enhanced to `50,000 from `20,000 and Serious Diseases Grant was raised to `1.50 lakh from 1.25 lakh, which is a continuous process.

During the Financial Year 2022-23, a grant of approximately `250 crore was distributed to more than 99,000 beneficiaries. Apart from this, institutional grants have also been given to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Kirkee and Mohali, Cheshire Home, Dehradun, Lucknow and Delhi and 36 War Memorial Hostels across the country.
A day after the US charged an Indian national with conspiring to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, India on Thursday described the development as a matter of concern.

Stating this, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to Government policy.

He also asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case related to the foiled plot to kill Pannun, a Sikh extremist and known to be an American and Canadian citizen.

On Wednesday, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian Government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun.

American prosecutors informed a Manhattan court on Wednesday that authorities in the Czech Republic arrested and detained Gupta, and he is currently awaiting extradition to the US.

As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official,

this is a matter of concern, Bagchi said.

He said the nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is precisely for that reason a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results.

The MEA spokesperson said the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists and that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well and that relevant departments were examining the issue.

During the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gunrunners, terrorists and other extremists, he said.

Bagchi said India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the enquiry committee. We cannot share any further information on such security matters, he said.

Pannun, a leader of the so called Sikhs for Justice, is wanted by Indian probe agencies on various terror charges. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, first reported last week that US authorities foiled a plot to assassinate Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian Government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

The Washington Post on Wednesday said the Biden Administration was so concerned after discovering the plot that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October respectively to demand investigation and hold those responsible to account. Gupta faces murder for hire charges for his participation in the alleged plot to kill Pannun, a US citizen. Gupta was arrested in June in the Czech Republic under an extradition treaty between the US and the Czech Republic.

According to a US Department of Justice statement, documents before a New York court allege that an Indian Government employee worked with Gupta and others to hatch a plot to murder Pannun. The statement does not name the Government employee. Washingtons allegations relating to the failed plot came weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that there was a potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June. India had strongly rejected Trudeaus charges.

On Canadas allegations, Bagchi said the main issue with Ottawa has been that of activities of anti-India elements in that country. In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this, Bagchi said. We expect the government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs, he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will initiate a referendum titled Main Bhi Kejriwal campaign starting on Friday to gather public feedback on whether Arvind Kejriwal should resign as the Delhi Chief Minister in the event of his arrest under an alleged conspiracy by the BJP. As part of the campaign, AAP volunteers will distribute pamphlets and collect signatures from the public at all 2,600 polling stations across the city. These pamphlets will seek peoples opinions on whether Kejriwal should step down from his role as Delhi Chief Minister if he faces arrest. Additionally, from December 21 to 24, MLAs and councillors will organise public dialogues in all wards to gauge the vox populi.

Addressing a press conference alongside party MP Raghav Chadha, Delhi Minister and Delhi AAP convener Gopal Rai alleged the BJP has orchestrated a conspiracy to have Kejriwal arrested under the fake liquor scam case, with the intention of dismantling the Aam Aadmi Party. Rai mentioned that Kejriwal had consulted with AAP MLAs and councillors, seeking their opinions on the matter, and there was a consensus that he should not resign but rather continue to govern from jail.

He said that from December 21 to December 24, the AAP will conduct Jan Samvad in every ward of the city to engage in discussions with the public about the alleged liquor scam and the BJPs purported conspiracy to have Kejriwal arrested. During these sessions, they will seek peoples opinions on whether Kejriwal should resign as the Delhi Chief Minister in the event of his arrest or run the government from jail.

Modiji placed Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh in jail through false cases. Even after that, since the BJP could not break the AAP, a conspiracy is being hatched to arrest Arvind Kejriwal. Despite ruling the MCD for 15 consecutive years, the people of Delhi, prioritising Arvind Kejriwals work, uprooted the BJP from power. The way the AAP government under Kejriwals leadership is working in Delhi has made BJP top leaders and PM Modi believe that at any cost, the BJP cannot form its government in Delhi. BJP intends that if its government does not form in Delhi, then Arvind Kejriwal should be eliminated, and the rapidly advancing caravan of the AAP should be halted, said Rai.

Sharing details, Rai mentioned that in the second phase, a public dialogue would be initiated across Delhi starting from December 21. From December 21 to 24, public dialogues will be organised in all wards of Delhi, encouraging the participation of residents from entire wards.

Our MLAs and councilors will be part of this public dialogue. Public opinion will also be sought in this dialogue on whether Arvind Kejriwal should resign if arrested or not, he added.

For AAP, a referendum is a political tool to galvanize public opinion, more often used to make an unconventional decision palatable to the citizens. AAP convener Kejriwal, in the past, has often chosen the referendum route for making difficult decisions. When the Anna Hazare anti-corruption campaign was at a crossroads on whether to continue as a movement or morph into a political party, Kejriwal sought the peoples opinion. Similarly, when AAP won 28 seats in 2013 and fell short of the eight more needed to form the government, Kejriwal relied on the opinion of the public, and referendums were conducted in every assembly constituency of Delhi on whether to form the government by taking the support of the Congress. Recently, when AAP had to declare a chief ministerial face for Punjab, it sought public opinion.

The Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, responded by stating that this is a new drama by Kejriwal to divert attention from his corrupt government. Bidhuri claimed that Kejriwal is attempting to gain sympathy in case of an arrest, asserting, Kejriwal has become a master of all scams. He realized that sooner or later he would be arrested. Thats why he is doing all this drama, Bidhuri added. Criticizing AAP convener Kejriwal, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that Kejriwal should train his volunteers to answer questions about the corruption and failure of his government in developing the city. AAP leaders are free to go home to home to carry out a signature campaign, but when they go to people, they should be prepared to answer peoples questions on how party leaders did the liquor scam, Jal Board scam, tanker scam, panic button scam, school room scam, and how they have played with the livelihoods of contractual workers like civil defense volunteers, guest teachers, para-medical staff, he said.

Chadha stated that the BJP is doing everything possible to weaken and eliminate AAP. He mentioned that AAP doesnt make any decision without asking the public, which is why they are starting this signature campaign. Through this campaign, by going door-to-door, they will collect opinions from the people of Delhi on whether, by casting their precious votes, they made Kejriwal their elder son, their brother, the Chief Minister. Chadha added, If the BJP arrests Kejriwal, should he resign, or should he run the government from jail? The opinions of the people in the signature campaign will be presented to everyone.

Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate had summoned Kejriwal for questioning in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. Kejriwal skipped the summons, calling them illegal, and traveled to poll-bound Madhya Pradesh to address a rally, alleging that the federal anti-money laundering agency was acting at the behest of the BJP to malign his image.
In a major boost to Indian defence industry, the Government on Thursday approved mega deals worth `2.23 lakh crore for acquiring more Tejas light combat aircraft, light combat helicopters, upgradation of SU-30 fighter jets, anti-ship missiles and towed gun systems.

These approvals by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh here will also ensure availability of modern weapon systems for operational readiness. The DAC is the apex body for clearing procurement proposals put up by the Armed forces. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gives the final clearance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, Excellent move towards bolstering our Armed Forces operational prowess. The commitment to Make in India in this decision marks a crucial stride in our pursuit of self-sufficiency in the Defence sector.

Giving details of the DAC decisions, the Defence Ministry officials said the apex body accorded approval in respect of Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to `2.23 lakh crore.

Officials said out of the total amount, acquisition worth `2.20 lakh crore (98 per cent of total AoN amount) will be sourced from domestic industries. This will give a substantial boost to the Indian Defence Industry towards the aim of achieving the goal of Aatmanirbharta.

One of the major proposals given the nod include an order for acquisition of 97 Tejas jets and 156 Prachand light combat helicopters (90 for Army and 66 for IAF).

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture these platforms for the IAF.

While the Tejas deal is worth over `55,000 crore, the helicopter deal is about `45,000 crore. These two deals are under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category. 156 Prachand helicopters (90 for Army and 66 for IAF).

In February 2021, the Defence Ministry sealed a `48,000 crore deal with the HAL for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional fleet, the number of indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180.

A major upgrade of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI was also cleared by the DAC.

The IAF has over 260 Su-30 aircraft and the upgrade is expected to be an indigenous one, with India-developed radars, avionics and subsystems. Around 84 aircraft are expected to be upgraded initially. The AoNs have also been accorded by the DAC for upgradation of Su-30 MKI Aircraft indigenously from HAL. While procurement of these equipment will provide enormous strength to the IAF, acquisition from domestic Defence industries will take the indigenous capability to a new height. It will also reduce dependability on Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) substantially, officials said.

The DAC also accorded approval for procurement of two types of Anti-tank Munitions namely, Area Denial Munition (ADM) Type- 2 and Type-3, which are capable of neutralising Tanks and Armoured personnel carriers and enemy personnel.

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Make in India

bolsters Defence

To replace the Indian Field Gun (IFG), which has completed its service life, AoN for procurement of state-of-the-art Towed Gun System (TGS) has been granted which will become a mainstay of Artillery forces of Indian Army.

The AoN was also accorded for 155 mm Nubless projectile for use in 155 mm Artillery guns which will enhance lethality and safety of the projectiles. All these equipment of the Indian Army will be procured under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.

The AoN for procurement and integration of Automatic Target Tracker (ATT) and Digital Basaltic Computer (DBC) for T-90 Tanks under Buy (India) category have also been accorded which will help in maintaining combative edge of T-90 tanks over adversary platforms. The AoN for procurement of Medium Range Anti-Ship Missiles (MRAShM) for surface platform of Indian Navy under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category has also been accorded. The MRAShM is envisaged as a lightweight Surface-to-Surface Missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard Indian Naval Ships.

Further to maximise indigenisation, the DAC gave the go-ahead for a major amendment in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. It has been decided that henceforth, in all categories of procurement cases, minimum 50 per cent of indigenous content shall be in the form of material, components and software that are manufactured in India.

For the purpose of calculation of Indigenous content, cost of Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC)/Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC)/After Sale Service shall be excluded.

Also, the DAC has taken decision to further encourage start-ups/MSMEs participation in the defence ecosystem.

For all procurement cases with AoN cost up to `300 crore, registered MSMEs and recognised start-ups will be considered for issue of Request for Proposal (RFP) without any stipulation of financial parameters, which can further be relaxed with approval of Defence Procurement Board (DPB) for AoN cost upto `500 crore on case-to-case basis.
A few Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, the BRS, and the AIADMK, may skip the all-party meeting convened by the Centre on Friday in view of the Winter Session of Parliament, which is scheduled to begin on Monday. The government has convened the customary meeting of floor leaders of political parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Saturday.

Sources say that the Opposition parties have also convened a meeting of members of the INDIA bloc coalition on Monday before the Session begins. The meeting has been called to prepare a strategy for the Winter Session against the backdrop of intense friction over a range of issues, including targets by Central probe agencies on Opposition leaders. The Opposition meeting will be chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will conduct the meeting, which is expected to be attended by senior party leaders, including Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, and Piyush Goyal, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha.

Sources said while Telangana Chief Minister led Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS) will go unrepresented as acrimonious exchange of words have been there between the BRS and the BJP in the just concluded election campaign in the State, the AIADMK too is likely to give a miss over verbal duel between the BJP leadership of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK which till last month was the largest and longest serving alliance partner of BJP in the NDA from southern India.

Another major Opposition party that is certain to avoid participating in the all-party meeting is the TMC led by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. The party believes that its Parliament representatives, such as Mahua Moitra and Abhishek Banerjee, are being victimised by the Centre. Abhishek, who is Mamatas nephew, is facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), while Moitra has been implicated by the Parliament Ethics Committee over allegations of cash-for-query in the Lok Sabha question hour. While the party has defended Moitra, she now faces a probe by the CBI and the IT Ministry for sharing her Parliament login details beyond her jurisdiction.

Sources said the report of the Ethics Committee on the cash-for-query allegations against Moitra will be tabled in Lok Sabha during the Session.

The House will have to adopt the report before the expulsion recommended by the panel comes into effect and in all likelihood the TMC firebrand leader who has been attacking industrialist Adani Group will be disqualified from the lower house this session.

Sources in other political parties like Congress, JDU, Shiv Sena, NCP, AAP, Shiromani Akali Dal, RJD, BJD amongst others will be attending the meeting.

The Winter session of Parliament begins on December 4 and will have 15 sittings till December 22, during which it is expected to consider key draft legislations, including three bills to replace the colonial era criminal laws.

As of now 37 Bills are pending in Parliament of which 12 are listed for consideration and passing, and seven Bills for introduction, consideration and passing.

Sources said the government also plans to present the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2023-24.

Also, the three key bills which seek to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Evidence Act are likely to be taken up for consideration during the session as the standing committee on Home has already adopted the three reports recently.

Another key bill pending in Parliament relates to the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.

Introduced in the Monsoon session, the government had not pushed for its passage in the special session of Parliament amid protests from the opposition and former chief election commissioners as it seeks to bring on a par the status of the CEC and ECs with that of the cabinet secretary. At present, they enjoy the status of a Supreme Court judge.
A 12 kg silver idol of Lord Parshvanath was stolen from the Digambar Jain temple of Sukhi Sevaniya in Bhopal, in the night of Tuesday thieves entered the temple by breaking 5 locks.

They also took away 50 silver crowns (Chhatrs) and a box full of silver idols. The Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Adinath was also stolen. The total value of the stolen goods is around Rs 16 lakh.

Digambar Jain Temple is in Ahimsa Sthali Colony of Sukhi Sewania. This colony is close to the railway station. On Wednesday morning, the police and FSL team went to the temple and investigated. The thieves have been revealed in the CCTV footage. Police have registered an FIR on the complaint of temple general secretary Mukesh Jain.

This is the second incident of theft in Digambar Jain temple in Bhopal in 3 days. Earlier on Sunday night, miscreants had stolen the idol of Lord Parshvanath by breaking the lock of the sanctum sanctorum of Panch Balayati Digambar Jain temple in Neelbad. This idol of Ashtadhatu is about 7 inches high and weighs 8 kg.

Mukesh Jain told that the campus of Ahimsa Sthali Colony is completely covered. The thieves cut the mesh on the boundary wall after this, 5 locks on the main gate of the temple were broken.

CCTV footage showed that they entered the temple at 2.28 am. A silver idol weighing 12 kg, an Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Adinath, 50 silver umbrellas and 8 auras were stolen. Also took a locker. Many silver idols were kept in it.

The thieves also tried to break away the safe full of cash. After failing, they came out of the temple at 2.44 am and ran away. Three thieves had entered the temple while two of their accomplices are believed to be standing outside to keep watch. Police also suspect that an outside gang may be involved in the incident.

At present the construction work of the temple is going on, hence the deity was consecrated in a nearby room for the darshan of the devotees. Police estimate that there were more than one miscreants and they had come by car. This is because in the CCTV footage, a car is seen stopping at a short distance from the temple at night.
Chhattisgarh Police on Thursday seized a huge cache of cannabis from a truck valued at Rs 2.58 crore here.

This followed a tip that 517 kg of contraband was being transported to New Delhi from Odisha via National Highway 53, Mahasamund Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh told The Pioneer.

The police found the truck without a driver parked near an eatery in Pithora area.

The drugs, stuffed in 18 gunny bags, were hidden under 295 bags of broken rice (khanda).

Efforts are on to nab those involved in the crime.
The 6th Convocation of Medi-Caps University, Indore was successfully held on Wednesday.

In the ceremony, all the degree holders took a pledge for the progress of the world with the spirit of welfare of society and culture.

Chief guest Prof. (Dr.) T.G. Sitaram, Chairman AICTE, New Delhi and special guest Prof. (Dr.) Bharat Sharan Singh, Chairman, MPPURC Bhopal graced the program with their special presence. Honorable Chancellor of Medi-Caps University, Indore, R.C. Mittal presided over the function, which was attended by Honorable, Pro Chancellor Gopal Agarwal, Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Dilip Kumar Patnaik, OSD to Chancellor Palash Garg, Director Branding Mrs. Saloni Garg, Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. D.K. Panda, Dy PVC, Dr. Ankur Saxena, Registrar P. Siluvanathan, deans of all the faculties, heads of departments, teachers were present. A total of 2387 graduates, post-graduates and research students were awarded degrees and 24 meritorious students were awarded gold medals. 'Distinguished Alumni Award' 2007-2011 B.E. (Mechanical) alumnus Ankur Lahoti. Ankur Lahoti is an IAS-affiliated officer (Indian Information Service), serving in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.

TG Sitaram congratulated the graduates and advised them to work for the betterment of the society. He also urged the faculty members to work hard and become role models for the students. He also discussed about the AICTE policies for betterment of education. Prof. Bharat Sharan Singh stressed the importance of education for a meaningful life. Chancellor RC Mittal emphasized that no matter how much success we achieve in life, our education and values should be replaced in our identity.

He also emphasized on changes in current scenario in all sectors. He urge the importance of adaptiblity. Also Vice Chancellor Prof. D.K. Patnaik advised the graduates to prioritize ethics and values and carry forward the educational legacy of Medi-Caps University. Pro-Chancellor Gopal Aggarwal thanked all the dignitaries present in the program.

He also thanked the parents, faculty members for making this event a success and wished them a wonderful life. Everyone wished the degree holders all the best for their graduation journey full of success and learning.

The ceremony was attended by officers from different universities and government and semi-government dignitaries and parents.the convocation concluded with the national anthem.
Delhi Polices Crime Branch and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has raided and imposed penalties on 70 shop owners under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for selling tobacco products near educational institutes in the Capital.

According to police, 31 teams were formed and raids were conducted on the tobacco vendors. A total of 70 vendors were found violating the rules under COTPA Act. Hence, 70 challans were issued against them, police said. These 31 areas were identified where vendors were found selling tobacco products near educational institutes in violation of norms.

"According to data provided by the Department of Education, a local inquiry was conducted. Later, we identified a total 31 areas all over Delhi, where pan khokha, bidi, gutka vendors were found indulging in sale of tobacco products in the 100 metres parameter of educational institutes," Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said.

According to police, the raids were conducted on Wednesday under Operation Kavach 4.0 based on Union home affairs and the lieutenant governors directives. He added they focused on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of tobacco products near educational institutes.

Anti-Narcotics Taskforce took action against these shops in the 100-metre vicinity of the schools as per the education departments data. Joint action was planned simultaneously all over Delhi along with teams from the NCB to ensure action with an element of surprise. The purpose was to check not only the contraband substance being sold by the shops to school-going children but also taking stringent action against the violators for closure of such shops, Delhi police said in a press release.

Police said 31 areas were identified across Delhi, where 70 vendors were found selling tobacco products within the 100-meter radius of the schools. This was a unique operation conducted all over Delhi in a single day to give a strong message to such illegal vendors active near educational institutes.

Yadav said undercover officers, surveillance, canine support, and intelligence gathering were involved in the joint operation.
Jordan Parker is a breaking news reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. He graduated from Sacramento State University in May 2022 with a degree in journalism. During his time there, he spent three years as a reporter and editor for the university's award-winning student newspaper, The State Hornet. He spent his senior year of college serving as The Hornet's first Black editor in chief, leading the organization to two Pacemaker awards and several other national honors from the Associated Collegiate Press. When he's not chasing down a story, he likes watching movies, traveling and trying new restaurants.

He can be reached at Jordan.Parker@sfchronicle.com.
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) organized the 9th edition of FICCI Higher Education Excellence Awards in a glittering ceremony held at Dr Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi on November 29, 2023. These awards are aimed at recognizing and honoring institutions and individuals who have achieved unparalleled excellence in higher education in India.

The awards are given in five categories, viz. excellence in employment generation; social responsibility; globalization; research, innovation and entrepreneurship; and University of the Year.

AIIMS Bhopal was adjudged as the Emerging University of the Year for the year 2023, by a highly acclaimed jury following an extremely competitive contest across institutions belonging to a wide spectrum of disciplines.

The award is recognition of the high standards of academic programs, faculty development activities, research facilities and output, governance, infrastructure and social outreach that the institute has established in the short span of around 10 years.

It was highly appreciated that along with technical education, the institute lays strong emphasis on orienting its students in medical humanities and communication skills, experiential learning, research methodology and community-centric approach.

This model of holistic development of students and faculty members was recognized as an essential instrument in grooming the healthcare professionals of tomorrow. This prestigious award ceremony was a part of the two-day FICCI Higher Education Summit which is being celebrated in the national capital on November 29 and 30 2023 with the theme of Empowering Minds, Driving Transformation: Redefining the future of higher education. Executive Director of AIIMS Bhopal, Prof. Dr Ajai Singh expressed happiness over this achievement and thanked all the employees of the institute.
The labourers rescued from the under construction tunnel in Silkyara have started moving to their homes. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh where they were admitted has started discharging them. The labourers were admitted to the institute on Wednesday. The medical superintendent (MS) of AIIMS Rishikesh, Dr R B Kalia said that all the 41 labourers have been given clearance by the hospital administration and 40 have been discharged from the hospital. He said that an extensive medical examination of all the labourers was conducted by the doctors. The tests such as blood, kidney, liver function test, X ray, Eco, ECG , ABG and others were also conducted. Dr Kalia said that all the labourers are physically normal and clinically stable. He said that the AIIMS Rishikesh has given clearance to all the labourers and they can now go to their houses.

The MS said that apart from the changes noticed in the people who work in the higher Himalayas all the workers are normal. He further informed that the incident can induce some mental changes in the labourers and for this they have been advised to take medical advice from the nearest medical centre after two weeks.

Dr Narendra Kumar of AIIMS hospital administration said that most of the labourers have left the hospital for their homes. He said that the hospital administration is in touch with the nodal officers of different states and is discharging them as per their travel plans.
The Uttar Pradesh assembly, on Thursday, passed three bills to set up a pilgrimage development board for protecting and preserving the ancient cultural heritage in pilgrimage centres Ayodhya, Devi Patan in Balrampur district and Shukra Teerth in Muzaffarnagar district.

The bills, tabled by Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh, are Uttar Pradesh Shri Shukra Teerth Development Board Bill, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Shri Devi Patan Teerth Development Board Bill, 2023 and Uttar Pradesh Shri Ayodhya Ji Teerth Development Board Bill, 2023. All the three boards are being set up on the lines of UP Braj Teerth Development Board. The three teerth boards will act as the nodal agency which would coordinate with various departments to make the pilgrim centres better and boost religious tourism through coordinated efforts.

The chief minister will be the chairman of all the three boards, the tourism minister will be the vice-chairman while five eminent persons will be nominated by the state government to these boards.

The headquarters of Shukra Teerth Board will be at Muzaffarnagar, and of Devi Patan Teerth Board in Balrampur district.

The decision to set up the teerth boards was taken in the state cabinet meeting held at Ayodhya on November 9. The cabinet then had also adopted a proposal to accord status of international research institute to Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan, paving way for enhanced budget and resources for the centre that plays a key role in organising Deepotsav on the eve of Diwali and the important fairs held in the temple town.

Piloting the three bills in the assembly, Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh said the state government was vigorously working to protect and preserve the ancient cultural heritage of the state. He said all important religious centres of Sanatan dharm  Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Krishna Janmabhoomi temple at Mathura besides Vrindavan and Gokul, Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, temple complex at Bateshwar in Agra, Shukra Taal Teerth in Muzaffarnagar district besides important ancient sites of Buddhism and Jain dharma were also in Uttar Pradesh.

The minister said after the inauguration of the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath temple corridor in Varanasi in November 2020 and laying of the foundation of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple at Ayodhya in August 2020, there had been a 199 per cent increase in number of pilgrims and tourist visiting the state. He said the increase in footfalls of pilgrims and tourists had led to sharp increase in revenue as one tourist creates at least six jobs.

He said new records were created by lighting diyas in Deepotsav during the Deepawali in Ayodhya. We have broken our own record by lighting 22 lakh diyas in Ayodhya this year, he added.

He said diplomats from 54 nations attended the Deepotsav at Ayodhya ahead of Diwali.

As many as 12 lakh diyas were lit in Varanasi on November 27 to mark the Dev Deepawali festival where diplomats from 70 countries were also present. The diplomats present at Ayodhya and Varanasi will act as cultural ambassadors of India back home in their native country, the minister said.

The opposition members opposing the three bills said there is undue haste and the government wants to rush with the bills.

Samajwadi Party leader Lalji Verma demanded that the three bills be referred to the select committee of the assembly for further deliberation.

Speaker Satish Mahana, however, did not agree with the demand of the opposition members and the bills were later adopted by the House.
Girl student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bokaro Tenughat was found hanging by a dupatta in the hostel bathroom on Wednesday evening. She was hurriedly taken to Sub-Divisional Hospital Tenughat by the manager of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, where after examination by Dr. Shambhu Kumar, she was declared dead.

Doctor Shambhu Kumar said that the girl was dead when she was brought to the hospital. The school principal Bipin Kumar said that some students informed that a girl was hanging by a dupatta in the hostel bathroom.

When all the teachers ran, they saw that she was hanged with a scarf in the bathroom window and shortly after she was taken down and taken to the hospital.

Official sources said that in the month of August 2023, she was enrolled in +2 science under mini migration, she came to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Tenughat under mini migration from Arwal Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bihar.

She is a resident of Sikariya village, Paliganj block, district Patna, Bihar and her family members have also been informed.

School's captain of the hostel told that during the counting in the assembly at 5.15 pm, there was one girl who was found missing, when he went to investigate, he saw that she was hanging in the bathroom. He informed nurse Poonam Lakra, Anju Pandey and other teachers about the incident.

The body will be handed over to the relatives after post-mortem in the sub-divisional hospital. However Sub-divisional police officer BN Singh, Petwar CO Ashok Ram, Jaridih Inspector also reached the hospital. Where the Sub-Divisional Police Officer said that prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide.
Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand K Ravi Kumar met senior citizens in Jamshedpur as part of a pre-planned program and took information related to their voter certificates. He said that today a special campaign is being run for senior voters across the state. Under this, the election related officials of all the districts will meet the elderly voters there and get information about whether their name is there in the voter list or not. Also, if anyone wants to make any kind of correction in their voter card, then they can fill the form and issue the voter ID cards.

On this occasion, the Chief Electoral Officer while addressing the elders said that the Election Commission of India has directed that all the senior citizens have to go to their homes and register them. Also, arrangements have to be made for the elderly who are not able to come to the polling booth but still want to come to the booth and vote. Along with this, arrangements have to be made for those who want to vote at home. He said that all of you have contributed in building the country by voting for years. Today you are incapacitated by your body. The Commission is making arrangements for you so that this does not become an obstacle to your important contribution in the election process.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that every vote has importance in building the country. You all must vote. In the coming month of March, election related officials will come to meet you again and will make arrangements after knowing whether you are willing to vote from home or from the booth.

On this occasion, the district level election officials of East Singhbhum got the Chief Electoral Officer to unveil the coffee mug related to #SeniorVotersVoice and also arranged for a selfie zone for the awareness of senior voters. On this occasion, the Chief Electoral Officer met the senior voters and heard their problems. Also had breakfast with them and honoured them by covering them with shawls and giving him roses.

On this occasion, District Election Officer of East Singhbhum district Manish Kumar, ERO Jamshedpur East Piyush Sinha, Deputy Election Officer Priyanka Singh, AERO Sudipta Raj and district level election officers and personnel were present.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, urged the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs of the state not to compromise quality of their products, stressing the state governments commitment to giving them priority in government purchases at all costs.

In his address during the Udyami Mahasammelan organised by the Indian Industries Association at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the chief minister said, The MSME sector of Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest strength of self-reliant India. We have done remarkable work towards getting rid of Inspector raj by strengthening technology.

He added: The results of our efforts to eradicate Inspector raj by bolstering technology are evident today. The whole world is looking towards Uttar Pradesh with confidence. We should start preparing for the International Trade Show-2024 now.

The chief minister also visited the exhibition related to Transforming MSME Towards Industry 4.0 and Skill 48, in which MSME startup entrepreneurs from across the state showcased their products.

Welcoming the organisers and entrepreneurs in the state capital, the chief minister noted the challenges that entrepreneurs faced in Uttar Pradesh prior to 2017 due to a lack of a conducive environment as well as lack of government encouragement and support.

After our government came to power in the state in 2017, the result of the scheme for promoting our traditional products as One District, One Product is in front of all of us. Not only the country, even the world considers it an innovative project, he said.

Encouraging entrepreneurs to prioritise product quality and packaging in todays competitive landscape, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath further said that by strengthening the technology, programmes to get rid of Inspector raj had been run.

Discussing initiatives like the Nivesh Mitra Portal, Nivesh Sarathi Portal and Online Incentive Platform, Chief Minister Yogi underscored their remarkable contributions to enhancing investment possibilities and streamlining facilities for entrepreneurs within the state.

UPs ranking in ease of doing business was at 14th place six years ago. Extensive reforms were made to this. The result is in front of everyone, he stated.

The chief minister said that whether it was the work of creating a land bank within the state or establishing better law and order, remarkable work had been done on every front.

Investment proposals totaling Rs 40 lakh crore were received through the Global Investors Summit held in February 2023. The International Trade Show held in Greater Noida in September was also very successful. Over 70,000 buyers had come to the show while the total footprint was four lakh. More than 400 foreign buyers also visited the show. This showcased the remarkable potential of the new Uttar Pradesh of New India, he pointed out.

The chief minister said that the whole world was looking towards India and UP with a sense of credibility. While it took 46 years to develop Noida and Greater Noida, we are currently working rapidly towards a new industrial setup in Jhansi, Bundelkhand. In Jhansi, we already have about 38,000 acres of land bank in the first phase. For the first time in 46 years, under our government, the international airport in Greater Noida is ready, whereas in Jhansi we are going to provide an airport in the first phase.

Addressing the entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath encouraged the utilisation of local educational institutions for acquiring manpower. For this, take the help of the PM and CM Internship Scheme, he added.

The chief minister emphasised the importance of organising trade shows across every part of the state and urged entrepreneurs to harness solar power as a sustainable and pollution-free source of electricity.

On this occasion, UPs MSME Minister Rakesh Sachan, Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary (MSME) Amit Mohan Prasad, IIA national president of Neeraj Singhal, senior vice-president Dinesh Goyal, general secretary Alok Aggarwal, and president of Udyami Mahasammelan were present. A large number of MSME entrepreneurs from across the state, including coordinator Rajeev Bansal also attended the programme.
Police arrested the Congress workers who were staging a protest during the visit of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday. The CM was in the city to inaugurate Ejja-Baini Mahotsav. He also inaugurated development projects worth crores of rupees on the occasion. The workers of the Congress party led by State vice president of Youth Congress Hemant Sahu were arrested when they tried to hold a protest. Sahu said that the CM is only engaging in making announcements. He said all the roads of the State are replete with potholes and the health services of the State are in pathetic condition. The health cards of the Ayushman scheme have become mere showpieces. He said that unemployment is increasing and in the name of anti encroachment drive the livelihood of the people is being shattered.
In a significant breakthrough, the Jamshedpur Cyber Police have successfully apprehended a key member of a gang engaged in fraudulent activities under the guise of updating UID. The arrested individual, identified as Sumit Kumar Mandal from Bihar, was taken into custody, marking a significant milestone in the fight against cybercrime.

Confirming the success, Cyber DSP Jayshree Kujur disclosed that the operation, codenamed "Raftaar," targeted Sumit Kumar Mandal, a resident of the Left district in Bihar. The Cyber Police have uncovered the names of three more individuals involved in the fraudulent activities, and efforts are underway to locate and apprehend them.

During the operation, the police seized ten mobile phones, 32 SIM cards, and Rs. 9 thousand in cash from the possession of Sumit Kumar Mandal. The recovery of these items sheds light on the extent of the fraudulent operations carried out by the gang. The confiscated evidence will play a crucial role in further investigations.

Following the arrest, the accused Sumit Kumar Mandal will be subjected to questioning in the Govindpur police station area. Subsequently, he will be presented before the court of justice to face the legal consequences of his actions. The Cyber DSP emphasized the importance of cooperation from the public in solving such cases and urged residents of the Govindpur area to come forward with any relevant information regarding Lasaj.

In recent months, Jamshedpur has experienced a concerning uptick in cybercrime cases, raising alarms among authorities and citizens alike. The increasing reliance on digital platforms for various transactions and communication has inadvertently provided opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.

Local law enforcement and cybercrime units are grappling with a surge in fraudulent activities, ranging from online scams and phishing attacks to identity theft and financial fraud. The rise in cases underscores the need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to curb the growing menace of cybercrime in the city.

Authorities are urging residents to exercise caution while navigating the digital landscape and to be aware of common cyber threats. Common precautions include safeguarding personal information, using strong and unique passwords, and being cautious about clicking on suspicious links or sharing sensitive information online.

Law enforcement agencies are working to enhance cybersecurity infrastructure and increase public awareness through awareness campaigns and workshops. The importance of reporting any suspicious activities or incidents cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in enabling swift action against cybercriminals.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity practices and to promptly report any instances of cybercrime to the relevant authorities. By fostering a culture of cyber awareness and resilience, Jamshedpur can collectively work towards creating a safer digital environment for its residents.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday said a cyclonic storm is likely form over the southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3.

If the system intensifies into a cyclone, it would be called Michaung.

Wednesdays well-marked low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea moved west-northwestwards and lay over southeast Bay of Bengal. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours.

Continuing to move further west-northwestwards, it would intensify gradually into a cyclonic storm over southwest Bay of Bengal around December 3, the weather office said.

Thereafter, it would move north-westwards and reach north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts around the early morning of December 4 as a cyclonic storm.

There are no weather warnings for Odisha during next four days till December 4, the Regional Office of the IMD here said.

Though there is no weather warning for Odisha, the State Government has put seven coastal districts on alert amid the likelihood of the formation of cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal.

However, under the influence of the system, squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely over southwest Bay of Bengal from December 1 morning and 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from December 2 morning. It would increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from December 3 mornings for subsequent 24 hours.
A 76-year-old man faced extortion and was pushed to the verge of suicide by alleged online scammers, who used a deepfake image of a retired IPS to threaten and harass him.

The police have registered a case regarding the matter and began the investigation.

The harassment began over a month ago when 76-year-old Arvind Sharma bought an Android phone and made a Facebook profile.

Sharma received a video call on the app on October 20 which he answered, police said, adding that on the other side of the call was a naked woman. Sharma ended the call but his trouble began from there, police said.

"Sharma was shown some morphed picture of him with the naked woman. He later received a video call from a man, who identified himself as a senior police officer from Dwarka and alleged that he is being made an accused in a suicide case of the woman," said Kavi Nagar Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abhishek Srivastav on Saturday.

Sharma got scared and deposited Rs 24,000 in the account given by the accused. He later borrowed Rs 50,000 and sent it too. The extortionist, however, demanded more money from him. Scared of his name being sullied and unable to arrange any more money, the elderly was pushed to the brink of suicide. Finally, he confided in his family, who approached the police.

We came to know that a deepfake video of a retired IPS officer from UP, Prem Prakash, was shown to the elderly as the senior officer from Dwarka. A case regarding the incident has been registered and investigations are underway," said the ACP.

Deepfakes refer to digitally altered media (audio or video) of a person to make him or her appear to be someone else.

It appears that the accused morphed an old video of the officer (retired IPS) by changing the audio and background voice. On close examination, the voice and lip movement do not sync. It can be said to be a morphed or deepfake video, the ACP said.

Based on the complaint, the police lodged an FIR on November 21 and initiated the probe. The Ghaziabad Police has also written to Meta for assistance in the case and sent the deepfake video for forensic examination.
Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said that after the acquisition of cloud computing company VMware, Broadcom will relocate its headquarters from San Jose to Palo Alto. He also imposed a strict in-office work policy on all employees, including those who benefited from VMwares work-from-home flexibility. NurPhoto via Getty Images

Barely a week after completing the $69 billion acquisition of the Palo Alto cloud computing company VMware, Broadcom has started the process of significant workforce reductions.

Reports indicate that over 2,000 employees overall are slated for job losses, with a focus on downsizing more than 1,200 roles considered redundant at VMwares offices in Silicon Valley, according to a WARN notice submitted to the California Employment Development Department.

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The initial separations are slated to take place on Jan. 26.

The total number of affected employees at the location listed above is anticipated to be 1,267, Jill Turner, Broadcoms vice president of human resources, wrote in the notice. This will not result in closure of the entire facility, but will only impact certain employees selected for layoff. This planned action is expected to be permanent. Affected employees do not have a right to displace or bump any other employee, and they will not be recalled to work.

Approximately 600 additional positions within the company are expected to be eliminated in Washington, Colorado and Georgia, as disclosed in regulatory filings in those states. Employees in several other regions will also be affected.

In an email confirmed by Business Insider, the semiconductor and software manufacturer informed affected personnel, stating, Broadcom recently completed its acquisition of VMware. As part of integration planning, and following an organizational needs assessment, we identified go-forward roles that will be required within the combined company. We regret to inform you that your position is being eliminated, and your employment will be terminated.

Broadcom did not immediately reply to a request for further information about the proposed cuts.

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The acquisition, which secured regulatory approval after an 18-month process just days before the merger agreement was to expire, brings together major businesses and governmental entities that rely on Broadcoms technology and VMwares software, including Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

Broadcom has a long track record of investing in the businesses we acquire to drive sustainable growth, and that will continue with VMware for the benefit of the stakeholders we serve, Broadcoms CEO, Hock Tan, said in a statement not long after the deal was announced.

Broadcom also plans to relocate its headquarters from San Jose to Palo Alto, Tan announced during an all-hands meeting Tuesday.

Then-President Donald Trump hugs Broadcom CEO Hock Tan at the White House in 2017. Tan later served on Trumps Opening the Country council amid the pandemic. Pool/Getty Images

Tan, who served on former President Donald Trumps Opening the Country council, previously signaled that he wanted to make full use of the 1.6 million-square-foot VMware-owned campus at 3401 Hillview Ave.  that includes imposing Broadcoms strict in-office policy on all employees, including those who previously benefited from VMwares work-from-home flexibility.

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According to an audio recording verified by Silicon Valley Business Journal, Tan emphasized, Remote work does not exist at Broadcom.

Employees residing within 60 miles of a Broadcom location are mandated to work in-office, with few exceptions: If you are customer-facing, go-to-market (sales), then sure, you can be remote, I dont care, Tan said. Any other exception, you better learn how to walk on water. Im serious.
To understand in better manner BJP, the world's largest political party working democratically a delegation from the Embassy of Denmark, visited the party's state office and media center on Thursday.

During this, they visited the state office of the party's foreign department along with state convenor Rohit Gangwal, co-convenor Dr. Sudhanshu Gupta and member Dr. Rahul Jain and met the party officials and understood the functioning of the party. The delegation was given a warm welcome at the state office and media centre.

To know the vision, mission, functioning of the organization, role of Bharatiya Janata Party workers in the implementation of public welfare schemes of the Central and State Government and election related activities, a delegation of the Embassy of Denmark visited the BJP state office and media on Thursday. Visited the centre.

During this Vizark Kofod, Schwetz and Ole, who were part of the party, met the party officials and understood the functioning of the party.

At the state office, the members of the delegation met State Treasurer Akhilesh Jain, State Office Minister Dr. Raghavendra Sharma, Sironj MLA Umakant Sharma, State Convener of the Party's Election Commission and Coordination Department S.S. Uppal met Mahila Morcha State President Maya Narolia, Yuva Morcha State President Vaibhav Panwar, Bhopal Municipal Corporation President Kishan Suryavanshi, State Spokesperson Neha Bagga.

At the state media centre, the members of the delegation met party's state co-media in-charge Kshama Tripathi, state spokesperson Milan Bhargava, media panelist Shivam Shukla, Gunjan Chowksey, Satyendra Jain and closely observed the functioning of the party's media center.

Dr. Sudhanshu Gupta, co-convenor of the party's foreign department, said that this event is under the 'BJP JAANO' campaign of BJP National President JP Nadda , so that more and more information can be given about BJP to the foreign people. This campaign was started by National President Nadda in April 2022 on the foundation day of the party. Through the 'BJP JAANO' campaign, the party strengthens its bilateral relations with various countries. It also tries to give information to the world about its ideology and methodology.
After exposing a scam of Rs 500 crore in the sewage treatment plants, BJP BJP leaders and workers on Thursday staged a protest outside the Delhi Jal Board office accusing the AAP government-run agency of corruption and demanded a CBI probe in the matter. The party members accused the DJB of running a "scam" awarding bogus tenders for the upgradation of its sewerage treatment plants. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged that the DJB "scam" was bigger than the "liquor scam"  an alleged scam which has seen the jailing of several AAP leaders, including deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Sachdeva said that the tender of Rs 1200 crore was floated for Rs 1546 crore and then it was raised to Rs 1938 crore. In this way the Kejriwal government did the work of looting the Jal Board. The sewer lines are being laid for 9 years and payment has been made thrice but still nothing has been done in the name of work. All these things show that Kejriwal's politics is a politics of lies, deception, fraud and loot which the people of Delhi will one day uproot, he said.

He alleged that at DJB there were many instances where tenders were issued, and payments were made, but no work was done. Sachdeva said BJP workers will reach every home in Delhi to expose DJB's corruption.

Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri demanded a CBI probe into the alleged corruption. He charged that a meeting of the DJB that approved the tenders was participated in by Manish Sisodia and Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj with several AAP MLAs as members of the panel. Bidhuri said that there was a time when DJB was in profit of Rs 700 crore but today it is in loss of Rs 70,000 crore.

Despite CAG repeatedly writing letters to Chief Minister Kejriwal for the last eight years, the Kejriwal government did not even get the accounts of the Jal Board audited.

Former Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said Kejriwal, who started the Corruption Free India movement in Delhi, has today become the biggest king of the same corruption.
Farmers should adhere to specific guidelines and a standard operating protocol when using the Pusa biodecomposer, say scientists behind the innovation that was developed as an answer to stubble burning, a practice linked to the surge in air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

The researchers, based at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, also noted that proper implementation of the decomposer will not only aid in effective stubble disposal but also contribute to retaining soil fertility.

The PUSA bio-decomposer was developed as an answer to the problem of farmers resorting to stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana in order to quickly clear their fields for another harvest.

Stubble burning has been linked to a spike in air pollution levels in the neighbouring states, including Delhi-NCR, deteriorating air quality in these areas.

November this year saw the Air Quality Index (AQI) of many areas in the NCR repeatedly breach the 'Severe' and 'Severe Plus' limits of 400 and 450, respectively.

The Pusa biodecomposer is a microbial solution that the scientists say can turn about 70-80 per cent of stubble residues into compost in about 20 days. The solution is a consortium of seven fungal cultures that can degrade diverse horticultural and agricultural residues like paddy straw, soybean trash, millet, and maize residues, in addition to vegetable, citrus fruit and flower waste, according to the agricultural research institute.

"Actually, it is the microbes. All we are doing is increasing the number of microbes that will be camping in the decomposition pit, along with all the stubble," explained Livleen Shukla, Principal Scientist, Division of Microbiology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi.

The decomposer is available as a pre-mix powder that the farmers can instantly use after mixing with water. They could also instead choose to use the solution form of the decomposer, a litre of which is sufficient for preparing compost from 200 kilograms of farm waste like garbage and paddy waste, according to the instructions printed on the bottle in both English and Hindi.

The instructions to the farmers also include turning or shuffling the mixture of biodecomposer solution and stubble residue after 15, 30 and 60 days.

Further, for in-situ or on-field decomposition, the instructions call for spraying 10 litres of the decomposer for every acre after harvesting and turning the soil using equipment such as a rotavator or harrow, or a reverse plough, in addition to irrigating if needed.

"Unless we follow the standard operating protocol, we will not get the desired success (of disposing stubble harmlessly)," said Shukla.

The biodecomposer can be easily incorporated into the irrigation and field preparation practices, which farmers undertake prior to cultivating the next set of crops following rice harvest, according to Dolamani Amat, Senior Scientist, IARI.

"There is no wastage of time. After harvesting, the stubble can be sprayed with the microbial decomposing solution and the soil turned. Now, it needs to be irrigated in order to give the stubble the time to decompose. "However, this time is needed to prepare the field for cultivating crops again. So, the decomposer can fit in well with the irrigation and cultivation timeline of the farmers," said Amat.

Further, research undertaken by scientists at IARI, along with other institutes, has found that the Pusa bio-decomposer can contribute towards improving the yield of wheat by enhancing the fertility of the soil.

"It might be due to improved fertility with incorporation of rice residue and better decomposition of straw with Pusa decomposer, which led to improved physical, chemical, and biological conditions available to the succeeding crop, viz. Higher organic carbon, available NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium), nutrient uptake, microbial activity and better soil structure in the respective plots leading to lesser crop stress," the study authors, including Shukla, said. Their research was published in the Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences in February 2023.
A continuous all-round joint operation is being conducted by the joint forces of Jharkhand Police and Central Paramilitary Forces (Cobra, CRPF and SSB) against Naxalite organizations, which is yielding very positive results in the State. The welfare work of the police officers/personnel involved in Naxalite operations as well as all other police officers/personnel is being implemented on priority basis by the Director General of Police, Jharkhand.

In this series, on Thursday, in the auditorium located at Police Headquarters, Ranchi, in the presence of the Director General of Police, Jharkhand, payments were made to the dependents of the martyrs in the Naxal violence under the 'Accidental Coverage under the Police Salary Package as per the MoU signed by the officials of State Bank of India,.

Let it be known that on 14.08.2023, as part of Naxal eradication campaign, in an encounter with Naxalites in Tumbahaka under Tonto police station area of Chaibasa district, Jharkhand Jaguar's ASI Amit Kumar Tiwari and constable Gautam Kumar made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Taking prompt action by Jharkhand Police and State Bank of India, under the Police Salary Package, Rs. 25 lakhs and Rs 15 lakh was given to the family/dependents of Amit Kumar Tiwari and Gautam Kumar.

It is noteworthy that on the initiative of the Director General of Police, Jharkhand, an MoU was signed between Jharkhand Police and State Bank of India for the Police Salary Package, under which the following facilities were provided to the police personnel through the Police Salary Package. For personal accident death insurance - Rs 50 lakh, permanent total disability - Rs 50 lakh, permanent partial disability - Rs 30 lakh, aircraft accident - Rs 1 crore, in case of death due to personal accident - Rs 50 lakh for higher education of dependent children. Insurance amount - 10 lakhs and there is a provision to give maximum insurance amount - 10 lakhs for the marriage of unmarried girls. An additional provision of Rs 10 lakh has been made to the dependents of martyrs in Naxal violence/ambush attacks by militants and criminals.

Under this MoU, on behalf of State Bank of India Rupay Platinum Card will be provided to the employees, under this, additional insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh will be available in case of death due to accident etc. All these insurance facilities will be provided free of cost to the account holder under the Police Salary Package by State Bank of India. Besides, provision has been made for free accounts, cheque book, ATM card for four family members of police personnel and insurance of Rs 5 lakh each for adult members.

On this occasion, on behalf of Jharkhand Police, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh along with Murari Lal Meena, ADG (Headquarters), Dr. Sanjay Anand Rao Lathkar, ADG (Operations), Priya Dubey, ADGP, (Modernization and Training), Akhilesh Jha, IG, (Human Rights), Amol Vinukant Homkar, IG, (Operations), Annepu Vijaya Lakshmi, DIG, (Personnel), Michael Raj S. DIG (Special Branch), Inderjit Mahatha, DIG (Jharkhand Jaguar), Amit Renu, SP (Operations) and on behalf of State Bank of India Regional Manager, Ranchi Region, Alok Ranjan, Corporate Salary Relationship Manager Vikas Kumar Pandey and Pandara Branch Manager Kumar Kaushal were present.
Leaders of five gas survivors organizations celebrated their recent victory in making Dow Chemical appear in the Bhopal court.

While talking to media perosns, the gas survivors leaders on the occasion of the 39th Anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal condemned attempts by the Minister and officials of the Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation to close down the department. The organizations congratulated the artists and makers of the series The Railwaymen for a powerful telling of the story of the disaster and its aftermath.

We are happy that just before the 39th Anniversary we have succeeded in making a representative of The Dow Chemical Company, USA appear in the Bhopal district court. This is the first time that this corporation that owns Union Carbide and hence its criminal liabilities has made an appearance. It is now up to the prosecution, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure that Dow receives the harshest punishment for its crimes in Bhopal. said Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh.

Balkrishna Namdeo President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha said, Union Carbide has been absconding for the last 31 years and now Dow Chemical that owns the fugitive corporation has been summoned in the criminal case on the disaster through our efforts. The CBI works directly under the Prime Minister and we are sending an appeal to him for effective and speedy prosecution of Dow Chemical.

Speaking on the official plans to close down the department set up for the welfare of the Bhopal survivors, Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said, We have recently come across an official document marked confidential that lays out a plan to close down the Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation (BGTRR). The plan scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting of the state cabinet, proposes handing over the 5 hospitals and 9 dispensaries run by the BGTRR to the Departments of Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education. Through some Orwellian logic, it is being claimed that such transfer will improve health care of Bhopal survivors. Said Ms. Dhingra.

Nawab Khan President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said, In the last few months the High Court has reprimanded the Department of Bhopal gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation for grave laxity in following the recommendations of the Supreme Court appointed Monitoring Committee for improvements of health care of Bhopal survivors. Instead of making much awaited improvements in computerized registration of patients, treatment protocols and quality of care, the officials are trying to carry out a vanishing act to escape judicial sanctions.

We thank the makers and artists of The Railwaymen for telling the story of the disaster to a global audience. It is indeed heartening to see that the makers have highlighted corporate machinations and governmental apathy behind the disaster and its long aftermath with clarity. We hope the success of this series, encourages other film makers to tell the full story of the ongoing worlds worst industrial disaster in Bhopal. said Nasreen Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha.
The Uttar Pradesh government, on Thursday, informed the state assembly during Question Hour that it was encouraging the establishment of small and cottage industries in the state through its policies and programmes, which includes several incentives for entrepreneurs.

Replying to a question raised by RK Verma of the Samajwadi Party, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Rakesh Sachan said that the state government was encouraging the establishment of small and cottage industries in the state through its policies and programmes, which included several incentives for entrepreneurs.

He said that under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, there was a provision of funding up to 15-35 per cent of the cost of projects worth up to Rs 50 lakh whereas in the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana, there was a provision for up to 25 per cent funding for projects of up to Rs 25 lakh.

Similarly, under the financial support scheme of the One District One Product scheme, there is a provision to provide grants of 10-25 per cent of the project cost, with the maximum limit of up to Rs 20 lakh, he added.

Under the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana and One District One Product scheme, artisans associated with traditional products are provided training and modern tool kits through skill development and tool kit distribution, he pointed out.

The minister said that under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, there was a provision of reservation for 20.70 per cent for Scheduled Castes and 0.57 per cent Scheduled Tribes candidates.

The minister further mentioned that under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojana, general category beneficiaries are required to contribute 10 per cent of the project cost, while Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are required to contribute 5 per cent of the project cost.

The One District One Product financial support scheme aims to promote various categories of local products, and the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana is implemented to uplift traditional artisans from different fields, he stated.

Replying to a question related to Scheduled Caste welfare, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backward Class Welfare, Divyangjan Empowerment Narendra Kashyap said that in the financial year 2022-2023, under the post-matric scholarship and fee reimbursement scheme, the department received a total of 2,344,689 applications from Other Backward Classes students of which scholarships were provided to 1,596,455. He said that against the budget of Rs 1,450 crore for the financial year 2022-23, a budget provision of Rs 1,850 crore had been made in the current financial year 2023-24.

Minister of State for Social Welfare (Independent Charge) Asim Arun, replying to a question, said that under the fee reimbursement scheme, eligible students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and general categories studying in state-run and government-aided educational institutions within the state and in government and aided educational institutions outside the state were being provided fee reimbursement as per the rules and regulations.

In the financial year 2022-23, fee reimbursement was provided to 36,607 Scheduled Castes students. Online applications for the financial year 2023-24 are being accepted from students currently enrolled, and the disbursement of funds to eligible and accurate data-submitted students will be done in March 2024, he added.
Heavy rainfall was witnessed in the evening on Wednesday in the state capital, another western disturbance would reach North India on November 30 due to this effect with the start of December month rainfall would occur in the state.

Rainfall started once again in Bhopal on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the morning fog was witnessed and which remained till 11 in the morning. It was cloudy in the afternoon. It started raining in the evening.

The day temperature in the capital reached 20.2 degrees. Usually the day temperature dips to this level in December-January, but this time the temperature fell in the last week of November itself and in the past 13 years it was the coldest November. However, due to humidity the night temperature has not dropped much.

The weather remained abrupt in Madhya Pradesh for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday. In the morning there was dense fog in many districts including Indore, Bhopal, Sagar, Gwalior, Jabalpur. Visibility was also low. Rain started in Bhopal after 5 pm. Light rain also occurred in Umaria and Malajkhand of Balaghat district. It remained cloudy throughout the day in most cities.

There was a dense fog in the capital on Tuesday morning. Visibility 1200 meters from 5:30 to 9:30 in the morning. It was done. The day temperature was recorded at 25.7 degree celsius. It increased by 4.8 degree celsius as compared to Monday. Despite this it remained 2 degree celsius less than normal.

The increasing fog in North India has started affecting traffic. Indigo's Delhi-Bhopal, Udaipur-Bhopal, Prayagraj-Bhopal flights arrived in Bhopal late by three and a quarter hours, while the Raipur-Bhopal flight arrived late by an hour. Railways also started Kalka-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express. Canceled till 2nd December.

Cold conditions have increased in many states, snowfall possible in Kashmir. It has rained in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, UP and Maharashtra, due to which the cold has increased. Hail fell in some areas of eastern Rajasthan. There is a possibility of snowfall in Jammu-Kashmir and Uttarakhand for the next three days.

Indore was the coldest city in the state on Wednesday. The day temperature here reached 22.3 degrees Celsius. There was a drop of 1.7 degree celsius in a single day. There was a difference of 5.9 degree between day and night temperature in Indore. The temperature here was recorded at 16.4 degree celsius at night. The mercury was recorded at 22.9 degree celsius in Shajapur.

There was a drop of 2 degree celsius in Bhopal and the temperature reached 23.7 degree celsius. The temperature was 23 degree celsius in Ujjain, 23.8 degree celsius in Dhar, 23.6 degree celsius in Raisen, 23.2 degree celsius in Ratlam.

Senior meteorologist said that a new western disturbance will be active in the state from tonight. Due to this, the rainy season is expected to start again. It will rain the most in the Indore-Ujjain division.

On November 30, rain with lightning is expected in other districts including Dewas, Sehore, Shajapur, Dhar, Indore, Ujjain, Rajgarh, Bhopal. The weather will remain changed in the state on December 1 also.

The Meteorological Department has issued an alert of light to moderate rain in 12 districts including Bhopal, Jabalpur, Chhindwara in the next few hours. According to the Meteorological Department, light rain may occur at isolated places in Chhindwara, Narsinghpur, Bhopal, Bhimbetka of Raisen and Sanchi, Vidisha, North Betul, Sehore, Sagar, Damoh, Jabalpur, Umaria and Balaghat.

Moderate rain with lightning is likely to continue in Pachmarhi in Narmadapuram district.

Meteorologists said that there is a possibility of lightning during the activity of the system, hence an advisory has been issued. People should not stand under trees during thunderstorms.
Jagran Lakecity University held its Eighth Convocation ceremony on Wednesday at their campus in Bhopal.

The ceremony included the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate upon Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree, Sudha Murty, Author, Philanthropist, Chairperson Murty Trust and upon Padma Shree Piyush Pandey, Chairman of Global Creative & Executive Chairman, Ogilvy India and iconic global creative leader.

The University awarded 612 UG and PG degrees and 10 PhD degrees while students' outstanding efforts and exceptional achievements were recognized with 9 Gold Medals and 26 Rank Certificates.

Sudha Murty during her keynote address said, today I call on you, Class of 2023, to use this opportunity to embark on a glorious phase of your professional journey. I call on you to serve. It doesn't matter how you serve - what matters is that you choose to serve. When you serve, you start to view every problem as an opportunity. When you serve, you connect with the world.

Piyush Pandey in his address said when you receive your degrees, you won't just be getting a piece of paper with your name on it; you will have earned membership within a pantheon of graduates who've used what they've learned to make the world a better place. He appreciated the role played by Jagran Lakecity University in bringing about a qualitative change in media education in central India.

Hari Mohan Gupta, Chancellor, JLU speaking on the occasion said "Convocation is a very special time for our students and their families. It is the culmination of all their hard work and dedication throughout years of study and marks a powerful milestone. These ceremonies, and especially the honoured guests were conferred with Honorary Doctorate and showered their blessings, reflect the best of our vision, commitment and excellence that distinguish our graduates as alumni of Jagran Lakecity University."
A scrap dealer was killed while three others were seriously injured in a powerful explosion in a junk shop in the Incholi area of Amhera under Ganganagar police station of Meerut.

The explosion took place while extracting copper from the armys rocket launcher shell. Panic gripped the area and people ran helter-skelter after the loud explosion. The glasses of nearby houses were broken.

On receiving information, police, Anti-Terror Squad team, Military Intelligence and dog squad reached the spot and investigated for hours.

According to the information, Tausif alias Islamu (65) of Mirapur in Bijnor lived with his wife Akbari and was running a junk shop on Ganganagar Amhera road for about 20 years. At around 9:30 am on Wednesday, Tausif was breaking the armys rocket launcher shell with a hammer to extract copper from it. Due to the presence of gunpowder in it, there was a massive explosion. The explosion was so powerful that the stone on which the shell was being broken was shattered to pieces. Tausifs body parts were also blown away by the explosion.

A retired army personnel, Ramendra Singh of Shivlok Colony, who was riding a scooter and was passing in front of the scrap shop, Faimu of Maithana village of Incholi and a carpenter working in a nearby shop were also seriously injured in the blast.

On getting information about the blast, senior police officers, including Ganganagar, Incholi police station in-charge, reached the spot. The area around the shop was sealed. Forensic team, field unit, dog squad, Military Intelligence, ATS and local intelligence unit teams also reached the spot.

The entire shop was searched. Police recovered two open and two closed rocket launcher shells from the spot. While breaking the fifth shell there was an explosion. Police collected the pieces of Tausifs body and sent them for post-mortem.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rohit Singh Sajwan said that they were trying to find out from where the shells were brought.
Three family members of an IPS officer posted in Ladakh were killed when a truck hit their car in Durg district in Chhattisgarh, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place near Khedamara village on Tuesday night when P. Venkataratnam (65), P. Santhi (60) and an 85-year-old woman were returning to Bhilai from Berla village, Durg Senior Superintendent of Police Ram Gopal Garg said.

Venkataratnam and Santhi were parents while the elderly woman was the maternal grandmother of IPS officer P.D. Nitya, who is posted as the Superintendent of Police in Leh in Ladakh.

The truck driver was arrested.
Ahead of Ron DeSantis' debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Florida governor pointed to the number of people leaving California as evidence its policies were unpopular. In 2022, California lost 340,000 more people to other states and Puerto Rico than it gained. ( Stephen M. Dowell (Orlando Sentinel) and Andri Tambunan (Special to the Chronicle)

When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he would debate California Gov. Gavin Newsom, he framed the event partially as a competition between the states themselves.

The first point he raised wasnt about job growth, crime or life expectancy  it was the number of people leaving California.

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The debate between California and Florida has already been had, DeSantis told Fox News host Sean Hannity in August. (People have) been voting on it with their feet.

So what does the data show about migration between the two states?

Its true that more Californians are moving to other U.S. states than are moving in, and that a greater number of people are moving into Florida than are leaving. In 2022, California lost 340,000 more people to other states and Puerto Rico than it gained. Florida, by contrast, gained about 250,000  a large share of which was a result of migration from New York.

Historically, California has tended to lose more residents to domestic migration than its gained, but has continued to grow because it attracts so many international migrants. But in recent years overall population growth has stalled as domestic out migration rocketed up.

The flow between California and Florida also favors the latter state. About 50,700 Californians became Florida residents from 2021 to 2022, according to data from the Census Bureaus American Community Survey. Thats 22,100 more than the 28,600 Florida residents who moved to California.

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The flow of residents moving from California to Florida has been rising quickly since the beginning of the pandemic. The annual net migration from California to Florida more than tripled from 2019 to 2022.

Still, the net number of people leaving California for Florida is a small fraction of Californias overall out-migration. Larger groups of movers went to closer states like Arizona and Nevada between 2021 and 2022, though Texas had the biggest net in-migration at more than 60,000 former Californians.

Relative to its population, Florida had a fairly small rate of arrivals from California, Census Bureau data shows, just 1 person per 1,000 residents. Idaho, which saw about 21,000 more people come from California than make the opposite move, had by far the highest rate at 11 movers per 1,000 people. Nevada and Arizona had rates of 8.4 and 6.4, respectively. Even Floridas neighbor Georgia, attracted more Californians as a share of that states population.

Theres also some notable demographic differences between the people moving from California to Florida and those who stay in the state. Nearly 60% of Florida residents who moved from California identified as non-Hispanic white, according to data from the Census Bureaus 2016-2021 American Community Survey, the most recent available. Among people who stayed in California, just 36% identified as white.

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Additionally, only about 22% of Californians who moved to Florida were Hispanic, compared to 40% of residents who didnt change states.

Households moving from California to Florida are also wealthier, on average, than those making the opposite trip. The average household income among people who moved from California to Florida between 2020 and 2021 was nearly $200,000, according to tax return data from the IRS.

The households that moved from Florida to California those years made an average of less than half that amount, just $90,000. And the average income among California households that remained in the state was only about $103,000.

Some research has indicated that, though households of all incomes have left California at higher rates that theyve moved in, higher earners tend to gravitate toward states with no income taxes, like Florida.

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The Prestige Institute of Management & Research (PIMR) in Indore hosted the preliminary round of a crucial component of the renowned Techno-Management Symposium, Kshitij.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur organizes the annual KASCADE event. During KASCADE, students participated in several competitions, including the Math Olympiad, Source Code, Anadigix (Electronic Circuits), and Enigma (Quaint Finance Event).

Anadigix provided a dynamic platform for participants to exhibit their skills in the intricate field of electronic circuits. Participants faced the challenge of racing against time, competing to craft the most sophisticated circuit and establish their dominance over silicon. The Math Olympiad put participants' mathematical acumen to the test. They competed against peers from all corners of the country, solving challenging multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

The Source Code competition aimed to identify the best coder, but with a unique twist. Participants were required to predict issue statements using common sense.
In a significant move towards enhancing healthcare accessibility, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra at Deoghar AIIMS through online proceedings from Delhi today. Strategically located adjacent to Amrit Pharmacy in the Deoghar AIIMS campus, the PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra is poised to offer a wide array of medicines at affordable rates.

The Deoghar centre is 10,000th Jan Aushadi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar. Further, Modi also launched the program to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country from 10,000 to 25,000.

The Prime Minister initiated the interaction with the beneficiary and operator of Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS Deoghar, Ruchi Kumari. The Prime Minister congratulated her on starting the 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra, expressing happiness about this milestone being achieved in Baba Dham Deoghar. On being enquired about her decision regarding a Jan Aushadhi Kendra, she narrated her interaction with poor and middle class and acutely felt the need for affordable medicines as medicine that is available in market for 100 rupees is often available at the Kendra for 10 to 50 rupees. He also touched upon creating awareness about Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the region and was informed by Ruchi about the use of social media for the propagation of the scheme.

Beneficiary of the Jan Aushadhi Yojna, Sona Mishra informed the Prime Minister that he managed to save roughly 10,000 rupees per month by purchasing medicines at cheaper prices from the Jan Aushadhi Kendra. The Prime Minister suggested Shri Mishra put up a board at his shop about his experiences of Jan Aushadhi Kendra and emphasized spreading awareness about the availability of cheaper medicines.

Godda MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey had advocated for setting up Jan Aushadhi Kendra, the Union Health Ministry has given the green light for the establishment of the PM Jan Aushadhi Center in Deoghar AIIMS. Ravidadichi, CEO of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), conveyed this approval in a letter to MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey and the AIIMS Director. The inauguration ceremony, marking the launch of the 10,000th PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra in the country, will be conducted via video conferencing.

Godda MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey was present at the Deoghar AIIMS function. CEO Ravi has instructed the AIIMS Director to collaborate with the Nodal Officer of PMBI to ensure all preparations are in place for the inauguration ceremony.

Expressing his satisfaction, MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey shared that his request to Union Health Minister Mansukhmandaviya for the establishment of a Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Deoghar had been met with serious consideration. With the inauguration of the PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra on November 30, patients will experience relief from long queues at Amrit Pharmacy, and medicines will be available at significantly reduced rates, offering discounts ranging from 50 to 90 percent.

The PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra at Deoghar AIIMS will stock a comprehensive range of 1600 medicines, including government generic medicines, along with approximately 900 surgical items. Jharkhand Nodal Officer of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra, Sumit Pandey, highlighted that patients will benefit from substantial discounts, ranging from 50 to 90 percent, making this facility a vital contributor to affordable healthcare solutions.

This modern and well-equipped Jan Aushadhi Kendra is poised to become a cornerstone in healthcare services throughout Jharkhand, operating 24 hours once emergency services commence at Deoghar AIIMS. Presently, in alignment with the OPD schedule, the Jan Aushadhi Kendra will be open to serve the community.
Twenty One Panchayat representatives of Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu reached Birni block of Giridih, where the villagers welcomed them by showering flowers.

All these members inspected the development works of Kapilo Panchayat of Birni block and appreciated the work of the head. Kapilo Panchayat has been honoured with the National Award five times.

Regarding the program, State Program Manager of Panchayati Raj Ranchi, Aditya Ranjan said that all these public representatives from Tamil Nadu have come to see the development of kapilo Panchayat and to know how development can be done in a better way even with less money so that Similarly, government schemes can be used in a better way in Tamil Nadu also.

Kapila chief Mukesh Yadav said that it feels good when someone from another state comes to our Panchayat and appreciates the development work here and talks about developing his area in the same model.

He said that if public representatives work selflessly then the area will definitely develop.

During this time, people from Tamil Nadu danced to Jharkhandi songs and took selfies with the villagers.
In a much-anticipated event, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the 59th BSF Foundation Day and Parade, at Hazaribagh Meru Training Center. Shah reached Hazaribagh on the afternoon of December 30, 2023, via a special BSF aircraft.

The Hazaribagh Border Security Force Meru Center is abuzz with preparations, and the entire complex has been meticulously decorated to welcome the esteemed guest. Director General of Border Security Force, Nitin Aggarwal, has already reached Hazaribagh, accompanied by several senior BSF officers who have been on site for the past few days.

A warm welcome is planned by BSF and Hazaribagh district administration officials upon Union Home Minister Amit Shahs arrival. The Minister is set to partake in all the scheduled programs on December 1, making the occasion a momentous one for the BSF Foundation Day celebrations.

Under the guidance of Meru Center IG KS Baliyan, preparations for this significant event have been underway for the past month, ensuring a seamless and grand celebration. The Hazaribagh Meru Training Center holds historical significance, dating back to 1986 when it became a hub for training newly recruited trainees within the BSF campus.

This center not only serves as a training ground for police officers from Jharkhand and other states but also hosts officers from friendly nations, contributing to international cooperation and collaboration in the realm of security training.

On the way to Hazaribagh senior BJP leaders including State BJP president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi and others welcomed Shah at Birsa Munda International Airport.

Meanwhile in other developments the two-day training class program of Bharatiya Janata Party's Vidhansabha Vistara started at Shagun Banquet Hall, Chiroundi, Ranchi. This program was formally inaugurated by the party's state president Babulal Marandi ji. Addressing the inaugural session, Marandi shared his long political experience and gave many tips to the assembly observers present in this practice class. He suggested the experts speak less and listen more to the other person. Said that no one can be defeated by arguing unnecessarily.

Rather, victory can be achieved through ideas and policies. He also suggested the evangelists have dinner at a worker's house during their field visit. During this, it was said that information about the achievements of the Central Government should be conveyed to the people with full force. The practice class was also addressed by Organization General Secretary Karmaveer Singh ji and State General Secretary Pradeep Verma ji. On the occasion, State General Secretary Balmukund Sahay, Central Vistarak Team member Manoj Kumar Singh, State Spokesperson Saroj Singh, State Working Committee member Ramesh Singh and a large number of Assembly Vistarak were present. While this program was conducted by media co-in-charge Yogendra Pratap Singh.
The newly appointed director general of police Abhinav Kumar said that tackling white collar crimes, women's safety and traffic issues across the State are among his top priorities. He said that personnel of every level will be trained considering the increasing instances of cyber crimes in the State. He will also work on increasing police sensitivity in women related crimes. He stated this during a media interaction at Police Headquarters after taking charge of DGP on Thursday evening. Kumar said that police will efficiently tackle new challenges while maintaining the principles and teachings of traditional policing. The police will emphasise making easy arrangements for the locals, tourists and pilgrims arriving in Uttarakhand and interacting with them using friendly policing. He said that police will also work on increasing the first responder capacity considering the States sensitivity to disasters. The police will continue to take strict action against drug related crimes to make the State drug-free. Besides the public, Kumar said that the welfare of policemen and tackling their issues like housing, health and good education for their children will also be his priorities. Peaceful but strong law and order is the identity of the State and this will be maintained in the coming years too, he added.
Governor's Educational Advisor Dr. E Balagurusamy, OSD of Universities Dr. Sanjeev Rai and Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University Dr. Ajit Kumar Sinha arrived from Raj Bhavan at Baldev Sahu College on Wednesday. On the occasion, the officials took stock of the academic and legal system of the college and also inspected all the labs, library, stadium and shooting range located in the college. The guests appreciated the smart boards installed in the college classrooms and the modern language lab.

On the occasion, Principal Dr SK Gupta, Senior Lecturer Dr Shashi Kumar Gupta and others gave information about the educational activities of the college. It was said that the stadium and national level shooting range situated in the college is the building ground. On the occasion, the visiting guests got acquainted and got information about all the teachers related to educational activities and other subjects in the Teachers House.

On this occasion, Educational Advisor to the Governor, Dr. Balgurusami said that teachers are the real builders of the country. You should have courage within you through which you can guide and develop the skills of the students for the overall development of not only them but also the nation. We have to strengthen India educationally and ideologically. Each of its students will have to be imbued with strong willpower, knowledge, courage and good character. He said that computer science courses should be started in the college soon.

College Principal Dr SKP Gupta, Senior Lecturer Dr Shashi Kumar Gupta, Prof Naeem Khan, Dr Neeta Sahay were present on the occasion. Dr. Ajit Gupta, Prof. Manish Mishra, Dr. Roshan Khalko, Prof. Saronsurin, Prof. Arjun Lakra, Prof. Vasudev Hasa, Prof. Sanjay Ravidas, Dr. Ajay Verma, Dr. Nikhil Kumar, Prof. Amar, Prof. Anjan, Dr. Butan Mahali, Dr. Ajay Shahdev, Prof. Teachers and non-teaching staff including Mukesh Yadav were present.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said that to realise the resolve of a developed India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had taken several crucial decisions and initiatives in the past nine and a half years and both the Central and state governments had been quite supportive of the prime ministers commitment to accelerate growth of the country.

Speaking during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Nishatganj, Balmikinagar, the chief minister said that this yatra would establish the concept of developed India in the coming years under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

The contribution of all of us is necessary for this. For this purpose, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched on Tribal Pride Day on November 15, he remarked.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated in discussions with the beneficiaries of diverse schemes nationwide via video conferencing during the programme. Before this, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath engaged with the beneficiaries of different schemes and distributed cheques, certificates, house keys and Ayushman cards.

He said, India gained independence in 1947 and since then, several governments have been formed. They might have undertaken projects and spent the countrys money, but the perception of India and its people worldwide was different before 2014. Today, we witness a changed image, which reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision.

Before 2014, schemes were formulated in the country by looking at faces, and often these initiatives involved no rules and regulations. The agendas did not include the poor, common citizens, women and youth. However, today, the government is extending the benefits of various welfare schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, free toilets in the homes of the poor, PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi and PM SVAnidhi to the needy, Chief Minister Yogi pointed out.

He noted that these schemes were now providing benefits to the eligible people without any discrimination, despite the revenue sources of the country and the government being the same as in the past. In the last nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided free toilets to 12 crore families, houses to four crore families, and health insurance to 50 crore people under Ayushman Bharat. In Uttar Pradesh alone, over 55 lakh families have received houses, three crore families have been provided with toilets, and 10 crore people have benefited from the Ayushman Bharat card, he pointed out.

Chief Minister Yogi said, Through the Chief Ministers Relief Fund and MLA fund, MLAs are contributing funds to ensure medical treatment for people in their respective areas. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, free rations are continuously being provided to 80 crore people in the country.

If the government is thinking about you, it becomes your responsibility to extend your full cooperation in fulfilling Prime Minister Modis resolve of Panch Pran. Some people do not want the countrys development. They attempt to divide society on the basis of family, caste, religion and creed, pushing back the agenda of development. In order to bring happiness to the faces of the poor, we all need to come together, Chief Minister Yogi said.

He mentioned that when the country celebrates 100 years of independence in the year 2047, during the independence centenary celebration, India should move forward with the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, taking the world along with it. For this, the mentality of slavery will have to be ended, he added.

The chief minister said that the Central and state governments were running various schemes to make every citizen self-reliant. In this regard, the responsibility of all the schemes related to the Poshan Mission in rural areas has been handed over to self-help groups, benefiting 60,000 women who are directly uplifting themselves through employment, he said.

Yogi further mentioned that BC Sakhi is responsibly providing banking facilities to rural areas. By being a part of this scheme, they are playing a crucial role in solving the banking-related issues of rural people and their families, including withdrawing and depositing money from banks.

He further stated that through the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, various programmes aligned with Prime Minister Modis vision are being promoted. In such a situation, the programme will be taken to new heights of success through video vans in more than 57,000-gram panchayats and more than 762 civic bodies of the state, he added.

*Box*

CM communicates

with beneficiaries

Lucknow (PNS): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over cheques, certificates, house keys and Ayushman cards to the beneficiaries of various schemes during the programme. He also handed over cheques and certificates to PM SVANidhi beneficiaries Sujit Kumar, Ameeda Khatoon, Ram Kishore and Vinod Yadav.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), he handed over house keys to Lakshmi Devi, Reena, Vimla and Sufia. Pinki and Neha Singh received Ayushman cards.

The chief minister also directly interacted with the beneficiaries of various schemes during this event. During this, beneficiaries Badlu Rajput, Suman Singh, Divyansh Goswami and Tanushree Pandey expressed their gratitude for the benefits of the schemes.

Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma, Mayor Sushma Kharkwal, Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra, MLA Yogesh Shukla, Dr Neeraj Bora and others were present in the programme.
A Dalit a woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by two youths in Hathras on Monday, police said on Wednesday.

Police have arrested both the accused following a complaint by the victim. A police official said that the incident was believed to have taken place on Monday afternoon.

In her complaint, the woman said that she was walking with an acquaintance when the accused abducted her near a government hospital in Sikandra Rao Kotwali area of Hathras district.

According to Circle Officer Anand Kumar, both the accused came out of bushes near the government hospital and started beating her and the acquaintance with sticks. After that, both the accused dragged the woman into the bushes and gang-raped her. The accused also threatened to kill her if she informed the police and fled the scene.

The circle officer said that following the complaint of the victim, the police had registered a case of gang-rape and arrested both the accused.

The victim woman was sent for medical examination.

A police official said that the woman was living at her maternal home in a locality of Sikandra Rao town for the last two months. She was going home with an acquaintance when the accused intercepted her and committed the heinous crime.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Wednesday, slammed leader of opposition Akhilesh Yadav for politicising the issue of vector diseases like dengue.

You create chaos in society by politicising every issue; people saw your true face during the corona (COVID-19 pandemic) period. The government is aware of dengue; serious efforts are being made to control communicable diseases through inter-departmental coordination, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while intervening in the debate on the spread of dengue in the state.

The issue was raised by Samajwadi Party MLA Lalji Verma during the zero hour through an adjournment notice.

The leader of the opposition is not interested in solving the problem, but in creating chaos in society by politicising every issue. People had seen your malicious attempts during the novel coronavirus pandemic also when you were misleading the people on the vaccine by calling it a Modi vaccine, he said.

Both the (Covid) vaccines were developed by the scientists under Prime Minister Modis guidance in the country and have proved to be the most effective vaccines in the world. COVID-19 cases are seen increasing in all the countries of the world but it is under control in India and in Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister said.

The UP government has made a comprehensive and coordinated effort to control all vector-borne diseases, including dengue and is also tracing and treating all those infected with it, Yogi said and added, The double-engine government does not make only statements but also delivers on the ground. Dengue is completely under control in Uttar Pradesh because of timely steps taken by the government.

The leader of the opposition had alleged that people were not getting treatment for dengue in government hospitals and were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals, where they were forced to pay exorbitant fees for treatment.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who heads the Health Department, was answering the questions of the leader of opposition and SP MLAs in the House. However, amidst the noise created by the opposition MLAs, Yogi Adityanath intervened and rebutted the charges levelled by the opposition members.

In an obvious dig at Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister said, You will get the answer as per the question raised by you. Right now, you have heard only half the answer, if you listen to it completely then perhaps the history will come alive in your mind.

You have only talked about dengue, but when we talk about vector-borne diseases, it also includes diseases like malaria, chikungunya, kala-azar. A coordinated effort has been made at the government level for the treatment of all these related diseases, be it vector-borne or water-borne diseases. It is through that coordinated effort that a special campaign for communicable disease control is run three times a year in the state, the chief minister said.

He said the Health Department, being the nodal department, implements these programmes in coordination with all other departments through awareness for the first 15 days. After this, through Dastak door-to-door campaign, suspected patients running fever are traced and taken to the nearest health centre for treatment.

Referring to the region-wise disease profile of Uttar Pradesh, a state with a population of 25 crore, Yogi Adityanath said, Uttar Pradesh is a state with diverse climatic zones and therefore, diseases also differ from region to region. If you look at the area ranging from eastern UP to Terai of Nepal up to Saharanpur, the entire area was affected by encephalitis. If you look at the area around Bareilly and Budaun, it was more infected with malaria. If you reach from Varanasi to Firozabad and Agra via Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, this entire area is affected by dengue. If we look at the Bundelkhand region, this entire region is affected by chikungunya. Kala-azar was seen more effectively in the areas adjacent to Bihar.

Yogi Adityanath said that dengue was a type of flu, having its own cycle. Taking a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, he said, When the member was shouting, I was also worried about his health. What you have said is not blood trip, it is called platelets. It is available in sufficient quantities in every district. What used to happen earlier was that we used to transfuse whole blood. Whole blood is not required for every patient, especially those with viral diseases such as dengue or multiple viruses that reduce platelet count. We provide an additional supply of platelets in that situation. For this, blood separator units have been provided in every district.

Referring to the efforts made regarding health infrastructure in the state, Yogi Adityanath said that the government was also providing annual health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat and Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana to 10 crore people in the state.

The patients are getting all the facilities in any empanelled private or government hospital. The entire House is witness that every MLA has been authorised to give Rs 25 lakh annually from the Vidhayak Nidhi, the chief minister said and added, There is no discrimination on any ground like caste, creed and religion in sanction of funds for medical treatment from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund. Whosoever applies for it gets the assistance if the person is a citizen of Uttar Pradesh. The government provides financial assistance for treatment within the state, in the country or anywhere in the world from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund.

Yogi Adityanath asserted that the government has made funds available to all the members of the assembly when they recommended for assistance from CM Relief Fund.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said people have immense confidence in his government after looking at his work for 10 years, as he slammed the past dispensations for considering themselves 'mai-baap' of citizens and working with vote bank in mind.

Modi also said the four big 'castes' for him are poor, youth, women, farmers, and asserted that their rise will make India developed.

He made the remarks after interacting with the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' beneficiaries via video conferencing.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country with an aim to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time bound manner, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

In his remarks after interacting with the beneficiaries, Modi said Bharat is neither going to stop nor tire as the people of the country have resolved to make the country developed.

Even in various corners of the country there is such enthusiasm for the yatra and there is for a reason for it, as people have seen Modi, his work, in the last 10 years and therefore, they have immense confidence in the government and its efforts.

People have also seen that period when earlier governments used to consider themselves 'mai-baap' of the people. Therefore, even after decades of independence, a big portion of the population was deprived of basic facilities, Modi said.

Mai-baap is a Hindi term which loosely translates as a government having a feudal mindset.

More than half the population had lost faith in governments, he said.

Modi said governments in the past used to look at political benefit and vote bank while undertaking works.

Therefore, the people never used to trust the announcements of such 'mai-baap' governments. We have changed this and the government in place now considers people as form of God and we work with 'seva bhav' not 'satta bhav'.

He said that in just 15 days of the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra', people are walking along and joining it.

People are now identifying the 'raths' in the yatra as the 'Modi Ki guarantee wali gaadi', he said.

Uptil now, the vehicle of 'Modi ki guarantee' has reached over 12,000 panchayats and more than 30 lakh people have benefited from it, the prime minister said.

Mothers and sisters are reaching out to this vehicle of 'Modi ki guarantee'. People are giving this the shape of a people's movement and taking it forward, he said.

A voice is heard across country that Modi's guarantee begins from where people's expectations from others end, the prime minister said.

During the event, Modi also launched an initiative to increase number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which sell medicines at subsidised rates, from 10,000 to 25,000.

The prime minister dedicated to the nation the landmark 10,000th Jan Aushadi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar.

He also launched the 'Drone Didi Yojana'.

The scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 select women Self Help Groups during the period 2024-25 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose.
Megan Fan Munce is a reporter who joined the San Francisco Chronicle as part of the two-year Hearst Journalism Fellowship, spending her first year of the program at the Houston Chronicle.

Munce grew up in San Jose before attending Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, graduating with a B.S. and M.S. in journalism and a second major in political science.

She previously worked as an audience engagement fellow and a reporting fellow at the Texas Tribune, as well as an audience intelligence intern for KQED.

She can be reached at Megan.Munce@sfchronicle.com.
Voters queued up in good numbers on Thursday across Telangana to seal the fate of nearly 2,500 MLA aspirants in the polling being held for 119 Assembly segments in the state, where the BRS aims to retain power for a third time while the Congress is keen to upset the ruling party's chances.

The BJP, also keen on forming its first government in the southern state, has left no stone unturned to ensure victory and had deployed a battery of national leaders and Chief Ministers of the saffron-party ruled states to reach out to the public during the 50-day long campaigning.

The BRS has been in the ruling saddle since 2014, following grant of statehood to Telangana.

As of 1 PM on Thursday, 36.68 per cent voters had cast their votes, Election Commission officials said.

Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj told reporters polling was peaceful, except for minor skirmishes at one or two places.

Observing that voter turnout was low in urban areas, he hoped it would pick up as the day progressed. EVMs had to be changed at a couple of places, he added.

As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray, including chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.

CM Rao and his wife K Shobha voted in Chinramadaka village in Siddipet district.

Union Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BRS Working President Rama Rao, his sister and party MLC K Kavitha and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi were among the early voters after polling began at 7 AM. Film personalities including Chiranjeevi and Allu Arvind also cast their votes.

BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats. Allies BJP and Janasena are contesting in 111 and 8 seats, respectively, while Congress is fighting from 118 seats and has given one seat to CPI.

Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.

Top national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, besides chief minister KCR addressed a number of meetings and held roadshows during the campaigning, indicating the prestige invested by the respective parties in the electoral battle that comes months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kavitha, daughter of CM Rao, cast her vote in Banjara Hills here.

"I sincerely request everybody in Telangana to come out and exercise their right. Because when you vote you have the right to question us. When you vote, you can hold the politicians accountable," she said.

Owaisi, who voted at a school in Rajendranagar Assembly constituency, also urged the the voters to exercise their franchise.

"We are hopeful that we will do well. Now it is for the people to come out to vote in thousands and lakhs and exercise the right to vote so that you reward those candidates and parties who have been working for you, who have great concern for you," he said.

Hailing India's democracy, Kishan Reddy said one does not get the right to criticise the political system without fulfilling the responsibility of voting. Finding fault with the distribution of money and liquor to lure voters, he urged the electorate to vote fearlessly and without being influenced by any inducements.

Observing that he has fulfilled his duty as a citizen, Rama Rao asked all citizens of Telangana to come out and exercise their franchise.

Later, in a post on social media site X, he said "Getting reports from all over the state Car in Top Gear. Jai Telangana."

The BRS' election symbol is car.

State Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy cast his vote in the Kodangal assembly segment from where he is contesting.

Congress said it brought to the notice of Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj, Kavitha allegedly violating the poll code by appealing to the people to vote for the BRS.

Asked about the complaint against Kavitha, CEO Raj said the matter has been referred to the District Election Officer (DEO).

On a reported complaint at Kamareddy constituency by BRS against Revanth Reddy's brother, the official said it has been referred to concerned DEO.
An Indian national was on Wednesday charged here by federal prosecutors in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G. Olsen said.

US authorities said Gupta agreed to pay an assassin USD 100,000 to kill the Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.

"On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver USD 15,000 in cash to the UC in Manhattan, New York, as an advance payment for the murder," according to the charges.

The indictment has not named the US citizen but The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

"As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India," United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement.

Williams said that his Office and law enforcement partners neutralised this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad.

The Superseding Indictment unsealed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said and other public court documents details the alleged plot in which Gupta was involved.

In about May 2023, Gupta was recruited by an individual to orchestrate the assassination of the victim in the United States.

The plot was directed by an Indian government employee who has described himself as a "senior field officer with responsibilities in security management and intelligence and also claims to have served in the Central Reserve Police Force and been trained in battle craft and weapons," the indictment said.

Prosecutors said that Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the United States in connection with his participation in the plot to murder the individual. It was not immediately clear when Gupta might be extradited to the US.

The development came on a day when India said that it has constituted a high-level enquiry committee to probe allegations relating to a conspiracy to kill the Sikh extremist on American soil.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the US side shared some "inputs" pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists and that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on "our national security interests as well" and that relevant departments were examining the issue.

India constituted a high-level enquiry committee on November 18 to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, he said.
China-proposed Global Development Initiative under spotlight at seminar in Vienna

Xinhua) 13:18, November 30, 2023

VIENNA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Delegates attending a seminar here on Tuesday spoke highly of the China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI), which they said contributes to the realization of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

China's Permanent Mission to the UN and Other International Organizations in Vienna hosted the seminar on "Accelerating 2030 SDGs through joint global development efforts," which brought together more than 200 representatives from Vienna-based UN organizations, UN member states' permanent missions here and think tanks.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, said in a keynote speech at the seminar that the GDI, since it was proposed in 2021, has yielded important early harvests, benefited many developing countries, and continued to gain influence worldwide.

Li noted that more than 100 countries and international organizations have voiced support for the GDI, and over 70 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI.

The Chinese envoy encouraged the members of the Group of Friends of the GDI to strengthen cooperation and exchanges on the initiative, enhance the synergy between their national development strategies and the GDI, and make joint efforts to advance the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The seminar on Tuesday marked the first official gathering of the Group of Friends of the GDI in Vienna.

Gerd Mueller, director general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), praised the GDI's vital role in promoting the realization of the UN SDGs at the seminar, saying the launch and implementation of the initiative marks "a milestone" in a new stage of global development.

Mueller said the many similarities between the GDI's key areas and the mandate of the UNIDO have paved the way for further cooperation between UNIDO and China.

The UNIDO chief also called on the members of the Group of Friends of the GDI to participate actively in global development cooperation projects and make full use of the GDI and South-South cooperation to promote more robust and sustainable global development.

Liu Hua, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also noted that the GDI is highly aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda and contributes to the realization of the UN SDGs.

Liu said the IAEA would deepen cooperation with China on the GDI and jointly contribute to building a green, healthy and more resilient world.

Tang Ying, director of the Global Development Promotion Center of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said on the seminar's sidelines that over the past two years, the GDI has become a catalyst for promoting global development and has injected new momentum into the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda.

Tuesday's seminar was convened on the margins of the ongoing UNIDO General Conference, which opened on Monday and will run through Friday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The California medical board has revoked the license of a Berkeley doctor, finding that he harmed terminally ill cancer patients with negligent and incompetent sham treatment. Gerry Broome/Associated Press

The Medical Board of California has revoked the license of a Berkeley doctor, finding that he harmed numerous terminally ill cancer patients and their families with negligent and incompetent sham treatment that included a therapy he called side-effect free chemotherapy, according to an order issued by the board this month.

In a decision released Nov. 8, the board revoked Dr. Kenneth Matsumuras medical license, effective Dec. 8. The order found that Matsumura, who has been practicing since 1971 and runs a solo practice, exhibited cruel and dangerous conduct with patients and that his license must be revoked to protect public safety.

The matter stems from a complaint, filed by the boards executive director in 2022, that alleged Matsumura used inappropriate therapies in treating three patients with metastatic cancer between 2018 and 2020.

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The complaint largely centered on Matsumuras use of a protocol he developed and called side-effect free chemotherapy, an intravenous drug therapy he claimed could achieve remission even in patients whose cancers have metastasized extensively  without the typical side effects such as nausea, hair loss and bone marrow damage.

The protocol involved the administration of two drugs, mesna and carboplatin. Mesna is often given to patients undergoing cancer treatment to protect against bladder irritation caused by chemotherapy. Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug used to treat some cancers.

The order, which was signed by an administrative law judge, describes the treatment of three patients who received care from Matsumura between 2018 and 2020. But there may be many more patients affected; Matsumura told the board he has been offering this treatment to about 1,000 patients since 2002.

The three patients whose experiences were described in the order had metastatic cancer and were also receiving care at other California medical centers while being treated by Matsumura. All later died. Matsumura told the patients and, in some cases their other doctors, that he believed the side-effect free chemotherapy was working and that the cancer was regressing, while tests the patients underwent showed the cancer was growing or spreading, according to the order. The names of the patients were not disclosed.

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In two of the three cases, the patients other doctors reported their concerns about Matsumura to the board. In each case, the patient or their family paid significant sums of money, ranging from $30,000 to more than $100,000, and the experience diminished their quality of life during their final months, the order says.

In all three cases, the board found Matsumuras treatment incompetent or an extreme departure from standard of care.

The evidence in aggregate shows that (he) preys on vulnerable patients and their families by exploiting their fear and denial about impending death to extract payment for worthless treatments, the order says. This conduct is despicable.

No formal clinical trials of side-effect free chemotherapy have been conducted, and no reputable peer-reviewed medical journal has published an article describing it, the order found.

When contacted about the boards decision, Matsumura said the medical board is biased in favor of traditional oncologists. He provided written accounts from patients and patients family members who praised his care.

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In response to the complaint, he said the care he provided was not incompetent and qualifies as alternative or complementary medicine that is exempt from discipline under the states business and professions code, according to the order. The board found that the care is not considered alternative or complementary medicine because it offered no therapeutic gain and because he did not perform exams of the patients or obtain their records from other providers that wouldve allowed him to evaluate their conditions thoroughly.

Matsumuras attorney, Marvin Firestone, who represented him in the matter before the board, declined to comment.

In the order, the board said Matsumuras conduct could be explained by either being profoundly dishonest or profoundly delusional.

The medical board is the state agency that licenses doctors, investigates complaints against physicians and disciplines those it has found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct.

Revoking a physicians license is the most serious disciplinary measure the board can take. When a doctors license is revoked, they generally must wait five years before they can petition the board to have their license reinstated.

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Elena Kadvany joined The San Francisco Chronicle as a food reporter in 2021. Previously, she was a staff writer at the Palo Alto Weekly and its sister publications, where she covered restaurants and education and also founded the Peninsula Foodist restaurant column and newsletter.

She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com.
The Right Honourable Ann Widdecombe DSG, or as we call her in the Squib office, Auntie Widders, is a straight-shooting problem solver. If we had more MPs like Ann Widdecombe in government today we as a nation would not be in such a mess, or more specifically, the Tories would not be in such turmoil.

Ann was Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald, and the former Maidstone constituency, from 1987 to 2010 and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South West England from 2019 to 2020. After leaving the Conservative Party, she was a member of the Brexit Party from 2019 until it was renamed Reform UK in 2021; she rejoined Reform UK in 2023.

We are very grateful to Ann for agreeing to answer a few questions about Brexit and to highlight its continuing importance, even though it has been sidelined somewhat by the current Sunak regime, and is threatened even further by the incoming Labour government when the May General Elections are held.

The EU Referendum result of 2016 and hard-fought subsequent Brexit were one of the most important democratic events to have taken place in recent British history. The Daily Squib fought hard for it as did many Brexiteers, and we feel we have some responsibility to reiterate its continuing importance, especially regarding the sovereignty of the British Isles and global trade.

ANN WIDDECOMBE BREXIT INTERVIEW

Daily Squib: Can you explain why you believe that Brexit was crucial to the UKs sovereignty, and how it has enhanced the nations ability to make independent decisions?

Ann Widdecombe: I was a Minister for nearly 7 years and realised in that time how very little Britain could control its own laws. Everything we did had to be compatible with EU law, regardless of the benefits to us of doing otherwise. The very definition of sovereignty is control over your own affairs. We did not have that.

DS: How do you respond to those who argue that the UKs compatibility with the EU could have been improved through negotiations and reforms, rather than complete separation?

AW: Experience. David Cameron went off with much fanfare to obtain concessions from the EU prior to the Referendum, and came back with nothing.

DS: In your opinion, how has Brexit impacted the UKs ability to control its borders and immigration policies, and do you consider this to be a positive outcome?

AW: Obviously since Brexit, we have had complete control of legal immigration in as much as we can decide whether people are admitted and on what terms. The failure to deal with illegal immigration is down to the Government and not to Brexit.

DS: Could you discuss the trade implications of Brexit for the UK and how it has influenced the nations economic sovereignty and flexibility?

AW: Since Brexit, we have implemented some very serious trade deals which will have a massive economic benefit.

DS: What do you see as the main benefits of the UK having the freedom to enter into independent trade agreements post-Brexit, and how has this impacted the nations global standing?

AW: The benefits speak for themselves. We can now trade on terms which suit us and the other country, rather than adhere to EU requirements.

DS: Some critics argue that Brexit has increased bureaucracy and challenges for UK businesses. How do you respond to these concerns and what measures do you believe can mitigate them?

AW: I refer you to Nissan which predicted that it would move its business from the UK and has now increased its business, claiming that the effects of Brexit on its operations have been negligible. That, however, does not please me because the effect would be beneficial if we made a bonfire of the EU regulations and started competing with the EU rather than shadowing it.

DS: Personal support for Brexit can be driven by various factors. What were the primary reasons that led you to support Brexit on a personal level?

AW: Sovereignty.

DS: In retrospect, how do you view the implementation and negotiation process of Brexit, and what could have been done differently or more effectively?

AW: In retrospect, I say what I said at the time. The deal was appalling and effectively isolated Northern Ireland.

DS: How do you see the future relationship between the UK and the EU, and what are your hopes for the country now that it has officially left the European Union?

AW: I hope that ties between the UK and the EU will loosen over the coming years, that we will compete with the EU but build good relationships with the individual European countries.

DS: There was at one point talk of a Singapore on the Thames, but that never came into fruition. Do you think to some extent that the Tories squandered their mandate to create and maintain a valid Brexit?

AW: Of course, the Tories squandered their mandate. Why do you think I joined first the Brexit Party and then Reform?

DS: Should Britain leave the ECHR which many say is holding the country back from stopping the illegal migrant trafficking across the Channel, and do you think France has been complicit in encouraging illegal migration to the UK as a form of vindictive Brexit punishment?

AW: Yes, we should leave the ECHR and yes, France has been slack in stopping the boats. I think Macrons motives are more to do with getting rid of the problem from French shores than with taking revenge for Brexit.

DS: If, and when Labour wins the next General Election, is it almost a certainty that Brexit will be in danger by the likes of Keir Starmer and his Cabinet?

AW: Yes.

https://www.annwiddecombe.com/
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom will debate each other on Fox News Thursday night. Drew Angerer and Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Longtime rivals Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis will meet Thursday evening to finally hash out in person the arguments theyve been making against each other for years.

The two governors, Newsom from liberal California and DeSantis from conservative Florida, will argue over who has a better vision for their state  and the country  in a debate moderated by Fox News commentator Sean Hannity.

DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate will air on Fox at 6 p.m. PST.

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The event will take place in Georgia, one of several swing states Newsom had proposed for the occasion.

DeSantis, who is running for president, made the surprise move in August to agree to debate Newsom, who is not running for any office. Political observers and Newsom himself have characterized the move as a desperate one by DeSantis, who has struggled to gain support in a Republican primary dominated by former President Donald Trump.

Newsom and DeSantis publicly sparred earlier this year over flights of migrants DeSantis claimed credit for sending to Sacramento, prompting Newsom to call him a small, pathetic man. They also have antagonized one another over education and abortion policy. Newsom has run ads in Florida criticizing DeSantis policies there, and both men have visited each others states to campaign against the others governing.

The stakes are high for DeSantis, who is campaigning hard for a win or at least a second-place showing in the Iowa presidential caucuses on Jan. 15. Hes battling with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to become the Trump-alternative candidate. But even if he prevails over Haley, DeSantis still faces an uphill race against Trump, who is popular with Republican voters.

Robert Salvador, who said he moved his tech company from Illinois to Florida because of DeSantis more open COVID policies, is a vocal backer of DeSantis who works with the campaign as a surrogate. He attributed DeSantis flagging poll numbers to the medias obsession with Trump, and said the debate gives DeSantis a good platform to get in front of voters.

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Anytime the governor can get in front of a big audience and tell them what hes done and why that blueprint would be good for America, thats a good thing, Salvador said.

Its also a good opportunity for DeSantis to raise money, Salvador said.

Salvador also pointed to the theory that DeSantis campaign has pushed that Newsom will somehow be the Democrats presidential nominee, though theres no evidence or path for that to happen. Biden is actively campaigning for a second term alongside his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. Newsom, a close Biden ally, goes out of his way to sing Bidens praises in interviews and was sent by the Biden campaign to stump for the president after a recent Republican debate.

But Salvador said he still believes Newsom will be the Democrats nominee.

I think the DNC is obviously very powerful and they can slot in someone, he said. I personally believe it will be Newsom. If its Newsom, he would destroy Trump in a national election.

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The Democratic National Committee, which is controlled by Biden, does not unilaterally select the nominee for president. Instead, voters pick the nominee through elections that will take place next year. Newsom is not running as a candidate, something that would require him to raise many millions of dollars to directly challenge Biden.

Instead, Newsom has raised more than $6 million for Biden and Harris reelection campaign since March, Newsom spokesperson Nathan Click said. Newsom plans to fundraise even more for Biden with the buzz around the debate, Click said.

Mike Madrid, a California-based Republican strategist, said the idea that Newsom will be the Democratic nominee is absurd.

What reality are they living in? he asked. If theyre trying to elevate Newsom because theyre losing traction against Nikki Haley, they need an intervention.  I dont say it as a pejorative, I say this as someone who desperately wants them to be serious.

For Newsom, who was elected to a second term as governor last year, the debate presents an opportunity to further raise his national profile, something he has been working to do for years, including this year with trips to China and Israel and a nationwide campaign to promote Democrats in tough races.

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Aside from the political optics, the debate has the potential to touch on substantive issues facing both Florida and California.

DeSantis will likely mention migration data to plead his case that more Californians are migrating to Florida than the other way around. Last year, 340,000 more people left California for other parts of the United States, including Puerto Rico, than moved in, while about 252,000 more people entered Florida than left. More than 50,000 people moved from California to Florida, while more than 28,000 people moved from Florida to California.

California has about 39 million people, while Florida is home to about 22 million.

Though California is nearly twice as big as Florida, its homeless population is several times larger than the Sunshine States. Florida has roughly 26,000 homeless people, according to federal estimates, versus more than 171,000 in California.

Which state is doing better depends on which statistics you look at. Californias unemployment rate in October was 4.8% compared with Floridas 2.8%. But Californias median income last year was over $91,000 compared with Floridas $69,000. Californias per capita gross domestic product measure is $93,305 compared with Floridas $64,692.

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Manuel Pastor, an economist at the University of Southern California who served on Newsoms COVID business recovery task force, said Californias expensive housing market is largely responsible for driving many working-class people out of the state, even as wealthy residents are staying put. Californias housing market could be a weak spot for Newsom in the debate, Pastor said, though he noted major Florida cities like Miami have expensive rental markets, even as wages there are generally lower than in California.

When we think about the migration statistics, whats important to note is that California has not been losing its millionaires or business creators, Pastor said. The real move out from California has been from working-class and younger residents.
The ruckus started when AP officials went to the dam to release the water, but Telangana officials objected and placed barricades. (DC File Photo)

VIJAYAWADA: Hours before the Assembly elections were to commence in Telangana state, the AP government released 2,000 cusecs of water for drinking purposes from the Nagarjunasagar dam after a face-off with Telangana officials on Thursday night. The road between the two states was barricaded and the AP government reportedly deployed 1,200 personnel at the dam.

Water from the Nagarjunasagar dam, located on the border of the two Telugu states, serves the irrigation, drinking water and power needs of AP and Telangana. The project has 26 gates, of which the Telangana government operates Gates 1 to 13 and the AP has control over the rest, as per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Release of water from the dam is based on the advice of the Godavari Waters Dispute Tribunal.

The ruckus started when AP officials went to the dam to release the water, but Telangana officials objected and placed barricades. AP officials then summoned the police, who reached the dam and removed the barricading.

The Telangana special police force, upon arriving at the spot, did not allow the AP police to go on to the dam and locked up the control room. Officials from the two states argued about the release of water for about half an hour.

The AP police tried to pacify their Telangana counterparts, explaining that AP had the right to control its part of the project and Telangana could not deny their rights. With Telangana police refusing to budge, the AP police forcibly entered the dam and escorted the AP irrigation officials into the control room.

The AP officials then took control of the operation of Gates 14-26. The AP police also set up barricades on the project road, completely preventing vehicular movement between the two states. Iron fencing was laid on the project to prevent the movement between the two states.

As tensions escalated, the Telangana staff cut electricity connections to the motors, following which AP officials provided a new connection, operated the motors and released 2,000 cusecs of water.

The Telangana police alleged that the AP policemen damaged the CCTV cameras set up at the gate as a part of the security arrangement. It may be recalled that a similar tense situation prevailed due to a ruckus between AP and Telangana on February 13, 2015, when AP tried to release water from the dam.

The AP police stated that they went to the site of the dam only after receiving a report from irrigation officials. They said that to prevent an untoward incident amid the ongoing flare-up, over 1,200 police personnel were deployed at the dam to control the situation.
Voters show their fingers marked with indelible ink after casting their votes for the Telangana Assembly elections, in Hyderabad (PTI)

ADILABAD: A few Assembly constituencies have registered the highest polling percentage by 1 pm in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Asifabad recorded 45.53 percent, Boath Assembly Constituency recorded 43.83 percent while Khanapur recorded 43.50 percent, Adilabad 40.2%, and Sirpur (T) 36.20%. Nirmal registered 38.28 percent voting and Mudhole recorded 43.7 percent of polling by 1 pm.

Most of these constituencies have tribal populations and remote villages. Still, these areas registered high polling percentages with voters casting their votes from early morning.

Long queues of voters are seen at the polling booths in Adilabad and Boath towns.

Meanwhile, villagers of Varipet boycotted the polling demanding the creation of Varipet and Kotha Varipet villages as new gram panchayats in Kasipet mandal in Bellampalli Assembly Constituency in Mancherial district.

However, candidates Gaddam Vinod of Congress and Durgam Chinnaiah of BRS took note of the villagers' demand and convinced them after which they came to polling stations to exercise their franchise.
Voters would have to weigh in on any increase in state or local taxes or fees if a measure headed for the 2024 ballot is approved. But the state Supreme Court may remove it from the ballot. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

In a rare action, the state Supreme Court granted a hearing Wednesday on a request by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic legislators to remove an initiative from the November 2024 state ballot that would require voter approval for any increase in state or local taxes or fees.

The justices denied their request to immediately cancel the vote on the ballot measure, but told its sponsors and state election officials to show cause before this court why the measure should go before the voters. Written arguments are due by mid-February, with a hearing to follow. All seven justices signed the order.

The initiative, a proposed state constitutional amendment supported by business groups, has collected enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. But Newsom and the Legislatures Democratic majority contend the measure would so drastically weaken the historic powers of the states elected leaders and lawmakers that it would amount to a revision of the California Constitution, which cannot be done by initiative.

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The court usually waits until voters approve a ballot measure before deciding whether it is constitutional. But in 2018 the justices removed a ballot-qualified initiative that proposed to divide California into three states.

The court never decided whether the measure would amount to a constitutional revision, rather than just an amendment, because its sponsor dropped the plan after it was removed from the ballot. A revision would require two-thirds legislative approval before being submitted to the voters.

This radical effort led by wealthy business interests impermissibly seeks to completely restructure our system of government in a way that will hobble the states ability to respond to future crises, Omar Rodriguez, a spokesperson for Newsom, said in a statement Wednesday. We are pleased the Court decided to hear this important case.

Sponsors of the measure, including Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, said the courts action threatens the voters constitutional right to act as a check and balance for the governor and Legislature.

We will continue to defend the right and voice of voters to the Court and ensure that this highly popular and much-needed measure appears before voters next November, said Lapsley, joined by leaders of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Business Properties Association.

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Current law allows the Legislature to increase state taxes by a two-thirds majority vote. The proposed ballot measure would retain that standard but would also require a majority of California voters to approve the increase before it could take effect.

State law does not now require legislative or voter approval of state or local regulatory actions with financial effects, such as an increase in licensing fees. The ballot measure would classify those actions as taxes requiring approval from state or local lawmakers, by a two-thirds majority in some cases.

And it would apply retroactively. Any tax or fee by a state or local government since the start of 2022 would be canceled unless approved within 12 months by the voters or lawmakers cited in the ballot measure.

That provision poses an immediate threat to vital state and local services that are so important to our cities residents, mayors of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and several other cities said in a filing with the court. If the measure remains on the ballot, they said, Our cities will be forced to reassess and potentially slash lawfully prepared budgets even before the election to avoid financial emergencies if voters approve the measure.

The measures limitations on the ability to approve new taxes will have devastating effects on K-12 education finance, the California School Boards Association said in a filing urging the court to hear the case and remove the measure from the ballot.

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In an emergency petition in September, lawyers for Newsom and state lawmakers said that if the measure became law, administrative agencies would lose the power to do much of the work they do today under legislative delegated authority, such as assessing fees for the disposal of hazardous waste (at the state level) and setting fees for trash collection or charges for health care at public hospitals (at the local level).

State officials said the retroactivity standard would apply to 15 bills already signed by Newsom that could affect fees or taxes, and at least 131 such measures passed by local governments since the start of last year.

But supporters of the measure said similar predictions of financial disasters proved to be unfounded after voters approved, and the court upheld, Proposition 13, the 1978 initiative that slashed property taxes in California to no more than 1% of assessed value and limited increases to 2% per year. A follow-up measure, Prop. 218 in 1996, requires voter approval for any new city or county taxes, and a two-thirds majority for taxes that would raise money for specific local programs.

The new initiative is just another step in the continuum of what is now a well-established feature of our state constitution to control the growth of government and its demand for higher and higher taxes, fees, and other charges, attorney Thomas Hiltachk, the official proponent of the measure, told the court in a filing Oct. 30.

He said it merely requires our elected representatives to approve the fees proposed by the unelected bureaucrats in the States administrative agencies. That is the hallmark of our representative democracy, not a revision of it.

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AIMIM president Assaduddin Owaisi shows his finger marked with indelible ink with family after casting vote at Vattepally during the Telangana Legislative Assembly election, in Hyderabad district. (PTI Photo)

Hyderabad: Voting in Telangana picked up pace after the early hours on Thursday with reports suggesting that till around 11 in the morning, in a little over four hours after polling began at 7 a.m. officially, around 20.64 % of voters cast their votes. However, Hyderabad city lagged behind with 12.39% of voters turning up to cast their ballots till reports last came in.

Adilabad had the highest turnout so far with 30.5% exercising their voting right in the first four hours of polling. In the first two hours, the overall polling percentage stood at around 9%.

While voting has been largely peaceful, reports of increasing frequency of minor clashes and disturbances from several constituencies put the election authorities on the alert with the Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj instructions district administrations to take action to prevent such incidents.

Meanwhile, the ECI is being buffeted by complaints of poll violation by the BRS party leaders with opposition Congress filing complaints and seeking action against the ruling party leaders. Among the complaints were on BRS MLC K Kavitha who called on people to vote for BRS and its car symbol, while in Nirmal, minister A Indrakaran Reddy walked into a polling station to cast his ballot wearing a BRS scarf with its party symbol prominently displayed on it.

Most disturbances were clashes between BRS and Congress workers near polling booths reported from Jangaon, Nagarkurnool, Kamareddy, Ibrahimpatnam, Miryalguda, Kothagudem, Palair constituencies. In all these incidents, the police caned the clashing workers from both sides to bring the situation under control.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged the people of Telangana to vote in record numbers in the assembly polls and strengthen the festival of democracy. Polling is underway to elect 119 members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, with voters queuing up to exercise their franchise amid tight security on Thursday.

In a post on X, Modi said, "I call upon my sisters and brothers of Telangana to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy."

I call upon my sisters and brothers of Telangana to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly urge young and first time voters to exercise their franchise.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

"I particularly urge young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise," he said.

Voting began at 7 AM in the 35,655 polling stations across the state, officials said.

Polling would be held till 5 PM in 106 constituencies, while it would conclude at 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected seats.
After voting in Banjara Hills here, Kavitha appealed to people to come out in large numbers and exercise their voting right. (X.com)

Hyderabad: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, BRS MLC K Kavitha and Telugu actor Allu Arjun were among the prominent people to cast their ballot in the Telangana Legislative Assembly election on Thursday.

Accompanied by family members, Kishan Reddy cast his vote at a polling booth in Kachiguda here.

Hailing India's democracy, Kishan Reddy, president of BJP in Telangana, said one does not get the right to criticise the political system without fulfilling the responsibility of voting.

Finding fault with the distribution of money and liquor to lure voters, he urged the electorate to vote fearlessly and without being influenced by any inducements.

After voting in Banjara Hills here, Kavitha, daughter of BRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, appealed to people to come out in large numbers and exercise their voting right.

Polling began for 119 Telangana assembly constituencies at 7 AM, with voters queuing up to exercise their franchise amid tight security.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao leaves after casting his vote at Chintamadaka, on Thursday. (Image By Arrangement0

Hyderabad: Fewer voters turned up to exercise their franchise in the state Assembly polls this year, with the Election Commission of India recording a turnout of 70.6 per cent tentatively at the end of voting at 5 pm on Thursday, lower than 73.2 per cent in 2018 and 69.5 per cent in 2014.

The number may rise further as long queues were witnessed at several polling stations after 5 pm. The ECI will finalise the turnout on Friday.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3 and the results will be declared the same day. There were 2,290 contestants in the fray, including Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who is seeking an unprecedented third term. ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao, TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy and BJP MPs Bandi Sanjay and D. Arvind.

The BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats, the Congress contested 118 seats and left one seat to its ally, CPI, while the BJP contested 111 seats and left eight seats to Jana Sena. The AIMIM put up candidates from nine seats in Hyderabad.

While the voting exercise was largely peaceful, there were some minor clashes and scuffles reported from multiple constituencies. Election officials took immediate action to clamp down on such incidents, in coordination with district administrations.

Officials said most disturbances were clashes between BRS and Congress workers, reported from polling booths in Jangaon, Nagarkurnool, Kamareddy, Ibrahimpatnam, Miryalguda, Kothagudem and Palair . In all instances, police caned the clashing workers to control the situation.

On the day, the ECI was approached by Congress, which filed multiple complaints of poll violation against BRS leaders.

Among those who were charged by the Congress were MLC K. Kavitha, who called on people to vote for the BRS and car symbol in a sound byte after casting her vote, and minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, who went to his polling station in Nirmal wearing a BRS scarf. The BJP also approached the ECI complaining about the police being "silent spectators" to alleged electoral malpractices by representatives of the BRS at polling stations.

State BJP chief G. Kishan Reddy, in a complaint, alleged that the police were allowing BRS leaders to move in groups of 100-200 people and attacking BJP cadres when they complained about it.

In Bodhan town of Nizamabad, BRS and Congress leaders clashed, prompting police intervention. In Khanapur village of Ibrahmipatnam constituency, the police lathi-charged clashing BRS and Congress workers. Some party workers were also detained.
Senior citizens lead the way in voting exercise.

Hyderabad: Senior citizens, especially those above 70 years, led the way in inspiring citizens to vote in the state Assembly elections on Thursday morning, as they lined up at polling booths from early in the morning to exercise their franchise.

It was observed that voters aged above 80 years, many of whom walked with difficulty due to age-related issues, cast their votes by 9 am to avoid the midday rush. They later posted pictures of their inked fingers in WhatsApp groups to motivate others to vote.

While many elderly were accompanied by their children or grandchildren, volunteers stationed at the polling booths, including from the National Social Service (NSS) assisted them with wheelchairs. Police constables and polling staff assisted them in entering their details in the register and pressing the button of their choice on the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Volunteers also assisted them in boarding their vehicles after they cast their votes.

Among those who turned up at the polling booths were 84-year-old Dr Vittal Rao in Kukatpally, and 74-year-old Dr G. Nageswara Rao at Kapra in Uppal constituency.

"I voted at Vijaya High School around 8.30 am and I also requested other senior citizens to utilise their right to vote to elect an appropriate candidate to save democracy," said Nageswara Rao, who also posted the appeal on senior citizens WhatsApp groups he is part of.

Ch Prameel and V.B. Saroja Devi, octogenarians from Sanathnagar, were probably the oldest persons to vote in their areas. "We have voted in more than 10 Assembly elections," they said. They were accompanied by their family members, and not choose to use a wheelchair.

A group of women, all senior citizens, led by L. Nirmala, turned up at the booth set up at Nagarjunanagar community hall in Tarnaka, under the Secunderabad Assembly constituency.

According to the Telangana State Council for Senior Citizens, 70 per cent of senior citizens took part in the voting exercise, while the rest could not do so due to health problems.

A.G.. Manjula, 78, who was assisted by her daughter-in-law, averred that she felt it was her duty to vote, and had turned up at the booth.

Police personnel and his daughter U. Jyothi helped 85-year-old Udayagiri Gopala Krishnamurthy at a booth. "My father-in-law never misses his duty to vote," said Jyothi said and added they stayed close to the polling station.


BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao questioned the credibility of the exit polls that were released even as voters were queueing up at polling booths to cast their votes. (Image: DC)

Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday evening declared that the party would secure 70-plus seats in the Assembly elections, dismissing a few exit polls that predicted a poor showing by the ruling party.

Calling on party leaders and workers not to get disheartened, Rama Rao questioned the credibility of the exit polls that were released even as voters were queueing up at polling booths to cast their votes.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Rama Rao also questioned the Election Commission of Indias decision to allow exit poll results to be announced before the voting exercise was completely carried out.

"I called the CEO and told him that this is wrong, and he said these were ECI guidelines. At least in the future, the ECI certainly needs to relook at its decision. I am not going to trust the exit polls that say BRS is getting more seats either. Lets wait for the counting of votes on December 3, and I can tell you that we are getting 70-plus seats. We expected 80-plus seats but because of some hurdles, we may not be able to get to that number," he said.

Rama Rao said that in 2018 too, a few exit polls had predicted a loss for the BRS, but turned out to be inaccurate. "I am calling on our party cadres not to get disheartened. We are winning again and will score a hat-trick. Lets wait for the counting the results will show BRS has won," he said.

Questioned about the decreased estimate of seats projected initially, Rama Rao said: "There are three main factors. I will go into the details on December 3. Lets hold our horses till then. Yesterday, I accused the national media of jumping the gun, so I will not do the same."

The research for exit polls, he said, was nominal. "They ask some 200 people and it is unfair research. Some media houses have the audacity to declare such results, and if they are proved wrong on December 3, will they have the courage to apologise to the people of Telangana?" Rama Rao said.
The polling percentage in the GHMC limits was a mere 48.7 per cent by 5 pm, as per Election Commission of India (ECI) data. (Image source:Facebook)

Hyderabad: The polling percentage in the GHMC limits was a mere 48.7 per cent by 5 pm, as per Election Commission of India (ECI) data. Some polling stations wore a deserted look even at 4.30 pm, 30 minutes prior to the closure time.

At Yakutpura in the Old City, only 25 per cent of voters turned up, while in Serilingampally, which covers a major part of the IT corridor, only a 48.60 per cent turnout was recorded. However, polling continued past 5 pm in some stations where there were long queues. The final figure will be available on Friday.

"Around 50 lakh electors spread over 24 constituencies under GHMC limits did not cast their votes," said an official from the state election authority.

Incidentally, polling stations at Gautam Model School in Jubilee Hills, Sri Venkateshwara College of Fine Arts in Madhapur, Richmonds High School in Kamalapuri colony (Jubilee Hills), Government junior college at Malakpet, property tax collection counter in Madhapur, Narayana junior college in SR Nagar were deserted even after 4 pm.

The lowest polling percentage was recorded at Yakutpura (27.87 per cent), followed by Nampally (32.4 per cent) and Chandrayangutta (39 per cent).

In Yakutpura several of them were not interested in voting, they told this correspondent, while in Nampally there were many duplicate entries.

The highest polling percentage was recorded in Patancheru (69.72 per cent) followed by Maheshwaram (53.14 per cent) and Quthbullapur (52.80 per cent).

Though these constituencies fall technically within GHMC limits, a major portion of the constituency comprises urban local bodies (ULBs) that are located on the city's outskirts and have less number of urban voters.

Pooja Pritmani, who cast her vote in Madhapur, said that polling was very low while first-time voter Praveen Chadlavada from Jubilee Hills said that he was excited.

Meanwhile, the polling percentage in Hyderabad district, which was only 4.85% till 9 am, closed at 47.14 %.

GHMC limits:

Number of constituencies: 24

Lowest polling percentage by 5 pm

Yakutpura: 27.87 %

Nampally: 32.4 %

Chandrayangutta: 39 %

Constituencies with the highest polling percentage:

Patancheru: 69.72%

Maheshwaram: 53.14%

Quthbullapur: 52.80%
Strategic talks reinforcing defense capabilities

Over the course of two days, high-ranking officials from the United States Army and the Guyana Defence Force engaged in crucial discussions aimed at strengthening their preparedness to address potential security threats. Facilitated by the American Embassy in Guyana, these discussions emphasized enhancing military readiness and capabilities to effectively respond to evolving security challenges.

Building robust military partnerships

The recent talks, which involved leadership from the US Armys 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) and the GDF, signify the enduring collaboration between the two nations in bolstering their military capacities. Since 2022, the SFAB has conducted joint training exercises with the GDF, focusing on fortifying tactical and operational capabilities within the Guyanese military framework.

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Amid heightened geopolitical strains

These discussions unfold against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, particularly concerning the disputed Essequibo region. President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo recently highlighted the upcoming visits facilitated by the US Department of Defense, emphasizing Guyanas proactive measures to secure support from strategic partners in the face of potential Venezuelan military aggression.

Strengthening defense measures

Vice President Jagdeo, addressing the media, underscored the nations determination to defend its sovereignty against any external threats, including Venezuelas ambitions. This commitment is mirrored in Guyanas willingness to engage in dialogue while firmly pursuing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) process for a binding settlement affirming its rights over the Essequibo region.

Expanding collaborations and seeking support

In preparation for the potential risks posed by Venezuelas actions, Guyana is actively exploring avenues for enhanced defense cooperation with multiple countries, prominently including the United States of America. The upcoming visits from the US Department of Defense underscore the gravity of the situation and Guyanas earnest efforts to fortify its defenses in collaboration with global allies.

Fortifying national defenses

Guyana remains resolute in its stance to protect its borders and exclusive economic zones. Vice President Jagdeo reiterated the nations commitment to maintaining a robust military force, primarily designed to safeguard national interests and defend against any external aggression while emphasizing the countrys preference for dialogue and peaceful resolutions.

Seeking diplomatic solutions amidst disputes

While tensions persist, Guyana holds steadfast to the hope of a diplomatic resolution through the ICJ process. The nations pursuit of a final and binding settlement, acknowledging its rightful ownership of the Essequibo region, remains a central focus, signaling a commitment to resolving the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela.

A unified stand for sovereignty

Guyanas proactive measures, bolstered by strategic collaborations and diplomatic efforts, underscore the nations commitment to defending its territorial integrity. The ongoing alliance with the United States and other allies reflects a concerted endeavor to safeguard its borders and assert its sovereignty.

As geopolitical tensions persist, Guyana remains vigilant, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated defense strategy and seeking support from its global partners. The upcoming collaborations with the US Department of Defense mark a pivotal juncture in the nations pursuit of fortifying its defenses and navigating regional challenges while striving for a peaceful resolution amidst ongoing disputes.
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Gold is an effective way to protect portfolios from the forces of war and uncertainty. But gold reserves have declined, along with a lack of new gold discoveries. To make up for growing gold demand, more new mining projects and gold discoveries are needed - particularly in safe jurisdictions such as the U.S.
Dominic Fracassa is an assistant metro editor overseeing breaking news and criminal justice in San Francisco. He previously covered San Francisco City Hall as a staff writer.

He can be reached at dfracassa@sfchronicle.com.
Derry and Strabane Council will invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty to discuss the levels of poverty maintained by the British government' that violate international law.

Councillor Shaun Harkin brought a motion to the reconvened Full Council Meeting last week.

The motion mentioned the 3,500 food parcels to adults and children distributed by Foyle Food Bank this year. It also noted DfC reports almost 70,000 children live in absolute poverty in the North.

I've been alarmed, as I'm sure others have been alarmed about the reports from the Foyle Foodbank and other charities and other organisations that are attempting to assist people dealing with hardship, the People Before Profit Councillor said.

There's been a lot of focus on the cost of living crisis over the last number of years. I think that there's less focus right now in the media, and perhaps there's a sense that we're moving out of the worst of the cost of living crisis.

But when you attend meetings with people from food banks they raise the alarm. They are overwhelmed by the level of demand on them. And as we head under the winter months right now, the pressures on a lot of families and households right across our district will mount.

He said the British government has not done enough to help and the issue is worsened by the lack of a government in the North.

We're in a situation where workers are not being given decent pay raises. We talked about our transport workers being offered a 0% pay raise. We'll have teachers going on strike, we've had Education Authority workers, many of whom are low paid, on strike and there's many, many people who are struggling on inadequate benefits right across our district.

I think we need to continue to highlight the fact that many people have been plunged into hardship and it's gotten worse over the last number of years.

The point of this motion is really to draw attention to the fact that the United Nations have also said that the levels of poverty that are maintained by the British government here are in violation of international laws and that is shocking.

The motion asked Council to note with extreme alarm the findings of UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, Oliver De Schutter, that levels of poverty maintained by the British government violate international law.

It also included that Council recognises that the following contributed to create  extreme cost of living pressures on families and households: low-pay, inadequate benefits, forced migration to Universal Credit, unregulated private rental costs, the growing housing, education and health service crises and the lack of free childcare - and that these pressures will mount in the winter months.

The motion called on Council to urgently promote through each of its available platforms all help accessible to people provided by organisations in the District and by government.

The part of the motion that caused controversy was that Council supports all strikes, campaigns and actions taken to alleviate hardship and inequality.

Prosed amendment sparks heated debate

Alderman Derek Hussey proposed an amendment to that aspect of the motion.

It states 'Council supports all strikes, campaigns and actions taken to alleviate hardship and inequality.

I would propose an amendment that 'Council supports all legal strikes campaigns and actions taken to alleviate hardship and inequality,' the UUP alderman said.

It would be illogical for a public body such as ourselves to support action which is not legal.

It's just to simply state that we support the strikes, campaigns, whatever provided they're legal.

Speaking to the amendment, Cllr Christopher Jackson said it was a disappointing attempt to score cheap points.

In terms of the amendment, if people want to bring amendments in to make cheap political points particularly on an issue as important as the cost of living crisis that we're currently going through, It's not something that we can support, the Sinn Fein councillor said.

We fully support the right to industrial action from all our workers. We support the trade union movements and all industrial actions carried out through engagement with trade trade unions. It's really disappointing that the amendment has come in to try and cause division and score cheap points.

He said Sinn Fein would not support the amendment but supported the original motion.

Alderman McCready took issue with Cllr Jackson's response, saying that it was 'a bit obnoxious'.

My goodness we're having an amendment brought forward in the chamber to encourage discussion to strengthen the motion - for that to be seen as something from out of this planet is a bit obnoxious, the UUP alderman said.

I think we're all equals in this chamber every single seat, regardless of your party. So if we contribute in a manner which you disagree with then that's absolutely fine. You can disagree with it and it doesn't remove the fact that people can amend things, go against things, abstain and vote for.

My goodness for having a difference of opinion as a minority group in this council. I'm certainly not going to be shaken by it or certainly my colleagues.

He said the UUP would be supporting the motion with or without the amendment proposed by them.

We can pointscore politics here all day long, it doesn't change the circumstances our children are found in or those in hardship who are standing on the picket line, of which the majority of members in here did stand alongside in support.

So we [Council] do care and the Ulster Unionist Party do care also. That's why we're happy to support this motion, irrespective of whether you agree or disagree with the amendment.

If you've got something to fear in this chamber of putting the word 'legal' in front of something, oh my goodness you've got a lot more to answer for than what I've got to say here.

Cllr Brian Tierney said he believes the amendment was made to insinuate towards the pro-Palestine protest at the council the day before.

I thought all the drama was yesterday (Wednesday) but I must have missed the memo. Quite a contribution there from Alderman McCready, he said.

I want to make the point that I totally and absolutely respect everybody's right in this chamber to try and amend the motion. We just ask that people respect our right to try not to allow that particular amendment to go through. I think that's important.

I think if we're all being honest and open about this, we know where and why that particular word is trying to be included in that particular paragraph and I can sympathise with why it is but I genuinely don't see that it's needed.

The right to strike is a legal action. So, by that nature, all strikes are legal. Therefore, I don't see why that word is required, other than to refer back to events which happened in this chamber yesterday, or to insinuate towards those events.

He said the SDLP supports the original motion but not the amendment.

Cllr Harkin said the focus should be on the fact that the UN said the British government is allegedly violating international law.

Workers have a right to strike but some people are trying to criminalise the trade union movement  that is what the Tories are trying to do.

Hypothetically, if desperate parents from New Buildings and Creggan happened to go to the Secretary of State's office and do a sit-in calling for the holiday hunger meals to be reinstated, I would fully support them and I don't see how anybody in here could sit and tell them you shouldn't do that.

Alderman Keith Kerrigan said he agrees with 'the vast majority of the motion' but took issue with some aspects of it.

I think any of us that have been dealing with local schools will know that the school principals on the teams, the boards, and governors are doing everything they can to try and sustain the schools. And I don't see that we can ask them to do any more, the DUP alderman said.

I wouldn't necessarily agree fully in regards to 'unregulated private rental costs'. I don't think that's an issue that Council should be getting involved in.

He said he has no issue with Alderman Hussey's amendment.

The amendment fell with 25 against and six for. The original motion passed unanimously.

Council will now write to the British Secretary of State again, demanding the reversal of punitive budgets, including hurtful cuts targeting children, for holiday hunger payments to be immediately reinstated and for urgent, adequate funding for discretionary housing support.

Council will notify the Secretary of State and the NIO of its willingness to pursue them for extreme poverty and harm to children violations of international law.

Council will also invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and the NI Commissioner for Children and Young Peoplefor an urgent Special Meeting of the full Council.
A Belfast man who had been temporarily housed in Derry has been given a suspended sentence at the local Magistrate's Court today for stealing a health worker's bicycle.

William Hinton (39) of no fixed abode admitted charges of stealing the bike and criminal damage to it on November 29.

The court heard that police were on patrol in Great James Street area and saw the defendant pushing a red bike with a flowered saddle bag.

They stopped Hinton and noticed that a bicycle lock which had been broken was still attached to the back wheel.

Hinton admitted the bike belonged to someone else and said he was intending to leave it in the street.

The court heard that the bike belonged to a health worker.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client had made full admissions and intended to go back to Belfast if released.

He described the offence as 'opportunistic' and accepted that this had been 'distressing' for the health worker who was doing a valuable job.

Deputy District Judge Laura Ivers said the offences were aggravated because Hinton had a record for dishonesty.

Hinton was sentenced to six months in prison suspended two years and ordered to pay 200 in restitution.
The Apprentice Boys of Derry 335th Shutting of the Gates takes place in Derry on Saturday, 2nd December.

The city centre is open and motorists driving through the city-side and Waterside areas, between 11.30am and 5.30pm, are advised to take extra care and of delays during parade times.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "As always, police work in partnership with parade organisers and marshals to ensure minimum disruption to those going about their daily routine.

"Officers will be on patrol during the day and encourage everyone attending to have a safe day while respecting local residents and businesses."

Visiting Branch clubs taking part in the parade will assemble at the Railway Station in the Waterside at about 11am and leave at 11.30am.

The route will take the clubs and bands from Duke Street across the top deck of Craigavon Bridge and then onto Carlisle Road, Hawkin Street, London Street, Bishop Street and Palace Lane to the Memorial Hall.

12:45pm

The local William King Memorial Band will assemble in Kennedy Street and make its way to the Memorial Hall.

1.15pm

Bands will leave Society Street, Bishop Street, The Diamond, Ferryquay Street, Wapping Lane, Carlisle Road, Kennedy Street, Hawkin Street, London Street into the cathedral. This is estimated to take approximately 40 minutes.

3.15pm

The Parade reforms in Bishop Street, Society Street, and moves off via London Street Hawkin Street, Kennedy Street, Kennedy Place, Wapping Lane, Carlisle Square, Carlisle Road, Ferryquay Street, The Diamond, Bishop Street, Society Street, Palace Street to Bishop Street. The top deck of Craigavon Bridge will be closed to traffic for approximately 45-60 minutes, when the parade is in Bishop Street, however traffic will be allowed to flow elsewhere in the city centre.

4.30pm

The parade will move off again, the visiting Branch Clubs will return to Waterside via Bishop Street, London Street, Hawkin Street, Carlisle Road, Carlisle Square, Craigavon Bridge, and Duke Street to dispersal at Waterside Link at 4.45pm approximately.
The inquest into the deaths of two Derry men shot dead by the SAS in 1984 has been told that at least 48 shots were fired by the British Army unit on the day.

William Fleming (19) from the Waterside area and Daniel Doherty (23) from Creggan died when they were shot by an SAS unit in the grounds of Gransha Hospital on December 6, 1984, as it was believed they were about to carry out an attack on an off duty member of the security forces.

Today two firearms and ballistic experts gave evidence.

Paul Olden for the Coroner and Mark Mastaglio for the next of kin gave joint evidence.

The experts said there was a 'significant numerical discrepancy' between the number of cartridges recovered and the ammunition count of the Soldier's weapons.

The court heard that 48 cartridges were recovered from four different weapons fired by Soldiers A, B and C but the ammunition count indicated that 60 shots were fired.

The experts the difference in the ammunition count amounted to 20% which they said was unusual.

In their report the experts said that three shots were fired by Soldier A rather than the 6 he claimed in his statement.

Soldier B had a rifle and a handgun and Soldier C a sub machine gun.

The experts said that evidence indicated that many of the wounds sustained by William Fleming indicated that he was shot while on the ground.

The court heard that he had wounds to his head and torso and the experts could not say when they were inflicted.

They did point out that a crash helmet attributed to William Fleming was not damaged suggesting he was not wearing it when shot.

As regards Daniel Doherty the experts said that evidence indicated he was shot from his right and behind with no wounds to his front.

Daniel Doherty had wounds to his head and the experts agreed that while his crash helmet was damaged it was damaged in such a way as to indicate he was wearing it properly.

Both Mr Olden and Mr Mastaglio agreed that there was no evidence either man was shot 'at close range' although Mr Mastaglio said he felt the placement of the cartridges suggested that the firer could have been closer to the body of William Fleming that was claimed.

It was agreed that two weapons recovered that were attributed to the deceased had not been fired.

The hearing continues.
Derry City and Strabane District Councils Good Relations Team hosted a Lets Talk event last week to give school students the opportunity to discuss politics with local councillors.

All political parties and independents elected to Derry City and Strabane District Council were represented on the day.

The event, hosted in the Waterfoot Hotel, saw local secondary school students from a range of local schools challenge councillors and express their own views on topics such as Stormont, Language, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and Transgenderism.

Opened by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, the event was chaired by broadcaster Mark Carruthers. Students also had a chance to give instant feedback on questions being posed through electronic voting which was co-ordinated by Peter Osborne.

Approximately 60 students from St Columbs College, St Brigids College, Foyle College, Thornhill College, Lisneal College and Oakgrove Integrated College joined local councillors at the event.

The Lets Talk event was designed to encourage debate and allow the students to learn about the policies and works of different political parties and independent members of Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Logue, said: I would like to thank all of you pupils, your teachers and schools for committing to attending here today and taking the opportunity to learn more about local politicians and local politics. This will give you a great insight into the work of an elected representative and what you can do to influence those decisions which affect you.

Angela Askin, Good Relations Officer at Derry City and Strabane District Council thanked funders and participants at the event, saying: We were delighted to see the level of engagement and thought-provoking discussions initiated from our local school students at the event last week.

We love organising and delivering this event every year as it is always fantastic to hear the thoughts and opinions of our future generations with regards to local politics and how our Council works.

Wed like to thank everyone who helped facilitate this event, as well as Mark Carruthers and Peter Osbourne who bring out some brilliant debates and conversations. It was brilliant to get instant feedback on the thoughts of the pupils on various topics and subjects.
HIGHLIGHTS An image of the smartphones box has been leaked revealing the price of the iQOO 12 in India.

The box shows that the price of the iQOO 12 will fall under the range of 5X,999 to 60,000.

The smartphone will come in two variants: 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB.

iQOO will soon launch its flagship smartphone, the iQOO 12 in India on December 12th. The launch date is not too far, and ahead of that many details about the smartphone are coming out. It is a highly anticipated flagship device and we might know about its launch prices now.

As you would know, before any smartphone actually hits the market, its biography makes it to the internet. Leaks and rumours make sure to let us know what to expect from the device. Now ahead of iQOO 12s launch, its prices have circulated on the internet.

iQOO 12 expected price

The iQOO 12 series includes two smartphones in China: the iQOO 12 and iQOO 12 Pro. However, the Chinese brand only brings the standard model to India. Now, Tipster Mukul Sharma has shared an image of the smartphones box revealing the price of the iQOO 12 in India. The box shows that the price of the iQOO 12 will fall under the range of 5X,999 to 60,000.

[Exclusive] Here's a snippet of the box price of the upcoming #iQOO12 for you (Rs 5X,999.00).



In all likelihood, the device will be priced around 53,000 to 55,000 in India 



As per my source, the MRP will be 56,999.



Memory variants  12GB/256GB, 16GB/512GB



What are pic.twitter.com/1fSkwvxh3M  Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) November 29, 2023

Also read: iQOO 12 camera samples revealed: Take a look at these images from the upgraded camera

The tipster believes that the iQOO 12 could be priced at 56,999. Or this could be between 53,000 to 55,000. In addition to the prices, we know that the smartphone will come in two variants: 12GB + 256GB and 16GB + 512GB. Hence, he thinks that the starting price could be 56,999.

If we compare it with China, the iQOO 12 has been priced at RMB 3,999 (Rs 45,800 approx) for the base model with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. So the price point could be true.

Also read: [Exclusive] iQOO 12 first look is here! Check out whats new this year

Well, we dont have to wait for long as the launch is just around the corner. iQOO has been teasing about the smartphone through Amazons microsite. The iQOO 12 will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with the in-house Q1 chip. Additionally, it will become the first non-Pixel smartphone to use Android 14 out-of-the-box.
HIGHLIGHTS he Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G smartphones have made their appearance on the IMDA database.

Both smartphones are expected to come with 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity support.

The Galaxy A15 5G is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, while the Galaxy A25 5G will likely feature the Exynos 1280 chipset.

There has been ongoing speculation surrounding the potential release of the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G and Galaxy A15 5G smartphones for a while now. Now, these smartphones have made their appearance on Singapores IMDA certification platform.

According to a report by TheTechOutlook, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G smartphone models carry the model number SM-A156E/DSN and SM-A256E/DSN respectively, on the IMDA certification platform.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy A25 5G India launch seems imminent as its support page goes live: Check expected specs

Credit: TheTechOutlook

The IMDA database revealed that the Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G smartphones are expected to come with 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity support.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy A25 listed on Geekbench: Android 14, 8GB RAM, specs revealed

No other information about the devices was revealed by the IMDA database.

Rumours suggest that the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G smartphone model is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor. It will also likely feature a 6.5-inch FHD+ 90Hz display.

For photography, the upcoming Galaxy A15 5G smartphone is expected to house a 50MP + 5MP + 2MP triple camera setup. On the front, there could be a 13MP camera. Also, this handset will likely pack a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charge support, and could have a side mounted fingerprint scanner.

Speaking of the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G smartphone, this device is expected to be powered by the Exynos 1280 chipset. The handset will likely come with a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ 120Hz display.

The upcoming Galaxy A25 5G handset is expected to house a 50MP(main) + 8MP(ultrawide) + 2MP(macro) triple camera setup. For selfies, it could feature a 13MP camera. Also, it might pack a 5000 mAh battery with 25W charging support.

We are yet to hear officially from Samsung. So until then lets take these specifications with a pinch of salt.
HIGHLIGHTS Vivo has shared a teaser image of the upcoming Vivo S18.

The Vivo 18 smartphone will feature a triple-camera setup.

The triple-camera setup will be accompanied by an LED flash and a soft light.

The Vivo S18 series is expected to debut in China soon. This upcoming lineup is expected to include two smartphones: the Vivo S18 and the S18 Pro. Recently, the key specifications of these smartphones were leaked. Now, Vivo has shared a teaser image of the Vivo S18.

The teaser image was shared on the Chinese micro-blogging platform Weibo by Ouyang Weifeng, vice president of Vivo products, reports MySmartPrice.

Also read: Vivo S18 series leak reveals processor, display, battery & more

Credit: MySmartPrice

The teaser revealed that the forthcoming Vivo S18 will be launched in a new colour matching of Flower Like Brocade, drawing inspiration from oriental floral artistic themes.

Also read: New Vivo X100s model could join X100 series, launch timeline tipped

Vivo S17

In the teaser image, we can see a rectangular camera module on the devices back. The Vivo S18 smartphone will feature a triple-camera setup which will have OIS support. Complementing this setup will be an LED flash and a soft light. This soft light will be positioned beside the LED flash.

So far, rumours suggest that the Vivo S18 smartphone model is expected to have a punch-hole display with 2,800 nits brightness. Also, this handset will likely be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC.

The Vivo S18 device will likely be available in 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB RAM configurations which could be paired with 256GB or 512GB of internal storage respectively. For photography, it is expected to feature a 50MP primary camera.

On the other hand, the Vivo S18 Pro model is expected to be powered by the Dimensity 9200+ chipset. Also, it could come with a 50MP main camera (Sony IMX920 sensor). The main camera will likely be accompanied by a 50MP ultra-wide lens and a telephoto camera. The Vivo S18 Pro could also pack a 5,000mAh battery with 80W charging support.

There is speculation that the Vivo S18 model might launch globally as Vivo V30 and Vivo S18 Pro as Vivo V30 Pro.
The HP Pavilion Plus 16 is an impressive blend of style and practicality, offering a sleek, modern design with a sturdy three-sided metal body and an aluminum display shell. Its notably portable for a 16-inch laptop, balancing a large screen with ease of transport, making it ideal for those who value both a spacious workspace and mobility. Additionally, its environmentally conscious design, incorporating recycled aluminum, adds to its appeal.

Performance-wise, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 provides good value for its price, especially when compared to pricier models like the Dell XPS 17 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra. While its RTX 3050 GPU and SSD speeds dont match the higher performance of these more expensive laptops, they are sufficient for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and general multimedia use. This makes the HP Pavilion Plus 16 a solid choice for users seeking a well-rounded, budget-friendly laptop that doesnt compromise on style or functionality.

The HP Pavilion Plus 16 marks an exciting step forward in the world of mid-range laptops, offering a blend of functionality and design that caters to both productivity and creative needs. Positioned as a more affordable alternative to high-end models like the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, it stands out for its sturdy build, reliable display, and versatile hardware configuration. Equipped with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, it transitions effortlessly into a capable gaming machine, presenting a viable option for those seeking a multipurpose device without a hefty price tag.

Notably, the Pavilion Plus 16 doesnt compromise on display quality. It features a 16-inch IPS screen with WQXGA resolution and up to a 120Hz refresh rate, providing a decent visual experience, though it may not top the segment. So how does it stack up against some of the heavy competitors in this segment where premium players dominate the field? Well, heres my HP Pavilion Plus 16 review.

HP Pavilion Plus 16 Review: Design, Build Quality, Keyboard And I/O

The HP Pavilion Plus 16, the 2023 variant, is a well-crafted laptop that combines stylish design with practical functionality. The laptop features a three-sided metal body, contributing to its elegant and modern appearance. Its display shell is made from aluminium and has a frosted surface, which not only enhances its look but also resists fingerprints. This choice of materials feels premium both aesthetic as well as durable.

In terms of dimensions, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 measures 357 x 253.5 x 17.7mm and weighs approximately 1.89kg. This slim profile is notable, especially for a 16-inch laptop, as it strikes a balance between having a large screen and maintaining portability. This makes the Pavilion Plus 16 a compelling option for users who need a spacious workspace but also value the ease of transportation. Its also built with the environment in mind, incorporating sustainable materials like recycled aluminium.

The design is complemented by a no-frills approach, featuring an aluminium finish that looks and feels premium. The display can tilt backwards up to 110-120 degrees. Weighing 1.8 kg, its more portable than some of its competitors like the Apple MacBook Pro 16, though its outdone by the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 in terms of slimness and lightness. But if you consider its profile compared to something which has a discreet GPU, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 will, almost always, come out as the more portable one.

The HP Pavilion Plus 16, designed with creators in mind, features a robust selection of I/O ports that cater to a wide range of connectivity needs. It includes a Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C port, offering a 40Gbps signalling rate, which is crucial for fast data transfer and efficient workflow in creative tasks. This port also supports USB Power Delivery, and HP Sleep and Charge, making it versatile for various uses including charging and external display connectivity. Additionally, there is another USB Type-C port with a 10Gbps signalling rate, further enhancing its capability for high-speed data transfer.

For traditional connectivity, the laptop provides two USB Type-A ports, one with a 10Gbps signalling rate and the other with a 5Gbps signalling rate, accommodating a range of peripherals. An HDMI-out 2.1 port is included for high-quality video output, essential for presentations or media consumption. While this selection covers most bases for creators, the absence of an SD card slot might be a drawback for those who frequently work with photography or video content.

The laptop comes equipped with a full-size keyboard, which includes a numeric keypad, enhancing its utility for office work and daily use. The layout is spacious, with proper spacing between each key, minimising the likelihood of mistypes. This design choice is especially beneficial for extended typing sessions, ensuring comfort and accuracy. The function keys are easily accessible, and some include small LEDs for mute, microphone, and power, providing clear visual feedback. Backlit keys with adjustable brightness improve low-light use, though the clicky spacebar may be a minor issue.

HP Pavilion Plus 16 Review: Screen And Speakers

Regarding the speakers on this laptop, they present a mixed performance when compared to other 16-inch laptops in the market. On the positive side, these speakers deliver a clear and crisp sound at mid-range frequencies, which is great for conference calls and casual video viewing. The laptops bass response and maximum volume are underwhelming compared to other 16-inch multimedia or gaming laptops. These limitations are evident in bass-heavy music and action-packed movies, and in larger or noisier environments.

Compared to the MacBook Pro 16-inch, known for its exceptional speaker quality and immersive audio experience, this laptops speakers fall short. Similarly, against the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360, which features superior AKG-tuned speakers, this laptop lacks in audio richness and depth. For high-quality audio, the MacBook Pro 16-inch and Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 are better options.

The HP Pavilion Plus 16s display does show notable strengths and a few weaknesses in comparison to other 16-inch laptops. Its peak brightness of 403 cd/m is competitive, offering good visibility in various lighting conditions, though it falls short of the MacBook Pro 16-inchs 1000 nits sustained and 1600 nits peak brightness, and is comparable to the 400 nits of the HP Pavilion Plus 16.

In terms of colour accuracy and range, the Pavilion Plus 16s impressive 99.4% sRGB and 81.6% DCI-P3 coverage are strong, but not quite at the level of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360s 120% DCI-P3 colour volume. However, the Pavilions average Delta E of 3.9, indicating minor colour inaccuracies, is higher than the ideal and suggests it lags slightly behind the top models like the MacBook Pro 16-inch and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 in colour precision.

HP Pavilion Plus 16 Review: Performance

The Dell XPS 17, Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, and HP Pavilion Plus 16 show varied performance in Cinebench benchmarks, reflecting their different market positions. The Dell XPS 17 consistently leads in both single and multi-core tasks (Cinebench R15 CPU: 2611, R20 n-Thread: 6680, R23 n-Thread: 17113), marking it as a high-end, performance-focused laptop. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, while slightly behind the Dell, still delivers robust performance, especially in multi-core scenarios (R15 CPU: 2348, R20 n-Thread: 5857, R23 n-Thread: 15319), balancing between power and cost.

In contrast, the HP Pavilion Plus 16, more budget-friendly, performs respectably, especially in OpenGL (R15: 221.89) but falls behind in CPU benchmarks (R15 CPU: 2234, R20 n-Thread: 4918, R23 n-Thread: 11238). This positions it as a value-for-money option for less demanding users. The Dell XPS 17 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, with their superior CPU performance, cater to a higher-end market, offering more power for demanding applications.

In my analysis, I found that the Dell XPS 17 and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra exhibit superior SSD performance compared to the HP Pavilion Plus 16. The top variants of the Dell and Samsung laptops showcase impressive read and write speeds, with the Dell XPS 17 achieving 6783.4 MB/s and 5613.91 MB/s, and the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra at 6690.97 MB/s and 4955.05 MB/s, respectively. This high level of performance aligns with their positioning in the market as premium, more expensive models.

In contrast, the HP Pavilion Plus 16, which I found to be significantly more affordable, offers slightly lower SSD speeds at 6205.09 MB/s read and 5316.91 MB/s write. Despite not matching the performance of its higher-priced counterparts, these speeds are still commendable and reflect HPs value-for-money proposition. While the Dell XPS 17 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra have faster SSDs on paper, the practical, real-world difference for most users compared to the HP Pavilion Plus 16 might not be substantial, especially for general use. The difference is more evident in specialised scenarios that involve heavy file transfers or specific high-end applications.

HP Pavilion Plus 16 Review: Verdict

The HP Pavilion Plus 16, equipped with the RTX 3050 GPU, demonstrates a notable performance gap compared to the pricier Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Dell XPS 17, which feature the more powerful RTX 4070 GPU. In benchmarks like TimeSpy and FireStrike, the RTX 3050 scores (4294 and 9156) are significantly lower than the RTX 4070s scores in both the Galaxy Book3 Ultra (9035 and 19464) and the Dell XPS 17 (8631 and 21158). This indicates that the RTX 3050 is less capable in handling demanding gaming and graphical tasks.

Despite its lower performance, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 offers good value for money, targeting users with modest gaming and multimedia needs. In contrast, the Galaxy Book3 Ultra and Dell XPS 17, with their higher performance metrics, cater to a more performance-oriented audience, such as hardcore gamers and professionals, but come at a significantly higher cost. This makes the HP Pavilion Plus 16 a more budget-friendly option for casual users.

The HP Pavilion Plus 16 strikes a remarkable balance between stylish design, practical functionality, and affordability. Its three-sided metal body and aluminium display shell not only give it a sleek and modern appearance but also ensure durability and a premium feel. The laptops dimensions and weight make it notably portable for a 16-inch model, ideal for users seeking a spacious screen without sacrificing ease of transportation. Moreover, its use of sustainable materials like recycled aluminium speaks to its environmentally friendly design ethos.

In terms of performance, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 holds its own, especially considering its more budget-friendly price point compared to the Dell XPS 17 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra. While it may not match these high-end models in raw power, as seen in various Cinebench and GPU benchmarks, it offers more than adequate performance for everyday tasks, casual gaming, and general multimedia needs. The RTX 3050 GPU, though less powerful than the RTX 4070 found in the Dell and Samsung models, still delivers a respectable gaming experience for its price range.

The SSD speeds in the HP Pavilion Plus 16 are slightly lower compared to the Dell XPS 17 and Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra, yet they are still quite impressive and contribute to the systems overall responsiveness and efficiency. For most users, the difference in SSD speed is unlikely to be significant in everyday usage, though it may become more apparent in tasks involving heavy file transfers or high-end applications.

In conclusion, the HP Pavilion Plus 16 (2023) is an excellent choice for users who value a blend of style, functionality, and affordability. Its particularly appealing for those who need a large screen and good performance but are also mindful of budget constraints. While it may not compete with the likes of the Dell XPS 17 or Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra in terms of high-end performance, it stands out as a solid, value-for-money option in its own right.
Adalberto Aldo Toledo is a city hall reporter with The San Francisco Chronicle covering the mayor and Board of Supervisors. He is a Venezuelan American from a family of longtime journalists.

Before joining the Chronicle in 2023, he reported on Peninsula governments and breaking news for the San Jose Mercury News. He also has bylines in the Dallas Morning News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette.

Raised in Texas, he studied journalism with a print news focus at the University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism, where he worked as News Editor for the North Texas Daily student newspaper.

He can be reached at Aldo.Toledo@sfchronicle.com.
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Chinese LLM developers seek alternatives as Nvidia upcoming compliant chip reportedly fall short in performance

Nvidia intends to introduce a specialized AI chip for the Chinese market, potentially as early as the first quarter of 2024. Reports from Chinese media indicate that Nvidia's Chinese customers are seeking alternatives because of the significantly reduced performance of the China-focused chip.

Chinese media outlets, such as Chinastarmarket, reported that Nvidia is collaborating with key server suppliers in China to test the HGX H20, customized for China to circumvent US export restrictions. Orders for this AI chip are anticipated to open no earlier than January 2024. At its last earnings call, Nvidia disclosed the AI chip plan compliance with export restrictions.

However, previous reports hinted at a significant reduction in the computing power of three reduced compliance AI chips, including the H20. For instance, the HGX H20 faces limitations in bandwidth and computational speed, which are estimated to have only about 20% of the computing power of the H100.

Chinese media reported that Nvidia plans to improve the HBM and NVLink interconnection configurations with the H20 to deal with scenarios with LLMs with fewer parameters.Nvidia might also enable customers to stack multiple AI chips designed for China to compensate for the lower computational power, potentially resulting in power consumption that is twice or even higher than that of the H100.

On the other hand, LLM developers in China are seeking alternatives to Nvidia's offerings and have shifted their focus to Huawei's Ascend AI chips. According to Reuters, Baidu has opted for Huawei's AI chips as a substitute for Nvidia's. Liu Qingfeng, the founder and chairman of Iflytek, remarked that Huawei's Ascend 910B matches the Nvidia A100 in performance.

However, the challenge lies in the supply capacity of the Ascend 910B, even if the chip can substitute for the upcoming Nvidia China-focused AI chip. Sources told Chinese media that the slowly growing production capacity of the Ascend 910B cannot meet the surging demands for AI chips in China.
Taiwan-based tech firms targeted by Chinese hackers, says Google

A Google cyber security expert warned that Taiwan saw increased cyberattacks from China over the past months, with technology companies among the targets.

According to Bloomberg, Kate Morgan, a senior engineering manager in Google's threat analysis division overseeing government-sponsored hacking campaigns, noted a substantial surge in Chinese cyberattacks targeting Taiwan over the past six months, with Chinese hackers infiltrating small home and office internet routers to launch attacks while hiding their actual locations.

Morgan highlighted the extensive presence of Chinese hacker groups attempting to breach technology firms and access cloud-based clientele. She approximated that the number likely exceeds 100 distinct groups monitored solely within China. These hackers target various sectors in Taiwan, including defense, government, and private companies.

In late June, TSMC revealed its awareness of a cybersecurity incident involving Kinmax, one of its IT hardware suppliers, resulting in the disclosure of server setup and configuration information.

As per Check Point's analysis published in early November, Taiwan experienced an average of 1,509 cyberattacks weekly throughout the initial three quarters of 2023, becoming the most targeted place in the world.

When arguing for strengthening Taiwan's cybersecurity to help, Jacky Rosen, the Democratic Senator, told Fox News in early 2023 that Taiwan has been used as a testing ground for China's cyberattacks, later used against the US.
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Photos by Vivian Hsu Photography courtesy of Frankie4 [enlarge] The store opened at the Bellevue Square on Nov. 16.









Australian women's footwear brand Frankie4 has opened a new retail store at Bellevue Square. The new store officially opened this month.





. . .
Louth County Council last week celebrated the launch of a new outdoor dining area in scenic Carlingford, County Louth.

The outdoor facility is located in the green area of the picturesque north Louth town, and is already being enjoyed by local people and visitors.

The official launch, which took place on 22nd November 2023, followed a Failte Ireland investment of 118,175 towards the outdoor dining area in 2021.

Failte Ireland launched an Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme, in partnership with Local Authorities, to support upgrading and enhancing streets and public spaces and implementing weather-proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round outdoor dining.

This investment scheme is being delivered under the Failte Ireland Opening the Outdoors strategic pillar which aims to capitalise our outdoor assets and re-imagine our urban spaces.

Brian OFlynn, Head of Irelands Ancient East at Failte Ireland said:

Carlingford is a key destination within Irelands Ancient East and were so pleased to further enhance this destination with Carlingfords outdoor dining infrastructure, which was funded by Failte Irelands Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme and developed in partnership with Louth County Council.

"Outdoor dining is now a permanent feature of our tourism and hospitality offering post-COVID, and facilities like these allow visitors to access outdoor dining options for longer periods of the year, supporting local businesses to sustainably develop and adding to the atmosphere in the town.

The project has been widely supported by the local traders in Carlingford, Carlingford Tidy Towns and the Carlingford 31 Vision Committee.

OCSC (OConor Sutton Cronin) completed the detailed design and tender for the project.

James Oliver Hearty and Sons carried out the construction works and installed the benches. Construction and installation were completed in October 2023.

Louth County Council Chief Executive, Joan Martin spoke at the launch, saying:

I am delighted to unveil the new permanent outdoor dining facility in Carlingford. It is wonderful to see the successful installation of this project. We received approval from Failte Ireland of 118,175 back in 2021 for this project, but to have the final installation finished and ready for use is a great achievement and reflects our continuous efforts to create a vibrant and welcoming environment for residents and tourists.

"The support of Failte Ireland has been key to delivering this facility, and Louth County Council will continue our partnership with Failte to work towards delivering greater capacity in outdoor dining across the county and implement weather proofing solutions which will facilitate year-round dining.

The Chief Executive added:

Another crucial element of this project has been the support for it by local traders in Carlingford, Carlingford Tidy Towns and Carlingford Vision Committee. I want to thank all who gave support for it and assisting us in delivering the final work.

"The new benches will offer visitors outdoor dining options for longer periods of the year, support the sustainability of local businesses and add to the atmosphere of the town.
Building an AR-Enhanced Pharma Lookup App with Flutter, Dynamsoft Barcode SDK and Database

An AR-integrated pharmaceutical lookup application is a specialized software tool that combines Augmented Reality (AR) technology with a pharmaceutical information database. This integration provides an interactive and enhanced method for accessing drug-related data. Users can scan pharmacy barcodes using their mobile devices to retrieve information about the medication, such as its ingredients, dosage, potential side effects, and other relevant details. In this article, we will develop a Flutter application that demonstrates the pharmaceutical lookup scenario, utilizing the Dynamsoft Barcode SDK and a synthetic dataset.

Try the Demo App Built with Flutter and Dynamsoft Barcode SDK

https://yushulx.me/pharma-lookup/

Synthetic Dataset Generation and Deployment

We use ChatGPT to generate a synthetic dataset of pharmaceutical information and and upload it to a Google Sheets document. The dataset contains 10 rows of data, each including the lot number, drug name, manufacture date, expiration date, batch size, and quality check status.

Navigate to the Extensions menu and select Apps Script to access the App Script editor. Once there, create a new script.

Copy and paste the following code into a new file or the existing default file within the script editor in Google Sheets.

function doGet ( e ) { var records = []; var sheet = SpreadsheetApp . getActiveSpreadsheet (). getActiveSheet (); var rows = sheet . getDataRange (). getValues (); rows . forEach ( function ( row , index ) { if ( index !== 0 ) { var record = {}; record . LotNumber = row [ 0 ]; record . MedicationName = row [ 1 ]; record . ManufactureDate = row [ 2 ]; record . ExpirationDate = row [ 3 ]; record . BatchSize = row [ 4 ]; record . QualityCheckStatus = row [ 5 ]; records . push ( record ); } }); return ContentService . createTextOutput ( JSON . stringify ( records )) . setMimeType ( ContentService . MimeType . JSON ); }

The code above will convert the data in the Google Sheets document to a JSON object and return it as a response to the HTTP request.

Click on the Deploy button in the script editor, then select New Deployment. For the deployment type, choose Web App, and under the Who has access option, select Anyone. Finally, click Deploy to complete the deployment process.

You can now access the synthetic dataset through the provided URL to retrieve the JSON data. Try using the data source: https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbyPEx3THAbcLTNaJNOkQ1O3puTmQKXXOE_gkOGyKMzfIEUTr484qS8Dsi7-kTKpD333/exec.

With the lot numbers from the synthetic dataset, we can print out barcodes and label them on medical vials.

Real-time Pharmaceutical Lookup with Flutter Barcode Scanner

Since we have already implemented a Flutter barcode scanner app compatible with Windows, Android, iOS and web, we can repurpose the existing code and integrate new features. The source code is available on GitHub at: https://github.com/yushulx/flutter-barcode-scanner

To implement the AR-enhanced pharmaceutical lookup app, follow these two steps:

Fetch the pharmaceutical information from Google Sheets and store it in a global variable. Match the scanned barcode with the corresponding lot number and display the pharmaceutical information.

Fetch the Dataset from Google Sheets

Add the http package to the pubspec.yaml file for handling HTTP requests. dependencies : flutter : sdk : flutter http : ^1.1.2 In the main.dart file, create a _fetchData() function that makes a GET HTTP request to fetch the JSON data. Future < void > _fetchData () async { final response = await http . get ( Uri . parse ( 'https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbyPEx3THAbcLTNaJNOkQ1O3puTmQKXXOE_gkOGyKMzfIEUTr484qS8Dsi7-kTKpD333/exec' )); if ( response . statusCode == 200 ) { List < dynamic > list = json . decode ( response . body ); database = { for ( var item in list ) item [ 'LotNumber' ] as String : Pharma . fromJson ( item ) }; } else { throw Exception ( 'Failed to load data' ); } } The Pharma class is defined as follows: class Pharma { final String lotNumber ; final String medicationName ; final DateTime manufactureDate ; final DateTime expirationDate ; final int batchSize ; final String qualityCheckStatus ; Pharma ({ required this . lotNumber , required this . medicationName , required this . manufactureDate , required this . expirationDate , required this . batchSize , required this . qualityCheckStatus , }); factory Pharma . fromJson ( Map < String , dynamic > json ) { return Pharma ( lotNumber: json [ 'LotNumber' ] as String , medicationName: json [ 'MedicationName' ] as String , manufactureDate: DateTime . parse ( json [ 'ManufactureDate' ]), expirationDate: DateTime . parse ( json [ 'ExpirationDate' ]), batchSize: int . parse ( json [ 'BatchSize' ]. toString ()), qualityCheckStatus: json [ 'QualityCheckStatus' ] as String , ); } } The JSON data will be converted to a Map object, with the lot number as the key and the Pharma object as the value. Map < String , Pharma > database = {};

Match the Barcode with the Lot Number and Display the Pharmaceutical Information

In the global.dart file, locate the paint() function, and then add the provided code within this function to render the pharmaceutical information on the screen.

if ( database . containsKey ( result . text )) { Pharma pharma = database [ result . text ]!; // Draw the pharmaceutical information // Background // Medication Name // Manufacture Date // Expiration Date // Batch Size // Quality Check Status }

Background: final bgPaint1 = Paint () .. color = Colors . green . withOpacity ( 0.6 ) .. style = PaintingStyle . fill ; const double bgWidth = 220 , bgHeight = 110 ; minY = minY - bgHeight - 10 ; var backgroundRect = Rect . fromLTWH ( minX , minY + bgHeight , bgWidth , 5 ); canvas . drawRect ( backgroundRect , bgPaint1 ); final bgPaint2 = Paint () .. color = Colors . black . withOpacity ( 0.6 ) .. style = PaintingStyle . fill ; backgroundRect = Rect . fromLTWH ( minX , minY , bgWidth , bgHeight ); canvas . drawRect ( backgroundRect , bgPaint2 );

Medication Name: const int xSpacing = 100 , ySpacing = 20 , padding = 10 ; const nameSpan = TextSpan ( style: TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 14 , fontWeight: FontWeight . bold ), text: 'Name' , ); final namePainter = TextPainter ( text: nameSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); namePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); namePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX , padding + minY )); var nameValue = TextSpan ( style: const TextStyle ( color: Colors . white , fontSize: 14 , fontWeight: FontWeight . bold ), text: pharma . medicationName , ); final nameValuePainter = TextPainter ( text: nameValue , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); nameValuePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); nameValuePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX + xSpacing , padding + minY ));

Manufacture Date: const manufactureDateSpan = TextSpan ( style: TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 12 ), text: 'Manufacture Date' , ); final manufactureDatePainter = TextPainter ( text: manufactureDateSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); manufactureDatePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); manufactureDatePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX , minY + ySpacing + padding )); var manufactureDateValueSpan = TextSpan ( style: const TextStyle ( color: Colors . white , fontSize: 12 ), text: ' ${pharma.manufactureDate.day} / ${pharma.manufactureDate.month} / ${pharma.manufactureDate.year} ' , ); final manufactureDateValuePainter = TextPainter ( text: manufactureDateValueSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); manufactureDateValuePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); manufactureDateValuePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX + xSpacing , minY + ySpacing + padding ));

Expiration Date: const expirationDateSpan = TextSpan ( style: TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 12 ), text: 'Expiration Date' , ); final expirationDatePainter = TextPainter ( text: expirationDateSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); expirationDatePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); expirationDatePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX , minY + 2 * ySpacing + padding )); var expirationDateValueSpan = TextSpan ( style: const TextStyle ( color: Colors . white , fontSize: 12 ), text: ' ${pharma.expirationDate.day} / ${pharma.expirationDate.month} / ${pharma.expirationDate.year} ' ); final expirationDateValuePainter = TextPainter ( text: expirationDateValueSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); expirationDateValuePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); expirationDateValuePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX + xSpacing , minY + 2 * ySpacing + padding ));

Batch Size: const batchSizeSpan = TextSpan ( style: TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 12 ), text: 'Batch Size' , ); final batchSizePainter = TextPainter ( text: batchSizeSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); batchSizePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); batchSizePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX , minY + 3 * ySpacing + padding )); var batchSizeValueSpan = TextSpan ( style: const TextStyle ( color: Colors . white , fontSize: 12 ), text: pharma . batchSize . toString ()); final batchSizeValuePainter = TextPainter ( text: batchSizeValueSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); batchSizeValuePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); batchSizeValuePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX + xSpacing , minY + 3 * ySpacing + padding ));

Quality Check Status: const qualityCheckStatusSpan = TextSpan ( style: TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 12 ), text: 'Quality Status' , ); final qualityCheckStatusPainter = TextPainter ( text: qualityCheckStatusSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); qualityCheckStatusPainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); qualityCheckStatusPainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX , minY + 4 * ySpacing + padding )); var qualityCheckStatusValueSpan = TextSpan ( style: pharma . qualityCheckStatus == 'Passed' ? const TextStyle ( color: Colors . green , fontSize: 12 ) : const TextStyle ( color: Colors . red , fontSize: 12 ), text: pharma . qualityCheckStatus ); final qualityCheckStatusValuePainter = TextPainter ( text: qualityCheckStatusValueSpan , textDirection: TextDirection . ltr , ); qualityCheckStatusValuePainter . layout ( minWidth: 0 , maxWidth: size . width ); qualityCheckStatusValuePainter . paint ( canvas , Offset ( padding + minX + xSpacing , minY + 4 * ySpacing + padding ));

Run the App and Scan the Barcode on the Medical Vial

flutter run # flutter run -d windows # flutter run -d edge

Source Code

https://github.com/yushulx/pharma-lookup
Visitors play in the water at Kings Beach in 2020. For years, tensions have been growing in communities around the lake as more new homeowners and tourists flock to the basin. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

A coalition of vocal Tahoe residents have filed suit to block newly approved updates to a development plan that lay the groundwork for more affordable housing, hotels and restaurants on the lakes West Shore.

The lawsuit, filed in Placer County Superior Court on Wednesday, is necessary to protect Lake Tahoe, the coalition said in a statement.

In late October, Placer County supervisors approved amendments to the countys overarching Tahoe development plan, which  in conjunction with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency  governs building requirements in the lake basin from Tahoma north to Kings Beach. The new measures are intended to facilitate lodging and mixed-use redevelopment in town centers and workforce housing throughout North Tahoe by, in part, streamlining new hotels, restaurants, retail and other local-serving land uses, according to a county fact sheet.

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But the Tahoe residents behind the new lawsuit say they are skeptical the countys plan would produce the kind of community benefits it espouses and could instead contribute to some of the problems that have disrupted life in Tahoe for the past several years  namely traffic congestion, crowding and pollution, among other issues.

The human carrying capacity in the Tahoe basin is already beyond strained and is at a breaking point, Tobi Tyler, vice chair of the Tahoe Area Sierra Clubs executive committee, said in the Wednesday statement.

Opponents of the plan amendments also worry that streamlining new developments could produce more luxury homes instead of the affordable units many in Tahoe believe are desperately needed.

We favor development but on a limited basis, where workforce housing and low-income housing get done. We dont want to put out the welcome mat for large multimillion-dollar homes and condominiums, said Ron Grassi, a part-time resident of Tahoe City who sits on the board of directors for Friends of the West Shore, a nonprofit citizens group that collaborated on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that the countys process in approving the new amendments ran afoul of the California Environmental Quality Act. The groups want Placer County to produce a new environmental impact report that takes into account the heightened pressures on Tahoes modest infrastructure that came to bear with the onset of the pandemic four years ago.

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We want the agencies to do a carrying capacity analysis. In other words, just how many people can the lake really handle? Grassi said.

Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson said she hadnt seen the legal complaint but has heard the concerns from the groups behind it in recent hearings. She said the amendments adequately take into account the communitys input.

A lot of the contentious issues were dropped from the amendments, so the continued anxiety about the amendments is somewhat out of proportion, Gustafson said.
Canva

On 30 November, 17 organizations, including from the media sector, journalist federations and more, have called on trilogue negotiators to ensure that the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) is aligned with the international human rights standards when it comes to the protection of journalistic sources. Specifically, if EMFA Article 4 doesn't align with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), it may fall short of its objective to offer greater protection to journalists and their sources.

The joint statement calls for policymakers to ensure a high level of journalistic protection in the final negotiations of the EMFA.

Read the full statement to the right.
Greenfern Industries (NZX.GFI) announces the resignation of current CFO, Howard Long and the appointment of Richard Chew as its new Chief Financial Officer. Howard Long who has been in the role prior to listing in October 2021 has resigned to pursue other opportunities effective 1st December 2023.

The Company will work with Howard on a transition plan and confirmed measures will be put in place to ensure the smooth operation and hand over process of the finance function with Richard.

On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank Howard for his unwavering contribution to Greenfern and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.

Mr Chew, a chartered accountant who has been recognised in the New Zealand CFO awards in the finance leader of the year (2016) and the finance team of the year (2017) categories, comes to Greenfern with more than two decades of senior management experience in sectors ranging from media, advertising and marketing to retail, music and property including commercial finance roles with Les Mills International, Fox Sports, FCB NZ, 90 Seconds, Mahi Tahi Media, Rhythm & Vines, Allpress Espresso, Cooks Coffee Company (NZX: CCC ) and others.

Mr Chew, who joins Greenfern on 1st December, is currently running his own finance consulting business XL CFO and was CFO for NZX and ASX listed companies including Global CFO and founding shareholder of 90 Seconds, a cloud-based video production company that achieved significant investment from Sequoia Capital, one of the worlds largest Venture Capital funds.

Greenfern Independent Chairman Marvin Yee said: Richard is an energetic and skilled finance professional and offers Greenfern a good balance of commercial, financial and operational experience. We are looking forward to him joining the team".

Greenfern continues to evolve in what is still considered a sunrise industry here in New Zealand as they look to settling into their recently commissioned cultivation facility in Taranaki. Managing Director Dan Casey says It has been a long transition from the outset to now having to navigate the regulatory rules and hurdles, however we are now on the cusp of generating significant cashflow for the business and settling into a production phase and pushing for optimal performance. Once we achieve this, we can then look to capitalise on some of the opportunities we have put in place and those that present themselves often.

We look forward to updating the markets in the near future.

Dan Casey

Managing Director

0274202476

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December 20th Morning Report


Canva

On 29 November, a coalition of European media associations, journalist federations and media workers unions called for strong and meaningful protections for editorial content on large online platforms in the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). The joint statement was released ahead of the second political trilogue, where the European Institutions aim to agree on the final wording of Article 17, which could become the basis for an effective recourse mechanism to rebalance the relationship between the media and big tech.

Journalists, media outlets and professionals regularly see their editorial content on online platforms being removed or otherwise restricted. The reason behind the takedowns is the platforms unilaterally set terms and conditions applied by content moderation algorithms. These arbitrary actions affect the diversity of information available to Europeans and also have a chilling effect on free speech, as editorial teams must consider commercial terms and conditions while doing their job. Article 17 of the EMFA must give vetted media service providers a minimum standard of protection from such behaviour.

We call for basic guarantees that:

Establishes an effective communication channel between the platform operators on the one hand and the media on the other;

Sets clear timeframes for the parties to (re)act

Involves the relevant regulatory authorities or bodies whenever platforms and the media cannot come to terms with each other.

Read the full statement to the right.
INTERNATIONAL footwear brand Skechers has renewed its partnership with Cork Opera House for its panto, Jack and the Beanstalk.

The popular brand teamed up with the iconic Cork venue in 2022 for Sleeping Beauty and now returns in 2023 for a bigger run of the panto which is set to attract more than 60,000 patrons to the Opera House during the festive period, from last night.

Skechers Ireland is thrilled to announce our sponsorship of the 2023 Cork Opera House panto, Jack and the Beanstalk, said Paul Gallagher MD Shuz4U Ltd T/A Skechers Ireland.

The Cork Opera House panto has long been a beloved tradition in our community, bringing families together over the festive period. Shuz4U Ltd proudly represents the Skechers brand in Ireland, with 23 stores throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Our roots are firmly planted in Cork, where our stores can be found in Opera Lane, Mahon Point, and Wilton, while our headquarters are located in Little Island.

The Opera House panto holds a special place in our hearts, as many of us attend with our own families every year.

It simply wouldnt be Christmas without the panto, and we are overjoyed to be part of this festive celebration and contribute to spreading the Christmas spirit this year.

Cork Opera House and Skechers also teamed up with Red FM to invite a Cork primary school class to Jack and the Beanstalk, in addition to kitting out the pupils in a brand new pair of Skechers each.

The students are not the only ones to benefit from a new pair of Skechers, as staff at Cork Opera House and members of the panto cast are also set to receive a pair over the coming week.
AT least one million plastic cups have been saved from landfill in the 11 months since their use on the UCC campus was outlawed, the universitys president, Professor John OHalloran, has confirmed.

Professor OHalloran said single-use plastic packaging threatened the climate globally.

We know that it is imperative on all of us to take individual action against plastic waste, said Professor OHalloran.

We are so pleased that UCCs efforts have already prevented one million single-use plastic cups from going to landfill or incinerated  it is a significant step forward in our sustainability efforts at UCC and motivates us for the continued action ahead.

The ban on single-use plastic cups was introduced in January and extended to all the operations on the campus; in the restaurants, shops, and vending machines.

A cup deposit and return scheme, and students and lecturers bringing their own reusable cups to campus have been credited with the university achieving this milestone within the year.

The enthusiastic involvement of students in adhering to the ban was a significant factor in its success and the UCC Students Union communications and engagement cfficer, Hayley OConnell-Vaughan, expressed her gratitude to her fellow students for their efforts.

UCC Students Union is delighted to see the student-led plastic-free UCC initiative making a huge difference across our campus, said Hayley.

We are so grateful to our students who continue to push, fight, and set the standards for sustainability and climate action in UCC and the wider community. Reaching this milestone shows how the small, everyday choices we make can have a huge environmental impact over a sustained period. The time for action is now.

The ban on plastic cups was one of 62 concrete actions UCC had committed to as part of a five-year Sustainability and Climate Action Plan which the university began to implement this year.

The university is also sending a delegation of students, academics and researchers to COP28, the international climate summit convened by the United Nations, which starts today in Expo City, Dubai.

UCC is the first Irish university to achieve observer status at the COP conferences, explained Brian O Gallchoir, the associate vice-president of sustainability at UCC and the director of the Environmental Research Institute.

We believe it is important for universities to maintain a presence at the talks, he said.

We need observers to stand witness to these important international negotiations and to critically assess the decisions made, in order to ensure the outcomes shape a better future for us all.
GARDAI are to step up patrols in the city in the run-up to Christmas in a move that businesses say will provide reassurance to shoppers, visitors, and traders alike.

From tomorrow, there will be extra patrols across the main shopping areas and streets as part of the Christmas policing plan.

It comes two months after Chief Superintendent Tom Myers revealed that theft from shops was up 39%, with 1,401 incidents reported to gardai in Cork city as of September.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo that gardai plan to deploy additional resources to the city centre and the main city shopping locations from tomorrow until December 31, with a focus on visibility, crime prevention, and proactive intervention and investigation.

'Badly needed'

Miriam Ray, from Sheenas Boutique on Oliver Plunkett St, told The Echo the additional gardai were badly needed.

I also think it will put a bit of faith in the people of Cork also, and say that Cork is open for business, and we are here for you.

Having more gardai is a major preventative measure, she explained, against theft and anti-social behaviour, the latter of which Ms Ray said is a deterrent to people coming into town.

Theres lots of opportunists out there, and knowing gardai are there in the event anything happened is great, she said.

Speaking on behalf of the Cork Business Association, vice president Aaron Mansworth said that the additional Garda presence in the city was welcome news to its members.

The safety and security of our city is of utmost importance, especially during this busy season. The presence of extra gardai brings reassurance to businesses, shoppers, and visitors alike.

We appreciate the efforts made by the authorities to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. Together, we can make Cork a vibrant and thriving destination this festive season.

Concerns gardai would be sent to Dublin

Claire Nash, a restaurateur, retailer, and former CBA director, told The Echo: Ive been in business for 32 years in the city and Christmas is the one time we can rely on the gardai to have boots on the street.

Even the last few years, when covid saw people gathering, the stakeholders were able to rely on the gardai to look after us.

Last year we had a very successful Christmas.

Im confident that the streets will be good, its after Christmas wed be worried about. We have begged and demanded that the same diligence would be applied.

In January and the few months after that, anything can happen  even during the day, she said, explaining that they have been asking for the number of garda patrols not to drop off after the festive season ends.

Wed worry that Dublin  with the current crisis  would have access to way more staff and resources than we would, and that some of our gardai would be sent up there, she said.

Christmas policing plan

A garda spokesperson told The Echo that the operation aims to support both the day and night-time economies.

The Christmas policing plan comprises of increased policing presence, to include additional uniformed police patrols, said the garda spokesperson.

Traffic management, to assist visitors to the city, will be performed daily during peak times.

The operation will cover the policing of Cork city by day and night, to support both the daytime and night-time economies.

The spokesperson said that last years operation was welcomed by businesses.

Increased Garda visibility supported the image of Cork as a welcoming and safe city, and was acknowledged in media dialogue and at city centre business and stakeholder fora, said the spokesperson.
Management at a city centre store barred a man from the premises but he returned to the property and swung a punch in the direction of one of the staff.

Jonathan OLeary of Cork Simon Community pleaded guilty to a charge of assault arising out of the incident.

In fairness to the accused man it was pointed out that while he did swing a punch it never made contact.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said the 33-year-old wished to apologise for his behaviour.

He is originally from England and reared in Tralee. His father died around the time of this incident,  Mr Burke said.

Sergeant John Kelleher said, On Thursday August 10 2023 at approximately 6 p.m. John OLeary entered Centra on Grand Parade.

As he was barred from the store he was removed by a member of security.

He made threats towards the member of staff and swung a punch in his direction. Mr OLeary was first restrained. He then left the area continuing to make threats.

He was charged with one count of assaulting the officer.

Sgt. Kelleher said, He swung a punch but it did not hit his target.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a three-month sentence on the assault charge.
A 50-year-old man who was seen on CCTV in the early hours of the morning using a sledgehammer to break into a fishing and shooting stockist has signed a plea of guilty to that crime.

John ODonovan of Spriggs Rd, Gurranabraher, Cork, and Monataggart, Donoughmore, Co Cork, also signed guilty pleas to other charges.

On the application of Sergeant John Kelleher, Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned sentencing of the case from Cork District Court to the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on January 29, 2024.

Garda Dave Tobin gave evidence at the original objection to bail in this case.

Gardai responded to a call in relation to a burglary at the Linen Weaver Bar on Paul St which occurred earlier that morning, July 3, he said.

It is alleged that he was identified on CCTV wearing clothes matching the description of him on Cornmarket St where he was found in possession of bottles of alcohol identified as taken from the Linen Weaver Bar.

It is further alleged that he was seen on the same date, at 4.37am, attempting to break the lock of the door of TW Murrays using a sledgehammer.

The man can be seen walk down Careys Lane, change his clothes from a camouflage jacket to a black jacket and return to the front door of TW Murrays and look through the door. He can then be seen walk down Careys Lane towards the Linen Weaver Bar.

On July 1, it is alleged that the same man gained entry to the Sstrene Grene shop on St Patricks Street and interfered with a number of cash registers and stole items of stock from the store.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that the accused was currently serving a sentence for an unrelated offence and was signing guilty pleas to the charges against him arising out of all incidents.
FOR the second time in six weeks, dolphins have been spotted in the River Lee, drawing crowds but worrying experts.

Members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group told photographer Cian ORegan of their concern, saying that the four juvenile dolphins should not be this far out unaccompanied at low tide.

Dozens of people gathered near the Cork College of Commerce, at either side of the river, to watch them on Tuesday.

At least three dolphins were spotted in Sullivans Quay on October 15, where they remained for several hours before likely finding their way back to the ocean.

Colin Barnes, owner and operator of Cork Whale Watch, told The Echo that the dolphins are frequent enough visitors and are likely looking for one of three things in the River Lee: Trout, salmon, or mullet.

The fins of some of the four dolphins swimming in the River Lee at Morrison's Island on Tuesday morning. Members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group at the scene expressed their concern as the dolphins were all juvenile and unaccompanied by an adult at low tide. Picture: Cian O'Regan.

On the topic of why there was more frequent sightings in recent weeks, he suggested that they might be hungrier than usual.

Fish stocks are badly damaged so theyve been hunting further afield, he added.

Nic Slocum, from Whale Watch West Cork, added: There are basically three reasons you might see dolphins that far up the river.

They may be chasing fish into the shallower water.

As the tide recedes, they may just head out to deeper water and the open sea.

Secondly, he suggested: It could simply be that the animals become a little disorientated and simply get lost, but eventually find their way back out to sea.

This area is not particularly associated with variations in the earths magnetic field that appear to be associated with some of the mass strandings one gets in the southern hemisphere, such as with the likes of pilot whales.

Finally, he said: One of the group might be sick or dying, and other members of the group may follow the sick animal into shallower water, as the social bond between these animals is very strong.

The dolphins were spotted in the river as late as 7pm on Tuesday, but there were no further sightings of them yesterday morning, meaning they most likely found their way back home.
THE role of Cork as a driver of UNESCO Learning Cities worldwide was recently highlighted and applauded as a model of best practice at an international event hosted in Shanghai.

Cork Learning Citys delegation presented on several learning innovations to an audience of cities from China, Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Britain at an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Global Network of Learning Cities.

The Cork experience was cited as an exemplar by UNESCO for the further development of this growing global initiative.

Independent councillor Mick Finn was part of a two-pronged delegation to Shanghai  invited and hosted by UNESCO in the East China Normal University  along with Cork Learning City co-ordinator, Denis Barrett, and director of organisation and finance of Cork ETB, Enda McWeeney.

For a small city like Cork, it was great to be held up as a model of access to lifelong learning for all by a big city like Shanghai with a population of 26m, said Mr Finn.

The role of local, neighbourhood structures during covid illustrated the importance of cities in implementing national strategies, proving that cities can be to the fore in engaging older, disadvantaged, or marginalised people who may wish to further their skills, abilities, and education.

Initiatives like our Lifelong Learning Festival, Cork Access Network, and the many personal stories of people going back to learning later in life, or following traumatic life experiences, really resonated with those present.

So much so that several delegations are intending to travel to Cork next April to see these initiatives in action during Lifelong Learning Festival Week 2024.

Advancing the concept of lifelong learning as a human right was a strong focus for the discussions during the 10th-anniversary UNESCO event, with cities from France, Egypt, and Argentina among those also leading the charge.

Broadening the range of learning opportunities for people and communities in Cork is a priority action that should follow on from this event, with the ongoing support of partners including Cork ETB, MTU, and UCC working with city council, said Mr Finn.
GARDAI in Cork are investigating an alleged arson attack on a home on the city's northside yesterday afternoon.

No injuries were reported but it is understood severe damage was done to the house.

The incident occurred at Mount Nebo Avenue in Gurranabraher.

A Garda spokesperson told The Echo: "Gardai were alerted to an incident of criminal damage by fire on Mount Nebo Avenue, Cork yesterday evening Wednesday 29th November, 2023 at approximately 5pm.

"No persons injured and investigations ongoing."
The University College Cork Students Union (UCCSU) has said it has endeavoured to make College Christmas an official event in order to maintain a higher level of safety throughout the day.

Students from UCC who took part in the College Christmas Swim organised by the Students Union to raise funds for various charities at Fountainstown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon.

UCCSU has organised and helped with a host of events taking place today such as the Christmas morning sea swim, Santa's Grotto, hot drinks on campus, Christmas dinner in the Main Restaurant, its Raise and Give charity launch and the turning on of the Christmas Lights on campus at 5pm.

Communications & Engagement Officer of UCCSU Hayley OConnell told The Echo that they have also been working closely with some local publicans to introduce a ticketing policy to avoid early morning queuing, with all money raised going straight to the charities.

So far this morning we have seen significant improvements in the local college areas and we are very thankful to our students who are working with us on this.

"We also have our own evening DJ event on campus in the UCC Student Centre, she said.

In an increased effort to keep our students safe, we have our amazing Student Community Support teams in operation 4pm to 2am who are there to provide pastoral care to our students and to keep our community safe.

Caoimhe Nolan and Megan O'Byrne get warmed up after taking part in the UCC College Christmas Swim organised by the Students Union to raise funds for various charities at Fountainstown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

We want all students to have a very happy and safe day, this week marks the end of the lecture period and our students have worked incredibly hard thus far before the commencement of exams.

She said that some bars are adopting an over 19s policy this year but that the UCC on-campus event at Devere Hall is for 18s, as are some bars.

Rhona Lennox and Nessa Wheeler collecting for charity at the UCC College Christmas Swim organised by the Students Union to raise funds for various charities at Fountainstown, Co. Cork. - Picture: David Creedon

Bars we are working with have given us all their requirements and it is listed on our Instagram @uccsu.ie, she said.

All proceeds raised on Thursday will go to UCCs Raise and Give charities NASC, Cork Sexual Violence Centre and the RNLI.
On November 26, in Sale, Moroccan police assaulted and arrested activists with the Front Against Normalization with Israel who were demanding an end to the normalization of ties between Morocco and the Zionist state.





The activists were participating in a march organized by the front in solidarity with the Palestinian people and Gaza, a part of a crowd of thousands waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans in support of Palestine.





Palestinian gather to protest a deal between the UAE and Israel to normalise ties, in Gaza City, Gaza on 19 August 2020 [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency]

The march was attacked by the police in front of the Carrefour market in Sale. The police assaulted organizers and arrested some of the activists on the spot.





The Front Against Normalization issued a list of arrested activists and claimed that they were kept in detention in Sale.





Following the footsteps of Bahrain, the UAE, and Sudan, in 2020, Morocco became the fourth Arab country to sign a normalization deal with Israel. The deal, known as the Abraham Accords, was promoted by the US.





By signing the deal, Moroccan King Mohammed VI violated his countrys commitment under the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 of not recognizing Israel until a separate Palestinian state was created. The decision was massively unpopular domestically. Morocco signed the Accords in return for the U.S. recognizing its occupation of Western Sahara.





from the Peoples Dispatch / Globetrotter News Service
THURSDAY, November 23 was a black day for Ireland, its communities, agencies, and all those who believe in peace, love, and care.

I have been living in Ireland for 15 years and have not seen such a series of events, ever. My wish is it will never happen again in any part of the world. It has been traumatic for all ages and genders - children, youth, men, women, professionals, and activists - and its further impacts will be analysed in the coming years.

I have since read many perspectives and opinion pieces and discussed with individuals their understanding of the incidents in Dublin that night. I heard political, cultural, religious, civic, and many other perspectives on the days events.

I was travelling to Galway on the day for a project commitment when I heard the news. All I wanted to do was to quickly finish my work and return home to be with my kids.

It was not yet clear what exactly was happening in Dublin, and a lot of misinformation was already circulating.

I have to say it was one of the toughest journeys I ever made.

I was thinking about my five-year-old child, and my heart felt like it was crying. On the bus, the radio was giving updates on what was happening in the streets of Dublin. Only two days previously, I had been walking the same Dublin streets at the same time. I was imagining the situation there. It was very distressing and disheartening.

The following day, I had to go to Mallow for an award-receiving ceremony. I didnt want to go, but I gathered my energy, attended the event, and drove back home at midnight.

On the 40-minute drive, I was thinking of the child who was in a critical condition in the hospital and other wounded children, adults, and police officers who were receiving treatment in hospitals as a result of attacks.

It took three days for me to process and rationalise my thinking about how I experienced these events as a migrant living in Ireland. There are many to blame for this situation. I have been personally directly targeted by the far right. On a number of occasions, friends notified me about information shared online about me, including threats to kill me, people calling me a Paki and telling me to leave Ireland. All anonymous accounts of course. This was a very hard time for me.

I accessed counselling to help me cope with what this brought up for me. My best support came from my friends and other people I know who had faced similar online hate in the past. It felt like I had to put myself back together many, many times.

Fahmeda Naheed. Picture David Creedon

It is important for me to reflect on this process now, in the context of where we are today in Ireland. I started thinking about Sinead OConner and decided to share my thoughts.

Thinking about Sinead as a warrior, a white Irish mother, an activist, and a reformer, I reconnected with her call to fight the real enemy. The real enemy is disguised in many forms. When hate has taken shape in our daily lives, the enemy has nothing to do. By simply sewing seeds of division, it can sit back and watch as we destroy ourselves in division: migrants vs. locals; whites vs. blacks; white collar vs. blue collar; lower-salary persons vs. higher-salary earners; men vs. women; social status vs. values; looks great vs. looks ugly; LGBTQI+ communities vs. non-LGBTQI+ communities; my faith vs. your faith; my nationality vs. your nationality, and many, many more  the opportunities are endless.

It is those who create and benefit from such social and racial divisions who are the real enemies. The situation helps no-one but those who wish to gain power by spreading hate.

We can label a group of people who did damage on Thursday, such as the teenagers who came out and damaged properties in Dublin city centre. Those teenagers have no understanding of what they were doing; many are puppets of some powerful people who have no other agenda except to weaken the economies.

The damages to public property will be recovered from the public funds, which could be saved for an educational project. The impacts on the environment in Dublin city were huge. A massive clean-up operation was needed and the building infrastructure was altered.

The loss to businesses and trauma to people, to communities, to the Irish nation will endure. Ignorance and blatant racism, under the guise of protecting the Irish, was a card well played.

So the real enemy here is ignorance, mind- sets, ideologies that promote hate, faiths that cause civilizational classes, and political narratives that deform societies and distort the integrities of communities. When hate is preached publicly, actual lives are put at risk.

The education system needs to be re-evaluated, and parenting can also be questioned: does the modern education system teach the modern needs of communities and active public participation; does it question the traditional school of thought that defines what Irishness and patriotism are; do schools teach children about caring for their environment; do we engage with our youth effectively and create dialogue?

Those who were causing damage on the streets were trained and nurtured in such circumstances, which caused hate and wrought destruction.

We have to talk about the educational opportunities and training we all benefit from. A real question should be asked: have we really educated our youth and graduates from university about how to assess the real needs in our society and communities?

There is misinformation and hypocrisy about migrants taking jobs while the economy relies on the migrant workforce and we all benefit, the spreading of misinformation that refugees are taking your houses that goes unchallenged. Who benefits from this misinformation, is the question. This is the real enemy we have to talk about.

We have seen the worst forms of hate against women.

The whole nation still feels the pain of Ashling Murphys murder. We have to find and address the causes of gender-based violence, which is a global challenge.

Again, the real enemy is the doctrination against women and those who do not consider themselves engines of change. They are still reluctant to create a better and safer environment for women and are trying all they can to keep them limited those are the real enemies!

Above all, scenarios like we saw in Dublin last week require us to question ourselves.

Society and its development is not the job of a few. All of us are answerable for our actions and contributions to the shaping of society to greater or lesser extents. Rather than blaming others, why not create environments where we can have open dialogue? Ask those who are sitting next to you or in your community who love to preach such hate. That person can be from any segment of society.

Abuse takes many forms and adds to the disparities which cause frustration, and poverty strengthens the hate. We have 18.5% of the Irish population recorded as having a mental health disorder, such as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or alcohol or drug use.

Mental health issues have impacted and fragmented our communities and created further divisions in society. Drugs and youth problems need to be addressed from a prevention as well as intervention perspective.

We need to ask about fair distribution within the economy, opportunity, and credit.

We need to remind everyone that we are all migrants with temporary residency in this world, and that our existence will only be glorified by our actions and positive contributions.

We are all making history - our actions today are the words of tomorrows history books. We need to retrieve the legacies of our ancestors who made Ireland a beautiful and spiritual country. We need unity and not divisions. Divisiveness is only colonial propaganda that sets up one group as superior to another. Good and bad guys are everywhere, but the choice is ours to become the good guys!

We need national conversations - in our homes, in schools, in communities, in cafes and workplaces. The best thing that we can do is to address the real enemy and stop accusing each other.

We know we will win; we have confidence in the victory of good over evil; we fight the real enemy. It will be a process, solutions are not possible overnight. We need well-resourced communities and support of marginalised groups. We need to address the issues fully and face them, with goodwill and investing love in our hearts - kindness is education.

We should not ignore the warnings, or create gaps in our societies and communities, which are filled by hate.

MORE ABOUT FAHMEDA

Fahmeda Naheed, who lives in Cork city, is a Project Assistant, at Doras Luimni (Human Rights Organization). She is a poet, researcher, and writer. She is an Ambassador of Schools of Sanctuary and Founder of the Pakistani Community of Cork (Lord Mayor Award Winner 2023). She is also a member of the Ethnic Minority Domestic Abuse Observatory and a Co-Chair of the Cork Three Faith Forum. She is the tutor of Fusion Cooking with Cork City Partnership. She is a former Garda Staff and writes for the Garda Review. She runs her own radio show Lets Integrate with Cork City Community Radio every Saturday live. She is currently working with Doras on the SALAAM.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

On the first day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, commonly known as COP28, delegates have agreed to formally establish a loss and damage fund to support especially vulnerable countries dealing with the effects of climate change.

Developing nations that have contributed the least to the climate crisis have been facing the brunt of its devastating floods, drought and sea-level rise.

Todays news on loss and damage gives this UN climate conference a running start. All governments and negotiators must use this momentum to deliver ambitious outcomes here in Dubai, Simon Stiell, the executive secretary for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said at a press conference, according to UN News.

The support of developed nations for the fund was established during last years climate summit in Egypt after several years of negotiations.

The United Arab Emirates, whose Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber is the president of COP28, has reportedly pledged $100 million to the fund.

Germany also pledged $100 million, while the European Union committed to $245.39 million, Britain promised at least $51 million, the United States agreed to give $17.5 million and Japan $10 million, reported Reuters.

Governments, the private sector, and innovative sources  such as levies on international shipping and aviation emissions  can all contribute to the fund. Fossil fuel companies that have done the most to drive the climate crisis should also contribute  and if they do not do so voluntarily, governments should compel them to, said Joe Thwaites, senior advocate for international climate finance at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), in a press release from NRDC.

The COP28 schedule of meetings and events is set to run through December 12 on the campus of Expo City on the outskirts of Dubai. More than 70,000 participants, including delegates, scientists, environmental activists, youth and climate negotiators are expected to attend the climate conference, UN News reported.

At the opening of the summit on Thursday, Stiell said the measures the world is taking are small when bold action is needed.

We are taking baby steps and stepping far too slowly to work out the best responses to the complex climate impacts we are faced with, Stiell told delegates, as reported by UN News.

Just hours before, the World Meteorological Organization released a provisional report detailing that 2023 had shattered climate records and would breach 1.4 degrees Celsius of warming  dangerously close to the 1.5 degrees Celsius that had been internationally agreed upon as the threshold to prevent the worst and potentially irreversible climate change impacts, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

This has been the hottest year ever for humanity. So many terrifying records were broken, Stiell said. We are paying with peoples lives and livelihoods. Science tells us we have around six years before we exhaust the planets ability to cope with our emissions. Before we blow through the 1.5-degree limit.

Published reports leading up to COP28 showed how far off-track humans are in the quest to curb fossil fuel use and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Stiell called for nations to commit to new Nationally Determined Contributions, action plans that require all commitments in 2025  whether they be for adaptation, finance or mitigation  to be in accordance with a planetary warming limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The conference in Dubai marks the culmination of the Global Stocktake, an evaluation of nations progress to date on reaching key provisions of the Paris Agreement, particularly with reference to climate resilience, curbing greenhouse gas emissions and the mobilization of funds for the worlds most vulnerable countries.

Some groups noted that the loss and damage fund still had some issues, such as how it would be financed going forward.

The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the funds long-term sustainability, said Harjeet Singh, Climate Action Network Internationals head of global political strategy, as Reuters reported.

Stiell said COP28 delegates had two choices: To focus on the lack of progress, continue on the current path with minor changes and encourage ourselves to do more at some other point in time, or properly fund the transition, including loss and damage, and commit to a different energy system, reported UN News.

If we do not signal the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it, we welcome our own terminal decline. And we choose to pay with peoples lives, Stiell said. Yes, this is the biggest COP yet  but attending a COP does not tick the climate box for the year. The badges around your necks make you responsible for delivering climate action here and at home. I am committing the UNFCCC to track all announcements made and initiatives launched. So that long after the cameras have gone, we can ensure our promises continue to serve the planet.

Fridays COP28 agenda will include a climate action summit with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and world leaders presenting statements on their governments actions to address the climate crisis.

We feel, as you feel, the urgency of the work, and we see, as you see, that the world has reached a crossroads, said Sultan al-Jaber in his opening address, as UN News reported. The science has spoken. It has confirmed that the moment is now to find a new road, wide enough for all of us.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Natural England, a non-departmental adviser for the environment in the UK, is deliberating on the site of a new national park for England. The new national park will be the first one designated in the country since South Downs in 2010.

The park announcement is part of a larger package of projects aimed at preserving nature and increasing green space access. Proposals for the next national park site will be considered by Natural England in summer 2024, and the selected site will need to gain approval from the Environment Secretary before the site will receive its official national park designation.

As the BBC reported, some sites being considered include the Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and Dorset. The official search is slated to begin in early 2024.

Currently, England has 10 national parks and 34 national landscapes. Together, these protected areas cover almost a quarter of England.

Nature is at the foundation of food production, water security, and is critical to our economy, and our mental and physical health, Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said in a statement. It is why it is so important to deliver on our commitment to halt the decline of nature and safeguard at least 30 percent of our extraordinary landscapes.

The UK has a goal to preserve 30% of its land and waters by 2030, although a report from the British Ecological Society released earlier this year warned that the country is not on track to meet this target. The report also warned that much of the protected areas are not actually very effective at preserving nature, particularly due to a lack of sufficient funding.

As part of the newly announced nature preservation package, Natural England announced 25 million ($31.6 million) in project development funding. In total, the package includes 34 landscape recovery projects spanning 200,000 hectares of land. In addition to preserving land for nature, some projects will also be addressing more sustainable agriculture.

The plan for the 11th national park is not only to preserve nature but to also boost public access for those who currently have limited access to natural green spaces, Natural England shared in a press release.

Having more well connected and wildlife-rich habitats is a central priority for meeting our Nature recovery ambitions, Tony Jupiter, chair of Natural England, said in a statement. This includes enhancing landscapes, helping more species thrive, improving climate adaptation and wellbeing for people.

The announcements follow long-standing funding cuts to national parks since 2010, Rose ONeill, chief executive of the Campaign for National Parks, told the BBC. Environmentalists are cautiously optimistic about the announcements.

A new national park is good news for Britain. Its brilliant for our economy, brilliant for our environment, Kevin Bishop, chief executive of Dartmoor National Park, told the BBC. I suppose the key thing for existing national parks is that the money for the new national park needs to be on top of what the existing national parks receive.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Big meat companies and lobbyists for the industry have plans to be out in full force at the COP28 climate conference, bringing with them a message of meat as sustainable nutrition, documents from the Global Meat Alliance (GMA) reveal, according to a press release from DeSmog.

The GMA documents disclose that JBS, the biggest meat company in the world, will be joined by other major industry members like the North American Meat Institute and the Global Dairy Platform to push their pro-meat message at the climate summit in Dubai.

These companies are stepping up their game because the exposure they are facing is stepping up, said Jennifer Jacquet, a University of Miami environmental science and policy professor, in the press release. It used to be that they were caught on the back foot, but now theyre completely prepared.

Farming will be a big feature at COP28, with a food and agriculture agenda pressing governments to work with industry to come up with solutions to food insecurity exacerbated by climate change, the press release said.

GMA members are urged to promote the idea that meat will help feed the world and that it is good for the environment.

It has been estimated that the planets three largest meat companies produce more emissions than the BP and Shell oil companies, and that the 3.4 percent of emissions that come from the dairy industry is more than that of aviation.

According to DeSmog, trade groups will also push for positive livestock content by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the climate conference. Recently, industry pressure resulted in censorship of reports by FAO on the contribution of livestock to greenhouse gas emissions.

Any credible action to reduce emissions in the food sector will inevitably lead to a reduction in the total volume of meat and dairy products produced, said Nusa Urbancic, CEO of the nonprofit Changing Markets Foundation, as reported by The Guardian. The industry is terrified of that and has been deploying multiple tactics to delay the inevitable.

Raising animals for human consumption is the worlds biggest source of methane emissions. Agricultural emissions are putting the planet at risk of permanently breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius planetary temperature threshold that would lead to catastrophic climate-related disasters like rising ocean temperatures, the melting of Arctic sea ice, drought, wildfires, extreme weather, flooding and coastal erosion.

It is hard to understand why decision-makers would allow companies like JBS to have a seat at the table at climate negotiations, Urbancic said in the press release. They are simply not credible partners in these crucial talks, especially now when the time for action is rapidly running out.

According to Urbancic, big meat producers are mimicking the oil industrys strategies of using voluntary pledges to delay action on climate, all the while promoting science funded by the meat industry.

The GMA documents also revealed that the meat and dairy industry plans to collaborate with governments and major meat-producing countries to advance their agenda in Dubai.

Government support of animal agriculture is believed by some academics to be a significant factor in the industry continuing to have power over meat and dairy alternatives, the press release said.

For instance, a study from earlier this year found United States meat and dairy farmers received 800 times the public funding of novel alternative sources of protein, and in the European Union it was 400 times higher than that.

Brazil, Australia and the U.S. are the three biggest exporters of beef worldwide, with their respective governments holding a considerable economic interest in the industrys growth.

Typically, the talk is about demand side interventions, like you can get schools [or] individuals to give up meat, Jacquet said in the press release. But Im a little worried that some of this [meat] production is so baked into subsidies and policy, that even with decreased demand, this apparatus will just keep flowing. We need the animal agriculture equivalent of keep it in the ground for fossil fuels. Its really about production at the end of the day.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Virgin Atlantic has made the first transatlantic flight of a commercial passenger jet powered entirely by sustainable fuel.

Flight100 took off from London Heathrow and made its way across the Atlantic to New Yorks JFK airport on a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mixture of mostly waste fats, as well as plant sugars, oil, proteins and fibers, a press release from Virgin Atlantic said.

Flight100 proves that Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be used as a safe, drop-in replacement for fossil-derived jet fuel and its the only viable solution for decarbonising long haul aviation. Its taken radical collaboration to get here and were proud to have reached this important milestone, but we need to push further, said Shai Weiss, chief executive officer of Virgin Atlantic, in the press release.

Currently, fuel standards allow commercial jet engines to use a blend containing as much as half SAF. SAF can produce up to 70 percent fewer lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions as traditional jet fuel.

Theres simply not enough SAF and its clear that in order to reach production at scale, we need to see significantly more investment, Weiss said. This will only happen when regulatory certainty and price support mechanisms, backed by Government, are in place.

One of the benefits of SAF over other potential alternative fuels is that its currently available, though its volume is less than 0.1 percent of the total amount of jet fuel worldwide.

While other technologies such as electric and hydrogen remain decades away, SAF can be used now, the press release said. Flight100 will prove that the challenge of scaling up production is one of policy and investment.

The Virgin Atlantic flight was made in a Boeing 787 powered by Rolls-Royce engines.

We are incredibly proud that our Trent 1000 engines are powering the first ever widebody flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel across the Atlantic today, said Simon Burr, group director of engineering, technology and safety at Rolls-Royce, in the press release. Rolls-Royce has recently completed compatibility testing of 100% SAF on all our in-production civil aero engine types and this is further proof that there are no engine technology barriers to the use of 100% SAF. The flight represents a major milestone for the entire aviation industry in its journey towards net zero carbon emissions.

Five commercial SAF production plants are slated to begin construction in the UK by 2025, reported The Guardian. The fuel used for Flight100 was imported from the European Union and the United States.

This flight is a key step toward our commitment to deliver 100% SAF-compatible airplanes by 2030, said Sheila Remes, Boeings vice president of environmental sustainability, in the press release.

An announcement by the UKs Department for Transport that SAFs would make guilt-free flying a reality was seen as misleading by campaigners.

The idea that this flight somehow gets us closer to guilt-free flying is a joke, said Cait Hewitt, Aviation Environment Federation policy director, adding that it would be extremely difficult to scale up SAF production sustainably, as The Guardian reported.

Hopefully, well have better technological solutions in future but, for now, the only way to cut CO2 from aviation is to fly less, Hewitt said.

The non-carbon emissions of Virgin Atlantics SAF flight will be assessed in order to improve the scientific knowledge of the effects of alternative fuels on particulates and contrails, as well as to assist in the implementation of contrail forecasts in planning flights, the press release said.

Last week, the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed to a goal of lowering jet fuels carbon intensity by five percent by 2030, reported The Guardian.
(Photo: Sean Hawkey / WCC)Climate activists

The UN climate change conference, COP26, from Nov. 1-12 in Scotland is around the corner and churches are strengthening their collective calls for climate action and justice.

In Milan, government leaders have gathered for pre-COP events and Young Christians from Italy published a call to government leaders.

"As young members of the Christian family in Italy, it is our hope that COP26 will be a crucial element in addressing the climate crisis," they said, according to the World Council of Churches.

"Together, we ask world leaders to take this opportunity of this session to define with determination and ambition measurable goals of climate justice for all."

In Rome, the Vatican announced that it is to host meeting on Oct. 4 titled, "Faith and Science: Towards COP26" at which Pope Francis will speak.

"The purpose is to send an appeal to participants," at the meeting that will take pale from Nov. 1 to 12 in Glasgow, Scotland, said Vatican News.

'SPIRITUAL CRISIS'

In Milan, the young Christians who gathered on Oct. 1 noted that the climate crisis is as much a spiritual crisis as it is an existential one.

"We have failed to discern an intrinsic interconnection with our ecology," reads the call. "We have allowed a culture of greed to permeate the core values that are integral to our commitment to responsibly use the Earth's resources without alternating its vital balances, reflecting God's care for his creation."

The crisis generated by the pandemic reinforces the urgency to act to stop the degradation of the ecosystem, the call further notes.

In another call from churches in Italy, religious leaders note that Milan is marked by an unsustainable development model.

"It is no longer time to chase the skeptics," reads the call. "The plans of national governments remain inadequate: the world is still heading towards a catastrophic rise in temperature above 3  C this century, well beyond the objectives of the Paris Agreement."

Churches in Europe are increasingly struggling to respond to the multifaceted impacts of ecological destruction and climate change, notes the call. "No delay is acceptable," concludes the call.

Groups involved in the calls include Climate Justice for All, Commission on globalization and environment of the Federation of Protestant churches in Italy, Council of Christian Churches in Milan, Methodist Church in Italy, and National Office of Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

Along with the calls, events will be planned in conjunction with the pre-COP meetings in Milan.
(Photo: Valter Muniz/WCC)Part of the WCC delegation on the first day of COP28 in Duba. From left: Bill Somplatsky-Jarman, Presbyterian Church USA, Athena Peralta, WCC, Rev. Henrik Grape, WCC, Joy Kennedy, United Church of Canada, Manoj Kurian, WCC, Rev Chebon Kernell, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference, Julia Rensberg, Church of Sweden, and Rev. Jerry Pillay, WCC general secretary.

A heavy bout of influenza has forced Pope Francis to cancel his journey to Dubai for the COP 28 climate conference hosted by the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

COP 28 opened on Nov. 30 and runs until Dec. 12.

It is the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting where governments will discuss how to limit climate change and to prepare for its future impact.

Faith organizations will have a visible presence at the summit where world leaders will make decisions affecting the future of creation.

"COP28 paves the way for deeper and more effective and meaningful engagement of faith communities in addressing the climate emergency," said World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay.

"I am pleased that religious leaders were able to meet in advance to issue a statement as a contribution and stance on the catastrophic climate situation we are already facing."

The climate change summit opened in Dubai as the UN chief Antonio Guterres confirmed that 2023 will be the hottest year on record.

"We are living through climate collapse in real time," Antonio Guterres said pleading with world leaders to act.

Meanwhile the Holy See said in a press release on Nov. 29, "The condition of the Holy Father is stable; he does not have a fever, but the lung inflammation associated with respiratory difficulties persists. Antibiotic therapy continues."

Earlier, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin confirmed that the Pope is recovering well from the flu and lung inflammation, which made him decide on Tuesday to cancel his journey to Dubai

'POPE ON THE MEND'

"The Pope is on the mend; he just didn't want to expose himself to risks, following the advice of his doctors," said the Cardinal.

"I believe he made this choice to avoid a relapse so he can recover as soon as possible," Cardinal Parolin told journalists.

Cardinal Parolin confirmed that the Holy See is studying the "modalities" by which the Pope will take part in the discussions in Dubai.

He explained that he will take care of the interreligious dialogue part, i.e., the signing of a document scheduled for December at the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion in the Expo City area.

The BBC noted in a report that controversially, a host of the summit, the UAE is one of the world's top oil-producing nations, with oil boss Sultan al-Jaber overseeing the summit.

In a positive move on the opening day of the climate conference, the delegates approved proposals to introduce a loss and damage fund that channel money to countries hit badly by climate-related disasters.

This is something long sought by developing countries and is a "positive signal of momentum", according to COP28 president Sultan al-Jaber.




South America to account half of world's beef exports in five years, Minerva chief executive says

South America will account for 50% of global beef exports in five years, up from 40% presently, according to beefpacker Minerva's chief executive, Fernando Queiroz, who spoke at an event hosted by the company.

Minerva, which bought plants from competitor Marfrig to boost its presence in South American countries this year, believes processing grass-fed cattle, a system that predominates in the region, is a competitive advantage for firms that operate here.

South America also boasts lower labour costs compared to countries like the United States, Queiroz said of the world's biggest beef producing nation, where Marfrig and rival JBS SA own production facilities.

Minerva has made 20 acquisitions over the last 15 years, seeking to be a relevant player in countries like Brazil, the world's biggest beef exporter, as well as in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

"We have the best global platform to mitigate risks," Queiroz said, referring to the current low cattle availability in the US that is affecting rival companies there.

In August, Minerva announced an agreement worth R$7.5 billion ($1.54 billion) to buy some cattle and sheep slaughtering units from Marfrig in Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The move is expected to boost Minerva's slaughter capacity by around 44%, to more than 42,000 heads per day, according to company disclosures.

Out of the total, 11 cattle and lamb slaughter and deboning plants are located in Brazil, three in Uruguay, one in Argentina and one in Chile.

Minerva Foods has secured a firm financial commitment from JP Morgan Bank for the amount related to the remaining installments.

- ESM
China-Ethiopia seminar urges enhanced cooperation on TVET development

Xinhua) 13:20, November 30, 2023

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Experts and policymakers attending a high-level academic exchange seminar on Wednesday on China-Africa collaboration in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and occupational standards called for enhanced Sino-Ethiopian cooperation in TVET development.

The event, named the China-Ethiopia Academic Exchange Seminar on Occupational Standards Revision and Development and TVET Exhibition, took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, with the participation of senior Ethiopian government officials, Chinese counterparts, academia, and various experts.

Throughout the seminar, experts and representatives from both countries engaged in discussions and shared experiences concerning the revision and development of occupational standards, as well as their promotion and utilization within the TVET sector.

As part of the experience-sharing sessions, 11 TVET institutions and colleges from China's Shaanxi Province, specializing in diverse fields such as intelligent manufacturing, aviation, energy, finance, logistics, water conservancy, agriculture and railway engineering, shared their expertise with Ethiopian counterparts.

Abraham Asrat, chief executive officer of strategic affairs at the Ministry of Labor and Skills, underscored the significance of China-Ethiopia cooperation on human capacity development.

He said the seminar, which came on the backdrop of the recently held third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, embodies the soaring spirit that the two countries committed to advancing technical skills and unlocking human potential.

"With a commitment to equip youth with competitive skills for the jobs of tomorrow, Ethiopia's Ministry of Labor and Skills envisions universal access to sustainable livelihoods. The Belt and Road Initiative aligns seamlessly with these strategic priorities. We eagerly strengthen cooperation within this framework to fully realize our shared vision," Asrat said.

He said closer collaboration among concerned officials of the two countries as well as academia and experts drawn from TVET institutions will serve as a catalyst to further elevate the already blossoming ties.

Shen Xuefeng, deputy director-general of the Education Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government, said exchanges and cooperation in education, especially vocational education, need to be strengthened. "The two sides should support each other and work together for progress."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Evolva Holding SA / Key word(s): AGMEGM

Evolva convenes extraordinary general meeting (EGM) for 21 December 2023 to approve the sale of Evolva AG to Lallemand Inc.



30-Nov-2023 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



PRESS RELEASE | AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR Evolva convenes extraordinary general meeting (EGM) for 21 December 2023 to approve the sale of Evolva AG to Lallemand Inc. The Board of Directors proposes the following to the shareholders: Approval of the sale of Evolva AG to Lallemand Inc. subsidiary to secure the future of Evolvas operations (and employees jobs), enabling the best possible outcome for all stakeholders under the current circumstances

Dissolution and liquidation of Evolva Holding SA (effective in Q1 2026 only after payout of liquidation dividend to shareholders following satisfaction of all creditor claims and lapse of warranty period)

Appointment of two current board members as liquidators

Approval of the delisting of Evolva Holding SA (effective 6-12 months from EGM)

Increase of the conditional capital to enable settlement of existing contractual obligations under remuneration programs in shares, ensuring equal treatment with shareholders Reinach, Switzerland, 30 November 2023  Evolva Holding SA (SIX: EVE), a pioneer in the field of natural molecules and industrial biotech, announced on 21 November 2023 that it signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) with Danstar Ferment AG, a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand Inc., a global leader in the development, production, and marketing of yeast, bacteria and specialty ingredients. Danstar Ferment AG will acquire 100% of the shares in Evolva AG (including its subsidiaries) from Evolva Holding SA subject to the fulfillment of certain customary conditions in the SPA, including inter alia the approval of the transaction by the shareholders. Today, the company published the agenda for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to be held on 21 December 2023 at 9:00 CET at the Hotel Victoria in Basel where the shareholders are asked to vote on the transaction. Regarding agenda item 1 (approval of the sale of Evolva AG to Lallemand Inc. subsidiary): As communicated on 21 November 2023, Evolva would have had to stop its operations in Q1 2024 if the strategic review started in June this year had not been successfully concluded. Given the financing urgency, the comprehensive strategic review was carried out with the highest priority and with the assistance of the financial advisory firm Houlihan Lokey. The objective was to accelerate discussions with strategic partners or to facilitate other strategic transactions, including a potential sale of the company. In total, more than 100 parties were contacted and more than 25 non-disclosure agreements with interested parties were signed.

Based on the comprehensive strategic review, the proposed transaction with Lallemand Inc. proved to be the best option from a financial perspective and thus for the shareholders overall. No interested party was prepared to acquire Evolva by way of a public tender offer. The remaining alternative would have been to sell the companys individual assets to various parties, at prices in the aggregate lower than the price offered by Lallemand Inc. The transaction therefore not only secures the future of the operating business for all employees, customers, and partners, averting the imminent threat of insolvency; it also presents the best outcome for the shareholders under the current circumstances. The alternative would have resulted in the unorderly dissolution of Evolvas operations, potentially in bankruptcy proceedings, with likely no liquidation dividend available to shareholders at all after satisfying all creditor claims. Despite the losses that most shareholders  including the companys Board of Directors and Management  will unfortunately sustain, the SPA signed with Lallemand Inc.s subsidiary is clearly the better outcome considering the alternative.

Key elements of the transaction contemplated in the SPA are: The purchase price is set at CHF 20 million, subject to upward or downward adjustments depending on certain post-signing / completion adjustments (further information regarding such adjustments is set out below); In addition, Evolva Holding SA and Danstar Ferment AG have entered into an earn-out agreement providing for an additional future contingent purchase price payments of up to CHF 10 million, depending on the achievement of certain product-based sales targets (further information regarding the terms of the earn-out agreement is set out below); Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including shareholder approval of agenda item 1 and 3 and receipt of a tax ruling; The net proceeds from the transaction will be distributed to the shareholders of Evolva Holding SA after satisfaction of all creditor claims and the warranty periods of the SPA have lapsed; the liquidation of the company is then expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026; Based on the information available to date, taking into account the liability and financial debt profile of the company and estimated future costs and expenses during the liquidation and assuming an orderly liquidation process (and excluding unforeseen events), the Board of Directors and Management currently estimate the potential liquidation dividend to range between CHF 0.70 (assuming some downward purchase price adjustment and no earn-out target having been met) and CHF 2.40 (assuming some upward purchase price adjustment and full earn-out potential achieved); Evolva will provide further updates as soon as the purchase-related parameters (including the post-signing / completion purchase price adjustments and future sales target contingent purchase price payments) have been set and quantified in accordance with the terms of the share purchase agreement.

Nice & Green, the largest creditor and shareholder of Evolva, has confirmed its support of the transaction and that it intends to vote in favor of the boards proposals at the EGM.

The Board of Directors strongly recommends approval of the proposals under agenda items 1 and 3. Rejection of the proposal would result in the non-completion of the sale to Lallemend Inc., seriously impact Evolva's liquidity position and ability to continue to operate, lead to the employees losing their jobs and likely force the Board of Directors to initiate insolvency proceedings. Regarding agenda item 2 (increase of the conditional capital): It is proposed that the conditional capital be increased so that existing contractual obligations under the remuneration programs can be fulfilled in shares, ensuring equal treatment to shareholders in the context of the liquidation. Without the increase of the conditional capital, the necessary number of shares cannot be issued and allocated to the respective persons, potentially triggering legal disputes. Regarding agenda item 3 (dissolution and liquidation of Evolva Holding SA): It is proposed that the company be dissolved and liquidated because the closing of the SPA is also subject to the condition precedent that the general meeting approves the dissolution and liquidation of the Company. For further information please refer to the disclosure in relation to agenda item 1. Regarding agenda item 4 (appointment of two current board members as liquidators): It is proposed that the liquidation activities be concentrated on two (of the currently five) existing members of the Board of Directors, so that they hold the position both of members of the Board of Directors and of liquidators. The three other board members will resign from their roles. Taking into account the structure of the transaction and in particular the earn-out scheme, the Board of Directors believes that the proposed liquidators with knowledge of the company and the transaction are best suited to fulfill that role in the most efficient way. Regarding agenda item 5 (approval of the delisting of Evolva Holding SA): The delisting of the company's shares is being proposed in view of the sale of Evolva AG and the planned dissolution of the company. If approved, the Board of Directors plans to carry out the delisting in accordance with established practice for such transactions. The delisting is expected to take place after a customary period of between 6-12 months from the Extraordinary General Meeting. The Board of Directors regrets that, despite substantial operational improvements achieved over the last 20 months under the new Management, the current financing challenges make it unfortunately impossible for Evolva to continue to develop its value potential as an independent stock-listed company. Furthermore, given the dire alternative solutions (particularly the likely bankruptcy), the transaction with Lallemand Inc. is by far the best option available for the shareholders. The Board of Directors therefore unanimously recommends that shareholders approve the sale of the shares in Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG as well as the other proposals at the EGM. Documentation

The Invitation to the EGM with the five agenda items was published today in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC). The Invitation will be sent to registered shareholders via mail today, and are also available here [Link]. Purchase Price Adjustments

Following the closing of the share purchase agreement, the CHF 20 million purchase price may be adjusted on an upward or downward basis. This adjustment will take place on the basis of a balance sheet prepared as of 31 October 2023. The amount of the adjustment, and the determination of whether it is a positive or negative amount, will depend on the cash, debt and net working capital of Evolva AG as of such date. Evolva will provide further updates regarding these purchase-price adjustments once they have been set and quantified in accordance with the terms of the share purchase agreement. Earn-out Agreement Terms

Under the terms of the earn-out agreement that Evolva has entered into with Danstar Ferment AG, Evolva may receive two separate earn-out payments calculated on the basis of global sales of Evolva products and technologies (including third-party research and development services and royalty income) above an agreed floor. The first earn-out payment will be calculated on the basis of sales during the 2024 year; the second earn-out payment will be calculated on the basis of sales in the first half of 2025, in each case subject to certain exceptions. The aggregate amount that may be paid to Evolva under both earn-out payments is capped at CHF 10 million. If the relevant sales floors (i.e., CHF 17.5 million in 2024 and CHF 10.29 million in the first half of 2025) are not met, then no earn-out will be paid for the respective period.

Contact Evolva

Doris Rudischhauser

Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

+41 79 410 81 88

dorisr@evolva.com

About Evolva

Evolva is a Swiss biotech company focused on the research, development and commercialization of ingredients based on nature. We have leading businesses in Flavors and Fragrances, Health Ingredients and Health Protection. Evolvas employees are dedicated to make the best products that can contribute to health, wellness and sustainability. Find out more at evolva.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

About Lallemand Inc.

Lallemand Inc. is a family-owned business headquartered in Canadia whose focus is on the development, production, and marketing of yeasts, bacteria, fungi and enzyme solutions across the baking, food ingredients, human and animal nutrition and health, crop protection/nutrition, oenology, brewing, alcohol and biofuel sectors. Lallemand is present in more than 50 countries, operates more than 45 production plants and has circa 5,000 employees.

Disclaimer

This announcement is not an offer of securities into the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and may not be offered, pledged, sold, delivered or otherwise transferred, directly or indirectly, in the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. Further, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Canada, Australia or Japan or under the applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of such laws.

This press release contains specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like believe, assume, expect or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.

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File: Evolva convenes extraordinary general meeting for 21 December 2023 to approve the sale of Evolva AG to Lallemand Inc.

End of Inside Information
Strategy unveiled to strengthen the fight against financial crime

The Isle of Man Government is reaffirming its commitment to staying at the forefront of the global battle against money laundering, terrorist financing and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction with the release of the Financial Crime Strategy 2024-26.

The document outlines the Island's current standing and recent policy developments, as well as addressing the constantly evolving threats faced by governments worldwide.

Highlighting the tangible impact of financial crime, the document emphasises that it is not victimless. While individual offences may occur discreetly, money laundering facilitates crimes that generate illicit funds, adversely affecting individuals and communities.

To achieve its mission of an all-Island approach to tackling financial crime, the Isle of Man sets out the following aims:

Public-Private Collaboration: Public sector and industry will work together to meet international standards.

Best Practices: Actions will be informed and driven by best practices and standards, both domestically and internationally.

Global Participation: The Island will actively participate in the global fight against financial crime.

Resource Allocation: All stakeholders will have the necessary resources to identify and respond to ML/TF/PF threats.

These aims will be realised through the pursuit of the following Strategic Objectives:

International Standards: Continuing to meet the highest international standards, adapting approaches in line with changes or developments.

Risk-Based Approach: Using a risk-based approach to identify and mitigate risks, coordinating appropriate actions and resources.

Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing and seeking knowledge and expertise to ensure responses are underpinned by best practices.

Empowered Authorities: Ensuring supervisory authorities are empowered and appropriately resourced to inspect, detect, investigate, and sanction instances of non-compliance.

Legal Empowerment: Empowering law enforcement and justice systems to detect, investigate, prosecute, and appropriately sentence offenders.

Threat Understanding: Fully understanding immediate, emerging, and ongoing threats posed by financial crime through comprehensive analysis.

Vigilance Against Terrorism: Remaining vigilant and responsive to threats arising from terrorist financing and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Continuous Improvement: Embedding a cycle of continuous improvement across the Isle of Man to address financial crime.
Advisers appointed to support project exploring future of Isle of Man Airport

Three non-executive directors have been appointed to help guide the development of Isle of Man Airport.

In April, Tynwald Members received the Isle of Man Airport: Function, Future and Form report and noted: an incremental approach to exploring how the airport may be operated at arms length; and the intention to review its current position as a division of the Department of Infrastructure to potentially become a statutory board or limited company.

Off the back of this three appointments have been made and will be in place run for three years to provide independent advice and constructive challenge to the Board and executive team.

The new advisors are:

Christopher Holliday, from Leeds, brings almost four decades aviation industry experience to the board, including non-executive positions with a range of different companies. A graduate in aeronautical engineering, Mr Holliday began his career in 1985 and has amassed a wealth of knowledge through working for airports, airlines, aircraft manufacturers and industry associations.

Lorna Jack, from Stirling, is the current chair of the Highland and Islands Airport Ltd, which operates 11 Scottish airports. Ms Jack has experience of working as a chartered accountant for a range of companies across different sectors and served as the chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland for 12 years.

John McGlynn is an entrepreneur who possesses a range of business interests across multiple sectors and has strong links to the Island. He forged a solid working relationship with Glasgow Airport after creating businesses there in the 1990s, and continues to support the company with marketing advice and customer service solutions.

Each advisor will be paid 300 per meeting.
US Senators John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan bill Wednesday to end involuntary facial recognition screening at airports. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would block the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) from continuing or expanding its facial recognition tech program. It would also require the government agency to explicitly receive congressional permission to renew it, and it would have to dispose of all biometric data within three months.

Senator Merkley described the TSAs biometric collection practices as the first steps toward an Orwellian nightmare. The TSA program is a precursor to a full-blown national surveillance state, Merkley wrote in a news release. Nothing could be more damaging to our national values of privacy and freedom. No government should be trusted with this power. Other Senators supporting the bill include Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The TSA began testing facial recognition at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 2018. The agencys pitch to travelers framed it as an exciting new high-tech feature, promising a biometrically-enabled curb-to-gate passenger experience. The TSA said this summer it planned to expand the program to over 430 US airports within the next few years.

I was back at Washington National Airport this month, and @TSA was up to their old tricksmaking it unclear that you ARE able to opt out of using facial recognition technology. Ill keep holding them accountable. pic.twitter.com/absGn5v1Q3  Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) September 25, 2023

The program at least technically allows travelers to opt-out, but that process isnt always transparent in practice. Merkley posted the video above to X in September, demonstrating how agents guided travelers to the facial scanner without mentioning that its optional. No signs near the booths said it was optional or explicitly mentioned the gathering of facial data, either. The booths were arranged so that flyers would have difficulty entering their drivers license or ID (required) without stepping in front of the facial scanner.

Advocacy groups supporting the bill include the ACLU, Electronic Privacy Information Center and Public Citizen. The privacy risks and discriminatory impact of facial recognition are real, and the governments use of our faces as IDs poses a serious threat to our democracy, wrote Jeramie Scott, Senior Counsel and Director of EPICs Project on Surveillance Oversight, in Markleys press release. The TSA should not be allowed to unilaterally subject millions of travelers to this dangerous technology.

Every day, TSA scans thousands of Americans faces without their permission and without making it clear that travelers can opt out of the invasive screening, Sen. Kennedy wrote in a separate news release. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act would protect every American from Big Brothers intrusion by ending the facial recognition program.
Elon Musk, facing the fact that an already financially-precarious X could be poised to lose another $75 million in ad revenue following his boosting of an antisemitic conspiracy theory, has a new message for advertisers pulling back from the platform: Go fuck yourself.

Musk repeated the sentiment multiple times during an appearance at The New York Times DealBook event. Dont advertise, Musk said. If somebody is going to try and blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go fuck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.

whoa  go fuck yourself, Elon Musk says to Bob Iger and others who pull advertising from X



at this point its almost as if hes watching the old Iron Man movies and doing a reverse Tony Stark impression pic.twitter.com/csXxeLH2wG  j.d. durkin (@jd_durkin) November 29, 2023

Hey Bob, Musk added, in an apparent reference to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who appeared at the same event earlier in the day and spoke about the companys decision to pull ads following Musks tweet earlier this month. Iger said that Disneys association with X was not necessarily a positive one for us, according to Variety.

While Musk again denied being antisemitic, he did express some regret for engaging with the tweet thats resulted in another exodus of advertisers from X. I should have not replied to that particular person I essentially handed a loaded gun to those who hate me, Musk said about the post, per Variety.

X didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. X CEO Linda Yaccarino had a front-row seat to the remarks, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which reports the former ad exec sat stone-faced during Musks tirade.
If youve long dreamed of watching a very small number of vehicles roll off an assembly line, todays your chance. Tesla is holding a livestream event to highlight deliveries of its long-awaited Cybertruck. The company has only managed to manufacture ten of them so far, despite a 2019 reveal, so thats what well be watching.

You can catch the Texas-based livestream on X, of course, but the event is also available via Teslas website. It all goes down at 3PM EST. Being as how there will only be ten trucks to show off, the livestream should also go over pertinent details regarding battery range, towing capacity, up-to-date pricing and, of course, general availability. Tesla plans on ramping up production in 2024 for the cute lil dystopian wonder cars.

Its easy to make jokes at the automakers expense, given the recent history of its CEO, but this is something of a big deal. Its Teslas first truck, despite looking nothing like a classic pickup. The aesthetics are absolutely wild, with it resembling something out of a 1970s sci-fi flick instead of something youd spot at a tailgate party. As for performance, it remains to be seen if the Cybertruck can compete with rival vehicles in the off-road market.

Teslas Cybertruck has been plagued with issues from inception. During its 2019 product debut, Elon Musk crowed about the unbreakable glass window and invited a customer to try to break it by hurling a bowling ball. Well, it shattered, leading to a muttered curse from the embattled CEO. Despite that embarrassment, the company still says the vehicle boasts a nearly impenetrable exoskeleton that resists dents, damage and long-term corrosion. We shall see. There have been multiple delays and a redesign back in 2020.

Theres also the matter of price. When it was first revealed, the Cybertruck was set to cost around $40,000. However, the companys been fairly silent on the subject since then and a lot has changed since 2019. You can reserve a vehicle right now from Tesla by plopping down $100, but who knows when actual shipments will start. Despite that, Musk recently told investors that it has accrued more than one million reservations. Those folks will be waiting a while, as even generous estimates allow for Tesla to manufacture around 200,000 Cybertrucks each year.

The real question. Will Joe Rogan be one of the ten lucky golden ticket holders? We just might find out at 3PM EST.
As Meta gears up for the 2024 election, the company is grappling with a new challenge that could slow its efforts to combat foreign attempts at election interference. US government agencies have stopped sharing information with the companys security researchers about covert influence operations on its platform.

Meta says that as of July, the government has paused briefings related to foreign election interference, eliminating a key source of information for the company. During a call with reporters, Metas head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher, declined to speculate on the governments motivations, but the timing lines up with a court order earlier this year that restricted the Biden Administrations contacts with social media firms.

The order, the result of two states attempts to limit platforms' ability to remove misinformation, is currently suspended while the Supreme Court considers the case. But government agencies, like CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency) and the FBI, have apparently opted to keep the pause in place.

Gleicher noted that government contacts arent Metas only source of information, and that the company continues to work with industry researchers and other civil society groups. But he acknowledged that government officials can be best-placed to advise certain kinds of threats, like those that are coordinated on other platforms. We have seen that particularly-sophisticated threat actors, like nation states, engaged in foreign interference there are times when government has the capability to identify these campaigns that other players may not, he said.

Metas researchers regularly share details about networks of fake accounts it catches boosting foreign propaganda and conducting other kinds of influence campaigns, what the company calls coordinated inauthentic behavior or CIB. And while most of its takedowns dont come as a result of government tips, the company has relied on them in detecting CIB targeting US politics. Meta acted on three separate FBI tips about fake accounts from Russia, Iran and Mexico ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Law enforcement officials have also expressed concern about the lack of coordination with social media platforms. The FBI previously told the House Judiciary Committee that it had discovered foreign influence campaigns on social media platforms but in some cases did not inform the companies about them because they were hamstrung by the new legal oversight, NBC News reported , citing congressional sources.

Metas latest comments are the first time the company has publicly confirmed that it is no longer receiving tips about election interference. The disclosure comes as the company ramps up its efforts to prepare for multiple elections in 2024, and the inevitable attempts to manipulate political conversations on Facebook. The company said in its latest report on CIB that China is now the third-most common source of coordinated inauthentic behavior on its platform, behind Russia and Iran.
The U.S. Air Force is trying to develop the new LGM-35 Sentinel ICBM to replace the LGM-30 Minuteman III. It seemed to be a straightforward task but was not the case. The 35-ton Minuteman III has a max range of 13,000 kilometers and can carry up to three nuclear warheads. Each of the warheads can be programmed to hit a different target. Minuteman III has been the air forces only land-based ICBM for many years. Sentinel was supposed to be ready for service by 2030, but that is now doubtful.

The problems with Sentinel began back in 2016 when the Air Force concluded that over two decades of problems with the efficiency and morale of the personnel (missileers ) who maintain and operate the 450 Minuteman ICBMs were unresolved, but that modernizing the ancient missiles and launch facilities was proceeding as was a proposal to develop and build a replacement for the Minuteman III LGM-30 ICBMs.

The current Minuteman entered service in 1970, replacing earlier Minuteman and Minuteman II models. A more modern ICBM, the LGM-118 Peacekeeper, also known as the MX, was retired in 2005 after being negotiated away in the START II nuclear disarmament treaty. Peacekeeper entered service in 1986 and only 50 were built before the post-Cold War budget cuts and disarmament treaty requirements eliminated those. In 2010 it was agreed that a replacement for the aging Minuteman III was needed because a modernization program would only keep the LGM-30 viable until the early 2030s. Despite that do-or-die deadline it still took a decade of arguments over the design, number and timeline for the new Sentinel ICBM to conclude. One number did remain constant, that it would cost about $100 billion to replace existing Minuteman IIIs with similar Sentinels that will hopefully be easier to maintain and upgrade and will be ready on time. Hopefully because the past 20 years of big-ticket items of air force and navy procurement, notably the F-35 fighter, Ford class fleet carriers and littoral combat frigates, have been disasters. US military procurement ability is now questionable.

Getting Sentinel delivered on time was difficult because the first Sentinel launch was to take place by 2023 and be operational by 2029. By 2036 all 450 Minuteman IIIs were to be replaced by 609 Sentinel, with 400 installed in silos while the others were for spares and regular test launches. New maintenance facilities for Sentinel were to be ready then.

Given past performance in this area, few knowledgeable air force personnel expected these tight deadlines to be met. That meant the U.S. will be without some of its active-duty ICBMs for a while. At that point the new navy SSBNs (nuclear powered ICBM carrying subs) will be entering service, or not. This is not a prediction but part of a trend that began in the 1990s and has proved impossible to change.

Meanwhile billions are being spent each year to repair and replace aging components of Minuteman missiles. The air force justified the cost of the $100 billion Sentinel program by pointing out that current costs of maintaining Minuteman missiles would cost more than the Sentinel.

There were similar problems with the leadership and personnel of the ICBM force. Since the 1990s there have been growing problems with the leaders, support personnel and launch crews of the three brigade-size air force units called Wings. The Wing personnel live and work in the upper-Midwest bases containing the underground silos and above ground living and working facilities for those who guard, operate and maintain these Minuteman missiles. These problems largely stayed out of the news until, after 2001 the problems got worse, and the media picked up on and published a growing number of stories about sloppiness handling nuclear warheads and the missiles themselves. The air force leadership kept telling an impatient Congress that solutions were being implemented. More senior officers, in addition to lower ranking personnel, were found to have failed to do their jobs and were often dismissed. Nothing seemed to work, and the situation got worse.

By 2016 it was clear that one major reason the problems persisted was because so much of the equipment on these missile bases was so old that many components were no longer made, and the shrinking air force budget could not meet demands for expensive improvisations. As a result, the missile bases are considered a bad assignment because so much stuff was ancient and breaking down. All this was made worse by the post-Cold War air force leadership stressing zero defects, micromanagement and political correctness. Such attitudes made matters worse at the missile bases. These problems made it particularly difficult to admit that they were part of a larger problem. Morale among officers and airmen was low and staying low because despite the headlines about fixing the problem, and things got worse, especially when it came to living and working conditions in these rural bases. The problems were particularly harsh during cold weather, which in this area, near the Canadian border, have always been a challenge.

The problems got so bad after 2010 that some officers were punished for being too harsh in their efforts to improve discipline and performance of subordinates. While Air Force commanders want discipline and performance improved in the missile forces, it must be achieved in a politically correct manner. A 2016 analysis of the situation concluded all of this had become a major part of the problem and a massive obstacle to any solutions.

After a few years studying the problem the air force concluded there was apparently a breakdown in training and leadership at each ICBM squadron, which controls 50 silos and each wing which controls three squadrons. Air force leadership also believed that there is still an attitude problem among those who maintain and operate the ICBMs.

Launch officers are the ones who live with and launch ICBMs. Two launch officers control 10 silos. each silo containing an ICBM. These two officers work 24 hour shifts to monitor the readiness of those missiles and, if they receive orders, both must agree to launch their missiles. Each pair of launch officers is in a separate command capsule underground bunker and five of these bunkers are in the same area, each with 10 nearby ICBM silos. Each pair of launch officers can, if need be, take over control of another launch control teams missiles if that launch teams bunker is destroyed or put out of action.

The air force also had to deal with the fact that the launch officers were so bored that fewer officers are willing to take the job and many of those assigned to missileer duties suffered low morale, which expressed itself in a higher rate of getting into trouble and twice the court martial rate of the rest of the air force. There was more domestic strife at home. Its been this way for decades but has gotten worse since the Cold War ended in 1991 and the likelihood that the nukes would ever be used diminished considerably. With low morale came sloppiness and that started to get noticed after September 11, 2001.

Problems with training, leadership, and attitude among nuclear weapons operators was first noted in the 1990s, after the Cold War ended. The problems have been getting more and more attention since 2010. Back in 2009 it became obvious that the situation was getting worse. Thats because twice that year the air force had to relieve the commander of a combat wing. One was a B-52 bomber wing while the other was a Minuteman ICBM wing. In the case of the ICBM wing two other senior officers were also relieved. One of them was in charge of the Wing Maintenance Squadron. In both cases the reason was "loss of confidence in his ability to command." That's the military code word for "too many little things have gone wrong, and you are making your bosses nervous."

There was some recognition of morale problems. That occurred when many older NCOs and officers, some of them now retired, pointed out the harmful impact of a major air force post-Cold War reorganization. In 1992 SAC (Strategic Air Command), which had control of air force nuclear bombers and missiles since 1946, was disbanded and the ICBMs, and their crews, were transferred to the new Space Command. SAC had long been the butt of many jokes, for being uptight and fanatical about security, discipline, and the myriad details for handling nukes. Everyone tolerated this because, after all, SAC had charge of all those nukes, heavy bombers, and ICBMs. When Space Command took over, they eased up on the tight discipline and strictness about procedure that had been the hallmark of SAC for decades. The old timers complained but many of the young troops liked the new, looser, attitudes and that led to relaxed standards and nothing good.

Among the many changes was one that now officers operating the ICBMs were no longer career "missileers," but Space Command people. Time that used to be spent on studying nuclear weapons security and missile maintenance issues was now devoted to subjects of more concern to Space Command, like satellites and communications. Standards fell and efficiency slipped. In 2005, the missile crews lost their Missile Badge and had it replaced with a generic Space Command badge. SAC was now but a memory.

One of the responses to the growing problems with handling and accounting for nuclear weapons was to impose the dreaded zero tolerance/no defects policy. That approach was already being recognized as counterproductive but, because nukes were involved, something had to be done and zero tolerance was the easy (although worst) way to deal with it. Now the air force finds itself with a morale and performance problem that has gotten worse. Despite studies showing that commercial firms had found ways to solve similar problems, the generals put in charge of the nuclear weapons have not, so far, accepted this as a solution and continued to insist that the problem is not as bad as it appears, even though it is, and that they have it under control, which they obviously dont. The most senior air force management is somewhat aware of how this has gone off the rails but continues to have problems dealing with it.

This persistent problem resulted in an attempt to bring back the old SAC attitude. This is one of those rare cases where it was recognized that the Good Old Days were better, or in this case, meaner, tougher, more effective, and safer. In 2009 that led to the establishment of the Global Strike Command (GSC). This outfit would, as SAC once did, control all ICBMs and heavy bomber nuclear weapons and their delivery systems. This came after 16 years of trying to do without SAC. Bringing SAC back to life proved much more difficult than anyone thought. For one thing, sixty years ago commanders could do politically incorrect things as long as they got the job done. In the 21st century this sort of roughness is no longer tolerated.

The effort to revive the SAC era attitudes appears to have failed, but not for want of trying. In 2008, the air force brass reinstated the Missile Badge, for any missile crew member who belonged to a missile crew that was certified CMR. That meant they had passed some strenuous inspections to be declared Combat Mission Ready) The badge had been used for decades, until 2005, when it was withdrawn and replaced by the generic "Space Wings" of the Space Command. SAC, it turned out, had been coming back quietly for quite some time, both for the bomber units as well as the missile ones. But the new SAC was not nearly as efficient as the original SAC.

As the recent failures indicated, not everyone has gotten into the program. Among the new SAC people there were many who were still Space Command at heart. This is attributed to the fact that with the end of the Cold War in 1991, strategic nuclear weapons were no longer as crucial as they had been since the late 1940s. For decades the United States and the Soviet Union each had thousands of nuclear armed ballistic missiles and a few hundred bombers aimed at each other. That got the attention of people in SAC and encouraged everyone to concentrate. After 1991 the incentive was no longer there, and it is still not there. But when you are handling nukes, the old SAC fanaticism is still the best way to go.

But there was another problem. The air force has lost its appetite for improvising and coming up with practical solutions for any problems encountered. The officers and NCOs who staffed SAC in the early years were World War II veterans who understood the need to be quick and practical at detecting and fixing problems. They were replaced with a generation of Vietnam War vets but by the 1990s these were all gone, and solutions tended to be more bureaucratic and cover your ass than practical. So, while the SAC attitudes may be back, the mentality that made those hard-ass attitudes motivate people are not there. It turned out it was all an attitude problem, and it was the senior leaders who were most responsible. Still no sign of a fundamental change and out on the northern prairie airmen still struggle to make a broken system work. That may change as the air force prepares to carry out major upgrades and refurbishment of ICBM silos to accommodate the new Sentinel ICBM. Since the Sentinel is behind schedule these silo upgrades will be delayed and no one is sure for h0w long. This sort of thing does nothing to improve morale among the air force personnel involved. In this respect the tradition of low morale in the silo fields continues.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed a small connection between Travis Kelce and BLACKPINK's Lisa after spotting the t-shirt he was wearing at the Las Vegas Raiders versus Kansas City Chiefs match last Sunday.

On Tuesday, Instagram user @toriiiiibrook_ uploaded a carousel showing photos and clips from the match. In one of the photos was Travis Kelce wearing a cap and a windbreaker. Underneath it was a black t-shirt that seemed to read "Crazy Horse 3."

Crazy Horse 3 is a popular Las Vegas strip club located next to the Raiders Allegiant Stadium. It is dubbed "Sin City's top strip club," "best gentlemen's club" and "must-hit spot for the ultimate guys weekend in Vegas."

The Crazy Horse label gives the Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift's boyfriend a small indirect connection with the K-Pop idol and BLACKPINK member Lisa, who recently performed at Crazy Horse Paris -- dubbed "The ultimate Parisian cabaret" -- last September.

Lisa, who is a fan of Crazy Horse, performed several numbers with the Crazy Horse troupe for the show "Totally Crazy." She also did a few solo pieces, including "But I am a Good Girl" and "Crisis? What Crisis?"

Fans who watched Lisa's performance at the Parisian cabaret witnessed the K-Pop idol "in the shoes of a Crazy dancer from A to Z."

lisa via instagram:



Fue una experiencia increible en Crazy Horse Paris. Gracias a todos por hacer que esto suceda. Llamame cuando necesites que alguien ocupe un lugar pic.twitter.com/Zdu2TT2ewX   (@_lesblinkot4) October 4, 2023

Per Las Vegas Review Journal, the t-shirt Kelce wore is exclusively sold at the Crazy Horse 3 club and is not available online. However, the media outlet clarified that there is no confirmation whether the t-shirt was from Kelce's visit to the gentlemen's club or a gift from a fan or a family member.

In the wake of Kelce wearing the Crazy Horse 3 t-shirt, the tees will now be made available for purchase online, per Page Six.

Meanwhile, a representative from the nightclub reportedly declined to say whether Kelce has been its guest and stated, "At Crazy Horse 3, we prioritize the privacy of all of our guests. As a policy, we do not disclose or comment on the identities of the individuals who choose to enjoy their time within our club, ensuring a discreet experience."
Twenty-five years after joining the ESRF, Israel has renewed its Scientific Associate status with the facility, paving the way for its scientific community to benefit from the ESRF-Extremely Brilliant Source.

On 29 November 2023, the President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, David Harel, the Chair of the ESRF Council, Helmut Dosch, and the ESRF Director General, Francesco Sette, signed the renewal of the scientific association of Israel to the ESRF in a ceremony that took place in Grenoble in the presence of the ESRF Council delegates, including the Israeli representative, Yuval Golan, after the 81st meeting of the ESRF Council.

Helmut Dosch and Francesco Sette both praised the excellent work of Israeli researchers at the ESRF and their remarkable contribution to the ESRFs science programme and activities. Israel joined the ESRF 25 years ago, in 1998, and its use of the facility has steadily increased over the years, along with a very productive and rich international collaboration with the ESRF wider scientific community. Over this period, Israel has actively participated in all efforts in science and technology at the ESRF, including its entire Upgrade Programme (2009-2023).

Francesco Sette emphasised that Israel and the ESRF have a long history of collaboration, with Israeli scientists involved in the ESRF since the start of operation of the facility, contributing excellent ideas and producing outstanding science, key to addressing the most pressing societal challenges. As examples, he evoked the two Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, awarded respectively in 2009 to Ada Yonath for her work on the ribosome structure, and in 2011, to Dan Schechtman for his discovery of quasi-crystals, both long-term users of the ESRF. He expressed his and the ESRFs gratitude to Profs. Harel and Golan for having travelled to Grenoble for this important event despite the current dramatic situation in Israel, hoping for better times soon.

Helmut Dosch expressed, on behalf of the ESRF Council, his deep appreciation for the presence of Prof. Harel in this difficult context, and acknowledged the long-standing and productive collaboration between the Israeli and ESRF communities in synchrotron research. He underlined the eminence of Israeli researchers in X-ray science, and said that he looked forward to many years of outstanding scientific achievements to come.

Prof. David Harel stated: "These are devastatingly challenging times for Israel, and will impact the entire region. Thus, now more than ever, the signing of this agreement holds profound significance for the Israeli scientific community, constituting a bright beam of hope for the future. The ESRF stands as a profound example of an establishment in which science transcends borders and nations, fostering an environment where researchers unite in shared values, exchange and generate knowledge, and cultivate scientific collaboration. Israel is proud to be part of the ESRF."
Andalucia

CHG detecta mas de 1.500 hectareas de regadio ilegal en la cuenca y preve cerrar 240 pozos mas en el entorno de Donana
Families of several Americans held hostage by Hamas celebrated the release of a 4-year-old Israeli American while pleading with the international community to make securing the freedom of the eight remaining U.S. citizens and all those still detained a top priority during the dwindling hours of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The humanitarian pause in the fighting, which began Friday, was already extended by two days, with international mediators seeking another extension.

The clock continues to tick, and its not in our favor, Orna Neutra, the mother of 22-year-old Omer Neutra, a dual Israeli-American citizen held by Hamas, told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday as her husband, Ronen Neutra, set a giant hourglass on the table. We spend every waking hour fighting in his name, speaking on his behalf  There has been some progress this week, but Omer is still not with us.

Omer Neutra grew up on Long Island, New York, with his parents instilling a deep connection to both of his homelands. As the descendent of Holocaust survivors on both his mothers and his fathers sides, Neutra decided to spend a gap year before college serving with the Israel Defense Forces. On Oct. 7, he was serving as a tank commander stationed on a post on the border with Gaza.

When his mother last spoke to him the night before the Hamas attacks, Omer told her he was looking forward to a quiet peaceful weekend after a really stressful month protecting the border. Only a few hours later, he was taken by Hamas, and his and his familys lives were turned upside down, his mother testified.

There are still 150 hostages in Gaza deep under the ground in the dark, some badly injured with no medicine, with little food, Orna Neutra said. So, we appreciate your support, but we urge you to press to bring the international community to demand proof of life and other basic humanitarian requirements and to bring them home as soon as possible. We must do everything to bring them back.

The families provided their emotional testimony Wednesday at a roundtable held by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The pleadings for the release of more Americans came after Israel and Hamas exchanged a fifth round of detainees Tuesday, with 12 Israeli hostages and 30 Palestinians released. Hamas released one additional American hostage, Liat Beinin Atzli, from Gaza Wednesday night after the roundtable. She is only the second U.S. citizen released since the ceasefire began.

Rep. Mike McCaul, who chairs the panel, expressed deep sympathy for all the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and pledged not to rest until all the hostages are freed.

McCaul praised the release of Abigail Eden, who turned four while being held hostage, and told five families of American hostages detained by Hamas that he and other members of the panel would not rest until all of the hostages returned home. The Texas Republican also offered some solace for Jewish and Israeli families distressed by pro-Hamas rallies in the United States, noting that the House had just overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas and calling for the hostages freedom.

McCaul recalled his visit to Israel a week ago and a conversation he had with another mother of a hostage held by Hamas.

She said, you know, chairman, lightness will defeat darkness, he recalled. Our lightness will defeat this darkness in Gaza  this darkness of captivity will ultimately be defeated by the light, and that is really what this message is all about.

Rep. Kathy Manning, a North Carolina Democrat who is Jewish, also implored the international community to do more to help free the hostages.

Just like the stories of the Holocaust survivors, each of your stories is unique, said Rep. Manning. Each story is heartbreaking, and each of the hostages have loving family members whose lives have been torn apart, who are living with the agony of not knowing what has become of their loved ones.

I have heard stories that have brought me to tears, stories that haunt my dreams, she continued. That should make us redouble our efforts to bring these hostages home.

President Biden has continued to press Hamas for the release of additional Americans and both sides for an extension of the ceasefire to try to win the freedom of additional hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel Wednesday, his third trip there since the war began, amid news that the Qatari government was voicing optimism that an extension to the truce will be announced in the coming hours. The hostage release agreements, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, have so far exchanged roughly one hostage abducted by Hamas for three prisoners held by Israel.

CIA Director Bill Burns traveled to Qatar this week to push for a broader hostage deal that would ensure more Americans are released, including men as well as male and female Israeli soldiers.

The Red Cross has not yet been allowed to visit hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza, a violation of the truce.

During the congressional roundtable, two other pairs of parents of dual Israeli-American citizens abducted while serving in the IDF on Oct. 7 described their desperate attempts over the last 54 days to gather any information about their sons.

We had initial contact with him, but as the hours went by, we understand this wasnt a typical Saturday with some missiles flowing from one side to the other, Ruby Chen, the father of 19-year-old Itay Chen, told the lawmakers.

After 36 hours of not hearing from their son, the Chens visited a police headquarters in Israel and werent able to gather much information. Originally, he was listed as missing in action, and nobody was able to identify him in the field, his father said. Then at 6 a.m. on Oct. 12, two Israeli soldiers knocked on their door.

In that situation where you understand you do not want to open that door. But you also understand that theres no other choice but to open that door. Where your heart is going on 300 miles an hour, he continued. We here today are sitting as the lucky ones  the idea is that he was abducted, kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization. Ever since we have no proof of life and no indication of his medical status.

This is not just a U.S. issue. Its an international community humanitarian issue that all of the international community needs to get behind to solve this problem, he said with his wife, Hagit Chen, sitting grim-faced beside him.

Edan Alexander grew up in Maryland but, as a dual Israeli-American citizen, left to serve in the IDF at age 19. Alexanders base was bombarded on Oct. 7, and he soon found himself surrounded by 20 Hamas terrorists who took him hostage.

Yael Alexander, his mother, was in Tel Aviv at the time and had just spoken to Alexander on FaceTime with the entire extended family the night before.

A few minutes before 7 a.m., she said Edan called to tell her he was seeing terrible stuff  we are getting a lot of bombs and its like a war here.

Im thankful that I spoke with him before they took him and that, just, that he will come home to us, she told the lawmakers.

Liz Hirsh Naftali, great aunt of Abigail Eden, who turned four while being held hostage by Hamas and was released on Sunday, testified that when the young girl arrived home she had no light in her eyes but blossomed when reunited with her siblings.

Both of her parents were brutally killed by Hamas in their homes Oct. 7. Abigail survived after crawling out from underneath her fathers body with his blood covering her, Naftali testified. Abigails two brothers, who are 6 and 10 years old, hid in a closet for more than 14 hours, thinking that their sister had been murdered along with their parents.

[The brothers] spent 50 days thinking they abandoned their sister, Naftali testified. What Im saying is this pain effects the entire family. We think about Abigail, but I also think about [her brothers], a 6- and a 10-year-old carrying this in their hearts.
The Forest Service and Montana Department of Environmental Quality approved a plan to extend the lifetime of the East Boulder Mine near Big Timber on Tuesday, following a scoping and public comment period for the contentious project.

The agencies released a final environmental impact statement and draft decision, which will be followed by a 45-day objection period that ends on Jan. 12, 2024.

The mine, operated by the Stillwater Mining Company, employs about 600 workers in Sweetgrass County and produces platinum and palladium, valuable metals used in catalytic converters and medical equipment. It is on Custer Gallatin National Forest land and adjacent private land.

The mining company requested extending the mines lifetime by building two new facilities to provide tailings and waste rock storage, citing that the current facilities will be filled by 2025 and 2030.

The expansion would extend the mines life by approximately 11 to 14 years.

But public commenters and environmental groups expressed concerns about the impacts a catastrophic failure of the tailings storage could have to landowners and water users downstream. They argued a breach could be sparked by a natural event like the widespread flooding that devastated southwest Montana in 2022.

Earthworks, Trout Unlimited and Sweetwater Travel released a video in February that simulated the impacts of a dam breach of the proposed new facility.

In a press release, representatives from the groups pushed the agencies to consider a dry or filtered tailings facility over a tailings pond, which they say is much safer.

The Forest Service said their final decision alters what the mining company proposed in order to reflect the concerns brought up in public comment.

We are pleased to release the Draft Decision and Final EIS and continue moving the process forward, said Mary Erickson, supervisor of Custer Gallatin National Forest, in a press release. The comments we received are reflected in the documents and we look forward to working through the objection process with those who have standing over the next few months.

The agencys modifications changed some design elements of the project but retained the proposed tailings pond.

The first change was requiring the stormwater channels of the tailings and waste rock storage areas to be resilient and able to withstand a 1-in-200 year, 24-hour precipitation event.

The second change tweaked geomorphic principles of the designs to create a more natural appearance for the facilities, reduce erosion and minimize impacts to vegetation.

This alternative does increase the disturbance area allotted for the two facilities by about 10%, according to planning documents. Soil stockpiles may be larger to create the more natural geomorphic appearance of the area.

In August, Montana senators Steve Daines and Jon Tester and representatives Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale sent the Forest Service a letter of support for the mine expansion.

We are grateful that Sibanye-Stillwater, as the only primary producer of platinum and palladium in the United States, has put forward an approach that ensures sustainable and responsible mining in Montana, the lawmakers wrote.

Any reduction of domestic production will increase our dependence on foreign imports. Accordingly, the mine is vital to both Montana communities and our national security, the letter said.
The Ukraine War involved a lot of experimentation with new weapons and ways to use them. One of the most unique and effective of these new weapons consists of small UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) armed with a thermobaric warhead that consists of an explosive gas sprayer and a detonator which ignites the ensuing cloud of explosive gas. Ukraine developed new thermobaric warheads before the Russians invaded in 2022 and have developed novel ways to use their thermobaric devices. One of the more innovative applications is to equip a quadcopter or fixed wing UAV with a five- or ten-pound thermobaric bomb and then have ground-based operators fly the aircraft towards a target and either crash into the target before igniting the thermobaric explosive or drop a thermobaric explosive onto a target and fly away. The thermobaric explosive can kill or wound troops and equipment in nearby trenches or buildings.

Twenty years ago, American troops used a 40mm thermobaric grenade launched from a launcher mounted under the barrel of their assault rifles. Firing one of these grenades into a cave or a building killed or wounded most of the people inside. In Afghanistan, American troops used these grenades to deal with enemy troops in caves or rooms of buildings. Often, just the threat of using a thermobaric grenade would induce surrender.

The Ukrainians have been successful with their tactic of delivering thermobaric bombs on a UAV to a distant Russian position. Even though many of the UAVs are shot down or miss the target, enough of them get through to cause casualties that machine-guns, mortars or RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenades) were unable to handle. The Russian troops are terrified of this weapon because it can show up even though the nearest Ukrainian troops are many kilometers away.

While the Russians pioneered the use of thermobaric weapons, they considered their thermobaric bombs artillery, not something carried long distances by UAVs that can change course while seeking an appropriate target. These innovative Ukrainian tactics have caused unexpected casualties on Russian troops far from the combat zone and not expecting to be attacked, especially by thermobaric weapons. These Ukrainian tactics have reduced their need for artillery ammunition and been able to reach enemy targets beyond artillery range. Another advantage is that the UAVs armed with thermobaric bombs are manufactured by the Ukrainians using locally available materials. Russia will probably soon start using its versions of these weapons, which will revolutionize infantry tactics.

At the same time Ukraine has opened factories for the production of munitions and missiles, especially anti-aircraft missiles that can also intercept enemy missiles. Russia has undertaken missile attacks on Ukrainian electrical power generation systems in an effort to reduce heating for Ukrainians civilians during winter. This is demoralizing for civilians, who the Russians hope will blame their government and be more willing to make peace on Russian terms. The Ukrainian government has been devoting more resources to repairing the damage to energy systems.

Ukraine is a democracy and popular attitudes matter. While Russia is more of a dictatorship, leader Vladimir Putin is losing support from key associates because of the economic sanctions and their impact on the fortunes of his wealthy allies. Russia has managed to minimize damage to standards of living for most Russians to foster continued support for the war, even though the growing number of Russian casualties are common knowledge to civilians and has more Russians questioning the justification for the war. The Russian forces are not winning, and families back home are suffering in other ways. And for what? The Ukrainians continue to resist, and the Russian strategy appears to be an endurance contest that gets a lot of Russians killed while trying to kill enough Ukrainians to make a peace deal, on Russian terms, seem attractive. The Ukrainian response is to find ways to keep their own casualties down while continuing to kill as many of the attacking Russians as they can.

Russia has run out of tanks and similar heavy weapons because of Ukrainian tactics which emphasize destroying armored vehicles. This has been successful and, while Ukraine is able to obtain more tanks from NATO countries, Russia has no such resource and Russian troops are not eager to take on Ukrainian tanks without effective anti-tank weapons. Ukraine is also receiving F-16 jet fighters from the United States and the many NATO nations that also use this aircraft. NATO nations are in the process of replacing their F-16s with F-35s and find Ukraine is eager to accept NATO F-16s headed for retirement. There is a massive effort in Europe and the United States to train Ukrainian pilots to operate the F-16s. It won't be until early 2024 that the many new Ukraine F-16 pilots will begin to show up. The F-16s are a major upgrade over the Russian warplanes the Ukrainians have been using, and Ukrainian pilots switching to F-16s notice the differences. Western economic sanctions have been particularly hard on the Russian aviation industry and few new warplanes have been built. When the Ukrainian F-16s start eliminating Russian warplanes, there wont be any replacements. The Ukrainians will receive more and more F-16s, which are also good at ground attack and supporting troops on the ground.

Russia is running out of resources and options and the Ukrainians are taking advantage of that as quickly and thoroughly as they can.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife reminds white-tailed deer hunters in the chronic wasting disease surveillance area of Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties that sampling is mandatory for all deer harvested during the seven-day gun season, Nov. 27 to Dec. 3.

The Division of Wildlife confirmed that six deer in the disease surveillance area have tested positive for CWD since the summer of 2023, including one in Hardin County, the countys first. Since the fall of 2020, 28 wild deer have tested positive for CWD: 21 in Wyandot County; six in Marion County; and one in Hardin County. A disease surveillance area in those three counties remains in effect. A sample was recently discovered in Allen County that requires additional testing.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and other similar species, including mule deer, elk and moose. No evidence exists that CWD can spread to humans, pets or livestock.

Within Hardin, Marion and Wyandot counties, hunters are required to submit deer harvested during the seven-day gun season, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, for testing. Successful hunters are not required to surrender their deer. Those with questions about having their deer sampled can call 419-429-8322.

Staffed sampling locations are available during the weeklong gun season at the following locations:

 Big Island Wildlife Area Headquarters, 5389 Larue-Prospect Road West, New Bloomington, 43341.

 Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area Headquarters, 19100 County Hwy 115, Harpster, 43323.

 Wyandot County Fairgrounds, 10171 OH 52, Upper Sandusky, 43351.

 Rural King, 233 American Blvd, Marion, 43302.

 Hardin County Fairgrounds, 14134 County Road 140, Kenton, 43326.

 McGuffey Conservation Club, 6950 Township Road 55, Ada, 54810.

Self-serve kiosks are available for mandatory sample submission during the gun season and for voluntary sample submission until the close of the deer archery season Feb. 4. Sampling locations can be found at ohiodnr.gov/cwd. Outside of the disease surveillance area, hunters can have harvested deer tested by the Ohio Department of Agricultures Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory which can be reached at 614-728-6220.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife has conducted routine surveillance for CWD since 2002, with more than 39,000 deer tested. CWD has been detected in 31 states and four Canadian provinces.
PLAIN CITY, Ohio  Fred Yoder was looking for a grease gun as the sun rose on his farm one day in early November. Rain earlier in the week slowed the harvest, and hundreds of acres of corn needed attention. He learned nearly 40 years ago that maintenance was a cost saver, and saving costs meant better profits at harvest time.

This is our 10th or 11th combine, Yoder said. He bought a 200-acre farm from his father in the 1980s. Back then, Yoder planned to finish college and become a teacher; but his dads health problems drove him back home.

In the years since, he has experimented with different techniques to improve the soil and increase profits and he has added three more farms, now totaling 700 acres, along the border of Union and Madison counties in west-central Ohio. He also leases an additional 800 acres.

He first observed soil issues as a kid on the farm. When he was about 12, they sold their livestock and planted the previously untilled field. He noted a big difference in the soil between the fluffy, dark earth where the cattle had been, compared to the hard, compacted dirt in the adjoining field.

Within three years, that [fluffy] soil was just as hard as the other field, he said. And I thought, We must be doing something wrong. When he started farming, he attended numerous workshops and learned about the no-till method of planting crops.

If the best soil has never been stirred, weve got to quit stirring, he said. I was planting cover crops before cover crops were cool. The soil is my 401(K). It represents his investment in the future, as well as his retirement plan.

Family business

Yoder notes there are big changes coming in the farming community. The average age is 58.

His son Josh and daughter Sarah both work for Yoder Ag Services, which sells seed and precision planting equipment.

Josh began actively farming in 2016 when Fred had health issues of his own. In addition to his experience with Yoder Ag, Josh was prepared to advance innovation on the farm. He holds a masters degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University and an MBA from Ohio State.

Josh focuses on measuring the variables that contribute to higher yields.

There was an adage I heard over and over in school, he said. You manage what you measure.

They are measuring all the mechanisms behind yield, starting with healthy soil with good nutrition. Protecting soil with a cover crop offers more benefits than preventing erosion. Cover crops build organic matter and put nutrients in the soil. Increased organic matter improves the ability to store and conserve water.

If you have phosphorus and potassium where they need to be, you build resilience into the system, Josh said. Their goal is continuous improvement, treating the soil as a monetary investment.

Technology for the future

Yoder Ag Services promotes precision planting technology, which measures the planting process, including seed spacing, moisture content and depth. They can use the data to ensure any differences in eventual yield come from the seed hybrid and not problems with initial planting.

When we pull out of a field (after planting), we have a map of the counts, including seed skips or double drops, Fred added. During corn harvest, their John Deere combine continually records moisture content and average bushels per acre.

The data allows them to better evaluate which hybrids are best in different types of soil and other conditions. They look at the agronomic characteristics of different hybrids to ensure the seed type is right for their soil. And they share that knowledge with the customers who count on Yoder Ag Services for their seed.

Keeping dirt in place

Fred realizes some people think the dirt between rows of corn looks pretty, but it can blow away during high winds, and wash away during heavy rains  his goal: no bare soil. Protecting and enhancing the soil can also help mitigate problems with changing weather patterns.

A few years ago, no one wanted to talk about climate change, Yoder said. But they notice a difference in weather patterns.

Yoder is spreading his cover crop gospel to others. Hes an active member of regional, national and international organizations that work collaboratively and use data to improve farming. With changes in technology and data collection, he hopes to see more bright young people interested in farming.

Agriculture can be part of the solution to climate change and feed the world, Yoder said. Our whole existence depends on topsoil. We can be part of sustainability, provide solutions and make the Earth a better place. The way we get there is through technology and innovation. We dont want to produce crops like we did 50 years ago. We can do better.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in commercial poultry on a farm in Devon, making it the second bird flu case confirmed this week alone.

A 3 km Protection Zone and 10 km Surveillance Zone have been declared by Defra following the outbreak near Cranbrook, East Devon.

This means movement restrictions within these zones  for example, poultry, carcases, eggs, used poultry litter and manure  to prevent any further spread of disease.

It follows a case of bird flu in broiler breeders near Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Northumberland, on Monday (27 November).

Before that, the virus was confirmed in a backyard flock on the Orkney Islands on 22 November.

Despite this increase, avian influenza risk level in wild birds was recently reduced from high to medium following a reduction in the number of findings of HPAI during the past few months.

The risk was reduced from high, 'event occurs very often', to medium, 'event occurs regularly'.

The government's risk level remains 'low' for poultry, but farmers and keepers are still being urged to remain vigilant.

However, scientists have warned against complacency as the virus could increase in the UK this winter as it spreads in Europe.
The Middle East could prove a 'lucrative' new market for Scottish sheep producers, with First Minister Humza Yousaf among many being served Scotch Lamb in Dubai to celebrate St Andrews Day.

In a special COP28 dinner, guests will be treated to lamb from Woodhead Brothers in Aberdeenshire, which has become the Scottish first processor to receive accreditation to supply the Middle East market.

Lamb is hugely popular in this region and, with sheep meat production levels of the six Gulf Co-operation Countries fulfilling only 66% of their consumption levels.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) estimates that the new market could have significant worth to the Scottish sheep industry.

In recent years the Middle East has imported an annual average of 571 million worth of sheep meat.

And there is much room to build on Scotland's export market, according to Tom Gibson, director of business development at QMS, who has highlighted the opportunity today, on St Andrew's Day.

"The Middle East has been untapped until now and its really exciting to see this opportunity to sell a substantial volume of lamb to a different part of the world become a reality through Woodhead Brothers.

"Matching up with nations that are not self-sufficient is the perfect partnership and offers the best value to both, and it is the processors who can grasp these international opportunities by meeting the market demand and physically supplying the product.

The dinner in Dubai, ahead of the worlds largest conversation about the environment, will be a fantastic platform to remind decision-makers about the taste of Scotch Lamb but importantly also Scotlands story as the most sustainable place to produce it.

Woodhead Brothers, part of the Myton Food Group in Turriff, is the second biggest lamb processor in Scotland.

Alongside other Woodhead Bros processing sites, it processes approximately 8000 lambs and over 2500 cattle a week.

Scott Bradley, trading manager at Woodhead Brothers, said trading with Dubai highlights Scotlands ability to export premium lamb and will open opportunities in other Gulf states.

He said: As consumer tastes and markets change its imperative for us to keep looking for new opportunities, and this is one that has enormous and exciting potential.

"Having sampled our products in early November, buyers in Dubai were delighted with the quality and flavour our range had to offer.

"As of today, we will mainly be supplying products into high end food service, the leisure and tourist markets, and look forward to growing trade with other nations as awareness and logistics develop.

Elsewhere in the world, Scotch Lamb will be provided at dinner at the British Ambassador's Residence in Paris for 350 people today, including many from Frances food service.

Tom Gibson said that with 90% of Scotlands lamb and beef exports going to Europe, maintaining Scotch Lambs reputation among buyers and decision-makers in this market is key.

He said: Strengthening the partnerships that make it possible is central to QMSs market development work.

"We are pleased to be providing Scotch Lamb for this dinner in Paris to reinforce its appeal and its story, as well as the opportunity to link Scotch lamb with brand Scotland through Lamb for St Andrews Day.

QMS has also facilitated lamb being served in the Scottish Parliament for all members and staff on 30 November.
Farmers can now get their hands on the UK's most comprehensive guide to selecting, establishing and terminating cover crops.

Appropriate species selection is essential for farmers to unlock the benefits of cover crops, and with the help of the new guide, they can get the latest advice.

Cover crops are non-cash crops that add soil organic matter and nutrients, reduce soil erosion and leaching, while promoting moisture management.

They also benefit biodiversity and mitigate pest and disease outbreaks, when planted between two cash crops.

The free-to-use Cover Crops Guide was co-designed by farmers with the help of the Yorkshire Agricultural Societys Farmer Scientist Network.

Using its interactive plant species selection tool, growers can assess the suitability of different brassica, legume, cereal and other varieties of cover crops.

Each species is profiled for its winter hardiness, root depth, grazing potential and nitrogen fixing and storing qualities.

Details of each species sowing period, depth and rate, seed size and insect benefits are provided, as well as growth rate, reliability and soil benefits.

Case studies of farmers who trialled and settled on established cover crops rotations are also available, and there are recommended resources for further information.

The Farmer Scientist Network said that, ultimately, the guide aims to provide farmers with access to the most comprehensive information for successful adoption of cover cropping on UK farms.

Yorkshire farmer Angus Gowthorpe, who led the project, said the guide draws on carefully curated literature and scientific research on cover crops.

This new guide has been developed with input from a dedicated steering group of farmers and soil experts," he explained.

What makes this a particularly comprehensive resource, and the first of its kind in the UK, is the intelligence that has been contributed by the wider farming community.

"We hope this tool proves to be useful for anyone who is looking to get started in cover cropping, or who wants to finetune their species mixes to maximise benefits to their soils, wherever they are in the UK.

Dr Dave George, chair of the Farmer Scientist Network, added that the use of cover crops had 'clear tangible benefits' to soil health.

He said: Poor decisions at any stage of the process, from seed selection to termination, can result in failed crops, wasted time, financial loss and missed opportunities.

"Thats what makes the guide a game-changer: it gives farmers an informed resource to confidently make decisions about which cover crops to plant where and when, and how to manage them.

The Cover Crops Guide is available to read online for free.
The Ukraine War has been revealing a growing number of developments that were surprising to those who thought they had a good idea of how a modern war between near-peer (roughly equal) forces would proceed. That was not the case and there were a lot of surprises. Some of the more surprising revelations was the extensive use of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) as well as USVs (Unmanned seagoing vehicles). These unmanned systems are much cheaper than manned aircraft of ships and can be equipped with a wide variety of inexpensive payloads, including cameras, explosives and electronic systems like signal jammers that disrupt GPS accuracy and other forms of communication. Both Russians and Ukrainians have been developing these new systems and using them against each other.

On land that means you cannot hide. Cheap surveillance UAVs are everywhere all the time and reveal opportunities to use more specialized UAVs. For example, if the Ukrainians are using GPS guided weapons, Russia can send in UAVs equipped with electronic equipment that disrupts the GPS signals guided bombs require for their accuracy. This had made GPS guided weapons less reliable. At sea, the Ukrainian Sea Baby USVs have destroyed or neutralized most warships in the Russian Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian SUVs are difficult to detect and Russia has lost several warships to these remotely controlled vessels and their explosive payloads. Russian naval operations in the Black Sea have been under constant attack by Ukrainian missiles, UAVs and USVs to the point where the Russian Black Sea fleet has been damaged, destroyed or sent to more distant ports where they are no longer a threat to anyone.

This situation was not a sudden development and developed over the last year as both Russians and Ukrainians sought new ways to gain an advantage. This is one reason why, fourteen months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Ukrainians began attacking and driving the Russian forces out. This was bad news for the Russian government, which was receiving growing criticism from its citizens about not merely the wars cost, but the need for it at all. The government responded to the internal criticism and did so more effectively than their military efforts in Ukraine. Russia declared criticism of the Russian war effort in Ukraine illegal. Some arrests were made, and some critics went on trial. This discouraged many Russian critics but emboldened others. This sort of thing is common in Russia.

Throughout most of its history, Russia has been a police state. In addition to the secret police, Russia also intercepted and read mail and overheard radio and telephone conversations. Russia mobilized support inside Russia for detecting anonymous critics and threatening them with arrest if they did not curb their criticism.

This criticism made it obvious that the Russian government was losing the support of its own people, including a growing number of senior officers who spoke out, usually via encrypted messages on Telegram, a popular cell phone app in Russia and Ukraine. Early on many of these Russian Telegram-based military bloggers or mil-bloggers supported the invasion and were supplied with information by the Russian government, including opportunities to spend some time with the troops inside Ukraine. After a few months the Russian mil-bloggers were no longer reporting the official Russian version of events in Ukraine, but what was being reported by Russian veterans of the fighting.

After Russia announced a pause in offensive military operations in early July 2022, one of these mil-bloggers, a former general who had served in occupied Donbas before the invasion, reported a different reality. He insisted that Russia had suffered higher losses in eastern Ukraine (Luhansk province) than the Ukrainians, who were conducting a classic attrition defense. The Russians had suffered far more losses in men and equipment. Ukrainians were not driven out of Luhansk but withdrew slowly and deliberately to encourage Russia to keep attacking and losing troops and combat vehicles that could not be replaced. Meanwhile the Ukrainians were receiving more weapons and equipment from NATO and forming new units, including armed resistance groups in occupied Ukraine. This was not the official Russian assessment, but it was the reality that Russian troops in Ukraine were experiencing and some Russian mil-bloggers were reporting.

All this was nothing new. When the most modern and effective Russian forces were assembled to invade Ukraine in 2022, they quickly discovered they were not facing an inept, poorly trained and armed foe but one that was far more effective than the Russian invaders. The main offensive in the north, towards the nearby Ukrainian capital Kyiv, suffered heavy losses and within weeks was forced to withdraw back to the border. Russian troops were initially told that they had encountered NATO troops who were in Ukraine preparing to invade Russia. The surviving troops knew better because all they encountered were Ukrainians, usually armed with weapons similar to what Russia used as well as more effective ones they had received from NATO. The Ukrainians used more effective tactics and some new weapons that were based on Western models but Ukrainian-made. The Russian state-controlled media was ordered to ignore reports like this and stick with the official story that this was all a secret NATO operation to attack Russia via Ukraine.

While this information war played on, the Russian ordered everything they had, short of nuclear and chemical weapons, into use in an effort to salvage the situation. Russia was at war with a near-peer opponent and losing. Many Russians, civilian and military, figured out what was happening and openly criticized, or sometimes even physically attacked, their government because of the mess in Ukraine that was killing a lot of Russian troops. These Russian critics were often well-educated professionals in regular contact with Westerners, including more than a million Russians who had left since 2014 because of fears Russia was headed for what actually happened in 2022. Several hundred thousand more departed after the 2022 invasion. Despite this, the majority of Russians accepted the government explanation that Russian was defending itself in Ukraine and that what the government called the special military operation must continue. Russia refused to call what they were doing in Ukraine as war.

This attitude eventually began to demoralize Russians who figured out that was really going on. Widows and families of the dead soldiers received little information about their dead kin and many of those eligible for death benefits from the government did not receive that money because it was stolen by corrupt officials. This is typical of the Russian government bureaucracy and further eroded popular support for the war in Ukraine.
Snacking on nuts could extend your life.

Eating nuts can keep people alive for longer

Iranian researchers have discovered that a particular type of fibre found in the popular food item cuts the risk of dying from heart disease by 43 per cent.

Dr. Hanieh-Sadat Ejtahed, of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, said: "We found that consuming fibre could help you live longer.

"It's worth noting that the type of fibre seems to make a difference.

"Eating foods high in insoluble fibre, like wheat bran, tend to be more influential in reducing mortality risk compared to consuming soluble fibre like oat bran, barley and lentils."

Fibre is a nutrient that is found in fruits, vegetables and nuts which helps people to feel full after eating and aids the digestive process.

Previous findings have revealed that eating more fibre reduces the danger of a number of health issues - including stroke, Type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.
Emily Blunt would love to "make a movie about a stutterer".

Emily Blunt wants to help destigmatise the condition

The 40-year-old actress struggled with stuttering as child and she's now keen to help "destigmatise" the speech disorder.

Emily told BBC Radio Four's 'Woman's Hour': "The emotional trauma of living with the inability to speak will limit you in ways, that are for someone who speaks fluently, pretty unimaginable.

"There's so much shame about it."

Emily believes there's a lot of misinformation that continues to surround the condition.

She shared: "There's so much shame about it because there's not enough information it's neurological. People really deem it psychological. So you're sort of deemed off-putting or unconvincing in order to get a job, or anything like that."

Emily has enjoyed huge success during her acting career, but she continues to "struggle" with the condition.

The London-born star said: "I'll always be one, I'm probably unaware of how much I flip-flop words around to substitute ones that are easier to say...

"Certain environments will still create a struggle for me - if someone asks me to pitch them anything it's a nightmare.

"But I did sort of grow out of it."

Emily previously explained that acting has actually helped her to overcome her struggles.

The 'Devil Wears Prada' star - who is married to actor John Krasinski - told PEOPLE: "I wouldn't say that's why I've ventured into acting, but it was just a bit shocking the first time I was able to speak, you know, doing a silly voice or an accent pretending to be someone else.

"People don't talk about [it] enough if it hasn't got enough exposure, and millions of people around the world struggle with it."
Paris Hilton found it "difficult" to turn to a surrogate.

Paris Hilton has explained why she turned to a surrogate

The 42-year-old star has two children - Phoenix, ten months, and London, who was born in November - via a surrogate, and Paris admits that it was a tough decision for her to make.

The blonde beauty - who married Carter Reum in 2022 - said on 'Paris In Love': "Surrogacy was a difficult decision to make.

"I would have loved that experience of growing the baby in your tummy and feeling the kicks and all of those exciting moments, but my life has just been so public.

"So even though the baby is biologically mine and Carter's, we decided to have a surrogate carry him."

Carter, 42, wants his children to have a "normal" childhood.

However, he's also aware that they need to make the safety of their children their number one priority.

He explained: "Now having a family with Paris, we want our family to grow up and be normal and not always be known as Paris Hilton's children.

"We have to think about safety. When we go to the farmer's market, it's one thing if someone stops and asks Paris for a photo. It's a whole other thing with the baby in tow in a stroller."

Meanwhile, Paris recently admitted that she feels "complete" after welcoming a baby girl.

The heiress told the 'TODAY' show: "She is just a little angel and my life just feels so complete with my little baby boy and my baby girl. We're just over the moon."

Paris actually announced the arrival of her daughter via a social media post.

Alongside a photo of some baby clothes, Paris wrote on Instagram: "Thankful for my baby girl [tears, heart and baby emojis] (sic)"
Tom Sandoval felt like an "outsider" during the latest season of 'Vanderpump Rules'.

Tom Sandoval feels like an outsider

The 40-year-old star admits that his relationships with his co-stars changed after it emerged that he had a months-long affair with Raquel Leviss.

Tom told PEOPLE: "I've never really been an outsider with everyone like I was. So that's going to be, I think, interesting for people to see."

The reality star conceded that it was one of the "hardest seasons to film".

Tom has been reconnecting with friends since the cheating scandal broke. However, he admits that it's been a difficult process.

Tom shared: "Im just taking my time. You'll see [on] this coming season of 'Vanderpump Rules' how a lot of that stuff sort of plays out."

Meanwhile, Tom recently said that Ariana Madix's new boyfriend "seems like a nice guy".

The TV star split from Ariana after the cheating scandal broke and he voiced his support for Daniel Wai, his ex's new boyfriend.

Speaking to E! News, Tom explained: "He seems like a nice guy.

"I don't really know him or them together, but from what I've seen, they seem happy. I wish them the best."

Tom also insisted that he's learned a lot from the experience.

The reality star explained that he now appreciates "the littler things in life".

He said: "It's gotten me to really appreciate things in my life that maybe I took for granted.

"I really appreciate the friends that have stuck by me. That didn't jump on a bandwagon or a movement. I appreciate more of the littler things in life."

What's more, Tom revealed that new information will emerge in season 11 of 'Vanderpump Rules'.

He said: "There's a lot more to what happened.

"At some point, more things and details will come out and I think this next season of 'Vanderpump Rules' you'll see a lot more."
Megan Fox spent years "rejecting" her own fame.

Megan Fox tried to run away from her own fame

The 37-year-old actress has revealed that she tried to run away from her own fame and success earlier in her career.

The Hollywood star told WWD magazine: "For so long I was rejecting being famous and rejecting whatever this image was that was sort of hung on me, this person I was supposed to be. And so for a long time, I ran from fashion and lived in nothing but sweatpants or workout clothes and never wanted to express myself."

Megan admits that she has a "weird" relationship with fashion. But she's currently going through an experimental phase.

She said: "Im just experimenting now with being in really oversize pieces or being in things that are just not as necessarily revealing. But then theres a part of me thats like, no, I need to be naked this day.'"

Meanwhile, Megan previously likened fame to being "bullied by millions of people constantly".

The actress suggested that fans don't understand the intense pressure that she faces.

She told Esquire magazine: "What people don't realise is that fame, whatever your worst experience in high school, when you were being bullied by those ten kids in high school, fame is that, but on a global scale, where you're being bullied by millions of people constantly."

Megan also revealed that she felt "devalued" by her sex symbol status.

She explained: "I felt powerless in that image. I didn't feel powerful.

"It ate every other part of my personality, not for me but for how people saw me, because there was nothing else to see or know. That devalued me. Because I wasn't anything. I was an image. I was a picture. I was a pose."


Feminas Fab 40 For 2023

Whats better than reading a motivational quote? Reflecting on the journeys of inspiring women and drawing positivity, strength, and resolve from them! These 40 women have demonstrated that they can achieve all they put their minds to and, through sheer will power, break barriers in their way. Their journeys this year are sure to ignite your soul. From our ardent President to unrelenting scientists, from the countrys top actors to trailblazing influencers, from entrepreneurial geniuses to spirited athletes and more, lets celebrate them all...



Jaya Devi Cholayil

Owner, Cholayil Pvt Ltd, Co-founder, sadhev & founder, Jullaaha

A science graduate with a textile background, Chennai-based Jaya Devi Cholayil has several business ventures, but her social work is what has made a difference. Having married early, at the age of just 19, Jaya moved to Chennai and started learning a variety of courses, one of them being a batik printing course. In the short span of one month, she took to the craft and used her kitchen as a base to make a variety of garments, initially for her family. She soon started receiving orders. As the orders started increasing, I could not manage, and it was then that a lady approached me for work, so I decided to train her in batik; today, we have 50 women working in our venture Jullaaha. All of them are like family to me, and I have been part of their journeys as well, whether it is helping them with the education of their children or getting them married. These women happen to be the sole breadwinners of their home.



Their batik work is handcrafted, and she also works with Kalamkari artisans. As her in-laws belong to the Cholayil family that has the well-known range of Medimix bath and skincare products, she was asked by her father-in-law and husband to work in the R&D department. Charting her own path with her son, she launched her own range of luxury Ayurvedic skincare products and they co-founded the brand Sadhev. Her son has now joined her in this largely-online business, and she has over 50 products. She is also into organic farming and uses many of the herbs and ingredients from her farm, located on the outskirts of Chennai, in her cosmetic products.



Being passionate is also a must; I love what I do and it drives me towards excellence.



Jaya says that determination, perseverance, ambition, resilience and clear vision are a must for a woman to be successful. We must be willing to put in extra effort as we have many roles to balance personally and professionally. Being passionate is also a must; I love what I do and it drives me towards excellence. She believes that empowering women is crucial to ensure their success as well as spurring on the countrys growth. Additionally, innovation, confidence, and the ability to bring in value are invaluable. 2023 has been a milestone year for Jaya as she won an award from the International Womens Entrepreneurial Challenge in Madrid, Spain; she is proud to be one of three women from India. I have won several awards for my work in India but this one was special as I was representing the country on an international platform, and I am very grateful. This year is also special as she has reached the milestone of planting over one lakh trees as part of her Miyawaki Plantation initiative; she also feeds over 175 street dogs every day.



Also Read: Feminas Fab 40: Pooja Dhingra, Founder & CEO, Le15 Patisserie
Though the global air freight market has been on a rollercoaster ride of late, next year could see a return of classic seasonality, according to Oslo-based ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and intelligence platform Xeneta.

The companys chief airfreight officer Niall van de Wouw said in its 2024 Air Freight Outlook released recently that 2024 could be an opportunity for shippers to catch their breath after the volatility of the past few years.

The rapid rate decline, which started earlier this year, has calmed down in recent months. It seems to be the market has a new baseline, from which I expect classic seasonality patterns to emerge, he was quoted as saying in a company release.

Though the global air freight market has been on a rollercoaster ride of late, 2024 could see a return of 'classic seasonality', according to Xeneta, whose Air Freight Outlook 2024 highlights muted consumer spending as a key factor in 2024. Demand for air freight is predicted to grow by 1-2 per cent next year and supply is expected to grow by 2-4 per cent.

The industry saw the cost of transporting goods by air skyrocket during COVID-19 before plummeting back down again this year, albeit they are still 32 per cent up on pre-pandemic levels.

The Xeneta Air Freight Outlook 2024 highlights muted consumer spending as a key factor for the year ahead. Demand for air freight in 2023 remains down by 8 per cent compared to pre-pandemic and is only predicted to grow by 1-2 per cent next year. Supply is expected to grow by 2-4 per cent in 2024.

The key indicators are not great from a demand point of view. Its muted and theres a lot of uncertainty in the world, Van de Wouw said.

Xeneta data reveals an increasing trend for longer term contracts, but Van de Wouw believes this presents a potentially perilous situation for freight forwarders in 2024.

The problem is freight forwarders are selling long term contracts but buying the majority of volume from carriers on the short term spot market. If the rates go up, there is a serious issue, he noted.

The Outlook also highlights the continued recovery of capacity putting downward pressure on rates as a key theme for 2024, along with environmental sustainability and improving schedule reliability in ocean freight shipping.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Turkish vice president Cevdet Yilmaz and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently agreed in Ankara to expand economic cooperation to raise two-way trade to $4 billion.

This can be achieved by opening up markets for agricultural products and goods, signing a free trade agreement and increasing the frequency of flights between the two countries, the Vietnamese government said on its website.

Turkish vice president Cevdet Yilmaz and visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently agreed in Ankara to expand economic cooperation to raise two-way trade to $4 billion. Hanoi feels this can be achieved by opening up markets for agricultural products and goods, signing a free trade agreement and raising the frequency of flights.

Both the leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in agriculture and forestry.

Turkey considers Vietnam one of its priority partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, particularly in economy, trade, investment, defense and security, and tourism, Yilmaz affirmed.

Both sides agreed to continue consolidating and promoting relations and cooperation.

Yilmaz accepted Vietnams invitation to pay an official visit to the latter next year.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Economic disruptions created by the current Russian invasion of Ukraine has accelerated the decline of Roscosmos, the Russian government organization controlling all space program activities. Budget cuts mean Roscosmos has to delay construction of a new Russian Orbital Space station (ROS). It is designed to last for fifty years and function as a major space-based research facility. ROS will use three modules that were originally meant to be part of the ISS (International Space Station). Russia fell behind in building and placing these new modules into orbit and now plans to use them to assemble ROS. In the last few years Russia has fallen farther behind in delivering these new modules. Russia also lacks the money to build the ground control facilities to support their new orbital assets.

Nearly all the problems Roscosmos is having are related to budget cuts. The Ukraine War has a higher priority, and no one knows when Roscosmos will get its lost budget funds back. A lot of money is involved. Currently the missing funds amount to well over $10 billion and the amount will grow as long as the Ukraine War consumes so much of the Russian government budget. Recently Roscosmos reported that the government had agreed to restore the Roscosmos budget and planned to provide the nearly seven billion dollars needed to keep the Russian space station project on schedule. A lot more money will be needed before that space station is completed in 2032. This will be a major accomplishment for Roscosmos. Russia has fallen behind in most other aspects of their space program.

For example, Russia is no longer trying to compete with the innovative Americans firm SpaceX and its novel SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) operation. The business of building SLVs and successfully launching satellites was revolutionized by SpaceX. Few nations said they would try to emulate and compete with SpaceX. At least not yet.

Roscosmos did not keep up with new developments in SLV tech and has been in decline since its creation in 2015. Meanwhile the SLV future arrived unexpectedly in the form of SpaceX, a new firm that required no guaranteed government contracts or any government subsidies and did what previous government subsidized firms did but faster and cheaper. This was demonstrated during the first half of 2022, when the partially reusable Falcon 9 SLV launched 26 times, its total for all of 2020. The last three launches were carried out within 36 hours at the end of June. SpaceX carried out six more launches in July, exceeding the 31 achieved in 2021. One of the June launches involved a Falcon 9 booster that had been used 13 times. By June Falcon 9s had been launched 160 times since their introduction in 2012. The innovation was that Falcon 9 booster rockets land under their own power and are refurbished for reuse.

In Russia the situation is less positive. The Russian Space agency Roscosmos became a state monopoly in 2015 when it absorbed the few remaining space program entities it did not already control. Roscosmos was not helped when Russia threatened to cease all cooperation on supporting the ISS, but quietly suggested that a deal was possible if adjustments were made to the economic sanctions recently inflicted on Russia because of its current Ukraine invasion. Russian threats have accelerated efforts by American and European firms to build supply and crew capsules to replace the Soyuz capsules. SpaceX had developed a cargo capsule that has been in regular use since 2010 and its crew capsule was soon approved for regular use.

Roscosmos has long provided regular deliveries of supplies and transport of crew to and from the ISS. Russia uses its Soyuz SLV to put the Russian cargo and passenger capsules into orbit where they maneuver to and dock at the ISS. Russia and the United States are the major suppliers of new components to the ISS and use their own SLVs to get these components into orbit.

Despite the tension between Russia and the other nations responsible for operating the ISS, Russia is trying to maintain its duties up there. An early 2022 Soyuz crew capsule arrived at the ISS carrying three Russians, all wearing yellow and blue flight suits, which are the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Russia insisted this had nothing to do with the Ukraine War. These three Russians served on the ISS for about 30 weeks as part of the seven people who operate the ISS. Most Roscosmos personnel support expected continued participation in maintaining the ISS until ISS is retired in 2030. That is not going to happen as Russia in 2022 announced they would end support for and participation in the ISS program by 2024.

Some Roscosmos personnel also oppose the invasion of Ukraine but expressing that openly is now a felony in Russia and thousands of Russians have been arrested for demonstrating their opposition. The Russian ISS crew members went with their governments explanation that the colors of the flight suits were a coincidence.

Despite the professionalism and dedication of many Roscosmos personnel, key officials continue to cause problems with mismanagements and corruption. This causes problems with the contracts it already has. For example, in 2018 a Soyuz rocket failed as it was attempting to take two men, a Russian and an American, to the ISS. The two passengers survived because of the emergency recovery system that is part of the manned rocket. The failed Soyuz rocket was another example of the continued management and quality control problems in the Russian space program. Previously there had only been two failures of a Soyuz manned capsule, in 1975 and 1983. The 1983 failure involved a rocket catching fire on the launch pad and the crew rescue system saved the passengers, as was the case during the 2018 failure. As in the past, the Russians recovered and carried out a successful launch to deliver three people to the ISS. Roscosmos has been burdened with corruption and mismanagement since its creation and has had six directors since 2015, with the latest one taking office in 2022.

There have been over 1,900 launches of a Soyuz SLV since 1966 and the success rate has been 98 percent. The failures include inability to reach the correct orbit. The Soyuz FG SLV, used to carry passengers, has been used 65 times since entering service in 2001 and all were successful until the 2018 failure. The Soyuz FG is a more advanced and, until the recent failure, more reliable version of the Soyuz SLV design. There have been some recent problems with the Soyuz models used to launch satellites. Russia insisted that Soyuz FG was different but the personnel and management problems in the Russian space program could not be completely avoided.

Cheaper and more reliable Chinese SLVs are taking business away from Roscosmos. Russia lacks the cash to compete with the much more affluent China. There is also the entrepreneurial approach that China and the U.S. share. This is why China is working on an SLV design that can duplicate SpaceX innovations. Russia prefers not to risk scarce funds on duplicating SpaceX tech. Economic sanctions imposed after the Ukraine invasion have caused layoffs and pay cuts for Roscosmos staff. Construction of SLVs and satellites is hampered by the sanctions, which halted the import of key components, especially electronic items. The Russian government warned Roscosmos that this situation would last at least two more years, meaning that Roscosmos will incur annual losses instead of a small profit.

Over the last few years SpaceX has been gradually eroding the Roscosmos monopoly on taking crews and cargo to the ISS. This became more urgent since a Soyuz passenger capsule that reached the ISS in 2018 was later found to have a tiny leak, which was apparently created during manufacture and not detected by quality control. The growing number of manufacturing defects in Russian spaceflight equipment is compounded by the growing failure to catch and repair defects. The problems with two Soyuz passenger capsules in 2018 were not just rare events but part of a trend that has gotten worse. The Soyuz SLV and crew capsule problems also reinforced the belief that more than one nation must be able to get people to and from the ISS.

The SpaceX Dragon passenger capsule had its first test flight in 2019. Boeing also had a manned capsule design (Starliner) but it is more expensive than Dragon, which has already been replaced by Dragon 2, which can be used to carry cargo or up to seven passengers. That means the Soyuz monopoly as a crew transport to ISS ended in 2022 when Dragon 2 began regular trips to the ISS with passengers. Dragon 2 costs a third less than Soyuz per passenger going to the ISS.

Russians have looked on with growing dismay as their space program, once a close competitor with the Americans, slips into bankruptcy and insignificance. But the Russians were already falling way behind when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and since then the government has, with increasing frustration, sought to revive Russian space efforts and restore that program to its former fame and glory. The latest major move towards that goal occurred at the end of 2015 when Russia abolished its government federal space agency and transferred all the assets and responsibilities to the newly created Roscosmos. Over the next two years, it became obvious that the problems remained, seemingly beyond solution. To make that failure obvious, by the end of 2017 Russia had fallen to third place, behind the Americans and Chinese in space efforts. This was not a surprise because over the last decade Russian space efforts have struggled to meet military space needs, often at the expense of the more profitable civilian market.

In 2022 Russia made it illegal to publish details of Roscosmos problems without government permission. The ban included the Internet, where the bad news can still be found despite its disappearance from state- controlled media. The latest bad news involves the extent to which the new economic sanctions will prevent Roscosmos from freely importing foreign technology and the declining role Roscosmos plays in supplying SLV services.
Akshay Kumar celebrated a proud moment as his wife and former actor Twinkle Khanna launched her fourth book, Welcome to Paradise. Alongside standing by her side at the Mumbai launch event, he also took to social media to express his joy. Twinkle reciprocated the acknowledgement, mentioning Akshay's support on her own social media handles.

On Instagram, the Mission Mangal actor posted a picture of Twinkle holding her book at the launch event, flashing a million-dollar smile. Akshay's caption reflected his immense pride, praising Twinkle's endeavours, resilience, and achievements. He wrote, Proud, prouder, proudest. Thats how you always make me feel, whether its to take up writing, going back to the university in your 40s or just defying age and norms every chance you get. And today as you launch your new book, #WelcomeToParadise I just know it will add inches to my already big chest. Congratulations Tina @twinklerkhanna.



The book launch drew prominent faces from Bollywood, with attendees including Akshay Kumar, Dimple Kapadia, Jackie Shroff, Karan Johar, Kiara Advani, Vidya Balan, Sonali Bendre, Tahira Kashyap, and many others, all there to show their support for the accomplished writer.
Naga Chaitanya recently expressed admiration for his ex-wife Samanthas work in The Family Man. When asked about a series that impressed him, he highlighted The Family Man during an interview with a leading news portal. This show, helmed by Raj & DK and featuring Manoj Bajpayee, garnered Naga's praise, especially the second season which starred Samantha. He had previously shown support for her by cheering and rating the series 10/10 upon its release.

Naga and Samantha announced their separation in 2021 for reasons undisclosed to the public. Naga himself is preparing for his debut in the OTT space with the series Dhootha. This eight-episode show also stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, Priya Bhavani Shankar, and Prachi Desai in significant roles.

Discussing his OTT debut, Naga mentioned stepping out of his comfort zone and embracing challenges that push his boundaries. Dhootha, though a fictional narrative, promises to provoke thoughts and prompt the audience to reconsider their life choices and decisions.





Meanwhile, Samantha is gearing up for her role in the Indian adaptation of the American web series Citadel.
Its a Wonderful Life (1946)

Love Actually (2003)

Happiest Season (2020)

Love Hard (2021)

Single All the Way (2021)

Elf (2003)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

A Christmas Prince (2017)

The Holiday (2006)

Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Klaus (2019)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The Polar Express (2004)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Bad Santa (2003)

Carol (2015)

A Christmas Carol (2009)

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

Four Christmases (2008)

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

Lego Star Wars Holiday Special (2020)

White Christmas (1954)

Holiday Inn (1942)

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

Is there anything better than curling up in a blanket with a good Christmas movie as the weather outside gets chilly? Not really. Luckily theres everything from cliche-filled rom-coms to animated specials to watch this season. As we inch closer to the holidays, heres a list of 25 movies to watch in the days leading up to Christmas.The 1946 film is a classic starring James Stewart, Donna Reed and others. Stewart plays a kind man who in his darkest hour is reminded of all the good he has done for his small town. The film has a happy ending and a life-affirming message that will leave you with a smile on your face.Love Actually has everything - a star-studded cast, an entertaining Christmas Stage show and an endearing Andrew Lincoln telling Kiera Knightley, To me, you are perfect. The film explores love and other complex modern relationships. The nine intertwined stories include that of a new Prime Minister, a graphic designer and a writer as they go about the holiday season.Happiest Season takes the quintessential plot of meeting the family and turns it into a joyful coming-out story. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis play Abby and Harper, a couple set to spend Christmas at the latters family home. The catch, however, is that Harper hasnt told her parents she is gay. Its funny, heartwarming and stacked with stars including Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy.Starring The Vampire Diaries fame Nina Dobrev and Crazy Rich Asians star Jimmy O. Yang, Love Hard is a fun movie night watch. Its plot revolves around a woman who visits her online crushs hometown for the Christmas holidays only to find out that she has been catfished. Apart from the shenanigans that ensue, the film also gives a hilarious woke update to the holiday song Baby Its Cold Outside.In Single All the Way, Peter decides to take his best friend Nick to his hometown and pretend that they are dating just to have a drama-free holiday. However, things get complicated when Peters mother sets him up on a blind date. Heres another movie that makes the Yuletide you know what.When it comes to Christmas comedies, the 2003 film Elf has to make it to the list. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Will Farrell as Buddy, a man raised by elves. Upon learning that he is a human, he decides to make the trip out of the North Pole and meet his biological father who put him up for adoption after his mothers death.There are several iterations of the popular Dr. Seuss book of the same name, but the 2000 film directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey is a classic in its own right. The film follows the titular Grinch, a mean creature who is bent on ruining Christmas for everyone in Whoville. Carreys over-the-top antics work in the films favour and make it a funny film full of heart.If you like the idea of a silly Christmas rom-com with the most unrealistic plot, A Christmas Prince is the movie for you. It follows a journalist who on an undercover assignment to shadow a prince, ends up finding love with the subject of her investigation. Its as dreamy as it gets.The idea of changing your whole life amidst holiday existentialism is appealing. In The Holiday, Cameron Diazs Amanda and Kate Winslets Iris swap homes during Christmas after facing heartbreak in their respective love lives. The move means more than just swapping homes. The film also features Jude Law and Black Jack as the male leads.Home Alone is the ultimate Christmas classic. Starring Macaulay Culkin in his star-making role, the film revolves around a young boy from a large family who is left behind while his family goes on a Christmas holiday. With the threat of robbers, he comes up with clever tricks and traps to keep the criminals at bay.Amidst a slew of formulaic films full of Christmas cliches (not that we mind), Klaus is perhaps the most original holiday movie. Set in the fictional town of Smeerensburg, the film delves into the myth of Santa. It follows a postman who gets stationed on a snowy island where he meets a toymaker.Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas is as much a Christmas movie as it is a Halloween watch. Jack Skellingtons adventures as he visits Christmas Town and discovers the joys of the holiday for the first time is perhaps the best breakdown of the festival.All aboard The Polar Express! This classic about a young boy who embarks on a journey to the North Pole is a wholesome film about the spirit of Christmas.Sleepless in Seattle might be the best Christmas rom-com given that it stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as singles who coincidentally meet on Christmas Eve and begin a romance that leads them to a romantic meeting at the Empire State Building.If youre looking for something out of the box for a non-traditional holiday watch, the black comedy Bad Santa might be right up your alley. The film revolves around professional thieves who are set to make the most of the holiday shopping spree.Set during Christmas time in the 1950s, Carol is about two women from different backgrounds who end up in a whirlwind love affair. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara have great chemistry. Need we say more?Based on Charles Dickenss novel of the same name, the animated classic has a star-studded voice cast including Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and more. It follows a stingy businessman Scrooge who is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past who alters his life.Tokyo Godfathers is a life-affirming tragicomedy that sees three homeless people who find a newborn baby abandoned by its parents on Christmas Eve. They set out on a mission across Tokyo to get the baby home.In this comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, a couple tries to avoid meeting two sets of divorced parents but ends up having to visit each of the four parents.Directed by James Gunn, the Marvel holiday special is full of heartwarming moments as Mantis and Drax set out to find the perfect Christmas present for Quill who is left devastated after Gamoras loss.Based on the Star Wars franchise, the animated movie sees Rey try to gain insights about the Force while learning about Life Day, the Galaxys equivalent of Christmas.Another good old movie to settle down with is White Christmas, a 1954 film about a holiday show production amidst World War II.The musical film starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale. It follows members of a song and dance act who fall in and out of love amidst holiday cheer.Meet Me In St.Louis is an unmissable classic musical starring Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien. It traces the lives of four sisters as they navigate love and lifeSandra Bullock starrer While You Were Sleeping is an underrated Christmas-set rom-com about a Transit Authority ticket booth worker who is mistaken for the fiance of a patient in a coma.
critic's rating: 3.5/5

Trailer : Sam Bahadur

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was an officer and a gentleman and also a humanitarian. He was in charge of looking after Japanese prisoners of war after World War II and treated them humanely. The same was the case during the 1971 conflict. He instructed his soldiers against loot and rape and a very minimal number was reported. He was the Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu, and brought exemplary changes to the teaching methods and curriculum. His younger brother Jami, a doctor, served with the Indian Air Force and retired as an air vice marshal.Throughout his life, he was someone who spoke his mind and was known for his integrity and honour. He was said to be one of the favourite military officers of both PM Nehru and PM Indira Gandhi. Nehru sent him, alongwith VP Menon, to Kashmir. While Maharaja Hari Singh was signing the Instrument of Accession, Manehshaw took an aerial survey and got a first hand knowledge of the moments of the Pakistani troops. He advised Nehru to immediately deploy troops to save Kashmir.Indira gave him the command of the 1971 campaign and thanks to his foresight and planning, Pakistan was soundly defeated. He was made the first Field Marshal of independent India, just before his retirement in 1973.This context is necessary as the present generation would have little to no idea about a general who was a true patriot in the real sense of the word. Director Meghna Gulzar takes us through the career of the celebrated soldier, beginning with his training period  he was one of the first candidates of the newly minted Indian Military Academy in Dehradun  and ending with his appointment as field marshal.We see all the important landmarks of his career. Care has been taken to make the war scenes authentic. And kudos to the production design and the costume design team to make the film look as real as possible. But the film feels like a disjointed history lesson. It's as if the makers are in a hurry to rush from one bullet point to another, without taking a breather in between. As a result, we hardly catch any personal glimpses of Sam, the person. We dont know how he was with his parents, with his siblings, his daughters. Yes, there are a few portions where we see him interacting with his wife Silloo but they dont complete the larger picture.Nehru and Indira were said to be two of the most charismatic political figures. Indira, in particular, was called the Iron Lady. The success of the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh owes much to the political manoeuvring of Indira Gandhi. She tried to appease the Americans on one hand and signed a treaty with the Soviets on the other. Its thanks to her that Pakistans efforts to raise sanctions against India got thwarted in the UN. The present film paints them as fragile figures. Neeraj Kabi plays Nehru as being a weak leader both in body and spirit and Fatima Sana Shaikhs version of Indira Gandhi comes across as a vulnerable woman who looks like she would faint at the next gust of strong wind. Their iron-willed personalities dont come across at all.Sanya Malhotra has a whale of a time playing Silloo. She makes the love, pride and respect an army wife feels for her man come alive on screen. She and Vicky share a spark on screen and look good together. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub has outdone himself playing Pakistani General and later President Yahya Khan. His impassioned speech on the Partition of India remains one of the highlights of the film. Vicky Kaushal channels his inner Dev Anand to play the title character. The actor, as always, has immersed himself in the character. He plays it with inherent conviction and has given his all to the role. Its another fine performance by a consummate actor.Overall, watch the film for its documentation of the life of one of our great generals. And for Vicky Kaushal's finely-tuned performance.
The 54th edition of International Film Festival of India ended on a high note with one of the top Hollywood actors Michael Douglas, his actress wife Catherine Zeta Jones and stalwarts from various film industries from across the globe attending one of the oldest film festivals of South Asia.

The Persian film 'Endless Borders' by Abbas Amini won the Golden Peacock Award for best film and Michael Douglas was honoured with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, while 'Drift' by Anthony Chen received the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal.

Rishab Shetty's Kantara won the special jury mention and Deepak Mishra's Panchayat 2 got the best series in the OTT section which was the new addition in this year's IFFI.

The participation this year was much higher with more than 13000 delegates attending the festival. The information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur announced the hike in incentives for foreign films with added perks if India is highlighted in it.

The biggest achievement was the third edition of 75 creative minds where 20 talents got placed in various industry firms.

The entire south film industry was represented with all top actors making their presence felt on the red carpet.

Vijay Sethupati not only had the premiere of his film Gandhi Talks but conducted a masterclass with film enthusiasts.

Malayalam cinema had one of its biggest stars Unni Mukkudan of Malikappuram fame walking the red carpet.

Rishabh Shetty whose Kantara was screened was also present at the closing ceremony.

Telugu superstar Naga Chaitanya walked the red carpet for his series Dhoota being screened as part of the gala premiere.

There were 23 masterclasses and in conversation session this year while 9 gala premieres took place with over 75 red carpet walks.

Some of the other prominent names present this year were Filmmakers Brillante Mendoza, Director, Palme d'Or winner, Philippines

Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Director, Palme d'Or winner, Turkey, Hugh Welchman, Director, Oscar Nominee, UK, James Madio, Actor, USA

Jaya Ahsan, Actress & Producer, Bangladesh

Diman Zandi, Actress and indian filmmakers like Vetrimaran, Shoojit Sircar, T S Nagabharana, Shekhar Kapur, Vipul Shah and Rajkumar Santoshi to name a few.

The growing stature of IFFI in the global film festival circuit became evident with nearly 3000 film entries being received for the international section, a growth of 3 times from last year.
Bollywood is an industry full of glitz and glamour, where new stars are born every day. However, one star has been shining brighter than others in recent years - Vicky Kaushal. With his raw talent and striking physical presence, Kaushal has carved a distinctive place for himself in the Bollywood landscape. He made a remarkable entry into the industry with his first leading role in the independent drama film Masaan in 2015 and hasn't looked back since then.

Accolades and Power-Packed Performances

The film Masaan earned Vicky many accolades including the IIFA award and the Screen Awards. He followed this up with strong performances in Raazi, Sanju, and Uri: The Surgical Strike, the latter earning him the National Film Award for Best Actor. While some may attribute his success to his father, action director Sham Kaushal, Vicky insists that his journey has been anything but smooth.

Struggles Behind the Success

In a recent interview with Zoom TV, Vicky revealed the struggles he faced as an aspiring actor in India. According to him, he had to compete with hundreds of other actors at auditions, and it was a constant battle to prove his worth. The intense competition and rejection often led to feelings of insecurity and inferiority. However, Vicky believes that it was his resilience and determination to succeed, without any 'safety net' or 'plan B', that brought him to where he is today.

Latest Endeavor: Sardar Udham

Vicky's is now gearing up for the release of Meghna Gulzar directorial Sam Bahadur which is based on the life of India's first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw and also features Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh. With every new project, Vicky continues to impress his fans and critics alike, proving that he is here to stay.

Vicky Kaushal's journey is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit of his passion. Despite the challenges and competition, he has risen to the top, proving that talent, when combined with undying determination and a strong will, can indeed leave an indelible mark in the world of cinema. With his remarkable performances and unyielding spirit, Vicky Kaushal has indeed become a shining star in the Bollywood firmament.
Koffee With Karan 8: The recent episode of Karan Johar's popular chat show 'Koffee With Karan 8' featured Bollywood star cousins Kajol and Rani Mukerji gracing the controversial couch. This was a fun episode where the two actresses talked about their close bonding with Johar and other things.

As the three revisited many memories of their three-decade-old friendship, Karan revealed one incident when KJo, Rani's husband Aditya Chopra, actress Raveena Tandon's husband Anil Thadani, and celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra were romantically linked to each other by a Londoner who thought they were a couple.

Karan Johar reveals he was linked with Aditya Chopra

Karan, during the show, went down memory lane and made the shocking revelation that many years ago, someone in London linked the producer with Aditya Chopra. Rani, who is a close friend of Karan, is married to Aditya, who is one of his best friends, and they are cousins as well.

Koffee With Karan 8: Here's Why Rani, Kajol Maintained Distance On KKHH Sets Despite Being Cousins

Karan said, "Adi was setting up Yash Raj Films in the UK, and Anil Thadani at that time was his partner. So, we had taken an apartment with two bedrooms at that time because I was shopping with Manish and they were setting up the Yash Raj office."

"So the guy who was the concierge of that building at one point looked at Adi and Anil because first in the morning, Adi and Anil in corporate clothes used to leave. And then me and Manish with our shopping bags used to go. So the concierge had said to Adi once, 'You all are both such lovely couples'," he further added.

"We looked like our husbands are going to work and we are the wives who go shopping and waste their money... I was like, I want Adi then. It was hilarious," the filmmaker said.

Listening to the incident, Rani and Kajol cracked up in laughter, and Kajol quipped, "You all take such good care of your husbands."

Anil Thadani tied the knot with Raveena Tandon on February 22, 2004, and has four kids. Karan Johar had twins, Yash and Roohi, in 2017 via surrogacy.

Sidharth Malhotra Calls Marriage With Kiara Advani Life Changing On KWK 8: Even Though She Grew Up In Mumbai
Rating: 3/5

Star Cast: Priyanshu Painyuli, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Kubbra Sait

Director: Navdeep Singh

Shehar Lakhot Review: Prime Video's Shehar Lakhot emerges as the latest addition to the OTT landscape, joining a series of gritty thrillers set in the heartland of North India, replete with murders, mysteries, and an abundance of explicit language. This narrative template has proven successful for previous Indian shows, as evidenced by productions like Mirzapur and others.

Wondering whether Shehar Lakhot succeeds in leaving viewers surprised (in a good way, obviously)? Let's discuss the same in the review here.

SHEHAR LAKHOT STORY

Shehar Lakhot unfolds the narrative of Dev (Priyanshu Painyuli), a troubleshooter from Gurgaon compelled to revisit his hometown, Lakhot in Rajasthan. Tasked with diffusing a protest at a local marble mine by his employer, Dev finds himself facing the ghosts of his past disgrace in Lakhot.

Abandoned years ago, he left behind a girlfriend (Shruthy Menon), who has now found comfort in the company of the local influential figure (Chandan Roy Sanyal). As he maneuvers through the complexities involving his former flame, estranged family, and a mix of both upright (Kubbra Sait) and corrupt (Manu Rishi Chadha) law enforcement officers, Dev is on a quest to unravel the profound mysteries that shroud his hometown.

True to expectations, Shehar Lakhot turns out to be an interesting narrative with a captivating storyline.

SHEHAR LAKHOT ACTING REVIEW

Priyanshu embodies the character of Dev with a blend of despair and humor, driven by a quest for redemption through reconnecting with his past. However, the dynamics take a dramatic turn when he finds himself unjustly accused of murder.

Kubbra Sait exudes confidence in her portrayal of SI Pallavi Raj, infusing moments of comedy into her character. Pallavi is a resilient woman unafraid to take risks and confront wrongdoers to ensure justice for the victim. Tasked with investigating a gruesome murder, she unravels a complex web of deception.

Chandan Roy Sanyal, particularly as Kairav, leaves a lasting impact, closely followed by the enigmatic Manu Rishi. Kairav is portrayed as an ambitious hedonist who despises losing, whether in deals or games, manipulating without empathy for personal gains. Meanwhile, Rishi's character remains shrouded in mystery.

Shruthy Menon adds a burst of energy as Sandhya, a stunning and ambitious young woman who was once Dev's girlfriend. Trapped in Kairav's ambitious world, Sandhya yearns to break free from Lakhot.

SHEHAR LAKHOT OVERALL VERDICT

Shehar Lakhot thrives when attention is directed toward the intricate characters rather than the overarching narrative. While not Navdeep Singh's best work, the series is certainly worth exploring.
"The Goat Life", starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, is set to release in theatres worldwide on April 10, 2024. The upcoming Malayalam movie is based on the 2008 bestselling novel "Aadujeevitham" by Benyamin.

Produced by Visual Romance and directed by Blessy, "The Goat Life" also features Amala Paul, K.R. Gokul, as well as Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis and Arab actors Talib al Balushi and RikAby in pivotal roles.

According to the makers, the film follows the true story of a young man called Najeeb, who in the early '90s migrated from the lush green shores of Kerala in search of the fortunes in a land abroad. Staying truthful to the narrative style of the source material with a universal appeal like with universal appeal was the greatest challenge for him, said Blessy.

"The novel is based on some real incidents and I want to captivate the viewers with each moment that something as unbelievable happened to someone.

"Truth has never been so much stranger than fiction. The scale of the movie demands to be felt within the confines of a theatre and we are excited to bring this magnum opus to audiences around the world," the director said.

"The Goat Life" boasts of music direction and sound design by Academy Award winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookkutty, respectively. Besides Malayalam, the film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Junooniyatt 2 update: When Colors channel launched the show in February 2023, industry experts expected it to pick up pace within a few weeks and dethrone Imlie from the slot leadership. Junooniyat featured Ankit Gupta, who made waves during his stint in Bigg Boss 16. Considering his popularity, the industry folks believed that the show might do wonders. However, the constant plot change and competition from IPL 2023 affected the life of the show.

JUNOONIYATT SECOND SEASON ON THE CARDS?

Within nine months, Junooniyatt went off air on Colors TV. Doree starring Amar Uphadhyay and Sudha Chandran replaced the show at 9pm from November 6, 2023. Once again the romantic drama co-starring Neha Rana and Gautam Vig has been grabbing eyeballs. Wondering what happened?

A report in India Forums sparked rumours about the second season of Junooniyatt. It claimed that plans are underway for the fresh season on Colors channel. While the report didn't give any timeline for the launch date or time slot, it made the fans wonder if Ankit will play the lead in the show.

WILL ANKIT GUPTA PLAY LEAD IN JUNOONIYATT 2?

An industry source told Filmibeat, "There's no truth to the rumours about Ankit Gupta playing the lead role in Junooniyatt 2. He is back in Mumbai. Ankit is in talks with different production houses for their upcoming projects. After Bigg Boss 16, he didn't get a break and directly started shooting for the show in Chandigarh. He is enjoying the much-needed break and also talking with a few producers for projects. When the channel has not confirmed the rumours, how can we believe it?"

Earlier, Ankit denied the buzz of Junooniyatt 2. He said that he had no idea about the new season, stating that Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta have not notified him about the same.

"Sabse pehle mujhe ye batao ki aap logon ko ye information mil kaha se rahi hai? Mere paas Junooniyatt 2 ki koi information nahi hai, Ravi-Sargun ke paas bhi nahi hogi, agar hoti toh mujhe batate. But, I've no information about it. Kuch aisa hoga toh we'll sit and discuss and then we'll see what needs to be done," the Balika Vadhu actor told ETimes.

Ankit shot to fame after playing the role of Fateh opposite Priyanka Chahar Choudhary in Udaariyaan. PriyAnkit participated together in Bigg Boss 16.
by Austin Bay November 29, 2023

2023 isn't 1914 and 1915. In two contemporary wars -- Ukraine versus Russia and Israel versus Hamas/Hezbollah/Houthi Iran -- history is not repeating World War One's first two appalling years. The slaughters on Europe's eastern and western fronts -- and later in the Middle East -- were so immense our moment on the planet still confronts their history-shaping consequences.

Time to paraphrase the ironic aphorism attributed to Mark Twain: Though we don't have historical repetition, we definitely have a case of a deadly historical rhyme, one with real world peril for Ukraine and Israel.

The artillery shell shortage of late 1914 sounds like obscure logistical history but there's a reason great generals master logistics. Armies run on beans and bullets; tank and aviation fuel equals beans, shells and even ICBMs are bigger bullets.

The 1914 shortage affected all belligerents, western allies, Russia and the Central Powers. Though the big guns didn't fall silent, as their rounds became scarce they sputtered. Major operations ceased as soldiers entrenched and then built bunkers.

In Britain the munition shortage lead to an internal political clash historians call The Shell Crisis of 1915. As historian Hew Strachan writes: "In 1914, quick-firing field artillery could fire more shells than domestic industries, geared to peacetime consumption levels, could supply. Armies, although recognizing the dangers, had underestimated them. By late autumn (1914) they were having to limit the number of shells each gun was permitted to fire each day. Industry's conversion to wartime production would not be complete until 1916, and in 1915 the shells crisis had political consequences for most belligerents."

Pre-war planners also stockpiled lots of shrapnel (fragmentation) shells to use against infantry in the open. Destroying trenches and bunkers took high explosive rounds -- and there weren't enough.

The NATO Shell Crisis of 2022-2024 began with necessary action followed by good intentions. Ukraine needed support of all types, but the first month of combat told Kiev it needed 155-millimeter artillery pieces and rounds. 155 mm is the NATO standard tube artillery piece. NATO and EU defense officials began "cascading" weapons and rounds from allied reserves and stockpiles -- robbing Peter to supply Paul.

What does Peter do? He scrounges for immediate needs and ramps up production for the long term. Scrounge example: the U.S. got South Korea to dip into its own stockpiles and partially replenish U.S. munition reserves sent to Ukraine. Ramp up: In Fall 2022 the U.S. Army ramped up production of munitions -- especially 155mm.

Now review Strachan's comment on industry conversion to wartime production. It was slow in 1915 and it's still a slow process.

As for good intentions, in March the European Defense Agency promised to supply Ukraine with one million rounds of artillery ammunition by March 2024. As of mid-November, only 300,000 rounds have been delivered.

In an interview with Politico, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said that "...if there is not enough ammunition, or there is not enough equipment in the EU, then let's buy it somewhere else and give it to Ukraine. It is now important that Ukraine keeps fighting and Ukraine gets what they need."

Why are stockpiles running out? In 1914 none of the belligerents got the war they expected. Ammunition expenditure greatly exceeded estimates. In 2022 Russia's blitz invasion failed; 20 months later the war continues. Russia didn't get the war it expected. Nor did the U.S. -- recall President Joe Biden thought Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy should run.

Zelenskyy said he didn't need a ride, he needed ammo. He still needs ammo. In a Nov. 16 press conference Zelenskyy told reporters "warehouses are empty" in nations that supply Ukraine with munitions. And since the Israel-Hamas War ignited supplies have "really slowed down."

The Jerusalem Post reported that since Oct. 7 Israel has fired over 90,000 shells on Gaza, and some 10,000 against Hezbollah on the northern front. Not all are 155mm, but fair bet the majority are.

The U.S. gave Israel American munitions stored in Israel. That was a pre-war plan.

Israel needs new supplies, air defense and anti-projectile missiles. Complex missile systems take time and money to produce.

Alas -- eventually Peter has nothing left to supply Paul.

The Free World Shell Crisis of 2022-2024 has embarrassing but instructive echoes of 1915 that ignorant politicians will ignore but wise leaders will heed.
National Award-winning music director, Rockstar DSP is set to take the United Kingdom by storm with an electrifying new tour in January 2023. The music maestro, celebrated for his exceptional contributions to the Indian film industry, has released the first Telugu promotional video. The post is captioned:

"Introducing #BANG1 Telugu in a series of Beautiful Promos of "DSP LIVE" that have been shot in LONDON as a Feast for your Eyes!

: @isaa_baccon @maria_chrisoula, @irina_nikulina7 cristina_imbuzan

: @sivsnaps @n2.prods @przmavisions @passionreelsevents

: @manoj_hemachandar

One City 

Two Unmissable Concerts 

#DSPOontavaTourUK (Telugu) - 13th JAN 2024

#DSPOoSolriyaTourUK (Tamil) - 14th JAN 2024

Block your calendars, and join us for a musical spectacle

Links in Bio! Get your tickets now"

Rockstar DSP's upcoming UK tour will feature a variety of his musical styles, and the new promo certainly promises an unusual audiovisual show, demonstrating how excited Rockstar DSP is for the concert, just like his fans. Additionally, DSP's 2024 lineup includes projects like "Thandel," "Pushpa: The Rule," and collaborations with R. Madhvan and Ajay Devgn, directed by Vikas Bahl, "Ustaad Bhagat Singh," demonstrating his versatility in handling diverse genres. In addition, an exciting film collaboration with Balakrishna and Bobby is in the works.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Eureka Lithium Corp. (CSE: ERKA) (OTCQB: UREKF) (FSE: S580) ("Eureka Lithium" or "Eureka" or the "Company ) announces that it has renewed its arm's length marketing agreement effective December 1st, 2023 (the "Marketing Agreement") with Sideways Frequency LLC ("SFLLC"). As consideration for SFLLC's marketing and investor awareness services (the "Services"), the Company has agreed to pay SFLLC a fee of $150,000 (USD) for a term of two months (the "Term"). The Company may elect to renew the agreement at any point during the Term.

The Services will include, but are not limited to, email campaigns, native advertising, display ads, lead generation, creation of content, strategic planning, digital advertisement placement, and overseeing progress and results of digital campaigns.

Consideration offered to SFLLC does not include any securities of the Company. Aside from previous engagements, the Company does not have any relationship with SFLLC and Mr. Wesley De Souza, CEO of SFLLC.

About Sideways Frequency LLC

Sideways Frequency LLC is in the business of preparing, from publicly available information, advertisements consisting of profiles overviewing publicly traded companies, running marketing campaigns including PPC marketing, email marketing, native advertising, and display ads, and maintaining or updating clients' websites as the client sees fit. Sideways Frequency LLC's business address is 1389 Center Drive, Suite 200, Park City, Utah, 84098. Sideways Frequency LLC can be contacted by email at info@sidewaysfrequency.com.

The Company also announces that it has increased the marketing services budget by 250,000 Euro with MIC Market Information & Content Publishing GmbH ("MIC") (Address: Gerhart-Hauptmann-St. 49b 51379 Leverkusen; email: contact@micpublishing.de; phone: +49 2171-7766628). The campaign has commenced and will last until budget exhaustion, which is expected to occur by January 15th, 2024.

MIC will assist with the creation of text materials, advertorials, creation of campaigns, creation of ad groups, text ads and display ads, detailed keyword research and ongoing optimization, creation of remarketing campaigns, optimization of keyword set, ongoing bid management of ad word and keyword campaigns, coordinating online advertiser and corresponding marketing targets. MIC does not have any prior relationship with the Company, other than previous marketing engagements and is an arm's length transaction.

Corporate Video

To view a new Eureka Lithium corporate video, visit www.EurekaLithiumCorp.com (https://eurekalithiumcorp.com) or the following URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Vvm0zfNFp4

Corporate Presentation

Visit the Eureka Lithium homepage or click on the following URL to view the Company's Corporate Presentation:

https://eurekalithiumcorp.com/EurekaLithium_Q3_2023.pdf

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Afzaal Pirzada, P. Geo., who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Eureka Lithium Corp.

Eureka Lithium is the largest lithium-focused landowner in the northern third of Quebec, known as the Nunavik region, with 100% ownership of three projects comprising 1,408 sq. km in the emerging Raglan West, Raglan South and New Leaf Lithium Camps. These claims were acquired from legendary prospector Shawn Ryan and are located in a region that hosts two operating nickel mines with deep-sea port access.

For more information please contact:

Jeffrey Wilson

Chief Executive Officer

Email: info@eurekalithiumcorp.com

Cautionary Statement

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, such as statements regarding the contemplated completion of the Acquisition and the Concurrent Financing, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's expectations and are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, nor that the Acquisition will be completed as contemplated, or at all, or that the Concurrent Financing will be completed as contemplated, or at all. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189158
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Responding to a letter from Activist investor Elliott Investment Management L.P., Phillips 66 (PSX) said it agreed with Elliott that successful execution of the company's strategic priorities will drive substantial stock price performance. The company believes that it has the right management team and Board in place to deliver long-term, sustainable value. The company also appreciates that Elliott recognizes the value-creation potential of the strategic priorities that it has been executing since its Investor Day in November 2022. Earlier today, Elliott said it sent a letter to Phillips 66 outlining 'a path by which Phillips 66 can remedy its underperformance, improve its execution, restore trust with investors and unlock significant and sustainable value for its shareholders.' Elliott has raised a $1 billion stake in Phillips 66 and seeks two board seats. Elliott sees approximately 75% upside to the current stock price. Among the steps Elliott recommended is the appointment to the Phillips 66 Board of two new directors. Elliott did not call for ousting Phillips 66 Chief Executive Officer Mark Lashier. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Business Booster, which helps established businesses to reach the next level, has launched in Taiwan. Within 24 hours of its launch in one of the world's biggest markets, the accelerator had closed its first cohort and produced over half a million dollars in revenue.

"Business Booster is built on the five-year legacy of our Business Owners Program (BOP) in Taiwan," explained Alex Visotsky, the Ukrainian-American entrepreneur behind Business Booster. His work in the industry began in 2009 with a focus on systematizing businesses and improving management. The BOP, which started in Ukraine and spread across Eastern Europe and the US, was brought to Taiwan in 2018 by Alex Visotsky himself.

With the input of local partners Evan Yang and Cherry Chang, Visotsky found success with BOP in Taiwan. However, the trio soon realized that business owners were primed for more than systematization - they were ready for acceleration. Using BOP as a foundation, Visotsky, Yang, and Chang created Business Booster, which goes beyond management and organizational design by implementing strategies for boosting marketing, training employees, assisting with fundraising, and opening new markets.

The goal for the Taiwan launch is to position Business Booster to become a top business accelerator for regional companies that have been in the market for over five years and have a proven, scalable business model.

"After our exciting start in Taiwan, we are primarily focused on adapting the Business Booster SaaS platform so that it can efficiently manage both remote and in-office employees," says Visotsky. "We are also working to leverage the significant interest in Business Booster in Taiwan to serve regions with large Chinese diasporas, including Singapore and Malaysia."

The plans for Business Booster include the integration and development of a Chinese language program to enhance the marketing and sales of clients. Chang states that to launch the same business acceleration program in Chinese online, they are building a comprehensive tech stack to accelerate companies in the Chinese language market.

"This will include education programs for business owners, company management and employees, and providing a SaaS business management platform. With these tools, Business Booster will be able to effectively systematize, automate, and scale all company processes, providing a streamlined and efficient approach to business acceleration," she states. "We are building a strong team for this endeavor, and at our Taiwan Branch, we will have 30 experts who will work in a tight collaboration with the Business Booster US team."

Evan Yang adds, "This development is actively underway in collaboration with Valentin Vasilevskiy, the cofounder of Business Booster. He is our primary expert in marketing and creator of the SaaS platform."

Companies that are interested in learning about Business Booster and its global services are asked to contact Alex Visotsky at support@bbooster.io for more information.

Business Booster is a business accelerator that assists entrepreneurs from over 50 countries in implementing an operational system and elevating their businesses to new heights. The Business Booster includes a program tailored specifically for business owners; the Business Booster Board community, providing valuable mentorship; the Business Booster Platform - SaaS, facilitating online team management; and a comprehensive training program for leaders and staff. Business Booster's services are accessible in four languages: English, Chinese, Ukrainian, and Russian.

For more information, please see the Business Booster website or contact:

Alex Visotsky

support@bbooster.io

Instagram: @alex.visotsky

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188827
CHENGDU, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 19th to 20th, a gathering of heavyweight guests took place in Chengdu, featuring a series of exciting events with a rigorous and professional award evaluation. The inaugural Golden Panda Awards, successfully held in Chengdu, presented to the world a grand international communication event with both global standards and distinctive Chinese characteristics, enriched with the charm of Sichuan. From Chengdu, the Golden Panda extends its reach to the world, while the world converges upon the hometown of the panda.

The Golden Panda Awards will continue to embrace inclusivity and openness, providing essential spiritual resources and cultural support for the construction of a shared human destiny. Together, we appreciate the beauty of diverse cultures, collaborate on the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. In 2025, let's meet again!

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-inaugural-golden-panda-awards-concluded-successfully-see-you-again-in-2025-302001408.html
Company continues to pivot Bolivian operations into a processing facility focused on securing long-term material purchasing contracts, driving margins and cash flow

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Andean Precious Metals Corp. (TSXV: APM) (OTCQX: ANPMF) ("Andean" or the "Company") reported its operating highlights and unaudited condensed interim financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. All amounts are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise noted (C$ refers to Canadian dollars). This news release should be read together with Andean's management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") and condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 (the "Financials"), which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

"This has been a transformative period for Andean. In September, we announced our exclusive agreement with Silver Elephant to purchase up to 800,000 tonnes of oxide material from its Paca Silver Project," stated Alberto Morales, Andean's Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Morales added, "Earlier this week, we shared the exciting news of our acquisition of Golden Queen Mining, LLC, which operates Soledad Mountain mine, strengthening our position as a larger, more robust, and better diversified precious metals producer while maintaining our strong liquid asset position. From the outset of 2023 we've been clear about our objectives: extend the life of our Bolivian operations and grow our Company through acquisitions in the Americas. We have now achieved both objectives."

As part of Andean's strategy to grow while improving margins and cash flow, the Company is making strategic adjustments to optimize production in Bolivia and at Soledad Mountain in California. In January 2024, Andean will release an updated NI 43-101 reserve and resource estimate for Soledad Mountain. This will be followed by a new mine plan, changes in the ore control process as well as production and cost improvements. Meanwhile, at San Bartolome, the transition from a conventional mining operation is near complete, with the majority of ounces produced arising from third party feedstock. By mid-2024, Andean anticipates that production from the fines disposal facility ("FDF"), together with third-party oxide material, will replace the low-grade and high-cost tonnage from Pallacos.

Q3 2023 Highlights

The Company produced approximately 1.2 million silver equivalent ounces ("Ag Eq oz") 1 , an increase of 2% compared to Q2 2023. The average head grade and recoveries were 128 g/t Ag and 76% compared to 119 g/t Ag and 79% in Q2 2023. Based on 3.5 million ounces of silver equivalent production to date, and expected production for the remainder of the year, the Company is decreasing its 2023 silver equivalent production guidance range to between 4.6 and 4.8 million ounces.





, an increase of 2% compared to Q2 2023. The average head grade and recoveries were 128 g/t Ag and 76% compared to 119 g/t Ag and 79% in Q2 2023. Based on 3.5 million ounces of silver equivalent production to date, and expected production for the remainder of the year, the Company is decreasing its 2023 silver equivalent production guidance range to between 4.6 and 4.8 million ounces. Total revenue of $38.2 million, based on sales of 1.6 million Ag Eq oz at an average realized price of $24.34 per ounce, compared with Q2 2023 total revenue of $15.3 million from the sales of 0.6 million Ag Eq oz at an average realized price of $24.65 per ounce. The total revenue increase of 150%, or $22.9 million, is due to the inclusion of 540,000 Ag Eq oz classified as inventory as at the end of Q2 2023 as well as an increase in production.





As of September 30, 2023, delayed sales of approximately 233,000 Ag Eq oz were valued at $4.6 million and classified as inventory. Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the bullion was sold for a total of $5.4 million based on an average realized silver price of $23.46 per ounce.





In Q3 2023, cost of sales was $30.9 million, an increase of 162%, when compared to Q2 2023, mainly due to the recognition of costs associated with 540,000 Ag Eq oz classified as inventory in Q2 2023 and sold in Q3 2023.





General and administrative expenses of $2.7 million were $0.4 million lower than Q2 2023 and an $0.8 million improvement over Q3 2022. The decrease over Q2 2023 was largely due to lower share-based compensation expenses and management fees.





For Q3 2023 and Q2 2023, reported income from mine operations was $6.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively. In Q3 2023, the Company reported net income of $0.1 million compared to net income of $0.2 million in Q2 2023.





Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") 2 and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") 2 improved to $4.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively, compared with $3.7 million and $4.9 million in Q2 2023. The increase over Q2 2023 was largely due to higher revenues, lower exploration and evaluation costs and general and administration costs, partially offset by higher operating expenses.





and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") improved to $4.3 million and $6.8 million, respectively, compared with $3.7 million and $4.9 million in Q2 2023. The increase over Q2 2023 was largely due to higher revenues, lower exploration and evaluation costs and general and administration costs, partially offset by higher operating expenses. Operating cash costs ("OCC") 2 per ounce of silver produced, net of by-product credits, was $19.39, an increase of 1% over Q2 2023 primarily due to higher oxide material purchasing costs.





per ounce of silver produced, net of by-product credits, was $19.39, an increase of 1% over Q2 2023 primarily due to higher oxide material purchasing costs. All-in sustaining costs ("AISC") 2 per silver ounce sold, net of by-product credits was $21.28, a decrease of 10% when compared to Q2 2023. Based on the Company's nine-month AISC of $22.60 per ounce sold, it is increasing its AISC guidance for 2023 to between $22.50 and $22.90 per silver ounce sold.





per silver ounce sold, net of by-product credits was $21.28, a decrease of 10% when compared to Q2 2023. Based on the Company's nine-month AISC of $22.60 per ounce sold, it is increasing its AISC guidance for 2023 to between $22.50 and $22.90 per silver ounce sold. Positive net working capital of $86.1 million as of September 30, 2023, including liquid assets of $88.1 million. Liquid assets were comprised of $76.8 million in cash, silver bullion of $6.3 million, marketable securities of $4.3 million and VAT certificates receivable of $1.5 million. Liquid assets were $91.8 million as at December 31, 2022.





Pursuant to its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"), in Q3 2023 the Company repurchased and cancelled 780,500 shares at an average purchase price of C$0.74 per share for a total of $0.4 million (C$0.6 million). Since the inception of the NCIB in the fall of 2022, a total of 3,160,100 shares at an average purchase price of C$0.79 have been repurchased and cancelled for a total of $1.9 million (C$2.5 million).





Civil construction and procurement of the equipment required for the silver recovery project at the Company's FDF is progressing as scheduled. Delivery of the equipment has commenced and is ongoing. Commissioning and commencement of production is targeted for the first half of 2024.





The Company signed an exclusive five-year agreement to purchase up to 800,000 tonnes of oxide material from the Paca silver project in Bolivia. Paca is an undeveloped, epithermal silver and base metal deposit in Bolivia located less than 200 km southwest of Andean's San Bartolome mine and processing facilities near Potosi.

Environment, Social and Governance Summary Performance

Health and safety

Lost time injury frequency rate ("LTIFR")3 was zero during Q3 2023 and the Company achieved a significant safety milestone of approximately 514 days with no lost time injuries ("LTI"). One of the Company's goals is to maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all, with a strong safety culture where everyone is continually reminded of the importance of keeping themselves and their colleagues healthy and injury-free.

The Company is committed to have all employees and contractors return home safe every day. Regular safety awareness campaigns are conducted through external training consultants for all personnel.

Environment

Water management & tailings dams management : In Q3 2023, water consumption at San Bartolome was 51% compared to 53% in Q2 2023. The reduction in water consumption was achieved by reusing 100% of water from the tailings dam, 47% water from the wastewater treatment plant or rainwater collection and 2% fresh water for office and food services. Monthly external monitoring was conducted on water and sediment for surrounding lagoons. Piezometers and environmental wells are externally and internally monitored as part of the Company's water management.





: In Q3 2023, water consumption at San Bartolome was 51% compared to 53% in Q2 2023. The reduction in water consumption was achieved by reusing 100% of water from the tailings dam, 47% water from the wastewater treatment plant or rainwater collection and 2% fresh water for office and food services. Monthly external monitoring was conducted on water and sediment for surrounding lagoons. Piezometers and environmental wells are externally and internally monitored as part of the Company's water management. Climate action : Manquiri carries out the inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions for scopes 1, 2 and 3. For scopes 1 and 2, objectives are in place with a goal to be carbon neutral. Emissions monitoring in the refinery and waste incinerator are conducted monthly to ensure clean air.





: Manquiri carries out the inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions for scopes 1, 2 and 3. For scopes 1 and 2, objectives are in place with a goal to be carbon neutral. Emissions monitoring in the refinery and waste incinerator are conducted monthly to ensure clean air. Environmental incidents rate: The reportable environmental incidents rate remained at zero in the third quarter and year-to-date.

Community

Year to date, donations, medical support, and infrastructure investments were provided to local communities, including:

11 new homes were delivered to the Chalviri Baja and Phusuta communities to provide housing for families in dire need of accommodation.

Teachers and students of the Chalviri Educational Unit continued to receive training through workshops and seminars.

The Company participated in several community development initiatives, including providing water purification materials for the Escuela Robertito community and 118 children who live and receive education on the slopes of Cerro Rico.

Summary of Operating and Financial Results

Operating Results Summary







Q3



Q2









Q3



Q3









YTD



YTD







Units

2023



2023



Change



2023



2022



Change



2023



2022



Change

Tonnes mined (1) k dmt

390



468



(17%)



390



436



(10%)



1,291



1,455



(11%)

Average ROM mined ore grade Ag g/t

42



43



(2%)



42



56



(25%)



46



60



(23%)

Average +8 mined ore grade Ag g/t

78



75



4%



78



94



(18%)



74



98



(24%)

Tonnes purchased (2) k dmt

208



167



25%



208



113



85%



464



347



34%

Average purchased grade Ag g/t

179



186



(4%)



179



230



(22%)



188



221



(15%)

Tonnes milled (3) k dmt

384



385



0%



384



404



(5%)



1,144



1,217



(6%)

Daily average throughput dmt

4,474



4,561



(2%)



4,474



4,590



(3%)



4,499



4,625



(3%)

Average head grade Ag g/t

128



119



8%



128



115



11%



118



119



(1%)

Silver recovery %

76



79



(3%)



76



77



(1%)



78



77



2%

Silver production k oz

1,190



1,189



0%



1,190



1,168



2%



3,357



3,555



(6%)

Gold production oz

640



396



62%



640



577



11%



1,270



2,376



(47%)

Silver equivalent production (4) k oz

1,242



1,221



2%



1,242



1,219



2%



3,460



3,752



(8%)

Silver sales k oz

1,552



620



150%



1,552



1,170



33%



3,154



3,568



(12%)

Gold sales oz

200



-



100%



200



650



69%



415



2,221



(81%)

Silver equivalent sales (4) k oz

1,568



620



153%



1,568



1,227



28%



3,188



3,752



(15%)

Average realized silver price (6) $/oz

24.34



24.65



(1%)



24.34



19.23



27%



24.00



21.96



9%

Average market silver price $/oz

23.57



24.13



(2%)



23.57



19.23



23%



23.40



21.92



7%

Silver Equivalent Production Breakdown by Source Pallacos k oz

274



403



(32%)



274



394



(30%)



1,065



1,235



(14%)

Mine reclamation stockpiles k oz

53



38



38%



53



166



(68%)



255



561



(55%)

Cachi Laguna k oz

137



125



9%



137



159



(14%)



383



576



(33%)

Oxide purchases k oz

777



655



19%



777



500



55%



1,757



1,380



27%

Total k oz

1,242



1,221



2%



1,242



1,219



2%



3,460



3,752



(8%)











































Financial Results Summary

(in thousands except for



Q3



Q2



%



Q3



Q3



%



YTD



YTD



%

per oz numbers)



2023



2023



Change



2023



2022



Change



2023



2022



Change

Revenue

$ 38,174

$ 15,284



150%

$ 38,174

$ 23,603



62%

$ 76,503

$ 82,383



(7%)

Cost of sales



30,892



11,771



162%



30,892



23,051



34%



63,880



68,231



(6%)

Income from mine operations



6,273



2,448



156%



6,273



(1,430 )

539%



9,095



8,606



6%

Net income (loss)



76



169



(141%)



76



(2,840 )

103%



464



(6,750 )

105%

Net income (loss) per share





































-Basic



0.00



0.00



100%



0.00



(0.02 )

100%



0.00



(0.04 )

100%

-Diluted



0.00



0.00



100%



0.00



(0.02 )

100%



0.00



(0.04 )

100%

Net cash provided from (used in) operating activities



8,661



(5,293 )

264%



8,661



(2,503 )

446%



(955 )

245



(490%)

Free cash flow (5)



6,904



(5,588 )

224%



6,904



(3,292 )

310%



(3,570 )

(1,713 )

108%

EBITDA (5)



4,280



3,657



11%



4,280



(4,708 )

186%



9,453



(235 )

4031%

Adjusted EBITDA (5)



6,799



4,928



38%



6,799



(3,116 )

318%



12,200



4,495



171%

Ending cash and cash equivalents



76,823



70,427



9%



76,823



84,674



9%



76,823



84,674



(9%)

Capital expenditures



1,757



295



496%



1,757



789



123%



2,615



1,968



34%

Per ounce produced





































OCC (by-product)(5)

$ 19.39

$ 19.15



1%

$ 19.39

$ 18.19



7%

$ 19.94

$ 18.08



10%

Per ounce sold





































OCC (by-product)(5)

$ 19.65

$ 18.99



3%

$ 19.65

$ 18.74



5%

$ 20.00

$ 17.99



11%

AISC (by-product)(5)

$ 21.28

$ 23.69



(10%)

$ 21.28

$ 21.69



(2%)

$ 22.60



20.66



12%



(1) Material mined during 2023 and 2022 includes material from the Company's permitted areas, including Santa Rita, Huacajchi, Antuco, El Asiento, Monserrat and Tatasi-Portugalete. Mined material is reported as Run-of-Mine ("ROM").

(2) Purchased material includes oxidized material purchased from local mining cooperatives as well as through the Company's contract with RALP Compania Minera S.R.L. ("RALP").

(3) Tonnes milled is reported as +8 mesh. The acronym "dmt" means dry metric tonnes.

(4) Silver equivalent production and silver equivalent sales include gold production and sales, respectively. Equivalent ounces are calculated using the Company's average realized gold and silver prices during the referenced period. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures" section of this news release for further detail.

(5) FCF, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, OCC, costs per tonnes and AISC are measures of financial performance with no prescribed definition under IFRS. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures" section of this news release for further detail, including a reconciliation of these metrics to the financial statements.

(6) This supplementary financial measure within the meaning of NI 52-112 is calculated as a ratio of revenue from the consolidated financial statements and units of metal sold.

2023 Outlook Update and Guidance

In 1987, the City of Potosi, including the Cerro Rico Mountain, was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Twenty-seven years later, in 2014, the Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy of Bolivia issued Ministerial Resolution, which regulates all mining operations on the Cerro Rico Mountain.

The Company agrees that protecting the Cerro Rico Mountain and City of Potosi while preserving the livelihoods of local mining cooperatives is very important.

In 2017, at the request of the Ministry of Mining & Metallurgy and the Departmental Federation of Mineral Cooperatives, COMIBOL defined new areas for the future relocation of miners working at an elevation of more than 4,400 metres. In response, Manquiri shifted its mining operations from above 4,400 metres to focus on mining its Pallacos located below 4,400 metres. Only partial progress has been achieved relocating mining cooperatives and privately held mining companies.

As the Company has accelerated the transition from mining its nearly depleted high-cost Pallacos to processing its lower cost FDF material, the Company has agreed to negotiate with COMIBOL a reduction of the Pallacos in exchange for new oxide deposits. As part of the negotiation, during Q3 2023, COMIBOL requested the Company provisionally suspend mining of its low-grade Pallacos until a final resolution is issued. The Company anticipates a resolution with COMIBOL shortly.

To bridge the gap between now and the anticipated commencement of the FDF production in H1 2024, the Company intends to increase the purchase of third-party oxides and processing of material from the recently signed contracts for the Alta Vista and Paca deposits. To date in 2023, silver equivalent ounces produced from third parties represents more than 78% of total ounces produced in Q3 2023 and 69% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Following the completion of the FDF project by mid-2024, management is anticipating that production from the FDF and third-party oxide material will replace low-grade and high-cost tonnage from Pallacos.

Based on the first nine months of production at its Bolivian operations and the government restrictions on mining activities at Pallacos, the Company is decreasing its 2023 silver equivalent production guidance range to between 4.6 and 4.8 million ounces.

Based on (i) the hardness of third-party purchased oxide material, (ii) the increase in third-party purchases, and (iii) an increase in the cost of consumables, the Company is increasing its AISC guidance for its Bolivian operations by approximately 4% (based on the top end of revised AISC guidance provided in the Q2 2023 MD&A) to a range of $22.50 to $22.90 per silver ounce sold.

The following table sets out Andean's year-to-date results for its Bolivian operations against its original full year 2023 guidance and its revised 2023 guidance:



YTD 2023 Actual Original

2023 Guidance(1) Revised

2023 Guidance(2) Silver equivalent production 3.5 million AgEq oz 4.8 million to 5.2 million oz 4.6 million to 4.8 million oz AISC (by-product) / Ag oz sold $22.60/Ag oz $19.50 to $20.30/Ag oz $22.50 to $22.90/Ag oz Capital expenditures $1.2 million $8 million to $10 million $6.5 million to $8.5 million

(1) Andean's commodity price assumptions supporting this estimate are $21/oz silver.

(2) Andean's commodity price assumptions supporting this estimate are $22/oz silver.

Q3 2023 Webcast

Management will host a webcast tomorrow morning to discuss the Company's Q3 2023 financial and operating results. A question-and-answer session will follow management's prepared remarks. Details of the webcast are as follows:

Date and time: Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT

Conference call: Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-4610

Toronto Toll: +1-416-915-3239

International Toll: +1-604-638-5340

Webcast: A live audio webcast of the earnings call will be available at https://www.gowebcasting.com/13100.

Notes: To access the live webcast, please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to join the webcast.

Replay: An archived replay of the webcast will be available for 90 days at https://www.gowebcasting.com/13100 and on Andean's website: www.andeanpm.com.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Donald J. Birak, Independent Consulting Geologist to the Company, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Registered Member, Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), Fellow, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr. Birak has visited Manquiri's various sites frequently, most recently in September 2023.

About Andean Precious Metals

Andean is a growing precious metals producer focused on top-tier jurisdictions in the Americas. The Company owns and operates the San Bartolome project in Potosi, Bolivia and the Soledad Mountain mine in Kern County, California, and is well-funded to act on future growth opportunities. Andean's leadership team is committed to creating value; fostering safe, sustainable and responsible operations; and achieving our ambition to be a multi-asset, mid-tier precious metals producer.

For more information, please contact:

Trish Moran

VP Investor Relations

tmoran@andeanpm.com

T: +1 416 564 4290

Anna Speyer

NATIONAL Capital Markets

aspeyer@national.ca

T: +1 416 848 1376

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements and information in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which we refer to collectively as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements and information regarding: the timing of the NI 43-101 reserve and resource estimate for Soledad Mountain, the Company's production outlook and capital expenditure expectations for 2023, the timing of commissioning and commencement of production at the FDF, and the Company's plans for growth through exploration activities, acquisitions or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the Company's ability to secure and to meet obligations under property and option agreements and other material agreements; the timely receipt of required approvals and permits; that there is no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that contracted parties provide goods or services in a timely manner; that no unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and equipment function as anticipated and that there is no material adverse change in the price of silver, costs associated with production or recovery. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained herein.

Some of the risks and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits and conclusions of economic evaluations; results of initial feasibility, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks relating to possible variations in reserves, resources, grade, planned mining dilution and ore loss, or recovery rates and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the uncertainty of profitability based upon the cyclical nature of the industry in which the Company operates; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental or local community approvals or in the completion of development or construction activities; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other factors contained in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A and the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis dated September 30, 2023.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, you are cautioned that this list is not exhaustive and there may be other factors that the Company has not identified. Furthermore, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures

This management disclosure and analysis contains "specified financial measures" within the meaning of NI 52-112, specifically the non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios and supplementary financial measures described below. Management believes that the use of these measures assists analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in understanding the costs associated with producing silver, understanding the economics of gold mining, assessing operating performance, the Company's ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and on an overall Company basis, and for planning and forecasting of future periods.

The specified financial measures used in this news release do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers, even as compared to other issuers who may be applying the World Gold Council ("WGC") guidelines. Accordingly, these measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following is a description of the non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios and supplementary financial measures used in this news release:

(i) OCC includes total production cash costs incurred at the Company's mining operations, which form the basis of the Company's cash costs, less by-product revenue from gold sales.

(ii)Costs per tonne: The Company uses costs per tonne of material processed to manage and evaluate operating performance at its operation in Bolivia. Costs per tonne of material processed is calculated based on total production costs on a produce basis, adjusted for changes in inventory, to arrive at total production costs that relate to material production during the period. These total production costs are then further divided into material purchase costs, mining costs and haulage costs, and milling costs. Mining costs includes costs of material and supplies, labour costs, applicable mine overhead costs, and mining contractor costs for mining material; haulage costs include freight charges for shipping stockpile material from mine sites to the plant, and milling costs include costs of materials and supplies, labour costs, and applicable mill overhead costs related to material processing. Mining costs per tonne is the mining and haulage costs divided by the tonnage of material mined and shipped from mine sites to mill site; material purchasing costs per tonne is the material purchasing costs divided by the tonnage of material purchased from third parties; and milling costs per tonne is the milling costs divided by the tonnage of material processed at the mill. Costs per tonne of material processed is the sum of per tonne material purchasing costs, per tonne mining and haulage costs, and per tonne milling and processing costs.

(iii) AISC on a by-product basis per ounce is a non-GAAP ratio calculated as AISC on a by-product basis divided by ounces of silver equivalent sold. AISC on a by-product basis is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as the aggregate of production costs as recorded in the consolidated statements of (loss) income, refining and transport costs, cash component of sustaining capital expenditures, lease payments related to sustaining assets, corporate general and administrative expenses and accretion expenses. When calculating AISC on a by-product basis, all revenue received from the sale of gold is treated as a reduction of costs incurred. The Company believes that AISC represents the total costs of producing silver from current operations and provides the Company and other stakeholders of the Company with additional information relating to the Company's operational performance and ability to generate cash flows.

(iv) AIC represents AISC plus growth capital and non-sustaining exploration and evaluation costs.

(v) Non-sustaining exploration and evaluation costs represent costs associated with the Company's exploration portfolio, primarily relating to activities at the FDF and DSF. Certain other cash expenditures including tax payments, debt payments, dividends and financing costs are also not included in the calculation of AIC. The Company reports these measures on a silver ounce sold basis.

(vi) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by adjusting net income (loss) as recorded in the condensed interim consolidated statements of income (loss) for items not associated with ongoing operations. The Company believes that this generally accepted industry measure allows the evaluation of the results of income-generating capabilities and is useful in making comparisons between periods. This measure adjusts for the impact of items not associated with ongoing operations. A reconciliation of adjusted net income (loss) to the nearest IFRS measures is set out below. Management uses this measure to monitor and plan for the operating performance of the Company in conjunction with other data prepared in accordance with IFRS.

(vii) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations less property, plant and equipment additions. A reconciliation of free cash flow to the nearest IFRS measures is set out below. Management uses this measure to monitor the amount of cash available to reinvest in the Company and allocate for shareholder returns.

(viii) Average realized silver price is a supplementary financial measure calculated by dividing the different components of gold sales by the number of ounces sold. Management uses this measure to monitor its sales of silver ounces against the average market gold price.

OCC

The following table provides a reconciliation of the OCC per silver ounce produced on a by-product basis to the Financials:





Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

Costs of sales, as reported $ 30,892

$ 23,052

$ 63,880

$ 68,231

Add: Inventory adjustment

(7,429 )

697



3,856



73

Total OCC before by-product credits

23,463



22,355



67,736



68,304

Less: by-product gold credits

(392 )

(1,104 )

(807 )

(4,035 ) Total OCC

23,071



21,251



66,929



64,269

Divided by silver ounces produced (k oz)

1,190



1,168



3,357



3,555

OCC per silver ounce, produced on a by-product basis $ 19.39

$ 18.19

$ 19.94

$ 18.08



The following table provides a reconciliation of the OCC per silver ounce sold on a by-product basis to the Financials:





Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

Costs of sales, as reported $ 30,892

$ 23,052

$ 63,880

$ 68,231

Total OCC before by-product credits

30,892



23,052



63,880



68,231

Less: by-product gold credits

(392 )

(1,104 )

(807 )

(4,035 ) Total OCC

30,500



21,948



63,073



64,196

Divided by silver ounces sold (k oz)

1,552



1,170



3,154



3,568

OCC per silver ounce, sold on a by-product basis $ 19.65

$ 18.74

$ 20.00

$ 17.99



AISC

The following table provides a reconciliation of the AISC per silver ounce sold on a by-product basis to the Financials:





Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

OCC $ 30,500

$ 21,948

$ 63,073

$ 64,196

General and administrative expenses

2,701



3,545



8,276



9,967

Sustaining capital expenditures(i)

174



742



571



1,823

Lease payments

-



47



-



135

Accretion for decommissioning liability

326



278



998



842

Less: Items included in G&A















Business development

(525 )

(722 )

(1,101 )

(1,778 ) Share-based compensation

(159 )

(452 )

(524 )

(1,486 ) Severance payment

5



-



-



-

AISC

33,022



25,385



71,293



73,699

Divided by silver ounces sold (k oz)

1,552



1,170



3,154



3,568

AISC per silver ounce, sold (by-product) $ 21.28

$ 21.69

$ 22.60

$ 20.66



(i) Sustaining capital expenditures are reflective of costs necessary to maintain current production.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the AIC per silver ounce sold on a by-product basis to the Financials:





Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

AlSC $ 33.022

$ 25,385

$ 71,293

$ 73,699

Non-sustaining exploration and evaluation(i)

252



1,253



315



3,157

Growth capital

1,583



-



2,044



-

AIC

34,857



26,638



73,652



76,856

Divided by silver ounces sold (k oz)

1,552



1,170



3,154



3,598

AIC per silver ounce sold (by-product) $ 22.46

$ 22.76

$ 23.35

$ 21.53



(i) Non-sustaining exploration and evaluation costs are related to growth projects outside Andean's current production profile.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

The Company has included EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as non-IFRS performance measures in this news release. The Company excludes certain items from net income (loss) to provide a measure that allows the Company and investors to evaluate the results of the underlying core operations of the Company and its ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the Financials:





Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

Net income (loss) $ 76



($2,840 ) $ 464



($6,750 ) Add:















Income taxes

2,848



(4,178 )

4,307



(19 ) Finance costs

347



328



1,154



988

Depreciation and depletion

1,009



1,982



3,528



5,546

EBITDA $ 4,280



($4,708 ) $ 9,453



($235 ) Add: Non-sustaining exploration and evaluation costs

378



1,253



315



3,156

Add: Corporate development

525



722



1,101



1,778

Less: Change in fair value of derivative contracts(i)

175



-



(797 )

-

Less: Change in fair value of marketable securities(ii)

1,441



(383 )

2,128



(204 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 6,799



($3,116 ) $ 12,200

$ 4,495



(i) These amounts refer to fair value change on the derivative contracts on silver sales.

(ii) These amounts refer to mark-to-market adjustments on securities held of Santacruz.

Free Cash Flow

The Company has included free cash flow as a non-IFRS performance measure in this news release. The Company considers operating cash flow less capital expenditures to provide a measure which allows the Company and investors to evaluate the ability of the Company to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The following table provides a reconciliation of free cash flow to the Financials:





Nine months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,





2023



2022



2023



2022

Net cash (used in) provided from operations $ 8,661



($2,503 )

($955 ) $ 245

Less:















Expenditures on property, plant and equipment

(1,757 )

(742 )

(2,615 )

(1,823 ) Lease payments

-



(47 )

-



(135 ) Free cash flow $ 6,904



($3,292 )

($3,570 )

($1,713 )

Average Realized Gold and Silver Prices

The Company has included average realized prices per ounce as a non-IFRS performance measure in this news release. Average realized silver and gold prices equals revenue per the Statement of Operations divided by ounces of gold or silver sold.

The following table provides a reconciliation of average realized silver and gold prices to the Financials:









Three months ended September 30,



Nine months ended September 30,









2023



2022



2023



2022



Silver revenue

$ 37,782

$ 22,499

$ 75,696

$ 78,348



Silver sold (k oz)



1,552



1,170



3,154



3,568



Average realized silver price per ounce

$ 24.34

$ 19.23

$ 24.00

$ 21.96







2023



2022



2023



2022

Gold revenue $ 392

$ 1,104

$ 807

$ 4,035

Gold sold (oz)

200



650



415



2,221

Average realized gold price per ounce $ 1,960

$ 1,698

$ 1,945

$ 1,817



1 Silver equivalent ounces include gold ounces and are converted to a silver equivalent based on a ratio of realized silver and gold prices during the periods discussed. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures" section of this press release for further details.

2 AISC, OCC, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are measures of financial performance with no prescribed definition under IFRS. Refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures, Ratios and Supplementary Financial Measures" section of this press release for further detail, including a reconciliation of these metrics to the financial statements.

3 LTIFR refers to the number of lost time injuries occurring in a workplace per 1 million hours worked. While LTI include all on-the-job injuries that require a person to stay away from work more than 24 hours or which result in death or permanent disability.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189155
Burnham-based network design and security firm Connect Express Consultants announces its status as a Cisco Premier Partner, allowing it to offer some of the leading network protection solutions.

Burnham, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - As remote and hybrid working models place new demands on business networks, Burnham-based Connect Express Consultants now offers Cisco's full line of security solutions, including SecureX, Defence Orchestrator, Secure Network Analytics, and more. The move is intended to complement the firm's end-to-end service, which includes network design, hardware supply, installation, implementation, and support.

More details can be found at https://connect-express.com/.

Cisco SecureX Firewall Solutions Announced By Connect Express Consultants

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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With the latest update, Connect Express Consultants states that it can offer advanced firewall solutions to meet the needs of all types of businesses, ranging from small companies and branch offices through to medium- and large-sized enterprise networks. The firm's certification as a Cisco Premier Partner reflects its ongoing ability to meet rigorous networking, personnel, and support standards.

As Connect Express Consultants explains, the pandemic led to a more widespread acceptance of remote working, which has created a new set of security risks. The flow of data outside the traditional office environment, often on a wide variety of devices, presents several vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cyber criminals.

Now a fully accredited member of Cisco's Security Specialisation Programme, Connect Express Consultants offers the ability to assess clients' networks and design a solution that protects against current and emerging threats. The firm states that Cisco's Secure Firewall can play a central role in the security of businesses who work across a distributed environment, such as those with a remote workforce.

As part of the recent update, the firm also offers a security vulnerability test to help businesses identify areas of weakness. The new test includes identification of employees who are susceptible to phishing attacks, as well as recommendations on the systems and processes needed to rectify those concerns.

Connect Express Consultants have been providing cyber security expertise for over 25 years, and the latest announcement continues the firm's commitment to being a leader in the field. In addition to Cisco's Security Specialisation Programme, the company is accredited to ISO/IEC 27001 - Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://connect-express.com/.

Contact Info:

Name: Jason Horan

Email: jhoran@connect-express.com

Organization: Connect Express Consultants Ltd

Address: 31 Coalmans Way, Burnham, England SL1 7NX, United Kingdom

Website: https://connect-express.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188544
Government Advisor Alexander M. Wegner appointed Partner, Head of Public Policy, MENA

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Instinctif Partners, a leading EMEA communications consultancy, is expanding its internationally-renowned Public Policy offering to the MENA region with the launch of a new practice. Integrating Public Policy advisory into its portfolio of services reflects both double-digit, year-on-year growth and fast-changing regional dynamics. From COP28 and the energy transition to renewed competition among GCC states and heightened geopolitical tensions, the MENA region continues to evolve, and clients across sectors are seeking a trusted partner to help them navigate this landscape.

Alexander M. Wegner joins Instinctif Partners as Partner, Head of Public Policy, MENA, bringing with him 15 years' experience living and working across Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh. A German national, Alexander holds degrees from The University of Chicago and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Strategy and Communications, at the global CEO advisory firm Teneo, and spent two years at the Future Investment Initiative (FII), also known as "Davos in the Desert," where he led Technology Partnerships and was part of the management team.

Alexander has advised influential government, corporate, and philanthropic clients throughout the GCC on matters of strategic and executive positioning, reputation and risk management, geostrategy and influence, as well as market entry. He is a Member of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK), AmCham Abu Dhabi, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, an Alumnus of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Global Shapers Community, and a Fellow at the Royal Society for Arts (RSA). He also advises two venture funds on opportunities across the MENA region.

"We're delighted to welcome Alexander both to the firm and to our leadership team here in MENA. He has an exceptional track-record of working with clients at the highest level, a global background, and a strong reputation as a trusted advisor, mentor, and colleague. The addition of Public Policy to our advisory services will further strengthen our capabilities and create value for our clients," said Samantha Bartel, MENA CEO and Managing Partner at Instinctif Partners. "In the two weeks he's been with us, Alexander has already grown our client-base and is advising clients on and at COP28."

"It's a pleasure to join Instinctif Partners to build, scale, and lead the Public Policy practice in MENA." Alexander noted. "The team in and beyond MENA has been exceptionally welcoming. It's a privilege to be asked to set up an entirely new business segment in the region, and I'm excited to take up this new challenge. In my view, this is the right time to do so, and a terrific opportunity to contribute to the great success Instinctif Partners has had in the MENA region under the leadership of Samantha."

"It's an important and strategic step for Instinctif Partners to roll out the longstanding and thriving Public Policy practice in Africa and Europe across the booming MENA region," said Ed Amory, CEO of Instinctif Partners. "Alexander is a formidable addition to the team, who's going to contribute a uniquely global perspective and deep regional experience that will benefit the firm and our clients."

Partnership has always defined the work of Instinctif Partners, and it is in this spirit, out of a mission to create value for clients, that the firm is now bringing its Public Policy offering to the MENA region. The practice will specialize in advising corporate clients of all sizes on market entry - including strategic positioning, competitive intelligence, organizational resilience, and capital raising - as well as government relations and stakeholder engagement more broadly. To learn more and / or to explore a potential mandate, please reach out to Alexander via alexander.wegner@instinctif.com.

About Instinctif

Instinctif Partners is an EMEA business communications consultancy. As partners in change, we help navigate societies' constantly changing rules. We provide an integrated service drawing on expertise in communications, capital markets, content & design, digital, insight, public affairs and sustainability. Our aim is to build trust through transparency and honesty, so that together with our clients, we can be a force for good.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2288632/Instinctif_Partners_MENA.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/instinctif-partners-launches-mena-public-policy-advisory-to-help-organizations-navigate-a-changing-world-302001000.html
Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, is shipping its AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY on the new Xiaomi Redmi K70e smartphone. The Xiaomi Redmi K70e is offered to the Chinese market and is driven the Dimensity 8300 chipset developed by Elliptic Labs' partner MediaTek. The contract for this launch was previously announced by Elliptic Labs.

"Elliptic Labs is proud that our AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform is the technology of choice for Xiaomi's range of smartphones," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "This underscores our position as industry leaders in AI/ML, ultrasound, and sensor fusion technologies. Xiaomi's standardizing on our platform is a testament to our commitment to innovation and value, enabling the launch of cost-effective yet advanced smartphones like the Redmi K70e. We maintain focus on delivering solutions that drive value and enable products that are greener, smarter, and more human-friendly."

AI Virtual Proximity Sensor INNER BEAUTY

Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor detects when a user holds their phone up to their ear during a call, allowing the smartphone to turn off its display and disable its screen's touch functionality. This keeps the user's ear or cheek from triggering unwanted actions during the call, such as hanging up or dialing numbers. Turning off the screen also helps conserve battery life.

Proximity detection is a core capability that is used in all smartphones, but Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Proximity Sensor is a unique, software-only solution that delivers robust proximity detection without the need for a dedicated hardware sensor. By replacing hardware sensors with software sensors, the AI Virtual Proximity Sensor reduces device cost and eliminates sourcing risk.

INNER BEAUTY is a registered trademark of Elliptic Labs.

AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs.

All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

About Elliptic Labs

Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022.

Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129188298/en/

Contacts:

PR Contacts:

Patrick Tsui

pr@ellipticlabs.com

Investor Relations:

Lars Holmy

Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com
Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129233075/en/

Technip Energies (PARIS:TE), a world-leading engineering and technology company for the energy transition, and John Cockerill, a major designer and manufacturer of large-scale technological solutions and leader in pressurized alkaline electrolyzers, are pleased to announce the formal creation of Rely.

Technip Energies and John Cockerill acknowledge the need to accelerate technology development to support net-zero ambitions. The creation of Rely responds to this urgent need to scale up green hydrogen and power-to-X(1) solutions to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries.

Rely offers end-to-end large-scale solutions, from pre-Final Investment Decision services including technical and financial advisory through to proprietary technologies, project execution, and operation and maintenance.

Rely also fuses a commitment to a standardized approach, developing a unique portfolio of solutions for project of 100MW capacity and above, leveraging the technology and engineering expertise of its parent companies.

With a unique offering integrating all electrolyzer solutions, Rely will bridge green electrons to molecules and help customers reach their decarbonization goals.

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, Rely is an asset light joint-venture, 60%-owned by Technip Energies and 40%-owned by John Cockerill, harnessing the expertise of more than 200 hydrogen specialists working across the globe.

Arnaud Pieton, CEO of Technip Energies stated: "Rely was born out of our commitment to make green hydrogen and power-to-X a feasible low-carbon alternative for industrial-scale applications. We created Rely after carefully listening to our customers' needs and forming strong convictions about the way to break the industrial and cost barriers associated with large-scale green hydrogen. Partnering with John Cockerill will help us bring green hydrogen power-to-X to life. Moreover, we're determined to develop a portfolio of technologies that will drive down costs over the long haul. This is just the beginning of the story

Francois Michel, CEO of John Cockerill: "To John Cockerill, Rely constitutes a new way of approaching the green hydrogen market, perfectly completing the alkaline electrolyzer offering of John Cockerill Hydrogen which will be the world leader OEM in the field. Rely will also enable us to further develop all the technologies included in a green hydrogen production facility."

Damien Eyries, CEO of Rely: "Rely exists to bridge the green electron-molecule gap. We are dedicated to building solutions making green hydrogen and power-to-X production at scale, accessible, certain, safe and affordable. Specifically, we are targeting an important reduction in Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH). Rely enters the market at the right moment and we are looking forward to presenting our integrated solutions in detail soon."

(1) Power-to-X refers to the conversion of essentially renewable electricity, which is by nature intermittent, into another storable and transportable energy carrier such as green hydrogen, green ammonia or other sustainable fuels.

About Technip Energies

Technip Energies is a leading Engineering Technology company for the energy transition, with leadership positions in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), hydrogen and ethylene as well as growing market positions in blue and green hydrogen, sustainable chemistry and CO2 management. The company benefits from its robust project delivery model supported by extensive technology, products and services offering.

Operating in 35 countries, our 15,000 people are fully committed to bringing our client's innovative projects to life, breaking boundaries to accelerate the energy transition for a better tomorrow.

Technip Energies is listed on Euronext Paris with American depositary receipts ("ADRs") traded over-the-counter in the United States.

For further information: www.ten.com.

About John Cockerill

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and passion for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, producing responsibly, enhancing security and facilitating access to fossil-free energies. Its offer to businesses, governments and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defence, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures. A pioneer in pressurized alkaline electrolyzers since 2018, John Cockerill is the world leader in this technology with a 20% market share in 2022 and production capacities currently being developed in 7 countries. With over 6000 employees, the Group achieved a turnover of 1 billion in 2022 in 23 countries, on 5 continents. For further information: https://johncockerill.com

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders

Forward-Looking Statement

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Technip Energies' (the "Company") intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections about the Company's future results of operations, anticipated revenues, earnings, cashflows, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "foresee", "should", "would", "could", "may", "estimate", "outlook", and similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning future developments and business conditions and their potential effect on the Company. While the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that the Company anticipates.

All of the Company's forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant or beyond the Company's control, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and the Company's present expectations or projections. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see the Company's risk factors set forth in the Company's 2022 Annual Financial report filed on March 10, 2023, with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers which include a discussion of factors that could affect the Company's future performance and the markets in which the Company operates. Please also see Section 1.3 (Principal Risks and Uncertainties) of the Company's 2023 Half-Year Report which was filed with the AFM and the AMF on July 27, 2023.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no duty to and will not necessarily update any of the forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129233075/en/

Contacts:

Contacts Technip Energies

Investor relations

Phil Lindsay

Vice-President Investor Relations

Tel: +44 20 75 85 50 51

Email: Phillip Lindsay

Media relations

Jason Hyonne

Press Relations Social Media Lead

Tel: +33 1 47 78 22 89

Email: Jason Hyonne

Contact John Cockerill

Caroline Crevecoeur

Email: caroline.crevecoeur@johncockerill.com

Tel: +32 475 30 20 09

Contact Rely

Laura Pereira-Neto

Email: laura.pereira-neto@relysolutions.com
MBABANE  Recognised abroad!

Model Nomphumelelo Lelo Matsebula, known as Lelo Mkholo, has received a nomination in the esteemed Volta Fashion Week Awards and Honours. She has been nominated in the category of Star Africa Female Next Rated Model of the Year. These prestigious awards, presented by Glam GH, will take place from December 29 to 30 at the Holy Trinity Spa in Sogakope, Ghana. In an interview, Matsebula expressed her deep gratitude and honour for being recognised. She conveyed her excitement and humility at the opportunity, acknowledging the significance of the nomination. Volta Fashion Week and Award Honours, thank you for considering me for this award in your country. I am truly honoured and grateful to be nominated. It is a thrilling opportunity, and I feel a mix of excitement and humility, Matsebula said. When asked about how this recognition has impacted her, Matsebula shared that it has served as a source of motivation, reaffirming her belief in the power of hard work.

Motivated

Being nominated for this award has motivated me as a model in various ways. Firstly, it has reinforced my faith in the hard work and dedication I have invested in my craft. It validates that my efforts have not gone unnoticed, which is incredibly encouraging. Secondly, it has ignited a fire within me to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new avenues in the modelling industry. This nomination serves as a reminder that there is always room for growth and improvement. I am motivated to seize every opportunity that comes my way, Matsebula expressed.

She further encouraged people to vote for her, emphasising that their votes would endorse inclusivity. To encourage individuals to vote for me, I want to express my genuine passion for the art of modelling. I strive to be creative, diverse and authentic in every project I undertake. I firmly believe in the power of representation and the ability of fashion and beauty to inspire and empower individuals. By voting for me, you are not only supporting my journey as a model, but also endorsing the value of inclusivity, self-expression and embracing uniqueness, she concluded.
Fujirebio Holdings, Inc. (President CEO: Goki Ishikawa) and Sysmex Corporation (President: Kaoru Asano) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to expand their Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) partnership for Sysmex's Automated Immunoassay System HISCL-Series to include the field of neurodegenerative diseases, following the discussion based on the Basic Agreement on Business Collaboration in the field of immunoassay signed in October 2023*.

While Fujirebio has been developing dedicated reagents for Sysmex's HISCL-Series since 2020, the two companies agreed in October 2023 to deepen their partnership, based on a common belief that combining their respective expertise and strengths in immunoassay will accelerate their global expansion, and will contribute to the development and advancement of immunoassay. Since then, the two companies have been discussing how to strengthen their collaboration.

Under the terms of the new agreement, in the field of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's Disease, Fujirebio will develop reagents for Sysmex's HISCL-Series for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)-based testing as well as blood-based testing. This will accelerate the expansion of Sysmex's testing parameters in the diseases field, further propelling the expansion of its global footprint in immunoassay.

Fujirebio and Sysmex will further collaborate to develop and launch the tests as early as possible.

*Press release "Fujirebio and Sysmex Enter into Basic Agreement on Business Collaboration in the Field of Immunoassay" issued on October 10, 2023

About Fujirebio

Fujirebio, a member of H.U. Group Holdings Inc., is global R&D-driven company constantly developing new in vitro diagnostics testing technologies and unique biomarkers with high clinical value. Our group mission is to create new value in healthcare and thereby contribute to human health and the future of medical care.

Our global teams located in Japan, Asia, Europe, and the US focus on delivering products with the highest quality standards to our customers and partners. We value partnerships with other leading companies in the industry, sharing knowledge, capabilities, and critical materials to supply, develop, or manufacture diagnostic solutions on a wide variety of platforms.

For more information about Fujirebio, please visit www.fujirebio.com.

About Sysmex Corporation

Sysmex Corporation, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics. Since its foundation in 1968, Sysmex has focused on diagnostics as the core of its business, and today, it supports the health of people in over 190 countries and regions worldwide. Sysmex continues to innovate in diagnostics, and to collaboratively create unique values in the areas of personalized medicine and novel treatments, under its long-term vision of "Together for a better healthcare journey." To realize this vision, Sysmex identifies and verifies prioritized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and materiality (priority issues), thereby maintaining its growth as a company that generates both social and economic value. Through its unique technology, solutions, and co-creation with various partners, Sysmex delivers new value and addresses the universal desire of people to live longer and healthier lives. For more information about Sysmex, please visit www.sysmex.co.jp/en/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129527249/en/

Contacts:

For media:

Public Relations Section, Public Relations/Sustainability Department,

H.U. Group Holdings, Inc..

Phone: +81-3-6279-0884

E-mail: pr@hugp.com

For investors and analysts:

IR/SR Dept.

Phone: +81-3-5909-3337

E-mail: ir@hugp.com
Mithra receives guidance from the FDA for the DONESTA NDA marketing authorization filing in the United States

DONESTA  for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause, is expected to target the entire accessible US market of nearly 63 million women between the ages of 45 and 65, pending FDA approval

for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause, is expected to target the entire accessible US market of nearly 63 million women between the ages of 45 and 65, pending FDA approval Following FDA advice, preparation of filing is proceeding with a filing date now planned in Q4 2024

FDA marketing authorization, contingent upon successful completion of the approval process, now expected in Q4 2025

Agreement for US commercialization partner for DONESTA  now expected during 2024

now expected during 2024 Mithra to seek DONESTA approval in US and Europe concurrently for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause; target submission date for EMA filing also expected in Q4 2024

Patent coverage in the US for DONESTA as a treatment for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause is expected until 2039





Liege, Belgium, 30 November 2023 - 7:00 CET - Mithra (Euronext Brussels: MITRA), a company dedicated to Women's Health, today announces that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided feedback regarding its new drug application (NDA) marketing authorization filing in the United States. This follows an agreement in principle with the FDA for Mithra to conduct additional endometrial data analyses. As a result, the formal NDA submission is now planned for Q4 2024 to allow for the time required to perform these additional analyses pursuant to FDA guidance.

Pending regulatory approval, DONESTA is expected to target a US market of nearly 63 million women between the ages of 45 and 65 years-old and experiencing vasomotor symptoms of menopause (VMS). Due to the variation observed by Mithra in the endometrial biopsy diagnoses - which could have resulted in a limited addressable market for DONESTA- the company has decided to conduct additional endometrial data analyses from its phase 3 program for the DONESTA menopause candidate-medication. The delay will enable complementary data to be submitted and evaluated for both FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) submissions within the same time frame. Mithra is actively continuing the process of collecting and providing all required data to the FDA for submission.

Mithra continues to actively seek a commercialization partner for the US market and has already received positive interest from several potential candidates. Mithra will continue to progress discussions with potential partners in parallel to the NDA submission process. Mithra recently announced licensing agreements in other regions (e.g., Canada and Europe). Mithra aims to establish an agreement for DONESTA US commercialization during 2024. Mithra has engaged with Stifel as its financial advisor to oversee the process of establishing a commercialization partner for DONESTA.

"We strongly believe that DONESTA will be a game-changer for the treatment of the symptoms of menopause and Women's Health in the United States, Europe and other parts of the world," said David H. Solomon, CEO of Mithra. "As with any new medication, obtaining clearance requires the necessary diligence and learning, and we have actively requested additional data analyses to ensure we prioritize an accurate assessment of the DONESTA benefit-to-risk profile. DONESTA has the potential to offer differentiated efficacy, safety and convenience to millions of women who are underserved and often suffer in silence from the symptoms of menopause. DONESTA clinical results to date suggest it may be one of the biggest advances in menopausal hormone therapy in the past decades. DONESTA and the potential benefits it will offer to women in the US is demonstrated by our recent commercialization deals in other regions throughout the world. Furthermore, we are excited that the FDA will review the DONESTA file for the total applicable population in the US. With patent protection expected until 2039 in the US, we are excited about the long exclusivity period for DONESTA in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause. We believe it is in our shareholders' interest to take additional time to sign a US deal under conditions where the full value of DONESTA will be captured; the delay affords us additional time to run our process and find the best partner," said Mr. Solomon. "For this reason, we have updated our guidance while we focus on re-starting the review of the data and ensure the integrity of the regulatory process."

Graham Dixon, Chief Scientific Officer of Mithra added, "The FDA's feedback is very valuable to facilitate the regulatory review process. These additional data will be submitted to the EMA in the same timeframe. This will allow Mithra to request marketing approvals to both the FDA and the EMA, concurrently. Estetrol's action on the uterine lining is well understood and expected. These additional data inform our research on other promising applications of E4 in women's health. In fact, this effect can potentially be used as a treatment to enhance fertility for women who are undergoing IVF, for example. We have begun research to explore an estetrol-based solution for this market."

DONESTA is Mithra's next generation orally administrated estrogen; an estetrol-based hormone therapy product candidate offering a potential long-term solution for treating various symptoms of menopause. Estetrol (E4) is the first native estrogen, present in developing human fetuses and is manufactured from a plant-based source.

E4 acts differently from classical estrogens. Its selective activation of nuclear estrogen receptors and its unique metabolism result in a low impact on haemostasis and breast tissue with an expected improvement in the benefit-to-risk profile. In early 2022, Mithra announced positive top-line efficacy results of the DONESTA phase 3 program, which demonstrated a meaningful reduction in VMS from baseline and compared to placebo with all co-primary efficacy endpoints statistically met. Data also showed improved quality of life and reduction of genito-urinary symptoms of menopause, as secondary efficacy endpoints.

For more information, please contact:

Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA

Alex Sokolowski, PhD

Head of Investor Relations

investorrelations@mithra.com

+32 (0)4 349 28 22

Frederique Depraetere

Communication Director

info@mithra.com (mailto:info@mithra.com)

+32 (0)4 349 28 22





About Mithra

Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext: MITRA) is a Belgian biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming Women's Health by offering new choices through innovation, with a particular focus on contraception and menopause. Mithra's goal is to develop products offering better efficacy, safety and convenience, meeting women's needs throughout their life span. Mithra explores the potential of the unique native estrogen estetrol in a wide range of applications in women health and beyond. After having successfully launched the first estetrol-based product in 2021, the contraceptive pill ESTELLE, Mithra is now focusing on its second product DONESTA, the next-generation hormone therapy. Mithra also offers partners a complete spectrum of solutions from early drug development, clinical batches and commercial manufacturing of complex polymeric products (vaginal ring, implants) and complex liquid injectables and biologicals (vials, pre-filled syringes or cartridges) at its technological platform Mithra CDMO. Active in more than 100 countries around the world, is headquartered in Liege, Belgium.www.mithra.com

ESTELLE and DONESTA are registered trademarks of Mithra Pharmaceuticals or one of its affiliates.

Important information

The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.





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Attachment
Hospitex, a world leader in Thin Layer Cytology and Cancer Diagnostics, providing a competitive solution based on a patented and cutting-edge technology, the Nephelometric Smart Technology (NST)

A key milestone in the deployment of Ikonisys' growth strategy, with strong technological and commercial synergies to drive continuous improvement in revenue and profitability by: Combining two proprietary technologies, expanding Ikonisys' existing expertise upstream in the value chain adding Hospitex's superior solution for slide preparation; Building on the complementary organization of Hospitex to become a player of excellence in cancer diagnostics with a comprehensive vertical solution; Strengthening the geographical reach, leveraging on Ikonisys' commercial network in the USA and Hospitex's established network in Europe.



Regulatory News:

Ikonisys SA (Euronext Growth Paris: ALIKO) (the "Issuer"), a company specializing in the early and accurate detection of cancer through a unique fully automated solution for medical analysis laboratories, today announces its entry into an agreement (the "Agreement") in order to acquire 100% of Hospitex International ("Hospitex"), an Italian-based world leader in Thin Layer Cytology and Cancer Diagnostics (the "Transaction

Hospitex is a technological world leader for laboratory instrumentations in cytology and has developed a unique patented platform for slide preparation called Nephelometric Smart Technology (NST). Thanks to its proprietary CYTOfast system, Hospitex provides the most advanced solution for very accurate standardized single-layer liquid-based cytology (LBC) slides. This cutting-edge technology enables Hospitex to produce high-quality thin layer diagnostic slides for any organ targeted. These superior quality slides will ensure best-in-class images when analyzed by the Ikoniscope fully automated solution.

In addition to its core business, Hospitex already operates in three other complementary business units:

Hospitex Labs: provider of turn-key laboratories for cancer diagnostics;

Hospitex Digital: integrator of ICT systems for healthcare laboratories, through AI development and Big Data in oncology; and

Urine24: manufacturer and supplier of a BtoC solution, the first urinary tract cancer screening test sold in pharmacies.

In 2022, Hospitex generated 1.8 million revenues with an EBITDA margin of 21%. Hospitex has 23 employees and relies on an extensive sales network, tapping into agents and distributors to promote its solutions across Europe.

With this strategic acquisition, Ikonisys will integrate Hospitex's extensive expertise in slide preparation upstream in the value chain, offering an integrated solution to pathology laboratories and completing its existing product line for automated slide analysis. This will result in an additional increase in efficiency and effectiveness of the cancer diagnostic process. In addition, the Issuer will benefit from business synergies and cost optimizations derived by a complementary, integrated, and vertical offer to the same customers.

Together, the companies will offer premium efficient cancer diagnostic solutions on a global scale.

Mario Crovetto, CEO of Ikonisys, stated: "We are pleased to announce this strategic acquisition. Hospitex has proven its ability to develop a cutting-edge patented technology, which is truly complementary to Ikonisys' solutions. By combining our expertise, we aim to enhance both final diagnosis and laboratory processes, through advanced automation and digitalization of the entire value chain of pathology labs, from slide preparation to analysis. Thanks to our comprehensive vertical solution, we are a player of excellence in cancer diagnostics and look forward to become a world leader in this field."

Francesco Trisolini, CEO of Hospitex International, added: "By combining our technology with Ikonisys, we are exploiting a great opportunity to expand our technical, commercial and geographical reach. The opportunity to combine technologies for first- and second-level diagnosis opens the way to important breakthroughs, such as liquid biopsy, also on urinary matrix. Together, we will further strengthen our impact on the cancer diagnostics field by providing a comprehensive fully integrated solution to the pathology laboratories. Finally, we can deploy Ikonisys technology in our mass screening solutions, to reach a potential unlimited customer basis."

Consideration

Under the terms of the Agreement, Ikonisys will complete the acquisition of 100% of Hospitex International for a total consideration of 4.5 million, paid through the issuance of 2 million new Ikonisys shares at a price of 2.25 per share, corresponding to a premium of 61% on the volume-weighted average price of the shares observed on Euronext Growth Paris over the 5 trading days preceding this announcement. The Transaction, which is subject to customary conditions precedent, is expected to be completed by February 2024.

In addition, if certain revenue targets are reached by Hospitex by December 31, 2024, an additional 1.125 million will be paid by Ikonisys in June 2025 through the issuance of additional 0.5 million new Ikonisys shares at a price of 2.25 (together with the initial 2 million new Ikonisys shares, the "Consideration Shares

The issuance of the Consideration Shares shall occur with cancellation of the shareholders' preferential subscription right.

The total value of the transaction has been validated by an independent expert.

The Consideration Shares which may be issued shall be admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Paris, on the same line as existing Ikonisys shares (ISIN: FR00140048X2 Ticker: ALIKO).

The issuance of the Consideration Shares will not require the approval of a prospectus by the AMF.

Lock-up commitment of the sellers

The sellers agreed to grant a lock-up commitment on all Consideration Shares that they may receive in consideration for the Transaction, until June 30, 2025 (the "Lock-Up Commitment"), except in customary circumstances or with the prior approval of the Issuer.

Right to a board seat

In the framework of the Transaction, the appointment of Mr. Francesco Trisolini, current chief executive officer of Hospitex, shall be submitted to the vote of the next shareholders' meeting of the Issuer for a duration of three (3) years.

Theoretical impact of the issuance of the Consideration Shares

Based on the 9,784,757 shares outstanding and the equity as at December 31, 2022 (i.e., 17,671,473), the theoretical impact on equity per share would be:

Theoretical impact on equity per share Non-diluted

basis Diluted basis Before the closing 1.81 1.73 After the issuance of 2,000,000 new shares 1.88 1.82 After the issuance of 500,000 new shares due to the potential earn-out 1.90 1.83

Based on the 9,784,757 shares outstanding, the theoretical impact on a shareholder holding a 1% stake in the Issuer's share capital prior to the Transaction would be:

Theoretical impact on a shareholder holding a 1% stake in Ikonisys' share capital prior to the closing Non-diluted

basis Diluted basis Before the closing 1.00% 0.96% After the issuance of 2,000,000 new shares 0.83% 0.80% After the issuance of 500,000 new shares due to the potential earn-out 0.80% 0.77%

Main risks associated with the Issuer

The main risks associated with the Issuer are set out in the 2022 annual financial report for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, published on April 29, 2023, and in the half-year report 2023, published on October 31, 2023 and available on the website of the Issuer (www.Ikonisys.com).

Main risks associated with the issuance of the Consideration Shares

The main risks associated with the issuance of the Consideration Shares are the following:

risk of dilution of the Issuer's shareholders: the Issuer's shareholders will suffer dilution upon issuance of the Consideration Shares;

risk relating to the evolution of the Ikonisys share price: the expiry of the Lock-Up Commitment may create strong pressure downward trend on Ikonisys' share price, and the Issuer's shareholders may, upon such expiry, suffer a loss of their invested capital due to a significant decrease in the value of Ikonisys' shares;

risk of availability and liquidity of the Issuer's shares: the sale on the market of the Consideration Shares upon the expiry of the Lock-Up Commitment is likely to have significant consequences on the availability and liquidity of Ikonisys' shares.

Tentative schedule

Completion of the Transaction: February 2024

Issuance of 500,000 Ikonisys shares as payment of the earn-out (as the case may be): June 2025

Expiry of the Lock-Up Commitment: June 30, 2025

Allocation of the share capital before and after the issuance of the Consideration Shares

The shareholding table below presents the allocation of the share capital as of the day of this announcement:

Number of shares % capital Cambria Co-Invest. Fonds LP 5,268,989 53.85% Cambria Equity Partners, LP 2,374,049 24.26% MC Consulting S.r.l.* 351,464 3.59% Free-float 1,790,255 18.30% 9,784,757 100.00% * Holding of Mr Mario Crovetto, CEO of Ikonisys.

The shareholding table below presents the theoretical allocation of the share capital following the issuance of 2 million Ikonisys shares:

Number of shares % capital Cambria Co-Invest. Fonds LP 5,268,989 44.71% Cambria Equity Partners, LP 2,374,049 20.15% MC Consulting S.r.l.* 351,464 2.98% Free float 1,790,255 15.19% Sellers (previous Hospitex shareholders) 2,000,000 16.97% 11,784,757 100.00% * Holding of Mr Mario Crovetto, CEO of Ikonisys.

The shareholding table below presents the theoretical allocation of the share capital following the issuance of the Consideration Shares:

Number of shares % capital Cambria Co-Invest. Fonds LP 5,268,989 42.89% Cambria Equity Partners, LP 2,374,049 19.33% MC Consulting S.r.l.* 351,464 2.86% Free-float 1,790,255 14.57% Sellers (previous Hospitex shareholders) 2,500,000 20.35% 12,284,757 100.00% * Holding of Mr Mario Crovetto, CEO of Ikonisys.

About Hospitex International

Hospitex International is the world leading company for cytology standardized monolayer preparations. With CYTOfast it has re-invented the cytological diagnostics. Hospitex offers a full range of integrated solutions aimed at streamlining diagnostic processes in cytology. The global shortage of expertise in pathology requires tools and technologies that enable diagnostic safety, efficiency and capacity building. In this area, Hospitex is recognized as the precision diagnostics player in cytology.

For more information: https://www.hospitex.com/en/

About Ikonisys

Ikonisys SA is a cell-based diagnostics company based in Paris (France), New Haven (Connecticut, USA) and Milan (Italy) specialized in the early and accurate detection of cancer. The company develops, produces and markets the proprietary Ikoniscope20 and Ikoniscope20max platforms, fully-automated solutions designed to deliver accurate and reliable detection and analysis of rare and very rare cells. Ikonisys has received FDA clearance for several automated diagnostic applications, which are also marketed in Europe under CE certification. Through its breakthrough fluorescence microscopy platform, the company continues to develop a stream of new tests, including liquid biopsy tests based on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC).

For further information, please go to www.Ikonisys.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's prospects and development. These statements are sometimes identified by the use of the future tense, the conditional tense and forward-looking words such as "believe", "aim to", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "believe", "should", "could", "would" or "will" or, where appropriate, the negative of these terms or any other similar variants or expressions. This information is not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the facts and data set forth will occur. This information is based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by the Company. It is subject to change or modification due to uncertainties relating to the economic, financial, competitive and regulatory environment. This information contains data relating to the Company's intentions, estimates and objectives concerning, in particular, the market, strategy, growth, results, financial situation and cash flow of the Company. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release, except as required by applicable law or regulation. The Company operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment and therefore cannot anticipate all of the risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of any one risk or combination of risks could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking information, it being recalled that none of this forward-looking information constitutes a guarantee of actual results.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129839137/en/

Contacts:

Hospitex International

Marco Testini

Investor Relations

marketing@hospitex.com

Ikonisys

Alessandro Mauri

CFO

investors@ikonisys.com

NewCap

Louis-Victor Delouvrier/Aurelie Manavarere

Investor Relations

Ikonisys@newcap.eu

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

NewCap

Nicolas Merigeau

Media Relations

Ikonisys@newcap.eu

Tel.:+33 (0)1 44 71 94 98
IMPORTANT NOTICE

In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 433-4 II of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Articles 237-1 et seq. of the AMF General Regulation, in the event that, at the end of the Offer, the number of ESI Group shares not tendered by the minority shareholders (with the exception of the shares subject to a liquidity mechanism) would represent no more than 10% of the share capital and voting rights of ESI Group, Keysight Technologies Netherlands B.V. intends to ask the AMF for the implementation, within ten (10) trading days following the publication of the results of the Offer, or, if the Offer is re-opened, within three (3) months following the closing of the reopened offer (the "Reopened Offer"), of a squeeze-out procedure in order to transfer the ESI Group shares not tendered in the Offer (other than the shares subject to a liquidity mechanism and treasury shares), in return for a compensation per share equal to the Offer price, i.e., EUR 155 per share, net of all costs.

The Offer is not and will not be proposed in any jurisdiction where it would not permitted by applicable law. Acceptance of the Offer by persons residing in countries other than France and the United States of America may be subject to specific obligations or restrictions imposed by legal or regulatory provisions. The recipients of the Offer are solely responsible for compliance with such laws and it is therefore their responsibility, before accepting the Offer, to determine whether these laws exist and are applicable, with the assistance of their own advisors.

The Offer will be made in the United Sates of America pursuant to Section 14(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and Regulation 14E of the 1934 Act, subject to exemptions provided by Rule 14d-1(c) of the 1934 Act for a Tier I tender offer.

For more information, see paragraph 2.16 (Offer restrictions outside of France) of the Offer Document.
Regulatory News:

A page has been turned in Claranova's governance (Paris:CLA), with a major reshuffling of the composition of its Board of directors, the appointment of a new Chairman, Vice-Chairman and representatives of the main shareholders.

Acknowledging the vote of the shareholders both on the dissociation of the CEO/Chairman roles and the vote of confidence, Pierre Cesarini steps down from the Board and remains CEO (Directeur General) of Claranova. Xavier Rojo remains deputy CEO (Directeur General Delegue) of Claranova.

The Board would like to thank Pierre Cesarini for his work and dedication to Claranova during his role as Chairman.

Francis Meston succeeds him as Chairman of the Board and Marc Goldberg, newly appointed as Board member, as Vice-Chairman. Michael Dadoun and Michele Anderson are also appointed, respectively, as member and independent member of the Board while Viviane Chaine-Ribeiro and Luisa Munaretto are also departing members. Roger Bloxberg's mandate is being extended, as a vote of confidence reiterated to the management. Daniel Assouline, is appointed as Board Observer.

The Board will support the management of Claranova and its subsidiaries in growing the topline and profitability of the business lines while focusing on meeting the challenges.

This renewed governance marks a key milestone for peaceful relations among all shareholders and enables the Group to put aside past divergence.

Following the General Assembly and their first board meeting, Francis Meston declared, "I will put all my energy and experience into ensuring a collegial and cooperative governance. The Board reiterates its confidence in the management of the Claranova companies to further profitably grow their respective businesses, and we expect this new pool of talents to provide guidance and support to the group companies

Marc Goldberg stated, "Today marks an important milestone in the growth of the company. With the support of the new board I'm confident that we will be able to rebuild trust with our shareholders and focus all our energies on supporting the management team in continuing the remarkable operating growth trajectory of Claranova.

Daniel Assouline and Michael Dadoun stated, "We are happy with the outcome of the General Assembly today. We believe the shareholders were heard. The board is unquestionably more independent and representative today than it was yesterday, and we are looking forward to participating in resolving the issues that have mortgaged the value of the company in a productive and amicable way

The Company will further communicate to the market on any revision of its strategic plan in due time following the full appointment of its committees and beginning of working sessions.

About Claranova:

As a diversified global technology company, Claranova manages and coordinates a portfolio of majority interests in digital companies with strong growth potential. Supported by a team combining several decades of experience in the world of technology, Claranova has acquired a unique know-how in successfully turning around, creating and developing innovative companies.

Claranova has proven its capacity to turn a simple idea into a worldwide success in just a few short years. Present in 15 countries and leveraging the technology expertise of its 800+ employees across North America and Europe, Claranova is a truly international group, with 95% of its revenue derived from international markets.

Claranova's portfolio of companies is organized into three unique technology platforms operating in all major digital sectors. As an e-commerce leader in digital personalization, Claranova also stands out for its technological expertise in software publishing and the Internet of Things, through its businesses PlanetArt, Avanquest and myDevices. These three technology platforms share a common vision: empowering people through innovation by providing simple and intuitive digital solutions that facilitate everyday access to the very best of technology.

For more information on Claranova Group:

https://www.claranova.com or https://twitter.com/claranova_group

Disclaimer:

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

CODES

Ticker :? CLA

ISIN : FR0013426004

www.claranova.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129935685/en/

Contacts:

ANALYSTS- INVESTORS

+33 1 41 27 19 74

ir@claranova.com

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

+33 1 75 77 54 68

ir@claranova.com
OMIKAMI celebrates its first anniversary, highlighting significant achievements in integrating blockchain and AI, launching innovative tools, and planning expansion.

Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Celebrating its first anniversary, OMIKAMI, an emerging leader in the blockchain and artificial intelligence industries, proudly announces a series of groundbreaking advancements in its first year of operation. These developments mark a significant milestone in the integration of decentralized finance and cutting-edge AI technology, redefining the landscape of digital finance.

OMIKAMI Celebrates First Anniversary: A Milestone in Advancing Blockchain and AI Synergy

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/189247_afd57eed24b3cbc3_001full.jpg

Central to OMIKAMI's innovative achievements is the launch of OmiAI, a pioneering tool that sets new standards in the blockchain domain. This launch signifies OMIKAMI's commitment to leading the charge in AI-powered blockchain solutions.

In addition to OmiAI, OMIKAMI introduces the Apollo Buybot, an AI-powered analytics tool designed to revolutionize market analytics. This tool offers users enhanced accuracy in tracking Ethereum network transactions, exemplifying OMIKAMI's dedication to providing sophisticated, user-friendly solutions in the cryptocurrency market.

Expanding its reach into practical cryptocurrency applications, OMIKAMI has also unveiled premium metal debit cards. These cards are a testament to OMIKAMI's vision of harmonizing the convenience of digital currencies with the reliability of traditional financial systems, aiming to facilitate a smoother transition for users across financial platforms.

Reflecting its commitment to social responsibility, OMIKAMI integrates philanthropy into its business model.

Inspired by the legendary Amaterasu Omikami, OMIKAMI's narrative is rooted in principles of wisdom and illumination. The company strives to infuse these values into its mission to democratize the blockchain space, emphasizing decentralization and user empowerment.

Celebrating a year of significant achievements, OMIKAMI aims to continue to help shape the cryptocurrency landscape with its community-focused approach to innovation and ownership.

For more information on OMIKAMI and its trailblazing initiatives, visit OMIKAMI's official website. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Omikamitoken

Contact Info:

Name: Ryoshi

Email: info@omikamitoken.com

Organization: OMIKAMI

Website: https://omikamitoken.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189247
Strengthening of the governance

Regulatory News:

The Combined General Meeting of Claranova's (Paris:CLA) shareholders was held, upon first convening, on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 3:00 pm, at the Tour Egee Business Center, 9 11 Allee de l'Arche, 92400 Courbevoie, under the chairmanship of Mr. Pierre Cesarini, the company's Chairman and CEO.

The number of shares held by the 969 shareholders attending or represented at the General Meeting was 21,146,918, representing a participation rate of 39,85% and 42,23% of the existing voting rights.

During the General meeting, resolutions no. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 28, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, B, C, E, F and G were approved by the shareholders.

Resolutions 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32 as well as resolutions A, D, H and J were rejected.

The Board of Directors held at the end of the General Meeting appointed Mr. Francis Meston as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of Claranova is now composed of 8 directors and one observer: Ms. Michele Anderson (Independent), Mr. Roger Bloxberg, Mr. Michael Dadoun, Mr. Craig Forman (Independent), Ms. Gabrielle Gauthey (Independent), Mr. Marc Goldberg (Vice-President), Ms. Christine Hedouis (Independent), Mr. Francis Meston (President Independent) and Mr. Daniel Assouline, as observer.

About Claranova:

As a diversified global technology company, Claranova manages and coordinates a portfolio of majority interests in digital companies with strong growth potential. Supported by a team combining several decades of experience in the world of technology, Claranova has acquired a unique know-how in successfully turning around, creating and developing innovative companies and proven its capacity to turn a simple idea into a worldwide success in just a few short years.

Present in 15 countries and leveraging the technology expertise of its 800+ employees across North America and Europe, Claranova is a truly international company, with 95% of its revenue derived from international markets.

Claranova's portfolio of companies is organized into three unique technology platforms operating in all major digital sectors. As an e-commerce leader in digital personalization, Claranova also stands out for its technological expertise in software publishing and the Internet of Things, through its businesses PlanetArt, Avanquest and myDevices. These three technology platforms share a common vision: empowering people through innovation by providing simple and intuitive digital solutions that facilitate everyday access to the very best of technology.

For more information on Claranova group

https://www.claranova.com ou https://twitter.com/claranova_group

Appendices

Number of shares comprising the share capital: 57,206,910

Number of shares with voting rights: 53,069,117

Number of voting rights: 55,878,976

Number of shareholders Number of shares Number of votes Shareholders present or

represented 189 15 929 321 18 073 676 Powers of the Chairman 318 706 156 936 456 Votes by mail 462 4 511 441 4 587 004 Total 969 21 146 618 23 597 136 Quorum 39,85%

Details of the results of the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting of November 29, 2023 will be available on the Group's website in the "General Meetings" section:

https://www.claranova.com/investisseurs/assemblees-generales/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129095513/en/

Contacts:

ANALYSTS- INVESTORS

+33 1 41 27 19 74

ir@claranova.com

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS

+33 1 75 77 54 68

ir@claranova.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that, further to the Company's press release on November 22, 2023, it is proceeding with a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of its Common Shares (the "Common Shares") on the basis of five (5) pre-Consolidation Common Shares for one (1) post-Consolidated Common Share. As of the date hereof, there are 149,714,397 Common Shares issued and outstanding. On a post-Consolidation basis, the Company shall have 29,942,879 Common Shares issued and outstanding. No fractional shares will be issued under the Consolidation and each fractional share will be rounded down to the nearest whole number, without any consideration payable therefor. Each shareholder's percentage ownership in the Company and proportional voting power will remain unchanged, except for minor adjustments resulting from the treatment of fractional shares.

The CUSIP number for the post-Consolidation Common Shares is 98420B309 and the new ISIN number is CA98420B3092 and the Company's name will not change.

The Common Shares will commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on a post-Consolidation basis effective at market opening on December 4, 2023. The Consolidation is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the Articles of the Company, shareholder approval of the Consolidation is not required.

The exercise or conversion price and the number of Common Shares issuable under the Company's outstanding stock options will be proportionately adjusted upon completion of the Consolidation. A letter of transmittal will be sent to registered shareholders. Shareholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to effect an exchange of their Common Shares.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

604 488-3900

Investor Relations:

604-488-3900,

ir@XimenMiningCorp.com

About Ximen Mining Corp.

Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen's two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.

Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.

SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp.

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Hyundai Mobis developed premium vehicle display combining Quantum Dot and Local Dimming technologies.

Features include a large screen, high definition, and slim design... Evaluated as a next-generation technology advancing the sophistication of vehicle displays.

Demonstrations for global automakers in North America and Europe expected to generate new orders and market leadership.

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Mobis (KRX 012330) is poised to secure new orders for premium vehicle displays, characterized by large screens, high definition, and slim design, using a fusion of innovative technologies targeting global automakers. The company plans to capture the next-generation vehicle display market with high-specification performance and competitive pricing.

Hyundai Mobis has announced the world's first development of a QL Display (Quantum Dot and Local Dimming Display) for vehicles on 30th. The QL Display combines 'Quantum Dot' technology, which enhances color reproduction for a more realistic depiction of original colors, and 'Local Dimming' technology, which increases the contrast between light and dark colors for more precise image quality. The display maximizes brightness and clarity while offering the flexibility to slim down in thickness according to customer needs.

The QL Display is recognized as a next-generation premium product in the vehicle display market. While the currently popular OLED displays offer high performance, their high-cost limits widespread application. In contrast, the QL Display is considered on par with OLED in terms of performance but also boasts competitive pricing.

Hyundai Mobis' self-designed and developed QL Display enhances color reproduction and contrast ratio to OLED levels. It also features a 27-inch large, curved screen and a slim 14.5mm design, with adaptability to slim down to approximately 10mm per customer requests. The global vehicle display market is trending towards luxury with integrated large-screen structures extending from the driver's seat to the passenger side. Technology such as the QL Display, which enables high definition and slim design, is essential for mass production.

Hyundai Mobis is actively seeking new order opportunities in the premium vehicle display sector, leveraging its newly developed QL Display. The company plans to visit global automaker clients in North America and Europe to introduce and demonstrate the technology, highlighting the product's competitiveness. Following the development of the world's first rollable display last year, Hyundai Mobis is further strengthening its competitive edge in the next-generation display sector by introducing the QL Display this year.

Considering the trend among global automakers to apply advanced displays with various features to establish distinctive brand images, such capabilities in new technologies are expected to expand new business opportunities and secure market leadership with advanced technology competitiveness. Hyundai Mobis intends to aggressively highlight its display technology prowess at global mobility events like CES and leverage these technological strengths to dominate the premium vehicle display market.

Media Contact

Myong Sun Song: sms@mobis.co.kr

Jihyun Han: jihyun.han@mobis.co.kr

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ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seagrass Limited ("Seagrass"), a climate action company focussed on scaling climate impact and a wholly-owned subsidiary of E.ON, one of Europe's largest operators of energy networks and energy infrastructure, announced its official launch today.

Seagrass aims to unlock the potential of the carbon markets and transform carbon finance, which can make an important contribution to the net-zero transition. It will bring together supply from certified projects with large-scale demand from buyers with ambitious climate strategies on a centralised marketplace driven by technology, transparency and integrity.

Seagrass will be based in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial centre located in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It holds a license to arrange trades in environmental instruments from ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority.

The UAE is positioned at the crossroads between the Global South - where many nature-based carbon credits are originated - and places where demand for these credits is expected to grow, including Europe and Asia. The UAE will also host COP28, with the development of high-quality voluntary carbon markets expected to be a key area of focus.

"Carbon markets will play a crucial role in the transition to a sustainable world," said Naveed Tariq, CEO of Seagrass. "They can deliver climate impact at scale to help us meet the 1.5C Paris Agreement goal and be instrumental in providing the trillions of dollars needed to close the climate finance gap."

"As the subsidiary of a large energy company, we know what buyers need: liquidity, ease of use and - above all - integrity," he added. "Our ambition is to work with partners to build that market and deliver climate solutions that ultimately help us to restore the planet."

Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief of Market Development at ADGM said: "We are delighted to welcome Seagrass to ADGM. We are confident that ADGM's dynamic ecosystem and progressive regulations will enable Seagrass' vision, supporting them in driving innovation across rapidly developing carbon markets and contributing to the continuous development of Abu Dhabi's strategic value and equally to accelerating the UAE's energy transition. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact of Seagrass' expertise in contributing to the growth and development of the financial ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and beyond."

Seagrass is being launched at a time when carbon markets are developing integrity standards in response to market demands and to support much-needed scale. These include the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative's (VCMI) Claims Codes of Practice, which aims to accelerate corporate use of the market as part of net zero strategies, and the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market's (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles label, which is intended to support buyers in identifying and pricing high-integrity carbon credits.

According to scenario analysis by MSCI Carbon Markets, demand for carbon offsets could increase from 500 MtCO2e in 2023 to 1,312 MtCO2e by 2030 and 4,356 MtCO2e by 2050, led by hard-to-abate sectors.

Integrity and simplicity at its core

Seagrass will connect major buyers of credits from a range of sectors - including energy, industrials, transportation and financial services - with credits from certified projects.

Seagrass is developing an assurance framework for credits available on its marketplace. This framework will require the certification of projects by recognised bodies. While ratings for different projects vary and can change rapidly, we will also establish minimum ratings requirements.

Our framework will include measures to ensure that projects traded on Seagrass deliver reductions or removals of emissions that are measurable, additional and permanent. We will also assess metrics related to projects' social and biodiversity impact.

Alongside these safeguards, we will screen project governance and risks relating to corruption, human rights violations and armed conflict. We will develop a minimum standard in respect of these risks and exclude projects that do not meet it. As the voluntary and compliance market adopts new standards for high-quality credits and innovation, Seagrass will align its supply with those standards and buyers' demand.

The platform will facilitate a market board, spot trading, block trades and auctions to cater to the different settlement needs of market participants. As well as trading on the platform, Seagrass' team of demand- and supply-side specialists will help clients facilitate private investments.

Once onboarded on Seagrass, buyers will be able to choose from a wide range of projects around the world and complete deals in days rather than weeks or months, which would be the typical timeframe for bilateral transactions. Seagrass will offer access to projects that catalyse investment in nature-based solutions as well as those that finance emerging climate technologies.

Seagrass also provides buyers and sellers with an intuitive digital platform and tools to make carbon trading and investment simple. Users will have access to Seagrass Carbon Map, which brings together a wide range of data points on the real-world impact of projects, including environmental, economic and project information. Created in collaboration with Inacta, Esri Sverige, MSCI Carbon Markets, OroraTech and The Hashgraph Association, the application will also support ongoing engagement between Seagrass users and project developers.

ACX (AirCarbon Exchange) is the exchange software and infrastructure provider for the Seagrass marketplace, offering an integrated exchange, custody and clearing services to users. ACX is the world's first regulated carbon credit exchange and clearing house, established in the ADGM.

To learn more about Seagrass, please visit: www.seagrass-climate.com

About Seagrass

Seagrass is a climate action company focused on unlocking the potential of the carbon markets and transforming carbon finance to accelerate the transition to net zero. A wholly-owned subsidiary of E.ON, one of Europe's largest operators of energy networks and energy infrastructure, Seagrass is headquartered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial centre. It is licensed by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to arrange trades in environmental instruments.

About E.ON

E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company headquartered in Essen, Germany, which focuses on energy networks and customer solutions. As one of Europe's largest energy companies, E.ON plays a leading role in shaping a clean, digital, decentralised world of energy. To this end, around 74,000 employees develop and sell products and solutions for private, commercial and industrial customers. Around 48 million customers purchase electricity, gas, digital products or solutions for electric mobility, energy efficiency and climate protection from E.ON.

For more information, please visit www.eon.com

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MBABANE  With only 16 days left before the new Mr Eswatini is crowned, contestants are still in the dark when it comes to the prizes up for grabs this year.

The Mr Eswatini pageant competition is currently hosting the top 10 contenders who will vie for the crown on December 16 at Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini. Despite the approaching crowning date, several contestants have expressed their frustration over the undisclosed prize details. One contestant, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their demotivation regarding the issue of undisclosed prizes. We actually inquired about the prizes as a group, but the director did not provide us with clear answers. There was mention of a cellphone that the director was promoting for a specific brand. He informed us that the phone would be awarded to the contestant crowned as Mr Eswatini. Despite our repeated inquiries about additional prizes, he remained silent. This lack of information has been demoralising for us. We have put in a lot of effort into this competition, but everything feels uncertain, expressed the contestant.

Informed

Another contestant echoed these sentiments, stating that they were not informed about any prizes. We were told that sponsors would be obtained along the way, but we have not received any updates regarding that. Consequently, we have no knowledge of the prizes that will be awarded, he explained. In an interview with former Miss Eswatini Director, Vinah Mamba, she explained that prize details are typically revealed when contestants are being encouraged to join the competition. We used to disclose the prizes before inviting them to participate. It is unfair to have contestants enter the competition without knowing what they stand to win. When I was involved in pageants, I would publish the prize information in newspapers for everyone to see. Contestants would always inquire about the rewards or what was at stake. No one would join a competition without knowing what they are going to receive. The responsibility lies with the pageant director to inform the contestants about the prizes. It is disheartening to participate and not receive anything after winning, Mamba shared.

This publication then reached out to the current Mr Eswatini Director, Mbonisi Ngcamphalala, to address the issue. He confirmed that the contestants have not been informed about the prizes that will be awarded on December 16 at Happy Valley Hotel during the crowning ceremony. Yes, that is true. I have not yet received permission to disclose that information as I am also guided by certain protocols, Ngcamphalala admitted.

Appropriate

When asked to provide contact information for the appropriate person to inquire about the prizes, Ngcamphalala declined, stating that the information had not yet been released. If we are ready to reveal the prizes to the public, Im sure they would want me to inform you. I apologise, but I cannot disclose that at this time, he explained. An attempt was made to interview Pageants Eswatini Director Musa Mantinto, but he stated that the current Mr Eswatini Director was responsible for answering such inquiries. When questioned about the usual practice of revealing prizes at the beginning of the competition, Mantinto mentioned that this was the responsibility of the current director. Well, these decisions are made by the director. So, I believe he would be best equipped to answer that, he responded. Unfortunately, the current Mr Eswatini Director declined to continue the conversation, stating that he would inform this publication about the prizes once permitted to do so.
Toyota City, Japan, Nov 30, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has today decided to sell a portion of its shareholdings in DENSO CORPORATION (DENSO).Toyota has been restructuring its groupwide business with a "home & away" perspective since 2016. This is part of its transformation into a mobility company, stimulating mutual improvement through greater collaboration with highly specialized group companies. Amid these efforts, the core group companies of Toyota, DENSO, Toyota Industries Corporation, and Aisin Corporation have held extensive discussions and have come to an agreement that, to start, Toyota will sell a portion of its shares in DENSO. By effectively leveraging funds obtained through the sale, Toyota can boost capital efficiency and achieve further growth for the Group, while maintaining the capital ties that have sustained a strong relationship. DENSO will continue to strengthen the Toyota Group's competitiveness as a leader in software. Toyota plans to use the generated capital to make growth investments focused on electrification, intelligence, and diversification initiatives.Toyota also intends to carefully review its capital ties with other group companies on an individual basis, examining elements such as human resources, operations, culture, and business relationships while exploring the potential for strengthening competitiveness. The Group will continue working as one to drive Toyota's transformation into a mobility company.Source: Toyota Motor CorporationCopyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
LONDON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global bag brand Kipling is thrilled to announce its collaboration with the hit show, Emily in Paris. Inspired by the dialled-up styling and peppy energy of the show's lead character Emily Cooper, the Emily in Paris X Kipling collaboration is a collection of the brand's iconic cross bodies and mini bags reimagined in the jovial, standout and Instagram-ready style of Emily Cooper.

The collection features Kipling bags in glossy and furry styles, with shiny foil finishes applied to the brand's recognisable Riri and Milda cross body styles, the Bina shoulder bag, as well as the new heart shaped Jozi - all in a bold new lilac colourway.

Across the range handles are made using a patterned webbing that matches the lilac main body, while the chain-handled Jozi also features enamel charms of the Eiffel Tower, a bottle of champagne, the Kipling logo, a stylised Tres Bien and - of course - the classic Kipling monkey charm in candy pink.

The Aminda, Bina, Milda and Riri bags each feature a limited-edition scarf that references Emily in Paris and Kipling, along with the brand's iconic monkey charm and a selection of Parisian motifs that instantly evoke Emily's life in Paris. Decorated with images of hearts, bubbles, vintage cameras, and morning coffee along with nods to Emily's love life.

The Emily in Paris X Kipling collaboration is available globally through Kipling stores, key retailers and online via kipling.com. Prices start at 54 GBP.

ABOUT KIPLING

Founded in 1987 in Antwerp, Belgium, Kipling crafts lightweight handbags, totes, backpacks, luggage and accessories combining quality, function and style. Kipling established itself as a global handbag brand by embodying a carefree spirit committed to lightening its step on the planet by reimagining designs, rethinking materials, repurposing energy, and reconnecting to people and the planet. Through its signature crinkled nylon and the iconic monkey keychain, Kipling delivers a practical, durable and versatile accessory in expressive colours and patterns all over the globe, so you can Live Light. www.kipling.com

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BAODING, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GWM is pleased to announce the triumphant return of the GWM TANK 500, an eminent figure in the realm of off-road vehicles, from an extensive expedition through the challenging terrains of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. This remarkable journey, conducted by a team of seasoned journalists and dedicated car enthusiasts, explored diverse landscapes, putting the GWM TANK 500 through rigorous tests and showcasing its unparalleled capabilities.

The Middle East expedition encompassed a spectrum of terrains, from urban roads to sandy beaches, desert dunes, and treacherous mountain tracks. This geographical diversity provided the ultimate proving ground for the GWM TANK 500.

On the sandy shores, the GWM TANK 500 demonstrated exceptional power and confidence, attributed to its robust powertrain and advanced 9-speed automatic transmission. The intelligent torque distribution system enabled real-time analysis and adaptation to dynamic conditions. Venturing into deserts and challenging terrains, the formidable 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine exhibited the vehicle's off-road prowess. With 11 distinct modes tailored for various conditions, including expert, sport, sand, rocks, and more, the GWM TANK 500 effortlessly conquered deserts, steep slopes, and challenging trails, asserting its dominance in each unique landscape. Furthermore, its remarkable comfort, NVH performance, and overall vehicle sealing pleasantly surprised, seamlessly combining strength and refinement.

The success of the GWM TANK family in the Middle East is underpinned by its precise product positioning. Embracing the core of traditional off-roading, this family integrates elements highly valued by Middle Eastern enthusiasts - high displacement, potent engines, and luxurious features, all complemented by cutting-edge intelligent infotainment and power technologies. This strategic approach firmly establishes GWM TANK in the Middle East market, offering an entirely new off-road driving experience for local users.

In the face of the region's extreme environments, GWM TANK vehicles have proven their resilience as they conquer the most challenging terrains. The Middle East serves as the ultimate validation ground for these off-road vehicles. It is evident that the GWM brand is resolute and confident in its global strategy, utilizing real-world tests to address everyday challenges, visibly showcase the product's capabilities and systematically enhance them. This approach fosters a robust emotional connection between the product and its users, demonstrating a profound understanding of their needs.

The GWM TANK 500, through its thrilling adventures in the Middle East, redefines off-road supremacy. More than just a vehicle, it symbolizes unwavering excellence and promises unforgettable off-road experiences. Stay tuned for additional exciting performances from this off-road legend as it continues to conquer the world's toughest terrains.

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Massive cyber-crime attempt reaching 1.6 Tbps thwarted by Gcore, no impact on customer service

LUXEMBOURG, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gcore - a European provider of public cloud and edge computing, content delivery, hosting, security, and AI solutions - earlier this month combatted two consecutive DDoS attacks against a customer, which was able to maintain its services seamlessly throughout.

The attacks, which were against a gaming company, were conducted using novel techniques and reach up to 1.6Tbit/s, had the power to overwhelm the company's servers with traffic, effectively taking them offline.

The approach, which involved using random UDP source ports, suggests that the attackers were aiming to evade conventional filtering mechanisms. However, they also concealed their identity by forging source IP addresses. The first, short-lived, attack attempted to flood the company's network with data, while the second was TCP-based and spanned almost nine hours.

Gcore's DDoS Protection was able to neutralise both cyber attempts using a combination of dynamic traffic shaping, anomaly detection and quarantine, implementing custom regular expression-based filters and access to collaborative threat intelligence.

"By any measure, a DDoS attack of more than 1.5 Tbps is huge and represents a major threat to any company," said Andre Reitenbach, CEO at Gcore. "We tap into a range of front-line defences that not only allow us to thwart attacks, but also ensure online services are uninterrupted. For this customer, we prevented any damage to their system and their reputation but what the attack demonstrates is that we are facing increasingly clever approaches from cyber criminals looking for ways to bypass cyber-security protections."

The most recent Gcore Radar Report (Q1 & Q2 2023), which provides insights into the current state of the DDoS protection market and cybersecurity trends, found a dramatic increase in DDoS attacks across multiple industries. At the beginning of 2023, the average strength of attacks reached 800 Gbps, but this number has now doubled. The most common form of attack was a UDP flood attack, and during the first half of this year, the longest duration of attack was over seven days. Most attacks, the report found, lasted less than four hours.

Gcore has provided its customers with resilient, fast and secure cloud and edge computing services, and a global content delivery network since 2014.

About Gcore

Gcore is an international leader in public cloud and edge computing, AI, content delivery, hosting, and security solutions. Headquartered in Luxembourg, with a staff of 550+ operating from 12 bases worldwide, the company provides its solutions to global leaders in numerous industries. Gcore manages its own global IT infrastructure across six continents, with one of the best network performances in Europe, Africa, and LATAM, with the average response time of 30 ms worldwide. Its network consists of 150+ points of presence around the world in reliable Tier IV and Tier III data centers, with a total capacity exceeding 110 Tbps. Learn more at www.gcore.com

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Turin, 30th November 2023. Iveco Group (EXM: MI) announces that its application to join the United Nations Global Compact initiative, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, has been approved.

As a Signatory of the UN Global Compact, Iveco Group joins thousands of other companies worldwide that are committed to taking responsible business action to create a sustainable future. This initiative calls on companies to align their operations and strategies with universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. It also encourages action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices. It includes more than 18,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and approximately 80 country and regional networks that drive issues and activities at local level. By joining the UN Global Compact, Iveco Group reaffirms its commitment to sustainable business practices and its dedication to making a positive impact to advance a more sustainable society.

Gerrit Marx, CEO, Iveco Group, commented on the announcement: "Joining the UN Global Compact is a significant step for Iveco Group. It aligns with our purpose of being the home of unique people and brands that power your business and mission to advance a more sustainable society. We are proud to commit to the universal principles of the UN Global Compact and to continuing to contribute actively towards the collective achievement of the Global Goals through our Environmental, Social and Governance efforts within the mobility industry."

Iveco Group N.V.

Media Contacts:

Francesco Polsinelli, Tel: +39 335 1776091

Fabio Lepore, Tel: +39 335 7469007

E-mail: mediarelations@ivecogroup.com

Attachment
WERDOHL (dpa-AFX) - German rail technology firm Vossloh AG (VOSSF.PK) announced Thursday that it has signed a four-year framework agreement with Deutsche Bahn to supply a total of at least 600 switches. The switches will be supplied in the Customized Modules division. At the same time, Vossloh will continue to supply a substantial volume of switch components. The company noted that high demand from Deutsche Bahn also boosts the Lifecycle Solutions and Core Components divisions. Deutsche Bahn is currently renewing its rail network as part of a comprehensive modernization program with a view to expand the high-performance network and reduce infrastructure-related disruptions by 80 percent. Vossloh recently extended an existing contract with Deutsche Bahn for preventive rail maintenance and the scope of services. Accordingly, Vossloh will grind at least 13,000 kilometers of the most heavily used track links within the so-called high-performance network in 2024. Oliver Schuster, CEO of Vossloh AG, said, 'The new framework agreement for complete switches with Deutsche Bahn is a major strategic success for Vossloh and a further step on the way to becoming a system supplier of complete track solutions in Germany. Deutsche Bahn represents the largest rail network in Europe and is of considerable importance as a globally recognized technological reference.' In Germany, Vossloh is currently trading at 39.85 euros, down 0.25 percent. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Marula Mining Plc - Exercise of Warrants, Director/PDMR Shareholding

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 30

Marula Mining PLC

("Marula'' or the "Company")

30 November 2023

Exercise of Warrants

Director/PDMR Shareholding

Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU), an African focused mining and development company, has received notification in aggregate for the exercise of warrants over 525,625 new ordinary shares in the Company at an exercise price of 4 pence per share (the "Director Warrant Shares") held by Richard Lloyd, a director of the Company, and Gathoni Muchai Investments Limited ("GMI"), a company in which Jason Brewer, a director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a director and shareholder.

Director Number of Director Warrant Shares issued Exercise price Resultant interest in ordinary shares in the Company Resultant percentage of issued ordinary shares in the Company Richard Lloyd 184,375 4 pence 3,169,375 1.90% Jason Brewer* 341,250 4 pence 16,730,000 10.02%

* the 341,250 warrants exercised by Jason Brewer are held by GMI, a company in which Jason Brewer is a director and shareholder

As announced on 3 November 2023, the Company agreed to a request by Mr Brewer for his monthly salary payments to be used going forward to exercise these and other warrants held by GMI and to complete any potential market purchases as a further sign of his commitment to the Company's developing battery metals business. This agreement has also been extended to the Company's Chairman, Mr Lloyd.

Admission

Application has been made for the Director Warrant Shares to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market on or around 6 December 2023 ("Admission") and will rank pari passu with the ordinary shares of the Company in issue.

Total voting rights

Following Admission, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 166,993,528 ordinary shares of 0.01p each, with each share carrying the right to one vote, therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company will be 166,993,528. This figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in the Company, or a change to their interest in the Company, under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

The Directors of Marula are responsible for the contents of this announcement. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of UK Market Abuse Regulation.

About Marula Mining

Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU) is an African focused battery metals investment and exploration company and has interests in several high value mine projects in Africa; the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine and Korridor Lithium Project in South Africa, the Kinusi Copper Mine, the Nyorinyori Graphite Project, the NyoriGreen Graphite Project and the Bagamoyo Graphite Project all in Tanzania and the Nkombwa Hill Project in Zambia. As we advance operations at these battery metals focused projects, Marula will continue to build and expand its interests in other high-quality projects in Africa.

Marula's strategy is to identify and invest in advanced and high-value mining projects throughout East, Central and Southern Africa that the Directors believe would deliver returns for its shareholders. The Board and management team aims to establish Marula as a socially and environmentally responsible, sustainable, and profitable producer of critical metals and commodities that are of increasingly strategic importance to modern technologies and the global economy.

Marula's shares are traded on the AQUIS Stock Exchange (AQSE), Marula is exploring opportunities to admit its shares to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc's Standard List or AIM Market, Kenya's Nairobi Securities Exchange and South Africa's Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

For enquiries contact:

Marula Mining PLC Jason Brewer, Chief Executive Officer Faith Kinyanjui Mumbi Investor Relations Email: jason@marulamining.com Email: info@marulamining.com AQSE Corporate Adviser Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, Liam Murray / Ludovico Lazzaretti +44 (0)20 7213 0880 Broker

Peterhouse Capital Limited,

Charles Goodfellow / Duncan Vasey +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Financial PR and IR BlytheRay Tim Blythe / Megan Ray / Said Izagaren +44 (0)20 7138 3204
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The European currency weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Thursday. The euro fell to a 6-day low of 1.0919 against the U.S. dollar and more than a 3-week low of 160.59 against the yen, from early highs of 1.0984 and 161.53, respectively. Moving away from early highs of 0.8651 against the pound and 0.9587 against the Swiss franc, the euro dropped to a 1-1/2-month low of 0.8618 and a 1-month low of 0.9552, respectively. Against the Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the euro dropped to more than a 3-week low of 1.6491, a 1-1/2-month low of 1.7717 and a 2-week low of 1.4854 from early highs of 1.6587, 1.7836 and 1.4924, respectively. If the euro extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.07 against the greenback, 157.00 against the yen, 0.85 against the pound, 0.93 against the franc, 1.63 against the aussie, 1.74 against the kiwi and 1.46 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Whitebridge.ai is setting new standards in professional insight and data interpretation to transform sales performance.

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Whitebridge.ai proudly announces the launch of its revolutionary online platform in data intelligence. This innovative service offers comprehensive information and insightful analysis of individuals. Whitebridge.ai is set to transform how individuals and businesses understand and engage with prospects, leveraging the power of AI to analyze extensive online data.

Addressing this modern challenge, Whitebridge.ai emerges as a beacon of streamlined efficiency. By skillfully extracting and synthesizing information from an array of digital sources, the platform provides a comprehensive and coherent profile of prospects.

Whitebridge.ai's platform offers a unique three-step process that simplifies the acquisition of detailed, AI-driven reports on individuals. The reports produced by Whitebridge.ai are not just data compilations. They provide deep insights into an individual's personality and professional and educational background. This level of detail is achieved by meticulously sourcing data from a broad spectrum of publicly available information, including professional networks, social media, public records, and other open platforms.

Whitebridge.ai is not only pioneering in personal data intelligence but also expanding its reach through strategic collaborations. Founders at Whitebridge.ai have begun the initiation of communications and negotiations with their first business customers. These partners are keen to integrate Whitebridge.ai's solutions into their products via API. This will allow them to resell the services and enhance their own offerings, creating a symbiotic relationship that leverages our cutting-edge technology.

By offering a 360 overview of prospects, it enables users to craft pitches that resonate deeply with their target audience. With this, users receive the most precise information, enabling them to tailor pitches and enhance client relations for increased deal closures.

Looking forward, Whitebridge.ai hopes to continue to grow and keep innovating. By 2024, the platform plans to evolve into a community-driven product with the integration of WEB3 technologies, offering benefits to crypto users, such as discounted prices and influence over the product roadmap and co-creating the product. Upcoming features include the integration of custom questions and compatibility with top sales CRMs. A particularly exciting development is the implementation of OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) to provide specific intelligence answers through public data analysis.

For more insights and information, visit Whitebridge.ai and explore the Whitebridge.ai Pitchdeck.

About Whitebridge.ai

From its inception as a crafted idea to its current iteration, Whitebridge.ai has undergone three significant pivots in just three months. The platform specializes in AI-driven reports that offer deep personality insights derived from extensive online data. These reports provide a comprehensive view of an individual's professional and educational background, behavioral tendencies, interactions, and data breach history, offering a complete understanding of their digital footprint. Beyond these comprehensive insights, Whitebridge.ai stands as a crucial AI-powered tool for sales professionals. It streamlines the preparation process, equipping sales teams with easy-to-understand, AI-enhanced profiles of potential clients. These profiles not only detail key contact information but also include practical tips for effective communication, thereby enhancing client engagement and boosting sales performance. Whitebridge.ai is dedicated to transforming sales strategies by offering a smarter, more efficient approach to understanding and connecting with customers.

Contact Info:

Name: Antanas Sitnikas

Email: antanassitnikas@gmail.com

Organization: WhiteBridge.AI

Website: https://www.whitebridge.ai/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189254
Clean Invest Africa Plc - Placing to raise 210,000, CLN Conversion and Total Voting Rights

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 30

30 November 2023

Clean Invest Africa Plc

("CIA", the "Company" or the "Group")

Placing to raise 210,000, CLN Conversion and Total Voting Rights

Clean Invest Africa Plc, the mineral fines waste processing company quoted on the Aquis Growth Market, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a placing (the "Placing"), to raise 210,000 to support the continuing growth of its wholly owned subsidiaries, CoalTech Limited ("CoalTech") and Coal Agglomeration South Africa (Pty) Ltd ("CASA"), and to provide working capital to the Group.

Placing

A total of 60,000,000 ordinary shares of 0.25p nominal value each ("Placing Shares") have been placed with one investor at 0.35p per share. For each one Placing Share issued, one warrant will be granted, exercisable at 0.7p, valid for a period of three years from the date of admission of the Placing Shares to the Aquis Growth Market. Application has been made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Growth Market and this is expected to occur on or around 5 December 2023.

Following the Placing, Clear Water Holding WLL will own 60,000,000 ordinary shares, representing approximately 3.10% of the issued share capital of the Company. Clear Water Holding WLL is 90% owned by the adult children (Shaikh Abdulla Alkhalifa, Shaikh Fai Alkhalifa and Shaikha Reem Alkhalifa) of the Company's Non-Executive Chairman, Shaikh Mohamed Abdulla Khalifa Alkhalifa.

CLN Conversion

Filippo Fantechi, Chief Executive Officer of the Company has converted 20,000 of principal plus 1,593.42 of interest of an outstanding convertible loan note ("CLN"), plus director's fees, into 24,237,368 ordinary shares of the Company. Following the CLN conversion and issue of the director's fees, Filippo is interested in 542,035,789 Ordinary Shares in the Company, representing approximately 28.01% of the issued share capital.

The Company has also issued 19,298,400 ordinary shares to a consultant of the Company to settle outstanding professional fees.

Total Voting Rights

Following the issue of the Placing Shares, the issued share capital of the Company will consist of 1,935,399,170 ordinary shares. No shares were held in treasury at the date of this announcement. The total current voting rights in the Company are therefore 1,935,399,170. The above figure of 1,935,399,170 may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

About CoalTech technology ("CoalTech")

In the context of the global policy of environmental improvement, reconditioning of polluted areas and development of sustainable solutions for those industries (such as, but not limited to, coal) which have an impact in terms of environmental pollution, but which, at least for the next two to three decades, will have to continue to produce in order to sustain the demand for energy, CoalTech believes that the application of its technology, in addition to meeting the Global Environmental Improvement Policy, also effectively addresses the following problems:

(i) how to clean up/dispose of the more than 30 billion tonnes of coal dust now found worldwide as an unavoidable residue of coal mining processes, and

(ii) how to minimize the accumulation of further coal dust in those areas where coal mining ponds are still active and/or at the loading/unloading hubs of the coal trade routes such as ports and/or stations and/or in those industries that still use coal.

In other words, even if the ecological transition is making great strides, coal dusts will continue to damage the environment if they are not removed or minimised in cases where industries use coal (e.g. power plants, steel mills, etc.) and these last will takes years to complete the ecological transition with less polluting technologies, if available.

CoalTech uses the agglomeration process (pelletizing) to transform coal dust into spherical agglomerates (pellets) through the rotational and inclination forces generated in a Pelletizer and the amalgamation action of an organic, non-polluting agent developed in-house. The transformation process is then finalised by drying treatments to make the pellets transportable and reusable in various industrial applications.

CoalTech technology is the right balance for merging energy demand with governments' commitment to a clean world. In particular, it is a valuable vehicle for achieving goals #8, #9 and #15 of the UN 2030 Agenda combining the useful with the enjoyable. Useful because it is certainly effective in carrying out the initial reclamation of the land and/or the hubs of the trade routes and/or the coal storage areas of the power stations where tonnes of unused and environmentally harmful coal dust are still being deposited. Enjoyable because it is a business with a potential of millions of dollars as the process used does not alter the original characteristics of the coal (e.g. the calorific value and the chemical composition) and therefore the pellets produced, becoming transportable, can be sold on the market and have multiple uses, such as for example:

- be introduced into the coal market by blending with the original raw material, thus solving at the root the problem of coal dust accumulation and, in time, reducing the existing accumulation at the washing and/or storage plants

- be introduced into the circuit of those industries that use coal to produce other products such as: the steel industry to produce coke and the chemical industry for the production of ammonia, hydrogen, synthetic products such as solvents, dyes, pesticides, synthetic rubbers, explosives, plastics, medicines, and others

- originate a circular economy system as from the distillation of coal, it is also possible to obtain tar, benzol, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, naphthalene, celluloid

- to become a raw material in the coal gasification process for the production of syngas; and

- to support, during the transition period, the less affluent populations that still live-in rural areas where the energy distribution network is not yet in place and will require years of work to make it available, so becoming a source of energy and house heating through the use of domestic stoves, already existing on the market, which, in addition to heating, can also produce a few kW useful to turn on a few light bulbs.

The directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ENQUIRIES:

Clean Invest Africa plc

Filippo Fantechi - Chief Executive Officer: +973 3 9696273

Peterhouse Capital Limited

Guy Miller +44 20 7469 0930

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation EU 596/2014 as it forms part of retained EU law (as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).
MANZINI  Teachers and pupils wailed inyandzaleyo at St Philomena Primary School, as their head teacher was chased with a knife by a teacher within the school yard.

The head teacher, Musa Hleta, was said to have been first attacked while in his office. It was claimed that the head teacher, while engaging in his duties, was accosted by the teacher, who communicated that he wanted to engage him (head teacher) on a number of issues. It was gathered that, while the teacher was in Hletas office, he questioned him of supposedly using derogatory words when referring to him while in the presence of pupils.

Refused

The teacher was said to have refused to take a seat while engaging the head teacher. He was alleged to have ordered Hleta to stand in a corner so that they could engage. Thereafter, an altercation reportedly ensued, which resulted in other staff members taking note of what was happening. According to sources, thereon, two senior members of the staff were said to have intervened and escorted the teacher out of the head teachers office and was taken to the staffroom, where he supposedly continued to express his discontent with his colleagues actions.

After a while, it was gathered that female teachers were heard wailing inyandzaleyo, which is a siSwati phrase calling for help in the face of danger. The female teachers are said to have advised Hleta to exit his office, as their colleague was about to stab him. Sources claimed that before Hleta could exit his office, the teacher had returned.

This time, the educator was said to have been wielding a knife, threatening to stab the head teacher. It was said Hleta was able to exit the office; however, the teacher continued to pursue him and he (head teacher) had to run around cars, evading being stabbed. Hleta was also said to have been seen running in the school yard, with the teacher in pursuit. The commotion caused was said to have drawn the attention of the pupils, who were sitting their final examinations, such that some of them exited their classrooms to watch the rare occurrence. Sources claimed that the pupils also started wailing inyandzaleyo!

Hleta reportedly sped towards the school gate, which he supposedly closed. It was said while closing the gate and pulling it to ensure that the teacher did not exit the school yard, the teacher supposedly continued trying to stab him. Seeing that he was losing the battle, Hleta was said to have fled to traffic police officers, who were manning a roadblock about 300 metres from the school gate. They assisted Hleta and transported him to Ngculwini Police Post, where he recorded a statement. According to sources, the police body-searched the teacher and found that he was still carrying the knife, which they reportedly confiscated.

Confirmed

Meanwhile, Hleta confirmed the incident and expressed concern over what he termed abuse of his cadre in schools. The head teacher said the experience was traumatic. He said: I reported the matter to the office of the REO (regional education officer) as it was traumatic and something that shall linger on in the minds of the learners and teachers. The REO, Sizwe Kunene, confirmed that the matter was reported to his office. He said the matter was handed over to the police, as it involved violence and they were investigating it. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni, confirmed the matter. She said it was reported to the police last Friday.
Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (OTCQB: FDXTF) (FSE: E8D) (the "Company" or "FendX") a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings, will be participating in both the Emerging Growth Conference and the Investor Summit on December 7, 2023, and invites all interested individuals to attend one or both of these events.

The Investor Summit is an online event dedicated to connecting companies with qualified investors. Dr. Myers will be making a 30-minute presentation on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 11:00 AM ET, and taking one-on-one meetings with various qualified investors throughout the day. Interested individuals can register here for the FendX Investor Summit presentation.

The Emerging Growth Conference is an online event which gives shareholders and members of the investment community an opportunity to interact with the Company's President and CEO, Dr. Carolyn Myers. Dr. Myers will give a presentation on Thursday, December 7 at 3:10 PM ET. An archive of the webcast will be made available on www.emerginggrowth.com, and on the Emerging Growth YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/EmergingGrowthConference after the event. Interested individuals can register here for the FendX Emerging Growth Conference presentation.

About the Emerging Growth Conference

The Emerging Growth conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate their new products, services, and other major announcements to the investment community from the convenience of their office, in a time efficient manner.

The Conference focus and coverage includes companies in a wide range of growth sectors, with strong management teams, innovative products and services, focused strategy, execution, and the overall potential for long term growth. Its audience includes potentially tens of thousands of individual and institutional investors, as well as investment advisors and analysts.

About the Investor Summit Group

The Investor Summit is an exclusive, independent conference dedicated to connecting small cap and microcap companies with qualified investors. The Investor Summit will take place virtually, featuring micro-cap companies and institutional, family office, and high net worth investors. Sectors Participating: Biotech, Communication Services, Consumer, Energy, Technology, Financial, Healthcare, Industrials, Materials and Real Estate.

About FendX Technologies Inc.

FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. The Company is developing both film and spray products to protect surfaces from contamination. The lead product under development, REPELWRAP film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents the adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The spray nanotechnology is a bifunctional spray coating being developed to reduce contamination on surfaces by repelling and killing pathogens. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners, including McMaster University. The Company has an exclusive worldwide license to its technology and IP portfolio from McMaster, which encompass both film and spray coating nanotechnology formulations.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Carolyn Myers"

Carolyn Myers

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Contacts:

Dr. Carolyn Myers, CEO and Director

1-800-344-9868

Alyssa Barry, Investor Relations

1-833-947-5227

investor@fendxtech.com

For more information, please visit https://fendxtech.com/ and the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to: the plans of the Company; and products under development and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and involve several risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate, and that actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's public filings which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, the reader is urged to refer to the Company's such filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189153
Sacramento, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Vibe Growth Corporation (CSE: VIBE) (OTCQB: VIBEF) (the "Company" or "Vibe"), a vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise, has released its 2023 third quarter financial results. All financial information is provided in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, are available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and Vibe's website at www.vibebycalifornia.com.

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

As of September 30, 2023, Vibe's cash position was $2.8 million;

Dispensary Gross Margin increased to 49.7% in the quarter and 41.9% in the 2023 nine-month period compared to 33.6% and 36.6% in the comparative three and nine-month periods of 2022 (1) ;

; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of $1,170,807 and $281,672 in the 2023 third quarter compared to EBITDA loss and adjusted EBITDA loss of $641,893 and $557,056 in the second quarter of 2023;

In the nine-month period, the Company generated EBITDA of $153,643 and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $772,270; and

Revenues were $3.39 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $3.69 in the second quarter of 2023, representing an 8.1% decrease.

(1) This is a non-IFRS measure. Readers are cautioned that the amounts presented do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. Please see the non-GAAP Financial Measures Disclosure below.

Financial Highlights

The Company's key financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, and 2021 are as follows:

U.S. Dollars For the three months

ended September 30, 2023 For the three months

ended

September 30, 2022 For the nine

months

ended September 30, 2023 For the nine

months

ended

September 30, 2022 Total revenue(a) $3,396,007 $5,522,473 $11,090,258 $16,921,735 Gross margin $2,059,572 $1,853,723 $4,789,215 $6,200,133 Net loss $(1,1340,946) $(1,130,063) $(3,887,059) $(2,775,042) EBITDA(a) $1,170,807 $(450,381) $153,643 $(371,235) Adjusted EBITDA(a) $281,672 $(208,643) $(772,270) $115,668

Special Note Regarding non-GAAP Financial Measures

This is a non-GAAP measure. Readers are cautioned that the amounts presented do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. See discussion of non-IFRS Measures in the MD&A for reconciliation to measures reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Vibe chief executive officer, Mark Waldron, commented: "In the third quarter, we started to see the results of the groundwork for centralized purchasing and internal distribution, leading to improvements to Vibe's dispensary gross margins. We've launched several new Hype products and continue to focus our marketing efforts on supporting the new product launches and Vibe continues to implement cost reductions by reducing head office staffing levels."

About Vibe Growth Corporation

Vibe Growth Corporation and its cannabis retail brand, Vibe By California, is a trusted, vertically integrated California cannabis enterprise with retail dispensaries; cannabis greenhouse cultivation; premium indoor cultivation; commercial cannabis distribution; brand sales and marketing; e-commerce platform; home delivery; and Hype Cannabis Co. marijuana and Vibe CBD products. In California, Vibe is focused on maximizing shareholder value through accelerating organic growth, opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and new license applications. The Company operates retail and e-commerce under its iconic Vibe By California brand.

To learn more about Vibe, please visit: www.vibebycalifornia.com

Company Contact

Investor Relations

Email: ir@vibebycalifornia.com

Website: www.vibebycalifornia.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Product & Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performances. The use of any of the words "anticipate," "could," "intend," "expect," "believe," "will," "projected," "estimated," and similar expressions or statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events, and maybe impacted as a result of general economic conditions. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company's expectations of revenue, EBITDA profitability and adjusted funds flow, higher sales volumes, and the Company's retail operations. Actual future results may differ materially.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Risk factors related to the Company are described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any State securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. securities laws.

Unlike in Canada, which has Federal legislation uniformly governing the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of medical cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Federal), readers are cautioned that in the U.S., cannabis is largely regulated at the State level. To the knowledge of Vibe Growth Corporation, there are, to date, a total of 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, that have legalized cannabis in some form. Notwithstanding the permissive regulatory environment of medical cannabis at the State level, cannabis continues to be categorized as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act in the U.S., and as such, cannabis-related practices or activities, including, without limitation, the manufacture, importation, possession, use or distribution of cannabis are illegal under U.S. federal law. Strict compliance with state laws concerning cannabis will neither absolve Vibe of liability under the U.S. Federal law nor will it provide a defense to any Federal proceeding which may be brought against Vibe Growth Corporation. Any such proceedings brought against Vibe may adversely affect its operations and financial performance.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189242
MILAN, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dedalus Group ("Dedalus"), the leading anatomic pathology information systems provider in Europe, and Ibex Medical Analytics ("Ibex"), the market leader in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cancer diagnostics, today announced the launch of a fully integrated End-to-End AI-powered Digital Pathology Solution for cancer diagnosis.

The new solution is now commercially available in major European markets and sets a new standard for anatomic pathology lab digitization by seamlessly integrating Ibex's Galen platform into Dedalus' comprehensive Digital Pathology (DP) Solution. It enables full digitization of anatomic pathology labs with a next-generation Anatomic Pathology Information System (AIS) & DP solution, harnessing the power of data and AI for assisted case prioritization, advanced image analysis, and reproducible diagnoses. The increasing demand for pathology services posed by the growing number of cancer patients and global shortage of trained pathologists, leads pathology laboratories to actively seek efficiency-enhancing solutions that enable labs to maintain high accuracy levels while reducing time to diagnosis and optimizing diagnostic workflows.

The joint solution leverages the capabilities of Dedalus' End-to-End Digital Pathology Solution, featuring a novel, holistic approach for digitizing anatomic pathology labs, together with Ibex's Galen, the most widely deployed AI technology in pathology, now seamlessly integrated to enable efficient routine work from a single application.

Galen's AI-powered findings are available on the joint solution, that supports pathologists in the diagnosis of prostate, breast and gastric biopsies with improved accuracy, AI-powered decision support tools, streamlined reporting, improved laboratory efficiency, and increased diagnostic confidence1,2,3,4.

"As the premier anatomic pathology information systems provider in Europe, Dedalus takes great pride in partnering with Ibex to introduce this integrated solution. This collaboration harmonizes Dedalus' expertise in pathology information systems with Ibex's cutting-edge AI-powered diagnostics. It reflects our commitment to advancing anatomic pathology, equipping pathologists with a state-of-the-art solution that fosters increasingly accurate and timely diagnoses. The potential for enhancing patient outcomes is substantial, and we are leading the way in this transformative journey," says Marlen Suller, Head of In Vitro Diagnostics Business Unit at Dedalus.

"Our solutions lead the AI revolution in pathology with algorithms and tools that drive consistent improvement in the quality and efficiency of cancer diagnosis in our growing customer base," said Joseph Mossel, CEO and Co-founder of Ibex Medical Analytics. "We are excited to partner with Dedalus, the leading diagnostic software provider in Europe, to embed AI deeply within their information system and offer pathologists a truly end-to-end solution combining AI findings with digital images, patient information and lab processes together in a single unified workflow - a game changer for pathology departments in Europe."

The joint solution will be presented at the Digital Pathology & AI Congress, taking place in London on December 7-8. To learn more and watch a live demonstration, visit the Dedalus and Ibex booths.

ABOUT Dedalus

Dedalus Group is the leading healthcare and diagnostic software provider in Europe, supporting the digital transformation of 6700 hospitals and 5700 Laboratories worldwide, processing its solutions for more than 540 millions of population worldwide. Dedalus supports the whole continuum of care, offering open standards-based solutions serving each actor of the Healthcare Ecosystem to provide better care in a healthier planet.

For more information, visit www.Dedalus.com

ABOUT IBEX

Ibex Medical Analytics is transforming cancer diagnostics with world-leading clinical grade AI-powered solutions for pathology. Empowering physicians and supporting pathologists, Ibex is on a mission to provide accurate, timely and personalized cancer diagnosis for every patient. Ibex's Galen is the first and most widely deployed AI-powered platform in pathology. Pathologists worldwide use Galen as part of their everyday routine to improve the accuracy of cancer diagnosis, implement comprehensive quality control measures, reduce turnaround times and boost productivity with more efficient workflows. For additional company information, please visit https://ibex-ai.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Multiple Galen solutions are CE marked (IVDD and IVDR) and registered with the UK MHRA and Swissmedic. For more information, including indication for use and regulatory approval in other countries, contact Ibex Medical Analytics.

CONTACT

Dedalus SPA

Press Contact: Sara Luisa Mintrone

sara.mintrone@Dedalus.eu

For further information:

www.Dedalus.com

LinkedIn: Dedalus group

Ibex Medical Analytics

Nechama Rosengarten

FINN Partners

nechama.rosengarten@finnpartners.com

[1] Pantanowitz et al., An artificial intelligence algorithm for prostate cancer diagnosis in whole slide images of core needle biopsies: a blinded clinical validation and deployment study, THE LANCET Digital Health Aug 2020

[2] Sandbank et al., Validation and real-world clinical application of an artificial intelligence algorithm for breast cancer detection in biopsies; npj Breast Cancer 8, 129 (2022)

[3] Comperat et al., Clinical Level AI-Based Solution for Primary Diagnosis and Reporting of Prostate Biopsies in Routine Use: A Prospective Reader Study, Virchows Arch 2021, 479 (Suppl 1), S60-S61

[4] Raoux et al., Novel AI-Based Solution for Supporting Primary Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer Increases the Accuracy and Efficiency of Reporting in Clinical Routine, USCAP 2021

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dedalus-and-ibex-launch-an-end-to-end-ai-powered-digital-pathology-solution-streamlining-cancer-diagnosis-across-europe-302001913.html
DAKAR, Senegal, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global cross-border payments network, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Small World Money Transfer, a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses. In this ever-evolving cross-border payments landscape, this collaboration is poised to redefine mobile wallet services across Senegal, ensuring that Wave Wallet account holders can directly receive remittances into their wallets via instant bank transfers from the EU and UK , using Small World Money Transfer.

At the heart of this partnership is the recognition of the hurdles Senegalese expatriates encounter when attempting to send money back home, leaving customers yearning for a more convenient and secure alternative. This partnership solves for these challenges, enabling a seamless, secure, accessible, and instant solution for customers sending money to their loved ones in Senegal.

Stanley Wachs, Managing Director, Northern Europe, Africa & Asia at Small World Money Transfer, expresses excitement about the partnership, "We are delighted to announce that Small World Money Transfer is now available on all major mobile wallet services in Senegal with the latest addition of WAVE mobile wallet through TerraPay."

He adds, "At the heart of our mission is the drive to provide customers with the means to send money to friends, family and loved ones in the most cost-effective way. And we have been working tirelessly to offer our clients the best possible service in an easy, fast and secure manner. This partnership will provide more convenience and options for our customers sending money to Senegal."

"We are stoked to join forces with Small World Money Transfer," said Miller Rodriguez, Strategic Relationship and Sales Manager, Europe - UK, TerraPay. "This partnership is another step to strengthen our continuous efforts towards simplifying cross-border remittances. Together, we are able to make money transfers more accessible, user-friendly, and seamless for the people of Senegal, connecting them to their friends and family across the world. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile wallets in the region, we are committed to enhancing the cross-border payments landscape while boosting financial inclusion."

Small World Money Transfer, known for enabling over 3 million customers to make payments online as well as through a vast physical network, has been the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates worldwide. This partnership not only aligns with TerraPay's commitment to driving global financial inclusioun but also helps extend the company's reach and capabilities, with a particular focus on the Senegalese market. The integration of Small World Money Transfer into the TerraPay network ensures customers in Senegal can experience seamless and instant money transfers directly to their Wave Wallet accounts without any additional challenges and complexities.

This partnership announcement comes at a crucial time when the demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions is rapidly rising. It addresses this growing need by introducing a simple yet transformative solution, providing customers with more options and greater convenience in sending money.

About TerraPay:

TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere - providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making movement of money instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses - ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces - while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Bangalore, Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Hague, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa.

About Small World Money Transfer:

Small World is a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses enabling over 3 million customers making payments online or via a physical network of more than 250,000 locations, 10,000 agents and 80 stores across 196 countries. Small World is the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates around the world to send money safely and easily to their loved ones back home in Senegal. www.smallworldfs.com

Contact:

Juveria Samrin

juveria.n@terrapay.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terrapay-and-small-world-money-transfer-announce-strategic-partnership-to-enhance-mobile-wallet-services-in-senegal-302001934.html
Otterize enhances its platform with AWS IAM and PostgreSQL support, complementing existing features like Kubernetes network policies, Istio authorization policies, and Kafka ACLs. These additions enable organizations to seamlessly manage access to critical resources and databases, reinforcing a comprehensive zero-trust security model.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / In a move that addresses the evolving needs of cloud-native businesses, Otterize, Inc. ("Otterize") is thrilled to announce its latest feature enhancements today on the heels of AWS re:Invent 2023. The premier platform for workload identity and access management-enabling the attainment of zero trust for your backend and services-has now extended its capabilities to support AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and PostgreSQL.

AWS re:Invent 2023

Otterize is thrilled to announce its latest feature enhancements today on the heels of AWS re:Invent 2023.

As Kubernetes deployments gain momentum, the complexity of managing access control to and from Kubernetes clusters has become a major challenge for organizations. This complexity often leads to security vulnerabilities and operational inefficiencies. Otterize aims to solve these issues by offering a simpler, more secure, and fully automated declarative approach to managing access from workloads running in Kubernetes.

With this latest update, Otterize now provides support for AWS IAM and PostgreSQL, adding to its already robust set of features, which includes Kubernetes network policies, Istio authorization policies, and Kafka Access Control Lists (ACLs). These new features empower organizations to seamlessly manage access to critical resources and databases, ensuring a zero-trust security model.

Key Features:

1. AWS IAM Support: Otterize can now manage AWS IAM policies and roles, automatically provisioning them on-demand for workloads as they scale up or down. This integration enables users to monitor AWS IAM access within Otterize Cloud's visual access graph, ensuring only zero-trust access is permitted.

2. PostgreSQL Support: Otterize now empowers organizations to manage access control to PostgreSQL databases efficiently. Users can visualize PostgreSQL access in Otterize Cloud's intuitive visual access graph, guaranteeing a zero-trust security approach.

This significant expansion is a testament to Otterize's commitment to providing the tools needed for managing network policies efficiently in today's dynamic cloud-native landscape.

"Otterize's cloud-native, intents-based approach for access control enables us to manage AWS IAM roles and policies declaratively in Kubernetes, alongside the workloads themselves. This makes managing the lifecycle for AWS access as simple as managing the lifecycle for the workloads themselves and spares us a lot of work." - Tomer Cohen, Head of Cloud Infrastructure at EverC

Ori Shoshan, CTO at Otterize, shared his insights on this development, stating:

"Our user research reveals that Kubernetes Platform Engineers aim to balance the need for fast, automated, and self-service operations desired by engineering organizations with the security requirement of intentional, reviewed, and auditable access. These enhancements enable Otterize to support multiple platforms used by a single workload. Declarative multi-platform access control that is deployed and versioned alongside Kubernetes workloads allows our users to get work done quickly and securely, no matter which resources they consume."

Otterize is rolling out its newest features right when they matter most, underscoring the increased importance of keeping workloads secure and efficient with IAM. The company is breaking new ground by adding support for AWS IAM and PostgreSQL, making access control a breeze in cloud-native environments.

For more information and to explore the full range of Otterize's platform, please visit www.otterize.com.

Contact Information

Neha Varshneya

Senior Director, Marketing

neha.v@otterize.com

SOURCE: Otterize

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811358/hot-on-the-heels-of-aws-reinvent-2023-otterize-expands-workload-identity-and-access-management-platform-to-include-support-for-aws-iam-and-postgresql
EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions



30.11.2023 / 12:54 CET/CEST

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Announcement on the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions

Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hong Kong, 30 November 2023 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published an announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and applicable PRC laws in relation to the Progress of A-Share Repurchases through Centralized Bidding Transactions.

The announcement is fully available at:

https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020231130684743852187.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20the%20Progress%20of%20A-Share%20Repurchases%20through%20Centralized%20Bidding%20Transactions.pdf



IR Contact:

Haier Smart Home Hong Kong

T: +852 2169 0000

Email: ir@haier.hk



Press Contact:

CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH

Sara Pinto

Sven Pauly

pi@crossalliance.de

T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35

About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.:

Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience.

30.11.2023 CET/CEST The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to provide an operations update and select financial highlights from the third quarter of 2023 as well as some highlights of corporate activities during the quarter and the year. For a full overview please refer to the Q3 Financial Statements and MD&A filed on Sedarplus.ca on November 29th, 2023.

Highlights

Completion of Maiden Resource Statement at the Santana gold project. Total Measured and Indicated Resources of 198,000 oz (grading 0.65 g/t gold) and an additional 103,000 oz of Inferred Resources (grading 0.58 g/t gold) (see news release dated October 3rd, 2023).

Mining rates increased in the third quarter as had been forecast in Q2. Due to normal delays following the stacking and initiation of leaching from new mineralization additional recoverable gold from these operations will be achieved in Q4. Further expansion of mining rates will be dependent on the pending permit amendment that will allow for more efficient stacking and sequencing of pad leaching activities.

Total gold ounces recovered, since the start of operations through until September 30, 2023 was 14,720 ounces from the Santana Project with a recoverable gold inventory on the leach pad increasing to 6,337 ounces as at September 30, 2023.

Sales revenues from 636 ounces of gold sold in the third quarter of 2023 totaled $1,790,245 and revenues from 4,381 ounces of gold sold during the first nine months of 2023 totaled $11,654,580.

As of the end of the third quarter, Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled $6,573,453 and the Company had positive working capital position of $19,668,154. This includes cash received from sales completed from the Q3 production where the related revenues have been treated as deferred in the financial statements and will be accounted in the Q4 Financial Statements.

On October 27, 2023, the Company announced it had completed definitive documentation with Auramet International Inc. and Auramet Capital Partners LP on a US$25 million loan and royalty funding package which will cover the anticipated construction costs of the planned Cerro de Oro gold mine in Zacatecas, Mexico and included a draw-down of US$5 million under the loan facility.

Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the Company received an additional 41,623,000 Mexican pesos ($3,321,900 CAD) in the form of an IVA (sales tax) from the Government of Mexico associated with the Santana project. The Company is anticipating a more regular recovery of outstanding IVA amounts.

The Company paid $800,000 USD and issued 500,000 common shares in respect of the Cerro de Oro project acquisition agreement. The Company will complete it's final earn-in on the project with the last payment scheduled for August 4, 2024.

Operational Updates

Following a scale-up in the resources (equipment/workforce) from the Company's mining contractor, production rates at the Santana project increased in Q3 and averaged over 70,000 tonnes of total material (mineral + waste) moved per month which was in line with plans.

Average grade of mineralized material - 0.81 g/t gold

Stripping ratio (waste: mineral) - 2.2

Crushing operations - 66% of mined mineralization

The Company continues to have constructive communications with SEMARNAT regarding the delayed permit amendment application which will triple the overall leach pad capacity at Santana and provide the necessary capacity for full Nicho Main Zone development. All requested follow-up technical information has been submitted by the Company as part of that dialogue and no additional requests were received in the quarter. Plans continue to advance with the Company's contractor to finalize required construction details related to the leach pad expansion outlined in the permit applications.

Exploration drilling at the Santana project is ongoing at the Benjamin target area and the release of drilling results are pending. Following the completion and analysis of the current round of data from the Benjamin and Zata prospects the Company will be preparing plans for its 2024 exploration activities. Also included for these upcoming plans will be additional drill programs to further delineate the known gold resources at the Cerro de Oro project as well as zones for resource expansion. The Company remained active in the Cerro de Oro area throughout the quarter with mapping and targeting activities covering the large concession package surrounding the currently defined resources.

Work activities related to the Cerro de Oro project will continue to expand through Q4 and into 2024 following the completion of the Auramet financing facility for the project's development. This will include:

Metallurgical optimization studies to fully evaluate the gold recovery / particle size relationships across the varying zones of mineralization present withing the known resource area. These studies are also planned to include material from the transition/sulphide zones of the deposit below the currently defined oxide resources. Limited test work on samples of transition material showed some potential for this mineralization to also be leachable.

Detailed engineering work aimed at preparing work packages for the construction of the project facilities following the receipt of permits. Specifically, this will focus initially on the crushing and gold recovery plant operations so that work can be initiated on the fabrication/securing of longer lead equipment items in advance of permit approvals.

Drilling activities within and surrounding the project area aimed not only at resource exploration but also to support hydrogeological and metallurgical test work programs.

The Cerro de Oro permitting process remains ongoing.

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data is summarized from the Company's Financial Statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements') for the quarter ended September 30th, 2023, and the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter ended September 30th, 2023 (all numbers in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated). A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available on SEDARplus at www.sedarplus.ca.

Revenues (not factoring deferred revenue) totalled $1,790,245 with cost of goods sold and depletion amounting to $2,063,559 for gross loss from mining operations of $273,313. This loss largely reflects lower sales from the reduced production in the first nine months of the year.

Net loss of $4,973,485 for the quarter of $0.011/share compared to net income of $3,039,574 in the corresponding period of 2022.

Working capital as of September 30 th , 2023 stood at $19,668,154 down slightly from $20,617,557 as of June 30, 2023.

Cash and Cash Equivalents of $6,573,453 compared to $13,153,828 as at December 31, 2022. This includes cash received from sales completed from the Q3 production where the related revenues have been treated as deferred in the financial statements and will be accounted in the Q4 Financial Statements.

The Company's net cash flows (used in) after the inclusion of changes to non-cash operating accounts were ($8,282,686) for the nine month period ended September 30, 2023. This reduction is primarily a result of a non-cash operating adjustment of ($4,100,000) -- approximately 1,780 ounces - related to work in process inventory as recorded at September 30, 2023 as compared to December 31, 2022. Other changes are a result of a reduction in normal operating payables of ($1,134,000), property holding costs of ($1,445,000), a Cerro de Oro option payment of ($1,000,000) and an expansion of the Company's exploration and evaluation spending on exploration drilling programs of ($600,000).

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company received an additional 41,623,000 Mexican pesos ($3,321,900 CAD) in the form of an IVA (sales tax) from the Government of Mexico associated with the Santana project.

On October 27, 2023, the Company announced it had completed definitive documentation with Auramet International Inc. and Auramet Capital Partners LP on a US$25 million loan and royalty funding package which will cover the anticipated construction costs of the planned Cerro de Oro gold mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. Subsequent to October 27, 2023, the Company completed a draw-down of US$5 million under the loan facility. The US$5 million drawdown will be used for exploration purposes, property holding costs, detailed engineering for construction and deposits on long lead time items.

Cautionary Statement

The Company made its production decision at the Santana gold mine without having completed a feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical viability. As such, there may be increased uncertainty of achieving planned production levels, estimated recovery of gold, the costs associated with such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational start-up of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and the proposed mining project is currently undergoing permitting. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a positive, robust preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed, and the main Federal permits are in place. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought three open pit heap leach gold mines into successful production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low capex assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include timing, cost estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans, objectives and goals with respect to the Cerro de Oro gold mine including the receipt of permits and construction timeline, and the satisfaction by the Company of the closing conditions to draw the Remaining Amount. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions that, by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189255
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Energy company AES Corp. (AES) announced Thursday it has reached an agreement with Se.ven Global Investments to sell its 51% equity stake in the Mong Duong 2 coal-fired plant in Vietnam. Following approvals by the Government of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the anticipated close for the transaction is in line with AES' intent to exit the majority of its coal assets by the end of 2025. The 1,242 MW plant has been in operation since 2015, delivering power to Hanoi and northern Vietnam under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with state-owned utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN). Based in Czech Republic, Se.ven is a family-owned company with expertise developing and operating conventional power plants and mining assets around the world. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CHANGZHOU, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UL Solutions, a global safety science leader, published a bankability study report on Trina Solar's complete Vertex n-type portfolio. The report's findings showed that the series modules prove to have outstanding product reliability and lower LCOE for highly recognized bankability.

"The PV industry has showed great trust in Trina Solar, given its strong financial health," said Sheng Honglei, senior manager of renewable business at UL Solutions, when elaborating on Trina Solar's leading n-type technology, sound financing, and high standard of management.

Empowered by advanced technology and superior performance, Vertex N modules boast lower LCOE

This bankability study reviewed the full range of Vertex N modules - including 700W, 610W, 450W, 440W and 430W - covering large, medium, and small-format modules in utility, residential, and C&I scenarios. UL concluded that the modules complied with safety standards and offered superior performance. It also found that LCOE is lower than when generic module types are used for the same plant configurations. For instance, compared with other n-type modules, Trina Solar's Vertex N 700W module can reduce LCOE by 5.8%.

Leading shipments meet burgeoning demands

In the report, UL notes that Trina Solar is a vertically integrated manufacturer. Across its complete manufacturing chain, Trina Solar can ensure exceptional product quality as all manufacturing and quality control processes are managed in-house.

As of Q3 2023, Trina Solar has shipped a total of 90GW of 210mm modules, ranking first globally. In addition, it shipped over 15GW of 210R modules by the end of October this year.

Trina Solar is ramping up vertically integrated n-type factory, securing a stable supply of n-type i-TOPCon cells for modules. By the end of this year, its module capacity is forecast to reach 95GW, n-type wafer capacity 50GW, and cell production capacity 75GW, including 40GW of n-type cells- which are all equipped with n-type i-TOPCon Advanced technology.

High-level automation & a work-friendly environment

Recapping its Trina Solar factory visits, UL expressed its positive perspective on this complete manufacturing automation with minimal human interference. UL inspected the production line for the 210R series PV cell and Vertex S+ series PV module, as well as the facility itself, and found the environment to be clean, safe, and conducive for workers.

All-round recognition of Trina Solar

Based on its excellent financial performance, industry-leading innovation, benchmark automation, and advanced quality management system, Trina Solar has won the trust and confidence of international institutions, underscored once again by this latest bankability study.

UL has given all-round credit to Trina Solar for its Vertex N series, which were found to meet industry standards in their cell fabrication, module manufacturing, warranty and after-sales services. As a result, they have achieved lower LCOE, bringing more values to customers and earning more trust globally.

As a pioneer in the PV industry, Trina Solar will uphold its mission of "Solar Energy for All" and drive the global energy transition towards carbon neutrality.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/trina-solars-vertex-n-series-modules-prove-superior-performance-in-ul-solutions-bankability-study-302001872.html
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / PowerBand Solutions (TSXV:PBX)(OTCQB:PWWBF)(Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand" "PBX" or the "Company"), a comprehensive e-commerce solution transforming the online experience to lease and finance vehicles, is announcing that it has filed its Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis report for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2023. These documents may be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2023 of $555,398 is relatively consistent with the second quarter revenue of $497,549. There were no new lease originations in the second and third quarters of 2023. Revenues were generated primarily from the servicing of the existing lease portfolio. The establishment of the Company's in-house, customer-facing, servicing department is nearing completion and is expected to be launched in the second quarter of 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA loss for the third quarter of 2023 has decreased by $332,395, in comparison to the second quarter of 2023, due to further cost reduction measures initiated by the Company.

Cash on hand as at September 30, 2023 was $4,209,210 compared to $10,299,414 as at December 31, 2022.

The Company continues to engage with its primary funding partners to re-commence the origination of leases and will provide an update to shareholders when there is material news to report.

About PowerBand Solutions, Inc.

PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, and funders. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across the United States of America.

For further information, please contact:

Darrin Swenson

Chief Executive Officer and Director

E: Darrin.swenson@powerbandsolutions.com

P: 1-866-768-7653

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Non-IFRS Measures:

This news release contains non-IFRS financial measures; the Company believes that these measures provide investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of its business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating its business. Although management believes these financial measures are important in evaluating the Company's performance, they are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures used by other companies. For certain non-IFRS financial measures, there are no directly comparable amounts under IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. Moreover, presentation of certain of these measures is provided for year-over-year comparison purposes, and investors should be cautioned that the effect of the adjustments thereto provided herein have an actual effect on the Company's operating results.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "believes" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, expected benefits and results from operations, expected return to shareholders as a result of allocating growth capital and resources to the DrivrzFinancial platform, expected results of cost-saving initiatives, the resolution of lease repurchases with the financial institution, the re-commencement of lease originations through the Forward Flow Purchase and Security Agreement and the ability of PowerBand to secure additional funding lines for DrivrzFinancial are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811533/powerband-announces-third-quarter-2023-financial-results
MBABANE  Cabinet has set up a sub committee to look into the challenges faced by the health sector and has come up with eight interventions.

The committee is chaired by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo and other members include, the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, Minister of Labour and Social Security Phila Buthelezi, Health Principal Secretary (PS) Khanya Mabuza and the Prime Ministers (PM) Office PS Bertram Stewart.

This is one of the drastic steps taken by government on Monday, to resolve the health crisis, triggered by the shortage of drugs in the government health system. In a press statement, Prime Minister Russell Dlamini said the subcommittee would meet daily to monitor and ensure that a turnaround plan was implemented to resolve the crisis.

Supplies

The subcommittee is formed at a time when the country is faced with severe drugs and medical supplies shortages. This saw patients being forced to purchase required medication in pharmacies. Some patients staged a blockade at the Mbabane Government Hospital main gate, demanding medication. To understand the situation on the ground and further assess the challenges, Minister Matsebula and the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla toured the Mbabane Government Hospital Emergency and Referral Unit and the Central Medical Stores (CMS) last week. According to Dlamini, government spends about E2.6 billion on the health sector annually, which is equivalent to about 10 per cent of the annual national budget.

The PM said at least E700 million of the E2.6 billion was used to acquire pharmaceuticals. He explained that this huge investment on the health sector came at the expense of other development sectors and it was almost impossible to stretch the envelope further.

Shortages

Despite the huge investment, the PM mentioned that the health system had continually deteriorated with serious shortages of medicines and drugs, effectively, putting the lives of emaSwati at risk. The premier stated that part of the drastic steps taken by Cabinet was that the Ministry of Health must, with immediate effect, expedite the makeover of the CMS and its conversion to be semi-autonomous, which would be a government institution responsible for the acquisition, distribution, and disbursement of pharmaceuticals. The parastatal must have a world class automated system to monitor and exert control on the entire supply chain, Dlamini said. Adding, he said the ministry would also immediately intensify its strategic focus on preventive health by up scaling health promotion and by tackling the root causes of the identified major health problems. Dlamini went on to state that the new wing of the Mbabane Government Hospital, inclusive of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), would be operationalised for the provision of critical health services.

Resources

He said this would eventually reduce the large outflow of government resources through the Phalala Fund. The ministry will fill critical vacant positions necessary to optimise the Mbabane Government Hospital as a referral hospital. The Department of Finance in the ministry will be immediately strengthened to be responsive and proficient, and to meet the demands of the sector, he said. Furthermore, the PM said they had taken a step on renal dialysis to be prioritised with an immediate allocation of funds for the payment of service providers, for continuity, as well as to enable an expansion of this critical service. Dlamini assured the nation that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) would intensify investigation of any corrupt practice by service providers and government employees throughout the entire supply chain of pharmaceuticals, with the intention to punish offenders.

Implementation

He said they were confident that the urgent implementation of these interventions would bring relief to the current crisis and, therefore, implored the public for support in any way possible. The PS in the Ministry of Health said the availability of drugs was the priority, ensuring that all essential drugs were available. Mabuza said they were already working on the issue so that the crisis was averted soon. He said with the availability of funds, they would ensure that drugs were available in all health facilities. Meanwhile, the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) Secretary General Mayibongwe Masangane welcomed the steps taken by the new Cabinet, stating that they had seen many processes and promises. However, Masangane revealed that as a union, they had a feeling that the steps would not fully address the health crisis because they strongly believed that, the health care funding model was also a problem. He said they were giving Dlamini a new blank cheque to fill in.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) announced Thursday that Chief Executive Officer Jose Gordo will be departing as Chief Executive Officer and as a Board member on mutually agreeable terms and transitioning to the role of an advisor, effective December 31, 2023.



Under the agreed terms of his departure, Gordo will enter into a fixed, 18-month advisory services agreement upon payment terms agreed to by the parties, pursuant to which Gordo will advise the Company with respect to litigation, client relations, operational issues, growth opportunities, financial management, and debt restructuring.



Brian Evans, who has been with the Company for 23 years and has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer for 14 years, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2024.



Shayn March, Executive Vice President, Finance and Treasurer, has been appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2024. The Company and its Board of Directors will work with an external search firm to identify a permanent Chief Financial Officer.



Also effective January 1, 2024, Wayne Calabrese has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer. Calabrese joined the Company in 1989, retiring as its President and Chief Operating Officer at the end of 2010.



Following his service as a Company advisor, Calabrese rejoined the Company on a full-time basis in 2021 as head of the Legal Department. In 2022, he was appointed to his current position as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.



In addition, the Company confirmed that Dr. George Zoley, the Company's Founder and Executive Chairman, will step down as Executive Chairman on June 30, 2026, at the end of his current employment term.



Beginning on July 1, 2026, Zoley will continue his unparalleled 40-plus year industry leadership role as an Advisor to the Company while continuing to serve as the Company's non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, subject to shareholder approval.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Sanu Gold Corporation (CSE: SANU) (OTCQB: SNGCF) ("Sanu Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has earned into and acquired a 75% interest in each of the Bantabaye, Daina and Diguifara Gold Exploration Permits (the "Permits") in Guinea, West Africa by acquiring a 75% interest in the Guinean partner companies[1] that hold the Permits, under the terms of the underlying agreements, as described in the Company's final prospectus dated June 21, 2022.

Martin Pawlitschek, President & CEO of Sanu Gold commented, "Today's announcement significantly increases Sanu Gold's ownership in a high-quality gold exploration portfolio in Guinea, West Africa. Since listing the Company last year, we have conducted first drill programs at Bantabaye and Daina, resulting in two exciting new discoveries. We look forward to continuing to drive discovery in West Africa, the number one gold mining region in the world."

On each of the Permits, upon completion of a definitive feasibility study ("DFS"), Sanu Gold, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Zirasanu SARLU ("Zirasanu"), has the right to acquire up to an 85% interest in the partner company, by funding a staged work program with key minimum milestones. On a decision to mine on any of the Permits, the partner company would be required to fund its pro-rata share of mine construction or elect to dilute to a 1.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty. Zirasanu, a 100% owned Guinean corporation, now holds a 75% ownership interest in each of MS, NED and RM. The key terms of the underlying agreements with MSE, NED and RM are as follows:

Stage 1

As noted in the Company's news release dated September 15, 2022, a 51% interest was earned in each of MSE, NED and RM by completing a minimum US$400,000 work program within 18 months of signing the Technical Partnership Agreement. The completion of Stage 1 allowed for Sanu Gold (through Zirasanu) to continue investing in the Permits and completing additional ownership milestones as outlined below.

Stage 2

A 75% interest has now been earned in each of MSE, NED and RM by the completion of US$600,000 of exploration and development on each of Daina, Diguifara and Bantabaye within 18 months of meeting the Stage 1 earn-in requirements. The work commitment could include drilling, mapping, and trenching, as well as geochemical and geophysical surveys.

Stage 3

An 80% interest can be earned in each of MSE, NED and RM by funding additional exploration and evaluation programs to the value of US$1,000,000 or by completing an initial resource estimate and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") within 18 months of the completion of the Stage 2 earn-in.

Completion of a DFS

The Company has the right to earn an additional 5% stake in each of MSE, NED and RM, for a total 85% interest, by completing a definitive feasibility study ("DFS").

Decision to Mine

On completion of a DFS, MES, NED or RM can apply for an exploitation permit. On granting of the exploitation permit the Government of Guinea will be entitled to a 15% interest in the joint venture company. The original shareholders of MSE, NED or RM will be required to fund its share of the mine construction capital expenditure or alternatively can elect to dilute to a 1.5% NSR Royalty.

About Sanu Gold

Sanu Gold is a publicly traded exploration company focused on a portfolio of highly prospective gold projects in Guinea, West Africa's Siguiri Basin.

West Africa is the number one gold mining region in the world and Guinea's Siguiri Basin is a prolific, yet underexplored part of this region. Despite being home to both long-lived multi-million ounce gold mines and recently commissioned gold mines, Guinea's Siguiri Basin continues to produce important new gold discoveries.

Sanu Gold has defined multi-kilometer long gold-bearing structures on each of its three exploration permits and is targeting near-surface multi-million ounce gold discoveries. Initial drill programs on the first two permits drilled have yielded high-grade gold discoveries. The company is operated by a highly experienced team, with successful records of discovery, resource development and mine permitting across West Africa.

Martin Pawlitschek

President & CEO, Sanu Gold Corp.

For further information regarding Sanu Gold, please visit the Company's website at www.sanugoldcorp.com or contact:

Fiona Childe, Ph.D. P.Geo.

VP, Corporate Development & Communications

Sanu Gold Corp.

+1 647-473-7268

info@sanugoldcorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. 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", "indicates", "opportunity", "possible" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Sanu Gold believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such material risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration on its properties and ability to execute on plans, ability to raise sufficient capital to fund its obligations under its property agreements going forward, ability to maintain its material property agreements, mineral tenures and concessions in good standing, to explore and develop its projects; changes in economic conditions or financial markets; the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations, future prices of gold and other metals, changes in general economic conditions and local risks in the jurisdiction (Guinea) in which it operates, accuracy of mineral resource and reserve estimates, the potential for new discoveries, the ability of the Company to obtain the necessary permits and consents required to explore, drill and develop the projects and if obtained, to obtain such permits and consents in a timely fashion relative to the Company's plans and business objectives for the projects; the general ability of the Company to monetize its mineral resources; and changes in environmental and other laws or regulations that could have an impact on the Company's operations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, dependence on key management personnel and general competition in the mining industry. Forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, 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.

[1] Mansa Sanou Exploration SARL ("MSE") regarding the Daina Gold Exploration Permit ("Daina"), Nature Exploration and Discovery SARL ("NED") regarding the Diguifara Gold Exploration Permit ("Diguifara") and Ressources Mining SARL ("RM") regarding the Bantabaye Gold Exploration Permit ("Bantabaye").

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189103
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Silver Storm Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SVRS) (OTCQB: SVRSF) (FSE: SVR) ("Silver Storm" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Greg McKenzie, Director, President & CEO, will present live at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 5th, 2023.

DATE: December 5th

TIME: 12:00 pm EST

LINK: https://bit.ly/3rOONJH

Available for 1x1 meetings: December 8 and 11

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the Company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

About Silver Storm Mining Ltd. (formerly Golden Tag Resources Ltd.)

Silver Storm Mining Ltd. holds advanced stage silver projects located in Durango, Mexico. Silver Storm recently completed the acquisition of 100% of the La Parrilla Silver Mine Complex, a prolific operation which is comprised of a 2,000 tpd mill as well as five underground mines and an open pit that collectively produced 34.3 million silver-equivalent ounces between 2005 and 2019. The Company also holds a 100% interest in the San Diego Project which is among the largest undeveloped silver assets in Mexico. For more information regarding the Company and its projects, please visit our website at www.silverstorm.ca.

For additional information, please contact:

Greg McKenzie, President & CEO

Silver Storm Mining Ltd.

Ph: +1 (416) 504-2024

greg.mckenzie@silverstorm.ca

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

Ph: +1 (212) 220-2221

johnv@otcmarkets.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within the meaning of the phrase 'forward-looking information' in the Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding presentations and investor relation activities. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: the ability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company or its service providers; disruptions in information systems upon which its service providers relies in connection with the delivery of its services to the Company; and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189195
Further focus on ESG capabilities to accelerate time to value across business operations.

LONDON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, today announced the general availability of the second of its twice-yearly IFS Cloud releases for 2023. The release is centered on capabilities that will help customers to increase productivity across their business and leverage digital technology to build agility and operational excellence.

The content of this November release is a continuation of IFS' goal to help customers in its core industries to build their composable, intelligent autonomous enterprise.

From this release onwards, the company's recently launched AI architecture IFS.ai 's capabilities will be directly woven into all of IFS's products and industry specific capabilities. This makes AI widely available across customers' organizations, enabling them to simulate, optimize, and automate industry-specific business processes and increase productivity of their people, assets and services across their entire business operations.

Enterprises are building business resilience to be able to respond quickly, effectively and in a sustainable way to changing macro-economic conditions. Achieving this for the longer term requires them to build agility and adaptability to mitigate risks, creating a bigger dependency on technology innovation. Those companies who have already invested in digitalization will be able to leverage AI faster and manage their operational performance, as well as increase productivity.

To this end, the November IFS Cloud release continues to focus on three strategic business themes:

Optimize People, Assets and Services

Connect Global Operations

Achieve ESG Goals Profitably

Optimizing People, Assets and Services:

IFS Cloud uses AI, ML, IoT and automation to streamline processes related to people, assets, and services and improve data quality and compliance.

Maximize capacity utilization by combining cross business insights and intelligent automation. (Manufacturing Scheduling & Optimization, ERP)

(Manufacturing Scheduling & Optimization, ERP) Improve yield and throughput, reduce costs, and enhance production quality (Intelligent Automation in Manufacturing ERP)

Boost order fulfilment, enhance productivity and improve customer service levels. (Supply Chain, ERP)

(Supply Chain, ERP) Avoid maintenance procedure delays and minimize IT administration. (Aviation Maintenance)

(Aviation Maintenance) Maximize crew efficiency and reduce costs with higher first-time-fix rates. (Planning & Forecasting in Service Management)

Connect Global Operations:

IFS Cloud breaks down data and other operational silos, aligning and connecting people to identify risks and opportunities. The latest enhancements continue to target unwanted complexity, reduce downtime, and positively impact customer services. Advanced management capabilities include:

Combine critical business data and transaction updates to optimize offshore maintenance operations between shore and offshore assets. (EAM)

(EAM) Experience efficient and reliable service delivery with process automation along the entire financial value chain. ( Service Management)

Service Management) Reduce costs and complexity and experience fast, efficient document signing with electronic signatures through Adobe integration. (Asset Management)

Achieve ESG Goals Profitably:

As customers and consumers become more demanding of a company's ESG stance, a clear strategy and ability to deliver results will create long-term value. IFS Cloud is designed to help manage and achieve ESG goals, profitably and transparently. The latest update allows industries to leverage data to measure progress against commitments, demonstrate accountability, reuse components, reduce production costs and increase revenue.

Quickly access ESG-focused insights across energy consumption, materials used and DEI for more informed decision-making. (Lobbies in IFS Cloud)

(Lobbies in IFS Cloud) Easily and accurately track progress against Scope 1 and 2 sustainability goals. (IFS Cloud Emissions Tracker)

(IFS Cloud Emissions Tracker) Reuse components for re-manufacturing and reduce production costs. (Supply Chain, ERP)

Christian Pedersen, Chief Product Officer, IFS, said: "Accelerating digital transformation remains a top priority for our customers as they continue to depend on technology to build predictability in performance and resilience in their business. With this latest release of IFS Cloud, we have stayed true to our product vision to enable customers to adopt our innovation out of the box." Pedersen added: "This includes our commitment to providing a product that stays evergreen. Delivering a composable option that provides a clear path to always being up to date with the latest digital and AI innovation is central to that."He concluded: "IFS.ai capabilities already exist in IFS Cloud, and we are continuing investment into this area. Our aim with AI is to make organizational-wide impact for all our customers across all their users."

About IFS

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers-at the Moment of Service. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of over 6,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 6,500+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com.

CONTACT:

IFS Press Contacts:



MEA& APJ: Adam Gillbe

Corporate Communications

Email: press@ifs.com

Phone: +44 7775 114 856

USA: Mairi Morgan

Corporate Communications

Email: press@ifs.com

Phone: +1 520 396 2155

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/ifs/i/ifs-cloud-november-release-image,c3244635 IFS Cloud November Release Image

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ifs-cloud-november-release-reinforces-ai-capabilities-across-automation-and-optimization-with-ifsai-302002033.html
Sustainable Development Capital LLP ("SDCL") acquires US-based private equity firm Volery Capital ("Volery"), expanding its investment offering and its North American footprint

Acquisition strengthens SDCL's position as the world's leading energy efficiency investment platform serving commercial and industrial customers

Move bolsters SDCL's ability to provide capital to growth stage technology, software and services companies that are poised to scale rapidly

The combined firm manages more than US$2 billion of assets across over 50 investments worldwide

SDCL, a world leader in funding and operating energy efficiency and decentralized energy generation projects, has acquired Volery, a US-based private equity firm focused on the energy transition. The transaction brings together SDCL's extensive real assets expertise with Volery's institutional private equity investment capabilities, enabling SDCL to participate in a broader range of energy transition opportunities focused on energy efficiency.

The combined platform will support SDCL customers that want to benefit from cleaner, cheaper and more resilient energy solutions by funding their energy efficiency and decentralized generation projects, as well as the underlying technologies, software and services that are propelling these energy solutions.

The Volery team, led by Managing Partner Emanuel Citron, and Partners Michael Pertnoy and Cort Ahl, will oversee SDCL's private equity business going forward. They will work closely with SDCL's real asset investment teams to invest in energy transition "picks and shovels" companies with proven business models that are ready to scale. As an owner and operator of more than US$2 billion of energy assets, SDCL is well positioned to help identify high quality opportunities and to be a strategic partner to its portfolio companies as they scale.

Volery has been a shareholder, board member and strategic partner of SDCL for several years. The two firms have collaborated on a variety of strategic growth initiatives and the acquisition capitalises on the strong synergies between the organisations. Ares Management and Folsom Point Funding, which had previously made minority investments in Volery, will continue as minority investors in the combined company. Volery will also continue to manage its existing private equity vehicles, including Volery Capital Partners Fund I and an energy transition mandate managed on behalf of ZOMA Capital.

SDCL and Volery are joining forces based on the shared belief that achieving decarbonization depends on rapidly scaling energy efficiency solutions. Energy efficiency solutions are largely overlooked by capital markets despite being the most near-term and most cost-effective source of emissions reductions available today. According to the International Energy Agency, 80% of CO2 emissions savings by 2030 are expected to come from proven technologies that are readily available, widely tested, and successful. SDCL's private equity business will focus on high-ROI, proven technology, software and services solutions that enhance the performance of existing real energy assets, reduce energy demand and grow the opportunity for "behind the meter" solutions.

Volery was represented by Scott Naidech and Nicholas Usher along with support from the global tax, transactional and fund teams from Winston Strawn.

Jonathan Maxwell, Founder and CEO of SDCL, said:

"We are in uniquely exciting times for the energy transition, and the financial sector has a vital part to play in delivering net zero. Sustainable Development Capital was founded with a view to help unlock capital to deliver decarbonisation at scale. We've been lucky to benefit from Volery's support for many years and I am excited to bring them formally into the SDCL group to help us broaden the type of financing options we are able to provide. I look forward to seeing what can be achieved in private equity over the next decade as the world moves from making climate pledges to delivering on them at pace and scale."

Manny Citron, Managing Partner of Volery, said:

"We have worked closely with Jonathan, who is a pioneer in the energy transition, and the rest of the talented team at SDCL for many years. Their in-house expertise, experience, relationships and processes position the firm to continue to scale distributed energy and energy efficiency solutions for years to come. For the energy transition to succeed, we will need to make private equity available to the growth stage companies building products and services that will, alongside important real asset initiatives, enable decarbonization. We are excited to continue to pursue this opportunity as part of SDCL, where together we can create a one-stop-shop financing platform focused entirely on the energy transition."

Sustainable Development Capital LLP

Established in 2007, Sustainable Development Capital LLP is a specialist investment firm with a proven track record of financing and developing clean energy, energy efficiency and decentralized energy projects in the UK, Continental Europe, North America, and Asia. SDCL was founded to facilitate investment into environmental infrastructure markets and has since launched several funds pioneering energy efficiency solutions. SDCL has raised several innovative energy efficiency investment vehicles, including the first such vehicle listed on the London Stock Exchange. SDCL has also completed more than 50 green energy solution investments since 2007 and has over $2 billion of AUM. For more information, visit www.sdclgroup.com.

Volery Capital

Volery Capital is a growth-stage private equity firm that invests in rapidly growing companies that power the energy transition. Volery's portfolio includes technology, software, and services companies that are thematically focused on the energy transition and resource efficiency. Volery manages several private equity vehicles with an explicit focus on companies that address climate change and/or promote inclusive economic growth, as well as a particular mandate dedicated to investments that support grid modernization. For more information, visit www.volerycapital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130693564/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Brunswick Group

+44 0207404 5959

sdcl@brunswickgroup.com
- The liqueur brand has launched its much-awaited Christmas campaign based on the scientific finding confirming that our lives flash before our eyes just before we die

MADRID, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Galician liqueur brand Ruavieja has launched "The movie of your life," its Christmas campaign designed by TBWA\Spain, the creative agency led by Juan Garcia-Escudero. The project, which is inspired by a scientific discovery made by neurosurgeon Ajmal Zemmar, aims to encourage people to reflect on life and the importance of all those moments that together make up each person's story.

A campaign based on a scientific discovery

Renowned neurosurgeon Ajmal Zemmar, a doctor and assistant professor at the University of Louisville, and his team witnessed a remarkable serendipitous event: the first-ever recording of a person's brain activity in the last seconds of their life.

The result confirms the theory that life flashes before our eyes when we pass away. This finding was reported in the study published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience in 2022.

Eight people, one life experiment

Ruavieja has used this finding to create its Christmas campaign, which has a powerful message: a person's story is made up of shared moments that will be remembered at the very end.

To represent this in a tangible way, eight people took part in a unique experiment: making "the movie of their life." They were called without knowing they were about to have a unique experience: watching a large projection of what a film of their lives would look like just now. A collection of the most important moments of their existence, with something in common for all participants: the stars of the film were their loved ones.

Ruavieja then captured the moment when they watched the film, as well as their reactions, reminding us of the importance of spending time with the people we love.

The campaign takes the spirit of the iconic 2018 "We have to see more of each other" campaign and ends with the same slogan, reminding us to prioritise what really matters in life.

The advertisement was designed by the agency TBWA\Spain led by Juan Garcia-Escudero and was directed by Felix Fernandez de Castro. The "soundtrack to their lives" was composed by the renowned Goya- and Latin Grammy Award-winning composer Fernando Velazquez, with an original song for the videos and the project.

YouTube link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgmOXJ8Djyc

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2287129/Ruavieja.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ruavieja-brings-you-another-moving-christmas-campaign-301999262.html
OSLO, Norway, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XPENG Motors ("XPENG" or the "Company," NYSE: XPEV and HKEX: 9868), a leading Chinese smart EV company, becomes the first Chinese car brand to win "People's Favorite 2024", also known as 'folkets favoritt', with the XPENG G9 in Norway's renowned "Car of The Year" awards.

"People's Favorite" is part of the prestigious award "Car of the Year 2024" which is carried out for the nineteenth year in a row by Dagbladet in collaboration with media publications Dinside and Elbil24. Readers of Dagbladet, Dinside and Elbil24 in Norway voted for their favorite car for a month, with the XPENG G9 winning with 15.22 percent of the vote.

Managing Director of XPeng Motors Norway, Claes Persson, expressed gratitude for this award:

"We consider this to be an incredibly distinguished award, especially because the people chose us as the winner. We look forward to developing our current and upcoming electric car models further."

Editor in Elbil24, Fred Magne Skillebk, said of the extensive test:

"It was a tight race all to the end, but then there were also strong competitors XPENG eventually knocked out. In the end, XPENG took a strong lead, eventually ending up with 15.22 percent of the vote. Number two reached 13.88 percent."

Since XPENG began delivering the XPENG G9 to customers earlier this year, it has become the sixth most registered electric car in Norway (November 2023). The car brings some of the most powerful and advanced EV technology to Europe, including XPENG's latest powertrain system with 800 V Silicon Carbide (SiC) platform for ultra-fast charging of up to 300 kW, allowing drivers to add up to 100 km of range in just five minutes.

The award not only represents a victory for the brand, but also recognition of its commitment to innovation and quality. Along with seven other nominees shortlisted for the award, XPENG G9 has now progressed to the finalist stage of the selection of "Car of the Year 2024", which will be announced on 5th December.

For more information on the voting percentage split, please see here.

About XPENG

XPENG is a global smart electric vehicle company founded in 2014 in Guangzhou, China, developing clean, intuitive, and creative mobility solutions. With industry-leading R&D facilities, XPENG is bringing vehicles with superior safety, electric efficiency, and on-road performance to markets across the globe. The company is constantly working to advance its core technology offering, including autonomous driving capabilities, SEPA 2.0, and captivating in-car infotainment systems. XPENG has headquarters in Guangzhou and Amsterdam, with additional offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Silicon Valley.

Visit heyxpeng.com for more information.

Contacts

For Media Enquiries: pr@xiaopeng.com


JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - Liat Beinin Atzili, a U.S.-Israeli high school teacher, is among 16 more hostages released by Hamas.



Liat, 49, is the second U.S. citizen to be released after the militants freed four-year-old Abigail Edan, who lost both her parents, last week.



The mother of three children, Liat was also working as a guide at Israel's Holocaust memorial Museum Yad Vashem.



Liat and her husband Aviv Atzili were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Hamas militants in the October 7 attack.



Aviv Atzili still remains in the custody of Hamas with nearly 160 other hostages, which includes around 10 American citizens.



President Joe Biden said Washington remains determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas, including Liat's husband Aviv.



Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the pause in fighting to facilitate the release of more hostages and let more humanitarian assistance into Gaza for one more day.



Israel-Hamas truce was extended for a seventh day at the last minute, after both sides reportedly directing their military wings to get ready to resume fighting.



The deal to pause the fighting in Gaza has delivered meaningful results, according to Biden. Nearly 100 hostages have been returned to their families. The United States has led the international community to use this pause to accelerate the delivery of additional humanitarian assistance into the Palestinian enclave. More than 200 trucks loaded with aid, including food, water, medicine, shelter supplies, fuel, and cooking gas, have entered Gaza each of the last few days.



For the first time since this conflict began, aid reached northern Gaza. The United States airlifted more than 54,000 pounds of medical equipment and food aid to the humanitarian distribution center in Egypt - the first of three deliveries of critical supplies that will go to civilians in Gaza.



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Proceeding rapidly on its strategic path to profitability, Planting Hope attained FY 2023 YTD gross revenues of $7.9M (CAD $10.7M) and Q3 2023 gross revenues of $1.9M (CAD $2.6M), reflecting anticipated gross revenue decreases versus FY 2022 of 22% and versus Q3 2022 of 48%. Revenue decreases were driven by the selective cutting of unprofitable accounts, promotional programs, and products, primarily at Grocery Retail, which freed up both management time and capital to focus on transactionally profitable customers, particularly Foodservice accounts.

The Company realized a Gross Margin of 22% for Q3 2023, an improvement of 13 points or 144% over the Q3 2022 Gross Margin of 9%, primarily driven by the planned shifts in channel, customer, and product focus, moving away from developmental grocery retail accounts that require significant ongoing promotional investment. Gross margins are expected to further improve over time with additional scale and Foodservice focus.

Concurrently, SG&A expenses decreased by 17% for YTD 2023 to $7.6M (CAD $10.3M) and by 13% for Q3 2023 to $2.5M (CAD $3.3M), further demonstrating the Company's commitment to efficient use of capital throughout the organization.

YTD 2023 EBITDA improved by 9% versus the same period in 2022 (from -$7.1M to -$6.5M | CAD -$9.6M to -$8.8M), and EBITDA for Q3 2023 improved by 13% versus Q3 2023 (from -$2.5M to -$2.1M | CAD -$3.3M to -$2.9M). These significant improvements can be attributed to management's adherence to the Company's strategic plan and focus on its path to profitability.

CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(OTCQB:MYLKF)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a dynamic Foodtech innovation company dedicated to creating breakthrough delicious, sustainable food and beverage solutions through cutting-edge ingredient, formulation, and packaging technology, is pleased to report financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

"In the first half of 2023, we realigned our strategy with capital markets expectations and focused on increasing bottom line profitability, with the goal of achieving ongoing profitability on a solid recurring revenue base within six quarters," said Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-Founder, Planting Hope. "We are well on track to turning the corner on profitability by the end of Q2 2024, and our Q3 2023 results reflect achievements towards that goal. Given the magnitude of the shift in a short period of time, charges and costs related to these changes will be absorbed throughout 2023, including the costs of exiting discontinued products and reduced topline revenue while we shift focus to high-velocity, high-profitability, low-investment channels like Foodservice. By mid-2024 we expect that our results will reflect the combination of margin improvements and cost reductions that can return ongoing profitability."

"We are also seeing demand scale rapidly for our products - we are successfully hitting the demand 'flywheel' from consumers, retailers, distributors, and foodservice operators, and our products are validated as right time, right place, right trends. Our product demand is scaling rapidly, and management is diligently focused on effectively meeting that demand," continued Ms. Stamberger.

"We are focusing our efforts on developing two key brands first: Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice. Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk continues to win kudos, awards, and build demand as the first of its kind globally and the first new disruptive plant-based milk category, with the potential to shift the global category, just as oat milk did (scaling from $45M to $6B in seven years). Demonstrably the most sustainable and scalable plant-based milk, with comparable nutrition to dairy milk and 92% less water usage as well as excellent performance in barista beverages, sesame milk is seeing accelerated demand from international customers as well as in North America," Ms. Stamberger stated. "RightRice, which adds 22g of complete protein to any 'bowl' meal, is equally of interest across the Foodservice spectrum. RightRice has significant realized gross margins today, especially packaged in bulk for foodservice. Hope and Sesame is getting closer to our target margins for the product (minimum 40% at scale), especially as our focus is now exclusively on shelf-stable aseptically packaged Tetra Pak cartons and we have exited refrigerated bottles (as of Q2 2023)."

"In short, management is diligently focused on profitable, streamlined execution across its business, and scaling a solid base of transactionally profitable revenue to build on for the long term," concluded Ms. Stamberger. "The company is continuing to leverage the value of our substantial Foodtech-driven IP portfolio to deliver consumer and shareholder value, and to lay the foundation for a long-term and successful enterprise."

Q3 2023 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

During Q3 2023, the Company reported the following results versusQ3 2022:

Earned $1.9 million of gross revenues, a decrease of 48% in comparison to $3.7 million earned in Q3 2022.

Earned $1.6 million of net revenues, a decrease of 41% in comparison to $2.7 million earned in Q3 2022.

Earned $0.4 million in gross profit, an increase of 33% in comparison to $0.3 million earned in Q3 2022.

Improved SG&A expenses by 13% (approximately $0.4 million).

Improved interest and accretion expenses by 26%.

Adjusted EBITDA of ($2.1) million compared to ($2.5) million in Q3 2022, an improvement of 13%.

During the 9 months September 2023 the Company reported the following results versus the 9 months September 2022:

Earned $7.9 million of gross revenues, a decrease of 18% compared to $9.5 million earned in the 9 months September 2022.

Earned $5.6 million of net revenues, a decrease of 22% compared to $7.2 million of net revenues earned in the 9 months September 2022.

Earned $1.5 million in gross profit, a decrease of 25% compared to $2.0 million earned in the 9 months September 2022

Improved SG&A expenses by 17% (approximately $1.5 million).

Improved interest and accretion expenses by 30%.

Adjusted EBITDA of ($6.5) million compared to ($7.1) million in the 9 months September 2022, an improvement of 9%.

It should be noted that a substantial amount of SG&A expense represents variable costs tied to sales volume associated with key channels for the Company, including Amazon.com and QVC. These costs do not represent discretionary sales and marketing spend but rather seller fees and fulfillment fees from these channel partners, and the only way to reduce these costs is to reduce sales in these channels.

Results of these shifts will be seen throughout 2023 and the stage is set to turn the corner on ongoing profitability by mid-2024, further accelerating the Company's original timeline to achieve break-even. Q2 2023 and Q3 2023 were the first quarters to markedly reflect the strategic shift to higher profitability customers and channels and the concurrent elimination of promotional and trade spend programs that in certain instances drove sales revenue but not net profitability. As anticipated, the implemented changes resulted in lower quarterly gross sales revenue as the Company pulled back on trade spend in Grocery Retail, including removing standard quarterly 'off-invoice' promotions that typically drove forward-buying at a discount to load up distribution warehouses. Longer term, the result will be ongoing transactional profitability on sales revenue from Grocery Retail - lower topline sales, higher bottom-line margin.

During Q3 2023, as the Company made changes within its sales channels to focus efforts on more profitable customers, reducing retail promotions, and navigating periodic inventory availability challenges related to restricted capital, gross revenue declined for the first time in 2023. Gross revenue for the 9 months ended September 2023 was at $7.9M versus $9.5M for the 9 months 2022. With this shift, the company realized an increase in its gross profit for Q3 2023, meeting the goal of improving the Company's gross profit, which will ultimately lead to improved EBITDA.

The Company also continued to focus on reductions within Selling, General and Administrative ("SG&A") expenses resulting in $0.4 million of savings in Q3 2023 and $1.5 million of savings for the nine months ended September 2023. SG&A reductions were realized through cuts in Payroll, Sales and Marketing spend, and in reductions in General Expenditures. These reductions are not expected to have negative long-term impacts on the Company.

SELECT Q3 2023 ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:

Continued distribution expansion of Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk and RightRice bulk foodservice product into key distributors, influential partners, and leading foodservice retail operations across the U.S., including:

Addition of Regional Distributors: Pete's Milk Delivery (Seattle WA) - A division of Catapult NW, a major regional foodservice and retail distributor in the Northwest Region of the US, Pete's services 300+ espresso bar, cafe, and tea cafe locations. Pete's has added Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk to its catalog. Nicholas and Company Foodservice Distributors (Salt Lake City, UT) -- Added both Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk and RightRice bulk foodservice product to their catalogs; purchasing inventory from redistribution partner DOT Foods (Mt. Sterling, IL).

Continued expansion of RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice in Foodservice and CAVA Restaurants (NYSE: CAVA) nationwide. CAVA Restaurants had a successful IPO listing on the NYSE on June 15, 2023, raising expansion capital to more than triple their current store footprint of 270 stores by the end of the decade.

A primary application of RightRice in Foodservice with the potential to drive significant volume is in 'Bowls', a top menu trend from restaurants to corporate and college campuses. More nutritious and easier to handle operationally than cauliflower rice (which requires frozen supply and has a shorter shelf life), with a stronger supply chain and typically competitive or lower-priced than quinoa, RightRice also supplies 11g of complete protein per serving. Ounce-for-ounce RightRice has comparable complete protein to salmon, 3 times the protein in tofu, and 25% more protein than most alternative meats (Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger).

Expanded Retail distribution of Mozaics Real Veggie Chips with the addition of Whole Foods Markets entire US store group. 515 Whole Foods Stores are now stocking 3 SKUs of Mozaics for 1,545 points of distribution for the brand. Negotiated as a profitable retail distribution partnership from the outset, this distribution provides excellent brand visibility and awareness in retail locations that are a perfect fit for the Company's core customer demographic of 'flexitarian' consumers adding 'better for you' plant-based foods to their pantries.

Doubled topline sales in Direct-to-Consumer Ecommerce channel PlantingHopeBrands.com from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023 through cross-sell initiatives, promotions, and optimized user experience. Notably, the Company grew its average order value by 22% to over $60 USD per transaction. Additionally, the Company is continuing to see strong (~5.7) 'Return On Ad Spend' (ROAS) on Amazon.com with demonstrated customer loyalty and repeat purchase rates of 40%. Company products sold online have an average customer rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Ecommerce is a profitable area for the Company and has multiple operational and customer development benefits; this is a potential area to scale more aggressively in the future with incremental marketing investment.

Reduced and managed spend on SG&A expenses, including marketing, professional fees, freight, and payroll to align with resources and path to profitability.

Planting Hope's team showcased RightRice bulk foodservice product at CAVA Connect, the annual gathering of CAVA Mediterranean Restaurants senior management, regional directors, and store management personnel. In all, over 600 people were able to taste RightRice in several new menu offering ideations, including CAVA's CEO and its Culinary Development team.

Continued success on QVC with six additional airings across RightRice, Mozaics, and Veggicopia, as well as a new product airing for Argo Ready-To-Drink Teas in September 2023. All three Planting Hope Brands products with recurring spots on QVC were named as finalists in the QVC 2023 Customer Choice Food Awards. Mozaics Real Veggie Chips and Veggicopia Greek Snack Olives were nominated for 'Best Snack' and RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice was nominated for 'Best Smart Swap'. This marked the first nomination for Veggicopia Greek Snack Olives; both RightRice and Mozaics were also nominated in 2022.

Planting Hope Brands showcased multiple brands and products at the KeHE Foods Summer Show where Hope and Sesame Chocolate Sesamemilk received the acclaimed 2023 KeHE Holiday Show On Trend Award for the Dairy & Refrigerated category, marking the 12 th major industry award for Hope and Sesame since 2021. KeHE is one of the leading food and beverage distributors in North America, servicing more than 30,000 retail doors across the United States, from major grocery retail and specialty chains to natural retailers and independent grocery stores.

major industry award for Hope and Sesame since 2021. KeHE is one of the leading food and beverage distributors in North America, servicing more than 30,000 retail doors across the United States, from major grocery retail and specialty chains to natural retailers and independent grocery stores. Received articles and press mentions from notable publications including Nosh, Forbes, Consumer Reports, VegOut, Food Navigator-USA, Daily Mom, Crain's Chicago Business, and Vegconomist, resulting in over 100 million total potential impressions. Consumer Reports, the leading independent publication for consumer product information, featured sesame milk in the article 'Is Milk Good For You?', part of their September 2023 'Live Healthier Longer' issue. Sesame milk, described as having a 'toasty flavor', is called out as a core subcategory in plant milk next to almond, oat, soy, cashew, and coconut, and Hope and Sesame is featured as the category leader in sesame.

Team Hires & Role Changes:

To complement the strategic shift to Foodservice, in the first half of 2023 the Company reorganized its Sales and Marketing divisions to direct resources to building out the Foodservice channel and to focus internal expertise on managing profitability in the Grocery Retail channel (targeting transactionally profitable business and increased velocity). The Company also realigned its brokerage partners to strategically fit its business objectives, and added key Foodservice representation, as reflected below:

Changed Role : James Curley, Co-founder / EVP Sales

Mr. Curley has returned to leading the Grocery Retail channel for Planting Hope, which he did prior to the hiring of the former Chief Sales Officer. Mr. Curley has 45 years of Sales and Business Development expertise in Natural and Specialty packaged food brands distributed across Grocery Retail and related channels. As both an executive and a consultant, Mr. Curley has led multiple teams that successfully grew sales from the 'start-up' phase to run rates exceeding $50 million in annual revenue. A recognized expert in consumer product development in the Natural/Specialty CPG arena, Mr. Curley is a featured expert at industry events, focusing on start-up and scaling dynamics for early-stage brands and on successful execution with Grocery Retailers and Food and Beverage distributors.

Mr Curley's focus in this role includes : 1) eliminating transactionally unprofitable retail business; 2) realigning retail sales to focus on customers delivering profitability; 3) realigning distributor relationships and strategy to improve profitability; 4) strategically adding new transactionally profitable Grocery Retail distribution in key markets; 5) overseeing the profitability picture and strategic growth for the full Sales function at Planting Hope.

Mr. Curley has returned to leading the Grocery Retail channel for Planting Hope, which he did prior to the hiring of the former Chief Sales Officer. Mr. Curley has 45 years of Sales and Business Development expertise in Natural and Specialty packaged food brands distributed across Grocery Retail and related channels. As both an executive and a consultant, Mr. Curley has led multiple teams that successfully grew sales from the 'start-up' phase to run rates exceeding $50 million in annual revenue. A recognized expert in consumer product development in the Natural/Specialty CPG arena, Mr. Curley is a featured expert at industry events, focusing on start-up and scaling dynamics for early-stage brands and on successful execution with Grocery Retailers and Food and Beverage distributors. : 1) eliminating transactionally unprofitable retail business; 2) realigning retail sales to focus on customers delivering profitability; 3) realigning distributor relationships and strategy to improve profitability; 4) strategically adding new transactionally profitable Grocery Retail distribution in key markets; 5) overseeing the profitability picture and strategic growth for the full Sales function at Planting Hope. Promoted/Expanded Role: Jeannie Andolena - SVP of Marketing + Ecommerce

Ms. Andolena joined Planting Hope in March 2022 as the Company's Vice President of Ecommerce and her background includes extensive training in the Consumer-Packaged Goods industry and senior leadership roles at Jet.com, Walmart.com, and online food distributor VEDGEco.

Ms. Andolena's focus in this role includes: 1) building an effective consumer marketing function leveraging low-cost, guerilla tactics including social media to drive brand awareness; 2) building brand partnerships; 3) driving E-tail revenue, with a twin focus on brand exposure and profitability, in channels from Ecommerce to QVC.

Ms. Andolena joined Planting Hope in March 2022 as the Company's Vice President of Ecommerce and her background includes extensive training in the Consumer-Packaged Goods industry and senior leadership roles at Jet.com, Walmart.com, and online food distributor VEDGEco. 1) building an effective consumer marketing function leveraging low-cost, guerilla tactics including social media to drive brand awareness; 2) building brand partnerships; 3) driving E-tail revenue, with a twin focus on brand exposure and profitability, in channels from Ecommerce to QVC. Added: Becky Harrison, VP of Foodservice Operations

Ms. Harrison joined Planting Hope from Good Catch and Wicked Kitchen where she led the Foodservice initiatives for both brands. Prior to that, she developed the full Foodservice channel for Coconut Bliss (now owned by HumanCo).

Ms. Harrison's focus in this role includes: 1) building out Planting Hope's brands across Foodservice channels; 2) adding and developing distributors and brokers; 3) developing scalable relationships with Fast Casual chains.

New Sales Partners and Brokerage Relationships:

The following new expert brokers and leading sales partners are now contracted to represent Planting Hope products in their designated channels and markets:

Chef Andy Co (Entiat, WA) - Chef Andy Co. offers expert sales execution for Food Manufacturers in the Northwest region. Our services include end-user sales calls, distribution support and culinary support for R & D formulations and presentations.

- Chef Andy Co. offers expert sales execution for Food Manufacturers in the Northwest region. Our services include end-user sales calls, distribution support and culinary support for R & D formulations and presentations. Melinda Cross Sales (Huntington Beach, CA) - offering representation of our brands to 'better for you' foodservice operators across Southern CA, including healthcare, Fast Casual, and education segments.

(Huntington Beach, CA) - offering representation of our brands to 'better for you' foodservice operators across Southern CA, including healthcare, Fast Casual, and education segments. Sunbelt Foods (Norcross GA) - Sunbelt Foods is a full service food sales and marketing company founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1973. For over 40 years, Sunbelt Foods has provided its principals with in-depth market knowledge, lasting relationships with distributors, chain accounts and operators in Georgia, the South and nationally. Sunbelt is representing our entire Portfolio to regional foodservice operators as well as national operators based in their coverage area.

(Norcross GA) - Sunbelt Foods is a full service food sales and marketing company founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1973. For over 40 years, Sunbelt Foods has provided its principals with in-depth market knowledge, lasting relationships with distributors, chain accounts and operators in Georgia, the South and nationally. Sunbelt is representing our entire Portfolio to regional foodservice operators as well as national operators based in their coverage area. Infinity Worlds (Bentonville AR), division of The Barcode Group - representing Planting Hope's brands to the Walmart corporate retail and club segments for in-store foodservice, retail, and club store opportunities.

OUTLOOK AND GROWTH

Throughout the balance of 2023, the Company's continued focus is on realigning its business for profitable scaling ahead, laying strong groundwork to scale Hope and Sesame, RightRice, and Mozaics in Foodservice, and growing Grocery Retail with a focus on transactionally profitable accounts and improving overall retail channel profitability. Strong focus is being paid to constructing a solid platform under the brands and the Company to scale the business rapidly and profitably after the achievement of ongoing break-even operations.

In looking at expansion opportunities, the Company is evaluating strategic relationships and opportunities that enable it to accelerate its Foodservice business. The Company announced in August 2023 that it had successfully closed an acquisition of the assets of Argo Tea, a tea cafe company with a 20-year multinational brand and taken over its master agreements with managed Foodservice providers. This opportunity opens immediate active relationships with the top managed Foodservice operators (Aramark, Sodexo) and Foodservice distributors (Sysco, Performance Food Group), as well as previous agreements and relationships with Delaware North, Compass, and other managed Foodservice providers which became dormant due to COVID. In addition to a large North American footprint, each of these large managed Foodservice providers operates across multiple countries and geographies outside of the U.S., and each generates more than $10 billion in annual revenues, controlling multi-billions in annual food and beverage spend.

Foodservice Channel Focus:

Today, more than 56% of meals in the U.S. are eaten outside of the home[1]. The Foodservice channel, identified as a core priority by Management, encompasses outlets from quick-service and fast-casual restaurants to coffee shops and cafes to 'grab & go' to managed and institutional Foodservice (colleges, institutions, corporations).

The Foodservice channel is a priority for the Company for reasons that include:

The Company's products were designed to be ideal fits for the channel, with significant opportunities to scale with unique, breakthrough, relevant, on-trend items;

Higher realized net margins;

Faster adoption (in single locations/small chains);

Faster scaling and velocities by customer (as an example: one average cafe could sell through the same weekly velocity of Hope and Sesame Barista Sesamemilk as 20 retail stores);

Large single customer development opportunities;

SKU concentration leading to supply side efficiencies and near-term margin improvements;

Lower channel development costs;

Limited/no charge backs or promotional programs required outside of sampling;

Provides exposure ('free marketing') to consumers through the integration of products on menus;

Fast payment terms, on time/in full, without deductions; and

Opportunities to partner with distributors to develop the channel, from regional coffee distributors to DOT Foods (redistributor) and broadline distributors.

It should be noted that product demand in Foodservice channels is typically concentrated on a limited number of core 'workhorse' products and bestsellers for each product line or brand (i.e. Original RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend). The Foodservice channel does not have the continual demand for new finished goods flavors or varieties to expand assortments and attract new customers that is seen in Grocery Retail. Rather the focus is on products that are levered as ingredients in creative menu development conducted at the operational level (as for Hope and Sesame, RightRice) or the core bestselling flavors in 'grab and go' ready-to-eat items (as for Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, Veggicopia Veggie Snacks). Fewer SKUs are required to meet customer needs effectively, and typically buying is in bulk amounts/larger case packages versus retail, providing cost and pricing efficiencies that are realized and scale more quickly.

Argo Tea Acquisition Strategically Accelerates Foodservice Channel Development

Adding to the accelerated Foodservice development strategy, the Company announced in August 2023 that it had successfully closed an acquisition of the assets of Argo Tea, a tea cafe company with a 20-year multinational brand and taken over its master agreements with managed Foodservice providers. This opportunity opens up immediate active relationships with the top managed Foodservice operators (Aramark, Sodexo) and Foodservice distributors (Sysco, Performance Food Group), as well as previous agreements and relationships with Delaware North, Compass, and other managed Foodservice providers which became dormant due to COVID. In addition to a large North American footprint, each of these large managed Foodservice providers operates across multiple countries and geographies outside of the U.S., and each generates more than $10 billion in annual revenues, controlling multi-billions in annual food and beverage spend.

Key Priorities For The Balance Of 2023

Business building:

Key Priority: Hope and Sesame Barista Blend in Foodservice - Partnering directly with distributors and brokers to open new cafes and restaurants for Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk, including a heavy focus on driving cafe sampling, trial, and development and launch of Limited Time Offer (LTO) specialty beverages featuring sesame milk to drive consumer awareness and adoption. The Company is continuing to build out its network of regional cafe distributors, and in August 2023 announced the addition of leading regional distributors Pete's Dairy (Pacific Northwest) and DWC (Midwest).

- Partnering directly with distributors and brokers to open new cafes and restaurants for Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk, including a heavy focus on driving cafe sampling, trial, and development and launch of Limited Time Offer (LTO) specialty beverages featuring sesame milk to drive consumer awareness and adoption. The Company is continuing to build out its network of regional cafe distributors, and in August 2023 announced the addition of leading regional distributors Pete's Dairy (Pacific Northwest) and DWC (Midwest). Associated Program : The 'Barista 1000' - In Q3 2023, the Company launched their 'Barista 1000' marketing program, with a goal of getting 1,000 new independent cafe customers to adopt Hope and Sesame Barista sesamemilk on their menus by the end of Q2 2024. In addition to initial samples, the cafes are receiving a trial offer that enables them to receive free cases to test an LTO with their customers. It should be noted that the average cafe uses 5-10 cases per type of barista milk per week (oat, soy, almond). Extrapolated to sesame milk, the incremental revenue projected from each additional 1,000 cafes is estimated to add a minimum of -$1M/quarter.

In the first month of this program more than 2,000 leading influential cafe owners, decision makers, and baristas were sampled directly by the Company or through its distributors (delivering sample products to their customers). Sampling is the most cost-effective marketing tool available. Given the limited investment costs required to sample a cafe and sponsor a trial, each cafe is transactionally profitable on an ongoing basis within 6-12 weeks from adoption.

The Company sees the goal of 1,000 incremental leading independent cafes as a tipping point number to kick off accelerated adoption across the channel given the number of customers served by each cafe and the geography covered by the footprint. Early adopter cafes are powerful influencers and overall tend to reach a discriminating and engaged audience.

Key Priority: Argo 2.0 : The company is actively defining its forward looking plans for Argo cafes, including its strategic partners and products that will further the company's nutritional/ingredients with a purchase and sustainability missions. The Company is rebranding Argo 'bubbles' as Argo Bijoux Jellies, providing them with branding that will fuel unique positing in beverage foodservice cafe distribution beyond Argo cafes (this expansion is a goal for 2024).

: The company is actively defining its forward looking plans for Argo cafes, including its strategic partners and products that will further the company's nutritional/ingredients with a purchase and sustainability missions. The Company is rebranding Argo 'bubbles' as Argo Bijoux Jellies, providing them with branding that will fuel unique positing in beverage foodservice cafe distribution beyond Argo cafes (this expansion is a goal for 2024). Key Priority: RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice in Foodservice : Partnering directly with distributors and brokers to open opportunities for RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice in restaurants and managed Foodservice, including Fast Casual chains, building on the demonstrated success of RightRice on both operational and consumer adoption levels in CAVA Restaurants and others. This includes the expansion of RightRice as an ingredient in prepared foods sold in Foodservice and at retail locations.

: Partnering directly with distributors and brokers to open opportunities for RightRice High Protein Veggie Rice in restaurants and managed Foodservice, including Fast Casual chains, building on the demonstrated success of RightRice on both operational and consumer adoption levels in CAVA Restaurants and others. This includes the expansion of RightRice as an ingredient in prepared foods sold in Foodservice and at retail locations. Additional Priority: Mozaics Real Veggie Chips : Mozaics continue to succeed with consumers (for the second year in the row, voted top Customer Favorite by QVC customers), and the Company will continue to develop distribution in Foodservice channels as well as targeted Retail where it makes sense. Foodservice has long been in search of a 'healthy chip' that succeeds with consumers and can fit into grab & go sections adjacent to fried chips; Mozaics fill this gap. Currently Mozaics are distributed into corporate campuses with trials underway at multiple university campuses this Fall.

: Mozaics continue to succeed with consumers (for the second year in the row, voted top Customer Favorite by QVC customers), and the Company will continue to develop distribution in Foodservice channels as well as targeted Retail where it makes sense. Foodservice has long been in search of a 'healthy chip' that succeeds with consumers and can fit into grab & go sections adjacent to fried chips; Mozaics fill this gap. Currently Mozaics are distributed into corporate campuses with trials underway at multiple university campuses this Fall. Expand ecommerce and e-tail business; levering cost-effective social media marketing and influencer sampling to increase sales.

Continue to build on success in social media marketing and influencer coverage through sampling to build awareness of all products. Goal: drive awareness of the products to increase online sales and to draw attention to the products outside of the crowded store environment where the consumer is focused on shopping their list, not on new item awareness.

Target transactionally profitable retail opportunities, including clients like Warehouse/Club Retailers (i.e. Costco, Sam's, BJs), which do not require substantial initial upfront investment or support to deliver profitable sales.

Continue accelerating consumer awareness of Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, driving trial, adoption, and usage though cafes with the aim of heightening future demand in grocery retail stores.

Continue to expand e-tail and ecommerce distribution, including the Company's digital footprint and scaling the direct- to-consumer (D2C) business, Amazon.com presence and revenue, and expanding presence and sales on third party e-commerce marketplaces, both B2C (consumer) and B2B (wholesale).

Implement internal infrastructure solutions to further build the Company's operational base to support effective and rapid scaling, including continued implementation of NetSuite ERP modules, continuing the installation initiated in late Q3 2022.

Focus Product Development and innovation on new items or rollouts of new items acquired through strategic acquisitions on products with potential for significant scale within in Foodservice and direct application to the same customers and distributors already opened for current product lines.

Improved Profitability Through Strategic Cost Reduction:

Continue to evaluate Grocery Retail and associated distributor programs for profitability, culling promotional programs without net positive return (i.e. associated increased retailer purchasing to support a visible and effective promotion), and cutting distribution that does not have a profitable near-term horizon.

Renegotiate with Grocery Retail distribution partners and other vendors to cut costs where possible.

Work with vendors and comanufacturers to identify areas to increase margin and reduce COGS on the production side.

Identify lower cost distribution opportunities to reach retailers, including regional distributors.

Cull unprofitable channels and/or products; focus inventory dollars on high-velocity, profitability-driving SKUs over developmental SKUs.

Consolidate SKUs and production to a tailored combination of best-selling SKUs, allowing for more efficient production runs and lower COGS. It should be noted that the products with the most potential for significant scale in the Foodservice channel, including Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk and Original RightRice, are also the lower-cost SKUs within their product lines.

Continue to evaluate ways to slim SG&A and variable expenses without impacting opportunity to grow profitability and long-term scaling.

Intellectual Property Valuation:

The Planting Hope Company has a defined IP strategy, that includes a specific approach to development, protection, and continuous improvement to their IP assets. The Company has engaged global intellectual property (IP) valuation firm Metis Partners to conduct an in-depth third-party valuation of the Company's deep bench of IP (Planting Hope Recognized for Food Technology Leadership, IP Valuation Underway).

Metis Partners' process includes identifying both an IP Score reflecting IP quality, as well as an IP valuation range. Depending on the strength of its IP Score, the Company could earn a coveted spot on the Metis Partners IP100 list. The Metis Partners IP100 is an annual ranking of companies based on a rating of their IP asset strength and track record in exploiting IP and is recognized as the leading global intellectual property league table. Per Metis Partners, businesses featured on the IP100 are the most effective at commercializing their IP assets. The Metis Partners IP scoring process involves an assessment of IP-specific data linked to the following IP asset classes: brands, software, patents, trade secrets, and critical databases. The IP100 research team uses its proprietary process to calculate an IP Score and subsequent ranking for each company.



The Company received the results of this valuation, the Company's IP was valued at more than $50 million and ranked 32nd out of 100 on Metis's IP ranking list. (this valuation was done prior to the acquisition of Argo, as such the value of the Argo IP would be additive).

Today the Company's deep IP bench is an unrecognized and unleveraged asset that it believes will be of significant size and value and be able to be used to secure additional non-dilutive debt financing. The Company is identifying channels to communicate their IP strategy and the value of their IP/Food Tech to the market and its shareholders.

Financial Statements & Management's Discussion and Analysis

This earnings press release should be read in conjunction with Planting Hope's consolidated annual and interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis thereto, which have been posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Company's website at www.plantinghopecompany.com.

About The Planting Hope Company Inc.

Planting Hope is reimagining and reinventing food today so that our planet can feed 10 billion people tomorrow. A Foodtech-driven company at the forefront of sustainable consumer food and beverage evolution, Planting Hope transforms nutrient-dense, widely cultivated crops into innovative, nutrient-rich products that reimagine pantry staples in the largest, fastest growing global food categories.

Our award-winning breakthrough brands, including Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, RightRice High-Protein Veggie Rice, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, are not only disrupting global markets but also significantly reducing environmental footprints. Available across the US and Canada in grocery retailers (Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Markets), through foodservice operators (CAVA Mediterranean restaurants - NYSE: CAVA), and e-commerce and alternative retail channels (Amazon, QVC), our products blend culinary innovation with advanced technology, offering breakthrough products with wide moats. Our products are poised to disrupt global food and beverage categories, make a positive impact on the world, and provide investors with valuable opportunities in the growing sustainable food market.

This is the food that Gen Z is demanding and that Gen Alpha will grow up with: this is the future of food.

Explore more at plantinghopecompany.com, sign up for Planting Hope news emails HERE and follow us on LinkedIn.

For Planting Hope product sales and distribution opportunities, please contact James Curley, EVP of Sales, at james@plantinghopecompany.com.

Contacts:

Company Contact:

Julia Stamberger

CEO and Co-Founder

(773) 492-2243

julia@plantinghopecompany.com

Investor Relations + Media Contact:

Elyssia Patterson

VP of Investor Relations

(312) 675-4996

Elyssia@plantinghopecompany.com

Media Contact:

Corinn Williams

(773) 492-2243

Corinn@plantinghopecompany.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including, but not limited to, statements about the Company's ability to execute on its goals, the timing pertaining to these goals the potential demand for the Company's products, the timing and success of anticipated product launches and distribution of the Company's products, the Company's business prospects, future trends, plans, scalability and strategies, that the Company will achieve profitability in the next few years, the timing of the Company's implementation of NetSuite, and the Company's key growth priorities for 2023 . In some cases, forward looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "continues", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. In preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that demand for the Company's product will be sustained or increase in accordance with management's projections, that the Company's internal research and analysis is indicative of broader market trends and the Company's anticipated future demand for its products, that changes in consumer preferences in the plant-based food industry will continue in accordance with the Company's expectations, that the Company's current business objectives can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry can be found in the Company's annual information form dated January 6, 2022 and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

[1] USDA Economic Research Service: 2022 U.S. Food-Away-From-Homem Spending

SOURCE: Planting Hope

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811718/planting-hope-drives-forward-profitability-path-achievements-improving-gross-margins-decreasing-sga-expenses-and-expanding-in-transactionally-profitable-channels-including-foodservice
NomuPay to enhance their gateway-agnostic payment offering through the addition of merchant servicing capabilities like recurring transaction management, risk analytics and payment orchestration.

DUBLIN, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NomuPay , a modern end-to-end payment platform purpose built for expansion into regions of high cross-border and ecommerce growth, has acquired merchant services and bespoke payment processing solution provider, Total Processing. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. NomuPay has confirmed the deal is a mixture of stock and cash. The deal, which comes just months after NomuPay's Series A funding announcement , will enable the Ireland-based company to accelerate their business expansion efforts throughout Southeast Asia, Europe, Turkey as well as enter the Middle East.

Previously named as one of the UK's fastest growing private financial technology companies by The Sunday Times, Total Processing's unique selling proposition is multifaceted. While the company prides itself on offering intuitive merchant services, including recurring-based payment collections and innovative merchant-facing portal, it was the organisation's unwavering dedication to customer service that ultimately captured the attention of NomuPay CEO, Peter Burridge. "In an industry that's plagued by over-automation, chatbots and so-called 'simple' solutions, Total Processing stands out as a company that truly cares about the merchant's experience," explained Burridge. "What impressed me the most was the team's mission and drive to become the 'most customer focused payments business in the world'; it's apparent at every stage of the value chain. From streamlining the onboarding process, to improving authorisation rates and simplifying chargeback management, Total Processing's consultative approach is maniacally focused on improving each and every one of their merchants' businesses."

Engineered to simplify fragmented payment infrastructure throughout Southeast Asia, Europe and Turkey; NomuPay's Unified Payments (uP) Platform provides scalable payment solutions and robust data management capabilities that are gateway agnostic. With the integration of Total Processing's merchant-centric services, the company plans to maintain this agnostic approach, providing gateway and payment service provider partners with turnkey reporting dashboards, transaction monitoring tools, multi-currency treasury management and cross-border disbursement capabilities. A licensed provider in Europe and multiple Southeast Asian countries, NomuPay will provide Total Processing with additional acquiring capabilities in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and the European Union. "Having NomuPay's acquiring capabilities underpinning our merchant servicing offering is a big leap forward, we're aligned in our customer-first approach, and this partnership will supercharge Total Processing's growth." said Robert Pailin, Total Processing's CEO. "With more resources we'll be able to innovate tech faster, expand into new markets, and bring even greater value to our merchants. Exciting times ahead!"

Following the acquisition, NomuPay plans to further scale Total Processing's merchant tooling into Hong Kong and other key Southeast Asian markets. The company will also leverage Total Processing's presence in the UK and UAE to further bolster their European operations and grow market share in the Middle East. "At NomuPay, our goal is to provide our customers with an 'all-access pass' to payments, future-proofing their ability to successfully scale in high-growth regions," said Burridge. "The acquisition of Total Processing will enable us to unlock that access through dedicated solutioning and customer-driven servicing.

Since announcing their funding round earlier this year NomuPay has continued to grow and expand their product offering. This includes the recent launch of their payout capabilities, which enables merchant disbursements throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

The modern end-to-end payment solution, NomuPay's Unified Payment (uP) Platform makes it easy to accept payments and send payouts in Europe and across the expansion markets of Southeast Asia and Turkey through a single integration. Purpose-built to support your international growth efforts, the uP Platform's secure API unlocks a wide range of payment acceptance methods, including card, buy-now-pay-later solutions, instalment payment plans, and local alternative payment methods in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Turkey. Architected to enable payouts based on your organisation's unique payment workflows, NomuPay's uP Platform provides payment providers, large enterprises, and sophisticated marketplaces with end-to-end payment visibility and traceability.?

Founded in 2021, NomuPay is Institutional funded and has a presence in Dublin, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Istanbul and Bangkok. The executive team is comprised of industry veterans with previous experience at Hyperwallet (a PayPal Service), US Bank, Barclays, Ingenico, Evo Payments, and American Express.?

For more information about NomuPay, visit: ?https://nomupay.com/ ?

Follow us on Linkedin at https://linkedin.com/company/nomupay

Established in 2015, Total Processing is transforming the payment industry with a relentless focus on customer-centricity. Based in Manchester, the company offers tailored payment solutions to simplify the merchant experience, enhanced reporting, and a market leading recurring payments platform. With access to an extensive network of acquirers, and a diverse range of payment methods, Total Processing is driving higher approval rates and revenue for businesses worldwide.

Total Processing's unwavering dedication to its customers, coupled with its cutting-edge payment technology, is setting new industry standards. Whether through innovative payment solutions or advanced fraud prevention tools, Total Processing empowers businesses to thrive in the digital economy.

For more information about Total Processing, please visit: https://www.totalprocessing.com/

Follow us on Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/total-processing

Ben Goldsmith, ben@goldsmithcomms.com, +44(0)7788295321

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nomupay-accelerates-growth-through-acquisition-of-total-processing-302002073.html
NATO-Ukraine Council holds first meeting at FM level

Xinhua) 13:24, November 30, 2023

KIEV, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) held its first meeting at the foreign ministers level on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported.

At the meeting, foreign ministers of Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) endorsed the substructure of the NUC and its work program for 2024, the NUC said in a statement published on the ministry's website.

According to it, NATO and Ukraine are already working on a broad range of issues, including interoperability, energy security, innovation, cyber defense, and resilience.

Besides, NATO continues to provide Ukraine with urgently needed non-lethal assistance, the statement said.

The NATO allies remain steadfast in their commitment to stepping up political and practical support to Ukraine, it said.

NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package(CAP) for Ukraine will be transformed into a multi-year program to help rebuild the Ukrainian security and defense sector and to support the country's defense in the long term, the NUC said.

The NUC was set up at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Saipem, a global leader in the engineering and construction, has been awarded two offshore contracts - one in Guyana and the other in Brazil - worth $1.9 billion.

The first contract has been awarded by ExxonMobils subsidiary ExxonMobil Guyana for the proposed Whiptail oilfield development located in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana, at a water depth of 2,000 meters, while the second contract has been awarded by Equinor for the Raia project located about 200 km offshore the state of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Saipem said for the Guyana project, its scope of work includes the design, fabrication and installation of subsea structures, risers, flowlines, and umbilicals for a large subsea production facility.

As per the deal, the Italian contractor will perform operations using its state-of-the art vessels FDS2, Constellation, and Castorone, and will deploy as key fabrication site for its execution model Saipems Guyana Offshore Construction Facility located at the Port of Georgetown, enhancing a sustainable steady growth in the country.

Subject to the necessary government approvals, the project sanction by ExxonMobil Guyana and its Stabroek block coventurers and an authorization to proceed with the final phase, the award will allow Saipem to begin some limited activities, namely detailed engineering and procurement.

On the Raia project, Saipem said the project scope includes development of a pre-salt gas and condensate field in the Campos Basin.

The work involves the offshore transport and installation of a subsea gas export line and associated equipment in water depths of around 2,900 m as well as the horizontal drilling activities for the shore approach. Saipem will deploy its state-of-the-art pipelaying vessel Castorone for the installation works.

With this project, Saipem will contribute to the realization of one of the most important gas development projects in Brazil, which could represent 15% of the total domestic demand of the Country. The extracted gas will be transported through pipelines installed by Saipem for 200 km from the field to a gas receiving facility to be built in Cabiunas, in the city of Macae in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

The two awards confirm, once again, the competitiveness of Saipems offer in bidding processes and the ability to build long term partnerships based on consistent performances. Moreover, they further strengthen the visibility on Saipems key assets utilization throughout 2027.-TradeArabia News Service
DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Saitama , a vanguard in the Web 3.0 domain, has announced its latest innovation, SaitaChain, a Layer 0 blockchain that promises to revolutionize decentralized finance (DeFi) with its exceptional transaction speeds and competitive fees. This groundbreaking platform is poised to transform the blockchain ecosystem, showcasing Saitama's innovative spirit and dedication to advancing blockchain technology.

SaitaChain is not merely an iteration of existing technology; it represents a fundamental shift in blockchain architecture. With its ability to infinitely scale through advanced sharding techniques, SaitaChain addresses the critical challenges of its Layer 1 counterparts, such as congestion and high gas fees. With the launch of the alpha testnet this month, this Layer 0 blockchain is a strategic leap forward, providing developers and users with a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly environment.

Central to the SaitaChain ecosystem is the Saitama Token, a versatile cryptocurrency that facilitates transactions and serves as the fuel for gas fees. The token's integration within SaitaChain is a clear indication of Saitama's vision for a decentralized financial system that prioritizes efficiency and affordability.

Complementing the announcement of SaitaChain is the introduction of XBridge , an innovative blockchain bridge that recently became operational, connecting the Ethereum (ERC) blockchain with the Binance Smart Chain (BSC). Launched on October 23, 2023, XBridge is a technological marvel that unlocks new levels of interoperability and flexibility in the DeFi space, enabling the seamless transfer of assets and providing users with expanded market access and enhanced liquidity options.

Saitama 's commitment to making DeFi accessible to everyone is evident in their suite of products. The Saitama Token, the SaitaPro app, and the SaitaCard are all part of a cohesive strategy to demystify and mainstream DeFi. The SaitaCard , in particular, stands out with its global ATM access, diverse payment options, and seamless integration with the SaitaPro app , all without the burden of monthly fees.

SaitaPro, a non-custodial wallet that supports multiple blockchains, offers a secure and intuitive platform for asset management. Its collaboration with ePayme enhances the user experience by simplifying the purchase of cryptocurrencies.

Saitama's expansion into logistics with SaitaLogistics , in partnership with ePayme, exemplifies their innovative use of blockchain technology in practical, real-world applications. This peer-to-peer logistics system facilitates secure cryptocurrency transactions, streamlining the shipping process on a global scale.

SaitaChain is the cornerstone of Saitama's growing ecosystem, which also includes SaitaSwap , an innovative decentralized multi-chain swap platform designed to facilitate trades for cryptocurrency enthusiasts with secure token trading capabilities.

In essence, SaitaChain is more than a blockchain-it is the foundation upon which Saitama is constructing a more inclusive, interconnected, and efficient blockchain ecosystem. As Saitama continues to lead the way in Layer 0 technology, they are not only shaping the current landscape of DeFi but also paving the way for its future evolution.

PR Contact:

Saitama

Dubai, UAE

https://www.saitamatoken.com/

SOURCE: Saitama







View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811720/saitama-announces-its-layer-0-blockchain--saitachain
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname.

Highlights

Gold mineralization extended over 50.0 m into Froyo-Ginger Connector Zone

Drillhole FR038 intersects three distinct gold zones (Table 1, Figures 1-2), including: 7.6 metres (m)* of 4.50 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from surface 9.0 m* of 3.04 g/t Au from 63.0 to 72.0 m 13.0 m* of 14.03 g/t Au from 77.0 to 90.0 m (Figure 3)

8.0 m of 12.34 g/t Au from 78.0 to 86.0 m in drill hole FR040

from 78.0 to 86.0 m in drill hole FR040 All Connector Zone holes intersected significant intervals of quartz/sulphide and assays are pending





Figure 1. Upper Antino area plan map. Long section line corresponds to Figure 2.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/189263_2cceb895644f4ad5_001full.jpg

Colin Padget, Founders' CEO and President, commented, "This release includes the first results from the previously undrilled 150 metre gap connecting the Froyo and Ginger prospect areas. The excellent, high-grade gold intervals reported in this release show impressive continuity of gold mineralization along strike. We are also very excited about the addition of from surface gold in saprolite such as the 7.6 m of 4.5 g/t Au at the top of FR038, as it broadens the gold mineralized footprint further east."





Figure 2. Updated Froyo-Ginger Long Section

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Drillhole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (ppm) 23FR037 3.6 14.1 10.5 3.42 and 58.0 63.0 5.0 3.31 23FR038 4.0 11.6 7.6 4.5 and

and 63.0

77.0 72.0

90.0 9.0

13.0 3.04

14.03 23FR039 5.1 11.1 6.0 2.12 and 69.0 71.0 2.0 1.51 23FR040 4.0 10.0 6.0 1.16 and 78.0 86.0 8.0 12.34

*Intervals are core length and estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data

Table 1. Drilling results highlights





Figure 3. Representative interval from drill hole FR038 showing highest-grade gold zone with excellent grade distribution over the interval.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/189263_2cceb895644f4ad5_004full.jpg

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company operating in North and South America. The Company is focused on acquiring and advancing gold projects in the South American Guiana Shield. Its flagship project is the 20,000 ha Antino Gold Project in Suriname. Antino is the most advanced gold exploration project in Suriname; within an area where historical surface/alluvial gold mining has produced over 500,000 gold ounces to date1.

1 2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.





Figure 4. The Antino Gold Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Quality Assurance and Control

Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Founders Metals Contact Information

Dave Burwell, VP, Corporate Development

Tel: 403 410 7907 | daveb@fdrmetals.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189263
Focus on Growth of Open Banking Operations and Continued Debt Reduction

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0) ("Marble" or the "Company"), an AI-driven financial technology company, is pleased to announce its financial results for the nine- month period ended September 30, 2023. The Company continues to focus on its revenue growth products in open banking. Marble's commitment to revolutionizing the use of real-time financial data to empower businesses and consumers to make informed financial decisions and fostering stronger relationships within the industry.

Key financial highlights for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023 include:

During the nine-month period ending September 30, 2023, the Company saw increased growth in its wholly owned subsidiary, Inverite Verification Inc. ("Inverite") transaction volumes and related revenues and saw a reduction in both operating expenses and finance costs.

The Company generated slightly higher total revenues for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2023, of $986,173 (September 30, 2022 - $980,487).

The Company generated $707,981 (September 30, 2022 - $509,674) of verification fee revenue generated from Inverite. The Company has focused on expanding its Inverite revenues and saw a continued increase in Inverite transaction volumes in 2023 compared to 2022 which led to a 39% increase over the comparative period in 2022.

The Company generated marketing service fees of $86,931 (September 30, 2022 - $nil) related to Accumulate.ai business assets acquired in October 2022.

The Company generated higher subscription fees of $80,407 (September 30, 2022 - $63,040) from MyMarble and its Boost Loans representing an increase of 28% over the comparative period in 2022.

The Company generated interest revenue from its loan portfolio of $109,578 (September 30, 2022 - $396,733). The decrease is primarily due to the lower number of loans outstanding from the discontinuation of the Fast Track Program.

The Company saw operating expenses decrease by $552,033 or 15% to $3,207,581 as the Company continues to focus on streamlining operations.

The Company recorded net income of $382,909 for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2023 (September 30, 2022 - net loss of $3,133,215). The net income resulted primarily from the gain on settlement of bonds during the nine months as well as lower overall operating expenses and lower finance costs between the periods.

Q3-2023 Operational Highlights:

Marble continues to execute its key business strategies in the North American underbanked industry by focusing on its sales and product development efforts for its open banking platform for alternative lenders. During the three-month period ending September 30, 2023, the Company achieved the following:

Marble added Narayan Sainaney, a technology expert to it Advisory Board.

Marble completed the final earn-out provision for the acquisition of Inverite Verification Inc.

Marble, ScoreNavigator and Grit Financial executed a Definitive Licensing Agreement to offer its proprietary software, Score-up and Point Deduction Technology (PDT) onto the Grit mobile app and its platform in the USA.

Marble's Inverite AI Platform achieved its highest monthly transaction volume, in August.

The Inverite Platform has collected over 5.2 billion consumer data points from approximately four million Canadians since inception.

Karim Nanji, Marble's CEO comments: "Marble's unwavering dedication to Open Banking innovations is reshaping the financial landscape by providing real-time insights that empower businesses and consumers to make well-informed decisions. Through our commitment to leveraging advanced analytics and consumer directed finance tools, Marble is addressing the crucial issue of underbanked consumers while revolutionizing lending practices. Our AI-powered Risk-Management (RMaaS) and credit rehabilitation solutions are paving the way for easier and fairer access to financial services for all, driving a fundamental transformation in the industry." Karim Nanji further states, "We continue to navigate through these financially challenging times in the micro and small sectors of the public markets in Canada, Marble remains resolute, continuously challenging ourselves to boost revenue, drive efficiencies, and reduce costs. Our dedication to cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships underpins our mission to propel industry growth and success."

A comprehensive discussion of Marble's financial position and results of operations is provided in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the nine=month period ended September 30, 2023, are filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Marble Financial Inc. (CSE: MRBL) (OTC Pink: MRBLF) (FSE: 2V0):

Marble's primary business activities are focused on assisting alternative lenders in Canada to transact with underbanked consumers looking for credit. Inverite Verification Inc., the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, operates as a cloud-based transactional and Risk Model as a Service ("RMaaS") platform and offers Open Banking and consumer-directed finance solutions, consisting of banking verification solutions to the financial services industry for income verification, credit decisioning, fraud reduction, and know-your client/anti-money laundering purposes. The Company's proprietary Point Deduction Technology ("PDT") allows lenders to offer their underbanked customers through our proprietary API, Marble Connect, a prescriptive ability to understand, build and maintain a positive credit report and credit score, gain specific and unique budgetary and credit insights with access to financial education and literacy.

For further information about Marble Financial, please visit: mymarble.ca

Mike Marrandino, Executive Chairman

T:(855) 661-2390 ext. 104 Email: ir@marblefinancial.ca

https://www.facebook.com/mymarblelife

https://twitter.com/mymarblelife

https://www.linkedin.com/company/marblefinancialinc/

https://www.instagram.com/mymarblelife/

Cautions:

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. FLSI is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, and is based on assumptions, the occurrence or inaccuracy of which, as the case may be, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Any FLSI in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189183
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Miata Metals Corp. (CSE: MMET) ("Miata" or the "Company") announces target areas on its Cabin Lake gold-silver-lead-zinc project in British Columbia.

Highlights

Additional target areas on Cabin Lake project defined

VLF data will be inverted and processed to include in 3D target definition

Target areas supported by high-grade rock samples

Miata Metals is pleased to announce additional target definition on the Cabin Lake gold-silver project. The Company has compiled historical results and collected geochemical and geophysical data in 2022 and 2023. The Company's geophysical data indicates that mineralization occurs in structures that yield positive IP anomalies and negative magnetic anomalies within the Cabin Lake Pluton, except where the structures underly skarnified (magnetic) volcanic rocks of the Kasalka Group and Endako Formation. The Company is currently processing VLF data collected in the field season of 2023 and will add that to its 3D target definition. The historical and collected data will be used to plan follow-up 3DIP and drilling. The geophysical data is expected to enable targeting of the mineralized structures at depth.

Targets supported by high grade silver and gold at surface

The geophysical targets are overlain by soil samples with values of up to 1.2% Pb and 1.3% Zn and are associated with values of silver of up to 50 g/t. The Company interprets these values as till anomalies which can be directly tracked to their source, located on the Cabin Lake claims. The targets are corroborated by 2018 rock sample results of up to 3.11 g/t Au, 1,108 g/t Ag, 25.4% Pb and 13.6% Zn. These rock sample results are historical in nature.

About the Cabin Lake Project

The Cabin Lake project is a road accessible project near the British Columbia town of Vanderhoof. The project is near the Coastal Link gas pipeline and high voltage transmission lines. Thanks to its favourable topography and road access, the project can be explored year-round.

The project has previously been explored for intrusive related gold and silver mineralization. Based on extensive compilation and research, as well as an effective 2022 exploration program including sampling, soil sampling and airborne geophysical surveying, the Company believes that the project is prospective for structurally hosted gold, silver, lead and zinc.

Share issuance

The Company has issued 20,576 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a deemed price of $0.243 per Share as an option payment pursuant to an option agreement for the Cabin Lake Property dated August 25, 2022. The Shares are subject to a statutory four-month hold period expiring on March 21, 2024, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

QAQC and Data Verification

All results in this news release were collected by past operators and should be considered historical in nature and were not independently verified by the Company.

Qualified person

Dr. Thomas Hawkins, P.Geo. is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news release, approving the disclosure herein.

About Miata Metals Corp.

Miata is a Canadian company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: MMET). The Company is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. Currently, the Company has an option to earn a 100% interest in the Cabin Lake Property in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The Company continuously evaluates opportunities to acquire interest in additional exploration stage mineral properties in stable jurisdictions.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,



Dr. Jacob (Jaap) Verbaas, P. Geo | CEO and Director

info@miatametals.com

+1 647 689 6041

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Readers should not rely on information in this summary for any purpose other than for gaining general knowledge of the Company. Forward-Looking statements include, but are not limited to, the commencement of trading of the Company's common shares on a split basis, the record date, the completion of the Share Split and the stock split increasing the liquidity of the common shares. The words "expected", "will" and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that its expectations as reflected in any forward-looking statements, are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates, opinions or other factors should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept 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/189246
The initiative was announced today during the presentation of the new 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, coinciding with the meeting of the Foundation's Board of Trustees at Barcelona City Hall.

MWCapital's new lines of action incorporate sustainability as the basis of all activity, place people at the centre, use technology as a driver of change and work to generate a positive impact on society, the economy and, therefore, the planet.

MWCapital evolves its activity and focuses on Tech4Good, Digital Talent and Technology Transfer, and on the creation of an Observatory to promote the generation of its own knowledge.

BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile World Capital Barcelona has announced the launch of international awards to recognise the best innovative projects in sustainable digital transformation. The Foundation will reward the public or private proposals that are best aligned with compliance with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria.

With these awards, MWCapital aims to take a step towards highlighting the role of technology as a driver of change to generate a positive impact on society and the economy and, therefore, on the planet. This is also reflected in the development of the maxim that will govern MWCapital's activity, which goes from Technology Matters to Humanising Technology.

This launch took place today at the presentation of MWCapital's new Strategic Plan, which was attended by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, the Minister of Enterprise and Employment of the Government of Catalonia, Roger Torrent, and the new Minister of Digital Transformation of the Government of Spain, Jose Luis Escriva, who has recently joined the Foundation's Board of Trustees. Also participating were the Director General of GSMA, Mats Granryd, the CEO and Director of GSMA Ltd., John Hoffman, the President of Fira de Barcelona, Pau Relat, and the CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Francesc Fajula.

Triple Focus: Humanism, Scalability, and Internalisation

Since its inception, Mobile World Capital Barcelona has been a pioneer in showing how technology can improve people's quality of life and contribute to the overall well-being of society. Putting people at the centre of debate and action allows the Foundation to be a key player in the sustainable digital transformation of our country.

All MWCapital activity responds to the following objectives: maximise the impact of MWC 365 days a year; facilitate the development of digital services; consolidate itself as a hub for digital talent; be the European benchmark venture builder; and create and disseminate global reference knowledge. For this reason, from Barcelona and around the world, MWCapital will work with international vision and ambition to generate projects with greater impact and scalability.

Consequently, the Foundation will focus on the following areas of activity: Tech4Good, promoting technological projects and scalable digital services that have a mission to generate a positive impact on society and the economy; Digital talent, promoting the generation and attraction of digital talent so as to position Barcelona as the benchmark in this field, and finally technology transfer, occupying a unique space in Europe in the ecosystem of initiatives to support the creation of scientific spin-offs.

Likewise, MWCapital has also presented its Observatory, aiming to generate its own knowledge on strategic issues related to the impact of digitalization on our society. In addition to the already consolidated reports, the Digital Talent Overview, and the Tech Hubs Overview, it is expected that, during 2024, MWCapital will also present an analysis on the state of technology transfer in Spain and a report on strategic technologies.

Strategic alliance with GSMA Foundry

During the presentation, Francesc Fajula, CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, and John Hoffman, CEO and Director of GSMA Ltd., announced the first strategic alliance to confirm the city of Barcelona as a benchmark in the field of sustainable digital solutions.

Technologies such as Big Data, artificial intelligence and advanced robotics will be explored to develop scalable projects and to face the challenges linked to technological progress in society.

About Mobile World Capital Barcelona

Mobile World Capital Barcelona is a public-private foundation that promotes the digital development of society to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future through the humanistic use of technology. MWCapital contributes to the positioning of Barcelona as a global benchmark in the digital field and consolidating MWC's legacy throughout the year by promoting initiatives in the field of technology transfer, the promotion of digital talent, the development of innovative technological projects with social impact and the generation of knowledge.

MWCapital hosts MWC in Barcelona, is the founder of 4YFN and connects citizens with the latest digital trends through Jump2Digital and Tech&Play.

For more information:

Estel Estopinan - eestopinan@mobileworldcapital.com +34 656 25 83 94

Emily Henley - ehenley@mobileworldcapital.com - +34 673 004 102

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mobile-world-capital-barcelona-launches-international-awards-to-recognise-the-best-sustainable-digitalisation-projects-302002111.html
BERLIN, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant move towards enhancing renewable energy solutions, PowMr, a leading solar energy company, proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking SOLXPOW Energy Storage Inverters series. The SOLXPOW range, designed for both residential and commercial scenarios, promises to revolutionize the way energy is stored and utilized, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply and fostering sustainable energy practices.

The residential series, featuring the X1 and X2 models, is engineered to meet the diverse needs of modern homes. The X1 series, available in variants ranging from 3kW to 8kW, boasts a remarkable 97.6% maximum efficiency, 15A PV input current, and a robust 30A charge/discharge capacity. Its 10ms UPS-level switch technology ensures an uninterrupted power supply, epitomizing reliability and efficiency. The X2 series, with options from 4kW to 12kW, elevates this performance further with a 98.2% maximum efficiency and a unique 110% unbalanced output capability, making it an ideal solution for households with varying power demands.

For commercial applications, PowMr introduces the X3 and X4 models, tailored to meet the high-energy demands of businesses. The X3 series, available in 10kW to 20kW, offers a high 98.4% maximum efficiency and a powerful 40A charge/discharge capacity, suited for larger scale operations. The X4 series ranges from 25kW to 50kW, setting a new standard with an impressive 98.8% maximum efficiency and a substantial 100A charge/discharge capability. These models are equipped with a three-phase function and up to 4 MPPTs, allowing for connection to more solar panels and catering to diverse commercial energy needs.

All SOLXPOW inverters support both grid and PV input, ensuring that power is never out. These inverters are compatible with high voltage batteries for fast charging and are capable of handling significant power for large home appliances. In a step towards energy autonomy, the SOLXPOW series allows users to sell excess power back to the grid, offering a way to reduce electricity bills or generate additional income.

Crucially, the PowMr SOLXPOW series comes with all necessary certifications and features required for the EU market, ensuring compliance and safety.

"This launch marks a milestone for PowMr, reflecting its commitment to providing sustainable, efficient, and reliable energy solutions," said Tony Zou, the company's founder and CEO. With SOLXPOW, PowMr is set to become a key player in the renewable energy market, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.

Learn more about PowMr SOLXPOW at: https://powmr.com/collections/energy-storage-inverter

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/powmr-launches-solxpow-series-revolutionizing-the-renewable-energy-market-301999975.html
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - OSI Systems, Inc. (OSIS) on Thursday announced that its Security division has been awarded a contract worth about $18 million by an international airport. The contract is aimed at providing a range of checkpoint and hold baggage screening solutions, including the RTT 110 (Real Time Tomography) explosive detection system, Metor Walk-Through Metal Detector, and Itemiser 5X explosive trace detection system for secondary screening of passengers. Additionally, the company has also been engaged to provide comprehensive multi-year maintenance, service, and support services as part of the contract. Deepak Chopra, Chairman and CEO of OSI Systems, expressed the company's delight to work with this major airport customer. He further added that the company would use its inspection system platforms equipped with advanced technologies to achieve the highest airport security standards, enhancing both the safety and overall experience of air passengers. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Automobile major General Motors Co. (GM) Wednesday announced that its unit GM Defense LLC has bagged a 10-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity or IDIQ full-rate production contract from the U.S. Department of State. As per the terms of the contract, GM Defense has to deliver Original Equipment Manufacturer integrated HD SUVs that have a ceiling value of $300 million. Initially, the company was awarded a task order through the IDIQ contract for vehicles, training, and engineering services valued at around $25 million. The newly designed HD SUV incorporates protective armor into the original design and manufacturing process, deviating from the current after-market, tear-down, and rebuild practices. It also includes a high percentage of commercial-off-the-shelf parts. The vehicle comes with a new and unique body-on-frame chassis and suspension, specifically designed to support the increased vehicle weight and performance requirements. In pre-market activity, GM shares are trading at $31.96, up 1.43% on the New York Stock Exchange. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / National Grid was recently recognized by leading economic development industry publication Site Selection Magazine as a 2023 Top Utility in Economic Development, selected from a pool of approximately 3,300 electric utilities from across the country. Of the twenty companies named, National Grid is the only utility to make the list with operations in the Northeast.

Recognized utilities are described as "the cream of the crop when it comes to getting things done on behalf of their communities" and are selected based on criteria that includes "corporate end-user project investment and affiliated job creation." Selections are made through a combination of independent research and results from a voluntary annual questionnaire centered on programs and incentives that are spurring sustainable growth and cultivating the flow of smart capital and talent.

"National Grid is committed to building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy system for all - and a major part of that commitment is elevating the growth and vitality of the communities where we live and work," said Arthur Hamlin, Director of Economic Development, National Grid. "We're powering our local and regional economies with strategic investments and incentive programs that fuel business development, create in-demand jobs, enhance clean energy infrastructure, and provide better opportunities for communities to attract and advance innovation."

The ranking factors in the Company's work across its service territories in New York and Massachusetts, with special focus given to its recent contributions in Upstate New York. Since 2003, National Grid's economic development programs have provided more than $145 million in assistance to its Upstate New York communities, helping to create or retain more than 65,000 jobs and supporting almost $10.5 billion in private and public investment.

The magazine noted National Grid was a key member of the economic development team behind the attraction of Micron Technology's proposed $100 billion semiconductor facility in Upstate New York, which is expected to create 50,000 jobs over a twenty-year period.

Following the call out in Site Selection Magazine's September issue, National Grid in recent weeks has continued to demonstrate a commitment to driving economic opportunity in the Northeast by supporting customers and helping them to achieve their goals:

In New York, National Grid is providing nearly $2 million to support a range of economic development projects , including Linde's clean hydrogen plant in Niagara Falls and Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute's innovative battery backup pilot program in Buffalo. A separate $500,000 grant helped offset costs at a brand-new, $621 million cheese manufacturing plant in Cattaraugus County.

, including Linde's clean hydrogen plant in Niagara Falls and Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute's innovative battery backup pilot program in Buffalo. A helped offset costs at a brand-new, $621 million cheese manufacturing plant in Cattaraugus County. In Massachusetts, the Company announced a $500,000 Small Business Impact Initiative to empower diverse businesses in historically underrepresented communities across the Commonwealth. The three-year program - in partnership with Amplify LatinX, The Asian Business Empowerment Council, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce - aims to support 16 small businesses in its first year.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE:NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future - transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

Media Contacts

Emily Demarest

Massachusetts

(781) 907-3980

Email

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from National Grid on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: National Grid

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/national-grid

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: National Grid

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811757/national-grid-named-top-utility-in-economic-development
COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - The Danish economy contracted for the second straight quarter in the third quarter, primarily due to a significant decline in the pharmaceutical industry, preliminary data from Statistics Denmark showed on Thursday. Gross domestic product dropped 0.1 percent sequentially in the September quarter, following a 0.9 percent fall in the June quarter. With this decrease, the economy has now entered a technical recession in the third quarter. The downward trend was primarily driven by a significant fall in industry, where the pharmaceutical industry in particular has been the main driving force behind the decline in GDP, the agency said. On the other hand, maritime transport had a significant positive effect on GDP growth. On the expenditure side, household consumption rose 1.3 percent, and gross fixed investments grew by 3.6 percent. Both exports and imports climbed by 5.1 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively. On a yearly basis, the economy expanded 1.3 percent in the third quarter. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ACI World, a division of Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the worlds airports, is today (November 30) celebrating the Airport Excellences (Apex) 200th review, at Bahrain International Airport, thus marking a historic milestone in the programs mission of raising aviation standards globally.

Since 2011, the ACI World Apex programme has provided comprehensive onsite airport reviews led by industry peers and experts to optimise airport operations, regulatory compliance, and aviation standards worldwide.

Apex is based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, international regulations, and ACI best practices and offers reviews on four priority areas: security, cybersecurity, safety, and environment.

During the five-day review from November 26 to 30, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) and ACI World also signed a Declaration of Commitment and Collaboration, solidifying their shared dedication to promoting excellence in airport operations.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, Director General of ACI World, expressed enthusiasm about reaching this milestone and celebrating it at Bahrain International Airport.

"The 200th Apex review is a testament to the programme's relevancy, success and impact on raising aviation standards worldwide," remarked de Oliveira.

"We are honoured to celebrate this achievement at Bahrain International Airport, a leading airport known for its commitment to raising the bar in all areas of airport operations. Our flagship programme will without a doubt continue to be instrumental in fostering excellence in airport security, cybersecurity, safety, and sustainability around the world," he stated.

"We thank every Apex Assessoraviation professionals that help conduct reviews, mentor team members, and share knowledge and industry best practices to improve the sector," he added.

Bahrain Airport Company CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: "We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Airport Council International (ACI) World through the Apex programme, which will provide us with invaluable insights and recommendations to enhance our security, cybersecurity, safety, and environmental practices."

"BAC partnered with ACI World for an Apex review in 2017 to enhance our Aerodrome Safety and Airside operations practices, and today this collaboration aims to optimize our operations and incorporate International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices, driving continuous improvement in our overall airport performance," noted Binflah.

"At Bahrain Airport Company, we remain committed to providing a world-class airport experience for our passengers and stakeholders, and this milestone not only reinforces our position as a leading airport in the region but also inspires us to continually raise the bar and set new benchmarks in the aviation industry," he added.

In October, ACI World launched the newest addition to the programme - Apex in Cybersecurity. The review serves as a starting point for assessing cybersecurity practices at airports and is designed to assist airports in undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of their cybersecurity landscape.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Closing initially expected in the first quarter of 2024

Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a 49% interest in Cellnex Sweden and Cellnex Denmark ("Cellnex Nordics"), the Swedish and Danish operations of Cellnex Telecom ("Cellnex"), Europe's largest independent operator of wireless telecommunications infrastructure for a total value of c. EUR 730 million, of which EUR 558 million is recognized upfront.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129831447/en/

Cellnex Nordics provides colocation services to mobile network operators for their wireless networking equipment. The Cellnex Nordics network currently consists of approximately 4,600 sites across Sweden and Denmark, with additional commitments and options to build and operate more than 2,400 additional sites in the region. Going forward, Cellnex will continue to consolidate the results of its operations and manage the day-to-day business in consultation with Stonepeak.

Cyrus Gentry, Stonepeak Managing Director, said: "We are pleased to have completed this transaction, which represents a natural fit for our core infrastructure strategy as well as a significant milestone in what we hope will be a long-term partnership with Cellnex. We look forward to working with the Cellnex management team in pursuing the significant value creation opportunities that we believe lie ahead in Sweden and Denmark."

Marco Patuano, Cellnex CEO, commented: "The early closing of the sale of a minority stake in our Nordic business marks another significant step forward in our goal to attain investment grade ratings. As we did recall at the moment of the agreement's announcement, this deal shows Cellnex's ability to attract the interest of high-quality financial partners who understand and value the inherent quality of the assets as well as the future opportunities in these markets."

Cellnex will use the proceeds of this deal to reduce its debt, in line with the objectives set in November 2022 which prioritize organic growth and achieving an investment grade credit rating by S&P.

Nomura International Plc is serving as lead financial advisor, Guggenheim Securities is serving as financial advisor, and Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is serving as legal counsel to Stonepeak. AZ Capital is serving as financial advisor and Baker McKenzie LLP is serving as legal counsel to Cellnex.

About Stonepeak

Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $57.9 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, with a focus on downside protection and strong risk-adjusted returns. Stonepeak sponsors investment vehicles focused on private equity and credit. The firm provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to grow investments in its target sectors, which include communications, energy and energy transition, transport and logistics, social infrastructure, and real estate. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, London, Singapore, and Sydney.

For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

About Cellnex Telecom

The efficient deployment of next-generation connectivity is essential to drive technological innovation and accelerate inclusive economic growth. Cellnex is the independent wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures operator that enables operators to access Europe's most extensive network of advanced telecommunications infrastructures on a shared-use basis, helping to reduce access barriers for new operators and to improve services in the most remote areas.

Cellnex manages a portfolio of around 135,000 sites -including forecast roll-outs up to 2030- in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Poland. Cellnex's business is structured in four major areas: telecommunications infrastructure services; audiovisual broadcasting networks, security and emergency service networks and solutions for smart urban infrastructure and services management.

The company is listed on the continuous market of the Spanish stock exchange and is part of the selective IBEX 35 and EuroStoxx 100 indices. It is also present in the main sustainability indexes, such as CDP, Sustainalytics, FTSE4Good and MSCI.

For more information: www.cellnex.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129831447/en/

Contacts:

Stonepeak

Kate Beers Maya Brounstein

corporatecomms@stonepeak.com

+1 (212) 907-5100

Cellnex

Corporate Comms Department

communication@cellnextelecom.com

+34 935 021 387
(Oslo, 30 November 2023)?Alexandra Bech Gjrv is elected new Chair of the Board of Directors in Statkraft. Lars Rsg is new Board member.



Alexandra Bech Gjrv is CEO of SINTEF and has extensive executive management experience from Hydro and Equinor. She is a lawyer and has worked in several law firms in Norway and the United States. Gjrv has been Chair and Board member of several foreign and Norwegian industrial and energy companies such as Hafslund, Eidsiva Energi, Technip, Norske Skog and Schibsted. Gjrv chaired the independent 22 July Commission, examining the 2011 terror attacks in Oslo and at Utya.

Lars Rsg is an investment partner in Salvesen & Thams, and has broad experience from executive management positions in Norwegian industrial companies. Until recently he was Deputy CEO and EVP Corporate Development in Yara.

Alexandra Bech Gjrv succeeds Thorhild Widvey, who steps down from the Chair position at her own request. The planned changes in the Board of Directors of Statkraft have been brought forward in connection with the appointment of a successor to Christian Rynning-Tnnesen, who earlier this autumn informed the Board that he wishes to resign as CEO of Statkraft AS after almost 14 years. Gjrv will thus be leading the Board's work to recruit a new CEO.

Vice Chair Peter Mellbye steps down from the Board and Ingelise Arntsen is elected as the new Vice Chair. She currently chairs the Board's Audit Committee and has been a Board member of Statkraft since 2017.

Thorhild Widvey has been the Chair of Statkraft's Board of Directors since 2016, and Peter Mellbye a Board member since the same year. Since 2016, the company has more than doubled its value and is today one of Norway's largest companies with an enterprise value of more than 300 billion NOK.



"As responsible for the management of the Norwegian State's ownership in Statkraft, I would like to thank Thorhild Widvey and Peter Mellbye for their significant contributions as Chair and Vice Chair of Statkraft for almost 8 years. During these years, Statkraft has further developed and consolidated its position as a leading renewable energy player both in Norway and internationally.?Both Widvey and Mellbye have been central to this development," says Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre.



"I look forward to taking on the role of Chair of Statkraft, Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. Green energy is crucial to solving the climate challenges and succeeding with the energy transformation that Norway, Europe and the world depend on. Statkraft has a strong organisation and is well positioned to continue delivering high value creation and growth,"?says Alexandra Bech Gjrv, Chair of Statkraft's Board of Directors.



The Board of Directors in Statkraft AS now consists of:

Chair:?Alexandra Bech Gjrv

Vice Chair: Ingelise Arntsen

Board Member: Mikael Lundin

Board Member: Pal Erik Sjatil

Board Member:?Marit Salte

Board Member: Lars Rsg

Board Member: Marte Lind (employee elected)

Board Member: Lars Mathisen (employee elected)

Board Member: Thorbjrn Hols (employee elected)





The Board of Directors in Statkraft AS is identical to the Board of Directors in Statkraft SF.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.





For more information, please contact:

Claus Sonberg, SVP Communications and Marketing, tel.: +47 92 46 23 93, e-mail:?claus.sonberg@statkraft.com

or www.statkraft.com

?

About Statkraft

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 5,700 employees in 21 countries




CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Improved clinical decision support, increased interoperability, real-time language translation, and patient-centric applications are the future of natural language processing (NLP) in healthcare. Key themes that highlight the necessity of responsible deployment and respect to regulatory norms include predictive analytics, ethical considerations, continuous learning, and growing use in telehealth.

The global NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market is projected to grow from USD 2.7 billion in 2023 to USD 11.8 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 34.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. NLP transforms healthcare by decoding text data, empowering efficient patient care. It aids healthcare staff in decision-making, medication management, and precise record-keeping by smartly analyzing medical information. NLP fosters evidence-based practices and encourages patient involvement in their healthcare journey. Its growth signifies improved treatments, streamlined workflows for healthcare professionals, and a more informed patient community. This symbiotic relationship between technology and healthcare promises a brighter, more accessible future in the medical landscape.

Browse in-depth TOC on "NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market"

346 - Tables

64 - Figures

360 - Pages

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Scope of the Report

Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 2023-2028 Forecast units USD Billion Segments Covered Offering, NLP Type, NLP Technique, Application, End Users, and Region Geographies covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America Companies covered IBM (US), Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IQVIA (US), Oracle Corporation (US), Inovalon(US), Dolbey and Company (US), Averbis (Germany), SAS Institute (US), 3M (US), Press Ganey (US), Ellipsis Health (US), Centene Corporation (US), Lexalytics (US), Caption Health (US), Clinithink (US), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (US), Oncora Medical (US), Flatiron Health (US), Apixio (US), Edifecs (US), John Snow Labs (US), ITRex Group (US), Forsee Medical (US), Gnani.ai (India), Notable (US), Biofourmis (US), Suki (US), Wave Health Technologies (US), Corti (Denmark), CloudMedx (US), MedlnReal (Netherlands), Emtelligent (Canada), Enlitic (US), and Deep 6 AI (US)

Text Classification to hold the largest market size during the forecast period.

Text classification in NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market categorizes medical data, organizing it into meaningful groups such as diagnoses, symptoms, or treatments. This systematic sorting enables swift data analysis, aiding in decision-making processes for healthcare professionals. It automates administrative tasks, swiftly flags critical information, and uncovers patterns crucial for predictive analytics and research insights. By efficiently structuring information, text classification optimizes workflows, enhances clinical decision support systems, and accelerates research efforts. This streamlined approach expedites diagnoses, treatments, and discoveries, serving as a catalyst for improved patient care and advancements in healthcare practices.

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Solutions Segment to account for the largest market share during the forecast period.

NLP solutions in Healthcare & Life sciences revolutionize data management, diagnosis, and patient interaction. These solutions streamline clinical documentation, extracting insights from unstructured data such as patient records and medical literature. It aids in precision medicine by analyzing genetic data and identifying tailored treatments. NLP powers chatbots and virtual assistants, improving patient engagement and support. Additionally, it accelerates drug discovery processes by mining vast scientific literature for patterns and insights. Ethical considerations, including privacy and bias, remain focal points in deploying NLP solutions, ensuring responsible and effective integration into these critical sectors.

Asia Pacific to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The CAGR of Asia Pacific is estimated to be highest during the forecast period. The advanced and dynamic adoption of new technologies has made Asia Pacific the fastest-growing economic region. The healthcare industry in this region has gained momentum with increased AI and ML spending. Governments across this region are taking various initiatives to implement AI in businesses. The region is hence expected to witness a noticeable growth in the adoption of NLP technologies, enabling healthcare providers to automate administrative workflows, invest more time in inpatient care, and improve the patient experience using real-time data. By applying NLP technologies, healthcare organizations optimize the manual review of unstructured text within medical records to uncover clinical insights.

Top Key Companies in NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market:

Major vendors in the global NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market are IBM (US), Microsoft (US), Google (US), AWS (US), IQVIA (US), Oracle Corporation (US), Inovalon(US), Dolbey and Company (US), Averbis (Germany), SAS Institute (US), 3M (US), Press Ganey (US), Ellipsis Health (US), Centene Corporation (US), Lexalytics (US), Caption Health (US), Clinithink (US), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (US), Oncora Medical (US), Flatiron Health (US), Apixio (US), Edifecs (US), John Snow Labs (US), ITRex Group (US), Forsee Medical (US), Gnani.ai (India), Notable (US), Biofourmis (US), Suki (US), Wave Health Technologies (US), Corti (Denmark), CloudMedx (US), MedlnReal (Netherlands), Emtelligent (Canada), Enlitic (US), and Deep 6 AI (US).

Recent Developments:

In October 2023, Inovalon collaborated with AWS to develop AI/ML solutions for the healthcare industry. The initial focus will be on risk adjustment, but the collaboration is expected to expand to other areas, such as disease management, population health, and clinical decision support. The goal of the collaboration is to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

In September 2023, Apollo Hospitals announced an extended partnership with Google Cloud to make healthcare accessible to every Indian through its digital platform, Apollo 24|7. The partnership involved the development of a Clinical Intelligence Engine (CIE) using Google Cloud's Vertex AI and generative AI models. Apollo Hospitals is also considering the use of Med-PaLM 2, a Google-developed LLM capable of responding to medical queries and generating clinical text summaries, further enhancing healthcare services.

In August 2023, Oracle partnered with TeleVox to provide cloud-based patient engagement solutions to healthcare organizations. This partnership would combine TeleVox's expertise in patient engagement with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure's (OCI) scalability, security, and reliability.

In April 2023, Moderna signed an agreement with IBM to harness quantum computing and artificial intelligence for mRNA research, with the goal of accelerating scientific advancements in mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. This agreement aims to explore cutting-edge technologies to potentially revolutionize healthcare and biotechnology by leveraging data-driven insights and innovative solutions.

In March 2023, Syneos Health announced a multi-year partnership with Microsoft to use its platform for deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in its clinical trials and commercial programs.

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NLP in Healthcare & Life Sciences Market Advantages:

Efficiency: By automatically extracting pertinent information from unstructured clinical notes, natural language processing (NLP) can expedite the clinical recording process and save time and effort when manually entering data.

Accuracy: Automated documentation promotes more thorough and accurate patient records by reducing errors.

Analysing large volumes of clinical data, natural language processing (NLP) can offer healthcare practitioners insightful information that reinforces evidence-based decision-making.

Alerts and Notifications: Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems has the ability to produce alerts and notifications that inform healthcare practitioners about possible problems, like missing diagnostic criteria or drug interactions.

Chatbots and virtual assistants: Equipped with natural language processing (NLP), these AI tools may converse with patients, respond to their questions, and offer guidance, all of which contribute to a better patient experience.

Language Understanding: Natural language processing (NLP) enables systems to comprehend and react to natural language inquiries, facilitating patient-provider communication and the retrieval of pertinent information.

Risk assessment: By analysing patient data to find trends and gauge a patient's chance of contracting a particular illness, natural language processing (NLP) algorithms make it possible to take preventative measures.

Early Detection: Natural Language Processing (NLP) can help identify diseases early on and may even enhance the effectiveness of treatment by analysing vast amounts of data.

Report Objectives

To define, describe, and predict the NLP in the Healthcare & Life sciences market by offering (solutions and services), NLP type, application, NLP technique, end users, and region

To provide detailed information about major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges) influencing the market growth

To analyze opportunities in the market and provide details of the competitive landscape for stakeholders and market leaders

To forecast the market size of segments with respect to five main regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Latin America

To profile key players and comprehensively analyze their market rankings and core competencies

To analyze competitive developments, such as partnerships, new product launches, and mergers and acquisitions, in the NLP in the Healthcare & Life sciences market

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On the closing day of the inaugural Global Healthspan Summit, Hevolution announced $40 million in scientific research grants to fuel transformative breakthroughs in the field of aging science, bringing the total committed over the two-day event to nearly $100 million.

Major funding announcements for the day included $21 million for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, $16 million for the American Federation of Aging Research, and $5 million to offer up to 15 postdoctoral fellowships in Saudi Arabia, which will support scientific discoveries targeting unhealthy aging.

More than 40 sessions were held over the two-day event for nearly 2000 attendees, spanning topics such as population aging, the pharmaceutical ecosystem, and next-generation medicine.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hevolution Foundation demonstrated its commitment to driving breakthrough aging science with further announcements of catalytic funding initiatives at the inaugural Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In its role as a global catalyst, collaborator, and convener on a mission to extend healthy human lifespan, Hevolution is enabling specialized research and development in healthspan science and innovative therapeutics. To further drive scientific research in healthspan, Hevolution announced $40 million, including:

$21 million for a novel multi-year partnership with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging to accelerate discoveries toward therapeutic interventions specifically targeting aging.

$16 million (SAR 60 million) to expand the New Investigator Awards program in Aging Biology and Geroscience to support early-career researchers through the American Federation of Aging Research. First launched in 2022, recipients of these awards are working to deepen knowledge of aging biology to promote healthier aging.

$5 million to support up to 15 postdoctoral fellowships to advance the careers of early-stage scientists in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the fields of aging biology and geroscience.

These initiatives follow Hevolution's announcement of a $40 million anchor contribution to the largest XPRIZE in history and $10 million for the launch of a novel Breakthrough Innovation Alliance.

Hevolution Foundation CEO Dr. Mehmood Khan said: "Helping fast track and support impactful healthspan science programs is a founding principle for us. Through collaborative partnerships, we are catalyzing the incredible potential in the aging biology field and paving the way for new solutions to improve healthspan for all."

The Summit - the largest international gathering of its kind - brought together over 120 distinguished speakers and nearly 2000 delegates to participate in action-oriented conversations designed to foster a healthier aging future.

Passion for innovation to revolutionize a healthier aging future was a recurring theme throughout the event. Distinguished speakers from across industries and sectors explored topics including complex healthspan science, societal and ethical considerations in aging research, women and healthspan, new technologies such as AI, and necessary shifts required to support research and development for aging therapeutics.

Her Royal Highness Dr. Haya Khaled Al Saud, Hevolution Foundation Vice President of Organizational Strategy and Development, added: "As a Saudi scientist, I am enormously proud of how the Global Healthspan Summit has brought such diversity of thinking together in the Kingdom. It has forged new channels and connections that will shape and catalyze the healthspan sector for the benefit of all. This is a launchpad for a stronger, more engaged, and action-oriented global collaboration that will encourage the world's best minds to work together to solve the universal challenge of unhealthy aging."

The Global Healthspan Summit comes at a pivotal time as the world is undergoing a rapid population shift. By 2050, the global population over 60 years old is set to double to 2 billion people. Moreover, two-thirds of people over 60 will live in low- and middle-income countries. Global collaboration in healthspan is no longer an option; it has become a health and socioeconomic imperative. Opportunities for experts to come together across disciplines and geographies, such as at the Global Healthspan Summit, are essential for meeting the universal challenge of unhealthy aging.

About Hevolution Foundation

Founded on the belief that every person has the right to live a longer, healthier life, Hevolution Foundation is a global catalyst, partner, and convener on a mission to drive efforts to extend healthy human lifespan and understand the processes of aging. With a focus on aging as a treatable process, Hevolution Foundation aims to increase the number of aging-related treatments on the market, compress the timeline of drug development, and increase accessibility to therapeutics that extend healthy lifespan, also known as healthspan. A global non-profit organization headquartered in Riyadh with a North American hub and an annual budget of up to $1 billion, Hevolution Foundation plans to open offices in other global locations to support a cutting-edge, global ecosystem of talent to propel aging and geroscience research forward and achieve medical breakthroughs to help humanity live healthier, longer.

Learn more at: https://hevolution.com/ and connect with us on LinkedIn

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Surge in demand for online learning, rise in need for cross-border communication, and integration of AI in online language learning platform drive the growth of the global online language learning platform market.

NEW CASTLE, Del., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Online Language Learning Platform Market by Mode (Digital Self-tutoring and Live Learning), Language Type (English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Others), and End User (Educational Institutions and Individuals): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global online language learning platform industry generated $9.34 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to account for $44.8 billion by 2032, garnering a CAGR of 17.2% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

Rapid globalization and the interconnected nature of the globe have elevated the demand for language acquisition, both for personal and professional development. Moreover, convenience and flexibility offered by online platforms cater to individuals seeking to learn a new language without the constraints of traditional classroom settings. Furthermore, widespread availability of high-speed internet and ubiquity of digital devices facilitate easy access to language learning resources. All these factors collectively contribute toward the growth of online language learning platform market.

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Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $9.3 Billion Market Size in 2032 $44.8 Billion CAGR 17.2 % No. of Pages in Report 268 Segments covered Mode, Language Type, End User, and Region. Drivers Surge in demand for online learning Rise in need for cross-border communication Integration of AI in online language learning platform Opportunities Technological advancements Introduction of wearable technology to learn languages Restraints Data privacy and security concerns

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The digital self-tutoring segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Depending on mode, the digital self-tutoring segment garnered the highest share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global online language learning platform market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the fact that some platforms explore the use of VR and AR technologies to create immersive language learning experiences. These technologies provide simulated environments for practicing language skills in real-world scenarios. In addition, advances in natural language processing improve the quality of language learning applications. However, the live learning segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 18.8% from 2023 to 2032, as live learning platforms integrate interactive activities such as group discussions, debates, role-playing, and collaborative projects to enhance communication skills and encourage active participation.

The English segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

On the basis of language type, the English segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the global online language learning platform market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the fact English is often a mandatory or highly desirable language for education at various levels. Students across the globe seek to improve their English proficiency for academic purposes, such as studying in English-speaking countries or participating in international programs. However, the Chinese segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 21.3% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the fact that Mandarin Chinese is often a subject of interest for students pursuing international relations, language studies, or Asian studies. Educational institutions across the globe recognize the importance of Chinese language proficiency, contributing to the demand for online learning resources.

The educational institutions segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

By end user, the educational institutions segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing to more than three-fifths of the global online language learning platform market revenue. This is attributed to the fact that educational institutions eliminate the need for physical classrooms, printed materials, and additional infrastructure, making language learning more budget friendly. In addition, many online language learning platforms offer adaptive learning technologies, allowing educational institutions to tailor language courses to individual students' proficiency levels, learning styles, and preferences. However, the individual's segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 18.7% from 2023 to 2032, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to the fact learning a new language allows them to communicate with people from different cultures, fostering international connections and understanding. Moreover, students and professionals learn languages to meet academic requirements, pursue degrees in language studies, or engage in academic research that requires proficiency in a particular language.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Region wise, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global online language learning platform market revenue, owing to the fact that learners in North America are increasingly interested in studying fewer common languages for personal, professional, or cultural reasons. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 20.7% from 2023 to 2032, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to the fact that English proficiency is a key focus in Asia-Pacific , driven by the importance of English as a global business and communication language. Many language learning platforms have tailored their offerings to address the specific needs of English language learners.

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Leading Market Players: -

Rosetta Stone LLC

Babbel GmbH

Speexx

Sanako

Busuu Ltd

Berlitz Corporation

Memrise

ELSA

Inlingua International Ltd.

Transparent Language, Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global online language learning platform market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, and agreements to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Online Language Learning Platform Market Expected to Reach $44.8 Billion by 2032

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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 Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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Rise in technological advancement, increase in stroke cases, surge in the adoption of new stroke management solutions, and rise in geriatric population drive the growth of the stroke management market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Stroke Management Market By Type (Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Software), By Application (Ischemic Stroke and Hemorrhagic Stroke): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032." According to the report, stroke management industry was valued at $36.1 billion in 2022, and is anticipated to reach $74 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 7.4% from 2023 to 2033.



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Prime determinants of growth

Rise in stroke cases, technological advancement in stroke management solutions, and rise in stroke awareness drive the growth of the stroke management market. However, high cost of stroke diagnostics and treatment is hampering the market growth. On the contrary, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning for stroke diagnosis and monitoring is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the stroke management market during the forecast period.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023-2032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $35.9 billion Market Size in 2032 $73.8 billion CAGR 7.4 % No. of Pages in Report 270 Segments covered Type, Application, and Region Drivers Rise in the incidences of stroke Technological development in stroke management Significant increase in stroke awareness Opportunity Artificial intelligence and machine learning revolutionizing stroke management Restraint High cost of stroke diagnostics and treatment

Economic Downturn Analysis: Impact of Recession in 2023 on the Stroke Management Market

In the economic recession, the stroke management market is driven by technological advancements in stroke management solutions, rise in prevalence of stroke, and rise in new product approvals.

However, increased manufacturing and operating costs, and fluctuations and adverse movement in shipping costs impacted the stroke management market growth during the recession.

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The diagnostic segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on type, the diagnostic segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the stroke management market revenue, owing to increase in awareness and stroke diagnosis and technological advancement in diagnostic imaging. However, the software segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 9.4% from 2023 to 2032, owing to development of new software and increase in the use of software platforms for continuous stroke management.

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The ischemic stroke segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on application, the ischemic stroke segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for four-fifths of the stroke management market revenue, owing to high prevalence of ischemic stroke as compared to hemorrhagic stroke. However, the hemorrhagic stroke segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 7.9% from 2023 to 2032, owing to rise in the early detection of stroke and rise in the prevalence of hemorrhagic stroke.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global stroke management market revenue, owing to high prevalence of stroke, presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure, and strong presence of market key players. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 8.8% from 2023 to 2032, owing to development of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industry, rise in the geriatric population in this region, and the high adoption of new technologies.

Leading Market Players:

Abbott Laboratories

Boston Scientific Corporation

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

Cardinal Health

General Electric Company

Medtronic

Siemens AG

Aidoc

Brainomix

VasSol Inc.

Qure.ai

Viz.ai, Inc.

METHINKS

B Braun SE

iSchemaView, Inc.

NeuraSignal, Inc.

Deepnoid Co., Ltd.

Heuron Co., Ltd.

JLK

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Merck & Co. Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players in the stroke management market. These players have adopted strategies such as, product launch, acquisition, product approval, and partnership to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in the 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:

Biomarkers Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Male Infertility Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

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Synthetic Biology Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Medical/Diagnostic Imaging Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

Dialysis Market- Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032

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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GreenGo, a Danish developer, has unveiled plans for the Megaton Moon project in Mauritania. It will purportedly feature 60 GW of visible-from-space wind-solar capacity and 30 GW of green hydrogen capacity.Denmark's GreenGo has launched the Megaton Moon project in Mauritania, a 60 GW solar-wind power installation combined with 35 GW of green hydrogen production. The developer submitted a development application to the Mauritanian Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines this week. The Megaton Moon will be built in several stages, with the first pilot phase being expected to be finalized in 2028 ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
MaaT Pharma secures important funding in line with one of the goals under the Health Innovation 2030 Plan, the health component of 'France 2030', led by the Health Innovation Agency dedicated to accelerating the national strategy for the production of biotherapies and innovative therapies with the goal of producing at least 20 biomedicines in France.

MaaT Pharma is set to receive 7.4 million from the Government over two years, with initial payments extending the company's financial runway until the end of the second quarter of 2024, subject to achievement of project milestones. This will result in a net cash boost of 3.1 million in the first half of 2024, following a restructuring of previous funding related to the immuno-oncology program (METIO).

The funding was announced today in a video made by the Ministry of Industry, at the official opening ceremony of the manufacturing facility constructed for MaaT Pharma in partnership with Skyepharma.

Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130025948/en/

MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival for patients with cancer, announced today that its ongoing Phase 2b trial, called Phoebus, aimed at evaluating MaaT033 to improve overall survival for patients receiving allo-HSCT2 has been selected for funding, in response to the 'Innovation in Biotherapy and Bioproduction' call for projects from the 'Biotherapies and Bioproduction of Innovative Therapies' acceleration strategy, operated by Bpifrance. (project called: METALLO1

"We're honored to receive this funding, contributing to France's leadership in innovative biotherapies. This is consistent with announcements from the French government in accelerating production of biomedicines in France. We thank the Ministry of Industry for its support during the official opening of the new manufacturing facility constructed and operated in partnership with Skyepharma" commentedSian Crouzet, CFO of MaaT Pharma.

MaaT Pharma's MaaT033 program is an ambitious project aimed at using MaaT033 in a larger market in a chronic and ambulatory setting for patients receiving allo-HSCT2 during blood cancer treatment. MaaT Pharma is set to receive 7.4 million in funding for a project totaling 16.4 million over a 23-month period. The restructuring of these grants has no impact on the development of the Company's immuno-oncology program, and MaaT Pharma is advancing its preclinical and clinical activities in the field of immuno-oncology as planned.

MaaT Pharma is currently in the process of seeking other sources of debt or equity financing, or partnering transactions, to supplement its working capital requirements and finance its operating expenses beyond the second quarter of 2024, its current financial runway.

About France 2030

Translates a dual ambition: to durably transform key sectors of France's economy (energy, automotive, health, aerospace, and space) through technological and industrial innovation and to position France not only as a participant but as a leader in the world of tomorrow . From fundamental research to the emergence of an idea and through to the production of a new product or service, France 2030 supports the entire lifecycle of innovation up to its industrialization.

of France's economy (energy, automotive, health, aerospace, and space) through technological and industrial innovation and . From fundamental research to the emergence of an idea and through to the production of a new product or service, France 2030 supports the entire lifecycle of innovation up to its industrialization. Is unprecedented in its scope: 54 billion euros will be invested to ensure that French companies, universities, and research organizations fully succeed in their transitions in these strategic sectors. The goal is to enable them to competitively address the ecological challenges and attractiveness of the coming world and to foster the emergence of future champions in our fields of excellence to strengthen French sovereignty and independence in key sectors. 50% of the expenses will be dedicated to decarbonizing the economy, and 50% will be allocated to emerging actors, promoting innovation without any significant adverse impact on the environment (in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm principle).

will be invested to ensure that French companies, universities, and research organizations fully succeed in their transitions in these strategic sectors. The goal is to of the coming world and to foster the emergence of future champions in our fields of excellence to in key sectors. 50% of the expenses will be dedicated to decarbonizing the economy, and 50% will be allocated to emerging actors, promoting innovation without any significant adverse impact on the environment (in accordance with the Do No Significant Harm principle). Will be implemented collectively: the plan is designed and deployed in consultation with economic, academic, local, and European stakeholders who have contributed to defining both the strategic directions and flagship actions. Project leaders are invited to submit their applications through open, rigorous, and selective procedures to benefit from state support.

stakeholders who have contributed to defining both the strategic directions and flagship actions. are invited to submit their applications through open, rigorous, and selective procedures to benefit from state support. Is overseen by the General Secretariat for Investment on behalf of the Prime Minister and implemented by the Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the National Research Agency (ANR), Bpifrance, and the Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC

For more information, visit: France 2030 website I @SGPI_avenir

About MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single-arm Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD, following the achievement of its proof of concept in a Phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, enables the identification of novel disease targets, evaluation of drug candidates, and identification of biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company's Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT).

Forward-looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

1Development of the first European innovative Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies in ALLO-HSCT

2Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130025948/en/

Contacts:

MaaT Pharma Investor Relations

Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D.

Head of Investor Relations

+33 6 16 48 92 50

invest@maat-pharma.com

MaaT Pharma Media Relations

Pauline RICHAUD

Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager

+33 6 14 06 45 92

media@maat-pharma.com

Trophic Communications

Jacob VERGHESE or

Priscillia PERRIN

+49 151 7441 6179

maat@trophic.eu

Media contact for the General Secretary to the Prime Minister for Investment

presse.sgpi@pm.gouv.fr

*+33 (0)1 42 75 64 58
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 30

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

30 November 2023

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 30 November 2023 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 50,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 361 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 361 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 361 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 16,865,071 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 229,226,352 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transaction (as at 30 November 2023)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 50000 361.00 15:58:46 00067969177TRLO0 LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:
Visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Israeli leaders on Thursday that a temporary truce in their war with Hamas was "producing results" and should continue.

Blinken, on his third trip to the region since the conflict erupted nearly eight weeks ago, also stressed it was "imperative" to protect civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip should the fighting resume.

He made the remarks in meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, respectively, before travelling to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank for a sit-down with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

As part of the pause in fighting, now in its seventh day, Hamas has freed scores of hostages taken during its bloody attack on Israel on October 7 in exchange for the release of more than 200 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.

"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," Blinken said in his meeting with Herzog.

"It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately.

"So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue."

The truce was extended by one day on Thursday and is due to expire on Friday morning if an agreement is not reached on a further prolongation.

- 'Avoid civilian harm' -

In his meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself, but urged it "to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm", State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"The secretary stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there and urged immediate steps to hold settler extremists accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank," he added.

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu said he had raised with Blinken a shooting attack that killed three people in Jerusalem on Thursday and was later claimed by Hamas, saying "nothing will stop us" from destroying the group.

"We will continue this war until we achieve the three goals: Freeing all of our hostages, completely eliminating Hamas and ensuring that no threat like this will ever come from Gaza again," he said.

After the meeting, Blinken travelled by armoured convoy to the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah for talks with Abbas.

The two "spoke about the urgent need for measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank", Miller said in a separate statement, with Blinken reiterating "that the United States remains committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state".

Since the October 7 attack on Israel and its ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza, violence in the West Bank has flared, with nearly 240 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Before he arrived, Blinken had said his trip would focus on extending the truce between Israel and Hamas to ensure the release of more hostages and the continued delivery of aid into Gaza.

lb-smw/slb/kir
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 30

For immediate release

30 November 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 107,740 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 816.23 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 25,108,665; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 199,882,638.

The figure of 199,882,638 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Inc. Business Media announced the second annual Power Partner Awards, honoring B2B organizations across the globe that have proven track records supporting entrepreneurs and helping startups grow. The list recognizes 389 firms in marketing and advertising, health and wellness, financial services, legal, logistics, and productivity, as well as other areas of business.

eGroup | Enabling Technologies Recognized on Inc.'s List of Global Power Partners





These recipients received top marks from clients for being instrumental in helping leadership navigate the dynamic world of startups. These B2B partners support entrepreneurs across various facets of the business, including hiring, compliance, infrastructure development, cloud migration, fundraising, etc., allowing founders to focus on their core missions.

"Trusted B2B partners provide guidance and expertise that founders rely on at various steps of their organization's journey. Partners that possess a demonstrated ability to deliver quality support are at the core of entrepreneurship and help bring big ideas to life," says Scott Omelianuk, Editor-In-Chief of Inc. Business Media.

"I am thrilled to share that we've been honored with the Inc. Power Partners award - an incredible testament to the heart of our mission. Every day, we're driven by the outcomes captured by the organizations we're privileged to serve - their journeys of growth and innovation fuel our commitment to excellence. This accolade is particularly special, as it goes beyond acknowledging our efforts and recognizes our profound impact on organizational outcomes. It's an award that underscores that it's not about us as much as you! Being recognized globally by Inc. with this recognition validates our approach and highlights the remarkable contributions of our phenomenal team. A word of appreciation to our fellow awardees and all those who dare to dream and the companies that support them. My deepest gratitude to Inc. for the recognition and for the many amazing customers who provided testimony on our behalf."

-Mike Carter, CEO, eGroup | Enabling Technologies

This prestigious accolade reinforces their position as an industry leader, underscoring their dedication to providing the highest standards of service and customer satisfaction. Achieving a Year-Over-Year 100% customer satisfaction score reflects the trust built between their team and their clients. Their client-centric approach to business, where the needs and goals of clients are at the core of their services, has been a driving force behind this remarkable achievement. Receiving this recognition reinforces their team's?relentless pursuit of excellence in serving their clients, as well as their?reputation as a trusted partner and a provider of innovative solutions.

To view the complete list, go to:?https://www.inc.com/power-partner-awards/2023.

ABOUT INC. BUSINESS MEDIA

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community they need to build great companies.

ABOUT eGROUP | ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

A leading provider of IT solutions and Managed Services that empower organizations to achieve their business objectives. With a focus on cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, they help clients drive innovation, enhance security, and optimize operations.

Contact Information

Carly Picciuto

Senior Marketing Manager

carly.picciuto@egroup-us.com

877.347.6871

SOURCE: eGroup | Enabling Technologies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811905/egroup-enabling-technologies-recognized-on-incs-list-of-global-power-partners
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / SAP

Feature by Sindhu Gangadharan

Industrial developments and related technological advancements have been an important determinant in the course of our history. Over the last century and more, industry has revolutionized our economies and helped drive our societies.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that industry plays an even more ineluctable role in scripting the future of humanity, one that involves sustainable social, environmental, and economic development.

As a global challenge, the climate crisis calls for businesses and countries to move beyond their siloed approaches, commitments, and climate pledges to fully embrace sustainability. The 2030 Agenda philosophy of "no one left behind" requires global partnerships.

With more and more countries investing in resilient infrastructure, there is a growing need to improve our existing industrial infrastructure. Here, technological innovation will be key. Technology is no longer the limiting factor for organizations to become sustainable businesses, rather it is the enabling agent in going green.

Calculate extended producer responsibility obligations, plastic taxes, and corporate commitments to optimize material choices Learn how

Sustainable development calls for institutional and value changes as well as cultural adjustments. As organizations worldwide look to don the green cape, behavioral change and transformation in business processes will be critical in making green technology mainstream. It must be incorporated into mainstream policies to promote national and international cooperation.

In 2024, sustainability will not just be the right thing to do, it will become a core strategic imperative for businesses. In addition to managing top- and bottom-line, forward-looking organizations are now focusing on sustainability as the third dimension to drive business growth. Managing the green ledger will be critical to enterprise success as customers, employees, and even investors increasingly turn toward companies that are pro-actively deploying sustainable business practices.

A Shared Responsibility Between Private Sector and Technology Leaders

In the battle against climate change, the private sector and technology leaders bear a significant responsibility. The crucial role businesses play in contributing to environmental goals underscores the importance of partnerships with key stakeholders - be it ecosystem partners, governments, non-governmental organizations, or citizens. The focus is on global and local examples where collaborative efforts have illustrated tangible impact achievable through cross-sector collaboration.

Partnerships that leverage the distinctive strengths and resources of each sector demonstrate how collective action can lead to meaningful change. The collaborative approach is presented as imperative for tackling the complexity of climate challenges.

Governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and citizens are not merely spectators, but active participants in the collective effort to combat climate change.

Governments wield significant influence in shaping policies and regulations that set the tone for environmental stewardship. Their commitment to sustainable practices and climate-friendly policies is pivotal. Businesses, as drivers of economic activity, hold a dual responsibility - not only to operate profitably but also to do so in an environmentally conscious manner. NGOs play a crucial role in advocacy and action, acting as watchdogs and catalysts for change. Citizens, too, are integral, as consumers and advocates who influence the demand for sustainable practices.

The Path to a Low-Carbon Future Is Circular

The path to a low-carbon future is circular. The good news is that a circular economy is not just about fixing environmental wrongs but brings about opportunities and drives positive impact across industries, sectors, and lives. Working toward a circular economy can protect human health and biodiversity in many ways, including better use of natural resources, such as protecting water and land, thus mitigating the climate crisis.

Organizations like SAP are leading this shift with an aim to become carbon-neutral in their own operations by 2023.

At SAP Labs India, 97% of the energy consumed at the Bengaluru campus comes from green energy sources. Additionally, 70% of the transport services are run on electric vehicles with a network of 65 charging stations at the campus for employees. This environmentally conscious approach extends to food sourcing, actively supporting local farmers and communities. Moreover, there has been a seamless replacement of disposable items like cutlery and containers with sustainable alternatives. Dedication to paperless operations is evident in the success of apps like Appane, Physio app, and the digital printing and stationery request system, which collectively contribute to a substantial reduction in paper consumption. The transition from traditional paper food coupons to a user-friendly app developed externally is a clear demonstration of an innovative approach to sustainable practices.

To drive sustainable business practice, it is important to first measure carbon footprint, assess and reduce emissions, increase resource productivity through circular processes, and run safer, sustainable business processes. SAP is uniquely positioned to help firms tackle this challenge and become sustainable enterprises with its suite of technology solutions.

Through partnerships, innovative practices, and a holistic approach to sustainability, all the stakeholders need to come together to shape a future where businesses thrive in harmony with the environment.

Sindhu Gangadharan is senior vice president and managing director of SAP Labs India and head of SAP User Enablement.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from SAP on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SAP

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/sap

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: SAP

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811906/the-role-of-partnerships-in-tackling-climate-change
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Bermuda is pleased to be represented at the COP28 summit in Dubai, scheduled for November 30 - December 12, 2023.

The event will be attended inter alia by the island's Premier The Hon David E Burt JP, MP and Deputy Premier The Hon Walter Roban JP, MP. The seniority of the delegation reflects the commitment of Bermuda and its people to becoming the climate risk capital of the world, and its key position in oceanic conservation, and as a leader on Net Zero initiatives in its own right.

With this in mind, the Government has published today a White Paper on its approach:

"The Bermuda Difference

Bringing expertise, resource, and finance to the world's biggest challenge"

The paper and a related video are at the links below:

White Paper - https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/2023-11/The%20Bermuda%20Difference%20-%20COP28.pdf

Video - https://youtu.be/qMAaaAf_ETQ

The publications between them highlight Bermuda's focus:

As custodian of the largest maritime area in the world, some 460,000 sq km of ocean, a fifth of which it has designated as an Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) protected fully from human activity. Bermuda is also the lead trustee of the dozen or so countries looking after the Sagasso sea, a crucial asset for conservation and spawning.

In its expectation of matching or exceed the achievements of some of the leading signatories to Paris, with already 100% replacement of the bus fleet with EVs, on track for 85% reduction in carbon footprint by 2035 and Net Zero by 2050.

With the installation 15MW of solar capacity in the last three years, more than many much larger Paris signatory nations have managed.

Its stated ambition of becoming the world's climate risk capital, from its existing position as the underwriting hub of one third of the world's climate catastrophe insurance.

Minister Roban said:

"The environment, particularly in its maritime aspect, is at the heart of national life and economic policy. We welcome COP28 as a further opportunity to share and to build on our unique and vital contribution to the planet in this area.

Our world leading insurance and financial services sector plays an ever-growing part in providing security and mitigation for those most affected by climate change.

As the proverb goes, "we inherit from our parents, but are borrowing from our children". The time for action is now."

Enquiries:

Simon Brocklebank-Fowler, Firehouse Communications Ltd; +44 (0)7717393772, simonbf@firehousecomms.com

Local Contact

Michael Brangman, Communication Officer, mabrangman@gov.bm

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1556495/Government_0f_Bermuda_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop28---the-bermuda-difference-white-paper-bringing-expertise-resource-and-finance-to-the-worlds-biggest-challenge-302002388.html
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / ZincX Resources Corp. ("ZincX Resources" or the "Company"), (TSX Venture Exchange:ZNX)(OTCQB:ZNCXF)(FRA:M9R) announces that the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders (the "AGM") will be held in person on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Suite 2050 - 1055 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3P3. The AGM is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM PST.

Shareholders of ZincX Resources will be asked to vote on the following items:

To appoint auditors for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to fix the remuneration to be paid to the auditors;

To fix the number of directors for the ensuing year at five and to elect directors for the ensuing year; and

To transact such further and other business as may be properly brought before the Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.

ZincX Resources Corp. (TSXV:ZNX)(FRA:M9R) is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space - with a focus on zinc. Zinc is a versatile and essential material for the energy transition to a lower-carbon economy. It is already one of the most used metals in the world behind iron, aluminum and copper but also has applications in energy storage. It also plays a vital role in enabling other clean energy technologies like solar and wind.

ZincX Resources is well-positioned to take advantage of the worldwide looming shortfall in zinc production with the development of its Cardiac Creek (Akie property) deposit - which can help Canada meet its need for the critical mineral zinc and the global push towards decarbonization to combat climate change.

Separately, ZincX Resources intends to voluntarily terminate its listing services on the OTCQB Venture Market (OTCQB) trading platform. The Company has made this decision after considering a number of factors including the associated listing fee expenses necessary to continue with the OTCQB listing.

The Akie Zn-Pb-Ag Project

The 100% owned Akie property is situated within the Kechika Trough, the southernmost area of the regionally extensive Paleozoic Selwyn Basin and one of the most prolific sedimentary basins in the world for the occurrence of SEDEX zinc-lead-silver and stratiform barite deposits.

Drilling on the Akie property by ZincX Resources since 2005 has identified a significant body of baritic-zinc-lead SEDEX mineralization known as the Cardiac Creek deposit. The deposit is hosted by siliceous, carbonaceous, fine-grained clastic rocks of the Middle to Late Devonian Gunsteel Formation.

The Company updated the estimate of mineral resources at Cardiac Creek in 20181, as follows:

5% Zinc Cut-Off Grade Contained Metal: Category Tonnes

(million) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (g/t) Zn (B lbs) Pb (B lbs) Ag (M oz) Indicated 22.7 8.32 1.61 14.1 4.162 0.804 10.3 Inferred 7.5 7.04 1.24 12.0 1.169 0.205 2.9 The Company announced robust positive results from the 2018 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)1. The PEA envisages a conventional underground mine and concentrator operation with an average production rate of 4,000 tonnes per day. The mine will have an 18-year life with potential to extend the life-of-mine (LOM) through resource expansion at depth. Key parameters for the PEA are as follows: Parameter Base Case1 Tonnes Mined 25.8 Mt Mined Head Grades 7.6% Zn; 1.5% Pb; 13.08 g/t Ag Tonnes Milled 19.7 Mt Milled Head Grades (after DMS2 upgrade) 10.0% Zn; 1.9% Pb; 17.17 g/t Ag Total Payable Metal (LOM) $3,960M3 Initial CAPEX $302.3M including $45.7M contingency LOM Total CAPEX $617.9M including $58.5M contingency All-in Total OPEX $102.4 per tonne milled Pre-Tax NPV7% $649M Pre-Tax IRR 35% Pre-Tax Payback 2.6 years After-Tax NPV7% $401M After-Tax IRR 27% After-Tax Payback 3.2 years 1. For details and QP statements, see technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Akie Project British Columbia, Canada" prepared by JDS Energy & Mining Inc. and filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ on August 2, 2028, and News Release dated August 2, 2018. The base case used metal prices are calculated from the 3-year trailing average coupled with two year forward projection of the average price; and are: US$1.21/lb for zinc, US$1.00/lb for lead and US$16.95 for silver. A CDN$/US$ exchange rate of 0.77 was used. The NPV discount rate is 7%. 2. DMS = dense media separation. 3. All dollar amounts expressed in Canadian dollars. The PEA is considered preliminary in nature and includes mineral resources, including inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves have not yet demonstrated economic viability. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any part of a mineral resource will be upgraded to mineral reserves. Therefore, there is no certainty that the results concluded in the PEA will be realized. Zinc (Zn) Zinc is one of many critical metals facilitating the transition to a low-carbon and greener future and is used in renewable energy storage systems and through the protection of steel to improve its durability and service life in solar and wind turbine applications. The primary uses of zinc are the galvanization of steel protecting against corrosion due to weather conditions, the production of brass and bronze, and in die-casting to produce a wide range of metal products. In agriculture, zinc can also increase crop yields and crop quality and is an essential nutrient in human development and disease prevention. Ken MacDonald P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Mike Makarenko P.Eng, JDS Energy and Mining, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the PEA technical information contained in this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ZINCX RESOURCES CORP. "PEEYUSH VARSHNEY" Peeyush Varshney, LL.B CEO & CHAIRMAN Contact: Investor Relations Phone (604) 684-2181 info@zincxresources.com SOURCE: ZincX Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811884/zincx-resources-to-hold-annual-general-meeting-on-december-7-2023
Mary Kay Inc., the iconic beauty brand and global advocate for women's empowerment, is thrilled to announce its expansion into Hungary, a strategic move that marks the company's latest foray into the European market. This expansion coincides with Mary Kay's milestone 60th anniversary, underscoring its enduring legacy of offering unparalleled entrepreneurship opportunities and high-quality skincare and color cosmetics.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130602889/en/

With Hungary's rich cultural tapestry, vibrant heritage, and dynamic economy, Mary Kay Inc. is set to introduce a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering the economic empowerment of Hungarian women. (Credit: Mary Kay Inc.)

Mary Kay Hungary's operations will be overseen from the Mary Kay Czech Republic's offices in Prague. To celebrate this momentous expansion, events in both Prague and Budapest have been arranged. This expansion builds upon the brand's recent accolade of being named the World's #1 Direct Selling Brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics by Euromonitor International1

"The expansion into Hungary is something we have always considered, and we know the time to introduce our unparalleled career opportunity and irresistible products in this new market is NOW," said Tara Eustace, Mary Kay President, Europe Region. "I am confident that under the leadership of Edita Szaboova and our very successful Mary Kay Czech Republic Slovakia markets, we will create vibrant, viable earning opportunities for the women of Hungary."

Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic Slovakia, expressed her enthusiasm about the new market expansion.

"We are elated to empower aspiring women entrepreneurs in Hungary, aligning with our core mission of enriching women's lives," said Szaboova. "Entrepreneurship is highly respected and supported in Hungary, and our research shows that women will embrace this new opportunity to work, learn, and grow their own sustainable businesses."

With Hungary's rich cultural tapestry, vibrant heritage, and dynamic economy, Mary Kay Inc. is set to introduce a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering the economic empowerment of Hungarian women. These initiatives include educational programs, mentorship, and significant economic investments in the country.

To learn more, please follow Mary Kay Hungary online at www.marykay.hu, and stay connected on Instagram and Facebook.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women's lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter).

1 "Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2022 data."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130602889/en/

Contacts:

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications

marykay.com/newsroom

972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com
HUNT VALLEY, MD/ ACCESSWIRE/ November 30, 2023 / MarylandSaves, the workplace savings and retirement program created by the State of Maryland, won a 2023 Excellence & Innovation Award from Pensions & Investments Magazine and the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association. MarylandSaves, formally known as the Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Program, was among a handful of innovative programs selected as winners for their "new approaches to solving old problems in workplace retirement plans."

"MarylandSaves is an advance on traditional retirement plans," said Chair Josh Gotbaum, below, who accepted the award on behalf of the MarylandSaves board. "It's automatic savings from each paycheck, savings that can help with life's emergencies now and keep helping after people retire. It can help the hundreds of thousands in Maryland who work full-time but have no savings. And we think MarylandSaves can become a model for the rest of America, too."

Unlike traditional retirement programs, MarylandSaves doesn't charge businesses to sign their employees up. In fact, the State provides $300 per year to businesses that do by waiving a state filing fee.

Also unlike virtually all retirement plans, employees in MarylandSaves automatically have a built-in emergency savings fund to handle life's unforeseen emergencies.

Other innovations that MarylandSaves will offer include:

Helping people get the most out of their Social Security. MarylandSaves will let savers use their MarylandSaves account instead of being forced to apply early and getting reduced Social Security benefits.

MarylandSaves will let savers use their MarylandSaves account instead of being forced to apply early and getting reduced Social Security benefits. Converting automatically to a monthly paycheck. At retirement age, a MarylandSaves account will convert automatically to a monthly check in an amount estimated to last a person's lifetime.

"More than two thousand businesses and more than 4,500 Marylanders are already being helped by MarylandSaves," said MarylandSaves Executive Director Glenn Simmons. "We've worked hard to ensure MarylandSaves is free, quick, and easy for businesses and compelling to employees. And we've only just begun."

MarylandSaves launched statewide on September 15, 2022. Businesses register their employees with the program and, if employees don't opt out, payroll contributions are automatically made to a professionally managed investment funds. The employees have complete control over their accounts. More information is available at MarylandSaves.com

About MarylandSaves

Sponsored by the state of Maryland, MarylandSaves offers an automatic payroll savings IRA program for Maryland businesses that don't offer a retirement plan to their employees. WorkLife Savings Accounts are individual accounts controlled by each saver, not the employer. For more information, visit www.MarylandSaves.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Chris Cullen

ccullen@marylandsaves.org

410-926-2015

SOURCE: MarylandSaves

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/811971/marylandsaves-workplace-savings-wins-innovation-award
Regulatory News:

ESI Group SA (ISIN Code: FR 0004110310, Symbol: ESI) ("ESI Group") announces today that the tender offer for the shares of ESI Group at a price of 155 euros per share initiated by Keysight Technologies Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), through its fully owned subsidiary Keysight Technologies Netherlands B.V. ("Keysight") (the "Offer") will be opened from December 1, 2023 (included) to January 8, 2024 (included).

On November 28, 2023, the Autorite des marches financiers ("AMF") declared the Offer to be compliant and granted its approval (visa) to Keysight's offer document (the "Offer Document") and to ESI Group's note in response (the "Note in Response"), under numbers 23-492 and 23-493 respectively. The Offer Document, the Note in Response and the documents detailing other information relating to the legal, financial and accounting characteristics of Keysight and ESI Group have been made available to the public on November 29, 2023, in accordance with article 231-28 of the AMF's general regulations.

The Offer Document, the other information relating to Keysight's legal, financial and accounting characteristics, the Note in Response, and the other information relating to ESI Group's legal, financial and accounting characteristics, may be consulted on the websites of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) and ESI Group (https://investors.esi-group.com/fr), and may be obtained free of charge from:

ESI Group Investors relations

3 bis Rue Saarinen

Immeuble le Seville

94528 Rungis Cedex

France

A toll-free number is available to ESI Group's individual shareholders residing in France for any questions concerning the Offer (open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:00pm): 0805 38 57 78.

Georgeson is acting as information agent for ESI Group's institutional and individual shareholders (contact: M. Matthieu Simon Blavier msb@georgeson.comet Mme. Christine Genin christine.genin@georgeson.com).

Disclaimer

This press release has been prepared for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer to the public or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell shares in ESI Group, or an offer to sell, in any country, including France.

The Offer is made exclusively in France. The documents relating to the Offer (including the note in response thereto) are not intended for distribution in countries other than France or to be made available to residents of such countries unless permitted by the laws and regulations applicable to them, without any formality or publicity being required from ESI Group.

ESI Group accepts no liability for any breach by any person of the restrictions applicable to it.

About Keysight

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we're delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We're a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com.

About ESI Group

Founded in 1973, ESI Group envisions a world where Industry commits to bold outcomes, addressing high stakes concerns environmental impact, safety comfort for consumers and workers, and adaptable and sustainable business models. ESI provides reliable and customized solutions anchored on predictive physics modeling and virtual prototyping expertise to allow industries to make the right decisions at the right time while managing their complexity. Acting principally in automotive land transportation, aerospace, and heavy industry, ESI is present in more than 15 countries, employs 1000 people around the world, and reported 2022 sales of 130 million. ESI is headquartered in France and is listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris.

For further information, go to: www.esi-group.com.

https://www.esi-group.com/company/who-we-are

Follow ESI

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter YouTube

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130448329/en/

Contacts:

ESI Group

Pascale Arnaud

investors@esi-group.com

+33 1 49 78 28 28

orson. Press Shareholder Relations

Gael Durand-Perdriel

gael.durand-perdriel@orson.ai

+33 7 85 63 63 19

Georgeson

Matthieu Simon Blavier

msb@georgeson.com

+33 1 42 60 36 54

+33 6 60 41 80 61

Christine Genin

christine.genin@georgeson.com

+33 6 46 82 39 41
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Dryden Gold Corp. ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into amended terms regarding the amalgamation agreement dated October 30, 2023 (the "Definitive Agreement") with 1317223 B.C. LTD. ("223") pursuant to which the Company will amalgamate (the "Amalgamation") with 223 and continue as one corporation (the "Amended Transaction"), with the Company being the "Resulting Issuer". As a result of the Amended Transaction, the securityholders of 223 and Dryden Gold will become securityholders of the Resulting Issuer. Upon completion of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer (to be named "Dryden Gold Corp.") will carry on the business of Dryden Gold, as described in the press release dated October 31, 2023 and filed on SEDAR by 223. In addition, the concurrent financing has been repriced as described herein (the "Repriced Offering").

Dryden Gold anticipates that the Amended Transaction will enable the Resulting Issuer to meet the initial listing requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") for a "Tier 2 Mining Issuer" (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV).

The Amended Transaction

The Definitive Agreement between 223 and Dryden Gold has been amended (the "Amended Agreement") to provide for, among other things, for the Amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which:

223 will complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of 1 pre-Consolidation common share for every 0.864864865 post-Consolidation common share, resulting in the outstanding share capital of 223 being comprised of an aggregate of 4,000,000 post-Consolidation common shares (each a "223 Share"); 223 and Dryden Gold will cease to exist as separate legal entities and continue as one corporation, the Resulting Issuer; all of the outstanding 223 Shares will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive common shares of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share at a deemed price of $0.25 per Resulting Issuer Share for each 223 Share previously outstanding; all of the 44,355,893 outstanding Dryden Gold Shares will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive Resulting Issuer Shares at a deemed price of $0.25 per Resulting Issuer Share on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share for each Dryden Gold Share previously outstanding; an aggregate of 3,475,000 share purchase warrants of Dryden Gold (the "Dryden Warrants") will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive share purchase warrants of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Warrants") exercisable to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Warrant for each Dryden Warrant previously outstanding; an aggregate of 3,100,000 stock options of Dryden Gold (the "Dryden Options") will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive stock options of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Options") exercisable to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Option for each Dryden Option previously outstanding; and the Resulting Issuer will be named "Dryden Gold Corp.", or such other name as determined by 223.

Completion of the Transaction will be subject to certain conditions (the "Transaction Conditions"), including among others: (i) the requirement for Dryden Gold to obtain shareholder approval for the Amalgamation; (ii) the requirement for 223 to obtain approval of all of the shareholders of 223 with respect to the Amalgamation; (iii) the completion of the Offering (as defined below); (iv) the completion of the Consolidation by 223; (v) obtaining the approval of the TSXV with respect to the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares; (vi) the TSXV shall have granted an exemption or waiver from the sponsorship requirement or a sponsor shall have filed an acceptable report with the TSXV; and (vi) Dryden Gold shall not be in default of the requirements of any securities commission and no order shall have been issued that would prevent the Transaction or trading of any securities of Dryden Gold.

Repriced Offering

In its previous disclosure, Dryden Gold indicated that it intended to complete a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 12,000,000 and a maximum of 20,000,000 Subscription Receipts, (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $3,000,000 and a maximum of $5,000,000 (collectively, the "Offering"). The Repriced Offering will be a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 20,000,000 and a maximum of 33,333,333 Subscription Receipts at a price of $0.15 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $3,000,000 and a maximum of $5,000,000.

It is expected that the Company will pay certain arm's length eligible persons (each, a "Finder") a finder's fee equal to 6.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the subscribers participating in the Offering introduced by such Finders ("Finder's Fee"), payable on the closing date of the Offering. In addition, the Company will issue to such Finders, finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") exercisable to acquire that number of Dryden Gold Shares as is equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts issued pursuant to the Offering to the subscribers introduced by each such Finder. Each Finder's Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Dryden Gold Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds derived from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, will be held in escrow on behalf of the subscribers of the Subscription Receipts by an escrow agent to be appointed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of a Subscription Receipt subscription agreements (the "Subscription Agreements") to be entered into in connection with the Offering.

Each Subscription Receipt will be, in accordance with the Subscription Agreement, automatically converted, without payment of any additional consideration and without any further action on the part of the holder thereof, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions related to the Transaction (the "Escrow Release Conditions") into a unit, comprised of one common share of Dryden (a "Common Share"), and one share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (a "Dryden Unit Warrant") exercisable to acquire a Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of two years. Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, the Common Shares will be exchanged for Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share for each Common Share so held, respectively, and the Dryden Unit Warrants will be exchanged for Resulting Issuer Warrants on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Warrant for each Dryden Unit Warrant held.

The net proceeds of the Offering derived from the Subscription Receipts will be used by the Company to fund exploration, as well as for general corporate purposes following completion of the Transaction.

The securities to be offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Stock Exchange Matters

As at the date hereof, neither the common shares of 223 nor the Dryden Gold Shares are listed on any stock exchange in Canada, or elsewhere. 223 is a "reporting issuer" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation) in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

A condition to completion of the Transaction is the conditional approval for the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV as a "Tier 2 Mining Issuer" (within the meaning of the policies of the TSXV). A filing statement which will include further details of the Transaction, the Manitou Property, the Tremblay Project and the Offering, will be filed on Dryden Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , upon TSXV conditional approval of the listing. There can be no assurance that the TSXV will grant such conditional approval or that the Transaction or the Offering will be completed as proposed or at all. The Transaction is an "arm's length transaction" (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV as 223 is not a Related Party (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) to Dryden Gold.

The Transaction may require sponsorship under the policies of the TSXV unless an exemption or waiver from sponsorship is granted. Dryden Gold intends to apply for an exemption or waiver from sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Transaction. There can be no assurance that such exemption or waiver will ultimately be granted.

Principal Securityholders

No Person or company will, to Dryden Gold's and 223's knowledge, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over 10% or more of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares following the Transaction.

Qualified Person

The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maura J. Kolb, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Dryden Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

About Dryden Gold

Dryden Gold Corp. is a privately held exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization. The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition & consolidation, exploration success and merger & acquisitions. The Company has consolidated 100% interest in a dominate strategic land position in the Dryden Camp in the greenstone belt in the Canadian Shield of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure with the Trans-Canada Highway running through the center of the property as well as Ontario Grid Power, rail, gas and proximity to the City of Dryden with its rich mining heritage. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com.

Contact Information:

Dryden Gold Corp.

Trey Wasser

CEO

Phone: 940-368-8337

twasser@drydengold.com

Maura Kolb

President

Phone: 807-632-2368

mjkolb@drydengold.com

1317223 B.C. LTD.

Stephen Sandusky,

ssandusky@medalistcapital.ca

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of 223 and Dryden Gold should be considered highly speculative.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS IN NO WAY PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Further details of the transaction contemplated by the Definitive Agreement will be included in subsequent news releases and disclosure documents to be filed by Dryden Gold.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Offering; use of proceeds from the Offering; future development plans; and the business and operations of the Resulting Issuer after the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. 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. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections.

Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189400
Engages The Howard Group for Capital Markets and Corporate Communications

Highlight Video

Tocvan Ventures - First Dore Bar of Gold and Silver - YouTube

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TO);(OTCQB:TCVNF);(FSE:TV3), is pleased to announce it has poured the first dore bar of gold and silver from bulk sample material processed at its Pilar gold-silver project in Sonora, Mexico. The bar weighs 1.487 kilograms in total, with assays from local certified laboratory LTM returning 18% of gold and 69% of silver. The bar was processed at a local facility under the supervision of Company staff. Carbon material used to absorb gold and silver during the heap leach bulk test was processed to extract the precious metals. Results are pending to determine the other metals present in the dore bar and to quantify the remaining gold and silver present in the carbon material. Remaining gold and silver in the carbon and will be processed shortly during a second dore bar pour. During the bulk sample 700 tonnes of material were crushed and processed through heap leach, returning a 1.9 g/t Au head grade and gold recovery of 62%. An additional 700 tonnes of bulk sample material are available for follow on testing of alternative recovery methods including, gravity with agitated leach. Preliminary agitated leach studies have shown rapid recovery of gold of up to 81% (see news release August 22, 2023). Gravity with later agitated leach studies have shown recoveries over 95% for gold (see news release April 11, 2023).

Figure 1. Photo of the first dore bar poured from the Pilar Project bulk material.



"Recovering gold and silver is an important step towards full-scale production and the first of many ounces to be produced from Pilar." stated Brodie Sutherland, CEO. "Pilar has returned high head grade, well above the average of open pit mines in the region. The recoveries are also consistent with local operations, with the advantage at Pilar for even higher recovery through gravity and agitated leach methods. More gold and silver are yet to be extracted from the material in hand while we continue to advance our near-term permitting initiatives towards mine development. In addition, we are extremely excited to bring on The Howard Group as a key advisor to both capital markets and corporate communications as we look to broaden our outreach to current and prospective investors."

Figure 2. Tocvan's technical team with the Pilar first pour.

The Company is also pleased to announce it has engaged The Howard Group Inc. as its Capital Markets and Corporate Digital Communications advisor. The Howard Group will direct both traditional and online initiatives with a special emphasis on connecting the Company to retail investing communities and select members of numerous investment and institutional organizations.

The Company entered into an investor relations engagement agreement (the "Agreement") with The Howard Group dated December 1, 2023 (the "Effective Date") subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), whereby the Company has agreed to engage The Howard Group for a term of twelve months with a six-month renewal feature. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay $10,000 a month and grant the following stock options to The Howard Group under the Company's incentive stock option plan: (i) 200,000 stock options granted within 15 days of the date of the Agreement with an exercise price of $0.45 per share vesting 25% every 3 months and expiring 3 years after the date of grant; and (ii) 100,000 stock options granted upon first renewal at six months, and the stock options shall have an exercise price equal to the applicable market price pursuant to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, vesting 25% every 3 months and expiring 3 years after the date of grant.

"Tocvan is an extremely interesting opportunity," commented Grant Howard, President of The Howard Group. "We feel the investing and investment communities will find the story particularly appealing. It sits in the heart of gold country in Sonora, Mexico, has dramatically expanded its 100% Pilar Gold & Silver project and there are multiple high-grade assay results. Tocvan management is focused on the company becoming a near-term producer."

About The Howard Group

Since 1988, The Howard Group has provided comprehensive outreach, online digital and capital markets programs targeting investor, investment, and institutional communities as well as financing support and strategic planning for public companies.

About the Pilar Property

The Pilar Gold-Silver property has recently returned some of the regions best drill results. Coupled with encouraging gold and silver recovery results from metallurgical test work, Pilar is primed to be a potential near-term producer. Pilar is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal system hosted in andesite rocks. Three primary zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-T. The Main Zone and 4-T trends are open to the southeast and new parallel zones have been recently discovered. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Mineralization extends along a 1.2-km trend, only half of that trend has been drill tested so far. To date, over 23,000 m of drilling has been completed.

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 16.5m @ 53.5 g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag

61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au

About Tocvan Ventures Corp.

Tocvan is a well-structured exploration development company. Tocvan was created in order to take advantage of the prolonged downturn in the junior mining exploration sector, by identifying and negotiating interest in opportunities where management feels they can build upon previous success. Tocvan has approximately 41.7 million shares outstanding and is earning 100% into two exciting opportunities in Sonora, Mexico: the Pilar Gold-Silver project and the El Picacho Gold-Silver project. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.

Brodie A. Sutherland, P.Geo., CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For more information, please contact:

TOCVAN VENTURES CORP.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO

820-1130 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4

Telephone: 1 888 772 2452

Email: ir@tocvan.ca

The Howard Group

Jeff Walker

VP Howard Group Inc.

403-221-0915

jeff@howardgroupinc.com

SOURCE: Tocvan Ventures Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/812033/tocvan-pours-first-dor-bar-from-pilar-bulk-sample
Fighting resumed in Gaza on Friday immediately after the expiry of a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas, with the first fatalities reported minutes later, according to health officials in the Palestinian territory.

An AFPTV livecam showed a heavy cloud of grey smoke rolling over northern Gaza, and apparent sounds of automatic weapons fire and explosions within the first 90 minutes after the truce expired at 0500 GMT.

Israel's military said fighter jets were "currently striking" Hamas targets in Gaza, and AFP journalists reported air strikes in the north and south of the territory.

Marwan al-Hams, the director of Al-Najar hospital in Rafah in southern Gaza, where many Palestinians fled after being told by Israel to leave the north of the territory, said strikes killed at least nine people in the city, including four children.

Elsewhere, two children were killed in air raids on Gaza City, said Fadel Naim, a doctor with Al-Ahli hospital in the city.

A source close to Hamas told AFP the group's armed wing had received "the order to resume combat" and to "defend the Gaza Strip", with heavy fighting reported in parts of Gaza City.

Combat resumed shortly after Israel's army said it had intercepted a rocket fired from Gaza, the first from the territory since a missile launched minutes into the start of the truce on November 24.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said fighting had restarted after Hamas "violated" the truce.

"Upon the resumption of fighting, we emphasise: The Government of Israel is committed to achieving the goals of the war: Releasing the hostages, eliminating Hamas and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to the residents of Israel," it said in a statement.

Sirens warning of potential missile fire sounded around several communities near Gaza in the hour after the fighting resumed, and Israeli authorities said they were restarting security measures in the area including closing schools.

- Talks 'ongoing' -

Despite the resumption of fighting, talks between Qatari and Egyptian mediators were "ongoing", said a source briefed on the talks.

During the seven-day truce dozens of hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and more aid entered Gaza where about 80 percent of the population is displaced and grappling with shortages of food, water and other essentials.

On Thursday, US top diplomat Antony Blinken, meeting Israeli and Palestinian officials, called for the pause in hostilities to be extended, and warned any resumption of combat must protect Palestinian civilians.

Other world leaders, and aid groups, had also sought an extended pause.

The truce had paused fighting that began on October 7 when Hamas militants broke through Gaza's militarised border into Israel.

The unprecedented attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and militants kidnapped about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas in response and unleashed an air and ground military campaign in Gaza that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people, also mostly civilians.

During the truce brokered by Qatar with support from Egypt and the United States, 80 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

More than 20 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, were freed outside the scope of the agreement.

- 'Coming back' -

Late Thursday six more Israelis, some holding dual nationality, were released, hours after two women were freed.

That brought the total freed Thursday to eight, less than the 10 hostages a day the truce deal required Hamas to release. A source close to the militant group said it was counting two Russian-Israeli women released on Wednesday as part of the seventh batch.

The release brought relief for Keren Shem, whose daughter Mia was among those freed. The family released footage showing Keren weeping with joy as she was informed by phone of her daughter's imminent freedom.

"Mia is coming back," she cried out.

Not long after the hostages arrived in Israel, the country's prison service said another 30 Palestinian prisoners -- 23 minors and seven women -- had been freed.

After meeting leaders in Israel and the occupied West Bank, Blinken said Washington wants "to see this process continue to move forward".

"We want an eighth day and beyond."

A source close to Hamas said the group backed another extension and mediators were working to prolong the pause, but the negotiations appeared to have failed.

- Fears for civilians -

Israel had made clear it viewed the truce as a temporary pause to secure the release of hostages.

"We swore... to eliminate Hamas, and nothing will stop us," Netanyahu said in a video released by his office, after meeting with Blinken.

His government has come under increasing pressure, however, to account for how it will protect civilians in the territory, which is under blockade, with no way for people to escape.

Blinken had warned that any resumed military operation by Israel "must put in place humanitarian civilian protection plans that minimise further casualties of innocent Palestinians".

Specifically, Israel must "clearly and precisely" designate areas "in southern and central Gaza, where they can be safe and out of the line of fire", he said.

International bodies have called for more time to get medical supplies, food and fuel into Gaza, where an estimated 1.7 million people have been forced from their homes.

The truce had allowed people to return to the ruins of their homes to pick through the rubble for remaining belongings and provided a sense of safety after weeks of daily bombardment.

"We are afraid that the truce will end, so the problems and the bombings will start again," Gaza City resident Mohamad Naasan told AFP.

The violence in Gaza has also raised tensions in the West Bank, where nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or settlers since October 7, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry.

The New York Times reported that Israeli authorities were aware Hamas was planning a major assault, and had obtained a blueprint for the attack, which the group appears to have largely followed on October 7.

Intelligence and military officials dismissed the plan as aspirational, even after a warning that the group had carried out a training exercise in line with the plan, according to the report.

burs-sah/it/dv
Phoenix, Arizona and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc. (CSE: YOUR) (OTC: YOURF) ("YourWay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its press release dated November 15, 2023 titled "YourWay Cannabis Brands Announces Management Update and Offer to Purchase Labtronix", that the definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to sell (the "Transaction") Labtronix, Inc. ("Labtronix") has been entered into. The closing of the Transaction is subject to customary conditions precedent, including receipt by the Company of a special resolution of the Company's common shares and proportionate voting shares approving the Transaction (the "Transaction Resolution"), which approval will be sought at the Company's upcoming special meeting (the "Meeting") of the shareholders to be held on December 28, 2023.

Under the terms of the Agreement, YourWay has agreed to sell a 100% ownership interest in Labtronix, which sale will effectively allow the Company to separate itself from:

all lawsuits both existing and unknown against Labtronix;

all existing liabilities of Labtronix both known and unknown; and

all tax liabilities pertaining to Labtronix (where essential all operations of the Company have been conducted).

As consideration for the sale, YourWay will receive US$3M. The $3M will be structured as a 5% secured note with a US$300,000 payment due on closing and the balance paid in equal installments of principal and interest over the following 60 months.

For further detail respecting the Agreement, the Transaction, the Transaction Resolution and Company's rationale for pursuing the Transaction, please see the Company's management information circular for the Meeting and the full text of the Agreement, which are both filed on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About YourWay Cannabis Brands Inc.

YourWay was committed to redefining the way consumers and cannabis brands interact with the consumer. By building their own brands, partnering with others, they were dedicated to expanding their reach; remolding the cannabis industry and ultimately redefining how consumers and cannabis brands interact.

Website: www.yourwaycannabis.com

contact: ir@yourwaycannabis.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release may include "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance, the Transaction and shareholder approval in respect of the Transaction. Forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

The Company, through its subsidiaries, is involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities; however, investors should note there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law in the United States to cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities may form the basis for prosecution under applicable federal money laundering legislation. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189421
Brightside AI, a Prilly, Switzerland-based provider of a SaaS platform to help teams combat social-engineering cyberattacks, raised $1M in funding.

Social Links made the investment.

The company intends to enhance its solution and apply the SL offering (or API) to the cybersecurity market.

Led by CEO Andrey Suzdaltsev, Brightside AI is an advanced cybersecurity solution designed to protect businesses and enable employees to control their personal data footprint. It demonstrates to SMEs how much employee data is exposed publicly and enables them to minimize data exposure with 1-click data clean up in compliance with GDPR requirements. Brightside AI requires zero integration, empowering businesses to understand their external data risks and how to protect against them. The user application is designed to increase employee awareness by showing how much data is available about them publicly and what can be done about it. The business dashboard enables administrators to quickly get an understanding of their companys security position and initiate phishing tests for the most vulnerable team members.

Social Links is an OSINT platform that processes data from over 500 open sources to significantly accelerate data-centric tasks for companies involved in open data management. As part of the collaboration, Brightside will have access to the Social Links platform next 5 years to train LLM models of its artificial intelligence-based human data search engine, making them more effective through the use of real-world examples.

FinSMEs

30/11/2023


Harness Therapeutics, a Cambridge, UK-based biotechnology company focused on physiological protein upregulation, raised additional 4M in funding.

The round brought the total amount to 17.6M. Backers included SV Health Investors, investing out of The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF) and Takeda Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to advance its lead programme targeting FAN1 nuclease in Huntingtons Disease (HD) towards the clinic.

Led by CEO Jan Thirkettle, Harness Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with a programme in Huntingtons Disease. Focusing on neurodegeneration targets with strong biology and genetic validation, it utilises its understanding of RNA biology and post-transcriptional regulation to enable drugging with oligonucleotide based drugs to upregulate protein expression.

Harness Therapeutics was originally established as Transine Therapeutics in 2020 by life science investors Takeda Ventures and The Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), with Epidarex Capital joining as an investor in 2022. the company initially focussed on advancing its IncRNA SINEUP platform for upregulation of protein expression and the investment committed through this period has enabled Harness to build deep RNA biology alongside bespoke analytical capabilities. From this work, the company has gained insights into the regulation of therapeutic targets and broadened its oligonucleotide based toolset for physiological protein upregulation.

FinSMEs

30/11/2023
Hybr, a Bristol, UK-based provider of an aggregated platform for first-time renters, including students and young graduates, raised 3.24M in funding.

The round saw participation from Blackwood Ventures, Adjuvo, Alec Dent as part of the Atomico Angel Programme and individuals such as the former CEOs of The Office Group, Hannah Rothschild, serial entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow, Rosemary Leith, and Evelyn Bourke, the former CEO of Bupa.

The company intends to us the funds to expand its business reach.

Led by Founder and CEO Hannah Chappatte, Hybr provides a platform, which matches young renters to vetted landlords, whilst providing landlords with a connected lease-up experience, offering pre-qualified and supported tenants. Its service is free for young renters.

Hybr is currently active in 10 UK cities, including London, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield, with plans to launch in 20 key university cities in the coming 12 months.

FinSMEs

30/11/2023
Seacoast Capital, a Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA-based lower-middle market non-control growth capital investor, closed its fifth fund, Seacoast Capital Partners V, L.P., at $280M.

The fund was established to invest non-control equity and debt capital alongside of manager/owners of businesses in support of growth, recapitalizations and management/shareholder buyouts.

Founded in 1994, Seacoast Capital invests non-controlling capital in partnership with management in lower middle market private companies. Seacoast is industry agnostic and typically invests $5 million to $30 million of capital in companies with $10 million or more in revenue and $2 million or more of EBITDA. Capital is used to support growth, refinancings, acquisitions, family ownership and wealth transfers, shareholder liquidity events, and partnership or management buyouts. Geographically, the firm invests anywhere in the United States. Since its inception, Seacoast has managed over $1B of capital, which the firm has invested in 90+ transactions.

The vehicle already made its first investment in Focus Technology Solutions, a Boston, MA-based information technology firm that designs and implements innovative IT solutions through personalized service, with expertise in next-generation data center infrastructure, managed IT services, cloud solutions and cyber security, Focus is one of the top IT solutions providers in the Northeast.

Seacoast provided Focus with a combination of equity and debt to support a majority recapitalization of the company by members of its management team and to provide working capital in support of its continued growth. In concert with the transaction, Doug Alexander stepped down as Focus CEO, but plans to continue his strategic relationship with the company as a member of its Board of Managers. Focus prior CFO Chris Caprio was simultaneously promoted to CEO.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

FinSMEs

30/11/2023
Spring Impact Capital, a Vancouver, BC, Canada-based impact venture capital firm, launched a new $20m fund.

The vehicle, achieved its first close this quarter, supported by a group of individuals, family offices and foundations, will be focused on accelerating positive change by investing in Canadian businesses innovating in health and climate.

Read more on VCWire.tech, our new website dedicated to the tech venture capital industry.

FinSMEs

29/11/2023
The actor Jonathan Majors appeared in court in New York on Wednesday for the start of jury selection in a trial in which he is accused of injuring his then-girlfriend during an argument last spring.

The trial could wind up playing a big role in what happens next with Majors, who had emerged as a breakout star with major roles in films including  Creed III  and who was being set up as the next great supervillain in the Marvel multiverse.

The 34-year-old actor entered a Manhattan courtroom alongside his current girlfriend, the actress Meagan Good, carrying a Bible and one of his signature coffee cups. He did not speak during the start of the proceeding.

Majors was arrested in March over a confrontation between the actor and Grace Jabbari, his girlfriend at the time, during a car ride in Manhattan.

Prosecutors said Jabbari had grabbed a phone out of the actors hand after seeing a text, presumably from another woman, saying Wish I was kissing you right now. Majors tried to snatch the phone back.

Jabbari said the actor pulled her finger, twisted her arm behind her back and hit her face. After the couples driver stopped the car and the pair got out, Jabbari said Majors threw her back into the vehicle. Police said Jabbari was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

Majors attorneys have maintained that Jabbari was the aggressor during the fight and had scratched and hit him. They alleged on Wednesday that police who responded to the scene did not interview Majors and that Manhattan prosecutors have refused to review evidence showing he was the victim.

Jabbari was also briefly arrested by New York City police last month after Majors filed a cross complaint against her, but the district attorneys office dropped all charges against her the next day.

On Wednesday, the judge, Michael Gaffey, described the brief arrest of Jabbari as very unusual, suggesting that Majors celebrity status may have played a role in the police departments decision to charge his accuser three months after the incident.

Did this only come about because of the high profile nature of the case? Gaffey asked the court. If this was an indigent, everyday New Yorker, would this arrest have happened?

Majors is charged with misdemeanors including assault and could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted.

Before jury selection began Wednesday, attorneys for Majors successfully sought to bar the public and press from the courtroom in order to discuss evidence in the case that has not been made public. The attorney, Seth Zuckerman, warned the evidence could taint the jury pool beyond repair for Mr. Majors, adding that his client may face trial by newspaper.

Gaffey agreed, finding that the potentially inflammatory evidence should be discussed behind closed doors so that it would not be reported in the media prior to the start of the trial.

The Manhattan District Attorney did not take a position on the matter. An attorney hired to represent the press, Katherine Bolger, opposed the move to seal evidence, noting that the public had a right to know the evidence in the case.

Majors starred in the Marvel TV series Loki and the film Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, and was awaiting the release of another star vehicle, Magazine Dreams, which is now in limbo.

He is known for carrying a coffee cup on the red carpet and to media interviews, one of four he rotates through, as a symbol of his mothers long-ago advice: Dont let anyone fill up your cup.
Hollywood star Michael Douglas came to India to grace his presence at the International Film Festival of India in Goa, where he was honoured with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award. And Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who also graced the festival, shared the stage with Douglas and tried making him speak in Hindi; heres the video:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk)

Union minister Anurag Thakur shared the news in a post on microblogging site X, saying that Douglas would also attend the 54th edition of the festival along with wife Catherine Zeta Jones and son Dylan. The film gala was held from November 20 to 28.

Im delighted to announce that Michael Douglas, the distinguished Hollywood Actor and Producer, will be honoured with the prestigious Satyajit Ray Excellence in Film Lifetime Award at the 54th International Film Festival Goa, Thakur wrote.

In his career of over five decades, Douglas, 79, has starred in several critically-acclaimed and blockbuster movies such as Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, The War of the Roses, Basic Instinct, Falling Down, The American President, Traffic and Behind the Candelabra.

Douglas, son of Hollywood icon Kirk Douglas, had won an Oscar for his 1975 production One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and then bagged the best actor trophy for Wall Street.

According to a press release, Douglas and Zeta Jones will also be participating in a special In Conversation session hosted by the National Award-winning film producer, Shailendra Singh.

The Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, instituted in the IFFI in 1999, is presented to individuals whose exceptional contributions have significantly enriched and elevated the world of cinema. Past recipients include Bernardo Bertolucci, Carlos Saura, Martin Scorsese, Dilip Kumar, Krzysztof Zanussi and Wong Kar-wai.
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi, Govind Namdev

Director: Meghna Gulzar

After directing path-breaking films like Talvar, Raazi and Chhapaak, director Meghna Gulzar is ready to showcase the inspiring journey of Indias Field marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw aka Sam Manekshaw with her upcoming biographical war drama Sam Bahadur. While the promos and songs have garnered positive responses from fans, does it fulfil or surpass the expectations of the cinegoers? Lets find out

Honestly, one cant specify the plot of Sam Bahadur as it traces the life of the legendary army personality Sam Manekshaw, who dedicated his 40 years to the country by participating in five wars and commanding most of them. The film showcases his courage, wittiness, and greatest achievements and contributions from World War 2 to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

While the filmmaker has perfectly captured the essence of the 1930s to 1970s era along with the war sequences, the narrative failed to find a connect as it looked scattered with the slow-paced progress of the story. Honestly, the uniformity of the storytelling turned out to be a major concern as there were no high points or wow moments in the film (which you do expect when you are making a movie on a great soldier).

In fact, I was expecting there would be a bang-on climax when Manekshaw became the Field marshal of India but it was clearly missing.

Talking about the performances, it is the class acts of the ensemble which make Sam Bahadur a decent watch. Vicky Kaushal lives Sam Manekshaw and you can see that in each and every frame of the film. Right from his walk to the smallest gestures, the talented star moulded himself into the character in the smoothest way possible. His effortless act will be remembered for a long time. Sanya Malhotra as Manekshaws wife Siloo is superb. She shines in emotional scenes with her innocence and expressive eyes. Fatima Sana Shaikh as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is in fine form. Her camaraderie with Vicky is a treat to watch. Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub as Pakistani military officer and third President of the country Yahya Khan is flawless.

While Sam Bahadur is not the best work of Meghna Gulzar, Vicky Kaushals impeccable act makes it a decent watch.

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Sam Bahadur will release on 1st December

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The pneumonia outbreak in China has raised alarm among its neighbours and some other countries. The Asian giant is seeing an uptick in respiratory illnesses in its first winter after relaxing the stringent COVID-19 curbs.

Countries, including India, Thailand and Nepal, are on alert and have ramped up surveillance after China reported overwhelming cases of respiratory sickness among children.

As a rise in hospitalisations in China due to respiratory illnesses evoked memories of the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing assured there were no unusual or novel pathogens behind the spike.

Which countries are witnessing a rise in respiratory illnesses? What measures are being taken by Asian nations to prevent the spread? Should we be concerned? Lets understand.

Surge in respiratory illnesses

China is grappling with a jump in respiratory illnesses, with Beijing and Liaoning emerging as major hubs.

The Chinese Health Ministry has attributed the rise in infections to the spread of several pathogens, such as influenza, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the adenovirus, and the bacteria mycoplasma pneumonia.

As per analytics firm Airfinity, the scale of infections in Chinas hospitals is yet unknown. In its report published on Monday (27 November), the firm said Shanghais Renji Hospital has seen a 175 per cent rise in paediatric outpatient visits since November as compared to last year, according to The Telegraph.

A childrens hospital in Bejing told state media CCTV that at least 7,000 patients were being hospitalised daily, much beyond its capacity, reported Independent.

Liaoning province, about 690km northeast of the Chinese capital, is also reporting a large number of cases.

China is not the only country witnessing a surge in respiratory illnesses, including cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae. As per The Telegraph report, South Korea logged a 31 per cent rise in such cases in mid-November.

In southern Vietnam, paediatric wards are receiving patients afflicted with different seasonal infections, such as RSV, influenza and hand, foot and mouth disease, the British newspapers report added.

Nepal has also recorded a spike in respiratory infections including influenza and mycoplasma pneumonia.

Children are increasingly experiencing flu-like symptoms, Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, the Head of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, Kathmandu, told The Telegraph. In light of the growing number of tourists visiting Nepal in recent weeks, I believe its crucial for us to prepare for a potential outbreak originating from China.

Not only in Asia, a European country has also recorded a sudden uptick in respiratory sickness.

The Netherlands has witnessed an increase in pneumonia cases, mostly among children. According to the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), 80 out of every 100,000 children in the 5-14 age group were infected with pneumonia last week, reported The Messenger.

Countries on alert

In India, the Central government has asked states to assess hospital preparedness and ensure there are enough hospital beds, drugs and vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment and testing kits.

Union health ministry said in a statement last week that it has proactively decided to review the [countrys] preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses, as a matter of abundant caution.

Health agencies in Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have increased surveillance and asked staff to remain alert amid the pneumonia outbreak in China.

Thailand is also taking preventive steps to tackle the spread of respiratory illnesses. The Thai Ministry of Public Health has asked officials to tighten surveillance, particularly in tourist hotspots and at hospitals, as well as asked people to wear masks and wash their hands to prevent the risk of disease, reported Independent.

Thailands public health minister Dr Cholnan Srikaew said, Theres no need yet to set up surveillance and screening of passengers at airports. But were putting our guard up.

Nepal health officials are carrying out regular surveillance of those pathogens amid cases of respiratory illnesses in the country.

Taiwan has put its ports and airports on high alert. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control has urged travellers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau to share their travel history and seek medical help if symptomatic, reported Independent.

It also asked people taking a trip to China to take care of their hygiene, get a vaccine against the flu before travelling and avoid crowded places, as per The Telegraph.

Is there a need to worry?

Experts say there is no need for global concerns yet.

Dr Jerome Kim, director general of the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul told The Telegraph that outbreaks of respiratory illnesses including mycoplasma pneumonia, adenovirus and flu were things you would normally expect at this time of year.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which had asked China for more information on the sudden surge, said later there was no detection of any unusual or novel pathogens, but a surge in multiple illnesses.

Thus far, based on what we know from WHO, I dont think the spike in respiratory illnesses should cause global concern, Dr Leana Wen, a medical health expert, told CNN.

With inputs from agencies
Fort Johnson, LA (71446)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible late. High 71F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 54F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Exit polls for the five states that voted this month are finally out. While they may not always get it right, sometimes exit polls give a rough idea of the situation on the ground. If these predictions are to be believed, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have something to cheer for.

Rajasthan appears to have adhered to its decade-old riwaz of ousting the incumbent, as two exit polls have given an edge to the saffron party over the ruling Congress. It is a neck-and-neck contest in Madhya Pradesh between the two parties. The ruling Congress has the upper hand in Chhattisgarh, as per exit polls.

In Telangana, which went to polls on Thursday (30 November), the Grand Old Party has made it challenging for the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) to secure a comfortable victory and return for a third term.

In Mizoram, Zorams People Movement (ZPM) is taking on the Mizo National Front (MNF) in a close race, while the Congress and BJP trail.

Lets take a detailed look at the exit poll results of these five states.

Rajasthan exit poll results 2023

If two exit polls have predicted it right, Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has failed to overcome Rajasthans revolving door policy. According to Times Now-ETG, the BJP could win 108-128 seats, while the Congress may secure only 56-72 seats.

The Rajasthan Assembly is a 200-member House. However, polling was conducted for 199 seats after the death of the Congress candidate from the Karanpur constituency, Gurmeet Koonar. The majority remains at 101 seats.

TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat survey has anticipated a maximum of 110 seats for the saffron party, while the Congress could bag between 90-100 seats. With 94-114 seats, ABP News-C Voter foretells a clear majority for the BJP, with Congress bagging between 71-91 seats.

Jan Ki Baat has given an upper margin to the BJP of 122 seats while reducing the Grand Old Party to 62-85 seats. The exit poll results of Dainik Bhaskar point to a close contest between the Congress and the BJP, predicting 85-95 seats for the former and 98-105 seats for the saffron party.

It is only the India Today-Axis My India exit poll that indicates a victory for the Congress with a maximum of 106 seats. The saffron party could get anywhere between 80-100 seats, the exit poll says. If this prediction is correct, Congress leader Sachin Pilots previous statement that his party has broken the 30-year-old tradition of replacing the incumbent in the desert state may be true. Reacting to exit poll results, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told PTI that the riwaz is set to change in Rajasthan.

But if the other exit polls are not off the mark, then the BJP will be forming the next government in the desert state, and Vasundhara Raje may not be its choice for the coveted post of the CM.

Madhya Pradesh exit poll results 2023

It might be a tight race in Madhya Pradesh. TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat indicates an edge for the Congress over the BJP with 111-121 seats, while the ruling saffron party may secure 106-116 seats. Other parties are expected to bag between zero to six seats.

MP, which has been led by BJPs Shivraj Singh Chouhan since 2005, except for a brief period between 2018 and 2020, has 230 Assembly seats. The parties need to touch the magic number of 116 to stake a claim to form the government.

Jan Ki Baat exit poll projects a very close fight, with the Congress getting 102-125 seats and the BJP winning 100-123 seats. Dainik Bhaskar says the BJP is likely to win a maximum of 115 seats and Congress could clinch 105-120 seats.

Republic TV-Matrize exit poll indicates that the BJP would breach the majority mark, bagging anywhere between 118 and 130 seats. The Congress is likely to win 97-107 seats and other parties will get 0-2 seats.

The BJP can take heart from the India Today-Axis My India exit poll result which has projected a landslide victory for the party with a maximum of 162 seats. It says Congress may win only 68-90 seats, while others could secure 0-3 seats.

Todays Chanakya also forecasts the BJPs return in MP. It must be noted that the saffron party has not declared Chouhan as its CM face this time, while also fielding several MPs in the Assembly elections, stoking speculations that it is keeping its options open for the top job.

However, the Congress expected CM face Kamal Nath has previously expressed confidence in trouncing the BJP and coming to power in MP.

ALSO READ: 2023 Assembly elections: How are exit polls conducted? Are they accurate?

Telangana exit poll results 2023

After Karnataka, the Congress could come to power in another southern state  Telangana. According to India TV-CNX exit poll, the Grand Old Party is much ahead of the ruling BRS with 63-79 seats, while KCRs party is likely to win only 31-47 seats. The BJP is expected to bag 2-4 seats while the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has been given 5-7 seats, as per the exit poll. If true, this will dash KCRs dream of a third term in Telangana.

Telangana has 119 Assembly constituencies, with the majority mark at 60.

Other exit polls predict a close fight between the Congress and the BRS. Jan Ki Baat projects Congress claiming 48-64 seats, BRS 40-55, BJP 7-13 and AIMIM 4-7.

As per TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat, Congress is likely to secure 49-59 seats, BRS 48-58 seats, BJP 5-10 seats and 6-8 seats for AIMIM. Republic TV-Matrize says Congress has an advantage and may secure 58-68 seats, while the BRS is predicted to win 46-56 seats.

News 24-Todays Chanakya exit poll forecasts a clean sweep by the Congress with 71 seats, while the BRS lags behind at 33 seats.

Telangana Minister and BRS leader KT Rama Rao has rejected the exit polls that say his party is losing the state. I promise you, for those of you who are friends of BRS and want KCR to come back I promise you on 3 December (counting day) we are coming back. We are coming back with anywhere above 70 seats, he told reporters.

Chhattisgarh exit poll results 2023

Congress might be able to retain Chhattisgarh and if this happens, it would be a big boost for the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The state has 90 Assembly constituencies, while the majority mark is 46.

News24-Todays Chanakya exit poll has given a distinct lead to Congress with 57 seats and predicted 33 seats for the BJP. Times Now-ETG indicates Congress could clinch anywhere between 48 and 56 seats, while the saffron party may claim 32-40 seats.

India Today-My Axis India and ABP News-C Voter had similar predictions for the BJP, giving it between 36 to 48 seats. The Congress could bag between 40 and 53 seats, as per these exit polls.

Jan Ki Baat and TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat also signalled a Congress victory in Chhattisgarh. The former predicted 42-53 seats for the Grand Old Party and 34-45 seats for the BJP. TV9 Bharatvarsh gave 40-50 seats to Congress and 35-45 to the saffron party.

The Congress is projected to bag 46-55 seats and the BJP may win 35-45 seats, as per Dainik Bhaskars exit poll.

These results are mostly in sync with NDTVs pre-poll survey in October in which 79 per cent of voters had said they were happy with the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.

Mizoram exit polls 2023

It may be a hung Assembly in Mizoram this time, leading to alliances between parties. ZPM and the MNF are engaged in a head-on battle, as per exit polls.

India TV-CNX predicts 14-18 seats for the MNF, 12-16 for ZPM, 8-10 for Congress and 0-2 for the BJP. Times Now-ETG exit poll point that MNF could secure 14-18 seats, ZPM 10-14 seats, and the Congress 9-13 seats.

ABP News-C Voter has given MNF between 15-21 seats, 12-18 to ZPM and 2-8 to Congress.

The MNF is likely to bag 10-14 seats, ZPM 15-25 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2, as per Jan Ki Baat exit poll.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga has, however, said there would be no hung Assembly and his MNF will come to power again.

Lets wait till Sunday (3 December)  the day of the counting of ballots  and we will find out how accurate these exit polls were!
It is election season in India. On Thursday, predictions of the results of the just concluded state Assembly elections will be out. Will Congress be able to retain power in Rajasthan? Will Madhya Pradesh pick the BJP again? What can we expect in Telangana, Chhatisgarh and Mizoram?

While the final results for the five Assembly elections will be declared on 3 December, Thursdays exit poll predictions give a sneak peek into the voting trends and the possible outcomes. The exit polls reflect the public sentiment.

Telangana is the last state to go to polls, where voting continues until 6 pm Thursday. The exit polls for the five states started coming in only after 6.30 pm.

How are exit polls conducted? And how accurate are they? Lets take a closer look:

What are exit polls?

Exit polls are basically voter surveys that are conducted as they exit their polling booths  hence the name.

These are different from opinion polls, which are held prior to elections. The point of an exit poll is to predict which party is likely to take power and with how many seats.

The logic behind exit polls is that if you ask voters such questions right outside the polling booth, their memory is fresh and they are likely to tell you the truth.

According to The Indian Express, the Indian Institute of Public Opinion conducted an exit poll during the second Lok Sabha elections in 1957.

However, serious media poll surveys started surfacing in the 1980s, with psephologist Prannoy Roy partnering up with David Butler. Their studies culminated in the book The Compendium of Indian Elections by Prannoy Roy, David Butler and Ashok Lahiri, reports Business Standard.

How are exit polls conducted?

Each polling group basically has its own technique and sample size  theres no one-size-fits-all method of conducting exit polls.



Exit polls can either be conducted in person or online.

Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, wrote in The Indian Express, Without a structured questionnaire, the data can neither be collected coherently nor be analysed systematically to arrive at vote share estimates.

However, it is important to note that Section 126A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, bans exit polls from the beginning of the voting until a half hour after the final phase of voting has been held.

No person shall conduct any exit poll and publish or publicise by means of the print or electronic media the result of any exit poll during such period In case of a general election, the period may commence from the beginning of the hours fixed for the poll on the first day of poll and continue till half an hour after closing of the poll in all the states and union territories, the law states.

It also mandates a two-year prison term or fine or both for anyone violating this statute.

What do the exit polls predict?

After the voting concluded in Telangana at 6 pm, the exit polls for the five states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, were declared, starting from 6.30 pm.

Five exit polls suggest that Ashok Gehlot will be out of power in Rajasthan. The BJP and the Congress are in a tight race in Madhya Pradesh. While the Congress is ahead in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is close behind, say exit polls, according to a report on NDTV.

The Congress appeared to be ahead in Telangana. Exit polls indicate a clear lead for the party over its rival Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the party of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).

There is no clear winner in Mizoram so far. Two exit polls predict a hung assembly.

Have exit polls always been accurate?

The accuracy of exit polls has been the subject of much debate from experts, politicians and academics. Some take issue with the way questions are phrased, the methodology used, sample size, the demographic and economic factors.

Others accuse their rivals of having a hand in the exit polls and say such polls miss out on the silent voters.

The Chanakya exit poll, C-Voter exit poll and MyAxis exit poll are some of todays prominent pollsters.

Exit polls have got it wrong on several occasions.

The exit polls released by various leading agencies on 10 May this year showed that Karnataka might have a hung assembly with Congress as the largest party. Two predicted an outright victory for the Congress and one for the BJP. The Grand Old Party secured a victory in Karnataka defeating the BJP which was in power.

A big miss came in West Bengal in 2021 where pollsters predicted the BJP to take power. Instead, it was the Trinamool Congress that came out on top once again with 213 seats while the BJP bagged 77 seats.

In 2020, the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led coalition was expected to take power but the it was BJP-JD(U) alliance that ultimately prevailed.

In 2017, the BJP was predicted to come to power in Gujarat with 112 to 116 seats. Instead, the BJP found its tally at only 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly. In Uttar Pradesh that same year, all pollsters predicted a hung Assembly with the BJP emerging as the single-largest party in Indias most populous state. Instead, the BJP and its allies absolutely demolished the Opposition  winning a massive 312 seats in the 403-seat Assembly.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, though most pollsters favoured the Narendra Modi-led NDA to take power, few accounted for the scale of their victory  a massive 336 seats.

Arguably the nadir of exit polls came in 2004 when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA dispensation, pushing the India Shining narrative, was predicted to return to power with a majority. Instead, the Congress-led UPA won 225 seats compared to the NDAs 189 seats.

With inputs from agencies

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As multiple agencies raced against time to rescue the 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhands Silkyara tunnel, a team from Nagpur-based Western Coal Fields monitored the level of carbon dioxide there to ensure that the workers did not gasp for breath.

The workers were rescued from the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi after a gruelling 17-day operation that culminated on Tuesday evening.

Three experts from Western Coal Fields (WCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), camped at the Silkyara tunnel site from 20 November. They were part of the core committee involved in discussions and key decisions, said general manager (rescue services) Dinesh Bisen, a member of the team.

Deputy manager (rescue services) M Vishnu and CMPDI director AK Rana were also part of the team, he said.

Initially, they were on standby to approach the trapped workers through vertical drilling in case the horizontal drilling had failed, reports TOI. Even as the horizontal approach succeeded, they played a key role in ensuring that the workers were not suffocated inside.

Drilling continued both horizontally and vertically as either of the approach could have helped. The vertical drilling was not needed but we were prepared, Dinesh Bisen, company general manager (rescue), told TOI over phone.

Also Read: The heroic men behind the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue mission

Bisen told PTI that inside the tunnel, equipment such as an American-made auger boring machine, cranes, and lifts were used, and their operation produced carbon dioxide.

Their teams responsibility was to monitor the level of carbon dioxide within the tunnel and ensure that it did not rise and cause any breathing difficulties.

The team went down with gas detectors to assess oxygen levels and installed large fans to ensure optimal breathing conditions. Whenever the detectors indicated a decrease in oxygen levels, the huge fans at the open end were activated to facilitate easier breathing for the workers.

As advanced machinery was utilised to cut through the rocks, it resulted in the generation and accumulation of carbon dioxide. The WCL team successfully maintained the oxygen percentage at 20.09, employing fans to flush out carbon dioxide and other gases, said Bisen.

The drilling had to be stopped for the fans to run, so that there was no vibration.

WCL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), is well-known for its internationally renowned rescue division.

Also read: The moment the 41 workers at the collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel were freed

Bisen described the mission as extremely difficult since it varies from a similar operation inside a mine. The width of the gallery (passageway) in a mine is 4.5 to five metres, while the Silkyara tunnel is 16 metres wide, he said.

Furthermore, additional issues arose from time to time, such as the auger drilling machine breaking down, he added.

Also read: Why Indias tunnel rescue mission has proved so challenging

According to TOI, the WCL team was also working on alternative capsule designs in collaboration with mine rescue experts in Australia and Peru, which might have been used to descend into the tunnel.

CIL keeps holding rescue drills among its subsidiaries during which the WCL teams have bagged many first prizes, apart from winning international competitions also.

In 2002, the WCL team represented the entire CIL in a mine rescue competition in Virginia, USA, and won first place. During a competition in Russia in 2018, it was named the most active rescue team.

A portion of the under-construction on Uttarakhands Char Dham route collapsed on 12 November, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside the tunnel and triggering a massive rescue operation.

With inputs from PTI
The latest swap of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel took place on Tuesday evening as part of a cease-fire agreement between the warring sides.

Ten Israeli hostages  nine of them women and a 17-year-old girl  and two Thai nationals were returned to Israeli territory, the military said. About an hour later, Israel set free 30 Palestinian prisoners, according to The Associated Press.

In the attack that started the war on 7 October in southern Israel, Hamas took about 240 hostages. Of the captives, roughly 30 are children.

Kfir Bibas was the youngest, at ten months old. He has spent nearly a fifth of his life as a Hamas hostage.

The infants whereabouts are still unknown as the majority of the other young hostages have been freed.

Heres all we know about the infant hostage from Israel.

The abduction

On 7 October, Saturday, Kfir Bibas was kidnapped by Palestinian militants from his Nir Oz kibbutz in the south of Israel and taken to Gaza.

Although the infant was still only crawling at the time of his seizure, his aunt Eylon Keshet observed that it is possible that he had reached the point where he began to use things to get up and move around, as per AP.

Video showed Kfir and Ariel wrapped in a blanket over their mother Shiri shortly after the Hamas attack, while militants surrounded her and yelled in Arabic. The mother appeared terrified.

No one will hurt her, so she would know that we care about humanity. Cover her and keep her until you take her alive. Let her know, a man is heard saying in the video.

She has children, says another. She has children, yes, the first speaker responds.

Yarden Bibas, the father of the boys, was also captured along with his wife and sons, and he seemed to have suffered injuries in pictures. Ofri Bibas Levy, his sister, questioned on Tuesday as to why it was taking so long for the boys to be let free.

Yardens cousin Keshet told CNN that their grandparents were killed in the attack.

Hamas has released women, children, and teenagers under the ongoing temporary cease-fire, but according to his family, the baby with red hair and a toothless smile is not on the lists of people who will be released.

Maybe its part of a psychological war against us. My hope is that they dont see them as a trophy.

Ever since the attack, their family has been in emotional anguish together with other relatives of hostages. They dont know if Kfir is still alive, and they find it hard to understand how a defenseless little kid could possibly survive in captivity.

I am mostly trying to understand how they pass an entire day there, Bibas Levy told AP in an interview earlier this month. Is Kfir getting his bottle? she asked.

Killed or held by another Palestinian group?

According to The Guardian, shortly before Wednesdays planned release of hostages, Hamas claimed the baby along with his mother and brother has been killed in an Israeli bombing in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces said it was trying to verifying the claims.

Issuing a statement, it said, IDF representatives spoke with the Bibas family following the recent reports and are with them at this difficult time. The IDF is assessing the accuracy of the information.

Earlier, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari, during a briefing, had claimed that a different Palestinian group was holding the family, but Hamas was in charge of ensuring their safety.

The responsibility over all the hostages, including the Bibas family, held by other (militias) inside the strip, is exclusively Hamas responsibility, Hagari said in a briefing.

While Gaza is ruled by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant groups are also active there.

On Monday, CNN quoted a diplomatic source briefed on the negotiations, as saying that over 40 of the hostages captured on 7 October are not currently in the hands of Hamas.

The faces of the eight or so children who are reportedly still in Hamas custody have inspired a grieving country to demand their release.

A symbol of the brutality

Kfir is now seen as a symbol of the brutality of Hamas attack from last month, both in Israel and abroad.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has taken Kfirs photo to foreign media outlets and displayed it on TV.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant referred to him in a news conference, wondering who was looking out for him, as per AP.

I think an entire nation wished they were coming home, a Channel 12 reporter broke down on camera this week while covering the family.

A demonstration for the family

Israelis demanding the swift release of all hostages are taking Kfirs and his brother Ariels, who is four years old, as a rallying cry.

On Tuesday, there was a demonstration in Tel Aviv in favour of the Bibas family.

There is no precedent for something like this, for a baby who was kidnapped when he was nine months old. Is baby Kfir the enemy of Hamas? Eylon Keshet told reporters.

Although it was not anticipated that Kfir, his brother, and his mother would be released on Tuesday, Israel and Hamas decided on Monday to extend their cease-fire until this coming Wednesday. For those unversed, men are not allowed to get any releases under the conditions of the cease-fire.

Kfirs family issued a statement when he was not released on Monday, stating that they were left speechless by the understanding that we wont receive the embrace we so wished for.

Israels military spokesperson and the spokesperson for Arabic media both cited Kfir in separate statements, seemingly in attempt to increase pressure on Hamas to release the Bibas boys and their mother before the truce ends.

On Tuesday afternoon, around a 100 people gathered at the Hostages and Missing Persons Square in Tel Aviv to release orange balloons in protest of the Bibas familys abduction, particularly the children.

They have been 53 days in Gaza, and we dont know who is hugging them, or giving them baths, or calming them down if they are crying, Bibas Levy said during a press conference.

The truce agreement

Before the negotiations for the releases with Israel, it has been believed that Hamas held more than 200 hostages in Gaza.

Since last Friday, under the provisions of the breakthrough truce agreement, groups of Israeli nationals and foreign nationals have been released daily, the most of them women and children.

Figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank, which gets its data from Hamas-run health authorities in the Gaza Strip, show that since Israel began its offensive in response to the terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October, over 14,800 Palestinians  6,000 of them children  have died in Gaza.
Nepal has become the first nation in South Asia to formally register the first same-sex marriage case on Wednesday, five months after the Supreme Court legalised it.

Trans-woman Maya Gurung, 35 and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay, got legally married and their marriage was registered at Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district in Western Nepal, according to Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), president of Blue Diamond Society, an organisation working for the rights and welfare of the sexual minorities in Nepal.

Here are the countries in Asia that allow same-sex marriage.

Nepal

Nepals Supreme Court had allowed same-sex marriage back in 2007. Even the Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, explicitly states that there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

On 27 June 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to legalise same-sex marriage in Nepal in a writ petition filed by multiple people, including Gurung, according to PTI.

But despite the historic order to temporarily register same-sex marriage, Kathmandu District Court four months ago rejected the move citing a lack of necessary laws.

Pandey and Gurungs marriage application was rejected at that time.

Its a great pleasure to learn about this, it is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal, Pinky told PTI. This is the first case not only in Nepal but also in the whole of South Asia, and we welcome the decision.

Married in the traditional manner with the approval of their families, Surendra, a resident of Nawalparasi district, and Maya, a resident of Lamjung district, have been living together as husband and wife for the past six years.

Now their marriage has been temporarily registered and after the formulation of necessary laws, it will get permanent recognition automatically.

Taiwan

In 2019, Taiwan became the first nation in Asia to legalise same-sex marriages, a move that garnered international attention.

A decision by Taiwans Judicial Yuan, or Constitutional Court, served as a catalyst for this historic ruling. The court ruled that both peoples freedom of marriage and the peoples right to equality were violated by the existing marriage legislation.

It provided a two-year window for amendments to the law permitting same-sex unions, which were enthusiastically and optimistically welcomed.

The ruling struck a chord not only in Taiwan but also globally, signifying a momentous stride towards the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and social acceptance in an area where traditional beliefs frequently dominate.

For the annual pride march, people travel to Taiwan from all across Asia.

Where do other Asian countries stand?

India

India has also taken steps to support LGBTQ+ rights.

While the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was a major step forward, obtaining complete equality for LGBTQIA+ people will require much more work.

Regarding LGBTQ+ rights, India faces several difficulties because of its varied sociocultural backdrop. But activists in the community arent giving up on changing things; theyre fighting for their basic right to marriage and all the perks that heterosexual couples frequently take for granted.

India last month declined to legalise same-sex marriages, with the chief justice of the country deferring to parliamentary legislation to enact the proposal, according to Reuters.

The unanimous order by a five-judge bench came as a huge disappointment to the community in the worlds most populous country, five years after the court scrapped a colonial-era ban on gay sex.

Japan

As the only G7 nation that neither completely accept nor provide explicit legal protection for same-sex couples, Japans LGBTQ+ minority feels particularly vulnerable and almost invisible.

Five rulings on same-sex marriage have been handed down in Japan over the past two years  two concluding the ban was unconstitutional, one saying it was not, and two, including Junes, upholding the ban but raising other rights concerns, as per Reuters.

The news agencys opinion polls show about 70 per cent of the public supports same-sex marriage but the conservative ruling party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida opposes it.

A recognition of the demands for change from younger, more vocal voices has led to some improvement. Partnership certificates are new in some towns, although they have no legal force. According to the BBC, a new law prohibits discrimination against sexual minorities, and a new government position has been established with a primary focus on LGBTQ+ rights.

However, the community is dissatisfied because the law falls well short of establishing marriage equality and was faced with strong opposition from conservative MPs.

China

China does not recognise same-sex unions because it views marriage as a bond between a man and woman.

Entering into a guardianship agreement, also known as a yiding jianhu, has allowed couples to enjoy some restricted legal benefits since October 2017, as per The Conversation. These benefits include the ability to make decisions regarding personal and medical care, death and funeral arrangements, property management, and the preservation of rights and interests.

In 2020, there were multiple unsuccessful attempts to legalise same-sex marriage.

The Peoples Republic of China was established in 1949, and homosexuality has been outlawed or persecuted ever since. But in the early 1980s, Chinas open door policies sparked social and cultural shifts that eventually led Beijing to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 and take it off the official list of mental illnesses in 2001, according to NBC News.

Hong Kong

In October, a Hong Kong court dismissed a government bid to deny same-sex married couples inheritance rights, saying the refusal of such rights is an unacceptably harsh burden.

The ruling by Hong Kongs Court of Appeal is another small legal victory for campaigners for LGBT rights in the global financial hub this year, a trend that activists say could prompt other jurisdictions in Asia, like Singapore and Japan, to examine their positions on inclusion, according to Reuters.

Hong Kong law does not allow same-sex marriage so some couples get married in places abroad where it is legal.

Tuesdays ruling came in response to a city government appeal in December against a 2020 court decision that same-sex married couples should enjoy equal rights under the citys inheritance laws.

Hong Kongs top court in September ruled against same-sex marriage but gave the government two years to form a legal framework for recognising unions between same-sex couples.

Thailand

According to Al Jazeera, a law to redefine marriage as between any two individuals under the countrys Civil and Commercial Code was approved by the Thai cabinet last week.

If approved by Parliament, Thailand will become the first nation in Southeast Asia and just the third nation in Asia overall, following Taiwan and Nepal, to allow same-sex unions.

The administration is hoping to move swiftly and hold the first of three votes that the bill needs to win in order to become law by the end of next month.

Each of the two previous administrations sponsored a law pertaining to same-sex unions or marriage. However, they were unable to exit the lower house prior to the dissolution of Parliament to allow for the holding of national elections, which meant that the process would always start over.

Advocates for LGBTQ rights claim that this is Thailands greatest opportunity to enact the law to date.

South Korea

South Korea doesnt recognise civil same-sex partnerships.

According to the constitution, a couple must be married on the basis of individual dignity and equality of the sexes. This clause is typically interpreted as limiting marriage to partnerships between people of different sexes.

As per The Guardian, religious groups have frequently resisted efforts to provide same-sex couples legal rights, arguing that doing so would legalise homosexuality.

Anti-discrimination laws have been blocked with the same justification.

Moreover, South Korea is on the verge of a demographic crisis due to its historically low birthrate. Redefining the definition of a family has so become more popular.

Sri Lanka

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka approved a bill in May of this year that aimed to decriminalise homosexuality, reported CNN.

Due to years of advocacy by LGBTQ+ rights campaigners in Sri Lanka, where homosexuality is still punished by a jail sentence and a fine, a private members bill was introduced in parliament last month.

Vietnam

Vietnams Health Ministry said in August 2022 that homosexuality is not an illness and directed medical professionals to cease treating it that way in order to avoid discriminatory medical treatment, as per Al Jazeera.

Although it may seem like a little victory, its acknowledgment represents a major advancement in the Vietnamese context against the stigma and discrimination related to homosexuality.

Singapore

An anti-gay law from the colonial era was overturned in Singapore in November 2022, as per Reuters.

Though celebrated as a historic achievement, the government also proposed changes to the constitution that would restrict marriage to heterosexual partners.
The latest news coming from the United States has the potential of becoming a huge headache for India. It seems theres much more to the assassination attempt on Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

On Wednesday (29 November), the US Justice Department charged an Indian national for his involvement in a plot to murder a US-based Khalistani leader, an official press release said.

Today in the Southern District of New York, a superseding indictment was unsealed alleging murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City, the statement said.

The news of the US indictment also prompted Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who had earlier alleged that there were credible allegations that India was involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, to say that it was time New Delhi took similar allegations by Ottawa seriously.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously, the Canadian prime minister told reporters in Ottawa.

But what is it we know of Nikhil Gupta? What does the indictment reveal about the assassination attempt? What does this mean for India-US ties?

We get you all the answers and more.

What does the indictment reveal about the assassination?

On Wednesday, US Federal authorities announced that they had filed charges in connection to a foiled assassination plot against a US citizen on American soil.

It has charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, with conspiring to hire a hit man to assassinate a member of the Sikh separatist movement in New York City. Notably, the indictment doesnt mention the name of the target of the assassination. However, the Financial Times has reported that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the New Yorkbased group Sikhs for Justice, was the subject of the plot.

According to the indictment, an Indian government employee (who has not been named and simply referred to as CC-1) working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.

The indictment describes CC-1 as a senior field officer whose responsibilities include intelligence. Additionally, he has been referenced previously as serving in Indias Central Reserve Police Force and receiving officer training in battle craft and weapons. The US authorities state that it was this CC-1 who directed the assassination plot from India.

The indictment states that CC-1 recruited Nikhil Gupta in and around May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. It further adds that on the orders of CC-1, Gupta then contacted a criminal associate. However, that associate was a confidential source working with US law enforcement.

The source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact an undercover US law enforcement officer, following which a deal of $100,000 (Rs 83 lakh) was brokered to carry out the job, the DoJ said.

A month later, in June, CC-1 provided Gupta with personal details of the intended target, including the targets house address in New York City and much more. Furthermore, CC-1 instructed Gupta to provide him with updates on the assassination plot. Authorities in the indictment add that CC-1 had very specifically informed Gupta not to carry out the assassination at the time of high-level engagements between US and Indian officials.

Please also read

Unmasking Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: Timing, threats and interplay of global influences

Nijjar vs Pannun: Why Indias response to Canada and US probes is so different

Plot to kill Pannun a dubious narrative floated by American deep state to scuttle the trajectory of India-US ties

The indictment has also stated that the plot had links to the killing of a Sikh activist  the Hardeep Singh Nijjar incident  in Canada. The indictment reads that Gupta reached out to the person he understood to be the hired killer and told him that Nijjar was also the target and that we have so many targets. Given Nijjars killing, Gupta added, there was no need to wait to kill the New York target.

The day after that, the indictment says, the Indian official sent Gupta a news article and a message about the New York target that said it was a priority now.

But who is this Nikhil Gupta?

Not too much is known about Nikhil Gupta other than that he is an Indian national living in the US.

He was later arrested on 30 June by the Czech authorities pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

Gupta has now been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, with each count carrying a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison.

What have been the reactions?

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has been declared as an individual terrorist in India, told the Financial Times that he believed he was the target of the Indian government because he was organising a referendum on whether Punjab should be an independent country.

The attempt on my life on American soil is a blatant case of Indias transnational terrorism, which has become a challenge to Americas sovereignty and threat to freedom of speech and democracy, Pannun told Financial Times.

This is an indictment against Narendra Modi, a known human rights violator who has a track record of using violence to suppress criticism and dissenting political opinion, Pannun added.

As of now, the Indian side hasnt issued a statement, but earlier on Wednesday announced that New Delhi had established a high-level inquiry committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter.

Shortly after the indictment was reported, Canadas Justin Trudeau urged India to collaborate in the inquiry in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He told reporters in Ottawa, The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this.

What are the implications of this indictment?

The unsealed indictment could become a sticking point between New Delhi and Washington, DC. Moreover, it could lead to a worsening of ties between Canada and India.

Stephanie Carvin, a professor of international relations at Carleton university told The Guardian, It seems clear that these two plots were connected. Gupta had knowledge of what is alleged to have happened in British Columbia. And thats significant because it means these werent one-offs or inter communal fighting. The evidence is starting to point to a coordinated plot to attack Sikh activists in several countries.

She added that the indictment definitely lends credence to the Canadian case. It will be interesting to see what the international response is going to be to these charges. Maybe, in light of this, Canada wont feel as isolated as perhaps it did back in September, she was quoted as saying.

With inputs from agencies
Leaders from across the world will convene in UAEs Dubai starting today for the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), running until 12 December.

While Pope Francis has cancelled his visit owing to poor health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Dubai for two days  30 November and 1 December to attend the crucial climate summit, called COP28. Ahead of the PMs scheduled visit, Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sanjay Sudhir was quoted as saying that New Delhi has always walked the talk on the issue of climate change.

Speaking to ANI, Sudhir said, COP28 Summit is a very important and big international conference. PM Modi coming here, itself shows how big the event is. We are eagerly waiting for PM Modis visit the world leaders are waiting. Everyone is eager for him to share his vision with the world.

We take a closer look at Indias role at the climate summit  in the past as well as at this edition.

Indias agenda at COP28

For the second time in three years, Prime Minister Modi will attend the annual climate conference. According to government officials, the upcoming COP28 is being seen as a platform for India to build upon its G20 achievements. Climate change has been an important priority area of Indias G20 Presidency COP-28 will provide an opportunity to take forward these successes.

Gautam Mohanka, chief executive at Gautam Solar in New Delhi confirmed the same. Speaking to The National, he said, Indias priorities for COP28 will revolve around building on the positive momentum gained at the recently held G20 [summit in New Delhi], including focusing on tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, developments in green hydrogen and the need of low-cost finance for energy transition.

As per reports, PM Modi will pitch its Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) to a large group of developing nations. For the unaware, the GBA was first launched during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Driven by India, the United States and Brazil  which cumulatively contribute nearly 85 per cent of the worlds ethanol production  the GBA aims to accelerate the worldwide adoption of biofuels by promoting technological advancements, increasing the use of sustainable biofuels, and establishing robust standards and certification processes through the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.

Experts note that the GBA would help nations in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels  a major cause of climate change.

And with COP28 discussions set to focus primarily on phasing out of fossil fuels, it will also be interesting to see how the country deals with the international pressure on the matter. India has emphasised on bringing down of all fossil fuel consumption, and not just coal. Coal is the main energy source for India, supplying about 45 per cent of the energy in the country.

Power Minister RK Singh said during an event in New Delhi, There is going to be pressure on nations at COP to reduce usage of coal. We are not going to do this, since our point of view is clear, that we are not going to compromise on availability of power for our growth, even if it requires that we add coal-based capacity.

Also read: Who is Sultan al-Jaber, UAE oil boss leading COP28?

Indias role at COP summits in the past

India has become a crucial player in the global fight against climate change in recent years and notably, even hosted this conference, way back in 2008.

From 1992, India has been trying to ensure that the burden of climate action does not disproportionately fall on the developing countries. Years later, in 1997, India also played a lead role in the Kyoto Protocol at COP3. The essential tenet of the Kyoto Protocol was that industrialised nations needed to lessen the amount of their CO2 emissions.

Interestingly, Indias role at the COP summits has changed over the years; from being in the background, it has in recent years become more assertive and more forthcoming.

At the COP21 Summit in Paris, New Delhi had made four commitments, including reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). It also pledged that 40 per cent of the total power capacity would be based on non-fossil fuel sources and that the country will create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

And in 2021 at COP26, held in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a five-fold strategy  termed Panchamrita  for India to play its part in helping the world get closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Also read: Climate justice for climate change: How Narendra Modi stole the march over his peers at COP26

He outlined his five big goals for the nation as  1) achieving net-zero by 2070; 2) reducing total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes starting now till 2030; 3) increasing renewable energy component to 50 per cent of our total energy requirements by 2030; 4) reducing carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030; and 5) increasing non-fossil energy capacity to reach 500 GW by 2030.

Climate change and India

India has recognised the importance and significance of the impact of climate change and therefore, is more assertive in its fight against this phenomenon. Experts note that climate changes major impact in India will be on water resources, intensifying the risk of destructive floods and droughts as the changing climate exacerbates these challenges.

Also read: How climate change puts 2.2 billion people at risk in India, Pakistan

A recently released study also showed that billions of people are expected to be displaced within the next 25 years because of severe impacts of climate change. The study also said that India has suffered a 61 per cent impact of climate change and it is anticipated to escalate if corrective actions arent taken.

The Reserve Bank of India in its latest report has also suggested that up to 4.5 per cent of Indias GDP could be at risk by 2030, owing to lost labour hours from extreme heat and humidity.

Its to be seen what India achieves at the COP28, but the clock is ticking away.

With inputs from agencies
The much-anticipated Meghna Gulzar-directed and Vicky Kaushal-starrer  Sam Bahadur has released in theatres and critics are praising the movie and the lead actor for his portrayal of Sam Manekshaw, the inspiration behind the film.

But who exactly is Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw  Indias beloved war general, and the subject of the movie?

We dig deep into the archives and present to you the story of the man and the soldier.

Early life of Sam Manekshaw

Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, better known as Sam Manekshaw, was born on 3 April 1914 in Amritsar, British India. The fifth of six children, he acquired his school education at Sherwood College, Nainital. Thereafter, he returned to Amritsar for his studies at the Hindu Sabha College.

Wanting to follow in the footsteps of his father, Doctor Hormizd Manekshaw, he joined the Indian Military Academy in 1932 and on 22 December 1934, was commissioned into the 4/12 Frontier Force Regiment. Initially, he was sent to Lahore for one year to serve an attachment period with a British unit. Thereafter, in February 1936, he rejoined his parent unit.

Interestingly, owing to his birthplace, he was fluent in Punjabi  and often conversed with Sikh soldiers in the language whenever he came across them.

Manekshaw met his wife Silloo Bode in 1937 and the two tied the knot, two years later on 22 April 1939 and had two daughters.

Manekshaws life in the Indian Army

Manekshaw, who rose to the rank of Field Marshal in 1973  he was Indias first  has had a storied career in the Armed Forces. His first brush with action came in 1942 during the Burma War with Japan. He escaped from the jaws of death after he sustained multiple bullet injuries. It was thanks to his orderly Sher Singh that he survived.

After the war, Manekshaw became a General Staff Officer (Grade 1) in the Directorate of Military Operations in the run-up to Indian Independence.

Post-Partition, Manekshaw, who was a Parsi, was given the option to join either the Indian Army or move to the newly-created Pakistan Army. He chose India and was transferred to the Gorkha Rifles, where he earned the sobriquet Bahadur. It was due to the tumultuous events of Partition that Manekshaw missed his chance to command an infantry battalion, as he was later promoted to brigadier, becoming the first Indian Director of Military Operations.

Interestingly, in 1962, his career almost got derailed when he faced a Court of Inquiry on several trumped-up charges against him. At the time, Manekshaw was serving as Commandant of Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.

Many believe and have recounted that the charges against Manekshaw were instigated by then Defence Minister VK Krishna Menon, and certain generals who were close to the political establishment of the time. They werent a fan of Manekshaws bluntness and honesty.

Lt General Daulet Singh, the then GOC-in-C Western Command, presided over the inquiry and exonerated him of all charges.

From thereon, he had a relatively smooth sail and was appointed Army chief by PM Indira Gandhi in July 1969.

Manekshaw and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

In the early months of 1971, the clouds of war loomed as the situation in East Pakistan  now known as Bangladesh  worsened. Indira Gandhi, then PM, wanted the Indian Army to enter the fray in order to install a popularly elected government in Dhaka.

However, Manekshaw refused to be pushed into hasty action, saying that moving his armour would take time and the advent of the monsoon would turn rivers into oceans. He also stated that the Chinese could not be discounted either. He demanded six-seven months to prepare, during which he drafted a comprehensive strategy.

It was after this that the Indian Army finally went to war in December of that year, under Manekshaws leadership and proved victorious against the Pakistan Army. The war, which only continued for a fortnight, saw more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers being taken as prisoners of war and ended with Pakistans surrender and the resulting birth of Bangladesh as a new nation.

Manekshaw was also not a man who hungered for praise. When asked to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of Pakistani forces, Manekshaw declined, magnanimously saying that the honour should go to his army commander in the East, Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora.

Also read: Why arent Sam Manekshaws sacrifices, contributions honoured?

Manekshaws famous wit and humour

But beyond his military mind, there was also a funny and humourous man. During the Burma battle when he was shot multiple times, a doctor refused to initially treat him since he saw little chance of his survival. However, when the surgeon asked what had happened to him, Manekshaw replied: A bloody mule kicked me. The surgeon laughed and said: By jove, you have a sense of humour. I think you are worth saving. He removed much of Manekshaws intestines and stitched him up.

There are multiple accounts of his humour. Another instance that will make you chuckle is when he visited the United Kingdom in 1973. At a dinner he hosted for British officers, one of his old commanding officers walked up to him and asked him whether he could address him as Sam now that he had become a Field Marshal. Please do, Sir, he replied, you used to only call me a bloody fool before. At one time I thought that was my Christian name.

Theres also the time when Morarji Desai, the prime minister, had told Manekshaw to give up drinking because it wasnt good for him. Manekshaw then retorted, Prime Minister, I come to you and you say dont drink; I go to party and talk to a pretty girl, my wife wants to know why Im talking to her; Im a Field Marshal, is life worth living?

Desai had replied, Your wife is quite right, pretty girls and drinks will ruin you. But Manekshaw had the last laugh when he responded by saying they had not ruined him yet!

Standing up to the mighty forces

Manekshaw was a soldiers soldier. For him, the Indian Army was a big family; he called the men all my boys and the Army wives all my wives. And no matter what the cost or consequence, he always took it upon himself to keep his family happy.

His blunt talk had unsettled many in positions of power. A former civil servant PR Chari in a report by The Print, said that Manekshaw had once told a reporter that if he had joined the Pakistan army in 1947, the result of the 1971 war would have been very different.

General VK Singh (retired) is of the opinion that it was this incident that angered the government. Though the government could not take away his rank, it did take away everything else [and] he was given a salary which was much lower than what he was entitled to, he said in The Print report.

Manekshaw also shared very cold relations with then Defence Minister Jagjivan Ram. The minister had felt that Manekshaw was going over his head, had direct access to the prime minister and had hogged all the limelight after the 1971 conflict.

It was because of these incidents that Manekshaw wasnt given a proper send-off. When he passed away in 2008, neither the prime minister nor defence minister attended his funeral. The army chief at the time was away from the country.

But Sam Manekshaw was Sam Manekshaw and it is said that he remained defiant until the very end. His last words before he passed away on 27 June 2008 were I am Okay.

With inputs from agencies
The voting for five states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram  is over. The predictions of the exit polls are out, giving an indication of what the results, which will be declared on 3 December, would look like.

Heres a quick look at what surveys say.

Rajasthan: The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to defeat the Congress, keeping with the tradition of voting out the ruling party, according to exit polls released on Thursday.

Five out of six exit polls were in favour of the BJP. It is unlikely that Ashok Gehlot will become the chief minister for the fourth time this year.

In Rajasthan, the voting took place on 199 out of 200 seats on 25 November.

Madhya Pradesh: The BJP are in a head-on battle with Congress in Madhya Pradesh. The state is too close to call, predict some exit polls.

Jan Ki Baat predicted the BJP to win 100-123 seats and the Congress 102-125 seats. According to TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat, 106 to 116 seats will go to the BJP and 111 to 121 seats to the Congress. Republic TV-Matrize has said 118-130 seats for BJP and 97-107 seats for the Congress. Dainik Bhaskar predicted that 95-115 seats to the BJP and 105-120 seats to the Congress.

However, the poll of polls for Madhya Pradesh project a huge win for BJP by giving it 130 seats, 97 seats to Congress and three to others.

Telangana: It may not be good news for Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) in Telangana. The Congress appears to be surging ahead in the state with a clear lead over KCRs Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

For Telangana, while India TV-CNX forecast 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 2-4 for the BJP and 5-7 for the AIMIM, Jan Ki Baat forecast that the Congress would get 48-64 seats, the BRS would get 40-55, BJP 7-13 and AIMIM 4-7.

Republic TV-Matrize predicted that in Telangana, the Congress would get 58-68 seats, BRS 46-56, BJP 4-9 and AIMIM 5-9. TV9 Bharatvarsh Polstrat stated that the Congress would get 49-59 seats and the BRS would get 48-58.

Chhattisgarh: The Congress appears to be having an edge over the BJP, as the party looks to retain power in the state, several exit polls have indicated.

If the Grand Old Party wins in Chhattisgarh, it will provide Congress a much-needed boost before the 2024 elections.

Mizoram: The initial exit polls have shown no clear winner in Mizoram.

While India TV-CNX said the Mizo National Front (MNF) would get 14-18, ZPM 12-16, Congress 8-10 and BJP 0-2, ABP News-C Voter said MNF would get 15-21, Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) 12-18 and Congress 2-8.

Jan Ki Baat said the MNF would get 10-14 seats, ZPM 15-25 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2.

With inputs from agencies
The year 2023 will be historic for Dubai as well as the UAE. The city will host the UNFCCCs (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) from 30 November to 12 December, 2023.

In a city known for its excesses, whether reaching toward the sky with the worlds tallest building or hard partying at its beach resorts and bars, Dubai has pulled off another record-breaking feat in the rolling dunes of its desert outskirts.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, named for the ruling sheikh of Dubai, stretches across some 122 square kilometres (47 square miles) and represents a pledge of billions of dollars by this city-state to reach its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. Its a solar-panelled gamble in a city where casinos have yet to arrive  though it always seems to be betting big no matter the risk.

Rising rapidly from a creek-bound pearling village to a city associated with international glamour, Dubai has a long history of finding economic success amid the war-ravaged woes of the wider West Asia. Its ruling family likely views the upcoming United Nations COP28 climate talks as another such opportunity, though it carries the significant peril of becoming synonymous with a collapse in negotiations on limiting greenhouse emissions, or being overshadowed by the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Theres a risk of reputational damage to the UAE if they fail to make any traction in the talks, particularly as they are a major oil producer, said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute who has long studied the region.

There is also a risk that media and civil society coverage will focus critically on issues such as the UAEs planned expansion of oil production capacity and depict the UAE as part of the part of the problem rather than the solution in terms of climate politics.

In response to questions from The Associated Press about criticism over its foreign policy and other issues, the Emirati government insisted that the UAE is deeply committed to human rights and building upon its steady progress in this field.

As the host of COP28, the UAE will welcome constructive dialogue and continue to work with international partners and stakeholders to deliver impactful results, the statement said. Climate change is a global problem that demands a collective effort, and this significant, momentous event will be a conference of action.

Given the futuristic skyline of downtown Dubai  and how it gleams at night as one side of the Burj Khalifa lights up with a massive 770-metre (2,525-foot) LED display  it can be easy to forget that the city only received its first electrical generator in 1952. Before that, only candles and kerosene lamps lit the night along its eponymous Dubai Creek where the village first grew.

In recent years, Dubai has started to focus on renewable energy  despite a moment where it appeared it would launch a coal-fired power plant before switching it to be fuelled by natural gas as its hosting of COP28 loomed.

Also read: COP28: Why Indias role is pivotal in climate justice and finance

The jewel of Dubais clean energy efforts is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of the citys downtown. There, solar panels stretch far into the distance, taking in the rays in a country that sees, on average, 10 hours of sunlight some 350 sunny days a year.

By 2030, the city hopes to get five gigawatts of electricity from the plant, which could power some 1.3 million homes based on United States averages. These days, peak demand in the city-state is nearly 10 gigawatts, according to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, its sole utility provider.

Overall, the Emirates says it plans to be carbon neutral by 2050. While not specifically outlining its plans to achieve the goal, projects like the solar park and Abu Dhabis Barakah nuclear power plant, the first on the Arabian Peninsula, aim to make generating electricity a green endeavour.

On top of all that, while the UAE pledges to zero out its own emissions, its also planning to ramp up oil production. A member of OPEC, the UAE produces some four million barrels of crude oil a day. In the coming years, it aims to produce five million barrels a day  fuel that will be exported, used by other countries and contribute to climate change.

Those plans have sparked criticism by activists ahead of COP28, with most aimed particularly at the upcoming talks president-designate, the oil company chief Sultan al-Jaber.

Al-Jaber, who also has led billions of dollars in Emirati investments in renewable energy, has dismissed criticism from those who just go on the attack without knowing anything, without knowing who we are.

Dubais $7-billion (Rs 5,83,27 crore) Expo City, built for the 2020 world fair that was delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic, will host the upcoming climate talks. But its selection also raises questions about Dubais reliance on low-paid foreign workers in its construction boom.

The Expo site work saw at least three workers killed and some 200,000 laborers exposed to high heat and potentially exploitative labour practices ahead of the worlds fair. Those labour abuses continue at Expo City, renewable energy projects and elsewhere in the Emirates, according to Equidem, a labour advocacy group.

While the Expo didnt draw all the worlds biggest names, the climate conference already has King Charles and Pope Francis confirming theyll attend, along with other world leaders. That makes it an opportunity for Dubai, as well as a risk given the wider regional tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.

With inputs from AP
After being declared fit to return home, all the 41 workers rescued from collapse Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhands Uttarkashi are now faced with dilemma whether to stay back or return to their homes.

They are physically normal and clinically stable. We have given them clearance to return home, Dr Ravikant of AIIMS Rishikesh told media on Thursday, adding that the workers were thoroughly examined and their blood test, X-ray, and ECG reports were normal.

The workers, who were rescued on Tuesday night after 17 days, might need acclimatisation, the doctor said.

Also, the workers have been advised to go to the nearest hospital after two weeks for a check-up.

"On the basis of their major organ screening, we can say they are fit to travel. As they were taken good care of during their confinement in the tunnel with regular feeding, there was no case of starvation. They are mostly quite young or of middle age. That also helped them stay fit," Dr Ravikant said.

He further said the doctors from AIIMS-Rishikesh will stay connected with the workers through tele-medicine to monitor their mental health for the next few weeks.

Though the family members desperately want them to return home, the 41 rescued workers appear to be in dilemma.

One of the labourers said his mother wants him to quit the tunnelling job. "We work in such conditions.... it is dangerous," he said.

VIDEO | Silkyara Tunnel Rescue: Rescued workers belonging to Jharkhand being taken to Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun, from AIIMS, Rishikesh. 15 workers from Jharkhand would be airlifted to Delhi later today and from there to Ranchi on Friday morning.#SilkyaraTunnelRescue pic.twitter.com/7sreOnK46H  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 30, 2023

Another labourer, a resident of Bihar who works as a machine operator, said: "I have filled up the leave application form to go back home. We don't know when the construction work will resume.

According to a government official, the construction work could only be resumed after a safety audit of the tunnel. The mountain was drilled from the top to about 45 meters to rescue the trapped workers and the debris was still lying in the tunnel, he said.

"We don't know whether we have to stay back or should we home," a labourer from Odisha who has been working at the Silkyara Tunnel site for the past two years said.

The number of workers from Jharkhand is the highest at 15. These 15 and five other workers from Odisha may be taken home on Thursday as their nodal officers were alreay present at AIIMS Rishikesh.

The responsibility of commute of the rest of them will be handed over to authorised representatives from their states as and when they approach the hospital administration, Dr Ravikant said.

"Our priority is to ensure that all workers are safely transported to their home by officials authorised by their respective state governments," another doctor said at the media briefing.

There are eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi Thursday reiterated that Canada has consistently given space to anti-India extremists and said its diplomatic representatives have borne the brunt if this.

In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this, the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said on Thursday.

Bagchi further said India expects the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable, he added.

In September this year, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishakar had said the Indian diplomats in Canada are "unsafe" when they go to embassy or the consulate.

"They (Indian diplomats) are publicly intimidated. And that has actually compelled me to temporarily suspend even visa operations in Canada," the minister added.

Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been strained since Trudeau alleged that there was a "potential link" between agents of the Indian government with the murder of a Khalistani terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in June this year.

India strongly denied the allegations with Jaishankar saying allegations were raised by Trudeau first "privately and then publicly".

India had also said Trudeau had made the allegations to divert attention from the activities of Khalistan operatives living in Canada, and called for effective action against them.

In a tit for tat move, India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a diplomat from the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.

In a media briefing on Thursday, Bagchi also said the case against an individual, Nikhil Gupta, 52, that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, is a "matter of concern."

Also Read: Matter of concern, will look into all relevant aspects: MEA on US claims on Pannun murder plot

"As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said that this is also contrary to government policy," the MEA spokesperson said.

Gupta has been charged with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. While the indictment does not name the US citizen who was the target of the assassination plot, a report by The Financial Times last week cited unnamed sources saying that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

Bagchi further said the nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will be guided by its results."

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi boarded a flight to Dubai on Thursday evening to participate in the World Climate Action Summit hosted in the United Arab Emirates.

PM @narendramodi embarks on a visit to Dubai to participate in #COP28 World Climate Action Summit. An opportunity to engage with global leaders on the pressing issue of climate change and showcase s progress in meeting climate goals and plans ahead on climate action. pic.twitter.com/kNmWXjE8XW  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 30, 2023

During the summit, PM Modi is scheduled to speak at the opening session and engage in three high-level side events, two of which will be co-hosted by India.

Its worth noting that the Prime Minister had previously visited the UAE in July of this year.

The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

COP28 is being held from 28 November to 12 December under the presidency of UAE.

Ahead of his visit to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action.

Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, and Mission LiFE are a testament to the commitment of our people towards Mother Earth. I look forward to joining special events including on climate finance, the Green Credit initiative and LeadIT. I also look forward to the opportunity to meet some of the other leaders present at Dubai and discuss ways to accelerate global climate action, said the Prime Minister in a statement.

The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues. COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action, said PM Modi.

At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation. It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development, he added.

I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, who has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action. In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development, said the Prime Minister.

With inputs from agencies
India will soon get more than 97 Tejas aircraft and 156 Prachand helicopters, as the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the purchase for a mega Rs 1.40 lakh crore deal.

A report by CNBC Awaaz quoted sources saying the Defence Ministry has approved Rs 1.40 lakh crore deal which also includes one aircraft carrier.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the domestic supplier of Tejas and Prachand aircraft.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has an existing fleet of 83 Tejas jets.

According to a report by The Economic Times, the value of the 97 Tejas aircraft is expected to be around Rs 65,000 crore, making it the largest-ever fighter aircraft deal in the country.

The development comes ahead of a crucial meeting scheduled to be held by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Earlier a report by Bloomberg quoted sources saying that the new carrier, which can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water  a measure of size for ships, will be flying the French Rafale jets.

Indias first homemade carrier, INS Vikrant, joined the fleet last year and was built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The country also has a Russia-made aircraft carrier.

As per the report, India plans to have 160 warships by 2030 and 175 by 2035 at an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore. More than 60 vessels of the Indian Navy are currently at various stages of construction, it added.

Amid the growing concerns over Chinas rising naval prowess, India has been carrying out more warship patrols than ever before.

Meanwhile, India has also upgraded the runway facilities at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands enabling the aircraft to land at night.

The Tejas Mk-1A Light Combat Aircraft is Indias first self-made fighter jet. In February 2019, it received the final operational clearance for induction into the IAF as a fully-weaponised fighter jet.

It is an indigenously designed and manufactured fourth-generation fighter with critical operational capabilities that include an Active Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and an Electronic Warfare (EW) suite. Also, it is capable of air-to-air refuelling (AAR).
India and China on Thursday engaged in diplomatic discussions aimed at resolving remaining issues and achieving full disengagement in eastern Ladakh. Notably, there were no clear indications of a significant breakthrough.

Both sides agreed to schedule the next senior commanders meeting at the earliest to achieve the objective.

Emphasis was placed on maintaining a stable situation on the ground and preventing any untoward incidents, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The virtual discussions took place under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation, and the Chinese team was headed by the director-general of boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry.

The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh, the MEA said in a statement.

They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident, it said.

The two sides agreed to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the senior commanders meeting at the earliest in order to achieve the above objective, the MEA added.

In the most recent military discussions held in October, the Indian side strongly emphasised the need for resolving persistent issues at Depsang and Demchok.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India consistently asserts that normalising ties with China is contingent on achieving peace in the border regions. The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

The relationship between the two nations experienced a significant downturn, particularly after a fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, marking the most serious military conflict in decades.

Through a series of military and diplomatic dialogues, both sides successfully completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.

With inputs from PTI
BSF Director General (DG) Nitin Agrawal said on Thursday that there is still no convincing explanation from Pakistans officials during flag talks as to why the country abruptly broke the long-established truce along the International Border.

On the eve of the 59th Raising Day of the force, Agrawal was addressing reporters at the annual news conference held at a Border Security Force camp in the Meru area of Hazaribag, Jharkhand.

As far as the reason for ceasefire violation goes we have no clue. We are analysing every aspect. During flag meetings, they (Pak Rangers) have been giving XYZ reasons for this (ceasefire violation) but they are not at all convincing.

They (Pak Rangers) themselves felt that they are not sounding convincing. They just mentioned something for the sake of it, the BSF DG said.

The jury is still out as to why they did it. There is no definite answer for that right now, he added.

The force, about 2.65 lakh in strength, was raised on 1 December, 1965, and is primarily tasked to guard over 6,386 km-long Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to take the salute of the ceremonial parade in Hazaribag on Friday.

Pakistan Rangers in October initiated cross-border shelling  the first major ceasefire violation since 2021  in the Jammu sector that left a BSF jawan and a woman injured.

There have been at least six overall violations since the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement on 25 February, 2021.

The BSF DG said the force mounted effective retaliatory fire during these ceasefire violations and there were reports from multiple sources of heavy casualties on the other side.

A senior officer said that at least seven Pak Rangers are estimated to be been killed in the BSF fire.

I can assure the country that the BSF will effectively guard the borders, the DG said.

The paramilitary force chief said that between November last year and October this year, they recovered 90 drones that crossed over to Indian territory from Pakistan.

Out of these, as per official data, 81 were recovered from Punjab, while the rest were from Rajasthan.

Official sources said, during the same period, the force witnessed as many as 300 sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, largely used for trafficking drugs from Pakistan to the border state of Punjab.

We have recovered about 1,000 kg of heroin from along the western front (India-Pak border) over the last one year, the DG said.

The drones that we shoot down and recover are largely made in China and whenever we inform our Pakistani counterparts about this cross-border criminal activity they always deny, Agrawal said.

The BSF, as per an official statement, has also deployed some vehicle-mounted anti-drone system to counter the increasing threat of UAVs along the India-Pakistan front.

With inputs from agencies
As world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gather for the COP28 starting today in Dubai to devise measures for climate mitigation, India on Thursday said that it anticipates a clear roadmap on climate financing which would be important for delivering on the new, collective and quantified goals.

#WATCH | Dubai, UAE: Visuals from Dubai Exhibition Centre where the COP 28 Summit is taking place Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Dubai from November 30 to December 1, to attend the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) at the UN Climate Change pic.twitter.com/cGktFwgYh5  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Addressing a press conference in the national capital foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, said,Climate finance and climate technology are a very crucial segment of all the global efforts in addressing this challenge of environmental degradation. We expect a clear roadmap to be agreed at COP28 on climate finance which would be important for delivering on the new, collective, quantified goals.

Climate finance typically refers to any financing that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.

Asked what Indias stance on the reduction of coal consumption for its energy requirements was, Kwatra said, Coal is and would remain an important part of Indias energy mix, it has always been, as we move forward to meet our developmental priorities in the country.

We are proactive in taking practical climate action measures and basing them on a firm conceptual understanding and a very firm belief our development has to be a green development, he said, adding that though it would be subject to Indias own developmental priorities.

PM Modi committed to an ambitious five-part Panchamrit pledge at COP26 held in 2021.

They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reducing emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030.

India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held from 30 November until 12 December, 2023, in Dubai.

The path to net zero by 2050 would require green investments to rise from USD 900 billion in 2020 to USD 5 trillion annually by 2030, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In a blog recently, the IMFs Simon Black, Florence Jaumotte, and Prasad Ananthakrishnan argued that emerging and developing countries (EMDEs) need USD 2 trillion annually, a fivefold increase from 2020.

Recently, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for concrete action on climate funding and transfer of technology at the upcoming global climate summit COP28, where policymakers and governments will converge to chalk future strategy for climate mitigation.

India will certainly be pushing forward to showcase what it has achieved with its own funds. The Paris commitment given by us has been funded by us. We didnt wait for the hundred billion that is never on the table. A lot of talk, but no money coming on the table. No pathways to show how technology is going to be transferred, Nirmala Sitharaman observed.

Demanding action instead of words, the Union Minister said, Particularly for developing and emerging market economies, funding this is going to be a huge challenge. So, I would think the conversations can happen; a lot of talks can happen but eventually, COP28 should show the direction, both for the transfer of technology and for the actual funding.

With inputs from agencies
Hours before the dramatic rescue of the 41 trapped workers from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel, a 70-year-old Jharkhand man died of anxiety for his son who was among those rescued later that day.

Baset alias Barsa Murmu was anxious for his son, 28-year-old Bhaktu, since he heard about the collapse of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand on November 12, his family members said on Wednesday.

A resident of Bahda village in East Singhbhum district, Murmu, died at around 8 am on Tuesday when he was sitting on his cot, around 12 hours before Baktu was rescued.

Local government officials said they are yet to confirm the reason behind the death though it is suspected that he died of heart attack. Since Tuesday, Bhaktus mother Piti Murmu has stopped speaking and has been disoriented.

Murmus son-in-law Thakar Hansda who was there when the septuagenarian breathed his last said he was anxious about the well-being of his son and suddenly fell from the cot and died.

The family members said Murmu anxiously kept waiting for information regarding his sons rescue. Officer-in-charge, Dumaria police station, Sanjeevan Oraon who visited the victims residence, said the reasons behind the death are not known.

Civil Surgeon, East Singhbhum, Dr Jujhar Manjhi said they had information of the death but no medical report has reached them as yet.

Bhaktu along with 14 others from Jharkhand is recuperating at AIIMS Rishikesh where he reached along with others for the health check-up around 2 pm on Wednesday.

The Uttarakhand government has kept the workers under observation. As soon as they are released from the hospital, we will airlift them to Ranchi, Jharkhand Labour Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma told the media.

Quoting Uttarakhand officers, he said the workers will be kept under observation at AIIMS Rishikesh for 24 hours. Once it is complete, we will take our workers to Dehradun from where they will fly to New Delhi. They will fly to Ranchi from New Delhi as there is no direct flight between Dehradun and Ranchi, Sharma said.

A three-member Jharkhand government team had reached Uttarkashi soon after the tunnel collapse. The successful operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in an under-construction road tunnel in Uttarakhand culminated on Tuesday night.

A portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhands Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, blocking the exit of the workers who were inside.
The Chinese diaspora including Chinese tourists and students studying abroad are emerging as a major source of spying for China. All the Chinese visiting or staying outside China are now legally compelled to work for the Chinese intelligence apparatus as and when required. The national intelligence law of the Peoples Republic of China adopted at the 28th meeting of the standing committee of the 20th National Peoples Congress on 27th June 2017 is worth mentioning here.

According to Article 7 of this law, All organisation and citizen shall support, assist and cooperate with national intelligence efforts in accordance with law, and shall protect national intelligence work secrets work they are aware of.

Article 9 of the same legislation says that the state would give commendation and awards to individuals and organisations that make major contributions to national intelligence efforts.

In this context a look at the number of Chinese travelling or staying outside China presents a dangerous picture for rest of the world. In 2019, the number of outbound tourists from China reached nearly 155 million, almost three times as many as 2010. There are 492,185 international students enrolled in Chinese universities, according to the latest statistics up to 2018. The capital city of China, Beijing, is the city with the highest number of international students, a total of 80,786.

Around 928,090 Chinese students are currently studying abroad. The United States leads the list of the countries with the most Chinese students, with 340,222 students. The Chinese premier intelligence agency MMS (Ministry of State Security), keeps a close watch on its population and gathers an enormous amount of intel from them and filters it down for relevant information. Hence, for the Chinese it is the entire population that forms a part of intelligence gathering.

The Chinese intelligence apparatus has not only put Chinese and international residents in China within surveillance but its carrying out similar activities to monitor Chinese diaspora in rest of the world also. Here is a typical case study that reveals the working pattern of Chinese spy network. A Chinese police station set up to spy on the Chinese nationals in Lower Manhattan is run by a US charity (America ChangLe Association NY Inc.) that was on an IRS blacklist.

The non-profit organisation paid $1.3 million for the suite of offices that housed the Fuzhou Police Overseas Chinese Affairs bureau.

The bureau was tasked to spy on the Chinese diaspora for the Chinese Communist Party. The stations also participated in intimidation, harassment, detention or imprisonment to spy on dissenters and return migrants. Additionally, two Chinese police stations were found in Paris, three in Toronto, two in London, and five scattered in the Spanish cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. That indicates the global footprint of Chinese deep state.

According to Ken McCallum, Chief of UK Intelligence agency MI5, they suspected Chinese agents to have approached over 20,000 people in the UK over professional networking sites like LinkedIn, in order to try to cultivate them to provide sensitive information.

According to a BBC report, in 2022, MI5 came to know of more than 20 instances of Chinese companies considering or actively trying to gain access to sensitive technology developed by UK companies and universities through investments or other means where the full role of China is hidden, often through complex company structures.

The pursuit of important and sensitive technologies developed by other nations and then copying them through the process of reverse engineering has a historical context. On June 23, 1978, Deng Xiaoping initiated a new phase in the Chinas pursuit of foreign technology, proclaiming that thousands, or even tens of thousands, should be dispatched overseas instead of just a few.

In 1993, a ground-breaking decree from the Central Committee of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) established the policy framework of support for studying abroad. However, these students were obliged and encouraged to come back to China and utilise the information about the technologies they worked on in foreign nations to develop Chinas weapons systems. This initiated Chinas notorious reverse-engineering of all the lead weapons systems of the world.

The programme that forms the basis of this whole process is called Thousand Talent Programme (TTP). Of the 162 Los Alamos scientists who have returned to China, at least 17, including 13 permanent staff members, were selected in the TTP. Members of the TTP receive RMB 1,000,000 (approximately $155,000) and a research subsidy of RMB 3 million to 5 million (approximately $465,000 to $775,000). Forty-two scientists were selected for the TTPs youth branch, the Youth Thousand Talents Programme (YTTP).

One former Los Alamos permanent researcher researched for both the US military and the Chinese military (PLA) while concurrently employed as a professor at a US university and as a Thousand Talents selectee at Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST). NJUST is a member of the Seven Sons of National Defence, a group of universities that collaborate closely with the PLA.

Between 2009 and 2015, the individual received approximately $1.8 million from the U.S. Army Research Office, the US Army Research Laboratory, the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the US Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Programme for research on advanced materials.

While conducting research on advanced materials for the US military, this individual presided over a 390 million RMB project from the CMC S&T Commissions Major Frontier Innovation Programme that made breakthroughs in titanium aluminide (TiAl) alloys, a lightweight material with applications in defence aerospace.

The former Los Alamos researcher collaborated on this project with a researcher who had previously spent time at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a visiting scholar. The former Oak Ridge visiting scholar later won the Chinas highest-level defence Science and Technology prize in 2021.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. 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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This week the Centre and the government of Manipur signed a peace treaty with the Khundongbam Pambei-led fraction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest Meitei extremist group in Manipur. This is a major breakthrough achieved by the Centre as for the first time a valley-based Meitei extremist group of the state has entered into a peace treaty with the Centre. This is likely to encourage other groups, including the NC Koireng-led faction of the UNLF, to join the mainstream shunning violence.

It has been seven months since the ethnic riots broke out between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis in the northeastern state of Manipur, which is still awaiting restoration of normalcy. Taking advantage of this situation, armed groups from both communities are trying to expand their base by inciting the communities against each other  posing a big security challenge before the Centre. Currently, there has been a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Centre and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups since 2008. This year the state government, which was a part of that agreement, pulled out from the agreement.

The signing of this treaty comes at a crucial time when the valley-based insurgents, weakened over the years, are trying to utilise the current unrest on the ground in the northeastern state to strengthen themselves. The signing of this treaty is also important in the context of the present Meitei and Kuki-Zomi conflict as this is going to lessen the discontentment prevalent among the Kuki-Zomis, who have been the targets of these Meitei extremist groups. As a result of this, this treaty is also likely to have a positive outcome on the ongoing peace talks between the Centre and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups, who already are under SoO.

It has to be mentioned that days ago, the Union home ministry had extended the ban on eight Meitei extremist groups, including UNLF, for another five years. This shows how the ministry under Amit Shah is following a tough approach towards these extremist groups to bring them into the mainstream.

A visible change towards the Northeast region post-2014

It is an unfortunate fact that the potentiality of the Northeast region  rich in forest reserves and diversity  hasnt received its due, as expected, in the last seven decades and this is one of the main reasons for the propping up of many insurgent groups in the region. The groups have always taken advantage of New Delhis lack of interest in the region and as a result, the development projects took a hit with insurgency disturbing the peace of the region.

However, it has to be accepted that there has been a change among the policymakers of New Delhi since the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre in 2014. Its a fact that the often-neglected Northeast region of the country has received considerable focus from the policymakers of New Delhi post-May 2014. This is evident with the increase of infrastructural projects like rail, road and air connectivity in the region. As a result of this, the stories of the region are also getting attention in the mainstream discussions, though the attention they receive is still less.

Amit Shah stressing on negotiations with insurgent groups

After the return of the BJP to power in 2019, Amit Shah, often known as the partys second-in-command after Modi, became the home minister of the country. Since then, he has been leading from the front to negotiate peace with insurgent groups in various parts of the Northeast. True that the insurgency has been reduced in the region, but there are some insurgent groups still working to disturb the peace.

In August 2019, the Government of India and the government of Tripura signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD), an insurgent group that tried to disturb the peace of the Northeastern state of Tripura. Although the peace talks started before Shah became the home minister, his role in ensuring that the peace talks reached a fruitful end cant be denied. This settlement came after the NLFT leadership sent a letter to Shah for a conclusive end to the ongoing peace talks.

It has to be mentioned that peace returned to Tripura by the late 2000s as a result of the policies initiated by the then Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government of the state, supported by both Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA and Manmohan Singh-led UPA governments at the Centre. This makes it clear that when the Memorandum of Settlement was signed, extremist NLFT was a pale shadow of the past but still the Centre, particularly Shah, went on to sign the memorandum showing that the Centre didnt want to leave any insurgent group  even if it was a weakened force  to remain active.

One of the important peace treaties signed by the Home Ministry under Amit Shah was the Bodo Peace Accord in January 2020. The tripartite treaty was signed by the Government of India, the government of Assam and all factions of the extremist National Democratic Front of Bodoland  and Shah himself was present. The signing of this treaty was significant as this brought an end to the insurgency in Assam, particularly in the Bodoland region. Importantly, it has to be mentioned that the earlier governments at the Centre signed treaties as well, to bring peace to Bodoland, and this was the third treaty. Nevertheless, this shows that the priority of this government, particularly the Union Home Ministry under Shah, is also committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Treaties beyond insurgent groups to solve old issues

As said earlier in this piece, one of the reasons that the Northeast region has seen the rise of many insurgent groups is because of the lack of focus from the policymakers of New Delhi. This lack of focus kept the old issues boiling and gave rise to resentment among people. When this resentment is left to fester, it gives birth to the insurgency. It has to be mentioned that this region is a very diverse one with many ethnic tribes  having their own identity and culture  sharing their livelihoods and also their differences and a small flame can cause damage to this social fabric.

Take the case of Brus, also called Reangs, of Mizoram. They are mostly Vaishnavite Hindus with a section practising Christianity and they often had clashes with the majority Mizo community. Later, many Brus had to flee from their localities alleging persecution at the hands of Mizos and took shelter in neighbouring Tripura as refugees in 1997. Some of the unhappy Brus took arms, although years later, they had peace agreements with the government of Mizoram. But still, the Brus living as refugees in Tripura had no identity till 2020.

It was after 23 years of their unfortunate displacement that they got their permanent identity as a result of the signing of the agreement, presided over by Amit Shah, among the Government of India, the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru representatives. According to that historic agreement, around 34,000 displaced Brus were to be permanently settled in Tripura. This was a long important humanitarian issue waiting for a permanent solution. There was deep resentment among the Brus and before it took the form of another insurgent group, the Centre stepped in to resolve it.

It is not that all the Brus have been settled by now, the process is on with the Tripura government working on it. There is dissatisfaction among the Brus too with the process allegedly being slow. Aware of the issue, Shah himself at various times reviewed the implementation of the Bru agreement with the Tripura government.

Shah leading discussions to bring peace to Manipur

Three months ago, the decision of the Kuki-Zomis to bury their own 35 people in Churachandpur, opposed by the Meiteis, would have resulted in more tensions. But it was the timely intervention of Shah through Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga that prevented the escalation. Days later, Shah himself met with leaders from the Kuki-Zomi communities and urged them to shift their burial site, considered pious by the Meiteis. The riots have left both the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities heavily polarised that any small incident has the potentiality to escalate the situation of the state.

It is not that he has been engaging with only Kuki-Zomis, he has been engaging with the Meiteis and Nagas too, to bring peace to Manipur. The signing of the above-mentioned peace treaty with the Meitei extremist group, UNLF, is a fruitful outcome of these engagements.

Naga solution remains a challenge

Apart from Manipur, Naga Peace Talks is one of the crucial issues of the region waiting to be resolved. These are some of the challenges that lay ahead of the Union Home Ministry led by Amit Shah with Naga Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) insisting on a separate constitution and a flag. It remains to be seen how the ministry under his leadership tackles these issues.

But this cant be denied that his efforts as a union minister have started to bear fruits with many parts of the region becoming free from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA. According to a report, the state of Assam may be free from AFSPA by the end of this year. If this happens, it would be a big development highlighting how insurgency has been weakened in the state.

It has to be mentioned that the AFSPA was first introduced in the state in 1990 and has been extended multiple times since then. United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), a dreaded extremist and terrorist group, is on the brink of extinction. The ULFA pro-talk faction is currently in discussions with the Centre and the state governments while the ULFA(I), led by Paresh Barua, is yet to join the discussion table. Amit Shah is keen to bring the Paresh Barua faction to the table too and has given this responsibility to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The writer is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
I cannot but begin this column by mentioning the happiness and relief felt by the nation at the successful rescue of the 41 workers trapped for 17 days in the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand. It was a herculean effort, in which no resourcesof organisations, technology, planning and expertisewere spared to achieve a task that was so fraught with danger and uncertainty and unexpected setbacks.

This is not the time to discuss whether the rescue could have been better or faster, or why the disaster occurred in the first place and what lessons can be learnt for the future. What this miraculous rescue does show is that when there is a challenge, all Indians can come together and collectively work to face it.

This is a matter of legitimate pride. A secondary question is whether after the challenge has been faced, we draw the right lessons to ensure that mistakes of the past are not repeated. I raise this question not only in the context of the collapse of the tunnel. Simultaneous with the unfolding tunnel rescue, India also commemorated the carnage of death and violence that was perpetuated on 26/11/2008, when a handful of terrorists from Pakistan literally held Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, to ransom.

Across the mighty Himalayas, where the tunnel collapsed, lie two countries which are implacably hostile to us: Pakistan and China. Pakistan, in particular, is the epicentre of terrorism against India. What has been our track record in facing this challenge?

I think it has been far from satisfactory and I will bolster my argument by citing three incidents. In May 1999, Pakistan launched a massive aggression against India in the remote Kargil sector of Kashmir. The intelligence lapse was glaring, for apparently, we were taken completely by surprise or did not act on actionable information. It was clear that Indian troops trying to evict them would be sitting ducks for the Pakistani infiltrators perched on vantage mountain heights. A far better option, in my view, was to allow the Indian Air Force to cross the Line of Control and destroy the staging points and supply lines of the invaders. The option was rejected, at the cost of hundreds of lives of our soldiers and young officers. This exhibition of restraint, in the face of the certain death of so many, must have few parallels in military history. We have only to think of the reaction in Paris or Washington, London or Beijing, if a dozen body bags arrived in the capital each day as a result of verified and unprovoked enemy intrusion into their territory. Instead, India went about the world collection certificates of restraint. Ultimately, through the heroic efforts of our armed forces, the invaders were defeated, but we have to ask if the invasion could have been detected earlier or preempted and the cost of precious lives lost in the option we chose to fight it.

But did we learn any lessons from this incident? The same year, Indian Airlines flight took off from Kathmandu for New Delhi on 24 December at 4:53 pm. Within minutes it was hijacked by five Pakistanis, led by Ibrahim Athar, the brother of Maulana Masood Azhar of the terrorist organisations Harkat-ul-Ansar and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Delhi was informed of the hijacking at 4:56 pm. At 7 pm the plane landed at Amritsar to refuel. Authorities at the airport had instructions not to let the plane take off, but it managed to do so and landed at Lahore, and then via Dubai at Kandahar. Former foreign secretary JN Dixit later wrote: There was lack of coordination in terms of speed and time between the authorities at Delhi and Amritsar. The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos did not scramble into their operational mode with sufficient speed. The hijackers had enough time to take off without facing any effective Indian resistance. Finally, the government capitulated by agreeing to release three of the most dreaded terroristsMushtaq Zargar, Omar Sheikh and Masood Azharwho were escorted to Kandahar by foreign minister Jaswant Singh himself. These terrorists became the focal point of terrorism against India in the years ahead.

The third incident was that of 26/11. How ineffective could our coastal vigilance and intelligence machinery be to enable armed terrorists to enter Mumbai without any hindrance and wreak havoc on the city for days before they were vanquished? And, while we recall these days of terror every year, and pay homage to those who lost their lives, including brave policemen, have we done enough to ensure that our security architecture is today strong enough to prevent another act of this nature? Experts differ, but with such a long coastline, this is an area where we still need to concentrate on, for the key to our overall security is to learn and follow-up on the lessons learnt from past mistakes.

In response to the terrorist strike in Pulwama in 2019, the alacrity with which we made a lightening air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Balakot in Pakistan, finally demonstrated that we have the resolve and the capability to take appropriate retaliatory action against terrorisma sharp contrast to our unacceptably docile response after 26/11. We have also, under the Modi dispensation, done much more to upgrade our defence infrastructure on the northern borders.

Similarly, after the legitimate rejoicing over the rescue of the trapped workers in Uttarakhand, it would be advisable if the government seriously analyses the causes for the collapse of the tunnel and draw the right lessons to prevent such tragedies in the future, especially in the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas.

The author is a former diplomat, an author and a politician. 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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As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its grim second year, a new and ominous chapter has unfolded with the poisoning of Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraines spy chief, Kyrylo Budanov. This incident marks a disturbing turn in the ongoing hostilities between the two nations, raising questions about the methods employed and the potential infiltration of intelligence agencies.

The conflict has reached a virtual stalemate with both sides fortifying their positions as winter sets in. President Volodymyr Zelenskys counteroffensive has stalled and Russia maintains its occupation of parts of eastern Ukraine. As the war approaches its two-year mark, tensions continue to escalate.

F-16 factor

The focus now shifts to the military strategies employed by both sides. Ukraine is placing its hopes on the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets with expectations of receiving the first batch before the new year. Meanwhile, Russia appears to be resorting to covert tactics introducing the alarming element of poison into the conflict.

The use of poison, a notorious tool in Putins arsenal to silence critics, has now found its way to the Ukrainian battlefield. Marianna Budanova has become the first known target of this insidious method. Reports indicate that the Ukrainian intelligence unit G-U-R, responsible for the countrys security, has confirmed her poisoning along with several other officials, all now hospitalised.

The aftermath of Marianna Budanovas poisoning raises serious questions about a potential breach in Ukraines intelligence unit. Accusations are being thrown between the two nations with Russia placing blame on Ukraine citing it as a case of infighting. This incident sheds light on the vulnerability of high-profile Ukrainian leaders and their families.

Kyrylo Budanov: A targeted spy chief

Kyrylo Budanov, a 37-year-old Lieutenant General and chief of Ukraines main spy agency since 2020, has been a thorn in Moscows side. Known for orchestrating attacks deep inside Russian territory, Budanov has survived at least 10 assassination attempts including a botched car bombing in 2019. His actions have made him a hate figure in Russia further escalating tensions.

Moscow has levied charges against Budanov, linking his unit to the killings of pro-war Russian figures, including Vladlen Tatarsky, a blogger, and Darya Dugina, a journalist and the daughter of a close ally of Putin. These charges make Budanov a prime target for Russian agencies.

History of covert poisoning in Russia

The use of poison as a weapon is not new in Russian tactics. Notable victims include Alexei Navalny, Putins vocal opposition politician currently serving a 30-year jail term, and the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in London. The recurring theme of poisoning critics underscores the ruthless methods employed by Russian intelligence.

The poisoning of Marianna Budanova adds a sinister dimension to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. As the war rages on, the international community watches with concern, grappling with the use of poison as a tool of war. The incident raises urgent questions about the safety of high-profile individuals and the potential infiltration of intelligence units, further complicating an already volatile situation.

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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West Asia, a region steeped in history, is a complex web of partnerships and rivalries. Despite historical animosities, countries find themselves forging alliances in the face of common threats. The recent Israel-Hamas war has played a pivotal role in reshaping these dynamics, polarising an already tense region.

Irans stance

Iran, a historical adversary of Israel, has not shied away from expressing its disdain for the nation. The country actively funds Hamas and various proxy groups across West Asia, aligning itself with the Palestinian cause. The Israel-Hamas conflict became a catalyst prompting Iran to stand firmly in support of the Palestinians.

Turkeys unique approach

In contrast, Turkey, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adopted a different approach. Erdogan, envisioning himself as the spiritual successor to the last Ottoman Khalif emerged as a vocal critic of Israel during the war. He consistently highlighted the plight of Muslims in other nations, particularly in Gaza.

(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, who has carried out one of the biggest cruelties of the last century in Gaza, has already written his name in history as the butcher of Gaza, said President Erdogan.

Temporary unity

The war saw an unexpected alignment between Iran and Turkey, historical rivals in the region. Both nations expressed solidarity with the Palestinians hinting at a potential shift in regional dynamics. However, recent events cast a shadow over this newfound unity.

Irans President Ebrahim Raisi was slated to visit Turkey, marking his first official visit. However, the visit was abruptly cancelled or, at the very least, postponed, leaving observers puzzled. The lack of explanation from both Ankara and Tehran adds to the ambiguity surrounding the situation.

Potential points of friction

The abrupt change in plans raises questions about the underlying issues that might have derailed the emerging friendship between Iran and Turkey. While both nations rallied against Israel during the conflict deeper disagreements persist.

 Economic ties with Israel: Turkey, despite Erdogans strong rhetoric against Israel maintains economic ties with the nation. Reports suggest that Iran seeks a change in this status quo, urging Erdogan to sever economic links with Israel == a move Ankara seems reluctant to make.

 Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict: Iran and Turkey find themselves on opposite sides of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, particularly concerning the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkeys support for Azerbaijan clashes with Irans historical backing of Armenia creating a longstanding rift.

The proposed trade route between Azerbaijan and Turkey, if realised, could further strain relations. This potential route, cutting near Irans northern border, threatens to isolate Iran from a historical ally, exacerbating the existing fault lines in their relationship.

West Asia remains a region marked by intricate alliances and deep-seated rivalries. The Israel-Hamas war briefly brought Iran and Turkey together, but underlying issues and historical disputes continue to hinder the formation of a united front. As the region grapples with shifting dynamics, the delicate balance of partnerships and rivalries will undoubtedly shape its geopolitical landscape in the years to come.

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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Alphabet Inc.s Google has identified a significant increase in cyberattacks originating from China targeting Taiwan, according to cybersecurity experts.

In the past six months, the tech giants threat analysis division noted a massive increase in Chinese-sponsored hacking campaigns, with hackers adopting intricate tactics to obfuscate their origins.

Kate Morgan, a senior engineering manager at Google, highlighted that Chinese hackers are utilizing tactics that complicate tracking efforts.

These include infiltrating small home and office internet routers and repurposing them to launch attacks while concealing their true source.

Morgan revealed that Google is monitoring over 100 hacking groups in China alone, targeting various sectors in Taiwan, including defence, government, and private industry.

Concerns have risen globally over the potential for conflict in Taiwan, exacerbated by the strained relationship between the US and China. While the US does not formally recognize Taiwan as a nation, it has committed to assisting the island in defending itself against what it perceives as an increasingly aggressive China. China considers Taiwan a part of its territory.

Despite the tensions, outgoing Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen acknowledged during a summit that China currently appears overwhelmed to consider a major invasion of the island.

However, she emphasized Taiwans resilience and commitment to enhancing defence capabilities amid military intimidation, cyberattacks, and information manipulation.

Googles findings come as part of its broader observations on global cybersecurity threats. Kate Morgan mentioned that North Korea and Iran continue to pose significant hacking threats, while Russias cyber focus has predominantly been on Ukraine since its invasion in February 2022.

In a move to address cybersecurity challenges, Google has launched a new cybersecurity centre in Malaga, Spain.

The safety engineering centre will house around 100 security experts, aiming to collaborate with European businesses and government officials to enhance cyber resilience on the continent.

Google already operates safety engineering centres in Dublin, Ireland, and Munich, Germany, focusing on various aspects of cybersecurity, content moderation, and privacy engineering.

Kent Walker, Googles President of Global Affairs, cited Malagas pro-innovation policies and its digital profile as key reasons for choosing it as the location for the new hub.

(With inputs from agencies)
Pros:

 Fun and energetic sound output

 Usable sound presets, handy sound tweaks

 Support for aptX Adaptive codec

 Comfortable in-ear fit, good passive noise isolation

 Dual pairing support, IPX5-rated splash resistance

 Impressive battery backup, supports wireless charging

 Configurable controls, volume control on the buds

 18-months warranty

Cons:

 Active noise cancellation needs improvement

 No wear detection sensors

 Touch sensitivity can be iffy at times

Rating: 4/5

Price: Rs 5,625

I had heard some good things about audio products from EarFun but never got an opportunity to try one till the company reached out to us for the review of their recent Air Pro 3 true wireless (TWS) earbuds. Operating in the $60 to $80 range in North America is very different from entering a similar budget band in India. In the case of the former, the competition is fairly scarce, while the segment is packed with capable players from the likes of OnePlus, Realme, Oppo and more.

The EarFun Air Pro 3 does offer something thats quite rare in this segment  support for Qualcomms highly efficient aptX Adaptive codec. But as we have seen in the past, simply having a good codec doesnt guarantee a great aural experience. So does this new entrant have enough tricks up its sleeve to carve a niche for itself, or will the gatekeepers deny it entry? Lets find out.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Design and Comfort (8/10)

The EarFun Air Pro 3 reminded me of certain Soundcore (Anker) earbuds in more ways than one, starting with the design language. The black body, metallic grey stems and subtle branding on them are reminiscent of the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro buds. The combination works well and looks elegant. The touch zones have a slight indentation with a circular ring to mark the area. The buds are a bit on the larger side but do not stick out of the ears much after you put them on.

The earbuds offer a snug fit and are comfortable to wear for long hours. The right-sized silicone tips from the four bundled pairs provide very good passive noise isolation. Its always a good idea to spend a few minutes choosing the right tips for optimal sound quality and better active noise cancellation (ANC). The weight of the earbuds, though not specified, is on the lighter side despite each of them hosting a 54 mAh battery. The buds and case combined weigh 52 grams.

Speaking of the case, it is compact in terms of width but not slim enough to be termed pocketable, unless you are fine with a noticeable bulge in the pocket. The build quality is fine but the all matte black design looks a touch bland. The case packs a 520 mAh battery, and you get 3 tiny white LEDs at the front to give you an idea about the level of remaining charge. A USB-C charging port is located at the back and a Bluetooth pairing/reset button is placed inside the case.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Features and Specifications (8.5/10)

As I mentioned earlier, these EarFun buds support Qualcomms aptX Adaptive codec that offers a great mix of throughput and power efficiency; something rare in India under Rs 7,500. These Bluetooth 5.3-compliant earphones also support AAC and SBC codecs. Each earbud is fitted with an 11 mm wool composite driver and three microphones for calling and ANC. Strangely, the company has skipped wear detection sensors; probably an oversight.

The buds have an IPX5 rating for splash resistance. So you can wear them to the gym or for a jog in a light drizzle without a worry. The case doesnt have any ingress protection though, so keep it away from moisture. The touch zones at the back of the buds are sizable but the touch sensitivity can be iffy sometimes. At times it can be too sensitive and registers an extra tap, and on occasion misses one entirely. It isnt erratic all the time but can be irritating when it skips a track when you are just trying to pause it.

You can assign different tasks to gestures through the EarFun Audio app available on iOS and Android both. You can assign play/pause, previous/next tracks, ANC toggle, voice assistant and volume control to single-tap, double-tap, triple-tap or touch-and-hold gestures. Speaking of ANC, you get three modes to switch between  ANC on, ANC off and Transparency mode that lets ambient noise through. The amount of noise reduction hasnt been quantified by the brand.

The latency on the EarFun Air Pro 3 is fairly low when watching videos, and there was no perceptible lag between audio and video. In Game Mode, it can go as low as 55 ms as per the spec sheet. These earbuds support dual pairing and one can pair them with two devices simultaneously. Both the paired devices can use aptX Adaptive codecs if they are compliant with it.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Performance (7.5/10)

The wireless range is good with a strong connection at 10 metres with no obstruction between the source and the listener. The company claims that these buds can even operate at a 15 metres distance, but I did not go that far. These EarFun buds need to be pushed to 70-75 per cent volume when outdoors for normal loudness. The sound doesnt crack even if you go closer to 90 per cent, though you may not need to go that high. There are no latency issues as I mentioned earlier.

Before we head to the sound quality, lets talk about the different audio presets and customisations available through the EarFun Audio app. The app is easy to use with a clean layout and simple UI, again reminding me of its Soundcore counterpart. You get a handful of options to play around with, but I would like to draw your attention particularly to the sound tweaks. Other than the default/signature sound profile, you get ten audio presets, half of which are actually usable, Country and R&B being our top picks.

Then you also have a 10-band equaliser (EQ) to create your own sound profiles. But what I liked best is the company shares the EQ config of the presets. So if you only need to make minor adjustments to that particular preset, you can do so from the equaliser, rather than starting from scratch to recreate a similar profile, as is the case with most audio products. This is a leaf other manufacturers should surely take out of EarFuns book.

Moving on to the sound quality, the default sound clearly favours the low-end frequencies. In simpler terms, its a touch bass-heavy. Though the bass isnt as boomy as you get on certain OnePlus buds on their Balanced profile, the bass needs to be reigned in a bit to let the midrange express itself a bit more. That is where the Country or R&B sound presets help, along with the 10-band equaliser. Best results can be obtained by reducing the upper bass a bit and boosting the mids around the 1 KHz mark.

As I touched upon earlier, the simpler way of getting there is by choosing the aforementioned presets and making finer adjustments in the EQ to suit your taste. Post that you get a more balanced sound with ample warmth and a lot of energy. Though the lows still retain prominence, the bass is tighter and punchy, the vocals sound a lot cleaner and the highs have just the right amount of sparkle to make these earphones enjoyable across various genres of music and other content.

The soundstage is decently broad and the imaging is acceptable. However, I would have preferred to hear a bit more detail in sound given its price tag. All said and done, the sound quality of these earbuds is pretty good for a pair of midrange TWS earphones. Those who like extra bass may enjoy the default sound itself, or find one of the presets to their liking. Thus the EarFun Air Pro 3 caters to a broader taste courtesy of the sound tweaks that the companion app provides.

While the sound is fine, the ANC here can do with a bit of improvement. The noise cancellation does work but not as good as some of its competitors that sell for a few hundred Rupees less. Realme has taken the ANC game to a different level even in affordable TWS earphones and the Air Pro 3 has a lot of catching up to do. It does reduce a handful of low-frequency sounds like the whirr of a fan indoors or the sound of car engines when outdoors, but cannot eliminate them entirely.

It isnt as effective against human voices either, but turning on ANC is still helpful in office spaces and public transport rather than keeping it off. The Transparency mode certainly needs more work. It tends to amplify all the sounds, resulting in a constant buzz-like wind noise when enabled and dampens the voices being let through. It is still useful in being aware of your surroundings but not so good at having conversations with the buds in your ears.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Call quality (7/10)

The call quality on these earbuds is good when in quieter areas. People on the line were perfectly audible to each other with good voice clarity. When outdoors, wind noise suppression works well, but a lot of ambient noises are let through. They arent overly distracting in most cases, but when in noisy areas, the conversation does get impacted.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Battery life (8.5/10)

This is one department where this EarFun product thrives. The company promises 7 hours of playback for the buds with ANC on and 9 hours with ANC off. The case promises to charge them four more times, thus taking the overall battery backup figures between 35 to 45 hours under test conditions, which is mighty impressive on paper. While we did not get those figures in our tests, the results were still impressive.

With aptX Adaptive codec, ANC is turned on at all times and loudness is around 70 per cent, the buds lasted just a little over 5 and a half hours, which is quite good. Without ANC, the number was closer to 7 and a half hours, which isnt bad either. With the charging case, you get battery figures in the range of 27 to 37 hours depending on the ANC usage. These are robust figures and among the best in the segment.

The fast charging is modest with a 10-minute charge giving you close to two hours of playtime with ANC off. The buds take about an hour to charge fully from zero, while the case takes two when using a wired charger. The EarFun Air Pro 3 also supports wireless charging with Qi-certified chargers; the charging time is almost double that. The battery level of each earbud and the charging case can be seen in the companion app.

EarFun Air Pro 3: Price and Verdict

The EarFun Air Pro 3 is officially priced at Rs 7,499 in India and is perpetually available for a discounted price ranging between Rs 5,499 to Rs 6,399 for different colour variants on Amazon India. It offers an 18-month warranty, which is 6 months more than what competing products do. That should alleviate concerns about a lesser-known brand here. So is it worth the asking price? The answer is a definite yes, but if you can grab it closer to Rs 5.5K.

The EarFun Air Pro 3 is a good, feature-rich product with fun and energetic sound that offers a lot of customisation through the companion app and provides solid battery backup. The ANC is average at best and it misses wear detection sensors, but it still offers plenty and is probably the only one to support aptX Adaptive codec in this price bracket. In most countries that would make it a straightforward choice, but in India, it has three prime competitors to contend with.

The Realme Buds Air 5 Pro, Oppo Enco Air3 Pro and the OnePlus Buds Z2, all priced at Rs 4,999, offer more or less the same features, sans aptX codec. The sound quality is comparable too, all have wear-detection sensors, and while the ANC is better on the Realme and Oppo buds, the OnePlus flaunts the best transparency mode. The Realme Buds Air 5 Pro sounds a bit more detailed, courtesy of its dual drivers. However, this EarFun product trumps all three in terms of battery backup. So pick one that appeals to you more; neither will disappoint you.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and founder of X, directed with some expletives towards advertisers who had pulled their advertisements from the social media platform due to the presence of antisemitic content, and his alleged support of an antisemitic post.

In an interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit, where he was speaking to Andrew Ross Sorkin, Musk expressed regret for a tweet on November 15 that supported an anti-Jewish post, acknowledging that it was a significant mistake and possibly the worst post he had made.

Despite apologizing, Musk adopted a defiant tone, dismissing the idea of being antisemitic and stating that advertisers should not attempt to blackmail him with the threat of withdrawing advertising support.

The conversation proceeded to go like this:

MUSK: I hope they stop.

SORKIN: You what?

MUSK: Dont advertise.

SORKIN: You dont want them to advertise?

MUSK: If somebodys going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f**k yourself.

SORKIN: But

MUSK: Gof**kyourself.

Is that clear? he went on to say. I hope it is. Hey, Bob, if youre in the audience, he added, calling out Robert Iger, chief executive of Walt Disney, which pulled ads on X, and earlier at the event said that Disney doesnt feel felt the association with X following Musks move was not a positive one.

Musks controversial post had agreed with a user who falsely claimed that Jewish people were fostering hatred against white people, referencing the Great Replacement conspiracy theory. The fallout from Musks comments led major companies, including Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, and Comcast, to suspend their ads on X.

Musk defended his commitment to X, arguing that customers should judge his companies based on the quality of their products, citing Teslas electric cars and SpaceXs rockets.

He asserted that he had arguably done more for the environment through Teslas massive sales of electric vehicles than any single human on Earth.

The profanity-laden response from Musk raises questions about the impact on Xs brand and relationships with advertisers, with experts suggesting it could be a closing chapter for brands doing business with the platform.

Despite the controversy, Musk indicated that he would not pander and remained steadfast in his commitment to X.

Musks comments came on the same day that US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned of the escalating crisis of antisemitism, emphasizing its impact on the safety of Jews worldwide and Israels future.

The controversy surrounding Musks post drew condemnation from the White House, describing it as an abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate.

(With inputs from agencies)
Its official  OpenAI has formally reinstated Sam Altman as its Chief Executive Officer, marking the end of a tumultuous two weeks that saw Altmans sudden firing and subsequent boardroom power struggle.

In a blog post on Wednesday, Altman announced the restoration of his role, alongside the introduction of a revamped initial board of directors. In a surprising turn of events though, Microsoft Corp. has joined the board, albeit as a nonvoting observer, a move highlighting the tech giants increased involvement in OpenAI.

Mira Murati, who briefly served as interim CEO after Altmans ousting, has been reinstated as the Chief Technology Officer. Additionally, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, who resigned in protest over Altmans firing, is set to return as the companys president.

Microsoft, OpenAIs largest investor, now holds the position of a nonvoting observer on the board. The new board of directors includes Bret Taylor, former co-CEO of Salesforce Inc., as chairman; Larry Summers, former US treasury secretary; and Adam DAngelo, CEO of Quora Inc. The primary task assigned to the directors is to build a more permanent board structure.

Altman expressed optimism about the future in the blog post, stating, I have never been more excited about the future, and expressing gratitude for the hard work put in during the uncertain situation.

Bret Taylor, in a note accompanying Altmans post, emphasized the commitment of the new directors to create a qualified, diverse board and enhance OpenAIs governance structure. The company has faced criticism for a governance structure that allowed the ousting of the CEO without consulting major investors.

OpenAI, initially founded as a nonprofit research organization in 2015, later adopted a for-profit structure, attracting investments and partnerships with companies like Microsoft. The company is slated to be valued at $86 billion in a planned tender offer.

To further stabilize the organization, Taylor announced the formation of an independent committee to oversee a review of recent events. Altman welcomed the inquiry, stating that the new board members would oversee it.

Ilya Sutskever, OpenAIs chief scientist and co-founder, who played a role in Altmans dismissal, wont be on the board, but discussions are ongoing regarding his continued work at OpenAI.

Directors Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley have left the board. Toner, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), mentioned her official resignation and affirmed her focus on AI policy, safety, and security.

Altmans sudden dismissal on November 17 shocked the tech industry, leading to a series of events including employee protests and board resignations. A deal was reached on November 21 to reinstate Altman and replace the board.

In his post, Altman outlined the companys priorities, including advancing research, improving governance, and refocusing on products. Despite the recent leadership upheaval, Altman stated that OpenAI did not lose any customers during the period of his absence and return.

Looking ahead, Altman acknowledged feeling tired but expressed renewed excitement and conviction for the future of OpenAI.

(With inputs from agencies)
In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have stumbled upon an exceptionally rare celestial occurrence in a nearby star system  six planets orbiting their central star in an intricate and synchronized rhythm, a pattern so precise it can be translated into music.

The star system in question, HD110067, situated approximately 100 light-years away in the northern constellation of Coma Berenices, has been under the vision of NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

In 2020, TESS detected fluctuations in the stars brightness, signalling the transit of planets in front of it.

Collating data from TESS and the European Space Agencys Cheops (CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite), a team of researchers made a groundbreaking revelation  a planetary configuration of unprecedented nature.

While multiplanet systems are relatively common in the galaxy, those exhibiting a tight gravitational formation known as resonance are exceedingly rare.

In this extraordinary case, the closest planet to the star completes three orbits for every two of the next neighbouring planet, constituting a 3/2 resonance. This pattern repeats among the four inner planets. As for the two outermost planets, a 4/3 resonance pattern was identified, signifying that one completes four orbits for every three of its outermost counterparts.

The significance of these orbitally resonant systems lies in their ability to provide crucial insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems.

Typically, planets around stars tend to form in resonance, but external factors such as a massive planet, a close encounter with a passing star, or a significant impact can disrupt this delicate balance.

The newfound planetary harmony in HD110067 offers astronomers a unique window into the past, showcasing the initial conditions of planetary formation.

Many multiplanet systems, while not precisely in resonance today, exhibit patterns suggesting they may have once been in such a delicate celestial dance. This discovery underscores the fragility of planetary systems and the complex interplay of forces shaping the cosmos.
A recent study conducted by the Vrije Universiteit or Vrije University, Amsterdam suggests that every Bitcoin transaction uses an average amount of water equivalent to filling a backyard swimming pool.

This figure is approximately six million times more than the water consumed in a typical credit card transaction. The excessive water usage is attributed to the power and cooling requirements of the millions of computers globally supporting the Bitcoin network.

In 2021, Bitcoin is estimated to have consumed nearly 1,600 billion litres (gigalitres) of water, a figure expected to surpass 2,200 gigaliters in 2023. The study highlights concerns about Bitcoins environmental impact, especially in regions already facing water shortages.

The significant water consumption is primarily due to Bitcoins reliance on extensive computing power, leading to substantial electricity use.

Bitcoins energy consumption is comparable to that of entire countries, such as Poland, according to data from Cambridge University.

The demand for electricity to power Bitcoins operations results in water use for cooling gas and coal-fired plants and the evaporation of water from reservoirs supplying hydroelectric plants.

The mining process, where miners compete to audit transactions, is identified as the major contributor to Bitcoins water usage.

Alex de Vries of Vrije argues that Bitcoin could significantly reduce its water consumption by altering the proof of work method, which involves miners competing to audit transactions.

The proof of work method generates extensive computational competition, consuming massive amounts of electricity and water.

Ethereum, another major cryptocurrency, transitioned to a more sustainable system called proof of stake in September 2022, reducing its power usage by over 99 per cent. However, implementing a similar change in Bitcoin may face challenges due to its decentralized nature.

The study emphasizes the need for a reassessment of Bitcoins environmental impact, especially as water scarcity affects up to three billion people globally, a situation expected to worsen in the future.

Regulators and the public are urged to consider the freshwater consumption associated with Bitcoin mining, particularly in regions grappling with water shortages.

(With inputs from agencies)
Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed discussions over their shared border on Thursday, according to Armenian officials. The normalisation talks between the two nations had hit a roadblock after Baku reclaimed the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian separatists.

The prolonged conflict between Baku and Yerevan over control of Azerbaijans formerly Armenian-populated Karabakh region has persisted for decades, with Baku regaining control in a swift offensive in September.

Despite internationally-mediated peace talks, a breakthrough has yet to be achieved. Both countries leaders expressed optimism about signing a comprehensive peace deal by the years end.

However, the peace process faced setbacks when Azerbaijan declined meetings mediated by the European Union and the United States, accusing them of favoring Armenia.

On Thursday, the commissions on border delimitation of Armenia and Azerbaijan, led by Armenian Vice Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and Azerbaijani counterpart Shahin Mustafayev, commenced their fifth round of talks at the Ijevan-Gazakh sector of the state border, according to Grigoryans spokesperson Ani Babayan, reported AFP.

Last week, Azerbaijan expressed readiness for direct bilateral negotiations with Armenia to expedite the peace agreement.

The military operation on September 19 saw Azerbaijan reclaiming Karabakh from Armenian separatists who had controlled the region for three decades, resulting in a significant exodus of the Armenian population and a subsequent refugee crisis.

With inputs from agencies
Australias Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, delivered a formal warning to Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao in Canberra on Wednesday, addressing a recent incident where a Chinese warship used sonar pulses to target Australian navy divers off the coast of Japan.

Despite China denying involvement, Senator Wong expressed serious concerns during the meeting, emphasizing the need for dialogue to navigate differences.

In a statement, Senator Wongs spokesperson highlighted her commitment to engaging with senior Chinese officials, aiming for diplomatic resolution. Senator Wong, in a post on X, described her discussion with Liu as frank, covering bilateral relations, consular matters, and the significance of international law, rules, and norms for regional peace and security.

The warning follows contradictory statements from Liu, who suggested the incident occurred in disputed waters between China and Japan, contrary to Canberras confirmation that it happened within Japans exclusive economic zone.

During a separate meeting, Opposition leader Peter Dutton and foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham reprimanded Liu, emphasizing Australias concern and urging China to respect international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not publicly disclose whether he raised the incident with President Xi Jinping at the recent APEC summit in San Francisco, he asserted in Question Time that the event was unsafe and unprofessional. Australia remains committed to conveying its concerns through appropriate channels to uphold peace and stability in the region.
A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was set to expire on Thursday morning as time ran out on international efforts to extend a six-day ceasefire in fighting and an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, and was set to meet Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Looking at the next couple of days, well be focused on  doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in, Blinken said at a stop in Brussels.

Citing Israeli officials, Israeli media reported the military would resume attacks on Gaza at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) if the government did not receive a list of hostages to be released that met its criteria by that time.

Israel, according to the reports, is demanding at least 10 hostages be released on Thursday, with women and children prioritized.

Hamas armed wing told its fighters in the Gaza Strip to be ready to resume battles with Israel if the temporary truce is not renewed.

The Al-Qassam Brigades asks its active forces to maintain high combat readiness in the last hours of the truce, the militant group said in a statement.

Fighters should remain on such footing unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce, the statement added.

Two Palestinian officials earlier told Reuters that talks were continuing over a possible extension of the truce, but no agreement had yet been reached.

A Palestinian official said negotiators were hammering out whether Israeli men would be released on different terms than the exchange of three Palestinian detainees for each Israeli hostage that has applied to women and children.

Hamas released 16 more hostages on Wednesday, the final day of a two-day extension to the truce. Israels prison service said it released 30 more Palestinians from its jails in a sixth round of swaps. The exchanges are a core component of the arrangement, which was initially set at four days.

The six-day truce has brought the first respite to Gaza in seven weeks. During that time, Israel bombarded the territory in response to a rampage by Hamas gunmen on October 7, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza. Health authorities in Gaza say Israels bombardment has so far killed more than 15,000 Palestinians.

RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES

US President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The US is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, US officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israels northern Gaza attacks.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual nationals, officials said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one US dual citizen.

The handover was overshadowed by an unconfirmed claim by Hamas that a family of Israeli hostages including the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, had been killed during earlier Israeli bombardment.

The ceasefire and release of hostages and prisoners was mediated by Qatar, another country pushing for an extended truce.

Qatar remains hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce  which we strongly welcome  but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire, he told a meeting of the UN Security Council.

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.
The United Kingdom on Thursday said it will send seven Royal Navy ships and a maritime patrol aircraft to take part in Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) patrols of areas with vulnerable undersea infrastructure next month.

Europe and NATO have become increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure around and under the Baltic Sea. JEF, a 10-nation military alliance of northern European countries, is focused on security in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region.

Last month, Sweden said a Baltic Sea telecom cable connecting Sweden and Estonia was damaged at roughly the same time as a Finnish-Estonian pipeline and cable. That followed explosions in September 2022 that ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea and cut Europes supply of Russian gas.

The UK and our JEF partners will do whatever it takes to defend our mutual areas of interest, and todays display of unshakeable unity sends a powerful message of deterrence that we stand ready to meet any potential threat with force, British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Britain said it will contribute six Royal Navy warships, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, and a Royal Air Force maritime patrol aircraft to the JEF deployment to patrol areas most vulnerable to interference, conduct surveillance operations, and act as a deterrent force against potential threats.

Vessels will be spaced to cover a wide area from the Channel to the Baltic Sea, it added.
Two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a busy bus stop in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, killing at least three people and wounding several others.

Two terrorists arrived at the scene in a vehicle armed with firearms, these terrorists opened fire towards civilians at the bus station and were subsequently neutralized by security forces and a nearby civilian, Israeli police said.

Warning: Scenes of violence; viewer discretion advised

Surveillance camera footage shows the shooting attack at the entrance to Jerusalem this morning. Two people were killed, and at least seven others were hurt. Two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian shot the terrorists dead. pic.twitter.com/CwucVb5IV7  Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) November 30, 2023

Talking to reporters, Jerusalem Police District Commander Doron Turgeman said that the attackers came from the eastern part of Jerusalem.

A large number of ambulances and police converged on the street that was crowded with morning commuters, and police said they were searching the area to make sure there were no other attackers.

Condemning the attack US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said, Abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence.

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion has ordered increased surveillance in the capital city to boost the sense of security among residents.

The shooting comes as Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day ceasefire in Gaza by one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in the coastal enclave for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas will release only eight hostages on Thursday as part of the extended truce, multiple Hebrew media have reported, adding that the two Israeli-Russian women who were released last night as a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be counted in the latest list.

The hostages who will be released today will include six women and two children. Under the deal between Israel and Hamas, which was brokered by Qatar last week, the ceasefire can continue only if Hamas releases 10 women and children on each day of the truce.

With inputs from Reuters
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said on Thursday that the loss and damage fund, climate finance and issues related to nationally determined contributions to reduce emissions will be the focus areas of discussions that India will be taking up during the COP28.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Indian Pavilion at COP28, he underscored the importance of everyone coming together to fight climate change.

We have seen Indias commitment towards its environment-friendly policies There are many issues to discuss herethere is loss and damage, also the issues of the last COP like article 6 and the climate finance associated with developing countries, those issues will also be discussed at the COP, he said.

Article 6 regulates voluntary cooperation among countries to achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions. It incorporates both market mechanisms and non-market approaches, including cooperation in areas such as finance, technology transfer and capacity building.

He did not respond to questions from PTI on what stand India is expected to take on the Loss and Damage fund. However, it has been learnt that India is expected to advocate for a bigger scope in the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF) to compensate developing nations for climate change to ensure inclusivity for them.

At COP27 last year, the Loss and Damage Fund was agreed to by the Parties to provide financial assistance to developing nations suffering from adverse climate change impacts.

The operationalisation of the global loss and damage fund (Loss and Damage Fund) will be a key focus at COP28, including consideration of eligibility requirements, funding sources, the scope of the fund and whether the World Bank will serve as interim trustee and host of the fund for an initial four year period, a senior UN official told PTI.

A pivotal focus for COP28 lies in tripling renewable energy targets by 2030, with India fully committed to this ambitious goal and well-positioned to achieve it, the official, who did not want to be identified, said.

The present COP Presidency has prepared a draft proposal to operationalise the loss and damage fund which confirms what the Loss and Damage Fund technical committee had recommended in its last meeting that the World Bank be the interim host of the fund.

It also said that if the board which would be set up to supervise the fund finds the work of the World Bank satisfactory then it will become the permanent host. Dubai is abuzz with activity as the highly anticipated annual climate talks, COP28, begin in full swing here.

About 70,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries are expected to participate in the global conference which is set to commence on Thursday and run through December 12.

Heads of state and governments, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, King Charles III of England, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, are expected to be present at the climate summit.

The leaders will be actively engaged on December 1 and 2, taking part in the Global Climate Action Summit. Subsequent days will witness closed-door discussions among officials and experts, with significant high-level political decisions anticipated in the final days to shape the resolution.

With inputs from PTI.
As the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) commences today, the global climate summit is committed to offering a 1.5C-aligned menu as part of its objective to achieve carbon neutrality for the conference.

The internationally agreed-upon target to prevent worsening and irreversible effects of climate change is a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase in temperatures. The 1.5 degrees Celsius-aligned menu ensures that delegates can consume breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack while staying within an individual budget of 2.3k carbon dioxide emissions per day.

More than 90 food and beverage outlets will feature a diverse range of cuisines, including a unique 100% vegan food truck park and Alkebulan, the worlds first African dining hall. It is expected that 250,000 meals will be served every day during the 12-day event.

The COP28 Sustainable Catering Strategy mandates caterers to minimise waste, provide sustainable packaging, source local and regional produce, and recycle where possible. This emphasises that climate-conscious catering can be effectively implemented on a large scale.

The intention is to showcase how climate-friendly food can be tasty, nutritious and affordable, with menus across the site being at least two-thirds vegan or vegetarian. Caterers have been asked to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the food served falls within sustainable limits for carbon and water intensity, as well as aligning with UAE guidelines on macronutrients.

By providing carbon-conscious choices and supporting information, delegates will be able to make informed eating choices at COP28.COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30  December 12 this year.

COPs take place every year and are the worlds only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change, with almost complete membership from every country in the world.

Delegates from almost 200 nations will be present at the summit, including world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive in Dubai later today. PM Modi had earlier attended the Glasgow conference in 2021, during which he unveiled Indias five-pronged Panchamrit strategy to deal with climate change.

During COP-26 in Glasgow, the Prime Minister announced five specific targets, titled Panchamrit, as Indias unprecedented contribution to climate action. The Prime Minister had also announced Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) on that occasion.

During his visit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders participating in the summit.
In an effort to shield journalists and activists from defamatory lawsuits meant to stifle public criticism, the European Parliament and EU member states agreed on draft new regulations on Thursday.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, praised the agreement to protect those who try to reveal inconvenient truths on X, formerly Twitter.

The goal of so-called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) is to intimidate opponents by threatening to take heavy legal action.

Media outlets and NGOs are frequently forced to back down out of fear of drawn-out and expensive legal battles, even though the actions occasionally seem likely to fail.

The new rules would allow a person targeted by a SLAPP lawsuit to request a rapid rejection by the courts.

A court can also decide to make the plaintiff bear the costs of the proceedings, particularly the legal fees of the person facing the lawsuit.

The European Commission first proposed the draft directive in April 2022 to combat these abusive procedures, expressing concern about their increasing use.

The commission also recommended that European Union countries should not recognise or enforce SLAPP cases brought against them in non-EU countries, such as Britain.

Rich plaintiffs flock to London  dubbed the worlds libel capital  to bring lucrative cases under British law, which places the burden of proof on journalists.

The agreement will still need to be formally approved by the European Parliament.

(with inputs from AFP)
Acknowledging Indias G20 Presidency and referring to the enduring partnership between India and the UN as a beacon within the Global South, high-ranking UN officials and envoys praised India for its exemplary leadership in tackling global challenges and for being a champion of South-South cooperation.

In December last year, India took up the one-year G20 Presidency and is now all set to pass the torch to Brazil.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) organised a special event at the world bodys headquarters on Wednesday to commemorate six years of collaborative partnership of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

India has long been a champion of South-South cooperation and the global pursuit of the SDGs, bringing to life its philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  the world as one interconnected family, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in her remarks at the event.

Mohammed underscored that the India UN Development Partnership Fund stands as a testament to the extraordinary accomplishments that nations can achieve when they unite, surpassing borders and differences to create a sustainable, equitable and just world.

Mohammed said that the sixth anniversary of the Partnership Fund compels us to contemplate the tremendous obstacles we face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the vital role that South-South cooperation can play in overcoming these challenges.

Since its launch in 2017, the Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis described this as no small feat, especially in the current age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Francis told the event, attended by UN envoys, officials, policy experts, think tanks and academicians, that the fact that beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South of which India remains integrally a dynamic part and supports all geographic regions while maintaining a strong emphasis on Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries speaks volumes about its vision of development and its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India. Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic, Francis said.

He added that Indias G20 Presidency marked a commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of Indias commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Francis added that India, home to one-sixth of humanity, also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission including at the UN to create a more just and equitable world.

Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, he said.

Francis underscored that the enduring partnership between India and the UN has spurred just and inclusive development from the worlds densest cities to its remotest villages and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation.

Managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and implemented by 12 UN entities at the country level, the USD 150 million Fund supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world.

The Fund operates across the Global South and supports all geographic regions, with a strong emphasis on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India has walked the talk and its commitment to the ethos of leaving no one behind is not just rhetoric, but a demonstrated reality.

She noted that over the past decade, Indias development partnerships have reached 78 nations and manifested in 600 projects, speaking volumes of the countrys goodwill and capabilities.

Indias timely humanitarian assistance, spanning across nations from Afghanistan to Ukraine, Turkiye to Nepal, and its unwavering support to Gaza and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) highlight our resolve in fostering global solidarity, Kamboj said.

She added that the Fund, covering a vast spectrum of areas including health, education and environmental sustainability is a testament to our commitment to multi-dimensional development, acknowledging that progress in one area is often interlinked with advancements in others.

India stands as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for the Global South. In a world of shifting global dynamics, our nation has risen as not just a voice, but as a representative of the hopes and challenges of developing countries.

On the occasion, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Report was launched. Envoys and representatives from Dominica, El Salvador, Morocco, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Senegal, Fiji, Tuvalu, Togo, and Tonga shared their national experiences and development projects undertaken through the Fund.

With inputs from agencies
Four migrants were forced from the boat they were traveling in, and as a result, they died meters (yards) from shore in southern Spain, according to officials on Thursday.

Thirteen other passengers from the boat, including six children, survived the Wednesday afternoon incident, according to the Spanish government press office in the southern province of Cdiz. Four more passengers were transported to a hospital.

The press office stated that the drivers of the vessel ejected 27 passengers close to Camposoto beach, where the four individuals lost their lives. It also stated that eight more people were ejected near to a different beach.

A local mans video captured migrants being pushed from the boat and others attempting to swim to land in the turbulent waters.

Javier Gonzlez, who runs a nautical company, said he and his son managed to rescue eight people. He said they and other workers helped the migrants on the beach.

In a telephone message to The Associated Press, Gonzlez said no police officers or marine rescue personnel took part in in the initial rescue.

The boat drivers sped off, the press office said. Police used drones to try to locate them but were not successful, the office said.

Officials said the migrants were from unspecified North African countries.

Tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan countries try to reach Spain each year in large open boats launched from northwest Africa. Most go to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, while others try to cross the Mediterranean Sea to mainland Spain.

Several thousand are known to die making the hazardous journey.

(with inputs from AP)
Hamas claims Israel has rejected its offer for extension of temporary humanitarian truce on Thursday in exchange seven women and children hostages along with the bodies of three other Israelis, which it alleged were killed in Israeli bombing in Gaza.

Israel refused to receive seven women and children detained today and the bodies of three of the detainees who were killed as a result of the Israel bombing of Gaza. In exchange for extending the temporary humanitarian truce today, Thursday, with the same requirements as the previous six days, Hamas said in a statement.

This is despite confirmation through mediators that this number is all the movement has reached of detainees of the same category that was agreed upon, the statement by the Palestinian terrorist group added.

The truce is set to end at 7 am local time (10:30 am IST) on Thursday. Israel said it would be willing to extend the ceasefire for an additional day for every 10 abducted Israeli women and children that Hamas releases.

In its statement, Hamas even claimed that the list of seven Israelis it presented in the evening were the only Israeli women and children that it was able to locate in Gaza. Other allied terror groups also abducted Israelis on 7 October, but several of those hostages were still released over the past week.

On Wednesday, an Israeli official said Jerusalem believes at least 15 more women and children remain in Gaza.

In the past, Israel has rejected claims by Hamas that it could not locate all of the hostages in Gaza. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also had falsely claimed that one of its hostages was killed in Israeli airstrikes, but she was alive and released in recent days.

On Wednesday, Hamas released 14 hostages from its captivity. Of them, four were Thai nationals.

With inputs from agencies
Ahead of his visit to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action.

Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, and Mission LiFE are a testament to the commitment of our people towards Mother Earth. I look forward to joining special events including on climate finance, the Green Credit initiative and LeadIT. I also look forward to the opportunity to meet some of the other leaders present at Dubai and discuss ways to accelerate global climate action, said the Prime Minister in a statement.

He said during Indias G20 Presidency, climate was high on its priority.

The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues. COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action, said PM Modi.

At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation. It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development, he added.

He said hes travelling to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the COP28 at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, who has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action. In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development, said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi will address the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit in the UAE and participate in the three high-level side events, of which two will be co-hosted by India.

He will depart for the UAE today (Thursday) evening and attend the summit events on Friday. The Prime Minister visited the UAE in July this year.

The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

COP28 is being held from 28 November to 12 December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE.

With inputs from agencies
Day after US Department of Justice charged Indian man Nikhil Gupta for allegedly plotting the murder of New York City resident and a designated terrorist in India, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada sought more cooperation from New Delhi in the investigation and said India needs to take this seriously.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously, Reuters quoted Trudeau as saying in Ottawa.

The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this, he added.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice charged Nikhil Gupta for working with an Indian government employee on a plot to assassinate a New York City resident, who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India.

The document did not name the government employee, nor did it name Pannun.

It said the government employee contacted Gupta to assassinate the NY resident. The purported killer whom Gupta contacted for the killing was an undercover cop and Gupta was arrested in June this year by the Czech authorities.

The Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was slain in Canada, was also mentioned in the document.

Trudeau had claimed that Indian agents were responsible for Nijjars murder but India denied this accusation and requested for evidence. As a result, India and Canada had a diplomatic spat that began to somewhat improve when India started providing visa services again in Canada.

India made it apparent that Canada has not shown any proof for their allegation, and that country is prepared to assist with the investigation should proof be offered.

Earlier, the MEA had reacted to the report of the foiled bid to kill Pannun and formed a high-level enquiry committee to look into the security concerns raised by the US.

No reaction has come from the MEA yet on the US indictment.

Commented on the India-Canada situation, Canada foreign minister Melanie Joly on Wednesday urged India to be more forthcoming in the ongoing murder investigation.

Clearly we expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part, the minister said.

Canada has not yet charged anyone in the murder of Nijjar.

With inputs from agencies
An Indian national, charged in connection with a plan to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil, agreed to the plot after being assured that a criminal case against him in Gujarat would be dismissed, federal prosecutors here have alleged.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City, according to a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

While the indictment does not name the US citizen who was the target of the assassination plot, The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justices Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

In the indictment, prosecutors outline how Gupta agreed to the plot after being assured that a criminal case against him in Gujarat would be dismissed.

Beginning in or about early May 2023, in a series of telephonic and electronic communications between CC-1 and Gupta over encrypted applications, CC-1 asked Gupta to arrange the murder of the Victim in exchange for CC-1s assistance in securing the dismissal of a criminal case against Gupta in India. Gupta agreed to orchestrate the assassination. In addition to their electronic communications, Gupta also met CC-1 in person in New Delhi in furtherance of the plot, the indictment said.

Prosecutors have said that CC-1 is an Indian government employee who directed the plot from India to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian-origin residing in New York City, described as the victim in the indictment.

On or about May 6, 2023, at the outset of their conversation over a particular encrypted messaging application, CC-1 wrote Gupta: This is (CC-1) Save my name as (CC- 1 Alias).

Gupta saved the telephone number on Guptas phone under an alias for CC-1. A few minutes later, CC-1 messaged Gupta that CC-1 had a target in New York and another target in California, the indictment said.

The indictment added that around May 12, 2023, CC-1 notified Gupta that his criminal case has already been taken care of, and that nobody from Gujrat police is calling.

On or about May 23, 2023, CC-1 again assured Gupta that CC-1 had spoke with the boss about your Gujarat (case), that it was all clear, and nobody will ever bother you again.

CC-1 further offered to arrange a meeting between Gupta and a DCP, which is an acronym used in India for Deputy Commissioner of Police. Following CC-1 s assurances, GUPTA pressed forward to arrange the murder, the indictment said.

The murder-for-hire charge against Gupta carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The indictment said that at CC-1s direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City.

The confidential source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer. CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the undercover officer USD 100,000 to murder the Victim. Around June 9, 2023, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver USD 15,000 in cash to the undercover officer as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the undercover officer in Manhattan.

Gupta, described as an international narcotics trafficker was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the United States in June 2023 in connection with his participation in the plot.
Indias Russian oil imports experienced a rebound in November as several plants resumed operations following planned maintenance and fuel consumption increased during the Diwali festive season, according to preliminary data from ship-tracking firms Kpler and Vortexa.

As the worlds third-largest importer and consumer of oil, India has increased its purchases of Russian oil, particularly at a discount after certain Western countries refrained from importing Russian oil due to its invasion of Ukraine last year.

Data from Kpler and Vortexa revealed a 9% and 5% month-on-month increase in Indias Russian oil intake in November, reaching 1.73 million barrels per day (bpd) and 1.68 million bpd, respectively. The figures from both agencies included one cargo of the Kazakh CPC blend of crude, with Kpler estimating the volume at 27,000 bpd.

Revised October imports from Russia were reported as 1.58 million bpd by Kpler and 1.6 million bpd by Vortexa. Although these imports are still below the peak of nearly 2 million bpd in May, the discounts have significantly narrowed.

India has been roaring back to strength ever since its autumn refinery maintenance period was completed by early November, so now almost every refiner is ramping up runs to satiate growing domestic demand, Kplers crude analyst Viktor Katona said.Urals delivered to India still comes in at around -$4 to -$5 per barrel to Dubai, so it maintains a competitive edge over term deals from the Middle East, Katona added.

Indian refiners mostly have annual contracts with key Middle East producers such as Saudi Arabia. Both agencies noted a more than 25% decline in Indias intake of Saudi oil in November versus October. December imports may come in around 1.7-1.8 million bpd or even higher, as diesel consumption in India reaches its seasonal peak, Kplers Katona said.

However, the possibility of cargoes getting caught up in U.S. sanctions may limit refiners appetite, he added. The United States sanctioned three oil tankers that regularly shipped Sokol crude from Russias Far East to Indian Oil Corp, the countrys top refiner in recent months.

One of them, NS Century, is yet to discharge its cargo despite signalling earlier that it will offload it at Vadinar port in Gujarat on Nov. 25, LSEG and Kpler data showed. The tanker was last seen near Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to the data.
US State Secretary Antony Blinken has said that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas has produced results and that the ceasefire should continue.

Blinkens comments came during his third visit to Israel. We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families, Blinken said at a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

Its also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately.

So this process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue.

On Thursday, Israel and Hamas confirmed the extension of the truce for the seventh day minutes before it was set to expire.

Blinken, in the region for a third time since the war began, is also expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah.

Before he arrived, Blinken said his trip would focus on extending the truce to ensure the release of more hostages and the continued delivery of aid into the Gaza Strip.

Inching closer to the deadline, negotiators in Qatar, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, were discussing details of a potential extension.

Moments ahead of the expiry of the truce on Thursday, Hamas said negotiations were at an impasse, claiming Israel refused an offer to extend the truce in exchange for receiving seven detained women and children and the bodies of three deceased women or children who Hamas claim were killed by Israeli bombardment.

With inputs from agencies
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to participate in the UN climate talks in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. During his visit, which coincides with a day-long truce extension in the Israel-Hamas conflict, President Herzog will engage in talks with diplomats on the release of hostages held by Hamas.

At COP28, attended by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas as well, Herzog plans to conduct diplomatic meetings emphasizing the importance of freeing hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli presidency said that Herzog aims to mobilize world leaders for a high-level humanitarian effort to facilitate the return of the hostages. Both Herzog and Abbas are scheduled to deliver three-minute speeches at COP28 on Friday, where over 140 heads of state and government are expected to address the conference.

Since the truce began on November 24, 70 Israeli hostages have been freed in return for 210 Palestinian prisoners. Around 30 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the terms of the deal. Israel has made clear it sees the truce as a temporary halt intended to free hostages, but there are growing calls for a more sustained pause in the conflict.

Fighting began on October 7 when Hamas and other militants from the Gaza Strip poured over the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and unleashed an air and ground military campaign that the Hamas government in Gaza says has killed nearly 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, and reduced large parts of the north of the territory to rubble.

The war has cast a shadow over the UN climate talks in Dubai with activists planning actions to express solidarity with Gaza. On Thursday, climate activists will hold a press conference to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israels 17-year blockade of the enclave.

The climate movement see the struggle of the Palestinian people against occupation and apartheid as part and parcel of our collective struggle for climate justice, said a statement by the COP28 Coalition, a global network of climate justice and human rights organisations.

With inputs from AFP.
Following the countrys first fatal U.S. military plane crash in five years, a V-22 Osprey went down in the sea in western Japan on Wednesday. Japan said it has requested that the U.S. halt all non-emergency flights over its territory.

The cause of the accident, which claimed the life of at least one person, is presently unknown, according to the U.S. Air Force, which was flying the tilt-rotor aircraft. It is unknown how the other seven passengers are doing.

The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region and we are requesting the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe, Minoru Kihara said in parliament on Thursday, reversing a decision yesterday to allow such flights to continue.

Another senior defense ministry official stated in parliament that the Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, will suspend transport aircraft flights until the incidents circumstances are determined.

A request for comment from a representative of the American military forces in Japan was not immediately answered.

As the plane approached an airport for an emergency landing in clear skies and light winds, witnesses claimed that its left engine looked to be on fire, according to media reports.

Developed by Boeing (BA.N) and Bell Helicopter, the hybrid V-22, which can land and take off like a helicopter and fly like a fixed-wing aircraft, is operated by the U.S. Air Force, Marines and Navy, and the SDF.

The deployment of the aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics of the U.S. military presence in the southwest islands saying it is prone to accidents. The U.S. and Japan say it is safe.

Japan hosts the biggest overseas concentration of U.S. military power, with the country home to the only forward-deployed U.S. carrier strike group, its Asian airlift hub, fighter squadrons and a U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary force.

In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three U.S. Marines.

Another crash-landed in the ocean off the southern island of Okinawa in December 2016, the first such incident in Japan, prompting a temporary U.S. military grounding of the aircraft.

The last fatal U.S. military aircraft crash in Japan was 2018, when a mid-air collision during a training exercise killed six people, according to the defence ministry.

(with inputs from Reuters)
If Finland decides to allow a concentration of troops on its border with Russia, it would be viewed by Moscow as a threat, the Kremlin said, after Poland offered to send military advisers to help Helsinki monitor the frontier.

The head of the Polish National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera, said in a post on social media X that Poland would send military advisers to its NATO ally Finland, in response to an official request for allied support in the face of a hybrid attack on the Finnish border.

A team of military advisers will provide on-site knowledge on border security, also in operational terms, he said.

Finland said on Thursday it was unaware of the Polish offer. It has closed its entire 1,340 km (833 mile) border with Russia for two weeks in a bid to halt an unusually large flow of asylum seekers that Helsinki says amounts to a hybrid attack orchestrated by Moscow, a charge the Kremlin denies.

Asked about the Polish offer to Finland during a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: This is an absolutely redundant measure to ensure border security because there is no threat there.

The Finns must be clearly aware that this will pose a threat to us  an increase in the concentration of military units on our borders.

Any planned deployment would be unprovoked and unjustified, said Peskov.

Finlands Border Guard and the interior ministry both said they were unaware of any plan to bring Polish military advisers to Finlands eastern border.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto held talks with his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda in Warsaw last week but they did not discuss military cooperation on the Finnish border with Russia, Niinistos office said in a statement to Reuters.

Finland infuriated Russia earlier this year when it joined NATO, ending decades of military non-alignment, due to the war in Ukraine.
Gay rights activists have criticized Malaysias Johor state government for proposing the establishment of a rehab center for individuals in same-sex relationships, denouncing the widely discredited practice as a human rights violation and a breach of the constitution.

The contentious move occurs in the backdrop of heightened politicisation of Islam, Malaysias state religion, by competing parties eager to showcase their religious commitment to the Malay Muslim electorate.

During a session at the Johor state assembly, Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, the states Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, disclosed a budget of 400,000 ringgit (US$86,000) for the rehabilitation center, slated to open in July next year.

Mohd Fared defended the initiative, stating, This rehabilitation center is established for them to get back on the right path. Beyond same-sex individuals, he emphasized that the center would also accommodate those considered deviant from the state-prescribed religious orthodoxy, including the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Bahai, among other identified groups.

Responding to the news, the transgender rights group Justice for Sisters argued that detaining individuals violated the Malaysian constitution, which safeguards personal liberty, privacy, dignity, equality, and prohibits gender-based discrimination. The groups spokesperson, Thilaga Sulathireh, asserted that detaining people for the purpose of changing their sexual orientation amounts to torture.

Despite the constitutional recognition of Islam as the state religion and the authority granted to each state to prosecute religious offenses, including same-sex relations, activists contend that such practices have long-term negative effects on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals.

Critics argue that conversion practices lack evidence and are not rights-based, while the LGBTQ community continues to face challenges even after the election of a multi-ethnic and progressive administration in November 2022.

In a disconcerting revelation, it was disclosed that over 1,733 Malaysians from the LGBTQ community had been sent to similar rehabilitation camps run by Malaysias Islamic Development Department.

A 2020 report by the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network highlighted the widespread prevalence of conversion therapy practices in Malaysia, perpetrated by various entities such as parents, school systems, religious institutions, and the state.

Despite global trends favoring LGBTQ rights, Malaysian society remains conservative, with a significant majority opposing same-sex marriage. The recent controversy adds to the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ community, prompting reflection on the governments stance on human rights and individual freedoms.
India on Thursday said that the case linking Indian man Nikhil Gupta to an Indian official in the failed murder plot of New York resident and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a matter of concern and asserted that this was also against the policy of the Indian government.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, During the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gunrunners, terrorists and other extremists. We take such inputs very pic.twitter.com/L8ce9vXcFF  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said,During the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gunrunners, terrorists and other extremists. We take such inputs very seriously and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter.

Bagchi said necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

Talking specifically about the case against Gupta that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, Bagchi said, This is a matter of concern. We have said that this is also contrary to government policy. The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning an extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will be guided by its results.

As far as Canada is concerned, he said India has maintained that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue.

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So, pic.twitter.com/9bLFO4qq56  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So, we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable, said Bagchi.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice charged Gupta for working with an Indian government employee on a plot to assassinate a New York City resident and India-designated terrorist Pannun, who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India.

The document did not name the government employee, nor did it name Pannun.

It said the government employee contacted Gupta to assassinate the NY resident. The purported killer whom Gupta contacted for the killing was an undercover cop and Gupta was arrested in June this year by the Czech authorities.

Earlier, the MEA had reacted to the report of the foiled bid to kill Pannun and formed a high-level enquiry committee to look into the security concerns raised by the US.

Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was slain in Canada, was also mentioned in the document.

Earlier reacting to the development, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada sought more cooperation from New Delhi in the investigation and said India needs to take this seriously.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously, Reuters quoted Trudeau as saying in Ottawa.

The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this, he added.

Trudeau had claimed that Indian agents were responsible for Nijjars murder but India denied this accusation and requested for evidence. As a result, India and Canada had a diplomatic spat that began to somewhat improve when India started providing visa services again in Canada.

India made it apparent that Canada has not shown any proof for their allegation, and that country is prepared to assist with the investigation should proof be offered.

Commenting on the India-Canada situation, Canada foreign minister Melanie Joly on Wednesday urged India to be more forthcoming in the ongoing murder investigation.

Clearly we expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part, the minister said.

Canada has not yet charged anyone in the murder of Nijjar.

With inputs from agencies
Hamas has claimed responsibility for the shooting attack in Jerusalem that killed three people and left several others injured on Thursday.

Two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a busy bus stop in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, killing at least three people and wounding several others.

Two terrorists arrived at the scene in a vehicle armed with firearms, these terrorists opened fire towards civilians at the bus station and were subsequently neutralized by security forces and a nearby civilian, Israeli police had said.

The two gunmen were shot dead after the attack by two off-duty IDF (Israeli army) soldiers and another civilian who fired at them, police said in a statement.

The three victims of the terror attack have been identified as a 73-year-old rabbi, Elimelech Waserman, along with Hana Ifergan, 67, and Livia Dikman, 24.

In a statement published later, Hamas said that the attack was a natural response to the unprecedented crimes of the occupier in the Gaza Strip and against children in Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The terror group said that the two attackers were brothers, identified as Murad Nemr, 38, and Ibrahim Nemr, 30, who were members of the group based in east Jerusalem.

Police said the attackers had been jailed by Israel in the past.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the swift action of the off-duty soldiers and civilians had prevented an even more serious attack.

With inputs from AFP
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) froze the accounts of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Wednesday, coinciding with the presence of a team from the European Unions Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Pakistan. Additionally, Pakistan State Oil issued a threat to stop oil supply to the airline unless outstanding dues were settled by Thursday.

Expressing disappointment, a PIA spokesperson informed Dawn that the FBRs decision to freeze accounts occurred during the visit of an EASA delegation, currently in the country to assess flight safety issues. The airline management, in communication with the FBR, disclosed that 28 PIA accounts had been frozen, expressing hope for a prompt resolution.

In 2020, EASA prohibited PIA from operating flights to Europe following a plane crash in Karachi on May 22, 2020. This action was taken in response to former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khans statement in parliament, revealing concerns about the qualifications of 40% of Pakistani pilots.

On Wednesday, a four-member EASA delegation conducted inspections of PIAs operations, apron, engineering area, and flight safety tools in Karachi. The team had previously reviewed measures implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority regarding pilot licenses and airworthiness on Tuesday.
Pakistans Cabinet on Thursday approved the jail trial of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in the cipher case, following a special court decision to hold proceedings within the prison due to security concerns.

The Ministry of Law and Justice submitted the jail trial report in accordance with the court order, which was subsequently endorsed by the Cabinet.

Imran Khan has been detained in Adiala jail Rawalpindi since September 26. The in-prison trial was underway until last week when the Islamabad High Court, citing procedural issues, ruled against it, deeming the proceedings conducted so far as compromised.

After the Islamabad High Court ruling, Special Court judge Abual Hasnat Zulqernain heard the cipher case on Tuesday at the Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad. Mr Khan was not presented by authorities due to security reasons despite the fact that the judge last week had asked to present Mr Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is also accused in the cipher case.

It has been informed that the PTI chairman faces security risks of a serious scale, according to a report presented in the court by authorities.

After hearing the case, the special court announced its order, approving the jail trial in an open court format at the next hearing. Later, the hearing was adjourned till December 1 (Friday).

The cipher case was launched on August 15 and Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi were indicted on October 23.

Mr Khan was arrested after a case was filed against him for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act by disclosing a secret diplomatic cable  called the cipher  sent by the countrys embassy in Washington in March last year.

Earlier, the Cabinet on Tuesday also approved conducting the jail trial of Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption cases.

With inputs from PTI
US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns has said that the US and China must resume people-level connections to prevent the delicate relationship from getting knocked off the course again.

In an interview to South China Morning Post, Burns said, The people-to-people exchange is the ballast to keep the relationship stable.

Our two governments have a competitive and contested relationship, but at the people-to-people level, its really important that we stay connected, added Burns.

Burns, who took part in the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden in San Francisco earlier this month, said both sides noted the importance of the two leaders commitment to bringing back people-level exchange.

In November 2022, during their first in-person summit in Bali, Xi and Biden had decided to cultivate constructive relations.

However, the goodwill was short-lived when the US found what appeared to be a Chinese spy balloon in American territory. Although Beijing claimed that the balloon had accidentally entered US airspace and was meant for civilian use, the episode brought the relationship to an all-time low.

Many people believed that the leaders meeting in San Francisco served as the strongest barrier preventing bilateral relations from further deteriorating.

It is important for us to continue the momentum [after the San Francisco summit] so we do not get knocked off the course again. The key is to keep the two governments and the senior officials in close communication, Burns told South China Morning Post.

Burns said after the pandemic caused a sharp drop in people-to-people contact, it is important that it is revived again.

China remained Americas largest source of foreign students this year, but the numbers have dropped significantly over the past three years.

Both countries also agreed to significantly increase direct flights from next year, to facilitate exchanges and business travel.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we had (a total of) 345 flights per week. That number dropped to 12 at one point, and now its 70, Burns said.

Enrollments of Chinese students in the US, once reaching nearly half a million annually, fell below 300,000 in 2022, as reported by the Institute of International Education.

The current number of American students in China is significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, noted Burns.

Emphasising the importance of American students understanding China and speaking Mandarin, Burns expressed concern about the potential consequences if the next generation lacks this knowledge. He called for increased recruitment of young people with expertise in China.

We cannot have the next generation of American students not know about China and not speak Mandarin. Otherwise, we will feel the impact in 20 to 30 years. We need more young people to understand China. We need to recruit people who are China specialists, he said.

In response to President Xis goal of bringing 50,000 American students to China in the next five years, Burns acknowledged that achieving this target might take time but found it encouraging.

Despite a desire to improve relations with Beijing, Burns asserted that the US would not remain silent on human rights issues. President Biden had raised concerns about Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong during the summit meeting with President Xi, highlighting the significance of human rights and democracy to the United States.

Addressing investment restrictions and sanctions on advanced chip technology to China, Burns affirmed that the US would not apologize for export controls and restrictions. He underscored the importance of safeguarding national security, stating that certain technologies, including artificial intelligence, could potentially enhance the capabilities of the Peoples Liberation Army.

National security is non-negotiable, Burns declared.

With inputs from agencies
A top aide to Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy has resigned and joined former president Donald Trumps campaign, according to a media report which called the departure the latest indicator of Indian-Americans stagnating election campaign.

Brian Swensen formally resigned from his role as national political director for the Ramaswamy campaign over the weekend, CNN reported.

Swensen has joined the Trump campaign, the news network quoted a source familiar with his departure, as saying.

Swensen is expected to be working on the campaigns political operation in the early-voting states, specifically in Nevada, two Trump campaign sources told CNN.

Swensens departure is the latest indicator of 38-year-old Ramaswamys stagnating campaign, which has struggled to gain momentum even as the candidate closely aligns himself with Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, the report said.

Ramaswamy has repeatedly praised Trump, the Republican front-runner, whom he trails by double digits, often calling him the best president of the 21st century.

Earlier this month, Brandon Goodyear, the Ramaswamy teams videographer, stepped away from the campaign, a source familiar with the departure told CNN.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Ramaswamy campaign, thanked Swensen for his work with the campaign and wished him well in the future.

We absolutely love Brian and completely wish him the best, McLaughlin said.

Swensens responsibilities handling Ramaswamys political operations in New Hampshire will be overseen by senior adviser Mike Biundo, McLaughlin said.

Swensens departure came as Ramaswamy, whose campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination has plateaued in the polls, is barnstorming the early primary states in the final weeks before the start of the primary season in Iowa and New Hampshire in January.

The development comes as Ramaswamy has been trailing Trump and several other 2024 Republican contenders, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, in early state polls.

The biotech entrepreneur launched his campaign in February as a little-known candidate, later emerging in the summer as a breakout star. But Ramaswamy struggled to keep up that momentum. The other Republican presidential candidates have targeted Ramaswamy during those debates over his lack of political experience and on several controversial foreign policy stances pertaining to US involvement in Taiwan and Israel.
Russia charged Bulgaria with being naive and malicious Thursday for preventing the plane of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from passing through its airspace.

In order to get Lavrov to a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) foreign ministers in Skopje, North Macedonia, the plane had to take a longer route over Greece.

Absurd and stupid was how Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Bulgarias stance.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry who faces sanctions from the European Union, stated that Bulgarias Foreign Ministry had refused to allow access to its airspace because of her presence on board the aircraft.

No comment was immediately available from the Bulgarian ministry.

Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messenger app: The malicious stupidity of the Russophobes reached the point that, for the first time in our history, official authorities banned not an airplane, but a person on that airplane.

Zakharova suggested that Russia could apply similar overflight bans to thousands of NATO functionaries, and accused Bulgaria of creating a dangerous precedent.

Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania declared a boycott of the meeting in Skopje in protest at the Russian delegations presence.

(with inputs from Reuters)
Russias Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that LGBT activists should be designated as extremists.

The Supreme Court in Moscow issued this ruling, specifying that the international LGBT public movement and its subdivisions are now considered extremist, resulting in an immediate ban on their activities within Russia.

The hearing took place behind closed doors and without any defence present, Russian media reported ahead of the verdict.

If applied to individuals, the extremist label means gay, lesbian, transgender or queer people living in Russia could face years in jail.

The lack of transparency during the hearing raised concerns about due process.

In response to the verdict, the Feminist Anti-War Resistance, critical of Russias military actions in Ukraine, expressed a somber acknowledgment that the struggle continues.

Meanwhile, NGOs such as the transgender rights group Center T announced plans to release safety guidelines for LGBTQ+ community members. The director, Yan Dvorkin, who left Russia due to security concerns, described the legal proceedings as a new low point of insanity.

Many attribute Russias intensified conservative stance to its military involvement in Ukraine last year.

With inputs from AFP
In the wake of an increasing number of cases of respiratory illnesses in its neighbouring country, Taiwan has urged its youth and the elderly to avoid traveling to China.

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) requested China to provide more information on the sudden spike in respiratory illnesses.

Taiwan has been wary of disease outbreaks in its giant neighbour since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak that started in China and killed nearly 800 people globally in 2002-2003.

China, at the time, had tried to cover up the outbreak.

In a statement released after a weekly Cabinet meeting, Taiwans health ministry said that due to the rise in respiratory illnesses in China, the elderly, young children and other people with poor immunity are requested not to travel to China unless necessary.

The statement added that if people need to travel to China, they have been advised to get flu and COVID vaccinations.

Meanwhile, Chinas Foreign Ministry Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the outbreak is a common issue faced by all countries and that Chinese authorities have it under effective control.

Meanwhile in India, five states have put their health infrastructure on alert mode owing to Chinas outbreak. The state governments of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu have asked hospitals and healthcare staff to ensure that they are adequately prepared to tackle patients complaining of respiratory ailments.

All States and Union Territories have been advised to implement Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19, shared earlier this year, which provides for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), the ministry said in a statement.

With inputs from Reuters
Trafficking victims held in Myanmar and forced to work in scamming operations are being forced to sell their organs if they dont meet quotas, a charity in Vietnam said Thursday.

At least 120,000 people are being held in compounds in the Southeast Asian country, according to the UN human rights office, and are forced to work scamming their compatriots online.

The trafficked citizens  from China, Vietnam and other countries  are told to target and groom their compatriots, before cajoling them into ploughing money into fake investment platforms and other ruses.

Blue Dragon, a charity that rescues victims of human trafficking in Vietnam, said the scamming gangs set quotas for how much money each trafficked worker needed to extract from the scam victims.

If targets are not met, workers are subject to physical punishment  and, more recently, organ removal.

The traffickers have been taking the organs of their victims, such as the kidneys, if they havent been working hard enough, said Michael Brosowski, Blue Dragons founder.

In August the charity rescued a 36-year-old Vietnamese man from Myanmar who had been forced to sell his kidney after being trafficked into a scam casino.

Many of the victims from Myanmar have experienced multiple exploitations in this way, said Caitlin Wyndham, research and learning leader, at Blue Dragon.

The trafficked citizens in Myanmar have been caught up in fighting that has raged across the countrys northern Shan state after an alliance of ethnic minority groups launched a surprise offensive against the military.

Brosowski said that while many had been set free, Vietnamese victims had been unable to return home and had nowhere to go.

There has been the formation of what looks like refugee camps, he said. They are just trying to avoid violence.

Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs said around 700 Vietnamese citizens were trapped in Myanmar and it was trying to bring them home.

There are also thought to be around 100,000 people being held in scam compounds in Cambodia.

Blue Dragon said the compounds had spread onto some Pacific Ocean islands.
Minutes before Gaza truce was set to expire on Thursday at 7 am local time (10:30 am IST), Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, the operational pause will continue in light of the mediators efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.

Hamas and Qatar also confirmed the extension of the truce for a seventh day on Thursday.

The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 30, 2023

This is the second extension of the initial four-day truce that began on Friday, 24 November.

Qatar has led the truce negotiations and has confirmed the pause had been extended until Friday.

Inching closer to the deadline, negotiators in Qatar, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, were discussing details of a potential extension.

Moments ahead of the expiry of the truce on Thursday, Hamas said negotiations were at an impasse, claiming Israel refused an offer to extend the truce in exchange for receiving seven detained women and children and the bodies of three deceased women or children who Hamas claim were killed by Israeli bombardment.

Also Read: Truce in Israel-Hamas war extended by a day, minutes before it was set to expire

There had been pressure to extend the ceasefire to allow more hostage releases and additional aid into devastated Gaza, with Blinken arriving in Israel for talks Wednesday night.

The truce has brought a temporary halt to fighting that began on 7 October when Hamas terrorists poured over the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's subsequent air and ground campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas officials, and reduced large parts of the north of the territory to rubble.

The truce agreement allows for extensions if Hamas can release another 10 hostages a day, and a source close to the group said Wednesday that it was willing to prolong the pause by four days.

With inputs from agencies
Israel's Elbit to provide U.S. Marines with advanced night vision systems

Xinhua) 13:25, November 30, 2023

JERUSALEM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems will provide the U.S. Marine Corps with advanced night vision systems, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Elbit was awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday an indefinite quantity contract with a ceiling of 500 million U.S. dollars for the supply of squad binocular night vision goggle (SBNVG) systems, it said.

The SBNVG is a lightweight, helmet-mounted system that is designed to enhance war fighters' situational awareness and performance by improving nighttime visibility in diverse environments and conditions.

The system features an extended battery life and utilizes high-performance white phosphor image intensification tubes to enhance clarity and depth perception.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Israel military announced on Thursday the release of two Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

According to the armys statement, the Red Cross facilitated the transfer of these two women to Israeli forces, who were then set to be transported to an Israeli military base.

This release is part of a larger group of Israelis expected to be freed on Thursday as an extension of the ongoing cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. As part of the agreement, Israel was also scheduled to release around 30 Palestinian prisoners on the same day.

Meanwhile, on his third visit to the region since the conflict began nearly eight weeks ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed Israeli leaders on Thursday that the temporary truce in the conflict with Hamas was yielding positive outcomes and emphasised the importance of continuing it.

He made the remarks in meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, respectively, before travelling to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank for a sit-down with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families, Blinken said in his meeting with Herzog, reported AFP.

The truce was extended by one day on Thursday and is due to expire on Friday morning if an agreement is not reached on a further prolongation.

With inputs from agencies
UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sultan Al Jaber, has officially opened the COP28 climate talks and assumed the role of COP28 President in the formal passing of the gavel from his predecessor, COP27 President Sameh Shoukry.

As I today perform my very last duty as COP President, as Egypt hands over the baton of responsibility for global climate action to the UAE, I am confident that addressing these challenges will be the focus of incoming President Sultan Al Jaber and his able team, said Sameh Shoukry, COP27 President, during the opening plenary of COP28.

After assuming the role, Sulatn Al Jaber called on the global leaders saying, You have the power to do something unprecedented. He also appealed them to rise above differences as they have power to do something unprecedented.

Sultan Al Jaber said, Lets rise above our differences to make the difference for future generations. You have the power to do something unprecedented.

Lets unite around the agenda and restore our faith in multilateralism, the COP28 President further urged at the plenary ceremony.

As COP28 began on Thursday, Sultan Al Jaber met with Bhupender Yadav, Indias Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Together we are working to deliver the highest ambition to the Global Stocktake, he said on in a social media post as the two met.

The UAE and 198 Parties prepare for two weeks of intensive climate negotiations at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties (COP28), which kick off in Dubai on Thursday, with host country hoping to land a deal on the tripling of renewable energy and double the energy efficiency improvement rate by 2030.

COP28 is the UNs latest round of global climate talks. This year, it is being hosted by the UAE in Dubai and is due to be attended by 167 world leaders, including the Pope and King Charles III.

The energy transition will be the central theme around COP28 in Dubai on the occasion of the twenty-eighth United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP28).

This years summit is crucial as it comes against the background of climate urgency and the experts are making a clarion call of now or never.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the opening session of the World Climate Action Summit in the United Arab Emirates and participate in the three high-level side events, of which two will be co-hosted by India.

PM Modi will depart for the UAE today (Thursday) evening and attend the summit events on Friday. The Prime Minister visited the UAE in July this year.

The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

COP28 is being held from November 28 to December 12 under the Presidency of the UAE.

The Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC provides a unique opportunity to impart momentum for collective action towards combating the shared challenge of climate change.

During the COP26 in Glasgow, PM Modi announced five specific targets, titled Panchamrit, as Indias unprecedented contribution to climate action.
The United Nations (UN) declared Thursday that this year is on track to become the hottest ever recorded, emphasising the need for immediate action to curb global warming and mitigate the widespread damage it is causing.

The UNs World Meteorological Organization (WMO) cautioned that 2023 has set numerous climate records, resulting in a trail of devastation and despair due to extreme weather events.

Its a deafening cacophony of broken records, said WMO chief Petteri Taalas, reported AFP.

Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice is record low.

The WMO published its provisional 2023 State of the Global Climate report as world leaders gathered in Dubai for the UN COP28 climate conference, amid mounting pressure to curb planet-heating greenhouse gas pollution.

UN chief Antonio Guterres underscored the alarming significance of the record-breaking heat, urging world leaders to take decisive action.

According to the WMO report, data until the end of October revealed that 2023 was already approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline.

The agency is set to publish its final State of the Global Climate 2023 report in the first half of 2024, noting that the difference between the first 10 months of this year and the previously warmest years, 2016 and 2020, makes it unlikely that the final two months will significantly impact the rankings.

The report also showed that the past nine years were the hottest years since modern records began.

These are more than just statistics, Taalas said, warning that we risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise.

We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries.

With inputs from agencies
Israel said it will extend the truce for each day Hamas continues to release 10 living hostages.

Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said his countrys position on any extension of the humanitarian pause in fighting has been crystal clear.

Every day, we agreed to an extension for the release of 10 hostages, 10 living hostages, Regev was quoted as saying by CNN.

If Hamas continues to release hostages, 10 a day, we will extend the hold  the pause, he added.

Will Israel-Hamas fighting resume in the next 24 hours?

Regev said if Hamas fails to meet the conditions of the extensions, which is to release 10 Israelis, then ofcourse the fighting can be resumed.

Regev claimed that at least 140 hostages are still inside Gaza.

Israel accepted the current agreement of a humanitarian pause to get our hostages out, that could be extended each day for a day, he added

Israel determined to destory Hamas

Speaking about whether there would be negotiations on any further agreements, Regev said, This is a humanitarian pause in our fight against Hamas, Israel is determined to destroy Hamas military machine and its rule over Gaza.

We are not going to play games with the lives of our people. Hamas knows what the parameters of the deal are, he said.
The US should stop interfering in both Taiwan and the South China Sea, Chinas defence ministry said Thursday, adding that arms sales to Taiwan by the United States are making the situation more dangerous.

Senior Col. Wu Qian, the defence ministrys top spokesperson said that Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party is turning Taiwan into a weapons depot and a powder keg,.

Wu Qian spoke less than two months ahead of a presidential election in which Taiwan voters will choose between the ruling party, which favours a stronger defence and close ties to the US, and opposition parties that advocate improving ties with China as the best way to reduce tensions.

China asserts its territorial claim over the self-governing island, considering it as part of its territory and insisting that it must fall under its control. The US government, while not endorsing formal independence for Taiwan, is obligated by its own laws to furnish the island with the necessary resources for its defence.

Taiwans security depends on the peaceful development of cross-strait relations instead of a few pieces of U.S.-made weapons, Wu said at a monthly news conference. The 160-kilometer (100-mile) -wide Taiwan Strait runs between Taiwan and Chinas east coast.

We request that the U.S. side acts in accordance with its words and takes concrete steps to honour its commitment not to support Taiwans independence, stops arming Taiwan and stops undermining Chinas core interest, Wu said.

Some American lawmakers are calling for stepped-up support in response to threatening military drills by China.

Wu also criticized the U.S. for supporting the Philippines in the latters territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought U.S. assistance, including a recent joint patrol conducted by their militaries.

The U.S. has meddled in the South China Sea issue for its self-interests and instigated and supported the Philippines to infringe on (Chinas) rights and stir up trouble, Wu said.

He said that Chinese and U.S. defence officials are in contact to re-establish military-to-military communication at various levels. Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping agreed to do that during a summit meeting about two weeks ago. China had suspended communications for more than a year in a dispute related to the Taiwan issue.

Wu also said that China is paying close attention to the fighting between a group of militias and the Myanmar army near the border with China. The Chinese military held live-fire drills on the Chinese side of the border earlier this week.

The Chinese military always maintains high alert and is ready to respond to all kinds of unexpected situations, Wu said.

With inputs from AP.
North Korea said it would never negotiate its sovereignty with the United States, criticising Washington as double-faced for offering talks while ramping up military activities in the region, state media KCNA reported on Thursday.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior official, said the United States showed extreme double standards at this weeks meeting of the UN Security Council over North Koreas recent launch of its first spy satellite.

The meeting set the stage for a rare, public spat between US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and North Korean Ambassador Kim Song, both arguing that their countries military activities are defensive.

Kim Yo Jong said Thomas-Greenfield highlighted efforts to reopen talks with North Korea even as she lacked justifiable ground for denying its sovereign right to space development.

The United States and South Korea have condemned the satellite launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning North Koreas use of ballistic missile technology.

Thomas-Greenfield also failed to make a more logical excuse for how the US stands for diplomatic engagement and its efforts to resume dialogue blend with the provocative military activities of the US nuclear carrier and nuclear submarine deployed in the Korean peninsula, Kim said, according to KCNA.

We make it clear once again to the US, which asked the DPRK to fix the time and agenda for resuming the DPRK-US dialogue, Kim said, calling North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, the DPRK will never sit face to face with the US for that purpose.

Kim also said it was Washingtons double standards and high-handed and arbitrary practices, not her countrys space program, that dented regional peace and stability.

In another dispatch, KCNA said leader Kim inspected photos of a US naval base in San Diego and Kadena air base in Japan, taken by a spy satellite.

Pyongyang has said the satellite was designed to monitor US and South Korean military movements, and has photographed US military bases around the world, including in Guam and Italy, as well as locations such as the White House and Pentagon.

But state media has not released any imagery, fuelling debate among officials and analysts in Seoul and Washington over how capable the satellite is.

In a separate commentary, KCNA denounced South Korea for intensifying what it called war provocative moves through joint military drills with US troops, involving the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

It accused South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of playing a key role in formalising a concrete nuclear war provocation plan by bringing US nuclear strategic assets and stepping up combined exercises also including Japan.

Seouls unification ministry, in charge of inter-Korean affairs, issued a statement urging Pyongyang to break away from the wrong path of provocations and threats and take the path of dialogue and cooperation.

South Korea had initially planned to launch its first spy satellite on a US Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, but the plan was postponed because of the weather.
Amkor Technology, a leading semiconductor packaging and test services provider, has unveiled plans for an advanced packaging and test facility in Peoria, Arizona. Apple has confirmed its pivotal role as the primary and largest customer for this forthcoming manufacturing hub.

This facility will play a crucial role in packaging Apple Silicon manufactured at the nearby TSMC fab, where Apple stands as the leading customer.

Amkor, being the singular U.S.-based OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) service provider, possesses advanced packaging technology expertise and extensive experience in high-volume manufacturing. Following its finalization, this facility will emerge as the most extensive outsourced advanced packaging hub within the United States.

Having collaborated for over a decade, Apple and Amkor share a commitment to U.S. manufacturing. Together, they have devised plans to construct the most extensive outsourced advanced packaging facility in America, with Amkor investing around USD 2 billion in the project.

Amkor said that it has secured approximately 55 acres of land with intent to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing campus with more than 500,000 square feet of clean room space.

The first phase of the manufacturing plant is targeted to be ready for production within the next two to three years. Once completed, the facility is anticipated to employ over 2,000 people.

Apples significant investment in advanced manufacturing aligns with its 2021 commitment to inject USD 430 billion into the U.S. economy over five years.

The company is currently on track to meet this ambitious target through direct spending with American suppliers, data center investments, U.S. capital expenditures, and other domestic expenditures.

Regarding the announcement, Jeff Williams, Apples chief operating officer, said,
Xbox Game Pass Might Be Available to Other Consoles in the Future, Including PlayStation and Nintendo

Despite how challenging it seems on the surface, Microsoft is still adamant about bringing its Xbox Game Pass subscription service to as many screens as possible, which includes PlayStation and Nintendo consoles as well.

Xbox Game Pass for Everyone?

Xbox Chief Financial Officer Tim Stuart said in the recently concluded Wells Fargo TMT Summit that the company aims to make its first-party games via the Xbox Game Pass available to "every screen that can play games," such as smart TVs, mobile devices, and even consoles from Microsoft's long-time rivals, PlayStation and Nintendo.

This is part of the company's plan to expand into various areas of gaming, including delivering first-party games to as many players as possible, and advertising in the form of in-game ads and microtransactions.

While it's great for consumers to have Xbox Game Pass readily accessible on other platforms, actually bringing the subscription service to rival consoles might be a very challenging endeavor.

Last year, Sony elected to "protect its revenues from sales of newly released games" by not offering them to users via the company's own PlayStation Plus service. Additionally, Sony has blocked Xbox Game Pass from PlayStation since gamers still have the ability to buy the popular first-person shooter Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles anyway. This is despite Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision-Blizzard at the time.

For those who do not know, Activision Blizzard is home to a number of popular games, such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, and Starcraft II. Not to mention that the company offers games from the Call of Duty franchise as well.

On Nintendo's side, the company is offering its own subscription service called the Nintendo Switch Online. It has a massive portfolio of games from the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy consoles, including old-school favorites like Donkey Kong Country, Legend of Zelda; Link's Awakening, and Super Mario Bros., among many others.

Aside from that, Nintendo Switch Online allows subscribers to purchase vouchers that they can use on future games to score some savings.

With rival companies offering their own subscription services, making Xbox Game Pass available to other platforms is a tall order. The gaming community could only hope that one day, these companies might reconsider Microsoft's offer.

Read Also: Xbox Game Pass Remains Behind PlayStation Plus In Terms Of Subscribers



What is It?

So, what exactly is Xbox Game Pass? Well, it is a subscription service offered by Microsoft that allows people to play games and exclusive titles for a monthly fee. Those who avail of the service can play their favorite titles on Xbox consoles and PC.

What makes Xbox Game Pass amazing is that it has a ton of great titles in its portfolio. Players can enjoy Forza Motorsport, Lies of P, and even the Xbox-exclusive space exploration game Starfield, just to name a few.

Players can pay for a PC-only or Console-only subscription for just $9.99. However, they also have the option of getting the "Ultimate" pass if they want support for both platforms.

With Microsoft's insistence to put Xbox Game Pass on Sony and Nintendo consoles, do you think that the plan will succeed or not?

Related Article: There's An Xbox Game Pass Family Plan Already - But Only In Select Regions


Apple Is Facing Challenges in Shifting iPhone Manufacturing From China to India News oi -Kabir Jain

Apple's strategic shift to diversify its iPhone production away from China to India has faced substantial challenges, hindering the country's ascent as a manufacturing hub for the tech giant. Despite notable investments and efforts by major manufacturers like Foxconn and Tata, India grapples with hurdles ranging from supply chain complexities to cultural disparities. Here's an overview of the obstacles encountered by Apple in its iPhone production journey in India.

iPhones Assembled, Not Made in India

While Apple has enlisted Foxconn and Tata for iPhone manufacturing in India, the process is more about assembly than creation. The intricate supply chain involves importing crucial components like processors, display panels, and batteries from overseas, primarily in China. This adds to production costs, counteracting the savings on import duty. The fact remains that iPhones are not entirely made in India, limiting the country's efficiency in the manufacturing process.

Sluggish Manufacturing Speed

A critical challenge faced by Foxconn in India is the slower manufacturing pace compared to its Chinese facilities. Efforts to replicate the efficiency of Chinese operations have been impeded by cultural differences. The working environment in China demands longer hours and shorter breaks, contributing to higher production speed. However, cultural disparities have hindered the implementation of a similar system in India. The need for Chinese experts to train Indian engineers underscores the gap in manufacturing efficiency.

Defective Units and Production Costs

Foxconn's Indian facilities have encountered a higher number of defective units during the production process, adding complexity and costs to the manufacturing. The disparity in efficiency and quality further accentuates the challenge of making iPhone production in India economically viable. Despite these challenges, external pressures, primarily from Apple's quest for an alternative to China, encourage Foxconn to persist in its expansion plans in India.

The Future of iPhone Production in India

The ultimate solution to overcome these challenges lies in achieving localized manufacturing of internal iPhone components in India. However, the country is yet to advance significantly in semiconductor and display production. Unless major players like TSMC and Samsung Display establish facilities in India, the challenges in iPhone production will persist, hindering India's potential as a robust manufacturing hub.

India Positioned for Global Manufacturing Shifts

China's repeated respiratory outbreaks and disruptions in the global supply chain have triggered a re-evaluation by businesses. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) suggests a trend toward reshoring and diversifying supply sources to mitigate risks. Recent respiratory issues in China, coupled with its dominance in supplying over 90% of laptops and other components, create an opportunity for India to emerge as a viable alternative manufacturing hub.

Health Crisis Preparedness

India's potential as a manufacturing alternative to China is further emphasized by its efforts to enhance supply chain capabilities and invest in healthcare infrastructure. Learning from the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, establishing independent monitoring centers for health crises is advised. Strengthening crisis management frameworks will enhance India's appeal to international stakeholders.

India's Manufacturing Potential

India's manufacturing potential stems from key advantages, including a sizable trainable workforce, robust digital infrastructure, investments in logistics, strategic location for supply chain diversification, and cost advantages. Proximity to emerging markets and a strong legal system contribute to India's appeal as a global manufacturing hub.

Government Initiatives

India's policy initiatives, such as "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat," align with its ambition to position itself as a Global Manufacturing and Export Hub. The government actively promotes manufacturing in sectors where India has a competitive edge and emphasizes crisis management preparedness.

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iQOO Neo 9 Series Confirmed to Launch in December, Design Teased News oi -Kabir Jain

Chinese smartphone brand iQOO is set to unveil its Neo 9 series next month, succeeding the Neo 8 lineup launched earlier this year. The company had initially been rumored to launch the series in Q1 2024, but a recent Weibo post has officially confirmed the December launch timeline.

Design Teaser Unveiled

In a visually enticing Weibo announcement, iQOO provided a sneak peek into the design of the upcoming Neo 9 series. The teaser image showcases one of the Neo 9 models in a striking red hue with a distinctive white strip along the left side, hinting at a possible leather back. The device exhibits a sleek metallic frame, and the right side is adorned with the power button and volume keys.

Notable Features

The Neo 9 series is expected to boast a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera. Rumors suggest that the base Neo 9 might be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, while the Pro variant could feature the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. The devices are speculated to offer up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.

Camera and Battery Insights

Although specific camera details remain elusive, reports hint at a 50MP Sony IMX920 primary camera for the Neo 9 series. Additionally, the smartphones are rumored to pack a robust 5,000mAh battery with support for rapid 120W fast charging. On the software front, the devices are expected to run Android 14 with Funtouch OS, tailored to enhance user experience.

Certification and Charging Details

A recent sighting on China's 3C certification site revealed that the Neo 9 Pro model (V2339A) is anticipated to support up to 120W wired charging, aligning with its predecessor. Charger listings for this model indicate compatibility with various output levels, including 15W, 18W, 66W, and the impressive 120W. Moreover, they are reported to support multiple outputs via USB Power Delivery and up to 100W charging through the PPS protocol.

Previous Models and Pricing

To provide context, the Neo 8 series featured the Neo 8 and Neo 8 Pro, equipped with an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, respectively. Both models boasted a 6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display and a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. The Neo 8 series offered color options such as Night Rock, Match Point, and Surf, with the base model priced at CNY 2,499 and the Neo 8 Pro starting at CNY 3,299 during the launch.

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Estimate of the cost of the war against Hamas for Israel from 2023 to 2025, according to the Bank of Israel
Kindergartners smile after being shown strider training bicycles donated to Shelledy Elementary School on Wednesday. The bicycles dont have pedals so kids can learn how to ride with just a walking motion or they can lift their legs and balance on the bike like a normal rider would.
U.S. Attorney Announces Charges In Connection With Foiled Plot To Assassinate U.S. Citizen In New York City

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York

Indian Government Employee Directed a Plot From India to Murder U.S.-Based Leader of Sikh Separatist Movement

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's National Security Division, Anne Milgram, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Indian national NIKHIL GUPTA, a/k/a "Nick," in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. The charges are contained in a Superseding Indictment unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case is pending before U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. Czech authorities arrested and detained GUPTA on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: "As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India. I am grateful that my Office and our law enforcement partners neutralized this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad."

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: "The dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors in this case foiled and exposed a dangerous plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil. The Department of Justice will be relentless in using the full reach of our authorities to pursue accountability for lethal plotting emanating from overseas."

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: "When a foreign government employee allegedly committed the brazen act of recruiting an international narcotics trafficker to murder a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, DEA was there to stop the plot. I want to recognize the outstanding work of the DEA New York Field Division for their leadership in this investigation, the prosecution team at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan for pursuing today's indictment, and our federal and global law enforcement partners for their assistance."

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: "Murder for hire is a crime out of a movie, but the plot in this case was all too real. The excellent teamwork of the law enforcement partners in this case exposed this brazen conspiracy and is why Nikhil Gupta finds himself in jail waiting to answer to these charges."

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment and other public court documents:[1]

Earlier this year, an Indian government employee ("CC-1"), working together with others, including GUPTA, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on U.S. soil an attorney and political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the "Victim").

GUPTA is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others. CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a "Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in "Security Management" and "Intelligence," and who also has referenced previously serving in India's Central Reserve Police Force and receiving "officer[] training" in "battle craft" and "weapons." CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India.

In or about May 2023, CC-1 recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States. The Victim is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a U.S.-based organization that advocates for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India that is home to a large population of Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India. The Victim has publicly called for some or all of Punjab to secede from India and establish a Sikh sovereign state called Khalistan, and the Indian government has banned the Victim and his separatist organization from India.

At CC-1's direction, GUPTA contacted an individual whom GUPTA believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA (the "CS"), for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the Victim in New York City. The CS introduced GUPTA to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer (the "UC"). CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by GUPTA to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim. On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1's associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan.

In or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, CC-1 provided GUPTA with personal information about the Victim, including the Victim's home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victim's day-to-day conduct, which GUPTA then passed to the UC. CC-1 directed GUPTA to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which GUPTA accomplished by forwarding to CC-1, among other things, surveillance photographs of the Victim. GUPTA directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but GUPTA also specifically instructed the UC not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level U.S. and Indian government officials.

On or about June 18, 2023, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was an associate of the Victim, and like the Victim, was a leader of the Sikh separatist movement and an outspoken critic of the Indian government. On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, GUPTA told the UC that Nijjar "was also the target" and "we have so many targets." GUPTA added that, in light of Nijjar's murder, there was "now no need to wait" on killing the Victim. On or about June 20, 2023, CC-1 sent GUPTA a news article about the Victim and messaged GUPTA, "[i]t's [a] priority now."

* * *

GUPTA, 52, of India, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA's New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI's New York Field Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the DEA's Special Operations Division, the DEA's Vienna Country Office, the FBI's Prague Country Office, the Department of Justice's National Security Division, the Department of Justice's Office of International Affairs, and the Czech Republic's National Drug Headquarters for their assistance. The DEA's New York Drug Enforcement Task Force comprises agents and task force officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police.

This case is being handled by the Office's National Security and International Narcotics Unit, Violent and Organized Crime Unit, and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Alexander Li are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Trial Attorneys Christopher Cook and Robert McCullers of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, as well as Trial Attorney A.J. Dixon of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Contact

Nicholas Biase

(212) 637-2600

Attachment U.S. v. Gupta Indictment [PDF, 882 KB]

Topics: Counterintelligence

Counterterrorism

National Security

Component: USAO - New York, Southern

Press Release Number: 23-407

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US Alleges Indian Government Officer Directed Assassination Plot

By Steve Herman November 29, 2023

A man who claimed to be a "senior field officer" for an Indian intelligence agency has been accused by U.S. federal prosecutors of orchestrating a foiled assassination plot against an American citizen who is the leader of Sikh separatist movement.

Documents made public by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday do not name the Indian official, but indicated he worked with others in a government office in New Delhi and hired Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, to arrange the killing.

Federal prosecutors allege the Indian official was repeatedly in contact with Gupta and wired him $15,000 as an advance payment for a promised $100,000 for the murder of the political activist.

Gupta, who is 52, is awaiting extradition to the United States from the Czech Republic. He faces murder-for-hire, conspiracy and racketeering charges in the United States in connection with the alleged plot.

The leader of Sikhs for Justice, attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.-Canadian dual national, has previously indicated he was the target, telling reporters the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to kill him for criticizing the Indian government and advocating for an independent state of Khalistan.

"The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs," said U.S. Attorney Damian William in a statement. "We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil."

Defendant's 'hitman' was undercover agent

U.S. law enforcement detected and disrupted the operation.

According to a superseding indictment unsealed Wednesday, Gupta contacted an individual whom Gupta believed to be a criminal associate, but who was actually a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

Gupta asked the source for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the target in New York City. The confidential source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact an undercover U.S. law enforcement officer, according to the indictment.

"When a foreign government employee allegedly committed the brazen act of recruiting an international narcotics trafficker to murder a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, DEA was there to stop the plot," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram in a statement on Wednesday.

A day after a Sikh separatist in Canada, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was assassinated on June 19 near Vancouver, Gupta allegedly instructed the man he thought would be the hitman to proceed with the murder in New York because both Sikh activists were on the same hit list.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau subsequently accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Nijjar. Trudeau's accusation, which India denied, roiled relations between Ottawa and New Delhi.

Gupta was allegedly instructed that if the New York killing could not be done immediately, he should tell the assassin to wait until after Modi concluded his June 22 state visit to U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.

The Biden administration learned of the alleged plot late the following month and raised the matter with senior Indian government officials, according to The Washington Post. In early August, national security adviser Jake Sullivan brought his concerns to his counterpart, Ajit Doval, in person during a meeting in another country in the region, the newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The same message was subsequently amplified by the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, when he flew to New Delhi to meet Ravi Sinha, who heads the Research and Analytical Wing, India's external intelligence agency.

Biden, according to media reports, also raised the matter when he met again with Modi at the Group of 20 Summit in September in New Delhi.

"Indian counterparts expressed surprise and concern" when confronted by the allegations, National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said last week, after the New York plot was first reported by the Financial Times. "They stated that activity of this nature was not their policy."

India's government has set up a high-level inquiry to look into the allegations of its involvement.

The U.S. government shared some information and India "takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue," said External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi in a statement issued Wednesday.

Lynn Davis contributed to this report.

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Autumn meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels

Germany Federal Foreign Office

28.11.2023 - Article

The Foreign Ministers have a wide-ranging agenda for their twoday meeting: they will be discussing issues ranging from preparations for the anniversary summit to the situation in the Western Balkans. In addition, the NATOUkraine Council is meeting at foreign minister level for the first time.

In 2024, NATO is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a collective alliance for peace and security. Plans are already being made for the summit in Washington in July. Speaking in Brussels today about the role of NATO, Foreign Minister Baerbock said:

In the past two years, we have been dramatically reminded that security and peace need to be defended day in, day out, in Europe, too. That's why it is so vital, now in particular, that as the NATO security alliance we work together to strengthen our shield to ensure peace, freedom and security throughout Europe.



Burden-sharing important for the security of all allies

At the summit in Vilnius in July, the allies agreed to invest at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) annually in defence.

Before the first working session, Foreign Minister Baerbock, addressing this subject, emphasised:

That also means that Germany will meet its 2% obligation next year, just as many other countries will set the wheels in motion to that end by July next year. However, security means much more than a goal centred around a percentage of GDP. That's why the matter of future threats will also play a key role today - because we are currently seeing, not only with Russia's war of aggression but also with the other crises in this world, that security is at risk not only in the analogue space, but also in cyberspace.



EU and NATO jointly committed to security in the Western Balkans

The second working session was attended by Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The topic was the situation in the Western Balkans. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said:

There are actors who are out again and again to destabilise the situation, particularly in the Western Balkans. This is true not only of the situation on the KosovoSerbia border, but also the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not only NATO, but especially the EU is one of the guarantors of security in the Western Balkans. The EU is our life insurance policy. NATO ensures our security in this European area. That's why dialogue and cooperation are so crucial. NATO's and the EU's engagement go hand in hand: in EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina and NATO KFOR in Kosovo, for example. Next year, Germany will provide up to an additional 150 soldiers for KFOR.



NATOUkraine partnership the focus of the Summit

In Vilnius, the Alliance launched a multiyear assistance programme for Ukraine. The aim is to make it easier to cooperate with NATO forces. Interoperability is the term the experts use. Furthermore, the Alliance took political relations with Ukraine to a new level and established the NATOUkraine Council (NUC). At this Council, members from NATO and Ukraine sit around the table as equal partners and together define the working programme and the agenda. The NUC will be meeting at foreign minister level for the first time at the meeting of Foreign Ministers in Brussels. In addition, the Foreign Ministers will adopt the NUC's committee structure for the year ahead.

Sweden's accession: Hungary and Turkey yet to ratify

Sweden, too, is on its way to becoming a member. At this NATO meeting - as at past meetings - Sweden will be present as a guest. On 5 July 2022, the NATO states signed the Protocols of Accession for Sweden and Finland. Turkey and Hungary have not yet completed the ratification process.

Foreign Minister Baerbock emphasised:

And it was stated quite clearly in Vilnius that Sweden will become a member of our collective Alliance. It is long overdue, so this step must be taken.

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Operational Forum in the Southern Command: Lessons From the War and Future Operational Plans

IDF Press Release

Press Release

28.11.23

IDF

Yesterday (Monday), the Southern Command conducted an operational forum focused on lessons learned. The forum was led by the Commanding Officer of Southern Command, Major General Yaron Finkelman, and attended by the division and brigade commanders involved in the ground operations. The Head of the Operations Directorate, Major General Oded Basiuk, the Commanding Officer of the Ground Forces, Major General Tamir Yadai, and the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Tomer Bar also attended.

The main lessons learned from the fighting so far were presented during the course of the day and a discussion was conducted regarding operational plans for the continuation of the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

The commanders focused on combat techniques, operational discipline, IDF soldiers' operations, and insights into enemy activity.

A session to learn lessons on fire operations was also held, in conjunction with Israeli Air Force squadron commanders.

The forum was a culmination of the operational learning effort at the Southern Command, led by Brigadier General Guy Levy, ensuring that insights and lessons were provided to operational levels.

Attached is footage from the operational learning forum: https://bit.ly/47UhfJg

Attached are related photos: https://idfanc.activetrail.biz/ANC1811238051

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North Macedonia/OSCE: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell after meeting with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.11.2023

29/11/2023, Skopje

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!



Thank you. Thank you, Prime Minister [of North Macedonia, Dimitar] Kovachevski.

I am happy to be in North Macedonia again.

I am becoming a frequent traveller, because I was here in Spring, when we held the European Union-North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council and for the EU-Facilitated between Serbia and Kosovo, that you kindly allowed us to hold in Ohrid. It was for me a fantastic experience to discover this beautiful place. I hope I will be able to attend next summer the Ohrid meeting.

But today, I am here - back - to the Ministerial meeting of the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that you are hosting here in North Macedonia.

The OSCE remains - in spite of all the troubled times we are living - an important partner. Or maybe because we are living troubled times, it is more important - an important partner organisation and a forum for exchange for the European Union. We value a lot the role of the OSCE, especially in these times.

The OSCE is the only platform where our common European security architecture is and should be discussed - despite the attempts by Russia to undermine the OSCE, to undermine its fundamental principles and the existing security arrangements.

I understand the unease of some participating states about your decision to allow Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov to participate.

I understand because with its illegal war against Ukraine, Russia is violating the United Nations Charter, is violating the same principles of the OSCE and violating international law at large. And for that, it is facing international sanctions and international isolation.

Yet, your decision to allow Lavrov to participate is in line with our common objective to keep multilateralism alive. And Lavrov needs to hear again from everyone why Russia is being condemned and isolated. It will be a good occasion for him to listen directly from the participants of this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated.

Then, he will be able to come back to [the] Kremlin and report to the Kremlin master that the European Union and the OSCE remain united in deploring Russia's aggressive unlawful behaviour. It is going to be at least useful from this point of view.

On the other hand, it is essential for the [OSCE] Ministerial Council to ensure that the OSCE has all the necessary means at its disposal to function effectively. We do not want to lose the OSCE's working capacity.

We commend the work that you - North Macedonia - did as the Chairperson in Office [of the OSCE] in these difficult times. You did well and you deserve thanks for that.

I welcome the proposal that Malta will be the [OSCE] Chairman in Office for 2024 and I am looking forward to the adoption of this decision by the Ministerial Council during this meeting here in Skopje.

You know that the European Union stands with Ukraine because Ukraine's fight is not only to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, its fight is also for the peace and the stability in Europe. When I am saying stability and peace in Europe, I am including the Western Balkans.

And on this note, I want to appreciate the positions of North Macedonia: your impeccable, full alignment with the European Union's foreign policy and your continued reform efforts on the European path of your country. And in particular you, Prime Minister, personally. Your engagement, your strong engagement in order to bring North Macedonia into the European Union, your reform efforts is something that we value a lot in Brussels.

As you said, the screening process will soon be over. I have to commend your civil servants - not only you personally, but the whole administration of North Macedonia, a lot of people. The civil servants who are doing a hard work in order to make this process possible.

This is the investment in the future of your country. You are working not for your particular political party, but for the country. Going into the European path is something that should be above the inter-party competition. It should be considered as a national endeavour, and all of them should be pushing for that. It is something that the country needs.

And in order to progress in the accession negotiations, it will be crucial to build cooperation, to avoid political divide - at least on the European Union matters. I understand that you may disagree on many things, that is what democracy is about - presenting to the citizens different proposals - but it should not be a political divide on the European Union matters.

If you want to go into the European Union path, you have to complete the process of adopting the constitutional amendments and to advance in key reforms. These are in the interest of all citizens of this country. It is not something that benefits one political party in particular. It benefits the whole people. It benefits North Macedonia as a country.

I hope that last week's adoption of new parliamentarian rules of procedure, with a full cross-party support as I understand - everybody was on board - is a good precedent. And I hope that it will be followed by further positive steps for the life of this Parliament and on the basis of the new rulebook in the next Parliament, after the elections - whenever they take place.

Allow me finally to remind you and North Macedonia that recently the European Commission, that I have the honour to vice-chair, proposed a new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. I hope that North Macedonia will seize this substantial opportunity that this Plan offers to boost economic growth, to boost jobs and improve living standards through the access to parts of the European Single Market.

Even before joining the European Union, you have the opportunity of joining, having access to important parts of the European Single Market, which will be one of the most important economic advantages of being an [EU] Member. So, even before being a Member, you can access parts of these advantages. This is an occasion that you should seize.

For that, you have our full support. You have our full support, and we will remain on your side - I mean on the side of the Macedonian government - to accompany you as you move forward towards the final goal, with is the European Union Membership.

North Macedonia belongs in the European community, which is a community of values. Not only a community of interests, it is a community of values. I am in charge of representing both the values and the interests of the European Union in the world. From my strong understanding and my strong conviction that North Macedonia belongs in the European Union, I can only encourage you to continue the work that you are doing, in order to get full membership and in the meantime, the advantages of this Growth Plan.

Thank you.

Link to the video (starting as of 9:40): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-249958

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Tsahkna in Brussels: we are ready to repel Russia's possible hybrid attack

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29.11.2023

Today, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended a meeting of Nordic and Baltic foreign ministers (NB8) in Brussels, held on the sidelines of the NATO ministerial meeting, addressing Russia's hybrid attack on Finland's border.

"What is happening on Finland's border is nothing less than a blatant hybrid attack conducted by Russia, aimed at sowing anxiety and instability and attempting to pressure us by weaponising people," Tsahkna said. "It is yet more proof that Russia is not fighting only in Ukraine; instead it poses a threat to other countries with its hybrid attacks."

Tsahkna underlined that Estonia was prepared to close its border with Russia and defend itself against any hybrid attacks. The ministers of Estonia and other countries expressed solidarity with Finland and said they were prepared to help Finland if necessary.

The first meeting of foreign ministers in the NATO-Ukraine Council was also held in Brussels today, with Allies discussing political, military and economic support to Ukraine ahead of the winter, and Ukraine's NATO accession process.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna recognised Ukraine's resistance and resolve in fighting Russia's aggression. "Ukraine is a country hardened in war and it would be a valuable Ally in NATO," he said.

"I am glad that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba presented Ukraine's new reform plan today," Tsahkna said. Reforms will help reinforce the state of Ukraine.

In Brussels, the minister also had a bilateral meeting with his Icelandic counterpart Bjarni Benediktsson to discuss further opportunities for cooperation in rebuilding Ukraine in the similar way Iceland contributed to the construction of Estonia's kindergarten in Ovruch.

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EU allocates emergency humanitarian aid for floods in Horn of Africa

European Commission

Press release

29 November 2023

Brussels

The Commission has mobilised additional humanitarian aid funding of 3.5 million for those affected by devastating floods in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

In Somalia, 2 million will support the provision of emergency aid to the people most affected by the current floods, especially along the Juba River basin. This additional funding comes on top of the 5.5 million recently allocated to the country in humanitarian assistance to those most affected by the El Nino-related floods and conflict- forced displacement. The EU is also launching a helicopter deployment for hard-to-reach areas in Somalia via the European Humanitarian Response Capacity. This deployment is expected to be launched in December 2023 and last for two months.

In Ethiopia, 1 million will support humanitarian partners already present in the flood-affected areas. The support will be mainly through multi-purpose cash transfers and the distribution of shelter and essential items, including for water purification and treatment. This funding is in addition to the immediate assistance already being provided on the ground in the Somali, Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Regions (SNNPR) with 2.3 million through the EU's Emergency Response Mechanism, already engaged in preparedness actions before the floods hit. This brings total EU funding in response to the recent and ongoing floods in the country to 3.3 million.

In Kenya, for which 500,000 is allocated, heavy rainfall and landslides have particularly affected areas previously hit by a severe drought, i.e. the northeast part of the country. Kenya has also had a recent cholera outbreak. In addition to this funding, 200,000 have been allocated to the Kenya Red Cross Society to support its response to the El Nino-aggravated ongoing floods.

Quote(s)

The Horn of Africa continues to be severely affected by extreme weather events. The devastation we see across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia is a stark reminder of the very real consequences of climate change on the most vulnerable people. Our emergency humanitarian aid will support partners delivering life-saving supplies and services, including water and sanitation, a sector of crucial importance to stem the spread of water-borne diseases. At the same time, as flooding has destroyed infrastructure, rendering many areas - especially in Somalia - inaccessible, we will finance the operations of a helicopter to deliver this life-saving aid in otherwise hard-to-reach areas. Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management - 28/11/2023

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Chinese FM reiterates China's stance on Palestine-Israel issue before chairing UN high-level meeting

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Nov 29, 2023 10:33 PM Updated: Nov 29, 2023 10:50 PM

China's top diplomat Wang Yi reiterated the country's stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, before chairing a UN Security Council high-level meeting on the issue. Wang stressed that China stands firmly on the side of peace, and called for a complete cease-fire, as well as the implementation of a two-state solution as soon as possible.

Chinese observers said Wang's propositions, as well as China's chairing of the high-level meeting, come at a key juncture as Palestine and Israel are in temporary truce. These moves highlight the most pressing issues and lay the foundation for the future solution of the Palestine issue. Experts hailed Wang's attendance at the meeting, as it shows that China has great sincerity to seek solution for the crisis.

However, even if Israel and Hamas agree to extend the truce for two more days, experts believe that the possibility of it becoming a long-term cease-fire is slim. As the crisis drags on, the US is sending signals to international community that there are divergences between US itself and Israel, in the hope that it will save itself from the current diplomatic pothole trying to continue pull over Arabic countries, so to contend against China's influence, said experts.

On the Palestine-Israel conflict, China stands firmly on the side of peace, human conscience and international law, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in a meeting with Guterres in New York.

China supports the UN and the secretary-general in playing their unique and irreplaceable role in resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict, Wang said, noting that China's position is clear.

First, there should be no reignition of the war, he said. A complete cease-fire should be achieved to avoid greater humanitarian disasters, and the hostages should be released.

Second, unhindered access of humanitarian supplies to Gaza needs to be ensured, Wang said. And third, the two-state solution should be restarted at an early date.

Wang made the remarks before chairing a UN Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, which is scheduled for Wednesday.

Wang also told Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir on Tuesday that the UN's high-level meeting is held at a crucial juncture as it coincides with the last day of the temporary cease-fire agreement. We must not allow the resumption of hostilities and the infliction of further harm on innocent civilians. The conference should release a clear message regarding this matter.

Concerns remain

Wang's propositions emphasize the most urgent issues at the current stage which is a complete cease-fire and the importance of humanitarian assistance; it also lays a foundation for a permanent solution to the crisis, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Liu noted that the high-level meeting, held during the temporary truce, may bring both sides one step closer to a complete cease-fire.

Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days on Monday, raising the prospect of further exchanges of militant-held hostages, according to a report from the Associated Press.

According to a UN Security Council report published on Tuesday, the State Council members are likely to welcome the pause in fighting and call for increased humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza during the high-level meeting. Some members may call on Israel to open its border crossings into Gaza to facilitate scaled-up humanitarian deliveries.

However, experts believe such meeting may fail to reach concrete result in reaching a complete cease-fire agreement due to Israel's unwillingness to call a halt to its military actions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that Israeli Defense Forces will eventually restart military operations after the conclusion of the current, temporary cease-fire. Netanyahu visited his country's troops in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, three days into the pause in fighting, and vowed that "we are continuing until the end - until victory," The New York Times reported.

"Nothing will stop us," he said in a video statement in which he wore protective gear and was surrounded by Israeli soldiers.

Tian Wenlin, a research fellow at the Beijing-based China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Israel's intensity in pounding Gaza Strip after the cease-fire will be weaker than before, as previous military operations included important targets and it will come under mounting international pressure if more civilians are killed during future military activities.

Liu pointed out that resolving the issue of how the Gaza Strip moves forward will be a key point of argument after the conflict stops. "After the conflict dies down, international community will double down its efforts to push for implementation of the two-state solution, as the conflict has highlighted the urgency of this issue. However, who is going to lead the plan and on what basis should a solution be pushed remains to be determined by international community."

Growing divergencies between Israel and US

Netanyahu reportedly met with at least 10 backbenchers in his Likud party over the past week, during which he said: "I am the only one who will prevent a Palestinian state in Gaza and [the West Bank] after the war," The Times of Israel reported on Monday.

The stance clashes directly with the policy of the Joe Biden administration, which has sought to revive talk of a two-state solution in order to maintain the support of the Arab world.

As a signal that US is shifting away from President Biden's full-throated support at the outset for the campaign to oust Hamas, the US is pushing to have Israel fight a more targeted war, which is the focus of intensive consultations between Biden and Netanyahu on how to handle the conflict, the Wall Street Journal reported, noting that it is a result that Washington has worked with Arab allies to prevent from broadening beyond Gaza.

Tian said that it is a sign that Biden has bowed to increasing international and domestic pressure over its full-throated support for Israel. "The US' international image has been further tarnished by such support which also sowed discord among the US government,' said Tian.

US media reported that more than 500 political appointees and staff members representing some 40 government agencies sent a letter to Biden last week protesting his support of Israel in its war in Gaza.

Biden's posture on Israel has put it in opposition to the Arab world, which it badly needs to win over in order to contend against China and widen its international influence, said Tian. He explained that as the conflict between Israel and Palestine drags on, Washington's hope will vanish, thus Biden is sending a signal to the international community that there are divergencies between Israel and the US. He is betting on the gesture to get the US out of a diplomatic pothole, Tian said.

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Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari November 29th, 20:15

IDF Press Release

Press Briefing

29.11.23

IDF

Good evening.

A short while ago, Irena and Yelena returned to Israel. At the moment, they are going through a primary medical check, after which they will be transferred to the hospital, where they will meet with their families.

This evening, we continue to carry out the framework for returning the hostages, as agreed. Dear families, it's hard to assume the stress and uncertainty you are in. Our hearts are with you. We will update you, and then the public, with any information we hold, in every stage, tonight and in days to come.

Hamas still holds 159 hostages that were abducted on the 7th of October. As we explained along the way, this number is being constantly updated, it is based on intelligence, on the number of missing persons, which is also being updated, in accordance with the information and tests available to us. We inform the families, and now I also inform and update the public through the press.

Please avoid spreading rumors and unverified information. Stick with the reports from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit and official bodies in the State of Israel.

We examine the credibility of every information Hamas publishes, even this evening, today, regarding the Bibas family, and are in regular contact with the family.

The responsibility for the safety of all hostages in the Gaza Strip lays solely on the terror organization Hamas. Hamas endangers the hostages, including children and women, they must be brought home. We act on all operational and intelligence means, in order to bring all the hostages home.

The IDF troops are prepared along the operational pause lines in Gaza. Today, the troops killed three terrorists that violated the conditions of the operational pause, and posed a threat to our forces. Yesterday I reported an additional violation. During the night, we investigated the incident with forces against whom the pause was violated, and understood that our forces operated against the terrorists that threw explosive charges towards them. That is why I report the killing of the terrorists today and yesterday, and the IDF's responses. The IDF troops operate with determination, and will continue to do so, against every danger to our forces.

In a joint operation of the IDF, ISA and the Border Police in Jenin, the Yamam (Israel's Counter Terrorist Unit) fighters killed Muhammad Zbueidy, a high ranked terrorist of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in the camp. The IDF, along with the security bodies, are prepared and operating in all districts. The safety of our civilians and forces is top priority. We will operate against any threat. The IDF continues to fight and to execute the goals of the war in Gaza.

The Chief of the General Staff held a situation assessment in the Southern Command today, and updated the operational plans and preparedness for the continuation of the war.

The IDF is ready today for the continuation of the war.

I ask you, the public, to continue to follow the Home Front Command instructions, especially during these times, with no sirens heard in the past few days. I urge you to keep following the instructions. Remember this could change in a minute, these instructions save lives, we must not become complacent.

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6th phase of prisoner exchange kicks off as part of Gaza truce deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 29, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The sixth phase of a prisoner exchange between the Israeli regime and Palestine's Hamas Resistance Movement has got underway as part of an extended truce that paused seven weeks of relentless airstrikes by the regime on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, handed over the sixth group of captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday night, in exchange for 30 Palestinian women and children who had been held in Israeli jails, Palestinian media reported.

Israeli media meantime reported that the sixth group of the captives handed over to the ICRC is made up of five children and seven women, without specifying their nationalities. But earlier on Wednesday, Hamas announced that it would release several Russian captives.

The latest phase of the prisoner exchange takes place on the last day of the Gaza truce that took effect on November 24. The temporary ceasefire was originally agreed for four days and was later extended for two additional days.

Hamas, which captured some 240 hostages during its October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, has announced its readiness to extend the truce deal again.

The truce paused 48 days of war on Gaza that took the lives of more than 10,500 people, mostly women and children. It also allowed aid into Gaza to ease a humanitarian crisis caused by a total Israeli blockade and intense airstrikes on the coastal territory.

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Israeli shipping company changes routes of vessels amid Yemen retaliation over Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 29, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Israel's cargo shipping company, ZIM, has announced plans to change the maritime routes of its vessels amid threats by Yemeni armed forces to target Israeli-linked ships in response to the regime's crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.

The regime's major shipping company has decided to change routes of its vessels in the Red Sea as well as the Sea of Oman over what has been described as a change in conditions in both seas, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) said on Wednesday.

Israeli media earlier reported that the regime's vessels had been forced to take longer maritime routes and take a long way around Africa, which have cost them higher expenditures as they have to pay extra money to insurance companies.

In recent weeks, Yemeni armed forces have launched several attacks on Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea over the regime's brutalities against Palestinians during its ongoing war on Gaza.

The Yemeni armed forces had already warned of those attacks and have on various occasions announced that they would continue to target Israeli-linked vessels unless the regime stops its bloodshed in Gaza.

The forces have also launched several missile and drone attacks on Israeli positions in retaliation for the regime's crimes.

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Ansarallah says fate of seized Israeli ship depends on Palestinian resistance options

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 29, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Spokesman for Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement Mohammad Abdul-Salam has said that the fate of the seized Israeli ship in the Red Sea depends on the options of the Palestinian resistance.

Mohammad Abdul-Salam made the remarks on Wednesday over the seized Israeli ship in the Red Sea by Yemen's Ansarullah movement and noted that Yemen emphasizes securing maritime and water crossings.

He added that the recent naval operations carried out by Yemen's armed forces are limited to Israeli vessels.

He underlined that the seizure of the Israeli ship and the detention of its crew happened in solidarity with the Palestinian people and in support of their brave resistance in Gaza.

Yemen's armed forces seized a Zionist ship in the southern Red Sea last week in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and condemning the continuation of Zionist crimes in the Gaza Strip.

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Hamas discovers identity of scores of Israeli spies during al-Aqsa operation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 29, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- The representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement in Tehran has announced that during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the Palestinian resistance movements succeeded in seizing Israeli intelligence servers that saved many names of spies for the regime such as infiltrators in the Gaza Strip and even Iran.

Nasser Abu Sharif said on Wednesday that the achievements of the Palestinian operation are beyond imagination because it was not anticipated that all intelligence agencies in the world could be insensible when 50 Israeli security bases were seized by the Palestinian resistance and many Israeli troops were killed.

Over the course of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, Palestinian resistance fighters succeeded in bringing Israeli intelligence servers into the Gaza Strip; so, they could reach the names of numerous spies, even the ones who were active inside Iran, the Palestinian envoy said.

Abu Sharif described the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm as a devastating blow to the Israeli regime's economic, industrial, and agricultural sectors, reminding that the regime has lost its popularity in the Western world and that Western leaders acknowledge in private meetings that the Tel Aviv regime has turned into a political and economic burden for their governments.

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Supreme Leader: Israeli regime's crimes in Gaza damaged West's reputation for good

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Nov 29, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei referred to the effects of the Al-Aqsa storm operation, saying that the Zionist regime's brutal action against the people of Gaza damaged the reputation of the civilization and culture of the West.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with thousands of members of Iran's paramilitary Basij force.

The historic Al-Aqsa Storm Operation is against the Zionist regime, but it is at the same time an act of de-Americanization, he said adding that the operation managed to disturb the table of American policies in the region.

The barbaric and ruthless action of the Zionist regime against the people of Gaza not only tarnished the regime's reputation but that of the US, he added.

It also tarnished the reputation of European countries, and the Western civilization and culture, he noted.

Western culture and civilization are the same civilization that martyrs five thousand children with the phosphorous bomb, the Supreme Leader said.

The Al-Aqsa storm is inextinguishable, and God willing, the current situation will not continue, he stated.

Referring to Iran's policy on the Palestinian issue, he said that some people in the world who talk about the Islamic Republic's views on the region are lying that Iran says that the Jews and Zionists should be thrown into the sea. Some Arabs used to say this, but Iran never said so. Iran does not throw anyone into the sea.

We believe in the Palestinian people's opinion; the government formed by the votes of the Palestinian people will make decisions about the people who live there, he said, adding that it may let all the people who came from other countries stay in Palestine.

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Iran calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 29 November 2023 / 10:53

Iran mission to UN makes Statement Before the General Assembly Plenary Meeting about Palestine and called for permanent ceasefire in Gaza and entering humanitarian aids to the strip.

Tehran (ISNA) - "Amir Saeid Iravani" Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Islamic Republic of Iran to United Nations said: Our meetings today indeed represent the long-standing support of the international community for the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. It is my delegation's pleasure to commend the Committee for providing us with updates on the Palestinian Question, as illustrated by the second chapter of its report. I also wish to express my delegation's gratitude to the Vice-Chair and Rapporteur of the Committee, for providing an in-depth briefing.

Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a violent act of aggression carried out by the Israeli armed forces in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of more than fifteen thousand Palestinian civilians. Based on the report presented in this room, the current situation on the ground is a direct result of continued Israeli occupation, which is the core of crises and conflicts in the Middle East.

The second chapter of the report of the Committee shows that the number of Palestinian casualties rose rapidly in the first half of 2023, the highest number of casualties recorded since 2006. The report indicates that Israeli settlers, who are supposed to act like regular civilians, targeted Palestinians, including children on their way to school, and attacked and vandalized Palestinian homes and vehicles. International law unequivocally asserts that those among armed settlers, who directly take part in hostilities with the backing of military forces cannot be afforded the status of civilians protected by humanitarian law.

My delegation firmly maintains that any desperate attempt to cover up and justify crimes against Palestinians under the guise of self-defence, while disregarding the inherent rights of Palestinians, particularly their right to self-defense, is devoid of legal basis and credibility. However, the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructures is expressly prohibited under international law and it therefore should not be supported under any circumstances, it is imperative to underscore that if any party is justified in exercising the right to self-defence, it should rightfully be the Palestinians. Their plight has been rooted in the historical occupation and atrocities perpetrated by Israeli forces long before the formation of their resistance as a response to the oppressive Israeli regime.

It is our request that all Member States take these findings into consideration before any acceptance of the excuse of self-defence made up by the aggressors. We also request you, in condemning the act of taking hostages, note this part of the report as well, which says "Palestinian detainees imprisoned without trial or charge reached its highest level since 2008" and OHCHR reported that 5000 Palestinians, including 160 children and 1100 prisoners without charge or trial were being held in Israeli prisons. Only in the course of the last 50 days, more than 3200 Palestinians have been arrested by Israel.

It is an inalienable right for Palestinians, inter alia, to seek full accountability of the Israeli regime and its officials for their crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. We believe that these crimes fundamentally call into question the 1949 judgement of the UN Security Council concerning the peace-loving nature of Israel. It raises doubts about the ability and willingness of this regime to fulfill the obligations outlined in the UN Charter.

Furthermore, those barbaric crimes must be addressed by the international community in a decisive manner and Palestinians must be protected internationally.

This is high time for the General Assembly to revive its Resolution 3379 adopted in 1975 determined "Zionism" as a form of racism and racial discrimination. In order to address the situation, the occupying regime should no longer be allowed to commit all its crimes while enjoying total impunity. It must comply with all its obligations.

The blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has turned it into the world's largest prison, should be permanently lifted. The occupation of all occupied territories must come to an end, and the Palestinians should be supported in establishing their own independent state, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. In this regard, priority must be given to the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations and the General Assembly.

In our view, as long as that problem is not addressed and the Palestinian people are not allowed to fully exercise their right to self-determination, any hope for durable peace and stability in the region will be nothing but a futile wish.

To conclude, Mr. President, once again my delegation reiterates its principal position that the most effective and durable path to peace in Palestine is the holding of a referendum among all residents of Palestine, Jews, Christians and Muslims, including displaced Palestinians and refugees.

Based on the history of conflict and instability in the Middle East over the past seven decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that durable peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation, restoring Palestinians' inalienable right to self-determination, returning refugees to their homelands, and establishing a Palestinian State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

We believe that the most important and urgent priority is to extend of humanitarian pause in Gaza and turn it into a durable ceasefire and rapid and extensive transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Since the General Assembly will consider the adoption of a draft resolution entitled "Syrian Golan" under item 34, I wish to reiterate that the Islamic Republic of Iran is supportive of the resolution and will vote in favor of the resolution, meanwhile would like to register its observation regarding the provisions of the text that may be construed as the recognition of Israel.

End Item

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Jenin Brigade confronts Israeli army, targets military vehicles

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 29 November 2023 / 10:45

The resistance confronts the occupation's raid into the city of Jenin and its camp in the West Bank, declaring the defeat of the Israeli forces following armed confrontations and the deployment of bullets and explosive devices against them.

Tehran (ISNA) -The Jenin Brigade confronted the occupation forces as they stormed the city, its camp, and its vicinity, marking the largest operation since the launch of Operation of Al-Aqsa Storm.

Following the storming operation and the response from the resistance fighters, the Israeli military declared Jenin a "militarily closed area".

On their part, the Al-Qassam Brigades and the resistance forces in Jenin declared their confrontation with the occupation forces, engaging in armed confrontations with the occupation forces, raining bullets and explosive devices on them.

Meanwhile, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades confirmed that its resistance fighters will continue to target the occupation forces storming Jenin and its camp until the siege is broken.

The Brigades also declared that their fighters had targeted the gate of the "Yitzhar" settlement, south of Nablus, with heavy gunfire and safely retreated.

The resistance fighters also impeded the advance of the occupation forces toward the vicinity of Jenin Governmental Hospital.

Two children and a young man were injured by live bullets, and seven young men were arrested on Tuesday evening during an attempt to storm and raid several neighborhoods amid the outbreak of confrontations with Palestinians.

Palestinian websites reported that resistance fighters targeted occupation vehicles in the Jenin camp with high-explosive devices.

End Item

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Statement by the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Foreign Ministers

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

issued following its meeting held in Brussels on 29th November 2023

29 Nov. 2023

The NATO Invitee associates itself with this Statement.

The NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) met today for the first time at the level of Foreign Ministers, as Russia continues its brutal war of aggression, to act together to further deepen the NATO-Ukraine relationship. Allies remain steadfast in their commitment to further step up political and practical support to Ukraine as it continues to defend its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and will continue their support for as long as it takes. A strong, independent Ukraine is vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area.

Ministers took stock of the implementation of the expanded package of political and practical support to Ukraine agreed at the Vilnius Summit. Ministers endorsed the NUC substructure and an ambitious work programme for 2024. In this context, NATO and Ukraine are already working and taking decisions together, as equals, on a broad range of issues, including interoperability, energy security, innovation, cyber defence, and resilience. We will further develop these work strands. The NUC has also proven to be a reliable crisis consultation mechanism. NATO continues to provide Ukraine with urgently needed non-lethal assistance. Together we are transforming the Comprehensive Assistance Package into a multi-year programme to help rebuild the Ukrainian security and defence sector and to support Ukraine's deterrence and defence in the long term. As part of these efforts, we are developing a roadmap for Ukraine's transition to full interoperability with NATO. We are also developing new projects on humanitarian demining, medical rehabilitation for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, and Ukraine's defence industrial capacity on the basis of the strategic defence procurement review.

Ukraine reaffirmed its commitment to continued democratic and security sector reforms. Allies have provided Ukraine with recommendations for priority reforms. The NATO-Ukraine Council welcomes Ukraine's presentation of its adapted Annual National Programme for 2024 and looks forward to its implementation. NATO Foreign Ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Programme. The Alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path towards future membership in NATO.

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Five Allies deploy jets to NATO's eastern flank for air policing

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

29 Nov. 2023

Fighter jets from Belgium, France, Germany, Poland and Turkiye will take up NATO air policing duties on the Alliance's eastern flank starting in December. The long-scheduled deployments demonstrate NATO Allies' commitment to support each other and strengthen the Alliance's collective defence.

"I welcome our Allies' deployment of additional fighter jets to NATO's air policing missions," said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. "These deployments are a demonstration of capability and resolve to protect our people and territories. In the wake of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, this is more important than ever. NATO air forces remain ready to respond to any threat from any direction."

In the Black Sea region, four German Eurofighters will work alongside the Romanian Air Force as well as four Turkish F-16s to guard the skies over Romania. They are supported by a French "MAMBA" surface-based air defence system deployed at Capu Midia. In the Baltic region, four Belgian F-16s and four French Mirage 2000-5 jets will protect NATO airspace out of Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, supported by four Polish F-16s flying out of Amari Air Base in Estonia. Italy will continue its deployment of four F-35s to Malbork airbase in Poland into 2024.

In response to Russia's full-fledged war against Ukraine, NATO has substantially reinforced its air defences in the eastern part of the Alliance, including with more fighter jets, surveillance flights and ground-based air defences. Russian jets often approach NATO airspace without using transponders, communicating with air traffic control or having filed filing a flight plan. Each year, NATO jets intercept, on average, several hundred Russian military jets near Allied airspace.

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A look at the Defence news 20-26 November

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 29-11-2023

Over 30,000 Ukrainian military personnel trained by EUMAM

According to the outgoing Netherlands Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, and the Netherlands Chief of Defence, Onno Eichelsheim, the European training mission EUMAM is one of the main pillars of the EU support to Ukraine. The Minister and the Chief of Defence were in Germany to visit one of the training locations. The aim was to train 15,000 military personnel on European soil, a number that has more than doubled. Over 30,000 Ukrainians have already been trained through the various programmes.

American helicopter brigade heading home via the Netherlands

Last week, people in the southern Netherlands could spot large numbers of American helicopters. The 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade returned to the United States via the Netherlands with about 85 aircraft. This also involved vehicles and other materiel: 1,400 items in total, that were transported on low-bed trucks from Romania, Lithuania, Germany and Poland to Vlissingen in the Dutch province of Zeeland.

General Eichelsheim: "Your work contributes to stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina"

The Netherlands Chief of Defence, General Onno Eichelsheim, paid a visit to the Dutch troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Dutch marines and other military personnel are conducting operations for the EUFOR mission Althea. Together with colleagues from 20 other countries, the military personnel help in maintaining peace and order.

No plans to change current and planned Dutch involvement in Iraq

For now, the Dutch government does not see any reason to change the current or planned Dutch military contribution to Iraq. Since the beginning of last month, the security situation in many countries in the Middle East has been tense. Threats are directed against the United States in particular, but the threat level against the Western military presence in general has also increased.

Remains in British bomber from missing crew members

Laboratory research in Soesterberg has shown that the human remains found in the wreckage of the British Lancaster ED603 are from the three missing crew members, Arthur Smart, Charles Sprack and Edward Moore. This means that the fate of the missing crew members is now clear to the Royal Netherlands Army Recovery and Identification Service.

Forensic and investigative team back home after investigation of alleged war crimes in Ukraine

The forensic and investigative team has returned from Ukraine. The 40-strong group included specialists from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. Over the past six weeks, the team investigated possible war crimes. This was the fourth such investigation since May 2022, all at Ukraine's request.

The Netherlands seeks to join international organisation OCCAR

The Netherlands wants to become a member of the international organisation for cooperation in managing defence equipment projects, OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matiere d'Armement). Netherlands Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongren, sent the House of Representatives an update on this subject last week.

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U.S. military aircraft with 8 aboard crashes off SW Japanese island

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 15:23, November 29, 2023

TOKYO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. Osprey military transport aircraft carrying eight people crashed off Japan's southwestern island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday, local media reported.

The Japan Coast Guard received an emergency call about the crash at around 2:47 p.m. local time (0547 GMT) after the Osprey departed from the Iwakuni U.S. base in the Yamaguchi Prefecture heading for the Kadena base in Okinawa, public broadcaster NHK said, citing local authorities.

The aircraft disappeared from radar at 2:40 p.m. local time, according to the defense ministry.

Japanese coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said the coast guard has dispatched patrol boats and aircraft to the site for search and rescue operations but it had no further details of the crash, including the safety of those onboard.

Weather officials said the skies over the Yakushima area were mostly clear during the day, and the wind speed at 2:30 p.m. local time was 6.84 km per hour. No advisories or warnings were issued at the time.

The tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which can fly both like a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, has a track record of accidents and mishaps both in Japan and abroad.

In August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia, killing three crew members. Another crash-landed in the ocean off Japan's southern island of Okinawa in December 2016.

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Aqsa Storm laid bare inefficiency of Israeli military systems, erosion of its army capabilities: Iran cmdr.

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 6:31 PM

A high-ranking Iranian military commander says Operation al-Aqsa Storm launched by Gaza-based resistance factions against Israel laid bare the inefficiency of the occupying regime's military systems, and the erosion of its armed forces' capabilities.

Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy chief of the Iranian Army for Coordination, made the remarks at a ceremony in the capital Tehran on Wednesday.

"The inefficiency of the Zionist regime's technologies in various dimensions was laid bare throughout Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, signifying the erosion of [the capabilities of] the usurping regime's military," he said.

The senior Iranian commander stated that the surprise and large-scale operation exposed the overt and covert aspects of the military cooperation between Israel and its allies, stressing that the historic offensive shattered the Tel Aviv regime's so-called myth of invincibility.

Sayyari went on to describe the revival of the Palestinian issue as among the major achievements of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.

"This operation and the ensuing shock attested to the fact that the Zionist regime doesn't enjoy the most powerful army in the [West Asia] region. The entire world also witnessed how it (Israeli army) suffered in the face of [Lebanese] Hezbollah resistance fighters," he pointed out.

Sayyari highlighted that the Gaza war forced Israel, which once fiercely opposed any negotiations with Hamas, to engage in talks through mediators with the Palestinian group, which serves as one of the main components of the Axis of Resistance, and seek out a ceasefire.

Operation Al-Aqsa Storm also got fighters from the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement involved, he said, stressing that the world public opinion is now supporting Palestinians and various nations are making up their mind about Muslims and the Palestinian issue.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

A four-day truce took effect on Friday to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza after seven weeks of unrelenting bombardment. The regime and Hamas agreed to extend it for two more days on Monday.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, so far over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, most of them women and children.

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UN food agency warns Gaza at risk of famine after weeks-long Israeli bombardment

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 4:51 PM

The UN World Food Program (WFP) has warned of the possibility of a famine in the Israeli-bombarded Gaza Strip, stressing that supplies are woefully insufficient to address the hunger levels observed by WFP staff in the UN shelters and communities.

The UN food agency said in a recent statement it delivered desperately needed food to more than 120,000 people in the besieged Palestinian enclave during the initial pause.

"It is highly likely that the population of Gaza, especially women and children are at high risk of famine if WFP is not able to provide continued access to food," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Corinne Fleischer, the WFP's director for the MENA and Eastern Europe Region said that "six days was simply not enough to provide all the assistance needed."

"Thanks to the pause, our teams have been in action on the ground, going into areas we haven't reached for a long time. What we see is catastrophic," she added.

Samer Abdeljaber, the WFP representative and country director in Palestine, said that the program's teams witnessed "hunger, despair, and destruction" among people who have not received any relief for weeks.

The uninterrupted and secure delivery of humanitarian aid must continue now without obstacles, he added.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend an initial four-day humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas for an additional two days.

After weeks of very limited humanitarian aid deliveries through the Rafah border, WFP joined on Nov. 26 an inter-agency convoy that delivered 7.6 metric tons of food assistance to around 23,616 people in al-Ahli hospital and surrounding hard-to-reach areas.

Since Nov. 24, WFP has reached 121,161 people in UN shelters and host communities with food, including bread, food parcels, and e-vouchers.

During the pause in fighting, the convoy also conducted wider-reaching assessments to inform its response, expanded logistics capacities by setting up storage units and safely transported food items across Gaza.

WFP has reiterated that a six-day-long pause was not enough to make any meaningful impact. Operations on the ground need uninterrupted and regular supplies of adequate quantities of food and other essential commodities into Gaza, the food agency said.

Intense negotiations are underway to secure a second extension of a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli regime. The current truce is due to expire in a matter of hours.

Both sides are reportedly keen on extending the pause which includes a prisoner swap and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.

Five rounds of prisoner exchange have seen the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and 60 captives held by Hamas.

The sixth batch of prisoners is set to be freed later today. Palestinian resistance groups still hold about 160 Israelis captured during the Operation al-Aqsa Flood on October 7. The current truce initially went into effect for four days on Friday and was later extended for 48 hours.

According to Gaza government health officials, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,000 children, were killed by Israeli aggression during the 49 days of war. Many more are feared to be buried under the rubble.

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Palestinian FM pleads for international protection, says nation faces 'existential threat'

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 4:36 PM

The Palestinian foreign minister has pleaded with the world to provide international protection to the Palestinian people, who "are faced with an existential threat."

Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza, Riyad al-Maliki said Israel does not seek security but wants to eliminate any chance for the creation of a Palestinian state.

"If it was, it would choose peace," he said, adding that Israel, and this Israeli cabinet specifically considers that the strategic threat it is confronted with is Palestinian statehood.

"Our people are faced with an existential threat. Make no mistake about it. With all the talk about the destruction of Israel, it is Palestine that is facing a plan to destroy it, implemented in broad daylight," the UN website quoted him as saying.

The protection of Palestinians cannot be ensured by the occupying forces who are complicit in these crimes, he said.

"We need international protection and international action to end impunity so as to prevent the recurrence of these crimes that occur daily and in broad daylight," he said. "What our people are enduring now is the result of the international community's failure to provide such protection and accountability."

He said the world must also put an end to the impunity of the Israeli regime and prosecute it over its war crimes.

Maliki said Israel is trying to intimidate those criticizing it and defending the rule of international law across the globe, including governments that consider themselves allies of Israel, the UN secretary general and UN agencies, human rights, and humanitarian organizations.

'Massacres cannot be allowed to resume'

He touched on the ongoing Gaza truce, saying it must become a permanent ceasefire to put an end to Israeli atrocities.

"The truce must become a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire. The massacres cannot be allowed to resume," Maliki told the council.

"This is not a war," he said. "This is a carnage that no one can justify. It must be brought to an end."

"Over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel. Over 10,000 of them are women and children. They have been killed by Israel. They did not lose their life; it was taken away. No one is safe in Gaza, not the children, not the doctors, not the humanitarian personnel, not the journalists, not the UN staff. They were killed at an unprecedented pace in modern history," he said.

"Gaza has a very special place in our national history," he said. "Its name today is how many people spell Palestine around the world. It cannot be erased. Our people cannot be uprooted from it. Its Palestinianness cannot be altered. There is no Palestine without Gaza. Gaza bleeds, Gaza suffers, Gaza aches, but Gaza lives. And Palestine lives. Free Palestine. That is the only path to peace."

He said the siege on Gaza must also be ended and the people of the coastal strip must be allowed to return to their homes.

West showing double standards: Russia

Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, stated that the conflict has become one of the most lethal regional conflicts in recent decades.

He questioned the "blatant double standards" of Western delegations vis-a-vis the Palestinian people.

"How many times have Western delegations requested Security Council meetings on Ukraine? The answer is at least twice a month," he said, adding, "How many times have these delegations requested Security Council meetings on the Middle East? Zero."

"Why are you being so timid, or is it that the fate of the Palestinian population is much less interesting for you from a domestic political perspective in your capitals?" he charged.

The Russian ambassador went on note that it is also time to think about the days after the end of the war.

"There are many questions about the ways to rebuild Gaza and in general the future long-term solution to the Palestinian question," he said, adding that "without a solution to that, it will not be possible to ensure a truly sustainable security situation for Israel."

Moreover, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the meeting that resumed fighting will most likely turn into a "calamity that encompasses the whole region," expressing hope that the pause will be the beginning of a negotiated ceasefire.

Civilians must be protected with more robust actions, and the UN must play a greater role in humanitarian efforts in Gaza, he said.

The Security Council should shoulder its responsibility and heed the calls to take further action promptly, he said, adding that China has submitted a paper on resolving the conflict.

The UAE's Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen said the current truce is "a sign of hope," and stressed that it was vital to improve aid mechanisms "in a sustained manner and at sufficient scale."

He said recent events have demonstrated the need to work to revive hope for the possibility of reaching a just, lasting, and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian issue.

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the meeting that international law should be applied "without double standards and without preferential treatment."

"The double standards applied by the international community regarding the carnages and the crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against civilians and civilian infrastructure ... [are] a stain on the conscience of humanity," he said.

He said Qatar is eager to see the Council take steps towards applying a "sustainable ceasefire," and implementing measures to guarantee the flow of "sufficient humanitarian aid and to secure the delivery thereof without any impediments."

Ayman Safadi, the Jordanian foreign minister, underscored that ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine is the only viable way to ensure peace for Palestinians, Israelis, and all others in the region.

"Those who purport to say that this conflict is a religious conflict are lying. They are trying to falsify history and reality," he said, stressing that the conflict continues because of an "unfair occupation and flagrant injustice."

He urged the Security Council to make a strong call for a ceasefire and to bring an end to the aggression.

Gaza faces 'epic' humanitarian crisis

Earlier, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the meeting that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe", urging the world not to look away.

"Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce - which we strongly welcome - but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire," he said.

The United Nations has scaled up the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza - a coastal territory of 2.3 million people - during the truce, but Guterres said the level of aid "remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs."

"The people of Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world," he said. "We must not look away."

Guterres said "nowhere is safe" in Gaza, and noted that 80 percent of its residents have been forced from their homes.

"In a matter of weeks, a far greater number of children have been killed by [the] Israeli military operations in Gaza than the total number of children killed in any year by any party to a conflict since I've been secretary-general," Guterres continues.

"It is with immense sadness and pain that I report that since the beginning of the hostilities, 111 members of our UN family have been killed in Gaza. This represents the largest loss of personnel in the history of our organization," Guterres said.

"Meanwhile, an estimated 45 percent of all homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed," Guterres said, adding that the scale of death and destruction is "characteristic of the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas."

The ongoing truce in the latest conflict between Israel and Hamas was scheduled to expire early Thursday after a six-day pause in the fighting, which has seen 60 Israeli captives and 180 Palestinian prisoners released.

The truce has brought a temporary halt to the Israeli war on Gaza, which started on October 7 after Hamas's surprise operation that caught the regime flat-footed.

Israel's air and ground campaign in Gaza has killed over 15,000 people, mostly civilians, and reduced large parts of the north of the territory to rubble.

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Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir threatens to dissolve cabinet if Gaza bombing stops

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 4:15 PM

Israel's so-called national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has threatened to dissolve the regime's incumbent administration if the devastating bombing campaign against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip stops.

"Stopping the war = dissolution of the cabinet," the 47-year-old far-right politician wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, also said on X that a ceasefire in exchange for returning all captives held in Gaza is "a plan to eliminate Israel."

The controversial comments coincided with talks on a possible new agreement for a long-term humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, a source close to the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement said the group is willing to extend the truce by an additional four days.

"Hamas has informed the mediators that it is willing to extend the truce for four days and that the movement would be able to release Israeli prisoners that it, other resistance movements, and other parties [have held] during this period, according to the terms of the existing truce," the source told AFP.

According to Gaza City mayor Yahya al-Sarraj, the extent of the damage caused by Israeli attacks is only just being discovered due to the truce.

"When we move around Gaza, we feel very angry and sad. We are discovering now how much damage has been inflicted on the infrastructure of the city - on cultural centers, libraries and main public squares," he said.

"The headquarters of the main municipality has been hit hard with two attacks, damaging three stories of one building and destroying thousands of documents of important historical value. The damage is unbelievable around the city.

"About 60 percent of housing units and apartments [have been destroyed]. Thousands of people are now homeless. They either live in schools or shelters or at their relatives' houses. These apartments are not livable at the moment. [Israeli forces] destroyed many water wells," Sarraj noted.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

A four-day truce took effect on Friday to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza after seven weeks of unrelenting bombardment. The regime and Hamas agreed to extend it for two more days on Monday.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, so far over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, most of them women and children.

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There is no way we are not going back to fighting in Gaza after end of pause: Netanyahu

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 3:47 PM

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the regime will return to the war in Gaza after the end of a six-day ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Netanyahu issued a video statement on Wednesday, saying that the Israeli regime has yet to meet the objectives it had stated at the beginning of the war in Gaza in early October.

"From the beginning of the war, I set three goals - the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our abductees, and to ensure that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel. These three goals remain in place," he said.

Netanyahu claimed his administration achieved "a very great achievement," pointing to the exchange of Palestinian prisoners with Israeli captives held by Hamas.

He said the release of captives "would have sounded imaginary" before the ceasefire with Hamas was announced last week.

"There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end. This is my policy," Netanyahu added.

The statement came just hours before the end of the extension of a ceasefire in Gaza that came into effect on Friday and was extended for two days until Wednesday.

Hamas said negotiations for a new extension were going on between the group and mediators led by Qatar.

The Israeli media said talks to renew the truce deal had not been successful. They said, however, that the Israeli officials believed that some 150 Israeli captives, including many military, police and intelligence officers, were still being held by Hamas.

Israel's full-scale military operation in Gaza that started on October 7 in response to a Hamas operation has killed more than 15,000 people in the territory.

In addition to the exchange of Israeli captives with the Palestinian prisoners, the truce deal in Gaza covers a pause in fighting and an easing of Israel's crippling blockade on the small territory to allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to the people in need.

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Hamas working to extend truce in Gaza, Israel unable to impose military solution: Top official

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 11:06 AM

A top Hamas official says the Palestinian resistance movement is engaged in intensive talks with various mediators to extend the pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, stressing that Israel cannot impose a military solution either on the conflict in the enclave or on tensions escalating across the West Bank.

"We are working with all parties, especially Qatar and Egypt, to extend the ceasefire. The West is convinced of the necessity to end Israel's war against Gaza," Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told the Arabic-language Al Araby television network on Wednesday.

"We have declared our position clearly. What we want is an end to the [Israeli] occupation and a political solution. We realize the nature of the complexities. We interact, therefore, with all parties in a calculated manner and within a defined framework," he added.

Hamad went on to note that the Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, which Gaza-based resistance factions launched against the occupying Tel Aviv regime on October 7, compelled Israeli officials and their Western allies to look for a political solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"We raised the issue of truce violations by Israeli forces with the mediators, and are putting pressure to stop them," the senior member of Hamas continued.

Hamad underscored that Hamas can play its cards right to extend the truce, stating that the Israeli military cannot impose a military solution either in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, a source close to Hamas has confirmed that the group is willing to extend the truce by an additional four days.

"Hamas has informed the mediators that it is willing to extend the truce for four days and that the movement would be able to release Israeli prisoners that it, other resistance movements, and other parties [have held] during this period, according to the terms of the existing truce," the source told AFP news agency.

This comes as Israeli gunboats shelled the coast of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday morning despite the ongoing halt in fighting.

The Israeli Walla news website also reported a further incident off the coast of Gaza's shores.

"A second shooting incident on the shores of the Gaza Strip," Walla correspondent Amir Bohbot wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Navy fighters opened fire on a Palestinian boat that was trying to go out into the open sea from the shores of Deir al-Balah. The boat returned to the shore," he added.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, were killed in Israeli strikes, during the 49 days of war. Many more dead are feared to be under the rubble.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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Pentagon says has no money for Middle East buildup, forced to reassess US operations

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 8:43 AM

The US military is lacking the funds needed for the Middle East buildup and involvement in the Israeli war on Gaza, the Pentagon has revealed, as the whole world is reacting to US participation in the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians.

Politico reported that the Pentagon has no money to pay for the US military buildup in the Middle East to back the Israeli regime after the Israeli forces launched a genocidal campaign on the people of the Gaza Strip last month.

"We're taking it out of hide," said Chris Sherwood, a Pentagon spokesman, adding that "Current events have revised some of the operational assumptions used to develop the FY 2024 President's Budget request. Specifically, neither the base budget request nor the FY 2024 supplemental request included funding for US operations related to Israel."

The buildup in the Middle East  which has included extending the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group operating off the coast of Israel  has therefore forced the military departments and US Central Command to reassess the requirements for current and future operations based on the developing conflict, he said.

The US federal government, the military included, is currently running under a stopgap bill, which temporarily keeps the government open. The stopgap, which has averted the looming government shutdown since June, freezes spending at Fiscal Year 2023 funding levels.

Given the fact that the Pentagon had not planned for the recent military buildup in the Middle East, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has had to pull money from existing operations and maintenance accounts to allocate elsewhere, the report said.

The DoD spokesperson said the Pentagon had to hunt for funds, which meant less money for training, exercises, and the deployments that the military had already planned for the year.

Sherwood said some payments owed by the US military to private military contractors and manufacturers could also be delayed.

Some "delivery of defense articles, services, and/or military education" could be paused, Sherwood said earlier in September when Pentagon was short of funds for Kiev.

The Pentagon said it was still working to figure out the extent and costs of the US support planned for Israel.

In the meantime, the Pentagon continues to splurge US taxpayers' money on its two main warring allies, Ukraine and Israel.

However, top officials have warned that pursuing the ongoing US military assignments under the current stopgap measure prevents the DoD from starting any new programs or paying for anything above the previous year's levels.

The United States is Israel's biggest military ally, providing the Israeli regime with vast and varied weapons and ammunition consignments since the initiation of its war on Palestinians. Congress has approved billions of dollars worth of military aid for the Israeli regime.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, so far over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli war, most of them women and children.

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Leader: Hamas' Al-Aqsa Storm, mainly anti-Israeli, upended US political agenda in region

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 8:15 AM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the historic Hamas' Al-Aqsa Storm was mainly against the Zionist regime, but was able to disrupt the table of American policies in the region and will hopefully erase the "agenda."

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with hundreds of members of Iran's Basij volunteer forces in Tehran on Wednesday on the occasion of the National Basij Week"

The historic event of al-Aqsa Storm is against the Zionist regime but it is aimed at de-Americanization. This incident literally managed to disrupt the table of American policies in the region, and God willing, if this Storm continues, it will wipe out the whole table," the Leader noted.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the Israeli atrocities in Gaza not only disgraced the Israeli regime but the United States, certain European countries and Western culture and civilization.

"The barbaric and cruel actions that the Zionist regime committed in its crimes against the people of Gaza, not only destroyed the reputation of the regime, but also that of the United States. It took away the reputation of several renowned European countries, and also ruined the reputation of Western culture and civilization," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"The culture and civilization of the West is the very civilization that when 5,000 children are killed with phosphorus bombs, the regime of a certain Western country says Israel is defending itself. Is this self-defense? This is Western culture, which has been discredited," he added.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said the Israeli atrocities in Gaza over the past 50 days summarize the regime's decades-long crimes against Palestinians.

"The tragedies of the last 50 days are a small part of the 75-year-long crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

"Al-Aqsa Storm will not run out of steam and they should know that the current situation will not continue."

The Leader also underlined that, "The Islamic Republic believes in a referendum in Palestine based on the Palestinian public opinion. The Islamic Republic is not of the view of throwing Zionists and Jews into the sea."

Elsewhere in his address, Ayatollah Khamenei said the United States failed to hatch it plots for the formation of a "New Middle East," adding that the so-called "two-state solution" in the Palestinian territories was part of the same hostile policy which failed miserably.

In the case of Lebanon, Americans said they are after formation of a "New Middle East." The Middle East means West Asia. They said that they want to give this region, which is called the Middle East, a new political, geographical map based on the US's illegitimate needs and interests," the Leader said.

"Of course, what they sought did not happen. On their new map, they intended to destroy Hezbollah but Hezbollah became 10 times stronger; they wanted to devour Iraq but they failed; they wanted to take over Syria and inflicted their proxies under the name of Daesh and al-Nusra on the Syrian government, and for seven, eight, ten years, they continuously supported and provided them with money and equipment, but again they failed," the Leader added.

Underlining that Western plots against the region had entirely fallen flat, the Leader said, "One of the components of this New Middle East was to finalize the Palestinian issue in favor of the usurping Israeli regime, so that nothing called Palestine would be left at all; they reneged on the issue of the treacherous 'two-state' that they had earlier approved."

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the issue of Palestine is moving towards resolution, which secures Palestinian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We presented our plan, a referendum, a Palestinian referendum," the Leader said.

"Of course, the occupiers have no right but the Palestinians themselves whether in Palestine or in the neighboring countries of Palestine or in the camps or in other places. There are several million Palestinians. They can express their opinion, which is a globally-favored, acceptable and civilized logic for the administration of Palestine," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

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ICRC appeals for urgent assistance to meet humanitarian needs in war-ravaged Gaza

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 7:52 AM

A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the devastating Israeli military onslaught in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Sarah Davies told Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network on Wednesday morning that "Gaza needs help and urgent action should be taken immediately and promptly."

She added that members of the Geneva-based humanitarian organization could not reach out to the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, assess the situation, and provide the urgent support needed.

Davies highlighted that ICRC is not a party to the ceasefire agreement between the Israeli regime and the Hamas resistance movement, and must be able to perform its activities without any restrictions.

The remarks come as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said the situation in Gaza is catastrophic, highlighting the need to bring in food immediately.

"Thanks to the pause, our teams have been in action on the ground, going into areas we haven't reached for a long time. What we see is catastrophic. There's a risk of famine and starvation on our watch and to prevent it, we need to be able to bring in food at scale and distribute it safely," WFP's Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer, said.

Fleischer highlighted that six days are simply not enough to provide all the assistance needed, emphasizing that the people of Gaza have to eat every day, not just for six days.

"Our team recounted what they saw: hunger, desperation, and destruction. People who have not received any relief in weeks. The team could see the suffering in their eyes," Samer Abdeljaber, WFP Palestine Representative and Country Director, said for his part.

"Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access cannot stop now," Abdeljaber noted.

On Tuesday, the Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), took to X and wrote "UNICEF welcomes the extension in the pause in fighting in Gaza" for two days.

"UNICEF and partners have scaled up our humanitarian response but much more is needed," Catherine Russell wrote.

"We continue to call for a humanitarian ceasefire and protection of aid workers and the children and families they serve," she added.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, over 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,150 children and 4,000 women, were killed in Israeli strikes, during the 49 days of war. Many more dead are feared to be under the rubble.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

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US, Israel 'main losers' of Gaza war, 'incapable' of eliminating Hamas: Iran

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 7:50 AM

Iran's foreign minister says the United States and Israel have failed to eradicate the Palestinian Hamas resistance group and lost their war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the current humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas was the result of the failure of Washington and Tel Aviv to eliminate Hamas through the war.

"Today, we see that the US and Israel are not capable of destroying Hamas in Gaza. Hamas is a liberation and legitimate movement and will remain in Palestine," he said in an interview with Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV channel published on Wednesday.

"The winners of the war are the Palestinian nation and resistance. So far, the United States and the Zionist regime have been the main losers of this war."

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas conducted Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed over 15,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left vast swathes of the coastal enclave in ruins.

An additional 7,000 Palestinians are missing and believed to be under the rubble in Gaza, home to more than two million Palestinians who are being subjected to a "complete siege" imposed by Israel.

An extended six-day truce in Gaza brought a halt to Israeli attacks and allowed aid agencies to deliver humanitarian assistance to displaced Palestinians, who are in urgent need of safe and sustained access to drinking water, food, health, fuel, and medicine.

Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza has provided a political opportunity for the region to stay away from the war.

"The US must choose between the continuations of this situation as well as the region's separation from the war, and the continuation of a worse situation," he pointed out.

US messages

The top Iranian diplomat also said that the US has sent several messages to Iran, asking the country to exercise restraint.

Washington, he added, also said that it does not seek an expansion of the war and asked Tehran to recommend resistance groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen not to act against American and Israeli bases.

"There are groups today in Iraq and Syria that act against the US upon their own decision. They do not get our permission. They are not under Iran's command. We have clearly said that Iran does not have any proxy group or organization in the region," Amir-Abdollahian said.

"We told all actors and the US that if you want restraint on the part of Iran, [Lebanon's] Hezbollah, and other sides..., you should practically seek to stop the war and not take sides with the Zionist occupation and participate in its crimes."

He further stressed that the Islamic Republic does not seek an expansion of the scope of the war, warning that such a case is likely if the Gaza conflict escalates.

Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister said new fronts in southern Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq rushed to the help of Gaza, noting that some Arab-Muslim nations showed that they cannot remain indifferent to the massacre of civilians in the Palestinian enclave.

The resistance, he asserted, produces and procures its necessary equipment and weapons.

Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Iran's solution to the Palestine issue that involves a referendum among all Palestinians, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

But after 70 years of occupation, the Israeli regime showed in the last 76 days that it is the same usurping genocidal criminal entity. Democratic gestures and talk of democracy for the Israeli regime is a bitter irony of our history, Amir-Abdollahian noted.

He also urged the international community to focus on Israel's nuclear disarmament and the trial of Zionist war criminals.

The "bitter reality" in today's world is that the UN Security Council issued no resolution, the Human Rights Council held no session and no fact-finding committee was formed to investigate Israeli genocide and war crimes in Gaza, he said.

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Gaza health situation 'catastrophic' despite truce; hospitals buckle under shortage: Ministry

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 7:02 AM

A senior health official in Gaza has raised the alarm over the dire situation of hospitals in the northern part of the besieged enclave despite a truce, describing it as "catastrophic" amid lack of medicine and fuel.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said health facilities in Gaza are bearing the brunt of Israel's brutal assault on the blockaded territory.

"The health situation in the northern Gaza Strip is currently catastrophic because of the inaccessibility of medical aid and fuel to the hospitals in the north," Qudra said.

"Above that, the situation in the southern Gaza Strip is not at the best level, since limited supplies of medical aid and fuel reach it but are unable to get to the North," he added.

The Palestinian official also noted that only three hospitals are still operating in Gaza, warning that they cannot cover the health requirements inside the strip as they are small and are serving some 900,000 people.

He went on to say that hospital beds are completely full, and wounded and sick people are lying on the ground, calling for a "guaranteed mechanism" to move hundreds of wounded on a daily basis to the hospitals in Egypt and other countries of the world.

Qudra further stressed the need to boost the health system in Gaza, calling for allowing the flow of medical aid and fuel to the strip while demanding large numbers of specialized medical teams to enhance hospital staff in the besieged enclave.

He also denounced the arrest of Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, as "inhuman and illegal", urging the international community to pressure the Israeli regime to release him and other medical staff.

Salmiya was arrested last week along with five other medical staff from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Ministry of Health while they were evacuating patients from the hospital as part of a United Nations mission.

Israeli military spokesperson Doron Spielman said on Saturday that Abu Salmiya was being questioned following the regime's allegations that the hospital houses a "command center" belonging to the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Tel Aviv has long accused Hamas of using hospitals for housing Palestinian resistance fighters and their equipment and as an alleged launchpad for directing military operations against the occupying regime, a charge Hamas strongly denies.

Under such pretexts, the regime has been targeting hospitals in the besieged enclave since the beginning of its war on Gaza last month.

The Palestinian resistance group has called on the UN to form an investigative team in order to debunk Tel Aviv's allegations.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

A four-day truce took effect on Friday to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza after seven weeks of unrelenting bombardment. The truce was extend for two more days on Monday.

According to the Gaza-based health ministry, so far over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli war, most of them women and children.

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Israeli forces conduct extensive raid against Jenin: Reports

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 2:20 AM

The Israeli regime's forces have reportedly embarked on an extensive raid against the city of Jenin and its refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank.

The raid took place on Tuesday, the official Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

The Israeli army, accompanied by bulldozers, entered the city from several directions, storming several neighborhoods, deploying snipers on the rooftops of several buildings, and imposing a siege on the Jenin camp.

According to Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network, the forces "detained many families" during the swoop.

"Military bulldozers also demolished several civilian properties," Wafa added.

The Quds News Network (QNN) news agency said the troops, meanwhile, laid a siege on the city's main hospitals, namely the Jenin Public Hospital as well as al-Razi and Ibn Sina Hospitals, blocking entrances to the facilities.

Posting on X, former Twitter, Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti confirmed the siege on two of the hospitals, saying the Israeli army had begun "searching all ambulances in the area."

"At least one wounded individual has reportedly been arrested as soon as the ambulance transporting him arrived in the entrance to the Jenin Public Hospital," QNN said, citing witnesses.

The Israeli regime has ramped up its aggression across the West Bank, since October 7, when it launched a hugely deadly and devastating war against the Gaza Strip.

A total of 242 Palestinians have since been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied territory, and more than 2,850 injured, according to the West Bank-based Palestinian Health Ministry.

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UN Chief Says Conflict Has Forced Over 80% of Gazans Out of Homes

Sputnik News

20231129

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that over 80% of Gaza residents have been forced to leave their homes amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Beyond the many civilians killed and wounded, that I have spoken of, 80% of Gaza's people have now been forced from their homes," Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on Palestine.

The growing number of people has been pushed out to the southern part of Gaza but nowhere is safe, he added.

Moreover, the level of humanitarian assistance and fuel that is being delivered to the Gaza Strip is "utterly insufficient" to meet the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinian residents, the official stressed.

"The level of aid to Palestinians in Gaza remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than two million people," Guterres emphasized during a UN Security Council meeting. "Although the total volume of fuel allowed into Gaza has also increased, it remains utterly insufficient to sustain basic operations," the secretary-general stated.

In addition, the official highlighted that 111 UN personnel have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in October.

"Since the beginning of the hostilities, 111 members of our UN family have been killed in Gaza," Guterres stressed. "This represents the largest loss of personnel in the history of our organization," he emphasized.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. The conflict has killed an estimated 1,200 people in Israel and over 16,000 in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a four-day truce and an exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. On Monday, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a two-day extension of the truce.

 Sputnik

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Hamas Military Wing Says Released 2 Russian Citizens in Response to Request of Moscow

Sputnik News

20231129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The military wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Al Qassam Brigades said on Wednesday that it released two Russian citizens in response to Moscow's request.

Earlier in the day, the i24 broadcaster reported, citing Hamas, that the movement will release two Israeli women with Russian citizenship, in addition to 10 Israeli hostages whose release was agreed upon, as a sign of gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Al-Qassam Brigades release two Russian detainees in response to a request from the Russian leadership," the statement said.

Last week, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a four-day truce and an exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. On Monday, Qatar announced that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a two-day extension of the truce.

Over the five days of the truce Israel was able to secure the release of 61 Israelis and 25 foreign citizens held hostage by Hamas.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. The conflict has so far resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 people in Israel and over 16,000 in the Gaza Strip.

 Sputnik

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Number of People Living in Shelters Across Gaza Strip Reaches 1.3Mln - WHO

Sputnik News

20231129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - As many as 1.3 million people are living in shelters in the Gaza Strip with limited access to basic needs and the looming risk of disease outbreaks due to poor living conditions and a lack of basic health care, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

Last week, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said that over 1 million people were sheltering in UNRWA-run installations across the enclave.

"1.3 million people are currently living in shelters in Gaza," Tedros wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added that due to "overcrowding and lack of food, water, sanitation and basic hygiene, waste management and access to medication," the number of cases of acute respiratory infections has reached 111,000, while around 12,000 were diagnosed with scabies and 11,000 people were suffering from lice. The risk of disease outbreaks is extremely high, and more people could die from them rather than bombings "given the living conditions and lack of health care," Tedros added.

The WHO chief also called for a sustained ceasefire, saying that it is "a matter of life or death" for civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.

Last week, the sides declared a four-day truce to exchange some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as allow the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Late on Monday, Qatar said that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas on a two-day extension of the humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip on the same terms as the previous one. The conflict has so far resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,200 people in Israel and over 16,000 in the Gaza Strip.

 Sputnik

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US Osprey Military Aircraft Crashes Into Sea Near Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan - Reports

Sputnik News

20231129

TOKYO (Sputnik) - A US's Osprey tiltrotor military aircraft with eight people on board has crashed into the sea near the Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan, media reported on Wednesday, citing the Japan Coast Guard.

The incident took place near the island of Yakushima, the news agency said, without providing any other details.

The aircraft disappeared from radar at 14:40 local time, and the Maritime Safety Agency received a report of the crash five minutes later.

Over the years, there have been many incidents involving the Osprey tiltrotor military aircraft. In 2012, two Ospreys crashed in the US state of Florida and in Morocco; in 2016, an incident occurred in the Persian Gulf area: a Marine died. In August 2017, an aircraft crashed off the east coast of Australia.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Call with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Al Sabah

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 29, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Al Sabah. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed the pause in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has allowed for the release of hostages and an increase in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza. Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States commitment to working with Kuwait and regional partners towards the formation of viable, prosperous Palestinian state. The Secretary reaffirmed the friendship and strategic partnership between Kuwait and the United States.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

NATO Headquarters

Brussels, Belgium

November 29, 2023

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone.

In March of 2021, I came here to NATO to affirm President Biden's commitment to rebuild, to revitalize, to re-energize our core alliances and partnerships. Indeed, they're our greatest strategic asset: an unmatched network of alliances and partnerships.

And I did this at NATO because some back then were questioning its relevance, its capacity, its unity.

As we meet here today in Brussels, those who bet against NATO have clearly been proven wrong.

NATO today is bigger, it's stronger, it's more united, it's more capable than ever.

In Vilnius, NATO's leaders agreed to the most ambitious plans since end of the Cold War to adapt and to strengthen our Alliance. And we're now delivering on those plans.

Nineteen NATO Allies either are meeting their Wales commitment or have credible plans to do so by 2024 - in other words, devoting 2 percent of their budgets to defense spending. That's two-thirds of our Alliance.

Allies are increasing contributions of forces and other capabilities.

We are working together to boost our joint industrial defense capacity. We've added our 31st ally, Finland, and the 32nd, Sweden, will soon be among us.

NATO will continue to adapt to meet 21st century challenges, threats - whether it's Russian aggression, coercion from China, challenges in cyberspace, terrorism - the entire gamut of things that we have to be concerned about as an Alliance.

And in fact it's this capacity to evolve that has made NATO the world's indispensable Alliance for 75 years, and the actions we've taken at Vilnius and that we're taking here over the last couple of days are setting NATO up to remain that indispensable Alliance for the next 75 years.

The meetings here this week focused on critical steps that we can take to advance NATO's revitalization in time for the historic Washington Summit, the 75th anniversary summit that'll take place next year.

First, we focused on NATO's enduring support and commitment to Ukraine. And I have to tell you, listening to all of our colleagues around the table, every single one expressed strong, enduring support for Ukraine.

Some are questioning whether the United States and other NATO Allies should continue to stand with Ukraine as we enter the second winter of Putin's brutality. But the answer here today at NATO is clear and it's unwavering: We must and we will continue to support Ukraine.

Ensuring that Russia's war of aggression remains a strategic failure is as vital today as when the Kremlin launched that war almost two years ago.

Now, our adversaries are not standing on the sidelines. Most of the drones that we've seen used in the biggest-ever drone attack on Kyiv just last weekend, those were made and supplied by Iran. North Korea is providing significant arms shipments to Russia. Stakes for all of us are clear. And again, I heard this from everyone around the table. And we must send an unequivocal message: No country will be allowed redraw borders by force. That's an interest of every single Ally around the table; it's an interest of many countries beyond this Alliance with whom we've been working since February of 2022.

And it's also why we're accelerating efforts to enable Ukraine to stand strongly on its own feet - militarily, economically, democratically.

Even as we're supporting Ukraine's fight today, we are helping them build a military that is capable of deterring and defending against aggression far into the future. The supplemental budget request that the President made is a demonstration of our own commitment to that goal, and we're looking to Congress to approve it in the coming weeks.

Another critical point that is really worth underscoring, and it's reinforced by everything that I've seen over the last two days here: When it comes to Ukraine, the United States is not standing alone. We've provided about $77 billion in assistance to Ukraine; our European Allies over the same period of time have provided more than $110 billion. So we often talk about burden sharing and the imperative of burden sharing. When it comes to Ukraine, that's clearly what we've seen and what we continue to see.

Ukraine knows that its future as a free, vibrant democracy and its path to NATO and the European Union depend on its ongoing reform efforts, and Kyiv has committed to seeing those reforms through. We also heard that today from its foreign minister.

So these were some of the issues that the Alliance discussed with Foreign Minister Kuleba, and this was the first foreign ministers meeting we've had of the new NATO-Ukraine Council, with Ukraine sitting at its place at the NATO table.

We also discussed NATO's ongoing role in promoting peace and security in the Western Balkans.

Now, when I started out in this line of work 30 years ago, front and center in our concern and the concerns of countries around the world and certainly in the trans-Atlantic area: the Balkans - Bosnia, and then Kosovo. The one thing we don't need is a return to the future when it comes to conflict in the Balkans.

NATO has a critical role to plan in helping states in the region make progress on their paths to EU membership and to broader European stability. NATO has long provided the backbone of security in the Western Balkans; it's going to continue to do so.

The Alliance has responded decisively to actors who are seeking to destabilize northern Kosovo, as we saw earlier this year, deploying additional troops to KFOR. We're deepening our collaboration with the EU-led force in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. So this was another critical part of our conversation over the last two days.

Tonight, I'm heading to Skopje for the OSCE Ministerial Council. Despite Russia's flagrant violations of every single core principle of the Helsinki Final Act, its relentless efforts to obstruct the OSCE's work, the 50 other participating states have shown determination to make sure that the organization continues to fulfill its purpose to advance European security. And that's what we'll keep doing in Skopje.

From Skopje, we head to Israel, the West Bank, and then on to the UAE, where, in addition to participating in the COP, I'll have an opportunity to meet with Arab partners to discuss the conflict in Gaza.

We head back to region as the humanitarian pause that we helped to negotiate with Qatar and with Egypt has allowed scores of hostages to be released and to be reunited with their families. We're surging humanitarian assistance into Gaza to make sure that its people have what they need to get by.

Looking at the next couple of days, we'll be focused on making - doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in.

We'll discuss with Israel how it can achieve its objective of ensuring that the terrorist attacks of October 7th never happen again, while sustaining and increasing humanitarian assistance - and minimizing further suffering and casualties among Palestinian civilians. We'll keep our efforts going to prevent the conflict from spreading. And of course, we'll remain focused on enabling the safe departure of American citizens and other foreign nationals from Gaza.

Finally, we will work to build on the principles that I set out in Tokyo a few weeks ago for the day after in Gaza, and define the steps that we and our partners in the region can take now to lay the foundation for a just and lasting peace.

With that, happy to take some questions.

MR MILLER: First question goes to Tracy Wilkinson with the L.A. Times.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks.

QUESTION: You spoke of the strength and unity of NATO, and you also said that there are those who question whether NATO and the United States should continue to support Ukraine at the level that it does. Could you elaborate on that? What were the anxiety levels among some of your Allies here about U.S. commitment, given the voices we're hearing in parts of the United States who talk about abandoning the Ukraine cause and especially changes - political changes that may come next year?

And then second, if I could ask you about the Israel-Gaza war. To what extent did that overshadow talks here, or impact talks here, or have a role in the talks here?

Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Tracy, thank you. First, the second part of the question first. Yes, we certainly had conversations about Gaza, but it in no way took away from the intense focus that we've had over the last couple of days on Ukraine as well as on the Western Balkans and preparing for the NATO Summit in Washington next spring.

With regard to Ukraine, let me say this again because it was very, very starkly clear listening to all of our colleagues around the table. Virtually to a country, we heard - I heard - a strong, enduring commitment on the part of Alliance members to Ukraine, to making sure that it had what it needs to defend itself, to retake territory seized from it by Russia, but also to build itself up so that it can stand strongly on its own feet militarily, economically, and democratically. I heard no sense of fatigue or falling back - on the contrary, a determination to continue to press forward.

And there's a good reason for that. I think every Ally recognizes that this is a matter not only of doing the right thing, it's a matter of self-interest, including for the United States. There is a clear self-interest among Allies to stand for the basic principles at the heart of the UN Charter that are being violated egregiously by Russia, because these principles matter to our own peace and security. As we've said repeatedly, if we allow a country like Russia to act with impunity to redraw the borders of another by force, to try to determine and dictate the future of another country, if that happens with impunity then it's open season and any would-be aggressor anywhere is likely to draw lessons from that. That's why it's been so important to us, but also to every country around the table, to strand strongly with and for Ukraine. And I heard nothing to suggest the contrary.

And when it comes to the United States, what I continue to see, what I continue to hear is strong bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress for Ukraine, and I think you heard Speaker Johnson address this just the other day, which is very encouraging. So we have work to do to move the supplemental budget request that the President made forward. We're determined to do that. And again, we're determined to do that because it's so clearly in our interest. And Congress time and again when we've gone to them has stood up and delivered, and we expect that to happen going forward - again, not because it's - not only because it's the right thing to do, but because it's the necessary thing to do to advance the interests of the United States.

MR MILLER: Joe Barnes with The Telegraph.

QUESTION: Thank you. Yeah, Joe Barnes from The Daily Telegraph. There's a growing perception that Ukraine's Western allies will move away from helping Ukraine sustain another major counteroffensive in a switch of strategy that essentially helps Ukraine hold its lines. How do you ensure that the next strategy taken by Western allies doesn't prematurely push President Zelenskyy and Ukraine into premature peace negotiations?

And secondly, if I may, could I get your thoughts on former Secretary General Rasmussen's plan that would see Ukraine be allowed to join NATO, but without Russian-occupied territories being covered by Article 5?

Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good. Thanks. So what you describe is not at all what I'm hearing, seeing, or what we're doing. The NATO countries individually - and we have now more than 50 countries that are many of them, of course, NATO members, others not, who have been almost from day one fully part of the effort to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs not only to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression, but to help enable it to retake territory that Russia seized from it. And that commitment continues and there's no move away from that. We're determined to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, including to take back territory that Russia has taken from it.

At the same time, there's also - and I think this is critically important - a commitment on the part of many countries to help Ukraine build a future force that can ensure deterrence and ensure defense against aggression going forward. And that's critically important, coupled with the efforts that we're making in other areas - for example, to generate private sector investment in Ukraine so that its economy can continue to grow, to build, and it has resources of its own - as well as making sure that it's advancing on reforms to strengthen its democracy, which will be tremendously facilitated by the fact that the European Union is engaging Ukraine in - on the accession process, and of course reforms are necessary for that.

All of that is doing two things. It's making sure that Ukraine has what it needs in this moment to continue to deal with Russian aggression, to continue to work to take back its territory, but also sets Ukraine up strongly for the future so that it can stand strongly on its own feet - again, not only militarily but economically and democratically. That's the single best response that we can make.

And it also has this effect: The main impediment to resolving this aggression, to resolving this conflict, which no one wants more than the Ukrainian people - the main, in fact the only impediment is Vladmir Putin, and the extent to which he believes that he can somehow outlast Ukraine, outlast its people, outlast its supporters may be feeding the refusal of Russia to engage in any meaningful way in diplomacy or negotiations.

So the work of this Alliance, the work of the individual countries that are part of this Alliance as well as many other countries around the world to support Ukraine, to help it defend itself, as well as to set it up for the future - that's the single most effective way to disabuse Putin of this very wrongheaded notion.

MR MILLER: Michael Crowley.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Oh, and on 

MR MILLER: Oh, sorry.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: On - I'm sorry, on Rasmussen, I haven't focused on that. I think the Alliance in Vilnius was very clear that Ukraine will become a member of NATO when all Allies agree and when conditions are met. That's the policy. It was clearly stated in Vilnius, clearly reaffirmed today.

MR MILLER: Michael Crowley with The New York Times.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Two questions on Gaza. The first is, given the large number of hostages who remain in enormous humanitarian need in Gaza, do you believe that the current pause in fighting should be substantially extended despite concerns in Israel that it may be allowing Hamas to regroup? And is it possible that Israel's offensive would not resume at all?

And secondly, you have stressed the importance of pursuing a two-state solution for long-term peace. Many people doubt that Prime Minister Netanyahu shares that vision. What is your opinion, and what are the implications if he does not?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Michael. With regard to the pause, look, we'd like to see the pause extended because what it has enabled first and foremost is hostages being released, coming home, being reunited with their families. It's also enabled us to surge humanitarian assistance into the people of Gaza who so desperately need it. So its continuation, by definition, means that more hostages would be coming home, more assistance would be getting in.

So clearly that's something we want, and I believe it's also something that Israel wants. They're also intensely focused on bringing their people home. So we're working on that. As you know, we're working on that every single day, and I expect to take that up tomorrow when I'm in Israel meeting with the government. And again, we have other colleagues in the government who are intensely working on that.

With regard to two states, look, I think we've been very clear from well before October 7th - in fact, from the first day of this administration - that we believe that that is the only path to enduring peace; to enduring security; to the preservation of Israel as a strong, secure, democratic, and Jewish state; and Palestinians having their legitimate aspirations for a state and self-determination met. And I think the events of October 7th only further confirm that commitment.

But all of this is a process that everyone will need to focus on. Right now, everyone's focused on the day of, what's happening in Gaza right now. But we also need to be focused at the same time - and we are in conversations with many other countries - on what I've called both the day after and the day after the day after. By the day after, I mean what happens in Gaza once the campaign is over. There are important questions about its governance, its security, its reconstruction. A few - a couple of weeks ago in Tokyo I laid out some basic principles that we see as being necessary. But also, the day after the day after, which is how do we get on a clear path to meeting the legitimate political aspirations of the Palestinian people, which really, in our judgment, is the only way to durable peace, durable security for everyone, starting with Israel and Israelis.

But these are conversations that we'll pursue in the days ahead, in the weeks ahead, in the months ahead. There's a long history here. But I think we - what this has done, what October 7th has done, among other things, is I think to refocus many countries in the region and well beyond on how do we help Israel ensure that this never happens again. And we believe that one component of that is putting in place the conditions for genuinely lasting, durable peace and stability. And for us, the best path there goes to the two states.

MR MILLER: And the final question goes to Alexander Baker with De Telegraaf.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. How does the U.S. view the ambition of the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to be the new secretary general of NATO? And is the outcome of the Dutch election an obstacle?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, we have one secretary general at a time, and as it happens, we have an extraordinary secretary general right now in Secretary General Stoltenberg. I said it yesterday, repeated it at the council: His leadership over the last few years, at one of the most challenging times in the history of our Alliance, has been nothing short of exceptional. And again, colleagues around the table said the same thing. But he still has a lot of work to do as we head to the Washington Summit, which is still many months away. We're focused intensely on that work and on working with the secretary general to make sure that we have a successful summit and the Alliance continues to deliver on the commitments that its leaders have made, particularly at the Vilnius Summit.

With regard to the future and the next secretary general, I'm not going to comment on internal deliberations within the Alliance. We will work that out; we'll work on it together. And I would expect that by the Washington Summit we'll be in a position to talk about it more clearly and more directly. Thanks.

MR MILLER: Thank you all.

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We must collectively create the opportunity for more pauses in Gaza: Lord Ahmad's statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon at the United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East.

29 November 2023

Thank you, Mr. President. Your Excellencies, may I begin by thanking Secretary-General Guterres and Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for their detailed briefings.

As we look towards the Middle East, a tragedy is unfolding in front of our very eyes. Israel has suffered the worst terror attack in its history and Palestinians are experiencing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the ensuing Israeli military action.

Mr. President, every life matters. Israeli or Palestinian. Every innocent civilian life lost, Palestinian or Israeli, is a tragedy. Indeed, we also collectively mourn the loss of all innocent, innocent lives lost, including those of UN personnel delivering vital life saving aid in Gaza.

Yet the past week has provided much needed respite in hostilities. The agreement was an important opportunity for providing hope and relief to the families of the hostages, and for allowing vital humanitarian assistance into Gaza. But this should not be a one off. We must collectively build from it and create the opportunity for more. Including follow up and ensuring more humanitarian grounds for such cessation. Hostages must be released. Aid must get in and civilians must be protected.

I've had the opportunity to visit Qatar recently to discuss this very conflict and take the opportunity to recognise their pivotal role in this agreement, together with that of Egypt and the United States. Just last week, the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where he met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. During their meetings, they discussed the importance of securing the release of hostages, addressing the humanitarian crisis, which included the British Foreign Secretary announcing a further $38 million in UK humanitarian aid, and also emphasising the need to find a long-term political solution to this conflict based on the two-state solution. In Israel, he discussed the need to immediately de-escalate in the West Bank, where tragically more than 200 Palestinians have been killed, and to prevent further escalation, which disrupts regional peace and security - concerns we all share. And whilst we welcome statements condemning settler violence, the United Kingdom is clear there must be justice and Israel must hold those responsible to account.

Equally, the UK's position on Israeli settlements is also clear and long standing. They are illegal under international law and contrary to the cause of peace. The UK is also clear that Iran poses an unacceptable threat to the region through its destabilising activity and long term support for its proxies and partners in the region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We condemn the unlawful seizure of the MV Galaxy Leader and call for the immediate and unconditional release of the ship and its crew.

On our part across the region, the United Kingdom is working intensively with all partners on this particular issue, on the importance of humanitarian relief, on the importance of hostage relief, on the importance of preventing further escalation. The UK also further echoes UNIFIL's call for a cessation of hostilities across the Blue Line and for renewed commitment to implementing UN Security Council resolution 1701.

The UK, from the start of events through the Hamas attack on Israel on the 7th October, has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism. But in doing so, Israel must act in accordance with international law. Of which safeguarding civilian life is key and pivotal. Frankly, tragically too many innocent civilians, including many children, have lost their lives. And we must work collectively to find solutions to this long-standing conflict.

Ultimately, we must find that pathway to peace and ensure, yes, events like October the 7th never happen again. And therefore equally, let us commit ourselves to ensure we deliver sustainable peace. The United Kingdom believes in a negotiated settlement in line with Security Council resolutions, leading to a safe and secure Israel, living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. A vision but to which we must now all work together to turn that vision into a reality. A reality of ensuring security. A reality of ensuring justice. A reality of ensuring peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This must be our shared, long term, deliverable objective. Peace may seem difficult, but, Mr. President, peace is achievable. Peace is attainable. And we must work together to deliver that noble goal.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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World must not look away from humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, UN chief tells Security Council

29 November 2023 - The UN Security Council met intensively through Wednesday morning in New York on the Middle East crisis. It was the first open meeting since the 15-member body passed a resolution in mid-November and the first featuring foreign ministers from across the region and beyond.

Briefing top diplomats, the UN chief said the world must not look away from the suffering of civilians in Gaza, calling for "a true humanitarian ceasefire" that leads to a lasting two-State solution.

The meeting has now ended in New York, but the frantic diplomacy continues to try and end the devastation in Gaza caused by Israel's offensive to destroy Hamas, return the remaining hostages held by Palestinian militants, and provide a secure future for both Israel and Palestine. Here are the highlights from Wednesday's meeting:

HIGHLIGHTS

"We need a true humanitarian ceasefire," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, describing a catastrophe on the ground in Gaza and underlining the need to release all hostages

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, had "a message that resonates today as we mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: There must be a new and different approach, or we are doomed to return to the path of managing a conflict that clearly cannot be managed"

Council members, including many ministers, roundly decried the unfolding humanitarian crisis and commended the ongoing pause in fighting, with some calling for the full implementation of its resolution 2712 on the crisis

"We cannot afford to lose more lives," said the ambassador of Malta, penholder of resolution 2712, adopted in mid-November following several failed attempts

Non-Council members echoed those calls, with Qatar's Prime Minister saying "it is high time to take real measures towards peace; the region will not enjoy peace and security without the establishment of a Palestinian State"

Israel's ambassador said the Council has not addressed Hamas's "central role in the ruin of the region"

"We are at a historic crossroad," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the observer State of Palestine

Read our explainer on international humanitarian law and other explainers here.

For summaries of this and other UN meetings, visit our colleagues at the UN Meetings Coverage in English and French

1:15 PM

Indonesia: Aid window 'too narrow and too fragile'

Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, welcomed the adoption of Council resolution 2712, as well as the humanitarian pauses and release of hostages and prisoners.

"Out of this small glimpse of peace, we could see hope - families reunited and aid reaching those in desperate need," she said, adding, however, that it is not sufficient.

"The humanitarian pause is too narrow and too fragile and will not be able to create a better situation in Gaza," she cautioned.

Calling on the Security Council to act to preserve trust in the multilateral system, she said it must ensure that hostility does not return with vengeance.

"Another day without fighting is a day worth fighting for," she declared, adding that the warring parties must move beyond a humanitarian pause into a durable ceasefire.

Emphasizing the importance of the two-State solution, she said it is the right time to restart the peace process.

"As we honour this year's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, let us not turn a blind eye or remain silent to the struggle of the innocent people in Gaza whose only sin is being born Palestinian."

12:58 PM

End 'flagrant injustice' of Israeli occupation: Jordan

Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jordan, underscored that ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine is a viable way to ensure peace for Palestinians, Israelis and all others in the region.

"Those who purport to say that this conflict is a religious conflict are lying; they are trying to falsify history and reality," he said, stressing that the conflict continues because of an "unfair occupation and flagrant injustice".

He urged the Security Council to make a strong call for a ceasefire and to bring an end to the aggression.

"We demand the international community bring an end to the occupation, to bring an end to the conflict," he said. "You all support the two-State solution," which by definition would bring an end to the occupation.

"There is only one viable path to peace that we all want," he continued, calling on the Security Council to adopt a resolution recognizing the Palestinian independent State, with Jerusalem as its capital along the pre-1967 borders.

12:48 PM

Turkiye: Swimming in 'untrusted waters'

Hakan Fidan, Turkiye's Minister for Foreign Affairs, warned against the paralysis of the Security Council, which has failed to rectify the historic injustice inflicted on the Palestinians for many decades.

Without international laws, principles and moral, "we are all in untrusted waters," he said, fearing more radicalization on all sides, fuelled by injustice and impunity.

Millions of people around the world are coming together to express their solidarity with the Palestinian people. The frustration and revolt sparked by the atrocities committed by Israel might lead to social upheaval in many countries, he cautioned, adding that the extension of the humanitarian pause in Gaza and the exchange of hostages and prisoners are, in his eyes, glimmers of hope.

At the same time, he said he was following "closely and with concern" the different scenarios for the "day after".

Therefore, this dark episode must be translated into possibilities for resolving the conflict, otherwise, the symptoms may lead to a more catastrophic tomorrow, he said.

12:40 PM

Egypt: No more 'empty statements'

Egypt's Foreign Minister, Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim, said that since day one, his delegation has been calling for the release of Israeli hostages.

But, what do the international community and the Security Council think of the fate of Palestinian prisoners "who are also 'hostages' held by the occupying Power?" he asked.

Egypt has presented an "apolitical" draft resolution on humanitarian aid, he said, calling on the Council to support it "to put an end to this catastrophe".

"We must abandon double standards and translate compassionate words into action," he said.

As for the next steps, the only possibility is to address the root causes of the conflict in an integrated and comprehensive manner to end the occupation.

"We must put aside 'empty statements' and work hand in hand on the two-State solution," he said, emphasizing that it is time for countries to recognize the State of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

12:30 PM

Qatar: Take 'real measures' to cement peace

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, said Palestinians "have gone through hell" in the past weeks.

For its part, Doha has started close communications with parties to put an end to the bloodshed and ensure the return of hostages. Recalling recent high-level negotiations in which Qatar has been central, he said an agreement had led to an extension of the pause and the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. It also paved the way to get more aid into Gaza.

Prime Minister Al-Thani said he looked forward to further action by the Security Council, including a monitoring mechanism to oversee aid distribution. Above all, international humanitarian law must be upheld, without double standards, he stated.

"It is high time to take real measures towards peace," he said. "Any attempt to avoid straight forward actions will only lead to an escalation of violence. We call for peace. The region will not enjoy peace and security without the establishment of a Palestinian State."

What does humanitarian law really mean?

Many top diplomats invoked the importance of international humanitarian law in the Council Chamber on Wednesday morning. UN News produced an explainer last month, outlining exactly what it is and how it was designed to provide guardrails in times of conflict.

12:15 PM

West showing 'blatant double standards' over Gaza: Russia

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that for over two months, a conflict of biblical proportions has gripped the Middle East.

"It is no exaggeration to say that it has become one of the most lethal regional conflicts in recent decades," he said, noting the devastating impact on civilians, in particular children.

He also highlighted the efforts of all humanitarian workers on the ground, risking their lives to deliver vital aid, and paid tribute to those killed.

Mr. Nebenzia questioned the "blatant double standards" of Western delegations vis-a-vis the Palestinian people.

"How many times have Western delegations requested Security Council meetings on Ukraine? The answer is at least twice a month," he said. "How many times have these delegations requested Security Council meetings on the Middle East? Zero."

He asked "why are you being so timid, or is it that the fate of the Palestinian population is much less interesting for you from a domestic political perspective in your capitals?"

It is time to think about the day after, he said.

"There are many questions about the ways to rebuild Gaza and, in general, the future long-term solution to the Palestinian question," he said. "Without a solution to that, it will not be possible to ensure a truly sustainable security situation for Israel. Russia is actively working in this direction."

12:01 PM

France: Council must condemn Hamas attack

French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said the truce must become permanent through a lasting ceasefire, and all hostages must be released.

Condemning the Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October, he said the Council must do the same unambiguously and without further delay.

Welcoming progress in getting aid into Gaza, he echoed other Council members' calls for increased access. For its part, France has begun treating wounded Palestinians on its hospital ship and has sent tonnes of aid to Gaza, he told ministers.

Calling on Israel to halt settler violence in the Palestinian Occupied Territory, he worried that unless action is taken, the conflict could spill over throughout the region.

"To bring an end to the cycles of violence, there must be a relaunch of a credible peace process," he said. "Further procrastination would undoubtedly result in an escalation of violence."

A Palestinian State is the only viable way forward, he said.

11:46 AM

Avoid 'regional conflagration': Malta

"We cannot afford to lose more lives", said Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who led the successful Council resolution negotiations earlier this month.

"We cannot return to further bloodshed and insecurity; it is in this spirit that Malta echoes the Secretary-General's call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire," she said.

She called on all parties to urge de-escalation and exercise the utmost restraint.

She reiterated Malta's "strong condemnation" of the terror attacks by Hamas and called for the release of all hostages, immediately and unconditionally. But, countless children caught up in the conflict are continuing to live in "increased anguish and deprivation".

She said the World Health Organization's (WHO) statement that more now could die from disease than bombing in Gaza, was "gravely concerning, and immediate action is needed to prevent this scenario".

"Avoiding a regional conflagration is of utmost importance and must be avoided at all costs," she said. "It is imperative that we consider a credible foundation for future peace."

Malta reaffirmed its commitment to a two-State solution along the pre-1967 borders, addressing the legitimate aspirations of both sides, with Jerusalem as the future capital of two nations, in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions and internationally agreed parameters.

Within this dire context, and particularly today on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, she said it remains clear this is the only viable path to peace.

11:30 AM

Time for 'unifying action': Ghana

Mavis Nkansah-Boadu, Ghana Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said that events over the past few days "remind us all of the consequence of 'elusive peace'" in the Middle East during the past 75 years.

"As we contemplate a Gaza after tomorrow, we cannot overlook the totality of peace required in Palestine, which demands of the parties their full commitment to seek the narrow and difficult path for a renewed and constructive dialogue on a political horizon," she said.

Absent progress from the international Quartet on Middle East peace, she strongly encouraged the Security Council to consider appointing a special rapporteur from among its members to unify its position on how to further proceed with the two-State solution.

She said a positive response from donors was essential to keep funding UN aid agencies' work on the ground and stressed the importance of the UN force (UNIFIL) working to keep the peace along the 'blue line' between Lebanon and Israel.

She emphasized the importance of protecting civilians as a key responsibility of the Council, saying that no effort should be spared to de-escalate the conflict and prevent its spread.

She renewed Ghana's commitment to support efforts towards lasting peace "and unifying action by all of us".

11:15 AM

UAE: Gaza aid must be increased 'in sustained manner'

The current truce is "a sign of hope", said Khalifa Shaheen, the United Arab Emirates' Minister of State. He expressed his appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of Qatar, the US and Egypt in bringing about the pause.

He also stressed the importance of the Council's resolution this month relating to international law and the release of detainees.

Underlining the relevance of the UN chief's briefing on progress made regarding aid, he said it was vital to improve aid mechanisms "in a sustained manner and at sufficient scale".

Recent events have demonstrated the need for the international community to stop merely managing this conflict, he said.

"Instead, we must work to revive hope for the possibility of reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian issue," he said.

Moving forward, a suitable environment must be created for resuming serious negotiations, based on the agreed upon references to achieve a two-State solution, so that these steps begin to be implemented immediately after a ceasefire is reached.

He underscored that achieving sustainable peace will not be possible without ending the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and Arab territories and establishing an independent Palestinian State, based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in security, peace and mutual recognition.

10:52 AM

United States: Pause is 'glimmer of hope'

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the pause has provided a "glimmer of hope".

"While the work we do in this Chamber is important, often times progress occurs outside these walls," she said, adding that, from day one, the United States' approach has been driven by direct diplomacy.

However, much more humanitarian assistance is needed as well as civilian protection, she said.

"We know Hamas continues to use people as human shields, but this does not lessen Israel's responsibility to protect civilians under international humanitarian law," she said.

Welcoming the release of some hostages, she said many families are "living in hell", adding that "we will not rest" until all are freed. As such, the US wants to see the pause extended, she said, adding that "the ball is now in Hamas's court."

'We need a two-State solution'

She expressed concern that the conflict may spill over, including in Lebanon, together with a rise of settler violence in the West Bank and a spike in dehumanizing rhetoric playing out in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic messages online.

"We need a two-State solution," Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said, as this is the only way to end this cycle of violence once and for all.

"Let us work together. We must commit to diplomacy, and let us do everything possible at long last to deliver on the promise of peace and the hope for a brighter future."

10:45 AM

Every civilian life lost, 'a tragedy': UK

Lord Tariq Ahmad, the United Kingdom's Minister of State at the Foreign Office, said that as the world looks to the Middle East, "a tragedy is unfolding in front of our eyes."

"Israel has suffered the worst terror attack in its history, and Palestinians are experiencing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis as a result of the ensuing Israeli military action," he said.

He emphasized that every civilian life lost is a tragedy.

"Every life matters - Israeli or Palestinian. Every innocent civilian life lost - Palestinian or Israeli - is a tragedy. Indeed we also collectively mourn the loss of all innocent lives, including those of UN personnel delivering vital lifesaving aid in Gaza," he said.

He noted that the past week of military pause had provided a much needed respite, with the agreement being an important opportunity in giving hope to the families of the hostages and for allowing vital humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"But, this should not be a one-off; we must collectively build from it," he urged. "Hostages must be released, aid must get in and civilians must be protected."

10:35 AM

China: Dialogue is best way to save lives

Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China, which holds the Council presidency for November, said in his national capacity that the way out of crisis and conflict is through the two-State solution.

"Dialogue and negotiation is the best way to save lives," he said, adding that at this crossroads of war and peace, the international community must work towards finding solutions.

"Resumed fighting will most likely turn into a calamity that encompasses the whole region," he said, expressing hope that the pause will be the beginning of a negotiated ceasefire.

Civilians must be protected with more robust actions, and the UN must play a greater role in humanitarian efforts in Gaza, he said, announcing that China will provide another package of aid.

Two-State solution remains path to peace

Only the implementation of the two-State solution can restore peace, he said, calling for bolstered diplomatic efforts in this regard, including restarting direct Israel-Palestine negotiations.

The Security Council should shoulder its responsibility and heed the calls to take further action promptly, he said, adding that China has submitted a paper on resolving the conflict.

10:20 AM

Israel: 'Shocking' Council failure to condemn Hamas

Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the UN, said that Jewish people have experienced genocidal attempts and attacks more than once, "from Hitler and the Mufti and the terror organizations that follow in their footsteps".

He noted that on 7 October, Hamas unleashed "an unprovoked act of pure evil upon evil upon Israel", massacring the most Jews in one day since the Holocaust.

"Yet, shockingly, here we are two months later, and Hamas's savage crimes have still not been condemned by this body [the Security Council] or any other UN body," he said.

'Elephant in the room'

Mr. Erdan went on to state that Iran armed, funded and trained Hamas, adding that its "central role in the ruin of the region has not even been addressed here".

"It is not as if Hamas is fighting Israel alone. Hezbollah missiles have been raining down on northern Israeli towns. and Iran doesn't hide its aim of Israel's destruction," he said, asking whether Iran's central role in destabilizing the security of the Middle East does not deserve to even be raised in the Council.

"It is clear that the UN has been co-opted by those that have no real interest in a solution," he said. "Every UN body has been weaponized against Israel."

10:08 AM

Palestine: 'We are at a historic crossroad'

Riyad Al-Maliki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the observer State of Palestine, said a truce must become a ceasefire.

"This is not a war," he said. "This is a carnage that no one can justify. It must be brought to an end."

People must be allowed to go back to their homes, Mr. Al-Maliki added.

"Over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel," he said. "Over 10,000 of them are women and children. They have been killed by Israel. They did not lose their life; it was taken away. No one is safe in Gaza, not the children, not the doctors, not the humanitarian personnel, not the journalists, not the UN staff. They were killed at an unprecedented pace in modern history."

'We need international protection'

"We are at a historic crossroad," he said.

The protection of Palestinians cannot be ensured by the occupying forces who are complicit in these crimes, he said.

"We need international protection and international action to end impunity so as to prevent the recurrence of these crimes that occur daily and in broad daylight," he said. "What our people are enduring now is the result of the international community's failure to provide such protection and accountability."

These actions have consequences far beyond the borders of Gaza.

'Palestine lives'

He said Israel is trying to intimidate those criticizing it and defending the rule of international law across the globe, including governments that consider themselves allies of Israel, the Secretary-General and UN agencies, human rights and humanitarian organizations. Israel is not seeking security.

"If it was, it would choose peace," he said, adding that Israel, and this Israeli government more than any other, considers that the strategic threat it is confronted with is Palestinian statehood.

"Gaza has a very special place in our national history," he said. "Its name today is how many people spell Palestine around the world. It cannot be erased. Our people cannot be uprooted from it. Its Palestinianness cannot be altered. There is no Palestine without Gaza. Gaza bleeds, Gaza suffers, Gaza aches, but Gaza lives. And Palestine lives. Free Palestine. That is the only path to peace."

10:02 AM

Warnings went unheeded: Wennesland

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the Security Council that amid the surging violence and extensive Israeli movement restriction, the Palestinian Authority's longstanding fiscal crisis has worsened significantly.

The economic activity in the West Bank has ground to a halt, and the economy of Gaza has collapsed, he said.

The decrease in revenue for the Palestinian Authority is impacting many critical services and the payment of public sector salaries, including to the security forces, he stated, warning "the situation is "boiling and getting worse rapidly".

"In the months before the war, I warned this Council regularly that more must be done to help stabilize the situation in the West Bank," Mr. Wennesland said. "That is more the case now than ever before."

He went on to note that while much is unknown about how this war will end, some absolutes are clear.

"Acts of terror like those Hamas and others committed against Israel on 7 October must not be allowed to happen again, and Palestinians in Gaza in must never ever again experience the horrors they have endured," he said.

Mr. Wennesland emphasized that the only viable path is one that leads to the end of the occupation and the realization of a two-State solution, in line with UN resolutions, previous agreements and international law.

"Our past efforts have certainly not been enough, a message that resonates today as we mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People," he said. "There must be a new and different approach, or we are doomed to return to the path of managing a conflict that clearly cannot be managed."

09:50 AM

Guterres: Don't look away from 'epic humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza'

Welcoming the arrangement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the assistance of the governments of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, Mr. Guterres said the UN was working to maximize the positive potential of the current pause in fighting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"The pause has enabled us to enhance the delivery of aid into and across Gaza," he said, noting that for the first time since 7 October, an inter-agency convoy delivered food, water, medical supplies and other essential items to northern Gaza, specifically to four shelters in Jabalia camp operated by the UN agency to assist Palestine refugees (UNWRA).

Aid simply 'inadequate'

But, the level of aid remains completely inadequate to meet the huge needs of more than two million people, he said.

At the same time, he stressed that all hostages must be released.

The arrangement announced on 22 November has so far led to the release, over five days, of 60 hostages - 29 women, 31 children - held by Hamas and other groups since 7 October, he said, adding that in addition, another 21 hostages were released during the same period. The arrangement also saw the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails, mostly women and children.

"This is a welcome start, but as I have been saying from day one, all hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally," he said.

The Security Council resolution calls on all parties to refrain from depriving the civilian population in the Gaza Strip of basic services and humanitarian assistance indispensable to their survival, consistent with international humanitarian law, he said "much, much more is required to begin to address human needs in Gaza."

That includes full restoration of water and electricity services and urgently addressing the collapse of food systems and deteriorating public health.

The Rafah border crossing does not have enough capacity, especially considering the slow pace of procedures, to meet these and other needs, he said, urging the opening of other crossings, including Kerem Shalom, and the streamlining of inspection mechanisms to allow for the necessary increase of lifesaving aid.

'True humanitarian ceasefire' needed

However, humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient, he said, adding that the private sector is needed to bring in critical basic commodities to replenish completely depleted shops.

The UN chief also highlighted the "numerous accounts of sexual violence during the abhorrent acts of terror by Hamas" on 7 October, which triggered the current crisis.

He called for them all to be "vigorously investigated and prosecuted...Gender-based violence must be condemned. Anytime. Anywhere."

"Success will be measured in lives that are saved, suffering that is ended and hope and dignity that is restored," he said.

"The people of Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world," he said. "We must not look away."

He welcomed the ongoing intense negotiations to prolong the truce.

"But, we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire, and we must ensure the people of the region finally have a horizon of hope by moving in a determined and irreversible way toward establishing a two-State solution, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and international law, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security," he said. "Failure will condemn Palestinians, Israelis, the region and the world to a never-ending cycle of death and destruction."

09:43 AM

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is in the Security Council Chamber primarily to report back on the latest dire humanitarian situation, according to the resolution the 15-member organ adopted in mid-November.

He told ambassadors and ministers that more than two thirds of those killed in Gaza so far have been children and women.

In a matter of weeks, a far greater number of children have been killed by Israel than in any year by any party to a conflict since he has been Secretary-General, the UN chief said.

Over the past days, there has been a "glimmer of hope and humanity" for both hostages and their families, and civilians in Gaza amid the ceasefire, he said.

Before the current ceasefire, "we witnessed serious violations of international law in Gaza", he said, with 80 per cent of Gazans now forced from their homes.

He also said rocket attacks on Israel have continued by Palestinian militants along with the use of civilians as human shields.

"This is also inconsistent with international humanitarian law obligations," the UN chief said.

09:36 AM

The meeting has just been called to order by the Chinese foreign minister. A host of foreign ministers from the region and beyond are being invited to speak in addition to Council members, together with Palestine and Israel.

Wednesday marks the sixth and final day of a truce between Hamas and Israel that was facilitated by Qatar. Humanitarians have urged the warring sides to support repeated international calls to extend the pause in fighting, which has facilitated the reported release of at least 85 hostages by Hamas and of more than 180 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

China holds the presidency until the end of November, and the meeting around the horseshoe table will take place at a ministerial level, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi due to be in the chair and many other top diplomats from world capitals in attendance.

The meeting is due to start at 9:30am local time.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to report back on the implementation of that 15 November resolution - the first expression of unity on the Council over the crisis since the Hamas terror attacks and subsequent Israeli offensive - along with Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.

Here's are highlights from that mid-November meeting, which you can watch in full here, or catch up with UN Meetings Coverage summaries in English and French:

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 15 NOVEMBER

The UN Security Council succeeds in finding unity, adopting resolution 2712 on the Israel-Palestine crisis that began on 7 October, with 12 members voting in favour, none against and three abstentions (Russia, United Kingdom, United States) , calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" in Gaza for "a sufficient number of days" to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for UN agencies and partners

, calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" in Gaza for "a sufficient number of days" to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for UN agencies and partners The Council "calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children, as well as ensuring immediate humanitarian access ", by the terms of the resolution

", by the terms of the resolution The Council, by additional provisions in the text, calls on all parties to refrain from depriving the civilian population in Gaza of basic services and aid indispensable to their survival, consistent with international humanitarian law

indispensable to their survival, consistent with international humanitarian law The resolution does not condemn the Hamas attacks of 7 October which began the current wave of violence and battle for control of Gaza

The Council rejected an amendment proposed by Russia, with five votes in favour, one against and nine abstentions

"Our vote today translates into real human lives," said the ambassador of Malta, penholder of the newly adopted resolution

Ambassadors from the UK and US separately regretted to note that the draft failed to condemn Hamas and voiced support for civilian protection and rapid aid delivery measures

Russia's ambassador said a real ceasefire is needed and "the Council will need to make a decision on further steps", including what observers to send to the conflict area and which UN contingent will be involved

"This madness must be brought to an end," said Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN, adding that: "It is time for peace"

Israel's Ambassador said the crisis could be brought to an immediate end if all Israeli hostages are returned unscathed and Hamas laid down their arms and turned themselves in

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Israel-Palestine crisis: Gaza City a 'ghost town', reports UN aid agency

29 November 2023 - Amid hopes of a deal to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that humanitarian assistance had reached its shelters in northern Gaza for first time since war erupted last month.

"As we drove through Gaza City it was like a ghost town; all the streets were deserted," said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. "The impact of heavy airstrikes and shelling was so visible. Roads are riddled with craters, complicating aid deliveries."

Truce deadline looms

Wednesday marks the sixth and final day of a truce between Hamas and Israel that was facilitated by Qatar. Humanitarians have urged the warring sides to support repeated international calls to extend the pause in fighting, which has facilitated the reported release of at least 85 hostages by Hamas, and of more than 180 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The pause has also enabled humanitarian actors, primarily the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies and UN agencies, to "enhance" desperately needed aid deliveries into and across Gaza, according to aid coordination office, OCHA.

The UN office's latest aid update noted that a Palestine Red Crescent Society convoy had reached the north on Tuesday carrying food, medical supplies, water, and non-food items, although the bulk of aid distribution has focused on the south, where most displaced Gazans now live.

Aid workers' courage

In a statement, UNRWA said that on Monday a six-truck convoy had reached Jabalia, the largest and most built-up refugee camp in Gaza, located north of Gaza City.

UNRWA colleagues in Jabalia continue to serve their communities day in, day out, including one of the agency's sanitation services chiefs - "despite the unspeakable grief of his wife and daughter being killed", said Mr. White.

Some 200 aid trucks have been able to cross into the enclave via Egypt every day since the pause in fighting came into force on Friday 24 November.

Images provided by UNRWA on X on Wednesday showed volunteers unloading sacks of supplies into a warehouse and a static fuel tank being filled.

More than 15,000 Gazans have been killed during Israeli airstrikes, according to the enclave's health authorities, including about 6,000 children.

Tedros's dire warning

In a related development, the head of the UN health agency issued a fresh warning on Wednesday about the high risk of diseases spreading among those displaced by the violence.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated dire assessments that "given the living conditions and lack of healthcare, more people could die from disease than bombings".

Latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed to 111,000 acute respiratory infections, 75,000 cases of diarrhoea and tens of thousands of people suffering from scabies, lice, skin rashes and jaundice.

According to UNRWA, more than 1.8 million Gazans - around 80 per cent of the population in the enclave - have been displaced since Hamas's terror attack on southern Israel on 7 October which left 1,200 dead and some 240 taken hostage.

The displaced had left their homes in the north, in line with an evacuation order issued by the Israeli Defense Forces, issued on 13 October.

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UN affirms solidarity with the Palestinian people on International Day

29 November 2023 - From New York to Jerusalem and beyond, United Nations offices on Wednesday commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The annual observation on 29 November marks the day in 1947 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on partitioning Palestine into two independent States, one Arab and one Jewish.

The 1948 displacement of Palestinians from land that became Israel - known as the Nakba ("catastrophe" in Arabic) - is the subject of an exhibition currently on display at UN Headquarters in New York.

'Humanitarian catastrophe'

The International Day has been commemorated since 1978. This year, it took place against the backdrop of war in the Gaza Strip, where a truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire after holding for six days.

Palestinians in Gaza are suffering "a humanitarian catastrophe", said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his message for the Day.

"Almost 1.7 million people have been forced from their homes - but nowhere is safe," he said, while also warning that "the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, risks boiling over."

A reminder of 1948

The plight of Palestine refugees remains the world's longest unresolved refugee crisis, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN agency that has assisted this population for the past 75 years.

He added that "the appalling human tragedy we are witnessing in Gaza is reminiscent of the collective trauma experienced by Palestinians in 1948."

UNRWA supports some five million Palestine refugees across the Middle East, providing education, healthcare and social protection, among other services.

Commitment to stay

"In Gaza, we are determined not only to stay, but to scale up our operation to meet the enormous needs of the community," said Mr. Lazzarini, noting that over one million people are now housed in overcrowded shelters.

"In the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, we will continue to do whatever we can to protect our critical services delivery for as long as it is needed, providing vital stability to the region."

Although UNRWA "remains a beacon of hope amid despair and destruction," he stressed the urgent need for "a genuine political resolution that meets the legitimate aspirations of Palestinian refugees."

Uphold rights, restore hope

Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, General Assembly President Dennis Francis expressed sorrow "for the lives lost - both in the past seven weeks, and over the past seven decades."

Like all human beings, the Palestinian people are entitled to their fundamental and inalienable right to live in dignity, with all liberties, he said. This includes freedom of movement, as well as freedom from fear and want, and unfettered access to basic services.

"It is, therefore, imperative that we restore and sustain their hope - especially among the younger generations that have never experienced what peace looks or feels like," he said.

By doing so, the international community will have "fulfilled our duty of care - in reaffirming the fundamental principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights," he added.

Dialogue and diplomacy

Mr. Francis said ensuring that every Palestinian sees these inalienable rights as realised and respected, first and foremost requires permanent peace in the Middle East.

He also upheld the need to re-engage in dialogue while adhering to relevant UN resolutions and international instruments.

He welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and expressed support for all efforts to implement the truce and maximize its positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"Peace for all'

"These days of respite from hostilities must be optimised to alleviate the dire needs of Palestinians - allowing them to mourn their dead, to have unhindered access to food and water as well as other urgently needed services," he said.

The Assembly President said the UN "cannot lose sight of one of the ultimate and primary goals that brought our Organisation into being: Peace for all."

He appealed to the international community "to leverage its power to seek compromise, direct dialogue, while fostering trust and good-faith negotiations in the Middle East."

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Humanitarian assistance reaches UNRWA shelters in northern Gaza for the first time since the war began

UNRWA

29 Nov 2023

UNRWA TEAMS STAYED TO SERVE COMMUNITIES IN NEED IN THE AREA

RAFAH, SOUTHERN GAZA,

A convoy of trucks delivered much-needed aid to UNRWA shelters in the northern Gaza Strip. The six-truck convoy reached Jabalia on 27 November, an area that had been cut off from assistance for nearly 50 days.

"The level of damage is very extensive. It's heart-wrenching," said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. "Buildings have just been cleaved open. A mess of masonry, twisted metal and sheet iron blown everywhere. As we drove through Gaza City it was like a ghost town; all the streets were deserted. The impact of heavy airstrikes and shelling was so visible. Roads are riddled with craters, complicating aid deliveries."

More than 70 per cent of people in the Gaza Strip have been displaced by the war. More than 1 million people are now in UNRWA shelters, including nearly 100,000 people in 50 shelters in the north.

"During the pause, people continue to move south. Due to heavy rain, we saw people covered in mud, carrying what they can. A young mother was walking along the side of the road with her two small daughters, both in tears. One of the girls just holding up one of her muddy shoes. We saw young men, women, children, old people. A few people were pushed on wheelchairs," added White.

UNRWA teams in Jabalia stayed in the north to serve their communities. These UNRWA staff members have kept health clinics open, water wells running, and have been providing services to displaced people sheltering in UNRWA facilities.

"There are some remarkable stories of our courageous colleagues staying and serving their communities in northern Gaza. A head of UNRWA sanitation services, despite the unspeakable grief of his wife and daughter being killed, is out working every day to provide essential services for the community," said White.

Since the pause started, UNRWA delivered assistance to several UNRWA shelters in the north. This included medical supplies, ready-to-eat food, wheat flour, bottled water, tents and blankets.

"Many families remain in their war-damaged houses, the only place that they call home. They told us they were afraid to make the trek south and live through the depravations of displacement in another part of the Gaza Strip that has not been spared from the war," concluded White.

UNRWA calls for the pause to turn into a full humanitarian ceasefire to provide respite for the people and allow humanitarian aid and commercial goods to flow without interruption into the Gaza Strip.

ENDs-

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UN Chief: 'We Must Not Look Away' From Gaza 'Catastrophe'

By Margaret Besheer November 29, 2023

The U.N. secretary-general called Wednesday for Israel and Hamas to prolong a temporary truce, saying a "true humanitarian cease-fire" is needed in the eight-week-old war.

"The people of Gaza are in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world," Antonio Guterres told a ministerial-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the situation. "We must not look away."

He welcomed the numerous aid trucks and fuel deliveries that have flowed into Gaza  both south and north  during the pause that began on Friday. Since then, 60 hostages held by Hamas and 180 Palestinian prisoners have also been released.

But Guterres said "much, much more" is needed to address the humanitarian needs of Gaza's 2.2 million residents. He urged Israel to open more than just the single border crossing that is available now and called for the private sector to restart commercial activities.

Hamas killed some 1,200 people in Israel during its brutal October 7 terror attacks and continues to barrage Israeli towns with rocket fire.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put the Palestinian death toll from the war at more than 15,000, most of them women and children. Many more people are missing beneath collapsed buildings.

On Monday and Tuesday, local health officials said 160 bodies were recovered from the rubble.

Guterres, Malki lament Palestinian lives lost

"In a matter of weeks, a far greater number of children have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza than the total number of children killed during any year, by any party to a conflict since I have been secretary-general," said Guterres, who began his tenure in January 2017.

Wednesday marked the U.N.'s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki charged that 75 years after what Palestinians call the "Nakba," or catastrophe  the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War  Israel is trying to "finish the job."

"So many lives turned to names on plastic bags, leaving this Earth way too early," Malki said of the thousands of Palestinians who have been killed since October 7.

He welcomed the temporary truce negotiated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States but said it must be turned into a permanent cease-fire.

"The massacres cannot be allowed to resume. This is not a war. It is a carnage that nothing and no one can justify. It must be brought to an end," Malki told a chamber packed with diplomats and many Arab and Muslim foreign ministers.

Malki vowed that despite the destruction leveled on Gaza, the territory would not be erased and its residents would not be uprooted.

"There is no Palestine without Gaza," Malki said. "Gaza bleeds. Gaza suffers. Gaza aches. But Gaza lives. And Palestine lives."

Israel wants end to Hamas threat

Israel's envoy reiterated the need to end the threat from Hamas, which has been designated a terror group by Israel, the United States, the European Union and others.

"Every call for a cease-fire means Hamas gets to live to see another day, terrorizing Israelis and impoverishing Gazans," said Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan.

He said Hamas has threatened to repeat its terror attack of October 7 until Israel is no more, and asked how other countries would handle the same situation.

"How would you respond and defend your citizens from such a clear threat? With a cease-fire?" he asked, telling the Security Council it should focus on its mandate, which is security.

Israel's closest ally, the United States, called for scaled-up aid to Gaza and the protection of civilians, including U.N. staff and journalists. More than 110 Palestinian U.N. staffers and 50 Palestinian journalists have died in Gaza.

"The United States has urged Israel to take every possible measure to prevent civilian casualties as it exercises its rights to safeguard its people from acts of terror," Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

"We know Hamas continues to use civilians as human shields purposefully, cruelly putting Palestinian civilians in harm's way. But this does not lessen Israel's responsibility to protect civilians  consistent with international humanitarian law."

She said Washington supports extending the humanitarian pause in order to release all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.

"Israel has been very clear that it is prepared to continue the pause in fighting for every day that Hamas releases an additional 10 hostages," she said. "The ball is now in Hamas' court, and if Hamas decides not to extend this deal, the responsibility will rest squarely on its shoulders."

Israel's war cabinet was meeting late Wednesday to discuss whether to further extend the pause.

Other council members worried what would happen if the pause ends.

"Resumed fighting would only most likely turn into a calamity that devours the whole region," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who chaired the session as council president for November.

"China strongly hopes that the past days of pause will not be a hiatus before a new round of offensive but rather the beginning of further diplomatic efforts for a comprehensive and lasting cease-fire," he added.

There were also calls for relaunching a peace process.

"We should translate this dark episode into an opportunity to address the root cause of the conflict, otherwise the symptoms that we see today will be more catastrophic tomorrow," warned Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Several Arab ministers called for full recognition of Palestine as a state at the United Nations. Currently, it holds observer status. The U.N. Security Council would have to approve that  something the United States is highly unlikely to do before all final status issues are resolved through negotiations.

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Chinese FM says two-state solution only way to resolve Palestinian question

Xinhua) 13:43, November 30, 2023

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The two-state solution is the only way to fundamentally resolve the Palestinian question, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

When meeting the press after presiding over a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed that the two-state solution is the only way out.

The settlement of the Palestinian question does not lack for grand plans or slogans, but the courage and actions to stand up for justice, Wang said.

"The two-state solution is the bottom line for international justice. There is no stepping back from that. Independent statehood is an inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, a right that cannot be traded away," he said.

"In the face of the historical injustice long suffered by the Palestinian people, no one has an excuse to procrastinate and there is no justification for inaction. When it comes to the issues bearing on the future of the Palestinian people, no country has a veto right," said Wang.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and must be prioritized, rather than marginalized, on the international agenda, he said, noting that only when the two-state solution is fully implemented can the Middle East enjoy genuine peace and Israel enjoy lasting security.

China calls for the convening of a more broadly-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to further build consensus on promoting peace and work out a concrete timetable and roadmap to push for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Afghans Face Abuses in Pakistan, US Announces Hotline

By Akmal Dawi November 29, 2023

Pakistani police are facing accusations of unlawfully detaining, beating, extorting and sexually harassing Afghan refugees as part of a coercive campaign aimed at compelling them to return to their home country.

"Police and other officials have carried out mass detentions, seized property and livestock, and destroyed identity documents to expel thousands of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers," U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Afghan women told Human Rights Watch that Pakistani police had sometimes sexually harassed some Afghan women and girls and threatened them with sexual assault."

Amnesty International has also reported on the trauma experienced by refugee women during police night raids.

"Many women are sleeping fully covered [in veils] because they are afraid of nighttime police raids by male police officers," the U.K.-based rights organization said, quoting a female human rights lawyer.

Afghans in need of visa extensions in Pakistan are reportedly required to pay fines exceeding $800, while others have reported extortion.

"Afghan traders in Akbari Mandi in Lahore were searched for documentation by individuals in plain clothes claiming to be police officials who confiscated Rs. 500,000 [$1,750] in cash," Amnesty International said.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has expressed alarm at these reports and urged Islamabad to cease the deportation campaign.

"The local police conducted a night raid on our home," a refugee told the U.N. human rights body. "They confiscated cash, jewelry, goats, sheep and other items from our home and took them."

Cause for deportation

In October, Pakistani authorities announced that all foreign nationals in the country without valid visas and permits would be expelled within a short period.

While Pakistani officials cite Afghan nationals' alleged involvement in crimes and security incidents, experts suggest that Islamabad is leveraging mass deportations to press the Afghan Taliban to meet its security demands.

Islamabad claims Pakistani Taliban insurgents have havens in Afghanistan from where they orchestrate terrorist attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban deny the charge.

"The mass deportation is primarily driven by considerations  in particular Pakistan's loss of patience with the Taliban  that have little to do with any purported danger posed by migrants and refugees themselves," U.S.-based International Crisis Group reported this month.

Aid agencies have warned that a mass deportation, particularly during the cold season, would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Nearly half of the 3 million Afghans living in Pakistan are registered by the United Nations as refugees. The U.N. has reported that more than 370,000 Afghans have repatriated from Pakistan over the past two months.

US hotline

About 25,000 Afghans who worked for U.S. and international programs in Afghanistan prior to the Taliban's return to power in 2021 are in Pakistan with applications for resettlement in the United States pending.

Afghans seeking U.S. consular services must travel to a third country, primarily Pakistan, because the U.S. Embassy in Kabul remains closed, and Washington has refused to diplomatically recognize the Taliban regime.

This week, the U.S. Department of State announced an emergency hotline for Afghans who are on a pathway to U.S. immigration and resettlement but face deportation or detainment in Pakistan.

The Department of State did not respond to questions about the kind of services the hotline provides, but messages sent via WhatsApp to the hotline returned autoreplies asking for personal identification, date and place of detention for individuals concerned.

"Chats are answered in the order they are received," a reply from the hotline said.

Human rights groups have called on the U.S. and other Western governments to expedite the resettlement process of Afghans from Pakistan to prevent their possible expulsion to Afghanistan, where they could face persecution.

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Taliban Say Afghan Embassy in India Set to Resume Operations Soon

By Ayaz Gul November 29, 2023

A senior Taliban government official has stated its representatives have taken control of Afghanistan's diplomatic missions in India, including the embassy in New Delhi.

Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban deputy foreign minister, has told Afghan state-run television that the embassy in the Indian capital would reopen in the next couple of days.

His assertions came after diplomats loyal to the U.S.-backed ousted Afghan government announced last week they were permanently shutting down the embassy over alleged lack of cooperation from the host country, among other issues.

"Our consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad are functioning and in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [in Kabul] and delivering routine consular services," Stanekzai said in his interview the RTA aired on Tuesday.

He added that consuls at both missions moved to New Delhi earlier this week and reopened offices at the Afghan embassy. "God willing, our embassy will resume regular services in two to three days."

The Islamist Taliban reclaimed power in Afghanistan two years ago, but India and the world at large have not granted them diplomatic legitimacy, mainly over human rights conners and their harsh treatment of Afghan women.

Last Friday, the Afghan embassy posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the mission was shutting down and the keys had been given to the host government. It alleged pressure from both India and the Taliban had forced the decision.

"Unfortunately, despite an eight-week wait, the objectives of visa extension for diplomats and a shift in the Indian government's conduct were not realized," the statement quoted the then-Ambassador Farid Mamundzay as saying.

It noted that Afghan diplomats had reached third countries, and none remained in India. They are reportedly seeking asylum in the U.S. and Europe.

"The only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings," the embassy said, without discussing the status of the consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

The Indian foreign ministry so far has not commented on the status of the Afghan diplomatic missions in the country.

India is among the more than a dozen countries that have kept open or returned to reopen their embassies in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. They included neighboring Pakistan, China, Iran, and Russia.

These countries also have allowed Taliban diplomats to take charge of Afghan diplomatic missions on their respective soils, saying their engagement is aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and ensuring the war-torn country does not plunge into chaos again.

The United States and other Western countries relocated their diplomatic missions to Qatar just before the U.S.-led international forces withdrew in August 2021, ending nearly two decades of Western involvement in the war with the then-insurgent Taliban.

Washington remains the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, where millions require assistance.

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Gets Mixed Reviews After One Year in Power

By Dave Grunebaum November 29, 2023

Little more than a year after becoming Malaysia's prime minister in late-November 2022, Anwar Ibrahim is getting mixed reviews from political analysts.

As the country's fifth prime minister in less than five years, some credit his sustained grasp on power with bringing political stability to the country.

"When Anwar formed the government last November, a lot of pundits or the general population think it will only last two months or three months [until] the government will collapse because the government consisted of 19 different [parties]," said Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research in Kuala Lumpur. "But it has already lasted for one year.

"It brings stability," he added. "What the people want basically is stability so that the government can function and do what the government is supposed to do."

Survey results released by the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research, however, say Anwar's approval rating dropped to 50% compared to 68% a year ago. It also showed substantially increased dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the economy.

Maria Chin, 37, a local accountant who voted for Anwar's coalition last year, complained to VOA about rising costs of living. "Our family's grocery bills have gone way up," said the married mother of two children.

But Azmi says the prime minister has limited control over this issue.

"Food prices going up and ordinary things [costing more] is not unique to Malaysia," Azmi said. "What Anwar has done is to give cash aid to the people who need it most. Not only giving cash aid to a wider section of the community, but he [increased] the amount."

Political analyst Wong Chin-Huat credited Anwar with cutting red tape to help speed up the approval process for privately funded projects. "Anwar's administration is looking for ways to make Malaysia more attractive to foreign companies," Wong said.

Anwar's administration says one of its goals is to make Malaysia a regional hub for the electric vehicle industry. Several months ago, Tesla announced that it would set up its first Southeast Asian office in Malaysia.

Anwar's swearing in capped an incredible comeback for the long-time opposition leader who served two jail terms totaling almost a decade for sodomy and corruption, charges he says were politically motivated.

Always maintaining his innocence, Anwar has pledged to fight corruption. But critics say the prime minister hasn't followed through on many of the reforms he has long advocated, including the separation of politics from the justice system and softening the quota system for admission to public universities that heavily favors the country's ethnic Malays.

Leading a multi-ethnic coalition that has traditionally enjoyed strong support from liberal ethnic Malays as well as the country's minorities. Anwar, says Wong, is trying to satisfy conservative voters but disappointing some long-time supporters.

The majority of Malaysians are ethnic Malay Muslims, but the country has sizeable ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indian minorities. Most of them are Buddhist, Christian or Hindu.

Anwar received heavy criticism after the attorney general's chambers dropped 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who heads the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) political party. Zahid was a long-time political rival who joined Anwar's coalition after the November 2022 election.

"Many of the ethnic minorities who have been supporting [Anwar] for the past 25 years are getting disillusioned thinking that Anwar lacks the determination to change the country," Wong said. "But at the same time most of the ethnic minorities also understand that there is not a better alternative."

Five opposition MPs recently shifted their support and backed Anwar as prime minister. Several of them said they needed to take this step to help their constituencies get more federal funding.

"This is the [Malaysian] equivalent of pork barrel politics in America," Wong said, describing the style of politics that Anwar had long battled as an opposition leader. "Anwar is showing that he's not a full reformist."

But Azmi defended this maneuver.

There are "a lot of things Anwar said during his opposition days that cannot be fulfilled when they are in the government because when you are in the government you are in a different position," Azmi said. "There are certain political realities that he has to deal with in order to keep his government stable."

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Readout of President Biden's Call with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates

November 29, 2023

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Mohamed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates to affirm the strong bilateral ties between the United States and the UAE and to express appreciation to the UAE for organizing COP28 in Dubai. The President asked Vice President Harris to attend the COP28 Leaders Summit on his behalf to showcase U.S. global leadership on climate at home and abroad and to help galvanize increased global ambition at this critical event. The United States delegation will also include Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and dozens of senior U.S. officials representing more than 20 departments and agencies. The two leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East region and welcomed the recent hostage deal and humanitarian pause, which has enabled a surge in assistance to the people of Gaza. President Biden reiterated the steadfast U.S. commitment to peace and security in the Middle East region.

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Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger

November 29, 2023

On Tuesday, November 28, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger. The two discussed ongoing efforts to sustain and expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and restoration of basic services in Gaza, and to bolster civilian protections and humanitarian access throughout Gaza. National Security Advisor Sullivan reiterated the call for the immediate release of all hostages, and highlighted the imperative need for the ICRC to have access to and provide medical assistance to those hostages still being detained. National Security Advisor Sullivan thanked ICRC President Spoljaric for the ICRC's hard work to deliver life-saving assistance to civilians in Gaza, which they undertake at great personal risk.

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Readout of National Security Advisor to the Vice President Philip Gordon's Travel to El Salvador

November 29, 2023

National Security Advisor to the Vice President Dr. Philip Gordon and a delegation of high-level U.S. officials, including USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, traveled to El Salvador on November 28 and met with government officials, private sector leaders, and civil society representatives. Dr. Gordon and the delegation discussed bilateral cooperation and emphasized the importance of good governance, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights to promote prosperity and security in the region.

In a meeting with President Nayib Bukele, Dr. Gordon emphasized the importance of the bilateral relationship; the need to uphold human rights and due process; and the potential to expand economic opportunity.

In a discussion with civil society leaders, Dr. Gordon and the delegation reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to human rights, fair judicial processes, and the importance of civic space.

During a tour of an H2 visa center, Dr. Gordon and the delegation saw firsthand how the U.S. government advances legal pathways for migration and promotes fair recruitment and labor protections for workers while supporting U.S. businesses through the H2 visa temporary worker program.

In a gender-based violence site visit, Dr. Gordon and the delegation discussed with civil society leaders our efforts to combat gender-based violence in further support of the Root Causes Strategy while also stressing the importance of supporting victims, enhancing civilian security, and adhering to the rule of law.

Dr. Gordon and the delegation also engaged with El Salvador's Minister of Economy and private sector leaders to discuss inclusive economic growth and the challenges and opportunities for attracting investment. They discussed ways to mobilize additional support for Central America Forward, the public-private partnership led by the Vice President, which has generated more than $4.2 billion in private sector commitments for the region.

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U.S. military aircraft with 8 aboard crashes off SW Xi pledges China's continuous efforts to uphold justice on Palestinian issue island

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:38, November 30, 2023

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged China's continuous efforts to uphold justice on the Palestinian issue, actively promote peace talks and provide, as always, humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side.

In a congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Xi said China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to work with the international community to build global consensus for promoting peace, and bring the Palestinian issue back to the right track of the two-state solution for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 29 November 2023 - Day 644

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that through November 2023, the Russian air force has likely started to more frequently employ the RBK-500 500kg cluster munition bomb. Depending on the variant, each RBK-500 ejects between approximately 100 and 350 sub-munitions. In turn, each sub-munition typically detonates with either hundreds of high-velocity fragments, or a single, larger anti-tank charge.

RBK-500 are reported to have been deployed against Ukrainian forces on the Vuhledar axis and near Avdiivka, both in Donetsk Oblast. There is a realistic possibility that, as with other air-dropped bombs, Russia has likely recently integrated a UMPC guided stand-off glide kit with RBK-500. This allows the carrying aircraft to release the munition many kilometres away from the target.

Russia's glide bomb kits have generally achieved poor accuracy. However, with its large number of sub-munitions, a single RBK-500 can cause effects over an area of several hundred metres, increasing the chance of inflicting at least some damage on the intended target.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 29, there were 73x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile strikes, 13x air strikes, 8x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Moreover, the Russian Federation launched another attack on Ukraine with 1x Kh-31 guided missile and 2x S-300 antiaircraft missiles. The strikes targeted civilian infrastructure.

The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains difficult.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 10x settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Znob-Trubchevs'ka, Klyusy (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Vovchans'k, Hatyshche, Mala Vovcha (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, northeast of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks on this axis. The Russian adversary launched air strikes near Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kup'yans'k, Kurylivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, east of Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful assaults near Ivanivske and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Chasiv Yar, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults with air support near Stepove, Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults with air support in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives south of Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks. Russian forces launched an air strike near Novoukrainka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 5x attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Also, Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.

Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlement of Tyahynka (Kherson oblast).

Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their ground on the left bank of the Dnipro River (Kherson oblast) and inflict fire on the Russian forces.

During the day of November 29, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x strikes on air defense systems of the Russian occupiers.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x command posts, 2x ammunition depots, 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Liman Perviy (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by helicopters repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade and 12th Special Operations Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the tactical situation at the forward lines and liberated Artyomovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over the past 24 hours, three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade, 77th Airmobile Brigade, and 5th Assault Brigade were repelled near Shumy, Artyomovskoye, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 250 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one M777 artillery system, two D-30 howitzers, one D-20 howitzer, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare system, and one MLRS ammunition depot were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 79th Airborne Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Antonovka, and Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one MLRS Grad combat vehicle.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd Mechanised Brigade, and 71st Infantry Brigade near Kamenskoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, the AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers, and two D-20 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated one assembly workshop for production and repair of radar stations, one P-18 radar station, one S-300 anti-aircraft system, fuel and air-delivered ordnance depots, as well as manpower and hardware in 127 areas during the day.

The Russian Aerospace Forces Fighter Aviation intercepted one Ukrainian Air Forces MiG-29 aircraft near Mezhevoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and shot down one U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missile.

Air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 aircraft near Novoolenovka (Donetsk People's Republic). 11 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles were intercepted during the past 24 hours

In addition, 38 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Novoolenovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Belogorovka, Novonikolskoye, Verkhnekamenka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), Ulyanovka and Romanovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 544 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,301 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,687 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,205 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,746 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Hospitals across China grapple with respiratory illnesses surge

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Nov 29, 2023 10:37 PM Updated: Nov 29, 2023 10:47 PM

From providing more beds for pneumonia treatment and allocating more manpower to extending working hours, hospitals across China are grappling with a surge in cases of respiratory illnesses in children, especially a spike in mycoplasma pneumonia.

But the Global Times learned from several hospitals and clinics in Beijing, Shanghi and Central China's Henan Province that though facing an obvious increase in outpatient and inpatient visits for respiratory illnesses this winter, the health system has not been overwhelmed as it did during the early stage of the fight against COVID-19.

The Capital Institute of Pediatrics, a Beijing-headquartered renowned hospital for children, which has been one of the top choices for Beijing parents when their children get sick, has made several improvements to enhance its medical treatment capability - raising the number of infusion seats by 48.7 percent on the daily basis compared to their usual capacity, and also expanding the number of beds available for patients with pneumonia by 40.58 percent, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

In order to manage the high demand at the hospital, there has been an 86.36 percent increase in the number of doctors available for visits. Moreover, a dedicated fast-track system has been implemented for critically ill children, allowing them to receive diagnostic reports promptly, the Beijing Youth Daily report said.

The Global Times spoke with the pediatrics department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine on Wednesday. Zhou Rongyi, deputy director of the hospital's pediatrics department, stated that his department receives more than 2,000 visits a day, about 70 percent of whom are patients of respiratory tract infections. It has been hard to find a ward since October. Many children are infected with mycoplasma this time. One of the main reasons for this is the combination infections of influenza and mycoplasma."

As one of the coping measures, Zhou's hospital has opened pediatric wards previously used for treating COVID-19 patients to accommodate the surge in cases. Like many other pediatric hospitals, they have extended their working hours from 5:30 pm until 8 pm to provide convenience for working parents.

Zhou emphasized that "while some pediatric hospitals may have long queues and limited ward availability, overall, medical resources have not reached an overwhelmed state. Hospitals have learned from their experiences with COVID-19 and have developed strategies to prioritize severe cases and classify treatment based on symptoms."

Major hospitals and local health authorities have also disseminated information on influenza and pneumonia prevention measures to communities and grass-roots hospitals in a bid to alleviate pressure, Zhou said.

The overall medical situation in our hospital is currently stable, with a decrease in the number of children seeking treatment for mycoplasma pneumonia infection and an increase in cases of influenza, an expert from Shanghai Children's Medical Center, who asked for anonymity, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The Global Times learned in Shanghai that major hospitals in this metropolis have been adding pre-examination tests, medical scheduling, and enhancing internet-based outpatient services as parts of their efforts to alleviate their pressure of receiving patients. The move has also reduced waiting time of patients.

Though facing overcrowding in hospitals, most people still tend to seek doctors in major hospitals. However, experts said, community hospitals can play a crucial role in managing this wave of respiratory disease.

A Beijing mother, preferred to be referred to as Song, who recently brought her child to the Liulitun Community Health Service Center in Beijing, shared her experience with the Global Times. Due to difficulties in registering at pediatric hospitals and long waiting times, she opted to visit the community hospital near her home. The doctor conducted various tests and prescribed medication for routine treatment. Song emphasized that parents do not need to overcrowd large hospitals when community hospitals are fully capable of providing effective treatment at an early stage.

Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, echoed this sentiment. He told the Global Times on Wednesday that most community hospitals can prescribe effective medications and treat respiratory diseases at an early stage.

This year's respiratory diseases are caused by commonly known pathogens, but there has been a noticeable increase in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, which is more resistant to antibiotics due to long-term overuse. Zhou stated that in his clinical practice, about 80-90 percent of children infected with mycoplasma pneumonia are resistant to commonly used drugs. Early oral treatment in outpatient clinics is no longer effective, leading to more hospitalized cases.

Lu believes the recent outbreak of mycoplasma pneumonia is an "immunization gap," which resulted in children not having the opportunity to develop resistance to common viruses like influenza. As a result, when the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, they became vulnerable to these pathogens, Lu told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Lu advised parents to consider the prevalence of the disease in their child's environment and seek timely diagnosis and medication. Lu reassured parents that there is no need to worry, as timely treatment can effectively manage infections like mycoplasma pneumonia.

Hypes are biased

Amid a surge in respiratory illnesses in China, which the country's health authorities have already attributed to known pathogens, certain overseas media reports have been sensationalizing the severity of the diseases and even raising doubts about China's transparency in dealing with respiratory illnesses. These reports have hyped concerns about whether travel restrictions should be imposed on China.

Respiratory and pediatric experts have rebuffed these claims, stating that such hype is not based on facts and reminding individual countries and media to avoid their biased perspectives when reporting on China-related affairs.

However, health experts reached by the Global Times have criticized these reports for sensationalizing an inhumane image of the country. The truth is that this practice is not common in hospitals across the country.

The Global Times found out that very few hospitals had set up study areas for children, including Jiangsu Nantong First People's Hospital. Later on, the hospital in Jiangsu clarified that the study zone was set up two months ago as a makeshift measure for students who haven't finished their homework, not as an encouragement for children to study while receiving medical treatment.

Both educational and health authorities in provinces including East China's Shandong Province as well as Beijing have also advised students not to take classes or do their homework when they are sick. Personal health always comes first.

When the World Health Organization made a standard request to China last week for information regarding the reported cases of "undiagnosed pneumonia," some Western media outlets publicized this request as unusual. Experts have noted that this was an attempt to sensationalize China's transparency over increase in respiratory diseases.

On Tuesday, when a reporter from Antara asked the spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry about rising concerns among the international public about the safety of traveling to China as well as people who travel from China, Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson, said, "Let me assure you that it is safe to travel and do business here in China and there's no need to worry."

On Wednesday, answering a reporter from NHK about international attention over increasing outpatient and emergency visits, Wang said China's National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference on November 26 to share information on the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in winter. The NHC has had communication in a timely manner with the WHO, Wang emphasized.

Commenting on media's exaggerated worries and concerns about China's respiratory disease, Zhou, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine,told the Global Times that it is not surprising to see some Western media outlets spreading false information about China. ''But facts speak for themselves.''

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Belarus: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the regime's latest attacks on democratic forces

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.11.2023

Belarus

EEAS Press Team

On Tuesday, the authorities in Minsk unleashed a new wave of persecution against the members of the democratic forces in Belarus. The attacks are aimed at intimidating and eliminating potential political opponents, especially ahead of the parliamentary elections in February next year.

Lukashenko's services raided apartments of key figures of the Belarusian pro-democratic forces and their families, and announced the seizure of properties and other assets.

The European Union condemns the attacks on representatives of Belarusian democratic forces and their families, which are yet another deplorable example of the ongoing repressions and misuse of power by Lukashenko and his regime.

The EU will continue to support all those who courageously stand up for an independent and democratic Belarus, and is ready to take further action in response to continued serious human rights violations.

We call on the regime to refrain from any further repression and violence directed against the Belarusian people, and to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.

Belarusian citizens deserve the right to be represented by those they freely choose through transparent, free and fair elections.



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China, Australia should be 'cautious of destructive forces' as ties improve

Global Times

Hard-won momentum needs to be cherished: analyst

By Zhang Han Published: Nov 29, 2023 09:56 PM Updated: Nov 29, 2023 10:45 PM

Senior Chinese official Liu Jianchao delivered an overall positive speech on China-Australia ties at a university in Sydney local time on Tuesday, but also urged that "great prudence" is needed for Australian vessels following a recent spat, which reflects China's goodwill to revive relations while maintaining a firm stance on core interests, analysts said on Wednesday.

Liu, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke to officials, academics, businesspeople and media representatives at the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney on Tuesday.

Liu urged "prudence" in response to a question on an incident earlier in November, where Australia media claimed has caused minor injuries to Australian divers. However, such claims are completely inconsistent with the facts, as the Chinese vessel kept a safe distance from the Australian vessel, and did not conduct any activity that could affect the Australian side's diving operations, according to Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on November 20.

The incident arose from Australia's behavior in the region that gave "Chinese people a message that Australian naval vessels are there to contain China." "What would happen if a Chinese naval ship came to your waters or waters near Australia? Naturally you send your ships to monitor and identify," Liu said, according to Australian media reports.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that such close-in operations will prompt China to take self-defense actions such as monitoring and warning, and that scenario could increase the risk of frictions and incidents that neither side wants to see.

An occasional incident teaches a lesson, but "it should not be hyped continuously and become a barrier to improve bilateral relations," Chen said.

When China and Australia strive to stabilize and reinvigorate their relations, there are people inside Australia and external forces that do not want the trend to continue, Chen noted, adding that both Australia and China should cherish the hard-won momentum and be cautious of destructive forces.

Liu, in his speech, acknowledged that the China-Australia relationship has been at the forefront of China's relations with developed countries for a long time, but it has also experienced setbacks. Since last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have met twice, providing guidance for the development of China-Australia relations.

Liu stressed China and Australia should enhance mutual trust, adhere to the positioning of bilateral relations as a comprehensive strategic partnership, and anchor the right direction of China-Australia relations.

The two sides should fully tap the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and strive for common development, overcome differences in political systems, historical and cultural backgrounds and national conditions, expand consensus, properly handle divergences, and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Australia relations, Liu said.

Many differences are negotiable between China and Australia, but the sensitive topic of sovereignty and territorial integrity is not among them, Chen stressed.

Chen was among more than 700 people who attended the Tuesday event on site or via video link. The overall atmosphere was dynamic and amicable despite a few questions mainly raised by media with a reputation of being unfriendly to China, according to Chen.

Another question asked Liu about the prospects of China-Australia defense cooperation and military ties.

Such a question from Australia reflects the high expectations Australian public hold for bilateral relations, Chen said, as military cooperation marks a high level of mutual trust between two countries.

Liu on Tuesday also emphasized to deepen exchanges and strengthen communication at all levels and in various fields between the two governments, political parties, think tanks, youth and localities.

The senior official on Wednesday met with Peter Dutton, leader of the Opposition, and David Littleproud, leader of Australia's National Party. Liu emphasized the role of inter-party exchanges and friendship in consolidating the relationship between the two countries.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on November 29, 2023

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2023-11-29 19:12

CCTV: We noted that the first China International Supply Chain Expo opened in Beijing yesterday morning. Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and put forward a four-point proposal on deepening international cooperation on industrial and supply chains. Hours earlier, the US announced the establishment of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience to reduce reliance on "high-risk foreign suppliers". Analysts are seeing two diverging trajectories on global industrial and supply chains, with China representing openness and the US isolation. What's your comment?

Wang Wenbin: As President Xi Jinping noted, maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is an important guarantee for the promotion of global economic development, and serves the common interests of people around the world. The China International Supply Chain Expo is the world's first national exhibition themed on supply chain. It is also a new platform for China to advance high-level opening-up and foster an open world economy. A total of 515 Chinese and foreign businesses and institutions are participating in the expo. Overseas companies account for 26 percent of the total, and US exhibitors, including Fortune 500 and multinational corporations like Amazon, Apple, Tesla, Intel and Qualcomm, take up 20 percent of all overseas companies.a

Premier Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony of the expo yesterday and delivered a keynote speech. He noted that China is not only a participant and beneficiary of global industrial and supply chain cooperation, but also a staunch defender and builder. China stands ready to work with all parties to build more resilient, efficient and dynamic global industrial and supply chains and contribute more to world economic recovery and global development and prosperity. Premier Li put forward a four-point proposal on deepening international cooperation on industrial and supply chains. He called for joint efforts to build a global industrial and supply chain system that is secure, stable, smooth, efficient, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial and expressed the hope that entrepreneurs around the world will play a positive role in safeguarding the sound operation of global industrial and supply chains. China will offer more facilitation and better services for foreign businesses investing or operating in China.

You mentioned two trajectories in the world, openness versus isolation. China's choice is staying committed to advancing high-level opening-up and building an open world economy.

The Associated Press: Supporters of the government in Myanmar say that the Chinese government is supporting the rebel offensive in the Shan State. There's even been protest in Myanmar against China because of this belief. Experts say that the fighting could only be happening if China allows it to happen. Can you comment on whether China is supporting the brotherhood alliance and the offensive in Myanmar?

Wang Wenbin: China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors. China has always respected Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, sincerely hoped for stability and development in the country, and firmly supported Myanmar in advancing the peace process. Any attempt to sow discord and undermine the "pauk-phaw" friendship between our two countries will not win support or succeed.

Bloomberg: Will Foreign Minister Wang Yi be visiting Viet Nam from Thursday?

Wang Wenbin: I have nothing to offer at the moment.

Beijing Daily: The report launched by the United Nations Environment Programme finds that nations must go further than current Paris pledges or face global warming of 2.5-2.9 degrees Celsius. Does China agree with the view? What efforts would be made to achieve the Paris Agreement goals as scheduled?a

Wang Wenbin: I have noted the report you mentioned. In recent years, extreme weather events are rampant with acute negative impacts. The report reminds us again that global efforts to address climate change are far from enough. Consensus has been reached under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on the principles and goals of the global climate response. The main goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. To achieve this goal, the Convention and the Agreement also call on developed countries to take the lead in drastically cutting their carbon emissions and provide support in finance, technology and capacity-building for climate actions of developing countries. Developing countries should also actively contribute strength to addressing climate change.a

As a responsible major developing country, China has over-shot the climate action targets of 2020 ahead of schedule, will make the steepest cuts in the world to the intensity of our carbon emissions, and will complete the process from carbon emissions peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest span of time, actively contributing our strength to global climate governance. The climate policies and objectives that China has adopted now are fully consistent with the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.a

However, the mitigation efforts from developed countries are far from enough. They should take the lead in drastically increasing their efforts in emissions reduction, reach net zero carbon emissions much earlier than 2050, and create space for developing countries to achieve sustainable development goals. Developed countries also need to take credible steps to fully fulfill their obligations of supporting developing countries in finance, technology and capacity-building, realizing the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement with concrete actions.

The upcoming COP28 will see the first-ever global stocktake of the Paris Agreement, which is highly anticipated by all parties. We hope that this global stocktake will focus on implementation, fully assess the collective progress of realizing goals set in the Paris Agreement, evaluate the gap between developed countries' targets and actions and their obligations in cutting emissions, identify the gap between the needs of developing countries and the support provided, and earnestly urge developed countries to deliver on their promises. We hope that COP28 will take the global stocktake as an opportunity to act on multilateralism with the UN at its core, fully address developing countries' concerns, advance a just green transition pragmatically and respond to climate change with solidarity and cooperation so as to create more favorable conditions to implement the Convention and the Agreement and send a positive message of focusing on action and cooperation to the international community.

AFP: Closing arguments are due to begin in Hong Kong today in the trial of 47 pro-democracy activists, who were arrested under the National Security Law passed in 2020. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on the trial today?

Wang Wenbin: What you mentioned is not a matter of foreign affairs. Let me reiterate that Hong Kong is a society with the rule of law. We support Hong Kong SAR's judiciary in performing duties in accordance with law.a

Yomiuri Shimbun: Yesterday Japanese Ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi paid a consular visit to the Japanese national detained in Beijing in March this year. This is the first time that a Japanese ambassador to China paid a consular visit to a Japanese national detained in China, and the Japanese government is following this case closely. What is your comment on this?

Wang Wenbin: In accordance with the stipulations of relevant international conventions and the China-Japan Consular Agreement, China has arranged the consular visit by officials from the Japanese Embassy in China.

Relevant Chinese authorities adopted compulsory measures in accordance with the criminal procedure law against the Japanese citizen suspected of engaging in espionage activities. China is a country under the rule of law.a The case concerned will be handled in accordance with the law and the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned will be protected accordingly.

NHK: Recently, hospitals across China have seen an increase in the number of outpatient and emergency visits, which has caught the attention of the WHO and the international community. Does the foreign ministry have any response to this?

Wang Wenbin: On November 26, China's National Health Commission (NHC) held a press conference to share information on the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in winter. The NHC has had communication in a timely manner with the WHO. You may refer to relevant information that is readily available.a

CCTV: According to reports by Canada's The Globe and Mail,a Michael Spavor, who is suspected of engaging in espionage activities in China, said he provided Michael Kovrig with sensitive information about the DPRK, which was later passed on to the Canadian government and its Five Eyes spy-service partners unbeknownst to Michael Spavor. This led to the arrests of the two persons in China. What's China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are suspected of criminal acts endangering China's national security. Chinese judicial authorities handled the case in strict accordance with the law. The false accusation against China of "arbitrary detention" was a complete distortion of facts and blame-shifting. Stories made up by the Canadian side have been debunked by facts over time. This is the result of Canada's own doing. We urge the Canadian side to respect facts, deeply reflect upon its mistakes and stop misleading public opinion, and smearing China.a

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China In Eurasia Briefing: Is The Middle Corridor Set To Take Off?

By Reid Standish November 29, 2023

Is The Middle Corridor Set To Take Off?

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has breathed new life into the Middle Corridor trade route that links Chinese and European markets via Central Asia and the Caucasus, and according to a new report from the World Bank, is poised to grow in the coming years.

Finding Perspective: The new study by the World Bank says that the trade volumes along the Middle Corridor could triple by 2030, where they'd reach 11 million tons of goods. That's welcome news for the countries along the route and adds some much needed clarity to the Middle Corridor's potential.

Boosting trade from China through Russia to the European Union has been a focal point of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and the Western sanctions that followed have forced China and the EU to search for other options.

The main alternative is the roughly 6,500-kilometer network of roads, railroads, and ports stretching across Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and into Europe that make up the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Sensing opportunity, local governments have been active in the last two years when it comes to securing new deals on how to grow the Middle Corridor.

With continued investment and policies aimed at breaking trade bottlenecks, the report adds that the route could invigorate regional trade and boost connectivity for countries involved, many of which have traditionally found themselves isolated from the main arteries of global trade.

The World Bank said that increased trade between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and the EU are the main drivers of demand along the route, with its models projecting a 37 percent increase in trade between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, along with a 28 percent increase between those countries and the EU by 2030.

"Our new data confirms that the Middle Corridor is not only viable but can also become essential to the economies of countries along the route," said Antonella Bassani, the World Bank's vice president for Europe and Central Asia.

Why It Matters: The World Bank's new report suggests that the Middle Corridor's time is finally on the horizon, but that comes with important caveats.

The route has been around for years and received billions of dollars in Chinese investment in infrastructure over the last decade, but cost concerns and a lack of infrastructure have limited its appeal to major shipping companies.

Prior to the war in Ukraine, Russian trains -- which brought goods directly to Europe by rail or port, or entered via Belarus -- made up 68 percent of westbound traffic and 82 percent of eastbound traffic for EU-China overland trade.

As the report notes, "considerable progress" has been made recently in pushing the Middle Corridor forward and moving toward the goal of creating a trade route between China-Europe trade and supply chains from geopolitical shocks like those being felt from the war in Ukraine.

But the World Bank's projections hinge on investments and policies targeted in areas that local governments along the Middle Corridor haven't always prioritized due to domestic political reasons.

The report also adds that harnessing the route's potential rests on further digitalization and, most crucially, improved coordination between regional governments that can lower trade barriers and costs, something that has generally proved difficult.

Podcast Corner: What The Israel-Hamas War Means For China

Listen to the latest episode of the China In Eurasia podcast. You can find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and YouTube.

Beijing stepped up its diplomacy to position itself as a peace broker amid the Israel-Hamas War. Since Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, stormed into southern Israel on October 7, China has positioned itself at the heart of UN talks and hosted its own peace summit last week.

But what is China hoping to achieve and how does this reflect its broader playbook for the Middle East?

On the latest episode of Talking China In Eurasia, I dig into this with Erin Hale, a journalist in Taiwan working with Al-Jazeera. Listen to it here.

Be sure to listen and leave a review on your listening platform of choice. I'd also love to hear what you think. Reach out at Standishr@rferl.org

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. An EU-China Summit In Beijing

Amid growing concerns in Brussels that Beijing is not taking the EU's concerns on geopolitics and trade seriously, China and the 27-country bloc are set to meet for a high-profile summit.

The Details: The December 7-8 summit will take place in Beijing and be led by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

Expectations are low leading up to the meeting and so far the two sides are reportedly not planning to issue a joint statement following the summit, something that's considered a general sign of diplomatic harmony behind the scenes.

Tensions have risen after the European Commission launched an investigation into subsidies for Chinese-made electric vehicles and the EU body is eyeing other sectors such as medical devices and wind energy.

China's political and economic support for Russia amid its war in Ukraine has also been a sticking point that has worsened ties and contributed to a lack of trust toward Beijing.

As the South China Morning Post's Finbarr Bermingham reported, this attitude among Chinese officials continues to ruffle the feathers of their European counterparts and adds to a sense that Brussels' geopolitical concerns are being ignored by Beijing.

During a discussion at the November 23 Friends of Europe Forum in Brussels, veteran Chinese diplomat Ma Keqing dismissed the notion that China and the EU were rivals, and seemed to blame the United States for any tensions between Brussels and Beijing.

"Actually, we were different, many, many years ago, and who have been different for the whole process of our relations. And now, suddenly we have become systemic rivals ... so I would like to say that we should have more dialogue and more mutual trust.," Ma said.

The remarks reportedly led Eva Valle Lagares, the EU's top trade official for China, to interject from the audience.

"Trust is not built with actions such as blocking all trade with Lithuania. Trust is not built by broadly formulated export controls on key materials that are essential for the green transition, that are formulated in a very broad manner with very nonclear security justifications," she said.

2. Highway Blues In North Macedonia

North Macedonia is looking to possibly end a highway contract with the Chinese construction firm Sinohydro over delays, but as my colleague Pelagia Stoyanchova reports, doing so will come with its own risks for Skopje.

What You Need To Know: The agreement for the Kichevo-Ohrid highway was signed in 2013 and paid for with a loan from China's Export-Import Bank, which required the project to be built by a Chinese firm.

That contract was ultimately awarded to Sinohydro, a major Chinese construction company that has faced controversies around the world in recent years for corruption, shoddy work, and environmental issues.

Now, as the agreement nears its 10th anniversary, North Macedonia's government is frustrated with delays. According to the original contract, it was supposed to be completed five years ago, although only roughly 75 percent of it is completed today.

Skopje now finds itself in a bind over whether to end the contract or continue to endure delays and rising costs.

If the deal with Sinohydro is terminated, the company will likely take the case to an international arbitration court, setting up years of potential litigation that could ultimately see Skopje needing to pay the Chinese company and then be left with having to find a new firm to finish the project.

Should the agreement stay in place, North Macedonia will still need to contend with the same issues that have left the project behind schedule and over budget.

The government has said that it will announce its decision before the end of the calendar year.

The 57-kilometer highway is the most expensive infrastructure project in North Macedonia's history. It was originally billed to cost $411 million (375 million euros), but has now risen to almost $658 million (600 million euros) amid delays.

3. Power Of Siberia-2 Hits More Snags

Progress on the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline is moving slowly, and -- according to a new report by the South China Morning Post that cites anonymous Russian and Chinese officials -- Beijing is driving a tough bargain in talks with Moscow that could see the project delayed even further.

What It Means: According to the Hong Kong-based newspaper, Beijing is demanding steeper gas discounts and is unwilling to contribute to construction costs for the multimillion dollar China-bound pipeline.

"In terms of construction, [Beijing] wants to make sure that they have no risks and no costs. Russia is the side that foots the entire bill," a Russian official told the paper.

Discussions over the pipeline were already under way when the project was again discussed on Putin's visit to China during the 2022 Beijing Olympics just weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Moscow has continued to emphasize its readiness to begin construction on the pipeline though China has remained largely silent on the issue.

The proposed pipeline would bring gas from the huge Yamal Peninsula reserves in western Siberia to China. Moscow needs Power of Siberia-2 to compensate for at least part of the European Union market it has lost due to fallout from the war in Ukraine.

But Moscow's bargaining power with its more economically powerful neighbor has weakened over the course of the war in Ukraine and questions remain over Gazprom's ability to underwrite such a complicated and expensive infrastructure project on its own.

Across The Supercontinent

From Bucha To Taipei: Anatoliy Fedoruk, the mayor of Bucha, the Ukrainian town that was the site of atrocities by Russian soldiers, just wrapped up a four day visit to Taipei aimed at attracting Taiwanese investment into the town's reconstruction efforts.

A Lithuanian Rapprochement?: China has dropped trade measures targeting Lithuania that amounted to "coercion" as the two governments gradually move toward restoring diplomatic relations following an incident in 2021 over Taiwan opening a representative office in Vilnius.

Law And Order: Top prosecutors from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries recently met in China for a gathering focused on how to better coordinate their mostly authoritarian legal systems with one another.

Attending officials signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation and information sharing, and to hold further talks on how to improve extradition proceedings and asset recovery.

Sweetening The Pot: Ahead of next week's EU-China summit, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna visited Beijing and announced a new visa-free entry deal to China for five EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain).

The agreement allows passport holders to stay in China for up to 15 days for business, tourism, family visits, and for transit and it will come into force on December 1.

One Thing To Watch

Tajikistan announced plans on November 24 to link with China's telecommunications network in order to improve the mountainous, landlocked country's Internet access.

The Central Asian country has one of the slowest Internet services in the world and the state tightly controls and monitors online activity. The move could improve Tajikistan's connectivity issues, but it also opens the door for enhanced censorship and control over the Internet into the future.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-eurasia-standish-middle-corridor/32706402.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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N Korea closes diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, DR Congo: reports

Pyongyang claims these shutdowns are a normal part of the business of sovereign nations.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2023.11.29 -- In a further shutdown of diplomatic missions, North Korea has been closing down its embassies in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo, media reports showed.

As of May 2023, North Korea operated a total of 53 foreign missions, but since then, media reports have confirmed the closure of North Korean embassies and consulates in as many as a dozen locations, including those in countries Pyongyang views as longtime allies.

The North shut down its embassy in Dhaka on Nov. 20 and informed the Bangladeshi government that its embassy in India would assume responsibility for the relevant affairs, according to a Bangladeshi daily, The Daily Star, on Nov. 26.

The paper quoted a Bangladeshi foreign ministry official as saying the North's move would not affect Bangladesh "in any way" since it does not have any notable trade relations with Pyongyang.

The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. The North Korean embassy in Bangladesh consisted of four diplomats, including the ambassador. Bangladesh does not have its mission in North Korea and maintains diplomatic relations with it through the Bangladesh embassy in China.

Separately, NK News reported on Nov. 28 that the North Korean embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is "set to close" and its operations will be handled by the embassy in Ethiopia, citing a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry.

But the spokesman said the North did not give a reason for the embassy closure.

"Tightened international sanctions on North Korea have hampered its ability to earn foreign currency, making it difficult to maintain its diplomatic missions," an official from South Korea's Ministry of Unification, which oversees inter-Korean relations, said in October.

"This is a glimpse of North Korea's dire economic situation, where it is difficult to maintain even minimal diplomatic relations with traditional allies," the ministry official said.

But amid the speculation over its finances, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson said on Nov. 3 that it is in the process of "closing and opening" diplomatic missions in other countries, and this is a normal part of the business of sovereign nations.

"We will continue to take the necessary diplomatic steps in the context of the prospective development of our external relations in line with the evolving international environment," the spokesperson said at that time.

Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Kim Jong Un's daughter has a new lofty title

Kim Ju Ae is now the 'Morning Star of Korea' a title once used by revered national founder Kim Il Sung.

By Hyemin Son for RFA Korean 2023.11.29 -- The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received a new official title - "Morning Star of Korea" - that seemingly casts her as heir apparent to succeed her father, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.

After North Korea successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite on Nov. 21, the Organization and Guidance Department of the ruling Korean Workers' Party organized lectures for government officials to explain the satellite's strategic significance.

But the bigger news was how they referred to Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae, who both attended the launch.

"At the lecture ... they said that the future of the space power era will thrive under the female general, the Morning Star of Korea," a resident of the capital Pyongyang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

"This is the first time that the child of the highest dignity was officially called the 'Morning Star of Korea,' [a title] which was used to promote the early revolutionary activities of [national founder] Kim Il Sung."

The progenitor of the Kim Dynasty is said to have been called the "Morning Star of Korea" during the time he was a guerilla leader who fought against Japanese rule of Korea before and during World War II.

The term "morning star" may have been used to describe both Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, at one time or another, but never officially.

That the party is calling Kim Ju Ae as the "Morning Star of Korea," in the exact way that Kim Il Sung is heralded, seems to suggest a deliberate effort to cast her in a similar light.

Kim Jong Un's father and grandfather are deeply respected in North Korea even long after their deaths.

Though they may not be best known as the "Morning Star" anymore, posthumously, the birthdays of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il have been designated as holidays and named after other celestial bodies, the Day of the Sun and the Day of the Shining Star. Officially the two leaders are titled as the "Eternal President," the "Eternal General Secretary."

Kim Jong Un as the current leader is referred to by many titles, including "Marshall," "Supreme Leader," "Beloved Father," "General," or commonly, the "Highest Dignity."

Evolving title

Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be about 10 or 11, burst onto the public scene about a year ago when she attended the launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. She would make more and more public appearances over the next few months, and state media began referring to her as the "Beloved Child."

This title was later upgraded to "Noble Child," and her rapid rise to prominence caused experts to speculate that it was all an attempt to convey an image of her father as a family man, or that she was being groomed to be his heir.

That the party has conferred the Morning Star of Korea title onto Kim Ju Ae and has called her the "female general" appears to point to the latter.

At the satellite lectures in North Pyongan province, lecturers said that because of the success of the launch, the whole world would look up to the "Morning Star of Korea," the female general, a resident there said.

"[The lecturer] emphasized that the 'Highest Dignity' and the 'Morning Star of Korea' are protecting the future of the Republic," he said. "The expressions on the faces of some officials seemed displeased at the content of the lecture, which idolized a young child as a rising star of North Korea."

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Sanctioning Virtual Currency Mixer that Facilitated DPRK Laundering of Stolen Funds

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

November 29, 2023

The United States is sanctioning virtual currency mixer Sinbad.io (Sinbad) today for its role in processing millions of dollars' worth of virtual currency stolen by the U.S.-designated Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored malicious cyber actor group of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Cybercriminals also used Sinbad to obfuscate transactions linked to malign activities such as sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, trade in child sexual abuse materials, and illicit sales on darknet marketplaces.

The UN Security Council's Panel of Experts on DPRK sanctions has highlighted Pyongyang's aggressive cyber-theft campaign, which plays an essential role in generating funds for the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Today's designation builds on earlier actions that we have taken to expose the DPRK's abuse of the virtual currency ecosystem. The United States will not hesitate to use all tools at our disposal to disrupt the DPRK's illicit activities that threaten international peace and security.

Sinbad is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 13757, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Atomic Wallet hack; and E.O. 13722 for materially assisting the Lazarus Group, an agency, instrumentality, or controlled entity of the Government of North Korea. For more information on today's designation, see Treasury's press release.

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Statement by Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of C.C., WPK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, November 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, released the following statement on Wednesday:

I deplore the fact that the UNSC, at which the purpose and principle of the UN Charter have to be strictly respected, is being turned into a land of lawlessness where the sovereignty of independent states is wantonly violated, extreme double standards are imprudently applied and injustice and high-handed practices are rampant due to the U.S. and some forces following it, and strongly denounce and reject it.

The whole course of the open meeting of the UNSC over the DPRK's reconnaissance satellite launch, convened at the gangster-like demand of the U.S. and its followers, clearly proves how weak, false and absurd are the unreasonable arguments of some UN member states denying the DPRK's sovereign rights.

I took heed to the trivial explanation of Thomas Greenfield, U.S. representative to the United Nations, who described the U.S. as a "victim" of the present situation while illustrating their stand for "meaningful dialogue" and efforts for "peaceful solution", out of the lack of justifiable ground for branding the irrefragable DPRK's right to space development as "illegal".

However, she should, first, have had to clarify from where and why the strategic targets have frequently appeared at south Korea's ports only 500 to 600 km away from Pyongyang, before vouching that the U.S. weapons did not target the DPRK.

The Pentagon should also have helped its representative to UN to make a more logical excuse for how the U.S. stand for "diplomatic engagement" and its efforts to "resume dialogue" blend with the provocative military activities of the U.S. nuclear carrier and nuclear submarine deployed in the Korean peninsula.

The double-faced stand and behavior of the U.S. whose deeds are quite different from its words are a vicious factor disturbing peace and stability in the region of the Korean peninsula along with double standards, the height of high-handed and arbitrary practices.

It is the consistent stand of the DPRK against the U.S. that the former should be ready for both dialogue and confrontation and, in particular, more thoroughly ready for confrontation if the "peace by power" favored by the latter is to rely on muscle-flexing behind the rhetoric about dialogue.

We make it clear once again to the U.S. which asked the DPRK to fix the time and agenda for resuming the DPRK-U.S. dialogue.

The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, the DPRK will never sit face to face with the U.S. for that purpose.

The main threat to international peace and security does not come from the exercise of the DPRK's sovereign right but from the U.S. high-handed and arbitrary practices to disturb and oppress it.

The DPRK will continue to make efforts to develop everything belonging to its sovereign rights and continue to exercise the sovereign rights, enjoyed by all the member states of the UN, in a dignified manner without being restricted in the future, too. -0-

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India's new aircraft carrier plan against China exposes its 'tunnel vision'

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Nov 29, 2023 07:50 PM

India is reportedly set to acquire its second indigenous aircraft carrier to counter China, with analysts saying on Wednesday that being able to build one's own carriers is a great accomplishment, but building them only to "counter China" shows its tunnel vision.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that India's Defense Acquisition Council is expected to approve on Friday the acquisition of the country's second indigenous aircraft carrier, worth around $4.8 billion.

India now operates its first homemade carrier, the INS Vikrant, which joined the fleet last year, and a Russia-made carrier, the INS Vikramaditya.

A three-carrier battle group "will be a show of strength for the Indian navy in the Indian Ocean at a time when the [Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy] is increasingly marking its presence in the region," Bloomberg quoted its sources as saying.

India is carrying out more warship patrols than ever before "amid growing concerns over China's rising naval prowess," the report said.

"Not many countries in the world can independently build aircraft carriers, so in that sense, India has made a great accomplishment. India can rightfully develop its navy, but if its strategy is aimed at China, then it has tunnel vision," a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and so as long as India does not provoke China, China is no enemy to India, the expert said.

The PLA Navy's presence in the Indian Ocean is not targeted at India, but for peaceful purposes and providing international public security goods including escort duties, safeguarding commercial sea lanes and delivering humanitarian aid, from which India also benefits, the expert said.

China regularly sends naval escort task forces on routine escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. Each task force usually consists of a destroyer, a frigate and a replenishment ship, and a Chinese aircraft carrier has yet to sail in the Indian Ocean.

India's new carrier is expected to hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters, including French Rafale fighter jets, and displaces 45,000 tons of water, Bloomberg reported.

By comparison, the Fujian, China's second domestically developed aircraft carrier and the third overall, already launched in June 2022.

It displaces over 80,000 tons and is equipped with electromagnetic catapults that can launch heavier warplanes faster than ski-jump ramps, making it a much superior carrier than the one India is planning, analysts said.

India's first indigenous carrier, the INS Vikrant, is also no match for China's first domestically built carrier, the Shandong. The INS Vikrant has yet to reach creditable operational capability today although its construction started far earlier than the Shandong, while the Shandong has demonstrated its combat capabilities in several far sea exercises in the West Pacific this year, observers said, questioning the efficiency of India's shipbuilding industry and its navy.

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Indian Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel Sajag arrives at Muscat, Oman as part of overseas deployment to West Asia

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 29 NOV 2023 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

The Indian Coast Guard Ship Sajag, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman, on November 29, 2023, for a three-day visit as part of the overseas deployment of ICG ships to West Asia. The visit aims to strengthen long-standing diplomatic ties, enhance maritime cooperation, and promote interoperability with the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard (ROPCG) and other maritime agencies.

During the visit, a number of activities and interactions are scheduled including professional interactions such as onboard training and lectures, Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), cross-deck visits, joint yoga sessions, planning conferences, and table-top exercises for Marine Pollution Response (MPR). There will be courtesy calls by the Commanding Officer on various dignitaries and government officials of Oman, including the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard.

Oman and India have historically maintained warm and friendly bilateral relations, sharing common values and diverse cultures. Regular interactions between ICG and ROPCG occur through annually conducted High-Level Meetings (HLM) and ICG ship visits, guided by the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The overseas deployment of ICG ships aligns with the organization's plan to foster bilateral relationships and strengthen international cooperation with Foreign Friendly Countries (FFCs). During this West Asia deployment, the ship is also scheduled to make port calls in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Mina Rashid, UAE.

This visit would play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relationships with key maritime agencies, including the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard (ROPCG), Saudi Border Guards and Naval Forces, and UAE Coast Guards & Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Authority (CICPA). These relationships, developed over the years, aim to ensure the safety, security, and cleanliness of the seas in the region while addressing contemporary maritime issues. Engagements with senior officials and personnel from these agencies during the visit will further enhance regional safety and security.

The visit of ICGS Sajag to West Asia underscores India's ongoing efforts to foster friendly relations through maritime cooperation, aligning with the maritime vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, known as "SAGAR - Security and Growth for All in the Region," with due emphasis on the "Global South."

About ICGS Sajag

ICGS Sajag is part of the Indian Coast Guard fleet of OPVs, based on the West Coast of India in Porbandar, Gujarat, and operates under the operational command of Commander Coast Guard Region (North West). The ship is equipped with modern weapon systems, sensors, state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems, including an integral helicopter to support both surface and air operations. Sajag has undertaken various Coast Guard operations, including Coastal Security and IMBL / EEZ surveillance, anti-transnational crimes, and Maritime SAR and Pollution Response operations in the past.

****

ABB/Anand



(Release ID: 1980914)

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Army Chief Addresses Pune Dialogue on National Security (PDNS) :'Securing India's Economic Growth'

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 29 NOV 2023 5:16PM by PIB Mumbai

Pune : 29 November 2023

The Chief of Army Staff, Gen Manoj Pande addressed members of the Pune International Centre, Observer Research Foundation, Officers, Veterans and other distinguished guests on 27 November 2023 at Pune on the commemoration of 8th PDNS of Pune International Centre (PIC).

The Chief emphasised on inextricable link between the Nation's progress & its security needs and stressed that while economic power is the fountainhead of growth, yet it is the 'Military Strength' that lends it the ability to effect the outcomes necessary to protect & further its multifarious interests while ensuring continuous increase in its 'Comprehensive National Power'.

While deliberating upon the contours of the current & evolving geo-political landscape, the Chief of Army Staff elucidated on the need to 'Expect the Unexpected' as the battle space has become more complex, contested & lethal.

Gen Manoj Pande assured the audience that the Indian Army remains seized of the Military Implications of these dynamics. A holistic approach that incorporates implementation of proactive measures towards all aspects that impact or enhance security have been adopted for capability enhancement and ensuring requisite adaptability.

The Chief elaborated upon the Indian Army's vision to Transform into modern, agile, adaptive technology enabled and self reliant future ready force, capable to deter and win wars in a multi domain operational environment across the full spectrum of operations to protect our national interests in synergy with the other Services. Initiation of progressive changes based on four key drivers were highlighted.

(a)Unprecedented trends in the geo strategic landscape

(b)Limitless potential of Disruptive Technologies

(c)Transforming character of modern Wars

(d)Profound changes in the socio - economic domain

Capability Building: He said that as part of Force Restructuring and Optimization, the Indian Army is reviewing its organisational structures to include Rightsizing, Rationalising and Reorganising, while undertaking Modernisation and Technology Infusion to include niche technologies including 5G, AI, Quantum Lab, Internet of Military Things, Robotics, Adaptive Manufacturing and Space Assets for Satellite Communication. He also reiterated that these Capability Development endeavours stand committed to the vision of Atmanirbharta.

Nation Building : COAS emphasised that the Indian Army, while remaining resolute towards protection of the nation's territorial integrity, also contributes significantly in nation building through various endeavours. He dwelled upon the synergy with various stakeholders towards this commitment. He explained the contribution of Indian Army in Infrastructure Development, especially in far flung remote areas of the country, in synergy with National Logistic requirements. The aspect of empowerment of local communities by promoting Border Area Tourism in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism and various other initiatives as a major stakeholder to enable, support and fructify an inclusive growth were also elucidated.

MI/PM



(Release ID: 1980811)

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Iran drones monitoring US vessels entering Persian Gulf

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Wed / 29 November 2023 / 10:37

The Iranian army unveiled on Tuesday footage depicting the surveillance and monitoring of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and its accompanying vessels using drones as they were transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran (ISNA) - A US aircraft carrier that entered Gulf waters was forced to change its course and land its helicopters after receiving a direct warning from Iranian naval forces, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy in Iran General Alireza Tangsiri said on Monday.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Monday that the US strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf waters.

CENTCOM added that the strike group would carry out patrols to "ensure freedom of navigation" along key international waterways, as well as support "CENTCOM requirements throughout the region."

Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri revealed that the navy dispatched drones to the American warship when it encountered the military vessels of the IRGC, forcing the US vessel to head toward the south of the Persian Gulf "in compliance with our instructions" after forcing it to land its helicopters.

He emphasized that the United States is well aware that the Iranian forces closely monitor the movements of its forces in the Persian Gulf and have control over the region. Tangsiri asserted that the IRGC Navy could easily target the US aircraft carrier using missiles and drones.

End Item

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Resistance operation exposed Israeli spy network inside Iran: Islamic Jihad

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 10:08 PM

The Islamic Jihad has said the operation staged by the Gaza Strip's resistance movements against the occupied territories last month led to the exposure of the Israeli regime's espionage network inside Iran.

Nasser Abu-Sharif, the Islamic Jihad's representative in the Islamic Republic, made the remarks during an event held in Tehran on Wednesday. His remarks concerned the al-Aqsa Storm Operation of October 7 that was waged by the Islamic Jihad and its fellow Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

During the operation, "the resistance managed to take the Israeli regime's intelligence servers to Gaza," he said.

"The servers contained the names of many spies even those, who were inside the Islamic Republic," Abu-Sharif added.

The resistance outfits launched the operation in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Around 1,200 Israeli settlers and military forces were killed and hundreds of others were taken captive during the mission, which turned out to be the resistance's biggest operation against the occupying regime in years.

Abu-Sharif said the operation's "achievements beggar belief" since it caught "the entire world's intelligence apparatuses" by surprise.

As many as 50 Israeli bases were seized by the resistance during the operation, which also resulted in many fatalities within the Israeli regime's military, the envoy noted.

The regime responded to the operation by bringing Gaza under a genocidal war that has so far killed more than 15,500 people.

Abu-Sharif also pointed to the military campaign's enjoying unreserved political and military support on the part of the United States and the regime's other Western allies.

"The al-Aqsa Storm Operation revealed that the Zionist regime cannot survive alone. We even witnessed [US President Joe] Biden's presence inside the regime's war room [during the Israeli military campaign]," he said.

"The Zionist society was confident in its intelligence structure before October 7th, but that confidence was taken away following the [resistance] operation," noted the Palestinian official.

The operation also delivered a "fatal blow" to the regime's economy, agriculture, and industry, he said.

"The regime has [now] lost its popularity in the West," the representative said, noting, "Western leaders admit at their private meetings that the regime has turned into a political-economic burden for them."

Abu-Sharif, meanwhile, criticized the "hypocritical stance" adopted following the operation by the West, which has been demanding the release of the roughly 250-strong people who were taken captive by the resistance, while ignoring the entire Palestinian nation, which has been "held under siege by Israel for years."

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Classified Document On Iran's 'Hijab Guards' Unveils Government Cover-Up

By Michael Scollon November 29, 2023

For many commuters in the Iranian capital, navigating the subway system means passing through "tunnels of horror."

Entrances and corridors in Tehran's subway stations are lined with so-called hijab guards, women wearing black chadors and green sashes. And while the role of these squads is clear -- to spot and confront women not wearing the mandatory head scarf -- determining responsibility for their deployment has been shrouded in mystery.

But the publication of a classified Interior Ministry document showing the state's clear ties to the hijab guards, as well as legal action against the reformist newspaper that published the document, has revealed an apparent government cover-up that has rekindled public anger over the Islamic republic's heavy-handed approach to enforcing the hijab law.

It has also left officials exposed to harsh criticism and calls for their resignation following the government's insistence that the guards were voluntary and had no connection to the state.

As recently as November 22, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said at a cabinet meeting that the hijab guards were not part of his ministry or the morality police, an official law enforcement body infamous for its harsh treatment of hijab violators.

Vahidi pushed back on suggestions that the hijab guards should require special permits and insisted the squads of women were carrying out their duties out of religious faith and independently of the authorities.

Vahidi described them as "popular groups" who were carrying out their Islamic duty to promote virtue and prevent vice. "Everyone has a duty for this, but it should be done with good manners and solely through verbal advice," he said.

Watchful Eye Of 'Morality'

Prior to the interior minister's claims, concerns had been raised about the presence of the squads in subways in Tehran and other major cities.

Tensions remain high in Iran over the hijab law, which the authorities took steps to strengthen amid lingering tensions over 22-year-old Mahsa Amini's death in police custody in September 2022. Amini's death, which came just days after her detention in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, led to nationwide protests and hundreds of demonstrators' deaths across the country.

Despite lasting public anger, parliament around the anniversary of Amini's death approved an updated version of the law that included harsher penalties for violations, including prison sentences of up to 10 years.

It also empowered three intelligence agencies -- the Intelligence Ministry, the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization, and the Intelligence Organization of the Judiciary -- along with police, the Basij paramilitary forces, and the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to take action against women in violation of the mandatory hijab regulations.

This all took place as reports of the appearance of the hijab guards emerged amid efforts to suppress the Women, Life, Freedom movement forged after Amini's death.

And in late October, outrage came to the fore again after another young woman died following an alleged encounter with "morality" enforcers earlier that month.

Armita Garavand, 17, died after falling into a coma after an alleged confrontation at a Tehran subway station on October 1. Some reports have suggested she was assaulted by the morality police, while others have said the hijab guards were responsible.

On November 21, prominent commentator Abbas Abdi warned in the reformist Etemad newspaper that the deployment of the guards risked further increasing public anger at the authorities and widening societal divisions.

Vahidi's subsequent characterization of the guards as well-intentioned vigilantes did not go over well with many, including rights activists and reformist-minded media and politicians.

Mostafa Faghihi, managing director of the Entekhab news website, skewered Vahidi's comments on X, formerly known as Twitter, on November 22.

"Interesting! So, this tunnel of horrors at the metro is a citizens' [initiative]!" the post said. "Do people also pay their monthly salary? Are they also hired and organized under citizens' supervision?"

On November 26, Etemad's publication of part of a document labeled "highly confidential" and bearing the seal of the Interior Ministry, shot holes in Vahidi's denials of a connection between the state and the hijab guards.

Presented to various government entities and dated June 9, the document laid out the responsibilities of the guards and gave instructions on the deployment of thousands of them in public places. It also outlined a broader strategy of dealing with hijab violators, who it said should be photographed in all areas of the subway, inside subway cars, and handed over to police for arrest.

The apparent link between the government and the hijab guards was further clarified when the Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced that there were more than 2,800 members of the group deployed, and that its activities were coordinated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, the Basij forces, the Tehran municipality, the Prosecutor's Office, and other state bodies.

The Headquarters for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is a government institution that shapes and enforces Iran's morality laws and was instrumental in developing the stricter hijab legislation.

Its secretary, Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani, in August 2022 announced the installation of surveillance cameras in public spaces such as subways to identify women in violation of the hijab law.

The European Union considers Golpayegani "responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran" and in January introduced restrictive measures against him.

Cause For Dismissal?

The authorities in Iran took steps immediately to punish Etemad for publishing the damning document that sparked the scandal, with the Public Prosecutor's Office filing criminal charges against the newspaper for illegally disseminating confidential information.

The legal action attempting to muzzle the press in combination with Vahidi's claims about the hijab guard's autonomy prompted harsh reactions, including from within political circles and media.

In a letter to the judiciary this week, the reformist Voice of Iranians party, also known as the Neda party, flatly accused Vahidi of being a "liar" and argued that his comments were "a bigger and more unforgivable sin than not wearing a hijab."

The Rouydad24 news website, meanwhile, called for Vahidi's dismissal, arguing that he had "lied" to the people and that his position on the hijab guards was "hypocritical."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-classified-hijab- guards-government-cover-up/32706979.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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Rights Group Says Iranian Political Prisoner Karimi Executed Along With Six Others

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda November 29, 2023

Ayoub Karimi, an Iranian-Kurdish prisoner of conscience who has been held in Qezelhesar prison in Karaj for the past 14 years, was executed on November 29, according to human rights watchdogs.

The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights said Karimi's execution came along with the carrying out of the death sentences of six other prisoners, a sign of Tehran's continued increase in the meting out of capital punishment against political and religious dissenters.

"The execution of Ayoub Karimi, based on coerced confessions and without a fair trial, like the execution of other political prisoners, is a crime," said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Iran Human Rights.

"The authorities of the Islamic republic must be held accountable for this crime."

The identities of the six other prisoners executed along with Karimi were not disclosed, but the Hengaw rights group noted that Ghasem Abasteh, a co-defendant in Karimi's case, faced a similar fate last month. The remaining five defendants are still incarcerated and face the imminent threat of execution.

Karimi, Davoud Abdollahi, Farhad Salimi, Anwar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, and Kamran Sheikheh were arrested in January 2010. They were subsequently sentenced by Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Court on charges including "acting against national security" and "corruption on Earth."

Their death sentences were confirmed in 2020 amid allegations of coerced confessions and torture -- a claim supported by at least four prisoners in open letters.

Amnesty International said in a statement at the time that the trial was "grossly unfair," pointing to forced confessions under torture.

The rate of executions in Iran has been rising sharply, particularly in the wake of widespread protests that swept across the country last year following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody for an alleged head-scarf violation.

Amnesty International says the regime in Tehran has executed more people than any other country in the world other than China so far this year.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on November 2 that Iran was carrying out executions "at an alarming rate," while Iran Human Rights said more than 600 people had been executed in the country during the first seven months of the year.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-karimi-executed- coreced-confession/32707055.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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New U.S. Sanctions Target Illicit Financial Networks Set Up To Benefit Iranian Military

By RFE/RL November 29, 2023

The United States has imposed a new round of sanctions on more than 20 people and firms that the U.S. Treasury Department says have been involved in a "financial facilitation network" for the benefit of the Iranian military.

The sanctions target people and companies inside Iran as well as in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said in a news release on November 29.

The sanctions single out the Iranian firm Sepehr Energy and its employees, brokers, and purchasers, saying the business acts as a front company for the Iranian government's oil sales, which "fund its destabilizing regional activities and support of multiple regional proxy groups."

These groups include Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union, and Hizballah.

OFAC said the people and entities designated for sanctions are involved in the networks, which ultimately benefit Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), the Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS), and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

MODAFL and the AFGS sell commodities through networks that include "shadow banking" and front companies both inside Iran and abroad, OFAC said.

"The IRGC-QF and MODAFL continue to engage in illicit finance schemes to generate funds to fan conflict and spread terror throughout the region," Undersecretary of the Treasury Brian Nelson said.

Sepehr Energy oversees this activity for the AFGS, OFAC said, adding that its deputy chairman, principal board member, and managing director, Majid A'Zami, who is also an Iranian Oil Ministry official, was also blacklisted.

Another company designated for sanctions is the Iran-based Pishro Tejarat Sana Company, which OFAC said works with Sepehr Energy to facilitate the sale and shipment of commodities to overseas buyers, generating revenue for MODAFL and the Iranian military.

Pishro Tejarat works on behalf of Sepehr Energy, in return for a portion of the profits, it said, adding that its chairman of the board of directors, Seyyed Abdoljavad Alavi, was designated for sanctions in the action announced on November 29.

Neslon said the United States "remains committed to exposing elements of the Iranian military and its complicit partners abroad to disrupt this critical source of funds."

The sanctions block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us- sanctions-military/32707137.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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Designating Financial Facilitation Networks that Benefit Iran's Military

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

November 29, 2023

The United States is imposing sanctions today on over twenty individuals and entities involved in a financial facilitation network that benefits Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.

Iran's commodity sales, carried out through a network of foreign-based front companies, provide revenue that helps the regime to continue its support for terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hizballah. Iranian military entities and their business partners enable these sales and exploit the international financial system to recoup the revenue.

The Iranian regime uses this illicit revenue to support conflict and spread terror throughout the Middle East. The United States will continue to disrupt Iran's funding support for terrorists.

The Department of the Treasury is taking this action pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, which targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, leaders and officials of terrorist groups, and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. For more information on these designations, see Treasury's press release.

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Treasury Targets Large Iranian Military Financial Facilitation Networks

U.S. Department of the Treasury

November 29, 2023

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned over 20 individuals and entities for their involvement in financial facilitation networks for the benefit of Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and Iranian Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS), and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Iran generates the equivalent of billions of dollars via commodity sales to fund its destabilizing regional activities and support of multiple regional proxy groups, including Hamas and Hizballah. MODAFL, the AFGS and the IRGC-QF utilize intricate networks of foreign-based front companies and brokers to enable these illicit commercial activities and exploit the international financial system.

"The IRGC-QF and MODAFL continue to engage in illicit finance schemes to generate funds to fan conflict and spread terror throughout the region," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States remains committed to exposing elements of the Iranian military and its complicit partners abroad to disrupt this critical source of funds."

Today's action is being taken pursuant to the counterterrorism authority Executive Oder (E.O.) 13224, as amended. MODAFL was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on March 26, 2019 for assisting, sponsoring or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF. The IRGC-QF was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 on October 25, 2007.

IRANIAN MILITARY IllICIT FINANCE SCHEME

The Iranian government allocates billions of dollars' worth of commodities, including oil, to Iranian military entities, including MODAFL and the AFGS as part of the Iranian military's annual budget. This includes specific commodity allotments for MODAFL, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the AFGS, which sell the commodities to foreign buyers to generate revenue.

MODAFL and the AFGS sell commodities through a network of front companies both inside Iran and abroad. Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company(Sepehr Energy) oversees this activity for the AFGS. Sepehr Energy is headed by deputy chairman, principal board member, and managing director Majid A'zami (A'zami). A'zami is an Iranian oil ministry official. In mid-2023, Sepehr Energy employee Elyas Niroomand Toomaj arranged the sale of Iranian commodities with prospective buyers, including through the use of falsified certificates of origin.

Sepehr Energy relies upon the services of Iranian exchange houses to transfer funds to MODAFL-controlled bank accounts in coordination with the AFGS. Iranian exchange houses serve as key conduits in multijurisdictional Iranian "shadow banking" networks, establishing front companies abroad to enable trade for Iranian clients. Sepehr Energy also shipped products via the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), which was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, on October 26, 2020 for its support to the IRGC-QF.

Iran-based Pishro Tejarat Sana Company (Pishro Tejarat) works with Sepehr Energy to facilitate the sale and shipment of commodities to overseas buyers, generating revenue for MODAFL and the Iranian military. Pishro Tejarat works on behalf of Sepehr Energy, in return for a portion of the profits. Seyyed Abdoljavad Alavi (Alavi) is the chairman of the board of directors of Pishro Tejarat.

Sepehr Energy Jahan Nama Pars Company and Seyyed Abdoljavad Alavi are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of MODAFL.

Majid A'zami is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being a leader or official of Sepehr Energy.

Elyas Niroomand Toomaj is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Sepehr Energy.

Pishro Tejarat Sana Company is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Alavi.

FOREIGN COMPANIES ENABLING MILITARY Revenue

Sepehr Energy uses companies in Hong Kong and the United Araba Emirates to sell billions of dollars' worth of commodities to customers in Europe and East Asia.

In the past year, at Sepehr Energy's direction, Hong Kong-based Puyuan Trade Co., Limited(Puyuan Trade) brokered sales of tens of millions of dollars of condensate to Hong Kong-based HK Sihang Haochen Trading Limited. Sepehr Energy, through its brokerage agreement with Puyuan Trade, sought to obfuscate the sale of Iranian goods by marketing it as Malaysian-origin.

In the past year, Sepehr Energy agreed to sell millions of barrels of Iranian light crude oil to Dubai-based Unique Performance General Trading L.L.Cfor delivery to customers in China. Dubai-based OPG Global General Trading Co. L.L.C, on behalf of Sepehr Energy, offered to sell millions of barrels of crude oil and gasoline to Oman and Dubai-based customers for onward shipment to Europe.

Similarly, Dubai-based JEP Petrochemical Trading L.L.C (JEP Petrochemical) paid Dubai-based Future Energy Trading L.L.Cthe equivalent of more than $400 million for a purchase of Iranian oil from Sepehr Energy. JEP Petrochemical intended to purchase an additional two million barrels of Iranian light crude oil from Sepehr Energy for delivery to Europe.

Sepehr Energy used Sharjah-based brokers Tetis Global FZE and Royal Shell Goods Wholesalers L.L.C, and Dubai-based A Three Energy FZE to enable the sale of Iranian commodities to overseas buyers.

Puyuan Trade Co., Limited, HK Sihang Haochen Trading Limited, Unique Performance General Trading L.L.C, OPG Global General Trading Co. L.L.C, JEP Petrochemical Trading L.L.C, Future Energy Trading L.L.C, Tetis Global FZE, Royal Shell Goods Wholesalers L.L.C, and A Three Energy FZE are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sepehr Energy.

NETWORK PROVIDING IRGC-QF ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

The IRGC-QF relies on similarly complex networks of foreign-based front companies and brokers to enable illicit financing. In May and December 2022, respectively, OFAC took action against a vast illicit oil sales network overseen by Turkish businessman Sitki Ayan (Ayan), which worked closely with senior IRGC-QF officials such as Behnam Shahriyari to generate revenue for the IRGC-QF. UAE-based CGN Trade FZE (CGN Trade), a critical part of this network's operations, was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for its support to one of Ayan's companies, Baslam Nakliyat Ve Dis Ticaret Ltd Sti (Baslam). CGN Trade worked with Baslam to load at least 10 oil tankers with Iranian oil on behalf of the IRGC-QF.

As a result of U.S. sanctions, CGN Trade transferred its business operations to a closely affiliated company, UAE-based Transmart DMCC (Transmart), which also works to support illicit financial networks on behalf of the IRGC-QF. Transmart owner and CEO Zabi Vahap (Vahap) controls Transmart operations, having served a similar role with CGN Trade. Vahap and Adelina Kuliyeva, who holds power of attorney for both CGN Trade and Transmart, work closely with U.S.-designated IRGC-QF official Mohammad Sadegh Karimian (Karimian) to facilitate the sale of Iranian commodities to foreign buyers, proceeds of which have been sent to CGN Trade, Transmart, and Singapore-based MSE Overseas PTE. Ltd. (MSE Overseas). Transmart has laundered tens of millions of dollars as part of the network's financial activity, including through the Iranian Embassy in Moscow. Mehboob Thachankandy Palikandy (Palikandy) was the manager and chief executive of CGN Trade and is also an employee of Transmart. Palikandy was involved in the liquidation of CGN Trade and its transfer of business operations to Transmart. He is also the owner and sole shareholder of MSE Overseas, Singapore-based Sealink Overseas PTE. Ltd., and UAE-based Solise Energy (FZE).

Transmart DMCC is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support, for, or goods or services to or in support of, CGN Trade.

Zabi Vahap is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support, for, or goods or services to or in support of, Karimian, and for owning, controlling, or directing, directly or indirectly, Transmart.

Adelina Kuliyeva and Mehboob Thachankandy Palikandy are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, or directed, directly or indirectly, Transmart DMCC.

MSE Overseas PTE. Ltd., Sealink Overseas PTE. Ltd., and Solise Energy (FZE) are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, directly or indirectly, Mehboob Thachankandy Palikandy.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

###

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Shootout in central Myanmar kills 4 at restaurant

Junta troops arrested nearly 20 employees and guests after the incident.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.29 -- A shootout in central Myanmar between junta forces and locals killed four men, residents said on Wednesday.

Junta security in Sagaing region's Shwebo township entered Nya Hmwe Pan, a karaoke bar and restaurant, in Thuzar neighborhood on Monday night. As soldiers began to inspect the bar's premises, a gunfight broke out, locals told Radio Free Asia.

Junta authorities have since arrested around 20 people, including employees from the restaurant and other customers. The four victims were all men in their 20s, according to eyewitnesses. RFA has been unable to confirm the names of the victims or why some customers were carrying weapons.

"The junta council's security forces came to check. Those who were singing karaoke fired back so they couldn't be inspected when forces came to check [that area]," one local said, declining to be named for fear of reprisals.

"Four young people from the group singing karaoke died on the spot during the exchange of fire."

Calls by RFA to Sagaing region's junta spokesperson Sai Naing Naing Kyaw to learn more about the incident went unanswered on Wednesday.

The bodies of the four men were taken to the Shwebo Hospital in ambulances an hour after the shooting, locals said, adding that junta troops took away the bodies in the process.

They said since the shooting, almost all the restaurants and karaoke bars in Shwebo city have stopped accepting guests after 7 p.m.

As of November 28, over 4,200 people across the country have been killed since the military seized power nearly three years ago, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

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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Myanmar court jails former minister for decade over social media posts

Ye Htut served as information minister from 2014-2016 under Thein Sein's quasi-military government.

By RFA Burmese 2023.11.29 -- A court in Yangon's Insein Prison sentenced Myanmar's former Information Minister Ye Htut to 10 years in prison Wednesday following a trial highlighting the ruling junta's clampdown on online dissent, sources with ties to the facility told RFA Burmese.

The prolific Facebook poster and former minister from 2014-2016 under Thein Sein's quasi-military government, which handed power to Aung San Suu Kyi following the 2015 elections, received three years in prison for "spreading false news" and seven years for "sedition" in violation of Sections 505(a) and 124(a) of Myanmar's Penal Code.

A source who is close to management of Insein Prison said that the closed-door trial was brief.

"The verdicts were made after questioning a prosecution witness, without asking a defense witness," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The judge who sentenced Ye Htut, 64, was from the former minister's home district of Ahlon in Myanmar's largest city Yangon, the source said, adding that Ye Htut defended himself in the trial.

According to pro-junta media, Ye Htut was arrested at his home in Yangon on the night of Oct. 28. Police from Ahlon district filed the case against him for spreading false news, reports said.

Ye Htut was among nearly 40 people arrested after they posted critical comments about the military junta on social media accounts. Pro-junta Telegram channels had accused him of revealing a retired military officer's address on social media, according to Agence France-Presse.

The junta first announced in January 2022 that it would use the country's anti-terrorism and telecommunications laws to arrest and prosecute anyone who spreads anti-junta information on social media platforms.

Through September, 1,316 people have been arrested by the junta for social media comments since that statement appeared in pro-junta newspapers, according to Data for Myanmar.

The junta had yet to release an official statement on Ye Htut's sentencing as of the time of publishing on Wednesday.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes 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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Is The OSCE Meeting In Skopje A Triumph For Russia?

By Rikard Jozwiak November 29, 2023

There were two big questions looming over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial meeting in Skopje, which on November 30-December 1 will bring together the foreign ministers from the 57 members of the Vienna-based security body.

Firstly, would Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov show up? And secondly, which country would take over the one-year rotating chair for 2024, an issue that has deeply divided the organization? Ahead of the meeting, Russia appears to be coming out on top, using its veto to get the chair it wants for next year and raising its profile in the only major organization in Europe in which it is still a member.

On the first question, it's worth recalling the OSCE ministerial meeting in the Polish city of Lodz in December 2022, which Poland barred Lavrov from attending. Warsaw -- the OSCE chair in 2022 -- justified the move due to Lavrov being on the EU sanctions list after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Poland acted alone, announcing the ban weeks ahead of the meeting in a move the country's Interior Ministry had the legal right to take.

The same right applies to North Macedonia, the current chair of the OSCE. The Balkan EU candidate has aligned with all of the bloc's sanctions on Russia so far, including individual measures against Russian officials and the closing of EU airspace to Russian aviation. But there is a catch: The EU has only imposed an asset freeze on Lavrov, not a visa ban. Even if there had been a visa ban, it can be waived (as can a flight ban) by EU member states and aligned countries such as North Macedonia to allow leaders and diplomats to attend international gatherings.

What all of this means is that Lavrov can come to North Macedonia without the country reneging on its legal or political obligations. North Macedonia has already confirmed it will allow Lavrov's flight to land, and Bulgaria has granted permission for the plane to cross its airspace en route to Skopje. Several sources at the OSCE with knowledge of the situation but who are not authorized to speak on the record have indicated that the Russian delegation coming to Skopje might include up to 85 people, including the foreign minister's personal doctor, his deputy, Aleksandr Grushko, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, a large security detail, and 24 Russian journalists.

While Skopje appears to have taken the decision to allow Lavrov to attend the meeting on its own, it will likely be welcomed by many OSCE members, some of whom have argued it would be beneficial to have the Russian foreign minister in Vienna. In addition to the opportunity to raise concerns about the war in Ukraine, OSCE diplomats have indicated Russia's presence would be useful in agreeing and finalizing next year's chair and in filling four key senior positions in the organization, including that of the secretary-general, whose mandate is up for renewal at the end of the year.

The first issue -- regarding the OSCE chair for 2024 -- is mostly already solved. For a while, Estonia was the only candidate for the top job in 2024, having applied back in 2020. But Russia has rejected Tallinn's candidacy in the past and did so again this year. Moscow has argued it doesn't want another NATO country as chair in 2024, following North Macedonia and Poland. According to Moscow, officials from NATO member countries were constantly haranguing Russian officials about the war in Ukraine at the weekly OSCE Permanent Council, where the ambassadors meet. (Despite Russia's objections, Estonia did not withdraw its candidacy, having received full backing from the 26 EU countries who are also members of the OSCE.)

With the meeting rapidly approaching, OSCE diplomats and staffers in Vienna were getting antsy about the possibility of entering 2024 without a chair, especially given how important the position is in leading meetings, setting priorities, and brokering deals among member states. Normally, the OSCE chair is decided at least a year in advance via unanimity among member states. It would be unprecedented for the OSCE to enter a new year without a country at the helm.

Enter Malta, a country that is not a member of NATO, is militarily neutral, and -- most importantly -- is an acceptable choice for Moscow. Worries in Vienna were likely soothed on November 27 as Malta agreed to take over the OSCE's presidency for 2024. Lavrov will still have to confirm Moscow's approval in Skopje, along with the four senior OSCE positions up for grabs.

Did Western countries hand Russia a victory by caving into Kremlin demands and snubbing Estonia?

Possibly, although an argument could be made that the West isn't caving but rather calculating. The writing on the wall for Tallinn became increasingly obvious when a November 10 policy note from Washington to EU member states, seen by RFE/RL, underlined that while "the United States appreciates Estonia's willingness to serve as 2024 chair and supports Estonia as a principled and capable candidate for a future chairpersonship....Russia has made clear it will not join consensus on another NATO member as chair." The frantic rush to find a country to lead the organization was understandable perhaps, with the U.S. policy note remarking that a "failure to [find a chair] is a victory for Russia."

In the end, it looks like the OSCE will survive for at least another year. But some -- including the disgruntled trio of Baltic states, Poland, and Ukraine -- will wonder at what price, noting that Moscow has obstructed progress on several key OSCE initiatives in recent years, notably three field missions to Ukraine and the entire organization's budget for the last two years.

With Russia in attendance and a perception, held by some members, that Moscow is getting its own way, the optics in Skopje aren't ideal for Ukraine and its supporters. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has already indicated he won't be coming and others might well follow suit.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/news-analysis- russia-triumph-osce-meeting-skopje/32707080.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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Revealed: The Kremlin-Connected Russians Employed By Europe's Top Security Body

By Carl Schreck, Maja Zivanovic, Riin Aljas November 29, 2023

VIENNA -- Just two days before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko addressed the lower chamber of parliament on what would become the Kremlin's initial steps to annex territory in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

His introductory remarks included accusations that Ukraine was "sabotaging" negotiations held by the Trilateral Contact Group consisting of Russia, Ukraine, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the 57-nation regional security body based in Vienna that currently finds itself in crisis amid Russian vetoes ahead of a key ministerial council meetingon November 30.

Rudenko was intimately familiar with the OSCE, whose leadership immediately condemned Russia's invasion two days later, and not just because he had previously served as a senior Russian envoy to the organization.

At the time of Russia's invasion and the trilateral negotiations, Rudenko's wife was serving as a senior political and administrative assistant in the OSCE secretary-general's office. This gave her access to high-level OSCE meetings, events, and information, according to one EU diplomat.

Rudenko's wife, a Kyrgyz-born woman named Saltanat Sakembaeva, is one of several Russian citizens whose employment with the OSCE has raised concerns over the Kremlin's inside access to the executive body of an organization that has played a central role in monitoring Russian aggression in Ukraine and attempting to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv, an RFE/RL investigation has found.

These individuals include career Russian diplomat Anton Vushkarnik, who served for four years at the Russian Embassy in Washington and gave a Capitol Hill briefing backing Moscow's support for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

E-mails obtained by RFE/RL show that Vushkarnik, who currently serves as a senior strategic adviser in the OSCE Secretariat, sent a U.S. congressional staffer a YouTube video likening Ukrainian politicians to Nazis, as well as messages claiming "homosexual authoritarianism" is "threatening America" and using the homophobic slur "f*gs."

Meanwhile, a woman who served as an interpreter for Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks with then-U.S. President Donald Trump is currently employed in the Vienna Liaison Office of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly.

The former interpreter, Daria Boyarskaya, specifically received that assignment from the Kremlin in order to distract the U.S. leader, according to an ex-White House official.

The placement of figures close to Putin's government within the highest echelons of the OSCE has led to public and private accusations of Kremlin influence-peddling and sabotage in what is supposed to be a neutral international body.

Sakembaeva, who returned to Russia five months after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, "had access to a significant amount of restricted material, which through her marital relationship she could easily pass to her husband [Rudenko]," a former colleague in the OSCE Secretariat told RFE/RL.

For reasons of personal security, Sakembaeva's former colleague, as well as diplomats and other sources currently or previously employed by the OSCE or its permanent missions, agreed to speak with RFE/RL on condition of anonymity.

The OSCE secretary-general's office, headed by Germany's Helga Schmid since 2020, told RFE/RL that all of the organization's officials, "regardless of their nationality or contract type, are required to represent solely the interests of the OSCE and are subject to the Code of Conduct, which is publicly available."

"Although we cannot discuss individual cases, we assure you that the OSCE takes any potential breach of the Code of Conduct extremely seriously, and consistently applies the proper internal procedures when addressing alleged violations," OSCE spokesman David Dadge said in an e-mailed statement.

The Diplomat's Wife

In June 2022, four months into Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine, Sakembaeva attended a party at the Russian Embassy in Vienna celebrating the Russian holiday honoring its declaration of sovereignty from the Soviet Union.

Photographs from the event show her together with Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE, Aleksandr Lukashevich, a former Foreign Ministry spokesman who has defended Russia's war of aggression at the organization and accused Washington and its allies of trying to "usurp" the functions of the OSCE Secretariat.

At the time of the event, Sakembaeva had been serving as a senior political assistant in the OSCE secretary-general's office in Vienna for nearly 15 years, having taken the job in 2009, when she was a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

A former colleague of Sakembaeva's at the OSCE described her as "super friendly and sociable."

"Everyone wanted to be friends with the secretary-general's office so they could get promoted. She, in turn, was also actively socializing with people at all levels in all positions. She had the perfect opportunity to insert herself into all kinds of issues and situations, and the possibility to collect all kinds of information," the former colleague said.

Sakembaeva's future husband, Rudenko, arrived in the Austrian capital in 2011 to assume the role of Russia's deputy permanent representative to the OSCE. He was 14 years her senior, and he and Sakembaeva hit it off; her still-active Facebook page shows the two dining out.

In May 2014, not long after Russia's invasion and occupation of Crimea, Sakembaeva purchased a 92-square-meter apartment in a century-old building on a quiet side street in Vienna's third district, a short walk from the city center, documents obtained by RFE/RL show. At the time of purchase, she gave her address to the Austrian property registry as that of the sprawling Russian Permanent Mission in Vienna.

Sakembaeva was granted Russian citizenship in August 2014, and she and Rudenko were married a month later at the Russian Embassy in Vienna, other records obtained by RFE/RL show. The following July, Sakembaeva renounced her Kyrgyz citizenship. Multiple people who worked with Sakembaeva say she was quiet about her marriage and change of nationality.

Before Russia's May 9 Victory Day celebrations in 2020, Sakembaeva adorned her Facebook profile photo with a St. George's ribbon, a Kremlin-backed emblem of patriotism, and the "75 Years of Victory" slogan commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany. Since Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014, both symbols have become deeply politicized to express loyalty to the Russian state and avid support for its invasion of Ukraine.

In 2016, Rudenko returned to Russia to take up a series of high-ranking positions in the Foreign Ministry, leaving his new wife at their Vienna apartment. His first job was as director of the department responsible for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine -- all countries of significant focus for the OSCE at the time.

"As an OSCE staff representative, Saltanat was a very clear case of conflict of interest. She had access to all the key positions in the Secretariat, including several generations of OSCE secretary-generals, the OSCE chairmanship, and the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center management," said a European diplomat with one of the permanent missions to the OSCE.

Even as tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated, Sakembaeva remained in her position with the OSCE Secretariat, which did not appear to have an issue with her employment.

"Saltanat's job was to organize meetings, travel, and print out communications," Sakembaeva's former OSCE colleague told RFE/RL. "It was an administrative role, but she was always treated as something more.... As Russia consistently blocked many important decisions, having a person with direct access to a high-level official in the Russian Foreign Ministry might have been seen by the OSCE as an advantage."

According to OSCE staff regulations, officials are forbidden to "use, disseminate, and/or publish information known to them by reason of their official position, except in connection with the discharge of their functions."

The former colleague said Sakembaeva likely informed her employer about her change in circumstances, as a failure to do so would be a violation of OSCE regulations, adding, "The question is, why wasn't she moved to another, less sensitive, department?"

Sakembaeva continued to work in the OSCE's top office until July 2022, five months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Andrei Soldatov, a Russian investigative journalist and an expert on Russia's security services, told RFE/RL that "it is absolutely clear" that operatives with the counterintelligence directorate of the Federal Security Service "would have been in the know about Sakembaeva's remarkable career, and they would not have missed the chance to exploit it."

"Even if she was not recruited as an actual agent, she certainly would have been someone who at some point might have been 'asked' to do something -- such as accessing sensitive information -- and she wouldn't have had the option to say no," Soldatov said.

Sakembaeva and Rudenko did not respond to requests for comment, nor did the Russian Foreign Ministry or Russia's permanent mission to the OSCE.

'The Colonel'

For several years now, former Russian diplomat Anton Vushkarnik has served in senior expert and advisory roles within the OSCE secretary-general's office. But in the corridors of the refurbished two-century-old palace in Vienna's historic center that houses the Secretariat, some of Vushkarnik's colleagues quietly refer to him by a nickname alluding to Russian intelligence services: "the Colonel."

According to a joint report by Der Spiegel, German public broadcaster ZDF, and Austria's Der Standard published in September, multiple intelligence services and diplomats from a range of countries believe Vushkarnik -- who was not identified by name in the joint report -- works for Russian intelligence, though RFE/RL found no clear corroborating evidence of this.

One U.S. government source in Washington, however, told RFE/RL that Vushkarnik had been of greater interest to U.S. intelligence than the average Russian Embassy employee.

In 2017, then-OSCE Secretary-General Thomas Greminger decided to establish a so-called Strategic Policy Support Unit (SPSU) within his office. A Swiss national, Greminger wanted the SPSU to be a place to bring together experts from Russia and the United States, as well as the EU and Switzerland. The Russian Foreign Ministry put forward Vushkarnik, 52, as its preferred candidate to represent Russia, and Greminger accepted.

Many of the OSCE member states did not understand the tasks and goals of the SPSU, and it was seen as going against the spirit of the OSCE as an inclusive organization, according to two current European diplomats posted in permanent missions to the OSCE.

For his role as a senior adviser, Vushkarnik was seconded by and paid for by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Critics were not only unhappy that Russia -- which by that time had invaded Georgia, occupied Ukrainian territory, and was refusing to withdraw from Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester -- had been invited at all. They were also concerned about a lack of transparency over the selection of the unit's representatives.

Vushkarnik's appointment to the SPSU came after a decades-long career in the Russian Foreign Ministry. Notably, from 2011-15 he had held the post of congressional affairs director at the Russian Embassy in Washington under Ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

In his embassy role, Vushkarnik defended the sale of Russian arms to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad at a briefing on Capitol Hill. He also sent to a U.S. congressional staffer openly homophobic e-mails, as well as links to a video supportive of Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea and to a screed by Fyodor Dostoyevsky claiming that "all of these Slavic tribes" are "haters, envious people, slanderers, and even outright enemies" of Russia.

By 2018, Vushkarnik held a foreign-policy-planning post in the Russian Foreign Ministry and was meeting with Belarusian Foreign Ministry representatives in Minsk for a round of Belarusian-Russian interministerial consultations on foreign policy. He took up his post with the OSCE at some point after that.

After numerous meetings within the OSCE moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vushkarnik regularly attempted to join discussions related to the armed conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraine, including meetings with the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine and discussions on the Trilateral Contact Group, a senior diplomat within one of the permanent missions to the OSCE in Vienna said.

"He was spotted regularly joining Zoom events people like him were not supposed to participate in," the diplomat told RFE/RL.

Vushkarnik was also involved in another of Greminger's projects, the so-called Cooperative Security Initiative (CSI). Founded in mid-2019 while Greminger was still at the OSCE, the CSI website describes the initiative as "a group of political analysts based in Vienna who are concerned about the need for a more cooperative approach to security and the inability of states to effectively use existing cooperative security organizations, like the OSCE, to resolve conflicts and work together on issues of common concern."

In an August interview in Neue Zuercher Zeitung, a Swiss publication, Greminger indicated a possible resolution to Russia's war in Ukraine would be for Kyiv to "temporarily cede occupied territories to Russia."

A spokesperson for Greminger said the former OSCE secretary-general was unavailable for comment.

When Schmid took over as OSCE secretary-general in December 2020, she abolished the SPSU. But Vushkarnik remained in her office, still seconded and paid for by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Other questions are being raised about Vushkarnik's relationship to the Russian Mission.

RFE/RL has obtained photographs showing Vushkarnik on two separate occasions using a BMW 5 Series with an license plate beginning with "WD-54," the alphanumeric code for vehicles used by Russian diplomatic missions in Austria. An OSCE source said he typically parks near the Hofburg palace in Vienna, home to the OSCE and around a 10-minute walk from the OSCE Secretariat. The photographs obtained by RFE/RL show Vushkarnik and the vehicle at that location.

Although he is internationally seconded and his salary is covered by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vushkarnik is not accredited with Russia's diplomatic mission in Austria, but rather is an international staff member of the OSCE. As such, he is required to abide by the OSCE staff regulations and code of conduct, though his position as a senior official within an international organization does grant him privileges and immunity.

Salaries are regulated and money transfers are not made directly from governments to seconded staff. OSCE staff must report all work-related contacts with their national governments, as well as all favors and gifts of over 40 euros.

"A car is a significant asset which a person does not have to pay for, and this is a clear conflict of interest," a senior diplomat with one of the permanent missions to the OSCE told RFE/RL.

"Possibly it may be part of his secondment contract, but again, this indicates how close he is to the Russian Mission," the diplomat added.

In July of this year, the Austrian European and International Affairs Ministry sent an official letter to the OSCE Secretariat's office informing it that the Austrian police had flagged Vushkarnik for multiple traffic violations.

Vushkarnik was caught driving more than 130 kilometers per hour in both an 80-kilometer-per-hour zone and a 100-kilometer-per-hour zone, the letter seen by RFE/RL states.

Vushkarnik also refused an alcohol test after police suspected he was driving while intoxicated due to the "distinct smell of alcohol." The ministry said it "reminds" the OSCE that "all persons who enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunity" are required to obey the laws of the country and that "in this case, they are dealing with serious traffic offenses that caused extreme danger to road safety."

Vushkarnik, who remains at his OSCE post 21 months into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, did not respond to a request for comment.

Putin's Interpreter

Daria Boyarskaya, a native of Kaliningrad, first attracted international attention in June 2019 when she served as an interpreter for Putin at his meeting with then-U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 in Osaka, Japan.

A national-security adviser for Trump, Fiona Hill, later said publicly that the Kremlin had specifically handed this assignment to Boyarskaya, whose social media posts have featured numerous images of herself posing in glamorous photoshoots, in an attempt to distract Trump.

"We know that this was the case because there had been somebody else on the list, a man, intended to translate for that particular session. And at the very last minute the Russians swapped out for the other interpreter," Hill said in an October 2021 interview with Good Morning America, adding that Boyarskaya was an "excellent translator."

"It was clearly intended to draw attention, because President Putin made a big point of basically introducing President Trump to the interpreter, which was something he didn't normally do," Hill, the co-author of a biography of Putin, added.

Boyarskaya was previously employed at the Russian Foreign Ministry and frequently accompanied Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on trips abroad, including Putin's talks with former U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton in 2018.

Putin also employed Boyarskaya during a meeting with then-President Barack Obama in China in 2016. Concurrently, she had worked off-and-on since June 2010 as a Russian-to-English interpreter for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's (PA) annual sessions in various locations.

A little over a year after the Trump-Putin meeting in Japan, a vacancy announcement briefly appeared on the OSCE PA's website recruiting "an adviser to join its Vienna Liaison Office" to "primarily assist" Secretary-General Roberto Montella and other senior staff.

The job listing said the successful applicant should be "a fluent Russian speaker, with years of experience as an interpreter, as well as in multi- and bilateral diplomacy," and that they should have experience working with stakeholders from OSCE member states across the former Soviet Union and a minimum of five years' experience working in a national parliament or government.

The advertisement was a match for Boyarskaya's profile, and she was subsequently hired for the job.

Delegates to the OSCE PA who spoke with RFE/RL, however, complained that Boyarskaya's hiring and later promotion was not transparent -- and that her track record was anything but an asset.

Since Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014, the OSCE PA has unequivocally condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine, and Boyarskaya's employment by the Russian Foreign Ministry -- and in particular her work as Putin's personal interpreter -- is seen by some OSCE parliamentarians as insensitive at best or a security risk at worst.

Boyarskaya took up the post in February 2021 -- almost seven years after Russia occupied Crimea and fomented war in eastern Ukraine.

In a letter to a Latvian delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly who had publicly criticized her appointment, Secretary-General Montella defended Boyarskaya, writing that "we are proud to have been able to hire her -- notably before Russia's military aggression and invasion of Ukraine."

Delegates and diplomats from several Eastern European countries were outraged that Montella was apparently ignoring the previous seven years of hostile Russian actions in Ukraine.

In September 2021, Boyarskaya was promoted to the head of the OSCE PA's Vienna Liaison Office. She was also given the responsibility of "deputy special representative." In her position she is required to "maintain diplomatic as well as operational contacts, cooperation and coordination with the permanent representatives of the OSCE participating states and all decision-making bodies of the OSCE."

Normal procedure in the OSCE requires vacancies to be announced publicly in order to avoid charges of unfair hiring processes. But Boyarskaya's new role was simply announced in an internal newsletter titled News From Copenhagen, where the OSCE PA is headquartered.

A source within Montella's office told RFE/RL that Boyarskaya's position as head of the liaison office and deputy special representative was not advertised.

A list of job vacancies for the OSCE PA's international secretariat posted on the organization's website still shows the now-closed adviser position that Boyarskaya was originally hired for in 2020, but does not show a listing for the head of the Vienna Liaison Office position that she later assumed.

Responding to a list of questions about Boyarskaya's hiring and promotion, OSCE PA spokesman Nat Parry said in an e-mailed statement on behalf of Montella that "these issues have already been discussed and clarified internally with the OSCE PA leadership in the competent bodies of the Assembly."

Delegates from several Eastern European countries continue to object to her employment.

Barbara Bartus, head of the the Polish delegation to the OSCE PA, said in a statement to RFE/RL that she "believes that it might not be most beneficial for our organization to have a person who cooperated so closely with the Putin regime, responsible for the war in Ukraine, to hold a managerial position in the structures of the OSCE PA."

At a press conference earlier this year, the head of the Lithuanian delegation to the OSCE, Vilija Aleknaite-Abramikiene, called Boyarskaya "a very controversial individual from Putin's closest circle" and asked on what basis Montella selected "a person whose ties with Russian special services can be presumed" to lead the OSCE PA's Vienna Liaison Office.

In that position, Boyarskaya had access to all the OSCE's operational contacts across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia, as well as in the International Secretariat. She also assists with preparations for official visits by OSCE PA officials, as well as helping to support election observation missions.

"Our secretary-general decides on the staff himself, without consultations with politicians," Aleknaite-Abramikiene told RFE/RL in an interview.

There is also criticism of Boyarskaya's work as a translator.

Part of her job description included the maintenance of the Russian version of the International Secretariat's website, as well as editing and reviewing "translations generated by the International Secretariat or externally to ensure proper quality and reflection of content." Russian-speaking delegates to the PA, however, noted that her translations into Russian have avoided mention of Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine.

For example, the English and Russian versions of the headline of the same article on the OSCE PA's website in mid-February contain discrepancies. The Russian version omitted the word "Russia" and read "the war against Ukraine," rather than "Russia's war against Ukraine," as in the English version. After an Austrian news outlet asked Montella about the difference, the translations were changedto match exactly. Critics see the original omission as a deliberate concession to Russia.

Poland in particular has made its concerns about Boyarskaya very clear.

Shortly before an OSCE PA meeting in the Polish city of Lodz in the fall of 2022, Boyarskaya and another Russian OSCE employee, Anzhelika Ivanishcheva, were declared personae non grata by the Polish Interior Ministry, which said their presence on Polish territory "poses a threat to state security" and that both women were "supporter[s] of Vladimir Putin's regime."

On February 16, Boyarskaya was detained at the Lithuanian-Russian border while attempting to visit relatives in Kaliningrad. Correspondence obtained by RFE/RL shows that Andreas Nothelle, a German lawyer and consultant to the OSCE PA, was tasked with the job of demanding "on behalf of" Montella that Poland lift the sanctions on Boyarskaya. An additional letter obtained by RFE/RL, sent by Nothelle to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, demands an explanation for her detention.

Nothelle declined to comment when contacted by RFE/RL, citing "professional secrecy."

At a meeting earlier this year, the head of the Latvian delegation, Rihards Kols, likened Boyarskaya to Anna Chapman, the Russian agent swept up in the FBI's 2010 arrest of undercover Russian spies. Other delegates from the Baltic states questioned Montella about the OSCE PA's financial situation and demanded an audit be carried out.

Following the meeting, Montella sent a letter of reprimand to Kols, who posted it online.

"These acts would be considered slander and subject to criminal prosecution in many countries," Montella wrote.

He also assured Kols that Boyarskaya "has pledged and is obliged to follow the Staff Rules as well as a Code of Conduct, which prohibits staff to accept any instructions or the like from their home countries."

The European diplomat within one of the OSCE's permanent missions told RFE/RL that "Boyarskaya is not just any Russian national."

"As Putin's interpreter, she would have been subject to security procedures in Russia, which are well-known for their KGB-style approaches. We ask questions and don't receive proper answers," the diplomat said.

Three weeks after the publication of the joint report by Der Spiegel, German public broadcaster ZDF, and Austria's Der Standard in September that described Boyarskaya and her work for the OSCE but did not identify her by name, her job description on the OSCE PA's website was quietly altered to "senior advisor."

She is no longer listed as head of the Vienna office, and her previous role of deputy special representative is now being filled by chief political adviser Francesco Pagani of Italy.

Boyarskaya did not respond to a request for comment.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/32693816.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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Former U.S. Marine Whelan Assaulted In Russian Prison

By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 29, 2023

Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said on November 29 that Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen who is serving a 16-year espionage sentence in a Russian prison, was assaulted by another inmate, an attack prison officials said was sparked by "political differences" but that Whelan's family said was likely prompted by anti-American sentiment.

The FSIN also said a further escalation of the conflict on November 28 was prevented and Whelan, who sustained a scratch under his eye, was provided with medical assistance at the notorious prison in Mordovia where he is incarcerated.

Arrested in 2018 in Russia, the former U.S. Marine was convicted on spying charges in 2020. Both he and the U.S. government have denied the 53-year-old is a spy.

The Biden administration has designated Whelan as "wrongfully detained" -- a term that effectively says the case against him is politically motivated -- and has called for his immediate release.

Relatives said Whelan described the attack as "relatively minor" but that he was "concerned that these sorts of attacks can occur any time and, due to the various sharp implements in the workshop including the shears the other prisoner was holding today, could escalate into a far more serious attack."

"Paul is a target because he is an American and anti-American sentiment is not uncommon among the other prisoners," they said in a statement, adding that Whelan believes prison officials are taking the matter "seriously."

Whelan, a Michigan-based corporate security executive, was arrested in December 2018 while visiting Moscow for a friend's wedding. Russia claimed Whelan was caught with a flash drive containing classified information.

Whelan, who holds U.S., British, Canadian, and Irish citizenship, said he was set up in a sting operation and had thought the drive, given to him by a Russian acquaintance, contained vacation photos.

The detentions of Whelan and other Americans comes at a time when relation between Moscow and Washington are at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War over the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has been accused of detaining the Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested for allegedly spying -- a charge he and the newspaper vehemently deny -- in March and remains in pretrial custody.

Prague-based U.S. journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has worked for RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service for some 25 years, was attending to a family emergency in her native Tatarstan when she was temporarily detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at the Kazan airport, where both of her passports and phone were confiscated.

After five months spent waiting for a decision in her case, Kurmasheva was fined 10,000 rubles ($103) for failing to register her U.S. passport with Russian authorities.

While waiting for the return of her travel documents, Kurmasheva was detained again on October 18 and this time charged with failing to register as a "foreign agent," a legal designation Russia has used since 2012 to label and punish critics of government policies.

She also remains in pretrial detention.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-whelan- assaulted-inmate-prison/32706832.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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Press release on the online-meeting between the Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Field of Information Security, Director of the Department of International Information Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Artur Lyukmanov, and UN Under-Secretary- General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu

29 November 2023 16:42

2432-29-11-2023

On 28 November 2023, the Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Field of Information Security, Director of the Department of International Information Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Artur Lyukmanov, held a virtual meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu. They exchanged views on the outcomes of discussions on ICT security at the UN in 2023, including in the First Committee of the General Assembly. They also welcomed the progress made by the Open-ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of ICTs 2021-2025 and expressed their support for its continued work.

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Nuclear Submarines Priority for Russian Navy - Commander

Sputnik News

20231129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The construction of multipurpose and strategic nuclear submarines is a priority for the Russian navy and shipbuilding industry, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Nikolai Yevmenov said on Wednesday.

"The chief command of the Russian navy will further put a premium on the development of the nuclear submarines as part of the submarine forces that are the basis for ensuring security at sea and in the ocean. The construction of multipurpose and strategic nuclear submarines is a priority in our joint work with the industry," the military official said.

The navy commander took part in the launching ceremony of the Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine of the Yasen-M project at the Sevmash shipyard in the city of Severodvinsk on the White Sea.

The nuclear submarines built under the project are an example of "unique new Russian developments of military navy equipment," Yevmenov said.

At the moment, three nuclear submarines of the Yasen project (Severodvinsk, Kazan and Novosibirsk) are in the Russian navy's combat fleet. In the near future, the submarines of the project will be equipped with hypersonic Zircon missiles.

A Sputnik

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EU-TArkiye: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after the adoption of the joint report on the state of play of bilateral political, economic and trade relations

European External Action Service (EEAS)

29.11.2023

Brussels

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

We are here today to present the Joint Communication on the state of play of our political, economic and trade relations with TArkiye that the College has just adopted right now.

With this report, I - as High Representative - and the [European] Commission will answer the request by the European Council - the European Union Leaders - that requested us to map out where we are in our relations with TArkiye and suggest how we want to shape it in a strategic and forward-looking manner.

For us, TArkiye is a very important partner, and this first assessment was already done in Spring 2021 - when we were in a turbulent period in our relations.

It is clear that there have been difficulties in the past, such as the dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean, bilateral relations with some of our Member States, and trade irritants. But we have seen a more constructive attitude on these points although there are still open issues, which we need to address together and certainly, this includes - in a relevant position - the Cyprus issue.

We are living in an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical context, and the need for the European Union to strengthen its security, has a profound impact on the EU-TArkiye relations. I think that we are interested in developing a mutually beneficial partnership with TArkiye - an important neighbour, as I said, a key partner and do not forget it, a European Union candidate country - although the accession track with TArkiye remains at a standstill. This report has nothing to do with that, it is about the broad approach to TArkiye apart from its [EU] candidacy.

Against this background and faced with a need to pursue our interests more effectively, the European Union needs to consider which are the next steps in the EU-TArkiye relations.

In this context, we have identified a number of possible options towards engagement with TArkiye in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner. Phased, proportionate and reversible manner.

These steps are subject to the established conditionalities already set out by the European Council in June and March 2021.

Our report makes also clear the two-tracks approach suggested by the March 2021 Communication, that was welcomed by the European Union leaders, and it still remains valid.

We reaffirm our determination to use the instruments at our disposal to defend the interests of the EU and our Member States, as well as to uphold regional stability.

Ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean - this is a strategic goal of the European Union.

Engaging with TArkiye, most notably, on the Cyprus issue, but also given the importance of good neighbourhood relations with Greece, is of essence.

Wider regional issues in the Eastern Mediterranean are also calling for a closer European Union engagement with TArkiye and other regional partners, for the much-needed work to turn the dynamics from conflict to cooperation.

In the context of the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, TArkiye's role in the Black Sea, as a NATO ally, is also key.

Implementation of the European Union sanctions against Russia and actively combatting efforts of circumvention is also of paramount importance in this context.

The proposals in this report suggest continuing and taking more steps towards engaging with TArkiye in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investments, migration, connectivity, green and digital transition, energy, to name just a few, and also about visa facilitation.

We suggest to resume the High-Level Dialogues and the Association Council that were suspended in 2019 - it means four years ago.

But, at the same time, we are clear with our expectations: maintain the calm in the Eastern Mediterranean and improve its prosperity.

For that, we also suggest making first steps towards the launching of negotiations with TArkiye on the modernisation of Customs Union.

Again, we are clear on what we expect from TArkiye to do for this to happen, namely addressing trade irritants, to cooperate with us on preventing circumvention of sanctions against Russia and creating a climate conducive to the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks.

And finally, the dialogue on the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain an integral part of the European Union-TArkiye relationship and we see that there is room for improvement.

To summarise, the European Union clearly has a strategic interest to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with TArkiye and maintain a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. And this Joint Communication, from the High Representative and the [European] Commission responds to this objective.

It is now for the European Leaders to give further guidance on how we take forward our engagement with TArkiye.

Thank you.

Q&A

Q. Mr High Representative, in your opinion, against the background of recent developments. What role can TArkiye play in terms of the Middle East Peace Process?

TArkiye is playing an important role in almost every conflict. We see TArkiye in Libya, we see TArkiye in Somalia. I even see TArkiye engaging on the issue of Venezuela. So, how not, TArkiye can play a role in the Middle East Peace Process. We know its position - strongly supporting the cause of the Palestinians. And we are ready to engage with TArkiye and all relevant actors in the area. We are in discussions with the representatives of the Muslim and Arab world. And we are also ready to discuss with TArkiye which can be the way for political negotiations that could lead to the Two-State solution - which is something that both TArkiye and the European Union support.

Q. Given the EU-TArkiye relations, how do you address the stated positions for a two-state solution with Cyprus, which is something that the European Union is not accepting, as it recognises one country that should be united. Is there any sign from the Turkish side in your contacts that this is a negotiating position or that it is something that can be really problematic in future relations with the European Union?

You know, about Cyprus since TArkiye is pushing for the two-state solution, let me say that on the two-state solution and overall Cyprus issue, the [position of the] European Union has not changed: the European Council recalled in June 2023 that the European Union remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations framework, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the European Union is founded.

The European Union has called for a speedy resumption of negotiations and is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of this United Nations-led process with all appropriate means at our disposal. We are really ready to engage, as much as needed. This is not a gift to TArkiye. This serves our most important interests, which is peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. But our position with respect to the Cyprus issue has not changed, since it was clearly stated by the European Council in June 2023.

Q. I would like also, if you could comment, on how do you assess TArkiye's current position on the two-state solution, whether it can be a real problem when it comes to EU relations [with TArkiye] or whether it is a position that could lead to some discussions further down the line.

You can ask me the same question in different formats, my answer will be the same.

Q. My first question is regarding the 18 pages of report that I had the pleasure to read. I was wondering whether, with this way forward you announce, would EU-TArkiye relations with come to status quo ante 14 December 2021 or not? Bearing in mind that at that time, there was still a visa free regime or other things, whereas now we just discuss about visa facilitation - and it is a very big problem in the context of TArkiye - as well as resuming EIB loans and this kind of issue. My second question is: we have the feeling, when we read the report, that the relations would resume unless TArkiye has rather good relations with not only Greece but [it also] finds a solution to the Cyprus problem or at least have a kind of constructive approach. Is it right or wrong to feel or to have this perception? Regarding immigration and the migration package, will there be also a kind of financial assistance, or will the 2016 agreement be rephrased, reframed? What is the expectation?

I can add [to what Commissioner Varhelyi just said] a broader approach. I think it is important to repeat that we are living in an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical context. That is a fact of life.

It was not the case in 2021. In 2021, there was not a war in Ukraine, there was not this crisis between Israel and Palestine - just to cite the two most important issues. Maybe, at that time, we were more focusing on what was happening in Libya. But today, we are facing a completely different geopolitical context, and in this context, the European Union has to strengthen its security.

This context, unavoidably, has an impact on our relations with TArkiye. Let me stress one thing: we are very much interested in developing a mutually-beneficial partnership with TArkiye. We recognise TArkiye as an important neighbour, as a key partner for the European Union - not only as a candidate country, as the Commissioner has reminded.

And also, the fact that there are some irritants on several sectorial aspects and some key political issues, which is the case of Cyprus, certainly. But you have a look at this [Joint] Communication, you have to read it in a positive manner, because we want to engage with TArkiye in order to solve all irritant questions and to deal with all problems that have been for years in a kind of stalemate, and a solution has to be reached. The approach will be phased, proportionate and reversible, but with a clear will of improving our relationship and make a new era in our relations based on looking for common solutions to common problems.

Q. High Representative Borrell. First of all, there is an intention for new talks on the Customs Union issue, however, with the Cyprus issue open how could these talks evolve? And second question, I haven't heard anything in your remarks about the possibility of defence cooperation between the EU and TArkiye. Is the fact that TArkiye is not fully aligned with some key EU foreign policy issues like sanctions against Russia play any role in this defence cooperation?

Well, TArkiye is a member of NATO and most of the European Union Member States are members of NATO. Recently, two more have or will become members of NATO. So, the defence cooperation between TArkiye and the Member States of the European Union has a good framework, which is NATO. Yesterday, we had a meeting at the NATO talking about the Western Balkans, this is a nice place to see our cooperation develop. It is important to say that we are doing and having a good cooperation on such issues, which are very important for us, the future of the Western Balkans.

Certainly, there is not a high-level alignment on our foreign policy with TArkiye and we want to organise our exchanges on Foreign Policy, in order to be more effective and operational. It is clear that, in some cases, we will disagree and in other cases, we have to stress the importance of our agreements.

For example, TArkiye and the European Union support the same position on the Two-State solution and our efforts in the Middle East Peace Process. Together we keep engaging as members of the anti-Daesh coalition. We are important partners in the fight against terrorism. Certainly, we disagree with TArkiye on the consideration of Hamas. For us Hamas remains a terrorist organisation, it was declared like this by the European Union many years ago. TArkiye has a different approach and at the same time it is something which is coherent with the position of the Muslim world. And we have said, in several occasions, that the solution of the situation in the Middle East countries cannot only be military, it also has to be political and diplomatic. And we agree with TArkiye on the need to push for the Two-State solution.

In some cases, we disagree, in others, we fully agree. In some cases, we cooperate a lot and in others we expect more and better cooperation, like it is the case on the circumvention of sanctions against Russia. TArkiye has played an important role on this deal, that has been able to allow exports on Ukrainian grain to the rest of the world. Just for that, we have to thank TArkiye authorities. Today, this deal is no longer in place, but Ukraine has found a way of exporting his grain through a maritime corridor, but it does not mean that we do not recognise the important efforts TArkiye has done in the past, when this corridor was not in place in order to make the world being able to receive the grain from Ukraine. So, it is a complex relation. Our foreign policy alignment is very low, and we except to increase it by continuing our foreign policy dialogue.

Link to video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-249905

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Press remarks by High Representative Borrell and Commissioner VArhelyi on the state of play of EU-TArkiye political, economic and trade relations

European Commission

Speech

29 November 2023

Brussels

"Check against delivery"

Opening remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell

We are here today to present the Joint Communication on the state of play of our political, economic and trade relations with TArkiye that the College has just adopted right now.

With this report, I - as High Representative - and the [European] Commission will answer the request by the European Council - the European Union Leaders - that requested us to map out where we are in our relations with TArkiye and suggest how we want to shape it in a strategic and forward-looking manner.

For us, TArkiye is a very important partner, and this first assessment was already done in Spring 2021 - when we were in a turbulent period in our relations.

It is clear that there have been difficulties in the past, such as the dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean, bilateral relations with some of our Member States, and trade irritants. But we have seen a more constructive attitude on these points although there are still open issues, which we need to address together and certainly, this includes - in a relevant position - the Cyprus issue.

We are living in an increasingly complex and challenging geopolitical context, and the need for the European Union to strengthen its security, has a profound impact on the EU-TArkiye relations. I think that we are interested in developing a mutually beneficial partnership with TArkiye - an important neighbour, as I said, a key partner and do not forget it, a European Union candidate country - although the accession track with TArkiye remains at a standstill. This report has nothing to do with that, it is about the broad approach to TArkiye apart from its [EU] candidacy.

Against this background and faced with a need to pursue our interests more effectively, the European union needs to consider which are the next steps in the EU-TArkiye relations.

In this context, we have identified a number of possible options towards engagement with TArkiye in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner. Phased, proportionate and reversible manner.

These steps are subject to the established conditionalities already set out by the European Council in June and March 2021.

Our report makes also clear the two-tracks approach suggested by the March 2021 Communication, that was welcomed by the European Union leaders, and it still remains valid.

We reaffirm our determination to use the instruments at our disposal to defend the interests of the EU and our Member States, as well as to uphold regional stability.

Ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean - this is a strategic goal of the European Union.

Engaging with TArkiye, most notably, on the Cyprus issue, but also given the importance of good neighbourhood relations with Greece, is of essence.

Wider regional issues in the Eastern Mediterranean are also calling for a closer European Union engagement with TArkiye and other regional partners, for the much-needed work to turn the dynamics from conflict to cooperation.

In the context of the Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, TArkiye's role in the Black Sea, as a NATO ally, is also key.

Implementation of the European Union sanctions against Russia and actively combatting efforts of circumvention is also of paramount importance in this context.

The proposals in this report suggest continuing and taking more steps towards engaging with TArkiye in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investments, migration, connectivity, green and digital transition, energy, to name just a few, and also about visa facilitation.

We suggest to resume the High-Level Dialogues and the Association Council that were suspended in 2019 - it means four years ago.

But, at the same time, we are clear with our expectations: maintain the calm in the Eastern Mediterranean and improve its prosperity.

For that, we also suggest making first steps towards the launching of negotiations with TArkiye on the modernisation of Customs Union.

Again, we are clear on what we expect from TArkiye to do for this to happen, namely addressing trade irritants, to cooperate with us on preventing circumvention of sanctions against Russia and creating a climate conducive to the resumption of Cyprus settlement talks.

And finally, the dialogue on the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain an integral part of the European Union-TArkiye relationship and we see that there is room for improvement.

To summarise, the European Union clearly has a strategic interest to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with TArkiye and maintain a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean. And this Joint Communication, from the High Representative and the [European] Commission responds to this objective.

It is now for the European Leaders to give further guidance on how we take forward our engagement with TArkiye.

Thank you.

Opening remarks by Commissioner OlivAr Varhelyi

I want to continue where the High Representative has just finished, and that is that we need all efforts and we propose all efforts to be taken to bridge the key differences between Ankara and our point of view. We might not see eye to eye everywhere. But certainly there is more that unites us than divides us. We must focus on cooperation, where it is feasible and mutually beneficial.

TArkiye continues to be a candidate country and key partner of the European Union, you have seen our report on that just a couple of weeks ago. TArkiye is a major NATO ally and a strategic partner in a very uneasy neighbourhood and region. We have ever closer people-to-people contacts with millions of tourists, students, businesspeople in both directions. And our economies are almost fully integrated by now with one another.

So we think that there is huge potential in taking the next steps. But of course we need also a constructive attitude from TArkiye to really support the proposals that we are making.

So we are proposing a number of actions to energise the key areas of our cooperation - as it was already mentioned by the High Representative in a progressive, proportionate and reversible manner, and of course in line with all the established conditions and guidelines by the European Council.

So let me walk you through the key recommendations:

First, about intensifying high-level engagement. For instance,

We are proposing to restart the High-level Dialogues on Economy, Energy and Transport, under the conditions that of course TArkiye means to refrain from all illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and that it continues to respect the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our Member States.

It is also suggested to resume the work of the Association Council and the High-level Political Dialogues at all ministerial level, and to set up a new High-level Dialogue on Trade.

These contacts will ensure, will help to deepen mutual understanding, and should also contribute to resolving existing issues and deepen the cooperation.

Second, we are proposing to energise cooperation on trade and connectivity. For example,

We recommend resuming discussions on the draft negotiating framework for the modernisation of the EU-TArkiye Customs Union - while we should also be working in parallel on the trade irritants also mentioned by the High Representative and also that TArkiye should address any circumvention of our restrictive measures against Russia.

As you know, TArkiye is our 7th largest trading partner, and we are the first for TArkiye. This is why bilateral trade has grown more than four-fold and you see that we are also passing this year a200 billion of trade. This is an all-time record.

So our recommendations is to open the door for even closer economic and trade relations.

Third - as a matter of priority - we are proposing also to explore the Member States to facilitate access to visa applications, and to facilitate the people-to-people contact, in particular for business people and students and this should include issuing multiple entry visas with longer term validities.

Fourth, we are suggesting to boost the public and private investments in TArkiye,

In particular through the new TArkiye Investment Platform, in key areas of mutual interest such as connectivity, digital, green energy, and transition, transport connections, together with European and International Financial Institutions. We seek to leverage to create investments of the value of a2 billion with our budget guarantees of a317 million.

And on this occasion we also invite the European Investment Bank to resume its operations across all sectors in TArkiye.

And fifth, on migration, we also suggest a more effective and mutually beneficial implementation of the 2016 EU-Turkey Statement. And to this end, we are also proposing:

To intensify efforts to stem irregular migration, prevent departures, strengthen border control and crack down on the criminal smuggling and organised crime groups;

Resume readmissions from the Greek islands, address the migration situation in Cyprus and prevent irregular departures on routes to the EU;

We would also like to see the stepping up of resettlement from TArkiye to the EU;

And we also want to support the safe, dignified and voluntary returns to the countries of origin, in close cooperation with IOM and UNHCR if this is requested by TArkiye.

In this regard, as you know, the Commission has proposed a new strategic assistance package of a4 billion for 2024-2027 as part of the MFF mid-term review, meaning that we would like to continue on the basis of our current arrangements.

We see that the current process of re-engagement is already yielding results - for example in the trade irritants area - so we think that it is essential both for the EU and TArkiye to pursue this agenda in good faith, in a cooperative and mutually beneficial manner.

We look forward to the strategic guidance to be issued by our leaders, and we are convinced that with these balanced and solid recommendations we can pick up the work and we can start to build a new beginning for a positive agenda step by step.

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November 29, 2023

Release

Readout of Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks' Meeting With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps

Pentagon Spokesman Eric Pahon provided the following readout:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks met today with UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps in London to discuss a range of bilateral defense issues.

Deputy Secretary Hicks thanked Secretary Shapps for his country's support, alongside the United States and other Allies, in rejecting terrorism and supporting Israel's right to self-defense, consistent with international humanitarian law and the Law of Armed Conflict. They discussed multilateral initiatives to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The Deputy Secretary reiterated U.S. support to Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression will continue. She thanked the UK for its substantial security assistance to Ukraine and close collaboration with the U.S. in ensuring Ukraine has the capabilities it needs in multiple areas.

They also discussed AUKUS, while re-emphasizing that the trilateral agreement will make a positive contribution to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing deterrence.

Deputy Secretary Hicks and Secretary Shapps agreed to continued cooperation to enhance the special defense relationship between the U.S. and UK.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3601669/

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Continued strong Norwegian support for Ukraine's war of self-defence

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 29/11/2023

'Ukraine is our top priority and will remain so for a long time to come. Norway will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes', says Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Norway will continue its strong support for Ukraine's war of self-defence. This was Foreign Minister Eide's main message when he met his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. The situation in Ukraine was a key topic at the meeting.

In recent weeks, Russia has further intensified its warfare, including extensive drone attacks against civilian infrastructure.

'We must prepare for the possibility that Russia's war against Ukraine could drag out, and that Ukraine's extensive military, civilian and humanitarian needs may persist. Russia's war of aggression poses a persistent threat to European security and threatens our national interests. The message from a united NATO is clear: we will continue to stand by the Ukrainian people in their fight for Ukraine's freedom', says Foreign Minister Eide.

Norway is providing NOK 10 billion in military support and NOK 8.7 billion in civilian support to Ukraine in 2023 through the Nansen Programme for Ukraine, a five-year support programme adopted by a united Parliament.

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Latvia's involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine discussed in a seminar at the Foreign Ministry

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29.11.2023

On 29 November 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar, "Latvia's involvement in the reconstruction of Ukraine: current experience and the way ahead". At the event, the representatives of the Ukrainian and Latvian public sector, non-governmental and international organisations, as well as Latvian business people discussed the prerequisites for the involvement of Latvian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as sharing opinions on the experience and lessons learned so far.

The seminar was opened by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelss, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia, Anatolii Kutsevol, and - via video conferencing - the Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine for European Integration, Anna Yurchenko.

In his address, the State Secretary emphasized that Ukraine would remain Latvia's priority in the field of reconstruction and development cooperation projects; he also invited the members of Latvian business community and the non-governmental sector to actively build contacts in Ukraine.

On the Latvian side, the seminar was attended by Ainars Mezulis, the representative of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in Ukraine; Laura Skrodele, Director of the Entrepreneurs for Peace Fund; Liga Siceva, Head of the EU Project Department at the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Aivis Dembovskis, Senior Project Manager of ALTUM Export Credit Guarantee division; and Madara Silina, Deputy Head of Mission at the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine. The event was attended in person or followed in a remote mode by a broad spectrum of Latvian businesses and members of the non-governmental sector.

Background information

Latvia is involved in the reconstruction process in Ukraine, focusing mainly on the needs of the Chernihiv region. In 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been implementing reconstruction projects in Ukraine together with cooperation partners: the United Nations Development Programme (social infrastructure facilities), the Entrepreneurs for Peace Fund (renovation of housing in the village of Yahidne), the Centre MARTA (establishment of rehabilitation centres for women) and the Ministry of environmental Protection and Regional Development (support for territorial planning in the area of reconstruction). Latvia will engage in the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine by allocating EUR 5 million annually from state budget resources for this purpose.



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The Foreign Minister reaffirms Allied readiness to defend the entire territory of the Alliance and expresses support for Ukrainian integration into NATO

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

29.11.2023

On 28 and 29 November 2023 in Brussels, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Krisjanis Karins, took part in the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The ministers discussed strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities, the need to increase all kinds of support for Ukraine, and preparations for the NATO summit in Washington in July 2024, which will mark the 75th anniversary of the Alliance. At the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, the Foreign Minister reaffirmed Latvia's support for the integration of Ukraine into NATO.

"NATO's core mission is deterrence and defence of its territory from the first inch, from the first minute. The implementation of NATO's new regional plans is being enhanced and consolidated by the day. At this point, in the run-up to the 20th anniversary of Latvia's membership of NATO and to NATO's 75th anniversary, the Alliance has significantly strengthened its capabilities to defend itself," the Foreign Minister said.

The Allies have been steadily their increasing investment in defence. Next year, Latvia's investment will approach 2.4% of its GDP. Other NATO Member States are also working to increase their defence investments to at least 2% in line with joint decisions. An increase in investment is particularly important for the development of the defence industry, thereby shortening supply chains.

In a joint discussion on Russia, Krisjanis Karins strongly advocated the need to agree on a comprehensive strategy for reining in Russia. "Russia is, and will be the most direct threat to Allied security. We must work to prevent any attempts by Russia to endanger us militarily and to divide our societies with various hybrid operations."

While addressing the conflict in the Middle East, the ministers noted that every effort must be made to prevent its escalation into a broader regional conflict. In discussions on the challenges posed by China to Euro-Atlantic security, Foreign Minister Karins emphasised the need for NATO to take a more decisive action.

At a working session on security challenges in the Western Balkans, the ministers discussed the recent violent clashes in Kosovo, the increasing secessionist rhetoric in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Russia's attempts to destabilise the countries of the region. In order to prevent escalation, NATO Member States decided in early October to send additional forces to the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo (KFOR).

"The Western Balkans region is an integral part of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. We call on Serbia and Kosovo to return to the table of EU-led negotiations in order to address the differences between them through diplomatic means. We welcome the decision to strengthen the KFOR mission, and we shall continue to contribute to peacekeeping efforts in the region."

The Latvian contingent of 130 soldiers has been operating within KFOR from 2021. It is the largest representation of the National Armed Forces outside the territory of Latvia. In September, the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) decided to extend the KFOR mandate for the NAF contingent until December 2025.

As part of the NATO event, the NATO-Ukrainian Council was convened for its first meeting in the format of foreign ministers, with Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba representing Ukraine. The allies pledged their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine, and further steps to strengthen NATO-Ukrainian cooperation were discussed. The Latvian Foreign Minister underlined that "Latvia will stand with Ukraine until its victory. Our support is important at the front line, as well as in rebuilding Ukraine and on its path to NATO. We welcome the progress made by Ukraine in implementing reforms under the conditions of active hostilities."

Krisjanis Karins welcomed the Foreign Ministers of the Baltic and Nordic countries to the Permanent Delegation of Latvia to NATO to discuss future cooperation. "Latvia is coordinating the Baltic-Nordic cooperation this year, which will go down in history due to Finland's full membership of NATO. This makes the security of our region considerably stronger. I hope the process of Sweden's accession to the Alliance will also be concluded shortly, which will consolidate stability in the transatlantic space and our cooperation."

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Lithuania to share experience in procurement transparency and anti-corruption with Ukraine

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023-11-29

International cooperation

On November 29 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anusauskas had a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yuryj Dzhygyr who is on a visit in Lithuania. The officials focused particularly on transparency of procurement and anti-corruption measures which is one of the key issues on the agenda of the present Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov.

"We value and support Ukraine's effort in implementing the defence reform regardless of the war. Lithuania will be sharing expertise with Ukraine on transparent procurement procedure development and supervision. We will transfer to Ukraine our best practices, the scratch we began with, the legislation, methods of ensuring transparency of procurements and corruption prevention," said A. Anusauskas.

Minister assured the guest of high prioritization of MoD assistance to Ukraine and briefed him on the updated concept of the demining coalition for Ukraine assembled by Lithuania. The concept encompasses assistance in military and humanitarian min clearance efforts. There are 22 nations that have expressed interest in joining the coalition so far.

Wednesday Y. Dzhygyr met with Vice Minister of National Defence Greta Monika Tuckute. They discussed Lithuanian-Ukrainian cooperation options in defence industry research and development. Lithuania aims to benefit from Ukraine's experience in innovation.

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine is in Lithuania on November 29 through 30 to attend high-level Conference "EU Vision and Level of Ambition in the Eastern Partnership Policy Security and Defence Agenda". The conference has been hosted by the Ministry of National Defence for a decade to facilitate engagement of the Eastern Partners in the EU Common Security and Defence Agenda.

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Secretary General wraps up meeting of Foreign Ministers: "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before"

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

29 Nov. 2023

NATO Foreign Ministers concluded two days of meetings in Brussels on Wednesday (29 November 2023), addressing support for Ukraine, preparations for the Washington Summit and pressing security challenges, including in the Western Balkans and NATO's southern neighbourhood.

The NATO-Ukraine Council met at the level of Foreign Ministers for the first time, joined by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Speaking after the meeting, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Allies had approved an ambitious work programme for the next year, covering energy security, innovation and interoperability. He added: "we are now transforming NATO's comprehensive assistance package into a multi-year programme of assistance, helping Ukraine to transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment and standards and make their forces fully interoperable with ours".

Foreign Ministers also discussed Ukraine's path to membership of the Alliance and provided recommendations on Ukraine's priority reforms, including the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and supporting human rights and minority rights. The Secretary General said that "last year, Ukraine won the battles for Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson. This year they continue to inflict heavy losses on Russia... Most importantly, Ukraine has prevailed as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation. This is a major achievement - a big win." He emphasised that "Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before," adding that "we will continue to support them on the path to membership".

Turning to the situation on the ground, Mr Stoltenberg underlined the substantial progress made by Ukraine this year, both on land and in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, he said that Russia is losing political influence in its near abroad, has incurred more than 300,000 casualties and lost a substantial part of its conventional forces, and is under economic pressure. Russia is now "weaker politically, militarily and economically... year by year, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing" he said, concluding that "all of this underlines Putin's strategic mistake in invading Ukraine".

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NATO supplies Ukraine with medical ventilators

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

29 Nov. 2023

NATO and Allies are helping to bring much-needed medical ventilators to Ukraine, to support emergency and intensive care units in hospitals around the country. Overall, 15 ventilators will be made available with support from NATO's Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). Spain is donating three ventilators to the Ukraine National Guard, while NATO is giving 12 ventilators, purchased with funds donated by Italy, to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

NATO Assistant Secretary General for Operations Tom Goffus paid tribute to Italy and Spain for their solidarity. "The war, winter and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are stretching Ukraine's medical system to breaking point. This assistance from our Allies and NATO will make a big difference for hundreds of patients," he said.

The ventilators donated by NATO with Italian funds come from its stockpile of medical equipment, which had been set up to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This donation empties the Alliance's pandemic response stockpile, which had been set up in 2020 and was managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).

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Secretary General welcomes Ukraine's Foreign Minister to NATO Headquarters

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

29 Nov. 2023

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (29 November 2023) for the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of foreign ministers.

Mr Stoltenberg said that ministers will discuss how to support Ukraine on the path towards NATO membership, including how to implement reforms. He said that the meeting will also address Ukraine's urgent needs and the situation on the battlefield. The Secretary General welcomed announcements by NATO Allies of additional financial support, more air defences and ammunition; and a training centre for Ukrainian pilots. "These are concrete actions, so we need more of them", he said.

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Civil society groups call for halt of war against Ukraine ahead of OSCE Ministerial Council

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

SKOPJE 29 November 2023

SKOPJE, 29 November 2023 -- Putting a stop to the war against Ukraine and strengthening civil society across the OSCE were at the heart of recommendations put forward by civil society representatives from across the OSCE region. The recommendations were handed over at the annual OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference held in Skopje today.

The Civil Society Conference brought together more than 120 civil society representatives from across the OSCE region to discuss common recommendations from civil society to the OSCE leadership. One of the major outcomes of this year's conference was the Skopje Declaration. The Declaration emphasised the need to end the war against Ukraine, strengthen civil society and hold participating States accountable for their human dimension commitments.

The Declaration was presented to the OSCE's leadership, as well as to the organization's 57 participating States on the eve of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council.

"I am convinced that there is a clear and positive correlation between a strong, diverse and vibrant civil society on the one hand, and on the other the strength of democratic institutions, the rule of law and tolerant and inclusive communities," emphasized the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani.

The Conference was also attended by OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, by Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Kairat Abdrakhmanov, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) and Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM).

The Parallel Civil Society Conference is organized by the Civic Solidarity Platform. The Conference has taken place every year on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council since 2010, with the support of the OSCE Chairpersonship.

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Deputy Minister Gerwel attends NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

29.11.2023

On 29 November, Undersecretary of State Wojciech Gerwel took part in a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

NATO foreign ministers and Ukraine's top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba discussed the current situation at the frontline as well as the country's war-related needs. Deputy Minister Gerwel pointed to the necessity to keep up the military aid for Kyiv, both on bilateral level and through NATO. He assured Ukraine of Poland's continued important political and military support. The deputy head of Polish diplomacy also expressed support for the package of priority reforms adopted by Kyiv, which bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance. In Deputy Minister Gerwel's opinion, next year's NATO summit in Washington should be another step on Ukraine's path towards the Alliance.

Today's meeting was the first held in this format, at the level of foreign ministers. The launch of the NUC at the Vilnius summit (11-12 July 2023), sought by Poland, is a significant element of bringing Ukraine practically closer to NATO.

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Zelenskiy Visits Southern Ukraine As Kuleba Presses Allies To Step Up Armaments Production

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 29, 2023

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met on November 29 with civilian and military authorities in Ukraine's southern region of Odesa, which has been a regular target for Russian strikes directed at its port installations critical for food exports.

"Many important questions.... The situation in the Black Sea, mine countermeasures and ensuring the safety of the 'grain corridor.' The work of the air defense...protecting Odesa, the infrastructure of the 'grain corridor,' and our brigades," Zelenskiy said on Telegram.

Zelenskiy met with Ukrainian troops in the area and handed them medals and awards for bravery, he said.

The president also met with civilian authorities to discuss measures to bring life in Odesa and other southern regions back to normal after a spell of inclement weather that hit the area, leaving at least 12 people dead and 23 injured.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Kyiv's allies to step up efforts to increase the production of armaments and munitions for Ukraine's defensive war against Russia's unprovoked invasion.

"In order to ensure the stability and security of the entire European region, its defense industry must increase production, coordinate, and work as one integral defense industry complex of the Euro-Atlantic community," Kuleba said in introductory remarks at the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council in Brussels on November 29.

The NATO-Ukraine Council, the joint body in which Kyiv and its allies sit as equal participants, was launched at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.

Earlier this month, European diplomats told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the European Union was concerned that it will not be able to supply Ukraine with the 1 million artillery rounds by March next year as promised in spring by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Earlier on November 29, Russian shelling of Ukraine's Donetsk and Kharkiv regions caused casualties among civilians and damage to infrastructure, despite Ukrainian air defenses repelling a large drone attack on several parts of Ukraine.

Seven civilians were wounded in Donetsk overnight, the acting head of the region, Ihor Moroz, said on November 29. Five residents were wounded in the industrial city of Toretsk and two in Severniy, Moroz said on Telegram.

In the Kharkiv region, Russian shelling caused extensive damage overnight to infrastructure, residential areas, administrative buildings, businesses, and educational facilities, Governor Oleh Synyehubov said.

The cities of Kharkiv, Chuhuyiv, and Kupyansk bore the brunt of the Russian bombardment, Synyehubov said. No casualties were immediately reported, he added.

Russia also unleashed a fresh wave of drones on Ukraine overnight, launching 21 Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles and three Kh-59 guided missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement early on November 29.

"All the enemy's attack drones were destroyed above the Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, and Khmelnytskiy regions. Also, two guided missiles were destroyed in the Mykolayiv region. A third one did not reach its target," the air force said. No casualties or damage was immediately reported.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces were engaged in 87 close-quarter battles over the past 24 hours, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said in its daily report on November 29.

Heavy fighting continued in Kharkiv and in Donetsk region where Russian forces have been incessantly attacking Ukrainian positions in the industrial city of Avdiyivka. Moscow's troops have been unsuccessfully trying to encircle for several weeks at a heavy cost of human lives and equipment.

Anton, an artilleryman from a brigade stationed near the southern flank of the embattled city, told an RFE/RL correspondent that the situation had become more "difficult and intense" since the beginning of the Russian offensive in the area on October 10.

"I have long stopped counting the targets that we are destroying, and the Russians themselves don't stop sending thousands [of their soldiers] to certain death," he said.

The costs have been high for Ukraine as well.

Oleksandr, a doctor heading a triage site close to Avdiyivka, said that wounded Ukrainian soldiers were arriving at his facility every few hours. As his team treated a soldier with the call sign "President" for a minor injury, he said he was seeing more and more soldiers come in with bullet wounds, indicating that more close-quarter combat is being fought in the area.

The military said that Ukrainian marines continue to hold bridgeheads on the left bank of Dnieper River after landing there earlier this month. The report could not be independently confirmed.

Russian troops one year ago withdrew eastward from Kherson city in the face of Ukrainian advances, crossing the Dnieper, but continuing to shell the city and its surroundings from the left bank.

On November 19, the Ukrainian military said it had pushed Russian forces some "3 to 8 kilometers" east of the Dnieper River as its forces secured bridgeheads on the eastern side of the waterway.

With reporting by Aleksander Palikot in the Donetsk region

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drone-attacks- damage-casualties-kharkiv-donetsk/32706237.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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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

29.11.2023

On 29 November 2023, the Russian Armed Forces have foiled another attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack by fixed-wing UAVs. One Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down by alerted air defence systems on duty over Podolsk city district, Moscow region.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Kiev Loses Up to 250 Soldiers in Donetsk Direction in Past Day - MoD

Sputnik News

20231129

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian military has lost up to 250 soldiers in the Donetsk direction in past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

Russia repelled three Ukrainian attacks near Shumy, Kleshcheevka and liberated the Khromovo settlement in the Donetsk region.

"The enemy lost up to 250 soldiers, five tanks and 12 vehicles. In addition, M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery installation and the US-made M777 artillery system, two D-30 and one D-20 howitzers, the Grad MLRS combat vehicle, as well as the Bukovel anti-drone electronic warfare system and an ammunition depot for multiple launch rocket systems," the ministry said.

Russia repelled two attacks by Ukraine in the Krasny Liman direction, the ministry said.

Kiev lost up to 160 soldiers in the South Donetsk direction in the past day, the statement said.

"The enemy's daily losses amounted to up to 160 servicepeople, two armored combat vehicles, three cars, as well as a Grad MLRS combat vehicle," the ministry added.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Lost First Leopard 1A5 Tank Just in Several Weeks - Reports

Sputnik News

20231129

Western allies began pouring weapons and ammunition into Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its special military operation. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had destroyed about 30 percent of the armored vehicles the West gave to Ukraine, including several German Leopard tanks.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost the first Leopard 1A5 tank provided by Germany, according to US business magazine Forbes.

"The Ukrainian army has lost a Leopard 1A5 tank for the first time. A video circulating on the internet shows one of the German-made tanks, believed to belong to the Ukrainian army's 44th mechanized brigade," the publication wrote.

According to the article, the tank was either hit by artillery fire from the Russian army or was destroyed by a mine.

"Open and visible from all sides, the tank was an easy target for a series of artillery shells that flew at it in increasingly accurate salvos. It is also possible that a buried mine struck the vehicle first ... The drone video does not show the crew escaping, but it does show a stationary tank with two turret hatches wide open. This is evidence that the crew escaped," the publication explained.

"But it's worth asking why that Leopard 1A5 was moving across an open field in broad daylight," it added.

The loss of the Leopard 1A5 tank happened too quickly, even considering its vulnerability: the armor is no more than 70mm thick, Forbes said.

According to the article, every tank has weaknesses. The reason for the loss of the Leopard 1A5 could be that the Ukrainian military uses the equipment carelessly and does not go to great lengths to keep its weaponry safe.

Earlier, on 19 November, media explained that the German Leopard 1A5 tanks given to the Ukrainian forces were brought to the frontline without the necessary protection. The media pointed out that the Leopard 1A5 needs additional armor. With steel armor only 70mm thick at its thickest point, this tank could be the most vulnerable on the battlefield.

The Leopard 1A5 is a modernized version of the Leopard 1 tank, originally developed by Germany in the Sixties.

A Sputnik

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

November 29, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba today in Brussels on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed recent battlefield developments, including the opening of shipping routes in the Black Sea. They also discussed the December 6-7 Defense Industrial Base Conference in Washington, D.C., where U.S. and Ukrainian companies will promote the co-production of military supplies to aid Ukraine's fight for freedom and security, and create new opportunities for U.S. businesses. The Secretary congratulated the Ukrainian government on its recent steps on anti-corruption reforms, undertaken as part of those needed for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration. The Secretary once again underscored the United States' enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

NATO Headquarters

Brussels, Belgium

November 29, 2023

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hello, everyone. It is always great to be with my friend, my colleague, Dmytro Kuleba, but especially good here at - to be here at NATO and sitting around the table together and making sure and making clear - as we heard from every single country around the NATO table - our enduring commitment to Ukraine, to making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression, to continue to take back territory seized from it by Russia, as well as to build a strong country that strands strongly on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically. All of that was very, very clear around the NATO table over the last two days, including with the foreign minister today.

And the relationship, the partnership between NATO and Ukraine is also vitally important. We reaffirmed the commitments made at Vilnius that Ukraine will become a member of NATO when Allies agree the conditions are met, but we also focused intensely on the practical work that is being done and will continue to be done as we head to the Washington Summit next year on continuing to strengthen Ukraine's capacity.

Last thing I'll say is this: Our friends every single day are showing incredible resilience, incredible courage when faced with the ongoing onslaught from Russia. I think it's also important to step back and recognize that even as we know how challenging the day in, day out is and how determined we are to make sure that Ukraine has everything that it needs, it's already shown extraordinary success. We see that, for example, now in the Black Sea, where Ukraine has pushed back the Russian fleet and is able to export its food and other products to the world, which so needs them. We see that in all the territory taken back over the last year from Russia. And we see that in the work that Ukraine is doing every single day also to build a strong economy with more private sector investment coming in, and to build a strong democracy.

This aggression has been a strategic debacle for Russia, which is weaker militarily, it's weaker economically, it's weaker diplomatically. Ukraine is more united than it's ever been. Ukraine is well on the path to NATO as well as to the European Union with the accession process beginning. And of course we've seen important steps in Europe, including moving away from dependence on Russian energy - remarkable steps in just - in less than - now than two years.

So it's important to have the big picture in mind even as we're acutely aware of the challenges that Ukraine faces day in, day out. But our awareness is matched by a determination to stand with Ukraine, to support Ukraine, to work with Ukraine, and that was reaffirmed here today at NATO.

Dmytro.

FOREIGN MINISTER KULEBA: Thank you, Tony. Likewise, always great to speak on the phone, but always much better to meet in person, indeed in Ukraine, Brussels, United States, or any other place on the planet.

On my way to the meeting room today, journalists asked me about war fatigue and about my concerns about - regarding the continuation of the support to Ukraine. And when I was walking out of the meeting, I can clearly - I wish I could tell journalists what I heard in the room, but since our meetings are confidential, we will keep it with ourselves. But if I am to sum up this meeting that we had today, there was a clear no to fatigue and a clear yes to continued and increased support to Ukraine. And it's striking to see this spirit and of unity in the room on these two issues.

So anyone who is waiting in the world and who is heading up these narratives about fatigue and decreasing support - and we know who does - anyone who is counting that this narrative will prevail and will become the mainstream narrative, that person is failing. And today's meeting clearly demonstrated that.

I am pleased to have heard how the - how our call to step up the production of weapons and ammunition resonates among NATO Allies. I have no doubts that after this meeting, there will be specific moves and actions to put our political will into real action in the area of defense industries. So thank you for your very strong statement at this meeting. We will keep working for - to prepare well for the Washington Summit next year.

And I would like to conclude by conveying through you our unwavering gratitude to the people of the United States of America for supporting Ukraine, for continuing standing by Ukraine, and for their clear understanding that what happens to Ukraine in Ukraine has a direct impact on the security and prosperity of the United States. And this is why we have to win - not only for the sake of my country and not only for the sake of your country, but also for the entire world to be run by rules and not by dictators. So thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thanks, everyone. Come on in.

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In all regions, it is crucial to have a number of "Points of Invincibility" sufficient for any emergency situation - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

29 November 2023 - 20:41

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today is entirely dedicated to our southern regions. First, Odesa and the region, then Mykolaiv, and afterwards, Kherson. Many issues were raised, almost all of them concerning security, protection of our state and people.

Odesa - a meeting with the military. Air defense for the city, for the region, for Ukrainian Black Sea ports, our export corridor. I want to thank everyone who defends the region and works to increase air defense capabilities in the south.

Today I had the opportunity to present state awards to the most distinguished warriors.

I held a detailed meeting with the heads of all those regions that were most affected by severe weather. These include Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, Poltava, and Kyiv regions. Government officials reported - the Ministers of Internal Affairs, Energy, and Infrastructure. I want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has been working these days to restore traffic on roads and electricity supply. To all the rescue teams of the State Emergency Service, National Police, National Guard, municipal services - thank you all.

I instructed to increase the number of repair crews and equipment to promptly restore electricity supply to people. If necessary, the State Emergency Service personnel and power engineers from other regions that have not experienced such problems with the weather will be brought in.

In all regions, it is crucial to have a number of "Points of Invincibility" sufficient for any emergency situation, whether related to weather or security.

Regarding heat supply in Odesa. The regional authorities are ready to help the city with everything it needs to repair the boiler facility, which was damaged due to inclement weather.

I also visited the center for IDPs in Odesa. In particular, for our citizens who were evacuated from the Gaza Strip. I am grateful that people are really taken care of.

Mykolaiv. Meeting with our Danish friends who are working in the city to restore it. It's a genuinely effective patronage we've agreed upon - Ukraine and Denmark. There were also representatives from the diplomatic corps of the countries we invited to join the recovery and patronage programs. I am grateful for such attention to Ukraine, for such belief in Ukraine.

I had a very emotional and important meeting with students from three Mykolaiv universities. The universities that are working and the students that are studying - in Ukraine. For the sake of Ukraine. Adult questions. Honest emotions. Clear, bright eyes. Boys and girls, I thank you for this conversation today.

We are doing everything so that our entire state, all our people, become stronger and always remain free.

And finally, Kherson. Protection of the city, protection of the region. Local officials presented the results of the construction of shelters. The plans that are yet to be implemented.

I held a very substantive and detailed meeting with the military concerning operations specifically in the south. We discussed what is necessary, agreed on goals, and have a clear vision of priorities in communication with partners regarding supplies.

I thank everyone who cares about our country and our people! Thank you, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson. Thank you for this day. Glory to our strong people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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President of Ukraine met with warriors conducting offensive operations in Kherson region

President of Ukraine

29 November 2023 - 20:23

During a working trip to Kherson region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the operational situation in the region and the course of hostilities on the left bank.

The Head of State heard reports from Commander of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops Andriy Hnatov, Commander of the Marine Corps of the Ukrainian Navy Yuriy Sodol and spoke with the commanders of the marine brigades and territorial defense brigades performing combat missions in the Kherson direction.

The parties discussed the operational situation on the left bank of Kherson region, the course of hostilities, the future plans of the Ukrainian defenders and their priority needs. In particular, they discussed additional provision of drones and reinforcement of frontline air defense.

For personal courage, selfless actions in the protection of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Head of State presented the Presidential Cross of Military Merit, the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, and the Order of Merit, III class to the servicemen. Given the security situation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed over some of the awards to the commanders of military units for awarding at their places of service.

"Thank you for your service, thank you for protecting our country, for all your minutes, days, weeks and months of fighting and defending Ukraine's sovereignty. I wish you victory and health to your families and friends," the President said.

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In Kherson, the Head of State familiarized himself with the plans of construction of protective structures and shelters

President of Ukraine

29 November 2023 - 19:01

During a working trip to Kherson region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy familiarized himself with the presentation of the development of the civil protection system in the region.

The Head of State inspected the largest shelter set up in Kherson. It is equipped to accommodate 250 people during an air alert.

Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin briefed the President on the repair and reconstruction of shelters in the region. According to him, street shelters and gabions are being installed in the region's settlements. It is also planned to continue the construction of bomb shelters in schools and kindergartens.

According to Oleksandr Prokudin, work is underway to set up a public warning system. In addition, fortifications and engineering structures are being built. Special attention is paid to the protection of critical infrastructure.

The Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration briefed the President about the project to build an underground perinatal center in Kherson. This center is intended to have maternity and postpartum wards, operating rooms, and intensive care units equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Additionally, there are plans to construct an underground city clinical hospital with modern operating and resuscitation units, as well as intensive care units.

During the visit to the shelter, the Head of State was presented with a Chumak icon and a commemorative coin dedicated to the anniversary of the de-occupation of Kherson.

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In Odesa region, the President of Ukraine met with the command of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops, the Navy and the Air Command South

President of Ukraine

29 November 2023 - 12:12

During a working trip to Odesa region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the military command in the region and presented state awards.

The Head of State listened to the report of Commander of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops Andriy Hnatov on the general operational situation and combat operations within the area of responsibility of "Odesa". The participants discussed in detail the interaction with the Air Force and the work of mobile firing groups, the positive experience of their use and suggestions for improving efficiency.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also heard a report from Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa on the current situation in the Black Sea, Russian attempts to disrupt free navigation, in particular by remotely mining the waters. The parties discussed the steps taken by the Ukrainian Navy to implement mine countermeasures and ensure the security of the "grain corridor".

Commander of the Air Command South Dmytro Karpenko informed the President of Ukraine about the work of the air defense system of Odesa region, air cover of the regional center, the infrastructure of the "grain corridor" and the brigades engaged in combat operations within the area of responsibility of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops.

The interlocutors discussed the potential for enhancing the effectiveness of the air defense system by leveraging upcoming arrivals of Western air defense systems.

The President also spoke with the warriors defending the south of Ukraine and presented them with state awards.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the Presidential Cross of Military Merit to Senior Soldier Mykola Bebko, Captain Volodymyr Hopkal and Lieutenant Colonel Vitaliy Petroshchuk for personal courage and selflessness in the defense of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Additionally, the Head of State awarded three defenders the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I and III classes.

"Today, we are not able to award massively because it is dangerous. But I am sure that the gratitude of all Ukrainians will be enormous. I thank you for your service, for the enemy targets that were shot down thanks to your service and your work. I wish you victory, I wish your family and friends health," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

For the safety of the military personnel, the President handed over a portion of the awards to the commanders of military units for distribution at the service locations.

For their part, the military presented the Head of State with a wall clock made from elements of a downed Russian X-555 cruise missile.

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Ukraine Seeking Increased Defense Production Among Allies

By VOA News November 29, 2023

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for Western allies to ramp up defense production in order to ensure that Ukrainian forces have what they need to battle Russia's invasion.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Kuleba said there is "no reason to believe the West lacks the political will" to expand production capacity, but that there is a lot of technical work that has to be done to meet that goal.

Kuleba said it is not only Ukraine's security that is at stake in the war, but also the security and safety of the entire EuroAtlantic region. He also said "nothing will stop us" as Ukraine remains focused on the goal of ensuring its territorial integrity.

"We have to continue. We have to keep fighting," Kuleba said. "Ukraine is not going to back down."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that Russia is facing economic pressure, pushing it to become more dependent on China, and also military pressure that has meant relying on North Korea and Iran for ammunition and weapons.

The NATO chief cited Ukraine's recapturing of 50% of the territory Russia held earlier in the war, as well as equipment and personnel losses inflicted on the Russian military. But he also cautioned against underestimating Russia as President Vladimir Putin remains committed to the war.

"Russia's economy is on a war footing," Stoltenberg said. "Putin has a high tolerance for casualties, and Russia's aims in Ukraine have not changed."

Stoltenberg welcomed the decisions by some NATO allies to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, saying the planes will help bolster both Ukraine's air defenses and its ability to strike Russian targets. He said however there is no single system that can be deployed to fundamentally change the situation on the battlefield and that it will take a combination of many systems to push the Russians back.

Stoltenberg said allies have to be prepared for a long, hard fight.

Ukraine's military said Wednesday that Russia launched 21 drones and three missiles during waves of attacks overnight.

Ukraine's air defenses shot down all 21 of the Iranian-made Shahed drones, which were headed toward the Khmelnitskyi region in western Ukraine, the military said.

Ukrainian forces also downed two of the three missiles, while the third did not reach its target.

There were no reports of damage or injuries.

Some information for this story came from Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Blinken: 'No Fatigue' in NATO Support of Ukraine

By Nike Ching November 29, 2023

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday there is "strong bipartisan support" for Ukraine in the United States and "no sense of fatigue" among NATO allies continuing their support as the country enters its second winter of war against Russia.

"Some are questioning whether the United States and other NATO allies should continue to stand with Ukraine as we enter the second winter of Putin's brutality. But the answer here today at NATO is clear, and it is unwavering. We must and we will continue to support Ukraine," Blinken said during a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.

Since the war began, the United States has provided about $77 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial and military aid, according to Blinken. He noted that Washington's European allies have provided more than $110 billion in support of Kyiv.

"I heard no sense of fatigue or falling back; on the contrary, there was a determination to continue pressing forward," Blinken added when asked about potential political changes as the U.S. faces a presidential election in November 2024.

The day before, a senior State Department official said that it is "a widely shared premise" that Russian President Vladimir Putin "won't make a meaningful peace" before the results of the U.S. presidential election in 2024.

'Ultimate membership'

Ukraine's path to NATO membership was discussed during Wednesday's first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. Blinken also held separate talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

The top U.S. diplomat said the allies reaffirmed their policy that "Ukraine will become a member of NATO when all allies agree and when conditions are met."

Kuleba stated that Ukraine's call to increase the production of weapons and ammunition resonates among NATO Allies.

"I have no doubts that, after this meeting, there will be specific moves and actions to put our political will into real action in the area of defense industries," said the Ukrainian top diplomat.

In a separate press conference, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the member state laid out recommendations to Ukraine's reforms.

"Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before. We will continue to support them on the path to membership and will continue to support Ukraine's fight for freedom," Stoltenberg told reporters at NATO headquarters.

The United States is hosting the next NATO summit in Washington from July 9 to 11, 2024. Blinken discussed priorities for the meeting with his counterparts as the alliance celebrates its 75th anniversary next year.

A senior U.S. official told reporters that a significant portion of the discussions leading up to the Washington summit would aim to ensure that Ukraine is making the necessary progress toward "ultimate membership" in NATO "when conditions are right."

The bloc's member states have suggested to Ukraine "a set of governance reforms," including strengthening anti-corruption agencies and authorities.

The NATO-Ukraine Council was inaugurated at the NATO Summit in Vilnius on July 12, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other heads of member governments also in attendance.

It convened for the second time in late July to discuss Black Sea security following Russia's withdrawal from a deal overseeing grain exports from Ukrainian ports.

The third meeting was held in October to discuss substantial assistance to Ukraine and to ensure Ukraine's forces are fully interoperable with NATO.

The NATO-Ukraine Council is the joint body where allies and Ukraine sit as equal participants to advance political dialogue.

North Macedonia

Wednesday afternoon, Blinken led the U.S. delegation to NATO member North Macedonia, which on Thursday is hosting a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe a also known as the OSCE a in its capital, Skopje.

Blinken said he is supporting OSCE's "determination" to "advance European security," despite "Russia's flagrant violations."

Blinken held talks with North Macedonia Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani before heading to the Middle East later in the evening.

Osmani condemned Russian aggression in Ukraine, stating that it has threatened "the very existence" of the regional security body, which North Macedonia currently chairs.

He emphasized that no business could proceed as usual under such conditions. In this week's OSCE foreign ministers' meetings, the focus will be "100% on Ukraine," turning the security organization into "a platform for political and legal accountability of the Russian Federation for its atrocities in Ukraine."

Earlier this week, Bulgaria gave permission for Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's plane to cross its airspace en route to Skopje following North Macedonia's request, allowing him to attend the OSCE ministerial meetings.

This sparked an immediate outcry from Ukraine and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who are boycotting the gathering due to Lavrov's expected attendance.

Lavrov had not arrived in Skopje when foreign ministers from OSCE members took a group photo. Neither was there a place-setting for Russia at the OSCE working dinner on Wednesday evening.

After Skopje, Blinken makes his third trip to the Middle East since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The U.S. is seeking an extension of the Israel-Hamas truce to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and getting more hostages released.

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Pune, India, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global oil-free screw compressor market size was valued at USD 2.43 billion in 2022 & market is projected to grow from USD 2.54 billion in 2023 to USD 3.57 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights mentioned this in a report titled Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market, 2023-2030.



Oil-free screw compressor is a screw compresses the air without any help from the oil seal. A screw compressor is made from raw materials, such as aluminum & steel, as well as other parts such as bearings, crankshafts, switches, gauges, rotors, and housings. It is a positive shifting compressor because the intermeshing of rotors does not touch.

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

Sullair and Hitachi presented oil-free air compressors at the Tairos/Automation Taipei Trade Show. The visitors were allowed to explore the range of highly efficient oil-free air compressors. The exhibition aided Sullair in actively investing in the Southeast Asian market.

Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/oil-free-screw-compressors-market-102408

Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 5.0 % 2030 Value Projection USD 3.57 billion Base Year 2022 Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Share in 2022 USD 2.43 billion Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 124 Segments covered By Stage Type, By Industry, and By Region Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Growth Drivers Growing Capital Expenditure and Hybrid Fuel Infrastructure to Escalate the Market Growth Technological Upgrades for Air System Control and Management to Drive Market Growth

Report Coverage:

The report offers:

Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market.

Comprehensive insights into regional developments.

List of major industry players.

Key strategies adopted by the market players.

Recent industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions.

Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/oil-free-screw-compressors-market-102408

Drivers and Restraints:

Air System Control and Management Technology Upgrade to Accelerate Market Growth

In the fast-growing compressor sector, airflow management is a key requirement across the entire industry. Many companies in the industry offer solutions to industrial users to address complex industrial challenges and improve their operations. Furthermore, oil-efficient screw compressors with advanced technologies are designed to reduce energy consumption and operational expenses.

High maintenance costs with filter replacements to hinder the market growth.

Market Segmentation:

Single Stage to Witness Highest CAGR Owing to Cost-Effectiveness

On the basis of stage type, the market is segmented into single-stage and multi-stage.

Single stage segment dominated the market with the highest CAGR over the forecast period. These compressors consist of a single set of rotors in a single stator housing and are driven by a set of gears, which are less expensive initially than two-stage air compressors, thereby driving the oil-free screw compressor market growth.

Food & Beverages Industry to Dominate the Market Share Owing to

Based on industry, the market is divided into food & beverage, automotive, semiconductor, pharmaceutical & chemical, metal & mining, oil & gas, and others (agriculture).

The major adoption of oil-free screw compressors is done by food & beverages industry. The use and demand for packaged food increased substantially during the pandemic, changing consumer behaviour.

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Regional Analysis:

Asia Pacific to Dominate the Market Owing to the Presence of Prominent Players

Asia Pacific dominated the oil-free screw compressor market share during the projected period. The dominance of the segment is owing to the existence of prominent players in countries, such as China and India, whereas in China and Taiwan, they have a strong industrial base in the semiconductor industry.

The Europe market stood the second-highest in terms of revenue in 2022, and the market growth is driven by strict government regulations on developing compressor operating efficiencies and compliance standards.

Competitive Landscape:

Key Players Accessing the Untapped Customer Base with Cost-Effective Strategies

Key players in the market, such as Aerzen, Hitachi, Ltd, Ingersoll Rand, Atlas Copco AB, ELGi, and others, comprised a decent share of the market. The market is classified as a highly competitive market, with multiple players operating at the global level, as well as in some regions where domestic players have a significant share of the market. As part of their growth strategy, companies focus on new product introductions, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions of businesses offering similar technologies and services to expand their business and geographic presence.

List of the Companies Operating in the Market:

Elgi Equipments Limited (India)

Atlas Copco AB (Sweden)

Sullair, LLC (Hitachi, Ltd.) (Japan)

Ingersoll Rand (U.S.)

Kobe Steel Ltd (Japan)

Howden Group (Chart Industries) (U.K.)

Aerzen (Germany)

Kaeser Kompressoren SE (Germany)

FS-Curtis (U.S.)

Airpack (Netherlands)

Major Table of Contents:

Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Supportive Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 Short-term Impact Long-term Impact

Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Global Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Key Players Market Share Insights and Analysis, 2022

Global Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2019-2030

North America Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2019-2030 Key Findings By Stage Type (USD) Single Stage Multi Stage By Industry (USD) Food & Beverage Automotive Semiconductor Pharmaceutical & Chemical Metal & Mining Oil & Gas Others (Agriculture & Etc.) By Country (USD) U.S. Canada Mexico

Europe Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2019-2030 Key Findings By Stage Type (USD) Single Stage Multi Stage By Industry (USD) Food & Beverage Automotive Semiconductor Pharmaceutical & Chemical Metal & Mining Oil & Gas Others (Agriculture & Etc.) By Country (USD) U.K. Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific Oil-Free Screw Compressor Market Size Estimates and Forecasts (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2019-2030 Key Findings By Stage Type (USD) Single Stage Multi Stage By Industry (USD) Food & Beverage Automotive Semiconductor Pharmaceutical & Chemical Metal & Mining Oil & Gas Others (Agriculture & Etc.)

Key Findings By Stage Type (USD) Single Stage Multi Stage By Industry (USD) Food & Beverage Automotive Semiconductor Pharmaceutical & Chemical Metal & Mining Oil & Gas Others (Agriculture & Etc.) By Region (USD) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America



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OREM, Utah, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kevin McCoy has been appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of MITY Inc, the global market leader of exceptionally durable furnishings and equipment for event centers, hotels and restaurants, senior living centers, churches, and other B2B markets.

I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization with such a long history and record of success, said McCoy. Over the last 36 years, MITY has established a reputation worldwide for durable furniture for commercial spaces. As we move forward, our focus remains on providing innovative and stylish solutions that elevate functionality and aesthetics.

I firmly believe that a company is a group of people working toward a common goal, and Im excited to add my experience and expertise to help build upon the foundation the MITY Inc. team has laid.



With over 25 years of experience, McCoy has worked with storied brands across the contract furniture industry and has extensive experience in developing and implementing strategies and tactics for multinational organizations. He enjoys developing people, culture and winning organizations.



McCoy was with Kimball International for over 21 years, including 16 years with their National Office Furniture brand, working his way up from a sales rep in NYC to President of the company. As President of National Office Furniture, McCoy was instrumental in driving operational efficiencies company-wide in manufacturing, global supply chain and multi-channel distribution. He led the companys global strategies to elevate design, implement sustainability, and improve technology to position National as a forward thinker within the industry while achieving record breaking sales year after year and achieving benchmark financial performance.

Most recently, McCoy served as the CEO at Polyvision, a leading supplier of CeramicSteel for architecture, infrastructure, and commercial office products. As the new CEO of Mity Inc, McCoy will be relocating to Lehi, Utah and working from the Orem location full-time.

About MITY Inc.

The MITY family of products includes MityLite, Holsag, Bertolini, and Broda. MityLite manufactures award-winning furniture for the commercial marketplace. Holsag builds hardwood chairs for senior living, healthcare, education, government, and hospitality markets. Bertolini manufactures comfortable and durable seating for the worship market. Broda delivers a unique line of tilt-in-space positioning wheelchairs for senior living and healthcare. MITY Inc is based in Orem, Utah and has manufacturing and sales locations in Lindsay, Ontario; Kitchener, Ontario; and St. Louis, Missouri. Visit mityinc.com for more information.

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Washington, D.C., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2024 Washington, D.C. Auto Show returns to the Walter E Washington Convention Center from Friday, January 19 through Sunday, January 28. Leading auto manufacturers will showcase their latest models and innovations, offering attendees a sneak peek into the cutting-edge developments driving the automotive industry forward. From sleek electric vehicles to powerful SUVs, the displays will cater to a diverse range of automotive tastes.

We are thrilled to present the 2024 show, where innovation meets excitement, said John ODonnell, President & CEO of the Washington, D.C. Auto Show. From family-friendly attractions to groundbreaking technologies, this years show is a celebration of the automotive industrys continued evolution and our desire to share the excitement with friends of all ages.

As the regions largest indoor event and one of the top auto shows in the United States, the 2024 show will have displays from Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, and many more. Pepcos EVsmart Ride N Drive returns for attendees to cruise the streets of D.C. and Subaru brings back their fur-ever friends through their Subaru Loves Pets initiative. Hyundai once again welcomes guests to ride shotgun on their indoor test tracks. Art-of-Motion shows off the creative genius of local artists and custom cars, trucks, and bikes.

Adding to the excitement is Nissans brand-new indoor ride n drive. Included within their display, attendees will have the unique opportunity to feel the pulse of innovation as they experience the power and performance of Nissans latest models in an exciting and controlled indoor environment.

The all-new DC eDrives experience is another exciting and immersive journey into the future of transportation. From displays of the latest innovations in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and sustainable transportation to indoor and outdoor clean ride n drives featuring the latest EV models. This experience, which is sprinkled on both show floors, invites attendees to witness firsthand how the industry is evolving to meet the demands of a greener and more connected future.

This years Kid Zone takes family fun to the next level. Engaging displays, interactive driving simulators, the WowWheelz indoor driving experience, and our all-new bounce house corner. Whether youre a seasoned car enthusiast or a family looking for a day of fun, this event promises something for everyone.

As always, the 10-day consumer show is preceded by the Public Policy Show day on Thursday, January 18. Government officials and industry representatives will come together to address the current state of the countrys essential automotive sector and its future initiatives. These fireside chats, panel discussions, and special announcements provide the perfect platform to understand and adapt with the direction of the industry and the legislation that is driving it. Registration for this industry-focused event is now open. All media, government officials, and industry professionals can RSVP here .

Dont miss your chance to be a part of this immersive automotive experience. Tickets for the 2024 Washington, D.C. Auto Show are now on sale. For more information on current show programming and to purchase tickets, visit WashingtonAutoShow.com .

Show dates and times: Friday, January 19, 12:00 noon  9:00 pm; Saturday, January 20, 10:00 am  9:00 pm; Sunday, January 21, 10:00 am  6:00 pm; Monday, January 22 through Thursday, January 25, 12:00 noon  8:00 pm; Friday, January 26, 12:00  9:00 pm; Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am  9:00 pm; Sunday, January 28, 10:00 am  6:00 pm.

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About The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is held each January at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is the largest annual indoor public event in the District of Columbia. For more than 80 years, the auto show has modified their programming to accommodate the latest advances and trends in car technology. With the rise in connectivity and autonomous capabilities, the 2024 Auto Show will highlight mobility advancements in all forms of transportation through its brand-new DC eDrives experience. Browse the extensive displays of battery-powered vehicles, sustainable buses, and new forms of all-electric mobility, along with the classic fan favorites like the exotic and luxury car displays. The 2024 Washington, D.C. Auto Show will be open to the public for 10 consecutive days, from January 19 through January 28, 2024.

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Dublin, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Medical Device Cleaning Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Device, By Technique (Cleaning, Disinfection), By EPA Classification, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global medical device cleaning market size is anticipated to reach USD 47.3 billion by 2030. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2023 to 2030.

Introduction of advanced materials and methods for reprocessing medical devices and increasing adoption of preventive measures to reduce hospital-acquired infection cases are factors driving the market. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected nearly all industries and increased hospitalization rates. As a result, revenue generation of organizations operating in medical device cleaning industry is likely to increase. In ICUs, there has been an increase in the number of patients requiring respiratory treatment, which has led to rise in the use of medical device cleaning.







On the other hand, hospitals are making significant expenditure on enhancing healthcare infrastructure, fueling growth of market. Key manufacturers, on the other hand, are focusing on developing innovative solutions to combat the spread of coronavirus. For example, in April 2020, the FDA approved the use of Steris, maX2, and maX low-V-PRO 1 Plus temperature sterilization equipment in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients to decontaminate roughly 750,000 N95 respirators and comparable masks every day. Therefore, the market is likely to increase during the forecast period due to the rising demand for improved healthcare systems, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and technological advancements.



Medical Device Cleaning Market Report Highlights

On the basis of device, the semi-critical segment held the largest market share of 45.9% in 2022. Technological advancements and high accuracy of devices are expected to drive the segment growth

Based on technique, the disinfection segment held the largest market share of 52.2% in 2022, owing to availability of various types of disinfectants specific to different medical devices is an important factor boosting segment growth

Based on EPA classification, the intermediate level segment held the largest revenue share of over 50.1% in 2022. The increasing prevalence of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) and the spread of infectious diseases are contributing to segment growth

Market Dynamics

Market Driver Analysis

Growing Incidence Of Hospital Acquired Infections

Rising Number Of Government Initiatives To Curb Infection

Improvements In Public And Private Hospital Infrastructure

Market Restraints Analysis

Shift Toward The Use Of Disposable Medical Devices

Safety Concerns Related To Ethylene Oxide Sterilization

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 110 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $21.3 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $47.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.6% Regions Covered Global



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology And Scope



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Market Outlook

2.2 Segment Outlook

2.3 Competitive Insights



Chapter 3 Medical Device Cleaning Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1 Market Lineage Outlook

3.2 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3 User Perspective Analysis

3.5 Market Dynamics

3.6 Medical Device Cleaning : Market Analysis Tools

3.7 Impact Of Covid-19 On Market



Chapter 4 Medical Device Cleaning Market: Segment Analysis, By Device, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million)

4.1 Definition And Scope

4.2 Device Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

4.3 Segment Dashboard

4.4 Global Medical Device Cleaning Market, By Device, 2017 To 2030

4.5 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2017 To 2030

4.5.1 Non-Critical

4.5.2 Semi-Critical

4.5.3 Critical



Chapter 5 Medical Device Cleaning Market: Segment Analysis, By Technique, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million)

5.1 Definition And Scope

5.2 Technique Market Share Analysis, 2022 & 2030

5.3 Segment Dashboard

5.4 Global Medical Device Cleaning Market, By Technique, 2017 To 2030

5.5 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2017 To 2030

5.5.1 Cleaning

5.5.1.2 Detergents

5.5.1.3 Buffers

5.5.1.4 Chelators

5.5.1.5 Enzymes

5.5.2 Disinfection

5.5.2.2 Chemical

5.5.2.2.2 Alcohol

5.5.2.2.4 Aldehydes

5.5.2.2.5 Phenolics

5.5.2.3 Metal

5.5.2.4 Ultraviolet

5.5.3 Sterilization

5.5.3.2 Heat Sterilization

5.5.3.3 Ethylene Dioxide Sterilization

5.5.3.4 Radiation Sterilization



Chapter 6 Medical Device Cleaning Market: Segment Analysis, By EPA Classification, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million)

6.1 Definition And Scope

6.2 EPA Classification Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030

6.3 Segment Dashboard

6.4 Global Medical Device Cleaning Market, By EPA Classification, 2017 To 2030

6.5 Market Size & Forecasts And Trend Analyses, 2017 To 2030

6.5.1 High Level

6.5.2 Intermediate Level

6.5.3 Low Level

6.5.4 Cancer



Chapter 7 Medical Device Cleaning Market: Regional Market Analysis, By Device, By Technique, And By EPA Classification, 2017 - 2030 (USD Million)



Chapter 8 Medical Device Cleaning Market - Competitive Analysis

8.1 Recent Developments & Impact Analysis, By Key Market Participants

8.2 Company Categorization

8.3 Vendor Landscape

Company Profiles

Metrex Research

Steris

Getinge

Advanced Sterilization Products

3M

The Ruhof Corp.

Sklar Surgical Instruments

Sterigenics International

Biotrol

Oro Clean Chemie

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qy0kz2

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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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AVRICORE HEALTH INC. (TSXV: AVCR) (the "Company" or AVCR) reports on its third quarter results which demonstrate significant growth in pharmacy locations offering HealthTab driving strong revenue growth and operational cashflow positivity. With demand for clinical services growing in pharmacies thanks to the ever-expanding scope and demonstrated success they are having with it; the Company expects to finish the year well ahead of the year previous and have great momentum for 2024.



Patients and pharmacists are discovering and accessing new information thats having a powerful impact on their care and support thanks to HealthTab, said Hector Bremner, CEO of Avricore Health Inc. Our ambition of helping more people live better is becoming reality each day and we are poised to make big breakthroughs in bringing this service to more patients around the world.

Revenues and Operational Net-Positive Results Grow

Trends are still yet to be established with respect to test usage and system deployment cadence, the two primary ways the company generates revenues. The Company is not only pioneering the first turnkey solution for point-of-care testing and health data insights, but policy and funding within Canada and other nations to support this type of work in pharmacies is being implemented in real-time. However, year-over-year revenue comparisons are demonstrating strong gross revenue increases, while the Companys fiscal discipline is leading to ever-increasing net-cashflow, despite significant investment in the HealthTab network growth.

In the three months ended September 30, 2023 revenue increased by 27% year-over-year to $953,454 and gross profit increased by 21% to $261,778. In the nine months ended September 30, 2023 revenue increased by 169% year-over-year to $2,130,744 and gross profit increased by 144% to $701,930.

While a non-cash item, stock-based compensation, made up most of the Companys expenses leading to a net loss thus far, its important to recognize that a $412,400 net positive cashflow from operations was achieved, representing an increase in cash from operations of $825,960 over 2022.

For additional perspective on the positive fiscal track of the Company, consider that the Company achieved a 169% increase over 2022 nine-months revenues and a 144% increase in gross profit over the same period with operating expenses (excluding stock-based compensation) only increasing by 16%.

All of this means the Company is growing rapidly and remains in a confident position to meet future demand.

Looking Ahead

The Company has previously announced new programs and partnerships where work is ongoing. The team expects significant growth and new revenue opportunities in the year ahead as these opportunities mature. These include:

Being selected by Barts Heart Centre and national cardiovascular charity HEART UK to assess the feasibility of community pharmacists in the UKs ability to complement opportunistic blood pressure checks with cholesterol testing to assess overall cardiovascular risk and build on the clinical services offered.





Ascensia Diabetes Care, a global diabetes care company, to integrate their blood glucose monitoring (BGM) systems, marketed as CONTOURNEXT GEN and CONTOURNEXT ONE, with HealthTab and bringing near-to-patient data into HealthTab results.





Launching with Rexall Pharmacies, one of Canadas largest and most respected pharmacy brands, the second national chain to roll out HealthTab.



The Company continues many other interesting and potentially exciting conversations as it seeks to drive greater collaboration between various parties interested in patient health, both within Canada and internationally.



2023 Objectives Further expansion of HealthTab with current partners.



(Update: There are currently 703 participating Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies and Loblaw family stores offering screening tests to patients via HealthTab)

Expansion of HT in other pharmacy groups in Canada.



(Update The Company recently announced Rexall Pharmacies is beginning to take HealthTab systems and looks forward to working with them.)

International expansion.



(Update: The Company is excited to learn more and drive demand for HealthTab in the UK and beyond, this work is in progress.)

Hiring key positions to support technical and business development efforts.



(Update: Adding a team member last year has been sufficient to date in terms of personnel, and the use of AI tools allows the Company to drive productivity while effectively managing expenses. The team is constantly reviewing human resources needs and has an action plan in place to grow the team on an as-needed basis.)

Revenue growth and profitability.



(Update: The companys revenues and gross profitability continue to trend in the right direction and considering the ever-rising numbers of systems, test demand and potential for more public funding aimed at pharmacy, the Company is very confident in its long-term goals.

HealthTab Market Fast Facts

Point of Care Testing Market to reach $93.21 Billion USD in 2030 (Source)

Nearly 13.6 Million Canadians expected to be diabetic or prediabetic by 2030, with many undiagnosed (Source)

Over 1 in 3 Americans, approximately 88 million people, have pre-diabetes (Source)

Close to 160,000 Canadians 20 years and older are diagnosed with heart disease each year, often its only after a heart attack they are diagnosed. (Source)

There are more that 10,000 pharmacies in Canada, 88,000 pharmacies in the US, nearly 12,000 in the UK.



About HealthTab

HealthTab is a turnkey point-of-care testing solution that combines best-in-class point-of-care technologies with a secure, cloud-based platform for tackling pressing global health issues. With just a few drops of blood from a finger prick, the system generates lab-accurate results on the spot and data is reported in real time. The test menu includes up to 23 key biomarkers for screening and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease (e.g., HbA1c, Lipid Profile, eGFR). HealthTab has also recently added capabilities for bacterial and viral tests, such as strep and COVID-19.



The HealthTab network model is unlike anything in pharmacy today. It gives knowledgeable and trusted pharmacists a greater role in primary care delivery, while empowering patients to take more control of their health. It also reduces costs and waiting times and provides many potential revenue streams including equipment leasing & consumables, direct access testing, disease prevention & management programs, sponsored health programs, decentralized clinical trials, real world data (RWD) sets, and third-party app integration through API.



About Avricore Health Inc.

Avricore Health Inc. (TSXV: AVCR) is a pharmacy service innovator focused on acquiring and developing early-stage technologies aimed at moving pharmacy forward. Through its flagship offering HealthTab, a wholly owned subsidiary, the Companys mission is to make actionable health information more accessible to everyone by creating the worlds largest network of rapid testing devices in community pharmacies.

Contact:

Avricore Health Inc.

Hector Bremner, CEO 604-773-8943

info@avricorehealth.com

www.avricorehealth.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information in this press release that involves Avricore Health's expectations, plans, intentions, or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Avricore Health generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," "future," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming," and similar expressions to help identify forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the completion of the placement and the expected timing thereof and the Company's expected use of proceeds from the placement; the unique features that the HealthTab platform offers to pharmacists and patients. Forward-looking statements reflect the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts of Avricore Health's management. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Avricore Health as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Avricore Health and are subject to a few risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, including without limitation: failure to meet regulatory requirements; changes in the market; potential downturns in economic conditions; and other risk factors described in Avricore's public filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ICT Week Uzbekistan, a series of independent events highlighting Uzbekistans booming information technology sector, was held in Tashkent last month. The event brought together thousands of local IT professionals, dozens of international companies that are outsourcing IT services to Uzbekistan, and media from more than 10 countries.



On 21-22 November 2023, an Uzbek delegation led by Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov visited Ireland to learn more about the countrys success in developing its globally recognized IT services industry.

The Ireland trip was followed on 23-24 November by a visit to the Netherlands by a team from IT Park led by CEO Farkhod Ibragimov. The delegation met with leading technology companies including Zoom, EPAM Systems and VEON and organized a conference to discuss prospects and shared the experiences of successful foreign IT companies in Uzbekistan.

On 29 November in London, Uzbekistan  The New Outsourcing Hub was convened. The conference aimed to showcase the outsourcing potential of Uzbekistan and foster fruitful collaboration between Uzbekistan and the UKs IT industry.

Uzbekistan has grown its IT outsourcing industry to more than $300m in exports this year and plans to reach at least $5b by 2030.

With a population of 36 million and an average age of 29, Uzbekistan is well positioned to succeed in the IT sphere. Ninety-nine percent of the country has internet access and more than 25,000 students graduate from university annually.

IT Park was created in 2019, and today residents of IT Park benefit from a range of generous incentives. These include 0% VAT, corporate, social and property tax and a reduced personal income tax rate of 7.5%. Companies that participate in IT Parks Zero Risk program receive free office space in the regions for up to a year, up to 15% of employee salaries paid for, reimbursement of a portion of HR expenses, free technical equipment for as many as 100 employees and up to $5,000 in grants for staff trainings.

Sherzod Shermatov, Uzbekistans Minister of Digital Technologies, said:

Under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is focused on growing, diversifying and modernizing its economy. Building a robust IT industry  including one that provides outsourcing services to leading companies from the US, Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere  is a key piece of that agenda.

Farkhod Ibragimov, CEO of IT Park, said:

We are charting a course towards an ambitious goal  growing the annual export of IT services to $5 billion by 2030. There is lots of work ahead to achieve this objective, but we are well-positioned thanks to our advantageous demographics, deep pool of local talent and robust government support.

The four cornerstone events of ICT Week were the Uzbekistan Outsourcing Forum, the Startup Summit, the EBRD Star Venture Summit and the Uzbekistan-Korea ICT Business Partnership Forum.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c7b0ffca-8625-40c1-8812-e7da9739eb09
SIERRA BLANCA, Nov. 30, 2023 - via NewMediaWire - Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (OTCQB: TMRC)

Texas Mineral Resources Corp. ("TMRC" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce a fiscal year-end corporate update concurrent with the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC.

Round Top:

USARE, the operating manager of Round Top Mountain Development, LLC ("Round Top"), has advised TMRC that it continues to progress Round Top toward operations. Over the last twelve months, Round Top achieved several major milestones including: (i) favorable breaker trials with the goal to increase mine throughput; (ii) favorable CIX separation trials for rare earth elements indicating that the CIX technology employed can extract commercial quality rare earths from Round Top ore; and (iii) favorable membrane concentration trials. The USARE Round Top team continues its work to determine an efficient means of managing alumina content, adding gallium to its output and is working with a major lithium company to maximize the value of the lithium content. USARE has advised the Company that it (i) currently expects that (A) a preliminary feasibility study ("PFS") reflecting this work should be completed during calendar 2024 and (B) a small manufacturing unit should be established to begin processing Round Top ore in calendar 2025, and (ii) believes that Round Top remains an attractive economic venture and is in the process of updating the Round Top economic model.

Anticipated Round Top expenditures during the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024 are being made to optimize the leaching and developing of the CIX/CIC processing of Round Top. Initial process design work will be carried out at USARE's facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Pending completion of the initial process development, this facility will either be relocated to or replicated at USARE's Oklahoma facility where a pilot plant is expected to be established. It is estimated that Round Top will require additional time and further expenditure to complete a bankable feasibility study after completion of the PFS. As such, it is possible that the Round Top Budget will increase in the current fiscal year. Additional information regarding planned expenditures is set forth in the Company's Form 10-K.

Currently, USARE and the Company are obligated, subject to an election by the Company not to fund in cash its portion of a Round Top cash call and in lieu thereof to incur dilution to its membership interest, to fund further expenditures in proportion to their respective ownership interests. We funded $386,400 in cash during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 and elected not to fund $448,800 which resulted in the dilution of our Round Top membership interest to 19.874% at August 31, 2023. Subsequent to September 1, 2023 through the date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we notified USARE that we had elected not to contribute in cash our proportionate interest in aggregate cash calls of $396,249 which reduced our Round Top ownership interest to 19.611% as of the date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the dilution mechanism in the June 2023 amended Operating Agreement.

New Mexico Silver Project:

As disclosed in our press release of July 21, TMRC has successfully completed an extensive Time Domain EM survey of the Alhambra Mine area. Several variations of this technique were employed with the best results obtained from variant called NANOTEM. NANOTEM is near surface technique developed by Zonge Intl. designed to locate metallic, electrically conducting objects such as pipelines, buried tanks and unexploded ordinance. By modifying the size and distribution of the transmitting and receiving arrays it is thought that reproduceable data is being acquired from depths extending to 120 feet. Numerous anomalies were detected, some sixteen of which are large enough and strong enough to be deemed viable drill targets.

Eight of these conductive targets lie close to and along the northern extension of the Alhambra Mine. TMRC has designed a 6,500' diamond drill program to test these anomalies. Because of the shallow depths of these targets a small easily moved diamond drill rig can be used. We estimate drilling approximately 55 drill holes. If this drilling program yields positive results more drilling could be planned or, as an option, the nearby Alhambra Shaft can be reconditioned to the 112-foot level, and the favorable drill intercepts investigated by underground development.

After extensive discussions with legal counsel and regulators, a meeting was held on November 27th with the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Dept. (MMD) personnel in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the decision was made, based on their input, to apply for a Minimum Impact Exploration permit. We will submit this plan within the next two weeks pending finalization of the drilling plan and attached diagrams. MMD personnel advise us that the typical time to process this type of permit is approximately four months.

"Fiscal 2023 has seen its share of both challenges and opportunities for TMRC," said Anthony Marchese, chairman. "Looking ahead to fiscal 2024, we look forward to the continued development of Round Top as well as further work on the New Mexico silver project through the first phase of exploratory drilling in order to validate our promising geophysical results. We are currently evaluating several other potentially promising mining opportunities in the southwest United States and will have more details as we get closer to finishing our analysis. Finally, we intend to hold a shareholder meeting in the first calendar quarter of 2024."

About Texas Mineral Resources Corp.

Our primary focus is to develop and commercialize, along with its joint venture operating partner USA Rare Earth LLC, the Round Top heavy-rare earth, technology metals, and industrial minerals project located in Hudspeth County, Texas, 85 miles southeast of El Paso, in which TMRC currently owns an approximate 19.6% interest and USA Rare Earth owns an approximate 80.4% interest. Additionally, the Company is pursuing other domestic mining opportunities. The Company's common stock trades on the OTCQB U.S. tier under the symbol "TMRC".

Cautionary Note to Investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") limits disclosure for U.S. reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce and that are compliant with SEC Industry Guide 7. Investors are cautioned not to assume than any part or all of the Round Top project or the opportunity in the Black Hawk Mining District contains any mineral deposits that will ever be converted into resources or that any inferred mineral resource or measured and indicated resources exists or is economically or legally mineable. Neither the Round Top or any other potential project contains any known proven or probable ore reserves or mineral resource compliant with SEC Industry Guide 7 reporting standards. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure set forth in TMRC's latest reports filed with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the potential development, economic feasibility, resource, grade and other mineralization characteristics, and drilling and exploration methods that may be utilized in potential exploration of the Black Hawk Mining District project. When used in this press release, the words "potential," "plans," "indicate," "expect," "intend," "hopes," "believe," "may," "will," "if, "anticipate," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, uncertainty of mineralized material and mineral resource estimates, risks to projected and estimated economics not reflecting actual economic results due to the uncertainty of mining processes, potential non-uniform sections of mineralized material, potential mining hazards and accidents, changes in equipment and labor costs, changes in projected mineral prices and demand, competition in the mining industry, risks related to project development determinations, the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities, potential effects on the Company's operations of environmental regulations, risks due to legal proceedings, liquidity risks and risks related to uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K as filed in November 2023 and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:

Texas Mineral Resources Corp.

Anthony Marchese, Chairman

E-mail: amarchese@tmrcorp.com

Twitter: @TexasMineralRes
Vancouver, November 30, 2023 - Norseman Silver Inc. (TSXV:NOC) (OTC:NOCSF) ("Norseman" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has secured an exclusive option to acquire 100% of the Caballos Copper Project, located in the Valparaiso Region of Chile, from Asesorias y Inversiones J.V&A. Ltda and Inversiones y Asesorias Doce S.A ("the Vendors"). The project comprises 18,000 Ha of concessions, at an average altitude of 2,200 m. The project is located 210 km by road to Santiago, 56 km south of Los Pelambres, 97 km north of Los Bronces, and 80 km from the coast. The option agreement was signed on November 23, 2023.

Highlights:

Anomalous copper in several zones along a 10 km structural corridor

Coincident soil and geophysical anomalies form a large target at "Cerro Las Mulas"

Cerro Las Mulas is drill-ready and hosts mineralization at surface

Campbell Smyth, Norseman's Chairman, commented:

"Caballos offers a unique opportunity to explore a significant copper target that was advanced to its current drill-ready status by Vale. The project is located on the flanks of a geological belt that stretches from Antofagasta plc's Los Pelambres mine to Anglo American's Los Bronces copper mine. Los Pelambres and Los Bronces have endowments of 36 million and 44 million tonnes of contained copper respectively. Both operations produce over 300,000 tonnes of copper annually.

Norseman is exploring in the land of giants and there is an ongoing shortage of large copper assets with good grade, clean metallurgy and simple geometry. Caballos is a strategic land holding with abundant copper, gold and molybdenum mineralization, in the world's premier copper jurisdiction. We plan to drill Caballos in the second half of 2024 and are currently building up our local exploration team."

Merlin Marr-Johnson, Technical Advisor to Norseman, added:

"The geology at the Cerro Las Mulas target is indicative of being in the core of a porphyry system. Well defined soil and geophysical anomalies match the outline of a felsic intrusive hosting secondary K-feldspar and biotite stockworks. The intrusion shows disseminated chalcopyrite and copper oxides at surface. The intrusion is highly anomalous and extends 1000 m x 200 m at surface, supporting an exploration target of one million tonnes of contained copper. It can be tested by a series of drill fences along the 1 km of strike. The target is ready to be drilled in 2024."

Terms of the Transaction

The terms of the Option require that a work program is completed, consisting of:

At least US$1 million of project work, including 3,000 m of drilling in Year One.

At least US$4 million of project work, with no consecutive 12 month period seeing less than US$ 500,000 of project work, in Years Two-Four.

Subject to the requisite investment having been met, Norseman can exercise the option by making a US$2 million payment to the Vendors in Year Five. A further bullet payment to the Vendors is due at the point of a construction decision being made, comprising US$2 per tonne of contained copper within compliant NI 43-101 defined resources. In addition, the Vendors are granted a 3% NSR, of which 1.5% can be purchased by Norseman for US$7.5 M at any point prior to a construction decision being made.

Location

The project comprises 18,000 Ha of concessions, at an average altitude of 2,200 m. Caballos is 210 km from Santiago, via the R5N Highway. The project will be supported from the nearby towns of Cabildo or Petorca towns via internal roads. Unpaved road access reaches within 9 km of the main target area.

Project History

In 1994 BRGM (French Geological Survey) performed a stream sediment survey over the Cordilleran belt between Regions IV and V, Chile. One of the main anomalies (Cu-Zn-Pb-Au) of the survey corresponds to what is now the southern part of Caballos, with up to 409 ppm Cu, 70 ppb Au, 305 ppm Zn and 145 ppm Pb.

In 1998 Blue Desert Mining, a junior company, claimed the property and carried out a geophysical survey in what is the northern part of Caballos. IP Gradient, Pole-Dipole and Mag surveys were executed in a limited sector around Cerro Las Mulas.

In 2004 the present owners staked the first 7,000 Ha in the southern part and, in the subsequent years expanded control to 18,000 Ha of exploration tenements. In 2006 the property was optioned to VALE who generated a geological map, collected approximately 200 rock and soil samples and performed an IP dipole-dipole over the same Cerro Las Mulas area. In 2008 Vale dropped the option.

In 2011 BHP worked in the Caballos South area. BHP carried out rock-chip sampling in the northern portion, and new stream sediment sampling in the southern part of the property, in the same area where BRGM found the strong multi-elements stream sediment anomaly. Soon after, a private investor independently carried out stream sediment sampling in the area which returned a robust stream sediment anomaly, with values up to 1420 ppm Cu, 164 ppm Mo and 0.1 g/t Au. The anomaly is related to an elongated hydrothermal breccia (1,300 m long), associated with the regionally important Pocuro Fault Zone ("PFZ"). The breccia contains patches of tourmaline and Cu-oxides spots and signs of argillic alteration. A halo of limonite and sericite surrounds the breccia.

Project Geology and Historic Results

Historic information shown below are taken from reports variously prepared by the Companies that previously worked the area and shared results with the Vendors. Norseman Silver has not carried out quantitative re-sampling of the area, nor completed check assays of the sample data.

The Caballos area straddles geology of the Miocene Farellones Formation and the Oligocene Abanico Formation. Age-dating at Caballos is not conclusive, with a K-Ar radiometric date of 25.5 Ma +/- 0.7 Ma. Caballos is located over an important regional fault system, the Pocuro Fault Zone. The PFZ is a clearly visible regional-scale morphological feature that has been mapped in a N-S trend for more than 200 km (see Fig.2). The PFZ is a high-angle reverse fault (with vergence to W) and was active at least until the Early Miocene. The fault zone has been described as a 'megafault' that stands out as one of the largest geological features in the region.

Figure 1. Project Location



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Figure 2. The Pocuro Fault Zone relative to the Caballos project location



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At Cerro Las Mulas, a soil and rock geochemistry indicates a copper anomaly, partially mirrored in molybdenum and gold chemistry along 1,200 m of strike. The anomaly is open in several directions (see Figure 3). The main anomaly coincides with the presence of a felsic intrusive with K-feldspar and biotite stockworks, with disseminated chalcopyrite and copper oxides at surface. The intrusion at Cerro Las Mulas is located in a wide and gently sloping valley and the intrusion itself is largely covered by a colluvium apron.

Figure 3. Caballos North, geochemical grid in Cerro Las Mulas



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Also at Cerro Las Mulas, two different induced polarization ("IP") surveys shows chargeability coincident with the geochemical copper anomalies. The first IP survey was a Gradient survey carried out by Quantec in 1998. The second IP survey was a dipole-dipole survey carried out by Zonge in 2006. Screen-grab images of the anomalies are shown in Figure 4, below.

Figure 4. IP Gradient Survey by Quantec showing apparent chargeability from pseudo-sections (left) and IP dipole-dipole Zonge 2006 D-D IP, 100m slice 2D inversion (right)



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The Vendors note that the IP pole-dipole raw data from 1998 was reprocessed in 2023. The geophysicist that carried out the reprocessing work was the same geophysicist that carried out the original Quantec 1998 survey. He reported that "The chargeability anomalies are low in amplitude; however, they display excellent line-to-line correlation and form anomalies of potentially economic size." The commentary continued by saying, "the chargeable source is attributed to sulphide mineralization" and "the chargeability source appears to continue to depth, possibly widening".

Outside of the immediate Cerro Las Mulas target area, anomalous and abundant copper is found in several zones located along over 10 km of the Pocuro Fault Zone which traverses the western portion of the property. The elevated geochemical values are mainly associated with stocks and hydrothermal breccias around the PFZ (see Figure 5, below). The central and southern part of the PFZ host several hydrothermal breccias with copper, zinc, and locally molybdenum. The average copper grade of all samples taken to date across the property is 850 ppm Cu.

Figure 5. Map of sample locations, main anomalies, and the Pocuro Fault Zone



Click Image To View Full Size

Exploration Target and Next Steps

The exploration target at Cerro Las Mulas is a conceptual target based on the following metrics: length 1000 x width 200 x depth 400 x density 2.7 x grade 0.5 % Cu.

In the first half of 2024 Norseman will prepare the exploration team and the logistics to support a drill program. The Company has a conceptual plan to drill twelve holes averaging 250 m each for approximately 3,000 m in a number of fences along 1 km of strike length. Drilling is planned for the second half of the year.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was reviewed by Gilberto Schubert, P. Geo., a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101).

About Norseman Silver

Norseman's shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol NOC and on the OTCQB under the symbol NOCSF. Learn more about Norseman at www.norsemansilver.com.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

On behalf of Norseman Silver Inc.

Sean Hurd

President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Sean Hurd President and CEO

Info@norsemansilver.com

+1 604-505-4554

For more information on Norseman Silver, please visit the Company's website.

www.norsemansilver.com.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
E-cedi to bridge gap between banked and unbanked  Dr Addison

Emmanuel Bruce Business News Nov - 30 - 2023 , 07:02

THE Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, has said the introduction of the electronic version of the E-cedi will help bridge the gap between the banked and unbanked in the country.

He said when fully implemented, the E-cedi would have products and services that would make that happen.

Since 2019 when Libra (a digital currency backed by Facebook) was unveiled, there has been a deliberate effort by several central banks to explore the option of digital currency, commonly known as the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

In June 2021, the Bank of Ghana announced the development of its CBDC known as the E-Cedi. The pilot stage of the E-Cedi began in September 2021.

In a speech that was read on his behalf at the opening of a regional course on Currency Management and Forecasting organised by the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM), Dr Addison said the E-cedi would help increase cross-border trade, accelerate financial inclusion, and offer cheaper and faster remittance inflows.

He said it would also help in targeted social interventions, as well as improvements in monetary policy effectiveness, payment systems efficiency and tax collection.

The E-Cedi will serve as both a medium of exchange and a store of value, offering better payment prospects in retail transactions when compared to cash payments, he stated.

Currency management

Dr Addison noted that effective currency management depended on excellent information and insightful analysis.

He said efficient and effective currency management commenced with a strategic analysis of the currency life cycle, adding that strategic management of currency was impossible without accurate forecasts of the demand for banknotes.

The long lead time involved in banknote production makes it vital from a cost and reputational point of view that central banks forecast the demand for banknotes as accurately as possible. Indeed, the benefits of accurate forecasting are obvious. It encourages more efficient procurement and reduces stockholding costs, he stated.

He said a disciplined, balanced approach to currency management reduced opportunity losses and thus enhanced the smooth functioning of the banking system.

He urged central banks to also safeguard the value of the currency through various measures such as initiating policies relating to the issue and redemption of currency, initiatives to prevent and minimise money laundering and counterfeiting, and adequately meeting the demand for money by the public.

Clear indicators

In his opening remarks, the Director General of WAIFEM, Dr Baba Y. Musa, said the integrity of a currency and its efficient supply were clear indicators of a well-functioning central bank.

He said due to the sensitive nature and relevance of that fundamental function, central banks must be effective and efficient, and present no issues that may hurt the reputation of a country's financial system.

He said of particular concern was the issue of counterfeiting, which was as old as money itself, and continues to pose a significant threat to financial systems.

Generally, effort towards protecting currencies from counterfeiters has increasingly become more dependent on cooperation/collaboration among law enforcement agencies, financial institutions and central banks, the security printing industry and the high-grade supplier's community.

Cooperation/ collaboration bridges geographic, jurisdictional, cultural and organisational divisions, which were once impediments to providing comprehensive and co-coordinated solutions for combating modern financial crimes, he stated.

Dr Musa also added that in recent times, the issue of how central banks could leverage emerging technology in the digital space to enhance the efficiency of the payments system with its potential benefits on the macroeconomic and financial stability had been studied under the introduction of the CBDC.These issues will be covered in detail during the five-day workshop and I am certain that participants will benefit from the discussions, he noted.
Stakeholders in cocoa value chain urged to promote best practices

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Nov - 30 - 2023 , 06:01

STAKEHOLDERS in the cocoa value chain have been advised to collaborate to help operationalise the standards set by the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CS3D) to promote responsible business practices in the cocoa value chain.

The stakeholders, including representatives from producer groups, licensed buying companies, COCOBOD, government ministries, NGOs, and development partners, also believe that this will help to position Ghana strategically in its quest to boost its export potential.

The European Parliament approved a new directive (EU CS3D) to hold companies accountable for conducting sustainability due diligence in their supply chains.

Under this, businesses will have to establish systems to identify, prevent and mitigate environmental and social risks.

Since the proposal for Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D) was published in February 2022, attention has turned to how value chain actors and stakeholders will operationalise its requirements.

Against this background, the COCOBOD is working closely with the International Trade Centres Alliances for Action sustainable agribusiness initiative to lead discussions on implementing mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence in Ghana's cocoa sector.

Collaborative efforts, including organising training, conducting readiness assessments and gathering feedback for the development of a comprehensive action plan have been put in place.



Workshop

Speaking at a stakeholder workshop in Accra on the upcoming European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CS3D) readiness in Ghanas cocoa sector, the Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, said cocoa is a very important product in the trade between Netherlands and Ghana, and the EU regulations we are discussing here have a strong impact on the way we trade cocoa.

What we want to achieve with this workshop is to enhance collaborations between all stakeholders in the cocoa value chain.

The workshop was organised by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and ISEAL on the theme Ghanas Experience, Preparation and Challenges Towards Meeting the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).

It also draws on extensive support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF V) programme, in the framework of which ITC is running pilot programmes on EU CS3D accompanying measures for producers and processors.

The workshop sought to raise awareness of CS3D, share lessons learned from the pilot programmes, discuss challenges and opportunities, and develop a roadmap for CS3D readiness in Ghanas cocoa sector.



Challenges

The Deputy Chief Executive of Agronomy and Control, Dr Ebenezer Owusu, mentioned illegal mining as a major challenge militating against the project, adding that some farmers are still being lured by illegal mining agents to trade their farmlands for some amount of money.

According to the National Coordinator for Alliance for Action Programmes at ITC, Larry Attipoe, the move will help farmers export their produce through the channels of the European Union.

The project is to ensure that the value chain has the information. Secondly, we start to prepare by asking how we ensure we are complying with human rights regulations and also ensure that we are respecting the environment in our value chain, he said.
VAAL Real Estate unveils Legato Heights

Business Desk Report Business News Nov - 25 - 2023 , 11:49

Leading real estate developer in Ghana, VAAL Real Estate Company, has unveiled its latest upscale residential project, Legato Heights, as part of its commitment to offering high-end living spaces to the local population.

The prominent real estate firm showcased its state-of-the-art apartment building, featuring contemporary studio apartments and a plush penthouse, during an exclusive event held at the Kempinski Hotel on Friday, November 24, 2023.

In attendance were the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing as well as other dignitaries in the real estate space.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Abdulai Abanga, praised VAAL Real Estate's executives for their ongoing dedication to crafting cutting-edge homes and communities in Ghana.

He said VAAL Real Estate's projects go beyond mere structures; they take into consideration the individuals who will eventually call these residences home. This launch has highlighted the collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector.

Mr Abanga assured continued support from the Ministry of Works and Housing in creating conducive environments for the real estate sector to flourish.

He said we will continue to create enabling environments for the real estate sector to thrive while also expanding other initiatives aimed at ensuring new homes are constructed and delivered in a more sustainable manner.

He also stressed the impact of this initiative, saying, In a nation where housing is a vital component of our social and economic development, initiatives like these play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of our communities and the lives of our citizens."

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VAAL Ghana, Alaa Zayed stated that Legato Heights offers state of the art amenities and craftmanship that defines each space. Every detail reflects a commitment to luxury, creating an unparalleled living experience that redefines elegance within the heart of Accra.

The Group CEO of VAAL Real Estate, Abdulmecid Saadettin, expressed his belief that real estate investment stands as one of the most lucrative options available.

"I believe that this will be the best investment option for investors who are looking to buy something modern and futuristic that will fetch them good rental returns in the future, he said.

For his part, the Head of Sales, Nazir Ahma, encouraged potential investors to seize the opportunity presented by the launch of this off-plan luxury property.

He emphasized that early investment in the development could lead to substantial returns once the project reaches completion, making it an advantageous prospect for those contemplating recent investments in the real estate sector.

If you have considered investing recently, consider yourself lucky. With the launch of this off-plan luxury property, you get to invest early and earn generous returns once the development is delivered, he said.

Along with Legato Heights, VAAL also unveiled Nirvana Villas, a set of eight five-bedroom townhouses in Ridge which aims to redefine luxury mansions in Ghana.
Be involved to bridge leadership gaps

Daily Graphic Editorials Nov - 30 - 2023 , 08:20

Recently, two banking executives described the country as a nation in crisis, because of systematic leadership failures and structural deficiencies over the years.

Former Managing Directors, Alhassan Andani of Stanbic Bank Ghana, and Frank Adu Jnr of CalBank, made the assertion as panellists at a thought leadership lecture organised by the old students of Achimota School, on the theme: Ghana a Country in Crisis: Defining a New Economic Direction.

Mr Adu Jnr said he had never come across a leader in the country who had mobilised resources and human capital to drive the country forward while Mr Andani, for his part, noted that the country had failed to fashion a systematic plan to address structural problems of economic growth.

Indeed, a dearth of leadership is bedevilling Ghanas development.

Somehow, we all associate with sentiments about the economic hardships and seeming governance lapses.

Ghanaians are keenly aware of lapses in the management of public resources.

For instance, some experts are of the view that cutting down political appointees is necessary in the current economic downturn.

However, it seems the government does not feel so inclined.

Many feel that all the challenges of the country are as a result of gaps in leadership, and that was emphasised by the two business executives who have seen it all in the management of huge resources placed under their care.

It is trite knowledge that fish starts rotting from the head.

Professor Stephen Adei, who is credited for shaping a university to a modern status, sums it up that Leadership is cause, everything else is effect.

This emphasises the importance of leadership and how it can catalyse a shift in paradigm.

The executive powers the 1992 Constitution granted the President and the ruling class have also not helped matters.

The excessive exercise of those powers has also inspired the rest of the society.

It is not surprising that when individuals emerge from among the people as leaders, they almost become tin gods who must not be questioned, queried, challenged or blamed.

In 2011, the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) conducted extensive nationwide consultations to review the 1992 Constitution.

At the end of the exercise, the committee presented a report titled, From a Political to a Developmental Constitution.

The rationale was to move the country from the preponderance of politics in all spheres of governance and sectors of the country to a multitude of developmental and transformative laws and efforts for growth and prosperity.

Little progress has been made in that regard and in the interim governance seems to spiral further downwards.

Some Ghanaians appear disheartened.

The effect of the leadership vacuum can be seen in the high exodus of Ghanaians abroad in search of greener pastures, wastage in every segment of the society, disregard for and indifference over public goods and installations, corruption in high and low places, greed, youth prioritising money over everything and throwing courtesy to the wind and many more.

The Daily Graphic, however, believes that governance is all about the people.

People, therefore, must take charge and institute the governance they want democratically.

It starts by exercising the franchise to elect leaders.

In so doing, Ghanaians must understand that those elected to serve must champion development diligently without fail, fear or favour.

That alone should be the motivation for casting the ballot for one of many competitors.

Citizens must also be participants and not spectators, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo appropriately urged.

All must be interested in governance of localities and communities.

It is in this vein that the Daily Graphic calls on all citizens who qualify to vote to participate in the upcoming District Level Elections on December 19.

It is also imperative that citizens seize the opportunity provided by the Right to Information Law to get informed and keep abreast of what is being done by the executive, parliament and judiciary, as well as their agencies.

The Daily Graphic is aware of the prevailing challenges people face in order to survive.

However, we urge all not to lose sight of the fact that being involved in how the country is governed is critical to sustaining our future.

Get involved as a citizen.
Christele Codo Crowned Miss Health Ghana 2023

GraphicOnline Showbiz News Nov - 30 - 2023 , 08:57

Christele Codo, a hairstylist and public health student, has been crowned Miss Health Ghana 2023 at the culmination of the annual beauty pageant, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel last Sunday.

Ms. Codo emerged victorious after a series of competitions that tested her knowledge, eloquence, and commitment to promoting health and wellness. She impressed the five-member female panel of judges, comprising Dr. Grace Buckman, May Meskawi, Anne Coolen, Shallie Abbiusi, and Dr. Hannah Lisa Tetteh, with her passion for healthcare and her dedication to empowering women and girls.

Dr. Omaima Mohammed Arab secured the first runner-up position, while Lawrencia Bessah Esinu, a physician assistant, was named second runner-up. Dauda Faridatu and Dora Debra placed third and fourth runner-up, respectively.

Themed "Health for All," this year's Miss Health Ghana pageant aimed to raise awareness about the importance of seeking healthcare, particularly for women and children. The contestants showcased their understanding of health issues and their ability to advocate for positive change.

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Codo expressed gratitude to her supporters and outlined her plans to make a positive impact on society. "I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported me from here in Ghana and everyone around the world. Their words of encouragement boosted my morale, and I fought through to the end," she remarked.

Ms. Codo highlighted her commitment to promoting self-care among women, particularly in the area of hair therapy, to prevent the spread of viral, fungal, and bacterial diseases. She also emphasized the importance of empowering women and raising awareness about various health concerns.

Madam Gladys Akyere Rockson, Chief Executive Officer of Lamrock Agency, the organizers of the pageant, commended all the finalists for their outstanding performances. "I want to, first of all, congratulate the queens for their efforts, and I am hopeful that they will go out there and impact society," she stated.

Reaffirming the pageant's mission, Madam Rockson emphasized the importance of health and the need to raise awareness about various health issues, including women's empowerment. She also announced the agency's initiative to distribute 10,000 menstrual cups for free as part of their campaign to promote healthy living.

This year's Miss Health Ghana pageant received the support of various sponsors, including Sonotech, Gino, Belaqua, AccraCity, and Labadi Beach Hotel, among others.
Party on the Field: Ghana to host inaugural Amapiano and Afro-beats festival

GraphicOnline Events Nov - 30 - 2023 , 09:22

A groundbreaking cultural celebration is set to take centre stage as Party on the Field, the largest Amapiano and Afro-beats festival, prepares to launch in Ghana.

With the mission of amplifying African sounds and culture globally, this all-inclusive vacation and holiday event promises a fusion of music, food, art, and culture.*

The festival boasts a stellar lineup of talented creatives, featuring live performances and DJ sets from influential Amapiano and Afro-beats heavyweights. Organizers are committed to delivering a scintillating experience that not only entertains but also promotes tourism and encourages investments within the sub-region.

Inspired by the success of the "Year of Return, Ghana 2019," which marked 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, Party on the Field seeks to build on the momentum generated by diasporans returning to Africa. Recognizing the limited movement of Africans within the continent and the untapped opportunities, the festival aims to promote intra-African tourism and catalyze the generation of new prospects.*

The inaugural edition of Party on the Field will kick off in Ghana, with plans for subsequent editions to be hosted in other African countries. The festival aligns with the fast-paced growth of Amapiano, a subgenre of house music originating from South Africa, and Afro-beats, a popular music style from West Africa and the diaspora.

Attendees can expect more than just music, as Party on the Field will showcase a diverse range of local African cuisine, art (including sculpture, painting, pottery, jewelry, masks, and textiles), and culture. The festival will be a platform to celebrate the richness and diversity of African cultural heritage, emphasizing both Anglophone and Francophone influences.

Party on the Field promises to be a unique and immersive experience, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate the vibrancy and global appeal of African music and culture. As the festival aims to become a staple event on the continent, it represents an exciting opportunity to showcase the unity and diversity that defines Africa's cultural tapestry.
Human rights concepts, origins

George Bernard Shaw Opinion Nov - 30 - 2023 , 08:34

The term human rights has come into vogue in recent years and is constantly being deployed by lawyers, activists, advocates, politicians, philosophers, etc.

Human rights guarantee (at least in its conception and theory) the ability of every person to freely make choices about their lives, which eventually facilitate the innate development of humans and thereby create a conducive atmosphere to achieve our undoubted potential.

It is accepted that human beings have great potential for development and can only thrive and flourish if there are certain conditions available.

Therefore, the whole idea of human rights is to help foster and engender that freedom and equality, so that human beings can live free from arbitrariness, despotism, intolerance, discrimination and unfair treatment among the human race.

Human rights theory

As is normal in any lofty project, human rights theory has not escaped criticism and sometimes vile opposition from a cross-section of people in many countries.

Notable among such critics are conservatives, far-right politicians and ultra-orthodox religious bigots, who constantly berate and criticise human rights theory as a discredited project associated with clueless liberals.

Indeed, Jeremy Bentham, who ironically is heavily linked with one of my alma mater universities  University College of London  once described human rights as nonsense on stilts.

Thankfully, his eccentric and largely lopsided description of human rights theory has been debunked and discredited over the years as evidenced by the exponential development and acceptance of human rights discourse in contemporary jurisprudence of legal theory, at least by the United Nations, that has championed the cause of human rights since the end of the World War II after the atrocities of the Nazi regime in Germany.

Origins

Contrary to received wisdom, human rights are not a recent phenomenon, as they have been with human beings throughout history even though they had not been conceptualised and designated as human rights.

Concepts of human dignity, ethical behaviour and justice have been constantly recurring themes in the jurisprudence and governance of antiquity.

From the early civilisations of Babylon, where one of the prominent lawgivers of the ancient world, Hammurabi, gave the world what has been called the Hammurabi Code, throughout ancient China where Confucius featured prominently, to the Greco-Roman era, human rights have been central to issues of proper governance and freedoms duly acknowledged and practised throughout the world.

The concept of human rights, as we know it, gained prominence in the Middle Ages, especially during the period of the Enlightenment and the Renaissance.

This period in human history witnessed the emergence of the theory of Natural Law, largely seen as divine law coming directly from God, which the prominent jurists at the time emphasised was a superior law to the laws of the sovereign kings which were, for the most part, authoritarian and unjust.

It was against this backdrop that the Magna Carta, the acknowledged first formal charter of rights of the modern world, was born.

It sought to limit the untrammelled power of the kings in the exercise of absolute power, thereby making them accountable, as well as spelling out the rights of citizens vis-a-vis monarchical power.

Modern strands of human rights law relating to the protection from unjust and arbitrary laws, as well as the rudiments of fair trial provisions, have their origins in the great Magna Carta.

I will look subsequently at examples of instances of the abuse of the rights of Ghanaians and how the implementation of human rights can have a practical impact on peoples daily lives to ensure a freer, fairer and more just society.

The writer is a lawyer.
Man loses genitals in fight over woman

Graphic Online International News Nov - 30 - 2023 , 16:37

A violent altercation over a woman has left a 25-year-old man hospitalised after his genitals were severed in a gruesome attack.

The incident which left Martin Onyait severely wounded in his nether regions occurred in Ogongora Village, Amuria District in Uganda, has shocked the community.

The alleged assailant, Paul Onyala, reportedly attacked Onyait on Tuesday evening in a brawl for the affections of Angela Apila, the Monitor reports.

Local leader Julius Otim shared that Onyait was discovered naked and unconscious in a pool of blood before being rushed to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.

At the hospital, Onyait is currently receiving medical attention from at least seven doctors who are addressing severe wounds, including those on his face and neck.

Otim, who was notified of the incident by Onyait's father Yuventino Opio, expressed the severity of the injuries sustained.

"He sustained a bad injury on his manhood and was bleeding badly. Even the scrotum was oozing blood," Otim remarked.

Onyait's wife, Mary Abuko, claimed she did not know of her husband's involvement in any infidelity. She asserted that her husband had stayed home for the entire day and only left upon receiving a call from his father.

Additionally, Abuko accused the suspect, Paul Onyala, of fleeing with her husband's clothes and a sum of Shs500,000. The Soroti Regional Referral Hospital Director, Dr. Ben Watmon, stated that he would comment on the matter after receiving a detailed report on the victim's health condition.

East Kyoga regional police spokesperson John Tukei indicated that he had not yet received information about the incident when asked for a brief on the case.
Adopt local research to solve conflicts in Africa - Prof. Mensa-Bonsu

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Nov - 30 - 2023 , 11:38

A Supreme Court Judge, Justice Professor Henrietta J.A.N. Mensa-Bonsu, has stressed the need for stakeholders to use locally produced research findings to help build sustainable peace in Africa.

She explained that without research to situate the contextual understanding of a problem, it will be difficult to apply foreign solutions.

Role of research on particular communities, and assessment methodologies to provide indicators for measuring success etc. are very important as context specific issues may be used to affect the operational design of any programmes before, during and after initiation, she noted.

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu was speaking at a conference organised by the Merian Institute for Advanced Studies in Africa (MIASA), held at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) on November 27, 2023.

The conference, which was held on the theme: Sustainable Regional Peacebuilding in Africa: Practices and Disconnects Conference of the Interdisciplinary Fellow Group Sustainable regional peacebuilding brought together different stakeholders to discuss peace building processes and initiatives in Africa.

MIASA

The MIASA is an institute under the College of Humanities, University of Ghana. MIASA, which serves as a platform for German-African research collaboration in the social sciences and humanities aims at making African thinking increasingly relevant in academic debates.

MIASA's research programme explores the issue of sustainable governance in an interdisciplinary perspective, focusing on three thematic area: democratic governance; peace and conflict, and sustainable transformations.

Peace Building

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu said in Africa, international actors often import research conducted in other areas, and put the findings to use when such information is required.

However, she noted, the African context is so different from the societies whose research is thought relevant enough to rely on, pointing out that the absence of homegrown research can be a big minus in sustainable peacebuilding.

For her, international and regional responses need to be informed by analyses that take these regional dynamics into account, and political and programmatic responses need to be designed to influence and leverage these complex conflict systems.

Locally generated research by local scholars would enable the flexibility in design and implementation of programmes that Cedric de Coning characterizes as adaptive peacebuilding, Prof. Mensa-Bonsu explained.

She explained that People who operate in, and understand the social and political context are more likely to produce assessments that help to modify existing programmes to make them more useful as shifts in the terrain occur, than those who observe with the eye of a foreigner.

She added, Therefore leaning on locally-generated research would foster a deeper understanding of the terrain and make a foreign peacebuilder more sensitive to the nuances inherent in societal arrangements.

Prof. Mensa-Bonsu stressed that peace is a necessary condition for development, and that peacebuilding is a critical activity to secure that needed space for development.

That, she noted, there is therefore a symbiotic relationship between peace and development, urging all stakeholders to play their roles as expected to ensure sustainable peace building in the African region.

She noted that peace building is organic and thus required constant efforts to keep it growing, pointing failure to build it can affect its growth and sustainability.

The Supreme Court Judge also raised concerns that issues such as lack of funding, climate change, human resource deficits, including inadequate skilled human resource in both host country and international peacebuilding community, could all affect peace building processes.

She has, therefore called on political actors, civil society, diaspora, religious and traditional authorities, and the international community to contribute to sustainable peace building initiatives and processes in Africa.

Purpose of conference

In their welcoming address, Dr. Grace Diabah, MIASA Director, Ghana, and Dr. Susann Baller, MIASA Director, Germany, said the conference will provide opportunity to present and discuss research results as well as emerging issues together with international experts from across the African continent, Germany, and north America.

They added that MIASA is committed to making African thinking increasingly relevant in the global academic world, and it encourages the intellectual exchange across existing boundariesbetween disciplines, between different academic cultures, countries and continents.

In addition, Dr. Diabah and Dr. Baller indicated, This conference contributes to these objectives, as the topic is very timely, and the conference programme covers both insights into peace building practices as well as practitioners experiences and perspectives.
Despair, salinity, erratic rainfall, poor yields: 300 Weija irrigation farmers battle climate change

Timothy Ngnenbe Nov - 30 - 2023 , 11:49

Asmao Nartey Soji is not a happy person.

The gains from the good harvest she made from vegetable farming some years ago are virtually eroding.

A combination of factors such as increasing salinity of the soil, unpredictable rainfall pattern, and pest invasion, have left her counting her losses.

The 37-year-old mother of one has been farming on the two-and-a-half acres of land bequeathed to her at the Weija Irrigation Scheme site at Tuba in the Greater Accra Region.

The Weija Irrigation Scheme covers a total area of 225 hectares, out of which the irrigable land is 180.2 hectares.

Currently, there are 300 farmers at the site, made up of 233 males and 67 females.

These farmers, their households and the over 4.5 million residents of the Greater Accra Region depend on the irrigation scheme for vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumber, onions, pepper, carrots and okro.

However, the debilitating effects of the climate crisis, increasing salinity of the irrigable land, invasive pests and erratic supply of water to the fields, have combined to rob the farmers of the fruits of their labour.

While the farmers defy the increasing cost of production and break their backs to produce crops under these unfavourable conditions, post-harvest losses and poor markets for their produce continue to hit them hard.

On a visit to the irrigation site on Friday, November 17, Asmao was seen harvesting okro.

The okro plants looked pale, yellowish and malnourished, with sparing fruits, and visible signs of pest and insect infestation.

When the land was not salty, I used to get good yields.

But because of the salinity of the land, okro, onion and other plants fail to provide good yields; and I am losing a lot.

This year, I lost all the onions I planted.

54-year-old Ogbamey Tackie riding a bicycle to his farm at Tuba

Some of the plants got stunted while others wilted, she narrated.

The dwindling fortunes of Asmaos vegetable farm have affected her disposable income as she continues to struggle to make ends meet.

My profit margins are virtually non-existent; I put in a lot of money but get little in return, she said.

She explained that as a female farmer, her situation was even worse because she had to pay farm labourers to carry out almost all activities, ranging from land preparation, weed control and watering to spraying of the insecticides.

Wider picture

Just like Asmao, the 300 farmers at the Weija Irrigation Scheme are at the receiving end of the vagaries of the global climate crisis.

While over 20 acres out of the 500-acre irrigation land has been lost to salinity, unpredictable rainfall patterns and associated flooding of the area cause the farmers to lose the produce.

Asmao Nartey Soji being interviewed by Timothy Ngnenbe, a reporter of the Daily Graphic, at Tuba

One such farmer is 54-year-old Ogbamey Tackie, a father of eight, who said although the farmers were privileged to have the irrigation scheme to support their activities, their plants were still suffocating because of the negative impact of climate change.

In the past, we could predict when the rains would set in and plan our activities accordingly, but now, the rains will come when you do not expect them and fail to fall when you need them most.

If you bank your hope on the rainfall pattern, you will be in trouble, he said.

To add insult to injury, Mr Tackie said the irrigation scheme was not functioning as it did some years ago.

Sometimes, we are not able to water the plants at the right time because the machines that pump water get faulty.

Other times, the managers shut it down because of the high cost of power, he said.

He added that although the farmers had been put into four groups, just two groups could have access to the machines in a day.

Another farmer, Abdul Karim Tetteh, a father of four, lamented the invasion of Fall Armyworms (FAM) on his maize farm.

The 49-year-old owns two-and-a-half acres of land on which he cultivated maize, cucumber and cabbage.

Abdul Karim Tetteh spraying his farm at Tuba

However, it was observed that FAM were lodge between the nodes of the maize and devoured the young plants.

Armyworms remain a huge challenge for us, especially maize farmers; so, many people have switched from maize production to other things.

We spend so much money on insecticides but the pests keep coming, he said.

Access to finance

The farmers complained that access to finance remained one of their greatest challenges because financial institutions were unwilling to offer them loans because of the risk of non-payment.

We are unable to take higher amounts of money from banks because anytime the bankers come to check our farms, they say they cannot give us higher amounts because we may not repay, Mr Tackie said.

Meanwhile, some potential customers have taken advantage of the situation to give farmers a pittance upfront to plant crops with strings for the harvest season.

Customers give loans to farmers and end up cheating them when the crops are harvested, he added.

The difficulty the farmers at the Weija Irrigation Scheme face in accessing funds to scale up production, feeds into the plight of smallholder farmers in developing countries.

Just 0.3 per cent of international climate finance goes to smallholder farmers, although they produce a third of the worlds food, research has established.

The research published by an alliance, representing 35 million family farmers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific, also found that just a fifth of international public climate finance for food and agriculture supported sustainable practices.

It stated that although smallholder farmers held the key to climate-proofing food system, they were being sidelined by funders and shut out of decision-making on food and climate.

The research titled: Untapped Potential: an analysis of international public climate finance flows to sustainable agriculture and family farmers, was conducted by Climate Focus and published on November 14.

Way forward

The Manager of the Weija Irrigation Scheme, Alice Wakah, admitted that the high cost of power was negatively affecting the farmers and needed to be addressed.

I have just received the bill for October, this year, and it is GH40,000 and this adds to the cost of production of the framers, she said.

Touching on the way forward, she called on the government and private sector organisations to support the irrigation scheme by installing a solar plant to minimise the cost of power.

Abdul Karim Tetteh showing crops destroyed by insects

Again, she underscored the need for a processing plant to be established at the scheme to address the challenges related to post-harvest losses.

She said the processing facility was necessary because it would prevent the situation where farmers were compelled to sell perishable crops at lower prices.

Last year, for instance, farmers sold one full box of 120-kilogramme tomatoes at GH700, which was so bad; but if they do not sell, it will rot on the farm, she said.

The Dean of the University of Ghana School of Agriculture, Dr Irene S. Egyir, said farmers needed more knowledge on best agronomic practices to remain in business amid the climate crisis.

Pests and diseases are part of the ecosystem.

They will not leave because you are there to farm, and that is why farmers must learn to manage the diversities of the ecosystem, she said.

The Agricultural Economist said the erratic rainfall pattern farmers were grappling with because of the climate crisis was a call for investment in data for better prediction of rainfall.

She added that the climate change challenge that farmers were faced with called for the diversification of livelihoods.

Dr Egyir also called on farmers to form cooperatives and work with the private sector to start the processing factory.

The cooperatives that are committed to looking for support, building the capacity of members, monitoring and evaluating things and learning best practices will be empowered, and then the banks will rush on them, she said.
Lets take action to tackle global climate crisis - Lands Minister urges nations

Timothy Ngnenbe Nov - 30 - 2023 , 05:51

Countries must pay special attention to forest and nature-based climate actions to help tackle the global crisis, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has said.

He said forest countries in particular must protect the natural integrity of their landscape by taking bold steps to halt degradation.

Mr Jinapor, who is a Co-chair of the Forest Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), added that addressing deforestation was crucial to climate action because forests, including other nature-based climate actions, could deliver up to a third of climate solutions.

"That is why the Green Ghana project was instituted three years ago to help restore degraded lands so that the trees we plant can sequestrate the carbon we emit into the atmosphere," he said.

The minister said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic on Monday ahead of the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

Context

Nature-based solutions to climate change are a collection of approaches that offer the potential to reduce and remove emissions to enhance the ability of the ecosystems to reverse the degradation of an ecosystem such that it no longer emits harmful greenhouse gas emissions and becomes a net sink of carbon.

It also includes avoiding emissions through protecting landscapes to limit deforestation; improving degraded habitats by bringing ecological diversity into landscapes dominated by singular species; improving management practices of farmed land such that emissions are reduced, and carbon sequestration is maximised and allowing water bodies to meander along their natural courses to reduce flood risk, among others.

Increased investment

Mr Jinapor said that at COP28, the country's focus would be to advocate increased investment in forest and other nature-based climate actions.

He explained that as part of the knowledge-sharing process, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would be joined by other heads of state to discuss in-country frameworks and methodologies for monitoring the progress of nature-based solutions.

Also, the minister said forest, environment and climate change sector ministers would explore innovative approaches for mobilisation of climate finance for forest countries, as well as enhance public-private partnerships to implement sustainable nature and forest solutions.

FCLP

On the work of the FCLP which was inaugurated at COP27 in Sham El-Sheikh in Egypt, he said the partnership was making efforts to deliver on its mandate of mobilising action to achieve the target of the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forest and Land Use.

The Glasgow Declaration seeks to "halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive transformation".

Mr Jinapor said a year after take-off, the FCLP had prioritised six initiatives to be launched at COP28 in support of the Glasgow Leaders Declaration.

He said the first initiative was the country packages for forest, nature and climate.

"These are integrated system-wide programmes designed for forest landscape restoration with blended finance from philanthropy, sovereign nations and private sector," he said.

The minister said there was another work programme on strengthening forest carbon markets, for which a roadmap would be launched at COP28 towards enhancing integrity in carbon markets and working on a foundation for fair and right prices to be paid to forest countries.

Mr Jinapor said the third initiative was sustainable wood for construction, which sought to reward the sustainable use of wood and wood products in construction.
Mahama donates to Shai Osudoku Hospital to mark 65th birthday

Timothy Gobah Nov - 30 - 2023 , 05:38

As part of activities to commemorate his 65th birthday, former President John Dramani Mahama, yesterday donated hospital equipment, assorted food items, detergents and school bags to the staff and patients of the Shai Osudoku District Hospital at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

The equipment included two incubators, two phototherapy machines and four pieces C-PAP machines.

Others were 200 packs of water, 20 boxes of tinned tomatoes, 35 boxes of cooking oil, 30 boxes of canned mackerel,100 packs of baby diapers, 200 packs of assorted drinks and 90 pieces of schoolbags.

The rest were 40 boxes of biscuits, 24 gallons of bleach, 74 gallons of liquid soap, 150 bags of rice, 50 sacks of sugar and 500 packs of hot meals.

President Mahama was accompanied by his wife, Lordina Mahama, and children; the former Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Director of Elections of the NDC, Dr Edward Omane Boama, and his Spokesperson, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari.

President Mahama was later joined by his family and the hospital staff to cut his 65th birthday cake.

Commendation

Former President Mahama, who is also the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2024 election, lauded the Director of the Hospital, Dr Kennedy Brightson, including medical and staff members for keeping the facility safe from maternal deaths in the last five years.

Over the past few decades, the maternal mortality rate in the country has seen a steady decline due to several factors and robust systems put in place to ensure safe pregnancy and delivery.

Data available at the Ghana Health Service show that in total, there were 875 maternal deaths in 2018 and 838 in 2019.

Some of the items which were donated to the hospital

Mr Mahama underscored the need for the health directorate to improve on their records by providing quality health care for the people at all times.

He also entreated citizens to spend special days such as birthdays to give glory to God by visiting and supporting the marginalised and the needy in society.

Appreciation

Dr Brightson thanked the former president for choosing to celebrate his birthday with them and for the donation, particularly the incubators.

He, however, appealed to former President Mahama and his family and other benevolent organisations and individuals to continue to support the hospital.

Dr Brightson further appealed for a 32-seater bus to aid in transporting staff of the hospital some of whom he said lived far from the facility.
Make STEM education essential tool for development - Deputy Education Minister charges African countries

Emmanuel Bonney Nov - 30 - 2023 , 07:18

A Deputy Minister of Education, Gifty Twum Ampofo, has called on African countries to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education an essential tool to develop the continent.

She said Africa had the numbers and democratic advantage and "so when we embrace these innovations and collaborate in the area of STEM, Africa would be a wonderful continent".

Ms Ampofo said this last Tuesday in Accra when she opened the 20th Conference on Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (COMSTEDA).

Participants

The three-day meeting, hosted by the National Teaching Council (NTC), formed part of the Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) - Africa Delegates Meeting.

It is being attended by stakeholders in the area of STEM from about 15 African countries.

They include Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Benin, Senegal, Mauritius and Rwanda.

Ms Ampofo said Ghana had made STEM education a priority and expressed the hope that it would work well for not only the country, but the continent as a whole.

STEM education, she said, was not merely an academic pursuit and that it was a transformative force that opened doors of opportunities, offering young minds the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the 21th Century.

Ghana, she said, took pride in hosting the conference being fully aware of fostering collaborative approach of STEM education, adding that our commitments extend beyond these conference walls to the classrooms, laboratories and to our communities, where the future is being shaped.

Ms Ampofo said by investing in innovative STEM education, the various countries would be investing in their foundation.

Diverse perspectives

She encouraged the participants to let the conference be a melting pot of diverse perspectives, among others, to address the challenges faced by STEM education on the continent.

Ms Ampofo said with Africa and its various challenges, STEM would become a tool to get over all those challenges the continent faced.

The President of Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE), Dr Benson Banda, said if issues such as policy, practice, research, curriculum, teaching and learning were not given the necessary attention then STEM did not make sense.

He said there was the need for a call to action in transforming STEM education in Africa.

That, he said, included supporting resolutions for transformation, ministerial meeting for in-depth discussion and encouraging collaborative efforts to ensure that STEM education became a powerful tool for the continents progress.

Milestone

The Deputy Registrar of the National Teaching Council and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Conference, Lawrence Sarpong, said the conference marked a significant milestone in the countries collective efforts to enhance education in Africa and paved the way for a brighter and more innovative future.

He said the conference also served as a platform for intellectual discourse, exchange of ideas and the sharing of best practice.

The Chairman of the Board of the NTC, Anis Haffar, said the conference was as a beacon, guiding us into a future where knowledge is shared across the board, across Africa to make our situation better.
OSP bares teeth - Probes state land sales payrolls

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Nov - 30 - 2023 , 05:00

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has commenced investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in government payroll systems.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, who announced this at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the investigations were being done in collaboration with the Controller and Accountant Generals Department (CAGD).

Already, he said, a joint team of staff from the OSP and the CAGD had been formed to spearhead the investigations.

The assessment and investigation are especially aimed at isolating and removing non-existent names, recovering wrongful payments, and the prosecution of persons suspected to be culpable for any offence(s), he said.

The investigation and assessment will cover all banks and employees on government payroll, he added.

Mr Agyebeng said the investigations would be done in phases, with the first phase covering the Ghana Education Service (GES) and public health institutions.

The next phase, he said, would cover metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), and ministries, departments and agencies.

State lands

The Special Prosecutor further announced that his outfit had commenced investigations into suspected corruption in transactions involving state lands, stool lands and other vested lands.

The scope of the investigations, he said, would involve the sale and lease of such lands from 1993 to date.

The investigation covers all lands and properties that fall under the direct stewardship of the Lands Commission; the Ministry of Works and Housing; all other Ministries; State Housing Company; State-owned Companies; and other State agencies, he said.

The investigation also covers the management of vested lands and all public lands over which the States ownership or control has been relinquished and the conditions of release, he added.

Criticism of judges

Mr Agyebeng, who was speaking at his first major engagement with the media since taking office two years ago, bemoaned what he described as a trend of dismissive attitude from some judges towards the work of the OSP which was hampering the fight against corruption.

He said the OSP, in compliance with its mandate, regularly updated the public on its operations, cases in court, as well as its opinion on judicial decisions affecting its work.

Indeed, I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the Bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public-calling-out variety, and that if the Office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the

Office and throw out all our cases, he said.

The Special Prosecutor said he personally did not believe judges would ever adopt such a dystopian stance as it would retard the fight against corruption.

However, he said recent judicial decisions relating to his outfit seemed to show a disturbing trend.

There appears to be a developing trend of rather regressive and dismissive judicial decisions in respect of cases involving the OSP, with troubling consequences.

And it seems to us that a careful examination of these outcomes portends a disturbing spectre that the fight against corruption is being hampered to the disbenefit of us all, he said.

He based his assertions on court decisions in four cases.

Although the Special Prosecutor did not mention the cases, the facts he gave referred to cases involving a former Presidential Staffer - Charles Bissue; a former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah; a former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Col. Kwadwo Damoah; and a former CEO of the Forestry Commission, the late Kojo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John.

Comments on cases

On Sir Johns case, the Special Prosecutor said the decision by the court not to grant the freezing order on the late CEOs property because he had died and had no interest in the properties was unfortunate.

The danger of this outcome is obvious.

It is to the effect that a person may, in his lifetime, acquire property through corruption and then upon his demise happily pass on the corruptly acquired property to his estate, he said.

With regard to the Charles Bissue case, he said the decision by the court to grant an injunction against his arrest meant criminal suspects could now run to court to avoid arrest.

The judge did not avert his mind to the well-founded proposition that no one has the right not to be arrested, he added.

Commenting on the Cecilia Dapaah case, Mr Agyebeng said the decision by the court, which he described as hastily, to refuse the confirmation of the seizure of her properties had the potential to scuttle the investigations by the OSP.

The judge was only interested in a return of the money to the person of interest and nothing more and he proceeded to erect non-existent legal barriers to prevent the OSP from investigating the matter, the Special Prosecutor added.

In respect of Col. Damoahs case, the OSP said the decision by the court to prohibit the OSP from further investigating the customs officials meant the court had granted such persons immunity from investigations and prosecution, which were alien to the laws of the country.



Not asking for favours

The Special Prosecutor said his comments on the judicial decisions did not mean that he was asking for the OSP to be treated differently in the law courts or that every case involving the OSP should be ruled in its favour, irrespective of the evidence.

He said his comments also did not mean his outfit was infallible or beyond criticisms.

However, it seems to us that the flagship public agency created by law to fight corruption should receive better regard and consideration by the courts and not the developing trend of dismissiveness and regression without regard to its governing enactments, and certainly not the erection of non-existent hurdles in its work and operations, he added.
State agencies save $30m from Ghana Card merger

Maclean Kwofi Nov - 30 - 2023 , 12:00

Nearly $30 million is being saved each year by the various state institutions that have successfully integrated their systems with the National Identification Authority (NIA) database.

The savings are being made from the absence of the procurement for new equipment, non-printing of new sector specific cards and non-duplication of services as the Ghana Card now serves as the sole identity for health insurance, social security, taxation and business transactions.

Information gathered by the Daily Graphic from some of the agencies indicated that the positive results formed part of the quest to build a vibrant identification system to facilitate socio-economic development.

So far, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) that used to print new cards for new members are no more doing so since linking their systems to the Ghana Card database for the biodata of applicants and members.

While SSNIT has linked 1.98 million of its members with the Ghana Card, the integration process by the NHIA has captured six million holders of the National Health Insurance card.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has since April 1, 2021 replaced the tax identification numbers (TIN) with the Ghana Card personal identification number (PIN) for individual taxpayers.

Consequently, it has been able to expand the tax base from four million payers to over 16 million people who qualify to pay tax in the last two years after the linkage.

Efforts are also in place for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to plug into the National Identification System.

Savings

Interacting with some 20 selected West African journalists in Accra, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Professor Ken Attafuah, stated that with the Ghana Card, the country was expected to save $1.5 billion over the next 15 years by eliminating duplications.

He said the projected cost savings could be secured through the operations of 12 state agencies, including the DVLA, Bank of Ghana (BoG), Ghana Police Service, SSNIT, NHIS, GRA and the Electoral Commission (EC).

Others are the Ministry of Education, the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

Cost saving alone would account to $1.5 billion over the next 15 years from non-production of identity cards, duplication of services and non-procurement of equipment.

Revenue to be generated from verification services would be used to settle the private investment secured for the project, he said.

He added that the frequent use of the Ghana Card would enhance digitalisation, service delivery and boost social and economic inclusion.

Solid DPI

Prof. Attafuah said with those gains, Ghana had now joined the league of countries with solid foundation digital public infrastructure (DPI) that allowed data to be shared between otherwise unconnected institutions in ways that could benefit the citizenry.

When the three core systems: identity, payments and data exchange exist simultaneously and can talk to one another, people, businesses and governments could reap the full benefits of DPI.

DPI could help countries achieve their national priorities and accelerate the sustainable development goals (SDGs) if well designed and implemented.

Security features

Prof. Attafuah stated that the Ghana Card was a smart identity card with a dual interface, meaning both sides of it were readable and captured all the 10 fingerprints.

He said the card had the ability to capture the iris in case a person did not have fingers and so the eyes would be used for identification.

The chip embedded in the card has a 148-storage capacity to help store information, including electronic passports.

These are some of the security features that make it impossible for the card to be cloned or duplicated, he said.

NHIAs progress

The acting Deputy Director, Business Systems, NHIA, Joe Annor-Darkwah, in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, stated that the NHIA had made significant progress with the database integration in an attempt to make it possible for all resident in the country to use one card to access health care.

We have so far linked six million holders of NHIS with the Ghana Card as the process is still ongoing.

The merger is being done through auto linkage and self-service.

Once the linkage is done there is no need for the NHIS cards anymore because the Ghana Card is now accepted at the hospitals, he said.

He said the NHIA had stopped printing cards for new entrances and had subsequently introduced an online registration platform called My NHIS.

It is a convenient mobile app solution to enable residents in the country and beyond to use their Ghana Card and sign up to the NHIS at their own convenience.

The app is similar to the NHIS mobile renewal platform, which enables people to comfortably sit anywhere and use their mobile phones to sign up to the NHIS.

The socio-economic aspect of the solution was that people do not waste money on transportation to the offices of the NHIA and join long queues before they can be served.

We are also not spending money to buy a lot of consumables at our district offices; we are not printing cards and this has been made possible through the integration with the Ghana Card, he added.

SSNIT report

Information gathered by the Daily Graphic from SSNIT showed that it had linked more than 1.98 million SSNIT numbers with the Ghana Card, saving the scheme about GH60 million that would have otherwise gone into the printing of new cards.

That, it said, comprised 1.28 million active members, 395,567 pensioners and 307,804 inactive members (members who have not contributed in the last 12 months).

Between June 2021 and June 2022, SSNIT deployed its systems to allow members to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers after issuing a directive that the Ghana Card was the only identification that will be recognised by the trust in July 2022.

Support NIA

A digital infrastructure analyst, Edward David, in a separate interview, entreated the government to adequately fund the NIA to fast-track the acquisition of the Ghana Card to facilitate the countrys digitalisation agenda.

To achieve that, he said the government must ensure that all statutory institutions, including the Electoral Commission and DVLA, linked up with the Ghana Card.

He said that would enable the government to make huge cost savings and raise revenue that could be rechanneled into other physical infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals.

He added that over time, safe and inclusive DPI would help create a vibrant and competitive economy for the country.

"This report is produced under the DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme of the Media Foundation for West Africa and Co-Develop."
World Educations "Read Along" project improves language skills of pupils

Zadok Kwame Gyesi Nov - 30 - 2023 , 11:49

The World Educations Google assisted reading tool, Reading Along App, which was piloted in the Tolon Districts of the Northern region to help enhance reading and numeracy skills of pupils has started posting positive outcomes.

The World Education, a division of John Snow Incorporated, in collaboration with GES and Google, implemented the three-month pilot project between May and August 2023 in the Northern Region to address English Language proficiency gaps of students in primary school.

The improvement has been observed in areas such as oral vocabulary, speed of reading of letter sounds, non-word-reading, oral passage reading, and reading and listening comprehension in the English language.

At a recently held virtual meeting among stakeholders, which was on theme: Ghana Read Along impact evaluation findings, the World Education shared some of its findings prior to the project and post-project assessment.

Participants of the project were mainly out-of-school girls, aged 10 to 14 years in grades three to six in three schools in the Tolon District, who earlier benefited from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office-FCDO-funded Strategic Approaches to Girls Education project, which was implemented from October 2018 to February 2023.

The beneficiaries practised with the Google Read Along App for three months daily for a period of 15-minute under the supervision of trained mentor teachers.

The exercise took place outside the normal instructional hours even though it was done with the schools premises.

The World Education Vice President for the African region, Adam Turney, said World Education has been supporting education systemsformal and non-formal in many parts of the world, including Ghana.

Ghana, for instance, he noted, World Education has been supporting education programming since 2001, stressing that supporting education particularly in Ghana was very dear to the heart of the organisation.

Mr Turney said World Education also enjoys a very close collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to help build the capacities of its local partners, focusing also on gender equity.

He noted that World Education was particularly interested in projects that keep children in school, adding that We are really proud of the range of work weve been able to do in the education system in Ghana.

He said the Google Reading Along Appproject was internally funded by the World Education, through the donations of its board members.

Speaking at the virtual meeting, Mr Stephen Konde, a Consultant for World Education, said a quality study was conducted on the beneficiary school children to understand their challenges and how the app could improve their literacy, numeracy and comprehension skills.

That, he noted, the findings from their study was using the early grade assessment was shared with the Ghana Education Service with which GES gave them the greenlight to pilot the project.

Mr Konde said three treatment schools and four control schools were then identified for the project.

He said assessment conducted on the beneficiaries indicated that oral vocabulary, both the treatment and control groups showed an improvement, but the treatment group was able to name 50 per cent more words correctly compared to the control group.

He said each girl had 40 stories on their tablets, which they used for the project, hence enabling them to improve their vocabulary, reading skills and comprehension.

He further indicated that the project also provided stipends for both data and electricity, saying there had been a tremendous improvement in the reading skills of the children.

For Mr Konde, project was well monitored to ensure that it ran smoothly, observing that some of the beneficiary girls topped their class in their end of term examinations.

He said the bi-weekly assessment of learners during field visits confirmed drastic improvements and that the number of non-readers reduced significantly.

On his part, a Snr. Technical Advisor of World Education, Willem Van De Waal, said 8200 girls between 10-14 years transitioned into formal education, and that after two years of implementation, 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are still in school.

He explained that the beneficiaries were taught foundational literacy and numeracy skills, stressing that we supported transition to primary and secondary schools.

The Deputy Director at the Tolon District Directorate of GES, Kassim Abu, expressed happiness about the project, pointing out that throughout the period, GES observed increased learners ability to read within a short time as well as improving learners attendance in school.
'24-hour economy' is the idea of the APC  Hassan Ayariga

GNA Politics Nov - 30 - 2023 , 19:21

Hassan Ayariga, founder and leader of the All Peoples Congress (APC), claims his party is the originator of the 24-hour economy policy and not the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to him, the policy proposal was captured in the APCs 2020 manifesto where companies, businesses and workers were to run a three-shift system for people to work eight hours daily.

Sadly, former President Mahama and the NDC are struggling to explain while Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) are struggling to understand the 24- hour economy policy because it is not theirs.

Mr Ayariga was speaking at a press conference in Accra to clarify the 24-hour economy and production policy (3-shift system) which has generated debate among political parties and political scientists.

Former President John Mahama in a recent campaign tour of the Bono Region said the NDC would invest into a 24-hour economy for a fresh lease of life into the struggling Ghanaian economy.

The proposal has received different opinions from individuals, politicians, civil society organisations, and the business community.

Mr Ayariga also explained that the 24-hour production policy was designed to put Ghanas workforce into three groups called the three-shift system, where every Ghanaian would work eight hours daily.

He said the shift would start from 6am to 2pm, with the second shift beginning work from 2pm to 10pm and the third continuing from 10pm to 6am, making it a 24-hour cycle.

Mr Ayariga said the policy was to increase productivity and create jobs through production, manufacturing, construction, services and industrialisation as well as have a vibrant economy during the day and night.

He said the policy would allow flexibility of working hours, reduce corruption and stop the delay in government businesses.

He said businesses, workers and companies would operate fully, saying not a situation of putting up two people to run night shift by some institutions as claimed by people on the other side as 24-hour economy policy.

He maintained that restaurants, transport services, security and law enforcement agencies and hospitals would all run full capacity under the policy.

Mr Ayariga said a 24-hour economy policy offered a range of benefits for employers, employees and the economy. He said jobs would be executed quickly, less traffic in major cities, and less crime due to employment creation.
Pamela Marie Heward, 43, passed away Friday, November 10, 2023 at her home in Rock Springs, Wyoming. She was a resident of Rock Springs for 18 years and former resident of McArthur, California, and Laramie, Wyoming.

She was born June 5, 1980 in Fall River Mills, California; the daughter of David Mark Hillman and Marguerite McMaster.

Ms. Heward attended schools in McArthur, California and was a 1998 graduate of Falls River High School. She went to University of LaVerne for two years and transferred to Chico State University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education. Before her passing she had a Posthumous Degree underway at Western Governors University for Master's Degree in Special Education.

She married Clint Heward February 14, 2003 in Oceanside, California. They had two beautiful children from this union and later divorced.

Ms. Heward worked for Sweetwater County Child Development Center for Head Start for the last 10 months. She previously worked for Sweetwater County School District Number One for many years.

She was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community.

Her Children Trinity and Andrew were her world and she enjoyed teaching them about art, music dancing and fun activities. Pamela was passionate about special needs children and teaching. She will always be remembered for her sweet, kindhearted nature, spirit and the way she loved working with special needs children.

Pamela loved teaching, arts and crafts.

We could not have asked for a better daughter, sister or parent. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

Survivors include her parents, David Mark and Marguerite Hillman of Kelseyville, California; her twin sister, Carolyn Hillman of Glen Ellen, California; one brother, Trent Hillman of Lakeport, California; two children, Trinity Heward and Andrew Heward both of Rock Springs Wyoming; ex-husband, Clint Heward of Rock Springs, Wyoming; several aunts; uncles; cousins; nieces; nephews and many special friends near and far.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Carl and Catherine Hillman; as well as maternal grandparents, James and Alice McMaster.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 20, 2023 at Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church, 116 Broadway Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Graveside Services and Interment will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery, 44631 Highway 299 East McArthur, California at a later date.

Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.
Children who attend the Polar Express Experience hosted by the Eagles will get to have their tickets punched, just like in the film.

Local children are invited to get cozy in their pjs and "climb on board" for a trip to the North Pole with the Polar Express Experience hosted by the Eagles Club.

The experience will include a screening of the Christmas film "The Polar Express," hot chocolate to drink, goodie bags with treats to enjoy during the movie, and a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will also be keepsakes for everyone to take home, like a special train ticket. Children are encouraged (but not required) to wear pajamas and bring their favorite pillows and blankets to be cozy while watching the film.

The idea for the special event came from the event coordinator and Sweetwater #2350 Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary Treasurer Sarina McCord. In the past, she took her children to a Polar Express event on a train in Arizona, which was a big hit.

"They enjoyed it so much that I thought, why don't we do something here for the kids?" McCord explained.

Even without a literal train to ride on, McCord wanted to be able to share the story with children and find ways to make it an interactive, immersive experience. She brought up the idea at one of the joint meetings for the Eagles, and everyone was on board.

"We're always looking for ways to involve the community in things and just make people more aware of what Eagles is about and what we do," McCord said.

What the Eagles is about is giving back, according to McCord. The experience itself is a way to give back to the community by providing a fun and inexpensive Christmas event for the public.

"It's just a way to have the kids have another fun thing to do that hopefully doesn't cost them very much," McCord explained.

She pointed out that going to see a movie can be expensive, and the event includes not only the film but treats, goodie bags and keepsakes.

"You can't do that for $5 anywhere else," she said.

Tickets for the event are $5 per child. The Eagles Club also asks that at least one adult, or up to two adults, accompany children that come, but there is no charge for the adults and there will be plenty of hot chocolate for them to enjoy as well.

The money brought in by the event will also be used to help support the Eagles Club in their efforts to give back to the community and donate to good causes.

"We have all different funds," McCord explained. "We have charities, state charities, that we are required to donate to each year, being a fraternal organization. Also each year the Madam President and the Aeries President pick a charity to donate to. So we do try to help raise money for various charities because that's what we're all about."

Last year the Eagles chose to donate money to the School Resource Officer (SRO), since they especially like to give to causes that benefit children. They also do projects like passing out meals for Thanksgiving.

While the Eagles Club is largely supported by donations, they also make sure that any money they do bring in from events, like the Polar Express Experience, goes right back into their funds and projects.

One project the club is currently working on is making repairs at the local hall, which had a large leak in the roof.

"We just had the roof repaired, so now we're looking at fixing the hall back up," McCord said, explaining they'll still have to make purchases like replacing ceiling tiles.

Even fixing the hall is helpful to the community, since the hall can be rented for events as long as an Eagles member is present. It's one of the few places in town that can be used for events with larger crowds. The hall has been used for everything from baby showers to celebrations of life to fundraising events like a recent painting party.

"The hall is used a lot and it's a very minimal price to rent, so that's why we want to kind of fix it back up," McCord said.

The hall will also be the location of the Polar Express Experience, and the Eagles and other community members have already been coming together to make the event happen. McCord expressed her gratitude for everyone who has donated both items and their time to make the event a success.

"The hope is to have this be an annual event," McCord added, pointing out that she hopes the event this year has a good turnout and that word will spread so it can become a regular Christmas tradition.

"It's something for the children that we think they'll enjoy, and a way for parents to have a nice night with their kids," she said.

The Polar Express Experience will be from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, and is hosted by the Eagles at 88 N 2nd E Street in Green River. Tickets are limited and advanced purchase is recommended. Tickets can be purchased by stopping by the Eagles Club during business hours. Will call tickets are also available and can be paid for through PayPal or Venmo. Those who wish to purchase will call tickets to be picked up at the event can email eagles2350aux@gmail.com for more information.
China, Germany fast-track win-win alliance in NEV sector

Xinhua) 14:09, November 30, 2023

SHENZHEN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Stefan Schweitzer, a German official, lauded recently China's automotive industry, specifically highlighting its global leadership in integrating electric vehicles with mobile phones.

As the director of the Saarland Economic Development Board in Germany, Schweitzer made the remarks during his visits to Chinese new-energy vehicle companies in October.

With increasing collaborations between China and Germany in the new energy vehicles (NEVs) sector, both countries are fostering deep interaction and leveraging green development to attain mutual benefits and achieve win-win outcomes in the industry.

German luxury carmaker Audi AG has kept plowing money into China. Cooperating with China's leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd., the Audi FAW NEV project, with an investment of over 30 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion U.S. dollars), broke ground in June 2022 in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun.

This is Audi's first production base for purely electric vehicles in China and is expected to start operation at the end of 2024, with a planned annual production capacity of around 150,000 vehicles.

As a global leader in power systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), Infineon Technologies AG has seen Greater China account for 32 percent of its global revenue in the fiscal year 2023.

"The coming decade represents a period of 'double-wheel-drive' development, whereby decarbonization and digitalization are two critical drivers," said David Poon, senior vice president of Infineon Technologies AG and president of Infineon Technologies Greater China.

"Through our 'integrated' innovation ecosystem, we hope to partner with local partners in the Greater China region to jointly support the sustainable development of society," Poon said.

Also, the expansion of Chinese enterprises in Germany has gained momentum, fostering a mutually beneficial "two-way rush."

China's high-tech company SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. headquartered in the city of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, is set to establish a European battery module processing and assembly plant in Saarland, Germany, with an approximate investment of 2 billion euros (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars). Additionally, BYD has entered a partnership with SIXT, a German car rental company, committing to the procurement of 100,000 vehicles over the next six years.

"China leads the world in electric vehicles and is growing very fast globally. Adapting swiftly to China's leading position and its rapid global growth requires attention for all markets in the world," said Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Its the first weekend of December, a perfect time to spread holiday cheers to children in need, shop for Christmas gifts, arts and crafts, and a chance to see Santa in the sky.

Breakfast with Santa by Manelu

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, starting at 8 a.m.

Where: Capitol Kitchen

Highlights: A special appearance from Santa and various childrens activities.

The public is encouraged to join the festivities in their favorite Christmas pajamas.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children ages 5-11. Can be purchased at Manelu in Tamuning location at 136 Tun Felix Camacho St or at the Mighty Purple Cafe in Hagatna.

Funds raised will be used to increase awareness of services through community outreach, educational workshops, and youth programs.

For more information, call (671) 789-1265 or visit www.manelu.org.

Holiday Health Care Fair in Inalahan

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where: Guam Southern Region Community Health Center in Inalahan

Others: Free Holiday Health Care Fair hosted by the Department of Public Health and Social Services, with the Guam Community Health Center Board of Directors

Highlights: Free health care services including immunizations, physical exams, sick visits, pre-natal care, pregnancy tests, family planning, HIV/syphilis screening, and health education.

There will also be giveaways for pre-loved toys and clothing.

Santa in the sky, by Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 10 am to 11:20 am

Others: Santa Flight is HSC-25 Island Knights holiday activity

10 a.m.: Andersen Air Force Base, Yig0

10:10 a.m.: University of Guam, Mangilao

10:15 a.m.: Pago Bay, Chalan Pago

10:25 a.m.: Talofofo

10:35 a.m.: Malesso

10:45 a.m.: Hagat Bay

10:50 a.m.: U.S. Naval Base Guam, Santa Rita

11 a.m.: U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, Agana Heights

11:05 a.m.: Gov. Ricardo J. Bordallo Complex, Adelup

11:20 a.m.: Tumon Bay

Tiyan High Schools 2nd Annual Holiday Bazaar

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Tiyan High School Throne

Highlights: Shop for crafts, clothing, ornaments, and other gifts for the holiday season

No outside foods/drinks. Concessions will be sold by the Class of 2024

TakeCare Health Fair at Micronesia Mall

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Micronesia Mall Concourse 4, N108/N109 (across Jeans Warehouse)

Others: TakeCare Health Fair hosted by TakeCare Insurance

GAINs Home for the Holidays pet adoption event

When: Saturday, Dec. 2, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Guam Animals in Need, or GAIN, animal shelter in Yigo

Highlights: All adopted pets will receive a free gift basket and $25 off adoption fees.

Cars and Boba Toy Drive

When: Sunday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: 744 North Marine Dr. Suite 114, Upper Tumon

Highlights: The toy drive will benefit Simon A. Sanchez Yuletide for Yigo through delivering gifts to every student at Upi, DL Perez, and Machananano Elementary schools.

The car meet portion of the event features raffles and giveaways for those who showcase their vehicle and contribute to the drive.

Hafatea will be serving beverages, AGJ Imports will have holiday deals available, and HAFADAZE will be presenting their latest gear.

Air Force Bands Christmas concert at Micronesia Mall

When: Sunday. Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Where: Micronesia Mall Center Court

Others: Christmas concert presented by the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific

GDOEs Classical Guitar Ensemble at Micronesia Mall

When: Sunday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Micronesia Mall Center Court

Others: 2023 Christmas Extravaganza presented by the GDOE Classical Guitar Ensemble

Other activities at Micronesia Mall

Waves & Strokes art exhibit by OBRA

When: Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends

Where: Micronesia Mall Concourse 3, 1st floor

Photos with Santa

When: Until Christmas Eve (Dates and times vary starting Dec. 2)

Where: Micronesia Mall Center Court

For more information or photo re-orders, call Pat at (671) 727-4728.

Holiday lights and snow shows

When: daily, starting at 1 p.m. every hour

Where: Micronesia Mall Center Court

Holiday Super Train
Pandemic-impacted small businesses may be able to start applying for the second round of the Local Employers Assistance Program, or LEAP 2, by January 2024. Its a federal and local funded aid program totaling up to $20 million.

This is based on discussions from the Guam Economic Development Authoritys board of directors meeting Thursday afternoon.

GEDA Administrator Melanie Mendiola said Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros executive order on LEAP 2 is being finalized, which will be followed by GEDAs crafting of policies and procedures before actually opening up the application.

Because of the holidays, she said, GEDA may put all the information on its website so that potential applicants can prepare all their materials and then launch the application in January so that we can get those checks turned around as quickly as possible.

LEAP 1 was created through an executive order signed in December 2021, which helped more than 900 businesses with about $62 million in direct aid, using local and federal funds.

With Guams visitor industry still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions, tourism-related businesses are still in need of assistance.

Arrivals for October, the first month of fiscal 2024, remained at 40% of pre-pandemic level.

The grassroots group Guam Travel and Tourism Association said as tourism businesses remain fragile and vulnerable to further closures, stirring further economic contraction, its clear that action to move the enacted LEAP supplement (LEAP 2) forward is much needed.

For LEAP 2, the governor has already set aside $5 million in federal American Rescue Plan for LEAP 2.

This will be in addition to the up to $15 million in excess general fund or local tax revenue, based on a law signed in May. That measure will only draw the $15 million allotment down as soon as such funds become available.

No immediate confirmation from Adelup whether theres now enough excess revenue to roll out LEAP 2.

Earlier reports showed that portions of the $13 million in so-called revenue-over-projection for just the month of October were used to partly fund the first of three $5.27 million monthly extended energy credits for Guam Power Authority customers.

Mendiola also told the GEDA board that the Department of Administration is also working on launching its new Financial Management Information System, and theyre hitting the go button on January 15th. DOA worked with GEDA on LEAP 1.

Both of our agencies will do our best to roll this (LEAP 2) out as expeditiously as possible even with some of the immediate challenges that we have, Mendiola said, referring to DOAs ongoing training and other preparation work for its new FMIS, the holidays coming up, and its work with GEDA on LEAP 2.

Medical complex

Mendiola also briefed the GEDA board about GEDAs role in the new public hospital and medical complex project that the governor wants to place in the Barrigada-Mangilao area.

Adelup tapped GEDA to assist in site selection and site preparation, among other things.

Theres also been a push to put a new public hospital at Ypao Point in Tamuning.

Regardless of the site selected, there are numerous pre-construction activities needed that GEDA will also be involved in, Mendiola said.

She said GEDA is also helping Guam Memorial Hospital, particularly on a business plan to improve its financial solvency, among other things.

Washington, DC trip with governor

Mendiola will soon be traveling with the governor to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal officials including U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

The trip, she said, is aimed at continuing to galvanize federal support for the Guam medical campus project.

This is an opportunity for us to talk to her (Raimondo) about our work with the Department of Commerce in promoting Guam as an investment destination, also about Guams involvement or lack of involvement thereof in trade agreements. A lot of policy stuff I think we can get done, Mendiola said.

The Washington, D.C. trip is from Dec. 3 to 10, according to Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the governors director of communications.
Senators on Thursday afternoon passed bills that seek to authorize body-worn cameras for the Guam Police Department, speed up the procurement of critical government projects, and tie Cost of Living Allowance payouts to actual costs of goods.

Legislation will be headed to Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros desk for review.

Senators also voted to confirm the governors appointment of Fred E. Bordallo to serve as the director of the Department of Corrections.

Session will reconvene at an undetermined time so senators can debate whether to pass Bill 201-37, which is aimed at speeding the stalled procurement of an overhaul of several of Guam Power Authoritys generators.

Sen. Chris Barnetts Bill 181-37, if enacted, will authorize GPD to launch a body camera program. GPD has already begun procuring the cameras to outfit 43 officers, according to Barnett.

Body camera footage would not be made public until the completion of any investigation, or the adjudication of any criminal proceedings related to the footage.

The People of Guam and the Guam Police Department will benefit greatly from increased accountability and transparency, Barnett said in a statement Thursday night. Its proven body-worn cameras dramatically reduce negative encounters for both the police and the public. Thats why Im praying for Bill 181s enactment into law.

The measure passed unanimously.

Sen. Sabina Perezs Bill 36-37 would allow the government to designate contracts related to infrastructure critical procurement contracts. Such contracts could not be held up by lengthy protests from losing bidders on the contract, a problem which routinely delays the government from completing projects.

Sen. Tom Fisher was the sole member to vote against the bill.

COLA panel

Bill 2-37, introduced by Sen. Telo Taitague, would create a special panel charged with analyzing the costs of goods and services and recommending an adjustment to COLA payouts each year.

Taitague said it will end the practice of random dollar amounts for COLA pay at election time, and also help retirees and their families keep up with the cost of living.

Bill 2-37 sets the floor for COLA payments at $2,000. It was estimated that an adjustment for March of 2022 might be closer to $2,384.

The measure passed unanimously.

Also passed were:

Bill 99-37, which would remove the requirement for private pool owners to employ lifeguards.

Bill 122-37, which seeks to require insurance companies to report the distribution of extraordinary dividends and the distribution of loans and advances to the government.

Bill 123-37, which would establish licensing requirements for insurance adjusters.

Bill 144-37, which would require automated external defibrillators be placed at all GovGuam offices.

Resolution 226-37, supporting statehood for Washington, D.C.

Bill 120-37, which seeks to extend the Department of Labors Guam Registered Apprenticeship Program out to the end of 2029.

Additional confirmed appointments included:

Edgar T. Aguilar to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Board of Trustees

Michael W. Cruz as the adjutant general of the Guam National Guard and and director of the Department of Military Affairs

Power generation goes up for debate

Parkinsons Bill 201-37, seeking to speed up GPAs procurement of an overhaul of several generators, will have continued debate.

Theres opposition from members of the Republican Minority Caucus, some of whom argued the bill, which received a public hearing just last week, was not given adequate public notice.

Democrat Parkinson, who previously failed to add the measure to the agenda, accused senators of choosing to support load shedding.

Republican Sen. Joanne Brown criticized Parkinson for failing to appear for the legislative session this week, and for inadequately explaining the bill to other senators.

This is not the circus. If youre responsible, you do things in a timely manner, and you work with your colleagues, and youre prepared and you know your stuff. And hey, lets play ball, were ready, she said.

Democrat Speaker Therese Terlaje ultimately motioned to place Bill 201-37 on the agenda, though not without criticizing Parkinson.

He made a motion yesterday to put the bill on the agenda. And that motion did not pass. He did not get enough votes. Thats a basic tenet of what we have to do, the speaker said.

Republican Minority Leader Sen. Frank Blas Jr. argued that Terlajes motion was out of order, as senators had already wrapped up session, but the Republican caucus did not get the support to overturn the decision.

Democrat Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes argued that Terlaje was not out of order.

Session was recessed subject to Terlajes call.
Crime scene tape is shown in this undated file photo. Police were investigating a terroristic conduct complaint at Harvest Christian Academy Nov. 30, 2023.
A man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his 4-year-old daughter  for which she required hospitalization and surgery  appealed to the Supreme Court of Guam, protesting the termination of his parental rights, according to court documents.

The court rejected his arguments in a decision issued Wednesday.

The man, who is referred to in court documents only by the initials A.H., argued that his due process rights were violated and that his three children should not have been permanently placed with non-relatives.

In 2018, Child Protective Services received a complaint that eventually led to five children being removed from the family.

At the time, the man had two children with his partner, who was pregnant with their third, and she had two other children in the home.

The complaint alleged physical abuse and neglect of the children, and he was accused of sexually assaulting the 4-year-old.

During the investigation, the girl was taken to the hospital and Healing Hearts Crisis Center, at which point it was determined that she had been sexually assaulted and consequently required surgery, according to court documents.

The man was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Investigators learned the children had been living in an abandoned house, shared with other homeless individuals, and the home was without electricity, running water, doors or windows. Both parents had criminal histories.

The man had multiple prior criminal matters, including for a separate incident of criminal sexual conduct committed against a 16-year-old victim, family violence, assault, and charges related to a drunk driving incident, court documents stated.

Two police reports had been filed against the mother, accusing her of child abuse and alleging she had been protecting A.H. from arrest in a criminal sexual conduct matter in which the victim was a minor.

The children were placed in foster care, as was the fifth child immediately after she was born.

A number of hearings were held over the next year and a half, some of which A.H. attended, and he requested his children be placed with a relative. However, he did not provide contact information for the relative, and the mother did not agree to the placement.

Because the parents could not provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home, CPS recommended the children remain with their current placements until full legal guardianship or adoption could be granted, court documents state.

However, the man argued he should be allowed to prove himself innocent of the charges against him before a plan was finalized, and a month later, he provided the court with contact information for relatives.

In late 2020, he was found guilty of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and terrorizing, and a placement plan was made. However, A.H. objected because he still had pending criminal cases, and he felt the plan did not consider possible placement with his relatives.

Later, he pleaded guilty to the first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge involving the girl, and the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was sentenced to 17 years with credit for time served.

At a hearing for the children, a CPS worker testified that she had tried to reach the mans relatives, but none called her back to arrange custody.

The Family Court settled on a placement plan, acknowledging that usually placement with a family member is preferred over placement with a non-family member, according to documents, but the court found by clear and convincing evidence it was not in the best interests of A.H.s children to be placed with his family.

In their ruling Wednesday, the Supreme Court justices found that Family Court followed all legal requirements before deciding where to place the children, and that the fathers due process rights were not violated.
The Guam Department of Education and the Guam National Guard joined forces to celebrate Red Ribbon Week, as part of the national effort to raise awareness and prevent drug abuse among youth, according to a news release from GDOE.

Red Ribbon Week is a yearly campaign that aims to educate young people about the dangers of drugs and encourage them to live healthy and drug-free lives. The theme for this year is Drug Free Looks Like Me.

To launch the campaign, an island wide drawing contest and gate/wall decorating contest were held for all students from public, private and DODEA schools on Guam.

The Red Ribbon campaign is an initiative that helps schools to promote drug prevention and awareness among students. Education Superintendent Erik Swanson congratulated the contest participants and winners for their outstanding work and dedication.

We encourage the schools to participate in the Red Ribbon campaign and contest, as it is a wonderful way to empower and inform our children on how to stay away from drugs. I applaud the school principals and teachers for their untiring encouragement and support to our children, Swanson said in a statement.

Winners

Drawing contest

Elementary

1st  Maria Flores, Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary School

2nd  Ean Pamintuan, Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School

3rd  Jessica Flaherty, Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School

Middle school

1st  Alexa Hoya, Francisco B. Leon Guerrero Middle School

2nd  Sedonna Reghr, Francisco B. Leon Guerrero Middle School

3rd  Javier, Benavente Middle School

High school

1st  Jhazlene Gomez, Tiyan High School

2nd  Alana Eclavea, Tiyan High School

3rd  Jace Sablan, Tiyan High School

Gate/wall decorating contest

1st  DL Perez Elementary School (Perpetual Trophy)

2nd  Astumbo Elementary School

3rd  Upi Elementary School

For additional information, contact Tes Reyes-Burrier at (671) 300-1677 or email at mtreyes@gdoe.net.
With lights and sirens blaring, a Guam Fire Department ambulance heads north on Marine Corps Drive through the village of Asan-Maina during a response call on Nov. 8, 2023.
Have an idea? Want to praise or comment on something? Submit your letter to the editor.
Robert Underwood is the former president of the University of Guam and Guams former delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives.
A mysterious illness has been sickening dogs across the country, and researchers are trying to determine the underlying cause.

Most cases have cropped up in Oregon, Colorado, Illinois, New Hampshire and Washington, but there have been reports in several other states.

Symptoms, which can cause lasting respiratory disease and pneumonia, include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge, and lethargy. In some cases, the pneumonia can progress quickly and make dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours.

While the underlying cause has remained elusive, researchers at the University of New Hampshires Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory and the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies told NBC News they have identified a pathogen that might be whats making pets sick.

The illness could be caused by a new type of bacterial infection that might easily evade the canine immune system, researchers said.

Through a genetic sequencing of samples from an initial group of 30 dogs from New Hampshire that were infected last year and then an additional 40 from Rhode Island and Massachusetts that got sick this year, the researchers said they have discovered a previously unknown germ.

The pathogen is a funky bacterium, Dr. David Needle, pathology section chief at the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire, told NBC News. Its smaller than a normal bacterium in its size and in the size of its genome. Long story short, its a weird bacterium that can be tough to find and sequence.

The germ is new as a potential cause of disease, but it is likely to be  or to have evolved from  a component of the dog microbiome, he said. Dogs as well as humans have multiple types of harmless bacteria and other microorganisms living both inside and outside the body.

While the discovery of the pathogen might provide some answers, scientists arent even sure yet whether the same bug is making dogs sick across the nation. Its also possible the illness is being caused by a viral pathogen.

One thing veterinarians do know is that the germ is something they dont recognize.

Because there is no test yet for the illness and because many of the symptoms are similar to other respiratory infections, such as canine influenza and Bordetella (kennel cough), its unknown exactly how many dogs have been affected.

Has the respiratory illness spread to dogs in Texas?

While its difficult to determine if the illness has spread to the canine population in Texas, Dr. Lori Teller, a veterinarian in Houston and a Texas A&M professor at the veterinary school, has seen some respiratory infections recently.

Its just hard to know if people are talking about (the illness) more, versus is there really an uptick in the number of cases? she told Houston Public Media. I cant say that weve really seen an increase, but we have definitely seen some respiratory infections.

What can dog owners do to protect their dogs?

Even though a record number of Americans are expected to travel during the holiday season, experts recommend that dog owners keep their pets out of kennels and other areas, such as dog parks, where infection might be more likely because of crowded conditions and close contact.

If youre traveling without your dog this season, it might be better for the time being to hire a house sitter or dog walker to minimize contact with other dogs.

Kurt Williams, director of the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University, has a simple message for dog owners: Dont panic.

He advises dog owners to make sure their pets are up to date on vaccines, including those that protect against various respiratory illnesses.

If a dog has a cough that wont stop and other respiratory symptoms, including difficulty breathing, its recommended that the owner contact a veterinarian right away.

Dr. Jerry Klein, who currently works at the McKillip Animal Hospital in Chicago and was the emergency department head emeritus at MedVet Chicago, recommends that veterinarians suggest a full respiratory panel when people bring in sick dogs, but acknowledges that may be an expense some owners cant afford.

If a dogs veterinarian doesnt suggest the panel, then owners should request it. That can help determine if the germ is one that is already known or is something new.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Haiti - Politic : 36th anniversary of the Ruelle Vaillant Massacre (Message from Prime Minister a.i. Henry)





Wednesday November 29, 2023, as part of the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of the Ruelle Vaillant Massacre (Argentine Bellegarde School), in this sad and painful event in the history of the country, Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry laid a wreath flowers in memory of around twenty voters cowardly murdered at the Ruelle Vaillant polling station by neo-Duvalierist paramilitaries, with the active complicity of the Armed Forces of Haiti, on November 29, 1987, ballots in hand, while they had come to fulfill their civic duty for these first elections under the 1987 Constitution



In a message, Ariel Henry said:



"On this November 29, I call for union, solidarity, fraternity with a view to the common construction of the new Haiti where progress, the rule of law and democratic values will necessarily prevail over anarchy, intolerance, sectarianism and disunity.



"36 years later, nothing will be able to erase this atrocious evil which aimed to slow down the momentum of the Haitian people to fulfill their civic duty. 36 years later, our sad thoughts still go to our brothers and sisters tragically killed that day, as well as to their loved ones still affected by their disappearance.



"On this November 29, I laid a wreath of flowers in memory of the victims of the massacre in Ruelle Vaillant. 36 years later, we remember these valiant voters murdered, ballots in hand. 36 years later, the wound is still gaping and the memories still alive."



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Economy : The Association of Haitian Industries wants more control at the border





The lack of control on the Haitian side of the border with the Dominican Republic threatens the stability of Haiti and contributes to the decline in production, warned the Association of Haitian Industries (ADIH).



A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic published in March 2019, found that Haitian imports have skyrocketed in recent years, while exports to the Dominican Republic have barely increased.



A situation which led the ADIH to defend border control to fight against smuggling and "unfair competition from Dominican companies towards Haitian companies."



Another study funded by former Minister of Economy and Finance, Daniel Dorsainvil, indicates that annual revenue losses for Haiti due to illegal activities at the border vary between 184 and 440 million U.S. dollars.



Haitian businessmen say border control is essential to resolving Haiti's crisis and reactivating national production. However, they believe that any effort is doomed to failure without effective control measures.



CSIS recommends that effective border regulations be implemented in the interest of both countries. It also suggests combating corruption and border smuggling through customs reforms and public anti-corruption campaigns and proposes establishing mechanisms to report corrupt practices in the public and private sectors and working with customs agencies to establish an approved trading system.



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Volunteers from the Red Crosss Lapland district have been active at the Raja-Jooseppi station until the end date.

The Finnish Red Cross has announced the conclusion of its assistance operations at the Raja-Jooseppi border station on November 30, 2023. However, the organization remains committed to supporting the basic needs of people arriving at Finland's eastern border in future extraordinary situations, as part of its core readiness for various emergencies.

Previously, volunteers from the Oulu and Lapland districts of the Red Cross had also provided assistance at the Vartius and Salla border stations. The operation included volunteers from the Finnish Red Cross-coordinated Volunteer Rescue Service.

Responding to a request from the Border Guard, Red Cross volunteers at these border stations have been crucial in checking the health status of individuals entering Finland and providing first aid when necessary. Additionally, they offered warm beverages and food to asylum seekers.

In total, Red Cross volunteers have aided 209 individuals crossing the border, with around 20 volunteers dedicating 622 hours to this assistance effort, supported by Red Cross staff members.

Erja Reinikainen, Head of the Finnish Red Crosss Immigration Unit, emphasizes the organization's commitment to humanitarian aid as a part of its fundamental mission. Responding to basic human needs and providing humanitarian aid is core to our work. We are prepared for exceptional situations through training and practice. Our readiness to support authorities in caring for people's wellbeing continues whenever needed, she says.

The Red Cross operates under the principle of humanity, offering aid to those in need regardless of their legal or social status. Ensuring unrestricted access for humanitarian actors to those in need is paramount in all circumstances. The rights and dignified treatment of individuals seeking international protection must be upheld, regardless of the situation. While authorities are responsible for safety, well-being, and the asylum process, the Red Cross is ready to support them in exceptional situations going forward, adds Reinikainen.

This announcement reflects the Finnish Red Cross's enduring dedication to humanitarian principles and its readiness to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of vulnerable populations at Finland's borders and beyond.

HT
That was purely a blunder and a mistake by the minister. I meant to say that Russia has around seven million foreigners of whom an estimated one to two million are in the country illegally, she clarified in an interview with YLE on Wednesday.

MINISTER of the Interior Mari Rantanen (PS) has admitted to making a mistake in estimating that there are 10 million undocumented migrants in Russia.

Rantanen on Tuesday appeared to hint that up to millions of undocumented migrants could flock from Russia to Finland. Anyone can go online and look up how many people there are in some African countries. The potential [number] is really high. Its also good to keep in mind that, according to estimates, Russia alone has some 10 million illegal residents, she claimed on YLE A-studio.

The public broadcasting company was unable to verify the claim from the Ministry of the Interior.

Joni Virkkunen, a research director at the University of Eastern Finland, told YLE on Wednesday that Russia is home to approximately seven million foreigners, most of whom are residing in the country legally.

Jussi Lassila, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, viewed that it is generally misleading to refer to the total number of undocumented migrants in Russia in the context of the potential number of people seeking entry to Finland.

I doubt that even in the worst-case scenario everyone whos regarded as a migrant in Russia will be directed to Finland. This is an extremely theoretical scenario, he analysed in an interview with the public broadcaster, highlighting that mobilising such a large group of people to the border would require a substantial influence campaign by Russia.

Even migrant workers living in poor conditions arent probably doing so poorly that you could get all of them to leave.

The Finnish government has closed all border-crossing points on the eastern border in response to what it says is a potential threat to national security arising from the arrival of undocumented migrants at the border between Finland and Russia. The recent increase in the number of arrivals is believed to have been caused by a hybrid campaign by Russia, with Russian authorities reportedly helping people to travel to the border regardless of whether they have the necessary travel documents.

Russia has denied such allegations.

Lassila on Wednesday reminded YLE that Russia has sought to make sure its actions are undetected, another fact that suggests a low likelihood of large masses of people congregating at the border.

If Russia mobilised a substantial number of people to the border in spite of the fact that its closed, itd require a completely different kind of policy approach. In that sense, its possible that the border closure is working, he said.

Finland, he added, has a tendency to overstate its position.

If Russia slid into complete chaos, then we could possibly contemplate these kinds of threat scenarios. Still, Russia also has other neighbouring countries. Finland is protected by its northern location, Lassila said to YLE.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
A WOMAN driver was injured in a crash with a car thought to be driven by a boy racer.

She works at the Tesco store off Reading Road, where groups of young people have been holding noisy car meet-ups in the car park at night since September.

She was driving home after a shift on Saturday, November 18 when she was in collision with another car on the A4155 Henley-Reading road.

Her car was written off and she was taken to hospital where she given stitches before being released.

The crash is said to have happened near Shiplake and a witness alleged the other driver had been trying to overtake her after attending a meet-up outside the supermarket.

Tesco has put up temporary barriers to deter the racers from using its car park and may install CCTV

cameras.

Residents have complained that the drivers speed through the town and make noise at antisocial hours, often late at night on Sundays.

A resident of Watermans Road said he went to the car park at about 11.10pm on Sunday after hearing the sound of engines revving and cars doing doughnuts.

He saw more than 50 cars and said the car park was rammed.

Sam Evans, a former town councillor, who lives nearby, said: I did hear it on Sunday. I was sitting up for a couple of hours comforting my very distressed dog. My neighbours were up with their young children as well.

At this end of town it feels like youre sleeping on a Formula 1 racetrack. It is so loud, with all the engines backfiring and doing whatever  the noise is horrendous.

Ms Evans, who warned last week that she feared somebody could be killed, added: Somebody has already been injured and its going to happen again.

The frequency seems to have increased with meet ups on the last two weekends.

I dont know whether it has become the favourite place for them to come but it is obviously growing in popularity.

I think the police are committed across the board and I cannot speak for Tesco but it doesnt seem like its a priority for them.

But the town council should keep it top of their list. Its all very well having a fabulous Christmas but surely the safety of their residents should be a priority.

Helen Walters said she had heard the noise from her home in Wharfe Lane.

She said: It goes to show how far its travelling. I heard really loud screeching and it was kind of continuous. Initially, I thought it was coming from Waitrose but I came into the office and spoke to my colleague, who lives much closer and said: That was Tesco.

Mayor Kellie Hinton said that Councillors Michelle Thomas and Glen Lambert were liaising with Tesco and the police.

She added: We do care but we dont own the land and were not the police so we cannot get involved anymore than that.

An employee from Tesco told a resident that the company was aware of the meet-ups and had decided to put up temporary silver barriers at the entrance to the car park at 9pm when the store shuts.

She said the store had contacted the police, who drove in and straight out again.

She said she was waiting for the cameras to be installed and that signage for them had already been put up but without the support of the police the problem was very difficult to manage.

She said police had told her they had not received many 101 calls from the public.

In its November report to the council, Thames Valley Police said: On September 9, police received calls regarding speeding motor vehicles along Reading Road and a gathering of vehicles in Tescos car park.

These gatherings have continued with many vehicles being driven from Hampshire, Bracknell and Buckinghamshire.

Police have attended with the vehicles quickly dispersing and several vehicles are being investigated for drink/drug driving, careless driving and notice of intended prosecution.

Police are in communications with Tesco to aid with prevention measures and a barrier at the entrance of the store would prevent this occurring immediately.
Podcasts have the ability to cater to diverse interests and niches, whether its technology, storytelling, business insights, or sports. Shows led by experts in various fields, provide listeners a solution to stay informed but in an entertaining way. What makes them so valuable is their accessibility and versatility. Whether you are commuting, working out, doing household chores, or simply unwinding, just press play and make podcasts a part of your routine.

Consider the following list of podcasts to help you sift through the digital information overload and learn something new at the same time.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

1. WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

Co-founder of two financial services companies, Zerodha and True Beacon, Nikhil Kamath hosts WTF is with Nikhil Kamath  a podcast that discusses versatile topics relevant to modern times such as technology, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and more. WTF is talksabout these subjects at length providing listeners a space for intellectual stimulation.

Listen here: WTF is with Nikhil Kamath

2. Figuring Out with Raj Shamani

The content creator and founder of the House of X, Raj Shamani, has interviewed some of the brightest minds in the country in his podcast called Figuring Out with Raj Shamani. Featuring guests from various fields such as Nitin Gadkari, Abhishek Bachchan, and Badshah, to name a few, Shamani explores their personal journeys and the challenges they have overcome to become leaders in their fields. Join Shamani as he delves into conversations that offer insights and lessons for individuals aspiring to make their mark.

Listen here: Figuring Out with Raj Shamani

3. The Stories of Mahabharata

Originally from Kharagpur, Sudipta Bhawmik has been a resident of New Jersey for several years now and hosts the podcast called The Stories of Mahabharata. The podcast is produced in radio-drama style bringing to life the ancient Indian epic, Mahabharata. Join Bhawmik as he unravels th tapstry of lov, war, and dharma with specially curated sound effects that make each scene vivid and engaging.

Listen here: The Stories of Mahabharata

4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty, who is of Indian descent is passionate about making wisdom go viral and accessible to a wide range of audiences. On Purpose with Jay Shetty features interviews with various guests, including celebrities, authors, and thought leaders like Oprah Winfrey, Novak Djokovic, Will Smith, and more, and have conversations about personal development, relationships, and overall well-being. Explore the podcast every Monday and Friday where Shetty will help you navigate through challenges to find your purpose in life.

Listen here: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

5. TED Talks Daily

Featuring a new talk every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings to its listeners an array of conversations ranging from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology. The podcast provides listeners with engaging talks that are short and powerful and inspire them to learn something new.

Listen here: TED Talks Daily

6. The Joe Rogan Experience

Hosted by Joe Rogan, this podcast includes long-form conversations with experts, celebrities, and others. The discussion spans topics such as history, science, technology, and philosophy. From Elon Musk to Bill Burr to Mike Tyson, the diversity of Rogans guests is varied and the podcast also provides an in-depth look into their lives and perspectives.

Listen here: The Joe Rogan Experience

7. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita

Delve into the spiritual sanctum of the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, a timeless Indian scripture, through the podcast hosted by Amit Wadhwa. The podcast Shrimad Bhagwad Gita explores the wisdom from the sacred text and offers extensive commentary to make the understanding easier. Let Wadhwas voice take you on a journey to explore the art of living and the profound wisdom hidden in the age-old text.

Listen here: Shrimad Bhagwad Gita

Wrapping Up

Whether you're seeking intellectual stimulation, financial insights, spiritual guidance, or just a story, the podcast landscape has something for everyone. The listed podcasts are easy to incorporate into your routine and can turn a dull moment into a chance for personal growth and enjoyment.

So, the next time you find yourself grappling with the volumes of digital data, consider tuning in to a podcast.

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of the brand by HT Brand Studio.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Business Wire India

Bhupender Yadav closes India Global Forums Middle East and Africa 2023 in Dubai

India Global Forum Middle East and Africa concludes with Climate for Business Forum

Climate for Business Forum spotlights climate leadership, clean energy, green finance and sustainability

Ahead of COP28 in UAE, Indias Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav underscored the importance of climate justice. Speaking at the final session of the concluding day of India Global Forums Climate for Business (ClimB) Forum, the Minister said, 17% of the developed world has a per capita emission of 60%, but what about the 54 African countries? Their carbon emissions are only 4%. When we talk about climate change, we must talk about climate justice also. It is important to give a dignified life to every human being, and to recognise that every country has a right to development.



Drawing attention to the unfulfilled funding pledges by developed countries, Yadav said, The promise by developed countries to provide a hundred billion dollars in finance has not been fulfilled till today. So where will the trust come from?



In COP28, the outcome of Global Stocktake is very important, he said, adding that the conference should adopt the framework of the Global Goal on Adaptation. The minister also called upon COP28 to increase the funds for global adaptation practices.



ClimB Forum, strategically timed on the eve of the COP28 Summit in Dubai, explored the convergence of climate leadership, clean energy, policy strategies and green financing for the promotion of sustainable economic growth, and the critical role of technology and innovation in addressing the far-reaching impacts of climate change.



Earlier in the day, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland highlighted the existential threat climate change posed to vulnerable nations.



One of the reasons why we are so determined to be the difference we need to make now, is because if we don't stop this, if we don't hold to the 1.5 degrees, there will not just be individuals who will no longer be here, many of our countries will not be here either. You've heard the slogan 1.5 to stay alive, it's not a slogan, it's lived reality for the 25 small (Commonwealth) states and most of the other developing states in our world.



Recalling the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Dominica, an emotional Scotland said, When you think about climate change, all of us need to understand it is deeply personal. This is not some esoteric, academic exercise. This is people's lives, their livelihoods and their countries. When someone tells you your island is no more and the graveyards of your parents are the bottom of the sea, and you've lost your culture, your music, your language, and your people, these things are irreplaceable. That is what existential means, not a word, but a reality.



The world accepted that Covid presented an existential threat to us all, and we responded, we acted, we came together and we fought it. The threat that climate poses is actually an even greater threat and what is really quite curious is, why aren't we now responding with the same urgency, with the same rigour and the same vigour. If you look at where we are now, human genius, got us into this messand human genius will have to get us out of this mess, she observed.



The challenges around climate financing and discrimination faced by developing countries were recurring themes that emerged throughout the day.



Highlighting global inequity, Kate Hampton, CEO of The Children's Investment Fund Foundation noted, Look at the cost of capital that is faced by developing countries relative to advanced economies. Unless we bring that cost of capital down, countries and communities will find it difficult to invest in climate mitigation, but also in resilience because a lot of green solutions have a high upfront cost.



Deepali Khanna, Vice President Asia, Rockefeller Foundation said, Where a lot more needs to be done is the commitments that have been made so far. When you're looking at developed countries, the hundred billion dollars that we need to be flowing, is really the need of the hour. Developing countries need the resources, they need the capacity to be able to absorb this finance as well as get the finance for everything that they need to do.



India Global Forum Middle East and Africa 2023 programme convened business leaders, policymakers, and thought leaders from India, UAE and Africa to discuss opportunities for further collaboration and growth between these regions through a series of exclusive networking opportunities, panel discussions, and keynote speeches, covering a range of topics including trade, investment, innovation, technology, and sustainability.



To watch the session click here, and to access photos click here.
Gandhar Oil Refinery's IPO will be listed on the stock market on Thursday i.e November 30, 2023. A notice issued by the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) states,"Effective from Thursday, November 30, 2023, the equity shares of Gandhar Oil Refinery (India) Limited shall be listed and admitted to dealings on the Exchange in the list of 'B ' Group of Securities."



Further the trading members may please note that the above mentioned scrip will be a part of Special Pre-open Session (SPOS) on Thursday, November 30, 2023. For further information on SPOS, the trading members are requested to refer to the Exchanges notice no. 20120216-29 dated February 16, 2012 on Enabling Special Pre-open Session for IPOs & Relisted Scrip, the BSE notice added.



ALSO READ: Tata Technologies IPO listing today. Check details The Gandhar Oil Refinery IPO had opened for subscriptions on November 22. Within hours of opening for bidding, it had got fully subscribed. (iStock)

5 things to know about Gandhar Oil Refinery IPO

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

1. The Gandhar Oil Refinery IPO had opened for subscriptions on November 22. Within hours of opening for bidding, it had got fully subscribed. On the final day i.e November 24, the IPO had received 64.07 times subscription. The 500.69 crore IPO had received bid for 1,36,09,99,464 shares against 2,12,43,940 shares on offer, as per data available with the NSE.



2. The IPO is a fresh issue of up to 302 crore and an offer for sale of up to 1,17,56,910 equity shares. The price band for the IPO is 160-169 a share.

3. Prior to the bidding process, Gandhar Oil Refinery had said it raised a little over 150 crore from anchor investors. The company had allotted 88.88 lakh equity shares to 16 funds at 169 per piece, according to a circular uploaded on the BSE's website. The investors that participated in the anchor book include Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) Pte, Copthall Mauritius Investment Ltd, Societe Generale, SBI General Insurance Company, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund (MF), HDFC MF, and WhiteOak MF.

4. As far as the grey market premium is concerned, the shares of Gandhar Oil Refinery were trading at 73 in the grey market as of 8:28 am on Thursday.



5. Gandhar Oil Refinery is a leading manufacturer of white oils with a growing focus on the consumer and healthcare end industries.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said he did no wrong and was facing a lot of trouble for only doing his party's work. Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar (PTI)(HT_PRINT)

Shivakumar's remarks came after the Karnataka High Court permitted him to withdraw the appeal filed by him, challenging a single judge's order refusing to quash a government sanction to the CBI to prosecute him in the assets case.

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Responding to reporters' queries on the High Court order at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, the Deputy CM said, "I do not want to comment on court matters without going through the order and discussing it with my lawyers. I was at the Bengaluru Tech Summit and am not aware of the high court order."

READ | Karnataka HC allows Deputy CM Shivakumar to withdraw appeal in DA case

"I haven't done anything wrong. I was made to go through all this trouble as I stood by my party. The media is aware of all the developments. I have put up with all the troubles. For all the troubles they (the BJP-led Centre) gave me, the people gave them a befitting reply in Karnataka. If they give me any more trouble in future, the people will do the needful again. God is with me and I am grateful to all the people who stood by me through the tough times," Shivakumar added.

The CBI filed an FIR against Shivakumar in 2018 and then CM BS Yediyurappa agreed to hand over the case to the central probe agency in 2019.

READ | Karnataka high court allows Shivakumar to withdraw appeal on CBI probe

Earlier, on November 24, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the probe against Shivakumar 'unlawful', adding that it was ordered without sanction from the then Assembly Speaker.

The CBI has filed an appeal against the Karnataka High Court order dated June 12, staying its probe into the disproportionate assets case against Shivakumar.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for CBI, urged the bench to vacate the stay on the probe.

The CBI was probing a case lodged against the deputy CM for allegedly holding assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Earlier, Income Tax sleuths had conducted a search against him.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday dedicated new 262 ambulances in the revamped 108 ambulance service to the state, as announced by the Health Department in its review meeting which was held a day earlier. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. (File Photo)

Speaking at the event, the Karnataka Chief Minister called upon the doctors to treat the poor people with humanity.

Wrap up the year gone by & gear up for 2024 with HT! Click here

Also Read - Nothing should be free, says Narayana Murthy at Bengaluru Tech Summit

He also said that the Congress government of the state is committed to providing quality healthcare to the people of the state.

"108 emergency ambulances have been provided to the health service so that no one should lose their life without getting treatment. More than 840 ambulances are required in the state," he said.

He also said that a total of four ambulances are functioning in each taluk and are providing emergency health services to hundreds of people every day.

Explaining the significance of the primary emergency treatment, the CM said that it plays an important role in saving lives.

"Every district should have an MRI scanning facility. Due to the high cost of services in private diagnostic centres, the poor are facing a lot of hardships. Thousands of people are applying for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for this reason alone. Therefore, an environment is being created in the state where quality treatment is available only in government hospitals. When good service is possible from Jayadeva Hospital, it is possible to provide the same quality service in other places," the Karnataka CM added.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the new ambulances would strengthen the state health infrastructure.

"Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri. Siddaramaiah flagged off 262 new modern life-saving 108 ambulances today. 105 ambulances are equipped with advanced life support systems including ventilators and defibrillators. Rest of the 157 ambulances are equipped with basic life support. Together, these ambulances will help save precious lives in emergencies. The new 108 ambulance service will further strengthen our healthcare system, providing free service to the public" Dinesh Gundu Rao said in his post on X.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that Karnataka's health infrastructure was a model for the entire country.

"Karnataka State is a model for the country in providing good healthcare system and producing doctors. Health and Family Welfare Department is working well in this regard. In this background, our aim is to make ambulance service available from village to city Today we have dedicated 262 new ambulances. Ambulance service will be available within 15 to 20 minutes of being called in urban and rural areas and our government is committed to building a healthy society" DK Shivakumar said in his post on X.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih also appreciated that the work done by the Health department and suggested that additional focus need to be given to North Karnataka.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said with the Centre delaying drought relief, the state government has decided to pay the first instalment of crop loss compensation, of up to 2,000 per farmer, as immediate relief. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (PTI)

He said the amount will be paid to eligible farmers in four to five days after getting data from the district and taluk level.

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Also Read - Infant with head injuries dies at NIMHANS, parents allege delay in treatment

The Karnataka government has declared 223 out of the total 236 taluks in the state as drought hit.

"As the Centre has delayed releasing drought relief, the state government has decided to give crop loss compensation of up to 2,000 per farmer, as a first instalment, as immediate relief, to eligible farmers. The process will begin probably in four to five days," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Out of the total relief that a farmer is entitled to, now up to 2,000 will be paid by the state government, and once the Central relief comes, the balance amount will be paid to the farmer."

Noting that a minimum of 1,000 will be paid to a farmer, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda clarified that, "some farmers may have just half acre, and would not be eligible for 2,000 compensation. So, based on the extent of the land holding of a farmer, the amount will be paid."

Implementation will be worked out in four-five days, after getting a report from the Deputy Commissioners of districts, regarding eligible farmers, he added.

Pointing out that the state has witnessed a crop loss in estimated 48.19 lakh hectares, the Chief Minister said, the state has sought a financial relief of 18,171.44 crore as per NDRF norms from the Centre, and the crop loss compensation sought is to the tune of over 4,663 crore.

The state had submitted the memorandum to the Centre seeking drought relief on September 21, and subsequently the Central team visited the state between October 4-9, he said, despite the central team submitting the report to the Union government, the High Level Committee of Central Ministers chaired by Union Home Minister has not met yet.

Alleging that the Central Ministers did not even give an appointment to Ministers from the state for a meeting seeking relief, and Karnataka Ministers had to meet Union Home and Agriculture Secretaries as Ministers were not available during their visit to Delhi, the CM said our Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy were finally able to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and seek relief.

"But, till today they (HLC) have not held any meeting and have not provided any relief," he said.

The CM further listed out that the per hectare crop loss compensation fixed by the Central government is -- 8,500 for rain fed, while for irrigated is 17,000, and for perennial crops it is 22,500, and highlighted that how much the landholding of a farmer could be, compensation will be given only up to 2 hectares, with is about 5 acres.

Pointing out that he had on Saturday written to the Union Home Minister seeking an appointment and stating that he would meet him to discuss drought relief, Siddaramaiah said till now there was no response.

He said, for sowing failure and mid season adversity for 6.5 lakh farmers, the state government has released 460 crore, along with that for drinking water, fodder and employment to people 325 crore has been released by his government, while 780 crore is the 'PD accounts' of the Deputy Commissioners of the district, which they had been releasing as per needs.

The state has also decided to increase the employment days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 days to 150 days in view of severe drought prevailing in the State, and has written to the Centre in this regard, but the Central government has not yet given permission for this, the CM added.

Claiming that the state government has decided to give up to 2,000 as immediate relief to farmers, with an intention to help them, and not under opposition's pressure or fearing possible attacks from them on the issue, during the upcoming Assembly session, Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP and its 25 MPs from the state for not getting enough in getting Central relief.
Police solved the 25 lakh robbery case within eight hours of being informed, arresting the assistant manager of the filling station and two former employees. The teams have recovered a total of 23.41 lakh from their possession. Commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal addressing media on the arrests in the  25-lakh robbery in Ludhiana. (HT Photo)

The accused have been identified as Malkit Singh alias Sonu, 40, of Tajpur road, the assistant manager at Oorja filling station, Sagar Vij, 31, of Mundian Khurd and Jatinder Singh alias Jatin, 39, of Ramgarh village. Jatinder, a former employee, had left the job six months ago.

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Sharing details, commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said Malkit Singh has worked at the fuel station for the past 10 years. Familiar with cash transactions, he hatched the robbery plan.

On Tuesday Malkit Singh and the manager Pardeep Kumar left the station with 25,19,900 in cash to deposit it in the bank in Dholewal. He had already alerted his aides, who were waiting for them at the bank. As soon as Pardeep stepped out of the car, the accused snatched the bag containing the cash and fled, the commissioner of police added..

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP, Rural) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said police reached the spot on receiving the information and initiated an investigation  questioning Pardeep and Malkit.

Malkit was changing his statements repeatedly and eventually confessed to the crime. Following the information provided by the accused, police arrested his aides, the DCP said.

During questioning, one of the accused, Jatinder Singh, said he gave some cash to his wife and sent her to her parental home in Amritsar. Police are trying to trace her, he added.
Haryana cooperative minister Banwari Lal on Wednesday ordered departmental action against an Ambala-based government doctor for alleged negligence in duty while attending to a snakebite victim in 2020. The complainant, Charanjit Sahni from Laha village, stated that after a snakebite, his daughter was taken to the Naraingarh civil hospital, where a doctor acted carelessly due to which she had to be admitted to a private hospital in Panchkula. (HT FILE)

The minister directed civil surgeon Dr Kuldeep Singh to initiate action while chairing a meeting of the district public relations and grievance redressal cell in Ambala.

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The complainant, Charanjit Sahni from Laha village, stated that after a snakebite, his daughter was taken to the Naraingarh civil hospital, where a doctor acted carelessly due to which she had to be admitted to a private hospital in Panchkula.

On this, Dr Singh informed the minister that the parents got the patient admitted at a private hospital on their own will, adding that as per the directions of the Supreme Court in such cases, a negligence board investigated the familys complaint.

The minister then instructed Dr Singh to initiate departmental action against the doctor concerned after investigation as per rules.

At the meeting, which was also attended by deputy commissioner Shaleen, SP Jashandeep Singh Randhawa and other administration officials, 15 complaints were placed before the minister, of which 10 were resolved and in the remaining five, officials concerned were instructed to look into them.

Later speaking to media, the minister said, As per the complaint, the doctors behaviour is in question and it seems that the patients attendants were not informed clearly, so officials have been asked to take action. Action has also been ordered into complaints concerning revenue, panchayat, health and other departments.

West African man alleges 25-lakh fraud by Panchkula firm, Vij orders probe

A national of the West African country of Burkina Faso met Haryana home minister Anil Vij at his residence in Ambala on Wednesday, alleging a fraud of 25 lakh by a firm in Panchkulas Barwala.

He said he needed a printing machine for his business for which he had reached out to the firm. He paid 25 lakh as advance for the product. But neither was the machine delivered nor was his money returned.

On this, Vij directed the Panchkula police commissioner to investigate the matter. The minister also ordered formation of special investigation teams to probe murder allegations by Rewari and Yamunanagar residents in their respective complaints.

He also forwarded a complaint regarding a 25-lakh immigration fraud by an Ambala resident to be investigated by an SIT already constituted under the Ambala Range inspector general.
The two-day virtual annual conference of the Indian Society of Agricultural Development and Policy (ISADP) aimed to highlight the critical need for rural diversification to sustain both the rural society and economy commenced at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Wednesday. Experts pushed for crop diversification during the annual conference at PAU, Ludhiana. (HT File)

RS Ghuman, economics professor at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, delivered the keynote address on Prospectus of Rural Development in Punjab: Issues and Way Forward.

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Ghuman highlighted the pressing need for agricultural diversification, particularly in a region where 60-65% of rural households are landless. He emphasised that the development of the non-farm sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was crucial to boost the rural economy, especially as farm income has reached a plateau.

With 70% of Punjab residing in rural areas, urgent attention is required to diversify the economy, he said.

Expressing concern over severe air pollution and water crises, Ghuman lamented that Punjabs economy could no longer be labelled agrarian. Drawing attention to southern Indias successful cultivation of paddy without resorting to stubble burning, he urged a shift from the wheat-paddy cropping pattern. Furthermore, Ghuman criticised the lack of sustainable policies in Punjabs rural development and questioned the effective utilisation of billions spent on the sector.

Another economist Dr HS Bhatti, professor of sociology at Punjabi University, Patiala, addressed the conference on Three Paradigms of Environmental Crisis and Sustainability. Bhatti called for an economy of permanence and urged the development of underdeveloped societies while putting an end to the dominance, exploitation, and misuse of nature.

ISADP president and department of economics and sociology head JM Singh stressed the significance of technological innovations and investments for sustainable agriculture. He warned against neglecting the role of climate, biodiversity, and conservation, emphasising their impact on sustainable development.

Addressing broader societal issues, ISADP general secretary Arjinder Kaur highlighted the need to address gender inequality, unemployment, and rising suicides for the restoration of planetary health. She reported that 60 research papers focusing on empowering rural communities and conserving livelihoods have been submitted for the conference.

Climate smart strategies in focus at workshop

The 34th national level three-week Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-sponsored Centre for Advanced Faculty Training (CAFT) programme on Climate Smart Strategies to Increase Input Use Efficiency of Soil and Water Resources kicked off in the PAUs department of soil science.

Scientists from six states comprising Gujarat, Bihar, Telangana, Haryana, Jammu and Tamil Nadu are attending this training course.

Inaugurating the training programme, the chief guest College of Agriculture dean CS Aulakh highlighted the benefits of sustainable agriculture which focused on increasing the productivity of soil, organic farming and reducing the harmful effects of agricultural practices on climate, soil, water, environment and human health.

Department of soil science head and CAFT director Dhanwinder Singh shared the achievements of the department as well as faculty in the area of soil science including being awarded ICAR-sponsored Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) in 1994.

Earlier, R Sikka, CAFT chief coordinator welcomed the participants and the faculty. He informed that the training would lay thrust on resource conservation technologies; carbon sequestration - nutrient, water and residue management; alternate uses of crop wastes; agroforestry; organic farming and farming system approach.
The dance troupe from Bulgaria led by Alex Alexandrov and his 12 members team under Folkpalitra Bulgaria, on a tour to Amritsar, on Wednesday visited Sultarwind village to pay homage to the Sikh martyrs of World War I, who lost their lives fighting for the British. Bulgarian folk dancers paying Homage to the World War-1 heroes at Sultanwind village in Amritsar on Wednesday. (HT photo)

The delegation visited the historic plaque installed by the British, in the middle of the village, which honours the sacrifice and attempts of soldiers to preserve their legacy. They saluted the plaque and garlanded it, paying rich tributes to the martyrs.

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The plaque, of which even the locals were unaware, was brought to light by the Sikh historian Sardar Bhupinder Singh Holland. A society named Vishav Yudh I and II Shaheed Welfare Society came into existence after that and also organised the dance groups visit with a perspective of cultural exchange between the Bulgarians and Punjabis.

The Bulgarian delegation was briefed about the significance of the plaque, the village from where 135 soldiers went to the first World War. Seven soldiers were martyred in the first war and one was martyred in World War II.

Alex Alexandrov, head of the Bulgarian folk-dance delegation, said he was delighted to be a part of such a rich cultural exchange activity that gave them insights into the history of the city and its global connection. He added that Punjab has a unique culture which he loves and said he also eats basmati rice at his home and listens to Punjabi songs as well.

During WW I, the allied forces got Bulgaria and Romania liberated from German. In liberation of these countries, Sikh soldiers also made their contribution. In the two battles held to liberate Romania in this war, 83 Sikhs and Gorkhas attained martyrdom. So, the Bulgarian artists coming to pay tribute to the World War Sikh heroes hold much significance, said Bhupinder Singh Holland.

Gurinder Singh Mahal, president of Vishav Yudh I and II Shaheed Welfare Society, felicitated the delegation on the occasion.

As a part of their cultural exchange, a brief event was held at Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School in Sultanwind village, where students showcased folk dances of Punjab and the visiting delegation presented their folk dances and briefed about their socio-cultural traditions. The folk dance troupe also danced to bhangra songs along with the school students.
Employees of a local courier were in for a surprise when they found opium stuffed inside pinnis, a North Indian dessert delicacy, meant to be sent to Canada. The employees of a Ludhiana-based courier firm found pinnis stuffed with opium in a parcel bound for Canada. (HT File)

The scanning machine detected the contraband, following which the courier company employees informed the Sahnewal Police.

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Following the complaint of Salah-u-din Khan, courier company employee, the Sahnewal police have registered a case against a resident of Gill village, identified as Jasveer Singh.

The complainant said Jasveer Singh had booked a courier which was supposed to be sent to Yuvraj Singh of Brampton, Canada. The courier contained two T-shirts, two jackets and a box of sweets.

While scanning the courier, they found something had been stuffed into the sweets. They opened the box and discovered that it was opium and informed the police.

Sharing further details, Sahnewal police station house officer inspector Inderjit Singh Boparai said police seized the packet and recovered a total of 208 gm of opium from the sweets.

The inspector added that the accused made small rolls of opium and stuffed it into the sweets assuming that it would not be detected.

Police, he said, were in the process of booking Yuvraj Singh of Brampton, to whom the parcel was supposed to be delivered and a hunt is on for the arrest of the accused.

A first information report (FIR) under sections 18, 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered against the accused at the Sahnewal police station.
Three months after the roof collapse incident at the Baddowal government school that claimed a teachers life and left three others critically injured, the school has finally reopened its doors to 465 Class 9 to 12 students. Students attend a special prayer before the reopening of the school in Baddowal, Ludhiana. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

The students had been attending classes at a nearby gurdwara, where they were being taught in a common hall with four other classes in the absence of proper infrastructure like desks and blackboards.

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Expressing joy, a Class 9 student Khushi stated, Stepping into school has never felt as special as it does today. Finally, we will get to sit at a proper desk instead of the common halls, ride school buses instead of having to walk all the way to the gurdwara.

To mark the schools restart, a special prayer meeting was held for the students and faculty.

Amid the joy and frenzy of students returning to the school classrooms and halls, however, stood the fenced section of the building where the roof had collapsed  serving as a reminder of the tragedy.

A section of the parents, faculty members and a few students recalled the harrowing August 22 incident, with a teacher not wishing to be named saying, The building, though now fenced, is the first thing you notice as you enter the school. Subconsciously, it triggers painful memories, reminding me of our colleague who passed away and those who sustained severe injuries. The trauma will take a lot of time to heal for us, students, parents, and the community in general.

Meanwhile, school principal Munila Arora emphasised on the need to move forward with positivity mentioned that a total of 11 sections will now attend classes in two separate buildings constructed over the last four years. Fencing has been set up based on the recommendations of the inquiry panel, preventing students from entering the restricted area.

Of the total 627 students, 465 will now resume their classes at school, while the rest of the primary and high school students will attend classes in the adjacent government primary school. The tragedy that struck us is hard to overcome, but as a collective community, we need to help our students and faculty overcome the fear and trauma, she added.

Living in distress

As schoolwork returns to normality, three teachers who sustained severe injuries during the roof collapse find themselves stuck in emotional, financial and physical distress, constantly battling their injuries without any assistance from the school or the government.

Sukhjit Kaur, a 29-year-old temporary teacher at the school, continues to struggle with walking, and her memory is deteriorating daily. Kaur told HT that she now keeps a pen and notebook at hand as she often forgets the tasks she is working on.

Recounting her ordeal, she said, Since the incident, I have only received two calls from the school  one about the whereabouts of keys and the other regarding my August salary. After that, there has been no contact. Apart from hospital expenses, I have received no assistance whatsoever. No salary, no paid leave, no financial support for buying medicine  nothing at all.

In fact, no one has checked on me. With each doctors consultation costing 800 and the substantial cost of medicine, our finances have been completely drained, she added.

Indu Rani, another teacher and survivor of the roof collapse yearns to lift her four-year-old, but unfortunately, her physical condition has weakened to the point where even prolonged sitting causes excruciating pain in her chest, head and knees. She has developed type two diabetes after months of taking steroid-based medicine.

Describing the impact of the incident on her life, her husband, Karun Aggarwal, lamented, She is paying for someone elses mistake. Her life has changed in so many ways. She cannot travel or walk by herself. However, the government has not provided any sort of support. She has exhausted all her medical and casual leaves and is now on unpaid leave.

Aggarwal said the family has spent close to 2 lakh on her treatment reiterating that the government only covered the 45,000 hospital bill.

Narinderjit Kaur, another survivor dealing with various injuries, is undergoing medication and physiotherapy to regain her physical fitness. Her mother, speaking to HT, mentioned, We have submitted requests to the education department for special leaves and have sent her medical bills, but they have not been approved yet.

Refraining to comment on the assistance, deputy district education officer Jasvinder Singh Virk said, We have submitted a thorough report with the details of the injured teachers to the higher authorities and the final decision is in their hands.
A Sector-12 based family away at Goa for a vacation received a rude shock on returning home, as thieves had broken in and made off with 1 lakh in cash and precious ornaments, apart from other articles. Thieves broke in and made off with  1 lakh in cash and precious ornaments from a house in Panchkula. (HT PHOTO)

Lohit Bindra told police that his family was in Goa from November 22 to November 27. On returning home, they found the main door open and a window broken. Inside, their household articles were strewn.

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On checking, they found 1 lakh in cash, two diamond rings, a diamond bracelet, two gold rings and a pair of ear studs missing. His childs piggy bank was smashed, and foreign currency from Malaysia, Australia, Dubai, Vietnam and Thailand, apart from around 15,000, was missing.

Before leaving, the thieves also took away a wrist watch, make-up products, artificial jewellery, a box of dried fruit and sweets.

On Bindras complaint, a case under Sections 457 (house-trespass) and 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Sector 5 police station.

Thieves strike at DSPs house in Sector 22

In another break-in, thieves struck at the locked house of a DSP in Sector 22, and decamped with jewellery worth 8 lakh and 1.95 lakh in cash.

In his complaint, DSP (Jail) Mukesh Goyal said he and his family had left for Ambala to attend a wedding on Tuesday. After returning late at night, they were shocked to find the lock of the main door broken and the entire house ransacked by thieves. Goyal claimed that the thieves stole 1.95 lakh in cash, along with gold jewellery, besides the CCTVs DVR. A case under Section 380 of the IPC was registered at the Sector 17 police station.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday held a demonstration near the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) headquarters in Jhandewalan, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government of indulging in corruption and irregularities in the water utility. New Delhi, India - Nov. 30, 2023: BJP supporters under the leadership of Virendra Sachdeva, President of Delhi BJP along with Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri protests against the Delhi Jal Board over the alleged scam in STP Plants at Delhi Jal Board Headquarters, Faiz Road in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, November 30, 2023. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The protest was led by Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri.

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The AAP hit back, accusing the BJP of alleging a new scam.

The matter pertains to the upgradation and augmentation of sewage treatment plants across Delhi. The BJP has alleged that large-scale irregularities have taken place in awarding the project, and Sachdeva had on Sunday written to lieutenant governor VK Saxena, demanding probe by central agencies into the DJB scam.

Addressing the party workers at the protest, Sachdeva said, Delhi Jal Board is a bigger scam than liquor case... The way the cartel was operating in the liquor scam, the same was followed in the Jal board where only two companies could come into project.

Bidhuri said that there was a time when DJB made a profit of 700 crore, but today it is running in massive losses. The high court has given direction that DJBs accounts should be audited. To hide their faults, the government ministers are busy blaming the officials, which is a blatant lie, he alleged.

Reacting to BJPs protest, AAP said that the bureaucracy in Delhi reports to BJP-ruled Centre. So far, BJP has chosen to only protect all corrupt officials of the Delhi government, including chief secretary. Every day they allege a new scam, but dont take any action against any official although they have all the powers. This is nothing but a political drama, read a statement issued by AAP.
A joint committee headed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has found that 257 guest houses at Paharganj in central Delhi are illegally extracting groundwater, and they have begun initiating action against these establishments. New Delhi, India- August 04, 2020: A view down a road dotted by hotels and guesthouses in Paharganj, New Delhi, India on Tuesday, August 04, 2020. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times) (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

A detailed report will be submitted within four weeks time on the penalties imposed, DPCC said.

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On April 13, NGT formed a joint committee comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA), the Union environment ministry and the New Delhi district magistrate, asking it to look into allegations about guest houses in Paharganj illegally extracting groundwater. DPCC was made the nodal agency of the committee, alongside CPCB.

In its compliance report dated November 29, DPCC said it has inspected 536 guest houses in the area, of which 442 were found to be extracting groundwater. Of the remaining guest houses, 17 were found shut, and 77 were not using groundwater.

The report further said of the 442 guest houses using groundwater, 185 were using Delhi Jal Boards Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS). Therefore, out of the 536, 257 guest houses were found extracting groundwater without having Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS). Action against such guest houses is under process and a complete action taken report shall be filed before NGT in four weeks, the submission said.

What is VDS?

Delhis environment department came up with VDS in 2014, asking residents to come forward and disclose information about borewells they were utilising. However, no additional fees are sought for such a disclosure.

DPCC said some of the guest houses shared letters from DJB, where such units were permitted to draw groundwater.

Pawan Mittal, general secretary of the Paharganj Hotel Mahasangh, an association of guest houses in the area, said, Water is a basic requirement, and no hotel or guest house can do without it.

He said, till last year, DJB collected 1,700 per month as charges to extract this water. This has now been stopped by them, as they said they will find a solution to this problem. he said.

In another submission, made by the SDM (Karol Bagh)  under whose jurisdiction Paharganj comes  NGT was told that while two guest houses were sealed on November 2, owners of other such establishments created a ruckus, preventing further sealing.
At a time when candidates claim that very few recruitments for government jobs are taking place in the state, a total of 10,69,725 aspirants have applied for 441 vacant posts for which the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) recently issued advertisements. Prayagraj-based UPPSC headquarters. (HT FILE PHOTO)

The large number of applicants means that more than 2600 candidates are in the fray for each post on offer, said UPPSC officials.

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The vacancies include 334 of review officer (RO) and 77 assistant review officer (ARO).

This is the first time that UPPSC has received such a large number of applications for RO/ARO recruitment, they added.

Officials maintained that the main reason for the large number of applicants this time is that merely graduation was the specified qualification for the recruitment.

UPPSC has released the recruitment of RO/ARO this year for the first time after 2021. Online applications were invited from October 9 to November 9, but in view of the difficulty in the mandatory one-time registration, the last date of application was extended to November 24.

With not many recruitments for government jobs, including for assistant teachers, taking place in the state for the past sometime, a large number of unemployed graduates decided to try their luck, the officials added.

As per the UPPSC advertisements for the recruitment issued on October 9, out of 334 posts of review officer on offer, 322 are in the Uttar Pradesh Secretariat, nine in the UP Public Service Commission and three posts in UP Board of Revenue.

As for the ARO posts, the applicants are required to have O-level certificate of the Department of Electronics and Accreditation of Computer Courses (DOEACC), or its equivalent qualification, as well as a minimum speed of 25 words per minute in Hindi typing. As a result, there have been fewer applications for the ARO posts.

The written examination of RO/ARO recruitment is expected to be held in February 2024 after the written test for the recruitment of additional private secretary (APS) proposed on January 7.

A total of 11,07,212 candidates had registered for RO/ARO recruitment-2023 but only 10,69,919 deposited the fees. Just 10,69,725 candidates finally submitted the forms completing the application process.

On the basis of preliminary examination, candidates numbering 15 times the vacancies will be declared successful for appearing in the main examination. The preliminary examination will be conducted in 40 districts, including Prayagraj, Lucknow, Agra, Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Meerut, Greater Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar).

Since implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) in July 2011 in Uttar Pradesh, 12 separate recruitments of teachers were held for government-run schools up to Class 8 during a seven-year period. There has been no recruitment in the past five years.

On July 25, 2017, after the Supreme Court cancelled the adjustment of 1,37,517 shiksha mitras to the post of assistant teachers in government-run primary schools, the state government had recruited assistant teachers against 68,500 and 69,000 vacant posts, respectively, in two phases on the orders of the apex court.

The process of recruitment of 68,500 teachers started in January 2018 and 69,000 teachers in December 2018. However, since then, no fresh recruitment of these teachers has been advertised by the the state government, claimed an aspirant residing in Prayagraj.

Avanish Pandey. president of Pratiyogi Chatra Sabha, an organisation representing educated unemployed youths vying for government jobs, said that on an average 12,000 teachers retire from government-run primary schools every year.

The state government had accepted in the Supreme Court over four years ago that more than 52,000 posts of teachers are lying vacant in the state and, therefore, lack of new recruitment is surprising and sad, he said.

More than 10 lakh BEd and DElEd qualified but unemployed youngsters are frustrated due to lack of any new teachers recruitment in the state, claimed Pandey.

The state education department officials are, however, tight-lipped on the issue and maintain that the decision to initiate any new recruitment lies with the state government.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) claims to have expedited the recruitment process in the state. Advertisements are being issued within a month after completing all the formalities regarding the requisitions received from various departments of the state government. The commission issued advertisements for 3,782 posts between April 1 and October 31 this year. Till April 1, the recruitment process for 5,438 posts was in progress. Out of these, selections for 4,394 posts was completed by October 31, UPPSC officials said.

The written examination for recruitment against 328 vacant posts of additional private secretary (APS) in the Uttar Pradesh Secretariat, Board of Revenue, UP, and Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) is scheduled for January 7 by UPPSC. This recruitment is taking place in the state after 10 years. In 2013, the commission had started recruitment for 176 vacant posts which, however, has not been completed till now.

Likewise, the last recruitment by UPPSC of assistant teachers (LT Grade) for government secondary schools was held in 2018. Since then, candidates are waiting for similar recruitment in the state date.
The Surat police said that they found at least seven charred bodies from the premises of the chemical plant a day after a major fire engulfed following an explosion on Wednesday, injuring 24 workers. A major fire broke out at the Aether Industries located in Sachin GIDC in Surat (Twitter Photo)

The blaze erupted at the Aether Industries located in Sachin GIDC industrial area at around 2am following an explosion in a large tank after leakage of inflammable chemicals stored in it, according to officials.

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We have found skeletons and other remains of about seven individuals from the site, said an official who did not wish to be named.

The authorities had earlier reported that seven individuals were missing from the site. The police and other rescue workers had on Wednesday successfully rescued 24 individuals who were trapped inside. According to officials, the injured workers, who sustained burn injuries, are currently undergoing treatment.

The officials said they are actively engaged in managing the aftermath of this incident, and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the loss of lives.

At the time of the fire outbreak, more than 100 labourers were on night duty, said officials.

Surat-based Aether Industries supplies chemicals to the agrochemical, pharmaceutical and oil and gas industries. Aether has two factories in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath exuded confidence that efforts made for reform in Uttar Pradesh had changed the mindset of people and industrialists who were now inclined to making big investments in the state, on Thursday. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurating celebrations of the 34th Foundation Day of GIDA, in Gorakhpur, on Thursday. (HT Photo)

He said that tough decisions taken by his government were needed to change the perception of people.

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The CM was addressing a gathering at GIDA after inaugurating the four-day celebrations of 34th Foundation Day of Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA).

He laid the foundation stone of many plants worth 800 crore by private investors and also handed over allotment papers for setting up new plants worth 500 crore.

The CM also launched a portal in the name of GIDA Seva Portal for quick redressal of grievances of industrialists.

Citing the investment proposal of over 40 lakh crore received during Global Investors Summit, he said that the government was working to give real shape to the memoranda of understanding for setting up industries in the state.

The CM said that earlier, people across the country used to be scared of the name of Gorakhpur. Now, the situation had improved, and the region was touching new peaks.

FIRST TRADE FAIR INAUGURATED

The chief minister inaugurated the first four-day long trade fair on Thursday as a showcase of industrial growth of the state.

He appealed to the people to look around the 250 stalls in the trade exhibition that had the potential to showcase Uttar Pradesh in the field of industrial development.

GIDA has reached near turning point

The CM asserted that GIDA had reached its turning point. Varun Beverages, Gyan Dairy, Keyan Distillery and Gallant Group of industries have made huge investments and the youth of the region would have no need to go anywhere else for jobs, as investment of over 12,000 crore had already been made in GIDA, he added.

No dearth of raw material for plastic industries

Adityanath claimed that there was no shortage of raw materials as Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) would feed the need and a plastic park has been developed over 88 acres of land in sector 28 at Gorakhpur Link Expressway.

He said 35 entrepreneurs had been allotted their plots for setting up parks that would generate job opportunities for 5000 youth and a proposal of investment of 165 crore had been received.

CM meets industrialists

The CM held a meeting with over five dozen industrialists on Thursday and exhorted them to invest in the state without hesitation. He assured them that a conducive atmosphere for growth, suitable resources and first-class connectivity and infrastructure would be made available.

He further said that the state government was with them on each step and GIDA as well as other places were quite secure for their capital and precious life.

He said that for the skill development of youth, as per need of industries, GIDA and the National Industries Electronic and Information technology (NIELIT) have signed a memorandum of understanding.

Abdur Rahman
Following reports of mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China, the civic health department in Pune is overhauling its medical infrastructure after the state health department released advisory on Wednesday to local bodies to monitor influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and reviewing preparedness to tackle such illnesses. Hospitals are instructed to send samples of ILI/SARI patients to RT-PCR labs for testing and some samples for genomic sequencing at the National Institute of Virology, Pune. (REUTERS)

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department on Thursday issued a letter to hospital superintendents, zonal medical officers (ZMO) and ward medical officers (WMO) directing them to ensure Covid-19 infrastructure and systems are fully functional.

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They have been further asked to start surveillance and monitor SARI and ILI cases reported in the city, said the official. As per the advisory, all districts have been asked to conduct a thorough examination of Covid infrastructure, including beds, oxygen plant cylinders, ventilators, and other critical systems that are fully functional.

Hospitals are instructed to send samples of ILI/SARI patients to RT-PCR labs for testing and some samples for genomic sequencing at the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Dr Suryakant Devkar, assistant health officer of PMC, said, We have issued a letter to all ward offices and hospitals to start monitoring all influenza cases. These cases will be tested for influenza viruses like H3N2, H1N1 and Covid-19. The samples of pneumonia patients will be sent for testing and samples of severe patients will be sent to NIV for genomic sequencing. Currently, the influenza situation in the city is under control.

Dr Devkar said that information, education and communication (IEC) activities for influenza illness and Covid-19 have been started in the city.

The health staff working in municipal hospitals have been asked to follow hygiene and start using a face mask, PPE kits and sanitisers as per the requirement, he said.

District civic surgeon Dr Nagnath Yempalay said around 100 beds have been made ready at the Aundh District Hospital to handle any untoward spike in cases.

The entire setup is ready with trained staff, oxygen plant and medicines. We have an adequate stock of medicines which will last for the next six months. We can increase the bed capacity to 300 beds if required. We are closely monitoring pneumonia and flu cases, he said.

Dr Pratapsinh Sarnikar, joint director of health services, said there is no need to panic as currently there is no danger of the new mysterious pneumonia to Maharashtra.

The department has been cautious following the Covid pandemic.

The public health department and private doctors should be cautious and prevent any unlikely outbreak of influenza cases, he said.
The contractual healthcare staff, including doctors and nurses, employed under the National Health Mission (NHM) called off their indefinite strike on Thursday following an assurance from the state government to meet some of the demands, more than a month after they launched the protest. More than 35,000 contractual staff from across Maharashtra, including 2,100 from Pune, were on strike since October 25, hampering routine healthcare services in the state. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

More than 35,000 contractual staff from across Maharashtra, including 2,100 from Pune, were on strike since October 25, hampering routine healthcare services in the state. The staff demanded permanent appointments in their existing posts along with benefits provided to permanent employees.

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The protest was called off following a discussion with health minister Tanaji Sawant on Wednesday. It was decided during the meeting that 30% staff, on contract for over a decade, will be considered for vacant posts in the public health department.

Sawant said a proposal has been submitted to the state government on November 7 requesting to relax age condition and make changes/amendments in the norms for appointment of contractual staff on regular posts in the health department.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Thursday conducted a mega drive to demolish illegal furniture and other malls that have sprung up near Pashan and Bavdhan on the Pune-Bengaluru highway. These structures have come up on land controlled by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) and there have been complaints about them for the past one year. Following complaints from the HEMRLthe PMC building permission department on Thursday demolished illegal malls spread over an area of one lakh square feet on the Pune-Bengaluru highway. (HT PHOTO)

Following complaints from the HEMRL however, the PMC building permission department on Thursday demolished illegal malls spread over an area of one lakh square feet on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

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The PMC deployed heavy machinery for the demolition drive while the Hinjewadi police provided the bandobast during demolition. As the Pune-Bengaluru highway is frequented by IT employees, videos of the PMC action kept doing the rounds of social media on Thursday.

Executive engineer Yuvraj Deshmukh said, The said constructions had come up on HEMRL land. These malls were putting an additional burden on the highway traffic. The HEMRL complained about these malls after which the PMC undertook the drive and demolished the malls spread over one lakh square feet area.

The PMC building permission department announced that the drive will be continued next week and action will be taken against the remaining malls near Bavdhan and Pashan on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

Meanwhile, some citizens criticised the PMC on social media saying that when they filed complaints about these malls, the PMC did not take any action. The citizens said that if the PMC had taken action right in the beginning, the illegal sprawl could have been contained.
The peace deal signed by the Centre with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest insurgent group in the state with significant influence in the Meitei society, is a welcome development in a region that has been wrecked by ethnic violence. This move is also in continuation of the Centres policy in the Northeast since the late 1980s, which has been to pursue peace by engaging with militant groups in a dialogue, rather than continue a war of attrition. This policy led to the end of the insurgency in Mizoram in 1986, and the ceasefire signed by the Centre with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) Isak Swu-Muivah faction in 1997 has ensured a tenuous peace in Nagaland. The 2015 framework agreement has cemented this peace, though a closure to the insurgency remains elusive. Multiple peace deals  with ULFA, Bodo and Dimasa groups  have calmed Assam, and enabled the Centre to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from large parts of the region. The Meitei insurgency has multiple strands; the UNLF is divided, though it is unknown which faction has more firepower. The complex terrain of militancy in the Northeast is crowded, and peace has to be negotiated by engaging with factional leaders. Incidentally, Delhis improved relations with Myanmar had forced many groups, which had hideouts there, to abandon armed struggle.

PREMIUM Police patrol in Manipur. (AFP/Representative)(HT_PRINT)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributed over 51,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits under 'Rozgar Mela' via video conferencing on Thursday. PM Modi distributes over 51,000 appointment letters under 'Rozgar Mela'

"These appointment letters are a result of your hard work and talent. You're going to join that facet of Nation development which is directly connected with the people," PM Modi said addressing the new recruits.

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Prime Minister Modi, on October 22, last year, launched the 'Rozgar Mela', marking the beginning of the campaign to provide 10 lakh government jobs.

"As employees of the Government of India, you all have to fulfil big responsibilities. Whatever position you hold, whatever field you work in, your top priority should be the ease of living of the countrymen," PM Modi said.

"The campaign of providing jobs to lakhs of youth in the country by the Government of India is continuing. Today, more than 50 thousand youth have been given appointment letters for government jobs. This appointment letter is the result of your hard work and talent. I congratulate you and your family very much," the prime minister said.

Rozgar Mela is being held at 37 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place across Central Government Departments as well as State Governments/UTs supporting this initiative. The new recruits, selected from across the country will be joining the Government in various Ministries/Departments including Department of Revenue, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Higher Education, Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Ministry of Labour & Employment, among others.

Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation.

Rozgar Mela is expected to act as a catalyst in further employment generation and provide meaningful opportunities to the youth for their empowerment and participation in national development.

So far, there have been a series of Rozgar Mela events, providing government jobs in different departments. (ANI)
Pokemon Horizons is all set to grace the screens of the US viewers on February 23, 2024. The anime released the information with a new English dubbed trailer. The anime released the information with a new English dubbed trailer.

Pokemon Horizons: New Trailer

The main character, Liko, was shown in the opening scene of the Pokemon Horizons teaser. She can't wait to spend her time at the Kanto-based Indigo Academy. Her favourite Pokemon, Sprigatito, is with her. Along with discovering new Pokemon, Liko was eager to learn more about herself.

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Next, Roy was shown in the trailer, going along with Fuecoco, his favorite Pokemon. His goal is to become a renowned trainer with a formidable roster of Pokemon.

The film then presented Friede, a member of the Rising Volt Tacklers organization. Its goals are to explore the world and learn the mysteries of Pokemon. The beloved Charizard made a comeback and was spotted facing off against Ceruledge from Ethiopia. During the fight scenes, the animation was smooth.

The US launch date, February 23, 2024, was disclosed in the trailer's conclusion. The video has received 4.3K likes on YouTube with 81K views.

Additionally, the anime will be hitting the screens in Canada on March 2, 2024.

Australian fans will be able to watch it a bit earlier on February 27, 2024.

Pokemon Horizons: Where to watch

Viewers based in the US will be able to watch the anime on Netflix. Canda-based viewers can tune in to either Cartoon Network or Teletoon. And those in Australia can watch it on 9Go!

Pokemon Horizons: Team Behind the Screen

OLM and Team Kato, who have previously worked on some installations of the series will be animating the anime. Saori Den from Sword Art Online will be directing the scenes with Conisch handling the music and Rei Yamazaki famous for Pokemon Evolutions (2021) will be working on the character design

Pokemon Horizons: Social Media Reaction
Actor Katrina Kaif on Thursday heaped praise on her husband Vicky Kaushal for his performance in the biographical drama film Sam Bahadur. The actor watched the movie on Wednesday evening at a special screening where she walked the red carpet hand in hand with Vicky, with the two actors twinning in black. (Also Read: Vicky Kaushal, Katrina Kaif twin in black, walk hand in hand for Sam Bahadur screening. Watch) Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal at the screening of Sam Bahadur

What Katrina said

Taking to Instagram, Katrina shared a poster of the film, which she captioned, SAM BAHADUR -@meghnagulzar such a poetic beautiful classic film , was transported to another era .. you can see your passion to telling his story and attention to detail in every shot.

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And SAM !!!!.. GRACE, HEROISM , GRIT .What a performance, flawless, Im just astounded, you are too inspiring, true to your craft in the most brilliant integral way , was so proud to watch you shine your way across the screen . Ive seen you this last year pour yourself into this film and transform into Sam. A performance to be remembered @vickykaushal09, she added.

On Wednesday night, Vicky Kaushals family, including his wife Katrina Kaif, brother Sunny Kushal, father Sham Kaushal and his mother Veena Kaushal arrived at the films special screening in Mumbai.

Sunny also took to Instagram Stories on Thursday to praise his brother's performance. Just when I think you've outdone yourself, you surprise me yet again, he wrote.

About Sam Bahadur

Sam Bahadur is based on the life of Indias first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. His career in the army spanned over four decades and five wars. He was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and he led the victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

The film is all set to hit the theatres on December 1. It will face a big Bollywood clash with Ranbir Kapoors upcoming film Animal.

- With inputs from ANI

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 30 (ANI): Makers of the upcoming survival adventure film 'The Goat Life' on Thursday announced the film's official release date. HT Image

Directed by National Award Winner Blessy, 'The Goat Life' features actor Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead role and is based on the novel Goat Days by Benyamin.

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Taking to Instagram, Prithviraj shared a motion poster of the film which he captioned, "The greatest survival adventure. An unbelievably true story. Witness the extraordinary unravel!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/C0RDsBGt_A6/

'The Goat Life' is all set to hit the theatres on April 10, 2024, in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.

Produced by Visual Romance, and directed by National Award Winner Blessy, the film also features Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Amala Paul, Indian actor K.R.Gokul, and renowned Arab actors Talib al Balushi and RikAby in pivotal roles.

The movie is based on the novel 'Aadujeevitham', one of the most popular best sellers ever from the Malayalam literary world, which has been translated in 12 different languages, including those that are foreign.

Penned by noted writer Benyamin and it follows the true story of the life of a young man Najeeb, who in the early 90s migrates from the lush green shores of Kerala in search of the fortunes in a land abroad.

Speaking about this Indian film, director, Blessy said, "The greatest challenge in front of me was that The Goat Life is a subject with universal appeal and I would have to stay truthful to its narrative style. The novel is based on some real incidents and I want to captivate the viewers with each moment that something as unbelievable happened to someone. Truth has never been so much stranger than fiction. The scale of the movie demands to be felt within the confines of a theatre and we are excited to bring this magnum opus to audiences around the world."

Apart from this, Prithviraj will be next seen in the action thriller film 'Salaar' alongside Prabhas and in 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' alongside Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. (ANI)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 30 (ANI): Actor Meka Srikanth cast his vote in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad on Thursday and urged people to vote to show power of democracy during the ongoing Telangana Assembly polls. HT Image

He wore a white shirt with black pants for the visit.

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After casting his vote the actor requested people to vote in a media interaction. He said, ". Everybody is doinbg vote."

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1730074270007697880

Notably, polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Thursday morning. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.

As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray.

Their fate will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters.

A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Voters would exercise their franchise at 35,655 polling stations set up across the state.

For the first time in Telangana, a home voting facility is being provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years of age.

Home voting for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has also been made available, with about 27,600 voters enlisted to avail of the service on Thursday. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Srikanth has appeared in films such as Swarabhishekam, which received the National Film Award for Best Telugu Feature Film in 2004. Virodhi, Srikanth's second film, premiered in the Indian Panorama section of the 2011 International Film Festival of India.

He'll next be seen in 'Game Changer' alongside Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S. J. Suryah, Jayaram and Sunil.

He also has 'Devara' in his pipeline. The movie also stars Janhvi Kapoor, Jr NTR, and Saif Ali Khan.

'Devara' will be released in two parts. The first part of the film will be released on April 5, 2024.

The official release date of the second part of the film is still awaited. (ANI)
Telangana assembly elections 2023: Actor Allu Arjun cast his vote in the Telangana assembly polls in Hyderabad's Jubilee area on Thursday. The actor stood in the queue to cast his vote at BSNL centre polling booth no 153. Among other celebs, who reached the polling booths early to cast their votes were actors Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh Daggubati and Jr NTR with their families. Chiranjeevi was mobbed by media and fans as soon as they came to know of his presence at the polling booth. Also read: Ram Charan takes a break from filming Game Changer in Mysuru to cast his vote in Telangana elections Telangana assembly elections 2023: Telugu star Chiranjeevi and Allu Arjun at polling booth.

Chiranjeevi and Allu Arjun's message to fans

Chiranjeevi urged people of the state to vote after he made his way inside his car after casting his vote during the Telangana assembly 2023 elections. "Everybody should cast their votes! That is it," he told reporters.

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Allu Arjun, who was also seen interacting with some voters outside a polling booth as he stood in queue with them, told reporters after casting his vote, "I request each and everyone of you to come and cast your vote responsibly." He also took to X to share a picture of himself, and wrote, Please. Cast your vote responsibly.

Jr NTR, MM Keeravani, Venkatesh, Srikanth vote

Actor Jr NTR arrived with his family to cast his vote at the polling booth in P Obul Reddy Public School in Hyderabad. The actor was seen standing in the queue with his wife and mother. Veteran actor Venkatesh Daggubati also voted in Hyderabad. Oscar-winning music director MM Keeravani was also seen at a polling booth in Hyderabad, where he interacted with media.

After casting his vote MM Keeravani told media, "Everyone should utilise their voting power. This is not a holiday. Voting is our responsibility. Everyone should exercise that right. I came first and voted to inspire everyone and I am happy to vote." Actor Srikanth also cast his vote in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad, and said as he left the polling booth, Please do cast your vote.

Telangana assembly polls

Notably, polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Thursday morning. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray. Their fate will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters.

With ANI inputs

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IMDb released its list of top 10 most popular web-series to hit OTT platforms this year. Released between January 1 and November 6 this year, nine out of ten series in this list fall under the crime genre. The website based their list on the page views from the millions of visitors to the site from worldwide. Bhuvan Arora and Angira Dhar, who received the IMDb Breakout Star STARmeter Award this year, also have their titles in the list. (Also Read: Shah Rukh Khans Jawan, Vijays Leo, Rajinikanths Jailer make it to IMDb top 10 movies of 2023; see full list) Shahid Kapoor, Venkatesh and Rana in stills from Farzi and Rana Naidu

#1 Farzi

Shahid Kapoor faced off Vijay Sethupathi in this edge-of-the-seat thriller that won hearts both for its storyline and performances. A small-time artist is propelled into notoriety when he begins making counterfeit notes in the Raj & DK Prime Video India series.

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Streaming on: Prime Video

#2 Guns & Gulaabs

A big city police officer and lovesick mechanic find themselves in a fix in the cartel-run town of Gulaabgunj. Makers Raj and DK are thrilled to have not one but two of their titles make the list. How thrilling to see both the series we released this year make the cut, they say in a press note by IMDb, adding, Both the series feature such distinct worlds, its quite something to have them both win.

Streaming on: Netflix

#3 The Night Manager

Remake of the 2016 English series, Aditya Roy Kapur, Sobhita Dhulipala and Tillotama Shome won hearts with their performances. The titular night manager, played by Aditya, finds himself embroiled in a weapons mafia after he witnesses the death of a young girl.

Streaming on: Disney + Hotstar

#4 Kohrra

One of the most disturbing titles in the list, the story of Kohrra takes place in a small town troubled by the murder of a new bridegroom. What follows is a police procedural that also delves into the lives of the policemen solving the case and the patriarchy that runs deep in this town.

Streaming on: Netflix

#5 Asur 2

A forensic expert-turned-teacher leads a peaceful yet unsatisfied life with his family. But his life turns upside down when he joins hands with his mentor to catch a serial killer.

Streaming on: Jio Cinema

#6 Rana Naidu

Venkatesh and Rana Daggubati left the audience split in this series filled to the brim with violence, expletives and sex. Venkatesh has, however, promised the audience that the second season will do its best to not offend anyone.

Streaming on: Netflix

#7 Dahaad

Sonakshi Sinha plays a police officer investigating the deaths of women found in public restrooms while Vijay Varma plays a man loosely based on Cyanide Mohan, a serial killer who preyed on unsuspecting women.

Streaming on: Prime Video

#8 Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo

The matriarch of a massive cartel in lawless lands opened a battle for succession. The heir will find themselves involved in the murky world of drugs and violence.

Streaming on: Disney + Hotstar

#9 Scoop

Harman Baweja made a comeback with this series that sees the shocking murder of a journalist which trusts a crime reporter (Karishma Tanna) into a world they did not foresee.

Streaming on: Netflix

#10 Jubilee

The only drama series on the list tells a poetic tale of a motley of characters who are willing to gamble it all in pursuit of love, ambition and passion.

Streaming on: Prime Video

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Colombian-American actress Sofia Vergara is back to grace the screens with Netflix's upcoming drama Griselda. The six-episode series shows Sofia playing the titular role of the frightening drug queen of Miami, Griselda Blanco. The six-episode series shows Sofia playing the titular role of the frightening drug queen of Miami, Griselda Blanco.

Netflix: Griselda

Netflix released the trailer of the show on YouTube on November 30, 2023. The trailer provides an in-depth peak into the life of the Colombian drug cartel leader, popularly known as The Godmother. It has already been viewed by 31K people and liked by 1.9K of them.

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The drama will be premeiring on January 25.

It opens up with a court scene in which a woman says that "Griselda Blanco has owned Miami distributing cocaine" for the last three years. A man beside her adds, "Ms. Blanco's operation has been efficient, deadly, and incredibly successful."

As on-screen text reminds viewers that the drama is based on real events, Griselda says, "There are a lot of women who leave the man but not the wife. I swear I know what I'm doing." The trailer cuts to a clip of Griselda speaking to a group of men and women outside of a motel.

This is the country of dreams. We have the power to bring excitement back into their boring lives, she says.

However, with the rise of an empire there is a rise in enemies and Griselda faces their wrath. When she tries to make a drug deal with a man he says, "I'm gonna tell every dealer in Miami not to touch your coke."

"One woman is behind all this. Pull the right card, the whole house comes down," a woman says as a photo of Griselda is seen on a crime investigation wall.

While her friend warns her of people enquiring about her all around, Griselda is not backing down without a fight. "After all that I have been through, I am not going to give it away for nothing. You wanna see how far I'll get?"

Next, we see a number of titles describing her as queenpin, innovator, mother and killer.

The series has been created by Eric Newman, who also partook in the creation of Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, and is directed by Andres Baiz. Along with playing the titular role, Sofia serves as the executive producer of the series, with Latin music star, Carolina Giraldo as Carla, Griselda's most trusted confidante.

Griselda: Social Media Reaction

Buckle up for a ride with the queenpin herself!  . January 25 can't come soon enough! wrote a person on X.

A new Griselda Blanco movie ? A big yess please added another.

Can't wait to see Sofia Vergara in a dramatic role as a villain, expressed.
Child actor Seeza Saroj Mehta marked her Bollywood debut in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Jawan recently. Sharing her experience of working with King Khan, "I got scared on the first day of the shoot as I didn't know where and how Shah Rukh uncle would come, and when I looked back, he was standing there. He asked my name and asked, 'Do you know me?' I said no," tells the 8-year-old, while smiling. Seeza Saroj Mehta with Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan

"I asked Shah Rukh uncle, 'Can I see his vanity from inside?' So he took me inside and offered me chocolate. I asked my mom if I could take it, and then took it from him. Jab bhi mein ache ache scenes karti thi toh Atlee uncle also used to give me chocolates," she further adds.

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The young actor recounts a memorable incident during a late-night shoot: "Once we were shooting at 3 am, and there were two sets. The first set had Shah Rukh uncle and Atlee uncle, while the other one had Kaali uncle and me shooting. I was feeling sleepy, but then I got a call from the first set to be there. I ran, and I wanted to do the punch scene with Shah Rukh uncle. I was so excited that all my sleep was gone."

Mehta also speaks fondly of her co-star and actor Ridhi Dogra, saying, "Ridhi didi was the most fun as we used to play and enjoy a lot together on the sets." She candidly admits adding that she didn't know about Nayanthara and SRK's popularity. "Mujhe yeh nahi pata tha ki vo (actor Nayanthara) famous thi and Shah Rukh uncle ka bhi nahi pata tha ki vo famous hain."

The film's success brought immense joy to the little. "They (audience) all were cheering. I was happy to see everyone so happy with the film. Everyone was clapping as whistling on many scenes in the theatre," she expresses, showing her delight at the positive reception.

Despite her young age, she is dedicated towards acting as her career later on. "Maine kabhi acting classes nahi li, but mujhe bahut maza aata hai acting karne mai, I want to do this in the future also," she ends.
Guwahati (Assam) [India], November 30 (ANI): Four United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) cadres surrendered at the Assam Police Headquarters in Guwahati on Wednesday, officials said. HT Image

The cadres surrendered in the presence of Assam Director General of Police GP Singh, Special DGP Harmeet Singh and other senior police officials.

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The surrendered ULFA-I cadres were identified as Bikram Axom alias Nayan Patmaut, Dipok Hatiboruah alias Dibya Axom, Montu Moran alias Latest Axom alias Kulang Moran and Palash Moran alias Gopal Axom.

Speaking on rehabilitating the cadres, DGP GP Singh said, "I don't think it is a surrender. It is basically, as far as I am concerned, it's a homecoming. As far as rehabilitation is concerned, I have this feeling that rehabilitation should not be measured only in terms of the quantum of money given to any individual. It should be considered in terms of what would be the government or society's commitment towards them so that they are made self-dependent."

"Not only self-dependent but to an extent they create an environment, an enabling environment where they provide employment to others or whatever has been their own leadership skill because of which they were in Alpha for a long time and they had risen to a particular rank," he said.

"This leadership capability or quality is utilized in society to take ahead the people of their villages, and their local area and make them better human beings and self-dependency. I think that only the part of the signing is left. I am quite sure that within the next month, it will be done," said DGP GP Singh.

2 Thailand Hand grenades, 1 Austria-made 9X19 Pistol and 9 mm ammunition-25 rds have been recovered from them. In 2023, a total of 11 ULFA(I) cadres surrendered to the state and have come back to the mainstream.

As per Assam police officials, a total of five incidents have been committed by ULFA(I) this year in which 16 ULFA(I) cadres were arrested and one was killed in Police action.

Meanwhile, Manipur's oldest valley-based armed group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), on Wednesday signed a peace agreement to renounce violence and join the mainstream.

The agreement was signed in the national capital in the presence of Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and some members of the UNLF. The peace agreement signed with the UNLF by the Centre and the Manipur government marks the end of a six-decade-long armed movement. (ANI)
The 41 workers, who were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi on November 28  17 days after being trapped in the collapsed road structure, are fit to go home, said doctors at AIIMS-Rishikesh on Thursday. Rescued workers from the collapsed Silkyara Tunnel being treated at the AIIMS, in Rishikesh, on November 29. (PTI)

The 41 workers admitted here are from seven different states. The most number of workers are from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. We have given medical clearance to all of them. Most probably, the workers from Jharkhand and Odisha will be discharged today as we are in touch with nodal officers of these states. Talks are also underway with nodal officers of other states, news agency ANI quoted Dr Narendra Kumar, assistant professor, hospital administration at AIIMS Rishikesh, as saying.

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Briefing the media on their health condition, Dr Ravikant said the workers were thoroughly examined and their blood test, X-ray, and ECG reports were normal, news agency PTI reported.

"They are physically normal and clinically stable. We have given them clearance to return home," he said. The workers were rescued from the tunnel Tuesday night after a long-drawn operation.

The doctor said as they have come out of a tunnel after 17 days, the workers might need acclimatisation. They have been advised to go to the nearest hospital after two weeks for a check-up, the report added.

Jharkhand nodal officer Bhuvnesh said the state government will airlift the workers. "We are taking all of them through an aeroplane. There are 15 workers... First, we will go to Delhi and then to Ranchi. We all have our stay in Jharkhand Bhawan. All the workers are doing well...," Bhuvnesh said.

The tunnel is part of the $1.5 billion Char Dham highway, one of the government's most ambitious projects, which seeks to connect four pilgrimage sites.

Authorities have not said what caused the tunnel to collapse but the region is prone to landslides, earthquakes and floods.

(With inputs from agencies)
India on Thursday described a case filed in a US court against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a plot to kill a Khalistani leader on American soil as a matter of concern, and said follow-up action will be taken on the findings of an inquiry committee looking into the matter. Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun(AP)

US prosecutors have alleged that Nikhil Gupta, alias Nick, worked on the directions of an Indian government employee, who described himself as a senior field officer responsible for intelligence, to arrange the assassination of US-Canadian citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a senior leader of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who has been declared a terrorist by India.

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Also read: SFJ's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun reacts to alleged plot to kill him, puts onus on US for protection

While the indictment filed in a US federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday did not name the Indian official (it referred to him as CC-1) or the victim of the assassination plot, unnamed American officials have told the media that Pannun was the target. A recent report in Financial Times said that US authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun and issued a warning to the Indian side.

As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said, and let me reiterate, that this is also contrary to government policy, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing.

Without referring to Pannun or giving further details, Bagchi said the US side had shared some inputs pertaining to [a] nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists [and] other extremists.

He added, We take, of course, such inputs very seriously, and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. And necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

The indictment filed against Gupta in the US court alleges that the Indian official had described the plot to target Pannun as a priority two days after another Khalistani leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was gunned down near a gurdwara in the Canadian town of Surrey on June 18. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the US in June, was allegedly working with the Indian official to ensure the dismissal of a criminal case against him in India.

The indictment referred to the Indian government employee as having served in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and having received training in battle craft and weapons.

A US justice department statement said that, on the Indian officials direction, Gupta allegedly contacted an individual for the alleged plot who turned out to be a confidential source working with US law enforcement. The source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in reality an undercover US law enforcement officer (UC), the indictment said.

Referring to the Indian official as CC-1, the statement said: CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the victim. On or about June 9, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan. The indictment attached a photograph of the alleged transfer.

Bagchi said the US had shared the inputs during discussions on bilateral security cooperation. He declined to share further information, such as the specifics of the inputs, on the grounds of security.

The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gun running and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider, and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted, and we will obviously be guided by its results, Bagchi said.

The White House declined to directly comment on the charges against Gupta, but stressed administration officials acted quickly. When we were made aware of the fact that [Gupta] had credibly indicated that he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

However, Bagchi again dismissed allegations made by Canada regarding the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Nijjar, and said the heart of the issue is the Canadian side giving space to anti-India extremists.

Also read: NIA seizes assets of Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in Punjab

About two months before the emergence of media reports about the alleged plot to kill Pannun, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a diplomatic storm with his accusation of a link between Indian agents and the slaying of Nijjar. India and Canada both expelled a senior official each and New Delhis insistence on parity in diplomatic presence forced the Canadian side to withdraw 41 diplomats from the country.

Insofar as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence, and that is actually the heart of the issue, Bagchi said.

Indian diplomats in Canada have borne the brunt of this and New Delhi expects the Canadian government to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he said. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs... and that is obviously unacceptable, he added.
Superstar Allu Arjun was one of the first Tollywood actors to have reached the voting booth on Thursday as 119 constituencies of Telangana vote today for a new government. The Pushpa actor voted in Hyderabad and urged people to come out and cast their votes. As he flashed his inked finger in front of the cameras, Arjun was asked his opinion on what should the people of Telangana vote for. The actor smiled and walked away without making any comment on politics. Allu Arjun standing in a queue to cast his vote on Thursday morning in Hyderabad.

For Hyderabad, it was a star-studded affair in the morning as Tollywood actors turned up at the booths early in the morning. Junior NTR and his family went to cast their votes in P Obul Reddy Public School in Hyderabad. Actor Venkatesh Daggubati's booth was at Hyderabad Presidency Degree and PG College, Manikonda. Actor Srikanth cast his votes in Jubilee Hills.

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Jubilee Hills Congress candidate Mohammad Azharuddin said everyone should vote. "If you don't vote, then you don't have any right to question," Azharuddin said.

Telangana is witnessing a three-way fight among the incumbent BRS, the Congress and the BJP. In 2018, it was a TRS (now BRS) sweep.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said more and more people should come out to vote in Telangana to maintain the state's 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb'. "Please do not think of this day as a holiday. Especially, urban voters take this as a holiday. If you vote, the accountability of the politicians will also increase. First-time voters have a great responsibility to fulfil," Owaisi said.

Telangana witnessed a high-octane campaign preceding the election as BJP and the Congress look to dent BRS stronghold.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has modified its official logo, replacing the word India with Bharat and adding a colour image of the god of Ayurveda, Dhanwantari. The National Medical Commission has modified its official logo, replacing the word India with Bharat and adding a colour image of the god of Ayurveda, Dhanwantari (HT)

The move has sparked a controversy with critics saying the countrys top medical regulator had abandoned the Lion Capital -- which was sometimes used as a representative image for the commission -- and added a religious figure to the logo. But NMC defended itself, saying that a black-and-white sketch of Dhanwantari was already part of its old logo.

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Also read: Denial of leave to doctor for NEET counselling unjust, arbitrary: Himachal HC

There is nothing to sensationalise here as nothing has been significantly changed. The image of Dhanwantari was already in the logo but in the form of a black and white line diagram. All members unanimously decided that colour should be added to the image as black and white image was not printable. When NMC was formed, it was decided then to use Dhanwantaris image in the logo. Apollo is the god of healing in some other country and Dhanwantari is the god of health and healing in India, said BN Gangadhar, the officiating chairman of NMC.

He acknowledged that India had been changed to Bharat.

The name Bharat, however, has been added instead of India but that is because the country has done so. There is no other reason behind doing so, he said.

But the changes continued to spark a row, with a section of medicine practitioners asking for an image driven by science and rationality.

The National Medical Commission of India, the apex scientific body that regulates medical education and medical professionals has silently dropped the Ashoka State Emblem from its logo, replacing it with an image of the Hindu God Dhanvantri, the embodiment of pseudoscientific Ayurveda, wrote hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips, who runs the handle @theliverdr on X.

Earlier this week, the Union health ministry announced that the Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centres had been renamed to Ayushman Arogya Mandir with the tagline Arogyam Parmam Dhanam (translation). It also sparked a controversy.
In a major boost to India's defence capabilities, the Defence Acquisition Council has cleared the procurement of 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force. The council has also approved the procurement of 156 Prachand attack helicopters for the Indian Army. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes sortie on a Tejas fighter aircraft in Bengaluru.(X)

According to defence officials, the Tejas fighter jets cost around 65,000 crore.



The council has also approved the upgrade plane of 84 Su-30MKI fighters used by the Indian Air Force. Collectively, the proposal costs around 1.6 lakh crore, according to officials.

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Today, the Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal for the acquisition of 97 LCA mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around 65,000 crores. Proposal for buying 156 LCH Prachand choppers have also been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council along with the upgrade plan of 84 Su-30MKI fighters has also been cleared: these proposals are worth 1.6 lakh crore and are indigenous projects, unidentified defence officials were quoted as saying by ANI.
While exit polls are predicting a close fight between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh, both Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former CM Raman Singh on Thursday predicted thumping wins for their parties. Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel expressed confidence in his party's win in the elections (PTI)(HT_PRINT)

Assembly polls were held in two phases in the state on November 7 and 17, while results will be declared on December 3.

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Talking to reporters at Raipur airport, Baghel, when asked about exit poll predictions, said, "..is there similarity between exit polls (of different agencies and channels)? After two days (on December 3) everyone will show the same poll outcome. Let the exit polls play out but we will form the government with full majority.

Queried about the exit poll of one channel predicting 57 seats for the Congress in the 90-member Assembly, he said, "It will be more than that and 57 will be 75 (seats). The order will be changed."

Asked if the Congress had any plan to shift their MLAs to other places to ward off possible horse trading attempts by the BJP, Baghel said there would be no need for it.

"They (BJP) will not be able to do it. We have full faith in our efforts and the people," Baghel asserted.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former CM Raman Singh said his party will get 52-55 seats and form government with a clear majority.

"Exit polls are showing that BJP is reaching 48 seats from 15 (seats won by party in 2018), which is a result of the party's efforts in electioneering. But I believe BJP will get 52 to 55 seats. It will be clear after counting of votes on December 3," Singh said.

The BJP has been heading in a good direction due to its manifesto and the support of women and the youth, he claimed.
Chhattisgarh exit poll results 2023 highlights: Several exit polls on Thursday predicted a clear advantage to Congress in a neck-and-neck contest with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh.



Chhattisgarh voted in a two-phased assembly election on November 7 and 17, the only state among the five which went to polls in a high-octane electoral contest this month. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram are the other states that voted to elect their respective state assemblies.



Assembly elections 2023 exit polls: Complete LIVE coverage



Chhattisgarh, the tribal dominated state carved out of Madhya Pradesh has a 90-member strong legislative assembly. The first phase of the election were held on November 7 in which 20 constituencies voted. Polling for remaining 70 seats took place on November 17.



Chhattisgarh is witnessing a direct contest between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The grand old party is expecting to retain power in the state for another term. On the other hand, the BJP is hoping to make a comeback in the state it ruled for 15 years from 2003 to 2018.



Exit Polls for 2023 Assembly elections: When and where to check results



Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel contested from Patan seat. He was pitted against BJP's Vijay Baghel, who happens to be his distant nephew. The CM was also challenged by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh's Amit Jogi, son of ex-chief minister Ajit Jogi.



The other key Congress candidates include deputy CM TS Singh Deo (Ambikapur), Charan Das Mahant (Sakti), Tamradhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural), Ravindra Choubey (Saja) and Jai Singh Agrawal (Korba).



Former chief minister and BJP leader Raman Singh contested from his stronghold Rajnandgaon. The other saffron party candidates include Tamradhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural), Ravindra Choubey (Saja), Jai Singh Agrawal (Korba), Umesh Patel (Kharsia).



These elections are crucial as they are taking place months before the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May next year.



The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

A provisional turnout of around 71 per cent was recorded in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections amid Naxalite violence and the call for boycott, officials said.(PTI)
On the opening day of COP28, 196 parties adopted the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage fund, approving the draft text adopted by the transitional committee in Abu Dhabi earlier this month  a move widely seen as a win for developing countries. A man walks past a COP28 sign at the venue of the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on November 30, 2023. The UN climate conference opens in Dubai on November 30 with nations under pressure to increase the urgency of action on global warming and wean off fossil fuels, amid intense scrutiny of oil-rich hosts UAE. (AFP)

The initial corpus of the fund will be over $400 million, well short of the $400 billion estimates suggest will be needed every year, causing some experts to question the long-term sustainability and viability of the fund.

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Also read: India walked the talk when it comes to climate action: PM Modi ahead of his visit to UAE for COP28

The UAE, the COP28 presidency, pledged $100 million to the fund, Germany, $100 million, the UK 40 million to the fund and 25 million for other funding arrangements for loss and damage, the US $17.5 million, Japan, $10 million, and the EU, 225 million. The money is expected to help poor and developing countries deal with the impact of the climate crisis.

The World Bank will be interim trustee of the fund which will be conferred with legal personality and capacity as necessary for discharging its roles and functions; in particular, it will have the legal capacity to negotiate, and conclude and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank, the text stated.

The fund will address the needs of developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with this, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, the text added.

When asked why US, among top emitters contributed less than others and how the fund can be filled, UNFCCC executive secy, Simon Steill said that more pledges are expected soon, especially at the leaders summit on December 1 and 2.

The fund will provide finance for addressing a variety of challenges associated with the adverse effects of climate change, such as climate-related emergencies, sea level rise, displacement, relocation, migration, insufficient climate information and data, and the need for climate-resilient reconstruction and recovery. The text stated that developed countries are invited to make contributions. Developing countries have said the actual needs are closer to $400bn per annum. All developing countries are eligible to directly access resources from the fund.

The decision to operationalise the fund was adopted unanimously.

HT reported on November 5 that the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage reached an agreement on operationalising the Loss and Damage fund late on November 4 night in Abu Dhabi, but with the US objecting to the outcome.

The final text was adopted but the US and developing countries also had several reservations to the text.

The US wanted to withdraw support to the text because it insisted that the text should make it clear that contributions to the fund are voluntary in nature. Developing countries said the funding arrangements are very weak and take away from the historical responsibility of rich nations.

Union environment minister, Bhupender Yadav congratulated the COP28 Presidency on the adoption and described it as a landmark decision in addressing the impacts of climate change.

Avinash Persaud, developing country negotiator and special climate envoy to Barbados PM Mia Mottley said in a statement: This is a hard fought historic agreement. It shows recognition that climate loss and damage is not a distant risk but part of the lived reality of almost half of the worlds population and that money is needed to reconstruct and rehabilitate if we are not to let the climate crisis reverse decades of development in mere moments.

The Presidencys main focus is on translating visions and aspirations into real practical actions that will make a difference. Next is the realisation of the GST, said COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber.

We understand that its interim host will be the World Bank. The fund should be fully funded at scale. Developed countries, particularly US, should lead in funding and money should be disbursed to the people on the frontlines. The fund should find a landing zone in the global stocktake. Human rights should be embedded in it, said Rachel Cleetus, policy director with the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Developed countries worked hard to make sure that contributions to the #LossAndDamage Fund remain voluntary. Let me tell you, that there is nothing voluntary about the devastating impacts and loss of lives that people are experiencing as a result of #LossAndDamage, she added.

Amid the historic decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund within a year of its establishment, addressing underlying concerns becomes critical. On one hand, rich countries have pushed for the World Bank to host this Fund under the guise of ensuring a speedy response. Conversely, they have attempted to dilute their financial obligations and resisted defining a clear finance mobilisation scale. The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the Funds long-term sustainability. Therefore, a robust system, particularly integrated with the Global Stocktake process and the new climate finance goal, is needed to ensure that COP28 results in a meaningful outcome, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.

The responsibility now lies with affluent nations to meet their financial obligations in a manner proportionate to their role in the climate crisis, which has been primarily driven by decades of unrestrained fossil fuel consumption and a lack of adequate climate finance delivered to the Global South, he added.

Loss and Damage pledges are welcome, but this is not the end goal. We want a financial mechanism that is able to ensure that developing countries will have access to adequate, grant-based, and additional finance to address loss and damage on the ground, said Grace Ineza, Global coordinator of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night arrived in Dubai, the UAE, to attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties' on climate, known as COP28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi after arriving in Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit.(Source: @narendramodi)

I arrived in Dubai to participate in the COP28 Summit. We look forward to the proceedings of the summit that aims to create a better planet, Modi posted on social media X (formally Twitter) soon after arriving in the UAE.

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Before leaving for Dubai, Modi called for supporting developing countries with adequate climate financing and technology transfer to enable them to deal with climate change.

Modi said he was happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, an important partner for India in the field of climate action.

"In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development," he said.

"During our G20 presidency, climate was high on our priority. The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," Modi said in his departure statement.

COP28 to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Several world leaders will attend the climate action summit to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively combat climate change. The World Climate Action Summit is the high-level segment of the COP28.

PM Modi's high-level side events in Dubai

Modi is scheduled to participate in three other high-level side events as well. The COP28 is taking place from November 30 to December 12 under the presidency of the UAE.

In his statement, Modi said the COP28 will provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action.

"At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation," Modi said.

"It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development," he said.

The prime minister noted that India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action.

"Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother earth," he said.

The PM said he was looking forward to joining special events including on climate finance and green credit initiative. During his stay, Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders participating in the summit, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the newly-elected Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.

(With inputs from agencies)
The exit poll results of the assembly elections in five states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana - are out on Thursday, showing the possibility of a hung assembly in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh. A hung assembly can occur when none of the parties are able to form majority (PTI)(PTI)

The exit polls of some pollsters for Madhya Pradesh predicted a close fight between ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress, which can lead to a hung assembly. Similarly, a hung assembly is also possible in Mizoram, with the seats equally divided between Zoram Peoples Party and Mizo National Front.

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Before knowing what is the possibility that causes a hung assembly, here is all you need to know about what a hung assembly is and what it means for a poll-bound state.

What is a hung assembly?

In a poll bound state, a hung assembly occurs when neither of the parties contesting the elections are able to form a majority. In this scenario, neither of the parties or alliances will be able to form a government without another party's support.

If a state sees a hung assembly after the election results are declared, then the Governor asks the leaders of the single largest party in the state to form a temporary government for 10 days, giving them this time to gather majority and support from other parties.

If the party is not able to prove majority within these 10 days, then the government is dissolved by the governor and a re-election is conducted in the state.

Assembly elections 2023: Exit poll predictions in 5 states

The exit poll results for all five states have been released and according to predictions, Congress is expected to prevail in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while BJP is expected to retain its government in Madhya Pradesh.

BRS and Congress will give each other a close fight in Telangana, while in Mizoram, regional parties MNF and ZPM are expected to grab an equal number of seats, giving rise to the possibility of a hung assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the approval of defence acquisition projects worth 2.23 lakh crore as an "excellent move". The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accorded initial approval for the procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters to enhance the combat capabilities of its armed forces. Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes sortie on Tejas fighter aircraft, in Bengaluru on Saturday.(ANI)

"The DAC accorded AoNs for procurement of Light Combat Helicopter for Indian Air Force and Indian Army and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category," the ministry said in a statement.

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It also included the procurement of medium range anti-ship missiles (MRAShM) for the Indian Navy and upgrading 84 Su-30 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force.

Happy to note that 98 percent of these platforms/equipments to be sourced from the domestic industries. This decision will provide further boost to Make in India and strengthen self-reliance in Defence sector, Singh said in a social media post.

Reacting to the push for 2.23 lakh crore defence acquisition, PM Modi posted, Excellent move towards bolstering our Armed Forces' operational prowess. The commitment to 'Make in India' in this decision marks a crucial stride in our pursuit of self-sufficiency in the Defence sector.

The approval to the mega procurement projects comes at a time India is locked in a bitter military standoff with China at several friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years as well as concerns over growing forays by Chinese warships into the Indian Ocean region.

Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said the nod to procure 97 more LCA mark 1A fighter jets marks a 'landmark event' and demonstrates the force's commitment towards 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

It is indeed a landmark event that the approval has been given for procurement of 97 additional LCA mark 1A. You are aware that we had signed a contract for 83 LCA mark 1As, the deliveries for which are to start shortly in the next few months. We already had 40 LCAs of the original IOC and FOC version, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari told ANI.
Voting for the Madhya Pradesh assembly election took place on November 17 and all eyes are now on Thursday's exit polls to give an indication of which way the election is headed. Madhya Pradesh voted on November 17 to elect its next government (PTI)

Madhya Pradesh has total 230 assembly segments and recorded a voter turnout of 77.15%, with that for the previous 2018 polls being 75.63%. In 2018, the Congress won its first assembly election in the state since 2003; the BJP had been in power since then. In March 2020, however, Jyotiraditya Scindia left the Congress to join the BJP, bringing down the state's Kamal Nath-led Congress government; the BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan became chief minister for the fourth time.

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The results for the current election, meanwhile, will be declared on December 3.

When will news channels broadcast Madhya Pradesh exit polls?

Last month, the Election Commission of India (ECI), while announcing the poll schedule for five states (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana), banned exit polls between 7am on November 7 and 6:30pm on November 30.

Where to watch Madhya Pradesh exit polls?

News channels such as News18, India Today, Times Now, ABP News, and Republic TV will air the results provided by the survey agencies. Besides giving an estimate of the number of seats each party is likely to win, these will also give details such as the likely vote share, region-wise results, region-wise vote share, expected results for VIP seats, and more.

To keep readers updated, Hindustan Times too will publish the exit poll results of most of the major survey agencies, and a poll of polls.

What is an exit poll?

Through an exit poll, a survey agency tries to gauge the likely result of an election. Here, voters are asked, after they exit (hence exit poll) the polling station, who they voted for. A similar exercise is the opinion poll, which is conducted several months/days before the election, and in which people are asked who they will/are likely to vote for.

How accurate is an exit poll?

These must be taken with a pinch of salt. There have been several instances in the past of exit polls going wrong. This is because people could name a candidate other than the one they voted for; give different answers to different agencies, or mention a name despite not having voted at all.

Conversely, the exit polls could be accurate as well, both in terms of seat projection and the result. There is also a possibility that a party projected to win, comes out victorious, but with a seat tally higher/lower than the projected one.
On Thursday, Rajasthan, which voted on November 25 to elect its next government, will get an idea of which way the election is headed, as results of exit polls conducted by survey agencies will be out, to be revealed by the respective news channels they partnered with. Polling for the assembly elections in Rajasthan was held on November 25, for 199 out of the total 200 seats (Representational Image)

When will news channels broadcast Rajasthan exit polls?

Last month, the Election Commission of India (ECI), while announcing the poll schedule for five states (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Telangana), banned exit polls between 7am on November 7 and 6:30pm on November 30.

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Where to watch Rajasthan exit polls?

News channels such as News18, India Today, Times Now, ABP News, and Republic TV will air the results provided by the survey agencies. Besides giving an estimate of the number of seats each party is likely to win, these will also give details such as the likely vote share, region-wise results, region-wise vote share, expected results for VIP seats, and more.

To keep readers updated, Hindustan Times too will publish the exit poll results of most of the major survey agencies, and a poll of polls.

What is an exit poll?

Through an exit poll, a survey agency tries to gauge the likely result of an election. Here, voters are asked, after they exit the polling station (hence, exit poll), who they voted for. A similar exercise is the opinion poll, which is conducted several months/days before the election, and in which people are asked who they will/are likely to vote for.

How accurate is an exit poll?

These must be taken with a pinch of salt. There have been several instances in the past of exit polls going wrong. This is because people could name a candidate other than the one they actually voted for; give different answers to different agencies, or mention a name despite not having voted at all.

Conversely, the exit polls could be accurate as well, both in terms of seat projection and the result. There is also a possibility that a party projected to win, comes out victorious, but with a seat tally higher/lower than the projected one.

What happened in Rajasthan election?

The desert state has total 200 assembly segments but polling took place for 199 as the exercise was postponed in Sriganganagar's Karanapur seat due to the demise of Gurmeet Singh Kunnar, the candidate of the ruling Congress. Overall, a turnout of 75.45% was recorded; the figure is marginally higher than five years ago, when the turnout stood at 74.71%.

Since 1993, no government in Rajasthan has been re-elected for a second term, and the state has alternated between the BJP and the Congress, the 2018 winner.

The results for the current election will be declared on December 3.
A cliffhanger in Chhattisgarh with an edge for the Congress. A fierce battle in Madhya Pradesh with two surveys predicting a landslide for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A closer-than-expected clash in Rajasthan, which has voted out the incumbent every time in the last 25 years. A neck-and-neck contest in Telangana between the challenger Congress and the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). And a hung assembly in Mizoram with a regional outfit likely emerging as kingmaker. Voters stand in a queue to cast their vote for the Telangana assembly elections, in Nagarkurnool District on Thursday.(CEO Telangana X)

These were the broad takeaways from a clutch of exit polls released on Wednesday after the close of the five-state assembly elections that are widely seen as a virtual semi-final for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled to be held next summer. The results will be announced on Sunday.

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Also read: What is a 'hung assembly'? What it means for the state

The exit polls largely converged on the outcomes in Telangana and Chhattisgarh but varied wildly in the crucial heartland states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. In Mizoram, the polls predicted that the battle was largely between the ruling Mizo National Front and the Zoram Peoples Movement, with the Congress likely a distant third.

The outcome of the polls in five states  the last major electoral exercise before 2024  will have significant impact on both the political narratives in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. It will also shape the dynamics with the 28-party Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), which was forged just weeks before the polls were announced.

Three of the five states  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh  also featured bipolar contests between the BJP and the Congress, presenting an opportunity to test the strengths of the two national parties that will go head to head in nearly a third of all Lok Sabha seats next year.

To be sure, exit polls are not always accurate and have often got the verdict wrong in earlier elections, especially in states with diverse populations, castes and communities. But they are useful in identifying trends.

In Madhya Pradesh, the largest state to go to the polls, a majority of exit polls predicted an intense battle between the ruling BJP and the Congress  two gave the edge to the Congress, one to the BJP and two forecast a dead heat. But two other prominent surveys  IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 were the outliers, predicting a sweep for the BJP and a decimation for the Congress.

The BJP has ruled the state for 18 of the last 20 years, and the party fielded a bevy of senior ministers and parliamentarians, in addition to talking about its welfare outreach and chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans image. The Congress had focussed on anti-incumbency and corruption allegations against Chouhan.

Soon after the exit polls, Chouhan said the results of the elections will be unexpected and unprecedented. I said this at a lot of places that the kind of support we are getting from women of our state, the results will be unexpected and unprecedented. I had said that the way we were getting love of sisters and daughters, the result would be unprecedented. We will win handsomely, he said.

MP Congress Committee president Kamal Nath, meanwhile, said that his party will form its government in the state with an overwhelming majority. When the counting of votes starts on December 3, the public mandate will be clear, the Congress leader said.

In neighbouring Rajasthan, where chief minister Ashok Gehlot was attempting to buck the states political tradition, a majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP was coming back to power with anywhere between a narrow and a comfortable majority. But IndiaToday-AxisMyIndia and Todays Chanakya-News 24 both predicted a squeaker with the Congress marginally ahead.

The Congress had banked on the Gehlot governments welfare agenda and a public rapprochement between the CM and his former deputy, senior leader Sachin Pilot. The BJP, on the other hand, was dependent on Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity and anti-incumbency.

Congress leader Mahesh Joshi said, I am a confident that Congress will retain the government in Rajasthan as there is pro-incumbency for the government. We will get clear mandate and form the government. We have served the people of Rajasthan with commitment. Our budget focused on people development.

The BJP, however, appeared confident of wresting power from the Congress. Party MLA Vasudev Devnani said, The exit polls made it clear that the BJP is going to form a government with full majority. The result of five out of seven exit polls came in our favour. This is the victory of Rajasthan and its public. Congress might keep their hope alive over the result of the one exit poll. But I can assure that the BJP will achieve an even better result in the final counting day on December 3.

In Chhattisgarh, where the Congress trounced the BJP in a landslide in 2018, the contest was seen as more evenly poised. Five exit polls predicted a furious fight between the two national parties with the Congress inching ahead. Three others forecast that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was comfortably set for a second straight term. In the tribal-dominated state, the Congress had campaigned on its paddy procurement scheme and other welfare programmes, with the BJP attacking Baghel over corruption allegations.

Also read: Ahead of 2024, key Opposition leaders pitch for larger role for Kharge

Reacting to Thursdays exit polls, Congress leader and Chhattisgarh deputy CM TS Singhdeo said, Exit polls is the guess work by television channels. I always take them with a pinch of salt. I am confident of overwhelming Congress win. Lets wait for the results on December 3.

BJP leader and former CM Raman Singh predicted an even lower seat share for the Congress. The BJP will win 52-55 seats. The Congress said it would be cross 75. Some exit surveys showed that they would be reduced to 40. Some polls said 42. I believe their number would be below 35 when the results are declared on December 3, he said.

In Telangana, the only southern state to go to the polls in this round, every exit poll predicted that the Congress  which created the province while it was in power at the Centre in 2014  was set to displace the BRS that has ruled the state since its inception. Three exit polls even said that the Congress would get a simple majority of its own while others predicted that it will likely emerge as the single-largest party.

The Congress, which was decimated in the 2018 polls and ended up around 20 percentage points in vote share behind the BRS, ran an energetic campaign led by state unit chief Revanth Reddy who attacked the BRS over corruption and anti-incumbency. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, on the other hand, underlined his welfare outreach and the raft of schemes that the state government operationalised over the last decade.

Dismissing the exit polls, BRS working president and state information and technology minister KT Rama Rao said, Even during the 2018 assembly elections, the exit polls conducted by several agencies went against the BRS. Only one national news agency predicted that the BRS will come to power.

The Congress said the exit polls reflected the mood of the people of Telangana. It is a sheer coincidence that the election results are being declared on December 3, when Telangana witnessed the martyrdom of Srikantha Chary, who was the first person to die for the separate state, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy said.

In Mizoram, where the MNF was looking for a second consecutive term, all exit polls predicted a hung assembly, with the battle largely confined between the ruling party and the ZPM, with some even projecting a big victory for the six-party regional alliance.

MNF vice president Vanlalzawma said, The exit polls may say anything. But I am confident that MNF will get majority on its own and return to power.
New Delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine whether a governor can reserve a bill for presidential assent without assigning any reason and after sitting on it for an inordinate period, questioning Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khans move to refer to the President a day ago seven of the eight bills that he was withholding for a period ranging between seven and 26 months. Supreme Court (PTI)

What was the governor doing for two years without acting on these bills? We will get into it. There is accountability of governors and there is accountability on us as a constitutional court... Governors cannot sit on a bill to thwart the normal process of law making by state legislatures, a bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, said.

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The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, recorded in its order that there was no justification for Khan to keep the eight bills pending for an inordinate period before giving his assent for one of the eight bills and reserving the other seven for presidential assent.

Like similar petitions filed by the governments of Telangana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu against inaction by their respective governors, the bench noted, the Kerala governor also acted only after the state government moved a petition before the top court and notice was issued, seeking explanation from the governors office.

Even as it acknowledged a submission made by attorney general (AG) R Venkataramani on behalf of the governors office that Khan would invite Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and the minister-in-charge of a particular bill, the court was not satisfied with how the governor has dealt with the matter.

It recorded the contention of senior counsel KK Venugopal, who appeared for the Kerala government, that three of the seven bills referred to the President by Khan were initially promulgated as ordinances by the governor, and that the Constitution required governors to seek approval of the President before such promulgation.

Seeking the courts guidelines as to when a governor can reserve a bill for presidential assent, Venugopal emphasised that Khans promulgation of the three ordinances after the Presidents nod made it clear that the bills were neither outside the purview of the state government nor in conflict with any central law.

Acknowledging these submissions, the court permitted the Kerala government to amend its petition so as to press for judicial guidelines on when a bill can be reserved by the governor for presidential assent.

Needs a graf here on what this means -- does it widen the scope dramatically, and does it mean there could be some definitive guidelines at last?

The development assumes significance as the court has agreed to consider laying down judicial guidelines on the exercise of constitutional power by governors while reserving bill for presidential ascent. Additionally, the court may also consider if a law which has already been promulgated as an ordinance can still be withheld by governors awaiting presidential nod.

While the AG opposed expansion of the scope of the petition moved by the state government, which had initially complained only against the stalemate over eight bills, the court was emphatic that it has a live issue before it and therefore it does not need to ask the state to come back with a fresh petition seeking expansive guidelines.

During the hearing, the bench also remarked that it may not need to go into such issues if both the governor and the chief minister act with sagacity. Lets hope political sagacity takes over, it added.

Venugopal called the AGs suggestion that the Kerala CM should agree to meet the governor to discuss the pending bills a face-saving measure, alleging that Khan was acting as an adversary of the elected government in the state at the cost of several proposed laws meant for the welfare of the people.

The bench, however, told Venugopal that the CM should agree to meet the governor at the latters invitation and that political scores can be settled otherwise. Venugopal acceded to the courts views, saying the CM would go with the minister concerned to meet the governor.

Last week, the Supreme Court had asked the governor to go through its verdict in a similar case filed by the Punjab government, 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 readopts the bills despite their objections.

On Tuesday, Khan cleared the Kerala Public Health bill while reserving seven others. The bills reserved for presidential assent were two University Amendment Bills, the Kerala Lokayukta Bill, two University Laws (Amendment) bills, the Kerala Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, and a bill regarding the expansion of the University Search Committee.

The courts judgment in the Punjab case 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.

That verdict came at a time when Raj Bhavans in several states have been locked in confrontation with the elected governments. 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 Kerala and Tamil Nadu 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.
Heavy rains lashed Chennai intermittently on Wednesday, according to the weather department. An orange alert was issued for 25 districts of Tamil Nadu till late night on Wednesday. (PTI)

Several areas were inundated such as Ambdatur, Anna Nagar, Perungudi which caused slow moving traffic and civic workers fanned out to remove excess water stagnated.

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From 8.30 on Wednesday morning up to 5.30pm, Meenambakkam and Nungambakkam stations in Chennai received 23 mm and 9 mm of rainfall respectively. Cuddalore district received the highest in Tamil Nadu with 26 mm rainfall.

As many as 25 districts in Tamil Nadu including Chennai and its adjoining districts of Chengalpattu and Kancheepuram were under an orange alert till late night on Wednesday.

Weather department have forecast heavy rainfall for Chennai and other districts up to December 5. The India Meteorological department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Tamil Nadu and neighbouring Puducherry which is likely to receive rainfally ranging between 115 up to 204 mm between December 2 and 3.

This is due to a low pressure over Andaman sea which has moved to lay as a well marked low pressure area over south Bay of Bengal on Wednesday. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and concentrate into a Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal on November 30, the regional meteorological centre (RMC) in Chennai said.

Isolated heavy rain is forecast over the coastal and adjoining districts from Wednesday up to December 2. Isolated very heavy rain is also likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu which includes Chennai on December 2 and 3.
New Delhi: The exit poll results for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram and Rajasthan assembly elections will be released today. Exit polls are notorious for being inaccurate. However, on some occasions, they predict unlikely results accurately. Here's a look at how exit poll agencies performed in 2018 as far as accuracy is concerned. Voters stand in a queue to cast their vote for the Telangana assembly elections. (ANI)

In 2018, the Congress won 114 seats, the BJP won 109 seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 2 seats. The Congress was the single largest party even though its vote share was lesser than the BJP. The exit poll agencies were correct in predicting a tough fight between the two parties.

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CNX-Times Now had predicted 126 seats for BJP, 89 for the Congress. News24-Pace Media gave 103 seats to the BJP, 115 to the Congress. CSDS-ABP News predicted 94 seats for the BJP and 126 seats for the Congress. Axis My India and India Today predicted a neck and neck fight giving 111 seats to the BJP and 113 seats to the Congress. India News- NETA gave 106 seats to the BJP and 112 to the Congress. The overall consensus was, however, that the BJP would become the single largest party.

In 2018, the poll pundits predicted a win for the Congress.

CSDS  ABP News gave 52 seats to the BJP and 35 seats to the Congress. C Voter-Republic TV predicted a Congress victory with 45 seats and gave 39 seats to the BJP. News 24-Pace Media gave 39 seats to the BJP and 48 seats to the Congress. Axis My India  India Today gave 60 seats to the Congress and 26 to the BJP. News X- NETA predicted a neck and neck fight, giving 42 seats to the BJP and 41 seats to the Congress. Today's Chanakya predicted 36 seats for the BJP and 50 seats for the Congress. The general consensus was that the Congress would edge out the BJP.

In the end, the Congress ended up winning 68 seats, reducing the BJP to just 15 seats.

In 2018, exit polls predicted a clear victory for the Indian National Congress, CVoter - Republic TV predicted 60 seats for the BJP and 137 to the Congress; CNX - Times Now gave 85 seats to the BJP and 105 to the Congress; India TV gave between 80-90 seats to the BJP and 100-110 seats to the Congress; CSDS - ABP gave 83 to the BJP and 101 to the Congress; Axis My India - India Today gave between 55-72 seats to the BJP and 119-141 seats to the Congress. Republic-Jan Ki Baat gave 93 seats to the BJP and 91 to the Congress.

Eventually, the Congress won the with 100 seats. The BJP won 73 seats.

In Mizoram, exit polls predicted a tough fight between the MNF and Congress. CVoter - Republic TV said the Congress would win the polls with 16-20 seats, with MNF winning 14-18 seats. CNX-Times said the Congress was winning 18 seats as against the BJP's 16 seats.

Eventually, the MNF won 26 seats, the Congress 5 and ZPM 8 seats.
Experiencing the slow life at Yunhai Park in S China's Shenzhen

People's Daily Online) 16:06, November 30, 2023

Photo shows a scene of Yunhai Park in Yantian district, Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Photo courtesy of the Yunhai Park)

Nestled on a hillside in Yantian district of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Yunhai Park has become a must-visit destination. It offers visitors the chance to take in the beauty of the nearby mountains and sea while unwinding in a "book cafe in the air."

Recently, a group of journalists from People's Daily Online visited the park, capturing a more relaxed side of Shenzhen.

Opened to the public in May, the park's main structure draws inspiration from a ship, resembling a spacecraft berthed amid the clouds. On its third floor, the book cafe invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of books, surrounded by appealing natural landscapes.

The book cafe features a glass walkway suspended in midair, providing a panoramic view of the bustling Yantian Port nearby.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Arnold Dix, president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association who had been advising the engineers for the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyari tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, said he is feeling very relaxed and happy. International tunneling expert Arnold Dix speaks to the media on the successful rescue of all 41 workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. (ANI )

Speaking to reporters at the Delhi airport, Dix said, ...I feel content. I am not in a rush to go anywhere, I am just feeling very relaxed and happy. I just travelled with the men who were rescued and I am delighted...

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The Australian tunnelling expert also said if national agencies hadn't cooperated the way they did, there's no way we would have got this outcome.

We were all one big team. 41 men, home safe, no one hurt, perfect, he said.

All 41 workers, who were trapped inside Silkyari tunnel since November 12, were evacuated safely on Tuesday evening.

On November 12, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. Workers, who were beyond the 260-metre mark, were trapped, with their exit blocked.

Australian high commissioner to India, Philip Green, expressed happiness over the involvement of Dix in the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation and said that it's a matter of great pride.

"We are very proud of the fact that one of the people who was involved in this was our Professor Dix, an Australian from the University in Brisbane--someone who has huge expertise in issues related to tunnelling and it's a matter of great pride to us that it's one of our national who has made this very big impact on this important event for India," he said.

He added, "The natural human reaction is to be relieved and delighted for these 41 workers and for all of their friends and other loved ones. We were all imagining how terrible it must have been in this appalling situation and their families wondering what their fates would be and how joyful we all feel and relieved that they are safe and sound and back in the arms of their loved ones."

Highlighting that Dix decided to come to India for the operation without any help from the Australian government, the Australian envoy to India expressed delight that Dix had stood with India in tough times of crisis.

To be honest, he chose to come to India of his own account. The Australian government wasn't involved in that. But we are delighted that an Australian stood forward at this time of crisis and that has been such a success. So, all credit to him, he said.
India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on Thursday on the dragging border standoff in the Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), though there were no immediate signs of a breakthrough in resolving friction points on the disputed frontier. The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas (Representative Photo)

This was the 14th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs since the standoff began in May 2020, and the two sides had an in-depth discussion on proposals to resolve remaining issues and to achieve complete disengagement in Ladakh, according to a readout from the external affairs ministry.

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The readout made no mention of specific forward movement to address existing friction points at Demchok and Depsang, where troops from both sides remain deployed near the LAC. Dozens of rounds of diplomatic and military talks have resulted in the two sides withdrawing troops from other friction points, such as the north and south banks of Pangong Lake, Gogra and Hot Spring.

The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in Eastern Ladakh, the readout said.

The two sides further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.

India and China agreed to continue the dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and to hold the next round of the senior military commanders meeting at the earliest to achieve the above objective, the readout said.

After the standoff emerged in the open in May 2020, the WMCC first met virtually in June of the same year, shortly after a brutal clash in Galwan Valley left 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops dead. The first fatalities on the LAC in 45 years took bilateral relations to the lowest ebb since the 1962 border war between India and China. Both sides now have some 60,000 troops, each arrayed along the LAC in the Ladakh sector.

The Indian side at Thursdays meeting of the WMCC was led by the joint secretary (East Asia) of the external affairs ministry, while the director general of the boundary oceanic affairs of Chinas foreign ministry led the Chinese delegation. The WMCC last met in New Delhi on May 31.

Senior military commanders of the two sides have held 20 rounds of talks since the start of the standoff, and the last meeting was held on the Indian side of the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point from October 9-10.

The Chinese leadership has contended the two sides have begun moving towards normalised management of the border situation, which should be put in an appropriate place while the two countries work to take forward relations in other spheres such as trade. India has insisted that the situation on the LAC continues to be abnormal, and the overall relationship cannot be normalised till peace and tranquillity is restored on the LAC.
New Delhi A delegation led by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Praveen Sood is likely to raise the issue of pro-Khalistani elements running an anti-India agenda from foreign soil during bilateral meetings with federal law enforcement officers from Canada, the UK, the US and Australia on the sidelines of ongoing 91st general assembly of Interpol in Vienna, people familiar with the matter said. During the 90th Interpol GA, hosted by CBI in New Delhi between October 18 and 21, 2022, Indian agencies held bilateral meetings with representatives from at least 22 countries (ANI)

Indian officials will also take up the issue of delays in issuing Interpol red notices and pending requests under mutual legal assistance treaties (MLAT), letter rogatories (LRs), and extraditions, conveying to the international police organisations that investigations into organised crimes, financial frauds, and terrorism were getting hampered due to delays. This years general assembly is being held from November 28 to December 1, marking 100 years of Interpols formation.

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The Interpols 91st assembly is being attended by the CBI. The issue of Khalistanis, red notices, delay in sharing information in investigations will be taken up during bilateral meetings with certain countries, said an officer, who didnt want to be named.

India has repeatedly asked several countries that PKEs operating from countries like US, Australia, the UK, Canada etc have been indulging in anti-India activities including radicalising young Sikh youth to join the so-called Khalistan movement, smuggling drugs and weapons from across the border with the help of Pakistani spy agency, ISI; attacking Indian Missions and consulates abroad and threatening Indian leaders.

During the 90th Interpol GA, hosted by CBI in New Delhi between October 18 and 21, 2022, Indian agencies held bilateral meetings with representatives from at least 22 countries and Europol to discuss matters related to police cooperation, enhancement in sharing intelligence and geo-location, terrorism, terror financing, online radicalisation, and coordinating efforts to prevent cybercrimes and online child sexual exploitation.

Expediting the extradition of former liquor baron Vijay Mallya, in particular, was taken up with the UK last year. Mallyas extradition was cleared by the UK high court in April 2020 but the British government has not signed off on it citing secret proceedings.

At the Vienna GA, Interpol has unveiled a biometric hub, which is essentially a tool to screen individuals while crossing international borders. A statement issued by Interpol on Wednesday said that the biometric hub can also be used for regular police operations within a country. Over the next two years, the tool will be progressively rolled out to border points and front line officers across Interpols membership. The system is expected to perform up to 1 million forensic searches per day, including fingerprints, palm prints and portrait, it added.

A key area to be discussed at this years summit will be the growth of transnational organised crime, with Interpol secretary general Jurgen Stock saying in a statement that this is a matter of global concern.

Criminal groups around the world are using the dark web and other tools to create a whole new business model  gone are the days of codes of silence amongst tight-knit groups; these criminal groups do not even know who they are working with and are making anonymous connections online. They are outsourcing, creating partnerships, bringing together different criminal activities. They are expanding markets globally while operating under the radar and often undetected, simultaneously undermining the rule of law and democracy in those countries, Stock said in the statement.

A Vienna Declaration is also in the works. The declaration, according to the Interpol statement, will make clear to the worlds leaders  on behalf of their police officers  that without treating this explosion, this second pandemic, this crisis of transnational organized crime as a shared, global national security crisis, none of our communities will be safe.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasised that India stands among the leading nations in the domains of sky, space, sea, and land. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar (Twitter Photo)

Engaging with participants at the 49th Advanced Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) and Officer Trainees of the 98th Special Foundation Course in New Delhi on Thursday, he quoted Swami Vivekananda to motivate the officers, stating, Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.

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He traced Indias journey from being the fragile five to becoming part of the big five.

He noted Indias transformation into the fifth-largest global economy and its higher per capita internet usage compared to the combined usage of the US and China, facilitating direct substantial government aid to farmers.

India today stands as the fifth-largest global economy and is poised to become the third-largest economy by 2030, it has already taken over the UK and France and will soon take over Germany and Japan, Dhankar said.

Acknowledging the eradication of corruption within the system, he remarked, Our power corridors are thoroughly sanitized of power brokers, liaison agents, and middlemen.

Expressing admiration for the men in uniform, particularly during crises like cyclones, he praised their dedication and performance. I am from Sainik School, Chittorgarh. I have a special inclination towards the men in uniform. After having been the Governor of the state of West Bengal, my respect for the men in uniform has grown even higher. They reached the highest level of performance, exemplifying their sense of duty with a sublimity and concern that would amaze anyone.

Drawing attention to Indias unrivalled genius in domains of AI, quantum hub, and 6G technologies, Dhankar stated, Artificial Intelligence is only one facet. Disruptive technologies have made inroads into our houses, our drawing rooms, our workplaces. Recognizing Indias leading role in adopting these technologies, he mentioned, India is one of the leading countries that are focusing on this.

Comparing Indias economic evolution, he highlighted, When you started your career, the nation had a fragile economy, there was hardly any foreign exchange balance and the world ignored one-sixth of humanity. We did not have a global voice.

Accompanying the VP were Shri Surendra Nath Tripathi, director general, IIPA; Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, secretary to the VP; Shri Amitabh Ranjan, registrar, IIPA; Dr Sachin Chowdhry, programme director 49th APPPA, along with other dignitaries.
India on Thursday cleared the proposal to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) and around 150 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand to boost the overall combat capability of the armed forces. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also cleared a proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet. Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand.(ANI)

All you need to know about Tejas LCA:

Tejas is primarily known as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and Navy. With the additional fleet, the number of indigenously-developed Tejas Mark 1A aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180. According to the IAF, Tejas would be the largest fleet of fighter aircraft to be operated by it. The Tejas Mk-1A represents an upgraded version of the original Tejas Mk-1. The aircraft is a single-seat, single-engine multirole fighter designed for air superiority, ground attack, and maritime roles. It features modern avionics, radar systems, electronic warfare suites, and other advanced systems to enhance its combat capabilities. The Mk-1A variant is equipped with an advanced radar system, likely the Uttam AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which provides improved situational awareness and targeting capabilities. Tejas Mk-1A is capable of carrying a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, making it a versatile platform for different mission scenarios. The integration of modern weapon systems enhances its precision strike capabilities and overall effectiveness in combat situations. The nod for the additional batch is seen as a significant step in strengthening India's self-reliance in defence production and reducing dependence on foreign-made aircraft.

The approval for over 150 Prachand helicopters comes weeks after the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). The formal induction ceremony took place in Jodhpur, presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

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All you need to know about Prachand attack helicopters:
New Delhi: In a significant boost to the countrys self-reliance drive and the militarys combat readiness, India on Thursday gave its go-ahead to major projects worth Rs.2.23 lakh crore, including the purchase of more light combat aircraft (LCA), light combat helicopters (LCH), artillery guns and anti-ship missiles, and the upgrade of Sukhoi-30 fighters. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) (Twitter/@rajnathsingh)

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, accorded its acceptance of necessity (AoN) to the capital acquisition projects which are critical to enhance the capabilities of the three services, the defence ministry said in a statement. AoN by the council is the first step towards buying weapons and systems under Indias procurement rules.

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Acquisition worth Rs.2.20 lakh crore will be sourced from domestic industries. This will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence industry towards achieving the goal of Aatmanirbharta, it said.

Also Read: Big boost to defence as 97 Tejas aircraft, 156 Prachand helicopters procurement gets clearance

The projects greenlit by the government include the purchase of 97 more LCA Mk-1As at an estimated cost of Rs.67,000 crore and the modernisation of 84 Sukhoi-30s for Rs.65,000 crore, officials aware of the militarys modernisation said. DAC also approved the procurement of 156 LCHs for the Air Force and Army, 400 towed gun systems and medium-range anti-ship missiles, the officials said.

The approval for additional LCA Mk-1As comes almost three years after the defence ministry placed an order worth Rs.48,000 crore with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 83 such aircraft. The first Mk-1A will be delivered to IAF in February 2024 and the last of the 83 jets by 2028. HAL is preparing to activate a new production line in Nashik for LCA Mk-1A to meet IAFs growing requirements for fighter jets.

HAL can build 16 LCA Mk-1As every year in Bengaluru, and the Nashik line will help the state-run plane-maker ramp up production to a total of 24 jets.

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew in LCA, with his sortie being seen as a significant endorsement of the indigenous fighter programme. The aircraft is set to emerge as the cornerstone of 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).

HAL has so far manufactured 15 limited series production LCHs, and now, with the fresh order in sight, series production will begin. It hopes to complete the order within six years of the contract being awarded.

The Sukhoi-30 upgrade, also to be carried out by HAL, will involve equipping the Russian-origin fighters with the indigenous Uttam active electronically scanned array radar, modern electronic warfare suites, weapon control systems and avionics, and new weapons.

Referring to LCA Mk-1A, LCH and the Sukhoi-30 projects, the statement said that while the procurement of this equipment will provide enormous strength to IAF, it will also take indigenous capabilities to newer heights. It will reduce dependence on foreign original equipment manufacturers substantially.

We anticipated these projects and began laying the groundwork two to three years ago. The primary thing was capacity planning. The capacities we have created and are creating will become national assets for future programmes, HAL chief CB Ananthakrishnan said in an interview with HT in October.

Some other proposals approved by DAC include anti-tank munitions and modern equipment for T-90 tanks.

On the proposal for new artillery guns, the statement said, To replace the Indian field gun, which has completed its service life, AoN for state-of-the-art towed gun systems has been granted. It will become the mainstay of the artillery forces of the Indian Army.

Also Read: Rajnath Singh unveils crest of navys new destroyer Imphal

IAF will soon begin deploying LCA 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 fighters.

On October 4, HAL handed over the first trainer version of LCA Mk-1 to IAF Air Chief Marshal VR 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 squadrons. Seven more twin-seater aircraft will be delivered to IAF by March 2024.

The newer variants, Mk-1A and the under-development Mk-2 will come with significantly improved features and technologies over the Mk-1 aircraft.

IAFs leadership has firmly backed the LCA programme. In a recent review, Chaudhari described the fighter aircraft as the flag-bearer of IAFs efforts towards indigenisation of its combat fleet.
New Delhi: On the opening day of COP28, 196 parties adopted the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage fund with parties approving the draft text that was adopted by the Transitional Committee in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. (AFP)

Several countries pledged funds: UAE pledged $100 million; Germany: $100 million; UK: $40m to the Fund and 20m for other funding arrangements for loss and damage; US: $17m and Japan: $10m.

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The Word Bank will be the interim trustee of the fund and the fund will be conferred with legal personality, legal capacity as necessary for discharging its roles and functions, in particular the legal capacity to negotiate, conclude and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank, the draft text stated.

The fund will address the needs of developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, the text adds.

The fund will provide finance for addressing a variety of challenges associated with the adverse effects of climate change, such as climate-related emergencies, sea-level rise, displacement, relocation, migration, insufficient climate information and data, and the need for climate-resilient reconstruction and recovery. It also clarifies that funding is based on cooperation and facilitation and do not involve liability or compensation.

The text stated that developed countries are invited to make contributions. Developing countries have said the actual needs are closer to $400bn per annum. All developing countries are eligible to directly access resources from the Fund.

The decision to operationalise the fund was adopted unanimously with parties clapping, cheering and giving a standing ovation to honour the spirit of solidarity in dealing with Loss and Damage.

HT reported on November 5 that the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage reached an agreement on operationalising the Loss and Damage fund late on November 4 night in Abu Dhabi but with US objecting to the outcome.

The agreement will now be sent by the Committee to the UN Climate Meeting (COP28) for further deliberations, along with the objections US has put on record. The final text was adopted but US and developing countries had several reservations to the text. US wanted to withdraw support to the text because it insisted that the text should make it clear that contributions to the fund are in nature. Developing countries said the funding arrangements are very weak and take away from the historical responsibility of rich nations.

In a submission made to the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, by the representatives of developing country TC members representing Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Caribbean, Least Developed Countries, and Small Islands Developing States said the fund should be able to programme at least USD 100 billion a year by 2030. It would have to potentially scale up because this amount is not meant as a ceiling but rather as a minimum commitment. The Fund should be prepared to adapt to new climate change realities with the rising trajectory of losses and damages.

Also Read: COP28 summit should seek total fossil fuel phaseout: UN chief

Union environment minister, Bhupender Yadav congratulated the COP28 Presidency and said its a landmark decision in addressing the impacts of climate change.

Avinash Persaud, developing country negotiator and special climate envoy to Barbados and PM Mottley said in a statement: This is a hard fought historic agreement. It shows recognition that climate loss and damage is not a distant risk but part of the lived reality of almost half of the worlds population and that money is needed to reconstruct and rehabilitate if we are not to let the climate crisis reverse decades of development in mere moments.

We understand that its interim host will be the World Bank. The fund should be fully funded at scale. Developed countries particularly US should lead in funding and money should be disbursed to the people on the frontlines. The fund should find a landing zone in the global stocktake. Human rights should be embedded in it, said Rachel Cleetus, policy director with the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Developed countries worked hard to make sure that contributions to the #LossAndDamage Fund remain voluntary. Let me tell you, that there is nothing voluntary about the devastating impacts and loss of lives that people are experiencing as a result of #LossAndDamage, she added.

Amid the historic decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund within a year of its establishment, addressing underlying concerns becomes critical. On one hand, rich countries have pushed for the World Bank to host this Fund under the guise of ensuring a speedy response. Conversely, they have attempted to dilute their financial obligations and resisted defining a clear finance mobilisation scale. The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the Funds long-term sustainability. Therefore, a robust system, particularly integrated with the Global Stocktake process and the new climate finance goal, is needed to ensure that COP28 results in a meaningful outcome, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.

The responsibility now lies with affluent nations to meet their financial obligations in a manner proportionate to their role in the climate crisis, which has been primarily driven by decades of unrestrained fossil fuel consumption and a lack of adequate climate finance delivered to the Global South, he added.

Loss and Damage pledges are welcome, but this is not the end goal. We want a financial mechanism that is able to ensure that developing countries will have access to adequate, grant-based, and additional finance to address loss and damage on the ground. Pledges need to be accompanied with clarity on how the finance will be maintained for generations, especially now that it is framed that it will be voluntary to provide finance for loss and damage, said Grace Ineza, Global coordinator of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition in a statement.

Climate change is already causing GDP and capital wealth losses at the global level, with developing countries bearing the brunt of impacts, according to a new report published today by the University of Delawares Gerard J. Mangone Climate Change Science and Policy Hub.

Globally, climate change has led to a population-weighted GDP loss of 6.3% in 2022. The unweighted percentage of global GDP lost is estimated at 1.8%, or about $1.5 trillion, and the difference between those two numbers reflects the uneven distribution of impacts, which concentrate in low-income countries and tropical regions that typically have more population and less GDP.

The world is trillions of dollars poorer because of climate change, and most of that burden has fallen on poor countries. I hope that this information can clarify the challenges that many countries already face today and the support they urgently need to address them, says Dr. James Rising, author of the study and Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware.

The total GDP loss to India in 2022 is 8% compared to a world without climate change. As of 2022, India has also suffered a cumulative decrease of 7.9% in capital wealth, mostly due to climate impact on human-produced capital (infrastructure), the study said.
The external affairs ministry on Thursday reacted to the US indictment of an Indian individual, Nikhil Gupta, in a plot to kill charge and said it is a matter of concern and also contrary to the government policy. "As we have said earlier, during the course of discussion with the US on the bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to the nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists. We take such inputs very seriously and a high-level enquiry committee has been established to look into all aspects of the matter. Necessary follow-up action will be taken on the findings of the committee. We can not share any further information regarding such security matters," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi speaking on Thursday.

"As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said and let me reiterate this is also contrary to government policy," the spokesperson said.

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"The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning, and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider," the spokesperson said.

On the Canada issue, the MEA said that Canada has consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is the heart of the issue. "Our diplomats in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So we expect the government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention," the spokesperson said.

US federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged an Indian national for his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil. The indictment did not mention the name of the Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. It neither mentioned the name of the Indian government official who allegedly worked with Nikhil Gupta, the Indian man charged by the US government. The indictment said 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta worked with the Indian government official to hire a hitman to allegedly kill Pannun. Gupta agreed to pay an assassin USD 1000,000 to kill the Sikh leader, the indictment claimed.

The indictment also mentioned the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and said Nikhil Gupta told the assassin that Nijjar was also a target.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to the US indictment and said this is what Canada has been saying and India should take these issues seriously.

Canada had publicly accused India of killing Nijjar resulting in a diplomatic meltdown between the two countries. India rejected the charge and said Canada did not provide any evidence and harboured extremists.
India on Thursday described a case filed in a US court against an Indian national for alleged involvement in a plot to kill a Khalistani leader on American soil as a matter of concern and said follow-up action will be taken on the findings of an inquiry committee looking into the matter. External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi (Twitter Photo)

US prosecutors have alleged that Nikhil Gupta alias Nick worked on the directions of an Indian government employee, who described himself as a senior field officer responsible for intelligence, to arrange the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a senior leader of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) who has been declared a terrorist by India.

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While the indictment filed in a US federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday did not name the Indian official or the victim of the assassination plot, unnamed American officials have told the media that Pannun was the target. Recent media reports have also said that US authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun and issued a warning to the Indian side.

Also Read: US charges Indian man Nikhil Gupta in plot to kill US citizen: See indictment

As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said, and let me reiterate, that this is also contrary to government policy, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing.

Without referring to Pannun or giving further details, Bagchi said the US side had shared some inputs pertaining to [a] nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists [and] other extremists.

He added, We take, of course, such inputs very seriously, and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. And necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

The indictment filed against Gupta in the US court alleges that the Indian official had described the plot to target Pannun as a priority two days after another Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down near a gurdwara in the Canadian town of Surrey on June 18. Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the US in June, was allegedly working with an Indian official to ensure the dismissal of a criminal case against him in India.

Bagchi said the US had shared the inputs during discussions on bilateral security cooperation. He declined to share further information, such as the specifics of the inputs, on the grounds of security.

The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gun running and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider, and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted, and we will obviously be guided by its results, Bagchi said.

Also Read: High-level panel looking into USs security concerns: MEA

However, Bagchi again dismissed allegations made by Canada regarding the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Nijjar, and said the heart of the issue is the Canadian side giving space to anti-India extremists.

About two months before the emergence of media reports about the alleged plot to kill Pannun, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a diplomatic storm with his accusation of a link between Indian agents and the slaying of Nijjar. India and Canada both expelled a senior official each and New Delhis insistence on parity in diplomatic presence forced the Canadian side to withdraw 41 diplomats from the country.

Insofar as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence, and that is actually the heart of the issue, Bagchi said.

Indian diplomats in Canada have borne the brunt of this and New Delhi expects the Canadian government to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he said. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs...and that is obviously unacceptable, he added.
Mizoram Exit Poll Results 2023 Highlights: Overall, 80.66% of the total 8.52 lakh voters of Mizoram exercised their franchise to decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates on November 7. Aizawl: Voters wait at a polling station to cast their votes for Mizoram Assembly elections, in Aizawl district on November 7.(PTI)

Today, exit polls by different survey agencies will attempt to gauge the likely result of the elections. The exit polls will begin at 5:30 pm onwards once the voting in the last phase of the Telangana elections finishes. The exit polls will also attempt to indicate election results in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.

In these elections, the Mizo National Front (MNF) led by Chief Minister Zoramthanga faces a two-pronged challenge in the form of a six-party alliance the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) and the Congress as it attempts to hold on to power.

In Mizoram's politics, regional parties play a major role. In 2018, BJP's NDA ally MNF scored a landslide win with 26 seats in the kitty. The BJP, a minor player in the regional alliance, barely opened its account with just one seat. While the BJP would want to change that record, the Congress hopes to return to its past glory. Both the parties, however, will have to go past the regional challenge posed by MNF and ZPM.
A row erupted in Kerala on Wednesday after a Left-backed MLA inaugurated construction work of around six roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Nilambur Assembly constituency, a day before they were to be given the green light by Lok Sabha MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was supposed to inaugurate construction of six PMGSY roads in Nilambur on Wednesday. (ANI)

The construction inauguration of the rural roads was performed by Nilambur MLA PV Anvar on Tuesday while the same was scheduled to be done by Gandhi on Wednesday. Nilambur falls under the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency which Gandhi represents.

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Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan while backing the MLA raised questions about the decision that Rahul Gandhi should inaugurate the roads when the state government has spent 40% share of the funds for the project.

The state government should be informed when a project is slated to be inaugurated in Kerala. Who decided that Rahul Gandhi should inaugurate the project? The state government has borne 40% of the funds for roads under PMGSY, Vijayan said at a press conference in Malappuram district.

LDF-backed MLA Anvar, in a Facebook post, justified his decision to inaugurate the 4.38 crore project and alleged that the Congress is playing a political drama and making a mockery of the leadership of Gandhi.

The state rural development department submitted the proposals for the 2023-24 FY and the same was approved by the Centre on 8.6.2023. It is clear in the order that the proposals were submitted by the state government. The proposals were sent after I submitted the letter to the state local self-government and rural development departments in April, 2022 requesting for roads that were damaged by the floods in Nilambur in 2019 to be included in PMGSY, Anvar claimed.

Out of the 16 roads approved by Centre under PMGSY in Wayanad LS constituency, eight of them are in Nilambur. If the approval for the roads are a result of the efforts of the MP, why were roads not approved in other Assembly constituencies like Eranad and Thiruvambady? Since the state government spends 40% of the funds for these roads, the inauguration of construction of these roads can only be done with the approval of the state. The programme on Nov 29 of Gandhi has not been charted with the nod of the state government. Therefore this is not an official function, the MLA wrote.

However, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan countered CMs claims and said that as per norms of the PMGSY, the inauguration of projects should be done by MPs.

I want to ask the CM to read the norms of PMGSY. MPs are supposed to inaugurate projects. The block panchayat is the implementing agency. MLAs cannot inaugurate them. The CM must not stoop so low and encourage an MLA who did the wrong thing here, said Satheesan.
Citing exit poll figures, a beaming Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday exuded confidence that the BJP will retain power in the state, where polling for the 230-seat assembly was held on November 17. Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Kamal Nath

I have always maintained that the fight is not even close in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP will win a huge mandate; The love and guidance of (prime minister Narendra) Modi, the strategies of (home minister) Amit Shah, the leadership of (BJP chief) JP Nadda, the efforts of our workers, and the schemes of our government made it clear that the BJP is getting a majority in the state, Chouhan told news agency ANI.

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On Thursday, survey agencies and their partner news channels revealed results of their respective exit polls. While pollsters were largely divided, with some even predicting a win for the Congress, three exit polls  News 24-Todays Chanakya, India Today-Axis My India, and India TV-CNX  projected over 150 seats for the BJP in the state assembly. Republic TV-MATRIZE exit poll, on the other hand, gave 124 seats to the ruling party.

It must be noted, however, that exit polls have often called elections wrong, and, therefore, must be taken with a pinch of salt.

The results of the recently-held election will be declared on December 3, when the counting of votes takes place.

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief and former chief minister Kamal Nath, meanwhile, assured party workers that the public voted overwhelmingly for the grand old party.

Congress workers should not get distracted by exit polls, Nath said.
COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber of UAE, which holds the Presidency this year, denied that they were using the climate talks as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals. COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber walks through the venue ahead of the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) (AP)

The COP28 team of UAE had plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations, the Centre for Climate Reporting and BBC reported on Sunday, based on briefing documents seen by journalists. But Al Jaber denied this without getting into the details of the very specific deals BBC cited based on the documents.

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Ill be very clear, crystal clear, for you, for everyone in the room and for those online. These allegations are false, not true, incorrect, and are not accurate. It is an attempt to undermine the work of the COP28 presidency. Let me ask you a question. Do you think the UAE, or myself, would need the COP or the COP presidency to establish business deals or commercial relationships? This country over the past 50 years has been built around its ability to build bridges and to create relationships and partnerships. Never ever did I see these talking points that they refer to or that I ever even use such talking points in my discussions, he said during a press conference by the Presidency on Wednesday ahead of COP28s opening on Thursday.

The documents, according to BBC, were prepared for the UAE COP28 teams discussions with at least 27 countries and included discussions on fossil fuel deals with 15.

One other point, every meeting I have conducted with every government, or any other stakeholder has always been centered around one thing and one thing only, and that is my COP28 agenda and how we can collectively, for the first time ever, adopt a mindset that is centered around implementation and action to keep 1.5 within reach. Now, sometimes I am told to engage with governments and oil and gas companies to put pressure, and sometimes Im told you cant do that. So were damned if we do, were damned if we dont. So please, for once, respect who we are, respect what we have achieved over the years, and respect that we have been clear and open and clear and honest and transparent on how were going to conduct this COP process. Thank you, he added.

More than 165 heads of states and heads of governments are likely to attend COP28 and around 97,000 delegates are expected.

I took on my task (of COP28 President) with a deep sense of responsibility and great sense of urgency. A country that is only 52 years old what has enabled this country to be what it is today with its superb, very advanced infrastructurea logistical hub, a technological hubwe have embarked on an economic diversification strategy 20 years ago which has enabled UAE to grow from only one source of income to multiple sources of incomewhat has enabled it? Its our very open mindset, our ability to extend our reach to everyone and the urge of partnership, Al Jaber said.

Al Jaber is also is also the group chief executive officer of state oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation (ADNOC).

We live in a polarised world. We all know the subject at hand is a polarised subject. This is what we have inherited. It made us more determined. The ingredients of success are within reach in UAE. We have decided to get head on and do whatever it takes. We have decided to be clean and transparent throughout the process, he said.

HT had reported on October 2 that operationalising the loss and damage fund and setting out an energy pathway to keep the Paris Agreement goal of containing global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius are among key parameters to determine the success of the upcoming UN climate summit to be held in Dubai later this year, a key official said.

Al Jaber said UAE would push countries to deliver a practical outcome and plan to keep the Paris Agreements 1.5 degree C goal in sight.

I dont want to sound in any way irrelevant or ridiculous. The call to action should match with practical solution. Its easy to raise ambition without knowing what it takes. We need clarity at every step otherwise how are we being honest?
Washington The US may have first raised the issue of the possible involvement of an Indian government employee in an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil at least four months ago, and the issue has been raised at the highest levels, US officials said. Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is pictured in his office on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New York. U.S. authorities said an Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York City after he advocated for a sovereign state for Sikhs. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) (AP)

They added that the issue has been discussed at the level of the national security advisers of the two countries, the heads of the respective intelligence agencies, the two foreign ministers, and even the heads of government, with the messaging from the US being consistent -- the potential of such activities to permanently damage the relationship, the possible repercussions on the bilateral relationship, the need for accountability in this case and an assurance that it wouldnt happen again.

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On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed an indictment filed by federal prosecutors against a man named Nikhil Gupta. The indictment alleged that a serving Indian government employee involved in intelligence and security affairs had assigned Gupta to hire hitmen  who turned out to be undercover agents for American law enforcement  to kill Pannun, a dual American-Canadian national who has been designated as a terrorist by the government of India. These remain allegations that are yet to be proven in a court of law.

The allegations have also had an impact on the mood on Capitol Hill, with the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) chair Ben Cardin announcing that the committee will hold a hearing on the scope of global transitional repression.

Responding to the indictment, US national security council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, while referring questions about the criminal investigation to DOJ, said, When we were made aware of the fact that the defendant in this case had credibly indicated that he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian Government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern.

Watsons statement indicates that Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, has already told American law enforcement officials that he was working for an Indian government official.

Watson added that the government of India had been clear with US that it was taking this seriously and would investigate, which ties in with the position articulated by the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, who confirmed that a high level investigation committee has been set up to examine the matter. We are providing information to the Government of India to aid in their internal investigation. We will continue to expect accountability from the Government of India based on the results of their investigations, Watson added.

In response to a question from HT on the issue, a senior administration official said that US NSA Jake Sullivan told Indias NSA Ajit Doval  the meeting was in person and is likely to have been held in Jeddah in August when both met on the sidelines of peace talks on Ukraine  that India needed to investigate and hold those responsible accountable and that the US needed an assurance that this would not happen again. Sullivan also made it clear to Doval that this kind of plotting could permanently damage the trust established between our two countries.

US President Joe Biden then asked Bill Burns, the Central Intelligence Agency director, to contact his counterpart, Ravi Sinha, the chief of the Research & Analysis Wing, and travel to India to make it clear that we will not tolerate such activities and that we expect those responsible to be held fully accountable, the senior administration official added, asking not to be named.

When Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during the G20 summit in September, the US President raised the issue. He emphasised the seriousness of this issue and the potential repercussions for our bilateral relationship were similar threats to persist, the official added. At the end of September, during external affairs minister S Jaishankars visit to Washington, Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony J Blinken raised the issue with him and reiterated the American message.

The administration official said that the director of national intelligence, Aviral Haines, the senior most intelligence official in US, then travelled to India to share additional information with the Government of India to aid in their internal investigation.

The allegations are also being seen on Capitol Hill in the wider context of China and Russias actions against their critics on foreign soil. Cardin, the SFRC chair, said in a statement, We are witnessing an alarming rise in transnational repression globally, where governments are dispatching assassins and kidnappers or using international criminal networks to abduct, harass, intimidate, and harm dissidents, journalists, and other individuals  far beyond their borders.

Cardin added, The disturbing news of a foiled assassination plot against a US citizen involving Indian government officials further underscores the importance of shedding light on efforts by governments to silence dissenters living abroad. He announced that SFRC would hold a hearing on the scope of global transnational repression and how the US can more effectively counter this pernicious threat next week.

The allegations have also led to a spate of critical reportage and commentary in the American press and civil society.

Despite learning of the alleged plot in July, and communicating its concerns through private diplomatic and intelligence channels, the Biden administration has been careful not to let the issue interrupt the bilateral momentum in ties so far.

Biden played a key role in supporting Indias G20 presidency, with American flexibility widely seen as a key reason that a leaders declaration became possible in New Delhi, a big Indian diplomatic win. Bilateral mechanisms have continued to operate, with Blinken and secretary of defense Lloyd Austin travelling to India for the 2+2 dialogue where the strategic convergences, especially on Indo-Pacific, were on display. The two sides have continued with scheduled joint military exercises. On the day that the indictment was unsealed, US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti was in Arunachal Pradesh where he made a strong pitch to respect Indias borders  both the visit and the message was a signal to China, which does not recognize the state as part of India. And there remains a strong possibility that Biden may travel to India as chief guest for the Republic Day in January and to attend a Quad Leaders Summit.

But the conversations on the alleged plot to kill Pannun, as well as on Canadas allegations linking agents of the government of India with the killing of another Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, indicate that the relationship confronts its most serious challenge in recent years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Gross Domestic Product numbers for the second quarter of the year display the resilience and strength of the Indian economy in the middle of "testing times globally". Prime Minister Narendra Modi.(ANI)

Modi said that his government is committed to ensuring fast-paced growth to create more opportunities, and rapid eradication of poverty in the country.

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"The GDP growth numbers for Q2 display the resilience and strength of the Indian economy in the midst of such testing times globally. We are committed to ensuring fast paced growth to create more opportunities, rapid eradication of poverty and improving Ease Of Living for our people," the prime minister wrote on X.

India's economy grew 7.6% in the second quarter of 2023-'24 (July-September) and remained the fastest-growing large economy, data shared by the government showed. Last, the GDP was at 6.2% in the said quarter.

The numbers put India as the fastest-growing major economy, as China posted a 4.9% growth in July-September 2023.

On Thursday, the Ministry of statistics and programme implementation attributed the rise mainly due to better performance by the manufacturing, mining and services sectors.

According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) data, the agriculture sector GVA (Gross Value Added) growth decelerated to 1.2% in the September 2023 quarter from 2.5% a year ago. The expansion in financial, real estate and professional services' GVA was 6%, down from 7.1% in 2022.

In the manufacturing section, the GVA showed a growth of 13.9% in the second quarter of the current fiscal compared to a contraction of 3.8% in the year-ago.

Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services' grew by 10.1% from 6.1%. The construction sector recorded a growth of 13.3% year-on-year in the second quarter. It was 5.7% last year.

The next release of quarterly GDP estimates for the third quarter (October-December) will be released on February 29.
New Delhi: India on Thursday called for a clear roadmap on climate finance to be finalised at COP28 to address the challenge of environmental degradation shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the Dubai to join the worlds most important climate meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the worlds most important climate meeting, COP28, in Dubai. (ANI)

In his departure statement, Modi described the Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as an opportunity to review progress under the Paris Agreement and to chart a future path on climate action.

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Modi noted that at the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, developing countries spoke of the need for climate action based on equity, climate justice and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation.

It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development, he said.

Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told a media briefing that India has always attached priority to climate finance and technology, which are a crucial segment of global efforts to address environmental degradation.

We expect a clear roadmap to be agreed at COP28 on climate finance, which would be important for delivering on the New Collective Quantified Goals (NCQG) at COP29, Kwatra said. Modi is scheduled to participate in a high-level event focused on climate finance and technology.

Also Read: COP28 summit: Parties adopt agenda on opening day

India is also interested in the successful operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund as it will benefit developing countries by providing them a new source of financial support to address the loss and damage caused by climate events, he said.

Modi also said in his departure statement that India has always emphasised climate action while pursuing economic development, and gave priority to climate in its G20 presidency. The New Delhi G20 Leaders Declaration includes concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development, and Modi said he hoped COP28 will take forward consensus on these issues.

Besides participating in special events at COP28 focused on transforming climate finance, the Green Credit initiative and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) on Friday, Modi will hold at least eight bilateral meetings, including one with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is set to return to the country on Friday evening.

The launch of the Green Credits initiative will be co-hosted by India and the UAE, and it is based on the Green Credit Programme that envisages the issue of Green Credits for plantations on waste and degraded lands and river catchment areas. The launch of LeadIT is a joint initiative by India and Sweden and is aimed at bringing together the public and private sectors to accelerate industry transition to net zero emissions.

Responding to a question on Indias position in the face of calls by Western powers to halt private financing of coal-fired power projects, Kwatra said the country is working to reduce the emission intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030, from the level in 2005, and to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

India also aims to achieve a reduction of one billion tonnes in projected emissions and 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, in addition to achieving net zero by 2070. This is all part of Indias commitment to take targeted action towards green energy, though coal is and would remain an important part of Indias energy mix to meet developmental priorities, Kwatra said.

The country is among few major economies that are well on track to complete their obligated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and even its upgraded NDCs announced last year, he said.
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police on Wednesday arrested another suspect in connection with the racket involved in selling newborns, bringing the total number of individuals arrested to eight, police officers familiar with the matter said, adding that the suspect identified as Ramya, taken into custody from Hebbal in the city, was implicated in the case based on the information disclosed by other suspects. Operating in a calculated manner, the accused had established connections with receptionists in various hospitals and obtained data on couples experiencing difficulties in conceiving.

Bengaluru police on Tuesday announced the arrest of seven people for allegedly running an illegal racket that bought and sold newborns, saying that they would target poor women from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, pay them to bear children and later sell them to childless couples for as much as 8 lakh-10 lakh.

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The investigation has revealed that the suspects in custody, formerly employed as agents for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), found themselves jobless following the tightening of regulations under the Surrogacy Act. Following this, they established their own network and initiated their operations, police said.

Operating in a calculated manner, the accused had established connections with receptionists in various hospitals and obtained data on couples experiencing difficulties in conceiving. Subsequently, they used to reach out to these couples, striking deals for the illegal sale of infants, said police.

The gang targeted women seeking abortions. The accused approached these women, persuading them to give birth in exchange for money. Since the suspect had experience in the industry, they knew where to look, said a senior CCB officer.

They also provided accommodations and support to women during childbirth. Once the baby was delivered, images used to be circulated among couples seeking to adopt, and upon finalisation, the accused used to execute the sale. In some cases, women from poor families were approached with an offer to get pregnant in exchange for money, the officer added.

Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda said that four hospitals were associated with the racket, including three already shuttered by the authorities. We suspect some doctors and hospital staff may have been complicit in the criminal activities. We are probing this, he said.

The suspects are allegedly involved in the sale of at least 10 infants. The arrests followed the rescue of a 20-day-old baby boy, who, the police said, was to be sold to a couple in Rajarajeshwarinagar.

The police approached the car they were travelling in, based on a tipoff on November 24. They tried to escape but, were taken into custody. During the interrogation, the racket came to light, the officer said.

In connection with an investigation into sex determination and female foeticide racket, Dayananda said that over the past three months, the accused have been linked to 242 illegal abortions. We are probing how many such abortions they have carried out over the years, he said.

The incident came to light on October 15, when Byappanahalli police, engaged in a routine vehicle checking drive, noticed suspicious behaviour from a car. Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the suspects evaded the police, leading to a pursuit and subsequent apprehension.

Dayananada said that suspects had kept records of 242 illegal abortions of female foetuses over the last three months in a register. As per they records they charged fees ranging from 20,000 to 25,000 for each abortion, and an additional 5,000 for sex determination, he added.

Dayananda added that ultrasound scanning machines are required to be entrusted to registered doctors with permission from the District Health Officer (DHO) or relevant authorities, and there were evident violations of these guidelines. The police are investigating whether any officials were involved in granting permission for the accused to use the ultrasound machines, he said.
Speaking at a news conference at the Nationalist Congress Party's two-day conclave here, he also claimed that the majority of public representatives, functionaries and workers of the party supported Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. There should be no confusionbecause some people in the (Sharad Pawar-led) NCP mislead people into believing that we are again coming together. I want to state it very specifically that we are working in the NCP under Ajit Pawar's leadership for Maharashtra's benefit, Patel said. On the meetings between Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, he said they do not meet often. The Pawar family had come together earlier this month for their annual Diwali get-together (where Ajit and Sharad Pawar were present), Patel said. Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July this year, splitting the party founded by his uncle. HT Image

As to the dispute between the two factions for the party name and symbol which is before the Election Commission of India, Patel said the Ajit group has furnished necessary evidence and will present its case whenever given an opportunity. On NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal receiving flak for stating that Marathas should not get quota out of the existing OBC reservation, Patel said Bhujbal has never opposed the demand of reservation for the Marathas.
New Delhi: The BJP will likely wrest power from Congress's Ashok Gehlot, exit polls predicted. The Congress had won 100 seats in the 200-strong assembly in 2018; the BJP had won 73 seats. Ashok Gehlot is likely to be ousted from power in Rajasthan, exit polls predicted. (PTI file photo)

According to the poll agency Polstrat, the Congress is likely to win between 90-100 seats. The BJP is likely to win 100-110 seats. The majority mark in Rajasthan is 101. In case of a close contest, the role of 'others' in the state will be crucial. They are likely to win 5-15 seats.

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Meanwhile, Jan Ki Baat said the BJP will win the elections with 100-122 seats. The Congress will be the runnersup with 62-85 seats. Others are likely to win between 14 and 15 seats.

The India Today-Axis My India exit poll also predicted similar results in Rajasthan. Per the exit poll, the Congress is likely to win between 86 and 106 seats, the BJP 80-100 seats and others 9-18 seats.

The Times Now-ETG exit poll predicted 56-72 seats for the Congress and 108-128 seats for the BJP. The exit poll is giving 31-21 seats to others.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said he was confident of a win in the state. He had also said the BJP wouldn't form a government in any of the five states that went to polls in November.

"Congress government will be formed (in Rajasthan). In all five states, I feel that BJP is not going to form the government. Exit polls may say something, surveys might suggest something, but based on the feedback of people in the cities and villages, I feel that our government should come," Gehlot told reporters.
As the curtains draw on the high-stakes Rajasthan Assembly Elections, exit polls from various agencies reveal a gripping narrative of a closely contested battle between the two major political players, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. The diverse projections underscore the uncertainty surrounding the final outcome. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje during a public meeting ahead of Rajasthan Assembly elections, at Anta in Baran district.(PTI)

According to the CVoter exit poll, the BJP is expected to lead the race with 104 seats, trailed by the Congress securing 81 seats, while others projected to win 14 seats. Jan Ki Baat paints a similar picture, projecting a substantial dominance for the BJP with 100-122 seats, contrasting with the Congress' estimated 62-85 seats and 14-15 seats for others.

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The India Today-Axis My India exit poll has emerged as a surprising outlier, predicting a potential Congress lead, foreseeing the party securing 86-106 seats, closely trailed by the BJP with 80-100 seats. The other parties and independent candidates are projected to secure 9-18 seats. If the projections hold in the final outcome, Rajasthan could see a hung assembly, with the focus shifting to the smaller parties and independents.

Meanwhile, Times Now ETG exit poll data leans towards BJP dominance, suggesting estimates ranging from 108 to 128 seats for the BJP, while the Congress is projected to secure 56 to 72 seats. The smaller parties and independents are expected to bag 13 to 21 seats.

These divergent projections set the stage for a nail-biting finish in Rajasthan, with the final results eagerly awaited on December 3.

Here are the key takeaways from the exit poll results for Rajasthan assembly elections:

Close contest: Various exit polls indicate a closely contested battle between the BJP and Congress, with projections fluctuating across different surveys.

BJP's dominance: The exit poll results for Rajasthan assembly elections project an edge to the BJP, which is hoping to return to power riding on the anti-incumbency and factionalism within the Congress party.

India Today-Axis My India outlier: While most of the exit poll projections suggest a BJP lead, India Today-Axis My India show a Congress advantage, leaving room for uncertainty and anticipation.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) workers on Thursday stopped Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy's brother Kondal Reddy from entering a polling booth in Kamareddy, claiming that he was not authorised to visit the booth. According to a BRS worker, Reddy was roaming around with a fake pass along with 20 other people. Telangana Congress Committee president A Revanth Reddy (HT)

He went to three polling stations with them in three vehicles but the Police didn't tell them anything...They are indulging in hooliganism. We got the people accompanying him arrested by police. But the police released them in 10 minutes...We will complain to the Election Commission, a BRS worker told news agency ANI.

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On the other hand, Kondal Reddy claimed that a group of BRS workers stopped his vehicle and tried to attack him. Their (BRS) vehicles had been following my car for the last 2-3 hours in a bid to stop me. I have been visiting the polling booths generally since morning...I have complained to the SP. Let's see what happens, he said.

The voting for the 119-member Telangana legislative assembly elections is currently underway.

Earlier in the day, voting was halted in the Kamareddy polling booth due to a malfunction of the EVM machine.

Meanwhile, a scuffle broke out between BRS, Congress, and BJP workers at a polling booth in the Jangaon assembly constituency earlier in the day. A purported video of the fight was caught on camera in which an unidentified man can be seen slapping another person while holding him by his collar as a policeman proceeds to diffuse the situation.

Latest voter turnout in Telangana

According to the Election Commission, the state has seen a voter turnout of 20.64 percent till 11 am. Voters are exercising their franchise at 35,655 polling stations set up across the state. For the first time in Telangana, home voting for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has also been made available.

The high-stake elections are witnessing a triangular contest involving the ruling BRS, BJP, and Congress.

In 2018, the BRS had won 88 of the 119 seats with a vote share of 47.4 percent, while the Congress came a distant second with just 19 seats.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Union government has the power under the 2023 law on the administration of Delhi to unilaterally appoint the capitals chief secretary, the Supreme Court held on Wednesday, declining to interfere with the Centres decision to give a six-month extension to incumbent chief secretary Naresh Kumar. Kumar who was otherwise set to demit office on November 30. HT Image

The move is a win for the Centre and a setback for the Union Territorys elected Aam Aadmi government, which has been in a political and legal fight with the former over control of the city-states bureaucracy.

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According to a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, since Delhis chief secretary exercises administrative control over various subjects, including land, public order and police that are outside the purview of the legislative or executive control of the Delhi government, the Centres decision to extend Kumars tenure without the elected governments concurrence cannot be construed to be violative of law.

The bench, which also included justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted that the 2023 Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act specifically vests control of all officers, who are serving in connection with excluded subjects (land, public order and police), with the central government.

Therefore, it would not be possible nor practical to divide functions of chief secretary or bifurcate them between those areas which fall within the domain of GNCTD or those which fall outside, nor can such a bifurcation be attempted on numerical strength. It would be far-fetched to postulate that the central government is divested with the power to appoint the chief secretary, held the bench.

To be sure, the top court clarified that its views were prima facie and were rendered in the facts of the present case because a challenge to a spate of provision under the 2023 Act relating to control of bureaucrats in the Capital and distribution of power between the elected government and the Centre was already pending before a constitution bench.

Pointing out that the 2023 Act has not been stayed by the court, it rejected the Delhi governments argument that they must also have a say in the appointment of the chief secretary since the officers scope of administrative control spans more than a hundred subjects falling within the legislative and executive control of the elected government and that only three subjects (land, public order and police) remained outside its ambit.

Further, turning down the Aam Aadmi Party governments contention that Kumars tenure could not be extended without its prior approval, the court noted that the position of Delhi is different from other states where any such extension would require aid and advice of the council of ministers.

The position for GNCTD is different as chief secretary performs several executive functions not within the purview of the state government. Consequently, the restrictions which operate on ground as per the rules would not in a strict sense apply in relation to GNCTD. Such rules (on prior consultation) would apply in relation to the extension of service of such other officers whose power do not extend to excluded subjects, it maintained.

The court order added: The post of chief secretary in the GNCTD is a post entrusted with significant functional responsibilities including overall administrative control and supervision over subjects which also stand excluded from legislative domain and executive powers of the GNCTD...The decision of the Union government to extend the services of chief secretary for six months cannot be construed to be violative of law.

In rejecting the Delhi governments plea against any further extension to Kumar and demanding a consultative exercise for the appointment of the next chief secretary of the national capital territory (NCT), the bench lent credence to the submissions of solicitor general Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the Centre and the office of Delhi Lieutenant Governor respectively.

On Tuesday, the bench had asked the Centre if there was no other officer eligible or competent enough to take the reins from Kumar while asking the S-G to show the legislative power of the Centre for appointing the chief secretary and granting extension beyond superannuation.

Representing the Delhi government, senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Wednesday proposed that the elected government was willing to pick the next chief secretary from a list of 10 officers to be proposed by the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor. But Mehta emphasised that there were no fetters in the exclusive decision-making powers of the central government in this regard nor was there any requirement of a consultation with the elected government under the 2023 Act.

The S-G argued that the L-G has an unfettered power to make a proposal to the Centre with regard to matters that fall outside the legislative and executive powers of the Delhi government, citing a provision in the 2023 Act which stated that chief secretary means the chief secretary appointed by the central government.

Responding, Singhvi argued that the above-mentioned provision is only a definition clause and that there is no operative or substantive provision giving such power to the Centre. The court, however, did not find favour with Singhvis contention.

It may not be necessary to enquire into whether it is a definition section or whether it contains a substantive power of appointment when the chief secretary is expected to have administrative control over matters which are not within the domain of the Delhi government, the court underlined.

The Arvind Kejriwal-government and Kumar have been locked in a long-running battle over matters relating to the administration of the NCT. Earlier this month Kejriwal wrote to LG VK Saxena recommending immediate removal of Kumar in an alleged corruption case involving land acquisition for Dwarka expressway. While Kumar denied the charges, the LG refused to act on the CMs letter saying no evidence of Kumars complicity was brought to the fore.

The Delhi governments petition in the top court challenged the unilateral decision-making process adopted by the Centre to appoint Delhis next chief secretary, a process which the Centre said is midway, even as it said that there must be a degree of confidence in the elected arm of the state.

The Delhi governments separate challenge to a string of provisions under the 2023 Act that gave the Union government control of the national capitals bureaucratic set-up is presently pending before a constitution bench.

The Delhi services ordinance, promulgated on May 19, was replaced by a bill which was passed by Parliament on August 8. Four days later, changes to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act were codified into law, putting the control of the citys administration in the hands of the Centre after the President accorded her assent to the law.

The ordinance was issued a week after a Supreme Court constitution bench ruled that the Delhi government has control over bureaucrats assigned to departments under its purview. Through the ordinance, the central government restored to itself the power over services by making a raft of major amendments in the GNCTD Act, 1991. The ordinance also strengthened the position of the Lieutenant Governor, making him the final authority who can act in his sole discretion in deciding the matters relating to transfer and posting of bureaucrats.

The ordinance was challenged before the top court by the Delhi government on June 30, complaining it allows the Union government to take over the governance of the Capital while eroding not only the premise of democratic governance but also the regional will of Delhis electorate. The AAP government also demanded a stay on the ordinance, but the court refused to do so even as the challenge to the ordinance was referred to a constitution bench of five judges on July 20.
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Kerala government for its unwarranted interference with the Governors power to appoint the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University. Supreme Court of India (Representative Photo)

Quashing the re-appointment of Dr Gopinath Raveendran as the Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University by the state, the Court observed that it was made without any independent application of mind by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan in his capacity as Chancellor of the University.

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Ravindrans re-appointment as the varsity V-C was made on November 23, 2021, for four years, by the Kerala government which was challenged before the Kerala high court by Premachandran Keezhoth and Shino P Jose members of the Senate and Academic Council of Kannur University. The duo moved the top court after the high court turned down their petition on February 23 last year.

Allowing the plea, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said, Although the notification reappointing the respondent (Ravindran) to the post of Vice-Chancellor was issued by the Chancellor, yet the decision stood vitiated by the influence of extraneous considerations or to put it in other words by the unwarranted intervention of the State Government.

Also Read: SC refrains from staying amendments to Forest Conservation Act

It held, As a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021, reappointing the respondent as the Vice-Chancellor of the Kannur University is hereby quashed.

The Court considered the provisions of the Kannur University Act, 1996, and held ...only the Chancellor is competent to appoint or re-appoint the V-C. the Court further warned the Kerala government stating that any interference in this regard will be patently illegal and vitiate the decision-making process.

The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, The rule of law requires that a statutory power vests in the body or authority where the statute so provides, and likewise, the discharge of the statutory duty is the responsibility of the body or authority to which it is entrusted. That body or authority cannot merely rubberstamp an action taken elsewhere or simply endorse or ratify the decision of someone else.

In the present case, the Court noted that in November 2021, as the four-year tenure of Ravindran came to an end, the Governor initiated the process of selecting the new V-C and formed a selection committee.

Even the state government issued a circular seeking eligible candidates to apply. However, in a surprising turn of events, the state minister for higher education, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of Kannur University, recommended Ravindrans re-appointment and withdrew the circular issued seeking fresh names. The Governor obtained the view of the Advocate General and a day later issued the notification re-appointing the incumbent.

Justice Pardiwala, writing the judgment for the bench, said, No other person even the Pro-Chancellor or any superior authority can interfere with the functioning of the statutory authority and if any decision is taken by a statutory authority at the behest or on a suggestion of a person who has no statutory role to play, the same would be patently illegal....Thus, it is the decision-making process, which vitiated the entire process of reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as the Vice-Chancellor. The case on hand is not one of mere irregularity.

For arriving at this conclusion, the Court framed four questions  whether re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post, whether the outer age limit of 60 years for appointment of V-C shall govern re-appointment as well, whether re-appointment has to follow the same process as an appointment under the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, and finally if the Governor abdicated or surrendered his statutory power of re-appointment of V-C.

Also Read: Governors cant sit on bill to thwart process of lawmaking, says SC

On the first three questions, the Court held in favour of the state government and said that re-appointment is possible in a tenure post and while making this decision, the age limit of 60 years will not get in the way.

The UGC regulations stipulated forming a selection committee for the appointment of V-C. This was provided under Section 10 of the 1996 Act. Although the Act provided for re-appointment, it did not specify the process. The Court held that it is not necessary to follow the procedure of appointment as laid down in Section 10 of the 1996 Act for reappointment.

The Governor was represented in the matter by attorney general R Venkataramani who supported the petitioners and held the re-appointment order issued by him to be illegal as it was in conflict with the UGC regulations.

The bench was perplexed at this stand taken by the Governor. Examining the nature of power exercised by the Governor as Chancellor, justice Pardiwala, penning the 72-page judgment said, While dealing with the case of the Vice-Chancellor, the Governor, being the Chancellor of the University, acts only in his personal capacity.

Law does not recognise any such extra-constitutional interference in the exercise of statutory discretion. Any such interference amounts to dictation from political superior and has been condemned by courts on more than one occasion, the Court held.

Also Read: Action must follow on hate speeches: Supreme Court

The decision further held that the powers and duties exercised and performed by the Governor acting as Chancellor have absolutely no relation to the exercise and performance of the powers and duties by him as Governor of the state where he is supposed to act under aid and advice of the state cabinet.

In the present case, the Governor had constituted the selection committee on October 27, 2021 and on November 1, the state circular was issued inviting applications from eligible candidates. After this circular was withdrawn and the V-C was re-appointed, the Kerala Raj Bhawan issued a press release clarifying that the V-C was appointed not at the instance of the Governor but that of the state government.

The aforestated facts make it abundantly clear that there was no independent application of mind or satisfaction or judgment on the part of the Chancellor and the respondent (Ravindran) came to be re-appointed only at the behest of the state government, the bench said.

The judges held that under the Act, the Chancellor is not merely a titular head but holds a very important role in being the sole judge and his opinion is final in all respects.
The Supreme Court on Thursday refrained from staying the amendments to the Forest Conservation Act that take effect from December 1 after the Union government assured that no precipitative action will be taken until guidelines are framed for an exemption from the definition of the forest under the new law. A bench of justices BR Gavai and PS Narasimha heard the matter. (HT PHOTO)

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) of 13 retired public servants challenging the constitutional validity of the amendments claiming they will be a death knell for Indias forests. The petitioners moved a stay application claiming that the law restricts the expansive scope of forests the Supreme Court laid down in the ruling in the TN Godavarman case in December 1996.

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A bench of justices BR Gavai and PS Narasimha asked additional solicitor-general Balbir Singh whether the apprehensions of the petitioners were true. It noted the 1996 ruling defined forest land under the Forest Conservation Acts Section 2 to mean land notified as forest under any law, land recorded as forests in government records, and the dictionary meaning of forest, which gave forest cover an expansive meaning and legal protection.

Singh said the amendments do not seek to dilute the definition of forests as laid down in the 1996 judgment. It is not our case that private lands are not included. That understanding is not correct.

The government informed the court that any exemption from the definition of forest cover under the amended law would be as per the guidelines being framed.

The court said, If you are saying you are not diluting the definition of forest as under the 1996 judgment, we will record your statement. We will hear this petition after six weeks as it has serious implications.

The court said to address the concerns of the petitioners, Singh would make a statement that no precipitative action would be taken in terms of the definition of forests as understood in the Godavarman judgment. It allowed the government to file a detailed response to the petition in four weeks.

Senior advocate Prashanto Chandra Sen, who represented the petitioners, argued that the 1996 judgment directed states to constitute State Expert Committees (SEC) to identify and demarcate forest cover to be protected. It is unclear whether such SECs exist in each state. The reports of the SECs are not available in the public domain and the same are not accessible under the Right to Information Act. Once the amendments get notified, states can do what they like.

The stay plea said if forests are diverted and destroyed, it would cause irreversible damage which cannot be compensated through afforestation or plantation as the quality of the forest cannot be recovered fully. The 2023 Amendment Act is in blatant violation of several principles of Indian environmental law  [the] principle of sustainable development, precautionary principle, intergenerational equity, principle of non-regression and public trust doctrine.

The petitioners argued each diversion of land, without any cumulative ceiling being prescribed across the country, will pock mark forests with cancerously growing deforested islands and fragment them, causing enormous ecological loss.

Parliament in August cleared the amendments exempting from scrutiny forest land up to 10 hectares if construction of security-related infrastructure is proposed. There was no clarity on what it would include.

The petition questioned exemption to activities such as safaris, zoos, and eco tourism facilities in forests that could disturb the delicate ecological balance of these protected spaces. It argued by permitting commercial activity in forests, the amendments ignore the associated negative impacts on forests and wildlife with the creation of permanent structures, access roads, power transmission lines, and other supporting infrastructure for zoos, safaris, etc.

The court also issued notice on another petition raising a similar challenge. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan pointed out that the amendments allow the construction of projects of national importance and natural security infrastructure in forest lands falling within 100 kilometres from the international border or Line of Control. He said that north-eastern states and Sikkim have objected to such a provision as this would consume the whole of forests.

The petitions before the court claimed that a Joint Committee of Parliament, which was set up to review the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, was misled as it took the governments assurance to protect all categories of forests at face value. They submitted that a greater degree of responsibility is cast on the legislature.
Two instances of violence against Dalits in various parts of Tamil Nadu in the last week were brought to light by activists and protests by members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The incidents were brought to light by activists and protests by members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). (Representational Image)

On Monday night, two men belonging to the Thevar community attacked five Dalits including a seven-year-old boy with knives in Madurai district. In another case, a group of around 20 men belonging to the Gounder community assaulted and urinated on two Dalit men on November 20 in Erode district.

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The two incidents came to light even after six men belonging to the Most Backward Community were detained under Goondas Act on November 10, for disrobing and urinating on two Dalit men.

A fact-finding team of Madurai based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Evidence visited Perungudi in the district on Tuesday and found that the accused were intoxicated and were in search of a Dalit man. The accused R Mari and R Sasikumar asked for the whereabouts of the Dalit man A Kannan to three locals from the same community- Ajit, Vijay and Ganapathi.

The three men denied knowing his whereabouts, which angered the accused who started verbally abusing them and blamed them for disrespecting them and pulled out knives, said founder of Evidence, A Kathir. They aimed for their head and neck. The victims tried to protect themselves, thats why they have injuries on their hands. While the accused were chasing them, an old man was taking his grandson on his shoulder to a clinic. The accused attacked them too because they were Dalits, he added. The boy sustained injuries on his ankles and legs and is being treated at a local government hospital. The injured, accused and the man they were looking for all youngsters aged between 21 and 23, said police.

Madurai police arrested one of the two accused on Wednesday. They have been booked for attempted murder and one accused is still absconding. Police and activists said that there has been no motive established in this case. We have arrested one today and we will arrest the other accused soon, a senior police officer in Madurai said.

In the other crime in Erode, according to the police complaint filed, a group of Gounder men assaulted two Dalits who are goat grazers because they saw them consume liquor. They got into an altercation on November 20 in Gobichettipalayam in the district which continued to the next day. The victims lodged a complaint based on which police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 20 people but no arrests have been made so far. The accused have given a counter complaint that the Dalits tried to steal poultry from them. The district authorities conducted a peace committee meeting on Tuesday between the Dalits and the Gounder community but the former is demanding swift arrests in the case. We are getting to the bottom of the case and working on restoring peace, a police officer said.

In the Erode crime, the complainant said, When we felt like we were getting unconscious and asked for water, they urinated in our mouths. We were beaten with iron rods until we fainted, he added.

Various sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 were invoked in both cases.
Telangana Assembly election 2023 Highlights: On Thursday, 32.6 million voters in Telangana will determine the fate of 2,290 candidates vying for 119 assembly seats. The intense campaign, featuring prominent national leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, and K Chandrashekar Rao of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), culminates in this election. Voters wait in queues at a polling station to cast their votes for Telangana Assembly elections in Kukatpally Assembly constituency on November 30.(PTI)

Results for Telangana, along with those for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram, where voting occurred between November 7 and November 25, will be announced on December 3. Telangana is the final state among these to conduct its elections.

The polling will start at 7 am and will end at 5 pm in 106 constituencies and from 7 am to 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas. More than 250,000 staff will be engaged in poll duties for the assembly elections, chief electoral officer Vikas Raj said.

The ruling BRS has candidates in all 119 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jana Sena, led by actor Pawan Kalyan, are contesting in 111 and 8 seats respectively. Additionally, the Congress has allocated one seat to its ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), while fielding candidates in 118 other constituencies.
Karimnagar, a hotbed of Maoist movement till two decades ago, which later turned into a nerve centre of the movement for separate Telangana state, is one of the keenly watched constituencies in the assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 30. Karimnagar is one of the keenly watched constituencies in the assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 30. (ANI)

It was in this historic town, once a capital city of Satavahana Dynasty, that then Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi had, in 2004, general elections, announced for the first time that her party would grant separate statehood to Telangana state.

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Bharat Rashtra Samithi (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS) president K Chandrashekar Rao, who shared the dais with Sonia Gandhi then, went on to become the chief minister of the countrys youngest state a decade later.

Nine and a half years down the line, there is neither Maoism nor Telangana sentiment in this politically conscious town of northern Telangana. The talking point in the present elections is whether Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Bandi Sanjay would be able to break the jinx and win the seat.

Karimnagar assembly segment has always been elusive for the BJP, while the Congress had won the seat five times since 1952, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won four times and BRS twice. Even the Left parties and independents won the seat, but not the BJP.

Interestingly, Sanjay, who had lost to BRS candidate Gangula Kamalakar in the last two elections  in 2014 with a margin of 24,754 votes and in 2018 with a margin of 14,974 votes  had surprisingly bagged the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections with a massive majority of 89,509 votes.

This time, Sanjay was reluctant to contest the assembly elections, but the BJP high command forced him to enter the fray with a promise that if he wins the seat, he stands the chance of becoming the chief minister as the party announced to make an OBC leader as the CM.

Though it is easier said than done, Sanjay took it up as a matter of prestige to win the seat, but is facing strong headwinds from the other two major contenders  Gangula Kamalakar from BRS and Purumalla Srinivas of the Congress. All the three contestants hail from Munnuru Kapu caste, a numerically strong OBC community, which accounts for 60,892 voters out of the total electorate of 340,000 voters.

Needless to say, the Munnuru Kapu voters are equally divided among the three contenders. It is rather tough for Sanjay. He is banking on other OBC groups like Padmashalis and Mudirajs, to win the seat, said Tadi Karunakar, a senior political analyst of Karimnagar town.

Another major factor that is going to play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the candidates in the present elections is Muslims, who are around 68,000 in strength. They do not vote for Sanjay, but are divided between the Congress and the BRS. That is why, he is adopting an aggressive Hindutva approach to attract as many Hindu votes as possible, Karunagar said.

People familiar with the matter said the majority of Muslims might tilt towards Congress candidate Purmulla Srinivas this time, as sitting BRS MLA Gangula Kamalakar has done little for them in the last two terms. Moreover, there are allegations that he had encroached upon 14 acres of Wakf land and built his farmhouse on it. This has angered the local Muslims, a local digital media journalist G Murali said.

Kamalakar, who had already won the seat thrice  first on TDP ticket in 2009 and later on BRS ticket in 2014 and 2018, is solely banking on the welfare schemes taken up by the KCR government.

Kamalakar has a strong backing of KCR, who has in fact made Karimnagar his home town and constructed his own house there. Secondly, right from the beginning, Karimnagar has been dominated politically by the Velama community (to which KCR belongs), who had represented this constituency nine times in the past. Needless to say, the 40,000-strong Velama voters prefer to vote for the BRS, Murali said.

Congress candidate Srinivas, who was a zilla parishad member from Karimnagar (rural), defected from the BRS only recently. Apart from his own Munnuru Kapu community, he is confident of getting the support from 22,000-strong Reddy voters, Muslims and Dalits.

He has been getting a lot of traction from urban youth in Karimnagar and he is extensively campaigning the six-guarantees announced by the Congress.

There is a strong anti-incumbency against Kamalakar. If the voters want to give a chance to a new face, then the Congress has an advantage. But there is a sympathy factor working in favour of Sanjay, as he lost the seat twice in the past. So, it is a tricky situation, a local fruit vendor M Mahender said.
Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities that make up for about 8.6% of the countrys total population as per the 2011 census and can sway electoral outcomes in a clutch of states have been a constituency that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pursued to not only improve its performance in polls but also to consolidate its Hindutva vote bank, which includes a coalition of castes and tribes.

Of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, 57 are reserved for ST candidates, spread mostly across 17 states and Union territories. While STs make up for the bulk of the population in the states in the Northeast, they are present in substantial numbers in states such as Chhattisgarh (30.6%); Jharkhand (26.2%); Madhya Pradesh (21.1%); and Gujarat (14.8%) where their impact is not just limited to ST reserved constituencies, but extends to seats that are not reserved for SC or ST candidates as well.

In states, of the total 4,033 assembly seats (excluding Jammu and Kashmir) 545 are reserved for STs, thereby establishing themselves as a constituency with political heft that all parties compete for.

For instance, in MP, where polling was held on November 17, there are 47 of the total 230 seats reserved for tribal communities, but political leaders claim that their influence can impact elections in over 80 seats.

Thats the reason why both the Congress and BJP are vying to win the votes of the tribal communities in the state, making poll promises, ranging from more schemes and financial aid to more autonomy through the implementation of Schedule VI, which allows autonomous administrative divisions with some legislative, judicial, and administrative autonomy within a state.

In the previous election, the Congress bagged 31 of the 47 ST seats, which gave it an edge over the BJP and helped it win the election. The BJP, however, returned to power in 2020 after a section of Congress leaders, led by senior leader and union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the party.

Key to poll outcome

The BJPs electoral debacle in 2018 in MP, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and later in Jharkhand in 2019 was attributed largely to the STs cold-shouldering the party.

In Chhattisgarh for instance, where the BJP won just 15 of the 90 seats, after being in power for three terms, the party concluded that the delay in handing out land rights to STs apart from the sluggish rollout of schemes was the reason for a sense of alienation developing among the tribes that in turn cost them the election.

This time, for the assembly poll held on November 4 and 17, the party made a head start by identifying weak seats and announcing candidates, including former ministers and lawmakers well in time.

Given the impact of freebies and sops, in elections, the BJP in Chhattisgarh seems to have addressed both economic and ideological issues. On the one hand, it promised Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana, a free pilgrimage to Ayodhya, on the other it promised paddy procurement at 3,100 per quintal, cooking gas cylinders at 500 to poor families, and financial aid to married women and landless agricultural labourers. Reaching out to the STs in particular, the party promised to buy tendu leaves at 5,500 per standard bag. The collection of tendu leaves, counted as a minor forest produce, is the mainstay for a sizeable ST population in the state.

Consolidation of Hindu vote bank

While the partys outreach towards the STs is mounted on the governments social welfare schemes, some of which are tailored for the tribes, such as the programme to eliminate sickle-cell anaemia; giving land rights to forest dwellers and better remuneration for their produce and products; its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has its network of foot soldiers working in the tribal areas to prevent conversion.

Through its offshoot, the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (VKA), the RSS has been running residential schools, self-help groups for women, and healthcare facilities among the tribals to prevent missionaries from carrying out conversion through inducement or fear. This exercise is crucial to the consolidation of the Hindu vote bank.

The BJP and the RSS have periodically flagged conversions for changing the demographic in tribal areas, particularly in the Northeast. The VKA had begun a campaign to prevent STs who have converted to Islam or Christianity from benefitting from caste-based quotas in education and government jobs.

With the Opposition running campaigns against the BJP government and citing poor economic growth, and lack of jobs and employment opportunities in tribal areas, the government has been nudged to come up with more schemes and incentives. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new development mission aimed at particularly vulnerable tribal groups or PVTGs to provide amenities, road and telecom connectivity, and improved access to education, health care and nutrition to marginalised tribespeople.

The Pradhan Mantri PVTG Development Mission was launched on the birthday anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda and a day celebrated as the Jan Jaatiya Gaurav Divas to honour the contribution of freedom fighters from tribal communities.

The mission, pegged at 24,000 crore, is designed to improve the socio-economic conditions of 2.8 million PVTGs spread across 22,544 villages in 18 states and Union territories. A large number of these PVTGs inhabit inaccessible areas with little or no facilities, including roads, electricity, housing, drinking water, sanitation and livelihood opportunities.

Political empowerment and recognition for icons

The party also claims to give political representation to STs and a seat at the high table. The appointment of Droupadi Murmu, who hails from the Santhal tribe in Odisha as President has been presented as evidence of the BJP walking the talk on the empowerment of the marginalised.

It has also begun a concerted campaign to felicitate and celebrate tribal icons from Rani Gaidinliu, the legendary Naga freedom fighter to a local deity Shambumata in MPs Jhabua.

This is in acknowledgement of the impact that recognition of tribal icons has on building bridges with the communities. Since it came to power at the centre in 2014, the BJP and the RSS have led celebrations of tribal icons. A senior leader of the RSS explained that it is critical to strengthen outreach among the tribal communities as it helps in establishing positive reinforcement about the communities and the role they played in Indias freedom struggle.

The party is hopeful that its ongoing outreach will help steer its performance in the upcoming general election. In 2019, of the total 47 ST reserved seats, the party won 31.
Violence in this northeastern state roiled by an ethnic conflict since early May has ebbed, but some of the dead continue to pay a price. There are 94 bodies in three mortuaries, two in Imphal and one in Churachandpur, that are yet to be claimed by their families. BSF personnel stand guard outside a morgue at JNIMS in Imphal on Thursday. (HT Photo)

One of the 94 is of Lalboi Lhungdim(32), who was beaten to death by a mob in Imphal on May 4. In M Songgel village, about 2 km from Churachandpur market, Ngamthang Lhungdin, is watching the local TCN cable network to track the latest updates related to the bodies .

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Also read: Kuki group suspends economic blockade in Manipur

Desperate to bring his son home, one final time, Ngamthang was tracking the news on Wednesday in the backdrop of Supreme Courts latest directives in the matter.

On November 28, the Supreme Court issued directives for the burial or cremation of all those killed in the ethnic violence in the state, including 88 that have been identified, but not claimed by their next of kin, by December 11. Either the relatives of the deceased can accept the bodies and perform their last rites at any of the nine burial sites identified by the Manipur government, or the state can go ahead and do the same in accordance with the municipal law, the court ordered.

There are 54 bodies at two mortuaries in Imphal and 40 at the Churachandpur mortuary. Four bodies in Churachandpur are of Meities. Most Meitei families have already claimed the bodies of their kin.The 54 bodies from Imphal could not be brought out and handed to their Kuki families because of security reasons. The bodies have to be transported via different Meitei majority areas on NH2 to reach Churachandpur. The Kuki bodies in Churachandpur, a Kuki area, pose no problem -- but the tribal body representing Kukis wants those bodies to stay in the mortuary in Churachandpur till the bodies of Kukis from Imphal can be brought there for a mass burial. And the state seems reluctant to do so.

HT reached out to state health minister Sapam Ranjan Singh over phone calls and text messages but did not get a response immediately.

On August 3, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum(ITFL), an influential Churachandpur based tribal body, announced a mass burial for all Kukis at a disputed site. The state government rejected the site and the very idea of a mass burial. Despite meetings with Centre, there was no headway until Tuesday when the SC said it would not leave the pot boiling. The apex court directed relatives to accept bodies and bury them at the nine identified sites; it said the state could go ahead and do the same if the bodies remained unclaimed for over one weeks.

The families have to decide by December 11.

 ITLF is handling the case for Kukis and we trust them. But ITLF and the government must sit down and decide fast. I want to bring my sons body home for just a few hours and lay him to rest after that. Just five days before he was murdered, he had become a father. I have accepted our fate. I also accept any site for burial as long as it is in a hill district and not in the valley(Imphal), Ngamthang said.

Lhungdim is not alone. Across the hill districts, there are many families awaiting the ITLF and the state government to come to a consensus and settle the matter amicably.

Around 5 km from Churachandpur market, within the premises of the Evalengical Churches Association(ECA) church in D Phailan village, is a relief camp.

Janghem Toiuthang(76) and his wife Mangling(75) are among the oldest people in the camp -- and they too, are hoping that the ITLF and the state government will come up with a solution. The body of their son, Jangpao Toiuthang, who was shot dead on June 9, has been lying at the Churachandpur hospital. ITLF planned to bring all bodies, including ones from Imphal, and then hold a funeral.

We heard from the people in the relief camp about the latest court order. We trust the ITLF but they have to settle the matter soon. We want our son home now. We should not disrespect the dead like this. But we will not let the state government bury Kukis in Imphal, Mangling said.

The ethnic clashes between Kukis and Meiteis have divided them geographically. Kukis live in hill districts such as Churachandpur while Meiteis reside in Imphal and other valley areas. The area between them is guarded by security forces.

ITLF spokesperson, Ginza Vualzong, said, The state government is not ready to hand over the bodies citing various issues. Few weeks ago, senior home ministry officials came to Lamka(Churachandpur) to discuss the burial but no consensus could be reached.

Officials aware of matter said the Intelligence Bureau(IB) has been holding regular meetings for a peaceful resolution on burying of bodies.

Top security officials on the ground said that it would be a logistical challenge to transport bodies from Imphal to Churachandpur.

Either the bodies will have to be airlifted and brought to Churachandpur or the forces will have to sanitise the entire 60-65 km route between Imphal and Churachandpur. All agencies have to ensure that no person tries to fuel tension when it is passing along Meitei areas. On seeing so many coffins of ethnic clash victims, there will be tension, one officer added on condition of anonymity.

On Wednesday, when this reporter visited the Churachandpur district hospital, armed CRPF personnel were guarding the mortuary. No outsider was allowed near it.

The officer cited above also said it wasnt clear if Meitei groups in Imphal would allow the bodies to be brought out of the mortuary. On multiple occasions since June, Imphal residents have gathered outside mortuaries seeking to prevent the government from handing the bodies of the Kukis.

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between Meiteis, based primarily in Imphal Valley, and tribal Kukis, who are in majority in nearby hill districts, since May 3. The violence has killed at least 181 and displaced 50,000.
The US justice department on Wednesday indicted a 52-year-old Indian national who allegedly worked at the direction of an unnamed Indian government employee to plot the killing of a Sikh separatist, days after reports suggested that American authorities thwarted a plot to kill pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. HT Image

Federal prosecutors told a Manhattan court that 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, worked with the Indian government employee, who was not identified in the document and only referred to as CC1, as part of a $100,000 plot to kill a prominent separatist leader.

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Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta, who lives in India on June 30 in the Czech Republic through a bilateral extradition treaty and he is currently awaiting extradition to the US, the indictment added.

The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, said US Attorney Damian Williams in the indictment.

CC-1 was employed at all times relevant to this Indictment by the Indian government, resides in India, and directed the assassination plot from India, the indictment added, saying the Indian government employee recruited Gupta last May.

The indictment is expected to complicate the issue of reported US allegations of an Indian link to an attempt to kill Pannun. The development came barely two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered a storm by alleging that there was a credible link between Indian government agents and the slaying of another Khalistani leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in the town of Surrey in June.

The indictment referred to the employee serving in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and receiving training in battle craft and weapons.

A US justice department statement said that, on the officials direction, Gupta contacted an individual for the alleged plot who turned out to be a confidential source working with US law enforcement. The source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in reality an undercover US law enforcement officer (the UC), the indictment said.

CC-1 subsequently agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the victim. On or about June 9, CC-1 and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. CC-1s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan, the statement added. It also attached a photograph of the alleged transfer.

There was no immediate word from Indian officials on the allegations in the indictment filed against Gupta.

Earlier in the day, India had said it had set up a high-level inquiry committee to examine allegations of a conspiracy to kill Pannun, a senior leader of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on US soil. External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian government constituted the inquiry committee on November 18 to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter.

Though the court documents didnt name the target of the alleged assassination plot, The Washington Post cited unnamed US administration officials as saying that the victim was Pannun. To be sure, an indictment is only an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The White House declined to comment directly on the charges against Gupta, but stressed administration officials acted quickly. When we were made aware of the fact that the defendant in this case had credibly indicated that he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.

The US department of justice said in a statement that earlier this year, CC-1, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.

Gupta is an Indian national who resides in India, is an associate of CC-1 and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others, the statement said.

CC-1 is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a Senior Field Officer with responsibilities in Security Management and Intelligence, and who also has referenced previously serving in Indias Central Reserve Police Force and receiving officer training in battle craft and weapons. CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India, the statement added.

The US department of justice said that in or about May 2023, CC-1 allegedly recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States. The court documents described the victim as a vocal critic of the Indian government [who] leads a US-based organisation that advocates for the secession of Punjab.

In or about June this year, CC-1 provided Gupta with personal information about the Victim, including the Victims home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the Victim, and details about the Victims day-to-day conduct, which Gupta then passed to the UC, the statement said.

CC-1 directed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which Gupta accomplished by forwarding to CC-1, among other things, surveillance photographs of the Victim, it added.

Gupta allegedly directed the hitman -- undercover law enforcement officer (UC) -- to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but he also specifically instructed the undercover officer not to commit the murder around the time of anticipated engagements scheduled to occur in the ensuing weeks between high-level US and Indian government officials, the statement further said.

The court documents also referred to the murder of Nijjar, describing him as an associate of the Victim, and a leader of the Sikh separatist movement.

Gupta allegedly said that, in light of Nijjars murder, there was now no need to wait on killing the victim. On or about June 20, CC-1 allegedly sent Gupta a news article about the victim and messaged: [i]ts [a] priority now.

Gupta has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The case against Gupta is being investigated by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the counter-intelligence division of the Federal Bureau of Investigations New York field office.

On November 22, the Financial Times reported that American authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun on US soil. The Joe Biden administration, too, confirmed that the US, at the senior most levels, raised the concern with India and expected those deemed responsible to be held accountable. India, according to the US, was surprised and concerned when the issue was raised, and told Washington DC that this was not government policy and it will investigate the matter.
John Kerry, US climate envoy, on Wednesday said the US will support language on phasing out unabated fossil fuels in the UN Climate Summits (COP28) outcome document. US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. (REUTERS)

In a joint statement after a meeting in Sapporo, Japan, in May, climate ministers of the G7, a grouping of wealthy nations, agreed to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels so as to achieve net zero in energy systems by 2050 at the latest. However, they did not set a firm date for doing so.

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We supported language requiring the phase-out of unabated fossil fuel, and we will continue to support that language. We supported it at the G7 and we support it now. We find it hard for anybody to understand how they would continue to allow unabated burning of fossil fuel in the world were living in, knowing what we know about the dangers. So, we do support an outcome in the global stocktake that builds on the G7 commitment to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels, and to achieve net-zero emissions in all energy systems by mid-century, Kerry said during a press briefing ahead of COP28s opening day in Dubai.

We still have people who have not signed up to that. They are, some of them, among the major producers of fossil fuel, and they need to immediately step up and be part of the solution, not the most significant part of the problem. And we hope we can send a very strong signal that the nations of the world are committed to work together to transition away from fossil fuel emissions in the next three decades. Period. Its critical, he added.

Kerry also added that US agrees with the outcome on operationalising the Loss and Damage fund in Abu Dhabi earlier this month. He however, clarified that US agrees to language that there is no liability or compensation associated with the fund. The Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage reached an agreement on operationalising the Loss and Damage fund late on November 4 in Abu Dhabi but with US objecting to the outcome. The final text was adopted late that night, but US and developing countries had several reservations to the text. The US wanted to withdraw support because it insisted the text make it clear that contributions to the fund are voluntary in nature.

The US fully supports the consensus reached by the Transitional Committee on Loss and Damage, reached earlier this month. We think this fund the way it is designed will meet the needs of the vulnerable countries. We worked hard to ensure this fund can act quickly by making the World Bank the initial repository, Kerry said.

This fund will meet recovery needs, damages from storms, moving people from harms way.. this fund has the pieces that we think need to be addressed, he said adding: I think its important that the fund doesnt represent any expression of liability or compensation or any new legal requirements but it is going to be there for those in the developing world who are facing the brunt and whose citizens in many cases are facing the consequences of not being able to adapt.

Kerry further said that Global Stocktake is a unique opportunity to rally the world to significantly step up collective efforts to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

We will stay focused on securing strong outcomes on three mandated negotiated issues goals 1. GST 2. Adaptation report 3. Standing up of the Loss and Damage fund, he said highlighting the focus areas for US.

Kerry said the GST needs to urge credibility of the world by being candid, strong, visionary and comprehensive and needs to layout for the world whats happened since Paris.

At the time of Paris we were headed to 3.7 to 4 degree warming and now at 2.5 to 2.7 degree depends on who you are talking to. If promises are fulfilled, you could be at 1.7 to 1.8 degrees. Not everybody is doing what they promised to do and that is a problem for the lack of follow through by some, he said.

Kerry said action on methane emissions globally will be one of the major focus areas for US in terms of non-negotiated outcomes.

Methane is responsible for 50% of global heating that has taken place. Its far more damaging and destructive that CO2. We also think its the easiest, quickest, fastest and cheapest way to begin to get gains against the warming. So, there will be major focus on methane he added.

HT had reported on November 19 that the US plans to focus on pushing for curbs on methane emission globally in a big way at the upcoming UN climate conference to be held in Dubai, officials said in a briefing. The US, China and the United Arab Emirates will also hold a methane and other non- greenhouse gas summit during COP28.

China and India have not signed the Global Methane Pledge yet, according to the International Energy Agency. The pledge was launched by the US and the European Union at the 2021 climate summit in Glasgow. Around 110 countries have committed to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions from human activity by at least 30% compared with 2020 levels by 2030.

The major source of methane are anthropogenic sources, especially agriculture, followed by the oil and gas sector and waste, the IEA said. Methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than carbon dioxide (around 12 years compared with centuries for CO2), but it is a much more potent greenhouse gas, absorbing much more energy while it exists in the atmosphere, the agency added.

India had not signed the methane pledge mainly because of its potential repercussions for small and medium farmers and the agricultural sector.

On a question raised in the Rajya Sabha in 2021 on why India is not a signatory to the pledge, the environment ministry said that in the context of food security, Indias methane emissions are survival emissions.

The distinction between phasing down and phasing out fossil fuels is crucial in climate discourse. Phasing out signifies a definitive end to the use of fossil fuels, aligning with urgent climate goals. In contrast, phasing down suggests a gradual reduction without a clear or specific timeline, potentially prolonging reliance on these energy sources. The inclusion of unabated in commitments often serves as a loophole. It allows continued fossil fuel use in manufacturing sectors such as steel and cement, under the guise of emission reduction technologies which are often ineffective and unreliable. This subtle language can provide a free pass to polluters, enabling them to extend fossil fuel exploitation under the pretext of gradual reduction or technological mitigation, ultimately undermining global climate action, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.
In the end, it was the most unheralded lot who stood tallest. As clouds of unease and uncertainty swarmed over the mountains of Silkyara, as glitch after glitch delayed freedom for 41 workers trapped in an under-construction tunnel for 17 days, an unsung group of miners took charge. Feroze Qureshi, one of the 12-member team of 'rat-hole' miners from Rockwell Enterprises who successfully rescued the 41 trapped workers from the under-construction Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel, in Uttarkashi district on Wednesday. (PTI)

Twelve men, armed only with shovels, spades, hammers and drills, spent 24 hours holed into a narrow pipe, ploughing through a wall of debris in a desperate attempt to get to those trapped men. At the end of the 24 hours, these 12 men got the job done without a fuss  the labourers emerged, shaken and scarred, but safe.

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Where modern machinery turned into stoppable forces in the face of a seemingly immovable object, this group was clinical.

Theyre known as rat-hole miners or rat miners  a term equating the work they do with rodents movements. And their heroic rescue has cast the spotlight on an occupation thats outlawed across India, but is still prevalent in some mines and construction sites.

It was a difficult task. But nothing is difficult for us, said a beaming Feroze Qureshi, one of the rat miners who not only rescued the trapped workers, but doused a nations collective anxiety.

Rat-hole mining refers to the practice of burrowing through mines manually using hand-held tools, a practice that is effective at navigating packed spaces but is illegal, given that it severely risks the lives of workers, who wear no protective gear and are paid little.

The practice is still largely prevalent in Meghalaya, though most rat miners only find work cleaning sewage lines in megapolises.

In Uttarkashi, as a host of rescue techniques collapsed, when global tunnelling experts armed with excavators, auger machines and boring machines failed, it fell upon these 12 men, who clean sewers in Delhi and Ahmedabad, to extricate their compatriots. When we saw the trapped workers inside the tunnel after the breakthrough, we hugged them like they were family, said Nasir Hussain, one of the 12 miners.

An auger machine built in the US drilled through 46.8mm of the 57m-thick wall of debris over a week before its blades snapped in the face of stern rock on November 24.

Finally, the rat miners were parachuted in on the evening of November 27 as a last-resort to clear out the last 12m of rubble.

Wakeel Hassan, Monu Kumar, Feroze Qureshi, Nasir Khan, Munna Qureshi, Irshad Ansari, Rashid Ansari, Naseem Malik, Devender Kumar, Ankur, Jatin and Saurabh worked in shifts of three to cut through the rock.

One person would drill through the rock, the second collected the debris and the third pushed it out of the pipe through a wheeled trolley.

They worked for nearly 24 hours without a break.

Where machines cant go, our hands can. Our work involves laying underground sewer and water pipelines where machines cant be used  like railway lines, road crossings, and narrow lanes. We use hand-held tools like hoes to dig through and trolleys to dispose of the rubble, said Feroze.

Ferozes brother and fellow miner Munna said they had told the officials heading the rescue operations that they would remove the debris in 24 hours. Our team made a commitment, and we stuck by what we said.

But, Feroze said, their work is ridiculed and humiliated.

We are treated terribly because of the work we do, said Feroze, who now lives in Kasganj district in western Uttar Pradesh.

Society doesnt give our work much respect. Even our superiors dont treat us with respect.

Indeed, over the years, rat mining has claimed many lives. Most recently, at least 15 rat miners were killed in a mine in Meghalaya after being trapped for more than a month between December 2018 and January 2019.

The Uttarkashi rescue will most certainly be a turning point in their lives, one way or another.

Monu Kumar, for instance, said he found succour where he never had before.

My father called me and said he was proud of me. This is the first time he has appreciated the work I do. Munna agreed. We are being treated like heroes, he said.

Hopefully, it brings a change in our society and our work should not be looked down upon, he said.

Complimenting them, National Disaster Management Authority member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Husnain said the rat-miners did a phenomenal job by digging about 12 meters in less than 24 hours.

Rat-hole mining may be illegal but their talent and experience has helped us to rescue the workers, he said.

And in the end, the 41 survivors walked out into the light standing on the shoulders of giants.
It is virtually certain that 2023 will be the warmest year in the 174-year observational record surpassing the previous joint warmest years, 2016 at around 1.29C above the 18501900 average, and 2020 at 1.27C, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)s provisional State of the Global Climate report based on the data until October. The difference between 2023, 2016, and 2020 is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking. The report was published to inform negotiations at the UN Climate Summit (COP28) in Dubai that began on Thursday. (AP)

The temperature until October was about 1.40C above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline.The Paris Agreement sets long-term goals to guide nations to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2C while pursuing efforts to limit the increase even further to 1.5C to avoid or reduce adverse impacts and related losses and damages.

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That a month or months exceeds the 1.5C limit does not mean it will permanently exceed the level specified in the agreement. But scientists have flagged that severe warming this year will have widespread repercussions.

The WMO report, which was published to inform negotiations at the UN Climate Summit (COP28) that began in Dubai on Thursday, combines input from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, regional climate centres, UN partners, and climate scientists. The temperature figures are a consolidation of six leading international datasets.

The final State of the Global Climate 2023 report, along with regional reports, will be published in the first half of 2024. The provisional report said record monthly global temperatures have been observed for the ocean  from April through to October  and, starting slightly later, the land  from July through to October.

The past nine years, from 2015 to 2023, were the warmest on record. The warming El Nino event, which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer, is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Nino typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks, the report said. Greenhouse gas levels were also at a record high in 2022 and continued to increase this year.

WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said it is a deafening cacophony of broken records. These are more than just statistics. We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said record global heating should send shivers down the spines of world leaders. And it should trigger them to act. He added they have a road map to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5C and avoid the worst of climate chaos. But we need leaders to fire the starting gun at COP28 in a race to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive: By setting clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and committing to the partnerships and finance to make them possible; by committing to triple renewables and double energy efficiency; and committing to phase out fossil fuels, with a clear time frame aligned to the 1.5-degree limit. He called for going further and faster in protecting people from climate chaos.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are 50% higher than in the pre-industrial era, trapping heat in the atmosphere. The long lifetime of CO2 means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come, the WMO said. The rate of sea level rise from 2013-2022 is more than twice the rate of the first decade of the satellite record (1993-2002) because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers.

The maximum Antarctic sea-ice extent for the year was the lowest on record. Glaciers in North America and Europe once again suffered an extreme melt season. Swiss glaciers have lost about 10% of their remaining volume in the past two years, the report said.

Extreme weather and climate events, including floods, tropical cyclones, extreme heat and drought, and associated wildfires, had major impacts on all continents.

Flooding associated with extreme rainfall from Mediterranean Cyclone Daniel affected Greece, Bulgaria, Turkiye, and Libya with a particularly heavy loss of life in Libya in September. Tropical Cyclone Freddy in February and March was one of the worlds longest-lived tropical cyclones with major impacts on Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. Tropical Cyclone Mocha in May was one of the most intense cyclones ever in the Bay of Bengal.

Some of the most significant extreme heat events were in Southern Europe and North Africa, especially in the second half of July where severe and exceptionally persistent heat occurred. Temperatures in Italy reached 48.2C, and record-high temperatures were reported in Tunis 49.0 C, Agadir (Morocco) 50.4 C and Algiers (Algeria) 49.2 C.

Canadas wildfire season was well beyond any previously recorded. Five consecutive seasons of drought in the Greater Horn of Africa were followed by floods, triggering even more displacements. The drought reduced the capacity of the soil to absorb water, which increased flood risk.

Long-term drought intensified in many parts of Central America and South America.

Climate Action Network International global political strategy head Harjeet Singh said the WMO report serves as a grim harbinger, highlighting the irreversible damage inflicted on glaciers, sea levels, and the very essence of the global climate system. This warning is one we cannot afford to overlook, as the urgency for action resonates now louder than ever. The turmoil caused by record-high temperatures and catastrophic climate impacts is intrinsically linked to the unprecedented surge in greenhouse gases, a direct consequence of rampant fossil fuel use.

Singh said the world needs immediate and audacious action at the COP28 a definitive road map and timeline for a fair and equitable phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. It is indisputable that wealthier nations, bearing historical responsibility, must lead the way in decisively shifting from their reliance on fossil fuels to embracing renewable energy sources. Furthermore, they have a crucial role in providing financial support to developing nations, where millions not only face poverty and inadequate access to energy but are also being battered by escalating climate disasters.
Pakistan Rangers did not have definite answers and gave excuses when confronted on violating the ceasefire agreement in Samba on November 9, in which a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed, BSF director general (DG) Nitin Agarwal said on Thursday. HT Photo

Addressing a BSF press conference in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand on Thursday, he said, The jury is still out on why they violated the ceasefire. When we raised the issue with them (Pak Rangers) during a flag meeting, they did not have answers and gave excuses.

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Agarwal said a befitting response was given to the unprovoked firing resulting in casualties on the Pakistani side.

We gave a befitting reply to the unprovoked firing and there were casualties on the Pakistani side. I want to assure you that the border is completely secure, he said.

A BSF jawan, head constable Lal Fam Kima, was killed after Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked firing from automatic weapons along the International Border (IB) in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district on November 9. This was the third major ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Ranger, since October 17. Overall, Pakistani forces have violated the ceasefire at least four times this year.

Officials who did not want to be named said at least seven Pak Rangers personnel were killed in retaliatory firing by BSF following the violation on November 9.

The decision to recommit to the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was taken after a meeting between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on February 24-25, 2021.

In 2021, 72 such cross-border firing incidents were recorded at the international border and Line of Control (LoC), but most were before the two sides agreed to hold the ceasefire.

Prior to this, incidents of cross-border firing on patrolling troops, villagers, the Indian army and BSF forward posts were recorded every year in thousands. In 2020, close to 5,133 incidents of ceasefire violations the highest since 2003, while 3,479 violations were registered in 2019 when the Indian government revoked Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir.

Article 370 somewhat gave special status to the erstwhile state, bifurcated into two union territories  Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

On the drone menace at the western border, the BSG DG said that a whopping 90 drones sent to the Indian side by Pakistan to drop weapons, ammunition, narcotics, explosives and cash meant for terror activities were shot down by the BSF between November 2022 and October this year.

81 of these were shot down in Punjab alone, while nine were recovered in Rajasthan. During this period, 895 kg of drugs, 44 weapons, including automatic rifles and 634 ammunition were seized, the majority of which were sent using drones.

A large number of drones seized after being shot down or jammed using anti-drone technology were found to be procured from China, Agrawal said, adding that drone intrusions from the Pakistan side of the border have increased significantly.

Overall, a senior BSF officer, who declined to be named, said there were a whopping 450 drone sightings crossing the border in the past year.

In 2022, there were a total of 300 drone intrusions recorded at the border while 22 such unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were shot down or recovered. In 2021, 97 drone intrusion incidents were recorded while only one was recovered.

A large quantity of arms and drugs etc are being smuggled to India from Pakistan using drones. But we are using different technologies to deal with the menace. We have deployed some hand-held static and vehicle-mounted anti-drone systems to counter the increasing threat of drones on the Indo-Pak border. As a result, several drones have been shot down at the western border, Agrawal added.

On the types of drones available to smugglers and terrorists in Pakistan, Agrawal said, The forensic analysis of recovered drones reveals they are capable of dropping payloads. The drones are of different sizes and capabilities; and are mostly Chinese made.

A senior BSF officer who declined to be named, said The drones which can carry payloads up to 25-30 kgs, spying by taking videos and clicking high definition photos are being sent.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also investigating about a dozen cases related to the use of drones for smuggling of weapons such as pistols, revolvers, explosives like RDX, readymade tiffin Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) AK-47 rifles, detonators, grenades, drugs and cash in Punjab as well as Jammu and Kashmir since 2021.

Its probe has revealed that Pakistani spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence, Kashmir-based terror outfits and pro-Khalistan elements (PKEs) have stepped up the use of drones in the last couple of years.

The low-cost drones are procured from China and assembled in Pakistan, said an NIA officer.

Outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), The Resistance Front (TRF) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have trained their cadres in using drones as it gives them the advantage of sending consignments to sleeper cells/overground workers (OGWs) without being caught.
The US Justice Department on Wednesday charged an Indian in connection with "his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin in New York". The man has been named Nikhil Gupta aka Nick and 'murder-for-hire' charges have been pressed against him. The Justice Department document did not name the citizen but came after the Financial Times' report of an alleged assassination plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The charge comes after the Financial Times reported that there was a bid to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.

Who is Nikhil Gupta? What we know so far

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1. The US Justice Department press release said 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta is an Indian national. He was arrested by the Czech authorities on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

2. An Indian government employee who has not been named in the document but is referred to as CC-1 has been working together with others, including Nikhil Gupta, in India and elsewhere on a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City.

3. Nikhil Gupta has been described as an associate of CC-1. Gupta mentioned his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1 and others, the document said.

4. Nikhil Gupta was recruited by CC-1 in May 2023 to "orchestrate the assassination", it said.

5. Nikhil Gupta contacted an individual whom Gupta believed to be a criminal associate for assistance in contracting a hitman in New York, the document said. However, the individual and the purported hitman were both working with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). The document mentioned that a deal was reached thereafter.

6. In June, Nikhil Gupta was provided with personal information about the target which he passed on to the purported hitman.

7. The document mentioned the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and said Nikhil Gupta told the purported hitman (an undercover officer) that Nijjar was also a target and there were many targets.

8. The document said Nikhil Gupta travelled from India to the Czech Republic on or about June 30 when he was arrested by the authorities at the request of the United States.
Kanakadasa Jayanthi is the birth anniversary of the famous philosopher Kanakadasa. Celebrated on a large scale in Karnataka, the day falls on the 18th day of the Karthika masa of the Hindu calendar every year. It is a public holiday in Karnataka and usually falls in the month of November. This year, the festival falls on November 30. Renowned in Kirtans and Ugabhoga ( Carnatic music compositions in the Kannada language), Kanakadasa was born as Thimmappa Nayaka on December 3, 1509. He grew to become a celebrated philosopher, poet, and musician. His birth anniversary is declared a regional public holiday annually to pay tribute to this great saint and poet. Scroll ahead to learn all you need to know about this day. Kanakadasa was a saint and philosopher who brought about the Bhakti movement in Karnataka.(karnatakatourism.org)

All about Kanakadasa Jayanti

The people of the Kuruba community mainly celebrate the Kanakadasa Jayanti. This year, people are marking the 529th anniversary of the poet, according to the Karnataka tourism official website. A celebration that resonates with the soul of Karnataka, Kanakadasa Jayanti brings together people from all walks of life to honour the revered saint, poet, and philosopher Kanakadasa. On this day, several cultural programs are organised across Karnataka, including lectures on Kanakadasa's life and works, bhajans, and musical concerts. People also offer floral tributes to his portrait on this day.

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Known for his contribution as a social reformer who actively spread the messages of equity and uplifting the social community, Kanakadasa was a devotee of Lord Krishna and a proponent of the Bhakti movement. His compositions reflect a deep sense of devotion and social consciousness. He used the pen name - 'Kaaginele Adikeshava' - for all his songs. Some of his famous works include Nalacharithre, Haribhakthisara, Nrisimhastava, Ramadhanyacharithre and Mohanatarangini.

Reportedly, before becoming a saint, Kanakadasa was a warrior. However, he gave that up and became a Haridasa - servant of god - after he was gravely injured in a battle but survived miraculously. He actively discarded rigid caste-based systems in places of worship. He, along with fellow Haridasa, Purandaradasa, rejected norms by singing and composing Kirtans in the local language, Kannada. Most songs of faith were then composed in Sanskrit, inaccessible to the ordinary people.
Computers and tablets are an increasingly important part of education in school classrooms. 46.7% of the world's primary school classrooms have access to computers, according to UN data, with figures as high as 98% in the EU. A group of German researchers are petitioning to have a better balance of analog and digital tools in kindergarten and primary school classrooms. (DW/Dave Thompson/PA/picture alliance/empics)

Not everyone thinks computers are a benefit in the classroom, though. Ralf Lankau, a professor of media theory at Hochschule Offenbach has said "tablets and laptops do not make children smarter, but dumber"  referring specifically to kids up the age of 10 years.

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Lankau is one of 40 academics who have launched a petition through Germany's "Gesellschaft fur Bildung und Wissen" (Society for Education and Knowledge) to express their concerns about the effects of digital technologies on childhood development.

They are calling for a moratorium on digitization in German schools and kindergartens for children aged 4-11 years.

"The aim is not to ban digital technology, but to return to the task of teaching," Lankau told DW. "We should be asking: What is the learning objective and how can analog and digital media help us achieve it? And not: What new technology is available and how do we use it at school?".

Rethink of digital technology education

The petition comes at a time when German schools are being criticized for falling behind in digitalization.

But Lankau and the other academics want the German Ministry of Education to rethink how technology is used in German kindergartens and classrooms.

Lankau said the current education system doesn't focus on learning and educational benefits of social skills.

"Educational institutions [should] focus on the individual [and how they can] develop according to their own interests and inclinations and become part of the social community," said Lankau.

The main problem, he said, was that IT (information technology) and business associations have determined what happens in schools for 40 years, when we should be asking, "What do you need locally in your school, in terms of staff and possibly also media technology?"

What is the evidence about computers and child development?

Maria Hatzigianni, an expert in early childhood education and digital technologies at the University of West Attica, Greece, said Lankau's comments were part of an old "anti-technology" trend.

"People have been making these comments about computers since the 1990s. Every time a new technology comes out, people panic. Even Socrates, almost 2,500 years ago, said that writing things down will make us forgetful," Hatzigianni told DW.

But how bad is computer use for children really? Is this just another case of adults telling kids to get off their screens, or are the concerns real?

According to Prakash Ranganathan, Director for Center for Cyber Security Research at University of North Dakota in the US, the scientific evidence around the effects of digital technologies on child development is mixed.

"There is some evidence of effects on cognitive development  an inability to focus after computer over-use can lead to [a] passive learning experience which may hinder critical thinking and problem-solving skills. But it's unclear if these potential negative impacts are short or long-lasting," Ranganathan told DW.

Some studies suggest that over-use of computers affects physical health due to sedentary behaviors, including a rise in obesity, sleep disorders and anxiety.

Many of these concerns are connected with wider fears about the effects of the internet and social media on young people, but Ranganathan said we need more research to be sure of the links.

Computers can help child development

Ranganathan said there were huge positives, too.

Both Ranganathan and Hatzigianni highlighted research showing digital technology interventions are effective in enhancing literacy and numeracy skills, manual dexterity, and visuospatial working memory when used in a learning context.

Studies have found children's use of interactive digital technology enhances language learning, executive function (the ability to focus and get things done) and memory skills.

"We have robotics, coding, language learning, functional literacy, maths. Technology is a tool to help us access information and learning to be creative. It helps hugely with metacognition," said Hatzigianni.

Involving children in their education

Hatzigianni has been working with the Greek government to establish digital learning apps for children in kindergartens aged 4-6 years. Hatzigianni said working to create adaptable learning platforms that involve children, teachers and parents together have been the most successful.

"The right question should be: how are we going to use the right technology to enhance learning and improve teaching, not being scared of it," said Hatzigianni.

It's important, said Hatzigianni, for educators to work with children to create healthy digital lives. She criticized the German group for ignoring the input from children: "It's quite ironic that they say they want to teach more critical thinking and analysis in children, but then they take the choice away from children about their own digital education. Did they ever ask for children's active input?"
In today's fast-paced world, the demand for compact and efficient appliances has led to a significant rise in the popularity of the mini fridge. As a versatile and space-saving solution, these tiny powerhouses have become an essential part of modern living, whether in dorm rooms, offices, or cosy studio apartments. This blog delves into the mini refrigerator market, highlighting the most popular mini fridge models that have captured the hearts and kitchens of many. Bring home a mini fridge if your home is small and compact.(Unsplash)

The allure of the best mini fridges lies not just in their size but also in their surprising versatility and functionality. These fridges, though small in stature, are big on features, offering everything from advanced cooling technologies to sleek, designer-friendly aesthetics. As we spotlight the popular mini fridge models, we'll explore the various factors that make them stand out in a crowded marketplace. From energy efficiency to design, capacity to durability, these mini fridges are more than just a place to keep your drinks cold; they are a statement of style and a testament to technological advancement.

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In this fridge spotlight, we will also look at the evolving trends in the mini refrigerator market. The latest models are not only about keeping your food and beverages chilled; they have evolved to include smart features like adjustable shelves, reversible doors, and even connectivity with smart home systems. The best mini fridges now cater to a wide range of needs, proving that size does not limit functionality.

From college students looking for a dorm-friendly option to homeowners seeking an additional cooling space without the bulk of a full-sized fridge, the mini fridge offers the perfect solution. Stay tuned as we unveil the top picks that are not just popular but have redefined convenience and efficiency in the world of compact refrigeration.

Product List

1. Godrej 45 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator With adjustable Temperature (2023 Model, RD CHAMP 45B RF GR SL, Grey Silver)

Take sleek style and reliable refrigeration on the go with this Godrej 45L mini bar refrigerator. The adjustable temperature settings allow you to customize the cooling for whatever you're storing, from drinks to snacks to medicine. The single tempered glass shelf provides ample storage space in a compact design that fits perfectly in small spaces like dorms, home offices, and RVs. The direct cool system and energy efficient compressor keep contents cold without making too much noise, while the adjustable legs keep this mini fridge stable on uneven surfaces. Plus, Godrej backs it with a 5-year warranty on the compressor and 1-year comprehensive coverage, so you can cool with confidence for years to come in a design that adds a touch of modern flair wherever you need a little extra refrigeration.

Specifications of Godrej 45 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator

Capacity: 45 Liters

Energy Rating: 2 Star

Color: Grey Silver

Adjustable Temperature Settings

Single Tempered Glass Shelf

Direct Cool System

Energy Efficient Compressor

Adjustable Legs

5-Year Warranty on Compressor

1-Year Comprehensive Warranty

Pros Cons Adjustable temperature settings for customized cooling Only 2-star energy efficiency rating Compact design suitable for small spaces like dorms and RVs Limited storage capacity due to 45L size Single tempered glass shelf for ample storage May not be suitable for larger food items

B0C8NQGK6L

2. Hisense 45 L 4 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator (RR46D4SBN, Black, 2023 Model)

This mini refrigerator packs big cooling power into a compact frame. The reversible door and bottle bin make it easy to organize your food and beverages, while the chiller zone ensures your items stay perfectly chilled. Built with energy efficiency in mind, this Hisense fridge uses direct cooling technology to keep running costs low while delivering consistent cooling performance for up to 46 litres of storage. With a reversible door that opens from either the left or right, versatile shelving and a quiet yet powerful cooling system, this mini fridge offers a smart, space-saving solution to meet your small-space cooling needs.

Specifications of Hisense 45 L 4 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator

Capacity: 45 Liters

Energy Rating: 4 Star

Color: Black

Reversible Door

Bottle Bin

Chiller Zone

Direct Cooling Technology

Quiet Cooling System

Pros Cons Energy-efficient with a 4-star rating Relatively small 45L capacity Reversible door and bottle bin for easy organization No separate freezer compartment Chiller zone for better cooling Basic design; limited advanced features

B0B3LVY827

3. Haier 42 L 5 Star Mini Bar Single Door Refrigerator Appliances (HRD-55KS, Black Steel)

The Haier 42L compact refrigerator keeps beverages and snacks chilled with direct cool technology and delivers 5-star efficiency, saving you money on energy bills. The black steel exterior and built-in bar handle make it a sleek addition to any kitchen, dorm room or office, while the single door design keeps cold air in and warm air out. With a capacity of 42 liters, this refrigerator is ideal for individuals and small spaces, providing just enough room for the essentials. Backed by a 1-year warranty on the product and 5 years on the compressor, you can chill with confidence that this mini refrigerator will keep your food and drinks cool for years to come.

Specifications of Haier 42 L 5 Star Mini Bar Single Door Refrigerator

Capacity: 42 Liters

Energy Rating: 5 Star

Color: Black Steel

Built-In Bar Handle

Single Door Design

Direct Cool Technology

1-Year Product Warranty

5-Year Compressor Warranty

Pros Cons High energy efficiency with a 5-star rating Slightly smaller 42L capacity Sleek black steel exterior with built-in bar handle No separate freezer section Ideal for small spaces; compact design Limited advanced features 1-year product and 5-year compressor warranty

B0CFVLVD63

Also read: Best 10 mini fridges to buy in 2023

4. Hisense 94 L 3 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator (RR94D4SSN, Silver, 2023 Model)

With an energy-efficient direct-cool design, this compact refrigerator has a spacious 83L fresh food compartment and 11L freezer - ideal for dorms, home offices, or as a second fridge. Organize your food and drinks with adjustable glass shelves, a bottle holder for 2-liter bottles, and a fruit/vegetable bin. The temperature control knob allows you to adjust the cooling to suit your needs, while the reversible door swings either left or right to fit your space. Weighing just under 20kg, this steel-built mini fridge offers convenience and energy savings in a stylish silver finish. Its manual defrost system and 1-year comprehensive warranty provide reliability and peace of mind so you can enjoy crisp snacks and cold drinks wherever you need a mini fridge.

Specifications of Hisense 94 L 3 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator

Capacity: 94 Liters (83L Fresh Food Compartment, 11L Freezer)

Energy Rating: 3 Star

Color: Silver

Adjustable Glass Shelves

Reversible Door

Energy-Efficient Design

Manual Defrost System

1-Year Comprehensive Warranty

Pros Cons Spacious 94L capacity with a separate 11L freezer 3-star energy efficiency rating Adjustable glass shelves for flexible storage Manual defrost system Reversible door for convenient placement Slightly heavier at under 20kg

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5. Blue Star 47 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator With adjustable Temperature (2023 Model, MR60-GB, Graphite - Grey)

This compact Blue Star mini-fridge packs ample 47-liter capacity into a stylish, space-saving design. The reversible door and adjustable temperature control allow you to fit it perfectly into any space in your home while keeping drinks at the perfect chill. The energy-efficient R600a refrigerant and LED lighting help minimize your carbon footprint, while the toughened glass shelves, extra bottle storage, and automatic defrost make it a breeze to use. Perfect for bachelors or students looking for a mini fridge that offers the essential features and reliability in an attractive, space-saving appliance at an affordable price.

Specifications of Blue Star 47 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator

Capacity: 47 Liters

Energy Rating: 2 Star

Color: Graphite Grey

Reversible Door

Adjustable Temperature Control

R600a Refrigerant

LED Lighting

Toughened Glass Shelves

Automatic Defrost

Pros Cons Ample 47-liter capacity in a compact design 2-star energy efficiency rating Reversible door and adjustable temperature control Basic functionality; lacks advanced features Eco-friendly R600a refrigerant and LED lighting Manual defrost required Toughened glass shelves and extra bottle storage

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6. Midea 93 L Direct Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator (MDRD142FGF03, Bright Crystal Gray, 2023 Model)

Tiny yet mighty, this compact Midea refrigerator packs clever cooling into a slim crystal gray frame. Its 93 liter capacity holds enough for weekend snacks and daily essentials, while the reversible door lets you fit it perfectly in any kitchen nook. The three adjustable shelves, bottle rack and spacious drawer provide versatile storage for everything from six-packs to leftovers, keeping items neatly organized and within easy reach. Powered by direct cooling technology that requires no stabilizer, this mini fridge delivers dependable performance and energy efficiency in a sleek, stylish package. Perfect for dorms, home offices, bars or extra fridge duty, the Midea 93L mini refrigerator proves big things do come in small packages.

Specifications of Midea 93 L Direct Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator

Capacity: 93 Liters

Color: Bright Crystal Gray

Reversible Door

Three Adjustable Shelves

Bottle Rack

Spacious Drawer

Direct Cooling Technology

No Stabilizer Required

Pros Cons Large 93-liter capacity in a compact design May require manual defrosting Reversible door for flexible placement Basic design; limited smart features Three adjustable shelves for organized storage

B08XBC1D2P

7. Kelvinator Mini Manual Refrigerator 45 Litres 1 Star Single Door, Silver Grey KRC-B060SGP

The eco-friendly R600a refrigerant keeps food fresh without harming the planet, while an easy-to-clean gasket and 45-liter capacity make it ideal for dorms, home offices or any space needing compact cooling. The reversible door means it fits seamlessly into any layout, and a manual defrost system ensures simple maintenance. Plus, the silver-gray finish adds a stylish touch to your decor. Simply fill this mini fridge with your favorite drinks and snacks and enjoy refreshing convenience whenever you need it, all without cluttering up your limited space. Small in stature yet mighty in function, this Kelvinator mini-fridge brings big cooling power to small spaces.

Specifications of Kelvinator Mini Manual Refrigerator

Capacity: 45 Liters

Energy Rating: 1 Star

Color: Silver Grey

R600a Refrigerant

Easy-to-Clean Gasket

Reversible Door

Manual Defrost System

Pros Cons Eco-friendly R600a refrigerant Low 1-star energy efficiency rating Easy-to-clean gasket; ideal for dorms and offices Limited capacity of 45 liters Reversible door for convenient installation Manual defrost system

B09GNJ9PSY

Also read: Top 8 mini refrigerators of 2023: Compare your favourite brands

8. Kelvinator 95 Litres 1 Star Single Door Refrigerator (Silver Grey, KRC-A110SGP)

A basic fridge that does the job. This single-door Kelvinator refrigerator keeps things cold using eco-friendly refrigerant without hazardous gasses. The easy-to-clean rubber door strip helps keep things hygienic, while the removable wire shelves make organizing your milk, eggs and leftovers a breeze. The silver gray finish will blend in with your kitchen decor, and the inverter compressor runs quietly at only 42 decibels so it wont disturb conversations. The one star energy rating means higher energy bills, so keep it stocked reasonably full for optimum efficiency.

Specifications of Kelvinator 95 Litres 1 Star Single Door Refrigerator

Capacity: 95 Liters

Energy Rating: 1 Star

Color: Silver Grey

Removable Wire Shelves

Inverter Compressor

Eco-Friendly Refrigerant

Runs at 42 Decibels

Pros Cons Larger 95-liter capacity for more storage 1-star energy rating means less efficiency Removable wire shelves for easy organization Basic design with no advanced features Inverter compressor runs quietly Higher energy consumption

B08JKNYCNV

9. HYUNDAI 92 L Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator Appliance (Silky Grey)

The Hyundai 92L mini refrigerator has a roomy 88L fresh food compartment and 7L freezer, making it ideal for dorms, home offices, or as a secondary fridge. Its single glass door, 2 adjustable shelves, and 1 drawer provide ample storage for snacks, drinks, and small meals. The silky gray finish gives this mini fridge a sophisticated look that seamlessly fits into any modern space. Plus, with its low energy consumption and manual defrost system, this fridge is an eco-conscious choice. So say goodbye to lukewarm leftovers and warm beverages - with the Hyundai 92L mini fridge, you'll always have access to chilled refreshments right at your fingertips.

Specifications of HYUNDAI 92 L Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator

Capacity: 92 Liters (88L Fresh Food Compartment, 7L Freezer)

Color: Silky Grey

Single Glass Door

2 Adjustable Shelves

1 Drawer

Low Energy Consumption

Manual Defrost System

Pros Cons Spacious 92L capacity with separate freezer section May not be the most energy-efficient model 2 adjustable shelves and 1 drawer for organized storage Manual defrost required Silky grey finish suits modern interiors Lacks advanced technological features

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Top three features for you:

Product Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 Godrej 45 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator Adjustable Temperature Settings Energy Efficient Compressor 5-Year Warranty on Compressor Hisense 45 L 4 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator 4-Star Energy Efficiency Reversible Door Chiller Zone Haier 42 L 5 Star Mini Bar Single Door Refrigerator 5-Star Energy Rating Sleek Black Steel Exterior Direct Cool Technology Hisense 94 L 3 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator Spacious 94L Capacity Adjustable Glass Shelves Energy-Efficient Design Blue Star 47 L 2 Star Minibar Refrigerator 47-Liter Capacity Reversible Door Eco-Friendly R600a Refrigerant Midea 93 L Direct Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator Large 93-Liter Capacity Three Adjustable Shelves Direct Cooling Technology Kelvinator Mini Manual Refrigerator 45 Litres 1 Star Eco-Friendly R600a Refrigerant Easy-to-Clean Gasket Manual Defrost System Kelvinator 95 Litres 1 Star Single Door Refrigerator Large 95-Liter Capacity Removable Wire Shelves Eco-Friendly Refrigerant HYUNDAI 92 L Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator Spacious 92L Capacity Low Energy Consumption Manual Defrost System

Best overall product

Among the various options in the mini refrigerator market, the Hisense 94 L 3 Star Direct-Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator (RR94D4SSN, Silver) stands out as the best overall product. This mini fridge impressively balances ample storage capacity, energy efficiency, and versatile functionality. Its 94-liter capacity, including a dedicated 11L freezer, caters to a wider range of storage needs compared to its counterparts, making it ideal for a variety of settings from dorm rooms to home offices. The adjustable glass shelves offer flexibility in organizing contents, and the energy-efficient design ensures that it is both economical and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, its sleek silver finish adds a touch of elegance, seamlessly blending with any interior decor. This Hisense mini fridge is a smart, space-saving solution that delivers exceptional cooling performance, establishing it as a top pick in the fridge spotlight.

Best value for money product

The Midea 93 L Direct Cool Single Door Mini Refrigerator (MDRD142FGF03, Bright Crystal Gray) emerges as the best value for money product in the mini refrigerator market. This model offers an impressive blend of capacity, efficiency, and practical features at an affordable price, making it an ideal choice for those seeking functionality without a hefty price tag. Its generous 93-liter capacity surpasses many others in its class, providing ample space for a variety of food and drink items. The inclusion of three adjustable shelves and a spacious drawer enhances its utility, allowing for better organization and easy access. Additionally, the direct cooling technology ensures consistent performance and energy efficiency. The sleek crystal gray finish adds a modern touch, making it aesthetically pleasing in any setting. For those looking to maximize their investment in a mini fridge, the Midea 93L model offers the perfect combination of space, functionality, and style, making it a standout choice in the fridge spotlight.

How to buy the best mini fridge?

By considering these factors, you can confidently navigate the mini refrigerator market and select a mini fridge that best suits your personal needs and preferences, ensuring value for money and satisfaction:

Determine Your Space Requirements: Measure the space where you plan to place the mini fridge. Consider both the external dimensions for fitting it in the desired location and the internal capacity to ensure it meets your storage needs.

Energy Efficiency: Look for models with a high energy efficiency rating. A more efficient mini fridge not only saves on electricity bills but is also better for the environment.

Cooling Technology: Choose between a thermoelectric cooler or a compressor-based refrigerator. Thermoelectric models are quieter and more portable, ideal for bedrooms or offices, while compressor fridges offer better cooling and are more suitable for storing perishable items.

Additional Features: Consider features that add convenience, such as adjustable shelves, reversible doors, or a built-in freezer compartment. Features like automatic defrosting can also be a plus.

Noise Level: If you're placing the mini fridge in a bedroom or a quiet office, check the noise level. A quieter model will be less disruptive.

Price and Brand Reputation: Compare prices across different brands and retailers. Don't just go for the cheapest option; consider the brand's reputation for quality and customer service.

Read Reviews: Customer reviews can provide real-world insights into a mini fridge's performance and reliability. Look for consistent patterns in reviews to gauge common strengths and weaknesses.

Warranty and After-sales Service: Check the warranty period and the terms of service. A longer warranty period and accessible customer service can be invaluable for dealing with any issues that might arise.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Animal control officers in Kentucky safely rescued a husky that had gotten stuck in a storm drain. The Lexington-Fayette Animal Care & Control received multiple calls reporting a large dog trapped in the drain and responded to the neighbourhood promptly. Husky stuck inside a storm drain. (Facebook/@LexKYACC)

Thats very unusual for us, sometimes we get calls about ducklings in the spring. But this will be a first for me, Jai Hamilton of Lexington Fayette Animal Care and Control told 12News.

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The husky was rescued from the drain after an officer opened the drain cover and entered. The rescue operation took 30 minutes.

Hamilton added, It was a little hard because hes such a big dog, and picking him up, we dont know his behaviour taking him above the storm drain. But he was a very good boy, and I think he was just excited to get out.

The department even shared a rescue video on Facebook with the caption, This morning, we received several calls regarding a husky that was trapped inside a sewer drain. The husky Sebastian had always wanted to meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but instead, he found himself face to face with a couple of animal control officers! The spunky Sebastian is now safe and sound at our facility and is eagerly waiting to be reunited with his owners! We love happy endings!

Watch the rescue video here:

The video was shared on Facebook on November 27. It has since accumulated over 49,000 views, more than 1,400 reactions, and numerous reshares. Many even flocked to the comments section of this rescue to leave their thoughts.

Check out how people are reacting to this video:

An individual wrote, Sebastian is lucky to have been saved by ACC. Thanks for all the Good Deeds you do to help the animals in need.

Wow! So thankful hes safe, posted another.

A third commented, What a sweetie!

Awesome story! Thank you, shared a fourth.

A fifth added, You all are amazing! So glad hes rescued and safe. Thank you!

Thank you for rescuing him! Hes beautiful! joined a sixth.
Passengers on an Air India flight were left upset after water started to leak through the overhead bins of the flight. A video capturing this incident was shared on X by the user @baldwhiner. Since being posted, it garnered widespread attention on social media. Snapshot of the water leaking from the overhead bins. (X/@baldwhiner)

"Air India. Fly with us, it's not a trip it's an immersive experience." wrote @baldwhiner in the caption of his post. The video he shared shows several passengers resting on one side of the plane while the other end is completely empty as water is dripping down from the overhead bins. At the end of the video, the captain of the flight addresses the issue of water leakage. (Also Read: Delhi-bound Air India flight returned to Kathmandu after pilots heard noise during take-off)

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Watch the video shared on X here:

This post was shared on November 29. Since being posted, it has gained more than six lakh views. The video also has close to 5,000 likes and numerous comments.

Check out what people are saying about this post here:

An individual wrote, "Some left their fully filled water bottle in cabin luggage, that might be the reason this is why they ask us to keep water bottles with us. Don't just simply blame the company."

A second shared, "Can someone ask for a refund in such situations?"

A third added, "Had a similar experience in 2018 Frankfurt to Delhi, just after the takeoff. The flight attendant said nothing to worry about, it was normal and asked me to move toward the kitchen until it stopped. 10 minutes later it was ok, probably some issue with AC."

"Omg, this is pathetic," commented a fourth.

A fifth said, "Hope the passengers are compensated fairly."
Ukraine said Thursday that 10 people including a toddler were injured by simultaneous Russian strikes on three towns in the eastern Donetsk region, with five more missing under rubble. Rescuers work at a site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Novohrodivka, Donetsk region.(via REUTERS)

The industrial region has seen some of the fiercest fighting of Russia's nearly two-year invasion, with the Kremlin claiming to have annexed it last year.

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Ukraine's Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said Russian forces fired six S-300 rockets on Pokrovsk, Novogrodivka and Myrnograd.

"As a result of shelling, 10 people were injured, including four children. Five more people are being searched (for) under the rubble," he said on social media.

In Pokrovsk, Klymenko said the six-month-old baby was wounded alongside boys of 13 and 16.

"One of the shells exploded in the yard of a house where a family with two children lived. As a result of the shelling, the roof and walls of the house were destroyed, and the family was buried under the rubble," he added.

Some of the most intense fighting of recent weeks has been playing out east of the three villages in the frontline town of Avdiivka.

Russian forces and their proxies have controlled large swathes of the Donetsk region since 2014, when large-scale pro-democracy protests in Ukraine led to a separatist conflict in the east.
16 people who were being held hostage in Gaza were handed over to Israeli officials on Wednesday, the second and last day of an extended truce in the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Red Cross and other authorities said. Irena Tati, 73, who was taken hostage during the October 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas sits in a van after arriving in a helicopter carrying hostages released amid a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel.(REUTERS)

In a repeat of scenes over the past six days during a humanitarian pause in hostilities, the civilians were released to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and driven in vehicles to Israel.

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Under the terms of the Qatari-mediated deal, 30 Palestinians -- 16 minors and 14 women -- will be released on Wednesday in exchange, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual citizens, Ansari said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one U.S. dual citizen, he said.

The hostages freed were among some 240 people seized by Hamas gunmen during a rampage into southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed. Israel's bombardment of Gaza in retaliation has killed more than 15,000 Gazans, according to health authorities in the Palestinian enclave.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier identified two Russian-Israeli women freed on Wednesday night as Yelena Trupanov, 50, and Irena Tati, 73. Video from Hamas' armed wing showed the women being handed over to the ICRC and driven out of the Gaza Strip.

TRUCE EXTENSION TALKS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv, his third trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack and was set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Two Palestinian officials told Reuters that talks were continuing over a possible extension of the truce, which is scheduled to expire early on Thursday, but no agreement had yet been reached.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu would convene a security meeting on Wednesday night.

Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Lebanon, was cited by Hamas-affiliated media as saying attempts to extend the truce "have not yet matured, and what we've been presented with so far is not worth studying."

An Israeli official said earlier it would be impossible to extend the ceasefire without a commitment to release all women and children among the hostages. The official said Israel believed that militants were still holding enough women and children to prolong the truce by two to three days.

A Palestinian official said negotiators were hammering out whether Israeli men would be released on different terms than the exchange of three Palestinian detainees for each Israeli hostage that has applied to the women and children.

"Qatar remains hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached," foreign ministry spokesperson Ansari said in his statement.

CLASHES IN WEST BANK

Meanwhile, in a clash in the West Bank city of Jenin between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians, two young males and two militants were killed, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.

An 8-year-old boy, a 15-year-old male and two senior militant commanders died, the report said. The Israeli military said people threw explosive devices at Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire.

The handover of hostages was overshadowed by an unconfirmed claim by Hamas, the largest militant group in Gaza, that a family of Israeli hostages including the youngest hostage, baby Kfir Bibas, had been killed during earlier Israeli bombardment.

Israeli officials said they were checking the Hamas report about the Bibas family, a very emotive issue in Israel where the family - 10-month-old Kfir, his 4-year-old brother Ariel and their mother Shiri - is among the most high-profile hostages.

Relatives of the Bibas family said they had been informed of the Hamas report. "We are waiting for the information to be confirmed and hopefully refuted by military officials," a statement from the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum said.

So far Gaza militants have freed more than 70 Israeli women and children under the deal that secured the war's first truce. Other foreigners, mainly Thai farm workers, were also freed under separate parallel deals. Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara cried when he met Thais released to Israel by Hamas after seven weeks of captivity and said he hoped for freedom soon for the remaining 13 Thai hostages.

Israel has released 180 Palestinian detainees, all women and teenagers.

The initial four-day truce was extended by 48 hours from Tuesday, and Israel says it would be willing to prolong it for as long as Hamas frees 10 hostages a day. But with fewer women and children held, that could mean agreeing to terms governing the release of at least some Israeli men for the first time.

The truce has brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe" and urged the world not to look away.
Six Israeli hostages released in the Gaza Strip returned to Israel late Thursday, the Israeli prime minister's office said, hours before a truce extension was due to expire. A Red Cross bus and delegation arrive outside the Israeli Ofer military prison located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank(AFP)

The release of the six -- four adults, a 17-old girl and an 18-year-old man -- who mediator Qatar said included Uruguayan, Mexican and Russian dual nationals, came after two women, including a French-Israeli dual national, were released earlier in the day.

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That brought the total freed on Thursday to eight, while the truce agreement stipulates that a minimum of 10 Israeli hostages should be released alive each day.

The discrepancy came as mediators pursued discussions to extend the truce, which was due to expire at 0500 GMT on Friday.

A source close to Hamas told AFP that it considered two Russian-Israeli women released on Wednesday in addition to the required 10 as part of the seventh group freed, so that "as a result, the number of (hostages) in the seventh group is 10".

Mediator Qatar appeared to back the calculation.

The agreement requires Israel to release three Palestinian prisoners for every hostage freed, and Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said 30 Palestinians would be released from Israeli prisons, in exchange for a total of 10 hostages, a tally which included "two Russian citizens who were released yesterday".
Two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during the morning rush hour on Thursday at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding eight others, Israeli police said. Iraeli rescuers inspect the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem (AFP)

"The terrorists arrived at the scene by car in the morning, armed with an M-16 rifle and a handgun," police said. "The terrorists began shooting at civilians before subsequently being killed at the scene."

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The shooters came from East Jerusalem and were stopped by off-duty soldiers and another civilian who was nearby, police said.

Security camera footage obtained by Reuters showed the moments of the attack. A white car is seen stopped beside a crowded bus stop. Two men then step out, guns drawn, and run at the crowd as people scatter. Shortly afterwards the Palestinian attackers are gunned down.

"This attack is further proof for our commitment to continue fighting with strength and determination against the murderous terrorism that threatens our citizens," Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's war cabinet, wrote on social media platform X.

A large number of first responders and security forces converged on the area that was crowded with morning commuters, and police said they were working to reopen the street.

"This event proves again how we must not show weakness, that we must speak to Hamas only through the (rifle) scopes, only through the war," said hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the site of the attack.

He added that Israel would continue its policy of easing regulations for issuing gun licences to private citizens.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was visiting Tel Aviv, said Thursday's shooting was a reminder "of the threat from terrorism that Israel and Israelis face every single day ... My heart goes out to the victims of this attack."

The violence came as Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement on Thursday to extend their six-day ceasefire in Gaza by one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in the coastal enclave for Palestinian prisoners.
China is not likely to consider a major invasion of Taiwan for now due to domestic challenges, the island's president Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday, although Beijing is trying to sway its upcoming election. China-Taiwan Conflict: A Chinook helicopter carrying a Taiwan flag flies over the city during the country's National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan.(Reuters)

"I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges," Tsai told the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York.

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"My thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she added in a recorded interview.

Tsai was responding to questions about the risks of an invasion, in the aftermath of a closely watched meeting between the US and Chinese presidents, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, in California this month.

The leaders' talks, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, were aimed at preventing growing tensions from spiraling into conflict.

But Xi and Biden remain far apart on the flashpoint of Taiwan, with the Chinese leader telling his US counterpart that reunification was "unstoppable."

China considers democratic Taiwan its territory, to be taken one day by force if necessary.

For the moment, however, Beijing is grappling with domestic economic, financial and political challenges, Tsai said.

The international community has also made it clear that war is not an option, she added.

But China is still "interested in interfering" in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, Tsai said, adding that Beijing is attempting to sway the outcome in its favor.

"All major elections in Taiwan since 1996 have seen similar influence operations from China," she said, noting these include the use of military threats and economic coercion.

Instead of hoping Beijing would give up on its tactics, Taiwan should "focus on strengthening the resilience of our democracy," she added.

Responding to Tsai's comments on Thursday, Beijing's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "As Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, there is no president of Taiwan."

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin added that it is necessary to "oppose Taiwan independence and external interference."

"The (Democratic Progressive Party) authorities' stubborn stance to Taiwan independence and their continuous provocations for independence are only doomed to fail," said Wang, referring to Tsai's party.

Self-ruled Taiwan is set to hold its presidential election in January, a contest that is being scrutinized by policymakers in China and the United States, as it could determine Taipei's ties with an increasingly bellicose Beijing.

Asked if the United States' attempt to boost its chip manufacturing capabilities could make Washington's ties with Taipei less valuable in the long run, Tsai added that the island's current semiconductor industry cannot be replaced by anywhere else.

Tsai is not able to run in the upcoming election, as she will have completed the maximum of two terms in office.
The Dutch publisher of a new book about the British royal family has decided to stop selling it temporarily because of a possible disclosure regarding the senior royal who raised racial concerns about the potential skin tone of Prince Harry and Meghan's son, Archie. Translation error prompts Dutch publisher to temporarily withdraw book on British royal family(X)

However, Xander Uitgevers, the Dutch publisher cited that they had taken off the book from shelves due to some translation error.

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The book, called Endgame in English and Eindstrijd in Dutch, is written by Omid Scobie, a British journalist, known for his sympathetic views of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

ALSO READ| Omid Scobies bombshell book slashed in price by 50% after racist royals controversy

The book claims to reveal new details about the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, especially after their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

In that interview, Meghan said that someone in the royal family had expressed concern about how dark the skin of their son Archie would be before he was born. She did not name the person, saying it would be very damaging to them. Winfrey later clarified that Harry had told her it was not the Queen or Prince Philip.

Scobies book does not name the person either, but it suggests that there was another person in the royal household who made similar comments about Archies skin color, according to PA Media.

However, the Dutch translation of the book apparently revealed the name of the person, which caused a controversy in the Netherlands. Xander Uitgevers, said on its website that it was temporarily withdrawing the book from sale and that it was rectifying the error in the translation.

ALSO READ| Utter dismay at Buckingham Palace after Piers Morgan reveals names of racist royals on air

Scobie told a Dutch TV channel, RTL Boulevard, that he had never written a version of the book that had names in it. He said he could not speak Dutch and he had not seen the copy for himself, but he trusted the publisher to fix the mistake. He also said that his book had received harsh criticism from the British press, which he expected.

The book is a sequel to Scobies previous book, Finding Freedom, which was a biography of the Sussexes published in 2020.
Kazakhstan said Thursday that at least 13 people were killed in a fire that broke out at dawn in a hostel in the Central Asian country's largest city Almaty. Emergency specialists work at the site of a fire at a hostel in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (REUTERS)

The victims most likely suffocated in the basement of the building, officials said, and authorities have opened a criminal investigation.

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Local media said the fire started in the basement of the three-floor building, which was turned into a hostel several weeks ago, and that it required repair work.

"Thirteen dead people have been discovered, and their identities are being established," the Almaty city emergency situations department said.

"Preliminarily, they died of carbon monoxide poisoning."

The fire broke out in the centre of the former capital at around 5:30 am (2330 GMT).

Firefighters arrived seven minutes later to find the basement of the residential building burning, according to the statement.

The fire was extinguished within around an hour.

Emergency services said that 72 people were staying at the hostel at the time of the fire, and 59 were safely evacuated.

Authorities said the building was converted into a hostel a month and a half ago. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Russian media reported two Russian citizens were among the dead.

Kazakh media said the ground and basement floors of the hostel had been turned into dorms, with some publishing images of a cramped room without windows with at least five wooden bunk beds.

A lax approach to safety regulations in Kazakhstan is widespread, often leading to deadly situations.
Former Israeli hostage Rimon Kirsht was caught on camera giving a death stare to a Hamas terrorist during her release. She is now being hailed for her her grit. While being released, Rimon Kirsht is seen giving her Hamas captor one final piercing glare, cocking her head and walking away (@elikowaz/X)

The 36-year-old was among 12 hostages who were released on Tuesday, November 28, as part of a cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel. While being released, Rimon is seen giving her Hamas captor one final piercing glare, cocking her head and walking away with fellow hostage Merav Tal. People in the comment section hailed her and the moment as iconic."

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Rimon and her husband, Yagev Buchshtab, 34, were abducted on October 7. They were kept captive for 53 days,

She continued to text us and to let us know what was going on with her, and then finally she says, you know, I smell fire. I hear a blast. They are breaking in, Rimons sister-in-law, Niham Kirsht, told KCRA of the moments before the couple was kidnapped.

And she sent a last voicemail to her mother, and she says, I love you so much. Im so sorry I cant be there with you,  Nidam added. Yagev is still believed to be being held captive.

On the contrary, videos and photos that previously surfaced online showedthe masked terrorists waving goodbye to Israeli hostages after handing them over to the Red Cross. Videos and images show the terrorists leading the hostages, handing them over and waving goodbye, while the hostages wave back. Some of the children can be seen smiling. However, some social media users pointed out that the terrorists can be heard ordering the hostages to keep waving.

To date, Hamas has released more than 80 of the 240 people it took hostage during its brutal surprise attack, which left thousands dead.Israel has reportedly freed 180 Palestinian prisoners in return.
A Hamas co-founders son has taken to X to ask Israel to kill Hamas leaders, including his father, if the organisation fails to release all the hostages. Mosab Hassan Yousef, the son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, has said Israel must give Hamas a time frame to release all the hostages. Otherwise, he said, Israel must kill the Hamas leaders, including his father. When I say execute top leaders, I mean no exceptions, that includes my own father, said Mosab Hassan Yousef (@MosabHasanYOSEF/X)

Mosabs father spent 21 months in jail for administrative detention, and was released from an Israeli prison in July, according to the Middle East Mirror.

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Israel cannot continue like thisHamas must have a timeframe  a month or two or six months  to return the hostages and if they dont return the hostages within the time frame, Israel must execute top Hamas leaders in prison, especially the mass murderers, Mosab said in a 10-minute video posted to X recently.

When I say execute top leaders, I mean no exceptions, that includes my own father, he continued. I made a mistake, 10 or 15 years ago when I saved his life many timesHe was supposed to die for his actions. I saved his life. Things did not change, things got worse.

Mosab said that he gave Israel permission to execute all Hamas top leaders in prison. If this is what Hamas wants, the release of those mass murderers, then in my opinion this is the head of the snake, he said, referring to Israeli prisons.

Mosab, 45, had worked undercover as a spy for Israel between 1997 and 2007. He said that the killing of Hamas leaders and release of Israeli hostages would guarantee the defeat of Hamas.

Mosab went on to say that he did not agree with Israels decision to release prisoners in exchange for hostages. The former inmates, he said, would now kill many more innocent people. He added that the criminals should not be rewarded for their crimes.

Mosab said that Israel should treat the hostages as war prisoners and shift its priority from a hostage rescue mission to an offensive that focuses on eradicating Hamas.

He also urged Israel to be careful not to harm civilians while killing Hamas. I know Israel has avoided targeting civilians, but at this stage, we try even more carefully and we be more precise in our targets, he said.
New Delhi [India], November 30 (ANI): Ahead of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has always walked the talk when it comes to climate action and added that even during the G20 Presidency, climate was high on priority. HT Image

In his departure statement ahead of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai, PM Modi also noted that the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration also included concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development.

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"India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, and Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards Mother Earth," the Prime Minister said, according to an official release by the Prime Minister's Office.

"In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development. During our G20 presidency, climate was a high priority. The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP-28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," he said.

According to the departure statement, COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future action on climate action.

The visit of PM Modi to Dubai comes at the invitation of President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"I am travelling to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the COP-28 on December 1, 2023. I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, which has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action," the Prime Minister said in his departure statement.

He also noted that the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities at the Voice of Global South Summit, which was convened by India.

"It is important that efforts in the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development," the statement read.

COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 - December 12 this year.

Delegates from almost 200 nations will be present at the summit, including world leaders like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive in Dubai later today.

PM Modi had earlier attended the Glasgow conference in 2021, during which he unveiled India's five-pronged 'Panchamrit' strategy to deal with climate change. (ANI)
Reacting to an Indian national being indicted in an American Federal Court in connection with a thwarted plot to murder Sikhs for Justice or SFJ general counsel Gurpatwant Pannun, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that India needs to take seriously concerns over its link to the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York, U.S., September 21, 2023. (REUTERS)

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning: which is India needs to take this seriously, he told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

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The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this. This is not something that anyone can take lightly, he added.

Canadas minister of foreign affairs Melanie Joly, who is in Brussels, echoed Trudeaus views while speaking to the media, as she said, We call on India to engage in our own in our own investigation. And I think it is important that they do so.

She said she was in contact with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and US secretary of state Anthony Blinken on the matter. We expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part, she said.

Meanwhile, public safety minister Dominic LeBlanc said, I think what was filed in a US court today confirms that Canada is not alone at managing these particular threats. He also stressed there was very, very high level of collaboration between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other intelligence partners in the United States.

The unsealed indictment against Nikhil Gupta in a Federal Court in New York linked the Pannun attempt to the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia.

Gupta had allegedly mentioned a big target in Canada. In a call, he had also apparently talked of four jobs. Three of them were to be in Canada.

In October, the Canadian daily Globe and Mail had reported that three persons were formally warned by law enforcement that their lives were in danger. They included Moninder Singh, former president of the Dasmesh Darbar Gurdwara Sahib and an associate of Nijjars Gurmeet Singh Toor, along with a third unidentified person.

Nijjar was the principal figure for SFJ in the province of British Columbia.

On September 18, Trudeau stated in the House of Commons there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and Nijjars killings. Canadian officials had stated at the time that conclusion was derived from information that came from a Five Eyes partner, which is believed to be the US.

While India has already ordered a high-level inquiry related to the US case, such action has yet to be taken with regard to Canada, as Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma said in a TV interview on Sunday, Canada had yet to provide specific and relevant information.
A truce between Israel and Hamas was set to expire at 0500 GMT on Thursday as time ran down on efforts to prolong a six-day pause in fighting and an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners. A newly released prisoner greets a relative during a welcome ceremony following the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for Israeli hostages.(AFP)

The truce, extended from its initial four days, brought the first respite in the bombardment of Gaza with much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million having been reduced to wasteland in response to a deadly rampage by Hamas militants into southern Israel on Oct. 7.

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Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said in a briefing on social media that no agreement had been reached regarding the next hostages to be released.

"And therefore, if this framework does expire, the (Israeli military) ... are fully positioned and ready to simply relaunch our operations, our military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Hamas, which freed 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, said Israel had refused to receive a further seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce.

"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.

Hamas had earlier said a family of three Israeli hostages including the youngest hostage, 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, had been killed during Israel's bombardment of the enclave.

Citing Israeli officials, Israeli media reported the military would resume attacks on Gaza at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) if the government did not receive a list of hostages to be released that met its criteria by that time.

Hamas' armed wing told its fighters in the Gaza Strip to be ready to resume battle with Israel if the temporary truce is not renewed.

"The Al-Qassam Brigades asks its active forces to maintain high combat readiness in the last hours of the truce," the militant group said in a statement.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza, in response to the Oct. 7 rampage by the militant group, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

Before the truce, Israel bombarded the territory for seven weeks and killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the coastal strip.

RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack, and was set to meet Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"Looking at the next couple of days, we'll be focused on ... doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in," Blinken said at a stop in Brussels.

U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas after American Liat Beinin was freed on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday, to prevent a repeat of the massive death toll from Israel's northern Gaza attacks.

Ninety-seven hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual nationals, officials said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one U.S. dual citizen.

The ceasefire and release of hostages and prisoners was mediated by Qatar, another country pushing for an extended truce.

"Qatar remains hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached," Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

Jordan will host a conference attended by the main U.N., regional and international relief agencies on Thursday to coordinate aid to Gaza, official media said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe," and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce.

"Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce  which we strongly welcome - but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire," he told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

China called on the Security Council on Thursday to formulate a "concrete" timetable and roadmap for a two-state solution to achieve a "comprehensive, just and lasting" settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Israel-Hamas War highlights: The war between Israel and the terror group Hamas entered its 55th day on Thursday, with a ceasefire currently being observed by the two sides. The peace deal between the two, which came into effect on November 24, was further extended by 2 days till Wednesday. People wave Israeli flags following the release of hostages.(REUTERS)

Amid the global pressure on Israel and Hamas to extend the truce, 16 more hostages were released by Hamas on the final day of a two-day truce extension on Wednesday, while Israel's prison service said it released 30 more Palestinians from its jails in a sixth round of swaps.

Further, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday on his third trip to the war-torn nation since the October 7 attacks, and was set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The six-day truce has brought the much needed respite to Gaza in seven weeks war that began on October 7.

On October 7, Hamas launched an unprovoked attack on Southern Israel with terrorists killing around 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. In a retaliatory move, Israel sworn to annihilate Hamas. Health authorities in Gaza say Israel's bombardment has so far killed more than 15,000 Gazans.
Japan suspended its own Osprey flights Thursday after a U.S. Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed into the sea during a training mission, officials said. Tokyo has also asked the U.S. military to stop all Ospreys operating in Japan except for those searching for victims of the crash. US Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed into the sea during a training mission

A senior Defense Ministry official, Taro Yamato, told a parliamentary hearing that Japan plans to suspend flights of Ospreys for the time being. Ministry officials said a planned training flight Thursday at the Metabaru army camp in the Saga prefecture in southern Japan was canceled as part of a plan to ground all 14 Japanese-owned Ospreys deployed at Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force bases.

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Japan also asked the U.S. military to ground all Osprey flights except for the purpose of joining the ongoing search and rescue operations at the crash site until their safety is confirmed, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokzu Matsuno told reporters. One U.S. Osprey joined the rescue operation since the crash, Japanese defense officials said.

The U.S. Osprey crashed Wednesday off Japans southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members. The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known.

The coast guard, as well as Japanese troops searched through the night, and on Thursday, the coast guard started using sonar to search underwater for the broken aircraft that might have sunk to the sea bottom.

The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster like an airplane during flight.

Ospreys have had a number of crashes, including in Japan, where they are used at U.S. and Japanese military bases. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki had said he would ask the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan.

Japanese coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said the coast guard received an emergency call Wednesday afternoon from a fishing boat near the crash site off Yakushima, an island south of Kagoshima on the southern main island of Kyushu.

Coast guard aircraft and patrol boats found one male crew member, who was later pronounced dead by a doctor, Ogawa said. They also found debris believed to be from the aircraft and an empty inflatable life raft about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) off the eastern coast of Yakushima, he said.

Matsuno said Wednesday the Osprey disappeared from radar a few minutes before the coast guard received the emergency call. The aircraft requested an emergency landing at the Yakushima airport about five minutes before it was lost from radar, NHK public television and other news outlets reported.

NHK quoted a Yakushima resident as saying he saw the aircraft turned upside down, with fire coming from one of its engines, and then an explosion before it fell to the sea.

Defense Ministry officials on Thursday refused to confirm the sequence of events or witness account, citing discussions with the U.S. side.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was from Yokota Air Base and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

Ogawa said the aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa.

Yokota Air Base is home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force. Six CV-22 Ospreys have been deployed at Yokota, including the one that crashed.

Last year, Air Force Special Operations Command ordered a temporary stand down of its Osprey fleet following back-to-back safety incidents where the Osprey clutch slipped, causing an uneven distribution of power to Ospreys rotors.

The Marine Corps and Navy have reported similar clutch slips, and each service has worked to address the issue in their aircraft, however clutch failure was also cited in a 2022 fatal U.S. Marine Corps Osprey crash that killed five.

According to the investigation of that crash, dual hard clutch engagement led to engine failure.

Separately, a U.S. Marine Corps Osprey with 23 Marines aboard crashed on a northern Australian island in August, killing three Marines and critically injuring at least five others who were onboard during a multinational training exercise.
Britain's King Charles began a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, during which he will advocate for greater global action and accountability on climate change at the COP28 summit. Britain's King Charles.(Reuters)

The king, who arrived in the Gulf state overnight, is due to give an address on Friday at the U.N. climate negotiations that are scheduled to run in Dubai until Dec. 12.

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It will be his first major speech on climate change since he became monarch in September 2022. Other world leaders including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are also expected to attend the talks. U.S. President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping are not.

After a year of record temperatures, the pressure is on for this year's summit to accelerate action to limit climate change. Countries, however, are divided over the future of fossil fuel - the burning of which is the main cause of climate change.

Host nation, the United Arab Emirates, is a major oil producer and member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and is seeking to include the fossil fuel industry in the climate debate.

King Charles met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the COP28 site in Dubai late on Thursday. He was also briefly greeted by UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan.

In an address to a reception at the COP28 site, attended by King Charles, United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said the world was not moving fast enough to tackle climate change and urged those gathering in Dubai to reach a consensus.

"The world is a crossroads. Heat records are tumbling across the world. The severity of climate impacts are worsening at a great cost to human life and livelihoods," he said.

Earlier, King Charles held bilateral meetings with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Guyanan President Irfaan Ali at hotel in Dubai. He also met with First Nations indigenous leaders and visited the local Dubai campus of Scottish university Heriot-Watt.

The British monarch, 75, has campaigned on environmental issues for more than 50 years, and is attending the summit on behalf of the UK government following an invite from the UAE.
The woman's father and three other men were detained days after the slaying in Kohistan, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Police said they told about the killing on November 24 and officers were still investigating. HT Image

According to the local police chief, Masood Khan, the four arrested men apparently killed the woman on orders from village elders, who thought she had brought shame to her family by posing for pictures with a boy.

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Khan said the investigation determined that the photo of the couple that went viral had been edited by someone before it was shared on the social media. He said investigators are trying to trace whoever edited and posted the image since it led to her killing.

It was not immediately clear if the photo manipulation falsely made it look like the 18-year-old had sat with her boyfriend.

Khan said the young man in the photo was detained for questioning. He said police also planned to arrest the members of the council of elders that ordered the woman killed.

So-called honour killings are a significant issue in Pakistan, a conservative Muslim country where close relatives take the lives of hundreds of women each year because of actions perceived as violating conservative norms on love and marriage.

Many such killings have been documented by domestic and international human rights groups.

Amnesty International issued a statement Thursday expressing its concerns over the death of the 18-year-old in the Kohistan district. The human rights group asked Pakistan's government to stop tribal councils from thinking they can order honor killings and escape legal consequences.

The continued failure of the government of Pakistan to curb the extra-legal power of jirgas, or tribal councils, to run parallel legal systems perpetuating patriarchal violence with impunity is extremely concerning," Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for research in South Asia, said.

Rahman said authorities must do more than arrest the suspects accused of carrying out such slayings.

The authorities must end impunity for violence and abolish so-called village and tribal councils that prescribe horrific crimes such as so-called honour killings,' she said. (AP)

RUP RUP
In a blunt rejoinder to Israeli President Isaac Herzog over a phone call amid the offensive against Hamas in Gaza in late October, Pope Francis reminded the Israeli head of state that it is forbidden to respond to terror with terror. The Washington Post reported, citing an Israeli official, how the Pope responded to Herzog's fraught call, in which the Israeli President was describing how important it was for his country to defend its citizens, by saying those responsible for the October 7 carnage should be held accountable but not at the cost of civilian lives. Pope Francis(REUTERS)

The diplomatic exchange was never reported by the Israeli administration before as it was deemed bad. However, the Pope's response resonated with his latest statement in which he described the fighting between both sides as terrorism", after meeting the families of Israeli hostages. I heard how both sides suffer, and this is what wars do, but here weve gone beyond war." It was, however, unclear whether the Pope was referring to a specific action or the whole conflict.

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Meanwhile, in a shift of tone, the US has stressed the need to comply with international law while fighting Hamas in Gaza. Top US official Antony Blinken wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that he emphasised the need for Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm during the meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As the truce deal in a bid to release as many hostages as possible from Gaza enters the seventh day after a second extension from the initial agreement, the international mediators are seeking to lengthen the ceasefire beyond Thursday.

However, Israel has been reiterating its position on re-launching its offensive against Hamas soon after the truce is over. The White House has also extended its support to Israel's prospective operation. When Israel decides to go after Hamas again, it will continue to find support from the US, said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.
Giant letters in support of Moscow's armed forces fighting in Ukraine have been installed in front of the US embassy in Moscow, AFP saw Thursday. A man walks past huge Z and V letters - tactical insignias of Russian troops in Ukraine, placed in front of the US Embassy in central Moscow.(AFP)

A huge Latin letter 'Z' and 'V' -- symbols used by the Russian military which have been adopted by high-profile supporters of Russia's offensive -- were put up outside the entrance of the embassy on one of Moscow's main ring roads.

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Russia has severed ties with the West amid its military campaign in Ukraine, which has dragged on for more than 21 months.

The letters are the latest pro-Kremlin symbols to be put on the US embassy's doorstep, where nationalist activists have for years placed imagery backing Moscow's anti-Western foreign policy.

Several Western countries have renamed streets where the local Russian embassy sits in support of Ukraine or Kremlin critics in recent years.

In Washington, the street where the Russian embassy is located was renamed in honour of slain Russian politician Boris Nemtsov.

Ties between Moscow and Washington have sunk to their lowest since the Cold War, with the US and its allies levelling an unprecedented package of sanctions on Moscow since it launched its campaign.

The US is also arming Ukraine to help it battle the Russian offensive.
Russia's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that LGBT activists should be designated as "extremists", in a move that representatives of gay and transgender people fear will lead to arrests and prosecutions. An exterior view shows the building of Russias Supreme Court.(Reuters)

The presiding judge announced that he had endorsed a request from the justice ministry to ban what it called "the international LGBT social movement".

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The move is part of a pattern of increasing restrictions in Russia on expressions of sexual orientation and gender identity, including laws outlawing the promotion of "non-traditional" sexual relations and banning legal or medical changes of gender.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk urged Russian authorities to "repeal, immediately, laws that place improper restrictions on the work of human rights defenders or that discriminate against LGBT people".

President Vladimir Putin, expected shortly to announce that he will seek a new six-year term in March, has long sought to promote an image of Russia as a guardian of traditional moral values in contrast with a decadent West.

In a speech last year, he said the West was welcome to adopt "rather strange, in my view, new-fangled trends like dozens of genders, and gay parades" but had no right to impose them on other countries.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters before the court decision was announced that the Kremlin was "not following" the case and had no comment on it.

The court took around five hours from the start of proceedings to issue its ruling. The hearing was closed to media, but reporters were allowed in to hear the verdict.

LGBT activists had seen the decision as inevitable after the Nov. 17 request by the justice ministry, which said - without giving examples - that "various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation, including the incitement of social and religious discord" had been identified in the activities of the LGBT movement in Russia.

Outside the court, LGBT activist Ada Blakewell said the ruling belied official statements that Russia does not discriminate against LGBT people and affords them equal rights.

She said she had been subjected for a year, against her will, to "conversion therapy" to persuade her that she was not a transgender woman.

"In practice, after the adoption of this lawsuit, I won't be able to talk about conversion therapy," she said.

People interviewed by Reuters on the streets of Moscow had divided views.

"I'd like this world to be a free place where people can love whoever they want, although my attitude to all this is neutral because I'm not in their shoes," said a young woman named Lera. "But if I were forbidden to love, that would be very painful."

Daniil, a man in his 20s, said same-sex relationships were "not normal".

"I believe the majority of people at least that I know, my friends and acquaintances, share a negative attitude towards homosexuality. That's why it's the right decision for our country," he said.

More than 100 groups are already banned in Russia as "extremist". Previous listings, for example of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious movement and organisations linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny, have served as a prelude to arrests.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office, said the LBGT community's situation in Russia was "just going from bad to worse", and the lack of clarity around the court's definition of "LGBT movement" left the law open to abuse.

"What this means for the LGBT community is its further repression of their fundamental rights," she said.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, is no stranger to controversy. He has often used his X (Formerly Twitter) account to express his opinions on various topics, ranging from cryptocurrencies to geopolitics. However, his remark on CNBC news has sparked a backlash from some quarters and a hefty fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Elon Musk Dismisses Advertiser Boycott and Warns of Consequences for X's Future(CNBC)

On Wednesday, Musk sat for a comprehensive interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the 'New York Times' DealBook Summit, delving into diverse topics such as anti-Semitism, an advertiser boycott, Tesla, AI, and beyond.

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During the course of their hour long conversation, Musk discussed various aspects of his businesses, such as Teslas ability to weather economic cycles, SpaceXs progress on its Starship rocket, and Twitters challenges after his takeover.

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When Ross asked Musk about Ads and PR, the X owner dismissed the leaving of advertisers from the platform due to antisemitic posts he had amplified.

If somebodys gonna try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f**k yourself. Go. F**k. Yourself. Is that clear?

The Tesla CEO addressed Disney CEO Bob Iger among the audience, greeting him with a smirky Hi Bob!

He also warned that his loyal fans would not forgive the advertisers who pulled out of X because of his posts. The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company and we will document it in great detail, he said. I have no problem being hated. Hate away.

Musks posts on X have sparked outrage and criticism from various quarters, including the White House, which called them antisemitic and racist hate. Some of the posts praised or endorsed extremist groups and individuals, such as the Proud Boys and Kyle Rittenhouse. Many prominent users and advertisers have left or suspended their accounts on X, such as Disney, Apple, and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

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The SpaceX founder had to express regret for his controversial posts that have been widely condemned as antisemitic and racist. Im sorry for that tweet or post, he said. It was one of the most foolish if not the most foolish thing Ive ever done on the platform.

Musk, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has denied that he is antisemitic, and said that he has a policy of banning calls for violence on X. He also visited Israel this week, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and offered to help with the reconstruction of Gaza. He said that his trip to Israel was not related to his posts, and that he had planned it earlier.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas had produced results and the United States hoped it would continue. Israel's President Isaac Herzog, right and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands, during a meeting in Tel Aviv.(AP)

Sitting beside Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Blinken said Washington was focused on helping to secure freedom for hostages taken to Gaza during an Oct. 7 attack during which Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240. Herzog said about 150 hostages remained in Gaza.

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"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families. And that should continue today. It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately," Blinken said.

"So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue," Blinken said.

Their meeting in Tel Aviv took place on a morning when two Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop during rush hour at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding eight others, Israeli police said.

Both Blinken and Herzog condemned the attack.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel and Hamas struck a last-minute agreement to extend their six-day ceasefire in Gaza by one more day to allow negotiators to keep working on deals to swap hostages held in the coastal enclave for Palestinian prisoners.

In Jerusalem later, Blinken began meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a U.S. official said. He was later due to meet Israels war cabinet and separately with opposition leader Yair Lapid, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and minister Benny Gantz.

The truce has brought the first respite to Gaza in seven weeks during which Israel bombed the territory heavily in response to the Oct. 7 rampage.

It has also allowed much needed humanitarian aid into Gaza after much of the coastal territory of 2.3 million was reduced to wasteland by Israel's retaliatory military campaign.

Blinken, making his third trip to the region since Oct. 7, was also expected to visit the occupied West Bank, where he will likely meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Palestinian official said.

Washington's top diplomat was also expected to discuss Israel's looming offensive into southern Gaza. The U.S. is asking Israel to take greater care to protect Palestinian civilians and limit damage to infrastructure in any offensive in the south, senior U.S. officials said.

"I look forward to detailed conversations with the government of Israel about the way ahead in Gaza," Blinken said.

Israel has sworn to annihilate Hamas, which rules Gaza. Health authorities in Gaza say Israel's bombardment of the tiny, densely populated territory has so far killed more than 15,000 people.
The U.S. Treasury's top terrorism financing official said on Thursday he had discussed with Turkish government officials his deep concerns about Palestinian militant group Hamas raising funds in Turkey and potentially breaking local laws. Israel-Hamas War: US president Joe Biden is seen.(AP)

Turkey is "prominent" in Hamas fundraising schemes and the group is likely to take advantage of that as it seeks more cash amid its war with Israel, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said.

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"We are profoundly concerned with Hamas's ability to continue to fund raise and find financial support (here in Turkey) for potential future terrorist attacks," Nelson told reporters in Istanbul between meetings with Turkish government officials and financial and business groups.

Turkey's foreign ministry was not immediately available to comment.

Unlike most of its Western allies and some Gulf states, Turkey does not view Hamas as a terrorist group and hosts some of its members.

President Tayyip Erdogan has called Hamas "freedom fighters" and criticised Israel as a "terror state" over its bombardment of Gaza in recent weeks.

The United States, Israel's closest ally, has sanctioned several Turkish entities and individuals in its effort to curb funding for Hamas following its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Nelson said Turkey was connected to Hamas' past efforts to raise funds from donors, investment portfolios, charities and non-profit organisations.

Even if Turkey sees Hamas as legitimate, he said the group could still violate domestic laws, though he gave no specific example of this happening.

"There is sufficient opportunity for Turkey to address this problem under its own domestic legal authorities irrespective of U.S. sanctions," he said.

Nelson said Turkish officials had reminded him that Hamas was not a designated terrorist organisation in the country but also that Turkey would not tolerate violations of domestic laws including money laundering and direct funding of violent acts.

Washington says a Hamas portfolio of investments, estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, includes companies operating in Turkey, Sudan, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere.

Nelson also raised the prospect of more U.S. sanctions on Turkish entities suspected of helping Russia evade sanctions by transiting goods including chips, semiconductors and other components used in its war in Ukraine.

In the last 18-24 months, there has been a six-fold increase in the transit via Turkey of "high-priority dual-use" components to Russia, Nelson said. "Too many" Russian ships and planes were being serviced in Turkish ports and airports, he added.

"We're not getting the results that we want...in the context of (Turkey's) very sincere expressions of support for Ukraine," he said.

Turkey says sanctions will not be circumvented on its soil and that nothing transiting is used in Russia's war effort.

Ankara has told Washington to provide proof of its claims given it opposes the sanctions on principle, and maintains good ties with both Moscow and Kyiv even as it condemns the invasion.

Turkish financial, shipping and air-transit sectors can expect Washington to remain aggressive as it uses "all of our authorities as creatively as possible to get at this challenge", Nelson said.

Russia invaded Ukraine last year and the war grinds on along largely stable lines.
United Nations, Nov 30 (PTI) Top UN leaders and envoys have lauded Indias "exemplary leadership" in addressing global challenges and for being a champion of South-South cooperation, as they highlighted the countrys G20 Presidency and termed the enduring" partnership between India and the United Nations as a guidelight within the Global South. HT Image

India assumed the year-long G20 Presidency in December last year and is all set to hand over the baton to Brazil.

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The Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) organised a special event at the world bodys headquarters here Wednesday to commemorate six years of collaborative partnership of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

India has long been a champion of South-South cooperation and the global pursuit of the SDGs, bringing to life its philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' - the world as one interconnected family, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in her remarks at the event.

Mohammed underscored that the India UN Development Partnership Fund stands as a testament" to the extraordinary accomplishments that nations can achieve when they unite, surpassing borders and differences to create a sustainable, equitable and just world.

Mohammed said that the sixth anniversary of the Partnership Fund compels us to contemplate the tremendous obstacles we face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the vital role that South-South cooperation can play in overcoming these challenges.

Since its launch in 2017, the Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis described this as no small feat, especially in the current age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Francis told the event, attended by UN envoys, officials, policy experts, think tanks and academicians, that the fact that beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South  of which India remains integrally a dynamic part  and supports all geographic regions while maintaining a strong emphasis on Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries speaks volumes about its vision of development and its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India. Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known  and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic, Francis said.

He added that Indias G20 Presidency marked a commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping  thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of Indias commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Francis added that India, home to one-sixth of humanity, also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission  including at the UN  to create a more just and equitable world.

"Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, he said.

Francis underscored that the "enduring partnership between India and the UN has spurred just and inclusive development  from the worlds densest cities to its remotest villages  and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation.

Managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and implemented by 12 UN entities at the country level, the USD 150 million Fund supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world.

The Fund operates across the Global South and supports all geographic regions, with a strong emphasis on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India has walked the talk and its commitment to the ethos of leaving no one behind is not just rhetoric, but a demonstrated reality.

She noted that over the past decade, Indias development partnerships have reached 78 nations and manifested in 600 projects, speaking volumes of the countrys goodwill and capabilities.

Indias timely humanitarian assistance, spanning across nations from Afghanistan to Ukraine, Turkiye to Nepal, and its unwavering support to Gaza and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) highlight our resolve in fostering global solidarity, Kamboj said.

She added that the Fund, covering a vast spectrum of areas including health, education and environmental sustainability is a testament to our commitment to multi-dimensional development, acknowledging that progress in one area is often interlinked with advancements in others.

India stands as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for the Global South. In a world of shifting global dynamics, our nation has risen as not just a voice, but as a representative of the hopes and challenges of developing countries.

On the occasion, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Report was launched. Envoys and representatives from Dominica, El Salvador, Morocco, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Senegal, Fiji, Tuvalu, Togo, and Tonga shared their national experiences and development projects undertaken through the Fund.
The White House on Thursday praised New Delhi for setting up its own investigations on the US allegations that an Indian official was involved in a foiled plot to kill separatist Sikh leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby

The unnamed Indian official appeared in an indictment filed by federal prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with an Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Pannun, a vocal critic of India and espousing the cause of a separate Khalistan.

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"These allegations in this investigation, (we) take it very seriously. And we're glad to see that the Indians are too by announcing their own efforts to investigate this. And we've been clear that we want to see anybody that's responsible for these alleged crimes to be held properly accountable," John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, told reporters at a news conference here.

However, this will not have an impact on India-US relationship, he said, observing that the US unearthed this plot after the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US.

"I want to be careful here that I don't get ahead of the Department of Justice and talk about an ongoing investigation. I would just say two things. India remains a strategic partner and we're going to continue to work to improve and strengthen that strategic partnership with India. At the same time, we take this very seriously," Kirby said in response to a question.

The Department of Justice, in an indictment charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with conspiracy to commit murder for hire for his alleged role in the plot to kill the Sikh American individual. Gupta is accused of working with an Indian government employee to recruit and pay an assassin to carry out the killing.

"We are deeply disturbed by these reports and the potential threat they pose to the safety of our community. Since 2020, SALDEF has been tracking instances of censorship of diasporic Sikh voices and today's indictment is not an isolated incident but a part of a broader pattern of silencing Sikh voices, said Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of SALDEF, which describes itself as is a national Sikh American impact organisation focused on building leadership and capacity in the Sikh American community.

"If these allegations are true, it would represent a serious violation of international law and be a blatant example of transnational repression," Gill said.
An Indian national was on Wednesday charged by US federal prosecutors in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil. Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G Olsen said. The indictment has not named the US citizen but it is believed to be Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. (AP)

Here's the full indictment

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The indictment came after the Financial Times reported that the US authorities foiled a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of Sikhs for Justice. India responded to the report and said New Delhi considers such inputs very seriously. On Wednesday, Indian MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said a high-level committee has been set up to look into the security concerns raised by the US government. India has not yet reacted to the indictment.

"As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India," United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement.

Williams said that his Office and law enforcement partners neutralised this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad.
Bernie Marcus, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot who retired from the company, is still loyal to Donald Trump. Bernie Marcus pledges support for Donald Trump's campaign despite not being a major contributor(AP)

The billionaire and Republican donor said he would likely continue to support Trumps 2024 presidential campaign financially, even if the former president is convicted in any of the four criminal cases he is facing before the next presidential election.

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I think so. Because I think its all trumped up, Marcus told Reuters, referring to the 91 charges against Trump that stem from his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat and his alleged mishandling of classified information after leaving the White House.

Marcus indicated that he would not be a major contributor to Trumps campaign, even though he would back him in the primary and the general election if he becomes the GOP nominee.

Of course, Im going to support him to some extent, but Im not one of his big givers, thats for sure, Marcus said.

ALSO READ| Indian student living in New Jersey fatally shoots grandparents, uncle at home in horrifying triple murder

Marcus praised the former president in an op-ed published by RealClearPolitics earlier this month, saying he was confident he would win the nomination. He urged voters, We cannot let his brash style be the reason we walk away from his otherwise excellent stewardship of the United States during his first term in office.

In 2019, The Home Depot co-founder sparked a social media boycott of Home Depot after he expressed his admiration for Trumps common sense approach to most things and revealed his intention to support his reelection bid.

Now, do I agree with every move that he makes? No, I dont, Marcus told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution at the time.

But the truth is he has produced more than anybody else. He has. If we look at this country, I would say that we are better off today than we were eight years ago or six years ago.

Following the billionaire's remarks in a recent interview, consumers swiftly reacted with outrage, sparking a widespread online uproar. The hashtag #BoycottHomeDepot quickly gained traction on social media platform X, with a huge number of users pledging to abstain from shopping at the home improvement chain in protest.

Trump has been facing a barrage of legal troubles since he left office in 2021.

He is accused of inciting the Jan 6. Riot on the Capitol that aimed to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in one case.

ALSO READ| Horrifying video shows Ohio automobile shop exploding; 3 dead, 1 injured

He is also charged with illegally obtaining and possessing 31 classified documents that contain national defense information after he left office in another case. Plus, he is indicted for falsifying business records related to his alleged payment of hush money to a porn star after having sex with her.
The CIAs top analysis chief has sparked controversy by changing her Facebook cover photo to a Palestinian flag amid growing dissent within the Biden administration over its handling of the Israel-Hamas war. US President Joe Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at Pueblo Memorial Airport in Pueblo, Colorado, on November 29, 2023. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)(AFP)

The associate deputy director for analysis, who is one of the three people responsible for approving all analysis disseminated inside the agency, updated her profile picture two weeks after the October 7 attack by Hamas and its allies that killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

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The image CIA official shared as the Facebook cover photo.(Instagram)

She also posted a selfie with the slogan Free Palestine on it, according to the Financial Times. The chief has previously posted messages against antisemitism, a colleague said.

A senior analytic manager in the middle of a crisis shows glaringly poor judgment by publicly posting an obviously controversial political statement, a former intelligence official told the newspaper.

ALSO READ| Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus says he will fund Donald Trump for 2024 run even if he is convicted

Another former official said that such social media activity was highly irregular for a senior agency official, given the longstanding incredibly close relationship between the CIA and the Israelis.

The chiefs Facebook post comes as the Biden administration faces mounting pressure from its own staff to seek an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, where 13,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli airstrikes.

More than 400 administration employees signed an anonymous letter earlier this month urging the President to demand a halt to the violence. Another 1,000 staff from the US Agency for International Development echoed the call.

The State Department has not taken any action against the dissenters, but instead has organized listening sessions with staff to hear their feedback and ideas.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken wrote to staff earlier this month, I know that for many of you, the suffering caused by this crisis is taking a profound personal toll. The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.(REUTERS)

Biden has repeatedly refused to demand a ceasefire, but has instead supported a series of temporary truces that have been agreed in exchange for the release of some of the hostages.

ALSO READ| Hamas co-founder's son urges Israel to kill leaders if all hostages aren't released: That includes my own father

CIA director Bill Burns is currently in Qatar, where hostage negotiations are taking place. Critics fear that his analysis chiefs Facebook post could undermine his efforts.

Given the role director Burns is playing in the ongoing crisis in Israel, social media activity along these lines by a senior US intelligence officer reflects exceptionally and surprisingly bad judgment, said a third former intelligence official.

The officer is a career analyst with an extensive background in all aspects of the Middle East and this post was not intended to express a position on the conflict, they added.
TIME and data firm Statista have come together to list as many as 150 companies that play a huge role in shaping Americas leaders. They analysed resumes of 20,000 people in America, including award-winning academics, political figures, and CEOs of the largest companies. The list, notably, does not include government, nonprofit, and educational job experience. TIME and data firm Statista have come together to list as many as 150 companies that play a huge role in shaping Americas leaders (REUTERS/Lewis Jackson/File Photo, AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Most of the companies that appear on the top of the list are firms in consulting, tech, and finance. Many a time, bagging a job in these companies is very hard. For example, McKinsey & Company is reported to have received more than a million applications last year. However, it hired less than 1% of applicants, according to TIME.

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However, after the employees are hired, the organisations have a very strong learning and development function, said Bernard Banks, associate dean for Leadership Development and Inclusion at Northwestern Kellogg. They have cultures that prize growing people's capacity to lead, and they make investments from a resourcing standpoint, to support that emphasis.

The list, which is in combination with TIMEs Best Colleges for Future Leaders list, has revealed how to become a leader in America.

Heres a look at the top 10 companies on the list:
The United States on Thursday targeted North Korea with fresh sanctions after its launch of a spy satellite last week, designating foreign-based agents it accused of facilitating sanctions evasion, including revenue and technology for its weapons of mass destruction program. This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what the country said is the launch of the Malligyong-1, a military spy satellite, into orbit on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.(AP)

The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it also slapped sanctions on cyber espionage group Kimsuky, accusing it of gathering intelligence to support North Korea's strategic and nuclear ambitions.

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Thursday's action, taken in coordination with Australia, Japan and Korea, comes after North Korea last week successfully launched its first reconnaissance satellite, which it has said was designed to monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements.

"Today's actions by the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea reflect our collective commitment to contesting Pyongyang's illicit and destabilizing activities," Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in the statement.

"We will remain focused on targeting these key nodes in the DPRK's illicit revenue generation and weapons proliferation," Nelson added, calling North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday's sanctions.

Since the launch of the satellite, North Korea said that its leader, Kim Jong Un, has reviewed spy satellite photos of the White House, Pentagon and U.S. aircraft carriers at the naval base of Norfolk. Its state media has also reported that the satellite photographed cities and military bases in South Korea, Guam, and Italy, in addition to Washington.

On Monday, the United Nations ambassadors of the United States and North Korea sparred at the Security Council over the launch and the reasons for growing tensions in a rare, direct, public exchange between the adversaries.

Thursday's action freezes any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those who engage in certain transactions with them also risk being hit with sanctions.

The Treasury said Kimsuky primarily uses spear-phishing to target people employed by the government, research centers, academic institutions and others, including in Europe, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

In October 2020, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) described the group as "likely tasked by the North Korean regime with a global intelligence gathering mission."

Security researchers have found the group impersonating reporters to trick targets into downloading malicious software to spy on them. Kimsuky's hacking operation has been historically focused on South Korea, Japan and the United States.

In June, the U.S. National Security Agency said the hackers, which have been operating since at least 2012, were "subordinate to an element within North Korea's Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB)." The RGB is a North Korean intelligence agency that is involved in cyber warfare activities, according to analysts, and is under U.S. sanctions.

Also targeted on Thursday were Iran and China-based representatives of U.S. and UN-designated Green Pine, which the Treasury said is responsible for half of North Korea's arms and related materiel exports.

Two Russia-based representatives of North Korean banks and one China-based representative were also hit with sanctions, among others.
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to the development of the US Department of Justice charging an Indian, Nikhil Gupta, for 'murder-for-hire' and said this is what Canada has been talking about from the beginning. India needs to take this seriously, Trudeau said. "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously," Justin Trudeau said in Ottawa, as reported by Reuters. "The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented after US charged an Indian man for plot to kill a Sikh leader on Us soil.(REUTERS)

The US Department of Justice on Wednesday charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian, for working with an Indian government employee on a plot to assassinate a New York City resident, "who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India". The document did not name the "government employee", nor did it name Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the New York City resident and a designated terrorist in India. It said the government employee contacted Nikhil Gupta to assassinate Pannu. The purported killer whom Nikhil Gupta contacted for the killing was an undercover cop and Nikhil Gupta was arrested in June this year by the Czech authorities.

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The document also mentioned Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh separatist killed in Canada. Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of Indian agents behind the murder -- a charge that India rejected and sought evidence. This resulted in a diplomatic row between India and China which started seeing a little improvement as India resumed its visa services in Canada. India made it clear that Canada did not provide any evidence backing their claim and India is ready to cooperate with the probe if evidence is provided.

The MEA earlier reacted to the report of the foiled bid to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and formed a high-level enquiry committee to look into the security concerns raised by the US. No reaction has come from the MEA yet on the US indictment.

Canada foreign minister Melanie Joly on Wednesday commented on the India-Canada situation and urged India to be more forthcoming in the ongoing murder investigation. "Clearly we expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part," the minister said. Canada has not yet charged anyone in the murder of Nijjar.
The world is in danger of losing the fight against malaria, as cases of the disease rose by around 5 million year-on-year in 2022, exceeding global targets to contain it, a new World Health Organization report showed on Thursday. A nurse holds malaria vaccine vials before administering it to an infant at the Lumumba Sub-County hospital in Kisumu, Kenya.(Reuters)

Pandemic-related disruptions and extreme weather events linked to climate change have hindered the fight against malaria in recent years.

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But progress, since 2015, had already stalled due to rising drug and insecticide resistance and conflict, the WHO's annual World Malaria Report said.

"More than ever, we are at risk of losing our fight against this disease," Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said.

"The report reveals that progress has ground to a halt, and in some places is reversing. Unless we take action now, malaria could resurge dramatically, wiping out the hard-won gains of the last two decades."

In 2022, there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria.

At the same time, the global malaria case incidence was 58.4 cases per 1,000 people who are deemed to be at risk, versus the WHO's target of 26.2 cases by 2025.

Progress towards the 2025 milestone is 55% off track, the global health body said, and will be missed by 89% this year if the trajectory persists.

Cases surged in areas where weather was most extreme.

Floods in Pakistan last year, for example, led to a five-fold increase in malaria cases in the country, the report showed.

Malaria deaths declined steadily between 2000 and 2019, from 864,000 to 576,000. They rose during the pandemic, and an estimated 608,000 people died of the disease last year, mainly young children.

Two new malaria vaccines, both of which are due to be available next year, provide some hope.

But the report also showed a significant funding gap in the response. While $4.1 billion was invested in the global effort to tackle malaria in 2022, roughly $7.8 billion was needed, it said.
This week might be the end of that Google account you have not used in years.

Starting this coming Friday, December 1, the tech firm will resume its effort to remove accounts that have not been utilized for at least two years.

The new policy was introduced in May by the corporation with the stated goal of preventing security concerns. According to internal research, accounts that are older are considerably more prone to phishing, hacking, and spam since they use recycled passwords and fail to implement modern security measures like two-step verification.

Terminating Old, Inactive Accounts

According to CNN, multiple notifications have been issued to vulnerable accounts and user-provided backup emails since August, as Google has been issuing warnings to affected customers.

Google said in May that it would start eliminating accounts in a staged method. The accounts that were established but never revisited by the user will be deleted first.

In an update to its policies from August, Google said, "We want to protect your private information and prevent any unauthorized access to your account even if you're no longer using our services."

Oren Koren, chief product officer and co-founder of cybersecurity company Veriti, argues that erasing outdated accounts is an important step in ensuring security since, despite their perceived low risk, they may really be opportunities for criminals to exploit.

Hackers may be compelled to establish new accounts in order to avoid account deletion, which now requires phone number verification. Not only that, but the deletion also removes any previously disclosed data from a breach long ago.

Also Read: Google's New Personal Search Experience Test Comes With Follow Button, Personalized Rankings

Who May Still Use Their Accounts?

Because a Google account encompasses all of Google's services--from Gmail and Docs to Drive and Photos--any data stored throughout an inactive user's Google suite might lose its existence.

A few cases represent an exception to the rule against deletion. Those who have YouTube channels, those who still have money on gift cards, those who bought digital items like books or movies, and those who have published apps on platforms like the Google Play store will not be affected, the business said in August.

To make sure yours will not be deleted, keep your Google account active by logging in and using one of the services provided by the firm, such as Gmail, Drive, Photos, or Google Play.

CBS News reported that Google's account policy outlines the following steps to confirm that your account is active:

Read or send an email

Use the Google Drive and Google Search

Watch a YouTube video

Download an app via the Play Store

Sign in with Google to access a third-party app or service

The decision to remove accounts is more drastic than a previous policy. According to Google, customers will be able to have their material removed from services they no longer use in 2020, but their accounts will remain intact.

Also Read: Google's Artificial Intelligence Advancement Includes Generative AI-Powered Search Engine

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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticizes his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, for canceling their scheduled meeting over a row revolving around Parthenon sculptures.

Mitsoktakis had been hoping that he would have the chance to raise the issue at the talks as disagreements over the antiquities were renewed. Aides described Sunak's decision as "wrong and undignified," the Greek PM expressed his irritation at the meeting being canceled at the last minute.

Kyriakos Mitsoktakis Slams Rishi Sunak

As the center-right leader visited London, he released a statement saying that traditionally strong ties of friendship unite Greece and Britain. He added that the two countries' bilateral relations framework is exceptionally broad.

Mitsotakis said that he was looking forward to discussing Greece's views on the Parthenon sculptures along with other international challenges. These include Gaza, Ukraine, the climate crisis, and migration, among other issues.

The statement ended with the Greek PM berating his British counterpart for supposedly failing to rise to the challenge of talking about the fate of the antiquities. The Guardian says these sculptures have spawned the West's longest-running cultural row.

It added, "Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his views is never afraid of opposing arguments." Mitsotakis had been due to visit Downing Street around lunchtime on Tuesday, the last day of his UK trip.

But on Monday evening, while speaking with the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, he was told that Sunak was canceling their meeting. Officials who were traveling with Mitsotakis said that there was no doubt that his comments regarding the sculptures played a role in Sunak canceling their appointment.

On Sunday, the Greek leader interviewed Laura Kuenssberg, reiterating his country's longstanding request for the Parthenon antiquities to be reunited with other sculptures. The latter are located beneath the temple they had once adorned. Mitsotakis added that the division of the artwork between London and Athens was like cutting the Mona Lisa in half.

Read Also: Far-Right Leader Geert Wilders Wins Dutch Parliamentary Elections

Row Over Parthenon Antiquities

The 2,500-year-old sculptures were removed by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century when he was ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. According to Reuters, the Greek government had been talking with British Museum chair George Osborn about the possibility of a loan deal for the sculptures.

Mitsotakis also expressed his disagreement over the fact that discussions of the potential return of the Parthenon antiquities were not progressing fast enough. On the other hand, a British government official, who asked to be anonymous, said that the row over the sculptures meant that it was not suitable for the meeting.

After the cancellation of the meeting, the British government offered Mitsotakis to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden instead of Sunak. A senior Conservative source noted that it became impossible for the talks to move forward following commentary regarding the Elgin Marbles.

He added that their position is clear that the Elgin Marbles are part of the permanent collection of the British Museum and belong within. He said that it was reckless for any British politician to suggest that this is subject to negotiation, according to BBC.

Related Article: Minister Boris Johnson Joins London March Against Antisemitism

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Vermont police arrested a man suspected of shooting three Palestinian students and charged him with attempted murder.

The individual, identified as 48-year-old Jason J. Eaton of Burlington, was charged with attempted murder for the shooting on Saturday. The incident occurred outside of the building where the suspect is said to live.

Suspect Arrested in Shooting of Three Palestinian Students

The charges against Eaton include three counts of attempted second-degree murder over the weekend shooting of three young Palestinian men. It was a violent incident that stunned the small city of Burlington.

As investigators in the case sought to determine the motive for the shooting, with officials initially considering it a hate crime, local officials called the attack one of the most shocking events in the city's history. They noted that it was a grave setback for a town that strives to be welcoming to everyone.

During a news conference on Monday afternoon, Burlington police chief Jon Murad said that whether or not the shooting was a hate crime by the law, there was no question that it was a hateful act, as per the New York Times.

Eaton pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him as he was being held without bail. He was seen in court through a remote video link from jail and did not utter a word during the brief hearing except to thank the judge in charge. If he is convicted, he could face life imprisonment.

The victims were identified as all young men in their 20s and were staying at the home of an uncle of one of them. They were out for a walk at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday when the suspect approached them, pulled out a handgun, and started shooting from roughly two yards away.

An affidavit revealed that the three men were Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Ali Ahmad, and Kinnan Abdalhamid. The victims were Brown University, Trinity College, and Haverford College students, respectively. They have been friends since they were kids; two were US citizens, while the third was a legal resident.

Two of the Palestinian students were shot in the torso, while the third was shot in the lower extremities. The first two were said to be in stable condition, but the last suffered more serious injuries from the attack, according to BBC.

Read Also: Vermont Police Investigate Shooting of 3 Palestinian Students as a Potential Hate Crime

Potential Hate Crime

The unprovoked attack comes as the United States is dealing with a surge in Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned of potential attacks by "homegrown violent extremists" since the beginning of the Middle Eastern war.

Murad said that one of the victims suffered a spinal injury with long-term implications. Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said that the lives of the Palestinian students have been changed forever because of the shooting.

During a news conference, he noted that one of the young men faces a tremendous struggle and recovery and is looking at injuries that could have lifelong effects. The families of the victims expressed their relief that the suspect had been arrested, noting that the crime was "fueled by hate," said CNN.

Related Article: Derek Chauvin Expected To Survive Prison Stabbing; Family Blasts Officials for Not Reporting Incident

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The ongoing Israel-Hamas war already killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians. But, it looks like the missile attacks are not the biggest killer in this conflict.

The World Health Organization warned that the spread of infectious disease could be deadlier than aerial strikes during the Israel-Hamas battle.

This was shared by a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday, Nov. 28. In his warning, he pointed out the health system in the Gaza Strip, which already collapsed after Israel conducted its attack on the Al-Shifa Hospital.

Who Claims Israel-Hamas War Biggest Killer Could Be Disease

According to Fox News' latest report, the Israel-Hamas war created a public health crisis in the Gaza Strip. They warned that this problem could further increase the death toll, especially if the health system in the region is not restored.

Previously, Gaza's Health Ministry announced that more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed ever since the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists began.

WHO officials also fear that if water remains scarce and shelters are not reconstructed, the spread of infectious disease could worsen.

"Eventually we will see more people dying from the disease than we are even seeing from the bombardment if we are not able to put back (together) this health system," said WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris.

She explained that the lack of sanitation, water supplies, and medical access could expose displaced Palestinians to epidemics as they are forced to take shelter in camps and cramped homes.

"(There are) no medicines, no vaccination activities, no access to safe water and hygiene and no food. We saw a very high number of cases of diarrhea among infants," further stated Harris.

Read Also: Airlines Expect Israel-Hamas War to Decrease Future Profits; Some Already Seeing Drop in Bookings

Diseases at Risk of Spreading in Gaza

ABC News reported that the diseases that could spread in the Gaza Strip include diarrheal illness and cholera. The World Health Organization warned that if these diseases start infecting more people, deaths could increase within hours.

ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton expressed his concerns, saying that Palestinians not only have to protect themselves and their families from aerial missile attacks, but they also have to deal with the spread of diseases.

WHO Gaza representative Richard Peeperkorn also warned that the health crisis in the Gaza Strip will only get worse in the near future as the war continues.

"We are extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives," he said.

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Police in Macomb, Michigan are investigating how a dead man's body ended up in the ventilation system of a local community college in the area over the weekend.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the body was identified as 36-year-old Jason Thompson of Clinton Township. He was found on Sunday night (November 26) while Macomb Community College maintenance personnel were looking for the source of a terrible smell at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton, north of Detroit.

"There is no reason to suspect foul play," Macomb College Police Chief William Leavens said. "At this point, it is important to remember that this an ongoing investigation, with the goal to understand the circumstances."

However, police did not offer speculation about how Thompson's body ended up in the ventilation system or how long it had been there.

Thompson was reported as missing since November 1 and was last seen by his family a few days earlier on October 25. The community college also said that it offered its condolences to Thompson's family despite him not being affiliated with them.

Read Also: California Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years After Scamming Jewish Community Out of $7 Million Investment

Remembering Jason Thompson

According to Newsweek, the Macomb County medical examiner's office said they were working to determine the cause of Thompson's death.

In the aftermath of Thompson's death, a GoFundMe fundraiser was launched by a certain Clarissa Longo, who said she was Thompson's cousin. She was seeking to help his family pay for his funeral, with any leftover money to be put into a trust fund for Thompson's two children.

"Jason was loved by many people and his family has been through a lot over the past month while he has been missing," Longo said. "Jason was a father to two beautiful children, Killian and Kiara. He was a son, brother, uncle, cousin, but most [importantly] he was loved by his family and friends and will be missed."

The fundraiser has a $15,000 target and currently stands at $1,420 as of Tuesday morning (November 28).

Related Article: Vermont Man Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder Following Shooting of 3 Palestinian Students

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Authorities in Sierra Leone arrested 13 military officials over an alleged attempted coup following attacks on military barracks.

On Tuesday, residents in a suburb of the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, heard fresh gunfire as security forces combed through the city. They were searching for suspects who were linked to a recent jailbreak and a foiled attack on a military barracks that killed more than 13 people.

Sierra Leone Attempted Coup

On social media, people in the town said that a fresh series of gunfire was heard in the Murray Town suburb. In a statement, Sierra Leone's information ministry said that no one was hurt during that particular shooting.

It added that a few shots were fired around the vicinity of the Murray Town barracks as part of an ongoing operation to apprehend the people responsible for the incidents on Nov. 26. The ministry said that the person of interest had already been arrested and was in the custody of the security forces, as per CNN.

Umaru Fofana, a Freetown-based journalist, posted on Facebook saying that the presence of soldiers in the Kingtom area of the city caused panic among the people. They were in the area trying to recapture fleeing inmates who were believed to "be hunkering down around the slums" in the area.

Law enforcement personnel have launched a manhunt to recapture dozens of fleeing prisoners who were set loose. The situation was the result of armed men storming a detention facility and other centers in Freetown early Sunday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Sierra Leone's army spokesman, Colonel Issa Bangura, said that 13 soldiers were killed in action. The official noted that eight soldiers were wounded and three assailants were arrested, adding that the death toll could be as high as 20.

A police statement revealed that some of the inmates who escaped during the jailbreak have already turned themselves in. However, it did not provide a specific number of prisoners who fled. Prison officials have estimated that the number of fleeing inmates could be more than 1,800.

Read Also: Israel, Hamas Blame Each Other for Violating Truce After Explosives Detonated, Shots Fired in Gaza

Overthrowing the Government

Sierra Leone's president, 59-year-old Julius Maada Bio, was re-elected in a tight vote held in June. However, his main opponent rejected his victory, contributing to a tense political atmosphere. Furthermore, according to the New York Times, many international observers allege that the election was not deemed to be transparent.

The violence in the region has exacerbated jitters across the nation, which has endured a series of military coups in the last few years. This comes as many neighboring countries, particularly Guinea and Niger, have lost control of their governments following rebellions by their military juntas.

Officials believe that the attempt to overthrow the government was led mostly by bodyguards of former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma. However, he could not be directly connected to the attack, as investigations are still ongoing.

Information Minister Chernor Bah said that the incident was an attempted coup that sought to subvert and overthrow a democratically elected government illegally. He added that several leaders were later either in police custody or on the run, said the Voice of America News.

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On November 28, 'Squad' voted on the resolution that was introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler, which reaffirms Israel's right to exist, demanding Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

The resolutions come as Israel enters its latest round of terrorist attacks led by Hamas since the October 7 attack.

'Squad' Votes on Reaffirming Israel's Rights

Rep. Thomas Massie, a libertarian, was the only one who voted against Lawler's resolution. Massie posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he agreed with the Jewish state's right to exist but said that anti-Zionism is antisemitism, which was a claim rejected by the mainstream.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who has a history of antisemitism and hostility toward the Jewish state, voted present. While all other members of the far-left group "The Squad," including Rep. Ilhan Omar, favored the resolution.

Rep. Mike Johnson swore in Rep. Celeste Maloy to bring the House back to full strength with 435 members, which was expected not to last long ahead of Rep. George Santos's possible ouster.

Maloy was also sworn in after the vote on the resolution calling to release the hostages. She voted in favor of the resolution that states Israel's rights to exist. The resolution has briefly reviewed the Jewish history of persecution, including the Holocaust, and the meaning of Israel to the Jewish people.

The House of Representatives stated that it "reaffirms Israel's right to exist; recognizes that denying Israel's right to exist is a form of antisemitism; rejects calls for Israel's destruction and the elimination of the only Jewish state; and condemns the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel."

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, whose working definition of antisemitism has been adopted by dozens of countries, including the United States, anti-Zionism includes denying the Jewish state's right to exist is antisemitism. Rep. Haley Stevens passed unanimously the bipartisan resolution calling on Hamas to release all hostages.

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Released Hostages in Israel

Hamas took more than 200 hostages and recently released one American among dozens of hostages during the six-day pause amid the Israel-Hamas war. The White House reported that there were still nine Americans held captive by Hamas.

The pause could be extended an extra day if Hamas would release a minimum of 10 hostages each day. On November 27, the pause was extended by two days.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the American hostages, attended the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza Strip on October 7. There were still no updates on whether he got treatment or died from the attack.

On November 13, Goldberg-Polin's mother, Rachel Goldberg, pushed the attendees to call on the US government to release her son.

Since the October 7 attack, the House of Representatives has passed resolutions related to the latest conflict. On October 25, the lower congressional chamber also passed a resolution condemning the attacks and supporting Israel.

Related Article: Truce Between Israel, Hamas Extended by 2 Days





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Disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for financial crimes after pleading guilty on Nov. 17.

The sentence was brought by South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Clifton Newman and is added on top of the two life terms in prison that Murdaugh is required to serve for the murder of his wife and son in 2021.

Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison

The latest conviction revolves around Murdaugh pleading guilty to 22 counts, including breach of trust, money laundering, forgery, and tax evasion. On Tuesday, the embattled attorney said in a Beaufort County courtroom that he did terrible things in the past. Despite this, he said that people placing their trust in him was something that made him proud.

In a statement, South Carolina prosecutor Creighton Waters said that there were many individuals who trusted Murdaugh. He added that this was the reason that the decade-long scheme was able to take place at all.

Waters said that they had people who came to the embattled attorney for help, who later became the victims of the financial crimes. The prosecutor noted that Murdaugh's trustworthiness, power, and influence among community members, lawyers, and banks in the area helped him get away with his deeds, as per Fox News.

During the hearing, Murdaugh addressed the courtroom and the victims of his financial crimes after listening to several of them and their lawyers. He said that their pain and hurt were palpable, noting that they were reasonable.

Murdaugh promised that they resonated with him and that he hoped that the time would come when they could look back and know that he cared for each one of them. He added that he took more and more pills because he tried to hide the realities of the things that he was doing to his victims.

Afterward, he repeated his stance of pleading innocence to the murder of his wife and son while also apologizing to his other son for having to endure scrutiny from the media. He reminded Buster that his family, including his mother, loved him.

Read Also: Vermont Man Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder Following Shooting of 3 Palestinian Students

South Carolina Attorney's Financial Crimes

One of Mudaugh's friends since childhood, Jordan Jinks, said that he was crying not for what was stolen from him, but for what the disgraced attorney did to his other victims. He approached his friend after he incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills for a neck injury he received when someone rear-ended his vehicle, according to CBS News.

When Jinks paid the bills in advance, he was assured by Murdaugh that he would obtain a settlement to pay him back. When the attorney got the money, he kept it for himself, which led to his friend becoming financially ruined.

State prosecutors said that Murdaugh's plea agreement resolved 101 financial-related charges and a loss of $8.8 million among those who were affected by his schemes. He was also found to have stolen millions of dollars from his law firm and avoided paying hundreds of thousands in state income taxes.

Much of the money that the South Carolina attorney stole was used to pay off personal expenses such as loans and credit card debt. There was also one case where Murdaugh took a luxury trip and billed his client for the expense, said BBC.

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Ardent Health Services, a Tennessee-based healthcare firm, suffered from a serious ransomware attack. This security breach is now affecting 30 hospitals in six US states.

Because of this issue, many patients are being forced to leave emergency rooms and find other hospitals. The American healthcare company said that its system was breached on Nov. 23. Ardent Health Services officials stated that because of the ransomware attack, their network went offline. The breach also suspended user access to its information technology applications.

Ardent Health Services Breach Affects 30 Hospitals in Six US States

Ardent Health Services spokesperson Will Roberts said that around half of their 25 emergency rooms were still operating on divert. This means that the healthcare firm had to ask affected hospitals to call ambulances to move patients-who need emergency care-to other nearby medical facilities.

Meanwhile, non-emergency procedures were also affected; Ardent had to reschedule them because of the security breach, as reported by Fox News.

"The Ardent technology team immediately began working to understand the event, safeguard data, and regain functionality," said the company via SC Media.

"Ardent proactively took its network offline, suspending all user access to its information technology applications, including corporate servers, Epic software, internet, and clinical programs," the American healthcare company added.

Ardent Health Services said that they already reported the ransomware attack to the police. Aside from this, they also hired threat intelligence advisors, as well as third-party forensics.

As of writing, the company can't confirm the extent of the latest security breach on the health and financial data of patients.

Read Also: Japan Takes 9 Months to Identify NISC Breach; Here's How Serious China's Cyberattacks Are

Why Ardent Security Breach is Alarming

Although the information affected by the Ardent Health Services ransomware attack is still unknown, this issue is still alarming, especially for American patients.

Ardent is known for the facilities it operates in Kansas, Oklahoma, Idaho, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Texas. This means that many American relies on its hospitals; it has exactly 30 facilities and more than 200 sites of care.

Despite the security breach, Ardent promised that its clinics will remain open and its hospitals will remain operational for medical screenings and stabilizing care for patients.

As of writing, only one Ardent-owned hospital is accepting ambulances. This is the UT Health East Texas, which was recently taken off divert status.

Ardent Health Services said that they will provide an update once the ransomware attack has been solved and will inform patients what information was possibly leaked.

Related Article: US Security Report: Chinese Hackers Breach Major Telecom Companies, Exploit MS Office Weakness

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NASA reportedly plans to cooperate with New Delhi to help India launch its first space station into orbit next year.

The United States government is willing to help India train and send its astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) by the end of next year. In a statement on Tuesday, NASA administrator Bill Nelson said that the selection process for these astronauts will be done by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

NASA Prepared To Help India in Space Ventures

He added that the Indian side is still working out details of the mission. Nelson noted that New Delhi is a great partner for the US and also a great future partner for the activities of astronauts going into space.

The US is planning to launch several private landers on the south pole of the Moon next year. However, the fact that India was the first to land in that region deserves congratulations and praise. Nelson previously led a high-level US delegation that called on Indian Space Minister Jinendra Singh and congratulated him on the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3, as per the Times of India.

When discussing India's potential first space station, Nelson said New Delhi may want a commercial space station by 2040. He added that if the South Asian country wants, it can collaborate with NASA and the space agency will be willing to help.

Nelson said that NASA is also ready to plan an interplanetary mission with India but noted that it depends on ISRO. The NASA administrator urged Singh to send India's first astronauts to expedite the program related to sending his country's first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to the ISS.

The NASA administrator spoke about Indo-U.S. collaboration and said the two countries were "doing a lot of science together." He added that India will launch the most expensive satellite, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), in the first quarter of 2024.

Read Also: NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Sends 'First Light,' a Laser Beam Signal From 10 Million Miles Away

India's Potential Space Station

Nelson's trip to India marks the start of a series of strategic discussions to strengthen the partnership between the two nations' space agencies. He noted that commercial space stations can open many opportunities for research, including pharma research in zero gravity, according to India West.

The NASA chief is expected to visit Bengaluru's NISAR spacecraft facilities over hardware development on the Earth-observing mission. NISAR's launch next year is pivotal for understanding various aspects of our planet's ecosystems, natural hazards, and climate change.

On top of NISAR, a $1 billion spacecraft, India and the US are working on various space initiatives. These include the Gaganyaan project, a joint India-U.S. spaceflight, and cooperation in areas such as radiation impact studies and space health, said the Hindustan Times.

Nelson talked more about NISAR, saying that it would measure any change on our planet's surface, land, water, or ice mass movement. He said this would provide important information and give a three-dimensional environment model.

Related Article: Scientists Investigate Mysterious Cosmic Ray in Utah, Discover 'Sun Goddess' Particle

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TOPSHOT - A man makes his way on a raft on a river during heavy smog conditions in Jakarta on August 16, 2023. Indonesian capital Jakarta has been experiencing days of heavy air pollution, according to air quality monitor IQAir, as authorities fail to grapple with a spike in toxic smog.

The toxic smog from nearby coal-fired plants and trash industries has increased respiratory illnesses and deaths as the ashes and the stench of smoke continuously hang in the air in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Edy Suryana, a resident near a power plant in northern Java, 60 miles away from Jakarta, has spent more than three decades living in a village that stayed grey for months. Other residents have been suffering from coughing, itching skin, and other health problems.

Toxic Smog in Jakarta Increases Respiratory Illnesses, Deaths

The experts reported that air pollution was causing a rise in respiratory illnesses and deaths in northern Java, which came from coal-fired plants, vehicle and motorcycle exhaust, trash burning, and industries. Many residents in the city have been calling on the government to take measures.

The key focus of the United Nations climate conference, or COP28, next week in Dubai would be the emissions from coal-fired power plants that contribute to greenhouse gases that rise into the atmosphere and help heat the planet.

Countries like Indonesia continue to struggle to balance the rising demand for power industrialization with the need to cut carbon emissions and protect public health. Suryana said that she watched her sister die due to lung problems in 2010, and in 2019, the toxic air worsened his daughter's tuberculosis.

According to research conducted by Vital Strategies, a global health public health nongovernmental organization headquartered in New York, air pollution has contributed to more than 10,000 deaths and 5,000 hospitalizations in Jakarta in 2019.

IQAir, a Swiss air technology company, reported that Jakarta was one of the most polluted cities in the world as blue skies were a rare sight, and the air often smelled like petrol or heavy smoke in the city.

Regular residents mostly complain about itchy skin, but when pollution levels climb past levels considered safe by the World Health Organization and the Indonesian government, the residents experience sore throats.

Ginanjar Syuhada, a health analyst at Vital Strategies, said that pollution levels could remain high, making it unsafe for people to do outdoor activities that could result in short and long-term damage to their health.

A spokesperson from Indonesia's Ministry of Health reported that acute respiratory infections and pneumonia cases have increased, and Jakarta's air pollution has exceeded WHO safe limits.

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Jakarta Tries to Resolve Air Pollution Issue

Siti Nurbaya, Indonesia's Environmental and Forestry Minster, said emissions from burning coal have contributed to up to a third of Indonesia's air pollution.

Jakarta vowed to cut emissions in the coming decades. However, it still provides most of Indonesia's energy needs as millions of vehicles and motorcycles spew emissions as workers commute daily.

The Indonesian government advised the residents to use public transportation and attracted residents to shift from using gas or diesel-fueled vehicles to electric vehicles by giving out financial incentives.

In 2022, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, at a national seminar in September, said that 26,100 electric vehicles and 79,700 electric motorbikes were operating in Indonesia. The government aims to have over 530,000 electric cars in Indonesia by 2030.

Related Article: Air Pollution Allegedly Affect Male Babies' Reproductive System-Leading to Fertility Complications Once They're Adults





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China's armed forces have released images of extensive military drills near the southern border with Myanmar, signaling Beijing's growing concern over regional stability amid escalating conflict in the area.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command has deployed howitzers and counter-battery radars as part of these exercises, as per Newsweek.

China, India Escalate Military Actions

According to the state-owned Global Times, this action seems to be a reaction to the escalating hostilities between the military junta and rebel forces in Myanmar, which has increased the likelihood of the conflict transcending national borders.

Simultaneously, India is significantly enhancing its military capabilities. To boost mobile firepower in high-altitude border areas, including the Line of Actual Control with China, the Indian Army plans to acquire 200 new mounted howitzers equipped with 105 mm guns.

This procurement, part of a 'Make in India' initiative, marks the first instance of the Indian artillery incorporating 105 mm mounted howitzers, a move aimed at strengthening formations in forward positions.

The Indian Army's modernization efforts extend beyond mounted howitzers. The Defence Ministry is also expected to approve the purchase of 400 new towed guns, utilizing the capabilities of Indian firms that have developed prowess in this field and are now even exporting these systems globally.

A notable aspect of this modernization is the emphasis on indigenous production, with the Army issuing tenders for Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems and mounted gun systems to cater to border security needs.

This push for modernization includes a focus on 155 mm/52 caliber Towed Gun Systems, designed to be lighter, more versatile, and adaptable to future technological advancements. The acquisition process is part of a broader plan for 'Mediumisation' with indigenous guns, projected to be completed by 2042, according to Rediff.

Read Also: Portland Teachers Reach Tentative Deal With Public Schools, Ending Weeks-Long Strike

China Intensifies Border Drills

Contracts for 155 mm howitzer procurement have already been concluded in the last decade, with several regiments being equipped with these modern systems, including Dhanush, Sharang, Ultra Light Howitzer, and K-9 Vajra Self-Propelled Guns.

Meanwhile, the Chinese military's activities along the Myanmar border and in Southeast Asia have drawn international attention. The PLA's recent drills demonstrate its capabilities in safeguarding national sovereignty and border stability.

The timing coincides with increased fighting in Myanmar, where the military junta faces opposition from the "Three Brotherhood Alliance," an armed coalition of ethnic minority groups. This escalation has heightened tensions in an already volatile region.

China's strategy in Myanmar is multifaceted. Besides military posturing, Beijing has undertaken anti-gambling operations to counter illegal activities within Myanmar and has shown varying levels of support for factions within Myanmar's anti-junta coalition.

This complex approach underscores the challenges China faces in maintaining stability along its southern border while navigating the intricacies of Myanmar's internal conflict.

Three Chinese navy ships, including a guided-missile destroyer and frigate, made a goodwill visit to Myanmar, engaging in naval security exercises with Myanmar forces. Following the lifting of zero-COVID restrictions, this visit reflects China's intensified defense engagement in the region, Business Times reported.

Related Article: Vanishing Plane: Malaysia Airlines MH370 Victims' Families Start Filing Lawsuits 10 Years After Disappearance

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On Tuesday, the police department reported that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, was one of the auto theft victims amid the rising vehicle robbery in Colorado.

Johnston's office also confirmed that his car was stolen a month ago and had already been recovered by the police department.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's Car Stolen

Johnston's office reported the stolen car but did not provide further specific details to protect the safety of Mayor Johnston and his family. The incident occurred amid the rising robbery, which has been an exacerbating problem in the state.

Fox News said Johnston's car had been stolen before. "Help! My car just got stolen from Office Depot on 35th+quebec. Call 911 if seen (yes I painted my car orange+blue)," he wrote on his social media in 2017.

The police tracked and recovered Johnston's Jeep, but the thief ripped the orange panels off. Johnston credited the Denver police for their amazing work in helping him.

Johnston was appointed as Denver's mayor in July. Earlier this year, he announced his mayoral on a campaign website that Denver should be a place where kids could walk outside at night and feel safe in any neighborhood.

One of his platforms was to hold people accountable and to make auto theft a felony and not a misdemeanor. He said that as the Mayor of Denver, he would push to raise the penalty for stealing a car back to a felony as a person should not get the same punishment for stealing a car as texting while the person drive a car.

Read Also: Jakarta: Toxic Smog in Coal-Fired Plants, Trash Industries Increases Respiratory Illnesses, Deaths

Car Theft Cases in Colorado

The most significant single chunk of the city's crime this year was the motor vehicle theft problem. Auto theft increased during the pandemic across the country, and Denver and Colorado have been battling the severe problem of auto theft for the last five years.

According to Fox 31 Denver, vehicle thefts in Colorado increased by 144% between 2011 and 2020. Approximately half of Denver's crime was vehicle-related this year.

The number of car thefts has doubled from 2019 to 2022. Denver alone accounted for a third of the state's auto thefts in 2022. In 2023, 43% of all crimes committed in Denver have been auto-related, more of a theft of a vehicle itself or criminal mischief around a car.

According to the Denver Police Department records, 139 individual criminal offenses were recorded, and theft of a motor vehicle was the single most common crime in Denver in 2023. Of the 15,000 crimes committed this year, 17% were thefts of motor vehicles.

Another 26% of Denver's crimes were also motor vehicle-related. The vehicle-related crime includes 1,488 thefts of items from a motor vehicle, 1,279 thefts of parts from a motor vehicle, and 1,205 acts of criminal mischief related to a motor vehicle.

Related Article: California: New Anti-Theft Vending Machine Introduced-Simple, Yet Effective Solution for Shoplifting





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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blamed his predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, along with "right-wing extremism" for the chaos in the city caused by the migrant crisis.

On Tuesday, Johnson insisted that he "inherited" Chicago's ongoing migrant issue and accused conservatives of unfairly caricaturing the city as a crime-ridden metropolis. He said that it was abysmal and an insult to everything good about the United States for extremism to use people as political tools.

Chicago City's Migrant Crisis

Johnson argued that everybody knows that right-wing extremism in the United States has targeted Democratically-run cities. He added that it was also intentional that they focused on Democratically-run cities that people of color lead.

The Chicago mayor said their motivation was only to create disruption and chaos. He noted that it was the same Republican right-wing extremism that led to the siege of the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. He claimed that it was also the same right-wing extremism that refused to accept the result of the Civil War, as per the New York Post.

The mayor's remarks come as the most recent year-to-date statistics from the Chicago Police Department showed that overall crime complaints have surged by 19%, motor vehicle theft by 47%, and robbery by 25%. Notably, however, murders have dropped by 12% during that period.

Since August 2022, the city has seen more than 20,000 migrants coming in, partly due to a busing system that was implemented by other states, including Texas, to move them to sanctuary cities.

The rise in migrant travels has overwhelmed Chicago's social services and roughly 68,000 residents of the city are now estimated to be homeless. Johnson, however, credited himself for the "Unity Initiative," a campaign that seeks to shuffle migrants from public areas to churches and other locations for shelter.

Read Also: US Expresses Eagerness To Work on Release of American Citizens Captured by Hamas During Israel-Palestine Conflict

Brandon Johnson's Unity Initiative

Chicago has long been struggling to find a place to house asylum seekers and has relied on police stations and O'Hare International Airport. Johnson said that his administration is now cooperating with 17 churches and announced the construction of the Brighton Part migrant camp, according to Fox News.

Johnson noted that when he was sworn in as Chicago's mayor in May, the previous City Council did not budget for 2023's migrant mission. He said that they not only stood up the full force of government collaboratively but also did it without the resources from the previous City Council.

Lightfoot was voted out of the run-off for Chicago's mayor earlier this year as voters voiced that crime was their main concern. Under her tenure, the city recorded 2,784 homicides and a total of 14,681 shooting incidents.

An associate pastor at Grace and Peace Church in Austin, John Zayas, said that the goal of the Unity Initiative is to start sending buses to police stations on Wednesday. He added that each church will take in 20 migrants and help connect them with social services and other resources to get them on the path to finding work and permanent homes, said CBS News.

Related Article: California To Spend $300 Million To Solve Homelessness Crisis

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that Brianna Suggs, his top campaign fundraiser, is no longer serving in her role.

This change follows a dramatic early November FBI raid on Suggs' residence, a 25-year-old campaign consultant, marking a pivotal moment in an ongoing corruption investigation, as per Fox News.

FBI Raid Triggers Shake-Up in NYC Mayor's Campaign

The raid, which resulted in the seizure of three iPhones, two laptops, and various documents, is part of a broader inquiry into potential foreign funding in Mayor Adams' mayoral campaign. Reports from the New York Times suggest that while the investigation is closely linked to Adams' campaign activities, the mayor himself is not a direct subject of the probe.

Addressing the press, Adams remained tight-lipped about the reasons for Suggs' departure. He noted that she would no longer be involved in fundraising but did not delve into the specifics of this decision. This marks a release from his previous expressions of "full confidence" in Suggs and his desire for her to continue her role.

Suggs' exit from the fundraising position throws light on a turbulent period within Adams' administration, initiated by the FBI's investigation. Notably, the probe focuses on potential illegal foreign campaign contributions, particularly from the Turkish government.

Despite stepping down from her fundraising role, Suggs is reportedly transitioning to a new role within the campaign, as mentioned by a source close to the campaign. Adams' campaign has been successful in its fundraising efforts, having amassed over $2.5 million in donations, a significant lead over potential rivals.

The news of the FBI raid had prompted Mayor Adams to cut short a trip to Washington, D.C., citing the need to support Suggs through what he termed a "traumatizing experience." Suggs has since engaged a new lawyer, Rebecca M. Ricigliano from Crowell & Moring, suggesting potential conflicts of interest with the mayor. The law firm has confirmed cooperating with the government's investigation and support for Suggs' involvement in Adams' 2025 campaign.

The unfolding investigation has had repercussions beyond Suggs. Rana Abbasova, a key aide in the mayor's international affairs office, was placed on administrative leave following allegations of improper conduct, according to The New York Times.

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FBI Investigates Suggs and KSK Construction

The FBI's search of Suggs's Brooklyn residence was a public indication of the inquiry's depth, with agents seeking evidence of illegal foreign donations through straw donors.

The probe also examines the role of KSK Construction Group in a suspected straw donor scheme and communications between the Adams campaign and various entities, including the Turkish Consulate in New York.

Adams has maintained his cooperation with the investigation and adherence to legal guidelines. The investigation's scope includes examining potential conspiracies between the Turkish government and Adams' campaign to funnel foreign donations and Adams' alleged pressure on officials regarding a new Turkish consulate building.

Despite her youth and perceived inexperience, Suggs had risen rapidly within the political sphere, largely due to her connections with Adams and his top aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin. Adams defended his decision to appoint Suggs as the fundraising chief, highlighting the lack of opportunities for young African-American women in politics.

While Suggs' new role in the 2025 reelection campaign remains undefined, her continued involvement indicates ongoing trust from the mayor's office. The recent events, including separate legal representation for Suggs, signal a complex period ahead for Adams' administration as the investigation progresses.

The shakeup in Adams' campaign team, especially with the involvement of key figures like Suggs and Abbasova, underscores the challenges the administration faces amidst federal scrutiny. As the investigation continues, its impact on the political landscape of New York City and Mayor Adams' future campaigns remains a subject of intense speculation and interest, New York Post reported.

Related Article: Ardent Health Services Breach Affects 30 Hospitals in Six US States

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Frances Sternhagen, a veteran character actor who won two Tony Awards and became a familiar maternal face to TV viewers in her shows such as 'Cheers,' 'ER,' 'Sex and the City' and 'The Closer,' has died at 93 on Monday.

She was nominated for Tony Awards four times in her roles in 'The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window,' 'Equus,' 'Angel,' and 'Morning's at Seven.'

Sternhagen Dies at 93

John Carlin, Sternhagen's son, revealed that his mother died peacefully of natural causes. On Wednesday, he wrote on his Instagram, "Fly on, Frannie," and he added that the curtain goes down on a life so richly, passionately, humbly, and generously lived.

Sternhagen's publicist also announced that her death occurred in New Rochelle, New York. Playwright Paul Rudnick expressed his grief on X, formerly Twitter, and said that Sternhagen was a wonderful actress, capable of the highest comedy and profoundly moving drama on Wednesday.

Actor Thomas A. Carlin was her husband, who met in a production in Maryland and later died of heart failure in 1991. Sternhagen and Carlin had four sons named Paul, Tony, Peter, and John, and two daughters, Amanda and Sarah. Furthermore, she was also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Her family said there would be a celebration of her remarkable career and life, which was planned for mid-January, near her 94th birthday. They said that they were inspired by her love and life.

Read Also: Taylor Swift Meets Family of Fan Who Died Due to Extreme Heat at Rio Concert

Sternhagen's Acting Career

In 1974, Sternhagen won a Tony Award for best featured actress in a play for her role in Neil Simon's 'The Good Doctor' and a second one in 1995 for a revival of 'The Heiress.' Her last show on Broadway was in 'Seascape' in 2005.

Sternhagen told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, California, in 2002 that she had been very fortunate and thought it was because she was considered a character actor who could do various things without limit to playing herself.

Associated Press drama critic Michael Kuchwara said in a 2005 review of 'Steel Magnolias,' that Sternhagen was one of the treasures of New York theater who could invest any role she played with considerable sympathy.

Sternhagen was also a mother to six children while her career flourished, but she believed that family comes first. However, she admitted that touring and movie and TV work sometimes took her away from home.

Her role in 'ER' as a wealthy grandmother of Dr. John Carter brought her two Emmy nominations. Her recurring role in 'Sex and the City' as Bunny MacDougal brought her third Emmy nomination.

She said that it has always been fun to play these snobby older ladies, and she has known women like that and said she could imitate them. Sternhagen was born in 1930 in Washington, DC. She loved to perform since childhood but never considered an acting career.

She studied in Vassar as a history major, but a teacher suggested that she do acting. She taught drama, modern dance, and singing outside Boston and decided to pursue work in the theater after her graduation.

Related Article: Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter Laid to Rest





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On Tuesday, November 28, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger.

The two discussed ongoing efforts to sustain and expand the flow of humanitarian assistance and restoration of basic services in Gaza, and to bolster civilian protections and humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

READ ALSO: Readout of President Biden's Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel

National Security Advisor Sullivan reiterated the call for the immediate release of all hostages, and highlighted the imperative need for the ICRC to have access to and provide medical assistance to those hostages still being detained.

National Security Advisor Sullivan thanked ICRC President Spoljaric for the ICRC's hard work to deliver life-saving assistance to civilians in Gaza, which they undertake at great personal risk.

READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Shooting in Burlington, Vermont

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On Tuesday, Thailand's foreign minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, held back his tears as he welcomed Thai hostages freed by Hamas after seven weeks of captivity.

Four Thai workers were released late Wednesday, bringing the total number of freed hostages to 23.

Bahiddha-Nukara Welcomes Released Thai Hostages

On Tuesday, another two were released and taken to Shamir Medical Center. They got emotional as they embraced each other on arrival, wiping their tears and cheering, "We survived! We survived!"

Bahiddha-Nukara said in a Reuters interview after an emotional meeting with the workers that they were not part of the conflict and shared that there were no conditions for the hostages' release. He said that he had discussions with his counterparts in several Middle Eastern countries to keep in touch with Hamas contacts to send him updates about the release of hostages.

Bahiddha-Nukara went around to speak to various countries who could connect with the Hamas group to explain that the Thai workers were innocent and they were not part of politics and just wanted to earn a living.

According to Thailand, Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed 39 Thais in the October 7 attack in Israel, where about 30,000 Thai laborers have been working in the agriculture sector, one of Israel's largest migrant worker groups.

The Thai foreign ministry reported that three Thais were being treated for wounds in hospital. Out of the 32 taken hostage, 13 hostages remain in captivity, and he hoped to win their release soon.

A Thai Muslim group spoke directly with Hamas. The group said that their efforts were key to ensuring that Thai hostages were among the first to be released in Gaza during the temporary ceasefire with Israeli forces on Monday.

The Thai-Iran Alumni Association president, Lerpong Syed, noted that they were the sole party that spoke to Hamas since the beginning of the war to ask for the release of Thais.

Read Also: Missing Man Found Dead in Michigan College Ventilation System

Hamas Hostages

Israel reported that Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostages back to Gaza on October 7. According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 15,000 people were killed in Israel's military campaign.

Hamas released a total of 58 hostages, primarily women and children, and Israel freed 117 Palestinian prisoners during the first three days of the truce.

Some of the released hostages were fed and not tortured. However, some hostages have been admitted to hospitals with serious injuries or medical conditions.

According to CNN, an estimate of 40 to 50 hostages were held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad or other groups or individuals, which was recorded before the handover of hostages that began on Friday.

Thailand's population of 70 million is predominantly Buddhist and has largely co-existed peacefully with its Muslim minority, although a long-running separatist insurgency in the south periodically flares into violence.

Related Article: UN Investigates Alleged Hamas Sexual Violence During Conflict Against Israel





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McDonald's is once again stirring up nostalgia with the return of a beloved childhood favorite: McNugget Buddies.

Starting in December, customers across the United States can relive the joy of collecting these iconic Happy Meal toys, thanks to a special collaboration between McDonald's and New York-based artist Kerwin Frost, as per ABC12 News.

McDonald's Revives Happy Meal Magic For Adults

The much-anticipated release, known as the "Kerwin Frost Box," includes a unique McNugget Buddy, along with a side of McDonald's classic French fries, a refreshing beverage, and a choice between a Big Mac or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets.

This exciting limited-time offer aims to reignite the childlike excitement of opening a Happy Meal, but this time, it's designed for adults who cherish those fond memories from their youth.

The concept of McNugget Buddies dates back to 1988 when McDonald's first introduced them as part of a limited-time promotion with Happy Meals. Now, artist Kerwin Frost has reimagined these collectibles, giving them a modern twist and a fresh look, while preserving their nostalgic charm.

The new McNugget Buddies are not only adorable but also reflect various aspects of self-expression, inspired by Frost's experiences growing up in New York City.

Frost expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, "I've loved McDonald's since I was a kid, and it was my dream to collect all the McNugget Buddies. Now, coming up with my own special set of Buddies, each one representing different aspects of self-expression, it's unreal, a dream come true."

The Kerwin Frost Box follows the success of the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, a similar collaboration between McDonald's and streetwear company Cactus Plant Flea Market, featuring beloved McDonald's mascots like Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie, according to CNBC.

Read Also: UN Report Warns of Spreading Haiti Gang Violence That Could Affect Access to Food Staples

McNugget Buddies to Grimace Shake Trend

The return of McNugget Buddies and the Kerwin Frost Box marks yet another instance of McDonald's bringing back cherished menu items and Happy Meal toys from its extensive history. Recent examples include the McRib Farewell Tour and the reintroduction of Boo Buckets for Halloween.

In a surprising turn of events earlier this year, McDonald's celebrated Grimace's 52nd birthday with a limited-time menu item known as "Grimace's Birthday Meal." This meal featured a purple milkshake, the option of a Big Mac or 10-piece chicken nuggets, and medium fries.

The purple milkshake became an internet sensation, sparking the "Grimace Shake" trend on TikTok, where users created humorous videos about the effects of consuming the unique McDonald's beverage.

As McDonald's continues to delight its customers with nostalgic surprises and innovative collaborations, the return of McNugget Buddies is sure to evoke fond memories and create new ones for fans of all ages.

The Kerwin Frost Box will be available nationwide starting on December 11, and collectors and fast-food enthusiasts alike are expected to flock to their nearest McDonald's locations to get their hands on these charming McNugget Buddies before they disappear once again, People reported.

Related Article: Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter Laid to Rest

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's watchdog has confirmed additional workplace misconduct inquiries following harassment reports, including the toxic environment.

The FDIC's inspector general's office noted that they will perform a special inquiry into the leadership climate at the FDIC concerning all forms of harassment and inappropriate behavior.

FDIC Watchdog Confirms Additional Misconduct Inquiries

The inspector general will also assess the FDIC's sexual harassment prevention program as part of the additional misconduct inquiries. An inspector general said an official announcement would be released once planning was complete.

The FDIC launched an independent probe by the law firm BakerHostetler after The Wall Street Journal's comprehensive reporting on workplace misconduct allegations.

Furthermore, FDIC also established a special panel to manage the third-party review of the regulator's working environment, which will be co-chaired by FDIC director Jonathan McKernan and Michael Hsu, the acting chair of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

McKernan and Hsu stated that the FDIC board has been committed to fostering an environment and culture that promotes a safe, fair, and inclusive workplace for all FDIC employees.

They added that the board would support taking all actions necessary to identify and address the problem's root cause and promote accountability.

The House Oversight Committee's Subcommittee performed an investigation, requesting the FDIC to share records of sexual harassment complaints within the agency and official responses to these submissions. FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg confirmed that he would not oversee the investigations.

McClain and Biggs wrote a letter to Gruenberg, saying that the reports by The Wall Street Journal described an abusive culture of sexual harassment and discrimination within the FDIC and a lack of internal investigation, encouraging reporting and effective responses to such allegations.

The reports noted that GOP representatives and senators called for Gruenberg's resignation. The calls for his resignation escalated after his testimony, which shows that Gruenberg had never been investigated for inappropriate behavior or participated in such conduct, which conflicted with media reports.

"Notwithstanding the toxic environment over which you presided in some leadership capacity over the last 18 years, your conflicting testimony in this week's hearing before the Committee was alarming," Rep. Patrick McHenry, House Financial Services Committee chair, said in a letter co-authored by other GOP committee members.

Sen. Joni Ernst requested that individuals found guilty of misconduct be given serious consequences, including termination and criminal prosecution when warranted.

Ernst was angry and disgusted with the allegations and added that the appointment of a special committee was too late.

Read Also: 'Squad' Votes on Reaffirming Israel's Rights to Exist, Demands Hamas to Release Remaining Hostages

FDIC 'Boys Club' Culture

In The Wall Street Journal's reporting, the FDIC culture was described as a 'boys club' and reported that bank examiners who engaged in misogynistic behavior faced minor consequences.

The harassment reports in the office have been increasing, which resulted in women leaving FDIC. The report also included Gruenberg maintaining a fierce temper and doing nothing in response to complaints.

Furthermore, there were racism allegations in the workplace. In 2018, an anonymous group of black employees expressed concerns to then-Chair Jelena McWilliams that they were mistreated and were afraid to speak out about the issues they were facing for fear of repercussions.

In 2020, the FDIC passed 15 recommendations to prevent and respond to sexual harassment. However, Gruenberg admitted that they failed to change the culture.

Related Article: FDIC Head Initiates Comprehensive Review Due to Series of Sexual Harassment Complaints



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Exhibition on China's manned space program opens in Hong Kong

Xinhua) 16:39, November 30, 2023

HONG KONG, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- An opening ceremony for the China Manned Space Exhibition was held in the Hong Kong Science Museum on Thursday morning.

It is the first time that the history and achievements of China's manned space development have been comprehensively and systematically shown to Hong Kong society through the exhibition, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The exhibition is divided into two exhibition areas, located in the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Science Museum, showcasing various carrier rocket models such as the Long March-2F, Long March-7, Long March-5B, and the new-generation manned carrier rocket.

Additionally, visitors can explore models of significant flight components for future manned lunar landings, such as the new-generation manned spacecraft and lunar lander. The latest video of Shenzhou-16 spacecraft's in-orbit ignition for its return to Earth, which was taken by the Shenzhou-17 crew will also be displayed, according to the exhibition organizers.

Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, who led the visiting delegation of China's manned space program, and Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, delivered speeches at the ceremony.

Representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR, the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and members of China's manned space program delegation also attended the ceremony.

Over the past three decades, China's manned space program has achieved remarkable breakthroughs and successfully mastered a series of crucial technologies since it was officially approved in 1992.

The exhibition is open to all people in Hong Kong and Macao free of charge and will last for three months.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Accor announces the signing of a cooperation agreement with Mardi Holding, one of Georgia's largest development companies, to open a Handwritten Collection hotel on the Black Sea coast in Batumi, Georgia in 2026. Launched in January 2023, the Handwritten Collection brand represents a unique portfolio of exclusive hotels with an individual style. Handwritten Collection properties offer guests an intimate and stylish hospitality experience from local hoteliers.

Handwritten in Batumi will occupy a new building on a territory of 80,000 square meters and offer 197 spacious and comfortable rooms, including suites. Its infrastructure will feature a modern fitness center, a gastronomic restaurant and meeting facilities. Handwritten Collection provides its guests with a unique experience to meet local hoteliers, feel their character and energy, which reflects local culture and traditions. The brand offers unparalleled stays in truly unique hotels that never repeat each other.

Located within a 20-minute drive from Batumi International Airport and a 10-minute drive from the Central Railway Station, the hotel's convenient location will allow guests to visit the main recreational and tourist areas of the city, including its vibrant center and the famous Batumi Boulevard, spanning over 7 kilometers along the Black Sea coast. Travelers will enjoy its leisure area with numerous bars, shops and restaurants.

Batumi is the second largest city in Georgia and a big marine port located on the coast of the Black Sea. It's a charming seaside town with spacious beaches, picturesque nature, a variety of traditional and international restaurants and trendy bars, as well as ancient and vibrant culture and various sights, which makes it perfect for family trips with children, friends getaways and solo travel.

Hotel website
Rosewood Miramar Beach, the Forbes Five-Star resort located on an exclusive oceanfront stretch in Montecito, CA, is pleased to announce the appointment of Hansen Lee as the Resort's Executive Chef. In his new role, Hansen will oversee culinary operations for Rosewood Miramar Beach's AMA Sushi, The Revere Room, Miramar Beach Bar, The Scoop Shop, In-Room Dining and all banquet functions. The Resort's flagship restaurant, the Michelin-Awarded One Star and Green Star recipient Caruso's will remain under the helm of Massimo Falsini who has moved into a Chef Partner role with The Caruso Group.

Hansen brings more than 20 years of fine dining expertise at renowned luxury properties to his new role at Rosewood Miramar Beach with senior positions at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa, Monarch Beach Resort, Lido House Newport Beach Autograph Collection and most recently at The NoMad Hotel Las Vegas MGM.
Gilda Perez-Alvarado has a strong academic background developed across both Europe and North America, at Cornell University and IE Business School. She started her career at PwC before joining JLL in 2004. Working in the company's Hotel & Hospitality division, Gilda has accrued nearly two decades of experience providing top-tier strategic advice to the industry's largest owners and investors including sovereign wealth funds, private equity, global brands, and family offices/UHNWIs. In her most recent role as Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, Gilda was responsible for overseeing the global investment sales, debt and equity placement, strategic advisory and asset management services, offering leading expertise throughout the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. In addition, Gilda led the Global Hotel Desk, the group's cross-border investment sales team which executed the sale of some of the world's most iconic hospitality assets worldwide. In recognition of her capabilities spanning both real estate and hospitality, Gilda holds board and membership positions at a number of high-profile organizations, among which: Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc, Cornell University Board of Trustees, World Travel & Tourism Council and IREFAC. Gilda Perez-Alvarado joined Accor in October 2023 as Chief Strategy Officer and member of Accor's Management Board. As part of her role, she is in charge of overseeing global strategy, relations with hotel owners, and strategic partnerships. In January 2024, she is also appointed CEO Orient Express.

Accor

Issy-les-Moulineaux

France Website
106 Jefferson, a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton, managed by Valor Hospitality Partners announced today the appointment of Laura Morgan as director of sales and marketing. The 115-room lifestyle hotel in downtown Huntsville pays homage to the history, culture and charm of the city, featuring design nods to its space roots. Morgan brings over 25 years of hospitality experience to the property. As Director of Sales and Marketing, she will work with all departments at the hotel to plan and promote 106 Jefferson in the local community and nationally to potential guests. She'll also manage an award-winning sales team with a primary focus on revenue generation. Prior to joining the 106 Jefferson team, Morgan served as the director of sales at various hotels in Alabama, including Homewood Suites, Embassy Suites and Courtyard by Marriott Hoover. After spending over a decade in Birmingham, she's thrilled to be a part of the Huntsville community again.

106 Jefferson is located in the heart of downtown Huntsville, just steps away from various shopping, dining, arts, museums, parks, and nearby historical attractions. Guests can dine at the onsite restaurant, Revivalist, or enjoy a craft cocktail at the rooftop bar, Baker & Able, aptly named after the first two monkeys who traveled to space.
Courtney Vris is the Senior Project Manager and Leader of the HVS Atlanta office. She holds her MSc in International Hospitality Management from LInstitut Paul Bocuse and EMLYON Business School in France, from which she graduated as valedictorian. Furthering her international experience, Courtney conducted market research in France and China to support the repositioning of two global hospitality brands. She was trained in Guest Relations at the Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, and in 2017, she established a Guest Relations program at the Hotel Hugo in New York City. Prior to joining HVS, Courtney held operations management roles in front office, spa & wellness, and general management in the luxury segment.
Back in 2020, we predicted the rise of the Revenge Traveler and the impact it would have on travel and hospitality experience providers. As we approach 2024, we are spotting a new type of traveler on the horizon. And a set of trends that will challenge some of the ways you think about designing and delivering customer experiences.

Post-pandemic, people have a new level of awareness and a more immediate sense of what they need and want. That includes a desire to have real, immersive shared experiences. Enter the Wholehearted Traveler. This new traveler sparks a variety of the travel trends coming our way in the new year. Before we dive into those, lets get to know our new travelers motivations, expectations, and needs. And what that means for the travel industry and experience designers.

The Wholehearted Traveler

Travelers in 2024 are seeking purpose, meaning, impact, and connection through travel. As a result, they are more open to experiential travel rather than the more passive travel of the past.

Post-pandemic, we truly are traveling wholeheartedly. We choose destinations, travel companions, and activities with purpose. We are demanding meaning, impact and connection from every aspect of our trips. These underlying motivations for travel reveal the wholehearted travelers trip means more to them now. Travel is higher stakes when the criteria for a trip goes beyond simply getting away.

This carries a host of opportunities for providers and experience designers across the travel industry. But it also comes with an important word of caution. Because the travel experience is connected to purpose, the wholehearted traveler will be less forgiving when the experience basics are not covered. This is higher stakes travel for our guests. It is also a higher stakes game for those of us designing and delivering experiences for them.

At the recent Wall Street Journal The Future of Everything: The Future of Travel Festival, the head of Turkish airlines, Fatih Durmaz, captured the current spirit of travelers well. He said todays traveler wants to go farther, faster, more comfortably. This speaks to the wholehearted traveler across generations. In our current moment, the sense is, if I am going to travel, I am going to have the trip of a lifetime. That translates to more opportunity  and more responsibility  for human-centered, impactful experiences at every touchpoint of the journey.

Delivering on those expectations starts with understanding who we are encountering at each journey stage. And how their expectations are evolving in the coming year. That brings us to the next set of travel trends for 2024.

Family Travel  Experience New Places Together

Families are traveling together more. This is another post-pandemic shift. Families who had been separated are seeking opportunities to connect and discover new places together. Additionally, families do not live as close to each other as they did years ago. Travel enables families to come together to enjoy shared experiences and establish new traditions.

Rather than one family member staying in place and others traveling to meet them, families are starting to meet in major cities/transportation hubs like Istanbul, New York City, and London.

On the delivery side, this means we need to prepare for groups traveling across the journey (airlines, we all know that group reservations are still on spreadsheets time for a change?). But group travel is not only a logistical concern and enhancement opportunity for airlines. Think about the impact of a rise in group travel on airports, car reservations, hotel accommodations, and activities reservations. And consider the composition of those groups and the varying needs across personas within families.

Multigenerational Travel is on the Rise

Leisure Group Travel Magazine reports more than 20.8 million travelers in the United States alone traveled on a multigenerational trip of three or more generations. With an aging US population, that number is only expected to grow. And that is just in the United States. We are seeing the multigenerational family trend across global travel.

Multigenerational travel represents an influx in travel spending. But it also creates additional levels of complexity in designing and delivering personalized, hospitality-driven experiences across journey touchpoints. It is time to think carefully about how to design for your guests. In the multigenerational context, you can no longer separate out personas and design discreet experiences for each persona segmentation. In this context, you are tasked with designing for a persona that includes the elderly traveler and the Millennial traveler at the same time, in the same space.

We foresee an uptick in the use of travel agents to help plan these multi-needs/multi-interest vacations. Be ready to respond with value. To the travel agents and the destination package designers, take this warning. Before trip planners outsource you to ChatGPT, start curating something special. Build itineraries with emotional charge. This is something ChatGPT cannot do. And your market needs and wants it.

Lounge Experience

If you have noticed more airport lounge announcements and lounge experiences recently, you are spotting a top travel trend for 2024 and beyond. According to Globe Newswire, citing Research and Markets data, the global airport lounge access market is expected to generate USD 55.71 Billion by the end of 2028. This marks an increase from 6.42B in 2022. This trend one to watch for the travel and hospitality industry and ancillary lifestyle industries.

Credit card companies are creating airport lounges and curating airport lounge experiences as differentiators for their customers. Credit cards, as lifestyle brands, need to show up where customers live, travel to, and travel through. For this reason, credit card companies are making more of a commitment to their customers. In turn, they are aiming for customers to make more of a commitment to them through increased utilization and greater loyalty.

To compete for customer acquisition and give more value, credit card companies are offering experiences their customers care about. With the rise of the wholehearted traveler, they recognize airport lounges are among the high value experiences todays customers crave.

In fact, airport lounges are a locus for the trends of the 2024 traveler. With the right hospitality experience design, hospitality standards, and a well-trained staff, lounges are poised to meet the unique and evolving needs of the 2024 traveler and travel group.

Lounges elevate a fundamental step on the travel journey and make getting to the destination as experientially impactful as arrival at the destination. That is a key value add for the wholehearted, experiential traveler of 2024. But it is only achievable when the lounge experience itself is designed, managed, and maintained correctly.

To develop a destination feeling for guests, many airport lounges focus on infusing their experience with unique local elements. This can include local drinks, foods, art, and design. It is similar to contemporary airport design and customer experience best practices that infuse local offerings to create a sense of place for guests, even those who are just passing through.

Ultimately, this goes back to connection, meaning, and purpose of travel. And it leads us to our next 2024 trend.

Localization

Todays traveler craves authenticity. They want to do more than get away from home. The 2024 traveler wants a real sense of place by accessing locally sourced food, drink, goods, and experiences. Our travelers want an immersive experience in something real that is different from what the encounter on a daily basis.

Travel booking firm Get Your Guide reports 90% of US travelers name experiencing a destination as locals do a priority. And 62% of US travelers feel a trip is wasted if they do not experience the local culture.

However, what constitutes a local experience goes beyond the more obvious art, food, and cultural experiences. It includes where and how guests stay at their destinations. Airbnb offers unique local value to the experiential traveler, inviting individuals and families to stay in cities and villages as if they were residents.

Dispersing Travel

This brings us to another trend in the travel space for 2024. Did you know who does not want to create a loyalty program? Airbnb. They are bucking this conventional wisdom and focusing instead on protecting the core and going into international markets like Asia, particularly Korea.

Looked at in isolation, this might be considered a one-off business choice by a company that has faced issues in popular markets like New York City. However, looking deeper into the reasoning behind this decision and the connection to the Airbnb mission, unlocks a travel trend worth noting for next year and beyond.

Read the full article at CustomerThink Corp.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.  The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society (PSHRS) and the School of Hospitality Management will honor Jim Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., and Ted Balestreri, chairman and CEO of Cannery Row Co. and chairman, CEO and co-founder of Sardine Factory Restaurant, at the 2024 PSHRS Industry Awards and Reception. The event will take place at 4:30 p.m. on April 2, 2024, at the schools Marriott Foundation Building among alumni, faculty, industry partners and students.

Risoleo will receive the societys Hospitality Executive of the Year Award and Balestreri will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

We are pleased to add the names of Jim Risoleo and Ted Balestreri to the pantheon of those who have had a tremendous impact and raised the bar for our students and alumni both in corporate leadership and entrepreneurialism. Tom Neely, president of PSHRS and president and CEO of Thomas E. Strauss in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Both Jim and Ted epitomize American hospitality business success through unique histories and a shared pathway that is lined with a passion for excellence and for others. They consistently advocate for the opportunities our industry provides and contribute enormously to their communities, which inspires our thriving alumni, our hardworking students and everyone with whom they work. Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the School of Hospitality Management

About Jim Risoleo

Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., the worlds largest lodging real estate investment trust, has been named 2024 Hospitality Executive of the Year. Host is an S&P 500 company and is one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels, partnering with premium brands and leading management companies to manage its portfolio of hotels.

I am delighted and honored to receive this award from PSHRS and to be recognized by one of the oldest, most respected and top programs of its kind. Providing leadership and supporting the development, advancement and educational opportunities for our future hospitality leaders is essential, and we all share this responsibility to give back to our industry. Jim Risoleo

With over 35 years of extensive finance and real estate experience, including more than 27 years at Host, Risoleo has served in numerous roles of increasing responsibility. He led acquisitions and investments and built and ran an international business unit spanning the United States and Europe before he became president and CEO in 2016.

Prior to Host, Risoleo was vice president of development at Interstate Hotels Corp. and senior vice president of commercial real estate at Westinghouse Electric Corp. In addition, he currently serves as an executive committee member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, a member of the U.S. Travel Association CEO Roundtable, and a member of the Real Estate Roundtable. Past appointments have included independent chair of Cole Office and Industrial REIT and an independent director of Griffin Realty Trust.

Risoleo graduated from Duquesne University School of Business with a bachelors degree and from Duquesne University School of Law with a juris doctor degree. He holds bar admissions to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

About Ted Balestreri

Balestreri is chairman and CEO of the Cannery Row Co. and chairman, CEO and co-founder of the Sardine Factory Restaurant, for which he formed a partnership in 1968. He also founded Pacific Hospitality, which was incorporated from 1983-2007 and held the franchise rights for Wendy's International, covering a tri-county area in northern California.

I am delighted and honored to accept this award from the Penn State School of Hospitality Management and its distinguished alumni society, PSHRS. Penn State's program has long established itself as an American leader in graduating exceptional hospitality talent, including my longtime friends Walter J. Conti, Biff Naylor and Ralph Evans, along with Bill Kohl and Hugh Roth, among many others. What makes this Lifetime Achievement Award a double honor is to be receiving it alongside my friend, Jim Risoleo, as he is recognized as the Penn State Hospitality Executive of the Year in 2024. Ted Balestreri

Balestreri has served as a member of the World Travel & Tourism Council since July 1997 and was appointed as California delegate to the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism in February 1995. California Gov. Pete Wilson appointed Balestreri to serve on the California Italian-American Task Force in December 1996, and Monterey City Council appointed him to the Citizens' Advisory Committee for the Economic Element to the City's General Plan and Economic Strategy Planning in January 1993. In 1985, Balestreri was appointed by Gov. George Deukmejian to serve as commissioner on the California Travel and Tourism Commission and served through 2007.

Balestreri also served as past president of the National Restaurant Association from 1985-86 and the California Restaurant Association from 1983-84. He was chairman on the board of the Intl Gold & Silver Plate Society from 1992-93, was chairman of Distinguished Restaurants of North America from 1992-94, and received an honorary doctor of business administration degree in hospitality management from Johnson and Wales University in 1987.

In addition, Balestreri serves on the board of trustees for the Robert Louis Stevenson School, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, and the Panetta Institute of Public Policy. He also is a major contributor to numerous scholarships and educational foundations.

About the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society

The Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society was founded to strengthen all hospitality professions and enhance the reputation of the Hospitality Management program (HM). PSHRS is an Alumni Group of the Penn State Alumni Association and the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society.

PSHRS provides a means for achieving closer fellowship among alumni, faculty and students. PSHRS serves those who are currently attending Penn State in HM or who are graduates of the program, as well as those who work within the HM industries and have attended Penn State or are "friends" of the program.

About the School of Hospitality Management

Established in 1937, Penn States School of Hospitality Management is one of the nations earliest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused, since its inception, on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. Its also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society.

For 87 years, the Penn State School of Hospitality Management has provided outstanding leadership for a global and dynamic hospitality industry, offering innovative programs, research and service to the profession alongside world-class faculty, staff and students. The school inspires all students to pursue excellence in scholarship, exhibit a strong work ethic, and become successful and ethical hospitality leaders.

For more information about the school, contact Ben Jellison, director of industry and alumni relations, at [email protected] or 814-865.

Ben Jellison

Director of Industry and Alumni Relations

814-865-6728

Penn State School of Hospitality Management
Marriott International, Inc., a hotel industry leader for more than 95 years, today announced its commitment to incorporate neuroinclusive practices at Marriott-hosted customer events of 250 people or more globally. This commitment is a result of joining forces with The Neu Project, an initiative from Googles Experience Institute (Xi) that aims to share resources designed to better accommodate and create a more inclusive experience during meetings and events for neurodivergent attendees. These practices are initially being previewed at Marriotts Corporate Partnership Customer Conference, THE EXCHANGE, currently taking place November 28 through December 1, 2023 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, CA.

Approximately 15-20 percent of the worlds population has neuro differences, including ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, dyslexia, epilepsy, and Tourette Syndrome.* In 2022, the Google Experience Institute launched The Neu Project in order to demystify and educate event professionals on the design of more neuroinclusive experiences through a helpful guide and checklist.

Starting today, the following neuroinclusive practices will be incorporated at Marriott-hosted customer meetings and events of 250 people or more:

Quiet Room: Adedicated room will be available during Marriott customer events for recovery from sensory overwhelm, restoration and regulation. Designed to foster the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of attendees, the room will serve as a calming retreat where guests can break from the event to manage fatigue, overload and/or sensory needs.

Adedicated room will be available during Marriott customer events for recovery from sensory overwhelm, restoration and regulation. Designed to foster the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of attendees, the room will serve as a calming retreat where guests can break from the event to manage fatigue, overload and/or sensory needs. Tools and Resources: At registration, event attendees will have the opportunity to request various tools to better accommodate their needs, including sensory & fidget toys, noise canceling ear plugs, sleep masks, sunglasses, printed agendas and venue maps, and details about loud music, flashing lights or surprise moments taking place during the event.

At registration, event attendees will have the opportunity to request various tools to better accommodate their needs, including sensory & fidget toys, noise canceling ear plugs, sleep masks, sunglasses, printed agendas and venue maps, and details about loud music, flashing lights or surprise moments taking place during the event. Closed Captioning for Main Stage Presentations: Real-time subtitles and captions will be available on-screen during main stage event and conference presentations.

Grounded in our commitments to innovation and inclusion, Marriott is dedicated to making meetings and events more accessible for everyone. The Neu Project is a driving force in this space, and we look forward to working jointly with them, along with the neurodivergent community, to deepen our understanding of neurodivergent needs in order to truly welcome all. Drew Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Technology Officer, Marriott International

Over the past two years, Marriott has collaborated closely with The Neu Project to learn directly from the neurodivergent community. The company has already begun implementing various neuroinclusive practices at its recent customer events, including a quiet room and tools and resources at both THE EXCHANGE: Association Masters in Phoenix, AZ and THE EXCHANGE: Europe in Madrid, Spain. Last month, Marriott and The Neu Project also implemented a quiet room for attendees at IMEX America, an annual industry event in Las Vegas, NV where members of the global business events community come together.

Looking ahead to 2024, Marriott will further its neuroinclusion efforts by conducting active listening sessions with the community through conversations with The Neu Project and people who are neurodivergent, which will help shape future content.

The Neu Project was born out of a desire to rethink event experiences post-pandemic, and has since grown into a major initiative that is driving change at events across industries. Marriott understands that creating environments where differing perspectives and experiences can come together boosts creativity, and we have witnessed their passion for increasing inclusivity at meetings and events. Were excited to continue working with them as we strive to create more inclusive experiences with and for the neurodivergent community. Megan Henshall, Global Events Strategy at Googlel

Marriotts implementation of neuroinclusive practices for meetings at select hotels builds on its fundamental core values of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Through third-party partners like Disability:IN, the leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide, Marriott offers a variety of resources to improve accessibility at meetings, events and conferences.

For more information on Marriott Internationals meetings and events offerings and capabilities, visit https://marriottbonvoyevents.com/.

* National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the Career Achievement Awardees for the Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing and the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Hospitality Public Relations. These awards recognize individuals who have spent a major portion of their careers in the hospitality and travel profession and have contributed to the betterment of the industry in a significant and lasting way, over an extended period of time.

Jeff Senior, a recently retired marketing executive, is receiving the Albert E. Koehl Award for Career Achievement in Hospitality Marketing. Gina Stouffer, president of Lou Hammond Group, is receiving the Winthrop W. Grice Award Hospitality Public Relations. Both awards will be presented in conjunction with the HSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration on February 13, 2024 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Jeff and Gina stand out as trailblazers in marketing and public relations for the travel and tourism industry. Their influence extends far beyond the organizations and individuals they have led and continue to lead, leaving an indelible mark on the entire hospitality industry. Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI

Jeff Senior: Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing

Jeff Senior, MBA, is recently retired from his chief commercial officer role with KSL Resorts. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. Senior has also held executive commercial positions with a number of global brands including Marriott International, Doubletree Hotels, Kimpton Group, and IHG. His responsibilities have spanned the globe, providing commercial guidance to a variety of hotels, resorts, and destinations, including owned, managed, asset managed, and franchise operations. His experience includes commercial guidance across the US, Canada, Western Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and China.

He is an acknowledged industry expert, and has been featured on a variety of media including television on Fox Business, NBC, and on Chinese Television while supporting the state of California on a trade mission. He has been featured in publications including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, a variety of consumer facing publications, and industry media and journals.

A proponent of lifelong learning, Senior holds a MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a certificate in Consumer Marketing Strategy from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Customer Focused Innovation from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Senior has been active in giving back to the travel industry, and has served in executive capacities across a variety of groups, including U.S. Travel Association; Visit California California State University Hospitality & Tourism Alliance Council; American Travel Marketing Association Executive Committee; and finally, with HSMAI as Global Chair, Americas Chair, Executive Committee and Board.

Seniors most recent venture is the creation of 5 Vines Travel Advisors, a boutique travel consultancy focused on assisting clients optimize commercial opportunities, where he is Principal and Owner.

Gina Stouffer: Winthrop W. Grice Award for Public Relations

A born leader and an inveterate traveler, Gina Stouffer has spearheaded the growth of Lou Hammond Group since joining the firm in 1998. A 28-year public relations veteran, she has been instrumental in the development of the agencys award-winning team and vast collection of destination, hotel/resort and cruise accounts.

Beginning in LHGs New York office, Gina went on to establish an agency presence in Miami and Charleston and later laid the business development and team recruitment plans for the firms expansion into Houston, Denver, Atlanta and Tampa.

In her current capacity as president of the Charleston office, Gina oversees a broad portfolio of national and international accounts. An industry force, Gina is respected by clients, media and peers alike, transforming her professional contacts into long-lasting relationships.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gina graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a degree in history and political science. She first honed her public affairs skills as an intern in the Clinton White House in Washington, D.C. before joining Forte Hotels in New York.

She and her husband, Blake, along with their son, Sebastian (Baz) now call Charleston home. She is past president of Les Dames dEscoffiers Charleston chapter and currently serves as an executive board member for the Charleston Library Society, the oldest cultural institution in the South.

For additional information on the HSMAI Adrian Awards and the HSMAI Career Achievement Awards, visit HSMAI Adrian Awards.

About HSMAI

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, Sales Leader Forum, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org.
We are here to talk about effective strategies to attract talent to our hotels and the industry as a whole, and, of course, retaining them. Effective Employer Branding  how we effectively sell our companies, brands, and the industry at large to current and future talent  is absolutely crucial. Our podcasts aim to share knowledge, ideas and best practice to ensure we refine our employer branding strategies, promoting hospitality as an aspirational career option. Weve already spoken to a wide range of industry professionals in this series, each bringing a new perspective to this topic. We heard from Dimitris Manikis, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, an advocate for listening to what the next generation has to say, and from Roland Seddon, Managing Director of MRK Associates, a recruitment consultant who gave us some really good employer branding tips. In our last podcast we heard from Josefine Janson, the Director of Human Resources, for Radisson in Norway about the importance of storytelling to attract new talent as part of a successful employer branding strategy.

Today we are lucky to have joining us, Sylwia Masluk, Global Senior Vice President for Talent & Culture for three Accor brands: Sofitel, MGallery, and Emblems. Sylwia took on this role when Accor changed its structure in 2022, with these brands brought into the luxury and lifestyle division, and that has almost created a blank sheet of paper in terms of defining a new culture and employer branding strategy. Listen to todays episode below.



You can find all the available episodes for this podcast series here.

Stay tuned for more episodes in our series, where we continue to explore challenges and opportunities in talent acquisition and retention within the hospitality industry.

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Gilda Perez-Alvarado and Maxime d'Angeac are appointed Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of Orient Express respectively. Management of Orient Express will be based in Paris. Gilda Perez-Alvarado will remain Chief Strategy Officer of the Accor Group.



Omer Acar is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Fairmont, replacing Mark Willis who becomes Advisor to Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor. Omer Acar will remain Chief Executive Officer of Raffles, based in New York.





These organizational changes will be effective as of 1 January 2024.

Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Chief Strategy Officer Accor & CEO Orient Express

Gilda Perez-Alvarado has a strong academic background developed across both Europe and North America, at Cornell University and IE Business School. She started her career at PwC before joining JLL in 2004. Working in the companys Hotel & Hospitality division, Gilda has accrued nearly two decades of experience providing top-tier strategic advice to the industrys largest owners and investors including sovereign wealth funds, private equity, global brands, and family offices/UHNWIs. In her most recent role as Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, Gilda was responsible for overseeing the global investment sales, debt and equity placement, strategic advisory and asset management services, offering leading expertise throughout the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. In addition, Gilda led the Global Hotel Desk, the groups cross-border investment sales team which executed the sale of some of the worlds most iconic hospitality assets worldwide. In recognition of her capabilities spanning both real estate and hospitality, Gilda holds board and membership positions at a number of high-profile organizations, among which: Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc, Cornell University Board of Trustees, World Travel & Tourism Council and IREFAC. Gilda Perez-Alvarado joined Accor in October 2023 as Chief Strategy Officer and member of Accors Management Board. As part of her role, she is in charge of overseeing global strategy, relations with hotel owners, and strategic partnerships. In January 2024, she is also appointed CEO Orient Express.

Maxime d'Angeac, Artistic Director Orient Express

Architect, graduated of Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Maxime is a member of French Architect order. Maxime went through professional education, during which he was a roadie then stage manager on French gigs. He was then joined Hilton McConnico with whom he imagined and collaborated on the scenography of numerous Hermes exhibitions in Paris, the new Lanvin concept, or the  Le Tout Paris  restaurant on the roof of the Samaritaine. In 1992, Maxime got his Architecture degree and founded his own agency. Following these events, the workload started getting heavy  he indeed succeeded in managing both his scenography works (Comite Colbert, Manuel Canovas), architectural projects for luxury companies (Guerlain, Sonya Rykiel, Junko Shimada), technically complex projects such as his works in the American Hospital of Paris. In addition, Maxime constantly works with a more discrete and demanding customer base on sophisticated, modern projects. Since 2021 he designs new Orient Express train and the future boat Orient Express Silenseas. Maximes thorough approach consists in a perfect hand-drawn blueprint and precise detail that he perfects with an extremely precise thought process on light. In his works, he deliberately carries the complete weight of creation, from the first sketches to the ornamentation of the finalized work. In January 2024, he is appointed Artistic Director Orient Express.

Omer Acar, CEO Raffles & Fairmont

Omer Acar holds degrees from Hotel Institute Montreux and Hawaii Pacific University, and successfully completed Cornell's Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management certificate program. Omer is an eminent specialist in luxury hospitality. He started his career at Four Seasons in various operational positions at several hotels in the United States and Egypt. He moved to Harrods in England as Group Director of Food & Beverage in 2005, was appointed General Manager of the Ritz in Paris in 2006, and then moved to the Royal Monceau  Raffles Paris in the same capacity in 2011. He joined Katara Hospitality in 2014 as Managing Director for Europe and the Americas, where he supervised 18 hotels including The Plaza in New York, Peninsula in Paris, Carlton in Cannes, Excelsior in Rome, Grosvenor House and The Savoy in London. In March 2023, Omer Acar joined Accor as CEO Raffles & Orient Express and serves as a member of the Groups Luxury & Lifestyle Executive Committee. In January 2024, he takes the lead of Raffles & Fairmont. Based in New York City, he also has the responsibility of representing Accor on the North American market.
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) announces the Career Achievement Awardees for the Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing and the Winthrop W. Grice Award for Hospitality Public Relations. These awards recognize individuals who have spent a major portion of their careers in the hospitality and travel profession and have contributed to the betterment of the industry in a significant and lasting way, over an extended period of time.

Jeff Senior, a recently retired marketing executive, is receiving the Albert E. Koehl Award for Career Achievement in Hospitality Marketing. Gina Stouffer, president of Lou Hammond Group, is receiving the Winthrop W. Grice Award Hospitality Public Relations. Both awards will be presented in conjunction with theHSMAI Adrian Awards Celebration on February 13, 2024 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

"Jeff and Gina stand out as trailblazers in marketing and public relations for the travel and tourism industry," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "Their influence extends far beyond the organizations and individuals they have led and continue to lead, leaving an indelible mark on the entire hospitality industry."

Jeff Senior: Albert E. Koehl Award for Hospitality Marketing





Jeff Senior, MBA, is recently retired from his chief commercial officer role with KSL Resorts. Previously, he was executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. Senior has also held executive commercial positions with a number of global brands including Marriott International, Doubletree Hotels, Kimpton Group, and IHG. His responsibilities have spanned the globe, providing commercial guidance to a variety of hotels, resorts, and destinations, including owned, managed, asset managed, and franchise operations. His experience includes commercial guidance across the US, Canada, Western Europe, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and China.

He is an acknowledged industry expert, and has been featured on a variety of media including television on Fox Business, NBC, and on Chinese Television while supporting the state of California on a trade mission. He has been featured in publications including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, a variety of consumer facing publications, and industry media and journals.

A proponent of lifelong learning, Senior holds a MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a certificate in Consumer Marketing Strategy from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, and a certificate in Customer Focused Innovation from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Senior has been active in giving back to the travel industry, and has served in executive capacities across a variety of groups, including U.S. Travel Association; Visit California California State University Hospitality & Tourism Alliance Council; American Travel Marketing Association Executive Committee; and finally, with HSMAI as Global Chair, Americas Chair, Executive Committee and Board.

Senior's most recent venture is the creation of 5 Vines Travel Advisors, a boutique travel consultancy focused on assisting clients optimize commercial opportunities, where he is Principal and Owner.

Gina Stouffer: Winthrop W. Grice Award for Public Relations





A born leader and an inveterate traveler, Gina Stouffer has spearheaded the growth of Lou Hammond Group since joining the firm in 1998. A 28-year public relations veteran, she has been instrumental in the development of the agency's award-winning team and vast collection of destination, hotel/resort and cruise accounts.

Beginning in LHG's New York office, Gina went on to establish an agency presence in Miami and Charleston and later laid the business development and team recruitment plans for the firm's expansion into Houston, Denver, Atlanta and Tampa.

In her current capacity as president of the Charleston office, Gina oversees a broad portfolio of national and international accounts. An industry force, Gina is respected by clients, media and peers alike, transforming her professional contacts into long-lasting relationships.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gina graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a degree in history and political science. She first honed her public affairs skills as an intern in the Clinton White House in Washington, D.C. before joining Forte Hotels in New York.

She and her husband, Blake, along with their son, Sebastian (Baz) now call Charleston home. She is past president of Les Dames d'Escoffier's Charleston chapter and currently serves as an executive board member for the Charleston Library Society, the oldest cultural institution in the South.

For additional information on the HSMAI Adrian Awards and the HSMAI Career Achievement Awards, visit HSMAI Adrian Awards.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 28F. Winds ESE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
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EU Labels, Artists want to stop Radio Royalties from going to US acts

European artists and labels are battling a court ruling that pays US performers when their music is played on the radio there. The judgment reverses longstanding reciprocity since US radio pays no performer royalties and could cause a 40% drop in payments to EU performers and producers.

from Celebrity Access

A coalition of European artists and label groups have joined forces to urge legislators in the European Union to craft a legislative solution to the economic fallout stemming from the European Court of Justices 2020 ruling in the Recorded Artists Actors Performers (RAAP) case.

The ruling suspends the longstanding practice of material reciprocity in the payment of broadcast and public performance royalties on sound recordings from non-EU countries that dont provide performers with an equal share of royalties generated when their music is played on radio or in public venues, including from markets such as the U.S.

Unless the principle of material reciprocity is restored in EU legislation, European performers and producers in reciprocity countries could see revenues fall by up to 40%, the share of US repertoire in some of these countries.

Since the ruling in 2020, the European Commission has acknowledged the issue on several occasions and said it is committed to finding a solution, but as of yet, has failed to do so.

It is the EUs responsibility to prevent European artists and producers losing millions every year to the USA, which has chosen not to protect these rights. A proposal is needed now to restore legal certainty, safeguard cultural diversity and European sovereignty. This needs to be done in a way that provides for member states to apply reciprocity whilst also allowing a grandparenting clause for countries who have a different system. Imposing a mandatory system is a disproportionate response. We call on the EU to act and also exert increased trade pressure on the USA to raise their level of protection. Their stance is costing the world music economy hundreds of millions a year, said Helen Smith, Executive Chair of IMPALA, a trade association for the European indie label sector.

In the Netherlands, the first country to stop applying reciprocity to comply with the RAAP ruling, we are seeing a clear and substantial drop in the revenue going to Dutch and other European performers and producers. This is what awaits other countries if nothing is done to address this. We need a solution now before the impact on artists, producers and cultural diversity becomes even bigger, added Will Maas, Chairman of the Dutch musicians union Ntb/Kunstenbond.

Signatories supporting the call for legislative action include:

 Adami  French collective management organization for performers rights  Xavier Lardoux, CEO

 IMPALA  European association of independent music companies  Helen Smith, Executive Chair

 Musikerforbundet  Swedish Musicians Union  Karin Inde, Chairman

 Ntb/Kunstenbond  Dutch Musicians Union  Will Maas, Chairman Ntb

 PlayRight  Belgian collective management society of neighboring rights for performing artists  Christophe Van Vaerenbergh, Managing Director

 SAMI  Swedish Artists and Musicians Interest Organization  Stefan Lagrell, Managing Director

 SYMF  Swedish Union of Professional Musicians  Gunnar Jonsson, Chairman

 unisono  German Federation of Musicians  Gerald Mertens, CEO

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Pittsfield Announces New Energy Program Rates

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City of Pittsfield has signed a twenty-four month contract with its current supplier, Dynegy Energy Services.

The Pittsfield Community Choice Power Supply Program will have a new standard product that meets Massachusetts Renewable Energy Requirement (MA Req) of 62.3 percent at a rate of $0.13849 per kWh. It will also continue to offer an optional product that uses 100 percent Massachusetts Class I Renewable Energy Certificates at a rate of $0.16729 per kWh.

For Pittsfield residents and businesses who are enrolled in the City's standard product, the current rate of $0.09603 per kWh will expire and the new rate of $0.13849 per kWh will take effect with the January 2024 meter reads. This represents an increase of $25 per month on the supply side of the bill given average usage of 600 kWh. However, this new rate is 13 percent lower than Eversource's recently announced Residential Basic Service rate of $0.15845 per kWh. Residents can expect to see an average savings of $12 per month for the months of January 2024 through July 2024.

Normally, the term would be through June 2024 but this is a transition term. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities issued an Order on September 1, 2023 that requires Eversource change its residential and small business Basic Service periods to February through July and August through January. This is expected to mitigate large seasonal changes in Basic Service electricity supply prices and differences across electric distribution companies. [See mass.gov/news/dpu-orders-schedule-changes-to-basic-service-rates .]

"Although the Program rate is increasing due to market conditions, we are pleased that it will still offer savings over the Basic Service price offered. In addition, the new rate will be locked in for the term of the contract and will provide stability thereby insulating ratepayers from market fluctuations," said Mayor Linda Tyer.

Pittsfield launched its electricity program in January 2018 in an effort to develop an energy program that would be stable, affordable and incorporate renewable energy. From inception through June 2023, the Program has saved residents and small businesses over $16.6 million in electricity costs as compared to Basic Service.

It is important to note that no action will be required by individual consumers. All accounts currently enrolled in the Program will remain with their current product selection and see the new rate under the "Supplier Services" section of their monthly bill. This change will be seen on the February 2024 bills.

The Pittsfield Community Choice Power Supply Program has no fees or charges. However, anyone switching from a contract with a third-party supplier may be subject to penalties or early termination fees charged by that supplier. Ratepayers should verify terms before switching.

Basic Service rates change twice a year or more, depending on rate class. As a result, the aggregation rate may not always be lower than the Basic Service rate. The goal of the aggregation is to deliver savings over the life of the program against Eversource Basic Service. However, such savings and future savings cannot be guaranteed.

Eversource customers who meet certain means criteria can qualify to receive a discount on their electric bills. To learn more, please visit eversource.com/content/residential/account-billing/payment-assistance/discount-rate
Clark Art Hosts Morningside Student Poets

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  On Saturday, Dec. 2 at noon, the Clark Art Institute hosts student poets from Morningside Community Elementary School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, who will recite their work during a celebratory reception for a student poetry project that is currently installed on the Clark's grounds. The reception is free and open to the public.

The event takes place in the Clark's Michael Conforti Pavilion.

On Nov. 27, fifty-one tree tags embroidered with lines of student poetry were placed on trees along the Clark's trails, near Analia Saban's Teaching A Cow How to Draw (2020) fence that borders the Clark's pasture, and along the trail up to Thomas Schutte's Crystal (2015) atop Stone Hill. The poems were written by third-graders from Morningside Community Elementary School during a November field trip as part of the poetry-in-schools program, Fireside, facilitated by The Mastheads, a public arts and humanities project. Inspired by their tour of the Clark's galleries and a walk up Stone Hill, the students reflected on the ways art and nature interact while writing poems during their visit.

"This project is a great model of how the Clark can partner with other arts organizations and support our local schools. What's not to like? Poetry, written by third graders, inspired by the Clark, and installed on our beautiful grounds," said Ronna Tulgan Ostheimer, director of education at the Clark. Sarah Hobin, Manager of Community Engagement Programs at the Clark, collaborated with The Mastheads to organize the project as a part of the Clark's community outreach initiatives.

A highlight of each semester's Fireside project is a surprising, site-specific public text installation of student poetry. Lines of student poetry have been engraved on park fences, painted on sidewalks, plastered on billboards, and now, wrapped around tree trunks at the Clark. The poetry tags will be on the Clark's trees through December 4.

"Students intuitively love poetryit's like making art with words," said Sarah Trudgeon, literary director at The Mastheads. Kids who don't love writing in other capacities often love writing poems. It also helps students connect with each other and their teachers."

Tessa Kelly, the Mastheads' design director explains, "Knowing that the outdoor walking trails are a major part of the local community's relationship to the Clark, we wanted the project to add a new element of interest and excitement to already beloved routes through the campus. The selection of tree straps as a medium came about because we want to work with a true horticultural product, which both functionally and aesthetically could be mistaken as part of the landscape maintenance. But when you get close enough, the text delivers a surprise! The project overall builds on The Mastheads' commitment to bringing the voices of Pittsfield youth into the fold of the cultural life of the Berkshires."
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Justin Trudeau said India should take seriously Canadas allegations that its government agents were involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, after the US unveiled similar explosive allegations.

The US Justice Department on Wednesday alleged the involvement of an unnamed Indian government official in an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen, who lives in New York.

An Indian national, identified as Nikhil Gupta, 52, was indicted on charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, according to the court filings.

The explosive indictment mirrors Canadas allegations from September that Indian government agents were involved in the June killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

New Delhi has consistently pushed back against Canadas allegations, calling them absurd. It has, however, opened a high-level inquiry into the charges laid by US prosecutors.

Both Mr Pannun and Nijjar had advocated for the carving out of a Sikh homeland from India, known as the Khalistan movement.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously, Mr Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this, he said.

He said Canada has been working closely with its American counterparts since August on the very serious allegations.

Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is pictured in his office on Wednesday (AP)

Canada has been urging India for more cooperation on their part and more engagement into the investigations of Nijjars killing, while the Indian side has demanded more evidence over their allegations before it will pursue the case.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry doubled down on Delhis allegations that Canada was promoting anti-India extremists.

In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue, said Arindam Bagchi.

Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this.

So, we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable, he said.

Following his meeting with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in Delhi, Mr Trudeau had in September said there were credible allegations of the Indian states involvement in the murder of Canadian citizen Nijjar, a plumber and prayer leader at the local gurudwara in British Columbia where he was shot and killed.

The allegations resulted in Indo-Canadian relations dipping to new lows, as each country expelled a senior diplomat from the other. India also suspended visa services for Canadians  not all of which have been restored  and threatened to strip the diplomatic immunity of dozens of Canadian diplomats.

The indictment by US prosecutors now threatens US-India relations. It said an unnamed Indian government official offered to pay $100,000 for Mr Pannun to be killed.

Mr Gupta, 52, who was named in the indictment, was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and accused of working as a middle-man for the Indian government agent.

Even before the US indictment was unsealed, India announced it had set up a high-level inquiry after US authorities raised concerns about preexisting knowledge of the alleged plot.

The Indian foreign ministry said Delhi took the allegations shared by the US seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue.
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The Cop28 climate summit kicks off in Dubai on Thursday. Heres some key issues to look out for during the annual two-week UN convention on climate change, the biggest event of the year to tackle the climate crisis.

TAKING STOCK

Cop28 will see the first stocktake since the Paris Agreement eight years ago  where countries take an inventory of their collective progress in cutting emissions to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (C) this century.

But we are far from zero. A recent assessment found that current emissions-reduction efforts leave the world facing 3C temperature rise by 2100  a heat bomb that could trigger irreversible tipping points, more catastrophic weather, and sea-level rise.

To get back on track, transformational shifts are needed to peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 at the latest, and cut them by 43 per cent in the next six years. Deforestation must also be reversed and $450bn in oil and gas subsidies halted.

It means that every climate summit this decade is critical and the pressure is on Cop28 host, the United Arab Emirates, to deliver meaningful progress in the right direction.

This may seem a counterintuitive demand of the UAE, a country built on oil. Cop28 is already steeped in controversy over the influence of the fossil fuel industry on the event. And this was before the BBC and the investigative Centre for Climate Reporting revealed on Monday that the UAE planned to use its role as Cop28 host to strike oil and gas deals. ( The documents referred to in the BBC article are inaccurate and were not used by COP28 in meetings. It is extremely disappointing to see the BBC use unverified documents in their reporting, a Cop28 spokesperson told The Independent.)

Yet Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, who also heads the state oil company Adnoc, has been resolute that the conference will be a success and promises to move the climate fight from rhetoric to real results. Among the outcomes that UAE is pushing for at Cop28 is tripling renewables by 2030, and doubling energy efficiency. The Cop president is also calling on oil companies to accelerate the decarbonization of their operations  but not necessarily stop producing the products responsible for most emissions.

Cop28 president Sultan al-Jaber, who is also CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, pictured in February 2023 (AP)

DOWN, OR OUT, ON FOSSIL FUELS?

Rapidly cutting fossil fuels is essential to any hope of remaining at the 1.5C target.

A large number of countries, including the EU and small island states, scientists and civil society groups, are pushing for this Cop to finally include a call for fossil fuel phase out in its final communique  an unambiguous, top-down signal to broader society on what needs to happen.

But expect this phrase, along with phase down of fossils and a host of other combinations, to cause fraught discussions (and possibly tears) when the summit comes down to the wire. India has backtracked on calling for a fossil fuel phase out since Cop27, while China calls it unrealistic. During a recent briefing with the US State Department, a spokesperson declined to state a position.

This year is expected to be declared the hottest ever in recorded history. If ever there was a moment for a UN summit to respond to the signals the climate is sending us, this is it, said Mohamed Adow, Director at Power Shift Africa, in an email.

As emissions continue to rise, and suffering by those that have done the least to cause the crisis worsens around the world, this COP needs to be the moment we set a date for the phase out of fossil fuels. It seems perverse to be holding a climate summit in one of the worlds biggest oil producers, but what more fitting place to call time on the fossil fuel era that has caused this climate catastrophe and prepare the way for a future powered by renewables."

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

Big gaps in finance, and the aura of distrust between rich and poor countries, will once again be a major issue at Cop.

In 2009, developed countries committed to providing $100bn per year by 2020 to help developing countries take climate action. This goal was met in 2022, according to the OECD, but there is a lack of concrete data and calls for more transparency are growing.

The Loss and Damage Fund  a hard-won success of Cop27 last year  is expected to be made operational in Dubai. The fund, to compensate poor countries for irrevocable climate change losses which they did little to cause, is being hosted by the World Bank for the time being, and has a floor of $150bn per year. At Cop28, its expected that pledges may reach the $500m mark and include donations from the EU , Denmark and the UAE. John Kerry said the US will contribute several million dollars to the fund  despite nixing that suggestion earlier this year.

President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping walk in the gardens at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California on November 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative conference (New York Times)

US-CHINA INFLUENCE

The recent meeting between the US and China  the worlds largest carbon polluters  has created optimism ahead of the conference.

Despite tensions on many fronts, the two superpowers signed an agreement earlier this month saying they would work together on climate, and in particular, pledged to increase methane cuts. Though carbon dioxide grabs more headlines, methane, which leaks from oil and gas operations, landfills and livestock, is a major problem. It traps more than 80 times the heat of CO2 over a 20-year time period so cutting it is one of the quickest ways to prevent more warming.

There are no concrete promises in this pledge. However, Gina McCarthy, a former White House national climate advisor, said at a briefing last week that the importance of the US and China meeting face-to-face after several tense years shouldnt be underestimated when it comes to provoking others to join them in more ambitious climate action. While neither US President Joe Biden or Chinese leader Xi Jinping are attending Cop28, their longtime climate envoys, John Kerry and Xie Zhenhua, will pick up the baton on the ground in Dubai.

CONFLICTS AT COP

Climate summits are microcosms of the world at large, and what happens inside the Cop bubble over two weeks will reflect broader geopolitics.

To that end, the explosion of the Israel-Hamas war last month is likely to impact climate progress. For example, Jordanian Foreign Minister recently told Al Jazeera that Jordan will no longer sign a deal providing energy to Israel in exchange for water. Can you imagine a Jordanian minister sitting next to an Israeli minister to sign a water and electricity agreement, all while Israel continues to kill children in Gaza? said Minister Ayman Safadi.

The Middle East conflict is also expected to further destabilize the global energy market as the war in Ukraine enters a second, hard winter. The Russian invasion now also appears to be impacting the future of international climate talks. Eastern Europe was scheduled to host Cop29 but UN officials have been unable to announce a location as Russia is refusing to allow the summit to be held in an EU country and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia means that they are blocking each others bids.
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Rishi Sunak is facing fresh outrage from climate campaigners after it emerged that the prime minister, the King, and foreign secretary David Cameron are taking separate jets to the Cop28 conference in Dubai.

Downing Street confirmed all three of the leading British representatives at the crucial summit  aimed at cutting global emissions  will each get their own private plane.

No 10 defended the decision to have Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron travel separately  as it was confirmed junior ministers and officials would fly out on commercial flights rather than travel with the PMs entourage.

The prime ministers official spokesperson claimed that there was nothing wrong with so many flights since the government is not anti-flying and is pushing new sustainable fuels.

But opposition parties and activists accused Mr Sunak of climate hypocrisy  criticising the use of separate jets as setting an awful example and being a waste of taxpayers cash.

Mr Sunaks spokesperson said: We are not anti-flying. We do not seek to restrict the public from doing so and its important the UK has strong attendance at Cop28, given we continue to be a world leader in tackling climate change.

The No 10 official added: This governments approach to tackling climate change, as we have set out repeatedly, is not about banning or reducing people from flying. It is through investing in new technologies of the future, as evidenced by the flight just yesterday using sustainable aviation fuel.

The Liberal Democrats climate spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said the use of separate private jets is not just a waste of taxpayers cash, it sends all the wrong signals about the UKs climate commitments.

She added: The UK should be playing a leading role at Cop28  instead, this government is slashing net zero targets at home while taking polluting private flights abroad.

Rishi Sunak at last years Cop27 climate summit in Egypt (Getty Images)

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron were members of a super-rich elite who are super-heating the planet. She added: A short trip on a private jet will produce more carbon than the average person emits all year.

Todd Smith, an Extinction Rebellion (XR) spokesperson, said Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron were setting an awful example and protecting the interests of their rich mates.

The activist said three in four Britons would not need to change their flying habits to achieve net zero. It is only a small minority of private jet users, frequent flyers and first-class travellers that are ruining it for the rest of us.

Helena Bennett, head of climate policy at the think tank Green Alliance, said it was not a good look for ministers to travel on separate flights. To discourage this, and pay for the environmental damage they cause, we should levy a new tax on the fuel private jets use.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said the excessive climate-wrecking private flights amount to pumping jet fumes in the face of those on the frontline of this crisis. She also backed a new levy on private jets to make them think twice before hopping on the next one.

Ed Matthew of the E3G campaign group said ministers should be banned from travelling on private jets. This is not just about saving emissions. It is about leading by example.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace UKs chief scientist, added: Its important for our leaders to show respect for the amount of carbon dioxide they emit. Is it really beyond the capability of them and their offices to ensure that they fly by chartered or even just coordinate their own efforts?

Foreign secretary Lord Cameron and Rishi Sunak are travelling separately (PA )

No 10 also insisted that Mr Sunaks plane will use 30 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and that carbon offsetting will be used to minimise its impact. It is understood that SAF is also being used for the Kings flight to Dubai.

Downing Street also pointed out that the foreign secretary would be travelling on to Dubai from a two-day summit with EU and Nato leaders.

Mr Sunak has come in for repeated criticism for his frequent use of taxpayer-funded jets and helicopters for his trips around Britain.

Labour mocked the Tory leaders breathtaking lack of self-awareness after he posted a photo of himself in a private jet to highlight his move to scrap HS2s northern leg. It emerged in the autumn that the PM had taken a private flight for travel in the UK once every eight days since entering No 10.

It is not clear whether Mr Sunak or Lord Cameron will be using Cam Force One  the former RAF jet given a refit when the foreign secretary was still prime minister. Almost 1m was spent painting it red, white and blue at Boris Johnsons behest in 2020.

A smaller private jet also leased by the government for ministers or members of the royal family was given a similar patriotic makeover.

The first transatlantic flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)  operated by Virgin Atlantic  flew from London Heathrow to New Yorks JFK airport on Tuesday.

The transport secretary, Mark Harper, who was on board, said it shows how we can decarbonise transport while Mr Sunak said it was a major milestone towards decarbonising our skies.

Virgin Atlantic operated the first transatlantic flight powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel on Tuesday (Reuters)

However, campaigners accused the government of making misleading claims. Cait Hewitt, policy director of the Aviation Environment Federation, said: The idea that this flight somehow gets us closer to guilt-free flying is a joke.

The industry has argued that lifecycle emissions of SAFs can be up to 70 per cent lower than traditional aviation fuels. But SAFs currently account for less than 0.1 per cent of the fuel consumed on global flights.

Jets used by the super-rich are up to 14 times more polluting than commercial planes per passenger, and 50 times more polluting than trains, according to a study by the Transport & Environment campaign group.

Ahead of the Cop28 summit, Mr Sunak said protection of nature was at the centre of Tory action to tackle climate change. It came as the government announced plans for a new national park for England, as well as greater protections for trees and urban wildlife havens.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will also attend the Cop28 summit in Dubai. He is expected to stay longer than Mr Sunak, hoping to bang the drum for Britain and push his green jobs plan.
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Survivors of chemical weapons attacks and relatives of those disappeared by Syrian president Bashar al-Assads regime have shared their outrage that the red carpet is being rolled out for him at Cop28 in Dubai.

Assad, who has visited the United Arab Emirates twice in the past year, has presided over a brutal and ongoing civil war leading to countless war crimes against his own people over the past 12 years.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and 14 million people displaced, half of Syrias population, causing the worlds largest refugee crisis.

Assad has been sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Earlier this month, France issued an arrest warrant for him over the alleged use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria.

The further normalising of Assads presence at the international climate has disgusted Syrians who have suffered devastating losses and harm.

Residents and a rescuer from the Syrian White Helmets, pile up bodies of civilians killed in a Syrian regime bombardment in the town of Kaokafin in the rebel-held Idlib province on November 25, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Nevin Al-Mousa, whose brother Hamza Al-Mousa has not been seen since he was detained by Syrian authorities in 2014, said that inviting Assad to Cop28 is an insult to victims and survivors of Assads war crimes.

Inviting him is like our lives dont matter, she told The Independent.

Assads very presence at a summit on the future of our earth is absurd. It is an insult to the thousands who have lost their loved ones, and the millions who have fled their homeland, she said.

Assad has no place deciding the future of our planet when he has committed countless war crimes with impunity and continues to attack the Syrian people.

Ms Mousa, an English teacher, was forced to flee her home in Hama City in 2013 with her mother after being accused of writing critically of Assad online.

We had been threatened by the Syrian forces, my father was wanted and my brothers as well. Then they arrested one of my brothers who lived in Aleppo, she said. Ms Mousa has been living in exile for the past decade.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Syrias President Bashar Al-Assad during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on 11 November, 2023 (via REUTERS)

Others recounted similar horrors.

Khaloud, a former journalist who declined to use her full name due to safety concerns, said her city was fully besieged by tanks in 2011 when she was forced to flee the country.

I was part of planning and organising the peaceful demonstrations, she said.

Khalouds 21-year-old brother, who she did not wish to name, was arrested by Syrian government forces in 2012.

The regime forces broke into my home and they forcefully detained my brother. They threatened my mom that they would chop him into pieces when they took him downstairs, she recalled.

To this day, his family do not know if he is alive.

Khaloud is appalled at how quickly the war crimes of Assads government appear to be being forgotten.

Hes the one who used chemical weapons against his own people to suffocate them to death, what can the Assad regime add to a climate conference? she said.

Syrians in exile stage protest in front of the Syrian Embassy in London this month in protest at the UAEs Cop28 invitation to dictator Bashar al-Assad (Families for Freedom)

She compared welcoming Assad to Cop28 to inviting the Nazis to lecture people about human rights.

She added: Assad has been killing human lives and destroying their habitats, same as an oil company does.

Human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported on widespread and systematic use of chemical weapons in Syria by Assads regime. The rampant use of torture and forced disappearances of protestors have also been documented.

Earlier this month, Syrians living in exile in the UK gathered outside of the Syrian Embassy in London to demand that Mr Assads Cop28 invitation be revoked. The Syrian leaders Cop invite comes a few months after Syria was welcomed back into the Arab League after a decade-long ostracisation. He is now regularly attending regional summits and diplomatic meetings.

Seeing everyone normalising relations with the Assad regime as if nothing has happened and forgetting that all these crimes against humanity have been committed, turning a blind eye against everything that happened, was appalling, Khaloud said.

What message is Assads invitation to Cop28 sending to dictators worldwide? Bayan Sharbaj, who survived a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta city, Syria

But to invite him to participate in particular in a climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates is something that I can call a black comedy.

Syrias government forces are now in control of much of the country with the help of Russia and Iran. While some parts of Syria remain under the control of anti-government rebel groups, heavy fighting has largely ceased.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the Cop28 presidency said: All member states of the United Nations are invited to participate in Cop28, and we are proud of the role we are playing in bringing the world together to help solve humanitys greatest challenge.

As this is a UNFCCC process, it is not Cop28s position to comment on any individual UN member state or prevent any delegations from attending the event.

The climate crisis requires collaboration amongst all stakeholders and we dont want anyone to sit on the sidelines. We expect everyone who comes to come to ready to ratchet up our collective ambition to meet the urgency of the moment.

Families For Freedom, an organisation led by survivors of Syrian war crimes, noted how the Assad regimes bombardments have led to widespread environmental damage across the country including to forests, and water and waste management systems. The war has left Syrias once-fertile farmlands in a state of extreme drought.

Assad regimes apathy towards its people changed [the country] into a barren desert, Khaloud said.

Syrians walk through destruction in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria (AP)

The majority of Syrias population depended on farming before the war. Last year, the countrys wheat harvests totaled 1 million tonnes, 75 per cent less than before the war broke out.

Assad has not publicly confirmed his attendance at Cop28. Syrias delegation to Cop28 will be headed by its Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, an unnamed delegate told Reuters this week.

Those who lived through chemical attacks said that if the UAE does not revoke Mr Assads invitation, then other world leaders should push [Syrian government] for accountability and to stand up for humanity.

What message is Assads invitation to Cop28 sending to dictators worldwide? Bayan Sharbaj, who survived a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta city, told The Independent.

This conference is about protecting the environment and providing a better world for the next generation. Those invited are there to think about human safety and how to protect and preserve our planet.

Assad has destroyed the Syrian environment, he has robbed the future of the next generation. We ask leaders to speak up for our loved ones, the survivors and victims of his countless crimes against humanity.
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Climate campaigners are outraged after it emerged prime minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles, and foreign secretary David Cameron all took separate private jets to the Cop28 conference in Dubai.

No 10 defended the decision to have Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron travel separately  as it was confirmed junior ministers and officials would fly out on commercial flights rather than travel with the PMs entourage.

But opposition parties and activists accused Mr Sunak of climate hypocrisy  criticising the use of separate jets as setting an awful example and being a waste of taxpayers cash.

Todd Smith, an Extinction Rebellion (XR) spokesperson, said Mr Sunak and Lord Cameron were setting an awful example and protecting the interests of their rich mates.

The activist said three in four Britons would not need to change their flying habits to achieve net zero. It is only a small minority of private jet users, frequent flyers and first-class travellers that are ruining it for the rest of us.

We want to know if you think private jets should be totally banned in an effort to reach net zero. Do you think politicians should use commercial flights, or is there a place for private air travel amid the climate crisis?

Do the actions of Mr Sunak, Lord Cameron and King Charles undermine the purpose of Cop28? And would you change your flying habits to ease the impact on the climate?

If you want to share your opinion then add it in the comments and well highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.

All you have to do is sign up and register your details - then you can then take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking log in on the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Make sure you adhere to our community guidelines , which can be found here . For a full guide on how to comment click here.

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Jennifer Lawrence has addressed rumours that she has undergone plastic surgery, with the actress clarifying that her face has changed as shes aged.

The Hunger Games star is investing in a new look, but it has nothing to do with cosmetic surgery. In conversation with Kylie Jenner for the Interview Magazine Winter 2023 issue, Lawrence, 33, spoke to the beauty mogul about cosmetic surgery speculation shes faced recently.

On the topic of her eponymous makeup empire, Jenner told Lawrence that her initial passion for creating lip kits was born from her desire to have big, fat, juicy lips, and overlining them achieved that fullness.

Thats really, really cool, the Silver Linings Playbook lead said. And I also think its incredible what makeup can do because I work with Hung [Vanngo], who overlines the lip, and I call him a plastic surgeon, because everybody in the last few months since Ive been working with him is convinced that I had eye surgery.

Perplexed by the comment, Jenner responded: Stop. But Lawrence wasnt kidding.

Im like: I didnt have eye surgery. Im doing makeup, she proclaimed. Well, apparently, Ive had full plastic surgery, she continued, referring to the accusations fans have made about her appearance.

Jenner assured the Hollywood regular that she doesnt look like that before mentioning her journey with lip fillers. For the mom of two, she said its been frustrating to hear people comment and speculate on the kinds of cosmetic surgery shes gotten based on how her face looked when she was 12 years old.

I have the same thing. I started at 19, so I get the before and after pictures from when Im 19 to 30 and Im like: I grew up. I lost baby weight in my face, and my face changed because Im ageing, Lawrence said. Everybody thought I had a nose job, and Im like: Ive had the exact same nose. My cheeks got smaller. Thank you for bringing it up.

Elsewhere in the interview, the No Hard Feelings actor shared additional insight into her fame, with Lawrence revealing she originally intended for her child to have no idea that there were security guards watching over them. According to her, when her two-year-old son was born, she felt anxious and decided that they needed more security. That said, she wanted the personnel to be invisible.

I didnt have that much security before I had a kid but, once I had one, with my intrusive thoughts and anxiety, I wanted us to have security around all the time, she noted.

Yeah, friendly is nice because before I hired them, in my mind I was like, I want them to be invisible. I dont want my kid to see you or know you. And then once they start working for you, its like: Well, wait. This is a person in our life. Hes helping us, she continued. Thats not really a good lesson to ignore the person thats helping us. Its probably better to say: Say good morning to Sean. Hi. How are you? Weve incorporated them more in our lives, which surprised me. That wasnt how I planned it.
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Kenneth Cole hilariously reacted to George Santos outfit on Threads.

Ahead of Congress vote to expel Republican Rep George Santos of New York, the disgraced politician was seen on Capitol Hill wearing a burgundy red blazer layered on top of a black sweater and button-down. Below a picture of the congressman, clothing brand Kenneth Cole wrote on Threads that Santos outfit was expulsion chic.

Threads users added that Santos looked like he could be Dr Evils stylist from Austin Powers. Another joked, Hint: He liked it so much he bought the company, referencing one of the former congressmans many lies about his fortune.

This week, the House of Representatives held a vote on a resolution to expel the embattled Santos, during which more than a hundred Republicans joined almost all Democrats in voting to remove him from the chamber.

Throughout his first year in office, Santos battled calls for his resignation after revelations of his lies and fraudulent actions were exposed shortly after he was elected.

The embattled congressman fabricated the majority of his identity and resume, leading the Justice Department to indict him in May of this year with an estimated two dozen federal charges, including allegations such as stealing from campaign donors as well as using campaign contributions for personal expenses, and unemployment benefit collection fraud among others.

In a separate report from the House Ethics Committee released in November, lawmakers reportedly collected overwhelming evidence that the embattled congressman violated federal law. They alleged that he sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.

Although Santos has survived two previous expulsion attempts, the third vote posed a bigger threat than any of the other charges hes faced before. On 28 November, Santos  who pleaded not guilty to all criminal counts  admitted to CBS News Nikole Killion that he believes that the threat of expulsion is far stronger. He said that his House colleagues believe that those who want him out have the votes.

When asked by Killion if hed have to leave immediately if the motion was passed, Santos replied: I have to, thats part of the process. I respect the process.

Now that he has been expelled, Santos wouldnt be barred from running for Congress again. According to a report from the Congressional Review Service, expulsion from Congress doesnt have any additional penalties beyond removal.
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Meg Ryan has addressed the constant tabloid fodder about her appearance, calling the criticism and comments stupid.

The What Happens Later star and director, 62, opened up about the difficulties of ageing in Hollywood in a wide-ranging interview with Glamour published on 30 November. This year alone, Ryan has been subjected to speculation about the way she looks - whether its rumours shes undergone plastic surgery or reports describing her as looking unrecognisable.

Speaking to Glamour, the Sleepless in Seattle star revealed that she simply ignores the negative comments, but also took the opportunity to call out societys obsession with age - especially for women in the spotlight.

Our culture is so obsessed with youth, she told the outlet. As an old person now, I love my age. I love where Im at. Ageing is not that terrifying. Were all doing it. I wish someone had told me earlier: Just relax. It is what it is. Dont pay attention to the obstacles.

Back in May, Ryan was deemed unrecognisable during her first public outing in six months at a screening for Michael J Foxs documentary, Still, in New York City. The description was quickly met with backlash, as many fans suggested it was misogynistic.

A typical misogynist, ageist comment, one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. She looks fabulous, someone else said, while another person wrote: Leave Meg Ryan alone.

When it comes to the hurtful remarks, Ryan admitted that she cant pay attention to it in order to protect her own mental health. I cant pay attention to it. I just cant, she said. Its not worth it. Of course that would hurt someones feelings, but there are so many more interesting things to think about. Meanness and hatred are just so stupid.

Ryan skyrocketed to stardom in 1989 when she played the optimistic romantic lead, Sally Albright, in When Harry Met Sally. The actor was just 27 years old at the time, and went on to star in several romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and Youve Got Mail. These days, Ryan explained that shes no longer trying to please anyone, whether its Hollywood or her critics, and instead has chosen to be unapologetically herself.

Theres a time in your teens and 20s where youre trying on personalities to figure out who you are, who to be, she said. With age, you get to a place where you say what you mean without thinking about how its going to land. You just say what you want.

Ryan made similar comments in 2015 during an interview with Net-A-Porters Porter magazine, noting that she doesnt pay a lot of attention to plastic surgery speculation and that she loves her age.

I love my age. I love my life right now. I love what I know about. I love the person Ive become, the one Ive evolved into. In my life Ive been scrappy as hell, but I feel easy with things now. I think that comes with age, she said at the time, adding: We get stuck in these conversations about looks and hair colour and our roots. Its interesting and funny for five minutes, but its not that interesting.

The mother of two acknowledged that theres a lot of hatred in the world today and that its so easy to judge, as she condemned her haters.

Imagine being a hater, how stupid! My women friends are not sitting around talking about well, sometimes there are conversations like that, but the people I value talk about kids growing up, what kind of world they are going into, what we are eating, what we are breathing, Ryan said, per ABC News.

Ryan isnt the first female celebrity to speak about societys expectations for women as they grow older. Most recently, Oscar winner Anne Hathaway gave a candid response to fans whove told her that she looks really good for her age.

I started in this business when I was 17 years old, in a very different era, Hathaway said during an interview with Today in September. There was this perception that there was going to be a cliff, and that cliff was a really young age. And the worlds changed since then.

When asked how she responds to comments such as Oh, youre ageing gracefully or Oh, you look so good for your age, Hathaway admitted that she doesnt think about age and rather views age as another word for living.

If people want to pay you a compliment, thats nice. But also, whatever the hype is, Im interested in whats beyond the concept of hype, she added.
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Omid Scobie has responded to Piers Morgan describing his new book Endgame as a spiteful, lie-filled book after the broadcaster sensationally named the allegedly racist royals identified in its Dutch version.

Scobie, 42, said he has been operating within a bubble of no emotion since the release of Endgame, which became embroiled in controversy after the foreign language translation inadvertently named two senior members of the royal family in connection with a racism row that rocked the monarchy in 2021.

The book was pulled from shelves in Netherlands after it was revealed that Scobies book identified two royals who allegedly inquired about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs firstborn baby, Prince Archie.

Dutch journalist Rick Evers, who has read the translated book, revealed on Wednesday that the name of the first royal is very specific while the second one was a little bit vague.

While the British press has chosen not to name the royals, Morgan, 58, controversially confirmed their identities during an eight-and-a-half-minute takedown of Endgame and its author.

If Dutch people wandering into a bookshop can see these names, then you, the British people who actually pay for the royal family are entitled to know, too, Morgan justified his decision to announce the names.

He also demanded that Scobie or the Sussexes finally come forward with the evidence for their allegations of racism against the royals, while calling the Endgame author out for allegedly lying.

The man who said I have regular phone calls with Queen Camilla. Regular phone calls! Morgan said. Never had one phone call with Queen Camilla.

Morgan was referring to one passage in Scobies book, where he claimed that Queen Camilla thanked the broadcaster for quietly defending the Firm in the aftermath of Harry and Meghans estrangement from the royal family.

He described Scobie as Harry and Meghans client journalist during the scathing segment, accusing him of pouring fuels on the flames of the racism controversy that first broke out after Meghan told Oprah Winfrey that there were concerns and conversations about how dark Prince Archie might be and what that would look like during a bombshell interview in 2021.

Scobie shrugged off Morgans comments during Thursdays episode of ITVs This Morning and told hosts Craig Doyle and Alison Hammond that he doesnt think they were particularly credible.

I dont know what he says, I only go by the reporting I have, he said, referring to Morgans comments. Hes spoken a lot about his friendship with Camilla [so] I dont know what to make of that.

I dont think thats particularly credible, Scobie added.

Piers Morgan has named the two royal racists accidentally named by Omid Scobie in the Dutch version of his new book Endgame' (Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock & PA)

Elsewhere during his appearance on This Morning, Scobie said he always knew the response to Endgame would be heated and controversial because it addresses themes such as xenophobia, misogyny, and prejudice in Britain which some people might feel uncomfortable having.

What was unsettling, he continued, was the severe backlash against him and his family after the books release.

A lot of it has been simply about me. [Theres been] unnecessary information, an assassination of my character, tabloid journalists harassing my father, trying to purport all sort of nonsense, Scobie said.

He admitted he was obviously frustrated that the racist royals were named in the Dutch version of his book, with thousands of copies expected to be pulped and reprinted in the coming days.

I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version, he told Doyle and Hammong. I am obviously frustrated. I wouldnt say I am upset about it because I have been operating in a bubble of no emotion.

Scobie has previously denied including the names of the royal family members in the books English manuscript, adding that a translation error led to them appearing in the Dutch translation.

Appearing on Dutch chat show RTL Boulevard, he said: The book is in several languages, and unfortunately I do not speak Dutch. But if there are translation errors, Im sure the publishers will have it under control.

I wrote and edited the English version, he added. Theres never been no version that Ive produced that has names in it.
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The Albanian government on Wednesday put forth a draft law on a contentious deal with Italy to jointly process some asylum applications of migrants arriving in Italy by sea.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni announced a five-year deal in which Albania agreed to shelter up to 36,000 migrants a year while Rome fast-tracks their requests for asylum in Italy.

Albania's draft law will be debated and voted on in the 140-seat parliament where Ramas governing Socialists have 74 seats. It is not clear when the parliament will vote.

Albania's opposition is against the plan, while Albanians are divided. Rama considers the deal as a gesture of reciprocation to Italy, which in 1991 welcomed thousands of Albanians fleeing poverty after the fall of communism.

The European Commission has requested more details. The deal has been criticized by rights organizations and other groups, and it could backfire against Albania as it aspires to European Union membership. Italys left-wing opposition parties protest the deal.

Italy has committed to pay for the construction of two centers that can hold up to 3,000 migrants at a time. Meloni has said she expects them to become operational next spring.

Albania offers two facilities including the port of Shengjin, a tourist spot about 75 kilometers (46 miles) south of the capital, Tirana. Those who will be deported will be sent to Gjader near the Shengjin port, at a former military airport.

Albania would provide external security for the two centers, which would be under Italian jurisdiction.

Italy has agreed to remove people whose applications for international protection have been rejected, but the deal does not outline how they will be repatriated, which is often a long and difficult process.

The deal also doesn't say whether migrants will be screened for transfer to Albania at sea or on Italian soil.

___

Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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North Korea said Wednesday it successfully tested new solid-fuel engines designed for intermediate-range ballistic missiles as it continues to work on developing nuclear-capable weapons targeting its rivals in the region.

North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said the countrys military scientists tested the first-stage and second-stage missile engines on Saturday and Tuesday. The report did not say when the new missile system was expected to be completed.

The Norths existing intermediate-range missiles, including the Hwasong-12 that may be able to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, are powered by liquid-fuel engines, which need to be fueled before launch and cannot stay fueled for long periods of time.

Missiles with built-in solid propellants can be made ready to launch faster and are easier to move and conceal, which theoretically makes it harder for adversaries to detect and preempt the launch in advance.

The recent tests were an essential process for further enhancing the strategic offensive capabilities of (North Koreas) armed forces in the light of the grave and unstable security environment facing the country and the future military situation in the region, in which the enemies will get more vicious in their military collusion and nexus, KCNA said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ramped up his weapons demonstrations, including events he described as simulated nuclear attacks on the South. He also authorized his military to launch preemptive nuclear strikes against enemies if it perceives Pyongyangs top leadership to be under threat.

South Korea has responded by expanding its combined military exercises with the United States, which Kim has condemned as invasion rehearsals. Seoul is also seeking stronger public assurances from Washington that it would swiftly and decisively use U.S. nuclear weapons to protect the South in case of a North Korean nuclear attack.

During their annual security talks this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik signed an updated a bilateral security agreement with the aim of more effectively countering North Koreas evolving nuclear and missile threats.

Shin said the new document spells out that the United States would mobilize its full range of military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend the South in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack. He also said the document will be a template for the allies to strategize how South Korea could assist U.S. nuclear operations in such events with its conventional capabilities but didnt elaborate further.

North Korea earlier this year revealed its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-18, which has the potential ability to reach deep into the U.S. mainland.

Analysts say the North has to clear further technological hurdles to have a viable nuclear arsenal that could threaten the United States.

All of North Koreas ICBM tests so far were done at high angles to avoid the territory of neighbors, so its not yet clear whether the country has mastered the technology to ensure its warheads would survive atmospheric reentry well enough to precisely hit their targets.

The latest steps in North Koreas weapons development follow concerns about a potential arms alignment with Russia, in which North Korea provides munitions for Russias war in Ukraine in exchange for Russian technology transfers that would upgrade Kims military nuclear program.

South Korean intelligence and military officials have said North Korea may have shipped more than a million artillery shells to Russia beginning in August, weeks before Kim met Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied U.S. and South Korean claims about the alleged arms transfers.

Separately, KCNA reported that Russia's natural resources minister, Alexander Kozlov, is visiting North Korea in a sign of the countries' expanding diplomacy. The report said the two sides were engaged in talks over trade, science and technology exchanges, but it did not elaborate further.

The Associated Press had reported he arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
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Road users are being warned of icy conditions as the Met Office issued snow and ice yellow alerts for large areas of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland amid plummeting temperatures.

The national weather service has advised of the likelihood of people suffering slips and fall injuries in one of the first icy periods of the winter.

It is also advising of the chance of disruption to road, bus and rail networks  with ice patches forming on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.

One yellow warning  covering areas in north-east England, the East Midlands, the east of England, Yorkshire and Humber and parts of Scotland  will be active from 5pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.

Another, affecting Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, will be in place until 4pm on Thursday.

An earlier warning remains in place until 11am on Thursday for eastern Scotland and north-east England down to North Yorkshire, where snow caused closures on the A169.

A yellow ice warning for Northern Ireland is in place until 10am on Thursday.

Motoring organisation the RAC urged drivers to ensure theyre winter ready as some get their first real taste of snow and ice.

Met Office chief meteorologist Neil Armstrong said on Wednesday: Weve already seen snow settling in parts of eastern Scotland and north-eastern England.

As the cold air continues to spread across the UK, we also expect to see some snow over the high ground of south-west England overnight and through tomorrow.

Snow showers will continue along the North Sea coast with a north-easterly air flow, leading to further accumulations over higher ground.

Where the showers fall as rain, there is a risk of icy patches forming overnight with temperatures widely dipping below freezing.

For the rest of Thursday, southern counties of England can expect cloudy weather with patchy rain at times, falling as snow across the hills in the southwest.

It will be sunny elsewhere, with wintry showers towards coasts in the east. However, most places will remain dry with sunny spells that will develop into a widespread frost overnight.

Come Thursday evening, wintry showers may develop near the North Sea coasts and in parts of Northern Ireland.

Moving into Friday, the weather will remain cold with sunny spells and some wintry showers, mainly towards coastal areas.

It comes after temperatures plunged to a low of minus 7.2C in England as snow fell in Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

However, the Met Office has said it is too early to predict a white Christmas.

The forecaster said the three lowest temperatures recorded at its observation sites overnight were all in Cumbria on Wednesday, with a low of minus 7.2C in Bridgefoot, minus 6.5C in Shap and minus 6.1C in Keswick.

The BBC reported that parts of the UK had their coldest November night since 2010, and that it was minus 8C at Aonach Mor in the Scottish Highlands.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said on Wednesday it had already recorded snow in eastern Scotland, Northumberland and Yorkshire  with about 2cm of snow in some eastern coast areas and 5cm at Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

The UK is being hit by a blast of cold air from Scandinavia, causing a cold snap for many in the North.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop to single-digit figures this week and night temperatures are expected to stay below freezing for large parts of England and Scotland.

Ladbrokes latest betting odds for snow to fall anywhere in the UK on Christmas Day are 1/2, and it says Edinburgh and Newcastle are the most likely destinations to see snow.

But the Met Office urged people to take a prediction this far in advance with a pinch of salt.

Ms Maxey added: Christmas is still a month away, so it is impossible with this lead time to have any confidence in a detailed forecast.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued warnings of its own, with yellow and amber cold-health alerts for northern regions of England until December 5.
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A Hannukkah celebration has been cancelled due to fears a giant menorah will become the target of vandalism amid the war in Gaza.

Havering Council in east London has said it would be unwise for the traditional menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday, to be installed outside Havering Town Hall in Romford. It said going ahead could risk further inflaming tensions within our communities.

But the authority has been accused of capitulating to terrorism by scrapping the celebration.

Town hall bosses have called accusations of antisemitism categorically untrue and said they hope a longer-lasting instillation can remain in place next year.

Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford, condemned the move.

Andrew Rosindell said Jewish people needed support (Parliament Live)

By not allowing the Jewish community to celebrate and practice their faith properly, we are capitulating to terrorism, he told the Independent.

The Jewish community are amongst the most patriotic people in Britain and so, it is our obligation to stand with them during their time of need. We cannot allow antisemitism to win in Britain.

Local community leaders urged the council to rethink its decision.

Romford Rabbi Lee Sunderland told Havering Daily: This is an opportunity to stand up to the hostility that would silence Judaism or any form of diversity and celebrate it to its fullest.

This may be a Jewish festival but it is a lesson for the whole world and for every generation. Most especially, please let us celebrate this in public and begin to bring the citizens of Havering together now.

A Jewish Leadership Council spokeswoman said the organisation had written a letter to Havering Council chiefs demanding they reverse the decision.

She told The Independent: The Jewish community, alongside other ethnic and religious groups, deserve to be welcomed and have our traditions respected and celebrated.

The display of cultural and religious symbols in public spaces symbolises our countrys commitment to diversity and inclusivity. Avoiding such displays amounts to capitulating to the intolerant elements within our society.

The correct response is not to succumb to this hatred, nor should it be for others to decide to conceal or diminish our cultural identities out of fear of provoking antisemitic sentiments.

Rather, this is a crucial moment for all to demonstrate their support for British Jews, reinforcing the message that our cultural and religious practices are a cherished and integral part of our national tapestry.

Havering Council says it would not be wise for the event to go ahead as originally planned (Google)

Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, begins at midnight on 7 December and is celebrated every year to remember the revolt of the Maccabees more than 2,000 years ago. The Maccabees were a group of Jews who fought for and protected their right to practise their religion.

The Maccabees repaired their temple and lit the Menorah, a symbol of Gods presence in the temple. Although there was just enough oil to last one day, the lamp burned for eight days  which is why the modern festival of lights lasts that long.

A Havering Council spokesperson said: The council has taken the difficult decision to pause the planned installation of the Chanukah Menorah outside Havering Town Hall this year.

We appreciate this is a hugely sensitive issue but in light of escalating tensions from the conflict in the Middle East, installing the candelabra now will not be without risk to the Council, our partners, staff and local residents. We would also be concerned with any possible vandalism or other action against the installation.

Tens of thousands of people recently attended a march against antisemitism in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

There will still be a temporary installation and event to celebrate the beginning of Hanukkah. This will be taken down after the event and we will look at a longer-term installation next year.

However, due to an increase in the number of hate crimes in Havering, both towards the Jewish and Muslim community, and after consulting with the Leader of the Council, we believe it would be unwise to move forward with the installation which could risk further inflaming tensions within our communities.

When we started work on the installation no one could have foreseen the recent international events and we have been fully committed to installing the candelabra with a number of council teams working to support it.

Sadly, there are some who are politicising this and making accusations of anti-Semitism. This is categorically untrue and such statements are likely to incite further unrest in our communities. The council flew the Israeli flag in solidarity following the heinous terrorist attack against the people of Israel and we continue to stand by our local Jewish communities.

However, while the war is ongoing we feel we must postpone the planned installation. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we will revisit next year when we hope that community tensions will have subsided. Havering Council does not take sides in the current conflict and regrets the loss of life, injury and distress on both sides.
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The number of families being forced to live in temporary accommodation has hit another record high as campaigners urge the government to get serious about building social housing on a major scale.

New figures reveal 105,750 households were in temporary accommodation in England at the end of June  a 25-year high and an increase of 10.5 per cent in a year. The total number of children in temporary accommodation was 138,930  the highest since records for that measure began in 2004. Housing charity Shelter said it was yet another shameful record in the housing emergency.

Other official figures released on Thursday show just 9,500 additional social homes were added to the housing supply in the past year, with housing charities warning this is nowhere near the level needed to tackle homelessness. Of these, 8,386 were newly built.

It comes days after after levelling up secretary Michael Gove said Britains housing crisis was even worse than widely believed, admitting: We havent built enough homes overall for generations.

Matt Downie, Crisis chief executive, said it was a disgrace that so few homes had been built in the past year. A few thousand affordable homes is simply not enough. We need a major programme of social house building, he said.

Just 9,500 social homes were added to the housing supply in the past year (PA)

Rick Henderson, CEO of charity Homeless Link, said the latest statistics, released by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, were shocking and warned of the financial impact on authorities in England, adding: The cost of providing temporary accommodation is crippling local authorities across the country, to the extent that some are filing for bankruptcy and others are on the verge of going under.

Mr Henderson said the next government must build the 90,000 social homes per year we need and added: In the short-term, evictions from private tenancies continue to be a major cause of homelessness, despite the commitment to ban no fault Section 21 evictions in 2019.

There is a huge need for affordable housing, and local authorities  who were traditionally big builders of social housing  have decreased the number of homes they build in recent decades. Analysis of government data by The Independent earlier this year found that in each of the last five financial years, two-thirds of councils failed to build a single home themselves.

More than 8,300 Section 21 evictions, known as no-fault evictions because the landlord doesnt have to give a specific reason, went to court from July to September this year.

Tom Darling, campaign manager for the Renters Reform Coalition, described the latest statistics as stark and said they are yet another reminder of the urgency of abolishing Section 21 evictions  which are a key driver of homelessness, as well as a source of constant insecurity for millions of tenants.

Melanie, 52, became homeless with her three children after being served with a Section 21 eviction and is now living in a Travelodge room with no cooking facilities.

Melanie, who works for the NHS, said her life changed overnight and the uncertainty has taken a toll on her 17-year-old daughter who is studying for her A levels, and her two 15-year-olds who are studying for their GCSEs.

The hardest part of being homeless is the uncertainty. We are booked into the Travelodge one week at a time, and only find out on checkout day if we will stay here or be moved on. This means we cannot plan anything more than a week ahead as we can be moved anywhere, so we live with packed suitcases, she said.

We have no idea where we will be spending Christmas. My children need stability after an emotionally difficult year, and thats impossible living here. My youngest daughter paces the room to help her cope. My son has ADHD and my other daughter, who I currently share a bed with, has cerebal palsy. I just want a social home that I can afford on my pay so I can take care of myself and my family.

Darren Baxter, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said the government must bring in the Renters Reform Bill and abolish Section 21 without any more delays.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said that the figures were another shameful record in the housing emergency. She added: Decades of failure to build enough social homes combined with record-high private rents has resulted in more and more families being plunged into homelessness.

A Department for Levelling Up spokesperson said: Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, thats why we are spending 2bn over three years as part of a cross-government strategy to build homes for rough sleepers, give financial support for people to find a new home, and prevent evictions.

We know building more homes is also a part of the solution and we are doing so as part of our long-term plan for housing. This also includes our multi-billion pound programme to build thousands of new affordable homes, with a large number for social rent.
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Scots celebrate St Andrews Day every 30 November  but who was the country's patron saint and what are his ties to the homeland of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Irn-Bru?

Andrew was born in the village of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee in 6 BC and was a fisherman by trade.

He and his brother Peter became two of Jesus Christs Twelve Apostles or fishers of men after they met the Messiah on the shoreline and were called to his side, according to the Gospel of Matthew.

John reports that Andrew had previously encountered Jesus as a disciple of John the Baptist, instantly recognising the son of God and vowing to heed the call.

Andrew was present at the Last Supper and went on to preach Christianity in the provinces of Scythia, Achaea and Thrace and along the Black Sea and the Dnieper River, hence his adoption as the patron saint of Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Ukraine and Russia in addition to Scotland.

He was finally crucified by the Romans in the city of Patras, Achaea, on an X-shaped cross, a martyrdom symbolised today on the Saltire  Scotlands national flag.

Andrews remains became holy relics after his death and have been carted across Europe over the centuries.

First laid to rest in Constantinople, his skull was eventually exhumed and returned to Patras in the ninth century by Emperor Basil I.

The rest of his body was later relocated to Amalfi in Italy for safekeeping by Cardinal Peter of Capua in the aftermath of the sacking of the Ottoman capital in 1208.

Legend has it that the saints bones first arrived on Scottish soil thanks to Regulus (or St Rule), a Greek monk who claimed to have experienced a vision in which an angel guided him to bring the relics to the end of the earth.

St Rule set sail from Patras in 345 and was finally shipwrecked in Fife bearing a kneecap, upper arm, three fingers and a tooth all belonging to Andrew.

This version of events has long been questioned, however, and Andrews bones are alternatively said to have reached Britain with an Augustine Mission in 597 before being sent on to Fife by Bishop Acca of Hexham in 732.

More recently (relatively speaking), a shoulder blade reputedly belonging to Andrew was gifted to Scotland by the Archbishop of Amalfi in 1879 and Pope Paul VI presented further remains to the nation in 1969.

Andrew was first hailed as Scotlands patron saint in 832, after Oengus II led an army of Picts and Scots to victory in a battle against Aethelstans Angles at East Lothian.

Oengus was badly outnumbered and feared defeat until he saw an X-shaped cloud in the sky and interpreted the phenomenon as divine intervention, praying to Andrew and promising to name a day in his honour if his army won the ensuing scrap. They did.

Oenguss pledge was finally made official in 1320 when Scotland announced its independence from England with the Declaration of Arbroath.

Superstition surrounding Andrew persists to this day and the Saltire is said to prevent witches flying down chimneys when marked next to a fireplace.
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An Abu Dhabi-backed takeover of The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and The Spectator has been referred to media watchdog Ofcom.

The Barclay family have been hoping to sell the publications to a consortium. But on Thursday, culture secretary Lucy Frazer issued a public interest intervention notice (PIIN) into the bid.

On Wednesday, 18 Conservative MPs wrote to deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden, urging him to use national security powers to review the potential sale.

Lucy Frazer has referred the matter to Ofcom (PA Wire)

Ministers were asked to intervene after RedBird IMI, an investment fund owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice-president of the UAE, reached a deal to purchase the publications. The MPs said they believed that the proposed transaction presented a very real potential national security threat.

The backbenchers said ministers should not be railroaded into clearing the change of ownership and should instead pause the deal to review its impact on Britains security and press freedom.

Ofcom is now being asked to investigate whether the deal would breach requirements including the need for the accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers.

Highlighting human-rights charity Amnesty Internationals concerns over the serious implications for media freedom if the deal went ahead, the objecting MPs said the sale could imperil these publications ability to report freely, which clearly poses a national security risk.

The sale of Telegraph Media Group and The Spectator is on hold (PA Archive)

When asked to respond to the letter, RedBird pointed to remarks by head of the fund Jeff Zucker, who told the Telegraph on Tuesday that concerns over the takeover were misplaced.

I am here to say that the editorial independence of the Telegraph is guaranteed, Mr Zucker said.

In the last two months the Barclay family has lodged a series of proposals to repay roughly 1bn of debt it owes the high street bank, with most of those tabled at a significant discount to its face value.

Until June, the newspapers were chaired by Aidan Barclay, the nephew of Sir Frederick Barclay, the octogenarian who along with late brother Sir David engineered the takeover of the Telegraph 19 years ago.
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Tesco has issued final a warning to customers to spend their Clubcard vouchers before they expire tomorrow.

More than 20 million people in the UK hold a Tesco Clubcard, which allows shoppers to receive discounts on selected items as well as rack up points they can redeem later as vouchers for use in-store.

But while they are racking up points, many are forgetting to use them before they expire. Tesco customers have now been reminded to spend more than 16m worth of Clubcard vouchers before they expire on Thursday.

The vouchers, which were first issued in November 2021, will expire on 30 November 2023 and could instead be used to help out at a tough time of year for family budgets.

Each Clubcard point is worth 1p to spend at the shop so 5000 points would become a 5 voucher to spend at the store.

Emma Botton, Tesco Group Customer Director, said: We want to help customers household budgets stretch further right now and Clubcard is the best way to get great value with Tesco.

With more than 16m worth of Clubcard vouchers due to expire at the end of November, were reminding customers to spend them now  or even use them to get ahead with some early Christmas shopping.

Last December, Tesco announced that it was revising its Clubcard scheme to give out coupons to loyal shoppers more often.

Tesco Clubcard vouchers are issued every three months in February, May, August and November. The shop said that more than 100 million worth of new ones are set to be issued from 30 October - the highest amount issued at one time since 2015.

Customers can use their Clubcard vouchers on their weekly shop or fuel, treat themselves or use them towards 100 reward partners, including Pizza Express and Spa Seekers.
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The rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT is helping cybercriminals create more convincing sophisticated scams, cybersecurity experts have warned.

As ChatGPT marks the first anniversary of its launch to the public, a number of industry experts have said the technology is being leveraged by bad actors online.

They warn that generative AI tools for text and image creation are making it easier for criminals to create convincing scams, but also that AI is being used to help boost cyber defences by helping identify evolving threats as they appear.

At the UKs AI Safety Summit earlier this month, the threat of more sophisticated cyber attacks powered by AI was highlighted as a key risk going forward, with world leaders agreeing to work together on the issue.

The UKs National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also highlighted the use of AI to create and spread disinformation as a key threat in years to come, especially around elections.

James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate at cyber security firm KnowBe4, said the impact of generative AI, and the large language models (LLMs) which power them, was already being felt.

ChatGPT has revolutionised the threat landscape, open source investigations, and cybersecurity in general, he told the PA news agency.

With generative AI also lowering the technical barrier to creating convincing profile pictures, impeccable text and even malware, AI and LLMs like ChatGPT are increasingly being used to create more convincing phishing messages at scale James McQuiggan, KnowBe4

Cybercriminals leverage LLMs to generate well-written documents with proper grammar and no spelling mistakes to level up their attacks and circumvent one of the biggest red flags taught in security awareness programmes  the notion that poor grammar and spelling mistakes are indicative of social engineering email or phishing attacks.

Unsurprisingly, there have been increased sophistication and volume of phishing attacks in various styles, creating challenges for businesses and consumers alike.

With generative AI also lowering the technical barrier to creating convincing profile pictures, impeccable text and even malware, AI and LLMs like ChatGPT are increasingly being used to create more convincing phishing messages at scale.

The next generation of generative AI models are expected to start appearing in 2024, with experts predicting they will be significantly more capable than the current generation models.

Looking ahead to potential future uses of generative AI by bad actors, Borja Rodriguez, manager of threat intelligence operations at cyber security firm Outpost24, said hackers could develop AI tools to write malicious code for them.

Currently, tools like Copilot from GitHub help developers generate code automatically, he said.

Not far from that, someone could create a similar tool specifically to assist in creating malicious code, scripts, backdoors and more, aiding script kiddies (novice hackers) with low levels of technical knowledge to achieve things they werent capable of in the past.

LLMs such as ChatGPT and Bard have already reshaped the landscape Etay Maor, Cato Networks

These tools will assist underground communities in executing complex attacks without much expertise, lowering the skill requirements for those executing them.

The rate of advancement of generative AI, and the general unknown potential of the technology for the years to come, has created an uncertainty around it, the experts say.

Many governments and world leaders have begun discussions on how to potentially regulate AI, but without knowing more about the possibilities of technology, piecing together successful regulation will be unlikely.

Etay Maor, senior director of security strategy at Cato Networks, said the issue of trust remained key in regard to LLMs, which are trained on large amounts of text data, and how they are programmed.

As the excitement surrounding LLMs settles into a more balanced perspective, it becomes imperative to acknowledge both their strengths and limitations, he said.

Users must verify critical information from reliable sources, recognising that, despite their prowess, LLMs are not immune to errors.

LLMs such as ChatGPT and Bard have already reshaped the landscape.

However, a lingering uncertainty persists as the industry grapples with understanding where these tools source their information and whether they can be fully trusted.
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The former chancellor and Labour Party veteran Alistair Darling has died from cancer at the age of 70, a spokesperson for his family has announced.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer led tributes to a giant of British politics who presided over the rescue of the UKs banking sector during the global financial crisis of 2008.

Sir Keir mourned the immeasurable loss of the Labour grandee, who also successfully spearheaded the 2014 campaign for the unionist side which saw Scotland remain part of the UK.

Former Labour PM Gordon Brown said his colleague would be remembered as a statesman of unimpeachable integrity, and that he relied on the wisdom and calmness of his old ally.

Sir Tony Blair said Mr Darling was an outstanding politician who had been the safest of safe hands in his government  adding that he would remember him with huge affection.

Rishi Sunak paid tribute to a dedicated public servant who served this country through challenging times. The role he played during the 2014 independence referendum was vital in keeping our union together, he said

A statement issued on behalf of the family on Thursday afternoon said that the much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna, died after a short spell in Western General Hospital under the wonderful care of the cancer team.

Sir Keir said he was deeply saddened by his death. The Labour leader said Mr Darling would be remembered as the chancellor whose calm expertise and honesty helped to guide Britain through the tumult of the global financial crisis.

Alastair Darling guided Britain through financial crisis, said Keir Starmer (Getty)

Sir Keir said he was incredibly fortunate to have benefited from the veterans counsel over the years. He was always at hand to provide advice built on his decades of experience  always with his trademark wry, good humour.

He added: Alistair will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. His loss to the Labour Party, his friends and his family is immeasurable.

Mr Darling served as the chancellor from 2007 to 2010 during the final years of the last Labour government when Mr Brown was prime minister.

He was in charge at the Treasury during the crucial period of the global banking crisis, pushing through a huge rescue package for the banks in 2008 which helped stabilise Britains economy.

Mr Darling facilitated the bailout of the UK banking system following the sub-prime mortgage crash to the tune of 137bn  negotiated in a late-night meeting with bank bosses. He had taken a call from the head of the RBS saying the bank would run out of money within hours.

Alastair Darling with close ally Gordon Brown at a Better Together campaign rally in 2014 (Getty)

The Labour grandee also ran the successful 2014 Better Together campaign, which saw voters in Scotland reject Scottish independence and opt to stay in the UK by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

Mr Darling was pitted against the might of Alex Salmonds SNP and the wider Yes movement which gained huge momentum in the campaign. But the Labour veteran was seen to get the better of Mr Salmond during a vital pre-poll TV debate  challenging the nationalist leader to explain which currency an independent Scotland would use.

Mr Brown said he was deeply saddened by the news of Mr Darlings death. The former PM said his ally was defined by a strong sense of social justice and who gained a global reputation for the assured competence.

The former Labour leader said Mr Darling was a popular and effective minister who was held in the highest esteem by me and all who worked with him during the banking bailouts and international economic agreements of 2008 and 2009.

Tony Blair gave Mr Darling several top jobs in cabinet before his role as chancellor (Getty)

Mr Brown said Mr Darling was also resolute and courageous in making the case for Scotlands place in the United Kingdom as chair of the Better Together campaign.

I, like many, relied on his wisdom, calmness in a crisis and his humour. He will be missed by all who knew and respected him and benefited from the great work he did, he said.

Sir Tony said he never met anyone who didnt like Mr Darling. He was highly capable ... always kind and dignified even under the intense pressure politics can generate. I liked him and respected him immensely as a colleague and as a friend.

The former Labour PM added: In all the jobs he did for me in government  he was outstanding. I remember him with huge affection. He has been taken from us far too soon.

New Labour grandee David Blunkett told The Independent that his former cabinet colleague was one of the most thoughtful and personable politicians I have met.

The ex-home secretary added: You could disagree with him, and he would immediately put that to one side, enquire how you were and be incredibly supportive if things werent going to plan. His early death is both a tragedy for his family, and a great loss to the politics of our country.

Mr Salmond said Mr Darlings death was very sad having happened at a relatively young age, and went on to praise his tenure as chancellor during the financial crash. When the moment of test came, Alistair passed with flying colours.

The former SNP leader also said he never had a cross word" with Mr Darling outside the intense TV debates in the lead-up to the 2014 independence referendum.

Mr Darling with the then shadow chancellor George Osborne prior to the 2010 general election (Getty)

The ex-chancellor had been a senior figure in Mr Blairs government since the 1997 election landslide  starting as chief Treasury secretary, before going to cabinet positions in charge of work and pensions, trade and transport.

He first entered parliament in 1987 after winning his Edinburgh South seat from the Conservatives and represented the Scottish capital until he stepped down in 2015.

Foreign secretary David Cameron paid tribute to a thoroughly kind and decent man. The former PM added: We owe him a huge debt of gratitude for chairing the Better Together campaign. He has left us far too early.

Former Tory PM Sir John Major said Mr Darlings death would be felt across the political spectrum  calling him a decent man who brought civility, reason and intelligence to politics.

Ex-chancellor George Osborne said Mr Darling will be remembered as someone who brought out the best of politics  softly spoken, intelligent, always trying to do the right thing.

His former Labour colleague Ed Balls said he was funny and passionate, adding: Underneath that calmness, he was a radical  he thought that he could change things for the better.

Former PM Theresa May said Mr Darling was a committed public servant, a proud unionist and a calm, kind and decent man. Boris Johnson paid tribute to a towering figure who always brought wit, wisdom and intellect to his work.

SNP leader and Scotlands first minister Humza Yousaf also paid tribute. He dedicated his life to public service and was a giant of Scottish politics, he tweeted.
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Matt Hancock today launched an extraordinary fightback against claims by Boris Johnsons former top adviser Dominic Cummings that he had lied his way through the pandemic and killed people.

In a highly anticipated hearing at the Covid inquiry, the former health secretary attacked Mr Cummings as a malign actor in No 10 who had fostered a culture of fear across government.

He denied being a liar  a charge levelled at him at various stages of the inquiry  instead blaming the allegations on Mr Cummings creating a toxic culture in which ministers and officials sought to blame each other for mistakes.

Mr Hancock said many, many lives would have been saved if the UK had gone into the first lockdown three weeks before Mr Johnson announced it  claiming he was shut down from giving media interviews during the peak of the pandemic.

He also admitted the so-called protective ring he claimed to have thrown around care homes early in the crisis had been broken  insisting that he understood the hurt many people felt on the issue.

On a blockbuster day at the Covid-19 Inquiry:

Hancock accused Cummings of creating a culture of fear, abusing staff and lying to the inquiry

The ex-health secretary said the nation should have gone into lockdown on 2 March 2020

He kept concerns about Eat Out to Help Out out of the news because he believed in a team effort

Hancock denied wanting to play God after accusations he wanted to decide who lived and who died

He admitted he was not reading minutes of Sage meetings until February

The inquirys lead counsel Hugo Keith KC grilled Mr Hancock on his claim that he first told the PM to call a national lockdown on 13 March, 2020.

Mr Keith then showed the former health secretary his own book, Pandemic Diaries, and asked why he had not made a note of the intervention at the time.

He asked: Telling the prime minister of this country, for the first time, that he had to call an immediate lockdown, is surely worthy of some recollection, is it not?

Former health secretary Matt Hancock giving evidence to the inquiry (PA Wire)

Mr Hancock said since writing book, the information had come to light during his preparation for the inquiry. He referenced an email from himself to Mr Johnson in which he called for a suppression strategy to tackle the virus.

But an unimpressed Mr Keith said: The inquiry is well aware of that email Do you use the word immediate or lockdown? Mr Hancock then said he was unable to answer the question as he did not have the email in front of him.

Rebuking Mr Hancocks account in an attack on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cummings said he was outright lying by claiming to have privately Mr Johnson to impose the measure and talking rubbish to the inquiry.

But Mr Hancock went on to claim that many, many lives would have been saved if the nation should have gone into lockdown on 2 March 2020  instead of three weeks later on 23 March 2020.

He claimed that Downing Street officials stopped Mr Johnson from saying anything publicly about the virus during in February 2020, and also claimed he was not allowed to give interviews on the subject.

The ex-health secretary was told on the evening of 27 February that based on figures at the time there was a reasonable worst-case scenario of just over half a million people dying.

But at the time, the senior MP claimed, he was still not being allowed to communicate and was not able to go on ... certain radio shows including the Today programme.

Dominic Cummings accused Hancock of outright lying (PA Wire)

Mr Hancock also told the inquiry that kept his concerns about then-chancellor Rishi Sunaks Eat Out to Help Out scheme out of the news in the late summer of 2020 as he believed government is a team effort.

The ex-secretary was grilled about a WhatsApp exchange from August 2020 with the Cabinet secretary Simon Case, in which he said the scheme was causing problems in our intervention areas. Ive kept it out of the news but its serious.

Asked why he protected any damaging information about the restaurant discount  aimed at getting people out and spending money again  Mr Hancock said: I believe that government is a team effort. And so I didnt want that to become a row in public.

The ex-secretary said was not told about Mr Sunaks scheme until the day the scheme was announced, by which time it was a done deal.

Mr Hancock also admitted the so-called protective ring he said had been put around care homes early in the crisis was not an unbroken one  as he insisted that he understood the hurt many people felt on the issue.

Questioned about the phrase he used in May 2020, Mr Hancock said he had been trying to simply summarise that we had taken action  before agreeing with the inquiry counsel that the processes put in place did not form an unbroken circle.

The inquiry also heard that Mr Hancocks then-media adviser had warned him there might be a problem with the accuracy of the minister having told Mr Johnson that care homes had been locked down before the rest of the country.

A WhatsApp message from the adviser on May 13 said: Matt, we might have some issues with you telling the PM we locked down care homes before the rest of the country. But Mr Hancock told the inquiry: It depends on how you define locked down.

Sunaks Eat Out to Help Out scheme under the spotlight again (PA)

Mr Hancock launched into a wider attack on Mr Cummings, blaming the former Johnson adviser for the dysfunction that plagued the government throughout the pandemic.

He said that the removal of Sajid Javid as chancellor in February 2020, orchestrated by Mr Cummings, fostered a culture of fear which hamstrung the government.

It inculcated a culture of fear. Whereas what we needed was a culture where everybody was brought to the table and given their heads to do their level best in a once in a generation crisis, he told the inquiry.

Mr Hancock went on to claim Mr Cummings did not regard ministers as a valuable contribution to decision-making and circumvented emergency Cobra meetings to discuss the pandemic.

nstead, he held his own meetings where he even claimed decisions dont need to go to the prime minister, Mr Hancock said. Now that is inappropriate in a democracy, and I saw it simply as essentially a power grab.

He also described Mr Cummings as a malign influence in government who had abused his staff and made work during the pandemic unpleasant.

It was unpleasant for a whole load of my staff as well, who were subject to this sort of abuse from the chief adviser [Mr Cummings, Mr Hancock said. It went wider than I thought at the time, he added.

And Mr Hancock denied a suggestion by the former NHS boss Simon Stevens that he wanted to decide who would live or die if the health service became overwhelmed.

The former health secretary said that after a tabletop exercise to plan for the pandemic the NHS asked how to prioritise when there is insufficient capacity.

Mr Hancock said: I concluded that it should be for clinicians, not for ministers to make a decision on this basis the minutes are really clear on that.

And he admitted that he did not read minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) until February.

Mr Keith asked whether anyone knew that the health seceretary was not reading the minutes, to which Mr Hancock replied: I dont know. Mr Cummings mocked Mr Hancock for the admission, saying it explains a lot.
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Stanley Johnson has urged Rishi Sunak to let Nigel Farage join the Conservative troops to transform the partys general election chances.

Boris Johnsons father claimed the Tories should open their arms to the former Brexit party leader in a desperate bid to transform dire polling fortunes.

The Tory environmentalist said Mr Farage  currently causing rows on Im a Celebrity  Get Me Out of Here!  could save the party in so-called red wall seats in the north of England.

The Conservatives have to open their arms to Nigel. I think we cannot afford to have a man of that talent, not in our camp at the next election, Mr Johnson Snr. told GB News.

He added: I think we definitely need him as part of the troops. I think that he is going to help us save quite a lot of what we might call the red wall.

Former chancellor George Osborne has said it is not inconceivable that the former Ukip boss could be a future Tory leader because of the partys shift to the right and overtures from the partys grassroots.

Mr Farage was feted by Tory members and seen dancing with former home secretary Priti Patel at the recent party conference. Mr Sunak even left the door open to his membership.

The hard-right politician has also flirted with the idea of joining the Tories in recent weeks as he seeks to raise his profile again  saying never say never, and telling his fellow Im a Celeb contestants that it depends how much mess the country gets in.

Nigel Farage has repeatedly clashed with fellow Im a Celeb contestants on politics (ITV)

But it is assumed any move into the Tory fold would happen after a likely Labour victory at the general election due in 2024.

Asked if he felt Mr Farage might join the party before the election, Mr Johnson Snr. said: I would hope so.

It comes as Mr Farage continues to clash with fellow ITV reality show contestants about politics in the Australian jungle  most notably with First Dates host Fred Sirieix on Brexit.

The controversial figure has argued that leaving the EU gives Britain the freedom to make a mess of it ourselves, and denied the claimed he helped ruin the economy as absolute b******s.

Another divisive topic came up on Tuesday, when discussion turned to the way that many members of the camp said the word water in a Patois accent.

Mr Farage complained that if a white person was to say the word in that accent, theyd be accused of cultural appropriation.

They criticise when suits, he said, with Nella Rose replying: What do you mean, Nigel? He responded: If a white person does a Black accent, thats considered to be a crime, that they should be cancelled for it.

It depends in what context, she explained. If youre taking the p***, then youre taking the p***. If youre not, then youre not.

Sort of cant win territory, Mr Farage replied. Nah, it just depends on the context, she said.
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Home secretary James Cleverly can alleviate any fears Rwanda has about the turmoil which has rocked Rishi Sunaks plan to send asylum seekers to the country, a cabinet minister has insisted.

It comes as senior British diplomats are said to privately told the Foreign Office that the Rwandan governments commitment to the scheme cannot be taken for granted.

Mr Cleverly is responsible for delivering a new treaty with Rwanda and steering emergency legislation through parliament after the Supreme Court ruled against the Sunak plan.

Tom Tugendhat, who attends cabinet as security minister, said Mr Cleverlys previous job as foreign secretary means he will be able to address worries.

I know that the home secretary as foreign secretary has had a good working relationship with the Rwandan government at various different points, he told Times Radio.

Im sure he is extremely well placed to make sure that any concerns the Rwandan government may have at any points will be alleviated, the Tory minister added.

Rwandan support for the deportation scheme is at risk of collapse because of the ongoing legal problems and political backlash in Britain, according to The Times.

It follows reports that Rwanda could refuse to sign a treaty if it meant British officials involvement in its legal system in helping decide asylum cases.

The Independent understands that the Rwandan government believes its own laws are robust enough to make the treaty work  and are uneasy about the idea of any infringement upon their sovereignty.

James Cleverly promised to deliver new Rwanda deal in days earlier this month (PA Wire)

A Rwandan government source said the country was still committed to the agreement and were working with the UK to formalise elements of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 within a new treaty.

Under the memorandum of understanding, the UK agreed to accept a small number of vulnerable asylum seekers from Rwanda in return for Rwanda taking in people from the UK.

However, The Independent understands that Rwandan officials are not hopeful many, if any, people will ever be sent to the UK, with a source saying the nature of these agreements require reciprocation.

The emergency legislation  aimed at declaring Rwanda a safe country  could potentially strain relations with Kigali, as critics in the Commons and Lords line up to attack the scheme and publicly question Rwandas record of dealing with asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, the Sunak government is considering other nations which could be open to Rwanda-style deals. Mr Cleverly told a group of right-wing Tory MPs angered by the hold-up that a successful Rwanda scheme could pave the way for similar agreements with other countries.

Rishi Sunak has promised to deliver emergency Rwanda legislation soon (PA Wire)

Work and Pensions secretary Mel Stride expressed his support for negotiations with alternative nations. He told Times Radio: I cant speculate on which countries the home secretary may have in mind.

But if he is reaching out for alternatives to Rwanda, then that would probably  along with pursuing the Rwanda policy that were absolutely committed to doing  would probably be a sensible thing to do.

No 10 had said in the hours after the 15 November Supreme Court defeat of its Rwanda scheme that the treaty would be laid before Parliament in the coming days so deportation flights could take off as soon as possible.

But both have proven trickier than suggested. Negotiations on a new treaty are in their final stages, the Home Offices top civil servant said on Wednesday.

Permanent secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft told MPs that officials were in the capital Kigali as we speak as they put the finishing touches to the talks.

The Sunak government now faces questions over how much it has already paid Rwanda and if more payments are due to be made  after MPs were told they would have to wait months to learn if it was more than the 140m previously disclosed.

Sir Matthew hinted more cash could be paid  but would not say if any additional payments had since been made when pressed on the matter, instead saying ministers had decided they would not reveal that information until the summer.

Meanwhile, sacked home secretary Suella Braverman again attacked Mr Sunak for disrupting her immigration plan as she won a disruptor of the year award from The Spectator.

She sarcastically thanked the PM for disrupting my plans to cut the numbers and deliver a manifesto pledge. One attendee told Politico her speech was avant-garde, while another said: I would say she bombed but you have to take off first.
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A Royal Navy taskforce of seven ships will patrol the seas around northern Europe as part of an allied effort to protect undersea infrastructure.

From December, warships and military aircraft will undertake surveillance operations and act as a deterrent against interference, following an unprecedented agreement by the 10 Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations.

Earlier this year, the European security alliance agreed to step up efforts to protect undersea cables and pipelines from potential Russian threats.

Since the destruction of the NordStream pipeline in September 2022, there has been increasing concern around the safety of critical underwater infrastructure.

The deployment in December marks the first time a JEF Response Option has been activated and is intended to demonstrate how the alliance would respond to an emergency.

The UK contribution to the deployment will include two Royal Navy frigates, two offshore patrol vessels and mine countermeasures vessels, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship.

They will be supported by a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft based at RAF Lossiemouth.

The warships will be spaced out to cover a large area of the sea, with patrols understood to be taking place in the North Atlantic and North Sea.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: This historic and unprecedented agreement will see a Royal Navy task force of seven ships, supported by the RAF, join allies from across northern Europe as part of a joint operation to defend our shared critical infrastructure against potential threats.

The UK and our JEF partners will do whatever it takes to defend our mutual areas of interest, and todays display of unshakeable unity sends a powerful message of deterrence that we stand ready to meet any potential threat with force.

Together, we stand firmly in support of peace, security, and a steadfast resolve to uphold the rules-based international order.

Ministers from the 10 JEF nations agreed the deployment at a virtual meeting on Tuesday.

The UKs contribution to the deployment includes frigates HMS Richmond and HMS Somerset, patrol vessels HMS Severn and HMS Tyne, as well as minehunters HMS Cattistock and HMS Penzance and the landing ship RFA Mounts Bay.
 Close Alex Murdaugh takes plea deal over financial crimes

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Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh was confronted by his victims in a courtroom in South Carolina today before being sentenced to 27 years in prison on a slew of state financial crime charges.

You seem empty, I dont see anything, Judge Clifton Newman told Murdaugh as he handed down the sentence. Hopefully something will emerge in your spirit, in your soul.

For more than a decade, Murdaugh stole over $12.5m from clients at his law firm in a vast multi-million-dollar fraud scheme.

Among the victims who spoke was the family of Gloria Satterfield, the Murdaughs housekeeper who died in a 2018 trip and fall at Moselle. In that case, Murdaugh stole more than $4m in wrongful death settlements meant for her sons.

Murdaugh spent nearly an hour apologizing to them. He admitted he did terrible things that continue to bother and disturb him.

The disgraced legal scion reached a plea deal with prosecutors on 17 November, agreeing to plead guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, fraud and criminal conspiracy.

The sentencing marks only the latest chapter in the Murdaugh saga, as he continues to fight his conviction over the June 2021 murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul.
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A US-Israeli dual citizen was among the 16 hostages released from Gaza on Wednesday as part of a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, was freed after being kidnapped on 7 October when Hamas militants attacked her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.

President Joe Biden celebrated the release of Ms Beinin, a high school teacher and guide at Israels Holocaust museum, Yad Vashem.

Jill and I are deeply gratified that she will soon be reunited with her three children and her father, who have been wracked with worry for her safety, the president wrote in a White House statement. And we remain determined to secure the release of every person taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal terrorist assault on Israel on October 7, including Liats husband Aviv.

"It is crucial to remember that, while we celebrate Liats release, her husband, Aviv, along with more than 100 hostages remains in capacity," Yad Vashem chairman Dani Dayan said in a statement to the BBC.

Ms Beinin was among numerous people snatched from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a collective farm near the border with Gaza.

Liat Beinin and Aviv Atzili in Nir Oz, Israel (AP)

Her father, Yehuda Beinin, told Politico a friend was able to record a final phone conversation the two had before the teacher was kidnapped by Hamas.

"You can hear the desperation in her voice as to the situation around her house," he said. "Ive never heard her speak like this. It was very, very desperate, very low tone of voice. She may very well have been trying to be quiet, not to make noise."

The museum guide was among 16 total hostages of Hamas released on Wednesday, a group which included 10 Israeli women and children, four Thai citizens, and two Russian Israelis.

In exchange for the 16 hostages, Israel freed 30 Palestinians from detention facilities.

The releases come as the temporary ceasefire, already extended once, is set to expire on Thursday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is set to visit Israel the same day, said the US hopes to extend the truce.

Clearly, thats something we want, Mr Blinken told reporters in Brussels, The New York Times reports. I believe its also something that Israel wants. Theyre also intensely focused on bringing their people home.

The number of remaining civilian women and children in Hamas captivity is dwindling, with only about 20 women left in custody, according to the AP.

Some of those continuing to be held hostage by Hamas are Americans who volunteered for service in the Israeli army.

While the ceasefire has paused outright warfare between Israel and Hamas temporarily, violence hasnt entirely stopped in the country.

Both sides accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.

Four Palestinians, including boys 8 and 15 years old, were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Palestinian news agency WAFA reports.

The two children, Adam Samer Al-Ghoul (8 years old) and Basil Suleiman Abu Al-Wafa (15 years old), were shot dead by occupation forces in the city of Jenin, the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement to Reuters.

The Israeli military said it fired on suspects in Jenin who hurled explosive devices towards IDF soldiers.

Hamas claimed Al-Wafa was a member.
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A US billionaire has announced his plans to bring pandas over from China to New York as a way to exchange culture with China.

John Catsimatidis, 75, is the billionaire founder of Gristedes Food and owner of the WABC radio station that has had a years-long dream to bring the animals to New York City and house them in a zoo or pavilion.

He announced in a press conference this week, posted on his radio stations YouTube channel, that he plans to reinvigorate this dream.

What he did not mention, however, is that only earlier this month, pandas were sent back to China from a Washington zoo after there were no discussions to extend their loan to the country.

Despite this, Mr Catsimatidis was hopeful that his potential panda plan would bring 10 million tourists to New York City.

New York is the capital of the world, it is stumbling right now, and it needs some help, Mr Catsimatidis told reporters, believing the solution would be to house a pair of pandas in the city.

The panda-loving billionaire did not have a clear timeline for his plan but said he has been talking to Chinese ambassadors and Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, about the cultural exchange.

When one reporter asked if Mr Adams was on board with the idea, Mr Catsimatidis replied, Mayor Adams wants was good for New York.

Mr Catsimatidis hopes that bringing more pandas over will help promote culture (Getty Images)

The billionaire tried to get his plan off the ground around 2016, hoping for a place in Central Park, but he said there was a lot of opposition at the time, including from former New York mayor Bill de Blasio.

Mr Catsimatidis admitted that he did not know when the pandas could arrive or where they would stay but said he would love them to be in a New York City park zoo and could come over for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America in 2026.

But why does this billionaire feel that it is so important to bring pandas to New York? He said he believes that a stronger relationship between China and the US could be championed by the exchange of the cuddly creatures.

In fact, this is not the first time Panda Diplomacy has been used to strengthen the bond between China and the US, as China has loaned their bears to US zoos to ease tensions between politicians.

One such instance was in 1972 when former president Richard Nixon visited China; with the trip going so well, he returned with two giant pandas gifted by Chairman Mao Zedongs government.

Yet in the recent past, relations between the US and China have increasingly become hazier after a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by a missile after it was seen floating across US states, an act which ruptured diplomacy between the nations.

The waning relationship, whether coincidently or consequently, saw China recalling their culturally iconic pandas from the country and around the world, with three giant pandas reported to have been recently shipped out of the National Zoo in Washington on 8 November.

The zoo said that their loan was due to expire in 2024, and there has been no dissection to extend it as it has been in the past.

Despite the crumbling panda and political diplomacy, Mr Catsimatidis seemed confident in his plans that he can bolster panda conservation in the US, even referencing US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting two weeks ago to talk about global affairs and their nations relationship.

Mr Catsimatidis wants to get in on the action by rejuvenating panda diplomacy.

We want to create even more better will, he said.

Animal diplomacy has worked well in the past, melting the hearts of hard-edged diplomats; even elephants, komodo dragons, and koalas have been at the centre of international exchanges, but only time will tell if Mr Catsimatidis plan will help Mr Bidens relations efforts.
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Pope Francis is evicting a US cardinal from his Vatican-subsidised apartment and stripping away his retirement salary, according to a new report.

Raymond Burke, an American cardinal, has been a vocal critic of Pope Francis since his installation as the head of the Roman Catholic church in 2013. His complaints largely centred on claims that Pope Francis, known for his relative progressivism, was diluting the church's doctrine.

The Pope had taken some steps to put the rogue cardinal in place. Mr Burke was demoted and his influence diminished within the hierarchy of the church. Now Francis has moved to kicking the cardinal out of his house, according to a source speaking to The New York Times.

The news first broke in La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana, an Italian newspaper with ties to Mr Burke and which recently sponsored a conference in which the cardinal criticised a major meeting of bishops the Pope had convened.

The report comes on the heels of another removal  that of conservative American Bishop Joseph Strickland of Texas.

If this is accurate, it is an atrocity that must be opposed, Mr Strickland said in a post on X/Twitter on Monday. If it is false information it needs to be corrected immediately.

Since then, the information has not been adjusted or denied by the Vatican.

Matteo Bruni, the Vatican's spokesman, refused to confirm or deny the report to journalists, saying he did not "have anything particular to say" about the possible eviction.

An unnamed source speaking on the condition of anonymity told The Associated Press that Pope Francis wanted Mr Burke removed because his criticism had become a source of "disunity" within the Church. Another source told the Associated Press that the cardinal's privileges were being stripped because he was using them to campaign against the church.

While conservative members of the church, like Mr Strickland, have denounced the Vatican's actions, supporters of Pope Francis have said the leader has spent the better part of a decade responding to Mr Burke's attacks with patience, according to the Times report.

Mr Burke does not see himself as a divider, but as a protector of Church orthodoxy from what he describes as "confusion, error, and division" wrought by Pope Francis.

One of the central issues of concern to Mr Burke and his ilk is a proposal that would allow the Church to bless same-sex unions.

Mr Burke called it a "harmful goal" during a recent conference, and said it was one intended to force the agenda of LGBT+ groups and secular ideas onto the Church.

Its unfortunately very clear that the invocation of the Holy Spirit on the part of some has as its aim to push forward an agenda that is more political and human than ecclesiastical and divine, he said during the event.

Mr Burke  who was a favoured cardinal of the more conservative Pope Benedict XVI  did not just clash with Pope Francis on major doctrinal decisions. He even had remarks about the Pope's choice in ritual vestments, with one report claiming he had asked Vatican officials to request that the Pope "tone it down a bit."
 Close President Jimmy Carter arrives at wife Rosalynns funeral

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Former President Jimmy Carter appeared beside his family to honour his late wife, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at a private funeral service on Wednesday in Plains, Georgia.

Carter, a renowned mental health advocate, died on November 19 at the age of 96, just two days after entering hospice. Earlier this year she was diagnosed with dementia.

Wednesdays funeral was a private event for Carters close friends and family, marking the end of three days of memorial and tribute services.

During the service, several of Carters children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren spoke at her funeral, recalling her empathetic nature.

The funeral service will be followed by a private internment, closed to the media, at the Carter family residence.

It comes one day after a public tribute service to the late first lady which was attended by President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton and former First Ladies Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Melania Trump.
5 killed in Jerusalem shooting attack

Xinhua) 16:59, November 30, 2023

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement.

A 24-year-old woman was announced dead at the scene, while two elderly victims died of wounds in hospital, emergency service Magen David Adom was quoted by local media as saying.

The attack occurred almost a year after the same bus stop witnessed a deadly bombing attack on Nov. 23, 2022.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Nearly a year and a half after Kaitlin Armstrong made international headlines for allegedly killing her romantic rival and then going on the run for 43 days, her murder trial has come to a close.

The Texas woman found herself at the centre of a love triangle with her boyfriend Colin Strickland and professional cyclist Anna Moriah Mo Wilson, who was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds at a friends house on 11 May 2022.

Armstrong was questioned by police just three days after the killing but once freed, she fled to Costa Rica leading the authorities on an intensive manhunt that ultimately ended in her capture despite her effort to disguise her identity with dyed hair and plastic surgery.

The 35-year-old yoga teacher and realtor was brought back to the United States and charged with first-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty in July 2022 and has been held at the Travis County Correctional Complex in Texas on a $3.5m bond.

Kaitlin Armstrong's murder trial begins today

On Thursday, a jury of eight women and six men found her guilty after just two hours of deliberation.

As her trial comes to a close in Austin, heres what we now know about the case.

A rising star cyclists murder

Anna Moriah Mo Wilson, 25, a competitive gravel and mountain bike racer from Vermont, was found dead on 11 May in her friends Austin, Texas apartment.

A month before her death, Wilson beat 30 of the top gravel racing cyclists in the United States to claim the Fuego 80k at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California.

Wilson followed up that victory with a win at the Belgian Waffle Ride in San Diego on 30 April 2022 and arrived in Austin on 10 May as the favourite to win the Gravel Locos in Hico, a few days later.

She was staying at her friend Caitlin Cashs apartment on Maple Avenue, East Austin, and on 11 May arranged to meet fellow pro-cyclist Colin Strickland, who according to a police affidavit she had an on-again, off-again relationship with when he and his then-girlfriend Armstrong were on a hiatus.

Moriah Mo Wilson was one of the top gravel racing cyclists in the world (Instagram/Mo Wilson)

The pair went swimming at the Deep Eddy Pool public aquatic centre in Austin before going for a meal at nearby Pool Burger, Mr Strickland, 35, told investigators. He dropped Wilson off at her friends home at around 8.30pm.

One minute later, a neighbours surveillance camera captured Armstongs Cherokee SUV outside the address.

Later that night Wilson was found bleeding and unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds by the friend she was staying with. Despite attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a police affidavit, Mr Strickland told detectives in a 12 May interview that Armstrong had returned to their home in her SUV around 9.20pm.

Mr Strickland said he struck up a relationship with Wilson in October 2021 when he and Armstrong were on a brief hiatus. Texts between him and Wilson showed that she was under the impression they were still dating.

According to the affidavit, a friend called police on 14 May to say that Armstrong had learned of the on again, off again relationship in January.

Another caller, identified by the pseudonym Jane to shield her identity from Armstrong, said she became furious and was shaking in anger and stated that she wanted to kill Wilson.

She began calling Wilson and ordering her to stay away from her boyfriend, according to the affidavit.

Colin Strickland has cooperated with the police investigation into Mo Wilsons homicide (Instagram)

In an interview with police, Mr Strickland said around that time he purchased 9mm handguns for himself and Armstrong.

During his police interview, Mr Strickland spoke in glowing terms about Wilsons prospects as a pro-cyclist, describing her as the best gravel cyclist in the United States, and possibly the world.

He was not nearly as flattering about his girlfriend Armstrong, also a competitive cyclist, telling officers he had asked her not to ride with him because she holds him back.

Key suspect Kaitlin Armstrong freed after questioning

Armstrong was briefly taken into custody on a separate warrant before investigators allowed her to leave when they realised the warrant wasnt valid.

When Austin detectives investigating the murder interviewed their key suspect three days after her death, they found her to be angry and evasive.

Armstrong turned her head and rolled her eyes in an angry manner when asked by detective Katy Conner on 14 May about her boyfriend Colin Strickland spending time with Ms Wilson on the day of her murder 72 hours earlier, according to a police affidavit.

Austin police called Armstrong in for questioning after they discovered that the real estate agent and part-time yoga instructor had an open misdemeanour warrant on a theft of services charge.

She was shown video surveillance of her black Jeep Cherokee outside the house where Wilson had been shot dead. Police say she was still and guarded, and eventually nodded at the suggestion that maybe you were upset and just in the area.

During the interview, detectives learned that the arrest warrant was not valid and they couldnt hold her.

Authorities would not set eyes on Armstrong again for another 43 days, when she was arrested at Don Jons Surf and Yoga Hostel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, by agents assigned to the seaside resort towns tourist police division.

Weeks on the run

The day after her 14 May 2022 police interview, Armstrong sold her Jeep Grand Cherokee to a dealership for $12,200 before flying from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Houston Hobby and then taking a connecting Southwest flight to LaGuardia in New York.

An arrest warrant was issued for her on 17 May, and the next day she turned up at Newark Airport in New Jersey. Authorities did not see her boarding an outbound flight.

Brandon Filla, Deputy US Marshal Western District of Texas, told The Independent agents later tracked Armstrong to Costa Rica after learning she had obtained a valid US passport in another persons name and checking flight records.

They tipped off authorities in the Central American country, who began combing likely tourist hangouts for any sign of the fugitive.

Kaitlin Armstrong faces charges of murder, first degree felony, and theft of service (Travis County Jail )

They eventually caught up with her at Don Jons, a $17-a-night hostel and yoga retreat in the popular surf resort of Santa Teresa, 170 miles (275km) west of the capital San Jose on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Armstrong reportedly gave police an alias, which did not show up when traced the name through the countrys immigration service. She then provided her real surname, which officers matched to her international arrest warrant.

She had cut and dyed her hair in an effort to change her appearance, and had a bandage on her nose.

A staff member at Don Jons confirmed to The Independent that Armstrong had been staying there at the time of her arrest.

She looked much different than her older photos, a person who claimed to be with Armstrong when she was arrested commented on an online forum.

She did have a bandage on the nose she told me was a surf accident. I was about to ask how exactly it happened because if a surfboard did that to her nose she should be dead in the water. I think she had surgery done.

Sources also told Velonews Armstrong had undergone plastic surgery.

Armstrong had been trying to set up another type of lifestyle in the town, Mr Filla told The Independent.

She was then deported to the US, where she was charged with first-degree murder and could be liable for the death penalty.

In a statement after her arrest, Wilsons family said at the time: Were relieved to know this phase of uncertainty is now behind us, and we trust that justice will prevail.

Second escape attempt

On 11 October 2023, Armstrong was scheduled to attend a medical appointment and required transport to a physician.

She was accompanied by a corrections officer to the medical facility, where she received treatment. While she and the officer were leaving the facility, Armstrong began running.

A recording  shown at trial  captured the moment Armstrong attempted to escape her corrections officer. In the video, she can be seen running across a yard toward a brown wooden fence. The corrections officer pursues, but slips and falls in the grass.

Armstrong leaps onto the fence as the video cuts out. She ran for about a mile before she was eventually caught and returned to jail by the corrections officers.

During the foot pursuit, officers advised inmate Armstrong to remove her county-issued black and white striped uniform pants, which revealed she was wearing thermal pants underneath in an effort to disguise her appearance as an inmate, according to the affidavit.

Inmate Armstrong was also able to manipulate her left hand from the hand restraints to assist in her attempted escape.

Woman accused of killing elite cyclist appears to escape custody

An arrest affidavit obtained by Court TV this week revealed she appeared to have spent time planning last weeks escape.

Investigators reviewed surveillance video footage of Armstrongs jail cell and found that she had spent the last several months running, doing squats, and yoga throughout her dayroom and recreation time.

It was also determined that Armstrong had complained about a leg injury to get an outside medical appointment, as well as a medical request restricting the use of leg restraints.

The exercise and the alleged leg injury were highlighted as evidence that Armstrong planned the escape attempt, according to the affidavit.

Investigators said they also found a metal pen and dental floss inside her cell. A pin had been broken off the pen, and officers said it may have been used to remove her handcuffs.

The trial

Armstrong was charged with first-degree murder over Wilsons death.

Her trial took place at Travis County Criminal Court with District Judge Brenda Kennedy presiding. The judge ruled that cameras would be allowed in the courtroom for the opening statements, the closing arguments, and the verdict only.

Over the course of two and half weeks jurors heard testimony from Mr Strickland, friends of Armstrong, and law enforcement personnel.

During his testimony Mr Strickland said that while he and Armstrong loved each other, their relationship was tumultuous due to her constant fits of jealousy. He later appeared to try and distance himself from his former partner further.

You know Kaitlin Armstrong very well, dont you? Ms Armstrongs attorneys asked, to which Mr Strickland replied: No, I do not, prompting an audible gasp in the court,

Evidence presented at trial also included the harrowing 911 call placed by Ms Cash after she had found her friends body.

As the call was played in court, Ms Cash was visibly distraught on the stand and many of Wilsons family left while others were seen weeping. Armstrong was laregely emotionless throughout proceedings, despite multiple graphic photos of Wilsons body being shown.

Vehicle satellite records, phone-tracking data and surveillance video from a nearby home showed Armstrongs Jeep driving around the apartment and parking in an alley shortly before Wilson was killed. Key DNA evidence later linked Armstrong to the crime scene.

Kaitlin Armstrong remained largely emotionless throughout her trial (AP)

During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed out what they suggested was overwhelming evidence linking Armstrong to the crime, and asked jurors to ignore the rabbit holes the defence had asked them to go down.

Assistant District Attorney Rick Jones told the jury: The last thing Mo Wilson did was scream in terror.

She stood over her after she shot her in the head twice and put another bullet in her heart ... you heard the medical examiner. That third bullet was in her heart.

Mr Jones said the evidence against Armstrong was among the most damning he had seen in his career, noting that two of Ms Armstrongs friends testified she told them she wanted to, or could, kill Wilson.

Ive never seen so much evidence in my life against one person, he said.

Defense Attorney Rick Cofer told the jury that Armstrong had been caught in a nightmare of circumstantial evidence.

The verdict

On Thursday November 16, jurors returned a guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberation.

Wilsons family members in the courtroom cried and embraced each other while Armstrong remained emotionless as the verdict was read.

Before her sentencing, victim impact statements were read out by multiple members of Wilsons family and her friends. The court also heard from Armstrongs family.

Her mother, Karen Wilson, said her daughter was strong, independent and delicate, and had hated inconveniencing others.

I just miss her so much and nothing here can bring her back and I knew that coming down here. I would have done anything to stand in the way of that bullet and I wasnt there to protect her, she said.

And she died all alone on the floor of her friends house. She did not deserve a death like that.

Her father, Eric Wilson, said how proud he was of his daughter, telling the court: Youre living through a bad nightmare, a bad dream... this is not a bad nightmare, this is reality. I think about it every night.

She was a beautiful girl, a beautiful young woman. She was just coming into her own really as a cyclist in that last year and I knew that she wanted to be a professional cyclist. And she achieved that dream.

Wilsons brother, Matthew Wilson, broke down when describing how he had learned of his sisters death, telling the court he felt his pain had been different to that of his parents.

My sister was my closest confidant. My only sibling. Only person in the world that I could talk to about certain experiences that only she could understand. She was a really, really good listener, he said.

Mo Wilsons photo is shown in court during the murder trial of Kaitlin Armstrong (Gannett)

The court also heard from Armstrongs father and sister. Again, she showed no emotion as the gave testimony.

Speaking about the murder trial, Mike Armstrong, her father, said: Its a very difficult time. Its been a tragic time. But I also want to say that its far worse for the Wilson family. I cant imagine what they are going through.

Ive always known that its horrible what we are going through, but I know what they are going through is worse.

Christine Armstrong said she respected the verdict of the jury, but described her sister as a loving, caring, beautiful, bright light.

Shes just such a special person. Shes always been such a special person... Ive always looked up to her. I just love her so much and I hate that shes been painted in this light.

Shes not a bad person. Shes a really good person, shes always cared for other people and if you ask anyone who knows her, they would say the same thing.

The sentencing

On Friday November 17, just over a year and a half from Wilsons murder, Kaitlin Armstron was sentenced to 90 years in prison.

Jurors deliberated for around three and half hours before delivering their verdict. Armstrong did not appear to react to the sentencing.

After the verdict was read out, Ms Cash and Karen Wilson returned to the stand to address Armstrong directly for one final time.

Kaitlin Armstrong. Im not sure that my words can penetrate your heart but Im gonna try, Ms Wilson said. I hate what you did to my beautiful daughter it was very selfish and cowardly.

When you shot Moriah in the heart, you shot me in my heart. You shot Eric and Matt in the heart... You shot cousins and aunts and uncles and all the people who loved her, there in their hearts.

Ms Wilson finished her remarks by urging Armstrong to admit her guilt and seek forgiveness.

Its up to you. There is no winner in this story. Your actions have caused all sides to suffer, she said.

There is a ripple effect of sorrow upon sorrow upon sorrow. Moriah is free of this sorrow, though. She is more alive today than any of us here.

As she left the stand, Ms Wilson looked at Armstrong directly. It was not clear if Armstrong returned her gaze.

Speaking to reporters outside court following the verdict, Wilsons father, Eric Wilson said that it was a time for prayer and healing.

This sad story is a perfect example of why integrity and honesty are crucial in our personal relationships and how dishonesty can often lead to unintended consequences, he said.

Selfish manipulation, jealousy and hatred never lead to positive outcomes. Violence is never a good way to solve personal, personal issues. In fact, violence doesnt solve anything. It only leads to more suffering.

Mr Wilson added: Our lives would change forever. But with this challenging ordeal now behind us we are ready to move forward and continue our healing, and we will do this with Moriahs strong, determined, gentle and kind spirit, because we know this is what she would want us to do.
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A mass of Canadian super pigs are threatening to breach the US border, but northern states are putting tactics in place to stop this wild hog invasion.

Super pigs have appeared in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in Canada after crossbreeding between different pig species created their super-swine form.

The pigs have been destroying crops and degrading water quality, but there is no stopping these feral hogs as they also can breed excessively and continue to multiply in their masses, according to the University of Saskatchewan.

Wild pigs are ecological train wrecks. They are prolific breeders, making them an extremely successful invasive species, said Ruth Aschim, a PhD student from the university who led research on the super pig species.

The researchers called the mutant wild pigs the most prolific invasive mammal in Canada.

The US already has a massive issue with feral hog populations, costing landowners billions each year in crop and land destruction, so northern states like Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana are taking action to stop the super pigs encroaching on US territory.

Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and expert on the growing super pig population, said that Montana has already banned raising and transporting wild pigs into the state.

However, if the country really wants to prevent the boars from crossing the border, he said more extreme measures need to be put in place.

The only path forward is you have to be really aggressive, and you have to use all the tools in the toolbox, Mr Brook said, according to AP.

This could entail using large ground traps, guns that fire nets from helicopters, tracking programs or even poisons like sodium nitrate, although scientists fear this could also harm other wildlife.

The director of Minnesotas Wildlife Services, Gary Nohrenberg, said that as far as he knows, no wild pigs have made their way into the state.

In 2016, the USDA Wildlife Services shot and killed a group of feral pigs entering Minnesota, but not before they started to reproduce and destroy a wildlife preserve.

While the battle between the super pigs and the US authorities wages on, the diminishing of their population does not seem to be in the near future.

Two feral hogs caught in a trap on a farm in rural Montana in 2019 (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Research from the university said the pigs are a hybrid between wild boar and domestic swine, and have adopted helpful qualities from both to create a successful survivor of harsh Canadian winters.

Weighing between 120 and 250 stone, the super pigs live in pigloos burrowed in the snow and can withstand very cold temperatures, even breeding in harsh conditions.

Mr Brook said to AP that his research team documented 62,000 sightings in Canada and explained that even if 65% of the wild pig population is killed each year, their numbers would still increase due to their super breeding.

The rapid rise in their population is due to the pigs becoming sexually mature as early as four to eight months old, having around six piglets per litter, with the whole family surviving off most farmer crops and insects, birds, reptiles and small mammals.

The invasive population poses a risk most significantly to the survival of agriculture and livestock, the effects of which have already been felt in Canada.

Canadian farmers have already reported their destructive behaviour by frightening their livestock, destroying crops, using their long snouts to root up soil, and tearing up the ground.

According to the USDA, 9 million wild pigs already inhabit the country and have severely impacted landowners, and more lethal methods of eradication are used to diminish the population.

In 2021, 9,857 feral hogs were killed by the Missouri Feral Hog Elimination Partnership, with 54,000 hogs killed in the state since 2016.

However, it is not just the conservation of land that the potential new influx of super pigs threatens. In 2019, a woman in Texas was killed by a group of feral hogs after being attacked while on her way to work.

The US hopes to eradicate the feral hog population and prevent any super pigs from invading their land, but the road to full eradication may be a long way off due to their ability to multiply rapidly.
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The US Navy has announced that fuel was extracted from a spy plane that crashed into an environmentally sensitive bay off the Hawaiian island of Oahu earlier this month.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft crashed into the water on 20 November after ploughing off the runway at a US Marine Corps base, military officials said.

Rear Admiral Kevin Lenox told reporters that the Navy team had extracted more than 2,000 gallons of fuel aboard and continued to work on a plan to remove the aircraft from the water. No fuel was released into Kaneohe Bay.

The jet is currently sitting on a mixture of coral and sand.

Rear Admiral Lenox said that the Navy was looking into possibly floating the jet and then lifting it onto the runway.

There might have been some minor damage. We havent really looked at where it impacted, but from what we can tell from the ground, I mean there is no massive chunks missing, Commander Mark Anderson said, according to CNN. Theres nothing, you know, that is of grave concern right now.

Nine people were on board the plane, but there were no casualties in the incident, Marine Corps spokesperson 1st Lt Hailey Harms said at the time.

The US Navys Third Fleet said the jet, which is used for US Navy operations and can carry both torpedoes and cruise missiles, was on a detachment in support of maritime homeland defence at the time of the crash.

The aircraft is normally based in Whidbey Island, Washington, a military spokesperson said, and can also be used to hunt for submarines and for intelligence-gathering missions. P-8 aircraft are also flown by the Australian, New Zealand, British, Norwegian and Indian militaries, according to Boeing.

The cause of the crash remains unclear and an investigation is underway.

In 2020, a US Navy P-8A aircraft was intercepted by two Russian Su-35 aircraft while flying over international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the US Navy sent a P-8A aircraft through the Taiwan Strait, prompting China to scramble its fighter jets, escalating tensions between Taiwan and China.
 Close Young Thug criticises Andre 3000

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The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug is back under way in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, after being derailed when a codefendant was stabbed in jail.

In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis  who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case  accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL or Young Slime Life.

According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering. Young Thug denies the accusations and insists YSL is simply his record label  Young Stoner Life.

The trial has been undoubtedly rocky. Shannon Stillwell, a YSL co-defendant, was stabbed multiple times in jail by a fellow inmate in December. The incident led to the trials postponement until 2 January.

When the trial resumed on Tuesday, Young Thug instantly sparked speculation online around what he was wearing under his shirt.
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Watch as the first Thai hostages arrive in Bangkok on Thursday, 30 November, after they were released from Hamas captivity.

Twenty-three Thai nationals have so far been released after they were held for almost two months after the attack on Israel on 7 October.

Thailand's foreign ministry says 13 more remain in captivity.

Before the Israel-Hamas conflict, around 30,000 Thai labourers worked in Israel's agriculture sector as one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country.

Officials in Thailand say Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed 39 Thais during the brutal incursion.

Thailand's foreign minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara held back tears as he met released hostages on Wednesday and said he hoped for freedom soon for the remaining 13 people.

"We are not part of the conflict," Parnpree told Reuters, adding that there were no conditions for the hostages' release.
 Close Iceland volcano erupts after weeks of earthquakes

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Stunning footage has shown 100m high lava waves lap up out of an Icelandic ridge following the eruption of a volcano on the island.

The dramatic scene can be seen up to 20km away after the skies over the eruption turned orange. You can watch a live stream of the ongoing eruption here.

It comes as a hiker was rescued by a helicopter after sending a SOS signal when he got lost near the raging lava and toxic fumes overnight.

Meanwhile, Icelands foreign minister said scientists had warned that the volcanic eruption in Iceland could go on for months.

Bjarni Benediktsson added that the eruption on Monday was much larger than those seen in recent years, which he described as nice touristic eruptions.

More vents are expected to open as the volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland continues, the Icelandic Met Office has warned.

Three out of five vents are still active after the volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula began to erupt on Monday night, spewing lava and smoke over 100m into the air.
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Russias top court has ruled that LGBT+ activists should be designated as extremists and issued a ban against such work  the most drastic step in a years-long crackdown on the community in the country.

This effectively outlaws LGBT+ activism across the country, in a move that representatives of the gay and transgender communities fear will lead to arrests and prosecutions.

The hearing took place behind closed doors and with no defendant. Multiple rights activists have pointed out that the lawsuit targeted the international civic LGBT movement, which is not an entity but rather a broad and vague definition that would allow Russian authorities to crack down on any individuals or groups deemed to be part of the movement.

In a statement announcing a lawsuit filed to the court earlier this month, Russias justice ministry argued that authorities had identified signs and manifestations of an extremist nature by an LGBTQ+ movement operating in Russia, including incitement of social and religious discord, although it offered no details or evidence. In its ruling, the court declared the movement to be extremist and banned it in Russia.

Despite the fact that the justice ministry demands to label a nonexistent  the international civic LGBT movement  extremist, in practice it could happen that the Russian authorities, with this court ruling at hand, will enforce it against LGBT+ initiatives that work in Russia, considering them a part of this civic movement, Max Olenichev, a human rights lawyer who works with the Russian LGBT+ community, told the Associated Press ahead of the hearing.

The ruling is the latest in more than a decade of restrictions on LBGT+ rights under Vladimir Putin, who has put what he calls traditional family values at the centre of his appeal to the Russian public.

In 2013, the Kremlin adopted legislation known as the gay propaganda law, banning any public endorsement of nontraditional sexual relations to children. In 2020, constitutional reforms pushed through by Mr Putin to extend his rule by two more terms also included a provision to outlaw same-sex marriage.

After sending troops into Ukraine in 2022, the Kremlin ramped up its comments about protecting traditional values from what it called the West's degrading influence, in what many have seen as an attempt to legitimise the invasion as Western nations have lined up to support Ukraine. The language from Mr Putin regarding LGBT+ communities has ramped up as the Russian president has sought to set Moscow against the West in almost every facet of society.

In the wake of the Ukraine invasion, the authorities adopted a law banning propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among adults, also, effectively outlawing any public endorsement of LGBT+ people.

Another law passed earlier this year prohibited gender-transitioning procedures and gender-affirming care for transgender people. The legislation prohibited any medical interventions aimed at changing the sex of a person, as well as changing ones gender in official documents and public records. It also amended Russias family code by listing gender change as a reason to annul a marriage and adding those who had changed gender to a list of people who cant become foster or adoptive parents.

Samples of Mr Putins degrading language were illustrated by a speech last year where he said the West was welcome to adopt rather strange, in my view, new-fangled trends like dozens of genders, and gay parades but had no right to impose them on other countries. Such rhetoric has been decried by nations across the world.

Mr Putins spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters before the latest court decision was announced that the Kremlin was not following the case and had no comment on it.

The Supreme Court took around five hours to issue its ruling. The proceedings were closed to media, but reporters were allowed in to hear the decision.

LGBT+ groups had seen the decision as inevitable after the request by the justice ministry, which said  without giving examples  that various signs and manifestations of extremist orientation, including the incitement of social and religious discord had been identified in the activities of what it called the LGBT+ movement in Russia.

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has repeatedly called on Russia to repeal its repression of LGBT+ rights and the UN as a whole, along with nations such as the US, UK and others have condemned such moves from the 2013 propaganda law onwards.

Russian officials have tried to reject accusations of discrimination, despite a crackdown on freedom of expression. Earlier this month, Russian media quoted Andrei Loginov, a deputy justice minister, as saying that the rights of LGBT people in Russia are protected legally. Mr Loginov spoke in Geneva, while presenting a report on human rights in Russia to the UN Human Rights Council, and argued that restraining public demonstration of non-traditional sexual relationships or preferences is not a form of censure for them.

For LGBT+ groups and activists, there are deep fears that this is just the beginning of another round of arrests.

Of course, its very alarming, and I dont remember the threat ever being so serious and real, Alexei Sergeyev, an LGBT+ activist in St Petersburg, told Reuters earlier this month.

More than 100 groups are already banned in Russia as extremist. Previous listings, for example of the Jehovahs Witnesses religious movement and organisations linked to opposition politician Alexei Navalny, have served as a prelude to arrests and court cases.

Mr Sergeyev said activities such as psychological and legal support, or even meetings where you can just sit and drink tea, would be driven underground, given the broad and vague nature of this ruling  depriving many LGBT+ people of support.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report
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Russia may have lost as many as six high-ranking officers in Ukraine in just one week following reports a senior general was killed by a landmine placed by his own side.

Major general Vladimir Zavadsky, 45, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, died in occupied Ukraine on Tuesday, reported pro-Kremlin newspaper Lenta.

The elite military academy where Zavadsky studied, the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, also announced his death in a social media post, although that has now been deleted.

Russias defence ministry has not officially commented on the reports.

Zavadsky was not reported to have been killed in action. According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which claims to have ties to Russian security services, the general died in a blast on a landmine placed by Vladimir Putins own forces to target Ukrainian reconnaissance groups.

The investigation is considering the possibility of an explosion of a mine that was previously installed by a neighbouring unit in order to combat the enemys [sabotage and reconnaissance unit], it said.

krainian servicemen walk on the road toward their base near the frontline in the Donetsk region on 4 February (AFP via Getty Images)

It said the incident happened during a senseless redeployment of his forces away from the frontline, though there were conflicting reports about where exactly the landmine blast took place. The Lenta report said Zavadsky was killed near Izium, in Kharkiv oblast, despite the fact the town was taken back by Ukraine in September 2022 and now lies some dozens of kilometres from the frontline inside Ukrainian-held territory.

Zavadskys reported death in Ukraine would be the latest fatality among Russian officers this week alone.

At least five other high-ranking officers were killed in a Ukrainian airstrike on the Russia-occupied village of Yuvileine in Kherson oblast, Ukraines National Resistance Centre said on Tuesday.

The Ukrainian strike occurred on Monday and targeted a building where Russian authorities were scheduled to convene for a meeting, it said on the Telegram channel, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Pictures shared by the centre showed the building belonging to a Russian law enforcement service damaged and nearby parked cars also damaged.

The latest losses on the battlefield have taken the death toll of high-ranking Russian military officers to at least 12 in the 22-month war, according to most reports.

Again, however, reports vary. Ukrainian officials claim as many as 16 of Putins generals have died in the conflict so far, while Russia admits to only six.
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Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine.

Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv.

In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades.

Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raised, said Mr Putin. Recall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both 7 and 8 children. Let us preserve and revive these traditions. Having many children, a large family, should become a norm, a way of life for all the peoples of Russia.

The conference is led by the head of Russias Orthodox church, Patriarch Kirill, and was attended by representatives of other traditional religious organisations of Russia. Its theme was The Present and Future of the Russian World.

Vladimir Putin chairs World Russian Peoples Council (via REUTERS)

Mr Putin has himself only publicly knowledged two children  daughters with his former wife Lyudmila, Maria Vorontsova and Katerina Tikhonova, who were hit with US sanctions after the invasion last year.

Nonetheless it has long been rumoured in the Russian press that he has multiple other offspring from his affairs with millionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh and Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Alina Kabaeva.

The Russian presidents comments did not directly refer to the scale of casualties suffered by Russian troops in his invasion of Ukraine.

The ongoing war is entering its second winter and has forced Mr Putin to order partial conscription, with Russian media reports from September saying Moscow aimed to mobilise up to one million reservists.

Earlier this month, the UKs Ministry of Defence said the number of dead Russian soldiers in Ukraine had likely crossed 300,000.

The UK ministry also said thousands of bodies had been deserted on the battlefield.

The invasion has also led to an estimated 820,000-920,000 people fleeing Russia, according to independent policy group Re:Russia.

Other harmful impacts faced by Russia due to the invasion include a severe workforce shortage and an increasing economic slowdown brought about by sanctions imposed by the West.

Russia has been witnessing a decline in its birthrate since before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Experts attribute this decline to the deteriorating economy and stringent abortion regulations that act as deterrents for potential parents.

The Russian president has tried to increase the countrys ailing birthrate by implementing various government incentives for individuals with children, including financial rewards for families with more than one child, since coming to power 24 years ago.

But these measures have shown minimal to no effect, according to data from Rosstat, Russias federal statistics service, cited by the Le Monde newspaper.

The Russian population was reported to be 146,447,424 as of 1 January, lower than the figure in 1999 when Mr Putin assumed the presidency.
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A four-year-old US-Israeli girl, who was released from the captivity of Hamas militants earlier this week after more than 50 days as a hostage, has been discharged from hospital.

Abigail Edan, whose parents were killed in last months terror attack in Israel, was released from captivity in Gaza on Sunday. She was one of the first hostages to be released.

A spokesperson for Schneider Childrens Medical Center in Petah Tikvah confirmed that she had been discharged late on Tuesday to the Salina Post.

Abigail marked her fourth birthday in captivity.

The little girls story has drawn significant worldwide attention, having crawled out from underneath her slain father and, reportedly covered in blood, going to the home of neighbours, who were then taken captive with her.

Abigail marked her fourth birthday in captivity (via REUTERS)

She was singled out in remarks made by US President Joe Biden in remarks following her release on Sunday. "Thank God shes home. I wish I were there to hold her, he told reporters.

Speaking following her release, Abigails great-aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali said: We are now on the other side.

Abigail is home. Not in her home. But she is home in Israel. Because her home is destroyed. They cant return to where they lived. She has no parents to go home to.

Asked how Abigail was doing, Hirsh Naftali added, OK because she has that loving family, because she is going to be supported."

But, she added, Keep in mind, we will not know for years what the effect is on any of these children or adults that have spent 50, 52, now 54 days in the dark.

The youngster, whose parents were killed in the Hamas terror attack last month, was released from captivity in Gaza on Sunday (AP)

It comes as a truce in Gaza between Israel and Hamas  which has so far facilitated the release of several dozen hostages  was extended on Wednesday.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that Hamas had begun releasing 16 hostages from captivity in Gaza, the sixth release of Israeli hostages under the cease-fire agreement.

Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel on October 7 kidnapped some 240 people, including babies, children, women, soldiers, older adults and Thai farm laborers. The initial waves of releases have centred on women and children.
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Hamza Ibrahim is 22-years-old and spends his days digging through the rubble with his bare hands, looking for the bodies of dead neighbours.

Its not the future he envisioned for himself, a freshly qualified English teacher and an aspiring writer who hopes to travel the world one day, but its the reality hes now living.

Its one of the more sombre elements of the Israel and Hamas ceasefire which came into effect on Friday 24 November and was extended for another day with the help of international pressure.

As trickles of humanitarian aid are let through, Palestinians in Gaza are finding some respite among the bombing. But the break is also spent checking if loved ones are alive and if their houses are still standing.

Families cook using wood and fire as they struggle to live among the rubble (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Drinking water is rare to come by and Hamza spends hours searching for water every day, usually at hospitals or mosques where aid is received.

It takes two hours to walk there and back to the place, he told The Independent. Then its an hour to stand in line. Theres about 50 of us in the house now, including around 20 children. Our families and friends whove escaped from the north of Gaza are staying with us.

Most days we gather two or three barrels of water, and that runs out quickly between the 50 of us.

Palestinians buy water and cook food by burning wood due to lack of cooking oil and gas (Hamza Ibrahim)

As the bombings have ceased temporarily, his family and friends have taken to the sea to take showers and wash dishes.

But for Hamza, who says he is sensitive with a nice heart its the excavation which is most difficult.

Hamza Ibrahim, 22, when he graduated after completing his degree in English last year (Hamza Ibrahim)

My heart cant handle it, he says. I go with my neighbours while there is a pause, to look for bodies. We use our hands, sometimes we use shovels. But I cant touch them. As soon as I see a hand or a foot sticking out - sometimes blown apart from each other- I call the others. I cover my eyes straight away with my hands- I cant take it.

Yesterday, he found out that his best friend had been killed in an Israeli air strike. Mohammed Hamo, a popular and jovial classmate, and one of Hamzas best friends had died over two weeks ago.

But with communications in Gaza down since the outbreak of the conflict, the news only reached Hamza during the ceasefire on Wednesday.

He was my bestest friend,  he said. I loved him more than a friend, more than a brother.

For Younes Elhallaq, who also knew Mohammed Hamo, the ceasefire is welcome.

Younes Elhallaq (left) and Mohammed Hamo (right) before the war (Younes Elhallaq)

We need peace, we dont need any more killing or destruction, he told The Independent. Weve been asking for this for 75 years.

Were happy about the ceasefire, but its also been miserable. Weve found out our friends have been killed. One of my friends Khalid, has had to leave the country as he found out he had leukemia and there were no medicines here.

Younes has found that meeting his friends for the first time in weeks has been rejuvenating.

The greatest thing, the greatest thing that makes me happy, is being able to see my friends.

However, he says that it is difficult to see the future past a ceasefire.

As Palestinians, we dont think about the future alot, he said. Everything we love has been destroyed, our universities, our homes, our shops.

But we will go back. We will rebuild. Even if we have to go back and live in tents in the rubble, we are going to live in our neighbourhoods, because this is our land.

He believes a permanent ceasefire depends on the international community and not on individual governments.

Palestinians feel like international law is a lie, he said. We arent asking you to build a castle for us in your lands, we just want to stay in ours, in peace.

Even in World War II, the Red Cross could get to people - so many people have died here, because aid and medical help has not been able to get to them.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (the International Red Cross in Palestine) told The Independent that the situation emerging during the ceasefire, was dire.

Palestinian children sit by the fire next to the rubble of a house, in Khan Younis (REUTERS)

There are two hundred trucks going in a day, Nebal Farsakh, a spokeswoman for the PRCS said. Before the war, there were five hundred going on - its nowhere near enough to help the two million people who need medical aid, fuel, water, food and other supplies.

The PRCS added that one of the major issues during the truce was people going back to visit their homes in the north of Gaza to see if they had been destroyed.

As theyve been going back, they have been attacked by Israeli forces, it said.

The Israeli Defence Forces have warned Gazans not to return to the north.

In a statement, the IDF said: As the temporary tactical pause continues, we remind the civilians of Gazado not go north. Northern Gaza is still considered a war zone. For your own safety, stay in southern Gaza.

The PRCS adds: Another issue is the communication difficulties, we have almost lost complete connection with our paramedics in the north and are depending on VHF waves.

People dont know if relatives are alive or dead. We have worked with people who have found out that their family were killed days ago.

Anadolu documents vast destruction in buildings built by Turkiye for poor residents in Gaza (Anadolu via Getty Images)

The PRCS are focusing their aid efforts in the north of Gaza where they say the most vulnerable have been left behind, including the elderly and those with disabilities and special needs who have been unable to make the grueling journey to the south. Families have stayed behind with them to provide support.

Tensions in the West Bank remain fraught as Israeli military and security services amp up monitoring during the war which they say is to locate Hamas operatives.

David Cameron warned Israel over increasing violence in the West Bank in one of his first interviews as foreign secretary last week.

Meanwhile, Hamza hopes that one day when the war is over, with a permanent ceasefire, he will be able to fulfill his dreams of study and travel.

I really hope to fulfill my dreams, he said. I really want to travel, Ive never left this country since I was born as weve been under blockade. When you feel captive, you want to see open spaces, open water, other cultures. I hope when this is all over, I can do that.
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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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Eight Israeli hostages have been released from inside Gaza after a last-minute extension to the truce deal between Israel and Hamas. Israel also freed 30 Palestinian detainees, eight women and 22 children, who were not named.

Tel Aviv named two of those released by Hamas: 21-year-old Mia Schem, who also holds French citizenship, and 40-year-old Amit Soussana. Four of the eight freed were women aged 29 to 41 including one Mexican-Israeli dual national. The other two were a brother and sister, Belal and Aisha al-Ziadna, aged 18 and 17 respectively, according to the Israeli prime ministers office. They are Bedouin Arab citizens of Israel and among four members of their family taken hostage while they were milking cows on a farm.

Ms Schem appeared in the first hostage video released by Hamas saying that she had been abducted from the Supernova festival during the attack on 7 October. Her father David told Israels Channel 12 TV, that when they meet, he will not ask his daughter much. I dont want to ask her questions, because I dont know what she endured.

The truce between Israel and Hamas started at four days, but has been extended since as long as 10 hostages are released each day. Israels army said the Red Cross transferred six hostages to Egypt late on Thursday. They arrived hours after two additional hostages were turned over to Israel separately.

The truce also gives residents of Gaza relief from a campaign of airstrikes and ground operations that started in the wake of the Hamas attack, as well as allowing more aid into the besieged territory. A blockade of the strip has accompanied Israel's military operations, leaving essentials like food, water, fuel and medical supplies running low. Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza say that around 14,000 people have been killed in the bombardment, with others still buried under the rubble of collapsed homes.

However, the truce is fragile  particularly while it is being extended essentially day-to-day, and a shooting in Jerusalem on Thursday will have done little to ease tensions. At least three people died in the attack, which has been claimed by Hamas. Six others are currently being treated in hospital, some in serious condition, according to local authorities.

Mia Schem is handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza City yesterday (AFP)

An open-air market among the ruins of houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (Reuters)

At 0740 local time [0540 GMT] on Thursday, Avidan Spanier was sitting at a bus stop reading verses from an open copy of the Torah when two gunmen  armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun  leapt from a vehicle to his right and begun spraying bullets towards Spanier and the group of civilians stood nearby.

Speaking from his hospital bed in Jerusalem shortly after waking from surgery, Spanier told The Independent he is lucky to be alive.

As Mr Spanier, 52, turned and ran from the scene, he was shot in the back of his thigh. He was lucky, said Rami Mosheiff, head of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, Jerusalem, who had just finished operating on Mr Spanier. We went with him to the operating room and we were able to reduce the fracture, which is not easy, he said.

Spaniers mother Mina held up the blood-stained trousers through which the bullet entered and exited his leg. We believe that the fact Avidan was praying helped him to survive, she said. Mina, who lives in Tel Aviv, first heard what had happened when Avidan rang her from the back of the ambulance. For Avidan, his plans now are to get healthy, and to get back to life.

Akiva Schwartz, 17, recovers from treatment at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem (Tom Bennett)

Akiva Schwartz, 17, was also at the bus stop, playing chess on his phone when he heard the popping sounds of gunfire.

Speaking from his hospital bed, surrounded by family and loved ones, he said he grabbed [his] bag and ran from the scene, but soon realised he couldnt feel parts of his foot. It's believed Akiva was hit in the ankle by shrapnel from the gunfight. On Thursday afternoon he underwent treatment on the injury.

Akivas mother, Miriam Schwartz, 50, found out about the attack after receiving a call from Akiva telling her hed been shot. I rushed to the site and they had closed off the streets. And I didn't know what I was going to do. I panicked. She was later told Akiva had been taken to hospital, where she later found him. I am very grateful that he is okay, she said.

Almost exactly one year ago, Akiva was stood at the very same bus stop during a bomb attack that killed two people. He escaped unhurt on that occasion.

In the shooting on Thursday, the two attackers, which Israel said were brothers from a neighborhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed. Hamas claimed responsibility, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Scores of Palestnians, including about 60 children, have been shot dead in the West Bank alone since 7 October.

The deceased victims of the attack have been named as Livia Dickman, 24, Elimelech Wasserman, 73, and Hannah Ifergan, who was in her 60s.

The Israeli security minister, the far-right Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the scene. This type of incident proves again how much we cant show weakness, how much we have to speak to Hamas only through intentions, only through the war, he said.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said he hoped the ceasefire could be extended and more hostages could be released.

This process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue, he said.

Mr Blinken earlier met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, and told him the US was committed to taking tangible steps to advance a Palestinian state.

Mr Blinken condemned extremist violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and said he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible.
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A 10-month-old boy, his four-year-old brother and their mother who were kidnapped by Hamas were killed in previous Israeli air strikes on the Gaza strip, Hamass armed wing has claimed.

It comes as Israel and Hamas agreed another days extension to a ceasefire in Gaza, with mediators saying it will allow for the release of more Israeli hostages on Thursday.

Kfir Bibas was kidnapped, along with his older brother Ariel and his parents Yarden, 34, and Shiri, 32, from Kibbutz Nir Oz after Hamas massacred up to 1,200 Israelis on 7 October.

The Israeli military told The Independent it was checking the claim made by Al-Qassam Brigades and it would continue to support the Bibas family during this difficult time. It is not clear when they were killed.

IDF representatives spoke with the Bibas family following the recent reports and are with them at this difficult time. The IDF is assessing the accuracy of the information, it said.

Britains minister of state for security, Tom Tugendhat, called the Hamas claim not credible. Mr Tugendhat told Sky News: This is an organisation that murdered the entire rest of his family and is now blaming somebody else for his death.

The news emerged just a day after Kfirs family issued an urgent plea for his immediate release amid fears he was missing without proper food or formula.

Ofri Bibas, Kfirs aunt, said before the Hamas claim: He cant stay there any more. He is a 10-month-old baby. We dont know if he is getting formula. There isnt much food.

Every day there is a risk for their mental and physical condition. They must be released. They are children. They are not supposed to be hostages.

Aylon Keshet, who is Mr Bibass cousin, added that the family were living through a nightmare and didnt know anything about their condition.

Kfir with his mother, Shiri, who Hamas said was also dead (PA)

He said: These are real people with real lives. Please do not let them stay for another day. Do not let Hamas keep using them as bargaining chips.

We really dont know anything. We are in the dark here. We dont know anything about their wellbeing or condition. This is a nightmare scenario for us. The uncertainty is really hard. We are worried sick about them.

During the six-day ceasefire so far, authorities on both sides say that 97 Israeli and foreign hostages were released by Hamas and 210 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons.

The latest batch of releases went on late into Wednesday night and included 10 captives under the truce arrangement, as well as four Thai citizens and two Russian-Israelis who were freed outside the terms of that agreement. Israel released another 30 Palestinian women and child prisoners late on Wednesday.

Hamas gunmen seized 240 Israelis in their raid in October.

Qatari officials said the success of the two-day extension to the initial truce would be vital in locating missing Israeli hostages.

Ariel Bibas, 4, was kidnapped by Hamas with his younger brother, mother and father on 7 October (PA)

Some of them are not even with the other armed factions, they are with laypeople, Qatars foreign ministry spokesperson Dr Majed Al-Ansari told The Independent.

An IDF spokesperson told The Independent: During the Hamas massacre of 7 October, the Bibas family, including 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, his 4-year-old brother Ariel Bibas, and their mother Shiri Bibas, were kidnapped alive into Gaza. The barbarism and cruelty of Hamas is on full display to the world.

Hamas is wholly responsible for the security of all hostages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas must be held accountable. Hamas actions continue to endanger the hostages, which include nine children. Hamas must immediately release our hostages.

The IDF, along with other security agencies, will continue to accompany the Bibas family, as well as all families of the hostages and missing persons.
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The 17-year-old Palestinian woke to the sound of his mother screaming as dozens of Israeli soldiers crashed through the front door of his family home and stormed into the bedroom.

Are you Obada? one shouted at the schoolboy at gunpoint, while another quizzed his younger brother lying in the bed next to him. This was June 2022.

Obada Khalil says he was questioned by Israel intelligence in Jerusalem for 38 days, and spent all but three of them in solitary confinement. His mother Badriya, 47, said she had no idea where her teenage son was and that he had no access to a lawyer.

He was eventually placed in administrative detention, which means being held without charge or trial, barred access to evidence against him  potentially indefinitely. It is a practice United Nations experts have denounced as unlawful as it could amount to arbitrary detention.

Released this week as part of the precarious hostage exchange between Hamas and the Israelis, Obada recounted his time in prison to The Independent from his home in Silwad, West Bank, shortly after he was freed on Sunday.

Obada's family waiting anxiously by a main roundabout in Ramallah for him to be released from prison (Bel Trew)

They kept asking me if I had a weapon, I have never had one, he said. They kept saying tell us something. I had no communication with my family. This was the first time I had ever been arrested. I was terrified. You also cant ask them why this is happening, and what you can do.

The teenager, who says he is not affiliated with any political party, was held in Ofer Prison for 17 months, without charge or trial, or knowing what offence he had allegedly committed.

He was among dozens of Palestinian women and teenagers released from Israeli prisons as part of a Qatari-brokered deal between Israel and militant group Hamas.

Palestinian prisoner Ruba Assi is greeted after she was released in the West Bank town of Ramallah (AP)

In total, 86 Israeli men, women and and children, abducted by militants in southern Israel during the 7 October attack, have been freed from captivity.

As of Wednesday 180 Palestinians have also been released  among them at least 12 children and 11 women who were held in administrative detention.

And so the hostage truce deal has shone a global spotlight on Israels prison system, the alleged use of torture, ill treatment (which Israel denies) and the practice of administrative detention.

The length of time a person under such detention can be held is indefinite. According to Palestinian rights group Addameer, the longest administrative detention period to date is eight years.

The Independent has approached the Israeli Prison Service, Ministry of Justice and Shin Bet intelligence agency but has yet to receive a reply.

The Israeli military said the increase in number of administrative arrests is reflective of the sharp increase in attempted terror attacks in the region.

They said administrative detention is utilized only in situations where the security authorities have reliable information indicating that a real danger is posed by an individual to the security of the area, and in the absence of other alternatives for mitigation of the risk.

They added that decisions with respect to administrative detention are taken on a case-by-case basis, and are based on well-grounded information regarding the case in question - and issued by a military commander, under a judicial review procedure is conducted by the military court.

But UN experts says it appears to amount to arbitrary detention, which is strictly prohibited under international law and international humanitarian law. There have been several cases of people turning to life-threatening hunger strikes.

The arbitrary detention of children is particularly abhorrent, violating the minimum standards established by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN said in a 2021 report urging Israel to end the practice.

Ahmed, Obadas older brother, told The Independent that Palestinian families are powerless to do anything.

Palestinian Lamis Abu Arkoub is greeted after she was released from prison by Israel (AP)

In a normal civilised country the person is innocent until proven guilty, said the 25-year-old. Here, you are guilty until proven innocent and then even then with administrative detention you cannot prove youre innocent. You do not even know what youre guilty of.

At the moment there are believed to be 2,200 people in administrative detention, the highest number ever recorded, according to Addameer and Amnesty. The numbers have surged since 7 October.

Tala Nasir, Addameers spokesperson, said there had been a mass campaign of arrests with 80 per cent of those detained in administrative detention, first used by the British mandate administration in the 1930s.

Among them is one of the most high profile Palestinian activists, Ahed Tamini, 22, who was arrested on 6 November and is slated to be released as part of the hostage release deal on Wednesday.

The spokesperson warned that the numbers will only rise as the war on Gaza drags on: There is no guarantee that the people who were released are not arrested again.

Speaking from Ramallah, Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian lawmaker and a president of the Palestinian National Initiative, said administrative detention has become an instrument of revenge and is designed to make people afraid of speaking out, even on social media.

He said more people have been arrested since 7 October than have been released: It allows Israel to arrest people for no reason. Its an instrument of oppression and control.

Amnesty Internationals Heba Morayef said administrative detention is also one of the key tools through which Israel has enforced its system of apartheid against Palestinians. Israel has vehemently rejected this characterisation.

Ahmed Salaima, 14, a Palestinian teeanger released by Israel (AP)

Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan has called apartheid allegations a Jihad war against the only vibrant democracy in the Middle East.

Hanan Barghouti, 59, (not directly related Mustafa Barghouti) was also in administrative detention since September and was released on the first day of the Israel-Hamas truce. She says it is collective punishment.

In total 15 members of her family are in administrative detention, most of them arrested after 7 October.

Ms Barghouti comes from a family that is no stranger to the inside of Israeli jails  her brother Nael is considered Palestines longest political prisoner (Israel denies it detains political prisoners).

Hanan Barghouti at home near Ramallah, after she has been released. She says 15 members of her family in total were put in administrative detention (Bel Trew)

He has been in and out of detention since he was first arrested 44 years ago, for engaging in attacks against the Israeli military. He was re-arrested in 2014 for Hamas membership according to Israeli media.

Ms Barghout says in September, like Obada, members of the security service stormed her house at 3am and arrested her when she was sleeping beside her husband.

Its terrifying to wake up to dozens of soldiers in your house, and an intelligence officer in your face telling you youre being arrested, she said. I was sick with the coronavirus at the time. I had an appointment scheduled with a cardiologist. They took me anyway.

She said there was no real interrogation: They asked me if I was `Hamas? I said no. They asked me if I had a lawyer  I said yes. My lawyer said the order for administrative detention was already sorted before they arrested me.

The remains of Gaza City yesterday (AP)

Ms Barghouti said that being released was one of joy mixed with a lot of a lot of pain as she left fellow inmates behind bars in worsening conditions.

Amnesty said they have documented mounting evidence of torture, with detainees stripped, beaten and humiliated, something that The Independent has also documented.

Addameer said they have documented a surge in brutal beatings, threat of murder and rape, use of police dogs, destruction of homes. Inside prison, Palestinian detainees said conditions significantly deteriorated after 7 October.

Both Ms Barghouti and Obada said personal belongings were confiscated including clothes, even shoes from peoples feet. They said connection with the outside world was cut, including family visits, access to TVs and radios.

The only news of the developing war was from newly arrested prisoners. They said they were not permitted to go to the exercise yard and see the sun.

Obadas family said the soldiers ransacked their house looking for alleged weapons and they are still confused why he was arrested in the first place. They are worried more family members will end up behind bars  Badriyas nephew, Obadas cousin, was arrested a week ago and is now also in administrative detention.

For Palestinians administrative detention is becoming normal, it is becoming a kind of collective punishment for us all, Obada continued.

It is becoming a part of life  it is a sword about our head that we have no power to cancel or to change. Even the lawyer cannot do anything  to whom can you complain when the oppressor is your judge?
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Elon Musk has admitted that his endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on his social media site X, previously known as Twitter, was a mistake and one of the most foolish things he had done on the platform.

The worlds richest man said he had no problem being hated but also blamed members of the media for much of the outrage surrounding the post, which is thought to have contributed to major investors in the platform pulling funding.

Earlier this month, Mr Musk responded to a Twitter/X user who accused Jewish people of hating white people by saying it was the actual truth. His actions sparked global outrage, with several world leaders condemning his endorsement of the conspiracy theory.

Speaking at the New York Times Dealbook Summit this week, Mr Musk discussed the post and said that the outrage caused was not my intention.

[It was] one of the most foolish  if not the most foolish  thing Ive done on the platform, he said.

I should in retrospect not have replied to that one person and should have written in greater length what I meant, he said.

But those clarifications were ignored by the media and essentially I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me and arguably to those who are antisemitic. And for that Im quite sorry, that was not my intention.

Earlier this week, Mr Musk visited Israel and toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas, meeting with Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The pair visited the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which Hamas attacked on 7 October, killing an estimated 52 residents. Another 20 people are reported as missing. Mr Musk said witnessing the scenes of the massacre was jarring, during a live event on Twitter/X with Mr Netanyahu after the tour.

Earlier this week, Mr Musk visited Israel and toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas (Getty Images)

Speaking at the Dealbook Summit, he denied that the visit had been  as some had described it  an apology tour.

[The trip to Israel] wasnt in response to that at all, Mr Musk said, adding: I have no problem being hated.

Mr Musk later went further, addressing companies that had pulled marketing from X over concerns related to far-right content and accusing them of blackmail.

Dont advertise, he said at the New York Times Dealbook Summit. If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.
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Elon Musk has told advertisers to go f*** yourselves if they try to pull marketing from X.

The chief executive of the platform, formerly known as Twitter, suggested that companies were attempting to blackmail him by threatening to pull ads.

Mr Musk has faced criticism in recent days over a tweet that led to accusations of antisemitism. Many of the worlds biggest companies and the sites biggest advertisers pulled their marketing from his platform in response.

He initially said that he was sorry for the tweet and denied any suggestion he was antisemitic. But he also said that any advertisers who pulled marketing because of that tweet should go f*** yourselves.

Dont advertise, he said at the New York Times Dealbook Summit. If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.

At one point he added the words Hey Bob, an apparent reference to Robert Iger, chief executive of Walt Disney, which pulled ads on X.

Billionaire Elon Musk told advertisers that have fled his social media platform X over antisemitic content to go fuck yourself in a fiery Wednesday interview.

His profanity-laced remarks followed a moment of contrition in a New York Times DealBook Summit interview, as he first said Im sorry for a tweet that agreed with an anti-Jewish post on X on Nov. 15.

Musk has faced a torrent of criticism since he on Nov. 15 agreed with a user who falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people, saying the user who referenced the Great Replacement conspiracy theory was speaking the actual truth.

On Wednesday Musk said he had handed a loaded gun to detractors, describing his post as possibly the worst he had made during a history of messages that included many foolish ones.

The Great Replacement theory holds that Jewish people and leftists are engineering the ethnic and cultural replacement of white populations with non-white immigrants that will lead to a white genocide.

Musks post drew condemnation from the White House for what it called an abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate.

Following the post, major U.S. companies including Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery and NBCUniversal parent Comcast suspended their ads on X. A report from liberal watchdog group Media Matters precipitated the advertiser exit, which said it found ads next to posts that supported Nazism. The platform filed a lawsuit last week against Media Matters for defamation.

In the wake of the condemnation, Musk traveled to Israel and toured the site of Hamas assault in the country on Oct. 7. On Monday, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in a live-streamed conversation on X.

Musk on Wednesday said the trip had been planned before his message and was independent of the issue.

Musk in Israel said he is against antisemitism and anything that promotes hate and conflict and stated that X would not promote hate speech.

The fact that you came here speaks volumes of your commitment to try to secure a better future, Netanyahu told Musk during the conversation.

The two men previously met at Teslas headquarters in California in September to discuss the merits and dangers of advanced artificial intelligence.

During the conversation, which took place shortly after Musk attacked the Anti-Defamation League, Netanyahu urged the billionaire to strike a balance between the protection of free speech online and fighting hate speech.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Great leaps forward in technology mean the future is coming at us fast  and are about to forever change one of our most important relationships: the one with our smartphone.

That is the view of Cristiano Amon, the chief executive of Qualcomm, the tech giant that produces the processors powering almost every phone in the world, bar the iPhone, as well as laptops and VR headsets.

New bespoke chips will not just be about making your phone faster, or adding new experiences, he suggests. Instead, they will fundamentally change how we use our devices, through artificial intelligence.
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Hundreds of Eurostar passengers have spent the day aboard a broken down LondonAmsterdam train  with no indication of when they might be rescued.

Night has now fallen on the train, which is stranded on a track in east Kent.

The 8.16am from London St Pancras International via Brussels and Rotterdam to Amsterdam left on time but broke down around 40 minutes later at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

The Independent spoke to one of the passengers, Ben Williams, seven hours after the train ground to a halt.

He said: We got as far as just before the Eurotunnel and then we were told that we would have to wait before going into the tunnel. Slowly over a period of a couple of hours, we found out it was a bit more serious than that. Some sort of issue with the cables  electric cables  and the train just lost all power, basically.

The train has not had any power now for at least five hours. The toilets havent been functioning properly.

They cant do the announcements.

After several hours the train was dragged for about 10 or 15 minutes but then stopped again.

I think the staff are all very stressed themselves, and I dont think theyre being kept very well up to date, Mr Williams said.

We were offered one free food item that was after wed been stationary for about four or five hours. By that point, Id already bought myself a sandwich, having been stationary for a couple of hours.

To be honest, Ive been pacing myself just because obviously the toilets arent functioning.

Mr Williams was on his way to visit a friend in Amsterdam for the weekend. Eurostar has not said what the exact nature of the problem is, nor what arrangements will be made to get passengers to their destinations.

Eurostar wrote on Twitter/X: Were sorry for the delay to the #ES9114 today. The train is being detached from the overhead power lines but this is taking longer than expected. Due to a lack of power on board, its not possible for announcements to be made. We apologise for the inconvenience.

This was updated an hour later: Were awaiting authorisation from the infrastructure managers to proceed and hope to get you back to London as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.

At 4.10pm, Eurostar announced: The train is now on the move and arrangements are being made to bring passengers back to London.

Mr Williams confirmed that the train moved briefly but then stopped.

He said he was alarmed at the apparent lack of preparation: Surely this sort of thing has happened before. They must have some kind of contingency plan in place so that people can use toilets properly and maybe get given some bottles of water and food after three or four hours?

Unfortunately for the staff on the train, no ones given them logistical support from head office. So theyre just having to deal with p***ed off customers, basically.

The train eventually started moving back to London, arriving at 5.15  nine hours after departure.

On Friday morning a spokesperson for Eurostar said: Yesterday, an overhead cable had fallen on the 8.16am Eurostar train, between London and Amsterdam, at the entrance of the Channel Tunnel. There were around 700 passengers and crew on board who were confirmed safe.

Following a complicated situation due to the position of the train and the track infrastructure, certain safety procedures had to be adhered to before the train could move. Further to this, the collapse of the overhead line meant that power was out on the train.

The backup battery power on board expired after a few hours, putting the lighting, heat toilets and public address systems out of service. During the disruption, food and beverages were provided with emergency provision available.

Eurostar is very sorry for what our customers had to experience. Eurostar and its staff prides itself on running a reliable service. We are taking immediate action into reviewing how the disruption was handled especially the processes and communication with infrastructure partners.

Passengers are being offered a full refund, and a voucher worth twice the value of the original ticket.

Hotels, taxi and subsistence costs will also be refunded to passengers who stayed overnight in London.
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An angry confrontation between a husband and wife forced a plane to land more than 1,800 miles away from its intended destination.

The Lufthansa flight had left Munich for Bangkok on Tuesday evening, with an uneventful first few hours in the air.

But later in the journey a row erupted between a German man and his Thai wife after she told staff on board that she felt threatened by his behaviour.

This led to the husband throwing food, attempting to set his blanket on fire with a lighter, smashing his mobile phone and undressing in the cabin, reports Bild.

He is also alleged to have shouted Ill kill you all while ignoring instructions from cabin crew.

The pilots made the decision to divert the flight and land at Delhi airport, where soldiers came on board and escorted the passenger from the aircraft.

A Lufthansa spokesperson told The Independent: The flight had to be diverted to Delhi due to an unruly passenger on board. The person in question was handed over to the authorities.

They added that safety on board is the top priority for our passengers and crew.

One passenger described the situation as spooky, telling Bild that all passengers had to remain seated and there was a loudspeaker announcement that it was forbidden to film or take photographs.

Another said: There was dead silence on board. It was a scary situation.

The plane was delayed for two hours before continuing to Thailands capital.

Its not the first time a couple has fought while at altitude.

In October 2020, an easyJet passenger was allegedly slapped by his wife after delivering an anti-mask tirade onboard a flight.

The unnamed man was filmed shouting at fellow travellers, telling them to fight back and saying: Im serious, get them off, get them off.

I tell you what, God help you, the longer you wear those masks, God help you, he said in a video shared online at the time.

He is heard shouting at a woman, who is reportedly his wife, shut up you f***ing imbecile, before she allegedly slapped him.
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When it comes to getting blissed out in a hot spring, there are few better places in the world than Colorado. The state has 93 known geothermal areas running through the spine of the Rocky Mountains, with natural springs of all stripes. The Colorado Historic Hot Springs Loop links up 23 hot springs in eight different places via an 800-mile driving route from Denver through the soaring Rockies.

Hot water springs up all over the Rockies thanks to the geological phenomenon of plate tectonics, which pushed its craggy peaks toward the heavens and resulted in hot water bubbling up along the range. The discovery of gold there in 1858 led to the Colorado gold rush and along with the influx of fortune-seekers came the establishment of mountain railways and Victorian hot-spring resorts  a tradition that continues today.

Soaking here is said to have many health benefits thanks to the minerals infused into the water from the surrounding rocks, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silica and lithium. Magnesium can alleviate muscle cramps and joint pain, silica has skin-rejuvenating properties, and lithium provides a nervous system reset and acts as a natural mood booster.

Read more on Colorado travel:

This year and next, several resorts along the loop will see expansions and new additions, so I set out with the tough task of testing them out.

Ive picked my favourites, from Japanese-style meditation tubs to vapour caves and pools designed to mimic the great hot springs of the world. Many of the resorts also offer overnight accommodation, meaning you can bliss out in the warm water under the stars, or soothe aching muscles after a long day of snow sports.

Glenwood Springs

Glenwood Springs, around 160 miles west of Denver, was one of the first towns in the state to develop its hot springs. Like many of the springs across southwest Colorado, its source waters were known to the Indigenous Ute people, who called it Yampah (meaning big medicine). European settlers arrived in the mid-19th century and, several decades later, a group of British investors purchased the land and springs and developed the worlds largest hot springs pool  a title Glenwood Hot Springs still holds, producing some 3.5 million gallons of water every day in a giant pool 123 metres (405ft) long and 30m (100ft) wide. Additions are under way here, with new pools being constructed to open in 2024.

The water flowing through Glenwood created natural, underground vapour caves, which were also known to the Indigenous Ute people. These today form the Yampah Spa Vapor Caves  natural caverns in which mineral water flows through the rocks at a sizzling 52C, creating natural, geothermally heated steam baths.

In 2015, a second resort opened in Glenwood  Iron Mountain Hot Springs  which this year added 10 new pools for a total of 16. Some utilise the local water, while the 10 newest pools in the WorldSprings section each has its water adapted to mimic a famous hot pool around the world. So you can soak in Glenwoods water, then pop over to Icelands Blue Lagoon, sample the Buddhist bicarbonate waters of Osaek Hot Spring in South Korea, or float in the Dead Sea.

Where to stay

The Hotel Denver is located in the centre of town. A heritage property from 1915, its a five-minute walk from Glenwood Hot Springs.

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Ouray

Twin Peaks Lodge is a Swiss-themed hotel with its own hot springs (Megan Eaves)

Sitting in a narrow, V-shaped valley surrounded by jagged peaks, Ouray leans charmingly into its branding as the Switzerland of America. Its perfect main street hearkens to the gold mining days with preserved clapboard storefronts and wooden boardwalks. The hot springs here are renowned, rising up from fissures along the Uncompahgre River, whose waters formed the gorge in which Ouray lies. The Ute people first settled here and considered the hot springs sacred (Uncompahgre is a Ute word meaning something like where water makes the rock red  a reference to the springs), but they lost ownership of the land and the rights to use the hot springs in 1881 when the US government forcibly removed the Native American community to a reservation further south.

In 1877, the first indoor swimming pool and bathhouse opened, and the open-air public pool now in use opened in 1920. Soaking here is cheap and cheerful and can get crowded  there are larger pools for lap swimming and kids activities, while an adult-use area contains several mid-sized pools with hotter temperatures. A couple of hotels in town have also harnessed the springs into their own onsite pools for people seeking a soak-and-stay experience.

Where to stay

Twin Peaks Lodge is a Swiss-themed hotel with its own hot springs  there are nine soaking pools plus two swimming pools and a cold plunge.

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Durango

Private cedar soaking tub at Durango Hot Springs (Megan Eaves)

The hot springs at Durango in southwest Colorado date back to 1000-1200BC, when the Indigenous Ancestral Puebloan people, who built the great cliff cities of Mesa Verde not far away, utilised the mineral springs along the Animas River. In 1874, an ex-soldier named Frank Trimble moved to town. Suffering from rheumatism and old war wounds, Trimble began bathing in the waters and declared himself healed within a month. In 1882, he built the first hotel on the grounds of what is todays Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa, set on a tree-lined hillside a few miles north of town. After a series of owners, burned-down hotels and a 30-year closure, the resort came under new ownership and underwent a $14m transformation, reopening in 2019. Its 32 hot pools and five Japanese-style, cedar private tubs are still fed by the same spring water enjoyed by the Ancestral Puebloans. There are also cold plunges, a concession stand, a food truck, a spa and  most importantly  relaxing views over the San Juan Mountains.

Where to stay

Durango Hot Springs is in the process of building onsite accommodation to open in 2024. In downtown Durango, the General Palmer Hotel, built in 1898, retains its Old West ambience with rich wood decor, red velvet curtains and vintage furnishings. Its virtually next door to the Durango and Silverton historic railway.

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Pagosa Springs

The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs along the San Juan River (Megan Eaves)

Somehow continuing to be a very well-kept Colorado secret, the tiny town of Pagosa Springs has what is arguably the mother lode when it comes to hot springs: the worlds deepest geothermal spring. When it was recorded as a Guinness World Record, the springs depth was measured at 305m (1,002ft)  as far as the scientists instruments could reach, but they never found the bottom or recorded its total depth. The Mother Spring, as she is known, is a bubbling, simmering pool of sulphuric water along the San Juan River, which flows down through town from its headwaters at the Continental Divide a few miles up in the mountains. Yes, the sulphur-rich water smells like eggs, but true soaking aficionados know that this provocative stink offers antibacterial properties that soothe and help heal the skin and create a natural relaxant and detoxifier.

The Springs Resort has harnessed the waters into 25 pools, all kept at different temperatures, on terraces overlooking the river. Theres a bathhouse, restaurants and drinks served to the pools, as well as a spa and a huge range of hot spring-themed wellness activities, like aqua yoga. The river itself offers a natural cold plunge accessible from the terraces, or you can avail of the unaltered hot spring waters bubbling up along its banks for free (water is not temperature controlled, so this is bathing at your own risk). The resort is currently expanding with a newly opened section of its hotel and a suite of new soaking pools to open in 2024.

Where to stay

The Springs Resort offers 24-hour soaking privileges to overnight guests, with special access to and from the rooms via key-carded gates. Doubles from 311.

Joyful Journey

A soak with a view at Joyful Journey Hot Springs (Megan Eaves)

Sparsely populated Saguache County sits in a bowl defined by mountain ranges nearly 300km (189 miles) southwest of Denver. Only 1.9 people per square mile live in a 3,170 square-mile area of this sweeping rangeland in the San Luis Valley. Several hot springs well up here, notably Joyful Journey Hot Springs. Its aquifer, known as Mineral Hot Springs, is also utilised by nearby Valley View, a clothing-optional soaking resort. Joyful Journey stands on a wide plain overlooking distant mountains and calls itself a retreat rather than a resort to emphasise its focus on both physical and spiritual wellbeing. With three pools and two jacuzzis, it is small, quiet and intimate, and the views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains from the water are spectacular. These springs are rich in lithium, which is said to be excellent for calming the nervous system, promoting brain health and reducing anxiety.

Where to stay

Joyful Journey has an onsite inn with hotel rooms and camping in yurts and tipis, as well as RV hookups and tent sites. Doubles from 215.

Mount Princeton

Natural creekside hot pools at Mount Princeton (Megan Eaves)

Set in the narrow Chalk Creek Canyon, surrounded by the 14,000ft peaks of the Collegiate Range, Mount Princeton Hot Springs is, for my money, one of the most picturesque hot springs resorts in the world. Its just a few miles from St Elmo  a high-elevation ghost town that was once a thriving mining town. In 1860, a way station, hotel, and railway depot were built here to serve people travelling on competing railway lines over the extremes of Tincup Pass, bound for the mines of Ashcroft and Aspen. The first resort came a few years later in 1884 when miners from the Mary Murphy Mine constructed a large hotel. The current main lodge  an enormous log structure  was built in 1965 and underwent a total remodel in the 2000s, adding 30 cabins, cascading soaking pools and a spa.

The current resort has seven geothermal pools, including a series of Japanese-inspired cascade pools and a large lap pool. Undoubtedly, though, its drawcard is the series of natural rock pools along the Chalk Creek riverside, where hot water flows from the ground into the creek. Pick your way down into the river and you can rearrange the rocks to create warmer or cooler pools using cold, rushing water. The spa also offers water yoga and other cardio classes in a pool of warm geothermal water. Mount Princeton is also working on a project that would be the first in Colorado to generate electricity from the same hydrothermal system that produces the springs.

Where to stay

Mount Princeton has creekside suites, cabins, lodge rooms and cliffside rooms spread quietly over the valley adjacent to the springs.

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Travel essentials

Getting there

British Airways and United both fly non-stop to Denver from Heathrow airport. Car hire in Denver is straightforward; you can also take the train from Denver to Glenwood Springs with Rocky Mountaineer or Amtrak.

More information

Check cohotspringsloop.com for full details on all of the resorts on the hot springs loop.
Hamass claim that a 10-month-old boy, his four-year-old brother and their mother who were held by the group were killed in previous Israeli air strikes in Gaza is not credible, security minister Tom Tugendhat said on Thursday (30 November).

Kfir Bibas was kidnapped with his brother Ariel and his parents Yarden, 34, and Shiri, 32, from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the 7 October attack.

Mr Tugendhat told Sky News: This is an organisation that murdered the entire rest of his family and is now blaming somebody else for his death.

The Israeli military has said it is checking the claim and would continue to support the Bibas family.
California sea lions Holly and Joy were released at a California beach after their successful rehabilitation.

They were cared for by the Marine Mammal Care Center in California, who celebrated Giving Tuesday by releasing the pair at Cabrillo Beach on Monday 27 November.

Joy was found in Long Beach in someones front yard weighing just 24 pounds and weighed a whopping 100 pounds at the time of her release.

Whilst Holly was rescued from a local beach and was found to have multiple parasitic infections.
Watch the moment a deer stranded on thin ice was bravely saved by firefighters in Minnesota, in footage released by the City of Prior Lake.

Neighbours called the fire department to report the struggling animal on Monday 27 November at Pike Lake, in the Minneapolis suburb of Prior Lake.

The fire department showed up quickly and executed a dramatic rescue. They quickly put on their protective gear and carefully crawled across the ice to the buck so they could push it to safety.
A video captures water dripping through the overhead lockers on an Air India flight, causing inconvenience to passengers.

The footage was shared on social media platform X, and has since been viewed nearly 900,000 times.

Air India issued a statement following the incident, which happened on a flight from London Gatwick to the Indian city of Amritsar on 24 November.

Flight AI169 operating from Gatwick to Amritsar on 24th November 2023 had developed a rare occurrence of condensation adjustment inside the cabin, the statement read.

Some of our guests seated in the affected rows were promptly relocated to other vacant seats and given the circumstances, the cabin crew made every effort to make the guests comfortable.

Air India is committed to the safety and comfort of guests on board and we regret this unexpected incident.
Navy Divers explored the wreckage of a US spy plane that fell into an environmentally sensitive bay in Hawaii over a week ago.

The underwater footage from Tuesday 28 November shows where the planes tires made contact with the coral reef, leaving two craters in it.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft crashed into the water in Kaneohe Bay on 20 November after overshooting the runway at a nearby Marine Corps Base.

The Navy is developing a plan to remove the aircraft that prioritises the safety of people and the environment, and hopefully restores the combat capability of the aircraft.
An Israeli hostage stares down a masked Hamas terrorist as she is released following 53 days in captivity.

Rimon Kirsht, 36, was handed back over to Israel on Tuesday (28 November) as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, which is due to end on Friday morning.

As Ms Kirsht was released by Hamas, she stopped and stared down at one of the gunmen down, before tilting her head to the side. She then walks away with fellow hostage Merav Tal.

Ms Kirshts partner Yagev Buchstab, 34, is yet to be released.
A Just Stop Oil activist sings outside Rishi Sunaks home before police arrive to arrest the group.

Dressed in an orange hi-vis jacket and armed with a microphone, Louise Harris performs her single We Tried outside the prime ministers Kensington home on Wednesday evening (29 November).

Ms Harris previously scaled a gantry over the M25 in support of Just Stop Oil last year.

The Met Police have confirmed 16 protesters were arrested during the demonstration.

Mr Sunak is currently attending the Cop28 summit in Dubai.
Scotlands only two pandas will bid a sad farewell to their zoo when they return to China after a 12-year stay.

Visitors have watched male Tian Tian and female Yang Guang grow since their arrival at Edinburgh Zoo in 2011.

The pair arrived after an agreement between the two countries, but the giant pandas failed to produce a cub during their time in the Scottish capital.

Everyone is pleased that theyre fit and healthy and that theyre going back to China in a really good condition. But at the same time, sad that after 12 years we shant be seeing them in Edinburgh anymore, said Professor Simon Girling, Head of veterinary services at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
Rishi Sunaks security minister defends the prime minister taking a private jet to the Cop28 summit in Dubai.

Mr Sunak, King Charles, and foreign secretary David Cameron have all taken separate jets to the conference, prompting fresh outrage from climate campaigners.

UK security minister Tom Tugendhat was quizzed on the decision by Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway on Thursday morning (30 November).

Mr Tugendhat said: There are many reasons why travel might be separate and it would be unusual, to put it politely, for senior members of government to travel on the same aircraft.
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Neither Gavin Newsom nor Ron DeSantis will be president come 20 January 2025.

But they wont be president for different reasons. Mr Newsom, the slick-haired, chiclet-smile-wielding governor of California opted not to seek the White House in 2024. While he won re-election overwhelmingly given the lack of a legitimate GOP presence in California, he also underperformed, which likely meant downballot Democrats suffered, killing his chances at a presidential run. As a result, he has elected to become President Joe Bidens junkyard dog, willing to bark and howl on Fox News and take on Republicans.

By contrast, Mr DeSantis, the aggressive hardline conservative Florida governor whose penchant for owning the libs turned him into a right-wing media hero, has seen his presidential campaign sputter. Now, Mr DeSantis is falling behind not just former president Donald Trump, but now other competitors like businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and now former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who this week received support from the influential Koch network.

The two men are known for their sense of flair and their respective states have become emblems for the very things members of their respective parties love and their opponents hate. When he was mayor of San Francisco, Mr Newsom performed weddings for same-sex couples when many at the Democratic Party winced at marriage for gay people.

Mr DeSantis picked a fight with Mickey Mouse, who splits his time between Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California, because of the companys opposition to his Dont Say Gay legislation and for flying migrants to Marthas Vineyard.

But their parties have elected not to choose these more energetic faces as Mr Newsoms party will likely nominate an octagenarian while Mr DeSantiss party will pick a septugenarian as its nominee. So, instead of doing the trivial work of governing (both men were elected to their second term last year), they will instead engage in a debate on Fox News on Thursday evening.

Ostensibly, the debate is about whether red states or blue states have a better vision for the country, and there is plenty of reason for both men to want to have that debate. In recent years, California has seen an exodus in its population given the high cost of living and housing. Republicans point to crime in Mr Newsoms hometown of San Francisco and restrictions put in place to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many California refugees (as well as New Yorkers) have migrated to red states, such as Texas, Tennessee and Florida, which Mr DeSantis quickly reopened after a short spell during the beginning of the pandemic. Incidentally, Mr DeSantis has said he doesnt want to recruit businesses to Florida and have Democrats migrate to turn the state into a dumpster fire.

But Democrats respond that these states are not as free as they say, given many of these states without income tax squeeze money from other resources and more saliently, ever since the Dobbs v Jackson decision, have restricted abortion, which makes them less attractive to people who might want to leave.

Nobody will remember these substantive talking points though. And given the fact that Sean Hannity, one of the most vocal conservative pundits in the country, will serve as a moderator, few people will likely change their minds since Fox News regulars are predisposed to not trust a Democrat and most Democrats could think of plenty of other programming to watch.

In turn, this debate can already be dubbed a failure since it will not garner the one prize it seeks to obtain: attention. Sure, some clips may go viral. Some earnest students who attend CPAC will compile videos of how DeSantis DESTROYS Newsom and some accounts with Blue Wave emojis or the hashtag #Resist will fawn over clips of Mr Newsom gazing directly into the camera while he articulates why book bans are a threat to freedom.

But without either man likely to earn the presidency, there will be little to no point to this debate and few people will even care. All it will do is reduce the stock of Mr DeSantis for taking time away from Iowa or South Carolina while it will make Mr Newsom seem too presumptuous in taking on his role as a self-ordained party leader.

The whole affair reeks of desperation; two men who feel they should be the mantle-bearers of the party but are politically radioactive to undecided voters jousting for a limited audience save for those unfortunate souls who have to watch it for their job. While they would chafe art the comparison, their decision to appear together shows they share more in common than they would like to admit.
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The UK has been hit by a wave of snow and ice this weekend as a major incident was declared and flights were grounded.

The coldest overnight temperature this winter was recorded in northern Scotland, the Met Office said, as Altnaharra in the Highland region dropped to -12.5C.

It comes as thousands of people across Cumbria woke up without power on Sunday morning after heavy snowfall affected Electricity North Wests service.

East Midlands Airport was forced to temporarily close its runway after heavy snow blanketed the ground.

The airport said in a tweet at about 8.10am today: Due to snow, our runway is temporarily closed. We will update you as soon as possible.

On Saturday morning, Glasgow Airport suspended all flights as many inbound flights were diverted, delayed or cancelled. The inbound Wizz Air flight from Budapest landed at Edinburgh, while a Ryanair jet from Malaga touched down in Prestwick.

Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are currently in place in large parts of Scotland, the Midlands, Wales and the North East, with snow and ice set to disrupt roads and railways.

There is a yellow warning for rain from midnight until 6pm Monday which affects most of southern England, Wales and the West Midlands.

For the latest on the cold weather across the UK, follow our live blog

Met Office warning for 3/12 (Met Office )

The freezing weather is being caused by a blast of cold air from northern Scandinavia, resulting in a particularly cold snap for many northern and eastern parts of the UK.

After a relatively mild November, temperatures plummeted this week with snow falling on Wednesday morning across parts of Yorkshire and Scotland. The flurries continued into Thursday evening with North Yorkshire Police reporting 100 cars stuck on the A171, between Whitby and Scarborough.

And on Friday morning, icy conditions on the roads resulted in 20 schools in County Durham closing.

In London, where commuters woke up to temperatures of -4C on Friday morning, mayor Sadiq Khan activated a severe weather emergency protocol for accommodation to be opened for rough sleepers.

Sunday night temperatures will remain cold after a brutal weekend (Met Office )

Monday morning shows little hope of the weather warming up (Met Office )

The first snow of the season was even reported in parts of the capital including West Hampstead, Ealing and Islington.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: Last night was a cold night across the country with a widespread frost as temperatures fell well below freezing for most.

Colder conditions are now covering all areas of the UK and we will see little change as we go into the weekend.

Daytime temperatures will be rooted in single figures and overnight temperatures falling well below freezing in many places. We will continue to see wintry showers at times and where these showers fall as rain there is a risk of icy patches forming.

The cold weather has brought some beautiful scenery, like in this picture of the Angel of the North statue in Gateshead covered in snow (PA Wire)

The yellow weather warnings in place warn of disruption to roads and railways, and of the risk of icy patches on roads, pavements and footpaths.

Alongside the Met Office warnings, the governments UK Health Security Agency has amber cold health alerts in place for five regions: the East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber until December 5.

The alerts warn of the cold weather impacting the regions health services.
Two veterans of state startup accelerator NDRC, Alan Costello and David Scanlon, have launched a 30m venture capital fund to back climate tech startups.

Their firm Resolve Ventures is due to close raising in the next few weeks for its Climate Impact Fund, with finance from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (Isif) and the 90m Irish Innovation Seed Fund Programme.

The duo ultimately aim to increase their fund to at least 50m in a second phase, they said. Irish family offices, some corporates and a number of angel investors are backing the fund, although it said it could not yet disclose any of them.

The fund is a combination of private and public money. Corporate backers are strategically targeted, ambitious ones that can help startups scale and drive revenue. They and the other investors will also contribute to our ecosystem and help our investees grow through their networks, Mr Costello said.

He and Mr Scanlon both also collaborated with Bord na Mona last year in SME accelerator Accelerate Green. Mr Scanlon previously also worked for Enterprise Ireland on its Start in Ireland programme for high potential startups.

Mr Costello previously founded investment and strategy consultancy Ruby Consulting, working with funders, state agencies, startups, development agencies and multinationals.

Resolve Ventures will make pre-seed, seed and further investments, focused on the energy, agriculture, mobility, construction, smart consumerism and resource management sectors.

Commenting on the investment, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said: Government recognises that if new companies are not supported at the seed and early stage, there will not be enough scalable indigenous companies available later in the development cycle.

Recent reports from PwC and Atomico concluded that although climate tech startups have been hit by the wider downturn in VC funding, they are an outlier, attracting both capital and talented staff. PwC said investment in the sector was down 40pc.

Newly raised money and institutional investors are helping drive investment in the sector, while EU policy underpins demand for climate tech products and services, Mr Costello added.

A recent Davy report stated Ireland requires 130bn of investment to meet climate targets. Irish early stage innovators can use some of that money to help build their businesses, he said.
Silver Pail Dairy Managing Director Thea Murphy in 2021 when it announced a 1.4m supply deal with Tesco. Picture: Naoise Culhane

Silver Pail Dairy  the countrys largest ice-cream maker - which was rescued earlier this year from examinership by a group of Irish businessmen, had racked up operating losses of 3.2m in 2022 before it was saved, newly-filed accounts confirm.

That followed a 2.5m loss the then family-owned Cork firm had posted in 2021. The accounts also show that revenue last year rose to 22.7m from 19.6m in 2021.

Silver Pail Dairy entered examinership this time last year, threatening almost 100 jobs at the firm.

However, the company was sold in March this year to Cork buyers Paul and Niall Condon, and Steve Dwyer. Niall Condon and other shareholders sold their Classic Drinks business, a wholesaler of wines and spirits, to Pallas Foods in 2019 for millions of euro. Mr Dwyer was also a shareholder and director in Classic Drinks.

The trio saw off competition from a number of potential suitors to buy the business. Potential buyers included Lakeland Dairies and private equity firms, its understood.

Silver Pail was impacted by rising input costs, including higher prices for milk, cream and energy. That created a cash crunch for the firm.

The company had about 4m of bank debt when it entered examinership, while other creditors were owed about 7m at the time it got into trouble.

Silver Pails customers include Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Musgrave, the company that controls SuperValu.

In 2021, the Cork company secured a 1.4m contract with Tesco to supply the retailer with own-brand ice-cream.

The ice-cream firm also makes frozen desserts, frozen yogurt and sorbets.

As part of the deal to sell the business to the new owners, a scheme of arrangement saw 5.7m of the companys liabilities eliminated. That included money owed to the Revenue Commissioners, the UK Revenue, and lenders  primarily AIB.

Despite the 16pc increase in revenue last year, Silver Pail continues to see challenging trading conditions. It was expected earlier this year that turnover at the business would rise to 30m this year and hit up to 34m in 2024.

Meanwhile, figures today from accountancy firm Azets show rising demand for insolvency protection services.

Azets Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp ) Index shows 28 small businesses have undertaken a Scarp process this year, an increase of approximately 27pc from 2022. Azets advised on 19 of the 50 processes to date.
Workers at the mothballed mine are told the company hopes to start talks

The Tara Mines operation in Co Meath is the largest zinc mine in Europe and first started production in 1977. Photo: Fran Caffrey

Swedish mining group Boliden is hoping to reopen its embattled Tara Mines operation at Navan in Co Meath by the middle of next year if a rescue plan being devised by management is accepted by unions, workers have been told.

That rescue plan for the zinc mine is due to be finalised in January, when talks with unions will start.

About 700 workers at the mine have been temporarily laid off since the summer after the facility was placed under care and maintenance by owner Boliden as zinc prices plunged and energy costs soared.

The mine is the largest zinc mine in Europe and first started production in 1977.

Workers at the mine were told yesterday that the company is willing to re-engage with unions at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The company added that the preparation of the rescue plan has been accelerated given the failure to get the innovation workshops established.

This rescue plan is being designed taking into consideration the initial group of union proposals from June 2023, as well as best practice in the mining industry and Boliden Group, it added.

Tara Mines general manager Gunnar Nystrom said that despite the ambition to reopen the mine next year, the macro-economic environment remains challenging for the operation.

The external backdrop remains very challenging due to a number of factors including current zinc prices and the cost of energy, which has settled at three times the level we saw two years ago, he said. We also continue to face a series of operational challenges, which must be addressed in order to place the mine on a sustainable footing.

But he said the company remains determined to bring about a sustainable reopening of the mine as soon as possible.

We must address the operational challenges through a rescue plan, before we can reopen the mine, he insisted. It is our intention to present a rescue plan in early January 2024, after which we intend to enter talks with the group of unions to discuss the proposals that are presented, and seek to reach an agreement with them.

Mr Nystrom said its a very significant move for the company to attempt to reopen the mine given the economic backdrop.

The rescue plan must ensure an acceptable return on investment for shareholders, but the Boliden Group has agreed to support us in this objective, he said.

Earlier this year, most of the workers at Tara Mines agreed to a deal brokered by the Workplace Relations Commission that saw them receive a 65 per week retainer while the mine is closed.

It is costing Boliden 1m a week to keep the mine mothballed.

Mr Nystrom added that if an agreement can be reached by the first week of February, it is hoped the mine could reopen in the second quarter of 2024. But that is dependent on there being no further significant deterioration of market conditions.

He said he was grateful to the Government for "the support they have provided to date and will continue to engage with them.
A pressure group seeking insurance reform has questioned how seriously insurers are about detecting and reporting fraudulent claims.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform said just 98 recorded crime incidents of insurance fraud were reported to the Gardai last year.

It said this is despite the fact that insurers regularly claim that one in five of all insurance claims are fraudulent or exaggerated.

It comes as Insurance Ireland holds a fraud conference in Dublin.

The reporting of less than 100 fraudulent and exaggerated claims compares with around 18,500 overall claims received by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board in 2022, where all claims have to be lodged initially.

Board member of the Alliance for Insurance Reform and owner of the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork, Michael Magner, claimed insurers will not be discussing the number of false and exaggerated claims reported to the Gardai at their fraud conference.

What likely wont be discussed in the level of fraud that is actually reported to the Gardai. Last year only 98 cases were reported to the Gardai according to the Central Statistics Office.

He said that we know from Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) figures that there were 18,453 claims received by it in 2022.

The number of recorded insurance fraud cases in 2022 amounts to half of one percent (0.53%) of claims, Mr Magner said.

This contrasts with estimates from insurers that approximately 20pc of the personal injury claims they receive could be fraudulent or exaggerated.

Alliance Board member and CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, Mary OConnor said: We regularly hear from insurers about fraudulent and exaggerated claims being as high as 20pc and yet those reported to the Gardai are less than half of one percent. Something doesnt add up.

Ms OConnor said there is one proactive insurer in the market that regularly speaks out on this issue and clearly resources its fraud detection unit.

But she claimed here was silence from the others.

Perhaps it is easier not to resource fraud detection and simply cite fraud as a reason not to reduce premiums but this cant continue. The reality is that it is policyholders that are picking up the tab for this lack of commitment to pursue fraudulent claims, not the insurers.

She said the Gardai recently set up an insurance fraud office to facilitate and streamline the reporting of suspected insurance fraud,

It is imperative insurers adequately resource their fraud detection units and adopt a strict policy of not settling suspect claims, Ms OConnor said.

The lobby group for insurance industry, Insurance Ireland, said it and its members are strongly committed to fighting insurance fraud.

Chief executive Moyagh Murdock said: Last month, Insurance Ireland was pleased to join Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly of the Insurance Fraud Coordination Office (IFCO) of An Garda Siochana to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Reporting of Suspected Insurance Fraud at the Department of Finance.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform was also a signatory.

She said the objective of the MOU is to ensure a co-ordinated, uniform and consistent approach to reporting, recording, assessment and investigation of suspected insurance fraud offences.

While the MoU was signed last month, insurers have been applying the protocol for the past two years and are committed to fighting fraud at all levels and junctures, Ms Murdock said.

Insurers have invested significant resources across their respective insurance organisations to combat insurance fraud, she insisted.

And she welcomed the fact that the courts have taken a harder line with insurance fraudsters in recent times.
A staggering rise in the cost of new rents and existing tenancies has raised questions about landlords complying with rent-control measures.

Rents for new tenancies shot up by 11.6pc in the past year, despite the fact that most of the country is covered by state-mandated Rental Pressure Zones (RPZs).

Under the law, rents in RPZs are not supposed to rise more than 2pc a year.

New data commissioned by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows the cost of new tenancies rising at twice the rate for sitting tenants.

The average rent nationally for a new tenancy is 1,574  a rise of 11.6pc.

That is the highest level of rent since the Residential Tenancies Board started recording the costs in 2007.

A gap of 242 has emerged between what average sitting tenants are being charged and rents for new tenancies.

The average sitting tenant pays 1,332, up 5.3pc in a year.

Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin said the rise in the cost of new rents was staggering, as is the gap between the cost of new tenancies and what existing tenants are being charged.

He said this raised issues about the level of compliance with RPZ regulations.

Asked if the figures pointed to wholescale non-compliance with the rules, RTB deputy director Lucia Crimin said the board had no data to hand on the level of compliance.

However, she said it would step up enforcement of rules on rising rents now that it has data for the first time on existing rents.

Up to now the RTB rent index only covered the prices charged for new tenancies.

We will step up compliance. That is a key part of the programme, Ms Crimin said.

She added that it was difficult up to now to enforce compliance with rent controls without proper data on new and existing costs.

Now that we have that data, we are hopeful we can do more on it, Ms Crimin said. Asked if the board had any information on reports that tenants are often forced to make under-the-table cash amounts as part of their overall rental costs, Ms Crimin said the RTB had no information on this.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), which compiled the index for sitting tenants along with the older ones on new tenancies, said its data was not able to show if there was compliance with RPZ rules.

This is because some of the properties in the index for new rental agreements were likely to be new-build apartment blocks, which are not subject initially to the regulations.

To work out if landlords were complying with the RPZ rules, statisticians would need to look at each property and its rental agreement individually over time, said Dr Conor OToole, of the ESRI.

The index for new tenancies shows the average rent in Dublin is now 2,102, up 10pc in a year.

For existing Dublin tenants, rents are up 5.5pc in a year, to 1,767.
Freezing temperatures, rock star VCs and US giants: why Irish tech is now flocking to Slush in Helsinki

Dozens of Irish tech firms have flown to the Finnish capital to take part in one of the most carefully curated tech conferences in Europe

Slush has big US tech giants and top-level Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Photo: Adrian Weckler

Adrian Weckler Thu 30 Nov 2023 at 18:55

Its a cold November Wednesday and the plane in Dublin Airport is full of Irish startups and investors on their way to a major tech conference in Europe. But this flight isnt Lisbon-bound; its going to Helsinki.
Also reviewed this week: Maestro and Fallen Leaves

Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who is terrific, in Maestro. Photo: Netflix

Eileen (15A, 98mins)

Oppressed by the weather, her caustic father and her dead-end clerical job at a juvenile detention centre, Eileen Dunlop (Thomasin McKenzie) slopes unhappily in and out of work, dark clouds massed above her head.

Shes only 24 but feels that life has passed her by  she has no friends, no boyfriend and still lives with her dad, Jim (Shea Whigham), an alcoholic ex-cop who constantly belittles her.

At weekends, she drives to a local beauty spot to watch other couples making out in their steamed-up cars, joining in as best she can.

She fantasises about a lanky young prison guard at work, and in particular about an inmate called Lee Polk (Sam Nivola), who stabbed his father to death one night while he slept, and now adopts a James Dean-ish air of aloofness.

Perhaps she envies the boys courage, but Eileen seems highly unlikely to act on any of her own strange impulses  until Rebecca St John shows up.

Newly appointed psychologist Rebecca (Anne Hathaway) breezes into the detention centre like a blast of fresh air, nonchalant, urbane and impossibly glamorous, with huge red lips, peroxide hair and Chanel suits Jackie Kennedy would be proud of.

She blows smoke in the faces of men who try to belittle her and insists on one-to-one sessions with the inmates, despite the obvious safety risks.

Eileen watches all of this from the wings, in awe at the poise and confidence of this thoroughly modern woman. To her evident shock, Rebecca then notices Eileen and asks her out for a drink.

At a local dive bar, Rebecca regales the younger woman with stirring accounts of her Manhattan adventures and knocks over a barfly who makes unwanted advances.

Energised by Rebeccas chutzpah, Eileen begins wearing lipstick and her late mothers silk dresses, and seems less inclined to submit to her fathers emotional abuse.

He may not be in his right mind, and has been caught in the street waving a handgun at passers-by, but hes no fool and spots the change in his daughter. Youre different these days, he tells her, almost interesting.

She dreams of shooting him  or herself  but is happily diverted by Rebecca, who suspects that Lee Polk was abused by his father and now sets out to prove it.

Lees mother Rita (the excellent Marin Ireland) wants nothing to do with Rebeccas investigation and refuses to visit her son in prison. But when the psychologist insists and things turn nasty, Eileen will have a crucial role to play.

Oldroyds follow-up to Lady Macbeth comes seven long years after the release of that film, which grandly subverted the polite traditions of the English period drama, and made an instant star of Florence Pugh.

That film, like this one, challenged us to remain loyal to a female protagonist whose methods of empowerment are more than radical, but Eileen, perhaps, challenges us still further.

Adapted by Ottessa Moshfegh and Luke Goebel from Moshfeghs own novel, Oldroyds film puts us in the shoes of a young woman for whom everything has gone wrong.

Her beloved mother is dead, her father despises her, her sex life is non-existent, her job a slow suffocation. She deserves better, we silently decide, then start to wonder  does she?

Hathaway is wonderful as Rebecca St John, an astonishingly assured individual whose own battle for womens liberation appears to have been won.

She identifies Eileen as a weak-willed dupe and willing accomplice who will do anything to retain Rebeccas attention, but she may have got her all wrong.

Hathaway plays Rebecca like one of Hitchcocks blondes, and film references abound in Oldroyds story, from classic noirs to the melodramas of Douglas Sirk.

Eileen is a noir too, but a dirty one, drained of glamour  and hope  and dominated by McKenzies sullen but utterly captivating performance.

Eileen is in cinemas from Friday 1 December

Rating: Four stars

Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who is terrific, in Maestro. Photo: Netflix

Maestro (15A, 129mins)

Most of the early coverage of Bradley Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic focused on the actors large prosthetic nose, which caused some controversy.

We are entering an insane era where soon, only someone born on July 6 will be allowed to play a character born on July 6.

Here, in any case, is Maestro. The wunderkind of US classical music, Bernstein was 25 when he first conducted the New York Philharmonic, while also dashing off sonatas, symphonies and scores for musicals like West Side Story.

Somehow, he also found time for romance, and plenty of it, and when Lennie married actress Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan) in 1951, she understood what she was getting into.

For Bernstein was gay and, as he got older, grew less and less discreet.

Cooper, who co-wrote, directed, starred in this production, spent a lot of time getting his conducting right, and sweats prodigiously during musical interludes too infrequent for my taste.

The prosthetics are brilliant, but theres something superficial about his performance. Carey Mulligan, though, is astoundingly good as Lennies sainted, side-lined wife.

Maestro is in cinemas from Friday 1 December and on Netflix from December 20.

Rating: Three stars

Alma Poysti cant catch a break in comic drama Fallen Leaves. Photo: B-Plan/Pandora

Fallen Leaves (12A, 81mins)

Aki Kaurismakis heartwarming comic drama was one of the judges favourites at Cannes, and its not hard to see why.

It tells the story of two affable loners who meet by chance and take a shine to each other before fate throws every obstacle in their path.

In a gloomily photographed Helsinki (its set in the present, but looks like the 80s), Ansa (Alma Poysti) grows tired of her job at a supermarket and is fired for giving expired food, that would otherwise be thrown out, to homeless people.

At a karaoke bar that might have come from a David Lynch film, she meets Holappa (Jussi Vatanen), a glum sheet metal worker, and they begin tentatively dating.

But Holappa, who doesnt say a lot, is an alcoholic and promptly gets fired from his job too.

All manner of misfortunes are about to block the path of a romance that might not be all that promising anyway.

Kaurismakis film manages a rare feat  to be simultaneously touching and ironic.

Its full of sly jokes, but you find yourself rooting for this cursed couple, neither of whom would win a charm contest.

They deserve some luck, but expect no breaks here.

Fallen Leaves is in selected cinemas from Friday 1 December

Rating: Four stars
Abbey Theatre, Dublin until January 27

An all-female and non-binary cast for Brendan Behans all-male play sounds a bit gimmicky, but it works spectacularly well. To see meth-addled Barbara Brennan and Gina Moxley, both arthritic and one limping on a crutch, leering at mots out the window of the prison is just so funny. It offers that sweet pleasure of the great big communal guffaw. It is also a massive send-up of masculine lechery.

Tom Creeds inspired production reminds us of what a great writer Behan was. The first half is all quickfire banter and colourful colloquialism, with a core cast of incarcerated men establishing hierarchies and negotiating prison life. New prisoners arrive, including Lifer, who has murdered his wife with a silver cane, played by a wonderfully shell-shocked Rebecca OMara. Lifers death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment, a lucky break for which he is urged to give heavenly thanks. He promptly tries to hang himself with a sheet. All is irony flavoured with gallows humour.
Alleged attack follows a riot and anti-immigration protests in Dublin last weekMolotov cocktail petrol bomb is believed to have been used in the attack

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

An alleged arson attack on a building site of an asylum seeker centre is being investigated by Gardai.

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford.

The alleged attack follows a riot and anti-immigration protests in Dublin last week.

A Molotov cocktail petrol bomb is believed to have been used in the attack.

Garda forensics teams are now gathering evidence at the site of the old Great Southern Hotel in the town.

Last night was a sinister development when a Molotov cocktail was used, judging by the burnt out teleporter and glass around, a source said.

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

The building site has been picketed by local protesters for the past 10 days objecting to the development of an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre.

Niamh Dennis of the Rosslare Harbour Concerned Residents & Peaceful Protest committee said she and all those involved in the peaceful protests which have taken place in the village in recent weeks were shocked by this news.

We would like to have it known that the whole committee was shocked to learn that there was damage to machinery on the site, she said.

She added: "The Garda are investigating and have reassured the committee that there is no question of any involvement by any member of our team of protestors, who have maintained a dignified watch over the site 24/7, and which is guarded by a security company at all times.

"The peaceful protesters from Rosslare Harbour and surrounding areas have never and will never support any form of illegal, abusive or disgusting activity.

A teleporter fork-lift was burnt out during the night at the site in Rosslare, Co Wexford

Local councillor Ger Carthy echoed these sentiments, saying that the actions of the few would not deter a community which has conducted itself in an exemplary fashion in its attempts to see the site of the former Great Southern Hotel developed into a nursing home as was originally intended.

I condemn the actions of those involved with this alleged arson, its not in line with the work being carried out by the community in the area, he said. I would hope that in the fullness of time the gardai identify who is responsible for this crime, and in the meantime we will continue with our peaceful protests.

Earlier this month Wexford County Council (WCC) issued a Section 5 planning referral to An Bord Pleanala regarding alleged planning breaches at the former hotel. These centre around the decision to change the development from a nursing home to an IPAS centre in October of this year.

A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai have received report of an incident of criminal damage by fire that occurred at approximately 4am today, Thursday, 30th of November 2023 in Rosslare Harbour area of Co Wexford. No injuries were reported.

"No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.

The Department of Integration has confirmed that plans are in place to transform the old Great Southern Hotel building in Rosslare Harbour into accommodation for international protection applicants.

In an email circulated among local elected representatives, it was confirmed that approximately 170 asylum seekers are set to arrive in Rosslare in the coming weeks.
Cat fleas biting tenants, animal urine stinking out an apartment and landlords failing to carry out repairs are among recent complaints made to the rentals watchdog.

Disputes published by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) show some tenants have racked up arrears of more than 15,000 after failing to pay any rent for months.

Some landlords were also allowed to keep deposits after tenants  or their pets  were found to have caused damage beyond normal wear and tear.

In one case, the RTB ruled that a landlord could retain a deposit of 1,700 after their former tenants cat caused a pungent odour and infested the property with fleas.

The owner of the apartment in Orchard Square, Dublin 14, gave evidence that the tenant had assured her the cat was fully house-trained.

However, when the tenant moved out, the landlord had to carry out significant repairs and replace some furniture and curtains that had a strong smell of animal urine.

New tenants moved into the property afterwards, but only a few weeks into their tenancy they reported being bitten extensively.

The landlord referred to text messages they sent saying there were fleas in the bed. They sent a video of an insect they said was characteristic of a flea and sent photos of insect bites on their lower legs.

The landlord arranged for a pest control company to resolve the issue. She spent hundreds of euro replacing the bed, spraying the apartment and hiring a cleaner to carry out extensive vacuuming.

The tenant was also found to have damaged the oven hob and marked the walls after moving furniture.

In addition, the tenancy agreement said no bikes were allowed to be kept inside, but the tenant had defied this.

The RTB had initially ordered the landlord to return 900 of the deposit, but this was appealed and a tribunal hearing took place, with the RTB ruling she could keep all of the deposit.

In another case, a landlord renting out a property on Shelbourne Road in Dublin 4 was ordered to pay 2,700 in damages for failing to carry out necessary maintenance work.

The tenant reported a broken radiator, but had to wait months for it to be fixed. She claimed she suffered ill health as a result of the lack of heat in the colder months.

In evidence, a representative of the landlord questioned how medical issues could be linked to one broken radiator in the bathroom, describing it as an inconvenience.

There was also an issue with a radiator in the main sitting room. The tenant claimed the communal washing machine, which was operated by coins, did not work properly and on one occasion her clothes were locked in the machine for three days.

The RTB awarded 1,500 for the lack of heating in the main living room, 500 for the heating in the bathroom, 600 for a broken window cord and 100 for the laundry incident.
Conor and Dee with the new arrival

Conor McGregor has hailed partner Dee Devlin a hero as the couple welcomed their fourth child tonight.

Conor confirmed the news on social media, saying: Another chunky healthy boy into the world. Dee you are my hero.

McGregor also posted on X: My baby boy is born! Mammy and baby doing amazing, 8.1lbs of prime Irish double champion beef!

He shared several photos of the new arrival with one showing Dee sitting in her hospital bed with the new little one.

Dee and Conor are already parents to their sons Conor Jr., six, and Rian, two, as well as their daughter Croia, four.

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The couple have been together since 2008, with Conor popping the question on Dee's 33rd birthday in August 2020.

Taking to social media on Wednesday, McGregor shared some photos of him posing with his pregnant wife shortly before they headed off to the hospital.

The pair looked delighted, beaming as they held hands outside the car.

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Captioning the post, the Dubliner wrote: Up early tomorrow to bring our new baby boy into this world, say a prayer for us! Lets go Mammy.

Conors sister Erin sent on her well wishes to the expecting parents, writing: so excited guys, sending mama dee the best of luck, love you both".

Dees sister Sarah said: Cant bloody wait! Sienna wont be the youngest anymore. Lets go wonder Mammy.

Another follower chimed in, saying: Sending lots of love and prayers for a smooth delivery.

And someone else added: Good luck tomorrow Dee & Conor. Thinking of you all.
A man who robbed two women in their 80s of their handbags in two days has been jailed for four and a half years.
Shop worker in Londis was told open the till or Ill shoot you, court hears

Cash totalling 1,200 and two bottles of vodka were stolen during the alleged robbery

James Connolly at court. Photo: Paddy Cummins

Eimear Cotter Thu 30 Nov 2023 at 03:30

A shop assistant was told to open the till or Ill shoot you by two alleged robbers who made off with 1,200 in cash, a court heard.
Politicians today got the first chance to grill Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on the policing response at last weeks riot in Dublin.

Here are the main points of the Garda chiefs contribution to the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

Tasers, pepper spray and possible water cannons

Stronger pepper spray, tasers and possible water cannons will be some of the tools rolled out to Gardai.

An initial 200 tasers will be deployed to public order units for Gardai who have special training and the force will also make a business case for the procurement of two water cannons.

There will also be an increase in the numbers of Gardai trained and engaged in public order training and smaller round units will be used as shields to public order units

A separate proof of concept (POC) project will be run which will involve the wearing of body-worn cameras in Dublin city centre.

The times Mr Harris spoke to Justice Minister on Thursday

SF TD Louise OReilly questioned the Commissioner as to what times exactly he was in touch with Minister McEntee last Thursday. Mr Harris was at first unable to give specific times but said he met Ms McEntee at around 8pm at the Department of Justice that evening.

After a break in the committee, Mr Harris said he was first told of the stabbing attack at 2.19pm and he was in touch with Minister McEntee via phone at 2.49pm.

A spokesperson for the Minister said she was made aware of the attack by the secretary general of the Department of Justice just before 2.30pm.

He said Ms McEntee made contact with Mr Harris after 2.40pm, met him later that day and was briefed by him again at 7.50am on Friday morning.

Drew Harris makes statement to Committee on Justice following violent scenes in Dublin last week

Garda operation in Dublin to continue throughout Christmas but no cliff edge afterwards

There has been an increased Garda presence in Dublin city since the attack and subsequent riot last Thursday.

The Commissioner reassured politicians there would be no cliff edge after the festive season is over.

The plans that were drawn up are to make sure that we can manage high levels of visibility going forward, he said.

We spoke earlier about actually reprioritisation of resources, and we just have to follow that through over the next number of weeks.

Gardai are not on all online networks

Green Party TD Patrick Costello said there is evidence on different social media platforms of the riots from last week.

Mr Harris said: We're not on every network.

He said it is impossible to suggest that Gardai should be on all networks and said some are difficult to penetrate.

"You should be on these networks," the TD told him.

Drew Harris says An Garda Siochana is 'short of personnel'

Garda Commissioner insists he will not resign

Sinn Fein is currently calling for the resignation of both the Garda Commissioner and Minister McEntee.

Two Fianna Fail Senators have also called for Mr Harris to resign and be replaced.

However, Mr Harris insisted he will not do so.

I am not going to resign, he told the Committee.

Drew Harris says he has 'no intention of resigning'
Lieutenant Dr Brigid Lyons Thornton played a vital part in the 1916 Rising

The portrait of Lieutenant Dr Brigid Lyons Thornton, now hanging at McKee Barracks in Dublin. Photo: Blaise Smith

A new portrait of the Irish Armys first female officer has been unveiled.

Lieutenant Dr Brigid Lyons Thornton was commissioned as the only female officer in the new Irish Army when the Free State was established in 1922.

The painting, which hangs in McKee Barracks in Dublin, depicts her in the city in 1916, when at just 19 she found herself in the middle of the conflict during Easter week.

She was stationed at the Four Courts, providing care for the wounded and provisions for tired fighters.

The portrait was commissioned by the Defence Forces and is the work of artist Blaise Smith, who also painted the official picture of Brian Cowen that was put on display in Leinster House earlier this year, more than 12 years after the former taoiseach left office.

The painter said the Lyons Thornton portrait combines a number of images.

Her head is taken from a wedding reception photograph in 1920, her uniform and body are from a photo of her cousin in her Cumann na mBan uniform, while her hands are actually the hands of my daughter, he said.

The background is from a photograph of the damage to OConnell Street a few days after the Easter Rising.

Mr Smith said that although she was probably wearing civilian clothes, he felt it important to paint Lt Dr Lyons Thornton in uniform to show she was acting as a member of the Army and given the work will hang in a building full of portraits of men in uniform.

Born Brigid Lyons in 1896, she was a talented pupil at school, winning awards for her Irish speaking.

She left her birthplace of Co Roscommon following the death of her mother and moved to Co Longford with her uncle Frank and aunt Kate.

The young Ms Lyons was set on becoming a doctor, but her family were against this because of the cost and because she was a woman.

In 1915, she decided to study medicine at what was then University College Galway. That year, she also joined Cumann na mBan.

While she was still a medical student in 1916, news of the Rising spread to Co Longford and she travelled to Dublin with her uncle to help the cause.

Like many, she was arrested and imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol, where she heard the leaders of the uprising being executed by firing squad.

In the following years, she continued to help the cause for Irish freedom, smuggling money and guns and sending letters and parcels to prisoners.

She later married Captain Edward Thornton, from Foxford, Co Mayo, where the couple are now buried together in Toomore cemetery.

As a doctor, she campaigned for the BCG vaccine scheme that all but rid the country of tuberculosis in the 1950s.

It was a disease she and her husband both suffered from  they met in Switzerland while they were recuperating.

Lt Dr Lyons Thorntons portrait hangs alongside those of leaders of the Free State Army, including Michael Collins and Richard Mulcahy.
Patrick Grimley and his wife Ciera passed away seven days apart following a crash on the Gosford Road in Markethill in the early hours of Saturday, November 4.

A fund set up to support three children whose parents died after an horrific road crash three weeks ago has raised over 393,295.

Patrick Grimley and his wife Ciera passed away seven days apart following a crash on the Gosford Road in Markethill, Co Armagh, in the early hours of Saturday, November 4.

Their close friend, Ciara McElvanna, who had also been out with the couple celebrating Patricks 40th birthday in Dundalk earlier that evening, passed away several days after the collision.

A GoFundMe page set up by the extended Grimley family to help support Patrick and Cieras children had reached 344,000 as of last Saturday.

More than 6,700 people and a number of companies have donated to the cause, which has struck a chord with people from all over Ireland.

More than 60 people and businesses made donations of over 1,000, with the largest being made anonymously earlier this week for 4,000.

Many have donated 10 or 20, while hundreds of people have handed over three-figure sums.

The extended Grimley family set up the GoFundMe to help support Patrick and Cieras three children Tadhg, Mya and Cadhla.

Lorraine Grimley, whose husband is Patricks uncle, posted the fundraiser last Sunday night with the goal of raising 10,000.

But before the GoFundMe had been set up, the family  who are steeped in the GAA  received a kind-hearted gesture from across the community.

Worshippers from a Protestant church in Darkley handed over money they had collected for the family.

Protestants from the Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church last week commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Darkley Massacre in which the INLA shot dead three and wounded seven in a sectarian attack. Harold Browne, Victor Cunningham and David Wilson, all members of the church, died in the attack on November 20, 1983.

Lorraine Grimley told the Sunday World: They had their own massacre, they had a remembrance and they had a collection for the Grimleys at it.

They had a collection for the Grimley family while remembering their own loss at the same time.

Madden is a close-knit community. All the churches have been sending us money and all the local schools and local groups we mightnt be affiliated with, they have all come together and they have been amazing.

This is the best cross-community work you will ever see.

Lorraine also thanked everyone who made donations on social media this week, saying: On behalf of the family, can I thank each and every one of you for your donations to this fund. The response has been amazing and your generosity will not be forgotten.

We can never replace what we have lost but knowing that people care really eases the burden.

Some people dont like to use GoFundMe so please contact me if you wish to donate in another way. If youre not in a position to donate, please pray and remember all the people affected by this tragedy.

To make a donation, log on to https://www.gofundme.com/f/patrick-and-cieras-children.
I could feel the tears in my eyes, this was a nightmare  life on the front line of Ireland's emergency department overcrowding crisis
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said she is looking to meet with social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, in relation to its response to riots in Dublin.

The minister has said that gardai had "actively engaged" with the social media companies on the day of the riots in Dublin, which saw vehicles set alight and shops looted.

Tens of millions of damage to public infrastructure has been done in disorder involving 500 people, according to garda estimates.

Ms McEntee told the Dail this week that while companies Meta and TikTok had engaged with gardai and took down posts, social media site X "did not engage or fulfil their own community standards".

She said that she would seek a meeting with X after she said some of the posts "fuelled some of what happened".

"There has been engagement between An Garda Siochana and the social media companies not just on Thursday, but since then," she said, speaking at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

"But I will be seeking to meet with X myself, because I think the company have a responsibility to be responsible.

"They did not take down content on Thursday, it added to and I think fuelled some of what happened, so I would like to engage with them on what they plan to do moving forward."

She said that Ireland's new broadcast and online media regulator, Coimisiun na Mean, would oversee the implementation of guidelines once it is fully set up.

She added: "So what we want to ensure is that the companies work to their own standards and they take care of the people who use their platforms, so it's not about shutting them down, or trying to prevent platforms from operating.

"It's about making sure that they live up to their own standards, and that they keep people safe, and that's why I would like to engage with them. And that's why I would hope that they would respond positively and obviously not just with myself but An Garda Siochana as well."

The Government is under pressure over its strategy to staff gardai and enforce the law after disorder in Dublin city last Thursday.

The riots were preceded by a knife attack in which three children and a woman were injured outside a school on Parnell Square East in Dublin's inner city. A five-year-old girl and her carer remain in critical conditions in hospital. Hours after the attack, angry crowds gathered at the edge of the Garda cordon.

Scenes escalated after some attempted to push through the cordon; bins, Garda cars and other vehicles were set alight and shops looted later that evening. The event has placed further pressure on the justice minister, who came under questioning during the summer after high-profile attacks in Dublin city.

"I have the full support of my party, I have the full support of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and I have the support of my Cabinet colleagues," she said on Thursday. The Fine Gael minister also refused to apologise for comments she made in the Dail, in which she called those involved in the riots "scumbags". "I've said what I've said.

"I think those who are responsible for the atrocious scenes that we saw last Thursday, they should be held accountable. I have strong feelings on what happened. I think the people responsible for the violence and the absolute thuggery on Thursday night, they need to be brought to justice.

"It's not normally language that I use, but I think what we saw on Thursday night was not something that we normally see. I am absolutely of the view that we need to get to the root causes but let's not create excuses for the people who came out and looted and rioted."

Minister of State Jack Chambers, who also attended the event, said that he was not aware of a review into whether an alternative to X was being sought by State agencies as a way of communicating with the public and media.

"There's a very worrying rise of disinformation on that particular network and the fact that they didn't respond (on Thursday) is of concern," he said. "I'm not aware of any specific review that's ongoing.

"It's obviously important for colleagues within government and people in the wider political system and indeed, mainstream media to make sure that objective factual information is put out there as well because a lot of people are on these networks.

"We'll be calling on them to adhere to their own guidance and obviously there are structures of engagement around that."
Hospitals in Limerick, Cork, Sligo, Galway and Dublin worst affected by surges

A total of 11,493 patients, including 434 children, faced delays for admission to a bed due to overcrowding in hospital emergency departments in November.

The figures were compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and are based on patients on trolleys in emergency departments and on wards.

The highest level of overcrowding was in University Hospital Limerick which had 1,962 patients waiting on trolleys after doctors deemed they be in a bed.

Other hospitals worst hit with high numbers of patient on trolleys were:

Cork University Hospital  1159.

Sligo University Hospital  804.

Galway University Hospital -751

Mater University Hospital - 698

The union wants the HSE to make more use of private hospitals to free up space and it has criticised the recruitment embargo although it excludes the hiring of graduate nurses.

The Oireachtas health committee was told yesterday that around sixty patients who are fit for discharge are occupying hospital beds while suitable homecare is being arranged for them.

Minister of State Mary Butler was quizzed on the delivery of home care hours this year and asked if they will be cut in 2024 as the HSE says its funding falls short.

Minister Butler and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly were before the committee to request a 1.034 bn bail out for 2023 for the HSE.

Asked by deputy Roisin Shortall about home care hours where there is a waiting list of around 6,000, Ms Butler said the aim is to have a target of 22m home care hours next year, the same as 2023.

She said that is the target because of the problems in getting carers.

She said that 21.5m hours were delivered this year and anyone who is on a waiting list has had the funding approved.

Around 56,000 people are currently receiving home care.

Of those on the waiting list 3,000 have a partial package and looking for more around weekends.

She said there are sixty patients, known as delayed discharges in hospital, who could leave if the home care was arranged for them and they are part of a "dedicated focus " every week.

Mr Donnelly said the health sector has experienced significant increases in demand across all areas, averaging volume increases between 5pc and 10pc, particularly in our hospitals.

"This increase in demand is driven largely by demographic changes; in particular population growth which has outstripped previous projections, as well as the fact that the over - 65s proportion of the population has also increased, he added.
Gardai deeply concerned over misinformation spreading onlineNews outlet Gript has removed a story after being contacted by gardaiWebsites editor claims this now feels like a bit of a rat-f**king Justice Minister confirms gardai engaged with Gript and urges people to take responsibility for content shared online

Special security measures have had to be put in place for a man who has been falsely identified as being the suspect for last weeks stabbing in Dublin.

Gardai have expressed deep concern after a photograph and other details of an innocent man were shared on social media, wrongly claiming that he is the suspect for last Thursdays stabbing attack outside a Dublin school, which left three children and a creche worker injured.

It followed the publication of an article by online news outlet Gript which has since removed the story, which blamed the wrong man for the stabbing. The article has been removed from the internet on foot of contact from gardai.

Some of the social media posts, which surfaced overnight, included an image of an individual and referenced details from a court case purporting to involve the stabbing suspect, but which was from a case involving an entirely different individual.

However, the man named in the social media posts has no involvement in the shocking incident last week.

The suspect for the attack, an Algerian national with Irish citizenship, remains in hospital and is yet to be arrested. He is expected to be questioned before the end of this week, once he is deemed medically fit.

The online posts have been shared thousands of times since going up overnight.

One of the accounts, which shared the details of the wrong person, is linked to a man currently under investigation by detectives as part of the inquiry into the organising of the violent scenes in Dublin last week.

Gardai said they have made contact with Gript.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee today also confirmed that gardai had engaged with the publication.

The Gript article did not name the falsely identified Algerian but revealed details of his immigration case ruling, which is available on legal sites, and in which he is named.

It allowed right-wing agitators to identify the Algerian man, who was the plaintiff in the asylum case and share his image and details of his work for an Irish company.

When contacted about the Gript article, a garda spokesman told the Irish Independent: This article is highly inaccurate.

The individual referenced in the article is not a person of interest in the investigation into the knife attack of last Thursday.

An Garda Siochana has contacted the online news outlet and the outlet has agreed to remove the article.

The online news outlet did not contact the Garda Press Office before publication.

An Garda Siochana is aware of some social media posts resulting from the article that purport to identify the individual and has put in place measures to ensure the safety of the individual.

Gripts original tweet promoting the story published at 5pm yesterday has been viewed over 755,000 times on X, formerly Twitter.

John McGuirk, Gripts editor told the Irish Independent that as of 10.40am this morning, he had received no contact from the Garda about the article.

However, this was contradicted in a later statement on his outlets website, which said gardai had contacted the publication at 9am today.

He said the article was based on garda and official sources.

We did not contact the garda press office about this as its policy is not to comment on named individuals, he said.

McGuirk said this now feels like a bit of a rat-f**king, a term used to describe dirty tricks or deliberate sabotage.

Right-wing websites have since labelled staff working for an NGO (non-governmental body) that had helped the wrongly identified Algerian man in his immigration case as traitors and accessories to murder.

The five-year-old girl who was critically injured in last Thursdays stabbing attack remains gravely ill in hospital this morning.

The only suspect in the case, a 49-year-old Algerian man also remains in hospital where he is being treated for head injuries.

However, it is understood that his condition is improving and he may be medically fit to be arrested for questioning before the end of this week.

In a statement today Gript said: This morning, just after 9am, more than 17 hours after the story that appeared on this page on Gript.ie was published  and after media outlets elsewhere had first been informed  the Garda Press Office contacted Gript to say that the unnamed person referred to in the story that appeared at this link yesterday, is not, in fact, a person of interest in the events of last Thursday.

Gript Medias original reporting was sourced from a member of An Garda Siochana.

It was further cross-checked against publicly available records, and while the name of the suspect was not reported, that name was put to a senior official on the basis of an informal cross-check before publication.

Gript Media, like other media outlets, has a firm policy of never naming any individual suspected in relation to a criminal act until such time as that person has been charged with a crime, and confirming that there are no reporting restrictions in place. In this case, we kept to that policy, while cross-checking our details with our sources in the usual way.

We are investigating the circumstances of this error, including giving due consideration to the question of whether this media outlet was deliberately deceived by a senior official. If we determine that to have been the case, then our obligation to protect the anonymity of those sources will be considered forfeit.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee today welcomed the removal of the article as she urged each and every one of us to take responsibility for any content shared or passed on online.

She said: Its incumbent, not just on newspapers and media outlets, but each and every one of us to make sure that were not sharing information thats misleading or incorrect.

There has been a lot of misinformation spread since last Thursday on a lot of different matters that can be hugely disruptive to investigations but also can be hugely upsetting to many people.

So, I would ask people to think before they send on information, particularly where information shared might be part of an investigation.

She added that it was appropriate that the article in question was removed saying there is an ongoing garda investigation into the stabbings.

Ms McEntee said the gardai will always protect an individual or group of people if it is absolutely necessary or required if there are concerns for their safety after being falsely identified online.

But obviously, in this instance information was put out there it has been taken down and if assistance is required by An Garda Siochana that will of course be provided, she added.
Helen McEntee and Jack Chambers urge drivers to slow down over the Christmas season

A Christmas campaign to crack down on speeding and drink or drug driving was today launched following an already devastating year on Irish roads.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), gardai and the Department of Transport and the Department of Justice have launched the Christmas Road Safety campaign and appealed to limit speeds to 30km/h in urban areas.

Motorists are being urged not to engage in killer behaviours such as drink or drug driving while gardai are also set to intensify their efforts to tackle road offences such as speeding, mobile phone use and the failure to wear seatbelts.

Some 172 people have died in collisions this year and there have been over 1,000 people seriously injured in road traffic accidents in 2023.

It is not lost on any of us the unprecedented fatalities weve seen and our thoughts are very much with families who are spending their first Christmas without a loved one," said Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman.

She said it only takes a split second for the unthinkable to happen and urged motorists to change their behaviour if they are inclined to speed or use their mobile phone while driving.

"This year to date, we have already arrested over 7,000 people for drink and drug driving. Thats people who are still taking that risk.

Speaking at the National Rehabilitation Hospital during the launch of the campaign, Ms Hilman said: Last December, tragically, 15 people lost their lives on Irish roads.

"This year, were again asking (people to) slow down, take your time, get there alive. Your family, your friends will want you there safely. Speed limits are not a target, Ms Hilman said.

Focus on what youre doing because your family will want you home safe, and we certainly dont want to be visiting your family this Christmas or New Year period to give them that devastating news.

Stark figures shared during the launch of the appeal revealed that while nine out of 10 pedestrians will be killed if they are hit at 60km/h and five out of 10 will be killed if they are hit at 50km/h, nine out of 10 pedestrians will survive if hit at 30km/h.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee (right) with Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman during a visit to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA)

The RSA have launched a new advertisement encouraging people to slow down to 30km/h in urban areas to help reduce road deaths and serious injuries.

Minister Justice Helen McEntee said it was important to double down on road safety efforts to prevent families receiving that dreadful knock on the door or that phone call at Christmas, New Years or way beyond that.

She said there has been an appalling loss of life on Irish roads this year, adding that gardai will have additional speed-detecting equipment and GoSafe cameras.

The road safety campaign begins tomorrow and runs until January 4.

Chairperson of the RSA Liz ODonnell described the period as a very dangerous time of year on Irish roads, when poor weather and partying can lead to dangerous conditions.

"Were not party poopers, we want people to enjoy their Christmas parties but we are urging people to be mindful that we have already had too many people die on Irish roads.
The young woman lost so much weight as a result of her eating disorder that she was unable to walk for two years. Photo: Posed / Getty

Mary was just a normal mum with three kids until her daughter, Emma, began to struggle with an eating disorder as a teenager. Since being diagnosed, *Emma has moved from one hospital to another. She is now being treated in the UK due to a lack of available services in Ireland.
Students from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) last night occupied the Regent House on campus to protest the universitys alleged links with Israel.

The protest has since ended pending further engagement with the university.

TCD Students Union President Laszlo Molnarfi last night condemned the colleges ties to the Weizmann Institute of Science, to Tel Aviv University, to Technion University, directly involved with the war industry, the IDF, the propaganda of Israel.

He said the technology produced in these places when put into practice are the bombs and the weapons and the tanks that are used to brutalize the Palestinian population and enforce occupation.

Students entered the building and hung banners from the windows, with Mr Molnarfi adding that students of the Trinity Boycott, Sanction and Divestments (BDS) are disgusted by the colleges complicity in genocide and indiscriminate killing of men, women and children in Gaza perpetuated by the settler-colonial regime of Israel.

Students want Trinity to commit to cut ties with Israel and make a public statement denouncing Israels genocidal actions, Mr Molnarfi said last night.

"We need to take drastic actions because they are cowards, taking action when it is popular to do so but not being principled when it is against the mainstream.

He added;

"I would like to read out Trinitys Global Incident Response Unit on the website: Many people in our College community are affected by global events, for example the war in Ukraine, human-caused and natural disasters and, most recently, the Hamas attacks and hostage-taking in Israel and the impact of the military response by Israel on the Palestinian population.

When it came to Ukraine, they cut ties, they denounce Russia, rightly so, they lit front entrance in Ukrainian colours; yet when it comes to Palestine we hear nothing, complete silence, and one sentence on a website calling a genocide a military response.

"We intend to disrupt and hold this space, alongside organising teach-ins and other activities, in order to pressure Trinity into taking immediate action.

A Trinity College spokesperson said; Trinity's Regent House was occupied last night by students as a protest. They left the building shortly after 8 am. Trinity is operating as normal.
A local resident of Dromahair, Co Leitrim has said residents would like to have a say on who lives in the village following protests against planned accommodation for international protection applicants.

Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal TD Marian Harkin yesterday told the Dail that a potential public order situation was developing in Dromahair last Friday night after rumours circulated that buses of migrants were about to arrive in the village.

She said she believed that some outsiders joined the gathered group and that a number of illegal checkpoints were set up which should never have happened.

Fiona McPadden, the spokesperson for a group called Dromahair Concerned Citizens, today told RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland that residents were worried about plans to accommodate International Protection Applicants in a local hotel.

Ms McPadden denied that there were any roadblocks or checkpoints set up in the area.

She said local politicians were unable to give reassurances really that people werent going to be moving into the hotel over the weekend.

"Rumours started probably early Friday evening that there were buses on the way from City West and there were 91 men on the way down to the hotel in Dromahair so we gathered outside the hotel I suppose, a group of about 100 people and there was a lot of tension and anxiousness and worry at the meeting.

Ms McPadden said she then called the guards to explain what was happening and that she was unable to receive confirmation from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that nobody was going to be moving into the hotel at the weekend.

She told how there was tension on Friday, adding: There were also people that had arrived that we didnt know.

Ms McPadden denied that any roadblocks or checkpoints were set up in the area.

She said the plan was for a peaceful protest by local residents for them to voice our concerns and have them acknowledged, adding: We didnt foresee that anything was going to happen very quickly, we knew the hotel was ready for occupancy but we didnt expect refugees to arrive so quickly.

Ms McPadden told how residents were worried, afraid and frustrated about 91 men coming.

She said international protection applicants are welcome in Dromahair, but added that residents would like the Department of Integration to reconsider the numbers and send families as had been promised.

"We would prefer families only. The people of Dromahair are very welcoming.

"We would like to have a say on who lives in Dromahair, yes.

Ms McPadden said local residents would not like a veto over who lives in the area and that the community is very happy to welcome families.

"We do have worries about single men. If you put 155 people into a small building in any village  I dont care where theyre coming from, if theyre coming from any county in Ireland  and put them in there and you give them 38 a week and theres nothing to do, youre going to have issues and thats regardless of where theyre coming from.

She said the group has concerns about putting single men in along with children and we have an obligation to ensure that the children that are coming in this centre are safe as well.

Yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he had been briefed on events in Dromahair and a community engagement team has been put in place for the village.
10 of the best Christmas markets around Ireland for yummy food, great gifts and getting into the festive spirit

Some Christmas markets are already open across the country to get you into the holiday spirit

Ciara Murphy (5), Cillian Buckley (9) and Fiadh Murphy (4) pictured with Santa Claus and Rocket the dog in the Marina Market, Cork. Pic: Chani Anderson

Azmia Riaz Thu 30 Nov 2023 at 03:30

Its that time of year again  break out the woolly jumpers, grab a steaming cup of hot chocolate and find a Christmas market near you to really get into the festive spirit. This year, markets are popping up all over the country to celebrate the holidays with gourmet food, sustainable and locally produced gifts, and Santas grotto for young ones. Weve rounded up some of the best Christmas markets near you.
Hard questions have been raised by last weeks riots in Dublin city centre. But few imagined the right of a garda to defend themselves against a mob, baying for their blood, might be among them.

Yet according to Justice Minister Helen McEntee, gardai need absolute clarity on what levels of force they can use when under attack.

If such is the case, no wonder the gangs of thugs who took over the centre of our capital felt so entitled to run amok with impunity.

Surely we have got things back to front, when a system, according to Garda Representative Association president Brendan OConnor, criminalises the gardai and emboldens the criminals.

Ms McEntee said she would be asking the Policing Authority to provide greater clarity.

But as Mr OConnor pointed out, that entity cannot override or redefine laws.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris also acknowledged what he felt was a chill factor among rank-and-file members of the force, caused by the fear of long and drawn-out complaint investigations being brought against them.

It is also worth noting that for members of the public there has been a chill factor across the country, caused by the lack of a garda presence, as stations were closed and numbers within the forces ranks rapidly declined.

Ms McEntee said: I dont want members of An Garda Siochana looking over their shoulders responding to these incidents.

Unfortunately, the citizens of Dublin, and many other towns and cities in Ireland, have also been looking over their shoulders for many years when walking on their streets at night-time.

The denial needs to end now.

As Green Party leader and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan admitted in recent days, Dublin city is not safe enough.

It is difficult to see how the primacy of decency can be restored to our streets without more gardai, supported with all the resources and necessary powers to do their jobs. They must be empowered to enforce the law to a degree that those who flout it are the ones made to fear.

The notion that someone who puts themselves in harms way  as we saw so vividly last week  to defend the public, is more at risk of facing legal consequences than the perpetrator, is indeed perverse.

Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) general secretary Antoinette Cunningham said gardai have yet to see a robust response from Ms McEntee and the Government to the issues that members face.

If Irish people are not feeling secure walking in our cities at night, how must it feel for those whom we are welcoming from overseas?

Many are claiming the clock is ticking for both Ms McEntee and Mr Harris. Most people, however, would prefer to see an effective and well-resourced policing body, than to have a head on the block.

Yet unless confidence is restored in the administration of law and order, the latter may be inevitable.

In defence of both, many of these challenges, such as the collapse in garda morale, have remained unaddressed under a number of administrations.

However, the crisis has blown up under the watch of Ms McEntee and Mr Harris.

How they handle it may define their futures. No country can tolerate a few hard-right fanatics pulling the strings of the mob, to play fast and loose with its law and order.
Happy memories: Shane MacGowan at his family home in Tipperary in 1997. Photo by Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images

He leaves behind an incredible body of work from songs like A Rainy Night in Soho to Fairytale of New York and iconic albums such as Rum, Sodomy and the Lash and If I should fall from grace with God.

From a poetry fuelled middle class upbringing to the chaotic UK punk scene. Shane MacGowan was an innovator who defined his own rulebook before tearing it apart.

His was an infamously hedonistic life, one that won critical acclaim and celebrity admirers, but also one that came at a cost to his health and well-being.

Fionnan Sheahan is joined on the Indo Daily by Irish Independent journalist John Meagher to assess the life and legacy of the dearly departed Shane MacGowan.
IT will be a big financial loss, said a business owner in Mitchelstown after it emerged the popular Indiependence Music and Arts Festival will not be taking place in the North Cork town next year.

The popular music festival that takes place in Mitchelstown every August will not be held in 2024 after the festival organisers confirmed they are taking a one-year break with a view to hosting it again in 2025.

Event organisers posted on social media platforms on Wednesday, November 29 that the festival, which attracts thousands of music fans to Mitchelstown each August bank-holiday weekend, will be taking a break in 2024.

The festival which has been running since 2006, was originally held in the town square in Mitchelstown, before moving to nearby Deer Farm.

Proprietor of the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown Pat Tangney said it will be a big financial loss. It used to attract huge crowds. It was extremely well run. It was a great festival. It will be a big financial loss. Everyone gained from the economic spinoff it provided. It was great for hotels, bars, food outlets and shops. From an economic point of view, we will certainly miss it, he said.

Mr Tangney welcomed the organisers desire to host the festival once again in 2025. It is very promising that they said they will be back again in 2025. We are looking forward to having them back again in August 2025.

John Cleary who owns Walshs Bar in Mitchelstown said it is a huge loss to the town. That Sunday would be the busiest day of the year for us. It is a huge loss to all the pubs in Mitchelstown. It is a huge loss to the town in general. It was a great weekend. There was a great vibe. We hope it will be back bigger and better than ever in 2025.

It put the town on the map, said Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre OBrien: It did wonders for the town of Mitchelstown. We enjoyed many years economically from the event. It provided all the retailers in the town with a great economic boost. It also brought much fun and enjoyment to the town for the August Bank Holiday Weekend. People of all ages enjoyed the festival.

Cllr OBrien said she is looking forward to the three-day music festival returning once again in 2025. The organisers of the festival didnt take this decision lightly. It is great news that they have committed to returning again in 2025. I do look forward to it coming back in 2025. When it returns it will bring a great boost to the town once again.

It gave the town a huge lift. There was always a great atmosphere. People from near and far used to come in to the town to soak up the atmosphere. Everyone benefitted from it, she added.

On Wednesday, November 29, organisers released a statement on their social media accounts notifying fans of the news.

We started in 2006 in the town square, since then we've seen it all - rain, sunshine and hurricanes. We've had some wonderful times and some really difficult ones and now we need a little break to recoup and relook and hopefully come back stronger.

Indiependence will be taking a break in 2024 with a view to seeing you again in 2025. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us over the years.

Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported us over the years, we are more grateful than words can explain, the statement concluded.

Last years festival saw headline acts Belters Only, Jenny Greene, The Coronas, Anne-Marie, Jaz Jones, and Two Door Cinema Club perform across the weekend to over 15,000 attendees.
Cork City has been awarded third place in the European Rising Innovative City category at the European Capital of Innovation Awards.

The ceremony, which took place in Marseille, France recognised Cork city for its innovation ecosystem and how successful stakeholders such as Cork City Council, UCC, MTU, Tyndall and Cork BIC interact and create impact.

Originally shortlisted from among thirty entrants, Corks bid led by the City Council progressed to the final, ultimately placing behind winner Linkoping in Sweden and Padova in Italy.

Cork city has also been awarded a prize of 50,000 which will support continued efforts to foster systemic innovation in the Cork region.

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The judge panelling commended Cork as Irelands second city, as a place that does not settle for second-best, nor necessarily for the status quo, but instead seeks to disruptively explore whats possible.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Mick Finn accepted the award and acknowledge this huge achievement.

We are delighted with this recognition on behalf of our residents and all the organisations, public, academic, private and community that work collectively providing a real testbed for innovation in Cork, he said.

Cork is stepping up to the most critical global societal challenges of our time, namely climate change, by showing leadership as one of the designated cities selected to drive the EU Mission for one hundred Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities.

We will only succeed if we have citywide buy-in to both co-design and deliver on a truly shared vision of a sustainable and equitable future for Cork and its residents, he added.

The iCapital awards are an annual celebration of the European cities that best promote and shape innovation locally.
Cork city councillors were amongst those who paid tribute to the late Patrick Burton

The late Patrick Burton was elected as a Fine Gael councillor in 2009 and stood for election for the 31st Dail in 2011.

Tributes have been paid to former Cork councillor and businessman Pat Burton, following his unexpected death on Tuesday, November 28.

The late Mr Burton, of Laurels, Cloghroe, was in his late 60s and was the proprietor of the Model Farm Bar and Restaurant. He served as a Fine Gael councillor until 2013 after being elected to the Blarney area in 2009.

Formerly of Minehill, Dromagh, Malllow, Mr Burton died peacefully at the Bon Secours Hospital and is survived by his wife Eileen, son Peter and brothers Tim and John.

Cork councillors have paid tribute to Mr Burton, who also explored careers as a teacher, a farmer, and in real estate in his lifetime, since his passing.

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Independent councillor for Cork North-East, Ken OFlynn, said Mr Burton will be remembered as a truly good man.

It is with deep sorrow that I mourn the loss of our neighbour, former councillor, and Cork business owner, Pat Burton. His passing leaves a void in our community , but his impact and legacy will continue to inspire us all, Cllr OFlynn said in a social media post.

Fine Gael councillor for Cork North-West, Damian Boylan, said hearing of Mr Burtons death was incredibly sad news.

There will be lots said about Pat in the coming days and all of it will be good. A genuinely caring person, generous to a fault, brilliant company and loyal beyond belief, he has gone too soon, Cllr Boylan said on social media.

Iniscarra Community Centre announced that it would be closed on Saturday morning as a mark of respect to its former chairman.

Mr Burtons obituary on RIP.ie states that he will be lying in repose at his home Friday (1st December) from 4.00pm to 8.00pm.

A Requiem Mass will be held for Mr Burton at 11.00am Saturday (2nd December) in St Senans Church, Cloghroe. There will be a funeral afterwards to St Senans Cemetery, Tower.
CORK politician Billy Kelleher has announced that he is seeking the Fianna Fail nomination to be the partys candidate in the Ireland South constituency in next years European elections.

Posting on his social media page on Wednesday, November 19 the Cork MEP said that he is running and he will contest the Ireland South Fianna Fail party selection convention.

Mr Kelleher who is the current MEP for the South constituency previously served as Minister of State for Trade and Commerce from 2009 to 2011 and Minister of State for Labour Affairs from 2007 to 2009.

He was a TD for the Cork North-Central constituency from 1997 to 2019 and was also a Senator from 1993 to 1997. Mr Kelleher has been a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency of Ireland since July 2019.

The European elections will be held on the same day as the local elections in June next year.

Ireland currently has 13 MEPs in the European Parliament. The number of MEPs Ireland has in the next European Parliament however will increase to 14 after next years elections. An additional seat has been allocated to the Midlands-North West constituency.

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The current MEPs in the South constituency are Deirdre Clune (FG), Billy Kelleher (FF), Sean Kelly (FG), Grace OSullivan (Green Party) and Mick Wallace (Independents 4 Change).

Cork MEP Deirdre Clune who was first elected as an MEP in 2014 recently announced she will not be running again for election.

In a statement the MEP said: Politics is demanding. It requires much sacrifice, not least from close family members.

For the past nine and a half years, I have represented the people of Ireland South in the European Parliament.

There is absolutely no doubt that without the support of my family, I would not have had the privilege to serve in public office, she added.

Some names suggested to run for Fine Gael in Ireland South in the next election include Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cork North Central TD Colm Burke and Wexford TD Paul Keogh.

They could contest alongside sitting MEP Sean Kelly.
The flag was flown to mark the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people

The flags of Ireland and Palestine flying over Cork's City Hall on Wednesday, November 29.

The Palestinian flag was flown atop City Hall to show the deep-felt links between Cork and Palestine, with the city council stating that it is clear no military action will bring an end to the current conflict in the Middle East.

The flag of Palestine was flown to mark the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people on Wednesday, an occasion also marked by Cork City Council in previous years.

In a statement. the local authority said flying the flag was a gesture which reflects the deep-felt solidarity and links between communities in Cork and in Palestine.

Acknowledging the complexity of the conflict occurring in the Middle East, the council said that it would be inappropriate not to continue flying the flag on the annual day at this time of great suffering.

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The local authority said it regrets the violence in Israel and Palestine and supports the Irish Governments call for a sustainable, humanitarian ceasefire.

It is clear that there can be no military solution to this crisis, the council said.

The council said it has built trust and an excellent working relationship with the Mission of the State of Palestine, a movement aimed at advancing the PalestinianIrish relationship, this year in order to meet its aspirations of deepening links with a city in Palestine.

Cork City Council remains committed to developing projects with Palestinian partners in the spirit of a practical and meaningful solidarity, the local authority said.
The businesses will represent the region at the Best in Cork awards in January

Businesses from Mallow, Buttevant and Charleville were named as being the best in north Cork and will represent the region at the Best in Cork awards at City Hall in January.

BladeBridge, a company that repurposes decommissioned wind turbine blades into greenway bridges and outdoor furniture, was named as the Best Start-Up at the this years Best in Cork awards for the north of the county at a ceremony held by Cork County Council at Springfort Hotel in Mallow.

A Buttevant company, Viska Systems, which designs and manufactures robotics and automation systems for various industries, was named Best Small Business in the region.

Charleville based CPH, which is Irelands largest independent construction services company, received the Best Medium Business award. It was established in 1989, employs 32 people and has the largest green electric fleet of any of the top 30 powered access companies in Ireland and the UK

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Renewable energy development company NMK Renewables was the runner up in the Best Start-up category; The Sibly Food Co, which makes healthy energy balls and baked goods, was the Best Small Business runner up; with speciality food distributors Horgans Delicatessen Supplies the runner up Best Medium Business.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn said that the judging panel for the award had a difficult job to do given the number of high quality entries to the competition that were received from businesses in north Cork.

We had entries from talented crafts people, innovative service providers, popular food businesses and leading retailers. There were brand new businesses alongside companies that have been in the same family for generations and each entry contained fascinating and inspiring stories, Mayor OFlynn said.

Every single company that entered can be proud of what they have achieved and of their ambitions for the future. In particular, I would like to congratulate the six companies who will represent North Cork in the overall awards in January and wish them the very best of luck, he said.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council Valerie OSullivan said it was important to shine a light on businesses that make north Cork a better place to live.

The Best in Cork awards aim to recognise sustainability, growth and innovation. It is clear from the entries that businesses in North Cork are making huge strides to ensure their company is as sustainable as possible and I would like to commend them for their efforts to date, Mrs OSullivan said.

One of the most sustainable things we can all do is to support local businesses and I would encourage people to buy local this Christmas as well as throughout the year whenever possible. When you buy goods or services from a local company you are reinvesting in your local community and supporting vital jobs, she said.

The Divisional awards for South Cork will take place in Midleton on Monday, December 4th. They will be followed by the divisional awards for West Cork in Rosscarbery on Wednesday, December 13th.
Years of effort by Charleville scientist will culminate in Irelands first ever satellite launch

EIRSAT-1 is due to launch from Vandenberg Space Force base in California on Friday evening

EIRSAT-1

Jack Joy Corkman Wed 29 Nov 2023 at 20:00

A Charleville scientist who contributed to the creation of Irelands first satellite, EIRSAT-1, said it will be unbelievable to see it launch into outer space on Friday.
Phil Lynott's statue is one of the 'iconic images of Dublin' in T1

Molly Malone features among the new graphics at Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport

Passengers arriving at Dublin Airports Terminal 1 can now enjoy a revamped arrivals corridor adorned with new graphics featuring iconic images of the capital city, including Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott and Molly Malone.

A statement posted on Twitter included a video showcasing the upgraded arrivals corridor, offering a warm welcome to both locals and visiting tourists as they proceed to baggage claim.

Guess whos back in town! Next time you arrive at Dublin Airports Terminal 1, anticipate a warm welcome from one of Dublins greatest sons  Phil Lynott, the post said.

A giant picture of Philos Grafton Street statue is one of a series of iconic Dublin images added to the walls of the arrivals corridor in T1.

Keep an eye out for them the next time you pass through, it added.

Phil Lynott's statue is one of the 'iconic images of Dublin' in T1

While some wall space in the arrivals corridor was previously blank, it has now been replaced with new imagery to provide passengers with a proper Dublin welcome.

Passengers have reacted very positively to the new Dublin graphics in the arrivals corridor in T1, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at daa said.

That corridor can seem like a long walk after a flight, and we wanted to put a smile on the faces of both returning locals and visiting tourists as they make their way through to the baggage hall.

Rather than simply writing Welcome to Dublin on the wall, weve introduced a series of iconic images of Dublin, ranging from the Georgian doors, synonymous with our cities in Ireland, to large pictures of Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy and also Molly Malone.

Were delighted with the end result. Were always looking at little ways we can improve standards for passengers in our terminals, and travellers can look forward to even more improvements over the coming months, he added.
"Get the last of the Cheeky Charlies! Theres nothing like the chants from the Henry Street Christmas market traders to signal the arrival of the festive season in Dublin.
Residents vow to fight on as fresh battle looms over sale of Dublin 8 apartments

Tenants of Tathony House in Dublin 8 have been given new eviction notice dates by their landlord, just weeks before Christmas.

This comes just a week after residents celebrated a significant victory in their battle against eviction, as the landlord had dropped his appeal against an earlier eviction ruling.

The original mass eviction notices, served in October 2022, were deemed invalid by the Residential Tenancies Board earlier this year.

The landlord appealed this decision, but withdrew the appeal just before the Tribunal was due to adjudicate.

Originally, over 30 apartments in Tathony House received eviction notices due to the buildings sale, leading to a prolonged dispute with the landlord, Tathony Holdings Limited.

The RTB Tribunal, scheduled for November 28, was expected to address the appeal. However, tenants were informed last weekend that the landlord had abandoned his appeal.

However, tenants at the 34-unit apartment block have now been given fresh eviction notices just weeks before Christmas.

James O'Toole (far left) at a previous protest with fellow residents of Tathony House

According to tenants: Dublin City Council has contacted the landlord five times to inquire about willingness to sell to an approved housing body, transforming the block into much needed social or cost rental accommodation.

The landlord has refused to engage. In 14 other European countries eviction on grounds of sale would be illegal. The eviction ban just temporarily brought us in line with those countries where landlords sell with tenants in situ.

Tathony House residents have organised and fought the previous eviction and will fight this one too, they added.

Tenant James OToole said: Our landlord could make his millions by selling to the council, but refuses to even engage.

Its all about money for these people and he is holding out for a higher price for a private sale. We need real tenants rights in Ireland so that tenants dont face emergency accommodation and homelessness.

Meanwhile, local councillor and Tahony House resident Madeleine Johansson added: We are not just fighting for ourselves but also for the 15,000 families and households served notices recently.

Stay in your homes and fight like we have done. We gained another year by organising and we will continue to fight with protests and in the RTB and the courts.

Tathony Holdings Limited has been contacted for comment.

In a statement, Dublin City Council said it is disappointed with the latest news.

After the first eviction notices were served in October 2022, Dublin City Council began to engage with the tenants to offer support, the statement said.

As a social housing authority, it is necessary for DCC to work within legal framework and to follow government policy.

Dublin City Council can only act within the remit of its statutory responsibility and not in a private housing matter.

In the past year, Dublin City Council has had talks with residents of Tathony House in an effort to do what we can to assist.

An independent 3rd party has engaged with tenants to develop a profile of eligibility for various housing supports and interventions to better identify options available to both residents and the City Council.

At the time, there were no HAP or RAS tenants therefore no social housing tenants, while three households applied and qualified for social housing.

We have explored the possibility of an AHB acquisition, which required cooperation from the Tathony House owner. Numerous attempts were made to contact the owner and their solicitors, but no responses were received.

In light of recent eviction news, Dublin City Council advise the tenants to continue engagement with the RTB.

In the meantime, we encourage anyone affected needing housing advice on their social housing application or eligibility for social housing to contact us.
Liverpool fans will get the chance to meet one of the Anfield clubs all-time greats at the launch of a new store in Dublin.

The store is opening in the Pavilions shopping centre in Swords on December 13 at 5.30pm. The first 150 supporters will be given an exclusive opportunity to meet Reds legends, Sami Hyypia and Natasha Dowie.

Hyypia made 464 appearances for Liverpool between 1999 and 2009, winning eight major honours, including the 2005 Champions League.

Liverpool FC are holding an official Dublin store opening on December 13

Dowie, meanwhile, is LFC Womens all-time top goalscorer and a two-time Barclays Womens Super League winner with the Reds during her two spells on Merseyside.

The former players will then host an exclusive Q&A session where they will share insights and stories from their illustrious careers.

There will also be musical performances from both Kieo and Katy Alex, while club mascot Mighty Red will also be in attendance.

The meet-and-greet will be conducted on a first come, first served basis at the official LFC store at Swords Pavilions shopping centre on the Malahide Road.

This is the second Liverpool store to open in Dublin, joining the original shop in the ILAC centre, just off Henry Street, opened by Didi Hamann in 2014.
Front row (left to right): Aine Mac Sweeney, Zoe Mc Donald, Kieran Moloney. Back row (left to right): Fionn O'Shea and Wiktoria Gluza. Missing from photo and also part of the Champion Team is Mia Moynihan.

Transition Year students from Killarney Community College have achieved a remarkable milestone by securing a spot in the top 10 finalists in the prestigious National Think Languages Competition.

The competition, which involves over 15,000 TY students and 180 participating schools from across Ireland, has recognized the outstanding efforts and linguistic prowess of the Killarney students.

The Transition Year program at Killarney Community College has long been known for its commitment to providing students with enriching experiences, and this recent accomplishment underscores the schools dedication to academic excellence.

The National Think Languages Competition challenges students to showcase their language skills, cultural understanding, and innovative thinking, making it a highly sought-after platform for young linguists.

Principal Stella Loughnane expressed pride in the students achievements, stating:

We are thrilled to see our Transition Year students not only participating but excelling on a national level. This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of both the students and their language educators.

The Champion Team, comprised of six Transition Year students with roles varying from, Champion Team Leader, Social Media Manager, Events Manager, Research Manager, Scheduling Manager, and Facilities Manager, have created a festival line-up up for their event on Thursday November 30.

The students will start off their day by watching a video of the Opening Ceremony of Think Languages 2023, they will participate in live workshops engaging with local community business owners such as Kerry Martial Arts, and Killarney First Responders. The students are thrilled to also welcome Professor Jean Conacher and two student language Ambassadors from the University of Limerick. TY students will get the chance to taste some foods from different countries at lunch and listen to their very own International Music Playlist, as well as taste some Spanish Tapas and round off their day with Meditation through German.

The shortlisting highlights the schools commitment to fostering a well-rounded education that goes beyond the traditional curriculum. It also reinforces the importance of language learning in todays globalized world.
17-year-old Jack ODonoghue has been missing for a week

Gardai are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 17- year-old Jack O'Donoghue who was last seen in Portlaoise, Co. Laois

A teenager who had been missing from Portlaoise has been located safe and well.

Gardai have confirmed that 17-year-old Jack O'Donoghue, who had been missing since Thursday, November 23, has been located.

An Garda Siochana would like to thank the public for their assistance with this matter.
Shoppers and business owners disapponted that free parking initiative will not be happening again this Christmas

Sligo County Councils decision to not to introduce free parking during the weeks of Christmas has come as a major disappointment for both businesses and shoppers.

The initiative was put in place last year through the efforts of local councillor Tom MacSharry who has expressed disappointment with the stance of the Council on the issue this year.

While several other counties in the country have rolled out free parking as a goodwill gesture for shoppers during Christmas, Sligo County Council has decided to revoke it instead.

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Cllr Tom Sharry has continuously called on the council to roll out the initiative again this year saying it had received a great response from both shoppers and business owners last year.

He said: It was a very good initiative and I thought it was something that the people of Sligo were very grateful for.

I called on them again to reconsider free parking, with some compromise even if it was for just 2 or 3 hours.

But I think we have to have an incentive to bring people into town and I think the free parking initiative is not exclusive to Sligo.

The reason I asked for it last year was because I noticed a lot of other towns and cities across Ireland were offering free parking and I see it again this year.

I would obviously call on the council again to consider the two weeks of free parking and if that is not a runner, then they could reach a compromise and maybe give two hours free or something in all the council car parks.

The council has not specified any reason behind this decision, but if it has a financial perspective then I would say that I dont accept the free parking for two weeks is going to do much harm to council.

Several counties like Wicklow, Tipperary, Galway, Mayo etc. are providing limited or unlimited free parking for the motorists in several areas. Cllr McSharry points out that providing free parking in town might be helpful in bringing in more shoppers to town.

It can help encourage customers to shop local and support the local businesses in the run up to Christmas, he added.

Cllr MacSharry said that this kind of initiative sends out the right message from a local authority.

I got very positive response last year from many people. I just think that the County Council should consider that there might be a compromise to be reached. But certainly, in the last two weeks coming up to Christmas there should be either free parking or there should be 2 or 3 hours free.

They can also make some of the car parks free, but there should be something. It cant just be a no-no.
Garryard East, Silvermines, came on the market in 2017 with a price tag of 230,000

Happier times: Shane and his family would sing together at Christmas time at their home in Silvermines

Tipperary is mourning one of its sons following the news that legendary singer songwriter Shane MacGowan has passed away, aged 65.

Shanes Tipperary roots are strong, as his mother Therese was from Carney, where Shane moved to live in the ancestral home in later years.

The MacGowan family moved back to live in the village of Silvermines, near Nenagh, in the 1980s to live life in rural Ireland away from the hustle and bustle of London.

My mum and I picked the house, his sister Siobhan told the Irish Independent. We told Dad he was buying it and that was that. I suppose we ganged up on him."

That was in 1988, when Mac (Maurice) McGowan, from Dublin, and his wife, Therese, a multiple Feis Ceoil winner, were preparing to head back home to Ireland after 30 years living in the UK, near London, where Siobhan and Shane were born and raised.

In January 2017, Therese, then aged 87, tragically died in a car crash when the car she was travelling in struck a wall at Ballintoher, near Nenagh.

The family home of Garryard East came on the market that year after the crash, with a price tag of 230,000. It was to this house that Shane returned to for up 30 years, singing songs, including the world famous Fairytale of New York with his parents and sister, Siobhan, around Christmas time.

Sometimes we'd take the piss and parody it, Siobhan said. Mum and myself would accompany him for female vocal, and I'd play guitar and Dad would play the piano. And we'd tell each other: Happy Christmas your arse.

Shane moved back to Tipperary in his later years, to his familys traditional 350-year-old residence at Carney Commons near Ardcroney.

Having tired of life in London, he told The Guardian in 2001 that the move home ensured he was away from London and closer to his family and parents who then lived outside Silvermines village.

My parents were living here and I wanted to come back full time. I was sick of living in London and travelling around. I still travel around the world a fair bit, but I was basically sick of London. I never really liked the place, Shane said. This is the only fixed address that I have ever had  you know what I mean?

I will stay here for the rest of my life. This has always been my home. However far I wander this is where I belong. This is my home this is the only place where I ever lived in and it is where I am living now and it is the last place that I will ever live, he said.

The Carney home is the ancestral dwelling of the Lynch family, Shanes mothers relations, and is a remote old cottage equipped with an open-hearth fire and ancient family parlour.

It was in this home that Shane started to write a novel based on the Blue Shirts and Eoin ODuffy, as well as finishing songs and ballads on his Spanish guitar and piano.

Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, Cllr Gerard Darcy, who lives near Shanes ancestral home, paid his respects on behalf of the people of Tipperary.

His roots are not far from where I live, said Cllr Darcy. I live in Ardcroney, his village is the next one down in Carney. Thats where all the Cahills and the Lynches all came from. All of his people came from down around that area.

Councillor Darcy extended his sympathies to Shanes partner, Victoria, sister Siobhan and father Maurice. He was a very talented guy. You would see him around. He would come to Nenagh or Borrisokane, or Puckaun. He often frequented the pubs in Puckaun.

Cllr Darcy said Tipperary County Council and Nenagh Municipal District would likely extend their official condolences at the next meetings.

Its a sad day. He had his demons. He loved Tipperary. He understood the country people, and that rural area around Lower Ormond in north Tipperary, added Cllr Darcy.
Karen Lynas and Mary Butler, Ballycanew branch, Irish Wheelchair Association pictured at 'A Window to the World' AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2023 at the Aviva Stadium. Photo: Marc OSullivan.

Further Education and Training (FET) learners from Wexford and across Ireland participated in focus groups and surveys to inform the annual Learners Voices Across Ireland report which was launched at the AONTAS summit in the Aviva Stadium recently.

Advocating for access to lifelong learning for all, the Ballycanew branch of Wexford Irish Wheelchair Association showcased the impact of their services at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit.

We believe in the potential our learners have to achieve qualifications and practical work that they never thought possible at any stage. The community employment programme we offer gives participants the opportunity to gain qualifications and experience to be able to re-enter the workplace, said Karen Lynas from the Ballycanew branch.

The Learners Voices Across Ireland report demonstrates findings from a largescale research project  the National Further Education and Training Learner Forum  delivered by AONTAS and funded by SOLAS. The Forum gathers the opinions and perspectives of people who have returned to Further Education, from a broad range of ages, backgrounds and geographical locations across Ireland. Learners are invited to discuss their experiences of FET and the research results inform future policy planning and advocacy.

The report highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences of FET, however, the report also reveals regional disparities in learning experiences due to inequalities in public transport, facilities, inclusion and mental health supports.

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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, said CEO of AONTAS Dearbhail Lawless while speaking at the event.

Since the first FET Learner Forum in 2016, a one-day event featuring 70 learners, the initiative has evolved into a year-round, multi-event project. In the 2022/23 term, there were 939 focus group participants nationwide, and 2,569 survey respondents.

For many people in Wexford 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 in proving to be the biggest barrier. Groups like the Irish Wheelchair Association provide an invaluable service, enabling learners to access education and training opportunities that otherwise would be out of their reach, said Dearbhail.

AONTAS was established in 1969 as a non-governmental organisation that shows how adult learning helps people and changes lives. AONTAS advocates for the rights of all people to quality learning across their adult lives. They are specifically committed to helping people who suffer the greatest inequality, discrimination, and disadvantage in our society, people who traditional education doesnt serve.
Staff at Wexford County Council (WCC) have experienced what life is like for those living with dementia courtesy of a special training course at County Hall. The Mobile Virtual Dementia Tour allows people to experience the lived reality of people with dementia, allowing participants to gain an insight into the lives of those with the condition.

Speaking after the training Ann Marie Laffan from the Community Section at Wexford County Council said: Participants found the training quite overwhelming, thought-provoking and a great way to develop an understanding of what people living with dementia might experience. Our aim in delivering this training was to enable participants to gain a greater understanding and to consider the lived reality of dementia in design and delivery of our services and how we interact with people.

The initiative was supported by Healthy Wexford and Annette Dupuy, Healthy County Co-Ordinator said, In our vision for a Healthy Wexford we are working to support the wellbeing of all of our citizens and enabling this type of dementia awareness training with staff and stakeholders is a further step to delivering on this vision.

John Fleming, Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council who took part in the training said, This is one of the most powerful things I have experienced, and I would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to experience this training to fully understand exactly what is like for someone living with dementia. This training will assist those who attended to understand the needs of those living with dementia better as well as to communicate better with them which is important for us as a local authority.

Alongside the Dementia Bus, the Alzheimer Society of Irelands Mobile Information Service attended County Hall, offering both staff and visitors the opportunity to gather some information on local resources and supports available.

This training follows on from a series of initiatives that WCC has delivered over recent years to make the organisation more dementia friendly. These included their involvement in the setting up of the Wexford Dementia Alliance, a multi-agency group that aims to improve the health and wellbeing for people living with dementia and their families and carers in Wexford as well as the production of a dementia information leaflet and directory of services with information on key services and supports available locally.

An Garda Siochana, HSE, WWETB and Wexford Local Development also attended the training.
Pictured at the launch of the Shelter Wishes campaign, were rescued Lurchers Elsa and Robyn, with Kieran Mangan and Chloe Keane from Maxi Zoo Ireland. Photo: Jon Allen.

The Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is to benefit from a Christmas campaign led by the pet shop chain Maxi Zoo Ireland.

Maxi Zoo Irelands Shelter Wishes campaign runs for the month of December and will see 29 animal charities across 15 counties benefit, including Wicklow SPCA. Maxi Zoo Ireland customers can donate instore to the Shelter Wishes campaign by doing the following:

Pick a wish from the Christmas tree in your local Maxi Zoo Ireland store.

Buy the product on the wish card for the chosen charity.

Put the product under the tree for the charity to collect before Christmas.

As part of this, Wicklow SPCA will receive products from under the Christmas tree at the Maxi Zoo Bray store, to make the festive season extra special for the animals in its care.

For 100 years, Wicklow SPCA has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and rehome animals. It provides, care and much needed attention to hundreds of animals that are abused, mistreated and hurt throughout the year.

Head of Marketing at Maxi Zoo, Ireland Anthony Cremin, said: We are really delighted to once again run the Shelter Wishes Campaign, which has donated thousands of euros worth of pet products over several years for so many worthy charities.

"This year were helping organisations that look after dogs, cats, horses and other wildlife, and all these volunteer groups desperately need funding to survive. Its heartwarming to see how much Maxi Zoo Ireland customers across the country get behind the Shelter Wishes Campaign, helping to make Christmas special for so many animals in need.

During the month of December last year, Shelter Wishes saw over 2,000 wishes granted for less fortunate animals. The campaign is one of many ways in which Maxi Zoo Ireland is involved with the welfare of animals. It also partnered with Husky Rescue Ireland in November of this year, to raise money for the organisation through its Together for Pets Pendants campaign.
A Wicklow councillor has written to Justice Minister Helen McEntee to raise his concerns over the proposal to introduce facial recognition technology (FRT) legislation.

The Minister is seeking to bring forward legislation to enable facial recognition technology (FRT) to enable speedier prosecutions of offenders involved in violence and looting. The use of the technology was initially drawn up to deal with murder, rape, terrorism, and child sexual abuse.

Cllr Stokes has written to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, and the Green Party Leader, Eamon Ryan to raise a number of specific concerns.

"There are many problems with this technology ranging from privacy consent, to the risk of misuse, such as individuals exploiting it for personal use, he said.

"Like with many systems, there can be flaws. In this case there is a significant risk of misidentifying people. Earlier this year the Guardian ran a story that highlighted the poor accuracy in relation to people who are black, female and between the ages of 18-30."

The Green Party previously resisted handing facial recognition technology to gardai, but they are under increasing pressure from cabinet colleagues and Cllr Stokes has urged him to stay strong against the encroachment of civil liberties.

"Facial recognition technology is used for mass surveillance in China. This would be a major milestone against civil rights. Additionally, if the Irish Government introduces this surveillance, it gives a green light to other countries to follow suit. They can point to Ireland as an example of allowing this type of snooping."

Instead Cllr Stokes is urging the Government to focus on Garda staffing.

"The Government wants to be seen to be doing something about the Dublin riots on November 23. I condemn the perpetrators of the riots and looting. However, from the videos and pictures that I saw, they seem to be well covered by masks and hoods. This would largely render facial recognition technology useless in this situation. What we really need is more police.

"The Irish people have been failed badly in this regard. The Government has allowed the garda numbers to run right down. While I accept that Covid disrupted recruitment, this has been going on for many years. We also need to focus on garda retention. If people can find better pay and conditions they are likely to look elsewhere."

Cllr Stokes highlighted the plight of an innocent man, Robert Williams, whom in 2020, was wrongly arrested in Detroit, US. Mr Williams had been identified by grainy CCTV, combined with AI technology.

"This type of surveillance is a recipe for mistakes. It should be stopped," Cllr Stokes said, and added that a wide range of people and organisations have urged that facial recognition technology be halted, including the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

"It's no surprise that the European Union has sought to ban mass surveillance. Facial recognition technology is a threat to freedom and civil rights."
Pictured at A Window to the World: AONTAS Adult Education Summit 2023 at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin: (L to R) John DArcy, AONTAS Chairperson; Michelle McGoldrick, Maynooth University; Simon Harris T.D., Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Alan Anthony Quinn, Tipperary Education and Training Board and Dearbhail Lawless, AONTAS.

Adult learners of all ages from Wicklow have reported positive experiences of further education and training, but AONTAS new Learners Voices Across Ireland report also reveals regional disparities in learning experiences due to inequalities in public transport, facilities, and inclusion and mental health supports.

The annual research report on adult learning in Ireland was launched at the AONTAS Adult Education Summit at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin this month.

During the 2022/23 academic term, over 3,000 Further Education and Training (FET) learners participated in focus groups and online surveys nationwide. Their experiences are shared with the Education and Training Board (ETB) to inform good practices, and to ensure that learners have a say in their own education.

Speaking at the A Window to the World summit, CEO of AONTAS and Wicklow native, 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 Wicklow, 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.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD also addressed the 200 delegates and said: The power of adult learning, especially community education, cannot be underestimated in its potential to transform peoples lives. The theme of today, a Window to the World, is a reminder of how adult education and lifelong learning is a crucial part of improving communities and making them more resilient.

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. No matter who you are or where youre from Im committed to making sure there is access to the educational opportunity that you desire.

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.
At the Excellence in Local Government Awards were (l-r): Emer OGorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland; Margaret Birchall, Senior Executive Librarian, Wicklow County Library Service; Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council and Clodagh Whelan, Age Friendly Wicklow.

Wicklow County Council has been honoured in the Age Friendly Initiative category at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2023, where the Council was also shortlisted for four other prestigious awards.

The ceremony took place on Thursday, November 23, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport and is an annual event that highlights standards of best practices in Irish Local Government.

Wicklow County Council's winning initiative under the Age Friendly category focused on Transition Year students taking on the role of tutors, guiding adults in using their digital devices. Through personalised guidance, the students empowered adults to navigate the digital landscape with confidence.

In response to the win, Director of Services for Community Culture and Social Development, Michael Nicholson, said: We are thrilled to receive the Age Friendly Initiative Award, which acknowledges the dedication and creativity of Wicklow County Council Library Service and the students involved.

The Council was also shortlisted for the Samuel Hayes Bridge in the Supporting Tourism category; the Solar Car Park in Wicklow County Buildings under Local Authority Innovation; the Hidden Disability Sunflower Initiative under Health and Wellbeing and the Intergenerational Digital Learning under Age Friendly Initiative.

In recognition of this collective achievement, Wicklow County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, said: "This award is a testament to the hard work and community spirit that define Wicklow County Council. We hope to build on the success of the Intergenerational Digital Learning project and replicate its positive impact into the future. Our commitment to creating an age-friendly environment will continue to drive our efforts in fostering innovation and inclusivity."

Wicklow County Council Chief Executive, Emer OGorman stated: "We are immensely proud of the innovative projects that earned Wicklow County Council recognition across four categories. Each initiative demonstrates our commitment to enhancing community life.

"The Samuel Hayes Bridge, the Solar Car Park, the Hidden Disability Sunflower Initiative, and the Intergenerational Digital Learning, showcase our dedication to fostering tourism, driving local authority innovation, promoting health and wellbeing, and creating an age-friendly environment. Together, they reflect our holistic approach to community development."
Dominic Cummings acted as British prime minister in all but name and was the driving force behind key decisions during the pandemic, their former colleague Sajid Javid has told the UKs Covid inquiry.

In an incendiary attack on the dysfunction at the heart of Boris Johnsons time in power, the British former health secretary said ministers on the inexperienced cabinet were often excluded from decision-making and it was Mr Cummings, the then PMs aide, calling the shots.
Girl accused of killing Briana Ghey watched Sweeney Todd film the night before the murder, court hears

Two 16-year-olds are on trial after the transgender girl was found stabbed to death in Warrington last February

Brianna Ghey was stabbed to death last February. Photo: PA

Pat Hurst Thu 30 Nov 2023 at 03:30







The teenage girl accused of killing Brianna Ghey watched her favourite film, Sweeney Todd, for the 9,000th time and discussed which knife her co-defendant would use, the night before the murder, a court has heard.
A man under investigation for the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann will stand trial in Germany in February on five separate sexual assault charges, a court said on Thursday.
Hamas hands over two female hostages, others expected after truce extended

Two Israeli women hostages handed to Red Cross in Gaza CityOthers expected in coming hours, Israeli military says according to Red CrossHamas armed wing claims Jerusalem attack as response to Gaza deaths

Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for a further day

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Mohammad Salem and Humeyra Pamuk Thu 30 Nov 2023 at 20:00







Hamas on Thursday handed two female hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza City's central Palestine Square and further hostages are expected to be released later in the evening following a last-minute deal struck with Israel to extend a truce.
A deer stuck that found itself trapped on thin ice was pushed to safety by firefighters who crawled across the frozen lake in Minnesota, USA.
Image Credit: videograb/file photo

The US Department of Justice has issued a statement alleging to foil a plot from India to murder a US-based Sikh separatist.

The foreign ministry earlier said that it was examining the inputs from the United States.

Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, was allegedly the target of the plot.

In a statement on Wednesday, the US Attorney's Office accused an Indian government employee of being part of a murder conspiracy.

The US Attorney's Office has filed "murder-for-hire" and murder-for-hire conspiracy charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The US alleged a plot from India to murder US-based Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

"We have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others. We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue,'' the Indian foreign ministry has said.

"In this context, it is informed that on November 18, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter," the ministry said.

India will take "necessary follow-up action" based on the findings of the committee, it added.

On November 20, the National Investigation Agency filed a case against Pannun, accusing him of issuing social media messages that said people flying with Air India were in danger.

He had also claimed that Air India would not be allowed to operate on November 19.
Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the re-appointment of Dr Gopinath Raveendran as the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University.

A three-judge bench of the Top Court, headed by CJI Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, and also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, pronounced the verdict.

The Apex Court pronounced the verdict after it reviewed petitions challenging Gopinath Ravindrans re-appointment as VC.

Premachandran Keezhoth, member of the Kannur University senate, and Shino P Jose, member of the Academic Council had knocked the doors of the SC against the re-appointment process.

While setting aside the Kerala High Court's order of upholding the re-appointment of Gopinath Ravindran as Vice Chancellor of Kannur University, the Top Court noted in its judgement that the appointment was vitiated by the undue interference from the Government of Kerala.

Justice Pardiwala, who pronounced the judgment on behalf of the bench, said that this court pronounced the verdict after considering four questions -- Whether re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post, Whether the upper age limit of 60 years as stipulated in Section 10(9) of the Kannur University Act is applicable even in the case of reappointment for four years, Whether re-appointment has to follow the same process as the appointment of VC by setting up a selection panel and Did the Chancellor abdicate or surrender the statutory power of reappointment?

The Apex court said that the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted interference by the state government.

"Although the notification for reappointment was issued by the Chancellor, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted interference by the state government," the court said in its verdict.

The bench allowed the appeal challenging the February 2022 judgment delivered by a division bench of the Kerala High Court approving the re-appointment of the VC and affirming the December 2021 single bench judgment.

The Apex Court said that the Chancellor (Kerala Governor) "abdicated or surrendered" the statutory powers for re-appointing the Vice Chancellor.

The court had earlier, during its many hearings, reportedly questioned the government as to how a person above 60 years could be re-appointed as VC.

As per the norms of Kannur University, those above 60 years cannot be appointed as VC. However, the government contended before the SC that the norm would not be applicable for re-appointment.

Thats when CJI Dr Chandrachud questioned the decision and observed that norms should be followed.
Photo courtesy : Facebook/KCR

Hyderabad/UNI: Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) supremo K.Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) cast his vote in Chintamadaka village on Thursday.

KCR and his wife Shobhamma cast their votes at Kalvakuntla Venkataraghava Rao Zilla Parishad High School Room No.-2 (Part No. 158), designated as a polling station in Chintamadaka village of Siddipet Rural Mandal.

BRS working President and KCRs son K T Rama Rao, cast his vote at polling station No.124, in GHMC community hall in Nandi Nagar here.

AIMIM President Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote at St.Faiz School under Rajendranagar Assembly constituency.

After a high-voltage election campaign, polling began at 7 am this morning for the 119 assembly seats in the state, where 3.26 crore voters will decide the fate of 2,290 candidates contesting from different parties.

KCR, who is in his second term as Chief minister, is contesting from Gajwel and Kamareddy assembly constituencies.

Rao won from Gajwel constituency in Medak district in 2014 and 2018 with significant margins. Now, he is pitted against BJPs Eatala Rajender from this constituency and Congresss T Narsa Reddy.

The BRS Supremo is also contesting from Kamareddy constituency for the first time and will face TPCC chief Revanth Reddy. 39 candidates are in the fray.

The ruling BRS is contesting from all the 119 assembly segments while the Congress has fielded candidates in 118 constituencies and has allocated one seat to CPI in the election as part of an understanding between the two parties.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), a friendly ally of BRS in Telangana, has put up candidates in nine Assembly segments.

The BJP is contesting from 111 constituencies, leaving eight seats to its NDA ally Janasena of actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan.

Election is taking place in a single phase in 119 assembly constituencies, and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Nitish Kumar

Patna/UNI: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain on Thursday said that days of Nitish Kumar government in Bihar were numbered.

Hussain, while reacting to the number of holidays in schools reduced recently in Bihar for the year 2024, told media persons that the number of days of Nitish Kumar government was also numbered.

Sensing its short life, the Nitish Kumar government had started taking decisions having no sense of wisdom and reasoning, he alleged.

The BJP leader said that Nitish Kumar government had no concern for education of students of Bihar. There were no infrastructural facilities for schools in Bihar which made it difficult for students to get quality education, he remarked.

Shahnawaz said that the huge number of vacancies of teachers in schools had made it almost impossible for students to get quality education.

There was a trace of imbalance in students and teachers in a large number of schools, as there was no or far less number of teachers in schools where there were a large number of students, he said.

Similarly, schools having sufficient number of teachers, had no matching number of students, in accordance with accepted ratio, he pointed out.
Image Credit: UNI

Hyderabad/UNI: An estimated 36.68% of the over 3.26 crore electorate have exercised their franchise in the Telangana Assembly election till 1 pm on Thursday.

Voters queued up in the polling booths across the state to exercise their franchise, amid tight security.

The voting, which commenced at 0700 hours, is scheduled to conclude at 5 PM in 106 constituencies while in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected constituencies it will end at 4 PM.

The 13 constituencies are Sirpur, Chennur, Bellampalli, Mancherial, Asifabad, Manthani, Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Pinapaka, Yellandu, Kothagudem, Aswaraopet, and Bhadrachalam.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy wrote to the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer of the state alleging ''electoral malpractices'' by BRS candidates and their workers.

Reports said Tension prevailed at Booth number 244 in Jangaon constituency, when the BRS-Congress-BJP clashed. Police had to resort to cane charge to disperse the cadres.

In Bodhan Town in Nizamabad district, BRS and Congress leaders clashed prompting police intervention. In Khanapur village in Ibrahmipatnam constituency, police lathicharged the clashing BRS and Congress workers. Some party workers were detained and whisked away.

The voting process was halted for almost 45 minutes at Booth No 253, R&B Building in Kamareddy Assembly constituency due to a malfunction of the EVM here at around 8 am.

However, the voting started 45 minutes after the EVM was changed, official sources said.

As many as 2,290 candidates are in the fray and testing their luck in the hustings.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Ministers, leaders from various political parties, and bureaucrats, along with their families, were among those who exercised their franchise.Notable film personalities, including megastar Chiranjeevi, also cast his vote in Hyderabad.

The BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats. As per the seat-sharing agreement, BJP and actor Pawan Kalyan-headed Jana Sena Party are contesting in 111 and eight seats respectively, while Congress has given one seat to its ally CPI, and is fighting from 118 others.

In 2018, the BRS won 88 of the 119 seats while the Congress came in a distant second with just 19 seats. The BJP won only one seat.

The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3, along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.
New Delhi/IBNS: As the voting for the assembly elections concluded in five states on Thursday evening, the exit polls have predicted an edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

While Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel seems like he will get to retain his job, his counterpart in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, might just lose this time, according to exit polls.

The biggest upsetting news this time could be for Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao whose Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has been in power since the inception of the state in 2014.

Three exit polls seem to be quite sure that the BRS will be replaced by the Congress in this election. A fourth is also giving Congress an edge.

Meanwhile, Mizoram might be heading for a hung house, as per the prepositions by two exit polls

Nine exit polls in Chhattisgarh predict a second term for the Congress, which has been banking on Bhupesh Baghel's report card for the last five years. The number of seats allotted to the party has been within the margin of the early 40s to mid-50s. The majority mark in the 90-seat state is 46.

According to the ABP News-C Voter, the Congress will bag 41-53 seats while the BJP will get 36-48 seats. Dainik Bhaskar gives 46-55 seats to Congress and 35-45 to BJP. India Today-Axis My India predicts 40-50 for Congress and 36-46 for BJP.

Neighbouring Madhya Pradesh doesn't seem promising for the Congress, which might not be able to unseat Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP's three-time Chief Minister came to power yet again in 2020 despite a defeat in 2018, with the crossing over of Congress's Jyotiraditya Scindia and his 20-plus loyalists.

The most definitive verdict is from News24-Today's Chanakya, which gives the BJP 151 of the state's 230 seats, and the Congress 74. Others predict a tight race.

Rajasthan, which has been changing the government every 5 years since the early '90s, is sticking to the custom, overturning Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's high hope of bucking the trend.

Seven of nine exit polls have predicted a comfortable victory for the BJP -- only two give Congress the benefit of the doubt.

Most exit polls expect the BJP numbers to stay above 100 in the 200-member house. Though the election had taken place on 199 seats following the death of a Congress candidate, the majority mark was 101.

According to the ABP News-C Voter, the BJP will bag 94-114 while the Congress might retain 71-91. Dainik Bhaskar gave 98-105 seats to the BJP and 85-95 to the Congress. In contrast, India Today-Axis My India predicted 80-100 seats for BJP while 86-106to the Congress.

In Mizoram, only two of five exit polls predict that the BJP and its ally, the Mizo National Front, might win while the chances of hung house run high, with a multi-cornered contest that included the rising regional party Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) which projected a young face for the state's top job.

Votes for all five states will be counted on Sunday.
Young people embrace traditional Chinese opera thanks to inheritance efforts

People's Daily Online) 15:45, November 30, 2023

Traditional Chinese operas, often seen as a pastime for older generations, are gaining popularity as the boundaries of this art form expand, opening up new possibilities.

Opera is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, requiring only an opportunity to awaken people's interest.

A recent Yue opera performance titled "New Dragon Gate Inn" has gone viral, with the captivating portrayal of Chen Lijun, a Yue opera actress who plays a male character, impressing many.

Chen's exceptional performance has brought attention and recognition to Yue opera, the second-largest opera genre in China with over 100 years of history.

Chen Lijun, a Yue opera actress, performs during "New Dragon Gate Inn". (Photo/CCTV News)

"Fan Zhongyu Beaten and Thrown into a Crate," a performance of Gui opera, a traditional opera originating in Guilin city in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has also captivated young audiences.

This show represents one of the most challenging skills in the opera world. It tests not only the physical agility, vocal skills, and acting abilities of actors and actresses but also their willpower and perseverance.

One of the most grounded traditional Chinese operas is Yu opera, an opera genre from central China's Henan Province.

In the summer of 2023, young actors and actresses from a Yu opera troupe in Anyang, Henan, staged performances for villagers in hot weather. Despite sweating and struggling to breathe, they persisted, completing their performances before taking a break.

The young performers remarked, "It's not just us who feel the heat. All the actors and actresses in the troupe, as well as the audience, endure the high temperatures while performing or watching the show. The value of opera art extends beyond monetary gain."

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Photo courtesy: UNI

New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will hold a meeting before the start of the winter session of Parliament with the floor leaders of political parties in both Houses on December 2.

The meeting will be held at the Parliament Library Building, New Delhi, at 11 am.

The winter session of Parliament will commence on December 4 and conclude on December 22. There will be a total of 15 sittings spread over 19 days.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government listed 18 bills, including two to extend provisions of the Women's Reservation Act to Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry and three to replace the criminal laws.

According to a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the government also plans to bring a bill that seeks to increase the strength of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly from 107 to 114 in a bid to provide representation to Kashmiri migrants, displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and Scheduled Tribes.

Besides the bills, the government has listed the first batch of supplementary demands for grants for the year 202324 for presentation, discussion, and voting during the session.

Currently, 37 bills are pending in Parliament, of which 12 are listed for consideration and passing and seven for introduction, consideration, and passing.
Photo courtesy: UNI

Srinagar/IBNS/UNI: An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

They said the encounter took place during a cordon and a search operation that was launched in Arihal village of Pulwama following an input about militant presence.

"Contact has been established with the terrorists. The gunfight is going on, he said.

Kashmir Zone Police, in a social media post, said, "The encounter started in Arihal village of District Pulwama. Police and security forces are on job. Further details shall follow."
Photo Courtesy: IDF X page

At least 10 Israeli hostages and four Thai nationals were released by Hamas members on the sixth day of the temporary truce.

Israel Defense Forces posted on X: " 10 Israeli and 4 Thai hostages have just been transferred by the @ICRC to Egypt, and are currently on their way to the Kerem Shalom Crossing, where they will be received by Israeli security officials."

10 Israeli and 4 Thai hostages have just been transferred by the @ICRC to Egypt, and are currently on their way to the Kerem Shalom Crossing, where they will be received by Israeli security officials.



The hostages families are being updated by IDF representatives.  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 29, 2023

"The hostages families are being updated by IDF representatives," the defence force said.

Meanwhile, Israel has reportedly released 30 more Palestinians as a part of the truce.

Amid hopes of a deal to extend the pause in fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday (November 29, 2023), the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported that humanitarian assistance had reached its shelters in northern Gaza for first time since war erupted last month.

As we drove through Gaza City it was like a ghost town; all the streets were deserted, said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza. The impact of heavy airstrikes and shelling was so visible. Roads are riddled with craters, complicating aid deliveries.

Truce deadline looms

Wednesday marks the sixth and final day of a truce between Hamas and Israel that was facilitated by Qatar. Humanitarians have urged the warring sides to support repeated international calls to extend the pause in fighting, which has facilitated the reported release of at least 85 hostages by Hamas, and of more than 180 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The pause has also enabled humanitarian actors, primarily the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Crescent Societies and UN agencies, to enhance desperately needed aid deliveries into and across Gaza, according to aid coordination office, OCHA.

The UN offices latest aid update noted that a Palestine Red Crescent Society convoy had reached the north on Tuesday carrying food, medical supplies, water, and non-food items, although the bulk of aid distribution has focused on the south, where most displaced Gazans now live.

In a statement, UNRWA said that on Monday a six-truck convoy had reached Jabalia, the largest and most built-up refugee camp in Gaza, located north of Gaza City.

UNRWA colleagues in Jabalia continue to serve their communities day in, day out, including one of the agencys sanitation services chiefs - despite the unspeakable grief of his wife and daughter being killed, said White.

Some 200 aid trucks have been able to cross into the enclave via Egypt every day since the pause in fighting came into force on Friday 24 November.
World AIDS Day 2023 Quotes and Slogans: On December 1 each year, people worldwide come together to observe World AIDS Day. This special day is dedicated to acknowledging the ongoing efforts to combat the serious health challenges posed by AIDS. It aims to spread awareness about Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), dispel misconceptions surrounding it, and break down the stigma associated with the condition.



Beyond just awareness, World AIDS Day is a time to show solidarity and support for individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the root cause of AIDS. It's a global initiative to foster understanding, compassion, and unity in the face of this health issue that affects many lives worldwide.

World AIDS Poster, Images, Cards, Pictures, and GIFs To Share On Whatsapp | Photo: Canva

World AIDS Day 2023 Theme

The theme for World AIDS Day 2023 is Let Communities Lead. It emphasises the importance of the role of communities in the HIV/AIDS response. Communities are at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing essential prevention, treatment, and support services. They are also working to challenge stigma and discrimination, and to promote human rights.

World AIDS Day is not just about spreading awareness; it's also a time to show support for individuals living with HIV, the virus that leads to AIDS. By acknowledging and supporting those affected, the hope is to foster a more compassionate and understanding global community. Together, on this special day, we aim to unite against the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS and strive for a healthier, stigma-free future.

UNAIDS estimates indicate that approximately 39 million individuals worldwide were living with HIV in 2022. In the same year, 1.3 million people newly contracted HIV, and AIDS-related illnesses claimed the lives of 630,000 individuals. These concerning figures emphasize the significance of World AIDS Day in raising awareness about the causes and available treatments for this sexually transmitted disease. It serves as a crucial platform to educate people and promote understanding.

World AIDS Poster, Images, Cards, Pictures, and GIFs To Share With Loved Ones | Photo: Canva

In the face of such alarming statistics, it becomes imperative to extend support to those grappling with this disease. Offering encouragement and standing by loved ones affected by AIDS can make a significant difference in their journey. Hence, we have compiled the best collection of inspiring quotes and meaningful slogans that can be shared with individuals facing the challenges of AIDS. These messages aim to inspire strength, and hope, and reinforce the importance of solidarity in battling this health crisis.



As we all celebrate World AIDS Day 2023, Today, here are some of the best collections of inspiring AIDS Day quotes, slogans, messages, Instagram captions, whatsapp and Facebook statuses to share with your friends and family to create more awareness about the global event.

Best World AIDS Day 2023 Quotes, Slogans, Messages, Status and more

Discover a powerful collection of inspiring quotes, heartfelt messages, impactful slogans, and compelling status updates to share on World AIDS Day 2023. Join the global movement to raise awareness, spread compassion, and encourage solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Let your words be a beacon of hope, fostering understanding and inspiring positive change on this significant day dedicated to unity and awareness.

Inspiring World AIDS Day quotes

AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals. Jerry Falwel

If I were to be Miss Universe, I will use my voice to influence the youth and I would raise awareness to certain causes like HIV awareness that is timely and relevant to my country which is the Philippines. Pia Wurtzbach

I enjoy being the messenger for God in terms of letting people know about HIV and AIDS. Magic Johnson

I felt like calling attention to AIDS. I had the AIDS ribbon colored into my hair during the playoffs in '95. Dennis Rodman

Everyone should be tested. Whenever they have a check-up, they should test for HIV, because if we can get to a point in our society where everyone is automatically tested, nobody will fall through the net. David Furnish

People with HIV are still stigmatized. The infection rates are going up. People are dying. The political response is appalling. The sadness of it, the waste. Elton John

An AIDS-free generation would mean that virtually no child is born with HIV; that, as those children grow up, their risk of becoming infected is far lower than it is today; and that those who become infected can access treatment to help prevent them from developing AIDS and from passing the virus on to others. Anthony Fauci

'Rent' is about a community celebrating life in the face of death and AIDS at the turn of the century. Jonathan Larson

AIDS was allowed to happen. It is a plague that need not have happened. It is a plague that could have been contained from the very beginning. Larry Kramer

I came of age during AIDS and the terror of that and the sadness and the death and the overwhelming despair. Ryan Murphy

"The fight against AIDS is a shared responsibility. We must stand together to prevent new infections and support those affected." - Unknown

"HIV is not just a health issue; it is a human rights issue. Let us strive for a world where everyone receives dignity and respect, regardless of their HIV status." - Unknown

"Compassion is the best medication for the wounds of those affected by AIDS. Let us be compassionate and understanding in our efforts to end the stigma." - Unknown

"AIDS is an epidemic that can be stopped, but only through collective action, awareness, and an unwavering commitment to end the spread of HIV." - Unknown

"Knowledge is power. On World AIDS Day, let's empower ourselves and others with accurate information to break down the barriers of fear and discrimination." - Unknown

"The fight against AIDS requires us to be united, determined, and unyielding. Let our collective strength pave the way for a healthier future for all." - Unknown

"We cannot achieve the end of AIDS without addressing the underlying inequalities that fuel its spread. Social justice is a crucial component of the battle." - Unknown

"AIDS is not just a statistic; it's a human tragedy. Each number represents a life, a story, and a potential future cut short. Let us remember the human faces behind the numbers." - Unknown

"Our work to combat AIDS is a testament to our common humanity. Let love and understanding be the guiding forces in our efforts to create an AIDS-free generation." - Unknown

"As we mark World AIDS Day, let us renew our commitment to the global solidarity needed to end the AIDS epidemic. It's not just a goal; it's a shared responsibility." - Unknown

"The only way to make a difference in the fight against AIDS is education." - Unknown

"HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands and give them a hug: Heaven knows they need it." - Unknown

"To make an AIDS-free world, we need to prioritize education, awareness, and compassion." - Unknown

"AIDS itself is subject to incredible stigma." - Unknown

"Let us not forget that the greatest measure of our success is not how much we accumulate but how much we give back." - Unknown

"AIDS is no longer a death sentence for those who can get the medicines. Now it's up to the politicians to create the 'comprehensive strategies' to better treat the disease." - Unknown

"The first step to stop the AIDS epidemic is to embrace it without judgment, and then we can effectively combat it." - Unknown

"Ignorance and prejudice are fueling the spread of a preventable disease. World AIDS Day is a reminder to challenge the stigma and discrimination that surrounds HIV and AIDS." - Unknown

"We all have a role to play in the fight against AIDS. By working together, we can create a future without HIV." - Unknown

"On World AIDS Day, we remember those we have lost to the virus, and we renew our commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic once and for all." - Unknown

Inspiring World AIDS Day Messages

On World AIDS Day 2023, let's unite in our commitment to eradicate stigma, spread awareness, and support those affected. Together, we can create a future free from the burden of HIV/AIDS.

This World AIDS Day, let's celebrate progress, honor resilience, and reaffirm our dedication to a world where health care is accessible to all, and no one faces discrimination based on their HIV status.

In the face of adversity, the global community stands strong. On World AIDS Day 2023, let's inspire hope, educate one another, and work tirelessly until we achieve an AIDS-free generation.

Every step we take to end AIDS is a step toward a healthier, more compassionate world. On this World AIDS Day, let's be catalysts for change and advocates for a future without the fear of HIV.

As we commemorate World AIDS Day 2023, let's amplify our efforts to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and promote understanding. Together, we can build a world of empathy and support.

On this World AIDS Day, let's champion the power of knowledge and awareness. By fostering education and empathy, we pave the way for a society that rejects discrimination and embraces inclusivity.

World AIDS Day is a reminder that our journey toward a cure continues. Let's inspire each other to persist in our efforts, support research, and stand united until HIV/AIDS is history.

In our collective pursuit of a world without AIDS, let's remember that every action counts. Whether it's spreading awareness, offering support, or advocating for changeeach effort brings us closer to our goal.

This World AIDS Day, let's recognize the strength of those living with HIV and honor the memory of those we've lost. Through compassion and understanding, we can create a future where no one faces the challenges of AIDS alone.

As we mark World AIDS Day 2023, let's celebrate the triumphs of science, acknowledge the strides in treatment and prevention, and renew our commitment to a world where health equity prevails over the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Inspiring World AIDS Day Whatsapp Status

This World AIDS Day, let's spread awareness, not stigma. Knowledge is power, and together we can end the ignorance surrounding HIV and AIDS. #WorldAIDSDay2023

On this day, let's remember those we've lost, support those living with HIV, and commit ourselves to a world free from the stigma of AIDS. #EndTheStigma #WorldAIDSDay

Empathy is the key to breaking down barriers. This World AIDS Day, let's show compassion, support, and love to those affected by HIV. Together, we can make a difference. #ShowYouCare

Educate, Empower, End. On World AIDS Day, let's stand together to raise awareness, eliminate discrimination, and work towards a future without AIDS. #StopTheSpread

Every action counts. Whether it's spreading awareness, getting tested, or supporting those affected, your contribution matters. Let's unite in the fight against AIDS. #TakeAction

HIV is not a sentence; it's a condition. Let's change the narrative, break the silence, and foster a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. #BreakTheSilence #WorldAIDSDay

This World AIDS Day, let's pledge to be a part of the solution. Get informed, get tested, and get involved. Together, we can make a difference. #KnowYourStatus

The fight against AIDS requires our collective effort. Let's join hands, raise our voices, and work towards a world where no one lives in fear of HIV. #UnityInAction

Knowledge dispels fear. On World AIDS Day, let's commit to spreading accurate information, breaking stereotypes, and building a more informed and compassionate world. #KnowledgeIsPower

A world without AIDS is a world full of hope. This World AIDS Day, let's inspire change, support one another, and strive for a future free from the impact of HIV. #HopeForTheFuture

On World AIDS Day 2023, let's stand together to raise awareness, erase stigma, and support those affected. Knowledge is power, and compassion is the key to ending the spread of HIV.  #WorldAIDSDay #EndTheStigma

Joining the global movement on World AIDS Day to spread love, awareness, and understanding. Together, we can create a world where everyone lives free from the fear of AIDS.  #SpreadLoveNotStigma #WorldAIDSDay2023

This World AIDS Day, let's celebrate resilience, honor those we've lost, and recommit to a future without HIV. Knowledge, compassion, and solidarity can make a world of difference.  #EndHIV #WorldAIDSDay

On World AIDS Day, let's remember that kindness is free, and it can change the world. Be kind, be aware, and let's work towards an AIDS-free generation.  #KindnessMatters #WorldAIDSDay2023

Educate, Empower, End. This World AIDS Day, let's pledge to spread awareness, erase misconceptions, and support those living with HIV. Together, we can make a difference.  #EducateEmpowerEnd #WorldAIDSDay

As we mark World AIDS Day, let's not only reflect on the progress made but also on the work that still lies ahead. Our collective efforts can shape a healthier, more compassionate world.  #ReflectActEnd #WorldAIDSDay2023

Sending love and support to all those affected by HIV on World AIDS Day. Let's break down barriers, challenge stigma, and work towards a world where no one has to face AIDS alone.  #SupportEachOther #EndStigma

On this World AIDS Day, let's be the voice for those who need it, the support for those who seek it, and the change for a future without AIDS. Together, we can make a lasting impact.  #VoiceSupportChange #WorldAIDSDay2023

Every step we take towards awareness, every act of kindness, brings us closer to an AIDS-free world. Let's make every day World AIDS Day by fostering understanding and compassion.  #AIDSAwareness #EveryDayMatters

Joining hands on World AIDS Day to advocate for a world where HIV is no longer a threat. Let's unite, educate, and support one another in the journey towards a healthier and more compassionate future.  #UnitedToEndAIDS #WorldAIDSDay2023

Inspiring World AIDS Day Instagram Caption

Uniting against AIDS: spreading awareness, breaking stigma, and fostering hope.  #WorldAIDSDay2023 #EndTheStigma

Let's paint the world red for love, awareness, and compassion. Together, we can end AIDS.  #AIDSAwareness #HopeInRed

On this World AIDS Day, let's light the path to a future free from HIV. Your awareness matters.  #LightTheWay #EndHIV

Wearing red to stand in solidarity and raise awareness for those affected by HIV. Join the fight!  #WearRed #StopAIDS

Educate, Advocate, Empower. Let's make a difference this World AIDS Day and every day.  #KnowYourStatus #AIDSFreeFuture

Spread love, not stigma. Together, we can create a world where no one lives in fear of AIDS.  #LoveNotStigma #WorldAIDSDay

Remembering the past, fighting for the present, and shaping a future without AIDS. Your voice matters.  #AIDSAwareness #EndTheEpidemic

Let's turn awareness into action this World AIDS Day. Stand up, speak out, and support the fight against HIV.  #ActionForAIDS #GlobalSolidarity

Every step towards awareness is a step closer to a world without AIDS. Join the movement!  #StepUpToEndAIDS #WorldAIDSDay2023

Today, we remember, we support, and we act. Together, we can make a positive impact in the fight against AIDS.  #RememberSupportAct #EndAIDS

Inspiring World AIDS Day Slogans

Stand Strong, Stand United: End AIDS Now!

Rise Above Stigma, Spread Awareness  World AIDS Day 2023

Together for an AIDS-Free Tomorrow: Educate, Advocate, Empower!

Break the Chain, Stop the Pain: World AIDS Day 2023

Lights On for Hope: Illuminate the Path to an HIV-Free World

Unite to Ignite Change: World AIDS Day 2023

Knowledge is Power: Get Tested, Get Involved, Get Ahead of AIDS!

From Awareness to Action: Stop HIV, End AIDS!

Red Ribbon, Strong Commitment: Pledge for a HIV-Free Generation

Compassion in Action: End the Silence, End the Stigma  World AIDS Day 2023

HIV/AIDS Day 2023: FAQS

How did World AIDS Day originate?

World AIDS Day was established in the late 1980s to raise awareness about the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.

What is the significance of the red ribbon?

The red ribbon symbolises solidarity with those affected by HIV/AIDS and plays a crucial role in awareness campaigns.

How has HIV/AIDS research progressed over the years?

Significant breakthroughs have been made in HIV/AIDS research, with advancements in treatment and prevention.

What role do personal stories play in HIV/AIDS awareness?

Personal stories inspire resilience, reduce stigma, and showcase the strength of individuals facing the challenges of HIV/AIDS.

How can individuals contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS?

Individuals can contribute by educating themselves and others, supporting awareness programs, and fostering understanding and compassion.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
#WTF2023 is a major throwback to 40 off-the-wall stories that defined India in 2023. Bizarre incidents, crazy jugaad and food you won't believe made it to a plate, it's all here.



The scenario took an unexpected turn at a temple in Andhra Pradesh when a man, aiming for grand gestures, donated a Rs 100 crore cheque in his name. However, it was later discovered that he had a mere sum of Rs 22 left in his bank account.

Who Was The Ambitious Devotee?

The authorities investigated the owner of the cheque and found out that it belonged to a devotee named Boddepalli Radhakrishna.

What Happened?

Wikimedia Commons

In a striking episode at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Andhra Pradesh, a devotee's offering turned heads. As reported by TOI, this faithful visitor, who had a meagre Rs 22 in his bank account, made an astonishing gesture by presenting an undated cheque boasting a donation of a whopping Rs 100 crore.

The temple authorities were taken aback on August 23 during their routine Hundi collection when they stumbled upon this eye-popping cheque. The astonishingly generous donation prompted the officials to swiftly contact the Kotak Bank branch at MVP Colony to authenticate this unexpected and immensely substantial contribution.

Where Did The Incident Take Place?

The bizarre incident took place in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam.

How Did The Incident Unfold At The Temple?

Unsplash

The Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) of Simhachalam Temple Ramana Murthy gave insight into the incident and revealed, We noticed that there was no date on the cheque and some corrections on it. We inquired and came to know that the devotee had an account at the Kotak Mahindra Bank branch in MVP Colony.

After which they found out, He had only 22 in his account. We do not know about the devotee's psychological state of mind or his concept. We don't know the devotee.

Why Did He Donate The Cheque?

The reasons behind the devotee's decision to leave such a substantial cheque in the temple's name remain ambiguous. Though it might appear as a playful act, the true intentions driving the man's actions remain undisclosed and shrouded in mystery.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will address the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai on Friday.
No fewer than twenty-five people have been reportedly killed and 15 others injured in an accident around the Oko Olowo area on the Bode Saadu Expressway in Moro LGA of Kwara State.

It was gathered that the horrible incident involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck, and an 18-seater bus.

However, the Spokesperson for the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, who confirmed the accident on Wednesday, said: Investigation revealed that the petrol tanker, traveling from Niger State, was using the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State.

READ MORE: Kwara Police Arrest One Over Murder Of Offa Poly Student

The collision ignited a fire that consumed both vehicles and also affected an 18-seater bus from Lagos. Firemen diligently worked to quench the inferno, but unfortunately, 25 lives were lost and around 15 people were rescued with injuries.

The incident which was also confirmed by the Kwara State Director, Fire Service, Mr. John Falade, said that: On November 28, 2023, around 15:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Peke village along Oko-Olowo Bode-Saadu Expressway in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.

The firemen diligently worked to quench the inferno, but unfortunately, 25 lives were lost, and around 15 people were rescued with injuries, he said.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State have arrested Ibrahim Mohammed, a 25-year-old indigene of Kano State, for stealing a car at a mosque in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Mohammed, who hails from Unguwan Gyadi-Gyadi in Kano State but resides in Gwarinpa, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, was arrested by operatives attached to the Tilden Fulani Police Divisional Headquarters after he stole the vehicle and fled with it.

The Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed these in a statement to newsmen on Wednesday.

According to Wakil, the owner of the vehicle, a Toyota Vibe, parked it to observe the sunset prayers in a mosque but Mohammed stole it and was intercepted by the police after they received a signal on the incident from Kaduna.

On November 28, 2023, at about 0841hrs, credible intelligence available at the divisions disposal that a motor vehicle Toyota Vibe brand, red in colour with number plate MRR 227 AA was reported to have been stolen from a mosque on November 24, 2023, in Zaria local government area of Kaduna state.

READ ALSO: One Killed In Fresh Kano Protest Over Appeal Court Judgement

The vehicle was stolen when the owner parked at the mosque to observe sunset prayer. Upon receiving the report, operatives attached to the division led by the Divisional Police Officer intensified stop-and-search on the highway linking Bauchi and Plateau states.

As luck ran out of the suspect, the vehicle alongside the suspect was intercepted along the highway. Thus, the suspect is identified as Ibrahim Mohammed (25), male, of Unguwan Gyadi-Gyadi Kano State but residing in Gwarinpa, FCT Abuja.

During the preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to have stolen the said vehicle at the mosque premises in Zaria Kaduna state. The vehicle was thoroughly searched and a document of the vehicle was equally recovered, the statement read.

According to him, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Auwal Mohammed, directed that the suspect be transferred to Kaduna state for further investigation and prosecution.
Transgender, Bobrisky, has been called out by an upcoming artist for failing to reply his message nor post his song on his social media page after receiving 200K.

The musician made this revelation on his @gafgold Twitter page, where he pleaded with Nigerians to implore Bobrisky to reimburse him.

From the chats he shared, he reached out to Bobrisky, asking for his price to run an advert with him.

Bobrisky required the sum of 1Miliion, but the upcoming artist pleaded with him, claiming he had only 200k to send.

He sent the money on the 18th of November, and since then, Bobrisky had been ignoring him despite promising to post it on the evening he made payment.

In his words;

Hi, my fellow Nigerians, please help me beg Bobrisky to refund me. Its not easy being an independent, upcoming artist. I dropped a new song, Sokinso, my first street lamba, and part of the influencer marketing plan involved Bobrisky. Payment was made to her personal account, with a promise of same-day delivery. But its been two weeks now, and since the payment was received, she stopped replying to my DMs. Ive been messaging her every day with no response This is a scam. You all should stop doing this to upcoming artists. Its not easy for us Bobrisky, kindly refund me before I take legal action Thank you.

Bobrisky ignored my message for two weeks after full payment

And the deal was that she will deliver same day of payment

Please Nigerians help me 

Below is the screenshot of our chat for proof Nigerians, come to my rescue.

After Bobrisky noticed the artiste posted the chats, he finally responded to him and warned him not to respond to him again since he had decided to go public.

READ MORE: Mohbads Father Reportedly Charges N10-15K For Each Interviews, Signs Contract Over Sons Death  Audio Leaks

See post below




The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has faulted the demolition of buildings by some State Governments.

Recently, Lagos and Kano States embarked on demolition of buildings whose developers allegedly contravened environmental laws and building plans.

In Lagos, the State Government and the Federal Housing Authority demolished some buildings in Lekki, Ikota, Ajao Estate, FESTAC, Abule Ado and other parts of the state.

The demolished buildings were said to have obstructed water drainage channels and contravened building plans.

Information Nigeria had reported that the Lagos government debunked allegations that the demolition exercise in the state is targeted at a particular ethnic group.

Addressing the situation, Obi, in a Thursday statement, said the demolition exercise is heaping more hardship on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional poverty.

READ ALSO: Demolition Not Targeted At Any Group  Lagos Govt

According to the former Anambra State Governor, now is not the time to embark on a demolition spree given the prevailing economic hardship across the country.

Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.

The poor in our midst who are putting their meagre resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further.

In some cases, the properties being demolished are the lifetime savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.

My appeal therefore is for the respective governments involved in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try to put a human face to their actions.

While we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of the government must show compassion, Obi stated.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church (LFC) Worldwide, has warned his son, Isaac, against berating other ministries.

As seen in a YouTube video titled Unveiling of the Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries, Oyedepo urged Isaac not to emulate younger-generation ministries that believe they know it all.

My son, His times are not in your hands; your times are in His hands. Dont be part of maligning or bringing down any ministry.

READ ALSO: I Have No Issues With My Dad, Winners Chapel  Isaac Oyedepo Insists

Some years ago, someone stood up to give a testimony and to malign TREM and Deeper Life and I corrected it immediately. Never get to a point where you say this thing is only happening with me, the Bishop said.

In October, it was reported that Isaac was pulling out of the LFC to set up his own ministry.

Isaac explained that there are no complications in his family, adding that he is still a member of the Church.

The new ministry is self-named The Isaac Oyedepo Evangelistic Ministries.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Kano State, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, on Wednesday, claimed that winning elections in Nigeria is beyond the casting of ballot papers.

Doguwa led this out during an interview on Channels TV, commented on the controversies surrounding the 2023 elections in Kano State.

He emphasized that in a democratic system like Nigerias, elections are governed by specific rules and regulations.

Adhering to these rules, according to Doguwa, it is crucial for ensuring the elections are free and fair.

READ MORE: One Killed In Fresh Kano Protest Over Appeal Court Judgement

He said: For me when you ask me about what is going on in Kano, is usual, Kano has always been progressive, proactive state in terms of politics and ideology.

So you must have to accept the fact that yes, what obtains in our own kind of politics and democracy and even beyond Nigeria is about following the rules of the game. Free and fair elections are not only about counting ballots alone more or less even when the votes were counted, yet there were some votes that were said to be illegal votes.
A former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, says the 2024 budget presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot be implemented.

This, he said is because it contains a deficit of N17 trillion.

According to him, any leader with intellectual content would have figured that the budget is not implementable.

Recall that Tinubu presented N27.5 trillion as a proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year to members of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

While addressing 25 fellows of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship in Abuja on Wednesday, Suswam explained that the budget is made so because people without required leadership skills are in power.

Information Nigeria understands that the Fellowship is an initiative of The Bridge which involves a comprehensive year-long, non-partisan program designed to identify and prepare future political leaders, fostering their readiness for leadership roles within the country.

Suswam who lamented that the quality of representation in Nigeria is becoming poorer, instead of higher posited that the countrys leadership needs some intellectual content. If you dont have it, there is nothing that you can do about it.

I was looking at the budget, out of the whole money in that budget, the deficit is N17 trillion. Because you have N9 trillion of deficit, N8 trillion of debt service, then you have N2.7 trillion of tax expenditure, that is a waiver.

READ ALSO: Designed To Fund Tinubu, APCs Luxury Appetite  PDP Faults Proposed N27.5trn Budget Of Renewed Hope As Hopeless

So the entire money, the N27 trillion budget is not implementable. Do you know why we have that? Because we have people in leadership with no intellectual content, the former Governor stated.

Former Governor of Cross River State, Lyel Imoke, who is the founder of The Bridges Leaders Fellowship called for a deliberate effort to mentor Nigerian youths to correct the imbalance in the polity.

On why he established the fellowship, Imoke said, I saw a genuine desire in the young people to participate in governance. But at the same time, they are not equipped to fully participate. So that was why we started The Bridge Leadership Foundation.

He assured that the foundation will continue to facilitate mentorship training for young Nigerians to venture into politics and make a difference in our democracy.

There is a need for the political class to come together and ask good questions. Where are we getting to? Are we getting it right? If we are not, what do we need to do?

Many are called a few are chosen, so consider yourself lucky. You have to work hard to get elected in Nigeria, he said.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has released a data collected by the agency which indicated the number of male victims of sexual and gender-based violence. The agency revealed the number of cases is on a high rise.

This was revealed by the agencys director general, Fatima Waziri-Aza, at a workshop held in Abuja on Wednesday with funding from the FORD Foundation.

She claimed that incidents of almost physical violence, fathers taking their kids out of the house, and men being ejected from shared housing have occurred.

Assured males who are victims that the law is on their side, Waziri disclosed that in 2023, 15 complaints about similar situations had been file

She noted, We have also started seeing new trends. In the past, we never used to get complaints from men. But now, we get complaints from men.

Even though we know that most of these SGBV issues affect women more, but for the fact that men are reporting and are speaking up. It shows us that attitudes that used to be seen as normal in the past, attitude that used to be tolerated, is no longer tolerated.

I know that for this year, we have received about 15 complaints from men. These complaints border on physical violence from their partner. It also bothers on women isolating fathers from their children and pushing their husbands out of their shared home

This was something that never happened before. In the past I think, men are taught to be strong and internalise issues, but it is gratifying to see that men are speaking up. So this shows that men and boys also go through these issues. The laws are also there to protect them.

In addition to discussing tactics and stepping up advocacy efforts towards preventing and addressing the issue, she claimed that the workshop had given stakeholders a chance to better understand one another and the various roles and responsibilities they each play in addressing SGBV (Sexual and Gender Based Violence) issues.

READ MORE: Enough Is Enough, Release Nnamdi Kanu Now  IPOB Tells FG

For us at NAPTIP, last year alone, we received about 2,400 cases of SGBV in the Federal Capital Territory, and with figures from January to October, we are closely pushing to the level that we saw last year.

But one thing I can say for sure, most times when I hear people talking about concerns talking about issues of SGBV. We keep talking about this culture of silence, but I can categorically state that the culture of silence is progressively decreasing, and I say that because we see it in the increase in reportage that we receive as an agency, she concluded.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has petitioned the European Union (EU), the British High Commission, the Canadian Embassy and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) among others over the Court of Appeals verdict that sacked Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.

According to the NNPP, there are indications that there are moves to truncate the will of the majority regarding the mandate given freely to Yusuf at the March 18 poll.

The Party disclosed this during a Wednesday peaceful protest walk to the British High Commission, the EU, the Canadian Embassy and the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja.

Presenting the petition at the EU Secretariat in Abuja, the Partys National Auditor, Ladipo Johnson, on behalf of the acting National Chairman, Abba Ali, said, A deliberate hijack of peoples mandate in Kano will no doubt have consequences politically, economically, and socially, especially in light of its humanitarian repercussions.

From the look of things, there are clandestine moves to truncate the will of the vast majority of the people of Kano State concerning the governor they freely and willingly elected on March 18, 2023, Abba Yusuf.

The Auditor recalled that during the 2019 general elections, Yusuf contested and won the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, which their group joined a few months before the elections.

READ ALSO: Democracy Coming To An End In Nigeria  NNPP Reacts As Appellate Court Sacks Kano Gov., Yusuf

He, however, said that the 2019 mandate to Governor Yusuf was allegedly snatched away by the powers that be under very controversial circumstances, and this day-light robbery was given a seal of authority by the judiciary.

While the NNPP has proceeded to the Supreme Court to seek redress, the party said that it is concerned with the peace and stability of Kano State in particular and Northern Nigeria, in general.

It, therefore, urged the Supreme Court to embrace substantial justice by restoring the mandate given to Yusuf.

We call on President Bola Tinubu, world leaders, former Nigerian Presidents/ Heads of States, heads of international organisations, and heads of local and international security agencies, and all promoters of democracy to counsel the Nigerian judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court, in respect of the Kano State Governorship seat.

As we head towards this next level of adjudication, which of course is the final, there is palpable tension in Kano. The citys atmosphere is enveloped in anger, with a sense of shock and agony pervading every discussion on the streets, offices, and homes, he added.

Head of Delegation Mission, Agnieszka Oliveira, receiving the petition at the EU Embassy, appreciated the Party for peacefully channeling their grievances, adding that the EU will follow up with the case.

We have deployed election observation mission during elections in Nigeria, last time as well, I was personally observing elections in Kano, and I saw the enthusiasm in Kano. We will follow the case and the development and will convey that to the Ambassador, Oliveira said.
Three personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, assigned to provide security during an ongoing examination at the Senior Secondary School, Life Camp, within the Jabi and Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory, shot two students.

It was gathered that the officers attached to the FCT Command of the NSCDC shot the two students around 11.20 am on Wednesday.

Following the shooting, some angry high school students vandalised three patrol vehicles belonging to the security agency in protest against the attack on their injured colleagues.

According to PUNCH, the Nigeria Police have arrested and detained the three NSCDC officers while the two students shot are currently receiving treatment at the Gwarinpa Hospital.

READ MORE: NSCDC Intercepts Stolen Crude In Imo, Sets Product On Fire

Confirming the incident, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said that peace had been restored in the affected area, and the Commissioner of Police, Haruna Garba, has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Adeh said: The incident happened, but our operatives intervened in time to restore law and order, and the environment is now peaceful. Two injured students are currently receiving treatment, and the CP, Haruna Garba, has ordered the commencement of an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the FCT NSCDC, Comfort Okomanyi, in her reaction to the incident, said that she was indisposed and will give an update on the issue after inquiry.

She said: Im sorry, Im currently indisposed. However, Ill reach out to the command for an update on the matter, and Ill get back to you.
An Abeokuta Magistrates Court in Ogun State, has sentenced Michael Oyewole, a 45-year-old herbalist to 12 months imprisonment for killing his neighbours cow.

Oyewole, who resides at Araromi Alakaloko Olomore area in Abeokuta, the States capital pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, theft, wilfully and unlawfully killing of the cow.

As disclosed by News Agency of Nigeria, Magistrate O.O. Odumosu held that the prosecution had proven his case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was guilty of the offence.

However, on Thursday, Odumosu sentenced the native doctor to 12 months imprisonment with an option of fine of N10,000 for the stealing and six months for willing and unlawfully killing the cow.

READ ALSO: 25 Killed, 15 Injured As Tanker, Truck Collide In Kwara

According to the Magistrate, the convict can only exercise the option of payment of fine, only if he pays N400,000 to the complainant, being the cost of the cow he killed.

She added that the sentence should run concurrently.

The Prosecution Counsel, Olakunle Shonibare, had earlier told the court that Oyewole committed the offence on June 3, at about 11pm at Alakoloko Unique Estate Olomore area in Abeokuta.

Shonibare said that the convict conspired with others at large and stole a cow valued N400,000 property of one Hakeem Ominrinde.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 516, 383 and 450 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.
Gunmen, on Wednesday, killed Taiwo Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance and Accounts to the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.

Information Nigeria understands that the accountant was waylaid and shot dead on the popular Kuto Bridge in Abeokuta, less than three kilometres from a bank where he had withdrawn a large sum of money for government use.

The unknown amount was also taken away by the gunmen.

According to sources, Oyekanmi was rushed to the state hospital, in Ijaye area of Abeokuta, where he breathed his last.

It was further gathered that the news of his demise has been broken to his family and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tokunbo Talabi, paid the family of the deceased his condolence.

Commissioner of Police for Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, on Wednesday, night also confirmed the killing of Oyekanmi.

Alamutu also reiterated that Oyekanmi was gunned down on the NNPC Bridge, near Kuto, Abeokuta while returning from the bank where he had taken a bullion van to withdraw some funds for the state.

The police commissioner said, This afternoon, the Director of Finance with a driver and one other person left for Fidelity Bank to make some withdrawal. They went with a homemade bullion van. They were supposed to have a police escort, but for certain reasons, the person (policeman) was permitted to travel to attend to some issues. So, he was not part of the movement today.

According to the story, after making the withdrawal, and on their way back to the office, they were accosted. A vehicle blocked them on top of the bridge, five occupants of the vehicle came down, shot at the director and from their vehicle, they brought out a sledgehammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money.

As of that time, there was no information because the police escort was not with the team; so, the robbers sped off.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Army Acted Like Boko Haram Terrorists When They Invaded Adamawa Police Headquarters  IGP

The driver claimed to have trailed them up to the Conference Hotel where he lost sight of them.

The director that was shot was thereafter taken to Ijaye hospital where he eventually gave up the ghost.

Alamutu said he had demanded the CCTV footage from the bank to aid police investigation.

For our investigation, I have directed the area commander to get to the bank and request the CCTV footage which will give us an insight into the vehicle in question and the possibility of identifying the culprits if they ever ventured to step out of the vehicle or maybe they just maintained their position in the vehicle.

I have reached out to Lagos and everywhere in the command to block all the exits out of the state while we are trying to identify them because they said they were five and they wore hoods.

Governor Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, described the incident as a rude shock to him, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director.

I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving news of the cold-blooded murder of Oyekanmi, in the hands of criminal elements and enemies of our state.

It is indeed a colossal loss for our administration to have lost such a dedicated, truthful, and diligent official. His assailants have murdered sleep and will be flushed out immediately from wherever they might be hiding.

I have directed all security agencies in the state to smoke the criminals out instantly and make them face the full wrath of the law.

I, therefore, want to assure the entire workforce and residents in the state that never will such calamity befall our dear state again.

I pray for the repose of his soul and for Gods protection over the family he left behind. Obviously, he is going to be sorely missed by his relatives, colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death, he said.
A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has narrated how N1.219 billion cash was airlifted to Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti State Governor, in 2014.

Recall that in October, Abubakar Madaki, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigating officer, told a Federal High Court in Lagos that Obanikoro, allegedly gave Fayose N1.219 billion for the 2014 governorship election.

The officer also informed the trial judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, that contrary to the statement made to the Commission by Fayose, that the money was a campaign donation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the EFCC discovered that the fund was from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and was budgeted for the purchase of security equipment.

However, on Wednesday, giving evidence as EFCCs witness, Obanikoro told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he received the money from Sambo Dasuki, a former NSA, as directed by Fayose.

His words: I was a minister under Jonathans administration in 2014. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. I was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities in the election.

Some days before the election, I got a call from Governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I can recall that prior to that, we had some activities among which was fundraising for the purpose of that election.

When Mr. Fayose called, I told him I would call him later. I had a phone conversation with the NSA and was told he would get back to me. After, he got back to me, that N2.2 billion was paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.

READ ALSO: Lagos Govt Seals Hotels, Church Over Noise Pollution (Photos)

According to the former Minister, he did not know the source of the funds, adding that only the NSA can explain the source of the fund.

I handed over the N1.219 million cash to Agbele for onward delivery to Fayose. I did not take any money or N19 million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos-based online platform, he said.

Asked about his relationship with Sylvan Mcnamara, Obanikoro stated that the account was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos.

The account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.

I put a call through to let Fayose know that the money had been paid.

Diamond Bank had said it did not have the capacity to make the funds available, so we opted to airlift the funds. The funds were airlifted from Lagos in two tranches, the volume was much.

Myself, my ADC and my security orderly were there, including a top aide of Fayose to meet Mr. Agbele, the bank manager. I instructed my orderly to escort Mr Agbele and ensure the safe delivery of the money.

We airlifted the funds from Lagos in two tranches because the aircraft could not accommodate the funds. We used two aircraft and I was in one of the aircraft, he narrated.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to February 27, 2024 for continuation of trial.

Fayose alongside his company, Spotless Investment Limited, is standing trial over an 11-count charge of criminal breach of trust, theft and stealing of public funds worth N6.9 billion.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is displaying creative holiday-themed safety signs on highways through the season. Read more

Santas watching. Put down the phone.

Dont be a grinch. Let them merge.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation is getting creative with its highway safety signs again  and this time, theyve got the Christmas spirit.

Holiday safety messages are rotating on all 224 signs NJDOT operates on interstate and state highways.

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These new holiday-themed messages fit with our continued approach to reduce crashes and promote safer driving habits, NJDOT press manager Stephen Schapiro, said via email. Its about making sure people read them, remember them, and drive safely.

The festive messages went up Nov. 25 and will be on display through the holidays. The NJDOT communications team came up with most of the messages and borrowed some from other state departments of transportation, Schapiro said.

NJDOT began displaying signs with attention-grabbing messages in October 2022, but in November of the same year, the messages disappeared when the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) instructed NJDOT to take down the signs, to the great dismay of many drivers. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.) came together in a rare moment of political unity to rally to get the signs back. Booker, Van Drew and 10 other congressional colleagues signed a letter to the FHWA asking them to provide a reason for putting an end to the signs in New Jersey.

The letter read, Given the positive reception around these recent safety efforts in New Jersey, we are very concerned to have learned of FHWAs decision to block the use of these signs earlier this week without providing NJDOT with a comprehensive, data-driven justification for the decision.

Asked why the signs have returned this year after the FHWAs instruction last year, Schapiro said the department is trying to follow the same guidance other states are following, and being mindful of the kinds of messages they put up  keeping them safety centered.

Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJDOT commissioner, told The Inquirer last year that the inspiration to bring the signs to New Jersey highways came from seeing Delawares approach, which started in 2017. Creative highway messages have also been used in Pennsylvania as well as other states including Utah, California, and Tennessee.

The number of vehicle crash fatalities is down this year in New Jersey, as of Wednesday, compared to 2022. There have been 546 fatalities this year, 93 less to date compared to last year, according to the New Jersey State Police.

N.J. has really been very fortunate in the last several months to see our safety record improve, Schapiro said.

Drivers be warned, one of the festive signs reads: Reckless drivers are worse than fruitcake.
Andrew Wiley exchanged gunfire with an Upper Merion Police officer in the parking lot of a steakhouse at the King of Prussia Mall in December 2022. Read more

It took a Montgomery County jury a little over an hour Wednesday to convict a Southwest Philadelphia man of attempted murder for shooting at an Upper Merion police officer last year during an attempt to elude police at the King of Prussia Mall.

Andrew Wiley, 28, was also convicted of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, reckless endangerment, and gun offenses. The verdict came after a two-day trial before Montgomery County Court Judge William Carpenter.

Wileys attorney, Benjamin Cooper, said during the trial that his client had been suffering from mental health issues and shot at the officers in an apparent suicide attempt. He called Wiley a pretty troubled young man who he said did not intend to hurt anyone.

It wasnt any type of self-defense situation. It was a panic situation and a desire to get out of it, Cooper told reporters after the verdict. And the desire to get out of it was to either scare people or to get shot.

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 READ MORE: An Upper Merion police officer was justified in shooting a gunman outside King of Prussia Mall, DA says

But Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, who prosecuted the case with Assistant District Attorney Tanner Beck, said Wileys claims did not comport with the evidence in the case.

This was an individual that came up here, who brought a gun. He tried to flee from police. He was not successful in fleeing, Steele said Wednesday. And he started shooting at police in an effort to get away, and he was caught.

The incident began when Wiley tried to flee a hit-and-run crash he caused in one of the malls parking garages, prosecutors said. He was thwarted by bumper-to-bumper holiday shopping traffic, and an officer in a marked patrol car was able to catch up to him.

Wiley drove over an embankment in an attempt to escape, dropping four feet and totaling his car in the parking lot of a Seasons 52 steakhouse. There, Wiley got out of the car, holding an unregistered ghost gun he later said he bought on the streets of Philadelphia for $600.

 READ MORE: A King of Prussia man was arrested after he stabbed his estranged wife with a metal pick as part of a murderous plot, police say

He fired the gun at Upper Merion Cpl. Scott Samuels, who returned fire and struck Wiley in his right ankle and leg. Samuels was not injured, and the shooting was later ruled justified by Steele.

In an interview with police afterward, Wiley said he was depressed and fled the scene because he didnt have car insurance. After the verdict was read Wednesday, Wiley told reporters he felt deeply sorry for everyone that was involved in this.

Wiley will be sentenced in the coming weeks. His conviction of aggravated assault on a police officer comes with a mandatory 20-year minimum sentence under state law.

We owe a debt of gratitude to our police officers in Montgomery County, Steele said. And anybody that shoots at them should understand from this verdict that they are going to face decades in jail.
Denali, a Coonhound, was adopted by David Saxton's daughter in August, police said. Saxton said he killed the dog after it lunged at him. Read more

A Brookhaven man who strangled his daughters recently adopted dog in October will face a county judge on charges of aggravated animal cruelty.

David Saxton, 62, admitted to investigators that he killed Denali, a 60-pound coonhound, after the dog lunged at and tried to bite him in his living room. At a preliminary hearing Wednesday packed wall to wall with protesters holdings pictures of Denali, Saxtons lawyer, Christine Cregar, said that the dog had a history of aggressive behavior with his previous owners.

He had also bitten Saxtons daughter, Erica, leading the family to seek surrendering the dog back to the Providence Animal Center in Media, according to Cregar.

Magisterial District Judge Georgia Stone thought that prosecutors, led by Assistant District Attorney Sean McNabb, had proven the charges were appropriate, and sent the case to the Court of Common Pleas.

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Humane Society Officer Jason Bell testified that Erica Saxton adopted Denali on Aug. 26 from the shelter. Part of the adoption process included Saxton being notified of Denalis behavioral history, and her signing a liability waiver saying the dog may need professional training, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in David Saxtons arrest.

 READ MORE: Man and woman are arrested after more than 30 dead dogs are found inside a Burlington County home

On Oct. 4, Erica Saxton submitted a formal request to surrender Denali, telling the shelter that the dog had bitten her, Bell said. The shelter initially agreed to take the dog back on Oct. 20, but moved that date up to Oct. 10. That change was made, Cregar said, after Erica Saxtons mother, who was recovering from breast cancer, told workers there that she was afraid to be left alone with the dog.

The day before, Bell performed a welfare check at the Saxton familys home after shelter workers learned that the Saxtons had made appointments at two veterinarian offices to euthanize Denali, both of which were later canceled, he testified Wednesday. Bell was unable to speak with anyone at the home at that time.

On the day Denali was scheduled to be returned, the shelter received a text saying staff there should not be expecting Denali to be returned, according to the affidavit.

Bell said he tried twice more to speak to the Saxtons at their home, but was unsuccessful. On Oct. 15, Bell was notified by Brookhaven police that David Saxton had turned himself in for killing Denali.

 READ MORE: The Brandywine Valley SPCA is offering $10,000 for info after a dead, abused dog was found in Coatesville

In an interview a few days later, Saxton admitted to Bell that he had killed the dog, saying he was not proud of what he did, but couldnt remember when it occurred, according to Bell. Saxton said he had come home from work and was sitting on his living room couch taking off his work boots when Denali started barking and lunging at him.

Saxton repeatedly pushed the dog away, but Denali returned to nip at his ear. Saxton told Bell he snapped, and grabbed the dogs leash, according to Bell. He strangled the dog, and then beat it in the head with a metal candleholder when he saw it was still breathing. Saxton also said he slit the dogs throat with a kitchen knife.

After killing Denali, Saxton wrapped the dog in a trash bag and buried it in his backyard. Bell later recovered the dogs corpse from that makeshift grave.

 READ MORE: The Bucks County man who shot and lit his dog on fire was sentenced to state prison

Cregar, Saxtons lawyer, noted that Saxton had been cooperative with investigators from the outset, something Bell agreed with. She also presented evidence that Denali had been adopted in January by a different owner, but was surrendered about a month later after the dog bit that persons daughter, leaving puncture marks on the girls arm.

Cregar also said that her client was not involved with his daughters decision to adopt Denali. Erica Saxton lived in an apartment when she brought Denali home, but later moved back in with her parents because her landlord would not allow a dog his size to live in the unit, Cregar said.

Jo-Ann Zoll, the executive director of Providence Animal Center, said in a statement Thursday that she and her staff are heartbroken and outraged by Denalis murder, calling him a beloved dog that was a staff and volunteer favorite.

Saxton remains free after posting $20,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in county court on Jan. 10.
Philadelphia police investigate along the Schuylkill River in August 2014, after the bodies of brothers Viet and Vu Huynh were found stabbed and sunk with buckets of cement. A third man, Tan Voong, survived what he said was an abduction. Read more

A New York City man convicted of helping Vietnamese gang members brutally murder two Philadelphia brothers  a killing that ended with the victims stabbed, weighted down with cement, and dumped into the Schuylkill River near Boathouse Row  was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.

U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter told Jason Rivera during his sentencing hearing that the 2014 crime was so notorious, it has changed some peoples perception of the river from a main artery for the region to a body of water that was used as a grave.

Itll never be the same for anybody that knows what happened in this case, she said.

Still, Rivera said he maintained his innocence, and his relatives told Pratter they didnt believe the jury got the verdict right when they convicted him of charges including conspiracy, kidnapping and extortion.

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What was my role? Rivera asked Pratter at one point. It doesnt make any sense to me what theyre saying I did.

His stepfather, Manuel Martinez, added: He is not what they are accusing him of here. He is not that, and he does not deserve what is happening to him right now.

Rivera was one of six men charged in connection with the abduction and slaying of Viet and Vu Kevin Huynh in August 2014. The Huyhns and a third man, Tan Voong, were targeted by the group  some of them members of a Vietnamese gang known as Born to Kill  over a drug debt of more than $300,000, prosecutors wrote in court documents.

The group held and tortured the Huynhs for hours in a Southwest Philadelphia home before driving them to the river along Kelly Driver, stabbing them dozens of times, blindfolding them with duct tape, putting buckets of roofing cement on their legs, then tossing them in.

Voong somehow managed to escape after being dumped in the water, and climbed out and flagged down a passing motorist for help. He later provided information that helped lead to his captors arrests.

Rivera was not charged with stabbing or drowning any of the victims, but prosecutors said he was nonetheless an integral part of the overall plot, serving as muscle for the man who wanted to recoup the debt, Lam Trieu.

Lam Trieu asked him to jump, and Jason Rivera said how high? Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Livermore said at Riveras trial last fall. That relationship is almost master-servant relationship.

Voong did not testify at Riveras sentencing hearing, but took the stand at his trial, recounting the harrowing moments of his captivity for jurors  including the moment he knew his captors intended for him to die.

My feet touched the sand. Thats when I knew exactly what was going to happen, he testified. I knelt down, and they constantly stabbed me [then] they throw me down to the river.

One of Riveras accused coconspirators remains a fugitive, but the other four have each been sentenced to prison terms, Livermore said.

Only one of them  Tam Minh Le, who prosecutors said stabbed the first two victims before throwing their bodies in the river  received as long a sentence as Rivera. He is on death row in a state prison after being convicted in 2016.

Riveras attorney, Thomas Mirigliano, called Riveras lengthy sentence an injustice. But Pratter noted she had no choice, since life behind bars was the mandatory minimum after a jury convicted him.
A 34-year-old man who was serving a jail sentence for drug and theft charges escaped from the grounds of Philadelphias Industrial Correctional Center on Thursday afternoon, according to city officials  becoming the fourth person to break out of a city jail this year.

Gino Hagenkotter, an inmate at the nearby Riverside Correctional Facility in the Northeast, was performing supervised work in the orchard behind PICC when, shortly before 11:45 a.m., he asked his assigned guard for permission to use the restroom, said Blanche Carney, commissioner of Philadelphias Department of Prisons.

About 15 minutes later, the guard, suspicious of how long the inmate had been gone, went to check the restroom and found that Hagenkotter was not there, Carney said. The guard immediately notified prison officials, she said, and PICC, as well as nearby facilities, were placed on lockdown.

But by that point, Hagenkotter had already climbed over the jails fence. He then walked through the yard of the nearby sanitation facility, ditched his jumpsuit, and headed down the street toward Torresdale Avenue wearing a white shirt and blue pants, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

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Vanore said Hagenkotter had no history of violence, but asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the police. Various law enforcement agencies, using helicopters and dogs, were searching for him as night fell Thursday.

Court records show Hagenkotter has a lengthy criminal history of mostly drug and theft offenses in both Philadelphia and Bucks County.

He was convicted of burglary in 2019 after stealing a bike, and was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail, plus two years probation, according to court records. Then, in June, after violating his probation, he was sentenced again to six months to a year in prison. Two weeks ago, he was granted parole and ordered to be transferred to Eagleville, an addiction treatment center in Montgomery County.

He was set to be released to that facility on Thursday, Carney said, but officials found that he had an open retail theft case in Bucks County. So his transfer was canceled, and he was to continue serving time at the Riverside facility until April, Carney said.

Carney said officials believe the cancellation of his transfer played a part in his decision to escape.

Hagenkotter is the fourth person to escape from a Philadelphia jail this year. And his escape came on the same day that a 44-year-old man inside the citys Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility was fatally assaulted by his cellmate.

Yet Carney said the escape and the fatal beating did not point to a bigger issue inside the citys jails. Although staffing levels remain a challenge for the department, she said, that was not a factor in Hagenkotters escape: He was being monitored one-on-one.

We have correctional officers in place, monitoring individuals, being vigilant, being observant, allowing them to use facilities, and this person took ample opportunity, she said.

Still, its the latest stain on the city agency this year. In May, Ameen Hurst, 18, and Nasir Grant, 24, broke out of PICC  an unprecedented episode caused by a series of institutional failures. First, they manipulated their cell doors open, casually walked down the hallway, then crawled toward a door as another prisoner, also out of his cell, acted as a lookout.

They then crawled through a hole in a chain-link fence that had been cut seven weeks earlier. Their disappearance was not noticed by correctional officers for nearly 19 hours, partially because one guard fell asleep on her shift.

Hurst, who was accused of killing four people, and Grant, who was in custody for drug and gun offenses, were both caught within about a week. Four people have since been charged with helping Hurst and Grant

once they got out.

Then, in September, a 30-year-old woman briefly escaped from PICC by slipping out an unsecured door. The woman, Angie Molinuevo, then climbed two razor-wire-lined fences, before landing on rocks along the Delaware River banks, where prison staff captured her.

In Hagenkotters case, because he had no violent offenses, he was qualified to work outside with some more freedom, said Vanore. He said Hagenkotter evaded the Police Departments search perimeter before it was even set up.

Hagenkotters burglary arrest stemmed from a bike theft at an apartment building in Fairmount in 2018, according to court records and the man whose bike he stole. The man, now 30, asked not to be identified to discuss details of the case. He said in an interview that Hagenkotter had been working as a contractor for the buildings landlord and copied the keys to its units.

The man said that he stored his expensive road bike in the basement, and that Hagenkotter went in and stole it.

A few days later, the man said, Hagenkotter returned to the building and the man and his roommates confronted him. He then called the police, and officers took his statement and arrested Hagenkotter on burglary and trespassing charges. The detective later found the bike listed for sale at a South Street pawnshop, the man said, and the shops owner gave it back to him and apologized.

A relative of Hagenkotters declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday afternoon.
Inauguration Ceremony for University of Pennsylvania, President Liz Magill held in Irvine Auditorium, 34th and Spruce on Friday morning October 21, 2022. The procession to Irvine Auditorium started at College Hall. Read more

University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill on Thursday released a strategic plan for the Ivy League institution still reeling under criticism over its handling of antisemitism complaints and lack of support for Palestinian, Muslim and Arab students and faculty.

But Magill, who is in her second year as president, said its exactly the right time to roll out a plan, focusing on Penns role as both a good neighbor and global citizen and calling for its leadership on the great challenges of our time, including climate change, health challenges made more visible and urgent by the pandemic, data-driven research, and democracy and trust.

Articulating our ambitions for the future is especially crucial now, when urgent global challenges are provoking anguish, fear, and testing our community, Magill said in a message to the campus.

 READ MORE: Penn students who screened film on Israel face possible discipline

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Just as we are launching urgent university-wide efforts to combat antisemitism and interconnected forms of hate, including Islamophobia, and identifying ways to strengthen our bonds with one another, this strategic framework emphasizes strengthening community, deepening connections, cultivating service-minded leadership, and collaborating across divisions and divides.

The university said Magill  who has been called along with presidents from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to appear before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Tuesday to discuss their schools handling of antisemitism - was not available for an interview on the plan.

Called In Principle and Practice: Penns Focus on Tomorrow, the strategic framework is the result of a yearlong planning process led by provost John L. Jackson Jr., involving a committee of students, professors and administrators.

 READ MORE: University of Virginia provost will replace Amy Gutmann as Penns next president

It succeeds the prior strategic plan, Penn Compact, set by former president Amy Gutmann, initially unveiled at her inauguration in 2004.

The new plan, which also calls for more interdisciplinary work, will become the guiding document for Penns initiatives under Magill. It also emphasizes the strength of diversity.

The more ideas and people from all backgrounds we bring to the table  and the more interconnected and less siloed our community  the more rigorous, more resourceful, and more effective Penn is, the plan said.

It also emphasizes the importance of Penns stature as an inventor  two of its scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine in October for their research that paved the way for COVID-19 vaccines  and an engaged institution that seeks dialogue and collaboration across differences and divides.

The university, the plan said, must do more to combat climate change, which for years has been a refrain from student groups who have called on Penn to further divest from fossil fuel industries. Penn has taken steps to address concerns, including setting a goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from its endowment investments to zero by 2050.

The plan also emphasizes Penns role in driving conversations about and promoting democratic values and institutions as well as the truth-seeking approach foundational to all universities.

This feels more challenging than ever right now. And even more necessary.

The backdrop of the plan

The past semester has been challenging for the former University of Virginia provost, who has faced backlash from some donors unhappy with the holding of the Palestine Writes literature festival on campus in late September featuring some speakers with a history of making antisemitic remarks and the schools response to Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

 READ MORE: Penns donor backlash raises questions about how much influence philanthropists should have

The U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights earlier this month launched a probe into Penns handling of antisemitism following a complaint lodged by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. The department simultaneously began investigations at several other colleges. Penn has experienced several antisemitic acts this semester, including the drawing of a swastika inside Meyerson Hall and vandalism at Penn Hillel.

 READ MORE: Under pressure from Jewish community, Penn president unveils plan to combat antisemitism

Earlier this semester, Magill rolled out a plan to combat antisemitism on campus and also a presidential commission to deal with the interconnectedness of antisemitism and other forms of hate, including Islamophobia.

Meanwhile, a petition signed by more than 500 academics and writers from inside and outside the United States has called on Penn to defend its students, faculty, and staff against targeted harassment for speaking in support of Palestinians.

Most recently, the university ordered a progressive Jewish student group not to screen a film critical of Israel on campus this semester, and when it did anyway, on Tuesday evening, the school said it would refer the students to its Office of Community Standards and Accountability. That action could result in sanctions.
A Philadelphia school boiler is shown in this July file photo. Amid the coldest snap of the fall so far, some Philadelphia school boilers have had heating challenges. At Fitler Elementary in Germantown, one boiler was down for a time, leaving students and staff working in coats. Read more

With one of Fitler Elementarys boilers down and parts of the building freezing for the third straight day, some students worked in coats, scarves and hats Wednesday.

Kids are complaining, our noses and hands are freezing, said one Fitler staffer at the Germantown school. The heater is making noise, but its ice cold. The hallways are cold. The cafeteria is cold.

Fitler, on West Seymour Street, was constructed in the 19th century; the 125-year-old building, by the districts own internal metric, is in the should be considered for closing/replacement category. Systemwide, the districts facilities needs were estimated at $5 billion in 2017; that number has only grown.

School district officials said that one Fitler boiler had been operational and the other was repaired as of Wednesday afternoon, with the district staff monitoring the situation. The lowest temperature recorded by facilities workers collecting readings was 68 degrees, spokesperson Christina Clark said.

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Our operations team is ready if there are any challenges that pop up, but as of right now, it appears that all schools are adequately heated, Clark said in a statement.

Even as the school day ended, it was still cold enough to be wearing coats, said the Fitler staffer, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal.

The district begins its winter weather prep months in advance of temperatures dipping, said Oz Hill, the districts chief operating officer, and all boilers are checked and ready to heat by Nov. 15. But there are only so many workarounds for 100-year-old buildings and systems and a trades workforce that has significant staffing challenges.

The historic underfunding presents these challenges to us in the wintertime, just as we have the inadequate cooling of our schools in the summertime, said Hill. Still, he said, the district has emphasized scheduled maintenance and established an emergency response team that deploys in situations like Fitlers.

In Fitlers case, Hill said, the district sent not just its own workers, but contract tradespeople to troubleshoot the faulty boiler.

We began working on this within a half hour of notification, Hill said.

In a letter to the Fitler community, principal Anthious Boone said the situation developed Wednesday, when a central house fan responsible for heating classrooms failed for about 40 minutes, as did one of the two school boilers.

Both were repaired, by the boiler going online around 1 p.m. The other boiler remained online throughout the day without interruption, Boone wrote.

Jerry Jordan, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president, said the state of Philadelphia school buildings means that calls reporting heating and other building issues begin piling up when cold weather hits.

Unfortunately, its something that we deal with every winter, said Jordan. Its because of the old infrastructure  our systems havent been maintained in many cases, and as a result, you sometimes ... just dont have the heat that you need in order to operate the building efficiently. Its another cost were paying for the underfunding of our school system.

In addition to reports of inadequate heat at Fitler, Jordan said, the PFT has also received word of problems at Shawmont, in Roxborough, where some classrooms were without heat. Lea, in West Philadelphia, had a heating issue that had been resolved, Jordan said, and there were reported issues at Vare-Washington and ongoing concerns about Taggart and Penrose, all three in South Philadelphia.

Its very, very hard, Jordan said of coping with heating issues in schools. I taught in buildings where I had to put on my coat and gloves in order to teach a class, and when that happens, youre not able to perform as you normally would. Kids are distracted, and understandably so.
Philadelphia teachers report feeling passionate about what they do, but more than half are frustrated with their current salary and workload, and many have considered leaving teaching in the city. Read more

Most Philadelphia teachers feel good about their school and their students, but believe that the system is on the wrong track. They generally feel respected but struggle with a mismatch between workload and salary.

Those are among the findings of a survey of teachers from the city school system and Philadelphia charter schools, commissioned by a group designed to bolster teacher effectiveness and diversity amid a national and local teacher shortage.

The survey was released Thursday by Elevate 215, a nonprofit that has raised and distributed more than $100 million to Philadelphia public, private, and charter schools over the last decade. Elevate 215 was directed by the Mayors Office of Education to develop a talent plan for Philly teachers and has convened the Philadelphia Citywide Talent Coalition, which counts among its members the Philadelphia School District, charter networks, nonprofits and others.

Here is a rundown of the surveys findings:

On career satisfaction and facilities

The majority of the 734 teachers surveyed  65%  believe that the school where they teach is on the right track, but 69% of the group said Philadelphia schools in general are headed in the wrong direction.

Asked whether they believe that Philadelphia provides a chance for a rewarding teaching career, participants were split. Overall, 40% agreed and 43% disagreed. Generally, younger teachers and those with less experience felt more favorably about their chances for a rewarding career in city schools.

And while most teachers (89% of those surveyed) said they were satisfied with their relationships with other teachers and their school administration (72% of those surveyed), they expressed frustration with salary, workload, and access to adequate facilities and resources. Just more than half of respondents said they were unsatisfied with their salary, 56% were unsatisfied with their workload, and 59% were unsatisfied with facilities and resources.

Charter and Philadelphia School District teachers views differed sharply on the facilities and resources question, though. Just 33% of district teachers said they were satisfied, while 71% of charter school teachers said they were.

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Despite frustrations, a majority of the teachers surveyed said they felt respected by their peers, parents and school administration.

Eight in 10 Philadelphia teachers said they have considered leaving, but 55% have not yet taken action to pursue other opportunities. Twenty-one percent said they have taken steps to leave teaching in Philadelphia, and 6% said they already are planning on leaving. About half of those who have considered leaving said they plan on staying in teaching, but outside Philadelphia.

On their biggest challenges

Asked to state their most significant challenges, teachers talked about issues from excessive paperwork and planning to their own finances.

There is too much expected of me in regards to planning, grading and paperwork with not enough support. I do not feel like I can help the students achieve as much as I need to with the class time, resources and large classes that I have, one teacher wrote.

Not enough time to plan, grade, and complete other required tasks during the school day, another said.

Making ends meet financially and meeting students needs, another teacher cited as their primary challenges.

Philadelphia teachers said they were undervalued and underpaid, and need more recognition for what they endure every day to teach in an inequitable school system.

Respect us, one teacher wrote. We dont need to be micromanaged. We are professionals. You dont see doctors being observed, doing professional development plans ... buying their own supplies.

But they found bright spots, too.

My students are awesome, one teacher wrote. I enjoy teaching them. It is the only thing that has kept me here.

On teacher diversity

Challenges of recruiting and retaining Black and brown teachers, both in Pennsylvania and nationally, are well documented. While Philadelphia generally has a much higher rate of teachers of color than many other districts in the commonwealth, its still a white-dominated field. The survey respondents were no different, though theres more diversity among younger teachers.

Among teachers with five or fewer years of experience, 49% of respondents were white and 29% Black; among teachers with 11 or more years of experience, 69% were white and 22% Black.

Teachers of color are more likely to have heavy student loan burdens, too  nearly half of Black respondents and 37% of all teachers of color said they had more than $50,000 of student loan debt. Teachers of color were also more likely to live in Philadelphia, be working on an emergency teaching permit, or be noncertified. (District teachers must be fully certified or have emergency certification, but charter teachers do not have that requirement.)

And although the majority of teachers surveyed said they were not likely to recommend teaching in Philadelphia to someone they knew, less-experienced teachers and teachers of color were more likely to recommend it.

On retention incentives

Although teachers said that higher pay would be the highest motivation to continue teaching in Philadelphia, followed by retention bonuses, student loan forgiveness and financial help with the state certification process would be a big draw for less-experienced teachers and teachers of color.

All groups said they would also be motivated by a reduction in administrative tasks and more prep time.

Scott Gaiber, Elevate 215s deputy chief of investments, said the data will help the coalition think about policies, practices, and incentives.

We want to ensure that when we think about improving the quality of our schools, that teachers are looked at as a vital component of that, said Gaiber.

Jerry Jordan, the Philadelphia teachers union president, said the survey yields actionable data that can help lift up the profession. Philadelphia teachers simply want to feel valued for the amazing work they do in service to their students, usually under difficult circumstances, including being supported and compensated in ways that reinforce that appreciation at all levels of their careers.
Penn senior Jack Starobin protests the university's unwillingness to allow his group to screen a film critical of Israel on campus this semester. Read more

University of Pennsylvania student organizers who screened a film critical of Israel on campus against the universitys direction face potential disciplinary consequences.

The screening of Israelism by Penn Chavurah, a progressive Jewish student group, occurred Tuesday without incident with about 60 students and faculty members in attendance. Penns Middle East Center was able to reserve a room for students without disclosing what film would be shown.

The documentary, which debuted at a film festival in February, depicts the stories of two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel until they travel to Israel and the West Bank and witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, according to the films website. It has won awards, but also has drawn controversy for its portrayal of Israel.

 READ MORE: Penn students protest the schools denial to show a film critical of Israel, with plans to screen anyway

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The Middle East Centers director, Harun Kucuk, resigned Tuesday, before the film was shown. Im all out of comments, he said, declining to elaborate. I would not have resigned otherwise.

The American Association of University Professors Penn chapter put out an urgent message, saying he resigned in response to pressure from administrators who allegedly directed the center to cancel the screening.

His resignation underlines the gravity of the crisis, and the responsibility the President and Provost have for creating and exacerbating it, AAUP wrote.

Penn said in a statement that its first responsibility remains the safety and security of our campus community, which is why it sought to postpone the screening of the film until February.

The university has been embroiled in controversy since the Palestine Writes literature festival was held on campus in late September, drawing criticism for allowing some speakers who have a history of making antisemitic comments. Tensions escalated after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Penn, like other colleges across the country, has heard from Jewish students who have said they felt threatened by antisemitism; this semester, Penn has experienced several antisemitic incidents, including the drawing of a swastika inside Meyerson Hall and vandalism at Penn Hillel. Powerful donors have withdrawn financial support, criticizing the universitys handling of the festival and its response to antisemitism, and called for Penn president Liz Magills and board chair Scott L. Boks resignations.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights opened an investigation into Penns handling of antisemitism following a complaint lodged by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

Meanwhile, a petition signed by more than 500 academics and writers from inside and outside the United States has called on Penn to defend its students, faculty, and staff against targeted harassment for speaking in support of Palestinians.

Magill, who earlier this semester rolled out a plan to combat antisemitism on campus, has been called to testify before Congress next week on the topic, according to the Daily Pennsylvanian, the student newspaper. She will appear before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina. The presidents of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also have been called to appear.

 READ MORE: Petitioners nationwide ask Penn to defend those who speak in support of Palestinians

Questions of academic freedom and campus safety

Students first sought permission to show the film on campus over the summer and had secured permission for Oct. 24, Jack Starobin, a Penn senior and board member for Penn Chavurah, had said. But then the students decided to postpone the event given Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israels subsequent military response in Gaza, he said.

When they sought approval in late October to screen the film on Nov. 28, the university initially did not respond and then ultimately last week said it would not grant approval this semester, Starobin said.

In the wake of Tuesdays screening, university officials said in a statement that the students who organized the screening will be referred to the schools Office of Community Standards and Accountability to determine whether a violation of the Code of Student Conduct occurred.

 READ MORE: U.S. Department of Education investigates Penn, Lafayette, over antisemitism and Islamophobia allegations

 READ MORE: Under pressure from Jewish community, Penn president unveils plan to combat antisemitism

Starobin said the event lasted nearly three hours, including the running of the nearly 90-minute film and a discussion. Penn security made sure only people with Penn ID cards were allowed in the screening, he said. Originally, students had hoped to also have guests from outside Penn, he said.

Starobin said he has received an outpouring of support from many of his professors and peers, but harsh words from university administrators.

Hikaru (Karu) Kozuma, Penns vice provost for university life, called him a half hour before the screening and threatened disciplinary action if the film was shown, Starobin said, though he said he wasnt sure whether Kozuma meant the action would be against him or his organization. A Penn official, he had said Monday, told him that Penn Chavurah could lose its funding and status as a student group if it proceeded with the screening.

Its stressful for us, said the 21-year-old political science and economics major from Olney, Md. Its also alarming to us that the university would double down and try to restrict not just our freedom of speech, but the academic freedom of every student and student organization on this campus.
Spotify Wrapped, the yearly review of listeners' favorite artists and songs, has arrived. Read more

Whats on your Spotify Wrapped? The music streaming services yearly review of the songs, artists, and genres people listened to the most in 2023 dropped this week, revealing the tastes of more than 574 million users worldwide and becoming the subject of energetic discussion.

While some may share and admit their faves on social media, we were curious about what the people in Philadelphia loved jamming to, overall. The results are in, and theyre pretty basic.

Taylor Swift dominated the lists this year, so its no surprise that shes the No. 1 artist streamed in the city (and the world, beating out reigning champ Bad Bunny).

The most-streamed song in the country is also Phillys top song, Morgan Wallens Last Night. The top Philly songs were the same ones for listeners in New York, just in a slightly different order  Wallen apparently has more fans here.

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Spotify gathers the data from listeners beginning on Jan. 1 and ending in mid-November. Now in its seventh year, Wrapped is unique among major services  Amazon Music doesnt have a version, and Apple Music just launched Replay, its own year-end report, so neither provides such an in-depth, personalized analysis.

The top genres in Philly were rap, pop, hip-hop, rock, and trap. Here are a couple of lists Spotify also reported:

Top artists streamed in Philadelphia in 2023

Top songs streamed in Philadelphia in 2023
Zach Samalonis customized this toy lantern for children with disabilities by attaching the large blue button at right. An adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson University, he taught occupational therapy students to do the same on Wednesday. Read more

The dome-shaped lantern projects a rotating array of colorful stars on the walls and ceiling, promising hours of fun with the press of a button.

But the buttons are small and require a fair amount of force, making the toy all but useless for some children with disabilities.

That was the challenge that Zach Samalonis posed to his class of occupational therapy students Wednesday at Thomas Jefferson University.

This toy is hard for someone with low dexterity, he said.

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The solution: Take the lantern apart and connect it to large, 3D-printed buttons that can be activated with barely a flick of the fingers.

Samalonis spent more than an hour guiding his students through the process of customizing the lanterns, using open-source plans from Makers Making Change, a nonprofit based in British Columbia. The modified toys were then turned over to representatives from TechOWL, an assistive technology program at Temple University, for distribution to children in the Philadelphia area.

During the course of earning their two-year masters degree, the Jefferson students have learned how to help patients use a wide array of assistive devices.

But actually making such a device? That was a new twist for several members of the class on Wednesday, among them Tynesa McArthur.

Im not an engineer, so this is cool, she said.

She and her classmates each took apart a lantern and carefully drilled holes through the outer plastic shells to accommodate three electrical jacks. They wired the jacks to the circuit board inside each lantern, then connected the jacks to three external buttons the size of jar lids.

This is the second year that Samalonis, an adjunct professor at Jeffersons College of Rehabilitation Sciences, has assigned the project to his students, just in time for the holidays.

He made the buttons in advance on a 3D printer. He is handy with tools, as he has an industrial design degree from Jefferson, where he won an award in 2021 for co-inventing a prosthetic foot for surfers.

On Wednesday, he strode about the Walnut Street classroom on Jeffersons Center City campus, patiently showing students where to position their drill holes and how to attach the new wiring.

The students connected the wires for the big, new buttons in such a way that the lanterns small, original buttons would still work.

But the big buttons were the clear winner, class member Kay Waltz said. The colorful plastic discs are easy and fun to press for anyone, regardless of their dexterity and strength.

Its very satisfying, the texture and the sound of it, she said.
General Asphalt Paving Co., located on Krewstown Road in Northeast Philadelphia, could lose all its city business for three years if Thursday's decision stands. Read more

Philadelphia officials said on Thursday that they planned to cut ties  for three years  with a politically connected contractor alleged to have formed a Black-owned shell company to circumvent the citys antidiscrimination policies.

The debarment decision involving General Asphalt Paving Co. and its principals was announced by city Deputy Commerce Director Lynn Newsome during a brief virtual hearing.

GAP shall be prohibited from participating in all of the following activities, Newsome said, before detailing how the company would not be allowed to work as a contractor or subcontractor for the city, or to bid on new contracts for three years.

General Asphalts lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company has the right to appeal the decision.

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Based in Northeast Philadelphia, General Asphalt is run by the Meehan family of former Philly Republican leaders. It provides a range of services for city departments and has received tens of millions of dollars in city contracts going back decades, including about $10 million over the last six years.

 READ MORE: Contractor allegedly used a shell company to thwart Phillys rules for hiring Black-owned businesses

General Asphalt caught the attention of city investigators a few years ago for using a subcontractor, Empire Supplies and Services, in order to comply with a city policy aimed at increasing participation among companies owned by people of color, women, and people with disabilities.

The Inquirer reported in August that investigators in the City Controllers Office and Inspector Generals Office had found evidence in 2021 that Empire was not a separate company, but essentially a shell company run out of a Cheltenham duplex that appeared on paper to be owned by a Black man.

Two of General Asphalts owners were also two of Empires three founding members, according to acting Controller Charles Edacheril.

Empire was merely a pretextual shell for [General Asphalt] to claim MBE [Minority Business Enterprise] credit without giving real opportunities to minority-owned businesses, Edacheril wrote in a letter to Mayor Jim Kenney in August.

Edacheril fired off the sharply worded letter over the summer because the results of the investigation had been shared with city officials back in November 2021  yet General Asphalt had not yet faced any repercussions. Hearings on the matter had been postponed for 21 months.

When abuse of the system meant to boost minority-owned businesses is thoroughly documented and exposed, but the city is slow to act in sanctioning this misconduct, Edacheril wrote, the lack of urgency seems to reflect a lack of sincere commitment to equity.

There have been questions over the years about whether General Asphalt received favorable treatment in getting public contracts.

In 2010, for example, a former employee of the Philadelphia Housing Authority who was facing a federal indictment alleged that her bosses sometimes circumvented the PHAs bidding process to award contracts to General Asphalt. One of those bosses later went to work for General Asphalt. (The company was not accused of wrongdoing in the indictment.)

In 2001, General Asphalt was paying then-Mayor John F. Streets brother, the late T. Milton Street Sr., as a consultant when it became part of a joint venture that landed a $13.6 million contract at Philadelphia International Airport.

Edacheril declined to comment on Thursdays ruling.

Philadelphia Inspector General Alexander DeSantis said he was encouraged by the decision to finally sanction General Asphalt.

It sends a very important message to our contracting community that we expect and demand a true, real, good-faith commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, he said. I do think its a good deterrent. We have to get serious about this.

DeSantis said the investigation found that Empire was spun off of General Asphalt and that some revenue appeared to be going back to General Asphalt.

What happened here is just wrong, DeSantis said.

Last year, the citys Office of Economic Opportunity reported that 32.5% of city contract dollars went to companies owned by minorities, women, or people with disabilities in fiscal year 2021. That number is much higher than it was 20 years ago, but DeSantis said he believes some businesses continue to use questionable schemes to evade antidiscrimination policies.

I think, unfortunately, this type of business practice is quite common out there, he said. Id like to see us really ramp up enforcement.

Newsome, who heads the Office of Economic Opportunity, said at Thursdays hearing that Empire will also be prohibited from doing business with the city for three years. Its president is listed in business registration records as George Wallace. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A 1963 Philadelphia Evening Bulletin photo shows NAACP activists picketing in protest of all-white union crews in front of school construction site. Read more

Who gets to belong to a construction union? The labor organizations that represent carpenters and other workers responsible for constructing Americas buildings have offered generations of Americans an economic ladder into the middle class. But for Black Americans, access to the building trades upward path has never been equal.

A look back at the history of the building trades in Philadelphia, where carpenters organized the American trades first strike in 1791, reveals how Black workers have persistently faced barriers to the high-paying jobs and protections that others were promised through union contracts.

Just in time for Labor Day, we have unpacked that history and the shadow it casts over todays changing trades movement in the latest installment of A More Perfect Union, The Inquirers yearlong project that examines the roots of systemic racism in America through institutions founded in Philadelphia.

Here are six takeaways from the latest in the series, Broken Rung.

Good jobs  if you can get them

Union construction  and other building trades jobs like carpentry, plumbing, ironworking  are some of the highest-paid jobs for those without a college degree. In 2022, construction workers in the United States made an average of $32 an hour. Those in a union often make more than that.

The construction industry is largely dominated by white men, however. In 2021, just 6% of workers in union or non-union construction jobs were Black, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The trades first strike happened in Philadelphia

When the first recorded building trades strike happened in Philadelphia in 1791, its not likely that Black workers joined the picket lines. They werent members of the early carpenters union.

It was organized by the white men who worked for members of the Carpenters Company, an influential guild of master builders founded in 1724. The group, many of whom were also Quakers, looked within their own communities for new apprentices.

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The Companys founding documents also outlined early on that anyone who took on an enslaved apprentice would have to pay a hefty fine. While some may see the move as abolitionary as it discouraged the hiring of enslaved people, it could also be construed as a way to keep Black workers out of the industry.

Building trades not diverse as other unions

The local building trades have refused to share demographic data on the workers they represent. But the most recent available data shows that the industrys union workforce was more than two-thirds white in a city that is nearly 44% Black, and where other major labor unions are predominantly African American.

Data from the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show that among 40 Pennsylvania unions that refer workers to contractors, 91% of their more than 39,000 members were white in 2018 and 5% were Black.

Strawberry Mansion protest

A 1963 protest outside Strawberry Mansion High School, then under construction, became a pivotal moment in the fight against racism in the trade unions.

There werent any skilled Black workers on the site, according to NAACP leader Cecil B. Moore, who halted construction alongside protesters until the issue was addressed.

 READ MORE: My dads union card gave me a better life. I want that for other Black families.

This is a false democracy when qualified colored people cant get a job building schools for their own kids, a laborer told the Philadelphia Tribune.

Moore had succeeded in turning the status quo of all-white construction crews into a civil rights issue.

The fight for equality on the construction site grew bigger than Philadelphia as activists around the nation staged similar protests. It eventually gained the attention of the White House.

The Philadelphia Plan

In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson took action to integrate construction sites.

While federal contracts contributed to about 50% of the construction work happening in Philadelphia at the time, just a sliver of members of the seven highest-paid trade unions in Philadelphia were Black.

To address the issue, Johnson rolled out a first-of-its-kind program that forced city contractors to make a good faith effort to hire Black workers on federally-funded projects over $500,000.

It was aptly called: The Philadelphia Plan.

A first Black leader

Decades after Johnsons plan went into law, Philadelphia building trades and peer labor organizations nationally remain whiter and less diverse in all ways than other workforces organized under a union contract.

Still, there has been progress toward meeting goals of increased diversity. In 2021, The Building Trades elected its first ever Black top official last year, Ryan Boyer, head of the Laborers District Council. Boyer has no plans to collect demographic data but he says the Building Trades want their unions to reflect the demographics of the city.
Students and members of the Haverford community gather for a candlelight vigil for Kinnan Abdalhamid, a junior and Palestinian student who was shot in Vermont. Police are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime. Read more

Kinnan Abdalhamid, the Haverford College student shot during the Thanksgiving holiday in Vermont  in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime  said a friends screams were what signaled him to run as a stranger chased and shot his group of friends with a gun.

The 20-year-old biology student shared details of the harrowing attack on him, Hisham Awartani, and Tahseen Ahmed on The View Thursday, joined by his mother.

Abdalhamid, who is Palestinian, said the group of friends was driving to Awartanis grandmothers house in Burlington from a bowling alley on Saturday. Before stepping into the home, the group decided to take a walk.

Abdalhamid said his friends were wearing keffiyehs and they were speaking a mixture of Arabic and English during the walk. As they returned to the house, they saw a man whom police identified as Jason J. Eaton, 48, on his porch, which Abdalhamid said is on the same street Awartanis grandmother lives on.

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Abdalhamid said without a word or hesitation, Eaton ran down his porch steps, pulled out a pistol, and started shooting.

It was almost surreal how quickly he did it, said Abdalhamid. I still kind of remember it and even at the moment it was kind of moving in a nightmare.

Abdalhamid said Ahmed was the first to be shot, falling with a thud. Then came the screams. A split second later another shot rang out and Awartani fell, though Abdalhamid said the scene was so chaotic he didnt know which of his friends had been struck.

Abdalhamid said he jumped a fence and hid behind a home for about a minute, fearing his friends were dead.

They were shot point blank and he seemed like he was aiming to kill, recalled Abdalhamid. I thought he might have shot them again.

Abdalhamid said he decided he needed to call 911 because Eaton might still be looking for him and because it would be the best chance of his friends survival.

Eaton was taken into custody the following day. Authorities found a Ruger .380 pistol with red-tipped ammunition, which they allege were used in the attack. He faces three counts of attempted murder, which could carry a life sentence in Vermont. Eaton has pleaded not guilty.

Abdalhamid is out of the hospital now, something hes not sure he wouldve been able to do had Eaton remained at large. Relatives of Awartani and Ahmed told Vermont Public, the states NPR member station, that they remain hospitalized.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and Israels subsequent vow to eradicate the group, theres been a reported increase in harassment against Jewish and Muslim Americans.

Tamara Tamimi, Abdalhamids mother, said she sent her son to the United States because she wanted him to receive a good liberal arts education and because he would be safer. Tamimi described the incident as traumatizing and frightening. She added that she feels there is no place Palestinians are safe and they continue to be dehumanized in the media.

Eaton, according to his mother, has a history of depression and other mental health issues. Tamimi bristled at what she sees as a focus on Eatons mental health.

Lets not give this man an excuse, she said.

Through the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the families of the victims have called on authorities to designate the shooting a hate crime. So have some of Abdalhamids Haverford College peers.

Abdalhamid said hes been overwhelmed by the support.

I didnt expect the story about a Palestinian being shot to go this far and wide, he said.
The Rolling Stones - from left to right, Ron Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, with Steve Jordan on drums - are going on tour in 2024 and are scheduled to play Lincoln Financial Field on June 11. Read more

When Taylor Swifts superfans took to Ticketmaster last November to purchase Eras Tour presale tickets, they caused the site to glitch and crash, prompting outrage and even antitrust investigations.

Now, Boomer and Gen X superfans of a different musical artist experienced their own version of presale ticket hell  prompting a very different website to crash briefly.

Fans of The Rolling Stones took to AARPs website in hopes of scoring tickets to the bands upcoming Hackney Diamonds Tour on Wednesday. AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons, is an official sponsor of the 61-year-old bands tour.

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We are currently experiencing technical difficulties and are unable to complete your request, AARPs website said at the time. Our team is actively working to fix the issue, and we hope to resolve it soon. Thank you for your patience.

The website was back up and running by the afternoon.

Still, the glitch proved frustrating for some of the bands older fans, who said online that they missed the days of camping out and lining up for tickets instead of duking it out behind keyboards. Others reported having better luck.

A wave of issues with concert ticket queues has prompted musicians and even lawmakers to examine the process. Indie artist Maggie Rogers, for instance, invited fans to line up to physically purchase tickets to her tour  which included a performance at Philadelphias TD Pavilion at The Mann. And when tickets to see the Cure went on sale last spring, the bands leader, Robert Smith, fought Ticketmasters dynamic pricing model, forcing the company to reimburse customers for hidden fees.

In all, AARP served as a launching pad to enter ticket queues with other providers, including Ticketmaster and AXS depending on the tour stop.

The Stones will perform in Philly at Lincoln Financial Field on June 11. Presale tickets are on sale now. The general sale begins on Friday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com.
Jude Husein, 25, speaks at a rally for the Day of Solidarity event outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Read more

Over 100 people gathered at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Wednesday for the citys third annual Palestinian Day of Solidarity  an event that was both a celebration of a long-standing immigrant community as well as a platform for continued grief and outrage over the Israel-Hamas war.

Jude Husein, a Palestinian-born organizer of the event, began the ceremony with a moment of silence for the thousands of civilians and dozens of journalists killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began, and then shifted the focus to what she described as the diversity and resilience of Palestinian-born Philadelphians.

We are students, doctors, pilots, business owners, poets, musicians, professionals of all kinds  but we pride ourselves on being the greatest of neighbors, Husein, 25, said. When our community needs us, we step up.

Keffiyeh-clad attendees waved large Palestinian flags on the iconic museum steps, while others passed around Middle Eastern sweets to the crowd. At the podium, Husein was joined by a host of multi-faith community members, as well as two elected officials.

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But there was one conspicuous absence: representatives from the city itself.

For the last two years, the city cosponsored the Palestinian Day of Solidarity, with Mayor Jim Kenney or one of his representatives present to thank Philadelphias Palestinian community, which some estimate around 10,000 people, for their economic and cultural contributions to the city dating back over a century.

After a month of tense negotiations, however, the city distanced itself from the event due to the volatile political climate.

Sponsoring the event this year would be a distraction, officials contended. And in a break from past years, organizers could not use the citys seal to promote the event.

In the citys absence, Husein read aloud a written proclamation from the mayors office to commemorate the day, but most of the hour-long ceremony focused on uplifting local Palestinians, whom organizers said embraced anyone into their culture, even if they dont have ethnic ties to the community.

You are Palestinian now, too, she told the crowd.

Like many cities, Philadelphia is now in its eighth week of frequent protests, demonstrations, and debates over the conflict overseas. On college campuses and in workplaces, some feel the ideological divide is more intractable than ever, while threats against Arab, Muslim, and Jewish people continue to soar nationwide.

State Sen. Nikil Saval and State Rep. Danilo Burgos  the two elected officials who spoke at the ceremony  expressed support for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. I pray that the leadership on both sides can sit down at the table and bring peace to their respective communities, Burgos, who represents a part of North Philadelphia with a dense Palestinian population, told the crowd.

Saval made an apparent reference to the three Palestinian men, including a Haverford College student, who were shot in Vermont last weekend in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime: Everyone has the right to wear the keffiyeh of their homeland, speak Arabic, and be safe.

A trio of pro-Palestinian groups, including the ANSWER Coalition, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, and the Philadelphia Liberation Center, staged a protest through Center City at 6 p.m. that drew over 500 people into the streets, an organizer said. The groups billed the demonstration as part of Palestinian Day of Solidarity in protest of the ongoing carnage in the Gaza Strip.
Michiko Quinones (left) and and Morgan Lloyd, cocreators of the 1838 Black Metropolis project, lead a group for a walking tour of Black history sites in Philadelphia. Read more

When Michiko Quinones and Morgan Lloyd first started talking with each other about Black life in antebellum Philadelphia last year, they didnt plan on developing a popular, award-winning history project.

We just thought we were two friends who have this silly little thing were obsessed with and were just going to obsess over it and tell as many people that want to listen, said Lloyd, a public programming coordinator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia and freelance curator and educator.

But their project, the 1838 Black Metropolis, has become just that. Using the 1838 Census funded by the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society as its foundation, Quinones and Lloyd have a created an interactive, historically rich website filled with primary sources and maps, as well as a walking tour series on the community of nearly 20,000 Black people living in Philadelphia at the time, about one-fifth of the citys population.

Earlier in November, Black Metropolis won the Library Company of Philadelphias 2023 Biennial Innovation Award, which includes $2,500 that the cocreators said they will put toward future artistic exhibitions.

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Right around Washington Square, which is like the most expensive part of the city [today], that was a Black town. All those folks were there. Its a mindblower, said Quinones, a public historian and museum docent at the African American Museum of Philadelphia.

Their project seeks to fill in this gap in most peoples understanding of Black history before the Civil War, using visuals and elements of Afrofuturism to reclaim the geography of the city and redefine this chapter of Philadelphias history.

Quinones and Lloyd spoke with The Inquirer about their project, what the Black Metropolis was really like day to day, and how wealthy free Black people, pirates from West Africa, and freedom seekers on the run formed a unique community.

This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How did you get into this project, and why did you find this antebellum period of Philadelphia history so compelling?

Michiko Quinones: Im in a program now in museum studies at the Harvard Extension School, and I found the 1838 Register of Trades for Philadelphia. To give you an idea, 1838 is when Harriet Tubman was 16. This is less than 70 years after the Revolution. But there were 600 Black business listed here.

And I said to myself, Well, a business needs people to go to it, it needs funding and capital. So that really is what began the journey of getting to the 1838 Census, realizing that the Black community here was supporting itself in a myriad of ways. It was almost a betrayal. Like, nobody told me about this. I never heard about this. I didnt get the chance to imagine myself and my ancestors in this way.

If I had seen this as a child, how would that have affected me?

Morgan Lloyd: I met Michiko at the African American Museum and she said, Hey, I found this census. We sat down and we ended up talking for an hour. Should we do something? Yeah, lets do something. And then the ball just started rolling.

I never heard about this. I didnt get the chance to imagine myself and my ancestors in this way. Michiko Quinones

Its empowering to know that a duality can exist. Yes, Black people were enslaved at this time, but there were free Black people who lived their everyday lives too. We are looking at a period of Philadelphia in history that is typically not the common knowledge.

What was this community like?

MQ: Most of the folks in our area, which is kind of centered at Sixth and Lombard, are Black. Lets imagine no cars first. So that means theres going to be the sound of horse hooves on cobblestone, more voices talking because theres going to be more people on the street. More hustling and bustling.

And people would go to work and then they would come home. They might go to some church activity, they would generally visit each other, eat dinner with one another. The majority of the people were what we would consider working-class, laboring people. There was a smaller group of people who were really impoverished, but a lot less than youd think at that time. And then there were some who were quite wealthy.

When we talk about the Black population in the 1838 Census, were also looking at people who have diverse Afro experiences. Morgan Lloyd

Theyre all well-dressed, we have the pictures. And it did not matter how much money you had. I want people to think not so much Bridgerton, I think thats a little bit too far. But when people got out on the street, they looked good.

ML: What really stands out to me is the kinds of people that lived within it. When we talk about the Black population in the 1838 Census, were also looking at people who have diverse Afro experiences. Not everyone descends from enslavement in the ways that we commonly understand it, migrating from the South.

Some people are coming from New Jersey, where they were free before everybody else, anyway. Some people are coming from Greater Pennsylvania. Some people are traveling as Haitian refugees and exiles from the Haitian Revolution. Some folks have Indigenous ancestry, so they speak a myriad of languages and have different experiences. There are pirates that we presume show up with Spanish galleons from West Africa.

This is a culturally rich and diverse place where you can be unapologetically yourself as you figure out what your American dream looked like.

Philadelphia was a crucial point on the Underground Railroad for many freedom seekers, even including Harriet Tubman, who arrived here in 1849. What was their experience like coming through or settling in Philadelphia?

ML: Somewhere in between all of this beauty, there are people hiding in plain sight by way of the Underground Railroad. I love reading William Stills Journal C of Station No. 2 and these crazy stories about the Railroad. There was a pregnant woman who shipped herself to freedom; she was inside of a package that arrived at a womans home. They opened it up and she was darn near comatose. And she woke up eventually, thank God, and gave birth to who will be the first free person in her familys history.

This is happening simultaneously as the Black Metropolis! You are met with Black people you didnt know existed. And theyre like, Hey, if youre smart enough, you can go to school and Ill teach you Latin, Ill teach you French. If youre very skilled, would you like a job with tailoring or hairdressing? Northern society at this time is far from perfect. But for many folks, theres this unapologetic Free African-ness that cant be missed.

MQ: If you first came to Philadelphia and you were a freedom seeker, one of the first things you would do is join a church. And then you would join a beneficial society  there were like 80 of them, theyre all helping freedom seekers.

We have one primary source that said there were 168 people in 12 safe houses in one night. Witness protection is a good way to think about it. Its also good to think of it like a sanctuary city.

ML: Its just networks of people helping each other. And for every escape, for every story Ive read, theres at least several, or up to 20 people, who are helping one person get to a new life. Its so incredible.

To learn more about the 1838 Black Metropolis project, you can visit the website at 1838blackmetropolis.com. There, you can find an interactive map of the neighborhood, a timeline, and primary source documents, including the 1838 Census and a searchable spreadsheet version of it. To stay up to date on 1838 Black Metropolis as the founders host more tours and special events in 2024, you can follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
Faysal Adger shown here speaking at the Unveiling of the mural he painted, a mural with the theme of decent work and economic growth, at the School of the Future, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Read more

When the United Nations released its sustainable development goals in 2015, addressing universal issues such as poverty and climate change, Zabeth Teelucksingh asked herself how she could bring those goals to Philadelphia.

President of the Global Philadelphia Association, a nonprofit that brings together various international organizations across the city, Teelucksingh and her team decided on the most Philly way to raise awareness about the goals: murals.

Since 2019, Global Philadelphia Association has commissioned 13 murals in partnership with Mural Arts, with the latest unveiled Tuesday  and there are four more that have yet to be completed. Each mural explores a different goal, such as zero hunger, clean water and sanitation, and sustainable cities and communities.

We have a map that shows where all these different works are, and were trying to be as spread out in Philadelphia as possible, Teelucksingh said.

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 READ MORE: Bountiful bicycles: The citys bike-share system is adding 1,000 new docking points next year

On Tuesday, 17-year-old Faysal Adgers depiction of the eighth sustainable goal  decent work and economic growth  was unveiled at the School of the Future in West Philadelphia. The mural has different scenes of community members harvesting and planting an apple orchard, with the help of drones and robots. To Adger, it was important show people and technology working together toward a better future.

[To me], economic growth means sustainability and having your community help you with your wealth in a natural way to help the world today, Adger said. And going forward, how can we help our community move forward with something like technology?

Barbara Smolen, who was commissioned to create a mural for the fifth goal, gender equality, moved away from images for her artwork.

It was a quandary, because what is gender? How do you even show that these days? [Gender] is not binary, Smolen said. So I decided I was going to handle it in a typographical way.

Smolens mural, which was unveiled in 2020 at the Friends Select School, has the words Gender Equality overlapping each other in numerous Roman letters, which she says are reminiscent of the Declaration of Independence and the foundation of democracy.

 READ MORE: This Green Vision Plan for Kingsessing was drafted with the say  and approval  of community members

The Declaration of Independence says, All men are created equal. It really should have been, All people are created equal, Smolen said. So in my mind, Im juxtaposing the words gender equality in a style of people signing the Declaration of Independence, that echo the concept of equality and democracy.

Smolen also used a variety of colors for the phrase, and said yellow was a particularly intentional choice to showcase the transparency and illumination that stems from equality. To Smolen, the yellow feels like its radiating through the rest of the colors.

Each mural has a plaque next to it that explains the artwork and the sustainable development goal that it represents. Global Philadelphia Association has started partnering with schools across all ages and grades to teach students about the goals. Once all the murals are unveiled, Teelucksingh said, Global Philadelphia Association will move them all to a single location.

We intend for all 17 works to be in one location, collectively, so that Philadelphians can go back and visit and better understand why the SDGs are important to the city, she said.
A banner along Spring Garden Street on Primary Day in May reminds Philadelphians to cast ballots for mayor, commissioner, city controller, and other offices. Read more

Black Americans are used to fighting for voting rights. But last week, they were dealt a devastating blow.

On Nov. 20, a federal appeals court issued a ruling that would prevent the Voting Rights Act from being used by private entities as the basis of lawsuits that allege racial discrimination in voting or other election practices.

The ruling, which will almost certainly be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, applies to both advocacy organizations and private citizens  meaning that it not only stops groups such as the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union from seeking remedies from the court on behalf of voters, it stops voters from seeking those remedies themselves.

If the ruling is upheld, only the U.S. Justice Department would be able to file lawsuits challenging discriminatory voting rules and other improper measures, and the Black people the Voting Rights Act was meant to protect would be unable to fight for themselves. Instead, they would be dependent on a government that, for centuries, has failed to protect them at every turn.

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Black voters will not stand for that.

Over the years, we have faced numerous challenges to our voting rights. From snarling dogs to the lynching rope, from the shutdown of polling locations to purges of the voter rolls, from election police to gerrymandering, African Americans have seen it all. And still, somehow, we have managed to participate in the process, knowing that the franchise  our vote  was among the most potent arrows in our collective quiver.

The Black vote won the White House for Barack Obama. The Black vote was instrumental in winning the presidency for Joe Biden. The Black vote helped to secure victory for Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker, and in the age of the fight for police reform, the Black vote will also bring us Parkers choice for police commissioner, Kevin Bethel.

A former deputy commissioner in the Philadelphia Police Department, Bethel has long been a fixture in our city. Though some may have only seen him in his current capacity as chief of school safety for the School District of Philadelphia, Ive seen him in my neighborhood barbershop and talked to him about policing and politics. Ive interviewed him on my radio show and watched him as he spoke on a panel on community policing.

From what I know of Bethel, he is open to innovation. When I interviewed him in August on WURD Radio, for example, he spoke of using minimally invasive gun detection systems to keep guns out of schools. He also discussed utilizing drones to patrol hot spots and harnessing technology to fight crime. Still, Bethel is quick to defend traditional policing, which will not please activists seeking change in how officers interact with the Black community.

All of which comes back to voting, and the stark generational divide that has brought the Black community to this point.

We are at a crossroads of sorts, with external pressures like the recent federal appeals court ruling threatening voting rights, which could strip away our most potent defense against racism. But there are also internal threats to the power of the Black vote.

From what I see, Black activists are increasingly frustrated with the pace of change, and young African Americans are less than enthusiastic about voting. And in a development that should concern Democrats, a recent NBC News poll indicated that 20% of Black voters were open to voting for Donald Trump, despite Trumps legal issues and his extreme right-wing policies.

Older African American voters are the driving political force in the Black community. Based on my conversations with Black voters, Ive seen that they largely remain loyal to Democrats, but their social and religious views are more conservative than progressive. They are unwavering in their push for racial equality, but their views on crime skew conservative.

In Philadelphia, Parkers law-and-order message resonated with those voters, and they listened closely when she promised strict enforcement and safer streets. Perhaps Bethel will be able to deliver on those promises. Perhaps he wont. But as one of those older Black members of the electorate, I do know what we demanded with our votes.

We want equal treatment under the law. We want streets that are safe for law-abiding citizens. We want a city that doesnt accept lawlessness. And even with all of that, we still want a city where Black people emerge from police encounters with their lives and their personhood intact.

Thats what we voted for this time around, and we must hold the new mayor accountable for delivering on her promises. But if we allow the appeals court ruling to stand, thus weakening the Voting Rights Act, someone else could determine how our community is policed, and that could cost real people their very lives.
A man sitting on a bench with a rainbow flag. A Florida International University study titled "Anti-LGBTQ Hate Crimes in Miami" found that, in 85% of incidents reported by study participants, crime victims did not report to police what they experienced. Ninety-five percent of victims reported being victimized because of their queer identities. Read more

The email I received in late September was short and shocking, but the message was so violent, I forwarded it to my attorney, asking him to send a cease and desist letter to the sender  not a no-name incel on the internet trolling from moms basement, but an executive at a financial services company. It consisted of one line, in which the sender said they hoped that I would be sexually assaulted by a group of men. Die whore, it concluded, before adding the complimentary close: Yours in Christ.

These threatening emails have landed in my inbox with increasing frequency in recent months. While antisemitism and Islamophobia have been grabbing headlines, hate crimes against trans people and queer people like me are way up  and continuing to get worse.

According to the FBIs annual crime report released last month, hate crimes against LGBTQ people have risen significantly  a 19% rise in 2022 over 2021. Hate crimes motivated by an anti-transgender bias rose more than 35%. The number of reported hate crimes is the highest since the FBI began tracking such crimes in 1991.

Hate crimes include everything from threats  like the email I received  to slurs to physical attacks. More than 20% of all hate crimes are now motivated by sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity.

Yet as alarming as the new FBI report is, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, the numbers indicate that this kind of hate is disturbingly persistent: Experts estimate an average of 250,000 hate crimes took place each year between 2004 and 2015 in the United States. Most were never reported to law enforcement.

I did not report that email, nor any of the dozens I have received in recent months. Nor did I report any of the threatening tweets Ive received on Twitter/X, like the one that was just two long guns propped up by the doorway of the mans house with a simple message: Coming for you.

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The reasons behind the increase in attacks against queer people arent hard to decipher. In response to the FBIs 2022 report, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, noted that hostile rhetoric from fringe anti-equality figures as well as passage of anti-LGBTQ laws have created an environment where it was sadly foreseeable that individuals with violent tendencies might respond to this rhetoric.

A recent joint report from the Anti-Defamation League and the LGBTQ organization GLAAD describes some of the rhetoric and legislation targeting the LGBTQ community, including demonstrations against drag shows, bomb threats against hospitals that offer health care for LGBTQ people, and, of course, the mass shooting that occurred one year ago and took the lives of five people at Club Q in Colorado.

The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 506 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S., including three in Pennsylvania and six in New Jersey. In 2022, Pennsylvania was behind only Texas and Florida among states with the highest number of school districts that have banned books. A Central Bucks School District policy bans sexualized content in its libraries, which targets LGBTQ books; This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe were among the books removed. Last fall, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia was forced to increase security because of threats targeting the hospitals clinic for gender-affirming care.

That vile rhetoric has, in fact, turned deadly. In August, OShae Sibley, a dancer and Philadelphia native who was gay, was killed in an alleged hate crime in Brooklyn. Just weeks later, Lauri Carleton was fatally shot for refusing to take down the Pride flags that adorned her clothing store in Southern California.

That vile rhetoric has, in fact, turned deadly.

The cumulative effect of all this rhetoric, and the micro- and macroaggressions that so many LGBTQ people are experiencing, is painful and traumatizing. Back in April, I wrote on Twitter/X: I spent my entire PTSD therapy session talking about how under threat I feel due to all the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and hundreds of anti-LGBTQ laws being promoted and passed. I could feel my [blood pressure] rising as we talked. My therapist warned me it was only going to get worse.

 READ MORE: I was kicked out of Girls High for being gay in the 1970s. Not enough has changed in this country. | Opinion

We have to combat the hate. In order to do that, we have to get better reporting on the breadth of the problem  and people like me have to report these crimes to the police, even though its uncomfortable and law enforcement has not, traditionally, made LGBTQ people feel heard with regard to crimes against us.

As Robinson, of the Human Rights Campaign, noted, we cant combat the hate if we dont have a full picture of whats happening. If were going to bring a stop to that violence, she said, we need a full accounting of just how many hate crimes are taking place.

Taking these attacks seriously is essential  and that includes those of us who are victims stepping up as well and making our voices heard. People must stop targeting us  whether they are politicians or people on the internet.

A singular message that contains obscene or threatening language like the one I received is also illegal. So the next violent email I receive wont just go to my lawyer  Ill also send it to my City Council member, to the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs, and to my local district police station.

Its hard to carry all this animus alone. Allies are needed. The Human Rights Campaign offers a downloadable guidebook to help LGBTQ people, their families, and allies. The Trevor Project has a series of resources available to manage the impact of so much hate.

But as with any form of terrorism  and make no mistake, thats what all this hate is  if you see something, say something. Report anti-LGBTQ attacks on social media. And most importantly, tell the queer and trans people you know  and love  that you are indeed an ally. Then be one.

Victoria A. Brownworth is a local writer and reporter. She is the recipient of the Sarah Pettit Memorial Award for Journalist of the Year from the NLGJA Association of LGBTQ Journalists and the Curve Foundation Award for Excellence in Lesbian Coverage.
Your tweet was antisemitic. Youre fired!

Your tweet was anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic, as well. Youre fired, too!

Welcome to the digital war weve been waging in the United States, while a real one rages in Gaza. Dozens of physicians, entertainers, and journalists have been dismissed because of their posts about the conflict. Its a scorched-earth battle for the age of social media. And it makes real conversation impossible.

The only solution is to let everyone tweet what they wish, whether you agree with them or not.

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Consider the case of 76ers beat reporter Jackson Frank, who was let go by PhillyVoice.com  after just a month on the job  for criticizing the Sixers statement about Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. We stand with the people of Israel and join them in mourning the hundreds of innocent lives lost to terrorism at the hands of Hamas, the statement declared.

Frank wasnt having it. The post sucks, he tweeted. Solidarity with Palestine always.

I understand why some readers were offended by Franks tweet, which seemed to make light of Israeli suffering. But if you think he should be fired for it, do you also believe that Benjamin Neel should lose his job directing the cancer center at New York University?

Neel was fired for reposting two cartoons: one showed pro-Palestinian protesters holding signs justifying murder and rape, and the other questioned whether a two-state solution in the Mideast was possible if Hamas remains in power. Neel also shared a post doubting the accuracy of a list of 7,000 people Hamas claimed had been killed during Israels attack on Gaza.

In a lawsuit against NYU, Neel said the university feared a backlash after it dismissed another physician, Zaki Masoud, who was fired for a post that seemed to praise the Hamas attack. Dont hesitate to openly state your support of Palestinian resistance, Masoud tweeted. Let them call it terrorism. Extremism. Barbarianism. We call it liberation. Decolonization. Resistance. Revolution.

Did NYU fire Neel to create the appearance of even-handedness with Masoud, as the suit alleges? I dont know. But heres what I do know: Theres no way to justify firing one of these guys unless you also dismiss the other one. And if we keep calling for their heads, we will lose our minds.

How many more people will be fired for tweets about Israel/Palestine? And how do you know you wont be next on the list if someone is offended by your own post?

How many more people will be fired for tweets about Israel/Palestine?

Lets be clear about two points. First, nobody has a right to be insulated from criticism. Its perfectly fair  indeed, its necessary  to raise your voice against remarks that vilify Jews, Muslims, or anyone else.

Second, employers generally have a right to fire people for hateful social media posts. But that option should be exercised gingerly  and rarely  or we will all end up with targets on our backs.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Frank insisted that his tweet aimed not to defend Hamas attack, but instead to denounce the Sixers one-sided response to it. They are implicitly saying the lives and safety and autonomy of Israelis is more important than Palestinians, Frank said. Theres never been any statement condemning what Israel is doing in Gaza or the lives lost.

Again, you might find good reason to disagree with Frank here. But if you signed on to social media to demand his dismissal, youre part of the problem. Do you really think the world will be a better place if everyone who takes a controversial public position runs the risk of losing their job?

So I propose a Tweet Truce. You get to post what you want, and so do I. We wont always agree, but we also wont go straight for the jugular when we dont.

The alternative is an endless cycle of vengeance and recrimination, which has spread all the way to Hollywood. Prominent voice actress Tara Strong was dropped from an animated series after she denounced anti-Israel protesters for supporting terrorism. A few weeks later, actress Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream 7 over her tweets in support of Palestinian rights.

This is my statement: Everything sucks, Scream 7 director Christopher Landon tweeted, following Barreras dismissal. Stop yelling. This was not my decision to make.

Landon was correct: Right now, everything sucks. But we can decide to make it better by practicing tolerance instead of arrogance. This is my statement: Stop yelling and start listening. You might even learn something.
WASHINGTON  In his closing arguments for remaining a member of the House, a defiant Rep. George Santos depicted himself as a victim of a smear campaign by some of his colleagues and made clear that he would not resign before a vote Friday on whether he should be expelled.

The first-term Republican congressman from New York could well become just the sixth member of the House to have been ousted by colleagues. While Santos survived two earlier expulsion efforts, a critical House Ethics Committee report released on Nov. 16 has convinced more members that his actions merit the Houses most severe punishment.

I will not stand by quietly, Santos said during Thursday afternoons debate on the House floor. The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, youre going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.

Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War and two were for lawmakers convicted in federal court. Santos appealed to those lawmakers who worry that a new precedent is being set for the chambers harshest punishment.

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This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts, Santos said during a press conference held early in the morning before House debate began.

 READ MORE: Ethics chairman launches a new bid to expel George Santos after a withering report on his conduct

Santos was a bright spot for the GOP when he won his election in November 2022, flipping a seat that had been held by the Democrats and helping Republicans take control of the House. But, soon after, reports began to emerge that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. He turned into a distraction and an embarrassment to his party.

In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. That was followed in May when the U.S. attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York unveiled a 13-count federal indictment that was later replaced with the 23-count indictment.

The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has pleaded not guilty, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.

Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months on the Santos case. The panel said it amassed overwhelming evidence of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department. Among other things, the panel said that Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.

The disgraceful association that comes with expulsion was not lost on Santos. But rather than seek to avoid it by resigning, he sought to frame it as an unfair persecution, saying if I leave, they win. If I leave, the bullies take place. This is bullying.

 READ MORE: The Philly GOP is soul searching after an unprecedented loss to the Working Families Party: This could be the end

Members of the Republican delegation from New York led the arguments for expelling Santos. Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y., acknowledged that the expulsion would set a new precedent, but he said he was confident the American people would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.

Im pretty confident the American people would applaud that. Im pretty confident that the American people expect that, and I hope that tomorrow, in this great chamber, we set that precedent, DEsposito said.

Arguing against expulsion, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respects the Ethics Committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.

The totality of circumstance appears biased, Higgins said. It stinks of politics and Ill oppose this action in every way.

While the Ethics Committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the ranking Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators findings was unanimous.

As the Ethics Committees report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the publics trust, Wild said. Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.

In his press conference, Santos assailed the Ethics Committee report as littered in hyperbole, littered in opinion. He emphasized the decision by the committee to submit the report to the House without making a recommendation on punishment. Submitting a recommendation would have required a longer, trial-like process. Changing precedent for me, it seems that its all fair game, Santos said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he had real reservations about the expulsion of Santos. He said he was concerned about the precedent it would set, but he also said that GOP leadership is telling members to vote their conscience.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York held his weekly press conference with a massive photo next to him of Santos and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia sitting in the House chamber together and laughing.

George Santos is a malignant distraction, and hopefully that issue gets resolved, Jeffries said.
A Delco state representative who led the effort last year to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced this week that he is running for Pennsylvania attorney general.

Rep. Craig Williams (R., Delaware) joins a crowded field of five Democrats and two other Republicans vying for the open seat thats widely seen as a springboard to the governors office.

In his campaign announcement video released Tuesday, Williams speaks while showing footage of crimes in Philadelphia, adding that looting, carjacking and murder are out of control, often with no circumstances.

Williams, a U.S. Marine Corps. combat veteran, was the lead impeachment manager last year when the then-GOP-controlled House impeached Krasner on several charges alleging misconduct in office. Krasner challenged the case against him in state court and the matter remains on an indefinite hold until the state Supreme Court decides whether the impeachment should proceed to the state Senate for trial to determine whether Krasner should be removed from office.

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Prior to his time as a legislator, Williams worked as a chief prosecutor and legal counsel to the joint chiefs of staff on a Marine Corps base, as a federal prosecutor, and as an attorney in private practice. He said his mix of military, legal, business, and legislative experience make him a good pick for attorney general.

The lone Republican state representative representing a Delaware County district, Williams said hes confident he is the best GOP candidate for the statewide race, which Republicans have struggled to win.

On our side of the aisle, I am the only one who can win, Williams added.

Williams has tried to take action against Krasner legislatively, as well. Last year, he introduced a proposal to improve the attorney generals existing gun violence task force with Rep. Martina White (R., Philadelphia) to require state, federal, and local law enforcement officers to aggressively prosecute felons found in possession of guns. The group would have been notified within 48 hours of any gun-related arrests, and the proposal would have given the attorney general primary jurisdiction over felon possession of a firearm and straw purchases. It passed the House with bipartisan support, but died in the Senate.

When you have federal, state, and local law enforcement prosecution arms coming together to bring all their resources to cast a net over the criminal activity, you cant tell me that wouldnt have an impact on the level of violence in the state, Williams said.

If elected, Williams said hed ensure the attorney generals office more aggressively prosecutes any firearm possession by a felon.

Before entering the race, Williams got into a fight with the powerful Republican Attorneys General Association that helps elect Republican AGs across the country. He had suggested in an email to Republican State Committee members that he would get the groups endorsement  a move that angered RAGA. Instead, RAGA endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday for Pennsylvania attorney general, which they said is an excellent opportunity to flip the seat next year.

Williams claimed he lost the RAGA endorsement to Sunday because a small group of Harrisburg insiders who want to control the race.

Side-by-side, I am a better candidate, Williams added. Im fighting for my party and Im fighting for my state. The last people that I care about are the Harrisburg insiders and what they think.

Another Republican candidate, Katayoun Kat Copeland, announced her candidacy earlier this month.

Five Democrats have also announced their candidacies, including State Rep. Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, Philadelphias former top public defender Keir Bradford-Grey, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, and Delco DA Jack Stollsteimer.
City Councilmember Anthony Phillips authored legislation to ban ski masks in certain public spaces. He said many of his constituents are concerned about young people feeling empowered to commit crimes while wearing the masks. Read more

Philadelphia City Council members voted Thursday to ban the wearing of ski masks in certain public places, despite opposition from the ACLU, organizations that serve children and teenagers, and progressive lawmakers.

Members voted, 13-2, to approve the bill, which allows the city to fine people $250 for wearing a ski mask, also called a balaclava, in parks, schools, day-care centers, and city-owned buildings, and on public transit. There are exceptions for religious expression and First Amendment activities such as protesting.

Progressive Councilmember Kendra Brooks, of the Working Families Party, and Democrat Jamie Gauthier voted against the bill.

The vote came amid unrelated ongoing tension between Council members and officials in Mayor Jim Kenneys administration over the city budget.

What was this weeks highlight?

Take off the mask, Council says: Councilmember Anthony Phillips, who represents parts of Northwest and Northeast Philadelphia, authored the ski mask legislation following several instances of violence committed by people donning facial coverings. The police department supported the bill, saying it would make it easier for them to solve crimes.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia is poised to pass a ski mask ban, drawing support from police and criticism from the ACLU

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During a speech Thursday, Phillips, who is Black and the youngest member of Council, said his legislation was not aimed at furthering negative narratives about Black men, but he framed the vote as a choice between cosign[ing] lawlessness or demand[ing] decency and a high quality of life.

We must do our duty and place the highest premium on restoring public trust by having safer communities, he said. This is what our neighbors have sent us to Council to do.

Gauthier said she came into Council expecting to vote in favor of the bill because it could be a tool to help the Police Department solve crimes, but said she was moved by young people who testified against it.

I cant in good conscience vote for something that I feel would further criminalize and marginalize young Black men in our city, she said, particularly when I dont feel like, as a city, weve done enough to engage them, listen to them, and support them.

A half-dozen residents, including several wearing ski masks, spoke Thursday and urged members to vote against the bill. Jetson Cruz, an activist with the Youth Art & Self-Empowerment Project, said the legislation would provide police another reason to stop and harass people.

Right now, me wearing this, doesnt mean Im about to go commit a crime or do anything wrong, he said. I honestly feel like this is just a reason to target the young people.

Solomon Furious Worlds, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, also testified in opposition to the bill, saying it is an attempt to further criminalize young people of color and could result in officers stopping and frisking pedestrians without legal justification.

The union that represents lawyers at the Defender Association of Philadelphia also opposed the ban.

The legislation now heads to Mayor Jim Kenney. If he signs it, the ordinance will take effect immediately. A spokesperson said the Mayors Office is reviewing the bill.

What else happened this week?

A mid-year budget fight: Every fall, about halfway through the fiscal year, City Council approves legislation to balance the city budget and reconcile accounts. Usually, the process isnt controversial.

But this year, Councils negotiations with one another and with the Kenney administration hit a snag. Council was scheduled to vote on the budget bills Thursday morning, but the Appropriations Committee had yet to approve them as of the start of the session. The committee adjourned and members were still negotiating Thursday night.

Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., chair of the Appropriations Committee, said some members were trying to take another bite at the apple and obtain new funding for their priorities, which is typically done only during budget negotiations in the spring when the entire city spending plan is adopted.

Members were negotiating with the Kenney administration and with one another over several pools of money, including funding for parks and recreation centers, an anti-poverty program, and St. Christophers Hospital.

 READ MORE: Phillys budget is in its best shape in years. But Mayor Jim Kenneys administration is worried about future risks.

Administration officials have expressed some resistance to taking on new expenses, especially if they are recurring. While the citys finances are generally seen as stable, federal aid dollars issued to the city in wake of the pandemic are scheduled to be exhausted by the end of next year.

Whats coming next?

Members will continue hammering out the budget, and those negotiations could stretch into Friday or next week if they cant break the stalemate.
It is an exciting time to take on a law firm leadership role with Clyde & Co in Australia, Kelly said. The current economic and geopolitical environment presents challenges as well as significant growth opportunities in all sectors, where competition is tough but the need for quality legal services has never been higher. Clients are facing a unique and ever more complex range of risks as they seek to grow and develop their businesses locally and globally, and our sector-focused approach means we are ideally placed to help them. I look forward to working with our amazing talent in Australia and helping to develop our offering further.
ASIC identified pricing promises in insurance as an enforcement priority this year, and will continue to monitor marketing and pricing practices in the industry, and use the full range of regulatory tools available to protect consumers from general insurers failing to honour promised discounts, said ASIC deputy chair Sarah Court (pictured above).
Its storm season, which means everyone needs to closely monitor weather alerts as severe weather can appear at short notice, and especially, stay safe, he said. The storms over the past few days have impacted many parts of the east coast, as well as South Australia, and we urge any of our customers who have experienced damage to their vehicle or property to contact us immediately and lodge a claim so we can provide immediate help.
I have seen that whole concept of travel change in my 20 years, she said. People are still travelling but our role [today] is about how do you make it safer to travel and if something goes wrong, how do you support them to either keep travelling or to get them home safely?
QBE is proud to participate in STEPtember and contribute to CPARF and Remarkables mission, said Jessica Clifton, head of risk challenge for QBE Group Enterprise Risk Management and co-captain of QBE North Americas STEPtember team. Not only do we support research into treatments and early detection for cerebral palsy, with Remarkable we can also help raise funds to provide practical solutions to people living with cerebral palsy and co-occurring disabilities.
Roommates who are suing a Maryland county claim police officers illegally entered their apartment without a warrant, detained them at gunpoint without justification and unnecessarily shot their pet dog, which was left paralyzed and ultimately euthanized.

The dog, a boxer mix named Hennessey, did not attack the three officers who entered the apartment before two of them shot the animal with their firearms and the third fired a stun gun at it, according to the federal lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks at least $16 million in damages over the June, 2, 2021, encounter, which started with Prince George`s County police officers responding to a report of a dog bite at an apartment complex where the four plaintiffs lived. What happened next was captured on police body camera video and video from a plaintiffs cellphone.

Two officers went to the plaintiffs` apartment to look for the dogs reportedly involved in the biting incident. A maintenance worker gave police a master key to enter the apartment after nobody answered their knocks. The third officer arrived as the other officers entered the apartment with their guns drawn.

Two of the plaintiffs were in their bedroom when the officers entered. One of them yelled through the door that police had no right to be there, but one of the officers said they did not need a warrant because they had probable cause, according to the suit.

The lawsuit claims the officers panicked and fired their weapons at the dog after it followed one of the plaintiffs out of the bedroom and approached its primary owner, Erica Umana.

After the shooting, the officers handcuffed the roommates and left them in police vehicles for roughly one hour before releasing them from custody.

The plaintiffs  Umana, Erika Erazo Sanchez, Dayri Amaya Benitez and Brandon Cuevas  are suing the county and the three officers.

Umana told the Washington Post in 2021 that she had pleaded for somebody to help her wounded dog.

I was just begging them, begging them, Umana said. They just had no remorse. 

The county offered to compensate Umana for her veterinary bills if she agreed to refrain from publicly speaking about the shooting, but she rejected the offer, according to her lawsuit.

Police and county officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuits allegations.

This lawsuit is yet another tragically foreseeable outcome of a failed and biased system of policing in Prince Georges County, to which County leadership has continually turned a blind eye, the suit says.

The suit says the three officers were placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigated the incident. A department investigator accused two of the officers of conduct unbecoming an officer for entering the apartment without a warrant, but the third officer was cleared of wrongdoing, the suit says.

The suit accuses the officers of using excessive force, falsely arresting the plaintiffs and violating their constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

William Billy Murphy Jr., a lawyer for the roommates, represented the family of Freddie Gray, a Black man whose death in police custody in 2015 led to riots and protests in the city of Baltimore. Murphy said the Prince George`s County police officers sued engaged in outrageously flagrant misconduct.

For this to be happening in 2021 blows the mind, Murphy said. It is in the DNA of the founding of America that you cant do this. You cant get a key to somebody`s house and just walk in there without getting a search warrant.

The suit claims there has been a decades-long pattern of police misconduct in Prince George`s County, which abuts Washington, D.C. It cites a string of incidents in which county officers have been accused of using excessive force, including the January 2020 killing of an unarmed Black man, William Green.

Green was handcuffed in a police car when he was shot and killed by Michael Owen Jr., who was a 10-year veteran of the police department. Owen was arrested on a murder charge and has a trial starting start this week. The county agreed to a $20 million settlement with Green`s family, which also was represented by Murphy`s law firm.

Malcolm Ruff, an attorney who also represents the plaintiffs in the pet dog lawsuit, said Prince George`s County police officers have no fear of reprimand, and they think that they are going to get away with treating people the way that they did.

And thats because of the history of how Prince Georges County has handled misconduct for decades, Ruff added.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Maryland
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has announced a plan to assist the states 78 coastal communities from Cape Cod to the North Shore, where 2.5 million live, with their development of long-term regulatory, policy, and funding solutions to the effects of climate change.

A key component of the plan, which is called ResilientCoasts, is the delineation of Coastal Resilience Districts, geographic regions that share similar landscapes and climate hazards. The hope is that this collaboration will help identify tailored resilience policy and regulatory strategies and assist in obtaining state and federal funding.

The Bay State has more than 1,500 miles of coastline, spanning salt marshes, beaches, rocky shores, dunes, ports and harbors, and residential and commercial areas along the shores of 78 cities and towns. These geographic differences, along with variations in development, habitats, and other factors, underly the need for a regional approach to coastal resilience, according to Healeys administration.

78 Coastal Communities The CZM The CZM regional program includes five regional offices that serve 78 coastal communities: North Shore : Amesbury, Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Gloucester, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Marblehead, Nahant, Newbury, Newburyport, Peabody, Revere, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, and Swampscott Boston Harbor : Boston, Braintree, Chelsea, Everett, Milton, Quincy, Weymouth, and Winthrop South Shore : Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Scituate Cape Cod and Islands : Aquinnah, Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gosnold, Harwich, Mashpee, Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, and Yarmouth South Coastal : Acushnet, Berkley, Dartmouth, Dighton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Wareham, and Westport

Climate change poses a very real threat to our coastal way of life, but it also presents a unique opportunity for us to build communities that are safer and more equitable for years to come, said Healey. This is a matter of fiscal responsibility. Our coastal cities and towns have been weathering erosion, sea level rise, and extreme storms without a holistic state strategy. Homeowners, small businesses, and municipal governments deserve a regional approach to this problem. Our ResilientCoasts initiative will allow us to bring the full powers of the state to deliver real solutions to our coastlines.

The Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) will lead the ResilientCoasts initiative. CZM has experience with technical assistance, funding, partnerships, and regulatory review to address coastal threats that the administration said will help communities act swiftly in mitigating the impacts of climate change including flooding. A newly created chief coastal resilience officer position will oversee this effort and provide cross-agency coordination.

Massachusetts has been warned to expect sea level to rise by up to 2.5 feet by 2050 compared to 2008 if global emissions are not significantly reduced. Both tidal and storm-related flooding are projected to increase.

By 2070, statewide annual average damages to coastal structures could be more than $1 billion per year. The number of vulnerable infrastructure assets and anticipated loss are expected to grow over time as rising seas expand the coastal floodplain.

In terms of resilience strategies, CZM will work with state agencies to evaluate building standards, financing strategies, and scientific best practices. CZM will work with communities to assess strategies such as nature-based solutions, dredging, coastal nourishment, roadway elevation, and managed retreat.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will lead an evaluation of a statewide buyout program.

ResilientCoasts will be identifying financing mechanisms for climate resilience projects. Already, CZM has applied for $73 million in federal funds for climate resilience.

CZM will work with agencies to identify updates to the states wetlands, waterways, the building code, and environmental regulations to better address the climate challenges. The agencies will evaluate changes to support nature-based solutions for coastal erosion and flood protection; streamline the permitting process for coastal restoration and resilience projects; and ensure that permitting processes consider projected future sea level rise and precipitation levels that are based on the latest science and accurately reflect the changing climate.

The plan also calls for a task force with communities, businesses, scientists, community-based organizations, and environmental advocates to support the development of a strategy that meets the needs of coastal communities.

Were not going to stand by while a major storm wrecks peoples homes, or coastal erosion pulls down seawalls out from under our small businesses, said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. We have some tough questions ahead  where will it be safe to build? How can we preserve our historical landmarks? What infrastructure will withstand ever worsening weather? Were taking on some of the difficult aspects of coastal resiliency, and were doing it in partnership with municipalities, lawmakers, academics, and advocates to build consensus along the way.

Investors and other financial actors have long recognized the severe risks facing coastal communities from climate change. Massachusetts residents and business owners are experiencing those risks first-hand, and more intensely with each passing storm, stated Alli Gold Roberts, senior state policy director at Ceres, a nonprofit focused on making the financial case for sustainability.

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Topics Massachusetts
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has requested a major disaster declaration from President Joe Biden to support the ongoing recovery of downstate communities affected by the significant flooding occurring during a two-day period in late September.

If granted by the federal government, this declaration would provide federal funding for the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as Nassau and Westchester counties to cover debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure.

Our state witnessed unprecedented rainfall in September that resulted in devastating flooding, causing extensive damage throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, Hochul said.

New York is also working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain low-interest recovery loans for businesses in Brooklyn and Nassau County as they have met the required federal thresholds, according to the announcement.

New York Drying Out After Soaking by Record Rainfall

During the storm, parts of Brooklyn saw more than 7.25 inches of rain that turned some streets into canals and stranded drivers on highways. A power outage caused by the storm led to the evacuation of about 120 patients from a city hospital.

Record rainfall  more than 8.65 inches (21.97 centimeters)  fell at John F. Kennedy International Airport, surpassing the record set during a hurricane in1960, the National Weather Service said.

Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams declared states of emergency and urged people to stay put if possible. At the time, Hochul noted that no lives were lost because many residents heeded the calls to stay put or head for higher ground before it was too late.

A major disaster declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government to provide funding to local governments, tribes and non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance said that employers should see a reduction in workers compensation rates in 2024, the third straight year of declining rates.

The NCCI recently proposed an overall decrease of 7.5 percent for 2024 workers compensation loss costs.

The 7.5 percent decrease in loss costs between Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024 is driven by data collected on an annual basis showing a decline in average indemnity and medical costs per lost time claim.

Missouri businesses will be pleased to hear that on average, workers compensation rates should decrease for the third year in a row, said Chlora Lindley-Myers,Director of the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance. Its a testament to Missouris employers for continuing to make safety improvements in the workplace to protect their teams. A robust market with over 300 insurers actively competing for business in the workers compensation market gives businesses plenty of choices. I encourage Missouris employers to take advantage of this and shop around for the best rates.

Workers compensation was mandated in Missouri by state law in 1925 and is a no-fault insurance system that pays benefits to workers injured on the job to cover medical care, part of lost wages and permanent disability. In return, employers receive immunity from civil lawsuits by employees over such workplace injuries.

Source: DCI

Topics Workers' Compensation Commercial Lines Talent Pricing Trends Business Insurance Missouri
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  A Texas city on Tuesday approved a $3.5 million settlement for a child who witnessed his aunt being fatally shot through a window of her home by a police officer four years ago.

The Fort Worth City Council approved the settlement for Zion Carr, who was 8 when Atatiana Jefferson was killed. Zion testified at the trial last December of Aaron Dean, the former officer who was convicted of manslaughter in Jefferson`s death and sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.

Part of the settlement will help cover Zion`s current needs and living expenses, and a savings plan will be established to pay for his college education, according to the city.

Zion`s mother, Amber Carr, died in January 2023 after battling congestive heart failure.

Dean, who is white, shot Jefferson, a 28-year-old Black woman, on Oct. 12, 2019, after a neighbor called a nonemergency police line to report that the front door to Jeffersons home was open. It emerged at trial that Zion and Jefferson had left the doors open to vent smoke after the boy burnt hamburgers, and the two were up late playing video games.

During the trial, the primary dispute was whether Dean knew Jefferson was armed. Dean testified that he saw her weapon. Prosecutors claimed the evidence showed otherwise.

Body camera footage showed that Dean and a second officer who responded to the call didnt identify themselves as police at the house. Dean and the other officer testified that they thought the house might have been burglarized and quietly moved into the fenced-off backyard looking for signs of forced entry.

There, Dean, whose gun was drawn, fired a single shot through the window a moment after shouting at Jefferson, who was inside, to show her hands.

Zion testified that Jefferson took out her gun because she believed there was an intruder in the backyard.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Texas
In what could be seen as a rare win for the claimants bar in Tennessee, the state Supreme Court upheld a $50,500 award of attorney fees, an amount that is almost double the workers compensation benefits paid to the injured worker.

Central Transport and its insurer, Cherokee Insurance Co., must now pay claimants attorney Drew Saulters, who represented John Earheart, a truck driver that injured his hip in 2016 then was fired two years later. The high court affirmed a ruling by the Tennessee Workers Compensation Appeals Board, which had upheld the Court of Workers Compensation Claims.

As the trial court outlined, the attorney took numerous depositions of lay witnesses and the treating physician in order to prove employee was entitled to the requested benefits. Employer offered nothing to contradict this proof, the appeals board wrote in its February 2023 decision. The Supreme Courts Special Workers Compensation Appeals Panel agreed in a Nov. 22 opinion.

Court decisions in favor of injured workers and their attorneys in Tennessee are considered far less common than they were a decade ago. Claimants lawyers have argued that Tennessee lawmakers in 2014 overhauled the states comp laws, reducing some benefits and limiting attorney fees so much that many lawyers have left workers comp practice altogether or have declined to take on appeals. Comp appeals to the state Supreme Court fell sharply, from more than 80 per year before the 2014 law was passed, to just four per year after that, the state Bureau of Workers Compensation has reported.

The Earheart vs. Central Transport case is also unusual in that it involved multiple time periods and what the claimant said was a retaliatory termination, even though the driver had participated in light-duty and charity work as required.

It all began in August 2016, when Earheart said he injured his hip when he slipped while making deliveries. His treating physician performed surgery to repair a torn labrum, the cartilage surrounding the hip socket. The worker was placed on light-duty jobs until he was unexpectedly terminated in late 2018, the Supreme Court explained.

Earheart continued to experience pain and in 2019 filed a petition for additional medical treatment and benefits. The workers comp trial court ordered the employer to provide panels of physicians to treat his hip and back problems. Two years later, Earheart filed another petition for temporary wage benefits covering the period from when he was fired until he found new employment.

The day before a scheduled hearing in 2021, Central Transport agreed to pay $22,000 in benefits and $5,500 in penalties. The employer had not provided a neurologist as a treating physician had recommended. Also, a federal retaliatory termination suit was pending.

A year later, in September 2022, the compensation claims court found that the transport company wrongfully denied temporary total disability payments. The court also ordered the employer to pay $50,505 in claimants attorney fees and costs, noting Saulters extensive efforts at proving the workers case.

Central Transport and Cherokee Insurance appealed, arguing that they had paid the benefits voluntarily, without a hearing or a court judgment.

The Appeals Board upheld the attorney fee award.

The appeal was not considered frivolous, as the employee had suggested, but the trial court made no error in awarding the fees  fees that are allowed by state law, the high court panel found.

The workers compensation statutes and case law are clear that a courts determinations regarding the wrongful denial or failure to timely initiate benefits can be made at either an expedited hearing or, later, at a compensation hearing, the Appeals Board noted. In short, we conclude that employers agreement to pay the benefits and the penalty did not insulate it from a later determination by the trial court that attorneys fees and costs are appropriate due to a wrongful denial or failure to timely initiate benefits.

Earhearts treatment by his employer may have been affected by the circumstances or miscommunication: A physician had noted that, while the mans pain was likely due to the injury and surgery, he had reached maximum medical improvement. When Earheart reported for work, the employer apparently had not been informed that light-duty restrictions had been lifted, and no delivery route was available.

The driver took approved time off and returned to the light-duty charity job for three days. He was then notified in December 2018 that he had been terminated for failing to show up at work for those days.

Attorneys in the case could not be reached for comment.

Topics Workers' Compensation Tennessee
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)  Bruce Springsteen`s drummer, Max Weinberg, is suing the owners of a Florida car restoration company, saying they stole $125,000 by falsely promising him a like-new 1957 Mercedes-Benz and then using his money for personal expenses.

Weinberg is seeking $375,000 from Arthur Siegle, members of his family and their Investment Automotive Group Inc. in a lawsuit filed Sunday in Palm Beach County. The Mercedes-Benz 190SL roadster they claimed they could deliver had significant damage and rust, and they knew it could not be restored to like-new condition when they took Weinberg`s $125,000 deposit almost three years ago, according to the lawsuit.

A subsequent law enforcement investigation concluded that the Siegles used little or no money from Weinberg`s deposit on restoring the car, but instead paid off credit cards and made deposits to personal accounts. No criminal charges have been filed.

I guess they figured he`s Max Weinberg, million-dollar drummer for Bruce Springsteen, Mighty Max. He can afford to lose $125,000, Weinberg`s attorney, Valentin Rodriguez, said Tuesday.

Siegle thought he could pull the wool over the eyes of someone who is pretty well-known and wealthy, but Max wasn`t just going to sit down and take it, Rodriguez said. He said Weinberg is not an expert on vintage cars but has just always wanted to own one.

Peter Weintraub, the Siegles` attorney, did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Weinberg, 72, is the longtime drummer in Springsteens E Street Band and led Conan OBriens band when he hosted Late Night and The Tonight Show. The musician currently tours with his own show, Max Weinbergs Jukebox. He is suing under a Florida law that allows triple damages for intentional theft.

According to the lawsuit, Weinberg says that in April 2021, he contacted Siegle and his son, Stuart Siegle, about a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL he understood they were restoring. The 190SL is a convertible manufactured from 1955 to 1963.

Weinberg says he told the Siegles he wanted a Mercedes he could enter at Concours-level shows, which feature cars that have been restored to like-new or better condition using almost entirely original parts. The Siegles assured him the 190SL they were restoring would meet that standard and would be a work of art and best of the best, he says.

He paid them $125,000, a down payment on the $225,000 sale price. The balance would be paid when the car was finished.

Within weeks, Weinberg became worried about the car and hired an expert to inspect it at the Siegles` shop. The expert, Pierre Hedary, found significant rust, welds that had been improperly made, evidence that the car had been in accident and several other major problems. He said the car wasn`t even a 1957 as the Siegles claimed, but a 1956.

In a report filed with the lawsuit, Hedary wrote that when restored, the car could be driven and impress laypeople but would not pass scrutiny at top-level car shows. He estimated its restored worth at $120,000, about half what the Siegles claimed.

He said the Siegles` statements that the car would be a work of art and best of the best are often the most egregious form of puffery unfortunately at times demonstrated throughout the classic/vintage motorcar industry.

When the Siegles refused to refund Weinberg`s money, he filed a complaint with the Broward Sheriff`s Office.

In a 2022 report filed with the lawsuit, Detective Scott Schaefer wrote that his investigation showed that after receiving Weinberg`s money, the Siegles deposited nearly all of it into personal accounts with almost $50,000 covering credit card and other personal payments.

I did not find any transactions that could have been attributed to the work being done on (Weinberg`s) vehicle, Schaefer wrote.

He said it is possible they paid cash for parts, but he saw no evidence of that.

Schaefer wrote that when he confronted Arthur Siegle with Weinberg`s accusations, he responded, I have no idea what this guy is complaining about nor do I really care.

Schaefer recommended that Arthur Siegle be charged with grand theft. The Broward State Attorney`s Office said Tuesday the case remains under review.

Photo: Weinberg on drums with Springsteen in 2016. (Elizabeth Robertson/Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Florida Auto
A woman who was shocked in the back with a Taser while lying on the ground in Pueblo, Colorado, last year is suing the police officer who stunned her and the city`s police chief, accusing the police department of failing to report excessive force by the officer to state regulators.

The federal lawsuit by Cristy Gonzales, who was suspected of stealing a vehicle, says the police department found Cpl. Bennie Villanueva used excessive force against Gonzales and another person several weeks later. However, it says the agency withheld the information from a state board which oversees who is qualified to serve in law enforcement. If it had been reported, Villanueva would have lost his certification to work as a police officer for at least a year, the lawsuit said.

Gonzales was suspected of stealing a truck in February 2022, and didn`t stop for Villanueva, according to a police investigation. Eventually the vehicle ran out of gas, according to the lawsuit.

After she got out of the truck, Villanueva pulled up and ordered her to get onto the ground, according to body camera footage released by Gonzales` lawyer. After another officer grabbed one of her arms, she got down on her knees and then appeared to be pushed to the ground, when Villanueva deployed his Taser into her back.

According to the lawsuit, Gonzales was hit with two probes in the small of her back near her spine. It says she continues to have numbness and difficulty using her right hand since the Taser was used on her.

Telephone messages left for Pueblo police Chief Chris Noeller and the city`s police union were not returned Monday. Villanueva could not be located for comment.

After seeing the video of Gonzales` arrest, the assistant district attorney prosecuting the vehicle theft filed an excessive force complaint, prompting an internal police investigation, according to the lawsuit. After the investigation, Noeller issued a letter of reprimand against Villanueva for his conduct in the Gonzales case as well as for violating department policies in two other cases.

In the letter, provided by Gonzales` lawyer, Kevin Mehr, Noeller said Villanueva appeared to use the Taser on Gonzales for no apparent reason. However, he also said that the use of the Taser appeared to be a result of your reaction to a highly stressful call for service after having been away from patrol duty work for several years.

In a second case, Noeller said Villanueva deployed his Taser on a suspect a second time apparently accidentally while attempting to issue a warning arc to get the suspect to comply. In a third case cited in the letter, Villanueva threatened to use a Taser on a suspect in custody who was not cooperating with medical personnel but he did not end up deploying it.

Each year, police departments are required to report to Colorado`s Peace Officer Standards and Training board whether their officers have had any disqualifying incidents, including a finding of excessive force, that would disqualify them from being certified to work as police officers in the state, according to the lawsuit. It claims the Pueblo Police Department did not report any such incidents for any of its officers in 2022.

The Pueblo Police Department lied to the POST board, just plain and simple, Mehr said.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Law Enforcement Colorado
By most measures, California usually tops the list of the states most at risk of fires, but a new report shows the states residents and their desires to stay warm in chillier months may be making the state even riskier.

Researchers examined internet searches for search terms that can pose the greatest household fire dangers, such as space heaters, heater blankets and candles.

Their report, which comes from real estate investors specializing in fire damage, firecashbuyers.com, shows California is the riskiest state in terms of such searches, with Colorado and New York following with the highest fire dangers. Hawaii had the lowest risk of fire hazards.

The researchers analyzed the search volume in each state of multiple items relating to fire hazards. The search volume for every term in each state was combined to determine the ranking.

California had an average monthly search volume for these items of 187.32 per 100,000 people. Candles was the states most popular search term, according to the report. Candles are accountable for roughly 7,200 residential fires in the U.S. each year, with December having the highest occurrence compared to any other month, the report shows.

Tom Larsen, associate vice president for hazard and risk management at catastrophe modeling firm CoreLogic, said information like that which is called out in the report is important because fires are all-to-often started by people.

A lot of wildfires are inadvertent human ignitions, Larsen said.

While safety standards have improved over the years with better wiring and improved fireproofing making homes safer, fires are still a big concern for public safety and risk managers.

Homes are safer today than they were 50 years ago, Larsen said.

However, he added that wildfires represent a bigger proportion of homeowners payouts today than they did in the past, as fires in California in particular have become larger and more severe in recent times.

And that changes the nature of insurance, he said.

Californians got a bit of a break in 2023, with a relatively mild year for wildfires following four years of record-setting blazes across the state. Cal Fire data shows that as of mid-November, a total of 7,477 fires burned 319,948 acres. This was well below the states five-year average of 1.602 million acres burned.

The state continues to be considered the riskiest for fire hands down. California ranks highest for having the most at-risk homes with 1.28 million in that category with an estimated total reconstruction value of $760.8 billion, according to CoreLogics wildfire risk report out in late August.

The CoreLogic report shows the Los Angeles area being the riskiest (242,187 at-risk homes) with a total reconstruction value of $182.9 billion, followed by Riverside (212,902) with a reconstruction value of $111.7 billion, San Diego (153,981) with a reconstruction value of $95.4 billion, Sacramento (101,441) with a reconstruction value of $59.9, and San Francisco (92,824) with a reconstruction value of $64.9 billion.

Colorado was another risky state with several cities with a high number of at-risk homes and a high total reconstruction value. Denver, Colorados 69,284 at-risk homes had a reconstruction value of $32.6 billion, and Colorado Springs, Colorados 51,321 at-risk homes had a reconstruction value of $22.1 billion. Texas was also featured on the CoreLogic list. Austin Texas had 91,961 at-risk homes with a reconstruction value of $40.0 billion, and San Antonio, Texas had 71,795 at-risk homes with a reconstruction value of $27.0 billion.

Colorado was also the second riskiest state on the firecashbuyers.com list, with 182.86 average monthly Google searches per 100,000. One of the states most popular Google searches was space heaters, the report shows.

Third in that ranking was New York, which received an average monthly search volume of 180.43 for every 100,000. Like California, candles was the most searched term in the state.

Kansas placed fourth in the list, taking an average monthly search volume of 177.92 for every 100,000. Searches for electric blankets were high in Kansas. Fifth in the ranking was Massachusetts, with an average total of 167.98 monthly searches per 100,000. People in the state most searched for electric blankets.

Other Western states on the list included Oregon, with a total average monthly search volume of 166.46 per 100,000 people. Wood burners were one of the most popular search terms in this state. Washington, with an average monthly search volume of 163.35 per 100,000, ranked 10th on the list. Candle was the most popular fire-hazard related search term in Washington.

Topics California Texas Colorado
In many shopping baskets in the coming weeks, you will find one of the worlds favourite alcoholic drinks, a seasonal staple and treat.

Baileys Irish Cream's origin can be traced back much further beyond its pride of place on retailer shelves, and all the way back to the farms that produce its main component.

Roughly 200m litres of Irish milk annually from about 1,500 farms is required to produce the cream used in Baileys.

This milk is supplied mainly from family-owned farms, according to the company.

Add in the Irish whiskey and some flavourings, and there you have a bottle of the good stuff.

Joe and Michael Hayden run the Baileys Farm in Tinahely, Co Wicklow.

The farm has been in the family for well over 100 years, and is now home to the international vineyard for the worlds number one cream liqueur, and hosts many visitors each year wishing to visit the natural home of Baileys.

On the farm, there are 220 Baileys ladies, Friesian Holstein cows, producing 1.5m litres of milk for Tirlan annually.

The farm here is very typical of dairy farms up along the east coast of Ireland. We're suppliers to Tirlan, and Tirlan would have the contract to provide the cream for the Baileys factory at Nangor Road in Dublin, Joe Hayden told the Irish Examiner.

We have a winter milk contract.

Those contracts would have been developed many years ago to secure supply of quality cream for the Baileys' factory.

You would have a significant number of farmers up this part of the world that would have winter milk contracts and we're one of those.

Mr Hayden recalls it was around 20 years ago when the relationship began between Baileys and his farm.

They were very mindful of the role that the family dairy farm plays in the production of cream, which is the largest single ingredient that goes into this great cream liqueur, he continued.

They wanted a farm where they could showcase that best in Irish dairy farming and quality cream production.

They asked us to go on a journey with them that has been really exciting, very enjoyable, very challenging, but very good I think for both the Baileys brand and also for those of us supplying the cream there as well  it gives great recognition globally to the work that Irish dairy farmers are doing.

'Spiritual home' of Baileys

As the spiritual home of Baileys, the farm's role is to tell that story and bring that story of Baileys Irish Cream to a global audience, in a number of ways.

By the time it began its partnership with Baileys in 2002, the farm already had built a visitor centre on the farm and was involved in incentive tourism, and had a lot of experience in food and drink which led Baileys to believe it might be a good partner, Mr Hayden explained.

Being able to tell the origin story of Baileys at their venue The Orchard Centre was really important, he said.

We were farmers but also because we had another life working in the global tourist market, we would have an understanding of the modern discerning consumer, he added.

The farm is certainly one that tells that story well, and is steeped in history.

The happier the cow, the better the quality of the milk, the better the premium a farmer will attract, and the better the taste of Baileys in the end  everyones a winner, according to Mr Hayden. Picture: Naoise Culhane

Mr Haydens family first came to the farm in 1865.

My great grandfather Michael Hayden was the first to come here with his young family, that was a difficult time just a few short years after the great famine of the 1840s, Mr Hayden explained.

The farm is now being run by my brother Michael and I, were working together for many, many years, and it's been a great partnership where we own a farm of 360 acres of land.

Along with the grass-based production system, there is natural woodland on the farm and a nature reserve, our very own wetlands.

Nowadays, we can recognise the huge significance of that, he said.

In the past, it was seen as a great resource from the point of view of wild plants, flowers, native marsh birds, things like that.

But of course now we know it's much more than that, outside of the Amazon Jungle, our wetlands are one of our greatest natural sequesters of carbon on the planet.

With features like these to boast, Irelands farms are showcasing the best in modern food production, according to Mr Hayden.

It's science-based  it's a marriage of value of traditional family farming and all that is good about that, but it's embracing technology, and it's recognising our important role as custodians of our natural history and of nature, he said.

That comes naturally rather than something that's imposed, this was voluntarily surrendered to nature.

Benefitting from the way the land is managed too are the Baileys ladies.

The Hayden's herd has a high EBI herd, with high solids of fat and protein, he said. They have a split calving system of 30% in the autumn and 70% in the springtime.

That's necessary, we need that for the supply pattern for Tirlan for the winter milk contract and also to get the quality right to have the lactose levels high, etc, which is so important for the cream going into Baileys, Mr Hayden said.

He has milked millions of cows on the farm in the past 48 years  looking after the animals is his great passion in life.

Christmas carols

Mr Hayden garnered much positive attention a few years ago for playing Christmas carols to the cows, saying that there are great benefits for the herd.

I know for most people they see the cows in the field, theyre black and white, four legs, tail and a head. If thats all people like myself saw, we probably would have given up the ghost a long time ago, he said.

They are a wonderful gift of nature. Theyre a beautiful creature, I always say they give back four times everything you give to them.

It is that relationship with the animals and it's the great opportunities that we have today through science-based breeding that we have wonderful, healthy, productive, fertile cows.

Mr Hayden said his cows were very happy because they are at one with nature, out on pasture night and day for most of the year.

Now science is telling us they are happy because we can actually measure that happiness through measuring the somatic cells in the milk, he said.

The somatic cell level is an indication of stress or subclinical infection in the cow's life.

So by that constant monitoring, and then doing a monthly check on each cow, we can profile the stress levels of every cow.

Joe Hayden believes Baileys has done a lot of good for the Irish dairy industry in terms of promotion, and also helping Tirlan suppliers in becoming more sustainable producers. Picture: Moya Nolan

Stress has a huge impact on the shelf life of a product, when somatic cell counts are high.

The happier the cow, the better the quality of the milk, the better the premium a farmer will attract, and the better the taste of Baileys in the end  everyones a winner, according to Mr Hayden.

We all need to do whats right. Regardless of economics, ethical farming is so important," he said.

However, Mr Hayden added: Im not suggesting for a moment we're perfect, we are imperfect.

But with a whole-of-industry approach to doing things better, we are the envy of the world.

The farm engages with thousands of people a year through activities such as farm visits, according to Mr Hayden.

Many food and farm study groups from all over the world come here to the Baileys farm, to see with this immense curiosity this great story and want to engage with a farmer, spend time with the cows, and just see the reality of it for themselves, according to Mr Hayden.

'Immensely rewarding'

It's immensely rewarding."

Mr Hayden believes Baileys has done a lot of good for the Irish dairy industry in terms of promotion, and also helping Tirlan suppliers in becoming more sustainable producers.

Here at the farm, we're very proud to be associated with them, he said.

Were not just reaching out to the other farmers, were touching the hearts and the minds of consumers all over the world.

When those consumers come in their busloads to see the home of Irish Baileys, Mr Hayden said he could stand in his field with the Baileys ladies and feel excitement for this adventure he is on, and it is a quite humbling, and wonderful experience meeting fellow lovers of the liqueur.
Farmers will protest in Co Cork on Friday over the upcoming changes to Ireland's nitrates derogation.

The Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) Cork Central branch has organised a protest starting at 11am in Carrigaline.

"We'll be proceeding down the main street in Carrigaline," Cork Central IFA chairman Conor O'Leary said.

"We'll have a number of cows with us and we'll be stopping at Simon Coveney's office first, and we'll be stopping at Michael McGrath's office second. We'll be handing in a letter.

"We're going to leave there and go to the Tanaiste's [Micheal Martin] office to do the same."

Commissioner's meeting

Members of the IFA recently attended a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius at the Department of Agriculture, an event which failed to bring about any flexibilities to the reduction of the upper limit of the derogation from 250kg of organic nitrogen per hectare to 220kg.

IFA national environment chairman Paul OBrien said after the meeting that it is "completely unreasonable to expect farmers to reduce their stocking rate to 220kg by the end of this year" to comply with the January 1 timeline of implementation of the new rules.

"Farmers made the decision to put their cows in calf last spring before any decision was taken. It is unreasonable and not in line with good animal welfare to now expect farmers to cull these in-calf cows," Mr O'Brien said.

'Allowing us no time'

Conor O'Leary told the Irish Examiner that the commission is "allowing us no time" to become compliant and for farmers "to calve down these cows and then get them out of the system".

"Our ask is that we'll be allowed to calve the cows on our farms and have a logical, planned reduction," Mr O'Leary said, saying this would be the "moral" way to do it.

Farmers are also asking for a "phased-out period", to have 12 months to adjust their farms to the 220kg limit.

Mr O'Leary said that TDs "seem to understand what we're asking" for, however, he feels the European Commission's "diktat" is for farmers to "just suck it up and get there by January 1".

"What we're really concerned about is that it looks like our Government has no say in how Europe is going to regulate us," he added.

IFA poultry chairman Nigel Sweetnam has asked farmers to turn out to the protest on Friday to show "strength" in numbers.

"It's critically important that we send this strong message tomorrow to the Government that farmers have had enough and expect better," Mr Sweetnam said.
Dyson Supersonic in Blue Blush

Ive avoided Dyson hair products for so long, refusing to pay that much for a hairdryer.

But after years of bleaching and dyeing my hair, Ive come to the conclusion that I need to protect it.

And quite likely, you do too. Dyson technology temperature-regulates 40 times a second, meaning the heat from its tools will never spike, as it can on others.

The new clips, too, were perfected over the course of six years to ensure they will never damage your hair.

Remember those times youve had to rip hair out to untangle a hair tie or convoluted clip? Never again.

399.99, Brown Thomas

Universal Glow Treatment, Poco Beauty

Pippa OConnors beauty brand Poco Beauty launched earlier this month with three hero products, one of which blew the minds of Irish beauty fans for its texture and delicate glow; Universal Glow Treatment with SPF 30.

Similar to Charlotte Tilburys Wonder Glow, Universal Glow Treatment can be used as a primer, illuminator or highlighter.

Et Al Limited Edition Brush Set, 100, monicatolan.com

Et Al Limited Edition Brush Set

I recently learned about Et Al, the wholly sustainable brand that makeup artists and celebrities are very taken with.

While the products are beautiful  and refillable and recyclable  its the brushes Ive been drawn to of late.

Super soft, with just the right density and packaged with a solid brush cleaner, dare I say this is a foolproof kit for anyone trying to do their bit.

Act + Acre, Stem Cell Serum, 88, Millies

Act + Acre, Stem Cell Serum

Another brand Ive come across while trying to save my scalp from overprocessing is Act + Acre, a trichologist-developed scalp care brand created to treat scalp concerns and support overall hair wellness with natural ingredients.

Though not new (theyve repeatedly sold out of Sephora in the US and won countless awards) the product line is newly available in Irish stores.

And for good reason, Ive noticed an inch of growth in the past month of using it.

88, Millies

Instamelt Day Dissolver Wipes, Conserving Beauty, 27.10, Cult Beauty

Instamelt Day Dissolver Wipes, Conserving Beauty

I havent (and hope you havent either) used a face wipe in years because fatbergs are not part of my four-step routine.

But I do miss them when in a rush. At last, Aussie brand Conserving Beauty has done the unthinkable and created dissolvable face wipes for gals on the go.

On application, theyre oily enough to get rid of everything while also leaving skin feeling hydrated.

Then, when you hold it underwater, it disappears.

27.10, Cult Beauty

Aveeno Skin Relief Gift Set (18.65, McCabes Pharmacy)

The best beauty buys right now under 30
While 2023 has been an excellent year for new car arrivals, 2024 looks to be an even more exciting 12 months.

With a host of important new arrivals  from low-cost electric cars to flagship V12 supercars  due to arrive in Ireland, the UK and the rest of Europe. But what are the most important arrivals expected and are they worth waiting for? Lets take a look.

Dacia Spring

If youve wanted a low-cost new electric car in Ireland, your options have been surprisingly limited. But that will change in 2024 with the arrival of the Dacia Spring. While its been on sale in other European countries for several years, this is the first time it will be sold in Britain.

Dacia promises a substantially updated version when it does arrive in the middle of 2024.

Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer.

Ford has been somewhat lagging behind many competitor brands when it comes to EVs, currently just having one electric car available. But in 2024 Ford will introduce the Explorer  a new mid-size electric SUV thats expected to prove popular.

The Explorer, which is based on Volkswagens electric architecture, will be produced in the same factory where the Fiesta was discontinued earlier in the year, though the new SUV has already been delayed. It should arrive by next summer.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Up until now, manufacturers have struggled to make electric cars feel truly engaging, but that looks to change with the arrival of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N next year. The South Korean firm has already proven itself when it comes to EVs and performance cars and should be on to a winner by combining the two for the first time.

Hyundai has introduced numerous features to help liven up the experience, including simulated gearshifts, and with 641bhp, it isnt exactly short of performance. Its a real one to watch out for in 2024.

Lamborghini Revuelto

Lamborghini Revuelto.

From electric cars, we arrive at monstrous V12 supercars with the Lamborghini Revuelto  the long-awaited replacement for the famed Aventador. But even this supercar now adopts electrification, courtesy of a plug-in hybrid setup.

This primarily serves to boost performance rather than efficiency, however, with the Revuelto developing a monstrous 841bhp. It features the typically outlandish Lamborghini design and will be one of the most wild arrivals to the new car market in 2024.

MG Cyberster

MG Cyberster.

MG is a brand that continues to grow in Ireland, with sales continuing to climb exponentially. Its so far focused on more run-of-the-mill cars and affordable EVs but is now looking to add some spark back with performance models  principally the Cyberster.

Due to arrive in time for the summer, the Cyberster looks to revive MGs performance car status, though the principle difference will be that this stunning two-seat roadster is powered by electric this time.

Mini Cooper

Mini Cooper.

One new car many will be looking forward to in 2024 is the arrival of the new Mini Cooper. This iconic British car returns for a new generation, and gains quite the styling revamp with a cleaner, less fussy design and high-tech interior.

Production will continue to take place in Oxford for the petrol models, though Mini will also offer an impressive new next-generation of its electric model (built in China for the time being), bringing a substantial uplift in the range  the firm claims up to 400km.

Range Rover EV

Range Rover EV.

Land Rover is now one of the largest car firms that still doesnt sell an electric car, but that will change next year when the eagerly-anticipated Range Rover EV arrives. It will be sold alongside petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid versions of this flagship SUV.

Its yet to be revealed, and many details are still under wraps. Expect a huge battery capable of a range of around 560km, with no compromise when it comes to luxury or off-roading ability. We expect to see it revealed in the first part of 2024.

Renault 5

Renault 5.

One particularly interesting EV arriving in 2024 is the new Renault 5, as this French firm revives its classic nameplates for its next-generation electric cars. Already teased on numerous occasions in concept form, well get to see production models for the first time next year, with a reveal planned at Februarys Geneva Motor Show.

Expect a funky design, plenty of cool technologies and an enjoyable driving experience as the firms Renaullution gets into full swing. Renaults new electric Scenic SUV also arrives in 2024.

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq.

On a more sensible level, next year sees the introduction of a next-generation version of the Skoda Kodiaq  the largest model the firm sells. This large SUV has been a huge hit with families since its introduction, with this new model likely to continue that.

The new Kodiaq grows further in size, and continues to be available with seven seats. It will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain for the first time. Skoda will also introduce a new version of its flagship Superb in 2024 in what will be a very busy 12 months for the firm.

Volvo EX30

Volvo EX30.

The terms good value and premium SUV rarely go hand-in-hand, but Volvo is looking to change that with the arrival of the EX30 in 2024. It will be the Swedish firms first bespoke electric car, and is expected to prove a big hit.

It will also be the smallest Volvo model available, but still offer plenty in the way of technology, quality and a range of up to 480km. At the other end of Volvos spectrum, its flagship EX90 SUV is expected to be introduced right at the end of 2024.
The 28th annual UN Climate Change Conference (Cop28) takes place in Dubai from November 30 until December 12. Here are some things you should know about the climate event:

What is Cop?

Cop or Conference of the Parties is an international climate meeting held each year by the United Nations. The event brings international governments together to analyse and review how climate change is handled on a local and global scale.

It is the principal decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an agreement made by 197 nations to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change.

The Cop meets every year, unless the parties decide otherwise. The first Cop meeting took place in 1995 in Berlin, Germany.

Who can attend?

This year, more than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend Cop28, including the member states of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Climate scientists, business leaders, young people, journalists, Indigenous peoples, and various other experts and stakeholders  including charities and NGOs  are among those in attendance.

Despite attracting worldwide attention, the event is not open to the public.

However, many of the events are broadcast live and free to watch virtually.

Who hosts Cop?

Cop is hosted by a different country every year. The host is generally chosen on rotation from one of the UNs five regional groups.

These groups consist of African States/African Group, Asia-Pacific Group, Eastern European States Group, Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC), and Group of Western European and Other States. (WEOG).

The hosts role is important in trying to push a deal over the line to benefit their country.

What has come out of previous events?

The very first Cop event, Cop1, was hosted in 1995 and marked the first global commitment to tackling climate change.

At that event, the registrars agreed to meet annually to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent excessive global warming.

At Cop21, held in Paris in 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted by 195 Cop member states. .

Each country agreed to limit global temperatures to well below 2C in comparison with pre-industrial levels and ideally below 1.5C.

All countries agreed to create national plans setting out how much they would reduce their emissions. These were known as Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs.

Cop26, held in Glasgow in 2021, is also regarded as one of the most important Cops of recent years, where participating countries reflected on the progress made following the Paris Agreement.

Before the event, many nations made promises to reach net zero, meaning greenhouse gas emissions are cut back as close to zero as possible. The UAE made a commitment to achieve this by 2050.

However, many were left disappointed after the event, with the Glasgow Climate Pact that 197 countries agreed to at the end of the conference proving to be much weaker than earlier anticipated.

The countries agreed to commit to "phasing down" and not "phasing out" coal use, as hoped.
The Government is being urged to follow through on pledges made in 2020 to end the mental health crisis which is devastating the Irish Traveller community

The National Traveller Mental Health Network plans to stage a protest next Tuesday in Dublin calling for immediate action to support Irish Travellers

Senator Eileen Flynn said the network has been calling for action on the issue for many years. She pointed to statistics showing that 44% of Travellers have been affected by deaths by suicide in their immediate or extended family.

The Traveller community cant wait any longer, she said.

The Minister for Health and the Minister for Mental Health need to come together and deliver what was promised, and the time to do that is now. The minister has the power to do the right thing, Ms Flynn said.

She said the only way to tackle this crisis seriously is by listening to the Traveller community, and she urged implementing what was promised in October 2020 for this.

That programme for the government was published in October 2020, and were still waiting, she said.

We need a standalone national Traveller mental health strategy.

Mags Casey, chairwoman of the National Traveller Mental Health Network, which plans to stage a protest at Dail Eireann next Tuesday. Picture: Sasko Lazarov

The Programme for Government committed to publishing a Traveller and Roma mental health action plan.

While a National Traveller Health Action Plan 2022-2027 has been published, Ms Flynn called for more targeted action on mental health.

She said the most recent study by Behaviour and Attitudes also showed 90% of those surveyed agreed that mental health was a problem among the Traveller community.

Mags Casey, chairwoman of the National Traveller Mental Health Network, supported her calls for change. She said:

The conditions that Travellers are forced to live in and endure is due to a denial of human rights and lack of political will on successive Irish governments.

Over the last 50 years, she said Travellers have taken part in national committees, policy arenas, advisory groups and task forces.

These have, she said, made numerous recommendations without any real outcomes or change for Travellers in Ireland, and yet no one is held accountable for this.

She called for the Government to answer for the lack of progress, saying: we now call on the Taoiseach to take immediate action to address this situation for our people.

Ms Casey said the network is urging Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to meet with them.

She said he needs to explain why this situation has been allowed to continue unaddressed with no one answerable or held to account.

They highlighted the dire conditions in which Travellers live, and also queried the failures of successive governments to address this.

While the many research reports, recommendations, promises and commitments continue to go unimplemented ... the Traveller community  an indigenous ethnic minority group  are condemned to live in deplorable conditions with no hope of a future due to institutionalised racism and a lack of political will, the Network said.

The National Traveller Mental Health Network will protest outside the Dail on Tuesday from 12pm to 2pm.
A spokesperson for "concerned citizens" in Dromahair, Co Leitrim has denied reports of road blocks being established on Friday to prevent rumoured asylum seekers from arriving.

Protests had been held in Dromahair over the weekend due to the proposed housing of asylum seekers in the town. The protests, organised by a group known as Dromahair Concerned Citizens, have been held outside the Abbey Manor Hotel in the village.

Fiona McPadden told RTE radios Morning Ireland that there had been a lot of tension in the area when rumours started last Friday that buses were transporting 91 men from City West to the Abbey Manor hotel.

The previous Wednesday, November 22, a crowd of 400 residents of the village had gathered to raise their concerns, she explained. The organisers had asked people not to bring signs or placards and the event was very peaceful.

However, the protest on Friday night was attended by people we didnt know, she said, and the community was frustrated at the lack of communication and consultation by the Department of Integration.

There was a lot of tension at the gathering outside the hotel on Friday night, she said. The gardai were alerted, but it took an hour and a half for them to arrive from Manorhamilton.

Friday was a little bit different in that there was tension there. And there were also people that had arrived that we didn't know.

Gardai told the Irish Examiner earlier this week that they attended the scene of a public gathering on Friday, following reports from locals. Gardai are carrying out enquiries following reports of incidents related to this public gathering, a spokesperson said.

Efforts were made by local political representatives to get confirmation from the department, added Ms McPadden.

On Wednesday, when we had organised the gathering, it was organised very quickly and we had about 400 people arrive at the hotel. All residents from here. And we had asked them to come and not bring any signs or placards or banners or anything, that we just wanted to peacefully voice their concerns and have them acknowledged.

We didn't foresee that anything was going to happen very quickly. We knew the hotel was ready for occupancy, but we didn't expect refugees to arrive so quickly. And on Friday I had basically heard in the evening that rumours started going out that there was 91 on the way.

We were worried about 91 men. I mean, we're worried about 31 men coming up. But I suppose people were afraid and I suppose they were frustrated at the lack of communication and the lack of consultation. There didn't seem to have been any respect for the community and what had happened up to that point.

When asked if international protection applicants were welcome in Dromahair, Ms McPadden said Dromahair was not saying no to refugees, they just wanted the department to reconsider the numbers and to send families.

The population of the village was 939 in the last census, she said. A petition had recently been signed by 800 saying they would prefer families only.

We would like to have a say in who lives in Dromahair. We're very happy to welcome families here. Ms McPadden said the concern was that if people were put into a small building in any village you give them 38 a week and theres nothing to do, youre going to have issues regardless of where they come from.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has said he fully stands by Teagasc after the research body was accused of engaging in "climate denial over the so-called Dublin Declaration.

Asked by TD Paul Murphy at the Oireachtas climate committee on Thursday if he backed the Dublin Declaration  which Mr Murphy claimed is effectively an exercise in climate denial  Mr McConalogue said he stood by Teagasc.

Anything Teagasc is involved in and put their name to, they look at it with very strong scientific rigour. I fully back the work they are doing, the Agriculture Minister said.

Mr McConalogue said he disagreed the Dublin Declaration was a climate denialist exercise and that Teagascs work is very robust.

Last month, Teagasc said the contracts it holds with food businesses specifically preclude those companies from influencing the output of the bodys research activities.

The declaration states livestock systems, the reduction of which is broadly considered by scientists to be key to battling climate change, 'are too precious to society to become the victim of simplification, reductionism, or zealotry'.

It did so in the wake of a report in the Guardian last month claiming the Dublin Declaration, signed by more than 1,000 scientists and launched at a Teagasc-funded event at the Food Research Centre in Ashtown, West Dublin, in 2022, had numerous links to the livestock industry.

The declaration states livestock systems, the reduction of which is broadly considered by scientists to be key to battling climate change, are too precious to society to become the victim of simplification, reductionism, or zealotry.

Those claims have been strongly refuted by environmental scientists, who say the evidence is clear that high meat consumption should be curtailed to reduce high emissions from methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Meanwhile, the Oireachtas has declined to hold hearings into the role Teagasc played in the dissemination of the declaration, which has been used to lobby senior EU officials against environmental policies.

The Joint Committee on Agriculture has written to Green TD Neasa Hourigan to tell her it is proposing no further action in terms of Teagascs input to the declaration.

Ms Hourigan had written to both the Agriculture and Public Accounts Committees asking them to interrogate the fact that Teagasc, in majority-funding the October 2022 launch events 45,000 cost, had committed an allegedly hugely serious breach of basic standards around conflict of interest and the use of taxpayers money to further the agenda of industry lobbyists.

While the PAC recently elected to redirect Ms Hourigans request to the agriculture committee as it concerned a policy issue not related to the accounts of Teagasc, the latter has denied the request outright.

In response to that refusal, Ms Hourigan said the action effectively results in no oversight or questioning on the outlay of public money or industry lobbyists role in that spending.

She asked the agriculture committee to indicate in writing if it is of the opinion the money spent on the Dublin Declarations launch is insufficient to warrant investigation and that the committee has full confidence in the corporate and ethical governance of Teagasc and rejects any claims of lobbyist links to the organisation.

Teagasc, queried at the time as to the contents of the Guardian report, said when asked about the potential links between the declaration and the livestock industry that it routinely hosts international scientific conferences to bring together the latest science available on a particular topic, and to facilitate discussion around the science.

The agency did not directly respond to a query as to the scientific bona fides of the Dublin Declaration, but did acknowledge it receives funding from food companies, but that contracts are in place to ensure its output is not influenced by those relationships.
A verdict of misadventure has been returned at the inquest into the death of Irish Coast Guard advanced coxswain Caitriona Lucas in an incident off the Clare coast.

The unanimous verdict was issued by a jury before Limerick coroner John McNamara at Kilmallock Court. They also issued seven recommendations in relation to safety management, training and equipment used by the Irish Coast Guard.

Ms Lucas (41), an experienced member of Doolin Coast Guard and mother of two, died after the Kilkee Coast Guard Delta rigid inflatable boat (RIB) she was crewing on capsized during a search for a missing man on September 12, 2016.

She was the first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to lose her life during a tasking.

Marine expert Michael Kingston, representing the Lucas family, had sought a verdict of unlawful killing.

The verdict of unlawful killing was not one open to the jury on the facts of the case.

Ms Lucass family including her husband, Bernard, son Ben, and daughter Emma attended the hearing. In a statement afterwards on behalf of the family, her son Ben said a failure to have proper safety systems caused his mothers death. He said there were critical lessons to be learned, and the jury had made recommendations that should have been made seven years ago to protect life.

Ben Lucas criticised the delay in holding the inquest, and said that the preservation and production of evidence has been appalling. He said:

Irish Coast Guard management, the Attorney Generals office, and the Department of Transport did not act on a critical report in 2012 that instructed them to put in place a senior safety systems manager in the Irish Coast Guard that never happened, and my mother went to help others but was let down so terribly.

The hearing heard 28 depositions, including evidence that a recommendation for a safety systems manager at the Irish Coast Guard in 2012 was not implemented until 2018.

It heard that interpersonal issues, which had been reported to Irish Coast Guard management the previous March (2016), had led to a loss of experienced volunteers at the Kilkee unit  which meant flanking stations, including Doolin which Ms Lucas was a member of, were asked to help out.

It heard Ms Lucas was conscious in the water for 17 minutes after the Kilkee Delta RIB was hit by a wave and capsized in a shallow surf zone at Lookout Bay off Kilkee, and that a second RIB owned by the Kilkee unit could have reached the area to effect a rescue of all three on board within 10 minutes.

However, after Kilkee deputy officer-in-charge Orla Hassett called for that D-class RIB to be launched, two of her colleagues left the scene. She had to requisition a privately owned vessel which rescued one of the three, Kilkee volunteer Jenny Carway.

In a statement given to the inquest on Thursday, Kilkee volunteer Lorraine Lynch, who had been at the station with Ms Hassett when a Mayday alert was relayed, said that she was told by Martony Vaughan as officer-in-charge (OIC) to come with him in the jeep to the cliff walk.

Kilkee Delta RIB coxswain James Lucey, was rescued some hours later by the Shannon Coast Guard helicopter, which also airlifted Ms Lucas on board earlier and flew her to Limerick University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The inquest heard that the cause of Ms Lucass death was due to drowning, but a head injury which could have caused temporary loss of consciousness was a contributory factor.

Rescue delay

Summing up for the jury, Limerick coroner John McNamara said it appeared there was a brain drain in relation to the Kilkee unit and some confusion about the command structure of the unit.

He said that Ms Hassett had put it quite succinctly that this was not relevant when three people were available to launch a second RIB to effect a rescue.

He recalled that evidence had been heard about previous recommendations, including those in an appendix to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) inquiry into Ms Lucass death relating to a previous incident in a surf zone off Inch, Co Kerry, in 2014.

He said that the Kilkee unit was not aware of those Inch recommendations, and he noted evidence from Health and Safety Authority (HSA) inspector Helen McCarthy that there was no site specific risk assessment of the area where the capsize occurred and no map of hazardous areas at the Kilkee station.

Mr McNamara said it is clear that if Ms Lucass helmet had remained on, it may have avoided the head injury that she sustained.

He said it was unfortunate that her drysuit, which had filled with water, was not available for inspection by the HSA or its experts.

The coroner said that we dont know what the outcome would have been if the Kilkee D-class RIB had been launched, but Mr Kingston had established from drone footage that there was a window of 17 minutes.

Ms Hassett, an experienced volunteer, felt they could have attempted a successful rescue, he said, and he paid tribute to her presence of mind and that of Garda sergeant John Moloney in requisitioning a civilian vessel which rescued Ms Carway.

This occurred within an emergency situation, with a lot of pressure on everyone involved, he said. He also commended those who had recorded the drone footage.

The jury of four men and three women issued seven recommendations related to safety,equipment, training and implementation of previous reviews.

Condolences were expressed to the Lucas family by the coroner, Gardai, legal representatives of both sides and the HSA.

The jury at the Caitriona Lucas inquest made seven recommendations that:

Each Coast Guard station should take appropriate steps to ensure Irish Coast Guard volunteers are aware of relevant exclusions for Coast Guard vessels and where possible display same clearly at the base station;

An immediate ongoing review of training of Coast Guard volunteers/staff should provide up-to-date training for capsize incidents;

An ongoing review should take place of suitability of all safety gear, including helmets, to ensure safety in operational conditions;

There should be urgent implementation/education of all lessons learned and recommendations of all reviews into Coast Guard incidents;

Measures should be taken to ensure that all Coast Guard vessels are fitted with voyage data recorders;

There should be establishment of an appropriate centralised safety management/portal for identified risk issues on a confidential basis;

And the Irish Coast Guard should consider ongoing training for the officer-in-charge (OIC) and deputy OIC as appropriate at units.

This article was updated on December 12, 2023.
A 38-year-old man charged with stealing an e-scooter in Cork City made a noisy appearance at Cork District Court on Wednesday.

Paul Russell, of Presentation Place, Gurranabraher, Cork, is charged that on August 30 at Parnell Place, Cork, he stole the electric scooter valued at 400.

Consulting with his solicitor, Eddie Burke, Judge Dorgan told Mr Russell to sit down over there as his consultation was becoming all too audible.

He replied to the judge: No bother, girl.

After a moment, he corrected the manner of his address: Your honour, your honour.

However, minutes later he was on the move in Courtroom 1 at Anglesea Street again and addressing the court presenter, Sergeant Pat Lyons, who was dealing with another case: Well Pat, how are ya, boy?

A garda who was on duty in the courtroom asked the accused to stay outside the door until his case was called.

Mr Russell replied: Stay out for what? Dont be fucking bullying me at all.

When his case was called, he walked quickly back into court, addressing the judge as his case was being discussed: Ill throw my hand up on the Bible.

The only issue to be decided at that stage was whether he was entitled to free legal aid. He said: Im on job seekers. Youre meant to get 220. I only get 200.

The judge granted free legal aid and adjourned the case until February 21, 2024, for him to decide if he is going to plead guilty or not guilty.

Judge Dorgan said to the accused: Thank you for coming to court.

On a court visit where Mr Russell even offered some advice to a group of transition year schoolboys, the defendant said as he left the room  his voice ever-increasing in volume  Im gone, Im gone. Pat hates me. I dont want to be hog-walked out of court.
Property developer Michael OFlynn has won his legal battle against the personal insolvency arrangement (PIA) of former business partner John ODriscoll.

A ruling by the Supreme Court on Thursday could mean that the personal insolvency agreement of Mr OFlynns former business partner will have to go back before a court. The court heard that the PIA may have technically expired so what happens next will have to be considered.

The five-judge Supreme Court, with Mr Justice Donal ODonnell presiding, ruled that the O'Flynn appeal be allowed.

Delivering the judgment of the court Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne said there was nothing in the Personal Insolvency Act which precludes a creditor, who has not proved his or her debt when requested to do so by the PIP, from doing so at a later stage.

The courts decision will have ramifications for all future cases. The Supreme Court had agreed to hear Michael O Flynns appeal because it raised a matter of general public importance.

Mr OFlynn had appealed a High Court ruling of 2022 preventing him from objecting to the Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) made in favour of his neighbour Mr ODriscoll from Ovens, Co Cork. Mr John ODriscoll is a brother of Mick ODriscoll the former Irish rugby international.

Grounds for O'Flynn's appeal

The Supreme Court appeal which was heard over a day at the Four Courts earlier this year, centred on the interpretation of the 2012 Personal Insolvency Act, the meaning of the word creditor, and Mr OFlynns entitlement to raise an objection.

Mr OFlynns side contended the appeal raised issues of great significance to every creditor in every single insolvency application and affects the position of creditors in objections under sections of the Act. It said the appeal mandated an analysis of rights of creditors to object whether they proved their debt or not.

During the appeal, Bernard Dunleavy, SC for Alan McGee, ODriscolls personal insolvency practitioner (PIP) was asked what would happen if the Supreme Court appeal was successful.

Mr Dunleavy said it would expose the PIA, which the court heard had been approved last year,  to be unravelled and it would have to go back to the Circuit Court for further hearing.

Mr OFlynn claims that Mr ODriscoll allegedly owes him over 750,000 and was allegedly not insolvent when Mr O'Driscoll sought and was granted a PIA by the courts.

Mr OFlynn claims that he advanced a loan to a pub business Mr ODriscoll was involved in. As a result, it is claimed that Mr ODriscoll became a signatory to a 2.2m loan guarantee in favour of the developer, and that the two became shareholders in the business.

Mr ODriscoll rejects the claim that he was not insolvent. In July 2022. the High Court, upholding a decision previously made by the Circuit Court, ruled that Mr OFlynn had no right to be heard in relation to the ODriscoll PIA.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens agreed that Mr OFlynn lacked the locus standi to be heard because, despite being invited by Mr ODriscolls Personal Insolvency Practitioner to file a proof of debt, he did not do so.

The O'Flynn side had argued before the Supreme Court the developer was still a creditor as he had not gone through a process. His counsel Marthin Hayden SC said in the PIA Michael OFlynn was there with debt not proven 1 opposite his name. It was marked as a contingent liability.

Counsel said his side would claim that Mr ODriscoll was not insolvent at the time.

Supreme Court ruling

The Supreme Court ruled Mr O'Flynn had the requisite locus standi to lodge an objection to a PIA.

The judge said had the Oireachtas wished to exclude a creditor from proving their debt one would have expected that this would have been done in express terms by means of specific prohibition in the 2012 Insolvency Act and not in some indirect or oblique fashion.

She was satisfied, in the absence of express language to the contrary, a creditor in the position of Mr O'Flynn had the requisite locus standi to lodge an objection to a PIA.

In a statement outside court Michael O'Flynn said he had not taken the step to appeal or object lightly.

The statement read: "Firstly, I wish to thank the Supreme Court for considering the appeal, and I separately now thank the court for the careful and detailed judgment on this important point of law for the entire personal insolvency regime.

"I am very pleased that the Supreme Court has now found that the PIP was incorrect in arguing that I was not entitled to object, and that the Circuit Court and High Court were incorrect in their findings.

"Whilst my rights have now been vindicated, it must be noted that I did not take the step to object or appeal lightly, especially considering the parties involved. "
WARNING: Some readers may find the following report upsetting

A mother-of-four with no previous convictions was jailed for life on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to murdering two of her children by setting fire to the car they were travelling in.

When asked by Mr Justice Paul McDermott if psychiatric reports had been sought in relation to "a particular course of action" prior to Lynn Eagar entering her guilty plea, the 49-year-old defendant's barrister said he had been instructed "not to put anything of that nature before you."

In a statement to the court, the father of Thelma (5) and Mikey Dennany (2) told how money he had saved to build an extension on their home so the children could have their own room was instead spent on burying them.

"I am nothing now but an empty shell. There's no purpose to life. I don't belong anywhere. I am an outsider looking in," he told the court.

The court heard that text messages sent by Eagar before she murdered her children showed a perception that it was in her interest and the interests of the children that, in her words, "they wouldn't hurt any more".

Thelma Dennany (5) and her little brother Mikey Dennany (2) died after their mother Lynn Eagar set fire to the car in which they were sitting. The court heard on Thursday that Thelma was so badly burned that people at the scene were not even aware she was in the back seat. Her little brother, who she adored, was pulled from the car but could not be saved.

Their mother was in the passenger seat and was pulled to safety by a passerby and suffered only "minimal burns", the court heard.

Michael Dennany, the father of both children, wrote a statement for the court that was read by Detective Inspector Thomas Quinn. Mr Dennany, his family and their supporters wept as they heard his words: "Thelma and Mikeys births were the two happiest days of my life.

"Being a daddy was something I thought I'd never experience, but holding Thelma for the first time, I was probably the most terrified but happiest man alive. I was smitten."

When Mikey arrived two-and-a-half years later, "Thelma was the best big sister," he said. "She wanted to do everything for himfeed him, change him, hold him. I thought she'd lose interest but no. From the moment they met, they were stuck together like glue: Fearless, mischievous partners in crime. I had so many plans, hopes and dreams for us. But all that's gone. All I'm left with are photos and memories. What ifs and if onlys."

When Mr Dennany left for work that day, his children were still asleep. He said: "I didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

I used to come home after work to a busy home. Full of noisy toys, giggles, and love. The toys are still there, but there's no noise, no giggle, no joy; nothing but silence, heartache, and despair.

"I miss Thelma and Mikey racing to meet me. Climbing into the jeep, unclipping my seatbelt for me. Talking over each other; asking where I was and what I had been doing. Before they died, I could count on one hand the number of times I'd criedand two of them were the days they were born. Now I am constantly crying or on the verge of it."

The day that they died, Mr Dennany had planned to go collecting chestnuts with his children after school. "We never got to do that," he said. "They were my life and their deaths have ripped the guts out of me. Daddy should have been there to protect them. When they needed me the most, I was useless. I am nothing now but an empty shell. There's no purpose to life. I don't belong anywhere. I am an outsider looking in."

Thelma loved school and football and "couldn't understand why they had to take weekends and holidays off. She was mad to learn to read and write." Her little brother was her "echo", Mr Dennany said. "He copied everything she did. He was nearly three. His little personality was only starting to shine. He loved tractors, diggersall machinery. And the two of them would spend hours in the jeep, playing taxifighting over whose turn it was to drive."

Garda liason officer Martina Walsh makes a statement on behalf of the victims' family in relation to the life in prison handed down to

He said he had hoped to see his children through school and "at a push to see them married, but I never thought I would bury them... The only comfort I have is that they are together forever."

Mr Dennany described the reminders of his children all over the house they shared. "Their handprints on the wall going up the stairs. Their fishing rods in the corner. An unused sitting room full of toys."

He recalled their excitement when he was preparing to build an extension to their home. "The spatter of red oxide paint on the gravel and paths about the house are a hard-wearing reminder of happier times, and a testament to Thelma and Mikey's messy efforts at painting."

"I thought we were making memories for them, similar to the one's I have of helping my father to build our house. Little did I know I was making happy memories for me. And it's those memories on lonely dark nights that chase the horror of their deaths away.

The extension never got built. They never got their own room. The money I had saved to build it was spent on burying them.

"Thelma and Mikey were beautiful. They always had a wave and a hello for everybody. That day robbed them of growing up. It robbed them of birthdays, communions, confirmations. Robbed us all. I miss my little rascals. I'm lost here without them. I'm only biding my time until we're together again. Given the chance to grow up, they mightn't have changed the world but they definitely would have made it a better place."

Ms Eagar also wrote a letter which was read out by her barrister Sean Gillane SC. She apologised to everyone she had hurt, for the "pain, horror and suffering" she had caused to her family and to her two "gorgeous children".

"Looking back, there were other avenues I could and should have travelled," she wrote. "I'm full of regret."

Lynn Eagar (49) with an address of Winetown, Rathowen, County Westmeath, was charged with the murders of Thelma (5) and Michael Dennany (2) at Lackan, Multyfarnham on September 9, 2022. With a barely audible whisper she pleaded guilty on Thursday morning when the two charges were put to her.

Day of the murders

Detective Inspector Quinn told prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC that Ms Eagar lived with Mr Dennany, their two children and two older children Ms Eagar has from a previous relationship. On the day of the murders, Mr Dennany left for work at about 6.30am and Ms Eagar dropped Thelma to national school and Michael to a preschool for toddlers.

Ms Eagar collected Michael at 12.15pm and Thelma at 2pm and was seen on CCTV driving around the area up to about 3pm. Shortly after 3pm Ms Eagar sent a number of texts at the same time to Mr Dennany and other members of her own family and Mr Dennany's family. She indicated later to gardai that she wrote the texts with the phone in airplane mode so that they were all sent together when she again connected the phone to the internet.

Those messages, Det. Insp. Quinn said, showed Ms Eagar's perception of difficulties in her own life and "a perception that it was in her interest and the interests of the children that, in her words, they wouldn't hurt any more."

Her phone stopped operating at about 3.05pm when the detective said it appears she set fire to the car, a blue Lexus.

Various members of the public arrived at the scene and immediately contacted the emergency services and gardai. A courier driver and a passerby tried to assist and pulled Ms Eagar from the front passenger seat. They could see Mikey "leaning on the armrest between the two front seats, like a statue, not making a sound."

Moments later the car, which was already burning, "burst into flames". Thelma, who had been in a car seat in the footwell between the rear seat and passenger side front seat, was "unrecognisable even as a person in the rear of the car," the inspector said.

There were "extensive and significant efforts to revive" Mikey but, the inspector said, "it was clear to first responders that was not going to be successful."

Ms Eagar was brought to hospital having received "minimal burns to 12% of her body," Det. Insp. Quinn said.

Arrest and detention

She was arrested on September 21 and interviewed by gardai. During those interviews she admitted that she had set the car alight, causing the deaths of her children. She said she brought a red plastic can filled with petrol from the shed of her home, placed it in the rear footwell and dropped a lit fire-lighter into it to start the blaze.

An expert report by UK specialist Barry Kent concluded that Thelma was in a child's seat in the rear passenger side footwell between the front and back seats. Mikey had been in the space between the two front seats facing the back of the car. Mr Kent said the fire began in the rear passenger compartment by the passenger side door.

Ms Eagar has no previous convictions and has been in custody since September 22 last year. In December last year she was transferred to the Central Mental Hospital.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott asked if psychiatric reports had been sought in relation to "a particular course of action" prior to Ms Eagar entering her guilty plea. Mr Gillane, representing Ms Eagar, said that this is a case "where there are sensitivities and I am instructed not to put anything of that nature before you."

With a barely audible whisper Lynn Eagar pleaded guilty on Thursday morning when the two charges were put to her.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice McDermott said that the court is "not a place where the devastation and loss and grief that is clearly caused by these offences can in any way be diminished. Life is precious and these two young lives, these two children have lost theirs, causing the utter loss and grief which has been expressed and is evident from those who knew and loved these children and engaged with them during their short lives."

He explained that his jurisdiction is limited to the "mandatory sentence of life which I now impose. It will do little to reduce the suffering and loss of those here but that is the order of the court." He imposed a life sentence in respect of each count of murder.

"I can only express my commiserations to everyone concerned and to all who loved and cherished Thelma and Mikey," he concluded.

Outside court, Gda Martina Walsh read out a statement on behalf of the family, which read: Thelma and Michael were happy fun-loving children overflowing with love and mischief. Had they grown up they might have changed the world because they changed ours.

Their absence has cast a shadow on our lives. That shadow is testament to the brightness of their light. We are utterly lost without them.
A Cork woman who has been caring for her husband following a life-altering car accident has been named Family Carer of the Year.

Breda Morrissey from Ballyvolane, Co Cork, was applauded for her work in caring for her husband Timmy at the annual awards ceremony in Dublin, hosted by Miriam O'Callaghan.

Following an abrupt knock on the door by two gardai in 1999, Ms Morrissey learned Timmy became a quadriplegic due to severe head injuries sustained during the accident and a subsequent fall in the hospital.

However, Ms Morrissey was determined not to let this setback define their family.

"Breda, amidst the chaos of hospitals and rehabilitation centres, balanced caring for him and tending to their children at home," said a statement.

"Determined to bring Timmy home, she tirelessly transformed the house by setting up a bed in the sitting room where she slept next to him for years and tended to his every need  dressing, feeding, and providing constant care  a commitment that continues unabated."

"Despite offering her unwavering support to her husband, Ms Morrissey receives no assistance or financial support, no medical card to ease the burden and navigates the complexities, challenges, and hugely physical demands of caring entirely on her own.

"The lack of support meant that not only did Breda worry about basic necessities like food, she was also left solely responsible for arranging essentials such as wheelchairs, bed modifications and physiotherapy," added the statement.

Ms Morrissey has remained an unwavering pillar of support, not only for her husband but also for her sister, who she cared for during a 10-month battle with cancer.

Breda Morrissey and her husband Timmy. Picture: Mark Stedman

The Netwatch Family Carer of the Year Awards shine a light on the work of family carers, acknowledging their contributions and unwavering support within our communities.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Family Carers Ireland head of communication Catherine Cox said: "Bredas story is not merely a tale of personal endurance, but a poignant reflection of the untold sacrifices made by countless family carers across the country. Her resilience and selfless commitment are an inspiration to us all.

While these awards highlight the exceptional commitment of a few, they truly celebrate the entirety of Ireland's family carers who consistently go above and beyond to care for their loved ones.

As a society, it's imperative that we not only listen to their stories, but also recognise the indispensable role played by family carers and provide the necessary supports and services to enable them to care safely at home.

Five young carers were also celebrated during the event, with 17-year-old Lyrath Dooley from Castletownbere, Co Cork, claiming the Munster Young Carer of the Year award, in recognition of her care for her mother.

Conor Byrne, 19, from Wicklow, won the Leinster Young Carer of the Year, followed by Laura Keelan, 12, from Dublin, who was crowned Dublin Young Carer of the Year.

Cillian McCarthy, 10, from Galway was named Connacht Young Carer of the Year while Cameron Mills, 12, from Monaghan, was recognised for his care for his father with the Netwatch Ulster Young Carer of the Year award.
Fianna Fail is to "engage" with a Limerick-based councillor who said that the rioters in Dublin last week should be "shot in the head".

Limerick west councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder told a meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) on Monday that he would "like to see them shot in the head or bring the public in and beat them until they die".

He was immediately challenged and withdrew the remarks, saying that it had been merely a show of his emotions on the issue.

At an event in Dublin, the party's TD for Dublin West and minister for road safety, Jack Chambers, said his party would "engage" with Mr Talukder, whose comments he called "completely inappropriate". He said that he welcomed the withdrawal of the comments.

At the same event, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that she did not regret her use of the term "scumbags" to describe those who engaged in violence in Dublin last week.

"I said what I said yesterday, it's language that I would not normally use but I was reflecting the actions that we saw on Thursday night.

I have strong feelings on what happened and I think the people responsible for the violence and absolute thuggery that we saw last Thursday night, they need to be brought to justice.

"What I said was a reflection of the actions that we saw."

Ms McEntee was asked by The Irish Examiner if it is incumbent on politicians to moderate the language being used. In the Seanad on Wednesday, her party colleague Sean Kyne had said that the public felt those involved needed a good, honest, decent beating.

Ms McEntee said her choice of words was referring solely to the actions that had occurred last Thursday. She added that she is committed to "getting to the root causes" but said that she would not "create excuses" for those who took part.

Ms McEntee added that she will seek a meeting with the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. She told the Dail on Wednesday that the company had not taken down posts which were felt to have exacerbated the situation last week.

When [X] did not take down content on Thursday it added to, and I think, fuelled some of what happened. I would like to engage with them on what they plan to do moving forward.

She said that Ireland is moving towards a society where we dont have self-regulation with these types of companies. I think thats a good thing.

There has been engagement between An Garda Siochana and social media companies, not just on Thursday, but since then, but I will be seeking to meet with X myself because I think the company has a responsibility to be responsible.
Earlier this week, amid media fanfare, a jet aircraft left Londons Heathrow Airport for New York, a journey that would, according to the UKs Department for Transport, make guilt-free flying a reality.

This is the first such flight, powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuels, a combination of technologies the industry hopes will help to clean up its image as a major polluter and allay growing public disquiet over sky-high aviation emissions.

The flight was fuelled by around 50 tonnes of substances including tallow and cooking oil, and its timing, just ahead of the opening of the Cop28 intergovernmental climate conference in Dubai on Thursday, was no coincidence.

With 2023 already almost certain to be the hottest year in recorded historyand quite probably the hottest in around 125,000 yearsand devastating extreme weather events being witnessed all around the world, the heat is on corporations as well as governments to show that they are, finally, getting serious about tackling the unfolding climate emergency.

In that sense, the Heathrow flight is the perfect metaphor for where we now stand. All the sustainable aviation fuel available worldwide would, in total, provide barely one tenth of 1% of the fuel needed for global aviation, and scaling this up dramatically is, experts believe, next to impossible.

SUSTAINABILITY & CLIMATE Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists.

But what really matters here are the optics. Images and articles about this supposed breakthrough have been published all around the world, allowing the industry to claim that technology will solve the problem of ever-expanding aviation.

You will hear a lot of talk over the coming days from Dubai about techno-fixes for our most acute climate, ecological and biodiversity problems, yet how many sectors are prepared to address the central reality, which is that humanity is over-consuming finite resources and, in the process, heating up the planet dangerously while creating an epic global pollution crisis?

Confidence in this years Cop process has not been improved by the fact that the meeting is being hosted by a major oil exporter, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has appointed Sultan Al Jaber (pictured), chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as president of Cop28. File photo: AP/Kamran Jebreili

Confidence in this years Cop process has not been improved by the fact that the meeting is being hosted by a major oil exporter, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has appointed Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, as president of Cop28.

While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has mandated countries to agree measures leading to an overall 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 (Ireland remains an international laggard, on track for only 29% cuts at most) it has been revealed that the UAE intends to sharply ramp up its oil production in the coming years.

This is hardly the most promising of backdrops for the hosts of Cop28 to be guiding global climate talks. And in recent days, plans by the UAE to use its role as host of the conference to negotiate new oil and gas deals were leaked to the BBC, leaving the distinct impression that the climate fox is now in charge of the henhouse.

The extent to which the global fossil fuel industry is a massive obstacle to climate action is underlined by the recent revelation that just 1% of global investment in renewable energy comes from this sector, despite its vast wealth and energy expertise.

Last year, amid war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices, the fossil fuel industry reported record revenues of $5 trillion, while welching on previous green promises. The irony for oil-rich countries such as the UAE is that, if climate action fails, much of the Middle East is projected to be too hot for human habitation later this century.

Despite these formidable setbacks, the Cop process, which has been running every year since 1995, is still critically important in the battle to tackle the climate emergency. This annual meeting is by far the largest intergovernmental gathering, and it serves to put climate change firmly on the political and media agenda at least once a year.

While some Cops produce little of substance, there are also breakthrough years. The last and most significant was in 2015, with the signing of the Paris Agreement. This saw the nations of the world commit to keeping global warming to well below the dangerous 2C level, and to work to limit the increase to 1.5C.

These new and much lower emissions limits reflect advances in scientific understanding around the sensitivity of the global climate system to even seemingly minor temperature increases.

One of the key instruments created in Paris was the global stocktake, a mechanism to assess each countrys progress towards meeting its emissions targets. The first formal evaluation takes place as part of Cop28, and will be used to shape new and more ambitious nationally determined contributions from each country.

A United Nations report published in September confirmed that the world is still not on track to meet the Paris Agreement targets on limiting emissions. While this might suggest that the Cop process is a pointless annual jamboree on the scale of Electric Picnic, in reality it has made some concrete achievements.

Climate campaigners from the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition outside the Dail warning the Government that it must not let climate-wrecking fossil fuels be the ELEPHANT in the room at the Cop28 UN Climate Talks. Theyre calling on the Irish Government to push for a global agreement to phase out fossil fuels in a fast and fair way that tackles climate change while leaving no one behind. Photo: Mark Stedman

A decade ago, the IPCC calculated that the world was on track for calamitous warming in the range of around 4C by 2100. This, in simple terms, would be apocalyptic for humans and most of nature. This warming estimate has since been reduced to around 2.5C as a result of actions and commitments made since Paris in 2015.

Without doubt, this remains an extremely dangerous level of global warming, but it is still much less severe than previously feared. Without the Cop process, it is almost inconceivable that progress on this scale could have been achieved.

However, the hellish extreme weather conditions experienced this year across multiple continents, with average global temperatures this year at just under 1.5C, underline how much risk lies ahead as temperatures ratchet to beyond 1.5C and towards 2C in the coming decade and more.

Rising temperatures combined with extreme weather are already pummelling global food production, with around one third of output at risk in the coming decades, according to recent research. For the first time, this years Cop will have a full day dedicated to food, water and agriculture.

Global food systems are also among the chief drivers of climate breakdown, with impacts accounting for at least a fifth of total global emissions. The UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is expected to call for significant cuts in meat and dairy production and consumption in wealthier countries such as Ireland.

No less than cutting fossil fuels, the massive hoofprint of the livestock sector, in terms of land use change, nitrogen pollution and methane emissions has to be significantly trimmed if crucial climate stabilisation and biodiversity goals are to be met. As with the global energy sector, a formidable agri-industrial lobby has to be faced down in the process.

While success can be difficult to gauge in international climate negotiations, what we know for sure is that we cannot afford Cop28 to fail.

Read More Wolverines set for US government protection amid climate change threat
The rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT is helping cybercriminals create more convincing sophisticated scams, cybersecurity experts have warned.

As ChatGPT marks the first anniversary of its launch to the public, a number of industry experts have said the technology is being leveraged by bad actors online.

They warn that generative AI tools for text and image creation are making it easier for criminals to create convincing scams, but also that AI is being used to help boost cyber defences by helping identify evolving threats as they appear.

James McQuiggan, security awareness advocate at cyber security firm KnowBe4, said the impact of generative AI, and the large language models (LLMs) which power them, was already being felt.

ChatGPT has revolutionised the threat landscape, open source investigations, and cybersecurity in general, he told the PA news agency.

With generative AI also lowering the technical barrier to creating convincing profile pictures, impeccable text and even malware, AI and LLMs like ChatGPT are increasingly being used to create more convincing phishing messages at scale

Cybercriminals leverage LLMs to generate well-written documents with proper grammar and no spelling mistakes to level up their attacks and circumvent one of the biggest red flags taught in security awareness programmes  the notion that poor grammar and spelling mistakes are indicative of social engineering email or phishing attacks.

Unsurprisingly, there have been increased sophistication and volume of phishing attacks in various styles, creating challenges for businesses and consumers alike.

With generative AI also lowering the technical barrier to creating convincing profile pictures, impeccable text and even malware, AI and LLMs like ChatGPT are increasingly being used to create more convincing phishing messages at scale.

The next generation of generative AI models are expected to start appearing in 2024, with experts predicting they will be significantly more capable than the current generation models.

Looking ahead to potential future uses of generative AI by bad actors, Borja Rodriguez, manager of threat intelligence operations at cyber security firm Outpost24, said hackers could develop AI tools to write malicious code for them.

Currently, tools like Copilot from GitHub help developers generate code automatically, he said.

Not far from that, someone could create a similar tool specifically to assist in creating malicious code, scripts, backdoors and more, aiding script kiddies (novice hackers) with low levels of technical knowledge to achieve things they werent capable of in the past.

LLMs such as ChatGPT and Bard have already reshaped the landscape

These tools will assist underground communities in executing complex attacks without much expertise, lowering the skill requirements for those executing them.

The rate of advancement of generative AI, and the general unknown potential of the technology for the years to come, has created an uncertainty around it, the experts say.

Many governments and world leaders have begun discussions on how to potentially regulate AI, but without knowing more about the possibilities of technology, piecing together successful regulation will be unlikely.

Etay Maor, senior director of security strategy at Cato Networks, said the issue of trust remained key in regard to LLMs, which are trained on large amounts of text data, and how they are programmed.

As the excitement surrounding LLMs settles into a more balanced perspective, it becomes imperative to acknowledge both their strengths and limitations, he said.

Users must verify critical information from reliable sources, recognising that, despite their prowess, LLMs are not immune to errors.

LLMs such as ChatGPT and Bard have already reshaped the landscape.

However, a lingering uncertainty persists as the industry grapples with understanding where these tools source their information and whether they can be fully trusted.
Author Omid Scobie has been accused of being behind a stunt to sell books during a television interview where he claimed never to have named the two race row royals in his expose.

This Morning co-host Craig Doyle quizzed the journalist about his royal family book Endgame, saying it seemed bizarre to the public two members of the monarchy, accused of racism by commentators, had been identified in the Dutch version of his book.

Copies of Mr Scobies book were pulled from the shelves in the Netherlands on publication day on Tuesday after two members of the royal family alleged to have raised concerns about the skin colour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son were named in it.

I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version

The names were widely shared on social media.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan took the decision to name the pair on his TalkTV show on Wednesday night, saying the British public had a right to know as Dutch readers were aware of their identities.

Mr Doyle asked his guest how the names appeared in the Dutch version of Endgame: That just seems bizarre to everybody out there because you dont accidentally put in a name, and you cant put it down to mistranslation, can you?

It does feel like a stunt to sell books  which I understand.

Piers Morgan has named the two race row royals (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Scobie said he wrote the English language version of his book but does not speak the other languages it was translated into, so the only time you hear about the book is once its come out in the public domain. Im as frustrated as everyone else.

He claimed: The reality, though, is that this is information that is not privy just to me, journalists across Fleet Street have known those names for a long time.

I have never submitted a book that had their names in it, so I can only talk about my version.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Harry and Meghan alleged an unidentified member of the monarchy  but not Queen Elizabeth II or her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh  had raised concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when hes born.

Mr Scobie states in his book that two people, not one as Meghan said, made the comment about Archie, widely interpreted as a racist remark.
Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute on Thursday to extend their ceasefire in Gaza by another day.

But any further renewal of the deal, which has seen dozens of hostages and prisoners released, could prove more challenging since Hamas is expected to demand greater concessions for many of the remaining captives.

As word of the extension came, gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main motorway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three and wounding several others, according to police.

The two attackers, brothers from a Palestinian neighbourhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed.

An Israeli warplane circles over Rafah on Thursday (Hatem Ali/AP)

Hamas said they were members of its armed wing and celebrated the assault, calling it a natural response to Israels actions in Gaza and elsewhere.

It is unclear if the attack was ordered by Hamass leaders or if it will have an impact on the truce.

International pressure has mounted for the ceasefire to continue for as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said my heart goes out to the victims of the Jerusalem attack.

Mr Blinken is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

This process is producing results. Its important and we hope that it can continue, he said.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, however, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.

Palestinians line up for food in Rafah, Gaza Strip (AP)

The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Qatar, which has played a key role in mediating with Hamas, said the truce was being extended on Thursday.

In the past, Hamas has released at least 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israels release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff, with Hamas saying Israel rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Israel later said Hamas submitted an improved list, but gave no details.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group.

US President Joe Bidens administration has told Israel it must operate with far greater precision if it expands the ground offensive to the south, where many Palestinians have sought refuge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home.

A mini-bus carrying Israeli hostages released by Hamas and Israeli military personnel arrives at the Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel, early on Thursday (Leo Correa/AP)

But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could quit his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

The initial truce  which began on Friday and has now been extended twice  called for the release of women and children.

Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who will all be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

It is not clear how many of the women might be soldiers.

For soldiers and the men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to push for comparable releases of Palestinian men or prominent detainees  a deal Israel may resist.

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.

So far, Hamas has released some men  mostly Thai labourers.

A Palestinian man sits in an armchair outside a destroyed building in Gaza City on Wednesday (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for the release of civilian men and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out.

Thus far, most Palestinians released have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of trying to attack soldiers.

Palestinians have celebrated the release of people they see as having resisted Israels decades-long military occupation of lands they want for a future state.

With Wednesdays releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual-nationals, have been freed during the six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken.

Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released.

Before the ceasefire, Hamas released four hostages and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details.

Israeli media say the 27-year-old attended a music festival where at least 360 people were killed and several others were kidnapped on October 7.

Images of human eyes are placed on empty chairs tied together in an art installation depicting hostages held by Hamas in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP)

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed more than 1,200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and captured around 240.

Authorities have only provided approximate figures.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The toll is likely much higher because officials have only sporadically updated the count since November 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under rubble.

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

During the pause in fighting, Palestinians in Gaza have been consumed by the search for aid and horror at the extent of destruction.

Residents described entire residential blocks as levelled in Gaza City and surrounding areas in the north. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of the city who, along with other volunteers, searched for the dead.

Released Israeli hostage Liat Binin Atzili on the phone with her family after being freed by Hamas (IDF/AP)

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 lorries a day. But humanitarian officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid.

More than one million displaced people have sought refuge in UN-run shelters, with many forced to sleep outside in cold, rainy weather because of overcrowding.

At a distribution centre in Rafah, large crowds line up daily for bags of flour but supplies run out quickly.

Every day, we come here, said one woman in line, Nawal Abu Namous.

We spend money on transportation to get here, just to go home with nothing.
Five Loikaw University staff, including the rector and his deputy, detained by resistance forces will be prosecuted for collaborating with Myanmars regime, according to the interim executive council of Karenni (Kayah) State.

More than 200 university staff and their families have been trapped inside the campus during junta shelling and airstrikes on the state capital since November 13 and street fighting with resistance groups.

Regime employees were evacuated by resistance forces, held in a safe location and provided with humanitarian assistance.

The Karenni council said a special investigation team probed those who collaborated with the regime ahead of possible legal action by the Department of Justice.

Three military relatives with strong ties to the regime will be transferred to a military court to be prosecuted, according to the statement.

No further details were made available.

The council said 193 people were deported out of Karenni State after signing a pledge to stand with the public and not to participate with the regime.

The junta accused resistance groups of abducting university staff and propaganda channels falsely reported that the rector and other senior staff had been killed.

Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun announced 193 staff had been released from detention and the regime will continue to push for the release of the remaining detainees.

The Karenni Army, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Karenni National Peoples Liberation Front and Peoples Defense Forces launched Operation 1111 on November 11 in support of Operation 1027 in northern Shan State.

The offensive has so far seized over 35 junta positions. At least 76 civilians, including 12 children, have been killed and many others wounded by junta bombardments, airstrikes and shooting in Karenni State since November 11, according to aid groups.
YANGONMyanmars former information minister was jailed on Wednesday for sedition and incitement against the military, a security source told AFP, weeks after he was arrested for spreading wrong information on social media.

Ye Htut was handed a 10-year sentence under two laws criminalizing incitement against the military and sedition following a trial in Yangons Insein Prison, a security source told AFP.

The source, who asked not to be named as they were not authorized to talk to the media, did not give further details.

Ye Htut had been arrested in October days after pro-junta Telegram channels accused him of exposing the address of a retired military officer.

He was information minister and presidential spokesperson under the military government of Thein Sein, which ceded power to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi following 2015s landmark elections.

Thein Seins administration permitted some economic and social liberalizationincluding granting Daw Aung San Suu Kyis opposition party access to mainstream politicsbut was also in power during waves of deadly religious violence.

Ye Htut earned the moniker the Facebook Minister at the time for his frequent posting on the social media network, which was among the countrys most popular.

Following his retirement he remained active on the platform, sharing details about his travels.

He last posted on Oct. 27 during a trip to Inle Lake, a popular spot for tourists.

In recent months the military, who have faced armed resistance since seizing power in a 2021 coup, have detained a number of trade and commerce officials as the conflict batters Myanmars already struggling economy.

Last month two allies of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing were jailed for 20 years each for corruption and abuse of power.
A Myanmar military fighter jet targeted a school and hospital in Sagaings Taze Township in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying school buildings and houses, according to locals.

The Ywar Shae village school and hospital were attacked twice by the warplane at 1.38 am.

The attacks occurred just hours after pro-junta Telegram channels urged junta forces to bomb Ywar Shae and neighboring Mae Zali Kone, alleging that the villages were harboring injured resistance fighters.

No civilian casualties were reported in the attack as villagers had fled when they heard the warplane approaching, said Htoo Khant Zaw, a spokesperson for the local Peoples Defense Comrades.

The second bomb narrowly missed the hospital but destroyed three houses nearby, he added.

These are not military targets. Moreover, there were no ongoing clashes in the village with Peoples Defense Forces, Htoo Khant Zaw told The Irrawaddy.

Ywar Shae is located in northern Taze Township, 19 kilometers from Taze Town.

Over 10,000 Taze civilians have abandoned their homes after being targeted by regime airstrikes and shelling following resistance attacks on junta bases in Taze town on Nov. 22, the spokesperson said.

Combined resistance forces say they tried to seize the towns police station on Wednesday but were forced to retreat by frequent junta airstrikes.

The Myanmar military has conducted at least six airstrikes during clashes in the town, a resistance fighter said. Around 70 junta soldiers from Ye-U Township were also airlifted to Taze Town as reinforcements, say resistance groups.

The juntas base in Taze town and Artillery Battalion 6006 in Kantbalu are currently shelling nearby Taze villages, a resistance fighter told The Irrawaddy.

A Taze resident was killed by a regime shell on Wednesday.

Anti-regime armed groups in Sagaing have joined the expanding resistance offensive that began in late October with Operation 1027 in northern Shan State.
YANGONMyanmars junta chief said on Wednesday foreign experts were helping ethnic minority armed groups in their widespread offensive against the military along the northern border with China.

Clashes have raged across Myanmars northern Shan State after an armed alliance of three ethnic minority groups launched surprise attacks against the military in October.

The groups have seized dozens of military positions and a town important for trade with China, in what analysts say is the biggest military challenge to the junta since it seized power in 2021.

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said foreign drone experts had been involved in attacks on military outposts last month in northern Shan State, according to a junta statement.

Ethnic minority rebels had been using drones with advanced technology to attack junta positions, he said without elaborating.

He did not specify which country the foreign experts were from.

The military had withdrawn from some positions in the face of attacks by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a member of the alliance, which used drones to drop bombs, he said, without giving details.

On Nov. 6 the brigadier-general of a light infantry battalion was killed in Monekoe near the China border in a blast from a bomb dropped by a drone, a military source told AFP.

Beijing is a major arms supplier and ally of the junta but ties have been strained in recent weeks over the juntas failure to crack down on online scam compounds that Beijing says target Chinese citizens.

Earlier this month protesters gathered at a rare demonstration in Yangon to accuse China of backing the ethnic minority alliance, in what analysts say was a move sanctioned by junta authorities.

Beijing has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the clashes in northern Shan State, home to oil and gas pipelines that supply China and a planned billion-dollar railway link.

Since deposing the democratic government in 2021, the military has struggled to quell armed resistance from civilian anti-junta Peoples Defence Force groups.

But the new offensivewhich has seized towns and blocked vital trade routes to key junta backer Chinaposes the biggest threat yet to the generals, analysts say.

Almost 200 civilians, including children, have been killed and nearly 335,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the offensive began on Oct. 27, according to the United Nations.
More than 30 years of control by Myanmars military has ended in the Konkyan Township of northern Shan State after an entire battalion of junta troops on Tuesday surrendered its base in the area to the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the ethnic army said.

The township is in the north of Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan State.

The victory is bigger than what we expected. We believe the military dictatorship of regime boss Min Aung Hlaing must be ended. We will keep fighting for that, MNDAA spokesperson Le Kyar Wen told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

All 186 soldiers in Light Infantry Battalion 125  along with junta police officers and pro-regime militia members and 86 family members of miliary troops  surrendered to the MNDAA and gave the army their base.

The surrender followed five days of fighting in which the MNDAA attacked and seized a number of smaller junta military bases in the area.

The battalions commander raised the white flag along with one of his soldiers on Tuesday. He asked the MNDAA to provide medical treatment for injured soldiers and to resettle their family members after they surrendered their weapons and base, according to the MNDAA.

On Monday, the head of Operation Command Headquarters 16 and about 100 junta troops fled attacks and abandoned another major base in the area.

Regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said on Wednesday that junta troops had to relocate to ensure the safety of their families in Konkyan Township.

Three entire military battalions have surrendered to the Brotherhood Alliance since it launched Operation 1027 across northern Shan State on Oct. 27. Its three members are the MNDAA, Taang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army.

Le Kyar Wen said many other regime troops had surrendered individually or in small groups since the launch of the offensive.

On Nov. 12, Light Infantry Battalion 129s entire force of 127 soldiers surrendered by transferring their base in northern Shan States Laukkaing Township, weapons and ammunition to the MNDAA and its allies.

Each regime soldier was given 1 million Kyats (about US$ 475) and evacuated to safety by the Brotherhood Alliance.

On Oct. 30, 41 troops from Light Infantry Battalion 143 also surrendered to MNDAA in northern Shan States Kunlong Township.

The regime has lost nearly 300 bases, over a dozen towns and control of the main trade routes between Myanmar and China since the launch of Operation 1027.
Myanmar junta warplanes attacked the Karenni (Kayah) state capital, Loikaw, on Wednesday to counter resistance advances, destroying many houses, according to volunteers.

The Kantarawaddy Times cited a Karenni Army representative saying that at least 60 junta airstrikes were carried out on Wednesday

The number of casualties is still unknown due to communication breakdowns.

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing told Wednesdays State Administrative Council meeting that his troops had retaken Loikaw.

But Marwi of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) on Thursday said the claims were false.

He previously told The Irrawaddy that the KNDF, Karenni Army, Karenni National Peoples Liberation Front and People Defense Forces had occupied half of the city, where they could move around freely.

On November 11, resistance forces launched Operation 1111 to liberate Karenni State.

Over 35 junta positions have been seized by resistance forces in Loikaw and neighboring Pekon Township in southern Shan State and more than 200 junta troops killed during the offensive, the KNDF said.

Fighting is ongoing in Daw Au Khu and Naung Yar wards in Loikaw as resistance forces continue to advance into the city center.

A Loikaw resident posted on Facebook: Fighting broke out in Daw Au Khu and Naung Yar wards on Tuesday. We heard gunfire and explosions from the outskirts of the city.

The regime is reportedly relying on shelling and airstrikes as its ground forces weaken.

Residents posted on Facebook about food and fuel shortages.

Since November 11, more than 40,000 Loikaw residents have left amid junta shelling, airstrikes and shooting.

Aid groups estimate that at least 76 people, including 12 children, have been killed and over 70 people injured by junta bombardments, airstrikes and shooting in Karenni State since November 11.
The Myanmar military regime has attempted to placate Beijing after authorizing anti-Chinese protests in Naypyitaw and Yangon a week ago. Each day from Monday to Wednesday, the regime repeatedly proclaimed its strong and amicable relationship with Beijing, saying the ties will only grow stronger over time.

Soon after Chinas Peoples Liberation Army launched military exercises on the border last Saturday, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun claimed the pauk-phaw (fraternal) relationship and strategic partnership between the two countries would never weaken. On Monday, he again claimed that the two neighbors continue to adhere to Chinas five principles of co-existence, and insisted that the bond is close and strong between the governments and armies.

Zaw Min Tun took the opportunity to condemn Washington for research papers published by US federal institution the United States Institute of Peace, accusing it of flagrantly interfering in the domestic affairs of Myanmar. On Wednesday, he again said the ties between the governments, armies and people of Myanmar and China will grow closer and stronger over time.

His statements followed the first ever junta-sponsored anti-Chinese protests on Nov. 19, in which junta-backed nationalists staged unprecedented protests against the Chinese government outside Yangon City Hall and the Chinese Embassy in Yangon while accusing Beijing of backing the Brotherhood Alliance, which has been delivering heavy defeats against regime troops in northern Shan State at the Chinese border.

Protesters accused Beijing of trying to destroy Myanmar by selling weapons to ethnic armed organizations based near the border in northern Myanmar, and to Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs). From Yangon City Hall, protesters marched to the embassy shouting anti-China slogans including, China, you have been meddling in the internal affairs of Myanmar. Dont try to exploit us. We monks and people are gonna beat you up!

Duwa Lashi La, acting president of the civilian National Unity Government, responded to the protests on Tuesday, accusing the regime of inciting racial hatred between the peoples of the two countries. The regime will stoop to any evil to protect its interests, he said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference on Wednesday that China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors and China has always respected Myanmars sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Myanmars border areas with Thailand and China have seen a rise in cyber-scam operations and related criminal activities since the coup in 2021. China this year pressured Myanmars junta to take action against the cyber scams, which the Chinese Foreign Ministry says have seriously harmed Chinese interests.

Observers say China might have decided to take matters into its own hands as it is not happy with the juntas handling of the border-based online scam gangs.

In less than a month since launching a resistance offensive known as Operation 1027 in late October, the Brotherhood Alliance comprising three ethnic armed groups has secured large swathes of territory across northern Shan State close to Myanmars border with China. Military observers believe those sweeping gains would not have been possible unless the operation was backed by China.

Min Aung Hlaing also lamented at an emergency meeting of the National Defense and Security Council on Nov. 8 that junta positions in northern Shan State were being bombed mainly with China-made drones that can easily be bought in Myanmar.

Perhaps angered by the perceived Chinese involvement in the offensive, the regime gave the green light to the anti-Chinese protests. But since then, either Chinas military drills or the fear of losing one of its handful of allies has forced the regime to appease Beijing.
Thursday, Nov 30th, 2023 (10:06 am) - Score 1,400

Broadband ISP Quickline, which is rolling out a gigabit-capable wireless and Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across North East England, has today announced the completion of their 8.1m contract to cover 8,000 premises in rural parts of Lincolnshire with superfast (30Mbps+) and ultrafast (100Mbps+) broadband.

The original contract was announced in September 2020 (here) and involved an extension of their hybrid fibre optic fed Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network, which was to be carried out under the wider Building Digital UK (BDUK) backed Superfast Broadband (SFBB) programme in the county (before FTTP became the greater focus).

NOTE: Quickline itself also committed 2m of private investment to support the public investment (part of the 8m total).

Quicklines contract was supported by an initial subsidy of up to 4.6m (3.1m from the Lincolnshire Local Authority and 1.5m from the European Regional Development Fund), while a further subsidy of 1.5m was due to become available subject to certain conditions (they dont say what). Sadly, the operator doesnt say precisely how much funding was ultimately consumed or how much take-up the network has achieved.

The deal required Quickline to extend their network  with access to broadband speeds of at least 100Mbps  to cover 7,969 homes and businesses in some of the hardest to reach rural areas of Lincolnshire. But in the end they managed to cover a slightly greater total of 8,100 premises.

Sean Royce, Quickline CEO, said: Working in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council and engaging with communities are key drivers to help us deliver a faster and more connected tomorrow. Poor broadband connectivity is a real issue in parts of Lincolnshire, particularly in the deeply rural communities. The delivery of the Lincolnshire Superfast Broadband build programme means thousands more people, both residents and in businesses, can now access much improved broadband speeds which will make a world of difference to the many day-to-day tasks they carry out online.

Councillor Richard Davies said: Its great news that the Lincolnshire Superfast Broadband Build by Quickline Communications is complete and has given some 8,000 rural homes high connectivity speeds. By giving digital access to very hard to reach locations, this project is a good example of our continuing desire for better broadband connectivity to all areas of the country.

Residential customers reached by Quicklines network are typically charged from 29 per month on a 24-month term for 100Mbps (50Mbps upload) speeds with free installation, and that goes up to 49 for their top 900Mbps (450Mbps upload) tier. The first 3 months of service are also free. But thats for their full fibre packages and weve struggled to find the pricing for their wireless tiers.

NOTE: Quicklines latest full fibre network currently covers 65,000 UK premises (Nov 2023) and rising, which is up from 10,000 at the end of 2022.

The operator, supported by funding of around 500m from Northleaf Capital Partners, has previously stated that they hold an aspiration to cover 500,000 premises in rural and semi-rural areas across North East England with ultrafast broadband via both FTTP and their 5G based fixed wireless technology by 2025 (here). Some 300,000 of that figure are already being reaching by their wireless network.
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Committee on Academic Freedom, Middle East Studies Association

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Fax: +972-2-5664838

Minister of Education Yoav Kisch

Fax: +972-2-5602390

Minister of Justice Yariv Levin

Fax: +972-2-6285438

Prime Minister and Ministers,

We write to you on behalf of the Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) to express our deep and growing concern regarding a series of attacks against and restrictions/persecutions overwhelmingly of Palestinian citizens of Israel who are students in Israeli institutions. We call upon you in the strongest terms to put an end to this campaign against freedom of expression and uphold your responsibility to ensure academic freedom.

MESA was founded in 1966 to promote scholarship and teaching on the Middle East and North Africa. The preeminent organization in the field, MESA publishes the International Journal of Middle East Studies and has nearly 2800 members worldwide. MESA is committed to ensuring academic freedom of expression, both within the region and in connection with the study of the region in North America and elsewhere.

We have written to you in the past about aggressions against Palestinian students in Israeli universities (see our letter of 26 May 2022 ), but there has been a dramatic increase in and intensification of the threats and repressive measures targeting them since the Hamas attacks of 7 October. In the wake of Israels full-scale military response, Palestinian and some Jewish citizens of Israel have faced a severe crackdown on their freedom of expression. Hundreds of male and female students across post-secondary educational institutions have been and remain exposed to harassment and political persecution by their university administration, fellow students, and members of right-wing organizations, both inside and outside academic institutions, which can result in their expulsion or suspension. Some faculty have experienced similar persecution, as well. We cite below several examples, which are illustrative, but certainly not exhaustive, of the cases that have arisen.

Since the beginning of the war, dozens of Palestinian citizens of Israel studying at Israeli universities and colleges have received notices from their schools informing them of their expulsion or suspension, or that disciplinary action has been initiated against them for their social media posts, which allegedly demonstrate support for terrorism or sympathy with terror organizations. Yousef Taha , the head of the Joint Body of Arab Student Blocs in Universities and Colleges estimated, based on the number of cases of which they had been informed, that more than 160 students had been targeted since the beginning of Israels military operations in Gaza. According to Adalah , some of these students posts merely quoted verses from the Quran, while others included only lists of journalists from Gaza, or expressed solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. In a majority of cases, the schools have denied students due process rights to be heard and to defend themselves.

According to a 13 November 2023 report from Academia for Equality, Haifa University has suspended some seven students, while others have been summoned to and await disciplinary hearings. At Tel Aviv University five students had been summoned for disciplinary proceedings, at Ben Gurion University four, and at the Technion five. It is worth noting that there are also a total of five exceptional cases of male and female students from the College of Management  Rishon LeZion who received letters notifying them of Immediate suspension and removal from studies and/or termination of studies.

Referring to developments at Haifa University, Yousef Taha reported a disturbing coordination between university authorities and the police:

What happened with the students of the Haifa University is really strange, as the students were summoned to disciplinary committees weeks ago, and they imposed sanctions on them. But the university was not satisfied with that. Rather, it sent pictures of the students publications to the police and acted as an informant reporting its students to the police. The police, in turn, arrested the students. The policemen admitted the role of the university in these detentions during the court session that was held when the students detention was extended.

On 18 October 2023, the Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, passed a resolution in the Higher Education Council which required educational institutions to take immediate measures, such as expulsion or severe disciplinary procedures, against students who express support for terrorism or identify with Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while threatening sanctions against universities that do not do so. Kish also passed a decision obliging these institutions to report on the manner in which the complaints that come to them are handled. The heads of the universities strongly objected to the move, writing to Kish that the decision may create an atmosphere of McCarthyism and mutual whistleblowing on the campuses. Weeks after this decision, on 6 November, Kish, who serves as the chairman of the Higher Education Council, ordered that the implementation be suspended pending further discussion

A number of faculty have also been threatened or terminated. We have previously written to you regarding the case of Prof. Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian of Hebrew University, who was called upon by the university president and provost to resign for having signed a petition calling for an immediate cease-fire, and Prof. Uri Horesh of Achva Academic College, who was terminated for social media posts. In addition, there is the case of Prof. Nurit Peled-Elhanan , winner of the European Parliaments Sakharov Prize for Human Rights and Freedom of Thought, who was suspended for a WhatsApp message characterized as Expressing support for Hamas terrorist acts and justifying them. She was subsequently summoned for a hearing, which was conducted by correspondence. Although she was not dismissed, the college administration severely reprimanded her for expressing identification with Israels most bitter enemy.

Then there is that case of Dr. Warda Sada from Kaye Academic College of Education. The charges against her were that Through social media, she encouraged those heinous acts and by publishing words of encouragement, praise for the terrorists and their horrible deeds. Dr. Sada, who had taught for 28 years and long worked for peace and coexistence organizations in the Negev, was immediately dismissed as the result of her hearing. From the same college, Dr. Faten Masarwa is currently facing similar proceedings, based on old posts that were uploaded in May 2021.

Finally, in one case of a direct attack, we call your attention to the violent premeditated assault on Palestinian students at Netanya College. On the evening of 28 October hundreds of Jewish Israeli civilians stormed the campus of Netanya Academic College in central Israel and gathered outside the dormitories, calling for the expulsion of Palestinian students, citizens of Israel, and chanting racist slogans like Death to the Arabs. The students were ultimately bussed away from the campus, and while the mayor of Netanya promised a full investigation of the incident, she also stated her intention to use the empty dormitories to house Israeli evacuees from the south

The dramatic increase in surveillance and repression these cases illustrate takes place against the backdrop of emergency regulations extending the period a detainee suspected of security offenses may be held without access to a lawyer. These regulations authorize the heads of investigatory departments in the Shin Bet (the Israel Security Agency) or a military officer of a specified rank to order the detention of a detainee for up to 30 days without access to a lawyer. The regulations further specify that this period can be extended for up to 90 days, subject to judicial approval. Adalah has argued that the regulations target Palestinians and violate the right of detainees to meet with lawyers, which is a fundamental right under international and Israeli law.

This repression is the result of widespread and coordinated efforts between government offices, Israeli institutions, and far-right groups, all targeting Palestinians in Israel and others who protest against the Israeli government policies in Gaza.

The suspensions and expulsion of students, and the intimidation and termination of faculty are clear violations of the right to education enshrined in Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 13 of the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Israel is a party to the UDHR and a signatory of the ICESCR and is therefore obligated to uphold them. We demand that you cease these attacks on the higher education sector and ensure that Israeli campuses are safe for all their students and faculty, including those calling for an end to the war.

We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Asl U. Bali

MESA President

Professor, Yale Law School

Laurie Brand

Chair, Committee on Academic Freedom

Professor Emerita, University of Southern California
Critical Review of Ilan Evyatar, Yonah Jeremy Bob and Jonathan Davis, Target Tehran: How Israel Is Using Sabotage, Cyberwarfare, Assassination  and Secret Diplomacy  to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Create a New Middle East. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2023.

Munich (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  The book starts with a heist that represented an astonishing covert achievement that decisively altered both the balance of forces in the Middle East and U.S. policy.[1] At least, this is what Yonah Jeremy Bob and Ilan Evyatar, both journalists at The Jerusalem Post, claim in Target Tehran, their recently published book on Israels shadow war with Iran. As in so many other passages of Target Tehran, the authors show here a weakness for hyperbolic statements.

The astonishing covert achievement they refer to is Mossads operation to steal documents related to Irans nuclear program from a warehouse in Tehran in January 2018. It was certainly astonishing that Israel managed to access some of Irans most sensitive information. However, there was nothing truly surprising in the documents obtained during the heist. And yet, they were presented as such by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his well-rehearsed (fifteen times, according to the authors) televised speech in April 2018.

Netanyahu accused Iran of having lied and continuing to lie about its nuclear program after the conclusion in July 2015 of the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA. On the first point, everyone involved in the negotiation of the JCPOA knew perfectly well that Iran had been carrying out a covert nuclear program. This is why a nuclear agreement was needed in the first place. On the second point, Netanyahu did not present any convincing argument to contradict the IAEAs assessments that Iran was complying with the JCPOA at that time.

As for the fact that the document heist decisively altered both the balance of forces in the Middle East and U.S. policy, this is even more of an over-statement. The normalization process between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain, which culminated in the Abraham Accords in September 2020 and had the external support of Saudi Arabia, had been in the making for years, as the authors themselves explain. And yes, Netanyahus speech might have affected U.S. President Donald Trumps decision to abandon the JCPOA in May 2018, but the Israeli prime minister was pushing at an open door as Trump had been referring to the JCPOA already on the campaign trail as the worst deal ever.



Target Tehran: By Ilan Evyatar, Yonah Jeremy Bob and Jonathan Davis

Far more interesting than the details of how Israel convinced a U.S. President that needed little convincing to abandon the JCPOA are Israeli long-running efforts to first prevent the nuclear agreement and second, to complicate a return to it after Joseph Biden succeeded Trump. The main narrative thread in Target Tehran is Israels ingenuity in countering Iran through targeted assassinations, cyberwarfare, and diplomacy with the Arab world. But a more critical approach to the book allows us to read it as the story of how Israel consistently undermined U.S. diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions with Iran.

While negotiations on the nuclear file were ongoing between 2013 and 2015, Israel continued to carry out sabotage efforts against the Iranian nuclear program, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo told the authors. This covert action was simply the secret side of Netanyahus very open campaign against the JCPOA, which brought him to criticize Obamas Iran policy in an address to a Republican-dominated Congress in March 2015.

There are more recent examples of similar dynamics. In May 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran had accessed internal IAEA documents and used them to thwart the international agencys fact-finding efforts. Again, the documents were from the period prior to the signing of the JCPOA, but Israels intentions were clear. The Israeli government leaked this information to the WSJ, first obtained in the 2018 heist, during an intense phase of diplomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA.

In Target Tehran, we get to know the backstory of this leak. Naftali Bennett, who was Israels prime minister at the time, told the authors that he picked that particular moment to release the intelligence about Irans hack of the IAEA because he thought it could push the U.S. away from the nuclear negotiations.[2] With friends like these, who needs enemies?

One of the biggest weaknesses of Target Tehran is that, while it extensively describes how Iran has been fighting back against Israel in the context of the shadow war between both countries, it never really seeks to understand Iranian behavior. For instance, if we are puzzled by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis fatwa against the production of nuclear weapons, we only need to read the explanation that Harold Rhode, a former American intelligence analyst, gave to the authors in an interview.

Rhode, most probably without an ounce of self-reflection on how he essentializes a whole culture, told the authors that the Persian culture has perfected the art of deception and that the Iranians attach little meaning to words. The targeted assassination in May 2022 of Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a colonel in the Revolutionary Guard who had reportedly planned attacks against Israeli targets, is impersonally described by the authors as a strike at the head of the octopus.

Compare this with the bizarre description of former Mossad director Meir Dagan, who was a prickly pear, tough on the outside like the thorny shell of the fruit and soft on the inside like its sweet flesh.[3] Any claim to a minimum of objectivity is left behind when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi are introduced to us as socially liberal autocrats,[4] a concept you will not find in any political science textbook for good reason. More accurate is the description of John Bolton as an ultra-hard-liner and the former national security adviser seems to be content with it if we are to judge from his positive review of Target Tehran for the WSJ.

Bolton is just one of the key figures Bob and Evyatar had the opportunity to interview in the course of their journalistic careers and research for the book, alongside many others such as former prime minister Ehud Olmert and a succession of former Mossad directors. The authors access to these high-profile figures, however, seems to have come at the cost of avoiding uncomfortable but imperative questions. For example, how is it possible that, despite Israels undeniable success in killing key Iranian nuclear scientists and disrupting Irans nuclear program through cyber weapons and sabotage, Tehran is currently further than ever in its uranium enrichment path?

Under Netanyahu, but also during his brief period out of power, Iran has been the focus of Israels covert action. In April 2023, Netanyahu said Iran was responsible for 95% of the security threats against Israel. It is true that Tehran supports Hamas both rhetorically and materially. Nevertheless, to present Hamas as an Iranian puppet, as a WSJ report tried to do in the aftermath of Hamas terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, which killed 1,200 people, can only be the result of willful ignorance. Although one cannot flatly deny that Iran had some knowledge of Hamas plans, both Israeli and U.S. officials have expressed they have no proof that Iran was directly involved in the terrorist attack.

Palestinian armed groups have long had their own agendas, which are mainly the product of the specific situation in Israel/Palestine, and the PLO was fighting Israel long before Khomeini took power in Tehran. The main challenges to Israels security have long derived from its occupation of the West Bank and enforced isolation of the Gaza Strip after Hamas militarily took over the territory in 2007. The more than 15,000 Gazans that have been killed in the course of Israels offensive against the Gaza Strip after October 7 will not bring Israel any closer to safety and, considering the risk of regional escalation, the opposite appears more likely. For all its military superiority over the Palestinians and Washingtons support for the country, it is difficult to see how Israel can enjoy real peace as long as it remains an occupying power.

[1] Yonah Jeremy Bob and Ilan Evyatar, Target Tehran: How Israel Is Using Sabotage, Cyberwarfare, Assassination  and Secret Diplomacy  to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Create a New Middle East (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2023), p. 14.

[2] Ibid., p. 230.

[3] Ibid., p. 35.

[4] Ibid., p. 112.
( Code Pink )  While Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has been frantically shuttling around the Middle East trying to stop the Israeli coflict in Gaza from exploding into a regional war, the United States has also sent two aircraft carrier strike groups, a Marine Expeditionary Unit and 1,200 extra troops to the Middle East as a deterrent. In plain language, the United States is threatening to attack any forces that come to the defense of the Palestinians from other countries in the region, reassuring Israel that it can keep killing with impunity in Gaza.

But if Israel persists in this genocidal war, U.S. threats may be impotent to prevent others from intervening. From Lebanon to Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Iran, the possibilities of the conflict spreading are enormous. Even Algeria says it is ready to fight for a free Palestine, based on a unanimous vote in its parliament on November 1st.

Middle Eastern governments and their people already see the United States as a party to Israels massacre in Gaza. So any direct U.S. military action will be seen as an escalation on the side of Israel and is more likely to provoke further escalation than to deter it.

The United States already faces this predicament in Iraq. Despite years of Iraqi demands for the removal of U.S. forces, at least 2,500 U.S. troops remain at Al-Asad Airbase in western Anbar province, Al-Harir Airbase, north of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and another small base at the airport in Erbil. There are also several hundred NATO troops, including Americans, advising Iraqi forces in NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), based near Baghdad.

For many years, U.S. forces in Iraq have been mired in a low-grade war against the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) that Iraq formed to fight ISIS, mainly from Shia militias. Despite their links to Iran, the armed groups Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and other PMFs have often ignored Iranian calls to de-escalate attacks on U.S. forces. These Iraqi groups do not respect Iran Quds Force leader General Esmail Qaani as highly as they did General Soleimani, so Soleimanis assassination by the United States in 2020 has further reduced Irans ability to restrain the militias in Iraq.

After a year-long truce between U.S. and Iraqi forces, the Israeli war on Gaza has triggered a new escalation of this conflict in both Iraq and Syria. Some militias rebranded themselves as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, and began attacking U.S. bases on October 17. After 32 attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, 34 more in Syria and 3 U.S. airstrikes in Syria, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against two Kataib Hezbollah bases in Iraq, one in Anbar province and one in Jurf Al-Nasr, south of Baghdad, on November 21, killing at least nine militiamen.

The U.S. airstrikes prompted a furious response from the Iraqi government spokesman Bassam al-Awadi. We vehemently condemn the attack on Jurf Al-Nasr, executed without the knowledge of government agencies, al-Awadi said. This action is a blatant violation of sovereignty and an attempt to destabilize the security situation The recent incident represents a clear violation of the coalitions mission to combat Daesh (ISIS) on Iraqi soil. We call on all parties to avoid unilateral actions and to respect Iraqs sovereignty

US Forces Attacked 66 Times in Iraq, Syria Since October: Pentagon/ Bloomberg Quicktake

As the Iraqi government feared, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq responded to the U.S. airstrikes with two attacks on Al-Harir airbase on November 22 and several more on November 23rd. They attacked Al-Asad airbase with several drones, launched another drone attack on the U.S. base at Erbil airport, and their allies in Syria attacked two U.S. bases across the border in northeastern Syria.

Short of a ceasefire in Gaza or a full U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Syria, there is no decisive action the U.S. can take that would put a stop to these attacks. So the level of violence in Iraq and Syria is likely to keep rising as long as the war on Gaza continues.

Another formidable and experienced military force opposing Israel and the United States is the Houthi army in Yemen. On November 14, Abdul-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi government in Yemen, asked neighboring countries to open a corridor through their territory for his army to go and fight Israel in Gaza.

The Houthi Deputy Information Secretary Nasreddin Amer told Newsweek that if they had a way to enter Palestine, they would not hesitate to join the fight against Israel, We have fighters numbering hundreds of thousands who are brave, tough, trained and experienced in fighting, Amer said. They have a very strong belief, and their dream in life is to fight the Zionists and the Americans.

Transporting hundreds of thousands of Yemeni soldiers to fight in Gaza would be nearly impossible unless Saudi Arabia opened the way. That seems highly unlikely, but Iran or another ally could help to transport a smaller number by air or sea to join the fight.

The Houthis have been waging an asymmetric war against Saudi-led invaders for many years, and they have developed weapons and tactics that they could bring to bear against Israel. Soon after al-Houthis statement, Yemeni forces in the Red Sea boarded a ship owned, via shell companies, by Israeli billionaire Abraham Ungar. The ship, which was on its way from Istanbul to India, was detained in a Yemeni port.

The Houthis have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel. While many members of Congress try to portray the Houthis as simply puppets of Iran, the Houthis are actually an independent, unpredictable force that other actors in the region cannot control.

Even NATO ally Turkiye is finding it difficult to remain a bystander, given the widespread public support for Palestine. President Erdogan of Turkiye was among the first international leaders to speak out strongly against the Israeli war on Gaza, explicitly calling it a massacre and saying that it amounted to genocide.

Turkish civil society groups are spearheading a campaign to send humanitarian aid to Gaza on cargo ships, braving a possible confrontation like the one that occurred in 2010 when the Israelis attacked the Freedom Flotilla, killing 10 people aboard the Mavi Marmara.

On the Lebanese border, Israel and Hezbollah have conducted daily exchanges of fire since October 7, killing 97 combatants and 15 civilians in Lebanon and 9 soldiers and 3 civilians in Israel. Some 46,000 Lebanese civilians and 65,000 Israelis have been displaced from the border area. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant warned on November 11, What were doing in Gaza, we can also do in Beirut.

How will Hezbollah react if Israel resumes its brutal massacre in Gaza after the brief pause is over or if Israel expands the massacre to the West Bank, where it has already killed at least 237 more Palestinians since October 7?

In a speech on November 3, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah held back from declaring a new war on Israel, but warned that all options are on the table if Israel does not end its war on Gaza.

As Israel prepared to pause its bombing on November 23, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian held meetings in Qatar, first with Nasrallah and Lebanese officials, and then with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In a public statement, Amirabdollahian said, the continuation of the ceasefire can prevent further expansion of the scope of the war. In the meeting with the leaders of the resistance, I found out that if Israels war crimes and genocide continue, a tougher and more complicated scenario of the resistance will be implemented.

Amirabdollahian already warned on October 16 that, The leaders of the resistance will not allow the Zionist regime to do whatever it wants in Gaza and then go to other fronts of the resistance.

In other words, if Iran and its allies believe that Israel really intends to continue its war on Gaza until it has removed Hamas from power, and then to turn its war machine loose on Lebanon or its other neighbors, they would prefer to fight a wider war now, forcing Israel to fight the Palestinians, Hezbollah and their allies at the same time, rather than waiting for Israel to attack them one by one.

Tragically, the White House is not listening. The next day, President Biden continued to back Israels vow to resume the destruction of Gaza after its humanitarian pause, saying that attempting to eliminate Hamas is a legitimate objective.

Americas unconditional support for Israel and endless supply of weapons have succeeded only in turning Israel into an out-of-control, genocidal, destabilizing force at the heart of a fragile region already shattered and traumatized by decades of U.S. warmaking. The result is a country that refuses to recognize its own borders or those of its neighbors, and rejects any and all limits on its territorial ambitions and war crimes.

If Israels actions lead to a wider war, the U.S. will find itself with few allies ready to jump into the fray. Even if a regional conflict is avoided, the U.S. support for Israel has already created tremendous damage to the U.S. reputation in the region and beyond, and direct U.S. involvement in the war would leave it more isolated and impotent than its previous misadventures in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The United States can still avoid this fate by insisting on an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. If Israel will not agree to that, the U.S. must back up this position with an immediate suspension of arms deliveries, military aid, Israeli access to U.S. weapons stockpiles in Israel and diplomatic support for Israels war on Palestine.

The priority of U.S. officials must be to stop Israels massacre, avoid a regional war, and get out of the way so that other nations can help negotiate a real solution to the occupation of Palestine.

Via Code Pink
November 30, 2023  TheNewswire - Vancouver, B.C., Canada - Belmont Resources Ltd. (Belmont or the Company) (TSXV:BEA) (FSE:L3L2) is pleased to announce final drill logging results and interpretation from North Zone of the A-J gold property.

The 100% owned A-J gold project situated in the prolific Greenwood mining camp of southern British Columbia. The recently completed 9 hole, 2,000m drill program tested IP anomalies defined by the 2020 IP geophysical survey and coincident with targets defined by surface mineralization and historical workings. Results of the drill program will be announced as soon as all assays have been received, compiled and verified.

North Zone



North Zone drilling consisted of drill holes AJ 23 01-05 for 1,150 meters and involved exploring largely untested, open ground in the northern portion of the property where targets were chosen between the Golden Crown mine situated on the adjacent Golden Crown property and the Athelstan-Jackpot mines.

The North Zone drilling review found a near-consistent abundance of alteration within several ages and types of bedrock. With moderate correlation to geophysical anomalies tested, the area did exhibit widespread low-grade pyrite mineralization, small concentrations of massive sulphides, and several shallow to moderate listwanite zones. Results are pending but this is all characteristic of the known economic deposits in the area and lend to ongoing exploration in the untested portions of the property.

South Zone

Potential near-surface resource with high-grade feeder system

Logging results and interpretation of the drilling in the South Zone were previously reported in News Releases dated November 14 and 16, 2023.

South Zone drilling tested for a potential feeder contact/structure for the near-surface gold mineralization within a 1.0 km mineralized gold trend, which includes the Athelstan and Jackpot past producing gold mines which produced 7,600 ozs Au & 9,000 oz Ag (Minfile 082ESE047).

Silica, silica-carbonate and phyllic alteration intersected over 100 metre durations in all four diamond drill holes in the South Zone directly beneath and nearby the Athelstan mine. These mineralized zones appear to be correlative between drill holes and could represent a 100 metre step out, along the strike of the Athelstan gold zone trend. The discovery of multi-metre quartz shear and stockwork style vein intersections with all lithologies hosting widespread pyrrhotite and pyrite and lesser chalco and arsenopyrite may potentially be one or more conduits and fracture spaces for deep seated mineralizing hydrothermal fluids and related to the auriferous deposits found in the historic gold mining above.

George Sookochoff, CEO of Belmont Resources, said, "All the logging is now complete and we continue to be impressed with the visuals from both North and South zones. As good as the core visuals are the truth lies in the assay results which we expect to start receiving in the next two to three weeks. In the meantime we are making plans for our Q1 2024 A-J drill program which will test some very strong targets beneath the Jackpot gold mine.

Listwanite and Serpentinite

Listwanite (carbonated serpentinite) is a term to describe the silica-carbonate alteration of serpentinite and is commonly associated with high-grade lode-gold mineralization.

All of the historic production from the property, and the vast majority of the previous exploration, all of which were in the South Zone, has been directed at massive sulfide and oxidized sulfide zones within listwanite.

During the serpentinization process any gold present in the serpentine may be assimilated with secondary sulfides and/or magnetite and could be indicative by the magnetic anomalies within the property.

These opaque minerals (magnetite) are subsequently destroyed in talc-carbonate alteration zones (magnetic low features), which results in gold being released from the serpentinite wall rocks and transported in solution. The gold and silica-rich fluids are transported to higher crustal levels via faults where the change in conditions (lower temperature, pH and O2) results in the precipitation of gold, quartz and sulfides.

The Mother Lode gold district in California and the Abitibi greenstone belt of the Superior Province of Canada are two of the most well-known examples of listwanite-associated lode-gold in North America. In general, the richest gold grades within these deposits are associated with, or in close proximity to carbonate-altered ultramafic rocks (Listwanite). Listwanite is also directly associated with several multi-million ounce gold deposits in British Columbia, Atlin, Bralorne and Barkerville.

About Belmont Resources

Belmont Resources has assembled a portfolio of highly prospective copper, gold, lithium, uranium and rare earths projects located in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Washington and Nevada States. Its holdings include:

Athelstan-Jackpot (A-J): 2 former gold mines. 2,000m drilling targeting multi-coincident geophysical anomaly on strike with neighboring gold trend and gold mines completed.

CrackingstoneUranium-Rare Earths: Some of the highest grade Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are being discovered in Northern Saskatchewan due to the presence of Uranium, Thorium Pegmatites. Crackingstone project meets the criteria for potentially discovering a large REEs deposit with its high grade uranium along with thorium and pegmatite. A review of 3,000m of 2008 drill data shows a 1.3km pegmatite dyke drilled but only assayed for uranium at that time. 2023 plans are to re-assay pegmatite sections for REEs ;

Come By Chance (CBC): 2021 geophysics delineated potential large copper-gold porphyry

2022 drilling provided further vectors towards potential core of porphyry;

The Lone StarCopper-Gold: optioned to Australian Marquee Resources ASX:MQR. MQR has spent in excess of $2.5M in drilling, completed new resource in Dec. 2022, and is currently preparing a Preliminary Economic Assessment in order to earn 80% interest.

The Kibby Basin Lithium project located 60 kilometers north of the lithium rich Clayton Valley Basin: Optioned 80% of the central Kibby Playa claim block to Australian Marquee Resources - MQR. MQR has spent in excess of $2.5M in drilling in 2022 for potential deep seated lithium brine. 2022 Drilling confirmed high levels of lithium-bearing sediments along with dissolved lithium in the groundwater.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in National Instrument 43-101 and has been reviewed and approved by Laurence Sookochoff, P.Eng.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

George Sookochoff

George Sookochoff, CEO/President

www.belmontresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This Press Release may contain forward-looking statements that may involve a number of risks and uncertainties, based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results that may prove to be inaccurate as a result of exploration and other risk factors beyond its control. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Companies forward-looking statements and expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval; that we may not be able to raise funds required, that conditions to closing may not be fulfilled and we may not be able to organize and carry out an exploration program in 2023, and other risks associated with being a mineral exploration and development company. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Silver Viper Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Silver Viper") (TSXV: VIPR) (OTC: VIPRF) is pleased to announce that the Company intends to undertake a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "LIFE") of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106") to raise gross proceeds of up to $5,000,000 from the sale of up to 45,454,546 units ("Units") at a price of $0.11 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one warrant (each, a "Warrant"), each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire one Share from the Company at a price of $0.20 per Share for a period of 24 months from its date of issue.

The Company intends to use the minimum net proceeds of $2,000,000 from the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes which includes legal and financing fees as part of this Offering, and the final US$200,000 option payment on its La Virginia Project due in 2024. Any additional net proceeds from the Offering will be used to continue surface exploration including mapping and sampling as well as a drill campaign at the La Virginia Project.

Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, the Offering is being made to purchasers' resident in Canada, except Quebec, pursuant to the LIFE under Part 5A of NI 45-106. The securities issued under the Offering will not be subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document related to the offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com and on the Company's website at www.silverviperminerals.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Company may pay a finder's fee in respect of those purchasers under the Offering introduced to the Company by certain persons (each a "Finder"). Each Finder will receive a cash payment equal to 6% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from purchasers under the Offering who were introduced to the Company by such Finder.

The Offering is anticipated to close in a series of tranches, with the first tranche on or about December 20, 2023, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful,

About the Company

Silver Viper Minerals Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mineral exploration company focused on precious metals exploration in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. The Company currently operates the La Virginia Gold-Silver Project. Silver Viper has 100% ownership of the La Virginia concessions acquired from the most recent operator, Pan American Silver Corp., and has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Rubi-Esperanza group of claims internal to those concessions. Silver Viper is under management provided by the Belcarra Group, which is comprised of highly qualified mining professionals.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Steve Cope

President and CEO

Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the terms of the Offering, the receipt of regulatory approvals for the Offering, closing of the Offering and use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to exploration and development, the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing, the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations, fluctuations in the prices of commodities, operating hazards and risks, competition and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's financial statements, management discussion and analysis and/or annual information form available on www.sedar.com. The risk factors identified in such documents are not intended to represent a complete list of factors that could affect the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Kelowna, British Columbia - TheNewswire - November 30, 2023 - Golden Ridge Resources Ltd. (Golden Ridge or the Company) (TSXV:GLDN) is pleased to announce the completion of the 2023 Phase II drilling campaign at the Williams Gold Property (Williams or the Property) within the Appleton and Dog Bay Fault Corridors (Figure 1). Golden Ridge intersected in the first hole of the 2022 Phase II drilling campaign the largest gram meter intercept of 86 meters of 1.00 g/t Au on the Williams Property to date. The Property is surrounded by New Found Gold Corp (NFGC)s Queensway Gold Property where NFGC is currently undertaking a 500,000 meter drill program (Figure 2).1

Highlights

WIL-23-30 intersected 86 meters of 1.00 g/t Au from 63.00 meters; including 2.00 meters of 9.21 g/t Au from 81.00 meters (Table 1)

Drilling focused on building off 2022 results and tested new prospective target areas.

41 holes were drilled for a total of 5,982 meters in the 2023 campaign (Figure 3)

Mineralization was noted to be more pervasive and widespread than encountered in Phase I Drilling

Drilling 86 gram-meters Au in our first reported hole of Phase II drilling is very exciting. The highlighted intercept in WIL-23-30 represents our highest gram-meter interval to date at Williams. Drilling has now confirmed at least five distinct mineralized zones at Williams all of which remain open along strike and at depth, stated Mike Blady, Director, CEO and President of Golden Ridge. Observing the increased alteration and veining drilled over 41 holes in Phase II strongly suggests that we are vectoring towards the full potential of the Property.

Phase II drilling was initially focused on WIL-22-12, which intersected a complex system of veins and veinlets grading 37.93 meters grading at 0.68 g/t Au. First identified during the 2022 maiden drilling program this area is now known as the Cabin Zone Extension (CZE) and represents the northeastern extension of a 1-kilometer-long gold-in-soil anomaly known as the Cabin Zone (Figure 4). In total, 6 drillholes WIL-23-30 through WIL-23-35 (totalling 1,029 meters) were drilled at the Cabin Zone Extension. All drill holes were successful in intersecting a broad alteration halo and associated system of vein and veinlets first observed in Phase I drilling. Broad mineralization is exemplified by WIL-23-30 (a 12.5-meter step-out from WIL-22-12) intersecting an 86-meter section grading 1 g/t gold including a 2-meter section which yielded 9.21 g/t. Drilling at the Cabin Zone Extension also identified several fault/rubble zones throughout often associated with graphite. The fault/rubble zones locally contain vein fragments which indicate syn-mineralization to post-mineralization movement along these structures. Mineralization at the Cabin Zone Extension is open along strike and down dip and further drilling will be required to further delineate the nature of gold mineralization.

Williams Gold Property 2023 Drill Program

Forty-one holes were drilled in the Phase II diamond drill program consisting of 5,982 meters. Golden Ridge has now completed 70 holes for 10,182 meters of drilling over Phase I and II programs. The balance of assay results from the 2023 program have yet to be received. Drill holes were predominantly in the 100m to 200m range focusing on testing soil, bedrock, and drilling anomalies previously identified by earlier exploration programs. Highlights of the previous field programs completed by Golden Ridge Resources from 2020 - 2022 include float samples assaying up to 281 g/t Au and soil samples up to 1,503 ppb Au.

Mineralization in Phase II was broader in nature consisting of a complex system of vein, veinlets, and vein breccia, up to 1.5-meters in size. Gold-bearing veins are often associated with weak to locally intense sericitic and chloritic alteration. Additionally, sulphide mineralization appears to be more pervasive in core obtained from Phase II drillholes. The host rock often contains disseminated pyrite crystals, blebs, and stringers throughout and acicular crystals and blebs of arsenopyrite near mineralized zones. Trace pyrrhotite has also been observed in the host rock but this is commonly restricted to areas of intense veining. Gold-bearing veins contain primarily pyrite and are often associated with arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and galena with trace amounts of stibnite, molybdenite and sphalerite. Golden Ridge has noted that the most reliable pathfinder for the presence of high-grade gold is increasing concentrations of arsenopyrite.

Golden Ridge is continuing to model the structural controls of the transportation and deposition of gold bearing fluids on the Williams Property. Vein systems suggest the presence of both brittle and ductile features indicating a transitionary tectonic environment. Fracture filling appears to be the most prevalent style of vein deposition representing a trans-tensional environment. The presence of sigma clasts, gouge in faults, and folding in quartz veins are indicative of a more ductile environment. Vein systems associated with sericitic-chloritic alteration and arsenopyrite are often used to distinguish gold-bearing veins from other generations of quartz veins observed throughout the Property.

Sampling & Laboratory Methodology

True widths of the report intersections have not been calculated at this time. Drilling was primarily conducted in NQ. Samples were marked and QAQC by Golden Ridge staff. Drill core was split using a diamond core cutting saw and sealed in polybags.

Samples were sent to the Mobile Sample Preparation Unit (MSPU) of SGS Canada Inc. (SGS) in Grand Falls, Newfoundland for sample preparation, and then to the laboratory of SGS Canada Inc. in Burnaby, British Columbia for fire assay. SGS is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. Samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay using a 30g charge (ICP-AES). Samples containing visible gold or greater than 1 g/t Au in fire assay were also assayed using the metallic screen method. Golden Ridge submits certified reference standards and blanks at a rate of approximately 5% of the sample total.

Qualified Person

Dr. Stephen Amor, PhD, PGeo, technical advisor to the Company, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release.

Acknowledgments

Golden Ridge Resources acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

About Golden Ridge Resources

Golden Ridge is a TSX-V listed exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties located in Newfoundland and British Columbia. Golden Ridge is currently focused on exploration and development of the Williams Gold Property located in the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt. The Company owns a 100% interest in the 1,700-hectare Hank copper-gold-silver-lead-zinc property which is currently under option to King Fisher Metals Corporation and the 3,000-hectare Hickman copper-gold property located in the Golden Triangle district, approximately 140 kilometres north of Stewart, British Columbia.

Golden Ridge Resources Ltd.

Mike Blady

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (250) 717-3151

Website: www.goldenridgeresources.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including: that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that the Company obtains required regulatory approvals, that the Company continues to maintain a good relationship with the local project communities. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, delays in regulatory approval, risks associated with the interpretation of data, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's Managements Discussion and Analysis reports filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1This news release contains information about adjacent properties on which Golden Ridge has no right to explore or mine. Readers are cautioned that mineral deposits on adjacent properties are not indicative of mineral deposits on the Companys properties

2The intervals reported in these tables represent drilling intersects and insufficient data is available at this time to state true thickness of the mineralized intervals.




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname.

Highlights

Gold mineralization extended over 50.0 m into Froyo-Ginger Connector Zone

Drillhole FR038 intersects three distinct gold zones (Table 1, Figures 1-2), including: 7.6 metres (m)* of 4.50 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from surface 9.0 m* of 3.04 g/t Au from 63.0 to 72.0 m 13.0 m* of 14.03 g/t Au from 77.0 to 90.0 m (Figure 3)

8.0 m of 12.34 g/t Au from 78.0 to 86.0 m in drill hole FR040

from 78.0 to 86.0 m in drill hole FR040 All Connector Zone holes intersected significant intervals of quartz/sulphide and assays are pending

Figure 1. Upper Antino area plan map. Long section line corresponds to Figure 2.

Colin Padget, Founders' CEO and President, commented, "This release includes the first results from the previously undrilled 150 metre gap connecting the Froyo and Ginger prospect areas. The excellent, high-grade gold intervals reported in this release show impressive continuity of gold mineralization along strike. We are also very excited about the addition of from surface gold in saprolite such as the 7.6 m of 4.5 g/t Au at the top of FR038, as it broadens the gold mineralized footprint further east."

Figure 2. Updated Froyo-Ginger Long Section

Drillhole From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Au (ppm) 23FR037 3.6 14.1 10.5 3.42 and 58.0 63.0 5.0 3.31 23FR038 4.0 11.6 7.6 4.5 and

and 63.0

77.0 72.0

90.0 9.0

13.0 3.04

14.03 23FR039 5.1 11.1 6.0 2.12 and 69.0 71.0 2.0 1.51 23FR040 4.0 10.0 6.0 1.16 and 78.0 86.0 8.0 12.34

*Intervals are core length and estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data

Table 1. Drilling results highlights

Figure 3. Representative interval from drill hole FR038 showing highest-grade gold zone with excellent grade distribution over the interval.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company operating in North and South America. The Company is focused on acquiring and advancing gold projects in the South American Guiana Shield. Its flagship project is the 20,000 ha Antino Gold Project in Suriname. Antino is the most advanced gold exploration project in Suriname; within an area where historical surface/alluvial gold mining has produced over 500,000 gold ounces to date1.

1 2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo.

Figure 4. The Antino Gold Project

Quality Assurance and Control

Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Founders Metals Contact Information

Dave Burwell, VP, Corporate Development

Tel: 403 410 7907 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Archer Exploration Corp. (CSE: RCHR) (OTCQB: RCHRF) (FSE: 6YR0) (the "Company" or "Archer") is pleased to announce that it has resumed drilling at its 100% owned Grasset Nickel Project ("Grasset") in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Quebec, Canada.

Highlights

Drilling has resumed at Grasset and will test shallow depth extensions of the newly discovered nickel-rich massive sulphide zone identified by hole GR23-03 during Summer 2023 drilling At a depth of 330 metres, GR23-03 intersected 1.55% Ni, 0.18% Cu, 1.17 g/t Pt-Pd over 5.80 metres, including 5.75% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 5.53 g/t Pt-Pd over 0.60 metres of massive sulphides

Compilation of new geophysical data with a new geological interpretation based on the re-logging of historical core continues apace and continues to drive the development of exciting new drill targets

InfiniTEM-XL electromagnetic ground survey identifies new anomaly two kilometres north of Grasset Deposit

The Company remains fully funded following an oversubscribed $2 million private placement in November 2023

"We are extremely excited to resume drilling at Grasset," commented Tom Meyer, Archer's President and CEO. "The Fall 2023 campaign will test the newly discovered nickel-rich sulphide mineralization identified by hole GR23-03 and the subsequent down hole electro-magnetic ("DHEM") surveys will provide invaluable targeting data for extensions to this new zone as we begin planning for a larger winter 2024 drilling program at Grasset. We remain focused on growth and discovery at Grasset as we continue to improve our understanding of this very exciting discovery."

Fall 2023 Drill Program

The exploration team is on site and drilling has commenced at Grasset, where the Company will explore a newly identified nickel-rich sulphide zone in the southeastern portion of the H1 Horizon. The Fall 2023 drilling program will consist of two holes and approximately 1,200 metres. Hole GR23-07 will target the H1 discovery zone at a depth of approximately 100 metres below the high-grade intercept southeast of hole GR23-03 (Figures 1 and 3), while hole GR23-08 will test for mineralized extensions about 50 metres south-east and 150 metres deeper than GR23-07. Once drilling has completed, DHEM surveys will be conducted to help define this new zone and assist in the planning of an expanded 2,000 metre diamond drilling program in early 2024 that is planned to include further step-out holes that will test for extensions.

The Fall 2023 campaign is designed to test the highly prospective new target zone identified by drill hole GR23-03 and DHEM surveys during the Summer 2023 drilling campaign. In June 2023, the Company reported that hole GR23-03 intersected 1.55% Ni over 5.80 metres, including 5.75% Ni over 0.60 metres of massive sulphides within a large untested area in the southeastern portion of the H1 Horizon. The extent of this newly discovered and completely untested zone has yet to be defined but contains known mineralized intercepts at its periphery as defined by DHEM survey results and historical drill holes (Figure 1).

Table 1: Hole GR23-03 Assay Highlights

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) GR23-03 403.0 408.8 5.80 1.55 0.18 0.04 0.35 0.82 Including 404.2 408.8 4.60 1.82 0.22 0.04 0.40 0.95 Including 408.2 408.8 0.60 5.75 0.24 0.13 1.68 3.85

Figure 1 shows the location of hole GR23-03 on a longitudinal section view with nickel metal factor values (% nickel multiplied by estimated thickness) of the H1 Horizon, including holes GR23-04, GR23-05 and GR23-06 that yielded low or non-significant nickel assays.

The longitudinal section shows that the area around the intersection of hole GR23-03 is wide open for mineralized extensions with no previous drill holes below the intercept and no drill holes within 200 metres to the northwest or to the southeast of GR23-03 towards the regional-scale Sunday Lake Deformation Zone which truncates the H1 Horizon.

Figure 1: H1 Horizon Metal Factor Long Section

Figures 2 shows the nickel metal factor longitudinally along the H3 horizon and includes all 2023 program and historical drill holes that have intersected the H3 horizon to date. The steeply plunging thick high-grade channel in the H3 horizon is cut-off by a fault.

Figure 2: H3 Horizon Metal Factor Long Section

Figure 3 is a plan view of the southeastern portion of the Grasset property showing the location of the first six holes drilled in 2023 and the location of newly identified conductive electromagnetic plates (N9 and S6) over a simplified geological interpretation.

Figure 3: Grasset Deposit Planview and 2023 Drilling

InfiniTEM-XL Electromagnetic Ground Survey

A high-powered InfiniTEM-XL electromagnetic surface survey, performed in 2023, has defined a conductive plate (S6 in Figure 3) that is consistent with the high-grade mineralization discovered in hole GR23-03. The interpreted conductive plate is 400 metres by 400 metres and begins 290 metres below surface. A very similar 400-metres by 400-metre conductive plate (N9 in Figure 3) was detected at the same depth approximately two kilometres north-east of S6. Both conductive plates are located at the northern basal contact of an ultramafic sequence. To date, only one shallow hole, almost two kilometres to the northwest, has intersected the ultramafic contact where N9 is located.

As is the case along H1, sulphide-rich sedimentary rocks are sub-parallel and close to the N9 ultramafic contact. This is significant, as in the nickel magmatic metallogenetic model, assimilation of the sedimentary sulphides by the ultramafic magma is the key mechanism to the precipitation and accumulation of the nickel sulphides at the bottom of the ultramafic sequence (Figures 4 and 5). The geological and geophysical similarities between conductive plates S6 and N9 make plate N9 a high priority drilling target that will be tested during the 2024 winter drilling program.

Figure 4: Nickel Formation Model - Grasset Deposit

Figure 5: Nickel Formation Model Detail - Hole GR23-03

2023 Diamond Drill Hole Assays

Holes GR23-04 and GR23-05 were designed to test the down extension of the H3 Horizon at a depth of 600 and 1,000 metres, respectively. The two holes intersected disseminated sulfides where the extension of the H3 and H1 Horizons were expected but did not return any significant nickel values.

Hole GR23-06 was designed to test a deep-seated 3D magnetic anomaly at the north-west limit of the mineralized zone and successfully intersected two separate ultramafic sequences containing zones of disseminated sulphides but did not intersect any significant mineralization.

Table 2: Drillhole Collar Coordinates

Hole ID Easting

(UTM) Northing

(UTM) Elevation

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

() Hole Length

(m) GR23-01 679759 5539876 291 21 -90 446 GR23-02 679859 5539783 291 322 -88 759 GR23-02W1 679859 5539783 291 322 -88 874 GR23-03 679939 5539491 291 30 -60 576 GR23-04 679374 5537683 291 45 -55 885 GR23-05 679323 5539538 291 50 -70 1,152 GR23-06 679020 5539776 291 45 -62 1,104

Collar coordinates are UTM Zone 17N

Azimuths and dips are taken from survey record at collar unless otherwise noted

Table 3: Summary of Significant Assay Results - Ni-Cu-Co-PGE

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Ni

(%) Cu

(%) Co

(%) Pt

(g/t) Pd

(g/t) GR23-01 No significant mineralization observed GR23-02 514.5 515.0 0.50 0.67 0.03 0.02 0.17 0.39 GR23-03 358.0 358.5 0.50 0.53 0.04 0.01 0.08 0.17 GR23-03 403.0 408.8 5.80 1.55 0.18 0.04 0.35 0.82 Including 404.2 408.8 4.60 1.82 0.22 0.04 0.40 0.95 Including 408.2 408.8 0.60 5.75 0.24 0.13 1.68 3.85 GR23-04 640.5 641.5 1.00 0.60 0.11 0.02 0.28 0.55 GR23-04 763.5 765.0 1.50 0.53 0.05 0.01 0.12 0.28 GR23-05 1012.0 1013.5 1.50 0.81 0.14 0.02 0.40 0.87 GR23-06 No significant mineralization observed

All lengths are downhole lengths and true widths are expected to be greater than or equal to 50-70% of downhole lengths

Table 4: Summary of Significant Assay Results - Gold

Hole ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au

(g/t) GR23-03 98.0 98.5 0.50 1.39 GR23-03 110.0 111.0 1.00 0.90 Including 110.0 110.5 0.50 1.28 GR23-03 265.8 266.6 0.80 16.19 Including 265.8 266.1 0.30 49.10

All lengths are downhole lengths and true widths are expected to be greater than or equal to 50-70% of downhole lengths

Ongoing Geophysical Surveys, Geological Modelling and Sonic Drilling Analysis

As a priority objective to expand the Grasset resource and identify new targets along the ultramafic corridor in the south-east part of the property, the Company conducted a 53-kilometre surface InfiniTEM-XL survey and continues to utilize DHEM surveys where applicable. Results from the InfiniTEM-XL and DHEM surveys have been received and an interpretation is underway. In addition, analysis of the final data from the airborne magneto-telluric survey covering the entire 23-kilometre-long property is also progressing. Management is compiling the new data which will be incorporated into a new geological model based on the re-logging of more than 50% of the holes covering the H1 and H3 Horizons.

The Grasset Deposit is situated at the southeastern end of an underexplored 23-kilometre claim block containing abundant favourable ultramafic rocks. A sonic drill program was initiated to sample the base of the glacial till (60-90 metres thick). Such thick overburden, and the lack of outcrop renders the Grasset Deposit and other mineralization blind to conventional surface geochemical sampling techniques. This technique is commonly used with success in exploration campaigns for detecting mineral deposits under thick overburden.

The preliminary results from the sonic drilling program were initially inconclusive but follow-up analysis has demonstrated the potential of this important exploration tool. The Company is conducting a higher resolution analysis of the clasts and heavy minerals within a select group of key samples. The basal till, in the last 8-12 metres, is typically composed of sub-angular mafic to ultramafic clasts with felsic clasts in a silty-sand matrix. Assay results of the fine fraction of the till samples remain outstanding. In addition, the Company is also revising the preliminary interpretation of the glacial movement history over our claim blocks with the guidance of leading experts in Quaternary geology.

The Grasset Project

The Grasset Deposit, discovered in 2012 and located at the southern end of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex, comprises two subparallel, and sub-vertically dipping zones (H1 and H3 horizons) of disseminated to locally semi-massive sulphide mineralization. The H1 and H3 horizons each remain open at depth and along strike to the northwest.

In 2021, an updated mineral resource estimate, using a 2016 drilling cutoff, was completed with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of 5.5 Mt grading 1.53% nickel equivalent ("NiEq") and an Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 217,000 tonnes grading 1.01% NiEq. For additional information regarding Archer's Grasset Project please refer to the Technical Report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Grasset Property, Quebec, Canada" dated effective September 2, 2022, prepared by Carl Pelletier, P.Geo., available under Archer's profile on www.sedarplus.ca.

The vast majority of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex is underexplored and limited exploration prior to 2016 resulted in the discovery of several significant nickel sulphide showings along the entire 23-kilometre-long belt. Most notable is the GUC Central discovery, 7 kilometres northwest of the Grasset Deposit, which hosts a 950-metre-thick ultramafic sequence with several mineralized horizons of nickel sulphides and a best mineralized intercept of 4.14% Ni over 0.65 metres, within 7.58 metres of 1.05% Ni.

The Grasset Deposit is one of the largest nickel sulphide deposits in Canada's Abitibi region and the only North American nickel sulphide deposit, with an Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of more than 50,000 contained tonnes of nickel and an average NiEq grade of over 1.5%, not controlled by a major mining company.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Archer implements high-quality industry-standard quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures for its diamond drill programs. Archer's geologists insert alternating blanks and standards approximately one per every 10 samples collected. Moreover, a blank is added after logged, potentially high-grade mineralized zones with standards additionally inserted within such mineralized zones. Overall, blanks and standards account for approximately 12% of the samples submitted to the lab.

All samples are being assayed at ALS's Val d'Or laboratory where duplicates are inserted in the sample sequence at a rate of 1 in 40 samples sequence alternating with standards and blanks to result in a QA/QC insertion rate of about 1 in 10 samples. ALS is independent of the Company. All ALS Geochemistry sites operate under a single Global Geochemistry Quality Manual that complies with ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jacquelin Gauthier, P.Geo, Vice President, Exploration, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Gauthier is satisfied that the analytical and testing procedures used are standard industry operating procedures and methodologies, including sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information disclosed in this news release.

About Archer

Archer Exploration is a Canadian Ni-Cu-Co-PGE focused exploration and development company with an extensive portfolio of assets in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The Company's flagship asset is the Grasset Project, located within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, with an Indicated Resource of 5.5 Mt @ 1.53% NiEq. In addition, the Company holds a portfolio of 37 properties and over 300 km2 in the world-class mining district of Sudbury, Ontario.

The Company's growth strategy is focused on the exploration and development of its nickel sulphide properties within its portfolio. Archer's vision is to be a responsible nickel sulphide project developer in stable pro-mining jurisdictions. Archer is committed to socially responsible exploration and development, working safely, ethically, and with integrity. For more information, please visit www.archerexploration.com.

Tom Meyer

President & Chief Executive Officer

Tel: +1 866.899.7247 (RCHR)

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that Archer expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Forward-looking information and statements contained herein includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the continued exploration, drilling and anticipated completion of the Fall 2023 campaign; the exploration and testing of shallow depth extensions of the newly discovered nickel-rich massive sulphide zone identified by hole GR23-03; that drilling will provide invaluable targeting data for extensions; the planning of a larger winter 2024 drilling program at Grasset; the exploration potential of the sonic drilling program; and that funding from the Company's recent private placement is sufficient for operations.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct Archer's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by Archer in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities; risks and uncertainties associated with certain exploration and drilling tools and/or measures; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks related to the use of proceeds of the Company's recent private placement; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East; general economic factors (including inflationary pressure); the price of commodities; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's public disclosure documents.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Archer as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Archer does not undertake any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
Burlington, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Silver Bullet Mines Corp. (TSXV: SBMI) (OTCQB: SBMCF) ('SBMI' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. John Kontak to its board of directors. Mr. Kontak has extensive experience as a director and officer of public resource companies, most recently as President and Director of West Red Lake Gold Mines Inc. Mr. Kontak is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School, holds an MBA from Suffolk University in Boston, and is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States of America. Mr. Kontak's appointment is subject to regulatory approval.

SBMI also announces shipping of mineralized material from Zone1 at the Buckeye Mine to the mill has begun. The first trucks recently began loading at the mine site as the next important step towards continuing processing at the mill. (A video of the first truck being loaded can be found at the Company's home page Silver Bullet Mines Inc.). Processing will continue once sufficient material from Zone1 is delivered to the mill to provide for efficiencies. The Company plans to run this material as a bulk sample to provide a consistent head grade, and to determine and maximize recoveries.

Continual sampling and assaying will take place at all stages of the milling process. SBMI will use this data to determine the best blend of material to attain the highest recovery rates and to make the necessary adjustments to the process. It is anticipated this run should start in the near future, resulting in the pouring of saleable dore bars.

The Company continues to mine at Zone1 at the Buckeye. Mining is taking place approximately 735 feet from the portal where the vein continues to be over 19 feet wide. Recently six samples taken from the vein face and the floor ranged from 11.0 to 24.2 ounces per ton silver and averaged 16.2 ounces per ton silver.

QA/QC

All samples referred to above were processed at the Company's production assay lab located at the mill. In accordance with best practices, multiple assays have been and should continue to be sent to third party ISO-accredited labs for multielement analysis including precious metals and PGMs. Readers are cautioned that these samples may not be representative of the Buckeye Mine as a whole.

All samples above were analyzed by SBMI at its facility near Globe, Arizona. They were processed through the Lab Jaw Crusher, Lab Hammer Mill and Splitter Box into an aliquot. Most of the pulverized aliquot was mixed with a flux and flour combination and melted in a crucible at 1,850 degree Fahrenheit, with the remainder being logged and archived. Upon cooling, the poured melt was in the form of a metal button and slag, following which a bone ash cupel was utilized to eliminate the lead in the button to form a bead. The bead was then weighed, following which a solution of 6 to 1 distilled water to nitric acid was utilized to dissolve the silver in the bead at approximately 175 degrees Fahrenheit. A much more detailed description of the process and a picture of the assay lab can be found at https://www.silverbulletmines.com/qaqcassaylab.

Mr. Robert G. Komarechka, P.Geo., an independent consultant, has reviewed and verified SBMI's work referred to herein, and is the Qualified Person for this release.

For further information, please contact:

John Carter

Silver Bullet Mines Corp., CEO

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 (905) 302-3843

Peter M. Clausi

Silver Bullet Mines Corp., VP Capital Markets

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 (416) 890-1232

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements as they relate to SBMI and its subsidiaries. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but represent management's current expectation of future events, and can be identified by words such as "believe", "expects", "will", "intends", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "estimates", "continues" and similar expressions. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

By their nature, forward-looking statements include assumptions, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. If and when forward-looking statements are set out in this new release, SBMI will also set out the material risk factors or assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by applicable securities laws, SBMI assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including but not limited to: the impact of SARS CoV-2 or any other global virus; reliance on key personnel; the thoroughness of its QA/QA procedures; the continuity of the global supply chain for materials for SBMI to use in the production and processing of ore; shareholder and regulatory approvals; activities and attitudes of communities local to the location of the SBMI's properties; risks of future legal proceedings; income tax matters; fires, floods and other natural phenomena; the rate of inflation; availability and terms of financing; distribution of securities; commodities pricing; currency movements, especially as between the USD and CDN; effect of market interest rates on price of securities; and, potential dilution. SARS CoV-2 and other potential global pathogens create risks that at this time are immeasurable and impossible to define.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apogee Minerals Ltd. (Apogee or the Company) (TSXV: APMI) is pleased to announce that the Company shall acquire, through the Pine Channel Option Agreement dated May 11th, 2021, as amended (the Underlying Agreement), additional claims comprising the Shasko Bay Project (the Project). The Project consists of 2,571 ha and is located along the southeast shore of Lake Athabasca in Northern Saskatchewan, 20 km SE of Fond-du-Lac, and adjacent to the recently optioned Pine Channel Project.

Shasko Bay Project Map:

Project Highlights:

Multiple untested geophysical anomalies associated with favourable geology

Targets for multiple deposit models (Orogenic Au and Unconformity-U)

Encouraging exploration to date including mineralized drill intercepts

Mineralization underexplored and open in both directions along strike and at depth

Excellent access with existing winter road to within 1km and central portions of the property accessible by boat or float plane

Shasko Bay Project Summary:

The Project is located along the southeast shore of Lake Athabasca in Northern Saskatchewan, 20 km southeast of Fond-du-Lac, and proximal to the Companys recently optioned Pine Channel Project. The claims are accessible by boat, barge, winter road or float equipped aircraft from the village of Stony Rapids, which has all season road access to it. The Project is currently owned 100% by Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: EPL), with an underlying 2% NSR in favour of Eagle Royalties Ltd. (CSE: ER).

The Project was staked by Eagle Plains in early 2023 in recognition of both the gold potential (with basement-hosted auriferous quartz veins and associated shears that strike onto the property from the Pine Channel Project); and for the unconformity uranium potential that is so well known in the district, in close proximity to basal contacts of the Athabasca Formation. Apogee has acquired the right to earn-in up to an 80% interest in the Project from Eagle Plains under the terms under the Underlying Agreement for minimal staking costs as it lies within the Area of Mutual Interest (AMI) around the Pine Channel Project.

Between the late 1960s to the early 2000s the region was explored for uranium and gold by various companies. The Fond Du Lac Uranium deposit is the most significant discovery in the region to date and is located 24 km to the NW-W. Work in the area consisted of seismic reflection studies, multiple types of airborne and ground-based geophysical surveys, geochemical surveys, prospecting, mapping, trenching and four separate drill programs which intersected multi gram-per-tonne gold assays (up to 6.8 g/t Au over 2.1m) from quartz stringers in the Athabasca sediments. The underlying basement metasedimentary rocks, starting at 226m depth, also recorded mineralization in the form of disseminated pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite and rare sphalerite, galena and molybdenite. The last drill program intersected anomalous uranium in the Athabasca sandstone (up to 18.4 ppm) concluding with recommendations to drill test several additional targets.

Qualified Person:

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a Director of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Apogee Minerals Ltd.:

Apogee Minerals Ltd. is a mineral exploration company. Our goal is to build shareholder value through mineral project acquisitions and advancement, as well as new mineral discoveries.

To find out more about Apogee Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V: APMI) visit the Companys website:

www.apogeemineralsltd.com

Apogee Minerals Ltd.

Tim Fernback

Tim Fernback

Interim CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

Apogee Minerals Ltd.

Riley Trimble, Director

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: (604) 416-2978

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the structure of the Proposed Transaction, the terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction, the Consolidation, the Name Change, the terms of the Financing. the composition of the board of directors and officers of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the intention of the parties to seek a sponsorship exemption or waiver, the issuance of subsequent news releases, and Alto Verdes future exploration plans. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the Companys ability to complete the Proposed Transaction; the expected timing and terms of the Proposed Transaction and the Financing; the state of the financial markets for the Companys securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Proposed Transaction is completed; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; the Companys ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements.

This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - TEAKO MINERALS CORP. (CSE: TMIN) (the "Company" or "Teako") announces the resignation of Mr. Rob Cameron from his role as President and Director of the Company, effective immediately, as he shifts his full focus towards his own company. The Company extends its gratitude to Mr. Cameron for his dedicated service and wishes him success in his future ventures.

Stepping in as a Director of the Company is Mr. Eric Roth, previously special advisor of the Company and currently serving as the CEO and Director of Capella Minerals Ltd. Concurrently Mr. Roth will assume the position of the Company's Qualified Person ('QP').

Mr. Roth brings a profound technical understanding, and his experience spans all of Teako's target jurisdictions, Norway, Finland, and Canada, ensuring a comprehensive grasp of the geological landscapes and regulatory dynamics in these regions. Given his extensive experience working in especially Norway and Finland, Mr. Roth significantly bolsters our strategic push in these jurisdictions, propelling targeted mineral exploration endeavors forward.

Eric holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia and is an economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation. Prior to Capella, he was Chief Operating Officer of Mariana Resources Ltd., which was acquired by Sandstorm Gold Royalties in July 2017 for the high-grade Hod Maden copper-gold discovery in NE Turkey. Prior to this, Mr. Roth was Chief Executive Officer of Aegean Metals Group Inc. (original acquirer of the Hod Maden project) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Extorre Gold Mines Ltd. (discoverer of the high-grade Cerro Moro gold-silver deposit in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, which was acquired by Yamana Gold Inc. in mid-2012 for CAD 440M).

Eric worked for AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. ("AGA") between 2002 and 2008, initially as the Lima-based Peruvian project and South American opportunities manager and subsequently as the Johannesburg-based Global Head of greenfields exploration. During his Johannesburg tenure, AGA's greenfields exploration teams brought in over 20+Moz Au in new Inferred Resources through discoveries in Colombia (Colosa, Gramalote), Australia (Tropicana), and the DRC (Mongwalu) at a discovery cost of <USD 15/oz. Prior to AGA, Eric worked with TSX-listed Aur Resources Inc., discoverer of the high-grade Louvicourt VMS deposit located near Val d'Or, Quebec.

Eric is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM), a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), and a principal of consulting firm ER Global Consulting SpA.

Sven Gollan, CEO of Teako Minerals, comments, "Working ever more closely with Eric has been an important part of my personal journey in this sector. It is another exciting step to now welcome him to the Teako Board. He will undoubtedly bring value to the company, driving forward our business plan. Eric's proficiency in global mineral exploration and experience in Norway and Finland aligns seamlessly with our strategic vision."

Eric Roth, CEO of Capella Minerals, comments, "I look forward to assisting Sven and his experienced technical team as they continue to advance Teako's portfolio of highly prospective projects in Canada and Fennoscandia. Ensuring the quality of project data being utilized and reported will be a key part of ensuring the teams' success going forward."

Mark Steeltoft, the IR Manager of the Company, will be transitioning into the role of VP Corporate Development & IR.

About Teako Minerals Corp.

Teako Minerals Corp. is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company committed to acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties in Canada, Norway & Finland exploring for Gold, Copper, and cobalt. The adoption of technologies such as the SCS Exploration Product aligns with its strategy to remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving mining industry.

ON BEHALF OF TEAKO MINERALS CORP.

"Sven Gollan"

CEO

T: +43 5522 500429

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of Teako. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Teako. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "will," "may," "would," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "could" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include Although Teako believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Teako can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the mineral exploration industry in general (e.g., operational risks in development, exploration and production; the uncertainty of mineral resource estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks), constraint in the availability of services, commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, changes in legislation impacting the mining industry, adverse weather conditions and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. These and other risks are set out in more detail in Teako's interim Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 29, 2023 /CNW/ - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") reports its financial and operating results for the third quarter ("Q3") of 2023. The full version of the financial statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Q3 2023 Highlights

Processed 467,563 tonnes of material in the quarter: 1,394,029 tonnes in the first nine months of 2023;

Produced of 5,669,905 silver equivalent ounces in the quarter: 16,883,823 silver equivalent ounces in the first nine months of 2023;

Cash cost per silver ounce sold of $21.68 in the quarter: $19.34 in the first nine months of 2023;

in the quarter: in the first nine months of 2023; AISC per silver ounce sold of $25.98 in the quarter: $23.10 in the first nine months of 2023;

in the quarter: in the first nine months of 2023; Revenue of $64,408,000 in the quarter: $193,640,000 in the first nine month of 2023; and

in the quarter: in the first nine month of 2023; and Adjusted EBITDA of $4,628,000 in the quarter: $26,368,000 in the first nine months of 2023.

Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO of Santacruz, commented, "The Company had a solid quarter in the face of a challenging commodity price environment." Mr. Prestamo continued, "While we continue to identify and implement efficiencies at all our assets, it is important to highlight the significant changes that were made at the Zimapan mine in Mexico during the quarter. By streamlining the management team and shifting to more owner-operated mining, we were able to increase productivity and decrease costs, and expect to continue to see the benefits from these changes in the next quarter."

Selected consolidated financial and operating information for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 are presented below. All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

2023 Third Quarter Highlights

2023-Q3 2023-Q2(8) Change Q3 vs Q2 2022-Q3 Change Q3 vs Q3 2023-YTD 2022-YTD(1)(2) Change '23 vs '22

Operational Material Processed (tonnes milled) 467,563 443,969 5 % 500,956 (7 %) 1,394,029 1,163,645 20 % Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (3) 5,669,905 5,569,535 2 % 5,832,822 (3 %) 16,883,823 12,368,597 37 % Silver Ounces Produced 1,728,863 1,786,461 (3 %) 1,924,973 (10 %) 5,284,845 3,805,287 39 % Lead Tonnes Produced 3,370 2,824 19 % 2,996 12 % 9,237 7,165 29 % Zinc Tonnes Produced 23,095 22,281 4 % 22,831 1 % 67,839 49,422 37 % Copper Tonnes Produced 252 297 (15 %) 364 (31 %) 964 901 7 % Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (4) 3,822,782 4,087,787 (6 %) 4,383,872 (13 %) 12,291,464 14,854,519 (17 %) Cash Cost of Production per Tonne (5) 93.73 100.25 (7 %) 148.51 (37 %) 92.48 119.72 (23 %) Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (5) 21.68 19.34 12 % 20.79 4 % 19.34 17.26 12 % All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (5) 25.98 22.89 13 % 24.90 4 % 23.10 19.80 17 % Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold ($/oz) (5) (6) 25.31 22.00 15 % 19.63 29 % 23.04 20.98 10 %

Financial Revenues 64,408 63,854 1 % 53,516 20 % 193,640 214,285 (10 %) Gross Profit 7,394 10,976 (33 %) (19,338) (138 %) 33,050 16,635 99 % Net Income (loss) (4,298) 4,351 (199 %) (18,788) (77 %) (123) (14,192) 99 % Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic ($/share) (0.01) 0.01 (199 %) (0.06) (78 %) (0.00) (0.04) 99 % Adjusted EBITDA (5) 4,628 9,138 (49 %) (14,785) (131 %) 26,368 16,758 57 % Cash and Cash Equivalent 3,014 7,720 (61 %) 4,494 (33 %) 3,014 4,494 (33 %) Working Capital (Deficiency) (27,354) (22,293) (23 %) (91,184) (70 %) (27,354) (91,184) 70 %

Third Quarter 2023 Production Summary  By Mine

Bolivar (7) Porco (7) Caballo Blanco Group San Lucas Zimapan Consolidated Material Processed (tonnes milled) 77,298 47,786 76,864 73,456 192,158 467,563 Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (3) 1,343,000 625,401 1,118,711 1,399,187 1,183,606 5,669,905 Silver Ounces Produced 502,931 165,066 319,674 362,443 378,748 1,728,863 Lead Tonnes Produced 449 190 684 522 1,526 3,370 Zinc Tonnes Produced 5,214 2,891 4,805 6,454 3,731 23,095 Copper Tonnes Produced N/A N/A N/A N/A 252 252 Average head grades per mine: Silver (g/t) 221 119 144 183 80 156 Lead (%) 0.79 0.52 1.22 1.06 0.97 0.95 Zinc (%) 7.41 6.40 6.80 9.55 2.49 6.68 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.29 0.29 Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (4) 784,713 285,286 609,415 1,285,739 857,628 3,822,782

Notes for both tables above: (1) On March 18, 2022 the Company closed the acquisition of all Bolivian assets from Glencore and the results of the Bolivian Operations are included in the consolidated results of the Company from that date. (2) Bolivian production from March 18, 2022 to September 30, 2022. (3) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) have been calculated using prices of $21.86/oz, $0.91/lb, $1.52/lb and $3.67/lb for silver, lead, zinc and copper respectively applied to the metal production divided by the silver price as stated here. (4) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) have been calculated using the Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold stated in the table above, applied to the payable metal content of the concentrates sold from Zimapan, Bolivar, Porco, the Caballo Blanco Group, and San Lucas. (5) The Company reports non-GAAP measures, which include Cash Cost of Production per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold, and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. (6) Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges. (7) Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements. (8) The net loss (income), net loss (income) per share, Adjusted EBITDA, and working capital deficiency were amended as a result of the restatement related to the Sinchi Wayra and Illapa Acquisition.

YTD 2022 numbers are affected by the partial quarter of Bolivian production in Q1 2022. On March 18, 2022, the Company closed the acquisition of the Bolivian Assets from Glencore and the results of the operations of the Bolivian Assets are included in the consolidated operational and financial results of the Company from that date. However, combined Q2 and Q3 results show a 5% increase in silver equivalent ounces produced from 2022 to 2023, despite lower tonnages processed. This is a reflection of the Company starting to benefit from its efforts to increase mined grades and metallurgical recoveries at all operations.

Production

In Q3 2022, 500,956 tonnes of material was processed, and 5,832,882 silver equivalent ounces was produced, and in Q3 2023 467,563 tonnes of material was produced and 5,669,905 silver equivalent ounces was produced. While total material processed in Q3 2023 was 7% less compared to Q3 2022, total silver equivalent ounce production was down only 3%. This was a result of higher grades mined and an increase in metal recoveries at Bolivar and Zimapan.

In Q3 2023, the Company processed 467,563 tonnes of material, a slight increase from the previous quarter. Silver equivalent ounces produced of 5,669,905 included 1,728,863 ounces of silver, 3,370 tonnes of lead, 23,095 tonnes of zinc and 252 tonnes of copper. The positive impact of a slight increase in material processed combined with an increase in metal production from the Zimapan and Bolivar mines resulted in stable silver equivalent ounce production overall.

Cash Cost of Production per Tonne

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed was $93.73 in Q3 2023 compared to $148.51 for the same period last year. Since acquiring the Bolivian assets, the steady increase in unit production costs at Zimapan have been offset by significant decreases in unit production costs at the Bolivian operations for a net reduction in cash costs of 37% per tonne.

When compared to the previous quarter, consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed decreased by 7% as a result of several factors including the increase in production at Zimapan after recovering from a two-week haulage stoppage that took place last quarter, incremental decreases in unit costs from our Bolivian mining operations and less mineralized material purchased by San Lucas feed sourcing.

Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold was $21.68 in Q3 2023 compared to $20.79 for the same period last year. This 4% increase in unit cost was due primarily to a 13% decrease in silver equivalent ounces sold, which is a function of realized metal prices. While the metal production only decreased 3% for the same period, the silver equivalent conversion ratio of base metals to silver was higher due to the changes in realized metal prices quarter over quarter, which resulted in the additional 10% reduction in silver equivalent ounces sold.

Consolidated results for Q3 2023 show a 12% increase in cash costs per silver equivalent ounce sold compared to Q2 2023. This increase is primarily a result of 6% lower silver equivalent ounces sold based on realized pricing for metals which decreased silver equivalents sold for Q3 2023. Total costs were comparable to Q2 2023 and silver equivalent ounce production actually increased 2% vs Q2 2023.

All-In Sustaining Cash Cost ("AISC") per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q3 2023 AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold was $25.98, compared to Q3 2022 of $24.90. This 4% increase in unit cost was due primarily to a 13% decrease in silver equivalents sold which is a function of realized metal prices. While the metal production only decreased 3% for the same period, the silver equivalent conversion ratio of base metals to silver was higher due to the changes in realized metal prices quarter over quarter, which resulted in the additional 10% reduction in silver equivalent sold.

Consolidated AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold increased 13% quarter-on-quarter to $25.98, mainly a result of the 6% decrease in silver equivalent ounces sold based on changes in the silver equivalent conversion ratio as described above, coupled with higher sustaining capital expenditures and higher sustaining general and administrative costs. Bolivian consolidated AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold increased 21% versus Q2 2023 due to the lower silver equivalent ounces sold, however this was partially offset by a 21% decrease at Zimapan resulting from lower capital expenditures and sustaining general and administrative expenditures.

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is in Mexico.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman and Interim CEO

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.

Forward looking information

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the Company's goal of identifying and implementing efficiencies at all of its assets, and the benefits the Company expects to realize for the changes made at the Zimapan mine. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks that the Company will be unable to identify and implement further efficiencies at its assets, that the Company will not derive the expected benefits from streamlining the management team and shifting to more owner-operated mining at the Zimapan mine, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumption that there are further inefficiencies at the Company's assets which can be identified and improved upon, and that the Company will realize the expected benefits from the changes it has made at the Zimapan mine.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.
The world's largest regional security body convened in North Macedonia on Thursday amid controversy, with Ukraine Poland and the Baltic states boycotting the summit in protest at the presence of Russia.

Created in 1975 as a forum for dialogue between the Eastern and Western blocs, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) -- of which both Russia and Ukraine are part -- is operating with great difficulty and tensions are running high, particularly over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow continues to block decisions on elements such as managing the OSCE's budget and reaching consensus on rotating chairmanship.

Earlier this week, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they would boycott the annual ministerial conference due to the expected presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Poland said Russia's presence was "unacceptable".

"We just cannot ignore the fact that the Russian minister of foreign affairs will be present at the table of the organisation that is supposed to build peace and security in Europe," Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told reporters on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Skopje on Wednesday for a pre-summit dinner with representatives of other OSCE states, was not in attendance on Thursday.

He was in Israel, seeking to extend the truce in Gaza.

Lavrov arrived in North Macedonia on Wednesday evening and was expected to address the summit in the capital Skopje later on Thursday.

- Multilateralism -

Late on Wednesday, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he understood the unease of some states but welcomed the decision by North Macedonia to allow Lavrov to participate, saying it aligned with the "common objective of keeping multilateralism alive".

"It will be a good occasion for him (Lavrov) to listen directly from the participants at this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated," he told reporters.

After months of negotiations, Malta on Monday agreed to take over the organisation's rotating presidency next year, instead of NATO member Estonia -- who the Kremlin openly rejected.

The ruling is expected to be ratified during the two-day ministerial meeting.

On Wednesday, Russia accused Western countries of trying to stop its officials from attending the summit.

"We see attempts by part of the West to do everything possible to hinder our country's normal participation at this meeting," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She went on to accuse some countries -- without naming them -- of threatening "the very existence of the organisation, just to satisfy their ambitions".

Ukraine, in turn, wants the OSCE to expel Russia, as the Council of Europe has done, warning the body faced a "slow death" if Moscow remains a member.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the OSCE has issued several reports on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russian armed forces.

Borrell is also attending the meeting but has said he will not meet Lavrov directly.
A German court on Thursday sentenced a Gambian man to life in prison over his participation in a death squad that assassinated opponents of former dictator Yahya Jammeh, including an AFP journalist.

Bai Lowe was convicted of crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder for his role as a driver for the hit squad known as the Junglers.

Lowe's conviction came after a trial that rights groups and family members said was just the beginning of a long road towards justice for the victims of Jammeh's regime.

Lowe, who denied the charges against him, shook his head as the sentence was read out by the judge at the court in the northern town of Celle.

The Junglers unit was "used by the then-president of The Gambia to carry out illegal killing orders, among other things" with the aim of "intimidating the Gambian population and suppressing the opposition", according to prosecutors.

The list of crimes included the 2004 killing of AFP correspondent Deyda Hydara, who was gunned down in his car on the outskirts of Gambia's capital Banjul on December 16, 2004.

Lowe was found to have acted as a driver for the unit and to have helped stop Hydara's car on the night of the murder.

Hydara's son, Baba Hydara, said in Celle that while the ruling was an "important day" for the victims of Jammeh's government, it was "just a start".

"We have more fights. We have more challenges, trials and tribulations to achieve our goal, and our main goal is to get the one who was giving the orders," he told AFP.

- Journalist killing -

Hydara was an editor and co-founder of independent daily The Point and a correspondent for AFP for over 30 years.

The father of four also worked as a Gambia correspondent for non-governmental group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and was considered a doyen among journalists in the tiny West African state.

In The Point, he wrote a widely read column, "Good morning, Mr President", in which he expressed his views on Gambian politics.

As well as having a role in Hydara's killing, Lowe is accused by prosecutors of involvement in the attempted assassination of lawyer Ousman Sillah and the murder of Dawda Nyassi, a suspected opponent of the president.

The ruling against Lowe is "the first time a court has recognised that crimes against humanity were committed by Yahya Jammeh", Hydara's lawyer Patrick Kroker said.

Welcoming the verdict, AFP's Global News Director Phil Chetwynd said it was "a first step to establishing responsibility in the murder of Deyda Hydara, our correspondent for 30 years in The Gambia, who paid with his life in his fight for press freedom".

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said that "justice will only prevail when Jammeh is extradited from his exile in Equatorial Guinea and faces charges in Gambia's special criminal court".

The proceedings were held in Germany on the basis of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, regardless of where they were committed.

The evidence against Lowe included photos found showing him in military uniform and a radio interview given by the suspect in 2013 to a US-based Gambian radio station.

- 'Detailed account' -

In the interview, Lowe gave a "detailed account of the planning and execution" of the crimes that indicated he was speaking from memory.

Lowe previously said he had been convinced by the interviewer to pose as a member of the death squad, repeating what other people had told him about to illustrate the cruelty of Jammeh's government.

Jammeh ruled Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years but fled the country in January 2017 after losing a presidential election to relative unknown Adama Barrow.

Jammeh refused to acknowledge the results but was forced out by a popular uprising and fled to Equatorial Guinea.

Lowe is one of three alleged accomplices of Jammeh to be detained abroad, alongside former interior minister Ousman Sonko, under investigation in Switzerland since 2017, and another alleged former Jungler, Michael Sang Correa, indicted in June 2020 in the United States.

The Gambian government itself said earlier this year it was working with West African regional bloc ECOWAS to set up a tribunal to try crimes committed under Jammeh.

Hailing Thursday's ruling as a "historic day for the entire Gambian press", which Deyda Hydara had championed, RSF head of advocacy Antoine Bernard stressed: "The real instigator, dictator Yahya Jammeh and all his accomplices, must now be held accountable for their crimes."

"We will never stop until he has his day in court," vowed Baba Hydara.
The world's largest regional security group opened its Skopje summit Thursday with Russia and Ukraine's allies in open conflict, rattling the organisation that is intended as a forum for East-West blocs.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been struggling to survive with Russia blocking key decisions, including the group's budget.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's attendance at the Skopje gathering this week sparked a boycott from Ukraine and key allies.

Russia's 20-month-old invasion of Ukraine came in for fierce criticism ahead of Lavrov's speech to the summit.

"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine flies in the face of all this organisation holds dear," said Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's foreign affairs minister and OSCE chairman in office, during opening remarks as the summit kicked off.

"The war undermines trust, dialogue, and our capacity to deliver," he added.

Lavrov fired back, saying the OSCE was becoming an "appendage" of the NATO alliance and the European Union.

"The organisation, let's face it, is on the edge of a precipice. A simple question arises: does it make sense to invest in its revitalisation?," said Lavrov, who immediately left the session after delivering his remarks.

The Russian foreign minister was set to hold a separate press conference on the sidelines of the summit on Friday.

Created in 1975 as a forum for dialogue between the Eastern and Western blocs, the OSCE has been struggling to operate as Russia's war in Ukraine has unleashed a torrent of tension in the organisation.

Earlier this week, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania announced that they would boycott the annual ministerial conference, with Warsaw saying Russia's presence was "unacceptable".

Ukraine wants the OSCE to expel Russia, as the Council of Europe has done, warning the body faced a "slow death" if Moscow remains a member.

"We just cannot ignore the fact that the Russian minister of foreign affairs will be present at the table of the organisation that is supposed to build peace and security in Europe," Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told reporters on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who joined Wednesday's pre-summit dinner with representatives of other OSCE states, was not in attendance on Thursday.

- Multilateralism -

Late on Wednesday, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he understood the unease of some states but welcomed the decision by North Macedonia to allow Lavrov to participate, saying it aligned with the "common objective of keeping multilateralism alive".

"It will be a good occasion for him (Lavrov) to listen directly from the participants at this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated," he told reporters.

After months of negotiations, Malta on Monday agreed to take over the organisation's rotating presidency next year, replacing NATO member Estonia -- who the Kremlin openly rejected.

The decision is expected to be ratified during the two-day ministerial meeting.

Ahead of the summit, Russia accused Western countries of trying to prevent its officials attending the meeting.

"We see attempts by part of the West to do everything possible to hinder our country's normal participation at this meeting," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She accused some countries -- without naming them -- of threatening "the very existence of the organisation, just to satisfy their ambitions".

Russia's repeated criticism has fuelled speculation it could decide to pull out of the OSCE altogether, cutting another fragile line of communication with the West.

The OSCE has issued several reports on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Russian armed forces during their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli and Rexhep Selimi have allegedly used their non-privileged visits [privileged visits are those between a defendant and their defence lawyer] to unlawfully disseminate protected witness information, identify witnesses, and in Thacis case, repeatedly instructed visitors to seek to manipulate witness testimony, wrote the Office of the prosecutor of the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers on November 17. Multiple protected witnesses in this case have reported being approached by persons attempting to prevent or influence their testimony, said the prosecutor. In a number of instances, these approaches were indicated as having been directed by one or more of the Three Accused and/or persons who had visited them in The Hague.

Former president of Kosovo Thaci and his two co-defendants  who were also high-ranking Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) figures during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war to gain independence from Serbia  are currently on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity. With the authorisation of the judges, the prosecutors have taped some of the visits to the three accused. Some of the evidence collected is contained in a redacted form of their submission to the judges. One instance shows a witness being approached in March 2023 and told that Thaci and Veseli had directly instructed one of their visitors to the prison in the Hague to arrange for someone to deliver the message that one of the witnesses, whose name is protected, should withdraw or weaken its testimony. In another instance a witness was also approached and asked to soften their evidence for the good of Kosovo. Another witness reports several attempts to interfere with his testimony by multiple individuals.

The prosecutors submission stresses that it was a regular occurrence for unscheduled detainees to enter and take part in visits for which they were not authorised to be present, showing how in multiple occasions Veseli dropped into the scheduled visits of other detainees. These includes visits to Thaci and Selimi in July this year, three months into the trial proceedings.

Instructing witnesses how they should testify

Recordings used by the prosecutors are said to further show the defendants revealing protected witnesses identities and confidential details. Additional evidence reveals Thaci showing the visitors, and possibly handing over a copy of, one or more witness statements, and providing instructions to be conveyed to the witness, wrote the prosecutor. In the transcript of the recording Thaci flicks through the pages of the witness statement copy and says to the visitor I must orientate you a little.

It appears that the former Kosovo president met with at least two witnesses before or after their testimony. According to the prosecutor, evidence shows that Thaci provided instructions on how witnesses should testify and directed his visitors to approach witnesses on his behalf. In a transcript of a recorded conversation with visitors Thaci said The boss was Adem Demaci, he should state it clearly, and then Tell him You are coming here, leave this place a hero. Dont leave shameful. Demaci was a human rights defender who embodied Kosovos national resistance and is often remembered as the Nelson Mandela of Kosovo. For a short time he was also the leading politician of the KLA, from which he resigned in 1999. He died in 2018.

The three Accused are actively engaged in unlawful conduct that is detrimental to the safety, security and well-being of witnesses, concluded the prosecutors. In response to that, the Specialist Prosecutor Kimberly West, who signed the filing, asked the trial panel to forbid all non-privileged in person visits and restrict communications to a defined set of immediate family and consular officials. All correspondence and import items should be reviewed and all video and audio communications to the outside should be actively monitored by an Albanian speaker, asked the prosecutor. Exemptions are made for privileged contacts, which means communications and visits by lawyers, but restricted to counsel and co-counsel of the accused only. A segregation of the three accused from all other current detainees is also requested. Such measures are deemed by the Prosecutor's Office necessary and proportionate to preserve the integrity of the proceedings. There is concrete risk of unlawful attempts to interfere with witnesses and obstruct their testimony, they wrote.

A long history of witness intimidation

The judges swiftly agreed that this risk seems real and granted temporary measures requested by the prosecution. All communications to the outside were suspended and the three men were segregated until the judges final decision, following submissions by the defence and the registrys department in charge of detentions. By November 30, no redacted version of the defense response was available. The concern is that Thaci, Veseli and Selimi could convey messages via other detainees, who served as their subordinates in the KLA.

The three men have been in custody since November 2020. The trial opened last April. The prosecution is expected to present their case until the spring of 2025. The Kosovo Specialist Chambers, staffed by international judges and lawyers, was set up in 2015 to handle cases against ex-KLA guerrillas. The Chambers were specifically set outside of Kosovo because of worries over witness protection, as the former KLA leaders are seen by many as heroes in the Balkan country.

Incidents related to witness protection are not a first in the history of the Kosovo Chambers and many measures are already in place to try and protect witnesses, like anonymity during the proceedings and the many closed sessions. In 2022, the chairman and vice chairman of the KLA veteran association Hysni Gucati and Nasim Haradinaj, were found guilty of obstructing justice and intimidating witnesses. Earlier this month the prosecutors arrested and brought to the Hague Isni Kilaj, a former KLA member and current member of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK) that used to led by Thaci. Kilaj is suspected of obstructing the administration of justice, possibly through interfering with witnesses.

Witness intimidation has been at the heart of the successive attempts by the international community to bring accountability on serious crimes committed in the Kosovo war. It was already a hurdle at the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). For instance, when ICTY judges acquitted former KLA commander and DPK founding member Fatmir Limaj they wrote that many witnesses expressed concerns for their lives and those of their family and that fear was very perceptive, especially for witnesses still living in Kosovo.
Israel's top diplomat said Thursday he was recalling the country's envoy to Madrid over "outrageous remarks" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez questioning the legality of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

"Because of the outrageous remarks by the Spanish prime minister, who again repeated baseless claims, I have decided to summon the Israeli ambassador in Spain for consultations in Jerusalem," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The move came after an interview in which Sanchez said he had "serious doubts" over the legality of Israel's actions in the war-torn Gaza Strip, an Israeli official told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying it was "not the first time" the Spanish leader had expressed such views.

Diplomatic tensions between Israel and Spain have soared following repeated remarks by Sanchez criticising Israel's military campaign in Gaza that came in response to Hamas's October 7 attack.

In an interview on Thursday with Spanish public television, Sanchez said the world had to tell Israel "it needs to base its actions on international humanitarian law, and with the images we are seeing and the growing number of people dying, especially boys and girls, I have serious doubts".

Israel has also recalled its ambassadors from Turkey and South Africa following remarks by those countries' leaders over the war in Gaza.

It was not immediately clear when Israeli ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon would leave Madrid for Jerusalem.

"Israel is acting and will continue to act according to international law and we will continue with the war until all of the hostages are freed and until the elimination of Hamas in Gaza," Cohen wrote on X.

"There is only one body responsible for the massacre on October 7 and for the situation in Gaza today, and that is the Hamas terror organisation that carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity against Israeli citizens and residents of the Gaza Strip."

Sanchez sparked another angry response from Israel last Friday when he denounced the "indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians" in a speech in Egypt.

He was joined by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo who also said Israel's "operation needs to respect international humanitarian law".

The Israeli foreign minister promptly summoned the ambassadors of both countries "for a harsh rebuke", his office said in a statement, accusing the two leaders of supporting "terrorism".

hmw/slb/jsa

X
International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan visited Israel "at the request and invitation" of the survivors and families of the victims of Hamas's October 7 attacks, the ICC said on Thursday.

"The visit, while not investigative in nature, represents an important opportunity to express sympathy for all victims and engage in dialogue," the court wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Khan is also due to travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank where he will meet with senior Palestinian officials, the ICC said.

Hamas militants took about 240 captives from southern Israel during an unprecedented October 7 attack that Israeli officials say killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

In response, Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas, an Islamist movement with an armed wing. A relentless Israeli air, sea and ground offensive has killed more than 15,000 people, according to Gaza's Hamas rulers.

A near week-long truce that has paused weeks of deadly conflict is set to expire early on Friday.

Opening its doors in 2002, the ICC is the world's only independent court set up to probe the gravest offences including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It opened an investigation into Israel as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories in 2021.

Khan has previously said this investigation now "extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on October, 2023".

But ICC teams have not been able to enter Gaza or investigate in Israel, which is not an ICC member.

Legal experts have told AFP that Hamas and Israel could face war crimes charges over the conflict.

Five countries in mid-November called for an ICC investigation into the Israel-Hamas war, with Khan saying his team had collected a "significant volume" of evidence on "relevant incidents".
Celebrity couple Choi Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho made their appearance at the 2023 MAMA Awards, and immediately stole the spotlight for this reason.

Jung Kyung Ho, Choi Sooyoung Attend as Presenters at 2023 MAMA Awards

A plethora of celebrities graced the 2023 MAMA Awards. Held on November 28 and 29, the pretigious ceremony recognized talents and impact of K-pop stars, especially those who shone the brightest this year.

Meanwhile, star couple Jung Kyung Ho and Choi Sooyoung attended the event as presenters, and they showed on the Day 2 of the ceremony.

Jung Kyung Ho presented the favorite dance performance for the male group.

Choi Sooyoung, on the other hand, who was on the same stage as a presenter spoke in fluent Japanese, and reminisced about her memories as an idol.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Jung Kyung Ho & Choi Sooyoung Spotted on Spontaneous Date Amid Busy Schedule

The actress got emotional as it had been a very long time since she took the center stage of Tokyo Dome. She also shared her beautiful journey in becoming part of the legendary group Girls' Generation.

Choi Sooyoung & Jung Kyung Ho Steal Hearts at the 2023 MAMA Awards

The two separately walked on the red carpet, yet they received a huge amount of support from the event-goers and viewers. Fans cheered on them and showed their enthusiasm for seeing the celebrities in the same event.

Jung Kyung Ho and Choi Sooyoung also made headlines in various Korean media outlets as they showed their support for each other in their careers, and at the same time, maintained professionalism with their work.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: SNSD Sooyoung Talks on 11-Year Relationship With Jung Kyung Ho, Marriage Plans - Will We Hear Wedding Bells Soon?

Choi Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho have been dating since 2012. Dubbed the "Power Couple" by fans, it's not surprising that fans await their marriage.

In one of the actress' interviews this 2023, she briefly commented on the idea.

"If there's good news, I will tell reporters first."

What's Next for Jung Kyung Ho & Choi Sooyoung

Choi Sooyoung and Jung Kyung Ho are expected to deliver more great performances in 2024.

In August, Jung Kyung Ho's agency confirmed that he will star in the upcoming series "Labor Attorney Noh Moo Jin" and is already preparing to work on the drama. It has been said that production will start earnestly in the first half of 2024.

Meanwhile, Choi Sooyoung will continue to do solo activities as a host in various talent shows and other brand endorsements.

As of this writing, the actress has no confirmed drama projects yet.

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Seo Ye Ji has parted ways with Gold Medalist after four years. On November 30, the label released an official statement confirming the changes regarding the actress' career.

Seo Ye Ji Leaves Gold Medalist

Gold Medalist confirmed that their exclusive contact with the "Eve" star has ended as of November 30, 2023.

"Although our partnership with Seo Ye Ji ends here, we will cherish our precious, shared memories for a long time to come. We would like to relay our words of gratitude to Seo Ye Ji for choosing Gold Medalist, and we also cheer on her new beginning with all sincerity."

READ MORE: Where is Seo Ye Ji Now? Actress & Agency Face Update Regarding Brand's Damage Compensation Claims

The 33-year-old actress first joined the agency in 2019, along with Kim Sae Ron and Kim Soo Hyun. The label is owned and founded by Lee Ro Be, who is also Kim Soo Hyun's cousin.

A year after joining the agency, Seo Ye Ji starred in the 2020 hit K-drama "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" with labelmate Kim Soo Hyun.

In addition, she also starred in the 2021 thriller movie "Recalled" with Kim Kang Woo.

Unfortunately, following her skyrocketing career, the actress became the center of controversy.

Seo Ye Ji was embroiled in a bullying issue as well as gaslighting her former boyfriend Kim Jung Hyun.

Seo Ye Ji Controversy: From Peak Stardom to Scandal-Ridden Actress

In 2021, after the success of "It's Okay Not to Be Okay," Seo Ye Ji made headlines after she was accused of school violence and bullying.

On top of it, there was also suspicion over the falsification of academic records. The actress mentioned in the March 2017 episode of "Knowing Bros" that she studied in Madrid for three years.

Meanwhile, at the height of the controversy, her then-agency, Gold Medalist, shut down rumors and pointed out that the "suspicions about Seo Ye Ji are not true."

However, negative issues continued to hound the actress after she was accused of gaslighting Kim Jung Hyun.

Fortunately, despite the backlash and the accusations against her, Seo Ye Ji was able to return on-screen with the revenge series "Eve."

Taking on the revenge-driven Le Ra El, she starred alongside Park Byung Eun and Yoo Sun. The tvN series aired from June to July 2022 but received a lukewarm response from the public.

Viewers, however, were entertained by the interaction between Seo Ye Ji and Yoo Sun's characters as they played the roles of mistress and legal wife.

After "Eve," viewers looked forward to seeing the actress portray another challenging role in the future.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

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Written by Geca Wills
Viewers might see Choi Siwon return to the small screen after being offered to headline a rom-com K-drama.

Selected to play the lead star, the Super Junior member is slated to portray an interesting character in the upcoming series "DNA Lover."

Choi Siwon to Possibly Team Up With Jung In Sun in the Rom-Com Drama 'DNA Lover'

In an exclusive report, Choi Siwon is positively considering joining the new rom-com K-drama "DNA Lover."

The idol actor is offered to portray the character of Shim Yeon Woo, an obstetrician who doesn't believe in marriage.

Despite his good looks, Yeon Woo rejects anything that could lead to a relationship because he doesn't believe in marriage and has a non-marriage policy.

However, things change when he meets the woman who shakes his abysmal spirit.

Joining Choi Siwon is Jung In Sun, who is also offered to play the character of Han So Jin, a skilled genetic researcher who experienced a series of unsuccessful relationships. Due to this, she seeks a partner through genetic compatibility.

If the duo officially confirmed to play the main characters of "DNA Lover," the upcoming rom-com will surely give viewers a round of entertaining season as the stars showcase their on-screen chemistry.

While the upcoming K-drama "DNA Lover" is in full swing, officials aim to release the series sometime in 2024.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Choi Siwon Creates Buzz For His New Look in 'Work Later, Drink Now 2'

As for the broadcast, Choi Siwon and Jung In Sun's drama will reportedly air via TV Chosun.

Meanwhile, the forthcoming rom-com series is Choi Siwon's next project after his cameo in "Death's Game." He will join the star-studded cast, featuring Park So Dam and Seo In Guk, along with Kim Ji Hoon, Sung Hoon, Jang Seung Jo, Kim Kang Hoon, Lee Jae Wook, Lee Do Hyun, Go Yoon Jung, Oh Jung Se, Kim Jae Wook, and more.

In addition, viewers also witnessed Choi Siwon's versatility as an actor after playing a supporting character in Netflix's "Bloodhounds."

Headlined by Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi, the Super Junior member becomes Hong Min Beom, the son of a chaebol who was targeted by mobsters.

Of course, who would forget Choi Siwon's character Kang Buk Gu in "Work Later, Drink Now" seasons 1 and 2?

Choi Siwon Talks About Unexpected Highlight During His Japan Trip

In December 2022, during the shoot for Allure Korea, Choi Siwon mentioned meeting "Work Later, Drink Now" co-star Lee Sun Bin on his trip to Japan.

On a separate vacation, the actor bumped into the actress at the exact location and time.

According to the actor, he visited the country for a fan meeting together with Super Junior members Leeteuk and Shindong.

"I went to a restaurant, and we happened to accidentally meet Lee Sun Bin there. The funny thing is, I went to drink highball [a type of cocktail] after that, and there, I met [comedian] Yoo Se Yoon.'"

Both Choi Siwon and Lee Sun Bin were surprised to see each other in a different country.

READ MORE: Did You Know? Choi Siwon Almost Starred in 'Boys Over Flowers' Instead of Lee Min Ho

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

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Written by Geca Wills
Song Kang mentioned that this K-drama will be his last work before he enlists.

Keep on reading to know more about what the actor said.

Song Kang Spoils on What to Anticipate in 'Sweet Home' Season 2

Ahead of the sequel's release in December, Song Kang, along with the star-studded cast of Netflix's "Sweet Home" Season 2, gathered for the first time at the press event on November 30 in Seoul to talk about the new drama.

Present at the event were Lee Jin Wook, Lee Si Young, Go Min Si, Jung Jinyoung, Kim Moo Yeol, Yoo Oh Sung, and Lee Eung Bok who shared their individual stories while working on the project.

At the media conference, the survivors of the previous season gave a glimpse of what to anticipate in the new season.

According to Song Kang, Season 2 deals with the emergence of new beings and the struggle with the monster of new desires."

The heartthrob also acknowledged the popularity of "Sweet Home" Season 1 and expressed his feelings about appearing in the much-loved sequel.

"Thanks to everyone, season 1 became a hit which gave me a driving force to excel in my work."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Song Kang Amasses Popularity in China Following Comeback Drama 'My Demon'

Song Kang plays the role of Cha Hyun Soo, a monster rescued by Sang Wook after being attacked by soldiers alone.

"I feel more determined because of my guilt. Through the struggle against my lonely life, I will be able to see myself more mature than before."

He shared that he's usually playful, but when he goes to the scene with that mindset, the character gets excited, that's why Song Kang tried to keep his daily life calm by reflecting on his character's emotions.

Song Kang Confirms 'Sweet Home' is His Last Work Before Joining Army

The 29-year-old actor also mentioned that "Sweet Home" is his last work before joining the military.

"It is a duty to join the army, so I will go to the military in a better way while promoting 'Sweet Home.'"

He went on:

"I didn't feel different because it was my last work, but I thought a lot that it was too big for me to make me feel good about it. I tried to focus while in preparation for my enlistment for me to bring Hyun Soo's character to life."

Even though he didn't mention the date of his enlistment, Song Kang already gave his fans an update that apart from "My Demon," "Sweet Home" will be his last project before finally starting his journey in the army.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Ahn Hyo Seop Exempted From Military Service For THIS Reason

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Conflict-weary Somalia was recently admitted into the East African Community (EAC) as the eighth member of the bloc as it seeks to expand free trade across the region.

Patrick Kamara hosts Mr. Godber Tumushabe from Great Lakes Institute for Strategic Studies, and Senior Presidential Advisor Mr. Moses Byaruhanga on the KFM Hot Seat Show to discuss the expansion of the East African Community.

Listen to the show below;
ActionAid International Uganda is rooting for environment-friendly scaled-up climate financing ahead of the global COP28 summit that started today (Thursday) in Dubai.

The world is holding climate talks in Dubai with 167 world leaders.

Mercy Grace Munduru, the head of programmes at ActionAid International says developing countries like Uganda are unfairly enduring repeated tragedies over climate change with high costs of restoration.

She says more money should be injected into the loss and damage fund given current climate change catastrophes.

We hope COP28 can specifically pronounce itself on how it plans to scale up climate financing because we want them to specifically scale up the concept of climate finance and also were very concerned about how worlds financial flows happen, the mechanisms that are used to disburse finances across the world are sometimes harmful and not climate-friendly, she said.

ActionAid International Uganda is providing technical support to the Uganda delegation to COP28 with reports including one on the countrys readiness for the loss and damage fund.

It entails an assessment of whether Uganda is ready for the fund or not.
By Emuron George

Police in Bukedea has arrested the person suspected to have led a mob to attack at least thirty-five residents in the villages of Koboli and Kalupo in Kidongole Sub County in Bukedea district leaving them homeless.

The attack was prompted by suspicion that their cattle had been stolen by residents of those villages in Bukedea.

Richard Asiimwe, the Bukedea District Police Commander says the prime suspect he identified as William Obumba has been arrested.

We took up that matter and it is under investigation. We actually arrested the alleged cattle suspect and we want to have this gentleman produced in the courts of law for his theft case, Asiimwe said.

It is said that the theft happened on November 16 2023 after which a police sniffer dog led the team [who were tracing the stolen bulls from Butebo] to their area.

One of the displaced residents standing next to his destroyed house. PHOTO/By Emuron George
The Ministry of Health has banned transportation of dead bodies in public ambulances saying that these are meant for rescuing patients who need life support.

Dr Diana Atwine, the Ministrys Permanent Secretary says the government has put in place special ambulances that are equipped with expensive life-saving equipment that should not be misused.

I have had people come to my office asking for ambulances to take dead bodies. I want to categorically say that our ambulances are not for transporting dead bodies. Private service people [funeral services] can handle that, said Dr. Atwine.

She revealed this during the handover of 116 type B ambulances to various constituencies across the country at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.

The ambulances were purchased by the government with support from the government of Japan, the World Bank, and the Global Fund among other development partners.
The Speaker of Parliament Ms Anita Among has asked the government to reduce taxes on cooking gas, making it more affordable for all Ugandans and promoting environmental conservation.

According to the speaker, many people have resorted to cutting down trees for charcoal and firewood due to the high cost of cooking gas, noting that deforestation has had a detrimental impact on the environment.

Since Parliament and the government have banned tree cutting for charcoal production, Among believes it is crucial to lower cooking gas taxes to discourage further deforestation.

She acknowledged that Parliament has been encouraging Ugandans to plant trees and avoid cutting them down. However, she emphasized that some Ugandans have no choice but to cut down trees for firewood or charcoal due to the high cost of cooking gas.

I want to urge the executive to consider tax incentives to reduce the cost of cooking gas and support energy efficiency for us to be able to conserve the environment, she said.

The speaker also urged MPs to continue setting an example for their communities and the country by planting more trees to conserve the environment.
Members of parliament sitting on the Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee have asked the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) together with the Foreign Affairs Ministry to produce 26 missing land titles for Ugandas missions abroad.

This after the acting secretary of ULC, Andrew Nyumba, revealed to the committee chaired by Buliisa district woman MP Norah Bigirwa that it is in possession of titles for only 14 mission properties, out of 40 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted to the Commission.

Aruu South MP, Christopher Komakech and Arua Central Citys Jackson Atima said that ULC should urgently develop the land titles for foreign missions abroad for land safety, blaming the commission for not taking the matter seriously.

The chairperson of the Committee asked the Commission and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to harmonize their records after it was revealed that the land title for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is missing after officials from the Commission denied being in possession of the same.
An employee of a popular restaurant chain has told how returning to education as an adult helped her turn her life around.

Lisa Banks, a Customer Care Experience Leader at McDonalds in Kilkenny, dropped out of school aged 14, with low literacy levels and no confidence.

But the industrious mother-of-four later took adult literacy classes to get back on track and shes now an advocate for the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).

Lisa said that her main aim is to help young people - especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds like herself  to understand that education is worth the effort.

I left a few days after starting secondary school and that was it, she said.

Then, I had my first child a fortnight after I turned 18. Back in the day, it seemed like a good idea.

I thought it would be an easy way out of the family home, but soon found out it wasnt.

The 47-year-old, whos been with her former retail worker husband John (51) for 28 years, is originally from Dublin but now lives in Kilkenny.

With four grown-up children - Danyelle (29), Courtney (27), Jonathan (23) and Taylor (20)  and one grandson, Scott, whos six, Lisa is an inspirational figure at home  and away.

Indeed, having juggled cleaning jobs as a young mum, she revealed how taking adult literacy classes gave her a renewed desire for learning and to return to the workplace.

I wasnt very confident when it came to reading, she said.

But I went back as an adult at 39 to get my Leaving Certificate. It was two days a week and it took five years but I passed all the modules. I think every adult and child should have a chance at education.

An employment opportunity with McDonalds arose for Lisa during the Covid-19 pandemic and, following an on-site interview with Debbie (Business Manager) and Tommy (Operations Manager), she bagged a job at the Kilkenny restaurant.

I went in to drop off my CV in my leggings and a T-Shirt, not expecting to be given an interview there and then, she said.

Id actually got myself a takeaway coffee which Id left in the car...I was shaking all over but all I could think about was that it was getting cold.

She added: They said they were looking for staff. And I got an email confirmation of the job the next day.

Lisas role in McDonalds Kilkenny means shes responsible for keeping the dining area clean and tidy and her priority is making sure everything meets customers satisfaction.

Customers need to have a good experience when they come into our store, which is open 24/7, Lisa said.

Two of Lisas children have worked with her in the Kilkenny restaurant for the last two years.

Jonathan is a Crew Member and Taylor is training to be a Floor Manager, she said.

We have people here who are going to college to become doctors and lawyers, yet everyone is treated the same. No judgements are made on anyone.

Theres no preferential treatment as far as shifts are concerned and if you want to climb the career ladder internally, its an open playing field.

Lisas inspirational role beyond McDonalds involves acting as an advocate for adult education via giving talks for Irelands National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).

Its about removing the stigma about adults not being educated, she said.

Last year I gave a speech for NALA in Trinity College Dublin for the first time and I did one in Dublin City University (DCU).

Lisa said her advice to young people today is to stick out your education no matter how hard it is because there is an end to it.

Franchisee Chris Pim said Lisa is nothing short of inspirational.

She is an inspiration to me and to everybody in the restaurant, he said.

She is an absolute bundle of energy, and she brings so much positivity to everything.

Were incredibly proud to have her here as part of our team. Shes fantastic, An absolute legend.
A Kilkenny man with 147 previous convictions has been handed down a prison sentence for an offence committed just days after his release from a previous prison term.



Vincent Clowry, 3 OLoughlin Road, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, being in possession of stolen property and theft when he appeared before the local district court.



Evidence was heard that on Sunday, November 19, at 10.50pm, Mr Clowry was arrested at his home and taken to Kilkenny Garda Station where he was charged with the offences.



Gardai had received a report of theft from a car at St Marys Lane. The owner said cash and cards had been taken from the glove box in the vehicle. A bag was also taken.



CCTV of the area was viewed by gardai who identified Mr Clowry entering the vehicle then walking along St Marys Lane with the stolen items.



When gardai called to his home they were invited in by Mr Clowry. Inside, gardai observed a number of cards on the premises, in the name of the injured party and others. The cards were in the name of a female and of a local business.



Gardai contacted the business, on James Street, and were told that Mr Clowry had been on the premises. He went into the restaurant kitchen and was told to leave.



The court was told that Mr Clowry had 147 previous convictions, including 38 for burglary and 41 for theft/ handling stolen property. A garda said the last conviction had been on September 12 and Mr Clowry was released from prison on November 14.



Gardai agreed with solicitor Chris Hogan that Mr Clowry had been cooperative. Mr Hogan said his client had been at his nieces christening and went on a drinking binge. This led to his offending. He had done well in prison, engaging with drug counselling.

All property was recovered, apart from cash.



Judge Geraldine Carthy described Mr Clowrys ongoing, recidivist offending behaviour as affecting people in Kilkenny.

She imposed a prison sentence of seven months on one of the charges, taking the other two into consideration.

Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal.
IFA President Tim Cullinan said the 44% drop in farm incomes confirmed by Teagasc, this week, is a huge concern, particularly given the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Farmers cost of living as well as their cost of doing business has increased, yet their incomes have fallen by 44%. We saw yesterday that agricultural exports grew to 19bn. Yet the people providing the raw materials are receiving an average income of just over 25,000, he said.

If we dont have farmers, we dont have food. This should be a wake-up call for the Government which keeps heaping extra regulation on farmers which increases their costs and impacts hugely on farmer morale, he said.

The outlook for 2024 is somewhat more positive, with a recovery in farm incomes projected. But even with this projected recovery, average incomes will remain substantially below levels achieved in 2022.

The EU and the Government need a change direction and they need to start listening to farmers on the ground. We run a real risk of losing a whole generation, he said.

Analysis by Teagasc also showed that emissions per hectare is projected to reduce across all enterprises in 2023.

This shows that farmers are continuing to play their part in reducing overall emissions. However, farmers must have a sustainable income if we want to continue this trend. That has to be the focus of our Irish and EU regulators in the future, concluded Mr Cullinan.
Tirlan and Dairygold have joined forces to further strengthen the dairy sectors sustainability efforts by collaborating to bring the renewable energy solutions programme FarmGen to even more farm families.



The new partnership between two of the leading farmer-owned co-operatives is a clear indication of the dairy sectors commitment to embracing new technologies to cut on-farm emissions and help farm families operate more sustainably and efficiently.



Tirlan first launched its FarmGen Solar PV programme in 2019 and since then a large number of Tirlan farm families have installed a range of fully-financed, turnkey solar-powered energy FarmGen systems.

Dairygold suppliers can also now also avail of the solar PV programme as part of the switch to renewable energy solutions to reduce on-farm emissions and lower energy bills.



The solar-powered bundle is available through the programmes experienced technical partner, PV Generation. They will supply and install state-of-the-art solar PV systems along with smart monitoring on farms.



As part of this solution, FarmGen will manage the Governments TAMS and SEAI grant application processes and submission for competitively-priced financing if required, making it an even more attractive investment.



We are delighted to work together with Dairygold to extend the bespoke FarmGen offering to even more farm families, Tirlan Chairperson John Murphy said at the launch of the new collaboration. Farm families work with nature and are keen to embrace renewable energy on farm.



The new collaboration is a clear indication of the importance Tirlan places on continuously innovating to meet our Living Proof sustainability targets, and is in line with the governments commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

As co-operatives, we have a long history of showing industry leadership and working together to innovate and deliver solutions for our communities.



Dairygold Chairman Sean OBrien said: Our collaboration with Tirlan shows not only Dairygolds dedication to meeting our ambitious emissions targets but also demonstrates how beneficial it can be when industry leaders come together to achieve a common goal.



By partnering with Tirlan, were extending the geographical reach of this turnkey solution and making it possible for more farmers to adopt renewable energy on their farms in a manner that is efficient for all involved. The FarmGen programme is yet another positive step in the right direction in our efforts to reduce on farm emissions and contribute to a more sustainable dairy sector.



Dairygold and Tirlan milk suppliers can avail of 100% flexible and competitively-priced financing for the FarmGen installation on their farms.

The bespoke FarmGen systems are specifically designed to power energy-intensive processes on farm, such as milk cooling, vacuum pumps, water heating and more. Depending on the system size and battery bundle, FarmGen can deliver energy savings of typically between 20% and 50% per annum. Farmers who wish to register their interest can go to www.farmgen.ie.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few snow showers this afternoon. High around 25F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Periods of snow along with gusty winds at times, especially this evening. Low 11F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 100%. 5 to 8 inches of snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 25F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Periods of snow along with gusty winds at times, especially this evening. Low 11F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 5 to 8 inches. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front-row taxi ride.
Buffaloe will be in Dubai from Thursday through Friday, Dec. 8 to discuss and engage in crucial negotiations and commitments regarding climate change.
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE:HPF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 27,500 shares, a growth of 212.5% from the October 31st total of 8,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 42,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.6 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Selway Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the 3rd quarter valued at $129,000. Finally, Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC acquired a new stake in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II during the 3rd quarter worth $150,000.

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John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Stock Down 0.3 %

HPF traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $15.47. The stock had a trading volume of 51,856 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,986. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $14.16 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.67. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II has a 52 week low of $12.99 and a 52 week high of $17.90.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Increases Dividend

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Company Profile

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 13th will be paid a $0.1235 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 10th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.58%. This is an increase from John Hancock Preferred Income Fund IIs previous monthly dividend of $0.12.

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John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Meridian Mining UK Societas (OTCMKTS:MRRDF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 20,800 shares, an increase of 1,123.5% from the October 31st total of 1,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 13,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Meridian Mining UK Societas Price Performance

Meridian Mining UK Societas stock remained flat at C$0.28 during midday trading on Wednesday. Meridian Mining UK Societas has a 12-month low of C$0.21 and a 12-month high of C$0.49. The firms 50 day simple moving average is C$0.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$0.28.

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Meridian Mining UK Societas Company Profile

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Meridian Mining UK Societas, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Brazil. It explores for manganese, gold, copper, and tin deposits. The company holds a 100% interest in the Espigao polymetallic project and the Ariquemes tin project located in Rondonia.

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By Semoon Chang

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to see "Evita" (the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice) at the classy Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C. Evitas name before marriage was Maria Eva Duarte. After her marriage to Juan Peron, she was known as Eva Duarte de Peron, or Evita (little Eva).

The show was absolutely magnificent. As a ballroom dancer myself, the dancing in the show was very beautiful and exquisite. When the actress Shereen Pimentel (as Eva) sang Dont Cry for Me Argentina early in Act II, only a few in the fully occupied theatre applauded. Like those others in the audience, I did not applaud that particular song because her performance was so mesmerizing that I was rendered unable to respond and could only sit motionless. I also felt that applause was insufficient to appreciate her performance. Needless to say, the show received a standing ovation with more than one curtain call for Ms. Pimentel at its conclusion.

Note that I am not calling Eva my Madame President. I have someone-else in mind as will be explained later in this article.

Eva was born on May 7, 1919, in Los Toldos, Argentina. Eva was not a happy girl when young. Her parents were not married, her father had a wife and another family, and her family struggled financially.

When Eva was 15, she traveled to Buenos Aires to pursue an acting career. Eva attracted the attention of a rising political figure, Colonel Juan Peron. The two married in 1945. Peron was elected President and took office in 1946. Eva was active during the campaign and became very popular among people whom she addressed as los descamisados (the shirtless ones in Spanish). Eva was instrumental in carrying out many populist policies such as supporting unions, opening new hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the aged, passage of the womens suffrage law, and more. The womens suffrage law gave women the same right as men to vote in all elections.

Eva died of cancer in 1952 at the young age of 33. Evas life was the basis of a 1996 movie that starred Madonna. The Lloyd Webber/Rice musical Evita was first mounted in 1979. The Evita I enjoyed at the Shakespeare Theatre in October 2023 is the latest version. The signature song, Dont Cry for Me Argentina, was described by critics as a ravishing musical moment. In my opinion, the entire production was superbly done and I was mesmerized by both the story and its depiction.

While I sat enthralled as Dont Cry for Me Argentina was sung, my mind continued to someone I am calling Madame President. This ladys life has been more eventful than that of Eva Peron. Her name is Park Geun-hye  of South Korea. A possible movie and musical depiction of her life story sprang to mind.

Park Geun-hye was born on Feb. 2, 1952, in Daegu, South Korea. She moved with her family to Seoul in the 1950s and grew up in the Blue House, which was the South Korean presidential office. In 1970, she graduated from Sacred Heart Girls High School and received a bachelors degree in electrical engineering from Sogang University in 1974.

Unfortunately, that same year on Aug. 15, her mother was killed in a failed assassination attempt against her father, President Park Jung-hee. This attack was carried out by a North Korea agent. Geun-hye, at the young age of 22, supported her father by stepping into the role of Koreas first lady. Her father is widely known and respected as the architect of the South Korean economic miracle. This economic growth followed decades of postwar poverty. Tragedy again gripped her life when, on October 26, 1979, her father was killed by the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Jae-kyu.

In 1998, Park Geun-hye ran for election to the National Assembly as a candidate of the conservative Grand National Party. She won by a decisive margin. She was reelected for four more terms as a representative in the National Assembly (19982012). Her career suffered a setback in 2007 when she lost the party's presidential nomination to Lee Myung-bak who was elected as President. In 2011, she was appointed to head the ad hoc emergency committee and reformed the Grand National Party into the the Saenuri Party.

In August 2012, the governing Saenuri Party nominated Park as their contender for the December presidential election. Her main rival was Moon Jae-In of the leftist Democratic United Party.

In December 2012, Park defeated Moon with a small majority of the popular vote in an election marked by high voter turnout. She took office on Feb. 25, 2013 as the countrys first female president. For about a year, South Korea was in a revival mood. Her performance on the world stage, especially dressed in Korean traditional costume, was very effective as well as glamorous.

A disaster struck In April 2014. The ferry Sewol sank with more than 300 students inside. Instead of trying to find the exact cause of the disaster, the Korean political environment led to a political crisis that the opposition party skillfully manipulated. Soon after this disaster, the prime minister resigned. This resignation was followed by the resignations of President Parks top national security adviser and the director of the National Intelligence Service.

In the summer of 2016, Koreas largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, reported that a member of Parks administration had been threatening many large companies with the imposition of audits if they did not donate to two charitable foundations that were connected to Choi Soon-sil, who was a close friend of Park. Spurred by the herd mentality of Korean voters, the opposition party successfully began the process of removing her from power. On Dec. 9, 2016, the National Assembly voted to impeach Park by an overwhelming margin. On March 10, 2017, Koreas Constitutional Court upheld unanimously the parliamentary decision, and Park became South Koreas first democratically elected president to be removed from office.

Park was arrested on March 31. The following month, she was indicted on 18 charges related to abuse of power in her role as president. The most serious charge of bribery carried the possibility of a life sentence if she was found guilty.

On May 9, 2017, the election to determine Parks successor was held, and her 2012 opponent, Moon Jae-In, won. Two weeks later, Parks corruption trial began in Seoul. She was held in detention during the trial. On April 6, 2018, Park was found guilty of corruption. She was sentenced to 24 years in prison, and a fine of 18 billion won ($17 million). In July 2018, another trial found Park guilty of the illegal use of government funds and was sentenced to an additional eight years.

The following month, an appellate court ruled that the April 2018 judgment had not considered the full scope of Parks corruption and her prison sentence was lengthened by one year, and her fine was increased to 20 billion won or nearly $20million. The sentences were to run consecutively rather than concurrently, so Park faced a total of 33 years in prison.

She was later granted a retrial and in 2020 her sentence was reduced to 20 years. These sentences were upheld by South Koreas Supreme Court in 2021. In December 2021, Moon granted a special pardon to Park who was released from prison on December 31.

From the distance in the United States, the whole process of punishing Park seemed to be motivated by herd mentality. Korean people were enjoying watching the punishment meted out to Madame President. Even if all the accusations were true, she was not involved directly and became a victim of political maneuvering by opponents as well as opportunists.

When Yoon Suk-yeol won the 2022 presidential election in March 2022, defeating the Democratic Party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, who faces multiple corruption allegations, South Korea began to provide the respect to Madame President that she deserved. South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol met and invited Park to attend his inauguration. On Oct. 26, 2023, Yoon attended a memorial service marking the 44th anniversary of the death of former President Park Chung-hee, walking side by side with Park Geun-hye.

After seeing the dramatic presentation of Eva Perons life, I can envision a similar compelling and dramatic presentation of the life of Madame President who lost both parents in service of Korea. I believe her life story will be not only spell binding on its own, but can also embody the values that led to the many sacrifices by so many who have contributed to the miraculous success of todays Korea on the world stage.

Semoon Chang served as professor of economics at the University of South Alabama, U.S.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low 26F. SSW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low 27F. SW winds shifting to E at 10 to 15 mph.
? Se inicio la construccion de dos patrulleras maritimas que seran utilizadas para tareas de vigilancia, acciones de rescate y distribucion de ayuda humanitaria. Los trabajos son realizados por personal de los Servicios Industriales de la Marina (@sima_peru) en Chimbote.



? La pic.twitter.com/8TfDQ81W2b
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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met on November 29 with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Skopje within the framework of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council.

In a readout, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said that Mirzoyan and Blinken discussed issues related to security and stability in the South Caucasus.

The latest developments in the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process were also discussed.

Foreign Minister Mirzoyan underscored that despite Azerbaijans unconstructive conduct and the ethnic cleansing that was perpetrated in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the humanitarian issues, Armenia has conveyed to Azerbaijan proposals regarding the draft peace treaty in line with the well-known principles. Mirzoyan said that in case of Azerbaijan clearly committing to these principles, it will be possible to achieve significant progress in the direction of agreeing the draft.

Regional projects were discussed, and Foreign Minister Mirzoyan cited the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government, emphasizing the expected advantages for regional stability resulting from the implementation of the project.

The Armenian-American bilateral agenda was also discussed. Ideas were exchanged around the cooperation in bilateral and multilateral platforms and prospects for enhancing the partnership.
EU calls for accelerated emissions reductions at COP28

At the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference starting on 1 December in Dubai, the European Union will call on all Parties to take urgent action to bring down greenhouse gas emissions this decade and respect the commitments they made under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 2C, and to aim for 1.5C.

President von der Leyen will attend the World Climate Action Summit that officially opens COP28 on 1-2 December. On 1 December in the EU Pavilion, she will host a high-level event on promoting Paris-aligned carbon markets, with the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organisation, as well as a launch event for EU-Catalyst breakthrough energy projects, and an event on the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam. On 2 December, President von der Leyen will launch the Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency together with the COP28 Presidency, aiming to triple installed renewables capacity and double energy efficiency measures by 2030. She will also speak at the Super-Pollutants Summit, attend the Coal Transition Accelerator (CTA) initiative event, participate in the Global Stocktake roundtable on Means of Implementation, and deliver the official EU Statement in Plenary, with President of the European Council Charles Michel.

From 6 December onwards, Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra will lead the EU negotiating team in the formal decision-making process of COP28. COP28 will mark the culmination of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, a moment for all Parties to examine the progress made and the necessary actions to correct our course towards a safer climate and uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement. The EU will be encouraging all partners to agree to global energy goals that seek to accelerate the phaseout of unabated fossil fuels, as part of increasing global ambition on climate change mitigation. The EU's negotiating goals include:

tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvement rates by 2030;

reaching agreement on phasing out unabated fossil fuels;

agreement on phasing out unabated fossil fuels; making sure that fossil fuel consumption peaks ahead of 2030;

phasing out fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or the just transition.

The Global Stocktake must also set the clear expectation that Parties will immediately begin work on post-2030 targets (NDCs) and that these represent economy-wide reductions in all greenhouse gases consistent with avoiding a 1.5C temperature rise and a net-zero global economy by mid-century. In addition, the European Union's negotiating team will push for the speedy implementation of existing commitments to move from ambitious words to concrete actions, including through the advancement of the Mitigation Work Programme to urgently scale up mitigation ambition and implementation in this critical decade.

On adaptation to climate change, the EU is committed to achieve clear progress towards the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA). Nature-based solutions play a crucial role in enabling adaptation to climate change and preserving biodiversity in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework signed last year.

On the issue of loss and damage, the EU will continue to seek effective solutions to meet the diverse needs of vulnerable countries already facing the effects of climate change. The EU will seek to build on the momentum from the recent agreement on a loss and damage fund. The EU is committed to making the fund operational, with a broad donor base, and will be ready to take the lead in contributing to it, in the context of ambitious outcomes at COP28, including on mitigation.

We will work with developed countries to ensure they increase climate finance contributions to continue to meet the annual $100 billion target. In 2022, the EU contributed a record 28.5 billion in public climate finance (around $30 billion). Globally, preliminary data from the OECD suggests the $100bn goal has been met in 2022, but developed countries will need to continue to increase their contributions to ensure global climate neutrality can be reached early in the second half of this century.

The Commission will host almost 100 Side Events at the EU Pavilion in Dubai. These events will address a broad range of climate-related issues, such as biodiversity protection and nature restoration, energy security and the green transition, clean transport, carbon markets, sustainable finance, food and water security, and research and innovation. Several members of the College of Commissioners will take part in these and other events at COP28, including Executive Vice-President Maros Sefcovic (1-6 December), Vice-President Dubravka Suica (8 December), Commissioner Johannes Hahn (2-3 December), Commissioner Janez Lenarcic (3 December), Commissioner Kadri Simson (3-5 December), Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius (9 December). Their full agendas will be found online here.

Background

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, 194 countries agreed to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which represent their individual emissions reduction targets. Collectively, these NDCs should contribute to keeping average global temperature change below 2C and as close as possible to 1.5C by the end of the century. The 2022 reports from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that the world is set to reach the 1.5C level within the next two decades and that only the most drastic cuts in carbon emissions from now would help prevent an environmental disaster. This level of temperature rise would have extremely harmful effects that pose an existential challenge.

The European Union is a global leader in climate action, having already cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5% since 1990, while growing its economy by over 60%. With the European Green Deal presented in December 2019, the EU further raised its climate ambition by committing to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. This objective became legally binding with the adoption and entry into force of the European Climate Law, in July 2021. The Climate Law also sets an intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. This 2030 target was communicated to the UNFCCC in December 2020 as the EU's NDC under the Paris Agreement.

In 2021, the EU presented a package of proposals to make its climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. With most of these proposals now fully adopted, the EU and its Member States have turned their focus to implementing these policies in order to advance the green transition. The European Union submitted an update of its NDC on the 16 October to show that it is on a path to overachieve its 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 1990 levels. According to the Commission's estimates, the full implementation of the Fit for 55' legislation will lead to a 57% reduction. The next round of nationally determined contributions should be submitted by 2025, for post-2030 emissions reductions.

Climate finance is critical to support vulnerable communities to protect themselves against the impacts of climate change and to support sustainable economic growth. Developed countries have committed to mobilise a total of $100 billion of international climate finance per year from 2020 until 2025 to help the most vulnerable countries and small island states in particular, in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. The EU is the biggest donor with a steadily rising contribution to around a third of the target. Other donor countries must step up their efforts and meet the remaining shortfall.

For More Information

EU negotiating mandate to COP28

EU at COP28 Side Events Programme

Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam

Zarazeno ct 30.11.2023 11:11:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=IP/23/6181&language=en lang en guid /IP/23/6181/
EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Today Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic is meeting the Italian Minister for Civil Protection and Sea Policies, Nello Musumeci, for the opening session of the European Civil Protection Mechanism lessons learnt meeting on wildfires and floods.

The meeting involves 54 representatives from 30 European countries that are part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Together they will identify and share lessons and good practices from the Mechanism's deployments not only in Europe but also in Bolivia, Canada, Chile or Tunisia in 2023. Unlike previous years, today's meeting will go beyond wildfires and will focus also on floods, following this summer's extreme weather events.

The outcome of discussions will be used to further improve the EU's response, as well incorporate relevant findings into trainings. While climate change is difficult to reverse, we must be better prepared to address its consequences and minimise the effects.

During his visit to Italy, Commissioner Lenarcic is also meeting with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, and the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

These extreme weather events are more recurrent due to a result of climate change. On 6 August, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated for the first time within the same day for both flood and wildfire emergencies, when flooding affected two thirds of Slovenia and wildfires raged in Cyprus. This further stresses the increasing complexity of natural disasters and the simultaneity of extreme weather events in Europe and globally.

Background

In total, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated 10 times, mobilising 27 planes, 1 helicopter and around 1700 firefighters for wildfires across the world in 2023.

11 Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) sent almost 450 firefighters to be prepositioned in France, Greece, and Portugal.

In addition the Mechanism was activated 4 times for floods mobilising High Capacity Pumping (HCP) modules from the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP), response teams, excavators, vehicles, dump trucks, bridges, helicopters, environmental experts, in kind assistance such as water tanks, shelter items and over 400 personnel from European countries were deployed to support the emergency response efforts.

Wildfire prevention, preparedness and response actions work hand in hand to save lives, livelihoods and protect the environment. Having experienced wildfire experts, well-trained firefighters, information technology and sufficient response assets available makes a difference.

The EU ensures a coordinated approach to preventing, preparing and responding to wildfires when those overwhelm national response capacities. When the scale of a wildfire overwhelms the response capabilities of a country, it can request assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Once activated, the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre coordinates and finances assistance made available by EU Member States and nine additional Participating States through spontaneous offers. In addition, the EU has created the European Civil Protection Pool to have a critical number of readily available civil protection capacities allowing for a stronger and coherent collective response. Should the emergency require additional, life-saving assistance, the rescEU firefighting reserve steps in to provide additional capacities to confront disasters in Europe. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre also monitors the evolution of wildfires with the support of early warning systems such as the European Forest Fire Information System, while the EU's Copernicus emergency satellite mapping service complements operations with detailed information from space.

For More Information

Wildfires

rescEU

EU Civil Protection Mechanism

Emergency Response Coordination Centre

Peer Review Programme

Quote

In Europe, climate breakdown is no longer some distant news. Extreme weather events, overwhelming national response services, are becoming an almost annual occurrence all around our continent. We can be proud that this year again we stood together. That no request for assistance to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism went unanswered. To keep up with the increasing rate and intensity of disasters, we must continue strengthening the Mechanism, and I call on Member States to sustain their preparedness, prevention and adaptation efforts.

Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis Management 2023-11-29
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. On November 30, the fifth meeting of the Commission on Delimitation and Border Security of the State Border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia was held on the border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev, the foreign ministry said.

The sides continued the discussion of border delimitation issues and touched upon a number of organizational and procedural issues.

The parties have reached preliminary agreement on the text of the Order for organization and conduct of sittings and joint working meetings of the Commission on Delimitation and Border Security of the State Border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia.

The sides have arranged to commence the elaborations to agree upon the draft Regulation on joint activity of the Commission on Delimitation and Border Security of the State Border between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, as well as agreed to intensify the conduct of meetings between the Commissions.

The sides agreed to set the date and the place of the next meeting of the commissions in working order.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. On November 30, in Skopje, on the sidelines of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

During the meeting issues on security in the South Caucasus were discussed.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed that Armenia, reaffirming its strong commitment to establish stability in the region and despite the existing challenges deriving also from the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, continues to actively engage in the negotiation of a draft agreement on the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijans clear and public position regarding the mutual recognition of territorial integrity, ensuring the further process of delimitation based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the latest, legitimate maps of the USSR is of paramount necessity.

Touching upon the "Crossroads of Peace" project, Minister Mirzoyan stressed Armenia's unequivocal and comprehensible position for international partners on the issue of unblocking of all regional communications under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the development of the Armenia-NATO bilateral cooperation, including within the framework of the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme.
Actor Venkatesh Daggubati Venkatesh Daggubati voted in the Rajendranagar constituency of Ranga Reddy district at Hyderabad Presidency Degree and PG College on Thursday. He wore a black t-shirt that he teamed up with black pants and a grey sweatshirt. Notably, polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Thursday morning. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray. Their fate will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters. A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS). Voters would exercise their franchise at 35,655 polling stations set up across the state.For the first time in Telangana, a home voting facility is being provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years of age. Home voting for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has also been made available, with about 27,600 voters enlisted to avail of the service on Thursday. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System. Telangana Assembly Election 2023: Allu Arjun Shows His Inked Finger, Urges People To Cast Their Votes (View Pic).

Meanwhile, on the work front, Venkatesh DaggubatiI will be seen in Saindhav. The film is slated to release on January 13, 2024. Helmed by Sailesh Kolanu and produced by Venkat Boyanapalli, the action-packed drama stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shraddha Srinath, Ruhani Sharma, Andrea Jeremiah, Sara, and Jayaprakash. Venkatesh's Saindhav marks Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Telugu debut. Apart from this, Venkatesh Daggubati is also coming up with the second season of the high-octane action thriller series Rana Naidu. The first season received appreciation in India as well as globally. Helmed by Karan Anshuman, Rana Naidu is an adaptation of the popular American series, Ray Donovan and is streaming on the OTT platform Netflix from March 10, 2023. Telangana Assembly Election 2023: RRR Director SS Rajamouli and Wife Rama Flaunt Their Inked Fingers, Encourage People To Vote (View Pic).

Check Out Venkatesh Daggubati Sets an Example by Voting in Telangana Assembly Elections:

#WATCH | Actor Venkatesh Daggubati exercised his right to vote in Hyderabad Presidency Degree and PG College, Manikonda, in Rajendranagar constituency of Ranga Reddy district#TelanganaElections pic.twitter.com/DiwHiparB3  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Rana Naidu marked the first collaboration of the Baahubali actor Rana Daggubati with his uncle Venkatesh Daggubati. Produced by Sunder Aaron and Locomotive Global, the series is created by Karan Anshuman and co-directed by Karan Anshuman and Suparn S Varma. Rana Naidu Season 1 brought together a versatile cast featuring Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh Daggubati, Surveen Chawla, Sushant Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, Gaurav Chopra, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Rajesh Jais.
Ranchi, Nov 30 (PTI) Fifteen Jharkhand workers, who were rescued from Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi on Tuesday night along with 26 others, reached Uttarakhand capital Dehradun on Thursday from where they will be airlifted to Delhi, an official said.

The workers along with their family members, who had been camping in Uttarkashi for over 10 days, will be flown to Delhi and then airlifted to Ranchi, the official said.

Also Read | Indias GDP Grows 7.6% in July-September Quarter, Remains Fastest-Growing Economy.

Jharkhand government officers are in touch with their Uttarakhand counterparts and a three-member team from the state had rushed to the spot soon after the tunnel collapse on Diwali.

"Today, all the 15 workers and their family members reached Dehradun from AIIMS, Rishikesh. From there, they will be flown to Ranchi via Delhi," a labour department official said.

Also Read | Joshimath Land Subsidence: High-Level Committee Led By Amit Shah Approves Rs 1658.17 Crore Recovery Plan For Joshimath.

The workers were taken to AIIMS Rishikesh for health check up on Wednesday, officials added.

On Wednesday, Jharkhand labour secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma had said as soon as the workers are released from hospital, the government will fly them from Dehradun to Delhi and then to Ranchi.

The 41 workers, belonging to Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam, were rescued from the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi after a gruelling 17-day operation.

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Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 30 (ANI): Union Minister and Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president G Kishan Reddy has written to the Election Commission and Chief Electoral Officer of the state alleging "electoral malpractices by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) candidates and their workers" during voting for assembly polls on Thursday.

Reddy alleged that Telangana Police have been supporting BRS candidates in "electoral malpractices".

Also Read | Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: 63.94% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 5 PM.

He alleged that BRS candidates and workers, comprising of 100 to 200 people, were moving around the polling stations in various constituencies.

"When BJP workers complained about the same to the police and other officials, instead of taking action against such incidents, they are allowing the BRS workers to attack the BJP workers," he alleged.

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Reddy alleged that the police and other officials were witnessing the incidents and failed to take any action.

He said in one such incident in the Janagaon assembly when the BRS candidate was moving "with a huge number of supporters", the same was objected to and the police remained "as mute spectators", facilitating the ruling party workers "in moving around the polling stations along with a huge number of workers".

"When the BJP workers objected to the same, the BRS workers along with their candidate are threatening them with dire consequences and not allowing free and fair polling," the letter said.

"Like this in the majority of the constituencies, the police are supporting directly or indirectly the BRS candidates and their workers and threatening the BJP workers to implicate them in false cases," he alleged.

He alleged that in the Amberpet constituency, "the BRS candidate and his son were found openly distributing money and no action has been taken so far".

"Similar incidents from various places and constituencies are being reported," he 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)
Nalbari (Assam), Nov 30 (PTI) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday said the various welfare schemes initiated under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have enriched the quality of people's lives in the country.

Sonowal joined the prime minister during his virtual interaction with beneficiaries of various government schemes under the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' at Dakhin Pakua GP Office Ground in Dev Block in Nalbari.

Also Read | Pneumonia Outbreak in China Is of Global Concern, India Must Be Prepared: Experts.

Under the dynamic leadership of the prime minister, this 'sankalp yatra' is an earnest attempt to make the people of our country realise the various welfare schemes aimed at enriching the quality of lives and at the same time enabling social apparatus towards realising his vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047," Sonowal said.

The government aims to serve the poor, honour the marginalised and ensure the welfare of farmers with the help of various welfare schemes like 'PM Kisan', 'PM Awas Yojana', 'PM SVANidhi', 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana', 'Jan Dhan Yojana' and so many other initiatives, he said.

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'The PM has given a clarion call that the 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) of India can only be achieved by empowering women. For this, the government initiated various schemes like 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', 'Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana' (PMMVY) and many others as well as correcting social evils like triple talaq to empower women towards the cause of nation-building," he said.

The youth of the country remains the cornerstone towards realising the vision of PM's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and implementation of the National Education Policy, Skill India initiative and other important schemes, Sonowal, the shipping minister, said.

'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' is being undertaken across the country to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that benefits reach all targeted people in a time-bound manner.

The prime minister also launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Mahila Kisan Drone Kendra', which will provide drones to women self-help groups (SHGs) so that they can use the technology for livelihood assistance.

He also dedicated the landmark 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar in Jharkhand and launched a programme to increase the number of such facilities in the country from 10,000 to 25,000.

Union minister and MP from Guwahati Queen Oja was also present here on the occasion.

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New Delhi [India], November 30 (ANI): Amidst the outbreak of mysterious pneumonia in China, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said that the experts of the Delhi government held a meeting in connection to the matter and noted that the situation is not alarming in the hospitals as of now.

"Many things are not clear in the advisory we received from the Central Government, there is a lack of information. Not much information is coming from China also. But we held a meeting with expert doctors of Delhi such as respiratory experts, and paediatrics and tried to understand whether the infection could spread here from China," the AAP minister told ANI.

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"There is no such alarm in our hospitals right now. There is no information about any such unknown pathogen yet. The infections that are happening are caused by known pathogens and it is common during this season. But still, we are keeping an eye on the situation in every way," he added.

The Delhi Minister said that during the meeting, it was decided that they would conduct a few tests to detect the arrival of any new pathogen.

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"We have decided that multiplex PCR tests will be conducted. This test will be started in the hospitals of the Delhi government to identify any change in the situation. If we doubt any infection, it will be tested," he said.

"We have asked to make preparations along the lines of the needs that were there in hospitals, especially given paediatrics, at the time of Corona respiratory disorder. Apart from this, a basic advisory will be issued for the common people, because cases of cough, cold and influenza will increase gradually in January," the AAP leader added.

On Wednesday, Saurabh Bhardwaj said that although it is not clear in the Centre's advisory as to which disease we have to prepare for, we are on high alert.

"A letter has been sent to all the states by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Central Government. It has been said that in China, respiratory infection is being seen in children, which is like influenza and pneumonia and corona-like symptoms have also been seen in it. But it is not clear in the Central Government's letter as to which disease it is and what is its treatment. It's a general advisory. I believe if there will be a specific advisory in it then it will be easy for the states to take proper actions," the Aam Aadmi Party leader told ANI.

"As far as our preparation is concerned, our preparation is always there after Corona. We are on high alert. But if the Central Government gives us some specific information, then we will adjust our preparations accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has proactively reviewed and strengthened preparedness measures against respiratory illness in the country.

As per sources, the ministry has strengthened the preparedness through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In view of recent reports of a surge in respiratory illnesses in children in northern China, health departments in States and Union territories across the country have been put on alert.

"Multipronged surveillance for respiratory infections has been reviewed and strengthened through NCDC and ICMR systems," a source told ANI.

Sources further said that the Central government is keeping a close watch on developments in other countries too and is constantly in touch with the World Health Organisation. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 30 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted searches at six places in Srinagar related to the Jammu-Kashmir Bank in the Rs 250 crore money laundering case, officials said.

The fraud was in the name of fake River Jhelum Cooperative House Building Society. The raids were conducted by the ED's office in Srinagar under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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The raids were related to a bank fraud of over Rs 250 crore. The fraud was in the name of a fictitious housing society, the River Jhelum Cooperative Housing Building Society. The society was not registered with the Registrar Co-operative Societies, Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on eight premises situated at different locations in Jammu and Kashmir in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against RB Educational Trust. (ANI)

Also Read | Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: CM K Chandrashekar Rao Casts His Vote in Medak District (Watch Video).

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Gevorg Papoyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gevorg Papoyan and Vahe Ghalumyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection will visit the USA on a working visit to participate in the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum.

The forum will be held in Washington from December 6-9.
Wayanad (Kerala) [India], November 30 (ANI): Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi flagged off the ambulance of Wayanad Medical College in Kalpett, Kerala, on Thursday.

Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi inaugurated the new block of Iqraa Hospital in Sulthan Bathery and participated in a review meeting on the National Highway expansion project, at the Civil Station in Kalpetta.

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The Congress leader reached Kerala on a three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, he attended a book launch event featuring speeches by the late P Seethi Haji at Kerala's Kozhikode.

Also Read | Indias GDP Grows 7.6% in July-September Quarter, Remains Fastest-Growing Economy.

Rahul Gandhi, while speaking at the launch event, said, "It is an honour for me to come and release the book. I would like to thank Haji for the work he did. He was a carpenter and I think all his life he built bridges between communities, people and ideas."

He further stressed that the leader is one who is humble.

"I believe that if a leader is not humble and if a leader is not able to observe himself, then he cannot be a leader. The first thing I realised while the speeches were going on was that Haji was a gentleman who could stand in the assembly of Kerala and laugh at himself, that he did not take himself so seriously and that he had the ability to look at himself and laugh at himself so he certainly had the quality of humility," said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi also laid the foundation stone of Thiruvali Pain and Palliative Care Society building in Thiruvali, Malappuram.

Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Gandhi said "The inauguration of Pain and Palliative Care Center in Thiruvali is reflective of the level of community participation in Kerala when it comes to healthcare and education. Kerala leads the way as far as palliative care is concerned."

The former Congress President who is also the MP from Wayanad, also said that he felt Kerala was his home.

"The more I come to Kerala, the more I come to Wayanad, the more I feel this is my home. I enjoy coming here. I don't consider it work but as coming back to my family and meeting my friends" Rahul Gandhi said.

Earlier in 2019, Rahul Gandhi won Kerala's Wayanad seat the second seat he contested in the 2019 polls with a record margin of 431,770 votes.(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, Nov 30 (PTI) In a surprising turn of events, a Delhi court was on Thursday told that Rs 6 crore reportedly extorted by alleged conman Sanjay Prakash Rai alias Sanjay Sherpuria from Dalmia Family Office Trust, in which Gaurav Dalmia is a trustee, was part of the money that was allegedly embezzled by Dalmia from the Ansals.

The submission was made by Rai's lawyer during arguments on his bail application before Special Judge Sachin Gupta. The judge sought explanation from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on this point by December 8 when the court will further hear the matter.

Also Read | Indias GDP Grows 7.6% in July-September Quarter, Remains Fastest-Growing Economy.

Advocate Nitesh Rana, appearing for the accused, submitted before the court that the ED itself was confused about the case.

Rana said that Rs 6 crore alleged proceeds of crime against Rai is part of money embezzled by Gaurav Dalmia from Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd. and Ansal Landmark Township Ltd.  for which the ED in Lucknow has been investigating since 2022.

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"The Dalmia group has misappropriated Rs 53.14 crore from Ansals and transferred Rs 6 crore to YREF (Youth Rural Entrepreneur Foundation)  of which Rai was a signatory  as donation. Later the ED in Delhi alleged that the Rs 6 crore is extortion money. The ED itself is confused about the case," he told the court.

He questioned how there can be two separate cases for the same proceeds of crime.

The ED has alleged that Rai, who allegedly cheated several people by claiming to be close to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), senior bureaucrats and politicians, "duped" Gaurav Dalmia and his family to the tune of Rs 12 crore by instilling in him a fear of arrest in an ongoing investigation by the ED.

Rs 6 crore from the total sum was received in the bank account of the YREF, of which Rai was a signatory, in January 2023 from Dalmia Family Office Trust, in which Dalmia is a trustee, the ED said.

Rai is alleged to have forged documents of the payment to conceal the true nature of transactions.

The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by Lucknow Police alleging that Rai projected himself as close to senior politicians and bureaucrats, and duped the general public of big sums of money. He has also claimed to be an influencer, a social worker and associated with the PMO.

(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, November 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched an initiative to increase number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras, which sell medicines at subsidised rates, from 10,000 to 25,000. Modi interacted with the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' beneficiaries via video conferencing. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country with an aim to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

During the event, Prime Minister Modi launched a programme to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the country from 10,000 to 25,000. The prime minister also dedicated to the nation the landmark 10,000th Jan Aushadi Kendra at AIIMS, Deoghar. He also launched the 'Drone Didi Yojana'. PM Narendra Modi-Led Cabinet Approves Rs 1,261 Crore Scheme To Provide Drones to 15,000 Progressive Women Self-Help Groups for Two Years.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to achieve saturation of government schemes and ensure benefits reach citizens across the country. https://t.co/fqgyl5uXJJ  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

The scheme aims to provide drones to 15,000 select women Self Help Groups during the period 2024-25 to 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar, Nov 30 (PTI) Academic activities were suspended at two colleges, including the National Institute of Technology (NIT), here on Thursday as a precautionary measure, a day after protests against a student's social media post spread to other institutes, officials said.

While officials of NIT-Srinagar declared a holiday for Thursday, Islamia College of Science and Commerce suspended all classworks and internal examinations scheduled for the day.

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Protests were held at the NIT-Srinagar on Tuesday over a student's social media post allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The protesters demanded stringent action against the non-local student who has been sent home on leave.

The students blocked both the gates of the institution, located in the Nigeen area of the city, and raised slogans inside the campus.

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After the protests, police registered a case and started an investigation. Police filed a case against the student for promoting religious enmity between communities.

Protests were also held at Amar Singh College and Islamia College here on Wednesday against the post, videos of which were shared by many social media users.

"The police received information about a protest by students at the NIT campus. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a student had posted objectionable content on social media, though the video was not the student's own, but taken from YouTube," Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, V K Birdi said on Tuesday.

Birdi said the content of the post has hurt the religious feelings of the people.

"The police have received a written complaint from the NIT registrar urging legal action. We have taken legal action under relevant sections of the law. The investigation is going on," the IGP had said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) The Supreme Court Thursday quashed the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor of Kannur University, as it came down hard on the Kerala government for its "unwarranted intervention" in facilitating a fresh term for him at the helm of the institution. It also assailed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the chancellor, saying he did not independently apply his mind despite not being a mere "titular head".

In its judgement, the top court extensively dealt with the independent powers of the governor as the chancellor of state universities, narrated the sequence of events leading to reappointment of Ravindran and expressed its unhappiness over the handling of the issue by Khan.

Also Read | Pneumonia Outbreak in China Is of Global Concern, India Must Be Prepared: Experts.

The ...facts make it abundantly clear that there was no independent application of mind or satisfaction or judgment on the part of the Chancellor and the respondent No. 4 (Ravindran) came to be reappointed only at the behest of the State Government, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said in its 72-page judgement.

Referring to the law governing the university, it said the chancellor plays a very important role and is not merely a titular head.

Also Read | Rapido Auto Driver Sexually Assaults Woman in Bengaluru, Throws Her Out of Moving Vehicle.

In the selection of the Vice Chancellor, he is the sole judge and his opinion is final in all respects. In reappointing the Vice-Chancellor, the main consideration to prevail upon the Chancellor is the interest of the university.

The Chancellor was required to discharge his statutory duties in accordance with law and guided by the dictates of his own judgment and not at the behest of anybody else. Law does not recognise any such extra constitutional interference in the exercise of statutory discretion. Any such interference amounts to dictation from political superior and has been condemned by courts on more than one occasion, Justice Pardiwala, writing the judgement for the bench, said.

The top court, while delivering its judgement on an appeal, set aside the verdicts of a single judge bench and division bench of the Kerala High Court upholding Ravindran's reappointment. The appeal was filed by Dr Premachandran Keezoth and others challenging the high court verdicts.

Reacting to the SC verdict, the Kerala governor accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Ravindran as the vice chancellor.

Khan, speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, said state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as it was Vijayan who used her for seeking Ravindran's reappointment.

The governors are also ex-officio chancellors of state universities and act independently of the council of ministers in taking decisions on all university matters.

In the case on hand, we are not concerned with the suitability of respondent No. 4. The 'suitability' of a candidate for appointment to a post is to be judged by the appointing authority and not by the court unless the appointment is contrary to the statutory rules/provisions.

"We have reached to the conclusion that although the notification reappointing the respondent No. 4 to the post of Vice-Chancellor was issued by the Chancellor yet the decision stood vitiated by the influence of extraneous considerations or to put it in other words by the unwarranted intervention of the State Government, it said.

The bench set aside the impugned judgement passed by the high court on February 23, 2022 and consequently, the notification of November 23, 2021 reappointing Ravindran as the vice chancellor was also quashed.

It is the Chancellor who has been conferred with the competence under the Act 1996 to appoint or reappoint a Vice-Chancellor. No other person, even the Pro-Chancellor or any superior authority can interfere with the functioning of the statutory authority and if any decision is taken by a statutory authority at the behest or on a suggestion of a person who has no statutory role to play, the same would be patently illegal, it held.

It is the decision-making process which vitiated the entire process of reappointment of the VC, the court said, adding the present case was not one of mere irregularity.

We emphasise on the decision-making process because in such a case the exercise of power is amenable to judicial review, it said.

The verdict dealt with four questions, with the first being whether re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post.

Whether the outer age limit of sixty years for the appointment of Vice Chancellor as stipulated under sub-section ... is to be made applicable even in the case of reappointment of the Vice-Chancellor for one more term of four years, the second issue read.

It also dealt with the question whether the reappointment of the VC has to follow the same process as a fresh appointment by setting up a selection committee under the law.

The fourth issue was Did the Chancellor abdicate or surrender his statutory power of reappointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

The bench answered the first question, holding that reappointment is permissible even in case of a tenure post.

We are not impressed with the submission canvassed on behalf of the appellants that the post of the Vice-Chancellor being a tenure post reappointment is not permissible. The statute itself has provided for reappointment with some object in mind.., it said.

Dealing with the second issue, it held the outer age limit of 60 years provided for under the 1996 Act of the University will not apply in case of reappointment of a VC.

We hold that it is not necessary to follow the procedure of appointment as laid down in Section 10 of the Act 1996 for the purpose of reappointment, it said while dealing with the third issue.

The verdict elaborately dealt with the final issue of whether the chancellor abdicated or surrendered his statutory powers while reappointing the vice chancellor in the present case.

Referring to Khan's affidavit, it said, We are quite perplexed with the stance of the Chancellor. The Chancellor wants this Court to allow the appeal and declare that the reappointment of the respondent No. 4 as Vice-Chancellor is not sustainable in law. The Chancellor says so because according to him the reappointment of respondent No. 4 is in conflict with the UGC Regulations.

Referring to the relevant law and court verdicts, the bench said the governor is the ex-officio Chancellor of the University, therefore, by virtue of his office, he was not bound to act under the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

It concluded that Khan did not apply his mind and the reappointment took place only at the behest of the State Government.

The bench, in its judgement, referred to a press release of the Kerala Raj Bhavan which stated that the process of re-appointment was initiated by the chief minister and the higher education minister.

On February 23 last year, a division bench of the Kerala High Court had dismissed an appeal against a single judge order upholding the reappointment of Ravindran. It was done in accordance with law and he was not "an usurper to the post", it said.

The plea had sought quashing of the reappointment on the ground that a person can hold office of the vice chancellor only till the age of 60 and Ravindran, born on December 19, 1960, was overage at the time of his second appointment.

Ravindran was appointed as the vice chancellor in 2017 and his tenure ended in 2022.

When steps were in progress for selecting his successor, the notification calling for eligible candidates was withdrawn and the selection panel dissolved.

The chancellor then notified Ravindran's reappointment as the vice chancellor for another four years.

(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, November 30: The Ministry of External Affairs has responded to the US Justice Department indictment of an Indian national in an alleged foiled assassination plot in the US. In a news briefing the MEA on Thursday said that a case filed against an individual in a US court and allegedly linking him to an Indian official is a "matter of concern" and is contrary to government policy.

"We cannot share any further information on such security matters. As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said and let me reiterate that this is contrary to government policy. The nexus between organised crime, trafficking and gun running and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level committee has been constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results" MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. Indian National Nikhil Gupta Charged by US With Conspiracy To Kill Sikh Separatist: This Is a Matter of Concern and Contrary to Government Policy, Says India (Watch Video).

This Is a Matter of Concern, MEA Spokesperson

#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, "...During the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gunrunners, terrorists and other extremists. We take such inputs very pic.twitter.com/L8ce9vXcFF  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

The MEA spokesperson said that the US side shared some inputs related to nexus between organised crimes, gun runners, terrorists and extremists and India takes these inputs "very seriously." "During the course of discussions with US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised crimes, gun runners, terrorists and extremists. We take such inputs very seriously and high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, and necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee. You would have seen this in our statements that we have issued" MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

The MEAs statement comes after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement and a citizen in New York. Indian National Nikhil Gupta Charged by US With Conspiracy To Kill New York-Based Sikh Separatist; India Needs To Take This Seriously and Cooperate in Investigations, Says Canada PM Justin Trudeau.

The US Justice Department has claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to allegedly carry out the assassination of the Sikh Separatist, which was foiled by US authorities.

Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

The US Justice Department claimed that Gupta, is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1. The indictment claims CC -1 directed the assassination plot from India.

The US Justice Department claimed that in or about May 2023, CC-1 recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of the activist in the United States. At CC-1's direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA. The source it is alleged introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was a DEA undercover officer.

The purported hitman was offered USD 100,000 to murder the Separatist leader, the Justice Department claims. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Geneva (Switzerland), November 30 (ANI): Activists of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Europe staged a protest in front of the United Nations office in Geneva to denounce the crackdown and forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

PTM activist Fazal-Ur-Rehman Afridi said on Wednesday that the eviction is against international laws and must be stopped immediately as Pakistani law enforcement agencies have unleashed a 'reign of terror' against the refugees. He blamed them for harassing, keeping the refugees in arbitrary detention and also torturing them.

Also Read | Henry Kissinger Dies at 100: USAs Infamous Diplomat Has a Cameo in Vicky Kaushals Sam Bahadur  Heres How! (SPOILER ALERT).

The protesters highlighted that Pakistani authorities also demolished several Afghan private and commercial properties, despite the fact that the majority of these people had proof of registration cards and were residing legally. Those who could not pay bribes to the local police were later deported, putting their lives in danger as Afghanistan itself is facing a humanitarian crisis.

The activists also noted that Noor Ullah Tareen, the coordinator of PTM Karachi, who is a strong voice for Afghan refugees, was also arbitrarily arrested on October 4 by the personnel of Secret Services and police without any warrant.

Also Read | Happy Birthday, ChatGPT! OpenAI's Generative AI Chatbot Turns One Year Old Since Its Official Release on November 30, 2022.

Meanwhile, Mushtaq, PTM Co-Ordinator of Peshawar, and other PTM activists, including Aftab Shinwari, Bilal Orakzai and Hayat Roghani, were arrested in Peshawar while on their way to a proposed seminar on Afghan refugees at the Peshawar Press Club on October 16.

Pakistan has so far not entertained calls by international organisations and refugee agencies to reconsider the move, saying Afghans have been involved in terror attacks and in crimes that undermine security.

The protesters in Geneva requested the international community to intervene and urged the European Union to reconsider the GSP status of Pakistan, which is coming to an end in December 2023, over the gross human rights violations. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Denspar (Bali, Indonesia), Nov 30 (360info) Condom giveaways and printed flyers are out. Inclusive and engaging digital content is the way to change high-risk behaviour.

In Indonesia, the HIV epidemic is a pressing public health concern. While the general population's HIV prevalence is low, at 0.3 per cent, it reaches almost 18 per cent among specific high-risk groups, including female sex workers, transgender women, men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users.

Also Read | Henry Kissinger Dies at 100: USAs Infamous Diplomat Has a Cameo in Vicky Kaushals Sam Bahadur  Heres How! (SPOILER ALERT).

Young people, especially young men who have sex with men, are particularly vulnerable to HIV due to increased societal marginalisation, higher likelihood of engaging in unprotected sex and reluctance to access health and social services.

The media's tendency to portray the behaviour of men who have sex with men as conflicting with traditional values exacerbates the issue, leading to discriminatory regulations, censorship of LGBTQ-related content, and limitations on trans-gender individuals' participation in various activities.

Also Read | Happy Birthday, ChatGPT! OpenAI's Generative AI Chatbot Turns One Year Old Since Its Official Release on November 30, 2022.

The delivery of HIV prevention services faces significant challenges in Bali, particularly in addressing the needs of young men who have sex with men.

The existing HIV prevention approach lacks appeal and relevance to young men in Bali. Almost 10 years ago, an initiative to distribute free condoms was started with the aim to prevent transmission of HIV. Not everyone was happy with the action, especially among Bali's young gay community.

The condoms were perceived as lower quality than commercially available condoms. This, coupled with social stigma and disapproval, has contributed to the failure of prevention efforts.

The distribution of low-quality condoms and printed flyers in gay bars is outdated and ineffective. Peer educators, often older, are perceived as irrelevant, which creates a barrier to communication.

Young people advocate for a more inclusive, engaging and up-to-date approach  for example, emphasising the importance of conveying key information on HIV prevention through apps used by the gay community.

Recognising the limitations of current strategies, there is a growing call for interactive online HIV prevention, with customised messaging, broader outreach and interaction through chat spaces and interactive projects.

However, the challenge lies in making online information appealing and relevant. Young men who have sex with men frequently criticise existing websites for being outdated and unattractive, noting low engagement among their peers.

A group of nine young men who have sex with men in Bali engaged in participatory action research to design a more effective HIV prevention strategy. They advocated for a "So Us" campaign that is fun, creative, social and up-to-date  attributes that resonate with others in their cohort.

The campaign used blogs, websites, social media and chat rooms to share information on HIV prevention, counselling and testing, safe sex practices, and updated news relevant to young men who have sex with men communities.

The participants suggested strategies such as creation of appropriate websites and apps, using the chat feature in gay-themed apps, developing an online forum, and placing online HIV prevention messages in existing gay social media and dating apps.

They also considered the inclusion of games, interactive and moving images, the use of state-of-the-art technology and content that engages young men who have sex with men, but with less focus on medicalised content.

Participants noted that despite the availability of the internet for delivering HIV prevention messages, social and cultural norms continue to pose challenges in online promotion of healthy sexual behaviour.

Another benefit of using online methods in Indonesia is the creation of a comparatively secure communication platform that can preserve an individual's privacy, particularly when addressing sensitive topics such as sexuality and HIV prevention.

Nevertheless, the persistent presence of stigma and risks remains an obstacle in the development and implementation of online HIV prevention initiatives.

Engaging in this initiative proved to be fulfilling and exhilarating for the group, fostering a sense of collective expression and empowerment, where each member is recognised as an expert. And it led to meaningful relationship building.

While these ideas are in the early stages of development in Bali and Indonesia, they hold promise for addressing the unique needs of young men who have sex with men in HIV prevention. The participatory action research approach has empowered the group, fostering a sense of collective expression and valuable relationship building.

As efforts progress, it is crucial to ensure the safety and privacy of young men who have sex with men, especially in the face of an increasingly challenging social environment in Indonesia.

Implementing these approaches cautiously and adapting them to the local context may pave the way for more effective HIV prevention strategies for young men who have sex with men across Indonesia. (360info.org)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, November 30: In a bizarre incident, a fraudster who allegedly cheated nearly 500 job aspirants of Rs 5 crore called the police helpline number to get arrested. The 38-year-old man, who cheated several job aspirants, reportedly called 112 after a few victims reportedly turned the heat on him to recover their money. The accused is believed to have taken lakhs of rupees from some of the victims.

According to a report in the Times of India, a group of victims laid a trap for the fraudster, Kolly Naga Venkata Pavan Kumar, a resident of Vijayawada. The victim wanted the accused to come to Bengaluru from his hideout in Delhi. When caught, the accused panicked and called 112 helpline to escape from the aspirants. However, he was arrested. Cyber Fraud in Bengaluru: IT Professor Falls Prey to Click-to-Earn Scam, Loses Rs 5.2 Lakh.

Police officials said that 24 job aspirants who reportedly lost Rs 24 lakh to the accused filed complaints against him on Wednesday, November 29. As per the report, the accused had two offices, Shamkuh Technology and Monty Corps, in the Whitefield area in February. In September, Kumar closed both offices. Cops said that Kumar would contact graduates from Andhra Pradesh, promising them placements in top companies.

The accused would even arrange training for the victims at his offices and collect money from them. Before coming to Bengaluru, Kumar worked for private companies in Andhra Pradesh. An officer said that Kumar cheated at least 500 aspirants to Rs 5 crore. The officer also said that Kumar and his staff even gave fake appointment letters to a few aspirants who had undergone training in his offices. Infosys Executive in Bengaluru Duped of Rs 3.7 Crore by Cybercriminals Posing as Officials From TRAI, CBI and Mumbai Police.

After cheating aspirants in Bengaluru, Kumar was reportedly hiding in Delhi. A few victims traced him and trapped him by luring money to get training for placements. Kumar fell for their trap and came to Bengaluru, to face their wrath. Meanwhile, the role of others in the alleged fraud is under probe.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2023 09:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Hyderabad, November 30: Voters queued up in good numbers on Thursday across Telangana to seal the fate of nearly 2,500 MLA aspirants in the polling being held for 119 Assembly segments in the state, where the BRS aims to retain power for a third time while the Congress is keen to upset the ruling party's chances.

The BJP, also keen on forming its first government in the southern state, has left no stone unturned to ensure victory and had deployed a battery of national leaders and Chief Ministers of the saffron-party-ruled states to reach out to the public during the 50-day-long campaigning. Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: Voter Turnout Recorded Over 20% Till 11 AM, Informs Election Commission (Watch Videos).

The BRS has been in the ruling saddle since 2014, following grant of statehood to Telangana. As of 1 PM on Thursday, 36.68 per cent voters had cast their votes, Election Commission officials said. Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj told reporters polling was peaceful, except for minor skirmishes at one or two places. Observing that voter turnout was low in urban areas, he hoped it would pick up as the day progressed. EVMs had to be changed at a couple of places, he added.

As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray, including chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind. Telangana Assembly Election 2023: 8.52% Voter Turnout Recorded Till 9 AM for Vidhan Sabha Polls, Says Election Commission.

CM Rao and his wife K Shobha voted in Chinramadaka village in Siddipet district. Union Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BRS Working President Rama Rao, his sister and party MLC K Kavitha and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi were among the early voters after polling began at 7 AM. Film personalities including Chiranjeevi and Allu Arvind also cast their votes.

BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats. Allies BJP and Janasena are contesting in 111 and 8 seats, respectively, while Congress is fighting from 118 seats and has given one seat to CPI. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.

Top national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, besides chief minister KCR addressed a number of meetings and held roadshows during the campaigning, indicating the prestige invested by the respective parties in the electoral battle that comes months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kavitha, daughter of CM Rao, cast her vote in Banjara Hills here. "I sincerely request everybody in Telangana to come out and exercise their right. Because when you vote you have the right to question us. When you vote, you can hold the politicians accountable," she said.

Owaisi, who voted at a school in Rajendranagar Assembly constituency, also urged the the voters to exercise their franchise. "We are hopeful that we will do well. Now it is for the people to come out to vote in thousands and lakhs and exercise the right to vote so that you reward those candidates and parties who have been working for you, who have great concern for you," he said.

Hailing India's democracy, Kishan Reddy said one does not get the right to criticise the political system without fulfilling the responsibility of voting. Finding fault with the distribution of money and liquor to lure voters, he urged the electorate to vote fearlessly and without being influenced by any inducements.

Observing that he has fulfilled his duty as a citizen, Rama Rao asked all citizens of Telangana to come out and exercise their franchise. Later, in a post on social media site X, he said "Getting reports from all over the state Car in Top Gear. Jai Telangana." The BRS' election symbol is car. State Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy cast his vote in the Kodangal assembly segment from where he is contesting.

Congress said it brought to the notice of Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj, Kavitha allegedly violating the poll code by appealing to the people to vote for the BRS. Asked about the complaint against Kavitha, CEO Raj said the matter has been referred to the District Election Officer (DEO). On a reported complaint at Kamareddy constituency by BRS against Revanth Reddy's brother, the official said it has been referred to concerned DEO.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The American University of Armenia (AUA), in partnership with Washington State University (WSU), on November 30 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a Center for Excellence in Journalism and create a new Masters program in journalism education.

The $1.3 million, four year university partnership initiative is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan to support Armenias media sector, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan said.

According to the source, through the U.S. Embassys support, 90% tuition scholarship will be provided to approximately nine graduate students per year to study in the Masters in Journalism degree program, with a select number of students also having the opportunity to compete for a summer internship in the United States, where they will earn hands on reporting skills in a U.S. media outlet.

We are proud and grateful to be the recipient of this important grant from the U.S. Embassy, said Dr. Boghosian, AUA President. Since the universitys inception, the U.S. government, through USAID/ASHA, has supported the American University of Armenia in various ways, and this marks another milestone in our long-standing relationship. We look forward to working alongside our colleagues at WSU to implement this project and eventually launch a Master's in Journalism degree program. We are convinced that this new program will be of great benefit to Armenia and to the region at large.

It is noted that the Center for Excellence in Journalism will serve as a hub for journalism education and leadership in research, training, best practices and collaboration with leading experts and policy makers that advances knowledge of how quality journalism can serve as a bulwark against misinformation and will improve networking amongst Armenias journalism eco-system. The Center will also offer professional development programs serving the wider media community.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the U.S. Department of States Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Rafik Mansour traveled to Armenia to inaugurate the new university partnership. U.S. Ambassador to Armenian Kristina Kvien as well as Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, also attended the launch event.

This U.S.-Armenia relationship is based on shared values, including press freedom and the critical role of education in building a strong, democratic society that is resilient to disinformation, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Mansour at the inauguration event. The United States is proud to invest in this university partnership initiative, which will support Armenias democratic development, and invest in the next generation of journalists.



This project aims to support current and future journalists with the knowledge and skills to have a positive impact on the journalism sector in Armenia and beyond, says Dr. Yacoubian, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences(CHSS). The project will contribute to further diversifying the academic portfolio of CHSS and thus providing new possibilities for us as we prepare students to become civic and professional leaders.

We are delighted to formally establish this flagship partnership on journalism education between AUA and WSU, said Dr. Lawrence Pintak, professor of communication at Washington State University. This program represents a new milestone in the development of Armenias media sector, and will support the professional development of Armenias journalism community for years to come.

In addition to this program, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan also announced an award to AUA to implement a two-year English program for journalists aimed at equipping the participants with English language skills through courses tailored to their professional needs.
Lucknow, November 30: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday urged the MSME entrepreneurs of the state not to compromise quality of their products and underlined the state government's commitment to giving them priority in government purchases at all costs. Addressing the Udyami Mahasammelan organised by the Indian Industries Association at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the chief minister said, "The MSME sector of Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest strength of self-reliant India. We have done remarkable work towards getting rid of 'Inspector Raj' by strengthening technology."

He added: "The results of our efforts to eradicate 'Inspector Raj' by bolstering technology are evident today. The whole world is looking towards Uttar Pradesh with confidence. We should start preparing for the International Trade Show-2024 now." Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Emerges Second Most Popular Indian Politician on X After PM Narendra Modi.

The Chief Minister noted the challenges that entrepreneurs faced in Uttar Pradesh prior to 2017, due to a lack of a conducive environment as well as lack of government encouragement and support. "After our government came to power in the state in 2017, the result of the scheme of promoting our traditional products as One District, One Product is in front of all of us. Not only the country, even the world considers it an innovative project," he said.

Discussing initiatives like the Nivesh Mitra Portal, Nivesh Sarathi Portal and Online Incentive Platform, Yogi Adityanath underscored their remarkable contributions to enhancing investment possibilities and streamlining facilities for entrepreneurs within the state.

"UP's ranking in ease of doing business was at 14th place six years ago. Extensive reforms were made to this. The result is in front of everyone, he stated. Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Hits Out at Gandhi Family Says Whenever Disaster Hits, Some People Run Away to Italy.

The chief minister said that whether it is the work of creating a land bank within the state or establishing better law and order, good work has been done on every front. He further said that the whole world is looking towards India and Uttar Pradesh with a sense of credibility.

"While it took 46 years to develop Noida and Greater Noida, we are currently working rapidly towards a new industrial setup in Jhansi, Bundelkhand. In Jhansi, we already have about 38,000 acres of land bank in the first phase. For the first time in 46 years, under our government, the international airport in Greater Noida is ready, whereas in Jhansi we are going to provide the airport in the first phase.

The chief minister further emphasised the utilisation of local educational institutions for acquiring manpower. "For this, take the help of the PM and CM Internship Scheme," he added. He urged entrepreneurs to harness solar power as a sustainable and pollution-free source of electricity.

The chief minister also visited the exhibition related to Transforming MSME Towards Industry 4.0 and Skill 48, in which MSME startup entrepreneurs from across the state showcased their products.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2023 04:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kolkata, November 30: Kolkata Police on Thursday registered an FIR against 12 BJP legislators at Hare Street Police Station for allegedly "insulting" the national anthem on the state Assembly premises. The legislators include the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and the chief whip of the party in the house Manoj Tigga.

The fiasco started on Wednesday afternoon, when Trinamool Congress legislators, sporting black dress and led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were protesting near the statue of B.R. Ambedkar within the Assembly premises against the non-payment of central dues to the state government under various centrally- sponsored schemes. Arvind Kejriwal Insults National Anthem at World Environment Day Event, Alleges Delhi BJP Leader Kapil Mishra (Watch Video).

Towards the close of the protest session, a group of BJP legislators led by the LoP arrived at the Assembly premises for the party mega rally which was attended by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The legislators, including the LoP, were seen shouting "thieves, thieves" slogans pointing at the protesting demonstrations. Later the Chief Minister complained to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay saying that the BJP legislators were raising those slogans when the ruling party MLAs were singing the national anthem and hence it was an insult for it. West Bengal Governments Corruption Has Given Country a Bad Name, Says Home Minister Amit Shah.

She also requested the Speaker to adopt the necessary legal steps in the matter. The Speaker immediately summoned the deputy commissioner (central division) of Kolkata Police, under whose jurisdiction the state Assembly comes, and three Trinamool Congress legislators handed over a complaint letter on this count to him. On the basis of this complaint, an FIR on this count was registered against the 12 BJP MLAs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2023 03:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, November 30: The exit poll results of the assembly elections 2023 will be declared today, November 30, after 6.30 pm, once voting in Telangana concludes. The exit poll results of all five states, including Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, will be released this evening. The voting in the five states was held between November 7 and November 30. The results of the five assembly elections will be declared on Sunday, December 3.

Election Commission Bans Exit Polls

On October 31, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notification prohibiting the publication of exit poll results from November 7 till the evening of November 30. The poll body then said the ban would remain in effect from 7 am on November 7 till 6:30 pm on November 30. This means exit poll results of all five states which went to polls between November 7 and November 30 will be declared today post-6.30 pm. Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: Cash, Liquor, Drugs Seizures at Rs 690 Crore in State As Voting Concludes.

What Is Exit Poll?

An exit poll is conducted immediately after people have voted for their respective candidates. In simple terms, exit polls indicate which political party or candidate will likely win the elections.

When Did the Five States Went to Poll?

The five states went to poll between November 7 and November 30. Mizoram went to vote on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 25, and Telangana is exercising the right to vote today, November 30.

Date and Time of Exit Polls 2023

With all eyes set on the exit poll results of the 2023 assembly elections, it must be noted that the exit poll results will be declared today, November 30, after 6:30 pm, once voting ends in Telangana, which is likely to conclude at 6 pm. The exit poll results of Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh and Telangana will more or less indicate the assembly election outcomes, which will be declared on Sunday, December 3. Assembly Polls 2023: Election Commission Bans Exit Polls from Nov 7 Till Nov 30 Evening.

Where To Watch Exit Poll Results Live?

The exit poll results of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will be live-streamed on various news channels. Besides, one can also check the exit poll results on Facebook and Twitter, where several users and political pundits will share timely updates about the assembly election exit poll results.

The five states' assembly elections hold significance as they are seen as the semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which are likely to occur next year. Currently, the Congress party is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP is ruling Madhya Pradesh. MNF and BRS are in power in Mizoram and Telangana, respectively.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2023 11:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
"A Deputy Inspector General Police held a meeting with the Indian Sikh family and assured them that the robbers would be arrested and their loss be compensated," Haider said. Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also taken strong notice of the robbery incident targeting a Sikh pilgrim family and has promptly sought a report from the Lahore police chief.
Jerusalem, November 30: Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday said the humanitarian truce in Gaza will extend for every day the Hamas militant group releases 10 "living" hostages. The top official's remark came shortly after Israel and Hamas confirmed that the pause in fighting would extend for the seventh day on Thursdy as talks for the release of more hostages continued.

The announcement came minutes before the truce was set to expire at 7 a.m. (local time). Thursday's extension is the second of the initial four-day truce that commenced on November 24. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: Israel and Hamas To Extend Truce For Another 24 Hours.

The original four-day truce in Gaza which was first implemented on November 24 and extended for two more days on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Regev told CNN that Israels position on any extension of the humanitarian pause in fighting is crystal clear. Every day, we agreed to an extension for the release of 10 hostages, 10 living hostages... If Hamas continues to release hostages, 10 a day, we will extend the hold  the pause."

When asked if the fighting would resume within the next 24 hours, Regev told CNN that if Hamas fails to meet the conditions of the extension, which is to release 10 Israelis, then of course the fighting can be resumed.

According to the senior advisor, there were are still at least 140 hostages inside Gaza. He went on to say that the Jewish nation accepted the current agreement of a humanitarian pause to get our hostages out, that could be extended each day for a day". Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal: Israel Prison Releases 30 Palestinian Prisoners on Fifth Day of Truce.

Asked about negotiations on any further agreements, Regev told CNN: This is a humanitarian pause in our fight against Hamas, Israel is determined to destroy Hamas' military machine and its rule over Gaza.

We are not going to play games with the lives of our people... Hamas knows what the parameters of the deal are. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that it received a new list of hostages to be released from Hamas captivity on Thursday. A short while ago, Israel received a list of women and children, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the pause will resume, the Office said.

Since the start of the pause, 210 Palestinians, 70 Israelis, and 24 foreign nationals have reportedly been released. On Wednesday -- the sixth day of the truce -- 16 more hostages were released from Gaza, comprising 10 Israelis, four Thai nationals and two Israeli-Russians. Also in the day, 30 Palestinians were also freed from Israeli jails.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2023 12:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
There had been a spate of attacks on journalists in Mexico. In the southern Mexican city of Chilpancingo, four news photographers just survived an attack from several armed men.

All four journalists managed to survive, but all of them still had to be taken to a hospital to have their injuries treated. However, local authorities did not confirm whether or not their injuries were serious, though all four are expected to survive.

According to the Associated Press, these four news photographers all worked either for local newspapers or local news sites. State prosecutors have opened an investigation into the attack as they consider it a case of "attempted murder."

Press freedom advocacy group, Reporters Without Borders, revealed that the attack happened just outside the local army barracks. The four journalists were just returning after covering an event when they were shot at.

Chilpancingo is a city found on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, specifically in Guerrero State, which has seen a rise in deadly turf battles between local drug gangs and the big drug cartels. It was once the turf of the once-powerful Zetas drug cartel, which has since splintered off into several local drug gangs, all vying for power.

This is the latest attack on journalists in Mexico, as the country is now one of the deadliest countries for journalists outside of an active warzone. In the last five years alone, 54 journalists have already been killed in Mexico, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Three Journalists Abducted in Guerrero State, Mexico Recently Freed

Just recently, other journalists in Guerrero State had a different life-threatening experience of their own as they were recently abducted and released. While reporters Silvia Nayssa Arce, Alberto Sanchez, and Marco Antonio Toledo were all released unharmed, the three journalists still had a harrowing experience from the ordeal.

READ MORE: Mexico: Mexican Journalist Abducted by Armed Men in Broad Daylight

Marco Antonio Toledo is the editor of the weekly newspaper El Espectador. He was kidnapped by armed men on November 19 in Taxco, Guerrero. Meanwhile, Silvia Nayssa Arce and Alberto Sanchez worked for the digital media site RedSiete. They all worked from their offices in Taxco when they were abducted.

Toledo's wife, Guadalupe Denova, was also freed, but their son, who was also kidnapped, is still missing, according to Al Jazeera News. The Mexican Army, police, and National Guard have vowed that they will "continue with search operations" for him.

Another Journalist Found Dead Inside Car in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Earlier this month, the body of news photographer Ismael Villagomez was found in the driver's seat of a car in Ciudad Juarez, which is just across the border from El Paso, Texas.

CBS News reported that the car he was found in was registered to a ride-hailing app, and the victim was reportedly working as a driver on the side because of the low income journalists have in Mexico. His phone was not found with him.

Ciudad Juarez is home to multiple competing drug gangs that do not just vie for supremacy in the city but also control of drug smuggling and human trafficking routes.

READ MORE: Journalist in Mexico Tells Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador He's Afraid for His Life During Press Briefing

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Journalists in Mexico Fear Cartels - And Facebook - VICE News
One of Denver's most popular Mexican restaurants, El Tepehuan in Englewood, will be closing soon after 45 years of operations. The restaurant was founded back in 1978 and has been called "El Tep" by locals.

The reason for the restaurant closing is that its owner, Graciela Corral, is now retiring. This was announced by her son, Miguel Corral. It was originally founded by immigrant Jose David Corral of Sinaloa, Mexico and the name was a homage to his mother's indigenous tribe.

Jose Corral died in a car accident in 1987 and it was his wife, Graciela, who took over and has been running the restaurant for 36 years, even overseeing its relocation between 2015 and 2017. Her hard work paid off as the restaurant became one of the most popular food spots all over Denver.

Owner Graciela Corral spoke with the Denver Post over the phone and told the newspaper that "she kept the restaurant open after Jose's death because she needed work and thought having her own business would be the best opportunity."

Throughout its 45-year operation, El Tepehuan has survived several economic downturns, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which Graciela said was "difficult" but they were able to stay afloat thanks to the local community who continued supporting them by ordering to-go food and drinks.

The "El Tep" owner also has a message to her patrons, saying, "I will miss the customers and workers. For me, it's like family." She added, "To the customers, thank you for everything, for support for 45 years. Thank you, thank you for everybody."

"Every item in the combo was, if not astonishingly fantastic, nonetheless a solid throw-down, gimme-more, don't-talk-to-me-I'm-eating keeper. Fresh, flavorful, spicy and just naughty enough, from the spicy red chile Colorado to the melty-velvety cheese over the beans to the plump, meaty beans themselves," wrote Denver Post food critic Tucker Shaw.

READ MORE: Mexican Food: 5 Interesting Facts About This Legendary Cuisine

Iconic Denver Mexican Restaurant El Tepehuan Building in the Process of Being Sold

El Tepehuan has been considered a Denver establishment for decades now, and with the news of its imminent closing, Miguel Corral spoke to Westword and stated that his mother's restaurant closing is "bittersweet."

"Graciela would like to thank all of her customers from the bottom of her heart. Because of their loyal patronage, she was able to provide a good life for her children and grandchildren. She would like to spend more time with her family, travel, and enjoy retirement," he added.

Miguel also noted that the building that the restaurant is in is "in the process of selling the space to a new restaurant tenant." There is also a deal that would sell the El Tepehuan business itself to "a new owner who will continue the proud traditions for many more decades," in the works.

What Is the Iconic Denver Mexican Restaurant El Tepehuan?

According to the restaurant's official website, El Tepehuan founder Jose David Corral immigrated to the United States from Sinaloa, Mexico in the 1950s. He worked hard to save enough money to buy his own business, purchasing PJ's Diner at 3457 S. Broadway, Englewood, Colorado and renamed it to the restaurant we know today,

Some of his most beloved dishes, including the "Bob Burrito, named after a loyal customer, are still around today. As for the name, it is an homage to the indigenous Tepehuan people who live in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa, whom Jose proudly represents.

READ NEXT: Aztec Culture Still Alive in Mexico Even After 500 Years

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: We Ate The Most Iconic Foods In Denver On A $50 Budget - Insider Food
Texas Man Franklin Sechriest, 20, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of arson and a hate crime earlier this year. He was responsible for burning down the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Austin, Texas two years ago.

With his sentencing, prosecutors got what they wanted as they earlier asked for a 10-year sentence because of the Texas man's deeply held" antisemitic and racist beliefs. Prosecutors claimed in the case that Sechriest committed other racially motivated crimes and demonstrated a "capacity to lie and manipulate."

In his decision to imprison Sechriest for 10 years, Judge David Ezra promised that he would recommend the antisemitic arsonist be housed at a federal medical facility, according to the Austin American Statesman.

The Austin synagogue that Sechreist set fire to, the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, was considered the oldest Jewish congregation in the city. Its arsonist was arrested after investigators found journals containing antisemitic and racist rhetoric in his Austin home. One entry contained a confession of sorts, saying, "I set a synagogue on fire."

During the sentencing hearing held at the US District Court of Austin, the now-convicted arsonist and antisemite was seen looking over at his parents and mouthing, "I'm sorry."

"This hate-filled act of violence against a house of worship was an attempt to sow fear in the Jewish community and was intended to intimidate its congregants," wrote Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division in a DOJ release.

"Attacks targeting Jewish people and arsons aimed at desecrating synagogues have no place in our society today, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute antisemitic violence."

Texas Man Who Burned Down Austin Synagogue Was Radicalized by Online Hate Groups

Attorney Daniel Wannamaker, who defended Sechriest' in the trial, reminded everyone that his client had been diagnosed with autism and suffered from mental illness. He then admitted that as a teen, Franklin Sechriest was a vulnerable and isolated teenager who was vulnerable to being "groomed" and "radicalized" by online hate groups.

READ MORE: US-Mexico Relations: Experts Warn on Danger of Aggressive Stance To Curb Fentanyl, Drug Trafficking

Before he was arrested, the then-18-year-old Texas teen was a member of the Texas State Guard and a student at Texas State University. He became a suspect after security footage showed Sechriest's Jeep at the synagogue just before the arson fire started, according to the Associated Press.

Sechriest was also seen carrying a 5-gallon (19-liter) container and toilet paper as he entered the synagogue and was also seen running away from the blaze he admitted to having started.

Texas Man's Antisemitic Writings Revealed

Franklin Barrett Sechriest's racist beliefs were exposed when police found his journal while searching for his home. Not only did he admit to setting the synagogue on fire in one of the entries, but he also expressed support for Nazism.

The Daily Beast reported that among the entries in the journal, the Texas man said he wanted to consider "actual racism" and "test Molotov cocktails." He also complained about having been made to listen to "a third-hand speech about the holocaust and 'hate,'" and how he "had a long talk with mom about Jews controlling the media."

In his writings, Sechriest admitted that he wanted to "Be so racist it makes mom uncomfortable," and he wanted to "Feel like total shit and argue with mom for four hours about complacency in the age of the new Civil War," and "Burn a book called 'How to be an Antiracist.'"

READ MORE: US Congressman Fights Back on Calls To Invade Mexico Over Fentanyl Problem

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Sentencing Hearing for Franklin Sechriest Wednesday - KXAN
In a landmark decision, Panama Supreme Court unanimously declared on Tuesday that the 20-year concession for a Canadian copper mine, Cobre Panama, which has been marred by extensive environmental protests, is unconstitutional.

The ruling prompted President Laurentino Cortizo to announce the commencement of a process to close the controversial mine, AP reports.

The contentious Cobre Panama mine faced vehement opposition from environmental activists who contended that its operations posed a severe threat to a forested coastal area and jeopardized local water supplies.

The nine-member court's decision, delivered after four days of deliberation, sparked jubilation among onlookers outside the court, waving Panamanian flags in celebration.

Demonstrator Raisa Banfield expressed relief, stating, "This is what we had been waiting for. The president has to suspend (mine) operations today."

The local subsidiary of Canada's First Quantum Minerals, Minera Panama, operating the mine, acknowledged the court's decision in a released statement.

President Cortizo addressed the nation, revealing that upon formal receipt of the court's decision, the details would be published in the official gazette, initiating "an orderly and safe closure of the mine."

READ NEXT: Panama Anti-Mining Protesters Suspends Roadblocks for 12 Hours

The Protest Against First Quantum

The recent surge of protests was ignited in October following the passage of a law by Panama's Congress approving a new contract with First Quantum for the Cobre Panama mine, BBC noted.

Environmentalists, students, indigenous groups, and labor activists united against the decision.

Protesters, motivated by environmental concerns and opposition to mining, also decried the perceived favoritism towards the Canadian miner, asserting that the contract did not yield sufficient revenue for Panama.

Demonstrators strategically blocked key roads, including the Pan-American highway, causing fuel and food shortages in some regions.

A sea blockade, utilizing boats to impede crucial supplies to the mine, compelled First Quantum, Canada's largest copper producer, to suspend operations.

Despite initial governmental contemplation of legislation to revoke the contract, a backtrack occurred during a National Assembly debate on November 2.

The Supreme Court's declaration of the contract's unconstitutionality presented the final opportunity for opponents to challenge and annul it.

The Canadian government expressed respect for Tuesday's ruling, emphasizing ongoing scrutiny of contract negotiations.

Jean-Pierre J. Godbout, a spokesperson for the government's Global Affairs Department, conveyed hopes for a mutually beneficial solution.

First Quantum's Cobre Panama

Cobre Panama, operational since 2019, contributed significantly to First Quantum's third-quarter revenue of $2.02 billion, generating 112,734 tonnes of copper in the same quarter of 2023, per MINING.COM.

Analysts at BMO Capital Markets assessed that First Quantum is financially equipped to weather short-term challenges, even under a scenario anticipating the mine's closure through 2023 year-end.

BMO analyst Jackie Przybylowski outlined potential financial impacts, indicating that an 80-day halt in 2024 could deplete First Quantum's cash reserves.

Przybylowski emphasized the importance of the government and courts quelling protests to facilitate a swift resumption of mining operations.

Lawyers specializing in mining affairs highlighted the delicate situation faced by both the Panamanian government and First Quantum, given the recent legislation banning new mining concessions and extensions.

This development may complicate negotiations for a new agreement between the parties.

READ MORE: Javier Milei Meets with US Top Officials

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Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Franco Nevada analyst on Panama Court ruling against First Quantum - From BNN Bloomberg
George Santos is standing firm despite his fellow House Republicans pushing for his resignation. This comes as Democrats put forward a measure to finally expel him from Congress after that damning House Ethics Committee report found that he was responsible for misappropriating campaign funds to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

More and more lawmakers from both parties are supporting George Santos's expulsion from Congress, with George Santos himself expecting that he will be expelled soon.

Things have since gotten worse for the embattled New York Republican as two Democrats are forcing the GOP's hand as an expulsion vote now has to happen by Tuesday, per Axios.

With the vote coming up, Santos reportedly met with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other top Republicans on Tuesday and there had been calls for Santos to resign instead. However, the New York congressman who once claimed to be Jewish despite being a Roman Catholic with Brazilian roots reiterated that he would not resign.

Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern of Oklahoma also described multiple phone calls between Speaker Johnson and Rep. Santos, saying that they have had conversations up until recently, even an hour ago, about [how] the right thing ... would be for him to examine [his] position and resign."

Meanwhile, South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, who was also in the meeting, stated that Johnson is "trying to get him to thoughtfully consider what is best for the institution." Despite this, Santos has remained defiant of his Republican colleagues and refuses to resign, opting to fight his expulsion until the end.

READ MORE: George Santos Campaign Fund Scandal: New York Rep. Ready for Congress Expulsion

California Democrat Forces Vote on George Santos Expulsion on House Floor

A few days after the House Ethics Committee found Santos committed fraud, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California put forward a resolution to expel the embattled House Republican. This is a privileged resolution, which means Republican leaders must take up the matter within two legislative days and that this must now happen by Thursday.

Santos has survived two previous attempts to expel him from Congress. However, this third one after the Ethics Committee findings came out might finally do it, though CNN pointed out that it is not yet clear if there will be enough votes to go over that 2/3 threshold required to expel a congressman, though more House representatives have come out to support expulsion than the previous votes.

House Speaker Mike Johnson Addresses Phone Call with George Santos About Expulsion

House Speaker Mike Johnson recently spoke with reporters and talked about his conversation with George Santos before Thanksgiving, saying that the meeting between them had been "positive."

"I've spoken to Congressman Santos at some length over the holiday and talked with him about his options," the Louisiana Republican told reporters. "But we'll have to see. It's not yet determined, but we'll be talking about that when we get back tomorrow."

READ MORE: George Santos Denies Being a Drag Queen in Brazil

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: George Santos Faces Expulsion & Koch Brothers Endorse Nikki Haley | The Daily Show
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan held a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community of the United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

As "Armenpress" correspondent informs, the President of Armenia emphasized that during his visits to various countries, he prefers holding meetings with representatives of Armenian communities, aimed at informing them about what is really happening in Armenia and around Armenia.

"Very often, even residents of Armenia lack comprehensive knowledge of the actual events occurring in our country because the information today is multi-content, and misinformation spreads very quickly. Therefore, in my opinion, meetings with government officials provide a good opportunity for you to receive accurate information about the situation in our country," stated the president.

The President presented the developments of the negotiation process regarding the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing that progress is hindered by Azerbaijan's destructive positions. President Khachatryan highlighted Armenia's constructive stance in the process, noting that Azerbaijan had recently been avoiding negotiations.

During the meeting, Vahagn Khachaturyan emphasized the importance of continuous democratic reforms in Armenia.

The President also addressed the security challenges facing Armenia.

Armenia has problems in terms of security, due to the improper functioning of the security system that Armenia has had for many years, said Khachatryan and mentioned that Armenia should diversify its security measures and not depend on a single center.

Vahagn Khachaturyan also emphasized the regulation of relations with neighboring countries, noting that there is no alternative to living in peace and solidarity with neighboring countries.

The President also presented the "Crossroads of Peace" project to the representatives of the Armenian community.
In a harrowing turn of events, a Texas teen has been apprehended following the tragic discovery of a 21-year-old woman's body in the trunk of her own car in the Meyerland area.

The victim, identified as Idania Campos, had been reported missing earlier, prompting a search that culminated in the distressing revelation, ABC 13 reports.

Court records reveal that 19-year-old Ariel Cruz has been arrested and charged with the murder of a missing Texas woman, Idania Campos.

According to these documents, Cruz confessed to shooting and killing Campos.

The Texas teen, Ariel Cruz, was taken into custody, charged with murder, and was booked into Harris County Jail at 2:30 AM Wednesday with a set bond of $600,000

READ NEXT: Texas Chemical Explosion

Texas Teen Helps with Search Before Admitting Murder

Family members disclosed that Cruz, the now-accused perpetrator, was present at the scene, actively participating in the search for the missing woman.

They recounted how Cruz, seemingly empathetic, had spent the majority of the day consoling the distraught family as authorities investigated the situation, according to Click2Houston.

Shockingly, Cruz was described as a good friend and, according to Houston police, the victim's girlfriend.

The family, grappling with the enormity of the situation, shared insights into Cruz's deceptive demeanor.

They revealed that he had been romantically involved with Idania Campos in the past, emphasizing their once-close connection.

Despite this, the family was taken aback when Cruz reportedly confessed to the murder, citing past relationship issues as a motive.

According to Cruz's bail motion, he admitted to investigators that he killed Campos because she had previously ended their relationship.

The family, still reeling from the revelation, recounted how Cruz had been at their home for a sister's birthday party on November 26, engaging in concerning behavior as he played with an unloaded gun.

Missing Texas Woman Found Dead

As worry intensified about Idania Campos' whereabouts, family and friends traced her phone to a location on Indigo Street.

Upon arrival, they discovered the family's car securely locked, per KHOU 11.

After unsuccessful attempts to locate the missing Texas woman, the police were called to the scene, conducting a preliminary search before leaving.

Growing increasingly distressed, the family began knocking on doors in the area, attempting to gather information.

Their concern heightened when they realized that Idania had left her phone and personal belongings inside the locked car.

Faced with this alarming situation, the family decided to take matters into their own hands.

Calling a locksmith proved futile, prompting them to break a window to gain access to the vehicle.

It was within the confines of the car's trunk that the family made the chilling discovery of Idania Campos' lifeless body.

Houston Police Department Lt. Alias Smith speculated that Campos had been killed elsewhere and then placed in her car on Indigo Street, about 30 minutes from her family's residence.

The heartbroken family, grappling with the shock of the revelation, expressed disbelief over Cruz's actions, emphasizing their hope for justice.

Idania, described as a Lamar High School graduate attending Houston Community College, was remembered fondly as a smart, funny, and helpful individual.

READ MORE: 5-Year-Old California Girl Dead, 54-Year-Old Grandfather Still Missing After Sneaker Wave Swept Them Off

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ex-boyfriend confesses to crime after woman's body found in trunk of her own car, HPD says - From KHOU 11
While Georgia prosecutors are trying to turn Donald Trump's co-defendants in the Georgia election case against him, they do not seem interested in offering the same deals to three co-defendants in particular. They are Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and Mark Meadows.

A report by The Guardian noted that while Fulton County prosecutors are offering deals to the other co-defendants in the sprawling RICO case against the former president and his allies, they are "unwilling to offer deals to the key trio" and would prefer to have them stand in trial instead.

RICO cases are usually used to go after organized crime and the high-level defendants are usually not offered any deals while the lower-level criminals are offered deals to turn on their bosses. In the Georgia election case, former President Donald Trump is considered by many as the mob boss in the case while the sub-boss is former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Rudy Giuliani on the other hand is considered Trump's concierge.

Several Trump co-defendants have already flipped, the biggest names being former Trump attorneys Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis. Powell was responsible for illegally accessing voting machines in Coffee County, Georgia, while Ellis is part of the misinformation campaign to help Trump supporters believe that Trump won the 2020 election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has also opened plea talks with the remaining co-defendants. Should these "minor" co-defendants flip, they would be given lighter sentences in exchange for information and testimony against the higher-level defendants, especially the former president.

The Guardian report did note that the decision from prosecutors has not yet been communicated formally and could still shift as prosecutors may shift strategies, depending on the circumstances. However, this revelation does signal that prosecutors already have their main targets for the case.

Donald Trump Georgia Co-Defendant Takes Dig at Former President in New Filing

Ex-Trump attorney John Eastman, who is one of the people behind the fake electors scheme, recently went against his high-level co-defendant by urging the court to set an earlier final plea date. However, the wording of the filing threw some shade against the former president.

READ MORE: Sidney Powell and Jenna Ellis Deposition Videos Leak; Show Incriminating Testimony Vs. Donald Trump

In Eastman's filing, his attorney wrote that the plea date should be earlier "so that Defendants who do not have lifetime United States Secret Service protection and who are not running for election to an office can exercise and have their right to a jury trial completed within 2024."

Eastman's attorney, Wilmer Parker III, argued that an earlier plea date and severing the defendants into two groups would allow "more than enough time" for the court to hold two trials without Donald Trump. This comes as prosecutors are looking to try all the remaining co-defendants together.

Georgia Supreme Court Blocks Republican Attack on DA Fani Willis

Much like his other criminal cases, Donald Trump is trying to win the Georgia case in the court of public opinion and is trying to get his allies in the state to act against DA Fani Willis. However, the state's highest court effectively blocked legislators from using a new law to remove Willis after she indicted the former president.

This was one of the over 30 laws that were introduced in recent years to remove or restrict elected prosecutors who lawmakers disagree with. This one in Georgia particularly targeted the Fulton County DA for indicting Trump.

Despite the Supreme Court decision, however, several supporters of the bill, including State Rep. Houston Gaines, who vowed that they will continue pushing it.

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: Trump suddenly loses his BIGGEST lifeline in Georgia trial - Brian Tyler Cohen
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning consumers to throw out Hilltop Meadow Farm brand 60 Day Aged Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese with best by dates of Sept. 21, 2023 or earlier due to Listeria contamination.

Testing of the cheese confirmed the presence of the harmful bacteria and has led the farm to voluntarily recall the affected cheese, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

No illnesses have been reported to date, the agency noted.

The Pepper Jack Raw Milk Cheese was sold in half-pound, 1-pound, 2.5-pound, and 5-pound varieties at Hilltop Meadow Farms Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, store, as well as the following locations:

Whole Earth Center, 360 Nassau St, Princeton, New Jersey

Healthy Way, 396 S Main St, Massena, New York

Meadow Run Farms, 727 Rettew Mill Road, Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Shady Acres Farm Market, 8514 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Willow Haven Farm, 7686 Herber Road, New Tripoli, Leigh County, Pennsylania

Healthy Habits Natural Market, 1120 Center Turnpike, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Little Leaf Natural Products, 505 S Main Street, Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

Northstar Bison Store, 225 Birch Avenue, Cameron, Wisconsin

The tainted cheese is labeled with the words Hilltop Meadow Farm as well as From A2/A2 Milk and Made from 100% Grassfed Cows Milk.

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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Pennsylvania is trying anew to help voters using mail-in ballots in the battleground state avoid mistakes that might get their ballot thrown out in 2024s presidential election and beyond.

In a new directive Wednesday, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiros administration asked counties to start using a standard set of instructions to explain how to complete mail-in ballots, among other steps.

Shapiros top election official, Secretary of State Al Schmidt, said some counties already use these methods.

The effort comes amid a partisan stalemate in Pennsylvanias Legislature and court battles over provisions in the states four-year-old mail-in voting law that have led counties to throw out tens of thousands of mail-in ballots cast by legal voters.

Voters completing a mail-in ballot must put their completed ballot into an inner secrecy envelope, insert that into an outer return envelope, and write their name, date and signature on the back of the outer envelope.

Among other things, the state wants counties to start using yellow secrecy envelopes and return envelopes with purple markings to help the postal service identify them.

In the 2023 primary, counties rejected about 17,000 mail ballots, or almost 3% of all mail ballots cast, the Department of State said. Almost half of the rejected ballots arrived after Election Day, while about 20% were thrown out for lacking a date and 15% for lacking a secrecy envelope. Smaller numbers were thrown out for incorrect dates (8%) or lack of a signature (5%), the department said.

Most mail-in ballots are cast by Democrats, and Pennsylvania is again expected to be a closely fought battleground in next years presidential election. Democrat Joe Biden beat Republican Donald Trump by slightly over 80,000 votes in 2020.

A federal judge ruled last week that rejecting Pennsylvania mail-in ballots for having inaccurate handwritten dates on their outer envelopes violates federal civil rights laws and that those ballots must still be counted.

The GOP has repeatedly fought in court to get such ballots thrown out, part of a campaign to invalidate mail-in ballots and mail-in voting in Pennsylvania after Trump baselessly claimed in 2020 that mail balloting was rife with fraud.

Democratic lawmakers have sought, without success to relax provisions of the law that have resulted in ballots getting thrown out.

By MARC LEVY

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The Freedom High School Theatre Company is looking to spread a little holiday cheer through their fall production of, Its a Wonderful Life.

Students have been rehearsing their roles and working backstage in order to get ready for their show.

We performed Its a Wonderful Life in 2019, however, this version is written by a different author and is more true to the movie, said Director Justin Amann. Last year, we produced a small musical, and so its been a pleasure to get back in the spirit by producing a holiday classic, said Amann.

Parent volunteers helped the cast and crew build and paint the set, which was designed by Lehigh University Technical Director Trevor Flocco.

According to Amann, this years set was quite an undertaking for a fall production show.

Its an extraordinary set and includes many more pieces that are flown in and out to ensure timely scene changes to stay true to the movie by avoiding long set changes that are common in theatre, the director said.

Lehighvalleylive.com got a peek of the production during a dress rehearsal Wednesday night.

Check out the gallery below from that rehearsal.

35 1 / 35 Freedom rehearses It's a Wonderful Life!

Interested in seeing the show?

Showtimes are:

Dec. 1 -2 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.

All the shows are at Freedom High School, 3149 Chester Ave., Bethlehem Township.

To purchase tickets online, go to showtix4u.com/events/FHSTC or pick them up at the door.

Saed Hindash may be reached at shindash@lehighvalleylive.com.

Follow him on Twitter @SaedHindash. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan made a speech at the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, stating that Armenia remains committed to the opening of a new era of peace in the South Caucasus and believes that it is still possible. Making that opportunity a reality requires both Azerbaijan's genuine engagement and international actors' strong support for Armenia's efforts, which are based on well-developed and well-known principles.



In his speech the Foreign Minister thanked the North-Macedonian OSCE Chairmanship for leading this organization during the last year, the foreign ministry said.

Indeed, it was not an easy task, as the OSCE which still remains the biggest security organization in the world, is rapidly declining as once duly adopted and well elaborated mandates and commitments are totally disregarded.

This process started several years ago when the OSCE failed to implement its core tasks - early warning and conflict prevention. Unfortunately, this process will continue unless there is no common understanding that violation of international law in any part of the world shall be unequivocally condemned and not tolerated, otherwise it creates a sense of impunity becoming the new normal in other parts of the world. Regrettably, the OSCE area of responsibility is not an exclusion,  noted Ararat Mirzoyan.

The Foreign Minister noted that in the South Caucasus the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the root causes of which was hatred and xenophobia in its various forms and the existential threat to the people who wanted to live in freedom and dignity in their ancestral homeland, reached its final stage this year.

After a nine-month long inhuman siege, on September 19 Azerbaijan launched yet another large-scale military offensive against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh which resulted in mass forced displacement of its indigenous population. At this point in time, we can state that in silent agreement of the international community Azerbaijan has reached its long-standing goal  to get the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh without its Armenian population.

However, even after having this done the claims of the Azerbaijani side were not halted. Now the entire sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia has become the target of our neighbor.

This, coupled with continuous hatred, military rhetoric, use of force and threats of use of force, refusal to come to the meetings organized by various international actors, including the US and the EU, illustrates that this country is not sincerely interested in peace and stability in our region, said FM Mirzoyan and added: Despite this humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia remains committed to opening a new era of peace in the South Caucasus and believes that it is still possible. For turning this possibility into a reality, we need reciprocally genuine engagement of Azerbaijan and the strong support of international actors to our efforts, which are based on well elaborated and well-known principles. These principles that were widely discussed and admitted or at least not rejected by the Azerbaijani side include:

mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and without any further ambiguity,

delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the freshest and legitimate maps - USSR General Staff maps of 1974-1978,

opening of all transport and economic communications with full respect of the countries sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as based on the principles of equality and reciprocity.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Armenian side to the above-mentioned principles, which demonstrating its readiness to embark upon practical steps, has recently presented the concept of a connectivity project which we called Crossroads of Peace.

This ambitious project is aimed at connecting East with West and North with South and through regional cooperation create conditions for strengthening economic and cultural ties, soften contradictions and foster better connectivity and political dialogue between the countries of our region.

In this regard the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is also of crucial importance. As you might be aware, we have reached the agreement to open the land border for 3rd country citizens and Armenian and Turkish citizens holding diplomatic passports, which was reconfirmed by my counterpart, Minister Fidan at our bilateral meeting on October 23; even concrete timing was indicated meaning upcoming weeks, and we hope that in the nearest future we will implement this first, but quite tangible step.

There are also a number of humanitarian issues on Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization that cannot be ignored. The release of all Armenian detainees, including the ones imprisoned after September 19, cooperation in addressing the fate of missing persons, protection of Armenian cultural property in and around Nagorno-Karabakh can pave a way to long-lasting, just and dignified peace, Foreign Minister said.

In conclusion, FM Mirzoyan noted that Armenia as a responsible member of OSCE has proved on numerous occasions its devotion to regional and global peace and will continue to take steps to that end.

And once again, I reiterate that Armenia remains ready for negotiations and we need Azerbaijan to stop rejecting the proposals of facilitators to meet and finalize the peace treaty. To ensure this goal we need genuine efforts of all interested parties and the international community as a whole to turn the page of violence in the South Caucasus and strengthen international rule-based order, concluded Foreign Minister Mirzoyan.
For the second year in a row, Hallmark is bringing Bethlehem to the world.

The Hallmark Channel has once again set up six cameras in towns across the country that it deems to be Real Life Hallmark Channel Christmas Towns, and, unsurprisingly, Bethlehem is once again one of those towns. The live stream, angled with a perfect view of Main Street in Downtown Bethlehem, will be on from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day until Dec. 30, according to a release from Hallmark and the City of Bethlehem.

Everyone who lives here, works here, or who has ever visited during the holidays, knows why were called The Christmas City, Tammy Wendling of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce said in the release. Its something about the warm and loving spirit of our community that really brings that Christmas magic, and we are thrilled that Hallmark has recognized that.

Bethlehem is joined by Asheville, North Carolina; Corning, New York; Frisco, Texas; Harbor Springs, Michigan and Mystic, Connecticut as this years locales with Christmas Cams, which are streamed by EarthCam. Corning and Harbor Springs were also live-streamed last year.

Bethlehems camera is perched on Main Street, just south of Walnut Street, looking towards Hotel Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Star far in the distance.

To view Bethlehems Christmas Cam and the other cities in the U.S., go to christmascams.hallmarkchannel.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania history center.

Housed in the Pennsylvania Judicial Center, in the Capitol Complex, the center provides an exclusive glimpse into the high Courts legal legacy and will be offered as an additional tour location within the Capitol Complex.

Today is a momentous occasion to celebrate the Court and its history, Chief Justice Todd said. This new historical center will now become a space of inspiration and a place where future generations can gain a deeper understanding of the legal heritage and legacy of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Visitors to the history center will have the opportunity to see original Supreme Court artifacts dating back to the 1600s while learning more about the history, work and role of the Court.

The history center is a monument to our unwavering commitment to preserving our past, Justice Mundy said. Within these walls the echoes of landmark decisions will reverberate, the wisdom of our esteemed justices will find new life, and the poignant struggles for justice will resonate for generations to come.

The development of the history center was supported by the work of the Supreme Court Historical Commission.

As the highest Court in the commonwealth and the oldest appellate court in the nation, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the definitive authority in enforcing Pennsylvanias Constitution and laws.

The Court supervises the entire court system to ensure that Pennsylvanians rights are protected and enforced through efficient judicial administration of the cases brought before them.
Kildare County Council and An Garda Siochana will host the annual public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee on Monday 4th December in the Osprey Hotel, Naas.

The meeting will take place from 7pm  9pm discussing the theme of Working together to improve road safety.

The public is invited to attend and participate in the annual public meeting.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims took place on Sunday 19th November and Kildare County Council joined other Local Authorities, the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Siochana and other road safety groups, in remembering all those who have died in road traffic collisions around the world, in Ireland and on our own roads in County Kildare.

2023 has been the worst year for road fatalities in Ireland in many years, with over 165 families losing loved ones in road traffic accidents. Donna Price, Founder, President & PRO of the Irish Road Victims Association will be a guest speaker at the public meeting of the Joint Policing Committee.

Inspector Anthony Connaughton will also speak to the public meeting, discussing Gardai objectives in relation to road safety.

Kildare County Councils Road Safety Team will also be in attendance on the night.

The Joint Policing Committee in Kildare has 37 members comprising: 15 Elected Members, 11 Oireachtas Members, two Local Authority Representatives, two Garda Representatives and seven Community Representatives.

The purpose of the Joint Policing Committee is to serve as a forum for consultations, discussions and recommendations on matters affecting the policing of Kildare.

See: www.kildarejointpolicing.ie.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has travelled to Dubai to attend Cop28, where he will deliver Irelands national statement on Saturday.

Cop28  or the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  runs until December 12 at Expo City Dubai.

World leaders are meeting with the aim of agreeing on targets to tackle climate change and assess the progress made on the 2015 Paris Agreement targets.

Taoiseach Mr Varadkar is expected to hold several meetings with world leaders to discuss climate issues, but the invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East are also expected to be discussed.

The summit was also due to be attended by Pope Francis, but his trip was cancelled on Tuesday due to ill health.

Speaking from Dubai, Mr Varadkar said the conference is a crucial opportunity.

Weve had a year of record-breaking temperatures and alarming severe weather events, including some on our own shores, which have had disastrous consequences for the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people around the world.

The Global Stocktake will assess what the world has actually achieved since the Paris Agreement of 2015, when 196 countries agreed to limit global warming. We must work harder and faster to secure a safe, healthy, prosperous environment for all.

One of the most effective ways to help individuals is a better system of climate finance.

Sadly, the countries suffering most from climate change often have the greatest difficulty getting access to the finance and resources they need to deal with it.

So, I look forward to Cop28 making progress on a new loss and damage fund.

Ireland has committed to 225 million euro a year from 2025 to climate finance, the highest ever in our history, and I fully expect us to reach that target.

At a time when the world is divided in so many ways, the urgent need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and bring down our emissions is one challenge that unites us all.

We also need to scale up and prioritise adaptation.

He added: Climate change is happening even faster than most people anticipated. The international community must achieve the goals it has committed to.

The transition must be just and fair. Im really conscious that both the effects of climate change and the actions needed to prevent it do not affect people equally, so we must make sure we protect the most vulnerable in everything we do.

Whatever is agreed here at Cop28, it will have consequences for the future of our planet and its people.
Rents for new tenancies jumped by 11.6pc in the past year, despite the fact that most of the country is covered by Rental Pressure Zones (RPZs) which prohibits larger rent increases.

Under the law, rents in RPZs are not supposed to rise more than 2pc a year.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has published new data which shows the cost of new tenancies rising at twice the rate for sitting tenants.

The average rent nationally for a new tenancy is 1,574  a rise of 11.6pc.

Rents in Dublin stand at 2,102, with rents outside the greater Dublin area averaging 1,167.

The lowest average monthly cost for a new tenancy was 879 per month in Leitrim.

A gap of 242 has emerged between what average sitting tenants are being charged and rents for new tenancies.

The average sitting tenant pays 1,332, up 5.3pc in a year.

That is the highest level of rent since the Residential Tenancies Board started recording the costs in 2007.

Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan has said it is concerning that rents are rising by such figures.

Deputy OCallaghan, who is the partys housing spokesperson, said: Rent Pressure Zone regulations are supposed to cap rent increases at 2 per cent per year. However, average rents for existing tenancies in Dublin, for example, which is covered by these regulations, rose by 5.5 per cent in the past 12 months.

Furthermore, rents in new tenancies have risen by a staggering 11.6 per cent in 12 months. This is the largest yearly increase ever recorded by the Residential Tenancies Board.

A common way for landlords to carry out illegal rent increases is to hike up the price in between tenancies. This could be a major contributing factor as to why new tenancies are so much more expensive than existing ones.

We need to establish a register of rents so that incoming tenants can find out how much rent their predecessors paid. This will allow them to check if rent caps are being properly applied to their tenancy," he said.

New RPZ designations will come into effect for Shannon Local Electoral Area (LEA) and the Administrative Area of Westmeath County Council: Based on the Rent Pressure Zone criteria, Shannon Local Electoral Area (LEA) and the Administrative Area of Westmeath County Council have been designated by the Minister as Rent Pressure Zones as of today, November 30.

Speaking on the publication of the report, Director of the RTB, Niall Byrne said: "The production of an index that can track rent developments in all rents across the private rental sector is a major step forward. Information is now available for sitting tenants which was not available in the previous Rent Index Reports.

"The RTB, in conjunction with the ESRI, is committed to publishing, and further developing, the new tenancy and existing tenancy rent indices. Over time, these indices will provide strong evidence and deeper insights into the private rental sector for the benefit of policymakers and the public," he said.

Mr Byrne added: "The RTB is committed to ensuring compliance with rental law, particularly the requirements to register tenancies and to set lawful rents in RPZs. These commitments are set out in the RTBs Statement of Strategy 2023 -2025. The data now available to the RTB as a result of the requirement to renew tenancies annually provides very important information which the RTB can now use in planning its compliance and enforcement activities".
Northeast Natural Energy Marcellus Production Reverified by Equitable Origin





Assets Receive Highest Grade for ESG Performance Awarded to Date

MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeast Natural Energy (NNE), a West Virginia-based Marcellus Shale natural gas producer, has just become the first producer globally to receive an "A" letter grade from Equitable Origin (EO) for the ESG performance of its West Virginia assets. This was the result of a voluntary reverification audit conducted by Responsible Energy Solutions LLC in 2023.

A pioneer in differentiated natural gas production, NNE became the first producer in the United States to certify an asset to EO's independent voluntary standard for high-ESG performance at the site level in 2021.

"Northeast Natural Energy is committed to the continuous improvement of every aspect of our business, and I am very proud of our team and the work they have done to receive this high grade on our company's overall performance within the EO100tm framework," said Mike John, president and CEO, Northeast Natural Energy. "Equitable Origin's assessment provides a holistic analysis of our asset. Going through this certification and reverification process makes us a better company, and we look forward to the challenge to continually improve year over year."

Equitable Origin-approved expert third-party assessor Responsible Energy Solutions LLC independently evaluated NNE's operations against the principles of the EO100tm Standard, including corporate governance and ethics; social impacts, human rights, and community engagement; occupational health and safety and fair labor standards; and environmental performance.

"Today, we congratulate NNE on becoming the first producer in the world to receive an "A" grade for a producing asset under our certification process. We are pleased to recognize the hard work and leadership they have demonstrated by achieving higher levels of performance over time through participation in our program, "said Jason Switzer, CEO of Equitable Origin.

Annually, the assessors undertake reverification audits to assess conformance to the standard and progress by NNE on a Continual Improvement Plan that is a requirement for certification. These findings are subject to a rigorous external peer review.

"Having completed our third annual assessment for Northeast Natural Energy, our team has seen continuous improvement that reflects a culture of excellence at NNE," said Roy Hartstein, founder and president, Responsible Energy Solutions LLC. "Through the review of thousands of pages of documents and dozens of interviews with NNE staff, contractors, and external stakeholders, we have found that culture reflected in action and results from the field through the senior leadership."

About Northeast Natural Energy

Northeast Natural Energy, LLC is a privately owned energy company headquartered in Charleston, W.Va. that focuses on the development of dry, pipeline quality natural gas in the Appalachian Basin. The company operates 40,000 contiguous acres in north central West Virginia, developing and producing reserves from the Marcellus Shale. Learn more at www.northeastnaturalenergy.com.

About Equitable Origin

Equitable Origin is a non-profit organization that was founded with a vision to create a market-based mechanism to recognize and reward responsible energy producers and to empower energy purchasers through independent, site-level certification. The EO100tm Standard for Responsible Energy Development is grounded in a set of comprehensive, globally applicable ESG indicators developed with extensive stakeholder input. Certification against the EO100tm Standard promotes best practices and drives improvements in ESG performance while enabling a market for certified responsible energy with a premium price for differentiated production. To learn more, visit www.energystandards.org.

About Responsible Energy Solutions

Responsible Energy Solutions, LLC is the leading US assessor for both the Equitable Origin and MiQ standards. The RES team of experts provides consulting services that include certification gap assessment and preparation, certification assessment, emissions management strategy development and environmental due diligence across all segments of the oil and gas value chain. For more information, visit www.res-solutions.net.

SOURCE Northeast Natural Energy

30 november 2023 at 08:18

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Empatica Announces Plans for Landmark Clinical Study to Develop an AI-Based Seizure Forecast Based on Wearable Real-World Data





Empatica, a digital health and AI company developing medical-grade wearables and digital biomarkers for health monitoring and diagnostics, today announced plans to launch a first-of-its-kind study aimed at developing a seizure forecasting algorithm for people living with epilepsy, based on real-world data collected using its technology.

More than 3 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, according to numbers from the Centers for Disease Control. And around one third of people with epilepsy have refractory epilepsy which occurs when medications no longer control seizures1. Epileptic seizures are disruptive health events that can have a significant negative impact on quality of life and increase risk of injury and death for people with epilepsy. This study is designed to identify individualized periods of seizure risk for patients with epilepsy, using biomarker viability and patterns in patient lifestyle data as inputs to a forecasting algorithm.

"Seizure forecasting has long been among the most-requested features for people with epilepsy. We are excited to announce our plans to begin a large clinical study aimed at using wearable technology to enable reliable seizure forecasting," said Dr. Rosalind Picard, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist at Empatica. "Patients with epilepsy understand the toll that uncertainty around seizures takes and we hope that this study will help give them better control over their life, reducing stress and perhaps also enabling early interventions that ultimately reduce or prevent seizures from happening."

This study builds on Empatica's proven experience in monitoring neurological conditions like epilepsy. Empatica's Embrace smartwatch is the first and only FDA-cleared wearable technology for detecting possible convulsive seizures, and one of the first AI-enabled medical products cleared by the FDA. Empatica's wearables have also been previously used to successfully collect data shown to forecast seizures in a peer-reviewed study by the Mayo Clinic, King's College and University of Melbourne, funded by the Epilepsy Foundation through the Seizure Gauge initiative2. Through the upcoming study, Empatica plans to use its expertise in AI and machine learning, as well as its access to the largest real-world dataset of convulsive seizures, for the development of the seizure forecasting algorithm.

This study also furthers Empatica's work in developing AI-powered predictive algorithms. In 2021, Empatica developed an AI-based predictive algorithm which was CE-marked for medical use in the EU, focused on providing a warning when early signs of respiratory infections, including Covid-19, are detected.

Recruitment for the study will begin in early 2024. Individuals who are interested in being contacted for study participation when recruitment begins can visit empatica.com/seizure-forecasting to learn more.

About Empatica

Empatica Inc is a pioneer in continuous, unobtrusive remote health monitoring driven by AI. Empatica's platform and technology are used by thousands of institutional partners for research purposes, in studies examining stress, sleep, epilepsy, migraine, depression, addiction, and other conditions. Its flagship medical wearable, EmbracePlus, has been developed with key partners including HHS, USAMRDC, and the NASA-funded TRISH. Empatica's award-winning Embrace watch is the world's first and only FDA-cleared smart watch in neurology, for its ability to detect epileptic seizures.

__________________________

1 https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/data/index.html

2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8578354/

30 november 2023 at 08:30

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3iQ Launches Crypto Hedge Fund Platform for Global Institutional Investors, Expanding Into Active Management





The innovative platform features 9 crypto hedge fund strategies, establishing 3iQ as frontrunner in crypto hedge fund managed accounts and active digital investment strategies.

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 3iQ Digital Assets (US), subsidiary of 3iQ Corp., one of the world's leading digital asset managers, today announces a significant advancement in the digital asset management space. The company has launched the industry's first comprehensive suite of crypto hedge fund managed accounts through the 3iQ Managed Account Platform (QMAP). The platform will launch with $50 million of capital from 3iQ and institutional investors.

As the first platform of its kind, QMAP connects institutions with digital asset alpha strategies in a secure, transparent, and efficient framework. QMAP is led by Louis LaValle, a seasoned industry veteran with over 20 years' experience investing in hedge funds and structuring managed accounts for institutional investors.

Louis LaValle, head of QMAP and 3iQ's institutional investment division, says: "The shift towards active management in digital assets is evolving rapidly, and crypto hedge funds are at the forefront. We're witnessing a repeat of the growth seen by their traditional counterparts in the late '90s and early 2000s. Over the last decade, traditional hedge funds have seen a decline in alpha generation. Now, the trading talent and infrastructure in traditional finance is shifting towards crypto to capitalize on the market's maturing infrastructure and structural inefficiencies. It's a defining moment for the industry and for discerning investors to tap into unique alpha opportunities only available in digital asset markets."

QMAP stands out as the digital asset industry's first buy-side multi-manager hedge fund managed account platform. As opposed to sell-side investment marketplaces that typically offer a wider array of investment choices with due diligence left to the end-investor, QMAP adopts a proactive approach that incorporates a thorough process for sourcing, selecting, and approving investment strategies before making them accessible to investors. 3iQ has evaluated over 100 crypto hedge fund managers and has selected a subset of 9 as best-in-class for their consistent alpha generation and superior risk management.

LaValle added: "We're in search of exceptional teams that have a clear, identifiable competitive edge in the market. Our criteria are stringent. We prioritize institutional pedigree, specialized expertise, exceptional operational capabilities, performance consistency and, most importantly, integrity. After an extensive due diligence process, we selected those we consider the best in their strategy categories. These managers are leveraging their decades of traditional investment experience to innovate within the digital asset markets. Many of them have extensive track records successfully navigating through multiple crypto market cycles."

The platform offers a range of strategies, each managed by experienced crypto hedge fund professionals, including Long Biased, Long/Short, Quantitative, Relative Value, and Event Driven. The strategies available on QMAP are:

3iQ Absolute Return

3iQ All Weather

3iQ BTC 25

3iQ Digital Alpha

3iQ Digital Lending

3iQ ETH 25

25 3iQ Multi-Factor

3iQ Relative Value Arbitrage

3iQ Systematic Alpha

QMAP's managed account structure is an ideal fit for institutional allocators seeking multi-manager exposure. Managed accounts allow for direct control over assets, the ability to customize investment strategies, and enhanced transparency and risk management, positioning them as a practical alternative to traditional fund-of-funds, which often lack those features.

Key investor benefits of QMAP include:

Full operational control of assets with investment decision-making delegated to managers.

Real-time overview of investment risks and exposures with 100% position-level transparency.

Institutional-grade infrastructure that effectively minimizes counterparty and operational risk.

Pre-negotiated terms with managers with no double layer of fees to access the platform.

Options to customize investment allocation or use 3iQ model portfolios at no additional cost.

"Our objective with QMAP is to create a platform that offers attractive investment strategies while also providing the much-needed operational familiarity and trust needed in today's digital asset landscape," said LaValle. "Investors also have the flexibility to build multi-manager portfolios independently or leverage 3iQ's model portfolios for allocation oversight. This makes QMAP not just a platform, but a comprehensive solution that helps bridge the gap for institutional allocators."

For more information on QMAP, please visit: http://www.3iqcapital.com

About 3iQ Digital Assets (US)

3iQ Digital Assets (US) is subsidiary of 3iQ Corp. Founded in 2012, 3iQ is one of the world's leading digital asset investment fund managers, offering investors convenient and familiar investment products to gain exposure to digital assets. 3iQ was the first Canadian investment fund manager to offer public bitcoin investment funds: The Bitcoin Fund (TSX: QBTC) (TSX: QBTC.U) and the 3iQ Bitcoin ETF (TSX: BTCQ) (TSX: BTCQ.U), as well as public ether investment funds: The Ether Fund (TSX: QETH.UN) (TSX: QETH.U) and the 3iQ Ether Staking ETF (TSX: ETHQ) (TSX: ETHQ.U). The firm manages $592 million in assets under management (AUM) as of November 28th, 2023. To learn more about 3iQ, visit 3iq.io.

Investor Relations: [email protected]

Contacts

Ryan Graham, JConnelly

862-777-4274

[email protected]

Julie Mercuro, JConnelly

973-349-6471

[email protected]

Important Disclosure

This press release is for informational and educational purposes only. The information contained herein is NOT and should NOT be considered to be any of the following: investment advice or investment research; a solicitation, offer, or recommendation to sell or buy any specific asset, strategy, product, or program; or legal, tax, or other advice. The purchase of cryptocurrency is speculative and involves a high degree of risk and should be undertaken only by individuals whose experience allows them to evaluate the risks of such an investment, whose financial resources are sufficient to enable them to bear the economic risks of their purchase for an extended period of time, and who can afford a significant or entire loss of the value of those assets.

SOURCE 3iQ

30 november 2023 at 09:00

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Dremio Delivers GenAI-Powered Data Discovery and Unified Path to Apache Iceberg on the Data Lakehouse





At AWS re:Invent, Dremio, the easy and open data lakehouse, today announced AI-powered data discovery capabilities that accelerate and simplify data contextualization and description for analytics, along with improved capabilities that extend its leadership as the best analytics engine for Apache Iceberg.

Expanding on previously announced Generative AI text-to-SQL capabilities, Dremio is delivering new GenAI-powered data documentation and labeling to provide comprehensive business context for analytics, while reducing manual work. Dremio's GenAI capabilities make Dremio the easiest analytics platform for all data users, allowing faster and more accurate data insights.

Mark Sear, director of data at Maersk, expressed his enthusiasm for these innovative additions to Dremio, stating, "Maersk is excited to embrace the transformative capabilities of Generative AI. Our data team is leveraging this cutting-edge technology to expedite and streamline data analytics for all users. This helps us more easily and precisely understand and analyze our data, delivering faster insights."

Dremio is also extending its leadership as the best-in-class analytics engine for Apache Iceberg, delivering a unified path to Iceberg for all data. Apache Iceberg is an open table format that is endorsed by tech giants such as Netflix and Apple.

With this release, Dremio makes it simple for companies to adopt Iceberg through one-click command ingestion into Iceberg tables. Dremio can seamlessly convert raw data (in JSON, CSV, and Parquet formats) from data lakes, relational databases, data warehouses, and NoSQL databases into Apache Iceberg, both in the cloud and on premises. This allows organizations to quickly and scalably migrate from less performant and functional formats to a modern, open table format that supports data warehouse functionality on the data lake, enabling a data lakehouse.

"Dremio is the fastest and most advanced query engine for Apache Iceberg," said Tomer Shiran, founder of Dremio. "These advances make it simple for companies to effortlessly adopt Iceberg and benefit from the table format's performance, flexibility, and cost-savings while delivering data warehouse functionality on the data lake."

To see these performance improvements in action and to download Dremio Self-Managed Software or access Dremio Cloud for free, visit www.dremio.com.

About Dremio

Dremio is the easy and open data lakehouse, providing self-service analytics with data warehouse functionality and data lake flexibility across all of your data. Use Dremio's lightning-fast SQL query service and any other processing engine on the same data. Dremio increases agility with a revolutionary data-as-code approach that enables Git-like data experimentation, version control, and governance. In addition, Dremio eliminates data silos by enabling queries across data lakes, databases, and data warehouses, and by simplifying ingestion into the lakehouse. Dremio's fully managed service helps organizations get started with analytics in minutes, and automatically optimizes data for every workload. As the original creator of Apache Arrow and committed to Arrow and Iceberg's community-driven standards, Dremio is on a mission to reinvent SQL for data lakes and meet customers where they are on their lakehouse journey.

Hundreds of global enterprises like JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Regeneron, and Allianz Global Investors use Dremio to deliver self-service analytics on the data lakehouse. Founded in 2015, Dremio is headquartered in Santa Clara. CNBC recognized Dremio as a Top Startup for the Enterprise and Deloitte named Dremio to its 2022 Technology Fast 500. To learn more, follow the company on GitHub, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, or visit www.dremio.com.

30 november 2023 at 09:10

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CD&R Completes Acquisition of Veritiv Corporation





Veritiv Becomes Privately Held Company

ATLANTA, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veritiv Corporation, a leading distributor of packaging, facility solutions, and print products, today announced that an affiliate of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R) completed its acquisition of the company.

On August 7, 2023, CD&R and Veritiv announced they had entered into a definitive agreement under which each share of Veritiv common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the transaction would be acquired for $170.00 per share in cash, valuing Veritiv at approximately $2.6 billion.

"The completion of this transaction represents an important milestone in our company's journey," said Sal Abbate, Chief Executive Officer of Veritiv. "CD&R's significant investment in Veritiv is a testament to our company's strong positioning as a leading specialty distribution solutions company and to our team's hard work and commitment. We are confident that this partnership, along with the financial and operational flexibility we will now have as a private company, will enable us to continue enhancing the innovative and sustainable solutions we deliver to our customers today ? and into the future."

"After following Veritiv for several years, we are excited to be closing on our acquisition today," said Rob Volpe, Partner at CD&R. "We have great appreciation for the high quality of the Veritiv business, which has strong customer and supplier relationships, a highly engaged workforce, and differentiated operational and service capabilities. Veritiv's management team has executed a significant transformation over the last few years, creating a strong leader in the industry. We are excited to support Sal and the leadership team in accelerating organic and inorganic growth and pursuing additional value creation opportunities."

John Stegeman, Operating Advisor to CD&R funds, will serve as Chairman of Veritiv with the closing of the transaction. Mr. Stegeman is the Chief Executive Officer of White Cap. Previously, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferguson Enterprises. "We are pleased to support Veritiv's mission of delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to customers, and we are excited to contribute to Veritiv's growth as a private company," said Mr. Stegeman.

With the completion of the transaction, Veritiv's common stock has ceased trading and is no longer listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Alston & Bird LLP served as legal counsel to Veritiv.

CD&R obtained committed financing from Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, BMO Capital Markets Corp., UBS Investment Bank, BNP PARIBAS, Citizens Capital Markets, ING, Mizuho, Natixis, Rabo Securities, Regions Securities LLC, Scotiabank, Stifel, and TD Securities. Guggenheim Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities served as lead financial advisors to CD&R, and BMO Capital Markets Corp., Goldman Sachs, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and UBS Investment Bank also served as financial advisors. Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal counsel to CD&R.

About Veritiv

Veritiv Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, is a leading full-service provider of packaging, JanSan and hygiene products, services and solutions. Additionally, Veritiv provides print and publishing products. Serving customers in a wide range of industries both in North America and globally, Veritiv has distribution centers throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and team members around the world helping shape the success of its customers. For more information about Veritiv and its business segments visit www.veritiv.com.

About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with a strategy predicated on building stronger, more profitable businesses across a broad range of industries, including Industrials, Healthcare, Business Services, Consumer, Technology and Financial Services. Since its inception in 1978, CD&R has managed the investment of more than $46 billion in over 120 companies with an aggregate transaction value of more than $190 billion. For more information on CD&R, please visit www.cdr-inc.com and follow the Firm's activities through LinkedIn and @CDRBuilds on Twitter.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect Veritiv's current views with respect to certain current and future events. These forward-looking statements are, and will be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Veritiv's operations and business environment which may cause future events to be materially different from these forward-looking statements or anything implied therein. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Veritiv on the date of this release. Veritiv does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any statements expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additional information on risk factors that could affect Veritiv may be found in Veritiv's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Veritiv Corporation

30 november 2023 at 09:28

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An informal meeting of the CIS presidents will take place on 26 December, CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev told the media on Thursday 30 November, BelTA has learned.

November 30, 2023, 13:39 CIS presidents to hold informal meeting on 26 December

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 30 , ARTSAKHPRESS: St. Petersburg is set to host two important events on 25-26 December. These are the EAEU Supreme Council at the level of the presidents on 25 December, and an informal meeting of CIS presidents on 26 December, Lebedev said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited his counterparts to St. Petersburg on 26 December to communicate in an informal setting, discuss topical issues, and exchange views, the secretary general emphasized.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed hope that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan would attend the CIS meeting.

If Mr. Pashinyan travels there  and he is expected there like everyone else  then there will be a great opportunity to talk, Peskov told reporters.
New Jersey American Water Signs Agreement to Purchase Salem City Water and Sewer System





New Jersey American Water announced today it has signed an agreement to acquire the water and sewer system of the City of Salem, N.J. for $18 million. This municipally owned system serves more than 2,300 customers. The agreement follows a voter referendum that took place on November 7, 2023, which passed with over 60 percent of the voters approving the sale of the system to New Jersey American Water.

"I want to thank the elected officials, community leaders and residents of Salem for entrusting us to manage and improve their water and sewer utilities," said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. "Providing water and sewer service is all we do, and we are deeply committed to making the necessary improvements to these systems to help ensure clean, safe, reliable and affordable service for all residents."

As part of the acquisition agreement, and subject to approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU), New Jersey American Water will invest over $50 million in infrastructure improvements in the first 10 years following completion of the acquisition. These investments include a robust capital improvement plan, including critical system upgrades, implementation of PFNA treatment and repairing the City's aging water and sanitary sewer infrastructure. In addition, New Jersey American will implement a rate plan that will hold current sewer rates for two years following closing, then increase rates no more than 3 percent annually for the next three years.

"Selling the systems to New Jersey American Water allows the city's water and sewer utilities to be handled by professional experts, keeping these critical services safe and affordable for our residents," said Salem City Mayor Jody Veler. "The sale will also eliminate $11 million in utility debt and pay off a portion of the municipal debt, as well as enable us to put over $1 million back into the city budget annually. I am thankful to our residents for recognizing the importance and the value of this agreement and for voting yes to securing better water and sewer services for our city."

New Jersey American Water is working with the city to help ensure a smooth transition for customers. The company anticipates completing the acquisition in the second half of 2024, pending approval from the NJ BPU.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.

30 november 2023 at 10:05

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A Red Cross vehicle is seen outside the Ofer military prison located between Ramallah and Beitunia in the occupied West Bank on November 30, 2023. FADEL SENNA / AFP

A truce between Israel and Hamas was extended on Thursday, November 30, just before it was due to expire, the two sides announced, with mediator Qatar reporting it would continue for one day under the same conditions that saw hostages released in exchange for prisoners.

Minutes before the halt in fighting was due to expire at 7 am local time, Israel's military said the "operational pause" would be extended. "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," it said.

The prime minister's office subsequently confirmed the extension, saying it had received a new list of hostages. "A short time ago, Israel was given a list of women and children in accordance with the terms of the agreement, and therefore the truce will continue," it said, without specifying for a timeframe.

Hamas meanwhile said there was an agreement to "extend the truce for a seventh day," without further details. It had earlier said Israel initially refused to extend the truce after it offered to hand over seven hostages and the bodies of three more. Qatar, which has led the truce negotiations, confirmed the pause had been extended for a day "under the same previous conditions."

The truce agreement allows for extensions if Hamas can release another 10 hostages a day, but earlier both sides warned they were ready to return to fighting.

Hamas's armed wing told its fighters to "maintain high military readiness... in anticipation of a resumption of combat if it is not renewed," according to a message posted on its Telegram channel. And IDF spokesman Doron Spielman said troops would "move into operational mode very quickly and continue with our targets in Gaza," if the truce expired.

Attack in Jerusalem

The announcement of the extension came as three people were killed and several more wounded in Jerusalem on Thursday. Police said both attackers were from occupied east Jerusalem and were shot dead at the scene, near a bus stop on the western side of Jerusalem, where there are no checkpoints guarding the city entrance. "Two terrorists arrived in a car, one of them armed with an M-16 and the other with a pistol," and opened fire, Jerusalem police chief Doron Torgeman told reporters at the scene.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, at a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, called the attack an example of the "endless war that we are fighting against terror organizations, especially Hamas".

Overnight, 10 more Israeli hostages were freed, with another four Thai hostages and two Israeli-Russian women released outside the framework of the arrangement. A video released by Hamas showed masked gunmen handing hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israel-Hamas war: Hostages share initial accounts of their captivity

Among those freed was Liat Beinin, who also holds American citizenship, and works as a guide at Israel's Holocaust museum Yad Vashem. US President Joe Biden said he was "deeply gratified" by the release. "This deal has delivered meaningful results," he said of the truce.

Shortly after the hostages arrived in Israel, the country's prison service said 30 Palestinian prisoners had been released, including well-known activist Ahed Tamimi. Since the truce began on November 24, 70 Israeli hostages have been freed in return for 210 Palestinian prisoners. Around 30 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the terms of the deal.

Israel has made clear it sees the truce as a temporary halt intended to free hostages, but there are growing calls for a more sustained pause in fighting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded a "true humanitarian ceasefire", warning Gazans are "in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe." And China, whose top diplomat Wang Yi was in New York for Security Council talks on the violence, urged an immediate "sustained humanitarian truce", in a position paper released Thursday.

Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes The Tamimi family's long fight for the Palestinian cause
A JURY has been urged to give the Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes back his life and to take the chalice of torture from his lips and return him to the bosom of his family.

In his closing submission, Brian McInerney SC, barrister for Mr Hayes, asked the jury to consider their verdict carefully.

You all know who Kyle Hayes is. He is an inter-county hurler. He is well known. You must ignore this. He is not looking for any favours. He is a citizen on trial. He is entitled to nothing less than if you or I were on trial, said Mr McInerney.

Mr Hayes, aged 25, of Ballyoshea, Kildimo and Craig Cosgrave, aged 24, of Caherelly, Grange have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to offences which are alleged to have happened in the early hours of October 28, 2019.

Mr Cosgrave (pictured below) is charged with one count of violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre. Mr Hayes, a four-time All-Star, is charged with violent disorder in the Icon nightclub; violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street, and assault causing harm at Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city. The alleged victim is Cillian McCarthy, aged 24, of Tooreen, Ballysimon.

Addressing the jury, Mr McInerney said Mr Hayes acted in self defence inside the Icon nightclub. He said Mr Hayes was not thrown out of the Icon nightclub and that the alleged victim Mr McCarthy had his arms outstretched on the street like the statue in Buenos Aires and was angry.

He added: It is unclear whether there were 30 or 100 people on the street. There was chaos, confusion, a lack of clarity and consistency. There was a shemozzle or shemozzles. The three musketeers arrived (gardai), said Mr McInerney.

The barrister said one garda said there were two men on the ground on Upper Denmark Street while the second garda saw one body on the ground. Mr McInerney said the third garda had identified Kyle Hayes from the patrol car earlier in the evening.

The barrister said this garda then said he saw a man being kicked on the ground but did not see Mr Hayes kicking him on the ground.

Two gardai didnt know who Kyle Hayes was, maybe they are rugby fans. Was it one man being kicked? Was it two men being kicked? Thats doubt. Thats big-time doubt, said Mr McInerney.

Mr McInerney also said the injuries to the face of the alleged victim Cillian McCarthy were not consistent with a man getting an unmerciful kicking.

Seamus Roche SC, barrister for Mr Cosgrave, said his client was concerned for his and the safety of his friend (Mr McCarthy) in the Icon nightclub.

He did what any good friend would do. It was the honourable thing to do. The force applied was not unlawful - it was justified. If incidents like this were prosecuted on a regular basis the courts would be stuffed to capacity, said Mr Roche, who added that his clients charge is a preamble to what occurred outside (Upper Denmark Street).

Earlier, prosecuting barrister John OSullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, said in his closing address that it was an unfortunate case as two young men are on trial and another young man suffered injuries.

The evidence is Mr McCarthy was cowering in the foetal position while a number of men including Kyle Hayes were raining kicks, stamping and punching him. It was good he was in the foetal position or the injuries would have been worse, said Mr OSullivan.

The prosecuting barrister said Mr Hayes took on the role of a policeman in relation to the girlfriend of a friend of his.

He was marking Cillians card. What happened to the principle of minding your own business. Mr Hayes was the aggressor in Smyths bar. He adopted the role of a monitor so that she wasnt stepping out of line, said Mr OSullivan.

The barrister said the jury can see for themselves the level of violence displayed by Mr Hayes from the CCTV in the Icon nightclub.

It cannot be remotely justified by self defence, said Mr OSullivan.

With regard to the charge of violent disorder against Mr Cosgrave, Mr OSullivan said Mr Cosgrave threw punches he could not be justified in throwing.

The barrister said on Upper Denmark Street Mr McCarthy described being pursued by a mob, one of whom was Kyle Hayes.

Mr Hayes was part of a sustained, vicious and wholly unjustifiable attack on Mr McCarthy based on the evidence of Mr McCarthy and gardai. What does Mr Hayes do? He breaks free from the garda and heads off. In plain terms he ran off because he knew he was in trouble for assaulting Mr McCarthy. His actions are consistent with his guilt, said Mr OSullivan.

Judge Dermot Sheehan commenced charging the jury this Thursday afternoon.

He outlined to the jurors that a reasonable doubt is a serious matter and he urged them to leave aside any biases.

You might have sympathy for Mr McCarthy who is a carpenter. You might like carpenters or not like carpenters. You might have sympathy for Mr Cosgrave or Mr Hayes for other matters. You must leave those aside. You must deal with the evidence. You must come to a cold and cool conclusion, said Judge Sheehan, who addressed the jury in relation to unlawful violence and justified violence with regards to self defence.

Judge Sheehan also spoke to the jury about identification evidence. The judge said it was a chaotic scene.

"There were many people on the street. Mr McInerney said there was a 'shemozzle'. There were young men running and fighting on the street," said Judge Sheehan, who referred to Cian Hayes, a brother of Kyle Hayes, being in the Upper Denmark Street area.

Mr McCarthy referred to Cian Hayes as being the bulb of Kyle Hayes which means he is just like him, said Judge Sheehan.

Judge Sheehan will resume charging the jury and summarising the evidence on Friday morning at 10.30am in Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
THE SLOVENIAN ambassador was a busy bee during his visit to Limerick, as he promoted business and educational links.

The ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Ireland, H.E. Stanislav Vidovic visited Limerick on November 24 with the Slovenian honorary consul, Mr Liam Moloney, for a number of engagements.

He paid visits to Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick Chamber, as well as the University of Limerick.

At Sarsfield Barracks, he was welcomed by Lt. Col. Damian Carroll O.C who provided him with an extensive briefing on the work of the Defence Forces in the Limerick region.

Limerick Chamber CEO, Dee Ryan, briefed the Ambassador on the work of the Chamber in Limerick where it now has over 500 members and the recent publication of the Shannon Estuary Task Force Report, which sets out recommendations for the delivery of up to 30GW of Atlantic Offshore Wind through the estuary by 2050.

To conclude his trip, he had a productive meeting with UL President Kerstin Mey and the Director of UL Global, Catriona Conway, where the potential for further co-operation between the University and Slovenian Universities was discussed.

Speaking about his visit, Ambassador Vidovic stressed: "The visit to Limerick City was an exceptionally positive and fruitful experience. The opportunity to meet with Lt. Col. Damian Carroll at Sarsfield Barracks was enlightening, providing valuable insights into military leadership and cooperation."

He added: "Furthermore, the exchange with Ms. Dee Ryan, CEO of the Limerick Chamber, opened up promising avenues for economic collaboration between Slovenian companies and Limerick, highlighting the potential for mutual growth and partnership. Together with the President of the University of Limerick, Professor Kerstin Mey, we agreed to enhance academic exchange, research collaboration, and cultural sharing to further strengthen the ties between Slovenia and Ireland in the educational

sphere. Overall, the visit not only reinforced existing relationships but also paved the way for new, dynamic partnerships across various sectors."
LIMERICK schools are now able to benefit from the commencement of the first phase of the Solar for Schools Programme.

The announcement was made by the Government last week, and Limerick is one of the 11 counties to benefit from the first phase of the programme.

The first phase will help schools in Limerick to reduce their energy costs and their carbon footprint. The solar panels will also be connected to the electricity grid so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses in the community with clean energy when schools are closed at weekends and during school holidays.

Limerick Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea welcomed the news.

Its excellent news that schools across Limerick can apply for free solar panels under the Solar for Schools Programme from November 30. All schools will be contacted by the Department and invited to apply and I would encourage them all to do so  this is an excellent scheme that will provide tangible financial and climate benefits while also delivering the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of solar panels in the wider community.

Fianna Fail in Government strongly believes in helping schools to reduce their energy costs. This scheme will help schools to manage those costs in the near future while also helping them in terms of their energy independence and climate concerns in the long term, Mr ODea added.

The programme will provide eligible schools with 6 kilowatts of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

The scheme will be funded from the Governments Climate Action Fund, in line with the Governments recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Irelands social and economic development.

The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the school sector.

The solar PV panels in schools will also be connected to the electricity grid, so that the schools can generate income by powering other homes and businesses.
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Following a sellout Wolfe Tones show last year, Gaelic Sounds will return to Limerick in 2024 with a stellar lineup celebrating the best in Irish folk music and ballads in the home of Limerick GAA!

The Gaelic Grounds will play host to a stellar lineup of acts including George Murphy & Rising Sons, All Folkd Up, The Highstool Prophets, Fieldsy & Guest and headline act The Whistlin Donkeys!

This years headliner The Whistlin Donkeys return to Limerick for first time in 5 years with their unique blend of trad and celtic rock.

This Tyrone sextet have had a stellar rise from their hometown pub sessions to selling out Vicar Street and the RDS earlier this year, while managing to squeeze in back to back sold out tours of the USA and Australia.

Expect to hear hits like Bees Wing, South Australia and of course Hills of Donegal.

Joining them at the Ennis road venue is one of the most exciting voices in Irish folk music, George Murphy & The Rising Sons.

Fresh from a sold-out tour of the USA and Ireland, they will bring their perfect blend of Trad, Folk and Rock n Roll to the stage, blending whistles, fiddles and banjos with electric guitars, bass and percussion.

Music fans can will enjoy a mix of the bands original material as well as their unique and fresh stamp on old folk classics.

All Folkd Up have earned acclaim as one of the standout new wave bands on the Irish folk circuit. Their unique ability to reimagine old Irish folk and traditional songs, infusing them with a modern and up-tempo twist, has endeared them to fans.

Audiences have come to expect bouncing melodies, enticing lyrical tales, vintage Folk-Rock sounds, and jaw-dropping banjo progressions.

With their versions of This is the Life and Dream currently all over the radio and Spotify, The High Stool Prophets have been blazing a trail on the Irish folk scene with a string of sold out shows, TV appearances and new music releases and have just sold out an extensive Irish and UK tour.

High energy celtic rock artist Fieldsy is originally from Dublin but her passionate performances have resonated with audiences all over the world. Having recently moved back to Ireland after 12 years, she has been in high demand touring Ireland and the UK.

Fieldsy will take you on a journey with each song whether a well-known Wolfe Tones classic or an original track with her enchanting powerful voice and upbeat rhythmic guitar.

Tickets for Gaelic Sounds go on sale this Thursday 30th November from Ticketmaster.ie priced from 37.90.

Please email the below address with the correct answer plus your name and mobile number for your chance to win one of 5 pairs of tickets plus one super prize of a pair of tickets plus overnight stay in the Greenhills Hotel, right beside the stadium!

Question: Gaelic Sounds was headlined by which Irish band last year?

Email your answer along with your name and mobile number to competitions@limerickleader.ie with Gaelic Sounds Competition in the subject line.

*Sponsored Content
Johannes Gutenbergs printing press revolutionized life in the 15th century, making it possible for ideas to travel around the world at previously unimaginable speeds and creating huge gains for mankind. Gutenberg tried to keep his technique a secret, but a disgruntled former investor, Johann Fust, soon replicated his device. Fust launched his own press and poached Gutenbergs top techie, Peter Schoeffer.

It was lucky for the rest of us that he did. Imagine if the printing press had been kept secret and controlled by one company, or confined within one nation. Centuries of human progress might never have happened. Its an imperfect analogy, but it offers a useful way to frame the current debate around artificial intelligence.

Generative AI, which is artificial intelligence capable of producing text, images and other media, will revolutionize life in the 21st century. It will be much more disruptive than the printing press. Generative AIs ability to digest nearly the entire breadth of human knowledge by training large-language-model algorithms with hundreds of billions of parameters allows it to write, draw, reason and solve problems. These potent new tools will amplify the power of knowledge workers.

The printing press accelerated the spread of knowledge. Generative AI will accelerate the creation of knowledge. It can understand, explain and create ideas and content at speeds unfathomable by humans. Generative AI will improve productivity and generate untold economic value. It will help entrepreneurs make fortunes and, more important, transform lives. I can say from my four decades of involvement in AIfirst as an academic, then working with Microsoft and Google, and later as a venture capitalistthat generative AI will unleash the greatest technology revolution ever.

But we cant keep this power locked away for only the privileged elite. Given the massive technological paradigm shifts that are coming, it will be necessary for people from all backgrounds to understand and have access to the technology. It is crucial that no one be left out. This is why I decided to launch 01.AI, a startup building foundational large language models, which are the building blocks of generative AI. We launched our first language model, Yi-34B, with 34 billion parameters. Anyone can engage with, enhance and tailor our model and its source code, which is available on GitHub.

While the Yi-34B models manageable size makes it ideal for researchers, entrepreneurs and smaller companies, OpenAI and Google have kept their larger and better models proprietary. I am not suggesting that every model should be open. But I hope every technology company will embrace and contribute to the open-source community, even as they maintain their business and profit goals.

A technology giant could open-source a smaller model while keeping larger models proprietary. This is 01.AIs intention. This openness will make models accessible to researchers, educators, students, entrepreneurs, hobbyists and nonprofits. This inclusiveness is critical, because many communities cant afford to use the more expensive proprietary models. Embracing openness democratizes generative AI.

Thwarting the spread of generative AI by keeping it proprietary leaves some groups marginalized as successful companies put their tools in black boxes. The best generative AI models were mostly trained on American and English data. While they are functionally multilingual, they perform poorly when using languages that are less prominent on the internet. Users from smaller or poorer nations are provided a much inferior experience. They dont have the resources to generate and collect giant repositories of data in their languages or the technological know-how to develop high-quality native language models. The generative AI revolution is leaving them behind.

Theres also an American bias in the dominant proprietary models. Because of how they were trained, these models reflect the culture and values of the U.S., which may not suit other places. What one country sees as the norm may be offensive or even illegal in another. There are huge differences between the U.S. and Europe, never mind between the West and the rest of the world. A universal model cant possibly fit every countrys needs. Each country should have a high-quality model that is tailored to its culture, values, religion and language.

Some in the media have described 01.AI as Chinas answer to OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT. We see ourselves as the more open" answer to OpenAI. In our view, the key competition isnt China vs. the U.S. Rather, its open vs. closed systems. Even with only modest resources, we are determined to develop high-quality models for more languages to make this technology accessible to more people globally. We dont want AI to leave anyone behind.

As a technology optimist, I firmly believe that artificial intelligence will advance the human race, amplifying our humanity rather than replacing it. But that can be accomplished only if we remain committed to the virtue of openness.

Mr. Lee is CEO of 01.AI and chairman of Sinovation Ventures.
In a recent tweet, CEO Sam Altman took a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about the final moments leading up to the launch of ChatGPT exactly one year ago. The tweet suggests that the team was likely putting the finishing touches on the innovative language model late into the night before its much-anticipated debut.

Altman expressed amazement at the incredible journey that has unfolded since that pivotal moment, highlighting the eventful and transformative year ChatGPT has experienced. From its initial launch to the present day, ChatGPT has become a noteworthy player in the realm of language models. Its impact has been felt across various industries, showcasing the power and potential of advanced language technology. As ChatGPT celebrates its first birthday, the tweet hints at the excitement and challenges faced by the team during this period. A year ago tonight we were probably just sitting around the office putting the finishing touches on chatgpt before the next mornings launch. What a year its been," said OpenAI CEO in his tweet.

Here are top ChatGPT innovations that helped us get our tasks simpler this year:

Text-to-image generation model

OpenAI has unveiled DALLE 3, its latest text-to-image generation model, integrated with ChatGPT. This collaboration allows users to create vivid images by crafting nuanced prompts. DALLE 3 boasts improved accuracy, addressing the challenge of prompt engineering in existing systems. The model guarantees significant enhancements over its predecessor, DALLE 2, even with identical text prompts. Importantly, users retain the freedom to reproduce, sell, or merchandise images without seeking OpenAI's permission, aligning with the user-friendly approach established by DALLE 2.

Can ChatGPT be a therapist?

Lilian Weng's emotional satisfaction expressed with ChatGPT sparked controversy, as critics raised concerns about trivializing mental well-being. Amid a growing market of AI apps for mental health support, activist Cher Scarlett emphasized the unique depth of human therapeutic sessions. Research from MIT and Arizona State University revealed that individuals' perceptions significantly influence their experience with mental health AI tools. Those primed to believe in a compassionate chatbot perceived it as more trustworthy, highlighting the nuanced nature of human-AI interactions.

New tools for enterprises

OpenAI released a significant update to ChatGPT Plus, enhancing the user experience with features previously exclusive to the Enterprise plan. Users can now upload various file formats like PDFs, enabling ChatGPT to analyze and extract information. Additionally, automatic tool switching has been introduced, eliminating the need for manual transitions between tools like Browsing and Code Interpreter. These updates aim to streamline interactions and improve accessibility for ChatGPT Plus subscribers.

Create own ChatGPT versions with no codes

OpenAI now allows users to create custom versions of ChatGPT called GPTs for specific purposes, such as learning board game rules, teaching math to kids, or designing stickers. These tailored models can be shared publicly, fostering a collaborative and diverse ecosystem. OpenAI plans to launch a GPT store, enabling verified developers to monetize their custom GPT offerings, enhancing the tool's versatility and accessibility.

ChatGPT gets sound features

OpenAI has made the ChatGPT voice feature available to all free users after initially launching it for paid users in September. Users can now experience a new dimension in ChatGPT interactions by selecting from five different voices created by professional actors. Former OpenAI President Greg Brockman noted that the ChatGPT Voice feature "totally changes the ChatGPT experience." The technology utilizes the Whisper speech recognition system for transcribing spoken words into text.

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MIRAI JMAC, a leading advisory and consulting firm, announced the creation of MIRAI Capital Global with an initial corpus of USD 1.5 Billion in a strategic partnership with the UAE Royal Family Office (RFO) of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi. This marks a significant milestone for MIRAI JMAC in its journey to establish itself as a trusted advisor to several diversified Business Houses and Large Family Offices (LFOs) across the Middle East, Japan, India, South Asia, and US regions.



I intend to build the biggest global partnership & investment vehicle for the world and enhance the visibility of my diversified portfolio via MIRAI Capital Global," said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi. I am committed to inspiring positive change and making a lasting impact on future generations through our innovative honeycomb approach. Join us as we bring together tomorrow's leaders to work towards a better world."



We aim to leverage the unique strengths and resources of both the RFO and entrepreneurial innovation to create a more interconnected and inclusive world with MIRAI Capital Global," said Dunston Pereira, Group CEO of The Private Office of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi. We are committed to fostering an environment that nurtures and amplifies the ambitions of entrepreneurs, while upholding the values of tradition, integrity, and responsibility that are synonymous with the Royal Family."



Under the leadership of Mr. Pranav Jyoti, Chief Investment Officer for The Private Office of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al-Qassimi, and also the regional Managing Director of the multifamily office advisory and royal office execution partner, MIRAI JMAC has advised over 100+ family offices in South East Asia and India, building business legacy and managing assets worth over USD 20 Billion since 2015. The firm is also one of the largest regional multi-family office and growth advisory firm, with strong clientele in over 10 cities in South East Asia, US, and Japan.



Our goal at MIRAI JMAC to connect large family offices with strategic investment opportunities and MIRAI Capital Global is a culmination of that mission," said Pranav Jyoti, Co-founder and Managing Director of MIRAI Capital Global. Since 2018, UAE's family offices surged by 248%, exceeding 2,000 today. MIRAI JMAC facilitated their establishment in the UAE, aiding their core business expansion and partnerships with RFO. It is anticipated that these Offices may contribute 30% (USD 100 Billion) to start-up funding by 2025. At MIRAI Capital, we aim to harness this smart capital, becoming the top choice for entrepreneurs and fund managers seeking global expansion. We go beyond investing, embodying a team of builders, partnering with entrepreneurs to leverage MIRAI JMAC's vast network of CEOs and globally successful entrepreneurs ensuring impactful legacy creation and succession across various global regions."



MIRAI Capital Global is co-founded by Pranav Jyoti and Puneet Pandit, a veteran tech executive and entrepreneur from Silicon Valley. Puneet will be Group CEO of MIRAI Capital Global and build a team of regional Managing Partners. The firm will be headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and will have a multi-feeder fund structure spanning UAE, India, Japan, and South Asia. MIRAI Capital Global aims to bridge the Far East with the West, leveraging UAE as the fulcrum and using India and South East Asia as a consumption market.



MIRAI Capital Global investment focuses on Fund-of-Funds" on Venture Capital and Private Equity entities that are eager to participate in the high growth markets of India and UAE and will lead investments in selective start-ups and additionally align project-based financing with venture debt opportunities in UAE & India. Specific industry focus will include AI & High Tech, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Real Estate & Infrastructure. The partnership with RFO will be pivotal in identifying opportunities aligned with our shared vision for sustainable growth and positive global impact on the UAE.



MIRAI Capital Global is going to be a game changer with its multi-tiered feeder approach and strategic focus on connecting the booming economies of India and UAE with ground breaking innovations from the West," said Puneet Pandit, Co-founder and Group CEO of MIRAI Capital Global. We are betting big on Family Offices and serial entrepreneurs who are likely to impact the world via technology and AI-led innovation in the Silicon Valley along with the infrastructure and high consumption markets like India, Middle East and South East Asia. Our investment strategy will be defined by a data-driven approach, specialized sourcing capabilities, and an uncompromising commitment to meaningful collaboration with entrepreneurs."



The following leaders will also assume specific roles as part of the MIRAI Capital Global team:



Vinoth Beemjee: With 15 years of experience in Real Estate and Infrastructure Investment, Vinoth is a highly skilled Senior Partner and Regional APAC Lead. His expertise in Strategy, Private Equity, and Venture Capital markets make him a valuable asset in identifying and pursuing investment opportunities. Vinoth's transformative leadership with EMBA from IIM Lucknow and NICMAR have enabled him to successfully turn around businesses. His sharp insights and visionary approach drive impactful collaborations, giving his team a competitive advantage in Private Equity and Real Estate Investment.



Dhilip Purushothaman: With 25 years of experience in Finance, Marketing, and Business Transformation, Dhilip is a highly accomplished leader serving as Managing Partner and Regional MEA Lead. He has worked across multiple sectors including banking, fintech, payments, and start-ups in the US, India, and the UAE. His impressive roles includes esteemed organizations such as BoA, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas, Emirates NBD, Discover Financial, and Amazon Pay. With MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Dhilip's diverse expertise and extensive experience make him a highly influential leader.



Kiran Murthi: With 25 years of experience, Kiran is a highly skilled CEO serving as Managing Partner, Strategy & Operations. His core strengths lie in catalysing digital growth across industries such as B2B payment, E-commerce, media etc. He holds degrees from IIT Madras and IIM Bangalore. Kiran's specialty lies in empowering companies during their growth phases and developing effective online sales strategies. As a trusted advisor, Kiran continues to play a crucial role in shaping India's digital economy and guiding businesses towards global expansion.



MIRAI Capital Global garnered the trust of more than 100 Fortune Cos 500 CXOs and successful entrepreneurs who have personally invested through their family offices and dedicated valuable time to help build a global ecosystem of growth partnerships. This is made possible by leveraging the MIRAI JMACs execution capability and MIRAI Capital's unique honeycomb approach.



MIRAI Capital Global, via RFO, has built a strong pipeline of strategic opportunities that will ultimately build a bridge for the IndiaUAEUS corridor in 2024-25.



For more information on MIRAI Capital Global, visit www.miraicapital.global

Media Contact Details

Vinoth Beemjee, MIRAI Capital Global, Vinoth@miraicapital.global, +91-9599066829

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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Former police prosecutor Mario Didulica was jailed in June after a jury found him guilty on two counts of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 16. Picture: Supplied

A former police prosecutor jailed over the sexual abuse of a teenage girl he was in a secret relationship with has lost his bid to overturn the conviction.

Mario Simon Didulica, 52, sought leave to appeal the jurys verdict after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16 at trial.

But in the Court of Appeal on Thursday, a panel of three judges refused his attempt to appeal the conviction.

Didulica was jailed for three years in June in the Victorian County Court after he was extradited from Bosnia in 2019.

He had moved to Croatia after the relationship came to light  as a dual-citizen he could not be extradited  but was arrested after crossing the border into Bosnia.

The County Court was told Didulica was a serving police officer when he met the girl more than a decade ago, quickly developing an inappropriate infatuation with her.

Before the girls parents became suspicious and alerted authorities, the pair exchanged more than 30,000 text messages in a five-month period across the multiple phones and SIM cards he provided to hide their relationship.

Mario Didulica was jailed for three years. Picture: Supplied.

At the time Didulica gave the young girl a passport application and promised to whisk her away to France where it was legal for you to be together.

The court was told some of his colleagues were aware he was having an extramarital affair and he had shown them a picture of the girl.

He had claimed she was older than she was and he was waiting for her to turn 18.

In a victim impact statement, the girl said she had been forced to live with the shame of being called a homewrecker in her community.

I was slandered and bullied everywhere I went, she said.

My innocence was taken from me; I was forced to grow up a lot earlier than I needed to and was exposed to things that no young teenager should be exposed to.

In the appeal, Didulica argued that the jurys verdict on both charges was unreasonable and should be quashed, and Judge Liz Gaynor had made a mistake by refusing to permanently stay one charge.

Story continues

Carrying out our own independent assessment of the evidence, we consider that it was well open to the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the applicants guilt, Justices Phillip Priest, Lesley Taylor and Robert Osborn wrote.

The court is of the view this application for leave to appeal against conviction should be refused.

Didulica will be eligible for parole in April next year.
Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger has explained why his company has stopped advertising on Elon Musk 's social media giant X (formerly Twitter ). Iger said that Musk's stance in agreeing with an anti-Semitic post meant that Disney's association with X wasn't a positive one for the company.

Also Read: Elon Musk criticises advertisers amidst anti-semitic post row, says go f**k yourself

Speaking at the New York Times Dealbook Summit, Iger began by praising Musk for his accomplishments and his "larger than life" persona: I have a lot of respect for Elon and what he has accomplished. We know that Elon is larger than life in many respects, and that his name is very much connected to the companies he founded or owns."

Explaining the decision behind stopping advertisements on X, Iger noted, "By him taking the position that he took in quite a public manner, we just felt that the association with that position and Elon Musk and X was not necessarily a positive one for us, and we decided we would pull our advertising."

Earlier this month, Musk agreed with a post claiming that Jewish people have a "dialectical hatred" of white people. The content of the tweet is believed to be widely used by white supremacist conspiracy theorists. The list of companies that have since stopped advertising on X has grown to include big names such as Disney, IBM, Apple, Comcast, IBM, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount and Warner Bros.

The New York Times, citing internal documents, had noted in an earlier report that X stands to lose advertising from around 200 companies, including units of Airbnb, Amazon, Coca-Cola and Microsoft, among others. The report noted that X could lose around $75 million in advertising revenue by the end of the year as a result of the recent controversy.

Musk responds to Iger's comments on pulling ads from X:

Speaking specifically about the impact of an advertising boycott, Musk said at the same summit, What its going to do is its going to kill the company, and the whole world will know the advertisers killed the company,"

Meanwhile, taking a dig at Bob Iger's comments at the New York Times Summit, Musk said, "If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? blackmail me with money? Go f**k yourself. Hey Bob, if you are in the audience that's how I feel. Don't advertise.

The billionaire also expressed regret over the controversial post nad noted that he had essentially handed a loaded gun to his haters. He said, I should in retrospect not have replied to that one person and should have written in greater length what i meant. But those clarifications were ignored by the media and essentially I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me and arguably to those who are antisemitic. And for that Im quite sorry, that was not my intention."

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MUMBAI : The Shriram Group will need to shift its focus from its mainstay lending business to insurance amid tighter regulation and rising competition from banks, said R. Thyagarajan, who founded the financial conglomerate as a chit fund nearly half a century ago.

Thyagarajans prognosis isnt uniformly shared across the group, though. While Umesh Revankar, vice-chairman of Shriram Finance, said lending and insurance businesses will have to co-exist, S. Natarajan, a member of the Shriram Ownership Trust (SOT) said the groups views may be different from that of the founder.

While group flagship Shriram Finance had a loan book of 2.02 trillion at the end of the second quarter, its two insurance businesses had combined assets under management of only 21,756 crore.

View Full Image Pranay Bhardwaj/Mint

(If) Im looking at a 10-year scenario, diversification into other financial services (is imperative). In the next 10 years, more bank funding will come into the commercial vehicle (CV) financing segment and NBFCs CV business will come down. Banks will provide 80% of the credit requirement of the industry, and NBFCs will be down to 20%. In the next 15 years, it will further come down to 5%. We should focus on diversified enterprises as they will become important for us," Thyagarajan, 86, said in an interview.

For long, Indias non-bank lenders thrived under light-touch regulation, offering cheaper loans thanks to their lower costs. As many of them turned systemically important, the rules governing them tightened as well. After the collapse of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd (IL&FS) in 2018, the Reserve Bank of India directed NBFCs to set aside higher capital, shrinking their regulatory gap with full-fledged banks. In September 2022, it named 16 NBFCs including Shriram Finance as upper layer NBFCs (NBFC-UL), which must adhere to more stringent regulation.

Non-bank lenders including Shriram are now looking at ways to scale up operations, either by graduating to becoming a top-layer NBFC or trying their luck at becoming a universal bank.

Financial resources of the banking industry are massive and non-banks, minuscule. Therefore, non-banks have been operating in segments where banks were not active. As and when banks move into this space, non-banks have to restrict their operations. As more funds from banks move into CV financing , non-banks will have to play a smaller role," Thyagarajan said.

Financing small businesses and individuals comes with risks, but regulators view bad loans with disdain, and the current regulatory environment does not encourage entrepreneurship, Thyagarajan said. Lending businesses should be run with a social purpose, argued Thyagarajan, known for austere living and lending to some of the most unbanked sections of the population.

Credit is needed for creating enterprises. It is also needed for their survival during the startup stages. In their absence, the mortality rate of enterprises will be high. If the credit provider is focussing on profits, mortality rate will go up and the growth of the economy will be impacted," Thyagarajan said.

The founder, who currently does not hold any formal role in the group, said he stated his views on a group roadmap ina meeting of the Shriram Ownership Trust, where he is a permanent invitee. The employees trust owns 2.09% of Shriram Finance, while Shriram Capital owns 17.89%. The trust was formed in 2006 when Thyagarajan gave all his shareholdings in Shriram companies to employees. Shriram Finance has no individual promoter with any sizeable stake.

Lending is currently the pillar of the Shriram group, led by group flagship Shriram Finance. The company was formed last year by the three-way merger of Shriram Capital, Shriram Transport Finance Co. and Shriram City Union Finance. Of these, Shriram Capital was the holding company, Shriram Transport used to finance trucks and Shriram City Union lent for housing, consumer goods and motorcycles. Shriram Finance is currently Indias second largest NBFC, clocking a net profit of 1,751 crore in the second quarter.

However, according to Thyagarajan, the groups future is elsewhere.

Life insurance is a security-providing instrument, and not the best of saving instruments. Non-affluent households need life insurance badly. When it is marketed as an ideal saving instrument as it has been done all these years, it loses its usefulness as either. As the focus is on sales volumes, major premiums come from the rich and the poor settle for very poor security," he said.

Shriram Life Insurance, with assets under management (AUM) of 10,146 crore, clocked a profit of 70.1 crore in the first half of the current financial year, while Shriram General Insurance with assets of 11,610 crore reported a net profit of 217 crore. Shriram General Insurance was established in 2012 as a joint venture between Shriram Capital and South Africas Sanlam Ltd. KKR & Co. bought a 9.9% stake at the operating level last year.

However, Umesh Revankar, vice-chairman of Shriram Finance, has a slightly different view of the groups future. While agreeing that Shrirams focus will be on insurance which is expected to grow much faster than lending, Revankar believes the two businesses will have to co-exist."

Insurance penetration in India is very low. Scope and opportunity for insurance to grow is much higher over the next 20 years. NBFC business will grow at just about a double-digit level. But for growing the insurance business, you need a lending business, because it gives you the customer base and physical network," said Revankar.

The insurance business is best led by a bank or an NBFC, said Suresh Ganapathy, managing director, Macquarie Capital. Insurance has a longer gestation period than NBFCs. Initially, it guzzles a lot of capital and also require distribution. RBI is making regulations tougher for NBFCs while IRDAI has relaxed guidelines on insurance. NBFCs in the upper layer will have to convert into a bank after crossing a threshold size," said Ganapathy.

Revankar admitted that a larger portion of the groups wealth creation will come from insurance. Currently, the estimated value of Shriram Groups insurance companies stands at around 24,000 crore, compared to Shriram Finances market value of 72,000 crore. Over the next five years, we expect the market cap of insurance companies to grow much faster than that of the NBFC due to higher growth and profitability in Insurance; not only that, we would be able serve and contribute to the community more meaningfully," he said.

Another member of the Trust, S. Natarajan disagreed with Thyagarajans view.

Thyagarajans views need not be the view of the group. He has the liberty to express his views and the company has the liberty not to accept it. What is feasible only can be accepted," said Natarajan. We have to grow lending and insurance business at the same time. All insurance companies need a captive customer base. That ways, expenses can be controlled," he added.

Separately, Thyagarajan confirmed that Shriram is looking to exit the real estate business by selling its remaining stake in Shriram Properties to current chief executive M. Murali over the next few months.

Shriram Group holds 27.78% in Shriram Properties, a residential real estate development company focused on the mid-market and affordable housing categories. Shriram group Executive Welfare Trust has a 0.14% stake in the company, while Murali owns a 0.08%.

Real estate business is a risky business. We realized we could not be in that business. However, we let Murali continue with the Shriram name for some more time after taking over the business," Thyagarajan said.

With the real estate being hived off and the lending business consolidated, the group looks fit to apply for a banking licence, but Thyagarajan did not seem enthused about it. A proposed merger between the Shriram group and IDFC failed to go through about five years ago, due to differences over valuation.

Revankar believes that getting a banking licence will depend on the regulator.

Banks are moving away from taking risks and hence reaching the last mile. The RBI and the government understand the need for NBFCs in India. Banks will need to partner with NBFCs through a co-lending model, so that their resources are continuous," Revankar added.
Forbes has released its 17th annual list of philanthropists who donated generously and showed commitment to causes of their choice over the past year. The unranked list showcases names from the Asia-Pacific region.

The Forbes Asia list acknowledges individuals who donate from personal funds, showcasing their commitment to various causes, and three Indians  DLF's KP Singh, Infosys' Nandan Nilekani, and Zerodha's Nikhil Kamat have made the list this year.

Here's a look at the three Indian names that grace the list:

KP Singh: The chairman emeritus of DLF, made headlines after selling his remaining direct stake in the Delhi-based property developer, raising $89 million. The proceeds will fund philanthropic causes, supporting the KP Singh Foundation established in 2020, as per Forbes.

At 92, Singh, with an estimated fortune of $14 billion, has been a driving force behind DLF's success and the transformation of Gurgaon into a technological hub, it added.

Nandan Nilekani: The co-founder and chairman of Infosys, recently donated $38 million to IIT Bombay, marking his 50-year association with the institution. His philanthropic contributions, totaling 400 crore to the institute since 1999, include support for educational initiatives like EkStep Foundation and AI4Bharat, as per Forbes.

With an estimated net worth of $2.9 billion, Nilekani continues to champion educational causes close to his heart, it added. Nilekani and his wife, Rohini, signed the Giving Pledge in 2017.

Nikhil Kamath: The co-founder and chief financial officer of Zerodha joined the Giving Pledge in June. He is the fourth signatory from India. The others are Nandan Nilekani and Rohini Nilekani (2017), Wipro's Azim Premji (2013), and Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (2016).

Kamath has pledged to address climate change, energy, education, and health inequalities, as per Forbes. At 37, Kamath, who is India's youngest billionaire, is a newcomer to this list.

With an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, he has been actively engaging in philanthropy through his YouTube podcast series, "WTF is," donating up to $120,000 to charities selected by his audience. He aims to increase this contribution to 4 crore while striving to create a more equitable society.

Other recognised philanthropists

Others on the list include Keyence's Takemitsu Takizaki (Japan), who donated $2.6 billion to his foundation; Fortescue Metals Group's Andrew Forrest and wife Nicola Forrest who gave $3.3 billion to their Minderoo Foundation; Midea Group founder He Xiangjian ho pledged $410 million for scientific research in China; and Hong Kong's Li Ka-Shing who donated $7.7 million towards AI in medical training and research.

Billionaire Low Tuck Kwong gave $73 million to Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy through his foundation (Indonesia); New World Development's Adrian Cheng has set up a foundation supporting children's mental health (Hong Kong); and James Packer who has donated to the University of New South Wales towards mental health research (Australia).

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The exit polls results for all the five states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram were declared by several media outlets on Thursday. Most of the exit polls put the BJP ahead in Madhya Pradesh and gave it an edge in Rajasthan while giving an advantage to the Congress in Telangana and Chhattisgarh. India Today-Axis My India, Today's Chanakya and India TV-CNX predicted a big victory for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. While most pollsters predicted an edge for the BJP in Rajasthan, three exit polls in their upper limit forecast a Congress win in the state. The exit polls have also indicated a possibility of a hung Assembly in Mizoram with Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) locked in a close race with the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF). The Congress and the BJP were shown lagging behind in the state. Also Read | Assembly Elections Exit Poll Results 2023 LIVE: KCR may lose Telangana, BJP dominating in Rajasthan, MP Several leaders have since reacted to the exit poll predictions. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said he has always said that BJP is going to get a clear majority in the state. "I have always said that there is no competition in Madhya Pradesh and BJP is going to get a clear majority. The love and guidance of PM Modi, the strategies of Amit Shah, the leadership of JP Nadda, the efforts of our workers and the schemes of our government made it clear that BJP is getting a majority in the state...," Chouhan told ANI after the exit poll predictions were out. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot rejected exit poll predictions in the state and said the Congress is going to form the government in the state. He further said BJP is not winning in any of the five states where results are going to be declared on December 3. Also Read | India Today-Axis My India exit poll: Here is what it predicts for five states

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said Congress was on course to secure a 'huge majority' in the state, adding that while most pollsters are predicting the Congress tally at 57, the number will swell to 75 by the time the results are declared on December 3, the counting day.

"Are the numbers consistent in the seven exit polls? After two days, the numbers quoted in these exit-poll projections will stabilise and settle. Regardless of the exit-poll projections, we are confident of forming the government in Chhattisgarh with a handsome majority," ANI quoted Baghel as saying after the exit-poll predictions were out.

"What is 57 now will be 75 in the days leading up to counting day," Baghel added.

On the hand, BJP leaders rejected the exit-poll projections in Chhattisgarh. BJP leader Santosh Pandey said "Rest assured that the BJP will form the government with an absolute majority in the state. The counting of votes on December 3 will put all speculations at rest," reported ANI.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader, TS Singh Deo, put the Congress's tally at about 60 seats. "We are happy to note that the exit polls have given a clear edge to the Congress in Chhattisgarh. I believe that we will get about 60 seats. The decision on who will be chief minister will be taken by the Congress high command. We will accept whatever the high command decides," ANI quoted Singh Deo as saying.

Reacting to the exit poll predictions Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR Rao says, This is an illogical exit poll. People are still voting... It is ridiculous of the Election Commission of India also basically to allow for exit polls at 5:30 when people are queuing up to vote till 9pm. I think it's very ludicrous... I've come here because I wanted to tell my party cadre that don't believe this nonsense..."
As many exit polls predicted Conrgess' defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, many social media users targeted the party and Rahul Gandhi.

"Congress is getting wiped out of 5 states. Both the movies flopped," wrote one user on X.

Many social media users rejected the exit polls calling them rumours misleading the public ahead of the final vote counting on December 3.

The voting in these 5 states were held between November 7 and November 30. The results for the five assembly elections will be declared on Sunday, December 3. There have been several instances where exit poll results ended up being completely different from the actual result. One of the main reasons behind exit polls going wrong is that people often name a candidate other than the one they actually voted for.

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Madhya Pradesh Exit Poll Results 2023 Updates: After more than a decade of BJP's rule in the state, a larger population of the state is voicing an anti-incumbent government in Madhya Pradesh. However, the result of the state assembly elections is yet to be announced and exit polls are indicating a neck-to-neck competition between the two parties.

Assembly Elections Exit Polls LIVE Updates

The Congress is seeking to punish the saffron party for staging the collapse of the Kamal Nath government in 2020. The state witnessed a 76.22% of voter turnout. The voting for all 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh was held on 17 November. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Also Read: Mizoram Exit Polls 2023 Live News Updates: ZPM may win 15-25 seats, MNF lags

Madhya Pradesh Exit Poll 2023 Updates: Today's Chanakya projects BJP's victory

According to Chanakya today, Bhartiya Janata Party will win around 151 seats in Madhya Pradesh. The saffron party is likely to emerge as the clear winner in the state, according to the exit poll result. Congress would be able to secure around 74 seats, and other parties would be able to win around 5 seats, according to Chanakya's exit poll prediction.

Madhya Pradesh Exit Poll 2023 Updates: Jan Ki Baat projections

According to the projections announced by Jan Ki Baat, Congress will win around 102-125 seats in MP. However, BJP is not behind the grand-old party as it is expected to secure 100-123 seats in the state. According to Polstrat, Congress is predicted to win around 116 seats and BJP is expected to win around 111 seats.

Madhya Pradesh Exit Poll: Republic predicts 118-130 for BJP, 97-107 for Congress

According to Republic's predictions for Madhya Pradesh, there will be a close fight between the BJP and Congress in the state. The exit poll prediction of the Republic says that the BJP will secure around 118-130 seats. Whereas, the Congress will win around 97-107 seats. A maximum of two seats are expected to be secured by other parties (including independent candidates).

Also Read: Rajasthan Exit Polls 2023 LIVE Updates: Projections hold key for both Congress, BJP

Before checking the exit poll results of different organisations, it must be remembered that these results are just predictions based on the responses of voters. These predictions can go wrong as well.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Exit Polls 2023 LIVE News Updates: Congress may win 40-50 seats, BJP lags behind

One of the main reasons behind the inaccuracy of these exit polls could be wrong inputs from voters. At times, voters could mention a candidate whom they not even have voted for during the elections. Moreover, they can give different answers to different agencies. It is also possible that a person could name a candidate without even voting at all.

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The November meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (Opec+) was meant to be a staid affair. Instead, the summit was first pushed back from the 26th and then moved online, revealing a fracas between the cartels big producers and its minnows. After acquiescing to lower output quotas at their previous meeting in June, Opec+s west African members were unhappy to learn that Russia and Saudi Arabia, the blocs de facto leaders, wanted to further curtail output. One oil minister, Diamantino Azevedo of Angola, planned to boycott the in-person meeting altogether.

On November 30th OPEC+ is at last due to meet online. Members are reported to be preparing modest additional cuts into 2024. This would represent the extension of a strategy in place since last October, under which they try to resist downward pressure on prices by restricting supply. Saudi Arabia and Russia are leading the way, with cuts of 1m barrels a day (b/d) and 300,000 b/d respectively; the rest of Opec+ is together contributing another 3.7m b/d in cuts. Yet the price of the Brent crude benchmark is down by nearly a fifth since the strategy was introducedit currently sits at $82 a barreland has fallen for the past five weeks.

The back-and-forth over Opec+s November pow-wow exposes the difficulties that now face the cartel. Recent oil-price drops reflect both expectations of slowing global demand, influenced by concerns over Chinas economy, and the fact that geopolitical risk has fallen: few now expect the war in Gaza to turn into a broader regional conflict. At the same time, other producers, including America, Brazil and Guyana, have increased output, making up for Opec+s cuts (see chart).

View Full Image (The Economist)

Yet the price falls also reflect the fact that Opec+ is struggling to hold the line. The cartel welcomed an additional ten countries when it gained the plus sign in 2016, and plans to recruit still more. A larger organisation has no choice but to straddle divergent interests, as is now clear. The Angolan minister who planned to boycott the in-person get-together also walked out of another meeting in June alongside his counterpart from Gabon. The two ministers were apparently protesting against quota reductions. Along with others, they worry that output cuts will hurt investment in exploration.

At least Angola does not exceed its targets. Not all countries are so well-behaved. Iraq, for example, is producing 180,000 b/d more than its limit. Iran and Venezuela are not subject to the groups production caps because of sanctions. Mexico refuses to accept quotas. Despite being members of Opec+, all have been selling more oil of late, eagerly hoovering up the market share forfeited by Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The last time the group faced a similar state of affairsdecelerating demand, new entrants and co-ordination problemsin 2014, officials chose a different strategy, as Alberto Behar of the IMF and Robert Ritz of Cambridge University have written. Back then members increased supply in an attempt to drive down the oil price. The aim, as announced at Opecs meeting in November nine years ago, was to grab market share (and in so doing drive out American competitors). This had the advantage of stimulating demand and not requiring discipline among Opecs members: they were able to produce oil to their hearts content.

Such an approach is no longer feasible. Opecs market-share strategy last time round helped discipline Americas oil producers, pushing them to become more efficient and therefore more resistant to future squeezes. JPMorgan Chase, a bank, reckons that the cost of getting oil out of the American ground has declined by more than one-third since 2014. The countrys oilmen have found methods to fracture rocks that produce more fissures, easing the extraction of oil, and now drill deeper wells that have longer lifespans.

Saudi Arabia would very much like Opec+s current strategy to succeed. Its free-spending government has pushed up the price at which the countrys budget balances to $85 a barrel, according to the IMFand that number is higher when outlays from its sovereign wealth fund are included. Russia, meanwhile, needs oil revenues to fund its war in Ukraine. Delaying the meeting to November 30th did not help either country. Doing so wiped another 5% from the price of Brent crude.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Charlie Munger was Robin to Warren Buffetts Batman, a business equivalent of the Edge rocking with the Bono of investing.

Munger, who died Tuesday at age 99, played one of the toughest roles in the corporate (or any) world: No. 2.

Succeeding as second in command takes a rare blend of confidence and humility, say people whove done it. The consummate right-hand person must be devoted to organizational success while accepting that someone elses star will always shine brighter.

At a time when many American workers are reconsidering whether the race to the top is worth running at all, Mungers apparent satisfaction with being the ultimate sidekick could be a model.

It helped that Warren and Charlie, as the duo was known, shared a personal friendship. And being a wingman is presumably more fun when youre a billionaire, as Munger was. Most important, say those who knew him: Munger knew he was respected and appreciated.

Buffett made sure of it.

Harry Kraemer, former chief executive of the healthcare company Baxter International, recalls a conversation with Buffett at a CEO gathering around the year 2000: I said, Boy, youve got an amazing track record. And he goes, It isnt just me. Never mention my name without Charlies."

In a recent annual letter, Buffett wrote: I never have a phone call with Charlie without learning something."

There arent many pairs like Buffett and Munger. An analog might be the late Canadian telecom mogul Ted Rogers and his longtime lieutenant, Phil Lind, who died in August at age 80. Robert Brehl, who co-wrote Linds 2018 memoir, Right Hand Man," says loyalty is essential to a relationship like Rogers-Lind or Buffett-Munger.

Having complementary strengths and interests helps ward off resentment, Brehl adds.

You have to have the yin and yang," he says. Ted wouldnt have been as effective without Phil, and the same thing with Warren and Charlie."

Before meeting Buffett, Munger was already a professional success. He served in World War II, went to Harvard Law School and co-founded a law firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson, where his name was first on the door.

Even though his results as an investor were strong, over time, he realized he could be more successfuland happierin a partnership. Understanding his own shortcomings contributed to his willingness to become Buffetts running mate, he has said. He rejected Buffetts initial overtures before agreeing to come aboard.

It took me a long time to wise up that [Buffett] had a better way of making a living than I did," Munger told CNBC in 2021. But he finally convinced me that I was wasting my time."

Not that it was easy to set aside his ego to take the No. 2 role and play to what his No. 1 needed. Buffett was Berkshire Hathaways public face and larger-than-life persona. Munger seemed to relish his freedom from talking to reporters and investors. In the background, he could be sharper, more direct and funnier.

The durability of the Buffett-and-Munger duo act stemmed, in part, from a shared intellectual curiosity, a measure of humilityfor billionaires, anywayand willingness to learn from their mistakes.

I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines," Munger said in his commencement address to the University of Southern Californias law school in 2007. They go to bed every night a little wiser than they were when they got up and, boy, does that help, particularly when you have a long run ahead of you."

Savvy runners also know it can be best to let someone else take the lead to break the wind. A certain type of person prefers to run second, says social psychologist Tessa West, who is studying people she calls runners up" for a forthcoming book.

Once you get to a certain level of power, you realize that that top position doesnt necessarily come with more influenceit just comes with more publicity and a lot more reputational risk," she says. The way I see it, Munger got to have his cake and eat it too. He had status without all the headaches."

He also had a life outside of Berkshire and Buffett. One of Mungers pet projects was a quest to design the perfect college dormitory.

Hell be remembered as the consummate consigliere, but that wasnt his whole identity.

Geoffrey Rogow contributed to this article.

Write to Callum Borchers at callum.borchers@wsj.com

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Actor and television host Kapil Sharma on November 29, 2023, took to social media platform X to share a bad experience with an IndiGo flight. The comedian expressed his disappointment with the airline, citing a long delay and an absurd excuse that the pilot was stuck in traffic. Kapil Sharma expressed his frustration with the delayed departure and voiced worries about the airline's reliability.

Sharma posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Dear IndiGo, first, you made us wait in the bus for 50 minutes, and now your team is saying the pilot is stuck in traffic. What? Really? We were supposed to take off by 8 pm, and it's 9:20. Still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly in Indigo again? Never #indigo 6E 5149 #shameless."

Later, Kapil Sharma shared a video of the passengers deboarding the plane, revealing they had been informed that the aircraft had changed, thus requiring them to return to the terminal.

In a follow-up post, Sharma added, Now they're deboarding all the passengers and saying we will send you in another aircraft, but again, we have to go back to the terminal for security check."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the COP 28 meeting in Dubai on Friday, December 1. He will be leaving for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later Thursday evening. The annual climate summit began on November 30 and will conclude on December 12, 2023. However, the prime minister will return to India later Friday evening, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said in a briefing on Thursday.

What to expect from PM Modi's visit to Dubai

The United Nation's COP28 climate summit in Dubai opened on Thursday with nations urged to make faster cuts to planet-warming emissions and phase out fossil fuels. The Egyptian president of COP27 Sameh Shoukry kicked off the summit to hand over the presidency to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

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Days after a privacy complaint was lodged against Meta in the European Union over its latest controversial shift of legal basis claimed for processing people's data for ads, consumer groups across the region are filing their own complaints about what the tracking giant is up to.

A coalition of almost 20 consumer protection organizations is united in the view that Meta's switch to railroading users into agreeing to being tracked and profiled so it can keep profiting from microtargeting them is "unfair" and "illegal" -- breaching EU consumer protection law "on several counts".

Starting this month, EU users of Meta's social networks, Facebook and Instagram, are being offered the 'choice' of agreeing to being tracked and profiled by the behavioral ads business in order to continue/get free access to its products -- or else they must pay it a monthly subscription (of at least 9.99pm) for an ad-free version of its mainstream social networks. So Meta's updated offer to EU users is either hand over your privacy or hand over your hard earned cash.

"This is an unfair choice for users, which runs afoul of EU consumer law on several counts and must be stopped," said the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) in a press release announcing the complaint will be filed with the network of consumer protection authorities (CPC) today.

BEUC has been joined in the complaint by 18 of its member organizations -- a variety of consumer advocacy groups which are located in the following EU member states: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The groups are objecting both to how Meta has gone about implementing the "pay-or-consent model" -- using what they assess as "unfair, deceptive and aggressive practices" -- and to the model itself, which they dub "illegal". They have also raised data protection concerns which are already the focus of the complaint sent to the Austrian data protection authority earlier this week by the privacy rights not-for-profit, noyb.

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Commenting in a statement, Ursula Pachl, deputy director general of BEUC, said:

The choice the tech giant is currently providing to consumers is unfair and illegal -- the millions of European users of Facebook and Instagram deserve far better than this. Meta is breaching EU consumer law by using unfair, deceptive and aggressive practices, including partially blocking consumers from using the services to force them to take a decision quickly, and providing misleading and incomplete information in the process. Consumer protection authorities in the EU must now spring into action and force the tech giant to stop this practice.

Summarizing the issues identified with Meta's model under consumer protection law BEUC writes:

Meta is partially blocking the use of Facebook and Instagram until users have selected one option or the other, which constitutes an aggressive practice under European consumer law. Through persistence and by creating a sense of urgency, Meta pushes consumers into making a choice they might not want to take.

In addition, many consumers likely think that, by opting for the paid subscription as it is presented, they get a privacy-friendly option involving less tracking and profiling. In fact, users are likely to continue to have their personal data collected and used, but for purposes other than ads.

Meta provides misleading and incomplete information to consumers which does not allow them to make an informed choice. Meta is misleading them by presenting the choice as between a paying and a free option, while the latter option is not free because consumers pay Meta through the provision of their data, as past court rulings have already declared.

Given the market power of Meta's Facebook and Instagram services in the EU and the very strong network effects of social media platforms (since all your friends are on Facebook and Instagram), consumers do not have a real choice because if they quit the services they would lose all their contacts and interactions built over the years. The very high subscription fee for ad-free services is also a deterrent for consumers, which means consumers do not have a real choice.

"The companys approach also raises concerns regarding the GDPR," Pachl further noted. And a spokesman for BEUC told us it might, at a later stage, file a complaint about Meta's data protection compliance with the relevant privacy authority, once it has completed its own assessment of the issues. Although he emphasized it's too early to say whether or not it will take that step.

Meta's lead data protection authority in the EU, Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC), has, for several months, been assessing its pay or consent offer. But it has yet to communicate a conclusion. In the meanwhile, Meta maintains that the model it has devised for obtaining users' consent to its ads processing complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). (Although the adtech giant also said that when it was claiming performance of a contract and then legitimate interests for the processing -- both of which were subsequently found to be incompatible with the GDPR.)

The 'pay or okay' model Meta is seeking to impose on EU users wasn't actually its invention; it was 'pioneered' in Austria, by the daily newspaper Der Standard -- after which copycat cookie paywalls quickly sprung up on a raft of news publishers in Germany and elsewhere in the EU.

noyb has been challenging this 'pay or okay' approach to GDPR consent since 2021-- filing complaints with a number of data protection authorities, arguing the model forces newspaper readers to "buy back their own data at exorbitant prices".

Some DPAs appear to have been sympathetic to local newspapers' use of cookie walls, seeing it as a way to support the production of journalism. However when it comes to Meta, that argument evaporates as it's definitely not in the journalism business. Moreover the adtech giant doesn't even need to produce content to pump around its social networks; it gets all that filler for free from the self-same users it's now demanding pay a fee if they want to use its services without being tracked and profiled for behavioral advertising. Which, well, makes Meta's 'pay or okay' model feel like even more of a rip off.

Back in April, a decision by Austria's DPA on a noyb complaint about cookie paywalls said users must have the ability to say yes or no to specific data operations -- meaning blanket consent is not an option. But the result left it unclear how cookie paywalls might be operated in a way that's GDPR compliant and the privacy rights group vowed to fight the decision in court. "The final decision on 'pay or okay' may be made by the European Court of Justice (CJEU) in the long run," noyb predicted at the time.

Meta is likely banking on another multi year round of GDPR complaints, legal challenges and -- finally -- a referral to the CJEU, followed by another long wait before a ruling gets handed down, buying it several more years to run with its new legal basis fix and keep feeding its profits by doing what it likes with Europeans' data.

But the consumer protection challenge could complicate its usual playbook.

The CPC has brought more coordinated action on consumer protection concerns in the EU in recent years, bringing multiple consumer groups together to tackle common concerns -- helped by one or more national consumer protection authority which gets appointed to drive the effort. The process also loops in the European Commission to help facilitate dialogue, assess issues and bring pressure to bear on unfair practices.

The CPC alert and mobilization process can be quicker than GDPR enforcement when it comes to forcing changes to unfair behaviors. Although it still typically takes months, plural, for the network to coordinate and arrive at a position to press on a trader they believe is infringing the law.

The network also can't impose fines itself. But if issues aren't resolved through the dialogues and commitments process it shoots for, national consumer protection authorities can still pursue enforcement at a local level. So if, at the end of the day, these consumer advocacy groups aren't happy with whatever the process of pressing Meta for changes will have achieved they can still press complaints to national authorities to urge them to take enforcement action (and those CPAs have the ability to impose penalties of up to 4% of global annual turnover).

In recent times, a raft of complaints to the CPC about TikTok led -- just last year -- to the video sharing social network pledging to improve user reporting and disclosure requirements around ads/sponsored content; and to boost transparency around its digital coins and virtual gifts. Although BEUC was not ecstatic about the outcome, saying significant concerns remained unaddressed.

Still, the CPC network may be able to extract some 'quick win' concessions from Meta -- such as requiring it to amend how it presents the available 'Hobson's choice' to users. Meta could also potentially face pressure to lower the subscription fee to make it more more affordable for users to deny tracking. (Just spitballing here but imagine if it were offering a choice of tracking ads vs paying 1 a year not to be tracked which wouldn't look so evidently self-serving.)

Asked whether the issue for consumer protection authorities is the 'pay or consent' choice Meta is offering or how it's gone about implementing it, BEUC's spokesman said the questions are hard to separate as they're "closely interlinked".

"Under consumer law, you need an informed and fair choice to purchase such a subscription. The first question is also dependent on compliance with data protection law. If the practice infringes the GDPR, the fact that it infringes a law which aims to protect fundamental rights should in our opinion be considered unfair and illegal under consumer law too," he told us, adding: "In any case, the choice is designed in a way that is unfair, aggressive and misleading."

The European Commission itself has an additional oversight role on Meta directly as the company is also subject to the EU's shiny new Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA). In the latter case its social networks, Facebook and Instagram, were designated as very large online platforms (VLOPs) earlier this year. And, since late August, they've been expected to be compliant with that digital rulebook.

Both pan-EU laws put restrictions on the use of personal data for advertising -- explicitly requiring consent is obtained from users for such a purpose; and that consent must be as easy to withhold as to affirm. So one issue the Commission -- which is the sole enforcer of the DSA on VLOPs -- might weigh in in the coming months on is whether clicking accept vs digging out a credit card to pay a monthly charge are equivalently easy.

The regulation also contains provisions which are intended to combat unfair/deceptive design, such as targeting choice interfaces that make it "more difficult or time-consuming" to pick one option over another. Although the DSA's provisions against dark patterns are only intended to be applied where consumer protection and privacy laws, which also take aim against unfair choices, don't.
Ahead of his visit to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit , Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said that India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action adding that during the G20 Presidency, climate was high on priority.

"India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, and Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards Mother Earth. I look forward to joining special events including on climate finance, the Green Credit initiative and LeadIT. I also look forward to the opportunity to meet some of the other leaders present at Dubai and discuss ways to accelerate global climate action," the prime minister said in departure statement ahead of the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.

"In keeping with our civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development. During our G20 presidency, climate was a high priority."

The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues. COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action," said PM Modi. According to the departure statement, COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future action on climate action.

Prime Minister Modi will attend the World Climate Action Summit on Friday during the United Nations 'Conference of the Parties' on climate, known as COP28. The visit of PM Modi to Dubai comes at the invitation of President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"I am travelling to Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit of the COP-28 on December 1, 2023. I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE, which has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action," the prime minister said.

Also Read | Climate action: India to talk up biofuels at UAE summit

At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation. It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development," he added.

Several world leaders are set to attend the climate action summit to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and effectively combat climate change.

Also Read | COP28 must redefine the narrative of global climate action

COP28, which stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 - December 12 this year.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, is a matter of concern.

As reported by ANI, Bagchi said, "As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said that this is also contrary to government policy.

He added, The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will be guided by its results."

Also Read: US charges Indian govt official for plotting to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun

Earlier on November 29, United States authorities charged an Indian government-hired official with murder-for-hire charges for an attempt to kill Khalistani separatist and leader of banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) outfit Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

The United States considers the 52-year-old Indian individual, arrested in the Czech Republic in June, to be a key figure in a plot to assassinate a Sikh leader on US soil. Identified as Gupta, he faces charges related to the conspiracy to murder a US citizen of Indian origin.

Also Read: Who is Nikhil Gupta, arrested for planning to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in US?

As reported by ANI, Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

The US Justice Department claimed that Gupta, is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1. The indictment claims CC -1 directed the assassination plot from India.

Also Read: 'Indian govt can't afford for me to be alive..,' says Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: Report

The US Justice Department claimed that in or about May 2023, CC-1 recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of the activist in the United States. At CC-1's direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source working with the DEA. The source it is alleged introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was a DEA undercover officer.

Bagchi further noted, In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this."
New Delhi: State-run Open Network Digital Commerces (ONDC) potential to transform Indian e-commerce by connecting businesses, clients and consumers is showing results with transaction volumes jumping by 1,200 in January to 4.7 million in November, according to its managing director Thampy Koshy.

He said 100,000 cab rides are taking place through ONDC every day in four citiesBengaluru, Mysore, Cochin and Kolkata. Koshi said in an interview that sellers can easily register at ONDC and upload the catalogue of their products for free, which is not possible with other e-commerce players.

The growing volume of transactions in ONDC, according to analysts, could disrupt the e-commerce space.

The one-year-old institution in the e-commerce marketplace has recorded a significant performance with transaction volumes in the network, Koshy said.

It was started with just 800 retail sellers and now increased to 228,000 sellers and service providers, out of which 133,000 are mobility service providers and 94,000 are retailers. There are over 32 million products available on the ONDC network," said Koshy.

As per an assessment by ONDC, it will be able to make 1.2 billion transactions by 2027.

Through ONDC, India is reimagining digital commerce, making it democratic and equitable with a digital public infrastructure for population-scale transformation, he said.

As of now, ONDC subscription is free and open to all without any barrier, but eventually, it may levy a marginal user-fee.

Among the major players to have joined ONDC to capitalize their business models are Paytm, Ola, ITC, Sleepy Owl, Boat, Swiggy, Zomato, India Post and several small aggregators.

ONDC started with grocery and consumer goods, before expanding to include food and beverages, and mobility. It has now expanded its catalogue by introducing home and kitchen services, agriculture business-to-consumer products, beauty and personal care, fashion and apparel, electronics and appliances, health and wellness, financial products, etc.

Koshy said that sellers can register at ONDC and upload the catalogue of their products for free, which is not possible with current online shopping giants as they create a proprietary platform which is controlled by them.

ONDC is working to create an open network to make digital commerce more democratic so that everybody will have equal opportunity.

On investment requirement, Koshy said it is the service providers enrolled with ONDC that will invest on infrastructure and capacity building.

They will do it to increase their buyer and seller base," he said.

On fixing accountability, he clarified that it will be the responsibility of the service provider to handle all grievances relating to lapses in service delivery, refund for failed delivery, etc.

Koshy said ONDC has no hidden interests. We want a broader participation like the UPI that has became a successful model by transforming banking transactions. It all happened due to digital public infrastructure," he said.

ONDC is neither an application nor a software it is a network for digital commerce with a mandate to bring all channel partners onto a single network for commuters to access and use the partners services.

As of now, it is present in about 600 cities and has 80 service providers registered with it.
As India completes a year of G20 presidency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the journey in an op-ed for the Hindustan Times. Here are 10 key takeaways.

Reflecting on a year of leadership

India's G20 presidency, marked by challenges like the COVID-19 aftermath, climate threats and financial instability, focused on shifting from GDP-centric to human-centric progress.

Inclusivity and global participation

Inclusivity was central, with the African Union's inclusion in G20 and the hosting of the "Voice of the Global South Summit". Domestically, Jan Bhagidari" engaged India's population in G20 activities.

Advancing sustainable development

The G20 2023 Action Plan, formulated under India, focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with an emphasis on health, education and environmental sustainability. India's leadership in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) was pivotal.

Climate initiatives and green development

India introduced the Green Development Pact" and set ambitious goals like tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Initiatives like the Global Biofuels Alliance and Green Hydrogen were significant.

Addressing climate justice and equity

Recognising the financial needs of developing countries for climate efforts, the G20 emphasised enhanced Multilateral Development Banks and a substantial increase in development financing.

Empowering women

A Working Group on the Empowerment of Women was established, aligning with India's Womens Reservation Bill 2023, which aims for greater female representation in legislative bodies.

Policy coherence and trade

The New Delhi Declaration underscored the importance of policy coherence, reliable trade and ambitious climate action. India's presidency achieved 87 outcomes and 18 adopted documents.

Geopolitical deliberations and humanitarianism

India led discussions on terrorism and economic growth. It also emphasised humanitarianism over hostility, advocating for a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

Enhancing global healthcare and cooperation

Under India's presidency, global health issues received significant attention, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts were made to enhance international cooperation in healthcare.

Legacy and handover

As India hands over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, PM Modi reflects on revitalising multilateralism, amplifying the Global South's voice and empowering women. He hopes these efforts will have lasting impacts.

Read the original article HERE.

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Terming sex determination racket in Karnataka as a social problem, state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said the government will not tolerate such anti-social activities in the state and strict action will be taken if anyone is caught involved in these things.

Karnataka health ministers statement came after the state police caught a gang who had been running a sex determination unit in farms near Mandya. The government has ordered an investigation into the matter.

Karnataka health minister in a presser said, It is a worrying trend in the state and the government will take all necessary actions against such people. But the fact is that it is more of a social problem. Many people are reaching such illegal abortion units and getting their girl children aborted. Many fake doctors and compounders are involved in this vicious process."

The government will not tolerate such anti-social activities and strict action will be taken if anyone is caught involved in these things. All the officers are directed to be vigilant of such activities around and inspect all hospitals," he added.

Earlier this week, Bengaluru Police arrested a doctor and his lab technician who have allegedly performed around 900 illegal abortions in the last three years. They charged around 30,000 for each abortion which they carried out at a hospital in the district headquarters town of Mysuru. Both of them were taken into custody, reported PTI.

Police busted the sex-determination and female foeticide racket last month with the arrest of two accused  Shivalinge Gowda and Nayan Kumar  in the district headquarters town of Mandya, near Mysuru, when they were taking a pregnant woman for abortion in a car.

During interrogation, the accused-duo revealed a jaggery unit in Mandya, used as an ultrasound scan centre, from where a police team later seized the scan machine, which did not have valid authorisation or other official documents, a senior police officer said.

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The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Wednesday, November 29, notified of the upcoming interruption in water supply in some parts of Thane through Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation for 12 hours. Citing repair work and maintenance, TMC said the interruption would occur on December 1.

"Urgent repair work will be undertaken at Katai Naka on Barvi Gravity Channel through Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. Therefore, on Friday, December 01, 2023, in the Thane municipal area, 12.00 to Res. Water supply from MIDC will be stopped for 12 hours from 12.00." TMC said in a post in Marathi.

Also Read | Bharat Agri shares jump 13% on sanction of a Thane housing project

Diva, Mumbra, Kalwa, Rupadevi Pada, Kisan Nagar No. 2, Nehru Nagar, and Kolshet are among the major areas affected by the 12-hour water cut, according to the report.

Additionally, TMC delivers water to areas under its jurisdiction, including Mumbra, Diva, Kalwa, Majiwada, Manpada, and Wagle Estate. After the water supply is restored, citizens should be aware that the water supply will be at low pressure for one to two days, according to a report by Mid Day.

Residents in the city have also been asked to conserve water and use it efficiently, the report further added.

Earlier this month, Vinod Pawar, Deputy engineer from the water department of Thane Municipal Corporation said, Around 250 MLD of water is supplied daily from Bhatsa dam. Of 250 MLD of water, 115 MLD of water from STEM Authority, 135 MLD of water from MIDC, and 85 MLD of water from the TMC. There will be a reduction in the daily supply. Repairs are on in the air bladder pneumatic gate system," as quoted in a report by Hindustan Times.

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on March 22, 2023, presented a 4,370-crore budget for the financial year 2023-24, 1,071 crore more than the previous year, with no proposals for any tax hike, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

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All the 41 workers, who were rescued from Silkyara tunnel17 days after being trapped in the collapsed tunnelat Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand on November 28 have been discharged from AIIMS-Rishikesh and are leaving for their home states, news agency ANI reported Thursday.

The report said officials from various states have reached Rishikesh to facilitate their return to their home states.

Earlier today, the doctors at AIIMS-Rishikesh declared all 41 workers evacuated from Silkyara tunnel fit to return home.

All the 41 workers were thoroughly examined and their blood test, X-ray, and ECG reports were normal. "They are physically normal and clinically stable. We have given them clearance to return home," PTI quoted Dr Ravikant at AIIMS Rishikesh as saying.

"On the basis of their major organ screening, we can say they are fit to travel. As they were taken good care of during their confinement in the tunnel with regular feeding, there was no case of starvation. They are mostly quite young or of middle age. That also helped them stay fit," Dr Ravikant said.

They have been advised to go to the nearest hospital after two weeks for a check-up. Doctors from AIIMS-Rishikesh will also stay connected with the workers through tele-medicine to monitor their mental health for the next few weeks, he added.

"Our priority is to ensure that all workers are safely transported to their home by officials authorised by their respective state governments," another doctor at AIIMS Rishikesh said.

Also Read | PVR Inox to expand premium and luxury cinema formats

Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government has said that the 15 labourers from the state will be airlifted to Delhi on Thursday and from there to Ranchi on Friday morning.

Jharkhand nodal officer Bhuvnesh said, "We are taking all of them through an aeroplane. There are 15 workers... First, we will go to Delhi and then to Ranchi. We all have our stay in Jharkhand Bhawan. All the workers are doing well...," Bhuvnesh said.

"15 labourers from Jharkhand would be sent to Delhi by 7.45 pm flight and then they would be made to stay at Jharkhand Bhawan for the night, after which they would be taken from Delhi to Ranchi by a morning flight the next day and will be dropped at their destination," the official told ANI.

Apart from 15 workers from Jharkhand and five from Odisha, eight are from Uttar Pradesh, five from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh.

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Taking up the plea of the ASI seeking three additional weeks to submit the report, District Judge A K Vishvesh said he hoped that the ASI would not ask for more time, according to counsel for the Hindu side Madan Mohan Yadav.

The court fixed December 11 as the next date of hearing in the matter, Yadav said. The court was hearing the ASI plea moved on Tuesday seeking three more weeks for submitting the report, saying it needed more time for the assimilation of information generated by different experts.

The ASI started the survey in the barricaded area of the Gyanvapi premises, excluding its sealed section, on August 4, following court orders to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The Muslim side represented by lawyer Mohammad Ikhlaq strongly objected to the request for more time and argued that the ASI is seeking time to file the report again and again without any proper reason. He also argued that there should be some end to this process of taking time again and again to file the report.

The ASI be directed to file the report positively within the time granted by the court, Ikhlaq said.

In its order, the court said it expects that within the provided time, the ASI shall positively file the report and will not seek further time.

On Wednesday, taking up the plea of the ASI, District Judge Vishvesh asked a senior ASI official from Delhi to explain the need for more time, to which the ASI counsel said that officials in Varanasi had been handling the task and would apprise the court about it.

Earlier, the district court had asked the ASI to submit the survey report of the Gyanvapi complex by November 28.

In its application, the ASI had stated that its experts are working on various types of data collected by archaeologists, surveyors and other experts, etc., and assimilation of information generated by different experts and different tools is a difficult and slow process and it will take some more time to complete the report for final submission.

On November 2, the ASI told the court it had "completed" the survey but may take some more time to compile the report, along with the details of the equipment used in the survey work. The court then granted additional time till November 17 for submitting the document.

But its counsel again sought 15 more days due to the non-availability of the technical report and the district judge then asked it to submit its report by November 28.

The ASI is carrying out the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi premises, located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

On October 5, the court granted four more weeks to the ASI and said the duration of the survey would not be extended beyond this. It had earlier given extensions on August 4 and September 6.

The survey had begun after the Allahabad High Court upheld the Varanasi district court order and ruled that the step was "necessary in the interest of justice" and would benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides in the dispute.

During an earlier hearing, the mosque management committee had objected to the survey, alleging that the ASI was digging the basement and other places of the mosque complex without permission and accumulating debris on the western wall, posing a risk that the structure might collapse.

The ASI team was not authorised to survey the premises by removing debris or garbage, the mosque panel had said.

The Gyanvapi committee had also moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order. The apex court had, on August 4, refused to stay the high court's order on the ASI survey.

In its order, the bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey. This ruled out any excavations, which the Varanasi court had said could be conducted if necessary.

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Nikhil Gupta has emerged at the centre of an international assassination plot. The US sees the 52-year-old Indian man as crucial in a plan to kill a Sikh leader in the US . Arrested in the Czech Republic in June, Gupta is charged with planning to murder a US citizen from India. The target" is a vocal critic of the Indian government and an advocate for separatist movements in Punjab.

"The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs," Reuters quoted federal prosecutor Damian Williams as saying in a statement.

While prosecutors did not name the target", US officials have identified him as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a pro-Khalistan group campaigning for an independent Sikh state.

The plot thickens with the involvement of an unnamed Indian government employee, described as a senior field officer in security and intelligence. This individual allegedly recruited Gupta for the assassination.

The unnamed Indian government employee, as per US authorities, "agreed in dealings brokered by Gupta" to pay the undercover agent $100,000 for the killing, according to AFP. Gupta believed he had found a hitman for the task. What he did not know was the 'hitman' was an undercover US agent.

These developments have not only raised eyebrows but also escalated diplomatic tensions. The case parallels an incident in Canada, where another Sikh separatist leader - Hardeep Singh Nijjar - was killed, leading to a diplomatic row between Ottawa and New Delhi. The US has expressed grave concern over these allegations, emphasising their seriousness in conversations with Indian authorities.

Gupta allegedly told undercover US agents after Nijjar's killing that there was "no need to wait" to kill the US target. As per the US Justice Department, he said that Nijjar "was also the target" and that they were just two of "many targets".

Earlier, Gupta advised the hitman to avoid carrying out the assassination during a period when high-level meetings between US and Indian government officials were expected, the US Justice Department alleges.

Charges against Nikhil Gupta

Gupta has apparently admitted to having a history of criminal activities. He talked to undercover agents about his past in drug and weapon trafficking, say prosecutors. He faces charges of two counts of murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

(With agency inputs)

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is all set to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28). The annual climate summit will begin on November 30 and conclude on December 12, 2023. More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP28, with an aim to fast-track energy transition and slash emissions.

A brief about COP 28

Officially, COP 28 stands for the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It takes place every year, and is the worlds only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.

This year's COP holds significance in the wake of geopolitical risks that have come to forth after the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's ongoing "special military operation" in Ukraine.

What role India would play at COP 28

Being a developing nation, India's role at COP 28 summit remains crucial this year. India is among the top emitters of green house gases. It also houses the world's largest population. Therefore, it would be important for the country to remain ambitious (forward looking), at the same remain equitable. For India, the negotiations are going to be about give and take.

India also expects a clear roadmap on climate financing during the COP28 meet. In a press conference on Thursday, foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said climate finance and climate technology are a very crucial segment of all the global efforts in addressing this challenge of environmental degradation.

"We expect a clear roadmap to be agreed at COP28 on climate finance which would be important for delivering on the new, collective, quantified goals...," Kwatra said.

Key themes to watch out for at COP28 include: Emissions mitigation targets, Phase out fossil fuel, Financing from developed nations, focus on industry-led solutions, low-carbon innovation, differences between developed and developing nations, progress on operationalising Paris Agreement Article, reform role of private sector investment and proxy for other issues and relations restoration.

India's challenges at COP 28

1. India is responsible for high methane emission, especially from the agriculture sector  which remains a livelihood for many people in the country. Therefore, cutting down on methane emission for India could be a point of contention at the COP 28 conference.

ALSO READ: COP28: Should you expect anything earth-shaking?

According to experts from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the emission from the agricultural sector are "survival emission". Also, emission cuts from agriculture could mean changes in cropping patterns. This could even have huge implications for Indias food security.

In the wake of this matter, experts said there's a need for India to cut down on "luxury emissions" in the country. Not just agriculture, but oil and gas and waste/garbage are also equally responsible for methane emissions in the country.

ALSO READ: COP28, IEA forge path to 1.5C degree-aligned energy transition

2. Besides, new CSE-Down to Earth assessment revealed that India witnessed an extreme weather event almost every other day in the first nine months of this year. Therefore, the country needs to lay especial emphasis on the "loss and damage finance".

"Estimations of economic, non-economic and ecological losses due to ongoing and future impacts of climate change are termed as loss and damage (L&D)," the CSE said in one of its reports.

ALSO READ: PM Modi to attend UN climate talks in Dubai on December 1

4. The demands of an immediate shut-down of coal-fired power plants is another idea which India finds unacceptable. India's foreign secretary said on Thursday that "coal is and would remain an important part of India's energy mix, it has always been, as we move forward to meet our developmental priorities in the country."

ALSO READ: COP28 in 10 charts: All that you need to know before Dubai summit

This is where phasing out fossil fuels becomes a big task for many developing countries, such as India. Meanwhile, experts have signalled that it is time for action COP28 needs to be the moment we set a date for the phase-out of fossil fuels.

However, India has not been mincing words about its energy security needs. About 73 per cent of electricity consumed in India is produced using coal, even though the country has increased its non-fossil capacity to 44 per cent of its total installed power generation capacity, Reuters reported.

5. India will need money to meet renewable energy targets. While India is transitioning to a larger share of clean energy sources, it needs to source finance to support the development of green energy corridors and an improved grid infrastructure to support the growth, news agency ANI reported. The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration had underlined the need for $5.8-5.9 trillion in the pre-2030 period for developing countries to meet the net zero target.

ALSO READ: Mint explainer: What to expect from COP28?

According to the India Express report, any proposal that asks India to reduce its emissions is a strict no for the country. It explained that Indias climate actions are framed in terms of emissions intensity, or emissions per unit of GDP, and not on emissions directly.

"It means that while Indias emissions would continue to grow, in the short and medium term, emissions as a proportion to the GDP would decline. As a corollary, India also rejects any suggestions to define a peak, or a peak-year, for its emissions," the report said.

At the COP 28 summit, the talks are scheduled to last a fortnight. However, they often spill over by an extra day or two as delegates argue over the final language of a communique that wraps up the meetings, Bloomberg reported.

The two-week summit will include a global stocktake" to track how far off course the world is to keeping global warming below 1.5C and what more needs to be done to close the gap.

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As pneumonia cases continue to skyrocket in children in the Netherlands, China's latest wave of mystery respiratory illnesses has reportedly threatened to overwhelm the nation's hospital system.

Roughly 80 out of every 100,000 kids in the Netherlands aged between five and 15 were treated for the condition last week, according to the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), marking the biggest outbreak recorded in years.

No explanation for mystery pneumonia cases

At the height of the flu season in 2022, there were just 60 pneumonia cases out of every 100,000 children in the same age group. Health officials have yet to offer any explanation for the outbreak and it currently remains unknown whether the uptick seen across Europe is connected to the concerning rise in respiratory illnesses that is currently sweeping China.

Footage of Chinese hospitals being overrun with patients has sparked concern in the medical community. Source: Associated Press.

Both The World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese health officials have said that "no new or unusual pathogens" had been found in the pneumonia cases, with the surge being blamed on children contracting known viruses like the flu, rhinoviruses, the respiratory syncytial virus, and the adenovirus, which they largely avoided during the two years of Covid-19 lockdowns.

With most of China's strict pandemic restrictions having been lifted at the end of 2022, the mystery wave is effectively the first post-Covid flu season the country has seen.

Some health officials have hypothesised that a lack of exposure to common viruses during Covid may have weakened the population's immunity, though in the Netherlands lockdown laws were lifted a long time ago, prompting uncertainty over what is behind the soaring pneumonia cases in kids.

Concerns raised over spike in respiratory illnesses in China

In one concerning video, hospitals are seen in Beijing and other parts of China's north overrun with people and sick children, raising concerns within the medical community around the world.

Story continues

The WHO took the rare step of publicly asking Chinese authorities to provide data on any outbreaks of pneumonia, which were found to be driven by known viruses.

Beijing hospitals are pictured here in November packed with people. Source: Associated Press.

We asked about comparisons prior to the pandemic. And the waves that theyre seeing now, the peak is not as high as what they saw in 2018-2019, the WHO's Maria Van Kerkhove said. This is not an indication of a novel pathogen. This is expected. This is what most countries dealt with a year or two ago.

Meanwhile on home soil, mask mandates are back on the table as Australia continues to mull over how necessary face coverings are during a spike in hospitalisations from Covid-19.

The mysterious surge in respiratory diseases in China may be caused by drug-resistant M. pneumoniae bacteria. Normally, it's treated w/macrolides antibiotics, but overuse of the drugs in China has led to resistance rates as high as 90% in Beijing.https://t.co/aT0u2hKBtH  Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) November 29, 2023

Western Australia has announced it will mandate face masks in hospitals from Monday in a bid to protect vulnerable citizens as cases continue to rise. Premier Roger Cook described it as a "simple measure" that will protect the state's most vulnerable.

It comes after the Queensland government granted hospitals the ability to enforce the same rule if desired.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Canada urged India to collaborate in the inquiry into the killing of a Khalistani terrorist in British Columbia. This request comes following the disclosure by the US that it had thwarted an assassination plot against another Sikh separatist within its borders.

Here are the top ten developments. 1. Earlier on Wednesday, the US Justice Department announced charges against a 52-year-old individual who collaborated with an Indian government employee to plan the assassination of a New York City resident advocating for a Sikh independent state in northern India. These charges follow Canada's statement approximately two months ago, asserting credible" accusations connecting Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June. India has refuted these allegations. Also Read: India's contradictory response on assassination attempt claims of Nijjar, Pannun 2. As reported by Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa, The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously," adding, The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this." Also Read: Who is Nikhil Gupta, arrested for planning to kill Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in US? 3. Earlier on November 26, Sanjay Kumar Verma, India's High Commissioner to Canada, stated that the Indian government is collaborating with an American inquiry related to an alleged foiled assassination attempt, rather than Canada's investigation into the June killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia due disparities in the information shared between the two nations during their respective investigations.

4. One is that the investigation in the case of the US, as far as I know and understand, because again, I don't oversee India-US relations is at a much advanced stage. And therefore, I presume that there would be better information shared within India," Verma told CTV News.

5. On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly called on India to provide more cooperation in the ongoing murder investigation. As of now, Canadian authorities have not filed charges against anyone in connection with the killing of Nijjar.

6. Making point to the Indian government, Joly told reporters, Clearly we expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part."

Also Read: India-Canada row: Justin Trudeau doubles down on claim, says if bigger countries violate law without consequences

8. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau stated that there were credible allegations suggesting potential links between the Indian government and the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Despite India dismissing the accusation as absurd, Canada took the action of expelling a senior Indian diplomat, and in retaliation, India responded with a reciprocal measure.

7. Both the United States and Canada are looking to build better ties with India to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region, and the allegations undermine that effort.

Also Read: Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was an 'asset of Canadas Intelligence Services'?

8. On Wednesday, a United States official employed by the Indian government has been indicted on charges related to hiring someone for a murder-for-hire plot aimed at killing Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani separatist and the leader of the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organization, within the United States. As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India," he said in a release.

Also Read: Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun threatens to blow up Air India flight, India asks Canada to enhance security

9. In an exclusive interview with TIME, speaking on what reasons might the Indian government have for being involved in a plot to assassinate him, Pannun said that they (the Indian government) cannot afford for me to be alive as he has achieved a narrative. So they cannot afford for me to be alive as I have achieved a narrative. I'm able to educate, and peacefully and democratically challenge India's narrative of terror and terrorism. There are reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the US Department of State in 1994, and other agencies about what transpired between 1984 to 1995. But we havent had a peaceful and democratic resolution to the contentious issue that has never been asked since 1950: should Punjab be an independent country? It was never asked of the people of Punjab in 1947, nor has it ever been put up on a ballot," Pannun told the TIME.

Also Read: 'Indian govt can't afford for me to be alive..,' says Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: Report

10. In July 2020, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was officially labelled as a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry. Two months following this designation, the government instructed the attachment of his properties under Section 51A of the rigorous Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A truce between Israel and Hamas will continue, both sides said Thursday, moments before the deal was due to expire, though details of any official agreement remained unclear.

Minutes before the halt in fighting was due to expire at 0500GMT, Israel's military said the "operational pause" would be extended, without specifying for how long.

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," it said.

Also Read: Israel under international pressure to extend ceasefire with Hamas

Hamas meanwhile said there was an agreement to "extend the truce for a seventh day," without further details.

Qatar, which has led the truce negotiations, confirmed the pause had been extended until Friday.

Also Read: Israel-Palestine war Day 55: 10 updates to know; high death toll, hostage releases and more

There had been pressure to extend the pause to allow more hostage releases and additional aid into devastated Gaza, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arriving in Israel for talks Wednesday night.

The truce has brought a temporary halt to fighting that began on October 7 when Hamas militants poured over the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel's subsequent air and ground campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 15,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas officials, and reduced large parts of the north of the territory to rubble.

The truce agreement allows for extensions if Hamas can release another 10 hostages a day, and a source close to the group said Wednesday that it was willing to prolong the pause by four days.

But with just an hour to go before the truce was due to expire, Hamas said its offer to free another seven hostages, and hand over the bodies of another three it said were killed in Israeli bombardment, had been refused.

Also Read: Israel-Hamas truce: Is this the end of the conflict?

Both sides had earlier said they were ready to return to fighting, with Hamas's armed wing warning its fighters to "maintain high military readiness... in anticipation of a resumption of combat if it is not renewed," according to a message posted on its Telegram channel.

IDF spokesman Doron Spielman said troops would "move into operational mode very quickly and continue with our targets in Gaza," if the truce expired.

Sustained humanitarian truce

Overnight, 10 more Israeli hostages were freed under the terms of the deal, with another four Thai hostages and two Israeli-Russian women released outside the framework of the arrangement.

Video released by Hamas showed masked gunmen handing hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Among those freed was Liat Beinin, who also holds American citizenship, and works as a guide at Israel's Holocaust museum Yad Vashem.

US President Joe Biden said he was deeply gratified" by the release.

This deal has delivered meaningful results," he said of the truce.

Shortly after the hostages arrived in Israel, the country's prison service said 30 Palestinian prisoners had been released, including well-known activist Ahed Tamimi.

Also Read: Israel-Gaza War: Israel and Hamas to extend truce by 2 days, plan to release additional hostages and prisoners

Since the truce began on November 24, 70 Israeli hostages have been freed in return for 210 Palestinian prisoners.

Around 30 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the terms of the deal.

Israel has made clear it sees the truce as a temporary halt intended to free hostages, but there are growing calls for a more sustained pause in fighting.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demanded a "true humanitarian ceasefire", warning Gazans are "in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe."

Also Read: Joe Biden backs extension of war pause after latest release by Hamas

And China, whose top diplomat Wang Yi was in New York for Security Council talks on the violence, urged an immediate "sustained humanitarian truce", in a position paper released Thursday.

Everything is gone

The hostage releases have brought joy tinged with agony, with families anxiously waiting each night to learn if their loved ones will be freed, and learning harrowing details from those who return.

Four-year-old Abigail was captured after crawling out from under the body of her father, killed by militants, covered in his blood, her great aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali said.

Also Read: Joe Biden warns against fresh Palestinian casualties as Netanyahu vows to resume war with 'full force'

"It's a miracle," she said of the little girl's survival and release.

However, Israel's army also said Wednesday it was investigating a claim by Hamas's armed wing that a 10-month-old baby hostage, his four-year-old brother and their mother had all been killed in an Israeli bombing in Gaza.

Israel pounded the Gaza Strip relentlessly before the truce, forcing an estimated 1.7 million people to leave their homes and limiting the entry of food, water, medicine and fuel.

Conditions in the territory remain "catastrophic", according to the World Food Programme, and the population faces a "high risk of famine.

Israeli forces targeted several hospitals in northern Gaza during the fighting, accusing Hamas of using them for military purposes.

The spokesman for the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, Ashraf al-Qudra, told AFP Wednesday that doctors found five premature babies dead in Gaza City's Al-Nasr hospital, which medical staff had been forced to abandon.

Also Read: 12 hostages released, 30 Palestinians freed on 5th day of ceasefire deal | Top 10 updates

The truce has allowed those displaced to return to their homes, but for many there is little left.

"I discovered that my house had been completely destroyed -- 27 years of my life to build it and everything is gone," said Taghrid al-Najjar, 46, after returning to her home in southeastern Gaza.

The violence in Gaza has also raised tensions in the West Bank, where nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed by either Israeli soldiers or settlers since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

An eight-year-old boy and a teenager were the latest deaths in the occupied territory, with Israel saying it "responded with live fire... and hits were identified" after suspects hurled explosive devices towards troops.

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The Israel-Palestine war has reached Day 55. Below are the 10 latest updates on the ongoing conflict:

High death toll

Reports indicate that over 15,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have died since October 7, underscoring the severe human cost of the ongoing conflict.

US calls for extended truce

The United States, through public statements and diplomacy, is reportedly pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to prolong the ceasefire in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.

US military aid to Israel

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has clarified to lawmakers that the White House is not planning to impose conditions on US military aid to Israel. This statement comes shortly after President Joe Biden seemed open to the idea, a suggestion made by some Democrats. The debate on this issue gained traction amid the increasing civilian casualties in Gaza due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

UN envoy condemns child's killing

US envoy Francesca Albanese termed the death of 9-year-old Adam Samer Al Ghoul in Jenin as an "execution in cold blood" by Israeli forces.

He is one of the 230+ Palestinians killed by Israeli army&settlers in WB since Oct 7. No Palestinian is safe under Israeli occupation," Francesca wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Hamas frees Thai hostages

Thailand's Foreign Ministry announced the release of four more Thai hostages held by Hamas. The hostages will receive necessary medical examinations following their release. With this recent release, the total number of Thai nationals freed from Hamas captivity has reached 23. However, nine Thai hostages remain in captivity, Reuters reported.

Hamas frees American captive

Liat Beinin, a dual Israeli-American national, was among those released by Hamas. US President Joe Biden expressed gratitude for her release and the ongoing truce.

Palestinian women and children released

Israel freed 30 Palestinian women and children from its prisons, a move occurring amid the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Erdogan welcomes ceasefire

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed the ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. He praised the temporary halt of hostilities and the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a crucial "stop of bloodshed" in the region, Reuters reported.

Blinken arrives for talks in Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Tel Aviv, aiming to discuss and support the ongoing peace efforts between Israel and Palestinian authorities.

ICRC release Palestinian detainees

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced its role in the release and transfer of 15 Palestinian detainees from Israeli detention centres to Ramallah, as per Reuters. The ICRC's count reflects only those releases directly facilitated by the organisation.

(With agency inputs)

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Kate Middleton appears to have distanced herself from Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. This development emerges from Omid Scobie's recently-published book "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival."

The book, drawing on insider sources, reveals that the Princess of Wales was never particularly supportive of Meghan. Her reservations date back to the initial stages of Meghan's entry into the Royal Family. These feelings have seemingly intensified since Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from their senior Royal duties and moved to California in 2020.

Kate's marriage to Prince William in 2011 marked her entry into the Royal Family, where she formed a close bond with Prince Harry. However, this relationship has altered over time, particularly in light of recent events and public interviews given by the Sussexes.

Sources close to Kate express her fond memories of past times with Harry but also highlight a lack of trust towards the couple now. Kate apparently cant trust Harry-Meghan anymore, especially after the couples interviews, one Royal Family insider told Scobie, as per E! News.

In the wake of Harry and Meghan's candid interview with Oprah, where they discussed issues of racism within the Royal Family, Prince William publicly stated, "We are very much not a racist family." He also said that he would speak to Harry about the Oprah interview.

However, William and Kate never addressed these issues directly with Harry and Meghan. This silence has reportedly led to confusion and further strain within the family, the publication added.

Omid Scobie's Endgame

Omid Scobie's "Endgame" is making a lot of noise at the moment. As per reports, the revelations in the book have also shaken up the Royal Family. The book has also revealed how Prince William had concerns about the pace of the Harry-Meghan relationship. William apparently had a problem with opinionated" Meghan, the book says.

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Citizens of China and India will be granted visa-free entry to Malaysia for a duration of up to 30 days from December 1, as announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a speech at the People's Justice Party congress on Sunday.

The visa exemptions, confirmed by Malaysia's Home Affairs Ministry in a statement on Monday, will be in effect until December 31, 2024.

As reported by PTI, China and India represent Malaysia's fourth and fifth-largest tourist markets. Government data indicates that between January and June of this year, Malaysia welcomed a total of 9.16 million tourists. Of these, 498,540 were from China, and 283,885 were from India.

This contrasts with the figures from the same period in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic, when Malaysia received 1.5 million tourists from China and 354,486 from India.

Also Read: Making travel plans for holiday season? THESE countries lift visa requirements for Indian tourists

Recently, China revealed plans to implement visa-free entry for citizens of Malaysia and several European countries starting next month. Similarly, Thailand, a neighbouring country heavily dependent on the tourism sector, has also adopted measures such as exempting Chinese and Indian nationals, among others, from visa requirements.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved the issuance of free visas to individuals from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot project until March 31, 2024.

Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March," posted Sabry on X earlier.

Also Read: China offers visa-free entry for Germany, Italy, France, three other nations' citizens to boost tourism: Report

Starting from November 1, Thailand has initiated a 30-day visa-free entry program for visitors from India and Taiwan. This policy will be in effect until May 10, 2024.

Also Read: Thailand: Clubs, bars to stay open for longer hours in THESE cities. Check new timings, other details

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavision stated that this decision was made to facilitate travel for citizens of India and Taiwan, as these nationals have shown a keen interest in visiting Thailand.

(With inputs from agencies)

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AT THE LATEST climate summit convened by the UN, COP28 , which opens in Dubai on November 30th, one group is sure to have an outsize voice. These are the small island developing states (SIDS). Their club numbers just 39 full members and 18 associates. Together they account for less than 1% of the worlds population, land mass and GDPand just 0.2% of carbon emissions. Yet on climate, as well as in other development-related areas, they have a knack of helping to shape the international agenda.

View Full Image .

The SIDS vary widely (see maps). Belize, Guyana and Suriname are not even islands. Far from counting as developing, Singapore is one of the worlds richest societies. Many of the others are not exceptionally pooronly seven count among the worlds least developed countries (among them Guinea-Bissau, Haiti and Timor-Leste). But as Emily Wilkinson of ODI, a think-tank in London, emphasises, SIDS collectively have much more in common than their very big differences."

The commonalities relate, above all, to the susceptibility that small size confers to sudden shocks. Whether from pandemics or from natural disasters, these have enormous economic and social consequences. A changing climate finds extra ways to pile on the pressure. All this means that small island states are forced to plan for the long run. So when it comes to policy in areas such as climate and development, they are adept at bringing bigger countriesall too slowly, admittedlyalong with them.

Little islands, large friends

The small states have proved canny as they navigate the geopolitical contest between America and its friends and China. They have needed to be: the contest is playing out over their maritime domain, above all in the Pacific and Indian oceans. And with exclusive economic zones (EEZs) that can have areas many times that of the islands themselves, small island states are big ocean states.

As such, small island states have a vested interest in peaceable seas around them, open for trade and free of conflict and crime, including smuggling, arms-running and illegal fishing. That makes SIDS champions of a multilateral order governed by international law. The small island states on balance therefore lean more readily to the West. It helps that America, Australia, Europe and New Zealand are big donors. For instance, Australia, the biggest Pacific donor, commits about 40% of its almost $3bn annual budget for aid to Pacific island states.

Yet small island states resent sometimes clumsy attempts by America to use them to project hard powerand to press them to resist Chinese proposals. And although China comes with goodies that SIDS badly want, such as the capacity and the finance to build much-needed infrastructure, that countrys actions can be clumsy, too. Its attempts last year to get island nations to sign up to a China-Pacific Island Countries Common Development Vision"in effect a new geopolitical blocwere flatly rejected. How do we view national security?" asks Mark Brown, the prime minister of the Cook Islands. Its climate security. Its economic security. Its the wellbeing of our people, that sort of securityIts not warshipsits not more patrols. That doesnt do it for us."

Climate security matters more for SIDs than geopolitical wrangles do. It is an existential issue for them as their vulnerabilities are potentially extreme. In one night in 2015 Cyclone Pam, the second-most intense tropical storm ever recorded in the southern Pacific Ocean, caused damage equivalent to 60% of Vanuatus annual GDP and wiped out much of the countrys infrastructure. As for the Caribbean: to take one year, 2017, the estimated cost of the hurricane season for the regions countries was $93bn.

As Abdulla Shahid, the departing foreign minister of the Maldives, puts it: SIDS have the smallest carbon footprint, but we find ourselves in the biggest trouble." Models suggest much of low-lying Kiribati, the Maldives and Tuvalu will sink beneath the waves by the centurys end. Climate is a threat not only to development but to sovereignty. The prospect helps the club pack a certain moral punch. Members striking gestures (cabinet meetings held underwater) and slogans (Save Tuvalu, save the world") reinforce that punch, as does their strength in numbers: SIDS account for a fifth of UN members.

On climate their agenda-setting has been striking. Advocacy by SIDS was crucial to bringing the first international climate treaty into being in 1992. In 2015 they were instrumental in bolstering the ambitions of the Paris agreement with the collective aspiration to restrain global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels (ie, doing better than the target of 2C).

Most impressively, at COP27 a year ago in Sharm El-Sheikh, they forced climate-related loss and damage" (something they had pushed for three decades) to the centre of the climate debate. This is the acknowledgment that the worlds biggest historical emitters of carbon have an obligation to help casualties of climate change adapt to it. A loss-and-damage fund was agreed on, to be paid for by rich-country emitters. But rich countries have not yet put their money where their mouths are. Even finding a permanent home for the fund has fallen victim to bickering. Going into COP28, Mr Brown hopes that at the summit negotiators will agree on the scale and sources of funding for it, as well as the criteria for eligibility.

Small island states are affected particularly badly by shocks because calamities often reinforce one another, undermining these states resilience across the board. A core weakness, as Ms Wilkinson points out, is that economic assumptions that underpin the workings of larger countries do not apply to SIDS. They are generally too small to foster diversified economies or to reap the benefits of scale, and too distant from big markets. That means they struggle to attract private capital.

Some island states have alighted on niches that can serve them well. The most obvious is tourism; Caribbean states, in particular, are close to the huge and wealthy North American market. That also makes them inclined to offer themselves as tax havens. Other niches include resourcesstarting with fish. Several have lucrative revenues from selling day licences for tuna to foreign vessels. And in the Cook Islands, if Mr Brown has his way, a seabed-mining bonanza beckons. On his coffee table is a pile of black egg-shaped forms that a visitor might mistake for artwork. In reality, the seabed of the countrys vast EEZ hosts millions of these nodules, rich in nickel, tungsten and, above all, cobalta battery in a rock", as Mr Brown likes to put it.

Yet the niches rarely come without perils. In the south Pacific, illegal fishing by foreign vessels means depleted stocks and forgone revenues. A boom and bust in potash mining in tiny Nauru left the state bankrupt and the land denuded. And in the Cook Islands, where Mr Brown talks about harvesting" those nodules, conservationists and fishermen worry about the impact on biodiversity and fish stocks.

As for tourism, covid-19 hit SIDS dependent on the industry much more than it did more diversified economies, and many small states are emerging from the pandemic with sharply higher levels of debt. Meanwhile, positioned between drug-consuming America and coca-producing countries in South America, Caribbean states struggle with violent crime. The situation is worsened by illegal firearms from abroad, particularly from America. Rising gun-trafficking has left the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and others with horrific violence. In a small country, even low numbers of guns can have an enormous impact. The murder rate in the Turks and Caicos, 78 per 100,000, is roughly ten times higher than in America and 100 times higher than in the EU.

Growing greenbacks

Given the relative size of small states climate and development needs, and their difficulties accessing market finance, many leaders argue that all but the most successful small island states will need financial and other assistance in the form of concessional loans, grants and budgetary support from richer countries and international institutions for decades to come.

Mr Brown, for example, points out that getting a new supply vessel for remote islands into play constitutes a hefty part of the annual infrastructure budget. He calls for heavily concessional lending with loan terms of up to 50 yearsmuch longer than international financial institutions currently offer. He notes that the Asian Development Bank, a key lender in the Asia-Pacific region, is growing responsive to the idea.

The Cook Islands is a case study of how even relatively prosperous microstates need help. Fiji, the Maldives, the Marshall Islands and Palau are among those that count as upper-middle-income countries, ranking above Brazil or China and ineligible for overseas development assistance. Yet measures of income fail to capture states vulnerability to shocks that can knock a country back. Shortly before the pandemic, the OECD moved the Cook Islands to developed-country status. As covid-19 hit tourism, the Cook Islands was deprived of help just when it needed it. Support is growing for a multidimensional vulnerability index" as a means to taking SIDS special circumstances into account. Such an index, says Mr Shahid, would help clarify development challenges and identify countries in need of heightened international assistance before a crisis hits."

A severe lack of bureaucratic capacity makes matters worse. Darshana Baruah of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think-tank in Washington, DC, writes that small states lack the administrative capacity to compete against countries such as China and India for access to multilateral development finance." A loan application to the World Bank is much more troublesomeand relatively much more costlyfor Cape Verde than it is for Brazil.

Small states governments are stretched thinMr Browns budget department has fewer than ten staff. And the process of applying for funds can be excruciating: over three years to get accreditation to access climate funds; one to two years to be approved; and a further year or two for disbursement. It is partly why only a fraction of money theoretically available to SIDS gets delivered. Global institutions, says Ms Wilkinson, are not set up with small countries in mind."

Despite their vulnerabilities, it is wrong to think of small island states as powerless or hapless victims. A sense of agency, whether as countries affected by climate or by great-power competition, matters hugely to them. And there are indications that Western countries, at least, are listening more carefully to them.

America has sharply upped its aid commitments in the Pacific. Earlier this month Tuvalu, with a population of 11,200, struck a remarkable deal with Australia, which promised residency rights to 280 Tuvaluans a year as well as help with coastal adaptation projects to allow citizens to stay in their homes with safety and dignity". Certainly, small island states need help, in ever more creative forms, with a litany of challenges. But, clear-eyed about their future, they are as determined as ever to set the agenda.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Nepal officially records its inaugural same-sex marriage five months after it was legalized by the Supreme Court.

As reported by PTI, 35-year-old trans-woman Maya Gurung and 27-year-old gay man Surendra Pandey legally married at Dordi Rural Municipality in the Lamjung district of Western Nepal, as confirmed by Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), the president of Blue Diamond Societyan organization dedicated to the rights and well-being of sexual minorities in Nepal.

Also Read: Same-Sex Marriage Verdict: Gender of a person is not same as their sexuality, says CJI. Top 10 points

This makes Nepal, the first in South Asia to formally recognize and register a same-sex marriage following the Supreme Court's decision.

In 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court had already granted permission for same-sex marriage, a stance further reinforced by the 2015 constitution, explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Also Read: Same-Sex Marriage Verdict: SC refuses to give marriage equality rights to LGBTQIA+ community in India

However, on June 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order, prompted by a writ petition led by individuals, including Gurung, to officially legalize same-sex marriage in Nepal. Despite this groundbreaking decision, the Kathmandu District Court rejected the move four months ago, citing the absence of requisite legal frameworks.

PTI reported that Surendra Pandey and Mayas marriage application was rejected at that time. Its a great pleasure to learn about this, it is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal," Pinky told PTI. This is the first case not only in Nepal but also in the whole of South Asia, and we welcome the decision."

Surendra, hailing from Nawalparasi district, and Maya, originally from Lamjung district, entered into a traditional marriage with the consent of their families. They have been cohabiting as a married couple for the past six years.

Also Read: Same same-sex marriage: SC refuses to grant legal recognition. Netizens disappointed says fake language of empathy

There are many third-gender couples living without their identities and rights and this is going to help them a lot," Pinky said, adding that the door has now opened for other people of this community to get their marriage legalised.

Now their marriage has been temporarily registered and after the formulation of necessary laws, it will get permanent recognition automatically."

Speaking to PTI after the marriage ceremony, Maya said, We both, Surendra and I are here at Dordi in Lamjung to celebrate the occasion together. Aama Samuha or the local Mother's Group is also joining together with us. We felt greatly honoured by the decision to register our marriage."

(With inputs from PTI)

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Weeks after Canadas charge of a suspected Indian state link to this Junes killing on its soil of a Khalistan activist wanted as a terrorist back in India was met with disbelief and demands for proof, a report appeared in Londons Financial Times of US authorities having foiled a plot in America to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, another separatist in the same bracket. Not just that, citing unnamed sources, the report added that the US had apprised Indias government of concerns the latter was involved.

This might seem like a second instance of such an insinuation, and thus less easy to dismiss. But the more pressing reason that New Delhi has constituted a high-level inquiry panel to probe charges related to the alleged Pannun conspiracy, as announced by the external affairs ministry on Wednesday, seems to be the power of the country thats levelling them.

The ministry took care to say the issue arose as part of talks on bilateral security cooperation and that the US shared some inputs" on a nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others", but the matter is clearly more sensitive than it let on. Lets hope it is resolved soon.
Today, 30 November, marks 365 days since India assumed the G20 presidency. It is a moment to reflect on, recommit to and rejuvenate the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: One Earth, One Family, One Future. As we undertook this responsibility last year, the global landscape grappled with multifaceted challenges: recovery from the covid pandemic, looming climate threats, financial instability and debt distress in developing nations, all amid declining multilateralism. In the midst of conflicts and competition, development cooperation suffered, impeding progress.

Assuming the G20 chair, India sought to offer the world an alternative to the status quo, a shift from GDP-centric to human-centric progress. India aimed to remind the world of what unites us, rather than what divides us. Finally, the global conversation had to evolvethe interests of the few had to give way to the aspirations of the many. This required a fundamental reform of multilateralism as we knew it.

Inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented and decisivethese four words defined our approach as G20 president, and the New Delhi Leaders Declaration (NDLD), unanimously adopted by all G20 members, is testimony to our commitment to deliver on these principles.

Inclusivity has been at the heart of our presidency. The inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 integrated 55 African nations into the forum, expanding it to encompass 80% of the global population. This proactive stance has fostered a more comprehensive dialogue on global challenges and opportunities.

The first-of-its-kind Voice of the Global South Summit, convened by India in two editions, heralded a new dawn of multilateralism. India mainstreamed the Global Souths concerns in the international discourse and has ushered in an era where developing countries take their rightful place in shaping the global narrative.

Inclusivity also infused Indias domestic approach to the G20, making it a peoples presidency that befits that worlds largest democracy. Through Jan Bhagidari (peoples participation) events, the G20 reached 1.4 billion citizens, involving all states and Union Territories (UTs) as partners. And on substantive elements, India ensured that international attention was directed to broader developmental aims, aligning with the G20s mandate. At the critical mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, India delivered the G20 2023 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), taking a cross-cutting, action-oriented approach to interconnected issues, including health, education, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

A key initiative driving this progress is robust digital public infrastructure (DPI). Here, India was decisive in its recommendations, having witnessed the revolutionary impact of digital innovations like Aadhaar, UPI and Digilocker first-hand. Through the G20, we successfully completed the DPI repository, a significant stride in global technological collaboration. This repository, featuring over 50 DPI systems from 16 countries, will help the Global South build, adopt and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth.

For our One Earth, we introduced ambitious and inclusive aims to create urgent, lasting and equitable change. The Declarations Green Development Pact addresses the challenges of choosing between combating hunger and protecting the planet, by outlining a comprehensive roadmap where employment and ecosystems are complimentary, consumption is climate conscious and production is planet-friendly. In tandem, the G20 Declaration calls for an ambitious tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Coupled with the establishment of the Global Biofuels Alliance and a concerted push for green hydrogen, the G20s ambitions to build a cleaner, greener world is undeniable. This has always been Indias ethos, and through Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), the world can benefit from our age-old sustainable traditions.

Further, the Declaration underscores our commitment to climate justice and equity, urging substantial financial and technological support from the Global North. For the first time, there was a recognition of the quantum jump needed in the magnitude of development financing, moving from billions to trillions of dollars. The G20 acknowledged that developing countries require $5.9 trillion to fulfil their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2030. Given the monumental resources required, the G20 emphasized the importance of better, larger and more effective Multilateral Development Banks. Concurrently, India is taking a leading role in United Nations reforms, especially in the restructuring of principal organs like the UN Security Council, that will ensure a more equitable global order.

Gender equality took centre-stage in the Declaration, culminating in the formation of a dedicated working group on the Empowerment of Women next year. Indias Womens Reservation Bill, 2023, reserving one-third of Indias Parliament and state legislative assembly seats for women, epitomizes our commitment to women-led development.

The New Delhi Declaration embodies a renewed spirit of collaboration across these key priorities, focusing on policy coherence, reliable trade and ambitious climate action. It is a matter of pride that during our presidency, the G20 achieved 87 outcomes and 118 adopted documents, a marked rise from the past. During our G20 presidency, India also led deliberations on geopolitical issues and their impact on economic growth and development. Terrorism and the senseless killing of civilians is unacceptable, and we must address it with a policy of zero-tolerance. We must embody humanitarianism over hostility and reiterate that this is not an era of war.

I am delighted that during our presidency India achieved the extraordinary: it revitalized multilateralism, amplified the voice of the Global South, championed development and fought for the empowerment of women everywhere.

As we hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, we do so with the conviction that our collective steps for people, the planet, peace and prosperity will resonate for years to come.
In the middle of an intense argument, a man thunders, Main likh ke deta hoon ki tum kuchh nahin kar paaoge" (I can give this in writing that you wont be able to do anything). With that clinching argument made, the other party quietens, perceptibly taken aback at the implied confidence in his powerlessness. That is the power of the written word. Used countless times daily through actions and words, the submission of something in writing stands for veracity, tangibility, authenticity and timelessness.

But does it anymore? To understand this, we need to go back in time. Since ancient times, Indian society relied on faithful verbal repetition, or shruti and smriti (heard knowledge and memory in the Hindu tradition), to pass on the exact message through generations without loss of information. But as the need increased for preservation of authenticity and wider dissemination, writing became first a convenience and later a necessity. Given the natural agelessness of the written form that outlives human life, writing soon became the sine qua non of any societal activity, whereby it was directly linked with literacy, formality and access to economic opportunities. Even in olden times, trade necessitated binding arrangements that were soon reflected in written documents. The Western world made material progress faster because, according to Professor Joseph Heinrich, it could transcend the boundaries imposed by having to transact within ones own tribes or communities. In the modern era, the written contract and its associated legal sanctity have hugely facilitated dealings between strangers, thus scaling up economic activity.

Writing was respected more than the verbalized word, not only for its mark of genuineness and a natural resistance to retraction in retrospect, but also for something else. Given that writing involved high levels of literacy as well as the use of period-centric technology in the form of tablet writing, calligraphy and later printing, it meant seriousness and scarcity at the same time. Limited by technology as much as costs of production and dissemination, a written artefact spoke like the Greek Oracles of yore.

Now, when those levers change, so does the outcome. Few could claim to be published authors earlier, and there were multiple rejections of exquisite works. Scarcity caused by production compulsions meant that quality was preferred over quantity. Today, one can get a book self-printed, and there are over 1,000 printing companies, big and small, a large proportion of which unfortunately do not operate with the necessary editorial rigour. Digitization and e-sharing have practically terminated all barriers to dissemination. You can write anything and share it widely at the touch of a thumb. That naturally does away with any sense of editorial checks or tone control. We can write the most egregious falsities about anyone, and within five minutes, the world can read it. Plagiarism has stigmatized some works of even the best in the business. An older generation continues to be led astray by random written words on WhatsApp or shady websites, for they were brought up on the authenticity of written content. Even in the financial world, which derives its strength from independent judgement, investment research reports by brokerage houses have frequently turned out to be sales brochures, bringing down one of the pillars of financial marketsunbiased information and analysis. The subprime crisis in the US a decade-and-a-half ago brought to the fore the issue of the integrity of credit ratings, which had clearly become highly compromised. The written word no longer stood the test of reality.

This erosion of trust, reliability and respect for the written word is compounded by social media, where anonymity encourages frivolity, exaggeration and falsities. The chasm between reality and fiction is so deep and yet so difficult to counter that it has given rise to a new avenue of employment, fact-checking, that now has to be checked for its own biases.

It necessitates the question: Was this steep drop from the scruples of ancient writing to the mockery it has become today sudden? Once the written word became easy to procure, disseminate and influence, there were suddenly no commas in the story of its decline.

Earlier, the publisher was responsible for picking wheat apart from the chaff, and now we the readers have to make that discernment, since writing now suffers from a problem of plenty and a scarcity of quality. Language-processing artificial intelligence (AI) will exacerbate this issue, as has already been identified in its ability to hallucinate, a euphemistic term for the untrue drivel it often produces. Amid all this, trust is inspired only by personal verifications and words spoken by people one trusts.

True to the Indian concept of cyclical time, we seem to have come full circle. Today, once again, we need to hear from learned men if what is published is indeed true. It is a considerable shift in the way societies operate.

If a country like ours can combine our traditional strengths with the sanctity of the written word, then that would be a new paradigm of global evolution and a shift of its centre of gravity from contract-based to trust-based societies. Otherwise, we will continue to be inundated with quotes attributed to Albert Einstein without knowing if they are real or fake. No wonder, then, that the classic old statement of confidence at the start of this article has become a ridiculous meme of a famous line used by Pankaj Tripathis character in the 2017 Hindi film Newton: Likh ke dunga."

These are the authors personal views.
Thin plastic bags have been banned across Australia, and supermarkets have switched to paper. Single-use plastic straws, cutlery and cotton buds are also being axed, so problem solved right?

Not even close.

Libby Hall is a qualified vet nurse, and a major part of her role is treating marine creatures that have swallowed household garbage. To keep track of the problem, she keeps a collection of what she recovers. And shes so disturbed by the problem she refuses to shop at Australias major supermarkets because they continue to stock their shelves with plastic-wrapped fruit, vegetables, and other produce.

Because of what I see on a daily basis I just cant shop in those places. But thats just personal. I try to stick to farmers' markets, go into smaller stores, or buy online, she told Yahoo News Australia.

Speaking personally, Libby Hall can't shop at the major supermarkets, because of what she sees doing her day-to-day work. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

Plastic bags will harm wildlife for years to come

This week, Libby and the team she manages at Taronga Zoos wildlife hospital in Sydney are treating two critically endangered Hawksbill turtles. When this species is brought into care, plastic is nearly always a factor contributing to their illness.

Despite some types of plastic bags being phased out, she sees no change in the number she pulls from the countrys endangered marine turtles.

It's only very recent that the supermarkets havent given away plastic bags, so I dont think were going to get a change in what we see overnight, she said.

Its going to take a very long time for change to occur. A lot of the fast-food stores also need to look at their production.

Libby Hall collects hundreds of plastic fragments that are excreted by sick marine life. Source: Taronga Conservation Society

Trillions of plastic pieces litter the oceans

The problem with plastics is they never disappear, they just break down into smaller fragments, and its believed between 171 and 358 trillion plastic particles now litter our oceans.

Marine creatures great and small mistake plastic for food, so the substance impacts every level of the food chain, including humans who eat fish.

Even a tiny hatchling green turtle that could easily fit in the palm of my hand was pooing micro plastics for six days after arrival, Libby said.

Story continues

Discover more of our environment coverage.

Fishing line and hooks a major problem for wildlife

Of course its not just supermarket plastic bags that impact our marine life. If you think you're doing the right thing buying biodegradable bags, you should know they don't degrade in water like they would on land.

Balloons and their strings are also collected in every colour of the rainbow, as are the red tops from soya sauce fish. And hard plastics also find their way into the ocean.

Fishing line and hooks continue to be a major killer of Australia's marine life. Source: Taronga Conservation Society

But theres another common problem the team at Taronga frequently sees impacting birds and turtles.

Fishing line and hooks are a huge issue, Libby warned.

People rescue them and bring them into us all the time. We see the problem in seabirds, all waterbirds  so ducks, herons, swans nearly every pelican and cormorant we see has some sort of fishing hook or line ingestion or injury.

Sadly, for an animal to be caught by a human so it can be brought into the wildlife hospital for treatment, its usually already in an emaciated state.

I just dont know how many animals are out there that no one is able to rescue, she said. It's a really sad situation.

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More than 190 governments are gathering in Dubai starting Thursday for the United Nations annual two-week summit where nations attempt to forge a collective response to the problem of climate change.

This year, four topics are expected to dominate the negotiations: a report on the worldwide implementation of the landmark Paris accord called the global stocktake," the future of fossil fuels, climate finance for poorer countries and the setting up of a fund to pay for climate damage.

The meeting in Dubai is the 28th conference of the partiesor COP28to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the global climate treaty signed in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. The conferences operate on the basis of consensus, meaning that all nations must sign on to an agreement for it to be adopted.

What is the global stocktake?

This year is the first global stocktake of the Paris accord, the landmark climate agreement signed in 2015 that calls for governments to limit warming to well below" 2 degrees Celsius over preindustrial levels and attempt to hold it to 1.5 degrees. The agreement requires the first stocktake in 2023, and then every five years afterward.

The stocktake is supposed to review progress since the accord was signed and make recommendations for the next round of national climate plans, which governments must submit to the U.N. next year. A technical analysis for the stocktake published in September offered a downbeat assessment: There has been some progress since 2015, but governments are far from meeting the Paris agreements temperature targets.

In 2010, the world was on track for between 3.7 and 4.8 degrees of warming. With plans submitted in 2015 at the signing of the Paris accord, that range fell to 3-3.2 degrees. Now, U.N.-backed scientists expect warming of 2.5 degrees.

How to respond to that gap will be one of the main topics of the stocktake debate at COP28. The Like-Minded Developing Countries groupwhich includes China, India and Saudi Arabiasaid the first step is to acknowledge who is responsible: the U.S., Europe and other developed countries that havent cut their emissions as promised over the past 20 years.

We need to remind ourselves of the substantive gaps in pre-2020 commitments," Saudi Arabia said earlier this year on behalf of the Like-Minded group. We are not starting from scratch here."

The debate on fossil fuels

Developed nations are pushing for the stocktake to call for sharp reductions in burning fossil fuels. They were pleased by the language that made it into the stocktakes technical analysis: Scaling up renewable energy and phasing out all unabated fossil fuels are indispensable elements of just energy transitions to net zero emissions."

European negotiators say it will be a battle to get that language into the final stocktake agreement.

Countries are expected to debate several variations of the language around fossil-fuel use. Big developing countries want to mention a phase-down" of emissions, which would be consistent with reducing fossil-fuel consumption to low levels and abating" the remaining emissions by capturing and storing them.

Developed nations want stronger language that would call for a phase-out" of fossil fuels.

French President Emmanuel Macron and some other leaders are expected to call for a halt to private financing for new coal-fired power plants, a French official said.

Climate finance

To help poorer countries shift away from fossil fuels, the Paris accord calls for rich countries to help them. The amount of money that needs to move from rich to poor countries is huge. The International Monetary Fund says developing countries need $2 trillion a year starting in 2030 to respond to climate change, with much of that coming from wealthy nations.

At previous U.N. climate talks, wealthy countries agreed to channel $100 billion a year to developing nations by 2020 to help them adopt clean energy and adapt to the effects of climate change. After that goal was missed for several years, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club of mostly wealthy nations, said it was likely that countries hit the $100 billion target last year, though final data isnt yet available.

Now governments are debating a new finance goal. The Paris agreement requires them to set it at the COP next year, and negotiations have been under way for some time. A key question is how to define climate finance: Is it money sent from developed governments to developing countries? Is it also money mobilized from private investors that piggybacks onto government funds? Or is it all money, both public and private, that flows from wealthy economies to poorer ones for the purpose of responding to climate change?

If negotiators settle on a broad definition, then wealthy countries might be willing to set a big target of $1 trillion or more, officials say.

Loss and damage

Connected to the finance debate is the issue of loss and damage, which occurs when damage caused by climate change is so severe that communities can no longer adapt. At last years COP at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, governments agreed to set up a specific fund to help developing countries facing irreparable harm from climate change. Since then, they have been quarreling over the details, in particular where the fund would be located.

A committee established in Egypt appeared close to a deal in early November. The fund would at first be managed by the World Bank; the bank could be the permanent host, or the funds board could choose a different country to host it.

The draft agreement urged all countries with the means, even developing ones, to contribute. That was an important demand from developed countries, which want to see higher-income developing nations such as China and the Persian Gulf states chip in. The U.S., however, objected at the last minute, saying that it wanted more clarity in the text that the contributions are voluntary.

Officials from the U.S. and elsewhere expect that this problem will be fixed relatively quickly at COP. The United Arab Emirates, the summits host, aims to raise $500 million in contributions at the conference for the new fund.

Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com
This year is the hottest on record, and evidence is growing that climate systems are hitting dangerous tipping points. That backdrop is intensifying a fight over the future of fossil fuels that is set to dominate the annual United Nations climate conference over the next two weeks.

New studies have found that several tipping pointsfrom a collapse of Atlantic Ocean currents to drying of the Amazon rainforestcould be passed sooner than anticipated, some around the middle of this century. Loss of much of the West Antarctic ice sheet may already be unavoidable. Global temperatures, meanwhile, set record highs this year, the U.N.s World Meteorological Organization said Thursday.

We are now on the precipice of tipping pointsthe point at which events can simply unfold of their own momentum," U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said in a recent speech.

Governments from more than 190 countries are descending on Dubai for the COP28 conference, which opens Thursday near some of the worlds largest oil reserves. The threat of tipping points is driving demands from the U.S. and other governments for sharp reductions in fossil-fuel burning to fulfill the Paris accord, the landmark 2015 climate agreement. Western officials are calling for a global halt to the construction of coal-burning power plants.

Big developing countries such as China, India and Saudi Arabia are expected to resist, saying that poorer nations will need coal, oil and natural gas for decades to power economic growth and provide energy security.

The U.N. said Thursday that 2023 is on track to be significantly hotter than the previous records. Through the end of October, the year was about 1.4 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, topping the 1.29 degrees reported in 2016. June, July, August, September and October each topped the previous records for the months, and July recorded the highest monthly temperature on record. The Paris agreement calls for governments to limit warming to well below" 2 degrees since the preindustrial era and attempt to hold it to 1.5 degrees.

Incremental increases in average temperature can have a great impact on climate systems. Scientists define a climate tipping point as a relatively small change that produces an effect that is irreversible over long periods, self-propelling and possibly sudden. Triggering one or more tipping points would significantly raise the costs of climate change, scientists and officials say.

The existence of tipping points means that the difference between 1.5 and 1.8 degrees could be enormous, said Tim Lenton, director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter in the U.K.

Each 10th of a degree of warming from now on matters, and not all tenths of a degree are necessarily equal," Lenton said. At some point there will be a 10th of a degree of warming that passes one or possibly more than one tipping point, which brings abrupt and/or irreversible damages."

A collapse of Atlantic Ocean currents would threaten food production across the Northern Hemisphere. Rapid melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet is already pushing up sea levels. A rapid drying of the Amazon basin would threaten South Americas entire ecosystem.

We should all hope that the point of no return has not been reached yet," said Brazilian environment minister Marina Silva, describing the wildfires that have been encroaching deeper into the Amazon forest.

Global emissions would need to fall 43% by 2030 compared with 2019 to put the world on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees.

Instead, emissions are still rising, and national climate plans completed to date under the Paris accord would put the world on track for 2.5 degrees of warming by the end of the century, according to an analysis published in November by the U.N. Environment Program. The warming falls to 1.8 degrees after taking into account long-term emission-reduction pledges and making certain optimistic assumptions, the analysis says.

Western officials say the conference in Dubai offers a chance for governments to agree to speed up their plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. It marks the first global stocktake" required under the Paris accord, a review of progress since the agreement was signed eight years ago.

An analysis for the stocktake drafted by the U.S. and South Africa calls for the world to phase out burning fossil fuels unless the emissions are captured and stored, a technology still in its early stages.

We were really delighted to see that language," a European negotiator said. We are anticipating that there will be pushback on this, and it will be hard-fought to get this language into a final political outcome."

A growing body of research has shown that big changes in climate have often been abrupt. Ice-core samples from Greenland show evidence of a number of large, rapid temperature swings. Around 11,500 years ago, for example, scientists believe temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere rose as much as 10 degrees Celsius in a few decades, the end of a cold period known as the Younger Dryas.

Around 5,500 years ago, the Sahara expanded by a third in as little as 100 years due to the interaction of slight changes in Earths orbit with local climate patterns, said Victor Brovkin, a climate scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany.

In geologic records, you always find these relatively fast changes," Brovkin said.

One system that could be disrupted at warming between 1.5 and 2 degrees is known as the North Atlantic subpolar gyre, a current that flows around Greenland. Its collapse would make summers in Europe hotter, winters colder and could raise the sea level along the Northeast U.S., scientists say.

A far more disruptive tipping point would be the collapse of a vast ocean current known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. A hotly debated study published in July in the journal Nature said a tipping point could arrive around midcentury. A collapse would shift rainfall patterns around the globe, cool the Northern Hemisphere, warm the Southern Hemisphere and stress agriculture worldwide, scientists say.

Ice-loss on the West Antarctic ice shelf is accelerating and would continue even if warming stopped altogetheran unlikely prospect, says Kaitlin Naughten, a climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey.

There is some amount of sea-level rise locked in that we need to make a plan to react to," Naughton said. If the warming of the ocean speeds up, that would only bring us to the point that the retreat is unstoppable."

Luciana Magalhaes contributed to this article.

Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com

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NASA and Space Weather Prediction Center Scientists have issued a warning about an upcoming solar storm that is slated to strike Earth today, November 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a geomagnetic storm watch alert for December 1 that is expected to disrupt radio and GPS signals. The solar storm, cannibal CMEs" would strike the Earth on November 30 night and conclude by December 1 early morning.

The strike is expected to occur following a powerful M9.8-class solar flare erupted that from the sun on November 29 at 2:50 p.m. EST (1950 GMT), reported space.com. This flare ejected a plasma eruption known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth and is expected to strike Earth today.

NASA's findings also suggest that the solar storm could result in vivid auroras in the nighttime sky along with radio blackouts that also occurred earlier this week. NASA warned that the CME is expected to show up a 15-hour-long G2-class solar flare.

What is coronal mass ejection?

Coronal mass ejection consists of waves emitted from the sun that carry highly charged ions that are capable of damaging satellites and communication systems on Earth. These CME ejections possess the potential to blast Earths magnetosphere with solar energy and excite different gasses like oxygen and nitrogen, reported MPR News.
December 2023 holds promise with the anticipated release of feature-packed smartphones from brands such as Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme, and others. If you are considering a smartphone upgrade, it might be worthwhile to wait for the launch of these devices and explore them for potential better deals. Check out the list of upcoming smartphones expected to debut in December.

Redmi 13C

Budget smartphone maker Redmi is all set to launch its Redmi 13C 5G smartphone in India with a focus on the 10,000 smartphone segment. The Redmi 13C 5G will be a successor to the already popular Redmi 12C, which was launched in March this year.

The Redmi 13C made its debut in Nigeria earlier this year and is all set to be launched in India on December 6, Redmi confirmed in a social media post. Redmi's post notes that the Redmi 13C will be a 5G phone, making it the first phone in the company's 'C' series of smartphones to come with support for 5G.

Meanwhile, according to the Amazon listing of the Redmi 13C 5G, the smartphone will have a 50 MP primary camera and will be offered in two colours: Stardust Black and Star Shine Green.

OnePlus 12 5G

OnePlus is set to reveal the OnePlus 12 in China on December 5, with the global launch date yet to be officially disclosed. The Chinese brand has initiated the international promotion of the OnePlus 12, hinting at a potential global launch date of January 24. While awaiting official confirmation on the international launch date, tipster Max Jambor has mentioned that the OnePlus 12 series will be globally unveiled on January 23rd in India.

Realme GT5 Pro

As per HT, the upcoming phone is scheduled to make its debut in China on December 7. Fueled by the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, this device is likely to have advanced features such as wireless charging and an impressive 1TB storage capacity, setting it apart from its counterparts. The launch date for India is yet to be disclosed, leaving enthusiasts eager for more details. Anticipation is high for the phone's release in India next year, with an estimated price range of Rs. 50,000 to 60,000.

Redmi Note 13 Pro Series

The imminent launch of the Redmi Note 13 Pro series in India is generating significant buzz, with expectations set for a launch in December or January. These smartphones, already introduced in China, are likely to enter the Indian market with a pricing strategy that appears to fall within the affordable range of Rs. 30,000, reported HT Tamil. Stay tuned for the official announcement as enthusiasts eagerly await the unveiling of the Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 13 Pro, and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G in the coming months.

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Godrej is a brand that has been synonymous with reliability and innovation in the world of home appliances for decades. When it comes to refrigerators , Godrej has consistently stood out as a pioneer, offering cutting-edge technology and unmatched performance. In this era of advanced cooling solutions, the Godrej refrigerator emerges as a frontrunner, especially in the category of double-door refrigerators.

A Godrej refrigerator is not just a cooling appliance; it's a testament to a legacy of trust and quality. The brand's commitment to providing the best to its customers is evident in every aspect of their refrigerators. Whether you are a seasoned home chef or someone who simply enjoys a refreshing glass of chilled water on a hot day, a Godrej double-door refrigerator is designed to cater to your needs.

What sets a Godrej refrigerator apart is its reliable cooling technology. The brand has mastered the art of keeping your food fresh and beverages cool, ensuring that every time you open the refrigerator door, you're greeted with a burst of freshness. The double-door design adds an extra layer of convenience, segregating the freezer and fresh food compartments for efficient storage and easy access.

The top 5 double-door refrigerators in this blog by Godrej showcase the brand's dedication to staying ahead of the curve. From energy efficiency to smart features that enhance usability, Godrej refrigerators embody a perfect blend of functionality and style.

Join us on a journey through this blog where we explore the features that make them reliable companions in your kitchen. Discover the technology that keeps your fruits and vegetables crisp, your ice cream perfectly frozen, and your beverages at the optimal chilling temperature. Embrace the cool elegance of Godrej refrigerators which is a blend of simplicity, innovation, and the assurance of trustworthy cooling technology.

Product List

1. Godrej 234 L 2 Star Inverter, 24 Days Farm Freshness Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

Introducing the Godrej 234 L 2 Star Inverter Refrigerator which is a reliable companion for your kitchen needs. Proudly crafted in India, this refrigerator boasts a 234-liter capacity, ensuring ample space for all your culinary delights. With a 2-star energy rating and a low annual energy consumption of 239 kilowatt-hours, it's both efficient and eco-friendly. Say goodbye to the hassle of defrosting with the auto defrost function that prevents ice buildup. The Advanced Inverter technology makes it energy-efficient, less noisy, and more durable. The fridge comes with a 1-year product warranty and an impressive 10-year compressor warranty, providing you peace of mind. Equipped with Nano Shield Technology, this Godrej refrigerator ensures a 95%+ disinfection of food surfaces, keeping your items fresh and healthy. The Cool Balance Technology guarantees optimal cooling throughout the fridge with its revolutionary airflow system. What sets this refrigerator apart is its Farm Freshness feature, allowing you to retain the freshness of your produce for up to 24 days. The movable and removable ice maker adds convenience to your storage needs, adjusting to your freezer load.

Specifications of Godrej 234 L 2 Star Inverter, 24 Days Farm Freshness Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

Product Dimensions: 75D x 65W x 152H Centimeters

Brand: Godrej

Capacity: 234 litres

Configuration : Double

Energy Star: 2 Star

Pros Cons Nano Shield Food Disinfection Only 2-Star Energy Rating Farm Freshness for 24 Days

Also read: Top 10 refrigerator brands in India for 2023

2. Godrej 244 L 3 Star Convertible Freezer 6-In-1, 30 Days Farm Freshness, Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigerator

Say goodbye to ice build-up with the frost-free technology with Godrej 244 L 3 Star Convertible Freezer 6-In-1 Refrigerator ensuring effortless maintenance. With a spacious 244 L capacity, this energy-efficient refrigerator is perfect for families of 2 to 3 members, boasting a 3-star energy efficiency rating. This Godrej refrigeratorcomes with a 10-year compressor warranty and a 1-year comprehensive warranty, providing you peace of mind. Equipped with an energy-efficient inverter compressor, thisreliable fridge operates quietly while adjusting cooling based on your usage. The storage setup includes 194 L for fresh food, 50 L for the freezer, and 2 toughened glass shelves for easy organization. Experience optimal and precise cooling in every corner with the Cool Balance Technology, complemented by the Multi Inverter Technology for enhanced efficiency. The 6-in-1 Convertible Freezer Technology allows you to customize the freezer in six different modes to suit your needs. Maintain farm-fresh goodness for up to 30 days with the Cool Balance Technology and Moisture Control Technology.

Specifications of Godrej 244 L 3 Star Convertible Freezer 6-In-1, 30 Days Farm Freshness, Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigerator

Brand: Godrej

Capacity: 244 litres

Annual Energy Consumption: 231 Kilowatt Hours Per Year

Refrigerator Fresh Food Capacity: 194 litres

Freezer Capacity: 50 Litres

Pros Cons Energy-efficient Inverter Compressor May Be Large for Smaller Spaces Convertible Freezer for Flexible Storage

3. Godrej 331 L 2 Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

Presenting the Godrej 331 L 2 Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator which is an appliance designed to elevate your cooling experience. Boasting a 2-star energy rating with an annual consumption of just 259 Kilowatt Hours, thisGodrej refrigerator is not only energy-efficient but also cost-effective. The appliance, proudly made in India, comes with a 1-year warranty for the product and an impressive 10-year warranty for the compressor.n Equipped with advanced features like Nano Shield Technology, it ensures a 95%+ disinfection of the food surface, promoting a healthier environment for your edibles. The fridge-freezer convert feature offers flexibility, allowing you to adapt the space according to your needs. The Inverter Compressor ensures intelligent and energy-efficient operation, providing superiorcooling technology with a silent touch. The patented Cool Shower Technology guarantees 360-degree cooling, with in-built air vents strategically placed above the food. The refrigerator's Intelligent Operations take automation to the next level, adjusting the defrost cycle based on parameters such as the last defrost cycle, duration, ambient temperature, and door openings, enhancing overall efficiency.

Specifications of Godrej 331 L 2 Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

Product Dimensions: 67.6D x 65.2W x 167H Centimeters

Brand: Godrej

Capacity: 331 litres

Configuration: Full-Sized Freezer-on-Top

Energy Star: 2 Star

Pros Cons Energy-Saving Inverter Compressor Annual Consumption is 259 Kilowatt Hours Intelligent Operations for Enhanced Efficiency

Also read: 10 best refrigerators with price details and feature

4. Godrej Eon Alpha 253L 2 Star Frost Free Refrigerator With Inverter Compressor

Introducing the Godrej Eon Alpha 253L 2 Star Frost Free Refrigerator with Inverter Compressor which is an ideal cooling solution for households with 3 to 4 members or bachelors. Engineered with Cool Balance Technology, this double door refrigerator ensures a perfect balance of coolness, keeping your food fresher for longer. With a generous 253-liter capacity, thisGodrej refrigeratorprovides ample storage space for all your groceries. The energy-efficient 2 Star rating not only helps you save on electricity bills but also contributes to a greener environment. The appliance features toughened glass shelves, adding durability and ease to your storage needs. Experience the convenience of an inverter compressor that adapts to your cooling demands, ensuring efficient performance. The elegant red exterior adds a touch of style to your kitchen while the thoughtful design enhances accessibility. Invest in thisbest Godrej fridge for a seamless blend of technology and convenience.

Specifications of Godrej Eon Alpha 253L 2 Star Frost Free Refrigerator

Product Dimensions: 68.9D x 59.7W x 153H Centimeters

Brand: Godrej

Capacity: 253 litres

Configuration : Standard double door

Energy Star: 2 Star

Pros Cons Ample 253L storage capacity Inverter compressor may require maintenance Cool Balance Technology for freshness

5. Godrej Edge 294 L 2 Star Double Door Refrigerator

Take your kitchen experience to the best with the Godrej Edge 294 L 2 Star Refrigerator which is a top-notch appliance designed for families of 3 to 4 members. This frost-free refrigerator boasts a 294 L capacity, ensuring ample space for your groceries. With an energy-efficient 2-star rating, this refrigerator not only saves energy but also comes with a 10-year compressor warranty, offering long-term peace of mind. The innovative Cool Balance Technology guarantees optimal cooling in every corner, thanks to its revolutionary airflow system. What sets this refrigerator apart is its special feature - Nano Shield Technology. Achieving a 95%+ food surface disinfection, it ensures the health and safety of your stored items. The appliance also promises up to 30 days of farm freshness for your fruits and vegetables, courtesy of Cool Balance and Moisture Control technologies. The storage configuration of thisGodrej refrigeratorincludes 222 L for fresh food, 58 L for the freezer, and toughened glass shelves for durability. Invest in this quality refrigerator for cooling solution that combines advanced technology with a stylish design, perfect for modern households.

Specifications of Godrej Edge 294 L 2 Star Double Door Refrigerator

Product Dimensions: 63.6D x 60.7W x 168H Centimeters

Brand: Godrej

Capacity: 294 litres

Configuration : Freezer-on-Top

Energy Star: 2 Star

Pros Cons Efficient Nano Shield Disinfection May be Pricey for Some Budgets 10-Year Compressor Warranty

Top 3 features for you:

Product Feature 1 Feature 2 Feature 3 Godrej 234 L 2 Star Inverter, 24 Days Farm Freshness Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator Nano shield Technology. store extra large 2.25 L bottles of water or cola with ease. LED light with prism lens for uniform distribution Godrej 244 L 3 Star Convertible Freezer 6-In-1, 30 Days Farm Freshness, Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigerator 6 in 1 convertible freezer technology Cool Balance Technology for Precise Cooling 10-Year Compressor Warranty for Longevity Godrej 331 L 2 Star Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator Nano Shield Technology for Food Disinfection Fridge-Freezer Convert with 4 Modes Intelligent Operations and Inverter Compressor Godrej Eon Alpha 253L 2 Star Frost Free Refrigerator With Inverter Compressor Cool Balance Technology Inverter Compressor Efficiency Toughened Glass Shelves Godrej Edge 294 L 2 Star Double Door Refrigerator Nano Shield Technology Cool Balance Technology 30 Days Farm Freshness

Best overall product

Godrej 244 L 3 Star Convertible Freezer 6-In-1, 30 Days Farm Freshness, Frost Free Inverter Double Door Refrigerator

This refrigerator stands out as the best overall product due to its combination of features that cater to diverse needs. The 244-liter capacity makes it suitable for families of 2 to 3 members, and the 3-star energy efficiency rating ensures both energy savings and environmental friendliness. The convertible freezer with 6-in-1 technology provides flexible storage options, allowing users to customize the freezer according to their requirements. The Cool Balance Technology and Moisture Control Technology contribute to maintaining farm-fresh goodness for up to 30 days. Additionally, the refrigerator comes with a 10-year compressor warranty, offering long-term peace of mind.

Best value for money product

Godrej 234 L 2 Star Inverter, 24 Days Farm Freshness Frost Free Double Door Refrigerator

This refrigerator offers excellent value for money with its 234-liter capacity, 2-star energy rating, and advanced features. The Farm Freshness feature, allowing retention of produce freshness for up to 24 days, is a standout benefit. The Inverter technology ensures energy efficiency, reduced noise, and enhanced durability. Despite being a 2-star rated appliance, it boasts low annual energy consumption, making it a cost-effective choice for those who prioritize efficiency without compromising on performance. The inclusion of Nano Shield Technology for food disinfection further adds value to the overall package.

How to choose a double door Godrej refrigerator?

Choosing a double door Godrej refrigerator involves considering various factors to ensure that it meets your specific needs and preferences. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a double door refrigerator:

Capacity: Consider the size of your family and your typical food storage needs. Choose a refrigerator with sufficient capacity to accommodate your weekly groceries.

Dimensions: Measure the space where you plan to place the refrigerator to ensure that it fits comfortably. Consider factors like door swing space and the opening radius.

Energy Efficiency: Look for refrigerators with high energy efficiency ratings. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in India provides star ratings, and higher star ratings indicate greater energy efficiency.

Cooling Technology: Godrej refrigerators often come with advanced cooling technologies. Look for features like Frost-Free technology to prevent the buildup of ice, which eliminates the need for manual defrosting.

Shelves and Compartments: Check the number and adjustability of shelves and compartments. Flexible storage options make it easier to organize items of different sizes and shapes.

Door Design: Assess the design of the refrigerator doors. Godrej refrigerators may have features like a separate compartment for storing fruits and vegetables or a dedicated space for dairy products.

Freezer Placement: Double door refrigerators typically have the freezer compartment at the top. Consider if this arrangement suits your preferences, as it affects the accessibility of frozen items.

Temperature Controls: Check if the refrigerator has adjustable temperature controls for different compartments. This feature allows you to customize the temperature based on the type of food stored.

Defrosting Mechanism: Godrej refrigerators may have different defrosting mechanisms, including manual and automatic options. Choose a model that aligns with your preferences and lifestyle.

Warranty: Check the warranty offered by the manufacturer. A longer warranty period can provide you with peace of mind and protection against potential issues.

Price: Set a budget for your refrigerator purchase. Compare prices across different models with similar features to ensure you get the best value for your money.

FAQs

Question : What is the capacity range available in Godrej double door refrigerators?

Ans : Godrej offers double door refrigerators with capacities ranging from 235 liters to 470 liters, catering to various household needs.

Question : Are Godrej double door refrigerators energy-efficient?

Ans : Yes, Godrej double door refrigerators are designed to be energy-efficient, with many models featuring a BEE star rating to indicate their energy efficiency.

Question : Do these refrigerators come with a frost-free feature?

Ans : Yes, most Godrej double door refrigerators come with a frost-free feature, preventing the build-up of frost inside the freezer compartment.

Question : What are the key features of Godrej double door refrigerators?

Ans : Some common features include toughened glass shelves, large vegetable trays, anti-bacterial technology, and intelligent inverter compressors for energy savings.

Question : Can I expect a warranty with a Godrej double door refrigerator?

Ans : Yes, Godrej typically offers a warranty on their refrigerators, with the duration varying based on the model. Customers should check the specific warranty terms for the chosen model.

Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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In September, Apple unveiled the iOS 17 update for eligible iPhones, introducing various enhancements. One notable addition was the NameDrop feature, enabling users to share contacts by simply bringing their devices close together. However, in Pennsylvania, this feature caused disruptions and raised security issues, prompting the local police department to caution users about its potential risks.

The Name Drop feature in iOS 17 allows users to share contacts through AirDrop by bringing their iPhones into close proximity. However, the Chester Police Department has recently issued a warning, advising iPhone users to refrain from utilizing this feature and to promptly disable NameDrop on their devices.

Moreover, the police department posted a privacy advisory on their Facebook page, stating, If you have an iPhone and have done the recent iOS 17 update, they have set a new feature called NameDrop defaulted to ON. This feature allows the sharing of your contact info just by bringing your phones close together. To shut this off go to Settings, General, AirDrop, and Bringing Devices Together. Change to OFF," as reported by Forbes.

Reportedly, the commotion surrounding the NameDrop feature was merely a misunderstanding and not a significant cause for concern, as Apple has addressed users' security apprehensions.

To activate the NameDrop feature, both iPhones must be unlocked, and the iPhone user must grant permission to share contacts when utilizing this iOS 17 feature. Hence, users need not be alarmed about security, as contact details are not shared until users explicitly agree to the permission. Therefore, there is no genuine cause for worry when using the iPhone NameDrop feature.

If you wish to refrain from using the NameDrop feature, you can easily deactivate it by navigating to iPhone settings, selecting "General," then accessing "AirDrop," and finally choosing "Bringing Devices Together." Simply switch the toggle off, and the feature will be disabled.

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Elon Musk , who has had a tense relationship with advertisers since taking over X (formerly Twitter) last year, has told them to "go f**k themselves". Musk's comment comes amid a slew of companies, from Disney to Apple, pulling advertising from X over an alleged anti-Semitic post by Musk.

Also Read: Israeli President urges Elon Musk to combat anti-Semitism on X, says he has huge role to play in

In an interaction at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Musk said, "If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, Go f**k yourself. Is that clear, I hope it is Hey Bob (Iger), if youre in the audience. Thats how I feel, dont advertise."

No, totally. Look what this advertising boycott is going to do, it's going to kill the company and the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company" Musk added.

The retort by Musk was aimed at Disney CEO Bob Iger who had earlier in the summit said that the association with X was no longer a positive one for his company.

Iger said, I have a lot of respect for Elon and what he has accomplished We know that Elon is larger than life in many respects, and that his name is very much connected to the companies he founded or owns. By him taking the position he took in a public manner, we felt that the association was not necessarily a positive one for us."

Musk's regrets reacting to anti-semitic post:

Earlier this month, Musk agreed with a post claiming that Jewish people have a "dialectical hatred" of white people. The content of the tweet is believed to be widely used by white supremacist conspiracy theorists. Musk's response also drew criticism from the Joe Biden-led White House, which called the billionaire's action a " abhorrent promotion of anti-Semitic and racist hate".

The list of companies that have since stopped advertising on X has grown to include big names such as Disney, IBM, Apple, Comcast, IBM, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Paramount and Warner Bros.

In the interaction with the New York Times, Musk regretted reacting to the controversial post, he said, I am quite sorryI should in retrospect not have replied to that particular post". The 52-year-old also went ahead to call his reaction to the anti-semitic post one of the most foolish if not the most foolish thing Ive ever done on the platform"

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Heated debate has erupted over vending machines in Costco stores offering cheap bottled cold water, with some arguing the low prices actually represent a "shameful" side of society.

The ultra-cheap water is available for just 50c in Australian stores. And while those tired of sky-high supermarket prices praised the offer, which is well below what you'd pay at rivals Coles and Woolworths, environmentalists say Costco is just displaying another example of excessive plastic use.

The debate initially emerged on Reddit where a user posted a photo of the cheap water available in US stores for 25c, but Yahoo has confirmed Australian stores offer a similar deal, albeit slightly more expensive.

Costco's ultra-cheap bottled water has sparked heated debate among environmentalists. Pictured is a vending machine in the US (left) and Australia (right). Source: Reddit / Supplied.

Aussie tap water among cleanest in the world

Experts say that while Australians have access to some of the highest-quality tap water on the planet, the rate at which we consume bottled water doesn't reflect that. Additionally, we also pay the most for bottled water compared to any other country on earth, according to a 2021 United Nations (UN) report. The report said Australia has the second highest consumption rate per capita of bottled water behind Singapore.

Independent researchers Emerald for Sustainability echo the UN's report and say the impact of Aussies' obsession with bottled water has now reached problematic levels.

The group revealed the country's annual use of bottled water generates more than 60,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions  the same amount that 13,000 cars generate over the course of a year.

Bottled Aussie water a billion dollar industry

The sector is also projected to generate a revenue of $1.8 billion in Australia in 2023, according to data gathered firm Statista, and it's expected to grow by 3 per cent each year.

Story continues

It's been estimated that individual Australians roughly spend between $45 to $500 annually on bottled water, according to various data sets including UN research, with the average volume of store-bought bottled water an Aussie will drink in 2023 being around 27 litres.

An image created on AI platform Midjourney shows how Sydney Harbour could look in 2050 if Australia's plastic recycling programs continue to fail. Source: Rianti Bieler

With some 7 billion tonnes of plastic entering the ocean every year  and over 80 per cent of marine litter found on Aussie beaches alone being plastic  experts have warned that now is the time to cut down on the "unnecessary" habit of buying water, and to boycott single-use plastics in stores.

'It's a curse'

Total Environment Centre (TEC) founder Jeff Angel said Australia's insatiable appetite for bottled water stems from a mix of "very successful marketing and convenience gone crazy".

"I think it's a curse the industry has put on consumers to convince them that they need the pipe water in plastic bottles, whether at home or away from home," Angel told Yahoo News Australia.

"Put it this way, before we had bottled water, there weren't many health alarms about the safety of tap water going off," he said.

"So the water industry has engaged in a massive marketing campaign to change people's perceptions and that's led to the enormous waste of plastic, extraction of water resources and all the energy costs involved."

Angel explained that since state and federal governments started implementing bans on single-use plastics, which have gradually been rolled out over the last decade, we have started to see some improvements when it comes to our plastic consumption. But, he warned, there's much more to be done.

"The container [refund] schemes are making a big impact on single-use on the bottles," he said, pointing to the fact less discarded plastic bottles are turning up in places such as beaches.

"So yeah, there's a very significant impact from the refund scheme. It doesn't mean we're still not wasting a lot of energy producing the bottles though."

New plastic-induced disease emerges

Meanwhile, a new plastic-induced disease found in seabirds has scientists calling for more research into the pollutant's impact on human tissue. An Australian study has found large amounts of scar tissue inside the stomach lining of all 30 flesh-footed shearwaters. Dubbed plasticosis, the new illness was detected on Lord Howe Island, 700 km northeast of Sydney and reported in Journal of Hazardous Materials by Adrift Lab in March.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new weekly newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Not only were valuables taken in this middle-of-the-night theft, a handgun was also stolen. Have a good look at the video. We have up to $1,000 reward if you recognize one or both of our suspects.
An American influencer has taken aim at Australia with a list of pet peeves after a recent trip to Perth and Sydney. "I just spent 10 days in Australia and I have words," Lo Swo, a digital creator and OnlyFans model, told her TikTok followers.

While she began her video by praising the country for its "clean and fresh" smelling air, Lo was quick to air her first complaint about the land Down Under. "Flies," she said. "Australians, I don't know how you're surviving with the flies."

Conceding that mosquitoes are bad where she lives in Florida, she said she'd take them any day over Australia's flies, even though she understands they get worse in summer. "Help me God, that was terrible," she added.

Lo Swo, a digital creator and OnlyFans model, listed her pet peeves about Australia in a video which has since gone viral. Source: TikTok/@wouldyakindly

Laundry list of Australia's 'downsides'

The content creator then went on to describe the trauma she experienced while watching a magpie "gang fight". "It was like a five-on-one fight. Pretty sure they killed the one. I don't know why but it happened. I saw it. It was terrifying," she told her 313,000 followers.

Next up, she claimed Aussies have warped concepts of time and distance, before complaining about our lack of nightlife. "Nothing is open past 7 or 8pm, all the restaurants close at like 5 and then all of the stores close at like 7," she said. "Also, nothing is open on the weekends, like after midnight... Perth was like 'Mmmm, it's late, go to bed, everybody go to bed'. Surprisingly no nightlife really when it comes to Perth, that was strange to me."

'You guys got a lot of racists'

Lo was also surprised to discover a darker side to Australia. "You guys got a lot of racists like America," she griped, adding that she was offended by a particular habit she'd observed. "A lot of Australians thought it'd be funny to compare every racist thing they would say to Mexicans, as if my partner and I would think that was funny because we're American. And I don't because most of my family lives in Mexico now.

Story continues

"So that wasn't cool. That sucked," she said. "I felt bad for anybody who was a minority living in Australia dealing with that."

Lo spent 10 days in Australia and left with several complaints. Source: Instagram/@wouldyoukindly

Lo did pepper her remarks with compliments about Australia, praising WA's "beautiful" Rottnest Island, the "amazing" public transit system and the fact kangaroos can be found "hanging out" just outside the city.

Will she return to the Lucky Country? "I don't know if I would do it again anytime soon," she said. "But, yeah, Australia you're all right, minus the flies, that was terrible, but you're all right."

Video divides Aussie viewers

The video has racked up over 345,000 views and has divided Aussies. "Don't judge all of Australia by Perth. Perth is nice but everything closes early," one viewer pushed, while another described the city as "basically a small town" that's "20 years behind the rest of Australia".

Others defended the relative quietness of Perth, with one viewer arguing, "not everyone wants a city and city life", while another claimed Perth residents "like to be different than the rest of Australia".

When it came to flies, lots of Aussies agreed they've been particularly bad this year. "They're absolutely doing my head in," someone responded, while others said "at least flies don't bite" like mozzies.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Roscommon County Council will examine the viability of a proposal to recognise the heroic work of nationalist hero Dr Bridget Lyons Thornton.



Roscommon local elected representative, Cllr Tom Crosby, received the full support from his council colleagues at the last meeting of Roscommon Council Council when he presented a notice of motion calling on Roscommon County Council to appropriately recognise the heroic work of Roscommon native Dr Bridget Lyons.



Dr Lyons moved to Longford at a young age to live with her uncle Frank McGuinness and his wife Kate, who paid for her secondary school education. She was a patriot hero of the Easter Week Rising and received awards for her bravery and courage, also as a medical doctor attending to the injured soldiers in the GPO. The War of Independence hero was imprisoned at the time when leaders Pearse and Connolly surrendered to the British Army. Brigid was a close colleague of Countess Markievicz.



Later she was commissioned by Michael Collins to become the first and only woman to be accepted as a female officer in the Free State Army. She was part of the medical services that formed the corps, when it was time to establish a permanent, new all Irish Medical Service in 1922. Later she became a leading figure in the fight against tuberculosis amongst the poor in Ireland and pioneered the BCG vaccination scheme in the 1950s which practically rid Ireland of Tuberculosis.



Brigid Lyons married Captain Edward Thornton in October 1925 in the Chapel of St. Kevin at the Pro-Cathedral Dublin. She survived her husband Captain Edward Thorntons passing during 1946, (they had no children).



Cllr Crosby informed the meeting of the following history that Dr Brigid Lyons was born in Northyard, Scramogue, Co. Roscommon during 1896. She was a daughter of farmer and noted Fenian, Patrick Lyons and Margaret McGuinness. Cllr Crosby said the house Dr Lyons was born in is still standing and should be restored as a monument and the family that own it are amenable to the proposal.



Brigid supported the Treaty side in Ireland and also she played a very significant role in the Foundation of the Army Medical Corps. Dr Brigid Lyons Thornton was the first female Irish woman to be commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the Irish Free State Army by Michael Collins during 1922.



In the following years of Home Rule / WW1 Brigid Lyons became very involved with the nationalist movement. She smuggled money, gold and guns to fund the cause. Along with her fellow Cumann na mBan women they kept morale high. with parcels, protests and letters. Brigid Lyons was one of the most active Cumann na mBan women as she sent parcels and corresponded with prisoners.



She rose to the rank of commandant in Cumann na mBan, and dangerously smuggled hand grenades by train to pass on to Longford IRA under the command of Sean MacEoin. Later when he was captured she managed to contact him and take messages from him to Michael Collins.



Brigid Lyons who was living in Longford when she heard the news of The 1916 Easter Rising with her uncles Frank and Joe McGuinness who were serving in the Four Courts along with Padraic Pearse, James Connolly and Michael Collins. Brigid joined with them in the Four Courts.



Dr Briget Lyons uncle Frank & Joe McGuinness who was born in Cloonmore Tarmonbarry Co Roscommon in 1867 to Martin McGuinness and Rose Farrell. Frank was elected a T.D. in 1923 for the Longford Westmeath constituency.



Dr Brigid Lyons Thornton was buried on the 71st anniversary of the Easter Rising in Toomore Cemetery, Foxford, County Mayo alongside her Husband. Members of the Western Command rendered her military honours at her burial and her coffin was draped in the tricolour.



In conclusion, Cllr Crosby stated that very few people now would have known of this heroic great woman he said if it was a man there would be many monuments in recognition.
Key legislation has been passed to provide gardai with body-worn cameras.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the legislation will also to give gardai greater access to CCTV.

She said it puts An Garda Siochana on a clear path to begin rolling out bodycams for frontline officers from next year, with garda in Dublin city centre having access to bodycams from next spring.

The Bill is to be referred to President Michael D Higgins to be signed into law.

Speaking less than a week after serious rioting in Dublin city centre, Ms McEntee also welcomed announcements by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris earlier on Wednesday.

These includes providing Tasers to public order units, stronger incapacitating spray for all gardai, more and improved public order equipment and vehicles, more data scientists to support the analysis of evidential material and the accelerated expansion of the Garda Dog Unit.

Ms McEntee said the government is committed to ensuring gardai has the resources, equipment and the technology necessary to build stronger, safer communities.

This includes ensuring that gardai have body worn cameras, which has been a priority of mine for some time, she said.

The shocking scenes we witnessed last Thursday night show how crucial bodycams, as well as tools such as Facial Recognition Technology, are to protecting gardai and help bring criminals to justice.

These tough new laws will help An Garda Siochana identify perpetrators and gather evidence directly. It will help them deal with public order and with tackling incitement by the far right.

But there will also be other benefits this Bill  greater access to Automatic Number Plate Recognition will help with longer term investigations, and reduce the time it takes to collate evidence and track suspects.
Governor Kathy Hochul today requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Biden to support the ongoing recovery of downstate communities impacted by the significant flooding occurring during a two-day period in late September. If granted by the federal government, this declaration would provide federal funding for the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as Nassau and Westchester counties to cover debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure. New York is also working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain low-interest recovery loans for impacted businesses in Brooklyn and Nassau County as they have met the required federal thresholds.

Our state witnessed unprecedented rainfall in September that resulted in devastating flooding, causing extensive damage throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, Governor Hochul said. Im requesting federal assistance to support our ongoing efforts to help New Yorkers recover as communities continue to deal with the fallout of this historic weather event.

A Major Disaster Declaration secures financial assistance from the federal government, primarily through FEMA's Public Assistance Program, to provide funding to local governments, tribes and eligible non-profits for debris removal, protective measures, and repairs to public buildings and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, critical infrastructure sites, schools, parks and other facilities.

Following a disaster, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' (DHSES) Disaster Recovery Unit works directly with counterparts at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and impacted local governments to assess damages caused by, and costs related to, the disaster. Once these assessments are complete, FEMA validates whether the state and impacted counties have reached the required federal damage thresholds for a Major Disaster Declaration.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "New York was inundated with torrential rains at the end of September, with some areas receiving more than eight inches of rain in just 24 hours. This led to widespread flood damage throughout the lower Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul, our teams worked side by side with our local partners to not only respond in the moment, but work tirelessly post-storm to ensure those impacted are able to access the federal recovery funding they deserve.

More than seven inches of rain fell in Brooklyn, and six inches of rain fell in Manhattan and parts of Nassau and Westchester counties during a 24-hour period on September 29, 2023. Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for all of New York City, Long Island and the Mid-Hudson Region on September 29, as heavy rain impacted the downstate region.

In advance of the storm, Governor Hochul directed State agencies to prepare emergency response assets and stay in constant communication with local governments to monitor weather impacts and respond to requests for assistance.

About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter and Instagram, or visit dhses.ny.gov.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: November 29 2023

Michelle Karp Allegedly Replaced her Damaged Windshield Two Hours After the Crash.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Michelle Karp, 28, of Oakdale, was indicted for the felony charges of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting and Tampering with Physical Evidence, after fatally striking 72-year-old Lydia Ciminelli, of Lake Ronkonkoma, who was crossing the street.

Striking a pedestrian and driving away, leaving them injured and lying in the road, is no accident, said District Attorney Tierney. This defendant allegedly did just that and attempted to cover it up. This is a serious crime and we will treat it as such.

According to the investigation, on August 7, 2023, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Karp was driving a gray 2009 Nissan Maxima southbound on Rosevale Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma, when she allegedly struck the victim who was crossing the street. Karp then allegedly drove away from the scene without rendering aid to the victim and failed to report the collision to law enforcement. The victim was brought to Stony Brook Hospital where she died as a result of the injuries. Two hours after the crash occurred, Karp allegedly replaced the broken windshield on her vehicle, which allegedly cracked during the crash.

During their investigation, law enforcement recovered car parts in the roadway where the collision occurred, which were allegedly matched damage on Karps Nissan.

On November 29, 2023, Karp was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, a Class D felony, and one count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony. Justice Pilewski placed Karp on supervised release during the pendency of the case and suspended her New York State drivers license. Karp is due back in court on December 19, 2023, and she is being represented by Daniel Russo Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Curtin of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Valentin Rosado Jr. of the Suffolk County Police Departments Major Case Unit.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: November 30 2023

Town officials are confident this effort will encourage residents who may not have their canines license up to date to take advantage of the quick and convenient option.

Doggone it, the Town of Hempstead has done it again! Supervisor Don Clavin and Town Clerk Kate Murray have announced another online initiative that allows residents to apply for and renew dog licenses via the Town of Hempstead website, saving residents time and making the process more convenient. Today at the towns largest dog park at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore, Supervisor Clavin and Town Clerk Murray  along with Councilman Chris Carini and neighborhood canines  provided details on the program, which incorporates new signage at town dog parks that allow residents to scan a QR code to update dog licenses while their pups frolic with their four-legged friends.

Town officials are confident this effort will encourage residents who may not have their canines license up to date to take advantage of the quick and convenient option, which can also help to identify a lost dog and/or determine if he/she has a rabies vaccination in the event of a bite incident.

The hardworking residents of Hempstead Town have so much going on in their day-to-day lives, that renewing a dog license may not be at the forefront of ones mind. This new online dog licensing program makes it quick and easy for residents to check it off their to-do list, as the process can be done from your home, on a lunch break, or even from one of our beautiful town dog parks! stated Town Clerk Murray. We also remind residents that licensing their dog is required by New York State law and must be renewed annually, not to mention it can help you find your lost pet in the event of an emergency.

Town Clerk Kate Murray has been a pioneer in adapting many of the towns programs and services to incorporate an online component, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that all residents have continuous access town government, added Supervisor Clavin. I am proud to join with her to announce this new online dog licensing program.

Town Clerk Murray has unveiled similar programs throughout Americas largest township. At town-maintained train station parking lots, the Town Clerks Office has placed signs with QR codes to allow residents to obtain and renew commuter parking permits. Whats more, the Town Clerk has added events such as Passport Day, which allows residents to apply for travel documents on a convenient weekend date.

To obtain or renew a dog license utilizing the online option, residents should visit hempsteadny.gov/447/dog-license or scan the QR code at a local dog park. Dog owners must first provide a current rabies vaccination certificate signed by the dogs veterinarian, as well as a spay/neuter certificate (if applicable).
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In a slight detour from our Israel coverage, Bill and Caleb are joined by counterterrorism expert Sara Harmouch to discuss her recent article that sounds like it was written for Long War Journal but was actually written for War on the Rocks, called Al-Qaeda: A Defeated Threat? Think Again.

They debunk the latest example of President Bidens insistence that al Qaeda no longer has a presence in Afghanistan and discuss how U.S. rejection of intelligence is neither new nor at odds with its dangerous habit of disconnecting dots pertaining not least of all to al Qaeda.

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Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi conducts an situational assessment at IDF Southern Command on Wednesday. (IDF Photograph)

The Israel Defense Forces, accompanied by border police and members of the Shin Bet security service carried out a targeted raid in Jenin in the northern West Bank on Wednesday, November 29. The Israeli forces eliminated Muhammad Zubeidi, a commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The IDF also eliminated another member of the terrorist group, according to a statement. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Iranian proxy terror group, has posed an increasing threat from Jenin in the last year.

Raids in Jenin are common as it is a hub for Palestinian terror groups. The IDF launched a multi-day operation in July to target Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The IDF said on November 29 that since the October 7 Hamas attack, it has detained more than 2,000 people wanted for terrorism in the West Bank, around 1,100 of whom are linked to Hamas.

The recent Jenin raid was carried out by several units, including IDF reservists, combat engineers and other soldiers. Zubeidi was one of the central figures in PIJ in the Jenin refugee camp, the IDF said. It accused him of being involved in various terrorist activity, including shooting attacks.

During the raid, forces surrounded the building that Zubeidi was in. The IDF found M-16 rifles and other weapons in the building and detained 17 other people. Israeli forces also confiscated improvised explosive devices during the raid, illustrating how common IED threats have become in the northern West Bank. The IDF also used an aircraft, likely a drone, to target a terrorist squad. The use of drones has become more common in operations in Jenin over the last year. An underground shaft was found in Jenin, which looked to be the beginning of a tunnel, according to a photo the IDF distributed.

This incident in Jenin follows other operations in the West Bank since October 7 that have seen an uptick in raids and arrests. There are nightly raids in the northern West Bank and in areas between Ramallah and the Israeli city of Modiin, soldiers told FDDs Long War Journal. Many Israeli reservists called up after October 7 have also been operating in the West Bank.

In Gaza the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas continued on Wednesday. Hamas released two hostages with Russian citizenship in the early evening.

IDF special forces and ISA forces are currently with the two released hostages inside Israeli territory. After the released hostages undergo an initial medical assessment, IDF soldiers will continue to accompany them to hospitals, where they will be reunited with their families, the IDF said.

Hamas claimed they were handing over the Russian citizens in response to efforts by the Russian President Vladimir Putin. This appeared to reflect Hamas attempts to get support from Russia. Moscow accused the U.S. of being responsible for the war in Gaza in a statement on Wednesday.

While Israel and Hamas appear ready to continue the pause in fighting for several more days, there is concern in Israel over members of the Bibas family who are held hostage in Gaza. Reports on Tuesday indicated the family may be in the hands of a terrorist group other than Hamas. However on Wednesday, Hamas claimed members of the Bibas family had been killed. The IDF is investigating these claims.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called on people to avoid spreading rumors related to this and other cases. He said Hamas still holds 159 hostages as of the evening of November 29. As we explained along the way, this number is being constantly updated, it is based on intelligence, on the number of missing persons, which is also being updated, he said.

Hagari said that the IDF killed three terrorists in Gaza who violated the conditions of the operational pause, and posed a threat to our forces. The incident follows another on November 28 in which three explosives were detonated in close proximity to IDF forces. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi went to Southern Command and completed a situational assessment on Wednesday. He said the IDF is ready for the next stage of the conflict in Gaza. This followed a lessons learned event on Tuesday at Southern Command with key commanders and air force personnel.

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also completed a situational assessment on Wednesday, discussing the hostages in Gaza. He met with Halevi as well as the heads of the Mossad and the Shin Bet and intelligence officials. We are taking every possible measure to return the hostages [home] and to maximize the current framework in which all the women and children held hostage in Gaza will be released. IDF troops in the air, ground, and sea, are prepared to resume operations immediately [should the decision be made], Gallant said.

Regional threats continued on Wednesday. The northern front has been quiet for Israel as Hezbollah has refrained from carrying out attacks since Friday, November 24. The Alma Research and Education Center, which covers security threats in northern Israel, noted on Wednesday that Hezbollah continues to uphold the ceasefire, although, according to our understanding, its operatives remain active along the border conducting frequent intelligence reconnaissance. They continue to do it while wearing civilian clothes. However, since their positions along the border have been destroyed, they travel along the sector in vehicles.

G7 countries called on Tuesday for an end to Houthi threats to shipping. We especially call on the Houthis to immediately cease attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lanes and commercial vessels and release the M/V Galaxy Leader and its crew, illegally seized from international waters on November 19, the statement of the group of nations which includes many of the worlds largest economies said. The Houthis slammed the statement and said they were backing Hamas in Gaza and would continue to target ships they claim are linked to Israel.

The USS Carney downed a drone launched by the Houthis from Yemen on Wednesday. Reports said the drone was a KAS-04, similar to a drone that entered Israeli airspace in May 2021. A drone also harassed the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier on Tuesday.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinker meets Israel President Isaac Herzog on November 30. (Haim Zach Israel GPO)

On the morning of Thursday, November 30, two terrorists attacked a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem, killing three Israelis and wounding several others. The two terrorists, brothers from the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sur Baher, used an M-16 style rifle and a handgun in the attack. Both men had previously been detained for ties to terrorism, and Israeli authorities have linked both of them to Hamas. Sur Baher is one of a number of neighborhoods in east Jerusalem that has become rife with terror threats in the last decade.

The attack took place during rush hour just before eight in the morning at a popular bus stop at the entrance to the city. The same bus stop was targeted in November 2022 by a bombing. The suspects in that attack were later identified as supporters of ISIS. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he directed that the homes of the two terrorists who perpetrated todays attack in Jerusalem be sealed and demolished, that extensive arrests be carried out among those who supported and dispatched them, that illegal weapons be collected, and that focused actions be carried out against the circles of support for the terrorists, including economic actions against lawbreakers, according to a statement from the Prime Ministers Office.

The attack came as Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend the pause in fighting for another day. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and fifty days of fighting followed before the current pause. Almost 400 IDF soldiers have been killed since October 7 and around 800 civilians were killed in Israel. In the early hours of November 30, it was still unclear if Hamas would be able to produce a list of hostages to be freed that would meet Israels demands. At the center of the dispute was the fate of three members of the Bibas family, including two young children. Hamas and Israel agreed to a pause in fighting that began on Friday, November 24. Hamas released fifty hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, many of them convicted terrorists. Over the past week, Hamas has also released seventeen hostages from Thailand, a Filipino hostage, and three hostages with Russian citizenship.

On November 30, Hamas released two Israeli hostages during the day. The IDF said that the hostages were transferred to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces near the security fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip. They were then taken to an airbase. It was unclear why this method of release took place during the day and near the security fence, as opposed to via Egypt. It appears Hamas is holding the hostages in various areas spread across Gaza and that this has determined some of the changes in how Hamas is releasing them. It was unclear on the evening of November 30 (in Israel) if the pause in fighting would be renewed for another day. The original agreement had specified five days and included options to renew for an additional five. However, disputes over finding women and children hostages combined with claims by Hamas that other groups in Gaza are holding hostages have led to delays.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Israel on Thursday and met with a number of Israeli leaders, including President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This is the latest of multiple trips made by Blinken to Israel and the region since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.

November 30 also saw several other incidents, including a terrorist ramming attack carried out in the West Bank. The IDF said the perpetrator was eliminated. Two IDF soldiers were lightly injured in the attack. The soldiers were evacuated to a hospital to receive medical treatment, the IDF said. Additionally in northern Israel, a drone infiltrated Israeli airspace from Lebanon. The IDF said that air defenses intercepted the suspicious aerial target. This was a rare incident on the Lebanese border, where Hezbollah has generally observed the pause in fighting.

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, however, have continued to threaten shipping vessels off the coast of Yemen, according to statements in the Houthis Al-Masirah media on Wednesday and Thursday. They claim they are targeting commercial ships linked to Israel after hijacking one ship with such a connection earlier this month. In Yemen, an explosion outside Sanaa showed a large pillar of smoke rising from a rural area. This led to speculation about airstrikes. U.S. Central Command said they did not carry out airstrikes in Yemen. The USS Carney shot down a drone flown from Yemen this week, and two ballistic missiles were also fired near the USS Mason earlier this week.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
The USS Carney, a U.S. warship that has been at the center of several engagements with the Houthis, has shot down an Iranian-built drone over the Red Sea on Nov. 29. While Irans proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria have dialed back attacks against Israel as it is honoring a truce with Hamas, the Houthis have continued to strike at U.S. forces and Israel.

U.S. Central Command reported that the USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, shot down an Iranian-produced KAS-04 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. Although the intentions are not known, the Houthi UAV was heading toward the warship when it was engaged and shot down, CENTCOM reported.

The Iranians have supplied the KAS-04 UAVs to Iraqi militias. Iranian-backed militias that makeup Iraqs Popular Mobilization Forces paraded KAS-04s in Iraq in June 2021.

The Carneys shootdown of the Houthi UAV is the latest in a series of engagements in the Red Sea and the vital Bab al Mandeb Strait. In one of the most significant engagements, the Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic cruise missiles at the USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, as it was responding to a hijacking attempt on a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Nov. 27. The missiles missed by 10 miles, and the Department of Defense later said it couldnt determine if the Mason was directly targeted.

The Houthis, in an effort to weaken Israel as the latter battles Hamas and allied terror groups in Gaza, have launched a series of drone, ballistic, and cruise missile attacks against Israeli territory. U.S. warships have shot down Houthi weapons systems at least two other times during these incidents. Additionally, the Houthis shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned Aerial Vehicle off the coast of Yemen on Nov. 8.

The Iranians have also harassed U.S. warships operating in the region. On Nov. 28, an Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards of the 1,500 yards of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, as it was conducting flight operations. The Eisenhower strike group did not engage the Iranian drone.

Other active fronts in the region are currently experiencing a period of general calm due to the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Iran-backed groups have linked their attacks against Israel and the U.S. to the war in Gaza. Lebanese Hezbollah has predominantly refrained from operating against Israel, while Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have also ceased their attacks. However, it is important to note that this period of calm in the region is expected to be short-lived, as Israeli officials have warned they will resume fighting Hamas.

The Houthis, which is also known as Ansar Allah, has seized control of significant areas in northern Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa, since it launched its rebellion in 2014. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps increasingly co-opted the Houthi movement since its formation in the 1990s. The IRGC has provided the Houthis with weapons, training, and financial support. Iran uses its network of militias and terrorist groups in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to put pressure on Israel as well as the United States.

The Houthis are estimated to have 100,000 fighters under arms. The official motto of the Houthis is: God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam.

The Trump administration listed the Houthis as a Foreign Terror Organization in Jan. 2021, but President Biden revoked the designation just weeks after he entered office, stating that the designation prohibited aid to the people of Yemen. However, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the groups overall leader, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim remain listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

According to a Fox News report, the Biden administration is considering reclassifying the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization in response to recent attacks against Israel and the United States.

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Also happening

Several more holiday markets will be happening this weekend in Auburn and beyond:

 Fingerlakes Mall will host a Holiday Craft Fair & Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. It will include vendors, music, crafts, contests and more. Attendees can also meet The Grinch, and food, wine and hot cocoa will be served. In addition to the market, a Book Bonanza holiday used books sale will take place at the same time at the mall, 1579 Clark St. Road, Aurelius. Prices are $4 for better books, $2 for hardcovers, $1.50 for softcovers and 50 cents for children's books. For more information, visit fingerlakesmall.com or email auburnbookbonanza@gmail.com.

 The Cato-Meridian PTO will hold a Christmas Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Cato-Meridian Elementary School and Recreation Center, 2851 Route 370, Cato. The event will feature crafters, vendors and school organizations, as well as a chicken barbecue and snacks available for purchase, and an appearance by Santa Claus. For more information, visit catomeridian.org.

 Auburn Alliance Church will host an Artisan Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the church, 630 N. Seward Ave., Auburn. The event will feature homemade crafts, including soaps, candles, decorative pillows, cards, jewelry and more, as well as hot beverages, baked goods, live harp music, gift-wrapping and a children's crafts station.

 Colloca Estate Winery will host a Colloca Christmas Market with local artists, crafters and more vendors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. For more information, visit collocawines.com.

Admission to all markets is free and open to the public.
(Alliance News) - PetroTal Corp on Thursday said it has kicked off drilling of a well in Peru, and it also reaffirmed an environmental commitment.

The oil and gas company said it has started the drilling of well 16H, the first well to be drilled from the new L2 West platform in the Bretana oil field in Peru.

"The well is expected to cost approximately USD15 million with completion and initial production expected in January 2024," PetroTal said.

PetroTal added that it is "commitment to achieving net-zero biodiversity loss by 2030". It will do this by implementing a flora and fauna monitoring programme covering around 400 meters surrounding the area around the Bretana oilfield.

PetroTal shares fell 2.9% to 47.10 pence each on Thursday morning in London.

By Tom Budszus, Alliance News slot editor

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Coalition agreement reiterates pledge to authorise services like Uber in Luxembourg but critics say its empty promise

15 taxi spaces are available in front of the station.

15 taxi spaces are available in front of the station.  Photo credit: Thomas Berthol

15 taxi spaces are available in front of the station.  Photo credit: Thomas Berthol

The newly elected governments coalition agreement signals a renewed effort to authorise Uber in the country, keeping the Grand Duchys taxi industry on edge.

The government plans to authorise hire cars with drivers, like Uber and similar services in Luxembourg, the coalition agreement showed, provided that they benefit from social security coverage and labour law protections.

The move, which was first put forward in the 2018 agreement of the previous DP-LSAP-Green coalition, has sparked concern among local taxi drivers, who fear potential repercussions on their sector.

If everyone can become an Uber driver, it will kill us, taxi driver Diego, who has been working in Luxembourg since 2017, told the Luxembourg Times sister publication Virgule.

Old news

The previous coalition already showed the same desire in its agreement in 2018, Paul Jose Leitao, president of the taxi federation, told Virgule. We will have made progress when it is written and voted in the Chamber of Deputies, but this is not the case.

The 2018 agreement aimed to create a clear legal framework for new business models in the sharing economy (e.g. Uber, Airbnb) [...] in order to avoid unfair competition for traditional companies in these areas.

The European Commission for years has been working on EU-wide rules for so-called platform workers to ensure they are paid minimum wage and enjoy health protection and paid leave, but these minimum standards across the bloc are still pending.

If the companies come and respect collective labour agreements, social contributions and all existing laws in Luxembourg, then we have nothing against them. We all play by the same rules, Leitao added.

If the arrival of services like Uber would flood the market with drivers and double the supply in Luxembourg, its a disaster for the sector, the federation president warned.

Some taxi drivers, like Diego, see potential benefit, hoping ride hailing could harmonise prices and improve demand. Taxis at the central train station in the capital charge around 42 for 10km and the price can rise up to 48.

Increased competition

Another taxi driver, Jose Antonio, expressed concern about increased competition, especially after public transport was made free and there are plans to expand the tram network.

Compared to 2019, we have 40% less activity with free public transport, teleworking and even conferences which are no longer held in Luxembourg, but remotely, Leitao confirmed, noting that the Covid-19 pandemic had also taken a toll on the taxi industry. A driver could easily make eight to ten trips per day in 2019, but now it is only five to six trips per day, he added.

Fakchich, a veteran in the profession, criticised the governments handling of the taxi sector, stating, I am not at all worried about the arrival of Uber; the government has done everything to break the taxi sector.

Uber doesnt worry Fakchich. It is government policy for the existing services that anger him  Photo credit: Thomas Berthol

Fakchich, a veteran in the profession, criticised the governments handling of the taxi sector, stating, I am not at all worried about the arrival of Uber; the government has done everything to break the taxi sector.

Only 15 parking spaces are available in front of the station for taxis. During rush hours, we have to wait behind the line outside the parking spaces and the customs officers come to check us, Fakchich explained, showing a fine he received earlier of 74.

License grant ceiling

The coalition agreement also promises a taxi law reform aimed at reducing high prices by removing the ceiling set for the number of taxi licenses granted annually.

But already, the 20 licences granted every year are too many, Leitao said, with not enough work to go around. He is now waiting to see how the new Minister of Mobility, Yuriko Backes, will implement the governments programme.

How does she want to supervise us and what is her idea for our sector?, Leitao asked. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment from Virgule.

Meanwhile, Daniel Tesch, formerly an independent lawyer who represented Uber when it previously attempt to set up in Luxembourg, told the Luxembourg Times that he doesnt believe the ride provider would be granted a business licence despite the governments statement.

They are saying one thing knowing that it wont happen, he said. Tesch explained that Uber is not a traditional taxi service, so drivers should not need a special licence to operate or to have social coverage. They are private drivers in private cars who are self-employed, so they will have to pay for their own health and social security just like any other independent worker.

Tesch expects the drivers to have good insurance as they transport people, but he reiterated the argument that Uber is not an employer but simply a licensor.

He has heard complaints from many people who are fed up with high taxi prices in Luxembourg, Tesch said. Thats because the number of taxi licences is limited. So that puts a squeeze on supply and pushes up the prices.

(This article was first published on Virgule. Edited by Haneyl Jacob. with additional reporting by Duncan Roberts)
The iPad Air was last updated in March 2022 and rumors suggest that the arrival of a new model (or two!) could be coming soon. Heres all we know so far about the 6th generation iPad Air.

An Apple event took place on October 30, but there were no new iPads at that event. Does this mean that there will be no new iPads in 2023? Read on to find out how long the wait is likely to be.

When will the new iPad Air be released?

Predicted: Spring 2024

The past three generations of iPad Air arrived about 18 months apart, so we are due an update. But Apples event on October 30 saw the company only launch new Macs, and 2023 passed without a single iPad update for the first time since Apples late CEO and founder Steve Jobs introduced the category in 2010.

Perhaps the lack of iPad attention is due to the focus on the new Apple Vision Pro, which is due to go on sale in the U.S. from February 2.

But we might not have long to wait. In early December 2023, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to release new iPads and an M3 MacBook Air by the end of March 2024.

The iPad Air is unlikely to be the only iPad getting an update in 2024. In November 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote that Apple will refresh all four iPad linesstandard, mini, Air, and Proin 2024. At that time Kuo claimed a new iPad Air will be entering mass production in the first half of 2024.

Ross Young, an analyst who specializes in the displays industry, tweeted that shipments of the display panels for a new 12.9-inch Air began in December (more on the larger iPad Air rumors below).

12.9 iPad Air panel shipments started in December  Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) December 10, 2023

New iPad Air size

Apple could be launching two sizes of iPad Air, with a new 12.9-inch model joining the lineup.

An October 9to5Mac report claimed, not only that there are multiple new iPads on track for the coming months, but that this includes two new iPad Air models. The site indicates that Apple may be considering introducing a larger version of the iPad Air, or a more expensive model with better specs. This theory seems to be based on the fact that there are two codenames associated with the new iPad Air: J507 and J508, with the only other iPads having two codenames being the iPad Pro, which comes in two sizes.

In November Ming-Chi Kuo discussed the additional iPad Air size, saying that the iPad Air line will be split into two sizes: 10.9-inch and a new 12.9-inch model.

The 12.9-inch iPad Air will have a better screen, not just a bigger one, according to Kuo: The 12.9-inch iPad Air is an all-new model, and while it lacks mini-LED, it benefits from an Oxide backplane (the same spec as the existing mini-LED iPad Pros), offering better display performance than the 10.9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.

According to analyst Ross Young shipment of these 12.9-inch panels has already started (as per the Tweet above).

Apple

How much will the 6th gen iPad Air cost?

Outside the U.S. Apple shoppers are hoping Apple will reverse the price hikes of the past few years, as they did with the iPhone.

Regarding the potential pricing of the iPad Air 6, we can look at the generations that have preceded it as a clue for what youll have to pay when it finally does arrive.

iPad Air (5th Generation)

64GB, Wi-Fi  $599 / 669

256GB, Wi-Fi  $749 / 849

64GB, Cellular  $749 / 849

256GB, Cellular  $899 / 1,029

iPad Air (4th Generation)

64GB, Wi-Fi  $599 / 579

256GB, Wi-Fi  $749 / 729

64GB, Cellular  $729 /709

256GB, Cellular  $879 / 859

As you can see, Apple kept most of the pricing roughly the same for its U.S. customers when moving between the last few generations, while outside the U.S. buyers got hit with aggressive price hikes (something that happened across all Apple products, see Is Apple ripping off the rest of the world with inflated prices?) Apple reversed these extortionate price rises when it introduced the iPhone 15, so we are hopeful that outside the U.S. Apple shoppers may see iPad prices decrease.

If Apple does introduce a higher spec or larger iPad Air to accompany the current size, we could see lower prices at the entry level and higher prices at the top of the range.

Naturally, a model with improved hardware will cost more, but as there is currently only around $200/200 between the iPad Air 5th gen and the 11in iPad Pro, there isnt a lot of room for a new tier. If Apple does introduce a larger iPad Air it seems likely it would be priced around $100/100 above the regular iPad Air. This would be similar to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, so maybe Apple is just offering size variants for customers rather than differently equipped iPad Air Plus models.

What new features will we see in the iPad Air 6?

For a device whose release could be imminent, theres not actually that many rumors or leaks out there. This might be a case of Apple tightening up any leaks that were appearing in its production chain, or that any updates to the iPad Air will be minimal.

A new processor

The most obvious area where the iPad Air 6 will be superior to the current iPad Air 5 is in the processor that powers it. The iPad Air 5 already boasts a pretty nifty M1 chip, but the 11-inch iPad Pro has been sporting M2 silicon for over a year, with reports suggesting it will get an update to a new M3 chipset. This would allow Apple to raid its parts bin and move the M2 to the iPad Air 6, while retaining the newest silicon for its Pro platform.

Tech tipster Revegnus posted on X/Twitter that this could be the case.

iPad Air6, powered by M2  Revegnus (@Tech_Reve) March 14, 2023

New display technology

Another change Apple could be looking to bring to iPads is OLED displays. Rumors of OLED screens coming to the iPad lineup have popped up with regularity over the years. Apple is said to be in negotiations with LG, Samsung, and Chinese companies for active matrix OLEDs (AMOLEDs) that could be coming to the iPad Air and iPad mini.

While this would represent an excellent upgrade, it seems that the roadmap for this is 2025/2026, so theres no chance that it will arrive in time for the iPad Air 6. Maybe the iPad Air 7?

However, there may be screen upgrades coming sooner than that. As mentioned above, in November 2023 analyst Ming Chi Kuo suggested that a new 12.9-inch iPad Air will feature a better screen with an Oxide backplane, as seen in the current mini-LED iPad Pros), offering better display performance than the 10.9-inch iPad Air with an a-Si backplane.

More storage

Since the release of the iPhone 13, Apple has offered a baseline storage capacity of 128GB. Sadly, this hasnt been the case with the iPad Air, which currently starts at a rather paltry 64GB. Could the iPad Air 6 finally see this change? We hope rather than know that when the iPad Air 6 turns up, it will be endowed with a roomy 128GB so that it could become the laptop replacement Apple has been marketing it as for a while now.

We will continue to monitor the latest news and rumors surrounding the iPad Air (6th Generation), so be sure to check back regularly to see what we can find.

In the meantime, heres a selection of the best deals for the iPad Air 5.
Passengers will have 14 new options to choose from, all made here in Aotearoa. They wont all be available on every flight - some on domestic, some on long-haul and some just for premium tickets.
The Guardia Civil has arrested two minors in Palma and Caceres for spreading propaganda material for the Daesh terrorist organisation through video game communication platforms, where they encouraged followers to use these servers to recruit and indoctrinate other terrorists.

The operation, led by the Juvenile Prosecutors Office and the Central Juvenile Court of the Audiencia Nacional, was initiated thanks to an investigation that has allowed determining that, apart from self-education, both minors were collaborating with Daeshs strategy.

Sources close to the investigation have revealed that the minors who were arrested last Tuesday in Palma and in Caceres are 15 and 16 years old, respectively.

According to the Directorate General of the Civil Guard, the Guardia Civil have been able to confirm that both minors went from consuming and disseminating terrorist material online, to becoming autonomous and decentralised actors by having created their own media entities with jihadist content, identifiable by a logo that emulated those used by Daesh.

Apart from the administration of profiles on social networks used by minors, as a novelty, the use of servers on platforms used for communications in the world of video games has been detected.

Among the materials disseminated by minors, the oath of allegiance taken by the perpetrator of the terrorist attack in Brussels on 16 October, in which two Swedish citizens were killed, stands out.

Currently, both in Spain and in Europe, an increase in investigations into minors in the context of jihadist terrorism has been detected, with the new reality of radicalised digital natives constituting one of the emerging phenomena at a global level.

After being brought before a judge, both minors were placed in a closed detention regime. The operation was carried out by the Information Service of the Guardia Civil.
World Malaria Report 2023: Beyond the numbers, new approaches needed to reaccelerate progress

30 November 2023



Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its World Malaria Report for 2023, assessing global and regional malaria trends in 2022 and providing an opportunity to reflect on progress towards global targets.

The report estimates that globally, between 2000-2022, 2.1 billion malaria cases were averted and 11.7 million deaths were prevented. But since 2017, progress has plateaued and, following a decrease in the number of deaths averted annually to 886,000 in 2020 as a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been only a marginal rise in the following two years with the 2022 figure of 991,000 deaths averted just above pre-pandemic levels.

We must remember that the numbers in this report represent real people. When we see the headline figures, it means more people have got sick or died as a result of a preventable and treatable disease. We must ask ourselves, how can we reaccelerate the progress that is needed? The development of new tools, like next generation nets and vaccines, give us reason to be hopeful that we can counter the evolving malaria parasite, but unless we can ensure these tools are affordable and available at scale in the long term and are accessible to and accepted by the communities where they are needed, we cannot hope to see those numbers reduce to zero. commented Dr James Tibenderana, Malaria Consortiums Chief Executive.

Approximately five million additional malaria cases were recorded compared with figures from the 2021 report. This increase was largely seen in five countries including Pakistan, which faced excessive rainfall and flooding due to extreme weather. For the first time, the report explores the short and long-term impacts of climate change on malaria transmission. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to human health, undermining many of the social determinants of health, including access to quality services. Malaria is one of the most sensitive vector-borne diseases to climatic changes and robust surveillance is critical in ensuring national malaria programmes can predict and respond to the impact of changing weather patterns on potential malaria upsurges.

Katherine Theiss-Nyland, Malaria Consortiums Technical Director, commented, We need to be smarter in how we fight malaria. Urgent investment and commitment to creating or adapting malaria surveillance systems that work alongside meteorological systems is crucial. This will enable timely and systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of disease-related data, show how climate change is impacting incidence, transmission and distribution of infectious diseases and how effective responses to climate-related risk can be incorporated into programmes.

Strong surveillance, monitoring and evaluation is also key to better understanding the prevalence of drug and insecticide resistance and the spread of the urban malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, in Africa, additional threats to malaria elimination outlined in the report. Countries that have eliminated malaria, or have nearly done so, have documented significant improvements in their surveillance systems that made it possible to deploy a range of interventions and adapt them to needs over time. This ability to develop adaptive, responsive surveillance and information systems needs to be a key component of elimination programmes alongside strengthening community involvement and ownership.

Malaria Consortiums current strategy prioritises data-informed decision-making, part of which is also tied to the expansion of digital approaches in community engagement. Working closely with national malaria programmes to develop capacity at all levels of the health system to interpret data has been a vital step in supporting policy recommendations as well as enabling decision makers to determine which interventions can be prioritised and targeted more efficiently and effectively, adapting and responding accordingly.

It cannot go unnoticed that progress towards eliminating malaria has stalled and the global funding gap has continued to increase  currently approaching 30 percent of the target of US $7.8 billion. To buck the trend, global partners need to consider novel ways of plugging this gap. The role of philanthropy in funding Malaria Consortiums seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) programme has been a contributing factor in the organisations ability to rapidly scale up its SMC programme, now reaching 25 million children, half of the 50 million reached by all implementing partners. Developing capacity within national and sub-national levels of governments to identify opportunities and facilitate public-private-philanthropic partnerships through collective financing should be encouraged as a means to increase the coverage and quality of malaria services.

Photo by Haseeb Jamil

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Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 31F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Two men who were arrested in connection with a shooting and stabbing outside Harley's Pub in Auburn earlier this week were indicted in Cayuga County Court on Thursday.

A Cayuga County grand jury returned an indictment against Angelo L. Diaz III and Matthew P. Williams-McIntyre, both 27 years old and from Geneva, who are each facing one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class C armed violent felony), according to a news release from Cayuga County District Brittany Grome Antonacci.

The indictment alleges that both men possessed "a loaded and operable handgun" that is believed to have been used in the shooting outside the 149 State St. bar. Diaz and Williams-McIntyre were remanded to the Cayuga County Jail and their next day in court is Jan. 4.

The Auburn Police Department announced the men's arrests Wednesday evening. Police responded to the incident, which saw one man shot and another stabbed, at 2:09 a.m. The department's investigation is ongoing and additional charges related to the shooting are possible.

The victims were transported to Upstate University Hospital. They are in stable condition, police said Wednesday evening, and are expected to be released in the near future.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Michael Weeks at (315) 255-4706 or mweeks@auburnny.gov, or Detective James Frost at (315) 255-4702 or jfrost@auburnny.gov.

Tips can also be shared on the department's main line at (315) 253-3231, or by emailing communitywatch@auburnny.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

UPDATED: One man shot, another stabbed near Auburn bar UPDATED: The Auburn Police Department is investigating a shooting and stabbing that occurred near a State Street bar early Wednesday.
Editors Note: How can a dining program that serves tens of thousands of students and staff each day churn out award-winning cuisine that has been recognized by Princeton Review for having the best campus food for seven years in a row? MassLive visited the UMass Amherst campus, interviewed chefs, tasted the food and toured the kitchens to find out how the UMass Dining program became a dining dynasty.

While the campus dining program at UMass Amherst has been ranked No. 1 for seven years running by the Princeton Review  many may be surprised to learn than within its newest dining hall lies a full service restaurant serving up food matching or exceeding the schools already stellar food credentials.

Located on the third floor of the reconstructed Worcester Dining Commons, The Commonwealth Restaurant offers an elevated dining experience in a more intimate and refined space, just one story up from flocks of hungry students traversing the main dining hall below.

Bob Bankert, one of UMass executive chefs, oversees the universitys four dining commons, which serve around 50,000 meals daily.

Bankert primarily works in menus and recipe development for the dining halls, but also curates the Commonwealth Restaurants seasonally-rotating menu, which changes every couple of months.

He joined UMass in 2014, drawn from Newport, Rhode Islands high-end restaurants and resorts, thanks to UMass growing reputation for its use of quality ingredients, commitment to local and sustainable food purchasing, and incorporation of global cuisines, he said.

One key to UMass holding onto its No. 1 dining status is keeping the campus menus fresh and exciting, according to Bankert.

This includes empowering dining hall staff  who hail from all corners of the world  to bring their family and cultural recipes into its food fare, as well as looking to incorporate and cater to the home flavors and tastes of students who may come from abroad, Bankert added.

During a visit this fall by MassLive, Bankert prepared a smattering of dishes and specialties available for order.

Small plates included items like the fried garlic and herb cheese curds served with locally grown Brussels sprouts over a highly rich and concentrated tomato confit sauce cooked down with garlic and olive oil into a puree, Bankert said.

Current lunch items include handhelds like a traditional Mexican-style cemita sandwich made vegetarian friendly with breaded oyster mushrooms swapped in for the usual chicken milanese.

UMass Dining on MassLive TikTok:

Bankert then tops the cemita with a spicy guacamole sauce, pickled onions and cilantro and it is served on a brioche bun with melted Oaxaca queso alongside fries.

And for dinner entrees, Bankert prepared its restaurants current pan roasted Norwegian salmon, served with its skin crisped over a lemon cauliflower puree with sauteed kale, delicata squash, fried scallions and a cranberry gastrique.

Pan roasted Norwegian salmon at the Commonwealth Restaurant at UMass Amherst's Worcester Dining Commons.Chris McLaughlin

Bankert said he sees UMass as a trendsetter in the food industry, typically being years ahead of the curve and larger trends in sustainability, local produce and plant-based cuisine, with a vision to consistently set the standard.

Its definitely caught on that were here, said Valerie Maurer, the manager of the Commonwealth Restaurant. Were seeing a lot of [UMass] hotel business, a lot of new faces, which excites me tremendously.

For Maurer, theres a sense of familiarity with the restaurants usual clientele  saying she knows many returning UMass faculty and staff members on a first name basis during the lunch rush  but she hopes to continuously grow its dinner guests.

The crowd can range beyond faculty members to include visiting parents, alumni, community members and even students, particularly on Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings, the restaurants staff said.

UMass Hotel guests looking for full service dining can also take a five minute jaunt to reach the restaurant from their hotel room, she added.

One of my favorite parts about it is just seeing the excitement on their faces when [guests are] here for the first time, Maurer said. They almost act like they dont believe it. Like when they come in theyre like Oh my God, there really is a restaurant here.

Maurer credits the Commonwealth Restaurants relocation to the new Worcester with steadily increasing the foot traffic and visibility of the eatery, which was rebranded from The University Club at its former home in the oldest building not only on campus, but also in all of Amherst.

Condensed from six dining areas spread across two separate, but adjoined, buildings at the 18th-century-era Stockbridge and Homestead Houses  the Commonwealth Restaurant offers one contiguous setup for up to 46 guests at a time with views out to campus and notable buildings like the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, Maurer noted.

Worcester Dining Commons at UMass Amherst. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)Leon Nguyen

She added transitioning to the sleek, new environment has resolved several previous challenges posed from working in a centuries-old historic space.

I feel like its kind of more like a quality than quantity thing here, Maurer said. It doesnt have the rustic charm of a 300-year-old building, but has the exquisite, new, clean, modern [feel] of a three year old building.

Being connected to the larger Worcester Dining Commons allows the restaurant to have more flexibility and resources in terms of its food and drink selections, Maurer noted.

She cited a lavender lemon martini the Commonwealth Restaurant ran seasonally last spring, sourcing the ingredients from the nearby UMass food installations.

I had a gorgeous purple lavender martini on the menu all spring, Maurer said. Which maybe I wouldnt have the ability to purchase all that stuff just for one drink on the menu [before].

At the bar this fall, Maurer prepares drinks such as the restaurants autumn spritz mocktail served at lunch, an alcoholic pumpkin spice sangria served at dinner, and a returning seasonal favorite hot malt apple cider with a brown sugar coated rim sourced with fruit grown on UMass Cold Spring Orchard in Belchertown.

A fresh glass of seasonal apple cider prepared by manager Valerie Maurer at the Commonwealth Restaurant at UMass Amherst.Chris McLaughlin

Maurer explained that the front of the house is entirely student run, and that thanks to the nature of the restaurants clientele, several of these students have found networking opportunities with those who come through the restaurant as well.

The Commonwealth Restaurant is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Maurer said while reservations are not required, they are encouraged, and for larger group reservations, they should reach out by email or phone in advance.
Editors Note: How can a dining program that serves tens of thousands of students and staff each day churn out award-winning cuisine that has been recognized by Princeton Review for having the best campus food for seven years in a row? MassLive visited the UMass Amherst campus, interviewed chefs, tasted the food and toured the kitchens to find out how the UMass Dining program became a dining dynasty.

What once started as one of the oldest buildings on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus has now transformed into the face of UMass Dining, living up to its prestigious reputation.

Housing the best college dining in the country for the seventh time, UMass Amherst nabbed the top spot for Best Campus Food in the Princeton Review Best Colleges guidebook.

The rankings are determined from student reports of their experiences at the schools, and are based off of 165,000 student answers to the survey question How do you rate the food on campus?

Arguably, one of the dining treasures of the near 30,000 student body campus is Worcester Commons.

Six years ago, the dining hall lacked air conditioning with limited seating. In 2018, the campus began to totally transform the building, demolishing its original structure and building from the ground up, all in the name of excellence.

In October 2020, the newly remolded dining hall began offering a full-service restaurant and bar, grab-n-go options, a cafe and international cuisine like Mediterranean, authentic street food, tandoor Indian kitchen, hand rolled sushi, noodle bowls and more.

Caleb Pham is the executive sous chef oversees the team within Worcester Dining Commons at UMass Amherst. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)Leon Nguyen

But to go through such an immense metamorphosis required a team of professionals dedicated to quality. One of the faces responsible for keeping its cooking operation flourishing today is Executive Sous Chef Caleb Pham.

A native to Vietnam, Pham moved to Hawaii for college. She quickly found herself across the country, cooking for a Vietnamese restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thats when I found out that this is my passion and something I can do, she told MassLive.

UMass Dining on MassLive TikTok:

After receiving a recommendation and invitation from a former Chef de Cuisine at UMass who was looking for a culinary intern, things all fell into place for Pham.

She explained that after working in the restaurant industry for a while, she wanted to try something new, cooking for institutions like UMass. So, she joined the college in 2017.

Its been a humbling experience working here with everybody, with all the amazing chefs and our very diverse dining staff here, she said, also explaining what goes into working with a production of a large quantity of food, while still retaining flavor and keeping things safe.

But Rome wasnt built in a day, and neither was Worcester Commons.

Pham shared that the dining hall opened in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, calling the unprecedented timing a blessing in disguise, as that year served as almost a test run of the building to see what worked and what didnt for guests.

Present day, its conceivably the go-to dining hall on campus.

Worcester Commons has a strong emphasis on international food due to the large population of international students. Since its opening, Pham has watched the dining scene she spearheads turn into a melting pot of flavor and culture.

I love international cuisine so it feels like this is like my dream job here, she said.

Overseeing about 70 to 100 staff members, Pham runs a tight ship. The dining hall operates from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Sunday, making all hands on deck necessary.

She credits student workers who help the newly renovated operations, who are involved in prep work and event planning.

They are the backbones of service here, she praised.

MassLive had the opportunity to tour the dining hall itself. Check MassLives TikTok to see what you can expect to find in Worcester Commons.

More information about the renovations to the dining hall can be found here.
A West Springfield holiday tradition continues as six residents open their homes for Christmastime viewing as part of the 27th annual Holiday Tour of Homes on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Each year participants take a self-guided tour of beautifully decorated homes and locations in West Springfield, where tourgoers learn about the history of the homes from their hosts and their holiday traditions. They also learn about each homes unique decorations inside and out and take inspired ideas with them when leaving for decorating their own homes.

Oftentimes we have more than 600 people who purchase tickets for one of our largest fundraisers of the year. Their generosity along with our many sponsors will provide scholarships for families in need for their children to attend our special programming during school vacation weeks in the winter, said Sarah Calabrese-Dunphy, resource development director of the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club.

This years Holiday Tour of Homes hosts are Janice and Jeff Daly at 9 Lantern Lane, Barbara and Ted Hebert at 75 Pease Ave., Todd and Jess Cincotta at 45 Tiara Lane, Jess and Matt Moskey at 1510 Morgan Road, Carrie Blair at 123 Pine St., Bryan and Kelley Stockhaus at 280 Rodgers Ave., all in West Springfield.

The Majestic Theater on 131 Elm St. also will be open from 9:30 a.m. to noon on tour day while all other locations will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to The Majestic Theater will be entered into a free raffle for a dinner at bNapoli and two tickets to the production of the winners choosing during the current season.

Ted and Barbara Hebert have been welcoming visitors to their lavish home on 75 Pease Ave., beginning with the very first tour to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield.

Barbara was on the board of the Boys & Girls Club for 25 years and continues to serve on the tour committee since its inception 27 years ago.

In order to get the first tour off the ground, many committee members like Barbara opened their homes in all their holiday splendor to the public. Over the years our very popular fundraiser has continued to grow. We seek out different families who might be interested in showing off their decorating talents, while others will call us for consideration, Calabrese-Dunphy said.

Barbara noted she vowed one day when she owned her own home to decorate it for all of the holidays.

Christmas is my favorite holiday and the Tour of Homes puts people in the Christmas spirit. And, if they havent decorated yet, when the tour is finished, they will be ready, she said.

The Heberts have seven large mostly themed trees throughout their home and several smaller trees that match the colors of each room they are in.

Among our many themed trees is our seashell tree. Its decorated with scalloped shells that I have made into angels by adding little heads and some feathers to them. Another tree features all photo ornaments of the nine dogs we have had throughout our marriage. We love to travel and there is our favorite Christmas tree that we call our travel tree, that is adorned with trinkets accumulated during our travels to over 100 countries. Then there is our white tree that serves as the perfect background for colorful peacock ornaments, she said.

Other decorations throughout the house include a North Pole Village from Enesco that dates back to the 1980s and is very hard to find today.

It features a bakery, post office, school, and fire station along with finely detailed whimsical elves. We also have another village themed to the town of Bethlehem that we purchased while in Israel, she said.

The Heberts even have three Christmas trees that they also decorate at a second home at Cape Cod.

But, it isnt on the tour, she laughed.

Todd and Jessica Cincotta are first-time participants in the tour and will be welcoming visitors to their home on Tiara Lane, where they live with their three daughters, Lauren, 20, Julia, 17, and Ava, 13. They will be celebrating their second Christmas - Jessica was born on the holiday - in a house built for them during the COVID pandemic.

We were asked by a board member from the Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield to participate and thought it would be a great way to support an organization that does so much to benefit area youth, Todd said.

Two of the eight Christmas trees on display have special meaning for the Cincottas.

The tree in my study has keepsake car ornaments that Jessica began giving to me in 1996 while we were dating. Another tree is decorated with puppy ornaments that in turn I began to give Jessica each year when we began dating, he said.

Another favorite of the Cincottas as described in the Guidebook Ticket is the tree in their living room which they refer to as their family tree. It is where they gather with family and friends on Christmas Eve, and where the five of them spend their first few moments together on Christmas Day. The tree holds special ornaments such as those given to them as wedding gifts, as well as ornaments from special family vacations to Maine, the Outer Banks in North Carolinas as well as other vacation destinations such as Disney, and yearly ornaments that show the growth of their three daughters over the years. A special tradition is that the tree changes from white to color lights on Christmas Eve to welcome Santa.

The trees in the girls rooms each represent their own personalities, he noted, and are decorated with ornaments that represent their own tastes and styles.

In addition to the trees, visitors will also find 15 or more Santas and a Christmas Village collection.

Jessicas growing Santa collection finds him in various outfits from pajamas to one while the Clauses were vacationing in Ireland. And, the Christmas Village is something we started several years go and each year we add a new piece to it. The best thing about having a new and bigger home is that we are finding so many places within the house to decorate for Christmas, he added.

Outdoors, the Cincottas have placed real wreaths on all of their windows, garland around the front door, and lights on their bushes.

Calabrese-Dunphy noted there is special travel assistance to two of the homes on the tour.

Visitors to the Heberts must park on Goldview Drive with travel assistance to their home provided by Bertera Auto Group. Also, visitors to the Moskey home must take a shuttle provided by King Gray from the Irish Cultural Center on 429 Morgan Road, she said.

Calabrese-Dunphy noted that they have partnered with two popular restaurants, a longtime local bakery, and brewing company as part of this years fundraiser. Participants on the tour can take their Guidebook Ticket to the following locations on Saturday where at West Side Bar & Grill 10% of all food sales will go back to the club, proceeds from a special menu at bNapoli will benefit the club, 10% of tourgoer sales at Cerratos will benefit their boys and girls, and at Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company they will receive a free beer.

The West Springfield Boys & Girls Club will also host a Craft and Vendor Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 615 Main St. in West Springfield. More than 40 small business owners, vendors, and craft-makers will sell items for gift giving alongside gourmet foods inside the Sullivan Family Gymnasium. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win raffle prizes.

Guidebook Tickets to participate in the tour are $25 per person, and can be purchased at the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club, Durocher Florist, Sorrento Restaurant, Gooseberry Farms and Calabrese Market, or in Agawam at Coopers Gifts and Partners Restaurant. They are also available at www.wsbgclub.org/holiday-tour-of-homes for pickup at West Springfield Boys & Girls Club. On the day of the tour, tickets will be available for $30 at each of the seven tour locations and at the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club.

The platinum major sponsor for the Holiday Tour of Homes is Kelley & Katzer Real Estate, LLC.

Those who cannot attend on tour day can support the fundraising efforts of the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club by donating online or by mailing a check to 615 Main Street, West Springfield, MA, 01089.
Officials are issuing a see something, say something warning after three men have been attempting to get into Massachusetts schools without reason.

Lowell Public Schools sent an email out to families informing them that three people were denied entry at two of its schools. The incident was reported to the Lowell Police Department, which increased patrols of the schools.

The safety and security of our students and staff are our top priority. All buildings are locked and visitors must be buzzed in by staff, through a doorbell that is equipped with video surveillance, the email stated.

But its not the only incident.

It is our understanding that law enforcement has recently been involved in similar incidents in other districts throughout the Commonwealth, the email read. As a result of these previous incidents in other districts, school leaders had been briefed in advance of todays incidents to be extra diligent with door safety protocols.

The Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents was also warned about the attempts at three separate schools, including a high school, elementary school and a preschool, according to Executive Director Thomas Scott.

A report by FBI Boston stated that between Oct. 18 to Nov. 9, there were at least three instances where men either entered or attempted to enter schools in Massachusetts without any legitimate purpose.

Read more: These are the best elementary schools in Massachusetts

Around 4 p.m. on Oct. 18, a man approached a daycare in Dedham claiming to work for Verizon.

Employees stated the male was carrying a backpack and appeared to take an interest in the school and children, the report states. Employees also confirmed that Verizon did not have any personnel in the area and that, if they had, they would be able to provide identification upon request.

Around 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 2, the FBI reported another man entered a high school in Needham. He walked around and took multiple pictures and videos of the building including the doors and the Pride flag, officials said.

The male had a Russian sounding accent and could not explain why he was in the building when confronted by staff, the report read.

And around 8 a.m. on Nov. 9, another man wearing all black and carrying a backpack attempted to go inside an elementary school in Woburn but he was stopped by a teacher.

He had a red lanyard around his neck with a handwritten card on it. A teacher stopped him and told him he could not enter, the FBI wrote.

The man told the teacher he wanted to charge his cell phone. The assistant principal told officials it appeared the mans phone was charged and told him that he could not go inside the school.

We urge the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement, the FBI said in a statement to MassLive.
A man from Western Massachusetts has been arrested after authorities claim he was a part of rioters who broke into the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021, the FBI Boston Division said Wednesday.

Daniel Tocci, who was arrested on a warrant issued by the United States Court for the District of Columbia on Nov. 29, is facing the following charges:

Destruction of government property

Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds

Disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds

Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building

Parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building

Officials say they believe that Tocci joined a crowd attending a rally in Washington, D.C., while a joint session of the United States Congress convened at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Images obtained by the FBI showed Tocci carrying a large stick while near the Washington Monument that day. Tocci then appeared to make his way to the U.S. Capitol along with other rioters, the FBI said.

On or around 2:25 p.m., Tocci went up a staircase on the northwest side of the building, which was on restricted grounds. While walking up the stairs, Tocci helped other rioters scale the outer wall of the northwest staircase, the FBI claimed.

Once at the top of the staircase, Tocci and fellow rioters reached the Capitols Upper West Terrace (UWT). Tocci was pictured along with the crowd and chanted on at least one occasion Our House, according to FBI documents. Tocci was later seen breaking into the Senate Wing Door with rioters around 3:18 p.m.

The FBI said Tocci spent most of his time inside the building near the door through which he entered. However, at around 3:21 p.m., Tocci was seen approaching an officer before exiting through a window.

Just before 4 p.m., surveillance footage caught Tocci outside of the Capitol Building near the Senate Wing Door, the FBI said. He then approached the building, reached into a broken window, and took a piece of a shutter slat. This was caught on video obtained by the FBI, the agency said.

Tocci then stayed within the Capitols restricted areas for at least 90 minutes before he left, the FBI said.

On April 18, 2023, a local police officer recognized Tocci from images he had seen from the Capitol riots. The officer told the FBI he had interacted with Tocci when he pulled him over for a broken headlight, on Jan. 24, 2023. The Hadley Police Department then sent the video from the traffic stop to the FBI.

FBI Boston has now arrested 32 people from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island in connection with the Capitol breach.
AUBURN  A man allegedly found with a large quantity of fentanyl in his vehicle on the Thruway last month entered a not-guilty plea in Cayuga County Court on Thursday.

Rome Canzano, Rodriguez's attorney, said his client is pleading not guilty. Rodriguez is set to be in court Jan. 4 for a pre-trial conference.

After court, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen that New York State Police found more than a kilogram of fentanyl in the trunk of Rodriguez's vehicle on the Thruway near the town of Brutus on Oct. 6. She said a codefendant, Bryan Rojas, was also in the vehicle and is facing the same possession charge. He previously entered a not-guilty plea as well.
CHICOPEE  The Cabotville Mill, the six-story, 690,000-square-foot former mill often considered a key to the revitalization of downtown Chicopee, is again up for auction months after it was out to bid in August.

The virtual auction is scheduled for Dec. 57 through Matthews Real Estate. A request for comment from David Ferber, associate vice president and director of Matthews Real Estate, was unsuccessful.

The minimum bid is listed at $8 million. The website also states the development project has been previously approved for 600 residential units and 90,000 square feet of commercial storage and retail.

The auction announcement comes mere months after Matthews Real Estate held an auction for the property in August, where an anonymous entity placed a winning bid of at least $10.5 million.

Mayor John Vieau said he hopes the development of Cabotville is overseen by someone capable of handling a 690,000-square-foot building. The mayor envisions the mill operating as a housing complex full of one-bedroom housing units that cater to a variety of tenants, including students of Elms College and medical professionals from Baystate Medical State Center.

Its a solid shell from what I hear, Vieau said. There are some deficiencies with the fire escapes, the freight elevator and other things that need to be addressed, but I think that would happen in any mill building.

The property has struggled to keep a dedicated owner for close to two decades. Cabotville was first purchased for $4 million in 2005 by New York developer Joshua Guttman, who hoped to create at least 200 condominiums in half of the building.

The property was then sold in 2018 to 4 Perkins LLC, which was a subsidiary of SilverBrick Group LLC.

The mill was closed in 2022 due to code violations, which resulted in the eviction of 60 businesses that were renting space in the building. A court order directs the buildings owner to provide security to prevent unauthorized access to the property.
Authorities have identified a woman who was shot and killed in Cambridge on Thanksgiving as 27-year-old Danasia Greene of Cambridge, the Middlesex County District Attorneys Office said Thursday.

The shooting happened in area of 10 Magazine St. in Central Square around 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, the office previously said.

Both Greene and a 26-year-old Boston man, who had non-life-threatening injuries, were brought to a Boston hospital, where Greene died. The man has since been treated and released, the district attorneys office said.

So far, no suspects have been identified and the investigation remains ongoing.

Read More: Springfield teen thrown from dirt bike after hitting curb dies at hospital

Cambridge police are asking that anyone with information related to the shooting can call the Cambridge Police Criminal Investigations Unit and can anonymously submit a tip through the tip line at 617-349-3370 (tel:617-349-3370) or online at cambridgepolice.org/TIPS.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created to benefit the family of Kethlen Paula Alves Trindade Da Rocha, the Marlborough woman the Middlesex District Attorneys Office said was killed by her boyfriend in an apparent murder-suicide.

Around 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, Da Rochas boyfriend, Marlon Moreira Costa, forced his way into her Rice Street home and shot her and then himself, the district attorneys office said previously. He broke in through a window, officials said, and had threatened her the night before at his home in Marlborough.

Police were called to the Rice Street home by Da Rochas roommates shortly after the shooting, the district attorneys office said. They found Costa and Da Rocha dead in the home.

Kethlen Paula Alves Trindade DaRocha, 28, was shot and killed by her boyfriend in her home in Marlborough on Wednesday, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.Handout

According to Marla Rabello, who organized the GoFundMe campaign on behalf of Da Rochas family, Da Rocha was a Brazilian immigrant, and most of her family still lives in Brazil. Her GoFundMe campaign said she was born in Governador Valadares  a small city in the state of Minas Gerais, which is located in southeastern Brazil.

Da Rocha came to the U.S. to pursue the American Dream in the hopes of creating a better life for her family, the campaign said. Junior Dantas, Da Rochas family friend, told Boston 25 News that she moved to the U.S. less than two years ago, and told WCVB that she previously owned a hair salon in Brazil.

She was a sweetheart, Dantas told Boston 25 News. She took care of her whole family.

Costa was also Brazilian, Rabello said. According to a 2019 Worcester Business Journal article, greater Boston has the highest concentration of Brazilian immigrants of any metro area in the U.S. Additionally, the journal reported, Marlborough has the highest percentage of residents of Brazilian decent among Massachusetts cities and towns, with over 10% of its population being of Brazilian ancestry.

By noon Thursday, Da Rochas GoFundMe campaign was almost halfway to reaching its goal of $6,000.
This might sound familiar. You sign up for an online purchase  whether its an item, trial or subscription  thinking you know how much it will cost.

Then you check the final price and BAM. You are shocked when you get charged much more than what was advertised. You might also be surprised to find that canceling a service is not so easy.

In one example, a delivery price for a burger and fries might be $14, but when you look at all the added on fees  delivery, service, tip, tax  then the actual price comes out to closer to $30, according to a report by NPR.

These hidden fees are not just a nuisance and unfair, according to the states attorney general. They are being used to disproportionately target low-and middle-income consumers and people of color.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, who has consumer-protection powers under state law, is proposing new rules to force companies to cut out hidden junk fees, and be more upfront with customers about how much they will pay for goods and services.

Millions of Massachusetts consumers are being harmed daily by businesses that charge hidden or surprise fees for profit, Campbell said.

By prohibiting junk fees and requiring transparency, these proposed regulations will not only ensure that consumers know what they are actually paying for when buying a good or service, but also level the playing field and market for those honest businesses that clearly disclose their pricing upfront, Campbell continued.

In an announcement on Thursday, Campbell said her office is proposing new regulations to prohibit junk fees, which are used to deceptively hike prices on consumers above advertised prices.

What are these hidden fees?

These hidden fees are sometimes called convenience fees or service fees, but are not often disclosed or explained, according to the attorney generals office.

Sometimes these hidden fees are not disclosed until near the end of a purchase instead of at the onset.

In other words, its fee-flation, Jeff Galak, a professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon Universitys Tepper School of Business told NPR. Fees are a way to raise prices without raising prices.

Campbells office described the practice as unfair and deceptive and said under Massachusetts consumer protection law these hidden fees can be regulated.

Increasingly, businesses are encouraging customers in Massachusetts to enter into automatically renewing contracts or trial offers, the attorney generals office said in a statement. These arrangements are made easy to enter intosometimes without the consumer even knowing they have done sobut much more difficult to cancel.

Other names for these fees are processing fees or booking fees.

President Joe Bidens administration recently weighed in on hidden fees and the White House estimates Americans now spend more than $65 billion on fees every year.

Some companies are paying the price for these stealth fees.

Bank of America was fined $150 million for abusing overdraft fees by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The company will also pay more than $100 million.

Airline companies were pressured by the White House to get rid of rebooking fees, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

Zillow, the real estate website, will be forced to start disclosing fees that get added onto monthly rents, such as rental application fees, parking fees or pet fees.

Campbells proposed rule changes would ban these practices.

The new rules would require businesses to be more upfront about costs. The total prices of a product or service, for example, would need to be made clear and prominent when they are advertised. That would include all fees, interest, charges or other necessary expenses.

The proposed rules would also prevent companies from requiring customers to provide personal information, including billing and credit card information, before companies disclose the total price of a product.

As for recurring fees and trial offers, Campbells office said that the new rules would require businesses to provide easily available ways to cancel these contracts. Businesses would have to clearly state the time period customers have to cancel a trial offer to avoid additional charges and the exact date they must cancel.

If a subscription or a trial renews after 30 days, the new rules would force companies to give customers at least a five day warning to cancel in order to avoid any extra fees.

Campbells office will host a public hearing and comment session on the proposed changes on Dec. 20. in Boston. You can find more information on the proposed rule changes and public hearing here.
HOLYOKE  Holyoke City Council approved a supplemental budget that seeks to address raises for firefighters, fund sewer infrastructure projects and give salary bumps to department heads after stripping away the $1 million Ezekiels plan designed to boost police presence in the city.

Mayor Joshua Garcia proposed Ezekiels plan in the aftermath of the Oct. 4 gunfight that led to the death of a newborn after his mother was stuck by a bullet while riding a passing bus. Ezekiel was the name of the baby. The plan, also dubbed Operation Safe Streets, would fund several initiatives, such as the hiring of 13 police officers and a surveillance camera system that would blanket the city.

Councilors passed the budget on a 9-3 vote held Nov. 21 after a three-and-a-half-hour debate. Councilors Kevin A. Jourdain, Wilmer Puello-Mota and Linda Vacon voted against the amended supplemental budget

Garcia previously said the city needs a supplemental budget because budgets are moving targets. When the council sets the budget in June, its estimating what the city might need to operate in the next fiscal year.

The supplemental budget adds, subtracts and reallocates funds to bring city finances as close to the original target as possible before the council sets the tax rate in December, Garcia said.

The finance committee will revisit Ezekiels plan on Dec. 4, in a regularly scheduled meeting before recommending it back to the full City Council within the next couple of weeks.

Theres a lot of concerns expressed about the monies being allocated and the future revenue support for this plan itself, said Joseph M. McGiverin, the chair of the finance committee.

When announcing Ezekiels plan on Oct. 30, Garcia said the plan would be funded through several sources, including opioid settlement money and funds the city received for pandemic recovery through the American Rescue Plan Act.

According to McGiverin, the plan was in response to not just the tragedy that happened on Oct. 4 on Sargeant and Maple Streets, but to an uptick in trends happening across the city with gun-related violence, among other things.

The plan itself is a solid proposal for police work, he said. The concerns that a number of us expressed within the plan was the revenue used. The revenue is additional not sourced through traditional revenue for the budget. Its not property tax, its ARPA money right now.

One of the main reasons Ezekiels plan was pushed back to the finance committee was because of concerns about adding 13 police officers, McGiverin said, and how to pay their salaries after the one-time ARPA funding is used up.

Garcia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In total, the City Council shaved $1.175 million from the supplemental budget. It also cut a $ 40,000-a-year crime analyst position. It also trimmed $135,000 from the Sewer Department, opting to fund street sweeping and surface repairs from the citys general fund.

The main reason there is a sewer deficit is because the sewer rate doesnt reflect true operational cost, McGiverin said.

Currently, there is a high deficit in the sewer departments budget, whatever is not made up in the deficit will be placed on the property tax owners instead of the ratepayers, McGiverin said.

The longtime shortfall in the departments operational funds comes from previously underfunded budgets, Mary L. Monahan, the sewer commission chair, said previously.

The supplemental budget allocates $723,000 to the Fire Department thanks to the citys contract with the union representing its firefighters. The funds will help the city pay for cost-of-living increases, for instance.

The supplemental budget included increases to the salaries of Holyoke department heads based on a salary comparison with neighboring cities and towns.

For example, a $5,000 raise was approved for a professional accountant and $10,000 for the chief assessor. Other departmental raises include city solicitor, assistant solicitor and conservation directors.

While the raises were on the low side of some neighboring communities, they were much needed and fair, McGiverin said.

According to McGiverin there have been a number of turnovers in personnel, and over the past 10 to 15 years, the citys board of health, auditor and building department have seen their workers leave for better pay in neighboring communities.

Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and City Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain opposed most raises over a 2-3% increase.

Jourdain said increasing the levy by $4.5 million or by 6% translates to massive increases in property taxes in the city.

This is unsustainable growth, he said.

While Jourdain believes department heads deserve raises for cost-of-living adjustments he did not believe the city could afford salary increases that were 10% or more.

City Councilor Kocayne S. Givner reiterated that the city continues to lose people.

We just lost our city engineer who was being paid well by our standards. We have spent many years underpaying compared to other communities and unfortunately, other communities dont care whether or not we can afford it, Givner said.

City Councilor Linda Vacon said a rough estimate is the average homeowners taxes will go up about $300 a year.

Already we had taxpayers come into the City Council during election season and said that high taxes are a concern. We have to keep in mind what were doing to the people who have to fund the budget and thats a huge tax increase for our taxpayers, Vacon said.

Councilor Tessa R. Murphy-Romboletti said the city loses money each time it loses an employee, and the quality of town services is impacted.

All of these orders that we file asking our city employees to look into traffic studies to make improvements for sidewalks  if we cant keep them, thats going to delay actually getting the services that all of our constituents are asking for, she said.
After attacking staff and stealing an ambulance from a Central Massachusetts hospital, a 21-year-old man led a police chase Wednesday night only to crash at the same hospital from which he stole the vehicle.

The Ashburnham Fire Department said that a man was trying to break into the emergency room at Heywood Hospital in Gardner around 5:40 p.m. on Nov. 29.

The man, later identified as Harrison Barjolo, 21, of Spencer by Gardner police, was said to have assaulted staff and another person, according to the fire department. Ashburnham EMS stepped in, at which point Barjolo also assaulted them, got into an ambulance and started driving away, the department said.

Police tried to stop Barjolo by pulling him over, but he refused and a pursuit ensued. While trying to avoid officers, Barjolo hit another vehicle, Gardner police said. At that point, more vehicles joined in the chase.

Barjolo eventually drove back to Heywood Hospital where he crashed into the pylons outside the ambulance bay, Gardner police said. He then ran into the emergency room where he was arrested, according to police.

The Ashburnham Fire Department said no serious injuries were reported during the incident, but the ambulance sustained serious damage.

Gardner, Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Rutland and Massachusetts State Police all helped in pursuing and arresting Barjolo, the department added. Authorities believe there is no longer a threat to the public.

Barjolo is facing the following charges:

Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle

Failure to stop for police, operating to endanger

Leaving the scene of a property damage accident

Leaving the scene of a personal injury accident

Assault and battery on an elder

Assault and battery on ambulance personnel

Simple assault and battery

Other motor vehicle charges

Police said the investigation is ongoing and could lead to more charges.
A man was arrested after police said he attempted to attack a group of teens in Boston with an axe and a machete.

The Boston Police Department said they were in the area of Temple Place due to a separate drug investigation. But when they heard a loud disturbance about 20 feet away, they quickly turned their attention to that.

Police saw the man with a large machete and threatening to attack a group of teens. He began approaching them and challenging them to a fight, police said. He reached into his pocked and pulled out a small axe with his right hand, while still holding a machete in his left hand.

The teens ran off in fear of the man, police said. And police arrested the man, who was identified as Israel Silva, 51, of Roxbury.

Police said he also had 30 individual packets of K-2 synthetic marijuana, 16 suboxone strips, and a small digital scale.

Silva was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of class B with intent to distribute, possession of class C with intent to distribute and disorderly conduct. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
Two years after the U.S. Capitol insurrection, a Massachusetts police officer recognized one of the people the FBI was looking for in connection with the events on Jan. 6, 2021.

Daniel Tocci, of Amherst, had been pulled over in Hadley for a broken headlight on Jan. 23. The officer remembered the interaction. He was able to identify him to the FBI on April 18 as the same man seen in multiple screenshots of video footage taken in and around the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to court records.

The Hadley Police Department provided the FBI with the video of the traffic stop and compared it to those on Jan. 6, 2021.

Tocci was arrested on a warrant issued by the United States Court for the District of Columbia on Nov. 29.

He is charged with destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Images obtained by the FBI showed Tocci carrying a large stick while near the Washington Monument that day. Tocci then appeared to make his way to the U.S. Capitol along with other rioters, the FBI said.

At about 2:25 p.m., Tocci went up a staircase on the northwest side of the building, which was on restricted grounds. While walking up the stairs, Tocci helped other rioters scale the outer wall of the northwest staircase, the FBI claimed.

Once at the top of the staircase, Tocci and fellow rioters reached the Capitols Upper West Terrace. Tocci was pictured along with the crowd and chanted on at least one occasion Our House, according to court documents. Tocci was later seen breaking into the Senate Wing door with rioters around 3:18 p.m.

The FBI said Tocci spent most of his time inside the building near the door through which he entered. However, at around 3:21 p.m., Tocci was seen approaching an officer before exiting through a window.

Just before 4 p.m., surveillance footage caught Tocci outside of the Capitol near the Senate Wing door, the FBI said. He then approached the building, reached into a broken window, and took a piece of a shutter slat. This was caught on video obtained by the FBI, the agency said.

Tocci stayed within the Capitols restricted areas for at least 90 minutes before he left, court documents read.

Read more: How a summer job and viral tweet led to an FBI arrest of Massachusetts man in US Capitol insurrection investigations

FBI Boston has now arrested 32 people from Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island in connection with the Capitol breach.
Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Courts Dobbs decision in June of last year, which overturned the constitutional right to have an abortion, state legislation passed that protected access to reproductive and gender affirming care.

It also required all public colleges and universities to create an abortion readiness plan for their students.

The deadline to submit those plans is Thursday.

Through a toolkit that was created and distributed by the Department of Public Health and Reproductive Equity Now, public higher education institutions were tasked with building relationships with nearby abortion providers, developing a plan to help inform students and faculty of their rights and their options, and detailing what the school has done and will continue to do to help students receive a medical abortion, the document said.

The state will then review all of the readiness plans it receives by Jan. 31, before working with universities to put them into effect. This will be an annual process, according to the state.

Here are what some of the colleges in the Pioneer Valley are doing:

University of Massachusetts Amherst

UMass Amherst started offering a medication abortion option to its students and faculty after hearing feedback from students about the notable distance to providers from the Amherst campus, said Ed Blaguszewski, executive director of strategic communications for UMass.

Since the school already had a longstanding commitment to providing confidential gynecological and reproductive health services, it added the non-invasive service in the fall 2022 semester, Blaguszewski said.

In April, after a federal ruling on a court case in Texas that blocked the FDAs approval of the abortion medication mifepristone, Gov. Maura Healey requested the UMass Amherst stockpile abortion pills on campus. She later ensured students rights to medical abortions would be protected by state law.

UMass also provides a number of additional sexual and reproductive health services to its students and faculty.

Students can get information about the services through any of the well-being and health safety programs the university offers, such as the Center for Health Promotion and the Student Wellbeing Advisory Board.

Community colleges

Included in Springfield Technical Community Colleges abortion readiness plan are referrals to community resources for access to abortion medication, resources and support services, a spokesperson for the college said.

STCC is working with the state to develop a plan for access to abortion medication.

Holyoke Community Colleges website does not list its plan, but does provide information on nearby clinics.

Private universities

While private higher education institutions are not required to submit a readiness plan to the state, some are already equipped with information for their students and faculty. Amherst College is one such institution.

On its website, Amherst Colleges Health Center says that it provides free, safe and confidential pregnancy testing, counseling and support, including referrals for obstetric care and pregnancy termination.

Western New England University does not provide information about abortions or pregnancy awareness on its health services website, but does offers a list of nearby medical centers and clinics.

What is a medication abortion?

There are two ways to safely terminate a pregnancy: in-clinic abortions and the medication abortion, which consists of two pills: mifepristone and misoprostol.

In the toolkit, the state listed Hey Jane, a telehealth and medication abortion provider, as a resource. In June, Massachusetts became the 11th state to allow residents and visitors to access Hey Janes services.

Hey Jane is the first virtual clinic providing abortion care to accept insurance, and the service offers sliding-scale pricing based on each patients personal and financial circumstances, said Kiki Freedman, the companys co-founder and CEO.

The company also has partnered with the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Fund to assist patients who are struggling financially.

Our goal is to enhance access and affordability for comprehensive abortion care, ensuring that more individuals, including college students, can get the care they need, Freedman said.

Medication abortions are available for patients within the first 10 weeks of their pregnancies, depending on the state they live in. If a patient requires or would like an abortion after that time period, their alternative solution is the in-clinic abortion.

Because of the Dobbs decision, 12 states have enforced a near-total abortion ban. And a dozen more have placed restrictions on abortions  including gestational bans, or where procedures are restricted or banned by courts, according to a study done by the Guttmacher Institute, which was formerly connected to Planned Parenthood.

Even with Massachusetts protections for patients trying to get an abortion, state law still has limitations. Unlike states such as Oregon and California, where abortion rights are well-protected, the commonwealth bans abortions at and after 24 weeks of gestation, unless medically necessary.

Fifteen states, including several Southern states, have heavy restrictions on patients.
A person was rushed to the hospital after they were pulled from underneath a vehicle in North Reading Wednesday night, according to Fire Chief Don Stats and Police Chief Mark Zimmerman.

The crash happened near the corner of Fieldcrest and Hollywood terraces around 7:48 p.m. on Nov. 29, both officials said in a joint statement. When they arrived, crews found a person who was trapped under the vehicle.

North Reading firefighters had to use airbags to lift the vehicle and free the person, according to officials. The victim was then brought to the hospital for treatment. There was no word on their condition, officials said.

The crash is under investigation by the North Reading Fire and Police Departments, along with the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section (CARS) Unit.
An Auburn man arrested last month for allegedly abusing his power as a Cayuga County probation officer is no longer employed by the county following an internal investigation.

Cayuga County Legislature Chairman David Gould told The Citizen on Thursday that Nicholas G. Flanigan, 34, has resigned from the probation department. Flanigan received his last paycheck in early November, Gould said.

The former probation officer was arrested by New York State Police on Oct. 3 after an investigation into him allegedly abusing his power and authority over probationers for his own personal and financial gain. State police said he "repeatedly engaged in inappropriate communications with probationers" and failed to properly supervise them. Flanigan was previously listed on the Cayuga County website as working with sex offenders.

An employee of the probation department since February 2018, Flanigan pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree falsifying business records and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing (both class E felonies), and two counts of official misconduct (a class A misdemeanor). He was initially suspended with pay, per county policy, pending investigations from its human resources department and the Cayuga County District Attorney's Office.

Flanigan's attorney, J. Justin Woods, told The Citizen in a statement on behalf of his client: "Nick Flanigan has been a public servant supervising people in the community in Tompkins and Cayuga counties for many years. Mr. Flanigan has contributed to community safety by supervising some of the worst criminal offenders after their release, but also by being a fair and empathetic officer helping probationers access programs and services as they worked to reestablish their lives as law abiding citizens. While these charges are serious, no one should rush to judge him based on the allegations without seeing the evidence. Mr. Flanigan (pleaded) not guilty, and he vehemently denies engaging in any criminal conduct."

At a pretrial conference Oct. 18, it was determined Flanigan's case will be sent to Cayuga County Court pending a county grand jury review, Cayuga County District Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen at the time. Flanigan will go to county court if the grand jury indicts him.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to come to Boston next week for a James Taylor concert that will benefit the Biden Victory Fund, the state Democratic Party announced this week.

The concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 5, but the time, location and details will be shared with ticket-holders a day or two before the event, according to an email from state party Chair Steve Kerrigan. It is entitled Youve Got a Friend in Joe  a play on Taylors hit song, Youve Got a Friend.

According to the eventbrite listing for the event, tickets range from $50 to $7,500. The listing describes the concert as an evening with President Joe Biden and special guest James Taylor, and says it will last three hours.

Taylor, a six-time Grammy Award winner, has several ties to Massachusetts. Not only was he born in Boston, but he spent summers on Marthas Vineyard as a child and attended Milton Academy.

According to The Boston Globe, Taylor has supported many Democratic candidates over the years, including Hilary Clinton and Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

The concert is set to be Bidens second trip to Massachusetts in the last few weeks after celebrating Thanksgiving on Nantucket with his family.
A suspect wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 42-year-old man in Manchester, New Hampshire earlier this month has been arrested in Massachusetts, Massachusetts State Police said Wednesday.

Giovanne Morris, 31, was arrested Tuesday at an apartment at 244 Kennedy Drive in Malden on Nov. 28, state police said. Morris was wanted in connection with the shooting death of Carlos Rodriguez in on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Police went to the area of 61 Lowell St. shortly before 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 18 for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Less than an hour later, at around 2 a.m., police went back for a report of a shooting, according to a joint statement from Attorney General John M. Formella and Manchester Police Chief Allen D. Aldenberg.

That was when officers found Rodriguez with apparent gunshot wounds, authorities said. The 42-year-old was brought to Elliott Hospital in Manchester, where he died hours later.

When authorities arrived at the Malden apartment Tuesday, Morris went onto the fifth-floor balcony and jumped onto the balcony of a neighboring apartment.

Authorities then broke into the original apartment, went to the balcony, and tried to get Morris to surrender. He eventually gave in, and Morris was taken into custody, state police said.

After he was arrested Tuesday, Morris was brought to the State Police-Medford Barracks, where he was charged with being a felon in passion of a dangerous weapon, state police said.

Morris, who had a last known address in New Hampshire, was arraigned in Malden District Court as a fugitive from justice. Prosecutors in both states will arrange his rendition to New Hampshire, state police added.

The shooting is still under investigation by Manchester police and the New Hampshire Attorney Generals Office.
When it comes to the fine print of the multi-billion dollar, year-end spending bill thats weeks overdue and tied up in private negotiations, Massachusetts Republicans dont have much to say.

But they are willing to work to get things done  and they say they know what the delay has cost the commonwealth. Thats migrants sheltering at the state Department of Transportations headquarters in downtown Boston, even as a YMCA in the citys Chinatown neighborhood has stepped up to lend a hand.

This is a supplemental budget that should have been passed at least a month ago and maybe more so that we could close the books on fiscal year 2023, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Essex/ Middlesex, said during a Wednesday news conference. That is the first consequence of not having a document passed at this point. Along with that consequence, there are many others, and it is not It is not a positive situation.

Despite the grave situation, Tarr said that hes trying to work toward a solution.

Were going to continue to try to play that role, he said.

Its been two weeks since the Legislature moved negotiations over a $2.8 billion spending bill into private discussions led by a six-person conference committee. Yet, theres still no sign that either chamber has reached a consensus.

Last week, House Republicans sent a letter to the conferees to pass a bill, in part, to fund the nearly 90 bargaining agreements in both the House and Senates bill, Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, R-Middlesex, wrote in a press release.

But, the conferees have yet to reply to the letter.

At the heart of the budget negotiations is a proposal from Gov. Maura Healey to infuse $250 million into the states underresourced shelter system.

Due to an influx of migrants who entered the state seeking shelter, Healey has limited the states shelter system to just 7,500 families. Since the limit was reached earlier this month, unhoused families are now being placed on a waitlist for shelter space to open up.

Legislative leaders have said the money would be needed to help finance the states emergency assistance program through the 2023 fiscal year. However, the Senate and House have been butting heads on the direction Gov. Maura Healey can take on her shelter cap.

While the Houses version of the bill requires the governor to launch an overflow site to keep her shelter cap, the Senates bill doesnt mention any prerequisites at all.

Both House and Senate Republicans have been opposed to the spending bill, mainly due to their concerns regarding the states right-to-shelter law which guarantees shelter to unhoused families.

Republicans have argued sheltering new arrivals under the current law takes away space from homeless residents of the state.

However, the GOPs efforts to limit the states law to just Massachusetts residents have fallen short in chamber votes.

But, now with two GOP leaders involved in the private negotiations regarding the supplemental budget, Republicans could have another shot at reviving those conversations in informal sessions.

When asked if Republicans were willing to vote against the shelter money in informal sessions, Tarr said he wasnt willing to share any details of his partys negotiating strategy.

I think its important to say that we need and deserve to have a voice in those discussions, Tarr said. Some of those discussions have occurred, but we need to continue to look at this as a fluid situation.
The National Weather Service has released a prediction of a strong geomagnetic storm beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, during which some of Massachusetts may be able to see the northern lights.

The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are not often seen this far south, but the extent of the storm has the line of visibility drawing a line directly through the state, meaning much of Western Massachusetts and north Eastern Massachusetts should be able to view it on the northern horizon.

Auroras may be visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon Thursday night/early Friday morning, the Weather Service reported on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A National Weather Service forecast shows the extent of the northern lights expected to be visible on Thursday, Nov. 30, through the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (National Weather Service)National Weather Service

To best see the northern lights, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends that the best time to view aurora is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Find a place where you can see to the north (or south if you are in the southern hemisphere). Given the right vantage point, say for example on top of a hill in the northern hemisphere with an unobstructed view toward the north, a person can see the aurora even when it is 1,000 km (600 miles) further north, the NOAA explains.

It must also be dark for space watchers to see the aurora, the NOAA notes. The federal agency recommends going out at night to view the display and getting away from the lights of the city and full moon.
WESTFIELD  School principals and business leaders brainstormed about how they can help students prepare for careers at the Nov. 28 meeting of the Westfield Education to Business Alliance.

Area businesses have been working with teachers to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities and share information about career opportunities in their fields through the Adopt a Classroom program.
Stogotz, the piano lounge and restaurant inspired by the HBO series The Sopranos, announced Wednesday that it plans to close its doors on Friday, Dec. 1, nine months after it opened on Stafford Street in Worcester.

The announcement was made on their Facebook page, which read, It hurts me to even post this, which is why Ive been so quiet online lately, but there is no way to ignore it anymore. Its upon us... so this is it... the final night, the end, our last... last call...

Read more: A sneak peek inside Stogotz piano lounge in Worcester set to open Saturday

The post asked for those who have stopped by and supported them along the way to attend their Last Call celebration on Friday, Dec. 1, with the doors opening at 5 p.m., the kitchen opening at 6 p.m. and live music by DJ Joe T starting at 8 p.m.

A bar at Stogotz Tapas Restaurant and Piano Lounge. The business is set to open in Worcester Saturday.

Owner Justin Kazmierczak told MassLive in February there are not enough businesses catering to 40- to 70-year-olds in Worcester, with the hope that Stogotz would change that.

The business decor includes photos and paintings of the characters from the popular HBO series. The name was also a nod to the show  its two letters off from the name of lead character Tony Sopranos boat, an Italian term that translates to a word that doesnt mean something good, according to Kazmierczak. So he went for a variation.

Read more: Shaking Crab in Springfield permanently closed

The idea that led to Stogotz came to Kazmierczak when he was vacationing in Aruba after he went to The Sopranos Piano Bar, which had a piano player nightly who would take requests.

We had such a great time, Kazmierczak said to MassLive in August. The piano player there had the whole place involved and everybody was singing, he said.

An example of the decor at Stogotz Tapas Restaurant and Piano Lounge. The business is set to open in Worcester Saturday.

The bar featured a custom-built piano that included a mural featuring quotes from The Sopranos, along with a wraparound bar made to resemble piano keys.

Put on your dancing shoes, activate your party pants, the Facebook post concluded, and bring it on down to Stogotz!!!
IQ-EQ, a leading global investor services group with operations in Mauritius and South Africa, has been named Best Fund Administrator for the sixth consecutive year in the 2023 Africa Global Funds (AGF) Service Providers Awards.

The AGF Service Providers Awards were created to honour and recognise the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of fund service providers covering Africa.

As well as holding onto the title of Best Fund Administrator: Private Equity Funds over $20bn for the sixth year running, IQ-EQ also took home Best Fund Administrator overall  Pan Africa, which is awarded to companies providing the best private equity fund services across the whole of the continent.

Commenting on this success, IQ-EQs Regional Managing Director for Africa, India and the Middle East, Sridhar Nagarajan, said:
THE Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council has called on Seanad Eireann to ensure that county councillors remain a part of new for a set to replace Joint Policing Committees (JPCs).

A number of elected representatives from Mayo County Council and Dail Eireann sit on the existing Mayo JPC, which gives politicians a forum to ask questions of senior gardai.

Cllr Michael Loftus called for the committees to be kept in place to ensure that communities would be represented.

In an address to the upper house, Cllr Loftus said he had a serious problem with the Policing Security and Community Bill.

Part 3 of the bill seeks to replace JPCs with so-called local community safety partnerships.

These partnerships will be comprised of various groups; including residents, community representative organisations, older people, minority communities, business and education representatives.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, TD, recently told the Seanad that local county councillors will remain a very important part of the make-up of these new fora.

The bill has been passed by Dail Eireann currently at committee stage in Seanad Eireann.

Speaking as part of a Mayo County Council delegation which attended a Seanad hearing on the future of local democracy in Ireland, Cllr Loftus said he was very disappointed with our Oireachtas members who have passed the policing, security and community bill without even looking at it.

Now the JPCs are where councillors are representing our community with An Garda Siochana. With this new local community and safety partnership councillors are being taken off that JPC. Its now going to be abolished, said the Crossmolina-based representative.

I have a serious problem with that and we in the west of Ireland and in Mayo would have a serious problem about that.

The Fianna Fail councillor then called on senators to amend the bill to allow for the retention of county councillors on JPCs.

Really, I want to represent my community, I feel Im an elected member by the community and my other council colleagues here would be elected by the community to represent them. Id like to see that bill altered or changed to allow the JPCS to be continued, he said.

The next JPC meeting in Mayo is due to take place tomorrow, Friday, December 1 at Aras an Chontae in Castlebar.
Theres a nice little row brewing over a proposal before the European Commission which would see the bar raised considerably for senior citizens seeking to renew their driving licences. In a suite of measures designed to improve road safety, the most controversial will be that requiring drivers over the age of 70 to undergo refresher courses if they wish to continue driving.

EU bureaucrats should be reminded of the seismic outcome of the grey revolution of just over a decade ago, when the Fianna Fail-led coalition budget sought to curtail the medical card entitlement of citizens aged over 70. No government in history could have so much regretted arousing the slumbering giant of elderly anger, the backlash of which was enough to hound the government of the day out of office.

But to go back to where we came in. The proposed changes in EU driving regulations are as yet in the embryonic stage, but are due for discussion by the full Commission and Parliament soon. However, the details were leaked within the last ten days, and they have generated an irate response from a variety of quarters.

One of the more influential voices has been that of Professor Desmond ONeill, specialist in geriatric medicine, who has warned that older motorists will be forced off the road by such measures as mandatory driving tests.

Accusing the EU of having a blind spot in relation to the supposed dangers posed by older drivers, Prof ONeill maintains that there is a widespread body of research which shows that older drivers are among the safest in Europe. Citing the loss of mobility and independence which such measures would cause, he added that, even in terms of cost, blanket screening of older motorists would be ineffective.

Back in 2008, the decision of Brian Cowens government to revoke the universal medical card entitlement of those over 70, unleashed a revolution which in its intensity stunned and rattled the establishment. Thousands of older folk took to street demonstrations in uncontrolled fury; in the aftermath, government TDs defected, ministers resigned, the administration fell apart and even a craven climbdown failed to appease the ire of the inflamed grey brigade.

The day following the medical card announcement, three thousand protesting activists of the Zimmer Revolution assembled in Westland Row church. There, facing a forest of placards, the hapless junior Minister for Health, John Maloney, was booed off the podium before he could open his mouth, and went back to report to his political masters with his tail between his legs.

But that was merely the starter course. The following day, an all-Ireland protest descended on Leinster House. The oldsters came in their thousands by bus and train and private transport, on wheelchairs and on crutches, bowed but unbeaten. At Heuston station, sympathetic taxi drivers ferried them free of charge to the gates of the Dail. Neighbouring restaurants and coffee shops sustained them with complimentary tea and scones.

By the time the 15,000 strong army had thronged the streets and pavement outside the Dail, any government TD daring enough to show his or her face was in line for a merciless roasting.

The Minister for Older People, Maire Hoctor, sent out to pacify the enraged seniors had barely uttered her first words of apology when she was shouted down. The Green TD, Ciaran Cuffe, was given the same treatment. Inside the Dail, Minister for Health Mary Harney apologised  but to no avail  for the needless distress.

But it was all too late. The government ship had been holed below the water line and for Cowen, it was the beginning of the end.

It was a lesson which, 15 years on, the EU would do well to pay heed to.
MAYO Sinn Fein TD Rose Conway-Walsh has hit out at what she described as disgraceful water outages on Clare Island.

Raising the issue in the Dail, Deputy Conway Walsh called on Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, Darragh OBrien TD, to engage directly with islanders and outline a firm plan of action to improve their water supply.

Parts of the island recently suffered extended water outages after Uisce Eireann began conducting step testing following suspected leaks.

This came following the lifting of the latest of several boil water notices on October 5.

Islanders were supplied with bottled water while Uisce Eireann engineers conducted repair works.

It is disgraceful that in 2023, the residents of Clare Island are still dealing with water outages for up to two weeks at a time They are still unable to get any commitment from Uisce Eireann on when the necessary upgrades will happen, said Deputy Conway-Walsh

The most recent continuous outage lasted a full ten days, with some parts of the island affected by disruptions for 14 days. Water outages are a very serious matter for our islanders, who are dependent on fresh water supply for drinking and basic sanitation but also in the case of fire.

The Sinn Fein Deputy also claimed rural group water schemes were being treated like the poor relation to water supplies in urban areas.

People need a water supply. Without a water supply, they cannot live in Dublin and they cannot live in Clare Ireland, Achill Island or all of the other communities in Mayo as well, she added.

Replying to Deputy Conway-Walsh, Minister of State, Thomas Byrne TD, said that disruptions can occur following the return of supply to a network where there may be issues with individual connections.

He also outlined various projects planned at improving the water supply on the island, where works are ongoing to upgrade the local water treatment plant.

These included the addition of an ultraviolet and six carbon cartridges to replace the existing GAC layer, which he described as not fit for purpose.

This will allow for quick change out of filters that can be done by hand, and constant GAC availability ensuring the integrity of the treatment process, said Minister Byrne.

Investigations are underway to assess the potential to abstract water from a spring source further up on Knockmore mountain.

This will require the installation of an overground pipe of 300-400 metres to the new source for use in times when raw water quality deteriorates.

Responding to Deputy Conway-Walshs suggestion that rural group water schemes were the poor relation, Minister Byrne admitted that constituents in his Meath East constituency had experienced issues with their water supply.

But, thanks to the investment the Government is putting into my constituency and, indeed, to the Deputys constituency at Clare Island, he added, I believe these problems are being ironed out and solved.

For the group water schemes, the Departments multi-annual rural water programme, using Exchequer funding, is delivering improvements to water services, including in group water schemes, in areas of rural Ireland without public water services, said Minister Byrne.

The objective of the multi-annual programme, through its various funding measures, is to improve the quality, reliability and efficiency of water services for rural dwellers where Uisce Eireann services are not available. In addition, the Departments annual subsidy provides funding to contribute to the operational cost of schemes supplying water to their consumers for household use.
A progressive group claims that U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams is keeping a donation from embattled Congressman George Santos, but Williams says he gave the money to a central New York organization.

End Citizens United has urged Republican members of Congress, including Williams, to donate funds they received from Santos, who is facing federal charges and has admitted to lying on his resume.

Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United, said in a statement that "anyone who holds onto (Santos's) tainted money is endorsing his fraud."

The group also took its message to social media. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, End Citizens United said Williams "has taken in corrupt contributions from George Santos." But they also acknowledged that the central New York Republican has supported expelling Santos from the House.

Williams received two donations totaling $5,000 from Santos' Gads PAC on Aug. 22, 2022  one day before he won the Republican primary in the 22nd Congressional District.

On X, Williams responded to End Citizens United and revealed he donated the money to Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse. The donation was made on March 31, according to Federal Election Commission records.

"Happy to turn George's fraud into support for our four-legged friends  something he also lied about in his background," Williams wrote, referring to the accusation that Santos stole money intended to pay for a dog's surgery.

Democrats are seeking to make Santos a 2024 campaign issue for New York GOP members, but Williams and others in the delegation have called on the Long Island Republican to resign and support his expulsion from the House.

Williams issued a statement in January calling on Santos to resign. In October, he cosponsored a resolution to expel Santos. That vote failed because several Republicans and even some Democrats opposed the move.

But there is momentum to oust Santos after the House Ethics Committee released a report that found there was evidence he violated the law.

Another vote to expel Santos is expected to be held on Friday. There is growing support for the move and the Long Island congressman has said he thinks he will be removed from the House.
Triumph Motorcycles and Bajaj Autos first co-developed motorcycles arrived earlier this year. The Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X have been well received and sales have exceeded Bajajs expectations, the company entrusted with producing these motorcycles for the world. In a recent interview with CNBC-TV18, Rajiv Bajaj, CEO - Bajaj Auto, said that the company expects to sell 18,000 units of the Triumph 400 twins by the end of Q3 FY2024 (October - December), beating previous sales predictions.

Rajiv Bajaj, CEO - Bajaj Auto, said that the company expects to sell 18,000 units of the Triumph Speed 400 and Triumph Scrambler 400 X by the end of Q

Rajiv Bajaj revealed that the instantaneous success of the Triumph Speed 400 caught the Indian manufacturer by surprise. The company originally planned to produce about 5,000 Triumph 400s per month. However, the overwhelming booking numbers made it realise the demand was about 10,000 units per month. Since its launch, the company has sold about 8,000 units of the Speed 400 between July and September (Q2 FY2024) this year. Bajaj expects this number to grow to 18,000 units in this quarter or about 6,000 units per month.

Also Read : Made in India Triumph Speed 400 & Scrambler 400 X launched in Malaysia

So our initial capacity was 5,000 a month but the last quarter weve done about 8,000. This quarter we should more than double that to about 18,000, which averages to about 6,000. So out of a capacity of 5,000 a month, we will hopefully be able to squeeze out 6,000 Triumphs on an average this quarter," Rajiv Bajaj said.

Exports of the Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X to Europe will begin in early 2024, while the bikes were recently launched in Malaysia

With the recently launched Triumph Scrambler 400 X also a part of the portfolio, the company is expecting this demand to rise even further. Bajaj said he believes they can make up to 10,000 motorcycles per month to keep up with the demand.

Elaborating further, he added, [Its] not easy because of the Diwali break, etc., that is a mix of both the roadster and scrambler and going forward, the next stop should be 10,000 a month. And I think we are looking good for that."

Rajiv Bajaj went on to compare the meteoric growth of Triumphs most affordable offerings with that of Royal Enfield, despite the limited distribution network. Bajaj also looks after the sales and distribution of Triumph bikes in India inherited about 14-16 dealers from the British bike maker and has so far expanded to about 25 dealers across the country. This is a much smaller number when compared to 1,000 dealers for Royal Enfield or 800 for Bajaj.

We still have a long way to go before we establish the required distribution footprint. As capacity and distribution will expand, we expect to see this number expand," Bajaj said.

Also Read : Triumph Scrambler 400 X first ride review: Another hit for Triumph.

A competitive price tag, impressive attention to detail and a fun platform, all have worked in Triumph and Bajaj Autos favour. Both the Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X resemble their larger capacity namesakes, while the newly developed 399 cc single-cylinder engine impressed us on both motorcycles.

More recently, Triumph launched the 400 Twins in Malaysia, while the bikes are set to go on sale in Europe in early 2024. The numbers are expected to increase further once the bikes reach more markets globally. Apart from the Speed and Scrambler, Triumph is also reportedly working on a cafe racer-styled motorcycle, which could be called the Thruxton 400 upon launch.

First Published Date:
China's monthly registrations of locally-made passenger vehicles (PVs) reached 1,908,573 units in October 2023, growing 18.81% from the previous year, but edging down 0.01% from the previous month, according to the data compiled by the Gasgoo Auto Research Institute ("GARI").

For clarity, the PVs hereby refer to the vehicles locally produced and registered on the Chinese Mainland.

In October, China's PV market saw its sales performance remain flat over the previous month, following the usual trend of a strong performance during the "Golden September" and "Silver October", the traditional peak season for car shopping in China. The robust year-on-year growth was partly due to the low base for the year-ago period and the increasing demands for new energy vehicles (NEVs). The continuous sales promotions for both conventional oil-fueled and NEVs contributed to the unleashing of consumer demands.

At the national level, a series of policies aimed at stabilizing and expanding automobile consumption were introduced. Initiatives such as the "Hundred Cities Initiative" for automobile shopping festivals and the New Energy Vehicle Consumption Season in the massive rural area have yielded positive results. Moreover, diverse local events and promotional policies continue to be announced, paired with the regular release of local subsidies. These measures, coupled with corporate sales promotion efforts, are providing steady support to the automotive market in the year-end sprint.

However, persistent price reductions have heightened consumers' hesitation, resulting in diminishing marginal benefits from terminal sales. Approaching the end of October, there was an observable increase in consumer's "wait-and-see" sentiment, likely related to the anticipation of events like the "11.11" shopping festival.

For the first ten months of this year, China's cumulative PV registrations summed up to 16,716,042 units, growing 5.59% from the previous year.

Among all brands in China, BYD was the only one to have over 200,000 homemade PVs registered in Oct. 2023. By Oct. registrations of locally-made PVs, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Honda secured the 2nd to 4th places, all of which recorded a registration volume exceeding 100,000 units.

The three major China's domestic brandsChangan, Geely, and Wulingranked 5th to 7th among all brands by Oct. PV registrations, while the German trioBMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benzheld the 9th, 11th, and 12th spots.

There were two BEV (battery electric vehicle)-dedicated brands shown in the second half of the top 20 PV brands list by Oct. registrations, namely, AION and Tesla. Li Auto ranked 15th with only REEVs (range-extended electric vehicles) sold.

Besides, some regulars in the top 20 brands rankings, such as Chery, Haval, Hongqi, and Trumpich, still made appearances last month, displaying the improved presence of China's indigenous brands.

As for the hotter-selling PV models by Oct. registrations, the highest-ranking one was BYD's Seagull, which just hit the market in late April this year and won the champion honor for the first time.

By Oct. registrations, the runner-up among all models was the Nissan Sylphy, and it was also the best-performing oil-fueled model. The 3rd to 5th placesthe Yuan PLUS, the Dolphin, and the Model Ywere all taken by battery electric vehicle (BEV) products.

The list of the top 20 PV models by Oct. registrations was evenly split by NEVs and oil-fueled ones.

Among cities on the Chinese Mainland, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou took the first three seats by Oct. PV registrations, and only Shangai had over 50,000 PVs registered in the month.

According to the registration data compiled by the GARI, the most popular models in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou were the Model Y, the JETTA VS7, and the AION Y Plus in Oct.

Beijing, Shenzhen, and Zhengzhou ranked 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively, all of which logged an Oct. registration volume of over 40,000 units.

Judging from the registrations through the first ten months of this year, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou held the top 4 positions among all cities on the Chinese Mainland. Besides, there were 8 cities whose respective Jan.-Oct. registrations all stood between 300,000 units and 400,000 units.

The new energy passenger vehicle (NEPV) sector in China recorded a registration volume of 709,564 units last month, soaring 59.14% from the year-ago period, rising 3.28% from a month earlier, and accounting for 37.18% of the countrys total PV registrations.

For the first ten months of this year, the cumulative NEPV registrations across the Chinese Mainland leapt 39.96% year on year to 5,588,247 units, which represented 33.43% share in the overall PV market.

Speaking of the proportion of each powertrain solution, BEVs made up 67.59% of China's NEPV registrations in Oct. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) registrations reached 229,923 units (including 72,283 REEVs) last month, accounting for 32.4% of the country's total NEPV registrations.

Of the NEPVs registered in Jan.-Oct. 2023, 69.11% were contributed by BEVs. Meanwhile, the FCV (fuel cell vehicle) segment registered a year-to-date volume of only 347 units, 15 units of which were recorded last month.

Regarding Oct. registrations by locally-produced NEPVs, BYD topped other brands with registrations exceeding 230,000 units, reinforcing its significant lead. To achieve its annual sales target of 3 million units, BYD implemented promotional campaigns, including discounts of up to 18,000 yuan, for popular models such as the Qin, Song, Han, Tang, and Yuan from Nov. 1st to 30th.

Capitalizing on the popularity of the Wuling Binguo, the Wuling brand once again broke through the 40,000-unit mark, reaching 45,810 units with a month-on-month growth of nearly 26%. This achievement catapulted Wuling back into the top three, securing the second position. With the recent launch of the Wuling Hongguang MINIEV Fast Charging Edition, Wuling anticipates a further boost in sales.

Outselling by 429 units, XPeng surpassed AION, which fell to the 4th position in Oct.

Tesla experienced a month-on-month decline of 27.5% in October. The decline is primarily attributed to the majority of new cars being allocated for export. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, Tesla's exports of Shanghai-made vehicles reached 43,489 units in October, marking a significant 42.3% increase month-on-month.

Furthermore, other notable changes occurred on the sales charts, with considerable month-on-month increases for XPeng, Geely, NIO, and SERES (mostly contributed by AITO). Notably, propelled by the launch and delivery of the new AITO M7, SERES achieved a triple-digit month-on-month growth, with its Oct. registrations exceeding 12,000 units.

In October, BYD's Seagull surpassed Tesla's Model Y for the first time, securing the top spot with nearly 35,000 units registered. Meanwhile, the Model Y experienced a 32.7% month-on-month decline in Oct. registrations due to a substantial portion being allocated for export, causing it to drop from the 1st position in Sept. to the 4th.

The Wuling Binguo witnessed a 28.6% month-on-month jump in Oct. registrations, approaching 24,000 units and claiming the 5th spot on the list. This achievement was attributed to the launch of the Wuling Binguo 410km-range version on Sept. 25. Additionally, Wuling's iconic "People's Car," the Hongguang MINIEV, saw a gradual recovery, surpassing 20,000 units in Oct. registrations, marking a 26.1% month-on-month increase and a return to the top 10.

Compared to the previous month, notable declines were observed in the monthly registrations of Tesla's Model Y, GAC AION's AION S, and four popular models from BYD, including the Song PLUS DM-i, the Qin PLUS DM-i, the Song PLUS EV, and the Yuan PLUS.

Throughout the year, major automakers in China have launched multiple models to challenge the dominance of BYD's Qin, Song, and Yuan PLUS models. Models such as the Galaxy L6/L7, the Haval Xiaolong MAX, the Haval Menglong, the Deepal S7, and NEVO A05 have joined the competition. The decline in sales for BYD's main sales contributors suggests that these contenders have begun to impact their market share.

In October, Shanghai still outdid other cities with 25,092 locally-made NEPVs registered, which accounted for 35.36% of the city's overall PV registrations. During this period, the top five NEPV models in Shanghai were the Tesla Model Y, the Yuan PLUS, the Dolphin, the ID.3, and the NIO ES6.

Shenzhen saw its NEPV registrations also surpass 20,000 units last month as well, but Guangzhou failed to reach this mark.

During this year's first ten months, there were 12 cities on the Chinese Mainland with over 100,000 domestically-built NEPVs registered each.
by Fern Siegel , November 30, 2023

Mental-health issues, such as depression and anxiety, can be a difficult subject for some men to address.

In 2021, there were an estimated 57.8 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with AMI (Any Mental Illness), according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This number represented 22.8% of all U.S. adults. More females with AMI (51.7%) received mental-health services than males with AMI (40.0%).

An ad agency in New Zealand, which noted that self-harm among men in the country is a major concern, found a novel way to address the issue  an unusual bouquet.

The VML agency partnered with Yeastie Boys, a small multinational brewery in the the country, for a drinkable bunch of flowers called Blokequet.

Yeastie Boys wanted to give men a reason to socialize over a beer  and an opportunity to talk about their feelings. The spot is here.

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Blokequet is being sold as a limited-edition release. The new drinkable bunch of flowers, brewed with earl grey blue flower, is a 2.5% pale gold, with little bitterness and an explosion of "floral" tropical and citrus fruit flavors.

Each can sold is also a donation to the I AM HOPE foundation, supporting the youth of New Zealand.

Joshua Sanford, Yeastie Boys General Manager, said: We know we need to open up to our close mates  but showing up with a bunch of flowers isnt the typical thing to doshowing up with some beers and having a chat is. The Blokequet doesnt just start meaningful convos, it also supports the important I AM HOPE Foundation.

The Blokequet is available at selected bars and liquor stores, and while supplies last, will be sold in a traditional bouquet-style arrangement, with beer instead of flowers, to share with friends.

Kim Pick, executive creative director, VML New Zealand, lauded the partners who have supported the effort to get men checking in on each other and to raise awareness for mens mental health.
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, November 29, 2023

Computers today require the user to lead the machine. Thats also true in the online advertising industry, despite the amount of automation we have seen built into platforms in the past few years.

Tomorrow, computers will run on agents.

Despite the headline of this post, Bill Gates has a unique view. He often shares his thoughts in a blog about the future of computing. In a recent post about AI, he wrote: in the computing industry, we talk about platforms the technologies that apps and services are built on. Android, iOS, and Windows are all platforms. Agents will be the next platform.

Android, iOS, and Windows are all platforms. On a device, the user queries a response in everyday conversational language, and the machine will determine which software to use and how to get the best result.

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Within five years, the idea of an app will seem as outdated as a record player or rotary phone.

An agent will be able to help you with all your activities if you want it to, Gates wrote. With permission to follow your online interactions and real-world locations, it will develop a powerful understanding of the people, places, and activities you engage in.

The agent will have access to users' personal and work relationships, hobbies, preferences, and schedules. The user will choose how and when it steps in to help with something or to ask the person to make a decision.

Microsoft is making Copilot part of Word, Excel, Outlook, and other services, while Google is doing similar things with Assistant with Bard and its productivity tools.

Gates is a software guy. If he would have invented AI, the world might have already had what he calls "agents."

Elon Musk has also mentioned in the past that he wants to create one app that will run everything  his reasoning for changing the name of Twitter to X.

The biggest technical challenge is nobody has figured out yet what the data structure for an agent will look like," says Gates. To create personal agents, we need a new type of database that can capture all the nuances of your interests and relationships and quickly recall the information while maintaining your privacy.

Gates points to new ways of storing information, such as vector databases, that may be better for storing data generated by machine-learning models, but the complexities of building a system with agents remain a challenge.

Will AI dumb down users  similar to the way people thought Google Search would make us dumb?

Gates explains that to create a new app or service, the user will not need to know how to write code or do graphic design. People will just tell your agent what they want. It will be able to write the code, design the look and feel of the app, create a logo, and publish the app to an online store. OpenAIs launch of GPTs for small online businesses provide a look into future where non-developers create and share assistants.

Microsoft, the company Gates founded with Paul Allen, invested about $13 billion in OpenAIs technology including ChatGPT, which will celebrate its first birthday on November 30. (Microsoft owns 49% of OpenAI)

On the day it was released, ChatGPT attracted 153,000 visits to chat.openai.com, and by the end of the first week, it had reached 15.5 million visits, growing to 58 million in week two, according to Similarweb.

Then came the release of DALL-E 2, which generates usable images based on a text prompt. These include usable images, and it also has the ability to expand and build on  as well as manipulate  images based on words the AI technology understands.

ChatGPT continues to grow  reaching 1.8 billion monthly visits by May 2023.

Similarweb estimates that parent company OpenAIs website has become one of the most-visited domains in the world, breaking into the top 100 earlier this year and now on par with sites like LinkedIn, Netflix, and Reddit.

Gates did not invent AI, but he writes a lot about the power of agents  the models that will combine and run software without the user telling the machines what to do.

How did we get here? A series of events drove humanity to create AI. Alan Turing, a young British polymath, explored the mathematical possibility of artificial intelligence, suggesting that humans should use available information as well as reason to solve problems and make decisions. This logical framework became the backbone of his 1950 paper, Computing Machinery and Intelligence, in which he discussed how to build intelligent machines and how to test their intelligence.

Before 1949, computers lacked intelligence. They could store information, but could only execute commands. Computing was extremely expensive. Leasing a computer ran up to $200,000 a month in the early 1950s.

A proof of concept emerged five years later. Allen Newell, Cliff Shaw, and Herbert Simon created the Logic Theorist, a program designed to mimic the problem solving skills of a human funded by Research and Development (RAND) Corporation, according to a Harvard publication. Many consider this to be the first AI program. It was presented at the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence (DSRPAI) hosted by John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky in 1956.

There has been a mountain of obstacles along the way. Fast forward to the 2020s, when great minds across the advertising industry sunk hooks into ways that AI could create, serve, bid a better ad to more responsive consumers searching for information or wanting to buy products and services.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 29, 2023

Vidhya Srinivasan -- an ad exec who previously led product and engineering for Google's core search, maps, and shopping formats -- will step into Jerry Dischler's role to spearhead Google's advertising efforts around the Chrome web browser as the company phases out third-party browser cookies.

After more than 15 years on Googles ads business, Jerry Dischler decided to take on a new challenge, Prabhakar Raghavan, senior vice president of Knowledge & Information at Google, wrote in a statement. Our ads business helps millions of businesses thrive and were grateful to Jerry for his many accomplishments in this area.

Dischler led Googles focus on new ad targeting and measurement techniques designed to work for advertisers, consumers, and satisfy regulators.

As the company moves further into consumer privacy and implements changes based on artificial intelligence, Srinivasan will oversee all ad services, including ad formats on YouTube and programmatic advertising.

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In September, during Google's antitrust trial Dischler told the U.S. Justice Department that for some queries, the company may have increased prices as much as 10%. He also said that in 2020, search ads earned the company more than $100 billion. The Justice Department said Googles ad revenue growth has consistently been in the high teens since 2012.

Raghavan called Srinivasan a seasoned leader with deep technical expertise, in advertising as well as in all types of technology.

Shashi Thakur will step into Srinivasans previous role, supporting ads for Googles core business and reporting to her.

Thakur previously worked on many of Googles core products -- including Search, Discover and Shopping during his 17 years with the company -- most recently on long term strategy in Raghavans Knowledge and Information organization.

He spent 13 years working on Google Search, and during that time played a key role in how Google evolved the search experience with the rise of mobile.

For example, he led the engineering and product teams that brought the Google Knowledge Graph to Search, and developed the product experiences in search across various verticals including sports, music, movies, jobs. He also led the engineering and product team that built Discover as the query-less home page for Search.

Srinivasan joined Google four years ago from Amazon Web Services, and also worked at IBM. At Google, she supported generative AI (GAI) features for Google ads and AI-based tools such as Performance Max, as well as ad measurement tools and Google Analytics.

In July, Srinivasan told MediaPost that she had aspirations to become a doctor, and then while in school fell in love with technology.

There were no doctors in my family, she said. All engineers. I was probably about eight or nine years old when my grandmother said, when Im old I want to be helped by my granddaughter, so we need one doctor in the family. Srinivasan took biology and computer science later in school and never looked back.
The American Advertising Federation (AAF) has chosen six inductees for its 2024 AAF Advertising Hall of Fame.

AT&T will also be recognized as this year's corporate honoree.

In its 74 years, only 282 advertising executives and 12 global companies have been elected to the Hall of Fame, which salutes the leaders in American advertising, marketing, media and tech.

This year's selection, which notes the inductees' contributions to the ad industry and their philanthropic efforts, includes:

*Jeff Goodby, Co-Chairman, Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Goodby's extraordinary partnership with Rich Silverstein dates to 1983, when they founded GS&P, ultimately creating an influential and innovative agency. Its campaign work includes the Budweiser lizards, NBA's "I love this game" and Goodby's memorable "Got Milk?" The agency's roster also counts Liberty Mutual, Capri Sun, BMW and the "Driving While Black" campaign. His work as a director has been viewed at the Museum of Modern Art. The company is notable for promoting diversity and decreasing the gender gap, making the ad industry more inclusive. Goodby began his career at J. Walter Thompson, and was then mentored by the legendary Hal Riney at Ogilvy & Mather, where he met Silverstein. Together, they redefined ad creativity. In 2019, he and Silverstein received the Cannes Lion of St. Mark Award for lifetime achievement.

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*Olivier Francois, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Stellantis

Francois's passion for cars is reflected in his career experience, working for Fiat, Citroen and the Chrysler Group. He's held several titles at Stellantis, including Brand Chief Executive Officer of Fiat and Abarth and CEO of DS Automobiles. Francois is noted for his clever take on auto ads  the man who put the Dalai Lama in a Lancia to highlight human rights and the Pope in a Fiat. In 2011, he convinced Fox to take a big gamble: run a two-minute Super Bowl spot with Eminem. On the advocacy front, he teamed with Bono and (RED) to address global health emergencies, such as AIDS. He even used Carl Sagan's "pale blue dot" in a Jeep campaign to launch the first electrified Jeep vehicle. Francois told Agency Daily he sees his ad legacy as one of "hard work, courage and taking risks. In advertising and communication, consensus drives mediocrity. Tapping into authenticity and ethics create added value for a brand  and that translates into sales. That's the power of media  people will pay extra for a brand they relate to."

*Donna Weinheim, Former Partner, Cliff Freeman & Partners; Former Executive Creative Director, BBDO

Weinheim was behind the 1984 "Where's the Beef?" campaign for Wendy's, a line that became a catchphrase. Vice President Walter Mondale even used it in a political debate. The work catapulted the franchise and Cliff Freeman into peak visibility. Weinheim later become the only female partner at the agency. She created other iconic ads, from "Pizza Pizza!" for Little Caesars to Pepsi's Super Bowl all-time highest scoring Ad Meter spot "Innertube" for BBDO. Her creative talents challenged a male-dominated system, and she was a key mentor to women in the industry. Kicking off her ad career at Dancer, Fitzgerald, Sample, she later produced FedEx's Wizard of Oz and HBOs Roach Motel.

Bill Imada, Co-founder-Chairman & Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group

Imada's agency focuses on multicultural markets within the U.S. For 30+ years, he and his team have played a critical role in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The company's reach now includes Hispanics/Latinos, Black and LGBTQIA individuals. IW, a member of the Worldcom Group and longtime partner of IPG, counts Apple TV+, AARP, Beam Suntory, Marvel and Lexus among its client partners. Imada's motto  "Always"  is how he describes his personal brand. Serving on numerous university and foundation boards to further inclusivity, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at ADCOLOR 2016.

Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, P&G

Pritchard is in charge of P&G's multibillion-dollar media, marketing and advertising strategies. He is responsible for brand-building the company's sizable portfolio, from diapers to paper towels, toothpaste to laundry products. A four-decade P&G vet, the executive is known as a shrewd strategist who long ago recognized the power of brands as a force for social good. He was appointed P&Gs Chief Marketing Officer in 2008. Pritchard has earned the David Bell Award for Industry Service, which honors extraordinary contributions and service to the ad industry.

Jerri DeVard, CEO-Founder, Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA)

DeVard has championed corporate diversity  and helped place the next generation of C-suite marketing executives. As a former EVP-Chief Customer Officer of Office Depot, Inc., she was responsible for the P&L for ecommerce, customer service, marketing, data and analytics. She also held the CMO post. In addition, she held senior marketing roles at ADT, Nokia, Verizon, Citibank, Revlon and the NFL. An ADCOLOR 2023 lifetime achievement award winner, DeVard prides herself on speaking truth to power, believing a diverse workforce better serves society. She founded BECA, an organization of Black executive marketing leaders, to sustain that mission, while creating a safe and encouraging space for Black marketers.
by Tanya Gazdik , November 29, 2023

Artist Alex Israel and the electric BMW i5, inspiration for his AI video installation REMEMBR, to be unveiled at Art Basel in Miami Beach.

BMW and artist Alex Israel will unveil an AI-powered participatory video installation at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023.

The automaker is a longstanding partner of Art Basel and returns this year as an official parter for the 21-year anniversary of Art Basel Miami Beach from Dec. 8 to 10.

As a global partner of Art Basel for 19 years at shows in Basel, Switzerland, Miami Beach, Hong Kong and Paris, BMW will once again offer a VIP car service for attendees.

Israels REMEMBR guides visitors on a journey through time and memory in a fusion of art and technology. The new electric BMW i5 played a fundamental role in inspiring Israel for this project.

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The artist worked closely with BMW to develop AI technology that will collect, filter, compose and choreograph the visitors phones camera content. In an immersive installation across seven custom-designed screens at Art Basel Miami Beach, guests will be invited to discover the hyper-memories of Israel and, equally, share their own in real time.

As weve done for more than half a century, forging meaningful connections with world-renowned artistsand by extension art lovers everywhereis a great way for BMW to reach new audiences while promoting the creative spirit that drives our brand forward and inspires us all, said Marcus Casey, chief marketing officer, BMW of North America.

Meanwhile, Fiat will auction three bespoke 500e electric cars during the event with proceeds to benefit an environmentally focused nonprofit to be named following the auction. The three vehicles were designed by Armani, Bvlgari and Kartel.

An online catalogue and access to absentee bidding ahead of the auction is available at de-PURY.com.

"It is rare for an automaker to combine efforts with the most iconic Italian brands of three different sectors, fashion design, furniture design and luxury, to create something truly unique that combines art with an earth-friendly message, [and] making the cars available through auction is even more unusual," said Olivier Francois, chief executive officer of Fiat and global chief marketing officer of Stellantis, in a release.

Other sponsors of the Miami Beach event include global lead partner UBS as well as associate partner Louis Vuitton and official partner Perrier.
by Fern Siegel , November 30, 2023

Dennys Corporation appointed Mindshare, part of GroupM and WPP, as its U.S. media agency of record.

Mindshare will lead audience and media strategy, planning, investment, measurement, and data and analytics out of its Atlanta office.

The 70-year-old fast-food franchise has partnered with the media agency to engage new customers with the brand, as well as highlight its commitment to communities.

The first work with Mindshare is expected in the first quarter of 2024.

Nancy Hall, North America CEO, Mindshare, told Agency Daily: You can see some of the smart, creative ways Denny's engages its consumers, and how it leans into culture to drive the brand forward. There is a tremendous opportunity and synergy between Mindshare and Dennys in our shared passion for media innovation and customer strategy.

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In early November, Denny's announced nine permanent menu additions, including Dennys reimagined French toast dishes, the brioche French toast slam, strawberry stuffed French toast slam and the sweet cream cold brew, and various salad dishes, such as salmon salad your way.

As of Sept. 27, 2023, Denny's had 1,588 franchised restaurants, which includes 166 restaurants in 15 countries, such as Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.

In addition, FINN Partners was named as public relations and brand communications agency of record for Denny's.

Mindshare's client work includes Honest Eggs Co., FCAS, which fights antisemitism, Dove and Tyson.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 29, the grand celebration of the 5th anniversary of Anhui Cummins, the joint venture between JAC Group and Cummins, was successfully held at the Anhui Cummins Intelligent Manufacturing Base.



Photo credit: JAC Group

As a pioneer in diverse power solutions, Cummins boasts over a century of expertise in internal combustion engine technology, leading the way in the evolution and advancement of low and zero-carbon power technologies. The collaboration between JAC Group and Cummins has spanned over two decades, with a significant milestone in 2018the joint venture formation of Anhui Cummins, leveraging mutual strengths to accelerate developments in traditional energy power.

Actively aligning with national dual-carbon strategies, Anhui Cummins is expediting the deployment of new energy power solutions, focusing on diverse low and zero-carbon innovations. The imminent mass production of the P2 hybrid route, designed to meet heavy-duty demands, signifies a tailored solution for commercial vehicle applications.

Notably, the Anhui Cummins smart factory also celebrated a milestone with its 300,000th engine unit rolling off the production line.

Looking ahead, JAC Group is committed to deepening strategic collaboration with Cummins, seizing new opportunities in the automotive industry's transformative development, especially in heavy-duty diesel engines, hydrogen fuel, and hydrogen engines, aiming for more extensive and profound cooperation.
by Ray Schultz , November 29, 2023

Gannett has asked a federal court to dismiss a class action suit filed against it by employees who claim they were discriminated against because they were not minorities.

The suit, filed last August by Steven Bradley, Stephen Crane, Noah Hiles, Barbara Augsdorfer and Logan Barry, is seen as a roadblock in Gannetts effort to diversify its staff.

Gannett argues that the individual race discrimination claims in the suit are nothing but speculation and conclusory allegations and/or complain about non-actionable conduct such as performance evaluations and/or a voluntary resignation. In addition, the allegations are conclusory and deficient.

As former employees, Plaintiffs lack standing to seek injunctive relief regarding any Gannett policy. Steven Bradley also lacks standing because he waived claims against Gannett in a separation agreement. Barbara Augsdorfer also openly discussed her 'Hispanic' heritage, so she lacks standing to represent any class of 'non-minorities.'

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Gannett adds that employment decisions made by multiple managers at local newspapers throughout the country are not suitable for class certification.

Bradley, a sportswriter, claims he was terminated based on race. He alleges that the Democrat and Chronicles executive editor commented that he decided to terminate Mr. Bradleys employment rather than another worker, Mark Liu, because Mr. Liu was Asian and Mr. Bradley was White.

In addition, the complaint charges that Gannett chose not to hire Bradley on the basis of his race and instead went outside the applicant pool and hand selected a candidate that, irrespective of her qualifications, satisfied the quotas Gannett was seeking to achieve, the complaint continues.
I still remember when the teaser for Kabir Singh dropped.

I was awestruck by the rawness of Shahids character because it was unlike anything I had seen previously in Bollywood.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga was widely bashed for glorifying male toxicity in Kabir Singh, but the filmmaker proved his utter conviction and ability by putting an almost 3 hour film in the Rs 300 crore club.

The man had promised that his upcoming film would generate more criticism than the previous one and he has indeed delivered!

There have been ongoing speculations around Animals story since its announcement and after being personally invested in the Adipurush debacle, I subjected myself to all the theories surrounding Animal and tried to decode its story.

 T-Series

So here are three theories about Animal that will blow your mind.

1. The Ranbir-Hitler connection

We see Ranbir Kapoor wearing the swastika badge and doing the Nazi salute in the trailer.

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Initially, I also thought that Vanga purposely integrated this scene to provoke a particular section of the audience, but there might be much more to it!



During World War II, Hitler lost his eyesight for a short amount of time and we see a scar on Ranbirs eye in the trailer multiple times.

 T-Series

In one of the scenes, Anil Kapoor says, Main kitna khush tha jab tu aaya tha, par tune to aate hi jung suru kar di. This could be a reference to Hitlers rise to power, when the people of Germany voted for him and he started conspiring for an all-out war once he came to power.



2. The abuse

During the initial dialogue in the trailer, we hear that Ranbirs character is a fan of Michael Jackson, but he couldnt attend his concert due to his fathers birthday.

I did a little research and found out that both Michael Jackson and Adolf Hitler were abused by their parents when they were children.

What a coincidence!

3. Bobbys silent side

 T-Series

According to many fans, Bobby Deol might play a mute character in Animal and if Ranbir is representing the extremists of World War II, then Bobbys character could be a metaphorical representation of the silent giant, the United States.



 iStock

America was widely reported as a silent ally of Britain and the Soviet Union in World War II. While the Soviet Union and Great Britain were holding off the Nazi regime from its borders, America was silently supplying the firepower.



It was only after the Pearl Harbour attack that Hitler's regime was annihilated.

The brighter side

The corroboration of these theories could only be proved on December 1, but I am at least happy that the viewers of our country are finally putting out theories and investing their thoughts in a makers vision, rather thansenselessly grazing all the kachra we were being fed in the name of mass content.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 29, BorgWarner's Suzhou factory celebrated a significant achievement, reaching a production milestone of 2 million units for its new energy electronic controllers. The event also marked the initiation of trial production for the new "China Viper and China Die" production lines.

Rendering of BorgWarner's Suzhou factory; photo credit: BorgWarner

BorgWarner started volume production at the second phase of its facility in the Suzhou Industrial Park earlier this year after the ground-breaking ceremony was held at the end of 2021. The R&D Center of BorgWarner's Suzhou facility focuses on the full range of electronics design and development, including power electronics, inverters and DC/DC converters, with the aim of leading power electronics technology in the Chinese market. In the coming years, BorgWarner Suzhou will expand the R&D team, establishing full design capabilities, and equip the center with additional test and prototype equipment to enable the team to serve its customers more quickly and efficiently.

The importance of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power devices in new energy electronic controls is undeniable. As a core component in motor controllers, BorgWarner's self-developed power module "Viper" was traditionally manufactured in its Singapore facility. However, the Suzhou facility has now achieved complete autonomous and controllable production of power modules in China. It also stands as BorgWarner's second global production base for Viper, strategically significant for the company's electric drive business in China.

The company said the high integration of BorgWarner's Viper power switch, coupled with superior cooling performance, results in a significant reduction in the use of semiconductors and silicon carbide materials. This translates to a 40% reduction in weight, a 25% increase in power density, and a 30% reduction in volume compared to traditional silicon-based inverters.
HELSINKI  NATO member Finland on Wednesday closed its last remaining border crossing with Russia after the government decided to seal the entire border with its eastern neighbor amid rising political tensions.

The Cabinet of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo decided to temporarily close the entire 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border between the two countries a day earlier over concerns that Moscow was using migrants to destabilize the Nordic country in an alleged act of hybrid warfare.

The Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in Finlands Arctic Lapland region, located some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the northern Russian city of Murmansk, closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the checkpoints normal November schedule.

Ville Ahtiainen, a deputy commander with the Finnish Border Guard in Lapland, told reporters that the remote border crossing, located in the middle of rugged wilderness, was quiet during the four hours it remained open Wednesday, with a handful of vehicles passing through on their way to and from Russia. The border cannot be crossed by foot.

No migrants attempted to enter Finland in Raja-Jooseppi on Wednesday, he said.

Finnish authorities say some 1,000 migrants without visas or valid documentation have arrived at the border since August, with more than 900 in November alone. Finland makes up a significant part of NATOs northeastern flank and acts as the European Unions external border in the north.

The migrants hail from countries including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and the vast majority of them have applied for asylum in Finland once they reached the Finnish side on the border, authorities said.

Finland accuses Russia of deliberately ushering migrants to the border zone that is normally heavily controlled by Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, on the Russian side.

The formal closure of Finlands entire eastern border with Russia takes effect at midnight Wednesday but, in practice, the Raja-Jooseppi crossing was the only point to remain open after the Finnish government closed seven other crossing points earlier this month.

The situation has escalated tensions between Helsinki and Moscow after decades of pragmatic friendly relations between the neighboring countries. Those ties were broken by Finlands decision in May 2022 to join NATO, a direct result of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022.

Finland became NATO's 31st member in April this year.

The Kremlin denies Russia is encouraging migrants to enter Finland and says it regrets the Finnish border closures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Finland on Wednesday formally notified Moscow that it has closed the last remaining northernmost border checkpoint. In a comment earlier this week, Zakharova charged that by closing the border Finland is hurting its own citizens.

Asked to comment on NATO allies allegedly planning to deploy troops at the Finnish-Russian border, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that no one and nothing is threatening Finland, calling the move excessive.

At the same time, he warned that tensions may arise during the concentration of extra troops on our border.

We view the concentration of troops on our border as absolutely unprovoked and unfounded, Peskov said. The Finns need to be clearly aware that a troop buildup on our border will pose a threat to us.

There are currently no NATO soldiers permanently stationed on the Finnish territory or along the Russia border apart from those foreign troops taking part in the military alliance's regular exercises with the Finnish military.

Some experts cited by Finnish media believe Peskov referred to the EU's border agency Frontex, which has dispatched staff and equipment to assist the Finnish border officials in patrolling and monitoring the country's lengthy eastern border.

The complete Finland-Russia border closure is due to last for at least two weeks until Dec. 13, after which one crossing point may be reopened, the Finnish government said. A rail crossing between the two countries remains open but only for cargo traffic
Editor's note: This article was updated to include information on early morning hours for behavior health care at Fort Carson, and a statement from the 4th Infantry Division that was received after initial publication.

An armor officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, this week issued a new set of policies to his formation effectively banning soldiers from seeking mental health care, dental treatment and legal counsel in the early morning hours to cement time for exercising, according to a copy of the memo reviewed by Military.com.

"Soldiers are not authorized to schedule appointments before 0900," Lt. Col. Andrew Boyd, commander of 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, said in a memo Tuesday. "This restriction applies to medical, dental, behavioral health, and other types of appointments."

Read Next: Another High-Profile Firing at West Point, This Time Due to Criminal Sexual Conduct Allegations

Boyd's policy proscription comes at a time when soldier quality-of-life issues have moved into the spotlight among Army planners and stakeholders on Capitol Hill, particularly during Army Secretary Christine Wormuth's tenure. Wormuth and senior uniformed leaders have focused on measurable quality-of-life boosts such as parental leave rights for soldiers unique to the service and an expanded focus on housing issues. They say that if soldiers are taken care of in their personal lives, they will be better focused on their warfighting tasks.

Some services are available before 9 a.m., including behavioral health, which starts at 7:30 a.m.

Boyd's memo notes that units may approve earlier appointments, but that soldiers must consult with their commander before making that appointment -- a move that can be complicated in situations in which health care providers may have to schedule follow-ups without delay.

"We are in the business of warfighting, and to fight wars successfully, we must be physically fit for war. The rigors of combat will not forgive suboptimal fitness," Boyd's memo says. "This policy memo protects the time to condition our bodies and minds to be fully ready."

Traditionally, decisions on whether a soldier may be excused from low-profile scheduled unit events, such as fitness training, are left to noncommissioned officers. It is unclear whether Boyd's squadron has seen a significant uptick in soldiers failing the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, and his rules are a reaction.

"What problem is this trying to solve?" one officer under Boyd said to Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "This is just going to create problems, not solve them."

While physical training is among the most important elements in a soldier's day, it is not considered sacrosanct within the Army's own fitness doctrine, which outlines exercising as one part of a service member's well-being, with other elements including nutrition, spiritual health, mental health and proper sleep.

"The 4th Infantry Division leadership is committed to the holistic health and fitness of our soldiers," Lt. Col. Joseph Payton, a spokesperson for the 4th Infantry Division, told Military.com in a statement after this article was originally published. "Anything that disrupts this aim is inconsistent with our responsibility to ensure our soldiers are fit to fight and are ready to take on any mission they may be called to support."

Boyd expects physical training to be conducted from 6:30 a.m. to around 8 a.m. Most day cares and schools for young children in the area open between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., giving parents limited time to meet such a strict physical training schedule.

Boyd, who took command in June, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on X @StevenBeynon.

Related: Inside One of the Army's Most Chaotic Brigades
Search-and-rescue efforts continued Thursday for eight Air Force crew members still missing after a CV-22 Osprey crashed into the ocean off the coast of southern Japan, as Japanese officials grounded their aircraft and called on the U.S. military to do the same.

The Air Force and Pentagon provided no new details on the cause of the 353rd Special Operations Wing training crash Wednesday off Yakushima Island or on the status of the U.S. aircrew, confirming only that the search of the ocean was continuing as efforts stretched into the second day.

"Emergency personnel remain on scene conducting search-and-rescue operations," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Thursday. "The cause of this incident is currently under investigation."

Read Next: A Marine Recruiter's 'Grooming' of a Teenage Recruit Led to an Investigation. The Family Says He's Still Terrorizing Them.

A Wednesday statement from Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was on a training mission off the shore of the island with eight airmen aboard.

Japanese Coast Guard officials told local outlets and The Associated Press that one person who had been recovered from the crash was dead, but U.S. military officials -- who often won't confirm the identity of troops who die until next of kin has been notified -- have not confirmed that information on the record.

While U.S. officials remained tight-lipped about the crash, multiple Japanese officials were publicly vocal about their concerns with the aircraft following the incident and called for their own country's fleet of Ospreys to be grounded amid investigations into Wednesday's crash.

Local media outlets in the country as well as the AP reported that a senior Japanese Defense Ministry official, Taro Yamato, said during a parliamentary hearing that Japan has suspended flights of Ospreys. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have 14 Ospreys in their fleet.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also told reporters the country asked the U.S. to ground its Ospreys in Japan, unless they're being utilized for the search-and-rescue efforts, until "their safety is confirmed," the AP reported.

Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara also said in a parliamentary hearing Thursday that the country requested the U.S. to conduct flights of Ospreys "after their flight safety is confirmed."

"The occurrence of such a major accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region, and it is truly regrettable," Kihara said.

Singh told reporters during a Pentagon press briefing Thursday that the department was not tracking an official request from the Japanese government. When asked whether the ally should not be concerned with the safety of the V-22, Singh said she was "not going to speak for the Japanese government" and responded only by saying an investigation is ongoing.

"Right now, the Ospreys are still operating in Japan, Singh said. Right now, our focus  remains on search-and-rescue efforts.

In addition to a series of deadly incidents in recent history with the Osprey, there have also been concerns with the Marine Corps aircraft in the same region just two months ago.

Military.com reported that on Sept. 14, within just two hours of each other, two Marine V-22 Ospreys diverted due to "cockpit caution indications" in the aircraft while flying near Japan's southwestern island chain.

The aircraft landed safely, the service said at that time, and no injuries or fatalities were reported by the Marine Corps.

The latest deadly crash occurred with a Marine Corps Osprey in Australia in August, claiming the lives of three Marines. Another Marine Corps Osprey went down last year in Southern California, killing five Marines. Investigation findings released in July showed the cause of that crash in California was a hard clutch engagement, or HCE, a mechanical issue that has plagued the aircraft for more than a decade.

Despite those problems, Air Force and Pentagon officials have told Military.com in recent months that they remain confident in the aircraft.

When asked by reporters Thursday whether that was still the case, Singh didn't directly answer the question. Instead, she stressed that she didn't want to get ahead of the investigation and that "there's a true commitment to safety when it comes to any of our airmen operating any aircraft."

Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told Military.com in September that the command is following mitigation steps issued over the last year to combat HCE incidents.

"We're very confident in the mitigation steps that we've done," Bauernfeind said. "With respect to the CV-22 at large, it is answering a long-held requirement ... that no other capability can answer in the special operations community as we go forward."

The HCE mechanical issue can cause the shredding of components needed to power the Osprey's propellers and to keep the aircraft flying in the event of a single-engine failure.

The issue became public only after the Air Force abruptly grounded its Osprey fleet in August 2022 over a cluster of such incidents. Yet the Marine Corps, which operates the lion's share of the military's Osprey fleet, said the very next day that it didn't need to ground its aircraft.

Military.com exclusively reported on a 2017 clutch incident with an Air Force Osprey that happened mid-flight and forced the aircraft to perform an emergency landing with a single engine.

In June 2022, a Marine Corps Osprey -- call sign Swift 11 -- crashed in southern California, claiming the lives of five Marines. In March, the Marine Corps investigation found that they were the first deaths stemming from the HCE problem.

The cause of Wednesday's crash still remains under investigation. Japan's military was continuing to assist in search-and-rescue efforts on Thursday.

A Navy official told Military.com that following Wednesday's crash the service responded with two helicopters from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which was in the area, as well as a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on X @TomNovelly.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X at @ktoropin.

Related: Rescue Efforts Underway for 8 Crew Members Aboard Air Force Osprey That Crashed in Japan
Howard University has boosted resources for student veterans on campus with a massive federal grant that will assist them with key education benefits after the school's troubled history handling military scholarships such as the GI Bill.

The prestigious historically Black college in Washington, D.C., opened a new office Nov. 9 that acts as a liaison between the school and the Department of Veterans Affairs after receiving $580,000 in funding from the Department of Education, according to a press release from the school.

Such offices are commonplace among major U.S. universities, but Howard's resources for veterans and their families have in the past been minimal and almost caused pursuing an education at the school to become a nonstarter for GI Bill beneficiaries.

Read Next: A Marine Recruiter's 'Grooming' of a Teenage Recruit Led to an Investigation. The Family Says He's Still Terrorizing Them.

The move comes two years after a Military.com investigation found the school grossly mishandled benefits of GI Bill beneficiaries, mostly through a series of administrative blunders.

The VA has eligibility requirements for schools to be able to accept GI Bill money from students, and those bureaucratic burdens often require staff at schools dedicated to those beneficiaries.

Administration snafus in 2021 left many of the 200 Howard students who relied on the benefits unable to pay their tuition, with some of those students telling Military.com they were being forced to leave the school.

The situation got so severe, the District of Columbia's State Approving Agency, or SAA, revoked Howard University's ability to allow newly enrolled student veterans to use their GI Bill benefits. But that eligibility was eventually restored.

A spokesperson for the university did not return Military.com's request for an interview ahead of publication.

SAAs are the enforcement arm of VA education benefits, and generally go after bogus schools and other scams, such as a church many described as a cult that was raided by the FBI after years of bilking veterans out of benefits. The GI Bill is broadly considered one of the federal government's most successful programs and is among the most cherished military benefits.

The agency threatening a well-established school such as Howard's GI Bill eligibility isn't unheard of, but was widely seen by advocates and staff within the agency as a rare move. GI Bill students are worth about $6.3 million a year to the school.

After Military.com's reporting on the matter, a Howard University administrator overseeing veteran benefits at the school left his position. The university started offering student veterans a $3,000 no-interest loan, though some students interviewed at the time reported not seeing that offer.

In November 2021, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, lost GI Bill eligibility for one of its programs, impacting 20 students at the time, another relatively rare example of VA officials cracking down on legitimate schools over administrative shortcomings.

Editor's note: This story was updated to accurately reflect how an administrator overseeing veteran benefits ended his employment with Howard University.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Errors Cost Student Vets GI Bill Benefits. Now, Howard University Is Scrambling to Save VA Funding
Editor's Note: This article contains references to sexual assault.

The Marine Corps recruiter showed up at the young recruit's door twice in one hour, according to the police report. On that hot Texas summer day, the woman, just a few months past 18, was not home.

Her parents were. The doorbell rang two times, and they called 911 after the recruiter, who by this time had become a terrifying, controlling presence to the prospective Marine, left something on their porch.

"He's calling me, he's leaving messages, he's going crazy, Mom -- he's going to kill me," Kathlyn would later recall her daughter, the would-be recruit, telling her as she went to check the porch.

Read Next: Another High-Profile Firing at West Point, This Time Due to Criminal Sexual Conduct Allegations

There, Kathlyn found two bottles of whiskey and a letter written on lined, three-punch paper. Thirty-six-year-old Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Champagne, now under investigation by military authorities after self-publishing a memoir about his year-plus relationship with Kathlyn's daughter that began when she was 17, had left them as a thank you for inviting him over for Christmas eight months earlier.

The family took the unannounced visit as threatening, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, would later confiscate the bottles, Kathlyn said.

Earlier this month, Military.com reported on the memoir, which appeared to outline behavior Kathlyn has described as grooming, as well as accusations by Champagne's ex-wife alleging sexual assault and other abusive behavior.

"He guilted me a lot to do things that I didn't want to do," the former recruit told Military.com. "I would often tell him that I don't want to do anything gross, and he would just nag at me until I did.  I would [tell him], 'I'm not in the mood, I don't want to do this.' It was often that I would say, 'OK, just get it over with if you have to, I just don't want to do this.'"

The young Marine recruit said, in interviews with Military.com after the early November report, that the abusive behavior by Champagne included sexual assault. She provided accounts of assault, which her mother said she had been told about several months later.

Military.com is withholding the name of Kathlyn's daughter, given her age when the alleged abuse began and a publication policy not to print the names of alleged sexual assault victims.

A military protective order had been put in place against Champagne after initial reports from the family of menacing behavior, the family was told in July by NCIS. In response to Military.com's initial reporting, Capt. Bryanna Kessler, a spokesperson for Champagne's unit, the 8th Marine Corps District, said that the former recruit was "not in any danger of being contacted by [Champagne]."

But according to the family, this proved to be untrue.

They say Champagne messaged the former recruit under a fake name, lashing out and threatening to release videos of them having sex.

"I recorded us having sex multiple times and I'll send the videos to everyone," one of the messages said, according to screen recordings of social media chats reviewed by Military.com in which the recruit's family said Champagne identified himself as Pete Mitchell, the main character of the movie "Top Gun" and an allusion he made in his memoir.

Military.com cannot independently confirm that the alias belongs to Champagne, but screenshots of messages sent to the alleged victim through the Pete Mitchell account not only include threats, but references to specific details about their relationship.

The recruit sent these messages and other correspondence to the NCIS asking for help. It was not until mid-November, after Military.com published its initial story, that the Navy's investigative arm gave the family assurances that it would prioritize the case, according to the family and emails reviewed by Military.com.

"Please know that this case has become a top priority and we are diligently working on getting this wrapped up," an agent assigned to the case told the former recruit nearly two weeks after Military.com first published a story about Champagne and his memoir.

Military.com attempted to contact Champagne at a publicly listed number that the former recruit confirmed as belonging to him. The gunnery sergeant did not answer a phone call but a text was sent from the number in reply, requesting that questions be sent in advance of a conversation.

After the publication suggested a phone call instead to discuss the memoir and the Marines relationship with the recruit, the texter replied with what appeared to be screenshots meant to represent a privately administered polygraph test. The test purportedly shows Champagne denying having sexually assaulted his ex-wife. Military.com had not asked about sexual assault, and could not confirm whether the document did indeed represent a polygraph test. Polygraph tests, due to their unreliability, are also typically excluded from legal proceedings, though they are still employed by the military for security clearances.

The texter also sent what appeared to be a picture of kids at a house party, along with the message: "I want to correct the errors in your last article as well as what you probably will publish in the follow up, but unfortunately I will not comment on a pending investigation."

At the time of Military.com's initial report, Kessler said that Champagne remained on active duty while an investigation was underway, though he was no longer performing recruiting functions. Asked for an update this week, Kessler said, "Due to the ongoing investigation regarding this matter, no further information will be released at this time." She referred the publication to NCIS which, in turn, referred the publication back to the Marine Corps.

When asked about Champagne allegedly breaking a military protective order, or MPO, by trying to contact the former recruit and what NCIS was doing about it, NCIS spokesperson Jeff Houston said that "NCIS takes allegations of retaliation connected to an NCIS investigation seriously and encourages anyone with knowledge of an MPO violation to report to NCIS. Although NCIS will investigate such allegations, the command is ultimately responsible for holding individuals accountable for any violations."

In Champagne's memoir, which was self-published in the fall and excerpts of which were provided to Military.com by his ex-wife's family, he documented a year of his and the recruit's relationship, one that -- even in his own words -- entailed his pursuit of a teenager who was not old enough to join the military on her own accord when they first became involved and Champagne was her recruiter.

According to the recruit and her family, the last year-plus was marred by secrets, code names that obfuscated the nature of the relationship from her parents, and an unscrupulous relationship that simmered under their noses until that summer day when the whiskey bottles were planted at their doorstep -- transforming it from taboo and unsettling to threatening and scary. That was the day that the recruit told her parents about the alleged abuse.

The former recruit said that she met Champagne, a meteorological and oceanographic forecaster or "Weather Marine," last fall when she was 17. She had taken an interest in joining the Marine Corps after conducting a pull-up challenge at a local county fair. Kathlyn said that her daughter had been lonely before the Marine Corps took an interest in her.

In the spring, just weeks after the recruit's 18th birthday, the Corps hosted an annual poolee  the service's term for recruits who haven't started training  event. Over two days, poolees got a taste of the Marine Corps and a chance to don the Eagle, Globe and Anchor that symbolize the corps on their workout shirts in the balmy Texas weather.

They were being welcomed into the club, a prestigious and legendary one in the most Marine ways possible -- getting screamed at, rolling around in the dirt and competing physically.

"I really wanted to be a part of something," the former recruit told Military.com. "And I knew that the Marines were the best, the strongest.  It just felt right."

Descriptions in Champagne's memoir show that he was attracted to the recruit when he first met her when she was 17, saying, "I could not take my eyes off [her]." Throughout the memoir, Champagne uses a pseudonym for the recruit taken from a literary character who is exalted for her innocence.

"Before she left that day, I challenged her to write down her Snapchat, even though I already had her cellphone programmed into my cellphone," Champagne wrote. "I had exercised plenty of risky behavior over my career  still, I figured I would talk myself out of messaging her or only operate in a gray area without stepping over the line."

According to his memoir, the alleged victims family, and Marine Corps policy, Champagne stepped over the line on many occasions.

In addition to the allegations of abuse, he allegedly directly violated Defense Department policy that prohibits recruiters from having inappropriate relationships with recruits. That policy is meant to avoid an abuse of the inherent power dynamic at play between a young person, eager to join the military, and a uniformed service member who can dictate whether that happens.

"He wanted her, he desired her, he lusted after her, he was obsessed with her but what he did to her was not love," Kathlyn told Military.com.

When they felt that Champagne's behavior became threatening this summer, the recruit and her family made contact with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Marine Corps, but said responses to their pleas for help fell short over the following months.

On Tuesday, the day after Military.com asked the Marine Corps for an update on the case, the NCIS reached out to the former recruit, asking a series of questions to include whether she had ever been given a copy of Champagne's military protective order. She had not. The agent included resources to a crime prevention agency in her area.

"Until the last few days, I really felt like they were just trying to sweep everything under the rug and hoping if they didn't respond to me that I would just lose interest," the former recruit said.

Champagne's former family -- his ex-wife Kristi Champagne and her father, Rob Kersch -- previously told Military.com that they had raised concerns about the Marine noncommissioned officer to local police and military authorities, concerns that included sexual assault, emotional abuse, and failure to provide child support. Only the emotional abuse case "met criteria," according to screenshots of emails from Fort Worth officials and documents reviewed by Military.com.

"At the very least, I hope what happened to me provides validity to her and her situation," Kristi told Military.com of her hopes for the former recruit. "Because I doubt that I will ever see a day -- because of my situation -- where he's ever held accountable legally."

The help from the agent on Tuesday came too late, according to the former recruit's family. Too late to at least give the former recruit a shot at joining the Marines -- her dream -- or a sense of safety and normalcy on the precipice of adulthood in the face of alleged threats from an active-duty Marine.

"I just want to go on with my life and not to think about this anymore," she said. "I'm just ready to get on with my life and be 18 again."

-- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on X @df_lawrence.

Related: Marine Under Investigation After Publishing Memoir About Sexual Relationship with Young Potential Recruit
On Tuesday the Red Hill Water Alliance Initiativeor WAIunveiled its final report, which calls for aquifer remediation and an integrated approach to resolving the water crisis.

The WAI, a working group made up of state and city leaders, was formed in May for the remediation of the Navy's Underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, which sits just 100 feet above a critical aquifer most of Oahu relies on for drinking water.

After fuel from the aging World War II-era facility contaminated the Navy's Oahu water system, which serves 93, 000 people, in November 2021including military families and local civilian residentsthe Pentagon eventually agreed to defuel and close it. The Navy had been storing 104 million gallons in massive underground tanks there, but since October the main tanks have been mostly drained.

But defueling isn't set to be finished until 2024, and the long-term remediation of the facility and the aquifer are expected to take much longer.

"It is urgent that a way forward be established to address the damages that the Red Hill fuel facility has inflicted on our aina and wai, " said Honolulu Board of Water Supply Chief Engineer Ernie Lau, a member of the WAI working group, during a news conference Tuesday.

"Long-term oversight, transparency and accountability on this environmental crisis created by the Navy's Red Hill fuel facility must be created to ensure that these resources will be remediated and available for generations to come. This report's recommendations provide a starting place for this effort."

The WAI also included Gov. Josh Green, Mayor Rick Blangiardi, City Council Chair Tommy Waters, University of Hawaii President David Lassner, House Speaker Scott Saiki, Senate President Ronald Kouchi and Chair of the Commission on Water Resource Management Dawn Chang.

The Red Hill crisis came as Oahu was already grappling with drought conditions and a water shortage. The contamination of the Navy's Red Hill water well prompted BWS to shut down several nearby wells to prevent further contamination. As the drought continues two years later and water resources become more strained, the BWS voted Monday to adopt rate hikes of over 50 % for most customers.

Saiki called the Red Hill water crisis an "existential threat to life in Hawaii."

"Throughout the past six months, we have been working on two fronts, " he said. "First, a unified call for remediation of the aquifer, and second, creating an integrated approach to resolving the water crisis, while unifying state, city, and regulatory agencies. The Red Hill WAI group recognizes that immediate action needs to happen to ensure clean water now and in the future for Hawaii's residents."

The report criticized arguments by some Navy officials that if fuel hasn't been found in the water table, then it likely hasn't reached the aquifer, as well as arguments that fuel would naturally degrade as it interacts with microbes in the soil.

The report said that while it's true the fuel will degrade "as a matter of science, " it charged that there is "insufficient research to show how efficient degradation occurs in the specific environment beneath the tanks, more than 500 feet below the surface and 100 feet above the aquifer, and whether degradation to the level of neutralizing harm and becoming suitable for human consumption will occur prior to the fuel reaching the saturated portion of the ground."

The report also raises the issue of whether fuel spills from the 1940s and'50s would have degraded by now, and concluded that "evidence from other parts of the Pacific says otherwise, " citing instances where military fuel from the 1930s and 1940s have been found in American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and Palau.

The report notes that 5, 000 sites in Northern California are being reassessed and that "as the sea rises, previously unaccounted for surface and subterranean flooding can cause movement of contaminants into other areas, including aquifers. This is a cautionary example of what can happen when sites are not remediated, and a direct forewarning of our situation at Red Hill which is in a coastal area likely to be impacted by sea level rise."

The report also said while the documented amount of fuel that has potentially leaked into the ground around Red Hill is 180,000 gallons spilled over 80 years in 70 incidents, after speaking to experts the WAI concluded that "a number significantly higher ... must be assumed for the purpose of risk assessment and remediation strategies " and that it believes the real number could be as high as 1.94 million gallons.

The report called for access to all the Navy's monitoring wells, as well as to step up testing. It also concludes that the federal government is liable for the damage and should pay for all cleanup efforts and reimburse the state, county and individual Hawaii residents who incurred costs as a result of Red Hill. Last week, on the second anniversary of the contamination from the November 2021 fuel spill, Lau announced that the BWS filed a $1.2 billion claim with the Navy to recover costs of the agency's response under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

"We want the public to know that we all will continue to insist on transparency and accountability beyond the defueling process, as all people who live in Hawaii deserve pure, clean drinking water, " said Green. "It is incumbent upon all of us in positions of leadership in service to the people of Hawaii to do everything in our power to collaborate with all stakeholders, toward the common goal of clean drinking water for our future generations."

The Red Hill crisis has strained the relationship between military commanders, particularly Navy leadership, and Hawaii residents. It's prompted many in the islands to rethink their relationship with the large military presence in Hawaii. It has also brought up bitter memories of previous controversies, such as the Navy's decades-long use of the island of Kahoolawe as a bombing range that over time cracked the island's aquifer.

"It is critical that Red Hill does not end up like Kahoolawe, where cleanup was promised but was not followed through, " said state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, who participated in the WAI. "These efforts ensure that our expectation of the Navy is a restoration of our wai and nothing less."

A Navy spokesman said that "the Navy remains committed to the safe and permanent closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and long-term environmental remediation of the site. Partnership and collaboration are key to the success of these endeavors, and we share the same goals as the people of Hawaii : protect the environment, the water, and the community. We will continue to share information with elected officials, stakeholders, and the public, reinforcing the importance of transparency and our enduring commitment to Hawaii."

During the news conference Lau said that Hawaii's congressional delegation would need to push the federal government to fulfill its commitments and ensure more oversight.

In a joint statement released Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, U.S. Rep. Ed Case and U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda said, "As we've worked to secure the federal resources needed for defueling and closing Red Hill, we have consistently pushed to ensure DOD, EPA, and other federal agencies are responsive to community input. This report underscores the importance of continued collaboration between all levels of government throughout this process to ensure we protect the environment and Oahu's drinking water. As this process moves forward, we will continue working as a delegation to ensure Hawaii has the resources it needs and that the federal government, working with the state and local governments in Hawaii, meets its obligation to keep our communities and environment safe."

___

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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JERUSALEM  Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed to extend their cease-fire by another day, just minutes before it was set to expire. The truce in Gaza appeared increasingly tenuous as most women and children held by the militants have already been released in swaps for Palestinian prisoners.

As word of the extension came Thursday morning, gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses where a main highway from Tel Aviv enters Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to police.

Police said the two attackers were killed. It was unclear if the attack was carried out by a Palestinian militant group or individuals acting on their own, or if it would have any impact on the truce in Gaza.

International pressure has mounted for the cease-fire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said my heart goes out to the victims of the Jerusalem attack. Blinken is expected to press for further extensions of the truce and the release of more hostages.

This process is producing results. Its important, and we hope that it can continue, he said.

Qatar, which has played a key role in mediating with Hamas, said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, with Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israels release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement followed a last-minute standoff, with Hamas saying Israel had rejected a proposed list that included seven living captives and the remains of three who the group said were killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel later said Hamas submitted an improved list, paving the way for the extension.

The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children captured during the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume its offensive aimed at eliminating the group. With Israeli troops holding much of northern Gaza, a ground invasion south  where most of Gaza's population is now concentrated  will likely bring an escalating cost in Palestinian lives and destruction.

The Biden administration has told Israel that if it launches an offensive in the south, it must operate with far greater precision.

Increasingly tense hostage talks

The plight of the captives and shock from Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel have galvanized Israeli support for the war. But Netanyahu is under pressure to bring the hostages home and could find it difficult to resume the offensive if theres a prospect of more releases.

The initial truce, which began on Friday and had already been extended once, calls for the release of women and children. Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 20 women, who would all be released in a few days if the swaps continue at the current rate.

After that, keeping the truce going depends on tougher negotiations over the release of around 126 men Israel says are held captive, including several dozen soldiers.

For men  and especially soldiers  Hamas is expected to push for comparable releases of Palestinian men or prominent detainees, a deal Israel may resist.

So far, most Palestinians released have been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of attempting to attack soldiers. Palestinians have celebrated the release of people they see as having resisted Israels decades-long military occupation of lands they want for a future state.

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for release of civilian males and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations were ongoing.

With Wednesday's releases, a total of 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the six-day truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released. Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack, mostly civilians, and captured around 240.

Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only sporadically updated the count since Nov. 11 due to the breakdown of services in the north. The ministry says thousands more people are missing and feared dead under the rubble.

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

In Gaza, an anxious respite

For Palestinians in Gaza, the truces calm has been overwhelmed by the search for aid and by horror at the extent of destruction.

In the north, residents described entire residential blocks as leveled in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The smell of decomposing bodies trapped under collapsed buildings fills the air, said Mohmmed Mattar, a 29-year-old resident of Gaza City who along with other volunteers searches for the dead under rubble or left in the streets.

In the south, the truce has allowed more aid to be delivered from Egypt, up to 200 trucks a day. But aid officials say it is not enough, given that most now depend on outside aid. Overwhelmed U.N.-run shelters house over 1 million displaced people, with many sleeping outside in cold, rainy weather.

At a distribution center in Rafah, large crowds line up daily for bags of flour but supplies run out quickly.

Every day, we come here  we spend money on transportation to get here, just to go home with nothing, said one woman in line, Nawal Abu Namous.

___

Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip and Chehayeb from Beirut. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates contributed.
WASHINGTON  A U.S. Navy warship sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shot down a drone launched from Yemen on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, in the latest in a string of threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

U.S. Central Command said the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, downed the drone  an Iranian-made KAS-04  which was launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen and was heading toward the warship.

The ship was operating in the the southern Red Sea and was moving toward the strait. At the time of the morning shootdown, the Carney was escorting the USNS Supply, a Military Sealift Command fast combat supply ship, as well as another U.S. flagged and crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region. There were no injuries to U.S. personnel and no damage to the ships, the command said in a statement.

The shootdown came a day after a Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards (1,370 meters) of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier as it was conducting flight operations in international waters.

Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said that drone violated safety precautions by not staying more than 10 nautical miles (18.5 kilometers) from the ship. The drone ignored multiple warnings but eventually turned away.

This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior by Iran risks U.S. and partner nation lives and needs to cease immediately, Cooper said.

Iranian state television earlier aired footage from the drone that trailed the carrier, which included data suggesting it filmed the vessel in the Persian Gulfs narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz, this weekend.

Aircraft can be seen on the Eisenhowers deck in the footage. Iranian drone surveillance has become common when American aircraft carriers enter the Gulf.

Earlier this month, another Navy destroyer, the USS Thomas Hudner, shot down a drone that was heading toward the ship as it sailed in the southern Red Sea. It also was near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and it shot down the drone over the water.

The Red Sea, stretching from Egypts Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, is a key trade route for global shipping and energy supplies. The U.S. Navy has stationed multiple ships in the sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, which has heightened tensions in the region.

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Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 30, NETA Auto (Thailand) Co., Ltd., in collaboration with its partner Bangchan General Assembly Co., Ltd. ("BGAC"), announced the assembly of its first right-hand-drive electric vehicles in Thailand, the NETA V-II, has been completed in the country with the significant vehicle rolling off the production line.

NETA V-II rolling off line; photo credit: NETA Auto

Mr. Zhang Yong, Co-founder and CEO of NETA Auto, expressed, "Today's launch of the first NETA V-II from our Thai facility is a significant stride in our global strategy. This move enables us to manufacture and deliver more electric vehicles with modern, innovative technology, meeting the growing demand in Thailand and the ASEAN region."

Situated in the Khan Na Yao district of Bangkok, the NETA Auto Thailand factory represents the brand's inaugural overseas facility and the first Thai plant for China's new energy vehicle startups. Functioning as a production hub for right-hand-drive electric vehicles in the ASEAN market, this facility is set to fortify NETA Auto's overall production capacity, providing robust support for the brand's global sales growth.

NETA GT Speeder; photo credit: NETA Auto

Thailand holds a pivotal position in NETA Auto's presence in the ASEAN region. At the 40th Thailand International Motor Expo, NETA Auto showcased its NETA GT Speeder and its first global-oriented model, the NETA X.

Since initiating its overseas business expansion in 2022, NETA Auto has gained momentum in its global development strategy of "deepening in ASEAN and entering the EU".

Remarkably, within just over a year, NETA Auto has captured nearly 20% of the local pure electric vehicle market share in Thailand, said the company. Presently, the brand boasts over 40 dealerships and stores across the country.

Expanding from Southeast Asia to Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South America, NETA Auto's global footprint is rapidly advancing. With seven products planned for overseas markets, the brand aims to enter over 50 countries and regions by 2024, targeting annual sales of 100,000 units outside of China.
In December 1941, the battleship USS Pennsylvania was in drydock at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Hawaii. It was the lead ship in its class, built before World War I, and was receiving some much-needed maintenance and refits. Suddenly, the dockyard crane began to move erratically. The crane operator, perched some 50 feet above the yard, was trying to catch the attention of the sailors below.

The operator was George Walters, and from his vantage point, he could see the fireballs and plumes of smoke that meant Pearl Harbor was under attack. He was about to show the Japanese that "total war" meant they'd have to fight everyone, not just the U.S. military.

Dock worker George Walters: a reminder not to mess with dock workers. They will literally fight an entire army.

George Walters wasn't a native Hawaiian, but at 37 years old, he'd lived there for almost his entire life and had worked the docks since 1935. He had a wife and family on the island; it was his home, and he wasn't about to sit around and watch the Japanese blow it up. The Pennsylvania and the men aboard it were sitting ducks in the drydock, and his crane was the only protection the battleship had as Japanese Zeros began flying toward it.

Walters maneuvered his crane alongside the drydock to shield the battleship from the incoming fighters. His crane blocking their path, Japanese fighters were unable to make their planned approaches. He then began to swing the 50-ton crane and its boom like a weapon in an attempt to swat the enemy aircraft out of the sky like gnats.

While Walters may have failed to make contact with even a single Japanese Zero, his attempts were put to good use by the sailors below. At first, they believed Walters and his crane were getting in the way of their ability to return fire. Then, they realized that, from Walters' perch, he could see from which direction the next group of fighters was attacking, prompting the sailors to use the movement of the crane to track their targets.

It's believed Walters' crane helped sailors from the Pennsylvania shoot down at least eight to 10 attacking fighters. The Japanese pilots didn't just let it happen, though. They attempted to drop a 500-pound bomb at the base of the crane, but Walters dodged with the slow-moving vehicle just in time to avoid taking the brunt of the explosion. The crane was damaged, and Walters was stunned. A quick-thinking naval officer climbed up and retrieved their guardian crane-gel before he fell to the ground.

The USS Pennsylvania (rear) was protected by George Walters' crane for much of the fighting at Pearl Harbor. Two destroyers in drydock one weren't so lucky. (U.S. Navy)

Walters woke up under medical care after the attack had ended. His crane was heavily damaged, but he was told its cables had contributed to swatting down one enemy Zero. The Pennsylvania had taken relatively light damage in the attack, with the loss of 15 sailors, another 14 missing and 38 wounded. Repairs began immediately, and the battleship was seaworthy five days later.

Walters recovered from his wounds and continued working his crane at Pearl Harbor until 1950. He retired from the shipyard as a supply technician in 1966. He died at age 95 in 1999 and is buried on Oahu.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Facebook, X, or on LinkedIn.

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Dec. 1: The Reds have formally announced their deal with Martinez. Interestingly, GM Nick Krall tells Reds beat writers that Martinez will come to camp and compete for a job in the rotation  obviously implying that Martinez has not been assured of starting job just yet (link via Mark Sheldon of MLB.com). Martinez will make $14MM next season and will have a $12MM salary in 2025 if he doesnt opt out, MLBTR has learned.

Nov. 30: The Reds are in agreement with Nick Martinez on a two-year, $26MM guarantee, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (X link). The deal allows the right-hander to opt out after the first season. Yusseff Diaz of Pelota Cubana first reported that Martinez, a client of the Boras Corporation, was signing with Cincinnati.

Martinez, 33, has spent the past two seasons in San Diego. After a three-year run at Japans highest level, he signed with the Padres during the 2021-22 offseason. Technically a four-year guarantee, the deal afforded Martinez an opt-out chance after each year. He turned in a 3.47 ERA over 106 1/3 innings in a swing role during the first season and elected to retest free agency.

He parlayed that free agent trip into a new three-year pact with the Friars. Martinez locked in a $10MM salary for this past season, while each side had a two-year option covering the 2024-25 campaigns. He posted a remarkably similar year to his debut campaign as a Padre.

As was the case in 2022, Martinez went into this past season battling for a rotation spot. He took four turns through the rotation while Joe Musgrove was on the injured list in early April. Once Musgrove returned, Martinez moved back into the relief role he had occupied for the majority of the previous season.

He would ultimately appear in 63 contests, starting nine of them. Martinez worked 110 1/3 innings, allowing 3.43 earned runs per nine. He struck out 23% of batters faced behind a solid 12.6% swinging strike percentage. Martinez demonstrated average control and kept the ball on the ground on nearly 54% of batted balls allowed. He excelled at staying off barrels, with opponents making hard contact (a batted ball hit 95 MPH or harder) less than 30% of the time. That contact suppression ranked within the top five percent of qualified pitchers, according to Statcast.

Over his two seasons in San Diego, he combined for a 3.45 ERA with a 22.1% strikeout rate across 216 1/3 frames. At years end, both he and the Friars turned down their respective option provisions. San Diego declined to retain him at $16MM annually for the next two seasons, while the player passed on successive $8MM salaries. He ultimately lands between those two price points, securing a $13MM average annual value. The guarantee is in line with MLBTRs prediction of two years and $25MM. The opt-out affords him the flexibility to again get back to free agency a year from now if he turns in a strong season in Cincinnati.

Whether he decides to retest free agency likely depends on how well he holds up over a full season as a starter. The Friars never quite entrusted him with an extended rotation run. Martinez has started only 19 of his 110 appearances since his return to MLB. There hasnt been a material difference in his run prevention in either role. Martinez owns a 3.48 ERA in 91 relief outings over the past two seasons; he has allowed 3.41 earned runs per nine as a starter.

As one might expect, he has had better underlying marks when working in shorter stints. Martinezs strikeout rate is a couple points higher out of the bullpen (23% against 20.9%). He has been much better at avoiding free passes as a reliever, walking 7.1% of batters faced in that role compared to an 11.2% rate from the rotation.

Regardless of the slightly worse peripherals, its not outlandish to project Martinez as a viable starting pitcher. He has a far deeper repertoire than the typical reliever, turning to five pitches (sinker, changeup, curveball, cutter, four-seam fastball) with regularity. Martinez was effective this year in the few opportunities he received to turn an opposing lineup over a second or third time. He has held his own in unfavorable platoon situations, keeping left-handed batters to a reasonable .242/.322/.408 line since the start of 2022.

Martinez should get a look in Cincinnatis Opening Day starting five. The Reds had one of the sports least effective rotations, finishing 28th in MLB (ahead of only the As and Rockies) with a 5.43 ERA. The rotations ineffectiveness was the single biggest reason for the team coming up a little shy of the postseason. Addressing the group was a clear priority for GM Nick Krall and his staff heading into the offseason.

Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott headline the in-house options. Nick Lodolos 2023 campaign was wrecked by left leg injuries, but hell surely have a rotation spot so long as hes healthy. Graham Ashcraft projects as the #5 starter after overcoming a disastrous first half to turn in a 2.81 ERA from the All-Star Break onward. Brandon Williamson, who pitched to a 4.46 ERA over 117 innings as a rookie, would be the top depth option. Prospects Connor Phillips and Lyon Richardson each made brief big league appearances late in the year.

Its not a group without talent, but no team can count on its top five or six starters staying healthy for an entire season. Greene and Lodolo have each missed extended chunks of action over the past two years. Abbott and Williamson have yet to play a full season at the MLB level. Martinez doesnt have an extended track record of starting. The front office could still look for another arm to solidify the group. Theyve been linked to each of Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber on the trade front. Signing Martinez doesnt necessarily take them out of that market.

Paired with Wednesday afternoons signing of reliever Emilio Pagan to a two-year, $16MM deal, this is the most active that Cincinnati has been in free agency for the past few seasons. As reflected on MLBTRs contract tracker, the Reds hadnt signed a free agent to a multi-year contract since adding Nick Castellanos on a four-year pact in January 2020. Where ownership sets the spending limit remains to be seen, but there should still be some financial flexibility.

Roster Resource projected the Reds 2024 payroll commitments in the $58MM range before the Martinez deal. If the money is evenly distributed  the contracts specific financial breakdown remains unreported  itd bring them around $71MM. The club opened the 2023 season with a player payroll approaching $83MM and was well above $100MM in the two preceding seasons.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Long meetings and late nights are commonplace for journalists reporting on governmental bodies.

But pack food, a phone charger and learn to play euchre long? Thats all a part of the spectacle that has become Ottawa County government in the past year.
REDFORD TOWNSHIP, MI -- William Helmer may never be a free man again after he was sentenced Wednesday to 40-to-80 years in prison, according to WDIV-Detroit. Helmer, 67, of Farmington Hills was convicted earlier this month on a charge of assault with intent to murder in connection with the Nov. 9, 2019 assault of his ex-girlfriend Dorothy Spinnela.

Helmer was accused of setting the then 62-year-old Spinnela on fire outside of a restaurant in Redford Township. Spinnela suffered several third-and-fourth-degree burns in the attack and was burned on more than 45% of her body.

Spinnela survived the attack, but was in a coma for more than two months following the assault. She was not present at Wednesdays sentencing hearing.

Helmer was arrested four days after the attack and has been lodged at the Wayne County Jail since then.
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @phillipbupp
A new segment of a trail that will connect two Northern Michigan towns is fully funded and local officials have approved a construction bid, WPBN/WGTU reports.

Construction of phase three of the Boyne City to Charlevoix Trail, along the shore of Lake Charlevoix, is planned for spring 2024, the report said. Its expected to take about four months.

On Tuesday, Charlevoix County officials approved a construction bid of $1.5 million, the report said. The Michigan Department of Transportation has stepped up to fund about 74% of the project.

RELATED: 14-mile trail connecting 2 Northern Michigan towns to open new section

The non-motorized trail currently consists of two 3-mile segments, one at each end. One begins on the east side of Boyne City and ends at North Springwater Beach Road. On the Charlevoix side, the trail runs from the Little Traverse Wheelway in Hayes Township to Quarterline Road.

Phase three will add to the Boyne City end of the trail, beginning at North Springwater Beach Road and continuing 2.83 miles to Horton Bay.

View a PDF of the route here.
GLADSTONE, MI -- A substitute school bus driver has been fired after they reportedly got into a physical altercation with a student in the Upper Peninsula.

In a letter sent to parents, Gladstone Area Schools Superintendent Jay Kulbertis said the unfortunate incident occurred during an afternoon bus run on Monday.

Kulbertis said the substitute bus driver mishandled a behavior issue with a student. The district is working with Gladstone Public Safety to investigate the incident.

This is inexcusable and completely unacceptable for any adult that is associated with our school district, the letter said.

We hope that you can also help assure your children that we put their safety as our top priority. We apologize for this incident, and we will work hard to earn back the trust of parents and students as we address this issue with all of our staff and substitutes.

Gladstone is in Delta County in the southwestern part of the Upper Peninsula along Lake Michigans Little Bay de Noc. It has a population of about 5,200 people.
FLINT, MI -- The Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is hosting a Delta Red Carpet event for an early movie premiere of The Color Purple at the NCG -- Trillium Cinema in Grand Blanc Township next month.

Deltas are putting on the event at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9 at the theater, located at 8220 Trillium Circle Ave.

The Color Purple is a musical adaptation about the life-long struggles of an African-American woman living in the south in the 1900s.

A movie of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 1985.

Tickets for the event are $30 and include a movie ticket, popcorn and a soft drink. They can be purchased here.

This is going to be epic. I think if unlimited popcorn and unlimited drinks doesnt appeal to you, how about scholarships and serving the homeless? So whatever floats your boat  whatever drives your heart. Or, if you just love movies like I do, come out and support this event, Chapter President Tamar Swain said.

At the premiere, the Flint chapter will collect personal care items to fill blessing bags for the homeless. Personal care items will also be collected from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the ticket booth at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley St.

Proceeds from the event will go to support the Mae Green Scholarship Fund, which provides a $2,000 yearly financial award to one female Genesee County student majoring in education for four consecutive years.

In the past 30 years, hundreds of students have benefitted from the scholarships that the Deltas offer, Swain said.

Flints Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has been in the community for nearly 70 years. The public service organization can be contacted at this website.
KENT COUNTY, MI  Two Kalamazoo men were charged Thursday with human trafficking after they allegedly held two homeless women against their will and forced them to open bank accounts.

Kent County sheriffs deputies said after being forced to open bank accounts, the women would then give financial information to the men. Deputies say it is still being investigated what exactly the accounts were being used for.

Deputies were alerted to the scheme around 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, when they responded to the Bank of America at 6737 Division Ave. S in Byron Township on reports of a woman being held against her will.

The woman had entered the bank and told tellers the two Kalamazoo men were forcing her to open a bank account. Deputies arrived and located the two men as well as another woman.

Deputies believe the two 27-year-old Kalamazoo men picked two homeless women, ages 34 and 43, at random in Kalamazoo and enticed them to work for them and earn money.

Deputies believe the men required the women to open bank accounts in their name at several West Michigan banks and then turn over unspecified financial information to them.

The aim of the alleged scheme is still under investigation.

Deputies said it appears there were several prior incidents and expressed thanks that the woman was able to ask for help from the tellers, who in turn alerted the authorities.

The Kent County Prosecutors Office issued charges of unlawful imprisonment, human trafficking and resisting and obstructing police against the two Kalamazoo men on Thursday, Nov. 30.

The men are expected to be arraigned Friday on those charges.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital is limiting the number of visitors patients can have due to an increase in respiratory illness cases in the community.

Corewell Health officials on Tuesday, Nov. 30, said only two visitors are now permitted to be at a patients bedside during the day, and only one visitor at night.

The neonatal intensive care unit visitor policy remains unchanged, and the new visitor limitations only apply to Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital, located at 100 Michigan St. NE in Grand Rapids.

The hospital remains open and ready to care for patients, Corewell Health officials said, adding that some experiences may look different with longer wait times and beds in non-traditional settings.

The health system said respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is one of the respiratory viruses on the rise but that there are also a number of others contributing to the high case count.

To prevent and protect against respiratory virus illness, experts at Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital recommend staying home if sick, washing hands frequently and getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.

Corewell Health officials also talked about new RSV preventatives that have been approved.

They recommended talking to the familys pediatrician, obstetrician or primary care provider for more information about monoclonal antibodies for infants and children, vaccines for pregnant women and vaccines for adults over 65.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- The attorney for embattled Ottawa County Health Officer Adeline Hambley is claiming county commissioners improperly communicated during an October meeting recess, violating the states Open Meetings Act.

Attorney Sarah Howard is asking a Muskegon County judge to let her add the complaint to an ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit against the county.

Howard filed motions Wednesday, Nov. 29.

Related: Court hearing delayed on $4 million settlement for Ottawa County health officer

The filings are the latest in a slew of legal wrangling by both sides as a majority of county commissioners looked to fire Hambley in January. The majority is comprised of commissioners affiliated with an ultra-conservative group called Ottawa Impact.

A termination hearing that began Oct. 24 dragged into five more days of deliberation by commissioners, including multiple hours in closed session, and led to a Nov. 6 revelation that a possible $4 million settlement was in the works.

That alleged deal later fizzled and commissioners voted Nov. 28 to try mediation. The mediation comes as Hambleys attorney wants a judge to rule the $4 million settlement was a sealed deal.

In the motion filed Wednesday, Howard claims commissioners deliberated amongst themselves, outside of public view, during an Oct. 10 meeting recess. She alleged there was either a quorum or they tried to skirt the Open Meetings Act by communicating amongst themselves in subquorum groups.

The decision-making on Oct. 10, Howard wrote, resulted in the board voting to authorize charges against Hambley needed to hold the later termination hearing.

Related: Health officer asks judge to force Ottawa County to uphold $4M settlement offer

Howard also alleges that on Nov. 6 -- during the meeting she says a $4 million settlement was struck -- that another Open Meetings Act violation occurred when commissioners came out of closed session and voted on a non-specific motion to accept Counsels recommendation regarding litigation and settlement activities in the case of Hambley v. Ottawa County as addressed during closed session.

Howard believes the 7-3 vote on the motion was to accept the $4 million settlement and that Ottawa Impact commissioners days later tried to argue otherwise because they wanted to back out of the deal.

As part of her claim of an Open Meetings Act violation, she wants a judge to privately review minutes of the closed session to determine whether the board complied with the law.

A message left with Ottawa County Corporate Counsel David Kallman was not immediately returned Thursday.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer stood at the rostrum of the Michigan House of Representatives for her State of the State address, she did so for the first time alongside members of her own party.

This year was Michigans first in decades with united Democratic government: a liberal governor plus majorities in the House and Senate.

Major priorities that Whitmer laid out in her State of the State in February and a Whats Next speech in August have become reality, but some are still unfinished. Heres a breakdown:

Gun violence

Promise: In February, Whitmer specifically promised three gun reforms: universal background checks, safe storage laws and extreme risk protection orders (a.k.a. red flag orders).

Result: She signed all three into law in May. Heres what they do:

Red flag orders: People can request these from a judge to have a relative or friends guns temporarily taken away if the person is at risk of using them in a crime.

Universal background checks: Before, a check was only required for pistol licenses. Now, everyone buying a gun in Michigan will undergo a background check.

Safe storage laws: Gun owners with minors in their home must lock up their guns. If the minor obtains such a gun and hurts another person, the owner could go to prison.

Clean energy and manufacturing

Promise: Lets keep bringing supply chains of cars and chips home, Whitmer said in February. And lets increase domestic clean energy production, like wind and solar, so we can produce more energy in America instead of overseas.

Result: The latter goal was realized Tuesday when the governor signed two landmark bill packages that require all Michigan energy be clean by 2040 and allow the state approval control of large solar, wind and energy storage projects instead of local governments.

Regarding auto supply chains, work has begun on future electric vehicle battery plants in Big Rapids and Marshall. But the Marshall plant, a partnership between Ford and a Chinese battery maker, announced last week its capacity will be 43% less than announced.

It will also create 1,700 jobs instead of the 2,500 originally planned.

Reproductive and civil rights

Promise: In her State of the State, Whitmer promised the repeal of Michigans 1931 abortion ban and other dangerous laws prohibiting people from accessing reproductive health care or shaming them for seeking it in the first place.

Result: She signed a repeal of the ban in March, although it was mostly symbolic. Michigans new constitutional right to an abortion had essentially rendered it moot.

Regarding the other laws limiting abortion, the result is mixed. In signing the legislatures Reproductive Health Act earlier this month, laws like these  which Democrats argue were politically motivated  are repealed:

Facility requirements like hallway width and procedure room size.

A requirement that patients be given state-mandated materials on alternatives like adoption.

A ban on colleges referring abortion services to students.

But negotiations with the lone Democratic defector in the narrowly-divided House, Detroit Rep. Karen Whitsett, meant the Act does not repeal Michigans 24-hour waiting period or allow Medicaid to cover abortions.

Go deeper: How Michigan did, and didnt, change abortion laws in 2023

The governor has accomplished nearly everything she laid out in her State of the State address earlier this year, Stacey LaRouche, Whitmers press secretary, told MLive.

LaRouche also noted expanded workers rights and increased investment in K-12 schools and law enforcement.

On the related topic of civil rights, Whitmers goal of expanding the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexuality and gender identity was realized in March.

And further regarding health care, the governor made good on a Whats Next address promise by signing the Affordable Care Acts (Obamacare) major protections into state law in October.

Saving people money

Promise: The governor promised in February to roll back a 2011 tax on pension income and to increase Michigans match of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Result: She signed both pieces into law in March.

Voting rights

Promise: In her State of the State, Whitmer promised to expand voting rights, protect election workers, and build on last years bipartisan law to help military members and their families overseas have their votes counted.

Result: These goals are mostly realized. In July, the governor signed bills implementing last years Proposal 2 to expand voting rights and access, including nine days of early in-person voting.

Going beyond what voters approved, however, included a new law allowing clerks to count absentee ballots eight days before Election Day instead of the day before.

The legislature also passed a bill enhancing penalties for harassing election workers. It awaits Whitmers signature.

But on military voting, results are mixed. Whitmer signed a bill in May giving overseas voters more time to return ballots. But House Bill 4120, which would allow overseas military members and their spouses to vote over the internet has only passed the House.

Election security and cybersecurity experts have testified that it unnecessarily risks the integrity of Michigans voting system.

Still on the agenda

Included in a broad promise to lower costs for consumers, Whitmer said leaders will tackle prescription drug prices. Senate bills to create a drug price cap board still need to pass the House next year before landing on her desk.

The governor looks forward to continuing this momentum in the next legislative session to deliver on these kitchen table issues for Michiganders, LaRouche told MLive.

Paid family and medical leave, as well as streamlining permitting for advanced manufacturing, infrastructure and housing, are other things from Whitmers August address that will have to wait until next year.
As the world gathers in Ghana starting tomorrow, December 1, under the theme "December in GH," the Ghana Bloggers Association extends a warm welcome to arriving dignitaries at the airport.

They provide a gracious reception and a complimentary taste of Ghanaian chocolate, anticipating the upcoming December festivities.

This initiative, led by the association's president, Andre Mustapha NII Okai Inusah, widely known as Attractive Mustapha, is part of an ongoing agenda encouraging every Ghanaian online to actively blog and promote the beauty of Ghana.

Attractive Mustapha underscores the symbolism behind gifting chocolate, given Ghana's status as the world's second-largest cocoa-producing country.

He emphasizes that anyone visiting Ghana should savor the rich taste of cocoa, integral to the nation's identity.

Aligned with the "Blog and Promote Ghana" campaign and the approaching December festivities, the association hosts numerous international bloggers, journalists, personalities and models.

These collaborations were meticulously planned, with specific dates strategically chosen just a day or two before the onset of December in Ghana.

Addressing guests from the diaspora, Attractive Mustapha shares his extensive global experiences, asserting that Ghana stands out as one of the best countries worldwide.

He firmly believes that if the world is indeed round, as geographers posit, then Ghana occupies a central and special place in God's creation, God stood in Ghana while creating the world.

Looking ahead, Attractive Mustapha outlines plans for widespread activation across Ghana and the diaspora throughout December, extending beyond the airport.

He passionately urges the social media community to explore all 16 regions of Ghana and share positive stories about the country.

Expressing gratitude, he takes a moment to acknowledge the invaluable guidance and support provided by the Ghana Tourism Authority to Ghanaian bloggers and the Association.

This collaborative effort seamlessly aligns with their December in GH project, contributing to the positive promotion of Ghana on the global stage.
30.11.2023 LISTEN

The Executive Director and lead dental surgeon of Sunny Smiles Dental Centre in East Legon, Dr Gameli Nordor, has been adjudged the Most Respected CEO in the Ghanaian Dental Industry. This award was conferred on him at the just-ended 6th Ghana Industry CEO Awards hosted by the Business Executive at the Marriott International Hotel in Accra.

In response to the recognition of his integrity and selfless service especially in the management of a dental practice for over a decade, Dr Nordor on receiving this award, expressed gratitude to his workers, and partners for being a supporting and helping hand in the management of the hospital.

"It is a great honour to be recognized in this way. I founded Sunny Smiles Dental Center 10 years ago with the main aim of delivering personalized, attentive, and excellent dental care to my patients. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication my team and I have put in over the past decade. Im grateful to my hardworking nurses, hygienists, specialist doctors and most especially our patients who put their trust in us and repeatedly turn to us for all their dental needs. As a company, we are spurred on by this acknowledgement and look forward to expanding our services to serve Ghanaians better in the years to come He said.

Dr Nordor also went on to emphasise the role technology and innovation have played stating that, adopting up to date technology in providing dental care has been instrumental to the success of his practice, making it easier and more convenient for both the patients and the practitioners alike. Highlighting this he said, For the past 2 years, we have been pioneering the use of new digital technology in our dental practice to improve patient outcomes. With the use of digital innovations in our clinic, such as the iTero Element 5D Intraoral imaging system, we have increased precision, speed, and comfort and ultimately enriched the overall patient experience at our practice. He encouraged all dental practitioners in Ghana to take advantage of AI & digital diagnostics to advance the industry.

The Ghana Industry CEOs Awards is an annual awards scheme that identifies and publicly recognizes the most outstanding chief executives in corporate Ghana across various sectors of the economy. Eligible awardees include CEOs of both private and public sector corporations and institutions. Dr Nordor joins a distinguished group of leaders who have been acknowledged for their outstanding contributions as the CEO of Sunny Smiles Dental Centre, a private dental practice located in East Legon-Accra, which has earned a stellar reputation in the industry for its dedication to quality patient care and education over the years.
In a remarkable display of unity and resilience, the Germany Chapter Concerned Members and the Zongo Caucus joined forces with the Youth Wing to organize a monumental event in Monchengladbach on Saturday, November 25, 2023 to honour the founders of the Germany Chapter and acknowledged them for their continued contributions to the organization and running of the Chapter despite being on suspension.

The gathering, attended by members from various branches across Germany, transcended its initial purpose of fundraising for the party, evolving into a powerful statement of unity within the chapter concerned members, the youth wing and the Zongo caucus.

This mammoth event, marked by spirited enthusiasm, acknowledged humility and welcomed prominent suspended members back into the fold.

Comrade Nurudeen Habibour, the suspended former Zongo Caucus Coordinator, Mr. Nana Kwame Arhin, the suspended former chapter chairman and Dr. Jerome Kpan, the suspended chapter secretary graced the occasion, symbolizing a commitment to reconciliation and unity within the NDC Germany Chapter.

Despite their suspension, these individuals received presentations in acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication to both the chapter and the party. The spirit of unity prevailed as a collective plea echoed through the venue for their reinstatement, emphasizing the importance of fostering peace and solidarity within the chapter.

The event also witnessed the virtual presence of national party executives, including the Deputy Youth Organizer, Comrade Ruth Seddor, and the National Zongo Coordinator, Alhaji Mamah Mohammed Cole Younger.

Addressing the attendees via Zoom, these executives shared insights and updates, particularly highlighting the significant efforts of the Zongo Caucus in supporting flood victims in the Central Tongu constituency. Alhaji Cole Youngers address was delivered while returning from the constituency with a delegation including the elected vice chairman of the NDC Germany Chapter, Alhaji Umar Mahamud Moro where they made a donation on behalf of the Zongo Caucus of the Germany chapter.

In a poignant twist during discussions on fundraising activities, the concerned chapter members expressed their commitment to contribute and raise funds for the party. However, this commitment came with a condition  the unequivocal reunion of the suspended members with the chapter. Members emphasized that reinstating the suspended trio would not only symbolize recognition of their efforts but also provide assurance that their contributions would be directed toward a productive and united course.

The joint event stands as a testament to the strength of the NDC Germany Chapter, where unity, despite challenges, takes precedence. As the chapter continues its journey toward the 2024 polls, the resounding call for reinstatement underscores the collective belief that inclusivity and solidarity are the cornerstones of a thriving and successful party.

Written by Albert Allan Dakyie, Deputy Germany Chapter Secretary
Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

One month after his high profile exit from a weekly hit on the WFANs The Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata Show, Carl Banks is telling his side of the story.

Appearing on WFAN rival ESPN New York on Wednesday, the New York Giants legend addressed the exit, which stemmed from an argument with hosts Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata regarding the play of second-year linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. The argument  in which Banks was defending the Oregon product against criticism from Tierney and Licata  got so contentious that the hosts hung up on the Giants Ring of Honor member, who later canceled his weekly paid appearance with the program.

During his appearance on The Michael Kay Show on Wednesday, Banks said that while he doesnt mind arguing, his issue with the shows hosts was what he perceived to be a lack of preparedness.

My father was a great debater. I got no problem with debate. I have a problem with debating someone who will not acknowledge facts. Its a waste of time at that point, Banks said. Thats not a platform I want to be on. Im not telling you their facts are not facts. I think they speak facts a lot. But when you want to have a position on someone and you ask me about it and you tell me you havent seen that person or you dont watch that person, then Im like, What are we talking about?'

ICYMI on @TMKSESPN:@CarlBanksGIII explains his WFAN exit, following a heated Kayvon Thibodeaux debate. WATCH HERE  pic.twitter.com/VsN5peYPB1  98.7FM ESPN New York (@ESPNNY98_7FM) November 30, 2023

Banks also admitted that he was insulted to a degree by being hung up on and revealed that he has since had conversations with all involved.

It just wasnt for me. I dont want to say Im bigger than them. But Im bigger than arguing back and forth with people, said Banks, who still serves as the in-game analyst for Giants radio broadcasts on WFAN. Ive got a lot of other interests that benefit from me doing things the right way. Thats how Ive built my brand Im not going to buffoon myself. Not that they asked me to, but going back and forth when a fact is sitting right here as plain as this cup  its a cup. You can tell me it aint. Im telling you it is.

After co-host Peter Rosenberg brought up that many Giants fans were outraged by the shows treatment of Banks considering his credentials, the two-time Super Bowl champion and 1987 All-Pro agreed.

The thing that got me was Im being treated like Carl from Secaucus, the 61-year-old Banks said. Im not a regular caller, right? And I try to bring things that will try to either make people smarter or more informed about a subject.

While Banks insisted that he was past the incident, it appears as though at least some level of bad blood still exists. While one could argue about the shows treatment of Banks and his reaction to it, the reality is that the 61-year-old was simply a poor fit with Tierney and Licata and a blowup was likely coming at one point or another.

[ESPN New York]
EU member countries and the European Parliament said Wednesday they had reached a preliminary agreement on curbing industrial emissions, including those from intensive poultry and pig farms and from ore mines.

The deal would "reduce harmful emissions from industry and improve public access to information", the European Council, representing member states, said in a statement.

The lead EU lawmaker on the project, Radan Kanev, said it would significantly reduce emissions "without creating further red tape for industries and farmers", while bringing in stiff fines for companies violating it.

The agreement, which still has to be formally adopted, aims to bring down air, soil and water pollution from companies by revising existing rules on emissions and landfill.

It would also update a European pollutant release and transfer register known as E-PRTR.

The parliament noted in a statement that emissions from big agricultural companies can lead to health problems such as asthma, bronchitis and cancer.

The updated rules will apply from 2030 to intensive pig farms with more than 350 livestock units, a reference unit that corresponds to a total of more than 1,000 pigs, depending on age and size.

It will also apply to poultry farms with more than 300 livestock units of laying hens  or more than 21,400 chickens.

The revised rules would also apply to the industrial mining of ores such as iron, copper, gold, nickel and platinum, and the European Commission may end up including the mining of industrial minerals at a later stage.

Penalties

Each EU country would be responsible for issuing permits to companies affected by the rules, if they can show they meet relevant standards.

Penalties for violators are designed to reflect the gravity of the infringement, and will include fines ranging to at least 3 percent of a company's annual turnover in the EU.

Once the member countries and the European Parliament formally sign off on the agreement, it will come into force three weeks after being published in the EU's official administrative gazette.

It will be subject to commission review every five years, starting from 2028.

(with AFP)
The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MCRA) says it intends to review the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 Act 759 and formulate a national policy on religion to sanitize the system to bring peace.

At a regional stakeholders engagement organized by the ministry in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), it brought together representatives from the 16 regions from academia, various religious bodies, traditional leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and a host of stakeholders to solicit their views to formulate the policy.

It said some challenges identified included religious intolerance, conflict and noise-making among others.

Addressing the gathering on behalf of the UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan, Abigail Edem Hunu, UNFPA Ghana Programs Assistant for Gender, noted that religious leaders play vital role in shaping society and hoped that policies formulated would factor the issues of girls and women.

"For UNFPA, it was a welcome idea to partner with the ministry because we have a role to play by our mandate. We work with women, girls and young people.

We work to ensure that women and girls are empowered, delivery is safe and every young person is supported to realise his or her dreams. We are also aware, that most people all over the world look up to religious leaders for guidance, directions, or inspiration especially when they become vulnerable and are looking for solutions."

She said the significant impact of cultural and religious factors in shaping attitudes and behaviours related to reproductive health, family planning and gender issues cannot be overemphasized hence stressed the importance of engaging with religious leaders to promote dialogue and understanding.

Religious Leaders are believed to have the following and the ability to lead their followers to step into the unknown with ease. They are an essential social support for many, both adults and adolescents in their everyday lives, she added.

By supporting the national consultation, UNFPA aimed to ensure that the issues of women's and girls' rights are adequately considered in the policy development process.

"Let us together think about the future of our young people and put in place policies that involve addressing harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, which are rooted in traditions, she said.

Mr. Richard Fedieley, Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at MCRA, in an interview with the media, said the meeting was to allow sector players to self-formulate the policy to avoid the imposition of decision.

He said the chieftaincy is faced with conflicts that require that these conflicts be reduced since it is a national security issue.

In addition to the policy, the ministry intends to introduce the codification of lines of succession to stools.

He said the chieftaincy act had been set in motion and is currently with the National House of Chiefs and would soon conduct an exercise in all the 16 regional houses of chiefs to sensitize chiefs on the need to codify their lines of succession to their stools to address chieftaincy conflicts.

Chairman for the occasion, Miyemliaba Nii Adjei Asua Oweeni II, La Agbawe Mantse and member of the La Traditional Council in his address said the regional consultation dialogue was imperative for mutual understanding and working together to continue to enjoy peace at the religious front and protect the rights and freedom of all citizens regardless of their believes.

He added that despite the intercession by religious bodies over the years, there are numerous concerns that are worrying.

In his view, the policy aimed at addressing the challenges and opportunity that arises from the coexistence of different religious bodies and also provide a framework for the protection and promotion of rights of all religious groups as far as the prevention and resolution that may arise from religious difference are concerned.

He pointed out that records from the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) identify 21.9million of the population as Christians, 6.1million as Muslims, 1million as traditional leaders and 1.4million as other groups and 400,000 people as non-religious groups.

According to him, it had to be understood without any equivocation that constitutional guarantees of rights to religion and its beliefs are not absolute and may be subject to limitation that are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety.

He mentioned that the consultation in the development of the comprehensive policy on religion was crucial in the inclusiveness that would promote religious harmony, diversity and tolerance in the country.

He emphasized that the consultation can be made possible through technical and financial support from the UNFPA, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Ghana.

Jonathan Azasoo, Senior Technical Advisor at NDPC said it was important to engage stakeholders in the policy formulation process because it helps avoid the imposition of decisions on religious groups.

He said the NDPC has a constitutional mandate of formulating policies to regulate societies and institutions, however there are mechanisms to follow and the commission was part of the engagement to ensure it guided it through.

He said the basis for policy formulation had to do with the resolution of problems and the key starting point includes the identification of issues that cannot be initiated without it.

He said the religious bodies identify there are challenges and for the policy to work it would depend on the stakeholders.
Representatives from governments, international organizations, and private sector gathered in Accra, Ghana today for the inaugural Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building.

The landmark event saw the release of an action framework known as the Accra Call on Wednesday, November 29.

The conference, organized by the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise, World Bank, Cyber Peace Forum and World Economic Forum, aimed to bring focus to the critical importance of cyber capacity building.

The highlight of the first day of the event was the endorsement of the new Accra Call by over 30 entities.

The action plan outlines 16 coordinated actions to strengthen cyber resilience and support development goals through capacity programs.

Companies like Microsoft and Interpol also voiced their support.

The Accra Call will promote cyber resilience across agendas, fuel partnerships, and unlock financing for implementation.

Areas of focus include tailoring investments to developing nation needs, fostering public-private collaboration, and integrating cybersecurity into sustainable development.

Progress will be reviewed at the next conference in 2025 which will be hosted in Switzerland.

The Accra conference marked an important step towards addressing the growing demand for cyber capacity building.

Through a cooperative global approach, leaders aim to ensure every country has the means to safely realize digital opportunities.

The following governments and organizations from all over the world endorse the Accra Call:

 Microsoft

 European Union (EEAS)

 ValU

 Interpol

 UK

 Global Partners Digital

 GFCE

 CyberPeace Institute

 Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, Inc. (FIRST)

 CREST

 Africa Youth Forum International

 Tonga Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT Tonga)

 Orizur Consulting Enterprise Pty Ltd

 Government of The Netherlands (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

 Government of the Republic of North Macedonia

 Royal Holloway University of London

 BAE Systems Digital Intelligence

 Switzerland

 Cyber Intelligence And Security Aid Bureau - CISAB

 Neurometrics

 Mexico - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 France

 Word of Life Permanent Mission Office to the United Nations (Office of the Special Envoy to Government)

 Global Cyber Alliance

 Republic of Slovenia

 ESET

 West Africa ICT Action Network

. Austria

 African Telecommunications Union (ATU)

 Sweden

 The Shadowserver Foundation

 NetHope

 IST

 ICC

 Canada

 African Union  David

 Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye has denied allegations of demanding $20,000 bribe from a businessman in 2017 just to grant him access to President Akufo-Addo.

In a statement shared on his official social media handles on Wednesday, November 29, Hon. Asenso-Boakye, who was then the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, said the allegations made by Mr. Claude Convincer Davit are "false and evil."

"It gives cause to wonder why the gentleman will repeat the same allegation at this time if not for evil and malicious intentions. It was false then, and it is false today," the statement said in part.

The MP has petitioned the Ghana Police and Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the allegations, stating "We strongly suggest then that they invite Mr. Davit to provide further and better particulars."

A notice has also been served Mr. Davit to desist from repeating such claims.

Asenso-Boakye said he "shall, under legal advisement, take appropriate remedial action should he repeat this false allegation against him."

The Bantama MP maintains he has "never met [Mr. Davit] nor had any interaction whatsoever with him."

This latest development comes after renewed bribery claims were made against Asenso-Boakye in a viral video by one Mr. Davit.

However, the MP maintains the allegations are politically motivated by his opponents to smear his reputation.
Former Deputy Information Minister under the past Mahama administration, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has accused the National Media Commission (NMC) of exhibiting "proxy tyranny" in its handling of an allegation against broadcaster Onua TV/FM.

Reacting to the suit filed by Onua TV and FM against the NMC in a social media post on Wednesday, November 29, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the regulatory body's actions were "motivated by zeal to score political points."

Onua TV and Onua FM have dragged the NMC to court over what it says is "politically tainted harassment" by the Commission.

Commenting on the development, the NDC stalwart slammed the NMC, saying "The NMC should back off from the proxy tyranny it is exhibiting against Onua TV and Onua FM on behalf of this high-handed government."

He added that "The moves to close down the two stations,is a cowardly roll back of media freedoms.Ghanaians are simply unwilling to yield their freedoms."

Onua TV and Onua FM in their lawsuit against the NMC accused the commission of bias and acting as "complainant, prosecutor and judge" in their case without a fair hearing.

The suit is seeking to restrain the NMC from any further actions that could impact their operations, which Mr Kwakye Ofosu said amounted to rolling back media freedoms.

Background

The National Media Commission (NMC) has initiated processes aimed at suspending the frequency authorisations of Onua TV and Onua FM.

The move according to the NMC follows what it describes as a "persistently dangerous broadcast" by Onua TV and Onua FM, owned by Media General.

In one of such broadcasts, the NMC stated the station's presenter Captain Smart had claimed that the military officers embezzled monies meant for soldiers on peacekeeping operations but offered no evidence to back his claims.
Professor Smart Sarpong, a Senior Research Fellow at the Kumasi Technical University, has implored former President John Dramani Mahama to consider Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his Running Mate again.

Following the chase for Running Mates for both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), political analysts have stressed the importance of careful selections that could impact the parties' electoral prospects.

While names like Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Dr. Yaw Adutuwum, Kennedy Agyapong and Akosua Frema Osei-Opare are being floated as potential running mates for the NPP, the NDC has seen figures such as Julius Debrah, Sylvester Mensah and Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as viable options.

However, dissenting voices within the NDC have expressed reservations about the re-selection of Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang who they claim fail to add value to the NDC chances in the previous election.

In contrast, Professor Smart Sarpong argues that she deserves a second chance despite criticisms during her previous tenure as Mahama's Running Mate.

Professor Sarpong, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, emphasized that Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, being an academician, may not have the political clout but has the knowledge and capabilities to make a mark in leadership roles.

"If they will give the woman [Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang] another opportunity, I think it wouldn't have been bad. It would have signified or represented consistency.

It would have signified and represented that, at least, we know that women largely, as some people call them 'weaker cells,' but when you give a woman an opportunity, she can do things that a man cannot," Prof. Sarpong remarked.

He further highlighted the potential negative repercussions of dropping Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, stating, "If you drop the woman, people will begin to read a lot of meanings that you don't believe in consistency; you don't give a second opportunity."

"I know the woman as a former Vice Chancellor. We all didn't know her as a politician, so maybe given a second chance, the woman can prove something very greater than what we saw her do in the first contest," he stated.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) after successfully electing its flagbearer, sparked another wild search for a running mate for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for next years elections.

As the party supporters advocate for their preferred candidates to partner with Dr. Bawumia in the race against the National Democratic Congress' John Dramani Mahama, big figures such as Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Kennedy Agyapong, Education Minister Dr. Yaw Adutwum, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare have been touted as potential Running Mates.

Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has thrown his support behind Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing his positive work in the Ashanti Region.

However, there is a growing calls that the Running Mate should be selected from the Ashanti Region and Kwesi Pratt Jnr. believes Henry Kwabena Kokofu has earned his place on the list.

According to Pratt, Kokofu's instrumental role in Dr. Bawumia's victory during the NPP presidential election sets him apart.

Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwesi Pratt tipped Kokofu, stating, "It gladdens my heart when I hear my brother is going to be a Running Mate."

Pratt further highlighted the impact of Kokofu's campaign efforts in the Ashanti Region, suggesting that his involvement played a crucial role in the overall success.

"I'm told if Kokofu had not joined the campaign in the Ashanti Region, things would not have gone well," Pratt emphasized.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Upper East Region has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, to apologise and retract his unfortunate comment perceived as demeaning to women in the region.

Apologise for 'we need to sleep with our wives' and resign in 48 hours  UE/R NDC to Minister.

The demand was made during a press conference held today at the NDC's Regional Office in the Bolgatanga-East District, on Wednesday, 29 September 2023.

The NDC's Regional Communication Officer, Abdullah Salifu Jonathan, conveyed the party's strong objection to what they deemed an unrepentant attitude of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its leaders, accusing them of launching unwarranted attacks on Ghanaian women.

We, therefore, unequivocally condemn the backward and stereotypical attack and attempt by the dishonorable Stephen Yakubu and the NPP to portray and present the women of this region as mere sex objects.

We thus, demand an immediate retraction and apology from Mr. Yakubu within 48 hours, the party stated.

The Upper East Regional communicator also called for swift action from the Regional Minister to ensure the proper treatment and compensation of victims of military brutality in Garu, holding him accountable as the head of the Regional Security Council (RESEC) for the incident.

The party expressed dissatisfaction with the Regional Ministers handling of the region's challenges, emphasising the need for leadership with depth and intellectual prowess.

It further called for Ministers resignation or dismissal, citing concerns about the expenditure of taxpayer resources on what they described as a clueless leader.

The party warned of potential civil actions, including massive demonstrations, if the minister fails to comply with its demands within the stipulated 48-hour period.

The party also stressed the importance of respect and equality for all and urged serious consideration of the challenges faced by the people of the Upper East Region.

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Madam Gifty Twum-Ampofo, a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), says the current TVET curriculum is aligned with industry needs and trends.

She said it formed part of the Government's education reform strategy to roll out curriculum that would equip learners with critical problem solving and creative skills.

Madam Twum-Ampofo said this at the opening of the Ghana Career and Migration Fair 2023 in Accra.

The Fair is organised by the Ghanaian-European Centre for Jobs (GEC), Migration and Development in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and the Youth Employment Agency.

The Fair provided a platform for more than 2,000 participants to explore career opportunities and educational prospects in Ghana, Germany and within the European Union.

Madam Twum-Ampofo said the Ministry was bridging the gap between academia and industry to ensure that learners were equipped with industry relevant skills.

With the help of GIZ, we have set up 12 sector skills point and the skills gap analysis and audit through which we gain insight and seek advice on industry demands and needs, she added.

The Deputy Education Minister encouraged young people to be open to learning new skills in addition to what they had acquired through formal education to make them competitive in the world of work.

Dr Dirk Amann, Country Director of GIZ Ghana, said since 2019, the GEC had connected approximately 16,891 jobseekers to 413 employers and 1,855 job vacancies, with more than 1,258 vacancies filled.

Skilled labour migration is a win-win for the host country and the country of origin. Germany and Europe are looking for skilled workers.

This need provides opportunities for young ambitious Ghanaians to gain valuable experiences abroad and send remittances back home to support the local economy, he added.

Mr Irchad Razaaly, European Union Ambassador in Ghana, said the EU placed special emphasis on promoting mobility, encouraging the exchange of students and staff, and fostering research and innovation.

The EU is a main partner of the Government of Ghana in Skills Development for the Digital and Green Job Market. Green and digital skills and technologies certainly possess transformative power in shaping the future job landscape, he added.

GNA
Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng (PhD, MA)

30.11.2023 LISTEN

Former President John Dramani Mahama's intention to establish a 24-hour economy if re-elected in 2024 has received mixed reactions from politicians, business leaders, ordinary Ghanaians, and civil society. The many advanced and industrialized countries that Ghana and other developing nations aspire to be like have a 24-hour economy, so the division among Ghanaians on this proposal has made me wonder whether Ghanaians truly understand a 24-hour economy. When discussing a 24-hour economy, we focus on making it as vibrant, productive, and diverse at night as it is throughout the day. A 24-hour economy establishes a plan of action to ensure the smooth operation of business at night and during the day on all parts of the financial system.

While many Ghanaians, including Hon. John Mahama's disciples, see this proposal as an excellent way to combat rising unemployment and a struggling economy, others, including members of the ruling party (New Patriotic Party), believe otherwise. They oppose the policy because the country faces infrastructure challenges such as an unreliable power source, a poor transportation system due to poor road networks, and logistical complexities.

Another reason given by some the anti-24-hour policy initiative is that it could have negative societal consequences because it may result in fewer community ties and a sense of loneliness among those who work irregular hours. According to a top politician in Ghana, the 24-hour economy, if implemented, will result in broken homes because the policy would prevent men working the night from sleeping with their wives at night, which would eventually cause problems in various households. Furthermore, research consistently shows that long-term night shift work and irregular hours lead to sleep deprivation, which is also associated with psychological disturbances, such as impaired memory and reaction time.

However, these policy opposers have forgotten that Ghana has been grappling with unemployment since its independence and that the 24-hour economy has an incentive for Ghanaian industries and can inadvertently increase the demand for labor, thus creating employment avenues for many citizens, especially the youth.

The policy will promote tourism in the country, generating revenue. This is because vibrant cities in the country will attract visitors, restaurants and shops will be open late, transportation will be available 24 hours a day, and getting from point A to point B will be simple. Another advantage of the 24-hour economy is that it will promote safety and security. An empty street can be a haven for criminal activity. Still, when a city is crowded 24 hours a day, it attracts people to stay outside because they feel much safer. Criminals will find it challenging to operate efficiently in such an environment.

Additionally, the 24-hour economy will double incomes, absorb extra labor, and provide the necessary impetus for transformation. It will also help fill the trough of nighttime baseload generation and offer economic incentives to investors by allowing increased revenue streams through higher utilization of existing or proposed generation assets.

The 24-hour economy will improve worker punctuality and attendance and increase productivity. It will also increase the number of customer-friendly shops by providing customers with longer, flexible opening hours and increase efficiency and competitiveness in managing some businesses.

Ghanaians should note that advanced and industrialized countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and Dubai have boosted their economies by implementing a 24-hour economy strategy. Cities in the United States, such as New York and Las Vegas, are known for their vibrant day and nightlife and continuous activities, made possible by a three-shift system. Tokyo, Japan's capital city, has transportation services and convenience stores open 24 hours daily. This creates more jobs for the people.

New things face resistance or opposition in our part of the world, so I will implore the new NDC Government to seal the policy when elected by educating Ghanaians on the benefits of a 24-hour economy. Hon. John Mahama and his new government must support and ensure that there are more feasible and accessible infrastructure and transportation systems in the country. Public safety must also be one of the things they should pay close attention to if they want the initiative to be successful.

Ghanaians must recall that when VAT was first introduced, the NPP was so opposed that it organized several protests against its implementation. Ghanaians expected the NPP to repeal it as soon as they took power, but what did they see? The NPP went ahead and entrenched it and also increased the tax under it.

Finally, I want Ghanaians to understand that the policy can benefit every citizen while sustaining a vibrant society. Ghanaians must accept it and applaud Hon. John Dramani Mahama for proposing such a transformative plan for our dear country.

Dr. Kwame Aduhene-Kwarteng (Castro)
Credit: CNBC

While it probably was never true, a lot of people used to see Elon Musk as an unsolvable enigma.

Hes since been revealed as just another petulant rich guy with big divorced dad energy who is mad at the world because everyone wont just do whatever he wants. And hes an antisemite and conspiracy nutjob.

Its been a tough few weeks for Musk as hes single-handily turned his $44 billion investment in X, formerly Twitter, into wads of wet toilet paper. After reports that advertiser campaigns were appearing on accounts featuring white supremacist and neo-Nazi content followed by Musk himself endorsing an antisemitic viewpoint, several companies announced they would be pausing their ad spending with the platform, including ESPN parent company Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox Sports. Disney even briefly paused all posting on many of their brand accounts for one day. Musk then debased himself further by jumping on the QAnon Pizzagate conspiracy a good seven years after it was relevant. A PR trip to Israel to save face didnt pan out the way hed hoped either.

All of which brings us to Wednesday when Musk appeared at The New York Times DealBook Summit, a yearly conference featuring titans of the business, tech, and political worlds. The Tesla and SpaceX boss sat on stage with Andrew Ross Sorkin to discuss the state of his affairs and, for whatever its worth, he certainly didnt pull punches.

After Musk attempted to clarify his antisemitic post (a mistake) and claimed that the Israel trip was unrelated, Sorkins started discussing the situation and how it may have impacted advertisers leaving the platform. Musk cut him off and made it pretty clear how he feels about it.

Dont advertise, said Musk.

You dont want them to advertise? asked Sorkin quizzically.

No, Musk reiterated. If someone is gonna try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f*** yourself.

Go. F***. Yourself, he added as a stunned Sorkin attempted to figure out where to go next. Is that clear? I hope it is.

Musk then added, Hey Bob, if youre in the audience, presumably in reference to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who was in attendance at the summit.

If Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino had any hopes of getting companies like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, IBM, and Apple to change their minds about spending money with their company, those are probably dead now. As Musk becomes more odious, he drags the sagging social media network down with him, making it less relevant and easier for companies looking to promote their wares to spend their money elsewhere.

The X owner seems to be aware of this, for what its worth. He went on to say that the current advertiser pause is likely to end the company, though he seems to have a funny idea about who is at fault.

What this advertising boycott is going to do, its gonna kill the company, Musk said. The whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company. And we will document it in great detail.

When Sorkin pushed back on Musks view that those companies would be blamed for the end of X, instead of him, he refused to see it that way.

Lets see how Earth responds to that, said Musk as Sorkin seemed to lose the will to proceed any further on this line of questioning.

Just another day in which were all at the mercy of the most divorced man on the planet.

[CNBC, Alex Thompson]
Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale has described unemployment as an alarming phenomenon that needed concerted efforts between the church and government towards addressing it.

He called for collaborative effort to reverse the phenomenon and said all stakeholders must think outside the box to find lasting solutions to avoid its accompanying vices.

He made the call at the opening of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON) Plenary Assembly at Damongo in the Savannah Region.

TEPPCON is a joint institution to coordinate varied pastoral, economic and socio-political concerns of five Dioceses of the Catholic Church; Tamale, Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Wa, Damongo and Yendi.

The four-day event, being the 20th edition, was to harmonise approaches to pastoral care and to address critical issues affecting people in the province.

Participants included stakeholders from various fields to deliberate on the theme: The Crisis of Education in Ghana: The Role of Government and Stakeholders.

Most Reverend Naameh raised concerns over the ascendency of fraud and same sex marriage and called on party flagbearers to include strategies geared at addressing such menace in their manifestos.

He indicated that the issue of upcoming churches and prophets was a source of confusion to the youth, urging members of the Catholic Church to be circumspect in seeking help from such churches.

Mr Charles Abugre, former Chief Executive Officer of Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, speaking at the event, said crisis of the education sector was as result of the disconnect among the educational establishment, families and communities.

He said there was the need to re-order society's priority to invest in children, especially in Northern Ghana to teach students social values of becoming useful to society.

He said We must confront inflated, corrupt and opaque procurement in the public system. We must also reinstitute community volunteerism.

Mr Saeed Muhazu Jibril, Savannah Regional Minister, commended TEPPCON for adopting a theme that underscored the shared responsibility in addressing the challenges of the country.

He said the region had witnessed consistent improvement in the sector, adding there was need to do more in the areas of infrastructure, inadequate teachers among other notable challenges.

GNA
30.11.2023 LISTEN

Ethiopian Airlines has prohibited the usage of matted woven bags locally referred to as Ghana Must Go bags on its flights by passengers.

The ban in a letter that has gone viral on social media took effect on Saturday, November 25.

The letter explains that the decision to prohibit the usage of Ghana Must Go bags has become necessary.

The Airline noted that it has led to losses and also causing damage to the conveyor belt system.

Please be informed that effective 25th November 2023, the usage of Ghana Must Go to travel on our flight is hereby prohibited.

The use of Ghana Must Go as a means of packing baggage has cost the airlines loss and also damaging the conveyor belt system, not only on our flight but also on other foreign airlines, hence the prohibition, parts of the letter said.

Meanwhile, passengers who wish to use 'Ghana Must Go' bags to travel must have same well packed in Carton or hardcover of rectangle size.

Below is a copy of the letter:
Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, Paramount Chief of Breman Traditional Area and his people have been applauded for the peaceful celebration of the 2023 edition of the Odwira festival.

Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture, made the commendation on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo when he joined them at a grand durbar to climax the 2023 Odwira Afahye at the Catholic Boys School Park at Breman Asikuma in the Central Region.

The festival, held on the theme: Bremanman, yenbomu na yenye, was to renew the commitment of the people to forge ahead in unity and work more closer with their development partners to accelerate the development of the area.

Dr. Acheampong who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abetifi Constituency in the Eastern region, stated that Chiefs played vital roles in the country's unity and cohesion because they were revered in the society and appealed to them to continue to handle their areas with their exceptional expertise to ensure the continuation of peace and stability in the country.

The Minister said the government under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo had initiated development projects in the area, including road construction, which needed commendation.

He expressed the need for the citizenry to continue to support the Government in executing its programmes and policies to better their lots.

Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VII, earlier in his welcoming address, thanked God that life had bounced back to normal paving the way for them to experience the joy of the Odwira festival, which was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also thanked members of the Breman Council and the entire people of the Traditional area for their cooperation and desire to develop the Area.

According to him, the festival brought important milestones in their history into memory, as well as the reflection of their ancestors rich culture and tradition.

He said the present generations were privileged to have the experience and it was important for them to sustain it for the future generations to also experience the same.

He thanked the Government for fixing the bridge on the Ochiso road and awarding their road on contract but appealed to the authorities to replace some old bridges within their community, which had become a death trap.

Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu said it was unfortunate that some road contractors awarded contracts to construct their roads, had worsened their situation.

He said the Traditional Council was given the assurance that the road would be fixed before September this year, but nothing had since been done.

To his people, he said: Helping one's community is no longer an option but a responsibility, hence the contribution of all and sundry living in the traditional area is important."

It is our prayer that this year's Odwira celebration will encourage more investors to partner with us to develop the area, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu stated.

Present were Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, Central Regional Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minority Leader of Parliament who represented former President John Dramani Mahama, Alhaji Alhassan Kobina Ghansah, Member of Parliament for the Area and Mr. Lawrence Edutuah-Asiaw, the District Chief Executive.

GNA
- Source:

30.11.2023 LISTEN

The international climate change negotiations began almost three decades ago when many were still hesitant to accept that human activities were changing the planet. Now the scientific evidence is unequivocal. Climate change is a major threat to our wellbeing, the health of the planet and the ecosystems we rely on.

But there's a very large gap between what the science calls for and the actions that have been taken to date. The window of opportunity to secure a liveable, equitable and sustainable future for all is closing rapidly.

For those working on African city sustainability, the mountain to climb is particularly high. Seventy percent of African cities have high vulnerability to climate shocks.

Africa is the fastest urbanising region in the world. This fast growing and highly vulnerable urban population is experiencing climate change impacts first-hand. We are all too aware of the devastation caused by climate-related disasters like Cyclone Idai , which hit southern Africa in 2019. Just this one cyclone led to over 1,000 fatalities and affected over 3 million people.

Recently the catastrophic flooding in Libya claimed close to 4,000 lives .

Unless drastic changes occur in how energy is produced and consumed in African cities, carbon emissions will rise as these cities develop and build infrastructure. This is already happening. The 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group III report revealed that Africa contributed 11% of greenhouse gas emissions growth since 1990.

It is therefore not surprising that the eyes of the world are on Africa's urban areas. The question is whether they will develop in emissions-heavy ways that undermine natural systems and increase inequities, or in low-carbon ways that are nature-positive and reduce inequality.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global greenhouse gas emissions must begin dropping within the next three years in pathways that limit warming to 1.5C . These pathways require immediate action. Rapid and deep emissions reductions must happen throughout the next three decades.

Without limiting carbon emissions, securing climate finance and enabling a free flow of knowledge and technology into Africa, the opportunity to build climate-resilient African cities may be lost. And fossil fuels will continue to power development for years to come.

There are some signs of progress. The US$8.5 billion pledged by the US, the UK, Germany, France and the EU to help South Africa transition away from coal is an example. But this is well below what is required to effect such a change.

Our work at the interface of science and practice within African cities over more than three decades has revealed that:

African cities are central to the global fight against climate change

more resources are needed for African cities to mitigate and adapt to climate change and its attendant shocks

Africans need to re-envision what climate resilient development means within unique African city contexts, and apply resources accordingly.

Here we outline calls to action which, if heeded, will bring the continent closer to a climate resilient future.

Limit carbon emissions while adapting to climate change

It is our view that Africa should be acting ambitiously, aiming to reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming to 1.5C , while adapting for a potential global warming level of 3C.

Many African cities are already taking great strides. Through the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa initiative over 360 sub-national governments have pledged their commitment to these crucial issues. Notably, 107 of these cities have formulated specific targets and plans to tackle climate change. What is needed now is finance to implement these plans at scale.

Not enough finance is flowing to African urban areas. In 2020 only US$30 billion flowed to Africa, which is about 12% of what is needed . And in 2017/2018 sub-Saharan Africa received only about US$3 billion or 0.8% of global urban climate finance .

In June 2023 heads of state met in Paris to discuss a new global financing pact, and many African countries expressed frustration that international climate finance promises had not been fulfilled. Solutions were also offered, such as the African Development Bank's initiative on channelling Special Drawing Rights to multilateral development banks to help rebuild livelihoods affected by climate change and other global challenges. But big questions still remain about how cities themselves will be able to access  directly  the climate finance needed to enable climate resilient development.

The ICLEI Africa network's Sustainable Finance Centre is tackling this issue head on, by providing the knowledge brokering services needed to bridge divides and fill gaps that prohibit city-scale projects from progressing from concept to financial close and implementation.

Build climate resilient urban areas in context appropriate ways

Africa's urban areas need to respond to the urgent need for development in a way that is equitable and minimises emissions, but also builds climate resilience to unavoidable losses and damages and minimises mal-adaptation.

This resilience building will look different in different locales, and there is a growing database of good practices that are inspiring change. For example, in Freetown and Kampala, ICLEI Africa is working to deploy clean cooking solutions to about 3,000 households and businesses in target informal settlements. This is to reduce these communities' exposure to household air pollution, decrease deforestation for fuelwood, and reduce time burdens that are predominantly shouldered by women who collect fuelwood or charcoal for cooking .

Re-envision what a resilient African city is

Given the unique context of the continent and the broad ranging challenges and opportunities it offers, African policymakers need to pause and re-imagine what resilient, low carbon African cities would look like.

African cities must meet the needs of a culturally diverse population. Policymakers need to direct resources, solutions and finance in ways that allow the continent to thrive.

Climate change requires a whole-of-society response. Without a thriving urban Africa, global climate change ambitions will never be met. This is the moment to rethink the African city.

Meggan Spires is ICLEI Africa's Director for Climate Change, Energy and Resilience. The time Meggan utilised to write this article was co-funded by ICLEI Africa and the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa initiative (which is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and co-implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, an agency working on behalf of the German government).

Debra Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Debra Roberts, Head: Sustainable and Resilient City Initiatives Unit, EThekwini Municipality; Honorary Professor, University of KwaZulu Natal and Co-Chair of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, University of KwaZulu-Natal And

Meggan Spires, Director: Climate Change, Energy & Resilience, ICLEI Africa, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
The High Court in Accra has on Thursday rejected an application for a default judgment filed by National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah against Fix the Country convener Oliver Barker-Vormawor.

The dismissal pertains to a defamation suit initiated by the minister, who alleges that Barker-Vormawor accused him of attempting bribery to halt activism.

Mr Kan Dapaah's legal team sought a favourable judgment, citing Barker-Vormawor's failure to file a defence.

They argued that this omission indicated a lack of defence to the defamation claims, with the NPP politician seeking damages of 10 million Ghana Cedis and an apology.

However, during the court proceedings, Mr Barker-Vormawor's lawyers opposed the application, contending its inappropriateness.

The court, after questioning the defendant about his defence, directed Mr Dapaah's lawyers to withdraw the application.

Subsequently, Mr Barker-Vormawor was granted two weeks to submit his statement of defence, and the case is set for adjournment on December 14.

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Ghana Free Zones Authority chief executive Mike Oquaye Jr has declared his intent to contest the New Patriotic Partys Dome-Kwabenya parliamentary race again.

He was beaten the last time by incumbent Adwoa Safo, who is seeking reelection.

I want to inform the people of Dome-Kwabenya through your medium that as soon as there is the opening for picking up forms and filing of nominations, I, Mike Oquaye Jr., will stand to represent the people of Dome-Kwabenya, he announced on Accra-based Peace FM.

In his last attempt in 2020, he had 488 votes against Adwoa Safo's 496.

A few weeks ago, some market women at Dome hooted at their MP saying they did not want he anymore.

"We want change", they shouted when Adwoa Safo visited the market to inspect some projects she started there that stalled.

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Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has expressed optimism of commissioning the La General Hospital by the close of 2024.

The reconstructed hospital, funded with 50 million euros, has faced public backlash, particularly from the Minority in Parliament.

Despite criticism, the Finance Minister, in the 2024 budget presentation, revealed that construction has commenced, with contractors actively on-site.

During a visit to the project site on November 29, 2023, Minister Ofori-Atta assured timely payments to the contractors, emphasising a commitment to meeting requirements for a scheduled commissioning by the president next year.

"We will have a standing commitment that meets at least a requirement that will ensure we keep timestamps on it so that next year the president will be here to commission it", he said, adding: "We look forward to working with you to ensure that your payments come in time".

The hospital was bulldozed a few years ago due to structural defects.

Recently, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu announced in parliament that its reconstruction stalled as a result of a withdrawal of sponsorship.

He said the project has now been added to the government's Agenda 111 projects.

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The small menagerie of animals echoed the human suffering from seven months of war between rival generals that shattered Sudan -- they were starving, traumatised and trapped in the crossfire.

On the southern outskirts of the capital Khartoum, volunteers had opened a modest reserve in 2021, crowdfunding online to rescue malnourished and sick lions from a rundown zoo in the city.

Barely two years later, they found themselves in a war zone.

With a military base just next door, a skeleton staff of animal lovers fought to keep their charges alive as "bombs fell on the refuge, damaging infrastructure and injuring animals", Sudan Animal Rescue founder Othman Salih told AFP.

After months of struggling to feed and care for them, Salih finally managed to set up a high-risk rescue mission in coordination with Austrian animal welfare organisation Four Paws.

Othman Salih with one of his charges in February, 2022. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP)

A total of 50 animals, including 15 lions and a host of hyenas and birds, have now been evacuated through a labyrinth of army and paramilitary checkpoints that have for seven months controlled all movement in and out of Khartoum.

On April 15, war erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). By early November, more than 10,000 people had been killed in the conflict, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

Spectre of famine

The fighting has also displaced 6.3 million people, the UN says. Sudan's already fragile infrastructure has been destroyed, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has left no living creature there unscathed.

"We lost seven lions, most of them due to illness," Salih said, although one lioness "was shot dead by a stray bullet".

The animal centre was unable to offer the necessary veterinary care as the spectre of famine loomed large over the already impoverished country.

Volunteers, who before the war would often themselves pay for the five to 10 kilos (22 pounds) of meat each big cat needed daily, watched in horror as the famished pack devoured the carcass of the lioness that had been shot.

Amir Khalil, the Four Paws vet in charge of the high-risk mission, said this "unusual behaviour" stemmed from how "physically weakened and psychologically traumatised all the animals are".

Salih has given everything to provide for the animals, several of whom he has cared for since infancy.

In addition to those he rescued from starvation in the Khartoum zoo, he remembers "Moody and Mina... I took care of them myself when they were little lion cubs".

Last year, his team walked AFP correspondents through the small refuge, proud to show off the safe haven they had given the animals.

"We worked very hard to provide food and water during the war," Salih said, but such hard work could only go so far.

Sedated for transport

Nothing comes in or leaves Khartoum without the express approval of both the army and the RSF.

In concentric circles, both forces enclose the city, interrogating and detaining travellers, and confiscating supplies from those entering or leaving the capital.

Taking the animals from southern Khartoum to the east of Sudan was "one of the most dangerous" missions undertaken by Four Paws -- which has also carried out rescues in war-torn Libya, the Gaza Strip and Mosul in Iraq -- Khalil said.

Success or failure in the "meticulously planned rescue mission" rested on a set of "security measures", principal among which was "communication with both parties to the conflict", he told AFP.

With the animals sedated in transport cages, the team took hours to drive just 140 kilometres (87 miles) along a checkpoint-dotted road to the Um Barona National Park in Wad Madani, a city that has largely been spared the fighting, despite it crawling ever closer.

"The animals need a few days to recover" from the journey, Khalil said, before being taken onwards to Dinder National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve on the border with Ethiopia.

Although lions live in Dinder, it is not known precisely how many survive in the wild in Sudan, the third largest country in Africa.

Across the continent, lion populations fell 43 percent between 1993 and 2014, according to WWF, with an estimated 20,000 left in the wild.
A Presidential staffer, Samuel Bryan Buabeng has accused Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng of engaging in "blackmail" rather than seriously fighting corruption in Ghana.

In a social media post on Thursday, November 30, he alleged that Mr. Agyebeng has "eroded the trust and goodwill" that greeted his appointment.

Mr. Buabeng wrote, "He has devolved the OSP [Office of the Special Prosecutor] into a rogue institution, prioritizing blackmail over the fight against corruption, echoing the tactics of fortune hunters like his partner Anas and Tiger Eye PI."

The staffer claimed the Special Prosecutor's corruption claims are "often tied to non-compliance with their demands, it's just like expecting a cat to guard a fish...an exercise in futility."

However, the Special Prosecutor recently complained the courts were undermining his corruption fighting efforts.

In a meeting with news editors on Wednesday, November 29, he lamented the dismissal of his numerous cases including the recent Labianca tax waiver report and warned of dangers ahead if what the Special Prosecutor described as the hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard by the courts is not curbed.
Nana Okofo Afful Nyankoe II, the Krontihene of Breman Traditional Area

30.11.2023 LISTEN

The Breman Traditional Council has condemned a video footage circulating on some media platforms in which some people were seen hooting at Dr Bryan Akyeampong, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, during the just-ended durbar to climax the Odwira Festival at Breman Asikuma.

The Council described the footage as 'unfortunate and called for an unqualified apology from the leaders of the group to the minister.

A press release issued by Nana Okofo Afful Nyankoe II, the Krontihene of Breman Traditional Area in the Central Region and Chairman of the 2023 Festival Planning Committee, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Dr Acheampong was booed while addressing the gathering as the Special Guest of Honour.

It said although the Council had received an apology from the leaders of the group, the act was unacceptable and called for a direct apology to the Minister.

Speakers at the grand durbar included representatives of both the ruling and the opposition political parties and were equally given the due respect, the release said.

Dr Acheampong spoke on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and was duly honoured by the chiefs and people of the Traditional Area.

The release said the staged booing was unrepresentative of the general receptive atmosphere given by the well-meaning people of Bremanman.

The Traditional Council, on behalf of the people, expressed gratitude to Dr Acheampong and said its doors remained open to him to freely make the area his second ancestral home due to his contribution to development there.

Meanwhile, the weeklong festival, on the theme: Bremanman, yenbomu, na yenye to wit (Breman citizens, let's work in unity), showcased the rich tradition, culture and values of the area, making the 2023 edition unique.

The festival was to renew the people's commitment to communal cohesion and work with development partners to fast-track the growth of the area.

The people of Breman Asikuma in the Central Region are said to have originated from Asante Breman in the Ashanti Region in the 1600s but were led by Nana Amoakwa Buadu I to search for a more suitable place to settle.

As they sojourned, they reached Tarkwa, where they were met with strong resistance but overpowered the people, winning them the appellation' Tarkwa-Breman Akonfona'.

They moved further in search of a better abode and were joined by the Asona Clan and settled at Asona Amanfoso, currently called Asuokoo near Jamra, but were involved in intermit wars and finally settled at Breman Asikuma, their present abode.

GNA
30.11.2023 LISTEN

Guzakuza, the vanguard for women in agribusiness has raised concern about the seeming gender imbalance associated with the National Farmers Day in Ghana.

In a statement issued by Guzakuza Founder Nana Adjoa Sifa, the organisation is demanding a Gender Equality Focus at the 39th National Farmers Day to be celebrated on Friday, December 1.

Guzakuza calls for immediate attention to the gender imbalance and advocates for a groundbreaking shift in focus during this year's Farmers Day. The organisation demands that smart solutions for sustainable food security and resilience prioritise and address the unique challenges faced by women in agribusiness, Nana Adjoa A. Sifa said in the statement.

The National Farmers' Day in Ghana is an annual celebration of farmers and fishermen, observed on the first Friday of December.

On Farmers' Day, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture honors with special awards to deserving farmers and fishermen based on their practices and output.

Ghana's flagship agricultural event has been marred by a stark gender imbalance in its history. Over the past two decades, only one woman, Madam Afua Frimponmaa, has claimed the prestigious award in 2004 at the age of 75.

This, Guzakuza insists raises critical questions about inclusivity and opportunities for women in the agricultural sector.

In a bold and unprecedented move, the organisation is pushing for an immediate overhaul of the event's gender dynamics.

According to Guzakuza Founder Nana Adjoa A. Sifa, the outcome of the upcoming Farmers Day will be scrutinised intensely, setting the stage for a provocative dialogue on gender equality in Ghanas agriculture.

The 39th National Farmers Day will be held tomorrow in Tarkwa under the theme Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be the Special Guest of Honour.

Read the full statement issued by Guzakuza ahead of the event below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nana Adjoa Sifa, Founder of Guzakuza Demands Gender Equality Focus at 39th National Farmers Day in Ghana

Accra, Ghana - 30th November, 2023

In a bold and unprecedented move, Guzakuza, the vanguard for women in agribusiness, has thrust the 39th National Farmers Day into the spotlight, demanding an immediate overhaul of the event's gender dynamics. The Founder of Guzakuza, Nana Adjoa A. Sifa has declared that the outcome of the upcoming Farmers Day will be scrutinised intensely, setting the stage for a provocative dialogue on gender equality in Ghanas agriculture.

Background:

The 39th National Farmers Day is poised to unite farmers and leaders in Tarkwa under the theme 'Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience.' However, beneath the surface of this seemingly harmonious gathering lies a glaring gender disparity that has ignited controversy.

Gender Gap:

Ghana's flagship agricultural event has been marred by a stark gender imbalance in its history. Over the past two decades, only one woman, Madam Afua Frimponmaa, has claimed the prestigious award in 2004 at the age of 75. This eyebrow-raising gender gap raises critical questions about inclusivity and opportunities for women in the agricultural sector.

Guzakuza's Call to Action:

Guzakuza calls for immediate attention to the gender imbalance and advocates for a groundbreaking shift in focus during this year's Farmers Day. The organisation demands that smart solutions for sustainable food security and resilience prioritise and address the unique challenges faced by women in agribusiness.

Why it Matters:

The controversial spotlight on gender dynamics in this year's event amplifies the urgency and significance of addressing these imbalances head-on. As Ghana strives for agricultural excellence, it must ensure that women are not only recognised but actively included and celebrated for their pivotal role in the sector.

Guzakuza's Gender Agenda:

Guzakuza envisions a future where the National Farmers Day is not just a celebration of agriculture but a symbol of gender equality in action. The organisation asserts that a more inclusive and equitable platform will not only empower women but also catalyse transformative change in the entire agri-food industry.

For inquiries, please contact:

[email protected]

+233553333942

www.guzakuza.org

About Guzakuza:

Nana Adjoa Sifa Amponsah is the founder of Guzakuza, a pioneering organisation dedicated to advancing women in agribusiness across Africa. With a mission to shatter barriers and foster gender equity in agribusiness by creating opportunities and equipping women with the necessary tools to start and grow their agribusinesses, Guzakuza is committed to transforming the narrative and creating a future where women play a central role in shaping the agricultural landscape.

In the last 8 years, Guzakuza had directly impacted over 8,000 women across 31 African countries and the diaspora. Guzakuza also calls all women to be part of its membership platform WIFAI-Women in Food & Agribusiness Industry.
30.11.2023 LISTEN

A shooting incident during the installation of a paramount Chief at Sampa in the Bono Region has left several people injured.

Following the swift intervention of the Police, seven people involved in the shooting have been arrested.

Meanwhile, one person has been confirmed dead with as many as seven people left with gunshot wounds.

The Police have today, 30th November 2023, arrested 7 people for firing indiscriminately during the installation of a paramount Chief at Sampa in the Bono Region.

Seven people sustained gunshot wounds as a result of the indiscriminate firing and one person died, a statement from the Ghana Police Service said on Thursday.

During the arrest, two single-barrel guns were retrieved by the Police. The Police in its statement noted that all the suspects are in custody assisting the investigation.
30.11.2023 LISTEN

The Ghana Police Service have announced the arrest of seven persons in connection with indiscriminate gunfire during the installation of a paramount chief in Sampa, Bono Region last week.

In a notice posted on social media on Thursday, November 30, the police revealed that "Seven people sustained gunshot wounds as a result of the indiscriminate firing and one person died."

The statement confirmed: "The Police have arrested 7 people for firing indiscriminately during the installation of a paramount Chief at Sampa in the Bono Region."

Two single barrel guns have also been retrieved from the scene by police. "All the suspects are in custody assisting the investigation," the notice added.
In a united effort to address the escalating challenges of violent extremism and arms proliferation in West Africa, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), trained security personnel and civil society actors. This is to strengthen their roles in preventing and countering terrorism, violent extremism, and trafficking of small arms and light weapons.

The training participants were drawn from seven West African countries: Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Bararmna G. W. Rosine, a community peace mediator with WANEP in Togo, highlighted the impact of the training. As a woman peace mediator, she stressed the importance of women's involvement in efforts to prevent terrorism and expressed eagerness to leverage the acquired knowledge upon her return. She stated that, "the program has deepened my understanding of violent extremism, radicalization, and terrorism. Equipped with the knowledge gained, back to my country, I plan to organize awareness-raising initiatives for women and young people".

The training program forms part of a broader year-long project titled 'Preventing Violent Extremism, Radicalisation, and Small Arms Proliferation in the Sahel and adjoining Coastal Countries in West Africa'. It is being funded by the Government of Japan. The project aims at enhancing knowledge and information-sharing among security personnel and civil society actors to address the urgent need to prevent and counter terrorism, violent extremism, and small arms proliferation, diversions, and trafficking.

Carl Anetei Sowah from the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons acknowledged that the training has provided an opportunity to enhance skills and exchange knowledge. He stated that:

"I now have a deeper appreciation of the Accra Initiative's goals, focusing on preventing terrorism spillover from the Sahel and tackling transnational organized crime and violent extremism in member countries border areas. I have also gained an in-depth insight into conflict mapping, stakeholder analysis, conflict management, and conflict resolution.

Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ghana, emphasized the crucial role of collaboration in sustaining peace and preventing violent extremism. He noted that, "UNDP remains committed to enhancing the capacities of all involved to promote peace, sustain social cohesion, and prevent the spread of violent extremism."

The project responds to the alarming findings of the Global Terrorism Index, with the Sahel region now accounting for 43% of global terrorism deaths. In this regard, Major-General Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant of KAIPTC, expressed gratitude for the timely support from the Japanese Government and the UNDP. He emphasized the pivotal role of the project in strengthening regional initiatives and ensuring a more secured Sahel and coastal West Africa.

"This course is instrumental in fostering collaboration, and ultimately ensuring a more secured and resilient Sahel and coastal West Africa", noted Major-General Addo Gyane.

H.E MOCHIZUKI Hisanobu, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, underscored Japans commitment to safeguarding global peace and security and in advancing human and economic progress. He considers this project as a symbol of that dedication stating: "this project, supported by Japan, symbolizes our commitment to global peace & stability, acknowledging the urgent need to address security challenges."

The projects activities involve capacity development, training of trainers, and a regional policy and experience-sharing seminar to address the escalating insecurity linked to violent extremism in the region. The aim is to prevent terrorism in the Sahel and coastal West Africa.

The lecturers of the course include Prof. Urakami Norihisa (LTC) of the National Defence Academy of Japan, Mrs. Afua Lamprey, Prof. Kwesi Aning, Prof. Mustapha Abdullah, Mr. John Pokoo, Mrs Margaret Akakpo, Dr Victor Doke, Mr. Johnson Asante-Twum, and Mrs Serwaa Allottey-Pappoe.
The NPP are doing everything possible to get Ghanaians to think that the NDCs 24-hour economy will also turn out to be a slogan just like all their flagship policies. Now the Free SHS, the 1D1F. 1 village 1 dam, 1 constituency $ 1 million a year have all become slogans. None of them is working.

The NPP are questioning the 24-hour economy policy, and it is all because of what Nana Addo has done to the country. When Nana Addo was falsely preaching Free SHS, Ghanaians didnt question him because John Mahama had made Ghanaians to believe in politicians. JM was delivering on his promises and Ghanaians in 2016, thought Nana Addo would also deliver on what he was promising on the campaign trail. In other words, the actions of Nana Addo from 2017 to 2023, has put Ghanaians off. They dont trust campaign messages anymore.

Dr. Bawumia, the Vice President said Ghana is already operating the 24-hour economy policy. Then on the same platform, he said John Mahama cannot implement a 24-hour policy. I mean, if Ghana is already implementing a policy, why say someone cant do it?

Seriously, this 24-hour economy policy is causing a lot in the NPP. Dr. Bawumia told us he was against taxing E-Levy. Today, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, is telling us Dr. Bawumia was very instrumental in the passage of the E-Levy. Hon. Ursula Owusu Akorful supported the E-Levy and told us the passage of the E-Levy could prevent us from going to IMF.

Last week the Women Organizer for the NPP, Madam Kate Gyamfua was on Peace FM, and told us the two people who were against the passage of the E-Levy, and IMF were Dr. Bawumia and Ursula Owusu. She said the main person behind the passage of the E-Levy and IMF was the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

In Kates attempt to rebrand Dr. Bawumia, she rather exposed Dr. Bawumia as a weak leader. Kate confirmed what Ken Agyapong told us that the Finance Minister bullies the Vice President at every important economic meetings. Dr. Bawumia is a weak leader and a liar you cant trust.

The Upper East Regional Minister says that the 24-hour policy will make other men take over their wives whilst they are in their farms Maurice Ampaw, an NPP lawyer, also said the 24-hour policy will prevent witches from flying in the night.

The NPP should deal with the framework out there for now. As the weeks go by, we will give the details bit-by-bit until the NPP cannot rename and rebrand it. The 24-hour economy is doable. It will not be a slogan. It is Ghanas game changer. Resolve today to vote for it.
An initiative to ensure the safe disposal of pharmaceutical products has been launched in Ho.

The goal is to reverse the growing microbial resistance due to the presence of antibiotics in the environment.

A consortium of institutions, comprising the University College London, the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), the Ho Teaching Hospital, and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is leading this programme.

It will supply special bins to health facilities and other strategic spots to collect unused medicines from the public.

The launch, held at the Out-Patients Department of the Ho Teaching Hospital, was chaired by Prof Kwame Ohene Buabeng, Dean of the UHAS School of Pharmacy, who is also head of the nation's technical working committee on antimicrobial resistance.

We're dealing with a problem bigger than COVID  a silent pandemic, he said.

Tonnes of medications continued to end up in the environment, causing an enhancement of resistant mutants in both people and animals.

There is the risk of getting exposed to resistant microbes in the environment, Prof. Buabeng said, assuring that the collection programme would help reverse the trend.

Dr. Cornelius Dodoo, Team Lead of the School of Pharmacy on the project, said the University had been collaborating with the Ho Teaching Hospital for the past three years for the programme and that the establishment of an antimicrobial management committee, this year, was a milestone.

He spoke of a robust antimicrobial strategy, which would be required in other health facilities in the region.

The programme was working with the pharmaceutical sector to ensure quality drugs to the public while engaging communities on safe disposal, Dr Dodoo said, adding that plans were underway to introduce house-to-house collection of the drugs.

Officials of the FDA present said unwanted medicines could be found in all homes as people tended to save drugs for future use, which posed a risk to children and other unsuspecting persons.

Mr Gorden Akurugu, the Volta Regional Head of the FDA, said the recall of the drugs would enhance the Authority's monitoring of drug use and authenticity.

It called for public support to help ensure a safe environment.

Prof Harry Tagbor, Pro Vice Chancellor of UHAS, commended stakeholders for the initiative and said the programme should be made to reach all people.

He advised that the patronage of health facilities be considered in designing the approach.

Dr John Tampouri, CEO of the Ho Teaching Hospital, said microbial resistance to antibiotics was a risk factor to disease control and a growing challenge to health delivery.

There has been no way forward, and we have to keep trying different medicines. There seems to be no end to the triage, he lamented.

Dr Tampouri called for proper use of antibiotics, saying it was one of the key performance indicators in the delivery of quality health care.

There were suggestions that the collection bins should be designed in a way that would discourage theft of the returned drugs.

GNA
30.11.2023 LISTEN

The Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) has expressed concerns about the actions of the National Media Commission (NMC), requesting the National Communications Authority (NCA) to take Onua FM/TV off air.

The Association believes there are far more avenues to explore in addressing the matter at hand, chastising the NMC for failing to offer Onua FM/TV a fair hearing.

The National Media Commission (NMC) wrote a strongly worded letter to the National Communications Authority (NCA), requesting the suspension of the authorization of Onua TV and Onua FM over their alleged incessant attacks on personalities.

The NMC states that the suspension or revocation of the licenses of the two stations has become imperative because the two stations have become the soundtrack to hateful rhetoric carefully orchestrated to incite ethnic division, provoke mutiny in the armed forces and prey upon the youth for insurrection against the state.

However, GIBA, in a statement signed by its President, Cecil Thomas Sunkwa-Mills, said the NMCs notice to the Advertisers Association of Ghana on the revocation of the license is tantamount to depriving the stations of their advertising revenue.

GIBA frowns at the actions taken by the NMC in addressing the issue of the alleged ethical journalistic infraction by the two stations for the reasons that, the Association believes there are far more avenues to explore in addressing the matter on hand, such as giving the opportunity for fair hearing to the stations rather than pronouncing sanctions upon them to the extent of alerting the Advertisers Association of Ghana of a Notice of Suspension without due process.

GIBA believes that such actions which are tantamount to depriving the stations of their advertising revenue are unacceptable. The fact that the NMC sought to cut-off the life support of the stations by writing to the AAG is damaging.

In an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr. Sunkwa-Mills insisted that the NMC missed the point of giving them a hearing. We will focus on due process for correction.

He said the matter has been referred to a committee to look into the it.

The management of Onua TV/Onua FM filed a perpetual injunction against the National Media Commission (NMC) at the High Court in Accra, restraining the commission from taking any steps that adversely seek to impact the media operations of the company and its associates.

Onua TV/Onua FM is praying the court, among other things, to declare that some orders issued by the Commission to Media General subsidiaries are unlawful and that the conduct of the NMC in refusing to give the stations an opportunity to be heard before imposing sanctions on them is a breach of the law and of natural justice.

The NMC, on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, sent a letter to Media General, extending a deadline to Onua FM/TV and Captain Smart to apologize over comments the broadcaster made deemed inciteful.

The leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has disclosed that it is currently investigating a petition by the military high command against Onua FM and Onua TV over the alleged misconduct.
Barnwell Industries, Inc. (NYSE:BRN  Get Free Report) major shareholder Ned L. Sherwood bought 27,502 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $2.56 per share, with a total value of $70,405.12. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 2,526,199 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,467,069.44. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Barnwell Industries Price Performance

BRN remained flat at $2.60 during trading on Wednesday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,581 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,742. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $2.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.58. The company has a market capitalization of $25.97 million, a P/E ratio of -28.89 and a beta of 0.36. Barnwell Industries, Inc. has a twelve month low of $1.89 and a twelve month high of $3.14.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Barnwell Industries

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new position in Barnwell Industries in the third quarter worth $40,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the first quarter worth $78,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the first quarter worth $75,000. EA Series Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the second quarter worth $88,000. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Barnwell Industries by 145.1% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 40,745 shares of the companys stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 24,118 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.38% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on BRN. StockNews.com began coverage on Barnwell Industries in a report on Friday, November 24th. They set a hold rating for the company. TheStreet downgraded Barnwell Industries from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, September 11th.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Barnwell Industries

Barnwell Industries Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Barnwell Industries, Inc acquires, develops, produces, and sells oil and natural gas in Canada. It operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. The company acquires and develops crude oil and natural gas assets in the province of Alberta; and invests in land interests in Hawaii.

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Caledonia Mining Co. Plc (LON:CMCL  Get Free Report)s stock price passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 917.28 ($11.59) and traded as low as GBX 890 ($11.24). Caledonia Mining shares last traded at GBX 920 ($11.62), with a volume of 203 shares trading hands.

Caledonia Mining Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.98, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.52. The firm has a market cap of 176.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 867.92 and a beta of 0.73. The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 878.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 916.22.

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Caledonia Mining Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th were issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, October 12th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.43%. Caledonia Minings payout ratio is 4,339.62%.

Insider Activity at Caledonia Mining

About Caledonia Mining

In other Caledonia Mining news, insider Johan Holtzhausen bought 1,200 shares of Caledonia Mining stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 795 ($10.04) per share, for a total transaction of 9,540 ($12,050.02). Company insiders own 17.81% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc primarily operates a gold mine. It also engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties for precious metals. The company holds 64% interest in the Blanket Mine, a gold mine located in Zimbabwe. It also owns 100% interest in the Maligreen project, a brownfield gold exploration project located in the Gweru mining district in the Zimbabwe Midlands; Bilboes, gold deposit located to the north of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe; and Motapa, a gold exploration property located in Southern Zimbabwe.

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City of London Investment Group Plc (LON:CLIG  Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 386.98 ($4.89) and traded as low as GBX 310 ($3.92). City of London Investment Group shares last traded at GBX 322.50 ($4.07), with a volume of 19,764 shares changing hands.

City of London Investment Group Price Performance

The company has a market cap of 162.18 million, a P/E ratio of 1,069.00 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 338.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 386.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 3.06 and a quick ratio of 2.68.

About City of London Investment Group

(Get Free Report)

City of London Investment Group PLC is a publically owned investment manager. The firm provides client focused equity portfolios. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. The firm invests in small cap companies in emerging markets to create its portfolios. It uses combination of macroeconomic, qualitative, and top down company analysis to make its investments.

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Shares of Zanaga Iron Ore Company Limited (LON:ZIOC  Get Free Report) passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 7.19 ($0.09) and traded as low as GBX 6.07 ($0.08). Zanaga Iron Ore shares last traded at GBX 6.66 ($0.08), with a volume of 2,501,782 shares traded.

Zanaga Iron Ore Stock Performance

The stocks 50-day moving average price is GBX 6.60 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 7.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 2.83. The firm has a market cap of 41.23 million, a P/E ratio of -775.00 and a beta of 2.21.

Zanaga Iron Ore Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Zanaga Iron Ore Company Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the exploration and development of iron ore properties. Its flagship asset is the 100% owned Zanaga Iron Ore Project located in the south west of the Republic of Congo. The company was formerly known as Jumelles Holdings Limited and changed its name to Zanaga Iron Ore Company Limited in October 2010.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 426.6% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 771,556 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 625,048 shares during the quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. owned about 0.08% of Eli Lilly and Company worth $361,844,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Silicon Valley Capital Partners bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Laffer Tengler Investments purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 156.4% in the 1st quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 100 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Activest Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 50.4% during the 1st quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 179 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total value of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 670 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.10, for a total value of $382,637.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 4,708 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,688,738.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 426,818 shares of company stock valued at $251,226,782. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock traded up $0.47 on Thursday, reaching $592.33. The stock had a trading volume of 980,220 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,063,278. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $309.20 and a 1 year high of $629.97. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $579.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $518.51. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $562.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 106.75, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.33.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. The business had revenue of $9.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.88 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 48.12% and a net margin of 15.55%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.62 EPS for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on LLY shares. UBS Group restated a buy rating and issued a $710.00 price target (up from $612.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, October 20th. StockNews.com raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $630.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $559.08.

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Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its position in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP  Free Report) by 8.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,096,998 shares of the railroad operators stock after acquiring an additional 88,958 shares during the quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. owned approximately 0.18% of Union Pacific worth $224,468,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 104,263.0% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 341,697,058 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $69,918,052,000 after acquiring an additional 341,369,646 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Union Pacific by 90,390.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,697,556 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $2,836,353,000 after acquiring an additional 13,682,419 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,276,498,000. Soroban Capital Partners LP boosted its stake in shares of Union Pacific by 77.5% in the 1st quarter. Soroban Capital Partners LP now owns 8,260,185 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,662,445,000 after purchasing an additional 3,605,266 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Union Pacific by 54.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,693,943 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $1,347,224,000 after purchasing an additional 2,349,841 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.36% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on UNP shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Union Pacific from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $223.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Friday, October 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $282.00 price objective on shares of Union Pacific in a report on Friday, October 20th. Bank of America reduced their price target on Union Pacific from $265.00 to $257.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Union Pacific from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Union Pacific from $254.00 to $236.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $238.96.

Insider Buying and Selling at Union Pacific

In other news, EVP Eric J. Gehringer sold 1,274 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.24, for a total transaction of $258,927.76. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,501,850.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Union Pacific Stock Performance

Union Pacific stock traded up $1.76 during trading on Thursday, reaching $223.23. The company had a trading volume of 780,938 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,794,454. Union Pacific Co. has a 52 week low of $183.69 and a 52 week high of $240.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $136.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.10. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $210.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $211.24.

Union Pacific (NYSE:UNP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 19th. The railroad operator reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.10. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 49.14% and a net margin of 26.37%. The business had revenue of $5.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.96 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.19 EPS. Union Pacifics revenue for the quarter was down 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Union Pacific Co. will post 10.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Union Pacific Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Union Pacifics payout ratio is 49.90%.

About Union Pacific

(Free Report)

Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. The company offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, ethanol producers, and other agricultural users; petroleum, and liquid petroleum gases; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. lowered its stake in Fortis Inc. (NYSE:FTS  Free Report) by 1.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,349,358 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 184,964 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Fortis were worth $402,864,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in shares of Fortis during the second quarter worth approximately $1,134,029,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Fortis by 3.9% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,872,872 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $678,990,000 after acquiring an additional 675,957 shares in the last quarter. FIL Ltd increased its position in Fortis by 11.7% during the first quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 15,423,380 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $655,622,000 after acquiring an additional 1,613,888 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc boosted its holdings in Fortis by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 10,979,621 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $473,702,000 after purchasing an additional 746,789 shares during the period. Finally, Scotia Capital Inc. grew its position in shares of Fortis by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 7,418,010 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $319,176,000 after purchasing an additional 100,467 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.18% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on FTS. Raymond James cut their price target on Fortis from $65.00 to $62.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on Fortis from $61.50 to $60.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 24th. StockNews.com cut Fortis from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $61.00 price objective on shares of Fortis in a research report on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Fortis from $38.00 to $37.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Fortis has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.93.

Fortis Price Performance

Fortis stock traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $39.88. The companys stock had a trading volume of 459,868 shares, compared to its average volume of 648,451. The company has a current ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market cap of $19.48 billion, a PE ratio of 17.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.46. Fortis Inc. has a 52 week low of $36.30 and a 52 week high of $46.28. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $39.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.11.

Fortis (NYSE:FTS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $2.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.99 billion. Fortis had a net margin of 12.81% and a return on equity of 6.96%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Fortis Inc. will post 2.24 EPS for the current year.

Fortis Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.437 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. This is an increase from Fortiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.75 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.38%. Fortiss dividend payout ratio is 76.42%.

About Fortis

(Free Report)

Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 443,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 102,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,328 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity.

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Kingold Jewelry (OTCMKTS:KGJI  Get Free Report) and Visa (NYSE:V  Get Free Report) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability and dividends.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

81.4% of Visa shares are held by institutional investors. 27.3% of Kingold Jewelry shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Visa shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Kingold Jewelry and Visas revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Kingold Jewelry N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Visa $32.65 billion 14.50 $17.27 billion $8.29 30.67

Risk and Volatility

Visa has higher revenue and earnings than Kingold Jewelry.

Kingold Jewelry has a beta of -0.45, suggesting that its stock price is 145% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Visa has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Kingold Jewelry and Visas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kingold Jewelry N/A N/A N/A Visa 52.90% 50.13% 20.78%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Kingold Jewelry and Visa, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kingold Jewelry 0 0 0 0 N/A Visa 0 3 14 0 2.82

Visa has a consensus target price of $275.67, suggesting a potential upside of 8.43%.

Summary

Visa beats Kingold Jewelry on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Kingold Jewelry

(Get Free Report)

Kingold Jewelry, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells 24-karat gold jewelry and Chinese ornaments in the People's Republic of China. The company offers a range of in-house designed products, including gold necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, gold bars, and pendants. It also invests in gold. The company sells its products to wholesalers, distributors, and retailers under the Kingold brand. Kingold Jewelry, Inc. was founded in 2002 and is based in Wuhan, the People's Republic of China.

About Visa

(Get Free Report)

Visa Inc. operates as a payments technology company in the United States and internationally. The company operates VisaNet, a transaction processing network that enables authorization, clearing, and settlement of payment transactions. It also offers credit, debit, and prepaid card products; tap to pay, tokenization, click to pay; Visa Direct, a person-to-person digital payments apps; Visa B2B Connect, a multilateral business-to-business cross-border payments network; Visa Cross-Border Solutions, a cross-border consumer payments business; and Visa DPS that provides a range of value added services, including fraud mitigation, dispute management, data analytics, campaign management, a suite of digital solutions, and contact center services. In addition, the company provides Cybersource, a payment management platform; risk and identity solutions, such as Visa Advanced Authorization, Visa Secure, Visa Risk and Decision Manager, Visa Consumer Authentication Service, and payment-decisioning solutions; and Visa Consulting and Analytics, a payment consulting advisory services. It provides its services under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink, VPAY, and PLUS brand name. The company serves consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities. Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 and is based in San Francisco, California.

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Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:CHGG  Get Free Report) CFO Andrew J. Brown sold 16,921 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.02, for a total value of $169,548.42. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 91,922 shares in the company, valued at $921,058.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Chegg Trading Down 0.8 %

Chegg stock traded down $0.08 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $10.20. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,099,869 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,303,067. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 2.31 and a current ratio of 2.31. The stocks fifty day moving average is $8.85 and its 200 day moving average is $9.42. Chegg, Inc. has a 1-year low of $7.32 and a 1-year high of $30.05.

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Chegg (NYSE:CHGG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 30th. The technology company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.01) by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $157.85 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $152.03 million. Chegg had a return on equity of 2.02% and a net margin of 1.41%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Chegg, Inc. will post 0.3 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chegg

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Graham Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in Chegg by 28.2% during the third quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 126,457 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,128,000 after acquiring an additional 27,813 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co acquired a new stake in Chegg during the third quarter worth about $198,000. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its stake in Chegg by 14.5% during the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 2,663,462 shares of the technology companys stock worth $23,758,000 after acquiring an additional 337,680 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its stake in Chegg by 100.7% during the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 67,751 shares of the technology companys stock worth $604,000 after acquiring an additional 34,001 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Chegg by 13.5% in the third quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 470,427 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,196,000 after buying an additional 55,906 shares in the last quarter. 97.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Chegg from $13.00 to $9.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Chegg from $12.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley downgraded Chegg from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $10.00 to $9.00 in a research report on Monday, November 20th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on Chegg from $12.00 to $10.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 31st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Chegg from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, November 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.82.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Chegg

Chegg Company Profile

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Chegg, Inc operates direct-to-student learning platform that supports students starting with their academic journey and extending into their careers with products and services to support learner with their academic course materials. The company offers Chegg Services, which include subscription services; and skills and other, including skills, advertising services, print textbooks, and eTextbooks.

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Shares of Ariana Resources plc (LON:AAU  Get Free Report) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 2.45 ($0.03) and traded as low as GBX 2.02 ($0.03). Ariana Resources shares last traded at GBX 2.20 ($0.03), with a volume of 489,609 shares.

Ariana Resources Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of 25.88 million, a PE ratio of 335.00 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 2.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 2.45.

Ariana Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Ariana Resources plc engages in acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resources in Turkey. The company explores for gold, nickel, cobalt, uranium, zinc, silver, copper, and molybdenum deposits. Its projects include the Kiziltepe Gold-Silver mine and Tavsan gold project located in western Turkey; and Salinbas gold project located in north-eastern Turkey.

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Avista (NYSE:AVA  Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Mizuho reduced their price target on Avista from $36.00 to $33.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. TheStreet downgraded shares of Avista from a b rating to a c rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. KeyCorp raised shares of Avista from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Finally, Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Avista from $33.00 to $26.00 in a report on Monday, October 9th.

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Avista Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of NYSE:AVA traded down $0.34 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $33.93. 577,162 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 759,828. The firm has a market cap of $2.62 billion, a PE ratio of 15.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.53. Avista has a fifty-two week low of $30.53 and a fifty-two week high of $45.28. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $33.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07.

Avista (NYSE:AVA  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, November 1st. The utilities provider reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.11 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $369.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $354.31 million. Avista had a return on equity of 6.93% and a net margin of 9.46%. The companys revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.08) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Avista will post 2.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Avista

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Avista by 2.4% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,000,709 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $549,808,000 after buying an additional 332,740 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Avista by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,115,169 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $475,763,000 after purchasing an additional 66,634 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Avista by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,839,530 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $327,504,000 after buying an additional 228,077 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Avista by 624.7% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,945,495 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $130,603,000 after buying an additional 2,539,057 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Avista by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,886,320 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $80,074,000 after buying an additional 68,094 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.53% of the companys stock.

Avista Company Profile

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Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.

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Ballston Spa Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:BSPA  Get Free Report) shares were down 1.9% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $51.00 and last traded at $51.00. Approximately 600 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 35% from the average daily volume of 445 shares. The stock had previously closed at $51.99.

Ballston Spa Bancorp Trading Up 1.9 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $51.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $50.79.

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Ballston Spa Bancorp Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Monday, December 4th will be given a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.54%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 1st.

About Ballston Spa Bancorp

Ballston Spa Bancorp, Inc operates as a holding company for Ballston Spa National Bank that provides a range of banking, financing, fiduciary, brokerage, and other financial services to corporate, municipal, and individual customers in the United States. The company offers checking, savings, money market, health savings, and individual retirement accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; loan products, such as mortgage and home equity, construction, auto, boat, RV, personal, small business, term, and commercial real estate loans, as well as lines of credit and government programs; and debits and credit cards.

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BNP Paribas SA (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,700 shares, an increase of 31.8% from the October 31st total of 6,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 336,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

BNP Paribas Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of BNPQY stock traded up $0.30 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $31.25. 82,658 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 138,623. BNP Paribas has a 1 year low of $26.72 and a 1 year high of $35.52. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $30.53 and a 200 day moving average of $31.15. The firm has a market cap of $72.01 billion, a PE ratio of 6.54, a PEG ratio of 0.37 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66.

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BNP Paribas (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $12.65 billion during the quarter. BNP Paribas had a net margin of 22.90% and a return on equity of 8.57%. Analysts expect that BNP Paribas will post 4.99 earnings per share for the current year.

BNP Paribas Company Profile

BNP Paribas SA provides various banking and financial products and services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three divisions: Corporate & Institutional Banking; Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; and Investment & Protection Services.

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Boulder Hill Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 200 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock, valued at approximately $262,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MTD. Pinebridge Investments L.P. grew its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 61.4% during the second quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 20,458 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $26,834,000 after acquiring an additional 7,780 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. grew its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 5.8% during the second quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 31,632 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $41,490,000 after acquiring an additional 1,736 shares during the period. Thematics Asset Management grew its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 43.8% during the second quarter. Thematics Asset Management now owns 14,223 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $18,655,000 after acquiring an additional 4,334 shares during the period. Natixis Investment Managers International grew its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 23.0% during the second quarter. Natixis Investment Managers International now owns 91 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $119,000 after acquiring an additional 17 shares during the period. Finally, Ossiam grew its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 37.9% during the second quarter. Ossiam now owns 353 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $463,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.11% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director Roland D. Diggelmann bought 315 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 13th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1,026.54 per share, with a total value of $323,360.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 405 shares of the companys stock, valued at $415,748.70. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MTD has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com downgraded Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Sunday, November 19th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,300.00 to $1,100.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 17th. TheStreet cut Mettler-Toledo International from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Mettler-Toledo International currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,302.29.

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Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MTD traded up $2.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $1,094.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 31,023 shares, compared to its average volume of 133,439. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $928.49 and a fifty-two week high of $1,615.97. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $1,051.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,195.62. The company has a market capitalization of $23.73 billion, a PE ratio of 27.85, a PEG ratio of 5.50 and a beta of 1.17.

Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $9.63 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $942.46 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $947.10 million. Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 1,852.05% and a net margin of 22.24%. Mettler-Toledo Internationals quarterly revenue was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $10.18 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Mettler-Toledo International

(Free Report)

Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The company's laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments.

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Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE:NET  Get Free Report) COO Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.35, for a total value of $978,807.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 249,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,074,520.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link.

Michelle Zatlyn also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, November 27th, Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of Cloudflare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.21, for a total value of $938,552.20.

On Wednesday, October 18th, Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of Cloudflare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.90, for a total value of $819,198.00.

On Monday, October 16th, Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of Cloudflare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.00, for a total value of $794,840.00.

On Thursday, September 21st, Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of Cloudflare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.28, for a total value of $747,149.60.

On Tuesday, September 19th, Michelle Zatlyn sold 12,820 shares of Cloudflare stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.34, for a total value of $773,558.80.

Cloudflare Stock Performance

Shares of NET traded up $3.81 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $78.35. The company had a trading volume of 5,282,068 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,685,448. Cloudflare, Inc. has a 52-week low of $37.56 and a 52-week high of $79.08. The company has a quick ratio of 3.89, a current ratio of 3.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.31 billion, a P/E ratio of -129.23 and a beta of 0.97. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $63.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $63.88.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cloudflare

Cloudflare ( NYSE:NET Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported ($0.05) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.03. Cloudflare had a negative return on equity of 17.71% and a negative net margin of 16.71%. The firm had revenue of $335.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $330.45 million. On average, analysts expect that Cloudflare, Inc. will post -0.28 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CWM LLC raised its holdings in Cloudflare by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,624 shares of the companys stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. RFG Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Cloudflare by 2.9% during the third quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 5,957 shares of the companys stock valued at $376,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Cloudflare by 3.8% during the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 4,594 shares of the companys stock valued at $300,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cloudflare by 5.0% during the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 3,817 shares of the companys stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Cloudflare by 0.6% during the third quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 40,684 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,565,000 after acquiring an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.14% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

NET has been the topic of several research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Cloudflare from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Needham & Company LLC boosted their target price on Cloudflare from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Mizuho boosted their target price on Cloudflare from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Guggenheim downgraded Cloudflare from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $50.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Cloudflare from $64.00 to $60.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $65.35.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on NET

About Cloudflare

(Get Free Report)

CloudFlare, Inc operates as a cloud services provider that delivers a range of services to businesses worldwide. The company provides an integrated cloud-based security solution to secure a range of combination of platforms, including public cloud, private cloud, on-premise, software-as-a-service applications, and IoT devices; and website and application security products comprising web application firewall, bot management, distributed denial of service, API gateways, SSL/TLS encryption, secure origin connection, and rate limiting products.

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Cloverfields Capital Group LP grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 23.2% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,205 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 603 shares during the quarter. Cloverfields Capital Group LPs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $432,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. PrairieView Partners LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Nvwm LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $35,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Trading Down 0.0 %

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF stock traded down $0.07 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $140.58. The stock had a trading volume of 1,055,023 shares. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03. The firms 50 day moving average is $134.88 and its 200 day moving average is $134.52. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a one year low of $71.96 and a one year high of $88.63.

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector.

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Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (NYSE:STK  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 80,100 shares, a growth of 151.9% from the October 31st total of 31,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 40,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE:STK traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $31.03. 44,052 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 40,101. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $27.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $29.03. Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund has a 1 year low of $22.36 and a 1 year high of $31.60.

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Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, November 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 13th were paid a dividend of $0.4625 per share. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 10th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STK. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund by 21.4% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 34,921 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,121,000 after buying an additional 6,154 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund by 2.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 16,005 shares of the companys stock valued at $514,000 after buying an additional 458 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund by 70.8% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 28,859 shares of the companys stock worth $926,000 after purchasing an additional 11,966 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its stake in shares of Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund by 1.4% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 38,162 shares of the companys stock worth $1,225,000 after purchasing an additional 516 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund in the first quarter worth $224,000.

(Get Free Report)

Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC. It invests in public equity markets. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the technology sector. It primarily invests in growth stocks of companies.

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Shares of Comptoir Group PLC (LON:COM  Get Free Report) dropped 3.8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as GBX 6 ($0.08) and last traded at GBX 6.25 ($0.08). Approximately 100,000 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 33% from the average daily volume of 150,350 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 6.50 ($0.08).

Comptoir Group Trading Up 2.4 %

The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 6.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 6.37. The stock has a market capitalization of 7.85 million, a P/E ratio of -625.00 and a beta of 0.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 471.80, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 1.24.

Comptoir Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Comptoir Group PLC owns and operates restaurants under the Comptoir Libanais and Shawa brand names in the United Kingdom. The company offers Lebanese and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine dining. It operates 27 restaurants that includes 5 franchises. The company was formerly known as Levant Restaurants Group Limited and changed its name to Comptoir Group PLC in June 2016.

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Cranswick plc (OTCMKTS:CRWKF  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 500 shares, an increase of 400.0% from the October 31st total of 100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.0 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on Cranswick from GBX 4,000 ($50.52) to GBX 4,620 ($58.36) in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd.

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View Our Latest Research Report on Cranswick

Cranswick Price Performance

About Cranswick

OTCMKTS:CRWKF remained flat at C$36.19 during midday trading on Thursday. The company had a trading volume of 98 shares. Cranswick has a 1 year low of C$36.40 and a 1 year high of C$36.40. The companys 50 day moving average price is C$36.26 and its 200-day moving average price is C$36.35.

(Get Free Report)

Cranswick plc manufactures and supplies food products to grocery retailers, food service sector, and other food producers in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company offers fresh pork, gourmet bacon and gammon, fresh and coated chicken, ready to eat chicken, charcuterie, houmous and dips, and olives and antipasti, gourmet sausages, cooked meats, and gourmet pastries, as well as provides food services.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp increased its position in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 10.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 540,793 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 52,944 shares during the quarter. Danaher accounts for about 1.2% of BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corps holdings, making the stock its 15th largest position. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corps holdings in Danaher were worth $129,790,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Silicon Valley Capital Partners acquired a new position in Danaher in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. IAG Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Danaher by 344.8% in the 2nd quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 129 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Danaher by 68.9% in the 1st quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 125 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 51 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in Danaher in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Danaher by 39.4% in the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 216 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.71% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DHR has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Danaher in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Danaher from $285.00 to $247.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. TheStreet lowered shares of Danaher from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, November 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Danaher from $260.00 to $250.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Danaher from $290.00 to $215.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 26th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Danaher presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $257.73.

Danaher Stock Performance

Danaher stock traded down $0.52 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $222.00. The company had a trading volume of 761,653 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,921,761. The company has a quick ratio of 1.94, a current ratio of 2.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Danaher Co. has a 52 week low of $182.09 and a 52 week high of $281.54. The company has a 50 day moving average of $212.55 and a 200-day moving average of $233.80. The firm has a market cap of $164.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.06, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.81.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 24th. The conglomerate reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.60 billion. Danaher had a net margin of 20.01% and a return on equity of 13.71%. The businesss revenue was down 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.56 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Danaher Co. will post 8.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th were issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, October 11th. Danahers payout ratio is 13.62%.

Danaher Company Profile

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Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. trimmed its holdings in Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR  Free Report) by 1.2% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 778,416 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 9,346 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P.s holdings in Danaher were worth $186,820,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Danaher by 100,144.5% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,184,308,095 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $284,233,943,000 after acquiring an additional 1,183,126,676 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Danaher by 96,490.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,287,013 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $6,180,839,000 after purchasing an additional 23,262,904 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its stake in shares of Danaher by 20.4% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 14,029,348 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,366,677,000 after purchasing an additional 2,377,625 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Danaher by 4.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,459,741 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,221,386,000 after buying an additional 559,056 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in Danaher in the 4th quarter valued at $2,057,164,000. 76.71% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on DHR shares. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Danaher from $265.92 to $240.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $215.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Danaher from $290.00 to $215.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Danaher from $285.00 to $247.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Raymond James cut their target price on shares of Danaher from $250.00 to $240.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 25th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $257.73.

Danaher Stock Performance

Shares of Danaher stock traded down $1.08 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $221.44. The company had a trading volume of 886,986 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,922,258. The stock has a market cap of $163.63 billion, a PE ratio of 28.06, a P/E/G ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.81. Danaher Co. has a 1-year low of $182.09 and a 1-year high of $281.54. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $212.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $233.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.26 and a quick ratio of 1.94.

Danaher (NYSE:DHR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 24th. The conglomerate reported $2.02 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.19. Danaher had a net margin of 20.01% and a return on equity of 13.71%. The business had revenue of $6.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.60 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.56 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Danaher Co. will post 8.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Danaher Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th were given a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.49%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 11th. Danahers dividend payout ratio is presently 13.62%.

Danaher Company Profile

(Free Report)

Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (NYSE:ETV  Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 65,500 shares, a growth of 209.0% from the October 31st total of 21,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 227,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Trading Down 0.1 %

NYSE ETV traded down $0.01 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $12.42. 182,779 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 243,285. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund has a fifty-two week low of $11.05 and a fifty-two week high of $13.50. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $11.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $12.44.

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Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.0949 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 21st. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.17%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

About Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ETV. Worth Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 1,088.8% in the 2nd quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC now owns 29,721 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $380,000 after acquiring an additional 27,221 shares in the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $156,000. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $400,000. Wiley BROS. Aintree Capital LLC bought a new position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $299,000. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC increased its position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 355,144 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,485,000 after buying an additional 7,715 shares during the period.

(Get Free Report)

Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Eaton Vance Management. It is co-managed by Parametric Portfolio Associates LLC. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

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Euro Manganese Inc. (OTCMKTS:EUMNF  Get Free Report)s stock price was up 67.9% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $0.14 and last traded at $0.12. Approximately 45,299 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 57% from the average daily volume of 28,941 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.07.

Euro Manganese Stock Down 15.1 %

The businesss 50 day moving average is $0.09 and its 200-day moving average is $0.12.

About Euro Manganese

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Euro Manganese Inc engages in the evaluation, exploration, and development of mineral assets. Its principal property is the 100% owned Chvaletice manganese project, which is involved in the re-processing of a manganese deposit hosted in historic mine tailings located to the east of Prague, the Czech Republic.

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A 47-year-old Lincoln man credited his crime to drug addiction, but at his sentencing Monday the prosecutor said drugs had very little to do with it.

Anthony Labrillo had been harming his victim for years, Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Morgan Smith said at Labrillo's sentencing for enticing a child, to which Labrillo had pleaded guilty.

Lincoln police found Labrillo in the parking lot of a north Lincoln fast-food restaurant off Cornhusker Highway at 12:40 a.m. Feb. 26, 2022, with a 15-year-old girl.

Police arrested him for violating a protection order that barred him from contacting her.

But he ended up facing felony charges after a search of the girl's phone turned up sexually explicit messages and photos from Labrillo and messages suggesting they had been smoking narcotics together.

On Monday, his attorney, Stephanie Flynn, said the majority of his criminal history has resulted around his use and addiction to drugs, for which he wants to get in-patient treatment when he's released.

Smith said Labrillo gave his victim, who is 30 years younger than him, drugs and raped her. He said Labrillo had been arrested on similar allegations in 2020 but managed to get the case dismissed and continued the behavior.

"Which the state finds especially disturbing," Smith said, asking for a lengthy sentence to keep the victim and the community safe.

Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret called it a very disturbing case and sentenced Labrillo to 45 to 50 years in prison.

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Shares of Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:GOVB  Get Free Report) passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $7.18 and traded as high as $9.90. Gouverneur Bancorp shares last traded at $9.90, with a volume of 204 shares traded.

Gouverneur Bancorp Stock Down 0.1 %

The companys 50 day simple moving average is $7.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.35.

About Gouverneur Bancorp

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Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association that provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in New York. It accepts passbook savings, NOW, money market deposit, and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit.

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Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:LQD  Free Report) by 1.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 64,914 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 661 shares during the period. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF makes up approximately 1.0% of Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF were worth $6,623,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 457.4% in the first quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. now owns 262 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 72.5% in the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Fortis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 33.9% in the first quarter. Fortis Advisors LLC now owns 514 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF by 657.9% in the first quarter. Cary Street Partners Asset Management LLC now owns 56,162 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 48,752 shares during the period. Finally, SouthState Corp purchased a new position in shares of iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF in the second quarter worth about $65,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.21% of the companys stock.

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iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of LQD traded down $0.38 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $106.47. The company had a trading volume of 25,725,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 21,134,908. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $101.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $104.78. iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $98.24 and a 52-week high of $112.51.

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF Company Profile

iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid Investment Grade Index (the Index), which is a rules-based index consisting of liquid, the United States dollar-denominated, investment-grade corporate bonds for sale in the United States.

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Shares of Ilika plc (OTCMKTS:ILIKF  Get Free Report) were up 1.8% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $0.59 and last traded at $0.58. Approximately 39,484 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 39% from the average daily volume of 65,187 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.57.

Ilika Stock Down 5.3 %

The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.40 and its 200 day moving average is $0.48.

Ilika Company Profile

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Ilika plc designs, develops, and produces solid-state batteries under the Stereax name primarily in the United Kingdom, Asia, Europe, and North America. The company offers batteries for a range of applications in the industrial Internet of Things, MedTech, transportation, electric vehicles, and cordless consumer appliances.

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Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR  Get Free Report) CFO Paul Elenio acquired 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, November 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.03 per share, with a total value of $30,075.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 282,299 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,396,056.97. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Paul Elenio also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, November 21st, Paul Elenio purchased 2,500 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $12.20 per share, for a total transaction of $30,500.00.

On Thursday, November 16th, Paul Elenio purchased 7,500 shares of Arbor Realty Trust stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of $12.37 per share, for a total transaction of $92,775.00.

Arbor Realty Trust Price Performance

NYSE ABR traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $12.09. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,281,191 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,912,886. The stock has a market cap of $2.28 billion, a PE ratio of 6.83 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 companys 50-day moving average is $13.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.25, a quick ratio of 38.40 and a current ratio of 38.40.

Arbor Realty Trust Announces Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Investors of record on Friday, November 17th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 16th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 14.23%. Arbor Realty Trusts payout ratio is 97.18%.

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Arbor Realty Trust from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Arbor Realty Trust currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.33.

View Our Latest Analysis on Arbor Realty Trust

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arbor Realty Trust

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABR. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 55.6% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 24,979,705 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $370,199,000 after purchasing an additional 8,928,167 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 21,310.8% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 6,699,668 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $98,820,000 after purchasing an additional 6,668,377 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 84.1% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,690,200 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $99,149,000 after purchasing an additional 3,055,294 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 5,353.8% in the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,026,408 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $15,211,000 after purchasing an additional 1,007,588 shares in the last quarter. 53.00% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) Senior Officer Timothy Shawn Mckay sold 37,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$89.95, for a total transaction of C$3,372,975.00.

Canadian Natural Resources Stock Performance

Canadian Natural Resources stock traded up C$1.44 during trading on Wednesday, hitting C$90.18. The stock had a trading volume of 12,379,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,395,546. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.13. The stocks 50 day moving average is C$88.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$82.19. Canadian Natural Resources Limited has a 1 year low of C$67.13 and a 1 year high of C$93.44. The stock has a market cap of C$98.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.95.

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Canadian Natural Resources (TSE:CNQ  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CNQ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported C$2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$2.20 by C$0.39. The company had revenue of C$9.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$8.79 billion. Canadian Natural Resources had a return on equity of 18.33% and a net margin of 19.74%. As a group, analysts predict that Canadian Natural Resources Limited will post 7.9263531 EPS for the current year.

Canadian Natural Resources Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 5th. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This is a boost from Canadian Natural Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Canadian Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 61.82%.

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$105.00 in a research note on Monday, October 16th. CIBC lifted their price objective on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$93.00 to C$95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, October 16th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$95.00 to C$96.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$84.00 to C$94.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, August 28th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Canadian Natural Resources from C$99.00 to C$106.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$94.33.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Canadian Natural Resources

Canadian Natural Resources Company Profile

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Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO).

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Shares of Intellipharmaceutics International Inc. (OTCMKTS:IPCIF  Get Free Report) (TSE:I) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $0.06 and traded as high as $0.06. Intellipharmaceutics International shares last traded at $0.04, with a volume of 14,730 shares changing hands.

Intellipharmaceutics International Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.25 and a beta of 1.34. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $0.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.06.

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Intellipharmaceutics International (OTCMKTS:IPCIF  Get Free Report) (TSE:I) last released its earnings results on Monday, October 16th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $0.07 million for the quarter.

Intellipharmaceutics International Company Profile

Intellipharmaceutics International Inc, a pharmaceutical company, researches, develops, and manufactures novel and generic controlled-release and targeted-release oral solid dosage drugs in the United States. It develops various drug delivery systems, product candidates, and a pipeline of products based on its patented Hypermatrix technology in various therapeutic areas, including neurology, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal tract, diabetes, and pain.

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Shares of iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (TSE:XEU  Get Free Report) were down 0.4% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as C$27.31 and last traded at C$27.32. Approximately 5,445 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 69% from the average daily volume of 3,219 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$27.43.

iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF Trading Down 0.8 %

The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$26.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$26.63.

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Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. (NYSE:KYN  Get Free Report) President James C. Baker bought 37,547 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $10.03 per share, for a total transaction of $376,596.41. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 591,039 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,928,121.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of KYN traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $8.38. The stock had a trading volume of 697,812 shares, compared to its average volume of 453,313. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $8.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.39. Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund, Inc. has a 12-month low of $7.84 and a 12-month high of $9.34.

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Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, October 2nd were paid a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 29th.

Institutional Trading of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund

About Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in shares of Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 3.5% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 34,804 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $321,000 after acquiring an additional 1,181 shares in the last quarter. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 82,373 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $693,000 after buying an additional 1,258 shares during the period. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 62,844 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $543,000 after buying an additional 1,299 shares during the period. TSP Capital Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. TSP Capital Management Group LLC now owns 275,775 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,319,000 after buying an additional 1,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Essex Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Kayne Anderson Energy Infrastructure Fund by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc. now owns 43,948 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $370,000 after buying an additional 1,660 shares during the last quarter.

(Get Free Report)

Kayne Anderson MLP Investment Company is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by KA Fund Advisors, LLC. It is co-managed by Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United States. It invests in stocks of companies operating in the energy sector.

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MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:BERZ  Get Free Report) shares dropped 0.6% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $4.79 and last traded at $4.81. Approximately 595,298 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 47% from the average daily volume of 404,897 shares. The stock had previously closed at $4.84.

MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN Stock Performance

The firms 50 day moving average is $6.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $7.30.

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Petropavlovsk PLC (LON:POG  Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1.20 ($0.02) and traded as high as GBX 1.65 ($0.02). Petropavlovsk shares last traded at GBX 1.20 ($0.02), with a volume of 26,359,046 shares.

Petropavlovsk Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 1.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.95, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.86. The company has a market capitalization of 47.51 million and a PE ratio of 120.00.

Petropavlovsk Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Petropavlovsk PLC operates as a gold mining company in the Far East of Russia. It principally holds interests in the Pioneer, Albyn, and Malomir mining assets, as well as holds various gold licenses located in Amur region. The company also produces silver deposits. In addition, it provides construction, project and engineering, research, repair and maintenance, and transportation services; and operates educational institutes.

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John and Janet McGary spent years admiring art that Dave McGary had created. They were recently able to bring home a bronze sculpture that his brother had done as their own.

Johns brother, Dave, was an accomplished sculptor and interpreter of Native American culture.

Dave was eight years younger than John. The brothers, with two sisters, grew up near Cody, Wyo. John and Janet have lived near Plymouth and taught at Tri County Schools for many years. They retired ten years ago from their work at the school.

Dave was a big guy, John said. Probably about 66 and never involved with sports. He was a lot different than me. He had talent, but never cared for stuff like that.

He died in 2013 of a cancer in the kidneys.

Dave worked with Harry Jackson was a local metalworker and jewelry maker when he was young. When he was a sophomore in high school, Dave had the opportunity to study bronze making in Italy for two years. He learned casting techniques and in the 1990s Dave opened his own studio and bronze gallery in New Mexico.

John talked about Dave not liking school, but because of his art he learned physics and several other subjects. He talked about Daves work in the early years.

He was particular and paid attention to detail, John said. He would create a piece and do a limited run of twelve or so sculptures and the break the mold.

Daves art and jewelry pieces was sometimes extremely minute, with some jewelry pieces consisting of hundreds of welded together parts. Some of his sculptures are extremely large in size, such as Touch the Clouds, which features a Native American Chief with his arms outstretched that measures 15 feet across. Some were life size horses.

Most of the pieces had Native American influence. He became friends and had a whole series of Daniel Long Soldier.

Dave is known for his historical accuracy, he said. A lot of the pieces have very distinctive details, and he was one of the only artists that painted on bronze.

The three Chief Washakie monuments, sculptures that meant so much to Dave, can be found in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol, the Wyoming State Capitol and the Joint Shoshone and Arapaho Complex in Fort Washakie.

John said their mom, Ruth, had been instrumental in Daves notoriety.

She had a good sense of business, and she was his mother. Thats all he needed.

We could never afford Daves sculptures, he said. We have fun stories of going into the art galleries where his pieces were. Weve had to prove our identity several times.

John said Dave was able to meet President Bush and attended Native American ceremonies because of his art.

According to an auction site, some of the pieces were sold for tens of thousands of dollars.

Mom had several of his pieces and after she passed, they stayed with Johns stepfather, Al. He passed away about a year ago and we received one of the bronze sculptures.

John and Janet have When Lightning Strikes. It was created in 1991 as a part of the Warrior Series.

Janet said Dave was a gentle man.

You can see his life in his work. I think that is true of a lot of artists. It progresses and changes, she said. He was quiet and sit back and watch things.

Janet said it was fun to have the sculpture.

Its fun to have something that your brother created, she said. There are so many details. You just keep looking and looking.
George Kaiser Family Foundation lessened its position in Primo Water Co. (NYSE:PRMW  Free Report) by 45.9% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 141,459 shares of the companys stock after selling 120,254 shares during the period. George Kaiser Family Foundations holdings in Primo Water were worth $1,774,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Thematics Asset Management increased its stake in Primo Water by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter. Thematics Asset Management now owns 643,442 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,069,000 after buying an additional 40,000 shares during the period. Credit Suisse AG increased its stake in Primo Water by 30.0% in the 2nd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 188,587 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,365,000 after buying an additional 43,504 shares during the period. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its stake in Primo Water by 13.1% in the 2nd quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 44,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $557,000 after buying an additional 5,140 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its stake in Primo Water by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 175,090 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,194,000 after buying an additional 939 shares during the period. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in Primo Water in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,239,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.87% of the companys stock.

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Primo Water Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of PRMW traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $14.36. 119,886 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 945,445. Primo Water Co. has a twelve month low of $12.27 and a twelve month high of $16.47. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $13.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The stock has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.06.

Primo Water Dividend Announcement

Primo Water ( NYSE:PRMW Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.06. Primo Water had a net margin of 5.14% and a return on equity of 9.32%. The business had revenue of $622.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $626.31 million. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Primo Water Co. will post 0.8 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 21st will be paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 20th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.23%. Primo Waters payout ratio is presently 43.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PRMW has been the topic of several analyst reports. TD Securities increased their price target on shares of Primo Water from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. CIBC upgraded shares of Primo Water from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the stock from $17.50 to $20.00 in a research note on Friday, November 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Primo Water from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Primo Water from $20.00 to $18.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $20.00.

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Primo Water Company Profile

(Free Report)

Primo Water Corporation provides pure-play water solutions for residential and commercial customers. It offers bottled water, water dispensers, purified bottled water, self-service refill drinking water, premium spring, mineral water, sparkling and flavored water, filtration equipment, and coffee. The company offers its products under the Primo, Alhambra, Crystal Rock, Mountain Valley, Deep Rock, Hinckley Springs, Crystal Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mount Olympus, Pureflo, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, and Renu brands in the United States; Canadian Springs, Labrador Source, and Amazon Springs brands in Canada; and Decantae, Eden, Eden Springs, Chateaud'eau, and Mey Eden brands in Europe and Israel.

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Dollarama (TSE:DOL  Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by Royal Bank of Canada from C$105.00 to C$113.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective points to a potential upside of 15.92% from the companys previous close.

DOL has been the subject of several other research reports. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Dollarama from C$95.00 to C$105.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price objective on shares of Dollarama from C$85.00 to C$94.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Desjardins set a C$93.00 target price on shares of Dollarama and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. National Bankshares set a C$104.00 target price on shares of Dollarama and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, September 28th. Finally, TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Dollarama from C$94.00 to C$105.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, September 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$98.21.

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Dollarama Stock Performance

Shares of DOL traded up C$0.08 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching C$97.48. The stock had a trading volume of 206,975 shares, compared to its average volume of 555,246. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$95.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$89.99. Dollarama has a one year low of C$74.36 and a one year high of C$100.40. The firm has a market cap of C$27.55 billion, a PE ratio of 31.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2,100.92.

Dollarama (TSE:DOL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, September 13th. The company reported C$0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$0.77 by C$0.09. Dollarama had a net margin of 16.12% and a return on equity of 2,201.73%. The company had revenue of C$1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.40 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Dollarama will post 4.4598275 EPS for the current year.

About Dollarama

(Get Free Report)

Dollarama Inc operates a chain of dollar stores in Canada. Its stores offer general merchandise, consumables, and seasonal products. It also sells its products through online store. The company was formerly known as Dollarama Capital Corporation and changed its name to Dollarama Inc in September 2009.

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Secom Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SOMLY  Get Free Report) saw a large decrease in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,900 shares, a decrease of 81.2% from the October 31st total of 47,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 64,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Secom Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of SOMLY traded down $0.17 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $17.49. The companys stock had a trading volume of 18,991 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,693. The company has a fifty day moving average of $17.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.02. Secom has a twelve month low of $13.34 and a twelve month high of $18.39. The company has a market cap of $16.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.78 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a quick ratio of 2.64, a current ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02.

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Secom (OTCMKTS:SOMLY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 9th. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Secom had a return on equity of 7.62% and a net margin of 8.96%. The business had revenue of $1.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.93 billion.

About Secom

SECOM CO., LTD., together with its subsidiaries, provides security services in Japan and internationally. The company operates through Security Services, Fire Protection Services, Medical Services, Insurance Services, Geospatial Information Services, BPO and ICT Services, and Other Services. The Security Services segment offers static guard, armored car, merchandise, and other services, as well as online security systems.

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Shimano Inc. (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 149,400 shares, an increase of 226.9% from the October 31st total of 45,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 285,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Shimano Trading Down 1.0 %

OTCMKTS SMNNY traded down $0.15 on Wednesday, hitting $15.31. 66,237 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 102,031. The company has a market cap of $13.85 billion, a PE ratio of 15.51 and a beta of 0.54. Shimano has a 12 month low of $12.85 and a 12 month high of $18.65. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $14.28 and a 200-day moving average of $15.19.

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About Shimano

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Shimano Inc develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. Shimano Inc was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

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Invesco Bond Fund (NYSE:VBF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 23,700 shares, an increase of 152.1% from the October 31st total of 9,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 27,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.8 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Bond Fund by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 42,975 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $699,000 after acquiring an additional 834 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Bond Fund by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 54,614 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $842,000 after acquiring an additional 1,220 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Invesco Bond Fund by 13.3% in the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 12,796 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $208,000 after buying an additional 1,504 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in Invesco Bond Fund by 108.3% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,228 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 1,678 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in Invesco Bond Fund by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 53,492 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $796,000 after buying an additional 1,896 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.09% of the companys stock.

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Invesco Bond Fund Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VBF traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $15.18. 29,351 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 28,495. The companys fifty day moving average is $14.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.74. Invesco Bond Fund has a fifty-two week low of $13.68 and a fifty-two week high of $16.96.

Invesco Bond Fund Increases Dividend

Invesco Bond Fund Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.0679 per share. This is a positive change from Invesco Bond Funds previous monthly dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $0.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.37%.

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Bond Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Hong Kong Limited, INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc, and Invesco Canada Ltd.

Further Reading

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Sophos Group (OTCMKTS:SPHHF  Get Free Report) and Amadeus IT Group (OTCMKTS:AMADY  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and risk.

Risk & Volatility

Sophos Group has a beta of 0.53, meaning that its share price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Amadeus IT Group has a beta of 1.21, meaning that its share price is 21% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Profitability

This table compares Sophos Group and Amadeus IT Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sophos Group N/A N/A N/A Amadeus IT Group 17.54% 20.44% 8.27%

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sophos Group 0 0 0 0 N/A Amadeus IT Group 0 1 0 1 3.00

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Sophos Group and Amadeus IT Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Sophos Group and Amadeus IT Groups gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Sophos Group $710.60 million 4.61 $26.90 million $0.14 50.00 Amadeus IT Group $4.73 billion N/A $700.33 million $2.02 34.59

Amadeus IT Group has higher revenue and earnings than Sophos Group. Amadeus IT Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sophos Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Amadeus IT Group beats Sophos Group on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Sophos Group

(Get Free Report)

Sophos Group plc, through its subsidiaries, provides cloud-enabled end-user and network security solutions. The company offers XG Firewall, a next-generation firewall protection for network, users, and applications from new control center; SG UTM, a user interface to protect network and users; Secure Wi-Fi, a wireless access point; Secure Web Gateway for Web security; Secure Email Gateway solutions; and Phish Threat, an email phishing test simulation and training product. It also provides Endpoint Protection, a security solution for users and data; Intercept X, an endpoint security solution; Sophos Mobile, an enterprise mobility management solution; SafeGuard Encryption solution; Server Protection solution; Sophos Home, a protection solution for home computers; and Sophos Central, a synchronized security management solution. In addition, the company offers OEM solutions; professional services; SophosLabs, a threat research and intelligence center; and Public Cloud, a cloud computing solution to provide and deploy IT infrastructure, such as networks, compute capacity, storage, and databases. It serves education, healthcare, retail, finance, and banking industries, as well as governments and public sectors in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. Sophos Group plc was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Abingdon, the United Kingdom.

About Amadeus IT Group

(Get Free Report)

Amadeus IT Group, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a transaction processor for the travel and tourism industry worldwide. The company operates through three segments, Air Distribution, Air IT Solutions, and Hospitality & Other Solutions. The company acts as an international network providing real-time search, pricing, booking, and ticketing services. It also offers travel providers a portfolio of technology solutions, which automate certain mission-critical business processes, such as reservations, inventory management, and departure control. In addition, the company is involved in the provision of software development and definition, software distribution, regional support, data processing, intermediation, computer consulting, installation of industrial machinery and equipment, technology development services for payments, and information technology services; financial activities; and e-commerce business. It serves providers of travel products and services, such as airlines, airports, hotels, tour operators, insurance companies, road and sea transport companies, travel sellers and brokers, travel buyers, and ground handlers. The company was formerly known as Amadeus IT Holding, S.A. and changed its name to Amadeus IT Group, S.A. in August 2016. Amadeus IT Group, S.A. was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

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SSAB AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SSAAY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 600 shares, a drop of 79.3% from the October 31st total of 2,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Barclays raised shares of SSAB AB (publ) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $65.67.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on SSAB AB (publ)

SSAB AB (publ) Trading Down 1.3 %

SSAB AB (publ) stock traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $3.73. The stock had a trading volume of 826 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,765. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. SSAB AB has a 52-week low of $2.51 and a 52-week high of $3.97. The firm has a market cap of $7.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.45 and a beta of 1.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $2.94 and a 200 day moving average of $3.12.

SSAB AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SSAAY  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 25th. The basic materials company reported $0.16 earnings per share for the quarter. SSAB AB (publ) had a negative net margin of 15.07% and a positive return on equity of 20.59%. The company had revenue of $2.71 billion for the quarter. On average, analysts anticipate that SSAB AB will post 0.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

SSAB AB (publ) Company Profile

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SSAB AB (publ) produces and sells steel products in Sweden, Finland, Rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. It operates through five segments: SSAB Special Steels, SSAB Europe, SSAB Americas, Tibnor, and Ruukki Construction. The SSAB Special Steels segment offers quenched and tempered steels, and advanced high-strength steel products.

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Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report) had its price target boosted by investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $200.00 to $235.00 in a research note issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus price target points to a potential upside of 25.21% from the companys previous close.

A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on SNOW. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Snowflake in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a sell rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Snowflake from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of Snowflake in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They set a buy rating and a $200.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Snowflake from $190.00 to $210.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, HSBC initiated coverage on shares of Snowflake in a research report on Friday, September 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $201.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $195.91.

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Snowflake Stock Performance

NYSE SNOW traded up $12.36 during trading on Thursday, reaching $187.68. The companys stock had a trading volume of 22,473,939 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,397,881. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $155.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $163.76. Snowflake has a twelve month low of $119.27 and a twelve month high of $193.94. The firm has a market cap of $61.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -70.47 and a beta of 0.77.

Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 29th. The company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.16 by $0.09. Snowflake had a negative net margin of 35.22% and a negative return on equity of 14.07%. The firm had revenue of $734.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $713.75 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.60) earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 31.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Snowflake will post -1.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Snowflake

In other news, SVP Grzegorz Czajkowski sold 694 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $166.27, for a total value of $115,391.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 54,701 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,095,135.27. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Frank Slootman sold 1,311 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.07, for a total value of $222,961.77. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 182,913 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $31,108,013.91. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Grzegorz Czajkowski sold 694 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $166.27, for a total value of $115,391.38. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 54,701 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,095,135.27. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 92,438 shares of company stock valued at $14,858,680. 8.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Snowflake

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Global Trust Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Snowflake by 7,500.0% during the 2nd quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC now owns 152 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Snowflake by 270.0% during the third quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC now owns 185 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 135 shares in the last quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Snowflake by 333.3% in the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 130 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Provence Wealth Management Group acquired a new position in shares of Snowflake in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. grew its position in Snowflake by 54.1% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 205 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.74% of the companys stock.

Snowflake Company Profile

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Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products.

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Johnson Controls International (NYSE:JCI  Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on JCI. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Johnson Controls International from $67.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Citigroup cut their target price on Johnson Controls International from $68.00 to $58.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Johnson Controls International from $68.00 to $67.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on Johnson Controls International from $78.00 to $66.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 23rd. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on Johnson Controls International from $80.00 to $74.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 10th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $68.08.

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Johnson Controls International Price Performance

Insider Transactions at Johnson Controls International

NYSE:JCI traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $52.77. 3,402,152 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,947,904. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.80. Johnson Controls International has a 1-year low of $47.90 and a 1-year high of $70.43. The company has a market capitalization of $35.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.65, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.27. The business has a 50 day moving average of $51.66 and a 200 day moving average of $59.06.

In other Johnson Controls International news, CEO George Oliver sold 103,332 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.37, for a total value of $5,411,496.84. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 979,759 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,309,978.83. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Johnson Controls International

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 28,325,223 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,940,388,000 after purchasing an additional 156,951 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson Controls International by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 13,063,227 shares of the companys stock worth $695,094,000 after buying an additional 588,724 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,489,830 shares of the companys stock worth $848,460,000 after buying an additional 248,016 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Johnson Controls International by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 12,014,670 shares of the companys stock worth $818,834,000 after buying an additional 680,073 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of Johnson Controls International by 40.7% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,990,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $639,398,000 after acquiring an additional 2,890,395 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.64% of the companys stock.

About Johnson Controls International

(Get Free Report)

Johnson Controls International plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in engineering, manufacturing, commissioning, and retrofitting building products and systems in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates in four segments: Building Solutions North America, Building Solutions EMEA/LA, Building Solutions Asia Pacific, and Global Products.

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Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on NBR. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Nabors Industries from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Nabors Industries from $175.00 to $165.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 30th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Nabors Industries from $112.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Nabors Industries currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $140.00.

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Nabors Industries Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of NBR traded down $1.20 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $88.27. 214,845 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 230,860. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $107.04. Nabors Industries has a 12-month low of $83.05 and a 12-month high of $190.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 1.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.56. The firm has a market cap of $835.48 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.55 and a beta of 2.76.

Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 25th. The oil and gas company reported ($5.40) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.20) by ($5.20). The firm had revenue of $744.14 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $757.64 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 18.63% and a negative net margin of 2.35%. Sell-side analysts expect that Nabors Industries will post -10.03 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Nabors Industries news, Director John P. Kotts sold 4,975 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.13, for a total transaction of $622,521.75. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 4,787 shares in the company, valued at $598,997.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 7.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nabors Industries

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Nabors Industries in the second quarter valued at approximately $173,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Nabors Industries during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. US Bancorp DE increased its position in Nabors Industries by 165.9% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 226 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new stake in Nabors Industries in the first quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Nabors Industries by 132.2% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 281 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.39% of the companys stock.

About Nabors Industries

(Get Free Report)

Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells in the United States and internationally. The company operates through U.S. Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software.

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After a short, sourful season in 2022, Southern Montana beet farmers expect to be back making sugar into mid-February.

Western Sugar Cooperative farmers produced enough beets this year to keep their Billings factory running probably until Valentines Day.

Farmers feeding the facility produced about 34 tons of sugar beets per acre in 2023, said Brett Needens. The cooperative vice president farms in the Hardin area.

We pretty much try to get, based on our historical averages, enough planted to run the factory from the first week of September to the second week of February every year, Needens said.

Western is a five-state cooperative with farms and factories from Montana to Colorado. Its sugar is branded as GW, though the company also bags sugar for several store brands and produces feed pellets for livestock.

Working in the farmers favor this year was a wet growing season. June through August, Billings received 8.2 inches of rain, making it the fourth wettest summer on record, according to National Weather Service data. There were fewer 100-degree days, as well.

Spring was a little too wet. Farmers fought a leaf spotting fungus known as Cercospora in the unusual wet start to summer. Cercospora is leaf-spotting condition that could have harmed production. There were too many days with humidity around 25%, which is rough on the plants, Needens said.

The sugar content of the beets was about 17% to 18%, which is average, but beet impurities were significantly lower than normal. No one is sure exactly why.

Thats the $1 million question, maybe the $10 million question, Needens said of the impurities.

The 2023 crop was better than the previous year, when cold temperatures and late spring snow delayed planting to the point that the harvest wasnt big enough to keep the factory running beyond January.

Although conditions were favorable for Western Sugar this season, Montana planted about half as many sugar beets as it had previously.

American Crystal Sugars decision in February to close its factory in Sidney nearly cut in half the states typical 45,000-acre beet crop. The closure cost the community more than a hundred seasonal jobs. American Crystal said it had become difficult to get enough farmers to commit to raising beets, at least as many acres as were necessary to keep the factory running.

There are 23,470 sugar beet acres planted in 2023, Farm Service Agency data shows, all sown by Wester Sugar Cooperative farmers. Sugar beets were more than $100 million a year industry in Montana when two sugar factories operated.
Tavistock Investments Plc (LON:TAVI  Get Free Report)s stock price crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 4.91 ($0.06) and traded as low as GBX 4.25 ($0.05). Tavistock Investments shares last traded at GBX 4.38 ($0.06), with a volume of 722,226 shares changing hands.

Tavistock Investments Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of 24.52 million, a P/E ratio of -462.50 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.88, a quick ratio of 3.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.51. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 4.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 5.87.

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Tavistock Investments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 30th will be issued a GBX 0.07 ($0.00) dividend. This represents a yield of 1.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, November 30th.

About Tavistock Investments

Tavistock Investments Plc provides investment management and advisory support services to a network of financial advisers in the United Kingdom. The company offers investment planning, financial planning, pension and retirement planning, estate and legacy planning, protection and insurance, will writing, bereavement notification, employee benefits, protects families from financial difficulty, finance for homes and mortgages, financial management, financial planning, and tax saving services.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX  Free Report) by 0.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,706,305 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after purchasing an additional 28,387 shares during the period. TJX Companies accounts for 1.1% of 1832 Asset Management L.P.s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. 1832 Asset Management L.P. owned approximately 0.58% of TJX Companies worth $568,628,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of TJX. ZRC Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in TJX Companies during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the second quarter valued at $25,000. Steward Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of TJX Companies during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of TJX Companies in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Finally, ICA Group Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in TJX Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.28% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 35,907 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.29, for a total transaction of $3,206,136.03. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 595,191 shares in the company, valued at approximately $53,144,604.39. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

TJX Companies Price Performance

TJX traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $88.07. The company had a trading volume of 1,461,402 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,019,217. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $72.92 and a twelve month high of $93.78. The company has a market capitalization of $100.76 billion, a PE ratio of 25.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $89.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $86.36.

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 15th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $13.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.09 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.85% and a return on equity of 62.67%. TJX Companiess revenue was up 9.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.86 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TJX Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 15th will be given a dividend of $0.3325 per share. This represents a $1.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 14th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is 37.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on TJX Companies from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on TJX Companies from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on TJX Companies from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 17th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Thursday, October 5th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $98.11.

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TJX Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise.

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Toyota Industries Co. (OTCMKTS:TYIDY  Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a drop of 80.0% from the October 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 4,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Toyota Industries Stock Down 3.4 %

Shares of TYIDY stock traded down $3.07 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $85.89. The stock had a trading volume of 5,769 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,785. Toyota Industries has a fifty-two week low of $50.16 and a fifty-two week high of $88.96. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $77.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.66.

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Toyota Industries Company Profile

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Toyota Industries Corporation manufactures and sells textile machinery, materials handling equipment, automobiles, and automobile parts in Japan and internationally. The company operates through Automobile, Materials Handling Equipment, and Textile Machinery segments. It provides vehicles; gasoline and diesel engines for automobiles and industrial equipment; turbochargers and foundry parts; car air-conditioning compressors; car electronics comprising DC-DC converters, rear inverters, on-board chargers, DC-AC inverters, and charging and discharging systems; batteries; and stamping dies, including automotive and lift truck stamping dies.

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1832 Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER  Free Report) by 58.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,027,866 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock after buying an additional 2,230,848 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. owned 0.29% of Uber Technologies worth $260,223,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. American Century Companies Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Uber Technologies by 28.7% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 23,045 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $822,000 after buying an additional 5,142 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Uber Technologies in the first quarter valued at $3,359,000. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Uber Technologies by 29.3% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 22,650 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock valued at $808,000 after purchasing an additional 5,134 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Uber Technologies by 11.7% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 26,298 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $938,000 after buying an additional 2,756 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Uber Technologies by 17.3% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,144,337 shares of the ride-sharing companys stock worth $40,838,000 after buying an additional 168,475 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.07% of the companys stock.

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Uber Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:UBER traded down $0.57 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $55.83. The stock had a trading volume of 9,993,132 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,412,012. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $47.70 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $114.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 114.08 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.14. Uber Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $23.90 and a 1-year high of $57.13.

Insider Buying and Selling

Uber Technologies ( NYSE:UBER Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, November 7th. The ride-sharing company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.13 by ($0.03). Uber Technologies had a net margin of 2.93% and a return on equity of 11.74%. The business had revenue of $9.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.47 billion. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Uber Technologies, Inc. will post 0.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 100,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.84, for a total value of $5,284,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,016,243 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $53,698,280.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Jill Hazelbaker sold 18,850 shares of Uber Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.01, for a total transaction of $999,238.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 109,009 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,778,567.09. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.84, for a total transaction of $5,284,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,016,243 shares in the company, valued at $53,698,280.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 187,616 shares of company stock valued at $9,747,789 over the last 90 days. 3.84% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently weighed in on UBER shares. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Uber Technologies from $60.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. JMP Securities raised their price objective on Uber Technologies from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. KeyCorp raised Uber Technologies from a sector weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $60.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $59.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 8th. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Uber Technologies from $48.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Thirty equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Uber Technologies has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $56.72.

View Our Latest Analysis on UBER

Uber Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Uber Technologies, Inc develops and operates proprietary technology applications in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia excluding China and Southeast Asia. It operates through three segments: Mobility, Delivery, and Freight. The Mobility segment connects consumers with a range of transportation modalities, such as ridesharing, carsharing, micromobility, rentals, public transit, taxis, and other modalities; and offers riders in a variety of vehicle types, as well as financial partnerships products and advertising services.

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Wallace Capital Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 8.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,306 shares of the companys stock after selling 200 shares during the quarter. Wallace Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,081,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Silicon Valley Capital Partners acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Laffer Tengler Investments acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter worth about $33,000. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 156.4% in the first quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 100 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 50.4% during the 1st quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 179 shares of the companys stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the period. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

LLY has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $408.00 to $615.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. UBS Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $710.00 price objective (up previously from $612.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Friday, October 20th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $559.08.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $571.41, for a total transaction of $119,996,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,983,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,131,748,872.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $571.41, for a total value of $119,996,100.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 99,983,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $57,131,748,872.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 426,818 shares of company stock valued at $251,226,782 over the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:LLY traded down $0.17 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $591.69. The stock had a trading volume of 1,001,325 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,063,495. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $579.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $518.51. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $309.20 and a 12 month high of $629.97. The company has a market cap of $561.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 106.75, a PEG ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.33.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 2nd. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $0.18. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.55% and a return on equity of 48.12%. The firm had revenue of $9.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.88 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 15th will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 14th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.76%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.88%.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes.

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Shares of WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEARCA:DXJ  Get Free Report) crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $88.42 and traded as high as $91.52. WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund shares last traded at $91.27, with a volume of 754,477 shares changing hands.

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund Trading Down 0.4 %

The firm has a market cap of $2.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.60 and a beta of 0.65. The stocks fifty day moving average is $88.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.74.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 1.1% during the second quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 11,608 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $966,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,404 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,095,000 after buying an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Next Level Private LLC lifted its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. Next Level Private LLC now owns 15,897 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,295,000 after buying an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC boosted its stake in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 3.3% in the first quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 4,788 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $339,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Snowden Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund by 3.7% during the first quarter. Snowden Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,722 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $334,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter.

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund Company Profile

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that closely correspond to the price and yield performance of the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Index (the Index). The Index is designed to provide exposure to Japanese equity markets while at the same time neutralizing exposure to fluctuations of the Japanese Yen movements relative to the United States dollar.

Further Reading

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For Yellowstone National Parks 27 rustic backcountry cabins  the oldest dating back to 1912  Michael Curtis is the keeper of the keys.

As the backcountry district ranger for Yellowstone, hes visited all but two of the cabins in his Park Service career.

I wouldnt say I have a favorite, Curtis said when questioned about the cabins. Each one has its redeemable qualities depending on what youre doing.

After a long day in the woods, when you may be cold and wet, as a blizzard or thunderstorm rages outside, its hard to beat the comfort of a cabin warmed by a wood stove, he said.

Theres a lot to be said for that shelter from the storm. It really makes life more bearable.

Army

The parks first backcountry cabins were built by U.S. Army soldiers, according to Yellowstone historian Alicia Murphy. The shelters were spaced about a days snowshoe or ski trip apart  roughly 12 to 16 miles. The outposts were used by the Army to patrol the park boundary in search of poachers.

These soldiers were nicknamed the snowshoe cavalry.

Several sub-stations were put out in remote parts of the reserve, in which a detail, usually consisting of a Sergeant and two privates, passed the entire winter season, their rations and supplies being taken in during the open season, E. Hough reported for the Chicago Tribune in an 1894 article. The life of these men during the long months of snowy solitude could hardly be called enviable.

Because the shelters were often quickly constructed, many have succumbed to the rigors of the parks harsh weather and deteriorated, Murphy said.

One of the last cabins built by the Army is not far from West Yellowstone. Army scout Raymond Little helped erect the South Riverside Cabin, about 2 miles from the West Entrance, Murphy said. The Park Service has his records of the work.

Everything from wood stoves to windows and cupboards would be packed in for the structures, Murphy said. Locally sourced stone would sometimes be used for foundations and chimneys.

She referred to the construction as a product of ingenuity, with each one built without hard set rules and an understanding of whatever would work.

The Fox Creek Cabin, on Yellowstones southern boundary, stands apart, as its logs were notched at the ends using dovetail joints, Curtis said. Most others were saddle notched. The inside of the Fox Cabin logs were also hewn down to be flat instead of rounded, a considerable amount of hand work.

Although it is one of the smallest cabins, Curtis said Fox Creek will see as many as 30 nights of use from patrol crews, trail crews and bear management workers.

New rules

When the Park Service was created in 1916, the agencys leaders recognized the utility of the remote structures and expanded on them.

Harry Trischman, who was a civilian packer for the Army in 1907, and later worked for the Park Service as a carpenter, is credited with building some of the parks log structures, referred to in his Park County News obituary as snowshoe cabins.

The backcountry cabins are really a neat part of Yellowstones history that people dont know about, Murphy said.

Later designs would have been dictated by the Park Service, Murphy said, many of which featured a covered porch extending off the roof.

Between the 1940s and 1960s there was a lull in cabin building, before a few more modern structures were built.

The longest Curtis has been stationed at one of the cabins was three weeks when he was a member of a trail crew. The four to six crew members would sleep in tents outside, using the cabin for cooking, storing food and shelter.

As late as the 1940s, however, he said rangers were posted in some of the cabins in the winter to ensure trappers werent crossing into the park. The Thorofare Cabin, deep in the most remote area of the park, has seen park workers stationed there from the end of July to mid-August, followed by a break before returning for the fall hunting season, Curtis said.

Unlike old Forest Service cabins, the Park Service's are not open to public use.

All of the cabins are stocked with canned food in case someone is facing an emergency, Murphy said. The Park Service has rules for how the structures are required to be left after use. In years past, that included hanging blankets from the rafters to keep them away from mice.

These days, however, Curtis said most of the cabins have been well enough maintained to avoid becoming mouse houses. In a pinch, a visitor can plug a mouse hole with steel wool.

The most modern convenience at some of the cabins is electric lights run off a battery. A solar charger keeps the battery powered up, mainly for radio communication. The lights were an amenity added to reduce the risk of fire from propane or gas lanterns.

Its pretty unique to go in and pull a cord or flip a switch and have lights, Curtis said, especially since users are often arriving in the dark or arising before the sun in the morning.

Old wood-fueled cooking ranges serve a dual purpose of heating the cabins while also providing a place to bake cakes, brownies and cornbread, Curtis said. Propane burners are an alternative to building a fire.

Animals

Although designed for park workers, the cabins also attract animal attention.

A lot of our cabins are scent posts for bears, Curtis said. Its not uncommon to have bears rubbing while you are in there.

Bruins will rub up against the logs to leave their scent as a message to other bears. Once, a bear fell through the roof of the Buffalo Plateau Cabin, tearing up the inside of the structure before leaving.

Bears will also sometimes chew on the log structures, Curtis added, as will porcupines.

Although he wont pick a favorite, Curtis did say the Cold Creek Cabin in the upper Lamar Valley has one of the best views, as does the one at Heart Lake, with Mount Sheridan forming a backdrop to the lake. The Hellroaring Cabin is well-placed to see the migrations of elk and bison back into the park in the spring.

One of the few cabins Murphy has visited, Lower Blacktail Cabin along the Yellowstone River, was destroyed in the history-making 2022 flood. She would like to visit Trail Creek Cabin, at the south end of the Southeast Arm of Yellowstone Lake, but she has to have a work reason to stay there.

We cant just use them for recreation, she said.

To see old photos of the cabins, log on to https://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/parkstructures/other/patrolcabins/Page.htm.
A Bismarck man on the state's Sex Offender Registry faces new charges accusing him of attempting to meet with an underage girl.

McKenzie Forsberg, 28, is charged with one count of luring minors by computer where the defendant is older than 22 and the victim is between the ages of 15 and 17. If convicted he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Forsberg was arrested Tuesday in the parking lot of a store in the 900 block of South 12th Street, where it is alleged he came to meet a 15-year-old girl for the purposes of having sex.

Authorities claim Forsberg began communicating with what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl in early November, according to an affidavit. Law enforcement took texted photos from Forsberg and matched them with photos on his driver's license and his entry on the state's Sex Offender Registry, according to an affidavit.

Messages from Forsberg to the profile included sexual content and talk about meeting for sex, as well as indications Forsberg knew such conduct is illegal, the affidavit states.

In 2015 Forsberg pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of corruption of a minor in a case in which authorities said he impregnated a 15-year-old girl. Part of his sentence included registering as a sexual offender. Court records indicate he served a total of about half a year in jail on that conviction.

A judge on Wednesday set Forsberg's bond at $10,000 cash. Court records do not indicate an attorney, nor do they indicate a next court appearance.
Yash Sadhak Shrivastava is an aspiring voice in the Journalistic forefront with experience in covering financial markets & geopolitics.
Rupak De is the Senior Research Analyst at LKP Securities. He is a CFA (ICFAI) and has total experience of more than 10 years in the analysis of equity and commodities.
The city of Mandan is once again recognizing businesses deemed the best at winter decorating and at clearing snow around their buildings this winter.

The city said the goal of the contests is to "improve Mandans sparkle, accessibility and pedestrian-friendliness during the cold season."

Unlike last year there are no money prizes. Winners of the Winter Decorating Award and the Golden Shovel Award will be able to display the traveling trophies and receive a special business feature on Made in Mandan social media.

More information and a nomination form is at cityofmandan.com/winterawards.
Sneha Mahale is an independent environment journalist. She is on Twitter @randomcards Views expressed are personal

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Jonathan Levin has worked as a Bloomberg journalist in Latin America and the U.S., covering finance, markets and M&A. Most recently, he has served as the company's Miami bureau chief. He is a CFA charterholder.
Cattle anthrax has been confirmed again in Grant County, the 20th case there since late July.

The new case brings the total this fall to 25 in Grant, Hettinger and Adams counties, which neighbor one another in southwestern North Dakota. The impacted operations have lost a total of about 170 cattle, according to State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress.

The new case was confirmed by the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fargo. It's the first confirmed case in the state since August.

Anthrax bacteria spores lie dormant in the soil and become active under extreme weather conditions such as drought or flooding. Cattle get sick when they ingest the spores.

The case shows how anthrax spores can remain in an environment for a long period of time, Andress said. There is a vaccine and many producers in the affected area worked with veterinarians to administer vaccinations earlier this year.

State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said it's unusual to see anthrax this late in the year, but "producers should remember that occasionally cases can be seen, especially when mild weather allows cattle to remain out on pasture.

Mild weather has been present in the state the past few weeks, with balmy temperatures and little precipitation. The warm weather has reduced the snowpack in the Upper Midwest from October snowfall from 66.3% covered to 3.1% covered, according to this week's U.S. Drought Monitor map, released Thursday.

This fall's anthrax outbreak is the worst since 2005, when there were 109 cases statewide. From 2006-22, there were 18 total cases.

More information about anthrax and a map of current and past cases are available on North Dakota Department of Agriculture website at www.ndda.nd.gov/diseases/anthrax.
A Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcase is set at the Bismarck Event Center late this week.

The showcase featuring products carrying the state's Pride of Dakota brand is open from 12-8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission, shopping bags, and parking in lots C and D are free. Shoppers should enter the facility through Door E42 on the west side of the Exhibit Hall (facing Fifth Street).

This years Holiday Showcase features more than 190 companies offering unique, North Dakota-made products, state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. Shoppers will find thousands of products to choose from, including gourmet food, wine and spirits, books, jewelry, apparel, personal care, pottery, quilting, photography and framed art, children's items and more.

A complete list of participating companies at the Bismarck showcase is available at https://bit.ly/3RjcpjF.

The event also will include a Santa who will be available for visiting and photos. Santas hours are 1-7 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Goehring said retail store workers are invited to attend the showcase.

This is a great opportunity to purchase a few items to try in your store before establishing a wholesale order," he said.

About 530 North Dakota companies are Pride of Dakota members. More information is at www.prideofdakota.nd.gov. The Bismarck showcase brings to a close a series of showcases around the state. Showcases previously were held in Dickinson, Minot, Grand Forks and Fargo.
Charles (Charlie) Thomas Munger, an American businessman, a legend of the investing world, philanthropist, and vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, died on 28th November at the age of 99. Warren Buffet, who controlled the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, described Mr Munger as his closest partner and right-hand man.

In a statement following Mr Munger's death, Mr Buffett said, "Berkshire Hathaway could not have been built to its present status without Charlie's inspiration, wisdom and participation.

Mr Munger served as chairman of Wesco Financial Corporation from 1984 through 2011. He was also chairman of the Daily Journal Corporation, based in Los Angeles, California, and a director of Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Mr Munger was critical of cryptocurrencies, referring to Bitcoin in particular as noxious poison. He also compared the crypto platform Robinhood to gambling, saying that its success is due to people who know how to take advantage essentially of the gambling instincts of not only the American public but the worldwide public. According to him, individual investments without commission is tantamount to gambling.

After joining law firm Wright & Garrett, Mr Munger moved with his family to California. In 1962, he founded and worked as a real estate attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. He then gave up the practice of law to concentrate on managing investments and later partnered with Otis Booth in real estate development.

When he met Mr Buffett over lunch at the Omaha Club, the two began talking about investments and never stopped. Mr Munger then partnered with Jack Wheeler to form Wheeler, Munger, and Company, an investment firm with a seat on the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange. In 1976, he wound up Wheeler, Munger, and Co after losses of 32% in 1973 and 31% in 1974.

Though Mr Munger had no formal architectural training, he contributed heavily to numerous building designs, including dormitories at Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and his current home.

In his 50s, after a failed eye cataract surgery that rendered his left eye blind, Mr Munger had his left eye removed due to severe pain. When doctors told him that he had developed a condition that may cause his remaining eye to fill up with blood and become blind too, Mr Munger started taking braille lessons. The eye condition eventually receded and he kept eyesight in his right eye for the rest of his life.

At the time of his death, according to Forbes, Mr Munger had an estimated net worth of US$2.6bn (billion) and was ranked as the 1182nd richest person in the world.

Like Mr Buffett, his partner Mr Munger is also known for his famous quotable quotes. Here are some of them.

On Life

"Another thing, of course, is life will have terrible blows, horrible blows, unfair blows. Doesn't matter. And some people recover and others don't. And there I think the attitude of Epictetus is the best. He thought that every mischance in life was an opportunity to behave well. Every mischance in life was an opportunity to learn something and your duty was not to be submerged in self-pity, but to utilize the terrible blow in a constructive fashion. That is a very good idea."  2007 USC Law School Commencement Address

"In my whole life, I have known no wise people (over a broad subject matter area) who didn't read all the time  none, zero. You'd be amazed at how much Warren reads  and at how much I read. My children laugh at me. They think I'm a book with a couple of legs sticking out."  Poor Charlie's Almanack

"I constantly see people rise in life who are not the smartest, sometimes not even the most diligent, but they are learning machines. They go to bed every night a little wiser than when they got up and boy does that help  particularly when you have a long run ahead of you."  2007 USC Law School Commencement Address

"I spent a lifetime trying to avoid my own mental biases. A.) I rub my own nose into my own mistakes. B.) I try and keep it simple and fundamental as much as I can. And, I like the engineering concept of a margin of safety. I'm a very blocking and tackling kind of thinker. I just try to avoid being stupid. I have a way of handling a lot of problems  I put them in what I call my 'too hard pile,' and just leave them there. I'm not trying to succeed in my 'too hard pile.'  2020 CalTech Distinguished Alumni Award interview

I have a friend whos a fisherman. He says, I have a simple rule for success in fishing. Fish where the fish are. You want to fish where the bargains are. That simple. If the fishing is really lousy where you are you should probably look for another place to fish. 2020 Daily Journal Annual Meeting

There is no better teacher than history in determining the future... There are answers worth billions of dollars in 30$ history book.

 Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger

"You get what you reward for. If you have a dumb incentive system, you get dumb outcomes. Perhaps the most important rule in management is 'Get the incentive right'". - Berkshire Hathaway, at the 2016 Annual Meeting.

On Investing

Weve had enough good sense when something is working very well to keep doing it. Id say were demonstrating what might be called the fundamental algorithm of life  repeat what works.  2010 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting

It takes character to sit with all that cash and to do nothing. I didnt get to be where I am by going after mediocre opportunities.  Poor Charlie's Almanack

Understanding both the power of compound interest and the difficulty of getting it is the heart and soul of understanding a lot of things.  Poor Charlie's Almanack

If people weren't so often wrong, we wouldn't be so rich, - 2015 Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting.

There are huge advantages for an individual to get into a position where you make a few great investments and just sit on your ass: You are paying less to brokers. You are listening to less nonsense. And if it works, the governmental tax system gives you an extra 1, 2 or 3 percentage points per annum compounded.  Worldly Wisdom by Charlie Munger 1995-1998

"I think the reason why we got into such idiocy in investment management is best illustrated by a story that I tell about the guy who sold fishing tackle. I asked him, 'My God, they're purple and green. Do fish really take these lures?' And he said, 'Mister, I don't sell to fish.'"  1994 speech at USC Business School

On Crypto

"A cryptocurrency is not a currency, not a commodity, and not a security. Instead, its a gambling contract with a nearly 100% edge for the house, entered into in a country where gambling contracts are traditionally regulated only by states that compete in laxity."  2023 Wall Street Journal op-ed
Above left is the "Isleworth Mona Lisa," an oil painting of Lisa del Giocondo who was, of course, the subject of the iconic Mona Lisa portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. But who painted this less-familiar Lisa? That depends on who you ask. For more than a century, an array of art critics, dealers, and other experts have argued that the Isleworth Mona Lisa is also the handiwork of Leonardo, predating his archetypal Renaissance masterpiece (above right) that he completed c.1503.

The Isleworth Mona Lisa is currently on display in Turin where the Mona Lisa Foundation in Zurich is promoting it as the "earlier version of his most celebrated painting." In The Guardian, Jonathan Jones, author of A History of the Renaissance, calls bullshit:
HSBC is facing a 'hit' of more than 6.3bn (billion) as a result of unsecured commercial property loans in China, a UK-based tax consultant has warned, a media report said.

Payments and banking consultant Bob Lyddon branded the situation as a disaster, and warned of a 'financial contagion' risk which could have a knock-on effect on Britains economy, Express UK reported.

Earlier this month, HSBC had confirmed it was setting aside 910mn (million) to cover expected loan losses, including 412mn related to the commercial real-estate sector in Chinabut Lyddon said the actual picture was much worse, Express UK reported.

The founder of Lyddon Consulting Services outlined his concerns in an analysis specifically written for Express UK, urging the Bank not to underestimate the seriousness of the situation.

He said: "HSBC's stake in its Chinese bank - Hang Seng - looks overvalued by 3.3 billion given the benchmark set by Standard Chartered. Forty-two per cent of HSBC's commercial property loans into China are either sub-standard or credit-impaired: 4.6 billion out of 11 billion. That's a disaster.

"The equivalent figures just for Hong Kong are 63 per cent, and 3.8 billion out of 6 billion. That's a catastrophe," Express UK reported.

Even worse, 3bn of this 3.8bn was not backed by real-estate security, Mr Lyddon stressed.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
On Thursday, 1898 stocks advanced, 1810 declined and 149 remained unchanged, with an advance decline ratio of 1.04 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), indicating positive closing of stocks in broader markets. The trend of the major indices on Thursdays trading is given in the table below.

On NSE, 165 securities advanced and closed at a new 52-week high whereas 15 securities sank to close at their new 52-week lows. In sectoral indices, Nifty PSU Bank, Nifty IT, Nifty Energy among the biggest losers. Nifty Pharma, Nifty Infrastructure and Nifty FMCG among the biggest gainers.

Vascon Engineers (+1.12%) has received approval for raising Rs125 by way of qualified institutions placement (QIP).

Tata Coffee (+0.22%) has received approval for the setting up of an additional 5500 Metric Tonnes (MT) Freeze-Dried Coffee facility in Vietnam.

Satin Creditcare Network (+0.76%) has received approval for issuance of 45,650 rated, unlisted, secured, senior, redeemable, taxable, transferable, non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of Rs45.65 crore on a private placement basis.

SJVN (+0.59%) has successfully synchronized the Second Unit of 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (NMHEP) with the National Grid.

Aurobindo Pharmas (+1.97%) wholly owned subsidiary -- Eugia Pharma Specialities has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Budesonide Inhalation Suspension.

Tata Teleservices (+1.87%) (Mahrashtra) led -- Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS) has collaborated with Truecaller, the leading global communications platform.

HCL Technologies (+0.45%) has collaborated with Roadzen, a leading AI-driven auto insurance technology company which deliver benefits to both auto insurance carriers as well as their customers.

Alipay Singapore Holding, an arm of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has divested its entire 3.44% stake in Zomato (+1.67%) for Rs3,337 crore through open market transactions.

Mahindra Logistics (-0.10%) has acquired majority stake in ZipZap Logistics, a last-mile logistics service provider operating under its brand Whizzard.

Man Infraconstructions (MICL) (+3.69%) Board has given its approval for a fund raising initiative of approximately amounting to Rs550 crore.

Dreamfolks Services (+0.97%) has collaborated with Grey Wall, one of the largest airport and lounge service aggregators in Russia.

Avenue Supermarts (+2.29%) director sold net 2,900 shares through open market. Hdfc Bank (-0.02%) insiders sold net 7,200 shares through open market. Jsw Energy (-1.57%) insiders sold net 110 shares through open market. Nrb Bearing (+2.85%) promoter bought net 3,868 shares through open market. Reliance Industries (-0.97%) insiders sold net 933 shares through open market. Updater Services (-0.89%) promoter bought net 22,600 shares through open market.

The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below:

The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below:
It's been 55 years since Virginia Slims declared, You Have Come a Long Way Baby, to entice women to smoke. This week, one wonders where we stand in the fight for gender equality. On the one hand, India can boast of two women presidents, a de facto and one de jure prime minister, a finance/defence minister, and number of self-made billionaire women, global and national chief executive officer (CEOs). Plus there are legally-mandated representations on corporate boards. On the other, the events at Raymond Ltd (Raymond) and the Murugappa group suggest that women have more mountains to climb before achieving true equality in the boardroom.

Completely Repugnant

Over the decades, Raymonds advertising tag lineThe Complete Manbuilt a powerfully positive image of a sophisticated company. This image has been systematically torn down, first by chairman and managing director (CMD) Gautam Singhanias war with his father, Vijaypat Singhania, a Padma Bhushan awardee, aviator and former chairman of the company. Mr Singhania (senior) is vocal about how he was thrown out of his home and his company and has poured his heartbreak and anguish in his autobiography, An Incomplete Life.

Even as the ugly father-son dispute was simmering down, an even more sordid scandal has erupted. Nawaz Modi Singhania, Gautams wife of 32 years, has accused her husband of violence against her and their daughter. Nawaz Singhania, a director on the Raymond board, also runs a fitness centre. Earlier this month, she posted videos on social media of how she was publicly humiliated by being prevented from attending Raymonds annual Diwali party for the staff, to which she was reportedly invited. On the very day the videos went viral, Gautam Singhania posted an announcement, also on social media, that he was splitting up from his wife.

Immediately thereafter, Ms Singhania gave media interviews about how she was hospitalised in September after facing domestic violence. She also staked a claim to 75% of the family assets for herself and their two daughters. These developments have caused Raymonds share price to slump by 18% so far and forced Gautam Singhania to reach out to the board and employees to reassure them that his personal issues would not affect the company which, he said, was thriving. It is unlikely that anyone was convinced.

What should be of more interest to investors is Ms Singhania's interview with Business Today in November. It raises concerns about the role of family members on corporate boards and their understanding of fiduciary responsibility. She was apparently told, dont ever open your mouth dont ask questions, don't make any comments. Why? Because you are just an angootha-chhaap for me. A finger print signatory. She claims to have remained deaf, dumb, mute on the board because Gautam Singhania insisted that she could not step down if you want me to support you and the kids.

While one sympathises with Ms Singhanias personal predicament, these remarks by the director of a company, with a market-capitalisation of over Rs10,000 crore, call into question whether family members as directors understand their role and fiduciary responsibility at all.

In the interview, Ms Singhania also explains her attempt to attend the Diwali party, while she was still recovering from injuries. She appears to believe that playing the perfect hostess and giving out awards was significant aspect of her duty, even though her estrangement from the CMD was known to corporate and media circles. It indicates worrying confusion about her spousal duty and her role as a director.

Having stood by her husbands actions for all these years, Ms Singhania now sees herself as a whistle-blower who is worried about the smallest shareholder and pensioner. She alleges that company funds are used wrongly for personal wrongdoing and that the authorities have been after him (Gautam Singhania) for a long time to find out the source of his income.

The proxy advisory service, Institutional Investor Advisory Services of India Limited, has raised these issues in a letter addressed to the independent directors of Raymond on 28th November. It has asked the directors to seek legal advice and safeguard the interests of the company and its stakeholders in, what threatens to be, an acrimonious public battle. Interestingly, it has asked that both Nawaz Modi and Gautam Singhania should be asked to take time off from their responsibilities as board members. The proxy firm has asked a lot of questions about brand image, and behaviour of company promoters and management which themselves raise more questions about whether proxy advisors will apply these standards to all the companies they track, or whether regulators need to step in. But that is the subject of another column.

Not Good Enough

While Nawaz Singhania consented to being a rubber-stamp director, the esteemed Murugappa group worked hard to exclude two highly educated women of the family from the board of directors and legally negotiated their removal from the promoter category. Tellingly, the stakeholders seem unconcerned, as is evident from the share prices of all Murugappa group entities. Each of their boards, with their mandatory women directors, has chosen to remain silent since 2017, happy to treat it as a family matter. The group has received no missives or advice from proxy advisors either. The silver lining is that the two Murugappa women, Dr Valli Arunachalam and her sister Vellachi Murugappam, appear to have secured a substantial financial settlement in exchange for being 'de-recognised' as part of the promoter group and denied board directorships.

As our columnist V Ranganathan wrote recently ( Read: Murugappa Group: Felicitous Finish to a Family Feud! ), this puts a quiet lid on a dispute that has been simmering since the death of MV Murugappan in 2017. Although details of the private settlement remain unknown, Mr Ranganathan notes that the family recently sold large blocks of shares in group companies to raise over Rs620 crore which may be part of the cash settlement with the two women members.

While the Murugappa family has mostly evaded public scandal, this case exposes gender inequality on corporate boards and questions the effectiveness of mandating board seats for women. Valli Arunachalam, who led the fight, holds a doctorate in nuclear engineering and is an advocate for women empowerment and girls' education. Unfortunately, this was a battle she lost.

Ironically, each group company complies with the legal requirement to have women independent directors. The Carborundum Universal board has Soundara Kumar; Tube Investments has Sasikala Varadachari  both former bankers  while Meghna Apparao and Rca Godbole serve on EID Parry's board. It begs the question: Why doesn't the Murugappan family view equally distinguished women within their family as board-worthy?

According to Prime Database, 10 years after amendment to the Companies Act, one out of five directors on Indian boards is a woman. Academic studies have confirmed the positive impact of legally-mandated gender diversity on Indian corporate boards. If that werent enough, Indias marketing companies have been quick to latch on to what The Guardian describes as hashtag feminism or femvertising, where cosmetics and jewellery companies essentially sell their products packaged in #empowerment themes just as Virginia Slims sold its cigarettes in the 1970s. Perhaps the Singhania and Murugappa cases will prompt deeper scrutiny into whether these are anomalies or warrant further examination.
On 15 October 2023, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) intimated to the stock exchanges about the closure of the investigation undertaken by the company, with regard to the allegations that emerged in June 2023 about a scandal in the resources management function (RMG).

When the matter first surfaced on 23 June 2023, it sent shock waves across business circles as connecting a major bribery scandal in the procurement of recruitment services to the iconic TCS brand was heresy, at the least!

The media estimated that bribes to the tune of Rs100 crore may have passed hands which the company denied vehemently.

The closure intimation is quite skeletal and states that 19 employees were identified for their involvement in the episode, 16 of whom had been removed from service.

A statement contained in the said communication, extracted below, is quite intriguing to a lay reader:

We would like to reiterate (i) that this does not involve any fraud by or against the Company and there is no financial impact; (ii) the issue relates to breach of Companys Code of Conduct by certain employees and vendors supplying contractors; and (iii) no key managerial person of the Company has been found to be involved.

The company has not shared the full investigation report in the public domain. Hence, it is not possible to fathom the extent of the problem and its exact nature.

But what puzzles an outsider is how an episode resulting in the wrongful behaviour of 19 employees (presumably officer-level personnel), which finally resulted in 16 of them being dismissed, is not in the nature of a fraud against the company and the connected assertion that there was no financial impact.

Allegedly, this was a case where some recruitment agents were favoured for a purported illegal gratification or benefit obtained by some employees. Typically, no businessman would pay a bribe if she did not benefit from the deal. The same should have been the case here.

It was either that the service-provider(s) obtained a higher fee, or got out-of-turn assignments or favours, or provided a substandard service for an approved level of fees or a combination of these. Or they billed for hands not supplied, a la the muster role scandal in Madras Corporation many years back!

In all the situations, the company would have lost in some manner. It is obvious that the company is viewing fraud in a narrow sense; that fraud is only when company funds are directly misappropriated or a crime is committed under the penal code.

Just for immediate reference, the definition of fraud under the Companies Act is given below.

Fraud in relation to affairs of a company or any body corporate, includes any act, omission, concealment of any fact or abuse of position committed by any person or any other person with the connivance in any manner, with intent to deceive, to gain undue advantage from, or to injure the interests of, the Company or its shareholders or its creditors or any other person, whether or not there is any wrongful gain or wrongful loss..."

A normal code of conduct violation is unlikely to have surfaced as a sensational scandal in the first place or taken a three-month effort of some professional agency to assess the extent of the transgressions.

To not belabour the point, it would appear that the company is shy to accept the extent of the problem, its lack of systems, checks, supervision and oversight and, most of all, owning up to the lapses at the higher levels of governance!

This is more of a preamble that such a lapse or governance gap is not just an isolated instance.

On 21 November 2023, in a disclosure to the exchanges, the company confirmed that its appeal before the US Supreme Court in the EPIC Systems Corporation case was rejected.

This is no epic of heroics for TCS!

Or something it would want to be remembered of any time after charging off the damages in its next quarters accounts!

The dispute with the electronic health records giant EPIC goes back to 2014. In a lawsuit filed nine years ago, EPIC alleged that TCS and its subsidiary Tata America International Corporation stole its intellectual property.

EPIC had originally secured a US$940mn (million) award against TCS from a Wisconsin federal jury in 2016 in what was one of the biggest trade secret verdicts in the US. The total damages included US$240mn in compensatory damages and US$700mn in punitive damages.

Since then, the state and the federal courts pruned those numbers down to US$280mn in total damages.

In August 2020, the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the punitive damages were 'constitutionally excessive' and recommended the district court pare it by half to US$140mn.

The company has confirmed that it will charge off the amount in the next quarter, thereby admitting finally its culpability. Maybe it could have worked out a compromise with the litigant and saved some worthy dollars in legal fees and with less publicity to the matter.

When caught on the wrong foot, the typical response of the senior management and the corporate boards is to litigate, irrespective of the merits of the case, to establish their bona fides. This is with the full knowledge that such litigation is expensive anywhere in the world, not to speak of the US, where it costs an arm and a leg!

Whereas owning up to a mistake and nipping the litigation in the bud is perceived as being cowardly and an admission of the guilt!

Hot on the heels of the EPIC saga, comes the lawsuit filed by DXC Technology, a company formed by the merger of Computer Science Corporation (CSC) with a division of Hewlett and Packards enterprise services business.

This case pertains to a lawsuit filed in 2019 alleging that the employees of TCS assigned to develop its BaNCS platform encountered difficulties devising a software solution for calculating a rate of return (ROR) in a particular insurance context.

The suit cites emails exchanged among the employees of TCS that they found the necessary solution in the Vantage software which was a proprietary CSC product.

Later, a TCS employee allegedly copied and pasted the actual Vantage source code pertaining to this calculation, and the resulting Vantage calculations, into an email and sent it to his TCS colleagues.

The jury has ordered payment of US$210mn as damages . TCS has issued a statement that it doesnt accept the jury verdict and would fight the matter in appeal.

While technically, TCS may contest this matter like it did the EPIC case, there is certainly enough cause for disquiet in all the three recent episodes mentioned in this article.

The general import in the communication that the company makes in such matters is that it is just business as usual. While it is illogical to expect that the company will list all its faults like a confessional statement, the lack of regret that such occurrences spoil the overall corporate image is patent.

Even the annual report will disclose little or no information on all these matters, except in carefully secreted notes either under contingent liabilities or in some unnoticeable corner.

No company shares in detail a post-mortem of such episodes and how the course correction would be undertaken to set right the systemic flaws and the fixing of the onus at the higher executive level.

It can only be speculated if the unstated reason for the sudden and surprise exit of its earlier chief executive officer (CEO) in May 2023 was, in some manner, related to one or more of these issues.

Keeping such developments under wraps is par for the course in India, where the promoters dominate the narrative in the board and the independent directors, who are liberally remunerated with a commission of Rs2.5 crore to Rs2.75 crore as in TCS, see no reason to cross swords!

TCS has an added onus to live up to the image of the Tata group that set much store by transparency and better corporate governance standards than a typical Indian corporation!
Italy is banning meat grown from cells and making it illegal to market plant-grown alternatives with meaty words such as steak and salami. Not every growth industry is welcome in Bel Paese.

'In defence of health, of the Italian production system, of thousands of jobs, of our culture and tradition, with the law approved today, Italy is the first nation in the world to be safe from the social and economic risks of synthetic food,' Italy's minister of agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, announced on Facebook on 16 November. The measure also prohibits the use of meat-related terms, like 'salami' or 'steak', for plant-based meat substitutes.

Cultivated meat, or "shmeat" as it has been mouthwateringly referred to, is gearing up for mass production. It has faced production hurdles, and plant-based alternatives may have already saturated the market for cruelty-free foods. I doubt the Italian economy will issue enough 10,000-60,000 fines to shore up its farmers.
In a behind-closed-doors session, Russia's Supreme Court has banned "the international LGBT public movement." For years, Russia's LBGTQA+ community has been increasingly targeted by the Russian conservative majority. Putin's government embraces "traditional family values" farce that permits much bigotry, and MPs are slathering at the mouth to take this further.

BBC:

At the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, Vitaly Milonov, a famously homophobic MP from the ruling party, United Russia, said the ban on LGBT groups was "not about sexual minorities or the private life of individuals".

"It's more about the political agenda proclaimed by this LGBT international movement," he told me.

"They have their own tasks, their own goals. They act as a political force, a political structure and the goals of this structure contravene the Russian Constitution."

"You talk about a political structure," I responded. "But there isn't a movement called the 'International LGBT public movement.' How can you ban something that doesn't exist?"

"Oh, it's easy," Mr Milonov replied. "We can ban any activities from LGBT international organisations here in Russia. That's nice. We don't need them.

"And I'm looking forward to the next step: banning the six-colour rainbow flag. We don't need this flag. It's a symbol of the fight with the traditional family. I hope that no-one can show this flag in Russia."
Reporter

Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post.
We have an unexpected cinematic stunner from "Maestro," in which Bradley Cooper directs himself playing Leonard Bernstein.

Bernstein and his wife, actress Felicia Montealegre are having a circuitous argument about his homosexual promiscuity. She assured him years before, when they got married, that she knew who and what he was and that come what may, she was ready for it.

Easier said than done, though, as time went on. The great conductor and composer took every opportunity to stray, sometimes right in front of her.

As the argument proceeds, we hear in the script  co-written by Cooper  that it all stems from Bernstein's self-disgust. It sounded like malarkey to me, the sort of thing that a wife as brilliant and intuitive as Montealegre would know is pseudo-psychiatric gobbledygook in a minute.

That whole patch of dialogue, then, can be written off as failure. All during their fight we are seeing behind them, in that corner of their Park Avenue apartment, huge windows looking out on expensive Manhattan daylight.

When the contentious baloney is over we suddenly see outside the windows the giant head of a clown from the Thanksgiving Day Parade that is passing by on the street.

The whole scene then has turned from psychobabble to brilliance and hallucination. We are suddenly stunned remembering that this film was directed by its star and co-writer.

Cooper became the director only when its original planned director, Steven Spielberg, abdicated the gig after seeing how good was Cooper's latest session in the director's chair, the new version of the perennial "A Star is Born."

I was ready for a lot of things in "Maestro." A flash of surreal directorial hallucination was not one of them.

This is an amazing, perhaps even historic, film. It opens on Netflix in December.

It turns out that Spielberg's intuition in letting his star sit in the director's chair too was remarkable. In many ways, Bradley's lack of qualifications to write and direct as well as act in a biopic about one of the towering figures of 20th century American culture was more than redeemed.

The resultant film is an eternal lesson in the old aesthetic saw of architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe that "less is more." The film you watch is historic for one reason: Cooper was, at every turn, well aware of how far over his head he was.

His solution to that basic problem was simple: He didn't pretend that wasn't true. Instead, he went with it. There was so much about Bernstein's inexhaustible genius that we should have had at least a passing sense of. Instead he just left it out in the cause of narrative dynamism. Cooper's esthetic plan was to stick with what an actor could understand. The result is a hugely moving film which, as far as I'm concerned, features, in a co-starring performance, the sure thing so far Oscar-winning performance for best actress: Carey Mulligan as Montealegre.

I had hoped for so very much more from this film. Would Cooper somehow allude to the Bernstein who was selected to give the Charles Eliot Norton lectures at Harvard (in the impossibly prestigious series that once gave the school Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, e.e. cummings, Jorge Luis Borges, Italo Calvino, etc.)? No such luck. Cooper's strategy was to stick with what he could understand easily along with his audience. Bernstein's six lectures, titled "The Unanswered Question" are available online, and you can discover in them the linguistic theories of Noam Chomsky applied to the music of Charles Ives, among other high dome things.

Cooper wasn't going to touch that. It would have resulted in extraordinary density to his biographical portrait but it would have slowed things down. He had no business messing with it.

How about the earth-moving fact that Bernstein ended postwar years of Israeli boycott by conducting the Israel Philharmonic in that nation's first performances of Richard Wagner? Nope, not that either.

Bernstein's life is full of such giant strides taken routinely. Some are lovable, some seem pretentious. (Tom Wolfe invented the phrase "Radical Chic" to describe a Bernstein party.)

The narrative dynamic was simple: Bernstein was a theater man through and through who had the stupendous luck to be selected to substitute for ailing conductor Bruno Walter at the last minute in a New York Philharmonic concert.

When he awoke to that good fortune, Cooper shows us the booty of his previous night's sex partner as the lucky musician beats his rear end like a bongo drum.

The rest of the film can't help but hit some career high points but Cooper really has only one subject among the plethora of possibilities: the glorious love affair of Lenny and Felicia, a lifelong thing that persisted through three children and constant husbandly strayings far and wide.

Arthur Laurents, the gay writer of the story for Bernstein and Jerome Robbins' musical classic "West Side Story," quite simply described his collaborator's sexuality. He was "a gay man who got married. He wasn't conflicted about his sexual orientation at all. He was just gay."

It is to the immense credit of Cooper that he understood the extraordinary love story at the heart of such a paradox.

The Felicia we first meet in the person of Mulligan seems eminently able to handle the inherent doubleness of her husband emotionally and practically. As their long marriage goes on, however, her partner's brazen and near-universally known promiscuity inevitably sours things. When Bernstein, at one point, tells her that he is going to discuss their marriage with his daughter, his wife ferociously warns him not to "dare" telling her the truth.

What Cooper understood to his credit though is that it does not diminish love that is profound and true despite constant strayings from the marital bed.

Cooper understood the stories he had no business telling in a mainstream movie about the decidedly un-mainstream subject of classical music. He knows the tragic power he's aiming at.

Cooper's years of immersion in Lenny were real. He claims that his childhood was obsessed with conductors and orchestras from the time he first saw the famous cartoons of them. And what music-loving child could help being absorbed by the conductor's role which is to shape and embody and react to a performance as it is created by the orchestra in front of him. He says it took him five years to learn how to mimic Bernstein's conducting of Mahler's Second Symphony.

Bernstein was often gently derided by critics and listeners for exaggerating the calisthenics of his profession. Cooper, the actor, who understands the job mostly from the outside, in turn, exaggerates Bernstein even more. What we don't see is anything like the moment I once witnessed between Michael Tilson Thomas and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at a rehearsal  where the orchestra complained about the musical simplicity of Carl Nielsen's Fifth Symphony but had to be reassured by the conductor how "effective" it was going to be during the performance that night.

Cooper's Lenny is always visible through the musical charge.

I was introduced to recordings by Bernstein the conductor as a child. I had an aunt and uncle who were BPO season ticket holders because my uncle loved classical music from the time he was in med school.

The record he introduced me to was Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic's classic performance of a great piece of revolutionary music, Igor Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du Printemps" ("The Rite of Spring"). My uncle admired it for what it was, a magnificent performance that actually gave listeners a sense of how the music, at its premiere, caused the greatest audience riot in the history of the art form. To my aunt, all that pounding, shrieking and dissonance was a tormenting assault on the aural peace.

My uncle taught me what to revere. My aunt taught me how primal was Bernstein's commitment to great music.

Bernstein's life achievement remains singular, everything from Broadway hits to movie music ("On the Waterfront"), to mighty works for the concert hall ("Jeremiah" and "Kaddish" symphonies, "The Age of Anxiety" for piano and orchestra after Auden's poem). And all that from a Brooklyn Jew whom we see advised early on to change his name to "Burns" so that America could more easily accept the role that the young man envisioned for himself right from the beginning, it seems.

To this day, no public figure has ever explained classical music better to a mass audience than Bernstein did in his "Young People's Concerts" on CBS.

Cooper, to his eternal credit, befriended Bernstein's grown children before finishing his movie.

He needed to understand the loving but hopelessly philandering husband who, early on, received this, in a letter from his wife about his sexual preference.

"You don't admit to the possibility of a double life but if your peace of mind, your health and your whole nervous system depended on a certain sexual pattern, what would you do?"

That is the story Cooper tells us as truthfully as he can, right up to his tragically moving conclusion.

A confoundingly superb  even great film  that so many of us before seeing doubted should ever have existed at all.

We couldn't have been more wrong.
A view of the Adams County District Court where the trial of Nathan Woodyard, the third police officer charged in the death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed Black man who died in police custody in 2019 after he was subdued and injected with a sedative, takes place, in Brighton, Colorado, U.S., October 31, 2023.
Meta and TikTok logos are seen in this illustration taken February 15, 2022.
Buffalo Diocese representatives and childhood sex abuse survivors returned to the negotiating table Wednesday, following a contentious nine-hour court hearing Tuesday over whether 160 parishes and other Catholic entities in the diocese should continue to be protected from abuse lawsuits.

The diocese and its parishes want abuse litigation against parishes to be put on hold for at least another 90 to 120 days so mediation discussions can progress without the distraction of having to defend against potentially hundreds of lawsuits in state courts.

Allowing those lawsuits to proceed to discovery would deplete diocesan and parish insurance assets that could better be used in compensating abuse victims in a global settlement, said lead diocese attorney Stephen A. Donato.

What do I want to do? Keep our eyes on the ball. Thats mediation, not open the flood gates to absolute chaos, said Donato.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which represents about 900 people who say they were sexually abused as children by Catholic priests and other diocese employees, had agreed previously to extend a stipulated stay a dozen times over the 3 years of the bankruptcy. But the committee now argues that the stay is doing more harm than good, and Child Victims Act lawsuits against parishes should be allowed to move forward.

At least 15 people who filed sex abuse claims against the diocese have died since the diocese filed for bankruptcy in 2020, said creditors committee lead attorney Ilan D. Scharf.

Survivors are aging and dying. We are three and a half years into this case. We are decades, decades, into survivors longing for justice, said Scharf.

As sex abuse victims wait, insurance coverage holds up Buffalo Diocese bankruptcy case More than three years since the claims were filed, none of the abuse victims has been compensated as the diocese, its parishes and insurance carriers attempt to negotiate a settlement with abuse victims.

Litigation will serve to advance the settlement process, not deter from it, he added.

Mediation and litigation are not mutually exclusive. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, he said. We will remain committed to mediation.

Another mediation session was scheduled for Thursday.

Scharf pointed to diocesan bankruptcy cases in Rochester; Davenport, Iowa; and Wilmington, Del., where the lifting of stays on lawsuits ultimately led to settlements between abuse claimants and the dioceses. In Buffalo, he said, survivors are in a position where they are mediating in a headlock because theyre not allowed to proceed with any of these cases.

Tuesdays hearing marked a potential critical juncture in the Buffalo Diocese bankruptcy. Chief Judge Carl L. Bucki of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of New York reserved his ruling on the dioceses motion for a preliminary injunction that would block Child Victims Act cases from going forward against parishes, schools and other Catholic entities. Those cases remain on hold pending Buckis written decision.

Bucki ruled in 2021 that piecemeal litigation against some parishes will further entangle an already knotty situation and threatens to impair efforts to achieve a global resolution of claims for child abuse. He also wrote at the time that if the diocese showed a continuing effort to address the complexities of its case in good faith, he preferred to avoid needless impediments to the development of a confirmable plan.

But at one point in Tuesdays hearing the judge expressed concern about whether a resolution through mediation was still possible.

If it cant be solved, theres going to come a point where we have to litigate every case, he said. How do I know were not at that day now?

Scharf told the judge the two sides were not near a settlement.

If we were an inch away from the finish line, we would not be here asking for litigation to go forward, he said.

But Donato and attorney J. Ford Elsaesser, who represents parishes, said that mediated talks were still fruitful, and the parties were not at impasse.

Donato said the diocese made substantive progress, as well, in a mediated session in October with insurance carriers over their contribution to a settlement.

Taking a lid off the lawsuits risks pitting parishes against each other and eating away at the pot of money that will go to abuse survivors, said Elsaesser.

The liquid assets of parishes in the Buffalo Diocese to contribute to a mediated settlement is never going to be greater than it is now, but it will be wasted if parishes need to defend against lawsuits, he said.

In exchange for their contribution, parishes would get whats known as a channeling injunction that would shield them from liability and the potential for huge jury verdicts against them in the sex abuse cases.

Tancred V. Schiavoni, who represents Aetna and other insurers, told Bucki he was concerned about a small group of claimants who are allowed to move forward with their CVA lawsuits and then get a type of veto power over a settlement plan, threatening a channeling injunction for parishes.

The committee will lose all control over negotiating a deal, said Schiavoni.

The diocese first revealed in court papers in October that it was prepared to offer $100 million to abuse survivors, with as much as half of it coming from parishes, schools and other Catholic entities. That amount did not include an undetermined amount of insurance proceeds that also would go toward a settlement.

The diocese later released a statement to parishioners saying it was committing to a collective contribution of the Catholic community in Western New York of at least $100 million.

We recognize that honoring this commitment will be challenging, but it is absolutely necessary that we do everything in our power to set things right, to move beyond this dark chapter in our history, and move forward together as we work to rebuild and renew our Church, the statement said.

Diocese Chief Operating Officer Richard C. Suchan testified Tuesday that the $100 million was not an official offer, and the diocese hadnt determined how much each parish would contribute.

He said a working group has had conversations about the methodology for figuring out the amount of funding from each potential source.
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The Erie County Industrial Development Agency approved tax breaks for Cedarland Development Groups $16.75 million plan to convert the troubled former Emerald South nursing home building into apartments and Lactalis $44.5 million upgrade to its cheese and whey powder production plants on South Park Avenue.

Cedarland, owned by Dr. Fadi Dagher and his son, Kevin, received $1.1 million in tax breaks for its plan to renovate the 58,000-square-foot health care facility  which has been vacant since the nursing home closed in 2019  into 83 apartments.

Upon completion, the building will include 22 studio units, ranging in size from 345 to 400 square feet; 57 one-bedroom apartments of 525 to 560 square feet; and four two-bedroom units of 715 to 800 square feet.

Rents will vary from $910 to $1,200 for the studios, $1,300 to $1,775 for one-bedroom units, and $1,965 to $2,000 for the two-bedroom apartments. The studios and one of the one-bedroom apartments  representing 28% of the units  will be rented at rates targeted for 80% of the area median income, and 30% of the total apartments will be furnished.

The project will also include one small commercial space for a professional office user.

This is a very good project, County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. Its unfortunately been a blight on that part of Delaware Avenue for some time.

Cedarland also voluntarily accepted the ECIDAs new economic inclusion policy, adopted last month, which extends the property tax break for an extra year and enhances the abatement if an applicant meets goals for both minority and women contractors and hiring, along with additional diversity efforts.

Its a significant milestone that this company is endeavoring to not only meet their goals, but exceed it, ECIDA Chair Brenda McDuffie said.

Lactalis, meanwhile, received $1.2 million in tax breaks for its plan to modernize its two facilities, where it produces ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and brie in the cheese plant, while pumping the by-product that is generated into the adjacent plant to be turned into whey powder. The company, a subsidiary of Group Lactalis, employs 684 in Buffalo, including 376 at the manufacturing plants. It uses more than 750 million pounds of raw milk annually, from more than 300 farms.

Most of the plants infrastructure and equipment date back to the 1970s  when it was Sorrento Cheese  so it needs to be replaced and updated to keep up with demand, as the operation is under pressure to increase its output while competing with 10 other Lactalis plants nationwide.

Executives want to boost capacity by 30% to ensure the Buffalo operations future, by installing new mozzarella and ricotta cheese production equipment, constructing an addition for the whey evaporator and dryer equipment, and completing other infrastructure upgrades. The new equipment will also improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

This project shows Lactalis commitment to continuing to grow in the Buffalo community, said Pierre J. Lorieau, senior vice president and chief legal officer for Lactalis North America.

This is a company that is a good union company, and has been expanding consistently over the decades. This is exactly the kind of thing we should be encouraging, board member Richard Lipsitz said

Poloncarz noted another benefit to having Lactalis here: The company attracted the American Cheese Societys national conference to the Buffalo Convention Center in summer 2024.

Thats a convention were all going to want to attend, he said.

Separately, ECIDA also approved a $181,740 contract with C&S Engineers to design and administer its $2.13 million project to replace failing timber decks and missing stone ballast on five bridges and restore the seven-mile Buffalo Southern Railroad that runs from Buffalo to Gowanda.
Congressman Tom McClintock speaks at House Committee hearing View Photo

Washington, DC  A federal bill has the close eye of Mother Lode Congressman Tom McClintock.

It would revoke a lease that was recently negotiated between the National Park Service and the federal government allowing asylum seekers to temporarily reside at Floyd Bennett Field in New York.

McClintock spoke in favor of the bill, HR 5283, which would terminate the one-year, $28-million lease, being paid by the city to the federal government.

At a House committee hearing, McClintock said, I would first remind the Democrats that illegal immigration is not a human right, it is a federal crime. The National Parks were set aside for the use and enjoyment of the American people, but President Biden is now expropriating these lands for the benefit of the three million illegal immigrants that he has deliberately released into our country.

McClintock said the issue is bigger than just one specific lease and argued that illegal immigration is putting a heavy strain on various federal, state, and local social services.

The lease agreement was signed on September 15 and can be nullified by either party after 90 days. The federal property provides temporary housing for about 2,000 people. The bill cleared the House Rules Committee this week, with a vote of 9-4.
Cash and Coat Drive for Interfaith View Photo

Sonora, CA  An annual fund drive to support Interfaith Social Services will be held this Friday morning on the local radio waves.

Clarke Broadcastings Cash Drive for Interfaith Social Services will air from 6 amnoon on 93.5 KKBN and Star 92.7. Last year the community contributed over $140,000 for Interfaith, and it is a critical fundraiser to keep the services operational. Community members and businesses who donate also have the option of doing on-air challenges throughout the morning.

Volunteers will be answering the phones and taking down donations starting at 6 am on Friday. Click here for more information, and to find a Paypal link.

Then on Saturday is the coat drive for Interfaith at their office at 18500 Striker Court. Volunteers will be collecting new and gently used jackets to pass along to those in need this winter season.
Four years ago, developer Anthony Ceroy and his former partners in Generation Development Group kicked off their multimillion-dollar effort to begin the redevelopment of the row of former grain elevators and warehouses known as Silo City.

Their $80 million plan for the American Mill & Warehouse building  the first phase of the larger project  envisioned converting the historic complex into an apartment, office, wellness and artistic destination along the Buffalo River, with nearly 170 affordable, workforce and market-rate units.

Ultimately, they hoped to create more than 400 apartments, when including future phases of the revitalization along the rest of the peninsula.

But redeveloping such a unique site hasnt always gone according to plan.

I knew going in that this would be ambitious, Ceroy said. But as a development, this has definitely thrown curve balls at us.

Delays and lawsuit

The first project received its municipal approvals in 2019, but the work was delayed, first by design work and financing, then by the Covid-19 pandemic. Then came a major dispute involving its general contractor that spilled into the courtroom.

That led to the firing of the contractor, Arc Building Partners, and its replacement by RP Oak Hill Building Co., pushing completion further back as some work had to be redone.

So instead of finishing in summer 2022 as planned, the project fell into limbo before picking up again. And the cost is at least 20% higher.

Now its fallen behind schedule once more, as the new contractors have missed further targets for turning over finished apartments, delaying completion into next year.

That means that, even after RP Oak Hill stepped in, and despite much progress, the first phase of the new Silo City still wont be ready for its first tenants until at least February and possibly the second quarter of 2024  six to nine months later than the August 2023 completion Ceroy had hoped for, and two years later than initially planned.

I think our expectation at that time is we would have people living there by now, Ceroy said. Its disappointing.

Christopher J. Hogan, chief operating officer for RP Oak Hill, blamed the problem largely on difficulties with subcontractors, because of Arcs firing. Of the 20 firms on the original job with Arc, all but four stayed on to finish the work. But it was hard to find replacements for two of the other four  for steel, masonry and concrete work. Its just a lack of structural steel and concrete workers that have been the holdup, Holden said.

Pushing ahead

In 2019, Silo City owner Rick Smith teamed up with Generation  then including Ceroy and his partner, Marvin Wilmoth  to unveil plans for a residential and artistic community on the peninsula of old grain silos and warehouses. The goal was to maintain the historic integrity of the properties while building on the creative activities that were already occurring at Silo City.

Generation and Smith won approval for the American project in late 2019, but the venture was almost immediately delayed by the pandemic, which shut down construction and business activity for several months. Generation completed the $2.8 million purchase of the 6.1-acre property from Smith in October 2020, and Arc started construction the next month.

However, within a year, the relationship turned sour amid allegations by Generation of shoddy work and poor performance by Arc. Generation fired Arc in late November 2021, replacing it with RP Oak Hill, and then sued Arc and its insurers for $20 million to correct the construction managers defective, nonconforming work, and to complete the project in conformance with the projects goal, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed that Arc left the buildings, the work and the stored and installed materials exposed to water and weather-related damage, didnt properly store gypsum board and wall insulation, proceeded with work and installation in wet conditions, failed to insulate hot water lines, improperly installed the roof and didnt follow directives to fix the problems that were pointed out. The suit is still pending.

Frank L. Ciminelli II, founder and CEO of Arc, rejected the allegations in the lawsuit, and said the firm remains confident in its position. Its construction. I dont think anybodys flawless, but in the grand scheme, we know where we sit, and that owner has some problems of his own that he needs to reconcile with, Ciminelli said.

Ceroy now says the work is taking too long. About $10 million of work remains, and Ceroy said hes not compromising on quality to reduce costs.

This project has been through a lot, he said. It seems like the hits just keep coming.

He is persevering, because he has no choice financially but to continue after investing so much into it.

Theres no project in my entire portfolio that has damaged me more on pretty much every level, emotionally, mentally, financially, he said. But at the same time, its the project Im most excited and proud to be a part of.

But the very survival of Ceroys Miami-based firm, Generation, is now in doubt. Ceroy said state officials wont fund any more Generation projects until the current project is finished.

With all the work that was still needed at Silo City, that caused major delays and pushed out our ability to do business, Ceroy explained. And without state help, the firm could not do additional ventures. He borrowed another $1 million recently that he doesnt expect to recoup.

Adding to the woes, Wilmoth  Ceroys original partner  became disenchanted and resigned to focus on a political career in Miami, leaving Ceroy on his own, and without extra money.

I lost everything, Ceroy said. I lost my partner. All the economics are gone. Our revenue in this project is zero. This took Generation out.

Preserving history

Silo City is one of the biggest and best-known industrial redevelopment projects in the city, in part because of its prominent location on the Buffalo River. Located at Silo City Row, the complex consists of six parcels along Childs Street, which extends northeast from Ohio Street at the intersection with Ganson Street. Those parcels make up the former American, Perot and Marine A grain elevator facilities, all owned by Smith, CEO of Rigidized Metals Corp.

They were constructed in 1906, 1907 and 1925, respectively, and at least one building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Besides warehouses and offices, the buildings include marine towers where grain was unloaded from ships, workhouses and silos where the grain was transferred and stored, malt houses where grain was processed, and mills where grain was milled and then shipped.

The 220,917-square-foot American Mill complex includes a five-story malthouse from the late 1800s and an eight-story flour mill section from 1920, with a connector in between. Upon completion, the renovated complex will feature 168 apartments, with mostly one- and two-bedroom units, plus a few studio, three-bedroom and even four-bedroom apartments.

Layouts vary because of the historic geometry of the building, so while there are 58 layouts, no two units are identical. Some have rooms carved out of grain vaults, some have transoms to get natural light into bedrooms, some have 14-foot ceilings, while some on the 8th floor are two stories. Youd be amazed how much light we get in some of these units, Ceroy said.

The property will be managed by Syracuse-based Housing Visions.

Ceroy said rental interest has been strong, with nearly 500 rental applications submitted through the project website as of July. Rents range from $539 for the smallest studio to $1,786 for a four-bedroom unit. The mix includes affordable and workforce units at 60% and 90% of the area median income, plus market-rate units.

It will also include nearly 12,000 square feet of office space for architectural firm Carmina Wood Design; 10,000 square feet of coworking space on the first floor with 10 private offices; and a 3,625-square-foot flexible gallery area for local art, music, drama, education or other displays.

In all, theres 40,000 square feet of commercial and community space, plus a 190-space parking lot.

The project will showcase the buildings industrial heritage including the original grain hoppers, vats, tanks, vaults, pulleys and wheels from its malting and flour mill days, which will be displayed in the atrium or behind glass, backlit or suspended from the ceiling. Many units will also have pulleys, wheels or other equipment hanging from their tall ceilings.

We try to keep the industrial fabric where we could work around it and celebrate it, said Paul Lang, co-managing principal of Carmina Wood Designs architectural practice. Well do something fun with them.

Among the most notable features are two vast interior atriums on the second floor, formed in the void created by the removal of giant equipment.

One of the atriums will be a more active indoor park with a skylight carved in the roof, with a resident lounge area, furniture, planters and space for yard games like cornhole. A giant water tank, grain hopper and other equipment are suspended above, among the girders. Interior apartment balconies will overlook the atrium on four floors. Call it a tailgate space, Lang said.

The other atrium will have less natural light and vegetation, but will offer a quiet space for people for mediation, yoga or similar activities, with 28 of the original 48 cylindrical gray-metal silos hanging from the eighth-floor above them. Crews are slicing gaps in the tanks so that people can walk under and look up, while a few will have doors for people to simply enter them. Windows in some apartments even look into the silo atrium.

Were doing what we can to preserve as much as we can, Ceroy said. Its cool, and its in line with our approach to doing historic redevelopment.

On the first floor, three rail cars will sit on a train spur inside the building, where they will host a hydroponic farm to grow lettuce and other vegetables, the mail room and part of Carmina Woods office space. And a paved, multi-level outdoor patio behind the building will offer access and views to the water, secured by metal fencing along the rivers edge.

Were really trying to think outside the box and play homage to the industrial history of the campus in ways that will benefit not just the immediate community that will be frequenting and walking here, but broader, the City of Buffalo, because theres a lot of grain elevators here, Ceroy said. They named it Silo City for a reason.

Meanwhile, the adjacent 90-foot-tall grain elevator and its rooftop workhouse  which cant be turned into apartments because of their shape and historic preservation rules  will not be touched for now, but will remain sealed off, including a skybridge from the elevator to the warehouse complex. Light industrial uses are future possibilities, Ceroy said.

As for the rest of the Silo City buildings, Ceroy said he hopes to be part of future projects, and part of the ownership. But it will be under a new company, Nysko Development, with new investors to support him.

The bones of the project are unlike anything Ive ever been a part of, and something Im so passionate about, Ceroy said. My expectation is that Silo City is still going to be developed. It just wont be with Generation Development.

Photos: Silo City updates Bedroom One-bedroom apartment Apartment door Kitchen Elevators New cabinets Grain elevators Water tank Apartments on the way Another view Transit window Hallway taking shape Patchwork Industrial look Office space Apartment doors Supplies Patio area At the office Western Atrium Atrium view In storage Conference room Electrical work New uses Auger Hopper Apartment unit Patio Silo City snowflakes Up and down Snow at Silo City
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Yves here. Perhaps I have been looking in the wrong places, but I have seen perilous little discussion of the high energy cost of artificial intelligence. One would think AI alarmists would be all over this issue, since Pigovian taxes (ones designed to make the private cost of AI as high as the social cost, as in the cost including fossil fuel use at current production levels) would presumably lower AI uptake. But nooes! The lack of publicity around this issue confirms the notion that AI concerniks are really out to get AI regulated simply to create moats to protect the investment made by tech titans. This post usefully provides some preliminary data about AI energy consumption. Note the EU is trying to get AI systems to track their energy use. By Felicity Bradstock, a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. Originally published at OilPrice Unregulated AI adoption may lead to a substantial increase in global energy consumption, similar to the impact seen with cryptocurrency mining.

Advanced technologies, particularly AI, are becoming essential tools in various industries, optimizing operations but potentially driving up energy usage.

The EUs AI Act acknowledges the energy-intensive nature of AI systems, highlighting the need for global regulatory measures to address the surge in energy consumption from new technologies.

As the world welcomes innovative technologies, they could spur a sharp spike in energy consumption if not regulated appropriately. A wide range of industries, including the energy sector, is looking to artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize operations. However, many are not considering the potential energy costs of adopting AI and other innovative technologies. Just as weve seen with cryptocurrency mining, the use of new, advanced technologies is expected to significantly drive up energy usage across different industries, and a lack of management could lead to disaster.

There have been great advances in AI technology in recent years, leading many companies to adopt the technology and many individuals to gain a better understanding of it. It is quickly becoming an essential tool in everyday life, as it is used for a range of activities that we may not even consider. Checking into a flight, conducting a Google search, or using cruise control all rely on AI. For companies, the use of AI technology can optimize operations through smart decision-making and automation. It minimizes human error and typically drives up efficiency. Its for this reason that so many companies are investing in the technology.

Each online interaction requires the use of remote servers  machines in data centers that use electricity to carry out operations. At present, data centers worldwide account for between 1 and 1.5 percent of the worlds electricity use, according to the International Energy Agency. While this figure may seem fairly low, the rapid rollout of new technologies, such as AI, is expected to drive up the sectors energy usage significantly. There have been increasing discussions in the academic world around the high energy needs of AI, but this will have to quickly translate into national policy if we hope to manage future energy use in the sector.

An analysis published in October showed that the Nvidia Corporation  a multinational technology company, will be shipping around 1.5 million AI server units a year by 2027, which, when running, could equate to the annual use of 85.4 terawatt-hours of electricity. This is higher than the total electricity use of several small countries. Companies such as Nvidia now use advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) rather than simpler processors, called CPUs, to power operations, which require more energy to power. Brady Brim-Deforest, the CEO of Formula Monks, stated, For the next decade, GPUs are going to be the core of AI infrastructure. And GPUs consume 10 to 15 times the amount of power per processing cycle than CPUs do. Theyre very energy intensive.

One of the technologies to take off in recent months is OpenAIs ChatGPT, a chatbot that can conduct a humanlike conversation, respond to questions, and create written content. A recent paper from the University of Washington showed that hundreds of millions of queries on ChatGPT can cost around 1 gigawatt-hour a day, equivalent to the energy consumption of 33,000 U.S. households. A professor of electrical and computer engineering at Washington, Sajjad Moazeni, explained The energy consumption of something like ChatGPT inquiry compared to some inquiry on your email, for example, is going to be probably 10 to 100 times more power hungry.

Industry experts expect the individual and industry use of AI to increase significantly in the coming years. We are at just one percent of where AI adoption is expected to be within the next two to three years. This means that governments must prepare their countries now to ensure the spike in energy use from advanced technologies is controlled early on.

While this seems like a negative outlook for AI and other innovative technologies, there are many plus sides to using advanced tech. Although energy use is high, these types of machines are typically much more efficient than humans, contributing to improved productivity and fewer human errors.

In Europe, the EUs AI Act recognizes that AI systems will likely have a high energy consumption during their lifecycle. The legislation categorizes AI systems, setting out requirements for so-called high-risk AI systems. They must be designed and developed with logging capabilities that can record energy consumption, the measurement or calculation of resource use, and the environmental impact throughout the systems lifecycle. At present, there are no regulations in place to reduce the energy consumption of AI technologies in the EU, rather, the European Parliament focuses on transparency and gaining a better understanding of the energy use of the advanced technology.

The adoption of AI technology, and other advanced tech, is happening rapidly and is expected to soar in the coming years. While this could dramatically boost operational efficiency across a range of industries, it is also expected to drive up energy consumption. The EU has taken a step in the right direction by encouraging greater transparency in AI, but governments worldwide must now consider introducing regulations to reduce unnecessary energy waste in advanced technologies.
Yves here. I had been very hopeful that the thousand-boat flotilla that Turkiye was supposedly helping organize would change the dynamic in Gaza. What would Israel do when a thousand vessels with food and other relief supplies approached Gaza? This would be too many to stop, save perhaps by mining, and could easily serve as a causus belli for countries who had citizens who were on the ship and were either harmed or captured by Israel.

For this to work, one requirement would be a lot of countries represented in the operation. Much in the way that the safety of a herd of wildebeest crossing the savannah increases with size, here both size of the fleet and diversity would matter. More countries represented would mean more countries to further alienate if Israel behaved badly. And conversely, Israel would look impotent if it decided it had to allow a lot of aid in.

However, the flotilla had been claimed to be departing on Wednesday. That looks not to have happened. As Helmer recounts it, Russian vessels had been rumored to be represented in large numbers, as on over 300. That would amount to a partially Russian sponsored operation. As Helmer explains, Moscow has been reluctant to break with Israel, to the degree that Russia is still running a lot of pro-Israel coverage despite the sympathies among Russians at large being firmly with Palestine.

Theres also a lot of harrumphing by soi-disant experts about Erdogan being a poseur and deceptive (some shows up below; there are more pointed dismissals elsewhere). While this may be true, given how Merkel and Hollande behaved with the Minsk accords, the degree of sneering about Erdogan appears to embody a lot of anti-Turk/Muslim prejudice.

Helmer does not say the boat scheme is dead, but it may be premature. But with rough winter waters coming in the Mediterranean, that means the next viable time might be, what, March? April?

By John Helmer, the longest continuously serving foreign correspondent in Russia, and the only western journalist to direct his own bureau independent of single national or commercial ties. Helmer has also been a professor of political science, and an advisor to government heads in Greece, the United States, and Asia. He is the first and only member of a US presidential administration (Jimmy Carter) to establish himself in Russia. Originally published at Dances with Bears

There is one way in which regional war against Israel can be waged by the Arab states, Turkey, Iran, Russia, even China to which Israel and the US are vulnerable; against which they cannot achieve a quick and conclusive end to Hamas and prevent a multi-front, long and ruinous war for Israel; and against which the Israelis and Americans cannot fight by a firepower escalation against the major states when Israels survival chances are far lower than the US will risk.

This is proxy war by swarm.

The Houthis have been practising this on a sub-swarm scale with modest drone and missile salvos aimed at Israels southern coastline, Eilat port, and vessel movement up and down the Red Sea, as well as one Israeli-owned vessel capture on November 19.

This week Houthi missiles have also targeted a US Navy (USN) destroyer in the Gulf of Aden. Nov. 27 Sanaa time, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen toward the general location of the USS MASON (DDG 87) and M/V CENTRAL PARK, CENTCOM said. The missiles landed in the Gulf of Aden approximately ten nautical miles from the ships. This alleged Houthi attack followed an abortive takeover the day before, aimed at the Israeli-owned tanker Central Park. The ship attackers were Somali pirates, not Houthi forces, the USN has told the US press.

Against proxy war by swarm the US is currently monitoring Hezbollah along the Lebanon coast by long-range Northrop Grumman drones launched from the US airbase at Sigonella, Italy. At the same time, for safety sake, the USS Gerald Ford and its escorts have withdrawn more than a thousand kilometres westward, out of Hezbollah missile range. The Ford squadron is now reported to be under way in the central Ionian Sea continuing westward.

The USS Eisenhower and its escorts, however, are now moving into firing range of Iranian drone and missile attack, and also long-range Russian Kinzhals, as the USN force has passed through the Hormuz Strait sailing northward on what the Navy press statement says is its mission to enter the waters of the Arabian [sic] Gulf as the Strike Group continues to support USCENTCOM missions [to] patrol the strategic waterway, located [sic] on the southeastern Arabian Peninsula, to ensure freedom of navigation.

These operations of the US Navy (USN) and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) indicate they are meant to deter Iran from using their long-range missiles against Israeli targets. They remain sitting ducks for long-range Russian attack.

But the USN-IDF combination is incapable of deterring, let alone defending against proxy swarms of either unarmed balloons or civilian motor yachts  unless they attack and destroy them. The futility of doing that with violence, as the IDF has done before, is the weapon the Palestinians hold  of winning the war by not losing, and in the process to demonstrate that Israel is a US-NATO protectorate for race hatred and genocide.

The impotence of the US Air Force was demonstrated in February of this year in its protracted engagement against a single high-altitude, unarmed spy balloon from China. Greek sources have reported speculation of a balloon swarm in support of Hamas; there has been no press reporting of this yet.

On November 21 the Turkish and Arab media reported that approximately 1,000 international boats will gather in Turkiye on Wednesday [November 22] before heading toward Gaza to break the Israeli blockadeIn an interview with Turkish news website, Haber7, Volkan Okcu, one of the organisers of the protest, indicated the boats will carry 4,500 people from 40 countries, including anti-Zionist Jews. Among the 1,000 vessels would be 313 boats filled with Russian activists, and 104 filled with Spanish activists, he said. Only 12 Turkish vessels will join the flotillaThe maritime convoy is set to make a first stop in Cyprus before continuing toward the Israeli port of Ashdod. Some participants in the flotilla will also reportedly take their spouses and children on board. The same report has appeared here and here.

In an Israeli newspaper version of the same story, Okcu was quoted as saying: The Zionist regime seems to have no chance to repeat the Mavi Marmara incidentThe vessels sail under the flags of the US, UK, Luxembourg, Russia, Germany, Spain, Poland, and many other countriesThe moment we enter Gazas territorial waters, [Israeli forces] can only search us or tow us to their ports, and impose fines, but will not be allowed by international law to raid the convoy in international waters, the way they assaulted the Mavi Marmara in 2010. [Israel] would pay a heavy price for attempting any crazy action against such a large international peace fleet. That was published on the morning of November 21.

A week has now elapsed without the flotilla materialising in Turkey, and without a sign in Moscow that more than 1,200 Russians are aboard the reported 313 vessels with Gaza as their destination. Moscow sources refuse to discuss the operation openly amid signs that if there has been Russian government and military backing for the proxy swarm, there is now a Kremlin veto on the operation, at least for the time being.

The first news of the Gaza blockade-busting plan appeared in Tass, the state news agency, on November 16. The report was datelined Ankara, and came directly from a source in the Turkish IHH humanitarian organization that has an office in the Gaza Strip. According to Tass, a number of humanitarian organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are preparing a major international campaign to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip and potentially breach the enclaves blockade.

IHH is a well-known Turkish Muslim charitable organisation with aid programmes around the world. It had been the co-sponsor of the June 2010 operation by six vessels with 663 participants to sail from Turkey and Cyprus to Gaza, aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade and deliver humanitarian supplies to the Palestinians. That operation resulted in the Israeli interception at sea  international waters, in fact  of one of the vessels, the Mavi Marmara, and the shooting deaths of nine of the passengers on board for allegedly resisting the Israeli commandos. The Israeli government later paid $20 million in compensation for their killings.

The compensation terms also allowed IHH to open an aid office in Gaza. It did not result in the lifting of the Israeli blockade of the sea approaches to Gaza.

MAP OF ISRAELI BLOCKADE OF GAZA COAST LINE

Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/

See also UN report on Israeli interference with Gaza fishing rights.

According to the November 16 Tass report from its Ankara source, right now, efforts are underway for the preparation of a new humanitarian action, similar to the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. We [Turkeys IHH] are not the only ones taking part in it, it will also involve other humanitarian organizations, activists and NGOs from around the world. It will potentially be the largest international action for Gaza that will involve representatives from both Europe and other countries of the world. We aim to breach the blockade and deliver the aid, but whether we will manage to breach the blockade will depend on the reality in the region, the source said.

He noted that consultations and negotiations with potential participants are currently underway on how and in what format this campaign will be implemented. Right now, negotiations are underway on what ships will take part in the action. It could be rescue ships, as well as private ships owned by organizations and activists. As for the participations, discussions are also underway. At the very least, the participants will include those who took part in the 2010 event. But now, their geography is even wider, the source said.

Although Tass headlined the blockade-busting operation as an international campaign, the evidence in the report is that one-third of the vessels and participants is Russian. Source: https://tass.com/

For more detail on the 2010 Gaza flotilla operation and the lethal Israeli attack, read this.

Greek sources report a long history of vessel sabotage and assassinations by Israel aimed to stop international efforts to break the Israeli blockade by ship movement from Greece and Cyprus into Gaza. In this documentary report of the blockade-busting operation of August 2008, it is clear the unopposed landing on Gaza for the first time since the 1967 war was successful because the Greek Cypriot government of the time protected the vessel, its crew, and passengers at Limassol port, defying Tel Aviv and Washington.

August 28, 2008.

The lesson the IDF and the US Government learned from this success was to intensify the killing methods used against the Mavi Marmara in 2010 and to threaten the same against the US boat to Gaza operation in mid-2011 with the vessel, Audacity of Hope.

Three years later, when an American organised effort to run the Israeli gauntlet into Gaza from Greece was attempted during the calm seas of the summer of 2011, Ray McGovern has reported that the Israeli government warned the Obama Administration that the Americans would face the same military treatment as the Turks on board the Mavi Marmara the year before. The US then pressured the Greek prime minister at the time, George Papandreou, and his mother Margarita Papandreou, not to allow the Americans to sail from Greece to Gaza. The vessel was at first impounded in Piraeus port, and then when it was underway, it was stopped by the Greek Coast Guard at the limit of Greeces territorial waters, returned to port, and impounded again.

Source: http://www.coldtype.net/

According to McGovern, a 27-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), before leaving the United States, I was cautioned by a source with access to very senior staffers at the National Security Council that not only does the White House plan to do absolutely nothing to protect our boat from Israeli attack or illegal boarding, but that White House officials would be happy if something happened to us. They are, I am reliably told, perfectly willing to have the cold corpses of activists shown on American TV.

After the Hamas breakout operation of October 7 and the start of the current war, there have been hints from Ankara of an aid operation by sea using amphibious vessels of the Turkish navy and army. At the same time the Greek Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides, has advertised a shipborne humanitarian corridor between Limassol and Gaza, secured by the French navy and special forces. Christodoulides made his proposal public at a European Union (EU) heads of government meeting on October 26. It has come to nothing.

Instead, Cyprus air bases have been a safe haven for US and NATO resupply lines of ammunition, weapons and military replacement parts into Israel, as well as for Israeli civilians and reservists fleeing the war.

The Cyprus and Israeli presidents meet on October 21, 2023  President Isaac Herzog this evening, (Saturday, 21 October 2023), met with President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus who came to make a visit of solidarity with the Israeli people following the barbaric terror attack by Hamas on October 7Whatever we're carrying out now, we are carrying out fully under the international humanitarian law, under the rules of international humanitarian law.

The Israeli government has also said it would consider a a maritime humanitarian corridor, with aid being sent to Cyprus that would be examined [in Cyprus] by Israeli officials. The aid would then be delivered to a small port in Gaza.

A Cypriot presidential adviser, now retired, is equally skeptical of the public announcements of Christodoulides and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Of Erdogan the source said he talks from both sides of his mouth, but with the political language of Islam when addressing Muslims. As for what he has actually done so far, he sent his navy to practice with live fire but [that was] between Turkey and Cyprus not in the Mediterranean. Thats typical of him. Except for Hamas, I do not think anyone wants the Turks to play a role. The Turks are too vulnerable economically to do anything. But even if that wasnt the case, they cannot deal with powers stronger than they are. Theirs is bully behaviour and public rhetoric for domestic consumption. I do not think they are stronger than they were 2010-11. As for the appearance this month of the Gaza flotilla plan, absolutely not  no flotilla [for Erdogan].

When the Tass report was followed by the detailed reports of the extent of the Russian participation in the proposal new flotilla, Moscow sources say that if there are as many Russian vessels and Russian activists participating in the new Turkish flotilla as have been announced  323 vessels, at least 1,200 crew and participants  there must be Russian intelligence or military support for their involvement. According to one source, it looks like an especially clever plan for proxies, unarmed humanitarians, to challenge the IDF and the Americans behind them.

But why have the Turks announced it so publicly in advance?

Of course, the source added, the Cyprus and Greek governments are now fully subservient to the Israelis, so the US and NATO are using the Greek and Cyprus bases to run arms and ammunition replenishment flights into Israel as the war continues. If the flotilla is to rendezvous in Cyprus and sail to Gaza from there, it will have to be at the port of Famagusta, in Turkish Cyprus. This would also be quite an advertisement by Erdogan of his claim to be the protector of the Muslims of Palestine  and of the cowardice of the Greeks and Cypriots in this war.

Suspicion of the Turkish presidents duplicity is expressed by a US-NATO operations veteran. Erdogan is doing almost exactly what the Turks did during the Iran-Iraq war. Taking advantage of the situation to turn a profit and make gains at someone elses expense, while hiding under NATOs skirt. This is Turkish state policy. The only difference I see now is how todays Turk has picked up the Koran and is playing Defender of the Umma. This is how Erdogan cloaks Turkish expansionism, and his familys graft while, again, keeping NATO as his shield. The Turks supposed support for the Palestinians, looking more tokenistic by the day, is as cynical as his annexation of Syrian territory to protect the Arab population.

Erdogan has spoken by telephone with President Vladimir Putin twice since October 7, both times on Putins initiative. On October 10, the Kremlin claims the two men emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire by both sides and resumption of negotiations and expressed mutual readiness to actively contribute to this end. The sides underscored that a long-term peaceful settlement of the Middle East crisis was only possible on the basis of the two-state formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for establishing an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The parties also touched upon separate issues of Russian-Turkish cooperation in various fields.

Did they agree to cooperate in secret on a proxy blockade-busting operation into Gaza?

On October 24 Putin telephoned Erdogan again and according to the Kremlin communique, they reviewed the active efforts undertaken by Russia at the UN Security Council, as well as the corresponding political and diplomatic steps taken by Turkiye to stop the bloodshed and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need. It was emphasised that Russia and Turkiye have practically overlapping positions, focused on implementing the well-known two-state solution, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestine coexisting with Israel in peace and security. In addition, issues related to the accelerating pace of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in various fields were touched upon.

In parallel, according to the record of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs meetings and communications, there is no sign that Lavrov discussed with his Turkish counterparts a joint Russian-Turkish seaborne aid corridor to Gaza. Instead, the Russian ministry has emphasised the role of the Arab states and Iran in resolving the regions issues. Abandoning confrontational rhetoric and the desire for a political-diplomatic settlement of disagreements in the preceding period resulted in the stabilisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the resumption of Syrias participation in the League of Arab States and a step-by-step building of a dialogue between Damascus and Ankara. Third parties must not be allowed to exploit the unraveling Palestinian-Israeli confrontation to break these positive trends and plunge the region into chaos. The involvement and unity of the states in this region along with the political will of the Palestinians and the Israelis to hold talks on a package of issues for a final status is a key condition for restarting a comprehensive peace process in the Middle East. That was on November 6.

From the start of the Gaza war, Russian public opinion has been overwhelmingly favourable towards the Palestinians and hostile to Israel, but the Foreign Ministry and Kremlin have tried to dampen public enthusiasm. Instead, the Russian state propaganda organs have been running Israeli commentaries hostile to Hamas terrorism, and focusing on release of Palestinians and Israelis with dual Russian citizenship through the Rafah checkpoint in southern Gaza. On November 22, Putin asked for a report on what is happening to the 910 people [who] asked for help in evacuating, including 639 Russian citizens and 271 Palestinians who are their family members. The Russian Emergencies Ministry aviation division has received no evacuation applications from citizens of other states. To date, 484 citizens of the Russian Federation and 87 non-Russian citizens who are their family members have crossed the Rafah checkpoint. Six Emergencies Ministry flights have transported 553 people, including 259 children, to Domodedovo Airport, while 18 people are still in a hotel in Cairo, waiting to be evacuated. Upon arrival in Russia, nine people, including six children, were sent to medical institutions. Two of them, including one child, were diagnosed with COVID.

After completing all the necessary procedures, 116 people, including 44 children, left the airport to reach their places of residence on their own. The rest were taken to temporary accommodation centres in the Moscow and Kaluga regions. Work is underway to arrange accommodation for these people in other regions of Russia. To date, there are 313 people staying in these centres, including 161 children. The Russian television and social media have not allowed these evacuees to broadcast their eye-witness accounts of Israeli attacks.

Russian military and intelligence sources either claim not to have heard about the Turkish plan for the Gaza flotilla, or they refuse to respond to questions. The Moscow sources dont doubt that the size of the reported Russian participation is so large as to represent a planned proxy operation, but they are skeptical that after several weeks of difficult negotiations to rescue almost a thousand Russians under Israeli attack in Gaza, the Kremlin would risk many more Russians on board the flotilla if the IDF repeats its Mavi Marmara attack.

I cant see Putin letting them be killed, a Moscow source comments, as the Turks were in the 2010 Gaza Flotilla, or the crew of the USS Liberty in 1967. Yes, in a swarm of a thousand vessels the IDF would be unable to repeat a shipboarding commando operation. But the Israelis might mine the seas in front of the flotilla, or strafe the vessels from the air. Committing the small but potent Russian navy squadron at Tartous to covering the flotilla would defeat the proxy cover story.

Source: https://www.itamilradar.com/ (November 23).

Both the US and Russian navies appear to be withdrawing from the possibility of close encounters in the Eastern Mediterranean; the USS Gerald Ford is currently in a position between Italy and Greece. The U.S. 6th Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney remains in the Eastern Mediterranean along with French and British Navy warships, but exactly where has been concealed since the Mount Whitney left the Italian port of Gaeta in mid-October. As of November 23, the Russian fleet at Tartous consists of a frigate, two corvettes, an intelligence vessel, oiler and repair barge.

Current location of the USS Gerald Ford -- source: https://www.itamilradar.com/

If the Americans suspected the Russians of preparing to cover the movement of the new aid flotilla into Gaza, sources believe the fleets would be moving toward each other and the waters between Famagusta and Gaza. Theres no sign of this at present. There is no speculation of this in the Russian military blogs following the war in Gaza, such as Rybar and Colonel Cassad.

In theory, comments a US source, the Turkish plan is the opening of another front. The organisers are certainly aware of of the unprecedented naval presence in the area. So the vessel swarm is upping the ante. But only if Erdogan and Putin decide to let it happen.

A Moscow source concedes this is a very fluid situation changing by the hour or the minute. Its impossible to differentiate statements from intentions, or actions from counter-actions. If the major power are coordinating, then they are coordinating not getting involved right now. I just do not see the Turks, Indians, Chinese or Russians getting into any posture in the Middle East which might seem confrontational. Especially when the Saudis and Emiratis are not doing it, the Chinese and the Russians wont. Iranian restraint speaks more than anything else.

I also believe this is the right approach, especially if Hamas can drag the war on for another 90 days. The condition of the released hostages tells that Hamas is well-entrenched. They have a lot more fight in them. A multi-day ceasefire might give them the long war which Netanyahu wants but Biden does not. However, I see no one coming to fight with them.

Let us say a Turkish aid flotilla materialises and gets to the new port and marina the Turks have built in North Cyprus. There are several problems with that. Small craft, especially leisure yachts and motor boats cannot ply the Eastern Med during the storm weather from December until April. Moreover, if Hamas is running the current ceasefire, it does not want Erdogan to give a reason for Israel to break it. A flotilla is therefore just PR at this stage.

The Gaza genocide will pave the way to something bigger, but later.
Two masked men broke into a 72-year-old mans Amherst home late one morning a little more than a year ago while he was watching television in his bedroom.

They restrained his wrists with plastic cable ties. One of them deployed a stun gun against the man three times. The other beat him with his own cane.

Two men arraigned in reported home invasion in Amherst Jason K. Evans, 36, of Depew and Mark S. Shadle, 33, of Kenmore were both indicted on one count of first-degree burglary and one count of first-degree robbery.

For almost 20 minutes, the victim was tied up while his attackers rummaged for items to steal. They stuffed watches, coins, rings and cash into a pillowcase.

A Depew man and a Kenmore man were arrested 11 months ago and charged in the Bucyrus Drive incident. On Wednesday, an Erie County jury began listening to evidence in their case.

During the trial, jurors will learn of a digital trail of cellphone and cell tower data that link Jason K. Evans and Mark S. Shadle like breadcrumbs to and from the scene of the crime, Assistant Erie County District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi said in his opening statement.

Two arrested in West Amherst home invasion The incident occurred Oct. 28 on Bucyrus Avenue, and the suspects were arrested Wednesday, according to Amherst police.

Evans and Shadles defense attorneys argued in their opening statements that police and prosecutors have charged the wrong men  theres no DNA or fingerprint evidence, and the evidence they will see doesnt identify them as the assailants beyond a reasonable doubt.

Evans attorney also suggested her clients twin brother may have been one of the assailants.

Evans, 37, and Shadle, 34, each were indicted on charges of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary for the Oct. 28, 2022, incident. Both of them have been in police custody since December.

Jury selection in the case began Monday, and the trial before County Judge Susan Eagan is expected to last until late next week.

The victim, who was attacked and tied up on the second floor of his home, was able to escape his restraints  tearing skin off both arms  and crawl to the first floor and call a family member, Bussi told jurors.

The victim, who also suffered broken ribs and had skin torn from his knee, spent almost three weeks in a hospital intensive care unit, the prosecutors said.

The prosecutor described the defendants as strung out on drugs, and said they went to the home of a man they knew to steal things they could sell simply to feed their urges.

Both defendants knew the victim, according to prosecutors, and Evans, whom the victim had known since he was a child, had previously worked for him, said Bussi, who is prosecuting the case, along with ADA Christopher S. Safulko.

Evans purchased cable ties and duct tape from a Dollar Tree near the victims home the hour before the attack, jurors were told. They wore gloves during the commission of the crime, Bussi said.

The search history for Evans phone included the victims address, as well as the value of coins and bills, in addition to cheap bus tickets, he said.

In recorded jail calls, according to prosecutors, Evans called a relative of his who spoke with police a straight rat, said that relative is all they had on him and told the other person on the line to move and bury what he describes as them other joints.

At one point while being interviewed by police, Shadle asked what they would give him for his full cooperation, Bussi said.

When Amherst police tracked down their vehicle, they found Shadles smashed cellphone inside.

Florina Altshiler, Evans defense attorney, said her client has no history of drug use or drug arrests, or of any criminal history of burglaries, robberies or thefts.

She told the jury Evans was scared, frustrated and angry when he made the jail calls referenced by prosecutors. Altshiler said her client was mad because he was sitting in jail after being falsely accused.

She also said Amherst police failed to investigate other potential suspects.

Defense attorneys also told the jury the victim did not initially identify either of the defendants when asked by police who the attackers were. But after discussions with officers, the victim became confident it was the defendants, said defense attorney Louis C. Mussari, who is representing Shadle with attorney Brian K. Parker.

The defense attorneys also said the jury should question the reliability of the cellphone-related data.

A couple of coincidences stacking up is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, Mussari said.
NATO Launches Call for Public Diplomacy Grant Projects in 2024

Do you have an idea for a NATO-related project reaching out to audiences across the Alliance, partner countries and global audiences? The NATO Public Diplomacy Division looks forward to receiving grant applications ranging from out-of-the box, non-traditional ideas to more institutional formats

PDD contributes to a variety of people-to-people and digital programmes in NATO and partner countries. It works actively to strengthen the Alliances public image, promoting understanding, trust in and support for the Alliance. This support is provided through discretionary grants to non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), universities, think tanks, and other pertinent civil society organisations in member and selected partner countries.

The 2024 applications should focus on the following thematic clusters:

All for one, One for all for 75 years: NATOs 75th Anniversary

National journeys: commemorating individual countries Membership Anniversaries

Support NATO efforts to address the growing threat of foreign information manipulation and interference

Support NATOs efforts to promote partnerships and global security cooperation

Particular focus should be placed on outreach to youth audiences, female audiences and key opinion formers, including those who have not connected with NATO before.

NATO is particularly interested in projects that can be rolled out throughout 2024, NATOs 75th anniversary year, which combine a range of activities, engage in meaningful dialogue and generate lasting connections, understanding and trust.

If you are interested in competing for a grant, please apply according to the following instructions:

For projects taking place in 2024, please submit your applications using the forms on this page by 22 January 2024. Projects must be completed by 31 December 2024.

For content, please see the Content Guidelines.

For further details on NATO PDD financial rules and how to apply, please read the Application Guidelines and Financial and Reporting Procedures carefully.
On Thursday (30 November 2023), NATOs Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) announced the first 44 companies selected to tackle NATOs specific challenges on energy resilience, undersea sensing and surveillance, and secure information sharing. On the same day, DIANA launched a call for mentors and experts to support and advise the chosen innovators and entrepreneurs.

The selected companies come from across the Alliance and include trailblazers in fields as diverse as robotics, ocean sensors, quantum technologies and energy-generating textiles.

Im delighted that, today, were welcoming the successful applicants to our very first pilot challenges, said Professor Deeph Chana, DIANAs Managing Director. We received some extraordinarily inventive ideas in all three categories  ideas which could be genuinely game-changing. DIANA will now work directly with the selected companies, helping them to test those ideas, to get commercial and technical advice to help their businesses succeed, to secure investment and much, much more.

The 44 companies were chosen from over 1,300 applicants after a rigorous evaluation process. To take part in DIANAs pilot challenges call, companies had to be headquartered in a NATO member country. Selection focused on the proposed solutions and their potential to address the specific challenges identified by the Alliance in a transformative way. The proposals had to be technologically feasible and commercially viable.

By supporting the brightest and best start-ups and innovators across the NATO Alliance, DIANA is helping to maintain NATOs technological edge, and make our societies and economies more resilient, said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana. He added: New technologies are changing the character of conflict, making NATOs cooperation with the industry essential to ensure the defence of the Alliance against ever more sophisticated threats.

DIANA expects to issue its first grants to successful applicants in December. Each company will receive EUR 100,000 to help address one of the three specific challenge problems. The grant can be used on expenses such as salaries, rent and equipment.

The innovators will join DIANAs bespoke accelerator programme early next year, giving them access to a community of experts that will help them develop their technological solutions.

For more information visit DIANAs website: www.diana.nato.int
The Royal Danish Navy patrols the waters around Greenland year round. A visit to the HDMS Triton reveals what life is like for the crew as they serve in this majestic  and strategically important  Arctic landscape.



Patrolling the worlds largest island

The sea is choppy. So choppy, in fact, that the lamp in the officers mess swings to and fro, casting light and shadows from one angle to another. Mention the rocking to one of the crew, though, and the only answer youll get is a knowing smile  as if to say, Youll soon get used to it.

The 55 or so crew members of the Royal Danish Navy ship HDMS Triton are well-accustomed to these rough seas. Since its launch in 1990, the ship has been a near constant presence in the waters around Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which are both autonomous territories within the Kingdom of Denmark and are therefore part of NATO territory.

The Triton serves a vital role in the defence of this highly contested and strategically important area, known as the High North, conducting patrols and returning to harbour in Denmark only for maintenance and to resupply. While not technically an icebreaker, the ship has been specially designed with a double skinned, ice-reinforced hull so that it can break through up to 80 cm of ice. It is also highly manoeuvrable, which is key when operating in Greenlands narrow ports and waterways. The Triton patrols the west coast of Greenland, monitoring the area for rogue fishing boats or other suspicious ships and submarines, and, when possible, liaising with local communities.

This is no small task. Greenland is huge  the worlds largest island. Five times the size of Germany. Fifty times bigger than Denmark. In fact, if you lay it across Europe on a map, it stretches from Portugal to Poland. But its population is only 56,000, less than 1 per cent of the Danish population of around 5.9 million. Inhospitable, inaccessible, ice-covered, remote, it is a destination mainly reserved for cold-weather enthusiasts, scientists and intrepid explorers  and, of course, the Greenlandic Inuit people, who have lived on the vast island for thousands of years. It is also beautiful, rich in sparkling vistas, dramatic snowy valleys and ice highways that offer views overlooking icefields.

On board the Triton, the view is just as spectacular. As we depart the port of Nuuk (Greenlands capital city), snow-covered glaciers loom on either side of the ship. The homogeneity in the landscape and the lack of identifiable features plays with your perspective  the glaciers and rolling landscapes appear both immense and forbidding yet close and accessible. As Nuuks infrastructure vanishes behind us, human civilisation disappears with it.

Changes and challenges in the High North

The Triton is one of four Danish patrol vessels deployed in the region at any given time. Theships fall under the Joint Arctic Command (JACO), a Danish operational command based in Nuuk. JACO also oversees Challenger 650 patrol aircraft and the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol  an elite naval unit made up of experienced Danes who patrol the eastern coast of Greenland on dog sleds in two-year rotations.

Greenlands vast icefields have remained virtually untouched for centuries. But that is changing. Rising air temperatures and warm ocean waters are speeding the melting of Greenlands glaciers. As the ice melts, it opens up previously inaccessible shipping lanes, which are attracting international attention. Cruise liners are beginning to appear with more regularity. Shipping traffic is increasing.

The availability of these new Arctic routes could lead to competition between countries and jeopardise the security of the entire region. Russia maintains significant military capabilities in the Arctic, and its capability to disrupt Allied reinforcements and freedom of navigation across the North Atlantic is a strategic challenge to the Alliance. China has declared itself a near-Arctic state and is developing new icebreaker ships with an eye on increasing its Arctic presence. NATO is increasingly concerned by these developments. After all, five of the six countries bordering the Arctic Ocean are NATO Allies: Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and the United States.

On the bridge of the ship, were greeted by the Captain. Commander Senior Grade Peter Krogh is a veteran of these waters and a former commander of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). He is soft-spoken and often found with a cup of strong coffee in hand, but he also carries the presence and authority that his rank demands.

We join him as the ship passes through the incongruously named Disco Bay, a fjord just off the west coast of Greenland. Peter, as his crew call him (on the Triton, everyone refers to one another by their first names regardless of rank  an unusual detour from the watertight etiquette of most militaries) points out one of the few coastal communities on the lands edge.

In the Bay of Disco where we are now, people in Ilulissat used to visit the isle of Disco by foot, across the ice, by sledges and dogs, he tells us. But they havent been able to do that for a very long time.

Climate change has wide-ranging impacts on the region  not just in melting ice, but in more frequent and severe storms. Were taken to the helicopter deck, where safety crew are busy prepping the ships MH-60R Seahawk helicopter for a training flight. The weather is terrible. Grey clouds unleash a torrent of snow. Its windy. Sea spray gusts over the deck, and a low-hanging mist means that visibility is low. You dont need to be an expert to know that these are not ideal flying conditions.

The two pilots perform the final checks before stepping into the helicopter, starting the engines and slowly levitating out over the rough seas. Familiarising themselves with these conditions is vital for the pilots, who need to be able to fly maritime security missions, personnel and cargo transfers, and search and rescue operations.

Life on board the Triton

In the evening, the crew hosts a small social gathering. Officers, NCOs and conscripts mingle together in the area on the ship known as the bar. Drinks are topped up with ice harvested from the surrounding ocean (apparently, ice that appears black as it floats on the surface is among the purest on Earth). As guests on board, we are taught sea shanties and old dice games passed down from one seafaring generation to the next.

The Royal Danish Navy practises a culture of informality and inclusivity, cultivating a relaxed, familiar atmosphere on board. When you spend six weeks at sea in some of the most isolated waters in the world, this is essential for keeping up morale and building camaraderie.

A tiny vessel in a vast sea

The next day, before we disembark, some of the ships crew take us out into the surrounding ocean on a small boat. As we slowly pull away from the Tritons hull and into the waters beyond, icebergs the size of buildings saunter past, each one a different size and shape, and all more than tens of thousands of years old. Even the Triton, in all its 112-metre glory, is dwarfed by the passing ice. It is a humbling, awe-inspiring experience.

The Royal Danish Navy has operated in Greenlands waters since 1605, when the first three naval units were deployed by King Christian IV. Over the centuries, Danish forces have adapted their procedures and equipment, becoming expert operators in the Arctic maritime environment. That experience has been extremely valuable to share with NATO Allies  and it will prove even more vital as climate change causes the High North to become more accessible, continuing to transform the Arctic in the decades and centuries to come.
ALARM as more than 30,000 Europeans die annually from SUPERBUGS triggered by pharmaceutical overuse and abuse

New research published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has revealed that more than 30,000 people die in Europe every single year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as "superbugs."

Researchers estimate that anywhere between 31,000 and 39,000 Europeans succumb to death by superbugs, often due to overdependence on and abuse of pharmaceutical antibiotics, which are a leading cause of superbugs.

Antibiotic overuse both in human and veterinary medicine has caused deadly bacteria to become "smarter," effectively outsmarting even the most advanced antibiotics designed to destroy them.

The hardest-hit countries, according to data compiled by statistician Anna Fleck, suggest that people in southern Europe, including in Italy and Romania, are among the most highly impacted by Europe. In Scandinavia, conversely, superbug deaths are far fewer.

All in all, the most hard-hit nations by superbugs are Greece, Italy, Romania, and Cyprus, with annual mortality rates of between 10 and 20 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants due to superbugs, according to data spanning from 2016 through 2020.

The Netherlands and Norway have the lowest mortality rates due to superbugs at just two per 100,000 inhabitants.

(Related: Earlier this year, an entire ICU at a Chinese hospital was completely overtaken by antibiotic-resistant superbugs.)

Superbugs killed nearly 5M people worldwide in 2019

Another report out of Florida from this past week suggests that antibiotic-resistant infections contributed to almost five million deaths worldwide in 2019.

In the United States specifically, superbugs are now the third leading cause of death, this also based on data from 2019.

LaVerne A. Burton, president and CEO of the American Kidney Fund, says there is good news on the way with the introduction of a new bill called the PASTEUR Act that she says will "jump-start the arsenal of new medicines we need to counteract the accelerating superbug pandemic."

"Antimicrobial resistance occurs when pathogens like bacteria and fungi evolve to fend off currently available antimicrobial medications," she writes. "It's hard to overstate how pervasive AMR is. A stunning 92% of urinary tract infections are resistant to at least one antibiotic. Nine in 10 cases of the hospital-associated fungus Candida auris are drug-resistant."

"Nobody is immune to superbugs, but certain patient groups are at much higher risk of infection. People with chronic conditions, like kidney disease, or weakened immune systems, are more likely to contract a drug-resistant infection."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study a few years back warning that people on dialysis are particularly susceptible to contracting a deadly superbug. They are up to 100 times more likely than the average person to get sick from a superbug, in fact.

And it just so happens that infection is the leading cause of death among patients on dialysis, suggesting that their pre-existing health conditions are not to blame, but rather the treatments they are receiving that end up contaminating their blood with superbugs.

"To preserve the efficacy of antimicrobials, especially the newest ones, physicians must prescribe them only when they're appropriate for the patient," Burton says. "This careful use  known as stewardship  helps slow the rate of resistance. But it also limits their sales potential, making it nearly impossible for drug developers to sustain through their upfront investments."

What the PASTEUR Act aims to do is create a new, alternative payment model for antimicrobials in which the government enters into contracts directly with antimicrobial innovators.

"These contracts would not be based on volume, but rather access to novel treatments," Burton explains. "Antimicrobial developers are assured the revenue they need to innovate new treatments, while clinicians focus on using antimicrobials as judiciously as possible."

The latest news about the hell being unleashed by pharmaceuticals can be found at BadMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

Europa.eu

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com

CapeCoralBreeze.com
RIGGED: Biden gets off unscathed while DOJ sweats and slaves to imprison Trump over mishandling of classified documents

According to a report by CNN, two sources confirmed that special counsel Robert Hur, who was appointed to investigate President Joe Biden's mishandling of classified documents at two locations, is not going to charge anyone.

Hur and his team will be releasing a detailed report on their year-long probe that is expected to be critical of Biden and his staff for the way they handled sensitive materials. The report is to detail what the special counsel's office found in its investigation, but it would be unlikely for Biden to face criminal charges related to the discovery of said documents at his home and office, the sources close to Hur added. The team told other Department of Justice (DoJ) officials that they hope to have the report completed by the end of the year, but that timeline could slide.

#BREAKING: CNN announces that Special Counsel Robert Hur will NOT be bringing charges against ANYONE in connection to his investigation of how then-Vice President Biden and his team over how they handled classified documents. CNN's Brianna Keilar and Paula Reid say Hur's team pic.twitter.com/29kUGlB7Eo  Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 16, 2023

Last November, lawyers for the U.S. president discovered a small number of classified documents dating from his term as vice president at an office the president formerly used and reported it to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Justice Department opened an inquiry into why and how they got there. CNN reported at the time that around 10 classified documents, some marked "top secret," were found and related to the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Iran. Biden's legal team prepared to search his other properties for any similar documents and discussed with the DoJ the prospect of having FBI agents present while Biden's lawyers conducted the additional searches.

In January, Attorney General Merrick Garland handpicked Hur to investigate the matter, amid questions about why the White House delayed public announcements of the discovery of the sensitive records at that time. Critics could not help but wonder why the DoJ is working so hard to imprison 2024 presidential poll leader former President Donald Trump over mishandling classified documents when Hur will let Biden off just like that over the same charges.

In the week since news reports first surfaced about the documents, the incident has drawn parallels to the discovery of documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, which federal agents obtained a warrant to search in August after more than a year of negotiations between Trump's lawyers, the NARA and DoJ, and after the former president's lawyers said all documents had been returned.

"There were plenty of questions and questionable activity, including the comings and goings of several White House officials in the months leading up to the discovery of classified documents, surrounding Biden's concealment of the papers from his time as vice president. Yet neither the article nor the accompanying TV segment made any mention of why Biden's lawyers, who claimed they stumbled across the documents, were snooping around the Penn Biden Center office in Washington, D.C., in the first place," an article on the Federalist pointed out.

The independent news outlet pointed out that CNN did not mention the other key differences between the two cases, like the fact that Trump's documents were discovered on a private, Secret Service-protected property while Biden's were found in a busy public building and easily accessible garage. Nor did it note that NARA specifically didn't work with Trump after his departure as it did with former President Barack Obama and Biden. Moreover, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters then that he was unaware that government documents had been stored there.

It can be noted that Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump in June with 37 counts of mishandling classified documents and two months later, he tacked on three more charges related to the discovery of documents at Trump's mansion. For critics, Biden's information cache warranted the same level of investigation and transparency that Trump suffered. The current POTUS harbored classified documents from his time as vice president in a box by his 1967 Corvette Stingray and his "think tank" office for years, yet it was Trump who could soon be imprisoned. (Related: The deep state finally got the indictment they have been wanting: Trump hit with 37 federal counts over handling of classified documents.)

Comer subpoenas Biden aides about classified documents

Last week, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky), who is leading a three-committee impeachment probe against Biden that has largely focused on the first family's foreign business machinations, subpoenaed ex-White House counsel Dana Remus for information about the matter. Last month, Comer indicated that his Oversight Committee is looking at the document situation and pointed to alleged gaps in the White House's timeline of events.

"The Committees are also investigating whether sufficient grounds exist to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House," Comer and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote in a legally binding demand for testimony letter addressed to Director of Oval Office operations Annie Tomasini, Jill Biden adviser Anthony Bernal, Chief of Staff Aide Katharine Reilly and Special Assistant Ashley Williams.

The new subpoenas indicate that Republicans are considering impeachment counts that cite his handling of government documents.

Visit Trump.news for more stories about the former president's ongoing legal battle.

Sources for this article include:

Edition.CNN.com

NY1.com

TheFederalist.com

NYPost.com
Binance cryptocurrency exchange pleads guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, recently pleaded guilty to breaking American anti-money laundering laws

Binance submitted its plea before a federal court in Seattle, Washington on Nov. 21. As part of its guilty plea, the cryptocurrency company has agreed to pay a $50 million fine to the federal government  a fine that, interestingly enough, is separate from the $4.3 billion investigation resolution Binance has with the Department of Justice. (Related: 47 Nations combine forces to require automated tax authority monitoring of crypto trading data.)

As part of the guilty plea, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, a Chinese-Canadian, has also agreed to step down.

"Today, I stepped down as CEO of Binance. Admittedly, it was not easy to let go emotionally," he said in a statement. "But I know it is the right thing to do. I made mistakes, and I must take responsibility. This is best for our community, for Binance and for myself."

As part of the ongoing investigation against Binance and Zhao by the Justice Department, federal prosecutors are reportedly seeking an 18-month prison sentence for the CEO, in line with maximum federal guidelines. Other media outlets claim that Zhao could even face up to 10 years in prison.

Once Zhao and his former company's legal troubles conclude, he plans to become a private, passive investor in the cryptocurrency industry, including on blockchain initiatives. He has also suggested that he wants to remain involved with Binance as a consultant and a shareholder.

Binance CEO barred from leaving the country before sentencing

Zhao previously pleaded with the Seattle court to consider allowing him to return to his home in the United Arab Emirates, where he is also a citizen, while he awaits his sentencing hearing in February 2024. This appeal was initially approved by a different court, provided that Zhao pay a $175 million bond as part of a bail agreement.

The government, however, did not want Zhao to leave, and so it appealed the decision to District Judge Richard Jones, who ordered Zhao to remain in the United States while he conducts a more thorough review of his appeal.

The government has warned that it may be unable to secure Zhao's return given that Washington does not have an extradition treaty with Abu Dhabi. Zhao's lawyers have contested the accusation that he is a potential flight risk, noting that he has already paid a substantial bail package and even voluntarily came to the U.S. to stand trial.

Regardless of the outcome of Zhao's sentencing, U.S. authorities have described the ordeals it has placed upon Zhao and Binance as a watershed moment in the government's ongoing battle to make the cryptocurrency industry comply with federal law.

"Crypto's creators aspired to create a decentralized money system, with no entry points for state oversight and surveillance," wrote Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman for the Wall Street Journal. "But the crypto economy has become increasingly centralized around exchanges like Binance and Coinbase."

"While these exchanges allow customers to store and convert money from one cryptocurrency into another, they also give the government a massive opening," they continued. "Crypto is being tamed, as its central actors agree to implement U.S. rules, extending the government's reach into the heart of the crypto economy."

Learn more about cryptocurrencies at CryptoCult.news.

Watch this clip from GNews discussing how Binance readily cooperates with the Chinese Communist Party.

This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Sam Bankman-Fried found GUILTY on all charges in jury trial: "Maximum sentence of 110 years in prison."

Binance is delisting privacy tokens in France, Spain, Poland and Italy.

Government agency files complaint against crypto exchange Binance, alleging compliance violations.

Emergency interview with John Perez as SWIFT cuts off Binance and global currency wars explode.

Binance, an early FTX investor, linked to CCP, WEF and UN.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

CryptoSlate.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
CHICKEN SANDWICH AIR DROP: Chick-fil-A launches drone deliveries in Florida

One Chick-fil-A location in Tampa, Florida, has recently launched a pilot program that uses delivery drones

While the idea seems novel and convenient, is it something workers at the fast food restaurant chain should worry about?

Will the drones eventually replace all human delivery drivers?

Stores in Valrico, Florida can send orders using drones

Chick-fil-A announced the initiative on Instagram early in November, posting a video showing employees preparing a meal at the restaurant and placing it onto a small drone for delivery.

A wire connected to the drone, which is roughly the same size as a small desk, carefully lowers the food from the sky to the waiting customer. The drone was designed to be carefully sealed off to avoid spills during the flight.

In another video promoting the new delivery option, a Chick-fil-A worker can be seen packaging a tightly wrapped drink in a cardboard box with wrapping paper to provide a cushion. This allegedly ensures that beverages can be delivered to customers without a spill.

The fast food chain invited people to try the new service, which is only available to those near Chick-fil-A in Valrico, Florida. To receive orders by drone, customers are advised to place an order between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

A representative from the Valrico Chick-fil-A location said the flying drones can make deliveries within 1.2 miles. However, the store anticipates "a 2-mile radius soon."

This drone delivery idea came after Chick-fil-A entered an agreement with DroneUp, a Virginia-based drone company that has also worked with Walmart in December 2022. Last year, Walmart announced the launch of delivery drones at five of its stores around the Tampa Bay area.

The stores offer drone delivery for customers living within at least a mile of certain locations. Walmart customers could choose from more than 10,000 eligible items and have them delivered to their homes within 30 minutes.

However, the Walmart drone delivery service has some restrictions, such as the total order must weigh under 10 pounds. Customers also have to pay a $3.99 delivery fee.

Like the Chick-fil-A delivery drone, the Walmart drones deliver customer orders to the front door via a cable that "gently lowers the package into the customer's yard." Walmart's drone team is controlled by certified pilots operating within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. (Related: LAYOFFS INCOMING: Walmart teams up with Wings for high-speed drone deliveries to 60,000 homes in Dallas.)

Chelsea Lee, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson, said the company is "in the early stages of testing drone delivery at a small number of Chick-fil-A restaurants." The fast food chain is also planning to use autonomous robot vehicles in the future.

Delivery drones could replace human workers one day

Chik-fil-A and Walmart's delivery drones have proven that automation will soon eliminate certain jobs.

While workers worry that they could lose their jobs in the coming years, more and more companies are beginning to employ robots on manufacturing floors, in kitchens and on delivery routes.

According to the World Economic Forums (WEF) Future of Jobs Report for 2023 forecast, both humanoid and nonhumanoid robots are "set to reduce employment in the years to come, as nearly equal amounts of companies say theyre expecting growth, worker displacement or a neutral effect due to the technology." The sectors most likely to adopt robotics are electronics, energy tech, utilities and consumer goods.

At least 60 percent of companies operating in the production of consumer goods and the oil and gas industry project that jobs will be lost due to automation. Meanwhile, 60 percent of companies operating in information and technology services predict that jobs will be created because of robots in the next five years.

Because of the potential job displacements, many unions and labor rights advocates in the country oppose the adoption of robots, especially due to worries that they could completely replace some human functions.

Visit EconomicRiot.com for more updates about technology-related mass layoffs.

Watch the video below to learn more about China's increased production of humanoid robots.

This video is from the Natural Intelligence channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Tic Tac UFO seen by pilots could be advanced drones that can fly silently, experts suggest.

AI-controlled planes now a reality, but are they a boon or bane in the sky?

USPS halts mail deliveries to 98118 zip code in Seattle due to out-of-control crime.

Sources include:

ThePostMillennial.com

Instagram.com

TheMessenger.com

WTSP.com

CNBC.com

Brighteon.com
Houthi rebels warn that ALL Israeli ships will come under fire if war continues

A military spokesman for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has warned that all Israeli ships will come under fire just days after a cargo ship with ties to an Israeli businessman was seized as it passed through the Red Sea and hostages were taken.

The spokesman, General Yahya Sarea, warned that Yemeni missiles would strike all types of Israeli ships. He outlined the ships that would be targeted, saying that any ships owned or operated by Israeli companies, along with those that carry the flag of the Zionist entity would come under fire.

At the same time, the Yemeni armed forces asked countries around the world to avoid shipping goods or carrying out transactions with these ships and to withdraw any of their citizens who are working as crew members on such vessels. They also instructed them to caution their ships to stay away from Israeli vessels.

Meanwhile, Houthi military official Major General Ali Al-Moshki said: Israeli ships are legitimate targets for us anywhere and we will not hesitate to take action.

Weeks ago, Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship operated by a Japanese firm that carries the flag of the Bahamas, and took its 25 crew members hostage. None of the crew members were Israeli, but the ship was targeted because it has links to a billionaire Israeli businessman, Abraham Rami Ungar. Ungar owns the British company that owns the Galaxy Leader, Ray Car Carriers. The crew members hailed from countries like the Philippines, Ukraine, Mexico, Bulgaria and Romania.

In the incident, Houthi rebels slid down a rope that was hanging out of a helicopter that hovered overhead. U.S. military officials have called the action a flagrant violation of international law.

The Houthis said they captured the ship as a form of retaliation against Israels war on Hamas, which Hamas set into motion with its savage October 7 attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 people dead and took 240 people as hostages into Gaza.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam warned that more is to come, saying the seizure was only the beginning and that further maritime attacks would be carried out until Israel ends its campaign in Gaza. He said that Israelis only understand the language of force.

Shipping disruptions could occur in the region as a result of the violence

The coastline of Yemen overlooks the narrow Bab al-Mandab Strait. This passage between Djibouti and Yemen situated at the foot of the Red Sea is considered one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, carrying roughly 20 percent of the worlds oil consumption. While much of the Red Sea spans wider than 124 miles, the Bab al-Mandab strait is a chokepoint that is less than 12 miles wide. More than 17,000 ships pass through it every year, which amounts to almost 50 per day.

Speaking to AFP, Torbjorn Soltvedt, who works for risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said that shipping disruptions in the region at large should be expected.

If security concerns compel shipping companies to avoid the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the result will be significantly higher costs due to the lack of alternative routes, he noted.

Some experts believe that Houthi fighters may have decided to attack ships after their efforts to launch missiles and drones into Israel failed.

On several occasions in the last month, U.S warships have intercepted drones and missiles coming from Yemen that were going in the direction of Israel or presenting a threat to American vessels. The navy destroyer USS Carney intercepted a series of drones and land attack cruise missiles launched by Houthis toward the northern part of the Red Sea last month.

Sources for this article include:

English.Almanar.com.lb

TimesOfIsrael.com

APNews.com
Iran unveils new HYPERSONIC MISSILE in apparent warning to the U.S. and Israel

Iran has unveiled a new missile that it claims is hypersonic and capable of evading air defense systems. The missile was presented at a ceremony at the Ashura Aerospace Science and Technology University in Tehran that was attended by Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The event touted significant advancements in the country's aerospace technology; Tehran only unveiled its first hypersonic missile earlier this year.

The IRNA news agency reported that the new missile, dubbed Fattah 2 (the Persian word for conqueror), contains a hypersonic glider warhead and can maneuver at 15 times the speed of sound. Its hypersonic glide vehicle can detach from the missile and glide toward its target at hypersonic speeds.

Its ability to avoid ballistic missile defenses is supported by its sharp maneuvering capability. Ballistic missiles fly on trajectories, and anti-missile systems like Israels Arrow system are able to anticipate the path they will take and intercept them. Missiles that take more irregular flight paths are more challenging to intercept, although they also tend to have a shorter range.

Irans previous Fattah missile was said to have a range of 1,400 kilometers, but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it was seeking to improve its range to 2,000 kilometers, which would put Israel within its range.

Iran has not released any videos showing the missile being fired, and it is believed to be untested. It reportedly uses a liquid fuel rocket propellant, unlike the first version of the Fattah. This enables it to adjust its thrust force, optimizing its flight path and giving it better control over its speed as well as a greater range.

Khamenei also unveiled a drone called Gaza and said that Israel was experiencing a defeat in its war against Hamas. He also expressed his belief that the Zionist regime is a symbol of racism and that leaders of Western countries backing Israels actions in Gaza also believe in racism and see nothing wrong with it.

Other weapons displayed included an upgraded rendition of its 9-Dey missile defense system, new Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles, and a new Mehran missile defense system that can employ solid fuel missiles.

The display comes as Israel continues to intercept ballistic missiles being fired at it by Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran. According to the IDF, its long-range Arrow air defense system has shot some of these missiles down.

Iran is the fourth country in the world to use HGV missile technology

Iran is only the fourth country in the world to use the technology in HGV missiles. It joins Russia, who has an HGV that can fly up to 27 times the speed of sound and has an explosive yield that can be as high as two megatons, which is 100 times the explosion that was generated when the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.

Another country that has HGV missiles is China, who put a hypersonic glider into service in 2019 that can travel up to 10 times faster than the speed of sound and is capable of carrying a nuclear charge.

The U.S., meanwhile, is preparing to launch its Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon later this year after its original target to enter service in September was delayed.

Irans show of force comes as the U.S. has been moving military assets such as a nuclear submarine and carrier strike groups to the Middle East as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. Other groups supported by Iran, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, have been fighting with Israel as well in solidarity with Hamas.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

AlJazeera.com

TimesOfIsrael.com
An Amherst man will spend two years in prison for assaulting a social worker while kidnapping his own child during a supervised visit, according to the Erie County District Attorneys Office.

Shalan Souverain, 23, was sentenced Tuesday by State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to two years in prison followed by three years of post-release supervision in addition to an indeterminate sentence of one to three years in prison, which will run concurrently to the other term.

Souverain was arrested in March 2022 after an hourslong standoff with police on charges of kidnapping his 4-year-old child from an Erie County Department of Social Services Childrens Services office at Appletree Business Park in Cheektowaga and hitting an Erie County Child Protective Services employee with his car.

Souverain, who had lost custody of the child, had an appointment on March 10, 2022, for a supervised visit with the child who was brought to the Union Road office by a foster parent. Souverain grabbed the child from the waiting room and was chased by a childrens services employee, who was then shoved by Souverain as he got into his vehicle with his child. Souverain then struck the employee with his vehicle as he drove off. The social worker was transported to Erie County Medical Center where he was treated for injuries to his arm and the side of his body.

Amherst police went to Souverains residence in the 200 block of Travers Circle in West Amherst and negotiated with him for nearly five hours before taking him into custody. The child was found unharmed and returned to the custody of Erie County Child Protective Services.

Souverain pleaded guilty on Oct. 12 to one count each of second-degree assault and first-degree custodial interference, both felonies. As part of his sentence Tuesday, final no-contact orders of protection were issued for both the social worker and the child, which remain in effect until March 2035.

Meanwhile, Souverains mother, 47-year-old Dian Schul of Amherst, was also charged for her role in the crime. Schul was inside of the apartment when her son arrived with the child in violation of the order of protection. Schul had knowledge of an existing court order that prevented her son from having custody of the child. She also refused numerous orders by police during the standoff.

On Feb. 2, Schul pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree custodial interference, and in April was sentenced to time served along with five years of probation.
Another left-cult journalist ARRESTED for child porn

Left-wing journalists are getting arrested for sexual and child abuse and pedophilia charges. Former CNN producer John Griffin was sentenced to 19 years in jail for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl. Meanwhile, ABC producer James Gordon Meek has been jailed for six years after being convicted of possessing inappropriate images of minors.

Last week, a former journalist and talk show host was arrested on child sex crime charges in Massachusetts for allegedly bragging in private text messages that they came close to having a sexual encounter with a teenager in their neighborhood. Slade Sohmer, 44, the former managing editor of CNN's now-defunct BEME video-sharing app and, until a month ago, editor-in-chief of the left-leaning video-driven news site the Recount, was freed on $100,000 bail on Monday after he was charged in a Massachusetts court with possessing and disseminating "hundreds of child pornography images and videos."

He has pled not guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of dissemination of child pornography. A magistrate judge said he was not allowed to access the Internet or have contact with anyone under the age of 18 while he was on pre-trial release.

Not only was PizzaGate real it is still happening today! Slade Sohmer, a journalist who runs in the inner circle of Hillary Clinton and John Podesta, was just arrested this week after an examination turned up more than 1,300 pornographic images and videos, hundreds of which pic.twitter.com/050RXpBqen  Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) November 18, 2023

The police executed a search warrant on his East Otis home, where they seized numerous phones and computers from Sohmer and his roommate, whom the Desk is not identifying at this time because that person has not been charged with a crime. According to law enforcers, Sohmer willingly gave them his password to at least two Apple iPhones that were later examined by forensic investigators.

They found more than 1,300 pornographic images and videos, hundreds of which involved children. Investigators were confident that more than 50 videos allegedly pulled from the devices showed undressed children engaged in sexual activity. At least eight kids have been identified by police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), an advocacy group that works with law enforcement to combat child sex crimes.

A 24-page police affidavit that was written and filed in support of an arrest warrant for Sohmer indicated that he used several apps, including Snapchat, to exchange child sex abuse material with people online. At times, Sohmer allegedly used the app to work with children as young as 12 years old to produce their videos for him. One of those videos was found, police allege, while details of his other videos were relayed in a one-on-one conversation with an unknown person through the encrypted app Telegram.

During that same conversation, Sohmer allegedly confessed to luring a 14-year-old boy in his neighborhood into having an in-person sexual encounter with him, according to excerpts revealed in the affidavit. He allegedly said he tricked the teenager into meeting up by posing as a girl in an online chat room, where he arranged to meet the boy near a public park restroom. Sohmer purportedly said he went to the park and saw the teenager, but he ultimately chickened out, the logs show. An investigator who included details of the conversation in their affidavit did not say whether they had evidence proving the situation actually took place.

[Warning: Graphic content.]

In other conversations, Sohmer claimed to have lured other teenagers into performing sex acts for him over Snapchat, including a 15-year-old from Germany and a 13-year-old who was on a road trip with his parents.

Sohmer has been well-known for yellow journalism or sensationalism and attacks on conservatives. His video journalism platform has been making money by targeting "conspiracy theorists" -- primarily people who stood against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mandates and forced vaccination. (Related: Disturbing photos of top Dems cozying up with hulking alleged child porn transvestite go viral.)

BuzzFeed takes down article lauding Sohmer

Sohmer also made waves in 2018 as he was featured in an article titled "People Are Touched By This Writer's Conversation With A Bunch of Fourth Graders," with the subhead that read: "Kids are books filled with blank pages."

On May 11, 2018, Slade Sohmer wrote on his social media that he was invited to his mother's fourth-grade classroom to mark the "perfect confluence of Teacher Appreciation Week and Mother's Day." He addressed a class of fourth graders about his homosexuality. Sohmer's mother, Susan Sohmer, worked at New Hyde Park Road School on Long Island and taught the said group of students.

Sohmer recalled the personal questions that he was asked by the kids, including: "What's the happiest moment of your life? " "Do you have a girlfriend?" "Do you have a wife or kids?" The last question was: "Who do you live with?"

According to his post on X, formerly Twitter, that was screen captured by the New York Post, Somer answered the children, right after he got a nod from his mother, that he "was living with his boyfriend." After his face reddened and "the air flew out of the room for a split second," Sohmer wrote that he was relieved that "none of these precocious f**kers, like, give a s**t."

BuzzFeed covered the story and it was still live as of Tuesday on the site. But now, the piece has been removed from the website. It is still available on the Wayback Machine internet archive, though.

Check out LeftCult.com to read more articles on liberals' loose views and morals.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

TheDesk.net 1

TheDesk.net 2

NYPost.com

Web.Archive.org
Texas Rangers, Border Patrol reclaim Rio Grande Island previously used as base of operations by Mexican drug cartels

Customs and Border Protection, in cooperation with Texas Rangers, have reclaimed an island in the Rio Grande previously used by Mexican cartels for decades as a base of operations for human and drug trafficking operations in the United States.

This is according to an anonymous informant interviewed by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, on his program, the "Health Ranger Report," who noted that the Texas Rangers and Border Patrol are focusing a lot of their new patrols on Fronton Island, a 170-acre island on the American side of the Rio Grande River that serves as the border between the U.S. and Mexico in that part of Texas.

According to this informant, Mexican drug cartels were using the cover provided by the uninhabited island's nature to keep their movements into the U.S. concealed from authorities just across the river who were tasked with observing and preventing potential border crossings. (Related: CONFIRMED: Mexican cartels are now INSIDE the U.S. forming gangs and SNIPER NESTS to take out Americans.)

Previous drone footage released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirms that Mexican drug cartel operatives had previously used Fronton Island as a staging point, with the footage showing at least 10 black-clad men carrying high-powered firearms patrolling the island.

But the situation got worse when two rival cartels started battling for control over the island and the lucrative drug and human trafficking trade going on on the island.

"It was being invaded and used for trafficking on a regular basis," said Adams' source, who added that this forced Texas authorities to act by sending in armed personnel to clear the island.

Mexican cartels had been using Fronton Island for decades

For decades before Texas law enforcement officially announced that Fronton Island had been taken under the control of the state, it had been largely under the purview of two warring cartels  the Gulf Cartel and Cartel del Noreste.

Mike Salinas, a retired Border Patrol agent with over 30 years of experience in the Rio Grande, noted that much of the free reign of the two cartels over the island was partly due to the fact that both the U.S. and Mexico forgot who owned the island.

Not wanting to risk the possible diplomatic crisis that may ensue from the U.S. or Mexican military and law enforcement unwittingly working on the other's possible territory without the requisite permission, the island turned into no man's land.

"Ownership has always been an issue for the State of Texas," said Salinas. "And as far as Border Patrol is concerned, it was always a 'Let's not get on there and find out' [if Mexico owned the island], because the optics of that whole thing might open up a big old Pandora's Box of holy moly."

The ambiguity of this situation reigned so much that, by the time Texas Rangers began their operation to clear out the island, they were warning embedded journalists of possible firefights by cartel members holed up in structures they have built on the island.

"We've encountered armed gunmen, cartel members that have come across on Fronton. We've encountered ammunition," said Texas DPS spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez. "We want to take full control of that island so we can change how these cartels are operating in that area."

Since the operation began in early October, DPS has cleared Fronton Island's thick vegetation and installed anti-immigrant and anti-cartel obstacles like spools of razor wire.

Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" to hear the full interview of Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and his confidential informant within Border Patrol.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Illegal immigrants use ROPE made from CLOTHES to cross Rio Grande into Texas.

Abandoned bag near the border wall in southern Texas yields ammo, homemade explosive device.

El Paso, Texas to issue ID CARDS for homeless people, ex-convicts and illegals living in the city starting April 2024.

Texas AG Paxton SUES Biden's DHS for cutting razor wire barriers that block ILLEGALS from entering the U.S.

SANCTUARY OVERLOAD: Texas sends more buses full of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS to Democrat-controlled sanctuary cities.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NYPost.com

TheTexan.news

CIS.org

News4SanAntonio.com
Reuters: Ukrainian women now work in mines because so many men were sent to the battle front

More than a thousand Ukrainian male miners have been sent to the frontlines to fight against Russia since the Eurasian country's invasion of Ukraine started, causing coal mining companies to suffer huge staff shortages. That's why hundreds of women have now been allowed to work underground for the first time in Ukraine's history

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company said nearly 3,000 of its 20,000 mine workers are fighting. The firm confirmed to Reuters that it has hired around 400 women to make up the shortfall. Some women have even been conscripted by the military.

Back in the time when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, legislation banned women from dangerous employment such as mining. The law was later repealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky's government shortly after the conflict began in 2022. In one mine near the city of Pavlograd, female workers told the news outlet that they did everything their male counterparts used to, save for some heavy lifting. "Our boys were taken to the front, and now we need to support them: There is no one else to work in the mine now," a 22-year-old miner said. Of the roughly one thousand miners from this mine and its nearby twin enterprise who went to fight, 42 have been killed.

For five months, the female miner has worked as a technician 470 meters (1,542 feet) below ground, servicing the small electric trains that haul workers more than four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the lift shaft where they descend to the seams of coal. She said the work is difficult, citing how the battery lids are heavy and the steam can be unpleasant. The pay is good, however, and she feels a sense of duty to stay and for those who have gone to fight. Her older brother worked in the same mine but he had to join the army two weeks after the war erupted.

Kyiv does not publish casualty figures but more than 103,000 Ukrainian troops died between the first week of June and the third week of November, according to the most recent figures released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Last December, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Ukrainian military had suffered 100,000 fatalities in the first nine months of the conflict. It is unclear how many more died in the six months in between these tallies, but the total death toll on the Ukrainian side likely stands far above 200,000. While the nation suffers this many deaths, Kyiv has turned to older and less fit men to boost its ranks. According to a report by Time magazine earlier this month, the average age of a Ukrainian soldier is now 43, up from 30-35 in March 2022. (Related: Ukrainian armed forces failed to achieve goals in three months of counteroffensive effort, Russian defense minister reports.)

In October, a law came into effect requiring women aged between 18 and 60 with medical qualifications to register with conscription authorities. According to a note on the Ukrainian government's website, "In the future, women may be called up for military service or engaged to perform work to ensure the defense of the state."

Meanwhile, during an online address to the recent G20 summit leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that he has never rejected peace talks with Ukraine, whereas Ukraine has publicly withdrawn from the negotiation process and outlawed all contact with Moscow.

Ukraine's energy deputy minister announces closure of coal plants by 2035

Ukraine has announced the country's determination to close all of its state-owned coal plants by 2035 at a side event at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London back in June. Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Energy Yaroslav Demchenkov has restated the plan that had actually been first announced in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow, a few months before Russia launched its war with the country.

According to the Energy Charter Secretariat, "no European power system has ever suffered, endured and withstood such large-scale destruction, including during the first and second world wars.'' As of February this year, the cost of damage to Ukraine's energy sector was estimated at $10 billion. Much of Ukraine's coal infrastructure lies in ruins now. Plants have been destroyed or damaged, and many mines in territories occupied or shelled by Russia since 2014 are flooded. Given the extent of the damage, and Ukraine's historic dependence on Russia for coal, gas and nuclear fuel, rebuilding Ukraine's Soviet-era energy infrastructure is definitely out of the plans.

Ukraine's energy minister German Galushchenko recently told Bloomberg Green: "It is very important to decentralize our power generation. The obvious solution is renewables."

Visit UkraineWitness.com to get updates on Ukraine's situation amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Watch the video below showing a Ukrainian woman positioned on the war frontlines while assisting a wounded soldier.

This video is from the Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ukrainian militants reportedly attack another power substation in Russia.

Zelensky accuses Russia of turning winter into a weapon of mass destruction.

Study: Soaring fuel prices could kill more Europeans this winter than the war in Ukraine.

U.S. proxy war: Kyiv's counteroffensive kills or wounds 800 Ukrainians per day Russia reports.

Sources include:

RT.com

Reuters.com

EUObserver.com

Brighteon.com
Vice contributor sentenced for distributing child-rape porn, attempted rape of nine-year-old

A contributor to Vice.com has been sentenced to federal prison to seven-and-a-half years for possessing and distributing child-rape porn and attempting to arrange the rape of a nine-year-old boy.

(Article by R. Cort Kirkwood republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

Judge Paul A. Engelmayer of the federal Southern District of New York also sentenced sex fiend Efrem Zelony-Mindell to five years of supervised release.

Zelony-Mindell was a big-shot contributor to several leftist publications. And hes just one of the many sex criminals who worked in the leftist media.

Defendant sentenced to 90 months in prison for distribution of child pornographyhttps://t.co/oz1jUoLTna  US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) November 14, 2023

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com
Report: Border crossers are secretly receiving GPS coordinates of assembly points before entering Texas

A significant number of migrants are converging at the U.S. southern border daily by means of well-coordinated and pre-planned group crossings orchestrated by unidentified parties. These parties even provide them with global positioning satellite (GPS) coordinates of assembly points.

Efrain Gonzalez of Border Hawk News disclosed this development while embedded with a large group that moved from Piedras Negras in Mexico to the Rio Grande. According to him, the migrants receive GPS coordinates to gather at specific locations for mass crossings. While the masterminds behind the scheme remain unclear, some migrants suggest that Mexican authorities may be involved.

"We accompanied this caravan that walked for an hour in the darkness to reach the crossing point. The migrant said they were angry Mexican authorities sent them to cross into this dangerous area of the river at night," Gonzalez said. (Related: Texas border sector reports 10K known border crossers in single week.)

"Most of these people do not know how to get to the river. However, through GPS, they obtained the exact location where forklift tractors raised the razor wire in October."

In November, GPS-guided mass crossings into Eagle Pass have surged in frequency as part of the ongoing influx at the U.S.-Mexico border under the Biden administration.

Treacherous DHS coordinating mass river crossings

According to a report by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been coordinating mass river crossings along the Rio Grande. It suggested that DHS, in collaboration with Mexican immigration officers, uses encrypted messaging service WhatsApp to organize these mass breaches.

Based on interviews with Mexican authorities, CIS researchers found that senior officers in Mexico maintained communication with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. CBP staffers would inform their Mexican counterparts about their capacity to process migrants on the U.S. side. Meanwhile, the Mexican officers would then hold back migrants until the CBP signaled that they were ready for more.

This coordinated system was reportedly established in late April, potentially explaining the presence of Mexican immigration officers stationed at the Rio Grande. The process resembles a "controlled flow" system seen in other countries like Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica designed to facilitate large-scale migration to the U.S. border.

CBP reported more than two million border crossings in federal fiscal year 2023, leading state lawmakers in Texas to mull measures to address the situation. Two such proposals are Senate Bill (SB) 3 that provides $1.5 billion for border barrier infrastructure, and SB 4 that makes illegal entry into Texas a state-level crime.

Meanwhile, a new barrier is being installed in San Diego  just north of the U.S.-Mexico border  to deter large groups of migrants from crossing into the United States. According to Texas Scorecard, it is situated at the point where the Tijuana River enters the U.S. through a concrete-lined canal. This location, the CBP claims, is prone to migrant "stampedes" during mass crossings.

The aforementioned area recently gained attention when a migrant from West Africa died after participating in one such crossing. While the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office hasn't released an official cause of death, the Mexican National Institute of Migration suggested that the migrant likely fell into the water and drowned after being accidentally stomped by others in the group.

This new barrier seeks to prevent mass incursions until a permanent barrier, currently under construction in the same area, is completed. The permanent barrier will connect both sides of the river, allowing U.S. Border Patrol agents to traverse from one side to the other.

Head over to InvasionUSA.news for more related stories.

Watch this video of the U.S. military helping migrants cross the border.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas installs RAZOR WIRE along New Mexico border to block ILLEGAL ALIENS from crossing.

BORDER DEFENSE: America protects US-Mexico border with barbed wire and verbal warnings.

Every state is now a border state: Alabama deploys 275 National Guardsmen to southern border to deter illegals.

Sources include:

Twitter.com

TexasScorecard.com

BorderReport.com

Brighteon.com
Feds uncover records of brothel ring catering to government and military officials

Federal investigators have uncovered the "impeccable" records  including daily activities and financial logs  of a prostitution ring allegedly catering to politicians, military officials and government contractors.

Special Agent Zachary Mitlitsky of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) disclosed these perfectly kept ledgers in an affidavit submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He said Han Lee and Junmyung Lee, two of the accused ringleaders, maintained these ledgers. The two also managed to conceal earnings from the scheme that amounted to more than a million dollars.

"Han maintained ledgers detailing the daily activity of her brothels. At the time of the search warrant execution, one such ledger was open to a page showing the stage names, appointment dates and times and earnings of the women. Next to the ledgers were envelopes containing bulk cash and handwritten notes with the stage names of women and a tally of their earnings," wrote Mitlitsky.

Investigators raided Han's luxury apartments at Massachusetts and Virginia and found dozens of gift cards and luxury bags and shoes from renowned designers, mainly used to launder prostitution proceeds. The raid also yielded $22,000 in cash, 16 cell phones, detailed ledgers of their financial records and a Louis Vuitton shoe box with hundreds of well-organized money order receipts. Bulk quantities of condoms, lingerie, UTI and pregnancy testing kits and fake eyelashes were also seized.

Meanwhile, a separate search at Junmyung's apartment in Dedham, Massachusetts yielded $5,000 in cash, four ledgers/appointment books and multiple computers and cellphones. A photograph of an appointment book in Mitlitsky's affidavit revealed that at least one sex worker had worked for about 10 hours on October 18, 2022. Junmyung, like Han, displayed a penchant for lavish spending  with authorities also seizing a Chevrolet Corvette valued at nearly $70,000.

Bank deposits for Junmyung totaled $378,365, while Han's bank accounts showed $965,000 in mostly cash deposits dating back to December 2019. However, neither of the two ringleaders has ever worked a legitimate job in years.

Prostitution rings may have been part of Chinese espionage plot

According to Mitlitsky, Han was in charge of communicating with sex workers. She reportedly outlines house rules and detailed information about anticipated customers, services, pricing and schedules. Meanwhile, Junmyung is believed to be in charge of booking appointments for customers.

Acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy disclosed the alleged identities of the johns at the time of Junmyung and Han's arrest.

"They are doctors; they are lawyers; they are accountants; they are elected officials; they are executives of high-tech companies and pharmaceutical companies; they are military officers, government contractors, professors [and] scientists," he said. "They are the men who fuel this commercial sex ring." (Related: DOJ investigating high-end brothel network whose clients include elected officials.)

Levy further disclosed that the investigation dates back to the summer of 2022 when authorities identified several buyers through surveillance, phone records, and interviews. Junmyung and Han, alongside another accomplice, operated multiple brothels in Massachusetts and Virginia from July 2020 to the present. Appointments were reportedly booked on a 'cash-only' basis, with fees ranging from $350 to $600 per hour.

However, on Nov. 9, the Department of Justice announced that the high-end prostitution ring could have links to an espionage plot targeting elected officials and military officers. Even investigative reporter Paul Sperry hinted at X, formerly known as Twitter, the potential connection to espionage.

"Investigators suspect the prostitution ring may have been part of a Chinese espionage plot targeting high-tech government contracting centers like Cambridge and Tysons Corner," he said.

Visit NationalSecurity.news for more similar stories.

Watch David Knight discuss a similar operation involving Chinese operative Fang Fang establishing ties with Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) for espionage purposes.

This video is from The David Knight Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EVIL: Professor promotes idea of mass movement in favor of child prostitution.

Gates foundation donates millions to NGO that seeks to normalize child prostitution and sexualization of children under 10.

Look who leads the world in children 'changing their sex.'

CHILDREN BEING TAKEN: Horrific video reveals U.S. government is actively facilitating a HUGE child trafficking ring across America.

Dozens of children have gone MISSING in Cleveland over a two-week period in May.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

NYPost.com

TheGatewayPundit.com

Brighteon.com
Ford resumes Michigan EV battery plant but reduces production capacity by 40%, drops about 800 jobs

Due to plummeting sales amid President Joe Biden's flopping economy and push to green energy, Ford Motor Company announced that it would resume its "Marshall Project"  the planned electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in Michigan. However, the renowned U.S. automaker confirmed that it will drastically scale down the manufacturing scope by more than 40 percent and streamline jobs, dropping up to 800 positions.

"We are pleased to confirm we are moving ahead with the Marshall project, consistent with the Ford+ plan for growth and value creation. We have been evaluating BlueOval Battery Park Michigan in Marshall," Ford said. "While we remain bullish on our long-term strategy for electric vehicles, we are re-timing and resizing some investments." The said project was paused two months ago, with Ford citing issues on the site's future economic viability as it was losing billions of dollars due to the current financial downturn worldwide and slow adoption of EVs in the United States. (Related: Ford pauses construction of $3.5 billion EV battery plant in Michigan amid scrutiny over CCP involvement with the project.)

It indicated it is "right-sizing" while balancing investment, growth and profitability. The facility will now create more than 1,700 "good-paying American jobs" to produce a planned capacity of approximately 20 gigawatt hours (GWh), it claimed. The company also intends to use less space at the site, which currently comprises hundreds of acres just west of Marshall, a small town that's about 35 miles east of Kalamazoo.

Ford Motor said Tuesday that it was resuming work on an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan but significantly scaling back its plans in part because of slow EV adoption in the United States. https://t.co/nPaUGJEiXS  NYTimes Tech (@nytimestech) November 22, 2023

Back in February, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced that they would be collaborating with China-based company Contemporary Amperex Technology to construct the said electric-vehicle battery plant, which is to be Ford's first battery plant of its kind to enter operations, scheduled to open in 2026. Once it is operational, it will manufacture lithium-iron phosphate batteries.

The announcement of resumption is said to be a big shift from the promised 2,500 jobs and $3.5 billion investment revealed earlier this year by the car brand and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "Today's generational investment by an iconic American company will uplift local families, small businesses and the entire community and help our state continue leading the future of mobility and electrification," Whitmer said at the time. "Let's continue bringing the supply chain of electric vehicles, chips and batteries home while creating thousands of good-paying jobs and revitalizing every region of our state."

Ford spokesman Mark Truby acknowledged that the company's cuts almost certainly mean the state will reduce the roughly $1.8 billion promised in taxpayer subsidies for the megadevelopment. "I think we're all aware EV adoption is growing, and we expect that to continue, actually. But it's not growing at the pace that I think ourselves and the industry had expected," Truby said. "We want to be really disciplined about how we allocate capital and think about matching production and future capacity based on demand."

For Michigan State House Republican Leader Matt Hall, the bad deal the governor and Democrats negotiated for Michigan taxpayers just got a whole lot worse. "Even with Democrats' premature push for electric vehicles and $1.8 billion in state incentives, Ford is cutting back the project and slashing job creation because most people just won't buy unaffordable, inconvenient EVs," he pointed out.

Car giants admit "weak" demand for electric cars

Top executives of some of the largest car manufacturing corporations, including Ford, General Motors (GM) and Mercedes-Benz, admit sales losses amid soaring prices of "robo cars." Back in October, Ford's Farley withdrew its full-year results forecast, citing "uncertainty" over its tentative deal with the United Auto Workers and warned of continued pressure on EVs as customers balk at paying a premium for them over other models.

"It's been a challenging situation, for sure," he said during the company's third-quarter earnings call after posting greater losses than expected on EVs. "Matter of fact, our business is never short of challenges, especially right now with the evolution of the EV market and new global competitors from China, as well as the technology disruptions." He claimed that having great products is not enough in the industry anymore as there is weight in offering competitive costs for consumers, "affordability is an issue."

Moreover, GM CEO Mary Barra also withdrew its 2023 profit outlook, saying the brand will slow the launch of several planned EV models to cut costs. She said that they are reducing fixed costs by $2 billion net of depreciation and amortization before 2024 ends. Barra wrote in a letter to shareholders: "We are also moderating the acceleration of EV production in North America to protect our pricing, adjust to slower near-term growth in demand and implement engineering efficiency and other improvements that will make our vehicles less expensive to produce and more profitable." The car company and Honda, one year after its launch, also announced the ending of a $5 billion partnership to develop affordable EVs. GM also postponed the $4 billion electric truck plant in Michigan.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz reported that its third-quarter earnings fell as margins on EVs remained lower than previously assumed. Its financial chief Harald Wilhelm noted during a call with analysts that some traditional players are selling EVs below the pricing level of internal combustion engine vehicles despite their higher production costs.

Visit RoboCars.news for more stories related to the constant push of the left cult to switch to electric cars.

Sources for this article include:

ClimateDepot.com

VOANews.com

FreeP.com

FoxBusiness.com
Attack on free speech: House Democrats ignore First Amendment, issue letter to X (formerly Twitter) demanding MORE CENSORSHIP

A coalition of more than 25 Democratic members of Congress is pressuring X (formerly Twitter) to implement online censorship through a letter, throwing the First Amendment out the window.

The Nov. 21 letter was addressed to X owner Elon Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino. Meanwhile, the letter's signatories included New York Reps. Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, California Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin and Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson.

The lawmakers accused the company of permitting and profiting from the dissemination of false and violent content, particularly related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. They expressed concerns about X's alleged failure to enforce policies against misleading information and content promoting violence, hate, and terrorism.

Moreover, they cited reports from non-profit organizations that showed people with X Premium accounts glorifying barbaric acts of violence against Israelis. Much of the offensive content remained live despite being flagged by researchers.

The letter highlighted a significant reduction in X's content moderation staff over the past year, suggesting a deliberate allowance of illegal circulation of terrorist propaganda for potential benefit. The legislators deemed such conduct inappropriate for a platform with global influence, and demanded that X uphold its public commitments and enforce its policies.

They requested all written communications related to content moderation for posts or accounts associated with or connected to Hamas by Dec. 1. "X has financially benefited from the spread of demonstrably false and misleading contents as well," they claimed.

The representatives also pointed out that the U.S. had designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 1997, making it unlawful to knowingly provide material support or resources to the group. "There is no ambiguity about whether violent videos generated by the group qualify under these policies. These are videos that carry official Hamas branding and iconography," they wrote.

X under pressure to ditch 1A, censor "hate speech"

X has yet to respond to the accusations. Advertisers have left the platform since Musk acquired it for $44 billion in October 2022 due to his controversial posts and termination of employees responsible for content moderation.

The platform's revenue in the U.S. has declined at least 55 percent year-over-year each month since Musks takeover. Earlier, he announced that all X revenue from ads and subscriptions on content related to the conflict would be donated to charities in the impacted region.

The letter followed X suing the watchdog group Media Matters, alleging it defamed the platform after it published a report that ads for major brands had appeared next to posts touting Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. (Related: After losing top advertisers, Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) SUES Media Matters.)

Earlier in November, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced a bill aimed at countering false information on platforms like X during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Their proposed bill, dubbed the Stopping Terrorists Online Presence and Holding Accountable Tech Entities (STOP HATE) Act, imposes a $5 million daily penalty for non-compliance.

"This legislation will require social media companies to release detailed reports of violations to their terms and services and how theyre addressing these violations, which includes using their platforms for terrorist purposes," said Gottheimer. "It also requires the intelligence community to provide a threat assessment about whats happening on social media.

The Anti-Defamation League expressed support for the proposed law, which is similar to an edict signed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022. However, that edict faced criticism as it potentially violated the First Amendment.

Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Maria Zeee deliver a message about censorship to Elon Musk.

This video is from the SamsTwitch channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Elon Musk faces backlash for wanting to remove ability to block other users on X.

THOUGHT POLICE: European regulator gives Elon Musk 24 hours to address MISINFORMATION about Israel-Palestine conflict on X.

Censorship remains a problem even after Musks Twitter takeover.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

Docs.ReclaimTheNet.org [PDF]

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Putin calls last years attack on Nord Stream pipelines an ACT OF TERRORISM

Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted last year's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines during a virtual summit of G20 leaders on Nov. 22, saying it was a blatant attempt to take Russia out as an energy supplier and a key competitor of the West.

"To eliminate competitors and gain advantages, unfair methods of competition are used," Putin said during the convention. "Not only the destruction of transport and logistics chains and international payment channels but also acts of state terrorism." He pointed out that a "blatant example of this is the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline system, laid along the bottom of the Baltic Sea."

On September 27, 2022, Nord Stream AG reported unprecedented damage that occurred the day before on three strings of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 offshore gas pipelines, which run under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany to provide Western Europe with natural gas. A day prior this, Swedish seismologists registered two explosions on the pipeline routes. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office then launched a criminal case based on charges of international terrorism.

Back in February, U.S. investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published an article that cited sources saying that U.S. Navy divers had planted explosive devices under the gas pipelines under the cover of the BALTOPS exercise in June 2022. It was an annual military exercise held and sponsored by the commander of United States Naval Forces Europe since 1971 in the Baltic Sea and the regions surrounding it. The report indicated further that Norwegians activated the bombs three months later. Three out of the four lines were said to have been destroyed in a series of explosions near the Danish island of Bornholm, which eventually led to the end of Germany's energy ties to Russia, leaving its gas-dependent economy reliant on more expensive American liquefied natural gas.

Hersh added that the decision to conduct the operation was made by U.S. President Joe Biden personally, following nine months of discussions with White House security specialists. White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson was quick to deny it in a comment sent to Russian state-owned news agency TASS, saying that Hersh's account was "utterly false and complete fiction."

Putin did not identify a culprit behind the bombing during his speech at the virtual meeting but he has previously said that he "fully agrees" with Hersh, who blamed the act of sabotage on the CIA. The Russian president argued that the U.S. benefited from the attack due to its position as a supplier of liquefied natural gas to Europe.

A competing theory popularized by multiple Western media outlets suggests that a team of Ukrainian commandos destroyed the pipelines, using a rented yacht to transport the explosives to the blast sites. Earlier this month, the Washington Post named Roman Chervinsky, a Ukrainian colonel close to the National Security Service (SBU), and Ukraine's top general, Valery Zaluzhny, as the masterminds of the attack. Chervinsky dismissed the allegations as "Russian propaganda," despite the fact that they originated in an American newspaper citing European and Ukrainian officials. (Related: BLAME GAME: USA blames Ukraines leaders for Nord Stream pipeline bombing.)

Putin: Russia is open to peace talks with Kyiv

In the said G20 summit that was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin in his first address to the leaders since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine in February last year, said that Moscow has never rejected peace talks with Kyiv and added that "military actions are always a tragedy."

"Of course, we must think about how to stop this tragedy," he told the online summit, according to Russia's state-owned Sputnik news agency. "In fact, Russia has never refused peace talks with Ukraine," he added.

Putin, who had skipped the in-person G20 summit in New Delhi in September, attended the virtual conference that was held one day after a special online meeting of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to discuss the crisis in the Middle East.

In his opening remarks, The Indian prime minister said that new challenges have emerged in the past few months and the insecurity and instability in the Middle East is a matter of concern for all. He added later that it is important for them to make sure that the Israel-Hamas war doesn't take a regional shape of any kind.

After hearing the views of all participants on the serious situation in the Middle East, Modi could say that there was consensus within the G20 on many issues. "We all strongly condemn terrorism and violence; there is zero tolerance to terrorism," he said, adding that killings of innocent people, especially women and children, was unacceptable and that a permanent resolution was necessary for the Israel-Palestine issue through a two-state solution. "Restoration of regional peace and stability is essential," he further said and asserted that diplomacy and dialogue were the only way to resolve geopolitical tensions. "The G20 is ready to extend all possible cooperation in this regard," he added.

Read more about who really initiated the Nord Stream pipeline explosion at Pipelines.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

TASS.com

Asia.Nikkei.com
Second extension of truce between Israel, Hamas now a possibility

International mediators are actively working to secure a second extension to the truce in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The negotiations involve Israel and Hamas, with key mediator Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, participating.

The focus of the discussions is on the conditions to extend the truce, including the duration of the extension and the exchange of captives for prisoners.

Late on Wednesday, Nov. 29, the Israeli army confirmed the release of more Israeli captives in Gaza. Simultaneously, 30 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli jails. (Related: Israel approves MULTI-DAY CEASEFIRE DEAL: Hundreds of imprisoned Palestinian women and children to be released in exchange for 50 Israeli hostages.)

The 10 released Israeli hostages and four Thai nationals arrived in Hatzerim in southern Israel, where they were warmly welcomed by a large crowd lining the streets. They are set to be transported to the Hatzerim Air Force base and are expected to be flown to various Israeli hospitals.

Reunions with families are anticipated at the air base and additional reunions will take place at the respective hospitals.

The 10 Israeli nationals, including some dual citizens, were released as part of the Israel-Hamas truce deal, while the four Thai citizens were released independently of the agreement.

Two Israeli-Russian hostages, released outside the truce deal, have been admitted to the Sheba Medical Center in the Tel Aviv area.

Also on Wednesday, a total of 30 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons, according to a statement from the Israeli prison service. Among those released was Ahed Tamimi, a prominent Palestinian activist known for a 2017 viral video where she slapped an Israeli soldier.

Report: Truce likely to be extended for another few days

Despite the complexities of the negotiations, Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra reported that there is a consensus that the truce will likely be extended for another few days. However, the more challenging negotiations, aimed at bringing a permanent end to the Gaza war, lie ahead.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that, after the phase of returning captives is exhausted, Israel is unequivocally prepared to resume the campaign against Hamas.

The initial four-day truce, beginning on Friday, was renewed for two more days. During this period, significant releases of captives took place on both sides.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the parties to seek a "true humanitarian ceasefire" to address the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Guterres highlighted the devastating impact of Israeli operations, leading to the death of a significant number of children in Gaza.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani noted that the extended truce has facilitated the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. He called for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire and measures to ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid.

Hamas is seeking guarantees from key parties, including Qatar and Egypt, that the continued exchange of prisoners will result in the cessation of Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

While Israel's firm stance provides negotiation leverage, strong regional calls for a comprehensive settlement exert pressure on Israel.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud urged the UN Security Council to enforce a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing that a truce alone is insufficient.

Negotiations are reportedly underway for the release of additional captives, with the potential extension of the ceasefire for five days.

The next phase of the truce and captives' release is expected to involve discussions on various categories, including Israeli captives, elderly men, female soldiers, reservist soldiers, and the bodies of Israelis killed before or during captivity.

Hamas has expressed readiness to discuss the release of captured men, military personnel and civilians.

Watch Tiffany Meier's report on the Gaza ceasefire.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hamas releases 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian women and children unlawfully imprisoned by Israel.

NEW POLL: 70% of Americans support a CEASEFIRE in Gaza.

Muslim Americans to Biden: Declare a ceasefire in Gaza, or lose our donations and votes.

Sources include:

Aljazeera.com

Brighteon.com
A Buffalo man who had been convicted of drug and firearms possession was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. to serve 17 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Wednesday.

Rayshawn Miller, 40, pleaded guilty in May to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and acetyl-fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

On July 20, 2021, agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at Millers residence on Broadway and seized 167 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, 18 grams of fentanyl, 21 grams of crack cocaine, 124 grams of cocaine, two loaded firearms  including a ghost gun  ammunition, $15,380 in cash and drug packaging materials.

The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the DEA and Buffalo Police Department.

 Harold McNeil
Trump plans to visit Argentina to talk to President-elect Javier Milei

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to visit Argentina and talk to the country's new President-elect Javier Milei.

Milei's office confirmed in a statement that Trump had reached out via a phone call. "The president-elect received a call  from Trump, who congratulated him and pointed out [that] his triumph by a wide margin  had a great impact on a global scale," it said.

Trump himself celebrated Milei's victory over outgoing Argentinian Economy Minister Sergio Massa through a video posted on Truth Social. "A very special congratulations to Milei on a great race for president of Argentina," said the real estate mogul-turned-former chief executive. "I am very proud of you; you will turn your country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again."

Eduardo Bolsonaro  the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro  facilitated the conversation between Milei and Trump. A Buenos Aires-based journalist reported this development through a post on the X platform.

"This meeting signifies an important moment for both leaders as they discuss their perspectives and policies on a global stage," YourNews wrote. "Trump's visit to Argentina is seen as part of the growing international interest in Milei's administration and its potential impact on global politics."

Trump's conversation with Milei happened just hours after incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden congratulated the Argentinian president-elect on his victory. According to the White House, the two leaders discussed how to build a strong relationship between their countries.

Milei is set to be inaugurated on Dec. 10, but Trump isn't expected to attend. This development was confirmed by a source close to the former U.S. president's campaign. According to the source, a tight campaign schedule means Trump won't be able to fly to Argentina.

"There's nothing that's currently planned," they said. "With the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire and the rest of the primaries approaching so quickly, it is something that would be difficult in the short term."

Milei cut from the same conservative cloth as Trump

According to the Washington Times, Milei "has expressed his admiration of Trump in the past."

"During a Fox News interview, Milei called on the former [U.S.] president to 'continue with his fight against socialism, because he's one of the few who fully understood that the battle is against socialism, that the battle is against the statists,'" the outlet remarked.

"Milei is a self-described 'anarcho-capitalist' and libertarian. Some of his social positions align him with conservative Republicans in the United States."

Aside from Trump, he has also praised the erstwhile Brazilian president dubbed "the Trump of the Tropics" in an August interview with Bloomberg. He told the outlet that his relationship with Eduardo's father, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, was "excellent."

In contrast, Milei had nothing but sharp rebukes for Jair's successor, current Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. This disdain also extended to Mexico's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Chile's Gabriel Boric and Colombia's Gustavo Petro. Despite being the three biggest economies in Latin America, the newly elected Argentinian president said he doesn't have "socialist partners." (Related: Frontrunner in Argentina's presidential elections calls China an "assassin," points to the country's LACK OF FREEDOM.)

In the same interview, Milei admitted that he isn't especially keen on being compared to Trump. Nevertheless, he left this statement when asked whether he would like Trump to return to the White House: "That's up for Americans to decide."

Visit Trump.news for more stories about the former U.S. president.

Watch Alex Jones comment on Javier Milei's victory in Argentina's presidential election.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Conservative, anti-China candidate Javier Milei wins Argentina's presidential election.

Why can Argentina count 25-30 million paper ballots in hours, while blue U.S. swing states take DAYS with machines?

Argentina's President-elect Javier Milei says country won't join BRICS group instead, he will embrace the collapsing DOLLAR.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

WashingtonTimes.com

USNews.com

Bloomberg.com

Brighteon.com
Trumps Truth Social files $1.5 billion lawsuit against 20 media outlets over alleged defamatory reports

Donald Trump's Truth Social platform, operated by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), has filed a $1.5 billion lawsuit against 20 media organizations over alleged defamatory statements about the financial status of the company.

The lawsuit, filed in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Sarasota County, Florida on Monday, Nov. 27, named Reuters, The Guardian, The Miami Herald and its executive editor Alex Mena, The Daily Mail, CNBC, Mediaite, The Hill, Forbes, Axios, The Daily Beast, Gizmodo, Salon.com, MarketWatch, New York Daily News, Newsweek, MSNBC, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Benzinga and Rolling Stone for falsely reporting that the company has incurred a $73 million loss since its launch.

"This number was an utter fabrication," wrote the TMTG in its court filing. "Each defendant, in apparent coordination, reported the exact same false number within approximately 24 hours of one another, each citing a public Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filing in which the mystery $73 million loss appears nowhere."

According to the TMTG, the $73 million loss reported by the media outlets is a mere fabrication. TMTG claims this coordinated effort has negatively impacted its ability to raise capital and pursue a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corporation, a Special Purpose Acquisition Company.

In actuality, TMTG only suffered a net loss of $31.6 million since its establishment in February 2021. The financial breakdown included a net loss of $59 million in the year ending December 31, 2021, a net profit of $50.5 million in the year ending December 31, 2022, and a net loss of nearly $23 million in the first six months of 2023.

In November, The Independent reported that TMTG, as indicated in the filing, has experienced financial challenges, with only $2.3 million in net sales and an overall loss of almost $23 million in the first half of 2023. This, in turn, has caused substantial losses and raised doubts about the company's viability.

Furthermore, the TMTG claims that the media outlets failed to publicly apologize for the allegedly false reports or retract the defamatory articles, despite their demands. In response, the TMTG is seeking $1.5 billion in compensatory, special, and punitive damages, along with the income the media companies have generated from the reports. The company has requested a jury trial.

Trump supporters hail lawsuit filed against left-leaning media giants

Trump launched TRUTH Social, his own social media platform, to be a free speech zone for him and his supporters who are regularly censored for their conservative views on the platforms of tech giants like Twitter and Facebook.

"We live in a world where the Taliban has a huge presence on Twitter, yet your favorite American President has been silenced. This is unacceptable," he stated back then as he emphasized the need for an alternative platform. (Related: BREAKING: Trump was censored by Twitter under pressure from federal agencies before being banned.)

No wonder the legal action has ignited a flurry of reactions across online communities, with most of his supporters hailing it.

"Now that's a thermonuclear lawsuit," exclaimed one user on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Things are getting spicy. This man will not give up ever!" wrote another.

"Let the floodgates open; the back door censorship must end," chimed in a concerned user, reflecting the widespread sentiment against perceived censorship on social media platforms.

"Good, these people must be held accountable!" voiced another supporter, echoing the sentiment that the lawsuit is a step towards accountability for actions on social media.

Head over to Trump.news for more stories about the former president and his social media platform.

Watch this video discussing Trump's very own social media platform, TRUTH Social after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

This video is from the DarylLawsonLive channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Musk releases proof Trump was censored on Twitter thanks to pressure from his own government agencies.

Immediately after banning Trump, Twitter started aggressively censoring medical misinformation.

Latest dump of Twitter Files show that even Trump admin pushed Twitter to censor, ban information during pandemic.

TF3 confirms Twitter colluded w/ govt. to censor Trump, tilt 2020 election.

Dump of Twitter Files confirms platform was targeting conservatives, which led to Trump ban.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

MSN.com 1

MSN.com 2

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
RAW EGG NATIONALIST: Western governments are covering up anti-white hate crimes

You may have seen the awful video of Jonathan Lewis, a 17-year-old white boy, being beaten senseless by a mob of ten black teens in an alleyway behind their school. If you havent, Id suggest you keep it that way. Videos of similar beatings, all with the same racial dynamic, have become a dismal fixture of social media in 2023. This latest outrage apparently took place over a pair of wireless headphones and a vape pen, and left Lewis with non-survivable head injuries. He died six days later. Eight students have now been charged with his murder.

(Article republished from HumanEvents.com)

Not long after the initial attack on his son, Jonathan Lewis Sr. set up a fundraising page which included the following message:

The human race is calling screaming for us to see our unity calling us to break the cycle of the imprisonment of violence and apathy Begging us to see that when we gather great power of change is possible great power of awareness will be directed to the mob so the mob can demand change can cry out to humanity and scream the pain of the children.

This is a humanity thing beloved people of the United States. Not a race thing!

You may also remember the case of Andy Probst, back in September, a former police chief who was run off his bike and killed by two boys, one black, one Hispanic, on a joyride in a stolen car. One of them filmed the incident and posted it online. You can hear the two boys laughing throughout. As they approach Probst from behind, one asks the other if hes ready.

Yeah, yeah, hit his ass!

Alright, go, go, go, go. PIT manoeuvre!

A PIT manoeuvre, if you didnt know, is used by law enforcement to stop drivers during high-speed chases.

The police took five weeks to arrest Jesus Ayala and Jzamir Keys. Theyre accused of ramming another car and stealing four cars on the day they murdered Andy Probst.

After Ayala and Keys were finally apprehended, the victims daughter read out a statement on behalf of the family at a press conference.

We believe that Andys murder is a direct result of societys decayed family values and the strong effects that social media has on our youth. We as a family in no way feel that Andys murder was based on race or profession, and was a random act of violence. We ask you to not politicise or use Andys murder to fuel political agendas or to create cultural wars.

In both cases, its entirely possible that the family really do believe race wasnt an issue. They may believe this sincerely, or it may be a product of confused thinking in the midst of grief. I know that grief makes people do and say strange things. Very strange things. For what its worth, Ive seen a father laughing and smiling, not shedding a single tear, at the funeral of his beloved teenage daughter. I found it hard to believe at the time, and I still do.

It would probably be insensitive to ask the families of Jonathan Lewis and Andy Probst: What if the tables were turned? What if ten white boys had beaten a lone black boy to death after school, or two white teens had run down a black man on his bike and filmed it? Would we be talking about racism then? I think we all know the answers to these questions anyway.

The rush to deny a potential racial motive under such circumstances would be odd enough were we just dealing with two isolated cases. But were not. This is becoming a common spectacle, and the similarities between these regular calls for harmony in the face of clear racial animus are impossible to ignore, at least if youre a certified noticer like me.

Its almost as if theres a script.

And maybe there is. Youve probably never heard of the Department of Justices Community Relations Service, but if you or a loved one has been the victim of a serious crime with a racial element, the Community Relations Service has probably heard of you. Its probably on its way to your home right now. Assuming youre white, of course.

According to the Services website, CRS serves as Americas peacemaker for communities facing conflict based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

The CRS provides its services free of charge, on a voluntary basis and is not an investigatory or prosecutorial agency. As soon as a relevant conflict arises, CRS goes to work providing facilitated dialogue, mediation, training, and consultation to help communities come together, develop solutions to the conflict, and enhance their capacity to independently prevent and resolve future conflict. Its aim, we are assured, is simply to be the neutral party.

The language is thick bureaucratic slop, but the real meaning is clear when you look at what the CRS actually does when it gets involved in a case. There seem to be two essential aspects to how the CRS operates: 1) telling white victims and the loved ones of white victims not to say anything inflammatory about the race or motivations of the perpetrators; and 2) helping the perpetrators get off with as light a sentence as possible.

Thats certainly what happened in 2018 when Donald Giusti was hit in the head with a rock and then kicked to death by Somali immigrants in a park in Lewiston, Maine. According to the CRS website, which lists its intervention in Lewiston as an exemplary case study of its work, conflict [had] been on the rise between the immigrant population and the white community for several weeks before the day of the fatal attack. It was the citys police chief who requested CRS services to help ease racial tensions and strengthen community relations.

What the request for CRS involvement meant, in practical terms, was that the man held responsible for the killing was able to plead no contest to a lesser charge of criminal negligence, for which he was sentenced to just nine months in prison.

And just like in the cases of Jonathan Lewis and Andy Probst, public statements by the victims family were an essential part of concealing the fact a brutal racial killing had just occurred. Donald Giustis body was barely cold when both his uncle and sister came forward to make a public call for peace.

We want to see the violence stop," said the uncle. "We want to see things come to an end, we want people to be able to come to the park and be happy. Walk through the park and not be afraid. The sister expressed her hope that her brothers death would not be in vain and that it would give this community a voice to say something needs to give.

Earlier this year I wrote a piece for Human Events about the endemic lawlessness gripping Western nations and how it benefits the ruling regime in various different ways, not least of all by scaring straight the white middle classes so they keep paying their taxes. Sam Francis called such a system anarcho-tyranny, and he noted that it was enforced by everything from bureaucratic regulations and multicultural curricula in schools to gun-control laws and sensitivity training.

We can safely add the Community Relations Service to the institutions of anarcho-tyranny in the US, I think. By dissuading ordinary people from addressing the truth  that in 2023, white men, women and children are being killed in America because they are white, and that this is racism, pure and simple  the CRS is helping to normalise and excuse a very particular kind of racial terror. This normalisation and excuse-making is part of a broader agenda for the left, which is to refound America as a nation built on the principle of racial redistribution. The dwindling white population of America is marked by the original sin of slavery, and only the transfer of its wealth and power to historically marginalised people of colour will serve to expiate that sin.

This isnt some fantasy Ive dreamed up, by the way. Its the New York Times-sponsored 1619 Project. And believe me, this is the sanitised version of what so-called decolonisation would look like in the US. Zimbabwe and South Africa are two very possible futures for the nation.

The sinister activities of organisations like CRS fit into a wider pattern of manipulation of public opinion in the West, especially in response to the more violent negative effects of mass migration and demographic change. Back in 2019, the website Middle East Eye reported on a form of government planning dubbed controlled spontaneity in the UK, which had been devised specifically in preparation for terrorist attacks. The basic idea behind controlled spontaneity is for the government to shape and direct public opinion and emotion in ways that prevent disorder when an atrocity occurs. This includes everything from pre-selecting hashtags and images to circulate on social media, to encouraging members of the victims families to make public statements disavowing hatred and staging apparently unprompted gestures of love and support at the site of the incident, such as people handing out flowers or posters with saccharine messages on them.

Planning for controlled spontaneity appears to date back to 2011, when the social-media-driven Arab Spring was convulsing the Middle East and riots erupted in towns and cities across the UK. According to one senior government figure, the UK government was absolutely terrified about further large-scale social unrest, particularly if terrorists attacked the London 2012 Olympics. Although the Olympics passed off without incident, variants of the governments planning for that event were deployed in every terrorist incident that has taken place on UK soil since, including 2017s London Bridge attack and the Manchester Arena bombing.

Once you know what to look for, its hard not to see the hallmarks of controlled spontaneity in the events that follow so many major incidents across the West in recent years, from the Christchurch shootings to the Bataclan massacre.

That includes the protests of the past few weeks in the UK, as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to march in support of Palestine against Israel. Such protests would have been unthinkable  in fact they would have been impossible  a few decades ago, before the era of mass immigration. For the first time perhaps ever, the true scale of the problem that has been imported to Britain was clear for all to see. Public opinion was as hostile as it had ever been to mass immigration, and to the current Conservative government for allowing it to continue and get worse for the last 13 years, despite repeated manifesto pledges to bring it to an end.

But thanks to the sudden reappearance of Tommy Robinson and some pathetic scuffles and arrests at a counter-protest he organised in the capital, the only thing the mainstream media and politicians want to talk about now is the threat from the far right. The issue of mass immigration, and the governments appalling record of lies and deception, has been defused  for now.

Im not here to speculate on whether Robinsons appearance was another instance of controlled spontaneity. Ultimately, it doesnt matter; whether one clown is part of the circus doesnt change the fact that the circus exists. And it does. Our governments, as a matter of course, manipulate us to prevent us from grasping the reality of the problems we face. They have their script, and they want us to keep reading from it. If we do that, our fate is assured.

Read more at: HumanEvents.com
Whistleblower claims U.S. and U.K. military contractors developed comprehensive global censorship plan in 2018

A group of American and British military contractors formed a comprehensive plan for worldwide censorship five years ago whose effects can be felt today, according to a whistleblower.

The whistleblower provided a slew of documents that are being compared to the Twitter Files in terms of their scope and ramifications. They describe an anti-disinformation group known as the Cyber Threat Intelligence League (CTIL) that shows how far governments intend to reach into peoples online activities.

While the CTIL reportedly started out as a volunteer project involving intelligence and defense veterans and data scientists, its methods have been adopted by official projects at high levels, including the Department of Homeland Security.

The documents include training videos, internal messages, presentations and strategy documents. They demonstrate how military and intelligence contractors from America and the UK developed a comprehensive censorship framework under the leadership of former UK Defense researcher Sara-Jayne Terp.

Slack messages show how Terp, along with colleagues and officials from Facebook and the Department of Homeland Security, worked together to censor people online.

The public-private model they used and their framework appear to have set the stage for methods used by both countries in 2020 and 2021, such as stopping disfavored narratives rather than simply focusing on factual inaccuracies, masking censorship in counter-disinformation agendas, and pressuring social media platforms to remove information or otherwise take steps to stop certain content from going viral.

They show how CTIL started tracking and reporting content on social media in the spring of 2020 that was opposed to lockdown measures for COVID-19. They even went so far as to create a channel that law enforcement could use to report this type of content. They also created a spreadsheet with information from the Twitter bios of users who posted anti-lockdown hashtags such as #freeCA. At some point, they also considered reporting the domains of websites they disagreed with to their registrars.

In addition to censoring opinions that dont align with their preferred narrative, CTIL carried out offensive operations in an attempt to sway public opinion. They considered ways they could co-opt hashtags and launch counter-messaging campaigns, create sock puppet accounts, make their way into private groups that are accessed by invitation only, and dilute messaging they disagree with.

The whistleblower who provided the documents is said to be highly credible, and their legitimacy was independently verified. The individual is said to be someone who was recruited into the group via monthly meetings on cybersecurity that were hosted by the Department of Homeland Security.

Among those who are known to be involved in CTIL is DHS employee Justin Frappier, who led training and took part in regular meetings with the group. As many as 20 people actively involved in CTIL worked for CISA or the FBI. Many of them displayed their agency seals by their name in Slack messages.

The whistleblower said the group's ultimate aim was to become part of the federal government. In our weekly meetings, they made it clear that they were building these organizations within the federal government, and if you built the first iteration, we could secure a job for you.

Framework used by WHO to counter anti-vaccination campaigns

Terp and her colleagues formed a group called MisinfoSec Working Group, which developed an anti-disinformation and censorship strategy known as Adversarial Misinformation and Influence Tactics and Techniques (AMITT). This was used to develop the DISARM framework used by the World Health Organization in an attempt to counter anti-vaccination campaigns in Europe.

It also called for using training influencers on how they can spread favorable messages and find ways to convince banks to cut off financial services for those who organize events and rallies that go against the official narrative.

Sadly, weve reached the point where none of this is surprising. Like the Twitter Files, these documents show that governments are desperate to use whatever resources they have at their disposal to control online narratives and keep dissenting voices from being heard.

Sources for this article include:

Public.Substack.com

FoxNews.com
Report: Zelensky using proxies to buy LUXURY YACHTS worth $75M with U.S. money

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has allegedly utilized proxies to purchase two luxury yachts worth $75 million, in a bid to hide his corrupt lifestyle.

Once seen as a beacon of hope against corruption, the Ukrainian leader is now caught in a scandal involving the yachts "Lucky Me" and "My Legacy." Investigative journalist Shahzad Nasir was responsible for bringing this corruption to light.

According to Nasir, brothers Serhiy and Boris Shefir  two of Zelensky's closest friends  purchased both yachts for $75 million. The sale of both yachts, which are moored in Abu Dhabi and the coastal city of Antibes in France, were completed in October.

The lavish expenditure simply contrasts with Ukraine's terrible war reality and raises damaging questions about the integrity and criminal liability of its leadership amid strong dependence on Western aid. Moreover, it also raises serious concerns about corruption in the Zelensky government.

Husband-and-wife-tandem Clayton and Natali Morris of "Redacted News" put in their two cents on the issue. Clayton asked if people would be surprised to learn of Zelensky purchasing luxury yachts. He also recounted how Zelensky's wife, Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska, had even begged for money from world governments  only to be caught buying expensive jewelry and bags in Paris.

"You might want to hide your purchases when you're Zelensky because you have to have friends sign your paperwork for you so you can actually hide it, right? Do it through either a money laundering or a proxy. That's how you buy things if you're Zelensky," said Clayton, a former Fox News anchor.

Zelensky no stranger to using proxy buyers

According to Clayton, there are documents that attest to the purchase, which was reportedly made using American tax dollars. These yachts could be where Zelensky will spend his days in exile after he is thrown out of Kyiv, he remarked.

He also mentioned the "Pandora Papers," which revealed Zelensky's earlier use of proxy buyers for other similar purchases using offshore accounts in the British Virgin Islands and Belize. The Organized Crime and Corruption Project also found that Serhiy was part of that offshore network. Incidentally, Serhiy currently serves as Zelensky's chief aide. (Related: Zelensky and his cronies are trying to cover up a major corruption scandal in Ukraine  what role is the US playing?)

"He makes purchases on Zelensky's behalf. Offshore companies were used by [Serhiy] and other business partners to buy pricey London real estate, pricey African real estate, pricey Italian real estate  and now some pricey yachts."

Morris also said that POLITICO just released a new profile spread and political release with Zelensky being honored with their most powerful men award for playing his role perfectly. The magazine labeled the Ukrainian leader as one of its most powerful men, explaining: "Ukraine's President brought the war to the West, convincing people that his battle against Russia is also theirs and giving him the authority to make Europe do what he wants."

Follow Corruption.news for more news about the corruption happening in America and Ukraine.

Watch the video below about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky allegedly being caught buying two $75 million luxury yachts with U.S. money.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Zelensky dismisses seven top defense officials in bid to reboot his corruption-ridden Defense Ministry.

Zelensky buys LUXURY MANSION in Egypt via his mother-in-law using Western aid money.

Zelensky and his cronies stole at least $400M from U.S. taxpayers last year.

Former Zelensky backer charged over EMBEZZLEMENT of $250M from Ukrainian bank.

Zelenskys billionaire backer jailed, now facing $13.5 million in fraud and money laundering charges.

Sources include:

DefiantAmerica.com

Brighteon.com

OCCRP.org
The UK has been hit by snow and ice, causing travel disruption and power cuts in some areas. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across swathes of the country, with residents told to watch out for potentially "hazardous conditions."

Health officials have also issued alerts, warning of effects on the NHS.

Snow and ice affect roads and railways

Snow and ice have made driving conditions difficult in many parts of the UK, especially in the north-east of England and Scotland.

Drivers have been warned to take extra care and avoid unnecessary journeys. Some roads have been closed due to accidents or snowdrifts, while others have been reduced to one lane.

Motorists have also been advised to check their tires, batteries, and windscreen wipers before setting off.

Rail services have also been affected by the wintry weather, with delays and cancellations reported on some routes.

Network Rail said it had deployed "snow ploughs, de-icing trains and heaters" to keep the tracks clear.

However, some trains have been unable to run due to frozen points or overhead wires. Passengers have been urged to check their travel plans before leaving home.

Power cuts and school closures

The snow and ice have also caused power cuts in some areas, leaving thousands of homes without electricity.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks said it had restored power to more than 20,000 customers, but around 2,000 were still affected.

The company said it had mobilised more than 400 engineers and support staff to deal with the situation.

It also advised customers to keep a torch, a warm blanket and a mobile phone charger handy in case of a power cut.

Some schools have also been closed due to the snow and ice, affecting the education of thousands of pupils.

The closures have been announced by local authorities or individual schools, depending on the local conditions.

Parents have been advised to check their school's website or social media for updates. Some schools have also switched to online learning for the day.

Also Read: UK Weather Update: Met Office Warns of Dangerous Snow, Ice Conditions; Flood Warnings Reported

Weather warnings and health alerts

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice for most of Scotland, northern England, the Midlands, East Anglia and parts of the south.

The warnings are valid until Wednesday morning, with further snow showers and icy patches expected.

The Met Office said some places could see up to 10cm of snow, especially over higher ground. It also warned of possible travel disruption, injuries from slips and falls, and power cuts.

Health officials have also issued alerts, warning of the impact of the cold weather on the NHS and vulnerable people.

Public Health England said people should look out for their neighbours, friends and family who may be at risk, especially those who are elderly, very young or have chronic health conditions.

It also advised people to keep their homes heated to at least 18C, wear warm clothes and eat hot meals.

NHS England said it had activated its winter pressures plan, which includes increasing bed capacity, cancelling non-urgent operations and deploying extra staff.

It also urged people to use the NHS 111 service or online symptom checker for advice, rather than going to A&E.

Related article: UK Weather Forecast: High Winds, Heavy Rain Expected to Unfold This Week
Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest continent on Earth, covered by a massive ice sheet that holds about 60% of the world's fresh water.

But beneath the frozen surface lies a mysterious and ancient landscape that has been hidden from view for millions of years.

Scientists have been using satellites and planes to map the features below the ice, such as mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers.

These features can tell us about the history of Antarctica and how it might change in the future as the planet warms.

A land of ice and fire

One of the most intriguing regions under the ice is called Highland A, located in East Antarctica. It covers about 32,000 square kilometers and lies around 2 kilometers below the ice sheet.

It was first discovered in 2011, but a new study published in the journal Nature Communications has examined it in more detail for the first time.

The study, led by Professor Stewart Jamieson from Durham University in the UK, used satellite data and radar imaging to reveal that Highland A consists of three distinct landscape blocks, ranging from 121 to 173 kilometers long.

Between the blocks are two large and deep valleys, which were likely fjords carved by glaciers in the past.

The researchers also found evidence of volcanic activity in the region, such as lava flows and volcanic cones.

They estimated that the landscape formed between 35 and 90 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and Antarctica was a lush swamp.

According to Professor Jamieson, the landscape of Highland A is unique and unlike any other place in Antarctica.

He explained that understanding the features below the ice can help us predict how the ice sheet will behave in the future.

He said that the detailed features of the landscape can reveal the past behavior of the ice sheet, which is important for modeling and predicting its future response to climate change.

Also Read: Melting Ice Sheet in Greenland May Trigger Tsunamis and Underwater Landslides, Expert Warn

A tipping point for the ice sheet

The Antarctic ice sheet is the largest block of ice on Earth, covering more than 14 million square kilometers.

It has two main parts: the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is larger and more stable, and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is smaller and more vulnerable to melting.

The ice sheet plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, reflecting sunlight back to space and storing a huge amount of carbon dioxide.

It also affects the sea level, which would rise by about 60 meters if the ice sheet melted completely.

However, the ice sheet is not static. It is constantly changing, growing and shrinking in response to natural and human-induced factors.

For example, changes in the ocean temperature, the atmospheric circulation, the snowfall and the volcanic activity can all influence the ice sheet.

One of the biggest challenges for scientists is to determine the tipping points of the ice sheet, or the thresholds beyond which the ice sheet will undergo irreversible and rapid changes.

These tipping points could have dramatic consequences for the global climate and the sea level.

Among the factors that can trigger a tipping point is the landscape beneath the ice sheet. The shape and the slope of the bedrock can affect how the ice flows and how fast it melts.

For example, if the bedrock is smooth and sloping downwards, the ice can slide more easily and become unstable.

Professor Jamieson suggested that the landscape of Highland A could have implications for the stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is currently gaining mass due to increased snowfall.

He warned that the valleys in the region could act as pathways for warm ocean water to reach the base of the ice and cause melting.

Jamieson said that the rate of ice retreat could depend on the thickness and the speed of the ice in the valleys, which could be affected by the shape of the landscape.

He added that the volcanic activity in the region could also have an impact on the ice sheet, by providing heat and creating subglacial lakes and rivers. These could lubricate the ice and make it flow faster

A window to the past and the future

The study of Highland A is part of a larger project called ICECAP, which aims to map the entire Antarctic continent using planes and satellites.

The project involves researchers from Australia, the UK, the US, France and China.

Professor Jamieson said that the project is important for improving our knowledge of Antarctica and its role in the global climate system. He said that by looking at the past, we can learn about the future.

Furthermore, he said that the landscape beneath the ice sheet tells us about the history of Antarctica, how it formed, how it evolved, and how it responded to past climate changes.

This can help us to model and predict how the ice sheet will behave in the future, and what the consequences will be for the sea level and the climate.

It also has a scientific and cultural value, as it reveals a hidden world that few people have ever seen.

The landscape under the ice is older than the ice sheet itself, and that it has been preserved for millions of years. He said that it is like a time capsule, a window to a different world.

Related article: Scientists Observe Seasonal Change in Antarctic Ice Sheet Movement [Research]
Volcanoes are among the most awe-inspiring and destructive natural phenomena on Earth. They can create new land, shape landscapes, and affect climate.

They can also pose serious threats to human lives, property, and infrastructure.

In the US, there are more than 160 active or potentially active volcanoes, and 18 of them are classified as "very high threat" by the US Geological Survey (USGS).

However, not all of them are receiving adequate scientific monitoring and research, which could hamper the ability to prepare for and respond to future eruptions.

How are volcanoes ranked by threat level?

The USGS recently updated its volcano threat assessment for the first time since 2005, using 24 factors to evaluate the potential severity of impacts from future eruptions.

The factors include the type of volcano, how explosive it can be, how recently it has been active, how frequently it erupts, if there has been seismic activity, how many people live nearby, if evacuations have happened in the past, and if eruptions disrupt air traffic.

The volcanoes are then sorted into five threat levels, ranging from very low to very high. The highest threat level includes 18 volcanoes, mostly located in the western states of Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington.

The top five are Kilauea in Hawaii, Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier in Washington, Redoubt Volcano in Alaska, and Mount Shasta in California.

The threat assessment does not indicate the likelihood of an eruption, but rather the potential consequences if one occurs.

For example, Kilauea, which has been erupting continuously since 1983, is the most active volcano in the US and has caused significant damage to nearby communities and infrastructure in recent years.

Mount Rainier, on the other hand, has not erupted since the 19th century, but is considered the most dangerous volcano in the US because of its proximity to millions of people and its potential to generate massive lahars (volcanic mudflows) that could reach as far as Seattle.

Also Read: Taal Volcano Remains Under Alert Level 1 After Volcanic Smog Emission

Why are some high-threat volcanoes understudied?

Despite the high risks posed by some of the volcanoes, not all of them are equally monitored and studied by scientists.

According to a recent study published in the journal GeoHealth, some of the high-threat volcanoes are severely understudied, meaning that they have fewer than 10 peer-reviewed publications in the past 100 years.

The study identified 21 understudied volcanoes in the US, nine of which are in the very high threat category.

These include Mount Baker and Glacier Peak in Washington, Crater Lake and Newberry Volcano in Oregon, Long Valley Caldera and Lassen Volcanic Center in California, Makushin Volcano and Akutan Island in Alaska, and Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

The study also found that the level of scientific attention given to a volcano is not only related to its threat level, but also to its geographic location, accessibility, and historical activity.

For instance, volcanoes that are closer to major cities, airports, or research institutions tend to receive more attention than those that are remote, inaccessible, or dormant.

Additionally, volcanoes that have erupted in the past century or have shown signs of unrest tend to attract more interest than those that have been quiet for longer periods.

The authors of the study argued that the lack of scientific knowledge about some of the high-threat volcanoes could have serious implications for hazard assessment, risk communication, and emergency management.

They suggested that more funding and resources should be allocated to improve the monitoring and research of these volcanoes, as well as to enhance the collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders, such as federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and local communities.

What can be done to improve volcano preparedness and response?

Volcanoes are unpredictable and complex systems that require constant vigilance and adaptation.

The USGS and other organizations are working to improve the understanding and forecasting of volcanic activity, as well as to provide timely and accurate information and warnings to the public and decision-makers.

However, there are still many challenges and gaps that need to be addressed, such as:

Increasing the coverage and quality of the volcano monitoring network, which consists of various instruments and sensors that measure parameters such as seismicity, deformation, gas emissions, and temperature. Some of the volcanoes, especially in Alaska, have limited or no real-time monitoring, which makes it difficult to detect and track changes in their behavior.

Enhancing the volcano research capacity, which involves conducting fieldwork, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, and data analysis to better understand the physical and chemical processes that drive volcanic eruptions and their impacts. Some of the research topics that need more attention include the dynamics of magma storage and transport, the generation and propagation of volcanic hazards, and the effects of climate change on volcanism.

Improving the volcano risk communication and education, which entails developing and disseminating clear and consistent messages and products that inform and engage the public and stakeholders about the potential hazards and mitigation strategies.

Some of the challenges that need to be overcome include the uncertainty and variability of volcanic phenomena, the diversity and accessibility of the audiences, and the influence of social and psychological factors on risk perception and behavior.

Volcanoes are natural wonders that can also pose significant threats to human society.

By increasing the scientific knowledge and awareness of some of the most dangerous volcanoes in the US, we can better prepare for and respond to future eruptions, and reduce the potential losses and damages.

Related article: Antarctica: Dormant Underwater Volcano Awakens, Causes 85,000 Earthquake Swarms
Following a number of hospitalizations and deaths caused by salmonella in the United States, food manufacturers are actively recalling whole cantaloupes and melon products.

Almost 100 people in 32 states have become ill as a result of the infected fruits.

Salmonella Causes Recall of Products

The number of people suffering from salmonella has more than doubled this week, prompting the recall of three more brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes in the United States.

The original recall by the US Food and Drug Administration covered Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe, and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit items.

Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes, as well as Rudy brand entire cantaloupes, were added to the list.

Jewel Marketing and Agribusiness LLC also issued a recall for "Malichita/Z Farms" melon products, which were marketed in Ohio, California, and Canada and were packaged in "wood-like" cardboard containers at retail locations.

Following similar declarations by other food companies, CF Dallas is joining the recall efforts for "fresh cut" cantaloupe goods. Eight "fruit-in-plastic" products have been recalled, including fruit salads and mixes.

Health officials said anyone who purchased the recalled fruits should throw them away and wash any surfaces that came into contact with them with hot, soapy water, or with a dishwasher.

Distributors and merchants must now rush to warn their customers and limit the harm.

"A reasonable company is always proactive and always planning for worst-case situations -- especially in the food world, where there's always the possibility of a wheel coming off the car," said Stephen Zagor, a professor at Columbia Business School and consultant to food and restaurant businesses.

Read Also: Salmonella Enterica Strain Not Yet Seen on Migratory Wild Birds: Study

Casualities Causes by Infected Cantaloupe

Two individuals have died as a result of the infections in Minnesota, and 45 people have been hospitalized across the country.

The states with the most cases include Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio.

Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington are also affected by the outbreak.

Most salmonella infections cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within six hours to six days of consuming contaminated food.

In most cases, illnesses last four to seven days.

Vulnerable persons, such as youngsters, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems, may acquire serious illnesses that necessitate medical attention or hospitalization.

The number of people afflicted by the outbreak is likely to be far larger than recorded, and the outbreak may not be limited to states where symptoms are known to exist.

It usually takes three to four weeks to figure out if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

Carlota Medus, supervisor of the Foodborne Diseases Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health, advises being cautious and aware of any symptoms you may be experiencing.

"In this particular outbreak, we have seen very severe illnesses. So someone usually will present with diarrhea and fever. If somebody has a diarrhea illness that last multiple days and they're not getting better, they should consult a health care provider," Medus added.

Related Article: Salmonella Outbreak Spreads to 11 States; Experts Warn Against Kissing Pet Turtles
Scientists discovered that the great white shark found off the waters of Australia was disemboweled by orcas.

They found out that the orcas feasted on the marine mammal's liver.

Great White Shark

Experts said that the mutilated great white shark that was washed up in Australia in October was mauled by orcas and. They stressed that the carcass was "loaded" with the orcas' DNA.

To recall, only the shark's head and spine remained when it appeared on a beach in Portland, Victoria.

This then fueled speculation that orcas disemboweled the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) to feast on its liver - similar to the previous attacks that have been recorded off the coast of South Africa in the past several years.

The necropsy had revealed that the orcas (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whales, were indeed responsible for the gruesome attack against the great white shark.

Experts said that the inspection of the shark had shown characteristic bite marks right in the pectoral girdle and right between those fins under the belly, noting that these were quite typical of killer whales where they effectively suck out the liver.

The shark - which scientists estimate measured over 16 feet or 4.9 meters long when alive - provides the first evidence of orcas predating on a great white species off Australia's coast.

Fisherman and bait shop manager, Ben Johnstone, estimated before that the shark was about 3 meters when he inspected the remains after receiving a tip-off.

Initially, authorities already said that the apparent injuries to the shark showed that orcas were really responsible. They said that two days prior to the incident, a pod of killer whales had also been seen circling in the bay by nature photographer Allen McCauley.

Based on records, experts said that orcas in these waters are known to kill blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) to eat their livers.

Further, they suspected that some great whites may have met the same fate due to several aggressive interactions recorded off Kangaroo Island and the Neptune Islands in southern Australia.

However, these incidents were never confirmed.

Read Also: Southern Resident Killer Whales: Mystery Behind Orcas Harassing, Killing Porpoises Without Eating Them Revealed

What Are Orcas

Orcas live in family pods of up to 50 individuals. Calves do not leave their mothers' sides when they become adults, and sometimes people will find pods containing four generations.

The eldest female orca is in charge, telling the group when and where to feed.

Experts said that to be a successful orca, one must need to master a huge range of skills: hunting tactics, social interaction, knowledge of feeding and breeding grounds, and migration routes.

Adult members of the pod teach the young these essential life skills, and one day they will pass on these skills to their own children.

Experts said that this knowledge forms a kind of orca ''culture.'' handed down from generation to generation.

Orcas hunt in packs, coordinating their feeding raids with incredible skill.

They eat a variety of different prey, including fish, seals, dolphins, sharks, rays, whales, octopuses and squids.

Related Article: Dozens of Sharks Avoid South African Waters as Killer Whale Duo 'Port' and 'Starboard' Hunt Them
A Niagara Falls man faces a maximum of 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to a fatal beating last year, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced.

Abouycea D. Thornton, 31, entered his plea to second-degree murder before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges. He is held without bail pending sentencing Feb. 14.

Prosecutors said Thornton attacked an ex-girlfriend and beat her new boyfriend with a metal pipe about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2022, in the 400 block of Berkshire Avenue near Bailey Avenue.

Nickolas Grazes, 29, of Buffalo, died in Erie County Medical Center from injuries suffered in the beating. The woman had hospital treatment for arm injuries and was released.

Prosecutors previously said Thornton violated an order of protection issued on behalf of the woman following an earlier incident of domestic violence.

 Dale Anderson
A new inquiry by UN-appointed human rights experts has expressed concern over evidence of pollution from a PFAS manufacturing company in North Carolina, calling it "alleged human rights violations and abuses against residents."

Forever Chemical

The ongoing PFAS crisis in North Carolina has been linked to a Chemours Fayetteville Works plant, which was split off from DuPont in 2015.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has made public the allegation letters addressed by its experts to Chemours and four other parties accused of being involved in the situation.

In letters to Chemours, Corteva, and DuPont de Nemours, United Nations officials known as rapporteurs questioned the usage of per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds such as GenX.

It also accused DuPont and Chemours of "purposeful suppression and concealment" of the PFAS hazards.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, are a class of over 14,000 chemicals that are frequently employed to manufacture water-, stain-, and heat-resistant products.

They are known as "forever chemicals" because they are virtually indestructible and have been related to cancer, liver difficulties, thyroid problems, birth defects, kidney illness, lowered immunity, and other major health issues.

Furthermore, officials wrote to the governments of the Netherlands and the United States, accusing regulators of neglecting to protect human health and the environment.

Read Also: Bacteria and Chemical Compounds From Coastal Water Pollution Can Reach People via Sea Spray Aerosol Along Beaches, Potentially Causing Complications

Contaminated Drinking Water

The UN alleges, among other things, that Chemours dumped dozens of dangerous chemicals into the Cape Fear River, contaminating the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of people. Some people reside up to 100 kilometers downstream of Fayetteville Works.

According to the report, the factory continued to spit PFAS waste into the air until 2019, contaminating drinking water sources once the chemicals settled on the ground and percolated into groundwater.

The UN letter also mentioned Chemours' pesticides being discovered in fish and crops, as well as 97% of blood samples tested in the region. It claims that DuPont and Chemours were aware of the dangers but concealed them from residents and employees.

"We are especially concerned about DuPont and Chemours' apparent disregard for the wellbeing of community members, who have been denied access to clean and safe water for decades," said the letters, which were signed by five UN rapporteurs.

The letter included evidence of the corporations suppressing toxicity data and the amounts of pollutants emitted from the plant, and it charged Chemours with acting only after being forced to do so by a court.

Chemours said that it "has taken a broad and unprecedented set of actions, costing hundreds of millions of dollars, to eliminate almost all PFAS discharges from Fayetteville Works."

The UN does not make an official decision on whether the United States, Chemours, and other letter recipients are violating human rights.

According to Claudia Polsky, director of the University of California Berkeley Environmental Law Clinic, the UN may yet publish a public press statement. Regardless, the investigation concludes

The EPA has halted PFAS waste shipments from the Netherlands to Fayetteville, and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is examining a Chemours petition to expand PFAS manufacturing at the site.

Related Article: Rising Cases of Water Contamination - Should We Preserve Water for Future Generations?
The North American wolverine recently received a 'threatened species' status from wildlife authorities in the United States due to the impacts caused by climate change on the said wild animal. The announcement implies that the furry, carnivorous mammal will be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The designation is also expected to boost conservation efforts toward the animal and even restrict human hunting against the species.

This is not the first time that wolverines were included in a threatened species list. Almost a decade ago, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) removed the wolverines from the list, outraging conservationists who fought for the protection of the said animal, a story covered by Nature World News back in 2014.

Now, after nine years, the wildlife officials have reconsidered to re-enlist the distinct population segment of the North American wolverine in the Contiguous US.

North American Wolverine

During a press release on Wednesday, November 29, the FWS announced that the North American wolverine will receive federal protection since it is considered (once again) a threatened species and highlighted that the designation will cater for the wolverine's conservation needs. The wildlife service also issued an interim rule under ESA section 4(d) that will allow activities like research, trapping, and other forest management methods to ensure the conservation of the animals.

The US government agency's Pacific Regional Director, Hugh Morrison, stated that the ongoing and intensifying impacts of climate change alongside habitat degradation and fragmentation are threatening the North American wolverine. Morrison adds that the listing will help to address the long-term impact and improve the survival of wolverines in the mainland US.

Local wolverine populations can be found in remote areas in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. In recent years, there have also been recorded sightings of individual wolverines in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. Scientists say that the snowy mountain natural habitats of North American wolverines are melted by climate change.

Also Read: Emperor Penguin: World's Largest Penguins Join the Threatened Species List Due to Climate Change and Global Warming

Threatened Species

Under the ESA, an animal or plant species' designation as either threatened or endangered depends on the risk of their extinction. In the past, some species were re-enlisted, removed, upgraded, or downgraded in the listing depending on the number of population and risks involved.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the ESA defines an endangered species as any species that faces the danger of extinction in all or most parts of its habitat range. Meanwhile, threatened the ESA has defined species as any species that is likely to become an endangered species in the future, either to all or a significant part of its habitat range.

In previous years, some of the animals that have become endangered species because of climate change are the following:

Polar bear

Snow leopard

Giant panda

Tiger

Monarch butterfly

Green sea turtle

In addition to natural factors, human activities like hunting and land use that result in habitat loss are also significant elements that lead to the decimation of local animal populations in the wild.

Related Article: Wolverine Removed from Threatened Species List
A 21-year-old Buffalo man on Thursday received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the 2021 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old girl, the Erie County District Attorneys Office said.

Javair D. Walker was convicted in October of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon following a four-day jury trial before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. Jurors deliberated for about an hour before reaching their decision.

Authorities say at about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 16, 2021, Walker fired at least one shot from an illegal gun into a crowd of people involved in a fight near Page Street and Lawn Avenue in Buffalo.

The 17-year-old, whose name was not released, was fatally shot in the chest.

A year later, in September 2022, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force found Walker in Cleveland, Ohio. He was returned to Buffalo for prosecution.

 Stephen T. Watson
Supply chain independence is going to be challenging for the US and could take decades, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Wednesday.

We are somewhere between a decade and two decades away from supply chain independence, Huang said during a chat at New York Times DealBook summit on Wednesday. We should absolutely go down the journey of it, [but its] not a really practical thing for a decade or two.

A recent Congressional Research Service report on the CHIPS Act  the bill that would provide funding for US foundries to break ground  noted that 90% of chip production is based in Taiwan, which is something that Huang also emphasized in his speech.

Supply chain independence is going to be really challenging, he said, pointing out that Nvidias latest AI servers have 35,000 parts, from all over the world, including Taiwan.

Taiwan Semiconductors (TSMC) facilities in Arizona will only produce around 50,000 wafers per month when they hit full capacity, according to reports, which is only about half of the capacity of one of the companys Gigafabs in Taiwan  which it has four of.

The TSMC Arizona fab is effectively a paperweight in any geopolitical tension or war [with China over Taiwan] due to the fact that it still requires sending the chips back to Taiwan for packaging, Dylan Patel, chief analyst at SemiAnalysis, told The Information in a recent interview.
No sooner did Broadcom complete its $69 billion acquisition of VMware than the headaches have started. The company is laying off employees, it lost a top executive, and it may lose an awful lot of customers.

Layoffs are inevitable after an acquisition as companies deal with overlap and redundancy. But on top of that, VMware lost its No. 2 executive: Sumit Dhawan, president of the company since 2021, left the firm to become the new CEO of cybersecurity vendor Proofpoint.

Outside the company, theres concern about customer retention.

Throughout the drawn-out acquisition process, VMwares enterprise customers have been worried about that the deal might stifle VMware innovation, particularly given Broadcoms less-than-stellar track record with prior acquisitions (CA Technologies in 2018 and Symantec in 2019).

Now it seems that leeriness could be turning into defection. In a new blog post from Forrester Research, the analyst firm estimates that up to 20% of VMwares enterprise customers plan to switch to a new virtual machine stack in the coming year.

The impending acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has cast a shadow on an already beleaguered VMware customer base. Many are exhausted by significant price hikes, degrading support, and forced mandatory subscription to software bundles where some modules such as NSX and Aria Suite/vRealize Suite end up as shelfware, said authors Michele Pelino and Naveen Chhabra.
Four people were arrested on drug charges Wednesday when search warrants were executed at two addresses in Buffalo after a monthlong joint investigation, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia reported.

Charles Kelly, 29, and Cyara Davis, no age given, were taken into custody after they dropped their children off at school. According to the report, a search of their Hammerschmidt Avenue home turned up suspected fentanyl.

The search of a residence on Barthel Street that investigators believed to be a site for storing narcotics yielded a stolen, loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, more than 5 pounds of marijuana, digital scales and drug paraphernalia, Garcia reported.

Arrested in the Barthel Street house were Denzell Fuller, 32, and Chaka Chapman, 22. Both were charged with felony marijuana possession and released pending court appearances.

Davis was charged with misdemeanor drug possession and endangering the welfare of children, also was released.

Kelly was charged with felony possession of marijuana, weapons and stolen property, along with misdemeanor drug counts and endangering the welfare of children. He was taken to Erie County Holding Center pending arraignment.

The Sheriffs Office Narcotics and Intelligence Unit was assisted by the Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

 Dale Anderson
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: With the monsoon bringing heavy rain to several places over the states northern coast on Wednesday, a holiday has been declared for schools in Chennai and Kancheepuram and for both schools and colleges in Tiruvallur district on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Villupuram districts on December 2 and 3.

Chennai corporation officials said the city received around 7 cm of rainfall on Wednesday and that the situation was under control. Puzhal in Tiruvallur witnessed around 10.7 cm of rainfall.

From 8.30 am until 10 pm on Wednesday, Nungambakkam recorded 5.6 cm and Meenambakkam recorded 7.1 cm of rainfall. Kolathur, Ambattur, and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar recorded 15 cm, 14.1 cm and 13.2 cm respectively.

From 6 pm to 7 pm, Kolathur and Ambattur received 6.2 cm and 5.4 cm of rainfall respectively. All subways except the one in Perambur, are open (as on Wednesday evening), a senior corporation official said.

Heavy rains on Nov 29, 2023 caused traffic jams in and around Chennai. (Shiba Prasad Sahu)

Low-pressure area

CM MK Stalin has directed ministers, MLAs, and representatives of local bodies to extend all possible assistance to the people.

The low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the south Andaman Sea is likely to concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Thursday and then, likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal on December 2.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, S Balakrishnan, deputy director general of meteorology, RMC, said since the wind speed is expected to be 45-55 kmph over the southeast Bay of Bengal and 40-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph over the south Andaman Sea, fishermen are advised against venturing into the sea on Thursday.

Weather blogger K Srikanth said all northern coastal districts could witness heavy to very heavy rains between December 3 and 5. We may get rain almost every day from now until December 7, he added.

Following the intense spell throughout Wednesday, some parts of the city and the outskirts were temporarily inundated.

The residential area of Chitlapakkam got waterlogged after the surplus from Selaiyur lake flooded the streets.

In Perungulathur, residents had to wade through leg-deep water to travel to work.

Residents of Tambaram also complained of waterlogging on the interior roads.

Within the city corporation limits, parts of Madipakkam reported flooding, said residents.

Rainwater has entered our house. The stormwater drain has not been desilted for ages, and we expected this crisis, since the corporation ignored our repeated complaints, said Guru P, a resident of Otteri Salai.

The corporation officials are on high alert in areas such as Ambattur, Kodambakkam, Korattur, and T Nagar.

Following the hard times in 2021, water stagnation has returned to haunt Bazullah road in T Nagar, where the water could not be drained as the Mambalam canal was in spate.

We have asked officials to stay back tonight and go on rounds in certain areas. Water is being drained in most areas. We are identifying waterlogged areas and further action will be taken, said another senior official.

From Tuesday 8.30 am to Wednesday 8.30 am, Ramanathapuram recorded 9 cm of rainfall.

Further, Meenambakkam recorded 2.3 cm of rainfall, Parangipettai near Cuddalore 2.6 cm, and Nagapattinam 1.7 cm from 8.30 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesday.

Inundated railway tracks delay trains

Thousands of passengers faced hardship as suburban trains bound for Arakkonam from Chennai Central were delayed by 40 to 60 minutes due to waterlogging on the tracks in the Avadi-Ambattur section.

In some places, tracks were submerged, causing trains to move slowly from 6.30 pm. All the local trains operated with overcrowded passengers on Wednesday.

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CHENNAI: With the monsoon bringing heavy rain to several places over the states northern coast on Wednesday, a holiday has been declared for schools in Chennai and Kancheepuram and for both schools and colleges in Tiruvallur district on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain for Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Villupuram districts on December 2 and 3. Chennai corporation officials said the city received around 7 cm of rainfall on Wednesday and that the situation was under control. Puzhal in Tiruvallur witnessed around 10.7 cm of rainfall.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); From 8.30 am until 10 pm on Wednesday, Nungambakkam recorded 5.6 cm and Meenambakkam recorded 7.1 cm of rainfall. Kolathur, Ambattur, and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar recorded 15 cm, 14.1 cm and 13.2 cm respectively. From 6 pm to 7 pm, Kolathur and Ambattur received 6.2 cm and 5.4 cm of rainfall respectively. All subways except the one in Perambur, are open (as on Wednesday evening), a senior corporation official said. Heavy rains on Nov 29, 2023 caused traffic jams in and around Chennai. (Shiba Prasad Sahu) Low-pressure area CM MK Stalin has directed ministers, MLAs, and representatives of local bodies to extend all possible assistance to the people. The low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the south Andaman Sea is likely to concentrate into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal on Thursday and then, likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a cyclonic storm over southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal on December 2. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, S Balakrishnan, deputy director general of meteorology, RMC, said since the wind speed is expected to be 45-55 kmph over the southeast Bay of Bengal and 40-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph over the south Andaman Sea, fishermen are advised against venturing into the sea on Thursday. Weather blogger K Srikanth said all northern coastal districts could witness heavy to very heavy rains between December 3 and 5. We may get rain almost every day from now until December 7, he added. Following the intense spell throughout Wednesday, some parts of the city and the outskirts were temporarily inundated. The residential area of Chitlapakkam got waterlogged after the surplus from Selaiyur lake flooded the streets. In Perungulathur, residents had to wade through leg-deep water to travel to work. Residents of Tambaram also complained of waterlogging on the interior roads. Within the city corporation limits, parts of Madipakkam reported flooding, said residents. Rainwater has entered our house. The stormwater drain has not been desilted for ages, and we expected this crisis, since the corporation ignored our repeated complaints, said Guru P, a resident of Otteri Salai. The corporation officials are on high alert in areas such as Ambattur, Kodambakkam, Korattur, and T Nagar. Following the hard times in 2021, water stagnation has returned to haunt Bazullah road in T Nagar, where the water could not be drained as the Mambalam canal was in spate. We have asked officials to stay back tonight and go on rounds in certain areas. Water is being drained in most areas. We are identifying waterlogged areas and further action will be taken, said another senior official. From Tuesday 8.30 am to Wednesday 8.30 am, Ramanathapuram recorded 9 cm of rainfall. Further, Meenambakkam recorded 2.3 cm of rainfall, Parangipettai near Cuddalore 2.6 cm, and Nagapattinam 1.7 cm from 8.30 am to 5:30 pm on Wednesday. Inundated railway tracks delay trains Thousands of passengers faced hardship as suburban trains bound for Arakkonam from Chennai Central were delayed by 40 to 60 minutes due to waterlogging on the tracks in the Avadi-Ambattur section. In some places, tracks were submerged, causing trains to move slowly from 6.30 pm. All the local trains operated with overcrowded passengers on Wednesday. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Ojasvi Gupta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A Munich to Bangkok Lufthansa flight was diverted to Delhi on Wednesday due to unruly passenger behaviour. Trouble broke out between a 53-year-old German passenger and his Thai wife, resulting in the flights unexpected landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The German passenger reportedly threw food, attempted to burn a blanket with a lighter, and disregarded cabin crew instructions. The airline confirmed that the passenger was handed over to authorities for further questioning, emphasising the priority of safety and security for passengers and crew. An initial request to land in Pakistan was denied. Later, the IGI Airport accommodated the diversion.

The Central Industrial Security Force personnel offloaded the unruly passenger, who has since apologised.

Lufthansa is coordinating with the German Embassy regarding the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering whether to invoke Indian law or discuss the possibility of sending the passenger back to Germany after a formal apology. The incident adds to a series of recent disruptions on airlines, including cases of passengers urinating on others and damaging airline seats, leading to subsequent arrests.

Wife too offloaded

The wifes request to allow her to continue her journey to Bangkok alone was turned down

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NEW DELHI: A Munich to Bangkok Lufthansa flight was diverted to Delhi on Wednesday due to unruly passenger behaviour. Trouble broke out between a 53-year-old German passenger and his Thai wife, resulting in the flights unexpected landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The German passenger reportedly threw food, attempted to burn a blanket with a lighter, and disregarded cabin crew instructions. The airline confirmed that the passenger was handed over to authorities for further questioning, emphasising the priority of safety and security for passengers and crew. An initial request to land in Pakistan was denied. Later, the IGI Airport accommodated the diversion. The Central Industrial Security Force personnel offloaded the unruly passenger, who has since apologised. Lufthansa is coordinating with the German Embassy regarding the incident. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering whether to invoke Indian law or discuss the possibility of sending the passenger back to Germany after a formal apology. The incident adds to a series of recent disruptions on airlines, including cases of passengers urinating on others and damaging airline seats, leading to subsequent arrests.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Wife too offloaded The wifes request to allow her to continue her journey to Bangkok alone was turned down Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Monika Yadav By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 16th Finance Commission, which will make recommendations on sharing of tax revenues between the Centre and states for the five-year period commencing April 1, 2026. The 15th Finance Commissions recommendations are valid up to March 31, 2026. According to a release, the 16th commissions chairmanship and members will be notified later.

The ToR broadly outlines three major areas on which the commission will make suggestions. The commission will determine the formula for distributing the Centres tax revenues to states and allocate funds between states. It will also address grants-in-aid to states and the resources of panchayats and municipalities.

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NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 16th Finance Commission, which will make recommendations on sharing of tax revenues between the Centre and states for the five-year period commencing April 1, 2026. The 15th Finance Commissions recommendations are valid up to March 31, 2026. According to a release, the 16th commissions chairmanship and members will be notified later. The ToR broadly outlines three major areas on which the commission will make suggestions. The commission will determine the formula for distributing the Centres tax revenues to states and allocate funds between states. It will also address grants-in-aid to states and the resources of panchayats and municipalities. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsAppgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: At least 24 workers were injured as a fire broke out at a chemical plant in Gujarats Surat city after an explosion in a storage tanker. Three of the injured workers were admitted to a hospital in critical condition.

The blaze erupted at the factory located in Sachin GIDC industrial area at around 2 am. The explosion occurred in a chemical companys chemical storage tank containing the combustible chemical substance Tetrahydrofuran, and the fire spread throughout the unit, an official said.

When the fire broke out, there were approximately 100 to 150 labourers on the night shift and the 24, who received varying degrees of burn injuries, were immediately sent to private hospital in Sachin GIDC. The critically injured individuals were later transferred to different hospitals.

A factory worker named Shravan said, We were working on the second floor when we heard a blast, so we ran away. An ambulance and an additional medical team had already arrived by the time we descended.

The blast caused a fire in the three-storeyed building of the factory and engulfed the entire unit. Leader of the Gujarat Congress Opposition Amit Chavda blamed the government for the fire incident, saying, We demand that the government conduct a proper investigation and give proper compensation to the injured. In Surat, there have been blasts and leakages in chemical factories for a long time, the government is not taking any proper action.

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AHMEDABAD: At least 24 workers were injured as a fire broke out at a chemical plant in Gujarats Surat city after an explosion in a storage tanker. Three of the injured workers were admitted to a hospital in critical condition. The blaze erupted at the factory located in Sachin GIDC industrial area at around 2 am. The explosion occurred in a chemical companys chemical storage tank containing the combustible chemical substance Tetrahydrofuran, and the fire spread throughout the unit, an official said. When the fire broke out, there were approximately 100 to 150 labourers on the night shift and the 24, who received varying degrees of burn injuries, were immediately sent to private hospital in Sachin GIDC. The critically injured individuals were later transferred to different hospitals.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A factory worker named Shravan said, We were working on the second floor when we heard a blast, so we ran away. An ambulance and an additional medical team had already arrived by the time we descended. The blast caused a fire in the three-storeyed building of the factory and engulfed the entire unit. Leader of the Gujarat Congress Opposition Amit Chavda blamed the government for the fire incident, saying, We demand that the government conduct a proper investigation and give proper compensation to the injured. In Surat, there have been blasts and leakages in chemical factories for a long time, the government is not taking any proper action. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Online Desk

It seems to be advantage Congress Party, going by exit polls for the five assembly elections that concluded today.

India's grand old party seems set to gain or retain power in two states out of five, while likely losing it to a resurgent BJP in Rajasthan.

The other two states, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, are too close to call.

The majority of the agencies that conducted the polls have suggested that the Congress will retain power in Chhattisgarh while wresting it from BRS in Telangana.

Counting will take place on Sunday, Dec 3.

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, where the majority mark is 116 out of 230 seats, TV9 Bharatvarsh Polstrat said Congress will lead with 111-121, followed by the BJP at 106-116.

Jan Ki Baat gave an edge to the BJP with 100-123 seats, with the Congress 102-125, Republic TV-Matrize forecast 118-130 seats for the BJP, and 97-107 for the Congress.

Dainik Bhaskar has said that the Congress will win between 105-120 seats while BJP follows with 95-115 seats.

Today's Chanakya, however, predicted a massive victory for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, forecasting that the BJP would get 151 (plus minus 12 seats) and the Congress 74 (plus minus 12 seats).

Jist-TIF-NAI said the Congress was enjoying 2018-like edge in Madhya Pradesh, predicting 107-124 seats for the party as against the BJP's 102-119.

Chattisgarh

For Chhattisgarh, Dainik Bhaskar predicted a clear majority for Congress with 46-55 seats while BJP is expected to get 35-45 seats.

The majority mark is 46 seats out of 90 in Chattisgarh.

ABP News-C Voter predicted 41-53 seats for the Congress and 36-48 seats for the BJP.

India Today-Axis My India forecast 40-50 seats for the Congress and 36-46 seats for the BJP.

India TV-CNX forecasts 46-56 seats for the Congress and 30-40 seats for the BJP.

According to Jan Ki Baat, the Congress would get 42-53 and the BJP would get 34-45.

Today's Chanakya predicted that the Congress would bag a clear majority of 57 seats while BJP would get 33 seats (plus-minus 8 seats).

Telangana

For Telangana, India TV-CNX forecast 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 2-4 for the BJP, and 5-7 for the AIMIM.

Jan Ki Baat forecast that the Congress would get 48-64 seats, the BRS would get 40-55, BJP 7-13 and AIMIM 4-7.

Republic TV-Matrize predicted that in Telangana, the Congress would get 58-68 seats, BRS 46-56, BJP 4-9 and AIMIM 5-9.

TV9 Bharatvarsh Polstrat stated that the Congress would get 49-59 seats and the BRS would get 48-58.

Rajasthan

All the agencies except India Today-Axis My India have predicted a power shift in Rajasthan with BJP racing ahead of Congress.

The sole outlier, India Today-Axis My India, gave Congress 86-100 seats and only 80-100 seats for the BJP.

All the others gave the advantage to the BJP.

Times Now ETG, for example, predicted a clear majority for BJP with 108-128 seats while Congress winning between 56-72 seats.

P MARQ and Jan Ki Baat have predicted that BJP will cross the majority mark of 100 seats with 105-125 and 100-122 seats respectively.

P MARQ expects the Congress to get between 69-91 seats while Jan Ki Baat expects it to get between 63-85 seats.

Dhanik Bhaskar has also predicted a win for BJP in Rajasthan with 98-105 seats while Congress is expected to win 85-95 seats.

Mizoram

In Mizoram, there were no clear trends.

India TV-CNX said the Mizo National Front  a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance  would get 14-18, Zoram People's Movement 12-16, Congress 8-10 and BJP 0-2.

ABP News-C Voter said MNF would get 15-21, ZPM 12-18 and Congress 2-8.

Jan Ki Baat said ZPM wll lead with 15-25 seats, followed by MNF with 10-14 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2.



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It seems to be advantage Congress Party, going by exit polls for the five assembly elections that concluded today. India's grand old party seems set to gain or retain power in two states out of five, while likely losing it to a resurgent BJP in Rajasthan. The other two states, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, are too close to call.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The majority of the agencies that conducted the polls have suggested that the Congress will retain power in Chhattisgarh while wresting it from BRS in Telangana. Counting will take place on Sunday, Dec 3. Madhya Pradesh In Madhya Pradesh, where the majority mark is 116 out of 230 seats, TV9 Bharatvarsh Polstrat said Congress will lead with 111-121, followed by the BJP at 106-116. Jan Ki Baat gave an edge to the BJP with 100-123 seats, with the Congress 102-125, Republic TV-Matrize forecast 118-130 seats for the BJP, and 97-107 for the Congress. Dainik Bhaskar has said that the Congress will win between 105-120 seats while BJP follows with 95-115 seats. Today's Chanakya, however, predicted a massive victory for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, forecasting that the BJP would get 151 (plus minus 12 seats) and the Congress 74 (plus minus 12 seats). Jist-TIF-NAI said the Congress was enjoying 2018-like edge in Madhya Pradesh, predicting 107-124 seats for the party as against the BJP's 102-119. Chattisgarh For Chhattisgarh, Dainik Bhaskar predicted a clear majority for Congress with 46-55 seats while BJP is expected to get 35-45 seats. The majority mark is 46 seats out of 90 in Chattisgarh. ABP News-C Voter predicted 41-53 seats for the Congress and 36-48 seats for the BJP. India Today-Axis My India forecast 40-50 seats for the Congress and 36-46 seats for the BJP. India TV-CNX forecasts 46-56 seats for the Congress and 30-40 seats for the BJP. According to Jan Ki Baat, the Congress would get 42-53 and the BJP would get 34-45. Today's Chanakya predicted that the Congress would bag a clear majority of 57 seats while BJP would get 33 seats (plus-minus 8 seats). Telangana For Telangana, India TV-CNX forecast 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 2-4 for the BJP, and 5-7 for the AIMIM. Jan Ki Baat forecast that the Congress would get 48-64 seats, the BRS would get 40-55, BJP 7-13 and AIMIM 4-7. Republic TV-Matrize predicted that in Telangana, the Congress would get 58-68 seats, BRS 46-56, BJP 4-9 and AIMIM 5-9. TV9 Bharatvarsh Polstrat stated that the Congress would get 49-59 seats and the BRS would get 48-58. Rajasthan All the agencies except India Today-Axis My India have predicted a power shift in Rajasthan with BJP racing ahead of Congress. The sole outlier, India Today-Axis My India, gave Congress 86-100 seats and only 80-100 seats for the BJP. All the others gave the advantage to the BJP. Times Now ETG, for example, predicted a clear majority for BJP with 108-128 seats while Congress winning between 56-72 seats. P MARQ and Jan Ki Baat have predicted that BJP will cross the majority mark of 100 seats with 105-125 and 100-122 seats respectively. P MARQ expects the Congress to get between 69-91 seats while Jan Ki Baat expects it to get between 63-85 seats. Dhanik Bhaskar has also predicted a win for BJP in Rajasthan with 98-105 seats while Congress is expected to win 85-95 seats. Mizoram In Mizoram, there were no clear trends. India TV-CNX said the Mizo National Front  a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance  would get 14-18, Zoram People's Movement 12-16, Congress 8-10 and BJP 0-2. ABP News-C Voter said MNF would get 15-21, ZPM 12-18 and Congress 2-8. Jan Ki Baat said ZPM wll lead with 15-25 seats, followed by MNF with 10-14 seats, Congress 5-9 and the BJP 0-2. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Five days after former Ambassador of Afghanistan in India, Farid Mamundzay, claimed that their embassy in Delhi was closed permanently, Afghanistans political deputy of Foreign Affairs, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai, on Wednesday said embassy will continue to function as usual.

In an interview to Afghanistans national television, Stanakzai said embassy in Delhi was in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA ), while the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad were active. India has not yet recognised the Taliban government. The Consul General of Mumbai, Zakia Wardrak, has been overseeing the functioning of the embassy in Delhi. Past diplomats of the Afghan embassy in Delhi have sought asylum in other countries, which is one of the main reasons for the Afghan embassy to be in a state of disarray.

We met officials from MEA and the local staff of Afghan embassy in Delhi and have given them the assurance that the embassy will continue to work for the people of Afghanistan, said Zakia Wardak in a statement.

The Afghan embassy had in a statement on November 24 (the day former Ambassador Mamundzay made a statement of closure) reiterated that the embassy was functional. In view of the historical and civilisational ties and friendly relations between India and Afghanistan, we reiterate that we have decided to ensure continued functioning of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi - which is the symbol of aspiration and hopes of Afghan people, according to statement.

The statement also said that there would be consular services for Afghan nationals in Delhi. We request everyone to kindly ignore and disregard the unprofessional and irresponsible communications issued by the former Afghan diplomats who are based abroad and therefore now onwards have no locus standi in the internal affairs of Afghan Embassy in Delhi. the statement added.

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NEW DELHI: Five days after former Ambassador of Afghanistan in India, Farid Mamundzay, claimed that their embassy in Delhi was closed permanently, Afghanistans political deputy of Foreign Affairs, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanakzai, on Wednesday said embassy will continue to function as usual. In an interview to Afghanistans national television, Stanakzai said embassy in Delhi was in contact with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA ), while the Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad were active. India has not yet recognised the Taliban government. The Consul General of Mumbai, Zakia Wardrak, has been overseeing the functioning of the embassy in Delhi. Past diplomats of the Afghan embassy in Delhi have sought asylum in other countries, which is one of the main reasons for the Afghan embassy to be in a state of disarray. We met officials from MEA and the local staff of Afghan embassy in Delhi and have given them the assurance that the embassy will continue to work for the people of Afghanistan, said Zakia Wardak in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Afghan embassy had in a statement on November 24 (the day former Ambassador Mamundzay made a statement of closure) reiterated that the embassy was functional. In view of the historical and civilisational ties and friendly relations between India and Afghanistan, we reiterate that we have decided to ensure continued functioning of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi - which is the symbol of aspiration and hopes of Afghan people, according to statement. The statement also said that there would be consular services for Afghan nationals in Delhi. We request everyone to kindly ignore and disregard the unprofessional and irresponsible communications issued by the former Afghan diplomats who are based abroad and therefore now onwards have no locus standi in the internal affairs of Afghan Embassy in Delhi. the statement added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By ANI

NEW DELHI: India expects a clear roadmap on climate financing during the COP28 starting today, where world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will converge to chalk out strategies for climate mitigation.

"Climate finance and climate technology are a very crucial segment of all the global efforts to address this challenge of environmental degradation. We expect a clear roadmap to be agreed upon at COP28 on climate finance, which would be important for delivering on the new, collective, quantified goals," foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told media persons here in the national capital.

Climate finance typically refers to any financing that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.

Asked what India's stance on the reduction of coal consumption for its energy requirements was, Kwatra said, "Coal is and will remain an important part of India's energy mix; it has always been, as we move forward to meet our developmental priorities in the country."

"We are proactive in taking practical climate action measures and basing them on a firm conceptual understanding and a very firm belief that our development has to be a green development," he said, adding that it would be subject to India's own developmental priorities.

PM Modi committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26, held in 2021. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, and reducing emissions by 1 billion metric tonnes by 2030.

India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held from November 30 until December 12, 2023, in Dubai.

The path to net zero by 2050 would require green investments to rise from USD 900 billion in 2020 to USD 5 trillion annually by 2030, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In a recent blog, the IMF's Simon Black, Florence Jaumotte, and Prasad Ananthakrishnan argued that emerging and developing countries (EMDEs) need USD 2 trillion annually, a fivefold increase from 2020.

Recently, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for concrete action on climate funding and the transfer of technology at the upcoming global climate summit COP28, where policymakers and governments will converge to chalk out a future strategy for climate mitigation.

"India will certainly be pushing forward to showcase what it has achieved with its own funds. The Paris commitment given by us has been funded by us. We didn't wait for the hundred billion that is never on the table. A lot of talk, but no money coming on the table. No pathways to show how technology is going to be transferred," Nirmala Sitharaman observed.

Demanding action instead of words, the Union Minister said, "Particularly for developing and emerging market economies, funding this is going to be a huge challenge. So, I would think the conversations can happen; a lot of talks can happen, but eventually, COP28 should show the direction, both for the transfer of technology and for the actual funding."

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NEW DELHI: India expects a clear roadmap on climate financing during the COP28 starting today, where world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will converge to chalk out strategies for climate mitigation. "Climate finance and climate technology are a very crucial segment of all the global efforts to address this challenge of environmental degradation. We expect a clear roadmap to be agreed upon at COP28 on climate finance, which would be important for delivering on the new, collective, quantified goals," foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told media persons here in the national capital. Climate finance typically refers to any financing that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asked what India's stance on the reduction of coal consumption for its energy requirements was, Kwatra said, "Coal is and will remain an important part of India's energy mix; it has always been, as we move forward to meet our developmental priorities in the country." "We are proactive in taking practical climate action measures and basing them on a firm conceptual understanding and a very firm belief that our development has to be a green development," he said, adding that it would be subject to India's own developmental priorities. PM Modi committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge at COP26, held in 2021. They included reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, generating half of all energy requirements from renewables, and reducing emissions by 1 billion metric tonnes by 2030. India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070. The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held from November 30 until December 12, 2023, in Dubai. The path to net zero by 2050 would require green investments to rise from USD 900 billion in 2020 to USD 5 trillion annually by 2030, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a recent blog, the IMF's Simon Black, Florence Jaumotte, and Prasad Ananthakrishnan argued that emerging and developing countries (EMDEs) need USD 2 trillion annually, a fivefold increase from 2020. Recently, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for concrete action on climate funding and the transfer of technology at the upcoming global climate summit COP28, where policymakers and governments will converge to chalk out a future strategy for climate mitigation. "India will certainly be pushing forward to showcase what it has achieved with its own funds. The Paris commitment given by us has been funded by us. We didn't wait for the hundred billion that is never on the table. A lot of talk, but no money coming on the table. No pathways to show how technology is going to be transferred," Nirmala Sitharaman observed. Demanding action instead of words, the Union Minister said, "Particularly for developing and emerging market economies, funding this is going to be a huge challenge. So, I would think the conversations can happen; a lot of talks can happen, but eventually, COP28 should show the direction, both for the transfer of technology and for the actual funding." Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

DUBAI: The 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) had an auspicious start on Thursday achieving a major milestone - an agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund, which will be used to support developing countries, especially the vulnerable, to tide over the adverse effects of climate change. On Day 1, a cumulative $420 million was pledged by different countries.

The UAE, which is also one of the biggest oil and gas producing regions in the world, wasted no time pledging $100 million for the fund to set the ball rolling for others to join. COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, who is the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, was in the eye of the storm just day ahead of COP facing criticism of conflict of interest after some leaked documents suggested the global climate event was being used by the UAE to strike business deals, which Al Jaber vehemently refuted. Now, this agreement will salvage some credibility.

The Fund was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and became operational on Thursday following the agreement reached by parties during five transitional committee meetings. The 5th transitional meeting hosted earlier this month in Abu Dhabi was added by the COP28 Presidency following the impasse reached at the 4th meeting, where Parties resolved.

Other countries making notable commitments included Germany, which committed $100million and the European Union as a whole pledged 225 million (including Germany), the UK committed 40million for the Fund and 20million for other arrangements, Japan $10million and the US $17.5 million.

An elated Al Jaber said the speed at which the world came together to get this Fund's operationalisation within one year since parties agreed to it in Sharm El Sheikh is unprecedented. "This Fund will support billions of people, lives and livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, said Al Jaber. During a press briefing, he said the threshold to establish and operationalise the Fund was $200 million, but an upward of $420 million was contributed by the countries.

Concerns remain

As of now, the World Bank will be the interim host of the fund for four years. Although the members of the transitional committee called for the fund to operate by an UN entity following the principles of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, there was no breakthrough in that regard.

It has been agreed that the fund should have at least $100 billion a year in loss and damaging funding by 2030, which is considered the 'floor' (the minimum) the fund will require. The developing countries demand close to $400 billion per annum.

As per a study titled "Loss and Damage Today: The Uneven Effects of Climate Change on Global GDP & Capital" released on Thursday by University of Delaware, L&D from climate change accounted for about $1.5 trillion in 2022. Countries in the Global South have lost an average of 8.3% of GDP due to the impacts of climate change.

More needs to be done

Ambassador Paolelei Luteru, AOSIS Chair said: "The work is far from over. We cannot rest until this fund is adequately financed and starts to actually alleviate the burden of vulnerable communities. Success starts when the international community can properly support the victims of this climate crisis, with efficient, direct access to the finance they urgently need."

The developed countries need to pledge new and additional funds to the Fund. This support should be in the form of grants rather than loans that risk further indebting these economies, said Ulka Kelkar, executive director (Climate), WRI India.

Mohamed Adow, Founder and Director of Powershift Africa, said although it has been agreed to operationalise the Fund, there are no hard deadlines, no targets and countries are not obligated to pay into it, despite the whole point being for rich, high polluting nations to support vulnerable communities who have suffered from climate impacts.

Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, said rich countries have pushed for the World Bank to host this Fund under the guise of ensuring a speedy response. The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the Fund's long-term sustainability. "Therefore, a robust system, particularly integrated with the Global Stocktake process and the new climate finance goal, is needed to ensure that COP28 results in a meaningful outcome, he said.

Pledges so far:

UAE: $100 million

Germany: $100 million

UK: 40 million to the Fund and 20 million for other funding arrangements for loss and damage

US: $17.5 million

Japan: $10 million

EU: 225 million (including Germany)

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DUBAI: The 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) had an auspicious start on Thursday achieving a major milestone - an agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund, which will be used to support developing countries, especially the vulnerable, to tide over the adverse effects of climate change. On Day 1, a cumulative $420 million was pledged by different countries. The UAE, which is also one of the biggest oil and gas producing regions in the world, wasted no time pledging $100 million for the fund to set the ball rolling for others to join. COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, who is the UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, was in the eye of the storm just day ahead of COP facing criticism of conflict of interest after some leaked documents suggested the global climate event was being used by the UAE to strike business deals, which Al Jaber vehemently refuted. Now, this agreement will salvage some credibility. The Fund was first agreed upon during COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and became operational on Thursday following the agreement reached by parties during five transitional committee meetings. The 5th transitional meeting hosted earlier this month in Abu Dhabi was added by the COP28 Presidency following the impasse reached at the 4th meeting, where Parties resolved. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Other countries making notable commitments included Germany, which committed $100million and the European Union as a whole pledged 225 million (including Germany), the UK committed 40million for the Fund and 20million for other arrangements, Japan $10million and the US $17.5 million. An elated Al Jaber said the speed at which the world came together to get this Fund's operationalisation within one year since parties agreed to it in Sharm El Sheikh is unprecedented. "This Fund will support billions of people, lives and livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, said Al Jaber. During a press briefing, he said the threshold to establish and operationalise the Fund was $200 million, but an upward of $420 million was contributed by the countries. Concerns remain As of now, the World Bank will be the interim host of the fund for four years. Although the members of the transitional committee called for the fund to operate by an UN entity following the principles of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, there was no breakthrough in that regard. It has been agreed that the fund should have at least $100 billion a year in loss and damaging funding by 2030, which is considered the 'floor' (the minimum) the fund will require. The developing countries demand close to $400 billion per annum. As per a study titled "Loss and Damage Today: The Uneven Effects of Climate Change on Global GDP & Capital" released on Thursday by University of Delaware, L&D from climate change accounted for about $1.5 trillion in 2022. Countries in the Global South have lost an average of 8.3% of GDP due to the impacts of climate change. More needs to be done Ambassador Paolelei Luteru, AOSIS Chair said: "The work is far from over. We cannot rest until this fund is adequately financed and starts to actually alleviate the burden of vulnerable communities. Success starts when the international community can properly support the victims of this climate crisis, with efficient, direct access to the finance they urgently need." The developed countries need to pledge new and additional funds to the Fund. This support should be in the form of grants rather than loans that risk further indebting these economies, said Ulka Kelkar, executive director (Climate), WRI India. Mohamed Adow, Founder and Director of Powershift Africa, said although it has been agreed to operationalise the Fund, there are no hard deadlines, no targets and countries are not obligated to pay into it, despite the whole point being for rich, high polluting nations to support vulnerable communities who have suffered from climate impacts. Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, said rich countries have pushed for the World Bank to host this Fund under the guise of ensuring a speedy response. The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the Fund's long-term sustainability. "Therefore, a robust system, particularly integrated with the Global Stocktake process and the new climate finance goal, is needed to ensure that COP28 results in a meaningful outcome, he said. Pledges so far: UAE: $100 million Germany: $100 million UK: 40 million to the Fund and 20 million for other funding arrangements for loss and damage US: $17.5 million Japan: $10 million EU: 225 million (including Germany) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Amit S Upadhye By

Express News Service

Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna Karadi has raised the demand for a direct train from Anjanadri, believed by some to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, to Ayodhya, in time for the grand opening of the Ram temple in the North Indian city. If approved, this will be the first train from Karnataka to the town.

The grand opening is scheduled currently scheduled for January.

Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna Karadi has written a letter to the railway ministry and said he has got a positive response from the railways.

I will take the up demand once again in the upcoming parliament session. I have already sent a letter to the railway ministry and South Western Railway demanding connectivity between the two religious centres. The train will also help the people of this region It will boost religious tourism, Karadi Sanganna said.

Both Ayodhya and Anjanadri in Gangavati of Koppal district attract large numbers of religious tourists annually. Large numbers of devotees from many parts of North India visit Anjanadri.

K M Maheswarswami, State President of Railway Action Committee, said that it's a long pending demand from the locals and temple trust members at Anjanadri.

We shall support the project and will help the railways to go ahead with the connectivity. The initial point should be either Hubballi or Guntkal as these are main junctions, he said.

A senior trustee from Hanumad Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust of Anjanadri said that it is positive news.

We had demanded a new railway station near Kishkinda so that devotees can reach near to the shrine. It's a long pending dream of our trust to get train connectivity. When Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was in Gangavati for an election rally, he had expressed the desire to connect the two destinations with the railway," the member said.

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Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna Karadi has raised the demand for a direct train from Anjanadri, believed by some to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, to Ayodhya, in time for the grand opening of the Ram temple in the North Indian city. If approved, this will be the first train from Karnataka to the town. The grand opening is scheduled currently scheduled for January. Koppal MP Karadi Sanganna Karadi has written a letter to the railway ministry and said he has got a positive response from the railways.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I will take the up demand once again in the upcoming parliament session. I have already sent a letter to the railway ministry and South Western Railway demanding connectivity between the two religious centres. The train will also help the people of this region It will boost religious tourism, Karadi Sanganna said. Both Ayodhya and Anjanadri in Gangavati of Koppal district attract large numbers of religious tourists annually. Large numbers of devotees from many parts of North India visit Anjanadri. K M Maheswarswami, State President of Railway Action Committee, said that it's a long pending demand from the locals and temple trust members at Anjanadri. We shall support the project and will help the railways to go ahead with the connectivity. The initial point should be either Hubballi or Guntkal as these are main junctions, he said. A senior trustee from Hanumad Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust of Anjanadri said that it is positive news. We had demanded a new railway station near Kishkinda so that devotees can reach near to the shrine. It's a long pending dream of our trust to get train connectivity. When Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was in Gangavati for an election rally, he had expressed the desire to connect the two destinations with the railway," the member said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
As Attica Correctional Facility remained on lockdown for a third day Thursday, inmate advocates began raising questions about whether recent changes regarding issues ranging from visitation to isolation have raised tension inside.

At the same time, a local politician blamed recent legislation aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, in particular regarding how prisons are run, as being to blame for creating dangerous conditions.

And separately, the State Inspector Generals Office released a report detailing defects in both the manufacturing and administration of drug tests used by the Corrections Department that resulted in the more than 2,000 incarcerated people being disciplined based on unreliable evidence.

The lockdown followed multiple violent incidents between inmates and assaults of correctional officers, according to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The violence began with incarcerated-against-incarcerated incidents, DOCCS officials said Tuesday on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.

... Staff have also been assaulted; including correction officer being stabbed numerous times and another suffering serious injuries to his face.

No charges have been announced but Corrections officials said that state police and local law enforcement agencies were investigating and will pursue prosecution.

Few details have been released about what happened at the storied maximum security prison for men, which was the scene of one of the most infamous prison revolts in U.S. history when more than 1,000 prisoners took control of the facility in 1971 for four days before state police stormed the prison to take back control.

Prison staff were continuing to conduct searches of the entire facility. Acting DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III ordered the lockdown at the prison and a search of the facility, which was expected to take several days, officials announced Tuesday.

Prison staff conduct the searches with security supervisors from other nearby prisons providing oversight. Also, the Corrections Departments Office of Special Investigations was deployed to Attica to observe the search, Corrections officials said.

Stephen Hart of WNY HALTsolitary, a group that has advocated for eliminating the use of solitary confinement of incarcerated individuals, said that Attica has been more tense recently because of more stringent rules. Since December 2022, Attica changed visitation rules so that inmates are limited to receiving visits on alternate days, based on their last names.

Then in May, the Corrections Department stopped allowing packages to be mailed to inmates unless they are shipped directly from an approved vendor. That means visitors cant bring homemade food or other items when visiting incarcerated people.

HALTsolitary members say that the state prison system hasnt fully complied with the HALT Act enacted in March 2022 that strictly limit the use of solitary confinement, which advocates for the incarcerated say is devastating to mental health.

Violence does not occur in a vacuum, said Jerome Wright, who was subjected to solitary confinement when he was incarcerated in New York and is a co-director of the HALTsolitary campaign. ...One enduring lesson from that tragedy (the 1971 Attica uprising) is that its important to dig deeper than what the state reports.

The group called for an investigation into what is happening to the Attica inmates during the lockdown period.

But Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio, R,C-Olean, blamed the violence on legislative majorities attempts to make laws that are unworkable and allow for dangerous situations in New Yorks prisons.

While not naming specific legislation, he said that reforms in the prison system have resulted in a lack of repercussions to prisoners who commit acts of violence against others, so the acts are repeated over and over in facilities across the state.

On Thursday, the State Inspector General Lucy Lang released a report on the defective drug tests called NARK II used in state prisons between 2016 and 2020. The test results were used to discipline more than 2,000 incarcerated people with sanctions that included solitary confinement, delays in parole eligibility and suspension of family visitation.

The Corrections Department reversed and expunged the disciplinary charges related to the use of the defective tests.
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A new logo of the National Medical Commission (NMC), which regulates medical education in India, has courted controversy as an image of the Hindu deity Dhanwanthari has replaced the national emblem of India, which features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, on the official logo of Indias National Medical Commission (NMC).

It also refers to the organisation as the National Medical Commission - Bharat replacing India, triggering speculations about BJP's alleged plans to remove the word India from the Constitution in the upcoming special session of Parliament.

The new logo is already being used on the official website of the NMC, and seems to have been introduced clandestinely with no official intimation being given to the media or public.

Though the changed logo can be seen on its official website, on X, formerly Twitter, the national emblem with Satyamev Jayate written below remains. The NMC, on its letterhead, frequently uses the national symbol.

Many doctors and medical professionals took to social media, especially X, to slam the change in the logo.

Speaking to the New Indian Express, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President, Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal, said that changing the logo was unnecessary.

The inclusion of Dhanwanthari was unnecessary and should have been avoided. They should focus on the quality of medical education. They are not a political body and should not have political aspirations or try to please their political bosses, he said.

The IMA, Kerala branch, shot a letter to the NMC Chairman condemning the decision and demanded immediate action in this regard.

This is to inform you that the recent change in the National Medical Commission Logo is unacceptable to the modern medical fraternity. The new logo gives a wrong message and will harm the scientific and secular nature of the Commission, the letter, written jointly by IMA Kerala president Dr Joseph Benaven and secretary Dr K Sasidharan, said.

Members of the profession have already raised their voices against this unacceptable move, they said.

Kannur-based ophthalmologist K V Babu, who has filed numerous RTIs to the NMC and Union Health Ministry, demanding that the medical body members share their assets as mandated by the NMC Act 2019, said that the members are trying to divert the attention of the doctors and public by creating controversies.

Dr. Rohan Krishnan, national chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), said it is an unnecessary move which is not going to help the doctors or the patients.

The new logo resembles the logo of the National Medicos Organisation (NMO), which is a political wing. The NMC has not been up to the mark on various fronts. Whether it is medical education, registration of the doctors, or in providing good quality medical education or even in providing job opportunities to freshly passed out MBBS students, Krishnan told this paper.

They have also failed to provide better medical education infrastructure or to solve the issues of foreign medical graduates. The entire body is unapproachable, and they hardly respond to RTIs. They are interested in impressing their political masters.

Many doctors posted on X. One post by a doctor known as Dr Hypertension, on X said: Whats more saddening is NMC logo now will have Ayurveda founder Dhanvantari a kind of alternative medicine pic in its logo for modern medicine in India.

Another MBBS student from Rohtak, Pankaj Bitthu, said, The new logo of NMC is highly objectionable. BJP govt is trying to introduce Hindutva in medical education, which entirely defeats the scientific and evidence-based approach of modern medicine.

A doctor, popularly known by his handle Indian Doctor, posted on X that the representative of Allopathy, (modern medical science), has modified its logo to Dhanwantari (the physician of God and God of Ayurveda).

Others said it is unacceptable and disturbing, while many went ahead saying that NMC cannot be religious in its approach as it is a regulatory body of modern medicine in India.

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NEW DELHI: A new logo of the National Medical Commission (NMC), which regulates medical education in India, has courted controversy as an image of the Hindu deity Dhanwanthari has replaced the national emblem of India, which features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, on the official logo of Indias National Medical Commission (NMC). It also refers to the organisation as the National Medical Commission - Bharat replacing India, triggering speculations about BJP's alleged plans to remove the word India from the Constitution in the upcoming special session of Parliament. The new logo is already being used on the official website of the NMC, and seems to have been introduced clandestinely with no official intimation being given to the media or public.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Though the changed logo can be seen on its official website, on X, formerly Twitter, the national emblem with Satyamev Jayate written below remains. The NMC, on its letterhead, frequently uses the national symbol. Many doctors and medical professionals took to social media, especially X, to slam the change in the logo. Speaking to the New Indian Express, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) National President, Dr Sharad Kumar Agarwal, said that changing the logo was unnecessary. The inclusion of Dhanwanthari was unnecessary and should have been avoided. They should focus on the quality of medical education. They are not a political body and should not have political aspirations or try to please their political bosses, he said. The IMA, Kerala branch, shot a letter to the NMC Chairman condemning the decision and demanded immediate action in this regard. This is to inform you that the recent change in the National Medical Commission Logo is unacceptable to the modern medical fraternity. The new logo gives a wrong message and will harm the scientific and secular nature of the Commission, the letter, written jointly by IMA Kerala president Dr Joseph Benaven and secretary Dr K Sasidharan, said. Members of the profession have already raised their voices against this unacceptable move, they said. Kannur-based ophthalmologist K V Babu, who has filed numerous RTIs to the NMC and Union Health Ministry, demanding that the medical body members share their assets as mandated by the NMC Act 2019, said that the members are trying to divert the attention of the doctors and public by creating controversies. Dr. Rohan Krishnan, national chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), said it is an unnecessary move which is not going to help the doctors or the patients. The new logo resembles the logo of the National Medicos Organisation (NMO), which is a political wing. The NMC has not been up to the mark on various fronts. Whether it is medical education, registration of the doctors, or in providing good quality medical education or even in providing job opportunities to freshly passed out MBBS students, Krishnan told this paper. They have also failed to provide better medical education infrastructure or to solve the issues of foreign medical graduates. The entire body is unapproachable, and they hardly respond to RTIs. They are interested in impressing their political masters. Many doctors posted on X. One post by a doctor known as Dr Hypertension, on X said: Whats more saddening is NMC logo now will have Ayurveda founder Dhanvantari a kind of alternative medicine pic in its logo for modern medicine in India. Another MBBS student from Rohtak, Pankaj Bitthu, said, The new logo of NMC is highly objectionable. BJP govt is trying to introduce Hindutva in medical education, which entirely defeats the scientific and evidence-based approach of modern medicine. A doctor, popularly known by his handle Indian Doctor, posted on X that the representative of Allopathy, (modern medical science), has modified its logo to Dhanwantari (the physician of God and God of Ayurveda). Others said it is unacceptable and disturbing, while many went ahead saying that NMC cannot be religious in its approach as it is a regulatory body of modern medicine in India. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday in the Supreme Court vehemently opposed the Elgar Parishad case accused Shoma Kanti Sens plea seeking interim bail on health grounds.

Sen sought an interim bail citing health issues and said that she was suffering from general ailments and there was nothing special about it.

Sen, an English literature professor, and womens rights activist, was arrested on June 6, 2018.

A two-judge bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose and also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, indicated that it was inclined to grant medical bail for a limited period.

We think we can give a medical bail for a limited period, Justice Bose indicated.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, senior law officer appearing for the NIA, told the bench that a medical board can be constituted to verify Sens medical condition and there is nothing that requires immediate treatment.

The medical report shows that these are general ailments and there is nothing special about it. If required, we will constitute a medical board to ascertain her health condition," Nataraj said and pleaded for not granting her interim bail.

On the other hand, Mr Grover said she has been in jail for over five years and suffering from various ailments.

The top court, however, did not pass any order and fixed to hear the matter on December 6.

The apex court was hearing Sens appeal challenging the January 17, 2023 order of the Bombay High Court which had directed her to approach the special NIA court for bail.

The case against Sen relates to the alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the citys outskirts.

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday in the Supreme Court vehemently opposed the Elgar Parishad case accused Shoma Kanti Sens plea seeking interim bail on health grounds. Sen sought an interim bail citing health issues and said that she was suffering from general ailments and there was nothing special about it. Sen, an English literature professor, and womens rights activist, was arrested on June 6, 2018.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A two-judge bench of the Top Court, headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose and also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, indicated that it was inclined to grant medical bail for a limited period. We think we can give a medical bail for a limited period, Justice Bose indicated. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, senior law officer appearing for the NIA, told the bench that a medical board can be constituted to verify Sens medical condition and there is nothing that requires immediate treatment. The medical report shows that these are general ailments and there is nothing special about it. If required, we will constitute a medical board to ascertain her health condition," Nataraj said and pleaded for not granting her interim bail. On the other hand, Mr Grover said she has been in jail for over five years and suffering from various ailments. The top court, however, did not pass any order and fixed to hear the matter on December 6. The apex court was hearing Sens appeal challenging the January 17, 2023 order of the Bombay High Court which had directed her to approach the special NIA court for bail. The case against Sen relates to the alleged inflammatory speeches delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the citys outskirts. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Jitendra Choubey By

Express News Service

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a collective of farmers organisations, on Thursday strongly condemned the brief detention of leader Chaudhary Yudhvir Singh and seven others.

Singh is a national council member of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and national general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, another farmers organisation.

Singh was detained for nine hours at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 2 am on November 29 while he was in the process of boarding a flight to Colombia to attend an international agriculture & environment conference.

Police didnt tell on what grounds they detained me, Singh told The New Indian Express.

He further said he has never received any legal notice related to any case where restriction on international travel is mentioned.

I live in Delhi and conduct different farmers meetings around Delhi farmers but I do not understand what made Delhi Police take such a step, says Singh who heads the Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movement. The organisation is a part of the international farmers movement group La Via Campesina, spread across 78 countries.

The SKM leaders termed his detention as illegal and arbitrary and accused the Union government of vindictive action as Singh participated in the historic farmers movement at the borders of Delhi in 2020-21.

Singhs detention and not allowing him to travel abroad is nothing but vengeance by the government against SKM, said SKM in a press release. It further stated that the government is hell-bent on suppressing the voice of farmers in the country but its efforts will not succeed.

SKM is a consortium of over 400 farmers' organisations across the country and criticises the Union government for its pro-corporate policy. It was formed after a year-long protest in 2020-21 against three controversial farm laws favouring corporates.

Earlier, SKM leaders campaigned against the incumbent Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Dimni Assembly constituency Morena district (MP) assembly seat for his anti-farmers policy. They urged farmers to ensure the defeat of Tomar.

The SKM accused Tomar of enacting three anti-farmer laws which caused the death of 725 farmers during the 380-day long farmers' protest in 2020-21.

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Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a collective of farmers organisations, on Thursday strongly condemned the brief detention of leader Chaudhary Yudhvir Singh and seven others. Singh is a national council member of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and national general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union, another farmers organisation. Singh was detained for nine hours at Indira Gandhi International Airport around 2 am on November 29 while he was in the process of boarding a flight to Colombia to attend an international agriculture & environment conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Police didnt tell on what grounds they detained me, Singh told The New Indian Express. He further said he has never received any legal notice related to any case where restriction on international travel is mentioned. I live in Delhi and conduct different farmers meetings around Delhi farmers but I do not understand what made Delhi Police take such a step, says Singh who heads the Indian Coordination Committee of Farmers Movement. The organisation is a part of the international farmers movement group La Via Campesina, spread across 78 countries. The SKM leaders termed his detention as illegal and arbitrary and accused the Union government of vindictive action as Singh participated in the historic farmers movement at the borders of Delhi in 2020-21. Singhs detention and not allowing him to travel abroad is nothing but vengeance by the government against SKM, said SKM in a press release. It further stated that the government is hell-bent on suppressing the voice of farmers in the country but its efforts will not succeed. SKM is a consortium of over 400 farmers' organisations across the country and criticises the Union government for its pro-corporate policy. It was formed after a year-long protest in 2020-21 against three controversial farm laws favouring corporates. Earlier, SKM leaders campaigned against the incumbent Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Dimni Assembly constituency Morena district (MP) assembly seat for his anti-farmers policy. They urged farmers to ensure the defeat of Tomar. The SKM accused Tomar of enacting three anti-farmer laws which caused the death of 725 farmers during the 380-day long farmers' protest in 2020-21. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, in a late evening meeting on Tuesday, approved extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years, under which 5 kg of free food grains will be distributed to over 81.35 crore poor people, at a cost of Rs 11.80 lakh crore to the exchequer.

The scheme, announced during the pandemic, was set to expire on December 31 this year. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering the Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 this year, had announced that the scheme will be extended further.

The Cabinet also approved a scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women-operated Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore for two years, from 2024-25. The SHGs could rent these drones to farmers for agriculture purposes. The women SHGs will be identified from about 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, said Union minister Anurag Thakur.

Clearance was also given to continue fast-track special courts for another three years. After the passage of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2018 in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya rape case, the Centre had set up 1,023 fast-track special courts, including 389 to deal exclusively with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, in 31 states and UTs. The scheme was extended for three years at a cost of Rs 1,952.23 crore.

What schemes got Cabinet nod

Extends free grain distribution to 81.35 crore poor under PMGKAY for 5 years. Cost to exchequer: Rs 11.80 lakh crore

Approves continuation of fast-track special courts for another 3 years

The Terms of Reference of 16th Finance Commission cleared

Approves Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan for tribal population

Nod for Rs 1,261 crore scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women SHGs for 2 years

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NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, in a late evening meeting on Tuesday, approved extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years, under which 5 kg of free food grains will be distributed to over 81.35 crore poor people, at a cost of Rs 11.80 lakh crore to the exchequer. The scheme, announced during the pandemic, was set to expire on December 31 this year. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering the Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15 this year, had announced that the scheme will be extended further. The Cabinet also approved a scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women-operated Self Help Groups (SHGs) with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore for two years, from 2024-25. The SHGs could rent these drones to farmers for agriculture purposes. The women SHGs will be identified from about 89 lakh SHGs formed under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, said Union minister Anurag Thakur.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Clearance was also given to continue fast-track special courts for another three years. After the passage of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2018 in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya rape case, the Centre had set up 1,023 fast-track special courts, including 389 to deal exclusively with cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, in 31 states and UTs. The scheme was extended for three years at a cost of Rs 1,952.23 crore. What schemes got Cabinet nod Extends free grain distribution to 81.35 crore poor under PMGKAY for 5 years. Cost to exchequer: Rs 11.80 lakh crore Approves continuation of fast-track special courts for another 3 years The Terms of Reference of 16th Finance Commission cleared Approves Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan for tribal population Nod for Rs 1,261 crore scheme to provide drones to 15,000 women SHGs for 2 years Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Kolkata raising alleged corruption issues against Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the CBI on Thursday swung into action and conducted raids at eight places across the state.

A TMC MLA and two councilors of the ruling party-dominated civic bodies's houses were raided in connection with irregularities in recruitment in state-run schools.

The federal agency searched the house of Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, and recovered cash of Rs 24 lakh which the central agency suspects proceeds of the crime.

While addressing the rally on Wednesday at the TMCs signature venue to mark its annual Martyrs Day on July 21, Shah referred to the arrests of TMC ministers and heavyweights in connection with alleged scams. He also alleged that Bengal is gripped by corruption and said Didi aapka samay ab samapt ho chukka (Didi, your time is up now) while announcing that the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be implemented despite Mamatas resistance and no one can stop it.

Sources in the CBI said Zakibul, who was also the chairman of Domkol municipality, has involvement with many educational institutions.

The MLAs name popped up during the interrogation of Manik Bhattacharya, another TMC legislator from Palashipara in Nadia who was arrested in July this year. Zakibul failed to come up with satisfactory explanations when he was asked about the source of Rs 24 lakh recovered from his residence, said an officer of the federal agency.

READ HERE | Elect Modi as PM to oust Mamata, no one can stop CAA implementation: Amit Shah at Kolkata rally

The two houses that were raided by the CBI are owned by Bappaditya Majumdar of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Debraj Chakrabarty of Bidhannagar Municipality.

We came to know about Majumdars name after interrogating former education minister Partha Chatterjee. We have come across leads indicating Majumdar's recommendations for jobs in schools in exchange for money, said a CBI officer.

Chatterjee was arrested last year along with his aide Arpita Mukherjee who are presently languishing in jail by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A huge sum amounting to Rs 49 crore and jewelleries was recovered from Arpitas two apartments which the investigating agency said proceeds of crime.

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KOLKATA: A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Kolkata raising alleged corruption issues against Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, the CBI on Thursday swung into action and conducted raids at eight places across the state. A TMC MLA and two councilors of the ruling party-dominated civic bodies's houses were raided in connection with irregularities in recruitment in state-run schools. The federal agency searched the house of Zakibul Islam, the MLA from Domkol in Murshidabad, and recovered cash of Rs 24 lakh which the central agency suspects proceeds of the crime.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While addressing the rally on Wednesday at the TMCs signature venue to mark its annual Martyrs Day on July 21, Shah referred to the arrests of TMC ministers and heavyweights in connection with alleged scams. He also alleged that Bengal is gripped by corruption and said Didi aapka samay ab samapt ho chukka (Didi, your time is up now) while announcing that the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be implemented despite Mamatas resistance and no one can stop it. Sources in the CBI said Zakibul, who was also the chairman of Domkol municipality, has involvement with many educational institutions. The MLAs name popped up during the interrogation of Manik Bhattacharya, another TMC legislator from Palashipara in Nadia who was arrested in July this year. Zakibul failed to come up with satisfactory explanations when he was asked about the source of Rs 24 lakh recovered from his residence, said an officer of the federal agency. READ HERE | Elect Modi as PM to oust Mamata, no one can stop CAA implementation: Amit Shah at Kolkata rally The two houses that were raided by the CBI are owned by Bappaditya Majumdar of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Debraj Chakrabarty of Bidhannagar Municipality. We came to know about Majumdars name after interrogating former education minister Partha Chatterjee. We have come across leads indicating Majumdar's recommendations for jobs in schools in exchange for money, said a CBI officer. Chatterjee was arrested last year along with his aide Arpita Mukherjee who are presently languishing in jail by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A huge sum amounting to Rs 49 crore and jewelleries was recovered from Arpitas two apartments which the investigating agency said proceeds of crime. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Online Desk

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand helicopters to boost the overall combat capability of the armed forces, official sources said.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also cleared a proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet, the sources said.

It is learnt that mega procurement projects and the Su-30 upgrade programme are expected to cost the exchequer Rs 1.6 lakh crore. The defence ministry is expected to provide the details of the projects cleared by the DAC soon.

"The Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal for the acquisition of 97 LCA mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around Rs 65,000 crores. Proposal for buying 156 LCH Prachand choppers have also been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council along with the upgrade plan of 84 Su-30MKI fighters has also been cleared: these proposals are worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore and are indigenous projects," according to officials from the Defence Ministry.

Today, the Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal for the acquisition of 97 LCA mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around Rs 65,000 crores. Proposal for buying 156 LCH Prachand choppers have also been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council along  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tejas is a multirole platform designed to undertake the Air Defence, Maritime Reconnaissance and strike roles. Tejas Mk-1A, a Light Combat Aircraft, will have updated avionics, as well as an active electronically steered radar, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond-visual Range missile capability. The new variant will be capable of firing a number of weapons from increased stand-off ranges.

Prachand, a Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), is also designed and manufactured by HAL and is a multi-role light attack helicopter with the ability to land and take off from an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), making it ideal to operate in the high-altitude areas of the Indian border.

It also has a countermeasure dispensing system that shields it from hostile radars and infrared seekers of enemy missiles, and it can fire a variety of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles. In addition to having the finest stealth characteristics, armoured shield systems, and dark mode assault capabilities, Prachand also has an advantage over other technologies like radar and infrared signature thanks to its crash-resistant landing gear.

(With additional inputs from PTI and ANI)

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NEW DELHI: India on Thursday accorded an initial approval to procure an additional batch of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand helicopters to boost the overall combat capability of the armed forces, official sources said. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also cleared a proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet, the sources said. It is learnt that mega procurement projects and the Su-30 upgrade programme are expected to cost the exchequer Rs 1.6 lakh crore. The defence ministry is expected to provide the details of the projects cleared by the DAC soon.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal for the acquisition of 97 LCA mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around Rs 65,000 crores. Proposal for buying 156 LCH Prachand choppers have also been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council along with the upgrade plan of 84 Su-30MKI fighters has also been cleared: these proposals are worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore and are indigenous projects," according to officials from the Defence Ministry. Today, the Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal for the acquisition of 97 LCA mark 1A fighter jets for the Indian Air Force at a cost of around Rs 65,000 crores. Proposal for buying 156 LCH Prachand choppers have also been approved by the Defence Acquisition Council along  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023 Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Tejas is a multirole platform designed to undertake the Air Defence, Maritime Reconnaissance and strike roles. Tejas Mk-1A, a Light Combat Aircraft, will have updated avionics, as well as an active electronically steered radar, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond-visual Range missile capability. The new variant will be capable of firing a number of weapons from increased stand-off ranges. Prachand, a Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), is also designed and manufactured by HAL and is a multi-role light attack helicopter with the ability to land and take off from an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 feet), making it ideal to operate in the high-altitude areas of the Indian border. It also has a countermeasure dispensing system that shields it from hostile radars and infrared seekers of enemy missiles, and it can fire a variety of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles. In addition to having the finest stealth characteristics, armoured shield systems, and dark mode assault capabilities, Prachand also has an advantage over other technologies like radar and infrared signature thanks to its crash-resistant landing gear. (With additional inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

DUBAI: Even as thousands of delegates and world leaders arrive in Dubai for the UN COP28 climate conference which opened on Thursday, the UN's World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned that 2023 had shattered a whole host of climate records, with extreme weather leaving "a trail of devastation and despair."

The provisional State of the Global Climate report said the data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline.

The difference between 2023, 2020 and 2016 which were previously ranked as the warmest years, is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking. The warming El Nino event, which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer, is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Nino typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks, the report said.

The report said record monthly global temperatures have been observed for the ocean  from April through to October  and, starting slightly later, the land  from July through to October.

Reacting to the report, M Ravichandran, secretary, of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, told TNIE that year by year these records are going to break as the warming continues. "The mitigation and adaptation are key to survive in this new normal scenario."

India is one of the most affected countries. "The Indian average rainfall remains the same, but there is shrinking spatially and temporally. There are more cloudbursts and drought. This is because the atmosphere's capacity to hold water has increased. If earlier it was holding 1 litre, now it is holding 2 litres and all the water is dumped on a region causing cloudburst."

Former secretary Madhavan Nair Rajeevan also said COP28 is a good platform for the countries to push for mitigation and make the rich countries cut their emissions.

Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science & Dept. of Meteorology, University of Reading, said the trend we are witnessing in global sea surface temperatures is a very different pattern. "2015 was a big El Nino year and its impact continued till the first half of 2016 when the temperatures were at peak. In 2023, the spike in temperature was very prominent since June, which is a big difference. This years pattern suggests that this would be the hottest year. One thing is very clear, the El Nino will stay till the spring season, pushing temperatures to be above normal like we have seen in the past El Nino years... But if we go by the logic, the summers of 2024 would be hotter than the average."

"About the lowest Antarctic ice, while global warming is resulting in glacial melt because of the continuous rise in emissions, the recovery of sea ice is not happening. For India, glacial melt is a big concern affecting snow cover as well as the strength of glaciers. I am afraid, persistent glacial melt could trigger more events like Sikkim floods in 2023 and Pakistan floods in 2022 soon," he said.

As per an analysis by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, India has seen a disaster nearly every day in the first nine months of this year from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rains, floods and landslides. These disasters have claimed 2,923 lives, affected 1.84 million hectares of crop area, destroyed over 80.563 houses and killed close to 92,519 livestock.

The WMO provisional report combines input from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, regional climate centres, UN partners and leading climate scientists. The temperature figures are a consolidation of six leading international datasets. The final State of the Global Climate 2023 report, along with regional reports, will be published in the first half of 2024.

WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said it is a deafening cacophony of broken records. These are more than just statistics. We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, in a video message accompanying WMO's climate report, urged leaders to commit to urgent action at the COP28. "There is still hope," he said and added that there is a roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C and avoid the worst of climate chaos.

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DUBAI: Even as thousands of delegates and world leaders arrive in Dubai for the UN COP28 climate conference which opened on Thursday, the UN's World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned that 2023 had shattered a whole host of climate records, with extreme weather leaving "a trail of devastation and despair." The provisional State of the Global Climate report said the data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline. The difference between 2023, 2020 and 2016 which were previously ranked as the warmest years, is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking. The warming El Nino event, which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer, is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Nino typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks, the report said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The report said record monthly global temperatures have been observed for the ocean  from April through to October  and, starting slightly later, the land  from July through to October. Reacting to the report, M Ravichandran, secretary, of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, told TNIE that year by year these records are going to break as the warming continues. "The mitigation and adaptation are key to survive in this new normal scenario." India is one of the most affected countries. "The Indian average rainfall remains the same, but there is shrinking spatially and temporally. There are more cloudbursts and drought. This is because the atmosphere's capacity to hold water has increased. If earlier it was holding 1 litre, now it is holding 2 litres and all the water is dumped on a region causing cloudburst." Former secretary Madhavan Nair Rajeevan also said COP28 is a good platform for the countries to push for mitigation and make the rich countries cut their emissions. Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science & Dept. of Meteorology, University of Reading, said the trend we are witnessing in global sea surface temperatures is a very different pattern. "2015 was a big El Nino year and its impact continued till the first half of 2016 when the temperatures were at peak. In 2023, the spike in temperature was very prominent since June, which is a big difference. This years pattern suggests that this would be the hottest year. One thing is very clear, the El Nino will stay till the spring season, pushing temperatures to be above normal like we have seen in the past El Nino years... But if we go by the logic, the summers of 2024 would be hotter than the average." "About the lowest Antarctic ice, while global warming is resulting in glacial melt because of the continuous rise in emissions, the recovery of sea ice is not happening. For India, glacial melt is a big concern affecting snow cover as well as the strength of glaciers. I am afraid, persistent glacial melt could trigger more events like Sikkim floods in 2023 and Pakistan floods in 2022 soon," he said. As per an analysis by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, India has seen a disaster nearly every day in the first nine months of this year from heat and cold waves, cyclones and lightning to heavy rains, floods and landslides. These disasters have claimed 2,923 lives, affected 1.84 million hectares of crop area, destroyed over 80.563 houses and killed close to 92,519 livestock. The WMO provisional report combines input from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, regional climate centres, UN partners and leading climate scientists. The temperature figures are a consolidation of six leading international datasets. The final State of the Global Climate 2023 report, along with regional reports, will be published in the first half of 2024. WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said it is a deafening cacophony of broken records. These are more than just statistics. We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, in a video message accompanying WMO's climate report, urged leaders to commit to urgent action at the COP28. "There is still hope," he said and added that there is a roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C and avoid the worst of climate chaos. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Dr Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor of Kannur University. Ravindran's re-appointment has been in the limelight in Kerala as for the first time in the history of the state, a vice chancellor was re-appointed.

The Supreme Court came down hard on the Kerala government for its "unwarranted intervention" in facilitating a fresh term for him at the helm of the institution. It also assailed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the chancellor, saying he did not independently apply his mind despite not being a mere "titular head".

A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post".

Premachandran Keezhoth, a member of the Kannur University senate, and Shino P Jose, a member of the Academic Council, had knocked the doors of the apex court against Ravindran's re-appointment.

A three-judge bench of the Top Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, and also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, pronounced the verdict today after reviewing petitions challenging Ravindrans re-appointment as VC.

The bench observed that the Chancellor, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, abdicated or surrendered the statutory powers for re-appointing the V-C. The court referred to a press release issued by the Raj Bhavan which stated that the process of re-appointment was initiated by the chief minister and the higher education minister.



While setting aside the Kerala High Court's order of upholding Ravindran's re-appointment as VC of Kannur Univ, the apex court noted in its judgment that "although the notification for reappointment was issued by the Chancellor, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted interference by State Government", the court said in its verdict.

The court set aside the judgments of a single-judge bench and division bench of the Kerala High Court upholding Ravindrans reappointment. Justice Pardiwala, who pronounced the judgment on behalf of the bench, said that this court pronounced the verdict after considering four questions:

1. Whether re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post (To this, the court said re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post, the age limit of 60 years wont apply in the case of a re-appointment, and it is not necessary that re-appointment follow the same process as a fresh appointment.)

2. Whether the upper age limit of 60 years as stipulated in Section 10(9) of the Kannur University Act is applicable even in the case of reappointment for four years

3. Whether re-appointment has to follow the same process as the appointment of VC by setting up a selection panel

4. Did the Chancellor abdicate or surrender the statutory power of reappointment?

On the fourth question, the bench observed, On facts and on certain principles of law, we have taken the view that the Chancellor abdicated or surrendered the statutory power of reappointment, rendering the entire decision-making process bad, and allowed the appeal.

The court had earlier, during its many hearings on the matter, reportedly questioned the government as to how a person above 60 years could be re-appointed as VC.

As per the norms of Kannur University, those above 60 years of age cannot be appointed as VC. However, the government had contended before the court that the norm would not be applicable in the case of VC re-appointment. That is when CJI Chandrachud questioned the decision and observed that norms should be followed.

Governor Khan trains guns on Pinarayi

Buoyed by the verdict, Governor Khan said it vindicated his stand. He sought to train guns on his bete noire Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging the CMO exerted pressure on the Raj Bhavan on the matter.

Khan told reporters that he cleared Ravindrans re-appointment after receiving the Advocate Generals opinion. Higher Education Minister R Bindu, who wrote two letters in her capacity as pro-chancellor, recommending Ravindrans re-appointment, was not to be blamed as she was used by the chief minister, he said.

The Opposition UDF lost no time in seizing the political opportunity, and demanding the resignation of Bindu.

Bindu said the state government will abide by the apex court verdict. I had recommended Ravindrans reappointment on the basis of the legal advice from the Advocate General. The decision was taken by the governor. It is the discretionary power of the governor, she told reporters.

(With PTI inputs)

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Dr Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor of Kannur University. Ravindran's re-appointment has been in the limelight in Kerala as for the first time in the history of the state, a vice chancellor was re-appointed. The Supreme Court came down hard on the Kerala government for its "unwarranted intervention" in facilitating a fresh term for him at the helm of the institution. It also assailed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the chancellor, saying he did not independently apply his mind despite not being a mere "titular head". A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Premachandran Keezhoth, a member of the Kannur University senate, and Shino P Jose, a member of the Academic Council, had knocked the doors of the apex court against Ravindran's re-appointment. A three-judge bench of the Top Court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, and also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, pronounced the verdict today after reviewing petitions challenging Ravindrans re-appointment as VC. The bench observed that the Chancellor, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, abdicated or surrendered the statutory powers for re-appointing the V-C. The court referred to a press release issued by the Raj Bhavan which stated that the process of re-appointment was initiated by the chief minister and the higher education minister. While setting aside the Kerala High Court's order of upholding Ravindran's re-appointment as VC of Kannur Univ, the apex court noted in its judgment that "although the notification for reappointment was issued by the Chancellor, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted interference by State Government", the court said in its verdict. The court set aside the judgments of a single-judge bench and division bench of the Kerala High Court upholding Ravindrans reappointment. Justice Pardiwala, who pronounced the judgment on behalf of the bench, said that this court pronounced the verdict after considering four questions: 1. Whether re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post (To this, the court said re-appointment is permissible in a tenure post, the age limit of 60 years wont apply in the case of a re-appointment, and it is not necessary that re-appointment follow the same process as a fresh appointment.) 2. Whether the upper age limit of 60 years as stipulated in Section 10(9) of the Kannur University Act is applicable even in the case of reappointment for four years 3. Whether re-appointment has to follow the same process as the appointment of VC by setting up a selection panel 4. Did the Chancellor abdicate or surrender the statutory power of reappointment? On the fourth question, the bench observed, On facts and on certain principles of law, we have taken the view that the Chancellor abdicated or surrendered the statutory power of reappointment, rendering the entire decision-making process bad, and allowed the appeal. The court had earlier, during its many hearings on the matter, reportedly questioned the government as to how a person above 60 years could be re-appointed as VC. As per the norms of Kannur University, those above 60 years of age cannot be appointed as VC. However, the government had contended before the court that the norm would not be applicable in the case of VC re-appointment. That is when CJI Chandrachud questioned the decision and observed that norms should be followed. Governor Khan trains guns on Pinarayi Buoyed by the verdict, Governor Khan said it vindicated his stand. He sought to train guns on his bete noire Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging the CMO exerted pressure on the Raj Bhavan on the matter. Khan told reporters that he cleared Ravindrans re-appointment after receiving the Advocate Generals opinion. Higher Education Minister R Bindu, who wrote two letters in her capacity as pro-chancellor, recommending Ravindrans re-appointment, was not to be blamed as she was used by the chief minister, he said. The Opposition UDF lost no time in seizing the political opportunity, and demanding the resignation of Bindu. Bindu said the state government will abide by the apex court verdict. I had recommended Ravindrans reappointment on the basis of the legal advice from the Advocate General. The decision was taken by the governor. It is the discretionary power of the governor, she told reporters. (With PTI inputs) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Madras High Courts verdict and discharged DMK leaders K N Nehru, D Duraimurugan, I Periyasamy, M R K Paneerselvam, B Raghupathy and others from a 15-year-old disproportionate assets case against them.

Nehru, currently the state minister for municipal administration, urban and water supply, was accused of acquiring assets disproportionate to known sources of income during his tenure as the transport minister of Tamil Nadu between 2006 and 2011.

Periyasamy, the present rural development minister, was accused of abusing his power as housing minister in 2008 to allot a high-income group plot to Ganesan, a personal security officer of then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

On Wednesday, a bench of the SC, headed by Justice B R Gavai and also comprising Justice P S Narasimha, passed the order upholding the HCs order and discharged all the accused persons. It said it had not found any credible evidence against the accused.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Madras High Courts verdict and discharged DMK leaders K N Nehru, D Duraimurugan, I Periyasamy, M R K Paneerselvam, B Raghupathy and others from a 15-year-old disproportionate assets case against them. Nehru, currently the state minister for municipal administration, urban and water supply, was accused of acquiring assets disproportionate to known sources of income during his tenure as the transport minister of Tamil Nadu between 2006 and 2011. Periyasamy, the present rural development minister, was accused of abusing his power as housing minister in 2008 to allot a high-income group plot to Ganesan, a personal security officer of then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On Wednesday, a bench of the SC, headed by Justice B R Gavai and also comprising Justice P S Narasimha, passed the order upholding the HCs order and discharged all the accused persons. It said it had not found any credible evidence against the accused. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

DUBAI: The 28th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) opens on Thursday in Dubai, UAE, and for the first time, a health day is observed during which a climate-health ministerial meet will be held to build consensus on priority actions for the health systems response on climate change, paired with financing commitments for implementation.

The health day is on December 3. As per the information gathered by TNIE, close to 70 countries have confirmed sending their ministers, while there is no official communication from the Indian government

on sending its health ministerial delegation to COP28 talks as on Wednesday.

A reliable source in the Union health ministry confirmed that as on date, neither the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, state ministers in the health and welfare departments or any secretary rank health official are attending the COP28.

Dr Aakash Shrivastava, head, Centre for Environmental Health and Occupational Health, Climate Change and Health at National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi, told TNIE he was not sure of Indian health delegation participation. The (health) ministry will take a call, he said. With just three days to go for the Health Day, it looks highly unlikely, say sources, adding that last-minute changes cant be ruled out.

Jess Beagley, Policy Lead, Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) said, The first ever COP Climate-Health Ministerial is an opportunity to more deeply integrate health and climate decision-making. Despite climate and health considerations being intrinsically linked, these processes too often remain siloed. It is regrettable that India is not attending this pivotal meeting, especially given the high burden of air pollution in the country, which could be substantially addressed through considering health in climate action.

According to the GCHA Clean Air NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) scorecard released in October 2023, India scores only 2 out of 15 available points for integrating air quality considerations into its NDCs. The lack of deeper integration of air quality and health considerations, especially given the high rate of air pollution mortality, is a grave missed opportunity for optimising integrated action on climate and clean air. The provision of finance by developed countries to developing countries to support healthy climate action is vital, said Beagley, who is also a co-chair of Climate Action Networks Health Working Group at COP28.

Only recently Indias capital New Delhi witnessed severe air pollution levels putting the health of its population at risk. India was the worlds eight most polluted country in 2022 with PM2.5 level of 53.3 micrograms/cubic metre, which is over 10 times the WHOs safe limit. Air pollution in India resulted in 1.67 million deaths in 2019, the largest pollution-related death toll in any country.

Loss and damage fund

On the eve of COP28, a draft decision has been released by the presidency for operationalisation of the Loss and Damage fund, its funding arrangement. Experts have long been demanding to provide funds as grants instead of loans or credit. The funds should be kept under the UN agency. The current proposal is to provide finance after considering the debt sustainability of the country.

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DUBAI: The 28th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) opens on Thursday in Dubai, UAE, and for the first time, a health day is observed during which a climate-health ministerial meet will be held to build consensus on priority actions for the health systems response on climate change, paired with financing commitments for implementation. The health day is on December 3. As per the information gathered by TNIE, close to 70 countries have confirmed sending their ministers, while there is no official communication from the Indian government on sending its health ministerial delegation to COP28 talks as on Wednesday. A reliable source in the Union health ministry confirmed that as on date, neither the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, state ministers in the health and welfare departments or any secretary rank health official are attending the COP28. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dr Aakash Shrivastava, head, Centre for Environmental Health and Occupational Health, Climate Change and Health at National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi, told TNIE he was not sure of Indian health delegation participation. The (health) ministry will take a call, he said. With just three days to go for the Health Day, it looks highly unlikely, say sources, adding that last-minute changes cant be ruled out. Jess Beagley, Policy Lead, Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) said, The first ever COP Climate-Health Ministerial is an opportunity to more deeply integrate health and climate decision-making. Despite climate and health considerations being intrinsically linked, these processes too often remain siloed. It is regrettable that India is not attending this pivotal meeting, especially given the high burden of air pollution in the country, which could be substantially addressed through considering health in climate action. According to the GCHA Clean Air NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) scorecard released in October 2023, India scores only 2 out of 15 available points for integrating air quality considerations into its NDCs. The lack of deeper integration of air quality and health considerations, especially given the high rate of air pollution mortality, is a grave missed opportunity for optimising integrated action on climate and clean air. The provision of finance by developed countries to developing countries to support healthy climate action is vital, said Beagley, who is also a co-chair of Climate Action Networks Health Working Group at COP28. Only recently Indias capital New Delhi witnessed severe air pollution levels putting the health of its population at risk. India was the worlds eight most polluted country in 2022 with PM2.5 level of 53.3 micrograms/cubic metre, which is over 10 times the WHOs safe limit. Air pollution in India resulted in 1.67 million deaths in 2019, the largest pollution-related death toll in any country. Loss and damage fund On the eve of COP28, a draft decision has been released by the presidency for operationalisation of the Loss and Damage fund, its funding arrangement. Experts have long been demanding to provide funds as grants instead of loans or credit. The funds should be kept under the UN agency. The current proposal is to provide finance after considering the debt sustainability of the country. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Dubai to attend the COP28 Summit. He will be attending three sessions during his day-long visit on December 1 and also have bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

"This forum will witness important deliberations to strengthen the efforts to overcome climate change and further sustainable development. I will also be interacting with various world leaders on the sidelines of the summit," said PM Modi ahead of his departure from Delhi.

PM Modi said that he was attending the Summit on the invitation of his brother, President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE who has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action," PM Modi said.

PM Modi also said that in keeping with Indias civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even while pursuing social and economic development.

"During our G20 Presidency, climate was high on our priority. The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP-28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," PM Modi said.

COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement, and chart a path for future course on climate action. At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation.

"It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development. India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother Earth," PM Modi added.

PM Modi will attend special events including on climate finance, Green Credit initiative and LeadIT. In his bilateral meetings with other leaders, PM will discuss ways to accelerate global climate action.

ALSO READ | COP28 agreed to operationalise Loss & Damage Fund, $420 million pledged on Day 1

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Dubai to attend the COP28 Summit. He will be attending three sessions during his day-long visit on December 1 and also have bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit. "This forum will witness important deliberations to strengthen the efforts to overcome climate change and further sustainable development. I will also be interacting with various world leaders on the sidelines of the summit," said PM Modi ahead of his departure from Delhi. PM Modi said that he was attending the Summit on the invitation of his brother, President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "I am happy to see that this significant event is being held under the Presidency of the UAE who has been an important partner for India in the field of climate action," PM Modi said. PM Modi also said that in keeping with Indias civilizational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even while pursuing social and economic development. "During our G20 Presidency, climate was high on our priority. The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP-28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," PM Modi said. COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement, and chart a path for future course on climate action. At the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation. "It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development. India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother Earth," PM Modi added. PM Modi will attend special events including on climate finance, Green Credit initiative and LeadIT. In his bilateral meetings with other leaders, PM will discuss ways to accelerate global climate action. ALSO READ | COP28 agreed to operationalise Loss & Damage Fund, $420 million pledged on Day 1 Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong exception to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan sitting on the bills cleared by the state assembly. While the court clearly expressed its displeasure over the governors inaction on the bills for nearly two years, it refused to intervene in his powers.

Out of eight pending bills, Khan had granted assent to one bill on Tuesday and referred seven bills to the President. The bench headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said it did not see any reason why the governor should keep the bills pending for an inordinate period of time.

What was the governor doing for two years by sitting on the bills? asked the bench, also comprising judges J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the governor, said he does not wish to go into detail because it will open a Pandoras box.

We will get into it very much, the bench shot back, and allowed the Kerala government to amend its plea seeking guidelines for governors to decide on bills in a time-bound manner. The bench reiterated its recent judgment on a similar case filed by the Punjab government against its governor, that the governors powers cant be misused to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by the legislature. The SC also observed that political sagacity seems to be lacking, adding it wouldnt hesitate to lay down the guidelines as to when the bills can be reserved for presidential assent.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong exception to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan sitting on the bills cleared by the state assembly. While the court clearly expressed its displeasure over the governors inaction on the bills for nearly two years, it refused to intervene in his powers. Out of eight pending bills, Khan had granted assent to one bill on Tuesday and referred seven bills to the President. The bench headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said it did not see any reason why the governor should keep the bills pending for an inordinate period of time. What was the governor doing for two years by sitting on the bills? asked the bench, also comprising judges J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the governor, said he does not wish to go into detail because it will open a Pandoras box. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We will get into it very much, the bench shot back, and allowed the Kerala government to amend its plea seeking guidelines for governors to decide on bills in a time-bound manner. The bench reiterated its recent judgment on a similar case filed by the Punjab government against its governor, that the governors powers cant be misused to thwart the normal course of lawmaking by the legislature. The SC also observed that political sagacity seems to be lacking, adding it wouldnt hesitate to lay down the guidelines as to when the bills can be reserved for presidential assent. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: Using Trinamool Congress signature venue in front of Victoria House in Esplanade as a launch pad of campaign in the run up to next years Lok Sabha election, Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Mamata Banerjee and said the contentious CAA would be implemented despite the West Bengal CMs resistance and no one can stop it.

Bengal is gripped by infiltration, appeasement, political violence and corruption. CAA is now an act of the country and no one can stop its implementation. It will definitely be implemented despite Mamatadis resistance, said Shah addressing the rally. The CAA has been in a limbo as the Centre is yet to frame its rules amid the Oppositions strong objections.

Though the home minister had set a target of 35 Lok Sabha seats out of 42 in Bengal, he did not mention any number of seats as a goal in the next years general elections. In 2019, the BJP had bagged 18 LS seats. The people of Bengal are saying Didi aapka samay ab samapt ho chukka (Didi, your time is up now). Modiji sends crores of rupees for ensuring welfare in Bengal, but the syndicate raj in the state doesnt allow the funds to reach the poor. You should remember that in order to bring the BJP government in power here in 2016, you will have to lay its foundation in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and ensure that you make Modiji Prime Minister of the country again, said Shah in his 25-minute speech.

Shah did not miss the opportunity to play the Ram Mandir issue as a political card. The CPI(M), Congress and TMC were against the Ram temple. The Prime Minister will participate in the installation of the Lord Ram idol in Ayodhya on January 22, he announced.

Shah cited figures of the Centres grants for West Bengal during the regime of NDA and compared it with the UPA governments tenure while castigating Mamata for staging demonstrations in protest against the dues from the Central government and rubbishing her allegations.

Referring to the result of the 2021 assembly election, Shah accused Mamata of winning the battle by rigging. You won the election by rigging. The people of Bengal blessed the BJP with around 2.30 crore votes and 77 seats. Their enthusiasm states that they have decided to bring the BJP in power in 2026 in Bengal. We will derail the TMC-led government with a majority of two-third votes in 2026, he said.

Referring to arrests of TMC ministers in connection with alleged scams, Shah challenged Mamata to suspend them. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Shah knew that BJP would be washed away from Bengal and that was why he made false claims.

It was from the same venue in 2014 that Shah, as the then BJP president, had launched the partys 2016 poll campaign. This time the police had denied permission but the BJP moved the court, which dismissed the administrations contention.

TMC MPs accused of disgracing Parliament

Amit Shah, in an apparent reference to Mahua Moitras cash-for-query case, asserted on Wednesday that TMC MPs have compromised the dignity of Parliament by accepting bribes and gifts. While addressing a mega rally in Kolkata, Shah called for the removal of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the 2026 assembly polls, setting the stage for this initiative in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The TMC has stained West Bengals reputation due to corruption, Shah stated without explicitly naming anyone.

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KOLKATA: Using Trinamool Congress signature venue in front of Victoria House in Esplanade as a launch pad of campaign in the run up to next years Lok Sabha election, Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Mamata Banerjee and said the contentious CAA would be implemented despite the West Bengal CMs resistance and no one can stop it. Bengal is gripped by infiltration, appeasement, political violence and corruption. CAA is now an act of the country and no one can stop its implementation. It will definitely be implemented despite Mamatadis resistance, said Shah addressing the rally. The CAA has been in a limbo as the Centre is yet to frame its rules amid the Oppositions strong objections. Though the home minister had set a target of 35 Lok Sabha seats out of 42 in Bengal, he did not mention any number of seats as a goal in the next years general elections. In 2019, the BJP had bagged 18 LS seats. The people of Bengal are saying Didi aapka samay ab samapt ho chukka (Didi, your time is up now). Modiji sends crores of rupees for ensuring welfare in Bengal, but the syndicate raj in the state doesnt allow the funds to reach the poor. You should remember that in order to bring the BJP government in power here in 2016, you will have to lay its foundation in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and ensure that you make Modiji Prime Minister of the country again, said Shah in his 25-minute speech.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shah did not miss the opportunity to play the Ram Mandir issue as a political card. The CPI(M), Congress and TMC were against the Ram temple. The Prime Minister will participate in the installation of the Lord Ram idol in Ayodhya on January 22, he announced. Shah cited figures of the Centres grants for West Bengal during the regime of NDA and compared it with the UPA governments tenure while castigating Mamata for staging demonstrations in protest against the dues from the Central government and rubbishing her allegations. Referring to the result of the 2021 assembly election, Shah accused Mamata of winning the battle by rigging. You won the election by rigging. The people of Bengal blessed the BJP with around 2.30 crore votes and 77 seats. Their enthusiasm states that they have decided to bring the BJP in power in 2026 in Bengal. We will derail the TMC-led government with a majority of two-third votes in 2026, he said. Referring to arrests of TMC ministers in connection with alleged scams, Shah challenged Mamata to suspend them. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Shah knew that BJP would be washed away from Bengal and that was why he made false claims. It was from the same venue in 2014 that Shah, as the then BJP president, had launched the partys 2016 poll campaign. This time the police had denied permission but the BJP moved the court, which dismissed the administrations contention. TMC MPs accused of disgracing Parliament Amit Shah, in an apparent reference to Mahua Moitras cash-for-query case, asserted on Wednesday that TMC MPs have compromised the dignity of Parliament by accepting bribes and gifts. While addressing a mega rally in Kolkata, Shah called for the removal of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the 2026 assembly polls, setting the stage for this initiative in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The TMC has stained West Bengals reputation due to corruption, Shah stated without explicitly naming anyone. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Several states, including Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, have sprung into action and put their healthcare infrastructure on alert after the Centre issued a directive to review preparedness in the wake of a surge in respiratory illnesses, especially among children, in China. The other states that have put their health infrastructure on alert mode include Haryana and Uttarakhand.

The Centre on Sunday issued a directive asking the states to be alert and to review their preparedness to tackle such illnesses. Following the advisory, several states stepped up their surveillance and reviewed their hospital preparedness.

In Rajasthan, the state medical and health department directed its personnel to stay vigilant and set up rapid response teams. It also asked its officials to devise a plan for preventing and treating the disease. The state has instructed its officials to prepare an action plan and appoint nodal officers at district and medical college levels, and also establish rapid response teams at division and district levels. The state is also set to carry out a mock drill to ascertain the capacity of its health facilities.

The Gujarat health department issued a similar advisory to all government-run hospitals and private health facilities. Gujarat health and family welfare minister Rushikesh Patel said the state has inspected oxygen tanks, ventilators and the availability of beds.

The Karnataka health department has also issued an advisory advising people to be cautious of seasonal flu. The department listed the symptoms and risk factors of seasonal flu and also issued dos and donts. These include covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, frequent washing of hands, avoiding touching the face, and using masks in crowded areas.

The Uttarakhand government directed its officials to step up surveillance in the state, especially in three districts  Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh  that share borders with China. In Tamil Nadu, government-run and private hospitals have been issued similar directions to boost hospital preparedness. The state health department said that while the southern state hasnt reported any child pneumonia cases yet, officials have been asked to keep vigil as a precautionary measure.

The hospitals have been asked to report cases of severe acute respiratory illness, critical respiratory infection, and influenza-like illness in the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme-Integrated Health Information Platform portal.

Health advisory

In a statement, the health ministry had said that given the recent reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness in children in northern China in recent weeks, it has proactively decided to review the preparedness against respiratory diseases as a matter of caution. It has monitored the situation in China and stressed that there was no cause for any alarm at the moment.

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NEW DELHI: Several states, including Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka, have sprung into action and put their healthcare infrastructure on alert after the Centre issued a directive to review preparedness in the wake of a surge in respiratory illnesses, especially among children, in China. The other states that have put their health infrastructure on alert mode include Haryana and Uttarakhand. The Centre on Sunday issued a directive asking the states to be alert and to review their preparedness to tackle such illnesses. Following the advisory, several states stepped up their surveillance and reviewed their hospital preparedness. In Rajasthan, the state medical and health department directed its personnel to stay vigilant and set up rapid response teams. It also asked its officials to devise a plan for preventing and treating the disease. The state has instructed its officials to prepare an action plan and appoint nodal officers at district and medical college levels, and also establish rapid response teams at division and district levels. The state is also set to carry out a mock drill to ascertain the capacity of its health facilities.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Gujarat health department issued a similar advisory to all government-run hospitals and private health facilities. Gujarat health and family welfare minister Rushikesh Patel said the state has inspected oxygen tanks, ventilators and the availability of beds. The Karnataka health department has also issued an advisory advising people to be cautious of seasonal flu. The department listed the symptoms and risk factors of seasonal flu and also issued dos and donts. These include covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, frequent washing of hands, avoiding touching the face, and using masks in crowded areas. The Uttarakhand government directed its officials to step up surveillance in the state, especially in three districts  Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh  that share borders with China. In Tamil Nadu, government-run and private hospitals have been issued similar directions to boost hospital preparedness. The state health department said that while the southern state hasnt reported any child pneumonia cases yet, officials have been asked to keep vigil as a precautionary measure. The hospitals have been asked to report cases of severe acute respiratory illness, critical respiratory infection, and influenza-like illness in the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme-Integrated Health Information Platform portal. Health advisory In a statement, the health ministry had said that given the recent reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness in children in northern China in recent weeks, it has proactively decided to review the preparedness against respiratory diseases as a matter of caution. It has monitored the situation in China and stressed that there was no cause for any alarm at the moment. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Dilip Singh Kshatriya By

Express News Service

AHMEDABAD: Three people have died and two have been hospitalised in Gujarat's Kheda district in the last two days after consuming contaminated ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol, according to police.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the ayurvedic syrup, branded as 'Kalmeghasav - Asava Arishta,' was sold over the counter to 55 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village, near Nadiad town in Gujarat's Kheda district.

Gujarat government spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Rishikesh Patel told the media, "It appears that methyl alcohol was used instead of ethyl alcohol. Methyl can cause blindness and even death, and the entire incident is under investigation."

However, no one has been granted permission by the government to manufacture such drinks in Gujarat under the Cosmetics Act. Because the government cancelled the one that was given, it appears that this drink was brought from somewhere else. The police are looking into it, he added.

Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay told reporters, "Three people have died after drinking ayurvedic syrup, while preliminary investigations into two other deaths suggest that they did not drink the syrup, although further investigations are on."

According to Kheda Special Police SP Rajesh Ghadiya, the syrup was bought by 55 individuals in Bilodra from the same store.

"We have tracked down all 55 customers who bought the syrup from this store and interrogated the proprietor of the provision store for more than six hours. The remaining individuals who ingested the syrup are doing well. We are also looking into whether there was another reason for the deaths," Ghadiya told the media.

The Bagdu death victim had cancer, whereas the Vadadla death victim had complained of chest pain while attending a relative's funeral, he said, adding, "Medicals have confirmed that none of the patients were drunk."

"The blood sample report of a villager confirmed that methyl alcohol was added to the syrup before it was sold. In order to determine the best course of action, the police have also asked the Food and Drug Control Administration for recommendations. Two are still under treatment. We have detained three persons, including the shopkeeper, for further questioning," said Ghadiya.

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AHMEDABAD: Three people have died and two have been hospitalised in Gujarat's Kheda district in the last two days after consuming contaminated ayurvedic syrup containing methyl alcohol, according to police. Preliminary investigations revealed that the ayurvedic syrup, branded as 'Kalmeghasav - Asava Arishta,' was sold over the counter to 55 people by a shopkeeper in Bilodara village, near Nadiad town in Gujarat's Kheda district. Gujarat government spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Rishikesh Patel told the media, "It appears that methyl alcohol was used instead of ethyl alcohol. Methyl can cause blindness and even death, and the entire incident is under investigation."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, no one has been granted permission by the government to manufacture such drinks in Gujarat under the Cosmetics Act. Because the government cancelled the one that was given, it appears that this drink was brought from somewhere else. The police are looking into it, he added. Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay told reporters, "Three people have died after drinking ayurvedic syrup, while preliminary investigations into two other deaths suggest that they did not drink the syrup, although further investigations are on." According to Kheda Special Police SP Rajesh Ghadiya, the syrup was bought by 55 individuals in Bilodra from the same store. "We have tracked down all 55 customers who bought the syrup from this store and interrogated the proprietor of the provision store for more than six hours. The remaining individuals who ingested the syrup are doing well. We are also looking into whether there was another reason for the deaths," Ghadiya told the media. The Bagdu death victim had cancer, whereas the Vadadla death victim had complained of chest pain while attending a relative's funeral, he said, adding, "Medicals have confirmed that none of the patients were drunk." "The blood sample report of a villager confirmed that methyl alcohol was added to the syrup before it was sold. In order to determine the best course of action, the police have also asked the Food and Drug Control Administration for recommendations. Two are still under treatment. We have detained three persons, including the shopkeeper, for further questioning," said Ghadiya. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Yeshi Seli By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Days after Western media reports claimed the US had accused India of orchestrating a plot to kill Khalistani radical Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, an American national, the identity of the accused was made public.

US Attorney Damian Williams announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta, accusing him of hiring a hitman to bump off Pannun. The charges in a superseding indictment were unsealed on Wednesday in a US District Court for Southern District of New York.

Czech authorities arrested Gupta, 52, on June 30 and extradited him to the US, where he is in prison. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Guptas handler, the indictment said, is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a Senior Field Officer with responsibilities in Security Management and Intelligence, and who also has referenced previously serving in Indias Central Reserve Police Force and receiving officer training in battle craft and weapons. He directed the plot from India, Williams alleged.

Gupta is said to be involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking. The hitman Gupta hired was an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration officer. The deal was done for $1,00,000 and he was paid $30,000 in two instalments as advance, the indictment further claimed.

The hit job was timed after Prime Minister Narendra Modis summit meeting with US President Joe Biden in June. Earlier in the day, India announced that it has constituted a committee to look into the issues the US had raised on the Pannun case.

It is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi.

How it is tied to Nijjar

On June 18, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Canada. On or about June 19, Gupta told the purported hitman that Nijjar was also the target and we have so many targets, the indictment claimed. Next day, Guptas handler told him bumping off Pannun is priority

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NEW DELHI: Days after Western media reports claimed the US had accused India of orchestrating a plot to kill Khalistani radical Gurupatwant Singh Pannun, an American national, the identity of the accused was made public. US Attorney Damian Williams announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta, accusing him of hiring a hitman to bump off Pannun. The charges in a superseding indictment were unsealed on Wednesday in a US District Court for Southern District of New York. Czech authorities arrested Gupta, 52, on June 30 and extradited him to the US, where he is in prison. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Guptas handler, the indictment said, is an Indian government agency employee who has variously described himself as a Senior Field Officer with responsibilities in Security Management and Intelligence, and who also has referenced previously serving in Indias Central Reserve Police Force and receiving officer training in battle craft and weapons. He directed the plot from India, Williams alleged.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Gupta is said to be involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking. The hitman Gupta hired was an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration officer. The deal was done for $1,00,000 and he was paid $30,000 in two instalments as advance, the indictment further claimed. The hit job was timed after Prime Minister Narendra Modis summit meeting with US President Joe Biden in June. Earlier in the day, India announced that it has constituted a committee to look into the issues the US had raised on the Pannun case. It is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi. How it is tied to Nijjar On June 18, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was murdered in Canada. On or about June 19, Gupta told the purported hitman that Nijjar was also the target and we have so many targets, the indictment claimed. Next day, Guptas handler told him bumping off Pannun is priority Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a face-off with Leader of Opposition and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Assembly during the presentation of supplementary budget worth Rs 28,000 crore on the second day of the winter session on Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted that the double engine government did not believe in just making statements, but also bringing them into reality.

We do what we say, said the CM. In a counter-attack to Akhilesh Yadavs offensive against the government on the issue of dengue, CM Yogi accused the SP chief of politicising dengue. He emphasized that dengue was completely under control in Uttar Pradesh because of the steps taken by the UP government. You create chaos in society by politicising every issue, people saw your true face during the corona period, said the CM.

Notably, during the debate in the house, the leader of opposition had alleged that people were not getting treatment for dengue in government hospitals and were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals. Deputy CM and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak was answering the questions of the Leader of Opposition and SP MLAs in the house. However, amidst the noise of opposition MLAs, CM Yogi stood up and answered all the allegations.

CM Yogi said, Right now, you have heard only half of the answer. If you listen to it completely, perhaps the history will come alive in your mind. You have only talked about dengue, but when we talk about vector-borne diseases, it also includes diseases like malaria, chikungunya, kala azar. A coordinated effort has been made at the government level for the treatment of all these related diseases.

CM Yogi asserted that the government had made funds available to even the opposition whenever they came up with proposals without any discrimination. Continuing his onslaught on Yadav, the CM said that the problem was that they were not interested in solving the problem. People saw your malicious attempts during the pandemic when you were misleading them on the vaccine by calling it Modi vaccine, he said.

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LUCKNOW: In a face-off with Leader of Opposition and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in Assembly during the presentation of supplementary budget worth Rs 28,000 crore on the second day of the winter session on Wednesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asserted that the double engine government did not believe in just making statements, but also bringing them into reality. We do what we say, said the CM. In a counter-attack to Akhilesh Yadavs offensive against the government on the issue of dengue, CM Yogi accused the SP chief of politicising dengue. He emphasized that dengue was completely under control in Uttar Pradesh because of the steps taken by the UP government. You create chaos in society by politicising every issue, people saw your true face during the corona period, said the CM. Notably, during the debate in the house, the leader of opposition had alleged that people were not getting treatment for dengue in government hospitals and were forced to seek treatment in private hospitals. Deputy CM and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak was answering the questions of the Leader of Opposition and SP MLAs in the house. However, amidst the noise of opposition MLAs, CM Yogi stood up and answered all the allegations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); CM Yogi said, Right now, you have heard only half of the answer. If you listen to it completely, perhaps the history will come alive in your mind. You have only talked about dengue, but when we talk about vector-borne diseases, it also includes diseases like malaria, chikungunya, kala azar. A coordinated effort has been made at the government level for the treatment of all these related diseases. CM Yogi asserted that the government had made funds available to even the opposition whenever they came up with proposals without any discrimination. Continuing his onslaught on Yadav, the CM said that the problem was that they were not interested in solving the problem. People saw your malicious attempts during the pandemic when you were misleading them on the vaccine by calling it Modi vaccine, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday blamed the Union Government for not giving permission to the Karnataka government to increase the guaranteed man days from 100 days to 150 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in drought-hit taluks in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters in Haveri, Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka has not received a single Rupee as compensation from the Centre as per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms.

The CM claimed that 13 states in the country, including Karnataka, are reeling under drought, and they too have not received any compensation under NDRF from the Centre.

BJP leaders tell my government not to wait for assistance from the Centre but release funds for farmers from the states kitty. But we are seeking funds... which is our right. It is the fund collected from the state as tax revenue, Siddaramaiah elaborated.

He reiterated his governments commitment in mitigating drought woes. Siddaramaiah also directed the deputy commissioners to ensure there is no scarcity of drinking water for people and there is enough fodder for cattle.

The government has already released funds to the districts and the district ministers have been asked to monitor proper implementation of drought relief measures, he added.

On fund release for crop loss, the CM said, The survey is on. But the Centre is yet to release funds under NDRF. Works taken up as part of drought relief will not be hampered.

On his governments preparedness for the upcoming Belagavi winter session, Siddaramaiah said, though his government was ready to reply to any queries raised by the Opposition, emphasis would be given to important issues plaguing North Karnataka.

On appointing heads to boards and corporations, the CM said that a list has been finalised after discussing with DyCM DK Shivakumar and submitted to AICC state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. On Opposition criticising the withdrawal of CBI inquiry against Shivakumar, he said, if he had no idea of the law and procedure like former CMs BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy, he would have also given assent for a CBI probe.

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BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday blamed the Union Government for not giving permission to the Karnataka government to increase the guaranteed man days from 100 days to 150 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in drought-hit taluks in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters in Haveri, Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka has not received a single Rupee as compensation from the Centre as per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms. The CM claimed that 13 states in the country, including Karnataka, are reeling under drought, and they too have not received any compensation under NDRF from the Centre. BJP leaders tell my government not to wait for assistance from the Centre but release funds for farmers from the states kitty. But we are seeking funds... which is our right. It is the fund collected from the state as tax revenue, Siddaramaiah elaborated. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He reiterated his governments commitment in mitigating drought woes. Siddaramaiah also directed the deputy commissioners to ensure there is no scarcity of drinking water for people and there is enough fodder for cattle. The government has already released funds to the districts and the district ministers have been asked to monitor proper implementation of drought relief measures, he added. On fund release for crop loss, the CM said, The survey is on. But the Centre is yet to release funds under NDRF. Works taken up as part of drought relief will not be hampered. On his governments preparedness for the upcoming Belagavi winter session, Siddaramaiah said, though his government was ready to reply to any queries raised by the Opposition, emphasis would be given to important issues plaguing North Karnataka. On appointing heads to boards and corporations, the CM said that a list has been finalised after discussing with DyCM DK Shivakumar and submitted to AICC state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. On Opposition criticising the withdrawal of CBI inquiry against Shivakumar, he said, if he had no idea of the law and procedure like former CMs BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy, he would have also given assent for a CBI probe. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: For the first time, the state government is allowing children of purohits (priests), working at temples belonging to the endowments department to continue working as priests even when their father is alive.

Till now, the posts were given to such children only after passing away of their parent. The department has now issued a notification allowing children of purohits who are suffering from health ailments to continue their family tradition.

The state has over 34,000 endowment temples. As per the Karnataka Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1997, Section 9(1), sons of purohits working in C grade temples as heredity if their father Purohit died.

However, for aged priests who are unable to attend the temple puja, their children or heir would not be given the work.

Now, the government has issued an order where it said the hereditary rights would be passed on to the children in case of death of purohit or if purohit is unable to undertake pooja in temples due to health and age-related issues.

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BENGALURU: For the first time, the state government is allowing children of purohits (priests), working at temples belonging to the endowments department to continue working as priests even when their father is alive. Till now, the posts were given to such children only after passing away of their parent. The department has now issued a notification allowing children of purohits who are suffering from health ailments to continue their family tradition. The state has over 34,000 endowment temples. As per the Karnataka Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1997, Section 9(1), sons of purohits working in C grade temples as heredity if their father Purohit died.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, for aged priests who are unable to attend the temple puja, their children or heir would not be given the work. Now, the government has issued an order where it said the hereditary rights would be passed on to the children in case of death of purohit or if purohit is unable to undertake pooja in temples due to health and age-related issues. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
K S Sreejith By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The unprecedented financial crisis in the state has started showing visible signs with government contractors warning of an imminent plan holiday. Payments towards contractors bills have been pending with some departments and state public sector units for close to a couple of years. A planned holiday entails the suspension of all planned development.

According to the contractors association, there seems to be no sign of an action plan by the state government to clear the arrears. While contractors payments from the public works department have been due for eight months, arrears from the Kerala Water Authority have been due for 20 months. Similarly, the Kochi corporation has to release arrears for 41 months. The governments flagship institution, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), has not settled the bills of contractors for the past five months.

The finance department has imposed a treasury ban and capped the daily expenditure bills at Rs 5 lakh. The amount due to government contractors for works carried out for PWD, KWA, corporations, MLA-fund works, Chief Ministers Local Road Rebuild Project and NABARD will come to around Rs 12,000 crore, Kerala Government Contractors Association state president Varghese Kannambally told TNIE. In the Jal Jeevan Mission, the arrears to contractors will come to Rs 1,500 crore, he pointed out.

This is an unprecedented situation as far as the states economy is concerned. As the government has stopped disbursing funds, a situation has arisen where the contractors will be forced to stop taking up new work. The contractors have no money to pay their employees. We think declaring a plan holiday in the construction sector is imminent, Varghese said.

Jal Jeevan Mission projects are implemented with the Union and state governments each bearing 45% of the cost. The remaining 10% is the beneficiary amount. Although the Union government has the funds, it will disburse the amount only if the state government releases its share. The bills for the work carried out for NABARD too face the same fate.

According to the association, the situation worsened after the Centre incorporated loans taken by KIIFB in the states overall borrowing limit. However, the finance department has denied owing increasing arrears to the contractors. It is not possible that the government owes Rs 12,000 crore in arrears to government contractors, said Jose T Abraham, additional private secretary to finance minister.

Under no circumstance can this figure be correct. There may be a few isolated cases. The government has been issuing the funds through the bill discounting scheme via banks. In this scheme, the payment for bills up to six months will be received as advance payment. Banks charge a percentage from the customers. Of this, half will be paid by the government.

The contractors association has demanded the government make available an option through forming a consortium of banks or ask for grants from the Centre. They had approached Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking his intervention to avoid the stalling of work and the disbursement of funds. In a petition to the governor, the association warned that the construction sector will come to a standstill if the issue is not solved by January.

PENDING BILLS

According to the contractors association, there seems to be no sign of an action plan by the state government to clear the arrears

While contractors payments from the PWD have been due for eight months, arrears from the Kerala Water Authority have been due for 20 months.

The amount due for works carried out for PWD, KWA, corporations, MLA-fund works, Chief Ministers Local Road Rebuild Project and NABARD will come to around Rs 12,000 crore, say contractors



Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The unprecedented financial crisis in the state has started showing visible signs with government contractors warning of an imminent plan holiday. Payments towards contractors bills have been pending with some departments and state public sector units for close to a couple of years. A planned holiday entails the suspension of all planned development. According to the contractors association, there seems to be no sign of an action plan by the state government to clear the arrears. While contractors payments from the public works department have been due for eight months, arrears from the Kerala Water Authority have been due for 20 months. Similarly, the Kochi corporation has to release arrears for 41 months. The governments flagship institution, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), has not settled the bills of contractors for the past five months. The finance department has imposed a treasury ban and capped the daily expenditure bills at Rs 5 lakh. The amount due to government contractors for works carried out for PWD, KWA, corporations, MLA-fund works, Chief Ministers Local Road Rebuild Project and NABARD will come to around Rs 12,000 crore, Kerala Government Contractors Association state president Varghese Kannambally told TNIE. In the Jal Jeevan Mission, the arrears to contractors will come to Rs 1,500 crore, he pointed out.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is an unprecedented situation as far as the states economy is concerned. As the government has stopped disbursing funds, a situation has arisen where the contractors will be forced to stop taking up new work. The contractors have no money to pay their employees. We think declaring a plan holiday in the construction sector is imminent, Varghese said. Jal Jeevan Mission projects are implemented with the Union and state governments each bearing 45% of the cost. The remaining 10% is the beneficiary amount. Although the Union government has the funds, it will disburse the amount only if the state government releases its share. The bills for the work carried out for NABARD too face the same fate. According to the association, the situation worsened after the Centre incorporated loans taken by KIIFB in the states overall borrowing limit. However, the finance department has denied owing increasing arrears to the contractors. It is not possible that the government owes Rs 12,000 crore in arrears to government contractors, said Jose T Abraham, additional private secretary to finance minister. Under no circumstance can this figure be correct. There may be a few isolated cases. The government has been issuing the funds through the bill discounting scheme via banks. In this scheme, the payment for bills up to six months will be received as advance payment. Banks charge a percentage from the customers. Of this, half will be paid by the government. The contractors association has demanded the government make available an option through forming a consortium of banks or ask for grants from the Centre. They had approached Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking his intervention to avoid the stalling of work and the disbursement of funds. In a petition to the governor, the association warned that the construction sector will come to a standstill if the issue is not solved by January. PENDING BILLS According to the contractors association, there seems to be no sign of an action plan by the state government to clear the arrears While contractors payments from the PWD have been due for eight months, arrears from the Kerala Water Authority have been due for 20 months. The amount due for works carried out for PWD, KWA, corporations, MLA-fund works, Chief Ministers Local Road Rebuild Project and NABARD will come to around Rs 12,000 crore, say contractors Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
News / National

by Nkululeko Nkomo

In a surprising twist of events, the Carter Centre's involvement in Zimbabwe's internal political affairs is raising eyebrows and sparking concerns about the organization's ulterior motives. What initially seemed like a routine revisit has taken a dark turn, revealing an agenda that goes beyond the scope outlined in their initial request and terms of reference.The recent visit of the Carter Centre Election Observation Mission (CC-EOM) to Zimbabwe has exposed a web of interactions with key stakeholders, including officials from the MDC-T and various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The turning point came during an engagement between CC-EOM Director, Masa Janjusevic, and MDC-T leader, Douglas Mwonzora, on November 23, 2023.Janjusevic's remarks during this meeting went beyond the purview of a neutral observer. She expressed concerns over alleged abductions and murders of opposition activists, suggesting a departure from the organization's purported role. The question now looms large: has the Carter Centre transitioned from impartial observation to political interference?Adding a layer of intrigue, Janjusevic urged local CSOs to advocate for dialogue, pushing for the establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe. To navigate potential legal hurdles, she even suggested that CSOs and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should consider registering as political entities, circumventing the looming Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Bill.These revelations indicate a significant deviation from the CC-EOM's mandate into the realm of politics. With doubts about the Carter Centre's impartiality, calls are growing for the government to reconsider granting permission for their future involvement in the country. This sentiment is heightened by the Centre's discreet efforts to establish a permanent office within Zimbabwe, adding a layer of suspicion to their intentions.As political intrigue deepens, Zimbabwe faces a critical juncture, grappling with the implications of an ostensibly impartial observer organization succumbing to the allure of political machination. The story continues to unfold as stakeholders demand transparency and accountability from the Carter Centre.
By PTI

TRIVANDRUM: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor (VC) of Kannur University.

Khan, speaking to reporters here, said that state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the CM used her for seeking reappointment of Ravindran.

The Governor's response comes after the Supreme Court quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Ravindran as the VC of Kannur University.

A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post".

The impugned judgement and the order passed by the high court dated February 23, 2022 is hereby set aside and as a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing the respondent number 4 (Ravindran) as the vice chancellor of the Kannur University is hereby set aside, the top court said in its judgement.

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TRIVANDRUM: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of pressuring him to reappoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice chancellor (VC) of Kannur University. Khan, speaking to reporters here, said that state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the CM used her for seeking reappointment of Ravindran. The Governor's response comes after the Supreme Court quashed the Kerala government's decision to re-appoint Ravindran as the VC of Kannur University.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A division bench of the Kerala High Court had on February 23 last year dismissed an appeal against a single-judge order upholding the re-appointment of Ravindran as the VC of the university, saying it was done in accordance with the law and that he was not "an usurper to the post". The impugned judgement and the order passed by the high court dated February 23, 2022 is hereby set aside and as a consequence, the notification dated November 23, 2021 reappointing the respondent number 4 (Ravindran) as the vice chancellor of the Kannur University is hereby set aside, the top court said in its judgement. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Hemant Kumar Rout By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid concern over a new wave of pneumonia in China and disease X, Odisha government is set to strengthen seven of its public health laboratories in different regions to pilot a project on zoonotic diseases that will help keep track of future pandemics in the state.

As warned by WHO, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is focusing on at least 20 zoonotic diseases including anthrax, scrub typhus, rabies, swine flu, bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, Nipah, brucellosis, blastomycosis, psittacosis, trichinosis, cat scratch disease and histoplasmosis. Sources said the ministry has asked Rajasthan and Odisha to pilot the project - One Health that envisages carrying out surveillance of important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic as well as trans-boundary pathogens.

As part of the project, the government would strengthen its regional public health laboratories for diagnostic tests and develop additional methodologies when required for the surveillance and understanding the spread of emerging diseases, dubbed as disease X. Since risk of infectious pathogens capable of jumping the barriers of species is increasing post-Covid, mainly because of the potential of novel infectious agents to spread rapidly around the globe due to increased travel, food habits and trade across borders, health experts are leaving no stone unturned to remain prepared for the future pandemics that could be caused by a bacteria or a virus that is currently unknown.

Scientists estimate that three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals and more than six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals. Public health director Dr Niranjan Mishra said animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness, which are known as zoonotic diseases and such diseases have devastating impacts on animals, humans, health systems, and economies. As advised by the health ministry and WHO, we are strengthening at least seven public health labs in the first phase. Three identified locations are the medical colleges and hospitals at Koraput, Balangir and Baripada. We will soon shortlist four other locations, he said.

The surveillance will be intensified in an integrated way with the involvement of all stakeholders, including the wildlife, agriculture, veterinary and disaster management wings. After the capacity building of testing facilities and manpower, integration of surveillance mechanisms, community engagement and diagnosis and treatment will be the primary focus. A two-day orientation progarmme was recently conducted with experts from various global and national institutions like Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA, WHO and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to discuss an unique action plan for the project.

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BHUBANESWAR: Amid concern over a new wave of pneumonia in China and disease X, Odisha government is set to strengthen seven of its public health laboratories in different regions to pilot a project on zoonotic diseases that will help keep track of future pandemics in the state. As warned by WHO, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is focusing on at least 20 zoonotic diseases including anthrax, scrub typhus, rabies, swine flu, bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, Nipah, brucellosis, blastomycosis, psittacosis, trichinosis, cat scratch disease and histoplasmosis. Sources said the ministry has asked Rajasthan and Odisha to pilot the project - One Health that envisages carrying out surveillance of important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic as well as trans-boundary pathogens. As part of the project, the government would strengthen its regional public health laboratories for diagnostic tests and develop additional methodologies when required for the surveillance and understanding the spread of emerging diseases, dubbed as disease X. Since risk of infectious pathogens capable of jumping the barriers of species is increasing post-Covid, mainly because of the potential of novel infectious agents to spread rapidly around the globe due to increased travel, food habits and trade across borders, health experts are leaving no stone unturned to remain prepared for the future pandemics that could be caused by a bacteria or a virus that is currently unknown.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Scientists estimate that three out of every four new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals and more than six out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals. Public health director Dr Niranjan Mishra said animals can sometimes carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness, which are known as zoonotic diseases and such diseases have devastating impacts on animals, humans, health systems, and economies. As advised by the health ministry and WHO, we are strengthening at least seven public health labs in the first phase. Three identified locations are the medical colleges and hospitals at Koraput, Balangir and Baripada. We will soon shortlist four other locations, he said. The surveillance will be intensified in an integrated way with the involvement of all stakeholders, including the wildlife, agriculture, veterinary and disaster management wings. After the capacity building of testing facilities and manpower, integration of surveillance mechanisms, community engagement and diagnosis and treatment will be the primary focus. A two-day orientation progarmme was recently conducted with experts from various global and national institutions like Centre for Disease Control (CDC), USA, WHO and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to discuss an unique action plan for the project. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
Diana Sahu By

Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The 17 days of entrapment in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel at Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district were the longest in the lives of Dhiren Nayak, Bisweswar Nayak, Raju Nayak, Bhagaban Bhotra and Tapan Mandal, all from Odisha. After living amidst hope and despair for over 400 hours, the migrant labourers have stepped into a new life.

The first 24 hours, they admit, were the most difficult. To ensure there is oxygen flow into the tunnel, the workers had removed two 6-inch water pipes from the area (2.5 km) of entrapment and used them to send signals to people outside the tunnel.

There were some engineers outside who realised there are people trapped inside the tunnel. Seven hours later, rescuers established contact with us through the same pipe and sent us dry food, Balasores Raju recalled. Aware that the rescue operation will take time in the hilly terrain, the workers chose to keep each other calm. For next 10 days, they survived on mudhi (puffed rice) and dry fruits sent to them from the pipes.

Odia workers rescued

from the tunnel | Express

Air was also blown into the tunnel through the same source but water was still a concern. To quench their thirst and keep themselves hydrated, Raju said, they had to lick water from seepages through the rocks. The first batch of cooked food - rice and dal - and water bottles were sent to them 10 days later when a 60-inch-wide and 39-metres-long tube was installed for transmission of the items. Although one snag after another hit the rescue operation, none of the workers lost hope.

The workers had entered the under-construction tunnel, part of the Char Dham project, on November 11 for night shift. Their shift was supposed to end at 8 am the next day (the day of Diwali) but at around 5.30 am, the first landslide took place.

Two hours later, there were two subsequent landslides in the same area. Since there were three frequent landslides, we decided not to remove any stone to clear the way out. Whatever had to be done was to be done from outside, said Bisweswar of Jogibandh in Mayurbhanj district. The only silver lining then was the presence of electricity in the tunnel.

Being labourers, we are used to living under difficult situations but all of us had never been in such a situation before. However, our rescuers kept telling us that they would reach us anyhow and it was just a matter of time. Once food supply was streamlined and we got in touch with our families, all of us were at peace, said Nabarangpur-based Bhagaban.

The workers had gone inside the tunnel with just their helmets and gum boots. Through the six-inch tube, they were also provided with their mobile phones, cards to play games. Walkie-talkie sets and landlines were also sent to them through which they spoke to their families twice a day - once in the morning and again in the evening.

They prayed, played, did yoga and walked within the 2.5 km space to keep themselves occupied throughout the day. There was a lot of space inside, some of us also played kabaddi. All of us made sure there was never a dull moment, Bhagaban added with a smile.

On Tuesday when the intense drilling operation opened the rescue route, five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel reached the workers and told them that they would be pulled on wheeled stretchers. Instead, the workers anxious to step into their normal lives again chose to crawl out one by one. Bisweswar and Tapan of Bhadrak were first to go among the five.

They are currently under observation at AIIMS-Rishikesh. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met them at Chinyalisaur health centre, 30 km away from the tunnel site, and handed over relief cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to them. They were airlifted in IAFs Chinook helicopter to Rishikesh.

All the five labourers, who were employed in the company through contractors, were promised salaries between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000. But the company deducted Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for their fooding and accommodation.

Labour Minister Sarada Nayak, who along with Labour department officials is camping at AIIMS-Rishikesh, said he has spoken to the Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Ruhela for early discharge of Odia labourers as their condition is good. We are waiting for their discharge certificates to bring them back to Odisha, he said.

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BHUBANESWAR: The 17 days of entrapment in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel at Uttarakhands Uttarkashi district were the longest in the lives of Dhiren Nayak, Bisweswar Nayak, Raju Nayak, Bhagaban Bhotra and Tapan Mandal, all from Odisha. After living amidst hope and despair for over 400 hours, the migrant labourers have stepped into a new life. The first 24 hours, they admit, were the most difficult. To ensure there is oxygen flow into the tunnel, the workers had removed two 6-inch water pipes from the area (2.5 km) of entrapment and used them to send signals to people outside the tunnel. There were some engineers outside who realised there are people trapped inside the tunnel. Seven hours later, rescuers established contact with us through the same pipe and sent us dry food, Balasores Raju recalled. Aware that the rescue operation will take time in the hilly terrain, the workers chose to keep each other calm. For next 10 days, they survived on mudhi (puffed rice) and dry fruits sent to them from the pipes.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Odia workers rescued from the tunnel | ExpressAir was also blown into the tunnel through the same source but water was still a concern. To quench their thirst and keep themselves hydrated, Raju said, they had to lick water from seepages through the rocks. The first batch of cooked food - rice and dal - and water bottles were sent to them 10 days later when a 60-inch-wide and 39-metres-long tube was installed for transmission of the items. Although one snag after another hit the rescue operation, none of the workers lost hope. The workers had entered the under-construction tunnel, part of the Char Dham project, on November 11 for night shift. Their shift was supposed to end at 8 am the next day (the day of Diwali) but at around 5.30 am, the first landslide took place. Two hours later, there were two subsequent landslides in the same area. Since there were three frequent landslides, we decided not to remove any stone to clear the way out. Whatever had to be done was to be done from outside, said Bisweswar of Jogibandh in Mayurbhanj district. The only silver lining then was the presence of electricity in the tunnel. Being labourers, we are used to living under difficult situations but all of us had never been in such a situation before. However, our rescuers kept telling us that they would reach us anyhow and it was just a matter of time. Once food supply was streamlined and we got in touch with our families, all of us were at peace, said Nabarangpur-based Bhagaban. The workers had gone inside the tunnel with just their helmets and gum boots. Through the six-inch tube, they were also provided with their mobile phones, cards to play games. Walkie-talkie sets and landlines were also sent to them through which they spoke to their families twice a day - once in the morning and again in the evening. They prayed, played, did yoga and walked within the 2.5 km space to keep themselves occupied throughout the day. There was a lot of space inside, some of us also played kabaddi. All of us made sure there was never a dull moment, Bhagaban added with a smile. On Tuesday when the intense drilling operation opened the rescue route, five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel reached the workers and told them that they would be pulled on wheeled stretchers. Instead, the workers anxious to step into their normal lives again chose to crawl out one by one. Bisweswar and Tapan of Bhadrak were first to go among the five. They are currently under observation at AIIMS-Rishikesh. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met them at Chinyalisaur health centre, 30 km away from the tunnel site, and handed over relief cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to them. They were airlifted in IAFs Chinook helicopter to Rishikesh. All the five labourers, who were employed in the company through contractors, were promised salaries between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000. But the company deducted Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 for their fooding and accommodation. Labour Minister Sarada Nayak, who along with Labour department officials is camping at AIIMS-Rishikesh, said he has spoken to the Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Ruhela for early discharge of Odia labourers as their condition is good. We are waiting for their discharge certificates to bring them back to Odisha, he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Polling for the 119 assembly seats in Telangana has been going on at a brisk and peaceful pace on Thursday, where the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly TRS) is going all out to retain power in the state and achieve a hat trick, while the Congress is making strong efforts to wrest power from the BRS, which hopes to overcome the state's anti-incumbency factor.

Over 51.89% of polling was recorded until 3 p.m. and is likely to increase as the day progresses.

Polling started at 7 am and will continue until 5 pm. However, elections in 13 assembly constituencies would finish one hour earlier due to security reasons. As many as 3.26 crore voters will decide the future of the 2,290 candidates who are contesting the assembly polls. Of the 2,290 candidates, about 2,068 are men, 221 are women, and one is a transgender person.

There were some incidents of minor altercations or heated arguments between the supporters of the ruling BRS, BJP, and Congress. A scuffle broke out at a polling booth in Jangaon Assembly Constituency between the party workers of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while voting was underway.

A man was attacked by Congress workers for trying to vote in a polling booth where he had no voting right. The incident happened in Jangaon district while polling was underway.

The purported video of the scuffle was caught on camera and shared on social media, where it showed a group of angry men beating a man while policemen deployed in the polling booth tried to save him. The man was dragged outside the polling booth and eventually let off by the police. The alert police team reached the spot and diffused the situation. After some time, the man was let off.

Soon after the incident, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy visited the polling station and spoke to BRS activists. Chaos and scuffles broke out between BRS and Congress at a polling booth in Kamareddy. Police resorted to a mild lathi charge in Khanapur, Ibrahimpatnam.

Meanwhile, BRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar and his wife Shoba cast their vote in Chintamadaka in the Siddipet constituency. BRS Working President, K. T. Rama Rao, cast his vote at the Nandini Nagar GHMC community hall in the city. MLC, K. Kavitha, too cast her vote in Nandini Nagar.

TPCC President A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote in Kodangal. BJP state president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy cast his vote in Baghlingampally, and AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote in St. Faiz School in Rajendernagar.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj, along with his family, cast their vote at Narayana College in Sanathnagar. He urged the voters to come cast their votes and said that at some places, EVM reported technical snags, which were rectified by the engineers immediately. Some EVMs were replaced swiftly where there were teething problems. He said that voters could find out the location of their polling booths using the apps advertised by the Election Commission of India.

Elsewhere, polling is going at a brisk pace and is peaceful from 7 a.m. onwards. Long queues were seen at many polling stations in districts, while the voting was dull at several polling booths in Hyderabad and other urban areas. Despite the early morning chill, voters lined up to cast their votes when the voting began at 7 a.m.

Telangana Chief Secretary, Santhi Kumari, Telangana DGP, Anjani Kumar, and family cast their votes at the GHMC Sports Complex in Amberpet, Barrelakka (Karne Sirisha), voted in Marrikkal of Kollapur constituency.

Law enforcement agencies suggested that the following constituencies are Maoist-affected areas, and polling would conclude one hour before in Sirpur, Chennur, Bellampalli, Mancherial, Asifabad, Manthani, Bhupalpalle, Mulugu, Pinapaka, Yellandu, Kothagudem, Aswaraopeta, and Bhadrachalam.

Megastar & Union Former Minister @KChiruTweets casting his vote along with family members in Obulreddy school Jubilee Hills



@NewIndianXpress @XpressHyderabad @Kalyan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/q3eCWZWrRN  Ireddy Srinivas Reddy (@ireddysrinivasr) November 30, 2023

#TelanganaElections2023 | Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy and his family cast their vote in Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/Zu71ZHLBNP  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 30, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged the people of Telangana to vote in record numbers in the assembly polls and strengthen the festival of democracy.

Former Congress party chief Rahul Gandhi wrote on X: "Today, Prajala will defeat Dorala! Brothers and sisters of Telangana, step out and vote in large numbers! Vote to build a 'Bangaru' Telangana, Vote for Congress."

State Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy voted in the Kodangal assembly segment where he is the party's candidate.

The Congress said it brought to the notice of Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj alleged violation of the poll code by BRS leader Kavitha by making an appeal to the people to vote for BRS.

FACTBOX:

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao, prominent ministers T Harish Rao, T Srinivas Yadav, TPCC President A Revanth Reddy, and BJP leaders Etela Rajender, Arvind Dharmapuri, Bandi Sanjay Kumar are some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray.

Total Voters: 3,26,18,261.

Men Voters: 1,63,13,268

Women Voters: 1,63,02,261

Transgenders: 2,676

Service Voters: 15,406

Young Voters (Age 18-19)

Male: 5,70,274

Female: 4,29,273

Transgenders: 120

Total: 999,667

Senior Citizens (Age 80+)

Men: 1,89,519

Women: 2,50,840

Transgender: 12

Total: 440,371

Overseas Electors (NRI): 2,944

Total Contesting Candidates - 2,290 (Male  2,068, Female  221, Transgender person 1)

PwD Electors : 506,921. They include Male: 290,090, Female: 216,815 and Transgender: 16.

Total polling stations - 35,655

Auxiliary polling stations - 299

Maximum limit to polling stations in Hyderabad - 1550 and Rural areas and towns: 1500.

Deployment of Forces : 45,000 Telangana Police, 3,000 of other departments like excise etc.

TSSP Companies: 50

Companies of CAPF: 375

Home Guards coming from neighbouring states - 23,500. They include Karnataka (5000), Andhra Pradesh (5000), Maharashtra (5000), Madhya Pradesh (2000), Orissa (2000), Tamil Nadu-2000 and Chattisgarh-2500)

Total Number of Teams/Squads -1866

Staff deployed: 2,08,000

Accessible components for PwD Voters: Wheel Chairs - 21686 (One wheelchair at every polling station)

Voter Slips in Braille for visually Challenged  76532

Voters Guide in Braille for visually Challenged - 40000

Dummy Ballot papers in Braille for visually Challenged  40000

Free transport for 80+ and PwD to Polling Stations by Returning Officer.

Over 2.50 lakh poll personnel have been deployed for poll duties.

As many as 65,000 police forces, including those from neighbouring states, 50 companies of Telangana State Special Police, and 375 companies of Central forces, have been deployed for security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling in the state.

A total of 35,655 polling booths and 299 auxiliary polling stations have been set up across the state.

Nearly 75,464 Ballot Units, 44,828 Control Units, and 49,460 VVPATs are being used for polling purposes.

(With additional inputs from PTI and ANI)

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HYDERABAD: Polling for the 119 assembly seats in Telangana has been going on at a brisk and peaceful pace on Thursday, where the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly TRS) is going all out to retain power in the state and achieve a hat trick, while the Congress is making strong efforts to wrest power from the BRS, which hopes to overcome the state's anti-incumbency factor. Over 51.89% of polling was recorded until 3 p.m. and is likely to increase as the day progresses. Polling started at 7 am and will continue until 5 pm. However, elections in 13 assembly constituencies would finish one hour earlier due to security reasons. As many as 3.26 crore voters will decide the future of the 2,290 candidates who are contesting the assembly polls. Of the 2,290 candidates, about 2,068 are men, 221 are women, and one is a transgender person.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There were some incidents of minor altercations or heated arguments between the supporters of the ruling BRS, BJP, and Congress. A scuffle broke out at a polling booth in Jangaon Assembly Constituency between the party workers of the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while voting was underway. A man was attacked by Congress workers for trying to vote in a polling booth where he had no voting right. The incident happened in Jangaon district while polling was underway. The purported video of the scuffle was caught on camera and shared on social media, where it showed a group of angry men beating a man while policemen deployed in the polling booth tried to save him. The man was dragged outside the polling booth and eventually let off by the police. The alert police team reached the spot and diffused the situation. After some time, the man was let off. Soon after the incident, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy visited the polling station and spoke to BRS activists. Chaos and scuffles broke out between BRS and Congress at a polling booth in Kamareddy. Police resorted to a mild lathi charge in Khanapur, Ibrahimpatnam. Meanwhile, BRS President and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar and his wife Shoba cast their vote in Chintamadaka in the Siddipet constituency. BRS Working President, K. T. Rama Rao, cast his vote at the Nandini Nagar GHMC community hall in the city. MLC, K. Kavitha, too cast her vote in Nandini Nagar. TPCC President A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote in Kodangal. BJP state president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy cast his vote in Baghlingampally, and AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote in St. Faiz School in Rajendernagar. Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj, along with his family, cast their vote at Narayana College in Sanathnagar. He urged the voters to come cast their votes and said that at some places, EVM reported technical snags, which were rectified by the engineers immediately. Some EVMs were replaced swiftly where there were teething problems. He said that voters could find out the location of their polling booths using the apps advertised by the Election Commission of India. Elsewhere, polling is going at a brisk pace and is peaceful from 7 a.m. onwards. Long queues were seen at many polling stations in districts, while the voting was dull at several polling booths in Hyderabad and other urban areas. Despite the early morning chill, voters lined up to cast their votes when the voting began at 7 a.m. Telangana Chief Secretary, Santhi Kumari, Telangana DGP, Anjani Kumar, and family cast their votes at the GHMC Sports Complex in Amberpet, Barrelakka (Karne Sirisha), voted in Marrikkal of Kollapur constituency. Law enforcement agencies suggested that the following constituencies are Maoist-affected areas, and polling would conclude one hour before in Sirpur, Chennur, Bellampalli, Mancherial, Asifabad, Manthani, Bhupalpalle, Mulugu, Pinapaka, Yellandu, Kothagudem, Aswaraopeta, and Bhadrachalam. Megastar & Union Former Minister @KChiruTweets casting his vote along with family members in Obulreddy school Jubilee Hills @NewIndianXpress @XpressHyderabad @Kalyan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/q3eCWZWrRN  Ireddy Srinivas Reddy (@ireddysrinivasr) November 30, 2023 #TelanganaElections2023 | Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy and his family cast their vote in Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/Zu71ZHLBNP  The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) November 30, 2023 Film actors @tarak9999 & @alluarjun casting their vote along with family members in Jubilee Hills @XpressHyderabad @NewIndianXpress @Kalyan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/mcrKUDNtm5  Ireddy Srinivas Reddy (@ireddysrinivasr) November 30, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged the people of Telangana to vote in record numbers in the assembly polls and strengthen the festival of democracy. Former Congress party chief Rahul Gandhi wrote on X: "Today, Prajala will defeat Dorala! Brothers and sisters of Telangana, step out and vote in large numbers! Vote to build a 'Bangaru' Telangana, Vote for Congress." State Congress president and MP A Revanth Reddy voted in the Kodangal assembly segment where he is the party's candidate. The Congress said it brought to the notice of Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj alleged violation of the poll code by BRS leader Kavitha by making an appeal to the people to vote for BRS. @INCTelangana president and Congress candidate @revanth_anumula voted along with followers in Kodangal @NewIndianXpress @XpressHyderabad @Kalyan_TNIE pic.twitter.com/f4evoJSgWy  Ireddy Srinivas Reddy (@ireddysrinivasr) November 30, 2023 FACTBOX: Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao, prominent ministers T Harish Rao, T Srinivas Yadav, TPCC President A Revanth Reddy, and BJP leaders Etela Rajender, Arvind Dharmapuri, Bandi Sanjay Kumar are some of the key faces among the 1,862 candidates in the fray. Total Voters: 3,26,18,261. Men Voters: 1,63,13,268 Women Voters: 1,63,02,261 Transgenders: 2,676 Service Voters: 15,406 Young Voters (Age 18-19) Male: 5,70,274 Female: 4,29,273 Transgenders: 120 Total: 999,667 Senior Citizens (Age 80+) Men: 1,89,519 Women: 2,50,840 Transgender: 12 Total: 440,371 Overseas Electors (NRI): 2,944 Total Contesting Candidates - 2,290 (Male  2,068, Female  221, Transgender person 1) PwD Electors : 506,921. They include Male: 290,090, Female: 216,815 and Transgender: 16. Total polling stations - 35,655 Auxiliary polling stations - 299 Maximum limit to polling stations in Hyderabad - 1550 and Rural areas and towns: 1500. Deployment of Forces : 45,000 Telangana Police, 3,000 of other departments like excise etc. TSSP Companies: 50 Companies of CAPF: 375 Home Guards coming from neighbouring states - 23,500. They include Karnataka (5000), Andhra Pradesh (5000), Maharashtra (5000), Madhya Pradesh (2000), Orissa (2000), Tamil Nadu-2000 and Chattisgarh-2500) Total Number of Teams/Squads -1866 Staff deployed: 2,08,000 Accessible components for PwD Voters: Wheel Chairs - 21686 (One wheelchair at every polling station) Voter Slips in Braille for visually Challenged  76532 Voters Guide in Braille for visually Challenged - 40000 Dummy Ballot papers in Braille for visually Challenged  40000 Free transport for 80+ and PwD to Polling Stations by Returning Officer. Over 2.50 lakh poll personnel have been deployed for poll duties. As many as 65,000 police forces, including those from neighbouring states, 50 companies of Telangana State Special Police, and 375 companies of Central forces, have been deployed for security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling in the state. A total of 35,655 polling booths and 299 auxiliary polling stations have been set up across the state. Nearly 75,464 Ballot Units, 44,828 Control Units, and 49,460 VVPATs are being used for polling purposes. (With additional inputs from PTI and ANI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD/NIZAMABAD: The India Meteorological Department (IMD)-Hyderabad has forecast heavy rainfall in southern districts on Thursday while light to moderate rainfall is anticipated at isolated places across the state for the next 48 hours.

According to an IMD official, districts such as Mahbubnagar, Vikarabad, Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda may experience rains on polling day. Nizamabad received 56.6 mm of rainfall and Medak received 9 mm on Wednesday. According to the IMD, low-level winds are blowing from the southeast towards the state.

Hyderabad is expected to receive light drizzle in the night. Morning hours are likely to see mist/hazy conditions. With a minimum temperature of 18.5 0C, Adilabad recorded the lowest temperature on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hyderabad recorded a minimum temperature of 21.7 0C.

Bhadrachalam recorded the days highest temperature of 33.8 0C, closely followed by Khammam at 33.6 0C. Hailstorms damage houses in Nizamabad Several areas across Nizamabad district experienced severe weather conditions  heavy hailstorms, rain and strong winds  on Tuesday night. People living in makeshift shelters face many issues due to the torrid showers until Wednesday afternoon.

An average rainfall of 20.4 mm was recorded across the Nizamabad district. The highest rainfall was reported in Pothangal Mandal (61.5 mm), while Balkonda recorded the lowest at 1.1 mm. Several areas reported rainfall ranging from 20 mm to 50 mm. The neighbouring Kamareddy district also experienced an average rainfall of over 20 mm.

The entire city of Nizamabad, as well as the adjoining rural areas, received heavy rains and hailstorms. Heavy rains lashed the district for about two hours and eased to a drizzle that continued until the early hours of Wednesday. The adverse weather conditions led to disruptions in the Arsapally, Borgaon and Vinayaknagar 33/11kv substations, resulting in a halt in power supply until Wednesday afternoon.

Fallen trees and power lines obstructed roads, with some power poles leaning onto the streets. Tin sheds collapsed in various places, forcing people to seek refuge in safer locations. In urban and rural areas, parked cars and two-wheelers suffered damage. The premises of several polling booths were inundated.

Sources said a significant amount of mud has accumulated due to water stagnation. The Nizamabad Municipal Corporation and NPDCL engineers along with other staffers began cleaning and restoration efforts on Wednesday morning.

Nizamabad Urban MLA B Ganesh Gupta visited several places in minority-dominated areas, offering consolation and support to the affected residents. Congress candidate Md Ali Shabbir also toured affected areas and extended his sympathy to the victims. NPDCL Superintending Engineer (SE) R Ravindar told TNIE that the power supply was restored by late evening.

NMC staff took measures to clear stagnant water and mud accumulated on roads and other public areas throughout the city.

Destructive downpour

 The entire city of Nizamabad, as well as the adjoining rural areas, received heavy rains and hailstorms.

 Heavy rains lashed the entire district for about two hours and eased to a drizzle that continued until the early hours of Wednesday.

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HYDERABAD/NIZAMABAD: The India Meteorological Department (IMD)-Hyderabad has forecast heavy rainfall in southern districts on Thursday while light to moderate rainfall is anticipated at isolated places across the state for the next 48 hours. According to an IMD official, districts such as Mahbubnagar, Vikarabad, Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda may experience rains on polling day. Nizamabad received 56.6 mm of rainfall and Medak received 9 mm on Wednesday. According to the IMD, low-level winds are blowing from the southeast towards the state. Hyderabad is expected to receive light drizzle in the night. Morning hours are likely to see mist/hazy conditions. With a minimum temperature of 18.5 0C, Adilabad recorded the lowest temperature on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hyderabad recorded a minimum temperature of 21.7 0C.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Bhadrachalam recorded the days highest temperature of 33.8 0C, closely followed by Khammam at 33.6 0C. Hailstorms damage houses in Nizamabad Several areas across Nizamabad district experienced severe weather conditions  heavy hailstorms, rain and strong winds  on Tuesday night. People living in makeshift shelters face many issues due to the torrid showers until Wednesday afternoon. An average rainfall of 20.4 mm was recorded across the Nizamabad district. The highest rainfall was reported in Pothangal Mandal (61.5 mm), while Balkonda recorded the lowest at 1.1 mm. Several areas reported rainfall ranging from 20 mm to 50 mm. The neighbouring Kamareddy district also experienced an average rainfall of over 20 mm. The entire city of Nizamabad, as well as the adjoining rural areas, received heavy rains and hailstorms. Heavy rains lashed the district for about two hours and eased to a drizzle that continued until the early hours of Wednesday. The adverse weather conditions led to disruptions in the Arsapally, Borgaon and Vinayaknagar 33/11kv substations, resulting in a halt in power supply until Wednesday afternoon. Fallen trees and power lines obstructed roads, with some power poles leaning onto the streets. Tin sheds collapsed in various places, forcing people to seek refuge in safer locations. In urban and rural areas, parked cars and two-wheelers suffered damage. The premises of several polling booths were inundated. Sources said a significant amount of mud has accumulated due to water stagnation. The Nizamabad Municipal Corporation and NPDCL engineers along with other staffers began cleaning and restoration efforts on Wednesday morning. Nizamabad Urban MLA B Ganesh Gupta visited several places in minority-dominated areas, offering consolation and support to the affected residents. Congress candidate Md Ali Shabbir also toured affected areas and extended his sympathy to the victims. NPDCL Superintending Engineer (SE) R Ravindar told TNIE that the power supply was restored by late evening. NMC staff took measures to clear stagnant water and mud accumulated on roads and other public areas throughout the city. Destructive downpour  The entire city of Nizamabad, as well as the adjoining rural areas, received heavy rains and hailstorms.  Heavy rains lashed the entire district for about two hours and eased to a drizzle that continued until the early hours of Wednesday. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By AFP

DHAKA: Bangladesh's main opposition on Thursday officially boycotted the upcoming general elections, removing the only party that could have offered a realistic challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fourth consecutive term in power.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), warning that thousands of its members had been arrested in a sweeping crackdown, said it had not applied to contest a single seat on the last day of filing candidate nominations before the January 7 polls.

"We are boycotting the election," A.K.M Wahiduzzaman, a spokesman of the party, told AFP.

"We remained steadfast to our stand that we will not take part in any election with Sheikh Hasina in power".

The BNP and other parties have held mass protests calling on Hasina to quit power and let a neutral government run the polls, demands the government has said are unconstitutional.

Human Rights Watch warned Monday of a "violent autocratic crackdown", with almost 10,000 opposition activists arrested and at least 16 people killed since protests escalated in October, including two police officers.

Wahiduzzaman, accusing Hasina of having "rigged the previous two elections", said the number arrested was even higher.

"She has arrested more than 18,090 of our leaders and supporters in an unprecedented crackdown since late October 28 to rig another election," he said.

"We won't join any farcical election."

Hasina has overseen massive economic growth during her 15 years in power, but there has been international alarm over democratic backsliding and thousands of extrajudicial killings.

Other key opposition parties have also said they will boycott the elections, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party, and the Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

Election Commission spokesman Shariful Alam said they would confirm who was participating later Thursday.

Apart from the ruling Awami League, several smaller allied parties have said they will take part.

Some BNP officials are understood to have left the party hoping to contest a seat as independents.

ALSO READ | Bangladesh's top court upholds decision barring largest Islamist party from elections

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DHAKA: Bangladesh's main opposition on Thursday officially boycotted the upcoming general elections, removing the only party that could have offered a realistic challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fourth consecutive term in power. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), warning that thousands of its members had been arrested in a sweeping crackdown, said it had not applied to contest a single seat on the last day of filing candidate nominations before the January 7 polls. "We are boycotting the election," A.K.M Wahiduzzaman, a spokesman of the party, told AFP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "We remained steadfast to our stand that we will not take part in any election with Sheikh Hasina in power". The BNP and other parties have held mass protests calling on Hasina to quit power and let a neutral government run the polls, demands the government has said are unconstitutional. Human Rights Watch warned Monday of a "violent autocratic crackdown", with almost 10,000 opposition activists arrested and at least 16 people killed since protests escalated in October, including two police officers. Wahiduzzaman, accusing Hasina of having "rigged the previous two elections", said the number arrested was even higher. "She has arrested more than 18,090 of our leaders and supporters in an unprecedented crackdown since late October 28 to rig another election," he said. "We won't join any farcical election." Hasina has overseen massive economic growth during her 15 years in power, but there has been international alarm over democratic backsliding and thousands of extrajudicial killings. Other key opposition parties have also said they will boycott the elections, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party, and the Islami Andolon Bangladesh. Election Commission spokesman Shariful Alam said they would confirm who was participating later Thursday. Apart from the ruling Awami League, several smaller allied parties have said they will take part. Some BNP officials are understood to have left the party hoping to contest a seat as independents. ALSO READ | Bangladesh's top court upholds decision barring largest Islamist party from elections Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
The Conversation By

While the world remains fixated on the devastating October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, there has been a pronounced  and mostly unnoticed  escalation in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Before the recent events, this had already been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005, with about 200 fatalities, mostly attributed to Israeli security forces.

This figure has more than doubled since October 7, including the killings of 55 children. That brings the yearly fatality total in the West Bank to more than 450 Palestinians so far, according to the United Nations.

The UN has also recorded 281 settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, resulting in eight deaths. Four Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians.

In nearly half of the settler attacks, Israeli security forces either accompanied or actively supported the attackers, according to the UN.

A sharp increase in displacements

It is no coincidence the upsurge in anti-Palestinian violence this year has corresponded with the coming to power of the most right-wing nationalist government in Israeli history.

The new hardline government promised to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since capturing the territory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

This has emboldened Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, who now regularly engage in violence and provocative nationalist actions around the al-Aqsa mosque compound.

Since 1967, Israel has built over 270 settlements containing approximately 750,000 settlers. Despite these settlements being deemed illegal under international law, they remain protected by the Israeli military and their own security squads.

In February, the Israeli government transferred the West Bank from military to civilian control, which critics claimed could represent a step towards legalised annexation.

Since October 7 alone, the Israeli human rights group Btselem reports that 16 Palestinian communities have been forcibly transferred to Area C, which covers about 65% of the West Bank and is under complete Israeli control. Overall, over 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions, according to the UN.

According to a group of UN experts: "Israels continuous annexation of portions of the occupied Palestinian territory [] suggests that a concrete effort may be underway to annex the entire occupied Palestinian territory in violation of international law."

Settler violence against Palestinians also includes the uprooting of hundreds of olive trees, destruction of property, blocked roads, armed raids and sabotaged wells. Military checkpoints and barriers make movement between Palestinian areas increasingly difficult.

Settlers also enjoy civilian and political rights in the West Bank, while Palestinians are subjected to military rule. This has been described by human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B'tselem, as well as prominent Israelis, as apartheid.

In a study of 1,000 cases of settler violence submitted to the Israeli judiciary between 2005 and 2021, the human rights organisation Yesh Din found 92% were dismissed.

A recipe for more violence

The West Bank continues to be run, at least in parts, by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.

However, the PA is considered corrupt, and nepotistic and is deeply unpopular among Palestinians in the territories. Recent polling revealed that 78% of Palestinians want Abbas to resign. Primarily, this is because the PA is seen by Palestinians in the West Bank as nothing more than Israels security subcontractor and has suppressed demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza.

As a result, a younger generation of Palestinian fighters has emerged in West Bank towns and cities that transcend the longstanding divide between Hamas in Gaza and the PA in the West Bank.

These self-defence battalions are intended to defend Palestinians against Israeli incursions, especially in the Jenin refugee camp and the old city of Nablus, both of which have repeatedly been the subject of Israeli raids this year.

Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister and the leader of the Jewish Power Party, continues to openly defend settlers actions, setting the stage for more attacks.

Earlier this year, a joint statement by the Israeli military, Shin Bet (Israels domestic security agency) and Israeli police condemned Jewish settler violence against Palestinians, saying the increased vigilantism contradicted Jewish values and were a form of nationalist terror in the full sense of the term. Days later, though, Ben-Gvir blocked condemnation of the settlers and is reported to have called them sweet kids who had been turned into adults in detention.

After the October 7 attacks, Ben-Gvirs ministry announced it had purchased 10,000 assault rifles to be distributed to civilian security teams around the country, including in West Bank settlements.

Other senior Israeli politicians have also been seen to encourage violence. In March, for instance, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also in charge of the civil administration of the West Bank, said a Palestinian town called Huwara should be wiped out.

The US State Department said the comment amounted to an incitement of violence and called it repugnant. Smotrich later apologised, calling it a slip of the tongue.

All of this has helped create an environment of fear, frustration and desperation among Palestinians in the West Bank. Following five weeks of war in Gaza, the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research reported that 69% of Palestinians say they fear future settler attacks.

The upshot of this continued violence in the West Bank is the prospects for a viable two-state solution are more remote than ever, leaving Palestinians with little alternative then to continue resisting.

Tristan Dunning

Honorary Research Fellow, The University of Queensland

Martin Kear

Sessional Lecturer Dept Govt & Int Rel., University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Read the original article.

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While the world remains fixated on the devastating October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, there has been a pronounced  and mostly unnoticed  escalation in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Before the recent events, this had already been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005, with about 200 fatalities, mostly attributed to Israeli security forces. This figure has more than doubled since October 7, including the killings of 55 children. That brings the yearly fatality total in the West Bank to more than 450 Palestinians so far, according to the United Nations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The UN has also recorded 281 settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, resulting in eight deaths. Four Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians. In nearly half of the settler attacks, Israeli security forces either accompanied or actively supported the attackers, according to the UN. A sharp increase in displacements It is no coincidence the upsurge in anti-Palestinian violence this year has corresponded with the coming to power of the most right-wing nationalist government in Israeli history. The new hardline government promised to expand Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since capturing the territory in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. This has emboldened Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, who now regularly engage in violence and provocative nationalist actions around the al-Aqsa mosque compound. Since 1967, Israel has built over 270 settlements containing approximately 750,000 settlers. Despite these settlements being deemed illegal under international law, they remain protected by the Israeli military and their own security squads. In February, the Israeli government transferred the West Bank from military to civilian control, which critics claimed could represent a step towards legalised annexation. Since October 7 alone, the Israeli human rights group Btselem reports that 16 Palestinian communities have been forcibly transferred to Area C, which covers about 65% of the West Bank and is under complete Israeli control. Overall, over 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions, according to the UN. According to a group of UN experts: "Israels continuous annexation of portions of the occupied Palestinian territory [] suggests that a concrete effort may be underway to annex the entire occupied Palestinian territory in violation of international law." Settler violence against Palestinians also includes the uprooting of hundreds of olive trees, destruction of property, blocked roads, armed raids and sabotaged wells. Military checkpoints and barriers make movement between Palestinian areas increasingly difficult. Settlers also enjoy civilian and political rights in the West Bank, while Palestinians are subjected to military rule. This has been described by human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and B'tselem, as well as prominent Israelis, as apartheid. In a study of 1,000 cases of settler violence submitted to the Israeli judiciary between 2005 and 2021, the human rights organisation Yesh Din found 92% were dismissed. A recipe for more violence The West Bank continues to be run, at least in parts, by the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority (PA), led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. However, the PA is considered corrupt, and nepotistic and is deeply unpopular among Palestinians in the territories. Recent polling revealed that 78% of Palestinians want Abbas to resign. Primarily, this is because the PA is seen by Palestinians in the West Bank as nothing more than Israels security subcontractor and has suppressed demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza. As a result, a younger generation of Palestinian fighters has emerged in West Bank towns and cities that transcend the longstanding divide between Hamas in Gaza and the PA in the West Bank. These self-defence battalions are intended to defend Palestinians against Israeli incursions, especially in the Jenin refugee camp and the old city of Nablus, both of which have repeatedly been the subject of Israeli raids this year. Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels national security minister and the leader of the Jewish Power Party, continues to openly defend settlers actions, setting the stage for more attacks. Earlier this year, a joint statement by the Israeli military, Shin Bet (Israels domestic security agency) and Israeli police condemned Jewish settler violence against Palestinians, saying the increased vigilantism contradicted Jewish values and were a form of nationalist terror in the full sense of the term. Days later, though, Ben-Gvir blocked condemnation of the settlers and is reported to have called them sweet kids who had been turned into adults in detention. After the October 7 attacks, Ben-Gvirs ministry announced it had purchased 10,000 assault rifles to be distributed to civilian security teams around the country, including in West Bank settlements. Other senior Israeli politicians have also been seen to encourage violence. In March, for instance, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also in charge of the civil administration of the West Bank, said a Palestinian town called Huwara should be wiped out. The US State Department said the comment amounted to an incitement of violence and called it repugnant. Smotrich later apologised, calling it a slip of the tongue. All of this has helped create an environment of fear, frustration and desperation among Palestinians in the West Bank. Following five weeks of war in Gaza, the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research reported that 69% of Palestinians say they fear future settler attacks. The upshot of this continued violence in the West Bank is the prospects for a viable two-state solution are more remote than ever, leaving Palestinians with little alternative then to continue resisting. Tristan DunningHonorary Research Fellow, The University of Queensland Martin KearSessional Lecturer Dept Govt & Int Rel., University of Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
By PTI

OTTAWA: The indictment of an Indian national in a foiled assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on American soil underscored what Canada has been alleging in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case and India must take it seriously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Trudeau said Wednesday that Canadian authorities have been working closely with their American counterparts since August on allegations about the Indian government's involvement in Nijjar's killing on June 18 in British Columbia province.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

New Delhi has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

The remarks by Trudeau came after Nikhil Gupta, 52, was charged on Wednesday with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.

"The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously. The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this," The Canadian Press quoted Trudeau as saying.

The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York does not name the US citizen who was the target of the assassination plot.

However, The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

"This is not something that anyone can take lightly. Our responsibility is to keep Canadians safe, and that's what we're going to continue to do," Trudeau emphasised.

On Canada's allegations, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that the main issue with Ottawa has been that of activities of anti-India elements in that country.

ALSO READ | 'Matter of concern': MEA on US charging Indian over plot to kill Pannun

"In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this," Bagchi said at a MEA briefing.

"We expect the government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs," he said. It is obviously unacceptable, Bagchi added.

Responding to the indictment of the Indian national, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Wednesday the US indictment "confirms that Canada is not alone at managing these particular threats."

"What's important for us is the government of Canada and agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the intelligence service do everything that they can to protect Canadians, but also to hold accountable those who murdered a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil," LeBlanc said.

Reacting to the development in the US, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that while she won't comment on what's happening in the US but said the Canadian government stands by its "credible allegations" that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil linked to Indian agents.

OPINION | Fuming Ottawa clouds Delhis ties with Washington

She also urged India to engage in Canada's probe into Nijjar's murder.

"When it comes to what's happening in the US, I won't comment directly because, of course, I respect the work that the American law enforcement agencies are doing and I also respect the independence of their legal system," Joly said.

"What I can tell you though, is that we stand by our own credible allegations that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil, linking to Indian agents," she said in response to questions from journalists on Wednesday.

Joly said she had numerous conversations with her American colleagues, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue that Canada was facing with India. "And at the same time, we call on India to engage in our own investigation, and I think it is important that they do so," she said.

She declined to comment on investigations into Nijjar's murder but said: "I can tell you the impact of our investigation, and also what is going on in the US, is I have engaged with my Indian counterpart on this very issue. We call on their cooperation to make sure that our investigation is able to proceed."

She said India's decision to remove diplomatic immunity to 41 Canadian diplomats was "completely unacceptable."

"And it is clearly my goal to make sure that the 41 diplomats that should be right now working in India are allowed back," she said.

ALSO READ | India ups the ante on taking action against Khalistanis

India rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi had said the state bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in India's internal affairs warranted a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.

Canada and India witnessed strains in ties following Trudeau's allegations in September of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

India's High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma last week said India was "absolutely" and "decidedly" not involved in the killing of Nijjar and Ottawa has "convicted" New Delhi even before the completion of the investigation.

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OTTAWA: The indictment of an Indian national in a foiled assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on American soil underscored what Canada has been alleging in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case and India must take it seriously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Trudeau said Wednesday that Canadian authorities have been working closely with their American counterparts since August on allegations about the Indian government's involvement in Nijjar's killing on June 18 in British Columbia province. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); New Delhi has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". The remarks by Trudeau came after Nikhil Gupta, 52, was charged on Wednesday with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously. The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this," The Canadian Press quoted Trudeau as saying. The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York does not name the US citizen who was the target of the assassination plot. However, The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justice's Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot. "This is not something that anyone can take lightly. Our responsibility is to keep Canadians safe, and that's what we're going to continue to do," Trudeau emphasised. On Canada's allegations, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that the main issue with Ottawa has been that of activities of anti-India elements in that country. ALSO READ | 'Matter of concern': MEA on US charging Indian over plot to kill Pannun "In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this," Bagchi said at a MEA briefing. "We expect the government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs," he said. It is obviously unacceptable, Bagchi added. Responding to the indictment of the Indian national, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Wednesday the US indictment "confirms that Canada is not alone at managing these particular threats." "What's important for us is the government of Canada and agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the intelligence service do everything that they can to protect Canadians, but also to hold accountable those who murdered a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil," LeBlanc said. Reacting to the development in the US, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that while she won't comment on what's happening in the US but said the Canadian government stands by its "credible allegations" that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil linked to Indian agents. OPINION | Fuming Ottawa clouds Delhis ties with Washington She also urged India to engage in Canada's probe into Nijjar's murder. "When it comes to what's happening in the US, I won't comment directly because, of course, I respect the work that the American law enforcement agencies are doing and I also respect the independence of their legal system," Joly said. "What I can tell you though, is that we stand by our own credible allegations that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil, linking to Indian agents," she said in response to questions from journalists on Wednesday. Joly said she had numerous conversations with her American colleagues, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue that Canada was facing with India. "And at the same time, we call on India to engage in our own investigation, and I think it is important that they do so," she said. She declined to comment on investigations into Nijjar's murder but said: "I can tell you the impact of our investigation, and also what is going on in the US, is I have engaged with my Indian counterpart on this very issue. We call on their cooperation to make sure that our investigation is able to proceed." She said India's decision to remove diplomatic immunity to 41 Canadian diplomats was "completely unacceptable." "And it is clearly my goal to make sure that the 41 diplomats that should be right now working in India are allowed back," she said. ALSO READ | India ups the ante on taking action against Khalistanis India rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi had said the state bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in India's internal affairs warranted a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. Canada and India witnessed strains in ties following Trudeau's allegations in September of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. India's High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma last week said India was "absolutely" and "decidedly" not involved in the killing of Nijjar and Ottawa has "convicted" New Delhi even before the completion of the investigation. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
New Delhi, Nov 29

S ocietal reservations, lack of awareness and infrastructure are the major roadblocks for active organ donations in India, according to health experts on Wednesday.

India faces the lowest organ donation rate worldwide, with a mere 0.1 per cent of the population donating their organs after death in stark contrast to 70-80 per cent in Western countries.

"Currently there is a huge gap between patients who need organs and the actual organs available for transplantation. The waiting list for kidneys and liver can go up to several years. The heart and lung recipients are completely dependent on cadaveric organ donation programme, hence it is imperative that we as a country pledge for this cause," Rahul Pandit, Chair, Critical Care, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, told IANS.

Traditionally two concepts have been practiced in India, live related donation and cadaveric organ donation, he explained.

Live related donation involves removing a healthy organ usually from recipients near relatives as described in the organ donation Act and transplanting it in the recipient. However, this practice is only limited to kidney and liver in solid organ transplantation.

Cadaveric organ donation is organ donation after brain stem death. This is possible in patients who have an irreversible neurological condition, who are on a ventilator in ICU with no brain function.

This process, if the family consents then almost 8-9 organs -- cornea, heart, lungs, 2 kidneys, liver, pancreatic islets cells, uterus, both hands, skin, bone and muscle tendons -- can be donated, the doctor said.

"While there has been a slight improvement in harvesting organs from deceased donors, with an increase in the average number of transplants per donor, it remains insufficient. For example, out of 12,387 harvested organs in 2021, only slightly over 14 per cent were from deceased donors," Yasir Rizvi, Associate Director & Senior Consultant - Nephrology at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, told IANS.

Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief and Sr. Consultant - Kidney Transplant & Dialysis Department at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, explained that "myths surrounding brain death contribute to considerable organ wastage, with India losing around 2 lakh kidneys and other vital organs annually".

Properly harvesting even 5-10 per cent of all brain deaths for organ donation could render the need for living donors obsolete. The issue is particularly pronounced in heart transplants, with challenges like cost and expertise availability in different cities exacerbating the problem.

"India faces a critical challenge with a dismal organ donation rate of 0.86 per million people, necessitating a drastic improvement. Despite a notable post-Covid resurgence in transplant activities, achieving over 15,000 transplants in 2022 with a 27 per cent annual increase, societal reservations remain a significant obstacle. The country grapples with a demand-supply gap in organ donation and transplants due to a lack of awareness and deep-rooted superstitions," Aggarwal told IANS.

Rizvi also noted limited awareness and infrastructure as a significant challenge in organ donation in India. Despite some progress, there exists a substantial gap between organ demand and supply, with only 0.1 per cent of the population donating their organs after death, he said.

"The situation demands urgent action, given the organ shortage crisis in the country. Public awareness campaigns are crucial to enhance organ donation rates, and collaboration between the medical fraternity and policymakers is necessary to streamline donation processes.

"Establishing transparent organ registries and strengthening deceased organ donation infrastructure are pivotal steps for India to advance in organ donation and transplantation," he said.

To boost organ donation practices, the health experts called for a comprehensive approach. Education campaigns can debunk myths and emphasise the impact of donations on saving lives, they said.

Why India lags in organ donation

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New Delhi, Nov 29

A s the Indian government takes tough stand on AI-generated fake content especially deepfakes, Google on Wednesday said the company's collaboration with the Indian government for a multi-stakeholder discussion aligns with its commitment to addressing this challenge together and ensuring a responsible approach to AI.

By embracing a multi-stakeholder approach and fostering responsible AI development, we can ensure that AI's transformative potential continues to serve as a force for good in the world, said Michaela Browning, VP, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google Asia Pacific.

"There is no silver bullet to combat deep fakes and AI-generated misinformation. It requires a collaborative effort, one that involves open communication, rigorous risk assessment, and proactive mitigation strategies," Browning added.

The company said it is pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the government and to continue dialogue, including through its upcoming engagement on the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.

"As we continue to incorporate AI, and more recently, generative AI, into more Google experiences, we know it's imperative to be bold and responsible together," said Browning.

The Centre last week gave a seven-day deadline to social media platforms to tweak their policies as per Indian regulations in order to address the spread of deepfakes on their platforms.

Deepfakes could be subject to action under the current IT Rules, particularly Rule 3(1)(b), which mandates the removal of 12 types of content within 24 hours of receiving user complaints, said Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The government will also take action of 100 per cent of such violations under the IT Rules in the future.

According to Google, it is looking to help address potential risks in multiple ways.

"One important consideration is helping users identify AI-generated content and empowering people with knowledge of when they're interacting with AI generated media," said the tech giant.

In the coming months, YouTube will require creators to disclose altered or synthetic content that is realistic, including using AI tools.

"We will inform viewers about such content through labels in the description panel and video player," said Google.

"In the coming months, on YouTube, we'll make it possible to request the removal of AI-generated or other synthetic or altered content that simulates an identifiable individual, including their face or voice, using our privacy request process," it added.

Google recently updated its election advertising policies to require advertisers to disclose when their election ads include material that's been digitally altered or generated. "We also actively engage with policymakers, researchers, and experts to develop effective solutions. We have invested $1 million in grants to the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, to establish the first of its kind multidisciplinary center for Responsible AI," Browning noted.

Collaborating with Indian govt to address deepfakes: Google

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Over the next two weeks in Dubai, world will assess climate change, impacts

New Delhi, Nov 29

O ver the course of the next two weeks at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, parties (governments), negotiators, business leaders, civic society organisations, among others, will gather to assess global efforts to advance the key Paris Agreement aim of limiting global warming to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

As the climate crisis worsens around the world, COP28 that begins on Thursday must be a decisive moment to act on climate commitments and limit global warming.

The governments will take decisions on ways to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and on adapting to the impacts of climate change, on Loss and Damage, a fund for vulnerable countries hit hard by natural calamities, and on the means to help countries green their economies and build resilience to climate change through finance, technology and capacity-building.

After Glasgow in 2021, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the annual climate change conference, the second in three years.

The 28th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will run till December 12.

Today, 195 parties (194 states plus the European Union) have joined the Paris Agreement. A latest report from UN Climate Change finds national climate action plans remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Even with increased efforts by some countries, the global stocktake (GST) report shows much more action is needed now to bend the worlds emissions trajectory further downward and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The latest science from the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that GHG emissions need to be cut 43 per cent by 2030, compared to the 2019 levels.

This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

On the eve of COP28, President Designate, Sultan Al Jaber said, We need to reduce the gap between ambition and action. Those who promised, must deliver. Those who pledged, must act. I will hold every country and every stakeholder accountable to keep the 1.5 degrees C target within reach. I aim to achieve the highest ambition in the Global Stocktake decision.

Despite all of the noise you hear, in fact that noise is helpful, because it helps you to focus on the task at hand. We feel that the prospects of an extraordinary outcome are at handand we will step up to deliver it.

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, On the eve of the COP28, the problem is clear: Business-as-usual is breaking our planet. At COP28, leaders must get to work fixing it. We are ready to help them deliver.

The first part of the high-level segment for delivery of national statements by heads of state and government will take place from December 1 to 2 during the World Climate Action Summit.

The International Energy Agencys (IEA) report is a stark warning ahead of COP28: If governments want to keep the 1.5 degrees goal alive, doubling efficiency progress this decade is crucial.

Its Energy Efficiency 2023 market report, published on Wednesday, showed that to achieve net zero emissions from the energy sector by 2050, which is essential to limit global warming, annual improvements in energy efficiency need to double -- rising from a level of two per cent in 2022 to more than four per cent per year on average between now and 2030.

In 2023, global energy intensity improved by 1.3 per cent, well below what is needed to achieve this target.

The worlds climate ambitions hinge on our ability to make the global energy system much more efficient. If governments want to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal within reach while supporting energy security, doubling energy efficiency progress this decade is critical, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

The findings of this report are a stark warning to the leaders gathering shortly at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai that they all need to commit to stronger action on efficiency and to deliver on it.

Regarding Indias position at COP28, the country is not mincing words on its energy security needs and reliance on coal to meet its peak power demand which crossed 240 GW this year.

Indias coal production has seen a considerable increase in the last 10 years. From about 565.7 MT in 2013-14, it has reached 893.08 MT in 2022-23. It is expected to touch 1,012 MT by 2023-24 and 1.5 billion tonnes by 2030.

It has been acknowledged by both private and public sector experts that the environmental impacts associated with underground coal mines are lesser when compared to opencast mines. In India, the increase in coal production has largely come from opencast mines. It is held that opencast coal mines often result in deforestation, displacement and pollution issues. In the past 10 years, the share of underground coal mines in Indias total coal production has come down from close to nine per cent in 2013-14 to about four per cent in 2022-23.

According to Indias targets, the coal from underground mines will rise to 99-100 MT in FY28, which will be less than 10 per cent of the overall coal production of the country.

India has supported the ambition for global tripling of renewable energy targets by 2030 at the G20 Leaders Summit.

With more than 60 nations rallying behind this, along with support from the US, the EU and the UAE, this can be a COP28 victory if all 195 nations agree to it.

India is committed to ramping up its renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 as per its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While India is transitioning to a larger share of clean energy sources, it needs to source finance to support development of green energy corridors and an improved grid infrastructure to support the growth. The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration has underlined the need for $5.8-5.9 trillion in the pre-2030 period for developing countries to meet net-zero targets. Should we expect anything earth-shaking from COP28, public policy research think tank Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) CEO Arunabha Ghosh told IANS, To be successful and not be talk shops, climate negotiations need to fulfil three purposes: Set the agenda and targets, put in a process for their implementation, and monitor enforcement and progress. The year 2023 has underlined clearly why the UNs Conference of Parties can no longer kick the can of climate justice, climate action and climate finance down the road. It has been the hottest year on record, with floods, droughts and wildfires, as well as a geopolitically turbulent one.

The GST will be a report card to our collective pledges so far, he said. The first-ever GST is set to conclude at the end of this year. The GST is a process for countries and stakeholders to see where theyre collectively making progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement and where theyre not. The nations will take a decision on the global stocktake at COP28, which can be leveraged to accelerate ambition in their next round of climate action plans due in 2025.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Over the next two weeks in Dubai, world will assess climate change, impacts

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Gurugram, November 29

R enowned fashion designer Rohit Bal, who was admitted to the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram with pre-existing medical conditions, is still critical and on ventilator support, hospital sources said on Wednesday.

"He is critical and remains on ventilator support," a source at the private hospital informed on Wednesday.

"He is slightly better than previous days but still is on ventilator support," a close friend of his told ANI on Wednesday.

Bal is well-known for his designs that appeal to all genders. He launched his career in fashion designing in 1986 when he and his brother founded Orchid Oversea Pvt. Ltd. In 1990, he made his independent collection debut.

Bal was born into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar on May 8, 1961.

The largest handloom textile operation in Panchkula, Khadi Gram Udyog, selected Bal to collaborate with them. He opened a flagship store in Delhi, as well as stores in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Chennai.

Bal also charted a successful career in jewellery designing.

He is known for his works with materials such as velvet and brocade, and his intricate designs are influenced by the opulence and majesty of India.

Bal graduated from St. Stephens College, Delhi, with a bachelor's degree in History.

He pursued a course in fashion at Delhi's National Institute of Fashion Technology.

Ace designer Rohit Bal still critical, remains on ventilator support

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Chennai, November 29

T amil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Wednesday said that the public health department is carefully investigating the fevers that occur in children at a time when there is a surge in respiratory illness cases in China.

He said that although the new type of fever has not been detected in Tamil Nadu, but fever camps are being conducted regularly to detect the ongoing rainy season outbreaks.

"Pneumonia fever has been detected in China. It has been found to affect children more. In this regard, the public health department is very carefully investigating the fevers that occur in children. The new type of fever has not been detected anywhere in Tamil Nadu. However, fever camps are being conducted every week to detect the ongoing rainy season outbreaks. This will be held every Saturday for another 5 weeks," Ma. Subramanian said.

TS Selvavinayagam, Director, of Tamil Nadu Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said that there is no need to be alarmed amid the emergence of a mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China.

"It has got two components. One is critical surveillance. We have already established the surveillance part, where we will be requesting all the institutions to report to us on the Integrated Health Information Portal (IHIP). With regard to infrastructure, our team is capable of expanding the required infrastructure at any time," Selvavinayagam said.

"Surveillance is a critical part of this mission on which we are concentrating. It is to track whether any cases are emerging or not. There are no significant cases as of now. There is no need to be alarmed as of now," he added.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has proactively reviewed and strengthened preparedness measures against respiratory illness in the country.

As per sources, the ministry has strengthened the preparedness through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

In view of recent reports of a surge in respiratory illnesses in children in northern China, health departments in States and Union territories across the country have been put on alert.

"Multipronged surveillance for respiratory infections has been reviewed and strengthened through NCDC and ICMR systems," a source told ANI.

Sources further said that the Central government is keeping a close watch on developments in other countries too and is constantly in touch with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Recently, the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory to states/UTs' to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness against respiratory illnesses, as a matter of abundant caution.

"Notably, it is important in view of ongoing influenza and winter season that results in an increase in respiratory illness cases," it said, underlining that there is "no need for alarm".

"Government of India is closely monitoring the situation and indicated that there is no need for any alarm. In a letter by the Union Health Secretary to States and Union Territories, they have been advised to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness measures viz. availability of HR, hospital beds, drugs and vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits and reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, infection control practices in health facilities, at a senior level", the ministry said.

All States and Union Territories have been advised to implement 'Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19', shared earlier this year, which provides for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI), the notification read.

Pneumonia outbreak in China: Public health department investigating fevers in children, says Tamil Nadu Minister

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Bengaluru, Nov 29

K arnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday called upon technology companies to invest their CSR funds for the development of rural schools in Karnataka.

Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit, he said, I have had discussions with several people including Rishad Premji of Wipro and they have committed to invest Rs 2,000 crore to improve the quality of education in rural areas.

The state government is trying to implement a new education system. If the quality of education in the rural schools improves, students from the rural areas will be able to compete on the global stage, he said.

He lauded the information technology and biotechnology companies for their contribution to the states exchequer. Thousands of companies in Bengaluru are paying taxes and that helps to augment the finances of the government. While companies are strengthening the finances of the government, the companies also expect some incentives from the government. We have to work together, he said.

Bengaluru has earned its place in the world of technology. It was possible due to the ecosystem Bengaluru has. Bengaluru and Karnataka have one of the highest numbers of engineering and medical colleges. Of the five million IT employees in India, 2 million are in Karnataka. No other state has so much human resource, he added.

Karnataka has a rich human resource and is very peaceful, I can guarantee you that. You need to tell us what more you need so that we can fulfil it. We have to work together on this, the Deputy CM stated.

He also lauded IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge for his contribution in organizing the Bengaluru Tech Summit.

Tech companies committed to invest Rs 2K cr to improve rural schools in K'taka: Shivakumar

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Kolkata, Nov 29

T he Suns currently active phase of Solar Cycle 25 is likely to peak to its maximum intensity in 2024, as is evident in the increasing number of sunspots and increasing solar flare activity, according to researchers from IISER Kolkata.

The solar cycle is the period when the Sun's magnetic field flips every 11 years as it becomes more tangled like a ball of yarn.

Data from observations starting from the early 1600s show that approximately every 11 years, the number of spots and the intensity of solar activity reach a peak when the most violent perturbations in planetary space environments -- or space weather -- are expected.

This includes serious damage to orbiting satellites, electric power grids and telecommunications when directed toward Earth.

However, predicting when this peak is going to occur has remained challenging.

The team discovered a new relationship between the sun's magnetic field and its sunspot cycle that can help predict when the peak in solar activity will occur, they said in the research paper, appearing in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.

In 1935, Swiss astronomer Max Waldmeier discovered that the faster the rate of rise of a sunspot cycle, the stronger its strength, so stronger cycles take less time to rise to their peak intensity. This relationship has often been utilised to forecast the strength of a sunspot cycle based on observations of its early rising phase.

The new discovery by the IISER team complements the Waldmeier effect, connecting the two primary magnetic field components of the sun and supporting the theory that the evolution of sunspots are integral to the functioning of the solar dynamo process rather than being a mere symptom of it.

These new observations of the rate of decrease of the sun's dipole magnetic field can be usefully combined with sunspot observations to predict when the ongoing cycle would peak.

The analysis suggests that the maximum of solar cycle 25 is most likely to occur in early 2024, with an uncertainty in the estimate that ranges to September 2024, the researchers said.

With this latest discovery, a new window opens up for forecasting the timing of the peak of solar cycles -- when the most intense activity and most frequent space weather disturbances are expected, they noted.

IISER Kolkata study shows solar activity likely to peak in 2024

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'Can't wait to return...': US Ambassador Garcetti delighted by Arunachal Pradesh's charm

New Delhi, November 30

A s the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, paid a visit to Arunachal Pradesh, he expressed delight after enjoying the state's famous hospitality and delicious food on Wednesday.

He stressed that he could not wait to return to the 'Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains.'

Highlighting "India Inspires", US Envoy Garcetti stated that he enjoyed good company in Pasighat and that there is a lot to learn in Arunachal Pradesh.

"India inspires! Enjoyed some of #ArunachalPradesh's famous hospitality and extraordinary scenery with delicious food and good company in Pasighat. So much to learn about in Arunachal Pradesh. Can't wait to return to the "Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains," Eric Garcetti posted on X.

Earlier in the day, Garcetti along with Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the 'Hump World War- II' museum at Pasighat in East Siang district.

The 'Hump World War II' museum is a unique museum set up to house the remains of an American aircraft that came down in Arunachal during the Second World War. During World War II, the United States flew supplies over the Himalayas on a route known as 'The Hump' because of the altitude of the Eastern Himalayas. Some of their aircraft went missing here and were never found in the remote jungles and mountains.

The Hump route traverses regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tibet, Yunnan and Myanmar, and it is estimated that nearly 650 aircraft crashed in these areas during World War II due to the extreme flying conditions. The museum's name pays tribute to the Hump operation, one of the most remarkable feats of aviation history during the Second World War.

On arrival in the state, the US Ambassador posted on X saying, "Hello Arunachal Pradesh! Excited for my first trip here and am captivated by the warmth of the people. The landscapes in Pasighat are stunning! #USIndiaTogether."

Earlier welcoming the US envoy to the state, Arunachal CM Pema Khandu posted on X, "Heading towards the oldest town of Arunachal Pradesh - Pasighat. Today I will be attending the inauguration of the 'Hump World War- II' museum at Pasighat in East Siang district along with US Ambassador to India HE Eric Garcetti."

The unique museum will be showcasing the remnants of aircraft that went missing during World War II in Arunachal Pradesh.

Additionally, Arunachal CM Khandu also interacted with the Adi tribe women and said, "Adi tribe women in their traditional attires, epitomising grace and timeless beauty at the scenic location of Abor Country River Camp in #Pasighat.

'Can't wait to return...': US Ambassador Garcetti delighted by Arunachal Pradesh's charm

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'Do you think these passengers will fly IndiGo again', Kapil Sharma tweets after delay in flight

New Delhi, Nov 29

I n a social media post that quickly went viral, comedian Kapil Sharma expressed his frustration over the delay of IndiGo Flight 6E 5149 from Chennai to Mumbai.

"Dear @IndiGo6E, first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minz, and now your team is saying the pilot is stuck in traffic, what? Really?" Sharma posted on X.

"We were supposed to take off by 8 pm, and its 9:20; still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly IndiGo again? Never #indigo6E5149," he said in another post.

However, IndiGo said in a statement that IndiGo flight 6E 5149 from Chennai to Mumbai on November 29 was delayed due to operational reasons.

"Passengers were kept informed about the delay. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused," it said.

'Do you think these passengers will fly IndiGo again', Kapil Sharma tweets after delay in flight

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Research

U.S. Students Slower Than Others Globally to Adopt Generative AI, Survey Reveals

In a recent survey done by ed tech company Anthology comparing United States university students and leaders with their counterparts globally, results revealed that U.S. students have been slower to adopt generative AI tools, and leaders should take note of why and prepare for increased use in the future.

Anthology surveyed 2,728 students and 2,617 university leaders across 11 countries in August 2023 about their perceptions and use of AI tools; U.S. respondents numbered 255 students and 251 institutional leaders. In the survey report, "AI in Higher Ed: Hype, Harm, or Help," significant results included:

Only 10% of U.S. university students are frequent AI users, compared to 23% in the rest of the world.

About the same percentage of U.S. students and global counterparts are occasional users, have experimented with generative AI tools, or are familiar with them but have never used them.

Dramatically, about 22% of U.S students are not familiar with and do not use AI tools, as opposed to about 12% of their global counterparts.

As for students' perception of the role AI currently plays or will play in higher education:

Significantly more global students (about 52%) believe it will revolutionize teaching and learning, while 38% of U.S. students believe it will.

More global students believe AI will provide personalized learning experiences (about 38%), as opposed to U.S. students (about 24%).

In terms of whether AI is helpful or harmful, roughly the same percentage of U.S. and global students believe that, positively, AI will enhance student engagement and interactivity, will be supportive of helping generate ideas, and will help increase efficiency; and they believe that, negatively, it will have a limited impact on higher education and is unethical and should not be allowed in higher education.

As for how leaders view the role of AI in higher education, results showed:

A significantly higher number of global leaders (about 38% as opposed to about 16% of U.S. leaders) believe that AI will revolutionize teaching and learning methods.

More U.S. leaders feel AI is unethical and should not be used in higher education (about 33% as opposed to about 28% global leaders).

Roughly the same percentage of U.S. leaders and their global counterparts feel that, positively, AI will enhance student engagement and interactivity, provide personalized learning experiences, be supportive in helping generate ideas, and help increase efficiency; and believe that, negatively, it will have a limited impact on higher education.

In answer to U.S. (and UK, researchers said) educators' concerns about potential plagiarism problems of AI usage, 53% of higher education institutions have developed policies concerning the use of generative AI writing tools like ChatGPT, and 52% of students are aware of such policies. Another 20% of institutions are currently developing such policies.

The study's authors feel that because the use of AI will no doubt increase in the future, more conversation about it is needed. Based on survey results, they offer the following suggestions as "opportunities":

Based on student sentiment, determine how AI can help facilitate student experience.

Determine how AI can enhance student experience both inside and outside the classroom.

Determine how the use of AI chatbots to answer easy questions for students can free up time for staff to give students more in-person attention.

Educate students about the appropriate and beneficial use of AI and encourage continued use to enhance their education.

More information about the survey and a link to download it can be found here.
College seniors who took part in one of the Urbana school districts Tiger Tours hold up a super-sized $3,000 check  the amount new teachers will now receive as a sign-on bonus in District 116.
A hospital system in Georgia. Two medical groups in San Diego. Another in Louisville, Kentucky, and nearly one-third of Nebraska hospitals. Across the country, health care providers are refusing to accept some Medicare Advantage plans  even as the coverage offered by commercial insurers increasingly displaces the traditional government program for seniors and people with disabilities.

As of this year, commercial insurers have enticed just over half of all Medicare beneficiaries  or nearly 31 million people  to sign up for their plans instead of traditional Medicare. The plans typically include drug coverage as well as extras like vision and dental benefits, many at low or even zero additional monthly premiums compared with traditional Medicare.

But even as enrollment soars, so too has friction between insurers and the doctors and hospitals they pay to care for beneficiaries. Increasingly, according to experts who watch insurance markets, hospital and medical groups are bristling at payment rates Medicare Advantage plans impose and at what they say are onerous requirements for preapproval to deliver care and too many after-the-fact denials of claims.

The insurers say they're just trying to control costs and avoid inappropriate care. The disputes are drawing more attention now, during the annual open enrollment period for Medicare, which runs until Dec. 7.

Stuck in the middle are patients. People whose preferred doctors or hospitals refuse their coverage may have to switch Medicare Advantage plans or revert to the traditional program, although it can be difficult or even impossible when switching back to obtain what is called a "Medigap" policy, which covers some of the traditional plan's cost-sharing requirements.

For example, more than 30,000 San Diego-area residents are looking for new doctors after two large medical groups affiliated with Scripps Health said they would no longer contract with Medicare Advantage insurers.

"The insurance companies running the Medicare Advantage plans are pushing physicians and hospitals to the edge," said Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, which represents the for-profit hospital sector.

The insurance industry's lobbying arm, AHIP, said in a February letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that prior approvals and other similar reviews protect patients by reducing "inappropriate care by catching unsafe or low-value care, or care not consistent with the latest clinical evidence."

AHIP spokesperson David Allen said in an email that Medicare Advantage plans are growing in enrollment because people like them, citing surveys conducted by an AHIP-backed coalition.

The vast majority, he wrote, said they were satisfied with their plans and the access to care they provide.

The disputes so far don't appear to center on any particular insurer, region, or medical provider, although both UnitedHealthcare and Humana Inc.  the two largest Medicare Advantage insurers  are among those that have had contracts canceled.

Baptist Health in Louisville, Kentucky, said in a statement that all nine of its hospitals, along with its clinics and physician groups, would cut ties with Advantage plans offered by UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare Health Plans Inc. beginning in January unless they reach an agreement.

"Many Medicare Advantage plans routinely deny or delay approval or payment for medical care recommended by a patient's physician," Baptist Health said in its statement.

The system's medical group, with nearly 1,500 physicians and other providers, left Humana's network in September.

In a similar move, Brunswick, Georgia-based Southeast Georgia Health System, which includes two hospitals, two nursing homes, and a physician network, warned this fall that it would end its contract with Centene Corp.'s Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans in December, citing what it said was years of "inappropriate payment of claims and unreasonable denials."

In some cases, health systems' threats to abandon Advantage plans  as well as insurers' threats not to include providers in their networks  are negotiating tactics, intended as leverage to win concessions on payment rates or other issues. And some have been resolved. Ohio's Adena Regional Medical Center, for example, said in September it would drop Medicare Advantage plans offered by Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem Inc., but reinstated them following additional negotiations.

Still, some hospital and policy experts say the conflicts may be the beginning of a trend.

"This seems different," said David Lipschutz, associate director and senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, who said hospitals and doctors are becoming "much more vocal" about their frustration with some cost-control efforts by Medicare Advantage insurers.

There have been serious problems with payment suspensions and reviews that annoy the providers. I would not be surprised if we start to see more of this pushback" as the Medicare market becomes more concentrated among a handful of insurers." Don Berwick, president emeritus and senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and a former CMS administrator

While availability varies from county to county, Medicare beneficiaries can choose on average among 43 plans, according to KFF. UnitedHealthcare and Humana account for about half of the nationwide enrollment in Advantage plans.

Studies show that Medicare Advantage costs taxpayers more per beneficiary than the traditional program. But the plans enjoy the backing of many lawmakers, especially Republicans, because of their popularity.

The Health and Human Services Department's inspector general reported last year that some Advantage plans have denied coverage for care that should have been provided under Medicare's rules.

The report examined prior authorization requests  a requirement to seek insurers' OK before certain treatments, procedures, or hospital stays  and claims denials, where insurers refuse to pay for all or part of care that's already been performed.

Lawmakers have recently demanded additional information from Advantage insurers about the factors they use to make such determinations.

CMS proposed a rule this month to cap commissions for brokers who sell Medicare Advantage plans and require more detail on how the plans' prior approval programs affect certain low-income enrollees and people with disabilities.

Lipschutz said the HHS inspector general's study may have encouraged hospitals and doctors to be more outspoken.

The inspector general's office found that 13% of the denied requests for treatment it reviewed and 18% of denied claims were for care that should have been covered. Responding in part to that report, the Biden administration issued a rule set to take effect in January that requires Medicare Advantage plans to provide "the same medically necessary care" as the traditional program. Every Advantage insurer must also annually review its own policies to make sure they match those in the traditional program.

The American Hospital Association, while lauding the administration's action, questioned whether it would be enough. In a letter sent last month to CMS, the hospital lobbying group said its members "have heard from some [insurers] that they either do not plan to make any changes to their protocols" or "have made changes to their denial letter terminology or procedures in a way that appears to circumvent the intent of the new rules." The letter urged "rigorous oversight" by CMS.

Allen, the AHIP spokesperson, did not respond to a request to comment on the AHA letter.
In a review published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers in the United States of America described the potential of scientific tools to combat mental health disorders, including anxiety, major depressive disorder (MDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They explore the role of science, the physiology and types of stress, responsiveness, treatment approaches, and the current evidence.

Review: The neurobiology of stress: Vulnerability, resilience, and major depression. Image Credit: Master1305 / Shutterstock

Background

The global surge in psychological stress, fueled by events like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, political instability, and climate change, has led to a concerning rise in mood and anxiety disorders. This surge is nearly a "second pandemic," profoundly impacting various demographics, especially younger individuals and females. It calls for practical scientific approaches and emphasizes the need for strategies to address this mental health crisis.

The short- and long-term role of science

To tackle the mental health crisis, it is essential to possess a deep scientific understanding of these disorders. Immediate actions can be taken globally, locally, in healthcare, and at the individual level by prioritizing mental health, implementing supportive policies, raising awareness, and offering evidence-based lifestyle interventions. Key messages include the treatability of disorders, diverse paths to depression, and the significance of resilience. They pave the way for further discovery that could be translated into personalized scientific approaches to treatment and prevention.

Stress biology and stress responsiveness

Stress biology represents organism-environment interaction, enabling optimal coping and survival. Dysregulation in the highly conserved stress system can potentially lead to mood and anxiety disorders.

Stress biology developed over a century, witnessing milestones from Walter Cannon's acute stress focus to Hans Selye's chronic stress exploration. The complex hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis emerged, involving key players like corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and glucocorticoid receptors, with implications in mood disorders. While the stimuli of stress may be physical, metabolic, physiologic, or psychosocial, they converge on the HPA axis to trigger a typical physiologic response.

A healthy stress response is integral for adaptive coping, characterized by rapid ACTH and glucocorticoid elevation swiftly terminated through negative feedback, inducing neurobiological resilience. However, chronic stress disrupts this balance, leading to sustained physiological alterations, termed allostatic load, with severe consequences, including maladaptive neuroplasticity inhibition and increased vulnerability to mood disorders and other health issues.Top of Form

Psychosocial stress serves as a trigger and relapse catalyst for clinical depression, similar to disorders of stress reactivity, mirroring immune disorders in responsiveness. Depression susceptibility or resilience is linked to stress reactivity, with temperamental traits and genetic variations contributing to individual differences. Temperamental tendencies, influenced by genetic and experiential factors, determine susceptibility to internalizing or externalizing psychiatric disorders. Females have a significantly higher risk for anxiety disorders and depression, indicating distinct molecular pathology between the sexes. Experience, especially during childhood and adolescence, shapes depression susceptibility through epigenetic changes and neural remodeling.

Levels of analysis and the role of animal models

The brain integrates genetic, molecular, and cellular elements with neural circuitry to control responses to stressors and adapt behavior. Stress biology, linked to mood and anxiety disorders, demands analysis at all these levels, considering individual characteristics and environmental factors. Animal models are crucial for understanding stress mechanisms, revealing genetic and experiential influences on susceptibility or resilience. Chronic social defeat stress in rodents exemplifies resilience and susceptibility, offering insights into stress-induced changes and adaptive mechanisms.

Treating depression

Classical antidepressants, initially serendipitous discoveries, led to the monoamine hypothesis, but their delayed efficacy raised doubts about a simple "serotonin imbalance." Recent treatments like ketamine, targeting NMDA glutamate receptors, and nonpharmacological modalities promise rapid, resilience-associated neuroplasticity for depression.

Although the new treatments offer hope for treatment-resistant depression, it is crucial to advance molecular discoveries, understand diverse causal factors, and develop biomarkers for developing a precise approach against mood disorders.

Evidence in the issue

Toriano Parel et al.

The study investigates the connection between early-life stress and poorer antidepressant treatment outcomes, particularly in females.

Kenwood et al.

The article reviews research on the interplay of temperamental tendencies, stress reactivity, and susceptibility to affective disorders in a nonhuman primate model of behavioral inhibition.

Shimo et al.

The research investigates the connection between stress, adaptive immune responses, and their implications in depression via autoimmunity.

Penner-Goeke et al.

The study explores how genetic factors interact with stress to influence the risk of psychiatric disorders, focusing on major depression.

Turner, Khalil et al.

The Michigan Freshman Study investigates the interplay of genetic and environmental factors influencing vulnerability or resilience to life stress and the development of clinical depression or anxiety symptoms in young, healthy individuals.

Krystal et al.

The review covers classical depression treatment approaches, explores the monoamine hypothesis, and provides insights into novel treatments, shaping future research strategies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present review highlights the various scientific approaches employed to study the biological and psychosocial mechanisms driving the present mental health crisis. The combination of interventions and precision-treatment insights discussed herein could aid a proactive response to the second pandemic.
Pranay Sinha, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has received a National Institutes of Health Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01). These awards provide support and protected time (three to five years) for an intensive, supervised, career development experience in the biomedical, behavioral or clinical sciences, leading to research independence.

As part of this honor, Sinha has received a five-year, $640,508 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant for his project, "Nutritional Interventions to End Tuberculosis (TB) among persons with HIV in India-- NUTRIENT-India." The award will be used to help quantify the long-term impact of nutritional interventions on TB incidence and mortality among persons with and without TB in India. In addition, Sinha will also be supported by a career investment award from the school's department of medicine.

India has the third-highest number of persons with HIV. One-quarter of deaths among persons with HIV are due to TB. Transmission from HIV-negative persons likely fuels this epidemic, and undernutrition is the leading risk factor for TB among them.

Sinha believes that population-scale nutritional interventions would reduce TB incidence and mortality among persons with and without HIV. "The NUTRIENT-India study will define the most cost-effective nutritional interventions. Additionally, it will inform policymakers on why they must address this critical TB risk factor that keeps TB entrenched in India and how they can intervene while making maximal use of available resources," explains Sinha who also is an infectious disease physician at Boston Medical Center.

Sinha attended the University of Virginia School of Medicine, completed his residency training at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and is currently completing a master's degree in health policy and management at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. He has been involved in TB research since 2014 and has conducted epidemiological studies in South Africa, Benin, Togo, and India.
Elton John was honored at a reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS at the Speaker's House today in recognition of his enduring commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic, both personally and through the work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Image Credit: Elton John AIDS Foundation

Earlier today, Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care outlined how the UK Government will be expanding the hugely successful NHS opt-out blood-borne virus testing programme for HIV and Hepatitis to 46 new emergency departments across England. Expansion of the program, from the current 33 sites to every high prevalence area, could identify a significant proportion of the estimated 4,500 people living with undiagnosed HIV, prevent new transmissions and save more lives.

Addressing a packed Speaker's House, Elton John welcomed the UK Government's further roll-out of opt-out testing: "My Foundation and partners did a three-year pilot (2018-2021) in the South London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. This pioneering approach showed beyond a doubt that opt-out testing works in A&E. Automatic testing gets to people earlier, which means less HIV transmission, less illness, less death and by the estimate of health economists, 50 million saved for the NHS. So, to hear today from the Secretary of State that this work will be expanded to every high HIV prevalence area46 new Accident & Emergency departments in local hospitals across Englandmore than doubling the number of HIV tests, is truly wonderful news."

He also shared his personal reflections on the long fight to end the AIDS epidemic and called on all political leaders to do more: "Whoever wins the next general election can help to end AIDS worldwide by 2030. Starting right here at home. In the UK, new HIV diagnoses are down 46% since their peak in 2015.[1] We can be the first country in the world to defeat this awful virus. Playing our part, fulfilling the United Nations goal and showing other nations how it's done."

"In the 1990's, I visited far too many homes where people were dying of AIDS. I remember the helpless, suffocating feeling as one after another they succumbed, not knowing if it would ever end. These memories are etched on my soul, and they taught me a lot. I saw, as millions did, images of my friend Princess Diana publicly shake the hand of a man dying of AIDS and realized a simple act of compassion is a force to be reckoned with."

"My Foundation was born the year after Freddie died. Spreading love and compassion was our compass. Leaving no one behind was our practice. 31 years later, we have achieved so much. We've raised close to half a billion pounds, funding thousands of programs around the globe. We've funded almost every HIV charity in the UK and every major place in the NHS where you can get treatment for HIV. We've reached 100 million people globally and we've saved 5 million lives. Never did I think my Foundation's work would turn into a lifelong commitment or that so many people would need our help."

"I implore you not to waste your allotted time as political leaders. Take action and push things a little further than might feel comfortable. And as you do, I can promise you this: I will be there with you. Fighting for equal access and fair treatment. Giving everything I can for the rest of my life to ending HIV/AIDS. Because we must stay the course. I long to applaud a room like this, after this epidemic has gone."

With 39 million people around the world living with HIV and 1.3 million people newly infected last year, Elton John also spoke about the need for the UK to do more internationally: restoring the UK's full commitment to The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, establishing new models of partnership and engagement, and protecting civil liberties.

"Abandoning ending AIDS wouldn't just be a failure for the 39 million people living with the disease. We'd be failing to prepare for whatever global virus comes next, because we know that fighting AIDS is pandemic preparedness in action. So, we should be increasing our commitment to the Global Fund, not cutting it. And if the Government is serious about ending AIDS, I call on it to f ully restore the UK's commitment, to pledge 1.46 billion pounds this current three-year cycle and ensure the Global Fund is fully financed."

World AIDS Day will be commemorated on 1st December and despite advances in treatment, 630,000 people died of AIDS related diseases in 2022. Worldwide, HIV rates are rising faster among young people than in any other group and more than half of people living with HIV are women and girls. Over nine million people are not currently accessing treatment that could save their lives, all too often because shame and stigma is holding them back.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, welcomed guests from all the major political parties and leading HIV/AIDS organisations to the event, and stated: "It is an honour to host this reception for Elton John in recognition of his work to end HIV and AIDS. Sir Elton has been an unwavering advocate in the fight against HIV and AIDS for four decades. His efforts have helped destigmatize the disease, promote education, and provide crucial support to those affected, making him a true champion in the goal to end AIDS."

Florence Eshalomi MP, Co-Chair of the APPG HIV/AIDS, also welcomed the Government's announcement and praised Elton John for his ongoing work: "We are delighted that the Government today has taken concrete steps to increase and normalise HIV testing in the UK. The APPG believes that as Parliamentarians, we should play our part in addressing this epidemic and this is something we have been calling for following the successful roll-out of opt-out to extremely high prevalence areas. We also echo Elton John's comments that whilst this will have a very real and significant impact, there is still a huge amount that needs to be done to end the AIDS epidemic both here in the UK and abroad."

Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said: "The Elton John AIDS Foundation was set up by Elton at his kitchen table in Atlanta, Georgia in the 90's when all we could do for people living with AIDS was to provide food and comfort and ultimately end of life care. Thirty years on and the Foundation has raised more than $565 million for HIV/AIDS grants globally and funded more than 3,000 projects in over 90 countries. Spreading love and compassion has always been our compass; leaving no one behind our practice. We are delighted by the UK Government's announcement today to further expand opt-out testing  an approach we first piloted with our partners in London boroughs in 2018. This policy will keep people in care, save lives and is a crucial step towards meeting the goal of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030."

David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, said: "We have come so far towards an AIDS free future and the UK Government's decision to expand opt-out testing will ensure more people get the right care and treatment they need to live full and healthy lives. If politicians on all sides commit to the actions outlined by Elton John today, we have a real chance of achieving something incredible by becoming the first country to stop new HIV transmissions."

Victoria Atkins, Health and Social Care Secretary, said: "Less than three decades ago, HIV could be a death sentence. It was often - and wrongly - considered a source of shame, and diagnoses were hidden from friends, family and society. But today, thanks to effective treatments, it is possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV.

"The work of the brilliant campaigners and charities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, whose efforts have helped us get where we are today rightly deserve to be celebrated. As well as promoting prevention for all, the more people we can diagnose, the more chance we have of ending new transmissions of the virus and the stigma wrongly attached to it. This program, which improves people's health and wellbeing, saves lives and money."

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, said: "The tireless work of campaigners, survivors, scientists, medical staff and others has meant that, for the first time, we can say that the end of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is on the horizon. We now have a world where HIV positive people can live freely and love freely, something so many people were once too scared even to dream. The incredible progress made so far, resulting in the expansion of the NHS opt-out blood-borne virus testing programme, should be widely celebrated."

"Sir Elton John has been a constant voice championing this cause throughout his life. He has raised millions of pounds for frontline services and saved lives by breaking down the stigma that sees lives lost in the dark. We are forever grateful for his dedication to public service, and his life-saving work. But if we are to leave no one behind, there is much still to do. An incoming Labour government will hit the ground running, because we must meet our target of ending new HIV cases in the UK by 2030. That's why the Labour Party will commission an update to the HIV Action Plan as soon as we come to government."

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and United Nations Under-Secretary-General, said: "Over 40 million lives have been lost to AIDS. Even now, AIDS claims another precious life every single minute. The AIDS pandemic is not over, but it can be. Elton John has fought tirelessly for four decades to bring an end to this terrible disease and to the injustices which drive it; now it is politicians who must act and put in place the programs and policies needed to support communities both domestically and internationally to end AIDS for all."
An investigation by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group gained further traction on Capitol Hill this week as additional members of Congress formally demanded answers from the Social Security Administration about billions of dollars it mistakenly paid to beneficiaries  and then ordered they repay.

Two members of a Senate panel that oversees Social Security sent a letter to the agency's acting commissioner, Kilolo Kijakazi, urging her to do more to prevent overpayments and "limit harm to vulnerable beneficiaries" when trying to recover the money.

As KFF Health News and Cox Media Group television stations jointly reported in September, the Social Security Administration routinely sends notices to beneficiaries saying they received benefits to which they weren't entitled  and demanding they pay the government back, often within 30 days.

In the 2022 federal fiscal year, for example, the agency sent overpayment notices to more than 1 million people, Kijakazi told Congress in mid-October.

Alleged overpayments can continue for years before the government notifies a recipient and seeks repayment. By then, the amount a beneficiary allegedly owes the government can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more. People living check to check likely would have spent the money.

To recoup money owed, the government can reduce or stop people's monthly benefit checks.

"[W]e have been deeply concerned by stories from our constituents and recent reports of the extreme financial hardship placed upon beneficiaries who are asked to quickly repay in full or whose payments are halted, reduced, or reclaimed as the agency attempts to correct improper payments, many of which occurred due to agency error," Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote in a Nov. 28 letter to Kijakazi.

Citing the news organizations' reporting, the senators asked what Kijakazi is doing to prevent harm to beneficiaries and what Congress can do.

Hassan and Cassidy are on the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy.

Meanwhile, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) sent Kijakazi a letter on Nov. 17 calling the agency's actions "unacceptable."

"If anyone intentionally defrauded the system or lied to receive payments at other taxpayers' expense, they should absolutely be held accountable and repay this debt to taxpayers," Scott wrote. "But it's completely wrong for the federal government to go after well-intentioned Americans who did all the right things and trusted that their government was doing the right thing, too."

Many of the people affected are disabled, low-income, or both and are enrolled in the Social Security Administration's Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs.

In the 2022 fiscal year, the agency issued an estimated $4.6 billion in SSI overpayments, which represented 8% of payments in that program, according to the agency's latest annual financial report.

Kijakazi recently told a House subcommittee the 8% was "a small percentage."

In other programs administered by the agency, there were an estimated $6.5 billion in overpayments in fiscal 2022, which amounted to one-half of 1%. Kijakazi called that overpayment rate "extremely low."

During the 2023 fiscal year, which ended on Sept. 30, the agency recovered $4.9 billion in overpayments, according to a recent statement by Social Security's inspector general. At the end of that period, an additional $23 billion of accumulated overpayments remained uncollected, the statement said.

Since KFF Health News and Cox Media Group TV stations published and broadcast news reports on overpayment clawbacks in September, several members of the House and Senate have written to the Social Security Administration calling for change or answers.

"Many of these overpayment notices come as a complete surprise to SSA beneficiaries, leaving them confused, shocked, and scared that they cannot pay what SSA says they owe," Rep. Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat and Senate candidate, said in a Sept. 29 letter. "And, because of an indefinite 'look-back period', SSA can collect funds from a recipient for an error going back decades," he added.

Asked about the latest letters from lawmakers, Social Security spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said the agency "will respond directly to the requestors."

Kijakazi said in October that she ordered a "top-to-bottom" review of how the agency handles overpayments.

Under federal law, the agency must seek recovery of overpaid amounts unless circumstances warrant waiving the debts, Kijakazi said in recent testimony to Congress. There's no time limit on efforts to collect the debts, she said.

In their letter to the acting commissioner, Cassidy and Hassan asked what the agency is doing to make it less burdensome for beneficiaries to appeal or seek a waiver when an overpayment is the government's fault.

In response to questions for this article, Tiggemann, the Social Security spokesperson, said, "We will examine our policies and procedures  including our regulations  to determine where administrative updates to the overpayment recovery and waiver process may reduce the complexity and burden for the people we serve."

Scott, the Florida Republican, asked if the review Kijakazi announced in October would be disclosed to the public. In a written response to questions for this article, the Social Security spokesperson didn't say.

Do you have an experience with Social Security overpayments you'd like to share? Click here to contact our reporting team.
In a recent study published in eLife, a group of researchers investigated the Role of Cylicins in Spermiogenesis and Male Fertility in Mice and Humans through Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/ CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) Gene Editing.

Background

Spermiogenesis, transforming round spermatids into sperm, involves complex processes like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) condensation and the development of the acrosome and flagellum, largely dependent on a specialized sperm cytoskeleton. The perinuclear theca (PT), a critical component of this cytoskeleton, is composed of several proteins, including Cylicin 1 (Cylc1) and Cylicin 2 (Cylc2).

Further research is needed to fully understand the complex roles of Cylicins in spermiogenesis, given their critical involvement in sperm head architecture and male fertility, as well as their unique protein structure and evolutionary conservation across species.

About the study

In compliance with German animal protection laws and institutional guidelines, experiments on Cylc1- and Cylc2-deficient mice were conducted after receiving necessary approvals. These genetically modified mice were created using CRISPR/Cas9 technology on B6D2F1 zygotes. Two distinct methods were employed: microinjection of Single-guide ribonucleic acids (sgRNAs) and Cas9 messenger RNA (mRNA) for Cylc1, and electroporation of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes for Cylc2. The genotypes of offspring were determined, and gene-edited alleles were isolated through backcrossing with C57Bl/6J mice. These lines were then registered and maintained for further studies.

Genomic DNA extraction followed the HotShot method, and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were performed for genotyping. Males of these lines underwent fertility analyses, including mating with C57Bl/6J females and monitoring for pregnancy and litter size. Sperm samples were collected for various analyses, including concentration, viability, motility, and morphology assessments, following established protocols. RNA from testis tissue was extracted for quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), focusing on Cylc1 and Cylc2 expression.

Subcellular protein fractions from sperm cells were isolated for western blot analysis. Proteomic studies were conducted using the SP3 approach, followed by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of the peptides. High-resolution microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provided detailed insights into sperm structure and morphology.

Evolutionary rates of Cylicin genes were analyzed to understand their conservation and variation across mammalian species. The study also included a cohort of over 2030 men with reproductive issues, where whole exome sequencing was performed to identify rare genetic variants in CYLC1 and CYLC2. Data from these patients were rigorously analyzed, adhering to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics - Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG-AMP) guidelines, to discern any potential links to infertility.

Sanger sequencing validated identified variants, and human sperm samples were examined following world health organization (WHO) guidelines and immunofluorescence staining. Statistical analyses of all experiments were conducted, ensuring rigorous data interpretation and validation.

Study results

The research on Cylicins has revealed several significant findings concerning their role in spermatogenesis and fertility in both mice and humans. Cylicin deficiency was observed to cause acrosome detachment from the nuclear envelope (NE) during the cap phase of acrosome biogenesis. This effect mirrors the loosening of the acroplaxome from the outer nuclear membrane seen in the loss of CCIN, another protein crucial for the Acrosomal Membrane (IAM)- PT- Nuclear Envelope (NE) complex. It is speculated that Cylicins, possibly in conjunction with CCIN, form a 'molecular glue' necessary for acrosome anchoring.

Additionally, Cylicin deficiency in mice led to other notable morphological defects in mature sperm, including excessive elongation of the manchette, its delayed disassembly, and the formation of unusual gaps in the PT at the perinuclear ring level. These defects are thought to stem from malfunctions in intra-manchette transport (IMT), a process crucial for protein transport during spermiogenesis. The results indicate that Cylicins might play a role in maintaining the integrity and contact between the caudal and apical PT regions.

Evolutionary analysis of the Cylc1 and Cylc2 genes across primates and rodents showed that both are under purifying selection, with Cylc1 being under slightly less controlled constraint than Cylc2. This observation led to the hypothesis that Cylc1 loss might be less severe and could be compensated by Cylc2 due to partial redundancy. In male mice, Cylc1 deficiency resulted in subfertility, whereas the loss of both Cylc2 alleles led to infertility, supporting this hypothesis. Furthermore, Cylc2+/- males retained fertility, suggesting that a single functional Cylc2 allele could compensate for the loss of Cylc1, although at least two functional alleles are required for full male fertility.

The study also noted that the evolutionary rate of the C-terminal lysine-rich region of Cylicins is highly variable, fluctuating between conserved and positively selected codon sites. The lysine residues themselves are strongly conserved, indicating that changes in the C-terminal region might confer an adaptive advantage.

In human cases, sperm morphological defects and infertility observed in a patient with variants in both Cylicin genes corroborate the findings in mice. The absence of CYLC1 and impaired CCIN localization in the patient's sperm suggest that PT proteins play similar roles in humans and rodents. However, the study acknowledges the possibility of discrepancies between species and the need for further research to confirm the implications of these variants in human infertility.

Finally, the study mentions a case where the father of a patient inherited the CYLC2 missense variant but did not experience complete infertility, although he reported difficulties in natural conception. This observation suggests a potential effect of pathogenic heterozygous CYLC2 variants on fertility. The research emphasizes the need for further identification and characterization of patients with CYLC1 and CYLC2 variants to draw more definitive conclusions about their impact on spermiogenesis and infertility.
When women with diabetes become pregnant, they face not only the typical challenges of pregnancy and impending parenthood, but also a scary statistic: they're five times more likely to have a baby with a congenital heart defect.

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have now discovered why that is, identifying the cells and molecules that go awry in the developing hearts of fetuses in women with diabetes. They found that a small subset of cells destined to become part of the heart's aorta and pulmonary artery have unusually high levels of retinoic acid activity, which coaxes them to behave more like cells found elsewhere in the heart.

The study, carried out in mice and published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, could eventually lead to interventions that lower the chance of heart malformations in babies born to women with diabetes. It also paves the way toward similar research on diverse array of other poorly understood birth defects.

There are a number of environmental factors, including maternal diabetes, that we know are associated with birth defects, but we haven't been able to understand the mechanisms until now. This kind of modern, single-cell study can reveal these mechanisms and, ultimately, help us design therapeutic interventions to lower the risk of birth defects." Deepak Srivastava, MD, senior author of the new study, Gladstone President and Senior Investigator

Srivastava is also director of Gladstone's Roddenberry Stem Cell Center and a professor of Pediatrics and of Biochemistry & Biophysics at the UC San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.

Millions of heart cells

In mice and human embryos alike, millions of cells must respond to precise chemical signals, each at the right place and right time, to create a beating heart. If even a few embryonic cells receive the wrong molecular signals, the heart or nearby blood vessels can develop incorrectly, leading to congenital heart defects. But due to the vast number and complexity of cells, pinning down what went wrong in any individual case of congenital heart disease is daunting.

"Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect and comes with a huge social burden-;it can be absolutely devastating for patients and their families," says Tomohiro Nishino, MD, PhD, a Gladstone postdoctoral scholar and first author of the study. "But without understanding the precise causes of these defects, there is really nothing we can do to prevent it."

Researchers do know that one of the most common non-genetic causes of congenital heart defects is maternal type I or type II diabetes before conception. These forms are distinct from gestational diabetes, which develops later in pregnancy, usually after a baby's heart has formed.

To learn how maternal diabetes contributes to heart defects, Srivastava's lab turned to a model of diabetic mice with high rates of heart defects in their offspring. The researchers collected more than 30,000 different cells from the developing hearts of embryos growing in the diabetic mice. Then, the researchers analyzed both the three-dimensional configuration of DNA and the levels of different mRNA molecules in each individual cell, which encode for proteins. Together, the experiments paint a picture of how genetic material is being used by the cells to dictate their functions.

"Coupling these two types of data let us determine not only how the cells are different when a fetus is exposed to maternal diabetes, but also what might be regulating that change," explains Srivastava.

A molecular trigger

When the researchers looked at how DNA was packaged into its tight three-dimensional structure-;which gives hints about which parts of the DNA molecule are being actively used by a cell-;Srivastava's group found more than 4,000 differences between mice that are developing normally and those exposed to maternal diabetes. Surprisingly, 97 percent of the differences were in two small subsets of cells, one of which goes on to form a critical section of the heart separating the aorta and pulmonary artery and chambers of the heart, and the other involved in facial development, another area affected in maternal diabetes. The subset of heart cells affected had higher-than-usual activity in a gene called ALX3, which controls the activity of many other genes.

"This subset of cells was never previously recognized as being different than the cells around it, so it was quite surprising to discover that those cells were so selectively vulnerable to maternal diabetes and responsible for the defects observed," Srivastava says.

The team went on to show that this subset of cells had high activity levels of the molecule retinoic acid, which is itself known to cause birth defects. Usually, higher levels of retinoic acid are found only in cells in the lower, or posterior, part of the heart-forming region. In maternal diabetes, the more anterior heart precursor cells that contribute to the aorta and pulmonary artery regions were being induced to behave more like more posterior cells, likely causing the observed defects.

More research is needed to determine how maternal diabetes changes levels of retinoic acid, and why the newly discovered subset of heart cells is particularly susceptible to that increase. But the initial molecular understanding of what is triggering the heart defect offers a path forward.

The study also provides a template for how to use cutting-edge single-cell research to study links between environmental factors and birth defects more broadly. The same type of experiments could be used in other organ systems and for other exposures, such as drugs known to cause birth defects.

"The goal is eventually to have therapeutics that we can offer to mothers that lower their risk of all these birth defects," Srivastava says.

About the study

The paper "Single-cell multimodal analyses reveal epigenomic and transcriptomic basis for birth defects in maternal diabetes" was published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research on November 30, 2023. Other authors are: Sanjeev Ranade, Angelo Pelonero, Benjamin van Soldt, Lin Ye, Michael Alexanian, Frances Koback, Yu Huang, Nandhini Sadagopan, Adrienne Lam, Lyandysha Zholudeva, Feiya Li, Arun Padmanabhan, Reuben Thomas, Joke van Bemmel, Casey Gifford and Mauro Costa, all of Gladstone and UCSF.

The work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P01 HL146366, R01 HL057181, R01 HL015100, R01 HL127240, K08 HL157700), the Roddenberry Foundation, the L.K. Whittier Foundation, Dario and Irina Sattui, the Younger Family Fund, Additional Ventures, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Overseas Research Fellowship, an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (899270), the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation, and the Michael Antonov Charitable Foundation.
After an unprecedented crackdown on misleading advertising claims by insurers selling private Medicare Advantage and drug plans, the Biden administration hopes to unleash a special weapon to make sure companies follow the new rules: you.

Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are encouraging seniors and other members of the public to become fraud detectives by reporting misleading or deceptive sales tactics to 800-MEDICARE, the agency's 24-hour information hotline. Suspects include postcards designed to look like they're from the government and TV ads with celebrities promising benefits and low fees that are available only to some people in certain counties.

The new rules, which took effect Sept. 30, close some loopholes in existing requirements by describing what insurers can say in ads and other promotional materials as well as during the enrollment process.

Insurance companies' advertising campaigns kick into high gear every fall, when seniors can buy policies that take effect Jan. 1. People with traditional government Medicare coverage can add or change a prescription drug plan or join a Medicare Advantage plan that combines drug and medical coverage. Although private Advantage plans offer extra benefits not available under the Medicare program, some services require prior authorization and beneficiaries are confined to a network of health care providers that can change anytime. Beneficiaries in traditional Medicare can see any provider. The open enrollment season ends Dec. 7.

Catching Medicare Advantage plans that step out of line isn't the only reason to keep an eye out for marketing scams. Accurate plan information can help avoid enrollment traps in the first place.

Although insurers and advocates for older adults have generally welcomed the new truth-in-advertising rules, compliance is the big challenge. Expecting beneficiaries to monitor insurance company sales pitches is asking a lot, said Semanthie Brooks, a social worker and advocate for older adults in northeast Ohio. She's been helping people with Medicare sort through their options for nearly two decades. "I don't think Medicare beneficiaries should be the police," she said.

Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan can be daunting. In Ohio, for example, there are 224 Advantage and 21 drug plans to choose from that take effect next year. Eligibility and benefits vary among counties across the state.

"CMS ought to be looking at how they can educate people, so that when they hear about benefits on television, they understand that this is a promotional advertisement and not necessarily a benefit that they can use," Brooks said. "If you dont realize that these ads may be fraudulent, then you wont know to report them."

The agency relies on beneficiaries to help improve services, Meena Seshamani, CMS' Medicare director, told KFF Health News in a written statement. "The voices of the people we serve make our programs stronger," she said. Beneficiary complaints prompted the government's action. "That's why, after hearing from our community, we took new critical steps to protect people with Medicare from confusing and potentially misleading marketing."

Although about 31 million of the 65 million people with Medicare are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, even that may not be enough people to monitor the tsunami of advertising on TV, radio, the internet, and paper delivered to actual mailboxes. Last year more than 9,500 ads aired daily during the nine-week marketing period that started two weeks before enrollment opened, according to an analysis by KFF. More than 94% of the TV commercials were sponsored by health insurers, brokers, and marketing companies, compared with only 3% from the federal government touting the original Medicare program.

During just one hourlong Cleveland news program in December, researchers found, viewers were treated to nine Advantage ads.

For the first time, CMS asked insurance and marketing companies this year to submit their Medicare Advantage television ads, to make sure they complied with the expanded rules. Officials reviewed 1,700 commercials from May 1 through Sept. 30 and nixed more than 300 deemed misleading, according to news reports. An additional 192 ads out of 250 from marketing companies were also rejected. The agency would not disclose the total number of TV commercials reviewed and rejected this year or whether ads from other media were scrutinized.

The new restrictions also apply to salespeople, whether their pitch is in an ad, written material, or a one-on-one conversation.

Under one important new rule, the salesperson must explain how the new plan is different from a person's current health insurance before any changes can be made.

That information could have helped an Indiana woman who lost coverage for her prescription drugs, which cost more than $2,000 a month, said Shawn Swindell, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program supervisor of volunteers for 12 counties in east-central Indiana. A plan representative enrolled the woman in a Medicare Advantage plan without telling her it didn't include drug coverage because the plan is geared toward veterans who can get drug coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs instead of Medicare. The woman is not a veteran, Swindell said.

In New York, the Medicare Rights Center received a complaint from a man who had wanted to sign up just for a prepaid debit card to purchase nonprescription pharmacy items, said the group's director of education, Emily Whicheloe. He didn't know the salesperson would enroll him in a new Medicare Advantage plan that offered the card. Whicheloe undid the mistake by asking CMS to allow the man to return to his previous Advantage plan.

Debit cards are among a dizzying array of extra nonmedical perks offered by Medicare Advantage plans, along with transportation to medical appointments, home-delivered meals, and money for utilities, groceries, and even pet supplies. Last year, plans offered an average of 23 extra benefits, according to CMS. But some insurers have told the agency only a small percentage of patients use them, although actual usage is not reportable.

This month, CMS proposed additional Advantage rules for 2025, including one that would require insurers to tell their members about available services they haven't used yet. Reminders will "ensure the large federal investment of taxpayer dollars in these benefits is actually making its way to beneficiaries and are not primarily used as a marketing ploy," officials said in a fact sheet.

Medicare Advantage members are usually locked into their plans for the year, with rare exceptions, including if they move out of the service area or the plan goes out of business. But two years ago, CMS added an escape hatch: People can leave a plan they joined based on misleading or inaccurate information, or if they discovered promised benefits didn't exist or they couldn't see their providers. This exception also applies when unscrupulous plan representatives withhold information and enroll people in an Advantage policy without their consent.

Another new rule that should prevent enrollments from going awry prohibits plans from touting benefits that are not available where the prospective member lives. Empty promises have become an increasing source of complaints from clients of Louisiana's Senior Health Insurance Information Program, said its state director, Vicki Dufrene. "They were going to get all these bells and whistles, and when it comes down to it, they dont get all the bells and whistles, but the salesperson went ahead and enrolled them in the plan."

So expect to see more disclaimers in advertisements and mailings like this unsolicited letter an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan sent to a New York City woman: "Plan features and availability may vary by service area," reads one warning packed into a half-page of fine print. "The formulary and/or pharmacy network may change at any time," it continues, referring to the list of covered drugs. "You will receive notice when necessary."

However, the rules still allow insurers to boast about their ratings from CMS  five stars is the top grade  even though the ratings do not reflect the performance of the specific plan mentioned in an ad or displayed on the government's Medicare plan finder website. "There is no way for consumers to know how accurately the star rating reflects the specific plan design, specific provider network, or any other specifics of a particular plan in their county," said Laura Skopec, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute who recently co-authored a study on the rating system.

And because ratings data can be more than a year old and plans change annually, ratings published this year don't apply to 2024 plans that haven't even begun yet  despite claims to the contrary.

How to spot misleading Medicare Advantage and drug plan sales pitches (and what to do about it)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has new rules cracking down on misleading or inaccurate advertising and promotion of Medicare Advantage and drug plans. Watch out for pitches that:

Suggest benefits are available to all who sign up when only some individuals qualify.

benefits are available to all who sign up when only some individuals qualify. Mention benefits that are not available in the service area where they are advertised (unless unavoidable because the media outlet covers multiple service areas).

benefits that are not available in the service area where they are advertised (unless unavoidable because the media outlet covers multiple service areas). Use superlatives like "most" or "best" unless claims are backed up by data from the current or prior year.

superlatives like "most" or "best" unless claims are backed up by data from the current or prior year. Claim unrealistic savings, such as $9,600 in drug savings, which apply only in rare circumstances.

unrealistic savings, such as $9,600 in drug savings, which apply only in rare circumstances. Market coverage without naming the plan.

coverage without naming the plan. Display the official Medicare name, membership card, or logo without CMS approval.

the official Medicare name, membership card, or logo without CMS approval. Contact you if you're an Advantage or drug plan member and you told that plan not to notify you about other health insurance products.

you if you're an Advantage or drug plan member and you told that plan not to notify you about other health insurance products. Pretend to be from the government-run Medicare program, which does not make unsolicited sales calls to beneficiaries.

If you think a company is violating the new rules, contact CMS at 800-MEDICARE, its 24-hour information hotline. If you believe you chose a plan based on inaccurate information and want to change plans, contact CMS or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program: www.shiphelp.org or 877-839-2675. For more information about protecting yourself from marketing violations, go to www.shiphelp.org/about-medicare/blog/protecting-yourself-marketing-violations.
Full-service carrier Vistara on Thursday announced that it will launch direct flight services to Doha in Qatar from Mumbai, starting December 15. Qatar will be the airlines 50th destination in its network, which comprises both domestic and international operations, Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, said in a statement.

We are thrilled to introduce direct flights between Mumbai and Doha  the capital of Qatar and a burgeoning financial hub in the Middle East. Given the citys growing economic significance, this move not only further solidifies our presence in the Gulf region but also enhances our network offering from our Mumbai hub, Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer of Vistara, said. The airline said it will be operating these services on the new route four times a week with an A321neo aircraft.

Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistaras website, mobile app, and through travel agents, it added.
Tyre maker CEAT Ltd on Thursday said it has received a demand notice of Rs 1.98 crore for GST, along with a penalty from the Additional Commissioner, CGST, and Central Excise.

The demand pertains to the disallowance of transitional credit and Trans2 credit under the applicable provisions of the CGST Act, 2017, the company said in a regulatory filing. The Additional Commissioner, CGST & Central Excise, Vadodara-II, issued the order for a demand of Rs 1.80 crore, along with a penalty of Rs 18 lakh, it added.

The company is in the process of analysing the matter and taking appropriate action for an appeal to be filed with the appellate authority, CEAT Ltd said. On the impact on financial, operation or other activities of the company quantifiable in monetary terms to the extent possible, CEAT said, (It is) not ascertainable at this stage.
Flair Writing IPO Allotment: The share allotment of pen maker Flair Writing Industries has been finalised on Wednesday evening, November 29. Now, the listing of the 593-crore IPO, which was opened for public subscription between November 22 and November 24, is likely to take place on a strong note on Friday, December 1, on the BSE and the NSE.

The IPO received a total subscription of 46.68 times.

Flair Writing IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of Flair Writing are currently trading Rs 130 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 130 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 42.76 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The price range of the IPO was fixed at Rs 288-304 a share.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Flair Writing IPO: How To Check Allotment Status

Investors can check Flair Writing IPO allotment status via BSE website:

1) Go to the official BSE website via the URL https://www.bseindia.com/investors/appli_check.aspx.

2) Under Issue Type, select Equity.

3) Under Issue Name, select Flair Writing Industries Ltd in the dropbox.

4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN).

5) Then, click on the I am not a robot to verify yourself and hit Search option.

Your share application status will appear on your screen.

You can also visit direct Link Intime portal  linkintime.co.in/mipo/ipoallotment.html and check the Flair Writing Industries Limited IPO allotment status.

Flair Writing IPO Details

The Flair Writing Industries IPO received bids for 67,28,33,455 shares against 1,44,13,188 shares on offer.

The quota for qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) got subscribed 115.60 times, while the portion for non-institutional investors received 33.37 times subscription. The category for retail individual investors (RIIs) attracted 13.01 times subscription. Flair Writings IPO had a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 292 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of equity shares worth up to Rs 301 crore by promoters and promoter group entities.

Proceeds of the fresh issue will be used for setting up a manufacturing facility for writing instruments at Valsad district in Gujarat; funding the companys capital expenditure and subsidiary Flair Writing Equipments Pvt Ltd (FWEPL). Besides, the proceeds will be used to support the working capital requirements of the company and subsidiaries FWEPL and Flair Cyrosil Industries. Also, the money will be used for payment of the loan and general corporate purposes.

The company, which owns the over 45-year-old flagship brand Flair, is among the top three players in the overall writing instruments industry with a market share of about nine per cent as of March 2023. It manufactures and distributes writing instruments, including pens, stationery products, and calculators, and has also diversified into manufacturing houseware products and steel bottles.

Nuvama Wealth Management Ltd (formerly known as Edelweiss Securities Ltd) and Axis Capital Ltd were the book-running lead managers to the IPO.
The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) will officially release the Round 1 seat allotment results for the Law Common Entrance Test (LAWCET) as well as the Postgraduate Law Common Entrance Test (PGLCET) 2023 today, November 30 at 6 pm. In order to view the seat allocation results, applicants in phase 1 counselling procedure are recommended to visit the official website, lawcet-sche.aptonline.in.

Based on the choices applicants submitted through the web options filing procedure, the AP LAWCET 2023 Round 1 allocation results will be released. Recipients of sear allotments from the first round must report to the assigned institutions by December 1 and 2 in order to successfully complete the enrolment process.

According to an official statement, a candidates admission will not be guaranteed by simply being allotted a seat through admission counselling unless they meet the qualifying requirements as per the norms announced periodically by the Bar Council of India.

AP LAWCET 2023 Round 1 Seat Allotment Result: How To Check

For applicants who want to check their AP LAWCET Round 1 allotment result, here are the steps to be followed.

Step 1: Navigate to lawcet-sche.aptonline.in, the official AP LAWCET website.

Step 2: Go to the homepage and scroll down to the LAWCET allocation result section.

Step 3: Enter your AP LAWCET hall ticket number and password and click on submit.

Step 4: A screen presenting the seat allocation results will open.

Step 5: Save the allocation result to your device and print a copy of it for future records.

Individuals who are unsuccessful in obtaining a spot during the first round of allocation will be eligible to take part in round 2 of counselling. A detailed timetable for AP LAWCET 2023 phase 2 counselling will be announced shortly.

As per the admission notice, it is highly advised that students provide the necessary certifications and documentation for reporting purposes.Those wishing to be admitted into the 3-year or 5-year LL.B. programmes as well as the LL.M./M.L. postgraduate law programmes must pass the AP LAWCET 2023 examination. In the State of Andhra Pradesh, these courses are provided by State Universities, Constituent institutions, and associated institutions.
The Government School Teachers Association (GSTA) has written to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, requesting for the endorsement of the dearness allowance hike for all employees. The employees are awaiting increase in the Dearness Allowance (DA), said the GSTA, and added that the Delhi government has not yet endorsed the revised DA order of the Central government.

There has been unprecedented delay in endorsing the Dearness Allowance (DA) hike by the Delhi government. The Central government revised the rates of DA from 42 per cent to 46 per cent with effect from July 1, 2023, said the GSTAs letter to to the LG on Wednesday. The GSTA further said that the delay in DA hike has been causing financial loss to the teaching community.

This delay is causing financial loss to the teaching community and all the government servants in Delhi. The situation calls for a prompt endorsement of the order passed by the Central government, said GSTA general secretary Ajay Veer Yadav. We urge the LG to look into this issue and initiate necessary action by issuing appropriate directions to the competent authority, he added.
Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Poll : The predictions of who wins how many seats in which states and which party suffers losses in the elections to five states  Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram  will start coming after 6:30 pm on Thursday after voting ends for Telangana assembly elections.

The final results for the five assembly elections to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram will be declared on Sunday, December 3.

The pre-result predicts will provide a glimpse of the voting trends, public sentiment and potential outcomes in the five poll bound states. Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan voted in a single phase on November 7, 17 and 25. The polling in Chhattisgarh was held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Polling is underway in Telangana on Thursday till 6:00 pm.

What are Exit Polls?

Exit polls provide a glimpse into the mood of voters and are based on surveys of voters leaving a polling booth, their preferences and how they voted. The exit polls on Thursday are likely to give an indication of the assembly election outcomes.

While the counting of votes will take place on December 3, exit polls are conducted by survey agencies and published by the media ahead of the counting day.

When Will the Exit Polls be Declared?

Earlier, the Election Commission of India had issued a notification banning the conduct, publication and publicity of exit polls from 7 am on November 7 to 6.30 pm on November 30. Citing provisions of the electoral law, the panel said any person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

Exit poll results for all the five states will be declared after 6.30 pm on November 30, once the voting concludes in Telangana at 6 pm.

Where to watch or track exit polls?

The exit polls can be tracked online live at news18.com and CNN-News18 on the television. Apart from News18 channels, almost all media outlets will be releasing the poll predictions in the evening.

You can also tune in to the live broadcast of CNN-News18 on Youtube or on the live TV of news18.com on your smartphones or laptops.

When Did the Voting Take Place?

Madhya Pradesh

Voting for Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, to decide the electoral fate of 2,533 candidates in 230 seats ended at 6 pm on November 17. There are 2,533 candidates in the fray including political heavyweights like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath.

The voting in Madhya Pradesh was done in a single phase and a voter turnout of 77.15% was recorded. In the last assembly election, Congress remained the largest party in the state with 114 seats. The fight in the state is primarily between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan, which went to polls on November 25, recorded a voter turnout of 75.45 per cent in the assembly elections. The log was marginally higher than the figure of previous elections in 2018 in which the state registered a turnout of 74.71 per cent.

The ruling Congress and the BJP contested on 199 seats, where 1,862 candidates were in fray and voting was held in more than 51,000 polling booths in the state. Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, and BJP leaders, including former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia were among the candidates.

In Rajasthan, the fight is mainly between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, while Independent candidates and BSP might have an influence if there is a close contest between the two parties.

Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, election to the 90-seat assembly was held in two phases on November 7 and 17. In the first phase, 20 seats in the Naxal-affected state, went for voting on November 7 and saw a high voter turnout of 78 per cent. In the second phase, a voter turnout of 68.15 per cent was recorded for 70 constituencies.

While the Congress government in the state, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, promised to continue expanding its current welfare projects, the BJP campaigned for the elections with the manifesto Modis Guarantee for Chhattisgarh 2023. Led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP promised one lakh new jobs, free electricity to farmers, better infrastructure, healthcare and education. In Chhattisgarh, the fight is primarily between the two major parties: Congress and the BJP.

Telangana

Voting is currently underway in Telangana on Thursday (November 30) to elect members to the 119-seat legislative assembly. A high decibel campaign saw the likes of top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and ruling BRS supremo K Chandrasekar Rao, addressing a series of meetings crisscrossing the state.

The ruling BRS has made all efforts to score a hat-trick, while the Congress, which has been on a winning spree after Karnataka, is also eyeing power by assuring its six guarantees to voters. The BJP, meanwhile, is going with the promise of making a chief minister from the backward classes if it comes to power.

Mizoram

In Mizoram, the elections were held in 40 seats to decide the fate of 174 candidates in the polls on November 7. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition party Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), BJP and Congress are fighting to come to power in the Northeastern state.
Rajasthan will most likely hold onto its tradition of being a swing state  a government change every five years  as the exit polls predicted a win for the BJP. The ruling Congress was aiming to buck the trend of alternating governments, with chief minister Ashok Gehlot expressing confidence in the partys performance.

According to the poll of polls by News18, which is an average of exit poll results published by other agencies and surveys, the BJP is projected to win more than 100 seats, which is the majority mark for the 200-seat assembly. The Congress is projected to win more than 75 seats with over 10 seats to other parties.

ALSO READ | Exit poll results HERE

Pollsters have predicted saffron dominance in Rajasthan, where the BJP attacked the ruling Congress on issues of corruption and womens safety.

Here are some of the exit poll results predicting a sweeping victory for the BJP:

JAN KI BAAT

BJP: 100-122

Congress: 62-85

Others: 14-15

P-MARQ

BJP: 105-125

Congress: 69-81

Others: 5-15

ETG

BJP: 108-128

Congress: 56-72

Others: 13-21

MATRIZE

BJP: 115-130

Congress: 65-75

Others: 12-19

CVOTER

BJP: 94-114

Congress: 65-75

Others: 12-19

According to the exit poll conducted by P-Marq, the BJP is projected to get 42.2 percent vote share while the it is 39.7 percent for the Congress and 18.1 percent for others.

However, India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicted a close contest in Rajasthan with the Congress projected to win 86 to 106 seats, and the BJP 80 to 100 seats. The exit poll also showed a neck-to-neck vote share for both the parties with the Congress projected to get 42 percent and the BJP 41 percent.

The India TV-CNX survey also predicted a cliffhanger with 94 to 104 seats to the Congress, 80 to 90 seats to the BJP and 14 to 18 seats to others.

Rajasthan recorded more than 73 percent polling on November 25. The counting of votes will take place on December 3. The state, which is witnessing a bipolar contest between the Congress and BJP this time, recorded a voter turnout of 74.06 percent in 2018.
An edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Rajasthan and even in Madhya Pradesh and lead for the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana  this is the exit poll prediction for the 2023 Vidhan Sabha (Assembly) elections to the five states held from November 7-30.

ALSO READ | Exit Poll Results LIVE Updates HERE

The five states comprise a total of 679 assembly constituencies. The counting of votes is slated for December 3, 2023.

MP: TOUGH FIGHT BETWEEN CONG & BJP

Madhya Pradesh voted for its 230 seats on November 17, with a voter turnout of 77.15%. In 2018, the Congress had won 114 seats, BJP 109 and others 7.

TV9 Bharatvarsh-Polstrat has predicted 106-116 seats for the BJP, 111-121 for the Congress and 7 for others. Jan Ki Baat has predicted 100-123 for the BJP, 102-125 for the Congress and 5 for others. According to Republic-Matrize, the BJP could win 118-130 seats, the Congress 97-107, and others 0-2. Poll of Polls has predicted a win of 116 seats for the BJP, 111 for the Congress and 3 for others. News14-Todays Chanakya has predicted a clear lead of 151 for the BJP, 74 for the Congress and 5 for others. India Today-Axis My India has predicted 140-162 seats for the BJP, 68-90 for the Congress and 0-3 for others. According to Times Now-ETG Research, the BJP could win 105-117 seats, Congress 109-125 and others 1-5. ABP-C Voter has predicted 88-112 seats for the BJP, 113-137 for the Congress and 2-8 for others. India TV-CNX has predicted 140-159 seats for the BJP, 70-80 for the Congress and 0-2 for others.

The campaigning saw a fight between MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, although he was not declared the CM face, and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath. The BJP pitched Modi ahead of the voters to beat anti-incumbency.

RAJASTHAN: BJP CLEAN SWEEP?

According to the exit polls, the BJP may emerge the leader in Rajasthan, which went to polls on November 25, with a voter turnout of 75.45%. A total of 101 is needed to win the 200-seat state. In 2018, the ruling Congress, led by Ashok Gehlot, had won 100 seats, BJP 73 and others 27.

Jan Ki Baat has predicted 62-85 seats for the Congress, 100-122 for the BJP and 14-15 for others. According to Matrize, the BJP could win 115-130 seats, Congress 65-75 and others 12-19. Polstrat has predicted 100-110 for the BJP, 90-100 for the Congress and 5-15 for others. Chanakya has predicted 101 seats for the BJP, 89 for the Congress and 0-9 for others. PMARQ has predicted 105-125 seats for the BJP, 69-81 for the Congress and 5-15 for others. ETG has predicted 108-128 seats for the BJP, 56-72 for Congress and 13-21 for others. Axis My India has given 96 seats to the Congress, 90 to the BJP and 13 to others. ABP-C Voter has projected 94-114 seats for the BJP, 71-91 for the Congress and 9-19 for others. CNX has predicted 80-90 for the BJP, 94-104 for the Congress and 14-18 for others.

The Congress and BJP had put up strong campaigns in Rajasthan. Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, state unit president Govind Singh Dotasra and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, and BJP leaders, including former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore and deputy leader of opposition Satish Poonia were among the candidates.

CHHATTISGARH: CLOSE LEAD FOR CONG?

Exit polls predict a close lead for Congress in Chhattisgarh, which saw the election to the 90-seat assembly in two phases on November 7 and 17, and 46 seats are needed for a win. In 2018, the Congress had won 68 seats, BJP 15 and others 7.

According to Jan Ki Baat, the Congress could win 42-53 seats, the BJP 34-45 and others three. Axis My India has predicted 40-50 seats for the Congress, 36-46 for the BJP and 1-5 for the others. CNX exit polls estimate 46-56 seats for the Congress, 30-40 for the BJP and 3-5 for others. According to C-Voter, the Congress could win 41-53 seats, BJP 36-48 and others 0-4. Matrize has put the prediction for the Congress at 44-52, BJP 34-42 and 0-2 for others. According to Chanakya, the Congress could win 57 seats and the BJP 33.

Polstrat has projected the BJP will win 35-45 seats, Congress 40-50 and others 0-3. ETG Research has predicted 32-40 seats for the BJP and 48-56 for the Congress, with 2-4 for others.

In the first phase, 20 seats in the Naxal-affected state, went for voting and saw a high voter turnout of 78 per cent. In the second phase, a voter turnout of 68.15 per cent was recorded for 70 constituencies. While the Congress government in the state, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, promised to continue expanding its current welfare projects, the BJP campaigned pushed for Modis Guarantee for Chhattisgarh 2023.

TELANGANA: CONG TO GO AHEAD OF BRS?

Telangana voted on November 30 to elect members to the 119-seat legislative assembly, with an approximate polling percentage of 64%. A total of 60 seats are needed for a win.

According to the Poll of Polls, the Congress could win 60 seats, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi 48, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) 6 and BJP 5. The CNX has predicted 31-47 seats for the BRS, 63-79 for the Congress, 5-7 for AIMIM and 0-2 for the BJP. Jan Ki Baat has predicted 48-64 seats for the Congress, 40-55 seats for the BRS, 7-13 for the BJP and 4-7 for AIMIM. The PSG exit polls give 53-58 seats to the BRS, 49-54 to the Congress, 6-7 to the AIMIM and 4-6 to the BJP. Axis My India has predicted 40-50 seats for the Congress, 36-46 seats for the BJP and 1-5 seats for others. C-Voter has predicted 41-53 seats for the Congress, 36-48 for the BJP and 0-4 seats for others.

The ruling BRS has made all efforts to score a hat-trick, while the Congress, which has been on a winning spree after Karnataka, is also eyeing power by assuring its six guarantees to voters. The BJP, meanwhile, is going with the promise of making a chief minister from the backward classes if it comes to power.

MIZORAM: TOUGH FIGHT BETWEEN ZPP & MNF

Mizoram voted for the 40 seats to decide the fate of 174 candidates in the polls on November 7. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition party Zoram Peoples Party (ZPP), BJP and Congress are fighting to come to power in the Northeastern state.

According to Jan Ki Baat, ZPP could win 15-25 seats (8 in 2018), Mizo National Front (MNF) 10-14 (27 in 2018), the Congress 5-9 seats (4 in 2018) and the BJP 0-2 (1 in 2018). CNX has predicted 12-16 seats for ZPP, 14-18 for MNF, 8-10 for Congress, 0-2 for the BJP. Matrize has predicted 7-12 seats for the ZPP, 17-22 for the MNF, 7-10 for the Congress and 1-2 for the BJP. ABP-C Voter has predicted 12-18 seats for the ZPP, 15-21 for the MNF and 2-8 for the Congress.

Parties have to reach the 21 mark to form government in the northeastern state.
It looks like it is going to be a saffron stamp on Madhya Pradesh as a majority of exit polls predicted that the BJP is ahead of the Congress in the state. But, there were some pollsters that also projected a close contest between the two parties.

MP Election Counting of Votes LIVE Updates

This comes as heartening news for the ruling BJP, especially for chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, as many had cast doubt over his popularity in the state. Mamaji, however, said he had no doubt over the BJPs prospects and thanked ladli behnas for the positive projections.

I have already said there is no close fight in Madhya Pradesh the BJP is going to win. We are winning because of the MP governments policies and vikas. I was always full of confidence and what exit polls are saying is the peoples verdict ladli behnon ne saare kaante nikal diye, said Chouhan, who is the longest serving chief minister of the state.

According to the poll of polls by News18, which is an average of exit poll results published by other agencies and surveys, the BJP is projected to win around 130 seats, which is well over and above the majority mark at 116. The Congress is projected to win at least 97 seats in the 230-seat assembly.

ALSO READ | Exit poll results HERE

The BJPs Ladli Behna Yojana was one of the most talked-about ahead of the polls and it seems to have done the job for the saffron camp.

Here are some of the exit poll results predicting a sweeping victory for the BJP:

MATRIZE

BJP: 118-130

Congress: 97-107

Others: 0-2

CVOTER

BJP: 94-114

Congress: 65-75

Others: 12-19

INDIA TODAY-AXIS MY INDIA

BJP: 140-162

Congress: 68-90

Others: 0-3

TODAYS CHANAKYA

BJP: 151

Congress: 74

Others: 5

However, two pollsters predicted a tough fight between the two parties. Jan Ki Baat exit poll projected 102 to 125 seats for the Congress, and 100 to 123 seats for the BJP. The ETG survey also predicted the same result with 109 to 125 seats for the Congress and 105 to 117 seats for the BJP.

The voting for the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh assembly was held in a single phase on November 17. The state recorded more than 70 percent polling. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3.

The state witnessed high-decibel campaigning, with Prime Minister Narendra Modis last-minute moorkhon ke sardar jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. It was a largely bipolar battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress. There has been much melodrama and speculation from the beginning over Chouhans comeback with the Congress riding high on the anti-incumbency sentiment.

Top leaders crisscrossed the state addressing rallies, holding roadshows, trading charges and making a slew of promises to seek votes. The prime minister, union home minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, defence minister Rajnath Singh among others addressed rallies to drum up support for the saffron camp.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Digvijaya Singh among others, addressed rallies to seek support for their nominees.

The PM paid nine visits to the state and addressed 14 public meetings after elections were announced. The BJP is heavily banking on his charisma to retain power.

The Congress, with 114 seats, emerged as the single largest party after the 2018 polls and formed the government with the help of BSP, SP and independent MLAs under the leadership of Nath. But the regime collapsed in March 2020 after a rebellion by now union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Congress MLAs loyal to him, paving the way for the return of the BJP headed by Chouhan.
Voters queued up in good numbers on Thursday across Telangana to seal the fate of nearly 2,500 MLA aspirants in the polling being held for 119 Assembly segments in the state, where the BRS aims to retain power for a third time while the Congress is keen to upset the ruling partys chances. The BJP, also keen on forming its first government in the southern state, has left no stone unturned to ensure victory and had deployed a battery of national leaders and Chief Ministers of the saffron-party ruled states to reach out to the public during the 50-day long campaigning.

The BRS has been in the ruling saddle since 2014, following grant of statehood to Telangana. As of 1 PM on Thursday, 36.68 per cent voters had cast their votes, Election Commission officials said.
Disney+ Hotstars recently released Tamil crime thriller Label presents viewers with an intriguing journey of one mans fight for justice. Marking director Arunraja Kamarajs digital debut, the Hotstar Specials revolves around the two worlds of Madras. The first world, where one labels people with titles of criminal connotation for being born there, and the second, which guarantees people normalcy and respect. The series features celebrated actor Jais jaw-dropping performance as a lawyer aspiring to be a judge and Tanya Hope as a journalist. Available in Tamil, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, with new episodes dropping every Friday, Label promises viewers a riveting story of being wronged and persevering in challenging the wrong.

Talking about stepping into the challenging role of a lawyer in Label, Jai said, When I read the script for Label, I instantly knew Prabhakaran, my character, had fire in his heart. He is no ordinary lawyer; he does not just fight for justice, but he also points out how bias affects us every day. For this role, understanding the role of a lawyer in todays world was hectic but a learning experience for me. I can now see why their lives are so incredibly tough. So, when deciding on the project, I knew it wasnt just about playing a part; it was getting to live and experience a different side of life.

Hotstar Specials Label is produced by Muthamizh Padaippagam and features Dinesh Krishnans cinematography. Four lyricists  Yugabharathi, Mohan Raja, Logan and director Arunraja Kamaraj himself  have penned the songs for the series while the screenplay and dialogues have been penned by Jayachandra Hashmi. Label features on Disney+ Hotstar on a weekly basis, with every episode dropping in on Friday.

Watch action-packed Hotstar Specials Label only on Disney+ Hotstar.
The US, who has arrested 52-year-old Indian origin Nikhil Gupta for allegedly conspiring to kill Sikh separatist and American citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has often taking moral high ground when it comes to its policies and actions in security and intelligence operations.

Pannun, leader of proscribed Sikhs for Justice Khalistani organisation, has been threatening the Indian government ever since the death of another Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in Canada. Pannun was recently booked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) over his video threatening passengers to travel in a flight, and Air India for global blockade. He has been creating false narratives regarding the issues in Punjab, especially with regard to Sikhism.

The US indicted Gupta in Czech Republic for conspiring from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs.

The US reportedly protested after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a high-profile visit to the US in June, the Financial Times said. The report said it is unclear whether the protest led the plotters to shelve their plan or whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) intervened to foil the assassination attempt.

India has responded to the US on Pannuns case, saying On November 18, 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. The Government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee.

Lets not forget how the US encouraged R&AW officer Rabinder Singh to defect to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after he came to the US on a government-funded trip in 2002. As quoted by Outlook, an official said Singh had no business to travel to the US since the course was an exercise in countering hijackers. Not once was Singh asked what he, as an official on the Southeast Asian desk, was doing at an anti-hijacking and hostage-taking programme because there is little history of such activities in the region assigned to him.

In 2004, Rabinder Singh fell for the trap and defected to CIA via Nepal along with his wife. In 2006, R&AW had told a Delhi court that he had been traced to New Jersey and the agency was trying to extradite him.

How CIA hoodwinked R&AW Joint Secretary Rabinder Singh and took him to the US through Nepal is mentioned in a separate chapter in the book, Mission R&AW by former RAW officer RK Yadav, which came out in May 2014.

Sources, as quoted by Firstpost, said given Singhs affluent background, he was not a walk-in for CIA. It is perhaps believed he was honey-trapped, and carefully trained by the CIA to transmit documents without contacting the handlers. He frequently travelled to Nepal for secret rendezvous with CIA agents to receive payments.

Singh continued fetching intelligence from fellow spies and sent it to his handler at CIA head office in Virginia, US, after his return from a foreign posting. His activities were monitored by the R&AWs Counter Intelligence and Security Division (CIS) after he came under suspicion of being a mole for the CIA in December 2003.

After the CIS wired his office and Defence Colony house in January 2004, which showed that Singh was collecting evidence from different sources at the agency and passing it on to the CIA, he was allegedly tipped off and the CIA is said to have helped him escape.

The R&AW chief pressured the CIA, and its station chief in India was summoned. Although he feigned ignorance about the Rabinder Singh episode, the R&AW shared evidence, including photocopies of fake passports, travel bills and imprints of some images that Singh wired information to the CIA using secure file transfer protocol. The forensic examination of his two laptops had revealed that Singh may have shipped over 20,000 files to the CIA. The American intelligence officials denied the allegations, according to Firstpost.

An investigation during that time revealed, nearly 57 R&AW officers were found to be sharing information with Singh regularly.

Singh died in a road accident in Maryland, US, in late 2016. He was faced with financial problems as the CIA stopped sending him money, and his attempts to get a job with a think tank were stonewalled.
A routine inspection of vehicles by Byapanahalli Police in Bengaluru has blown the lid off a major female foeticide ring in Mandya. The police had stopped a suspiciously moving car in the area on October 15 and a pregnant woman in the passenger seat confessed that she was returning from a sex determination test.

The police launched a probe and weeks of investigation led them to the female foeticide ring which, they believe, has carried out a staggering 242 female foeticides in the last three months and more than 900 illegal sex determination tests in the last three years. The police have arrested nine people, including two doctors. Another accused is absconding.

Jaggery Production Unit Was Their Cover

Bengaluru police allege Dr Chandan Ballal of Matha Hospital in Mysuru is the mastermind of the nexus. He has been arrested along with lab technician Nisar, hospital manager CM Meena and receptionist Rizma. Brokers in Mandya, Mysuru and even Bengaluru would allegedly get information about pregnant women and families looking for sex determination tests and abortion services in case they were carrying a female foetus. The brokers would put the families in touch with receptionist Rizma.

The women were asked to come to Mandya after a deal was finalised. A jaggery processing unit in a farm was converted into a scanning centre with two ultrasound scanning machines. If the foetus was found to be female, those women would be sent to Matha Hospital in Mysuru for abortion, say Bengaluru police officials.

The farm was in an isolated area, which meant villagers did not get suspicious.

One arrested doctor is a paediatrician and another is an Ayurvedic doctor. They were carrying out scans and abortions at a jaggery production plant and an Ayurvedic hospital. They were charging Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per abortion. We have evidence of 242 female foeticide cases in last three months. We are still probing how many they might have carried out before that, said B Dayananad, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner.

The police are also probing if the accused had links with other scanning centres to get information about pregnant women. The accused charged Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for sex determination tests.

A shocked Health Minister called for an urgent meeting and has sought a report about scanning centres in the state and violations found so far. We are ashamed that this is happening at such a large scale. Female population is not going up indicating that this is happening for a long time. I have sought an action plan to tackle this, said Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.
All 41 workers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel have been given the green signal to return home. A team of doctors at AIIMS Rishikesh declared them clinically fit to travel on Thursday, and the workers arrived at the Delhi airport later in the night to go to their respective states.

#WATCH | The 41 rescued workers from the Silkyara tunnel arrive at Delhi Airport. pic.twitter.com/oKTyL1oQff ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Briefing the media on their health condition, Dr Ravikant said the workers were thoroughly examined and their blood test, X-ray and ECG reports were normal. They are physically normal and clinically stable. We have given them clearance to return home, he said.

The doctor said as the workers have come out of a tunnel after 17 days, they might need acclimatisation. They have been advised to go to the nearest hospital after two weeks for a check-up. Officials from different states are facilitating their return to their home states.

#WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Workers rescued from Silkyara Tunnel have been discharged from the hospital today and are leaving for their home states.Officials from various states have reached here to facilitate their return to their home states. pic.twitter.com/6kpBnP7l0v  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

According to news agency ANI, Jharkhand nodal officer Bhuvnesh said 15 workers from the state will be taken to Ranchi by air. We are taking all of them on an aeroplane. There are 15 workers First, we will go to Delhi and then to Ranchi. We will be staying at Jharkhand Bhawan in Delhi. All the workers are doing well he said.

Bihar labour enforcement officer Saurabh Suman also told ANI that five labourers from the state will be going to Delhi by road, from where they will be put on a flight to Patna. Five labourers from Bihar are here. We are sending them to Delhi today via bus and tomorrow morning they will be sent to Bihar via flight he added.

All rescued workers were airlifted to AIIMS Rishikesh on Wednesday (November 29), where they were kept under medical observation. They underwent radiology and cardiology tests.

Immediately after their evacuation, the workers were first taken to the community health centre in Chinyalisaur from where they were flown in a Chinook helicopter to Rishikesh.

They were rescued in a multi-agency operation 17 days after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand collapsed trapping them inside.

(With PTI inputs)
From apni kursi sambhaliye to mere paas toh cycle bhi nahi hai, Prime Minister Narendra Modis interaction with beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video-conferencing on Thursday saw several light moments.

At the meet, Balveer Kaur, sarpanch of Rangpur village and a farmer from Arnia in Jammu district, informed the Prime Minister that she has availed the benefits of multiple government schemes such as Kisan Credit Card scheme, Farm Machinery Bank Scheme and Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna.

During the interaction, as someone pushed in the row where the sarpanch was sitting, the PM asked her to be mindful of her chair as people are coming in and new claimants are pushing. Apni kursi sambhaliyeAb sarpanch woh hi ban jayengi, he joked.

As Kaur said that her village is located near the border, Modi congratulated her for being the owner of a tractor purchased using Kisan Credit Card. PM Modi said, You have a tractor, I do not even have a bicycle.

He emphasised the need to create awareness about attaining saturation of government schemes and suggested that Kaur should reach out to 10 neighbouring villages and spread the word. The PM underlined the belief that all benefits should reach the last person standing in the queue.

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to achieve saturation of government schemes and ensure benefits reach citizens across the country. https://t.co/fqgyl5uXJJ Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

As the PM complimented Kaur for having data of her area on the tip of her tongue, she replied: Aap se hi seekha hai grassroot par kaam karna. Kaam karti hoon aur bhoolti nahi hoon. (I have learnt from you to work on the grassroot level and not forget details of the work).

Throwing light on the purpose of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the Prime Minister said that it aims to learn from the experiences of the existing beneficiaries and also encompass those who have not yet availed the benefits.

ALSO READ | Har Ghar Modis Schemes from Nov 15: PM to Launch 2-Month Campaign to Cover Every Potential Beneficiary

When Kaur said that people from the border area do not tell lies, the PM quipped: Not only people from the border, but all Indians dont tell lies. Truth is in the nature of our nation. Only a few stray people who have gone on the wrong path resort to lies.
A part of the Narendra Modi governments showpiece reforms and a crucial step forward in the process of decolonisation, the proposed criminal codes  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill (BSB)  could be passed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament or in the 2024 Budget Session.

However, the codes are likely to be notified and implemented only after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is voted back to power, a top government source told News18.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Bill, 2023 will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC); Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) Bill, 2023 will replace the CrPC; and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS) Bill, 2023 will replace the Indian Evidence Act.

The three bills were tabled in Parliament on August 11 and were sent to the Select Committee, which placed its report along with its recommendations before the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha a fortnight ago.

The main challenge, senior serving officers in central agencies feel, would be dealing with the transition period as the new criminal code would prompt a colossal shift in the criminal justice system.

As the new code comes into effect, only fresh cases will be charged under the new sections of BNS, and not IPC. However, the thousands of cases related to thousands of offences across the states and central agencies would continue to be tried under the old sections of IPC. There will not be any retrospective effect on old cases, said a senior IPS officer serving in a central government agency.

However, in their dissent notes, MPs from opposition parties have called the proposed codes a rearrangement of the earlier ones and a stunt. Speculating that the Modi government may pass the bill this Winter Session, senior politicians have objected to the proposed development.

What the Opposition Says

Pointing out that the current Lok Sabha is close to the end of its term, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the government and MPs elected in 2024 general elections must deliberate upon these extremely important legislations and take a considered view.

I strongly believe that these are very significant legislations that form the bedrock of our penal-criminal jurisprudence. As such, the proposed overhauling of the existing criminal-penal statutes and replacing them with new statutes, is bound to have far-reaching long-term implications on our polity. The suggested changes will also affect the public life of India in multiple ways. Therefore, in my view, extreme caution and due diligence should precede any change in the existing statutes, she wrote in the letter dated November 29.

This can only be achieved through wide-ranging consultations and discussions with all stakeholders before Parliament legislates on such issues. In my considered opinion, before we embark on any such exercise which permanently changes the criminal-penal landscape of the country, detailed views of all sections of stakeholders (e.g., jurists, public activists, human rights workers, general public etc.) must be taken in order to create consensually accepted platform. Failure on our part may have very adverse implications on our polity, she added.

Administrative Challenges

Months before the implementation of the new codes, the government will start systematic training for the police officers and similar training will also be held for the judiciary. The government and the apex court will ensure that all new codes percolate to the primary level of the criminal justice system. It has to reach every police station and every session and district court, a senior officer said.

According to senior police officers, there will be situations in which an investigating officer (IO) will have to deal with a murder case under Section 302 of the IPC and another case charged under Section 302 of the BNS for the offence of stealing. The BNS and IPC have several overlapping sections for different offences.

Manoeuvring through old and new codes will be complicated and it will take years to settle down with the new code. However, it was the need of the hour. The system was old and colonial. With several amendments and changes, the criminal code became pro-accused too. An overhaul was needed, said the officer.

Another senior IPS officer explained that many countries undertook an in-depth reform to bring their criminal justice system in line with the international standards. Criminal justice system and the criminals are the central elements of any national system of protecting the rule of law. Over the years, our legal framework and criminal codes have faced new types of challenges: greater complexity of cases due to societal changes, the development of new technologies and the internationalisation of crime. We needed a fresh system to deal with new challenges, he added, saying countries like Turkey, Ukraine and others have overhauled their old systems.
Some 500 girls from Jammu and Kashmir had a horrible experience during their stay at a hotel in Maharashtras Mumbai over safety and hygiene concerns.

According to a TOI report, the women complained that the hotel reviews mentioned a sex racket and photos of some nude women were found on the phone of an employee.

A total of 500 students were put up at the Royal Palms Hotel in Goregaon and others were given rooms in a hotel in Saki Naka. However, dinner arrangements were made for all students at Royal Palms, TOI quoted one of the professors accompanying the students as saying.

The professor said that the students had searched online for reviews about the hotel and panicked after they came across news that a high-profile sex racket was busted at Royal Palms.

He also said that the rooms were unclean, stinky and the bedsheets had stains which made students uncomfortable. They also described their Mumbai hotel experience below part as compared with Delhi and Ahmedabad.

The group also faced space issues as hotel management arranged dinner tables for only 100 people instead of 800.

Dinner was to be served for 800, but the table arrangement was for only 100, leading to chaos. When dinner was on, the lights went off for 20-25 minutes, the publication quoted them as saying.

At first we thought it was a power failure, but then the students noticed that the lights had been switched off to move away a few guests who may have been involved in shady activities, the professor said.

The report further stated that an argument erupted between the staff and the students and when one of the students snatched the staff members phone, they found nude pictures of some women.

The group of 800 girls and teachers were on a country tour arranged by the IRCTC in partnership with the J&K Higher Education Council. The tour is funded by the J&K government.

Meanwhile, IRCTC issued a statement expressing shock over the incident and said that an inquiry would be launched into the matter.

We have launched an inquiry. Strict action will be taken against not only the contractor but also our employees. This is on the top of our agenda, the IRCTC chairman told TOI.

The Royal Palms hotel has yet not commented on the incident.
India gave initial approval to defence acquisition projects worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore including procurement of 97 Tejas light combat aircraft and 156 Prachand combat helicopters, on Thursday. This comes as a major move to significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the armed forces.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, cleared the projects, amidst a bitter military standoff that is ongoing between India and China at a number of friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years.

The Ministry of Defence said that 98 per cent of the total procurement worth Rs 2.23 lakh crore will be sourced from the domestic industries and that the move will give a substantial boost to the Indian defence industry in achieving the goal of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence industry.

A proposal of the Indian Air Force to upgrade its Su-30 fighter fleet by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was also approved by the DAC.

It also accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for procuring two types of anti-tank munitions known as area denial munition (ADM) type-2 and type-3. The top body responsible for procurement of military hardware also cleared acquisition and integration of automatic target tracker (ATT) and digital basaltic computer (DBC) for T-90 tanks other than approving another proposal to buy medium range anti-ship missiles (MRAShM) for the Indian Navy.

The MRAShM is a lightweight surface-to-surface missile which will be a primary offensive weapon onboard various Indian naval ships. The DAC accorded AoNs for procurement of Light Combat Helicopter for Indian Air Force and Indian Army and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk-1A for IAF from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, the ministry said in a statement.

Official sources said that 97 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (Mark 1A) are being procured for the IAF and 156 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) are being procured for the Army and the Air Force.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to hail the move by the Defence Ministry. He called it an excellent move towards strengthening our Armed Forces.

Excellent move towards bolstering our Armed Forces' operational prowess. The commitment to 'Make in India' in this decision marks a crucial stride in our pursuit of self-sufficiency in the Defence sector. https://t.co/EpZJYshSM2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 30, 2023

Back in February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for procurement of 83 Tejas MK-1A jets for the IAF. With the additional fleet, the number of indigenously-developed Tejas aircraft being procured by the IAF would go up to 180.

The statement further said that the AoNs have also been accorded by the DAC for upgradation of Su-30 MKI aircraft indigenously from HAL. They said that even though procurement of these equipment will provide enormous strength to the IAF, acquiring from domestic defence industries will take the indigenous capability to a new level.

It will also reduce dependability on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) substantially, the statement added.
The existence of Hamas and its continued support by many countries recalls the debate of good terror vs bad terror, a matter that India has consistently been a victim of in international diplomacy and geopolitics.

Several countries, including Western nations, often refer to Pakistan-based terror organizations as merely militant groups, despite the primary goal of these terror outfits being the destabilization of India. Some, like branches of Al Qaeda and ISIS, advocate for Indias eradication, aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate in the most populous nation on Earth.

Many countries still regard Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh as disputed territories. International maps occasionally challenge Indias sovereignty over these integral regions, raising concerns.

For numerous Islamic nations, Hamas represents a religious organization with a military wing fighting for what they perceive as a just cause  initially, the liberation of the Gaza Strip, followed by the capture of the West Bank, and ultimately the establishment of a Palestinian nation in the Palestinian Territory. Groups like Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq, supported by Iran, believe they are fighting for righteous purposes. These groups are considered as freedom fighters, even if it means completely eliminating Israel, as stated in Hamass 1988 charter.

INDIAS SITUATION

Much like what many nations have done in case of India, including the US, is supporting Israel militarily and economically after the Hamas terror rampage. The country bombed Syrian terror bases in retaliation of increased attacks on American allied forces in Syria and Iraq and deployed 900 more US troops in the Middle-East territory. US President Joe Biden visited Israel on October 18.

Official reports in the US often categorise Pakistan-based terrorist groups as militants. The latest Annual Threat Assessment report from the US intelligence community highlights Pakistans extensive history of supporting anti-India militant groups and not terror group.

Evidently, official reports in the US and many other countries try not to write down Pakistan-based such outfits as terror groups even if the country is their birthplace with credible reports that its army and intelligence agencies train and sponsor them. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is one such terror group. LeT has long had a history of attacking India and was behind the Mumbai terror strikes, known as 26/11, that killed 166 people along with six Americans.

US policymakers, including those in the current Biden administration, acknowledge the long-overdue need for justice regarding the 26/11 attacks, questioning Pakistans intentions. However, when assessing the terror threat linked to Pakistan, their focus primarily revolves around groups that target the US or Western nations, such as Al Qaeda or its factions, ISIS or its factions, or the Haqqani Network.

TERRORISM VS MILITANCY

The distinction between a terrorist group and a militant group, or a terrorist and a militant, remains a question. The Government of India defines a terrorist act as any act intended to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security, economic security, or sovereignty of India, or to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the people or any section of the people in India or in any foreign country.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America, international terrorism involves violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with designated foreign terrorist organizations or state-sponsored nations.

The Office of the High Commissioner of United Nations Human Rights states that terrorism involves the intimidation or coercion of populations or governments through the threat or perpetration of violence, causing death, serious injury, or the taking of hostages.

Clearly, the target in terrorism is a nation, with political objectives. Governments and ordinary people become targets to achieve these objectives. In many cases, terrorism is state-sponsored, such as Pakistans involvement concerning India, or Irans involvement concerning Israel.

The term militancy lacks a standardized definition or agreed-upon terminology by credible institutions or countries. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as being active, determined, and often willing to use force to achieve something. The Oxford Dictionary describes it as a tool or willingness to use force or strong pressure, especially to achieve social or political change. Britannica defines it as having or showing a desire or willingness to use strong, extreme, and sometimes forceful methods to achieve something, like militant protesters or a militant foreign policy.

Militants can include political, social, or business-oriented individuals using militant or violent methods to achieve their targets or goals. Militancy leads to efforts in building resistance, generating mobilization based on an ideology, gaining an advantage in cases of conflict.

Terrorism is a specific term used to define violent tools targeting nations and people, while militancy encompasses a broader spectrum. Naxals can be militants, as can terrorists or armed religious and fanatic groups in Punjab or ethnic or caste-based groups in an Indian state like Bihar. However, when their targets become nation-states, they are clearly terror groups, similar to Pakistan-based anti-India terror groups like LeT, JeM, Hizbul, TTP, Taliban, or the Haqqani Network. If TTP, Taliban, or the Haqqani Network can be addressed as terrorist groups, then why not treat Pakistan-based anti-India terror groups?

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe mentioned in 2004 that some governments made a distinction between good and bad terrorists and, in certain cases, offered them asylum. There were serious problems regarding prosecution and extradition. The episode involving the former Head of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, finding temporary refuge in several European countries illustrates this point. The PKK was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the US in October 1997.

THE TWIST IN TERROR

India might currently hold more significance for the US than Pakistan, but this does not imply that the US will abandon Pakistan, a country armed with nuclear weapons. Additionally, Pakistan heavily relies on China and could potentially host a Chinese overseas military base in future, granting China access to the Arabian Sea, significantly augmenting its naval capabilities. This prospect poses another concern for the US.

Donald Trump once labelled Pakistan a terror haven and ceased security and military aid due to its inconsistent policies. Despite claiming to be a US ally in the war on terror, Pakistan readily supported the Taliban and the Haqqani Network against US forces in Afghanistan, aligning with its geopolitical interests.

The current Biden administration aims to restore relations, recently resuming military support with a $450-million sustainment package for F-16s. The US played a crucial role in placing Pakistan on the FATF Grey List for the third time in 2018. Last year, when Pakistan was removed from the list, there was little opposition, despite Pakistans continued harbouring of anti-India terror groups.

Following 9/11, substantial changes were anticipated in how powerful Western nations addressed terrorism. The global war on terror was expected to broaden its scope. However, it commenced and concluded with a failed mission  starting with the Talibans defeat in 2001 and ending with their resurgence assisted by the US in 2021.

While the elimination of prominent figures like Osama bin Laden, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, or Ayman al-Zawahiri marked significant milestones, Al Qaeda or ISIS, though weakened as core terror organizations, have spawned affiliates and branches worldwide, comprising thousands of fighters, as indicated by various terror assessments.

Presently, the machinery of terror has become deadlier and more capable. Despite stringent security measures implemented by Western nations, the increased threat of terror persists. While the African continent and poorer nations might feel the intensified terror impact, the threat of terrorism remains live and lethal for every country.

Effectively countering terrorism necessitates a collective global effort. India recently warned the U.N. Security Council that the practice of politically classifying terrorists as bad or good must cease. According to Indias concept note, as reported by PTI, Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned. There cannot be an exception or justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whomsoever committed. The era of classifying terrorists as bad, not so bad, or good based on political convenience must end immediately.

Furthermore, it stated, The threat of terrorism is transnational. Terrorist actors, their supporters, facilitators, and financiers collaborate from different jurisdictions to organize acts worldwide. A transnational threat can only be defeated through the collective efforts of all United Nations Member States.

However, the United Nations is yet to establish a universally acceptable definition of terrorism. Hamas remains unrecognized as a UN-designated terror organization. Countries worldwide define terrorism in their own terms, often using terrorism and militancy interchangeably, despite it not being geopolitically or literally accurate in our interconnected world.
Ajeet Maurya, a social media influencer was dining with his wife at a hotel in Lucknows Sarojini Nagar and planning for an overseas trip for the New Year celebrations when Uttar Pradesh police arrested him on Wednesday.

A class 6 dropout, Maurya (41) was arrested for running fake ponzi- like schemes, circulating fake Indian currency notes, duping people with insurance schemes, and several other cases.

Took Crime To Feed 2 Wives, 9 Children, and 6 Girlfriends

Maurya, who makes reels on social media sites, has two wives, nine children, and six girlfriends. He told cops he took to crime to feed his family.

He has nine criminal cases against him. Police unearthed Mauryas deep nexus of crimes after an FIR was filed by one Dharmendra Kumar, in which he alleged that he was duped of Rs 3 lakhs in the name of doubling the amount by a group of people.

Social Media Stars Criminal Journey

Before turning to crimes, Maurya used to make false Plaster of Paris ceilings in Mumbai. His criminal journey started after he stopped getting work.

In Mumbai he had married Sangeeta, 40, in 2000 and had seven children with her. He lost his job by 2010 and returned to his village in Gonda, but found no lucrative job, police said

First case of theft and trespassing was registered against Maurya in Gonda in 2016. Since then, he has not looked back.

Two years later he came in touch with one Sushila ,30, and took to new means of fraud. He started circulation of fake currency notes and floating ponzi like schemes, a senior crime branch personnel added.

The two soon connived with some others and floated an outfit. After that, they started living a life of luxury.

In 2019, Maurya married Sushila, who gave birth to his two other children.

During the probe, cops found that Maurya had built two houses, one in which Sangeeta lives and another for Sushila and her children. He provides his wives with a lavish life and the booty is equally distributed between them.

Used Social Media To Attract Women

Maurya himself lives in a rented accommodation. Cops scanned his call detail records and found that Ajeet had six girlfriends and used to take them on long trips too.

His carefully curated social media presence played a pivotal role in attracting women into his orbit, police added.

(With IANS Inputs)
While setting aside the order of the defence ministry rejecting a plea by Coast Guard members below the rank of Commandant seeking enhancement in the retirement age from 57 to 60 years, the Madras High Court asked the Central government to reconsider its decision.

The bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy gave liberty to the members of the Coast Guard to make such representation in detail and place relevant material before the government within a period of three and asked the government to take a decision on the same in accordance with the law, within a period of four months therefrom.

The members of the Coast Guard approached the high court challenging the Constitutional Validity of Rule 20(1) of the Indian Coast Guard Rules 1986. They also challenged the order passed by the Ministry of Defense refusing to enhance the age of retirement of the Coast Guard up to the level of commandant from 57 to 60 years.

Notably, as per Rule 20(1) of the Indian Coast Guard Rules 1986, the age of retirement of the members of the Coast Guard up to the cadre of commandant is 57 years and in respect of the Ranks above the commandant is 60 years.

Referring to the Delhi High Court judgment in Dev Sharma v Indo Tibetan Border Police and Others (2019), the petitioners argued that in that case, the court had increased the retirement age to 60 for all the ranks in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), therefore, there was no justification in continuing the retirement age as 57 for members below the rank of Commandant only in respect of the Coast Guard.

They contended that there was no rationale in differentiating between officers up to the rank of commandant and other higher ranks.

On the other hand, the counsel for the government argued that the Seventh Pay Commission considered only the cases of the other paramilitary forces and specifically did not consider the case of the Coast Guard since there was no request from the Coast Guard to reconsider the age.

The counsel submitted that the concerned Rule prescribes different age limits, considering many factors, including the fact that the services up to the level of Commandant have a greater off-shore service and therefore there is justification for prescribing a lower age limit.

The ranks above the level of Commandant and are predominantly administrative in nature and as such the higher age limit of 60 years is prescribed, he asserted.

At the outset, the high court held that Article 33 of the Constitution of India was applicable to the instant case, therefore, there would be minimal interference by the court.

However, it noted that in the impugned government order, though the government had stated many reasons for rejecting the claim of retirement age parity in the Coast Guard Service, there was absolutely no application of mind whatsoever regarding the similarity or otherwise with the other CAPFs.

Further, regarding the contention that the other higher officials are involved in administrative duty and personnel up to the rank of commandant are predominantly in offshore duties, the court said depending on the size of the vessel, even the Deputy Inspector General whose retirement age is 60 years, automatically assumes the rank of Commandant in respect of certain types of vessels.

The petitioners were also able to demonstrate that offshore duties are assigned to the other officer cadres also, court highlighted.

Thus, it can be seen that the argument relating to the reason mentioned by the respondent relating to younger age profile and suitability for offshore duties has been demonstrated to be doubtful, therefore, held the court.

Moreover, the court pointed out that the impugned order did not address as to whether the rank and profile of the other CAPFs covered in the Delhi High Court Judgment were identically situated or not.

It can be seen from the impugned order that nothing has been considered in respect of the similarity or otherwise of the other CAPFs and the implementation in respect of the common age pursuant to the Judgment of the Delhi High Court in Dev Sharma, court underscored.

Therefore, the court asked the petitioners to place before the government such materials as they wished, so as to justify their claim and opined that it is for the government to consider the same and take a call in the matter.
The Madras High Court has ordered an interim stay of operation of the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to five District Collectors in Tamil Nadu in an alleged money laundering case related to sand mining.

The division bench comprising Justice SS Sundar and Justice Sunder Mohan, expressed concerns over the nature of the EDs summons, characterising it as a fishing enquiry.

It stressed that the summons appeared to be an attempt to conduct a broad investigation without specific evidence of any registered criminal activity by the state agencies.

The court found the nature of enquiry initiated by the summons as prima facie outside the jurisdiction of the ED as per Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). Consequently, it granted an interim stay on the summons.

However, the court clarified that its observations on the interim relief would not influence the final disposition of the main writ petitions.

The main writ petitions, filed by the Tamil Nadu government along with the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Water Resources Department, and the District Collectors of Vellore District, Trichy District, Karur District, Thanjavur District and Ariyalur District seek to quash the summons issued to the district collectors.

The common prayer in these petitions revolves around a declaration asserting that the EDs powers, particularly concerning investigations into money laundering offenses within a states territorial limits, without the states consent, violate the principles of federalism and separation of powers.

The court scheduled a hearing for December 21 on the main writ petitions.

While seeking interim relief, Dushyant Dave, senior counsel challenging the constitutionality of the proceedings, argued that the ED, under the guise of exercising powers granted by the PMLA, had unfairly targeted the District Collectors to pressurise and demoralise the state administration.

In response, the Assistant Director of the ED filed an objection affidavit, arguing that the investigations were initiated based on information that indicated collusion between officials, local mafia, and illegal mining activities in Tamil Nadu.

The Additional Solicitor General contended that the FIRs outlined in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) justified the issuance of summons to the District Collectors. He also challenged the maintainability of the writ petitions by the State Government stating that it was not a person aggrieved in the present matters.

At the outset, the court held that the writ petitions by the State Government were maintainable, considering the allegations of invasion into state jurisdiction and potential violations of federalism.

However, it clarified that the determination on maintainability was a prima facie view, subject to further proceedings in the main writ petitions.

Emphasising the essential requirement of identifying proceeds of crime under the PMLA, the court stated that the ED could not prosecute individuals based on a notional basis or assumption of a scheduled offense unless registered with the jurisdictional police.

The court highlighted that the EDs inquiry into the District Collectors focused on quarry sites where permissions for sand mining were granted, stressing that it was not related to assistance required for an offence under the PMLA.

The enquiry is not relating to any assistance required for an offence under the PMLA, 2002. From the nature of enquiry, this Court finds that the investigation of the respondent is not in relation to existing proceeds of crime, but to find out whether schedule offence has been committed in the district, court underscored.

Therefore, the court held that it was prima facie convinced that without identifying the proceeds of crime, the ED was trying to fish out the possible commission of offence under the schedule.
A special POCSO court here has sentenced a 50-year-old man to life imprisonment for sexually assaulting his niece and impregnating her.

The court said that the act of the man is so serious that it calls for the maximum sentence and he doesnt deserve any leniency.

The accused is relative of the prosecutrix (survivor) who has committed sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix and repeatedly committed rape on her. Further, he impregnated prosecutrix.

The prosecutrix had her abortion and currently she has to reside in the shelter home of CWC (child welfare committee), the court said in its order.

Special Judge T S Bhogte held the man guilty of rape on November 24.

The detailed order was made available on Thursday. The case against the man was registered here in July 2017.

As per the prosecution, the survivor is a native of Uttar Pradesh where she had studied till Class 6.

She shifted to Mumbai in 2012 for further studies and lived with her uncle and his family.

The survivor told the court that her uncle sexually harassed her for two years by touching her inappropriately whenever there were no other persons in the house.

After Holi in March 2017, she claimed, her uncle sexually assaulted her and threatened her not to reveal it to anyone. The man denied the allegations and said that his niece was not a minor at the time. He said they had a consensual relationship.

Rejecting his defence, the court said, The relationship of the accused with the prosecutrix is within the degree of prohibited relationship. Under these circumstances, it is improbable that the prosecutrix (survivor) who is the niece of the accused is the consenting party for sexual relationship with the accused.

The court relied on the medical evidence which said that the girl was aged between 19 and 20. Besides, the court said there was no evidence to show that the girl was a minor at the time of the incident.

As it convicted the man, the court said the prosecution had established that he had committed forceful sexual intercourse with her, repeatedly committed rape and threatened the survivor to not disclose the assaults to anyone.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the ambitious first bullet train section in India will be completed between Bilimora and Surat in Gujarat in August 2026. The railways minister while announcing multiple plans to overhaul the countrys rail network and services said that the first stretch of 50 km of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor will run between Bilimora and Surat in Gujarat

The Railways Minister said the number of new trains in India had increased from before the pandemic- from 1,768 mail and express services to 2,124 at present, and from 5,626 suburban services to 5,774 at the moment, a report in NDTV said.

Ashwini Vaishnaw also gave updates about the Kavach system, an indigenous warning system to prevent train collisions and the Gajraj system, to stop collisions between elephants and trains.

He also informed that the Railways served 640 crore passengers in 2022-23 and the target for the current year is 750 crores.

Last week, the Railways Minister had informed that the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which is building the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, has completed 100 kilometres of viaducts and 230 kilometres of pier work.

Progress of Bullet Train project: Till date: 21.11.2023Pillars: 251.40 Km Elevated super-structure: 103.24 Km pic.twitter.com/SKc8xmGnq2  Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) November 23, 2023

The first girder of the project was launched on November 25, 2021, while the first kilometer of viaduct was ready in six months on June 30, 2022. It achieved construction of 50 kilometres of viaduct on April 22, 2023 and, thereafter, in six months 100 kilometers of viaduct were completed, the NHSRCL said.

The milestone of construction of 100 km of viaducts has been achieved through launching of 40-metre long full span box girders and segmental girders, the NHSRCL added.

Viaducts, an extended bridge-like structures supported by piers or towers, play a significant role in carrying roads or railway tracks over valleys or gorges. More than 90 per cent of the track of the 508 km high-speed rail (HSR) corridor will be elevated.

The construction of the National High-Speed Railway corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad began in November 2021. The Bullet Train project will connect Maharashtras Mumbai city, and Gujarats Ahmedabad city through 12 stations. As per officials, trains on this corridor will reach speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour.

The total cost of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor project is pegged at Rs 1.08 lakh crore. As per the shareholding pattern, the Union government will pay Rs 10,000 crore to the NHSRCL, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are to pay Rs 5,000 crore each. The rest of the cost is by way of a loan at 0.1 per cent interest from Japan.

The foundation of the bullet train project was laid in Ahmedabad in September 2017. The train is expected to cover a distance of more than 500 km in around two hours. The Rs 1.10 lakh crore project was expected to be completed by 2022, but faced hurdles in land acquisition.
In a shocking incident reported from Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi, two sisters were living with their dead mothers body for over a year, police said on Wednesday.

The incident came to light when the sisters neighbours complained about something suspicious happening after the women did not come out of the house for more than a week.

According to the police, their mother died in December 2022, but her daughters did not perform her last rites and kept the body locked in a room at the house in Mandarwa locality.

The dead womans husband had left home two years ago and did not come home even after his wifes death while their two daughters  Pallavi Tripathi (27) and Vaishvik Tripathi (18)  did not cremate the body and kept it locked in the room.

While Pallavi and Vaishvik have been living with their mothers dead body since then, the neighbours suspected something suspicious only a week back when none of them came out of the house for a long time.

Both of them had not been leaving the house for the last week and its door remained closed, raising suspicion among the neighbours who knocked on the door but when it did not open.

Based on the information, the police reached the spot and began an investigation.

The cops knocked on the sisters door, but no one answered and the officers broke it down and entered the premises.

Upon entering the room, the police team was shocked to discover the decomposed corpse of the deceased woman lying on the floor while her daughters were also found sitting beside their mothers body in the same room, the police.

The sisters have been taken into custody.

In a similar incident, an 84-year-old woman in Chennai was found living with her dead daughter for days. The body was found swollen and in a decomposed state.

The deceased woman Sheela, 55, was single. She was living with her mother who was mentally depressed. Her father employed in MTC died about five years ago. The two women lived in their Manali New Townhouse alone.

(With PTI inputs)
The peace deal signed between the Centre and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), an armed, predominantly Meitei, Manipur-based insurgent group, promises new hope for the strife torn state. The UNLF has agreed to lay down arms and end a six-decade-long armed movement.

The UNLF is the oldest and the largest insurgent group to surrender before the government of India and according to people in the know, may usher lasting peace.

ALSO READ | Manipur Peace Pact With Oldest Armed Group: UNLFs Activities to Amit Shahs Historic Milestone | Explained

For Union Home Minister Amit Shah, it is a historic milestone" in his years-long bid to end violence in the Northeast. Shah says the agreement is the result of Modi governments relentless efforts to establish permanent peace."

In light of the months-long ethnic violence in Manipur involving valley-based Meitei groups and hills-based Kuki-Zo groups, this peace agreement is a major breakthrough in reining in armed groups and will encourage other groups to join in on the peace process.

The UNLF is now expected to enter mainstream politics in the state, ending decades of guerrilla warfare against Indian forces. While the details of the agreement are not known yet, more than 500 members of the group have laid down their arms announcing a ceasefire.

A historic milestone achieved!!!Modi govts relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfilment as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) signed a peace agreement, today in New Delhi. UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed pic.twitter.com/AiAHCRIavy  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 29, 2023

Who Are The UNLF?

Formed on November 24, 1964, the UNLF, led by Arembam Samarendra Singh, primarily sought secession from India, opposing the merger of the pre-independence kingdom of Manipur with India. It is the oldest valley-based insurgent group, distinct from those in the Naga and Kuki-Zomi dominated hills.

The UNLF reportedly received its early training from the NSCN (IM), the largest Naga insurgent group. In 1990, its armed wing, the Manipur Peoples Army, was established. Over the years, this armed faction has executed numerous attacks, specifically targeting Indian security personnel.

The group is known to have been trained by NSCN (IM), a Naga Insurgent Group. It is involved in extortion and illegal arms trading and has operational camps in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Impact of UNLF Surrender

While around 25 hill-based insurgent groups are in a tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) deal with the Indian government and that of Manipur, UNLF is the first major valley-based group to do so, allowing the formerly banned Meitei-dominated group to conduct its political activities within the ambit of legality.

Under the SoO arrangement, several Kuki and Zomi groups have been operating in designated camps, carrying out political activity while receiving monthly stipends and even ration from the government. Under the garb of the SoO agreement, they have escaped scrutiny over alleged extortion activities and other illegal activities. For this reason, Kuki-Zo groups have had a political advantage over banned valley-based groups.

Two of these groups, the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and the Kuki National Army (KRA) are under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for influencing agitation among hill-dwellers and causing the months-long civil unrest in Manipur which has caused more than 180 deaths in the state.

It remains to be seen how the ceasefire agreement with UNLF translates into the political landscape of Manipur, as the group is expected to morph into an impactful Meitei pressure group and will possibly open up to engaging with the Indian security establishment to aid it in its counter-insurgency measures.

This may also have a bearing on heightened illegal immigration taking place at the international border with Myanmar and aided primarily by Kuki-Zo groups.

How Modi Govt Has Helped Foster Northeast Peace

The northeast is riddled with insurgent groups and pressure groups which continue to be a major security challenge for India. Amit Shah has spearheaded what has been called whole of government approach", a strategy aimed at fostering peace while at the same time bringing in development across the region. In October this year, Amit Shah had announced a significant 65% decline in terrorism, left wing extremism, and insurgency incidents.

In the last decade, the Modi government has achieved tremendous success in reining in insurgent groups and there has been a significant decline in areas disturbed by insurgent violence. Amit Shahs hands-on approach in negotiating peace deals with insurgent groups, including the UNLF, has been a cornerstone of this success.

In 2020, the five-decade old Bodo insurgency in Assam was put to rest with the Bodo Accord which led to the surrender of 1615 cadres. In 2021, the Karbi Angling agreement was signed ushering peace in the Karbi regions of Assam. Around 1000 cadres renounced violence under this agreement. The National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) surrendered after negotiations with the government in 2019.

As a result, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 has been withdrawn from several parts of the Northeast and from several districts in Nagaland and Manipur, almost entirely from Assam, and completely from Meghalaya and Tripura.

While the recent tribal unrest in Manipur is a hiccup and has roots in heightened militancy and drug trade across the border in Myanmar and Bangladesh, the security situation overall has improved considerably in the northeast with the number of insurgency incidents declining significantly.

Even as ethnic violence struck Manipur in May, Home Minister Shah had visited the state meeting members of Meitei and Kuki communities to conduct peace talks. He even visited Churachandpur, the epicentre of the violence as he sought a solution to the tensions.

The root of the problem in the Northeast has been a lack of development and political isolation. Since 2014, Centre has prioritised connectivity and delivered on several infra projects, from highways to bridges and border roads, at a record pace. This has ushered a wave of development, entrepreneurship and business investment into the region.

Under Amit Shah, the Home Ministrys whole of government" strategy has been quite effective and profoundly positive. Development in the region has caught speed since 2014, with major emphasis being placed on connectivity which has served a substantial boost for the regions tourism industry.

The northeast has witnessed unprecedentedly rapid construction of highways, bridges and roads connecting the remotest areas. This improved connectivity has not only allowed for seamless travel and trade activities which were formerly afflicted with poor connectivity and dilapidated roads, but also bolstered the security status of the region.

Seven new airports have come up since 2014, taking the number of airports in the Northeast to 16. The Donyi Polo airport, the first Greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hollangi.

The northeast has benefited greatly from the governments UDAN scheme. For the first time in 75 years, flights have connected five capitals in the northeastern states. The number of flight movements has surged from 852 per week in 2014 to 1,817 per week in 2022, marking an impressive overall increase of approximately 113 percent.

At the same time, BJP has made inroads into the political landscape of the Northeast by allying with regional parties in states like Meghalaya and Nagaland, and clean-sweeping others like Assam and Tripura. The Prime Minister has visited the region more than 50 times in the last eight years, while 74 ministers have visited the Northeast more than 400 times. PM Modis frequent visits and engagement with community leaders have sent a strong message of inclusivity.

The result has been an all-round conducive environment for unfettered development to take place. While Northeast remains a region ridden with tribal and political fissures, but with economic and socio-political conditions improving and exhaustive efforts to rein in a plethora of armed groups in the region, conditions are being laid out effectively for an end to sectarianism.
Indian and American diplomats are in regular touch with each other and exchange intelligence over a range of issues, and New Delhi being informed of the arrest of an Indian national over an alleged plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist was part of such information-sharing, top intelligence sources told News18.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G Olsen has said.

US authorities said Gupta agreed to pay an assassin $100,000 to kill the Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.

The indictment has not named the US citizen but The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justices Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

Prosecutors said that Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. It was not immediately clear when Gupta might be extradited to the US.

This arrest is meaningless because Americans are suddenly trying to connect this to a government role. We have been sharing evidence against Pannun with US. Their response to the evidence should have been quicker. They keep mum when he threatens the Indian Prime Minister, the External Affairs Minister and the National Security Advisor on a daily basis, an intelligence official told News18.

Americans allegations are a matter of concern and we are committed to mutual cooperation, the official added.

The development came on a day when India said that it has constituted a high-level enquiry committee to probe allegations relating to a conspiracy to kill the Sikh extremist on American soil.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists and that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well and that relevant departments were examining the issue.

India constituted a high-level enquiry committee on November 18 to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, he said.
Raising some hope for climate justice, the 28th UN Climate Summit has set in motion the long-awaited agreement to operationalize the historic Loss and Damage Fund on day one of the two-week long conference. The fund will financially compensate developing countries most vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change.

ALSO READ | 2023 Warmest Year, Global Mean Temperatures 1.4 Degrees Higher Than Pre-1900 Levels, Says WMO | News18 at COP28

The deal is hard-won. Small Island nations and other developing countries have been fighting for it at the global summits for almost 30 years. However, the lack of financial commitments from the rich and developed nations to pay for the losses incurred by the poor continued to hamper the talks. The proposal adopted on Thursday still does not legally bind countries to make any contribution to the fund, but invites pledges which are just voluntary.

LANDMARK DECISION, SAYS INDIA

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav who reached the UAE on Wednesday termed it as a landmark decision that India strongly supported. A positive signal of momentum from COP28 on the first day," he said. Countries in the Global South have faced significant capital losses due to the impacts of climate change which have intensified over the years.

According to a report by the University of Delawares Climate Hub, middle-income countries witnessed a loss of almost $2 tn in manufactured capital up to 2022, while low-income countries have lost over 90 billion due to wide scale impacts of climate change. As of 2022, India alone suffered a cumulative decrease of 7.9% in capital wealth, mostly due to climate impacts to human-produced capital, as per the study.

A positive signal of momentum from COP28 in UAE on the first day itself.Landmark decision on operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund was adopted in the opening plenary of COP28. India strongly supports the decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund. pic.twitter.com/JqpEXVsTC4  Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) November 30, 2023

NO OBLIGATION, ONLY VOLUNTARY PLEDGES

The Oil-rich UAE, hosting the summit, committed $100 million to the fund at the outset. This now sets a clear ambition for us to deliver a comprehensive Global Stocktake (GST) decision over the next 12 days," said COP28 President, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, encouraging leaders to raise ambition and unlock crucial funding.

This was followed by a 225 from the EU (including Germany), 40$ million from the UK with 20m for other funding arrangements for loss and damage. The US has pledged $17.5 million and $10million from Japan.

The nations reached some consensus over the need of at least $100bn a year" funding for loss-and-damage by 2030.

While the countries welcomed it as a good sign, the absence of clear commitments remains a sore point. There are no hard deadlines, no targets and countries are not obligated to pay into it, despite the whole point being for rich, high polluting nations to support vulnerable communities who have suffered from climate impacts," said Mohamed Adow, Founder and Director of Powershift Africa, a think tank.

Experts also point to the need to ensure the pledges lead to flow of new and additional funds to support communities where it is most urgently needed. The money should be in the form of grants rather than loans that risk further indebting these economies. It needs to go beyond commercial insurance provisions, which can fail in the face of recurring and widespread disasters," said Ulka Kelkar, Executive Director, Climate, WRI India.

WORLD BANK AS INTERIM HOST: A COMPROMISE

Much to the dismay of developing countries, this will be a financial intermediary fund and its Secretariat will be based at the US-dominated World Bank as the interim Trustee for next four years. An independent 26-member Board will be constituted with 12 developed and 14 developing countries to finalize the eligibility criteria for fund access. The fund will operate in accordance with the principles of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. All developing countries are eligible to directly access resources, with minimum percentage allocation for the Least Developed Countries and Small island developing states.

Even after the COP28 succeeded in setting up the fund in Sharm-el-Sheikh last year, it took as many as five Transitional Committee (TC5) meetings to chalk out the final proposal. The countries continued to spar over where the fund will be based and what will be the funding arrangements. But the TC5 in Abu Dhabi met last-minute in early November and sealed some consensus to put the agenda on the COP28 table.

ALSO READ | Science-wise: COP28 Begins, Can First-Ever Global Stocktake Be Decisive Moment for Climate Action?

Developing countries still have several concerns, especially on the lack of clarity in current pledges on how the fund will be replenished in the long-run. The responsibility now lies with affluent nations to meet their financial obligations in a manner proportionate to their role in the climate crisis, which has been primarily driven by decades of unrestrained fossil fuel consumption and a lack of adequate climate finance delivered to the Global South," said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.
All the 41 rescued construction workers, who remained trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand for almost 17 days are healthy and could be discharged from under medical surveillance on Thursday, doctors said.

The doctors, who are supervising the workers after they remained stranded inside the tunnel with no sunlight and proper oxygen, said their vitals were normal and they had undergone preliminary checkups.

They are quite normal, I wont even call them patients. They are feeling quite normal, they are behaving very normally. Their blood pressure, vitals, oxygenation  everything is normal. We have done some basic preliminary investigations just to look at their electrolytes and their other blood parameters, Professor Meenu Singh, executive director and CEO, of AIIMS-Rishikesh was quoted by NDTV.

The report will be coming soon and we will also be doing their ECG, just to see if there is any effect on the heart, she said.

The top health expert also said that a basic psychological assessment will also be conducted with all the rescued workers to ensure that the stressful event does not have any long-term implications on their mental health.

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Operation

All 41 trapped workers were rescued from the collapsed part of Uttarkashis Silkyara tunnel on Tuesday night. The multi-agency rescue operation concluded successfully after 17 days of continuous efforts and hard work.

The pipes were pushed inside the tunnel once the final stretch of debris was cleared by rat miners, who were called to the site after the auger machine  stuck in the debris  was cut out using plasma cutters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was taking hourly updates on the intense rescue operation for the past 17 days, spoke to the rescued workers over the phone.

On social media, he lauded the successful operation, stressing that everyone involved in the mission has created an amazing example of humanity and teamwork.
Sonam Kapoor consistently captivates her fans with her impeccable fashion choices. The diva always makes sure to stand out when gracing a red carpet or any award show. Her remarkable style quotient is a source of constant admiration and love from her dedicated fan base. At the Filmfare OTT Awards, Sonam Kapoors ensemble was no exception, as she once again embodied the essence of a true fashionista. A video shared by Viral Bhayani on Instagram shows the actress gracefully posing for the cameras.

For the event, Sonam Kapoor opted for a stunning blue off-shoulder plunging neckline dress that exudes class. Elevating the glam quotient of the night, she perfectly paired it with black leather gloves and stylish high-heeled boots. Her makeup artistically blended bold elements, from smokey eyeshadow and black kohl eyes to contoured cheeks, a hint of blush, radiant highlighter, and sophisticated brown-toned lipstick. Completing the look, she let her long hair cascade in elegant waves that added a touch of style and grace.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Sonam Kapoor is an absolute stunner when it comes to styling an outfit. Her Instagram is proof of her distinctive fashion choices. The actress looks gorgeous in a golden Raw Mango dress intricately patterned with chic black horizontal motifs. Enhancing her ensemble, she threw on a matching jacket that elevated the glamour quotient. Sonam opted for Balenciaga pant boots that added an extra wow factor to her overall look. Her sleek half-tied hairdo, subtle hoop earrings, and impeccable makeup, featuring nude lips, flushed cheeks, mascara-laden lashes, kohl-accentuated lower lash line, and sharply defined brows, effortlessly commanded attention and showcased her stunning and sophisticated style.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam A Kapoor (@sonamkapoor)

On the professional front, Sonam Kapoor made her digital debut with director Shome Makhijas crime drama  Blind. She will be gracing the silver screen in the upcoming film Battle for Bittora.

The Filmfare OTT Awards was held on Sunday with excitement. This year, actress Alia Bhatt won the Best Actor, Web Original Film (Female) accolade for her Netflix debut Darlings, while Manoj Bajpayee claimed the Best Actor, Web Original Film (Male) award for his role in the legal drama Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai. The web series like Kohrra and Scoop, along with films including Monica, O My Darling, and Gulmohar also found a place on the winners list this year.
Having worked together in the Guardian of the Galaxy films for Marvel Studios, it is no secret that director James Gunn and Dave Bautista are good friends. After all, it is Bautistas transformation as Drax that put the wrestler-turned-actor on the map, making him a fan favourite character. However, now, as the Marvel hero has marked his exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe after making a final appearance as Drax: The Destroyer in Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol 3, the actor is next on the list to join the DC Universe. As fans eagerly wait for the actor to feature in the next DC film, a new photo has suggested that he might reunite with his friend-director James Gunn.

The Hollywood actor recently shared a photo from what appears to be the parking lot of DC Studios, leading fans to believe that he might be taken in for a new DC film with Gunn, who is presently atop DC Studios alongwith Peter Safran.

Dave Bautista-James Gunn reuniting for the next DC film?

Taking to his Instagram story, the actor shared a photo of himself sitting in the parking space, reserved for James Gunn, while also tagging him in the story.

Reacting to it, Gunn reshared the photo on his IG story and wrote, Hey Dave Bautista. I cant believe youre parking your body in my space.

The fun banter between the two clearly didnt go unnoticed as fans were quick to find a connection. While some speculated whether Dave was being considered for options like Bane and Hugo Strange, some even wondered if the Knock at the Cabin star would be roped in as Brainiac in the upcoming Superman: Legacy.

Notably, this comes at a time when James Gunn had already affirmed that he presently only casts DC Universe roles for projects actively in development. Given that only a few projects including Peacemaker, Superman: Legacy, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow are actively in production, it is not likely that Dave Bautista will appear in one of these projects. However, an announcement is yet to be made.

Dave Bautistas exit as Drax

After featuring in the third and final instalment of the Guardians films, Dave Bautista confirmed his exit from the MCU stating that he looks forward to new challenges.

Appearing on The Tonight Show, the actor said, I ended it on a storybook note. And I would never go back and tarnish that. And its the same with thisWith Drax, I just got to end the perfect way. And I would never sign up for another job as Drax just to get a paycheck.
Zeyn Shaw best known for playing Veer Ahuja in Netflixs hit show Class, was recently seen in Farrey which also co-starred Sahil Mehta and Prasanna Bisht and marked the debut of Salman Khans niece Alizeh Agnihotri. The film, which opened last week in theaters, has been receiving positive reviews and Shaw too has been appreciated for his role.

In conversation with News18 Showsha, the young actor talks about the similarities between his role in Class and Farrey and his initial struggle after he moved back from America. He also explains how Alizeh Agnihotri isnt a star kid and his learnings from Salman Khan who presented the film.

Were you worried that your role in Farrey would bring back memories of your character from the Netflix web series Class?

Farrey was finalised long before Class was released. Eight months must have passed before Class was released. Naturally, I had no idea that Class would turn out the way it did. In Farrey, Prateik is a spoiled, rich kid and thats the only similarity to my character in Class. Otherwise, Prateik is a complete goofball. He is full of energy and is funny. Of course, at the back of the mind, you do worry about things like typecasting and unfavourable remarks from others but I guess it is a part of the job. I am grateful that both Class and Farrey came to me.

What were the initial challenges after moving from New York to Mumbai four years ago?

Back then, I could barely speak Hindi, and I had a bit of an accent. I used to talk like an American so when I came back, I toned down my accent. A lot of casting directors had told me that I was never going to make it here. But despite the rejection, I kept moving forward. I faced a lot of rejection to be where I am today.

Were you ever apprehensive that Farrey is going to be the debut film of Salman Khans niece Alizeh Agnihotri and all the spotlight would be on her?

She did not choose what family to be born in, right? Its bizarre to me. If you speak to Alizeh, work with her, and get to know her, you will realise that she is not a star kid. We had a lot of fun while shooting the film and often we would pull each others legs and get into a friendly banter including our co-stars Sahil Mehta and Prasanna Bisht. Even the character she played is far away from who she is. So I dont think anyone, including my co-actors, ever felt unusual about each others presence.

You have interacted with Salman Khan on various occasions. What has been your biggest learning?

Salman sir is a legend and it is evident that he has experienced every aspect of the business. To reach that level, one must possess an exceptional work ethic and a never-say-die mind-set. What I have learned is that no matter what happens just keep doing your work with sincerity and be humble towards everyone.
Popular Korean content channel, tvN has resealed images and a video from the script reading session for its upcoming historical drama Sejak on its YouTube channel. Sejak is a romantic fiction drama, scripted by Kim Sun Deok, who also wrote tvNs The Crowned Clown. The upcoming dramas narrative revolves around the love story of King Yi In, facing troubles from royal and political power struggles, and Kang Hee Soo, seeking revenge by attempting to seduce the King but finds herself enchanted instead. The recently released glimpse of the script reading session shows many prominent faces from the upcoming shows cast and extended team.

Director Jo Nam Gook and writer Kim Sun Deok led the script reading, attended by cast members Jo Jung Suk, Shin Se Kyung, Lee Shin Young, Park Ye Young, Son Hyun Joo, Choi Dae Hoon, Jo Sung Ha, Lee Kyu Hoe, Yang Kyung Won, Jang Young Nam, Ahn Si Ha, Kang Hong Seok, Na Hyun Woo, Han Dong Hee and Song Sang Eun.

As evident in the video, the actors immersed themselves in their roles during the script reading, with Jo Jung Suk effectively portraying the complex journey of King Yi In, from crown prince to king, grappling with trust issues.

Shin Se Kyung adeptly depicted the contrasting personas of strong-willed Kang Hee Soo and gambler Kang Mong Woo without relying on costumes.

Lee Shin Young, 25, in his first historical drama role, delivered a standout performance as Kim Myung Ha, an admirer of Kang Hee Soo, while Park Ye Young created tension as court lady Dong, shrouded in secrecy. Son Hyun Joo, as Kang Hee Soos father Kang Hang Soon, conveyed a strong aura with his composed tone, and Jo Sung Ha, portraying Kim Jong Bae, the minister of military affairs, added weight to the palace power struggle with his cold voice.

Jang Young Nam, playing Queen Dowager Park, captured the characters sassy personality through sharp speech and gaze. Jo Jung Suk expressed his excitement for the drama saying, I became even more excited for the drama during the script reading," reports Soompi.

Meanwhile, Shin Se Kyung conveyed her growing anticipation during the script reading. During the script reading, I felt the story come alive, and my anticipation for the drama grew even more. Please give Sejak lots of anticipation, interest, and support," she said.

Sejak is set to premiere in January 2024. Meanwhile, take a look at the script reading session here:
In the latest episode of Koffee with Karan 8, cousins Rani Mukerji and Kajol graced Karan Johars show and spoke about their close friendship with the director among other things. Rani is not only a close friend of Karan but also is married to one of his best friends, Aditya Chopra. However, Karan revealed that many years ago, someone in London linked the producer with him instead.

Karan said, Adi was setting up Yash Raj Films in the UK, and Anil Thadani at that time was his partner. So, we had taken an apartment with two bedrooms at that time because I was shopping with Manish and they were setting up the Yash Raj office.

Karan added, So the guy who was the concierge of that building at one point looked at Adi and Anil because first in the morning, Adi and Anil in corporate clothes used to leave. And then me and Manish with our shopping bags used to go. So the concierge had said to Adi once, You all are both such lovely couples.

We looked like our husbands are going to work and we are the wives who go shopping and waste their money I was like, I want Adi then. It was hilarious, the filmmaker added. Rani and Kajol burst out laughing when they heard this anecdote. Kajol even quipped, You all take such good care of your husbands.

Aditya Chopra went on to marry Rani Mukerji in a secret ceremony on April 21, 2014. They have a 7-year-old daughter named Adira. Anil Thadani tied the knot with Raveena Tandon on February 22, 2004, at Jag Mandir Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan. They have four kids, Rasha, Pooja, Chaya and Ranbirvardhan. As for Karan, he became a father to twins Yash and Roohi in 2017 via surrogacy. The adorable children turned 6 years old on February 7 this year.
The wait is finally over. After a decade-long endeavour, the greatest survival adventure, based on a true story, The Goat Life, starring Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran is all set to release in theatres worldwide on 10th April, 2024. Produced by Visual Romance, directed by National Award Winner Blessy, the film also features Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Amala Paul, Indian actor K.R.Gokul, and renowned Arab actors Talib al Balushi and RikAby in pivotal roles. The Goat Life boasts of music direction and sound design by Academy Award winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookkutty respectively. The stunning visuals of the film have been shot by Sunil KS and the film has been edited by Sreekar Prasad. Being shot in multiple countries around the world, the film is the biggest ever venture in the Malayalam film industry, showcasing remarkable production standards, aesthetic elements, storytelling, aspirations, and acting prowess. With its ace acting and soul-stirring background score, the film is a larger than life theatrical experience.

The movie is based on the novel Aadujeevitham, one of the most popular best sellers ever from the Malayalam literary world, which has been translated in 12 different languages, including those that are foreign. Penned by noted writer Benyamin and it follows the true story of the life of a young man Najeeb, who in the early 90s migrates from the lush green shores of Kerala in search of the fortunes in a land abroad.

Speaking about this Indian film which is made for a global audience, director, Blessy said, _The greatest challenge in front of me was that The Goat Life is a subject with universal appeal and I would have to stay truthful to its narrative style. The novel is based on some real incidents and I want to captivate the viewers with each moment that something as unbelievable happened to someone. Truth has never been so much stranger than fiction. The scale of the movie demands to be felt within the confines of a theatre and we are excited to bring this magnum opus to audiences around the world._

The Goat Life is all set to release in theatres near you on 10th April 2024, in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Actor Randeep Hooda and his longtime girlfriend Lin Laishram have officially become life partners, exchanging vows in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony in Imphal on November 29. After much anticipation, the newlyweds shared their intimate wedding pictures on their Instagram handle a few hours after the ceremony was held in Imphal. The photos captured the moments from their jaimala ceremony and other significant rituals, featuring the couple in exquisite traditional Manipuri attire.

And now, joining in the celebration, Priyanka Chopra re-shared Randeep Hoodas post showcasing one of the wedding pictures and extended her warm wishes to the newlyweds. Taking to her Instagram Stories, the global star wrote, Congratulations and so much love (with a red heart emoticon) Lin Laishram and Randeep Hooda.

Take a look at the post here:

Talking about Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishrams wedding attire, the actor was seen draped in elegant white attire, resembling a stunning Manipuri groom. He also donned a white shawl. On the other hand, Lin Laishram wore a Potloi or Polloi, a cylindrical skirt crafted from thick fabric and bamboo. This traditional attire was adorned with satin, velvet, gems, and glitter. Accompanying the post, Randeep Hooda wrote in the caption, From today, we are One (with a white heart and infinity emoji).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda)

The nuptial rites unfolded at Chumthang Shannapung resort in Imphal, marking the union of actors Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram in a traditional Meitei wedding ceremony. The couple, along with their families, had earlier visited the Relief Camp at Moirang Lamkhai and Sendra Tourist Resort.

During an interaction with the media, Randeep Hooda shared insights into his love story with Lin Laishram and expressed excitement about immersing himself in Manipuri traditions. Feels very good. I felt that it was only respectful to come and marry in the brides tradition. However, I have heard that in Meitei love marriages, the groom has to sit for a very long time. So, thats something but I am looking forward to the ceremony and traditions. I want to experience my life partners culture. Thats why I am here, he said.

Lin Laishram also recounted a story of her connection with Randeep Hooda. She shared, We actually met at Naseeruddin Shahs theatre group called Motley and he was my senior. Thats where I met him. We were friends and its turning into a beautiful journey.

Coming back to Priyanka Chopra, the actresss most recent appearances include the film Love Again and the Prime Video series Citadel, where she co-starred alongside Richard Madden. Although initially slated for Farhan Akhtars Jee Le Zaraa, no concrete confirmation has been provided by the producers thus far.
Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif are enjoying the success of their latest film, Tiger 3. In the third film of the franchise, Katrina and Salman reprised their roles as Zoya and Tiger to fight against the antagonist, played by Emraan Hashmi. A major portion of the film has been shot in Turkey. As such, the Turkiye Tourism Promotion & Development Agency, in collaboration with the Turkiye Culture & Tourism Office in New Delhi, recently hosted exclusive screenings of the film in Delhi and Mumbai.

Shot in stunning locations of Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia, the film showcases Turkiyes grandeur on the global stage. The events hosted at PVR Directors Cut in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj in Delhi, and PVR BKC in Mumbai were collectively attended by over 130 esteemed guests and notable personalities from both cities.

The screening events drew the presence of prominent travel agents and leading travel and lifestyle influencers, adding an extra layer of distinction to the soiree. The eminent personalities at the soiree included delegates from Turkiye flown in, especially for the film screenings, distinguished ambassadors and dignitaries. Some of the esteemed guests in attendance were Cuneyt Yavuzcan, Consulate General of Turkiye in Mumbai and Turkiyes Ambassador to India, H.E. Firat Sunel in Delhi. Post the screenings, the viewing parties were treated with insightful presentations on Turkiyes rich cultural history, tourism delights, and growing popularity among Indians.

Adding a melodic note to the celebration, the event also featured a screening of the music video of Leke Prabhu Ka Naam from Tiger 3. Shot against the breathtaking backdrop of Cappadocia, Turkiye, the video showcases the lead couple Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif grooving amidst hot air balloons, the Fairy Chimneys, and the picturesque restaurants in Goreme. This musical interlude beautifully encapsulates the essence of the film and Turkeys enchanting landscapes, creating a sensory delight for the audience.

Speaking on the successful film screenings, the Turkiye Tourism Authority said, We express heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed guests for gracing this extraordinary celebration of Turkiye, showcased through the lens of Tiger 3. The exceptional response witnessed at these events towards our nation is a true reflection of the strong ties between India and Turkiye. The triumph of these events is also a reminder of the power of cultural exchange in fostering understanding and unity between our two countries. We look forward to continued collaborations that will further deepen the connection between the vibrance of Indian cinema and the enchanting landscapes of Turkiye.

Turkiye has previously showcased its splendour and served as the ideal shoot location for other Indian blockbusters like Race 2, Dil Dhadakne Do, and Ek Tha Tiger. Building on this rich legacy, prominent Indian production houses are gearing up to film in Turkiye in 2024, marking a new chapter in the enduring partnership between the two nations.
Vicky Kaushals highly anticipated film Sam Bahadur is all set to release on Friday. Helmed by Meghna Gulzar, Sam Bahadur is based on the life of Indias first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. Yesterday, the makers held a star studded screening of the film. Vickys entire family was a part of the same. His wife Katrina also attended the same.

Now, Vickys father Sham Kaushal took to his social media handle to cheer for his son and also reviewed the film. Sharing a glimpse of the film, he wrote, By Gods grace yesterday saw Vicky Puttars film SamBahadur. Feeling so humbled, blessed & proud. A must watch film about the first Field Marshal of India. A inspirational story of grit, determination & intelligence. Outstanding direction & performances. Thank u @meghnagulzar @ronnie.screwvala @sanyamalhotra_ @fatimasanashaikh @mohdzeeshanayyub love u Vicky Puttar @vickykaushal09 Rab Rakha. .

Earlier in the day, Vickys brother Sunny also praised the film in a long note. Sunny Kaushal called Sam Bahadur an amazing film and thanked Meghna Gulzar for making it. What a film..what an amazing film this is..@rsvpmovies @meghnagulzar thank you so much for making Sam Bahadur.. it is truly remarkable how you have so beautifully managed to show the life, the character, the love this man had for his country and uniform in a span of 2.5 hours.. it made me laugh, cry, inspired and most importantly it made me realise what great courage and character means, he wrote.

Sunny further appreciated Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh saying their performances in the movie are fantastic. He then talked about his brother and went on to say that Vicky has outdone himself in this film. @vickykaushal09 Just when I think youve outdone yourself, you surprise me yet again..I know you manifested this film and now I can see why.. I think this film chose you..I dont think anybody couldve played Sam betteryouve given you heart and soul and everything in between to portray the life of a man which was so valiantly lived, he wrote. Sunny further mentioned that he is so so proud of his brother Vicky.

Vicky Kaushal starrer Sam Bahadur is based on the life of Indias first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. His career in the army spanned over four decades and five wars. He was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and his military victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war led to the creation of Bangladesh.

Besides Vicky, Sam Bahadur also stars Neeraj Kabi, Edward Sonnenblick (as Lord Mountbatten), Richard Bhakti Klein (as Ambassador Keating), Saqib Ayub (Captain Attiqur Rahman) and Krishna Kant Singh Bundela (as Subedar Gurbaksh Singh) in key roles. It also features Fatima Sana Shaikh as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sanya Malhotra as Sams love interest.
Korean actor Song Kang expressed gratitude and thanked his team as well as all viewers at the recent press conference for Sweet Home 2. The event organised just before the release of the second season of the much-awaited Zombie-thriller Korean Drama, Sweet Home, was held on November 30 at S Factory D-dong, Seongdong, Seoul. Kang, who plays the lead role of Cha Hyun Soo, shared some heartfelt thoughts on the occasion while expressing his happiness for the success and popularity of Season 1 of the Netflix original series, which hit our screens back in 2020.

The event was reportedly attended by stars of the show Song Kang, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Si Young, Go Min Si, Jin Young, Yoo Oh Sung, Kim Moo Yeol, and director Lee Eung Bok.

Taking a trip down memory lane, Song Kang, who plays Cha Hyun Soo, remembered about the good old days during the shooting of Season 1. He gave a shout out to the fans, acknowledging that their support and the shows top-ranking status at the time were like a boost of energy for the entire team. It fueled their determination to make Season 2 even more captivating, writes Allkpop.

The actor didnt stop there; he reportedly opened up about how Sweet Home has played a significant role in his own growth. Its not just a job for him; its a project that has shaped him into the person he is today. In preparation for Season 2, he took a deep dive into introspection, keeping a diary about Hyun Soos character in which he jotted down thoughts to understand the character better.

Song Kang also gave audiences a sneak peek into whats coming our way. Brace yourselves for new beings entering the scene, and get ready for some mysterious events involving monsters with a fresh set of desires. Its like the story is evolving, growing, and keeping us on the edge of our seats.

In case youre wondering where all this drama stems from, Sweet Home is adapted from a Naver Webtoon by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young Chan. Season 1, which dropped on Netflix on December 18, 2020, revolved around Cha Hyun Soo facing monsters in his apartment building after a fatal family tragedy.

Now, Season 2 takes us on a wild ride as the residents of Green Home Apartments, led by Cha Hyun Soo, face not just external threats but also internal ones. Survivors, from different walks of life, are not only battling monsters outside but also dealing with monstrous desires within their own group.

Season 2, exploring new desires and challenges, is hitting our screens on December 1st.

With the series skyrocketing in popularity, a season 3 has also been announced for the thriller already.

For those of you who cant wait to get a taste of whats coming, check out the teaser for Season 2 here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0QRtrXLACm/
Several celebrities stepped out in Hyderabad on Thursday to cast their respective votes for the Telangana Election 2023. RRR star Jr NTR was spotted by the media as he at a polling booth with his wife, Lakshmi Pranathi, and mother, Shalini Nandamuri. Besides him, megastar Chiranjeevi was also papped at a polling booth.

Oscar-winning music composer, Padma Shri MM Keeravani also cast his vote and urged everyone to do the same. Everyone should utilise their voting powerThis is not a holiday, he said while speaking to media as he stepped out of a polling booth.

#WATCH | Telangana Elections | Actor Jr NTR and his family arrive to cast their votes at the polling booth in P Obul Reddy Public School in Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/UpVO6lgFwv ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

#WATCH | Telangana Elections | Actor Chiranjeevi and his family arrive at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad to cast their votes. pic.twitter.com/gCeuI6IscA ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

#WATCH | Telangana Elections | Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad: After casting his vote Oscar-winning music composer, Padma Shri MM Keeravani says, Everyone should utilise their voting powerThis is not a holiday. pic.twitter.com/9LgyrQFy1C ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023

Meanwhile, filmmaker SS Rajamouli also took to the microblogging site X to drop a selfie with his wife Rama Rajamouli after casting their vote. In the photo, the couple was seen flaunting the electoral ink on their forefinger. We did? DID YOU? Be a proud voter, Rajamouli wrote in the caption. Check it out here:

We did?DID YOU?Be a proud voter.. pic.twitter.com/LRy9bdS3HV rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) November 30, 2023

Earlier today, Allu Arjun also visited Hyderabads Jubilee Hills area to cast his vote. The Pushpa star was spotted standing in a queue at the polling booth. A video of the same was shared on social media by the news agency ANI. Later, Allu Arjun also took to his social media handles and dropped a photo showcasing the electoral ink on his forefinger. He urged everyone to cast their vote and wrote, Pls Cast your vote responsibly.
Actor Vardhan Puri has been shooting throughout the year for multiple projects which are all coming out next year. First up is Dashmi, directed by Shantanu Tambe which releases in January. The motion poster of the movie was launched on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra. The actor is quite excited to be beginning his year with such a special film. Vardhan says, Its a very happy feeling since Dashmi is so close to me and the subject is mighty powerful. I feel positive about this film and truly believe that the audiences will connect with the film.

The actor informs that he signed up for the film just by hearing the climax of the film, When I heard the last 15 minutes of the film, I immediately told Shantanu sir that I do not know anything about the project apart from the climax. But just based on his narration it completely shook me up, I said that I would like to submit to his vision. From that moment onwards we started the journey of making this film. It was a heart-wrenching and very emotionally challenging journey.

Puri is also excited as he will be seen in a film that is going to be presented by Mahesh Bhatt and directed by Vikram Bhatt. He says, Interestingly the first time I met Mahesh Bhatt saab in 2015, he told me that we would be working together in the future, and his prophecy is coming true. Vardhan shares that the film is essentially a love story but is also garnished with Vikrams signature elements of horror. I am blessed to be working with such terrific filmmakers. I loved the script due to the fine balance it holds between commercialism and realism and I was sold completely during the first narration itself.

Sharing his experience from the sets, the actor adds, A fabulous thing about my experience on this film until now has been the fact that Bhatt sahab is on our sets spending so much time with us. He is so passionate about cinema and his understanding of the medium is so deep. He directs us often and gives the most wonderful notes and instructions to us artists, taking the film to another level altogether.

Puri says that he is quite excited about 2024, I am looking forward to all my upcoming film shoots and releases. The idea is to create great content and keep the audiences entertained and engaged. Thats my purpose in life, he concludes.
Ever since Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Verma confirmed their relationship, the duos mushy moments have made fans go gaga over the adorable pair. The couple has been spotted attending several public events and award ceremonies together. On Wednesday, November 29, the Lust Stories 2 co-stars made a joint appearance at Vogues Forces Of Fashion in Mumbai where the pair made heads turn in their stylish outfits. Recently a video of Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Verma exiting the event was dropped on Instagram by celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani seeing which eagle-eyed fans were left flooring over Vijays chivalrous gesture of lending his jacket to his ladylove.

The video captures Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Verma walking hand-in-hand down the stairs at the venue. The actor looked suave in a crisp white shirt, pin-striped loose-fitted navy-blue trousers, and a black tie. Tamannaah was seen layering her long black skirt with Vijays pin-striped jacket which she presumably wore due to the chilly weather. The couple waved the paparazzi goodbye before hopping inside the car.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Fans gushed at Vijay Vermas romantic gesture and lauded the pair in the comment section. While one admirer pointed out, He gave his jacket to her another quipped, They are epitome of love. So cute they are read another lovely remark.

For the Vogue event, Tamannaah Bhatia picked out a stunning gold corseted top that came with a metallic finish and plunging neckline. She teamed up the shiny fitted bodice with a black mermaid skirt featuring a gathered design and floor-grazing train. She sported a dewy-nude finish makeup and left her hair open. Vijay Verma looked handsome in a jumper pin-striped blazer with a zipper pattern, that he gave away to Tamannaah in the video and matching trousers. Uber-cool black sunglasses and chunky black boots rounded off his OOTD.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla)

Earlier, in an interaction with the host at the Sahitya Aaj Tak event in Delhi, Vijay Verma talked about his marriage plans. The Dahaad actor revealed that he did not know the answer adding that his female fans do not want to see him get married. Na to iska jawab mai mataji ko de pata hun na kisi aur ko (Neither can I give this answer to my mother, nor anyone else) he said. Meanwhile, in an earlier interaction with India Today, Tamannaah Bhatia shared that marriage is a big responsibility and hence one should tie the knot when they feel it is the right time to settle down.
Zack Snyder, known for his past work in the DC Universe, remains connected with its actors despite their personal controversies. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder revealed that hes in contact with several comic book movie actors, including Flash star Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher, with whom he worked in Rebel Moon. However, Snyder expressed his interest in working with Amber Heard, a DCEU figure he didnt personally collaborate with but would consider her for future projects. His stance comes following Heards high profile divorce and defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp became talk of the town and destroyed her career.

Snyder extended his support towards Amber, as he feels disheartened seeing her receive online criticism and filmmakers unwillingness to work with her. The director said, I just dont get it. If other people dont like her, I dont know what to say. I would work with her in a second.

Just like Amber Heard, Zack Snyder had also supported Ezra Miller amid his legal and mental health issues and even praised the actors performance in The Flash. He said, They did a great job in that Flash movie. Its very difficult to play against yourself.

Snyders recent comments about Heard come amidst speculation surrounding her role as Mera in the Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Despite staying in controversy, Heard also continued her role as Mera in the 2021 film Zack Snyders Justice League. Meanwhile, reports suggest her role has been reduced in the sequel, however, director James Wan had clarified that her role wasnt cut short. As per the filmmaker, the sequel focuses more on the brotherly relationship between Arthur and Orm, compared to the romantic tension between Arthur and Mera in the first movie.

In 2016, Amber Heard grabbed headlines after filing for divorce from Johnny Depp. She accused Depp of physical abuse, leading to a highly publicized trial in 2022. During the trial, the jury ruled in favour of Depp and Heard was found guilty of the defamation charges he had raised against her.

Meanwhile, Zack Snyder, who is preparing for the release of his upcoming space film Rebel Moon, has no plans to return to directing DC films. However, hed consider a Dark Knight Returns adaptation if James Gunn invited him back. For Marvel, Snyder might direct Daredevil and Elektra movies based on Frank Millers Elektra Lives Again. Regarding Star Wars, Snyder expressed no interest, mentioning that the franchise is well-managed by the current team.
This week the Centre and the government of Manipur signed a peace treaty with the Khundongbam Pambei-led fraction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest Meitei extremist group in Manipur. This is a major breakthrough achieved by the Centre as for the first time a valley-based Meitei extremist group of the state has entered into a peace treaty with the Centre. This is likely to encourage other groups, including the NC Koireng-led faction of the UNLF, to join the mainstream shunning violence.

It has been seven months since the ethnic riots broke out between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zomis in the northeastern state of Manipur, which is still awaiting restoration of normalcy. Taking advantage of this situation, armed groups from both communities are trying to expand their base by inciting the communities against each other  posing a big security challenge before the Centre. Currently, there has been a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Centre and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups since 2008. This year the state government, which was a part of that agreement, pulled out from the agreement.

The signing of this treaty comes at a crucial time when the valley-based insurgents, weakened over the years, are trying to utilise the current unrest on the ground in the northeastern state to strengthen themselves. The signing of this treaty is also important in the context of the present Meitei and Kuki-Zomi conflict as this is going to lessen the discontentment prevalent among the Kuki-Zomis, who have been the targets of these Meitei extremist groups. As a result of this, this treaty is also likely to have a positive outcome on the ongoing peace talks between the Centre and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups, who already are under SoO.

It has to be mentioned that days ago, the Union home ministry had extended the ban on eight Meitei extremist groups, including UNLF, for another five years. This shows how the ministry under Amit Shah is following a tough approach towards these extremist groups to bring them into the mainstream.

A visible change towards the Northeast region post-2014

It is an unfortunate fact that the potentiality of the Northeast region  rich in forest reserves and diversity  hasnt received its due, as expected, in the last seven decades and this is one of the main reasons for the propping up of many insurgent groups in the region. The groups have always taken advantage of New Delhis lack of interest in the region and as a result, the development projects took a hit with insurgency disturbing the peace of the region.

However, it has to be accepted that there has been a change among the policymakers of New Delhi since the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre in 2014. Its a fact that the often-neglected Northeast region of the country has received considerable focus from the policymakers of New Delhi post-May 2014. This is evident with the increase of infrastructural projects like rail, road and air connectivity in the region. As a result of this, the stories of the region are also getting attention in the mainstream discussions, though the attention they receive is still less.

Amit Shah stressing on negotiations with insurgent groups

After the return of the BJP to power in 2019, Amit Shah, often known as the partys second-in-command after Modi, became the home minister of the country. Since then, he has been leading from the front to negotiate peace with insurgent groups in various parts of the Northeast. True that the insurgency has been reduced in the region, but there are some insurgent groups still working to disturb the peace.

In August 2019, the Government of India and the government of Tripura signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the National Liberation Front of Twipra led by Sabir Kumar Debbarma (NLFT-SD), an insurgent group that tried to disturb the peace of the Northeastern state of Tripura. Although the peace talks started before Shah became the home minister, his role in ensuring that the peace talks reached a fruitful end cant be denied. This settlement came after the NLFT leadership sent a letter to Shah for a conclusive end to the ongoing peace talks.

It has to be mentioned that peace returned to Tripura by the late 2000s as a result of the policies initiated by the then Manik Sarkar-led Left Front government of the state, supported by both Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA and Manmohan Singh-led UPA governments at the Centre. This makes it clear that when the Memorandum of Settlement was signed, extremist NLFT was a pale shadow of the past but still the Centre, particularly Shah, went on to sign the memorandum showing that the Centre didnt want to leave any insurgent group  even if it was a weakened force  to remain active.

One of the important peace treaties signed by the Home Ministry under Amit Shah was the Bodo Peace Accord in January 2020. The tripartite treaty was signed by the Government of India, the government of Assam and all factions of the extremist National Democratic Front of Bodoland  and Shah himself was present. The signing of this treaty was significant as this brought an end to the insurgency in Assam, particularly in the Bodoland region. Importantly, it has to be mentioned that the earlier governments at the Centre signed treaties as well, to bring peace to Bodoland, and this was the third treaty. Nevertheless, this shows that the priority of this government, particularly the Union Home Ministry under Shah, is also committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Treaties beyond insurgent groups to solve old issues

As said earlier in this piece, one of the reasons that the Northeast region has seen the rise of many insurgent groups is because of the lack of focus from the policymakers of New Delhi. This lack of focus kept the old issues boiling and gave rise to resentment among people. When this resentment is left to fester, it gives birth to the insurgency. It has to be mentioned that this region is a very diverse one with many ethnic tribes  having their own identity and culture  sharing their livelihoods and also their differences and a small flame can cause damage to this social fabric.

Take the case of Brus, also called Reangs, of Mizoram. They are mostly Vaishnavite Hindus with a section practising Christianity and they often had clashes with the majority Mizo community. Later, many Brus had to flee from their localities alleging persecution at the hands of Mizos and took shelter in neighbouring Tripura as refugees in 1997. Some of the unhappy Brus took arms, although years later, they had peace agreements with the government of Mizoram. But still, the Brus living as refugees in Tripura had no identity till 2020.

It was after 23 years of their unfortunate displacement that they got their permanent identity as a result of the signing of the agreement, presided over by Amit Shah, among the Government of India, the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru representatives. According to that historic agreement, around 34,000 displaced Brus were to be permanently settled in Tripura. This was a long important humanitarian issue waiting for a permanent solution. There was deep resentment among the Brus and before it took the form of another insurgent group, the Centre stepped in to resolve it.

It is not that all the Brus have been settled by now, the process is on with the Tripura government working on it. There is dissatisfaction among the Brus too with the process allegedly being slow. Aware of the issue, Shah himself at various times reviewed the implementation of the Bru agreement with the Tripura government.

Shah leading discussions to bring peace to Manipur

Three months ago, the decision of the Kuki-Zomis to bury their own 35 people in Churachandpur, opposed by the Meiteis, would have resulted in more tensions. But it was the timely intervention of Shah through Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga that prevented the escalation. Days later, Shah himself met with leaders from the Kuki-Zomi communities and urged them to shift their burial site, considered pious by the Meiteis. The riots have left both the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities heavily polarised that any small incident has the potentiality to escalate the situation of the state.

It is not that he has been engaging with only Kuki-Zomis, he has been engaging with the Meiteis and Nagas too, to bring peace to Manipur. The signing of the above-mentioned peace treaty with the Meitei extremist group, UNLF, is a fruitful outcome of these engagements.

Naga solution remains a challenge

Apart from Manipur, Naga Peace Talks is one of the crucial issues of the region waiting to be resolved. These are some of the challenges that lay ahead of the Union Home Ministry led by Amit Shah with the Naga Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) insisting on a separate constitution and a flag. It remains to be seen how the ministry under his leadership tackles these issues.

But this cant be denied that his efforts as a union minister have started to bear fruits with many parts of the region becoming free from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or AFSPA. According to a report, the state of Assam may be free from AFSPA by the end of this year. If this happens, it would be a big development highlighting how insurgency has been weakened in the state.

It has to be mentioned that the AFSPA was first introduced in the state in 1990 and has been extended multiple times since then. United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), a dreaded extremist and terrorist group, is on the brink of extinction. The ULFA pro-talk faction is currently in discussions with the Centre and the state governments while the ULFA(I), led by Paresh Barua, is yet to join the discussion table. Amit Shah is keen to bring the Paresh Barua faction to the table too and has given this responsibility to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The author is a political commentator and tweets @SagarneelSinha. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Strife-torn Manipur sighed a sense of relief when one of the strongest factions of the oldest Valley-Based Insurgent Group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) [Pambei], formally signed a peace agreement.

The development will act as a boost to bringing back normalcy to Manipur. It also showcases the seriousness with which the Modi government is approaching the problem that has been besetting the state since May this year.

The UNLF (Pambei) group was one of the insurgent organisations that made up the Coordination Committee (CorCom). The CorCom, now known as the G-5 (or Group of Five) had Manipurs oldest insurgent group, the UNLF, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), two factions of the PREPAK.

In recent times, since the outbreak of the Meitei-Kuki conflict in the state, many cadres of the Valley-Based Insurgent Groups have entered Manipur from Myanmar in order to foment trouble. The coming over ground and signing of a peace agreement by the Pambei faction of the UNLF can be viewed as the first bold step by the Government of India in the direction of ushering peace in the sensitive border state.

The following steps may be regarded as robust arrays to ensure that durable and lasting peace comes to Manipur.

The government should form a civil society team comprising journalists, intellectuals, et al, from both Kuki and the Meitei communities. The government should hold intense interaction with them and try finding a way out of the crisis. The government must disband vigilante groups such as Arombai Tenggol and Meitei Lipun. These two armed illegal organisations have been spearheading the violence in Manipur. It has also been reported that they have G-5 patronage. However, the coming over ground of the UNLF (Pambei) will certainly take the wind out of the sails of the insurgent groups that are seeking to continue with violent activities in Manipur. New Delhi must, even as it is lauded for its success in bringing the UNLF (Pambei) to the mainstream, seize the opportunity and take active steps to root out the menace once and for all. One of the important steps in the direction of ushering in normalcy in Manipur is to destroy the three clusters that make up the camps of the G-5 in Myanmar. To that end, it is imperative that Naypyidaw (notwithstanding its present war with the Peoples Defence Force and sundry other ethnic militias) must be correctly cultivated. After all, it was Naypyidaw that had engineered Op Sunrise-I and II a few years ago that had destroyed several Indian insurgent camps in Taga and thereabouts.

The return of the oldest Manipuri insurgent group to the mainstream augurs well for Manipur and the Northeast. As aforesaid, it showcases the seriousness with which New Delhi is approaching the seven-month-old problem. It must now follow up the success with able steps that will bring about lasting peace to the Land of the Sangai.

Jaideep Saikia is a conflict theorist and bestselling author. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
I cannot but begin this column by mentioning the happiness and relief felt by the nation at the successful rescue of the 41 workers trapped for 17 days in the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand. It was a herculean effort, in which no resourcesof organisation, technology, planning and expertisewere spared to achieve a task that was fraught with danger and uncertainty and unexpected setbacks.

This is not the time to discuss whether the rescue could have been better or faster, or why the disaster occurred in the first place, and what lessons can be learnt for the future. What this miraculous rescue does show is that when there is a challenge, all Indians can come together and collectively work to face it. This is a matter of legitimate pride.

A secondary question is whether after the challenge has been faced, we draw the right lessons to ensure that mistakes of the past are not repeated. I raise this question not only in the context of the collapse of the tunnel. Simultaneous with the unfolding tunnel rescue, India also commemorated the carnage of death and violence that was perpetuated on November 26, 2008, when a handful of terrorists from Pakistan literally held Mumbai, the financial capital of the country, to ransom. Across the mighty Himalayas, where the tunnel collapsed, lie two countries which are implacably hostile to us: Pakistan and China. Pakistan, in particular, is the epicentre of terrorism against India. What has been our track record in facing this challenge?

I think it has been far from satisfactory, and I will bolster my argument by citing three incidents. In May 1999, Pakistan launched a massive aggression against India in the remote Kargil sector of Kashmir. The intelligence lapse was glaring, for apparently we were taken completely by surprise or did not act on actionable information. It was clear that Indian troops trying to evict them would be sitting ducks for the Pakistani infiltrators perched on vantage mountain heights. A far better option, in my view, was to allow the Indian Air Force to cross the Line of Control and destroy the staging points and supply lines of the invaders. The option was rejected, at the cost of hundreds of lives of our soldiers and young officers. This exhibition of restraint, in the face of the certain death of so many, must have few parallels in military history. We have only to think of the reaction in Paris or Washington, London or Beijing, if a dozen body bags arrived in the capital each day as a result of verified and unprovoked enemy intrusion into their territory. Instead, India went about the world collecting certificates of restraint. Ultimately, through the heroic efforts of our armed forces, the invaders were defeated, but we have to ask if the invasion could have been detected earlier or preempted, and the cost of precious lives lost in the option, we chose to fight it.

But did we learn any lessons from this incident? The same year, Indian Airlines flight took off from Kathmandu for New Delhi on December 24 at 4:53 pm. Within minutes, it was hijacked by five Pakistanis, led by Ibrahim Athar, the brother of Maulana Masood Azhar of the terrorist organisations Harkat-ul-Ansar and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. Delhi was informed of the hijacking at 4:56 pm. At 7 pm, the plane landed at Amritsar to refuel. Authorities at the airport had instructions not to let the plane take off, but it managed to do so, and landed at Lahore, and then via Dubai at Kandahar.

Former Foreign Secretary J.N. Dixit later wrote: There was lack of coordination in terms of speed and time between the authorities at Delhi and Amritsar. The National Security Guard (NSG) commandos did not scramble into their operational mode with sufficient speed. The hijackers had enough time to take off without facing any effective Indian resistance. Finally, the government capitulated by agreeing to release three of the most dreaded terroristsMushtaq Zargar, Omar Sheikh and Masood Azharwho were escorted to Kandahar by Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh himself. These terrorists became the focal point of terrorism against India in the years ahead.

The third incident was that of 26/11. How ineffective could our coastal vigilance and intelligence machinery be to enable armed terrorists to enter Mumbai without any hindrance, and wreak havoc on the city for days, before they were vanquished? And, while we recall these days of terror every year, and pay homage to those who lost their lives, including brave policemen, have we done enough to ensure that our security architecture is today strong enough to prevent another act of this nature? Experts differ, but with such a long coast line, this is an area where we still need to concentrate on, for the key to our overall security is to learn and follow-up on the lessons learnt from past mistakes.

In response to the terrorist strike in Pulwama, Kashmir, in 2019, the alacrity with which we made a lightening air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammad camp in Balakot in Pakistan, finally demonstrated that we have the resolve and the capability to take appropriate retaliatory action against terrorisma sharp contrast to our unacceptably docile response after 26/11. We have also, under the Modi dispensation, done much more to upgrade our defense infrastructure on the northern borders.

Similarly, after the legitimate rejoicing over the rescue of the trapped workers in Uttarakhand, it would be advisable if the government seriously analyses the causes for the collapse of the tunnel, and draw the right lessons to prevent such tragedies in the future, especially in the fragile eco-system of the Himalayas.

The author is a former diplomat, an author and a politician. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Opposition BJP lawmakers staged a walkout from West Bengal Assembly on Thursday demanding a discussion on the suspension of the jailed West Bengal Minister and TMC MLA Jyotipriyo Mallick.

All the about 30 MLAs of the saffron party present walked out of the Assembly hall after Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay disallowed a motion by them demanding that they be allowed to raise the issue of Mallicks suspension from the House in view of his arrest in a money laundering case linked to the ration distribution scam.

The motion was brought by BJP MLAs Shankar Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul among others two days after senior party leader Suvendu Adhikari was suspended for the entire winter session of the House after allegations that he made objectionable remarks against the speaker and created ruckus in the House.

In response to BJP leaders demands Bandyopadhyay said the issue cannot be discussed in the House.

Mallick was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a PMLA case linked to the ration scam on October 27. The arrest of a peoples representative and a member of the state cabinet in connection with a money laundering case has lowered the dignity of the House. We demand that unless the minister is proved innocent by the investigating agency and in the court, he should not be allowed to continue as a legislator, Ghosh said.

As no such step has been taken by the speaker and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee against Mallick even a month after his arrest, we demand the issue figure in the assembly, the BJP leader said. Asked about the next move by BJP to press for the demand, Ghosh said We will step up our protests in different forms inside the House but did not elaborate.

After the House adjourned for the day, ruling TMC and BJP legislators shouted chor chor (thieves) at each other in its premises. TMC legislators, who are holding a protest at the base of B R Ambedkar for the second consecutive day, were led by ministers Firhad Hakim, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Aroop Biswas, while BJP MLAs were led by the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Assembly security personnel accompanied by plainsclothes policemen stood between them.

The TMC protest was against alleged attempts by the BJP government at the Centre to stop central allocations to West Bengal and subvert the Constitution. A similar scene was witnessed on Wednesday when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led the TMCs protests.

Bhattacharya Thursday criticised the BJP legislators and said their behaviour is condemnable and provocative which lessens and dignity of the House.

Our protests against the Centres discriminatory attitude towards the state and its people was scheduled and the Assembly secretariat was notified. However, the BJP MLAs led by Adhikari are staging protests and raising provocative slogans, she said.

BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said the counter protests were necessitated as TMC has been throttling the Oppositions voice by taking away their space in the legislature and making provocative and personal attacks on the leader of the opposition.
In his recent interview, X owner Elon Musk apologised for a controversial post on his social media platform (previously called Twitter). He acknowledged it as his dumbest social media post. However, Musk strongly criticised advertisers who are leaving the platform due to the increase in antisemitism on X.

In an interview with The New York Times DealBook Summit, Elon Musk reportedly used strong language, repeatedly told companies who pulled advertisements from to go f** yourself, as per a report from Business Insider India.

I dont want them to advertise. If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money go f* yourself. Go. F*. Yourself. Is that clear? Hey Bob, if youre in the audience, thats how I feel  he said, referring to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who spoke earlier at the summit on Wednesday.

Musk made the remarks as the X CEO, Linda Yaccarino, sat in the audience. Yaccarino was brought into the company to woo back big-name advertisers. Ge also said he has no problem being hated.

As per Reuters, Musk has faced a torrent of criticism ever since he agreed with a user who falsely claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people. Musk in his post said the user, who referenced the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, was speaking the actual truth.

Musks comments have put pressure on X overall, including Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino. An executive told Reuters that she would remain at the company. Musk himself appeared resolved that X could fail financially and blamed advertisers.

In the wake of the condemnation around his post, Elon Musk visited Israel and toured the site of conflict in October. He later had a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X. Musk stated that the trip had been planned independently of any controversy surrounding his social media post.
They say every problem comes with a solution, and that proved true for a 27-year-old man grappling with dengue on his wedding day. Avinash Kumar, an East Delhi resident, found himself exchanging vows in the hospital due to a low platelet count that prevented his discharge. Despite the unexpected turn of events, the wedding ceremony took place in the meeting hall of Max Vaishali Hospital with only 10 attendees, comprising close family and medical staff.

The twist of fate occurred when, four days before the wedding, Avinash fell seriously ill, leading to a high fever. Little did he know that he would end up in the high-dependency unit after being diagnosed with dengue. Reportedly, his blood platelet count had dropped to a dangerously low level of 10,000, well below the threshold of 20,000.

Also Read: Wedding In The Air: UAE Businessman Hosts Daughters Marriage On Private Jet

Despite efforts to postpone the wedding, Avinashs fever persisted, prompting his father, Rajesh Kumar, to consider a delay. However, when Anuradha and her family visited him at the hospital the next day, the idea struck them that the couple could still be married in a brief ceremony in the hospital on the auspicious day.

We were worried when my son fell ill and was admitted to the high-dependency unit of the hospital. We were also tense as the brides family had made arrangements and guests were already invited. However, the hospital accepted our request. Once Avinash is fine, we can have a reception party, said Rajesh as quoted by the TOI.

So, the originally planned grand wedding at a banquet hall had to be scaled down to a minimalist celebration, adhering to the hospitals constraints. With the necessary permissions secured from the hospital administration, Avinash adorned a sherwani, and Anuradha wore her bridal gown as they exchanged vows in the meeting hall of Max Vaishali Hospital on November 27.

A couple got married at Max hospital in Vaishali, Ghaziabad. The groom was suffering from dengue and was admitted to the hospital on November 25 with his wedding due on Nov 27. The wedding took place as scheduled, but in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/8yEruMHyxB Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) November 30, 2023

Anuradha, a nurse at a Faridabad hospital, expressed her surprise, saying, I never thought that my baraat would not come, and instead, I would have to go to a hospital with my family to get married.

Also Read: Coimbatore Bride, Groom Leave Wedding Venue In Bullock Cart; Video Viral

Nevertheless, alls well that ends well. The wedding proceeded without interruption, and Avinash is reportedly responding well to treatment, according to the medical superintendent.
In a spine-chilling incident, a man named Colin Blake discovered that a spider had laid its eggs in his toe. As per the BBC report, Colin hails from Cramlington, southeast Northumberland, UK. Colin found out about this incident when he was on vacation with his wife to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary on a cruise. They were enjoying a meal in Marseille, France when he noticed that his toe had swollen up. It also turned purple. Colin was concerned by this incident and had a word with the ships doctor. The doctor told him that he had been bitten by a Peruvian wolf spider.

The medical staff cut the toe open with a scalpel after it began to look infected. Milk-like pus came out and Colin claimed that spider eggs were seen in liquid form. Colin returned to the UK after this infection and was treated at a hospital as well. He was also given a course of antibiotics to reduce the swelling. The BBC report states that Colin will now recover soon.

Experts have, however, denounced Colins claims that a spider can lay eggs in a human foot. The expert named, Dr Sara Goodacre from the University of Nottingham said: I cant possibly see how it could be true at all because I know about their biology. [The egg sacs] take quite a while to spin. The spider venom is not necrotising, it is designed to paralyse a fruit fly. Sara said that when a wolf spider lays its eggs, they are kept in a substance. She said that this substance looks like a ball of cotton, which some species carry on their backs. She also said there had been no reports suggesting the eggs could live in a pus-infected wound. She added that there is no European wolf spider that could really penetrate the skin.

Not only Sara, but the British Arachnological Society were also not convinced by this act. If we go by the information available on the Terminix portal, Colins claims dont seem true, they stated. The portal also stated that wolf spiders do bite, but they dont bite humans.
Climate scientists had forewarned, and the data has proved it. Year 2023 is set to end as the warmest year in the 174-observational record, confirmed the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at COP28, where representatives from nearly 200 countries have begun crucial talks to take stock of the inadequate climate action.

Data until the end of October shows that the globally averaged near-surface temperatures were about 1.4 (0.12C) above the pre-industrial (1850-1900) average.

ALSO READ | Science-wise: COP28 Begins, Can First-Ever Global Stocktake Be Decisive Moment for Climate Action?

With this, 2023 has surpassed the previous warmest years 2016 and 2020, according to the provisional State of the Global Climate report released by the WMO. The temperature figures are a consolidation of six leading international datasets.

The numbers are not surprising given how the many parts of the world, including India sweltered through unusually extreme heat in 2023. The Earth experienced its warmest June-September period with July 2023 ending as the warmest July ever.

MAIN REASON: GHG EMISSIONS AT RECORD HIGH

The world is consistently warming due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. According to the report, the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide which reached record high in 2022, also continued to surge in 2023. In fact, the CO2 levels are now 50% higher than the pre-industrial era. Since this heat-trapping gas lingers in the atmosphere for over hundreds of years it will continue to make the atmosphere warmer for future generations. The rate of increase of methane was the second highest on record, after 2021 and the rate of increase of nitrous oxide was the highest-ever on record, as per the report.

Scientists say a shift from La Nina to El Nino during the year also contributed to the exceptional warming. The sea-surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean crossed typical temperature thresholds by June, but the atmosphere was slower to respond, and it was not until early September that El Nino conditions were well established in both the atmosphere and ocean. To make matters worse, a strong El Nino event this winter is further set to fuel the heat in 2024.

RISING SEA LEVELS, OCEAN HEAT CONTENT

Since around 90% of the energy that accumulated in the Earth system since 1971 was stored in the ocean, the ocean heat content has reached its highest levels too. Report shows that ocean warming rates show a particularly strong increase in the past two decades, which is expected to continue and will be irreversible. There will be impacts. Tropical Cyclone Mocha, which developed in the Indian Ocean in May, was one of the most intense cyclones ever observed in the Bay of Bengal.

Antarctic sea-ice extent reached an absolute record low for the satellite era. Arctic sea-ice extent remained well below normal. The melting of glaciers and ice-sheets continues to lead to a surge in global mean sea levels which also reached a record high since 1993. The rate of sea level rise from 2013-2022 was in fact more than twice more than what was recorded during 1993-2002.

CALL FOR PHASING OUT FOSSIL FUELS AT COP28

Speaking at the launch of the report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged leaders to keep the 1.5 goal alive at COP28, by setting clear expectations for the next round of NDCs and committing to the partnerships and finance to make them possible. By committing to triple renewables and double energy efficiency, and committing to phase out fossil fuels, with a clear time frame aligned to the 1.5-degree limit."

ALSO READ | Will Rich Nations Pay for Loss & Damage Fund? Elephant in the Room at COP28

Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network (CAN) International said the world urgently needs a definitive roadmap at COP28  a timeline for a fair and equitable phase-out of coal, oil and gas.

Wealthier nations, bearing historical responsibility, must lead the way in decisively shifting from their reliance on fossil fuels. They also have a crucial role in providing financial support to developing nations, where millions of poor are being battered by escalating climate disasters," he said.
US officials have announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of participating in a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Pannun, the founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), is a US citizen but has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government. Since the report emerged, there has been a growing outcry over alleged attempts to murder US citizens on American soil.

In an official statement released on Wednesday, US Attorney Damian Williams said: We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad. In response to US concerns, India has constituted a high-level committee to look into security issues raised by Washington.

However, this alleged plot to kill a US citizen on American soil raises questions about US hypocrisy, given its decades-long involvement in various military and covert operations abroad, including high-profile assassinations. Here is a short list of US killings on foreign soil:

Qasem Soleimani (2020)

Iranian military leader Major General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020. The US justified the action, saying that Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on American interests.

Soleimani spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Irans elite Quds Force. Former US President Donald Trump had claimed that the general was directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (2020)

Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated in November 2020. While the US was not directly implicated, some speculated about the potential involvement of both Washington and Tel Aviv. He was killed using a remote-controlled weapon to shoot dead the top nuclear scientist.

In the early 2000s, Fakhrizadeh played a crucial role in Irans nuclear programme but the government insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (2019)

The leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, died during a U.S. special forces raid in Syria in 2019. The self-styled Caliph Ibrahim had a $25m bounty on his head.

A brutal killer, one who has caused so much hardship and death, was violently eliminated  he will never again harm another innocent man, woman or child, Trump had declared while announcing his death. He died like a dog. He died like a coward. The world is now a much safer place.

Anwar al-Awlaki (2011):

An American-born Islamic cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen in 2011. He was accused of being a key figure in Al-Qaeda and involved in planning terrorist attacks.

Following several attempts on his life, he was killed in a US drone strike in western Yemen on 30 September 2011. US officials say he was a leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, an offshoot of the militant network in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Osama bin Laden (2011):

The mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, was killed by US Navy SEALs during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad.

In a midnight raid 192km inside Pakistan, a team of US special forces flew from Afghanistan to Bin Ladens hiding place. Pakistani security officials say it was an intelligence failure  but many people find that hard to believe.

Drone Strikes in Various Countries:

Not to forget the US drone strikes in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia target individuals suspected of terrorism. Some of these strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, leading to controversy and criticism.

In one such incident, the US admitted that a drone strike in Kabul in 2021 days before its military pullout killed 10 innocent people. A US military probe found that an aid worker and nine members of his family, including seven children, died in the August 29 strike. However, no action was taken against the US military personnel responsible for the mistake.

(With agency inputs)
Three people were killed in a deadly shooting in East Jerusalem on Thursday, shortly after the Israel-Hamas truce was extended for one more day.

Taking yo X, Israel Police said that reports were received of gunfire early morning at the Givat Shaul junction on the outskirts of Jerusalem. Two suspects who arrived at the scene in a vehicle armed with firearms were neutralised by the Police after they opened fire at civilians near a bus station.

Update To The Jerusalem Shooting Terror Attack  This morning, at approximately 07:40, reports were received of gunfire at the Givat Shaul junction on the outskirts of Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/OtXgym8DWi Israel Police (@israelpolice) November 30, 2023

The shooting came after a truce pausing fighting in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel was extended for a seventh day, moments before it had been due to expire. The war began after Hamas militants poured over the Gaza border with Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, and kidnapping about 240.

Israel has promised to eliminate Hamas and unleashed a relentless air and ground offensive that the Hamas government in Gaza says has killed nearly 15,000 people in the Palestinian territory.

Since the war broke out, there has been an uptick in deadly violence in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew has condemned the latest abhorrent terrorist attack in Jerusalem, calling it brutal. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and I offer my sincere condolences to all those affected, he said on X.

(With agency inputs)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked India to cooperate in a probe of the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia after the US claimed it had foiled an assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on its soil.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday.

This comes after the United States charged an Indian national with a conspiracy to murder Sikhs for Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is a US citizen and has been designated a terrorist by the Indian government. The US attorneys office on Wednesday said Nikhil Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also took the opportunity to urge India for the return of the Canadian diplomats, who were forced to leave the country, on grounds of diplomatic parity. It is my hope that the 41 diplomats, who should be working right now in India, are allowed back, she was quoted as saying by a Canadian broadcaster during a presser in Brussels.

Read More: US Charges Indian National with Conspiracy to Murder SFJ Founder Gurpatwant Pannun

The US charges come about two months after Canada said there were credible allegations linking Indian agents to the Nijjars killing in June. India outrightly rejected that allegation and asked Canada to furnish solid proof. In light of the US allegations, India is closely monitoring Guptas case, sources told News18.

However, asserting that Indian agencies assigned him the task to kill Pannun is presumptuous. Despite US pressure on the Czech Republic for Guptas extradition, Indian authorities emphasise the lack of evidence against him. Sources maintain that New Delhi and Washington maintain ongoing communication to prevent any strain in their relationship.

Read More: India Takes Inputs on Security from US Seriously, Issues Being Examined: MEA

On Wednesday, India said it takes inputs on security matters from the US seriously. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made these comments in response to queries about a report the US had thwarted an attempt to kill Pannun on American soil.

During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi about discussions between India and US on security matters. He said the inputs were a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action.

(With inputs from Shailendra Wangu)
In a follow-up action after the United States legal actions against Indian national Nikhil Gupta for allegedly conspiring to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil, India has constituted a high-level committee to look into security concerns raised by the US on bilateral security cooperation.

In a statement acknowledging the seriousness of the matter, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the Indian government will be taking necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

Indias Statement

We have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others, Bagchi said.

We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue, he added.

ALSO READ: US Charges Indian National with Conspiracy to Murder SFJ Founder Gurpatwant Pannun

The MEA said that the enquiry committee was constituted on November 18.

In this context, it is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, the MEA spokesperson said.

He added that the government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee.

On November 22, the MEA had informed that the US had shared some inputs pertaining to a nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others during the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation.

Bagchi had said that India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on its own security interests as well. He said the inputs are the cause of concern for both countries and necessary follow-up action is being taken.

US Charges Indian National for Conspiring to Murder Pannun

Indias statement came after US Department of Justice (DoJ) on Wednesday said that an Indian national had allegedly orchestrated an unsuccessful assassination attempt against Pannun, who is an American citizen.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Matthew G. Olsen said.

ALSO READ: Who is Nikhil Gupta, Whats His Alleged Role in Plot to Kill Gurpatwant Pannun in US?

Earlier this year, an Indian government employee, working together with others, including Gupta, in India and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City. DoJ said in a release.

Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition. Sources, meanwhile, said India is also watching Guptas case carefully but it is wrong to say that Indian agencies gave him the task of killing Pannun.

The US, which is putting pressure on the Czech Republic to extradite Gupta, is likely to be successful but Indian authorities said the country does not have any evidence against him as he is not involved in any way.
Hamas has released 16 more hostages, including 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals, on the final day of a two-day truce extension set to expire early on Thursday. Israels prison service, meanwhile, reported the release of 30 more Palestinians from its jails in a sixth round of swaps.

This comes amid growing international pressure on the warring sides to extend a truce, following another exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The exchanges are a core component of the arrangement, which was initially set at four days.

The Government of Israel embraces the 14 hostages  ten of our citizens and four foreign nationals  who returned to Israeli territory today. Their families have been updated by the responsible officials that they have returned to the country. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 29, 2023

Blinkens Truce Talks

US State Secretary Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday, his third trip to the region since the war began, and was set to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss extending the temporary truce and boosting humanitarian aid into Gaza. Looking at the next couple of days, well be focused on  doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in, Blinken said at a stop in Brussels.

Israeli media reported that the military would resume the attack on Gaza at 7 a.m. if the government did not receive a list of hostages to be released that met its criteria by that time. Israel, according to the reports, is demanding that at least 10 hostages be released on Thursday and that women and children be prioritised.

Six-day truce

The six-day truce has brought the first respite to Gaza in seven weeks. During that time, Israel bombarded the territory in response to a rampage by Hamas gunmen on October 7, when Israel says gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages. Some 97 hostages have been freed since the start of the truce, according to a Reuters tally. The Israeli military says 145 hostages remain in Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Russian citizens and four Thai citizens were released outside the framework of the agreement while the 10 Israeli citizens freed included five dual nationals, officials said. They were a Dutch dual citizen, who is also a minor, three German dual citizens and one US dual citizen.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Gaza Strip was in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe, and he and others called for a ceasefire to replace the temporary truce. Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce  which we strongly welcome  but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire, he told a meeting of the UN Security Council.

(With agency inputs)
Major producer Brazil will join OPEC+ from next year, the oil cartel announced on Thursday.

Brazil is among the worlds top 10 producers and has been the largest oil producer in Latin America since 2016.

Its crude production hit a record 3.7 million barrels per day in September, a near 17 percent increase from the same month last year and a 6.1 percent hike from August, according to pricing agency Argus Media.

Ministers of the 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headed by Saudi Arabia and its 10 partners led by Russia were meeting to discuss further output cuts to boost prices.

The meeting welcomed Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which will join the OPEC+ starting January 2024, OPEC said in a press release.

OPEC+ was born in late 2016 when Russia and nine others joined forces with the Saudi-led OPEC to prop up falling prices.

Considering that Brazil is a large oil producer and is driving oil production growth it is important to have them on board, but it seems that they are not cutting production like Mexico, so would conclude with: good for OPEC+, less relevant for oil market balances, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The 23-member OPEC+ is a motley crew of countries: Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals, South Sudan and Libya have been wracked by civil wars and others such as Venezuela are mired in economic crises.

The cartel faced its biggest crisis in 2020 as countries locked down due to the Covid pandemic, sending oil demand plunging.

The group agreed in April 2020 to slash output by 9.7 million barrels per day in order to boost sagging prices.

It began to raise production again in 2021 as the market improved.

In the most recent meetings amid plunging prices, OPEC+ members have announced voluntary cuts to boost prices.

Since the end of 2022, the alliance has implemented supply cuts of about five million barrels per day (bpd) with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.
The 28th United Nations Climate Summit (COP28) has begun in the UAE with a draft text decision on the much-awaited Loss and Damage fund on the table. The new text by the COP28 UAE Presidency, released just ahead of the opening plenary session, calls upon the developed countries to lead in committing finance to the crucial fund.

The much-awaited L&D fund was set up at COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh last year to support developing countries particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change. After five rounds of rocky negotiations, the Transitional Committee (TC) met in Abu Dhabi and finally managed to agree on a set of recommendations that are expected to be at the centre of negotiations at the two-week long climate summit.

The overall language of the new text remains somewhat similar to the Committees recommendations. The eligibility for access to the fund is limited to particularly vulnerable developing countries as before. Nonetheless, the new document also urges developed countries to continue providing voluntary support for activities to address loss and damage, and invites them to take the lead to provide financial resources for commencing the operationalization of the Fund. No country, though, is legally obliged to contribute to the fund as of date.

Developing countries are confident that the hard-fought fund will get operationalized at COP28, but reiterate the need to enhance its financial scope and necessitate hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Experts say it is critical to establish a process to initially capitalise it and replenish it periodically so that those bearing the brunt of climate disasters are adequately compensated.

India also remains extremely vulnerable to impacts of climate change, and has continued to highlight the need for new and additional financial resources that are among the commitments and responsibilities of the developed countries under UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.

WHO WILL HOST THE FUND?

Another crucial question is where the fund will be hosted. The Abu Dhabi committee agreed to invite the World Bank to promptly operationalize the fund as a financial intermediary fund for an interim period of four years. The World Bank is to be the trustee and host of the Funds Secretariat, much to the dismay of developing countries, who opposed it tooth and nail, but ended up compromising to reach some kind of consensus.

Now, the new draft decision suggests that if the World Bank has not confirmed that it is willing to meet the conditions from developing countries within the next six months, then the Board will launch the selection process for the host country this year and end at COP29 next year.

But climate activists say the new draft decision also falls short of fully addressing developing nations concerns, including the proposal to designate the World Bank as an interim host. The World Bank has, in principle, agreed to the conditions proposed by developing countries, which include enhanced access and independent decision-making for the fund. It must be held accountable to revise its policies to meet these commitments and to effectively deliver finance to vulnerable communities and countries during its tenure. Any deviation from these commitments must result in the World Bank losing its role as the interim host of the new fund, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network (CAN) International.

NEW BOARD, FIRST MEETING BEFORE JANUARY 31

The proposed fund will be supervised by a 26-member Board with 12 developed and 14 developing countries headed by an Executive Director. The first meeting of the Board of the Fund is required to be held before January 31, 2024 once all voting member nominations have been submitted.

The Board can establish and apply its own eligibility criteria, but in current form, it allows all developing countries to directly access its resources, including through subnational, national and regional entities and through small grant funding for communities, consistently with the policies and procedures to be established by the Board.

The fund aims to provide finance for loss and damages incurred by developing countries due to climate change, such as sea level rise, displacement, relocation, migration, and the need for climate-resilient reconstruction and recovery.
North Korea said it will never negotiate its sovereignty with the United States, criticising Washington as double-faced for offering talks while ramping up military activities in the region, state media KCNA reported on Thursday.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior official, said the U.S. showed extreme double standards at this weeks meeting of the U.N. Security Council over North Koreas recent launch of its first spy satellite. The meeting set the stage for a rare, public spat between U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and North Korean Ambassador Kim Song, both arguing that their countries military activities are defensive.

Kim Yo Jong said Thomas-Greenfield highlighted efforts to reopen talks with North Korea even as she lacked justifiable ground for denying its sovereign right to space development. The U.S. and South Korea have condemned the satellite launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Koreas use of any ballistic technology.

Thomas-Greenfield also failed to make a more logical excuse for how the U.S. stand for diplomatic engagement and its efforts to resume dialogue blend with the provocative military activities of the U.S. nuclear carrier and nuclear submarine deployed in the Korean peninsula, Kim said, according to KCNA.

We make it clear once again to the U.S. which asked the DPRK to fix the time and agenda for resuming the DPRK-U.S. dialogue, Kim said, calling North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, the DPRK will never sit face to face with the U.S. for that purpose.

Kim also said it was Washingtons double standards and high-handed and arbitrary practices, not her countrys space programme, which dent regional peace and stability. In another dispatch, KCNA said leader Kim inspected photos of a U.S. naval base in San Diego and a Kadena air base in Japan, taken by a spy satellite.

Pyongyang has said the satellite was designed to monitor U.S. and South Korean military movements, and has photographed U.S. military bases around the world including in Guam and Italy, as well as such installations as the White House and Pentagon.

But state media has not released any imagery, fuelling debate among officials and analysts in Seoul and Washington over how capable the satellite actually is. In a separate commentary, KCNA denounced South Korea for intensifying what it called war provocative moves through joint military drills with U.S. troops, involving aircraft carrier Carl Vinson.

It accused South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of playing a key role in formalising a concrete nuclear war provocation plan by bringing U.S. nuclear strategic assets and stepping up combined exercises also including Japan. South Korea had initially planned to launch its own first spy satellite on a U.S. Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, but the plan was postponed due to weather.
Top UN leaders and envoys have lauded Indias exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and for being a champion of South-South cooperation, as they highlighted the countrys G20 Presidency and termed the enduring partnership between India and the United Nations as a guidelight within the Global South.

India assumed the year-long G20 Presidency in December last year and is all set to hand over the baton to Brazil.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN and the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) organised a special event at the world bodys headquarters here Wednesday to commemorate six years of collaborative partnership of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

India has long been a champion of South-South cooperation and the global pursuit of the SDGs, bringing to life its philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  the world as one interconnected family, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in her remarks at the event.

Mohammed underscored that the India UN Development Partnership Fund stands as a testament to the extraordinary accomplishments that nations can achieve when they unite, surpassing borders and differences to create a sustainable, equitable and just world.

Mohammed said that the sixth anniversary of the Partnership Fund compels us to contemplate the tremendous obstacles we face in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the vital role that South-South cooperation can play in overcoming these challenges.

Since its launch in 2017, the Fund has supported 76 projects in 54 countries. President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis described this as no small feat, especially in the current age of shrunken fiscal spaces compounded by the impacts of the pandemic and other global shocks in recent years.

Francis told the event, attended by UN envoys, officials, policy experts, think tanks and academicians, that the fact that beneficiaries of the Partnership Fund cut across the membership of the Global South  of which India remains integrally a dynamic part  and supports all geographic regions while maintaining a strong emphasis on Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries speaks volumes about its vision of development and its ability to channel funds where they are needed most.

We are all accustomed to the fact that keeping an eye on the horizon is nothing new for India. Its exemplary leadership in addressing global challenges and being a strong voice in multilateral affairs is well-known  and has been for many on full display, particularly in recent years including during the pandemic, Francis said.

He added that Indias G20 Presidency marked a commendable historic milestone as the first ever to usher in the African Union as a permanent member into this grouping  thus sending a strong signal to the Global South of Indias commitment to the need for solidarity and fairness in global economic governance.

Francis added that India, home to one-sixth of humanity, also plays an unparalleled role in the global mission  including at the UN  to create a more just and equitable world.

Its long legacy includes, among others, the championing of democracy, promotion of women-led development and its pioneering role leading to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, he said.

Francis underscored that the enduring partnership between India and the UN has spurred just and inclusive development  from the worlds densest cities to its remotest villages  and today serves as a guidelight within the Global South, in the true spirit of South-South Cooperation. Managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and implemented by 12 UN entities at the country level, the USD 150 million Fund supports innovative, Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world.

The Fund operates across the Global South and supports all geographic regions, with a strong emphasis on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India has walked the talk and its commitment to the ethos of leaving no one behind is not just rhetoric, but a demonstrated reality.

She noted that over the past decade, Indias development partnerships have reached 78 nations and manifested in 600 projects, speaking volumes of the countrys goodwill and capabilities.

Indias timely humanitarian assistance, spanning across nations from Afghanistan to Ukraine, Turkiye to Nepal, and its unwavering support to Gaza and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) highlight our resolve in fostering global solidarity, Kamboj said.

She added that the Fund, covering a vast spectrum of areas including health, education and environmental sustainability is a testament to our commitment to multi-dimensional development, acknowledging that progress in one area is often interlinked with advancements in others. India stands as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for the Global South. In a world of shifting global dynamics, our nation has risen as not just a voice, but as a representative of the hopes and challenges of developing countries.

On the occasion, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Report was launched. Envoys and representatives from Dominica, El Salvador, Morocco, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Senegal, Fiji, Tuvalu, Togo, and Tonga shared their national experiences and development projects undertaken through the Fund.
A US attorney this week announced the filing of murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused of participating in a foiled plot to assassinate an American citizen in New York City. Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.

The charges were unveiled in a Superseding Indictment unsealed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Though the prosecutors did not name the target, US officials have identified him as Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The US indictment which identifies Pannu as The Victim, also identifies an Indian government employee as CC-1, who allegedly collaborated with others, including Gupta, to direct a plot to assassinate a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City. It alleges that Gupta, residing in India, is associated with CC-1 and has been involved in international narcotics and weapons trafficking.

Guptas Alleged Role Unveiled

CC-1 recruited Gupta in May to orchestrate the assassination of the Pannun, a vocal critic of the Indian government and leader of a US-based organisation advocating for the secession of Punjab, according to the indictment. Gupta, under CC-1s direction, contacted a confidential source working with the DEA to contract a hitman for the murder. The hitman, an undercover DEA officer, was later agreed to be paid USD 100,000 by CC-1 in a deal brokered by Gupta.

Advancements in the Plot

In June, CC-1 provided Gupta with Pannuns personal information, including his New York City address, phone numbers, and details about his daily life. Gupta, in turn, passed this information to the undercover officer. CC-1 instructed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot. In light of Hardeep Singh Nijjars June killing, Gupta informed the undercover officer that there was now no need to wait to kill Pannun.

Arrest and Charges

Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, based on the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. Gupta faces charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

US Attorney Damian Williams emphasised the gravity of the situation, saying, We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad.

Indias Response

On Wednesday, India said it takes inputs on security matters from the US seriously. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made these comments in response to queries about a report the US had thwarted an attempt to kill Pannun on American soil.

During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi about discussions between India and US on security matters. He said the inputs were a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action.
ROCKA Solutions Expands Presence in the USA with Appointment of PIT Equipment Services, LLC Published: 30 November 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

PHARR, TX  ROCKA Solutions proudly announces the addition of Global SMT award-winning Rep of the Year, PIT Equipment Services, LLC, led by Don Dennison, as its first representative in the United States. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in ROCKA Solutions expansion plans and reinforces the company's commitment to building a robust sales team. Dennison will represent ROCKA Solutions on the east coast in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

ROCKA Solutions is experiencing remarkable growth and expansion, and the collaboration with Equipment Services aligns with the company's vision to establish a strong presence in the USA. As the demand for innovative stencil cleaning solutions continues to rise, ROCKA Solutions is strategically positioning itself to meet the evolving needs of the electronics manufacturing industry.

Don Dennison, founder and CEO of PIT Equipment Services, LLC, brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and positive energy to the ROCKA Solutions team. His extensive knowledge of the electronics industry, coupled with a commitment to staying abreast of industry changes, distinguishes him as a highly competent and unique professional.

Established in 1988, PIT Equipment Services has been a trusted partner to electronic assembly companies in the New York/New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania metropolitan area. Dennisons leadership has been instrumental in the companys mission to provide unparalleled assistance, leveraging extensive product knowledge and cultivating strategic customer relationships.

As ROCKA Solutions continues to expand its reach, the addition of PIT Equipment Services is a strategic move to enhance customer support and accessibility in the United States.
A British government-ordered inquiry said Tuesday it found serious failings at hospitals where an electrician who was later convicted of murder had sex with more than 100 corpses over 15 years without being detected. David Fuller's necrophilia was uncovered in 2020 when police used DNA to tie him to the 1987 slayings of two women and also discovered millions of images of sexual abuse in his home. The images included videos of him having sex with the dead bodies of women and girls in the mortuaries at two hospitals where he worked in southeast England. The 308-page inquiry report called Fuller's offenses shocking, the AP reports. "However, the failures of management, governance, regulation and processes, and a persistent lack of curiosity, all contributed to the creation of the environment in which he was able to offend," it said.

"David Fuller's victims and their relatives were repeatedly let down by those at all levels whose job it was to protect and care for them," the report added. Fuller, 69, is serving a life sentence with no chance of release after pleading guilty to two counts of murder. He is serving a concurrent 12-year term after admitting dozens of instances of necrophilia that the prosecutor in the case said had never been seen on that scale before in a British court. Fuller, who had a criminal record as a burglar that he never disclosed in work papers, was hired at the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital two years after he killed Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, in separate attacks in Tunbridge Wells in 1987. Those crimes wouldn't be solved for 33 years, after he moved on to work at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, in Pembury.

Fuller committed 140 violations against the bodies of at least 101 girls and womenages 9 to 100between 2005 and 2020, the inquiry found. There was time-stamped photographic or video evidence of each instance. The inquiry made 17 recommendations, including that surveillance cameras be installed in the mortuary and postmortem room, and that non-mortuary workers and contractors be accompanied to the mortuary by a staff member. Miles Scott, who became chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust in 2018, said in a statement he was "deeply sorry for the pain and anguish" of the families of Fuller's victims. Fuller was brazen in committing his crimes, taking risks during working hours when other employees were in the mortuary, the report said. The inquiry said it could not determine how he had been able to carry out the abuse during working hours without being caught.

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Family members of the victims who were interviewed by the inquiry but not identified in the report said they were stunned when they learned what had happened to their loved ones and discussed how difficult it had been to carry on afterward. One widower said he couldn't bring himself to tell his family members about it, per the AP. "The impact on my family has been non-existent, because they don't know," the man said. "It's basically robbed me of 25 years of happy memories.  Anything that reminds me of my wife also reminds me of what David Fuller did to her." The daughter of a victim said, "I know they're not alive, but they are vulnerable individuals."

(Read more United Kingdom stories.)
Despite the tepid growth reported by China's major internet companies, online discounter PDD Holdings, the parent company of e-commerce platform Pinduoduo, beat third-quarter revenue forecasts as it continued to capture more value-conscious Chinese consumers.

In addition, its cross-border online marketplace Temu has witnessed a surge in popularity among overseas shoppers, experts said.

Pointing out that the country's consumer market is gradually recovering and showcasing immense growth potential and resilience, they said that Chinese online retailers should build up flexible supply chain systems and provide cost-effective shopping experiences for consumers by leveraging innovative digital technologies.

PDD Holdings' growth in the domestic market has outstripped that of competitors such as Alibaba Group Holding and JD, which can be largely attributed to the deep discounts rolled out before the Singles Day shopping spree, industry insiders said. The shares of the United States-listed company soared 18.04 percent on Wednesday, taking its market value to $184.7 billion, close to Alibaba's $195.4 billion.

PDD Holdings said on Tuesday night that its revenue jumped 93.9 percent year-on-year to 68.84 billion yuan ($9.7 billion) during the July-September period, while its net income attributable to ordinary shareholders reached 15.54 billion yuan in the third quarter, an increase of 47 percent year-on-year.

Chen Lei, chairman and co-CEO of PDD Holdings, said in an earnings call with investors that with the introduction of a series of policies to spur consumption, the company is seeing robust demand. "We can see that consumption upgrades are not only about quality but also about price, and it is the balance of quality and price that consumers care about most," Chen said.

The company's better-than-anticipated financial results can be partly attributed to the rising popularity of Temu, its cross-border e-commerce platform. Launched in the US in September last year, Temu offers discounted products shipped directly from China, and is now present in more than 40 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Chen said PDD hopes to leverage the supply chain capacities it has accumulated over the past years to create a new channel that enables consumers from different countries and regions to directly purchase products from factories, providing more flexible and personalized supply chains and more cost-effective shopping experiences.

He added that the company has also continued to invest in areas such as agricultural and supply chain technology, and core research and development capabilities.

PDD's surging revenue contrasts with the slowing growth of Chinese e-commerce giants including Alibaba and JD in the third quarter. Alibaba reported 9 percent year-on-year revenue growth to reach 224.79 billion yuan during the quarter, while the net revenue of JD increased 1.7 percent from a year ago.

Seeing PDD's exceptional financial performance, Jack Ma, co-founder of Alibaba, said on an internal network of the company that he believes Alibaba will innovate in response. Ma congratulated PDD's efforts over the past few years, saying the era of artificial intelligence-powered e-commerce has just begun, which offers both an opportunity and a challenge for everyone.

Mo Daiqing, a senior analyst at domestic consultancy Internet Economy Institute, said PDD Holdings' strong financial performance indicates improved consumer sentiment and the continuous recovery of China's consumption market.

Mo said Chinese online retailers have ramped up efforts to offer steep discounts and adopted low-price strategies to obtain a new breed of users and improve user loyalty and repurchase rates. "The platform that can offer products at competitive prices, fast delivery and good shopping experience will gain an upper hand in this fierce competition," she added.

Li Mingtao, head of the research institute at the China International Electronic Commerce Center, said, "As a new form of foreign trade, Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms represented by Temu can help establish a direct and definitive connection between manufacturers and consumers by applying advanced digital technologies such as big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence."

He added that manufacturers can better learn about and grasp the needs of consumers via these platforms, adjust production in a timely manner, and reduce inventory, which will be conducive to improving the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing enterprises on the global stage.
It was Nov. 18, 1998, when Bank of the Valley opened the doors of their second full-service branch location in David City, Nebraska. What began as a one-room bank in Bellwood in 1984 had expanded to a second branch location in a new community to meet the growing needs of their customers. This year Bank of the Valley celebrates its 25th anniversary at their David City North Branch location, and reflects on their years of service as the areas only locally owned and operated Community Bank.

The growth of the bank over the past 25 years has been amazing to be a part of! said Jill Kobza, Bank of the Valley Vice president and core manager. The changes have been significant, like using a microfiche machine for account research to those images being one click away now. The constant has been the community of David City; from coworkers to customers, it is a great place to live and work.

Bank of the Valleys Charter was issued in May of 1984 and that is when they officially became part of the Bellwood business landscape. After serving that area for over a decade, they opened a Loan Production Office in David City in 1994. A short time after opening that facility, they filed an application with the State Banking Department to establish a savings and loan association which would then be converted to a bank.

The Loan Production Office location at 1877 N. Fourth St. was initially remodeled to accommodate Bank of the Valley employees and customers as they provided banking services, however the construction process quickly began for a new bank building which would better serve the needs of Bank of the Valley and the community. Construction was completed in November 1998, and all banking activities officially transferred over to the new building just south of the former Loan Production Office.

In September 2020, Bank of the Valley expanded their footprint in David City and opened a second Branch location in the Downtown Square. Bank of the Valley has now grown to seven Branch locations serving Butler, Platte and Colfax counties. The bank has seen many changes over the years in terms of financial tools and technology, economic trends, and banking regulations, but their commitment to providing personal, relationship-based services and solutions has remained the same.

We are so grateful to the Community of David City for the support we have had these past 25 years, Bank of the Valley President Jason Lavicky, shared. We have been fortunate to grow and succeed because of a business model focused on relationships and working with our customers to help them be successful. We will continue to serve our customers and communities in this way, because we realize that together we truly do go further.
Jonathan Majors went on trial in New York City in an assault case that could affect the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 34-year-old actor faces four misdemeanor charges of assault and aggravated harassment after being accused of a domestic assault on then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in March, Variety reports. Majors, whose lawyers say he is "completely innocent" and was assaulted by Jabbari, could face up to a year in prison if convicted.

Majors, whose film and TV credits include Creed III, Loki, and the third Ant-Man movie, was considered a rising star before his arrest and had been expected to play a major role in the next phase of the MCU as the main villain, Kang the Conqueror, the BBC reports. But plans were scaled back after his arrest, and release dates for the next two Avengers movies, The Kang Dynasty, and Secret Wars, have been pushed back. Studio execs have discussed recasting the role or promoting a different villain if Majors is convicted, Variety reported earlier this month.

Prosecutors said Jabbari was treated in a hospital for minor injuries after fighting with Majors during a car ride in New York, the AP reports. She was briefly arrested after he filed a cross-complaint last month, but the DA's office dropped the charges next month. Before jury selection began on Wednesday, Judge Michael Gaffey agreed to bar spectators and the press from the courtroom while a piece of evidence "likely to be prejudicial and inflammatory" was discussed, Deadline reports. Seth Zuckerman, an attorney for Majors, said the evidence could "taint the jury pool beyond repair." (Read more Jonathan Majors stories.)
UPDATE

Dec 19, 2023 6:39 PM CST

Minnesota's new state flag should feature an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field at the right, a special commission decided Tuesday as it picked a replacement for an older design that many Native Americans considered offensive. The State Emblems Redesign Commission chose the final version on an 11-1 vote after finalizing a new state seal that depicts a loon, the state bird, the AP reports. Unless the Legislature rejects them, the new flag and seal will automatically become official April 1, 2024, when Minnesota observes Statehood Day. The new flag is a revised version of a design submitted by Andrew Prekker, 24, who said he was grateful and amazed for the "rare privilege" of being able to contribute to state history.

Nov 30, 2023 3:46 AM CST

Minnesota is in the end stages of replacing its state flag, which many consider offensive to Native Americans. The State Emblems Redesign Commission has opened up a public comment period on the final six contenders for the new flag, none of which feature anything close to the current design involving settlers farming Minnesota land while a Native American apparently rides off into the sunset. See the finalists, plus the current state flag, in our gallery; you can also view the final contenders for the new state seal on the commission's website.
Hamas released another 16 hostages Wednesday as talks to extend the truce with Israel continued. The BBC reports that two Russian-Israeli women were released to the Red Cross Wednesday and returned to Israel. Another 10 Israelis and four Thai citizens were later released to the Red Cross. Qatari authorities said that in accordance with the terms of the truce, which is now in its sixth day, 30 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails would be released. Qatari officials said dual nationals among the Israelis released on Wednesday include an American woman, three Germans, and a Dutch child.

The releases Wednesday brought the number of hostages freed by Hamas to more than 100, but the Israeli military says more than 140 remain in Gaza. Many of the remaining hostages are soldiers and men of military age, and Hamas is expected to drive a hard bargain for their release, the New York Times reports. The truce is due to expire Thursday, but an Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity tells the Washington Post that Israel expects it to be extended by "another two to three days."

The Israeli official says, however, that the ceasefire will not become permanent and Israel will not abandon its "goal of removing Hamas from its rule in Gaza." The Israeli military says it's investigating a claim from Hamas that three hostages, including 10-month-old Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage seized in the Oct. 7 attack, were killed in an Israeli airstrike. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.)
Just returned from a trip to Israel , Elon Musk said at a New York event on Wednesday that his recent endorsement of an antisemitic tweet was the "worst and dumbest I've ever done." Nevertheless, he said, advertisers that have quit spending on X in opposition to hateful content should just leave his site. "Don't advertise," Musk told the audience at the New York Times DealBook Summit. The billionaire included a "Go f--- yourself," Yahoo Finance reports.

Musk argued in an onstage interview that the boycotting advertisers are trying to blackmail him. But his threat to them sounded similar. "What it's going to do is it's going to kill the company, and the whole world will know the advertisers killed the company," Musk told the audience, suggesting his supporters would in turn boycott those advertisers, per CNBC. "We will document it in great detail," he said. Musk singled out Disney boss Bob Iger. "Hey Bob, if you're in the audience  that's how I feel," Musk said.

Iger had already told the event that Disney's association with X and Musk "was not necessarily a positive one for us," per the New York Times. Also in the audience was X CEO Linda Yaccarino, whose job is to get major brands to advertise on the social media platform, per CNN. Big-name advertisers that have at least suspended their X buys include Paramount, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Discovery, as well as Disney. Musk told the gathering that it's been "a hell of a year," conceding that he sometimes says "the wrong thing." (Read more Elon Musk stories.)
A CBS News investigation finds that candy company Mars, Inc. continues to use cocoa harvested by child laborers in Africa, and calls into question the company's stated commitment to keeping kids there in school. The media outlet found kids as young as five working at each of the cocoa farms it visited in Ghana (and saw one nearly hack off his fingers with a machete he was using to open cocoa pods) and talked to whistleblowers who said that cocoa field supervisors are under pressure to "cook" the lists of children who are supposedly in school, not on the fields, and that no one checks to make sure the lists are accurate.

CBS also found multiple examples of children whose names appear on those lists, but who were not in school and were still working in the fields, as well as some names of children who don't actually exist. And at one school, CBS found just a third of the 300 children registered there actually go to class, and those who do say they are still harvesting cocoa before or after class. Mars issued a lengthy statement in response to the report in which it stated multiple times that it condemns child labor, investigates any claims of misconduct, and has "a robust Protecting Children Action Plan in place that is backed by a significant financial investment." It also, however, acknowledged more still needs to be done. It has committed to having systems in place that are meant to eradicate child labor from its supply chain by 2025.

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that a class-action lawsuit has been filed against Mars and fellow food giants Cargill and Mondelez alleging that the companies "have done little to address the ongoing and pervasive use of child workers performing the worst forms of child labor on their sourcing plantations." A similar lawsuit against Nestle and Cargill went through 16 years of litigation before the US Supreme Court dismissed it in 2021; that one has been refiled and is now pending, and this one relies on different laws. (Read more Mars stories.)
Visitors to Red Lobster this summer and fall might have wondered how the chain was able to sell all-you-can eat shrimp for $20 every day and still turn a profit. It turns out that they couldn't. Red Lobster made "Ultimate Endless Shrimp," which used to be a Monday-only deal, a permanent menu fixture in June but it was more popular than the chain expected, leading to an $11 million third-quarter loss, CNN reports. The plan was to boost traffic to the chain's restaurants during the second half of the year, when they tend to be quieter. It worked to some extenttraffic was up 4% year-on-yearbut the 670-restaurant chain hoped more customers would pick different menu items.

"We knew the price was cheap. But the idea was to bring more traffic in the restaurants," Ludovic Garnier, chief financial officer of Red Lobster owner Thai Union Group, told investors this month. He said the proportion of customers choosing the deal "was much higher compared to expectations." Customers who chose the deal could select two dishes from a list that included coconut shrimp and shrimp linguini Alfredo, the New York Times reports. When customers finish those, promotional materials said, "they can order additional shrimp selections until their cravings are fully satisfied."

Red Lobster didn't take the promotion off the menu after its unexpected popularity, but it raised the price to $22, then $25. "We want to keep it on the menu," Garnier told investors, per Restaurant Business. "And of course we need to be much more careful regarding what are the entry points and what is the price point we are offering for this promotion." (Read more Red Lobster stories.)
Hamas released another 16 hostages on Wednesday amid the temporary pause in fighting in Gaza, and in exchange, Israel set free 30 prisoners of its ownamong them, a notable Palestinian activist. The AP reports that a bus transporting some of the latter arrived in Ramallah, in the West Bank, on Thursday morning, the sixth day of the extended truce. Among the newly freed prisoners: Ahed Tamimi, 22, who went viral in 2017 as a teen after a video of her slapping two Israeli soldiers circulated. Tamimi was sentenced to eight months in prison for that incident.

The New York Times notes that Tamimi had been arrested again on Nov. 6 in an early morning raid on suspicion of inciting violence and calling for terrorist activity, although charges were never formally filed. A Palestinian official tells Reuters that Tamimi had been freed after being held at the Damon Prison, near the Israeli city of Haifa. Her father, activist Bassem Tamimi, is also reportedly being held by Israel without charges. Tamimi's attorney says she was beaten during her latest arrest. Her mother says that Tamimi was arrested based on a fake social media post; Nariman Tamimi claims her daughter's Instagram was hacked, per the AP. (Read more activists stories.)
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A jury in York County has awarded an Aurora woman a quarter of a million dollars in a civil trial alleging her former employer wrongfully fired her for cooperating with a government investigation involving Medicare and Medicaid billing.

Terri Dibbern, who had worked for York Surgical Associates for more than 28 years, said they fired her two days after she told them she had made a report to an Office of Inspector General investigator.

York Surgical Associates and owners Drs. Daniel Growney and Ye Ye contended that they hadn't terminated Dibbern but that she resigned.

In a brief, Dibbern's attorney, James Zalewski, said she had been told her employment was being terminated, but that she could sign a short resignation letter instead if she wanted. Which she did.

He argued that the public policy exception to the employment at-will doctrine protects employees, like Dibbern, from wrongful discharge when the motivation for the firing contravenes public policy.

Zalewski said Dibbern had a right to provide testimony and evidence to a government agency auditing her employer to protect herself from fines or penalties or even potential criminal charges.

"Further, she was trying to provide information that was vital to the investigation, and likely would have helped the defendants," he said.

Zalewski said the result of the investigation was a $21,000 settlement over alleged Medicare coding errors.

Attorney Patrick Flood, who represented York Surgical Associates, argued the owners had been relying on the advice of counsel in the decision to terminate Dibbern's employment.

He argued that this wasn't a case where Dibbern opposed some practice of York Surgical Associates or was a whistleblower on the physicians for whom she worked. Rather, she was trying to convince the investigator that she and her employer had done nothing wrong.

At the end of a three-day jury trial in York last week, the jury found in favor of Dibbern in the amount of $260,129 for lost wages and benefits, but gave her nothing for emotional distress.

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Baraka Islamic Bank announced it recently won the award for Best Islamic Corporate Financing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in 2023 from Global Business Outlook (GBO).

This award stands testament to the Bank's commitment to the guidelines issued recently by the Central Bank of Bahrain, under the leadership of Rashid Mohammed Al Maraj, to retail banks operating in Bahrain regarding the financing requirements of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Kingdom.

Fahad AlBalooshi, Chief Corporate & Institutional Banking Officer emphasized the bank's dedication to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bahrain and stated that the Bank aims to play a significant role in driving the recovery and advancement of the SME sector in Bahrain considering them an essential part of our vision for sustainable economic growth.
Grayscale Proposes GBTC Fund Amendment as Spot Bitcoin ETF Looms

Disclosure: Crypto is a high-risk asset class. This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute investment advice. By using this website, you agree to our terms and conditions. We may utilise affiliate links within our content, and receive commission.

Grayscale, the manager of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), has proposed amendments to the trusts agreement in preparation for a potential uplisting to a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF).

The move aims to align GBTCs structure with other applicants, including asset management giant BlackRock, and optimize its position in the evolving market.

The proposed updates, which will be subject to a shareholder vote, involve two key modifications to the trust agreement, according to a Wednesday filing.

Firstly, the amendment enables the collection of fees on a daily basis instead of the current monthly collection.

Notably, this structural change is separate from any potential fee reduction, which Grayscale has committed to but is yet to finalize.

Currently, GBTC charges a 2% management fee, while typical fees for firms awaiting spot bitcoin ETF approval range from 0.7% to 1%, as per Matrixports analyst report.

New Amendment Allows for Comingling of Assets



The second proposed update allows for the commingling of assets in an omnibus account, streamlining the creation and redemption of shares.

The enhancement is made possible through the Coinbase Custody service, which will also be employed by BlackRock iShares and other spot ETF applicants.

The efficient processing mechanism is crucial for ETFs, as it facilitates the seamless trading and tracking of underlying assets.

Grayscales proposed amendments are part of its ongoing efforts to optimize the GBTC structure and ensure readiness for an uplisting to NYSE Arca as a spot bitcoin ETF, pending regulatory approvals.

It is worth noting that the amendments are not essential for the conversion to an ETF, according to the filing.

Shareholders have a 20-day period from the filing date to cast their votes on the proposed updates.

SEC to Approve Several ETF Applications at Once



Industry analysts anticipate that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will approve multiple spot bitcoin ETFs in rapid succession.

Meanwhile, the specific company that will offer the ETF and the implications for the crypto markets, which have experienced a prolonged slump, remain uncertain.

Grayscale has been at the forefront of the legal battle to secure SEC approval for a Bitcoin ETF, a type of fund that has been available in Europe and Canada for years.

As the court proceedings started to favor Grayscale, major players in the financial industry, including BlackRock and Fidelity, also filed applications to offer their own ETFs.

Given the optics, it would not be surprising if the SEC grants approval to a well-known traditional finance company like BlackRock first.

The optimism around the launch of a spot Bitcoin ETF has fueled the recent rally in crypto markets, which saw the flagship cryptocurrency reach $35,198, the highest level since May 2022.

However, estimating the demand for an ETF is challenging due to the diverse range of metrics used by investors and analysts.

Crypto firm NYDIG estimates the demand for a spot bitcoin ETF at approximately $30 billion.
Have you ever driven past the same building day after day and wondered what it looks like inside?

Have you ever only seen a space from the street and wondered what lies within?

Maybe the location is closed to the public, or maybe youve just never had a reason to go in.

Now you dont have to.

The Sentinels Inside Look series aims to take readers into the curious places Cumberland County has to offer from the comfort of their living rooms.

Join us every other week for a video and photo gallery of new, or sometimes very old, local places that are just waiting to be explored.

Marine Corps League, Lewis B. Puller Jr. Detachment 524

The Marine Corps League, Lewis B. Puller Jr. Detachment 524 in Carlisle, is known for services such as honoring Eagle Scouts, conducting final salutes for fallen Marines and participating in local parades and ceremonies.

However, walking into the detachment at 101 Noble Blvd., its another service that seems to dominate the buildings usage: Toys for Tots.

Walking through the lobby, a turn to the right or left will lead visitors into spacious rooms packed with toys as far as the eye can see.

Every year, Carlisles detachment participates in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program to collect new, unwrapped toys for local children up to age 12 in need for Christmas.

Carlisles detachment provides toys to Cumberland and Perry counties, as well as a portion of York County, according to local Toys for Tots coordinator Robert Kessler, who also is the detachments senior vice commandant.

Everything is done here, he said. We bring in the toys here [and] we sort them. Then we take the applications and then we pick them and then we put them in bags and we distribute here too.

Kessler said the detachment collects toys and monetary donations to purchase toys from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.

Families can apply in advance to receive toys, and drive-thru distributions will take place Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from noon to 2 p.m.

Anything collected after these distributions will be saved for next year, Kessler said. This year, the detachment started its Toys for Tots collection with about 19,000 toys from previous years.

While the detachments building is also used for Marine Corps League member and board of trustee meetings, the space largely supports Toys for Tots.

Bagged donations ready for distribution fill tables and line hallways while floor-to-ceiling shelves in other areas are stacked with toys waiting to be selected. The building also contains separate rooms for games, dolls, stuffed animals and other toys.

Kessler said the Carlisle detachment distributed nearly 40,000 toys to 4,623 children in 2022.

He said many local businesses conduct interior toy drives, and toys also come from drop boxes located throughout the community, like the one outside the detachments building.

Established in 1994, Carlisles detachment is named after 1st Lt. Lewis B. Puller Jr., a Marine officer and Vietnam War veteran from Virginia who died by suicide that year, according to Arlington National Cemetery.

Kessler said it has occupied the Noble Boulevard space for the past three or four years.

The building is owned by next-door neighbor Chapel Pointe at Carlisle.

They own it, but they have offered it to us to use for five years specifically for Toys for Tots, but they dont mind that we do Marine Corps League activities in here either, Kessler said.

Prior to moving to Noble Boulevard, he said the league met at the American Legion Post 101 in Carlisle and the Carlisle Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In addition to Toys for Tots and other initiatives, Kessler said the detachment provides a sense of camaraderie for its members.

Once a Marine, always a Marine, he said. So you have people with like-minded thinking that gather together to accomplish positive goals, and thats essentially what we do.
"These Hudson's Bay buildings have become architectural anchors in the cities that are featured in this collection. Architecture tells a story of the times, and these building photographs capture so much more than just the store. There is a connection to community," says Tiffany Bourre, VP, Communications and Heritage.

Each Heritage Tote is crafted from 100% natural, unbleached cotton, complete with a broad gusset for enhanced durability and practicality. Every tote narrates a distinct chapter in Hudson's Bay's history with featured images chosen from the Hudson's Bay Company's extensive corporate archives ranging from 1910 through 1979.

TOTE PHOTOGRAPHY:

Calgary, 1929

This tote showcases the first Hudson's Bay flagship store. Opened in 1913, the store distinguished itself among HBC's establishments with its six impressive storeys and a design crafted for future expansion. As one of the city's most notable structures, it offered expansive retail spaces and the esteemed Elizabethan Restaurant. A defining feature is the majestic 1930 colonnade, a 380-foot testament with granite columns and bronze lanterns, symbolizing the store's architectural evolution and prestige.

Montreal, circa 1970

Capturing a rich retail history, Morgan's legacy began with Henry Morgan in the mid-19th century. Upon establishing its doors on Ste. Catherine Street in 1891, was notable for its top-floor factories which crafted custom goods, setting it apart from peers like Hudson's Bay Company. The 1920s ushered in significant expansion with an additional eight storeys and expansive display windows. By 1960, HBC acquired Morgan's, and the design on this tote illustrates the transformation, prominently featuring the iconic Ribbon B "The Bay" logo from its 1965 rebranding.

Toronto, circa 1910

Evoking Toronto's vibrant past, this tote spotlights the iconic facade of Robert Simpson's store on Queen Street after its 1908 expansion. Opened in December 1894 as Toronto's first large steel structure, it was ingeniously designed by architect Edmund Burke. Despite being consumed by fire just months after its inauguration, it was resiliently rebuilt by 1896. The bag's image intricately captures the Romanesque Revival details, from round-arched windows to the "RSC" initials etched into the glassa testament to a storied legacy and architectural marvel.

Toronto, 1979

Set against the backdrop of Toronto in 1975, this tote portrays the iconic Simpson's Queen Street store, complemented by a vision of the 1979 Toronto skywalk bridge. Towering in the background is the Simpson Tower, a modernist marvel designed by John B. Parkin, opened in 1969 with its distinct bronze-tinted windows. By 1978, Hudson's Bay Company began its acquisition of the Simpsons, leading to a transformative era. A highlight on the tote is the skywalk, symbolizing the union of the store with the newly established Eaton Centre in 1977.

Vancouver, 1959

This tote highlights the evolution of the Hudson's Bay store in Vancouver in 1959. Beginning its journey in 1913, the first phase of the store graced the intersection of Georgia and Seymour, welcoming customers by March 1914. The store embarked on its second phase in 1925, replacing the building at Granville and Georgia, seamlessly extending the cream terra cotta facade and majestic Corinthian columns. Another expansion in 1926 furthered its grandeur on the north Granville Street side. The store reached its final architectural form in 1949 with the fourth addition on north Seymour Street, setting the store's contemporary footprint.

ABOUT HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY HISTORY FOUNDATION

Hudson's Bay Company History Foundation (HBCHF) was established after HBC donated its corporate records and other documents to the Archives of Manitoba, and its collection of artifacts to The Manitoba Museum. The Foundation is committed to funding the continued preservation, promotion and public access to both collections in perpetuity, as well as providing support to Canada's National History Society and other impactful historical projects.

Today, HBCHF's mandate is to advance the knowledge of and interest in HBC's role in history and to contribute to Canada's narrative with accurate inclusion and representation of Indigenous cultures, knowledge, and contributions. Recognizing HBC's role in the colonization of Canada, HBCHF works to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and communities.

ABOUT HUDSON'S BAY

Hudson's Bay helps Canadians live their best style of life. Operating thebay.com featuring Marketplace, one of the largest premium life & style platforms in Canada, with a seamless connection to a network of 83 stores from coast to coast, Hudson's Bay has established a reputation for quality and style through an unrivalled assortment of products and categories including fashion, home, beauty, food concepts and more. Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram , Facebook , Twitter , TikTok .

Hudson's Bay operates under the HBC brand portfolio. Founded in 1670, HBC is North America's oldest company. The signature stripes are a registered trademark of HBC.

SOURCE The Bay

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Polyak, Director, Public Relations, [email protected]; Tiffany Bourre, VP, Corporate Communications, PR, Social Media, Events and Heritage, [email protected]
Festive pop-up looks to raise $10,000 for Food4Kids

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Gay Lea Foods Co-Operative Limited ("Gay Lea Foods"), a 100% Canadian-owned dairy co-operative, is bringing back its one-of-a-kind 'Share Joy by Gay Lea' holiday pop-up experience to Toronto. The cheerful holiday pop-up, complete with Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, immersive activations and larger-than-life installations, is FREE to attend and will run from November 30 to December 31 at The Well (410 Front St. West.).

Share Joy by Gay Lea Immersive Pop-up Experience (2023) Photo Credit: Ernesto Garcia (CNW Group/Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd.)

The family-friendly (and that means dogs too!) Share Joy by Gay Lea pop-up welcomes guests of all ages to explore five immersive rooms, each carefully designed to spark creativity and joy. From larger-than-life baking utensils to an 8-foot plush gingerbread and a massive cake topped with sprinkles, each space takes guests on a holiday-inspired journey that is sure to delight. Guests to the pop-up will also enjoy complimentary hot cocoa (select hours) and cookies - while dogs can munch on free pup-cups. Guests will also have the chance to sign-up for exclusive cake decorating sessions with Canadian celebrity cake artist, April Julian.

Staying true to its brand vision of enriching communities and bringing joy to others, Gay Lea Foods has partnered with Food4Kids, anOntario organization that ensures kids have access to healthy food every day of the year. For every photo posted on social media using #GayLeaShareJoy or @gayleafoodscoop, Gay Lea will donate one dollar to Food4Kids, with the goal of raising up to $10,000 for this charitable organization.

"We're thrilled to bring our Share Joy by Gay Lea holiday experience back to Toronto for the 2023 holiday season. We invite everyone to come by to capture and share some of the little - and not-so-little things - that bring them joy during the holidays!" said Erin Matier, Business Unit Director, Gay Lea Foods. "Our interactive pop-up installation allows us to creatively express and share our Gay Lea brand pillars while helping spread joy and giving back to our community."

The Share Joy by Gay Lea Holiday Pop-up is creatively designed and executed by Toronto's Chalkboard Marketing.

Share Joy by Gay Lea Holiday Pop-Up

The Well, 410 Front St. West. Toronto

Open from November 30 to December 31, 2023

Hours of Operation:

Wednesdays to Sundays: 12 PM to 8 PM

For those looking to share joy at home, Gay Lea offers a range of recipes that can be found at Gaylea.com/recipes  from Baker's Gold Butter to Gay Lea Whipped cream, Gay Lea is a key ingredient for sharing joy this holiday season.

ABOUT GAY LEA FOODS CO-OPERATIVE LTD.

Gay Lea Foods is a 100% Canadian-owned dairy co-operative with members on roughly 1,400 dairy farms in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 4,100 producers and shareholders. Together, we are passionate about producing foods and high-quality ingredients that our customers love and trust, while ensuring the value our business creates flows to the members of our co-operative, our employees, and the communities we touch. This is how we achieve our Vision of Enriching communities cooperatively. This is what we are working together to achieve. This is Gay Lea Foods. Please visit gaylea.com to learn more.

Website: gaylea.com | IG: @gayleafoodscoop | FB: @gayleafoods | #GayLeaShareJoy

SOURCE Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd.

For further information: Media Contact: Aly Tsourounis, [email protected], (647) 297-9124
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - SuperVisas today announced that Rippling users can easily solve all their travel, work and immigration visa needs. SuperVisas is now available in the Rippling App Shop.

"Rippling is the one and only place to run your entire global workforce including HR, IT, finance, and now, work and immigration visas with SuperVisas," says Brad Armstrong, SVP of Global Partnerships at Rippling. "Our platform continues to deliver value by giving HR professionals the tools needed to support international employees."

"Visa requirements can be complex and expensive, especially for companies that need visa preparation services for only a handful of employees," says Alec Main, CEO at SuperVisas. "Our AI-powered platform makes it easy for both administrators and employees to get the information and expert advice they need in a fraction of the time and cost compared to full-service law firms."

"SuperVisa has been a partner of Alacrity's Startup Visa program and we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration," says Golriz Fattahi, COO Alacrity Canada. "As we forge ahead in leading technology adoption, Rippling has been a new initiative to enable Alacrity's fast paced operations. It is with great enthusiasm that we see SuperVisa's new partnership with Rippling."

The benefits of this new partnership include:

Seamless integration of visa services into Rippling's global workforce management platform

Support for employees visiting, working or immigrating to the USA or Canada

or AI-driven visa application processing by SuperVisas, ensuring accuracy and reduced costs

Access to immigration resources, consultants and free eligibility confirmation for all sizes of employers

To learn how to connect Rippling, please visit the SuperVisas employer page .

About Rippling

Rippling gives businesses one place to run HR, IT, and Finance. It brings together all of the workforce systems that are normally scattered across a company, like payroll, expenses, benefits, and computers. For the first time ever, you can manage and automate every part of the employee lifecycle in a single system. Based in San Francisco, CA, Rippling has raised $1.2B from the world's top investorsincluding Kleiner Perkins, Founders Fund, Sequoia, Greenoaks and Bedrock. For more information, visit Rippling.com.

About Alacrity Canada

Alacrity offers an ecosystem that starts with an inclusive community and extends to full-spectrum support for early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in industrial transformation. Alacrity provides advisory services and digital training for emerging businesses, connects them with experts in their network, and offers dilutive and non-dilutive investment opportunities.

About SuperVisas

SuperVisas is an AI-powered visa preparation platform whose mission is to make expert immigration assistance accessible to everyone. Its technology is revolutionizing the way immigration services are delivered, providing cost-effective and efficient solutions compared to traditional legal firms.

SOURCE SuperVisas

For further information: Joe Chen, SuperVisas, +1 416-834-9208, [email protected]
Subway Canada launches its limited-edition Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie with

Reese's Pieces and unveils its first-ever Footlong Cookie to celebrate National Cookie Day!

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Subway Canada sold over 77 MILLION cookies in 2022, which stacks up to about 3,500 CN Towers! This year, Subway Canada continues to take the perfect sandwich pairing to new heights as Canada's destination for cookies.

This National Cookie Day, Subway Canada is baking up its all-new Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie with Reese's Pieces. The newest sweet treat is available at Subway restaurants nationwide for a limited time.

Subway Canada Footlong Cookie (CNW Group/Subway Canada)

What's even sweeter is that on December 4th, 2023, better known as National Cookie Day, Subway Canada will be debuting its first-ever Footlong Cookie in Toronto.

Inspired by the all-new Subway Series menu and available exclusively on National Cookie Day, Canadians will crumble for ooey-gooey goodness and indulge in crave-able toppings.

"A cookie has always been the perfect pairing to a Subway Footlong," said Subway Canada's Chef, John Botelho. "Subway is Canada's cookie destination, and this year, we're giving Canadians even more cookie to enjoy, combining inspiration from fan-favourite Subway Series sandwiches with the delectable taste of our iconic Chocolate Chunk Cookie, now made with chocolate chips."

Subway Canada guests who come out to celebrate National Cookie Day will be some of the first and only to experience the Footlong Cookie before launching in restaurants in 2024 for a limited time. For one day only, Subway Canada will debut three exclusive flavours of the nation's first-ever Footlong Cookie.

The Green Goddess: Like Subway Series #11, the Green Goddess is bright, pairing Subway Canada's Chocolate Chip Cookie with a pistachio spread, topped with shaved coconut, and green apple and drizzled with caramel.



The Little Italy: Inspired by Subway Series #14, the Little Italy, this cookie has a sweetly Italian flare with a ricotta and mini chocolate chip spread, topped with fresh blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, lemon juice, and delicately dusted with icing sugar.



The Great Canadian: A truly Canadian treat and inspired by Subway Series #1, this cookie is piled high with a caramel-maple spread, dollops of sweet blueberry jam and topped with butter tarts, pecans, and a Canadian favourite  bacon.

Get ready to crumble this December 4th at 127 Bremner Blvd, Toronto when the exclusive Subway Series inspired cookies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 1PM and until supplies last, with a limit of one cookie per guest. Satisfy your cookie cravings in exchange for a suggested donation to Subway Canada's Never Miss Lunch program, in partnership with Food Banks Canada. A program in its fifth year that aims to provide nutritious food to kids in need during the summer break when many school- based lunch programs are unavailable. For those not based in Toronto, look forward to your sweet fix coming in 2024, when Subway Canada's Chocolate Chip Footlong Cookie will be available for purchase across the country.

If that's not enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, Subway Canada offers a delicious deal until December 31st, 2023. As Canada's destination for cookies, and just in time for the holiday cookie craze, when you buy a $30 Subway Canada gift card in-store or online, you'll get 6 FREE cookies*  that is some seriously sweet cookie math!

*At restaurants where Subway gift cards are accepted. Limit 4 QR codes awarded per order. Not valid on bulk orders. Offer valid until 12/31/23. Free cookies redeemable through 1/31/24

About Subway Restaurants

As one of the world's largest quick service restaurant brands, Subway serves freshly made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls to millions of guests across more than 100 countries and territories in nearly 37,000 restaurants every day. Subway restaurants are owned and operated by Subway franchisees  a network that includes thousands of dedicated entrepreneurs and small business owners  who are committed to delivering the best guest experience possible in their local communities.

Subway is a Registered Trademark of Subway IP LLC.  2023 Subway IP LLC

SOURCE Subway Canada

For further information: Media Contact: Lauren Toti, [email protected], 647-262-0554
Conference call will be held on November 30, 2023, at 11AM ET.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ -- Zoomd Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF) and its wholly owned subsidiary Zoomd Ltd. (collectively, "Zoomd" or the "Company"), the marketing technology (MarTech) user-acquisition and engagement platform, today reported its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023. The Company's financial statements and management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") are available on SEDAR under the Company's profile. All currency references in this press release are in USD.

Third Quarter Financial Highlights

Revenues were $7.1M , a 27% decline versus 3Q22, primarily due to lower revenues from the cryptocurrency sector and Zoomd's decision to discontinue unprofitable activities.

, a 27% decline versus 3Q22, primarily due to lower revenues from the sector and Zoomd's decision to discontinue unprofitable activities. Gross Margins increased roughly 900 basis points to 40%, versus 3Q22, reflecting lower revenues from the cryptocurrency sector, and discontinuation of unprofitable activities which carries lower margins.

Total operating expenses decreased 36% versus 3Q22 as the Company implements its cost saving initiatives and costs saving measures.

Adjusted EBITDA ( 1 ) increased to $575,000 or 8% of sales, versus $15,000 in 3Q22.

Positive cash flow generated from operating activities for the first time in 5 consecutive quarters.

(1) Adjusted EBITDA is a Non-GAAP performance measure. Refer to "CAUTION REGARDING NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES" for further details.

Management Commentary

Amit Bohensky, Chairman of Zoomd Technologies, stated, "During the third quarter we made tremendous strides in improving our margins and bottom line, growing our Adjusted EBITDA to $575,000 versus $15,000 in last year's period and achieved positive cash flow from operating activities for the first time in 5 consecutive quarters. The acceleration in probability is the direct result of the implementation of our restructuring initiatives and cost saving measures, which we initially disclosed in June. These initiatives were designed to optimize our operations and financial performance. As part of this process, we discontinued various unprofitable areas of our business, resulting in operating expenses decreasing by 36% in the third quarter. We will channel our resources towards activities and solutions that have demonstrated profitability, enabling us to better position ourselves competitively in the current market.

We expanded our gross margins by approximately 900 basis points during the third quarter, largely as the result of our business transitioning away from cryptocurrency customers which carried lower margins. In addition, we discontinued some non-profitable areas of our business. While these items contributed to our revenue decline of 27% in the quarter, gross profit dollars only declined by 8%.

We remain cautious yet optimistic regarding the advertising technology space. Historically, companies tend to cut their advertising budgets during periods of economic uncertainty as a cost-saving measure. However, when the business environment becomes more stable and secure, companies often increase their advertising investment to regain market share."

Third Quarter 2023 Highlights

Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023 , were $7.1 million , a 27% decline relative to 3Q22. Revenues continued to be negatively affected by the global slowdown, in particular the areas of cryptocurrencies . We continue to diversify our business by increasing our exposure to sectors such as E-commerce, iGaming, transportation, and consumer product goods as well as offering a wider range of performance based products and services. Furthermore, our decision to discontinue unprofitable areas, including our publishers' monetization business, led to a decline in revenue. Excluding both Cryptocurrency clients and non profitable operations clients that have been discontinued revenue in 3Q23 have risen in comparison to the corresponding period last year.

, were , a 27% decline relative to 3Q22. Revenues continued to be negatively affected by the global slowdown, in particular the areas of . We continue to diversify our business by increasing our exposure to sectors such as E-commerce, iGaming, transportation, and consumer product goods as well as offering a wider range of performance based products and services. Furthermore, our decision to discontinue unprofitable areas, including our publishers' monetization business, led to a decline in revenue. Excluding both clients and non profitable operations clients that have been discontinued revenue in 3Q23 have risen in comparison to the corresponding period last year. Gross profit margin was 40% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 , versus 31% for the same period last year. The 900 basis point increase was due to lower revenues from the cryptocurrency customers, which carry lower margins. In addition, the company exited certain non profitable areas of its business.



, versus 31% for the same period last year. The 900 basis point increase was due to lower revenues from the Research and Development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 , were $0.7M , a 49% decrease relative to Q3 2022. Selling, General and Administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2023 , were $2.2M , a 30% decrease relative to Q3 2022. This decline in expenses was mainly the result of our cost savings restructuring initiatives, mainly reflect the impact of 40% reduction in headcount.

, were , a 49% decrease relative to Q3 2022. Selling, General and Administrative expenses for the three months ended , were , a 30% decrease relative to Q3 2022. This decline in expenses was mainly the result of our cost savings restructuring initiatives, mainly reflect the impact of 40% reduction in headcount. Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2023 , was $575,000 as compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $15,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 , reflecting cost savings initiatives.

, was as compared with Adjusted EBITDA of for the three months ended , reflecting cost savings initiatives. Operating loss was $0.08M for Q3 2023, compared to an operating loss of $1.5M in Q3 2022, reflecting the cost savings initiatives.

for Q3 2023, compared to an operating loss of in Q3 2022, reflecting the cost savings initiatives. Net cash of $0.2M was generated from operating activities in 3Q23, reflecting positive cash generation from operating activities for the first time in 5 consecutive quarters. As of September 30, 2023 , the Company's cash and cash equivalents amounted to $1.5 million , and no long-term debt.

CONFERENCE CALL

Amit Bohensky, Founder and Chairman, will hold a conference call to discuss the quarter's financial results at 11AM ET on November 30, 2023.

Interested parties can listen via a live webcast, from the link available in the Investors section of Zoomd's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or at https://app.webinar.net/xyJNoQ9o8l7

A replay will be available after the call, in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://zoomd.com/investors/ or via https://app.webinar.net/xyJNoQ9o8l7.

ABOUT ZOOMD:

Zoomd (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF), founded in 2012 and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in September 2019, offers a mobile app user-acquisition platform, integrated with many global digital media outlets, to advertisers. The platform unifies more than 600 media sources into one unified dashboard. Offering advertisers a user acquisition control center for managing all new customer acquisition campaigns using a single platform. By unifying all these media sources onto a single platform, Zoomd saves advertisers significant resources that would otherwise be spent consolidating data sources, thereby maximizing data collection and data insights while minimizing the resources spent on the exercise. Further, Zoomd is a performance-based platform that allows advertisers to advertise to relevant target audiences using a key performance indicator-algorithm that is focused on achieving the advertisers' goals and targets.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTION REGARDING NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release refers to "Adjusted EBITDA" which is a non-IFRS financial measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. The Company's presentation of this preliminary financial measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. This preliminary financial measure is intended to provide additional information to investors concerning the Company's estimated results. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for share-based payments and one-time non-operating expenses and is a measure of a company's operating performance. Essentially, it's a way to evaluate a company's performance without having to factor in financing decisions, accounting decisions or tax environments.

Management uses this non-IFRS measure as a key metric in the evaluation of the Company's performance and the consolidated financial results. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in their assessment of the operating performance and the valuation of the Company. However, non-IFRS financial measures are not prepared in accordance with IFRS, and the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and operating profit is available in Zoomd's MD&A located on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com which is incorporated by reference into this press release.

DISCLAIMER IN REGARD TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to Zoomd's future outlook, including as a result of the impact of general economic trends, its future ability to successfully continue its growth, its ability to improve profitability, as well as its ability to continue expanding into new geographies and industries. Forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, technological, legal, privacy matters, political and social uncertainties, the extent and duration of which are uncertain at this time on Zoomd's business and general economic and business conditions and markets. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Company Media Contacts:

Amit Bohensky

Chairman

Zoomd

[email protected]

Website: www.zoomd.com

Investor relations:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Ben Shamsian

New York | Phoenix

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1039696/Zoomd_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Zoomd Technologies Ltd.

For further information: Zoomd: +972 722200555 / Lytham Partners, LLC: 646-821-9701
This sucks, there is no good decision in this.

That was Newville Borough Council President Scott Penners conclusion as the council Tuesday night discussed ways to bring next years budget into balance.

With the clock ticking on a Dec. 31 budget deadline, tax hikes, personnel cuts or a combination of the two seem to be the most likely way to bridge a nearly $800,000 deficit projected for next year.

The council approved a recovery plan Tuesday that, pending court approval, will temporarily raise earned income taxes 1.5% for residents and nonresidents who work in the borough from 2024 through 2028, effective Jan. 1. According to 2021 data, Newvilles population is around 1,238.

This increase would mean the average resident who makes $47,000 per year would pay an additional $707 in earned income taxes, not including earned income taxes paid to the Big Spring School District, according to representatives from Public Financial Management, or PFM, the boroughs Act 47 recovery coordinator.

Newville qualified for Act 47 in August, designating it a distressed municipality and requiring the state to provide financial assistance.

The boroughs financial challenges were unveiled last December when the discovery of financial discrepancies prompted the dismissal of long-time borough manager Fred Potzer in January. This finding launched an investigation by the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office that includes a forensic audit.

Borough Solicitor Marcus McKnight believes the audit has been completed and is in the process of being organized into a report. He anticipates meeting with the DAs office in the near future.

No charges have been filed against Potzer.

Projected deficit

Even with the arrival of approximately $800,000 in state loans in recent months, Newvilles 2024 budget faces a projected $786,268 deficit. This includes more than $600,000 in outstanding pension payments, as well as repayments for previously misallocated state funds.

How much is $800,000? Its the entire budget, PFM Managing Director Gordon Mann said Tuesday.

He said Newville hasnt had enough money to balance its budget for years and hasnt completed an annual audit since 2015.

Last years budget accounted for about $1.1 million in revenues when the borough is anticipated to bring in about $750,000 by the end of the year.

Its a predicament that didnt happen overnight, Penner said.

There was nothing about the finances of the water and sewer authority or the borough finances that [was] correct, McKnight said. I mean, Im talking about the amount of manipulation that was done over the past decade is mind-boggling. It took a lot of work to do it, so its not just oh, this one thing was done improperly. All the things were being done improperly financially.

Closing the gap

The earned income tax increase is anticipated to bring in about $445,000 toward closing next years budget gap, according to PFM.

This is a large dollar amount ... this is a painful first step, Mann said.

He said PFM started with the earned income tax increase because nothing else could generate such a large amount of money that quickly.

Additionally, Newvilles mayor and borough council decided to cut spending in areas like personnel, the summer program and contributions to the Newville Economic Development Authority, saving about $114,000.

Even so, a roughly more than $200,000 shortfall remains, though the numbers fluctuate, Mann said.

Looking into the boroughs options to close this gap, he said Newville will have to choose between increasing property taxes, cutting police personnel or a combination of the two.

Were essentially asking you to pick the which option you dislike the least, Mann said. Thats effectively what were asking, because we recognize that neither one of these are good.

PFM presented two scenarios that could close the gap for next year.

The first calls for a 3.61 mill real estate tax increase, meaning owners of a home valued at $150,000 would pay an additional $541 in taxes, and no cuts to police officers.

Scenario number two suggested a 2.09 mill increase to real estate taxes, which would mean a $314 increase for homes valued at $150,000, and one fewer officer.

Newvilles police department, originally intended to include three officers, a chief and a clerk, has been down an officer since the departure of Officer Jason Brady earlier this year. The second scenario would further reduce those ranks.

Mayor Michael Croutch said cuts to the police department would mean the borough would see fewer of its officers out on patrol and place an unbearable workload on the remaining force.

I believe that it would have the effect of eliminating the police department in the long term, he said.

Discussion Tuesday then turned to the possibility of eliminating Newvilles police department entirely, relying, as surrounding townships do, on Pennsylvania State Police coverage. Should the borough go that route, state police would solely enforce state laws since they are unable to enforce municipal ordinances.

Other suggestions centered around the possibility of hiring part-time officers, but Penner doesnt believe that would be any more cost effective.

We lived in the part-time officer world for many, many years, he said. Its a revolving door. In the grand scheme of things, it doesnt save any money.

Some residents who packed into the councils crowded meeting room Tuesday night raised questions about the possibility of selling off borough assets to help close the budget gap.

Mann said the boroughs only asset worth significant money is its water and sewer system; however if the borough chose to sell the system, it would be unable to control rates.

Please, borough council, do not consider water and sewer at all, resident Sharpe Over said at the meeting. That should not even have been on the table. Its a nice thing to think about, but we will pay more later.

Others asked about the sale of the boroughs current building at 4 West St., something Mann said wouldnt carry the borough very far, or the sale of the new, yet unoccupied building at 103 S. High St.

McKnight, however, said that building was constructed as a gift to the borough, and Penner said the police department could possibly share the space with borough staff.

The police department moved just outside of the borough to Green Ridge Village after mold became an issue at its former station in 2021, however, its lease is up in February.

Penner said renovations would have to be completed to accommodate the department at the new municipal building, but sharing the space could ultimately save the borough about $20,000 a year by preventing it from having to start a new lease elsewhere.

Public input

Several residents raised questions and concerns during the public comment period of Tuesdays meeting.

This wasnt my problem, I didnt cause this problem in this town, and why should I suffer, resident Natalie Hutchinson said. It really affects my husband and I both. We work our [expletive] off and then weve got to pay more taxes for someone elses mistake. Thats not fair.

Mann acknowledged that while it wasnt the borough residents and taxpayers fault, the repeatedly unbalanced budget has been putting out more in expenses than it has received in revenues.

For a number of years, youve basically been getting free services, and because life doesnt work that way, now you have to pay for them, he said.

Resident Joe Arnold asked what would happen if the borough did nothing, moving forward with an unbalanced budget and no tax increases or personnel cuts.

Mann said if that were to happen the borough would run out of money and go into receivership. There are only a handful of places that have experienced this in the state, including Chester in Delaware County, he said.

Under a receivership, the state appoints a representative to take over and make decisions for the municipality, something McKnight said wouldnt save residents from higher taxes.

You would head down the same path with less say, is effectively what would happen, Mann said.

The borough will continue to gather public input at a budget hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 11 with a location to be advertised.

Penner anticipates the final budget to be passed during the councils meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 21, which will also be held at a location to be disclosed later.

Looking ahead, Mann said the heightened earned income taxes can only exist as long as the borough remains under Act 47, something that could last about five to seven years. If the borough has not exited Act 47 after eight years, it would go into receivership, something that is extremely rare, he said.

Mann believes Newvilles situation is fixable and that it will emerge with better internal controls. He believes the borough has elements that draw people in, such as housing and a great school district.

I know this is really painful and I dont want to downplay any of that because you guys are going to live it and its really, really hard, Mann said. But you also have some great assets here, and you dont have to look that far into the future to see a brighter thing.

Photos: Scenes from the 2023 Newville Halloween Parade
PHILADELPHIA  A west Philadelphia activist who acknowledged having helped overturn a police car during 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd has been sentenced to a year in prison.

Anthony Smith was sentenced Tuesday following a guilty plea in June to a federal charge of obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, which included aiding and abetting an arson, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Smith acknowledged having helped others flip over a vacant Philadelphia police car outside City Hall on May 31, 2020. After someone fired a road flare into the vehicle, sending it up in flames, Smith then threw a piece of paper into the blaze, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Juan Sanchez heard emotional pleas in a packed courtroom from family, friends and ex-students of the former social studies teacher who asked him not to send Smith to prison. Sanchez praised them for coming to court and lauded Smiths community work and passion for advocacy but said such leadership comes with a heavy price.

You failed, in that regard, all of us, he said. Your influence was used in a negative way and impacted public safety.

Smith told Sanchez his actions were immature and emotional, and that he acted as a follower that day.

Smith was sentenced to a year and a day in prison as well as two years of probation, less than the 30 months or more prosecutors had recommended, citing sentencing guidelines, and less than terms meted out to two co-defendants, the Inquirer reported.

Defense attorney Paul Hetznecker said his client had spent three years on house arrest and the felony conviction bars him from teaching for 10 years. He said justice is not served by incarcerating Smith, calling his actions a bad moment in his life against a lifetime of altruism.

Another defendant, Khalif Miller, was sentenced in April to 61 months in prison and Carlos Matchett to 46 months. Two other defendants who pleaded guilty to setting fire to cars during the demonstration were sentenced to shorter terms: Ayoub Tabri to 364 days and Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal to 2 years.

Smiths plea came a few months after Philadelphia officials announced a $9.25 million settlement over lawsuits filed by him and other activists challenging the police response to the protests and civil disorder following Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police. Officials said in March that the settlement would be distributed among 343 plaintiffs in connection with police actions during the protests that erupted in west Philadelphia and along Interstate 676 in the city center. A grant will also provide $500,000 to $600,000 for mental health counseling for west Philadelphia residents.

Videos of Philadelphia police firing tear gas on June 1, 2020, at dozens of protesters on I-676 were spread widely on social media, and officials were criticized over reaction to unrest in and around a west Philadelphia business corridor that is the heart of a predominantly Black neighborhood. Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw faced criticism in two audits of the planning and response to the protests.




A former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, has said Nigerians should not blame Femi Adesina for defending former President, Muhammadu Buhari.





Osoba made the assertion at the launch of a book, A peep into the past, a memoir and collection of landmark articles and reports by a former Editor of Nigerian Tribune, Sir Folu Olamiti.





The event took place at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, in Ibadan.





Adesina, who was present at the event, served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari between 2015 and 2023.





Osoba while speaking at the event, noted that Adesina should not be blamed for all he did to defend Buhari.





Osoba noted that as a spokesman, Adesinas role is to defend his principal whether he has done good or bad.





He said, Dont blame Femi Adesina for defending Buharis work. His job is to defend him whether you like Buhari or not. His job is to defend him and he made a good job of it.




Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has directed his followers to stay on course.





Kanu issued the directive during his routine meeting with his legal team, led by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.





This was disclosed by Ejimakor on X on Thursday.





The IPOB leader commended those who have impacted positively during his ongoing incarceration.





Ejimakor wrote: Update: Ive concluded todays visitation with Onyendu #MNK. In my company were Barr Mandela and Prince Emmanuel.





MNK greets the faithful and loyal and directs that all should stay put and stay the course. Hes proud of those that have impacted positively and brought sanity to bear.






President Bola Tinubu has met with King Charles III of England ahead of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a post via his X account, the president said the meeting was a significant step in strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

"I am optimistic about the positive impact our joint efforts will have on our planet's future as we look forward to setting an equitable global standard for environmental stewardship at #COP28," Tinubu said.

Here are some photos from the meeting.








A date has been set to prosecute Manchester City over alleged breach of 115 Financial Fair Play rules.





According to the Daily Mail, a hearing date has been scheduled for late autumn in 2024.





The three-time champions are accused of breaking 115 regulations across 14 seasons, from the beginning of the 2009/2010 campaign.





The charges were brought against City earlier this year following a five-year probe.





Both the Premier League and the Etihad club have kept quiet ever since the charges were announced in February.





But City have refuted any wrongdoing and manager Guardiola recently hit back at those who have been demanding punishment for City.
Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister of state for defence, has narrated how N1.219 billion cash was airlifted to Ayodele Fayose, former Ekiti state governor, in 2014.

Giving evidence as a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, Obanikoro told the court that he received the money from Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), as directed by Fayose.

I was a minister under Jonathans administration in 2014. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. I was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities in the election, Obanikoro said.

Some days before the election, I got a call from governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I can recall that prior to that, we had some activities among which was fundraising for the purpose of that election.





When Mr. Fayose called, I told him I would call him later. I had a phone conversation with the NSA and was told he would get back to me. After, he got back to me that N2.2 billion was paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.

The former minister said he did not know the source of the funds, adding that only the NSA can explain the source of the fund.

I handed over the N1.219 million cash to Agbele for onward delivery to Fayose. I did not take any money or N19 million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos-based online platform, he said.

When asked about his relationship with Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, the former minister stated that the account was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos.

The account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election, he added.

I put a call through to let Fayose know that the money had been paid.

Diamond Bank had said it did not have the capacity to make the funds available, so we opted to airlift the funds. The funds were airlifted from Lagos in two tranches, the volume was much.

Myself, my ADC and my security orderly were there, including a top aide of Fayose to meet Mr. Agbele, the bank manager. I instructed my orderly to escort Mr Agbele and ensure the safe delivery of the money.

We airlifted the funds from Lagos in two tranches because the aircraft could not accommodate the funds. We used two aircraft and I was in one of the aircraft.

Nnamdi Dimgba, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to February 27, 2024 for continuation of trial.

Fayose is being prosecuted by the EFCC, alongside his firm, Spotless Investment Limited, following their alleged involvement in N6.9 billion money laundering.
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has said if necessary measures are not put in place, the Yoruba language may go into extinction soon.

In a communique issued at the end of its caucus meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Afenifere claimed that citizens of the region are now substituting Yoruba for English.

The group called on state governments in the region to make the language the medium for teaching at elementary and lower level of secondary education.

Afenifere further called on parents to ensure that the ability to speak the language is inculcated into their children.

The communique reads, Afenifere observed that the Yoruba language is under threat of extinction due to the fact that many Yorubas, especially elites, prefer to communicate with their children in English rather than in their native language.

To prevent the language from going into extinction, therefore, Afenifere called on governments in Yorubaland to make the language the medium for teaching at elementary and lower levels of secondary education.

And make it compulsory for students at school certificate examination level. It also called on parents and guardians to change their attitude by ensuring that their children are versed in Yoruba language.
The Olofin of Isheri and Adimula of Awori Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Bamgbade, on Thursday said the Aworis were the first settlers in Lagos.

Bamgbade urged the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to retrace the origin of the Benin Kingdom to Ile Ife, like the Aworis have always done.

This is coming in response to a recent comment by Oba Ewuare II, who traced the origin of Lagos to the Benis.

The monarchs comment has elicited opposition from a prominent Awori monarch, the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege; some academics and a Lagos chief, among others.

Oba Ewuare II sparked controversy among Nigerians especially on social media during a visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, when the king said the Binis founded Lagos.

It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos. When some people will hear it now, they will go haywire; what is the Oba saying there again? But it is true. Go and check the records. Maybe not all over Lagos as we know it now but certain areas in Lagos, maybe the nucleus of Lagos, were founded by my ancestors. The Oba of Lagos will say so, Oba Ewuare said.

But reacting to the comment in a statement on Thursday, the Olofin said contrary to Oba Ewuares claim, Lagos was founded and established by Olofin Ogunfuminire, the progenitor of the Awori people.

He said, Olofin Ogunfuminire left Ile-Ife to settle at Isheri before migrating with his wife, Ajaiye, to present-day Iddo in the heart of Lagos. It was at Iddo that Ajaiye was blessed with the fruits of the womb. Her offspring are the Idejo who are the actual traditional landowners of Lagos.

The spatial region of the land owned by the Idejo spans from Lagos Mainland (Iddo) to Lagos Island and up to Eti-Osa which he allocated absolutely to his children and other descendants.

In this regard, he assigned Iru to the Oniru, Ikate to the Elegushi, Lagos Island to Aromire, Iganmu to Ojora, Otto, and mainland to the Oloto (up to OdoIya Alaro). Isheri was the dispersal point where other Olofin Ogunfunminire descendants left to found other Awori towns. For instance, Akeredun left Isheri to establish Igbesa, Odoyi left Isheri to find Agboyi, Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi left Isheri to find Ota.

These facts are firmly established and supported by extant literature written by foreign authors and researchers such as Kristin Mann who in his book titled Slavery and Birth of an African City: Lagos 1760- 1900, wrote and I quote: Migrant fishing people first settled in Lagos and from the beginning water and canoes had a prominent role in the lives of its inhabitants. Prior to the sixteenth century, Aworis, the southernmost of the Yoruba-speaking people, dispersed from Isheri, a village twelve miles up the Ogun River. A group of them settled at what is now Ebute Metta, on the mainland.

Until the need for greater security drove the community to a smaller island in the lagoon opposite Lagos Island. There, they established two settlements, Otto and Iddo, and soon attracted fresh immigrants. In time, people from Iddo moved to the northwestern corner of the larger Island opposite, which eventually became known as Lagos, looking for land to farm.

The settlers recognised the paramount ruler called the Olofin, based in the more populous community of Iddo but tracing mythical descent from Isheri and via the founder of that village to Ile-ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.

Olofin added, The Benin who later came to Lagos as mere traders met Olofin and his descendants on the island of Iddo and its neighbourhood where they, Benin settled down and were well received and hosted by the community. As time went by, a feud broke out between the Benin and their hosts. Facing imminent defeat, they called for reinforcements and assistance from the Oba of Benin.

Olofin Ogunfunminire and his mentees vehemently and successfully repelled these attacks. As a compromise, and as part of the tolerant disposition which is the character of the typical Awori, the Benins were eventually relocated to live with Aromire on his pepper farm on Lagos Island at Iga Idungaran (Idungaran in Awori means pepper farm) where they after a while and probably due to the indifference of the original land owner, introduced a more structured organisation.

The first settlers in present Lagos are Aworis and the dispersal point of Aworis is Isheri. As the Olofin of Isheri and Adimula of Awori Kingdoms, I implore The Oba of Benin to retrace the origin of the Benin Kingdom to Ile Ife, like the Aworis have always done.
PHILADELPHIA  It appears as if Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson will be able to return from the groin injury that kept him out of Sundays game against the Buffalo Bills.

The Eagles, after playing nearly 70 minutes in their overtime win against the Bills, had a walk-through workout to kick off the practice week Wednesday, so the participation report was an estimation. But the fact that Johnson was listed as limited was a positive sign.
The number of people living on the street in New Jersey has fallen significantly this year, with a particularly steep decline in Newark, state and city officials say.

The number of unsheltered people statewide fell 23.4% as of Oct. 31 compared to the same 10-month period in 2022, according to the 2023 Homelessness Update, a report by the state Department of Community Affairs based on cumulative data from local homeless agencies or organizations.

The percentage decreases represent a decline in the average number of people who, on any given day during the first 10 months of the year, were spending their days and nights on benches, in bus shelters or other public places, from 10,014 in 2022 to 7,669 this year, according to the report.

In Newark, the number of people sleeping outside Newark Penn Station, in parks or city sidewalks declined by 57.6% from a year earlier to 1,647 as of Oct. 31 from 3,841, officials said.

The report indicates that the overall number of homeless people across the state, including those in shelters, declined more modestly, by 1.7%, during the same period, from 25,953 to 25,527. The overall figure includes an increase in the number of people in shelters that roughly mirrors the reduction in the number of unsheltered people, a shift that officials said reflected successful efforts to move homeless people indoors.

While we still have more work to do, we are extremely encouraged by the tangible progress being made to address one of the most pressing issues we face as a state, the departments acting commissioner, Jacquelyn Suarez, stated in a Nov. 13 announcement of the homelessness report. Referring to her boss, Gov. Phil Murphy, Suarez added, The Murphy Administration and DCA remain fully committed to implementing data-driven, comprehensive solutions to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in New Jersey.

The DCA attributed the statewide decline to homelessness prevention measures at all levels of government and the nonprofit sector. They include rapid-rehousing programs and construction of affordable housing, plus initiatives addressing racial inequities reflected in Black New Jerseyans disproportionate representation among the states homeless population. For example, a survey conducted in January found that Black New Jerseyans accounted for 48.2% of the states homeless population despite making up just 12.4% of its residents.

The downward trend revealed in the DCAs 2023 Homelessness Update was in contrast to a separate report released Nov. 3 by the Cranford-based nonprofit Monarch Housing Associates. It found homelessness was on the rise.

The Monarch report, based on its annual one-day Point-In-Time Count taken Jan. 24, found that across the state 1,416 people were found sleeping on the streets that day/night, an increase of 47% from the count from a year before. In terms of the overall homeless population, including sheltered and unsheltered, Monarch counted 17% more people last January than a year earlier.

Thats compared to a 1.7% decline in the overall population for the first 10 months of this year reported by DCA, which used cumulative data from the New Jersey Homeless Management Information System, a database fed by year-round reporting from homeless outreach workers and service providers across the state.

While the PIT count provides valuable data, it has inherent limitations as a single night snapshot, Lisa Ryan, a DCA spokesperson, said of the Point-In-Time Count. She called the states tally a more comprehensive, longitudinal analysis over a full year that offers a more robust and reliable census of homelessness in New Jersey that accounts for episodic and hidden homelessness.

Katelyn Ravensbergen, a senior associate at Monarch, said the contrasting figures were likely due to the DCAs use of cumulative data versus the one-day nature of her groups count. She also noted that Monarch did its last count more than nine months before the Oct. 31 date of the DCAs findings, during which the state and individual communities may have sheltered people.

Ravensbergen suspected that the downward trend revealed in the DCA report would show up in Monarchs 2024 Point-In-Time count, less than two months away.

My guess is that those numbers will probably reflect that same change, reported by the state, she said.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, a fellow Democrat and Murphy ally weighing a bid to succeed the governor next November, piggybacked on the state report with a separate announcement Tuesday highlighting Newarks numbers.

In Newark, when we put our attention to a problem and drill down to all its parts for concrete data, we have a platform to unite on for collaboration, Baraka said. In nearly one year, our research and collaboration has brought us to a remarkable place. Im grateful for our ambitious team. And Im so happy for the men, women, and children who now sleep with a roof over their heads and can enjoy the security every human deserves.

The decline in Newark follows Barakas plan last December to end chronic homelessness in his city within three years.

The plan calls for using data to track and shelter people living on the street more closely; make better use of homeless shelters as entry points to services for mental health, employment, and permanent housing; and prevent homelessness through the development of affordable housing and services to help people stay in the homes they already have.

The declining numbers were welcomed by James Williams, director of racial justice policy at the Fair Share Housing Center, a nonprofit that uses the courts to get municipalities to meet their affordable housing requirements.

Unsheltered people made up just 13.8% of the states overall homeless population, according to the DCA. But theyre the most vulnerable and should be a priority, James said.

If youre able to reduce the unsheltered homeless population to the extent that the state and the City of Newark were, those are laudable accomplishments, James said.

This graph is from a report by the state Department Community Affairs updating the state's homeless population as of Oct. 31, 2023, compared to the same date in 2022. The second and third rows, for unsheltered and sheltered people, make up the state's total homeless population, as defined by the DCA.New Jersey Department of Community Affairsu

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Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com
Jersey Citys Finest has run into a insidious foe that it could not defeat or even contain. And now the department, at least members of the East Precinct, are fleeing.

The precinct, located on Seventh Street Downtown, must be relocated because of a million-dollar mold contamination on two floors of the building, Public Safety Director Jim Shea told city council members this week. Its an issue that has plagued the building, said to be more than 100 years old, for decades, according to one councilman.
The Jersey City Police Department was looking for a bonus check, but instead found coal under the Christmas tree when a $2.5 million transfer of funds to cover over-budget overtime costs failed to garner the necessary city council votes for approval Wednesday night.

A resolution would have transferred $3.6 million from the current year budgets of the public safety directors office, the municipal council office and the fire department into the spending plans of the police department, communications and traffic and parking. The measure would have removed $1.4 million from the citys fire department and added $2.5 million to the police budget.

The city council voted 4-3-1 on approving the Department of Public Safety money moves, but the measure needed six votes needed to pass.
Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago, two of the most successful bands of all time, will be heading out on a North American tour in 2024.

The groups will perform two shows in New Jersey: One in Camden on July 31 and the other in Holmdel on Aug. 3.

The tour begins July 10 in St. Louis and ends Sept. 7 in Palm Desert, Calif. The bands will also make a stop in Wantagh, N.Y. on July 28.

This will be the third time Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago will co-headline a North American tour together.

Earth, Wind & Fire will be in Atlantic City for two shows in December, as well.

Where to buy tickets to see Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago in 2024

The cheapest ticket we could find for the New Jersey shows, before fees and at the time of publication, is $36 on Vivid Seats.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

Fans can also find tickets on StubHub, Vivid Seats, Ticketmaster, TicketCity, MegaSeats and TicketNetwork.

You can find a full calendar of the Heart & Soul 2024 Tour' dates here.

More upcoming 2023-2024 tours

Here are a few more 2024 tours you do not want to miss:

RELATED STORIES ABOUT LIVE EVENTS:

Rolling Stones Tour 2024: How to get tickets to the Hackney Diamonds tour

Creed tour 2024: How to get tickets to the Summer of 99 Tour

Taylor Swift Eras Tour 2024: Taylor Swift surprises fans by adding 3 new shows

20 Taylor Swift gifts for the Swiftie in your life

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
A Hudson County man died Wednesday morning after a woman backed her car into him in the driveway of her Princeton home, pinning him between the vehicle and a detached garage, police said

Officers were called to the Red Hill Road home shortly before 10 a.m. and found 61-year-old Meliton Hernandez-Morales, of West New York, pinned between the structure and the womans car, a Lexus sport-utility vehicle, Princeton police said in a statement.

The home has a wraparound-style driveway. Hernandez-Morales was at the home performing roofing work, police said.

Hernandez-Morales died from his injuries at the scene. The driver was not hurt, and was not facing any charges as of Wednesday evening, police said.

Princeton police continue to investigate the incident with the Mercer County Prosecutors Office.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
The pedestrian who was struck and killed by a freight train in Mechanicsville near Atlee High School on Wednesday has been identified as a 15-year-old student of the school.

In an email to families, faculty and staff, Atlee Principal John Wheeler said Chris Asare-Budu, who was a 10th-grader at Atlee, had passed away as a result of (the) tragic incident.

Police said Hanover County emergency communications received a call from Buckingham Branch Railroad at about 7:58 a.m. Wednesday. Officials say they were told a pedestrian had been struck on the tracks just west of the Cool Spring Road crossing near the Cool Spring West subdivision.

Hanover sheriffs deputies and emergency crews found the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.

The high school served as a staging area for law enforcement and first responders, Wheeler said in a note sent to parents Wednesday.

For those of you who knew Chris, we ask that you remember and celebrate his positivity, kindness, and his incredible ability to empower and lead others in their endeavors, Wheeler said.

Wheeler said school counselors were ready to offer assistance as the community navigated the loss.

For those of you who did not know (Chris), we ask that you respect our sadness and support us with your understanding and patience, he said.
The wife of a strip club owner in Middlesex County has filed a lawsuit against several law enforcement agencies, alleging her civil rights were violated when dozens of police officers tore apart her home in a criminal case in which she was never charged.

Brooke Acciardi, 24, was five months pregnant and barely dressed at 7 a.m. on June 14, 2022, when police broke down a door to her home, tossed a flash grenade inside, threw her husband to the floor and handcuffed her for hours, according to court papers.

Police charged her husband  Anthony Acciardi Jr., 30  along with his parents and two siblings with alleged crimes at the family business, Club XXXV, a strip club in Sayreville.

Earlier this month, a New Jersey grand jury returned a superseding indictment against the family members and several others on a variety of charges, including racketeering, promoting prostitution and conspiracy. Brooke Acciardi was not charged.

Brooke Acciardi had no connection with 35 Club, did not participate in any business venture with her husband, and was never suspected of, charged with, or indicted for any crime, states the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Superior Court of Middlesex County.

The suit names multiple defendants, including the Sayreville and Old Bridge police departments, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and more than 30 police officers.

A spokesperson for the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office declined to comment on the case, citing active litigation. A legal representative for Old Bridge township also declined to comment and officials in Sayreville did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.

On June 9, 2022, the Sayreville Police Department obtained a search warrant for the Acciardi home and arrest warrants for Anthony Acciardi Jr. and two family members, according to court papers.

At the time of the raid, Brooke Acciardi dressed only in bedclothes, including a tank top, the suit says.

Anthony Jr., in a panic about what the police might do to his wife, lay on the floor screaming, Shes pregnant, shes pregnant! the lawsuit says.

A male police officer pushed Brooke up against a wall and searched her, according to the suit. As she looked around her home, she saw only male cops searching and one woman in civilian clothes taking photos, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit says police failed to call a female police officer to search Brooke Acciardi and officers knew the the couple did not own weapons and were not in possession of gun permits, but swarmed the home anyway.

The defendants zip-tied Brookes hands and made her sit in a chair while they tore the house apart, the lawsuit alleges.

The suit says the zip-tie was replaced after an hour with handcuffs that remained in place for five more hours. The mother-to-be, who was well into her fifth month of pregnancy, (felt) exposed and extremely vulnerable throughout the ordeal, the suit says.

At one point, (officers) made her move her car from the driveway to the public street, forcing her to walk half-dressed through the street in front of the many neighbors who had gathered to watch, the suit says.

For six hours, police refused Brookes pleas to change her clothes, and wouldnt allow her to call her mother, the suit says.

The lawsuit says Brooke Acciardi sat in forced confinement, in pain from the handcuffs and watched terrified and humiliated as police dragged her husband out of the house and into a police car.

She was in fear for her husband, in fear for her own safety, but most of all in horror about the potential effect of the experience on her as yet unborn child, the suit says.

The lawsuit alleges police used excessive force and violated Brooke Accardis civil liberties, including the right to feel secure in her own home.

The search of Brooke Acciardis residence was not a spontaneous situation confronted unexpectedly by a lone police officer, the lawsuit says. It was a planned operation involving large numbers of police officers constituting a combined attack force.

Brooke Acciardis lawsuit was filed two weeks after a state grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment against seven people and three businesses linked to Club XXXV.

Husband and wife Anthony Acciardi Sr., 59, and Doreen Acciardi, 56, and their sons, Anthony Acciardi Jr. and Stephen Acciardi, 26, now face charges including racketeering, conspiracy and various offenses related to prostitution and tax crimes.

Charges against a third Acciardi child  daughter Angela Mancini  were thrown out in September and she was not named in the superseding indictment.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Three former United Airlines employees each admitted to accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a New Jersey contractor to help the business obtain lucrative contracts to perform maintenance and construction for the airline at Newark Liberty International Airport.

New Jersey residents Alok Saksena, Anthony Rosalli and Lovella Rogan each pleaded guilty this week to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Jersey said.

All three held high-ranking jobs that put them in position to influence which contractor United chose to perform extensive renovation of bathrooms at the airport in September 2021, officials said. In addition to helping the contractor obtain that contract, the three agreed to help the company receive future work from United.

The contractor is not named in court papers.

Saksena, Rosalli and Rogan also teamed with the contractor to artificially inflate the cost of the work so the business could recoup some of the bribe money it was paying out, according to federal prosecutors.

United declined to comment on the conviction of their former employees, referring NJ Advance Media to a previous statement issued when the three were charged.

This is an unfortunate situation where the defendants are charged with the intent to defraud United of its right to their honest services, the statement said. We have been fully cooperating with the investigation and will continue to do so.

The unnamed companys bid was the highest of the three that sought the work for United  $19.7 million  according to court documents. The companys bid package was two pages long while the bids submitted by the two other contractors that were not hired were 48 pages and 54 pages, according to documents.

In addition to giving the three airline employees jewelry and electronics, the contractor performed renovations at their homes, court documents said.

Saksena, 45, of Montclair, received bribes totaling $539,000 while employed as the director of corporate real estate for United. Rogan, 48, of Springfield in Union County, got $409,000 worth of renovations and goods while employed as a project manager. Rosalli, 44, of Burlington, received about $209,000 in bribes when he worked as a senior manager for airport operations projects.

Court papers outline the extent of the bribery. Rogan asked the contractor for and received vacations to Disney World and the Philippines. She also provided the company a Christmas list that demanded a computer and accessories, an iPad, a portable speaker, a Wi-Fi pet camera, an air purifier, a coffee maker, a designer purse, a wallet and a Nintendo Switch, according to court documents.

The renovations she asked for as part of the bribe included a new hardwood floor in her living room, new insulation and sheetrock, renovating and expanding a powder room, redoing all closets, renovating the kitchen to include new appliances, installing an island with seating and adding a wet bar with a wine refrigerator and ice machine, according to charging documents.

Saksena asked the company to renovate multiple bathrooms, build a fifth bathroom in the basement, build a new deck and pave the driveway. Most of the work was completed for him, according to court papers. His $30,000 Christmas list included diamond earrings, guitars and guitar amplifiers, Rolex watches, AirPods, iPads, an Apple watch, gaming monitors, a foosball table and a nine-room dollhouse. The contractor purchased most of the items for him, according to the charging documents.

Rosallis home received a $25,000 bathroom renovation. The contractor also hired one of Rosallis relatives to a $59,000-a-year no-show job, the charging document said.

Rosalli and Rogan are set to be sentenced April 18, while sentencing for Saksena is scheduled for a day earlier.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The moment that skeptics thought would never happen  breaking ground on the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River  happened Thursday with a ceremony resuming work on a dormant project that was killed in 2010 by then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Technically, Thursday mornings groundbreaking by luminaries ranging from current Gov. Phil Murphy to Deputy U.S Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg resumed building a bridge to carry Routes 1&9 over the mouth of the new Gateway Tunnel, work that stopped in October 2010 when Christie canceled the ARC tunnel project.

We edge one step closer to making our bold vision for the Gateway Project a reality, Murphy said Thursday.

After over a decade of cancelations and delays, today we marked the start of our work on the Hudson Tunnel Project.



From Tonnelle Ave to Pennsylvania Ave, our leaders are fully committed to completing the Gateway Program  the most important infrastructure project in America. pic.twitter.com/berBOlhm3r  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2023

Official gathered in North Bergen 12 years later to resume construction on what is the first work on the Gateway rail tunnel in New Jersey.

Every New Jerseyan and every New Yorker will now see with their own eyes that we are building this vital tunnel, said Kris Kolluri, Gateway Development Commission CEO and a former state transportation commissioner. Today is a watershed moment.

The work is part of a larger, multi-phase, joint $16 billion project between New Jersey, New York and Amtrak to build two new Hudson River rail tunnels and rehabilitate the existing 113-year-old tunnels that were built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910.

A notice to proceed was issued to Conti Civil LLC in October to complete the overpass to carry Routes 1&9 in North Bergen over the new tunnel portal. Work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.

The U.S. Department of Transportation will fund the $25 million cost of the Routes 1 & 9/Tonnelle Avenue span and related work through a infrastructure grant funded through the $2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress in November 2021.

The Hudson Tunnel Project will have a profound impact, improving connectivity and relieving a bottleneck in the busiest region of the country, all while creating jobs and strengthening the local economy, Trottenberg said. Im excited for construction to be underway in New Jersey on this much-needed project.

A similar ceremony was held on the New York side of the river to start building the third deck of a concrete tunnel casing under the Hudson Yards development on the west side of Manhattan by Amtrak.

We can now say that construction has started on both sides of the river and the Hudson Tunnel Project is being built, said Sophie Cappello, Build Gateway Now Coalition manager.

The $25 million covers the cost of building a new roadway bridge for Routes 1 & 9/Tonnelle Avenue and relocating utilities in North Bergen. Beyond the overpass is where the new tunnel will be drilled through the Palisades.

In October 2010, Christie canceled the controversial Hudson River tunnel project, then known as ARC, out of concerns that the state would bear cost overruns that a Federal Transit Administration report projected could push the tunnel to a total $14.7 billion cost. The left the unfinished the beginnings of the highway bridge.

While work started on the bridge in 2010, it was nowhere near complete, Gateway officials said. The Christie administration had the work that had been done filled in, so it went back to just being a hill, officials said.

Gateway was initially proposed in February 2011 by Amtrak. In October 2014, it took on more urgency after Amtrak revealed engineering studies that identified damage to the two tunnels done by floodwaters driven by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 that have the potential to close one of the tunnels for emergency repairs.

Closing one tube of the tunnel would cut train service to 25% between New Jersey and New York, disrupting the 450 trains that use it daily.

The bi-state congressional delegation was praised for keeping Gateway alive when President Donald Trumps administration gave Gateway a low rating, making it ineligible for federal funding. Now, the project is close to being awarded a $6.8 billion federal Capital Improvement grant  which would complete an $11 billion protfolio of federal funding for the project. The remainder will be matched by the two states and Amtrak.

In Congress, our state delegation has worked every day for years to secure the funding to reach this moment, said U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, D-9th Dist. Efficient mass transit is so critical to the quality of life in our great state.

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Senate Majority Leader Chick Schumer, D-N.Y., and the congressional delegation were credited with helping to get Gateway where it is in the funding process.

GDC is grateful to the Biden administration, Governors Murphy and Hochul, Majority Leader Schumer, our entire Congressional delegation, and our Board of Commissioners for shepherding us through to this milestone, Kolluri said.

Booker called the ground breaking a testament to officials collective determination, from President Joe Bidens administration and congressional leaders to state officials and others, to get Gateway done.

This is a day to rejoice for every New Jerseyan and every American as we enter a new era for the most critical infrastructure project in our country, Booker said.

Menendez, who said in a statement that pressing work in Washington kept him from the ceremony, mentioned the 10 years of work to get Gateway funded.

Ive gone toe-to-toe with former Gov. Christie when he canceled the precursor to this project and former President Trump when he did everything he could to delay Gateway, Menendez said. I wont rest until the Gateway project is complete and New Jerseyans have access to the safe, reliable transit that they deserve.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
I was visiting my daughter in London last week. One day we decided to take her new baby for a walk in the park near her house.

But in England these days a walk in the park is no walk in the park.
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Everyone would like cheap energy. For the electric car, radiant heater, heat pump, air conditioning or coffee machine. A new tandem solar cell promises exactly that, and on a large scale.

4 Reviews

Recently, the efficiency of 33.9 percent of a solar cell from the manufacturer LONGi made the headlines, although it was only a tiny sample.

It was not just the high energy yield that was remarkable, but rather the composition of the cells, which gives hope for the future. A layer of perovskite is applied to a classic solar cell, mainly made of silicon.

Cells made from this material, calcium titanate to be precise, should be able to achieve up to 50 percent efficiency, at least in a laboratory environment. Unfortunately, they are not very durable, certainly not for 25 years, which a classic silicon-based solar cell can achieve and then still achieve 80 percent of its original efficiency.

Unfortunately, this efficiency is not as high as would be desirable. The maximum energy yield is just under 20 percent. And this is where the tandem solar cell comes into play. It is still conjecture, but at best 45 percent efficiency and a life span of 30 years at least sounds promising.

Practically feasible

Oxford PV has demonstrated that this can work on an industrial scale at its factory in Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany. Such tandem solar cells are already being manufactured here and achieve an efficiency of 28.6 percent.

On a larger scale, they are calculated at 24 percent. Oxford PV also states that the factory there alone can produce 50 megawatts of power per year at full capacity. A typical house roof has a capacity of around 10 kilowatts, i.e. 0.01 megawatts.

Much more, much cheaper

This development has come just in time, as a look at the absolute figures shows. In 2022, 1.2 terawatts of solar power were installed - across the entire planet. Even if this energy were to be used optimally, this amount would not even be enough to cover the entire energy requirements of an industrialized country like Germany.

The aim is therefore to have 100 terawatts available worldwide by 2060 if possible. That would be equivalent to 25 times the amount of electricity that the USA produces every year.

The prices per kilowatt hour are already more than competitive. 6 cents over the entire life cycle of a photovoltaic system. It would be half that for tandem solar cells with perovskite and silicon.

Compared to fossil fuels or even nuclear power, where even the energy companies talk of around 9 cents per kilowatt, solar energy is remarkably cheap.

The problem is that the investment has to be made before the first kilowatt hour is produced. With gas or oil, payments have to be made gradually. With nuclear energy, the next generation has to worry about the costs of disposal.

Cheap, durable and particularly efficient solar modules are therefore very welcome.
Ahead of China's upcoming Year of the Dragon, a commemorative version of Beijing Winter Olympic mascot Bing Dwen Dwen has been released. BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese zodiac dragon version of Beijing Winter Olympic Games mascot Bing Dwen Dwen was unveiled at China's National Stadium here on Wednesday. The special version was designed to celebrate the second anniversary of the Beijing Games and the upcoming Year of the Dragon in February 2024. "The dragon represents the spirit of the Chinese nation and the best wishes for health and well-being, which echoes with the solidarity emphasized by the Olympic family," said Lin Cunzhen, a designer of the dragon version of Bing Dwen Dwen. Licensed products of the new version, including toys, badges and keychains, will hit the market on December 7. "The international community expects to see the Olympic cultural heritage continue to shine worldwide. China has already made breakthroughs in revitalizing the Olympic mascot through the traditional Chinese zodiac and the Spring Festival," Lin noted. During the Beijing Winter Games, which coincided with the Chinese New Year in 2022, organizers released a special festival edition of Bing Dwen Dwen dressed in a costume featuring tiger elements to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. Following Hu - meaning tiger - Dwen Dwen, Tu Dwen Dwen was also unveiled, inspired by a mythical rabbit, for the Year of Rabbit. "People are always curious about the new appearance of Bing Dwen Dwen, as we all know how popular it was since the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics nearly two years ago," she added, noting that Chinese people are eager to see what the next version of Bing Dwen Dwen will look like. "After getting to know the concept of our design, people from other countries and regions can better understand Chinese culture. If possible, we hope to carry out all 12 Chinese zodiac versions of Bing Dwen Dwen to meet the expectations of the public, which is also a milestone for myself," Lin said.
Trial is slated for a Corvallis man accused of attacking his girlfriend and trying to suffocate her with plastic wrap.

Garrett Clay Stigile, 41, is scheduled for a two-day trial on several domestic violence-related charges starting Monday, Dec. 4 at the Benton County Courthouse.

Arrested in February 2022, Stigile allegedly choked his girlfriend during a heated argument, at one point using what a witness said was Saran wrap in an attempt to cover her mouth and nose, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court.

A Place to Sleep, episode 7: 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.

Court records show Stigile was indicted on felony charges of attempted second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, strangulation and fourth-degree assault, as well as a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest.

At around 6:45 a.m. the day of the alleged attack, police responded to a domestic altercation with a child present at an apartment in the 1400 block of Northwest Division Street, the probable cause affidavit states, with officers arriving to find Stigile gathering his personal possessions and putting them outside.

Witnesses reported hearing yelling and screaming, and the victim saying she wanted to get out of the apartment because she was strangled with Saran wrap, the affidavit states.

While being questioned by police, Stigile became agitated and said he was done talking, ordering them out of the residence, according to the affidavit. Officers took hold of Stigile as he tried to push by and a struggle ensued. Stigile was reportedly pepper-sprayed and taken into custody.

The victim told police she and Stigile had been in an escalating argument since the night before, and she had thrown a pillow at him in their bedroom. Stigile allegedly grabbed her around the neck forcefully with both hands, squeezing until the victim couldnt breathe.

Stigile then got behind her, wrapping his forearm around her neck to continue choking the victim, the affidavit states. Moving from the floor to their bed, the victim said she got wrapped in a blanket somehow, with her face covered, and Stigiles hands around her neck, continuing to choke her.

The victim also told police Stigile grabbed her hand and hit her in the face with her own hand, causing bruising and swelling.

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At this point, Stigile picked up a roll of plastic or cellophane wrap, trying to put a piece over the victims face, according to the affidavit, which states she believed he was trying to kill her, putting her in such fear for her life that she lost bladder control.

Before Stigile could cover the victims nose and mouth the material broke, the affidavit states, and Stigile allegedly said something along the lines of Well, that piece is too small. Police later found the wrap roll and a torn piece of it near the bed, according to the affidavit.
Merrillville-based Pulse Technology, a successor to Kramer Leonard in Chesterton and McShanes in Munster, won an Elite Dealer award from ENX Magazine/The Week in Imaging for the 17th straight year.

We believe this list is indicative of the strength and vibrancy of the dealer channel, Publisher Susan Neimes said of awardees. Many dealers are enjoying double-digit growth, and while merger and acquisition activity appears to be declining, the channel is poised to continue building on the successes of the past year. Im confident that the full resumption of post-pandemic business is taking hold, which has me excited for the future of this industry.

The national magazine honors top office equipment dealers with the Elite Dealer Award after reviewing nominations. It grades nominees on metrics like technical service, marketing proficiencies, industry accolades and philanthropy.

Were very pleased to have been selected again this year to be on the Elite Dealers list. It is always an honor to be selected," Pulse Technology President and CEO Chip Miceli said.

Pulse Technology, which specializes in print management, network services, office furniture, office products, mailing equipment, office supplies and promotional products, also has offices in Illinois and Wisconsin.
The United Steelworkers union is decrying U.S. Steel's plan to indefinitely idle steelmaking at Granite City Works, condemning it as part of a trend of continued disinvestment by the steelmaker.

Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel idled the primary operations at the steel mill near St. Louis but is maintaining the rolling and finishing lines there. It sent Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices to 1,000 steelworkers who could be laid off, but said about 60% likely would lose their jobs.

U.S. Steels decision to idle steelmaking at Granite City Works once again demonstrates its callous disregard for its dedicated workforce, who for generations have served as the backbone of the companys success, said USW International President David McCall. Our union consistently invites all our employers, including U.S. Steel, to fight alongside us to protect our domestic industries, but rather than invest in the future, U.S. Steel instead keeps turning its back on its highly skilled union workforce and their communities.

U.S. Steel also is laying off hundreds of workers at Pittsburg, California. Over the last five years, it idled its Great Lakes and Lone Star Steel operations in Detroit and Texas, shuttered coke batteries in Clairton, Pennsylvania, and backed off plans to make a major investment in Mon Valley. It also shuttered its Lorain, Ohio operations in 2015, eliminating hundreds of jobs.

The company idled Blast Furnace B, the last operational blast furnace at Granite City Works, in response to the United Auto Workers' strike.

The companys clumsy attempt earlier this year to pit workers against each other by blaming changes at Granite City on the autoworkers strike further demonstrates its cynical and opportunistic view of American labor, District 7 Director Mike Millsap said. As we look to the future of the U.S. steel industry, said Millsap, the USW intends to draw on every resource we have available to ensure our members  in Granite City and across the country  are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

A U.S. Steel spokesperson said in the company's acknowledgment of the Granite City idling that it is doing so to balance melt capacity with its order book.

The Illinois Department of Labor is subpoenaing the steelmaker to see if it complied with the Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. State law requires companies to give workers and the government 60 days advance notice before any mass layoff or plant closure.

U.S. Steel announced layoffs in September it characterized as temporary and then told the Illinois Department of Labor about the current layoffs on Tuesday. The department said it is investigating this week's action to determine whether it was compliant with the WARN Act.

Mass layoffs impact entire communities, said IDOL Director Jane Flanagan. At the Department of Labor, we want to ensure that workers are given the required notice under law before they are laid off. It is also our intention to make certain United States Steel Corporation has acted in compliance with the WARN Act.
PORTAGE  A fight Monday at Portage High School escalated when parents arrived, leading to arrests of two students and one parent, Portage police said.

Police said they were called to the school at the corner of U.S. 6 and Airport Road just before noon Monday where they found a large group of students gathered in a hallway near an exit door.

The group dispersed, but police said one student continued yelling at another, saying he was going to, "beat his (expletive)."

A friend of the student attempted to calm him, as did police, but the student allegedly pushed an officer while attempting to reach the other student, the arrest report says. The officer took the student to the school office, noting both students involved had been well behaved at times during the school year, but "both have made a series of poor choices, both criminal and not."

When a parent arrived, identified by police as Mary Boyd, 41, of Portage, she became upset at the situation and began yelling profanities, according to the arrest report.

Boyd repeatedly ignored police orders to stop yelling profanities inside the school and then confronted a man as he arrived at the building, an officer said. Police said they placed Boyd under arrest on allegations of disorderly conduct.

County officials sought unethical favors, political loyalty, fired employees claim in federal suit "Retaliatory firing of public employees for their speech and exercise of political affiliation has a direct chilling effect on employees constitutionally protected expression and deters the exercise of First Amendment activity in the future," the suit says.

One of the juveniles was arrested on charges of resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct, while the other faces charges of battery and disorderly conduct, police said.
HAMMOND  Mayor Thomas M. McDermott Jr. and the Hammond Police Department commend a city worker whose observation and proactive intervention led to the arrest of a suspected wire thief, police said.

Hammond police were dispatched to a city-owned light pole at approximately 1 p.m. on Nov. 16 at 173rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Upon arrival, officers spoke with Edwardo Banda, a city worker, who had recently reported a pattern of thefts from city street lights, police said.

Banda informed police he witnessed a vehicle with a license plate and truck number that had been parking near city light poles. After noticing a pattern, Banda confronted the suspect near a light pole in an alley off 173rd Street and Woodlawn Avenue.

Banda said the person claimed to have a work order to check the light, however with his experience as a city worker, he knew it was false, police said. An investigation confirmed the wire was stolen from the light pole.

Hammond's Blue Net license plater reader system linked the suspect to multiple thefts across the city, police said. McDermott expressed gratitude toward Banda for his "courageous and quick response, which not only prevented a theft, but also contributed to the resolution of ongoing criminal activities."

Banda was awarded with a plaque and police challenge coin for his discovery.

Anyone with additional information about this incident or related activities should contact the Hammond Police Department Detective Bureau at 219-852-2906.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Jose Rodriguez Anaya Cory Smith Percila Melendez Cesar Rodriguez Glenn Lee Lauren Carter Peter Heenan Danielle Ydreo Bonnie Starr Terry Truitt Jr. Blake Wright David Richardson David Rocchi Jr. Maurion Martin Daniel Michalson Daniel Laird Syeed Lewis Christopher Jones Curtis Coffie LaRunte Fairley Aricka Hopkins Markee Brooks Jr. Brian Byrd Derrick Carney Mashaun Allen Amanda Skinner William Thompson James Tilton Jaqwan Mitchell Ann Nadolski Aaron Richards Donna Schantz Kristen Meadows Teresa Irving Robert Lipsey Terry Mason Jr. Kenneth Clinton II Gabriel Hostalet Yasmine Bullock Allan Blackmon Edmund Brown Jason Parker Sergio Salgado Roberto Villa Brian Muller Jr. Manuel Garcia Joshua Moxley Kendall Byears Tracy Dunham Brandon Bailey
LAPORTE  A second young man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with a July 7 shooting in Michigan City that left two people injured, records show.

Javan Brown, 21, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness, records show.

Wayne Witt Jr., 24, of Michigan City, who was among four people shot and injured July 3 in Michigan City, has already been charged with the same counts stemming from the July 7 shooting.

Police said they were then called out shortly before 4 p.m. July 7 for a shooting in the 400 block of York Street. Officers found one person shot in the legs and another shot in the head.

The man shot in the legs said he was standing in front of a home when he heard what he thought were fireworks until he felt the bullets striking him, police said. He denied knowing who shot him.

Valpo hospital worker bloodied by accused drunken driver, police say "Once secured in the vehicle, Cesar (Cartagena) began to frantically bite himself and the seats of my vehicle," an officer wrote.

The man shot in the head also reportedly denied knowing who shot him before being flown to South Bend for medical care.

Video surveillance footage from a nearby home showed a black Kia Optima driving in the area at the time of the shooting and two people with handguns exiting and shooting before fleeing in the same vehicle, police said.

Parent, students arrested following fight at Portage High School, police say The group dispersed, but police said one student continued yelling at another, saying he was going to, "beat his (expletive)."

Police said they received a tip that same evening that Witt was one of the people carrying out the shooting. Police say they matched a vehicle seen earlier at Witt's home with the one captured on video at the scene of the shooting and were able to identify Witt as one of the shooters by comparing surveillance footage with images on his cell phone found at the scene of the July 3 shootings.

Among the images found on Witt's phone are photos of him with Brown in possession of guns, police said. Evidence was also collected from the phone of communication between the two men.

Brown's phone was also searched and an image was found of him wearing the same shirt seen on one of the July 7 shooters, police said.
VALPARAISO  The MAAC Foundation hosts a graduation ceremony Friday for its 12th Fire Academy class.

The 26 graduates represent East Chicago, Michigan City, Portage, Whiting, U.S. Steel, Hobart, Lake Station and Burns Harbor fire departments.

The recruits have completed an 11-week training program that included instruction in fire suppression, hazmat operations and technical rescue, along with other firefighting skills.

They have also learned about the importance of community service and public education, the foundation said in announcing the new firefighters' completion of training, done in partnership with the Northwest Indiana District 1 Firefighter Training Council.

We are proud to welcome these 26 new firefighters to our community, said Celina Weatherwax, president and CEO of the MAAC Foundation. They have demonstrated the dedication and commitment necessary to serve as first responders, and we are confident that they will positively impact Lake, LaPorte, and Porter counties.

Battalion Chief Chris Crail, the academy commander, said he is "forever grateful or the opportunity to have trained these capable firefighters."

"They have learned to adapt and overcome challenges throughout the academy. I hope that these students understand the skills they learned here apply to more than only firefighting; these are skills to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

The graduates and their fire departments are:

Tanner Barron, Portage Fire Department

Alex Bell, Michigan City Fire Department

Ricardo Bernal Navarro, Whiting Fire Department

Michael Bim-Merle, Portage Fire Department

Bobbie Blanton, U.S. Steel Fire Department

Joseph Burke, Portage Fire Department

Roberto Bustamante, Whiting Fire Department

Tyler Campos, East Chicago Fire Department

Brandon Collins, Portage Fire Department

Jakob Cuadra, Hobart Fire Department

Timothy Cummins, East Chicago Fire Department

Tristan Frazier, Michigan City Fire Department

Rory Neethling, Portage Fire Department

Jacob Ott, Michigan City Fire Department

TRai Pleasant, Lake Station Fire Department

Klime Prentoski, East Chicago Fire Department

David Ramirez, East Chicago Fire Department

Julian Rivas, Hobart Fire Department

Tyler Rosenbaum, Portage Fire Department

Salvatore Sanchez, Whiting Fire Department

Ryan Stanley, Michigan City Fire Department

John Sullivan, East Chicago Fire Department

Michael Trinidad, East Chicago Fire Department

Michael Van Waardenburg, Burns Harbor Fire Department

Jonathan Zerbes, Michigan City Fire Department

Anthony Zralka, Michigan City Fire Department

PHOTOS: First Responder Appreciation and Demonstration Day at MAAC Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event Public gets glimpse at work of emergency responders at MAAC event
Hitachi Global Air Power US, long known as Sullair, has named Stephen Ballenger vice president of operations in Michigan City.

Ballenger has worked as a lean consultant at Hitachi Global Air Power since July 2023 and will now lead its manufacturing operations in Michigan City.

We are modernizing our operations using lean methodology with great success and as a consultant, Steve has been an integral part of that transformation, Hitachi Global Air Power President and CEO John Randall said. He brings a wealth of experience in not only lean manufacturing, but in operations management, strategy development and continuous improvement. We are very excited to have Steve officially join our team and help us continue to build a truly world-class manufacturing operation.

Ballenger, who earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and a masters degree in industrial management from Clemson University in South Carolina, has more than 40 years of management experience. He's also served as a senior consultant for Lean Focus in Michigan City and in senior operations leadership roles at Bosch USA, STIHL, GKN Automotive and Camco Manufacturing.

Ballenger specializes in Lean Six Sigma, the process of making continuous improvements in business processes to improve efficiency and profitability that caught on with Japanese automakers and subsequently many other manufacturers in recent years.

Hitachi Global Air Power has manufacturing operations in Michigan City and China. Headquartered in Michigan City, it sells its products around the world with sales offices in Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, and South and Latin America.
Attorney General Todd Rokita is spending Hoosier taxpayer dollars trying to help Republican former President Donald Trump avoid disqualification from the Colorado ballot in next year's elections.

On Wednesday, Rokita filed a 31-page brief on behalf of Indiana and 18 other Republican state attorneys general urging the Colorado Supreme Court to dismiss litigating seeking to deny Trump ballot access under the insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

A Colorado judge determined Nov. 17 that Trump engaged in insurrection during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. But the judge declined to bar Trump from Colorado's ballot since the judge said it's unclear whether the constitutional prohibition on insurrectionists holding state or federal office applies to the presidency.

Both Trump and the Republican and independent Colorado voters challenging his eligibility through the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) immediately appealed the decision to state's highest court.

The seven justices of the Colorado Supreme Court are scheduled to hear oral arguments Dec. 6.

Rokita is urging them to toss the case because he claims allowing state officials or state courts to individually decide whether a presidential candidate is constitutionally ineligible under the insurrection clause is "unworkable" and will lead to "electoral chaos."

Instead, Rokita insisted it's up to Congress to decide how the insurrection clause is enforced, and he observed the U.S. Senate in 2021 failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed to bar Trump from holding high office by not convicting Trump in his second impeachment trial that stemmed directly from Jan. 6.

"For elections to be fair, voters need a single, certain answer as to whether someone is ineligible for president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment  an answer that only Congress can give," Rokita said.

As to Indiana's interest in the case, Rokita said if one state excludes a presidential candidate from the ballot then the votes for that candidate from other states "lose value," or may have "no value at all" if enough states concur and deny a candidate any chance at being elected.

"State-by-state efforts to thwart the democratic process of electing a president disenfranchises voters in other states like Indiana," Rokita said. "Hoosiers cannot tolerate such an assault on democracy and election integrity."

At the same time, Rokita defended in his filing the high barrier for presidential candidates to get on the ballot in Indiana  4,500 total petition signatures; 500 from each of the state's nine congressional districts  as essential for imposing "some sort of order, rather than chaos, in the democratic processes."

This isn't the first time Rokita has provided legal cover for Trump. In 2020, Rokita endorsed a Texas lawsuit seeking scuttle all the votes cast for president in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia, and to have the Republican-controlled legislatures in those states appoint Trump electors, instead of the Joe Biden electors chosen by the people.

IN THEIR WORDS: Midwest elected officials react to U.S. Capitol breach Elected officials react to U.S. Capitol breach Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Democrat Illinois U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Republican of Channahon Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, Republican of Peoria Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, Republican of Murphysboro Illinois U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, Republican of Taylorville Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Democrat Indiana U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, Democrat of Indianapolis Indiana U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, Republican of Elkhart Indiana U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, Republican of Columbia City Indiana U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, Republican of Evansville Indiana U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, Republican of Jeffersonville Indiana U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, Republican of Noblesville Indiana U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Republican Indiana U.S. Sen. Todd Young, Republican Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, Republican of Glenbeulah Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Democrat of Milwaukee Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Democrat of Madison Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, Republican of Green Bay Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, Democrat of La Crosse Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, Republican of Minocqua Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, Republican
Mr. Dimon also addressed a wide range of topics including the economy, geopolitics and Elon Musk. He expanded on previous comments he had made in which he called our current moment one of the most dangerous in decades. The biggest risks for mankind, he said, are nuclear proliferation, climate change, and another pandemic.

We should not be complacent, Mr. Dimon said. The world is always a dangerous place. We just forgot.

Mr. Dimon said his other concerns included what would happen if China invaded Taiwan  a move he said would cause a major depression  and profligate U.S. government spending, which he likened to drugs injected directly into our system.

When pressed on the banks relationship with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok that various states have sought to ban over its Chinese ties, Mr. Dimon said that while the bank did not comment on client relationships, it did thorough vetting.

He said that if clients were doing things that we think are truly bad, JPMorgan would not bank them.
Several residents were displaced due to smoke damage in their units and common hallway after an apartment fire in Lebanon.

Firefighters were called to East Sherman Street for a structure fire at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, according to a news release from the Lebanon Fire District, which states the incident commander arrived at a two-story complex to find fire alarms sounding and law enforcement helping evacuate people.

A Place to Sleep, episode 7: 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.

Heavy, dark smoke was coming from an apartment on the second floor, the release states, with smoke coming from a stairwell at the opposite end of the building as well.

Fire crews made an aggressive attack aimed at containing the flames to the room of origin, according to the release. During suppression efforts, firefighters searched the second floor and evacuated two people sleeping in a nearby apartment.

A resident was evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation after she used two fire extinguishers, keeping the blaze from spreading beyond the apartment where it started, the release states. An apartment below the fire sustained minor damage from water coming through the ceiling light fixture.

112823_Sherman_Fire_Interior.png A resident was evaluated at the scene for smoke inhalation after she used two fire extinguishers, keeping the blaze from spreading beyond the 

Fire crews were on scene for around two hours overhauling the apartment and clearing smoke.

Lebanon Fire responded with 28 personnel on three engines, a ladder truck, three ambulances, a heavy rescue, brush truck, five staff vehicles and one rehab unit for firefighters. Fire crews were assisted at the scene by the Lebanon Police Department and Pacific Power.

Fire officials issued a reminder of the importance of working smoke alarms, reporting that smoke alarms notified occupants of this complex. For assistance with smoke alarms in your home, contact the Fire & Life Safety Division at 541-451-1901.
The first congestion pricing program in the United States is taking final shape in New York City, and it appears likely that most drivers will have to pay $15 to enter some of the busiest streets in Manhattan as soon as next spring.

Officials on Wednesday provided the clearest picture yet of the tolls they hope to implement. They aim to collect roughly $1 billion annually to fund improvements to the citys subway and bus networks.

The program still faces a few hurdles, including a final vote by transit leaders and a legal challenge from New Jersey officials. But after various failed attempts over decades, New York seems poised to join a handful of other global centers with a toll program that aims to encourage the use of public transit, reduce pollution and unclog some of the worlds most traffic-choked streets  roughly the southern third of Manhattan.

In a brief report, officials said cars would pay a toll of up to $15 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street once per day. Commercial trucks would pay as much as $36. Taxis will add $1.25 per fare, and ride-hail apps like Uber and Lyft will tack on an extra $2.50 per ride.
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged an Indian national in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist and activist in New York who is a U.S. citizen and has been outspoken in calling for a Sikh-majority homeland.

The assassination plot was organized by an Indian government official and linked to the June killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada who was fatally shot by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple, according to an indictment filed in federal court in New York.

Together, the charges announced in New York and the earlier slaying threaten to complicate relations among the United States, Canada and India and could hurt President Bidens efforts to cultivate Indian leaders in a bid to counter the global influence of China and Russia.

Here are five takeaways from the foiled plot, as described by prosecutors.

The New York plot was focused on a prominent Sikh separatist.

The indictment identifies the person who was targeted to be killed in the conspiracy only as the victim, but American officials said he was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel for the New York-based group Sikhs for Justice. Mr. Pannun is a vocal proponent of independence for Punjab, a northern Indian state that is home to a large number of Sikhs.
Hey, its election season! Think about it: A year from now, we should know who the next president is going to be and 

Stop beating your head against the wall. Before we start obsessing over the candidates, lets spend just a few minutes mulling the big picture. Really big. Today, were going to moan about the Electoral College.

Yes! That  system we have for actually choosing a president. The one that makes who got the most votes more or less irrelevant. The exploding cigar of American politics, as Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center for Justice called it over the phone.

Whoever gets the most electoral votes wins the White House. And the electoral votes are equal to the number of representatives and senators each state has in Washington. Right now that means  as I never tire of saying  around 193,000 people in Wyoming get the same clout as around 715,000 people in California.
I know all the warnings and caveats about polls taken a year before an election. But much of the recent polling on the 2024 election is still frightening and disconcerting.

We shouldnt be here. We have a president who, on the whole, has had a successful first term and has capably performed the principal function for which he was elected: to return the country to normalcy and prevent more damage being done to it by his predecessor.

That president, Joe Biden, will almost certainly be running again against Donald Trump, a former president facing a mound of legal troubles born of his own deceptions and antidemocratic impulses.

So the choice next year should be clear, but the electorate keeps telling anyone listening that its not. The results of a New York Times/Siena College poll released this month showed Biden trailing Trump in five of six important battleground states. A recent NBC News national poll found that Trump was narrowly ahead of Biden. Pretty clearly, voters arent satisfied with their choices, but theyre also not rewarding Biden or punishing Trump in the ways that one might expect.
OpenAI said on Wednesday that it had completed the first phase of a new governance structure that added Microsoft as a nonvoting board member, as it works to end the divisions that fueled the ouster of Sam Altman as chief executive and sets itself up for a future as a bigger company.

In a blog post, Mr. Altman, who was rapidly reinstated last week, also outlined his priorities for OpenAI as he retakes the reins of the high-profile artificial intelligence start-up. He said the company would resume its work building safe A.I. systems and products that benefited its customers. He added that its board would focus on improving governance and overseeing an independent review of the events that led to and followed his removal as chief executive.

Microsoft expands a three-person board that OpenAI announced last week. The tech giant is one of OpenAIs biggest investors, having committed $13 billion. Microsoft will be able to participate in OpenAIs board meetings but not vote on business decisions.

Part of what good governance means is that theres more predictability, transparency and input from various stakeholders, and this seemed like a good way to get that from a very important one, Mr. Altman said in an interview, referring to Microsoft.
Pope Franciss relationship with the conservative wing of the American Catholic church was already on shaky ground when reports surfaced this week of his plan to evict one of his most prominent critics from a Vatican-subsidized apartment in Rome.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, who led dioceses in St. Louis and Wisconsin before moving to Rome, is a lion of the faith among conservative Catholics who see him a defender of tradition and orthodoxy in a dangerously unmoored church.

The move comes just weeks after Francis fired another outspoken critic, Bishop Joseph Strickland, who was removed from his post in Tyler, Texas, following a Vatican investigation into his leadership.

Both decisions prompted a public outcry from conservative church leaders, making it clear that restoring unity in the divided American Church will take more than swatting down a few high-profile clerics. The popes increasingly open pushback against theological and liturgical conservatives in the church has nurtured a deep wariness of his leadership among conservatives in the church, who exist at all levels of Catholic life in America.
Former President Donald J. Trump was really depressed in the days after losing re-election and leaving office in January 2021, so much so that he was not eating.

At least that is what Kevin McCarthy told Liz Cheney in trying to explain why he had traveled to Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, an act of solidarity that many have identified as a pivotal moment in reviving the former presidents political viability.

Mr. McCarthy, the California congressman who was then the House Republican leader, had condemned Mr. Trump for fueling the Jan. 6 mob attack on the Capitol and even suggested that he resign, only to turn around and effectively absolve the former president by embracing him again. In her new book, Ms. Cheney, perhaps the countrys most vocal anti-Trump Republican, reports that Mr. McCarthy justified the Jan. 28 visit as an act of compassion for a beaten ally.

Ms. Cheney wrote that she was so shocked when she first saw the photograph of Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Trump standing side by side with grins on their faces that she thought it was a fake. Not even Kevin McCarthy could be this craven, I thought, she wrote. I was wrong. She went to see Mr. McCarthy to confront him about rehabilitating the twice-impeached former president who had just tried to overturn an election he lost.
Not long after federal prosecutors issued a subpoena last year for all the classified documents that former President Donald J. Trump took with him from the White House to his estate in southern Florida, one of his lawyers told him, in no uncertain terms, that it would be a crime if he did not comply with the demand, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The lawyer, Jennifer Little, this year related the account of her discussion with Mr. Trump to a grand jury overseen by the special counsel Jack Smith. She is one of several witnesses who prosecutors were told had advised Mr. Trump to cooperate.

A few months after Ms. Little testified to the grand jury, Mr. Smith charged Mr. Trump with violating the subpoena for the documents and obstructing the governments repeated efforts to reclaim nearly three dozen classified documents that he removed from the White House.

As part of her grand jury appearance, Ms. Little told prosecutors that the former president clearly understood her warning, the person familiar with the matter said.
Red Lobsters irresistible all-you-can-eat shrimp promotion has indeed proved hard to resist.

The Ultimate Endless Shrimp deal has been so popular that it helped cause a drop in third-quarter profit for the restaurant chain, which had to raise the price to $25 from $20.

Thai Union Group, which owns a large stake in the chain, said in a third-quarter earnings call this month that the deal was in part to blame for an $11 million operating loss.

Red Lobster hoped the promotion would bolster traffic at its U.S. locations through fall and winter, when its restaurants tend to be the emptiest.

Ultimate Endless Shrimp had already been a Red Lobster guest-favorite staple for over 18 years. But the restaurant took it a step further this summer, offering the previously seasonal deal all day, every day instead of just on Mondays.
Canadas standoff with the technology giants Google and Meta over their use of domestic news content eased on one front, as the federal government announced Wednesday that it had reached a deal with Google to compensate publishers in Canada.

The agreement comes just weeks before a national law is set to take effect that will require tech companies to pay news outlets for using their content online.

Under the deal, Google will provide $73.5 million, or 100 million Canadian dollars, each year to news organizations, including independent outlets, Indigenous media and multilingual media.

The funds will be distributed based on the number of workers each qualifying news outlet employs, government officials said. (Last quarter, Alphabet reported $76.7 billion in revenue.)
Lebanon Mayor Kenneth Jackola and the Lebanon City Council have announced two finalists for the open position of city manager, and the public is invited to meet them.

The candidates for the top spot at City Hall are Brandon Neish and John Morgan.

A Place to Sleep, episode 7: 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.

The public is invited to attend a meet-and-greet event for the candidates from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Lebanon Public Library at 55 Academy St.

The candidates will mingle with the community in an informal setting, offering an opportunity for members of the public to provide feedback on both candidates to the council via comment cards that will be readily available, according to a city news release.

Earlier in the day, the candidates are scheduled to undergo interviews by a preselected community panel and members of the citys leadership team. Theyll face final interviews with the council on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

The start date for the position will be determined once a candidate has been selected, the news release states.

Neish has a financial background beginning with Western Oregon University, where he was budget manager from April 2014 to January 2018. He then moved to the city of Sweet Home, where was finance director from January 2018 to July 2022. As current finance director of the city of Lebanon since August 2022, he is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all functions of the finance department.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by becoming a subscriber today.

Neish brings analytical skills, dedication to the principles of sound fiscal management and a commitment to fostering an environment of transparency, accountability and collaboration, according to the news release. He has a bachelors degree in business, and a masters degree in public administration.

Morgan has worked in local government since 1974, according to the release. He worked as city manager and interim city manager for several Oregon cities. He began his tenure in municipality operations in the planning division of the city of Salem. He remained in planning and community development for many years, and was tapped to act as interim city manager in Keizer on two occasions.

Morgan also worked as city manager for the city of Sherwood for three years. He is currently pro tem city manager for Gervais. He has a bachelors degree in urban and regional government and political science.

For more information, contact Lebanon Human Resources Director Angela Solesbee at 541-248-4261 or Angela.Solesbee@LebanonOregon.gov.







Related stories:

Lebanon city manager calls it quits

Western Oregon grad takes Sweet Home city post
The prominent Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi and more than two dozen other women and children were released from Israeli prisons early Thursday, Israeli and Palestinian authorities said, in the latest exchange for hostages held in Gaza.

The Israeli military arrested Ms. Tamimi, 22, in a predawn raid on Nov. 6 on suspicion of inciting violence and calling for terrorist activity, but did not bring charges against her for the nearly three weeks she was jailed in the Damon Prison, near Haifa, Israel.

According to her lawyer, Mahmoud Hassan, Ms. Tamimi was beaten during her arrest and after she was transferred, in violation of international law, to the prison in Israel from the occupied West Bank.

The military had moved on Sunday to keep Ms. Tamimi imprisoned under administrative detention, which would have allowed it to hold her indefinitely without charge or trial. But her name later appeared on the Israeli governments list of Palestinian prisoners and detainees approved for potential release in the hostage exchange. Her father, the longtime protest leader Bassem Tamimi, is also imprisoned without charge.

Ms. Tamimis mother, Nariman Tamimi, said on Tuesday that her joy over the prospect of her daughter's release was tempered by repeated threats of violence made against the family by Israeli settlers and by Israels security forces, who have banned any celebrations and fired tear gas to disperse crowds of Palestinians waiting to reunite with their loved ones and neighbors.

The sheer number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the start of the war has also left an indelible mark, Nariman Tamimi said. Health authorities in Gaza have said that more than 13,000 people had been killed in the enclave during the war, and that thousands more are believed to be trapped under the rubble.

She would be coming back after the death of 17,000 people. You understand? Nariman Tamimi said. My daughter would return to my lap, but there are a thousand mothers who have lost their children and a thousand families that have perished.

I wish there didnt have to be all this bloodshed for my daughter to be released, she added. The reality is that she shouldnt have been imprisoned.

Ms. Tamimis arrest was one of thousands carried out by Israeli forces since Oct. 7 in a bloody crackdown on the occupied West Bank for what they have said are counterterrorism measures. The precise number of arrests there is disputed; the Israeli military has reported more than 2,000, but the Palestinian Authoritys commission for prisoner affairs reports nearly 3,300.

Israeli forces have also killed at least 225 Palestinians in the West Bank since the crackdown began, making 2023 the deadliest year for Palestinians there since 2005, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency.

A total of 30 Palestinians, including more than a dozen children, were released early Thursday. Among them was Suhair al-Barghouti, a 64-year-old woman who was arrested during a raid in October and placed in administrative detention, where she has been denied access to medication for her health issues, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, a nongovernmental rights group.

Ms. al-Barghouti hails from a well-known family of Palestinian resistance figures. Her husband, Omar al-Barghouti, was one of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoners and spent roughly three decades behind bars, much of it under administrative detention, before his death in 2021.

The couples sons have also spent years in Israeli detention, and one, Saleh al-Barghouti, was shot and killed by Israeli security forces in 2018 after he was accused of opening fire on Israeli settlers. Israel bulldozed their family home near Ramallah in 2019, according to Wafa, the Palestinian Authoritys news agency.

Sara Aridi contributed reporting.
Of the many strengths of Southern/Modern, a daring and revisionist show about the American South at the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, the one that follows you out to your car is the alternate history of modern art it proposes.

Southern art  or food or literature, for that matter  has long suffered a reputation of isolation. You cant understand it. You would have to be born there, says the tortured Quentin in William Faulkners Absalom, Absalom! Ninety years later, Southern exceptionalism is over (mostly), and the areas artists and curators and chefs now go to great, overcorrective lengths to be global, to be modern. But the artists of Faulkners day  they were still responding to an ancient, haunted South. Their audience was stationary, and their language local. They were regionalists. Or so the story goes.

Not here. These 100 or so paintings and prints suggest an invigorating direction that was there all along: a pungent pairing of social history with artistic experiment during the first half of the 20th century. By bringing together professional artists who worked below the Mason-Dixon Line (exempting Florida) between 1913 and 1956, and as far west as Arkansas and Missouri, Southern/Modern surveys the riches of a stylistic evolution you will find at, say, the Museum of Modern Art in New York  the Impressionism that loosened up the 1900s, the Cubism of the 1910s, the Surrealism of the 20s, the modeled social realism of the 30s, the feral abstractions of the 40s and 50s  as told by a region often buried in the art history books.
Photographers with a comic outlook on life seldom win the acclaim granted to exalters of nature or chroniclers of war and squalor. Elliott Erwitt, who died at 95 on Wednesday at his home in Manhattan, was an exception.

For more than six decades he used his camera to tell visual jokes, finding material wherever he strolled. His sharp eye for silly, sometimes telling conjunctions  a dog lying on its back in a cemetery, a glowing Coca-Cola machine amid a public display of missiles in Alabama, a mangy potted plant in a tacky Miami Beach ballroom  earned him constant assignments as well as the affection of a public that shared his sweet, Chaplin-esque sense of the absurd.

He published more than 20 books, and his black-and-white prints are in photography collections throughout the world. His daughter Sasha Erwitt confirmed the death.
Larry Fink, a kinetic photographer whose intimate black-and-white on-the-fly portraits of rural Pennsylvanians, Manhattan society figures, Hollywood royalty, boxers, musicians, fashion models and many others were both social commentary on class and privilege and an exuberant document of the human condition, died on Saturday at his home in Martins Creek, Pa. He was 82.

The cause was complications of kidney disease and Alzheimers disease, said his wife, the artist Martha Posner.

Mr. Fink was a Brooklyn-born lefty whose early work, in the late 1950s, chronicled the second-generation Beats who were his cohort in the East Village, where he lived for a time, along with the jazz musicians he adored (he played the harmonica) and the protagonists of the civil rights and antiwar movements.

But in the early 1970s he turned to overt social commentary, infiltrating the society benefits, debutante parties and watering holes of Manhattans privileged tribes and their hangers-on. He was fueled, he once wrote, both by curiosity and by his own rage at the privileged class  its abuses, voluptuous folds, and unfulfilled lives.
Michael Cunninghams new novel, Day, is a tender family story that uses an ingenious approach to scrutinize the free-floating anxiety and trauma of the Covid era: It opens on the morning of April 5, 2019, with the family in question (mom, dad, uncle, two kids) going about their business, then jumps a year later to the afternoon of April 5, 2020, with lockdown inflicting its weird mix of panic and boredom, then jumps again to the evening of April 5, 2021, when the costs of the pandemic are clear and the psychological toll is still unfolding. Its a sad, quiet book, and one full of affection for its flawed characters; whether your own experience of Covid-19 tracks theirs or not, they make a companionable bunch to spend some time with.

Also recommended this week: an archaeologists look back at her disciplines undisciplined origins, a journalists investigation of Facebooks messy secrets, a cultural history of eyeliner and a study of Americas parole system. The Timess own David Leonhardt offers a history of American economic policies and their effects, a deaf and blind essayist writes about touch and communication, a historian traces the impact of populist sentiment on the French Revolution, and, finally, another family story, in which the reporter Nathan Thrall recounts a Palestinian fathers frantic search for news about his son after his school bus crashed near Jerusalem.

Happy reading.  Gregory Cowles

DAY

Michael Cunningham

Cunninghams latest novel visits a family on one specific April date before, during and after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As their world is turned upside down because of the virus and other challenges, we see how they try to make peace with the twists life throws at them.
Two imperatives have been clashing in Donald Trumps federal criminal cases: moving quickly and acting fairly.

Almost from the moment that the two cases were filed  the first in Florida, the second in Washington  prosecutors working for the special counsel, Jack Smith, have accused Trump of seeking to delay them, sometimes with legally specious arguments or cynical tactics.

Among their fears, which have been palpable but never quite voiced: If the trials are delayed until after the presidential election and Trump wins, he could have the charges dismissed.

It is not an unreasonable worry.

The former president and some of his closest associates, in private conversations, have been absolutely clear that they see a win in 2024 not just as a vindication after he had to depart the White House, but also as a step toward having his attorney general drop both of the cases he is facing  one in which he stands accused of hoarding classified documents and obstructing efforts to reclaim them, the other on charges of plotting to reverse his 2020 defeat.
Data is the fuel of artificial intelligence. It is also a bottleneck for big businesses, because they are reluctant to fully embrace the technology without knowing more about the data used to build A.I. programs.

Now, a consortium of companies has developed standards for describing the origin, history and legal rights to data. The standards are essentially a labeling system for where, when and how data was collected and generated, as well as its intended use and restrictions.

The data provenance standards, announced on Thursday, have been developed by the Data & Trust Alliance, a nonprofit group made up of two dozen mainly large companies and organizations, including American Express, Humana, IBM, Pfizer, UPS and Walmart, as well as a few start-ups.

The alliance members believe the data-labeling system will be similar to the fundamental standards for food safety that require basic information like where food came from, who produced and grew it and who handled the food on its way to a grocery shelf.
With oil markets sagging, the worlds major producers agreed on Thursday to cut oil production by almost 700,000 barrels a day, less than 1 percent of global supplies, in an effort to prop up prices.

In addition, Saudi Arabia said it would continue to reduce output by one million barrels a day, a restriction it started in July. Russia said it would cut its exports of diesel, gasoline and other refined products by 200,000 barrels a day; it said it was already holding back 300,000 barrels a day of crude oil exports.

Whether these moves by the group, OPEC Plus, will be enough to bolster skeptical markets remains to be seen. The cuts were described as voluntary, and analysts say that some producing countries are frustrated by the seemingly endless need for output trims.

Richard Bronze, head of geopolitics at Energy Aspects, a research firm, said markets could eventually realize that OPEC Plus was taking a meaningful amount of supply out of forecasts for the first quarter of next year.
If not here, where? he asked the crowd of about 100 people.

Not here! an audience member yelled back.

Many of the protest signs made references to Flannery Associates, a subsidiary of California Forever that over the past five years has spent $900 million buying more than 50,000 acres of farmland. The company said little about its backers or intentions, leading to wild speculation about what the companys plans were until August, when The New York Times reported the backers identities and their hope for a new city. Some thought it could be the site of a new Disneyland; others, including members of Congress, worried that a foreign government was behind it. (Flannerys land now surrounds Travis Air Force Base.)

The revelation that Flannery is in fact not a spying operation but a developer looking to develop has done little to quell anxiety but instead turned one kind of fear into another. On Wednesday the skeptical crowd pelted Mr. Sramek with questions on a variety of issues: the potential for traffic, whether the development would interfere with the base where many Solano County residents work  and oh, by the way, where would they get the water for a new city?

Over the next months and years, California Forever will likely be focused on an overarching problem: most of what it wants to build is currently not allowed. To change that, the company would need to clear a raft of hurdles that require blessings from the local, state and (potentially) federal governments.

The first of those hurdles is Solano Countys decades-old slow-growth ordinance, which aims to direct development to existing cities. California Forever has said that next year it would pursue a ballot initiative to amend the ordinance, making a direct appeal to voters.
Tesla began delivering its much delayed, highly anticipated Cybertruck pickup to customers on Thursday, entering one of the most lucrative but competitive segments of the auto industry.

With its stainless steel body and sharp angles, the Cybertruck is unlike pickups from Ford Motor, General Motors and Ram, which dominate the market. With a starting price of $100,000 for the top-of-the-line version, it is Teslas first completely new passenger vehicle in more than three years but arrives long after other automakers began selling battery-powered pickups.

That has analysts asking just who will buy the Cybertruck. Will it steal customers from traditional automakers, appeal to a different crowd or become a costly flop? Tesla has said hundreds of thousands of people have placed $100 refundable deposits on Cybertrucks. But there is no guarantee those reservations will translate into sales.

It does beg the question, what kind of customer is Tesla looking for? said Ben Rose, president of Battle Road Research, a firm that tracks electric vehicle and technology companies, who expects Tesla shares to outperform the market. It looks like something lowered from the lunar module to collect rocks on the moon.
Caribbean and Central America-based mobile operator Digicel revealed former Inmarsat and Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri will take the reins as Chairman Designate from the companys Founder Denis OBrien.

In a statement, Digicel detailed Suri will take over after the company restructures its operations, and he will be based in London.

Suri had worked in multiple senior executive roles in the telecoms industry for around 35 years, most recently as CEO of Inmarsat, a role he stood down from in May as part of Viasats acquistion of the company.

Digicel noted Suri delivered record financial performance at Inmarsat and organised the exit for private equity and pension fund shareholders.

Prior to that role, he was president and CEO of Nokia form 2014 to 2020, and CEO of Nokia Siemens Networks since 2009. OBrien will continue to serve on the board and hold his shares in the operator.

On Suri's appointment, OBrien said: I am delighted to welcome Rajeev as Chairman Designate. Given his impressive track record of delivery over 35 years, I know he will both add value and create value for all our stakeholders. He joins superb local teams across the Caribbean and Central America with whom it has been my privilege to work for over 25 years. He is the ideal leader to deliver on Digicels next phase of growth.

The Irish Times reported, as part of Digicel's debt restructuring plan, OBrien will cut his 99.9% stake to 10% to write off almost US$2 billion in debt. A timeframe for the completion of the restructure was not given.
This year is virtually certain to be the hottest year in recorded history, the World Meteorological Organization announced on Thursday at COP28, the United Nations climate summit in Dubai where delegates from nearly 200 countries, including many heads of state and government, have gathered.

The organization said 2023 has been about 1.4 degrees Celsius, or about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit, above the global average preindustrial temperature from 1850 to 1990. The past nine years have been the warmest nine in 174 years of recorded scientific observations, with the previous single-year records set in 2020 and 2016. This comes in addition to record greenhouse gas concentrations, sea levels and concentrations of methane.

Its a deafening cacophony of broken records, Petteri Taalas, the secretary general of the World Meteorological Organization, said in Dubai.

Although data for the end of the year is still to come, the organization issued a draft of its State of the Global Climate report early in order to inform the talks in Dubai, where diplomats and leaders are trying to negotiate plans to accelerate the global transition away from the fossil fuels that are dangerously heating Earth.
A new fund to help vulnerable countries hit by climate disasters should be up and running this year, after diplomats from nearly 200 countries on Thursday approved a draft plan on the first day of a United Nations global warming summit.

The early adoption of rules for the fund, which developing nations fought more than 30 years to create, was widely viewed as a positive sign for the two-week summit in Dubai. Sultan Al Jaber, the Emirati oil executive who is presiding over the conference, called the move a significant milestone and evidence that nations were ready to act with ambition on climate.

The United Arab Emirates and Germany each pledged $100 million toward the fund and the United Kingdom pledged about $76 million. Japan pledged $10 million. The European Union would contribute at least 225 million (about $245 million), Wopke Hoekstra, the E.U. climate commissioner, said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The United States promised $17.5 million, an amount that some activists criticized as too low for the worlds largest economy and biggest historic source of greenhouse gases.
Im in Dubai at the United Nations climate summit, known as COP28, and the mood is decidedly mixed. Delegates are arriving with high hopes of making progress in the global fight against climate change, but its impossible to ignore the fact that the summit is being held inside gleaming new facilities built with oil money.

World leaders will begin speaking tomorrow, and over the next two weeks negotiators from almost every country on the planet will work on redoubling their efforts to combat climate change.

And while hopes are high that countries might find ways to rapidly reduce greenhouse gases and limit the use of coal, oil and gas, the reality is that fossil fuel emissions are still growing. Meanwhile, the destructive effects of climate change are getting worse, with floods, fires, droughts and storms ravaging every corner of the globe.

Frustrations with the U.N. process, and the plodding pace of progress, are running high.

Weve had COPs for how many years now? said Avinash Persaud, a climate adviser for Barbados. If people had been compelled to act at COP1 or COP2 or COP15, we would have had a different world.
In the Caribbean, the customary way of celebrating the holidays is with a thick and creamy cocktail made with several types of milk and brimming with rum.

The drink varies from nation to nation  cremas or kremas in Haiti, coquito in Puerto Rico and crema de vie in Cuba, to name a few. But the essential ingredients are the same: rum, evaporated and sweetened condensed milks, and spices like cinnamon. Coquito and cremas also contain coconut milk or coconut cream. Many of these drinks are bottled and given as gifts, or sold to family and friends, during the holidays.
There were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria around the globe last year, the World Health Organization said on Thursday, significantly more than before the Covid-19 pandemic and an increase of five million over 2021. Malaria remains a top killer of children.

Those new cases were concentrated in just five countries: Pakistan, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia and Papua-New Guinea. Climate change was a direct contributor in three of them, said Dr. Daniel Ngamije, who directs the W.H.O. malaria program.

In July 2022, massive flooding left more than a third of Pakistan underwater and displaced 33 million people. An explosion of mosquitoes soon followed. The country reported 3.1 million confirmed cases of malaria that year, compared with 275,000 the year before, with a fivefold increase in the rate of transmission.

With the very heavy monsoons we expected these consequences, but not up to this magnitude, said Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, director of Pakistans national malaria control program.
The rate of suicides involving guns in the United States has reached the highest level since officials began tracking it more than 50 years ago, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rate increased by more than 10 percent in 2022 compared with 2019, and in some racial and ethnic groups, the rise was significantly steeper, especially among Native Americans. Overall, about 27,000 of 50,000 suicides were carried out by gun in 2022.

Federal researchers involved in the analysis suggested that the coronavirus pandemic might have exacerbated many of the known risk factors for suicide generally, which include social isolation, strained relationships, and drug and alcohol disorders. At the same time, outside experts noted, the increased rates also correlated with another trend seen during the acute phase of the pandemic: rising gun sales.

When there are more firearms, there are more firearm suicides, said Michael Anestis, the executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center.
For more about one-pagers, read this excellent explanation by Betsy Potash in Cult of Pedagogy. We know that research shows that slowing down and deeply engaging with a text helps learners with meaning-making and consolidation of the information. But doing so via both images and text provides additional benefits:

As students create one-pagers, the information they put down becomes more memorable to them as they mix images and information. According to Allan Paivios dual coding theory, the brain has two ways of processing: the visual and the verbal. The combination of the two leads to the most powerful results. Students will remember more when theyve mixed language and imagery.

Where can I see examples?

First, here is the work of our 2023 winners. Take a look at the variety of topics, the range of commentary, and the different types of images, some done by hand, some created digitally. Via our step-by-step guide, you can also see some of that work used as mentor texts for your own.

And here are four more places online to find a variety produced by students all over:

Finally, in our step-by-step guide, we have included both some of last years winners and a few fun examples made by students in Illinois in 2022. (They had never done one-pagers before, but were willing to help us out by testing this assignment before we made it public.)

But Im not an artist! Can I still make an effective one-pager?

Of course! Artistic merit is not the focus of this challenge. Stick figures, simple graphics, and the use of color can do all the visual work youll need to highlight your thoughts. What well be judging is your engagement with the ideas and information in the text. We encourage you to think deeply about the text. You might read, watch or listen to it several times, discuss it with others, follow links to learn more about the topic, and analyze or draw conclusions about what youve read and how it was presented.

Then, choose the best or most interesting of your ideas to put on your one-pager. Show us what happened to you as you made meaning from the text. Maybe you connected it to your own life, or the lives of people you care about. Maybe the piece made you sad, or mad, and you want to analyze why. Or maybe you learned something that challenged your understanding of an issue or concept. Take us on the journey with you.

I dont know where to begin! What advice do you have?

Please check out our step-by-step guide.

_________
The proliferation of documentaries on streaming services makes it difficult to choose what to watch. Each month, well choose three nonfiction films  classics, overlooked recent docs and more  that will reward your time.

A Married Couple (1970)

Stream it on the Criterion Channel.

Before PBS broke ground in the concept of reality television with An American Family in 1973, Canada gave the world A Married Couple, the director Allan Kings portrait of Billy and Antoinette Edwards, a husband and wife in Toronto who committed their squabbles to celluloid. King practiced his version of the noninvolvement school of documentary making, a style that is often imprecisely lumped under the labels cinema verite and direct cinema. (There was even a bit of a documentary exchange program at the time: William Brayne, the cinematographer on Kings Warrendale and Come on Children, shot some of Frederick Wisemans contemporaneous films, including Law and Order, Hospital and Juvenile Court.)
He bolsters his thesis but also stress tests it with people who have never left, who have left and returned, or, like the author Jemar Tisby, who have put down new roots with uplift in mind.

In a nice bit of journalistic even-handedness, several of Blows interviewees are not entirely convinced by his thesis, or they believe there are other paths to political gains. For example, the community strategist Asiaha Butler shares why she decided to stay in Chicagos Englewood neighborhood, despite the gun violence and the tug of family in the South. Her story of how seeing a young girl playing alone in a vacant lot and throwing bottles into the street cinched it  she had to remain  is as moving as it is authentic. And her reasons are as committed to empowering Black Americans where they are as Blows call for mass migration.

South to Black Power

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes. Watch on Max.
The film begins with a perfunctory news montage priming us on the Covid-19 crisis  as if we need a reminder  before pivoting to spend time alongside Lauren Yap, a college senior returning to her family home in Bedford, Texas, for virtual graduation. The documentary goes on to bring in scenes from Monica Silverio, an activist in Austin, and Jenah Maravilla, a community organizer in Houston, who both become involved with the Black Lives Matter movement. Their friends are encouraging of their advocacy work; their parents, sometimes less so. Do a peaceful protest at home, Monicas father suggests on a video call.

The issues explored in Who We Become are essential, but the films content can occasionally feel superficial, as when Raval scrolls through text and images the women shared on Instagram. Those social media posts, designed for public consumption, pale in comparison to the documentarys personal scenes. When, in an intimate video call, Jenahs longtime friend Rachel tells her, youve treated my Black body with care, it is more galvanizing than any number of infographics.

Who We Become

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 12 minutes. Watch on Netflix.
DataVolt has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with three ministries in Uzbekistan that will see it developing green data centres in the market.

The Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan have all signed the MoU, which is aimed at Uzbekistans goal of becoming a sustainable digital hub. The agreement aims to promote digital transformation in the country as well as attract foreign investment into the IT sector.

DataVolt will develop, invest and operate state-of-the-art data centres, creating the first fully renewable large data centre campus in the region. The data centres will focus on high efficiency, innovation and sustainability solutions.

Rajit Nanda, Chief Executive Officer of DataVolt mentioned: In line with Uzbekistans sustainability goals, we target to build data centres with the lowest carbon emissions. We believe that this project will have a positive impact on the Uzbek economy and people and help to make Uzbekistan a digital leader in the region.
With his expulsion from the House of Representatives on Friday, George Santos, a New York Republican, joined a select group of disgraced U.S. politicians consigned to that ignominious fate.

In the history of Congress, only 20 members  five representatives and 15 senators  had previously been removed from office by a vote of their peers, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The reason for most of the earlier ousters was disloyalty to the United States, specifically for backing the Confederacy over the Union amid the Civil War.

Of the senators, 14 were expelled for that reason, while one, William Blount of Tennessee, was ousted after hatching a scheme to attack Spanish Florida and Louisiana, territories at the time, and transfer them to England for his own financial gain.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has no question about who wants him dead.

The conspiracy and plot to kill me comes from the government of India, he said in an interview.

Mr. Pannun is a Sikh separatist who envisions an independent Punjab, the northern Indian state where his minority religious group is dominant. His assertion that India is out to get him was given credence by a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday that charged an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, in a murder-for-hire plot ordered up by an official inside the nations government. The accusation immediately cast a pall on American-Indian relations.

Mr. Pannun is a 56-year-old dual American and Canadian citizen who has lived in New York City for nearly three decades. He was not named in the indictment, but American officials confirmed on Wednesday that he was the intended victim.

Mr. Pannun, a general counsel for a New York-based group called Sikhs for Justice, which seeks independence for Punjab, said he was not surprised by the assassination plot against him. The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nations conservative Hindu leader, has a history of using violence to suppress criticism, he said.
The mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., called New Yorks congestion pricing plan doormat treatment.

A New Jersey congressman said pricing details disclosed for the first time Wednesday showed that New York was sticking it to Jersey families.

And Gov. Philip D. Murphy insisted that he supported congestion pricing as a conceptual matter, but not this version of the plan, and not in his backyard.

Everyone in the region deserves access to more reliable mass transit, Mr. Murphy, a second-term New Jersey Democrat, said in a statement. But placing an unjustified financial burden on New Jersey commuters is wrong.

Supporters of New Yorks congestion pricing plan believe it will induce more motorists to use mass transit, curbing both congestion on the citys busiest roads and vehicle emissions that contribute significantly to climate change. Once the plan is implemented, as early as May, motorists who drive into Manhattan below 60th Street  whether they are coming from New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester or anywhere else  will pay significantly more in tolls.
Pablo Guzman, who gained widespread media attention in the early 1970s as a leader of the Young Lords, a Puerto Rican activist group based in East Harlem, then flipped the script to become an Emmy-winning television news reporter, died on Sunday in Westchester County, N.Y. He was 73.

His wife, Debbie Guzman, said the cause of his death, in a hospital, was cardiac arrest.

The Young Lords, which Mr. Guzman helped found in 1969, grabbed New Yorks attention with high-profile street actions intended to highlight the deplorable condition of neighborhoods like the South Bronx and East Harlem.

They built walls of garbage across city streets to protest ineffective sanitation, then set them on fire; they took over a church and used it to offer free breakfast to school children; and they briefly occupied a Bronx hospital, turning it into a free clinic.

Sanford Garelik, the City Council president at the time, derided the Young Lords as terrorists. Both the F.B.I. and the New York Police Department spied on the group.
For students at a high school rehearsing for a tribute concert tomorrow, there are reminders that Tony Bennett left his heart in Astoria, Queens. There is the striking metal lettering on the schools marquee that reads Tony Bennett, Founder. And there are the charts the band will play  copies of the actual sheet music used when Bennett performed songs like New York, New York with Lady Gaga.

Theyre the professional charts, said Ella Rubin, a trombonist who is in 12th grade at the school, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. (Bennett, who died in July at 96, named it for that other great crooner.)
An appeals court on Thursday reinstated a narrow gag order on Donald J. Trump that bars him from attacking court staff in his civil fraud trial in New York. The former president has already violated the order twice, incurring a total of $15,000 in fines.

The order was first put in place by the trial judge, Arthur F. Engoron, in early October, after Mr. Trump attacked the judges law clerk on social media. Mr. Trump falsely referred to the clerk, Allison Greenfield, as Schumers girlfriend alongside a photo of her and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader, and said that she was running the case against Mr. Trump.

With their client barred from attacking Ms. Greenfield, Mr. Trumps lawyers continued to take issue with her prominence. They accused her of displaying bias against them as the judge consulted with his clerk during the trial, which stems from a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James.

Eventually, Justice Engoron placed a gag order on the lawyers as well, prohibiting them from commenting on his conferences and written exchanges with Ms. Greenfield.
To the Editor:

Re Schumer Chides Leftists Abetting Antisemitism (news article, Nov. 30) and What American Jews Fear Most, by Chuck Schumer (Opinion guest essay, Nov. 30):

Senator Schumers resolve to take a strong public stand against antisemitism is laudable, particularly when the scourge of hatred toward Jews is reaching a fever pitch. The Senate majority leaders felicitous and poignant plea, both on the floor of the Senate and in the Opinion section, was notable for its moral clarity and forceful denunciation of the wanton antisemitism pervading every segment of our society.

Furthermore, the urgency with which he conveyed how dangerous this conflagration of hate has become and how critical it is for all Americans  not just Jews  to condemn antisemitism is a clarion call that will hopefully resonate on all points of the political spectrum, on university campuses and throughout our nation.

Remaining silent in the face of blatant bigotry is indefensible, and Senator Schumers compelling words should serve as a wake-up call to everyone who has thus far failed to confront this growing crisis.

N. Aaron Troodler

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

To the Editor:

Like Senator Chuck Schumer, I am deeply concerned about the rise in antisemitism. I have questioned whether it is safe to continue wearing my Star of David, and ultimately decided to do so in solidarity with Jews, such as Hasidim, who cannot hide their identities, and to signal to other Jews that I am safe. (A stranger at a restaurant recently thanked me for wearing it, which confirmed my decision.)
Last month the federal government announced a proposed settlement agreement in the class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of immigrant parents who were wrongfully separated from their children at the border under the Trump administrations zero-tolerance policy. On Dec. 8, a federal court will hold a hearing and consider whether it should grant final approval of the settlement.

If approved, the settlement would provide families with some temporary benefits such as work authorization, short-term housing medical assistance, including behavioral health services. It also would provide them with an opportunity to apply for permanent immigration status through the asylum system. While it will not provide a lawyer to represent them, it will offer immigration legal services like a help desk to offer counseling, help complete forms and make referrals to attorneys who might take a case pro bono. And for the next eight years, it would bar separation in most instances where families are apprehended at the border.

But as a whole, the proposed settlement falls far short of our governments moral obligation to meaningfully redress the harm it inflicted on more than 5,000 children and their parents. The governments short-term and impermanent relief denies families the stability and support they deserve as they piece their lives back together. Instead, the federal government should  and can still  provide separated families with permanent immigration status, monetary damages and accountability for the harm they continue to endure.

Justice for separated families must include permanent immigration status in this country, so that families can focus on rebuilding their lives without the looming fear of deportation to dangerous circumstances. For the thousands of families that have been reunited to date, their familial chemistry has been forever altered by the trauma of an abrupt forced separation. The process of repairing ruptured bonds between parent and child will require time, effort and supportive services.
As the number of people killed in Gaza has exceeded 14,000, according to Gazan health officials, Israel faces worldwide condemnation for its offensive, which was paused last week. Israel insists that it is doing all it can to protect civilians, given the complex urban environment it is fighting in, the embedding of Hamas in the civilian population and persistent missile strikes.

But Israel must do more to address the suffering of Palestinians, now and after the war ends.

In the short term, Israel should pay compensation to the families of the dead in Gaza and treat the injured. In the future, it must also play a role in the enormous international effort that will be required to reconstruct the territory under its new government, whatever that may be.

While the hurdles are large for more immediate aid  including the willingness of Palestinians to accept help from the people who have bombed them and of Israelis to give it during a war against the perpetrators of an atrocity against Israeli civilians  the idea is worth considering.

Cash payments to victims of collateral harm are rare but not unprecedented. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. forces made condolence payments usually in the range of $2,500 to $5,000 to some families for each person killed by U.S. troops during combat operations. These payments were expressions of sympathy, not restitution for damages, with the United States sidestepping liability. Israel can do the same.
Penguins are champion power nappers. Over the course of a single day, they fall asleep thousands of times, each bout a few seconds long, a new study has found.

Although animals have a wide range of sleeping styles, penguins easily take the record for fragmented sleeping.

Its really unusual, said Paul-Antoine Libourel, a neuroscientist at the Neuroscience Research Center of Lyon in France who helped make the discovery. This just highlights the fact that we dont know much about sleep, and all animals are not sleeping like the way we read in textbooks.

The study was published on Thursday in the journal Science.

The science of sleep got its start in the early 1900s when researchers used scalp electrodes to discover that people produce slow brain waves when dozing.
A bit of coffee early in the morning, or any time of day, took root in Cuban culture centuries ago, making a little cup of steaming, aromatic "black nectar" an expression of Cubanness for ages, and this remains so wherever there are Cubans, from Finland to the Maldives.

The greatest Cuban of all, Jose Marti, in his beautifully poetic prose, once defined coffee, which he loved: "Rich juice, mold fire, without a flame and without burning, enlivens and accelerates all the agile blood in my veins. Coffee has a mysterious connection to the soul; it prepares the limbs for battle, and for the race; it cleanses the spirit of humanity; it sharpens and heightens the capacities; it lights up the inner depths and sends fiery and wonderful concepts to the lips."

Let us fast forward to today's Cuba and consider a hypothetical dialogue that might actually take place anywhere on the island: "Ah, Felipe, you came at a good time. I'm going to bring you a little cup of platanillo that I just made," Teresa tells her uncle, who has come to visit her. "Platanillo?" he asks. "Well, look, they haven't had coffee at the store for a while, so you've got to live by your wits, you know, to trick your stomach into thinking we're drinking coffee," his niece replies, resigned.

This could be happening right now somewhere in Cuba, especially in Holguin, where, lacking coffee, people are preparing hot platanillo teas as a substitute, as the fictional Teresa says.

What is platanillo? Matico, a wild yellow-green shrub found all across the island, with a peppery scent and producing pods containing small fruits. Its scientific name is Piper ossanum. On the island it is abundant, from Pinar del Rio to Camaguey, and in the East there is another variety called Piper aduncum.

It grows in almost all of Latin America, where it is used for everything from relieving hemorrhoids (in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, and Guatemala) to dying clothes. And now, in socialist Cuba it is also used to make "coffee."

Independent journalists from Holguin explain that to brew this unique coffee the pod is opened and the beans are removed and dried in the sun. Then they are put on the stove, roasted, ground, and used to cook up something resembling coffee.

A platanillo breakfast"for the children so they can go to school"

Luisa Martinez Silva, a resident of the Holguin municipality of Antilla, expressed her indignation: "That's what we're giving the kids for breakfast so they can go to school." Though platanillo grows freely in the wild, Luisa grows her in the yard of her house to play it safe.

Now let's read a paragraph from a story out of Sancti Spiritus published in the newspaper 14yMedio after talking with Lismary, a 32-year-old resident of this town.

"A neighbor told me," explained the young woman, "and I rushed to the store, but as soon as I saw the color of the powder, I was suspicious (...) it looked very black, as if it were burned. When I opened the package (...) it didn't smell like anything, maybe a tinge of burned bark (...) my grandmother was dying to have a cup and when I gave it to her she immediately said that it 'didn't taste or smell like coffee.'"

The complaints are leveled against the state-owned Torrefactora de Cabaiguan."What are they adding to coffee in Sancti Spiritus? Coal, dry firewood, burnt coconut shell?" wrote Luis Ernesto on the Internet, another local resident. Nobody knows what the hell they're putting in it, but it tastes like crap. You don't think it's platanillo?"

Lavazza buys Cuban coffee and GAESA makes millions

While Luisa grows platanillo to feel like she's drinking coffee, Lavazza, the Italian coffee brand that, along with Starbucks, and Folgers, is one of the biggest in the world, has just rolled out La Reserva de Tierra! in Madrid , "a premium and sustainable high-quality organic Cuban coffee (...) that will be distributed exclusively by Espressa Coffee & More (...) containing beans grown by 170 farmers in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Granma."

This story was reported by the press from the Spanish capital; that is, Cubans cannot drink the delicious Cuban coffee, but GAESA exports what little is produced, adding to its millions in overseas accounts.

This is what is happening in a country that in 1830 was the largest exporter of coffee in the world, and in which coffee had become almost a ritual, like tea for the English, though on the island it was enjoyed several times a day and without much ceremony.

And in Cuba everyone drank it, rich and poor alike. The catchy tango-conga by Eliseo Grenet that Rita Montaner sang said it all: "Oh, Mama Ines, all us blacks drink coffee." Who ever would have thought that Cubans would no longer be drinking it?

Coffee was discovered by chance about 1,200 years ago in Ethiopia, where monks observed that goats were more energetic when they ate some small berries similar to cherries, which they called "the Devil's fruit."

After coffee was brough to Cuba in 1748 by Frenchman Jose A. Gelabert, in the Havana area of Wajay, and until the early years of Castroism, the country exported premium coffee that was highly prized on the world market, particularly "mild Arabica bourbon" beans, boasting an incomparable aroma and flavor, harvested in the Sierra Cristal mountains, where a special microclimate favors the production beans of the highest quality.

In 2000 UNESCO classified the "archaeological landscape of Cuba's first coffee plantations" as a World Heritage Site.

From May to October there was no pea coffee at stores

Returning to today's Cuba, from May 2023 until mid-October not even roasted coffee containing peas was delivered with the groceries included in the rationing book. It should be noted that the International Coffee Organization (ICO) states that mixtures consisting of more than 5% of other beans do not constitute coffee. In Cuba, the mixture is 50% peas, and no one knows whether that percentage is even higher.

The last straw is that ordinary Cubans cannot even enjoy this concoction anymore because it does not "show up" at stores, a 115-gram bag of Cubita coffee costs too much, and on the black market a pound swallows half a month's wages.

What a contrast! In 1958, the parents and grandparents of Cubans today drank, on average, 828 grams of coffee per month, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. That is, almost two pounds. A cup of that delicious aromatic coffee, at any neighborhood locale, (I remember the Oquendo brand), cost just three cents!

Today, every consumer "has the right" to consume one eighth of a pound, because what one gets is 57 grams of coffee, and the rest of the 115 grams is peas, or God only knows what else.

Coffee yields in Cuba are, perhaps, the lowest in the world

Before Castroism, Cuba produced about 60,000 tons of coffee. After the imposition of Communism, production plummeted. Today, the country produces between 7,000 and 10,000 tons per year, and rationed domestic consumption is 24,000 tons. There is no money to import and cover that shortfall; not even half.

One of the primary causes of this is distinctly "revolutionary." The yields of the island's coffee plantations are ridiculously low: 0.18 tons of coffee per hectare, when the world average does not fall below one ton per hectare.

In other words, Cuba, once a coffee-growing powerhouse, today produces less than one fifth of what the world's coffee-growing countries normally obtain per hectare. I do not think there can be lower coffee yields on the planet than the ones under Castroism.

Finally, to better appreciate this disaster, this detail is worthwhile: the Castro regime's propagandized "Coffee Development Program" calls for producing 30,000 tons of coffee by 2030. That is, 70 years later, to produce half of what the country did in 1960! Please!
Do you have a favorite era?

It bounces between Red and Folklore-slash-Evermore.

Lets talk a little bit about the coursework. What is on the syllabus?

Each week pairs some body of her work with some body of work by other people. We are reading two different Willa Cather novels. Were reading a novel by James Weldon Johnson about a performing artist whos got a very different relationship to his own career in his hands. We are reading a contemporary novel by Zan Romanoff about One Direction fandom.

Were going to read some Wordsworth, Wordsworth being a Lake District poet. She sings about the poets of the Lake District in England. Wordsworth also writes about some of the same feelings that Taylor sings about: disappointment in retrospect, and looking back and realizing that youre not the child you were, even though you might want to be.

What songs are going to be paired with those texts?

We are reading Coleridges Work Without Hope. Work Without Hope, of course, being Coleridges version of Youre on Your Own, Kid.

Of course. How about homework?

The written work will include a couple of conventionally argued academic essays, where the student needs to make a well-supported argument with clearly framed evidence in easy-to-follow prose. One of them has to be on a Taylor topic. One of them has to be about something else that we read for the course. So you cant write about nothing but Taylor Swift and get a good grade.
Meta announced on Thursday that it had removed thousands of Facebook accounts based in China that were impersonating Americans debating political issues in the United States. The company warned that the campaign presaged coordinated international efforts to influence the 2024 presidential election.

The network of fake accounts  4,789 in all  used names and photographs lifted from elsewhere on the internet and copied partisan political content from X, formerly known as Twitter, Meta said in its latest quarterly adversarial threat analysis. The copied material included posts by prominent Republican and Democratic politicians, the report said.

The campaign appeared intended not to favor one side or another but to highlight the deep divisions in American politics, a tactic that Russias influence campaigns have used for years in the United States and elsewhere.

Meta warned that the campaign underscored the threat facing a confluence of elections around the world in 2024  from India in April to the United States in November.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted in early October, has halted international tourism to Israel and severely blunted travel to neighboring countries in a ripple effect spreading across the entire Middle East. While the slowdown in international visitors is only one of the wars economic repercussions in the region, it poses a significant threat to the economies of Egypt, Jordan and other nations heavily dependent on tourism and has swiftly reversed a banner year of travel in the Middle East.

The war has affected all segments of the travel industry, with international travel operators scaling back or postponing excursions, cruise lines redeploying ships and airlines dramatically reducing service. And many travelers, heeding government warnings and their own worries, are increasingly wary about visiting the region, prompting waves of cancellations.

Local tour operators fear what a protracted war would do to a promising and growing industry.

We foresaw the Middle East evolving into the New Europe with the Iran-Saudi Arabia rapprochement and Saudi Arabias integration into the tourism system, said Khaled Ibrahim, a Cairo-based consultant for Amisol Travel Egypt and a member of the Middle East Travel Alliance. We all hope that this war does not escalate and shatter the hopes that people  Arabs, Israelis and Iranians alike  have been holding onto. Amisol Travel in Egypt has received only 40 to 50 percent of its typical bookings, he said, for the months between February and September 2024.

Hussein Abdallah, general manager of Lebanon Tours and Travels in Beirut, believes that all of Lebanon is 100 percent safe, but said he hasnt had a single booking since the war started, prematurely ending a very good year for the tour business. Now, he said, tourist sites like the Jeita Grotto and the Baalbek Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that normally receive thousands of visitors daily, are empty.
A bipartisan group of senators has agreed that a spending package for Israel and Ukraine should include a measure making it more difficult to be granted asylum in the United States, according to senators involved in the talks, but is deadlocked on more sweeping immigration changes that Republicans have demanded.

Progressive and Hispanic Democrats are enraged about the emerging agreement to try to reduce migrant flows by imposing a stricter definition for migrants to meet when they claim they need refuge because they fear persecution in their home countries. It is not clear whether the idea will survive an intensive round of negotiations to finalize the national security spending measure, which could reach the Senate floor as soon as next week.

But the fact that senators in both parties are coalescing around the move  and that the Biden administration has signaled openness to it  highlights the political potency of concerns about the southern border. Republicans have sought to weaponize the issue against President Biden and his party, and with polls showing voters deeply critical of the presidents border policies, he and many other Democrats are eager to insulate themselves.

The emerging consensus to change asylum policy has alarmed liberals on Capitol Hill, particularly Latino lawmakers, who have privately expressed their grave concerns to both administration officials and Senate leaders.
Lisa Phillip, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at an Orlando charter school, appreciates many of Floridas new guidelines for teaching civics.

She has enjoyed discussing, as the state requires, the advantages that the U.S. government and economy have over socialism and communism  something that some of her immigrant students feel innately, she said.

And she doesnt mind teaching about the influence of the Judeo-Christian tradition on the nations founding documents. The subject prompted her students at Central Florida Leadership Academy to reflect on how the countrys politics, they believed, fell short of the basic morality in the Ten Commandments.

This fall, Ms. Phillip is one of thousands of social studies teachers adjusting to a hotly debated overhaul of civics in several conservative states. The revamp is led by Republican governors  Ron DeSantis of Florida, Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia  who have also restricted how race and gender are discussed in schools.
The identity of a person whose remains were found in a rusted, corroded barrel in the receding waters of Lake Mead last year has stumped investigators in Nevada, who on Wednesday released images they believe are an approximation of the mans face, in hopes they may push the case further along.

The remains of the man, who investigators think died from a gunshot wound decades ago, were found in the spring of 2022, the first of four sets of human remains found at the lake that year. The Clark County Coroners Office was able to successfully identify remains in three of the four cases, including those of a man who drowned nearly 50 years ago.

The gruesome discoveries, which stirred theories about seedy crimes in nearby Las Vegas, were made possible by an ongoing drought that saw the water levels of Lake Mead, the countrys largest man-made reservoir, drop by nearly 150 feet since 2000.
Late last month, Bernie Stang, who lives in Central Minnesota, hustled her daughter and a friend into her car and set off in search of a wayward moose named Rutt.

After five hours, they found him trotting around a harvested cornfield near Grove City, Minn., about 20 miles away.

Then Ms. Stang did what many Minnesotans have been doing lately. She uploaded the images to a Facebook page devoted to tracking Rutts every move.

The page, called Rutt-The Central MN Moose on the Loose, has more than 38,000 followers, many of whom, like Ms. Stang, think nothing of dropping everything and jumping in their cars, hoping for a glimpse of Minnesotas most famous moose.
On a Democratic primary debate stage in Brooklyn in 2016, Senator Bernie Sanders caused a ruckus within his party when he rebuked Hillary Clinton for not mentioning Palestinian rights in a speech she made to a pro-Israel lobbying group.

If we are ever going to bring peace to that region, Mr. Sanders said in remarks that drew cheers and applause from the audience, we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity. He added, That does not make me anti-Israel.

The comment delighted liberal critics of Israels policies in the occupied West Bank and Gaza and alarmed mainstream Democrats, who were more accustomed to seeing presidential candidates compete to showcase their airtight alignment with the Jewish state. It was an early indication of what would become a profound divide within the Democratic Party over Israel, pitting young progressives and people of color against older, whiter and more pro-Israel voters, and it positioned Mr. Sanders, the progressive icon from Vermont, on the leading edge of it.

But years later, amid the latest war in Gaza that began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostage, Mr. Sanders has found himself at odds with many of the same progressive activists and groups who powered his presidential campaigns and once revered him for his willingness to publicly question the actions of the Jewish state.
The Democratic anxiety that has swirled around President Biden for over a year has kicked into overdrive in recent weeks, as his approval ratings have stayed stubbornly low and polls have shown the possibility of his losing to former President Donald J. Trump.

That anxiety has crystallized into one question, repeated like a drumbeat: Cant some big-name Democrat challenge him? Someone more prominent than Marianne Williamson or Dean Phillips?

The answer: In theory, sure. In practice, the prospects are remote.

There are several reasons for that, most of which boil down to it being really hard to run a successful primary campaign against a sitting president. And doing so at this point, just two months before voting starts, wouldnt be feasible anyhow.

Making things still more difficult for a would-be challenger is that Mr. Biden remains relatively popular among Democratic voters. According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, 79 percent of party voters in six battleground states somewhat or strongly approve of his performance, which doesnt leave a lot of room for another Democrat.
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida listening to Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, during an interview after the second Republican debate.

The two governors, Ron DeSantis of Florida and Gavin Newsom of California, have clashed repeatedly as they seek national attention. Heres what to watch for tonight:

Mr. DeSantis has much more riding on this moment than his verbal sparring partner.

The first three Republican presidential debates featured jam-packed stages, some verbal brawling, often involving the 38-year-old entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and not a lot of Mr. DeSantis. Thursday night will be one-on-one, and with a friendly moderator, Sean Hannity, for the Republican on the stage.

Mr. DeSantiss poll numbers have sagged, leading him to seek exposure at every opportunity, including the debate against Mr. Newsom. Now Mr. DeSantis, who once preferred to ensconce himself in the friendly bubble of conservative media, has become almost a regular on mainstream broadcast networks.

He has also repeatedly challenged his main rivals for the Republican nomination to debate him, hoping to generate momentum and attention, although his performances onstage so far have done little to change the dynamics of the race. But Mr. Trump has refused to appear at the G.O.P. debates, saying they were not worth his time given his lead in the polls. And former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who has caught up with or overtaken Mr. DeSantis in many early-state polls and has been busy building support among influential Republican donors, declined his recent offer of a one-on-one matchup.

Voters in Iowa go to the caucuses Jan. 15 to cast the first ballots of the primary season. Mr. DeSantis has nailed down the coveted endorsements of the states governor, Kim Reynolds, and an influential evangelical leader, Bob Vander Plaats. Now he has to win over more Republican voters if he hopes to catch Mr. Trump and buoy his campaign ahead of more difficult primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

There will not be a partisan audience to influence viewer perceptions, but Mr. Newsoms camp fully expects Mr. Hannity to unlevel the playing field: Were under no illusions; this is going to be a two-on-one match with the ref in the bag for the home team, said Nathan Click, a Newsom spokesman.

If the moderator keeps the Democrat on the defensive over policy, Mr. DeSantis could use the 90 minutes on Fox to combat his awkward, remote and sometimes canned image. DeSantis supporters say its a moment for him to highlight the stakes for the Republican Party in a debate not over marginal policy differences between Republicans, like the primary debates, but over starkly different visions of the future. If he can best Mr. Newsom, he can bask in the victory of a unified party, if only for one night.

Ron DeSantis will take this responsibility seriously and looks forward to sharing the stark contrast between his vision to revive our nation and Newsoms blueprint for failure, said Mr. DeSantiss campaign manager, James Uthmeier.

Image Gov. Gavin Newsom getting ready for an interview after the second Republican Primary Debate, in Simi Valley, Calif., in September. Credit... Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

A top Biden surrogate seizing the spotlight

In political circles, it goes without saying that Californias governor has his eyes on the highest office in the land.

Its very obvious that he is running for president right now, said Jessica Patterson, the chairwoman of the California Republican Party. He elevates himself to a national level when he tries to punch up to Ron DeSantis. Every opportunity he gets to be on the national stage, he goes for it.

Maybe so, but as long as Mr. Biden is seeking re-election, Mr. Newsoms job on that stage is to defend the presidents record. Nothing else would lift Mr. Newsom in the eyes of his own party more than his help keeping a Democrat in the White House next year  and Mr. Trump out.

But to be a credible surrogate, Mr. Newsom cannot come off as an elite, West Coast liberal out of touch with the concerns of voters in key swing states far from California, like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia.

Can Hannity keep the focus on policy?

Mr. Hannity sees the showdown not as a stand-in for a presidential debate but as a chance for the governors of the first and third largest states in the nation to defend and showcase the very different policies governing those states.

I think both governors really have an opportunity to present their political philosophy and ideology, why they govern the way they do, he said in an interview.

They would have much to discuss: Floridas low-tax, growing economy versus Californias dominance in fields like technology and electric vehicles but struggles against Republican states poaching its businesses; university systems with divergent approaches to political speech and influence; Californias hands-on approach to climate change, including an eventual ban on internal combustion engines, versus Floridas laissez-faire attitude even as it is battered by stronger, more frequent hurricanes and coastal flooding.

Mr. DeSantis has relished talking up his record in Florida. He often brags about how many California residents are moving to Florida, claiming that Mr. Newsoms leftist policies are responsible. Mr. DeSantis once said that Mr. Newsom had treated Californians like peasants during the coronavirus pandemic. He filmed a campaign ad in San Francisco that painted the city as a kind of dystopia, with Mr. DeSantis saying he had seen people using drugs and defecating on the street.

Mr. Newsom has also not held back. During Mr. DeSantiss re-election campaign, he ran a pointed ad on Florida airwaves criticizing Mr. DeSantiss policies and recently ran another attacking the six-week abortion ban signed by the Florida governor. He has called Mr. DeSantis weak and undisciplined and said he would get crushed by Mr. Trump in the G.O.P. primary. After Mr. DeSantis sent planeloads of migrants from the southern border to Sacramento this year, Mr. Newsom suggested his Florida counterpart could face kidnapping charges, calling him a small, pathetic man.

Mr. Newsom still sees the evening as a way to showcase and put more scrutiny on Mr. DeSantiss brand of authoritarianism, Mr. Click said.

But both men have said their more pressing objective for this debate is the White House, not the state house.

Were focused on defending the president and contrasting the presidents record with Ron DeSantiss record of taking away fundamental freedoms that we have come to take for granted over the last 50 years, Mr. Click said, tallying off abortion, free speech and the right to vote.

Location, location, location

The Newsom camp has made much of the California governors willingness to venture into hostile territory and bring his message to Republican voters. And just a decade ago, the northern reaches of Fulton County, Ga., where the debate is being held, qualified as such.

Not anymore. Most of North Fulton has turned Democratic in the last eight years, as its citizenry has diversified and many suburban Republicans have recoiled at the partys direction under the leadership of Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump eked out a win in the ZIP code where the debate will be held, though his margin slipped by nearly 5 percentage points. But all around that 30005 ZIP code are blue stretches, a testament to Georgias arrival on the national stage as a true presidential battlefield.

Both camps said they wanted the debate in Georgia (Mr. DeSantis will be campaigning on Friday in South Carolina next door). Fox News chose the venue, a battleground within a battleground.

Adam Nagourney contributed reporting.
It was inevitable that Liz Cheneys new memoir would cause a splash. An outspoken Republican critic of former President Donald J. Trump in a party that he otherwise dominates, she has shown over the past three years that she is willing to say out loud what most other Republicans say only in private, if at all.

The memoir, Oath and Honor, arrives on bookshelves just as Mr. Trump is poised to reclaim the Republican presidential nomination in primaries beginning in a few weeks. It is meant as a five-alarm warning that returning him to power would endanger American democracy and a damning indictment of his enablers and collaborators in her own party.

But beyond its top-line arguments, the book offers a rare peek inside the Republican cloakroom at what Ms. Cheney, a former representative from Wyoming, heard from her colleagues about the Orange Jesus, as one wryly called Mr. Trump. Here are a half-dozen stories she tells in the book, a copy of which The New York Times obtained ahead of its publication on Tuesday by Little, Brown and Company.

Trump Republicans took Cheneys stand personally.

After Ms. Cheney spoke out against Mr. Trump and voted to impeach him, she faced a backlash from fellow Republicans accusing her of disloyalty. At a meeting called to decide whether to vote no confidence in her as head of the Republican Conference, the third-highest spot in the partys House leadership, a host of male members assailed her.
Nikki Haleys presidential campaign released its first ad of the Republican primary race on Thursday, a spot that calls for a new generation of conservative leadership and presents her as a steady hand in the face of domestic and international threats.

The ad, titled Moral Clarity, comes as Ms. Haley, the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor, aims to build on her momentum in the polls ahead of the first nominating contests in January. Former President Donald J. Trump, however, maintains a wide lead in surveys.

The 30-second ad, part of a $10 million purchase in Iowa and New Hampshire, will air on broadcast and cable TV starting Friday. A super PAC backing Ms. Haley, SFA Fund Inc., has spent more than $20 million on television advertising time, including reserved spots well into January.

Ms. Haley narrates the ad, and she does not mention Mr. Trump or President Biden. She twice refers to chaos  chaos on our streets and college campuses, and a need to leave behind the chaos of the past, reflecting concerns about Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump that have animated centrist Republicans.
Republicans expressed outrage at the move, accusing Democrats of trying to undermine the court after a series of conservative rulings on abortion rights and other issues. Republicans boycotted the committee vote after Democrats prevented their bid to block it with procedural tactics. G.O.P. senators threatened repercussions for the narrowly divided panel, which is responsible for handling judicial nominations, key executive branch appointments and immigration among other issues, and relies on some level of bipartisan cooperation.

I have tried as the ranking member  to my own detriment  to get things moving through this committee because I realize that elections matter, said Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the senior Republican on the panel. Those days are over. I consider this unacceptable.

The session began on a sour note when Mr. Graham and other Republicans on the committee heatedly disputed a decision by Mr. Durbin not to allow them a chance to express their views on two judicial nominees facing a revote by the panel because of a G.O.P. procedural objection. Mr. Durbin said Republicans had two previous opportunities to address the nominations and that he was following precedents set by two former Republican chairmen. Republicans claimed they were being muzzled.

Mr. Chairman, you just destroyed one of the most important committees in the United States Senate, said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas and a longtime member of the committee. What goes around comes around.

After the subpoena vote, Mr. Leo, who played a significant role in shaping the conservative-dominated Supreme Court by advising the Trump administration on nominees, said he did not intend to comply if Mr. Durbin issued such an order. ProPublica reported earlier this year that Mr. Leo, a longtime executive at the conservative Federalist Society, helped arrange and took part in a high-end Alaskan fishing trip with Justice Alito that was not reported on the justices financial disclosure forms.
For nearly two decades, a loose band of sheriffs deputies roamed impoverished neighborhoods across a central Mississippi county, meting out their own version of justice.

Narcotics detectives and patrol officers, some who called themselves the Goon Squad, barged into homes in the middle of the night, accusing people inside of dealing drugs. Then they handcuffed or held them at gunpoint and tortured them into confessing or providing information, according to dozens of people who say they endured or witnessed the assaults.

They described violence that sometimes went on for hours and seemed intended to strike terror into the deputies targets.

In the pursuit of drug arrests, deputies of the Rankin County Sheriffs Department shocked Robert Jones with a Taser in 2018 while he lay submerged in a flooded ditch, then rammed a stick down his throat until he vomited blood, he said.
In September, I went to see Counting Crows, a band whose music formed the soundtrack of my adolescence. The people alongside me at the Greek Theater at the University of California, Berkeley, were mainly in their 40s and 50s; people who might have had a babysitter waiting at home, or a slightly achy back. (I had both.)

As we belted out the lyrics of Mr. Jones together  a sea of fans singing a decades-old song  I couldve sworn I was a teenager again. I forgot that I had a mortgage, two kids and a favorite brand of tea bag. I turned to my husband (it was a shock to remember that I had one), and said, Did we just travel back in time?

This experience is fairly common, said Dr. Andrew E. Budson, a professor of neurology at Boston University and author of Why We Forget and How to Remember Better: The Science Behind Memory. Music has a powerful ability to make us feel like weve been transported to the past.

Many experts say that, as we get older, we tend to remember things that happened to us in our adolescence and early adulthood more than in other eras of our lives, a phenomenon known as the reminiscence bump. Though there are several theories, some experts speculate that its because were forming our identities during this time, and our brains are particularly receptive to new information. Its also a period that often includes social milestones, like a first relationship.
Federal prosecutors in the United States announced this week that they had charged an Indian national in a murder-for-hire scheme that targeted a Sikh activist in New York. The plot was foiled, they said, but it further complicated the delicate diplomatic relations between the United States, Canada and India.

President Biden has sought to strengthen ties with Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, amid rising tensions with China and a standoff with Russia. But prosecutors said the plan to kill the activist in New York was organized by an Indian government official  potentially disrupting the Biden administrations outreach to India.

The U.S. prosecutors also linked the plot to a murder in Canada last June. Relations between India and Canada had soured this fall after Canadian officials accused Indian government agents of the killing.

Here is a timeline of the events as American and Canadian officials have laid them out.

In or around May 2023

American prosecutors said that, around this time, an unnamed Indian government employee recruited Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, to orchestrate the assassination of a U.S. citizen, according to the indictment. The target of the plot described in court documents was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a vocal critic of the Indian government and the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, which advocates the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India.
In page after page of fly-on-the-wall detail, the indictment unsealed in New York this week describes a chilling plot: A criminal operative, on orders from a government official in India, tried to arrange the killing of a Sikh American on U.S. soil.

As the scheme unfolded, court documents said, it grew only more brazen. When a prominent Sikh was gunned down in Canada in June in what prosecutors call a related assassination, the operative was told to speed up in New York, not slow down, the indictment says. And he was ordered to proceed even as Indias prime minister was on a red-carpet visit to Washington.

The plot was eventually foiled, the indictment says. But its damning account leaves open a burning question: Why would the Indian government take such a gamble?

The Sikh secessionist movement targeted in the plot is a shadow of what it once was and poses no more than a minor threat to Indias national security, even if Indian officials see a new generation of Sikhs in the diaspora as more radicalized proponents of the cause. Pursuing a vocal American activist in the movement would seem a risk to the momentum in U.S.-India relations as New Delhi expands its trade and defense ties with Washington in unprecedented ways.
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada accused the Indian government in September of being behind the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver, there was fierce denial, skepticism and muted support.

India vehemently denied the accusations and forced out 41 Canadian diplomats. Canadas allies, including the United States, said little, concerned about offending an increasingly important counterweight to China and Russia.

Even Canadas opposition leader demanded that Mr. Trudeau come clean with the evidence behind the accusations.

But Canadas case against India and Mr. Trudeaus lonely stand were shored up on Wednesday after federal prosecutors in Manhattan revealed details of what they said was a separate plot in the United States, with links to the killing in Canada.
Alistair Darling, a British lawmaker and cabinet minister who played a leading role in his countrys response to the 2008 global financial crisis, rescuing troubled banks with huge injections of public money that staved off a broader economic collapse, died on Thursday at a hospital in Edinburgh. He was 70.

The cause was cancer, his family said.

Mr. Darling had joked that valedictory tributes after his death would describe him as a steady pair of hands in the credit crisis that began in 2008 with the collapse of Lehman Brothers in the United States and sent shock waves through the worlds banks.

The remark was on the money. In an obituary on Thursday, the BBC said Mr. Darling became best known as the steady pair of hands who shepherded the U.K. economy as half its banking system collapsed, noting his moves to rescue British banking giants, especially the Royal Bank of Scotland.

In 2007, just before the crisis, Gordon Brown, Britains Labour prime minister at the time, elevated Mr. Darling to chancellor of the Exchequer, the governments most senior official in charge of the nations finances. Until then, Mr. Darling had held a series of government offices at the Treasury and at ministries dealing with welfare, pensions, trade and transport.
The family of Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia, said Wednesday that he had been attacked by a fellow prisoner in the labor camp where he has been serving a 16-year sentence on what the United States says are fabricated charges of espionage.

Mr. Whelan told his family in a phone call that he had been working on a production line at the prison on Tuesday when another prisoner hit him in the face, according to a statement from David Whelan, Pauls brother. The assailant then tried to hit him again, he told his family, but he stood up to block the second hit, and other prisoners helped intervene.

Mr. Whelan described the attack as relatively minor, the statement said, but was afraid that such attacks could occur at any time and escalate into more serious ones, given various sharp implements available in the prison workshops.

Paul is a target because he is an American, and anti-American sentiment is not uncommon among the other prisoners, the familys statement said.
Russias Supreme Court on Thursday declared the international gay rights movement an extremist organization, another chilling crackdown on gay and transgender people whose rights have been scaled back drastically since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The court was acting on a lawsuit filed by the Ministry of Justice requesting the designation. When it filed the case on Nov. 17, the ministry said the activities of the international L.G.B.T.Q. movement had exhibited various signs and manifestations of an extremist orientation, including incitement of social and religious hatred.

The ruling escalates the threat for gay communities inside Russia. Gay rights activists and other experts say the ruling will put gay people and their organizations at risk of being criminally prosecuted for something as simple as displaying symbols like the rainbow flag or for endorsing the statement Gay rights are human rights.

Experts said the decision would make the work of all L.G.B.T.Q. organizations, as well as any political activity, untenable.
As book rollouts go, the one for Omid Scobies latest offering about the British royal family, Endgame, has been a hot mess  splashy, gaudy, tantalizing but ultimately a bit withholding  which is to say, par for the course for a putative tell-all account of the worlds most covered, least decoded family.

The withholding part involves an unconfirmed, thoroughly radioactive nugget that turned up in the Dutch edition of Mr. Scobies book, published on Tuesday: the identity of two members of the royal family who once reportedly expressed concerns about the skin color of the unborn child of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan.

Mr. Scobies Dutch publisher, Xander, quickly withdrew the book from shelves and online sites in the Netherlands at the behest of the author and his agent, citing an unspecified mistake that it said would be corrected in time for the book to go back on sale on Dec. 8. The family members are not identified in either the British or American editions, which were published by imprints of HarperCollins.

But the uncorrected version of Endgame was out long enough in Amsterdam and other cities for readers to buy it and for one name to circulate widely on social media (the second royal name appeared elsewhere in the book, though it was less directly attached to the reported incident). It all led to a nursery schools worth of peekaboo headlines in London tabloids on Wednesday.
At least three people were killed and six others wounded when two Palestinian gunmen affiliated with Hamas opened fire near a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Thursday morning, according to the Israeli authorities.

Israel has been on high alert since the Hamas-led attacks last month. The shooting on Thursday was the deadliest to hit the capital since Israel launched a retaliatory war against Hamas in Gaza, and came just as a fragile truce between the two sides was extended.

Israels Shin Bet security service said that the gunmen were Palestinian brothers from East Jerusalem who were affiliated with Hamas, the armed group that controls most of Gaza, and that both had been jailed for what it called terrorist activity. In a statement, it identified them as Murad Nimr, 38, and Ibrahim Nimr, 30.

Hamas said the men were members of its armed wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, Hamas  which the United States and many other nations classify as a terrorist group  called the attack a natural response to Israels brutal massacres in Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a diplomatic push by the Biden administration to extend the truce in Gaza. He said the attack was a reminder of the threat from terrorism that Israel and Israelis face every single day.

My heart goes out to the victims of this attack, Mr. Blinken said, adding, Were thinking of them, were thinking of their families, their loved ones, and we mourn their loss.

Benny Gantz, an Israeli politician and member of the countrys wartime emergency government, said the deadly shooting only strengthened Israels resolve to continue the fighting with might and determination against the murderous terrorism which threatens our citizens.
Texas has produced no major writers or major books, wrote Larry Jeff McMurtry, rather despairingly, in 2011. He was being modest. McMurtry, who died in 2021 at 84, was himself an undisputed titan of the Lone Star State and a wildly prolific one at that. During his lifetime, McMurtry published 33 novels and a bakers dozen of memoirs, essays and assorted balooey. McMurtrys best-known works werent just major  they became major motion pictures like Hud (adapted from Horseman, Pass By), The Last Picture Show and Terms of Endearment. And the rest were only as minor as the descending chords in a bluegrass ballad, idiosyncratic variations on a warm and wistful twang. You dont need to know all the songs by heart for the melodies to linger.

McMurtrys life, like his bulging bibliography, is tough to get ones arms around. (To paraphrase a regional cliche, everything is bigger in a McMurtry novel  especially the page count.) He was a tangle of contradictions. Raised on the outskirts of Archer City, Texas, by a cattle-ranching family, McMurtry was educated in the hills of Berkeley, where he was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford (along with Ken Kesey and Wendell Berry). He was a known crank and an infamous flirt; a small-town bohemian; an Oscar winner (for adapting Brokeback Mountain) and a pathological antiquarian.

But, through it all, he was a writer  averaging between five and 10 pages a day of something, every morning, for decades. And though he was an unlikely exemplar of his home state in appearance  teetotaling, bespectacled, with a mild phobia of horses  Larry McMurtry was, in fact, a peerless interlocutor of Texas, bridging the gap between its rural past and its noisy, urban present. And despite dalliances on the West Coast (with Cybill Shepherd and Diane Keaton, among others) and expensive habits (rooms at the Chateau Marmont, caviar at Petrossian), he always returned, somewhat grudgingly, to his birthplace. By refusing to let Texas define him, he helped redefine it.

For someone with such a keen and penetrating voice, he sure loved to listen. In a McMurtry book, everyone is interesting  even tertiary characters are a riot of quirk and detail. And, most notably for a white male writer of a certain age, McMurtry was fascinated by women, not in an objectifying manner, but rather with a dogged, almost courtly interest in the particulars of their lives.
UNCHARTED WATERS Airlines Race Toward a Future of Powering Their Jets With Corn Carriers want to replace jet fuel with ethanol to fight global warming. That would require lots of corn, and lots of water.

Vast stretches of America are dominated by corn, nearly 100 million acres of it, stretching from Ohio to the Dakotas. What once was forest or open prairie today produces the corn that feeds people, cattle and, when made into ethanol, cars.

Now, the nations airlines want to power their planes with corn, too.

Their ambitious goals would likely require nearly doubling ethanol production, which airlines say would slash their greenhouse gas emissions. If they succeed it could transform Americas Corn Belt yet again, boosting farmers and ethanol producers alike, but also potentially further damaging one of the nations most important resources: groundwater.

Corn is a water-intensive crop and it can take hundreds of gallons to produce a single gallon of ethanol. But as airlines embrace the idea of ethanol, prompting lobbyists for ethanol makers and corn growers alike to push for clean-energy tax credits in Washington, vital aquifers face serious risks.

Were on track to massively increase water usage without any real sense of how sensitive our aquifers are, said Jeffrey Broberg, who is concerned about groundwater in Minnesota, a major corn state, where he is a water-use consultant and founder of the Minnesota Well Owners Organization.

United Airlines this year signed a deal with a Nebraska ethanol company to buy enough sustainable aviation fuel, as the biofuel is known, to power 50,000 flights a year. In August, Delta announced a plan to create a sustainable fuel hub in Minnesota. The Biden administration could decide on its tax incentives for the industry as soon as December.

Mark my words, the next 20 years, farmers are going to provide 95 percent of all the sustainable airline fuel, President Biden said in July.

This year a New York Times data investigation found that groundwater is being dangerously depleted nationwide, largely by agricultural overuse. As climate change makes rainfall less reliable and intensifies droughts, rising demand for ethanol could put even more pressure on Americas fragile aquifers to be used for irrigation.

Its a powerful example of tradeoffs that can arise as the world tries to transition away from fossil fuels. Other energy sources can have their own environmental cost, whether its mining the minerals and metals required to build more car batteries, or straining groundwater reserves to produce ethanol.

Farmers can still rely on rain in most parts of corn country, but elsewhere irrigation has been surging, driven by the climate threat and the pursuit of more reliable yields.

Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO ILL. IND. KAN. MO. Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. MO. KAN. Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Corn 2022 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Corn 2022 200 50 10 Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change DECREASE INCREASE N.D. 100 m3 10 m3 MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change N.D. DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 10 m3 MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change N.D. DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 10 m3 MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO ILL. IND. KAN. MO. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change N.D. DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 MINN. 10 m3 WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. MO. KAN. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 N.D. 10 m3 MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 10 m3 N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Groundwater use for corn 2008-2020 change DECREASE INCREASE 100 m3 10 m3 Across a dozen Midwestern states, rural landscapes are often dominated by corn. To grow it, irrigation is spreading across the region, and increasing. Sources: U.S.D.A.; Ruess, Konar, et. al., Water Resources Research (2023).

Between 1964 and 2017 irrigated acres for corn jumped nearly 500 percent, and groundwater strain is showing in some areas, particularly where underground aquifers take a long time to refill once theyre depleted. Pockets of western and southwestern Nebraska saw aquifer levels fall due to irrigation, prompting local regulators to restrict use.

In Kansas, past reports from the Department of Agriculture on corn farming have noted that ever-depleting groundwater sources for irrigation continue to be a threat to farmers. Officials there say improvements in irrigation and other technology will help farmers keep growing corn.

In parts of Minnesota, sandy soil needs irrigation to produce high yields. While digging wells and installing irrigation systems is expensive, higher corn prices make the investment worth it, said Jake Wildman, a farmer outside Glenwood, Minn., his hands chapped and brown from a day spent loading freshly harvested corn into 18-wheelers.

I can say confidently that without irrigation you just wouldnt have corn on this farm, said Mr. Wildman, who is president of the states irrigators association. And the market tells us to raise corn. So you could say that the market is also telling us to irrigate.

The Department of Energy, which is helping draft the rules that would allow biofuels to be considered sustainable aviation fuel, said in a statement that water use is a critical component of the conversation surrounding bioenergy sustainability.

It pointed to a 2016 department study that concluded that the United States could significantly reduce strain on aquifers by shifting biofuel production away from water-intensive crops like corn, instead growing more crops that don't require irrigation, like various types of straw, grasses and trees.

Today, nearly 40 percent of Americas corn crop is turned into ethanol, up from around 10 percent in the mid-2000s. This was largely because of government mandates that began in 2005 requiring gasoline to be mixed with minimum amounts of renewable fuel.

After that mandate, groundwater use jumped in some places as corn prices skyrocketed. Farmers added millions of new acres by switching to corn or rotating it into their crops year-to-year.

40% 30% 20% Percent of corn used for ethanol 10% 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 40% 30% 20% Percent of corn used for ethanol 10% 1990 2000 2010 2020 40% 30% 20% Percent of corn used for ethanol 10% 1990 2000 2010 2020 40% 30% 20% Percent of corn used for ethanol 10% 1990 2000 2010 2020 Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service

Scientific studies have long questioned whether ethanol made from corn is in fact more climate-friendly than fossil fuels. Among other things, corn requires a huge amount of land, and it absorbs relatively little carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as it grows. Planting, fertilizing, watering, harvesting, transporting and distilling corn into ethanol all requires energy, most of which currently comes from fossil fuels.

The race toward fueling jets with ethanol comes as air travel is rapidly expanding worldwide, bringing greater environmental pressure on the airline industry.

Flying is one of the most polluting ways to travel: If global commercial aviation were a country, it would rank as the sixth biggest polluter, between Japan and Germany, by one estimate. Aviation produces about 2.5 percent of total carbon emissions in the world, a number that experts expect to triple by 2050. Right now, on any given day in America alone, more than 45,000 flights take to the air.

But there are few options for powering aircraft without fossil fuels. Ethanol, advocates say, is the best solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation. Farmers argue that agriculture has become much more efficient  and will continue to do so  and will not necessarily require huge amounts of additional water. Ethanol makers also say the industry has gotten cleaner over the years, and that government incentives would further help.

The airlines say the renewable fuel options that exist for powering planes today are too expensive and would force them to raise ticket prices if mandated. Adding ethanol into the mix, they argue, would significantly reduce those costs and allow them to more quickly start blending renewables into jet fuel.

Sustainable aviation fuel is the best tool we have to decarbonize airplanes, said Lauren Riley, Uniteds chief sustainability officer. Her counterpart at Delta Air Lines, Amelia DeLuca, called for federal support like the incentives that already exist in the automotive industry.

Most major U.S. airlines have pledged to stop adding additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2050.

Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company, Benson, Minn. Testing the ethanol.

Ethanol producers, meanwhile, are keen to find new markets as electric vehicles threaten demand for ethanol-infused gasoline. And with national elections looming, politicians will likely feel pressure to broaden incentives that are politically popular in Corn Belt states.

Todd Becker, the CEO of Omaha-based Green Plains, one of the countrys biggest ethanol producers and Uniteds joint-venture partner, called ethanol for jets the next revolution of renewables.

Ethanol is produced in more than 170 industrial distilleries that now dot Americas corn country. The distilleries require a predictable supply of corn, putting pressure on farmers to produce crops on time and when needed.

For farmers, having a consistent water supply is key to achieving steady yields  yet there are major parts of the Corn Belt that lack reliable precipitation. In places like these, including stretches of Nebraska and Minnesota, farmers often use powerful irrigation wells that tap groundwater.

Adding to the pressure on farmers to irrigate: Global warming means that drier weather patterns historically concentrated in Western states are pushing eastward, deeper into the Corn Belt.

Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO ILL. IND. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. MO. KAN. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 1979-1991 average DRIER WETTER Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO ILL. IND. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. MO. KAN. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER N.D. MINN. WIS. S.D. MICH. IOWA NEB. OHIO IND. ILL. KAN. MO. Aridity Index 2004-2016 average DRIER WETTER Researchers recognize a line that divides the continent into a more arid West and more humid East. That line has shifted eastward in recent decades, and corn states risk becoming drier, requiring more irrigation. Source: Seager, et. al., Earth Interactions (2018)

The booming market for ethanol has given people like Roy Stoltenberg, a 72-year-old farmer in the central Nebraska community of Cairo, an income lift and the feeling that he has helped reduce Americas dependence on fossil fuels. Its brought a tremendous amount of employment to the area, he said. Its added to the value of our land.

I dont see any drawbacks, Mr. Stoltenberg said.

In 49 years of farming, Mr. Stoltenberg has weathered an economic crisis that wiped out neighboring farms, watched fertilizer costs spiral upward and faced down a six-year stretch of fall harvests so warm and dry he didnt even need to wear coveralls in his cornfields. His years of lucrative sales to a nearby ethanol plant means his son, John, will be able to keep working the land.

Across his 1,600 acres, Mr. Stoltenberg douses his fields with water pumped from 21 wells. A few seasons ago, after one well coughed up sand, workers had to dig down an additional 80 feet to get to more water, so deep they turned up seashells, evidence of the ocean that once covered this Plains state.

Out here in central Nebraska, we can go weeks without rain, he said. Everything that could have been irrigated has been.

Corn harvest outside Cairo, Neb.

Roy Stoltenberg: We can go weeks without rain.

At least one company that is expected to manufacture ethanol jet fuel has said it will favor corn grown solely with rainwater. But it remains unclear whether the agriculture industry's claims that improvements in seeds, fertilizers and irrigation practices will be enough to significantly boost corn production without requiring more water.

In much of Nebraska, rainfall is significantly lower than in neighboring Iowa, the top corn grower and ethanol producer. In fact Nebraska has the most irrigated acres of any state  almost 15 percent of all irrigated cropland nationwide. A recent spate of drought has only made irrigation more essential, farmers say.

Groundwater irrigation for corn has increased across much of Nebraska and parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, often east of farmland that historically relied on irrigation, according to recently updated data from Megan Konar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who studies food supply chains and water use.

In western Minnesota, applications for new irrigation wells spiked amid the first ethanol boom. Regulators there say they have issued more permits for groundwater use than can be sustainably pumped.

Irrigation line, Wood River, Neb. For sale near Cairo.

Ethanol has been promoted by both Democrats and Republicans based on the view that its good for the economy while also replacing fossil fuels. Advocates also say ethanol is in Americas strategic interest because it reduces reliance on foreign oil and broadens the market for American farmers.

Without ethanol, wed have an enormous corn surplus. That would mean exporting more of it abroad, and make us as farmers reliant on countries like China, said Matt Jennen, 39, who farmed more than 3,000 acres of corn this season and sold most of it to a Green Plains ethanol plant near where he lives in Foxhome, Minn.

Not all new biofuel demand would have to be met with corn. Algae, manure and cooking oil (which some airlines already use in small amounts) also could be sources for jet fuel.

But experts say the governments ambitious targets  35 billion gallons a year of sustainable aviation fuel from all sources by midcentury  require what are essentially dedicated energy crops, particularly corn. To qualify as sustainable aviation fuel under Bidens tax-credit program, the fuel would have to be produced in a climate-friendly manner, for instance using renewable energy for harvesting, manufacture or transport.

To meet new demand, some in the ethanol industry also point out that more of Americas corn could be diverted to fuel from other uses. In this country weve got nine billion bushels of corn a year thats not going into ethanol, said Chad Friese, the general manager of the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company in Benson, Minn. We could use less of it for food, whether its animals or humans. Im not saying we should, just saying its an option.

Industry representatives also argue that fears of aquifer damage to meet new demand are overblown because corn has become increasingly water-efficient with new irrigation methods and new types of seeds and fertilizer. These improvements are also increasing yields, they say, reducing the need to convert more cropland to corn.

Theres only so much land, and were already using it now, said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union. The West has been settled. Thats the rumor.

Installing center-pivot irrigation in Nebraska.

Sunrise over the Platte River.

Nebraska has one important advantage. Much of the state sits atop a particularly flush part of the Ogallala Aquifer that can recharge relatively quickly. Some researchers also commend Nebraskas 23 Natural Resources Districts, made up of local regulators, who put into place stricter rules when aquifer levels drop. Lately, though, that has been happening more frequently as the state endured conditions so dry that wildfires broke out.

Still, there are concerns about prices climbing high enough that soil-conservation practices could be reversed. Farmers could stop rotating corn with soybeans and other crops, or new policies could allow farmers to take land out of the federal Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to leave environmentally sensitive land untouched. All of it could require more pumping.

On the Stoltenberg family farm in tiny Cairo, the elder Mr. Stoltenberg, 72, welcomes the airlines appetite for corn. His farm is surrounded by three ethanol plants within easy driving distance.

After facing aquifer declines, local regulators capped the number of new wells in the area. But Mr. Stoltenberg thinks advances in seed technology will help meet demand without adding corn acres. While the family cant dig a new well, for now, the Stoltenbergs have no limits on the groundwater they can pump.

On a recent afternoon, the Stoltenbergs sat around the dining room table and talked about the past few hot and dry summers.

Thats farming, though. Aint nothing you can do about the weather, said John, his son, the next generation to farm the Stoltenberg property. We had wells this year that you can tell werent pumping as much as in the past. But we had two dry years, so they were running pretty hard.

His mother, Mary, sighed, We need rain.
Northern US states are preparing for an invasion of incredibly intelligent and highly adaptable super pigs that threaten to spill over the border from Canada.

Feral pigs have been the bane of North Americas flora and fauna for many years now, but a new breed of super pigs is threatening to take the problems they cause to a whole new level. The result of cross-breeding domestic pigs with wild boars, these new feral pigs combine the survival skills of the wild Eurasian boar with the size and high fertility of domestic swine, a combination that is apparently nigh impossible to control. Not only are they capable of surviving cold climates by tunneling under snow, but they also devastate crops, feed on animals of all sizes, from quails and wild turkeys to deer and elk, and spread deadly diseases like the African swine flu and strains of influenza that can affect humans.

Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and one of Canadas leading authorities on the problem of feral pigs, calls super pigs the most invasive animal on the planet and an ecological train wreck. They breed at a rate that makes them extremely hard to control, and they can survive in the harshest of conditions thanks to an innate ability to adapt to virtually any situation.

Although pigs were introduced in North America in the 1500s, Canadas super pig problem began during the 1980s, when the country began encouraging farmers to raise wild boar. However, when the market collapsed in 2001, many of these farmers simply cut their fences loose and released the pigs into the wild out of frustration. Unfortunately, some of these specimens were hybrids of wild boar and domestic swine. They combined the best qualities of both species, which made them an even bigger threat. For example, their large size  they can reach 300kg (661lbs)  allows them to survive at temperatures as low as -50 degrees Celsius.

All the experts said at that time: Well, no worries. If a wild pig or a wild boar ever escaped from a farm, theres no way it would survive a Western Canadian winter. It would just freeze to death.' Professor Brook said. Well, it turns out that being big is a huge advantage to surviving in the cold.

Photo: Unsplash

Apparently, the super pigs use their tusks to dig up to 2 meters under snow where they create cozy snow caves and insulate them with cattails.

In fact, theyre so warm inside that one of the ways we use to find these pigs is to fly first thing in the morning when its really cold, colder than -30, and you will actually see steam just pouring out the top of the snow, Brook said.

Super pigs are not only highly resistant to extreme temperatures but also intelligent enough to avoid human hunters. Hunting has actually made controlling the feral animals much harder, because it makes them nocturnal, only coming out when the threat of being shot is much lower.

Theyre incredibly intelligent, Ryan Brook said. Theyre highly elusive, and also when theres any pressure on them, especially if people start hunting them, they become almost completely nocturnal, and they become very elusive  hiding in heavy forest cover, and they disappear into wetlands and they can be very hard to locate.

Super pigs reproduce extremely quickly. A sow can have six piglets in a litter and raise two litters in a year. That means that authorities and hunters can kill 65% or more of their population every year and their numbers would still increase. Some Canadian states have abandoned the idea of eradicating super pigs entirely, instead focusing on containing them, while US states that border Canada are preparing for an imminent invasion.

Nobody should be surprised when pigs start walking across that border if they havent already, Brook told the Associated Press. The question is: What will be done about it?

The Canadian expert claims that the only option is to be aggressive and to use every tool that has been shown to work against feral pigs, from large ground traps and net guns fired from helicopters to drone surveillance and tracking technology to monitor their movement. One interesting strategy is the use of so-called Judas pigs, captured specimens fitted with GPS trackers and released into the wild where they hopefully join a group of unsuspecting swine.



The idea is that you go and find that collared animal, remove any pigs that are with it, and in an ideal world then let it go again and it will just continue to find more and more pigs, Professor Brook said.

Super pigs are so well-established in Canada these days that their eradication has become virtually impossible, and authorities are more focused on containment.

Theyre so widespread and so abundant, that certainly as late as 2018 or 19 I stopped saying that eradication was possible, theyre just so established, Professor Ryan Brook told The Guardian. Theyve definitely moved in, and theyre here to stay.
Walt & Company wins Galorath, which provides cost, scheduling, and should-cost estimation solutions and consulting services. The agency will operate as an extension of the Galorath marketing team, developing and implementing strategic communications to drive brand recognition, manage new service offering launches and ongoing company news announcements, and drive thought leadership and customer success initiatives. Galorath's flagship platform, SEER, offers capabilities in project cost forecasting, risk mitigation, and actionable insights, making it the go-to platform for project cost planning for hardware and software development, systems engineering, aerospace, and manufacturing companies. We added Walt & Company to the Galorath team based on its strategic, creative and technical public relations capabilities and experience," said Galorath CMO Charles Orlando.

Kleber & Associates lands Sauder Building Products, a division of Sauder Woodworking. K&A will manage public relations, content strategy, influencer engagement, social media and new product introductions, along with creating regional and national events for Sauder Cabinetry, which specializes in a range of built to order cabinetry for the residential and commercial building industry. "K&A has an extensive network of industry media relationships as well as an impressive history of influencer engagement and buying-group experience, said Sauder Woodworking EVP of product strategy & engineering Dan Sauder. They understand brand building and thought leadership thoroughly and they are the perfect fit as we prepare to launch.

The Devon Group picks up ETC, part of the Arc Network, a B2B events, data and media organization. The agency will support ETC as it works to bring the HR Technology Conference & Exposition, scheduled for April 24-26, 2024 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas; and the HR Technology Conference Europe, which will be held at RAI Amsterdam from May 2-3, 2024, to new audiences. As ETC introduces new HR-centric conferences, we sought a PR partner that understands this space at a global level, making The Devon Group the logical choice, said ETC senior vice president, HR portfolio Rebecca McKenna.
The home to the Oroville Dam is looking for a PR firm that can implement a series of marketing goals and strategies pertaining to economic development, tourism and community development.
A new Local Link bus service has started operating in the Lower Ormond area, providing an additional service for the North Tipperary region which has been warmly welcomed.

The service began on Monday November 27 and is operating between Portumna and Nenagh, using the regional road which traverses down the eastern side of Lough Derg, the R493, and stopping in Lorrha, Carrigahorig, Terryglass, Ballinderry, Coolbawn Quay, Coolbawn Cross, Puckaun, Dromineer, Ballycommon and finishing at Nenagh Railway Station.

The service is running four times per day, starting in Portumna at 5.50am and finishing at 11.30pm.

The new bus was warmly welcomed by the Councillors of Nenagh Municipal District during their recent meeting. Cllr Joe Hannigan said it provides a badly needed facility in the region. Cllr Michael O'Meara wondered if the itinerary could be better thought out and perhaps it would be better if the service had more options for the people of Lower Ormond.

The first bus leaves Portumna at 5.50am, arriving at the Nenagh railway station at 7.23am, with other morning services beginning and ending in Puckaun. The last bus leaves Nenagh railway station at 10.15pm to return to Portumna.

North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership also welcomed the new Local Link connectivity route. "The Partnership has been campaigning for connectivity between bus and rail for some time," said Virginia O'Dowd of the NTCRP. This 322 bus route provides an opportunity for people to avail of the bus services to make the train connections in Nenagh for Dublin and Limerick.

"For example, the 322 leaves Portumna at 5.50am, arriving at Nenagh railway station at 7.23am, giving time to connect with the Nenagh to Limerick train at 7.47am, getting into Colbert station at 8.40am. They can also avail of the Nenagh to Dublin train, which leaves at 7.50am, arriving at Heuston station at 9.57am."

Ms O'Dowd also pointed out that bus users from Puckaun can also connect with the 9.55am train to Limerick.

There is also an opportunity to link with the 6.03pm train from Nenagh to Dublin, as the bus arrives from Portumna at 5.43pm.

"For the past two years, she continued, our rail service has fallen within the priority bracket for a midday service, but, unfortunately, nothing has been delivered. The Partnership is calling on Irish Rail and the National Transport Authority to deliver this service during 2024. With these new bus links, the Limerick to Ballybrophy line is now in a more attractive position to have the midday service implemented."

Ms O'Dowd also welcomed the new information signage and the displayed timetables at the stations along the line.




Four students from Offaly celebrated their graduation from Carlow College, St. Patricks last week at the Conferring Ceremony for 2023.

Ben ONeill from Edenderry and Jack Hughes from Walsh Island, both graduated with a BA (Hons) in Arts & Humanities, whilst Eilish OBrien and Felix Obare both from Tullamore graduated with a BA in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care).

After being unsure what to do at the start, Ben ONeill felt the first year of his degree helped him to explore potential areas of interest. After studying all the core subjects in first year of the course, I was confident enough to mostly refine my studies to English and History modules. As someone who was still unsure about what they wanted to study, the variety of subjects suited me perfectly, said Ben.

Social Care graduate, Eilish, felt her degree helped her develop vital teamwork skills, saying: I loved that each module delivered gave students the chance to partake in group work. I think thats the most important thing in social care  being part of a team. Eilish is now working as a Social Care Worker.

Speaking of the official opening of the CORU professional register for Social Care Workers, Dr John McHugh, Programme Director for the BA in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care) programme said: Todays a great date as its the first time that Social Care graduates will graduate with an award that they can get a professional qualification with CORU  thats a big achievement.

Staff and students at Carlow College had a day of celebration for its Class of 2023 on Friday as 189 graduates  including 7 students from Offaly - were conferred in the Colleges graduation, which took place in Carlow Cathedral.

The College welcomed back alumni, Donnchadh OMahony of the Leaving Cert Guidance podcast and Aisling Burke, Residential Service Manager for Compass Child and Family Services to deliver the keynote addresses at the graduation.

Speaking of the ceremony, Dr Thomas McGrath, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar of Carlow College said: Today we congratulate our new graduates and celebrate their achievements so far. They are a credit to the College and I have no doubt they will go on to prosper in their chosen career paths.

Carlow College President, Fr Conn O Maoldhomhnaigh warmly congratulated the graduates who come from 18 different counties across Ireland.

As College President, it is my pleasure and privilege to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of all of our graduates. They have been part of our journey over the past three to four years and we wish them the very best as they continue on their own individual paths., said Fr O Maoldhomhnaigh
NOELINE Blackwell, the former head of the Dublin Rape Crisis centre and who is very well known for her work on women's rights and safety in the community, visited Roscrea last week to address a gathering in the Muintir na Tire Hall.

The United Nation's 16 Days of Activism against Gender- Based Violence begins on November 25th and ends on Human Rights Day on December 10th.

The MU (Mothers' Union) is an international Christian charity that has been supporting families for over 140 years.

The MU supports the 16 Days with an annual vigil in evey diocese in Ireland.

Pictured above is Mothers Union Diocesan President, Lucy Kavanagh with Canon Jane Galbraith, Mothers Union Diocesan Chaplain and guest speaker Noeline Blackwell before her address to the domestic violence talk in Roscrea. Photo: PJ Wright

The Dioceses of Tuam Limerick and Killaloe this year marked it's opening by hosting an address by Noeline Blackwell, who has recently retired from The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

Ms Blackwell spoke about the need to not keep silent about domestic abuse of women and men, and that the more people speak out about this most disruptive activity in society the more likely it is to become totally unacceptable.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centres former CEO, Noeline Blackwell, retired from the role in the autumn, having led the organisation since March 2016.

The voluntary organisation offers a range of services to victims and survivors of sexual violence.

Noeline Blackwell, a solicitor who was previously Director General of access-to-justice campaign group FLAC, was last year presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Law Awards 2022.

She said she was delighted to visit Roscrea. The Muintir na Tire Hall was a perfect venue, where the Mothers Union are very well cared for by caretaker, Eugene.
REPEATED delays in securing a CCTV system to assist Gardai police the streets of Roscrea is causing concern for local people who fear the cameras may never become a reality.

The issue was debated at a public meeting in Roscrea organised by local activist group Roscrea Stands Up. The meeting was arranged to invite the public to share their feelings about anti-social behaviour and Garda resources.

Contributors said Roscrea's issues are a result of political failure to ensure adequate resources are in place for a town with Roscrea's population.

Michael Madden, Chairman of the committe driving the CCTV campaign, told the meeting the main issue is ascertaining how the ongoing maintenance of the cameras will be funded and finalising the official policy behind the system.

Mr Madden said Roscrea is far ahead of other towns in Tipperary and that the required community funding and detailed surveys have been completed.

Councillor Michael Smith told the meeting that Roscrea's campaign for Garda CCTV began over nine years ago. The cameras will not replace Gardai and are there to help them do their job, he said.

Deputy Michael Lowry told the meeting that GDPR constraints are one of the major obstacles to finalising the policy.

Anywhere cameras to help Gardai are in place they are very effective and work well. An example of how important CCTV can be to assist Gardai was shown in the role cameras played in the investigation into the death of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore - anyone behaving within the law has nothing to fear from Garda cameras, Deputy Lowry said.

Deputy Lowry said Tipperary County Council will oversee the maintenance of the camera system, but only Gardai will have access to the footage they capture.

LONG CAMPAIGN

After almost a decade of fundraising and surveys to provide camera systems to assist Gardai, several recent local authority meetings have heard the communities which led the campaign have become disillusioned due to the lengthy wait for progress.

Frustration is "at boiling point" in Roscrea and Borrisokane, the Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council told their meeting last month, where communities feel let down after repeatedly overcoming hurdles for camera systems.

After overcoming complex data protection issues and local communities generating the required funding for the required detailed surveys about what type of camera systems should be installed where, it appears who will fund their installation and most importantly, their ongoing maintenance and upgrade, has become the final stumbling block.

Local authority Chairman, Ger Darcy, said that frustration is palpable across the county, where climbing crime rates and over-stretched Garda resources are causing great distress for rural communities in particular.

Recently South Tipperary based Cllr Sean MacCriosain said that what is required is "a leap of faith" and advised communities to "stop pussyfootting around the issue" and install camera systems.

However, this advice was directly opposed by Tipperary County Council CEO, Joe MacGrath, who stressed that the "day of putting up a few cameras and away you go is well and truly gone".

The issue stretches across the Municipal District for the Roscrea and Thurles areas, where recurring obstacles have hindered the project in Roscrea, while Thurles' cameras are redundant and not in use anymore.

Thurles based Cllr Jim Ryan says the business community are frustrated by the situation, while shop-lifting "is rampant" in the town and often perpetrated by people who travel to Thurles by train with the sole intent of stealing from local shops.

"We've listened to excuse after excuse about these cameras - we need to know what needs to be done today", Cllr Ryan said, while Cllr David Dunne added that the camera systems must be of high quality "with a good picture" and that there is no loophole in policy that negates their purpose and makes any evidence they might capture not admissible in court.

At the meeting in Roscrea Deputy Michael Lowry said before the camera system became outdated and redundant in Thurles the Gardai often remarked to him how helpful and effective they were in assisting the Gardai police the town centre - particularly at weekends when a lot of young people fill the town late at night.

Roscrea Stands Up Chairman, Derek Russell said an update on the CCTV progress will come at a follow up meeting planned for the coming weeks.
The issue of rural crime across Tipperary is causing deep concern among communities, Deputy Michael Lowry told the Dail this week.

Deputy Lowry highlighted the situation in Roscrea as an example where anxiety is building in the local community about the level of policing in the town.

"This trend disrupts the peace and security of our people", Deputy Michael Lowry told the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, in the Dail on Wednesday as he requested that she bring this matter to the attention of the Garda Commissioner.

Deputy Lowry also sought assurances that Gardai currently based in Tipperary's other rural communities will not be transferred on a temporary or part-time basis.

"In light of recent incidents, including burglaries, vandalism, and anti-social behaviour, people are feeling increasingly vulnerable. The reconfiguration of Tipperary District and its amalgamation with Clare has had a detrimental impact. It has highlighted a glaring inadequacy in Garda personnel", Deputy Lowry said.

"The current Garda numbers in the county are evidently insufficient to provide proper and adequate policing. Towns such as Roscrea, with a population exceeding 6,000, is consistently undermanned. The Station is regularly closed due to staff shortage and also closes every evening at 5:30 pm.

"The Thurles Sub-District also struggles with manpower. One patrol car is shared between four rural Garda Stations. A vital vehicle damaged in 2018 has not been replaced five years later", he said.

"The current policing model serving Tipperary is unacceptable and unsustainable", Deputy Lowry told the Dail.

Minister McEntee acknowledged that the Tipperary Deputy is deeply committed to policing in his own community and the wider county.

She said: "As you will know, changes are taking place and a new Operational Model is being rolled out across the country. The objective of this new Policing Model is that we have better policing, more focused policing but that we have more members on the ground and a stronger Community Policing presence.

"This is what everyone in this Chamber wants and its what our communities want  to have Garda members on the ground, that they can pick up a phone to. This reorganisation and these Divisional Models are the focus and that is the priority.

The Justice Minister added: "Of course we all want more Garda members, we all want more numbers, and that is why every effort is being made to make sure that we have the highest number of recruits coming out of our Garda College that is possible".
A local councillor has expressed his concern that another premises in Tullamore could be used to house either asylum seekers or Ukrainian refugees.

There are unconfirmed reports that a building has been sold along with other adjacent buildings to a direct provision company.

''This is not about race or ethnicity or religious beliefs, it's about an exploding population that the infrastructure in the town cannot support,'' said Councillor Tony McCormack.

Councillor McCormack stressed that this is not a problem that is unique to Tullamore. He said the whole country and Europe is grappling with an influx of refugees and asylum seekers.

''As a local councillor my job is to support the community, including all the diversities, but our education system, our mental health system and our housing and infrastructure is being compromised. There are no places available for kids to go to school. We have all seen articles on the paper and in other media about the problems we are having. Our mental health care is non-existent.

We are lucky in Tullamore we have ACT [Accessible Counselling Tullamore] which was set up by local man the late James O'Connor and that acts as a buffer. It looks after many people in our area.''

The Tullamore based councillor also spoke about the shortage of GP's in the town. He said many local people cannot get an appointment with a doctor or have to wait over a month to be seen.

''I was one of the first people to welcome the asylum seekers into Tullamore when we heard the Marian Hostel was going to be used. I was one of the first to welcome the Ukrainians to Tullamore when I was Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District. I went down to the Central Hotel and welcomed the Ukrainians into Tullamore and I'm delighted that they have settled in. But we just don't have the services.''

Cllr McCormack said there are over 1,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Tullamore, ''that's close to 8% of our population,'' he stressed.

''I am going to write to Minister Roderic O'Gorman and ask him not to sign any contracts with providers of any asylum seekers in the Tullamore area. This is because of the lack of services, for these vulnerable people.''

Meanwhile, Cllr McCormack said 240 Ukrainian refugees are set to move into 60 modular units in Clonminch, Tullamore, tomorrow Friday December 1.

He said each unit will house 4 people. Ukrainians currently living in Tullamore and outside the county are to accommodated in the units.

The Tribune has contacted the office of Minister Roderic O'Gorman and Offaly County Council for a response.

A response from Irish Service Provision company Bridgestock Care has said it has not purchased a named building and has no intention of so doing.
THE coffers of the Friends of the Hospital Tullamore have been boosted by a donation from a Longford woman who climbed Ireland's hightest mountain.

Gillian Martin presented a cheque for 7,100 on behalf of herself, her father Patrick, her sisters Melissa and Carol, and her aunt Helen.

Gillian's mother Helen (66) passed away in an end of life suite at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore in July this year, having been diagnosed with cancer in February 2022.

Helen Martin, formerly a librarian in Granard, Co Longford, had been a patient at St James's Hospital in Dublin but was then treated in Tullamore because it was more convenient for her family.

A native of Co Leitrim, she suffered from a rare aggressive form of ovarian cancer and the Martin family were very impressed with the care she received at the end of life suites at Tullamore Hospital, which were built with the help of the charity, Friends of the Hospital Tullamore.

Gillian Martin (36), a keen climber and hiker, decided to raise money for the Friends and scaled Carrauntoohil (pictured below) on October 25.

Donations were made to an idonate account and added to money which had been requested in lieu of funeral flowers.

We are so blown away by peoples generosity and kindness, said Gillian.

She described the end of life suites at Tullamore as an absolute godsend.

Each of the four suites are fitted with a kitchenette/sitting room furnished with a couch and armchair, plus a bathroom, all of which are interconnected.

Family members can stay overnight with their loved one and volunteers help run the support service.
Which Is The Best City For Women In India In 2023? The Answer Is...

Auto Facility For Irular Tribe Children At Government Expense, Yet Another Wonder Of Dravidian Model

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Gandhigram village is located in Thiruvallur district on the Chennai-Tirupati highway. The area is inhabited by the Irular tribe comprising more than 60 families. Mahesh is the Principal of the school which is located 5 km from Gandhigram.

A total of 256 students study in this school, out of which 40 belong to the Irular tribe. Principal Mahesh noticed that the discontinuance rate of the children belonging to the tribe is constantly increasing.

To know the reason behind the drop out, Mahesh inquired from all angles and discovered that children are studying properly till 5th standard in a local school but the drop-out rate is higher when students come to Thomur Government Higher Secondary school to study beyond 6th standard.

The reason being, lack of proper transport facility. Due to this, students are forced to walk 5 km daily through farms to reach school thus resulting in high drop-outs. During the rainy season, the flooded farms hinder the students from reaching schools.

Realising the difficulty for students, the Principal informed the education authorities to resolve the issue, so that no child is deprived of education due to lack of transport facilities. The authorities duly brought the issue to the attention of the District Collector.

The District Collector, knowing the importance of education, made travel arrangements for the students via private auto at the expense of the Tamil Nadu government. Approximately, 45 children belonging to the Irular tribe are travelling to school in auto joyfully without any barriers to their education.

Sathana, a student said, "Until now, we were going to school on foot through pathways in farms which contain knee-deep stagnant water during monsoon season, making it difficult to pass the fields. While crossing the flooded pathways uniforms will get drenched and we will reach schools in wet clothes.

The travel difficulty and snake infestations in farms led to students dropping out from schools, realising which the Principal took necessary steps. Heartfelt gratitude to CM Stalin, the Headmaster and District Collector, who are responsible for the continuation of our studies by arranging private auto."

Ramesh, parent of a student, said, "In order to establish social justice and equality in providing education, the government under CM Stalin has arranged an auto facility for our children. For this, we are forever in debt to CM Stalin."

According to a teacher, after the travel arrangements by the government the dropout rate has decreased and attendance has improved among the students.

One of the students' father said, "When teachers complain about the irregularity in the attendance of our children, I used to tell them about the lack of transport facility. The government has immediately arranged auto facilities once they came to know about the issue. I am obliged to thank the government on behalf of my village for ensuring a better future for our children."

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 14:53 [IST]
Which Is The Best City For Women In India In 2023? The Answer Is...

Governor Ravi Vs Tamil Nadu Government, A Never Ending Battle Taken To SC

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

Heated debates are going on regarding the case filed in Supreme Court (SC) by the Tamil Nadu government to bring in a time limit for the Governor for the provision of assent to bills. While hearing the case, SC questioned the Governor's side regarding the delay in giving assent to the bills for more than 3 years.

This case escalated the ongoing Governor Vs Tamil Nadu government conflict into its final stage. Regarding the Governor's actions against the provisions of the Indian Constitution, senior journalist N. Ram gave an interview to a popular media.

N. Ram's interview:

The Supreme Court's questions to the Governor is a commendable act which serves as a wakeup call to all the Governors who acted against the Indian constitutional norms. Being a country which follows parliamentary democracy, the Constitution of India vested powers on the elected representatives of the people and not the Governor who is appointed by the Union government.

Many debates have occurred in the past regarding the powers of the Governor when the Constitution was tabled in the Constituent Assembly for approval. Particularly, T.T. Krishnamachari, a member of the Constituent Assembly clarified that the Governor can exercise his special powers only in certain situations.

If a Legislative Assembly passes a bill with majority and sends it to the Governor for assent, the Governor cannot keep it pending for an indefinite period. He can either return the bill to the legislature stating reasons for the return or he can reserve it for the consideration of the President in certain cases.

As per law, if the Governor did not provide reasons for return, then the bill can be sent back to the Governor without any changes. If the clauses of the bill violate certain provisions of the Constitution, then the Governor can reserve the bill for the consideration of the President after which the Governor does not have jurisdiction over the bill.

As evident from the powers vested by the Indian Constitution, the Governor does not enjoy Pocket Veto (The power to keep the bill pending for an indefinite period of time). The Tamil Nadu Governor keeping the bills on his desk for more than 3 years without taking any action is against the provisions of the Constitution and against the democratic functioning of the government.

The Tamil Nadu Governor's action invalidated the existence of the legislature (Assembly) and the election procedure which helped in selecting the representatives for the Assembly. His actions led to suspicions that the Governor has been adviced by the Union government to reject all the good schemes introduced by the DMK government and that the Union government is implementing its Hindutva politics hiding behind the Governor.

Even if the suspicions are true, the Governor wouldn't be criticised so much if he had done the job quietly. By doing things loud and open, he had amassed hatred from the people of Tamil Nadu.

One of the unacceptable actions of the Governor is pending the bill which suggested the appointment of Chief Minister as the Chancellor of universities instead of Governor. Since the bill is about the position of the Governor, he deliberately didn't act on the bill. As per Indian Constitution, the Governor doesn't have overriding powers when it comes to giving assent to the bills.

Usually before assuming office, the Governor takes oath as per Article 159 of the Constitution. While taking oath, the Governor pledges to protect the Constitution by all means; serve people without bias; be impartial etc. In this case, if the Governor has not given assent to the bills enacted by the representatives of people, then it means he has acted against his own oath.

There is no wrong in taking time to go through each clause of the bill thoroughly to make sure there are no violations in the bill but the time taken should be an acceptable one. It is not fair to take 3 years of time to take action on bills when a government itself runs only for 5 years. In this situation, it is imperative for SC to seek explanations from the Governor and clarify doubts in this regard.

Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi's delay in taking actions on the bills is a major concern which shows his irresponsibility and unaccountability to government machinery. Another concern about the Tamil Nadu Governor is his research about the name of the state.

The Tamil Nadu Governor claimed that it is not right to say Tamil Nadu, the right term is Tamizhagam. It is true that the state is referred as Tamizhagam in colloquial terms but in the government documents, the name is clearly given as Tamil Nadu which prevents further confusions regarding the name.

Similarly, Governor Ravi has rejected the proposal of the government to give honorary doctorate to Sankariah, who dropped out of American college to fight for the country's freedom. Due to matters like this, there is constant conflict between the Tamil Nadu Governor and the state government.

"The union government is also observing the problems between the Governor and the state government, because of which there is a great chance that the Governor might be called back soon. The arguments in the SC are also in favour of the state government. Therefore, it is unlikely for the Governor to continue his behaviour anymore", said N. Ram.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 16:14 [IST]
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

Fact Check

oi-Gaurav Sharma

The men and machines' gruelling combined efforts for 17 days to save 41 lives trapped in Uttarkashi's Silkayara tunnel were lauded around the world.

On November 12, 41 labourers got trapped inside the tunnel after a portion of the cave fell down covering over 60 meters with debris.

A special team, headed by Arnold Dix, was formed to safely drill the cave using a combination of machinery and manual labour.

The rescue operation was monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, who was taking regular updates from Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister General (Retd) VK Singh. The efforts made to save 41 lives were applauded by almost everyone, but some anti-social elements are trying to defame the Government and relief teams by sharing old pictures on social media.

Fact Check: This Opinion Poll For Telangana Assembly Predicting Victory For Congress Is Fake

A post showed an image of a man wearing a miner's helmet and crouching is being circulated on the micro-blogging site X (formerly known as Twitter) claiming that the person in the picture was one of the trapped men.

What is the point of reaching the moon if we can't rescue our people trapped in a tunnel from last 15 days . We are never pre-prepared for such things. #UttarakhandTunnelRescue #UttarakhandTunnel pic.twitter.com/3KXBdN9meF  Yasmeen Khan. (@YasmeenKhan_YK) November 26, 2023

"What is the point of reaching the moon, if we can't rescue our people trapped inside the tunnel? We are never prepared for such things," the message shared by a user with the picture read.

A fact check done by The Quint website states that the same picture was shared on Facebook earlier on 28 September 2020, captioning it as a "Hardworking father". Another Facebook-post dated May 2019 with the same photo said "40 years of impeachment war" without mentioning any location.

Fact Check: Are Exit Polls For Rajasthan Out? Old Survey Falsely Circulated As 2023 Results

Which clears the air, that this is an old photo wrongfully interlaced with Uttarkashi's tunnel rescue operation.

The Union and State Governments' efforts to save the 41 trapped workers showed that every life matters in India. During the course of 17 days, the rescue teams tried to provide every possible facility to the trapped workers like food, water, and mobile phones to talk to their families.

Fact Check Claim The post claimed that the man in the photograph was one among the 41 trapped in the Uttarkashi Silkayara Tunnel Conclusion The claim was found false as it is an old picture of a mine worker. Rating False Raise your request for FACT CHECKING. Mail us at [email protected]
After Rashmika, Alia, 'Deepfake' Technology Hits Politicians? BRS Complains To EC

Hyderabad

oi-Prakash KL

After impacting Rashmika Mandanna, Alia Bhatt and a few other celebrities, now politicians are facing the heat of deepfake technology. The BRS has officially lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) accusing the Congress party of employing deepfake technology to produce manipulated content.

This alleged content is said to be aimed at disparaging BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, as well as other prominent leaders and candidates participating in the state Assembly elections, according to a report in PTI.

Citing reliable sources of giving information on the Congress' involvement in the creation and dissemination of "fake audio and video" content, the BRS has lodged a with the Chief Election Commissioner, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer and state DGP on Wednesday.

It has accused that the KCR, K T Rama Rao, Minister Harish Rao, MLC K Kavitha and other contesting candidates of the party have been targeted. The BRS sought immediate action against the alleged unlawful use of technology by the TPCC.

Now, Alia Bhatt's Deepfake Video Goes Viral

"We anticipate that this manipulated content is likely to be circulated across various social media platforms. We urge you to take necessary actions to identify and restrain the TPCC and its various legal, non-legal and invisible handlers from creating and disseminating such misleading content in media format, including but not limited to image, videos and memes," the BRS complaint read.

On X, Kavitha said, "Dear voters, let's stay vigilant! Desperate parties are peddling fake news in Telangana! Don't let fake news sway your decisions. Verify information before believing or sharing. Our democracy thrives on informed choices, not misinformation".
Allahabad High Court Allows Withdrawal of Criminal Case Against UP Minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad

The Allahabad High Court has allowed the withdrawal of a criminal case against Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad registered in Gorakhpur district in 2015 for a demonstration on railway tracks.

India

-Krishna Kripa

The Allahabad High Court has permitted the withdrawal of a criminal case registered against Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjay Kumar Nishad in 2015 for a demonstration on railway tracks in Gorakhpur district. Justice Raj Beer Singh, while allowing a criminal revision filed by the state government on Wednesday, set aside the order of the additional chief judicial magistrate of Gorakhpur dated September 29, 2023, rejecting the state's application filed through the public prosecutor for the withdrawal of the criminal case against Nishad.

High Court's Observations

The high court, while considering the nature of accusations and the facts of the matter, opined that a case for the withdrawal of the impugned prosecution was made out. The court further noted that the public prosecutor had applied his mind independently and exercised his discretion in accordance with the law.

Background of the Case

The criminal case against Nishad was registered under Section 174 of the Railway Act at the RPF police station in Gorakhpur. It was alleged that Nishad, along with several individuals belonging to the Nishad community, held a demonstration on railway tracks on June 7, 2015, disrupting railway traffic between Maghar and Sahjanwa.

The trial court had earlier rejected the application moved by the public prosecutor for the withdrawal of the case, primarily on the ground that the apex court had laid down the law that no prosecution against a sitting or former MP or legislator shall be withdrawn without the permission of the high court. However, in this case, no such leave of the high court was obtained.

Government's Contention

The government counsels, however, contended that the high court had granted leave to the state to withdraw the case through an order on March 21, 2023.

With the Allahabad High Court's decision to allow the withdrawal of the criminal case against Sanjay Kumar Nishad, the matter comes to a close. The court's observations regarding the nature of accusations and the independent application of mind by the public prosecutor provide important insights into the principles governing the withdrawal of criminal prosecutions.
Austronesian peoples' millennia-long odyssey over high waves is probably one of the earliest and largest maritime migrations in human history. Chinese archaeologists' research in recent years now offers crucial clues to trace how this saga started.

Thanks to a research project starting in 2021, a series of sites ranging from 3,000 to 7,500 years old along the coast of Fujian province indicated the origins of Austronesian peoples, a conference of the National Cultural Heritage Administration in Beijing heard on Wednesday.

On Pingtan Island in the provincial capital of Fuzhou, the Xiying site from 6,500 to 7,300 years ago yielded a crucial finding of human settlement. Analysis of unearthed human bones showed their close genetic connection with other regions in southern China and Southeast Asia.

"It's direct evidence for our studies to decode early groups of Austronesian peoples," said Zhou Zhenyu, a researcher with the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The Keqiutou site, also on Pingtan, dating back 5,000 to 6,500 years, showcased that different functional areas were formed within the settlement, including residential, food-processing, handicraft and waste dumping areas.

In addition to seashells and animal bones at the two sites, archaeologists found the oldest-known rice on coastal islands of southeastern China.

Another pair of sites on the island, Donghuaqiu and Guishan, showed clues of higher-level civilization as human settlements there from 3,000 to 4,200 years ago had spaces for public activities and ceremonies, and their residential areas were better designed.

"For the first time, we established a complete lineage of cultures along the western shore of the Taiwan Strait within that time span," Zhou said.

Austronesian peoples refer to indigenous ethnic groups on Taiwan island, part of Southeast Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Madagascar, Easter Island of Chile, and Polynesia  including New Zealand and Hawaii of the United States  among other regions.

Migrations started 6,000 years ago and lasted until around 1,000 years ago. About 400 million people speak some 1,200 Austronesian languages in today's world.

Dapenkeng culture in Taiwan, dating back 4,500 to 6,000 years, is the oldest-known Austronesian culture on the island and its residents were widely considered the ancestors of their counterparts living across the Pacific Ocean. Nonetheless, Kwang-chih Chang, a late, renowned archaeologist from Taiwan, put forward a theory that sources of Dapenkeng culture came from the Chinese mainland.

According to Zhou, a comparison between prehistoric sites in Taiwan and new findings along the Fujian coast further supports Chang's theory.

For example, the numerous newly unearthed pottery and stone artifacts on the Fujian island feature high similarity with patterns and decorations at the site in Taiwan.

"In spite of geographic proximity to the ocean, people from both places adopted a similar economic form: They not only relied on fishing for a living," Zhou explained. "We can find that agriculture played a more and more significant role as times changed until its importance equaled that of fishing. That can prove the frequent interactions across the Taiwan Strait at that time."

A botanical study conducted by scholars from the mainland and Taiwan, which was released in 2022, showed that rice and millet were introduced to Taiwan from present-day Fujian about 4,600 to 4,800 years ago.

"The spread of agriculture echoes the routes of human migration," Zhou added.

More molecular biology studies also provide clues to unveil such prehistoric cross-Strait links.

From 2011 to 2012, archaeologists from Taipei-based Academia Sinica found two human remains, estimated to be 7,500 and 8,200 years old, from Liangdao, an islet only 24 kilometers from Fuzhou. Follow-up anthropological studies unveiled their nature as the earliest-known Austronesian people with a close link to early residents in Taiwan.

In 2020, Fu Qiaomei, a researcher from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led another group of researchers in comparative DNA analysis of the so-called Liangdao Man and ancient remains in a cave of Tanping, Fujian. They were genetically found to belong to the same group of people.

Zhou emphasized that related studies should widen the horizon as the spread of Austronesian peoples could be "more than a singular route". Sites in other coastal provinces including Zhejiang, Guangdong and Hainan are thus included in the origins-tracing program.

For example, on Wanzaitou and Neijiao, two sites from 3,000 to 5,000 years ago in Hainan, patterns of unearthed pottery resemble the oldest known pottery found in the Philippines, which are 4,000 to 4,200 years old.

"It's reasonable to believe Austronesian peoples originated in a larger geographic area rather than a singular culture," said Zhang Chi, an archaeology professor at Peking University.

"We found that the spread of languages and agriculture played a key role during that migration, but new findings also raise more questions, which await to be answered in follow-up interdisciplinary studies."

Guan Qiang, deputy director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said the studies also greatly enriched the knowledge of how prehistoric people living along the coastal area of southeastern China made full use of maritime resources.

"It's a key to understand how a united country with diverse cultural elements got formed," he said.
Amy Marshall recently announced her candidacy for Circuit Clerk of Coffee County, and will appear on the ballot in the March 5 Republican primary.

Marshall has played an active role in the court system for over 20 years, starting her work in the legal field while attending college. After becoming an attorney in 2010, she worked for the Department of Defense in the Army Judge Advocate Generals office, where she received two civilian medals of achievement. A Wiregrass native, Marshall later opened a law office in Enterprise, where she runs a successful legal practice.

Strongly believing in community service, Marshall has dedicated herself to Coffee County, having previously served as Coffee County Bar President and Enterprise City Prosecutor. Marshall was also selected by the Alabama Secretary of State to be a member of the Fair Ballot Commission. Most recently, Marshall has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce.

Marshall has been active in the Republican Party for over 20 years. While at the University of Alabama, she was chosen as the UA Young Republicans delegate to Miss Alabama. Beginning in law school and continuing after graduation, Marshall assisted conservatives in organizing political rallies. Later, she was selected as State Committeewoman for Coffee County Young Republicans. As a member of the Fair Ballot Commission, Marshall was instrumental in authoring plain-language readings of proposed amendments to the Alabama Constitution, such as the now passed Sanctity of Unborn Life amendment.

Amy is married to her husband, Chris Kaminski, and has a daughter, Ruth. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors, watching Ruth play softball, cooking, being an active member of Enterprise Lions Club, and spending time with family. Amy, Chris, and Ruth are members of St. Luke First United Methodist Church.
Assam CM distributes scooters to meritorious students

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday distributed scooters to meritorious students who scored at least 60 per cent and 75 per cent respectively in the Class 12 state board examinations.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Guwahati, Nov 30: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday distributed scooters to meritorious students who scored at least 60 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively, in the Class 12 state board examinations. Instituted in the memory of the great litterateur and linguist Dr Banikanta Kakati, the award entered its sixth year with 35,770 students receiving the two-wheelers under the scheme in 2023.

Empowering Youth Through Education

Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said that empowering the youth through education has been one of the commitments of the state government. "I sincerely hope that the scooters presented in recognition of good academic performance by the students will motivate them to do better in the future," he said. Out of the total students receiving the scooters, 30,203 are girls, who secured the first division, and 5,567 are boys, who got 75 per cent and above in the class 12 examinations conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) in 2023. The estimated financial outlay earmarked for the scheme is Rs 259.54 crore.

Extending More Helping Hands to Students

Reiterating his commitment to extending more helping hands to the student community, the chief minister said his government would take many more student-friendly steps to help them pursue their studies without any deprivation. Sarma also said his government has accorded the highest priority to human resource development. The scheme to give scooters was launched in 2017 to encourage students to pursue higher studies.

Expanding the Ambit of Pragyan Bharati Scheme

Sarma said that Assam's Pragyan Bharati scheme has been intended to subsidise household expenditure on higher education, and the ambit of this programme in the coming days will be expanded to bring free scooters, free textbooks and subsidised hostel fees.

The Assam government's initiative to distribute scooters to meritorious students is a commendable effort to encourage and support higher education among the youth. This scheme, along with others like Pragyan Bharati, will go a long way in making quality education accessible and affordable for students from all backgrounds. By investing in the education of its young citizens, Assam is building a brighter future for the state.
Congress Will Retain Power In Chhattisgarh, High Command To Decide CM, Says Singh Deo

India

oi-PTI

Chhattisgarh deputy Chief Minister T S Singh Deo on Thursday said he takes exit polls results with a pinch of salt and the Congress will retain power in the state.

The party high command's choice for the chief minister's post would be acceptable to all, he told PTI in Delhi.

A few exit polls on Thursday predicted a close race between the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh.

''As far as projections are concerned, I always take them with a pinch of salt. They are attempts by various news channels and agencies to guess what may have happened in elections. We should wait for the 3rd (of December),'' Singh Deo told PTI.

"In Madhya Pradesh, a Congress government should be coming (to power). In Rajasthan, we are very much there. Because it has been a traditional in-and-out format (in Rajasthan), five years one party, next five years another party, so that is the only hesitation (while predicting the party's victory)," he said.

The Congress was very likely to form government in Telangana, he said, adding, ''In Chhattisgarh, we are forming the government.'' "Rajasthan seems to be the toughest. In Telangana, because the BRS has been there (in power) for two terms continuously the Congress was not given much of a chance sometime back. But whatever I am seeing on channels...voters coming out of the booths are openly saying we have voted for Congress,'' Singh Deo said.

Chhattisgarh Exit Poll 2023: How Accurate Were The Results In 2018 Assembly Election?

The Congress is strong in Telangana's rural areas and if the same trend prevailed in Hyderabad, the party will certainly win the state, he claimed. Asked who would be the chief minister if the Congress retained power in Chhattisgarh, Singh Deo said, "Whoever the high command decides. Nobody wants to place himself as chief ministerial candidate and it is the high command which should take the call. Whoever they designate to take the responsibility, we will work together.'' Singh Deo was in contention for the CM's post in 2018 though it was Bhupesh Baghel who ultimately got the top post.

Asked how the results would impact next year's Lok Sabha polls, he said a good performance by the Congress will create ''an atmosphere'' for the Opposition's INDIA grouping. ''We are wanting a change and needing a change. The country needs these fascist people in power to be removed,'' he added.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 21:13 [IST]
Poll Of Exit Polls Gives Congress Edge In Chhattisgarh, BJP Likely To Improve Previous Tally

Gehlot's Fate Hangs In Balance As 8 Out of 9 Exit Polls Point To BJP Victory In Rajasthan

Poll Of Polls: BJP Set for Victory In Raj, Tough Fight In MP, Congress Holds Fort In Chhattisgarh, Telangana

Exit Poll Results 2023 Live Updates: BJP To Bag Rajasthan, Cong Ahead In Telangana, Close Fight In MP

India

oi-Prakash KL

Nearly 16 crore voters were eligible to vote during the five assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana held this month.

Polls in the five states had 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters out of which 60.2 lakh people are first-time voters.

These elections are seen as the semi-final for the general elections of 2024. As a result, both the BJP and the Congress have given high importance to the polls. While the results of the five state elections will be announced on December 3, the exit poll results, opinion polls and other survey reports from leading publications are finally out today.

Stay tuned for live updates:

Newest First Oldest First This live blog has ended. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "No matter what exit polls say, Congress will form the government in Rajasthan. BJP is not winning in any of the 5 states. People will repeat our government in Rajasthan and there are 3 reasons for this. The first reason is that there is no anti-incumbency wave against the government, even experts are saying so. The second one is CM. BJP voters will also say that the CM left no stone unturned in carrying out development work. Third is the language spoken by the Prime Minister, Home Minister, BJP Chief Ministers and Union Ministers during the campaign. Nobody liked that language...'' On exit polls, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR Rao says, "This is an illogical exit poll. People are still voting... It is ridiculous of the Election Commission of India also basically to allow for exit polls at 5:30 when people are queuing up to vote till 9pm. I think it's very ludicrous... I've come here because I wanted to tell my party cadre that don't believe this nonsense..." #WATCH | On exit polls, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR Rao says, "This is an illogical exit poll. People are still voting... It is ridiculous of the Election Commission of India also basically to allow for exit polls at 5:30 when people are queuing up to vote till 9pm. I pic.twitter.com/ysQNVjXW8U  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023 Mizoram Here are India TV-CNX Prediction for Mizoram. As per Dainik Bhaskar exit poll, the BJP is set to win 98-105 seats. Rajasthan, who has alternated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the last five assembly elections, seems like continuing the same trend as BJP is set to return to power, as per the exit polls. Rajasthan As per Pollstrat, there is a close fight between Congress and BJP in Rajasthan. Is the Congress poised to unseat Shivraj Singh Chouhan's government, or will the BJP maintain its hold on power in the Hindi heartland? According to opinion polls, this state is heading for a closely contested outcome. Madhya Pradesh Jan Ki Baat poll prediction for MP. Telangana Jan Ki Baat survet predicts a close fight between Congress and BRS in Telangana. Telangana CPAC exit poll has predicted a win for Congress in Telangana. Telangana Congress set for big win in Telangana, as per Chanakya. Here is Jan Ki Baat opinion poll. Chhattisgarh As per Jan Ki Baat, Congress will win 46 seats, BJP will win 41 seats and Others 5. Congress likely to emerge victorious in Telanagana by winning 56 seats, as per Jan Ki Baat. Madhya Pradesh Jan Ki Baat Opinion Poll: Congress: 113 BJP: 112 Others: 5 "So exit polls are two sides of the same coin. I do not rely on them," Uma Bharti added. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Thursday said she does not "rely" on exit polls. Rajasthan Ruling out any anti-incumbency wave against the government, Gehlot mentioned that even poll pundits are saying so. "BJP voters will also say that the CM left no stone unturned in carrying out development work," Ashok Gehlot added. Rajasthan Explaining the three reasons why Congress would be voted back to power, bucking the trend of forming alternating governments in the state, Ashok Gehlot said, "People will repeat our government in Rajasthan." The EC has revised the timings of Exit Polls. Correction on timings of Exit Polls may be noted, which have been revised. pic.twitter.com/juuqu3sf7a  Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) November 30, 2023 Rajasthan Speaking to reporters about the poll prospects for the party, CM Gehlot said, "No matter what exit polls say, Congress will form the government in Rajasthan. BJP is not winning in any of the 5 states". CM Gehlot also said that Congress will return to power in the state regardless of the exit poll results. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday predicted that the BJP is not going to win in any of the five poll-going states, remarks that came hours ahead of the exit polls expected to be out later in the day. Polling would be held from 7 AM to 5 PM in 106 constituencies and from 7 AM to 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, official sources told PTI. The exit poll results will be out once the polling ends in Telangana. The exit poll results will be out once the polling ends in Telangana. Polling would be held from 7 AM to 5 PM in 106 constituencies and from 7 AM to 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, official sources told PTI. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday predicted that the BJP is not going to win in any of the five poll-going states, remarks that came hours ahead of the exit polls expected to be out later in the day. CM Gehlot also said that Congress will return to power in the state regardless of the exit poll results. Rajasthan Speaking to reporters about the poll prospects for the party, CM Gehlot said, "No matter what exit polls say, Congress will form the government in Rajasthan. BJP is not winning in any of the 5 states". The EC has revised the timings of Exit Polls. Correction on timings of Exit Polls may be noted, which have been revised. pic.twitter.com/juuqu3sf7a  Spokesperson ECI (@SpokespersonECI) November 30, 2023 Rajasthan Explaining the three reasons why Congress would be voted back to power, bucking the trend of forming alternating governments in the state, Ashok Gehlot said, "People will repeat our government in Rajasthan." Rajasthan Ruling out any anti-incumbency wave against the government, Gehlot mentioned that even poll pundits are saying so. "BJP voters will also say that the CM left no stone unturned in carrying out development work," Ashok Gehlot added. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Thursday said she does not "rely" on exit polls. "So exit polls are two sides of the same coin. I do not rely on them," Uma Bharti added. Madhya Pradesh Jan Ki Baat Opinion Poll: Congress: 113 BJP: 112 Others: 5 Congress likely to emerge victorious in Telanagana by winning 56 seats, as per Jan Ki Baat. Chhattisgarh As per Jan Ki Baat, Congress will win 46 seats, BJP will win 41 seats and Others 5. Here is Jan Ki Baat opinion poll. Telangana Congress set for big win in Telangana, as per Chanakya. Telangana CPAC exit poll has predicted a win for Congress in Telangana. Telangana Jan Ki Baat survet predicts a close fight between Congress and BRS in Telangana. Madhya Pradesh Jan Ki Baat poll prediction for MP. Is the Congress poised to unseat Shivraj Singh Chouhan's government, or will the BJP maintain its hold on power in the Hindi heartland? According to opinion polls, this state is heading for a closely contested outcome. Rajasthan As per Pollstrat, there is a close fight between Congress and BJP in Rajasthan. Rajasthan, who has alternated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the last five assembly elections, seems like continuing the same trend as BJP is set to return to power, as per the exit polls. As per Dainik Bhaskar exit poll, the BJP is set to win 98-105 seats. Mizoram Here are India TV-CNX Prediction for Mizoram. On exit polls, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR Rao says, "This is an illogical exit poll. People are still voting... It is ridiculous of the Election Commission of India also basically to allow for exit polls at 5:30 when people are queuing up to vote till 9pm. I think it's very ludicrous... I've come here because I wanted to tell my party cadre that don't believe this nonsense..." #WATCH | On exit polls, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR Rao says, "This is an illogical exit poll. People are still voting... It is ridiculous of the Election Commission of India also basically to allow for exit polls at 5:30 when people are queuing up to vote till 9pm. I pic.twitter.com/ysQNVjXW8U  ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023 Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says, "No matter what exit polls say, Congress will form the government in Rajasthan. BJP is not winning in any of the 5 states. People will repeat our government in Rajasthan and there are 3 reasons for this. The first reason is that there is no anti-incumbency wave against the government, even experts are saying so. The second one is CM. BJP voters will also say that the CM left no stone unturned in carrying out development work. Third is the language spoken by the Prime Minister, Home Minister, BJP Chief Ministers and Union Ministers during the campaign. Nobody liked that language...'' This live blog has ended.
Exit Polls 2023 Time: When And Where To Watch 5 States Opinion Poll And Survey Predictions?

Exit Polls Predict Hung Assembly In Mizoram With MNF And ZPM Leading

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Exit polls conducted in Mizoram ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections have predicted a close race between the ruling Mizoram National Front (MNF) and the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). The polls also suggest that the Indian National Congress (Congress) could lose its grip on power, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making marginal gains.

According to the Jan Ki Baat exit poll, the MNF is expected to win 10-14 seats, while the ZPM is projected to secure 15-25 seats. The Congress is predicted to win 5-9 seats, while the BJP is expected to win 0-2 seats.

Similarly, the India TV-CNX exit poll predicts the MNF to win 14-18 seats, the ZPM to win 12-16 seats, the Congress to win 8-10 seats, and the BJP to win 0-2 seats.

BJP Wins Rajasthan, BRS Leads In Telangana; Tight Race In MP, Predicts CNN-News18 Exit Polls

The exit polls conducted by Peoples Pulse survey predicted the MNF to win 16-20 seats, the ZPM to win 10-14 seats, the Congress to win 6-10 seats, and the BJP to win 2-3 seats.

The MNF, the incumbent party, is banking on its development record and the popularity of Chief Minister Zoramthanga. The ZPM, a relatively new party, is gaining support due to its focus on tribal issues and its strong presence in rural areas.

The Congress, which has been in power in Mizoram since 2018, is facing anti-incumbency and internal divisions. The party is expected to lose some of its seats, but it is still likely to remain the third-largest party in the Assembly.

The BJP, which has never won a seat in the Mizoram Assembly, is expected to make marginal gains in the upcoming elections.

The final outcome of the Mizoram Assembly elections will be known on December 3, when the results are officially declared. However, the exit polls have given an early indication of the trends that are likely to play out in the state.

2018 Exit Polls

In the 2018 Mizoram Assembly elections, exit polls had predicted a tough fight between the MNF and the Congress. The CVoter-Republic TV exit poll said the Congress would win the polls with 16-20 seats, with MNF winning 14-18 seats. The CNX-Times exit poll had also predicted a Congress victory, giving the party 18 seats to the MNF's 16.

However, the MNF defied exit poll predictions and secured a landslide victory, winning 26 seats. The Congress was relegated to the opposition with just 5 seats, while the ZPM won 8 seats.
Government Convenes All Party Meeting On Saturday Ahead Of Parliament Session

India

oi-PTI

Ahead of the Winter session of Parliament, the government has convened a meeting of floor leaders of political parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Saturday.

The Winter session of Parliament begins on December 4 and will have 15 sittings till December 22, during which it is expected to consider key draft legislations, including three bills to replace the colonial era criminal laws.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will hold the meeting on Saturday which is expected to be attended by senior leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

Currently, 37 Bills are pending in Parliament of which 12 are listed for consideration and passing, and seven Bills for introduction, consideration and passing.

TMC's Mahua Moitra Appears Before Parliament Ethics Committee With Three Bags

The government also plans to present the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2023-24.

The report of the Ethics Committee on the ''cash-for-query'' allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra will be tabled in Lok Sabha during the session.

The House will have to adopt the report before the expulsion recommended by the panel comes into effect.

Also, the three key bills which seek to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Evidence Act are likely to be taken up for consideration during the session as the standing committee on Home has already adopted the three reports recently.

BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri Breaks His Silence Over Derogatory Remarks In Parliament

Another key bill pending in Parliament relates to the appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners.

Introduced in the Monsoon session, the government had not pushed for its passage in the special session of Parliament amid protests from the opposition and former chief election commissioners as it seeks to bring on a par the status of the CEC and ECs with that of the cabinet secretary. At present, they enjoy the status of a Supreme Court judge.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 14:17 [IST]
Indian Woman Anju, Who Went To Pakistan To Meet Facebook Friend, Returns

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

An Indian woman Anju, now identified as Fatima after her visit to Pakistan to meet her Facebook friend Nasrullah, has reentered India through the Wagah Border. Following thorough interrogation by Punjab Police intelligence and IB officials in Amritsar, she was permitted to fly to New Delhi late on Wednesday.

Sources indicate that during the questioning, she adamantly denied any contact with Pakistan's defense agencies or personnel. Additionally, she disclosed her plans in India, expressing intentions to return to Pakistan and bring her children from India to Pakistan after divorcing her Indian husband, Arvind. Meanwhile, Anju's estranged husband, when asked about her return from Pakistan, claimed ignorance and stated his disinterest in discussing matters related to her.

#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab: Anju, who had travelled to Pakistan in July returns to India



"I am happy...I have no other comments", says Anju pic.twitter.com/vKPUTsx4jx  ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2023

Upon arrival in the national capital, Anju refrained from commenting on her stay in Pakistan or her return to India, stating to reporters at the Delhi airport, "I don't want to say anything right now."

After Anju, Yet Another Woman From Rajasthan Ditches Family For Boyfriend, Converts To Islam

Anju had initially traveled to Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border using a Pakistani visa to meet Nasarullah, a 29-year-old from the Upper Dir district of Khyber. Reports suggested that she had married Nasarullah, converted to Islam, and adopted the name Fatima.

Upon news of her marriage in Pakistan surfacing, her husband of 10 years, Arvind Kumar from Bhiwadi, filed a case against her under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including kidnapping, marrying another person without divorce, defamation, and criminal intimidation.

In October, reports indicated her intention to visit home to meet her two children, a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

Nasarullah, her purported husband in Pakistan, mentioned that Anju, also known as Fatima, had sought approval from the government for a visit to Rajasthan. "We are waiting for the NOC (No-Objection Certificate) from the interior ministry in Islamabad for which we have already applied. The NOC process is a bit lengthy and it takes time to complete," Nasarullah stated to a news agency in Pakistan.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 8:56 [IST]
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren hopes to win 13 of the 14 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said INDIA alliance hopes to win 13 of the 14 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the state.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday exuded confidence that the INDIA alliance will win 13 of the 14 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the state. He said his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), stood firmly behind the alliance.

Preparations for Lok Sabha Elections

Addressing JMM workers from Chatra, Palamu, Latehar, and Garhwa districts, Soren said, "We, the INDIA alliance, have started preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. We hope to win 13 of the 14 seats in the state."

JMM Stands Firmly Behind INDIA Alliance

Soren asserted that the JMM strongly stands behind the alliance and there should not be any doubt about it. He said, "JMM strongly stands behind the INDIA alliance, and there should not be any doubt about it."

NDA's Exit Countdown Has Begun

Soren claimed that the countdown for the exit of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has begun, and the December 3 results of the recently concluded assembly elections in five statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoramwill prove it.

BJP Exposed for False Promises

The CM alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands exposed before the masses due to false promises, and people are bound to show them the exit door in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Centre Unleashing Forces to Destabilize Govt

Soren alleged that the Centre has unleashed all forces, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and other central agencies, to destabilize his democratically elected government.

BJP-AJSU Party Alliance Swept Polls in 2019

In 2019, the BJP-AJSU Party alliance had swept the polls in Jharkhand, winning 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress and the JMM bagged one each.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's statement reflects the growing confidence of the INDIA alliance in the state. With the countdown for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections beginning, it remains to be seen whether the alliance will be able to achieve its ambitious target of winning 13 of the 14 seats in Jharkhand.
Kerala CM Vijayan accuses BJP-led Centre of trying to steal credit for states healthcare achievements

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to steal the credit for the states achievements in healthcare by renaming primary health centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

India

-Krishna Kripa

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday alleged that the BJP-ruled Centre was trying to steal the credit for the state's achievements in healthcare by renaming primary health centers as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.

Vijayan Questions Centre's Direction to Rename Health Centers

Vijayan said the Centre's direction to complete the renaming of primary health centers by December 31 was not healthy. He questioned why the renaming was being forced when the health sector was fully under the control of the states.

CM Alleges Centre Withholding Funds

The CM alleged that the Centre was withholding various grants, allocations, and central share in projects by claiming that Kerala had not carried out co-branding. He said this was not correct as the state had carried out co-branding in 99 percent of the 6,825 healthcare institutions and conveyed the same to the Union Health Ministry in October last year.

Healthcare Achievements of Kerala

The CM also listed out the various achievements by Kerala in healthcare, like least maternal and child mortality, most free treatments, the first state to launch Antibiogram, the first to implement the Mother Child Friendly Hospital Initiative, the state where more than 6,500 babies were given free heart surgery, etc.

The Chief Minister's allegations have sparked a political debate in the state, with the opposition BJP accusing him of trying to politicize the issue of healthcare. However, Vijayan has maintained that he is only standing up for the rights of the state and its people.
Parliament Winter Session: Modi Govt To Table Women's Quota In Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir Bill

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

The Modi Government is all set to table two key bills in the Parliament in the upcoming Winter session scheduled to start on December 4.

The Centre is likely to introduce bills seeking reservation on one-third of the number of seats for the women representatives in the legislative assemblies of Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

To reserve the seats for women participants, the Government will also table the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to propose the women reservation on one-third of the seats of the Union Territories.

The winter session has been scheduled to be held from December 4 to December 22. In the course of 19 days, the Union Government is likely to have discussions over seven new bills, including the two women's quota bills. The government may also address the backlog of 33 pending bills in this winter session.

Government Convenes All Party Meeting On Saturday Ahead Of Parliament Session

Discussion and voting over "The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023," are also expected to take place during the Winter Session. The bill was previously presented in the Rajya Sabha to seek a setup procedure for the transaction of business by the Election Commission.

Earlier in March, a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice K. M. Joseph had ruled that the appointments for the election body will be done by the President on the advice of a special committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India till a good law on the issue is being made by the Parliament.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 17:30 [IST]
PM Modi To Attend COP28 In Dubai: What's On Agenda?

India

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 28th edition of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) on 30 November and 1 December in Dubai, UAE.

The COP28 will be held till December 12, in which, King Charles III, UK PM Rishi Sunak, US Vice President Kamala Harris along with other big leaders from across the world will participate.

It is expected that over 70,000 people will attend the COP28 summit.

Ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Dubai, Indian Ambassador to UAE, Sanjay Sudhir said that India has always raised the concerns of climate change.

"COP28 Summit is a very important and big international conference. PM Modi coming here, itself shows how big the event is. We are eagerly waiting for PM Modi's visit... the world leaders are waiting. Everyone is eager for him to share his vision with the world," Sudhir quoted by ANI.

Parliament Winter Session: Modi Govt To Table Women's Quota In Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir Bill

India's agenda at COP28:

This will be the second time in three years that PM Modi will attend the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference. As per the reports, COP28 will be the stage where India can tell the world its G20 achievements."Climate change has been an important priority area of India's G20 Presidency... COP-28 will provide an opportunity to take forward these successes."

As per reports, the Prime Minister is likely to pitch for the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) to world leaders at the COP28. The GBA was first launched during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The climate experts believe that the GBA would help to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, which is a major behind drastic changes in climate.

The Global Biofuel Alliance pushes for the adoption of biofuels worldwide by promoting technological advancements and promote the use of sustainable biofuels. Climate change can only be fixed by a wide participation from stakeholders from around the world.
Welcome to AI Weekly, where we delve into the cutting-edge and ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence and bring you concise yet comprehensive summaries of the most exciting AI developments.

Global Surge in Interest for OpenAIs ChatGPT on Google Breaks Records

The demand for generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools is witnessing an unprecedented surge, with OpenAIs ChatGPT leading the way. Recent data from Finbold indicates a remarkable 400% increase in global Google searches for ChatGPT in 2023, reaching a peak popularity score of 100 on November 5. Over the past 12 months, the demand has skyrocketed by an astounding 9,900%, reflecting the growing appetite for this innovative AI model.

Breaking down the popularity by country, China takes the lead with a score of 100, followed by the Philippines and Nepal sharing the second position with 32. Singapore and Sri Lanka tie for the third spot with a score of 31. Other countries displaying significant interest include Pakistan (29), Kenya (25), Lebanon (25), Tunisia (24), and Morocco (23).

Salesforce and Amazon Deepen Partnership to Enhance AI Capabilities

Salesforce and Amazon Web Services have expanded their partnership to simplify data management across both platforms. The enhanced agreement aims to seamlessly integrate generative AI technologies into applications and workflows. This collaboration enables customers to securely manage data across Salesforce and AWS while responsibly incorporating the latest generative AI advancements into their processes.

TaxLeopard Acquires Airtax in a Strategic Move for Growth and AI Integration

TaxLeopard, the Australian accounting software and tax app, has acquired Airtax, a BAS and income tax return lodging software. This strategic move, valued at six figures, allows TaxLeopard to absorb Airtaxs user base and strengthen its presence in the rideshare market. The acquisition aligns with TaxLeopards growth plans, marking a significant step in scaling its user network, technological infrastructure, and partnerships. Additionally, it serves as a catalyst for increased research and development, as TaxLeopard looks to integrate generative AI technology for more nuanced and automated tax solutions.

Symphony Collaborates with Google Cloud for Advanced Financial Voice Analytics

Symphony, a leading markets infrastructure and technology platform, is partnering with Google Cloud to enhance its financial markets voice analytics. Leveraging Google Clouds gen AI platform, Vertex AI, Symphony aims to offer high-accuracy voice analytics through speech-to-text fine-tuning and natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. This collaboration builds upon Symphonys existing partnership with Google Cloud as its primary cloud provider.

Leonardo.Ais Remarkable Milestone: 700 Million Images Generated on AWS

Leonardo.Ai, an Australian generative AI content production platform, has achieved a significant milestone by generating over 700 million images and training more than 400,000 custom generative AI models on AWS. In less than a year, the startup has transformed content creation, providing users with the ability to generate hyperrealistic images suitable for various industries. The move to AWS facilitated efficient management of continuous user growth, ensuring resiliency, security, and scalability.

Abu Dhabis Advanced Technology Research Council Launches AI71

In the dynamic field of artificial intelligence, Abu Dhabis Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) introduces AI71, a new AI company. Building on the Technology Innovation Institutes Falcon generative AI models, AI71 focuses on multi-domain specializations and offers unprecedented AI data control options. The company aims to empower companies and countries with self-hosted AI for enhanced privacy and control in an era of rapid AI advancements.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Gehlot's Fate Hangs In Balance As 8 Out of 9 Exit Polls Point To BJP Victory In Rajasthan

Poll Of Exit Polls Gives Congress Edge In Chhattisgarh, BJP Likely To Improve Previous Tally

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

All exit polls unanimously indicate that the Congress is expected to retain its hold in Chhattisgarh. As per the Poll of Polls, the Congress is expected to secure 49 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to clinch 38 seats. Three seats are expected to be secured by other parties. Notably, the BJP is likely to improve upon its prior tally of 15 seats. Votes cast during the elections will undergo counting on December 3, with the results promptly declared on the same day.

Chhattisgarh is demarcated into three regions - Sarguja, Central, and Bastar, hosting the assembly elections in two phases on November 7 and 17.

Times Now-ETG Exit Polls:

Projections indicate the Congress securing 48-56 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is estimated to attain 32-40 constituencies. Other parties are expected to secure two to four seats. The BJP is anticipated to garner a 42.4% vote share, with the Congress expected to achieve 46.7%, while other parties might obtain 10.9%.

Congress Will Retain Power In Chhattisgarh, High Command To Decide CM, Says Singh Deo

India Today-My Axis Exit Polls:

This forecast foresees the Congress attaining 40-50 seats, with the BJP anticipated to secure 36-46 constituencies. Other parties might secure one to five seats.

ABP-CVoter:

Predictions by ABP-CVoter suggest 41-53 seats for the Congress and 36-48 seats for the BJP. Other parties are expected to secure one to four seats.

Today's Chanakya

Today's Chanakya predicted that the BJP would get 33 seats (plus-minus 8 seats) and the Congress would bag a clear majority 57 seats (plus-minus 8).

Chhattisgarh Exit Polls: Cong Will Get Thumping Majority, Says Baghel; BJP Will Win, Claims Raman Singh

In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress assumed power in the state for the first time, securing 68 seats, while the BJP managed to secure only 15 seats. The Janta Congress Chhattisgarh and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won five and two seats, respectively.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 21:41 [IST]
SIM swap fraud? All you need to know about this online banking scam

None of the sim cards that were being used by Sushant Singh was registered in his name: Bihar Police

Fresh KYC For SIM Replacement, Mandatory Police Verification For SIM Dealers: Know All About New Changes

From Banking To SIM Card Purchase, Know Important Changes That New Year 2024 Brings

New SIM Card Rule Changes From December 1: All You Need To Know

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Starting December 1, 2023, India is set to implement new SIM card regulations aimed at enhancing security measures and curbing online financial fraud. Initially scheduled for August 1, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) deferred the rollout of these regulations. The primary focus of these changes is to combat online financial fraud effectively.

Key modifications:

Enrollment for Telecom Operators:

Telecom operators are mandated to register their franchisees, point-of-sale (PoS) agents, and distributors. This registration requirement aims to prevent unauthorized issuance of SIM cards by PoS agents and deter illicit activities. Registration involves a formal agreement with licensees. Failure to comply with the new regulations could lead to termination and a three-year blacklisting. Existing PoS agents have a 12-month window to complete the registration process.

Curbing Aadhaar Misuse:

To combat the rampant misuse of printed Aadhaar, capturing demographic details through scanning the QR code on the printed Aadhaar becomes compulsory. In case of mobile number disconnection, a 90-day cooling-off period will be provided.

Mandatory Digital Know Your Customer (e-KYC):

The upcoming regulations effective from December 1 make Digital Know Your Customer (KYC) mandatory for all SIM users, streamlining the digital verification process.

Discontinuation of Bulk Connections:

In a bid to thwart fraudulent activities by SIM dealers, the government has discontinued the issuance of bulk connections. Ashwini Vaishnav emphasized earlier, stating, "Mandatory authentication of SIM dealers aims to combat fraud. Dealers found breaching the norms will face a penalty of Rs 10 lakh."
Teacher detained for sexually harassing class-9 girl student in Sambalpur, Odisha

Odisha Police detain a teacher of an English medium school in Sambalpur for allegedly sexually harassing a class-9 girl student. Legal action will be initiated.

India

-Krishna Kripa

In a distressing turn of events, the tranquility of the educational environment in Sambalpur city was shattered when a teacher from a reputed English medium school was detained by the Odisha Police. It was alleged that the educator was involved in a grievous act of sexual harassment against a student from class 9. The incident has sparked outrage and prompted a thorough investigation by the local authorities.

It has been reported that the teacher in question orchestrated a situation where he was alone with the victim by initially calling a group of students, including her, to a classroom. Shortly thereafter, he sent all the students out except for the young girl and one other classmate. Crafting a pretense for further isolation, the accused then sent the companion away under the guise of retrieving his water bottle, leaving him alone with the victim. It is during this time that the alleged sexual harassment occurred.

The Aftermath of the Incident

The trauma of the episode came to light when the victim's classmate, upon returning, was informed about the distressing encounter. Shaken by the ordeal, the girl left school and reported the incident to her parents. Seeking justice, the parents promptly reported the matter to the school's principal. Committed to addressing the issue, the principal passed on the information to the police, affirming that a formal complaint had been lodged and expressing faith in the legal proceedings to follow.

Immediate Response from Authorities

Following the complaint, Puspanjali Panda, Sambalpur Sadar sub-collector, made a visit to the educational institution alongside the police to initiate an on-the-ground investigation. Both the school officials and the parents of the victim took immediate action by filing official complaints with the law enforcement authorities. Panda assured that all necessary legal measures would be pursued in response to the abhorrent act. A case has been rigorously registered under applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Investigation and Legal Proceedings

In the wake of the incident, Sambalpur Sadar's Superintendent of Police, PK Sahu, confirmed that the teacher had been detained and that an extensive investigation was actively in progress. The law enforcement officials are unwavering in their intent to uncover the complete truth of the matter and to ensure that the accused, if found guilty, will face the full severity of the law for the breach of trust and the perpetration of such a reprehensible act against a minor.

This unsettling occurrence serves as a piercing reminder of the vulnerabilities that children face, even within the perceived safety of educational settings. It also underscores the critical importance of vigilant guardianship and stringent law enforcement measures to protect the innocence and well-being of our youth. As the investigation continues and the judicial system prepares to address this case, there is a collective hope among the residents of Sambalpur and the nation that justice will be served and that such transgressions will not go unpunished. Moreover, this incident has sparked a broader discourse on the need for robust mechanisms within academic institutions to safeguard students against any form of abuse or harassment.
Who Will Be The New Rajasthan CM? Find Out The Contenders As Exit Polls Favor BJP In 'Land Of Kings'

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to retain power in Rajasthan, according to exit polls 2023, but the party is yet to decide on a chief ministerial candidate. If these predictions hold true, who will be the next Chief Minister? Several names are being considered, including Vasundhara Raje, CP Joshi, Baba Balaknath, Diya Kumari, and Mahant Pratap Puri Maharaj.

Vasundhara Raje

Vasundhara Raje's continued popularity in pre-poll surveys doesn't currently align with the BJP top brass's considerations, given her past treatment by the leadership. Raje's fate hinges on the seat count the party secures on December 3. A lower tally of around 95-100 seats could prompt serious reconsideration by the top brass, as ignoring a leader capable of influencing state voters might backfire in the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Satta Bazaar Predicts BJP Likely To Win 112-124 seats In Rajasthan

CP Joshi

Another prominent name in contention is Chittorgarh MP and state party chief CP Joshi. With his clean image and Brahmin identity, Joshi could address the leadership void in the Mewar region, strategically pivotal for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Baba Balaknath

Baba Balaknath's emergence as a potential CM is also gaining traction, reminiscent of the Yogi Adityanath experiment in UP. His influence among Yadav voters across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and UP could significantly impact the BJP's prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Diya Kumari

Diya Kumari, a scion of Jaipur's erstwhile royal family, stands as another probable CM candidate. Her gender, youth, lack of political controversies, and demonstrated commitment to strengthen the party make her a favorable choice for Modi and Shah.

Rajasthan Exit Poll Results: As Cong Hopes To Break Tradition, BJP Eyes A Comeback

Mahant Swami Pratap Puri Maharaj

Amid these names, the unexpected rise of seer Mahant Swami Pratap Puri Maharaj from Rajasthan's Pokharan area also sparks interest. With the BJP opting not to endorse a specific CM candidate, the field remains open, fostering aspirations among several individuals eyeing the Chief Minister's chair.

However, until the swearing-in of the CM, uncertainty prevails. PM Modi and Shah's penchant for unconventional decisions has been a consistent trend since 2014, keeping both the party and the nation on their toes with surprise selections and strategies.
Matter Of Concern: India On US Charging Indian National In Case Relating To Plot To Kill Khalistani Separatist

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Seeks India's Cooperation In Wake of US Claims Of Foiled Assassination Plot

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Canada urges India's cooperation in probing the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar following revelations by the US of thwarting an assassination plot targeting another Khalistani separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau said, "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously."

This comes after the United States charged an Indian national with a conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of Sikhs for Justice, designated as a terrorist by the Indian government and a US citizen. The US attorney's office on Wednesday said Nikhil Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.

Trudeau said, "It's crucial that the Indian government cooperates with us to delve deeper into this issue."

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly had also urged India to be more forthcoming in the investigation, earlier on Wednesday. "Clearly we expect more cooperation on their part and more engagement on their part," said Joly.

Earlier, Canada had accused India of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb, an accusation India promptly refuted.

Recent events saw the US Justice Department charging Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian-origin individual, for allegedly orchestrating Pannun's assassination by hiring a contract killer. Federal prosecutor Damian Williams highlighted, "The defendant conspired from India to assassinate a US citizen advocating for a sovereign Sikh state, right here in New York City."

Who Is Nikhil Gupta? Indian National Charged For Plotting To Kill Khalistani Separatist Gurpatwant Pannun

Responding to Canada and the US, India formed a high-level inquiry committee to assist in the investigation. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Bagchi addressed the issue, stating, "We have engaged with the US on bilateral security cooperation, sharing inputs on the connections between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others."
Elton John Hailed for HIV/AIDS Activism at UK Parliament Event

Sir Elton John was honored by the UK Parliament for his exceptional contribution to the global fight against HIV and AIDS. The music legend spoke to dozens of lawmakers and campaigners about his work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has helped raise millions of dollars to prevent HIV infections and reduce stigma.

International

-Sathish Raman

On Wednesday, November 30, Elton John was honored by the British Parliament for his dedication to fighting HIV in the UK and beyond. The British star spoke to dozens of lawmakers and campaigners in the grand Speakers House of Parliament.

Johns Work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation

John set up his AIDS Foundation in 1992 and has since helped raise millions of dollars to prevent HIV infections and reduce stigma. In the UK, the charity recently led campaigns to extend a pilot government program to test people visiting hospitals emergency rooms for HIV.

Under the program, which was recently introduced in London and other cities with a high prevalence of HIV cases, anyone 16 years old or older who has their blood tested in an emergency room will also get tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, unless they opt out of the testing.

Johns charity has urged the government to expand the service, which officials say has been key in discovering hundreds of undetected cases of HIV.

Routine HIV testing in emergency departments is especially good at finding people who would otherwise not receive a test, most often from marginalized communities who are being left behind in our progress on HIV, said Deborah Gold, chief executive of National Aids Trust.

The Expansion of HIV Testing in Emergency Departments

On Wednesday, health officials confirmed that the program will be scaled up to 46 more emergency departments, helping to reach the estimated 4,500 people in England who could be living with undiagnosed HIV.

The Parliament reception for John came ahead of World AIDS Day, which takes place on Friday. The UK hopes to achieve zero HIV transmissions in England by 2030, in line with World Health Organization goals.

Recognition from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute to Johns AIDS Foundation, saying he was pleased its work was being celebrated in Parliament.

Sir Elton has been a powerful voice for change in the UK and the world, Sunak told lawmakers. Through the brilliant work of the AIDS Foundation, he has raised awareness of the issue, reduced stigma, and saved lives.

Elton John's work in the fight against HIV/AIDS is truly commendable. His dedication and commitment to the cause have made a real difference in the lives of so many people. He is an inspiration to us all.
Who Is Nikhil Gupta? Indian National Charged For Plotting To Kill Khalistani Separatist Gurpatwant Pannun

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Nikhil Gupta finds himself at the heart of an international assassination plot, with US authorities viewing the 52-year-old Indian individual as crucial in a plot to assassinate a Sikh leader within the United States. Arrested in June in the Czech Republic, Gupta faces charges related to plotting the murder of a US citizen from India. The intended victim, an outspoken critic of the Indian government and an advocate for Punjab's separatist movements, remains unnamed but is reportedly Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of Sikhs for Justice, a group advocating for an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan.

"The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs," Reuters quoted federal prosecutor Damian Williams as saying in a statement.

Central to the plot is an unnamed Indian government official described as a senior field officer in security and intelligence, allegedly responsible for recruiting Gupta for the assassination plan.

According to US authorities, Gupta, brokered by this official, agreed to pay an undercover agent USD 100,000 for the killing, unaware that the agent was working for the US.

These developments have not only drawn attention but have also heightened diplomatic tensions. They echo a previous incident in Canada where a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was killed, causing friction between Ottawa and New Delhi. The seriousness of the allegations has led the US to express deep concerns, underscoring the gravity of the situation in discussions with Indian officials.

Reportedly, Gupta indicated to undercover agents that there was no need to delay the assassination after Nijjar's killing and suggested that Nijjar was also a target, hinting at a broader scheme involving multiple targets.

Moreover, Gupta advised the supposed hitman to avoid carrying out the assassination during a period of anticipated high-level meetings between US and Indian government officials, according to the US Justice Department.

Additionally, Gupta has allegedly confessed to engaging in prior criminal activities, discussing his involvement in drug and weapon trafficking with undercover agents. He faces charges of two counts of murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy, potentially resulting in a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if convicted.

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Story first published: Thursday, November 30, 2023, 8:30 [IST]
The Israeli government and Hamas have agreed to extend the ceasefire for a seventh day, just minutes before the initial deal was about to expire.
A court in Germany has sentenced the ringleader of a right-wing extremist group to six years in prison.
Bai Lowe, who was linked to the killing of AFP journalist Deyda Hydara, was convicted of crimes against humanity stemming from assassinations committed between 2003 and 2006.
The United States has expressed deep concern over the decision by a Moscow court to extend the pre-trial detention of American reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Gershkovich, who held Russian Ministry accreditation as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested by Russian authorities in March 2023 in the city of Yekaterinburg. Taken to the infamous Lefortovo prison in Moscow, he was charged with espionage and faces a sentence of up to 20 years, if convicted. The courts decision on November 28 is the third time the American reporters pre-trial detention has been extended.

Gershkovich, his employer, and the United States government have denied the charges against him. The White House called them baseless. In April, Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the determination that Gershkovich is wrongfully detained and called for his immediate release. The designation by the U.S. government that a person is wrongfully detained means the United States believes charges against him or her are spurious and that the State Departments Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs will handle negotiations for the individuals release. Businessman Paul Whelan is another American citizen the State Department has designated as wrongfully detained in Russia.



U.S. Embassy representatives attended the court hearing for Evan Gershkovich on November 28. We are deeply concerned by the courts decision to extend his detention for an additional two months, the Embassy said in a statement. Evan has already been in pretrial detention without legal grounds for almost eight months. We reiterate our call for Evans immediate release. As Secretary Blinken has stated, Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlins continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth.

At a recent press briefing, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller declared that bringing Evan Gershkovich home continues to be a top priority ... as it is to bring Paul Whelan home. It is something that we have worked on at the seniormost levels in this government and we will continue to make it one of our top priorities.
ViewHeavy fighting erupted Monday around a hospital in northern Gaza where thousands of patients and displaced people have been..

Newsy 20 Nov 2023
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy praised his country's troops around Kupiansk. Meanwhile, a German intelligence employee will stand trial next month for allegedly spying for Moscow. DW has the latest.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised his country's troops around Kupiansk. Meanwhile, a German intelligence employee will stand trial next month for allegedly spying for Moscow. DW has the latest.
A 36-year-old Israeli woman was found dead at her residence in Kollam, Kerala. The woman's 70-year-old live-in partner is suspected of killing her. He claims they decided to commit suicide, and the woman slit her throat while he stabbed himself. However, the woman had multiple stab wounds besides the fatal injury to her neck. The man has been booked under sections 302 and 309 of the IPC, and is currently hospitalized and under police surveillance. The woman had been in Uttarakhand for 15 years and was depressed despite yoga lessons from the man, who suffers from psoriasis.
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The Biden administration will soon close an ICE detention facility in Adelanto, Calif., multiple sources told Fox News Digital -- just as the administration is seeking money for more detention.
The UN Security Council met intensively through Wednesday morning in New York on the Middle East crisis. It was the first open meeting since the 15-member body passed a resolution in mid-November and the first featuring foreign ministers from across the region and beyond.



Briefing top diplomats, UN chief Antonio Guterres...
Oneindia 11 Jan 2024

The US government has declined to supply defence materials to Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national held in a Czech prison on..
The secretary of state said the U.S. is committed to seeing the release of all Hamas hostages. Meanwhile, gunmen killed three Israelis in an attack on the outskirts of West Jerusalem early Thursday.
Pornsawan Pinakalo fell to his knees when he was greeted by his father after nearly 50 days in captivity.
The Syrian regime with help from Russia continues to engage in ruthless bombing campaigns in Idlib and Aleppo governorates, killing hundreds more civilians, noted U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield in recent remarks to the UN Security Council. Whats more, Assad regime-led attacks, supported by Russian airstrikes concentrated in western portions of Idlib, have destroyed tents of displaced persons.

We also condemn the attacks by Iranian-aligned militia groups on U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. Just like any other Member State, the United States has the right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. We have, therefore, conducted targeted response strikes. And we stand ready to take further action, as necessary and appropriate, to address further threats of attacks.

In November the U.S. designated Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and its Secretary-General as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Additionally, we designated six individuals affiliated with the Iran-aligned militia [group] Kataib Hizballah, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:

Iran, through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, has supported these and other militant groups. It has supplied them with training, funding, and sophisticated weapons, including increasingly accurate and lethal unmanned aerial systems. This escalatory behavior is unacceptable. And it does nothing to address the oppressive and dire economic conditions facing Syrian civilians today.

Unfortunately, the Syrian regime has obstructed all attempts to achieve progress on the political front, leading to dire consequences, warned Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:

As a result, the Syrian people continue to flee their homes in droves, with refugees showing no indication of a wish to return. Not because of economic conditions, as the regime maintains, but because they fear regime oppression, and torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance; mandatory conscription, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield called for the release of the more than 150,000 people the Syrian regime has arbitrarily detained or forcibly disappeared. She also urged the Assad regime to extend authorization for the Bab al-Hawa crossing before it expires in January so that the humanitarian needs of thousands of Syrian civilians can be met during the cold winter months.

 Most of all, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, we call on this Council to stand with the Syrian people as they fight for their fundamental freedoms and a more just and peaceful future.
All of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai and Mormon) are claimed to be divinely revealed. They are claimed to have been revealed by God to certain prophets and founders of the various "revealed" religions.

Belief in a "revealed" religion opens people up to harm. A case in point, which shows the very real danger of believing in alleged divine revelations, is seen in the Christian sect and megachurch based in Mexico, La Luz del Mundo. Its leader, NaasA n JoaquA n GarcA a, had followers believing he receives divine revelations. This gave him great power over the faithful, for they believed if they did not believe him, they were disbelieving God. And they believed if they did not obey Garcia, they were disobeying God.

Garcia used this "revelation"-based control over the people of faith who belonged to La Luz del Mundo to not only financially profit, but to sexually rape children. Garcia has been criminally sentenced to 17 years in prison by a California court for committing sex crimes against children. Five of his rape victims have filed a civil case against him. They explained they believed GarcA a's "wishes and desires were direct orders from God, that he was without sin and incapable of committing any wrongs." People can only believe irrational claims like this if they replace their gift of innate reason from The Supreme Intelligence/God, with what the clergy call faith, but what the Deist Thomas Jefferson called gullibility.

This irrational and dangerous mindset, that clergy are somehow in direct communication with God, played/plays a key role in the thousands of cases of Roman Catholic priests who raped/rape children. One of their victims, Phil Saviano, pointed out how he and his family viewed Catholic priests as having special knowledge about God and a special relationship with God. When a priest first started to sexually molest him when he was 11 years old, he said he was thinking, "How do you say 'no' to God?" This was brought out in the important and informative 2015 film, Spotlight.

Deism, belief in The Supreme Intelligence/God based on reason and Nature, is an antidote to all of the various "revealed" religions.

A key quality of Deism is that it is not a "revealed" religion. Unlike the various "revealed" religions, Deism makes no claim to being based on a revelation from The Supreme Intelligence/God to any Deist at any time. Some people see Deism as a natural religion, and some people see Deism as a spiritual philosophy, but no one can rationally claim Deism is a "revealed" religion; that is, revealed in that God communicated something verbally to any Deist. This is why Deism is free of "holy" books, dogmas, rituals and clergy.

The only divine revelation in Deism is the intelligence-based universe we are all living parts of. Deism embraces this statement made by Albert Einstein, "... the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God."

In The Age of Reason, Thomas Paine did a wonderful job of explaining why the claims made by the "revealed" religions to having received divine revelations are meaningless. Paine wrote,

No one will deny or dispute the power of the Almighty to make such a communication, if He pleases. But admitting, for the sake of a case, that something has been revealed to a certain person, and not revealed to any other person, it is revelation to that person only. When he tells it to a second person, a second to a third, a third to a fourth, and so on, it ceases to be a revelation to all those persons. It is revelation to the first person only, and hearsay to every other, and consequently they are not obliged to believe it.

By openly and unapologetically rejecting false claims made by the "revealed" religions, that they are based upon divine revelations, Deism is protecting people from very real, and often irreversible, harm.

Deism empowers people to break free, and to remain free, of the ungodly and harmful influence of the "revealed" religions by, not only its strong rejection of false claims to divine revelation, but by recognizing the wonderful and amazing fact that "faith" is not at all required for realization that The Supreme Intelligence/God exists. The Enlightenment Deist, Voltaire, pointed this out when he wrote,
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

I first posted a piece by Ariel Dorfman at TomDispatch in October 2004 and began my introduction this way: "I met him in the spring of 1980 soon after he arrived in the United States. He had already been in exile from Pinochet's Chile for seven years. I was an editor at Pantheon Books when one day he swept into my office, tall and exuberant, with his youngest son in a stroller. At the time, I knew his name only because it sat next to that of a man named Armand Mattelart on the cover of How to Read Donald Duck, an account both Marxist and amusing the two had written for the Allende government on the impact of Disney comics in the Third World. Soon after we began to talk, he launched into a critique of Babar, the French elephant whose adventures were chronicled for children by Jean de Brunhoff. I was particularly interested because de Brunhoff's books had been icons of my childhood."

And we've never stopped talking. But when he first walked into my office more than 40 years ago, despite his grim experiences in Chile, I doubt either of us could have imagined the world we now find ourselves in. Yes, he already had plenty to say about Donald Duck (and Walt Disney). But honestly, could we have dreamed of an America in which the other Donald and you know just who I mean! had already been this country's president for four years and now stands a reasonable chance of returning to the White House in 2025 and turning the U.S. into a distinctly authoritarian-style state (with all too much help from various right-wing think tanks)? Only the other day, he stated quite clearly that, if president again, he wouldn't hesitate to target anyone he considered an opponent with the full power of a transformed state. And given his attitude toward climate change and fossil fuels, he would undoubtedly play a grim role in the further transformation of this planet into a living hell.

In the context of Dorfman's piece today about Donald Duck and our Disneyesque planet, think of that Donald of "ours" as the ultimate American quackpot.

And in the increasingly flaming world of fire and war we now live in, after you've read Dorfman's article (while you're at it, don't miss his remarkable new novel The Suicide Museum), my one piece of advice is, as its title suggests: Duck! Tom

Duck!

Walt Disney and Salvador Allende Are Still Fighting for Our Souls

By Ariel Dorfman

This year marks the anniversaries of two drastically different events that loomed all too large in my life. The first occurred a century ago in Hollywood: on October 16, 1923, Walt Disney signed into being the corporation that bears his name. The second took place in Santiago, Chile, on September 11, 1973, when socialist President Salvador Allende died in a military coup that overthrew his democratically elected government.

Those two disparate occurrences got me thinking about how the anniversaries of a long-dead American who revolutionized popular culture globally and a slain Chilean leader whose inspiring political revolution failed might illuminate and I hope you won't find this too startling the dilemma that apocalyptic climate change poses to humanity.

This isn't, in fact, the first time those two men and what they represented affected my life. Fifty years ago, each of them helped determine my destiny a time when I had not the slightest hint that global warming might someday leave them again juxtaposed in my life.

In mid-October 1973, as the Walt Disney Corporation was celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding, I found myself in the Argentine embassy in Santiago, Chile, where I had sought refuge after the country's military had destroyed its democracy and taken power. Like 1,000 other asylum seekers, I was forced to flee to those compressed premises in my case, thanks in significant part to Walt Disney. To be more specific, what put me in peril was Para Leer al Pato Donald (How to Read Donald Duck), a bestselling book I had cowritten in 1971 with Belgian sociologist Armand Mattelart that skewered Uncle Walt's as we then called it "cultural imperialism."

That book had been born out of Salvador Allende's peaceful revolution, the first attempt in history to build socialism by democratic means rather than by conquering the state through armed insurrection. That Chilean road to socialism meant, however, leaving intact the economic, political, and media power of those who opposed our radical reforms.

One of our most urgent cultural tasks was contesting the dominant stories of the time, primarily those produced in the United States, imported to Chile (and so many other countries), and then ingested by millions of consumers. Among the most prevalent, pleasurable, and easily digestible of mass-media commodities were historietas (comic books), with those by Disney ruling the market. To create alternative versions of reality for the new, liberated Chile, Armand and I felt it was important to grasp the ideological magic that lurked in those oh-so-popular comics. After all, you can't substitute for something if you don't even know how it works.

Our goal was to defeat our capitalist adversary not with bullets but with ideas, images, and emotions of our own. So, the two of us set out to interpret hundreds of Donald Duck historietas to try to grasp just what made them so damn successful. In mid-1971, less than a year after Allende's election victory and after 10 feverish days of collaboration, he and I felt we had grasped the way Walt's supposedly harmless ducks and mice had subtly shaped the thinking of Chileans.

In the end, in a kind of frenzy, we wrote what John Berger (one of the great art critics of the twentieth century) would term "a handbook of decolonization," a vision of what imperial America was selling the world as natural, everlasting, and presumably unalterable by anyone, including our President Allende. We did our best to lay out how Walt (and his workers) viewed family and sex, work and criminality, society and failure, and above all how his ducks and mice trapped Third World peoples in an exotic world of underdevelopment from which they could only emerge by eternally handing over their natural resources to foreigners and agreeing to imitate the American way of life.

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UPDATE: Portland dad describes panic of watching car thief drive off with daughter, 2, in back seat

Portland detectives are asking for the publics help in finding a stolen dark blue 2017 Subaru Outback that drove off with a 2-year-old girl inside the car in Northeast Portland Thursday morning

The Subarus Oregon license plate number is 639JVQ, Portland police said.

The toddler was reunited with her parents after a person spotted her walking down the street about 1 mile from where she was taken and shortly after she was abducted, police said.

Officers responded at 7:21 a.m. to the reported abduction near Northeast Halsey Street and 126th Avenue. A man told police he saw a young man wearing a beanie drive off in his warming-up Subaru with his 2-year-old daughter inside of the car.

A person flagged down a Portland police officer a short time later after spotting the Subaru driving recklessly near Northeast San Rafael Street and 113th Avenue. The person then saw the toddler walking down the street, police said.

Police asked anyone with information about the Subaru or with video footage of the car or suspect to contact detectives at 503-823-0400 or crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov.

-- Catalina Gaitan, cgaitan@oregonian.com, @catalinagaitan_

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The homelessness outreach worker who went viral for videos suggesting homeless people were ill-served by handouts faces a new criminal case accusing him of mooching off his city credit card.

Prosecutors unveiled a six-count indictment Wednesday charging Kevin Dahlgren with two counts each of identity theft, first-degree official misconduct and third-degree theft.
Oregon State Police announced Thursday that they rescued 15 dogs whod been abandoned in the back of a U-Haul truck for three days at a Klamath Falls truck stop. Police said they also recovered an additional 10 dogs after tracking down two people suspected of stealing and abandoning the truck and the dogs.

Were just thankful that someone called and we were able to go locate them and get inside expeditiously, said Capt. Kyle Kennedy, a spokesperson for state police.

Police sent out photos of some of the puppies in the hands of their beaming rescuers on Nov. 23  Thanksgiving Day  which is the day someone called in a suspicious vehicle at Loves Travel Stop in Klamath Falls and troopers responded to hear barking coming from inside the U-Haul. Kennedy said there were multiple breeds held in cages in the back of the truck, but it appears the puppies in the photos taken with troopers are Rottweilers or Rottweiler mixes.

Police hold four puppies after rescuing them from an abandoned U-Haul truck in Klamath Falls on Nov. 23, 2023.Oregon State Police

All of the animals survived, though one of them tested positive for the potentially life-threatening canine parvovirus. Kennedy said its unclear how close to death the 15 dogs were, but the animals were severely neglected after a few days in the truck. He said its also unclear if anyone was planning on returning to the truck to retrieve them or if food or water had been left with the dogs to tide them over for what turned out to be three days.

Daytime high temperatures were in the low 50s, with nighttime temps dropping to freezing. Kennedy said the dogs might not have survived if it had been summer.

If it had been hot, it would have been a different story, he said.

The dogs were also found amid urine and piles of excrement.

Kennedy said because the investigation is still in its early stages and because some details must remain confidential for now, he cant say who the truck was stolen from; why there were 15 dogs in the back; whether the 10 additional dogs had been in the truck and removed before the truck was abandoned; and how troopers tracked down their two prime suspects.

Authorities took this photo of cages with dogs in them in the back of a U-Haul truck on Nov. 23, 2023, at the Klamath Falls Love's Travel Stop.Oregon State Police

Police arrested two Klamath Falls residents  David Eugene McMillion, 50, and Lisa Annette Weeks, 39  for accusations that include animal abandonment, second-degree animal neglect and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Jail records, however, show that the pair are no longer in custody. Its unclear when their first court date will be because court charges havent been filed yet.

The dogs remain at the Klamath County Animal Shelter, which is currently closed to the public because one of the dogs tested positive for the parvovirus. All dogs at the shelter are being quarantined. Police said once the dogs have been medically cleared, they are expected to be put up for adoption. The shelter already has been flooded with dozens of adoption applications.

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Tim OBryant was 5 years old when his parents relocated from Pendleton to Astoria in 1960. OBryant remembers those first days, nose pressed to the window, wondering if it would ever stop raining. Then came winter, and the surprise of color and light.

All of the sudden Christmas came to Astoria, OBryant recalled. I had never seen anything like it -- bells, garlands. I said, Oh my gosh, this is beautiful. But it wasnt to last. By 1966, the crews responsible for hanging the decorations stopped, and Astoria was gray again.

It would be another 30 years before OBryant stumbled upon an amazing find and made an equally amazing promise that to this day sees Astoria lit every holiday season in a show of light.

It all started in 1996 when OBryant, a UPS driver, was out on his route.

I saw this garage sale, OBryant, now retired, said. And I saw a couple of those bells and a lantern. The homeowner confirmed they were the decorations OBryant recalled from childhood. He was asking $35 for each. OBryant asked if he had any more and as it turned out, he did  a whopping 70. OBryant did the math  70 x $35 = $2,450 for the lot. I thought, I want them, but do I want them that bad? I went back the next day and I said, Do you remember Astoria in the 60s? He said, Oh yeah. I said, You sell them to me for $100 and Ill put them up. Ive kept my word; the decorations have been going up every year since.

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Holiday decorations at the Liberty Theater, 1203 Commercial Street, Astoria, Oregon, Monday, November 27, 2023. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Holiday decorations along Commercial Street in Astoria, Oregon, Monday, November 27, 2023. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

That first year, it was just OBryant and his wife, Melba. They borrowed a bucket truck from local business Wadsworth Electric and hung the decorations after Tim OBryant got off work.

I tried to remember what it looked like when I was 6 or 7 and thats how I decorated, OBryant said. I was working on stuff downtown at 8 at night. People didnt know who was doing it and so they started called me Mr. Christmas and Melba, Mrs. Christmas.

That was the last time the couple worked alone. In the coming years, they were joined by crews from the Astoria Fire Department, Pacific Power and Wadsworth Electric, along with volunteers from local businesses and the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association. People just loved it, OBryant recalled. A lot of the old-timers said it was exactly the way it was when they were younger.

Soon, OBryants childhood friend Kent Birdeno signed on to help. A small business owner, Birdeno was savvy about finances and suggested they send out fliers telling people what they were up to.

I said, Kent, I dont know if this is going to work, OBryant recalled. He said, Trust me. All of the sudden the money started pouring in, thousands. But the crew of volunteers, which numbers about 40 today, still didnt have a name. Then one day while OBryant was up on a roof putting up decorations, he got a call from a reporter from the local newspaper.

They said, What is the name of your group? I said, Uh  And then, the words just came, I said, Christmas Club. So thats how that one came.

The Christmas Club now operates under the nonprofit Astoria Downtown Historic District Association, but still funds their efforts solely through donations. Thanks largely to LED bulbs, the decorating task has gotten easier over the years. I used to use vacation time to work on the decorations. They take a beating; you know the weather around here. The garland is about 85 feet long and you have eight garlands, and half the bulbs would be out. Before, wed be changing lights forever. Now, we laugh about it. We might have one bulb out; we used to have 40.

Holiday decorations along Commercial Street in Astoria, Oregon, Monday, November 27, 2023. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Volunteers hang the decorations the week before Thanksgiving, working in crews around town over a span of about four blocks. Birdeno leads the crew in charge of lighting the shrubs and trees.

All kinds of stuff has happened over the years, Birdeno said. The guy was helping me one rainy day, stringing lights up on a building. A bare wire was exposed and he touched it. Zap. He said, OK, Im done for the day. Another time a crew was working on 10th and this guy leans a ladder against the post and the post snaps and down it comes and goes straight through a plate glass window. Weve had instances where people have stopped traffic to let us cross the street and boom, someone rear ends them.

Once the decorations are hung, volunteers spend the week making sure all the glitches are worked out. Then, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association hosts the Downtown Holiday Lighting ceremony. Santa comes to town, theres free cocoa and cookies, and after the mayor gives the countdown, the city once again shines bright.

In the coming weeks, local businesses will take part in holiday-themed promotions, including a winter window decorating contest. Santa listens to wishes from his seat in the Liberty Theater and vendors set up the Astoria Holiday Market on three consecutive Sundays at the Astoria Armory.

I wouldnt say Astoria overdoes it, but we definitely go all in, said Jessamyn Grace West, executive director of the downtown association. We have an historic downtown, and its a really beautiful place to visit or spend the holidays. People decorate their houses. Some decorate their boats. People are so happy to come together and support each other. Were a close community and I think that really shows during the holiday.

 Lori Tobias, for The Oregonian/OregonLive
Thehas signed an MoU with SVKM Trust to establishin Bhubaneswar. With a 40-acre land allocation, the university aims to enhance higher education in the state. The MoU is worth Rs 300 crore and is a significant stride towards developing education in Odisha.During a ceremony held at the Lok Seva Bhawan, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalized with the presence of Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, the Minister of Higher Education, and other guests. As part of this historic agreement, the Odisha government has agreed to provide 40 acres of land on lease in Goudakashipur, Jatni, Bhubaneswar for the establishment of a university.The land that has been allocated comes with certain benefits that are provided without any extra charges. The registration of the land is also free for a period of 30 years, which can be extended for another 30 years. Moreover, in an official release, it has been stated that the land is exempt from IDCO's annual maintenance charges.Expressing the magnitude of this partnership with SVKM, the Minister of Higher Education highlighted its profound impact on the state, especially within the Higher Education Department. Emphasizing a steadfast commitment to enhancing education, fostering growth, and cultivating a brighter future, the collaboration epitomizes their dedication to educational advancement.The Minister highlighted the significant potential of this collaboration, which aims to expand educational opportunities in Odisha . The initiative involves establishing a premier educational campus near the revered temple city of Odisha. It aims to cater to diverse academic needs while closely aligning with the state's commitment to enhancing the quality of higher education.
A sick bald eagle found in a tree at Tumalo Reservoir earlier this month has been rehabilitated back to good health and was recently released by Think Wild, a Bend-based wildlife hospital.

The eagle was unresponsive and lethargic when it was first reported to Think Wild on Nov. 3, according to a statement from the clinic. A Think Wild volunteer approached the adult eagle and reported its head and wings were drooped.

The volunteer captured the eagle and brought it to Think Wild for care. Think Wild staff determined that the eagle was thin and dehydrated. It had debris in its mouth and had labored, raspy breathing.

The eagle was kept in quarantine for 10 days to avoid potential pathogen spread to other birds in the clinic. While in quarantine the eagle was fed and given anti-inflammatories. Its condition improved over the course of a week and it put on weight.

Considering the eagles condition upon intake, we were not very optimistic about his ability to recover, so were pleasantly surprised he responded so well to treatments, began self-feeding pretty quickly, and gained weight rapidly, said Molly Honea, a spokesperson for Think Wild.

Clinic workers were concerned the eagle had avian influenza, which is often fatal within 24 hours.

This eagles quick turnaround was therefore relatively unexpected, said Honea.

The eagle was released back to the wild at Tumalo Reservoir on Monday. Think Wild was unable to fully determine a cause for the eagles poor health. In its statement the clinic said the eagle may have ingested a toxin, such as a rodent poison, leading to its lethargy and unresponsive behavior.

Bald eagles are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. Think Wild advises the public to contact its clinic in Bend if a bird of prey is seen displaying neurological problems or lethargic behavior.

 Michael Kohn, The Bulletin, mkohn@bendbulletin.com
Is island hopping better by bike?

On this weeks Peak Northwest podcast, we take a bike tour across the San Juan Islands, one of the most scenic destinations in the Pacific Northwest, courtesy of Kristine de Leon, business reporter at The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Plenty of people visit the Washington islands, found in the Salish Sea off the coast of Vancouver Island, and while most opt to take their cars, many travelers prefer to tour two wheels. The slower pace allows more time to soak in the beautiful scenery, and offers a more adventurous way to go.

Here are some highlights from this weeks show:

What exactly is bike touring anyway?

A more complex trip required a little more planning in advance.

Along for the ride: a sweet dog with a complicated name.

Some of the best memories from the journey, which stretched across three islands.

Heres the full episode:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor
Oregon ski season is getting underway, and Mt. Bachelor is ready to kick things off.

The central Oregon ski area announced Wednesday that it will be reopening its slopes on Saturday, Dec. 2, welcoming skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers back to the mountain  conditions permitting.

Mt. Bachelor had previously planned to open on Nov. 24 but delayed the big day as snow failed to arrive by Thanksgiving. Its the first major ski area in Oregon to announce its reopening for the 2023-24 season.

The decision to open came following the latest weather forecast that shows significant snowfall starting Wednesday night, it said. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm advisory for the area from Thursday to Saturday, predicting 20 to 40 inches above 5,000 feet, with wind gusting up to 40 mph.

Lauren Burke, director of marketing and communications for Mt. Bachelor, said that should be enough to get the ski area up and running.

The plan is to open the Little Pine and Sunrise lifts by Saturday morning, though wind and ice may push it back, Burke said in the announcement. The Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center is also expected to reopen Saturday, along with Mountain Gateway at West Village, West Village Lodge, and Sunrise Lodge.

As crews work to prepare the mountain for opening day, Mt. Bachelor will close all uphill ski and snowshoeing traffic. Starting opening day, the resort will begin its usual uphill travel policy.

Burke said Mt. Bachelor is continuing to assess conditions as they develop, and will post updates online at mtbachelor.com, as well as on social media.

 Jamie Hale

503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB

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According to the purchase and sale agreement signed today, Enefit Green sells the district heating businesses of Paide and Valka in Estonia and Latvia. . .
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya is planning to designate major refugee camps as urban centres and municipalities once a draft policy, known as Ushiraka Plan, is passed into law, a senior government official said
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Independent UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts expressed heightened alarm on Thursday over the escalation in gender-based violence in Sudan, primarily at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces militia
Photo: (Photo : DIDIER PALLAGES / Getty Images)

In a unanimous decision, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) embarked on a groundbreaking initiative to establish the first-ever federal safety requirements for infant loungers. This move comes as a response to a troubling revelation of at least 79 deaths linked to these popular baby products between 2010 and 2022.

The proposed safety measures aim to mandate a significant redesign of most infant loungers and other support cushions available on the market.

CPSC Advances Redesign Recommendations for Infant Loungers to Safety Standards

In a 4-0 vote, the CPSC moved to adopt recommendations presented by its agency staff earlier this month. The proposed safety standards necessitate a substantial redesign of infant loungers, focusing on ensuring compliance with stringent criteria.

The CPSC has directly linked these products to 79 deaths, with a considerable majority occurring when infants were placed to sleep on these widely-used items.

The proposed redesign emphasizes a crucial aspect - the firmness of infant loungers. Under the new safety requirements, these products must be as firm as a crib mattress, with the height of their walls effectively limited to less than 2 inches.

This strategic redesign aims to reduce the risk of infants suffocating or becoming stuck in positions that compromise their breathing.

Moreover, the intention is to make these cushions less inviting for caregivers to use as sleep surfaces, aligning with safety recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Manufacturers of infant loungers, including well-known names like The Boppy Company, Snuggle Me Organic, and DockATot, have staunchly defended their products. They assert that these products are safe when used as intended - as a designated spot for caregivers to place infants while awake and under supervision.

However, the CPSC's move suggests a deepening concern that these products may pose significant risks, particularly when used for sleep.

Despite the recall of Boppy loungers in September 2021, manufacturers have been slow to respond comprehensively to the safety debate surrounding CSPC, infant loungers, and safety standards.

The controversy surrounding these products gained momentum following investigation earlier this year, linking at least 25 deaths to baby loungers since 2015.

This investigative report relied on federal databases, autopsy reports, lawsuits, and other records. In response to the investigation, two lawmakers urged the CPSC to take decisive action and eliminate pillow-like loungers from the market.

The CPSC's count of 79 deaths covers a longer time frame and includes a broader range of infant support cushions than NBC News' investigation did.

Read Also: North Carolina High School Horror: 14-Year-Old Charged With Murder After Stabbing His Two Classmates

Implications for the Infant Lounger Industry

Should the proposed federal safety requirements be adopted, their impact will not be limited to infant loungers alone.

The regulations would extend to encompass other infant support products, including crib pillows, head positioners, and cushions designed for "tummy time."

The CPSC's decision follows a recent investigation that uncovered at least 25 deaths linked to baby loungers since 2015. This revelation prompted lawmakers to advocate for the removal of these pillow-like products from the market.

The proposed rule will undergo a public comment period before finalization, allowing concerned individuals and industry stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing discourse about CSPC, infant loungers, redesign, baby product deaths, and safety standards.

With the CPSC's assertive move towards establishing safety standards, the infant lounger industry finds itself at a crucial juncture.

The redesign requirements, if implemented, could reshape the landscape of baby products, ensuring a heightened focus on CSPC, infant loungers, redesign, baby product deaths, and safety standards.

The 79 deaths linked to infant loungers between 2010 and 2022 serve as a somber backdrop to this regulatory push, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive reassessment of the safety measures surrounding these popular items.

As the industry navigates through these unprecedented changes, the public's eyes remain keenly focused on CSPC, infant loungers, redesign, baby product deaths, and safety standards, as they await further updates and regulatory developments.

This unfolding story not only impacts the manufacturers but also puts consumers on high alert, urging them to reconsider the safety of commonly used infant products.

As the CPSC works towards finalizing these safety standards, the stakes are high, and the outcome will significantly shape the future of infant loungers and related products in the market.

Related Article: NYC High School Faces Massive Student Protest After Pro-Israel Post Online
Photo: (Photo : Photo by Vladyslav Lytvyshchenko on Unsplash)

In a significant development following the January 6 Capitol riot, Maryann Mooney-Rondon and her son, Rafael Rondon, have been sentenced for their involvement in the theft of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's laptop. This case gained notable attention after online sleuths, dubbed "Sedition Hunters," played a crucial role in identifying the pair, leading to their arrest in October 2021.

The Rondons were initially misidentified by the FBI, leading to a mistaken raid on another Trump supporter's home in Alaska. However, online investigators, who had previously nicknamed the duo "AirheadLady" and "AirheadBoy" for their appearance in stolen emergency escape hoods, successfully identified them. This identification was part of the broader efforts by Sedition Hunters, who have aided in hundreds of cases against Capitol rioters.

Sentencing and Remarks by Judge Jia Cobb

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb sentenced Rafael Rondon to 18 months of home incarceration and his mother, Maryann, to 12 months. Describing the sentence as "jail but at home," Judge Cobb emphasized that the defendants would be confined to their home 24/7, followed by five years of probation. She noted the "juvenile" nature of their actions but stopped short of labeling them as criminal masterminds.

Previous Legal Troubles and Admissions

Rafael Rondon had already faced legal consequences, having been sentenced to 14 months for possession of an unregistered firearm. He admitted to assisting in the attempted theft of Pelosi's laptop and expressed regret over his actions. His mother, owner of a medical billing company, confessed to aiding a man in the laptop theft by providing gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.

Ahead of her sentencing, Mooney-Rondon expressed remorse, acknowledging her failure as an adult in the situation and the embarrassment it brought upon her family. However, she also suggested a broader scheme behind the laptop theft, indicating fear and confusion during the events.

The government had initially sought longer prison sentences for both Rondons. The identification of the pair by online sleuths, using facial recognition and social media analysis, was a pivotal moment in the case. This identification came after the FBI's misstep in raiding Marilyn Hueper's home in Alaska, a woman who was present at the Capitol grounds but not involved in the riot.

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Broader Implications and Ongoing Investigations

The sentencing of the Rondons marks another chapter in the ongoing investigations and legal proceedings following the January 6 Capitol riot. It highlights the complex interplay of law enforcement, online investigation, and the broader societal implications of the events that unfolded on that day. As the justice system continues to process these cases, the role of citizens and technology in aiding law enforcement comes into sharper focus, demonstrating the evolving nature of criminal investigations in the digital age.

The case also sheds light on the challenges faced by law enforcement in accurately identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in large-scale events like the Capitol riot. The initial misidentification and subsequent correction by online sleuths underscore the potential for both error and correction in the digital era. This incident serves as a reminder of the power of collective online efforts in aiding law enforcement while also highlighting the need for careful and accurate investigative work.

The Rondons' case is a microcosm of the larger issues at play in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. It speaks to the broader themes of accountability, the role of technology in justice, and the ongoing efforts to understand and address the events of January 6.

As more cases like this come to light, they continue to add to the complex tapestry of this pivotal moment in American history, offering insights into the dynamics of protest, political unrest, and the pursuit of justice in the modern age.

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Photo: (Photo : by Tito Texidor III on Unsplash)

In a heartbreaking incident in Westminster, California, a mother has been charged with the murder of her 9-year-old daughter. Khadiyjah Aliyyah Pendergraph, 32, faces a felony murder charge following the discovery of her daughter's body, which was found in a state of decomposition in their apartment's bathtub.

The tragic event unfolded when the Westminster Police Department responded to a welfare check at the residence. Upon arrival, officers were confronted with the grim scene of the young girl's body, showing signs of trauma. The girl, Victoria, who was wheelchair-bound and non-verbal, was allegedly drowned by her mother and left in the bathtub for several days.

Father's Concern Leads to Welfare Check

The investigation took a turn when the girl's father, concerned about his daughter's well-being, contacted the police. He had been unable to get in touch with his daughter or ex-wife and was concerned about worrying messages from Pendergraph. His fears were realized when the police discovered the horrifying scene.

Pendergraph was apprehended in a grocery store parking lot in Aliso Viejo on the same day. The Orange County District Attorney's Office has since charged her with one count of murder. In a statement, the District Attorney expressed profound sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the vulnerability of the victim, who was unable to defend herself or call for help.

Further complicating the case, Pendergraph reportedly attempted suicide after her daughter's death. This detail adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, as it may provide insight into her mental state during and after the alleged crime.

This incident has shaken the community of Westminster and brought attention to the difficulties faced by families with disabled members. The case also raises questions about mental health support and crisis intervention.

The Orange County District Attorney is in charge of the prosecution, which has taken a firm stance in the case. District Attorney Todd Spitzer's statement reflects the community's shock and grief, condemning the act as a heartbreaking betrayal of a mother's duty to protect her child.

As the case moves forward, Pendergraph faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 years to life if convicted. The legal proceedings are expected to delve into the circumstances leading up to the tragic event, including Pendergraph's mental health and family dynamics.

The death of Victoria has left a community in mourning, a father bereft of his child, and a nation grappling with the complexities of mental health and the protection of the most vulnerable. This case serves as a somber reminder of the need for vigilance and support for those who may be struggling in silence.

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The Role of Law Enforcement and Social Services

The involvement of law enforcement in this case underscores the critical role they play in responding to domestic crises. The prompt action of the police in conducting the welfare check was crucial in uncovering the tragic circumstances. This incident also highlights the importance of social services in providing support and intervention to families in distress, particularly those with disabled members.

The case has sparked a public outcry and a call for increased awareness about the challenges faced by parents of disabled children. Advocacy groups have emphasized the need for better support systems and resources to prevent such tragedies. The public's response also reflects a growing concern about mental health issues and the need for more accessible and effective mental health care services.

As the community grapples with this tragedy, efforts are being made to remember and honor the life of young Victoria. Her untimely death has become a symbol of the vulnerabilities faced by disabled individuals and the dire consequences of failing to provide adequate support and protection.

As the legal process unfolds, many are hoping for justice for Victoria and a deeper understanding of the factors that led to this tragedy. The case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities of parenthood and the need for a compassionate and supportive community for all of its members, especially the most vulnerable.

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Once you have made a will, there is an entire process to validate it in order to ensure the efficient distribution of your assets. Known as probate, it is a very common legal procedure, but you might not be able to handle it without the help of a probate lawyer. They are experienced professionals who can make it easier for you and the family. In this guide, you can understand more about the lawyers and what they do.

A special type of lawyer, the probate lawyer, will help the beneficiaries of an estate and the executor of the estate to handle your probate process. The lawyer could just serve as an advisor, or they could choose to take a hands-on method to handle the distribution of assets as well as the inheritances.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is a big difference between a probate lawyer as well as an estate planning attorney. An expert Florida probate attorney states, "While they both work in the field of estate law, the probate lawyer will work with the family and help settle the estate after the death of a loved one. On the other hand, the estate planning professional will work with the clients to make sure they understand and plan the estate."

What are the duties of a probate lawyer?

The probate lawyer's main job is to assist families in settling the estate of their loved ones who have died. It is done in multiple ways. Some of the common acts a lawyer could perform include:

Creating and identifying the inventory of all the estate assets

Gathering the life insurance policy

Handling the finances

Transfer the assets to the right parties

Offers legal advice

Helps locate the deceased's will

Handle property appraisals

Pay all the outstanding debts

File the official court papers

Pay income tax

Why should you hire a probate attorney?

The probate process can be confusing, and it is not easy for a layman to understand. This is where probate attorneys can make all the difference. They will offer guidance and support to help you understand complicated tasks and will be happy to guide you throughout. If you have an experienced attorney, you will enjoy a less stressful and more efficient probate process. It is possible that any attorney might be practicing probate law, but one without experience in estate law will take time, cause delays, and could also charge a higher fee.

What will it cost?

In most cases, the probate lawyer will either charge a flat fee or an hourly fee. However, some also charge a percentage of the estate value. It is best to check with a lawyer before you decide to work with one. The amount you pay will also depend on the place of your estate, the experience of your lawyer, the complexity of the case, and how long the probate process will take. The heirs, executors of the estate, or the beneficiaries will not pay for the lawyer, but the deceased's estate will pay for it.

When should you hire a probate attorney?

It helps to remember that everyone who has the task of settling the estate will not need to hire and pay for a probate lawyer. This is a personal decision and will vary on the needs of the estate. If you want to decide whether you should hire a probate lawyer, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is it possible to distribute the estate without a probate?

Are there any probate shortcuts offered by your state?

Have you ever settled the estate in the past?

Do your family members get along with one another?

Do you have enough funds to pay off the debts?

Does this estate have common assets?

Have you checked the probate process of your state, and is it simple?

If your answer to all these questions is a no, then you should consider working with a probate lawyer who can help you with the handling of the estate.

While an attorney will not be able to determine how long the probate process will take, it also depends on how easy it is to value the assets and get in touch with the beneficiaries. There are times when unanticipated delays or disputes between the beneficiaries could delay the process, and it could all end up in litigation. That said, if the deceased has died without a will, then dividing the assets as per the state law could also upset many family members, and an attorney will be able to provide support here.

Lastly, whether there is a will or not, and even if the estate is not complex, it will make sense to hire a probate attorney to help through the process and ensure that the state law and estate plan are followed properly.
Even over a year later, tears well up in his eyes when he talks about it. The wave of emotion, as he describes it, is understandable given that the moment was 15 years in the making. Even last summer when I took my son and his friend out there and told them the story; it still gave me chills to think about it, and just a huge sense of accomplishment.

In June 2021, Chad Mellison, a fish and wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Reno, Nevada, was flyfishing the North Fork of the Humboldt River in northeastern Nevada. Mellison was in the area for field work and had never fished this section of the river before and decided to make a few casts after completing his field work and before heading home.

Little did he know that casting his line in that day would lead to one of the most meaningful moments of his career.

On my first cast into the pool the fish took my fly! It was totally meant to happen. It was perfect, said Mellison when describing the moment. After releasing the fish unharmed back in the water, he knew the day wasnt going to get any better, so he put his fly rod away, ate breakfast and left for home.

Mellison had just caught a Lahontan cutthroat trout in a river where as recently as 2011 the fish did not exist.

On the way home I thought about all of the people who contributed to making this moment possible and contacted them as soon as I could to share the good news, he said.

Mellisons emotional day was only possible because of the tenacity of several dedicated agencies and individuals to return the fish to the river over the course of many, many years.

History of Lahontan cutthroat trout and the North Fork of the Humboldt River

Lahontan cutthroat trout are Nevadas state fish and the largest inland cutthroat trout in the country. They are also protected under the Endangered Species Act as threatened but can be fished for recreational purposes in accordance with state law.

These top predators once swam in 12 lake systems and more than 7,000 miles of stream in the Lahontan Basin, which extends from the northeast corner of Nevada to Californias central Sierra Nevada mountains. Today Lahontan cutthroat trout occupy just about 10 percent of their historical habitat, which has been altered or lost to water diversions, overgrazing, and competition from non-native fish like rainbow, brook or brown trout.

Lahontan cutthroat trout need the same habitat as any other trout; cold, clean and complex connected waterways to support their entire life cycle.

Faith Machuca, the Services Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery ecologist, remembers hearing this from her supervisor her first day on the job. Machuca, who wears her awe of and dedication to saving this fish on her sleeve, will happily talk about Lahontan cutthroat trout biology and the conservation efforts needed to recover them for hours.

They need cold enough water to be able to persist since theyre cold-water fish, Machuca. And not polluted water, and habitat connectivity is really, really important.

Having enough connected streams and rivers within a system allows the native trout to fully express the variety of their life cycle in a natural way by being able to move around a system.

According to Machuca, a lot of Lahontan cutthroat trout populations are now sequestered to high mountain streams across Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra, and they cant move around the entirety of their historical habitat the way they used to.

Youll have resident populations in certain sections of the water year-round, said Machuca. But during really good water years, if theres good, interconnected water, theyll be able to move to better habitat with changing conditions as the year goes on [and conditions change]. Thats kind of the point of the connected water; when parts of the system dry up, theyre able to move to other parts of the system.

The North Fork of the Humboldt River and its tributaries once provided this variety of habitat for the Lahontan cutthroat trout there.

The headwaters of the North Fork of the Humboldt River are in the Independence Mountains of northeastern Nevada within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. From there it flows generally in a southerly direction for more than 95 miles before joining the main branch of the Humboldt River, 15 miles northeast of Elko.

In the late 1980s and early 90s a gold mine operated in the North Forks headwaters. The mine eventually shut down operations, leaving behind several pit lakes. During open-pit surface mining operations, large holes, often hundreds of feet deep and wide, are dug to extract ore body. Groundwater often flows into these pits, which is pumped out during operations. When a mining operation is finished, the pumping stops, and pit lakes form.

Because of the mining operations in the area, state and federal biologists routinely monitored water quality, ground water levels, Lahontan cutthroat population numbers, and even collected data on what insects inhabited the area. In the late 90s through the early 2000s, the North Fork population of Lahontan cutthroat trout, which mostly occupied the upper reaches of the river, was estimated to be the biggest stream population in its range, averaging about 4,000 fish, according to a University of Nevada Reno study.

Then something mysterious, yet ultimately detrimental to the thriving population, happened.

In 2006 another mining company was conducting exploratory drilling in the area in search of gold. Following one such exploration, a nearby pit lake left behind by the previous mining operation drained rapidly. After much investigation by the Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Environmental Protection and the mining company, the group surmised that the drilling had connected the local aquifer to another further downstream; essentially acting as a straw between the two.

Due to the drainage event, the groundwater [level] dropped 226 feet below ground, said Mellison. This is significant because it was this groundwater that was pumping out of the springs that were supplying water to the North Fork. The springs supplying water ceased, and the headwaters dried up.

As the headwaters of the North Fork began to dry up, the Lahontan cutthroat trout there were forced further and further downriver. There they met non-native brook and rainbow trout.

Brook trout outcompete with the Lahontan cutthroat for food and territory, and even eat them. Rainbow trout hybridize with the native cutthroat trout, slowly watering down the genetic integrity of the species.

By 2011, NDOW surveys indicated that the native fish no longer survived in the North Fork of the Humboldt River.

One step at a time

Eventually the exploratory drilling hole was plugged and the aquifer that supplies the North Fork began to fill, and so too did the river. But before Lahontan cutthroat trout could be reintroduced, partners needed to address the ongoing threat of competition and predation by the non-native brook trout.

First, in 2013 the mining company funded and installed a fish barrier on the river within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest to prevent brook trout from traveling further upriver.

A year later, NDOW began the daunting task of removing any remaining brook trout above the fish barrier by treating the river with rotenone, a commonly used, naturally derived compound to remove unwanted fish species to prevent competition for resources with Lahontan cutthroat trout.

The system is so large and complex, mechanical removal (removing fish by hand) is ineffective. I compare it to removing potato bugs by hand in a potato field, said Jacob Stoller, a NDOW fisheries biologist. Youre only capturing like 40-50% of the fish in that area and you cant effectively collapse the [brook trout] population.

Nearly 80 people from NDOW and partner agencies worked for two years to remove brook trout on 44 miles of water ways including the North Fork main stem, five tributaries, and connected water diversions all fed by multiple spring sources.

Once the removal efforts were complete, NDOW began returning Lahontan cutthroat trout to the North Fork using fish from other populations in the watershed. Between 2015 and 2018 about 400 cutthroat were put into the river above the fish barrier.

While this was going on, a nearby landowner entered into a Safe Harbor Agreement with the Service and NDOW, agreeing to take part in Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery efforts on their land; in this case, removal of non-native trout to eliminate the threat and allow the native cutthroat to return.

A Safe Harbor Agreement is a voluntary agreement between the Service and private landowners who take action to contribute to the recovery of a federally protected species on their land. In exchange for actively taking part in the recovery of a species, the landowner receives formal assurance that the Service will not require additional or different management activities unless the landowner agrees.

Stoller attributes the ability to work with the landowner to years of communication between his agency and others within the local community. Without those relationships, the Safe Harbor Agreement might not have been possible.

Just as things were looking up, a wildfire threatened the river, the fish and the years of hard work partners had put in to restore the habitat and recover the fish.

In August 2018 the South Sugarloaf Fire erupted from a lightning strike southwest of Owyhee in Elko County and eventually spread east into the North Fork watershed. In all, the fire burned more than 230,000 acres of federal, Tribal and private land.

Yet, it wasnt a detrimental setback due to work by the U.S. Forest Service to restore and improve habitat.

You never know with fire; sometimes it can mean [a species] extirpation, said Mellison. Due to good watershed management by the Forest Service, the habitat was in really good shape and able to recover quickly from the fire.

Biologists are hopeful about the future of the North Fork Lahontan cutthroat trout population, and are awaiting eDNA (environmental DNA) results to confirm that brook trout have been eradicated from the river.

A template for recovery

While Mellisons banner day in June 2021 represents the results of years of hard work by many, Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery partners  a team of federal, state, Tribal and NGO experts and leadershiprecognize that more collaborative efforts like this are needed to save Lahontan cutthroat trout across Nevada, California and Oregon.

To operationalize and focus those efforts, the team developed The 2019 Updated Goals and Objectives -or UGOsfor recovery to guide conservation using current scientific information about the species biology, habitat needs and threats.

The UGOs provide a template for recovery, yet they are not prescriptive because habitat conditions, threats and other factors vary across the Lahontan cutthroat trout range.

In 2023 the Service completed a Status Review of Lahontan cutthroat trout which found that the species continues to decline, and habitat continues to be lost across its range. On the upside, the review also revealed that several populations could be improved in the near term through low-to-moderate level of effort conservation projects, and that knowledge is helping to refine conservation planning for priority populations and habitat.

We already have the tools needed to recover Lahontan cutthroat trout over the next 5-10 years in existing, priority populations that have a high likelihood of remaining resilient after management actions like sustainable livestock practices or removal of non-native [fish] species are established, said Machuca.

Bringing Lahontan cutthroat trout back from the brink will take concerted, collaborative efforts, and time and patience, agree Machuca and Mellison.

These things that we do out there dont always happen overnight. It takes patience, and a good team to navigate the roadblocks, said Mellison. Youve got to have tenacity in this job because youre going to run into brick walls, and youve got to figure out how to get around them.

Machuca is optimistic that the tenacity of Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery partners will one day restore the native population across its range for all future generations to appreciate as much as she does.

People are traveling from far away to fish for Lahontan cutthroat trout because they are a really beautiful and unique fish thats worth traveling here for, said Machuca. Chad caught an insanely cool fish in the North Fork of the Humboldt River after this project. And theres really cool populations elsewhere that you can angle for. I really want the world to see the awesomeness of this fish and that it exists [in rivers and streams] throughout Northern Nevada and parts of California and Oregon.
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Chapter 1 of my book (available for free online), Inspired!: 198 Supposed Biblical Contradictions Resolved.

*****

A common tactic of biblical skeptics is to question the veracity and historical trustworthiness of the New Testament based on alleged numerous contradictions therein. But most of these so-called problem passages can easily be shown to be noncontradictory and in fact, complementary. This is what might be described as the 1001 Bible contradictions ploy.

Anyone can go look up the definition of logical contradiction. The great Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) defined a contradiction as two statements that cannot both be true and cannot both be false. But how do anti-theist atheists habitually define a biblical contradiction? It seems that they regard this as any slightest shade of difference, or one passage not mentioning something or adding another detail. They are predisposed to see biblical conflicts and clashes and contradictions and so they see them.

In the desperation to find contradictions, any instance of a different report (not absolutely identical in all respects) is regarded as contradictory, when in fact this is not so at all, and obviously so, for anyone who will take a little time to reflect upon it. The following is an illustrative example of the sorts of things that atheists claim are contradictory:

Joe says he saw Bill walk up to the Dairy Queen and buy an ice cream at 3:10 PM on a hot Saturday afternoon. Alice says she saw Ed walk up to the Dairy Queen and buy an ice cream at 4:10 PM. John says he saw Kathy walk up to the Dairy Queen and buy an ice cream at 4:30 PM. Sally says she saw Bill walk up to the Dairy Queen and buy an ice cream at about 3:15 PM, Ed buy an ice cream there at about 4:20 PM, and Kathy buy an ice cream there at about 4:45 PM.

Now, according to these conflicting and contradictory reports, how many people (at least) bought an ice cream at the Dairy Queen between 3:10 and about 4:45 PM on a hot Saturday afternoon? Was it 1, 2, 3, or 6? Actually, its none of the above, because (in all likelihood) many more people went there during that time to buy ice cream. They just werent all recorded. But skeptical hyper-critics look at the above data (lets say they represent the four Gospels) and see a host of contradictions:

Joe contradicts Alice as to who visited there in an hours time. Joe contradicts John as to who visited there in an hour and 20 minutes time. Alice contradicts John as to who visited there in 20 minutes time. Joe says someone visited at 3:10, but Alice claims it was at 4:10, and John says it was at 4:30. Joe, Alice, and John cant even agree on who visited the Dairy Queen in a lousy span of only 80 minutes! They are obviously completely untrustworthy! Probably two or more of them are lying. To top it all off, we have the utter nonsense of Sally, whose time for Bills arrival contradicts Joes report by 5 minutes! Sallys time for Eds arrival contradicts Alices report by 10 minutes!! Sallys time for Kathys arrival contradicts Johns report by 15 minutes!!!

And so on and so forth. This is the sort of incoherent reasoning which we get from so many skeptics of the Bible, who pride themselves on their reasoning abilities and logical acumen, over against us allegedly gullible, irrational orthodox Christians, who accept biblical inspiration. Many examples of this sort of nonsense can be easily located in the usual laundry lists of biblical contradictions which frequently appear in skeptical and atheist literature, often exhibiting the most elementary errors of fact or logic.

I shall now provide three brief examples of asserted contradictions that some atheists make, that are not contradictions at all:

Did the announcement of the special birth of Jesus come before his conception (Luke 1:26-31) or after (Matt.1:18-21)? Luke details the Annunciation, which was Gods proposition to Mary, which she accepted (being willing to bear God in the flesh). Matthew gives an account from the perspective of Joseph. An angel tells him, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (1:20). I dont see how two announcements about the same event, given to the two people involved, is any sort of contradiction. Its no more contradictory than a doctor informing a woman that she is pregnant, and the woman informing her husband that she is pregnant. Its simply two announcements from two people to two people about the same thing. No one would say that both are the same (one) announcement. Did John the Baptist know of Jesus before he baptized him (Matt.3:11-13; John 1:28-29) or know nothing of Jesus at all (Matt.11:1-3)? Matthew 11:1-3 doesnt say he knew nothing of him at all. John, while being persecuted in prison, simply wondered (it could have been for only ten minutes, for all we know) if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and sent a message to Jesus through his disciples, to ask Jesus about that (which is quite different from knowing nothing . . . at all about Jesus). It was merely a temporary lack of faith, in his suffering (probably without food or sleep). It shows that John was a human being, like all of us, and like all the saints are. The Bible is realistic about human nature, and the faults and imperfections and weaknesses even of great and saintly persons. Did Jesus see the Spirit descending at his baptism (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10) or did John the Baptist (John1:32)? They both saw the same thing. So what? If my wife and I both see a meteor lighting up the night sky, thats somehow a contradiction?! Remember, thats what all of these are supposed to be, according to our never-ending critics.

Fair-minded and open-minded folks should be able to easily see through the shallowness of such absurdly supposed proofs. The skeptical underlying assumptions are almost always assumed as axioms (reasons for this acceptance are deemed unnecessary), and the Christian assumptions are almost always frowned upon as irrational, impossible, etc.

We often hear, for example, the weak objection that Johns Gospel excludes a lot of the important events in Jesus life, which are recorded in the synoptic Gospels. But it obviously had a different purpose (it was more theological in nature, rather than purely narrative). In the world of biblical hyper-criticism, however, facts such as those are of no consequence. The usual predisposition is that contradictions are involved, per the above shoddy reasoning.

Oftentimes, falsely perceived contradictions in Holy Scripture involve different genres in the Bible, various meanings of particular words or ideas in widely divergent contexts, translation matters, and interpretational particulars: frequently having to do with the very foreign (to our modern western sensibilities) ancient Hebrew culture and modes of thinking I know these things firsthand, because I myself have offered  through the years and in this book  what I think are good resolutions or solutions to hundreds of proposed biblical contradictions.

Other times, a purported contradiction may simply be a matter of manuscript errors that crept in through the years. Of course, that sort of error is only in transmission, and is not part of the original text, so it wouldnt cast doubt on the non-contradictory nature of the original transcripts of the Bible (if indeed we can plausibly speculate that it was merely an innocent copyists error).

Sometimes, contradictions are alleged based on various arguments from plausibility. A common atheist tactic in discussions on biblical texts is to claim that all (or nearly all) Christian explanations are implausible or special pleading and suchlike. They very often assume what they need to prove, in thinking that all these texts are self-evident before we even get to closely examining them in context, checking the Greek and relevant cross-references, etc. But that issue is a very complex one. What different people find plausible or implausible depends on many factors, including various premises that each hold.

Its just as wrong and illogical for the atheist to use implausible as the knee-jerk reaction to everything a Christian argues about texts, as it is for the Christian to throw out truly implausible or unlikely replies. Both things are extremes. Neither side can simply blurt out implausible! or eisegesis! without getting down to brass tacks and actually grappling with the text and its interpretation in a serious way. We cant  on either side  simply do a meta-analysis and speak about replies rather than directly engage them. To prove that any explanation is implausible requires more than merely asserting that is is. Bald assertion is not argument. Its proclamation.

Ive been saying for years that atheists and other biblical skeptics approach the Bible like a butcher approaches a hog. Most  especially atheists, and particularly former Christian atheists  couldnt care less about actually resolving these alleged Bible difficulties, or giving the Bible a fair shake. The anti-theist sub-group among atheists only wants to tear Holy Scripture and Christianity down. It has little or no interest in defenses of an infallible, inspired Bible or discussions with those who submit them.

I have much firsthand experience of these tendencies, having engaged in several thousand attempted dialogues in atheist online forums (several of the most prominent and popular online), and sometimes in atheist groups in person.

Biblical skeptics, who see contradictions everywhere, and who never seem to have met a proposed one that they didnt like, are at the same time usually 1) abominably ignorant of the Bibles contents and interpretation, and 2) seemingly unfamiliar with classical logic or, say, a textbook of logic ( and in case anyone is wondering, I did take course on logic in college).

Few things bolster my Christian faith more than dealing with these alleged biblical contradictions: because the arguments are almost always so shallow and even laughable, that we see the Christian faith as far more rational and sensible. Observing (while I am making my own arguments) the Bible being able to withstand all attacks is incredibly, joyfully faith-boosting. Its the unique blessing we apologists receive for our efforts.

Because Bible skeptics have difficulty in proving actual biblical contradictions (by the dictionary definition of the word), what they do is collect a multitude of pseudo-contradictions which are not logical contradictions at all, and then rant and carry on that there are just so many!!! What they neglect to see is that a pack of a hundred lies is no more impressive or compelling than one lie. A falsehood is a falsehood. If a hundred proposed biblical contradictions are all refuted and shown to not be so, then the ones who assert them have not gained any ground at all. They havent proven their case one iota, until they prove real contradiction.

We Christians (and apologist types like myself) are obviously defending the Bible and Christianity and have our bias, just as the Bible skeptic also is biased in the other direction. But we need not necessarily assume anything (by way of theology) in order to demonstrate that an alleged biblical contradiction is not present. Thats simply a matter of classical logic and reason.

One need not even believe in biblical notion X in order to argue and assert that opponent of the Bible A has failed to establish internal inconsistencies and contradictions in the biblical account involving biblical notion X. One simply has to show how they have not proven that a contradiction is present in a given biblical text. Ive done this myself innumerable times through the years.

We are applying the accepted secular definition of contradiction: which is part of logic. Too many atheists want to act as if the definition of contradiction is some mysterious, controversial thing, that Christians spend hours and hours haggling over. Its not. Its very straightforward and its not rocket science.

If something isnt contradictory, its not a Bible problem in the first place. But atheists have at their disposal catalogues of hundreds of Bible problems  so that they can pretend as if they have an impressive, insurmountable overall case. This has been standard, stock, playbook atheist and Bible skeptic tactics for hundreds of years. They keep doing it because it works for those who are unfamiliar with critical thinking and logic (and the Bible).

Atheists and other biblical skeptics can reel off 179 alleged / claimed contradictions (as all Bible skeptics love to do: the mere appearance of strength). But this proves absolutely nothing because any chain is only as good as the individual links. Each one has to be proven: not merely asserted, as if they are self-evidently some kind of insuperable difficulty. One hundred bad, fallacious arguments prove exactly nothing (except that the one proposing them is a lousy arguer and very poor at proving his or her opinions).

One online atheist, to whom I have offered rebuttals many times, started out one of his articles by writing, How can Christians maintain their belief when the Bible is full of contradictions? Imagine if I said that about atheism?: How can atheists maintain their belief when atheism is full of self-contradictions? I do actually believe that, and think I have demonstrated it many times, but simply saying it [to an atheist] is no argument in and of itself. It has to be proven. The proofs in the pudding. Any serious argument will be able to be defended against criticism.

Closely related to this issue of alleged biblical contradictions is the matter of Bible difficulties. We should actually fully expect many Bible difficulties to arise from the study of the Bible, for the following reasons, as a bare minimum:

The Bible is a very lengthy, multi-faceted book by many authors, from long ago, with many literary genres (and in three languages), and cultural assumptions that are foreign to us. All complex documents have to be interpreted. When human beings start reading them, they start to disagree, so that there needs to be some sort of authoritative guide. In law, that is the Supreme Court of any given jurisdiction. The U.S. Constitution might be regarded as true and wonderful and sufficient, etc. But the fact remains that this abstract belief only lasts undisturbed as long as the first instance of case law in which two parties claim divergent interpretations of the Constitution. The Bible itself asserts that authoritative interpretation is needed to fully, properly understand its teachings:

Nehemiah 8:1-2, 7-8 And all the people gathered . . . and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, . . . the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

Mark 4:33-34 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Moses was told to teach the Hebrews the statutes and the decisions, not just read them to the people (Exod. 18:20). The Levitical priests interpreted the biblical injunctions (Deut. 17:11). Ezra, a priest and a scribe, taught the Jewish Law to Israel, and his authority was binding (Ezra 7:6, 10, 25-26).

The Bible purports to be revelation from an infinitely intelligent God. Thus (even though God simplifies it as much as possible), for us to think that it is an easy thing to immediately grasp and figure out, and would not have any number of difficulties for mere human beings to work through, is naive. The Bible itself teaches that authoritative teachers are necessary to properly understand it. All grand theories have components (anomalies / difficulties) that need to be worked out and explained. For example, scientific theories do not purport to perfectly explain everything. They often have large mysterious areas that have to be resolved.

Think of, for example, the missing links in evolution. That didnt stop people from believing in it. Folks believed in gradual Darwinian evolution even though prominent paleontologist and philosopher of science Stephen Jay Gould famously noted that gradualism was never read from the rocks. Even Einsteins theories werent totally confirmed by scientific experiment at first (later they were). That a book like the Bible would have difficulties to work through should be perfectly obvious and unsurprising to all.

Christianity is not a simpletons religion. It can be grasped in its basics by the simple and less educated; the masses, but it is very deep the more it is studied and understood. Thus, we would expect the Bible not to be altogether simple. It has complexities, but we can better understand them through human study, just like anything else.

Having written this initial outline and description of my fundamental premises and presuppositions, and some of the common issues involved, I shall now proceed to an examination of 198 instances of alleged biblical contradictions.

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Photo Credit: Refused (7-30-23) [Deviant Art / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 DEED; Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported]

Summary: Portion of Dave Armstrongs book, Inspired!: in which he examines 198 examples of alleged biblical contradictions & disproves all of these patently false claims.
Absa Bank Ghana LTD has announced the appointment of Mr Adolph Kpegah as the Interim Managing Director. Mr Kpegah will hold this interim role until the process and approval of a substantive Managing Director is completed.



On 20 September 2023, the bank announced the resignation of its Managing Director, Mrs Abena Osei-Poku to pursue a career opportunity outside of Absa Group.



Mr Kpegah, has been the Chief Risk Officer of the bank from November 2018 having joined the bank in 2008 with a diversity of experience in business development, relationship management and credit risk management within the Consumer Banking, Business Banking, Treasury and Corporate & Investment Banking segments.



Mr Kpegah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with Statistics from the University of Ghana and an MSc. in Business Administration (Finance) from the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA). He also has a certificate in Advance Commercial Lending from the IFS School of Finance, London.



The board is fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition to steer Absa Bank Ghana over the next strategic horizon.













Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Gbetsile Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH200,000 to Assistant Superintendent of Police, Nasiru Amadu and No. 51836 G/CPL, Emmanuel Mintah, with three sureties for unlawful possession of narcotic drugs, purportedly for trafficking.



The case has been adjourned to December 20, 2023, for them to come back to court. The court, presided over by Mrs. Eleanor Kakra Barnes Botchway, said their plea for bail was considered because they were police officers who are well-known in the community.



Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ernest Kuofie said the complainants were police officers in the Afienya District. The accused, Amadu, 48 years old, is currently the second in command at Sakumono District Police Headquarters with Mintah.



He said Mintah, aged 43, was working under him at the station as a service driver on November 19. The complainant was performing snap check duty when they picked up intelligence that a Nissan Navara vehicle with registration number GP 727 was loaded with narcotic drugs from Ho heading towards Accra.



ASP Kuofie said that at about 7:15pm the same day, the accused persons pulled up at the snap checkpoint where they were intercepted.



A search conducted in the vehicle revealed eight sacks containing 541 compressed parcels of substances believed to be narcotic drugs.



The prosecution said the investigation revealed that Mintah had a family relation named Oluman, a resident of Ashaiman Tulaku, who traded in narcotics.



The prosecution said that on November 19, Mintah was contacted by the said Oluman to assist him in transporting a quantity of Indian hemp from Peki Tsibu in the Volta Region to Tulaku for a fee.



Mintah then contacted Amadu about the deal, and he also contacted the said Oluman, to agree on the terms of engagement.



He said upon striking a deal with Oluman, the accused persons drove vehicle No. GP 727 from Sakumono to a forest around Peki Tsibu, where they received the exhibits from a waiting Benz bus.



The prosecution said it was in the course of transporting the illicit drugs that police picked up intelligence and arrested them.



It was detected that the incident on November 19, 2023, marked the second time the accused persons were engaged in such an illegal act.



The exhibits have been examined by the forensic crime laboratory, which is yet to submit a test report.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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The 2023 Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) has successfully placed 477,772 students into senior high, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools.



The school selection management system which went live yesterday in the morning received 598,839 results from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), out of which 585,797 candidates qualified to be placed.



Those placed automatically in one of their choices represent 81.56 per cent of the qualified candidates.



A statement issued by the Ghana Education Service (GES) said those placed automatically marked a significant improvement compared to last year's, with over 100,000 more students placed.



The statement, however, noted that 108,025, representing 18.44 per cent of qualified candidates could not be matched with any of their choices.



GES further explained that heads of institutions would begin registration and orientation from Monday, December 4, this year.



All such students are, therefore, to do self-placement to select from available schools, it added.



The GES urged those who had been placed to access the placement platform by obtaining a placement pin code from an approved vendor and logging on to the site www.cssps.gov.gh for more details.



The statement said if a student was not matched with any of the choices from the automatic placement system, they could be redirected to the Self-Placement Portal.



From the portal, the students are to provide details, including the region of school of choice, residential preference, the school and the programme of choice.



The GES explained that schools selected on the self-placement portal could be changed as many times as the candidate wished until they enrolled in a school.



Assurance



The GES assured students, especially those who could not be matched with their choices during the automatic placement, parents and the general public that all schools with vacancies had been uploaded on the portal for students to select from during self-placement without hitches.



It explained that apart from the National Solution Centre at the GNAT Hall, Adabraka and the Regional Solution Centres at the various Regional Education Offices, the public could also call the helpline, 0308258001 for all concerns.



Dont pay money



The GES added that the computerised school placement was merit-based and, therefore, advised parents not to pay money to unscrupulous persons who promised to change their schools.



Statistics



A total of 600,900 candidates, made up of 300,404 males and 300,496 females from 18,993 participating schools, entered for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for School Candidates.



The figure includes 53 candidates with visual impairment, 366 with hearing impairment and 54 candidates with other special educational needs.



Out of the number, 3,366 candidates were absent for the examination which was conducted at 2,137 centres across the country.



The BECE for Private Candidates recorded 1,839 candidates.



This was made up of 942 males and 897 females.



Fifteen centres, mostly in the regional capitals, were used for the examination.



Out of the number of candidates who entered for the examination, 61 were absent.

Source: graphiconline









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Logistical challenges being encountered at the Passport Office have made it impossible to meet the growing demands of clients.



As a result, the office is only able to issue 3,000 passports daily out of the 5,000 clients who apply for the document, leaving a backlog of 2,000 applications each day, a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, has said.



He said although the staff worked about 10 hours each day, they were unable to clear the backlog because they did not have the needed resources to work efficiently and all that creates room for corruption.



We are not able to take the biometric data as people may expect because we dont have enough computers to do the capturing and we are not able to print booklets because we dont have enough printers to meet the demand, the deputy minister added.



Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong, who disclosed this at a press conference to update the media on passports and consular services in Accra yesterday, said coupled with the increasing number of applicants, the office was unable to process applications in a timely manner.



Subsidies



The deputy minister attributed the situation to the cost of passports which he said was highly subsidised by the government, making it the cheapest to acquire in West Africa.



He said the resources that should have been channelled into purchasing equipment to facilitate timely delivery of services had been put into subsidies, leaving the office with limited resources to work with despite growing demands.



The cost of printing a Ghanaian passport is $8, while in Liberia where it is the next cheapest, it is $40. Meanwhile, it is the same company that supplies passports to both Ghana and Liberia, the deputy minister said.



He said the ministry was in consultation with other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance and Parliament, to discuss how they could ensure an upward review of passport application fees to improve on the turnaround time.



Measures



In the interim, Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong said some measures had been put in place at various passport application centres (PAC) to help streamline activities following the unannounced visit by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in August this year to some of the centres.



He said as part of efforts to speed up the printing and delivery of passports to applicants, the office acquired two Dilleta 900i manual printers this year which had led to the clearing of a backlog of about 310,513 passports as of last Friday.



The deputy minister also said that there had been an upgrade of the passport processing software at the Passport Office, including the installation of automated access controls, CCTV cameras and issuance of identification tags to staff to help reduce overcrowding at the centres.



Additionally, officers who had been at post for more than 12 months have been recalled reducing the incidence of middlemen.



Consular services



The deputy minister further said that the ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service had completed the installation of a machine-readable visa hardware and the training of officers at 13 of Ghanas Missions abroad.



The ministry is also working with Missions in Cairo and Addis Ababa to evacuate 85 Ghanaian nationals from Sudan.



We are also in consultation with relevant stakeholders to establish and operate a Consular Fund to cater for the needs of stranded Ghanaians abroad, he added.

Source: graphiconline









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At a press conference held today, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has voiced its frustration over the escalating number of dismissive rulings in corruption cases, cautioning that this growing trend could have grave implications for the countrys anti-corruption endeavors.



The OSP, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption-related offenses, believes that the increasing hasty dismissiveness and lack of regard for such cases could severely hinder its ability to fulfill its mandate.



The OSP, established as an independent body to combat corruption and ensure accountability, plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and fostering transparency within the nation.

However, recent developments have raised concerns within the office regarding the effectiveness of its efforts.



Addressing the media on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng emphasized that corruption poses a significant threat to the countrys socio-economic development and undermines public trust in the government and its institutions.

He warned that allowing corruption cases to be dismissed hastily without proper examination could have dire consequences for the overall fight against corruption.



He highlighted four specific cases that exemplify this trend, including the acquittal of Cecilia Dapaah, a former government official, in a corruption case and the refusal of a court order to freeze the estate of former NPP General Secretary, Kojo Owusu Afriyie, despite mounting allegations of corruption against his estate.



These cases, according to Mr. Agyebeng, raise serious questions about the commitment of the judicial system to upholding the rule of law and combating corruption.



He warned that if this trend continues, it will create an atmosphere of impunity that will be very difficult to reverse.



The Special Prosecutor urged the judiciary to reconsider its approach to corruption cases, emphasizing the need for thorough and impartial investigations and prosecutions.



Indeed I have had several calls from well-meaning lawyers admonishing me that they have heard talk that our friends who have been elevated to the bench and presiding over cases in court do not take very kindly to criticism, especially of the public calling out variety as we do. And that if the office persists in the media releases, the judges will gang up against the office and throw out all our cases. Mind you, members of the press, collective admonishing is from very senior and experienced lawyers who are members of the bar. Members of the press, my learning of the law for the past 25 years in three different jurisdictions, my teaching and training of lawyers and law students for the past 17 years, my 20-year record at the bar all bear testimony that I will be the last person to lead an institution to attack the judiciary.



It will be absolutely of no good should it be the case that the OSP is set against the judiciary or that the judiciary is against the OSP. That will surely spell disastrous consequences for this republic, especially in the fight against corruption to the glee of corrupt persons.



Mr. Agyebeng added I do not intend to sound as though Im predicting doom but we are facing doom. With this development, it will not be long, [before] a suspected murderer or armed robber will boldly walk to court with the unthinkable prayer that the court should injunct law enforcement agencies from investigating him.



The OSPs frustration stems from the observation that dismissive rulings have become more prevalent in corruption cases, potentially signaling a lack of commitment to combating corruption at various levels of the judicial system. The office believes that such dismissive rulings not only undermine the progress made in fighting corruption but also erode public confidence in the justice system.



To address this issue, the OSP has called for greater attention and scrutiny from the judiciary when handling corruption cases. They have stressed the need for judges to thoroughly evaluate the evidence presented and the potential impact of their rulings on the broader efforts to curb corruption. The OSP further urged the judiciary to prioritize the fight against corruption and consider the long-term consequences of dismissive rulings.



Additionally, the OSP has called for enhanced collaboration and coordination among all stakeholders involved in the anti-corruption fight. This includes closer cooperation between the OSP, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant bodies to ensure a comprehensive and unified approach towards tackling corruption.



The OSPs concerns underscore the importance of maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and upholding the principles of justice and accountability. It serves as a reminder that combating corruption requires a collective effort and a commitment from all sectors of society.



As the nation grapples with the challenge of corruption, it remains imperative for the judiciary and other relevant authorities to address the OSPs concerns seriously. Upholding the rule of law and ensuring that corruption cases are thoroughly examined and prosecuted will be essential in preserving public trust and advancing the countrys anti-corruption agenda.



In addition to highlighting the dismissive rulings, the OSP announced that it will be carrying out a payroll audit, beginning with the Ghana Education Service and the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies.



Furthermore, the OSP has already commenced investigations into a deal at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).



Finally, in an effort to combat corruption, the OSP will investigate the ownership and sale of stool and public lands.



However, Mr. Agyebeng acknowledged that Ghana is not fully ready to fight corruption, as many members of the public prefer to remain silent on matters of corruption.

He called on Ghanaians to support the OSP in order to prevent Ghana from losing the fight against corruption.



He also charged Ghanaians to uphold the law and support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat corruption.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Cameroons Health Minister Dr Manaouda Malachie has urged the population to trust the governments health policy, amid growing scepticism over the malaria vaccines which arrived in the country nine days ago.



In a statement on Wednesday, he detailed the benefits of the RTS,S vaccine in the fight against malaria, praising the outcome of the testing phase in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi.



Based on the efficacy of the results obtained, the introduction of this vaccine... will make it possible to cover the entire childhood, and depending on the coverage rate, avoid about 2,000 deaths among children under five years of age every year, Dr. Malachie said.



The Word Health Organization says that RTS,S can "prevent around 75% of malaria episodes".



Cameroon is the first country in Africa to receive the RTS,S vaccines since the end of the pilot phase.



But in a country where vaccine hesitancy is rife, the government has been unable to completely change the minds of many Cameroonians who continue to oppose the arrival of the more than 330,000 vaccine doses.



We grew up in a tropical area, so were used to malaria. I dont know why they must administer the vaccines to children, one local resident told the BBC.



She also revealed: I wont vaccinate my children; even in school, I wont allow them to do it.



Every year, Cameroon records six million malaria cases with 4,000 deaths in health facilities, according to the WHO. Most of those affected are children below five years old.

Source: BBC









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The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Abdul-Mumin Issah, has indicated the destruction of farmlands by illegal miners or galamseyers are impacting on the quality and yields of farmers.



He said another issue that is also negatively impacting on the production of farm produce is the excessive use of agrochemicals.



He noted that climate-smart agriculture has emerged as the surest way to promote food security adding that efforts have been made through the Planting for Food and Jobs l and ll, to ensure farmers had access to the requisite resources to help them prosper.



Abdul-Mumin Issah was speaking at the Metropolitan Farmers Day celebration at Kasaworodo ahead of the national event which will take place Friday in the Western Region.



A 34-year-old farmer at Ahanta Aboadze, Stephen Osagyefo Novel, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, was adjudged the overall best municipal farmer.



The MCE said the implementation of the governments flagship programme has also provided job opportunities for the unemployed youth.



He continued that the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs would focus on a shift from small-scale farming to relatively large-scale farming.



The MCE also said the Assembly, under the EU-funded Twin Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSPP), has set up an Urban Demonstration Farm, which has so far trained 350 women and youth in agricultural technologies.



He commended fisher folks in the metropolis for their compliance during the closed fishing season this year.



We know this is for our own good but we will continue to appeal to the few who still steal their way through during the close season to comply with the directive, he emphasized.



Stephen Osagyefo Novel, who received a tricycle and other farming inputs, was grateful to the government for its immense support to help increase farmers yield.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Stanbic Bank Ghana has presented a ventilator to the Medical Emergency Unit of the 37 Military Hospital to support healthcare delivery in the hospital. The presentation was made to support the 30th anniversary celebration of 1991-year group of Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Regular Career Courses (RCC).



Mawuko Afadzinu, Head of Brand and Marketing at Stanbic Bank, shared that the donation is in line with the Banks commitment to supporting national growth through health infrastructure and investment in health-focused initiatives.



He said, Earlier this year we made our intention to fund the cost of the mechanical ventilator known and presented a cheque of USD 8,500 to the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Regular Career Course (RCC) 1991-year group. We are therefore glad to be here today to see the materialization of this project and we are glad that it will help the emergency unit deliver quality care and ultimately save lives.



Stanbic is a bank that deeply cares about the health of people in the communities we operate. Our decision to support this project came naturally to us because we saw an opportunity to come together to touch a very important area that will eventually help millions of Ghanaians. At Stanbic Bank, we believe that Ghana is our home and we drive her growth. By donating this machine, we seek to support the hospital in delivering quality health care to all who are in need. Congratulations to the 1991-year group of Ghana Military Academy as they celebrate their anniversary. We wish you all the best and we are glad to have partnered with you on this selfless act of generosity to the 37 Military Hospital.



Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, the Chief of the Defense Staff, thanked the donors saying, I want to extend my gratitude to Stanbic Bank for helping in the acquisition of this equipment for the 37 Military Hospital. It is gratifying that your kind deeds will benefit all especially members of the general public to access good healthcare in this hospital. You will be surprised how many lives will be saved. Truly, your efforts will not be in vain.



Stanbic Bank Ghana has over the years embarked on numerous corporate social initiatives to drive national growth and ensure a better world for all. In 2020, Stanbic Bank donated COVID-19 items to three healthcare institutions to help in their fight against the pandemic. The institutions were Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Cardiothoracic Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and the 37 Military Hospital.













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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Barrick Gold Corp.s president and chief executive officer, Mark Bristow, said the company supports a new initiative by the World Gold Council, the Copper Mark, Mining Association of Canada and the International Council on Mining and Metals toward a single global mining standard.

The World Gold Council stated in a joint announcement with the other three organizations that they are working towards consolidating their individual voluntary responsible mining and metals standards for a global standard and a multi-stakeholder oversight system.

Having one standard for responsible mining will not only provide clear direction on what a good standard should look like but reduce the complexity that exists with the numerous standards currently in circulation, Bristow said. It is also crucial that this standard has multi-stakeholder oversight.

Barrick stated that is actively involved in the development of the standard and has representation on the Industry Advisory Board as well as oversight as a member of three of the founding partners.

In Nevada, Barrick operates the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture. Newmont Corp. holds 38.5% of NGM, Barrick, 61.5%.

According to the announcement, the consolidation process involves taking the best attributes of each organizations standard as the foundation for the single global standard that would be practical and implementable by any mine operator regardless of commodity, geography, or size.

David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council, said the WGCs Responsible Gold Mining Principles set out an over-arching framework that defines what constitutes responsible gold mining and has been widely adopted by the gold mining industry and accepted by a broad range of stakeholders.

He said that in recognition of the other metals World Gold Council members also produce, we believe that it is appropriate to explore the potential in developing a single, global framework that covers all commodities.

The draft standard will be shaped by wide-ranging stakeholder engagement and feedback through a public consultation that the participating organizations expect to launch in 2024, the organizations reported.

They stated that the proposed standard could have the widest coverage of any voluntary responsible mining standard to date, with initial implementation by more than 80 mining companies with around 700 operations in almost 60 countries.

A consolidation of several of todays standards into one can simplify the landscape for customers, investors, civil society and the mining industry itself, said Pierre Gratton, president and CEO of the Mining Association of Canada.

The International Council on Mining and Metals, or ICMM, represents a third of the global metals and mining industries that adhere to its Mining Principles, and the Copper Mark has a verification process to be sure copper, nickel, zinc and/or molybdenum production sites follow responsible practices, according to the announcement.
Stanbic Bank Ghana, in keeping with its longstanding tradition of supporting agriculture, has presented a brand-new Massey Ferguson 375 tractor to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). The tractor will be presented as the second runner-up prize for the Farmer of the Year awards at the annual Farmers Day Celebration.



Kojo Akoi Larbi, Manager, Reputation and Stakeholder Management at Stanbic Bank, presented the tractor on behalf of the bank and shared how the donation falls in line with their agenda to drive national growth.



He said, At Stanbic Bank, we believe that Ghana is our home and we drive her growth. The Agricultural sector is a very crucial part of our economy. It is this sector that feeds the people and ultimately gives us the nutrients we need to function properly as human beings. It is therefore crucial that as an organization that seeks to drive national growth, we support the efforts of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to reward deserving farmers and motivate others as well. As a bank, we are proud to have made this donation a tradition for over 15 years. This is a testament and a symbol of our commitment to supporting the agricultural sector and empowering our farmers.



He added that, The theme of this year's Farmers Day celebration is Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience. We are certain that by our donation we are playing our part in advancing the efforts of our local farmers to create smart solutions that will lead to sustainable food security for the benefit of the entire nation.



Receiving the tractor, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo the Deputy Minister for Crops, thanked the bank for their continuous support and dedication to the ministry over the past years. He said, On behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, I would like to thank Stanbic Bank for this donation. For the past 16 years, they have made it a tradition to support the ministry ahead of our Farmer's Day celebration. We are truly grateful to them for their support and we look forward to more collaborations with the bank.



The 39th edition of National Farmers Day will be held under the theme, Delivering Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Security and Resilience. The years celebration would as usual be preceded by a 5-Day National Agricultural Festival, Agrifest Ghana 2023. An Awards Night Ceremony at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Auditorium where HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana will confer national honors on best-performing farmers and fishers.



Over the past 15 years, Stanbic Bank Ghana, through its agricultural proposition, has been working to improve the agriculture sector across selected agribusiness value chains. With a deep understanding of the agribusiness value chain, the banks knowledge-based approach is aided by the deployment of smart digital solutions to scale up the sector.











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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Press Aide to Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Kofi Abrefa Afena has debunked assertions by National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, that Dr. Prempeh as Education Minister blocked the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani from obtaining a medical school.



In a statement responding to the claims of Asiedu Nketia, Mr. Abrefa described the National Chairman as not well-informed on subject matters of tertiary education in Ghana.



For the education of Mr. Asiedu Nketia, it is not the Minister for Education that approves and accredit programs and courses in universities. This is a function of the Ghana National Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), formerly the NCTE and the National Accreditation Board. The Executive Director, Prof. Salifu, an appointee of former President Mahama, predated Dr. Prempehs stints at the Ministry of Education and remained in office throughout his time as Minister. Johnson Asiedu Nketia could have easily verified this from him", the statement said.



It continued; There was no time, during the tenure of Dr. Prempeh that, a decision to establish a Medical School as alluded to by Mr. Nketia came before Dr. Prempeh even for his opinion, let alone approval. The processes for establishing Universities and the accreditation of Programmes and Courses have never been a ministerial decision.



Read full statement below:



Ignore Asiedu Nketias Distortions; Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Education Minister Never Blocked UENR From Obtaining a Medical School



Energy Minister and former Minister for Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh popularly known as NaPo has become aware of statements attributed to National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a Ghana Web publication of 30th November, 2023, to the effect he as Education Minister, blocked the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani from obtaining a medical school. Whilst this statement exposes the NDC National Chairman as not well informed on matters pertaining to the subject matter of tertiary education in Ghana, it is important to refute same in the following response:



1. For the education of Mr. Asiedu Nketia, it is not the Minister for Education that approves and accredit programs and courses in universities. This is a function of the Ghana National Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), formerly the NCTE and the National Accreditation Board. The Executive Director, Prof. Salifu, an appointee of former President Mahama, predated Dr. Prempehs stints at the Ministry of Education and remained in office throughout his time as Minister. Johnson Asiedu Nketia could have easily verified this from him.



2. There was no time, during the tenure of Dr. Prempeh that, a decision to establish a Medical School as alluded to by Mr. Nketia came before Dr. Prempeh even for his opinion, let alone approval. The processes for establishing Universities and the accreditation of Programmes and Courses have never been a ministerial decision.



3. From the foregoing, Mr. Asiedu Nketia will be pardoned for a genuine ignorance on the subject matter. However, if it was borne out of mischief and propaganda against the person of Dr. Prempeh, given the electioneering campaign season, then it is dead ab-initio because the facts speak for themselves.



4. The general public is thus advised to reject outrightly, these uninformed claims by the NDC National Chairman, treating them with the total contempt they deserve.



Signed



Kofi Abrefa Afena

Press Aide

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Celestine Donkor, an acclaimed Ghanaian gospel artist, has sparked a crucial conversation regarding the lack of collaborations among top female gospel musicians.



In her remarks, Celestine highlighted the contrast between Gospel and secular music scenes.



"It is very rare to witness top female Gospel artistes collaborating with each other, unlike their counterparts in the secular music industry who frequently feature one another" she noted



Celestine Donkor further stressed the need for unity and collective effort among Gospel musicians.



"No song collaboration that has two or more top female Gospel artistes comes to mind right now if I try to recount," she emphasized during a recent interview with Halifax Ansah-Addo on Okay FM.



Celestine Donkor recently released a new single titled "What Shall I Render," a heartfelt thanksgiving song celebrating the Lord for His continuous goodness throughout the year. Notably, this track features the esteemed Gospel artiste Obaapa Christy, marking a significant step towards fostering collaboration and solidarity among female voices within the Gospel music industry.



The decision to collaborate with Obaapa Christy on her latest release reflects Celestine Donkor's commitment to breaking the barriers and encouraging more joint projects among leading female Gospel artists.

Source: peacefmonline.com/Benjamin Koomson









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Socialite and music entrepreneur Stephanie Benson has cautioned against the popular cosmetic procedure known as Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), emphasizing potential health risks and a significant chance of death.



Speaking on TV3 about her health challenges and recovery from a recent surgical procedure, Benson expressed her strong stance on prioritizing health.



She disclosed, The chances of you dying on Liposuction is a lot less than going to do a BBL. BBL is at least a 70% chance you might pass away.



Benson, who recently underwent gallbladder removal surgery while battling cancer, emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle before considering any surgical enhancements.



She encouraged women to focus on their well-being, cautioning against the allure of cosmetic procedures without addressing underlying health concerns.



Highlighting that reputable surgeons in the UK and America discourage BBL procedures, Benson shared a personal tragedy of a close friend who lost her life due to the same cosmetic surgery.



The Brazilian Butt Lift, a procedure aimed at augmenting the size and shape of the buttocks, has become increasingly popular globally.



Stephanie Bensons warning serves as a timely reminder for individuals, especially women, to prioritize health and make informed decisions when considering cosmetic procedures, urging a careful evaluation of associated risks before opting for surgeries with potentially life-threatening consequences.

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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As the world gathers in Ghana starting tomorrow, December 1st, under the theme "December in GH," the Ghana Bloggers Association extends a warm welcome to arriving dignitaries at the airport.



They provide a gracious reception and a complimentary taste of Ghanaian chocolate, anticipating the upcoming December festivities.



This considerate initiative, led by the association's president, Andre Mustapha NII Okai Inusah, widely known as Attractive Mustapha, is part of an ongoing agenda encouraging every Ghanaian online to actively blog and promote the beauty of Ghana.



Attractive Mustapha underscores the symbolism behind gifting chocolate, given Ghana's status as the world's second-largest cocoa-producing country.



He emphasizes that anyone visiting Ghana should savor the rich taste of cocoa, integral to the nation's identity.



Aligned with the "Blog and Promote Ghana" campaign and the approaching December festivities, the association hosts numerous international bloggers, journalists, personalities,models others.



These collaborations were meticulously planned, with specific dates strategically chosen just a day or two before the onset of December in Ghana.

(GH)



Addressing guests from the diaspora, Attractive Mustapha shares his extensive global experiences, asserting that Ghana stands out as one of the best countries worldwide.



He firmly believes that if the world is indeed round, as geographers posit, then Ghana occupies a central and special place in God's creation, God stood in Ghana while creating the world



Looking ahead, Attractive Mustapha outlines plans for widespread activation across Ghana and the diaspora throughout December, extending beyond the airport.



He passionately urges the social media community to explore all 16 regions of Ghana and share positive stories about the country.



Expressing gratitude, he takes a moment to acknowledge the invaluable guidance and support provided by the Ghana Tourism Authority to Ghanaian bloggers and the Association. This collaborative effort seamlessly aligns with their December in GH project, contributing to the positive promotion of Ghana on the global stage.

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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Two men were shot and killed inside a car in north Philadelphia, according to news reports.

The double shooting occurred Wednesday around 4:30 p.m. on the block of North Seventh Street, where the two victims  31-year-old Wahid Redmond and 29-year-old Keith Richardson, both of Philadelphia  were seated in a blue Nissan Sentra sedan.

Both men were shot multiple times in the head and body while inside the vehicle. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, 6ABC reported.

Investigators located at least six shell casings from two different guns at the scene, NBC10 said.

One firearm was recovered from the scene, but there have been no arrests yet.

Authorities hope to utilize private surveillance footage captured by a nearby camera to assist in the investigation, NBC10 reported.
The Lebanon County District Attorneys Office has vindicated a police officer who fired two shots at a man charged in a string of robberies and assaults earlier this month.

The office did not release the name of the South Lebanon Township police officer but said he was justified in firing his gun at Cesar Romero-Colon on Nov. 7. The shots did not hit Romero-Colon.

Romero-Colon faces a slew of charges related to what Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said was his previous purchase of a stolen gun and carjacking in Lebanon City on Nov. 7, that led to a chase, a crash on Route 422, and two more attempted carjackings  one involving a Lebanon City police officer.

Hess Graf played dashcam footage from the police cruisers that chased Romero-Colon the afternoon of Nov. 7, showing Romero-Colon leaving the wreckage of the car that police say he stole earlier in the day and approaching another vehicle.

After the driver of that vehicle sped away, Romero-Colon approached a nearby Lebanon city patrol car and stuck his right hand  holding the stolen pistol  inside the drivers-side window. Hess Graf said he was trying to steal the officers car when she began to accelerate away.

Romero-Colon fell to the ground, pistol still in his hand, and the South Lebanon police officer fired two shots. Thats when Romero-Colon surrendered, Hess Graf said.

The litmus test for whether the use of a firearm by a police officer is justified is if they believe that force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or another. There are other exceptions, such as when such force is needed to facilitate an arrest for a forcible felony.

The officer indicated he felt his life, the lives of his fellow officers, and the lives of the citizens [who] surrounded the deadly scene were all in danger Hess Graf said. The officer acted justly and bravely.

Before Romero-Colon crashed the stolen car into a field off Route 422, he had collided with a 70-year-old man driving a van. Hess Graf said the man is expected to recover from his injuries.

District Judge Anthony Verna arraigned Romero-Colon on charges of robbery, aggravated assault on police, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and fleeing police. Verna set bail to $1 million and, unable to post, Colon will remain in the Lebanon County Prison until his preliminary hearing next week.

The true message to criminals in our county is simple  Dont, Hess Graf said.
A Lancaster County resident who was drunk driving when he caused a head-on collision that killed a man last year was sentenced Wednesday to up to 20 years in prison, authorities said.

Derek Sensenig, 31, of Akron, was sentenced to 820 years in prison, three months after he pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide while DUI and six other charges for a September 2022 crash that killed Jeffrey Myers, 65, of Brownstown.

The Lancaster County District Attorneys Office read statements from Myers sister and wife at Sensenigs sentencing hearing. Myers brother-in-law also spoke at the hearing. Prosecutors said each of the family members offered Sensenig forgiveness.

The Commonwealth frankly can seldom impart greater input than what the family can offer, First Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown said at the hearing, according to the district attorneys office. We recognize the remorse [of the defendant] but the familys loss is profound and remains unchanged.

Sensenig was driving a Lincoln Aviator north on the 3900 block of the Oregon Pike around 11:37 a.m. Sept. 2, 2022, when he crossed the center double yellow lines and crashed head-on into Myers southbound Toyota Camry, police said. Just before the crash, police said Sensenig was speeding and weaving through traffic.

Police said Sensenig was arrested at the scene after showing signs of impairment. His blood alcohol concentration at the time of the crash was 0.187%, according to police. The legal limit in Pennsylvania is 0.08%.

Sensenig had already received two DUIs before the crash, prosecutors said. His license was supposed to be suspended for a DUI that happened the month before the crash, but prosecutors said the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts failed to file the proper paperwork with PennDOT.

A month later hes doing it again in the most tragic of situations, Brown said.

Prosecutors said Sensenig previously read a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions. His attorneys had asked for no more than a 7-year prison sentence. He was facing up to 34 years in prison.

Theres a difference between those struggling with substance use disorder and those putting others in danger due to your substance use disorder, Judge David Ashworth told Sensenig before handing down his sentence. You chose to get behind the wheel of a weapon.
A Beaver County man who shot Pennsylvania State Trooper Jonnie Schooley last year was sentenced to at least 36 years in prison, according to news reports.

Damian Bradford received the sentence on Wednesday, which has a maximum of 73 years in prison.

Bradford was convicted on several charges, including attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault against an officer and firearms violations.

During the sentencing hearing, Bradford apologized to Schooley and claimed the shooting was accidental, WTAE said.

The shooting occurred on July 29, outside of a Franklin Mini-Mart in Aliquippa, where Schooley and another officer, Shawn Palmer, tried to stop Bradford from hurting another man.

Bradford had brandished a handgun at multiple people inside the store and confronted the man outside. When troopers approached him, he began to fight with them.

During the struggle, Bradford fired the weapon once, hitting Schooley in the leg.

Afterward, Bradford attempted to take hold of Palmers gun and Taser. Patrons inside the store helped Palmer get Bradford under control and soon took him into custody, TribLive reported.

Bradfords defense attorney, Bill Difenderfer, argued that the shot was an accidental discharge, asking for the judge to impose a lighter sentence.

The judge ultimately disagreed and decided that the public needed to be protected from Bradford. Bradford apologized to Schooley, and told him hes not a monster, WPXI said.

Bradford had been released from federal prison just a month before the incident, TribLive said.
Editors note: Welcome to the world of Paranormal PA, a PennLive series that delves into Pennsylvania-grown stories of spirits; cryptids; oddities and legends; and the unexplained. Sign up here to get our Paranormal PA newsletter delivered to your inbox.

Some people want to be cremated after theyve passed. Others may want to be interned at a mausoleum with their family.

Then there are those that want to be put on display at a museum in Pennsylvania, although those last wishes  now that the museum is undergoing some changes  may not be met.

The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia rose to prominence over the years for the medical curiosities it has on display, which range from old surgery kits that make one cringe to what MyCentralJersey.com described as a mega colon that once held 40 pounds of feces at a time.

After some changes of the official guard, Philadelphia Magazine reported in September how the Mutter is currently restructuring. This restructuring involves potentially getting rid of the bodies and other items they have on display forever due to what some believe to be questionably ethical and controversial reasons.

But while theres been plenty of backlash and discussion about whether to keep the remains they already have, theres another issue that a few of the museums more adamant patrons are grappling with.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, individuals looking to donate their bodies to the Mutter as part of future collections may not get to do so with the current revamp.

Barbara Kotzin, for example  a 74-year-old woman with scoliosis  told The Inquirer how she made a verbal agreement with a former Mutter employee to have her skeleton exhibited as The Mutter has may unprepared scoliosis torsos, but none with the implantation of the rods and the correction. Similarly, Ezra Eisenstein  a trans man who was born intersex with an underdeveloped uterus  wished the same.

However, a separate Philadelphia Magazine article detailed that the ongoing debate surrounding the ethics of displaying human remains have put those looking to donate their bodies to the museum on hold.

If the museum is really changing its vision and mission, maybe thats not the best fit for me, admitted Kotzin to The Inquirer. This is concerning, not just for me, but for the future of the museum.
ELKOAspiring Elko college students are eligible for a scholarship that funds their dreams. Washoe County Commissioner and Reno Rodeo Foundation Executive Director Clara Andriola explains how the foundations funding for students impacts 14 Nevada counties, including Elko County.

The Reno Rodeo Foundation Scholarship began in 1986. It is a pillar program of the Reno Rodeo Foundation. And its intent originally was to help provide scholarships to rural Nevada, Andriola noted. And so Elko has a long history of students who have been recipients of the award over the years, but this year is the largest amount of scholarship funding that we are going to be distributing in the history of the Reno Rodeo Foundation.

The foundation will distribute $150,000 to scholarship applicants, she said. All participants must graduate from a Northern Nevada high school.

Andriola explained that the Reno Rodeo Foundation Scholarship sources its funds from a combination of license plate sales, rodeo visitors, and community donations.

100% of the funds generated from Reno Rodeo license plates go to scholarships, she noted.

Last years Reno Rodeo President Greg Lightning Williams is the father of the license plate, she said. It was one of the first license plates in the entire state of Nevada.

A portion of the proceeds from the Reno Rodeo go to the Reno Rodeo Foundation, and some of this rodeo visitor money ends up as scholarships, Andriola said.

And then we have some individuals who donate as well, she said, including Mary Evans, who donates on behalf of her deceased husband, Al Evans.

The Reno Rodeo Foundation awards the Al Evans Silver Spurs Scholarship to students who plan to be agriculture, veterinary, or pre-veterinary majors.

Additional preference is given if a student participates in 4-H or FFA or Grange or if they are in any rodeo, she said. Northern Nevada youth in foster care will receive consideration, as well.

Our scholarship committee, it is really a very fair and equitable process, Andriola noted. The more work you put into the application, the higher you are likely to score well.

The other thing that I think is unique is that we value giving and rewarding students who score really well in our scholarship process. So as an example, the top recipients may receive $10,000 to $12,000 each. We pride ourselves from ranging anywhere from $3,000 to over $10,000 and they can apply every year.

If you think about it, going to school, just books alone cost a lot of money, Andriola said. So we really want to make a big impact on the students and allow them to concentrate on pursuing their career objectives and goals. To do that, we try to reward those students who score high with an amount that really does make a positive impact in their school and their studies, so they can be successful. I do not know very many scholarships that award that kind of money.

The application closes at 5 p.m. on February 8, 2024, and is available at renorodeofoundation.org/scholarships/.
By TIA GOLDENBERG, Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  In the depths of captivity, they formed an unlikely but prized friendship. And reunited in a video call this week, the bond between a recently freed Israeli mother and daughter and a Thai woman who had been held hostage alongside them filled an Israeli hospital room with unbridled joy.

Both of us give you a big hug, Danielle Aloni, one of dozens snatched by Hamas militants from a kibbutz in southern Israel on Oct. 7, told her friend Nutthawaree Munkan, an agricultural worker who was seized the same day and held captive in the Gaza Strip. I love you and I told you while we were there that we are family.

Aloni, 45, spoke in Hebrew in a five minute video of the Wednesday meeting released by Israels Foreign Ministry. Nutthawaree, speaking from the hospital, replied in Thai  and with a flurry of air kisses and a wide smile that required no translation at all.

With her partner  another freed captive  looking on and a Thai-speaking Israeli psychologist assisting with the conversation, Nutthawaree waved at the screen as Alonis 5-year-old daughter, Emilia, sang to her. Nutthawaree, holding a small Israeli flag, counted to 10 on her fingers as Emilia recited her numbers in the Thai that Nutthawaree had taught her during the seven weeks they spent as hostages.

It was not clear where Aloni and her daughter were speaking from, but they had already been discharged from the hospital and had returned to their home.

Danielle Aloni laughs next to her daughter Emilia Aloni as they meet family members at the Schneider Children's Medical Center, Israel, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. Danielle Aloni and her 5-year-old daughter Emilia had been seized from a kibbutz by Hamas in its Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israel. Nutthawaree Munkan, a Thai agricultural worker, was abducted the same day. The three became close during their seven weeks' captivity in Gaza.Schneider Children's Medical Center Spokesperson via AP

When Hamas militants stormed into Israeli villages and towns just across the Gaza border, Aloni and her daughter were visiting her sisters family at a kibbutz, Nir Oz. A quarter of the communitys 400 residents were either kidnapped or killed.

In all, some 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 240 hostages were taken to Gaza. Nearly 40 Thai agricultural workers were slain and another three dozen were kidnapped.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Nutthawaree, 35, came to Israel in search of employment. While working on a farm in the community of Mivtachim, she met her partner, Bunthom Phankong. Both were taken captive on Oct. 7.

The Thai hostages are being released in conjunction with the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas that has seen Israelis traded for Palestinian prisoners.

Nutthawaree, Bunthom, Aloni and her daughter were all released on Friday, the first day of the truce. Details of their time in captivity were not available and it was not clear if Nutthawaree and the Alonis spent the entire time together.

But on Wednesday, for a few minutes at least, the trauma of their shared ordeal was set aside.

At the first opportunity, we will come to Thailand. What joy to see her like this, Danielle Aloni said as psychologist Daniel Porat translated her words into Thai.

She says that you are also beautiful and Emilia is beautiful, the psychologist told Aloni on Nutthawarees behalf. She misses you a lot.

Associated Press writer Adam Geller in New York contributed to this story.
A man carrying an assault-style rifle while walking in his Memphis neighborhood had locals expressing concern for the communitys safety.

He told authorities his reasoning for his bizarre actions was just because Memphis is a dangerous place, according to news reports.

A picture of the man carrying the rifle while walking around the neighborhood made its way through social media earlier this week, where he was first spotted in the area of Peabody Avenue and Cooper Street.

The incident occurred Monday, and left neighbors in a panic. While Action 5 News reported that Idlewild Elementary School didnt lockdown, but had extra safety and security officers on campus, WREG reported Wednesday that the incident did lead to a lockdown of a nearby preschool and elementary.

Memphis police also received multiple reports about the man.

I just keep picturing him sitting outside my daughters schools and shooting at them, one person posted on Facebook above a photo that circulated on social media.

When police responded to the area, they were unable to locate the man. But Tuesday night, after multiple failed searches, they located him not far from where he was first spotted and were able to speak to him, Action 5 News reported.

The man was identified as Derek Winn, thanks to an address and phone number on file with the Shelby County Election Commission from his campaign for Memphis mayor this year, WREG said.

When police spoke with him, he said he was walking down the street with the rifle because he was scared. He also added that Memphis is a dangerous place and was carrying the weapon for protection, with no intention of harming anyone.

Authorities then checked Winns criminal background, which came back clean and there were no signs of mental illness. Officials were also allowed to inspect and take pictures of the weapon.

Police returned the rifle and allowed Winn to leave with the weapon, claiming he didnt break any laws.

On Wednesday, Winn sent a text to WREG taking responsibility for his actions but claimed that he was being followed by people stalking his route to work.

I overreacted and open carried on my way to/from work and ppl freaked out and tbh I dont blame them, he wrote, continuing, Not going to happen again.

In most cases, it is legal in Tennessee to open carry a weapon, WREG said.
Decisions to go to war can evolve over time, or they can be made in a snap.

But if leaders making and executing those decisions dont have the big ideas' behind them right, the prospects of a good outcome wont be bright. And, unfortunately for many military families, they can grow downright deadly.

That was the big idea highly-decorated general and former CIA Director David H. Petraeus left with an audience at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center during a string of appearances in Carlisle Thursday.

The strategic leader has to perform that first task properly, or the entire effort is doomed, Petraeus said.

From correctly discerning the big idea, success then rests on three other vital factors: ones ability to communicate the plan; execute the plan; and then to be able to accurately monitor and adjust to the successes and failures along the way.

To make his case, Petraeus offered several examples both from public policy and 21st-Century business.

A failure?

The U.S. experience in Vietnam.

Petraeus argued it took the United States - which fielded a request to help root out Communist infiltrators in villages and hamlets in South Vietnam, and decided to focus insteaad on replicating an American-style army to repel an attack from the north - until 1968 to actually settle on the right approach to achieving its objectives there.

Our very understanding of the problem was flawed, Petraeus said. For much of that time even the metrics the government was using to measure success - the body count - werent even relevant to what was really taking place on the ground.

By the time we started to get the strategic questions right, Petraeus said, American public opinion had so soured on the effort that any chance to marshal the political will to finish the job was lost. And eventually, at too high a cost, so was Saigon.

A success?

How about Netflix.

Petraeus marvelled at how Netflix founder Reed Hastings settled on the right big idea, in his case getting movies directly into the hands of viewers without brick and mortar.

And then, Hastings had the savvy to adjust it time and time again - becoming a pioneer in direct streaming when broadband capabilities were ready, and then launching into content production - to become an industry leader in so many categories.

None of this is easy in a complex world, Petraeus cautioned Thursday, adding that American leaders have swung and missed several times in the last two generations. But aiming for the right goals and objectives is the biggest task that any leader faces.

Petraeus became one of Americas best-known generals during The Surge, when increased American troop deployments and civic engagement in Iraq in 2007-08 helped salvage a teetering mission there after an insurgency threatened the stability of the nation, post-Saddam Hussein.

He then served as President Barack Obamas Director of Central Intelligence, but resigned that post after revelations of an affair with a biographer turned up information that he had improperly shared classified information.

Petraeus eventually pleaded guilty in 2015 to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, and was sentenced to two years of probation.

Still considered one of Americas sharpest minds in strategic and geopolitical affairs, Petraeus currently runs the New York investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Companys Global Institute, and he has just penned Conflict, a book on the evolution of warfare since World War II with British historian Andrew Roberts.

Looking at 2023

Holding his lens up to late 2023, Petraeus said a leader who seems to have gotten the big ideas right is Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president who bet his citizens would rather fight than concede after the February 2022 invasion by Vladimir Putins Russia.

Zelensky took that instinct and gave it visible leadership by trading his business suits for Army fatigues and telling Ukrainians at the outset that he wasnt looking for a ride out of Kyiv; he was looking for weapons to take the fight to the Russians - inspiring his people and much of the world in the process.

His communications skills are epic, Petraeus said of Zelensky. He goes to the front lines in Bakhmut, Zaporizhzhia... And Putin sits at the end of a long marble table.

While that war is stalemated now, with Russia having established tremendous defenses in the areas of southern Ukraine that it occupies, Petraeus said he believes Ukraine has a chance to succeed in the end as long as its allies continue to provide arms and continue to tighten the economic screws on Russia through effective sanctions.

The Ukranian situation, Petraeus said, also should remind Americans that, in this inter-related world, every action our leaders take influences what our rivals and allies do - today, and next year.

As an illustration, Petraeus said, when America withdrew all troops from Afghanistan in 2021 leaving that nation to fall quickly back into the hands of the Taliban after two decades of effort, it gave Putin the notion to expect that America would not strongly resist his moves on Ukraine.

(A big idea Putin wound up getting wrong, he noted.)

But that Afghanistan withdrawal by the U.S. is also why Putin likely wont do anything but persist in Ukraine through 2024, on the hope that the political tumbler of a presidential election year in the U.S. will, in the not-too-distant future, lead to an erosion of the American support for Ukraine.

Petraeus added his voice Thursday to voice who hope Putin continues to get that wrong.

We need to continue to support a fellow democracy, however imperfect that may be, in the face of a brutal and unprovoked invasion led by a leader, Putin, who has this twisted, grievance-filled revisionist view of history... that denies the Ukrainians a right to exist as a people or as an independent country, Petraeus said.

The situation the Israel-Hamas conflict is just as murky, Petraeus said.

Here, Petraeus said, the Israeli government landed on its big idea suddenly, as of the Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel; theyve concluded Hamas has to be seen and dealt with as a terrorist group, which means a commitment to destroying it as an entity and then making sure it doesnt reconstitute.

There will be remnants, and Iran will be happy to help them re-establish themselves, Petraeus warned. And if they do reconstitute what youve done then is just another so-called mowing of the grass in Gaza... and then youre going to be back in that same situation.

But to do that right, he said, Israel is probably going to have to not just occupy Gaza, but win the hearts and minds of the Palestinians in Gaza that, together, they can find a better future, just as the U.S. was able to do in getting Iraqis to reject Isis and Sunni militias in 2007.

Given the fraught history of the region, a present in which more than one million Palestinians have been violently pushed out of their homes, and the differing views about what that future should look like, that will be as difficult as this falls fight.

Those are just the two hottest challenges in a world thats a full of threats now as at any time since World War II, the former general said, reciting a list that includes managing the superpower dynamic with China, the nuclear threat from Iran and support for proxy forces around the world, and more existentially, climate change.

Petraeus and his wife, Holly, were making a series of appearances in Carlisle Thursday, including a seminar appearance with students at U.S. Army War College this afternoon.

This evening, both will receive Dickinson Colleges inaugural Presidents Award recognizing exemplary lives of service, after which both Petraeuses will join Dickinson President John Jones for a panel discussion on leadership.

That event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium.

,
Two police officers thought a Mechanicsburg bodybuilder was overdosing on opioids when they responded to his home early one October 2021 morning.

When Anton Guirguis, 43, resisted their efforts to handcuff him by biting Officer Johannes Notz, Notz closed his fist and began viciously beating Guirguis face, according to a lawsuit Guirguis filed in federal court last month.

Guirguis said in the lawsuit that he was not on opioids, but was suffering a nocturnal seizure.

But as a result of the officers use of force that night, he suffered a broken shoulder, lacerations and multiple contusions, the lawsuit claims.

Hampden Township and police officers Notz and Bradley Corliss are named as defendants. Guirguis lawsuit claims they violated his Fourth Amendment rights by using excessive force in responding to what was initially reported as a cardiac arrest.

Eight days after the incident, he was released from the hospital to face charges of aggravated assault and simple assault.

The lawsuit said Guirguis shelled out tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees preparing for a May 23, 2023 trial that never occurred because the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office dropped the charges the day before.

District Attorney Sean McCormack said after reviewing expert testimony from a defense witness, and after reviewing Guirguis medical records, there was not enough evidence to show that Guirguis knowingly, intentionally or recklessly tried to harm the officer who was restraining him, or the paramedic who was helping him in the ambulance. Thats a requirement for the charge of aggravated assault, McCormack said.

McCormick also said a language barrier between Guirguis and the police impaired his ability to understand their instructions.

Now, Guirguis is trying to recoup the costs associated with his criminal defense, as well as the cost of not being able to work for 18 months due to his injuries.

Rachael David, Guirguis wife, woke up to see Guirguis convulsing and foaming at the mouth at around 4:30 a.m. Oct. 27, 2021, the lawsuit states.

David had her adult son call 911 while she gave Guirguis CPR in their bedroom. Notz and Corliss were dispatched to the twos Lambs Gap Road home for a report of an individual suffering from cardiac arrest, according to the lawsuit.

When police arrived, they found Guirguis conscious but unresponsive with agonal breathing. The lawsuit said Guirguis was convulsing; the police complaint made no mention of convulsions and said only that he was lying on his back.

Notz wrote in a criminal complaint against Guirguis that David told them Guirguis was taking some kind of drugs, believed to be steroids, from an Egyptian physician. Guirguis is a U.S. citizen, but was born and raised in Egypt.

Police described Guirguis behavior as resisting their attempts to help him, and said they interpreted his behavior as signs he was suffering from an opioid overdose, according to court documents. They said they gave him two doses of naloxone to try to help him, but he continued to resist being helped.

Convulsions like the ones Guirguis was having are rare in opioid overdoses and would only be from the secondary effects of an overdose, according to Ryan Marino, a medical toxicologist with the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Marino said that opioids are sedatives, and when someone suffers from an opioid overdose, they become sleepy and less responsive. Marino said Guirguis behavior of moving around and biting, and the police response to the situation, are inconsistent with an overdose.

Giving naloxone could be reasonable, but the fact he was described as convulsing, thats something that needs medical attention. He doesnt need to be restrained, Marino said.

Notz said Guirguis tried to bite him twice, and succeeded once. On both occasions, Notz said he pulled his arm back, made a fist, and punched Guirguis several times in the side of the head so he would not bite me, according to the criminal complaint Notz filed.

Nox, with help from the other officers who arrived, later handcuffed Guirguis hands away from another, before cuffing his hands together because he was grabbing at objects.

First responders then gave Guirguis five injections of a sedative within a 20-minute time frame, after which Guirguis stopped resisting, Notz said in the criminal complaint. After being loaded into an ambulance, Guirguis bit an EMS worker, leaving a visible bite mark, Notz said.

The lawsuit also accused the officers of removing David from their bedroom and not allowing her to explain the medications Guirguis was taking for a recent surgery.

The lawsuit presents three claims under the Fourth Amendment:

The first claim, against Notz and Corliss, accuses the two officers of handcuffing, restraining and seizing Guirguis without probable cause when Guirguis presented no threat to either of them.

By treating a medical emergency as a criminal matter that required the use of force, Defendants Officers exhibited a reckless and callous indifference to Mr. Guirguis federally protected rights, the lawsuit said.

The second and third claims accuse Hampden Township of failing to implement policies and train its officers regarding the use of force and use of de-escalation tactics in response to medical emergencies.

State law, according to the lawsuit, requires law enforcement to make a diligent effort to determine if any person they may find in a semi-conscious or unconscious condition is an epileptic or diabetic person or a person who is suffering from any other type of illness which would cause semi-consciousness or unconsciousness, before such person may be charged with a crime.
One of the meanings of freedom, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is the quality or state of being free.

And a new report has claimed that Pennsylvania is freer when compared to most other states.

The Center Square reports how the Cato Institute  a public policy research organizationthat creates a presence for and promotes libertarian ideas in policy debates  published a report which measured Freedom in the 50 States.

This report was based upon laws and regulations that impact a residents personal, regulatory, and financial liberties, such as civil asset forfeiture as well as marriage and gun rights.

Overall, Pennsylvania ranked among the top 20 in the 18th spot.

The Keystone State is freer than all its neighbors and also better than most other states, the reports analysis reads. Pennsylvania does particularly well on fiscal policy, where it is a top-five state.

Regulatory policy drags down the commonwealths economic freedom score and is an area ripe for improvement. Pennsylvania also suffers from a middling record on personal freedom, coming in at number 34.

The freest state of them all  New Hampshire  excels greatly in both economic and personal freedom, although the Cato Institute notes it could improve on its regulatory policies.

Then theres New York which  perhaps to not a lot of peoples surprise  scored the 50th slot as the the worst state for freedom due to its economic, regulatory, and personal restrictions, a status its had every year since the Cato Institute began collecting data in 2000.

New Yorks terrible economic freedom score is going to continue to drag the state down  and harm its ability to realize its full economic potential, the report states.
Want a say in the news? Email Claudia at todayinpa@pennlive.com to have your thoughts on the stories covered here or on PennLive heard during Listening to Listeners, an original Today in Pa. segment that occurs every other Friday.

You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | November 30, 2023

State officials are thinking about possibly divesting public funds from China. Yet another health network with locations in Pennsylvania and Jersey has been hit by a cyber attack. A new report from USA Today has detailed how parents are supporting their adult children. Lastly, the people who had wanted to leave their remains to the Mutter Museum are now unsure if their last wishes will be met.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa., a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa. is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa., consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.

As sponsored by Renewal by Anderson of Central PA.
There may have been another Congressman who worked harder than U.S. Rep. Scott Perry to try to help former President Donald J. Trumps efforts to cling to power despite his 2020 electoral defeat by Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

But wed like to see the proof.

Because a freshly-unsealed opinion from a U.S. District Court judge on Perrys efforts to block federal investigators from searching the contents of his cellphone in their investigation of Trumps post-election activities paints a picture of a lawmaker working on all fronts to help the former presidents cause.

Judge Beryl A. Howells December 2022 ruling ordering the release of more than 2,000 communications shed new light on some Perry actions that have already been widely reported, like the push to get Jeffrey Clark installed as an Acting Attorney General who would do Trumps bidding at the U.S. Department of Justice.

And she also opens the door to some lesser-known efforts, like a last-ditch plan to get direct testimony from Trump allies before Congress on Jan. 6th, 2021 -the date of the final certification of Bidens electoral college win  about allegations of electoral fraud.

Perry and other Trump allies hoped to do that, Howells opinion revealed, by trying to coax then-Vice President Mike Pence to convene the Congress as a committee-of-the-whole before the electoral count was opened.

Perry texted Trumps White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about that strategy on Jan. 2, 2021, the judge noted.

In another text on that topic, Howell noted, Perry agreed to sell[] the idea with a call to John Eastman, an attorney who had been helping the Trump team with its electoral college strategies, the president, and vice president.

Pence refused to follow through, but Howell cited the text as one example of how Perrys argument that his communications should be protected under the Constitutions speech and debate clause, designed to shield Congressmen from executive branch prosecution for legislative activity, failed.

Perry argued that his communications that winter about vote fraud were designed to help him reach a decision about his vote on certification of the election results.

This wasnt that, Howell found.

She wrote that if Rep. Perry was purely gathering information, he would not have been attempting to influence the conduct of executive branch officials and encouraging them to engage in efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Howells ruling, in itself, doesnt contain all of the 2,055 Perry communications she permitted the federal investigators to review.

That battle has since been sent back to the district court in Washington D.C. after Perry appealed Howells initial determination to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals there. A three-judge panel of the higher court took issue with the standard that Howell had used in part of her ruling.

But a small number of the contested communications were revealed with the posting of Howells decision Wednesday in footnotes that the judge used to help give context to her decision.

So in the Clark affair, Howell cited this excerpt of text messages between Perry and Clark, the man Trump briefly considered  after Perrys introduction  as a replacement attorney general whod use the Department of Justice to act on his campaigns baseless fraud claims.

On Dec. 30, 2020, at 11:08 p.m., Perry texted Clark that POTUS seems very happy with your response. I read it just as you dictated, to which Clark responded, Im praying. This makes me quite nervous. And wonder if Im worthy or ready.

Perry replied, You are the man. I have confirmed it. God does what he does for a reason, the footnotes stated, with subsequent discussion about when Trump would pull the trigger on something new and make an absolute decision.

Howells decision also outlined the depths to which Perry was active in trying to get Pennsylvanias legislators to try to decertify his home states results, which came in as an 81,000-vote Biden win.

Perrys communications to various players in Harrisburg, including state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County, covered:

A potential legislative audit of the vote.

Connecting legislators with members of the Trump campaign team.

Planning for a legislative hearing - nultimately never held - where representatives of Dominion Voting Systems could be questioned about the integrity of their voting machine systems.

A resolution, never actually brought up for consideration by the GOP leaders in Harrisburg at the time, declaring the Pennsylvania results to be in dispute.

Encouraging the drafting of a Dec. 19, 2020 letter from legislators to Pence asking him to weigh the validity of purported electors and electoral votes representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

These efforts, collectively, Howell found, did not represent Perry taking legislative action so much as using his position to encourage others to take action. It was, she found, political and not protected legislative activity under the clause.

Similarly, Howell said there were no grounds to block a series of texts by Perry to members of Trumps campaign, particularly attorneys working on potential legal challenges after the Nov. 3 balloting.

We need to see if any addresses had high numbers of ballots DELIVERED to them... If theres a coordinated AND provable fraud that would be the big flag, Perry wrote on Nov. 12 to Alex Cannon, identified in the ruling as a Trump campaign attorney.

That was followed on Nov. 15 by a text to a different lawyer about securing whistleblower protection for someone in the Pennsylvania Department of State, Howell noted.

PennLive reached out to Perry and his staff for comment on Howells rulings  which the Congressman appealed to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  after the opinion was released Wednesday evening. Those efforts were not successful.

But Perrys attorneys in the cell phone case were irate at the release of some of the documents when they and their client are still in the midst of the fight.

The disclosure of Representative Perrys private communications, taken from the phone of a sitting member of Congress who has never been accused of wrongdoing, is unfortunate, attorney John Rowley told PennLive in a statement issued Wednesday night.

The communications reflect his efforts to understand real-time information about the 2020 election. They were confidential and intended to address critical business before Congress in the service of his constituents.

Perrys phone was seized by federal agents on Aug. 9, 2022, as part of a federal investigation into Trumps post-election activities that has since led to indictments against Trump on federal criminal charges.

That federal indictment named six others, including Eastman and Clark, as unindicted co-conspirators. Meadows, according to news reports, has been granted immunity by Special Counsel Jack Smith and has spoken with investigators at least three times this year.

Trump, in addition to the federal elections case, is awaiting trial in three other federal and state jurisdictions on charges related to attempting to tamper with 2020 election results in Georgia; covering up hush-money payments to a porn actress in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election; and mishandling classified documents during his exit from the presidency.

Eastman, Clark and Meadows have also been charged in the Georgia case.

Perry, a 6th-term representative from northern York County who has gained a bit of a national profile in the past year as chairman of the arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus, has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

On behalf of PennLive, the York Daily Record, and the York Dispatch, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed a motion to unseal court records related to the seizure of Perrys cell phone, including the warrant application, any supporting affidavits, and the docket sheet.

The news outlets argued that the press and public have a presumptive common law and First Amendment right of access to the materials.

Howells full opinion became unsealed Wednesday through a ruling that granted, in part, the news outlets request.
By Marcia Moore

As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week and the critical way job-training programs help to strengthen Pennsylvanias economy, the reality is that women across our state still face too many barriers to accessing good-paying union jobs in the building trades. While we are making progress, much more must be done to invest in apprenticeship programs vital to closing this gender gap and expanding opportunities for women as Pennsylvania construction projects create new jobs.

My path to a brighter future came through an unexpected opportunity. After returning home from the military, I came across a poster for CareerLinks featuring a woman holding tools. Since I was ready for a career change and I always enjoyed working with my hands, the timing was perfect. Seeing a woman like myself working in construction helped me believe it was possible, even after years of assuming the building trades were just for men. It inspired me to believe this was a career path I could follow.

Through CareerLinks, I learned about Women in Non-Traditional Careers (WINC), a program helping expand opportunities for women to build careers in fields like construction, manufacturing, and transit that were historically male-dominated. WINC provided me with the training I needed to join the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 21 and start my union commercial painting apprenticeship. As a member of IUPAT DC 21, it has been inspiring to see how our union is helping workers in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, as well as the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey, and Delaware.

WINC helped me learn about a variety of different trades, provided classroom and physical fitness training, and showed me the kind of hard work and discipline needed to make it in construction. As a veteran, I was well-prepared to succeed in this field because, just like serving in the military, these professions require physical stamina, hard work, and dedication.

As an apprentice, I learn something new every day from the highly-qualified instructors in our classroom, while also getting paid and gaining valuable real-world experience on job sites. As a union member, I have a great support network and can count on better pay, more job security, vacation pay, and quality, affordable health coverage for myself and my family.

I love what I do and Im grateful for the career opportunities I can now access. I want more women, including those like myself who served in the military, to know that union construction provides great jobs where you can thrive.

WINC showed me that women can do jobs that have previously been considered mens work. Progress is being made, with the amount of women in construction now at an all-time high and is steadily increasing, and unions like IUPAT DC 21 are leading the way. Union apprenticeships have 9 times the number of women and minorities compared to non-union programs, and there are more than six veterans in union apprenticeships for each veteran in a non-union apprenticeship.

Diversity in construction matters because it has been shown to improve productivity and creativity on the job. Furthermore, as developers and contractors continue to grow from the new construction in our neighborhoods, its important that skilled workers throughout our communities are able to share in this success by being part of the talented crews building these new buildings.

Everyone who is able and willing should have the opportunity to access family-sustaining union jobs with great benefits to support themselves and their families now, while also building the retirement security they need for the future. Women have the skills to do this work, and union apprenticeships, like the one I joined, are helping to expand opportunities for us to choose these career paths and build a better life.

Seeing that poster with a woman like myself in construction inspired me to start my career in the trades and it changed my life for the better. Visibility matters. By providing women and veterans more access to union construction careers, we can help level the playing field. This National Apprenticeship Week, I want to be an example for women across Pennsylvania, to show that there is a place for us in union construction.

Marcia Moore is a member of IUPAT District Council 21, which represents over 6,000 members in the finishing trades in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Region, New Jersey, and the State of Delaware.
The base salary of Pennsylvanias 253 state legislators is the third highest in the nation behind New York and California, but when benefits are added, it likely pushes them into second place.

Legislators are eligible for lifetime medical benefits and retirement benefits unlike their counterparts in California but still trail New York where lawmakers there have a similar benefits package to Pennsylvanias.
"Bereavement fares tend to be considered really super affordable and bargain basement and that's not always the case," Jenny Kost, the Calgary-based global director of sales strategic initiatives at Corporate Traveller, warned. A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
CAIRO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population launched on Wednesday an initiative to treat 1,000 Palestinian children injured during the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The initiative was launched in cooperation with Terous Misr Foundation for Development, an Egyptian NGO, and Nestle Egypt, a food giant, the ministry said in a statement.

The initiative, which comes within the framework of coordination, cooperation, and integration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, aims to reach the best level of treatment services for the injured people of Gaza, according to the statement.

According to official Egyptian data, 575 injured Gazans have been admitted to Egyptian hospitals for treatment since Nov. 1.

After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday.

The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, while more than 36,000 people were injured, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages.

Editor: WXL
A lawyer for a pharmaceutical firm says holding a single trial in British Columbia to determine each province's damages related to opioid health care costs would be a "monster of complexity." Prescription pills containing oxycodone and acetaminophen are shown in this June 20, 2012 photo.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy






* With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.

* China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.

* Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.

By Xinhua Writers Guo Xiaoyu, Wu Qiong, Luo Xin and Peng Peigen

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- For Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, the collective debut of more than 20 key suppliers at the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was "particularly meaningful."

"This line-up well illustrates a cluster effect on China's high-end medical equipment manufacturing, as the locations of these suppliers cover a wide swath of China from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, the western interior to the Greater Bay Area," Zhang said.

"We believe in the field of medical technology, and we are ushering in the best era for development," Zhang said. "Industrial chain innovation and high-quality development will be the priority."

Together with Zhang, many prominent figures from the business sector and international organizations have expressed their optimism over the lasting appeal of the Made-in-China concept as the country boasts striking manufacturing advantages.

COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN

With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.

China's manufacturing sector topped the world in size for 13 consecutive years in 2022, with the added value of this sector contributing to over 30 percent of the world's total, according to a flagship report titled the Global Supply Chain Promotion Report released Tuesday.

GE Healthcare displayed its up-to-date medical imaging technologies at the expo. The company has established five manufacturing bases across China, with another under construction.

Zhang said that China's complete industrial system has helped his company thrive in China's medical device market, noting more investment will be channeled into cultivating a more resilient and secure supply chain for medical equipment manufacturing, and more production lines will be introduced into China.

"As we extend our footprint in the Chinese medical manufacturing market, our confidence in the ongoing investment in China is growing," he said.

SHARING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to its industrial advantages, China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.

"As the world's largest electric vehicle market, China's persistent opening-up policies, advanced development concept, and favorable business environment have created huge opportunities for us," said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla, the U.S. automobile giant who also participated in the first CISCE.

Due to its unparalleled advantages and promising future, the Chinese market remains a "must-have" market for Tesla, Tao said.

So far, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has transformed into the carmaker's export hub worldwide, with China-manufactured Model 3 and Model Y catering to a burgeoning global demand.

Earlier this month, China announced that it would scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, while work will also be done to launch more activities to promote global cooperation and bridge transnational companies and local investment projects.

Among its latest moves toward this end, China launched the Beijing Initiative for the Connectivity of Industrial and Supply Chains during the ongoing CISCE, proposing that it will firmly maintain the stability and smooth flows of global industrial and supply chains and promote global economic development.

Wang Yuesheng, a professor from the Department of International Economics and Trade at Peking University, said that China has been furthering the opening-up and development of global industrial and supply chains by promoting the building of an open world economy along with improvements and transformation made in its international economic and trade rules.

In the eyes of Chris Pereira, CEO of iMpact, a communications and business consulting group, the supply chain offers the most essential communication conduit as it entails win-win cooperation.

"There must be a supplier and a client getting better on both sides. So I think as long as there is a supply chain, it is a win-win result," he said.

GOING GLOBAL

Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.

Jean Lu, Deputy CEO and Head of Client Coverage, Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, noted: "China not only manufactures for its own needs, but for the whole world."

Considering the country's industrial advantages, Lu said that the current de-globalization waves are, in fact, propelling Chinese companies to "go global" faster.

"The globalization of European and American companies began four to five decades ago, and that for companies of Japan and the Republic of Korea started 20-30 years ago. In the following five to 10 years, we will see the thriving of Chinese transnational companies," said Lu.

"This represents a shift from an export-driven model to a strategy where Chinese companies produce goods and conduct business in foreign markets with a mastery of local cultures and regulations," she said.

For Pereira, China's supply chain holds the most significant advantages in its high efficiency and robust enforcement capacity.

"I believe combining China's efficiency and enforcement capacity with the technological advantages of Western countries will yield mutually beneficial results, and I anticipate that Chinese technology will facilitate cooperation and exchanges in the future," he said.

Many European and American countries are welcoming Chinese suppliers who bring advanced technologies, establish factories, and create local jobs, Pereira said.

According to the mentioned report, China has constructed overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 46 countries as of the end of 2021. These cooperation zones had created 392,000 local jobs and significantly strengthened global supply chain cooperation.

"I believe that in the next five to 10 years, Chinese firms will not only sustain their current progress but also lead the world toward mutual benefits," Pereira said. (Video reporters: Wang Pu, Wang Xiunan, Xie Han; video editors: Lin Lin, Mu Xuyao, Zhou Sa'ang, Jia Xiaotong, Wang Han)
This photo taken on Nov. 10, 2023 shows auroras in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

"By studying the effects of global warming on the polar biosphere and glaciers, we can predict major impacts it could have on the Earth's climate and environment in the coming decades if global warming continues," a Chinese researcher said.

OSLO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Polar research is becoming increasingly important in addressing the challenges brought about by global climate change, He Fang, lead of China's Arctic Yellow River Station, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Established in July 2004, the Yellow River Station is China's first Arctic research station. It is located in Ny-Alesund, a small town in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

Due to geographical factors, the polar regions are the areas most affected by global warming, He, an associate researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, said.

Photo taken on July 25, 2023 shows the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

The researcher spent more than two months at the Yellow River Station this summer. He said research in the Arctic conducted by scientists from various countries enables more succinct observations of climate change and its impact.

"By studying the effects of global warming on the polar biosphere and glaciers, we can predict major impacts it could have on the Earth's climate and environment in the coming decades if global warming continues," He said.

Currently, the Yellow River Station is involved in four flagship projects proposed by the Ny-Alesund Science Managers Committee, covering marine ecology, terrestrial ecology, atmospheric science and glaciology, according to He.

These multidisciplinary research activities play an important role in understanding global climate change and its impacts on polar environments, he said.

A member of the Chinese Arctic expedition team works at the China Arctic Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, on July 25, 2023. (Chinese Arctic Expedition Team/Handout via Xinhua)

He recalled his first polar experience at China's Zhongshan Station research base in Antarctica, saying he was struck by the vast ice fields and distant icebergs.

"Due to climate change, the icebergs are melting, and it seems that they might disappear before long."

Global warming has a significant impact on glacier movements in the polar regions, He said, adding that multidisciplinary research activities are important in understanding global climate change and the impacts on polar environments.

Situated in the northwestern region of Spitsbergen, the largest island in Norway's Arctic Svalbard archipelago, Ny-Alesund is the world's northernmost permanent settlement.

Li Bin, a deputy researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, takes photos of auroras near the Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, Nov. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

Once a thriving coal mining town, Ny-Alesund now buzzes with the activities of polar researchers, hosting the world's northernmost year-round research station compound, which includes the Yellow River Station.

Polar life in the station is divided into two distinct seasons. The summer months are a hive of activity. Winter, however, ushers in a period of challenges as the relentless polar night descends. The rhythm of day and night blurs, with polar night enveloping the region for over 120 days from late October to late February.

During the interview, He, who had wintered at the Yellow River Station three times, also related stories that had happened in the international research community there.

Li Bin, a deputy researcher at the Polar Research Institute of China, takes photos of auroras near the Yellow River Station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Norway, Nov. 10, 2023.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)

"Wintering often means being alone at the station for several months without daylight. This requires strong mental adjustment and constant calibration of one's biological clock to adapt to this unending night and isolation."

In this remote outpost, the canteen usually serves as a communal hub, providing sustenance for the international research community, He said.

"When visiting the canteen, if a fellow researcher from another country was found in low spirits or absent for several days, other people would make sure to check in and offer support."

Editor: GSY
Day 1c of the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $3,300 Main Event hosted by the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino attracted a total of 114 runners, with late registration still open till the end of level 14 on Day 2.

After nine levels of play, 62 players remained. Among the big stacks sits Simas Karaliunas of Lithuania, who bagged 504,500, along with Damir Gabdullin of Russia with 463,500, with both claiming a spot inside the top three.

Damir Gabdullin

Karaliunas found himself in a few interesting spots throughout the day, including a big pot that was won when his opponent limp-back-jammed with seven-duece and was called by the ace-ten of Karaliunas to scoop a massive pot and accumulate a ton of chips.

Later in the day, he would make a huge hero call when Dawid Smolka was caught with his hand in the cookie jar holding an under-pair. Karaliunas tank-called after a player at the table called the clock and he scooped another big pot.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 John One Turkey 764,500 306 2 Simas Karaliunas Lithuania 504,500 202 3 Damir Gabdullin Russia 463,500 185 4 Ali El-Siblani Lebanon 431,000 172 5 Mariappan Subramaniam Singapore 415,500 166 6 Kostiantyn Nikulin Israel 358,500 143 7 Amir Sonsino Israel 345,000 138 8 George Alahwal Jordan 311,000 124 9 Anatoly Korochenskiy Russia 287,000 115 10 Nikolay Tyurin Russia 280,000 112

Benjamin Hamnett

Some other notable names to find a bag on Day 1 include WPT champion Benjamin Hamnett with 95,000, Russian crusher Oleg Netaliev who has finished runner-up in a Merit Poker Main Event in the past with 118,500, and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Dmitry Yurasov with 231,000.

Day 2 of the event is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. local time. Players who qualified on the first day will be returning to level 10. The blinds will be set at 1,000/2,500/2,500, and players are scheduled to play for another nine levels concluding around 9:45 p.m. local time. Each level will last for 60 minutes.

As always, stay tuned into PokerNews for all the updates on the Merit Poker Gangster Series and all the other best events happening around the world!
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Trump and his adult kids were placed under advanced monitoring in his civil fraud trial after they didnt disclose $40 million in transfers.

The Messenger reported:

Former President Donald Trump and his co-defendants in his civil fraud trial are under enhanced monitoring after failing to disclose three transfers of cash adding up to roughly $40 million, a letter made public on Wednesday reveals.

Those unreported transfers included $29 million to the former president for tax payments, insurance premiums, and a $5.5 million cash payment in lieu of a bond allowing Trump to appeal the E. Jean Carroll sexual assault judgment, according to the filing.

Trump has been moving money around and not reporting it to the court. What is most devastating is that Trump is using company money to make tax payments and to fund his appeal of the verdict in the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit. Trump and his kids arent supposed to be doing any of this.

The fact that Trump is tapping into the business funds suggests that the reports about Trumps shaky personal finances are true.

The reason why the civil penalties in the Trump civil lawsuit are so critical is because the former president and his business finances are intertwined. If the state of New York shuts the Trump Organization down and seizes the companys assets, it could have a devastating impact on the finances of Donald Trump and his family.

The court is on to Trump, and it looks an awful lot like he is using company money because it could be his only source of funds.
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Rep. Clay Higgins warned Special Counsel Jack Smith that his days are numbered.

Rep. Higgins said on Newsmax, So let me say regarding Jack Smith and his request for another list of American citizens under some alleged legitimate investigative effort. Im I consider it a badge of honor to be on another one of Jack Smiths list. So I just say that his days are numbered, and American patriots are not going to stand idly by.

Video:

His days are numbered GOP Rep. Clay Higgins warns Special Counsel Jack Smith: Ill just say that his days are numbered and American patriots are not gonna stand idly bypic.twitter.com/PeihoubyJX  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) November 30, 2023

Higgins left his threat veiled enough that he didnt risk being criminally charged, but he was trying to intimidate the Special Counsel with a hint that MAGA is coming for him. Jack Smith has prosecuted war criminals, so he probably isnt shaking in his shoes over a congressman from Louisiana.

The fear level of MAGA is perceptible by who and what they threaten. Rep. Higgins apparently views Jack Smith as a threat to Trump. What Higgins means by the claim that Smiths days are numbered is open to interpretation, but it is a song of pure fear that Smith will get a conviction against the former president from one of Trumps most loyal House Republicans.

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The Aiken Corporation is moving forward with the plan to construct a building that could house a Savannah River National Laboratory workforce development center in downtown Aiken.

Aiken Corporation issued a request for qualifications Tuesday seeking architectural and engineering services for the building.

What is a request for qualifications?

A request for qualifications is a document where an entity like the Aiken Corporation looks for qualified companies that are interested in performing the work.

Wait a minute. I though the Savannah River National Laboratory would be making the decisions on the building. Or maybe it was the city of Aiken. How did the Aiken Corporation get involved?

In January, then Mayor Pro Tempore Ed Woltz announced initial plans that implied a building in downtown Aiken would be constructed and occupied by Savannah River National Laboratory.

But, in reality, the South Carolina General Assembly allocated $20 million to an unspecified governmental entity to construct a building in which the Savannah River National Laboratory could lease space for a workforce development center.

And the leadership at the national lab decided they would like to lease space in a building in downtown Aiken.

Thus, the city of Aiken sought and received the $20 million to construct a mixed-use building downtown in which the national lab could lease space on the top two floors.

At some unknown point in this process, the Aiken Corporation became involved when it contracted with McMillan Pazdan Smith for a feasibility study on the potential of constructing a building in downtown Aiken.

At a February public forum, K.J. Jacobs of McMillan Pazdan presented the feasibility study to be conducted as an evaluation of the Holley House and Warneke Cleaners site for the building.
WARSAW, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Wednesday confirmed Dec. 11 as the date on which he will present his new government's official program for the next four years (also known as expose) to the lower house of Parliament (Sejm), followed by a vote of confidence.

Sejm Marshal (speaker) Szymon Holownia and Morawiecki had a meeting on Wednesday. According to Morawiecki, their meeting would talk about extending the zero percent VAT (value-added tax) rate on food, continuing the mortgage holidays and freezing energy prices.

At a press conference after the meeting, Holownia said that the vote of confidence for the government is scheduled for 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Dec. 11.

If Morawiecki's government loses the vote, it would trigger the so-called "second constitutional step," allowing a candidate for prime minister to be nominated by a group of at least 46 members of the Parliament, the Parliament speaker said.

On Monday, Morawiecki and his cabinet were sworn in. The new prime minister has two weeks to present his government's program and get a vote of confidence. However, the Law and Justice party, which Morawiecki represents, has only 194 seats in the 460-seat Sejm, while the opposition holds 248 seats.

Editor: WXL
New Italian and Thai dining spots, along with two new bagel shops, soon will be cooking across the Lowcountry. Also, a new retailer is on the way to the peninsula, a longtime Summerville shop changes hands, and a new cafe and market officially opens Jan. 11 in Mount Pleasant. Read moreNew restaurants coming to Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Moncks Corner
Wolf and Horton are two moms that each weigh as much as NASA's space shuttle. Both were spotted swimming in the Carolinas this past week, the first of their kind to make the annual pilgrimage to the region's shallow waters, a place where these North Atlantic right whales once gave birth and might do so again.

The survival of the species hinges on these two breeding females and roughly 80 others.

The whale moms arrived amid renewed optimism that they can still be saved from extinction. But a proposed, science-backed rule that federal officials say is key to their protection has yet to materialize.

"I dont know why this rule has not moved through the fisheries service and why it's not in effect for this calving season, said Gib Brogan, a campaign director for the ocean advocacy group Oceana. "They've been saying it would be."

In summer 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed expanding speed limits that are meant to reduce deadly boat-whale collisions. The expanded rule took years of mapping and data crunching. It would sets a speed limit of 10 knots in more places where whales migrate and give birth. For the first time, the speed restrictions would include small boats.

From 2010 to 2020, a quarter of the North Atlantic right whale population disappeared or showed up dead. Scientists found at least 13 deaths were tied to boat strikes in roughly the same time period.

Today, only 364 whales remain. According to a consortium of scientists and industry groups that release an updated whale count every year, this latest estimate represents a "leveling off" after years of plummeting decline. At such low numbers, every death still matters.

"Even one human-caused mortality puts the species at risk of extinction," Jessica Redfern, a scientist at the New England Aquarium in Boston, said at a Jun. 6 subcommittee hearing for the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. A vessel strike has already killed one right whale this year, prompting formal calls from Oceana and other groups to impose the expanded rule early under an "emergency" order.
GEORGETOWN  From the county seat, it's a brief drive over the river and through a bit of woods to what was formerly, and simply, named Plantersville Elementary School.

Up until the beginning of the school year on Aug. 3, the school was similar to the others in its district, its enrollment lower but its students and alumni still united by school spirit. But with the Georgetown County School District's magnet school program in place in the most rural part of the county, a few changes have been made.

Now Plantersville Elementary Digital Immersion School, the rural pre-K through 5 school north of Georgetown is still the home of the Rams. Of course, the Rams logo now includes a sprocket behind the animal's head, along with images of a person wearing VR goggles and an anthropomorphic robot.

"Everyday technology," Principal Darryl Stanley said when asked how to most easily define digital immersion for curious students or parents. "I often tell my parents who come to the school, I go to Food Lion and it used to be a cashier. Now it's self-checkout. Technology is here. The job now is not necessarily the cashier, the job is who can operate and fix that machine that allows you to check out. That's where the job market is going."

On a recent Tuesday morning, Jacqueline Campbell of Promise Consulting assisted fifth grade students with a lesson in preparing a digital presentation about themselves for their classmates. Campbell used Tynker, an educational platform used to introduce young children to computer coding, to teach them the basics of programming.

"It's super teacher-friendly and very kid-friendly with a lot of the graphics and everything," said Campbell, the company's president. "And so what this lesson was, it integrates AI into the block-based coding and they are creating a project about themselves."

Campbell will be in Plantersville once a week throughout the year, helping students to build initial confidence in their abilities to use the new technology. But over time, she said, the students might become just as able as their teachers, if not more.
Welcome to Date Night, your weekly inspiration and themed itinerary pairing a local cultural activity or event with a corresponding dining experience. Want to win at going out? Impress your significant other with your newfound, niche planning skills? Or simply answer the weekly what are we doing tonight? I got you. Read moreDate Night in Greenville: A jazzy Roaring '20s alternative to Restaurant Week
NOTE: Some of these events may have been canceled or postponed. Please check with the organizers. Call 843-873-9424 ext. 220 or email broberts@journalscene.com to add an event to this free calendar. Read moreCommunity calendar
The Kingstree Beautification Commission hosted its 2023 Christmas Pallet Contest where community members were encouraged to join together to cut, paint and decorate their pallets in a Christmas theme. Read moreChristmas Pallet Contest winners announced
Service dogs  youve seen them walking around with their recognizable harnesses. But have you ever wondered what it takes to prepare a pup to become a life-changing, confidence-boosting, freedom-giving companion? Read moreBetween the Stacks: Southeastern Guide Dogs program
SURFSIDE BEACH  The town's long-overdue pier could be finished by the year's end, but some local officials want the builder to pay for construction delays.

After Hurricane Matthew destroyed the landmark wooden pier in 2016, replacing it with an upgraded concrete version became a struggle. The project's completion date has been pushed back multiple times since construction began nearly three years ago.

Zane Peterson with Collins Engineering gave Surfside Beach Town Council a new tentative date of Jan. 1 for construction to be complete. Speaking at the council's Nov. 28 meeting, Peterson said contractors are working on the installation of handrails, some fire devices and finalizing the piers ADA compliance  with a final walkthrough slated for the last week of December.

Im taking it with a grain of salt because its been a long, long project and its been delayed, but we are getting close, Mayor Rob Krouse told The Post and Courier. Im not holding anything to the Jan. 1 date because theres nothing official about that. I just look forward to a quick completion in the very near future.

Krouse said the new pier will be a destination for both residents and tourists.

Its going to be great, he said. "Youve got a couple more dining options out there, the ice cream shop and the bait and tackle shop. It will be a fishing pier again, which is a big deal. Im personally not a fisherman, but they are an interesting crowd and they really love that pier fishing, so I am looking forward to bringing them back.

Despite a clearer pathway to completion, the council wants the firm building the pier to pay for the delay in finishing the project, which was originally scheduled to be walkable by mid-summer 2022.

During their meeting this week, council members directed town attorney Jarrett Bouchette to draft a letter to pier contractor Consensus Construction notifying the firm of their intentions. Town leaders accused the firm of breaching its construction contract, noting the last completion date the town agreed to was May 2. Councilman Chris Stamey, who made the motion, said the contract stipulates that damages could reach $500 per day.
Parenting these days is hard. Kids have phones and tablets in their hands at an early age, a fact that leaves parents like me worrying about whether our children are getting too much screen time and what they're stumbling onto online. Of course, technology comes with plenty of benefits, but  Read moreCommentary: Parents want to protect kids online, but SC device filter bill won't help
Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

ANKARA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Trkiye will step up its efforts for the release of the hostages and establishment of a lasting truce in the Gaza Strip, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"We will accelerate our contacts to release the hostages and make the ceasefire permanent," Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

"Hopefully, our initiatives will continue in a multi-dimensional manner in the future," he said.

The Turkish government continues to dispatch humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza and has so far sent 12 relief planes and one ship to Egypt, according to Erdogan.

A second ship carrying 1,500 tons of humanitarian aid set sail earlier on Wednesday, according to the Turkish president.

"We take care of the treatment of injured people, especially cancer patients and children, by transporting them to Trkiye. Examinations for locations of the field hospitals we will establish in Gaza are underway," Erdogan said.

Trkiye brought another 23 Gazan patients, along with their 21 companions, for treatment in the capital Ankara late Wednesday.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, who welcomed them at Etimesgut Airport in Ankara, said Trkiye has so far received a total of 200 people from Gaza, including 114 patients and 86 companions.

After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday.

The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages.

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

People stand in front of rubble in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

A man walks among the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

People ride bicycles in Gaza City, on Nov. 29, 2023. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the scene of Gaza City. After weeks of Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas against Israel, the two sides reached a four-day humanitarian truce last week, which was extended for another two days starting on Tuesday. The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict has surpassed 15,000, according to Palestinian figures. Israel said that the Hamas attack killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua)

Editor: WXL
Just moments after he took his oath of office atop the steps outside Charleston City Hall, Mayor William Cogswell noted that President Joe Biden also was in the city at that very moment, giving a campaign speech in Emanuel AME Church less than a mile away: We are a city that attracts attention. Read moreEditorial: Cogswell's fresh approach gives new hope for solving Charleston's old problems
FLORENCE  Construction projects to address serious infrastructure issues at two Housing Authority of Florence complexes are in limbo after the agency's funding ran dry and the contractor threatened to sue for what it said is millions in unpaid bills.

Gibraltar Construction Co. Inc. was hired to complete $12.2 million in urgent work at complexes in Florence and Cheraw to fix dilapidated dwellings. It has accused the Housing Authority of withholding nearly $2 million.

Housing Authority officials said they paused work after running out of funding  and as questions about impropriety at Gibraltar arose. Now, the authority is just hoping it can escape the contracts with its finances intact.

But the work stoppage means that maintenance issues the Housing Authority once described as a serious health risk remain.

"Those particular projects are needed. The upgrades are needed, and we recognize that," Douglas Hawkins, the board chair, said. "But then on the other hand, theres a fiduciary responsibility that we have, and we want to marry those two together."

The company said it wants the money it's owed. At the authoritys November meeting, Gibraltar President Matthew Mitchell asked the board of commissioners to enter pre-litigation mediation.

If the agency doesnt come to the table soon, hes prepared to sue, he said.

Gibraltars been doing this for like 50 years, and never has there been this issue where the clients not paying or communicating about it, he said in an interview after the meeting.

It is yet another potential lawsuit against the embattled agency, which has weathered months of criticism and allegations of misconduct.
The International Model United Nations invited nine students from Guam's St. John's School to the 2023 International Model United Nations Conference in Manila, Philippines, which took place from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10.

Hosted by the University of Asia and the Pacific, the conference welcomed over 150 students from some 25 countries from across the world. The students have participated in mock conferences similar to that of meetings held by the United Nations, representing several countries with different U.N.-affiliated committees, such as the United Nations Development Program, World Health Organization, United Nations Childrens Fund, U.N. Women, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Of the SJS delegates, four were recognized for their work and dedication: Clara Arcilla achieved the Outstanding Delegate award for WHO, Bea Mariano achieved the Honorable Mention award for UNICEF, Jackson Fulkerson-Smith achieved Verbal Commendation for UNESCO, and Zane Whitehead achieved Verbal Commendation for UNICEF, according to SJS.

Clara Arcilla, one of the winners, shared her experience at the IMUN conference in Manila.

"I had a wonderful time at the IMUN conference because I established comradeships with delegates who shared a passion of developing a positive world," explained Arcilla.

As Model U.N. president, I encourage anyone to consider joining a Model U.N. conference, since it is enjoyable to act as a countrys diplomat and interact with people from several countries.

Johnson Xia, who participated as delegate of Norway for UNICEF, added his insights as a first-time attendee.

This was my first time attending an in-person conference, and I was really nervous. After experiencing it, ... it was great learning about other peoples perspectives and hanging out with people (from) around the world. Xia said.

The conference provided the students with experience constructing speeches, participating in debates, writing resolutions and attending presentations featuring special guest speakers, including the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, the ambassador of the Royal Danish Embassy in Manila, the country representative of the United Nations Population Fund Agency Philippines, and the deputy head of mission of Argentina to the Philippines.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

ASHGABAT, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- China firmly supports Turkmenistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, said Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday.

Ding, who paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday, made the remarks when meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan.

Noting that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of Turkmenistan, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, spoke highly of the achievement made by the two sides under the leadership of the two heads of state.

China-Turkmenistan cooperation is highly complementary, and enjoys huge potential and broad prospects, said the vice premier, calling on the two sides to tap cooperation potential, continue to deepen and expand cooperation in key areas, and turn the grand blueprint laid out by the leaders of the two countries into real results, so as to better benefit the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries to steadily advance the building of the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, Ding said.

Berdimuhamedov asked Ding to convey his cordial greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and said that the all-round cooperation between the two countries is strategic, long-term and special.

Turkmenistan stands ready to work with China to enhance strategic communication, deepen cooperation in all fields and promote its comprehensive strategic partnership with China to a new height, Berdimuhamedov said.

He said that Turkmenistan firmly supports the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism and is willing to work with China to jointly promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity.

During his visit, Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee.

The two sides had in-depth exchange of views during the meeting and mapped out priorities of cooperation between the two countries in the next phase.

The two sides agreed to further synergize their development strategies, increase the scale of economic, trade and investment cooperation, continue to deepen natural gas cooperation, accelerate consultations on the alignment of priority economic projects, and carry out more cooperation on non-resource projects.

On people-to-people exchanges, the two sides agreed to ensure the success of activities related to the Year of Culture, and promote the early implementation of projects such as the establishment of cultural centers, the establishment of Luban Workshops and traditional medicine centers in Turkmenistan.

On security cooperation, the two sides agreed to deepen counter-terrorism cooperation, and jointly combat the "three forces" of terrorism.

After the meeting, Ding and Meredov witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents, including those on deepening science and technology cooperation and on international road transportation.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov co-chair the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee in Turkmenistan, Nov. 29, 2023. Ding paid a visit to Turkmenistan from Tuesday to Wednesday. During his visit, Ding met with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Ding also held talks with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, and co-chaired with Meredov the sixth Meeting of the China-Turkmenistan Cooperation Committee. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Editor: WRX
This weeks peak demonstration of leftist anti-Semitic madness comes to us courtesy of the Oakland City Council, where a resolution endorsing a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza war was met with this parade of insane people:

Last night the Oakland City Council voted on a resolution to call for a ceasefire. A city council member tried to insert language condemning Hamas. This was the reaction pic.twitter.com/r7aTb2mkrQ  Yashar Ali  (@yashar) November 28, 2023

Okay, you say; Its Oakland. The Bay Area. Krazifornia. What do you expect? All true, but dont underestimate how widely spread, and supremely vocal, this sentiment is across the country, and it potential for ongoing malignancy in our body politic.

Look no further than Atlanta, where pro-Hamas protestors showed up at First Lady Rosalyn Carters memorial service in Atlanta, apparently taking lessons tastelessness from the Westboro Baptists. Keep in mind that Jimmy Carter was the most pro-Palestinian president in our history, and gave a huge boost to the slander that Israel is an Apartheid nation.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate outside the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/Gvxcn0H1uh  The Recount (@therecount) November 28, 2023

And therein lies the lesson for today. It doesnt matter that the number of vicious leftist anti-Semites comprise only a tiny portion of the American public. Polls show overwhelming public support for Israel among Americans, while Hamas polls at 1 percent about the only poll that asked. However, opposition to Israel and support of Hamas is much higher among younger Americans (and the elite media), especially among college students. Gee, I wonder why that is?

The point is: the die hard left has one enduring rapturous dream, and that is to recapture the full frisson of the 1960s anti-war protest Movement and collateral efforts like the repeated urban riots across several years. There have been several attempts at a sequel over the years, such as on behalf of Communist Nicaragua under Reagan, or the Code Pinkers during the Gulf War under President George W. Bush, but that was a tougher sell as the second Gulf War occurred after the 9/11 attack on America, and as such it was hard to get much mass enthusiasm for our enemies beyond certifiable loons like Ward Churchill. Occupy Wall Street gave it a go, but that too was pathetic and unsustainable. The closest the left has come to matching the scale and destructiveness of the 1960s protest left was the BLM riots after George Floyds death, but that did not sustain itself as long as the 60s protest movement. But the Israel-Gaza War might provide the fuel for a sustained leftist outburst over the coming year, especially if Israel occupies Gaza after the fighting ends, or if the war spreads to Hezbollah in the north.

To repeat for the umpteenth time the apocryphal Mark Twain remark that history doesnt repeat itself, but it rhymes, there are some pretty clear parallels between the 1960s Vietnam War protest and the anti-Israel protests today. First, it divides the Democratic Party. Remember the popular chantHey hey LBJHow many kids did you kill today? The rough equivalent is the moniker the pro-Hamas left has devised for President Biden: They are calling him Genocide Joe. And guess where Democrats are having their convention next year? Thats right: Chicago. Theres certain to be a platform fight about Israel, which the party establishment will ruthlessly squash. That could well fuel a street riot. (And the whole scene could be even more insane if, come convention time, Democrats are replacing Biden at the top of the ticket. Like Hubert Humphrey in 1968, whoever replaces Biden will be under intense pressure over Israel.)

The second clear parallel is the fact that the left openly sides with the enemy. In the 1960s, the anti-war left didnt oppose the Vietnam War because of the draft, or because it was a foolish or inept war. Large portions of the New Left favored our Communist enemies. Remember their sloganHo-ho-ho/Ho Chi Minh/the NLF [the formal acronym of the Vietcong]/is sure to win. The suggested parallel in my headline doesnt quite work, but From the river to the sea/Palestine shall be free is the functional equivalent.

It is sometimes noted that in the 1960s, only about 5 percent of the college-age population were participants in the anti-war movement and the large protests they organized. (And Ive been told by several older Boomer acquaintances that they attended anti-war protests chiefly to meet girls.) My friend John Tamny noted this fact recently, generously citing some of my own work in fact, to suggest the current pro-Hamas protests are unrepresentative and dont need to be taken that seriously. I disagree; the lesson of the anti-war movement of the 1960swhich by rapid degrees became an anti-American movement (remember Amerikkka)is that it only takes a determined minority to de-range the politics and culture of a nation, with baleful results. Back in the 1960s the liberal establishment was befuddled by the New Left and didnt know how to respond, so it mostly capitulated. Seems the same thing is happening today after October 7. In the face of a demented, deranged left, our liberal establishment is once again calling for dialogue.

Maybe Marx, instead of Mark Twain, is better recalled here: History repeats itself, first as tragedy, and then as farce.
Historian Richard Landes gave Pallywood its name. I excerpted his recent essay Jihadi journalism on mainstream media photographers riding along with Hamas on the October 7 massacre. Professor Landes now returns with the Tablet essay Pallywoods latest blockbuster to document the production featuring the Al-Ahli Hospital. A funny thing happened on the way from Pallywood. He concludes with these observations:

Had it been merely an Islamic Jihad rocket that fell short, the chances of it eliciting this kind of outrage are nil. The only way the media story could potentially have an impact on U.S. policy is if it were an Israeli strike targeting a hospital and killing hundreds of innocent Palestinians.

Hence, once the evidence became clear on Oct. 18, CNN had to adjust and explain that, actually, it didnt matter who was responsible. In the eyes of the international community maybe this does make a difference. But in the eyes of the streets, no, opined Erin Burnett. Burnett then turned to her colleague Clarissa Ward in Ashkelon for comment. Ward repeated verbatim the narrative from the previous night without any concern for how little sense it now made. What mattered was the desired political effect. The focus now, Ward commented, is very much on the reaction and the fact that for many Arab states, this is now becoming a national security issue in their own countries because people are horrified. People are angry. And so, Burnett and Ward doubled down, the former declaring the hospital blast a huge inflection, and the latter concurring that theres no question this feels like a watershed moment. That was the hope, at least.

Hamas Al-Ahli Hospital information operation succeeded in enlisting the cooperation of Western media organizations. By the time the evidence became clear, the damage had been done, both in the Middle East and in the West, where Hamas supporters rallied in the streets. Although President Biden accepted Israels evidence that proved it was not responsible, the pressure at home was such that Biden had to apologize to Muslim American leaders for questioning the figures provided by the Hamas health ministry.

Curiously, the campaign in the U.S. to declare Pallywood a false narrative intensified after the Al-Ahli op was exposed. Just this week, NPR ran a segment (citing the same fact-checker used by Rolling Stone) on the Pallywood pejorative. The timing dovetails with the White Houses Islamophobia initiative, which provided the necessary framework for the campaign: The Pallywood conspiracy theory is a form of hate speech that endangers Muslim lives in America, and is a manifestation of Islamophobia. There is no place for it in America.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 16:02:31

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RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Press releases offer companies the opportunity to share their news. Whether it's a new product announcement, community involvement, or welcoming a key employee to the team, the list goes on.ACCESSWIRE , a newswire service standout that provides regional, national and global news to thousands of clients worldwide, understands an effective approach to consistent press release distribution is using trending topics as the basis of campaigns."A key component to a successful press release is its newsworthiness and this is where paying attention to and leveraging trending topics is beneficial," said Jennifer Hammers, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Issuer Direct. "When companies capitalize on trending topics, they fuel a consistent flow of press releases which helps build brand awareness, improve SEO performance, attract website traffic and so much more." ACCESSWIRE shares three tips companies can use to turn trending topics into newsworthy press release campaigns:Pay attention - Keep an eye on industry publications and social media channels to see what topics are popular. Companies that pay attention and act quickly when news breaks have the potential to generate a buzz and position themselves as thought leaders in the space.Check for relevancy - Not every trending topic will align with a brand and that's why checking for relevancy is important. Here are some reasons a trending topic can be relevant to a business:A product/service relates to the story.A brand has covered a similar topic in the past.A team member is a topic matter expert.Move quickly - Once a brand identifies a trending topic, it needs to develop and organize its ideas to craft a newsworthy press release quickly. While speed is critical, brands should slow down and make sure they have all the information before distributing a press release with their name attached to it. Move quickly but pay attention to details big and small.For more information about ACCESSWIRE's press release distribution services visit accesswire.com ###About ACCESSWIRE/Issuer Direct CorporationIssuer Direct is a leading communications company, providing solutions for both Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals for over 16 years. Our comprehensive solutions are used by thousands of customers from emerging startups to multi-billion-dollar global brands, ensuring their most important moments are reaching the right audiences, via our industry-leading newswire, IR website solutions, events technology, and compliance solutions. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com Issuer Direct Corporation Media Contacts:Brian R. Balbirnie +1 919-481-4000 brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com Jennifer Hammers +1 919-481-4000 jennifer.hammers@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: ACCESSWIRE
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / NYC-based technology company Alexandria Labs is thrilled to announce it has signed a licensing deal with London publisher Black Spring Press Group to create limited digital editions of the much-anticipated Black Spring Crime Series. This is a historic collaboration between a literary press and a technology company, all built around a desire to transform how readers enjoy digital books and create a permanent home for independent publishers on the modern Internet.A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands Cover The cover for A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands, a novel by Zephaniah Sole, published in the Black Spring Crime Series in 2023. This deal marks the premiere of Alexandria Labs' platform for publishers to create and distribute limited digital editions, unlock a new revenue stream, and reach new audiences. With traditional book formats, readers must give up true ownership when they purchase a digital book; with Alexandria Labs' limited edition e-books, this trade-off no longer exists, and these e-books can be treasured, displayed, or lent freely by readers while protecting authors' and publishers' copyright. Alexandria Labs is committed to preserving literature and access to information, using blockchain technology and encryption to make Alexandria e-books safe from loss, theft, and censorship as e-books have never been before.Black Spring Press, founded in 1984, has published classics from Nick Cave's writing to the history of Biba fashion to Carolyn Cassady's ground-breaking Off The Road. It resurrected Bonfiglioli's Mortdecai, and published editions of important work by Leonard Cohen, Orson Welles, and Julian Maclaren-Ross. The publisher is named after the classic by Henry Miller, a collection of stories entitled Black Spring, published in 1963 by the important indie company Grove Press in New York. It is dedicated to Anais Nin. Black Spring Press Group has been contributing to literature for 39 years.The collectible digital editions of the Black Spring Crime Series will be released on the Alexandria platform in the coming weeks, including titles already published as well as those to come in the series' 10-book run. The Crime Series, curated by Luca Veste, began in 2023 with Zephaniah Sole's A Crime in the Land of 7,000 Islands and has been endorsed by bestselling authors, including Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, and Mark Billingham.Alexandria Labs founder and CEO Amelie Lasker says, "We at Alexandria are great fans of Black Spring Press Group. It means so much to be able to debut our publisher platform with such a beloved and long-running brand and an exciting curation of thriller titles." Black Spring Press Group publisher and owner Dr. Todd Swift says, "The future of publishing is going to have to reckon with, and creatively redefine, web3-so I am exceptionally proud and delighted to be starting this historic adventure with Alexandria Labs, who seem to combine the impossible-genuine good-natured humanity and 100% tech-know-how. Our books feel in great hands!"Contact InformationAmelie Lasker Founder and CEO amelie@ alexandrialabs.xyz (978) 430-8449Todd Swift Publisher and Owner contact@ blackspringpressgroup.uk SOURCE: Alexandria Labs
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Sam Gibbons to return as General Manager, lead the office and support growing client base in the upper MidwestCHICAGO, IL and MINNEAPOLIS, MN / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Alpha Advisory Group, and its subsidiary, Alpha IR Group (collectively "Alpha"), today announced the opening of its new office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Serving the Twin Cities area and the upper Midwest, the establishment of a Minneapolis office reinforces Alpha's commitment to clients and expectations to continue to grow across the region. The office will be led by Sam Gibbons, Managing Director and General Manager in Minneapolis."Alpha's proactive and process driven approach continues to be highly valued by clients that are looking to expand the ROI of their investor relations and strategic communications programs, and we are thrilled to establish a local office in the Twin Cities under Sam's leadership," said CEO & Founder Chris Hodges. "Sam's deep knowledge of our industry, proven commitment to his clients, and dedication to critical thought leadership in the capital markets, makes him an ideal fit to help lead the next phase of Alpha's growth in the Midwest and support our strategy and vision for our future." Sam Gibbons commented, "Public companies in North America will continue to face increasingly complex communications challenges, and the need for effective counsel and strategies by corporate executives and their boards has never been greater. Alpha brings an extremely compelling value proposition for companies that care about protecting and enhancing their investment brands and corporate reputations, and I'm extremely excited to help expand the firm's presence in the Midwest and lead the formation of our newest office in Minneapolis." Since its founding in 2012, Alpha has extended its geographic reach to serve both domestic and international clients. Alpha's expansion will help meet the growing demand for its IR and corporate reputation services, as existing and new clients face the need to establish more sophisticated Wall Street and corporate reputation programs.Sam Gibbons BackgroundMr. Gibbons brings extensive experience in the capital markets and as an investor relations practitioner, with ten years of agency experience and five years of in-house experience as Vice President of Investor Relations and Chief of Staff to the CEO of multi-state cannabis operator, Vireo Health. Sam began his career as part of ICR's consumer retail and industrial practices, and was subsequently instrumental in the growth of Alpha IR after initially joining the firm in 2014. Sam completed his undergraduate studies at Boston University and serves as Co-President of the Twin Cities Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI).About The Alpha Companies:The Alpha Companies, including Alpha Advisory Group and Alpha IR Group, bring deep sector expertise and senior-driven programs focused on clients' most critical stakeholders. The firm's work includes strategic investor relations consulting, corporate reputation advisory, stakeholder communications research, as well as transactions and special situations counsel. Alpha is the right choice to manage clients' reputations, credibility, and ultimately, their corporate brand. The Alpha Companies are headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, Boston, Dallas and Minneapolis. The Alpha Companies serve clients across all industries and through multiple inflection points in the business cycle. Additional information about Alpha IR and Alpha Advisory can be found at www.alpha-ir.com For more details, contact:Dan FaustAlpha Advisory Groupinfo@ alpha-ir.com312-445-2870 SOURCE: Alpha Advisory Group
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MCALLEN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Antares Systems, a leader in digital solutions, announces the expansion of its Website Design and Local SEO Services specifically tailored for small businesses in McAllen, Houston, and Dallas. This initiative is set to revolutionize the online presence of local businesses, particularly in the legal, home service/contractors, and home-building sectors.Antares Systems - Website Design and SEO Unlock Your Business Potential with Antares Systems. Dive into the digital world with tailored solutions: Custom Website Design, Local SEO, and Social Media Management.The agency's innovative approach combines custom web design with effective local SEO strategies, ensuring businesses stand out in their respective markets. Details of these services can be found at Small Business Website Design, McAllen Website Design, and Local SEO Services in McAllen."Our goal is to empower small businesses in Texas with digital tools that drive growth and customer engagement," said Pep Cabrero Managing Partner of Antares Systems. The company's expanded services in Houston (Houston Website Design and Local SEO Services in Houston) and Dallas (Dallas Website Design) are a testament to this commitment.Antares Systems focuses on creating websites that are not only visually appealing but also optimized for search engines and user experience. The local SEO services are crafted to boost visibility in local searches, an essential aspect for businesses looking to make a mark in their community.This comprehensive digital strategy is designed to meet the specific needs of small businesses, providing them with tools to compete effectively in the digital landscape. With a portfolio that spans various industries, Antares Systems showcases its ability to deliver customized, results-driven solutions.Conclusion:Antares Systems is inviting small businesses in McAllen, Houston, and Dallas to experience a transformation in their digital strategy. The agency's commitment to providing cutting-edge website design and local SEO services is a game-changer for businesses eager to establish a strong online presence.For more information and to embark on a journey towards digital success, visit Antares Systems online.Contact InformationPep Cabrero Managing Partner info@ antares.systems 9563705150SOURCE: Antares Systems
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Record-Breaking Franchisees Honored During Celebration in Cancun, MexicoVIRGINIA BEACH, VA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / British Swim School, the nation's leading "learn to swim" franchise, celebrated a fantastic year during its annual convention earlier this month in Cancun, Mexico.The event, which was held at an all-inclusive resort, celebrated the accomplishments of franchise owners and highlighted the incredible growth the brand has seen in 2023. Top brand performers were honored with awards, and everyone got a chance to connect and unwind during an inspiring four-day event."This yearly reunion is a special occasion for our community to connect and celebrate the incredible journey we've had together," said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School President. "The positive energy and shared experiences have made it an unforgettable experience. As we look back on a fantastic year for British Swim School, I want to express my gratitude to each franchisee who stood on stage, contributing to our collective success." Angelica Monroy, this year's recipient of the prestigious 'Neptune Award,' stands as a shining example of excellence among the franchisees. Her outstanding achievements in owning multiple locations in the vibrant Chicago area and her membership in the esteemed '$1 Million Club' highlight her dedication and leadership. Angelica's success inspires all and sets a high standard for the entire British Swim School community.Congratulations are also in order for Sukhveer Singh and Savneet Kaur, recognized as the standout newcomers of 2023 with the 'Fastest off the Block' award. Their commitment and passion shine through as they own franchises in the communities of Pleasanton and Livermore, California. Together, these remarkable individuals showcase the diversity and strength of our British Swim School family.British Swim School recognized franchise owners who had achieved financial milestones as well, increasing the "President's Circle" of owners who brought in at least $1M in revenue by 25% year over year.Adding to their exceptional franchise community, British Swim School proudly recognizes Raleigh, North Carolina's own Amy Joyner, who earned the esteemed 'BSS Gives Back' award for her remarkable contributions to the community. Her commitment is evident through her consistent sharing of best practices and valuable information with other owners. Actively involved in her community, Amy dedicates herself to giving back whenever possible."The passion for our brand is unmatched, and you can see how much our franchise owners value the partnership," said Gundlach. "I am looking forward to the remarkable accomplishments that our owners are set to achieve in 2024. With a well-defined plan in motion, we are enthusiastic about collaborating closely to facilitate and enhance their success. Together, we look forward to making 2024 another exceptional year for British Swim School." For over 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children, and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission - ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer.Since its inception in 1981, British Swim School has expanded to over 350 franchise locations across the U.S and Canada.Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for accidental death by drowning.To learn more about British Swim Schools, visit www.britishswimschool.com About British Swim SchoolBritish Swim School, the nation's most established swim school franchise with over 40 years in business, believes that every individual, regardless of age or ability, should have the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Offering lessons for babies, children, and adults, the brand is dedicated to its mantra, "Survival of the Littlest," focusing first on the survival skills needed to survive a water accident, then moving on to stroke development and more advanced skills. Not only does British Swim Schools give peace of mind to countless families who seek the essential life skill the brand offers their children, the purpose-driven franchise also offers an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs who seek a fulfilling business venture with a sound foundation, low investment, and easily scalable model. Part of the Buzz Franchise Brands family, British Swim School currently operates over 350 schools across the United States and Canada.To learn more about the benefits of British Swim School's franchising opportunities, visit www.britishswimschoolfranchise.com MEDIA CONTACT:Mike Toper(919) 813-6511MToper@919 Marketing.com SOURCE: British Swim School
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BERWYN, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Chilean Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB:COBA) ("C3" or the "Company"), a US-based and US-listed critical minerals exploration and development company focused on its La Cobaltera, cobalt-copper project is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Technical Advisors to its team: Dr. Lawrence W. Snee, a Certified Professional Geologist and Qualified Person with over 40 years of global experience; Gonzalo Mato, an exploration geologist with over 40 years of experience with focus on Chile and broader South America; and Alejandro Munoz, an engineer and field project manager with over 10 years of experience with focus on Chile.About Dr. Lawrence W. SneeDr. Snee is a Certified Professional Geologist and Qualified Person with over 40 years of global experience. He was previously the Geological Director for John T. Boyd Company, Exploration Manager for Crest International Investments, VP of Exploration and Executive Director for Central Asian Minerals and Resources; and a Research Geologist and Team Chief Scientist for the US Geological Survey. Dr. Snee holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology, Biology, and Chemistry from Florida State University, a Master's degree in Geology and a PhD in Geology from The Ohio State University.About Gonzalo MatoMr. Mato is an exploration geologist with over 40 years of experience with focus on Chile and broader South America. He was previously the Chief Geologist in South America for Rio Tinto Group, Technical Coordinator for the Cerro Colorado bioleaching project, and an Exploration Geologist for Phelps Dodge (now, Freeport-McMoRan). Mr. Mato holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the Universidad de Oviedo (Asturias, Spain) and completed Post-Graduate Studies in Mineral Exploration at the University of British Columbia.About Alejandro MunozMr. Munoz is an engineer and field project manager with over 10 years of experience with focus on Chile. He was previously a Mining Planner at Antofagasta Minerals and a Mining Project Engineer for Empresa Nacional de Mineria (ENAMI). Mr. Munoz completed Civil Mining Engineering from The Catholic University of Chile.This press release does not constitute an offer or sale of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities of the Company nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.About Chilean Cobalt Corp.Chilean Cobalt Corp. ("C3") is a US-based and US-listed critical minerals exploration and development company focused on the La Cobaltera, cobalt-copper project, located in the past-producing San Juan District in northern Chile, one of the world's few primary cobalt districts known globally. C3 has a deliberate focus on building a dynamic and sustainable business with an emphasis on applying leading environmental stewardship, social engagement, and corporate governance practices to its strategy.Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains statements that involve expectations, plans or intentions (such as those relating to future business or financial results) and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These statements are forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results may vary materially. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and other similar expressions. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors not within the control of the company. The company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.CONTACTS:Chilean Cobalt Corp.Duncan T. BlountCEO & DirectorDuncan.blount@chileancobaltcorp.com SOURCE: Chilean Cobalt Corp.
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LIMASSOL, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / The Cyprus real estate market is witnessing unprecedented growth, prompting the need for cutting-edge tools to redefine the space. INDEX, a technology-focused marketplace, stands at the forefront of this transformation. Unlike developers or agents, the platform's sole purpose is to help real estate sellers connect with potential buyers. Yet, it is the end customer who's put on a pedestal. Index.cy Homepage Screenshot of the Main Page of Cyprus Real Estate Marketplace - Index.cy Mission and VisionThe core philosophy of INDEX revolves around transparency, customer-centricity, and a commitment to unbiased representation. Operating on a pay-per-listing model, the platform ensures that all information about a property is presented upfront, without the influence of commissions or promotional biases. At the heart of INDEX's strategy is a dedication to modernizing the real estate sector by integrating sophisticated tools and technologies.It's All About TechnologyThe platform offers users an insights dashboard with a comprehensive overview of aggregated real estate data. With a massive and meticulously curated database leveraging AI to eliminate duplicates, INDEX boasts hundreds of thousands of listings from 70+ companies. The platform continually refines this database to ensure accuracy and relevance.INDEX uses computer vision and machine learning to detect and remove duplicate entries. Moreover, apart from data management, the platform leverages AI as an online assistant, generating property descriptions, assisting customers in their queries, and creating SEO content and images.History and TeamAnton Karbanovich launched INDEX with the goal of elevating the real estate market after witnessing shortcomings during a personal property hunt. Coming from a country where specialized markets are common, he immediately noticed a major service gap.Drawing from his extensive experience in marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, Karbanovich envisioned a customer-focused real estate platform that mirrors the best practices of competitive business environments.The ultimate goal of INDEX is to become the central marketplace for all real estate-related traffic in Cyprus. Given the multilingual diversity of the Cyprus market, divided into Cypriot Greek, Russian, and English-speaking communities, INDEX aims to unite these groups on a single platform, fostering healthy competition among real estate agents and developers.The INDEX team is made up of young, innovative experts from throughout the world who work remotely, united by the idea of making INDEX a household name in Cyprus and beyond.Current AchievementsINDEX boasts a database exceeding 40,000 listings, surpassing competitors, with over 70 companies actively contributing to its wealth of information. Users can gauge how specific listings compare to the broader market, enhancing decision-making.INDEX positions itself as a leader in innovation within the real estate domain and actively leverages AI to enhance services. The platform continues to evolve, shaping the future of real estate technology.Contact InformationAnton Karbanovich CEO info@ index.cy +357 97 434310Related Files Index.cy_Cyprus Real Estate Marketplace.pdf SOURCE: INDX Ltd
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Digital Brand Media & Marketing Group, Inc. (OTC PINK:DBMM) announced that it has filed its 10-K for the fiscal year 2023 with the Securities & Exchange Commission on November 29, 2023.In a year that tested the resilience of businesses globally, DBMM looks back at the challenges faced with unwavering determination and stands today with a defined sense of optimism for the future. DBMM has emerged stronger, more adaptive, and poised for success in 2024.Reggie James, the Founder and Managing Director of Digital Clarity, DBMM's 100% owned operating subsidiary, and the Chief Operating Officer of DBMM said, "The challenges of the past year have tested the mettle of businesses worldwide, but equally represent opportunities for digital marketing and transformation consultancies like ours to help shape sales growth and brand positioning for our clients. The need for digital acceleration, driven by the changing nature of work and increasing reliance on technology, has created unique openings for our B2B offerings.Our investment in digital solutions reinforces the B2B renaissance as business models, innovation drivers, and clients need to evolve. The opportunity to capture clients in the emerging B2B by adopting SaaS solutions is the Company's business model and provides a competitive advantage. Today, we look ahead with great enthusiasm, confident in our ability to achieve remarkable milestones in 2024."Safe HarborThe foregoing contains certain predictive statements that relate to future events or future business and financial performance. Such statements can only be predictions, and the actual events or results may differ from those discussed due to, among other things, those risks described in DBMM's reports filed with the SEC. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. This document is published solely for information purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any state. Past performance does not guarantee future performance. Additional information is available upon request.DBMM GROUP, INC.845 Third Avenue6th Flr, New York, NY 10022Website: http://dbmmgroup.com Phone: (646) 722-2706Email: info@ dbmmgroup.com SOURCE: Digital Brand Media & Marketing Group, Inc.
Norway will announce NOK 200 million (about EUR 17 mln) to the World Food Programme, including the important humanitarian food programme Grain from Ukraine; additional NOK 50 million will be donated to the World Bank's Ukraine Fund, the Govrnment of Norway said in its statement.

Norway will continue to support the people of Ukraine. At the same time, we have not lost sight of other crises globally. The Nansen programme [five-year support program for Ukraine] is one example of how we manage to combine those efforts, said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

In addition, it is noted that an additional NOK 150 million (about EUR 12 mln]) will be donated to the World Food Programme in response to their emergency appeal for Ukraine.

In addition to providing food aid near the front lines, the funding will be used for demining of agricultural land, allowing farmers to go back to food production as quickly as possible, the message reads.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dollar General Corporation ("Dollar General" or "the Company") (NYSE:DG) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Dollar General securities between May 28, 2020 and August 30, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg Case Details:The Complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dollar General stores were chronically understaffed and suffering from logistical and inventory management problems which left stores with tens of millions of dollars' worth of outdated and unwanted inventory, mispriced goods, and lost and damaged items; (ii) large backlogs of unsellable merchandise had built up at Dollar General's stores, which inventory had not been timely written down due to understaffing and Dollar General's failure to manage its inventory; (iii) the allotment of employee hours per store per week imposed by Dollar General management placed employees in virtually impossible situations where assigned tasks, including those necessary to effective store operations, could not be completed within the allotted time; (iv) Dollar General was systematically overcharging customers for items upon checkout above the listed price in violation of state laws, including state law violations identified by state regulators in Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio; (v) Dollar General's reported revenue and earnings during the Class Period were artificially inflated by defendants' over-pricing scheme; (vi) Dollar General's failure to manage store inventories and accurately price items upon checkout risked the loss of customers, lower sales, adverse regulatory actions, and reputational fallout; and (vii) Dollar General was not on track to achieve its guidance during the Class Period and such guidance lacked a reasonable factual basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/dg or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Dollar General you have until January 26, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 17:50:08

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Favo Capital, Inc. Secures International Investment from a Leading South African Pension FundWESTBURY, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Favo Capital Inc. (OTC PINK:FAVO), a rapidly growing alternate finance company, is proud to announce a significant investment from one of South Africa's largest pension funds. This is a long-term investment and a substantial endorsement of Favo Capital's potential and offers the company the financial flexibility and resources to fuel its expansion plans and growth.Role of Stewards Investment Capital"Institutional Investments of this caliber highlight the confidence of professional investors in Favo Capital's future." Said Bilal Adam, CEO of Stewards Investment Capital.This strategic financing was expertly arranged by Stewards Investment Capital, Favo Capital's strategic partner. Their role was pivotal in facilitating the negotiation and finalizing the deal, showcasing their expertise in aligning strategic investors with high-potential firms like Favo Capital.Glen Steward, Founder and Chairman of Stewards Investment Capital added, "This emphasizes our commitment to our strategic partnership with Favo Capital and our vision to provide the best investment solutions to our trusted clients, whether they are High Net Worth Individuals, Family Offices, Institutions or Governments." Future Growth and Expansion PlansThe injection of these funds will be instrumental in accelerating Favo Capital's growth trajectory. Offering Favo Capital the flexibility to expand existing services, offer new product lines, explore potential acquisitions, enter new markets, and invest in technology to further enhance the company's competitive advantage in the market.Statement from Favo Capital, Inc."Our partnership with one of South Africa's largest and most prominent pension funds, facilitated by Stewards Investment Capital, is a vote of confidence in our vision and business model," said Vincent Napolitano, CEO of Favo Capital, Inc. He added, "This investment is not just a capital injection but a strategic alliance that will solidify our position in the market." About Favo Capital, Inc.FAVO CAPITAL is a Direct Funding Company, which provides customized, short-term funding to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. FAVO Realty is a Real Estate Investment Company which invests in a diversified portfolio of quality commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. "FAVO" is "Honeycomb" in Latin - The Honeycomb (Hexagon) is the most efficient shape in the universe. FAVO intends to be Efficient, Flexible & Durable.Contact:Email: info@ favocapital.comTel: 833.328.6477Website: www.favocapital.com Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains certain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements, estimates, and projections of future trends and of the anticipated future performance constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Series' expectations, beliefs, or future strategies that are signified by the words "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," or similar language. These forward-looking statements concern the Company's operations, economic performance and financial condition and are based largely on the Company's beliefs and expectations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that 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 statements. Actual results may differ materially from expected results. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release FAVO Capital, Inc and its Management Team expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, unless specifically required by law or regulation.SOURCE: FAVO Capital, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 18:16:17

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In the realm of the fiberglass mannequin market, a realm defined by the ever-shifting tides of consumer demand and technological evolution, this report serves as a beacon, guiding our readers through a comprehensive and profound analysis. Our audience is as diverse as the market itself, encompassing manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors, all seeking to navigate this dynamic landscape. Our primary aim is to provide invaluable insights that empower industry stakeholders to make informed decisions within this rapidly changing environment. We strive to shed light on the current state of the fiberglass mannequin market while projecting its future trends.Scope and PurposeOur report is a comprehensive compass, designed to equip industry stakeholders with actionable knowledge. It spans various dimensions of the fiberglass mannequin market, including its dynamic market forces, competitive landscape, growth opportunities, challenges, and regional nuances. This information goes beyond mere descriptions; it is crafted to assist stakeholders in making pivotal decisions that shape their strategies and engagements within the market.Request for Sample Report:Promising Comprehensive AnalysisTo uphold our commitment, we pledge to deliver a comprehensive analysis, leaving no stone unturned. We promise to dissect the factors propelling market growth, dissecting shifts in consumer preferences and technological advancements fueling the demand for fiberglass mannequin products. Concurrently, we recognize that challenges and obstacles are intrinsic to any industry landscape. We vow to illuminate these hurdles, whether they be economic uncertainties or the intense competition that often characterizes such markets.Guiding the Path ForwardOur report invites readers to explore its contents, laying the groundwork for unveiling the competitive landscape. It introduces the major players in the fiberglass mannequin market and elucidates their strategies, offering insights into what fuels their success. This insight-rich analysis is designed to guide others on their journey  be it navigating competition more effectively or finding inspiration in successful strategies.Anticipation of InsightsAcknowledging the market's complexity, we pledge to provide a nuanced understanding of its segments. We promise to detail their sizes, potential growth trajectories, and key trends. This targeted knowledge empowers stakeholders to craft specialized strategies and allocate resources optimally.Balancing Forces and Strategic ImplicationsBy elucidating both driving forces and potential obstacles, our report paints a comprehensive picture of market dynamics. It enables industry stakeholders to navigate the competitive landscape with a deeper understanding of the forces at play. Manufacturers can align their innovation efforts with consumer preferences and regulatory trends, enhancing their market position. Investors and decision-makers can be better prepared to address economic uncertainties and supply chain vulnerabilities. Overall, this section equips readers with insights to make strategic decisions that account for both growth opportunities and challenges in the fiberglass mannequin market.Exploring the Competitive LandscapeThe section dedicated to the competitive landscape of the fiberglass mannequin market offers a meticulous exploration of the market's key players, their strategies, and their impact on the industry. This segment aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the market's dynamics, the role of major companies, and the strategies they employ to thrive.Some of the major companies in the Fiberglass Mannequin market are as follows: 3S Mannequin Inc., Able Art Limited, Abstract Mannequin, BONAVERI, Best Mannequin BV, EUVEKA, Genesis Display GmbH, Global Mannequin, Hans Boodt Mannequin, KNCDC, Las Vegas MannequinSegment CharacteristicsOur analysis commences by outlining the unique characteristics defining each segment. Whether these segments are categorized based on product types, customer demographics, use cases, or other distinguishing factors, our report provides a clear picture of their definitions and differentiators.Market Segmentation:Type: Women, Men, Child, OthersApplication: Garment, Jewelry, OthersMarket SizeUnderstanding the size of each market segment is crucial for assessing its significance within the overall market landscape. Our report presents quantitative data illustrating market share and the contributions of "Type" and "Application" segments to the entire fiberglass mannequin market. This information helps stakeholders appreciate the relative importance of each segment.Growth PotentialBeyond current market size, our report delves into the growth potential of these segments. We explore factors such as emerging trends, consumer behaviors, technological advancements, and regulatory influences driving the future expansion of these segments. This forward-looking perspective aids stakeholders in identifying where growth opportunities lie.Key TrendsOur analysis captures the key trends specific to each segment, be it changing consumer preferences, evolving technology adoption, or shifting regulatory landscapes. These insights inform stakeholders about the directions "Type" and "Application" segments might take in the coming years.Strategic InsightsOur segment analysis transcends descriptive data to offer strategic insights. By understanding the characteristics, potential, and trends of "Type" and "Application," industry participants can make informed decisions. Manufacturers can tailor product development strategies to meet the demands of these segments, and marketers can create targeted campaigns to reach specific customer groups.Exploring Regional DynamicsThe section dedicated to the regional analysis of the fiberglass mannequin market provides a comprehensive exploration of how the market fares across different geographical areas. This analysis recognizes that markets are not homogenous and that regional variations can significantly impact market dynamics. Our report delves into the intricacies of each region  North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa  to provide stakeholders with valuable insights.Closing ThoughtsIn essence, the conclusion encapsulates our report's journey. It emphasizes our report's role as a strategic tool, a navigator, and a decision-making companion in the complex world of the fiberglass mannequin market. Our report is more than just a document; it is a valuable resource that empowers industry stakeholders to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving market environment.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 19:01:03

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against FMC Corp. ("FMC" or "the Company") (NYSE:FMC) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired FMC securities between November 2, 2022 and October 20, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/fmc Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, it is alleged that Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the diminishment of patent protection for FMC's flagship products following legal defeats in key markets including India, China, and Brazil had opened the door to increased competition from generics; (2) the Company repeatedly mislead investors about the status of such proceedings and falsely claimed that it did not and would not face generic competition in key markets until 2026 at the earliest; and (3) because of these issues Defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/fmc or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in FMC you have until January 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV) (the "Company" or "Highlander Silver") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase agreement dated November 29, 2023 (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR Mining") to acquire the San Luis gold-silver project (the "San Luis Project") located in Ancash Department of central Peru (the "Transaction").HighlightsTransformational acquisition for Highlander Silver of the San Luis ProjectHistorical Measured & Indicated mineral resources of 348,000 ounces (oz) of gold (Au) grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz silver (Ag) grading 578.1 g/t AgMultiple targets for growth on the property given limited and focused historical drilling, open extensions to resources, and undrilled targets supported by highly anomalous (> 4 g/t Au) trenching and rock samplesExtensive ground holding totalling 23,098 Ha has yet to be systematically explored with many structures that have not yet been sampled providing further exploration potentialHighlander Silver to implement a comprehensive program of geological mapping and sampling to develop a technical assessment of the discovery potential before more focused exploration on the highest priority targetsAncash Department is well-known for mining in Peru with major past and present production from the Pierina gold mine and Antamina copper-zinc mine, respectivelyFinancing for this transformative acquisition is backstopped by the Augusta Group and members of the Lundin family(See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.)A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.David Fincham, President and CEO commented: "We are delighted to be bringing the high-grade San Luis gold-silver project into our portfolio, and are very impressed by the size and grade of the historical resource contained within the Ayelen and Ines vein structures. We believe this deposit may be one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits of its size that is yet to be mined in the world. Additionally, there may be exceptional growth and discovery potential on this large, but only partially prospected and explored property. There are numerous compelling exploration targets based on previous field mapping and rock chip sampling, and we believe that the district has potential to yield much more. This acquisition has the potential to be transformative for Highlander Silver and aligned with our vision of building a portfolio focused on world-class silver gold projects to the benefit of all our stakeholders." Fig. 1 San Luis Project locationHistorical Mineral ResourceThe San Luis Project has a historical measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 348,000 ounces (oz) of Au grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz Ag grading 578.1 g/t Ag. Test work developed on the historical mineral resource projected gold and silver recoveries of greater than or equal to 90% using conventional cyanide leach processing methods. The Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimate as a priority. See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.Exploration upside potentialThe San Luis Project is district-scale, with the mining concessions covering 23,098 hectares, or approximately 230 km. The fertility of the district has been demonstrated by both evidence of multiple deposit styles and by the high number of targets generated to date from limited exploration. Following discovery of the Ayelen - Ines vein systems where the historical resource is located, the main focus was on resource development, meaning that systematic exploration has yet to be completed across much of the property. Targets on the property include low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold-silver veins, copper - molybdenum porphyries, silver, lead, zinc  copper hydrothermal breccias and silver, lead, zinc  copper replacement mantos.The Bonita target, a 600 m long array of complex quartz veins/veinlets has had limited drilling, with just two historic drill holes including BOD-001 which returned 35.25 m of 5.54 g/t Au and 25.43 g/t Ag, from 19.1 m downhole. To date, seven additional mapped and sampled gold-silver vein targets have been defined including Carhuan-Puquio and Gemelas-Cenicienta, within 2 km of the historic resource area, reporting multigram gold rock chip samples. Further targets for follow up occur more broadly across the property represented by the 1 to > 4 g/t gold samples on the map below. Finally, two copper - molybdenum porphyry targets also require further work to assess their potential.Fig. 2 San Luis tenure map highlighting the historical resource area (Ayelen vein system), Bonita target and anomalous gold samples distributed across the property.Information relating to the larger property exploration work including geological mapping, surface sampling, and the two holes drilled at the La Bonita target reflect work performed by SSR Mining on the property to-date. In a recent visit to the property by Highlander Silver staff, drill core from both Aylene and the Bonita vein systems were inspected observing significant low-sulphidation style vein intercepts. Notwithstanding, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to fully verify the information at this stage, nor has a qualified person been provided with information that would be required to verify sample data, analytical techniques or quality assurance and control measures that may have been in place during the execution of the exploration work.The Company plans to engage in geologic mapping and sampling as a first step to verify the historical information and to understand the exploration potential of the district. This work will enable prioritization of targets prior to permitting and drilling.Community engagementCommunity access agreements have been established by previous operators. As a new operator, the Company recognizes the opportunity to establish fresh long-term mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities and will strive to do this from the outset.San Luis Project AcquisitionPursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement the Company has agreed to purchase the San Luis Project from SSR Mining through the purchase of SSR Mining's direct and indirect shareholdings of four subsidiary companies, in consideration for an initial payment of US$5,000,000 in cash or US$7,500,000 in common shares of the Company, or a combination thereof, (the "Initial Consideration"). If any portion of the Initial Consideration is paid in common shares of the Company, s
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 22:00:08

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-IBM collaborating with Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Government of Kenya and the United Kingdom's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre to expand application of IBM's geospatial AI technologies to urban heat island mapping, reforestation and climate resiliency in aviation.-IBM and NASA to create new AI foundation model for weather and climate.YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / IBM (NYSE:IBM) today announced new efforts that apply its geospatial AI technologies, including IBM's geospatial foundation model developed in collaboration with NASA, to climate efforts including analysis of urban heat islands in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); reforestation across Kenya; and climate resiliency in the United Kingdom (UK).IBM continues to advance its AI model strategy in part through the creation, training, fine-tuning and open-sourcing of foundation models - models that can be used for different tasks and apply information from one situation to another - designed for domains beyond natural language, including geospatial applications.These models, which are trained on geospatial information such as satellite images, present a unique opportunity to address climate change because unlike traditional AI models tailored for specialized tasks, geospatial foundation models - encompassing satellite and weather data - create knowledge representations from petabytes and exabytes of climate-relevant data that can facilitate accelerated and streamlined discovery of environmental insights and solutions. These models can also be fine-tuned and applied across a multitude of areas driving or revealing climate change, from flood detection to fire scars."Climate change is a real and pressing issue that we must find new ways to address as quickly and efficiently as possible, including through today's most advanced AI technologies," said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow and Vice President, Accelerated Discovery at IBM. "AI foundation models utilizing geospatial data can be a game-changer because they allow us to better understand, prepare and address the many climate-related events effecting the health of our planet in a manner and speed never before seen. We are hopeful these technologies can help accelerate the rate at which we derive and apply solutions for a safer and healthier planet for future generations." Analyzing urban heat islands in the UAEBy the end of this century, many cities will likely experience disruptive and excessive heat waves if GHG emissions continue at high levels. To develop sustainable and equitable plans to keep cities habitable, the rising heat levels must be accurately mapped and addressed.IBM and the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) are pioneering an attempt to apply foundation models to the mapping of urban heat islands - areas with significantly higher temperatures compared to surrounding locations. This innovative research specifically applies a fine-tuned version of IBM's geospatial foundation model to understand the urban environment in Abu Dhabi and how the underlying landscape in the UAE impacts the formation of urban heat islands.To date, the model has informed efforts that have succeeded in a reduction of heat island effects in the region by more than 3oC (5.4 F)1. Going forward, the model is expected to continue to provide unique insights that inform the development of urban design strategies designed to help reduce urban heat stress in changing climates.Professor Tim Baldwin, MBZUAI Acting Provost, said: "Our collaboration with IBM marks a groundbreaking effort to utilize foundational AI models in analyzing and identifying solutions to urban heat islands for Abu Dhabi and parts of the UAE, a region which is particularly affected by climate change. This research underscores the vital role of AI in tackling global issues, emphasizing the urgency of continued exploration and innovation. By harnessing the power of AI, we are not merely addressing challenges; we are proactively shaping solutions for a sustainable future. In a world confronted by unprecedented challenges, MBZUAI stands at the forefront of pioneering research in AI, recognizing the transformative power it holds." Advancing reforestation and water sustainability in KenyaIn December 2022, President of Kenya H.E. D.R William Ruto unveiled the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign designed to plant 15 billion trees across Kenya by 2032, including in areas of critically affected water towers - forested landscapes that retain water and source many rivers throughout Kenya. While water towers account for about three quarters of the nation's water resources, deforestation is contributing to increasing water scarcity in these regions.IBM and the Kenyan government's office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change Ali Mohamed have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign through a new "adopt-a-water-tower" initiative. The effort will be fueled by a new digital platform that leverages IBM's geospatial foundation model to enable users to track and visualize tree planting and tree growing activities in specific water tower areas. Local developers can also create fine-tuned models combining the IBM geospatial model with their own localized information to monitor forest restoration and measure above-ground biomass such as sequestered carbon, ultimately mobilizing on-the-ground efforts to plant more trees across Kenya's water tower regions.The President's Spokesperson, Mr. Hussein Mohamed, MBS, said: "We recognize that technology plays a pivotal role in unlocking our full potential, optimizing resource utilization, and seizing opportunities. It serves as a means to ensure that we harness our resources most effectively to drive our grassroots-driven economic transformation agenda. Through our partnership with IBM, we have the capability of harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and geospatial data to advance our climate ambitions. These ambitions include planting 15 billion trees, rejuvenating our vital water towers, fostering increased collaboration with the private sector to promote a just energy transition for communities around our forests. Simultaneously, this collaboration will enhance our capacity to equitably participate in the carbon economy. The potential of this collaboration extends beyond our borders and has the capacity to be replicated in other nations seeking to enhance their forest cover while also improving the economic and health well-being of their communities." Elevating climate resiliency across the United KingdomIn 2021, IBM and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Hartree Centre collaborated to explore th
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 17:00:48

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Girard Sharp, LLP and Malmfeldt Law Group P.C., national investment, securities, and class action firms, announce an investigation on behalf of Fisker Inc. investors.Fisker is an electric vehicle company that went public in October 2020 through a reverse merger with Spartan Energy Acquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company. Fisker currently sells one electric vehicle model, the "Ocean," which was released in the United States in June 2023.On November 27, 2023, a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Fisker securities between August 4, 2023 and November 20, 2023 inclusive ("Class Period"). The Fisker class action complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Fisker had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting; (2) Fisker had incorrectly accounted for certain costs; (3) as a result, Fisker was likely to delay filing its quarterly report; and (4) Fisker's infrastructure was limiting its ability to deliver its production.According to the class action complaint, on November 8, 2023, Fisker announced that the completion of its financial statements would be delayed due to the appointment of a new chief accounting officer ("CAO") and the departure of Fisker's former CAO. On this news, the price of Fisker stock fell nearly 9%. Then, on November 13, 2023, Fisker announced cuts to its production forecast and disclosed that although 4,725 Oceans were built in the third quarter, only 1,097 were delivered to customers. Additionally, the complaint alleges that Fisker disclosed that it had determined "it has material weaknesses" in "internal control over financial reporting." On this news, the price of Fisker stock fell nearly 19%.Thereafter, according to the complaint, on November 20, 2023, Fisker announced that the CAO it hired earlier in November had provided notice of his intent to resign from Fisker effective immediately. On this news, the price of Fisker stock fell nearly 15%.If you purchased or otherwise acquired Fisker securities between August 4, 2023 and November 20, 2023 inclusive and would like to discuss your potential claim, please email apolk@ girardsharp.com or call (866) 981-4800 for a free consultation.Why Girard Sharp?Girard Sharp represents investors, consumers, and institutions in class actions and other complex litigation nationwide. We serve on the Plaintiffs' executive committee in the recent spoofing litigation against JPMorgan Chase that settled for $60 million, a favorable resolution that the district court preliminarily approved in December 2021. Our attorneys have obtained multimillion-dollar recoveries for victims of unfair and deceptive practices in antitrust, financial fraud, and consumer protection matters against some of the country's largest corporations, including Raymond James, John Hancock, and Sears. Girard Sharp has earned top-tier rankings from U.S. News and World Report for Securities and Class Action Litigation and has been repeatedly selected as an Elite Trial Lawyers finalist by the National Law Journal.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:Girard Sharp LLP(866) 981-4800contact@ girardsharp.comapolk@girardsharp.comwww.girardsharp.com SOURCE: Girard Sharp LLP
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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Kisses From Italy Inc. (OTCQB:KITL), a publicly listed U.S.-based company, restaurant chain operator, franchisor, and product distributor in the United States, Canada, and Europe, along with new business partner and newly elected board member celebrity Chef, Scott Conant, announce the expansion of the Company's product distribution network in the U.S. The Company has recently entered into an agreement with TotalShip World Wide and its affiliates for all shipping and logistical solutions for North America and to strengthen its distribution network across the United States. TotalShip provides shipping and logistical solutions at significant cost savings, offering businesses greater control over their express, ground, and supply chain distribution services.Claudio Ferri, co-CEO, CIO, and co-founder of Kisses From Italy, commented, "we are excited about this relationship with TotalShip Worldwide. Internally, our team was in the process of strategizing as to what the required setup was going to look like in order to fulfill the expected demand but as we began the process of working with them, we quickly realized that TotalShip and its affiliate companies were able to offer an array of services, across multiple territories. We believe that TotalShip will immediately be able to provide us the solutions needed to handle and fulfill the expected demand for the launching of the The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe' products." Michele Di Turi, President, co-CEO, and co-founder of Kisses From Italy, also commented, "In response to the launch of the Kisses From Italy online Shopify account a few weeks ago and as we gear up for the process of launching our Ponte San'gwich Shoppe' products, working with TotalShip has opened new doors for our team in terms of new logistical solutions and streamlining our process to give our customers the best experience possible. Our entire team strongly believes in providing the best customer experience in all facets of our business, no matter what. TotalShip and its affiliates will provide us exactly what we need in the Northeastern and Southeastern part of the U.S. allowing our Company to reach our customers quickly, efficiently, and in a cost-effective manner"This release follows the recent announcement of Scott Conant, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and Food Network TV personality being appointed and accepting the nomination to Kisses From Italy's board of directors and most recently the announcement of the Company's new online store that will showcase current and upcoming products.Kisses From Italy Retail Store: https://kissesfromitaly-retail.myshopify.com About Chef Scott ConantScott Conant is a two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. With a career spanning more than 35 years, Conant brings a deft touch and unwavering passion to creating culinary experiences with thoughtful hospitality and soulful cuisine. His portfolio of acclaimed restaurants includes Mora Italian (Phoenix, AZ), The Americano (Scottsdale, AZ and Atlanta, GA), and Cellaio at Resorts World Catskills (Monticello, NY). He has also published four cookbooks: New Italian Cooking, Bold Italian, The Scarpetta Cookbook, and his newest and most personal book to date, Peace, Love, and Pasta: Simple and Elegant Recipes from a Chef's Home Kitchen, which launched in September 2021. Conant has been a popular presence on Food Network for years, becoming a fan favorite as a recurring judge on Chopped since 2009 and frequent co-host of Beat Bobby Flay. As Chef Conant embarks on new opportunities, he looks forward to continuing to share his enduring philosophy that emphasizes the beauty of simplicity. For more information, visit ScottConant.com About "The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe and Italian Deli"The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe and Italian Deli is a wholly-owned subsidiary by Kisses From Italy and houses the new brand alliance and concept developed withScott Conant, Food Network celebrity, two-time James Beard Award-winning chef, and cookbook author. Chef Scott Conant and his team will be taking the lead on the branding and concept development initiative in collaboration with the Kisses From Italy team. Fransmart, a worldwide industry leader in the global franchise development market and current advisor to Kisses From Italy, will play the key role of serving as the group's exclusive global franchise developer and representative.The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe & Italian Deli SM name is inspired by the tight-knit Italian community, nicknamed "Pontes," who lived in Scott's neighborhood where he was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. They were a group of ex-pats from Pontelandolfo, Italy that settled in the States in the late 1930's. The camaraderie that they fostered, and many years spent around the kitchen table with family conjures up nostalgic and fond memories.About FransmartFransmart is a global leader in franchise development, selling over 5,000 franchises worldwide and turning emerging restaurant concepts into national and global brands for 20 years. Company founder Dan Rowe identified and grew brands like Five Guys Burgers & Fries, QDOBA Mexican Grill, and The Halal Guys from 1-5 unit businesses to the powerhouse chains they are today. Fransmart's current and past franchise development portfolio brands have opened thousands of restaurants globally. Fransmart and its partner brands are committed to franchise development growth. For more information, visit www.fransmart.com About Kisses From Italy Inc.Kisses From Italy Retail Store: https://kissesfromitaly-retail.myshopify.com Kisses from Italy, Inc. (OTCQB:KITL) is a publicly listed U.S.-based company, restaurant chain developer, Franchisor and product distributor with locations in North America and Europe. On March 2, 2023 entered into a strategic alliance to develop a new restaurant concept with American celebrity chef, Food Network star, restaurateur, cookbook author, and newest Kisses From Italy board member Scott Conant. Kisses From Italy formed a wholly-owned subsidiary to house the new brand and concept, named 'The Ponte San'gwich Shoppe & Italian Deli (SM).' Chef Scott Conant and his team will be taking the lead on the branding and concept development initiative in collaboration with the Kisses From Italy team. Fransmart, a worldwide industry leader in the global franchise development market and current advisor to Kisses From Italy, will play the key role of serving as the group's exclusive global franchise developer. The Company focuses on traditional Italian delicacies through continued corporate-owned store expansion, along with the d
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 15:02:11

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LendKey and Payitoff form partnership to help federal student loan borrowers struggling with monthly payments after the CARES act expires with a free and easy debt reduction tool, the Federal Student Loan Optimizer.CINCINNATI, OH / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / In a continuing effort to help student loan borrowers, LendKey, the pioneer of digital network lending, is excited to announce their latest partnership with Payitoff, a leader in consumer debt guidance tools. The collaboration introduces a free and user-friendly tool designed to help federal student loan borrowers save significantly on their federal student loan payments.LendKey and Payitoff The innovative Federal Student Loan Optimizer tool, powered by Payitoff, allows borrowers to input their federal loan information, even if they are unsure about their servicer details. By considering various factors such as income, other debts, dependents, and more, Payitoff provides personalized recommendations for federal income-driven repayment plans. This empowers borrowers to choose the best plan based on their unique circumstances, leading to potential monthly savings on average of $240, and without sacrificing federal loan benefits.This partnership provides an easy-to-use solution for managing student loan debt and helping lower those monthly payments. Borrowers can access the information through LendKey's Federal Student Loan Optimizer, a tool designed to support anyone with federal student debt, irrespective of their ability or willingness to refinance.Vince Passione, CEO of LendKey, emphasized, "As the CARES Act sunsets, it has created uncertainty for millions of borrowers. LendKey and Payitoff have come together to offer this tool to not only educate federal student loan borrowers on their options but also help them to achieve financial stability more quickly." The Federal Student Loan Optimizer guides borrowers through a simple process:1. Learn who services their federal student loan(s) by entering their phone number, date of birth, and zip code.2. Link federal loan accounts to receive automated guidance on federal assistance program eligibility.3. Receive individualized repayment plan recommendations considering factors such as income, family size, and amount owed.4. Enroll in federal assistance programs such as income-driven repayment."We all know the challenges the student loan payment resumption has caused, and will continue to cause, for student loan borrowers," stated Bobby Matson, CEO of Payitoff. "Partnering with companies like LendKey allows us to help borrowers easily see all their payment options, and significantly reduce monthly payments. We're excited by the possibilities this partnership provides." To receive personalized student loan repayment recommendations and enroll in federal debt management programs in one seamless platform, click here or visit lendkey.com About PayitoffPayitOff is a leading provider of consumer debt guidance tools for financial institutions, fintech, and financial wellness providers. Headquartered in New York City, Payitoff has raised $11M in funding from notable investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sound Ventures, Social Leverage, and Struck Capital. For more information, please visit https://payitoff.io About LendKeyLendKey is a financial technology firm and leader in providing "lending-as-a-service" solutions to credit unions, community banks, and customers. LendKey works with its clients by providing digital loan origination and servicing capabilities and delivering a loan trading marketplace platform for financial institutions and fintechs.LendKey pioneered the concept of "digital lending networks," which harnesses the collaborative nature of community-based financial institutions to build standard lending programs for private student loans, student loan refinance, and home improvement loans. These programs utilize LendKey's lending-as-a-service platform to provide customer acquisition, online decisioning, loan origination, loan servicing, customer service, and back-office support.ALIRO is LendKey's loan trading marketplace where financial institutions and other market participants can easily transact. Loans are offered for sale and purchased in either whole loan or fractional loan participation format, and the platform supports both one-time and forward-flow transactions. ALIRO delivers the technology, tools, and ongoing service that financial institutions need to evaluate, execute, and manage loan trades to optimize their balance sheet and risk, focusing on improving net interest income.Since 2009, LendKey has empowered more than 350 financial institutions to offer competitive loan programs and increase their digital presence across various customer acquisition channels and marketplaces. Today, LendKey has helped its clients deploy over $6 billion in loans and services more than $3 billion in consumer loans. Visit lendkey.com for more information.Contact InformationMichelle Asher Sr. Public Relations Manager michelle@ lendkey.com 646-626-7396SOURCE: LendKey
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 20:25:52

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HUNT VALLEY, MD/ ACCESSWIRE/ November 30, 2023 / MarylandSaves, the workplace savings and retirement program created by the State of Maryland, won a 2023 Excellence & Innovation Award from Pensions & Investments Magazine and the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association. MarylandSaves, formally known as the Maryland Small Business Retirement Savings Program, was among a handful of innovative programs selected as winners for their "new approaches to solving old problems in workplace retirement plans." "MarylandSaves is an advance on traditional retirement plans," said Chair Josh Gotbaum, below, who accepted the award on behalf of the MarylandSaves board. "It's automatic savings from each paycheck, savings that can help with life's emergencies now and keep helping after people retire. It can help the hundreds of thousands in Maryland who work full-time but have no savings. And we think MarylandSaves can become a model for the rest of America, too." Unlike traditional retirement programs, MarylandSaves doesn't charge businesses to sign their employees up. In fact, the State provides $300 per year to businesses that do by waiving a state filing fee.Also unlike virtually all retirement plans, employees in MarylandSaves automatically have a built-in emergency savings fund to handle life's unforeseen emergencies.Other innovations that MarylandSaves will offer include:Helping people get the most out of their Social Security. MarylandSaves will let savers use their MarylandSaves account instead of being forced to apply early and getting reduced Social Security benefits.Converting automatically to a monthly paycheck. At retirement age, a MarylandSaves account will convert automatically to a monthly check in an amount estimated to last a person's lifetime."More than two thousand businesses and more than 4,500 Marylanders are already being helped by MarylandSaves," said MarylandSaves Executive Director Glenn Simmons. "We've worked hard to ensure MarylandSaves is free, quick, and easy for businesses and compelling to employees. And we've only just begun." MarylandSaves launched statewide on September 15, 2022. Businesses register their employees with the program and, if employees don't opt out, payroll contributions are automatically made to a professionally managed investment funds. The employees have complete control over their accounts. More information is available at MarylandSaves.com About MarylandSavesSponsored by the state of Maryland, MarylandSaves offers an automatic payroll savings IRA program for Maryland businesses that don't offer a retirement plan to their employees. WorkLife Savings Accounts are individual accounts controlled by each saver, not the employer. For more information, visit www.MarylandSaves.com MEDIA CONTACT:Chris Cullenccullen@ marylandsaves.org410-926-2015 SOURCE: MarylandSaves
Russian occupiers simultaneously hit Pokrovsky district of Donbas with six S-300 missiles at night, Pokrovsk, Novohradivka and Myrnohrad came under fire. As a result of the shelling, ten people were injured, including four children, and five more people are being searched under the rubble, the National Police said on Thursday morning.

"Pokrovsk: among the victims are a family with two children: a 16-year-old boy and a six-month-old baby. A 13-year-old boy was also wounded. An apartment building and nine households, a police department, cars, and garages were previously damaged. One of the shells exploded in the yard house where a family with two children lived. As a result of the shelling, the roof and walls of the house were destroyed, the family found themselves under rubble. A police paramedic helped a man who had a bloody baby in his arms get out of the rubble. After examining the boy, the policeman wrapped him up and he was quickly taken to the hospital. There is no threat to the life of six-month-old child," the police said.

According to the National Police, a 13-year-old child was injured in Novohradivka as a result of being hit in a multi-storey building. "Currently, police officers and State Emergency Service workers continue to work at the site of the missile strike. Five more people, including a child, may be under the rubble," the police said.

The Russians also fired two S-300 missiles at Myrnohrad, and the police department was damaged.

"The State Emergency Service and the police are working at the impact sites all night. The search and rescue operation is underway, the police are documenting the consequences of the Russian strikes," the police said.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-12-01 00:25:19

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("PMC" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIRA)(OTCQX:PMMCF) is pleased to announce that on November 30, 2023 it entered into an option and joint venture agreement with Compania Minera Piuquenes S.A (a Panamanian entity) to acquire an 80% interest in the Piuquenes porphyry copper-gold project located in the San Juan province, Argentina. Proximal to the globally significant El Pachon (Glencore) and Altar (Aldebaran Resources) Projects, the Piuquenes porphyry copper-gold project has been privately held since its discovery.Piuquenes Porphyry Copper-Gold ProjectThe Piuquenes porphyry copper-gold project was first drilled in the 1990's when Inmet Mining Corporation (IMC, subsequently acquired by First Quantum in 2013) completed 8 diamond drill holes for a total of 1,894.2m. Significant intersections of copper and gold, included: 413.5 m (167-580.5 m) @ 0.47% Cu and 0.52 g/t Au (0.87% CuEq)*;  67.5 m (207-274.5 m) @ 0.63% Cu and 0.51 g/t Au (1.02% CuEq)*; and 158 m (3-161 m) @ 0.32% Cu and 0.6 g/t Au (0.78% CuEq)*.In 2016, Anglo American Argentina (AAA) drilled a single diamond borehole of 920.2 m total length, crossing the mineral intersections discovered by IMC. Climatic events prevented the assaying of the recovered drill core, with only visual observations of a 508 m (362-870 m) interval of copper mineralization described prior to AAA's withdrawal from the project.Following completion of its Due Diligence, Pampa Metals considers the project to be highly prospective and drill-ready, owing to a solid technical foundation, including well-preserved historic drill cores and 3D modelling, and anticipates commencing follow-up drilling in January 2024.As part of its Due Diligence, Pampa Metals has re-logged and assayed the AAA Diamond Drill Hole with results expected from ALS Mendoza in early December. The Company has also reviewed the IMC diamond drill core and observed visual mineralization, without yet completing QA/QC. The Company awaits the imminent assay and QA/QC results of the AAA PIU-16 920m diamond drill hole, prior to finalizing its drill program planning.Commenting on the transaction, Joseph van den Elsen, President and CEO, stated:"Pampa Metals is pleased to announce this company making transaction and the acquisition of a flagship project, privately held since its discovery. Pampa considers the historical drill intercepts to be highly encouraging and indicative of the Piuquenes Project's potential to host a significant near-surface, high-grade porphyry copper-gold deposit in a world class location. Our Executive Team remains in Argentina working with stakeholders and finalizing plans to initiate a follow-up diamond drilling program in January 2024."Project Location and Exploration History: Piuquenes porphyry copper-gold depositThe Piuquenes Project consists of nine mining titles that cover an area of ~1,880 ha in the San Juan Province of Argentina, adjacent (to the north) with the Altar copper-gold porphyry project (Aldebaran Resources Inc.) and approximately 190 km west of the city of San Juan. Other large porphyry copper projects in the San Juan Miocene porphyry belt include, El Pachon (Glencore), approximately 30 km to the south, the operating Los Pelambres copper mine (60% Antofagasta plc) in Chile, and Los Azules (McEwen Mining) 50 km to the northeast.The first evidence of copper oxides at Piuquenes was reported in 1970 by Compania MInera Aguilar S A, who subsequently completed the first exploration program between 1973-1975. Between 1995 and 1997, Inmet Mining Corporation (IMC) completed a heli-magnetic/radiometric survey, surface geology, rock and soil geochemistry, ground magnetics, PD-IP and eight diamond drillholes (DDH-P1A to DDH-P8A) for a total of 1,894.2m. Subsequently, in 2015-2016, Anglo American Argentina (AAA) completed detailed 1:2,500 geology and geochemistry, 17.8 km of gDAS24 deep 3D PD-IP/NSMT and a 920.2 m diamond drill hole (PUI16-DDH01).Since its discovery, the Piuquenes Copper-Gold porphyry has remained privately held.Follow-Up drillingPampa Metals has designed a diamond drill program to be completed across two drilling seasons which will be reviewed and finalised upon the imminent receipt of the assay and QA/QC results of the AAA PIU16-DDH01 920m diamond drill hole.Phase 1 consists of a ~2,500 diamond drill program designed to test the depth and lateral extension of known mineralisation, to be completed between January - April 2024 (indicative) with assays results expected progressively between March and May 2024 (indicative).Phase 2 consists of a six-month drill program designed to significantly expand the mineralised envelope and scheduled to commence in October 2024 (indicative).Commercial Terms - Option & Joint Venture AgreementOn 30 November 2023 the Company entered into an Option & Joint Venture Agreement with Compania Minera Piuquenes S.A (a Panamanian entity) comprised of option payments, work commitments and an option exercise price for the acquisition of an 80% direct interest in the Piuquenes project. The specific commercial terms are:Option Payments($1.25m USD total)$50,000 USD upon signing (paid);$200,000 USD upon commencement of drilling;$250,000 USD 6 months following commencement of drilling;$250,000 USD on the 1st anniversary of signing;$250,000 USD on the 2nd anniversary of signing; and$250,000 USD on the 3rd anniversary of signingWork Commitments6,000 meters of drilling (minimum); and$6m USD additional exploration expenditureOption Exercise Price14.75M USD and a 1.25% NSRPampa may elect to scrip settle up to $2.5m USDThe latest Company Presentation can be accessed at https://pampametals.com/investor/ ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDJoseph van den Elsen | President & CEOINVESTORS CONTACTJoseph van den Elsen | President & CEOJoseph@ pampametals.com +1 604 347 8777ABOUT PAMPA METALSPampa Metals is listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE:FIRA), and OTC (OTCQB:PMMCD) exchanges, and wholly owns a portfolio of projects highly prospective for copper, molybdenum, and gold along proven and highly productive mineral belts in Chile, the world's largest copper producer.In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option & JV Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.Qualified PersonTechnical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G, Geologist and a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as def
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Pegasus Resources Inc. (TSXV:PEGA)(FRA:OQS2)(OTC PINK:SLTFF) (the "Company" or "Pegasus") is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its strategic plans to discover uranium. The Company has successfully staked new land in Utah adjacent to its 100% owned Energy Sands property, bolstering its portfolio with the addition of 48 new lode claims. The mining claims were registered directly by Pegasus at the BLM office in Salt Lake, Utah.Key Highlights:Land Expansion: Pegasus has significantly increased the footprint of its Energy Sands property by an impressive 160%.Mapping and Sampling Program: The next phase of development involves initiating a comprehensive mapping and sampling program to delineate potential drill targets.Drilling Permit Application: Following the mapping and sampling phase, Pegasus plans to submit applications for drilling permits, a crucial step in advancing the exploration process.Q2/Q3 Drill Program: These initiatives aim to make the Energy Sands property drill-ready by the second quarter of the upcoming year.This expansion aligns with Pegasus' commitment to strategic exploration and the responsible development of valuable uranium resources. The Company remains dedicated to maintaining transparency and providing stakeholders with updates on the progress of this exciting venture.About Energy Sands Project:The Energy Sands Project, a promising venture under the banner of Pegasus, is strategically positioned within the prolific Tidwell Mineral Belt of the San Rafael Uranium District in east-central Utah. Hosted within the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison Formation, this project is characterized by significant uranium mineralization.Geological Characteristics:Uranium mineralization within the Tidwell Mineral Belt follows a distinct orientation, manifesting in a series of roughly northeast trends. Individual mineralized bodies in the area are tabular to lenticular, with their long axes aligned along these trends. This geological feature shapes the potential for resource exploration and development of economical uranium deposits. To confirm the continuity of the Tidwell Mineral Belt on the property a field mapping and sampling program will commence in Q1 2024.Proximity to Western Uranium's San Rafael Project:The Energy Sands Project gains prominence not only from its intrinsic geological value but also due to its strategic location. It is situated on-trend and is approximately 4 kilometres from Western Uranium's San Rafael Uranium Project. A noteworthy comparison with Western Uranium's San Rafael Project reveals the potential of the Energy Sands Project. The San Rafael Project is located in Emery County, Utah. The core uranium deposit of the San Rafael Uranium Project is the Deep Gold deposit. The Historic Indicated Mineral Resource (CIM Definition) for the entire San Rafael Uranium Project comprises 479,050 tons @ 0.25% U3O8 containing 2,415,300 lbs U3O8 and a Historic Inferred Mineral Resource (CIM Definition) of 92,350 tonnes @ 0.32% U3O8 containing 587,800 lbs U3O8. Historic vanadium resource exists at the project.(based on the Nov-19, 2014 Technical Report filed by Western Uranium)Additionally, it is noteworthy that Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. is advancing a state-of-the-art mineral processing plant in Utah. Utilizing the latest technology, this facility, including Western's patented Kinetic Separation process, is set to recover uranium, vanadium, and cobalt from ore. The capacity of the Facility can be scaled up as Western develops additional mines and to process ore for other mining companies requiring third-party processing services. (Western Uranium New release January 23, 2023)Historical Significance:The Energy Sands Project has a historical backdrop, as outlined in a report archived by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Small-scale uranium production by the Minerals Corporation of America occurred between 1953 and 1956, totalling 51.8 tons at an impressive grade of 0.373% U3O8 and 1.10% V2O5 (Byers & Robertson, 1956).Pegasus is now poised to unlock the potential of the Energy Sands Project, building on its geological promise, strategic location, and historical significance. As the Company advances exploration and development initiatives, stakeholders can anticipate exciting developments in this promising uranium project.NI 43-101 DisclosureThe technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jacob Anderson, CPG, MAusIMM, Resource Geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting USA Ltd., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, who has prepared and/or reviewed the content of this press release.About Pegasus Resources Inc.Pegasus Resources Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on uranium, gold, and base metal properties in North America. The Company is also actively pursuing the right opportunity in other resources to enhance shareholder value. For additional information, please visit the Company at www.pegasusresourcesinc.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors:Christian TimminsPresident, CEO and DirectorPegasus Resources Inc.700 - 838 West Hastings StreetVancouver, BC V6C 0A6PH: 1-403-597-3410X: https://twitter.com/MrChris_TimminsX: https://twitter.com/pegasusresincE: info@ pegasusresourcesinc.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Forward Looking StatementsStatements included in this announcement, including statements concerning the Company's plans, intentions, and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.SOURCE: Pegasus Resources Inc.
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HANOVER, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Sami Almadi, a distinguished businessman and healthcare leader from Hanover, Massachusetts, known for his innovative and resilient approach in the healthcare industry, was recently featured in an insightful interview with Ideamensch. Almadi, a Harvard graduate with a Master's degree focused in Management, shared his rich experiences and the wisdom gained from a career marked by determination and a commitment to excellence.In the interview, Almadi delves into how his career in healthcare has been shaped by overcoming significant challenges, such as language barriers, and leading through critical periods like the COVID pandemic. He highlights his holistic approach to healthcare, prioritizing patient satisfaction and the importance of balancing personal and professional growth. Almadi's strategic thinking, emphasizing reflection, collaboration, and continuous learning, underscores his belief in placing patient well-being at the heart of all endeavors.Almadi shares his daily routine, focusing on productivity through clear prioritization, effective delegation, and strategic planning. He also discusses bringing ideas to life through collaboration and communication, underlining the significance of taking calculated risks for innovation. His excitement about the integration of AI and telemedicine in healthcare reflects his vision for the future of the industry.A proponent of continuous learning, Almadi advises his younger self and others to view every challenge as an opportunity for growth. He champions emotional intelligence alongside clinical expertise in healthcare, a view he believes is gaining traction despite some resistance. Building strong relationships and maintaining a work-life balance are among the strategies he credits for his career growth and personal well-being.Almadi generously shares a business idea with Ideamensch readers - a telehealth service specializing in mental health for healthcare professionals, underscoring the need for focus on mental well-being within the industry. He also discusses his use of project management tools like Asana and Trello for productivity and the value he has derived from Atul Gawande's book "Being Mortal," as well as his enjoyment of the TV series 'The Good Doctor.'The Ideamensch interview with Sami Almadi offers a deep dive into the mind of a healthcare leader who has seamlessly blended innovation with empathy, and strategic acumen with personal growth, continuing to inspire and shape the future of patient care.For more information about Sami Almadi and to read the full interview, click here.CONTACT:salmadi@ bcshc.com SOURCE: Sami Almadi
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against SC Health Corporation ("SC Health" or "the Company") (NYSE:SCPE; NYSE: SCPE.WS; NYSE: SCPE.U) and Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited ("Rockley" or "the company") (NYSE:RKLY; NYSE: RKLY.WS) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired SC Health and Rockley securities: (1) directly in the March 2021 private investment in public equity of Rockley shares (the "PIPE Offering") conducted in connection with the merger of SC Health and Rockley (the "Merger"); or (ii) between March 19, 2021 and January 23, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/scpe Case Details:The complaint alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Rockley's joint venture agreement ("JV Agreement") with Hengtong Rockley Technology Co., Ltd. was in jeopardy because Jiangsu Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd. ("Hengtong"), Rockley's joint venture partner, had acquired a majority interest in a company, Huawei Marine Networks Co., Ltd. ("Huawei Marine") (later renamed HMN Tech), on the banned entities list maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce since 2019; (ii) the JV Agreement was in further jeopardy because in February 2021 the World Bank had invalidated a bid by Huawei Marine to build an undersea optical cable based on security concerns raised by the United States and other countries that China could use the infrastructure to spy on communications; (iii) the materially undisclosed risk that the JV Agreement could fail as a result of Hengtong's acquisition of a majority interest in HMN Tech jeopardized Rockley's joint venture revenues, launch schedule, business prospects, and ultimately Rockley's solvency; (iv) Rockley did not have the customer base or customer commitments that defendants had represented to investors; and (v) Rockley did not have sufficient customer orders to allow it to develop and commercialize products, maintain and expand client relationships, reach cash flow break-even, or stave off bankruptcy following the Merger.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/scpe or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Law Clerk and Client Relations Manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in SC Health you have until January 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-11-30 22:47:14

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Engages The Howard Group for Capital Markets and Corporate CommunicationsHighlight VideoTocvan Ventures - First Dore Bar of Gold and Silver - YouTubeCALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TO);(OTCQB:TCVNF);(FSE:TV3), is pleased to announce it has poured the first dore bar of gold and silver from bulk sample material processed at its Pilar gold-silver project in Sonora, Mexico. The bar weighs 1.487 kilograms in total, with assays from local certified laboratory LTM returning 18% of gold and 69% of silver. The bar was processed at a local facility under the supervision of Company staff. Carbon material used to absorb gold and silver during the heap leach bulk test was processed to extract the precious metals. Results are pending to determine the other metals present in the dore bar and to quantify the remaining gold and silver present in the carbon material. Remaining gold and silver in the carbon and will be processed shortly during a second dore bar pour. During the bulk sample 700 tonnes of material were crushed and processed through heap leach, returning a 1.9 g/t Au head grade and gold recovery of 62%. An additional 700 tonnes of bulk sample material are available for follow on testing of alternative recovery methods including, gravity with agitated leach. Preliminary agitated leach studies have shown rapid recovery of gold of up to 81% (see news release August 22, 2023). Gravity with later agitated leach studies have shown recoveries over 95% for gold (see news release April 11, 2023).Figure 1. Photo of the first dore bar poured from the Pilar Project bulk material."Recovering gold and silver is an important step towards full-scale production and the first of many ounces to be produced from Pilar." stated Brodie Sutherland, CEO. "Pilar has returned high head grade, well above the average of open pit mines in the region. The recoveries are also consistent with local operations, with the advantage at Pilar for even higher recovery through gravity and agitated leach methods. More gold and silver are yet to be extracted from the material in hand while we continue to advance our near-term permitting initiatives towards mine development. In addition, we are extremely excited to bring on The Howard Group as a key advisor to both capital markets and corporate communications as we look to broaden our outreach to current and prospective investors." Figure 2. Tocvan's technical team with the Pilar first pour.The Company is also pleased to announce it has engaged The Howard Group Inc. as its Capital Markets and Corporate Digital Communications advisor. The Howard Group will direct both traditional and online initiatives with a special emphasis on connecting the Company to retail investing communities and select members of numerous investment and institutional organizations.The Company entered into an investor relations engagement agreement (the "Agreement") with The Howard Group dated December 1, 2023 (the "Effective Date") subject to approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE), whereby the Company has agreed to engage The Howard Group for a term of twelve months with a six-month renewal feature. Under the Agreement, the Company will pay $10,000 a month and grant the following stock options to The Howard Group under the Company's incentive stock option plan: (i) 200,000 stock options granted within 15 days of the date of the Agreement with an exercise price of $0.45 per share vesting 25% every 3 months and expiring 3 years after the date of grant; and (ii) 100,000 stock options granted upon first renewal at six months, and the stock options shall have an exercise price equal to the applicable market price pursuant to the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, vesting 25% every 3 months and expiring 3 years after the date of grant."Tocvan is an extremely interesting opportunity," commented Grant Howard, President of The Howard Group. "We feel the investing and investment communities will find the story particularly appealing. It sits in the heart of gold country in Sonora, Mexico, has dramatically expanded its 100% Pilar Gold & Silver project and there are multiple high-grade assay results. Tocvan management is focused on the company becoming a near-term producer." About The Howard GroupSince 1988, The Howard Group has provided comprehensive outreach, online digital and capital markets programs targeting investor, investment, and institutional communities as well as financing support and strategic planning for public companies.About the Pilar PropertyThe Pilar Gold-Silver property has recently returned some of the regions best drill results. Coupled with encouraging gold and silver recovery results from metallurgical test work, Pilar is primed to be a potential near-term producer. Pilar is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal system hosted in andesite rocks. Three primary zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-T. The Main Zone and 4-T trends are open to the southeast and new parallel zones have been recently discovered. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Mineralization extends along a 1.2-km trend, only half of that trend has been drill tested so far. To date, over 23,000 m of drilling has been completed.2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include (all lengths are drilled thicknesses):116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include (all lengths are drilled thicknesses):39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag29m @ 0.7 g/t Au35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include (all lengths are drilled thicknesses):94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag;41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ;24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include:16.5m @ 53.5 g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag61.0m @ 0.8 g/t AuAbout Tocvan Ventures Corp.Tocvan is a well-structured exploration development company. Tocvan was created in order to take advantage of the prolonged downturn in the junior min
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Ximen Mining Corp. (TSXV:XIM)(FRA:1XMA)(OTCQB:XXMMF) (the "Company" or "Ximen") announces that, further to the Company's press release on November 22, 2023, it is proceeding with a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of its Common Shares (the "Common Shares") on the basis of five (5) pre-Consolidation Common Shares for one (1) post-Consolidated Common Share. As of the date hereof, there are 149,714,397 Common Shares issued and outstanding. On a post-Consolidation basis, the Company shall have 29,942,879 Common Shares issued and outstanding. No fractional shares will be issued under the Consolidation and each fractional share will be rounded down to the nearest whole number, without any consideration payable therefor. Each shareholder's percentage ownership in the Company and proportional voting power will remain unchanged, except for minor adjustments resulting from the treatment of fractional shares.The CUSIP number for the post-Consolidation Common Shares is 98420B309 and the new ISIN number is CA98420B3092 and the Company's name will not change.The Common Shares will commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on a post-Consolidation basis effective at market opening on December 4, 2023. The Consolidation is subject to the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) and the Articles of the Company, shareholder approval of the Consolidation is not required.The exercise or conversion price and the number of Common Shares issuable under the Company's outstanding stock options will be proportionately adjusted upon completion of the Consolidation. A letter of transmittal will be sent to registered shareholders. Shareholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts are not required to take any action to effect an exchange of their Common Shares.On behalf of the Board of Directors,"Christopher R. Anderson"Christopher R. Anderson, President, CEO and Director 604 488-3900Investor Relations:604-488-3900, ir@ XimenMiningCorp.com About Ximen Mining Corp.Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC. Ximen`s two Gold projects, The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine. Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under an option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has also acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment.Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL.SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp.
The price of crude oil rose on Thursday as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) began its meeting.

Brent crude futures climbed 13 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $83.23 a barrel by 0740 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 17 cents, or 0.2 per cent, at $78.03 a barrel.

The benchmark oil contracts settled nearly 2 per cent higher the previous day amid hopes of some form of a price-supportive resolution from the OPEC+ group.

OPEC and its allies are meeting today to discuss additional oil output cuts for next year.

OPEC and its allies had, in October last year, agreed to cut oil output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the deepest cut by OPEC+ since the 2020 COVID pandemic.

The decision came despite pressure from the United States and others advocating that the group increase its output.

In April, OPEC said it would start a voluntary reduction of 1.66 million barrels per day in its production of crude oil alongside other members of OPEC.

The cuts were to start in May and last through the end of the year, an official with the Saudi Ministry of Energy was quoted as saying by the Saudi state-run news agency, SPA.

The cut is in addition to the reduction announced by OPEC+ in October 2022, according to SPA.

In June, OPEC said it would extend the cut until 2024.

It noted that the decision was taken in light of the continued commitment of the OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to achieve and sustain a stable oil market and to provide long-term guidance for the market.

Earlier in October, the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), kept the groups output policy unchanged.

Any rise in price favours Nigeria which relies mostly on oil for its revenue and foreign earnings. Meanwhile, the country has also been faced with pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in its oil-producing region.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) had recently said oil thieves vandalised over 5,000 kilometres of oil pipelines connecting different parts of the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, who disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) said the continuous vandalisation of the pipelines was causing a huge loss to the NNPC Ltd while describing the situation as a national calamity.

Over 5,000 kilometres of oil pipelines in the country are not working as a result of pipeline vandalism. Ten million litres of oil was lost from the volume pumped from Aba to Enugu at a time. The company has been unable to pump oil from Warri to Benin within the last 22 years and cannot connect to Ore.

There is no amount of security measures that had not been taken to curb the crime without success, which, to us in NNPC Ltd, is substantially a national calamity, Mr Kyari said.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday directed banks to continue issuing and accepting all denominations of Nigerian old and redesigned banknotes.

The apex bank also directed its branches to accept the notes from deposit money banks (DMBs).

This is in response to the Supreme Courts decision on Wednesday, granting an extension for the use of old Naira notes.

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by John Okoro had in March ordered the Central Bank to continue to receive the old notes from Nigerians until 31 December 2023.

The court had held that the directive of then President Muhammadu Buhari for the redesign of the new notes and withdrawal of the old notes without due consultation was invalid.

At Wednesdays proceedings, the Supreme Court ruled that the old notes remain legal tender until they are replaced with the redesigned notes.

Subsequently, the Central Bank, in a statement, affirmed the order.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Supreme Court ordered that the old versions of N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes shall continue to be legal tender, alongside the re-designed versions, the bank said.

Accordingly, in line with Section 20(5) of the CBN Act 2007, all banknotes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), will continue to remain legal tender, indefinitely. Members of the public are enjoined to continue to accept all Naira banknotes (old or redesigned) for their day-to-day transactions and handle these banknotes with the utmost care, to safeguard and protect the lifecycle of the banknotes.

The Central Bank urged the public to accept both old and redesigned Naira banknotes for transactions while handling them carefully.

The bank also encouraged Nigerians to adopt alternative payment methods and e-channels to ease reliance on physical cash.

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Nigerias new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, is leading the countrys foreign relations in the face of significant domestic and external turbulence. His ministry coordinates Nigerias 109 foreign missions, shaping their ability to deliver on the countrys agenda.

Mr Tuggar describes his approach as 4D Diplomacy, centred on development, democracy, demography and diaspora. His vision is to place Nigeria at the pinnacle of global and regional decision-making, and he has hinted that a new foreign policy document is in the works.

Nigerias external relations have faced challenges both regionally and globally. Its influence within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been underwhelming despite having the regions largest economy and population. The countrys commitment to ECOWAS was questioned following a year-long border closure from August 2019. However, the previous administrations establishment of an Abuja-based permanent mission to ECOWAS just before this years polls hinted at renewed relations.

President Bola Tinubu was appointed as ECOWAS Chairperson in July but faced some difficulties with his first test  handling Nigers coup that same month. He led ECOWAS in an attempt to restore democratic rule, but those efforts failed.

At the African Union level, Nigerias role in key initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been marred by its initial ambivalence in signing the agreement due to protectionist tendencies. On the world stage, Nigerias impact within the Global South has been limited and is further challenged by its absence from the BRICS bloc.

On the other hand, Nigerian music and movies have gained global prominence. Yet the country has not sufficiently used these cultural exports for soft power gain, and Nigeria still struggles to bolster its reputation.

As the country looks to fortify its position in Africa and globally, the mission is clear: transition from rhetoric to tangible strategies that yield real impact.

Some key issues require attention from Nigerias foreign policies, including export diversification, jobs, energy transition, diaspora welfare, regional leadership, international image, climate adaptation and security cooperation.

A critical aspect is to reduce Nigerias long-standing reliance on oil exports. This requires a focused approach to trade and economic diplomacy. The country needs to actively court international investment into its diverse sectors like agriculture, technology, manufacturing and the creative industries. All foreign missions must be synchronised to make the investment case for Nigeria.

Unlocking international funds for infrastructure development should be a priority, setting the stage for intra-African and global exports beyond oil. Nigeria must also shed its ambivalence towards the AfCFTA and, instead, take a leadership role in its implementation.

Unemployment remains a problem, exacerbating social issues and undermining economic development. Nigerias foreign policy must be intricately linked with its domestic job creation strategies such as the National Talent Export Programme.

Beyond attracting investment to grow industries, labour migration agreements can be negotiated with other countries to help expand Nigerians horizons and potentially grow remittance inflows. This will be a more pragmatic response to the wave of emigration while work is being done to improve the conditions driving it.

Navigating the complexities of energy transition presents a unique foreign policy challenge. Nigerias reliance on oil exports has long been at odds with global calls for sustainable energy solutions, making the shift towards renewable energy essential. The transition isnt merely an internal adjustment; it demands an agile, nuanced foreign policy that secures international partnerships for technology and funding. Economic diplomacy with leading green technology nations can help Nigeria diversify its energy portfolio, reducing its economic vulnerability to oil market fluctuations.

Nigerias role in climate diplomacy is a crucial facet of its foreign policy. As a significant player in Africa and potentially the Global South, Nigeria can advocate for equitable climate targets in international forums such as COP28, which kicks off today in Dubai.

The dual approach to energy and climate underscores the interconnectedness of domestic policies and international standing and exemplifies the cohesive, actionable foreign policy Nigeria should aspire to enact.

There has been much discourse about the changing world order and growing multipolarity. Nigeria, as the largest black nation worldwide, has been relatively absent from conversations around a shift from Western hegemony. A more skilful navigation of emerging global powers, strategic alignments, and clearly communicated policy positions could help grow its influence.

Security concerns must be met with a multifaceted strategy that targets the root causes, from poverty to corruption. The violent extremist group Islamic State West Africa Province, based in Nigeria, is the Islamic States largest terror franchise. This necessitates stronger leadership from Nigeria in initiatives such as the Global Coalition Against Daesh and the Multinational Joint Task Force to defeat extremism. The countrys successes and struggles should drive African and global policymaking on terrorism.

The Nigerian diaspora has long been underutilised in foreign policy matters. These individuals often have established lives in their host countries, so they are well-positioned to act as intermediaries for business, cultural exchange and diplomatic relations.

The new minister faces unique challenges, not least of which is the limited resources available to the Foreign Ministry to execute its ambitious mandate. In 2023, it was allocated around N98 billion ($123 million), with personnel and overhead costs already consuming 95% of that. The minister will need creative and innovative strategies to maximise impact. Partnerships will be critical, perhaps leveraging technology to facilitate diplomatic engagements.

As Nigeria grapples with complex challenges and opportunities on both the domestic and international fronts, Ambassador Tuggar has a chance to reshape the countrys foreign policy architecture. He must lead with foresight, creativity and urgency.

Teniola Tayo, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Consultant and Principal, Aloinett Advisors

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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With $6.2 trillion worth of natural resources, 65 per cent of the worlds uncultivated arable land, and a vibrant youth population, Africa has no excuse to be poor, African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina said on Tuesday.

He said the continent must look inward urgently to solve its many challenges and urged citizens to hold governments accountable for poverty.

The bank president made the call in Lagos where he delivered a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of The Guardian, Nigerias foremost independent newspaper. The lecture was held under the theme, For the World to Respect Africa.

Mr Adesina, who won The Guardians Man of the Year Award in 2021, stressed that Africa should not be where it is today and urged its resource-rich nations to strengthen good governance, transparency, accountability, and sound management policies to turn things around.

He said considering the vast natural resources that Africa has, it must become a continent that grows inclusive and well-distributed wealth.

If we manage our natural resources well, Africa has no reason to be poor. We have $6.2 trillion in natural resources, he said. So how in the world are we still poor? We simply need to pull up our socks, stamp out corruption, and manage our resources in the interest of our countries and our people, added Mr Adesina.

He explained further: Saudi Arabia has oil, as does Nigeria. Kuwait has oil, as does Nigeria. Qatar has abundant gas, as does Nigeria and other countries. Yet, Nigeria is the country with the largest share of its population living below the extreme poverty line in 2023 in Africa. Clearly, there is something fundamentally wrong in our management, or rather mismanagement, of our natural resources.

As an example, the bank president cited South Korea, which raised its GDP per capita from $350 in the 1960s to approximately $33,000 by 2023. That is the kind of quantum leap that we need, Mr Adesina said. We must ask ourselves, when will we make the shift that South Korea made, from being a country that was once on the low end of the development ladder to the rich, industrialised nation that it is today.

I am optimistic about Nigeria. I am optimistic about Africa. I believe in Africa, he added.

Africa needs the right policies, investments, infrastructure, logistics, and financingWe must make sure that this is driven by a highly skilled, dynamic, and youthful workforce, he told the audience of ministers and other senior government officials, former state governors, business leaders, academics, and media at The Guardian event.

The bank president commended The Guardian, for continuing to guard the truth.

He said: Over the years, this world-class publication has set a benchmark for journalistic excellence. It has helped to shape public discourse, champion accountability, and serve as a peoples watchdog. In doing so, The Guardian has justifiably earned the respect of Nigerians and readers across the world.

The Guardians Chairman and Publisher, Maiden Alex-Ibru, described the bank president as one of Nigerias greatest exports to the world.

The Worlds Breadbasket

Mr Adesina said Africa could play a leading role in resolving not only its own challenges but global ones. While we must deal with bread-and-butter development issues, we must think strategically as we set ourselves on a path to becoming wealthy nations. Our countries must become great contributors to global wealth and development financing for others.

He highlighted the African Development Banks interventions to drive inclusive development in Africa, including boosting food security.

The African Development Bank has invested about $8 billion in agriculture over the past seven years, improving food security for 250 million people across the continent. In response to Russias invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted wheat and maize supplies to Africa, the bank rapidly approved a $1.5 billion emergency food production facility for countries across the continent.

Today, this facility is supporting 20 million farmers in 36 countries to produce 38 million tonnes of food valued at $12 billion. This is 8 million tonnes above the 30 million tonnes of food Africa was importing from Russia and Ukraine, Mr Adesina said.

But even as we do this, we must do more than simply producing more food and agricultural commodities, Mr Adesina added. The export of raw commodities is the door to poverty. The export of value-added products is the highway to wealth.

The African Development Bank and its partners have provided $1.6 billion to develop 25 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to support private sector processing and add value to commodities across 15 countries.

With partners, the bank this month launched a $3 billion Alliance for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to support the development of these zones in 11 more countries.

Ahead of the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference starting on 30 November in Dubai, Mr Adesina said the African Development Bank will amplify Africas calls for climate justice and greater investment in climate action, including adaptation.

The bank has launched a $1 billion Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation to scale up climate risk insurance for African countries.

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africas premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information see HERE.

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Polish Minister of Infrastructure Alvin Gajadhur held negotiations with Polish carriers who are blocking four Polish-Ukrainian border checkpoints (BCPs) for trucks and agreed on a partial settlement of the protest, according to a statement on the Polish government website.

"During today's meeting, we told the minister that we do not intend to stop our protest. But we refused to extend it to subsequent border crossings, although this was already being prepared," Waldemar Jaszczur, chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Transport Carriers and Employers, said.

According to Jaszczur, Polish carriers are ready to consider the possibility of mitigating the form of protest if the Polish state strengthens control over trucks entering Poland.

In turn, Gajadhur said that he talked with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Internal Affairs and noted that the above-mentioned ministries are ready to take measures to meet the requirement for enhanced control.

"Employees of the National Revenue Administration, border guards and police will also take part in these inspections. These will be enhanced measures. I have spoken to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration; they have declared their full cooperation in this matter," Polish Radio reported.

According to information, the EU Transport Council will meet on Monday, December 4, in Brussels, where one of the agenda items will be a discussion of the consequences of the Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Ukraine on the carriage of freight by road in force since July 1, 2022.
President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Wura-Ola Adepoju as the substantive Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

Ms Adepoju disclosed the development to staff of the NIS during the Comptroller Generals parade on Wednesday, adding that the date for decoration would soon be announced.

You may also wish to know, that through the grace of God and by the benevolence of the present government, I have been confirmed as a substantive Comptroller General of Immigration, a statement by the Public Relations Unit of the Service quoted her as saying.

As the most senior Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), Ms Adepoju was appointed the acting CG when the former acting CG, Isah Jeres tenure expired on 29 May.

Addressing members of the service on Wednesday, the new CG also said some members of the top management team who took part in a promotion exam have been elevated to the ranks of Deputy Comptrollers General.

She said the date of their decoration will also be announced soon.

The CG also called on officers to observe a minute of silence in honour of members of the service who died some weeks ago in the line of duty, praying that the Almighty God rest their souls.

The CGI announced that the parade was dedicated to the memory of our fallen colleagues and assured that NIS will continue to support the bereaved families.

She said an Endowment Fund is being created by the Service for the upkeep of the families of the deceased.

Donations have been received from members of the NIS management team, Command Comptrollers and stakeholders. The widows left behind are being considered for employment into the Service provided they have the required qualifications, the statement said.

She encouraged all personnel not to despair, but recognise the fact that our colleagues did not die in vain and that their families are not alone.

The CGI appreciated all officers and men for the support given to the NIS leadership. She particularly thanked the top management team, Zonal Coordinators, State Comptrollers and Passport Officers both at home and in the diaspora.

Passport Issuance

The CG also enjoined all Nigerian Passport holders to ensure their Passports are renewed six months before expiration, to avoid desperation and undue pressure on both the applicants and NIS personnel.

She also advised Nigerians to stop patronising touts and deal with the Service directly.

She added that passport applications would soon be paperless and applicants would be able to apply for their passports in the comfort of their homes without having to come and fill hard copies of forms at Immigration offices.

The statement added: As we approach the festive period, we expect many Nigerians from the diaspora to be coming home. The CGI will work with the DCG Passport and other Travel Documents as well as the DCG Border Management to ensure that we are able to assist those coming with expired Passports. We will have dedicated service points to help them. We will also encourage the adults to apply for the 64 page 10 years validity Passport to save them from frequent renewal.

Under the leadership of our current Minister, Olubunmi Tuni-Ojo, arrangements are underway to expand our service points abroad to ease the pressure on the existing few as a result of the japa syndrome.

The DCG in charge of Passport and other Travel Documents was specially recognised for her assiduousness in ensuring we are able to meet our mandate in the area of Passport administration.

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At least five countries have made pledges to the just operationalised loss and damage fund.

About $288 million have been pledged by five countries so far.

The UAE, COP28s host pledged $100 million as soon as the fund was operational on Thursday. Germany followed with $100 million. The UK pledged $40 million to the Fund and 20 million for other funding arrangements for loss and damage.

The U.S. and Japan pledged 17 and 10 million dollars, respectively.

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The loss and damage fund was established last year at the conference in Egypt and received a rapid adoption at this years conference happening in Dubai.

More details

This story was produced as part of the 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

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Suspected armed robbers on Wednesday shot dead the Director of Finance and Accounts of Ogun State Governors Office, Taiwo Oyekanmi.

Mr Oyekanmi was said to be returning from a bank when he was waylaid by the gunmen on a bridge near a Nigerian National Petrol Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) filling station in Abeokuta, the state capital.

After the gunmen escaped from the scene, the victim was taken by onlookers to the General Hospital, Ijaiye, within the vicinity of the attack, but was later pronounced dead.

The state government on Wednesday confirmed the development through a statement by Lekan Adeniran, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abiodun.

But the government was silent on whether the armed robbers found money on Mr Oyekanmi.

In the statement, the governor commiserated with the family of the slain official.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the family of Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, the late Director of Finance and Accounts, in the office of the Governor, who was killed in cold blood by suspected armed robbers on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the state capital, the statement read.

Oyekanmi was on official assignment within the metropolis when he met his untimely death in the hands of his assailants. I was devastated and extremely shocked upon receiving news of the cold-blooded murder of Oyekanmi, in the hands of criminal elements and enemies of our State.

It is indeed a collosal loss for our administration to have lost such dedicated, truthful, and diligent official; his assailants have murdered sleep and will be flushed out immediately from wherever they might be hiding.

I have directed all security agencies in the State to smoke the criminals out instantly and make them to face the full wrath of the law. I therefore want to assure the entire workforce and residents in the state that never will such calamity befall our dear state again.

I pray for the repose of his soul and for Gods protection over the family he left behind. Obviously, he is going to be sorely missed by his relatives, colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death, the statement read.

Meanwhile the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tokunbo Talabi, on Wednesday evening, led a government delegation to the home of the deceased to commiserate with his family.

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In managing farmers-herders conflicts in Kano State, the state government has initiated the Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, (KSADP) designed as a multifaceted food security, poverty alleviation, job creation, and conflict mitigation approach.

The State Project Coordinator of the KSADP, Ibrahim Muhammad, made this known while hosting the Zamfara State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Kabiru Moyi, at the project office in Kano on Wednesday, said Ameen Yassar, the Project Communication Specialist

Mr Ibrahim announced that within the next few days, the KSADP will award a contract for the survey, demarcation, gazetting, and documentation of stock routes across Kano state.

Presently, Kano State has 1,450 kilometres of major stock routes and 500 kilometres of minor stock routes, many of which have been blocked by farms or infrastructure, forcing herdsmen to traverse through farms to reach water or grazing areas, leading to violent clashes with farmers.

There is a need to integrate the traditional stock routes used by herdsmen and grazing areas in the Action Plans and interventions by governments and development partners, as part of moves to ensure lasting peace in the country.

Other interventions initiated by the KSADP to consolidate the Stock route issue is the development of Dansoshiya grazing reserve, an ongoing project, which is a model in Nigeria for settling herdsmen in one location, to enhance peace, socialisation and economic growth in addition to addressing rural-urban drift.

The project is also into commercial and small scale fodder development, crop residue utilisation for animal feed, annual free livestock vaccination, construction and equipping of the first state-owned Veterinary Reference Laboratory in Northern Nigeria as well as the construction of 100 milk collection centres across Kano state, the official said.

Mr Ibrahim said KSADP will support the government of Zamfara State towards developing agro-pastoral systems especially interventions aimed at addressing incessant farmers-herdsmen conflicts in the North-west state.

In his remark, Mr Moyi said he visited the project office to learn more about the KSADP, to be able to develop a concept note for possible implementation of a similar project by the Zamfara State Government.

We are determined to emulate Kano to address the challenges facing our state so when we start a similar initiative, we will request the cooperation of the Project Management Unit of KSADP to succeed, Mr Moyi said.

KSADP is funded by the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), which is a US$ 2.5 billion development initiative launched in 2016 and funded by an unprecedented global coalition including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Gate Foundation among others.

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World leaders and climate activists, on Thursday, commenced the 28th meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

The summit is billed to run from 30 November to 12 December.

The Conference is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nation Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). States (countries) that are parties to the convention send representatives/delegates to COP, where they review the conventions implementation and any other legal instruments adopted at COP meetings. They also make decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.

Nigeria is one of the signatories to the Paris Agreement. Its delegates are on the ground to advance conversations on its priorities towards achieving the ambitious climate change targets enshrined in its Nationally Determined Contribution document submitted to the UNFCCC.

According to the UNFCCC, over 70,000 delegates worldwide are expected to converge on the gleaming Emirati city of Dubai.

This years summit is expected to feature some contentious issues. Among these would be discussions on whether to phase out fossil fuels and how to sustainably finance the energy transition agenda in developing countries.

During a pre-COP workshop in Abuja last week, the Director General of Nigerias Climate Change Council, Salisu Dahiru, said that a key focus of the delegation at COP this year will be pushing to see loss and damage fund operationalisation and secure finances for the implementation of the countrys ambitious Energy Transition Plan.

Establishing a Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 in Egypt last year was one of the laudable outcomes reached by the parties.

Meanwhile, for the first time in COP history, an assessment of the parties performance (global stocktake) towards curbing global warming will be finalised.

This year, the COP28 presidency has stated that the summit will be anchored on four key pillars: fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition; fixing climate finance; focusing on people, lives and livelihoods (loss and damage); and underpinning everything at COP with full inclusivity.

The ceremonial opening of the COP28 Plenary began at 14:00 hours (11:00 a.m. Nigeria time).

PREMIUM TIMES reporters are on the ground in Dubai to provide updates as events unfold.

Below are pictures of what Nigerias Pavillion looks like in Dubai and where several side events and fireside chats are scheduled to take place.

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the private sector forms an integral half of the crucial foundation that holds the Nigerian government.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu is committed to creating an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and innovation.

This, according to him, explains why the presidents vision for Nigeria is grounded in eight priority areas, including poverty eradication, economic growth, job creation, and equitable access to capital.

The vice president spoke on Thursday while commissioning some projects, including the Ijele 93.1 FM Radio Station, Phase Two of the SEOF Touch-a-Life Housing Project and the AEMSL Meter Factory, in Anambra State.

This gathering is a reminder that the private sector forms the other half of the governments crucial foundation. Whatever innovation we design, whatever ideas we explore, whatever interests we pursue, we cannot achieve our objectives if those for whom they are targeted are not carried along or in tune with our agenda.

I am utterly proud to be here today, honoured and excited to witness the commissioning of these landmark projects. I am convinced that each of us understands the urgency of our collective actions.

Mr Shettima commended Anambra State for its private sector-driven development, even as he pledged the federal governments support in addressing the states ecological challenges.

Noting that Anambra State has emerged as a critical pillar in Nigerias economic future, VP Shettima also praised Governor Charles Soludo for his understanding of the importance of a thriving private sector.

He added that Mr Soludo has demonstrated vast understanding of our economic dynamics, not just refined in academic chambers but forged in the crucible of real-world challenges.

Mr Shettima also commended Emeka Offor, the Chairman of Chrome Group and Founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), for his contributions to the development of Anambra State.

Acknowledging Mr Offors innovation, determination, and audacious vision, the VP said his investments in the state have helped to create jobs, improve infrastructure and provide essential services to the people of the state.

Dr. Emeka Offor is a shining example of what can be achieved when the private sector and the government work together. He is a true patriot who is committed to making Nigeria a better place, he noted.

Shedding more light on the private sectors crucial role in nation-building, the vice president said the hope the Tinubu administration promised to renew can only be realised in an environment that makes it easier to translate the ideas of pace-setting individuals like Mr Offor into action.

Mr Shettima continued: The profound partnership between the federal government and each state remains an indispensable cornerstone.

I assure you that commitment knows no bounds when fostering an environment ripe for entrepreneurial growth and innovation. For it is in the nurturing embrace of this collaborative effort that the delicate balance between public and private sectors resonates, defining the trajectory of successful nations.

READ ALSO:

The vice president also had an aerial view of some gully erosion sites in the state and was briefed on the state governments efforts to address the problem which has caused widespread damage to infrastructure and farmlands in Anambra State.

Mr Shettima pledged the federal governments support to the state governments efforts to address the problem of erosion. He said that the federal government will provide financial and technical assistance to the state to implement solutions to this problem.

The VP restated federal governments continued support for Anambra States economic development, saying the government will work with the state to address challenges such as gully erosion and improve road infrastructure.

Anambra State is crucial to the economy of this country, and we are going to ensure interventions in this state, from economic support to infrastructure development, are geared towards sustaining its place as an industrial and economic powerhouse.

We are aware of the daunting challenge of gully erosion with which the state grapples, a consequence of its loose ferallitic soil. We are aware of the communities that this menacing force has encroached upon. We are aware of the lives and livelihoods it has devastated and threatened.

We are also going to make our interventions in boosting our road infrastructure projects stand as tangible testaments to our commitment to connect the South-East with other sub-regions of our beloved country.

These initiatives aim not only to bridge geographical distances but also to knit together the diversity of our nation, fostering prosperity the people deserve, he said.

The vice president was received on arrival in the state by Mr Soludo; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; the Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh; Imo West senator, Osita Izunaso, and Mr Offor, among others.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

30th November, 2023

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The Kaduna State High Court in Kaduna, state capital, has sentenced a fake beauty promoter, Ogunleye Oluwasola, to ten years imprisonment for cheating and obtaining by false pretence.

The judge, A.A Isiaka, jailed Mr Oluwasola after he pleaded guilty to one count of cheating and obtaining by false pretence, a charge brought against him by the Kaduna Zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement issued by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday, said the convict pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Based on his plea, prosecution counsel, M. Lawal, prayed the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, the statement said.

While sentencing Mr Oluwasola, the judge ordered of the forfeiture of two Iphones, Mercedes Benz E350, 2011 model, Toyota Camry 2011 XLE seized from the convict to the federal government.

He has also ordered him make a restitution of N740,000 to the victim of the fraud.

According to the statement, Mr Oluwasolas journey to the correctional centre began when a petitioner, Solomon Suzzie, wrote the EFCC, alleging that she came across a beauty contest post on WhatsApp and indicated interest.

She joined the group and participated after which she was selected as one of the contestants.

Ms Suzzie was constantly making payments for votes amounting to N740, 000 to an account provided by the group administrator with no winner announced.

She was asked to pay more money, and sensing foul play, she petitioned the EFCC.

Upon investigation, it was discovered that the entire scheme, tagged, Online Photo Contest, was designed by the convict, the sole proprietor, in 2020 to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their money.

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The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has revealed the reason he fell out of favour with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Mr Shaibu, a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Mr Obaseki, spoke on Tuesday when he appeared as a guest on Channels TVs Politics Today.

The deputy governor had, on Monday, declared interest in contesting in the September 2024 governorship election in the state, despite facing strong opposition from Governor Obaseki who appears to prefer another person as his successor.

Mr Shaibus ambition is believed to be the cause of the feud between him and his boss.

The real reason

Speaking during the Channels TV programme, Mr Shaibu said the feud with Mr Obaseki started when he visited and congratulated a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, on the latters Senate election victory.

One of the crises that I had (with Obaseki) was when I went to the Senate to congratulate Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and I was seen in a viral video.

That was where my headache started because the governors style is that a friend of the governor, you must be (a) friend to him, and an enemy to the governor, you must be enemy to him, he said.

Despite supporting Mr Obaseki as his successor in 2016, Mr Oshiomhole became the governors political enemy after he (Oshiomhole) allegedly resisted the governors move to secure the APC ticket for his second term in office.

The situation prompted Mr Obaseki to defect to the then opposition PDP where he secured the partys ticket and subsequently won the September 2020 governorship poll in the state.

Mr Shaibu said that although he is being careful not to further hobnob with Mr Oshiomhole whom he described as his political father, he was happy that Mr Obaseki had started inviting the former governor to certain functions of the state government.

And now that he (Obaseki) has started (inviting Oshiomhole), I think that the next step is for me to reach him (Oshiomhole) and also first apologise to him for some use of words during the election, he said.

How God asked me to pursue governorship ambition

Mr Shaibu had, while declaring his interest to contest in the September 2024 governorship election in the state, said nobody can stop his ambition.

Speaking on Channels TV, the deputy governor expressed confidence that he would win the PDP governorship primary despite the opposition to his ambition.

I can assure you that I will secure the ticket and my name and the party will be on the ballot.

My name will be sent to INEC and I will be the candidate for the party (PDP) in the election because I dont do things without checking. I have gone round and consulted and I have been assured, he stated.

The deputy governor claimed that God had asked him to pursue his governorship ambition in the state and that there was no denying that he would win the partys primary.

Humans cannot say things cannot happen because if God gives us power, he gives us power for certain purposes.

The same God that gives power is the God that I have gone to and God has asked me to go ahead. I dont do things by my strength so since I am sure that God is with me, no man can stop me, he said.

Background

The feud between Messrs Obaseki and Shaibu became obvious after the deputy governor asked a court to stop an alleged plot by the governor to remove him from office.

Mr Obaseki denied the allegation and subsequently accused Mr Shaibu of manipulating the youth council election in Edo State because of his (Shaibus) interest in contesting for the 2024 governorship election in the state.

The feud between the two became messier in August when the governor sacked Mr Shaibus aides after the deputy governor staged a walk-out during a colloquium in the state.

The deputy governor had staged the walkout after his media aides and security details were denied entry at the colloquium organised by the state government to mark the 60th anniversary of the Midwest Referendum in the state.

The governor, in the heat of the feud, relocated the deputy governors office out of the Government House.

In another twist in September, Mr Shaibu tendered a public apology to the governor over the feud between them.

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In a celebration of engineering innovation in Africa, two Nigerians  Adaeze Akpagbula and Tunde Adeyemi  are among 16 African engineering innovators shortlisted for the $60,000 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.

The prize will be shared among four finalists to emerge from the longlist.

A statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the Programme Manager of Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation at the Royal Academy of Engineering, Alice Radley, noted that by being shortlisted for the Africa Prize, innovators benefit from support including business incubation, mentoring, fundraising and communication with access to the Academys global network of high-profile engineering and business experts in the UK, Africa and beyond.

Selected innovations

Mr Adeyemis innovation is named: The Kitchen Box, described as an affordable biogas digester technology which turns any type of organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser and generates clean energy for heating and cooking.

On her part, Ms Akpagbulas innovation is named: PenKeep, a climate-smart remote sensing device that monitors and controls environmental conditions in poultry farms, ensuring optimal health and productivity of chickens.

According to the statement, the shortlisting of the engineers is part of the broader selection of 16 innovators from eight African countries, showcasing groundbreaking solutions ranging from eco-friendly roofing materials to solar-powered agricultural pest detection devices.

The final round of the award, which is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2024, during the Africa Prizes 10th anniversary, will see four finalists present their innovations and business plans.

The winner will receive a total prize of N26 million with three runners-up awarded an average of N10 million each.

The audience, which includes some 80 Africa Prize alumni from the last decade, will also have the opportunity to vote for the most impactful pitch, with the One-to-Watch award carrying a N5 million prize.

Judge reacts

Sewu-Steve Tawia, one of the judges, said the 16 innovators shortlisted for this years award are contributing to key Sustainable Development Goals including no poverty, health and well-being, quality education, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequalities, and climate action.

He said: What sets these 16 people apart is their determination to solve local challenges, contribute to job creation and seize the opportunity to scale their innovation across Africa. In its 10th year, the Africa Prize is proud to elevate these local changemakers to global engineering innovators.

The other 14 shortlisted candidates include six from Kenya  Charles Oduk, Esther Kimani, Kevin Maina, Christopher Maara, Esther Mueni, Purity Gakuo  and the trio of Ivan Karugaba, Martin Tumusiime and Paul Soddo, from Uganda.

Others are Rory Assandey from Cote dIvoire, Evodius Rutta from Tanzania, Abubakari Imoro from Ghana, Leandre Berwa from Rwanda, and Ludo Ntshiwa from Botswana.

About the award

The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation was founded by the UKs Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014. It is one of Africas biggest prizes dedicated to supporting African innovators and helping them to maximise their impact. It gives commercialisation support to ambitious African innovators developing scalable engineering solutions to address local challenges, demonstrating the importance of engineering as an enabler of improved quality of life and economic development.

The innovators aim to address pan-African and international challenges, including adapting food and water systems for climate resilience, developing low-carbon energy and transport solutions, and improving telecommunications, education, financial services and healthcare.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed dates for registration and Computer-Based Tests for the 2024 edition of the annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) taken by admission seekers into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

JAMBs Public Communication Advisor (PAC), Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the dates were decided at a two-day Information Technology (IT) and Management retreat held between 26 and 28 November.

He noted that the sales of forms for the 2024 UTME will begin from 15th January through February 2024.

Mock UTME

Mr Benjamin also said the 2024 Mock UTME has been scheduled to be held on 7th March 2024 while the actual UTME would hold from 19 to 29 April 2024.

Candidates are expected to print their examination slips as from 10th April, 2024.

Candidates are enjoined to take note of these dates and other advisories issued by the examination body in relation to the administration of the examination. They are also to visit the boards website for additional information.

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At night, the Ukrainian soldiers destroyed 14 of the 20 Shahed-136/131 UAVs that attacked Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Thursday morning.

"On the night of November 30, 2023, the enemy attacked with 20 attack UAVs of the Shahed type in two directions: occupied Crimea, Primorsko-Akhtarsk-Russia. In addition, the occupiers attacked Donetsk region with eight S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles," according to the Telegram channel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Fighters, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Defense Forces are involved in repelling the air attack.

"As a result of combat work, 14 attack UAVs were destroyed. Air defense worked in the southern, eastern and central regions of the state," the Air Force said.
The stage is set for the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28), the largest gathering of global stakeholders on climate change, but there are still mixed feelings on what to expect from this years edition of the event.

Hosted by the oil moguls in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, there are concerns on whether conversations on the need to drastically cut down on or phase out fossil fuel will be on the front burner.

This is especially following a report by the Centre for Climate Reporting and the BBC that the UAE plans to use its position as host of this years COP to secure fossil fuel deals with at least 15 countries.

The city of Dubai is already agog with delegates from across the world ready to make a case for their cause at the different negotiation tables.

From 30 November to 12 December, speeches will be delivered, pledges will be made and loud applauses will follow, but what remains to be seen or known is the will to follow through.

Akintunde Babatunde, who has reported several previous editions of the conference, noted that COP remains the right platform for conversations and an avenue for everyone to come together and take stock of the pledges of the past years and to make plans for the next year.

What we should focus on as stakeholders is to name and shame those who continually make promises without commensurate action. We should also identify those who have done the work. So, when we converge again in Dubai, it is important for us to make sure we get more action, intentional actions to match the promises and pledges, he said.

How did the world get here?

The UN climate conference and the UNFCCC convention came into force on 21 March 1994 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

The Paris Agreement of 2015 infused new life into the 1994 convention. With 198 member countries on board, it has a virtually global consent.

Since the Paris Agreement, there have been several developments around climate change and the roles parties (member countries) should play.

Countries from the global north had pledged some $100 billion per year to support mitigation and adaptation in the global south.

Very recently, in the last COP in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, loss and damage were made part of the agenda and the establishment of a fund was agreed upon.

The operationalisation of this fund has been discussed since the beginning of 2023, and the discussion will continue at this years conference.

What to look out for

Finance: It is clear that money will be top of the agenda of conversations happening at COP28 just like every other COP. This promises to cover sad tales about the inadequacy of adaptation funds to questioning how much traction the Bridgetown Initiative proposed by Barbados is gaining.

The Bridgetown Initiative championed by Barbados will see Mia Mottley once again bring the crusade to Dubai, asking developed countries to rethink funds/loan accessing methods available to developing countries.

It demands immediate liquidity to stop the debt crisis in its tracks, by asking the IMF Board to return access to its unconditional rapid credit and financing facilities to previous crisis levels and to temporarily suspend its interest surcharges imposed on heavily indebted borrowing countries  for two to three years.

There is also another financial conversation on the Global Goal on Adaptation, while developing countries need trillions to tackle climate adaptation, developed countries have yet to make good on their promises of $100 billion annually.

Developing countries appear to have spoken loud enough to get the attention of the world to this issue, but the challenge of who pays for what and to whom remains the elephant in the negotiation room.

Operationalisation of Loss and Damage Fund: The loss and damage fund, which came to life at the last COP in Egypt, was billed to be operationalised this year following the agreements in Egypt.

On the eve of the COP28 opening ceremony, a draft proposal by the COP president indicates the adoption of the recommendation of the technical working committee including domiciling the funds in the World Bank.

Although there are no finalities to draft proposals, a member of the technical committee told PREMIUM TIMES that the adoption of the proposal is possible despite some reservations.

This decision falls short of fully addressing developing nations concerns, including the proposal to designate the World Bank as an interim host. While the decisions adoption at COP28 is likely, said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International.

He added that it is crucial to simultaneously enhance the financial scope of the fund necessitating hundreds of billions of dollars annually and establish a process for initial capitalisation and periodic replenishment. This step is essential to efficiently channel funds to those battling climate catastrophes.

Mr Singh also noted that the World Bank has, in principle, agreed to the conditions proposed by developing countries, which include enhanced access and independent decision-making for the fund.

The World Bank, he said, must revise its policies to meet these commitments and to effectively deliver finance to vulnerable communities and countries during its tenure.

Any deviation from these commitments must result in the World Bank losing its role as the host of the new fund, he added.

This story was produced as part of the 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

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The African Union and sub-regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have highlighted efforts being taken and plans to address the recent spike in democratic decline in different countries on the continent.

They emphasised their efforts to engage civil society organisations to help achieve their goals of firming up democratic governance across West African countries and on the continent in general.

Top officials of the inter-governmental bodies spoke in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, the first day of the second annual conference of the West Africa Democracy Solidarity (WADEMOS) Network, a body of civil society organisations from across the sub-region.

The network of civil societies, concerned with deepening democratic governance and pushing back against an unconstitutional change of government across the sub-region, was launched on 15 September 2022.

Its two-day annual conference for this year, with the theme, Amplifying CSO Response to Democratic Recession in West Africa, started on Wednesday and will end on Thursday.

Speakers on the first day of the event on Wednesday lamented the democratic reversal in various countries in the sub-region including the latest in the Niger Republic, while also advocating the adoption of two-term limits for elected leaders in the country.

Coups

Going down memory lane in his remarks at the event, the ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, recalled that between 2020 and 2023, the continent of Africa has experienced nine successful military coups, of which two were counter-coups.

Of the nine successful coups, six of them took place in West Africa, said Mr Musah, who was represented by Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance of ECOWAS.

The successful coups took place in Mali (2020, 2021), Guinea (2021), Burkina Faso (January and September 2022) and Niger (July 2023).

In addition to these successful coups, there have been other attempted coups within the same time in Niger (March 2021, two days before the inauguration of President-elect Mohamed Bazoum), The Gambia (December 2021), Guinea Bissau (February 2022), and now the apparent one in Sierra Leone, Mr Musah said.

The ECOWAS official who described the developments as West Africas present scorecard, lamented how it has turned the region into a butt of joke at certain international fora where West Africa is now referred to as the coup region.

ECOWAS steps, plans

He said the recent experience of unconstitutional change of government had informed our quick and proactive concerted response in safeguarding democracy in Sierra Leone. There was a break into a Sierra Leonean military armoury in the capital, Freetown, on Sunday, in an attempted coup.

The success gained so far can be further consolidated by leveraging strategically the agency of the civil society in managing democratic transition and deter future political uncertainties in the region, Mr Musah said.

He said the ECOWAS Commission management is consolidating engagements with CSOs for advancing democracy, good governance, and sustainable development as a pathway to accelerating the realization of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

He noted that ECOWAS has a renewed interest in partnering with CSOs to make the West African CSO platform more proactive in galvanising, amplifying and harmonising forces to address the prevailing democratic reversals and threat to peace and security in the region.

This effort will not only reflect prevailing standards at the continental and global levels, but also, will be guided through an enhanced framework for West African CSOs to play a more active role in contributing to the realisation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050, and in line with Article 81 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty (1993), he said.

The ECOWAS Vision 2050 which replaces the expired Vision 2020 proclaims that ECOWAS must, within 30 years, become a community of peoples and economic integration.

Vision 2050 is based on five pillars, namely a secure, stable and peaceful region; a region endowed with strong institutions, and that complies with the rule of law and fundamental freedoms; a fully integrated and prosperous region; a region mobilised for transformation, inclusive and sustainable development; a community of peoples fully inclusive of women, the youth and children.

AUs plan

For his part, the Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, AU Commission, Bankole Adeoye, reiterated AUs aversion to democratic regression and the continent, which he said, must be resisted by all stakeholders inclusive of WADEMOS and other network members.

He said the AU plans, in 2024, to revamp the implementation of the Accra Declaration on unconstitutional changes of government.

The Accra Declaration emphasises zero tolerance for the overthrow of constitutionally elected governments, including manipulation of constitutions by incumbents and all other forms of unconstitutional changes of government, as well as his advice that a stable period of constitutional government and proper management of the economy can lead to inclusive prosperity for Africa.

Mr Bankole said there is a need to build necessary resistance against the onslaught of unconstitutional changes of government.

He said the AU would partner with civil society to achieve the goals of its numerous normative frameworks, shared values, in strengthening democracy, promoting constitutionalism and the rule of law.

And I am pleased to announce that we have also established with the civil society a network, a pan-African network of civil society for political affairs, peace and security in our department, he said.

WADEMOS concerns

WADEMOS made up of over 30 civil society organisations from the West African sub-region, was launched in Accra on 15 September 2022.

In the period since our last meeting, as far as the democratic landscape in the West African sub-region is concerned, we have experienced one more incident of democratic collapse in Niger, said the WADEMOS Project Director and Executive Director, Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana, Kwasi Prempeh, a professor.

On July 26, the government of President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic was overthrown by the military in one of the latest successful coups in the sub-region.

ECOWAS, in reaction to the incident, rolled out sanctions against Niger and issued an ultimatum to the junta to restore democratic governance in the country.

Mr Prempeh recalled on Wednesday that the incident in the Niger Republic almost led to a war for the restoration of democracy and raised concerns about the future of democracy in the sub-region.

That particular incident sent shockwaves through, not just the region but across Africa, and created a storm that I think continues to reverberate a standoff between ECOWAS and the Nigerian junta and, I think, it caused a lot more uncertainty around democracy and its future in the region.

Even though we were already familiar with the situation in Mali and Burkina Faso and Guinea, I think the Nigerien situation just raised the whole issue to the fore in a different kind of way.

Mr Prempeh called for the adoption of two-term limits for elected leaders in the countries in the region.

He noted that the uncertainty in Senegal about the plans of President Macky Sall to run for a third term in office was finally laid to rest with his decision not to stand as a candidate in next years presidential election.

But he said It leaves the question of whether or not the term limit provision in Senegal allows for only two terms or more. 

The Executive Director, Campaign for Good Governance and Chair of the National Election Watch, Senegal, Marcella Sessay, in her keynote address, said democracy must be made to deliver for the people of West Africa.

Ms Sessay, who was represented by Damian Ihekoronye, called on CSOs in the region to work towards returning West Africa to its glorious days of the 1990s when democratic governance began to take root in the region.

The Executive Director, CDD West Africa and Co-chair of WADEMOS Steering Committee, Idayat Hassan, called for a collaboration between CSOs and the media to stop the shrinking of democratic space in the region.

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A team of officials from the US and Nigeria will be set up to explore financing for credit to mining firms and infrastructures in Nigeria.

This was the agreement reached between Geoffrey Pratt, United States Assistant Secretary, Energy and Natural Resources and Dele Alake, Nigerias Minister of Solid Minerals Development, on the sidelines of the Mines & Money conference holding in London, UK.

Mr Pratt said his visit to Mr Alake followed an earlier meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who sought the support of the US for the countrys economic revival.

He said the US would like to be Nigerias partner of choice in developing the solid minerals sector and was interested in the reforms announced by the minister in his address at the plenary of the conference.

Noting that the United States has various institutions and laws which encourage direct foreign investment, Mr Pratt said he would notify the agencies to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts to work out the framework.

Responding, Mr Alake said the gesture was music to his ears as the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has launched a seven-point agenda as its roadmap to reposition the sector.

He highlighted the establishment of the new Solid Minerals Development Company, a new security architecture to ensure the safety of mine operations and data generation on a massive scale to derisk the sector.

READ ALSO: Nigerian govt woos foreign mining investors with lower production cost

He said the credit facility and foreign direct investment promised by the United States would be in the mutual interest of both countries because energy minerals such as lithium are critical to the global crusade for clean energy and necessary for the manufacture of electric cars.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Fund, Fatima Shinkafi, commended the US for investing in mining infrastructures in Central Africa, urging a similar partnership with the Fund.

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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa- CDC) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and other development partners on Wednesday unveiled a five-year strategic plan (2023-2027) to strengthen Public Health Emergency Operation Centres (PHEOCs) in Africa and countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The strategic plan, which was launched at the ongoing 3rd International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Lusaka, Zambia, is expected to be operational in at least 50 African countries to leap toward enhancing health preparedness and response in the region.

It will also guide the implementation of PHEOCs in member states of these regions toward meeting the minimum requirements or core capacities of a PHEOC.

However, it is estimated that $181,837,498 is needed to implement the activities planned for the five years in both regions.

Importance of PHEOCS

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Director-General of the Africa-CDC, Jean Kaseya, said the plan will guide nations as they actively work to position PHEOCs as central nerve centres for risk assessment, planning, and sharing of critical resources.

Mr Kaseya said if only one African country is ready to respond to a public health emergency, all countries in the region are at risk and exposed to outbreaks.

He said the Africa region is facing an average of two to three outbreaks per week, noting that the only way to prevent and respond to outbreaks is through strong PHEOCs.

He said while progress has been recorded in strengthening emergency preparedness and response, disparity still exists.

He calls for strong partnerships among nations in fostering the implementation of the five-year strategic plan.

Let us put our hands together, let us be sure that we are working, let us ensure that we provide at least the $181 million needed to implement the plan, he said.

He said the budget will cover costs related to renovating the PHEOC facilities, procurement of information and communication technology equipment, salary and daily subsistence allowances for experts, workshop participation, training and simulation exercise programmes and establishing regional PHEOCs of excellence.

Planll shape public health future- Moeti

Speaking at the event, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said the plan will shape the future of public health in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Ms Moeti said the devastating impact of disease outbreaks, and conflict jeopardises the health of millions of people and poses challenges that threaten the health of people.

Together, we are working on the next phase ensuring a safer, healthier and more resilient future where public health emergencies no longer hold us tightened with fear, she said.

She said the five-year plan marks a major milestone in the journey of ensuring health security and prompt response to public health emergencies.

She, however, said there is a need to work together and pool resources to ensure the plans implementation.

Strategic Plan

The PHEOC is critical to meeting the requirements of the international health regulations in assisting Member States to build and improve their public health emergency management capabilities.

The objectives of the strategic plan are to ensure that by 2027, at least 90 per cent of member states in Africa and Eastern Mediterranean regions will have developed and implemented the core PHEOC policy, plans, and procedures; develop and strengthen the capabilities of the PHEOC workforce (routine and surge staff) to support preparedness and response coordination.

Other objectives are to ensure that by 2027, at least 90 per cent of PHEOCs in the member states of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region have the information management and sharing platforms containing the minimum data required; and ensure that at least 90 per cent of member states in Africa and Eastern Mediterranean region have a PHEOC facility in place equipped with information, communication technology, and physical infrastructure that meets the minimum requirements by 2027.

It is also to designate eight centres of excellence PHEOCs in selected Member States in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions by the end of 2027.

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The 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change opened on Thursday in Dubai, with a call to accelerate collective climate action.

The conference is taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a year climate scientists said is the hottest ever in human history.

Experts also say the impacts of the climate crisis have wreaked unprecedented havoc on human lives and livelihoods around the world.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the climate summit, being attended by over 160 world leaders, including President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria, will run from Nov. 30 to 12 December.

The leaders are expected to take decisive action on climate commitments to prevent further impacts.

According to the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, the leaders must deliver a clear message to deepen cooperation and actions to reverse climate impacts.

COP28 cannot be just a photo-op. Leaders must deliver  the message is clear.

And as leaders leave Dubai after the opening summit, their message to their negotiators must be equally clear: dont come home without a deal that will make a real difference, Stiell said.

NAN reports that the 2023 COP marks the conclusion of the global stocktake, which is the first assessment of the global progress made in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The assessment however seemed stark, showing that the world is not on track to limit temperature rise to 1.5C by the end of the century.

However, it recognises that countries are developing plans for a net-zero future, and the shift to clean energy is gathering speed.

However, the report has made it clear that the transition is nowhere near fast enough to limit global warming within the current ambitions.

A report recently published by UN Climate Change shows that national climate action plans would collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions to two per cent below the 2019 levels by 2030, while the sign is clear that a 43 per cent reduction is needed.

The reality is that without much more finance flowing to developing countries, a renewables revolution will remain a mirage in the desert. COP28 must turn it into a reality, Stiell added.

Climate financing

Climate financing still stands at the heart of the expected transformations.

Replenishing the Green Climate Fund, doubling financial resources for adaptation and operationalising the loss and damage fund is key to keeping 1.5C within reach while leaving no one behind, the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary said.

Sultan Al Jaber of the UAE, who is the COP28 president, said urgent action must be taken to reduce carbon emissions.

There is no time to waste, he said, adding that during the conference every country and every company will be held to account, guided by the north star of keeping 1.5C within reach.

All parties should be prepared to deliver a high-ambition decision in response to the global stocktake that reduces emissions while protecting people, lives and livelihoods.

Similarly, Egypts Foreign Minister and COP27 President, Sameh Shoukry said: It is of crucial importance to continue building on previous achievements, but more importantly to implement what we already agreed upon.

We cannot achieve our common goals without having everyone on board, most importantly the Global South.

We need to start delivering on climate justice and provide the needed tools that we already agreed upon in Sharm el-Sheikh for funding loss and damage, including the establishment of a fund.

One of the major outcomes that has to come out of COP28 is for the fund to be fully operationalised and funded.

(NAN)

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Florence Obi, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal), says Nigerian universities levy different charges on students to bridge the gaps in government funding.

Ms Obi, a professor, said this on Thursday in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, where she spoke with journalists to mark her third year in office as the first female VC of the institution.

She said that the salaries of university workers were still being paid by the government, in addition to capital grants for development.

This is in addition to support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for facilities.

If the students dont pay tuition and the universities dont get appropriate funding from the government, where would the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) come from?

To survive, the universities resorted to charging students some service charges like examination, medical, and ICT levies and it is these subheads students pay for that are cumulatively used to run the universities.

We dont get money to run the universities from the government. What the government gives is overhead and for a second-generation university like UniCal, we get N12 million monthly, for 2023 we have only gotten it for seven months, she said.

Ms Obi added: Even if we get it for 12 months which I doubt, that amount is only what we use to pay for the energy bill to run the university.

She said that there was no way universities would have been able to remit 40 per cent of their IGR to the government because it was impossible.

If students were charged N2,000 for identity cards and 40 per cent is given to the government, the school cant provide the cards.

If that policy had sailed through, it would have been the end of public universities in Nigeria but we are happy that good counsel prevailed and President Bola Tinubu listened, she said.

The VC, however, added that universities in Nigeria still needed proper funding to run effectively.

The federal government had unveiled an autonomy policy for the universities where they were expected to remit 40 per cent of their IGR to the government before it was eventually discarded.

(NAN)

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Amidst the economic downturn in Nigeria, Sunday Adebisi, a professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has urged the country to prioritise entrepreneurship to develop the economy and create jobs.

Mr Adebisi gave the recommendation recently when he delivered the 1st special annual lecture of Dr Mike Adenuga (DMA) Professorial Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The professor, who is the first occupier of the chair, delivered the lecture titled: Revolutionising the Nigerian Economy to Create Jobs and Sustainable Wealth: The Sole Ladder, the Sole Option, the Sole Platform.

According to Mr Adebisi, Nigeria must as a matter of deliberate policy, embrace everything entrepreneurship, and that all hands must be on deck across each state to identify the innovations possible in the areas of their strength and motivate their citizens to pursue enterprise opportunities in these areas.

He said: Without any option, this must become our priority, because we have more mouths to feed as a nation, more people to give jobs and more projects to be funded.

Government must also as a matter of urgency democratise entrepreneurship knowledge for Gen Alpha, Y, and Z to have unhindered access through entrepreneurship education and practice at all levels.

First of its kind

In her welcome remarks, Folashade Ogunsola, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, noted that the professorial chair was endowed in 2008 by Mike Adenuga, a business magnate and founder of Globacom, Nigerias third-largest mobile phone network.

Mrs Ogunsola, however, said the university found no qualified occupier for the chair until 2021 when Mr Adebisi was appointed.

The vice-chancellor said through the lecture, Mr Adebisi is fulfilling one of his core mandates, adding that the partnership between Mr Adenuga and the university will enhance the frontiers of entrepreneurial academic knowledge and skills acquisition not just for the university but also in Nigeria and Africa by extension.

This first public lecture which is organised to expand public awareness in the field of entrepreneurial studies and skills development is expected to promote interest that can be galvanised to enhance job creation and address the massive problem of youth unemployment, she said.

This Chair is one of many initiatives to promote research and learning at the University of Lagos especially research and teaching that is responsive to development needs.

We have continued to record success in the quality and quantum of research and grants, improved collaborations and partnerships with other universities and industry within and outside Nigeria, as well as exchange programmes for staff and students.

Speaking on the professorial chair, Mr Adebisi said he applied for the position three times competing with other applicants across the world.

Despite the rigours I went through on the four occasions, I continued to believe in my capability to deliver the expectations of this prestigious chair, he said.

In my resilience to demonstrate capability for the scholarships required to occupy this chair, I started the building of the UNILAG Entrepreneurship ecosystem through other university assignments.

More interventions

Speaking further, Mrs Ogunsola said the university recently concluded the Project I2M Incubator programme, which she noted onboarded several innovators from across the country and trained them on skills and techniques to develop their innovation.

She said: Some of the selected innovators were supported with prototyped funding as well as intellectual property filing, and company and tax registration.

Similarly, we just secured the support of the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in accrediting the University of Lagos as a Business Development Service Provider Centre.

This will support financing student enterprises and pitch ideas, creating an enabling environment for their business sustainability.

Investment in SMEs

Taiwo Osipitan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DMA Professorial Chair, observed that due to the economy, people are being laid off every day because employers are trying to reduce costs and increase benefits.

Mr Osipitan noted that the lecture was an eye-opener in terms of what you can do on the side to augment your income to live a life devoid of anxiety.

The Chairman of the special lecture, Olutoyin Okeowo, who is the Pro-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, decried the rate of unemployment in the country.

Mr Okeowo cited a KPMG report that he said revealed that the unemployment rate in the country is expected to rise to about 20.6 per cent in 2023 due to the issue of about four to five million new entrants into the job market.

He added that employment and planning would continue to be a major challenge owing to what he termed the limited investment by the private sector, low industrialisation, and poor infrastructural development.

He said for economic growth to take place there must be a subsistence growth in GDP.

We need to start to develop greater collaboration. Nigeria must develop a model that will stimulate the growth of SMEs. Nigeria should design strategies to address its challenges because SMEs have proven to be the largest employer of labour, he said.

In his remarks, the special guest, the Chairman of Odua Investment Company Limited, Abimbola Ashiru, observed that Small and medium-sized enterprises are the drivers of the economy of the world.

Mr Ashiru noted that Nigeria is blessed with a lot of mineral materials and the youth is smart in terms of entrepreneurship.

More lecture

According to Mr Adebisi, the main country that can make Africa command great respect and take its position among all other continents is Nigeria.

He cited the 2022 Global Innovation Index (GII) which captures the innovation ecosystem performance of the world economies, tracking the most recent global innovation trends among Countries of the world.

Nigeria ranked 114th among 132 countries ranked in the world, ranking 13th in Sub-Saharan Africa with Mauritius and South Africa ranking top two and within the top 80 G.

The professor also decried the trend of the Japa syndrome in Nigeria, which has been abused by its citizens.

He said the case of Nigerians leaving the country has been a continuous, deliberate- voluntary out-migration slavery, that has plummeted our economy, decimated our health sector, collapse out tertiary institutions, destroyed many marriages and young homes and even led to the untimely deaths of many Nigerians.

We now have Nigerian youth who are professionals, engaging in non-professional health care casual jobs in the United Kingdom and Canada, and many of them are even locked down for years on these demeaning jobs as long as they want to remain in this land of their voluntary slavery, he noted.

More recommendations

Mr Adebisi suggested that to make policy documents more robust, the Startup Act 2022 which provides the legal and institutional framework for the development and operations of Startups in Nigeria needs to be urgently reviewed.

He noted that the present Startup Acts 2022 is too narrow and cannot ensure wide coverage of enterprise development that is not technologically based.

He also suggested that the country must take advantage of the African Continental Trade Area (AfCTA).

We must not become a dumping ground. Nigeria is the largest of all the countries altogether and it must have products and services it wants to trade freely among the partners to earn forex and also create better economic opportunity for its citizens, he said.

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In his first speech as President of the 28th Conference of Parties, Sultan Al Jaber, hit the right chords by announcing that his presidency is committed to unlocking climate finance.

He added that this commitment is to make sure that countries in the global south do not have to choose between development and climate change.

This position echoes the demands of the Bridgetown Initiative and many countries in the global south.

Mr Al Jaber described finance as the key success factor across the climate agenda and for too long, finance has not been available, accessible or affordable, hence his commitment.

Let this be the year that climate finance meets the magnitude of the moment. Let this be the COP where we deliver on our promises from the $100 billion to the loss and damage, he urged.

On loss and damage, he said he knows how important it is to the parties, particularly the most vulnerable. What began in Sharm El Sheikh and was given critical momentum and traction in his country must now be delivered and actioned.

Loss and damage were made part of the agenda at COP27 in Egypt and the establishment of a fund was agreed upon. The operationalisation of this fund has been discussed throughout 2023, and the discussion continues with the conference.

Some level of agreement has been reached on how the funds will be run, including housing the funds in the World Bank for a trial period of six months after which it will be reviewed.

A draft proposal from Mr Al Jaber seen last night adopted the recommendations of the committee which will be up for discussion during the conference.

He went further to tell participants that adaptation must be at the heart of actions to be taken.

We must breach the finance gap and agree on a robust framework for the global goal. Let us put nature, lives and livelihoods at the core of our national plans. Let us finally face the issues that are critical to adaptation, he said.

He said he wants this COP to maximise momentum on mitigation, adding that countries representing more than 85 per cent of the worlds economy are behind COP28s goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030. According to him, This is how we will transition from unabated coal.

Mr Al Jaber noted that the next two weeks will not be easy, however, the tasks before stakeholders are not only about negotiating text or putting words on paper but also about improving lives.

He charged world leaders to use the next two weeks wisely while taking a no-nonsense approach with no delays.

Let us restore faith in multilateralism and deliver some good news to the world that really needs it, he charged.

This years conference is happening at a time when the world is deeply troubled with wars, political instability, hunger, drought, and flooding amongst others.

Let us rise above our differences and make a difference for future generations, Mr Al Jaber pleaded.

This story was produced as part of the 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.

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The African Union (AU) has called on high-income countries at the ongoing United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) to ramp up investments to sustain Africas livestock systems amidst climate change and the fastest-growing population on the planet.

The group made this call in an open letter endorsed by African leaders, scientists and other relevant experts on Thursday.

The document, signed by more than 50 organisations and individuals, was released ahead of the COP28 climate summit. It described livestock as a climate solution with legs for the 800 million herders and smallholder farmers they support across sub-Saharan Africa.

Signatories to the letter include Josefa Sacko, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, as well as academics, scientists and experts in sustainable development.

The letter outlines how livestock can offer resilience to climate extremes and also help restore degraded land, support biodiversity, and support communities to rebuild in the aftermath of disasters.

Despite this potential for sustainable livestock development to contribute to climate adaptation and resilience, Africas livestock sector continues to receive just a fraction of overall climate finance, the leaders noted.

Disturbing trend

In 2020, they noted that Africa received just 11 per cent or $30 billion of its total climate finance needs, with less than one per cent reaching the livestock sector.

At the same time, the letter noted that more than 13 million livestock have died during the ongoing and unprecedented drought across the Horn of Africa alone, endangering the lives and livelihoods of the communities they support.

In his remarks, Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said livestock is the lifeblood of millions of people across Africa, supporting greater nutrition, economic opportunities, and adaptation in the face of rising climate extremes and food insecurity challenges.

Parties at COP28 must urgently recognise the full potential of climate adaptation for Africas livestock sector to sustainably feed and support a quarter of the worlds population by 2050, and direct funding accordingly, he said.

On her part, Huyam Salih, Director of African Union  Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), said: Supporting climate adaptation in Africa through investment in livestock is not just an economic issue, but a form of climate justice, given Africa has contributed less than three per cent of historic global greenhouse gas emissions.

In this context, supporting greater adaptation and resilience for Africas livestock sector is vital for improving the livelihoods of the continents 800 million herders and smallholder farmers amid deteriorating climate conditions, she added.

Signatories of the letter also set out how improving the resilience of small-scale livestock systems across Africa can also help reduce the sectors emissions.

They said expanding simple, improved practices on smallholder farms and preventing livestock losses can reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 30 per cent, while boosting productivity, animal welfare, food security and incomes.

Similarly, the letter hhighlighted a range of opportunities in the livestock sector that can help support sustainable development and climate justice across Africa.

This, the letter said, included developing more reliable forages and feed, more resilient breeds of indigenous livestock, and more resilient animal health systems and support services, such as digital information tools, finance and index-based livestock insurance.

_This story was published with the support of Climate Trackers COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship_

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On Thursday, the Ondo State House of Assembly and the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, withdrew their appeal challenging the decision of the Federal High Court stopping the moves to remove the states deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja headed by Haruna Tsammani dismissed the appeal after the appeal was withdrawn by the appellants  the lawmakers.

A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Emeka Nwite, had restrained the Ondo State House of Assembly from sacking Mr Aiyedatiwa as deputy governor following allegations of gross misconduct.

Also, Mr Nwite restrained the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, from nominating a new deputy governor to the lawmakers for approval pending the determination of the main suit.

However, the lawmakers were dissatisfied with Mr Nwites ruling. They, therefore, lodged an appeal at the appellate court on 3 October, 2023.

On Thursday, the lawmakers lawyer, Remi Olatubora, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the Court of Appeal that parties in the suit had resolved the issue.

Parties to this dispute have found political solutions to their problems. They have signed an agreement and on behalf of the appellants, we are here to enforce our part by withdrawing this appeal, Mr Olatubora said.

He added that the speaker and the House of Assembly gave the instruction to withdraw the case on Wednesday.

We have filed an application to this effect. The application was dated November 29 but filed this morning. In the interest of peace, we would like to withdraw this appeal, the lawyer said.

On their part, the respondents in the case acknowledged the receipt of the lawmakers request to end the case.

Subsequently, they did not object to the suits withdrawal, and it was dismissed.

Background

Ailing Governor Akeredolu and Mr Aiyedatiwa had been embroiled in a dispute over the governance of Ondo owing to the formers debilitating health condition.

While Mr Akeredolu was on a medical vacation in Germany, many of the lawmakers and other loyalists of the Governor accused Mr Aiyedatiwa of disloyalty and gross misconduct.

Upon Mr Akeredolus return, a plot was hatched to sack Mr Aiyedatiwa as deputy governor.

But the deputy governor sought refuge in court with an order restraining the governor and state legislators from removing the former from office.

A couple of days ago, President Bola Tinubu waded into the dispute, and after the meeting with the lawmakers, a truce was brokered.

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The Russian command is likely to transfer the newly formed 104th Guards Airborne Division to Ukraine's frontline, which is being assembled in Kherson region, British intelligence has said.

"Russia's airborne forces, the VDV, has likely started deploying the newly formed 104th Guards Airborne Division (104 GAD) in Ukraine for the first time," according to a report published on the X social network of Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Thursday.

It is reported that "the division is probably assembling in Kherson Oblast."

In August 2023, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to re-establish 104 GAD, which was previously downsized to a smaller, brigade-sized formation in 1998. Its subordinate units likely include the 337th regiment, an additional manoeuvre regiment, and the 52nd Artillery Brigade. "With the addition of the 104 GAD, the number of divisions in the VDVs order of battle will increase to five," the British intelligence said.

As British military experts note, "the division will likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV. It will almost certainly receive close scrutiny from the Russian General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky; his routine role is overall commander of the VDV."
The Senate on Thursday commenced debate on the 2024 budget.

The debate commenced a day after President Bola Tinubu presented the budget of N27.5 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The proposed budget passed first reading at the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday shortly after the joint session.

The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, led the debate on the general principles of the 2024 Appropriation Bill which contains the budget, during the plenary.

Presenting the bill for second reading, Mr Opeyemi said it was designed to prioritise electricity challenges, procurement of vaccines, construction of major roads across the country and construction of railway projects.

He said the parameters and fiscal assumptions of the proposed budget would develop economic activities of the country and transform living conditions of Nigerians.

Mr Opeyemi therefore urged his colleagues to support and pass the bill.

I believe that all the proposals in this budget are laudable and would enhance the lives of citizens, he said.

Joel Thomas, the senator representing Delta South, supported passage of the budget.

Mr Thomas, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said when the budget is passed, it would facilitate a renewed hope to Nigerians.

The senator said the budget would develop economic activities of the country, if implemented.

It is a budget that is going to give renewed hope to our people, he said.

On the capital expenditure, we have never had it this close in the past. With this budget, most of the things lacking in our economy will be attended to.

READ ALSO:

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) also supported passage of the bill.

Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan, however, complained that the federal government had neglected her constituency.

She called on the government to facilitate projects in her constituency.

Many senators who contributed to the debate supported passage of the Appropriation Bill.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said about 18 senators have indicated interest to contribute to the debate on the general principles of the bill.

Mr Akpabio therefore adjourned the debate till Friday for other senators to make contributions.

Presidentresident Tinubu had asked the National Assembly to pass the 2024 Appropriation before 31 December to keep up with the January-December budget cycle.

Nigerias main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday asked the National Assembly to reject the proposed budget, saying it contained false statistics and padded figures.

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The House of Representatives will hold a plenary session on Friday to continue the debate on the 2024 budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, announced this on Thursday during the debate on the budget.

President Tinubu presented a budget of N27.5 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The lower chamber commenced the debate on the general principles of the money bill on Thursday but the time of the exercise was extended to Friday to allow other members to contribute.

The lawmakers mostly hold plenaries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but can schedule emergency sessions on any day, including weekends.

The Appropriation Bill must pass through the five stages of the bill before becoming a law  first reading, second reading, committee stage, Committee of Supply consideration and third reading.

Mr Tinubu had asked the National Assembly to give the bill an expeditious passage to maintain the January to December budget cycle.

The debate

House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, described the budget proposal as encompassing as it targets security, economy, education and healthcare.

He noted that the allocation to security is not by accident, adding that once security is properly tackled, the economy will grow.

Speaking on the budget, Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) praised President Tinubu for prioritising the security sector, noting that security is the prerequisite for other things.

Mr Jaha commended the government for making efforts to diversify the economy and tapping into the unexploited opportunities and resources.

As we are all aware, of all evils, unemployment is the worst because an idle mind is the devils workshop.

By diversifying the economy, definitely there is going to be a development of our population which by extension will give our people a sense of belonging, he said.

READ ALSO:

In his contribution, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), said the bill reflects the campaign promises of Mr Tinubu.

He urged relevant committees of the House to help the president in achieving the vision.

President is ready for business. Our own is to provide robust oversight engagement. By providing robust overnight to ensure that we support Tinubu to deliver the dividends of good governance, otherwise, the expectation of Tinubu will not be satisfied, he said.

Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) lauded the president for acknowledging the role of states in achieving the needed economic development for the country.

Mr Soli said the decision of the president to collaborate with sub-national governments will help in the synergy of economic policies. He said states will start aligning their budgets with the federal budget.

For the first time, I am hearing in the budget speech that the president is mentioning collaboration with sub-nationals, he said.

The lawmaker urged the president to block leakages, particularly in the recurrent expenditure.

If leakages are not blocked, forget about profits. Let the committee chairs look at the issue of personnel cost because they are over-bloated.

I know ICPC used to summon agencies to come  to audit them on their personnel cost because it is over-bloated, he said.

In their contributions, the Chief Whip, Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe), and the Minority Whip, Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe), also commended the president for the budget composition.

The speaker then announced the continuation of the debate on Friday to enable more lawmakers to contribute to it.

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Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, says the N9.9 trillion recurrent expenditure of the N27.5 trillion 2024 budget is too high, as it constitutes 43 per cent of the budget.

Mr Bamidele said this at the opening of the debate on general budget principles at the plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu presented the budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Mr Bamidele said the total fiscal operations of the federal government would result in N9.8 trillion deficit, representing 3.88 per cent of estimated GDP, saying that this was above the three per cent threshold set by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

He listed highlights of the budget to include oil price benchmark of 77.96 dollars per barrel and daily oil production estimate of 1.78 million barrels of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day and exchange rate of N750 to a dollar.

He said based on the fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally-collectible revenue was N16.87 trillion in the budget, while total federally distributable revenue was N11.09 trillion

Mr Bamidele said the total revenue to fund the 2024 budget was N9.73 trillion, including revenues from 63 government-owned enterprises. Oil revenue was projected at N1.92 trillion, with non-oil taxes at N2.43 trillion, among others.

The senate leader said to finance the deficit would result in new borrowings totaling N7.83 trillion in addition to N294.49 billion expected from privatisation.

READ ALSO:

He said the deficit would also be financed from N1.06 trillion drawn from bilateral, multilateral loans secured for specific development projects.

He, however, said there was a growing concern over continued borrowing, but the administration resorted to it to finance fiscal gaps.

But let me state here that the debt level of the federal government is still within sustainable limits.

Very importantly, these loans are used to finance critical development projects and programmes aimed at improving our economic environment and ensuring effective delivery of public services to our people, he said.

Osita Ngwu (PDP-Enugu) said President Bola Tinubu had fulfilled his promises by capturing food security and poverty alleviation in the budget.

He said there was a need to review the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to ensure the continuous ramp-up of oil production to fund the deficit in the budget.

Senators, who contributed to the debate, commended the president for the budget, saying it was a budget of renewed hope.

(NAN)

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The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies on Thursday agreed to cut monthly oil output by additional 1 million barrels per day starting in 2024.

OPEC disclosed this at its 36th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting, a statement released by the organisation said.

The OPEC Secretariat noted that the announcement of additional voluntary cuts is aimed at supporting the stability and balance of oil markets.

These voluntary cuts are calculated from the 2024 required production level as per the 35th OPEC Ministerial Meeting held on June 4 2023, and are in addition to the voluntary cuts previously announced in April 2023 and later extended until the end of 2024.

These additional voluntary cuts are announced by the following OPEC+ countries: Saudi Arabia (1,000 thousand b/d); Iraq (223 thousand b/d); United Arab Emirates (163 thousand b/d); Kuwait (135 thousand b/d); Kazakhstan (82 thousand b/d); Algeria (51 thousand b/d); and Oman (42 thousand b/d) starting 1st of January until the end of March 2024. Afterwards, in order to support market stability, these voluntary cuts will be returned gradually subject to market conditions, the oil cartel said.

It said the above will be in addition to the announced voluntary cut by the Russian Federation of 500 thousand barrels per day for the same period (starting 1st of January until the end of March 2024), which will be made from the average export levels of May and June of 2023, and will consist of 300 thousand barrels a day of crude oil and 200 thousand barrels per day of refined products.

It noted that, following the decision of the 35th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, the completion of the assessment by the three independent sources (IHS, Wood Mackenzie and Rystad Energy) for production level that can be achieved in 2024 by Angola, Congo and Nigeria is as follows: Angola at 1,110 t/bd, Congo at 277 t/bd and Nigeria at 1,500 t/bd. This implies that OPEC believes Nigeria can achieve a production level of 1.5 million barrels per day in 2024 while Angola can achieve 1.11 million barrels per day and Congo 277,000 barrels per day.

Background

OPEC and its allies had, in October last year, agreed to cut oil output by 2 million barrels per day in November, the deepest cut by OPEC+ since the 2020 COVID pandemic.

The decision came despite pressure from the United States and others advocating that the group increase its output.

In April, OPEC said it would start a voluntary reduction of 1.66 million barrels per day in its production of crude oil alongside other members of OPEC.

READ ALSO: Oil prices fall ahead of OPEC meeting

The cuts were to start in May and last through the end of the year, an official of the Saudi Ministry of Energy was quoted as saying by the Saudi state-run news agency, SPA.

The cut is in addition to the reduction announced by OPEC+ in October 2022, according to SPA.

In June, OPEC said it would extend the cut until 2024.

It noted that the decision was taken in light of the continued commitment of the OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to achieve and sustain a stable oil market and to provide long-term guidance for the market.

Earlier in October, the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), kept the groups output policy unchanged.

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A Senate committee, on Thursday, threatened to report some oil and gas companies in the country to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if they are found culpable of misappropriating a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention loan of N135 billion.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Agom Jarigbe, issued the threat when the beneficiary companies appeared before the committee to explain how they utilised the loan.

The N135 billion loan was disbursed to 15 oil and gas companies under the Nigeria Gas Expansion Programme intervention fund of the CBN.

Mr Jarigbe said NIPCO Gas Ltd obtained N25 billion loan, NIPCO Plc (N5 billion), Hyde Energy Ltd (N2 billion), and Lee Engineering and Construction Company (N15 billion) from the intervention fund.

Others are Pinnacle Oil And Gas Fze (N10 billion), Transit Gas Limited (N8 billion), Amalgamated Oil Company Nig Ltd (N5 billion) and Gas Nexus Ltd (N10 billion).

First Modular Gas Systems Limited got N4.3 billion, Novagas Limited (N1 billion), Greenville Liquified Natural Gas Company (N10 billion) and AP LPG Limited (N8 billion).

Dangote Oil Refinery (N5 billion), Delta State Government (N20 billion) and Mob Integrated Services Limited (N2.5 billion).

Mr Jarigbe, the senator representing Cross River North, said members of his committee have observed that some of the companies did not utilise the fund for the purpose it was obtained.

He said the Senate would not hesitate to involve anti-corruption agencies to forcefully recover the funds from any of the companies which failed to utilise the loan judiciously.

The task of the committee is to ensure that the companies actually expended the funds on what they collected it for.

The observation of the committee is that there are inconsistencies in the process and the committee may not hesitate to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to recover the funds he said.

Mr Jarigbe also noted that some of the beneficiary companies did not follow the guidelines and standard procedures before obtaining the loan.

Some of the beneficiaries did not follow the guidelines. For instance, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is not even aware that the funds had been released.

READ ALSO: Senate Leader faults recurrent expenditure of 2024 budget

The guidelines stated clearly without ambiguity that they are supposed to do evaluation at the ministry before the list of the qualified ones would be sent to the CBN for them to access the loans but that was not done properly, the senator said.

He said a preliminary investigation conducted by the committee indicated that some of the companies have not facilitated any project since they received the loans.

He said, We have also discovered that some of the companies do not have anything on ground since they got the loan.

The committee would investigate all the observations and work on them and let Nigerians know the true position of things.

Mr Jarigbe thereafter collected the records of the beneficiaries and the locations of their project sites for proper investigation.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the accreditation details of all polling units in the recent Bayelsa Imo and Kogi states.

A former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had written to INEC requesting the details a day after the elections held on 11 November.

The details requested by Mr Chidoka, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are the figures on accredited persons extracted from the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) after the elections.

I request the accreditation data generated by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used during the elections in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states, he wrote in the letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, a copy of which was posted on his X handle.

He requested that the data should include detailed accreditation figures for all polling units, as well as aggregated totals for each Registration Area (Wards), Local Government Area (LGA), and the respective states.

INEC Responds

Mr Chidoka on Thursday took to his X page to disclose that the electoral commission had responded to his letter by providing him with the requested details.

INECs response includes the BVAS accreditation for all of the polling units where elections take place during the elections.

It was accompanied by a certification letter from the commissions Information Communications Technology (ICT) department, according to the copies posted by Mr Chidoka.

I hereby identify/certify that the document hereunder being data generated from the Computer of the ICT Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission Headquarters Abuja with respect to Voter Accreditation figures for the 11 and 12 November, 2023 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State, was produced during a period over which the computer was used regularly to store or process information concerning the activities of the commission including electoral activities, INEC Assistant Director, Shiaka Aminetu, wrote in the certification letter accompanying the data.

In his post, Mr Chidoka, who was the director of Voter Intelligence, Strategy and Policy Analyst of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, appreciated the commission, noting that the response marks a significant milestone in Nigerias pursuit of transparent and accountable governance.

He said he had also commenced work on digitising and visualising the report.

READ ALSO: Jega asks Tinubu to review appointment of partisan individuals as INEC officials

This unprecedented compliance by INEC is a testament to what can be achieved through persistent efforts and the courage to venture into uncharted territories, he said.

This act signifies a hopeful beginning in our collective effort to ensure that government agencies are not just answerable to the law but also to the people they serve.

11 November elections

The three off-cycle governorship elections held simultaneously in the three states were the first elections conducted by the electoral commission since the disputed 2023 General Elections.

While the PDP candidate won in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates won in Imo and Kogi states.

In its election observation report, the Civil Society Organisation, Situation Room, said INECs performance was subpar and described the election as a setback for Nigerias democracy.

Noting reports of result falsifications and logistical challenges, the organisation said INEC did not show that it had learned from the mistakes of the past.

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The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has restated his vow to end the persisting problem of banditry in the state. Mr Lawal spoke on Wednesday when he visited the Community Protection Guards (CPG) training camp, an initiative of his administration to combat banditry in the state.

A statement by the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, noted that the ongoing Community Protection Guards training has instilled hope and confidence in the minds of the citizens with regard to the fight against insecurity in the state.

The statement quoted the governor as saying that the recruitment process for the CPG was a rigorous one, with 300 individuals selected from each of the 14 local government areas of the state.

Governor Lawal expressed confidence in the fight against insecurity and emphasised the need for collective responsibility to ensure prevalence of peace in Zamfara. He said during the visit: I am here today to witness the progress of the newly recruited Community Protection Guards (CPG) training.

I urge you all (the recruits) to dedicate yourselves to the training as the task ahead is enormous and requires sacrifice for the motherland. We must come together for an effective result. One day, we will overcome the security challenges we face across Zamfara State.

I am delighted with what I have seen at the training camp. It has raised my hopes, and I am confident that our rescue mission is on track, ensuring a better future for Zamfara.

Mr Lawal had a fortnight ago disclosed that his administration was making remarkable progress in the battle against banditry and related crimes in the Zamfara State. He then promised that the first batch of the CPG, recruited from all 14 local government areas of the state, would be mobilised to the training camp within a week.

According to the governors spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, Mr Lawal made the pledge while receiving the whitepaper of the transition committee at the council chamber, Government House in Gusau, the state capital. The whitepaper was presented by a committee led by Bello Karakkai, a former Head of Service of Zamfara State.

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Eighteen hunters were killed and several others injured during two separate attacks blamed on armed bandits in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State.

PREMIUM TIMES learned that 15 of the hunters were killed during a battle with the gunmen on Tuesday night in a mountainous area near Maihula town.

Three others were killed in an ambush by suspected bandits near Dakka town.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that scores of gunmen attempted to invade Bali town, the headquarters of Bali Local Government and other surrounding villages but were confronted by the hunters.

The hunters who managed to escape the attack sustained serious injuries.

A source in the area, Musa Umar, told journalists on Wednesday that the bandits killed 14 hunters on the spot, and injured many others.

He said one died while on the way to the hospital bringing the number to 15.

The Kur of Bali Chiefdom, Mahamud Abubakar, told reporters that the hunters were killed while attempting to stop the terrorists from invading Bali town.

He said, unfortunately, the battle turned bloody as the bandits were armed with better weapons.

The State Chairman of the Hunters Association, Adamu Dantala confirmed the development, disclosing that 15 of the local hunters were killed during a battle with the bandits.

We need government and community support to fully arm the hunters because we are not given any funds to support families of those killed or treat those injured, he said.

Last week over 12 people were killed by suspected bandits in different locations in Ussa Local Government and Yantu special development area in Southern Taraba.

The spokesperson of the police command in the state, Usman Abdullah, told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that he was not aware of the incident.

He said he was out of town as he was among the government delegation that visited Ussa and Yantu to sympathise with the people of the area over last Fridays attack.

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Police operatives in Bauchi State on Wednesday killed an alleged gunman and rescued a pastor and two other people abducted from Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The spokesperson of the states police command, Ahmed Wakili, stated this to reporters on Thursday.

The rescued victims were Sunday Ayuba, 40, Pastor Bala 50 years old, Keziya Ayuba 50 years old, who were kidnapped from Raddi village in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The aforementioned victims were confirmed to have been kidnapped from their villages, Mr Wakili said.

The operation took place in Kadade village in Toro Local Government, Bauchi State on Wednesday.

He said on 29 November at about 1 a.m., one Sabitu of Kadade village in Toro local government area of Bauchi State reported the presence of gunmen to security operatives.

Mr Wakili disclosed that on the same date, at about 12.30 a.m., an unknown number of bandits invaded Kadade village and attacked the residence of Yakubu Makeri of Yagi village in Rahama ward intending to kidnap him.

READ ALSO:

A team of operatives attached to Rishi police divisional headquarters in conjunction with local vigilantes swiftly moved to the scene and engaged the bandits.

The operatives overpowered the bandits in a gun duel. As a result, one of the bandits was neutralised while the remaining scampered to save their lives, he said.

The statement said during the encounter with the bandits, the operatives succeeded in rescuing the aforementioned three persons.

According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police in the state has ordered the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Toro Local Government to improve patrol in the area.

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The police in Delta State, South-south Nigeria have arrested eight members of a syndicate which allegedly kidnapped a woman in the state and released her after collecting N2 million ransom.

Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in the state, disclosed this, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

The incident

The syndicate, which the police say was armed and operated in a tricycle, allegedly kidnapped the victim (identity undisclosed) on 19 November while driving in her car along Shell Road in Sapele area of the state.

The victim was taken in her vehicle, until the vehicle ran out of fuel. They moved her into their operational tricycle. She was released on 22 November upon payment of N2 million ransom, Mr Edafe, a deputy superintendent of police, said.

Three days after her release the police DECOY Squad, acting on intelligence, arrested the syndicate leader, Morrison Godwin, a 41-year-old man from Okpara Water side community in Ethiope Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Godwin confessed to the crime and disclosed a planned meeting of the group for another intended kidnap operation, according to the police.

READ ALSO:

Armed with this information, the team laid in ambush at their meeting point on Monday and arrested the other gang members including, Raymond Etchie, 46, who negotiated and received the said ransom, Felix Okoro, 40, the syndicates operational driver, Oghene Sylvester, 45, who guarded the victim, Henry Edeki, 35, Ominike Sunday, 23, Jerusalem Sunday, 35, and Theophilus Akpofi, 29.

Mr Edafe said all the suspects have confessed their involvement in the crime and disclosed the location of the victims vehicle which was later recovered at Oghara town, adding that efforts are on to recover the suspects weapons.

The oil-rich Delta State has become a hotbed of kidnappings and other related crimes despite efforts by the police to contend them.

The latest incident occurred about one month after the police arrested some suspects who kidnapped a man and murdered his wife, and about 48 hours after the police in the state arrested eight suspects who shot dead a police officer after disguising as operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to break into his house.

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Bill on seizure of Russian assets in favor of Ukraine's restoration submitted to US Congress

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal says a bill on the seizure of Russian assets in favor of the restoration of Ukraine has been submitted to the U.S. Congress.

"Another step towards the seizure of frozen Russian assets in favor of Ukraine. A bill on the seizure of assets in favor of the restoration of Ukraine (The Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act) has been introduced into the American Congress. Among its co-authors are both Democrats and Republicans," Shmyhal said in Telegram channel.

According to him, the bill will provide the U.S. Department of Justice the necessary tools to quickly seize the assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs.

"The income from these assets will be transferred to Ukraine for our stability and recovery. We hope for the speedy adoption of this initiative. We are working to ensure that all Russian money frozen in the West, including sovereign assets, is seized in favor of Ukraine," Shmyhal said.
Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja, how about N1.2 billion cash was ferried in an aircraft from Lagos to Ekiti State for Ayodele Fayose, a former Ekiti State governor.

The money was allegedly delivered to Mr Fayose in July 2014, about a month before his second term election as Ekiti State governor on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Fayose, whose first term in office was from 2003 to 2006, successfully ran for a second term in 2014, against the then-incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi.

The N1.2 billion in question is the subject of the ongoing trial of Abiodun Agbele, who served as an aide to Mr Fayose.

Mr Agbele is being tried before a Federal High Court judge in Abuja, Nnamdi Dimgba.

Mr Fayose is also facing a similar but separate trial in the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.

Charges

The EFCC in August 2016 arraigned Mr Agbele and three other companies before Mr Dimgba on 11 counts of money laundering involving N4.7 billion, which was allegedly taken by a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, from the NSA offices account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The three companies charged alongside Mr Agbele were Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd linked to Mr Obanikoro; De Privateer Limited run by Mr Agbele, and Spotless Investment Limited, whose bank account was allegedly being operated by Mr Fayose and his wife, Feyisetan.

The EFCC alleged that, on 17 June 2014, Mr Agbele along with Mr Obanikoro and other suspects said to be at large, fraudulently took N1.2 billion from the total N4.7 billion allegedly diverted from ONSAs account when they reasonably ought to have known that the money was part of proceeds of Mr Dasukis unlawful activity.

The commission alleged that Mr Agbele and the three companies did retain, transfer and convert part of the proceeds of the funds for their personal use when they reasonably ought to have known that they were part of proceeds of Dasukis unlawful activity.

Obanikoro testifies

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Mr Obanikoro, who testified for the EFCC as a prosecution witness, said the N1.2 billion was airlifted to Ekiti State for Mr Fayose because Diamond Bank which was holding the money was unable to disburse due to the volume of the cash.

When the prosecuting lawyer, Wahab Shittu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked Mr Obanikoro to expatiate on the source of the N1.2 billion, he replied that he did not know the source of the money and that he only got the information on the money from Mr Dasuki.

The witness explained that it was Mr Dasuki who informed him that the said money had been paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd (Obanikoros firm).

I was a minister under Jonathan administration in 2014. Sometime in 2014, we were going to have an election in Ekiti State. I was saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the activities in the election.

Some days before the election, I got a call from Governor Fayose asking me if I received any message for him from ONSA, I can recall that prior to that, we had some activities among which was fundraising for the purpose of that election.

When Mr Fayose called, I told him I would call him later. I had a phone conversation with the NSA and was told he would get back to me.

After, he got back to me that N2.2 billion was paid into the account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, Mr Obanikoro revealed.

The money came from the NSA. I cant vouch for the source of the funds. Only the NSA can explain the source of the fund.

I handed over the N1.219 million cash to Agbele (an aide to Mr Fayose) for onward delivery to Fayose. I did not take any money or N19 million, contrary to a publication by a Lagos-based online platform, he added.

Money meant for election in Ekiti

Mr Shittu further asked the witness about his relationship with Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.

In his response, Mr Obanikoro said, The account was created to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, the account was created by Taiwo Kareem and was used for the purpose of disbursing funds for election.

I put a call through to let (Mr) Fayose know that the money had been paid. Diamond Bank had said it did not have the capacity to make the funds available, so we opted to airlift the funds. The funds were airlifted from Lagos in two tranches, the volume was much.

Myself, my ADC and my security orderly were there, including a top aide of Fayose to meet Mr Agbele, the bank manager. I instructed my orderly to escort Mr Agbele and ensure the safe delivery of the money, the former minister said.

Asked about the source and what the funds were meant for, Mr Obanikoro said, They were meant for our election in Ekiti. It came from Diamond Bank. N1.219 billion was moved from Diamond Bank out of the N2.2 billion.

Diamond Bank has since merged with Access Bank Plc.

Mr Obanikoro further informed the court that Diamond Bank in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, said it lacked the capacity to disburse such funds. He said the cash was so much that it had to be airlifted twice.

We airlifted the funds from Lagos in two tranches because the aircraft could not accommodate the funds. We used two aircraft and I was in one of the aircraft.

After listening to the testimonies, the judge, Mr Dimgba, adjourned the suit until 27 February 2024, for continuation of trial.

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My wife bullies and blackmails me, a divorce-seeking man, Kazeem Yekini, told a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan on Thursday.

He pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his estranged wife, Opeyemi, saying the marriage had ruined his life.

He said Opeyemi was in the habit of blackmailing him everywhere and causing untold damage to his reputation.

Mr Yekini alleged that his wife cast a spell on him, causing him untold hardship while at the same time promising to continue to blackmail him all around Ibadan.

As if these were not enough, she locks me up in a room, thus preventing me from going to my daily business.

She also seized my car keys and invited the `Amotekun corps (the security network in the Southwest) to deal with me for no reason, Mr Yekini alleged.

He told the court that neighbours and family members never attempted to intervene because they are afraid of her.

Opeyemi did not deny any of the allegations levelled against her under cross-examination.

Instead, she prayed the court to help her to resolve the matter amicably.

It is true that I have been fighting my husband without justification.

Before he decided to come to court, I tried all I could to pacify him, but he refused to listen to my pleas for mercy.

If he maintains his stand, I pray the court to grant me custody of the only child between us, Opeyemi pleaded.

No marriage

In her judgment, the courts president, S.M. Akintayo, noted that the marriage between the duo was not duly consummated and hence, illegal.

She pointed out that there was no evidence before the court that Mr Yekini paid Opeyemis bride price in their course of living together.

She explained further that other essential things necessary for a valid marriage as stipulated in the Customary Law were not presented before Yekini and Opeyemi started to live as husband and wife.

She concluded that there was no marriage to be dissolved in the first place.

Mrs Akintayo awarded custody of the only child produced by the union to Opeyemi and ordered Yekini to pay a monthly allowance of N10,000 for the childs upkeep.

She ruled that the duo could go their separate ways, but ordered them to maintain peace and order.

(NAN)

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( Read 2595 Times)

In the series of the Indian Language Festival, a rare manuscript book exhibition was organized at the Public Library in Kota. The exhibition showcased rare books that became the center of attraction.

On this occasion, Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastav, the Regional Library Director, mentioned that a manuscript or Matrakagrantha is a special handwritten script. It is also known by names like Hastapati, Lipigrantha, etc.

Program coordinator Shashi Jain stated that in English, these manuscripts are popularly known as Manuscript or MS and MSS. In Hindi, they are recognized as 'Pandulipi,' 'Hastalekh,' 'Hastalipi,' etc.

A participant, Komal, mentioned that it is believed that the study of Sanskrit by foreigners began in the early 16th century. The popularity of manuscript study is acknowledged towards the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century. During that period, various organizations in India studied and preserved Matrakagranthas.

Senior reader Bigul Jain expressed gratitude, emphasizing that the term 'Pandulipi' refers to a document handwritten by one or more individuals, such as a handwritten letter. Materials reproduced through printing or any other method from another document are not considered 'Pandulipi.'

Source :
EJBY, Denmark, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Scantox, together with its majority owner Impilo, has agreed to acquire the neuropharmacology division of QPS Austria GmbH ("QPS Neuro" or "the Company") ultimately owned by QPS Holdings LLC. QPS Neuro is a leading drug discovery Contract Research Organization (CRO) that specializes in neurodegenerative, rare diseases and mental disorders. The Company is well recognized for its high quality services that are deeply scientifically rooted and has an undisputed track-record of serving a loyal and broad customer base globally. This transformational acquisition will expand Scantox's value chain coverage and reposition its existing drug discovery platform significantly with unique and market leading central nervous system (CNS) research capabilities.

Scantox

Founded in 1999, QPS Neuro has a long history of developing expertise within lead-optimization services and efficacy studies. The Company has a 2,700 m2 state-of-the-art facility in Grambach, Austria, and employs more than 80 employees. With on-site availability of validated transgenic and non-transgenic in-vitro and in-vivo models, QPS Neuro addresses multiple targets within the growing CNS area and represents a unique partner for biotech and pharma companies in their drug development process.

"The acquisition of QPS Neuro is meaningfully changing our lead optimization platform and expands the depth and breadth of our discovery services in the CNS and rare disease area. We see a strong fit with the Scantox organization and are deeply impressed with the dedicated management team, its staff and R&D efforts focused on providing an enhanced level of service and scientific excellence to their clients." says Jeanet Lgsted, CEO of Scantox.

Manuela Prokesch, Director of QPS Neuro, continues: "This is a unique opportunity for us to join a preclinical market leader, known for their high quality and customer centric approach. We are looking forward to leveraging the synergies across the Scantox organization while continuing to deliver the best customized solutions to our clients."

QPS Neuro will continue its operations as part of the Scantox group. The combined company will have more than 300 employees across six sites offering discovery models including neuropharmacology research services, regulatory toxicology and CMC/analytical services.

Nicholas Hooge, Partner at Impilo, concludes, "This is a transformational acquisition for Scantox that broadens its service offering and customer reach significantly. We are thrilled to welcome the QPS Neuro team into the Scantox group and see significant growth opportunities for the combined business going forward. As demonstrated by this acquisition, Impilo continues to have strong conviction in the broader pre-clinical market and look forward to continuing working with the enlarged group to further expand its service offering and to strengthen its position globally."

Sustainability-linked loan

As part of the transaction, Scantox has successfully signed a sustainability-linked loan in collaboration with Nordea and Nykredit. The loan reflects the company's proactive approach to integrating sustainable practices into its commercial strategy.

Advisors

Lincoln International is serving as corporate finance advisor to Scantox, EY is serving as its financial and tax advisor, L.E.K. Consulting as its commercial advisor and Accura together with DORDA are serving as its legal counsel. Perella Weinberg Partners is serving as financial advisor to QPS Holdings, KPMG is serving as its tax advisor and Ropes & Gray together with Wolf Theiss are serving as its legal counsel.

About Scantox

Scantox is the leading Nordic pre-clinical GLP-accredited CRO, focused on pharmacology and regulatory toxicology, headquartered in Denmark with subsidiaries in Sweden and Denmark. Based on decades of experience, Scantox is a trusted partner for product development services within the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices industries, with a world known expertise within the Gottingen minipigs. Scantox's services enable clients to progress their drug or device development based on solid data to the highest technical and scientific standards. Founded in 1977, Scantox is today owned by Impilo, the leading Nordic healthcare investment company.

About QPS Neuro

QPS Neuro, the neuropharmacology division of QPS Austria GmbH, is highly experienced and specialized within preclinical CNS services. QPS Neuro has developed its reputation since 1999 as a high quality CRO and a leading specialist within Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Dementia, Niemann-Pick, Gaucher, Autism, Schizophrenia, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and other neurodegenerative and rare diseases. The Company's reputation within CNS is further enhanced by its strong capabilities in pre-clinical efficacy studies including in vitro molecular and cellular analysis and proprietary in vivo transgenic mouse and rat models with associated analytics offered to a broad portfolio of customers.

About Impilo

Impilo is a Nordic investment company focused on long-term investments in sustainable healthcare companies active in pharmaceuticals, medical technology, healthcare services, and other health-related areas. Impilo strives to increase the value of its investments through long-term active ownership. Impilo has a well-diversified portfolio of investments and has raised c. EUR 1 billion in capital from leading Nordic and international investors since its inception in 2017.

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A high-level delegation, comprising astronauts and experts from the China Manned Space Agency, lauded the participation of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in the development of the nation's space programs, and expressed the hope that the SARs will further leverage their strengths to make greater contributions. The delegation, led by Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the space agency, arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday on a four-day visit and made the remarks at a news conference. Lin said that President Xi Jinping and the central government have always attached importance to and have been supportive of the scientific and technological development endeavors of Hong Kong and Macao. Astronauts who helped in the construction of the Tiangong space station, including Liu Boming from the Shenzhou XII manned mission, Wang Yaping from Shenzhou XIII, Chen Dong from Shenzhou XIV and Zhang Lu from Shenzhou XV, and experts from related fields of manned space engineering are part of the visiting delegation. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu hosted a welcoming banquet for the delegates after the media briefing, and said that over the past 30 years, the nation's manned space program has achieved a lot of breakthroughs, making Chinese people everywhere very proud. Lee said he hopes that Hong Kong's young people will seize the opportunity of the delegation's visit to learn more about the nation's manned space program, and gain inspiration from the perseverance, skills and abilities of astronauts and other experts. On a separate occasion on Tuesday morning, Lee expressed his gratitude to the central government for arranging the visit, saying it fully demonstrated the central government's support for the SAR and the attention given to Hong Kong's young people, as well as the nation's high regard for and recognition of the city's development in science and technology. Photographs showing the Tiangong space station in its entirety, taken by the crew of the Shenzhou XVI mission using a handheld high-definition camera during a flyby before their return to Earth, made their debut at the media briefing in Hong Kong. This is the first time China has obtained, while in orbit, images of its space station with Earth visible in the backdrop. These photographs also represent the first set of images to display the complete configuration of the space station while in operation. During the news conference, Lin, from the space agency, said it is evident that the SARs have had a wider, deeper participation in and have made a bigger contribution to space development over the years. Lin cited the three experiments designed by Hong Kong's secondary school students, which were carried out during the Shenzhou XI mission. Experts from Hong Kong and Macao played an active part in the selection of the country's fourth batch of payload specialists and the development of the manned lunar rover, he said. Some candidates from Hong Kong and Macao have entered the final stage of selection for payload specialists, Lin said, expressing the hope to see astronauts from the SARs at the Tiangong space station soon. Chen, from the Shenzhou XIV mission, said that curiosity, the spirit of exploration and the love for Hong Kong and the nation exhibited by the people, including a student who wrote a letter to the Shenzhou XIV crew members, prompted him to come to the city and share stories about China's manned missions. Chen, who had replied to the letter from a Hong Kong middle school student, said that Tiangong is "the home of Chinese people in space" and is open to experts from Hong Kong and Macao. Students from Hong Kong and Macao also left an indelible impression on Wang Yaping, the nation's first female astronaut to conduct a spacewalk and one of the three Shenzhou XIII crew members who beamed a science lesson from Tiangong for students across the nation in 2021. Wang said she was deeply impressed by a Hong Kong student who asked her if water could be recycled in space. The astronaut said she felt fortunate to be able to build passion for aerospace endeavors in young minds, and added that she is looking forward to having students from Hong Kong and Macao join the country's aerospace team soon. Atlas Shao in Hong Kong contributed to this story.


President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes the de-occupation of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions will be more difficult than the de-occupation of Crimea, since we are talking, inter alia, about the mental return of people to Ukraine.

"It may happen that we will return these territories before we return these people. For example, if we are talking about Donbas, then people have been living there for ten years, but at the same time they are not there. They live in a different space. And this [de-occupation] is a long process. It can be completely different [with Donbas and Crimea]. I think it's more difficult with Donbas. My partners once told me: it will be almost impossible for you to return Crimea and it will be very difficult to return Donbas. And in my opinion, if we are talking about people, because all the same, the territories are returned with people, and if people don't want to, it will be very, very difficult," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with students from universities in Mykolaiv region.

Thus, according to the president, it will be much more difficult mentally to return Donbas, because with its occupation by Russia ten years ago, a contact line was created and constant hostilities took place.

"There was a lot of separatism on that side. And they fought. This means that in certain families in Donbas, not everyone returned, or some kind of [unpleasant] story returned. And even now, when Russia is fighting against us, the most notorious separatists are standing [against the Ukrainians] while the Russians are fleeing. This also says something," he said.

At the same time, in Crimea, as he noted, "there were no hostilities, and therefore I believe that Crimea is really looking forward to its return. Donbas is also waiting, but it will be very difficult, because most of this territory was occupied and militarized to the maximum." "People went to the contact line, and then to a full-scale war against us."

The head of state also said "now it is very important for Ukrainians to maintain integrity, because what we have is a unique experience: unity in the state [after the start of the war], and this is essential. We need to preserve this "everything else will definitely come back."
Acclinate to provide community engagement support for Merck's oncology clinical trials.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclinate, an expert in health equity through inclusive research, is collaborating with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, to help increase participation by members of the Black/African American community in Merck's oncology clinical studies.

"We're proud to be working with Merck because being a champion for health equity through inclusive research takes strategic orientation and proactiveness. We look forward to seeing how our continued collaboration can positively impact patients," said Del Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Acclinate.

As part of the initiative, Acclinate will utilize its NOWINCLUDED platform, a trusted health education and engagement source created by and for the Black/African American community. NOWINCLUDED offers access to health information and resources around disorders that disproportionately affect communities of color and provides a space for community members to share their experiences and connect. With a wealth of original and curated content, NOWINCLUDED is designed to build trust between healthcare providers and people from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups to empower them to make better-informed health decisions, including considering clinical trial participation.

Additionally, Acclinate will contribute its proprietary predictive analytics tool, e-DICT (Enhanced Diversity in Clinical Trials), that provides real-time reporting on community access and engagement activities and insights into potential participants. It also offers key features such as displaying access potential, tracking engagement and mobilization progress and is driven by a patent-pending Participation Probability Index (PPI) that assesses the likelihood of community members participating in clinical research.

"Community engagement is a key step toward increasing diversity in clinical trials," said Adrelia Allen, Executive Director, Clinical Trial Patient Diversity, Merck. "We're excited to collaborate with Acclinate to raise awareness among the Black/African American community of available clinical trials for people with cancer. It is important that our research appropriately reflects the communities we serve."

About Acclinate

Acclinate is a digital health company that is working to improve health equity through predictive analytics technology and community engagement. We combine empowered community building in diverse demographics with data analysis to help pharmaceutical companies actively increase representation in their clinical trials and other healthcare organizations support inclusivity in their initiatives. Acclinate is a catalyst that turns trust and data into products that better serve communities of color. For more information on Acclinate, visit www.acclinate.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. To learn more about NOWINCLUDED and join the community built for healthier communities of color, visit www.NOWINCLUDED.com and follow us on Instagram.

Acclinate media contact:

Ellie Newby

Head of Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

256-435-2800

SOURCE Acclinate
DOs currently make up approximately 11% of the nation's physician workforce and 25% of all U.S. medical students

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the representative body for the nation's 186,000+ osteopathic physicians and medical students, the AOA works continuously to combat misinformation about osteopathic medicine in the media.

AOA President Ira P. Monka, DO, MHA, FACOFP, AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA,

AOA leadership recently learned of some misleading comments regarding the DO credentials that were made during the Monday, Nov. 27 episode of "The View." While discussing a report on former President Donald Trump's health that was released by his personal physician, who is a DO, "The View" host Sunny Hostin indicated that a DO is different than a "medical doctor." Watch the clip.

AOA President Ira P. Monka, DO, MHA, FACOFP, and CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, responded quickly to set the record straight by alerting show producers and hosts to the misleading statement and providing fact-based resources to increase understanding of the critical role DOs play in the nation's physician workforce.

View the full response sent to producers of The View.

"Comments implying that DOs are not medical doctors could not be further from the truth," reads the AOA response to producers of the show, going on to say, "DOs currently make up approximately 11% of the physician workforce and 25% of all U.S medical students. Our profession has grown 63% in the past decade and nearly 300% in the last 30 years. Osteopathic physicians hold positions in our nation's top government, academic and medical institutions and are responsible for the health and well-being of millions, including our nation's astronauts, President Biden and former President Trump."

In addition to correcting the inaccurate statement, President Monka extended the offer to appear as a guest on a future episode of "The View," with the goal of ensuring viewers are presented with a more accurate impression of DOs and the care they provide to patients across the nation.

SOURCE American Osteopathic Association
The company's fiscal year 2023 ESG Report summarizes new strategy and goals across four key pillars: Communities, People, Planet and Ingredients

DENVER, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardent Mills, the premier flour-milling and ingredient company, today announced the release of its fiscal year 2023 (FY23) ESG report. Aligned to Ardent Mills' ESG framework, Nourish: Intention & Impact, the report outlines new time-bound goals that cover all aspects of the business, as well as achievements and new programs from the last fiscal year.

"At Ardent Mills, our core values of trust, serving, simplicity and safety guide our commitment to nourish what's next. We progress towards this when we enact people-centered business practices," said Dan Dye, CEO, Ardent Mills. "Our new ESG strategy underscores our continued dedication to intentional and impactful change  both within Ardent Mills and our surrounding communities. I am humbled by the progress demonstrated in our FY23 ESG Report and I am reminded of our commitment to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for all."

FY23 highlights across Nourish: Intention & Impact include:

Communities

The Communities pillar has two primary goals: expand agricultural education and the number of students engaged in agriculture through Ardent Mills' Growing a Better Future program and help ensure access to nutrition through partnerships with organizations that serve specific needs.

Engaged 945,000 students in agriculture education and announced multi-year, monetary gifts to agriculture innovation initiatives at Kansas State University and Colorado State University .

and . Donated more than 2.9 million meals across local communities.

Volunteered more than 5,900 hours with nonprofit and community partners.

People

The People pillar underscores Ardent Mills' initiatives to cultivate a workplace in which all people thrive personally and professionally. This is accomplished through the company's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy, employee well-being and safety, and employee development programs.

Identified an opportunity through employee feedback to address the industry-wide lack of custom-designed and comfortable women's uniforms that are re-usable, appropriate, and uphold Ardent Mills' safety standards.

Leveraged Ardent Mills' Flourish intern program and recruiting opportunities at historically Black colleges and universities to welcome our most diverse intern class  thus evolving our talent & acquisition strategy to help strengthen the industry at large.

Invested in team members' personal and professional development through a variety of programs that enhance business acumen, support mental health, and create a culture of employee engagement.

Conducted almost 50,000 hours of safety, food safety, and quality trainings and achieved 25 office and facility locations with no recordable safety incidents in FY23.

Planet

The Planet pillar focuses on the responsible management of natural resources across energy, water, waste, and overall opportunities for operational efficiencies.

Conducted greenhouse gas emissions inventory in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol across Scope 1, 2 and 3, with the goal to set a science-based target in FY24.

Sourced 37%* of energy from renewable sources, making significant progress toward Ardent Mills' goal of achieving 50% renewable energy usage across operations by 2025.

Confirmed 73% of our facilities now recycle while 44% participate in composting as we strive to enroll 100% of facilities into respective programs.

Saved 4.8 million gallons of water through optimization efforts including regenerative agriculture collaboration, facility-level assessments, and extended trailer wash cycles.

*Percentage calculation reflects directly sourcing of renewable energy and retaining related renewable energy credits (RECs), participation in community solar projects and purchase of replacement RECs.

Ingredients

The Ingredients pillar supports Ardent Mills' work as the company strives to responsibly source ingredients together with its suppliers. FY23 accomplishments include:

Formed the supplier diversity lead as a new leadership role and established a goal to bring 50 new diverse suppliers into the company's supplier portfolio by May 31, 2024 , doubling the company's roster of diverse suppliers.

, doubling the company's roster of diverse suppliers. Enrolled nearly 350,000 acres into Ardent Mills' regenerative agriculture program across the U.S. and Canada , progressing toward the company's 2025 goal of 1 million enrolled acres.

, progressing toward the company's 2025 goal of 1 million enrolled acres. Achieved a significant milestone in FY23 by sourcing 100% RSPO certified sustainable palm oil.

Expanded the Ardent Mills product portfolio to introduce more gluten-free, alternative grain options that meet emerging demand.

"Our FY23 ESG report serves as a benchmark in our continuous journey towards being responsible corporate citizens, both celebrating the progress we've achieved while charting our path forward," said Phoenix Dugger, Senior Manager of ESG, Ardent Mills. "Guided by Nourish: Intention & Impact, we continue to drive innovation, promote sustainability, and nurture a future that reflects our commitment to social and environmental responsibility."

To learn more about the company's ESG initiatives, visit the Ardent Mills ESG page.

About Ardent Mills

Ardent Mills is committed to transforming how the world is nourished. As the premier flour-milling and ingredient company, we cultivate the future of plant-based solutions to help our customers and communities thrive. We operate in more than 40 locations that specialize in flour, quinoa, pulses, and organic and gluten-free products that drive emerging nutrition and innovation across plant-based ingredients. Our holistic portfolio empowers us to meet the complex needs of customers today while focusing on the growing needs of tomorrow's consumer. Deeply rooted in communities throughout North America, we operate in Canada, the US and Puerto Rico with company headquarters in Denver, Colorado. We employ more than 100 certified millers and support thousands of local jobs that contribute billions of dollars to local economies  helping our people, our customers, and families everywhere flourish. To learn more about our mission and our solutions, visit ardentmills.com.

Media Contact

Megan Anthony

Corporate Communications Specialist

[email protected]

SOURCE Ardent Mills
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced it has completed the previously disclosed acquisition of Baton Rouge, Louisiana-headquartered Cadence Insurance, Inc. (Cadence Insurance), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cadence Bank (NYSE: CADE).

As part of the transaction, Gallagher will become the preferred insurance broking partner of Cadence Bank.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Gallagher provides these services in approximately 130 countries around the world through its owned operations and a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella, VP - Investor Relations Media: Paul Day, Communications Manager 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-5946/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
SAN DIEGO and AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Aspen Neuroscience will present to the Parkinson's community at the Future of Parkinson's Disease conference, held November 30  December 3, in Austin. The joint annual conference is hosted by the Parkinson's Foundation and the Parkinson Study Group.

In addition to multiple scientific presentations, Aspen Chief Executive Officer Damien McDevitt, PhD, and co-founder and Senior Vice President of R&D, Andres Bratt-Leal, PhD, will present updates on company progress for upcoming Phase 1 clinical trials for ANPD001, a personalized (autologous) cell therapy under investigation to treat PD by replacing lost dopamine neurons.

The Aspen Neuroscience schedule of presentations includes:

Presenter: Andres Bratt-Leal, Ph.D. Event: Industry Forum Presentation for the Parkinson's Study Group Date: Friday, December 1 Time: 2:00pm  3:30pm Location: Lonestar Ballroom E, 3rd Floor



Presenter: Jeanne Drucks Title: Functional Characterization of GBA1 Mutations in iPSC-derived Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Event: Poster Reception Date: Friday, December 1 Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Griffin Hall



Presenter: Roy Williams, Ph.D. Title: NeuriTest: A bioinformatics-based tool for quality control of human iPSC-derived dopaminergic precursor cells Event: Poster Reception Date: Friday, December 1 Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Griffin Hall



Presenter: Damien McDevitt, Ph.D. Event: Industry Science Presentation Date: Saturday, December 2 Time: 7:30 a.m. Location: Room 201-202

About Aspen Neuroscience

Headquartered in San Diego, Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. is a clinical development-stage, private company focused on personalized (autologous) regenerative medicine. The company is developing patient-derived iPSCs to create personalized cell therapies that address diseases with high unmet medical needs, beginning with autologous neuron replacement for Parkinson's disease and extending across the brain and affected organs.

A leading iPSC platform company, Aspen combines stem cell biology with the latest artificial intelligence and genomic approaches to investigate patient-specific, restorative treatments. The company has developed a best-in-class platform to create and optimize iPSC-derived cell therapies, which includes in-house bioinformatics, manufacturing and QC. For more information and important updates, please visit https://www.aspenneuroscience.com.

SOURCE Aspen Neuroscience, Inc.
Growing Number of Grads Honored at Austin, Boulder and Virtual Commencement Ceremonies

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts celebrated 3,575 graduates recently, for completing online or campus-based culinary degree and diploma programs. Graduates ranged in age from 18-73 and included students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Ecuador, Mexico, South Africa, China, Nigeria, and Trinidad. Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is the largest culinary school brand in the U.S. (based on comparable student population data currently reported in IPEDS).

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts students celebrate their graduation. Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D. President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association and Foundation, gives the commencement address. Kirk T. Bachmann, Escoffiers Boulder campus President and Provost, serves as emcee for the institutions Boulder campus and virtual ceremonies. For more images of the virtual ceremony visit, https://www.escoffier.edu/events/virtual-graduation/.

Escoffier held graduation ceremonies virtually and in Boulder and Austin to accommodate graduates, guests and families. Keynote speaker Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D. President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association and Foundation, and Michel Escoffier, great-grandson of Auguste Escoffier, shared motivational words of wisdom and congratulated students on their culinary milestone.

"It's our privilege to celebrate the hard work and achievements of this next generation of culinary talent," said Jack Larson, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Chief Executive Officer. "It's exciting to see how they are applying their foundational skills, training and front-and-back-of-the-house knowledge to make an immediate impact at Michelin-starred restaurants, alongside James Beard Award-winning chefs, in hotels and resorts or their own businesses," added Larson.

Escoffier students graduated with associate degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry, Plant-Based Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Restaurant Operations Management, Food and Beverage Operations and Holistic Nutrition and Wellness. In addition to degree programs, student graduates earned diplomas in Culinary Arts, Pastry Arts, Professional Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts and Operations, Plant-Based Cuisine, Plant-Based Culinary Arts and Holistic Nutrition and Wellness.

Dr. Emily Williams Knight shared personal stories of perseverance and imparted the importance of building networks, saying "thank you" and setting goals with the new graduates. Michel Escoffier, great-grandson of Auguste Escoffier, sent graduates a special message praising them for their accomplishments and for continuing his great-grandfather's legacy of innovation and training the next generation of chefs.

Kirk T. Bachmann, Escoffier's Boulder campus president and provost, served as emcee for the institution's Boulder campus and virtual ceremonies, congratulated students and encouraged them to use their knowledge and celebrate achievements. Escoffier's Austin campus president, Marcus McMellon commended students for their tenacity and determination at the Austin graduation ceremony.

More about Escoffier

Escoffier's Boulder, CO campus is the only accredited institution in the United States to offer both fully online diploma and degree programs with culinary classes and hands-on industry externships. Ranked in the top 10 culinary schools in the United States by USA Today and number one in the world by Chef's Pencil , the school's professional programs offer the proven combination of a classic and contemporary approach to industry skills training as well as sustainability-centered and business-focused curriculum. Escoffier is a Great Place to Work-Certified institution, a Newsweek Top Online Learning School and its Boulder (includes online programs) and Austin campuses are designated as Military Friendly Schools .

Escoffier offers diploma programs for culinary arts, pastry arts, food entrepreneurship and plant-based culinary arts as well as Associate of Applied Science degrees in culinary arts, pastry arts and Associate of Occupational Studies degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry, plant-based culinary arts, hospitality and restaurant operations management, holistic nutrition and wellness and food entrepreneurship. Click for more information on Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts accreditations and degree and diploma programs .

Media contact: Patti Thomas, [email protected]

SOURCE Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Global Strategies (BGS), a leading strategic advisory firm focusing on global public policy, government procurement, and geopolitical risk analysis, today announced it will be expanding its growing team by adding Mr. Andrew "Andy" G. Boyd, Dr. Seth Jones, and Ms. Elizabeth "Beth" Sizeland as Senior Advisors. In these roles, Mr. Boyd will leverage his decades of experience to support the firm's Intelligence Practice, Ms. Sizeland will contribute invaluable support to the Global Technology Policy Practice, and Dr. Jones will provide vital insight to BGS' Defense Practice. Additionally, BGS is pleased to announce Ms. Leyla Becker has joined BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

"We are thrilled to welcome Andy Boyd, Seth Jones and Beth Sizeland to the BGS team. Their distinguished careers in intelligence and defense will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities, reinforcing our commitment to delivering unparalleled strategic advisory services to our clients," said BGS Managing Director Jeremy Bash.

"We are delighted to welcome Leyla as BGS' first Chief Human Resources Officer. Her extensive experience in human capital leadership and her approach to talent development align perfectly with our strategic goals and will make her a critical asset to our team," said BGS Managing Director Andrew Shapiro.

Mr. Andy Boyd joins BGS as Senior Advisor. Mr. Boyd is a former Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) officer in the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Operations, where he held the role of Director for the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI), responsible for addressing foreign cyber threats to U.S. interests. With a wealth of experience in global intelligence operations, cyber policy, and security practices, Andy is a recognized thought leader in the USG cyber and intelligence communities, specializing in cyber threats, covert action, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and strategic analysis. His extensive career also includes leading counterterrorism operations against global terror organizations, serving in challenging roles in the Middle East, and representing the CIA to foreign partners. Prior to his CIA service, Andy was a U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer and a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. He has a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.A. in International Relations from Catholic University, and a M.S. in Strategic Policy from the National War College.

Dr. Seth Jones joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to his role at BGS, Dr. Jones serves as Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), overseeing a diverse portfolio of defense research and analysis with a focus on issues such as defense strategy, the defense industrial base, military posture, and irregular warfare. He has served in a range of positions within the U.S. Department of Defense, including roles in U.S. Special Operations Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Jones served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component CommandAfghanistan). He has served on Congressional Commissions, including the Afghanistan War Commission and the Independent Commission to Review the FBI's Post-9/11 Response to Terrorism and Radicalization. Dr. Jones is the author of several books, including "Three Dangerous Men: Russia, China, Iran, and the Rise of Irregular Warfare" (W.W. Norton, 2021). Prior to joining CSIS, he directed the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College with MA and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago, has contributed articles to prominent journals and publications, including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

Ms. Beth Sizeland joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to her role at BGS, Ms. Sizeland serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Centre for Security Studies. She has over two decades of national-security experience in the UK government, specializing in security strategy, countering state threats, investment security, cybersecurity, national resilience, serious and organized crime, counterterrorism, and crisis response. Ms. Sizeland previously served as the UK Joint Intelligence Organization attache in Washington, DC, and held key roles during her government service, including deputy national security adviser and adviser to the UK prime minister on intelligence, security, and resilience issues. Ms. Sizeland's diverse background includes positions as a director general at the UK Government Communications Headquarters, a director in the UK Home Office combating modern slavery, and a director for transport security at the UK Department for Transport. Her extensive career also involved contributions to the Cabinet Office Briefing Room and operational and analytical roles addressing various international issues.

Ms. Leyla Becker joins BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Becker brings over 25 years of human capital leadership experience to the team. She is known for placing talent at the core of business development strategy, having successfully expanded and optimized Human Resources (HR) operations in various federal government contracting firms, as well as commercial organizations. Ms. Becker's role at BGS involves shaping the multi-year staff development strategy and overseeing daily HR operations, leveraging her expertise in HR policy design, compensation planning, performance management, talent acquisition, compliance reporting, HRIS implementations, workflow reengineering, training, professional development, DE&I, and benefits negotiation. Prior to joining BGS, she contributed to the significant growth of federal IT services firm Tripoint Solutions and during her tenure at Delex Systems (now V2X), she created strategic enterprise capability through her leadership of talent acquisition, supporting national intelligence programs and led human capital transformation by launching technology to support enterprise growth. As a hands-on human capital advisor involved in business development, Ms. Becker has delivered proposal staffing strategies leading to $100M+ in federal contract awards and achieved substantial revenue gains and cost savings through innovative HR management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.

About Beacon Global Strategies:

Founded in 2013, Beacon Global Strategies is a strategic advisory firm specializing in foreign policy, defense, cyber, intelligence, and national security. Drawing on decades of service in the international security arena, Beacon develops and executes strategies that enable companies to achieve their business objectives around the world.

SOURCE Beacon Global Strategies
Home Discount Retailer Names Kristen Cox SVP, Chief Stores Officer and Seth Marks To Newly Created Role of SVP, Extreme Value Sourcing

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG), one of America's largest home discount retailers, today announced the appointment of two new leaders to fill roles on its senior leadership team. Experienced stores leader Kristen Cox is joining Big Lots as SVP, Chief Stores Officer, and closeout merchandising leader Seth Marks is joining the company in the newly formed role of SVP, Extreme Value Sourcing, focused on procuring outstanding products at exceptional values through unique closeout opportunities. Both Cox and Marks will begin in their roles on Dec. 4, 2023.

"As we continue to make progress on the five key actions supporting our multi-year strategic plan, which includes improving store relevance and increasing our assortment of extreme bargains, it was important to us to find leaders for these positions that have extensive experience and proven track records in the world of off-price retail," said Bruce Thorn, President and CEO of Big Lots.

"Improvement in stores execution is critical to increasing store relevance and overall performance," Thorn added. "With significant experience running highly productive off-price stores, where flexible branding and assortment at the store level is critical, Kristen will help drive the continuing evolution of our store base to better showcase our assortment, value offerings, and messaging. We are excited to have her join us."

"To accelerate our progress toward owning bargains, we have created a new role to help lead our growing team of closeout buyers," Thorn added. "Seth is a highly seasoned closeout merchant who will rejoin us after having spent time with our company earlier in his career. Seth brings almost 30 years' of experience in off-price and closeout sourcing and was with Big Lots at a time when the company was the clear market leader in broadline closeout retail. He returns to Big Lots with a wealth of strategic sourcing experience, deep industry relationships, and a merchandising background in extreme bargains."

"We're pleased to welcome both Kristen and Seth to our leadership team and look forward to their many contributions in the coming weeks and months."

Kristen Cox

Senior Vice President, Chief Stores Officer

As Chief Stores Officer, Cox will be responsible for developing and implementing operational strategies to drive sales, improve margins, and enhance customer service across all stores. She fills the role left vacant by the retirement of Nick Padovano earlier this year. Cox will report directly to President and CEO Bruce Thorn.

Cox is a senior retail executive with nearly three decades of experience across various areas of store operations. She joins Big Lots after spending the last six and half years at Burlington Stores, where she served as SVP of Human Resources for all stores and before that SVP of Northeast and Midwest stores. Before Burlington, Cox was EVP of Stores for Macy's Inc. North Central Region from 2013 to 2017, capping a total of 14 years in key leadership positions with Macy's. Her experiences included driving sales through leading regional store teams, building customer service and selling strategies, developing tools and processes to shape enterprise strategy and culture, and improving operating efficiencies. Kristen began her career in stores with Macy's in 1994.

"I've always felt a real connection to the Big Lots brand, which began with frequent shopping trips with my mom growing up," said Cox. "I'll never forget purchasing a dinnerware set, outdoor table, and other items from Big Lots for my first college apartment. As it did for me, Big Lots has made an impact on millions of customers for decades through its commitment to a noble purpose: to help people live big and save lots; and I'm very excited and deeply honored to join the team."

Seth Marks

Senior Vice President, Extreme Value Sourcing

In the newly created role of SVP, Extreme Value Sourcing, Marks will lead an accelerated strategic deal sourcing initiative focused on procuring outstanding products at exceptional values through unique closeout opportunities, while providing higher recoveries to sellers in need of timely inventory monetization. Marks will report directly to President and CEO Bruce Thorn.

Marks first served as Vice President, Merchandising at Big Lots from 2004 to 2007, when Big Lots was the clear market leader in broadline closeout retail, and is returning to the company with a wealth of additional off-price retail experience, including liquidation, closeout, and alternative sourcing relationships. He rejoins Big Lots from Channel Control Merchants, where he most recently served as the Chief Merchandising Officer. Prior to his position at Channel Control, Marks served as the CEO of Hilco Wholesale Solutions and Chief Merchant for Hilco Merchant Resources, the world's largest liquidation firm. His previous experience also includes serving as CEO of Liquidation World, Senior Vice President of Merchandising & Strategic Initiatives at Overstock.com and Head of Off Price at Sears Holdings.

"I am excited to rejoin Big Lots and build on its exceptional history of creating off-price value for its customers," Marks said. "Big Lots' broad product assortment and coast-to-coast retail footprint will allow us to provide customized best-in-class inventory recovery solutions to our selling partners and true one-of-a-kind deals for customers that no other retailer can provide."

ABOUT BIG LOTS

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is one of America's largest home discount retailers, operating more than 1,420 stores in 48 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded fulfillment and delivery capabilities. The Company's mission is to help customers "Live Big and Save Lots" by offering unique treasures and exceptional bargains on everything for their home, including furniture, seasonal decor, kitchenware, pet supplies, food items, laundry and cleaning essentials and more. Big Lots is the recipient of Home Textiles Today's 2021 Retail Titan Award. For more information about the company or to find the store nearest you, visit biglots.com.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.
This first-in-crypto solution replicates traditional finance framework enabling institutions to fulfill risk management obligations by pledging fiat or fiat equivalent trading collateral with banking custodians

DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance , the global blockchain ecosystem behind the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is pleased to announce it has successfully executed the world's first cryptocurrency triparty arrangement with a third party banking partner.

This solution enables institutional investors to keep trading collateral, off-exchange in the custody of a third party banking partner. This is the first in a series of pilot projects initiated by Binance, which is currently the only cryptocurrency exchange offering such a solution.

This arrangement directly tackles the issue of counterparty risk, the primary concern for institutional investors today. It replicates a framework common in traditional financial markets, which enables investors to proportion their crypto-asset allocation based on their risk tolerance. Collateral held with the banking partner can be in the form of fiat equivalent such as Treasury Bills which has the added benefit of being a yielding asset.

Catherine Chen, Head of VIP and Institutional at Binance, said, "Counterparty risk has long been a concern of institutional investors across the industry. Our team of crypto natives and traditional finance professionals has been exploring a banking triparty agreement for more than a year to address their concern. We've developed a solution that ensures our institutional clients can optimize their collateral and cryptocurrency investments, modeled after the traditional markets' trading conduct. We are in close discussions with an array of banking partners and institutional investors who have also expressed strong interest in participating."

About Binance.com

Binance is the world's leading blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users, and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including: trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralization and infrastructure solutions, and more.

For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com

About Binance VIP & Institutional

Binance VIP & Institutional empowers institutions and private wealth clients with robust asset management infrastructure, personalized VIP services and advanced end-to-end institutional trading tools powering the world's most regulated and reliable trading platform. With deep financial services experience in both traditional and crypto markets, its global team of trusted experts provides VIP & Institutional clients with the support they need to confidently capitalize on the industry's deepest liquidity and tightest markets.

For more information, visit: https://www.binanceinstitutional.com

SOURCE Binance
BENGALURU, India, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd (BSE code: 532523, NSE: BIOCON), today announced that the integration of the Viatris' biosimilars business in 31 European countries has been successfully completed.

Following the acquisition of substantially all of the global biosimilar business of Viatris in November 2022, and the related integration of over 70 emerging market countries in July 2023 and North America in September 2023, the full transition of Viatris' biosimilars operations to Biocon Biologics Ltd in Europe represents another significant milestone as a world-leading biosimilars company.

In Europe, Biocon Biologics portfolio includes 7 biosimilars: Insulin Aspart and Insulin Glargine, Bevacizumab, Pegfilgrastim, Trastuzumab, Adalimumab, and Etanercept. At a global level, Biocon Biologics has a robust pipeline of 20 assets for diabetology, oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, and bone health. Serving over 5.7M patients annually, the Company is committed to providing access to high-quality therapies and solutions to patients, healthcare systems and governments across the globe.

Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing Director, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said: "The integration of the Viatris' biosimilar business in Europe ahead of schedule is another important milestone for Biocon Biologics in our journey as a global biosimilars leader. We are pleased to expand access to life-saving treatments for patients across Europe. Our unique, fully integrated capabilities and robust pipeline of 20 products will allows us to better address patient needs and be a reliable partner to health organisations."

Jozef Belcik, Head of Commercial Europe & JANZ, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said: "We are extremely pleased to have reached this historic moment and we are proud to lead the way in the advancement of biosimilars. As we continue to drive innovation and invest in the future, our mission is singularly focused on the development, manufacturing, distribution, and commercialization of biosimilars in Europe and in the world."

After the acquisition from Viatris, Biocon Biologics and its partners will commercialize biosimilar products in the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.

Note about biosimilars:

Based on IQVIA White Paper "The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe, IQVIA (2022)", as of 2022, the cumulative savings at list prices from the impact of biosimilar competition in Europe reached over 30 billion. Furthermore, since the launch of biosimilars these provided nearly 4.5 billion patient treatment days to European patients.

Source:

1-The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe, IQVIA (2022)

December 2022. https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/library/white-papers/the-impact-of-biosimilar-competition-in-europe-2022.pdf

About Biocon Biologics Limited:

Biocon Biologics Ltd. (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd., is a unique, fully integrated, global biosimilars company committed to transforming healthcare and transforming lives by enabling affordable access to high quality biosimilars for millions of patients worldwide. It is leveraging cutting-edge science, innovative tech platforms, global scale manufacturing capabilities and world-class quality systems to lower costs of biological therapeutics while improving healthcare outcomes.

BBL has acquired substantially all of the global biosimilars business of its long-standing partner Viatris, which is a historic milestone in its value creation journey. Biocon Biologics has commercialized eight biosimilars in key emerging markets and advanced markets like U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

The Company has a pipeline of 20 biosimilar assets across diabetology, oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, and other non-communicable diseases. It has many 'firsts' to its credit in the biosimilars industry. As part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment, BBL is advancing the health of patients, people, and the planet to achieve key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Website: www.bioconbiologics.com; Follow us on LinkedIn: Biocon Biologics ; Twitter: @BioconBiologics for company updates.

Biocon Limited, publicly listed in 2004, (BSE code: 532523, NSE Id: BIOCON, ISIN Id: INE376G01013) is an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune. It has developed and commercialized novel biologics, biosimilars, and complex small molecule APIs in India and several key global markets as well as Generic Formulations in the US, Europe & key emerging markets. It also has a pipeline of promising novel assets in immunotherapy under development. Website: www.biocon.com; Follow-us on Linked In: Biocon Limited; Twitter: @bioconlimited for company updates.

Forward -Looking Statements: Biocon

This press release may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Biocon and its subsidiaries/ associates. These forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, amongst other: general economic and business conditions in India and overseas, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, our research and development efforts, our growth and expansion plans and technological changes, changes in the value of the Rupee and other currency changes, changes in the Indian and international interest rates, change in laws and regulations that apply to the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, increasing competition in and the conditions of the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, changes in political conditions in India and changes in the foreign exchange control regulations in India. Neither Biocon, nor our Directors, or any of our subsidiaries/associates assume any obligation to update any particular forward-looking statement contained in this release.

SOURCE Biocon Biologics Ltd.
On the night of Thursday, a combined heat and power plant (CHPP) in the southern region was damaged by artillery shelling, the press service of NPC Ukrenergo reported.

According to it, there is destruction of buildings and equipment. The heat supply to consumers did not stop, and the possibilities for electricity supply were limited.

In addition, a unit at one of the thermal power plants (TPPs) was put into operation, and the last of the 330 kV main high-voltage lines damaged by bad weather was put into operation. Power supply reliability in the southern region has been restored.

"The electricity produced by Ukrainian plants is still sufficient to meet the needs of household and legal consumers. Sunny weather contributes to production of more electricity by solar power plants," the company clarified.

Electricity is imported mainly at night and in the evening from Slovakia, Romania, and Moldova.

No consumption limits were introduced. Shutdown schedules have not been introduced and are not predicted. At the same time, in the evening hours 16:00 -18:00, there may be a shortage of electricity in the energy system.

"The use of shutdown schedules is not predicted. But please, today during the day and until 18:00, consume electricity reasonably," the company emphasized.

As of the morning of December 30, some 191 settlements in Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Cherkasy and Sumy regions remained without power due to bad weather.
Buildots is a winner in the Buildings and Real Estate category. The list recognizes tech breakthroughs across industries that promise to transform the future

LONDON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Buildots, the pioneers of Performance-Driven Construction Management powered by AI, today announced that it has been named to Fast Company's third annual Next Big Things in Tech list, honoring technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of industriesfrom healthcare and security to artificial intelligence and data.

This year, 119 technologies developed by established companies, startups, or research teams are highlighted for their cutting-edge advancements and potential to impact consumers, businesses, and society overall.

Buildots' AI-based technology provides one central platform where everything happening on the construction site is integrated and connected. Progress is captured and tracked by walking the site with wearable 360-degree cameras and the data it provides gives managers complete control of their project. Some of the largest construction projects in New York, Singapore, London and across the globe are using Buildots to introduce Performance-Driven Construction Management, a new methodology that provides visibility and control for projects and keeps them within budget.

"This recognition by Fast Company is a great honor and I couldn't be more proud of what our team has contributed to the remarkable construction industry," said Roy Danon, Buildots' Co-founder and CEO. "Construction is one of the largest and most vital industries in the world. Millions of dedicated construction professionals go to work every day to build the houses we live in and the offices we work from and it's been a great privilege over the past five years to create technology that makes their job easier and helps them be more efficient."

"The Next Big Things in Tech is not just a look around the cornerit's a look around the corner after that," says Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "These are the products and ideas that will define technological innovation for the rest of this decade and beyondand solve some of the world's most pressing issues. We are thrilled to honor the organizations that are making them a reality."

Click here to see the final list.

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.

About Buildots

Buildots is an award-winning global technology leader harnessing the power of AI and computer vision to automate on-site progress tracking on construction projects. The system provides construction teams with accurate data and previously unavailable performance metrics, empowering them to make data-driven decisions in a time-sensitive environment. Buildots' platform improves project visibility and efficiency, leading to reduced delays, enhanced error detection, and successful project delivery on time and within budget.

SOURCE Buildots
VANCOUVER, BC and TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - BZAM Ltd. (the "Company" or "BZAM") (CSE: BZAM) (US-OTC: BZAMF), a leading Canadian cannabis producer, announces that the Company has granted options (each, an "Option") to purchase an aggregate of up to 105,000 Common Shares to certain employees of the Company. Each Option is exercisable into one Common Share at an exercise price per Common Share equal to $0.14. The Options vest as to 1/3 of the total number of Options granted on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and expire five years from the grant date. The Options are granted in accordance with the Company's share option plan adopted by the board of directors of the Company on May 12, 2021 (the "Option Plan").

A copy of the Option Plan is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About BZAM

BZAM Ltd. (CSE: BZAM) (USOTC: BZAMF) is a leading Canadian cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods, innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. The BZAM family includes core brands BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, TABLE TOP, and partner brands Dunn Cannabis, FRESH and Wyld. BZAM operates facilities in BC, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, as well as a retail store in Regina, Saskatchewan.

BZAM's Common Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 currently trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the symbol "BZAM", "BZAM.WR", "BZAM.WA", and "BZAM.WB" respectively. BZAM's Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "BZAMF". For more information on BZAM Ltd., please visit www.bzam.com.

Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE BZAM LTD.
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Stephen Brown, Chair of the Casey House Board of Directors, along with members of his team, joined David Arnold, Chief Financial Officer, TMX Group, to open the market in honour of World AIDS Day.

Casey House Opens the Market Thursday, November 30, 2023

Casey House is a specialty hospital in Toronto providing ground-breaking care to people living with and at risk of HIV. The hospital offers a growing mix of inpatient, outpatient and community-based services that meet clients where they are in their individual journeys of health and wellness. Casey House is Canada's first and only hospital for people living with and at risk of HIV. To learn more, please visit https://caseyhouse.ca/about-us/.

World AIDS Day, December 1, which also launches the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week in Canada, is a time for reflection on what we have achieved with regard to the national and global response to HIV, and what we still must achieve.

CNW sponsored announcement. To learn more visit www.newswire.ca.

SOURCE Toronto Stock Exchange
NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The catalyst market is expected to grow by USD 5.80 billion from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 4.20% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The rising rate of industrialization in emerging economies is notably driving the catalyst market. However, factors such as stringent regulations and policies may impede market growth. The market is segmented by Type (heterogeneous catalyst and homogeneous catalyst) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the catalyst market including Albemarle Corp., BASF SE, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC, Clariant International Ltd., Dorf Ketal Chemicals (I) Pvt. Ltd., Dow Inc., Evonik Industries AG, Exxon Mobil Corp., Johnson Matthey Plc, and W. R. Grace and Co. The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a Free Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Catalyst Market 2022-2026

Catalyst Market 2022-2026: Company Analysis

Albemarle Corp. - The company offers catalysts to the refining and petrochemical industries through a variety of applications that help customers power the potential of their refinery, under the brand name of ALBEMARLE.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information.

Catalyst Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

Type

The catalyst market share growth by the heterogeneous catalyst segment will be significant during the forecast period. Because of the ease with which products can be separated from each other, heterogeneous catalysts are preferred by end users. With their ability to increase the speed of reaction with greater conversion efficiencies, lower cost efficiency, and improved selectivity for products, heterogeneous catalysts are employed in a wide range of key industrial processes. Among other things, there is a growing demand for heterogeneous catalysts in oil refineries, fine chemistry synthesis, power generation, and bulk chemical production. Hence, these factors are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period.

Geography

37% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. The region is being driven by strong industrialization, with a growing demand for agrochemicals, petrochemical products, food additives, and biocides. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth in the region during the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View PDF Sample Report

Catalyst Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2017-2021

CAGR of the market during 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist catalyst market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the catalyst market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the catalyst market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of catalyst market companies

Related Reports:

The acrylic acid derivatives market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.56% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 4,767.26 million.

The Formic Acid (HCOOH) Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.88% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 485.04 million.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
-Fast casual concept celebrates grand opening Dec. 5th with free chicken salad for a year-

ATLANTA, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today its newest opening in Norfolk, Virginia, which expands the brand's presence to seven total locations in the state. Located at 1200 W 26th Street between Ghent and Old Dominion University, the Norfolk-Railyard Chick boasts a large outdoor patio for families and guests to enjoy. The community is invited to celebrate this grand opening on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The restaurant opens at 10:30 a.m., and the first 100 guests that morning will win free chicken salad for a year.

During grand opening week, Norfolk-Railyard guests can expect to experience the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for with specials and giveaways that include:

Tuesday, Dec. 5  Free Chicken Salad for a Year to the first 100 Guests  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line.

  The first guest in line will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year. The next 99 guests in line receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for a year.* Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. Wednesday, Dec. 6  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick beach towel.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick beach towel.** Thursday, Dec. 7  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chicken Salad Chick collapsible cooler.**

 The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chicken Salad Chick collapsible cooler.** Friday, Dec. 8  The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chicken Salad Chick tumbler.**

The Norfolk-Railyard Chicken Salad Chick is owned and operated by experienced franchisees Melissa Holt and Chris Carnes who came together in this new partnership, Carmel Chick, LLC. Holt opened her first location in Hampton in 2021, and Carnes opened his first location in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 2022. They both believe whole-heartedly in the brand's purpose to spread joy, enrich lives and serve others. The opening of the Norfolk-Railyard location is a testament to their commitment to the community and to bringing joy through delicious food to even more patrons in Virginia.

"It's a privilege to spread the mission of Chicken Salad Chick here in Norfolk, and I feel truly grateful for the opportunity to bring the best chicken salad to even more people throughout Virginia. We're excited to bring the delicious flavors that Chicken Salad Chick has become known for in Hampton to the other side of the water," explained Melissa Holt, franchise owner of Chicken Salad Chick Norfolk-Railyard. "Our commitment to serving exceptional food with a side of Southern hospitality is at the heart of everything we do, and we look forward to creating memorable dining experiences for our new friends and neighbors in Norfolk."

Chicken Salad Chick enjoys giving back to important causes throughout the year, raising funds to help cure cancer and supporting local food charities in its restaurant communities. With the latest opening in Norfolk-Railyard, the local team will be supporting With Intentional Kindness and Support (WINKS), a nonprofit, charitable organization with a mission to provide support for and enhance the quality of life of patients and caregivers of the brain tumor community. This organization was chosen by the general manager of the Norfolk location, who has a personal connection to the challenges of brain cancer within their family.

Chicken Salad Chick in Norfolk-Railyard will be open Monday  Saturday from 10:30 a.m.  8:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

For more information on giveaways and specials, visit https://www.facebook.com/ChickenSaladChickNorfolkVARailyard.

*Guests should arrive early to secure a place in line. The first 100 guests must remain in line and download the Craving Credits app. Wi-Fi will not be available on site. Once the restaurant opens, guests will make a purchase of "The Chick" or anything of greater value and enter a code in the Craving Credits app to officially secure their spot. If you leave the line for any reason, your spot will be awarded to the next guest in line. Guests will receive their first free Large Quick Chick electronically to their app the Monday following Grand Opening Day.

**Must download the CSC App and be 16 years or older to purchase. Not valid with any other offers. Limit 1 reward per guest present.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Founded in Auburn, Alabama, by Stacy and Kevin Brown, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick has grown to more than 240 restaurants in 18 states. Today, under the leadership of Scott Deviney and the Chicken Salad Chick team, the brand is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick has received numerous accolades including rankings in the 2023 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious for the third consecutive year, Fast Casual.com's top Movers and Shakers from 2018 to 2023, QSR's Best Franchise Deals in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and Franchise Business Review's Top Food Franchises in 2020. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

Contact:

Isabella Bobillo

Fish Consulting

954-927-0200

[email protected]

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick
DUBLIN, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "China POU Water Purifiers Market Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The China Point-of-Use (POU) Water Purifiers Market is witnessing robust growth, driven by a convergence of factors. Rapid urbanization, heightened health consciousness, and growing concerns about water pollution have led to a surge in demand for POU Water Purifiers.

These systems offer localized solutions, providing safe and clean drinking water directly at the point of consumption. Technological advancements have brought about efficient and sophisticated filtration methods, including reverse osmosis (RO), enhancing the market's appeal.

As consumers increasingly seek healthier lifestyles and greater control over water quality, the POU Water Purifiers market in China is poised for continued expansion. Manufacturers are focusing on innovative products to cater to diverse preferences and needs.

Key Market Drivers:

Technological Advancements: Rapid advancements in filtration and purification technologies have led to the development of efficient and cost-effective Point-of-Use (POU) water purifiers in China . Features such as reverse osmosis (RO) filtration and smart monitoring systems have enhanced their appeal to consumers.

Rapid advancements in filtration and purification technologies have led to the development of efficient and cost-effective Point-of-Use (POU) water purifiers in . Features such as reverse osmosis (RO) filtration and smart monitoring systems have enhanced their appeal to consumers. Increasing Health Consciousness: Chinese consumers are becoming more health-conscious, leading to a greater emphasis on clean and safe drinking water. Concerns about waterborne diseases and contaminants in tap water are driving the demand for POU water purifiers.

Chinese consumers are becoming more health-conscious, leading to a greater emphasis on clean and safe drinking water. Concerns about waterborne diseases and contaminants in tap water are driving the demand for POU water purifiers. Water Pollution Concerns: China's ongoing struggle with water pollution, including industrial waste and agricultural runoff, has prompted consumers to seek solutions for ensuring the quality of their drinking water. POU water purifiers provide localized protection against pollutants.

ongoing struggle with water pollution, including industrial waste and agricultural runoff, has prompted consumers to seek solutions for ensuring the quality of their drinking water. POU water purifiers provide localized protection against pollutants. Urbanization Trends: Rapid urbanization in China has strained centralized water treatment infrastructure, making POU water purifiers a convenient and efficient solution for accessing clean water in urban areas.

Key Market Challenges:

Water Pollution Concerns: The diverse nature of water contaminants across different regions poses a challenge in developing POU water purifiers that can effectively address a wide range of pollutants. Adaptable and sophisticated filtration technologies are needed.

The diverse nature of water contaminants across different regions poses a challenge in developing POU water purifiers that can effectively address a wide range of pollutants. Adaptable and sophisticated filtration technologies are needed. Consumer Education: Many consumers in China lack awareness of water purification processes and the types of contaminants in tap water. Effective educational campaigns are required to inform consumers about the benefits and efficacy of POU water purifiers.

Key Market Trends:

Smart and Connected Solutions: Integration of smart technology and connectivity is a prominent trend. Smart POU water purifiers with smartphone apps, Wi-Fi, and sensors for real-time monitoring are gaining popularity.

Integration of smart technology and connectivity is a prominent trend. Smart POU water purifiers with smartphone apps, Wi-Fi, and sensors for real-time monitoring are gaining popularity. Health and Wellness Focus: Emphasis on health benefits is driving demand. POU water purifiers are marketed as essential for accessing clean and safe drinking water, especially in urban areas with pollution concerns.

Emphasis on health benefits is driving demand. POU water purifiers are marketed as essential for accessing clean and safe drinking water, especially in urban areas with pollution concerns. Environmental Sustainability: Sustainability is a growing concern, and POU water purifiers are seen as eco-friendly alternatives to bottled water. Reusable bottles and replaceable filter cartridges promote sustainability.

Sustainability is a growing concern, and POU water purifiers are seen as eco-friendly alternatives to bottled water. Reusable bottles and replaceable filter cartridges promote sustainability. Customization and Modularity: Consumers seek personalized solutions, leading to the trend of customization and modularity in POU water purifiers. Modular filter configurations allow consumers to address specific water quality challenges.

Segmental Insights:

Type Insights: Under sink water purifiers are gaining popularity due to their space-saving design, advanced filtration capabilities, and seamless integration into modern households. They align with compact living spaces in urban China .

Under sink water purifiers are gaining popularity due to their space-saving design, advanced filtration capabilities, and seamless integration into modern households. They align with compact living spaces in urban . Technology Insights: Activated carbon filtration is the most preferred technology in POU water purifiers in China . It effectively reduces common impurities, including chlorine, VOCs, odors, and some heavy metals.

Regional Insights:

Northern Region Dominance: The northern region of China is dominant in the POU water purifiers market due to unique water quality challenges, including concerns about heavy metals and pollutants. Residents and businesses in this region are adopting POU water purifiers to address these challenges.

Key Market Players

Foshan Shunde Midea Water Dispenser Manufacture Company Limited

Shenzhen Angel Drinking Water Industrial Group Corporation (ANGEL)

A. O. Smith ( Nanjing ) Water Treatment Products Co., Ltd.

) Water Treatment Products Co., Ltd. 3M China Limited

China Limited Beijing OriginWater Technology Co., Ltd.

Paragon Water System

Canature Environmental Products Co., Ltd

Shenzhen Litree Purifying Technology Co., Ltd.

Ozner Water Purification

Qinyuan Group Co., Ltd.

Report Scope:



China POU Water Purifiers Market, By Type:

Countertop

Under Sink

Faucet Mount

Others

China POU Water Purifiers Market, By Technology:

RO

UF

NF

Others

China POU Water Purifiers Market, By Distribution Channel:

Direct Sales

Indirect Sales

China POU Water Purifiers Market, By Region:

North

East

North-East

South-Central

North-West

South-West

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o9cfx2

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

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MONTREAL, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Congruence Therapeutics, a biotechnology company working at the interface of computational and experimental drug discovery to design novel small molecule correctors for disease, announced today that it will participate in the 2023 RBC Capital Markets Healthcare Private Company Conference, being held in a virtual format December 13-14, 2023.

Clarissa Desjardins, Ph.D., CEO of Congruence, will participate in a fireside chat on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 9:20 am ET. Company management will also participate in virtual one-on-one meetings with investors at this conference.

About Congruence Therapeutics

Congruence is a computationally-driven biotechnology company building a unique pipeline of transformative small molecule correctors rationally designed to rescue aberrant protein function. Our proprietary scalable platform, Revenir, captures the biophysical features of proteins across their conformational ensembles, in order to identify novel allosteric and cryptic pockets which are virtually screened to generate novel chemical matter.

For more information, please visit www.congruencetx.com.

Company Contact

Charles Grubsztajn

Chief Operating Officer

[email protected]

Media Contact

Amy Conrad

Juniper Point

[email protected]

858-366-3243

SOURCE Congruence Therapeutics
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Bermuda is pleased to be represented at the COP28 summit in Dubai, scheduled for November 30 - December 12, 2023.

The event will be attended inter alia by the islands Premier The Hon David E Burt JP, MP and Deputy Premier The Hon Walter Roban JP, MP. The seniority of the delegation reflects the commitment of Bermuda and its people to becoming the climate risk capital of the world, and its key position in oceanic conservation, and as a leader on Net Zero initiatives in its own right.

With this in mind, the Government has published today a White Paper on its approach:

"The Bermuda Difference

Bringing expertise, resource, and finance to the worlds biggest challenge"

The paper and a related video are at the links below:

White Paper - https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/2023-11/The%20Bermuda%20Difference%20-%20COP28.pdf

Video - https://youtu.be/qMAaaAf_ETQ

The publications between them highlight Bermudas focus:

As custodian of the largest maritime area in the world, some 460,000 sq km of ocean, a fifth of which it has designated as an Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) protected fully from human activity. Bermuda is also the lead trustee of the dozen or so countries looking after the Sagasso sea, a crucial asset for conservation and spawning.

is also the lead trustee of the dozen or so countries looking after the Sagasso sea, a crucial asset for conservation and spawning. In its expectation of matching or exceed the achievements of some of the leading signatories to Paris , with already 100% replacement of the bus fleet with EVs, on track for 85% reduction in carbon footprint by 2035 and Net Zero by 2050.

, with already 100% replacement of the bus fleet with EVs, on track for 85% reduction in carbon footprint by 2035 and Net Zero by 2050. With the installation 15MW of solar capacity in the last three years, more than many much larger Paris signatory nations have managed.

signatory nations have managed. Its stated ambition of becoming the worlds climate risk capital, from its existing position as the underwriting hub of one third of the worlds climate catastrophe insurance.

Minister Roban said:

"The environment, particularly in its maritime aspect, is at the heart of national life and economic policy. We welcome COP28 as a further opportunity to share and to build on our unique and vital contribution to the planet in this area.

Our world leading insurance and financial services sector plays an ever-growing part in providing security and mitigation for those most affected by climate change.

As the proverb goes, "we inherit from our parents, but are borrowing from our children". The time for action is now."

Enquiries:

Simon Brocklebank-Fowler, Firehouse Communications Ltd; +44 (0)7717393772, [email protected]

Local Contact

Michael Brangman, Communication Officer, [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1556495/Government_0f_Bermuda_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Government of Bermuda
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Bermuda is pleased to be represented at the COP28 summit in Dubai, scheduled for November 30 - December 12, 2023.

The event will be attended inter alia by the islands Premier The Hon David E Burt JP, MP and Deputy Premier The Hon Walter Roban JP, MP. The seniority of the delegation reflects the commitment of Bermuda and its people to becoming the climate risk capital of the world, and its key position in oceanic conservation, and as a leader on Net Zero initiatives in its own right.

With this in mind, the Government has published today a White Paper on its approach:

"The Bermuda Difference

Bringing expertise, resource, and finance to the worlds biggest challenge"

The paper and a related video are at the links below:

White Paper - https://www.gov.bm/sites/default/files/2023-11/The%20Bermuda%20Difference%20-%20COP28.pdf

Video - https://youtu.be/qMAaaAf_ETQ

The publications between them highlight Bermudas focus:

As custodian of the largest maritime area in the world, some 460,000 sq km of ocean, a fifth of which it has designated as an Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) protected fully from human activity. Bermuda is also the lead trustee of the dozen or so countries looking after the Sagasso sea, a crucial asset for conservation and spawning.

is also the lead trustee of the dozen or so countries looking after the Sagasso sea, a crucial asset for conservation and spawning. In its expectation of matching or exceed the achievements of some of the leading signatories to Paris , with already 100% replacement of the bus fleet with EVs, on track for 85% reduction in carbon footprint by 2035 and Net Zero by 2050.

, with already 100% replacement of the bus fleet with EVs, on track for 85% reduction in carbon footprint by 2035 and Net Zero by 2050. With the installation 15MW of solar capacity in the last three years, more than many much larger Paris signatory nations have managed.

signatory nations have managed. Its stated ambition of becoming the worlds climate risk capital, from its existing position as the underwriting hub of one third of the worlds climate catastrophe insurance.

Minister Roban said:

"The environment, particularly in its maritime aspect, is at the heart of national life and economic policy. We welcome COP28 as a further opportunity to share and to build on our unique and vital contribution to the planet in this area.

Our world leading insurance and financial services sector plays an ever-growing part in providing security and mitigation for those most affected by climate change.

As the proverb goes, "we inherit from our parents, but are borrowing from our children". The time for action is now."

Enquiries:

Simon Brocklebank-Fowler, Firehouse Communications Ltd; +44 (0)7717393772, [email protected]

Local Contact

Michael Brangman, Communication Officer, [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1556495/Government_0f_Bermuda_Logo.jpg
BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DHGATE Group has won the "Most Admired Workplace  China" at the Global Brand Awards 2023, presented by Global Brands Magazine, one of the largest brand publications providing opinions and news related to various brands across the world.

"It gives me great pleasure to inform that DHGATE Group has been awarded the 'Most Admired Workplace-China' award. This honor highlights DHGATE Group's persistent dedication to creating a great employment environment. The company's commitment to innovation, diversity, and employee well-being has established a great precedent for enterprises throughout China. We are honored to present this prestigious award to DHGATE Group, and we appreciate their tremendous efforts in building a workplace that inspires admiration and sets a standard for excellence," said Jay Reddy, managing director of Global Brands Magazine and also one of the judges of the Awards Committee.

A grand award ceremony will later be held on May 4th, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand to celebrate all winners of Global Brand Awards 2023 out of over 18,000 Companies evaluated. In addition to DHgate Group receiving an award, in the 2023 Global Brand Awards, Microsoft also won the Most Innovative HR Software award, while McKinsey & Company was awarded the Leading Management Consulting Firm accolade.

"We are thrilled to be named as the 'Most Admired Workplace' and we are encouraged to do better in the future, to help our employees grow sustainably and to benefit them all in the long run," said Owen Sha, Chief Human Resources Officer of DHGATE Group.

About DHgate

Founded in 2004, DHgate has become the leading B2B cross-border e-commerce marketplace in China. Through our global operations and offices, including in the USA and UK, we reach millions of people with trusted products and services. As of December 31, 2022, DHgate served more than 59.6 million registered buyers from 225 countries and regions by connecting them to over 2.54 million sellers in China and other countries, with over 34 million live listings on the platform annually. For more information, please visit dhgate.com and follow @DHgate.com

About Global Brands Magazine

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, "Global Brands Magazine" is one of the world's largest brand publications. It annually presents a series of awards, recognizing outstanding enterprises with significant brand value. The magazine features news and forward-looking perspectives related to the brand development of heavyweight enterprises across various industries, making it a crucial source of information within the industry.

SOURCE DHgate group
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is conducting investigative actions on the territory of Pochaiv Assumption Lavra of the UOC (MP) as part of criminal proceedings about the involvement of Lavra's leadership in inciting national hatred, the SBU press center said.

According to the Ukrainian security service's statement on the Telegram channel on Thursday, based on investigation, representatives of Pochaiv Lavra published a publication on the monastery's website in which they insulted the national honor and dignity of the Jews, and also incited religious hatred against representatives of all churches except the UOC.

"In addition, in this message, clerics of the UOC (MP) questioned the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state separate from Russia," the SBU said.

An examination initiated by the SBU confirmed the presence in the text of the online publication of statements inciting ethnic hatred and hatred.

As part of criminal proceedings under Article 161 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the equality of citizens depending on their race, nationality, religion, religious beliefs, disability and other characteristics), an investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

The SBU said all actions are carried out within the framework of current legislation.

"In its activities, the SBU observes the principle of impartiality to the activities of any religious denomination and respects the right of every citizen to freedom of worldview and religion, as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine," the SBU said.
Quick Launch will expedite deployment, configuration, and time to value for Drata customers

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Drata , the leading continuous security and compliance automation platform, today announced the upcoming release of a Quick Launch feature for Drata in AWS Marketplace. Customers can soon buy, configure, and deploy Drata in AWS Marketplace in minutes using the new Quick Launch feature. The company is showcasing its comprehensive risk and compliance offering at AWS re:Invent 2023, happening in Las Vegas from November 27 through December 1 at booth #1636.

Quick Launch will streamline the SaaS configuration and deployment process of leveraging Drata on AWS by offering guided, step-by-step instructions and quick deployment of resources using pre-configured AWS CloudFormation templates in AWS Marketplace. With Quick Launch, customers will be able to:

Further simplify the onboarding experience and compliance journey with Drata and AWS.

the onboarding experience and compliance journey with Drata and AWS. Expedite deployment of Drata by connecting and configuring their AWS infrastructure via AWS Marketplace.

of Drata by connecting and configuring their AWS infrastructure via AWS Marketplace. Reduce time to value and begin monitoring controls of their AWS infrastructure and associated risk more quickly.

Maintaining compliance is crucial for companies of all sizes and industries looking to build trust with customers and stakeholders, especially with increasing regulations on data privacy and protection across the globe. Drata uses automation to lift the manual load of compliance and connect with a company's tech stack to provide a continuous, holistic view into their security compliance posture. Companies who want seamless integrations between their compliance program and AWS environment and other cloud systems will be able to use the Quick Launch feature to get started with Drata even faster.

"AWS Marketplace has been integral to Drata's growth, so it's imperative for us to continuously evolve our relationship with AWS and bring compliance automation to the forefront," said Kevin Kriebel, VP of Business Development at Drata. "Launching this Quick Launch feature means companies will be able to get started with Drata quickly and even more efficiently, bridging a necessary gap between startups and the ability to maintain a healthy compliance posture."

To learn more, visit AWS Marketplace , and for more information on the frameworks available in the Drata platform, please visit: drata.com/product .

About Drata

Drata is the world's most advanced security and compliance automation platform with the mission to make compliance effortless and accessible. With Drata, thousands of companies streamline over 17 compliance frameworkssuch as SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and morethrough continuous, automated control monitoring and evidence collection, resulting in a strong security posture, lower costs, and less time spent preparing for annual audits. The company is backed by ICONIQ Growth, GGV Capital, Alkeon Capital, Salesforce Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, S Ventures, Leaders Fund, Okta Ventures, SVCI, SV Angel, Intuit Ventures, and many key industry leaders. For more information, visit drata.com .

Media Contact

Sophia Hatef

[email protected]

SOURCE Drata Inc.
Company celebrates honorees at the 2023 Synergy Connect National Users Conference

MESA, Ariz., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Edupoint Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced the honorees of the 2023 Synergy Achievement Awards program. The company paid tribute to seven districts earlier this month at its annual Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida. The annual awards program celebrates partner districts that use the Synergy platform creatively to solve a problem, improve a process, or positively impact student learning.

"For this year's awards program, Edupoint recognized seven partner districts for a wide range of achievements," said Rob Wilson, President and Chief Innovation Officer at Edupoint. "These district initiatives helped improve processes and outcomes in a variety of areas, including attendance, consistency of instruction, and student health and safety. We continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm and innovation that our partner districts bring to the table in leveraging the Synergy platform's flexibility and extensibility to meet their unique needs."

Edupoint awarded $2,500 technology grants to four winning districts: Chesterfield County Public Schools (VA), Las Cruces Public Schools (NM), Poudre School District (CO), and Bonny Eagle School District (ME). Three additional districts received honorable mention awards and $1,000 technology grants: Coffee County Public Schools (TN), Osseo Area Schools (MN), West Genesee Community School District (NY).

About Edupoint Educational Systems

For over 35 years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically advanced student data management systems that empower K-12 stakeholders to improve student achievement. Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint is an industry-leading student data management ecosystem built to fit the way educators already work. Synergy is unique among K-12 student data management solutions in providing an array of role-based mobile apps designed to give all stakeholders access to the tools they need when and where they need them. More than 5.5 million students use Synergy in 22 states.

LEARN MORE: https://www.edupoint.com/

LOGO: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-1130-s2p-SAA-logo-300dpi.jpg

CAPTION: Synergy Achievement Awards logo

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE Edupoint Educational Systems
SHANGHAI, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, "Everest", or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines, announced today that its New Drug Application (NDA) for Nefecon has been accepted for review by South Korean's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for the treatment of primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in adult patients. Nefecon was the first ever targeted treatment for IgAN approved in the United States, European Union and China. Everest expects to receive NDA approval in South Korea in 2024.

"Everest is committed to expanding Nefecon regulatory approvals across our licensing territories as IgAN is most prevalent in East Asian population and people of Pacific Asian origin has a significantly increased risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease," said Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines. "While we look forward to the imminent launch of this first-in-disease therapy in China, where disease prevalence is approximately five million IgAN patients, we also aim to quickly bring Nefecon to patients throughout Asia including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea over the next year to meet urgent needs for innovative therapies like Nefecon that target disease origin and can delay disease progression."

South Korea's MFDS granted Global Innovative product on Fast Track (GIFT) designation to Nefecon earlier this year. Nefecon was the second product and the first non-oncology product included in MFDS' GIFT program. Inclusion in the GIFT program is expected to accelerate regulatory review time by 25% and allow for rolling review.

The Phase 3 NefIgArd clinical trial, a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of Nefecon at a once-daily dose of 16 mg, compared to placebo, in adult patients with primary IgAN on optimized RASi therapy. The NefIgArd study is a 2-year trial, which consisted of nine months of treatment with Nefecon or placebo, followed by a 15-month follow-up period off study drug. The primary endpoint, time-weighted average of eGFR over 2 years, showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit of Nefecon over placebo (p-value < 0.0001). It also showed a difference in 2-year total eGFR slope of 2.95 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year in favor of Nefecon. The data reflected treatment benefits across the entire study population, regardless of UPCR baseline level.

The full two-year results of the NefIgArd trial (n=364 patients) were further analyzed to assess potential differences in response to Nefecon treatment based on self-reported Asian (n=83) or White (n=275) ancestry in patients with IgAN. Treatment with Nefecon 16 mg/day over a 9-month period resulted in clinically meaningful preservation of kidney function in both subgroups, as evidenced by reduction in proteinuria and stabilization of eGFR in these two subgroups when compared to placebo.

About Nefecon

Nefecon is a patented oral, delayed release formulation of budesonide, a corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism. The formulation is designed as a delayed release capsule that is enteric coated so that it remains intact until it releases budesonide to the distal ileum. Each capsule contains coated beads of budesonide that target mucosal B-cells present in the ileum where the disease originates, as per the predominant pathogenesis models.

In June 2019, Everest Medicines entered into an exclusive, royalty-bearing license agreement with Calliditas, which gives Everest Medicines exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Nefecon in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Singapore. The agreement was extended in March 2022 to include South Korea as part of Everest Medicine's territories.

About Everest Medicines

Everest Medicines is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing transformative pharmaceutical products and vaccines that address critical unmet medical needs for patients in Asian markets. The management team of Everest Medicines has deep expertise and an extensive track record from both leading global pharmaceutical companies and local Chinese pharmaceutical companies in high-quality discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, CMC, business development and operations. Everest Medicines has built a portfolio of potentially global first-in-class or best-in-class molecules in the company's core therapeutic areas of renal diseases, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. For more information, please visit its website at www.everestmedicines.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release may make statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including descriptions regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company or its officers with respect to the business operations and financial condition of the Company, which can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, or other factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Company and are unforeseeable. Therefore, the actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and assumptions, such as future changes and developments in our business, competitive environment, political, economic, legal and social conditions. The Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors or representatives has no obligation and does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or circumstances after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

SOURCE Everest Medicines
Updated TAILORx follow-up data showing the integration of clinico-pathologic criteria and Recurrence Score  results to refine distant recurrence risk estimates

results to refine distant recurrence risk estimates New concordance analysis supporting the generation of Oncotype DX  results from core needle biopsy to personalize treatment decisions

results from core needle biopsy to personalize treatment decisions ADAPTcycle trial data, using Oncotype DX results and endocrine response to stratify patients, may expand the number of breast cancer patients able to forgo chemotherapy post-surgery; data chosen as late-breaking abstract

Prospective trial data regarding the potential omission of radiation therapy after surgery in certain patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) chosen for press program

MADISON, Wis., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: EXAS), a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, will present new data and study results across its Precision Oncology and hereditary cancer platforms at the 2023 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

"Exact Sciences is looking forward to presenting new evidence at SABCS that adds important perspectives to treating breast cancer patients and showing that some patients may be able to de-escalate treatments and still have positive outcomes," said Dr. Rick Baehner, Chief Medical Officer, Precision Oncology, Exact Sciences. "Every year, we build upon the precedent set by the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test and its prognostic and predictive abilities to determine the chemotherapy benefit for specific breast cancer patients. We are pleased to see authorities expanding access to this test as we continue to develop key evidence in collaboration with some of the world's most prestigious, breast cancer-focused organizations."

In cooperation with several leading breast cancer research organizations, Exact Sciences will present late-breaking data and a study included in the SABCS press program. Results from Puerto Rico will also detail germline findings for a cohort of women, most of whom had a personal or familial history of breast cancer. The results suggest a distinct genetic background for hereditary cancer predisposition in the study population.

Exact Sciences will also host a discussion about the Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test and the RSClin Tool. Christy Russell MD, VP Medical Affairs, Exact Sciences; Jennifer Racz, MD, Director, Oncology Medical Affairs, Exact Sciences; and Jay Andersen, MD, Co-Director, Compass Breast Specialists and Associate Chair, US Oncology Breast Cancer Research Committee; will review the development and validation of the RSClin Tool in patients with node-negative, early-stage breast cancer as well as discuss its utility for patients and providers.

The discussion will take place:

When: Thursday, December 7th, 4:00-5:00 p.m. CT

Where: Exhibit Hall Product Theater A, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas

Exact Sciences will present the following data at SABCS 2023:

1. Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and a 12-Gene Expression Assay to Optimize Local Therapy for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: 5-year clinical outcomes of E4112 - Chosen for SABCS Press Program















Summary: This prospective trial, the first to evaluate the predictive ability of the 12-gene DCIS score, provides data regarding the omission of radiation therapy after surgery in patients with DCIS breast cancer who have low DCIS score results, and the benefit of radiation therapy in patients with intermediate/high DS results.

























Oral Presentation ID: GS03-01: Friday, December 8, 2023, 8:15-11:15 a.m.













2. Title: Impact of age and ovarian function suppression (OFS) on endocrine response to short preoperative endocrine therapy (ET): Results from the multicenter ADAPTcycle trial Chosen as Late Breaking Abstract at SABCS















Data embargoed until: 7:15 a.m. CT on Friday, December 8

























Presentation ID: LBO1-05: Friday, December 8, 2023, 12:00-12:45 p.m.













3. Title: Comparison of whole exome, whole transcriptome genomic profiling and targeted sequencing with 50-gene panels















Summary: A comparison of the OncoExTra whole-exome, whole-transcriptome, comprehensive genomic profiling test to three commercially available and one custom 50-gene panels in a cohort of breast cancer patients. The study determined the frequency of patient tumors that would have had no actionable alteration identified when employing each of the 50-gene panels, when an actionable alteration identified by the OncoExTra test was present, across the three different breast cancer subtypes. The highest proportion of patients was missed (no actionable finding) by 50-gene panels when the cancer was the TNBC subtype and the lowest for HER2+.

























Presentation ID: Poster ID PO5-13-05: Friday, December 8, 2023, 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 5)













4. Title: Classifying HER2-low breast cancer using a combination of ERBB2 mRNA expression and altered genes















Summary: Comparison of ERBB2 gene expression, measured using mRNA levels, with HER2 (encoded by ERBB2 gene) protein expression, measured by IHC/FISH. A comparison of altered biomarkers across HER2 protein expression categories was also made. ERBB2 expression levels and alterations in selected biomarkers were used to train a logistic regression classifier to predict HER2 protein expression status. Preliminary results indicate that some HER2-0 samples were classified as HER2-low by the classifier.

























Presentation ID: Poster ID P05-13-06: Friday December 8, 2023, 12:00 -2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 5)













5. Title: Prevalence of genomic alterations in Xerna tumor microenvironment subtypes in triple negative breast cancer patients















Summary: 203 triple negative breast cancer tumor samples were assigned to four different Xerna tumor-microenvironment categories (high versus low immune score, high versus low angiogenic score) based on gene expression of about 100 genes. The prevalence of actionable alterations in biomarkers was then determined across these four tumor microenvironment subtypes. About half of cancer samples had high immune scores, suggesting possible response to ICI therapy. More than half of patient samples carried actionable alterations. Together, these findings suggest the possibility of novel combination therapies in some TNBC patients.

























Presentation ID: Poster ID PO2-06-10: Wednesday Dec 6, 2023, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Poster Session 2)













6. Title: Hereditary cancer genetic testing in Puerto Rican females















Summary: Nearly one thousand Puerto Rican females were tested with a hereditary cancer panel containing 29 genes. 90 (9.5%) individuals had a pathogenic or likely pathogenic alteration in their germ line at one or more of these genes. The proportion of individuals carrying a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant at a cancer gene is within the range reported for other Caribbean countries. However, there was no evidence for enrichment of alterations at BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB2 as observed in other Caribbean countries. The study also denotes a lack of genetic testing amongst specific disparate populations.

























Presentation ID: Poster ID: PO1-08-08: Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 1)













7. Title: Concordance Study of Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score Results from Paired Breast Cancer Core Needle Biopsies and Surgical Excision Specimens















Summary: Comparison of Oncotype DX Recurrence Score results for paired core needle biopsy and surgical samples of the same tumor without intervening systemic therapy, which found high concordance between the two.

























Presentation ID: PO4-08-09: Thursday, December 7, 2023, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Poster Session 4)













8. Title: Comparison of the cost-effectiveness of multigene assays for HR+/HER2- node-negative early-stage breast cancer in the US















Summary: Compares the cost-effectiveness of using different genomic assays for treatment decisions in HR+HER2- early breast cancer (Oncotype DX, MammaPrint, EndoPredict, and Prosigna ROR) relative to that of using clinical-pathological features alone in the U.S. The modeling found that all were cost-effective as additions to clinical-pathological features, with the Oncotype DX test providing the greatest cost savings among the four.

























Presentation ID: PO1-01-10: Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00 -2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 1)













9. Title: A comparison of chemotherapy recommendations by NPI, Predict, and Oncotype DX testing in UK women with early node-positive breast cancer















Summary: Comparison of the Oncotype DX Recurrence Score test, the Nottingham Prognostic Index, and the Predict Breast Cancer tool in risk stratification and association with chemotherapy recommendations in HR+HER2- node-positive early breast cancer. Of the three, the Oncotype test was the most strongly associated with chemotherapy recommendation.

























Presentation ID: PO1-14-05: Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 1)













10. Title: Update of RSClin tool with extended TAILORx follow-up and development and validation of a new tool for risk of late distant recurrence















Summary: Update of the TAILORx findings with longer follow-up and resulting refinements to the RSClin tool for estimating 10-year risk of distant recurrence in HR+HER2- early breast cancer. A new tool specifically to estimate late (5-10 year) distant recurrence risk is also presented.

























Presentation ID: PO1-02-02: Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 1)













11. Title: Irish National Analysis of the Clinical and Economic impact of 21-gene Oncotype DX testing in Early-Stage, 1-3 lymph node-positive, Hormone Receptor positive (HR+), HER2-Negative (HER2-), Breast Cancer (BC)















Summary: An analysis of the impact of Oncotype DX testing in a N1 (disease with 1-3 positive LN) breast cancer population from 2 Irish cancer centers identified a 55% reduction in chemotherapy use with savings of over 1 million. The objectives of this study were to examine the clinical and economic impact of Oncotype DX testing on treatment decisions in N1 patients at a national level with a larger patient population, and to examine changes in the ordering of Oncotype DX tests pre- and post-RxPONDER data. This study extended the analysis to 5 Irish cancer centers.

























Presentation ID: PO5-02-04: Friday, December 8, 2023, 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 5)













12. Title: Real-world application of a 21-gene recurrence score in a Swiss single center breast cancer population. A comparative analysis of treatment administration before and after TAILORx















Summary: A comparison of chemotherapy recommendations and use before and after TAILORx. There were some differences in treatment recommendations after TAILORx that included increased recommendation for addition of chemotherapy to endocrine therapy, specifically among younger women, but there were no significant changes in chemotherapy administration.

























Presentation ID: Poster Number: P1-14-02: Wednesday December 6, 2023, 12:00-2:00 p.m. (Poster Session 1)

About Exact Sciences Corp.

A leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic tests, Exact Sciences gives patients and health care professionals the clarity needed to take life-changing action earlier. Building on the success of the Cologuard and Oncotype tests, Exact Sciences is investing in its pipeline to develop innovative solutions for use before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. For more information, visit ExactSciences.com, follow Exact Sciences on X, formerly known as Twitter @ExactSciences, or find Exact Sciences on LinkedIn and Facebook.

NOTE: Exact Sciences is a registered trademark of Exact Sciences Corporation. Oncotype and OncoExTra are registered trademarks of Genomic Health, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exact Sciences Corporation. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning our expectations, anticipations, intentions, beliefs, or strategies regarding the future. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made as of the date hereof and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, conditions and events to differ materially from those anticipated. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the development and commercialization of the next-generation Cologuard test; the performance characteristics of next-generation Cologuard in a commercial setting; and the timing and anticipated results of additional analysis of the BLUE-C data and FDA submission. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our forward-looking statements are described in the Risk Factors sections of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE EXACT SCIENCES CORP
2023 National Roadway Safety Awards recognize innovations to protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists as pandemic spike in road fatalities continues mostly unabated

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten innovative highway safety projects, representing the very best of the nation's roadway safety practices, were honored today with National Roadway Safety Awards at a Capitol Hill ceremony. Two additional projects received honorable mentions.

The awards were presented by the leadership of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Roadway Safety Foundation (RSF), which jointly sponsor the competition. Begun in 1999, the biennial National Roadway Safety Awards honor initiatives that improve roadway safety at the state and local level.

Recipients of the 2023 National Roadway Safety Award

"The problem-solving creativity and dedication shown by every one of the award winners and honorees will save countless lives  using a data driven approach and practices that are proven to reduce crashes," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. "The 2023 award winners demonstrate a strong commitment to moving the United States toward zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation's roadways, and we are proud to applaud their efforts."

Much of the honorees' work began amid a nationwide spike in vehicular crashes during the pandemic, when U.S. roadway fatalities rose 7.3 percent in 2020 and a further 10.1 percent in 2021 before holding steady at a high level in 2022 (-0.3 percent) .

Early estimates for the first half of 2023 show crash fatalities declined slightly but remain at levels not seen since the mid-2000s. Between January and June, fatalities nationwide declined by an estimated 3.3 percent, compared with the first six months of 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration .

"The stubbornly elevated fatality numbers underscore the urgent need for innovations like the National Roadway Safety Award honorees' projects," said Roadway Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Hamilton. "With several initiatives already showing major reductions in fatalities, injuries and crashes, today's honorees are shining a bright light on the path to safer travel."

Applicants for the National Roadway Safety Awards were encouraged to nominate projects and programs that are innovative, effective and cost efficient. The awards covered two categories:

Infrastructure and Operational Improvements; and

Program Planning, Development and Evaluation.

Ten winners and two honorable mentions were announced. The winners are:

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for instituting a pilot program that rapidly installs wrong-way driver prevention and other safety enhancements. The approach allows Caltrans districts to implement stand-alone safety projects more quickly than through traditional means, delivering new signs, high visibility crosswalks, curve warning signs and other cost-effective safety measures within a single year.

for instituting a pilot program that rapidly installs wrong-way driver prevention and other safety enhancements. The approach allows Caltrans districts to implement stand-alone safety projects more quickly than through traditional means, delivering new signs, high visibility crosswalks, curve warning signs and other cost-effective safety measures within a single year. Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) for converting 20 low-volume intersections from two-way to all-way stops. In the two years following the change (2021 and 2022), the number of crashes at those intersections fell by 71 percent. Fatal crashes dropped by 75 percent, while crashes with injuries plummeted by 90 percent.

for converting 20 low-volume intersections from two-way to all-way stops. In the two years following the change (2021 and 2022), the number of crashes at those intersections fell by 71 percent. Fatal crashes dropped by 75 percent, while crashes with injuries plummeted by 90 percent. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for demonstrating how increased pavement friction helps motorists stop more quickly and retain better control at high-speed intersections. FDOT added highly skid-resistant material to the road surface at three intersections in Tampa and during the two years after implementation, improper stopping behaviors (e.g., vehicles coming to stops in crosswalks) were reduced between 11 percent and 31 percent.

for demonstrating how increased pavement friction helps motorists stop more quickly and retain better control at high-speed intersections. FDOT added highly skid-resistant material to the road surface at three intersections in and during the two years after implementation, improper stopping behaviors (e.g., vehicles coming to stops in crosswalks) were reduced between 11 percent and 31 percent. Illinois Tollway (Tollway) for creating a mobile web application that provides traffic managers with instant access to livestream video, incident details, and status updates of roadway incidents, thereby enabling them to respond more rapidly. The TIMS2GO app is credited for reducing the average time to confirm and respond to an incident from 5.1 minutes in 2019 to 4.5 minutes in 2023.

for creating a mobile web application that provides traffic managers with instant access to livestream video, incident details, and status updates of roadway incidents, thereby enabling them to respond more rapidly. The TIMS2GO app is credited for reducing the average time to confirm and respond to an incident from 5.1 minutes in 2019 to 4.5 minutes in 2023. ( Louisiana ) Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) for reducing fatal and serious injuries at rural "T" intersections. After thoroughly analyzing crash and other data, APC identified 18 problematic intersections where the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development installed new rumble strips, new flashing beacons and larger stop signs. Since the safety measures were deployed, crashes at the intersections dropped from 89 total crashes (2014 through 2017) to only eight (2020 through 2022).

for reducing fatal and serious injuries at rural "T" intersections. After thoroughly analyzing crash and other data, APC identified 18 problematic intersections where the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development installed new rumble strips, new flashing beacons and larger stop signs. Since the safety measures were deployed, crashes at the intersections dropped from 89 total crashes (2014 through 2017) to only eight (2020 through 2022). Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) for installing more than 80 "J-turn" intersections since 2010, mostly on divided rural highways. A 2021 evaluation found a 69 percent reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes due to the addition of the J-turns. J-turns are used on four-lane divided highways where intersecting roads have too little traffic to require a traffic light. With J-turns, motorists on the lightly traveled road who want to go straight across the more heavily traveled highway or are bound for destinations to the left are first routed to the right on the highway and then to a U-turn down the road, enabling safer, more gradual merges.

for installing more than 80 "J-turn" intersections since 2010, mostly on divided rural highways. A 2021 evaluation found a 69 percent reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes due to the addition of the J-turns. J-turns are used on four-lane divided highways where intersecting roads have too little traffic to require a traffic light. With J-turns, motorists on the lightly traveled road who want to go straight across the more heavily traveled highway or are bound for destinations to the left are first routed to the right on the highway and then to a U-turn down the road, enabling safer, more gradual merges. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for significantly reducing the number of fatal and serious injury crashes at rural intersections. Included in NCDOT's improvements was the addition of all-way stops at 350 rural intersections. As of fall 2022, those intersections showed a 55 percent reduction in total crashes and a 92 percent drop in crashes with fatalities and severe injuries.

for significantly reducing the number of fatal and serious injury crashes at rural intersections. Included in NCDOT's improvements was the addition of all-way stops at 350 rural intersections. As of fall 2022, those intersections showed a 55 percent reduction in total crashes and a 92 percent drop in crashes with fatalities and severe injuries. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) for its use of highly timely crash data to prioritize safety improvements on the Authority's roads, tunnels, and bridges. Analysts use the Traffic Safety Improvement Program to spot short-term trends, collision patterns and clusters of crashes, helping the authority quickly address problem areas. The PANYNJ initiative resulted in a 46 percent reduction in crashes across its roadway system.

for its use of highly timely crash data to prioritize safety improvements on the Authority's roads, tunnels, and bridges. Analysts use the Traffic Safety Improvement Program to spot short-term trends, collision patterns and clusters of crashes, helping the authority quickly address problem areas. The PANYNJ initiative resulted in a 46 percent reduction in crashes across its roadway system. South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) for developing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan that helped secure $32 million in federal funding for six busy corridors in Cumberland County . Projects will include more visible crosswalks, shorter intersection crossings, and narrowed roads to slow down vehicular traffic.

for developing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan that helped secure in federal funding for six busy corridors in . Projects will include more visible crosswalks, shorter intersection crossings, and narrowed roads to slow down vehicular traffic. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for working with community leaders to prevent pedestrians from crossing a section of Interstate 35 in Austin . As of June 2023 , the "Be Safe, Be Seen" education campaign, together with infrastructure enhancements, contributed to a 64 percent fewer pedestrian fatalities overall and 89 percent fewer fatalities among unhoused pedestrians.

The honorable mentions are:

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for preparing the state's first Speed Management Action Plan to identify ways to slow down drivers through improved road design, more visible law enforcement and public education. Between 2015 and 2019, 31 percent of Nevada's total fatal crashes were related to high speed.

for preparing the state's first Speed Management Action Plan to identify ways to slow down drivers through improved road design, more visible law enforcement and public education. Between 2015 and 2019, 31 percent of total fatal crashes were related to high speed. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for funding lower cost but more widespread safety initiatives to prevent traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Breaking with the traditional practice of implementing spot safety improvements in response to crashes at a specific site, VDOT's new approach evaluates factors that contribute to crashes, including road design and traffic patterns, as well as the impact of recent nearby development (i.e., residential or commercial) that attracts more walkers or cyclists.

A highly credentialed expert panel of judges evaluated dozens of applications for their safety effectiveness, innovation and efficient use of resources. The panel members are:

Lori Diaz , The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation

, The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation Jennifer Hall , American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Adam Kirk , Kentucky Transportation Center

, Kentucky Transportation Center Stephen Read , Virginia Department of Transportation

, Virginia Department of Transportation Brian Roberts , Transportation Research Board

, Transportation Research Board Terecia Wilson , Clemson University

For complete details on each of the winners and for more information on the national awards program, visit: www.roadwaysafety.org/awards .

The Roadway Safety Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable and educational organization. Its mission is to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities through improvements to roadway systems and their environment

The Federal Highway Administration is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports State and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the nation's highway system and various federally and tribal owned lands. Through financial and technical assistance to State and local governments, FHWA is responsible for ensuring that America's roads and highways continue to be among the safest and most technologically sound in the world.

Contact: Office of Public Affairs John Undeland Federal Highway Administration Roadway Safety Foundation 202-366-0660 703-785-3461 [email protected] Roadwaysafety.org Follow us on Twitter: @USDOTFHWA @RoadwaySafetyFn

SOURCE Roadway Safety Foundation
Strategic location will serve over 200 electric trucks a day

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Forum Mobility, a leading freight electrification provider, announced a new heavy-duty truck charging depot in the Port of Long Beach. This new depot will provide high-speed charging infrastructure for hundreds of drayage trucks per day, supporting the transition of the state's drayage fleet to zero-emission. Forward thinking drayage carriers are already reserving chargers because of the strategic location, adjacent to terminals.

Rendering of Forum Mobility Electric Truck Charging Depot in the Port of Long Beach

"Forum is building dedicated infrastructure for heavy-duty trucks to transition from diesel to electricity. With the support of the Port of Long Beach, the FM Harbor depot will provide drayage truckers a turn-key solution to comply with California Air Resource Board regulations. At Forum Mobility facilities like this one, fleets can make the transition simply and without using their own capital," said Matt LeDucq, CEO and co-founder of Forum Mobility. "Forum is building a network of charging depots at the ports, along freight corridors and near distribution centers to serve owner-operators and carriers of all sizes. We make it easy to go electric."

Talon Logistics Inc., a national drayage carrier based in Chino, has already secured dedicated charging at FM Harbor. "Talon Logistics prides itself in being a trendset leader and Forum is our trusted infrastructure partner. Securing fully-staffed and dedicated charging inside the port makes us pioneers in the space, which puts us ahead of the competition," said Emmanuel Carrillo, Talon Chief Executive Officer. "FM Harbor couldn't be more convenient - 7,000 trucks a day go into the Port of Long Beach, and our fleet will be one of the few able to charge right next to the terminals. Forum's turnkey charging solution allows me to focus on growing my business and serving my customers."

Forum's Port of Long Beach charging depot will offer 19 dual-port 360 kW chargers, and six 360 kW single-dispenser chargers, able to charge 44 trucks simultaneously, with the ability to charge an electric Class-8 truck in about 90 minutes, depending on battery size. The depot will be fully staffed and is scheduled to be online fall of 2024. At full capacity, it will serve over 200 trucks a day. The site is located at 260 Pico Street, adjacent to the Long Beach Container Terminal. Elemental Excelerator provided supportive funding.

Forum Mobility's first tranche of eight charging depots, with capacity to charge about 600 trucks simultaneously, is scheduled to come online over the next 10-20 months. Forum Mobility provides one-stop solutions for drivers and fleets to easily transition to electric vehicles. Our staffed and secured depots offer either access to charging services, or a truck plus charging together, for one monthly fee.

"It is encouraging to see Forum Mobility investing in crucial charging infrastructure to help drayage carriers meet zero emissions mandates coming from the State of California. We appreciate their dedicated engagement with the Harbor Trucking community and are proud to have them as members of our organization," said Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association.

The California Air Resources Board is requiring all of California's drayage fleet  approximately 33,000 class 8 trucks  to be zero-emission by 2035. Charging infrastructure is a key ingredient for success: the California Energy Commission estimates that to comply with the Advanced Clean Fleet and other regulations, California will need 157,000 medium and heavy-duty chargers by 2030.

CONTACT: Adam Browning, abrowning@forummobility.com

SOURCE Forum Mobility
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The gas masks market is expected to grow by USD 3.06 billion from 2023 to 2028, according to Technavio. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 7.91% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for gas marks in manufacturing industries is notably driving the gas masks market. However, factors such as need for regular maintenance may impede market growth. The market is segmented by application (chemical industry, oil and gas, mining industry, healthcare, and others), type (disposable respirators, powered air purifying respirators, supplied air respirators, and self contained breathing apparatus), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa).

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Gas Masks Market 2024-2028

Technavio provides a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The Free sample report is available in PDF format

Key Segment Analysis

The chemical industry segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. A major industry that has a key role to play in the manufacture of a broad range of chemicals, from fundamental commodities such as Industrial Chemicals and Polymers, specialty or fine chemical products which are applied for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, etc. Workers at these facilities are required to wear gas masks to protect themselves from hazardous gases or the release of chemicals. Gas masks must be worn to prevent the inhalation of harmful substances by workers handling dangerous materials or responding to chemical spills. For instance, those cleaning up chemical spills or managing hazardous waste rely on gas masks for protection.

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, View the Free PDF Sample Report.

Geographical Market Analysis

North America is estimated to contribute 32% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. APAC is another region that is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. There is likely to be an above-global average growth for key end-use industries of gas masks in APAC, including manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. The production sector is the world's most important employer and plays an essential role in any country that aims to become self-sufficient or rely less on imported products. Another major end-user of gas masks is the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Company Insights

The gas mask market is fragmented, and the companies are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies, including 3M Co., AirBoss of America Corp., Alpha Pro Tech Ltd., Avon Polymer Products Ltd., Bullard, Dragerwerk AG and Co. KGaA, Duram Mask, Gateway Safety Inc., Honeywell International Inc., ILC Dover LP, Kimberly Clark Corp., Moldex Metric, MSA Safety Inc., Optrel AG, RPB Safety LLC, RSG Safety BV, Shalon Chemical Industries, SHIGEMATSU WORKS CO. LTD., Sundstrom Safety AB, and The Metadure Group

View the Free PDF Sample Report to find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by companies and their product offerings.

Related Reports:

The fire protection systems market size in India is estimated to grow by USD 1,580.15 million at a CAGR of 5.62% between 2022 and 2027.

The body masks market size is estimated to grow by USD 215.46 million at a CAGR of 10.04% between 2022 and 2027.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
Giant earns 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality

LANDOVER, Md., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, proudly announced it has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Giant Food joins the ranks of over 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index.

"Giant Food is extremely proud to have earned a score of 100 for the fifth consecutive year on the Corporate Equality Index for the practices we have established to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace for our LGBTQ+ team members," said Brian Wanner, Vice President of Human Resources at Giant Food. "We are committed to embracing and advancing a workplace that represents and celebrates the cultures, backgrounds and experiences of our team members and communities helping create a culture in which we can all grow, care and belong."

Giant has consistently worked to implement and advance a range of programs, policies and practices to promote inclusivity and diversity. Just this year, the company has introduced or expanded upon several training, education, employee benefit and partnership efforts including:

Ongoing Gender Inclusivity training for all employees

Creation of employee LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide

Creation of employee Gender Transition Guidelines

Added Restroom Guidelines signage

Addition of employee pronouns to name and security badges

Involvement in regional Pride celebrations including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool  a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families."

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Giant Food's efforts in satisfying all the CEI's criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;

Supporting an inclusive culture; and,

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at https://www.hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index.

About Giant Food

Since opening its first location 87 years ago in Washington, D.C. in 1936, Giant has been an integral part of the communities and customers it serves. Giant is committed to being a Better Neighbor and has designated four main giving pillars that address local Food Insecurity, Military Support, Pediatric Cancer Research and Social Equality. Giant is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 165 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 165 stores are 153 full-service pharmacies and 27 Starbucks locations. Giant fits all the ways today's busy customers want to shop - whether in store or online. With 162 Giant Pickup locations and delivery options available in all of its markets, customers have even more convenient options right at their fingertips to get the best products and prices, whenever and however they choose. For more information on Giant Food, visit giantfood.com.

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

SOURCE Giant Food
BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on remarkable achievement of ancient China in shipbuilding:

Glimpse of China's Maritime Civilization

https://youtu.be/QWCxzXhnu5o

Glimpse of China's Maritime Civilization

Quanzhou city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has a history of more than 1,300 years. During the 10th to 14th centuries AD, Quanzhou thrived in the flourishing international marine trade.

Underwater archaeological activities related to numerous shipwrecks have given people a glimpse of the influence of Quanzhou, a window into maritime civilization.

A shipwreck called Fujian ship originally built in the 13th century and discovered at the Houzhu Harbor of Quanzhou in 1973 is so far one of the earliest Fujian-style ocean-going vessels. It was one of the most dominant ship types in ancient Chinese seafaring.

The ship is 11 meters wide and about 34 meters long. Its moulded depth is 3.8 meters and its cargo capacity is over 400 tons. This ship has watertight compartments. When water enters one compartment, it won't affect the whole ship. The planks are overlapping. The outer planks can be replaced when they are broken. To strengthen the bond between the planks, iron cramps are used. Back then, this ship had three sails. The main mast was in the middle. According to current calculation, the height of the main mast reached 32 meters, more than the height of a 10-story building. The design of the sails and the rudder at the stern allowed this ship to sail both day and night.

Spices were important trade goods on the Maritime Silk Road. We can see that a lot of spices were found in the shipwreck, about 4,700 grams. There is eaglewood from Southeast Asia, frankincense from the Arab region, and even ambergris from the west coast of the Indian Ocean and the African region.

It must have traveled to Southeast Asia and beyond.

The Cultural Sit-Down with Wang Xiaohui

http://cul.china.com.cn/node_1008104.htm

Glimpse of China's Maritime Civilization

https://www.facebook.com/iDiscoverChina/videos/1201495251239084/

https://twitter.com/chinaorgcn/status/1724741134969458807

SOURCE China.org.cn
The new integration streamlines digital infrastructure procurement by delivering immediate DIA quotes with the simplicity of a click

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Inflect, Inc. , the world's leading marketplace for buyers and sellers of digital infrastructure, today announced the availability of instant pricing for Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) from Lumen Technologies in the Inflect portal. Lumen's integration into the Inflect portal means that customers turning to Inflect's global digital infrastructure marketplace to source DIA can receive immediate price quotes from Lumen. This expedites the quoting process by removing the need to submit a request for pricing that may take days or weeks to complete. Instant pricing for Lumen DIA through the Inflect portal is now accessible in more than 145,000 on-net locations.

"The inclusion of Lumen DIA in inflect.com significantly reduces our customers' time and effort directed at researching and sourcing DIA," says Mike Nguyen, CEO of Inflect. "This leading integration with Lumen furthers Inflect's mission of driving frictionless transactions in the digital infrastructure industry."

Finding and purchasing the right digital infrastructure has historically been a tedious, time-consuming and manual process. Inflect is aiming to change this dynamic. With each new integration, Inflect is expanding the array of infrastructure and services instantly available to buyers and service providers that comprise the Inflect customer base.

By connecting infrastructure buyers with sellers and introducing automation into the experience, Inflect is bringing transparency to an opaque digital world. Just as other industries have been redefined by digital transformation, Inflect is leading a global transformation of digital infrastructure sourcing, procurement and management. Buyers and service providers will now experience a swift and frictionless experience for sourcing Lumen DIA through the Inflect portal.

"Partnering with Inflect to make instant pricing of Lumen DIA directly available to infrastructure buyers and service providers is part of our commitment to fostering radical simplification across the customer experience and our products," says Sara Seegers, Lumen National VP, Indirect Channel. "Instant price quotes will help them get their operations running faster which enables them to achieve their business goals sooner. We want to make that as easy for them as possible."

Inflect's global digital infrastructure marketplace continues to grow as more service providers are seeing the benefits of shortening the sales cycle and streamlining the research and procurement processes for buyers and service providers. To learn more about amplifying your customer acquisition efforts by partnering with Inflect, please visit the Inflect Partner page .

About Inflect

Inflect simplifies the buying and selling of digital infrastructure with an easy-to-use online marketplace, intuitive research tools, and a deeply experienced advisory service to help our customers and partners connect, design and source the digital infrastructure they needfor every use case and every location around the world. Inflect is the first company to bring digital infrastructure buyers and sellers of connectivity and hosting together for expedited deal flowsourcing, tailoring and managing the optimal mix of hosting and connectivity solutions, fit for purpose for every organization.

The Inflect Digital Infrastructure Marketplace (DIM) offers infrastructure buyers and service providers a single destination for hosting and connectivity research and price comparisons on their own terms. Inflect's Advisory Service comprises highly qualified, former infrastructure buyers who understand the challenges of designing and procuring complex architecture and operate as an extension of the customer's procurement team.

Inflect emerged from Silent Partner, a San Francisco consultancy founded in 2002 and operated as a top revenue channel partner for Telx and others. The Silent Partner leadership team migrated to and is today 100% focused on Inflect.

SOURCE Inflect
The Union of Carriers of Slovakia plans to block the movement of freight transport in front of Vysne Nemecke checkpoint, adjacent to the Ukrainian checkpoint Uzhgorod, from December 1, 2023, from 16:00, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said.

"Four trucks per hour will be allowed to leave Slovakia. At the same time, the transportation of humanitarian and military aid, live animals, fuel and refrigerated cargo will not be blocked," the service said on the Telegram channel.

Drivers are asked to take into account possible traffic complications.
DUBLIN, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Hospital Hygiene Management Market - Analysis and Forecast, 2022-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global hospital hygiene management market has seen significant advancements in recent years, driven by the increasing emphasis on patient safety, infection control, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of hospital hygiene management, with a specific focus on new innovations in the industry. The three key areas of innovation discussed in this report include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation, robotics, and hygiene adherence and monitoring.

Hospital hygiene management is a critical component of healthcare, as it directly impacts patient outcomes, infection control, and the overall quality of healthcare services. In an era where the importance of infection prevention is paramount, advancements in technology have revolutionized the approach to hospital hygiene management.

New Innovations in Hospital Hygiene Management

AI and Digital Innovation

AI-powered solutions are becoming increasingly prevalent in hospital hygiene management. These solutions offer predictive analytics, real-time monitoring, and data-driven insights to optimize hygiene protocols.

Digital innovations include mobile apps for staff training, real-time hygiene tracking, and cloud-based platforms for managing hygiene-related data.

The integration of AI and digital technologies has enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of hospital hygiene management practices.

Robotics

Robotics has revolutionized the way hospitals manage hygiene. Autonomous robots equipped with sanitization equipment can efficiently disinfect high-touch areas, reducing the risk of infections.

Robot-assisted UV-C disinfection and autonomous cleaning robots have gained popularity in healthcare settings, ensuring thorough and consistent cleaning.

The adoption of robotics has not only improved hygiene but also reduced the workload on hospital staff.

Hygiene Adherence and Monitoring

Monitoring and adherence solutions employ wearable devices and sensors to track the hygiene practices of healthcare professionals.

Real-time feedback and alerts ensure that healthcare workers follow proper hygiene protocols, including hand hygiene and personal protective equipment use.

These technologies play a crucial role in reducing the spread of infections within hospitals.

Market Trends and Opportunities

Remote Monitoring and Telemedicine

The adoption of telemedicine has surged, creating a need for remote monitoring of patients and their environment.

Hospital hygiene management solutions are adapting to support remote monitoring and control, ensuring the safety of both patients and healthcare providers.

Increasing Investments in R&D

Research and development efforts in hospital hygiene management are on the rise, focusing on developing more advanced AI algorithms, robotics, and monitoring systems.

Market players are actively investing in innovative solutions to stay competitive in the evolving landscape.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Global Market Outlook



2 Industry Outlook

2.1 Market Overview

2.2 Market Size and Growth Potential

2.2.1 Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs)

2.2.2 Central line-associated Bloodstream Infections

2.2.3 Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections

2.2.4 Surgical Site Infections

2.2.5 Ventilator-associated Pneumonia

2.2.6 Other HAIs

2.3 Cost of Hospital Acquired Infections, 2022-2032

2.4 New Innovation in Hospital Hygiene Management

2.4.1 AI and Digital Innovation

2.4.2 Robotics

2.4.3 Hygiene Adherence and Monitoring

2.5 Cost of Hospital Hygiene Management ($)

2.6 Case Studies on Hospital Hygiene Management

2.7 Regulations on Hospital Hygiene Management



3 Hospital Hygiene Management Market: Business Landscape

3.1 Product Development and Launches

3.2 Patent Analysis

3.3 Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Hospital Hygiene Management Solutions Market

3.4 Business Dynamics



4 Global Hospital Hygiene Management Solutions Market (by Product), 2022-2032

4.1 Air Hygiene Solutions

4.2 Disinfectant and Surface Cleaners

4.3 Digital Hospital Hygiene Solutions



5 Global Hospital Hygiene Management Solution Market (by End-User), 2022-2032

5.1 Hospitals

5.1.1 Large Hospitals (>1,000 Beds)

5.1.2 Medium Hospitals (300-1,000 Beds)

5.1.3 Small Hospitals (<_00 />5.1.4 Ambulatory Care Centers

5.1.5 Clinics and Other Facilities



6 Global Hospital Hygiene Management Market (by Region)



7 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking and Company Profiles

7.1 Competitive Benchmarking and Company Profiles

7.2 Company Share Analysis

7.3 Company Profiles

B. Braun

Ecolab Inc.

CenTrak

PAUL HARTMANN AG

Weiss Technik

3M

Xenex

Hamilton Medical

Reckitt Benckiser

Procter and Gamble

Blue Ocean Robotics

American Air Filter Company, Inc.

Camfil

Swisslog Healthcare GmbH

The Clorox Company

Colgate-palmolive

GOJO Industries

S.C. Johnson

Uvrobots

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies GmbH & Co. KG

Steriliz LLC

Iso-Aire

AeroMed

Biovigil

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4um1tx

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets
HelloGard proudly welcomes social entrepreneur Sarah Hoit to its Advisory Board. Her expertise will shape strategic decisions, driving innovation in healthcare and senior living.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HelloGard, a leading innovator in bringing the best of innovation, design and robotics as a service to the senior living, healthcare and hospitality verticals, revolutionizing the way we live and work, is delighted to announce the addition of Sarah Hoit to its Advisory Board. With an impressive track record and extensive expertise as a social entrepreneur, executive and consultant in both the private and public sectors, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight that will undoubtedly contribute to HelloGard's continued success in healthcare, senior living and hospitality.

HelloGard Welcomes Sarah Hoit to Advisory Board

HelloGard's co-founder, Sanjeev Shetty expressed his enthusiasm for Sarah Hoit's addition to the advisory board, stating, "We were always looking for someone to join us that understood our mission and shared our values. Sarah was the perfect match, and it's an honor to have her join our advisory board."

Sarah Hoit is widely recognized for founding and leading various organizations that deliver meaningful social impact, such as Social Impact Partners and Chair of Connected Living, Inc., making her a standout figure in both the healthcare and senior living industries. Her commitment to harnessing the power of collaboration and technology to create accessible quality of life and create positive change in the workforce, aligns seamlessly with HelloGard's vision to use robotics and AI as a service to improve the quality of people's lives within the healthcare, senior living and hospitality sectors.

"HelloGard and vCare companion are making powerful strides to address labor shortages and I am proud to join their board. Their innovative staffing and workforce automation solutions are essential in today's senior living, hospitality, and healthcare industries. Technology and innovation will be critical additions to workforce augmentation and reinvention," said Sarah Hoit, co-founder and chairman of Social Impact Partners.

As an Advisory Board member, Sarah will play a pivotal role in guiding HelloGard's strategic decisions, providing invaluable insights that will steer the company towards even greater heights. Her expertise and dedication will undoubtedly contribute to the company's ongoing commitment to revolutionizing and creating a positive change in the healthcare and senior living industries.

"We are confident that Sarah's addition to our Advisory Board will bring a fresh perspective and contribute significantly to our growth and success," said Sanjeev Shetty.

HelloGard looks forward to the exciting collaboration ahead and is eager to leverage Sarah Hoit's expertise in shaping the future of workforce.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Jessica Johnson

www.hellogard.com

[email protected]

[email protected]

Press Contact:

Jessica Johnson

5062621081

http://www.hellogard.com

SOURCE HelloGard
DUBLIN, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Home and Small Business Security System Market - 13th Edition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Cellular connectivity is rapidly becoming a standard feature in security alarm systems for the consumer and small business markets. The number of cellular IoT connections for home and small business security systems in Europe and North America is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.8 percent from 42.4 million in 2022 to 58.8 million in 2027.

The North American market for home and small business security systems is almost twice the size of the European market. There were an estimated 34.8 million active monitored alarm systems in the US and Canada at the end of 2022. The overall penetration rate among the around 150 million households and small businesses in North America was 22.5 percent. Growing at a CAGR of 3.4 percent, the number of monitored alarms in North America is estimated to reach 41.2 million in 2027. In the EU27+3, there were about 18.2 million active monitored alarm systems at the end of 2022. This corresponds to an overall penetration rate of 7.4 percent among the around 245 million households and small businesses in Europe.

The market data thus indicate a significant growth potential for alarm systems in Europe, especially in the residential segment where the current penetration is only 6.1 percent. However, growth on the European market is forecasted to vary considerably from country to country in the next few years. Countries with an already established home security industry and with relatively high penetration rates, including countries such as Spain, Portugal, Norway, France and Sweden, are anticipated to continue to grow faster than the European average. Other markets in Europe will show less growth due to high market fragmentation and fewer specialist alarm service companies that actively market solutions.

The number of monitored home and small business alarms in Europe is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4 percent, to reach 22.6 million alarm systems in 2027. In both Europe and North America, interactive security services and smart home products are key growth drivers in the home security market.

Highlights from the report:

Insights from 30 executive interviews with market leading companies

New data on alarm system adoption by country and segment

Comprehensive overview of the home and small business alarm system value chain

Detailed profiles of key players on the European and North American security markets

In-depth analysis of market trends and key developments

Market forecasts by region, lasting until 2027

The report answers the following questions:

Who are the leading providers of monitored home and small business alarm systems?

Why are alarm system providers investing in smart home technology?

Are DIY home alarm systems providers a threat to the traditional players?

Which are the leading providers of secure alarm communications services?

What is the market value of the alarm system industry in Europe and North America ?

and ? What is the potential market size for cellular IoT in the alarm systems industry?

What are the latest trends and developments on this market?

Key Topics Covered:





Executive Summary

1. The Security Industry

1.1 Market overview

1.1.1 Security services

1.1.2 Enterprise security systems

1.1.3 Home and small business security systems

1.1.4 Cash handling

1.2 Key industry players

2. Home and Small Business Security Systems

2.1 Technology overview

2.2 European standards for intruder alarm systems

2.3 Alarm system value chain

2.3.1 Traditional home security system providers

2.3.2 DIY home security system providers

2.3.3 Home security system manufacturers and platform providers

2.3.4 Secure alarm communications service providers

3. Market Forecasts and Trends

3.1 Europe

3.2 North America

3.3 Vendor market shares

3.4 Market drivers and trends

3.4.1 Interactive smart home systems fuel interest in security services

3.4.2 DIY and traditional home security systems offerings are converging

3.4.3 Security cameras and analytics are now integral parts of security systems

3.4.4 Security systems and smart home products enable insurance discounts

3.4.5 Network sunsets - an opportunity and challenge for the security industry

4. Company Profiles and Strategies

ADT

Alert 360

Altice France

Brinks Home

Chubb Fire & Security

& Security Comcast

Cox Communications

EPS Telesurveillance

G4S (Allied Universal)

Guardian Protection

Johnson Controls

Prosegur

Sector Alarm

Securitas

Telus

Vector Security

Verisure

Vivint Smart Home

Arlo Technologies

Bosch

Canary

ERA Home Security

Frontpoint

Minut

Netatmo

Ring

Scout Security

Signify

SimpliSafe

Somfy

Wyze Labs

Yale

Ajax Systems

Alarm.com

Alula

Atraltech

DMP

DSC

Napco Security Technologies

Nice Group

Resideo Technologies

SecureNet

Texecom

AddSecure

BT Redcare

CSL

Telular

Uplink Security

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lmu3f5

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The IEEE Computer Society (CS), the leading computer science and engineering member community providing best-in-class publications, conferences, and programs, today released its first "20 in their 20s" list, identifying emerging leaders in computer science and engineering.

Comprised of early-career professionals making an impact on the technical community and their work, the inaugural "20 in their 20s" list celebrates the successes of individuals who are in the beginning stages of their computer science and engineering journeys. 2023 honorees include:

IEEE Computer Society releases its first "20 in their 20s" list of emerging leaders in computer science and engineering. Post this

"These honorees are emerging leaders in their respective areas," said Nita Patel, president, IEEE CS. "Their dedication to their work, passion for this community, and growing impact will serve us all well as they continue to develop as the next generation of global computer science and engineering leaders. Congratulations to all of our inaugural honorees on this well-deserved recognition."

Each "20 in their 20s" recipient was evaluated by a committee of IEEE CS leadership, who assessed candidates against a rubric of criteria, including exemplary leadership skills and ethics. Nominees also had to be working either in a full-time capacity or actively seeking full-time employment in a non-student role and be a maximum of 29 years old as of October 2023.

In addition to industry recognition, this year's honorees will receive up to a USD $1,500 travel grant and a complimentary registration toward a 2024 IEEE CS-sponsored conference; complimentary IEEE CS membership for one year; and exclusive invitations to participate in IEEE CS programs.

"We look forward to further engaging with each of these honorees, and we are excited to see what they will accomplish as they advance in their careers," concluded Patel.

About the IEEE Computer Society

Engaging computer engineers, scientists, academia, and industry professionals from all areas and levels of computing, the IEEE Computer Society (CS) serves as the world's largest and most established professional organization of its type. IEEE CS sets the standard for the education and engagement that fuels continued global technological advancement. Through conferences, publications, and programs that inspire dialogue, debate, and collaboration, IEEE CS empowers, shapes, and guides the future of not only its nearly 400,000 community members, but the greater industry, enabling new opportunities to better serve our world. Visit computer.org for more information.

SOURCE IEEE Computer Society
HEFEI, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iFLYTEK showcased its latest scientific and technological achievements, including iFLYTEK Spark Desk V3.0, Spark Desk + smart industry, Spark + smart healthcare, and Spark+ smart education, at the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. Within the "Internet Promoting Digital Technology Innovation" exhibition, iFLYTEK was joined by its international peers, including IBM and Tesla.

iFLYTEK Spark Desk "AI+" applications have a lasting presence at the Wuzhen World Internet Science and Technology Museum, integrating deeply with industry, education, healthcare, and urban fields. Visitors found these applications in:

The Antelope Industrial Large Model, which uses iFLYTEK Spark Desk V3.0 and other technologies to enhance production, drive digital transformation in enterprises, and facilitate the seamless integration of information technology and industry;

The iFLYTEK AI Infrared Smart Blackboard, which provides teachers and students with an audio-visual experience in traditional classroom settings using AI technology;

The iFLYHEALTH AI Assistant, an intelligent diagnosis and treatment assistant for doctors that enhances the accuracy of medical records, diagnostic reasoning, and medication prescriptions;

iFLYTEK Spark Desk Legal, a pioneering legal large model for industry and the first to align with the localization metric within the "Criteria and Methodology for Assessing Law Large Models (Trial Version)."

Visitors also interacted with iFLYTEK's personalized virtual persona function, "Spark Companion," which replicated the voice and language styles of historical characters to simulate conversations through an active question-answering feature. Users can use the function to customize their own AI companion for messaging, emails, and generating articles for work. Through iFLYTEK Spark Desk's capabilities, over 12 million users have utilized virtual assistants in multiple scenarios.

At the heart of the Wuzhen Summit's theme, iFLYTEK anticipates collaborating with internet colleagues worldwide to construct an inclusive, resilient digital world and together, build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

Preceding the summit, iFLYTEK Spark Desk was included as one of the 57 achievements featured in the 2023 World Leading Internet Scientific and Technological Achievements collection, "Charm of Science and Technology," out of 246 featured at the conference.

About iFLYTEK  iFLYTEK is a listed company in the Asia-Pacific Region focusing on intelligent speech and technology. For more information, please visit https://www.iflytek.com/en/.

SOURCE iFLYTEK
MADRID, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today kicks off in Dubai the COP28, which will last until 12th of December. The global climate summit, convening leaders and other influential entities and stakeholders, confronts the imperative of advancing international commitments to combat climate change. Commitments from the Global South nations is paramount for the success of the summit, in this regard Morocco, is positioning itself as a vanguard in climate solutions and stands as a pivotal proponent for ambitious objectives during this summit.

Morocco is assuming a regional and potentially global leadership role by championing ambitious ventures in clean energy. Facilitated by governmental support and collaboration with European corporations, Morocco is evolving into an exemplar of dedication to renewable energy, progressively attaining the status of a paramount partner for Europe. This is particularly noteworthy given the challenges the European Union is facing in surpassing energy dependencies on Russia and on conventional fossil fuels.

The Kingdom of Morocco has substantiated its commitment to energy transition through groundbreaking initiatives such as the Noor-Ouarzazate concentrated solar power complex, acclaimed as the world's largest solar power plant spanning over 3,000 hectares. Morocco endeavors not only fortify green self-sufficiency but also aspire to generate 52% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, thereby doubling the renewable capacity from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the Mediterranean country's strategic vision extends to a concerted emphasis on green hydrogen, with aspirations to emerge as an intercontinental powerhouse. In this regard, the World Bank has underscored Morocco's approach, accentuating that the proliferation of solar and wind energy could not only stabilize the economy, but also engender thousands of jobs annuallyan imperative facet in a nation grappling with an 11.2% unemployment rate.

The European Union has strategically aligned itself with Morocco's ecological evolution through the EU-Morocco Green Partnership program, signed last autumn. This is the first green partnership the EU signs with a partner country. The EU has contributed with 115 million aiming to advance the external dimension of the European Green Deal through action on the ground. This partnership accentuates sustainable value chains, forest conservation, and job creation. This pioneering collaboration between the EU and Morocco manifests a shared aspiration to address the climate emergency, casting Morocco as model for collaborative schemes beyond the EU. Furthermore, this reality highlights EUs perception on Morocco as a key and committed ally in facing global challenges. It worth reminding that Morrocco is a crucial partner on EUs external policies including counterterrorism, migration, trade and a supporter in international fora.

In anticipation of COP28, Morocco has fortified its bonds with the European Union. The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, has underscored the joint determination of both parties to actualize environmentally sustainable projects. At COP28, Morocco is poised to present itself as an unwavering leader in climate actiona pivotal partner ready to make substantial contributions to mitigating the European energy crisis. Its proactive and collaborative stance, supported by robust data, augurs an optimistic trajectory toward a sustainable future.

ABOUT INSTITUTO COORDENADAS DE GOBERNANZA Y ECONOMIA APLICADA

Institute of thought and research on the interaction between governance and applied economics to advance constructively and decisively on the trinomial: social welfare, economic progress and environmental sustainability; in an evolutionary environment unprecedented since the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century with the industrial revolution. Faithful to its founding principles of independence, non-partisanship and plurality, the Instituto proactively leads the union between the essence and innovation of economic liberalization, as the best model to face the present and future challenges of Spain, Europe and the world.
BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- JetSweep announced today that it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Resilience Services Competency in the Resilience Recovery category. This specialization recognizes JetSweep as an AWS Partner that provides validated solutions to help customers improve their critical systems availability and resilience posture using AWS Resilience Services. As each customer and their critical workloads have unique availability requirements, AWS Resilience Competency Partners provide tailored guidance and solutions to achieve the highest system uptime needs. Trust in AWS Resilience Competency Partners to deliver top-notch services that meet your organization's resilience needs in today's dynamic business landscape.

Complex systems are susceptible to a variety of failures, both small and large, throughout their lifespan, including code deployment issues, infrastructure problems, data and state failures, and natural disasters. As a result, organizations must plan for and expect system failures, and design their systems to withstand and recover from failures with minimal impact to end users. Remote teams, distributed systems, and frequent releases further highlight the need for increased resilience in today's business environment.

Achieving the AWS Resilience Competency in the Resilience Recovery category differentiates JetSweep as an AWS Partner that has demonstrated technical proficiency and proven customer success supporting customers' resilience goals. JetSweep is equipped to handle resilience related application challenges, especially as expectations from customers shift towards an 'always on, always available' mindset. AWS Resilience Competency Partner JetSweep provides professional consulting and engineering services that are validated by AWS experts in the Resiliency Recovery category. This standardized approach allows customers to achieve their resilience goals in the cloud with the expert assistance of AWS Resilience Competency Partners.

JetSweep's specialization in Resilience Recovery stems from our longstanding support of the AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery (AWS DRS) team. JetSweep contributed to the development of a scripted process that enables easier, more frequent testing of AWS DRS. JetSweep offers Disaster Recovery services leveraging AWS DRS.

"We are so honored to have been chosen to participate in the launch of this new AWS Competency designation," said Chris Barbanti, Founder and CEO at JetSweep. "Customers entrusting us to protect their most critical assets is something we never take it lightly. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, deep knowledge, and strong relationships that our team of solution architects brings to the table with every customer."

AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, the AWS Competency Program helps customers identify AWS Partners with deep industry experience and expertise.

About JetSweep - JetSweep is a cloud consulting firm, AWS Advanced Tier Services Partner, and AWS Managed Services Provider (MSP). We believe in fully immersing ourselves within our customers' organizations to evolve with their team's priorities and vision. We provide customers with collaborative partnerships, technical excellence, and straightforward cloud experiences.

Media Contact:

Katherine Desrochers

978-758-1302

[email protected]

SOURCE JetSweep
BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.1380 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of November 13, 2023, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (NYSE: HTD) with important information concerning the distribution declared on November 1, 2023, and payable on November 30, 2023. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: November 2023 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.1380

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable November 30, 2023, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 11/1/2023-11/30/2023

For the fiscal year-to-date period 11/1/2023-11/30/2023 1 Source

Current

Distribution ($)

% Breakdown

of the Current

Distribution

Total Cumulative

Distributions ($)

% Breakdown

of the Total

Cumulative

Distributions Net Investment Income

0.1372

99 %

0.1372

99 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0008

1 %

0.0008

1 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0 %

0.0000

0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.0000

0 %

0.0000

0 % Total per common share

0.1380

100 %

0.1380

100 %





















































1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2023 and will end on October 31, 2024.









Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on October 31, 2023

2.86 %





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2023

8.71 %





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through October 31, 2023

-9.16 %





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of October 31, 2023

0.73 %

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the November 2023 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.1380 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
As Journey Grows Exponentially, The Company Elevates VP of Business Development to Drive Technological Innovation

DENVER, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Journey, a pioneering force in transforming customer experience, security, and efficiency in the contact center industry, is pleased to announce the promotion of Robert Tarr as Chief Technology Officer. With 30+ years of experience in key technology roles within the contact center industry, Robert has been a vital part of Journey for the past 1.5 years, serving as the Vice President of Business Development.

Robert has led the charge in establishing and nurturing relationships with Journey's key strategic partners. This experience has given him a unique understanding of Journey's core technology, partner requirements, and customer needs.

As CTO, Robert will play a crucial role externally and internally, driving the product roadmap and integration strategies into Journey's partners and customers. His extensive background in contact centers across the most sensitive industries like Defense, Federal Government, and the world's leading financial institutions, positions him as a seasoned leader to spearhead technological advancements at Journey.

Brett Shockley, CEO of Journey, expressed confidence in Robert's capabilities, stating, "I've worked with Robert for over 20 years, and his deep expertise in contact center technology, customer needs, cloud-native applications are precisely what Journey, our partners, and customers need for the future. His unique abilities are perfect for charting the technical strategy for Journey, and we couldn't be happier to have him on the team."

Robert's promotion to CTO comes at a pivotal moment for Journey as the company continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation and dramatic growth within the contact center space.

Journey, recognized with multiple industry awards and dozens of patents granted or pending, remains laser-focused on upgrading the security and digital capabilities of interactions between customers and businesses in the contact center. The company achieves this by combining the powerful sensors on a smartphone with its patented Zero Knowledge Network, integrated identity platform, and an exceptional orchestration engine, making massive improvements to security, customer experience, and operational efficiency possible for businesses worldwide.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Runda

[email protected]

303-324-9537

About Journey

Journey is fundamentally transforming customer experience, security, and efficiency in the contact center industry by leveraging the smartphone, its patented zero knowledge network, and an integrated identity platform that enables hundreds of secure transactions in the contact center. From biometric authentication, to improving security, to advanced transactions like secure wire transfers, and payments, Journey is reinventing the way customers and businesses interact.

SOURCE Journey
91% of Padgett firm owners surveyed plan to play a role in clients' Beneficial Ownership (BOI) reporting

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, North American tax and accounting franchise, Padgett, gathered its network to address the challenges facing small businesses and individuals in the upcoming tax season. Nearly 200 tax professionals and technology partners gathered in-person and virtually for Padgett's annual FOCUS Tax Seminar.

In a poll gathered during the seminar, attendees were asked to anticipate challenges and give advice for their clients. The BOI reporting requirement going into effect in January is a point of continued confusion for business owners as shown in a Wolters-Kluwer survey. 91% of Padgett owners surveyed, however, are prepared to inform clients of their obligation. Attendees also identified the upcoming changes with form 1099-K as their biggest concern for clients.

53% of Padgett's owners feel more optimistic about this tax season than they did last year Post this

"It speaks to how informed our network is, how readily they identified the challenge that reduced 1099-K thresholds presents for their clients. Luckily, the IRS has been listening to the tax professional community. Shortly after our seminar wrapped up, they announced a delay in rolling out the 1099-K changes. I commend Commissioner Werfel in leading the IRS to this decision that helps avoid placing an undue burden on taxpayers and by extension the tax professionals who support them," said Padgett President, Roger Harris.

The ever-changing nature of the tax system one reason why Padgett feels so strongly about the importance of the Tax Seminar. Padgett believes the continuing education provided to its members during this event sets them up to be prepared and proactive heading into the busy season. In fact, the same seminar poll showed 53% of Padgett's owners feel more optimistic about this tax season than they did last year.

For the average taxpayer wondering how they should feel about tax season, the Padgett network also had advice. Poll respondents stayed remarkably consistent, "get in touch with your accountant early."

About Padgett

Through a network of hundreds of individually owned firms, Padgett provides tax, accounting, payroll and advisory services to tens of thousands of small businesses across the U.S. and Canada. With an entrepreneurial spirit and more than 50 years of experience, Padgett aims to serve as trusted advisors and empower business owners to pursue their financial and personal goals. Learn more: padgettadvisors.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Padgett Advisors

Katarina Thomas

706-583-5117

kthomas@padgettadvisors.com

SOURCE Padgett Advisors
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has recommended Estonians not travel to Russia as the border could be closed for some time and they might be stranded in the neighboring country.

"Together with the Finnish foreign minister and the foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries, we've discussed how to support Finland and ensure security on our borders," Tsahkna said at a press conference on Thursday.

Estonia "should help Finland at the international level," Tsahkna said. "We stand ready, if necessary, to provide comprehensive practical assistance, and we are prepared to close our borders. Therefore, here's an important message to our residents: if the borders are closed temporarily, those staying on the Russian side will be unable to return," he said.

"Therefore, there's a very clear recommendation of not travelling to Russia, as we don't know when the migration pressure gets strong enough to prompt us to temporarily close the borders. But such preparedness does exist, and the government has discussed the matter," Tsahkna said.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on November 28 that the government decided to close the Raja-Jooseppi crossing starting Thursday for two weeks on the grounds that Russia facilitated the passage of numerous illegal migrants from third countries to the Finnish border. Finland had previously closed all other crossings on the Russian border. The Vainikkala border station designed exclusively for railway services between Finland and Russia is the only crossing that remains open between the two countries now.

Finland's decision to close its border crossings with Russia has increased the number of people crossing the Estonian-Russian border by 25%, Eve Kalmus, chief of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board's border administration office, said on Thursday.

"We see today that the traffic across the Estonian-Russian border has increased to 5,000 from 4,000," Kalmus said on Estonian television.
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CorePower Yoga is accused of sharing subscribers' personal information and video-viewing habits with Facebook without its users' consent. Specifically, www.corepoweryoga.com appears to have used a tracking tool to record its subscribers' viewing habits and secretly share them with Facebook. CorePower Yoga customers could be eligible to collect up to $2,500 for these violations.

Levi & Korsinsky is working to represent CorePower Yoga members with Facebook accounts who may have been impacted by this improper information sharing. To find out if you qualify, please go to:

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

There is no cost or obligation to participate.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Compensation may be available for eligible CorePower Yoga subscribers - the Federal Video Privacy Protection Act allows compensation of up to $2,500.

HOW DOES THIS WORK? Mass actions involve hundreds or thousands of consumers bringing individual claims against the same company at the same time and over the same issue. Levi & Korsinsky is now gathering members to take action over these potential privacy violations. To join the others taking action, go to:

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

WHO IS LEVI & KORSINSKY?

A nationally-recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations

A team of 70+ extraordinary attorneys and professionals who know how to maximize your compensation

A winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world

A 100% contingency firm  we don't get paid unless you get paid!

WHO IS COREPOWER YOGA?

CorePowerYoga.com is headquartered in Denver, CO and is one of the largest the largest yoga studio chains in the US with more than 220 locations across 22 states and over 1,500 employees. The Company has hundreds of thousands of members and offers various formats of yoga and bootcamp style classes.

The Company has previously been sued multiple times in class action lawsuits alleging gross underpayment of wages to its yoga instructors.

Please visit us as www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Ed Korsinsky, Esq.

33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10004

(212) 363-7500

https://bit.ly/3MOo3QL

SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Revenue Increased 7.1% to ILS 314.5 Million

Gross Margin Increased 180 Basis Points to 41.9% GAAP Net Income (Attributable to Shareholders) Increased 17.9% to ILS 23.1 Million

CAESAREA, Israel, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Max Stock Limited (TASE: MAXO) (the "Company") today reported financial results for third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Third Quarter 2023 Summary

Revenue increased 7.1% to ILS 314.5 million compared to ILS 293.5 million.

Gross profit increased 12.0% to ILS 131.8 million.

Comparable store sales increased 1.5%.

GAAP Net income (attributable to shareholders) increased 17.9% to ILS 23.1 million.

Adjusted EPS1 (attributable to shareholders) increased 2.9% to ILS 0.17.

Adjusted EBITDA2 increased 7.9% to ILS 45.2 million.

First Nine Months 2023 Summary

Revenue increased 6.2%.

Comparable store sales increased 2.4%.

GAAP Net income (attributable to shareholders) increased 35.0%.

Adjusted EPS1 (attributable to shareholders) increased 9.7%.

Adjusted EBITDA2 increased 8.8%.

Ori Max, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We concluded the third quarter with record sales resulting from an increase in customer traffic, along with continued growth in our retail space fueled by our branch expansion strategy. This strong topline growth in the third quarter, coupled with our strong first half of the year, has allowed us to expand net profit attributable to shareholders by approximately 35% through the first nine months of 2023.

While we are pleased with our operating results, they are overshadowed by the gravity of recent events. The State of Israel is currently in the midst of the "Swords of Iron" war which started on October 7. We fully support the IDF soldiers and defense forces currently fighting to restore security and peace for Israel's citizens. We share in the sorrow suffered by the families of fallen and injured soldiers and terror victims, and hope for the speedy return of the hostages taken captive.

From a business perspective, the Company's stores were closed in the early days of the war, and gradually opened over the following first and second weeks with a reduced scale of operations. Since the end of October, 60 of the Company's 62 stores in Israel are currently fully open and operating as usual. Over recent weeks, we have demonstrated tremendous operating flexibility to make the most relevant items available for our customers during this complicated period.

While we expect to see a resulting business impact near-term, we continue to focus on our growth strategies to expand the Company's operating activities, and made great progress on these initiatives in the third quarter. We signed a lease agreement for a new logistics center which will support the Company's growth plan, we launched new owned stores in Beerot Yitzhak and Bat Yam and we also opened a franchised branch in Jerusalem (Pisgat Zeev). In Portugal we also opened a third branch in the city of Matosinhos. Looking ahead, we anticipate opening new branches in Kiriat Gat and Yavneh in the upcoming months, and do not expect the current conflict to impact our growth plans. We are confident that the State of Israel will quickly revert to its path of accelerated growth and we are continuing our growth strategy to make Max Stock accessible to the largest possible customer base."

1 As used throughout this release, adjusted EPS (attributable to shareholders) defined as Net Income + Share-based payment, multiplied by the portion attributable to shareholders and divided by the number of shares.

2 As used throughout this release, adjusted EBITDA Pre IFRS 16 defined as Net Income + Income Tax Expenses + Net Interest Expenses + D&A + Other Expenses  the impact of IFRS 16 + Share-based payment  IFRS 16.

Impact of Swords of Iron war on the Company's operations

The Swords of Iron war broke out in Israel on October 7th, 2023 (the "war") following a surprise attack by the Hamas terror organization from Gaza against settlements in the western Negev. Hostilities of a lesser magnitude subsequently also broke out by the country's northern border. As of today, the war has had a material impact on the entire economy, among other things, due to the temporary shutdown of businesses primarily in areas in proximity to the fighting, across the broad call-up of military reserves, evacuation of residents from settlements in proximity to the fighting and partial interruptions of the education system.

The Company's stores were closed at the outbreak of the war, and as of October 9th, 2023, and over the duration of approximately two weeks, gradually reopened with a reduced scope of operations.

Comparable store sales for the period July 1st, 2023, until October 31st, 2023, which includes the impact of the Jewish holidays period decreased 2.1%, primarily reflecting the temporary store closures and subsequent reduced operating schedule during the month of October due to the war.

From the end of October 2023 and as of today, 60 of the Company's 62 stores in Israel are currently fully open and operating as usual.

Third Quarter 2023 Results

Revenue was ILS 314.5 million in the third quarter 2023 as compared with revenue of ILS 293.5 million in the third quarter 2022. Revenue results in the period were driven by the addition of 3 new owned stores as well as 4 franchised stores, along with a 1.5% increase in comparable store sales. Gross profit increased 12.0% to ILS 131.8 million in the third quarter 2023 from ILS 117.7 million in the third quarter 2022. Gross margin was ~41.9% as compared to ~40.1% in the prior year period. The 180-basis point improvement in gross margin year-over-year was driven primarily by a decline in global shipping costs and a decrease in logistical expenses as a result of more efficient inventory management.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to ILS 87.7 million in the third quarter of 2023 from ILS 80.2 million in the third quarter of 2022. This increase was primarily driven by increased marketing and store maintenance expenses, along with depreciation of right of use assets under IFRS 16 due to the opening of new branches. Additionally, the launch of operating activities in Portugal in early 2023 increased selling, general and administrative expenses by approximately ILS 2.2 million compared to the prior-year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales in Q3 2023 were 27.9% compared with 27.3% in Q3 2022.

Adjusted net income (attributable to shareholders) was ILS 23.2 million as compared to ILS 23.0 million in the third quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EPS (attributable to shareholders) increased 2.9% to ILS 0.17 in the third quarter of 2023 as compared with adjusted EPS (attributable to shareholders) of ILS 0.16 per share in the third quarter of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.9% to ILS 45.2 million in the third quarter of 2023 from ILS 41.9 million in the third quarter of 2022.

First Nine Months 2023 Results

Revenue was ILS 846.9 million in the first nine months of 2023 as compared with revenue of ILS 797.1 million in the first nine months of 2022. Revenue results in the period were driven by the addition of 3 new owned stores as well as 4 franchised stores, along with a 2.4% increase in comparable store sales.

Gross profit increased 11.7% to ILS 351.7 million in the first nine months of 2023 from ILS 314.7 million in the first nine months of 2022. Gross margin was ~41.5% as compared to ~39.5% in the prior year period. The 200-basis point improvement in gross margin year-over-year was driven primarily by a decline in global shipping costs and a decrease in logistical expenses as a result of more efficient inventory management.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to ILS 239.7 million in the first nine months of of 2023 from ILS 224.8 million in the first nine months of 2022. This increase was primarily driven by increased marketing and store maintenance expenses, along with depreciation of right of use assets under IFRS 16 due to the opening of new branches. Additionally, the launch of operating activities in Portugal in early 2023 increased selling, general and administrative expenses by approximately ILS 5.5 million compared to the prior-year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales in the first nine months of 2023 were 28.3% compared with 28.2% in the first nine months of 2022.

Adjusted net income (attributable to shareholders) was ILS 60.1 million as compared to ILS 56.0 million in the first nine months of 2022.

Adjusted EPS (attributable to shareholders) increased 9.7% to ILS 0.43 in the first nine months of 2023 as compared with adjusted EPS (attributable to shareholders) of ILS 0.39 per share in the first nine months of 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.8% to ILS 112.1 million in the first nine months of 2023 from ILS 103.1 million in the first nine months of 2022.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

The Company's cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2023 was ILS 119.9 million compared with ILS 80.5 million at December 31, 2022 and ILS 82.6 million at September 30, 2022. The Company ended the third quarter of 2023 with total debt of ILS 31.1 million compared with total debt of ILS 47.6 million at the end of fiscal 2022.

Inventories at September 30, 2023 were ILS 148.6 million, down 6.8% compared with ILS 159.4 million at December 31, 2022 and down 10.9% compared with ILS 166.8 million at September 30, 2022.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call on November 30, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time to discuss third quarter fiscal 2023 results (link). The conference call will also be accessible at https://ir.maxstock.co.il/en/event-en/.There will be a slide presentation that accompanies the call. The slides will be accessible at https://ir.maxstock.co.il/en/presentation-en/. An archived webcast of the conference call will be available at https://ir.maxstock.co.il/en/presentation-en/.

About Max Stock

Max Stock is Israel's leading extreme value retailer, currently present in 62 locations throughout Israel and 3 locations in Portugal that opened in 2023. We offer a broad assortment of quality products for customers' everyday needs at affordable prices, helping customers "Dream Big, Pay Small". For more information, please visit https://ir.maxstock.co.il

Forward-Looking Statements

It should be emphasized that this report includes forward-looking information as defined under the Securities Law, 5728-1968. Forward-looking information is uncertain information regarding the future, including forecasts, projections, estimates or other information which refer to a future event or matter, the eventuation of which is uncertain and/or not within the Company's control. The forward-looking information included in this report is based on the current information held by the Company or its current assessments, as of the publication date of this report.

Company Contacts:

Talia Sessler,

Chief Corporate Development and IR Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Max Stock Limited
DUBLIN, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Metronidazole Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



This report provides comprehensive insights about metronidazole for clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the seven major markets. A detailed picture of the metronidazole for clostridium difficile infection in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan for the study period 2019 -2032 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the metronidazole for clostridium difficile infection.

The report provides insights about mechanism of action, dosage and administration, as well as research and development including regulatory milestones, along with other developmental activities. Further, it also consists of future market assessments inclusive of the metronidazole market forecast analysis for clostridium difficile infection in the 7MM, SWOT, analysts' views, comprehensive overview of market competitors, and brief about other emerging therapies in clostridium difficile infection.



Drug Summary



Metronidazole has been the mainstay of treatment for initial cases of mild to moderate clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Until recently, metronidazole was recommended as the first-line treatment option over vancomycin for initial cases of mild to moderate CDI.



Among patients with mild CDI, several studies have demonstrated no difference between vancomycin and metronidazole for mortality, CDI recurrence, or clinical cure. Metronidazole is less expensive and may be associated with lower colonization and/or development of drug-resistant organisms compared with vancomycin.

Metronidazole Analytical Perspective

In-depth Metronidazole Market Assessment



This report provides a detailed market assessment of metronidazole for clostridium difficile infection in the seven major markets, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan. This segment of the report provides forecasted sales data from 2023 to 2032.



Metronidazole Clinical Assessment



The report provides the clinical trials information of metronidazole for clostridium difficile infection covering trial interventions, trial conditions, trial status, start and completion dates.



Report Highlights

In the coming years, the market scenario for clostridium difficile infection is set to change due to the extensive research and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market.

The companies are developing therapies that focus on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition, assess challenges, and seek opportunities that could influence metronidazole dominance.

Other emerging products for clostridium difficile infection are expected to give tough market competition to metronidazole and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market.

A detailed description of regulatory milestones, and developmental activities, provide the current development scenario of metronidazole in clostridium difficile infection.

This in-depth analysis of the forecasted sales data of metronidazole from 2023 to 2032 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the metronidazole in clostridium difficile infection.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Introduction



2. Metronidazole Overview in Clostridium difficile infection

2.1. Product Detail

2.2. Clinical Development

2.2.1. Clinical studies

2.2.2. Clinical trials information

2.2.3. Safety and efficacy

2.3. Regulatory Milestone

2.4. Other Developmental Activities

2.5. Product Profile



3. Competitive Landscape (Marketed Therapies)



4. Competitive Landscape (Late-stage Emerging Therapies)



5. Metronidazole Market Assessment

5.1. Market Outlook of Metronidazole in Clostridium difficile infection

5.2. 7MM Analysis

5.2.1. Market Size of Metronidazole in the 7MM for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3. Country-wise Market Analysis

5.3.1. Market Size of Metronidazole in the United States for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.2. Market Size of Metronidazole in Germany for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.3. Market Size of Metronidazole in France for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.4. Market Size of Metronidazole in Italy for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.5. Market Size of Metronidazole in Spain for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.6. Market Size of Metronidazole in the United Kingdom for Clostridium difficile infection

5.3.7. Market Size of Metronidazole in Japan for Clostridium difficile infection



6. SWOT Analysis



7. Analysts' Views



8. Appendix



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gamig3

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:



Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
The soiree, held on November 29 at The Blond, marked the launch of DEWAR'S Blended Scotch Whisky's highest-age expression to date and the first in the brand's four-part Collector's Series  DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEWAR's Blended Scotch Whisky, the world's most awarded Blended Scotch, hosted a first-of-its-kind Michelin-star dinner helmed by celebrated French Chef Gabriel Kreuther and Detroit-raised Chef Charlie Mitchell, who recently became the first African American to win a Michelin star in New York City.

COURTESY OF DEWAR'S COURTESY OF DEWAR'S

Designed to fete the launch of DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old Blended Malt, the Double Double menu celebrated the seamless coming together of distinct styles and flavors of the impressive chef duo, as well as the coming together of expertly blended malts in the 37 year old Scotch whisky.

The dinner reflected the chefs' respective styles, from Chef Charlie Mitchell's trailblazing take on New American cuisine to Chef Kreuther's French discipline, expressed at his eponymous two-star Michelin restaurant. For a clever double entendre on the DEWAR's Double Double range the 'double' menu was a veritable dialogue between the duo, spoken through the pairings. While the Dewar's Double Double series is traditionally savored on its own, the chefs ingeniously infused their creativity into crafting cocktails, encompassing:

Hokkaido Uni Bibimbap paired with DEWAR'S Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask finished whisky via a reimagined take on the classic Boulevardier cocktail. This innovative version is delicately stirred over koshikari rice, masterfully blending, and introducing new, flavors.



paired with Black Perigord Truffle, infused with DEWAR'S DOUBLE DOUBLE 27 Year Old Washed Pearled Barley. Complemented with German Butterball-Nori Espuma and Fried Dulce Seaweed, this dish pairs perfectly with a floral rendition on an Old Fashioned, skillfully highlighting the multifaceted character of DEWAR'S Double Double 27 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish, with hints of lilac, lavender and green chartreuse.



Complemented with German Butterball-Nori Espuma and Fried Dulce Seaweed, this dish pairs perfectly with a floral rendition on an Old Fashioned, skillfully highlighting the multifaceted character of with hints of lilac, lavender and green chartreuse. Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak and Blue Lobster are paired with DEWAR'S Double Double 32 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Cask Finish. This whisky, already a masterpiece in its own right, gains an additional layer of complexity and richness via a washing process using the unparalleled A5 Wagyu Steak. This process imbues the whisky with more depth, echoing the steak's exquisite marbling and flavor profile. Finally, the whisky is showcased in perhaps one of the most unique variations of the classic Rob Roy .

The dinner was crowned by a neat serving of DEWAR'S Double Double 37 Year Old  a rare, limited-edition blended malt, which honors the whisky-making traditions of Speyside region of Scotland  paired with a Chestnut Creme "Tobacco Chantilly" Red Currant Sorbet.

Firmly cementing the recently released bottle within the luxury canon, DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old is accompanied by two exquisitely crafted Baccarat Massena crystal tumblers to further elevate the tasting experience into a celebration; available for sale in very limited quantities HERE (SRP $1,799).

Chef Kreuther remarked: "Collaborating with Chef Charlie Mitchell for the DEWAR's Double Double Michelin Star Dinner was a culinary exploration where French precision met New American innovation, all in perfect harmony with the nuanced layers of the DEWAR's Double Double range. As Culinary Director, the partnership resonates uniquely for me, blending the artistry of our culinary creations with the elegance of Baccarat crystal. Presenting DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year OId with two Baccarat Massena crystal tumblers invites you to savor not just a drink but an elevated experience, marrying culinary excellence with timeless luxury."

Chef Mitchell remarked: "Crafting the DEWAR's Double Double Michelin Star Dinner with Chef Gabriel Kreuther was a fascinating journey where we translated the intricate layers of DEWAR's Double Double range into a culinary symphony. The challenge was not just in merging our styles but in embracing the complexity of the whisky itself. The nuanced expressions of the DEWAR's Double Double series became a guiding muse, inspiring us to create a menu that resonates with the rich tapestry of flavors found in DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old and the entire range."

"Much like fine whisky, culinary knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, with each era adding their own take and discovering new ways to delight epicureans. Our Double Double range was created with exactly this in mind, building on our almost 180 years of whisky-making with a series of ultra-aged whiskies that makes whisky aficionados excited about what we might create next. With the launch of DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old, we invite enthusiasts to embark on a sensory journey, experiencing the culmination of time-honored traditions and contemporary innovation in every sip," said Vice President of DEWAR's North America, Brian Cox.

See here for Hi-Res Imagery

About DEWAR'S

Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR'S Double Double Series, DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR'S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR'S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or X, formerly known as Twitter.

About Gabriel Kreuther

Gabriel Kreuther is the chef and co-owner of the eponymous award-winning restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther, and Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate, adjacent to Bryant Park. Gabriel Kreuther reflects chef Kreuther's training at Michelin-starred kitchens throughout Germany, France and Switzerland, his Alsatian heritage and his love of New York City. Chef Kreuther began his career stateside at La Caravelle, had a leadership role at Restaurant Jean-Georges Central Park before becoming the Executive Chef of the much-lauded Atelier in the Ritz-Carlton, and The Modern, where his cooking received numerous accolades throughout his nearly decade-long tenure. A long-standing member and mentor for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or USA Culinary Council, Team USA placed Silver in 2015 and won Gold in 2017 of the World Competition. Chef Kreuther was named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2003 and received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: New York City in 2009. Gabriel Kreuther has received two Michelin stars consecutively since 2019, the AAA 5 Diamond Award, Best New Restaurant of the Year by New York's Village Voice, 3 Stars from the New York Times, was named the 2023 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award Winner, Wine Spectator 2022 Grand Award Winner, and most recently, was named one of the New York Times' 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2023. The restaurant is a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Association, as well as part of the highly selective Les Grandes Tables du Monde. Chef Kreuther published his first cookbook, Gabriel Kreuther, The Spirit of Alsace: A Cookbook, sharing his restaurant creations and interpretations of traditional Alsatian dishes in 2021.

About Charlie Mitchell

Chef Charlie Mitchell, the executive chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights, made culinary history as the first Black chef in New York City to receive Michelin's 2022 New York Young Chef Award and the second Black executive chef in the country to earn this distinction. Raised in Detroit, his passion for cooking was nurtured by his grandmother's influence. At Clover Hill, he leads a team crafting an ever-changing, eight-course tasting menu featuring exquisite dishes like king crab tartlet and Spanish octopus. His dedication to culinary excellence, marked by Clover Hill's Michelin star and his recognition as the best young chef by Michelin, reflects his commitment to inspiring and exciting patrons about the world of food.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2023 DEWAR'S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 48% ALC. BY VOL

IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR'S & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL

Media Contact:

Shaun McKinley

Nike Communications

516.428.0052

[email protected]

SOURCE DEWAR'S
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Former comedian/television host and renowned spiritual guide Morgan O. Smith is proud to introduce his groundbreaking meditation technique, Yinnergy Meditation, and his latest book, "Bodhi in the Brain." Smith, known for his deep commitment to enhancing human understanding and inner peace, has captured the essence of spiritual enlightenment and consciousness in his transformative works.

"Explore the intersection of spirituality, consciousness, and meditation with Morgan O Smith in 'Bodhi in the Brain'. Discover the transformative power of energy methods in daily life, education, and rehabilitation."In this insightful episode, Morgan O Smith, a teacher of non-duality and former comedian, delves into his latest book "Bodhi in the Brain". He discusses the development of his unique energy meditation method, its role in his spiritual awakening, and its impactful applicat

Yinnergy Meditation is not merely a meditation technique; it's a transformative journey. Smith's innovative approach, which includes low-carrier frequency beat entrainment, offers a unique pathway to spiritual enlightenment. This method seamlessly integrates ancient wisdom with modern scientific understanding, guiding individuals toward realizing their true, luminous nature.

In his enlightening new book, "Bodhi in the Brain," Smith explores the profound implications of Yinnergy Meditation. This book goes beyond a simple read; it's an expedition into the heart of spirituality and neuroscience, designed to transform the reader's perspective on life and consciousness.

Smith's compassion extends beyond his spiritual teachings. During the challenging times of the pandemic, he conducted weekly virtual mindfulness sessions for over 800 elementary students in underserved communities. These sessions provided invaluable support in learning, mental health, and personal development. Furthermore, Smith's recent donation of $1,000 to "A Rose For Grandma Wellness Hub" is a testament to his dedication to holistic well-being, and supporting families affected by dementia.

"Bodhi in the Brain" is now available on major platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This guide invites readers to embark on their transformative journey, discovering the depths of their consciousness and the beauty of spiritual awakening.

About Morgan O. Smith

Morgan O. Smith's spiritual journey, marked by significant awakenings in 2008 and 2019, has led him to a deep understanding of non-duality and oneness. His experiences, including a profound Kundalini awakening, have deeply connected him with the interconnectedness of the universe. As a spiritual guide and mentor, Smith is dedicated to guiding others to inner peace and self-discovery. His creation of Yinnergy Meditation is a testament to his innovative approach to spiritual growth. Smith's philanthropic efforts, including support for the "Canadian Cancer Society" and "A Rose For Grandma Wellness Hub," highlight his commitment to the well-being of the wider community.

Website- linktr.ee/morganosmith

SOURCE Yinnergy Technologies
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Retired NASA astronaut Mary Cleave, a veteran of two NASA spaceflights, died Nov. 27. She was 76. A scientist with training in civil and environmental engineering, as well as biological sciences and microbial ecology, Cleave was the first woman to serve as an associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

NASA Astronaut Mary L. Cleave. April 8, 1985. Credits: NASA

Born in Southampton, New York, Cleave received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Colorado State University, Fort Collins, in 1969, and Master of Science in microbial ecology and a doctorate in civil and environmental engineering, both from Utah State University, Logan, in 1975 and 1979, respectively.

"I'm sad we've lost trail blazer Dr. Mary Cleave, shuttle astronaut, veteran of two spaceflights, and first woman to lead the Science Mission Directorate as associate administrator," said NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana. "Mary was a force of nature with a passion for science, exploration, and caring for our home planet. She will be missed."

Cleave was selected as an astronaut in May 1980. Her technical assignments included flight software verification in the SAIL (Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory), spacecraft communicator on five space shuttle flights, and malfunctions procedures book and crew equipment design.

Cleave launched on her first mission, STS-61B, aboard space shuttle Atlantis on Nov. 26,1985. During the flight, the crew deployed communications satellites, conducted two six-hour spacewalks to demonstrate space station construction techniques, operated the Continuous Flow Electrophoresis experiment for McDonnell Douglas and a Getaway Special container for Telesat and tested the Orbiter Experiments Digital Autopilot.

Cleave's second mission, STS-30, which also was on Atlantis, launched May 4, 1989. It was a four-day flight during which the crew successfully deployed the Magellan Venus exploration spacecraft, the first planetary probe to be deployed from a space shuttle. Magellan arrived at Venus in August 1990 and mapped more than 95% of the surface. In addition, the crew also worked on secondary payloads involving indium crystal growth, electrical storms, and Earth observation studies.

Cleave transferred from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston to the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland in May 1991. There, she worked in the Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes as the project manager for SeaWiFS (Sea-viewing, Wide-Field-of-view-Sensor), an ocean color sensor which monitored vegetation globally.

In March 2000, she went to serve as deputy associate administrator for advanced planning in the Office of Earth Science at NASA's Headquarters in Washington. From August 2005 to February 2007, Cleave was the associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate where she guided an array of research and scientific exploration programs for planet Earth, space weather, the solar system, and the universe. She also oversaw an assortment of grant-based research programs and a diverse constellation of spacecraft, from small, principal investigator-led missions to large flagship missions.

Cleave's awards included: two NASA Space Flight medals; two NASA Exceptional Service medals; an American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Award; a NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal; and NASA Engineer of the Year.

Cleave retired from NASA in February 2007.

https://go.nasa.gov/3uDCykl

SOURCE NASA
Largest US credit union signs multi-year agreement

with financial institution-focused wealth management solutions provider

SAN DIEGO and VIENNA, Va., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS), a subsidiary of Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc. (Atria), proudly announces the renewal of its multi-year agreement with Navy Federal Investment Services (NFIS) a subsidiary of Navy Federal Credit Union (Navy Federal). Established during the Great Depression, Navy Federal is the largest credit union in the United States, serving 12.5 million members from all military branches, the Department of Defense, and their families (current and retired.) Operating 355 branches worldwide, Navy Federal has $157 billion in assets and remains focused on being the most preferred and trusted financial institution serving the military and their families.

"The strategic partnership we have formed with CFS over the past 15 years has helped us build our investment services division, and deliver a superior experience for our members," said Diane Young, Chief Operating Officer of Navy Federal Financial Group. "CFS understands the credit union culture as well as the role advanced technology, financial planning and exceptional service plays in fostering relationships and delivering investment solutions to meet the needs of our unique members no matter how complex."

CFS' award-winning proprietary technology platform, Unio, in conjunction with the client portal, Clear1, offers an unmatched degree of flexibility, enabling the customization of capabilities to align with the elevated expectations of Navy Federal members and NFIS's financial professionals. Examples of such noteworthy initiatives include data exchanges designed to support member campaigns, automated tasks triggered by the availability of new leads and the presentation of NFIS financial professional teams to comprehensively support the needs of Navy Federal's valued members.

"We are honored to partner with an organization like Navy Federal that serves and supports the members and families of our armed forces. For the last thirty years, our exclusive focus has been on credit unions and banks. CFS and Navy Federal were built to make a difference in people's lives and by ensuring we have the right people, technology, service and culture in place to deliver for our partners and their members. We look forward to continuing to work together with Navy Federal to empower NFIS's financial professionals to provide comprehensive quality financial advice to their members for many years to come," said Brian Bichler, Co-Head of Atria's Financial Institution channel.

Kevin Mummau, Co-Head of Atria's Financial Institution channel, added "We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Navy Federal. This is a relationship business, and it's all about the members and programs we serve. Providing innovative technology and industry-leading expertise that align with today's leading credit union objectives is at the center of our business. The goals and aspirations of CFS and Navy Federal are in alignment, creating an unparalleled experience to best serve and support the members of Navy Federal."

About CUSO Financial Services, L.P.

CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (CFS) and Sorrento Pacific Financial, LLC (SPF) are full-service broker-dealers and subsidiaries of Atria Wealth Solutions with over $40 billion in assets under administration. Established in 1997, CFS and SPF specialize in placing, supporting and providing customized wealth management solutions to over 200 banks and credit unions by delivering a sophisticated set of tools, services and capabilities for wealth management programs.

Credit unions and banks have contracted with CFS and SPF to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit union members and bank customers. For more information about CFS and Atria Wealth Solutions, visit atriawealth.com.

About Navy Federal Investment Services

Navy Federal Financial Group (NFFG) was established in 1999 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Navy Federal Credit Union with the goal of offering a wider range of financial services to its members. NFFG operates through its subsidiary, Navy Federal Investment Services (NFIS)  a registered securities broker-dealer and registered investment advisory firm, to cater to the financial needs of Navy Federal members, their families, and the military community. NFIS provides personalized financial planning, educational seminars, investment tools, insurance coverage, trust planning and services, and digital platforms. For further information, please visit navyfederal.org/nfis.

About Navy Federal Credit Union

Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving over 12 million members globally and is the world's largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. Dedicated to its mission of service, Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 22,500 and has a global network of over 350 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Haven Tower Group

Julian Arenzon

424 317 4861

[email protected]

SOURCE CUSO Financial Services, L.P.
ARCHANGELS, a National Movement for Caregiver Support, Offers Insight to Help the Nation's 43% of Unpaid Caregivers This Holiday Season and Beyond

BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ARCHANGELS , a women-owned, omni-channel platform supporting the 43% of adults serving as unpaid caregivers in the US, surveyed caregivers across the nation to understand the impact the holiday season is having on all aspects of their health. The results confirm the massive opportunity that exists to ramp up support for this essential population during what is dubbed the "most wonderful time" of the year but often feels just the opposite. In fact, 40% of caregivers are extremely concerned the holidays could actually harm their mental health, and 1 in 4 would rather just skip the holidays all together.

"This new data validates the intensity so many of us are feeling, especially during a holiday season coinciding with significant economic uncertainty and global unrest. Intensity was already at an all-time high since we began tracking the metric 4 years ago, having tripled since before the pandemic," said Alexandra Drane, CEO and Co-Founder of ARCHANGELS. "60% of all caregivers were also clear they could use additional resources during the holidays, which is unsurprising since caregivers serve as the invisible but often unsupported backbone of our country. If anyone could use some holiday magic, it's this nation's unpaid caregivers."

ARCHANGELS measure of intensity is correlated with mental health impacts. Delivered through the ARCHANGELS platform, the ARCHANGELS Caregiver Intensity Index, puts a caregiver "in the red", "yellow", or "green"  with red being the highest level of intensity, and 90% of caregivers in the red likely to be experiencing a mental health impact. The 2023 ARCHANGELS Caregivers & Holidays Survey was designed to build upon the existing ARCHANGELS research and reinforces how out of sync the holiday hype can be with caregiver intensity.

Financial Strain : 1 in 2 caregivers (49%) say caregiving will impact what they can spend during the holiday season (this is true at all income levels ). 81% of caregivers who are 'in the red' expect caregiving to impact their holiday spending.

: 1 in 2 caregivers (49%) say caregiving will impact what they can spend during the holiday season (this is true at ). Mental Health Alert: 40% of all caregivers are concerned for their mental health this holiday season. 3 out of 4 'in the red' caregivers worry their mental health will take a hit during the holidays.

40% of all caregivers are concerned for their mental health this holiday season. Holiday Escape: A quarter of unpaid caregivers would prefer to just skip the holidays all together this year. 1 in 2 caregivers 'in the red' would love to skip out on the holidays.

A quarter of unpaid caregivers would prefer to just skip the holidays all together this year. Wish List for Support: Caregivers reported the three top opportunities to reduce holiday stress are: mental health support; hands on help from family/friends/community; and help with all things financial.

Caregivers reported the three top opportunities to reduce holiday stress are: mental health support; hands on help from family/friends/community; and help with all things financial. A Bright Spot: Even with all of the challenges, 72% of caregivers expect the holidays to bring them joy.

Drane added, "Unpaid caregivers don't think of themselves that way  in their mind, they're 'just a son' 'a daughter' 'a good neighbor' or 'friend'. They're also the last to ask for help, laser focused instead on what they can do for others. That's why this data is so important  it puts into context the impact the holidays can have on a population that does so much and gets so little  and serves as a data-driven roadmap for how all of us can helpespecially right now."

ARCHANGELS supports caregivers in all 50 states through partnerships with employers, consumer brands, health-plans/systems, communities, and states. Using its omni-channel, data driven campaigns, ARCHANGELS also impacts unpaid caregivers through public-private partnerships like the Any Care Counts campaigns live now in multiple states including Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. For caregivers that would like to get their score and find resources to help or for organizations looking to support this vital population, visit www.archangelscii.me/my-score or www.archangels.me .

ABOUT SURVEY METHODOLOGY

The final sample for the study included 1,147 U.S. resident caregivers sourced from Dynata's general population survey panel. The methodology employed a carefully curated panel of respondents, ensuring a diverse and representative sample that mirrors the demographic diversity of the US population. Rigorous quality control measures were implemented throughout the data collection process to guarantee the integrity and reliability of the findings. The survey's methodology adhered to industry best practices. The average age was 41, 63% of respondents were female. Median family income among respondents was $62500. The sample was 15% black non-Hispanic,15% Hispanic and 70% white.

ABOUT ARCHANGELS

ARCHANGELS is a women-owned, omni-channel platform hustling to make change happen for unpaid caregivers across the nation. Our Caregiver Intensity Index (CII) is a proprietary tool designed to engage all caregivers, even those who do not see themselves in the role. The platform provides each caregiver with a 'score' that not only validates their experience, but crosswalks them over to the resources that exist but often go underutilized due to lack of awareness. ARCHANGELS works with states, employers, brands, health systems, and community organizations (e.g., Faith-based orgs, AAAs/ASAPs etc.,) to create impact for unpaid caregivers and their communities, drive ROI in a low-lift high-impact way, and to amplify and support policy and advocacy efforts with data and stories generated through these initiatives. ARCHANGELS is part of the Rebel Health family, an organization that is working to expand our definition of health to include life  because when life goes wrong health goes wrong. Other Rebel Health initiatives include Engage with Grace and the forthcoming 'Who Cares?' podcast.

SOURCE ARCHANGELS
NORMAN, Okla., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Undergraduate students at the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma are taking advantage of new pathways into the burgeoning venture capital scene in Oklahoma.

Price College now offers two venture capital financing courses that educate students about the venture capital process, providing them a solid understanding of funding negotiations, deal structure and the management of private equity investments, along with exit strategy.

"As new venture capital firms have emerged in the past few years in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and the sector continues to grow in Texas, Price College is seizing the opportunity to develop young talent for this exciting and critical area of business development," said Corey Phelps, dean of the Price College of Business.

The new courses, combined with annual entrepreneurial competitions such as the Love's Entrepreneur's Cup, prepare students and support Oklahoma's efforts to increase venture capital activity and supply human capital for increased economic activity within the state.

"We've built relationships with several venture capital firms to create opportunities for our students to gain hands-on experience in this growing field," Phelps said. "Price College's courses, combined with local and national collegiate competitions, address the significant need to accelerate talent development and highlight local venture capital achievements."

The courses are taught by Price College faculty Ron Bolen, associate professor of entrepreneurship, who brings more than 20 years of private equity investment and venture capital experience to the classroom, and Jared Stanfield, associate professor of finance and an expert in VC financing. Students first take Stanfield's class, Venture Capital Finance I, which focuses on quantitative aspects of venture capital, difficulties and solutions to valuation, deal structure and economic challenges to navigate in venture capital.

The second course in the sequence led by Bolen, Venture Capital Finance II, focuses on practical aspects of venture capital through case study, practicum and engagement with local venture capitalists and entrepreneur guest speakers.

Justin Wilson, president and managing director of Plains Ventures, an Oklahoma-based venture capital firm, believes courses like those offered at Price College allow students to understand the realities of the venture capital field, clarifying any misconceptions and setting them up for success in this expanding job market.

"Venture Capital is a very frequently misunderstood asset class. Since it is a financial discipline, students often think it's a purely arithmetic exercise," Wilson said. "While there is plenty math involved if you want to be good at it, these are actually logic problems. It's about understanding human behavior in a dynamic marketplace, how those behaviors can change, and how that impacts the numbers in a given scenario. I would love to see students come out of these classes with more of an eye toward substance on these matters, which will better prepare them for this field."

As startup growth continues to accelerate in Oklahoma, Bolen is optimistic about the prospects for the emerging venture capital sector.

"Venture capital firms really want to train the young, talented professionals in this pipeline of talent that's forming in Oklahoma," Bolen said. "Now, firms don't have to go to Harvard or Yale anymore to find a student to train up. They're looking for individuals that want to be in Oklahoma for the long haul, and those are the students we are preparing and able to provide to this industry."

Beyond new academic coursework, Price College also supports talent development in the venture community through the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (I-CCEW) and the new student-led Crimson Prairie Ventures.

I-CCEW's experiential student-consulting program provides paid internships for select students to perform early-stage company market research and due diligence. Over the past two years, I-CCEW has provided support for over 25 early-stage investments across all the venture capital firms in Oklahoma.

Crimson Prairie Ventures, a venture capital training organization, offers students a comprehensive, 10-week venture-capital bootcamp exploring the fundamentals of venture capital. The initiative doubles as the student-managed funding arm of Startup OU  the university's entrepreneurship hub that administers and deploys more than $50,000 of non-dilutive, pre-seed capital into startups across the state each year.

"Venture capital plays a critical role in how the Oklahoma entrepreneurial ecosystem develops and grows," said Dayten Israel, director of Startup OU. "We have an opportunity to shape that role through the student talent we cultivate, train and launch into the state."

The programs and new courses offered by Price College provide a platform and a path for OU students to compete for highly competitive and coveted venture capital jobs in Oklahoma and beyond.

About the Michael F. Price College of Business

The University of Oklahoma Michael F. Price College of Business has experienced significant growth over the past five years, becoming OU's second-largest college with over 5,000 students. The college offers highly ranked undergraduate, master's, executive and doctoral programs across six academic divisions. More information is available at price.ou.edu.

SOURCE The University of Oklahoma Price College of Business
The growth of the nuclear bombs and missiles market is driven by factors such as an increase in investments by government bodies and corporate giants, increase in cross-border conflicts, and rise in nuclear testing and technology transfers.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Market by Type (Aircraft Bomber and Land-based missiles, Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), and Others), Range (Less Than 1,000km, 1,000Km to 5,000km, and Greater than 5,000km), and Status (Active, and Reserve and Retired): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, the global nuclear bombs and missiles industry generated $81.7 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to generate $137.3 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 5.4% from 2023 to 2032.

Prime determinants of growth

The growth of the global nuclear bombs and missiles market is driven by factors such as rise in awareness of the capabilities and benefits of nuclear bombs and missiles, increase in the need for streamlined operations, and government investments in R&D. However, stringent regulatory compliance and certification requirements as well as budgetary constraints hamper the growth of the market. On the contrary, increase in emphasis on sustainability coupled with rise in environmental awareness and technological advancements are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the nuclear bombs and missiles market during the forecast period.

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Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $81.7 billion Market Size in 2032 $137.3 billion CAGR 5.4 % No. of Pages in Report 260 Segments Covered Type, Range, Status, and Region. Drivers Increase in investments by government bodies and corporate giants Increase in cross-border conflicts Rise in nuclear testing and technology transfers Opportunities Collaboration with government bodies and defense organizations Technological advancements Restraints International treaties and consortiums discouraging nuclear testing High initial investment and maintenance cost

Impact of Russia-Ukraine War Scenario

On February 24, 2022 , Russia initiated an invasion of Ukraine , marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that commenced in 2014. In such periods of conflict, countries frequently boost their defense budgets to fund the development, modernization, and maintenance of their military capabilities. Elevated geopolitical tensions often result in a heightened demand for advanced military capabilities, which may encompass nuclear weapons and missile systems. Nations directly involved or situated in proximity to the conflict may perceive the necessity of fortifying their defense capabilities, potentially instigating investments in nuclear arsenals and missile technologies.

, initiated an invasion of , marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that commenced in 2014. In such periods of conflict, countries frequently boost their defense budgets to fund the development, modernization, and maintenance of their military capabilities. Elevated geopolitical tensions often result in a heightened demand for advanced military capabilities, which may encompass nuclear weapons and missile systems. Nations directly involved or situated in proximity to the conflict may perceive the necessity of fortifying their defense capabilities, potentially instigating investments in nuclear arsenals and missile technologies. In response to the conflict, countries might reevaluate their existing nuclear capacities, instigating efforts to modernize and augment the effectiveness and reliability of their nuclear weapons. This reevaluation can manifest in activities encompassing research, development, and procurement related to nuclear bombs and missiles.

The others segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on type, the others segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-third of the global nuclear bombs and missiles market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, as there is implementation of non-nuclear treaties, with the influence exerted by major global organizations advocating for the reduction of nuclear arsenals. Moreover, the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 7.1% from 2023 to 2032, owing to a rise in the allocation of resources to advance ICBM technology, aiming to fortify national security by acquiring the capability to target distant locations.

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The greater than 5,000 km segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period.

Based on the range, the greater than 5,000 km segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than four-fifths of the global nuclear bombs and missiles market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period as there is a surge in the advancement in missile technology and propulsion systems, which plays a pivotal role in crafting missiles with high reach. However, the 1,000Km to 5,000km segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, owing to an increase in demand for the modification of the existing warheads of various countries.

The active segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on status, the active segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the global nuclear bombs and missiles market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period as there are evolving geopolitical threats and the need for modernization to counter emerging challenges. However, the reserve and retired segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 13.8% from 2023 to 2032, owing to arms reduction agreements, technological advancements, and diplomatic efforts to reduce the overall number of nuclear weapons.

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than half of the nuclear bombs and missiles market revenue, and is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period, as there is an increase in allocation of defense budgets for nuclear weapons, and rise in the testing of existing nuclear weapons such as missiles to maintain reliability and functionality. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2032, owing to a rise in the development and testing of nuclear weapons such as missiles by countries in the region to maintain national security.

Recent Developments in the Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Industry:

In February 2022 , Northrop Grumman Corporation collaborated with HDT Global in an agreement to provide engineering and manufacturing expertise for the Air Force's Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent initiative. This includes weapon systems engineering, development, testing, evaluation, and nuclear certification.

, Northrop Grumman Corporation collaborated with HDT Global in an agreement to provide engineering and manufacturing expertise for the Air Force's Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent initiative. This includes weapon systems engineering, development, testing, evaluation, and nuclear certification. In January 2021 , France conducted the inaugural test launch of a modified MBDA ASMPA nuclear missile from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet. MBDA reported significant improvements in the missile's penetrating and range performance due to the incorporation of a different medium-energy thermonuclear component.

, conducted the inaugural test launch of a modified MBDA ASMPA nuclear missile from a Dassault Rafale fighter jet. MBDA reported significant improvements in the missile's penetrating and range performance due to the incorporation of a different medium-energy thermonuclear component. In September 2021 , The Boeing Company retained its contract with the U.S. Air Force to maintain the guidance system for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Boeing's ICBM weapon system has been a reliable and enduring component of the U.S. nuclear triad.

, The Boeing Company retained its contract with the U.S. Air Force to maintain the guidance system for the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Boeing's ICBM weapon system has been a reliable and enduring component of the U.S. nuclear triad. In July 2021 , Raytheon Technologies Corporation secured a $2 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop the Pentagon's next air-launched nuclear cruise missile. This project involves advancing the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO), intended to replace the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from the 1980s.

, Raytheon Technologies Corporation secured a contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop the Pentagon's next air-launched nuclear cruise missile. This project involves advancing the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO), intended to replace the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) from the 1980s. In June 2021 , Raytheon Technologies Corporation inked a $2 billion contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a long-range standoff nuclear cruise missile designed for deployment on B-52 and B-21 bombers.

, Raytheon Technologies Corporation inked a contract with the U.S. Air Force to develop a long-range standoff nuclear cruise missile designed for deployment on B-52 and B-21 bombers. In September 2020 , Northrop Grumman Corporation signed a contract to update the U.S. Air Force's aging intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. The project, spanning 8.5 years, encompasses weapon systems integration, qualification, testing and evaluation, and nuclear certifications, as per the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center.

Key Highlights of the Report:

The market study on nuclear bombs and missiles spans over 15 countries, conducting a segment analysis for each country in terms of value ($ million) over the projected period of 2022-2032.

Integrating high-quality data, professional insights, and critical independent perspectives, the study adopts a research approach aimed at providing a comprehensive and balanced view of global markets. The goal is to assist stakeholders in making well-informed decisions to achieve their ambitious growth objectives.

The research involved a thorough review of over 3,700 product literature, annual reports, industry statements, and comparable materials from major industry participants. This extensive review enhances understanding and insight into the market dynamics.

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Leading Market Players: -

Airbus

Ariane Group SAS

BAE Systems

Brahmos Aerospace

Lockheed Martin Corporation

MBDA

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Boeing.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players in the global nuclear bombs and missiles market. These players have adopted various strategies such as contract, product upgrade/development, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player.

Similar Reports We Have on Defense Industry:

U.S. Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Market Research Report 2023-2032

Europe Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Market Research Report 2023-2032

Russia Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Market Research Report 2023-2032

China Nuclear Bombs and Missiles Market Research Report 2023-2032

Rocket and Missiles Market Research Report 2023-2032

About Us

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
Zelenskyy to Scholz: important to ensure unity within EU to approve Ukraine's accession negotiations, allocation of EUR 50 bln in aid

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz on Thursday, in particular, he thanked the Chancellor for the new defense package and the multi-year financial assistance program.

"We discussed further defense cooperation. I am grateful for the powerful "winter" defense package from Germany, including 4 IRIS-T systems and for the multi-year financial assistance program from Germany. These are the best signs of Germany's unflagging support. I highly appreciate that all our agreements are being fulfilled," the president wrote on his Telegram channel.

In addition, the interlocutors discussed the situation on the battlefield. "I told about my morning visit to Kupiansk, as well as to Kherson, Mykolaiv and Odesa the day before," Zelenskyy said.

" I also informed him about the situation in the Black Sea, the functioning of the Grain Corridor and the efforts needed to further protect civilian shipping," he added.

Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its participation in implementing the Peace Formula, particularly for the advisor's participation in the meeting in Malta and readiness to participate in the next meeting.

"I emphasized the importance of ensuring unity within the European Union in the issue of endorsement of Ukraine's accession negotiations and in the allocation of EUR 50 billion in aid for the coming years," the Ukrainian leader said.
Powerful New Feature Embeds Prequalification Tool in Ready-to-Use Creative Assets that Dealers Can Leverage Anywhere They Market to Consumers

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Octane  (Octane Lending, Inc.), the fintech revolutionizing the buying experience for major recreational purchases, announced a groundbreaking new enhancement to its digital soft pull tool, Prequal Flex , with the launch of personalized marketing kits that powersports dealers can use to drive consumer applications.

Introducing Prequal Flex Kits

By embedding a prequalification tool within ready-to-use marketing assets, the new, downloadable kits give powersports and outdoor power equipment (OPE) dealers a fast, easy way to market their products and help consumers to understand their buying power while they research vehicles. Each Prequal Flex kit is tailored to the specific dealership and includes stunning creative assets that are formatted for key marketing channels, such as digital and social media advertisements as well as print materials like hang tags, stickers, and in-dealership and at-event signage. All assets in the kit include a personalized QR code tied to that specific dealership that consumers can scan to fill out a short, fast financing application and receive an instant credit decision from Octane's in-house lender, Roadrunner Financial , Inc.

"Prequal Flex has made it easier to market our dealership. We use it in paid ads, on social media, and on our inventory detail pages," said Ben Hoffman, Sales Manager at Offroad Motorsports & Cycle Sales in Jonesville, Pennsylvania. "Prequal gives my buyers an instant decision without hurting their credit, so it's always the first thing I ask buyers to do when they reach out."

"Powersports dealers are always looking for ways to maximize the impact of their marketing efforts and reach more qualified customers," said Mike Dushane, Chief Product Officer at Octane. "Our innovative, custom marketing kits make it even easier for dealers to leverage the power of Prequal Flex, which gives customers a fast, simple way to prequalify for financing, streamlining the buying process and getting them onto their dream vehicles faster. 65% of prequalified buyers say they bought within one week of an Octane prequalification."

Octane rolled out Prequal Flex to all powersports dealers in May 2023. Prequal Flex is an extension of Octane's award-winning suite of soft-pull ecommerce tools, Octane Prequal , which is used by over 700 dealers nationwide. Dealers using Octane Prequal saw qualified applications increase by 2x and funded loans increase by 8x. Additionally, Prequal Flex helps dealers expand their reach by attracting customers outside of their local market. For example Offroad Motorsports & Cycle Sales saw applications within a 50 and 100 mile radius increase by 134%, applications within a 150 to 200 mile radius increase by 96%, and applications within a 200 to 300 mile radius increase by 133%. The dealership saw total applications increase by 58% since they began using the Octane Prequal suite of tools.

Enrolled powersports dealers can find their Prequal Flex marketing kit as well as their dedicated Prequal Flex link on the homepage of their Octane Dealer Portal. Prequal Flex leads appear in the dealer portal alongside applications from other channels, providing a fast, easy financing experience for dealers and consumers.

About Octane:

Octane  is revolutionizing recreational purchases by delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital buying experience. We connect people with their passions by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative risk strategies to make lifestyle purchaseslike powersports vehicles, RVs, and outdoor power equipmentfast, easy, and accessible.

Octane adds value throughout the customer journey: inspiring enthusiasts with the Octane Media  editorial brands, including Cycle World  and UTV Driver , instantly prequalifying consumers for financing online, routing customers to dealerships for an easy closing, and supporting customers throughout their loan with superior loan servicing.

Founded in 2014, we're a remote-first company with over 30 OEM and 4,000 dealer partners.

Visit www.octane.co .

Octane  and Roadrunner Financial  are registered service marks of Octane Lending, Inc.

Media Relations: Shannon O'Hara

VP of Communications & Brand at Octane

[email protected]

Investor Relations: Kartik Kothari

SVP of Corporate Development and Investor Relations at Octane

[email protected]

SOURCE Octane
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) announced the pricing of its offering of $1.9 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2027 (the "Convertible Notes") in a private placement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), reflecting an upsize of $400 million over the previously announced offering size. PG&E Corporation also granted to the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a 13-day period from, and including, the date on which the Convertible Notes are first issued, up to an additional $250 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes. The sale of the Convertible Notes is expected to close on December 4, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

PG&E Corporation expects that the net proceeds from the Convertible Notes will be approximately $1.876 billion (or approximately $2.123 billion if the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Notes in full), after deducting initial purchasers' discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by PG&E Corporation. PG&E Corporation intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Convertible Notes plus cash on hand to prepay $1.9 billion of the loans outstanding under its $2.75 billion secured term loan credit agreement entered into in June 2020 (the "term loan credit agreement"). If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional Convertible Notes, PG&E Corporation expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of the additional Convertible Notes plus cash on hand to prepay up to $250 million of the loans outstanding under the term loan credit agreement. On November 24, 2023, borrowings under the term loan credit agreement totaled approximately $2.66 billion. Such borrowings bear interest based at a floating rate (approximately 8.44% per annum on November 24, 2023). The term loan credit agreement matures on June 23, 2025, unless extended by PG&E Corporation pursuant to its terms.

The Convertible Notes will be general senior secured obligations of PG&E Corporation and will be secured on a first lien basis by the pledge of PG&E Corporation's ownership interest in 100% of the shares of common stock of its principal subsidiary, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the "Utility"), and any other shares of common stock of the Utility obtained by PG&E Corporation in the future and the certificates or instruments representing such shares of common stock (collectively, "Collateral"), subject to certain permitted liens.

The Convertible Notes will not initially be guaranteed by the Utility or any of PG&E Corporation's other subsidiaries. The Convertible Notes will rank equal in right of payment with all of PG&E Corporation's existing and future senior obligations; will rank effectively junior to all of PG&E Corporation's existing and future senior secured obligations that are secured by assets other than the Collateral to the extent of the value of such assets securing such obligations; will rank effectively junior to all existing and future senior secured obligations under PG&E Corporation's revolving credit facility to the extent of the value of the Collateral (up to an amount not to exceed $650 million), and equal with all of PG&E Corporation's other existing and future senior secured obligations to the extent secured by the Collateral; will rank effectively senior to any of PG&E Corporation's existing and future unsecured obligations to the extent of the value of the Collateral; will rank senior in right of payment to all of PG&E Corporation's future subordinated indebtedness; and will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other obligations (including trade payables, other secured and unsecured indebtedness and preferred stock obligations) of the Utility and all of PG&E Corporation's other subsidiaries (other than any subsidiaries that may become guarantors in the future).

The Convertible Notes will mature on December 1, 2027, unless earlier converted or repurchased. The Convertible Notes will bear interest at a rate of 4.25% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on June 1, 2024. Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding September 1, 2027, the Convertible Notes will be convertible only upon the occurrence of certain events and during certain periods. On or after September 1, 2027, the Convertible Notes will be convertible by holders at any time in whole or in part until the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. PG&E Corporation will settle conversions of the Convertible Notes by paying or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of PG&E Corporation's common stock, no par value ("Common Stock"), or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock ("Combination Settlement"), at its election. PG&E Corporation's current intent and policy is to settle conversions through Combination Settlement with a specified dollar amount (payable in cash) per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes of $1,000.

The conversion rate for the Convertible Notes will initially be 43.1416 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $23.18 per share of Common Stock). The initial conversion price of the Convertible Notes represents a premium of approximately 35.0% over the last reported sale price of PG&E Corporation's common stock on The New York Stock Exchange on November 29, 2023. The conversion rate and the corresponding conversion price will be subject to adjustment in connection with some events but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. PG&E Corporation may not redeem the Convertible Notes prior to the maturity date.

If PG&E Corporation undergoes a fundamental change (other than an exempted fundamental change, each as defined in the indenture that will govern the Convertible Notes), subject to certain conditions, holders of the Convertible Notes may require PG&E Corporation to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Convertible Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of Convertible Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date (as defined in the indenture that will govern the Convertible Notes). In addition, if certain corporate events occur, PG&E Corporation may be required, in certain circumstances, to increase the conversion rate for any Convertible Notes converted in connection with such corporate events by a specified number of shares of its Common Stock.

The offering is being made only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Any offers of the Convertible Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum. None of the Convertible Notes or any shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes have been or are expected to be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About PG&E Corporation

PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is a holding company headquartered in Oakland, California. It is the parent company of the Utility, an energy company that serves 16 million Californians across a 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the closing of the offering of the Convertible Notes and the expected use of proceeds from the offering. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which management believes are reasonable, and on information currently available to management, but are necessarily subject to various risks and uncertainties. In addition to the risk that these assumptions prove to be inaccurate, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include factors disclosed in PG&E Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and other reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website. PG&E Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether due to new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

SOURCE PG&E Corporation
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia FIGHT's Office of Faith Initiatives will host its annual World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast on December 1, 2023, at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. This event is a key moment to unite in remembrance and solidarity for those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

This year's gathering will be graced by the wisdom and words of Rev. Dr. J. Wendell Mapson, Jr., Senior Pastor of Monumental Baptist Church. In a ceremony of reflection and recognition, Lizzy Schmidt, retired Nurse Practitioner of the Lax Center, will be recognized for her dedication to the cause and this year's Faith Leader of the Year Award recipient will be announced.

Philadelphia FIGHT's Office of Faith Initiatives will host the World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast on December 1, 2023. Post this

The prayer breakfast is an opportunity for community members to unite to support ongoing efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. It is a time to share in the spirit of hope and to reaffirm our collective commitment to eradicating this disease.

Join Philadelphia FIGHT in honoring those we have lost, celebrating the progress we have made, and mobilizing for the future. If you would like more information or assistance, please reach out to Calenthia Dowdy.

Event Details:

Date: December 1, 2023

Time: 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Venue: Doubletree Hilton Hotel, 237 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA

SOURCE Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers
New board appointees will bring fresh ideas and new perspectives as Philadelphia welcomes in a new era of leadership under the Parker Administration

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia Works, Inc. (PhilaWorks), the innovative force driving smart workforce solutions throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region, is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. Anuj Gupta, president and CEO at The Welcoming Center, Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown, market development lead - Philadelphia & Pittsburgh at Accenture, and Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, CEO of The Ladipo Group.

"Introducing the newest members of Philadelphia Works' Board of Directors. From left to right: Haniyyah Sharpe-Brown, Anuj Gupta, and Tonya Ladipo. With proven leadership in their respective fields, they are poised to drive innovation and progress at Philadelphia Works."

These three individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and commitment to PhilaWorks' mission. They begin their new board appointments as the city prepares to welcome its 100th Mayor, Cherelle Parker.

"We are truly excited to welcome Anuj, Haniyyah, and Tonya to our Board of Directors," said H. Patrick Clancy, president and CEO at PhilaWorks. As we begin to align our workforce development strategies with the vision of Mayor-Elect Parker, their fresh perspectives will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping our city's economic landscape."

Their appointment comes as Philadelphia Works expands its operations and program services to create and improve access to opportunities for all in Philadelphia. Clancy points out, "Each of them brings a unique perspective, be it from working with immigrants and refugees (Mr. Gupta), focusing on strategic market development (Ms. Sharpe-Brown), or helping professionals and organizations flourish (Ms. Ladipo). Their insights will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our workforce strategies."

The new members, appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney, will each serve three-year terms. Philadelphia Works' Board of Directors is made up of a diverse mix of leaders from private, non-profit, labor, and government sectors. They are responsible for guiding both the strategic and financial decisions that provide economic opportunities to Philadelphia residents and sustainable growth to regional employers.

About Philadelphia Works

Philadelphia Works invests in solutions and services to grow Philadelphia's economy by connecting employers to workforce talent and career seekers to jobs. We influence the public policies that support economic growth and optimize funding and resources to invest in regional solutions to build a skilled and thriving workforce. For more information about our dedicated board members and staff, workforce research, labor market data, services, and initiatives, visit philaworks.org.

Contact: Dawn Thomas

Director, Communications and Outreach

[email protected]

Voicemail: 215-557-2587

SOURCE Philadelphia Works
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The polydadmac market is expected to grow by USD 159.69 million from 2023 to 2028. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 5.04% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Increasing demand for freshwater due to population growth is notably driving the polyDADMAC market. However, factors such as a shortage of skilled workforce in water treatment plants may impede market growth. The market is segmented by type (liquid, powder, and bead), application (water purification, pulp and paper industry, cosmetics, oilfields, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). We provide a detailed analysis of 20 companies operating in the polyDADMAC market including Accepta Ltd., Ashland Inc., ATAMAN Kimya AS, Atish Chemicals, BASF SE, CPS Performance Materials Corp., Envichem Speciality Chemicals and Polymers Pvt. Ltd., Kemira Oyj, MERU CHEM PVT. LTD., NR Chemicals Corp., Ocean Chemicals, Raybon Chemicals and Allied Products, Shandong Luyue Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., The SNF Group, TRIGON Chemie GmbH, Vertex Chem Pvt. Ltd., YIXING BLUWAT CHEMICALS CO. LTD., Zhangjiagang Kaibaolai Environmental Protection Technology Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Xinhaitian Bio Technology Co. Ltd..The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the market, and to know the exact growth variance and the Y-O-Y growth rate, Request a Free Sample Report.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global PolyDADMAC Market 2024-2028

PolyDADMAC Market 2024-2028: Company Analysis

Accepta Ltd: The company offers PolyDADMAC such as Accepta 4351, a high performance based cationic coagulant scientifically formulated for use across a wide range of wastewater and effluent treatment applications.

This report provides a full list of key companies, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now for detailed company information.

PolyDADMAC Market 2024-2028: Segmentation

Type

The market share growth by the liquid segment is significant during the forecast period. PolyDADMAC refers to a liquid cat-ionic polymer of distinct molecular weight that is used in various industries as a primary coagulant and charge-neutralization agent in liquid-solid separation processes. Moreover, it is supplied in a liquid form with solids comprising 10%-50%. Furthermore, it is mainly used in paper manufacturing as well as textile dyeing and finishing which is fuelling the growth of this segment which in turn drives the market growth.

is significant during the forecast period. PolyDADMAC refers to a liquid cat-ionic polymer of distinct molecular weight that is used in various industries as a primary coagulant and charge-neutralization agent in liquid-solid separation processes. Moreover, it is supplied in a liquid form with solids comprising 10%-50%. Furthermore, it is mainly used in paper manufacturing as well as textile dyeing and finishing which is fuelling the growth of this segment which in turn drives the market growth. Application

Geography

APAC accounts for 60% of the market growth during the forecast period. Several factors such as the increasing industrialization, urbanization, and population in the region have increased the demand for clean and potable water resources, which in turn has created a rise in the consumption of polyDADMAC in APAC. Hence, such factors are driving the market growth in APAC during the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View the Free PDF Sample Report

PolyDADMAC Market 2024-2028: Key Highlights

Historic Market Size 2018-2022

CAGR of the market during 2024-2028

Detailed information on factors that will assist polyDADMAC market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the polyDADMAC market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the polyDADMAC market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on companies

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of polyDADMAC market companies

Related Reports:

The cosmetic emulsifier market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 624.94 million.

The coalescing agents market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.93% between 2023 and 2028. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 441.43 million.

PolyDADMAC Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018-2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.04% Market Growth 2024-2028 USD 159.69 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.45 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 60% Key countries US, China, Japan, India, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Accepta Ltd., Ashland Inc., ATAMAN Kimya AS, Atish Chemicals, BASF SE, CPS Performance Materials Corp., Envichem Speciality Chemicals and Polymers Pvt. Ltd., Kemira Oyj, MERU CHEM PVT. LTD., NR Chemicals Corp., Ocean Chemicals, Raybon Chemicals and Allied Products, Shandong Luyue Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., The SNF Group, TRIGON Chemie GmbH, Vertex Chem Pvt. Ltd., YIXING BLUWAT CHEMICALS CO. LTD., Zhangjiagang Kaibaolai Environmental Protection Technology Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Xinhaitian Bio Technology Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

ToC:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market Sizing

Historic Market Sizes

Five Forces Analysis

Market Segmentation by Type

Market Segmentation by Application

Market Segmentation by Geography

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Drivers, Challenges, & Trends

Company Landscape

Company Analysis

Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

SOURCE Technavio
George Town, Cayman Islands, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The RARI foundation , a non-profit dedicated to fostering the growth and expansion of NFT infrastructure and innovative use cases has officially unveiled the testnet for "RARI Chain", an EVM equivalent blockchain embedding royalties on the node level, powered by Arbitrum. The RARI Foundation closely collaborates with the RARI DAO which governs the Rarible Protocol through its governance token $RARI. Moreover, the Rarible Protocol powers its native NFT marketplace, providing essential tools to create immersive NFT experiences. The launch of this testnet ushers in new possibilities for creators, collectors and developers of the RARI ecosystem.

The current NFT ecosystem is experiencing $6.9 billion in transactions , with a remarkable growth in the number of transactions over the past few years. However, a notable challenge arises from platforms making decisions on royalty payments for creatorsa challenge the RARI Foundation is determined to address.

Designed with creators and collectors in mind, the RARI Chain emerges as a key NFT infrastructure solutionan EVM equivalent chain built on Arbitrum, designed to deliver a royalty-enforcing, high-speed, low-cost and developer-friendly network for creators, collectors, and builders. RARI Chain embeds royalties seamlessly on the node level, empowering creators with the freedom to create and fueling cross-market interoperability. Leveraging the inherent security of Ethereum, dApps can be seamlessly deployed on the RARI Chain, strengthening its vision as one of the largest creator chains in the Web3 ecosystem. The RARI Chain envisions a future where on-chain assets and ownership become a daily experience for users.

Jana Bertram, Head of Strategy at RARI Foundation said, "Creators have been the driving force behind NFT expansion, generating widespread awareness and fostering the adoption of web3. To ensure a sustainable economy, it is crucial to provide them with tools and environments contributing to their success. Our commitment is embedded in preventing the disintermediation of creators from the web3 growth. We firmly believe that cultural resonance is integral to the future of web3, and our aspiration is towards building that future together"

Nina Rong, Head of Ecosystem Development at Arbitrum Foundation said, "The RARI Chain stands to make a marked impact on the creators and innovators in the NFT space. Arbitrum Foundation firmly believes that those responsible for driving the NFT industry forward - the creators - should be fairly rewarded for their efforts and royalty enforcement at the node level leveraging Arbitrum technology is a significant step in accomplishing that."

Additionally as a part of this launch, Rarible , the turnkey NFT marketplace solution will be the core-adopter of RARI Chain. Rarible is committed to inviting inspiring creators and value-aligned collectors into our ecosystem. Beyond the marketplace, the Rarible Protocol will seamlessly integrate with the RARI Chain, catalysing the development of NFT applications on this creator-focused technology stack.

Alex Salnikov, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Rarible said, "Our commitment to supporting artists and creators remains steadfast. We believe that web3 should be a creator-centric ecosystem where artists can thrive. With RARI Chain, we are taking a step forward in protecting their deserved continued earnings. By enforcing royalties at the node level, we are ensuring that creator royalties are more than just a promise, they are a guarantee.

At Rarible, we are more than just a marketplace; we are advocates for creator rights, and RARI Chain is a testament to our continued, unwavering support for the community of artists creating in web3".

Partners such as Arbitrum , LayerZero , Thirdweb , Gelato , WalletConnect , Magic , and Caldera will actively contribute support to the RARI Chain. Their involvement is geared towards ensuring the infrastructure of the chain is developer-friendly and user-friendly, creating an environment to welcome new applications, creators, and collectors.

Our public testnet is live and we're committed to iterating the improvement and performance over the coming months. The testnet will witness participation from enthusiastic creators and contributors to build the future of NFT infrastructure and creator-led economies. You can participate here https://rarichain.org/

About RARI Foundation

Established in 2022, the RARI Foundation is a non-profit organization serving as the official representative of the RARI DAO. The RARI DAO is governed by $RARI token holders in a decentralized autonomous organization and entrusts the RARI Foundation with crucial responsibilities.

The RARI Foundation is committed to building NFT infrastructure to power innovative NFT use cases. The foundation plays a pivotal role in steering treasury management, facilitating initiatives, and aligning with the community's vision. RARI Foundation's objective is to empower the Rarible Protocol's decentralized evolution by facilitating the seamless transfer of ownership to the DAO. In doing so, the RARI Foundation actively contributes to the governance and sustainability of the Rarible ecosystem.

For more information, please visit https://rari.foundation/

About Rarible

Rarible is a leading blue-chip NFT company that provides several products designed to lead creators and their communities to success at every stage of their NFT journey. Launched in 2019 by Alexei Falin and Alex Salnikov, Rarible offers a multi-chain, aggregated marketplace for NFTs, a self-serve marketplace builder tool, and a white-glove service for custom marketplaces. Since its inception, Rarible has grown rapidly and become one of the most well-known and highly-ranked NFT companies in the market, backed by Venrock and CoinFund.

For more information, please visit www.rarible.com

About The Arbitrum Foundation

The Arbitrum Foundation, founded in March 2023, supports and grows the Arbitrum network and its community with secure scaling solutions for Ethereum. Arbitrum Onea leading Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution initially developed by Offchain Labsoffers ultra-fast, low-cost transactions with security derived from Ethereum through Optimistic Rollup technology. Launched in August 2021, the Arbitrum One mainnet beta is EVM-compatible to the bytecode level and has 60%+ TVL in the L2 segment. 400+ DeFi and NFT projects are live in the ecosystem to date. In August 2022, Arbitrum One upgraded to the Nitro tech stack, enabling fraud proofs over the core engine of Geth compiled to WASM.

Media Contact

[email protected]

Myosin.xyz (on behalf of Rari Foundation)

[email protected]

SOURCE RARI Foundation; Arbitrum Foundation
SYDNEY, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarity Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CU6) ("Clarity"), a clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company with a mission to develop next-generation products that improve treatment outcomes for children and adults with cancer, is pleased to announce it has commenced its registrational Phase III 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA diagnostic trial in prostate cancer, CLARIFY (NCT06056830)[1], with the initiation of the first clinical site at the Urology Cancer Center / XCancer Omaha, NE.

The aim of the CLARIFY study is to assess the diagnostic performance of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA to detect regional nodal metastasis in participants with high-risk prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy. The study expects to recruit 383 participants at multiple clinical sites across the United States and Australia.

Evaluation will take place over 2 imaging timepoints, day 1 (day of administration) and day 2 (approximately 24 hours post administration). CLARIFY is expected to image the first participant in late 2023. As a registrational trial, the final study results are intended to provide sufficient evidence to support an application to the US FDA for approval of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA as a new diagnostic imaging agent in prostate cancer.

Clarity's Executive Chairperson, Dr Alan Taylor, commented, "We are excited to commence our first registrational Phase III trial with our optimised SAR-bisPSMA agent. The CLARIFY trial is based on compelling preclinical and clinical data, including our completed PROPELLER trial (NCT04839367)[2,3]. It demonstrated the excellent safety profile and superior performance of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA compared to 68Ga-PSMA-11 also in patients with prostate cancer prior to radical prostatectomy, guiding the study design for the CLARIFY trial. Despite the improvement of management and staging of patients with prostate cancer introduced by PSMA PET compared to other conventional imaging, low cancerous lesion uptake by PSMA agents may have an impact on clinical management. The PROPELLER trial showed significantly higher uptake of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA in PSMA-expressing lesions compared to an approved standard-of-care PSMA imaging agent, potentially enabling the diagnosis of additional and smaller lesions[2,3]. CLARIFY will also investigate the benefits of delayed imaging in this patient group, a feature that has shown real benefits to patients so far and is not available with the first-generation PSMA imaging agents using gallium-68 or fluorine-18, which have very short half-lives and exhibit low sensitivity in detecting cancerous lesions. Additionally, the extended shelf-life of up to 48 hours offered by 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA not only provides greater flexibility for clinics in scheduling diagnostic scans, but also improves patient access to care, including areas with limited access to diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals in prostate cancer due to the short shelf-life of existing PSMA PET tracers.

"The prostate cancer market is a key focus area for Clarity as there is a high unmet need for diagnostics and therapy, and we believe our theranostic SAR-bisPSMA product has the potential to improve diagnosis, therapy and ultimately change patients' lives. We look forward to progressing this trial to validate and expand upon the positive data we have accumulated so far with our SAR-bisPSMA product. With this trial, our aspiration is that with improved diagnostic tools, clinicians will be empowered to make more informed decisions regarding the best course of treatment for their patients."

About SAR-bisPSMA

SAR-bisPSMA derives its name from the word "bis", which reflects a novel approach of connecting two PSMA-targeting agents to Clarity's proprietary sarcophagene (SAR) technology that securely holds copper isotopes inside a cage-like structure, called a chelator. Unlike other commercially available chelators, the SAR technology prevents copper leakage into the body. SAR-bisPSMA is a TCT that can be used with isotopes of copper-64 (Cu-64 or 64Cu) for imaging and copper-67 (Cu-67 or 67Cu) for therapy.

64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA and 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA are unregistered products. Individual results may not represent the overall safety and efficacy of the products. The data outlined in this announcement has not been assessed by health authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A clinical development program is currently underway to assess the efficacy and safety of these products. There is no guarantee that these products will become commercially available.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men globally and the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide[4]. The American Cancer Institute estimates in 2023 there will be 288,300 new cases of prostate cancer in the US and around 34,700 deaths from the disease[5].

About Clarity Pharmaceuticals

Clarity is a clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious disease. The Company is a leader in innovative radiopharmaceuticals, developing targeted copper theranostics based on its SAR Technology Platform for the treatment of cancer in children and adults.

www.claritypharmaceuticals.com

References 1. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06056830, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06056830 2. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT048393671, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04839367 3. Lengyelova & Emmett et al. 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (PROPELLER) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients with confirmed prostate cancer. ASCO 2023. Poster available at: https://www.claritypharmaceuticals.com/pipeline/scientific_presentations/ 4. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries, https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21660 5. American Cancer Society: Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html

For more information, please contact:

Clarity Pharmaceuticals

Dr Alan Taylor Catherine Strong Executive Chairperson Investor/Media Relations [email protected] [email protected]

+61 406 759 268

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Executive Chairperson.

SOURCE Clarity Pharmaceuticals
CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Breast cancer mortality is significantly reduced when women regularly attend screening mammograms, according to research being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Early detection of breast cancer, before symptoms are present, is key to survivability. According to the American Cancer Society, women between the ages of 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year. Women who are 55 years and older can switch to every other year or continue with annual mammograms. Skipping just one scheduled mammogram could result in a more advanced breast cancer diagnosis, significantly impacting a patient's chance of survival.

"The purpose of mammography is to detect breast cancer during the few years it can be seen on a mammogram, but before symptoms are apparent," said study author Robert A. Smith, Ph.D., senior vice president and director of the American Cancer Society Center for Cancer Screening in Atlanta, Georgia. "If a woman unknowingly has breast cancer and misses or postpones her mammogram during this time when she has no symptoms, but her breast cancer is growing and perhaps spreading, then the window for early detection will be lost."

Even though regular mammograms are an important factor in early breast cancer detection, there are still many barriers that restrict women from receiving this preventative care, including access and work or family obligations.

"It is challenging to keep track of your schedule, and in the U.S., many women do not receive reminders. Further, for all of us, the obligations of work and family compete with our scheduled health care," Dr. Smith said.

Dr. Smith and colleagues sought to identify the exact impact of missing even one mammogram.

The researchers obtained women's screening history from oncology centers throughout Sweden for a period from 1992 to 2016. A total of 36,079 breast cancer patients were included in the study.

Using data from the Swedish Cause of Death Register, the researchers identified 4,564 breast cancer deaths among the patients included in the study.

The researchers then tracked all of the women's participation in five or fewer most recent invitations for breast cancer screening prior to cancer diagnosis.

Women who attended all their invited screening mammograms had a survivability rate of over 80%. Women who didn't participate in any screenings had a survival rate that ranged from 59.1% to 77.6%.

Women who attended all five screening mammograms saw a 72% reduction in the risk of dying from breast cancer compared to women who didn't participate in any screening mammograms. Even after conservative adjustment for potential self-selection factors, there was a highly significant 66% reduction in the risk of breast cancer death.

"Women who attended all five previous mammography examinations prior to a diagnosis of breast cancer were nearly three times less likely to die from breast cancer compared with women who had not attended any examinations, and each additional examination attended among the five previous examinations conferred an additive protective effect against dying from breast cancer," Dr. Smith said.

The researchers stressed that imaging facilities should prioritize getting patients in for screening at the earliest opportunity. This is especially important when women have to cancel their appointments. Facilities should reschedule these screening mammograms for the next earliest available appointment.

"These findings show that as much as possible, adherence to regular mammography screening is the very best insurance a woman has against being diagnosed with an advanced breast cancer that could be life-threatening," Dr. Smith said.

Co-authors are Stephen W. Duffy, M.Sc., Amy Ming-Fang Yen, Ph.D., Laszlo Tabar, M.D., Abbie Ting-Yu, Ph.D., Sam Li-Sheng Chen, Ph.D., Chen-Yant Hsu, M.D., Peter B. Dean, M.D., and Tony Hsiu-His Chen, Ph.D.

Note: Copies of RSNA 2023 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press23.

RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org)

Editor's note: The data in these releases may differ from those in the published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting, as researchers continue to update their data right up until the meeting. To ensure you are using the most up-to-date information, please call the RSNA Newsroom at 1-312-791-6610.

For patient-friendly information on breast cancer screening with mammography, visit RadiologyInfo.org.

SOURCE Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
STERLING, Va., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REI Systems Vice President of Health Systems Sid Agarwal has been honored with a FORUM IT100 Award, recognizing his ongoing efforts to advance progress, influence positive outcomes, and contribute to the public sector health community. The FORUM IT100 Award is given to those recognized by their peers for their exemplary role in driving change, challenging the status quo, and actively contributing to community betterment.

Mr. Agarwal heads REI Systems' Health Systems Business Unit, overseeing the execution of all work REI Systems provides to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other health-focused customers.

"Sid's commitment to improving American public health services is reflected in his work and leadership," said Shyam Salona, CEO of REI Systems. "His contributions, ranging from enhancing regulatory lab testing efficiency to promoting advanced, flexible technology, have had a tangible impact on public health.

Notable achievements under Mr. Agarwal's leadership include modernizing FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) lab operations, enhancing consumer protection and food safety. The innovative Automated Laboratory Information System (ALIS), developed in less than eight months, has revolutionized data sharing across the FDA, and optimized testing accuracy and efficiency.

Mr. Agarwal's team provided HRSA with crucial data through the Modern Data Analytics Platform (MDAP), helping reduce maternal and infant mortality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sid and his team collaborated with HRSA to rapidly develop a feature within its grants management systems. This allowed the system to be launched just 12 days after the CARES Act became law, and facilitated the distribution of millions of dollars of financial aid to health centers nationwide, aiding patients who were critically in need of care.

"I am deeply honored to receive the FORUM IT100 Award," Sid said. "It's a recognition not just for me but for the entire team at REI whose dedication and innovation drive our success. This award strengthens our resolve to continue making meaningful differences in public health through technology."

About REI Systems

REI Systems provides reliable, effective, and innovative technology solutions that advance federal, state, local, and nonprofit missions. Our technologists and consultants are passionate about solving complex challenges that impact millions of lives. We take a Mindful Modernization approach in delivering our application modernization, grants management systems, government data analytics, and advisory services. Mindful Modernization is the REI Way of delivering mission impact by aligning our government customers' strategic objectives to measurable outcomes through people, processes, and technology. Learn more at REIsystems.com.

Contact

info@REIsystems.com

SOURCE REI Systems
Drivers purchasing commercial diesel can now use Relay's modern, secure, and fully digital payment solution at Yesway and Allsup's high-flow diesel locations

ATLANTA, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Relay Payments , the fintech company modernizing payments for the trucking and logistics industries, is announcing a new partnership with Yesway, one of the fastest-growing convenience store operators in the United States. The collaboration brings Relay's cardless purchasing experience to 100+ Yesway and Allsup's locations, allowing more fleets and drivers to avoid fuel fraud caused by card skimming. With the addition of Yesway to Relay's network, drivers can enjoy a modern, secure, and reliable diesel fuel payment experience across the country.

"Card skimming continues to be a major problem for the industry, costing fleets thousands each month," said Relay co-founder and CEO Ryan Droege. "Because Relay's technology bypasses cards altogether, fleets and drivers can have peace of mind when they pay with our solution. We're excited to welcome Yesway locations into our digital payment network and give drivers even more options to securely fuel up."

When paying with Relay at Yesway and Allsup's convenience stores, drivers simply show their unique payment code to the clerk to purchase their diesel. Fleets and drivers also benefit from diesel fuel discounts, with savings conveniently listed in Relay's mobile app. Additional features include:

A route-planning tool within the app to maximize time and savings

The ability to store multiple forms of payment in the app, letting drivers use rewards and loyalty points

Complete transparency in pricing, with no hidden fees

Customizable spending controls and driver policies

Access to Relay's 24/7 U.S.-based customer support team

"Yesway is focused on bringing actual 'convenience' to customers at all of our convenience stores," said Tom Trkla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yesway. "This partnership helps us achieve that by offering truck drivers a more secure and seamless way to purchase diesel fuel. As a brand that is focused on the customer experience ourselves, it has been delightful to work with the entire team at Relay  we appreciate their integrity, their level of service, and the enhanced offering they have introduced to our customers."

Relay first introduced its fast, secure digital payment solution in 2019 to eliminate long delays that forced drivers to wait hours for payment approvals and authorizations. Fleets eagerly adopted the industry-leading platform, gaining increased hours of service as well as supply chain efficiencies. Relay's payment network has continued to expand rapidly, allowing fleets to make fast and secure over-the-road payments across the country.

For more information about Relay Payments or to download the mobile app, visit relaypayments.com . For more information about Yesway and Allsup's, visit yesway.com .

About Relay Payments

Relay Payments is building a modern digital payment network to revolutionize the trucking and logistics industries. Trusted by more than 350,000 drivers, 90,000 carriers, and 1,500 truckstops nationwide, Relay has brought efficiency and automation to an industry historically reliant on cash, checks, and cards. Relay has joined forces with industry leaders like Pilot Company, AMBEST, J.B. Hunt, Schneider, Coyote Logistics, Lineage Logistics, and others to provide secure, reliable over-the-road transactions. Founded in 2019, the Atlanta-based fintech includes more than 150 team members and has won awards for product innovation, customer service, and organizational culture. For more information about Relay, visit relaypayments.com .

About Yesway

Yesway is one of the fastest-growing convenience store operators in the United States. Established in 2015, Yesway is a multi-branded platform headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, which operates 426 stores located in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Yesway operates its portfolio primarily under two successful brands, Yesway and Allsup's, with sites that are differentiated through a leading food service offering, featuring Allsup's famous deep-fried burrito, and a wide variety of high-quality grocery items and private-label products. Yesway's geographic footprint consists of stores located in attractive rural and suburban markets across the Midwest and Southwest, where it is often the convenience retail destination of choice and effectively the local grocer. The Yesway team has a successful track record of growing through acquisitions and believes it is well positioned to continue to solidify its market position and grow its store count. Yesway has received numerous industry awards for its growth initiatives, management team, loyalty program, and employees' contributions to the industry. yesway.com

Media Contact:

Hela Sheth

678-938-1318

[email protected]

SOURCE Relay Payments
Zelenska included in list of 25 most influential women of the year according to Financial Times

The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska was included in the list of the 25 most influential women of the year according to the Financial Times, the accompanying description of her photo on the publications website was published by Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas.

In particular, according to the Estonian prime minister, Zelenska, like her husband, has become a global symbol of resilience.

What I admire most about Olena Zelenska is her honesty. A screenwriter by profession, she knows how not to mince her words while remaining disarmingly human. She knows what it is like to wake up to see your homeland invaded by an imperialist neighbour  how to find the strength to fight for freedom, despite it all  She is remarkable in her attention to detail and her ability to listen, Financial Times quoted Zelenska as saying.

In addition, as Kallas noted, Zelenska's leadership in addressing the mental health of Ukrainians during the war is vital.

The world should now listen to Zelenska and give Ukraine what it needs to defeat Russia and end the suffering, the prime minister said.

In addition to the First Lady of Ukraine, the Financial Times list of the most influential women include Ursula von der Leyen, Marina Silva, Narges Mohammadi, Lisa Dyson, Mary Barra, Makiko Ono, Barbara Kingsolver, Beyonce and others.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SPATCO Energy Solutions ("SPATCO"), a forward-thinking provider of infrastructure services and innovative turnkey solutions for petroleum fueling, environmental and EV market segments, completed the acquisition of K&K Electric, Inc, a premier electrical services company specializing in the Petroleum and EV industry located in Sanford, Florida.

Chris Ferrara, President of K&K Electric (left) and John Force, President & CEO of SPATCO Energy Solutions (right).

K&K Electric provides a full range of electrical services and equipment to petroleum, EV, commercial and industrial customers across the Southeast United States with a concentration in Florida where the company operates four locations. With over 70 electricians on staff, K&K has focused on the design, maintenance and installation of electrical systems for over 40 years.

"K&K Electric has collaborated with SPATCO for many years and we are elated to welcome them to the SPATCO family. We can now provide a more seamless client experience bringing a greater value to our petroleum customers and better support the adoption of electrical vehicle infrastructure throughout our geographical footprint," commented John Force, President & CEO of SPATCO.

Chris Ferrara, President of K&K Electric, will join the SPATCO executive leadership team and continue to oversee electrical operations in the state of Florida. Chris Ferrara commented, "Joining the SPATCO team and combining these two organizations will greatly benefit the employees and customers we serve. Together we will be able to expand the quality of our service offerings and accelerate our combined growth. We are fortunate to find a partner that shares our values and commitment to providing our industry with the highest quality of service."

The combined company will now have close to 1,000 employees in 16 states and over 30 office locations. With over 88 years of experience as the leading distributor of petroleum fueling equipment, installation, maintenance, environmental services, and electrical vehicle infrastructure, SPATCO remains at the forefront of fueling innovation and growth.

Investments such as these accelerate SPATCO's continuing focus on strategic growth both organically and through additional acquisitions. Kian Capital is SPATCO's lead investor along with co-investors RF Investment Partners, Apogem Capital and New Canaan Funding. Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. acted as Kian's legal advisor, and financing for the transaction was provided by Byline Bank.

SPATCO Energy Solutions is a single-source supplier, installer and maintenance provider of innovative liquid handling equipment for petroleum, industrial, DEF, and Electric Vehicle charging. For over 88 years, SPATCO has been a trusted leader in customer service with their longstanding customer base of national and regional convenience store operators, major oil companies, commercial fleet and military fueling facilities, trucking companies, regional oil jobbers and commercial bulk petroleum plants. SPATCO is headquartered in Charlotte, NC with 30 additional office locations across the Southeast, with service and support extending across the United States. To learn more, visit www.spatco.com.

Kian Capital is a private investment firm with over $800 million of capital under management and over 100 years of collective experience providing capital solutions and board-level strategic and operational guidance to owner operated businesses. Kian cultivates integrity, transparency, and strong work ethic to foster meaningful business relationships to understand the long-term strategic requirements to ignite growth and build enduring value. Kian has offices in Atlanta, GA and Charlotte, NC. To learn more, visit. www.kiancapital.com

Contact Information Business Inquiries

Tonia Ballard

VP of Supply Chain Management

[email protected]

T 704.599.7637

Media Inquiries

Lauren Guyton

Marketing Project Manager

[email protected]

T 704.599.7696

SOURCE SPATCO Energy Solutions
Leveraging hyper-contextualization and LLM for code generation, the product represents Zup Innovation's strategic move towards international expansion.

SAO PAULO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Zup Innovation landed in the United States to showcase its technological solutions, consolidating its international expansion plan. At the forefront of this endeavor is StackSpot AI, a solution grounded in generative artificial intelligence with mechanisms to optimize the contextualized utilization of Large Language Models (LLM), a form of AI algorithm that harnesses learning techniques and datasets to comprehend, summarize, generate, and predict new content. The solution delivers accurate recommendations, facilitating accelerated code development and maintenance, using companies' own knowledge source and software engineering rules.

Fabio Napoli, IT Director (CTO) of Itau Unibanco; Moises Nascimento, IT Director (CTO) of Itau Unibanco; Bruno Pierobon, CEO of Zup - StackSpot

StackSpot AI also offers a hub that functions as a one-stop tech marketplace to provide more agility and autonomy in the reutilization of tech parts. The hub allows developers to share experiences, feedback and reviews about the generated content, enriching the intelligence base used by StackSpot's GenAI engine.

The standout feature of this solution lies in its hyper-contextualization, producing code based on client-specific knowledge sources. This approach significantly reduces the time invested in developing and maintaining applications, thereby exponentially increasing the efficiency and quality of the outcomes achieved by engineering teams in a secure manner. StackSpot Al is enhanced by context provided by clients' technology and business teams, delivering comprehensive and actionable support in the automated construction of new applications.

This enterprise solution allows the incorporation of APIs, code snippets, and attachments into knowledge sources in the workspace. Full integration with other offerings within the StackSpot platform the Enterprise Developer Platform (EDP) and Cloud Services will be available by year-end, streamlining cloud processing and accelerating productivity and efficiency in the technology architecture and software engineering journey.

StackSpot AI was officially launched in Las Vegas, Nevada, during AWS re:Invent, one of the largest technology conferences in the world, hosted by Amazon Web Services for the global cloud computing community.

About StackSpot

StackSpot is an Enterprise Developer Platform that speeds up application development from the first line of code to processing in cloud production in an orderly manner and relies on executable architecture across multiple languages and technologies, accelerating development and reducing the cognitive load on developers. The platform was co-created by Zup Innovation and Itau Unibanco based on lessons and good practices that the bank attained while modernization process and migrating business services to the cloud.

One key benefit of StackSpot is freeing up time for technology teams to focus on building business features and improving customer experience. Architecture teams can swiftly create and deploy application or infrastructure components, reusing and standardizing code, thereby eliminating the need for repetitive technical decisions. StackSpot tackles issues related to rework and new member onboarding, trimming costs associated with the cloud journey, and increasing business resilience through high quality and security standards.

The services provided by StackSpot Cloud Services integrate with the AWS cloud, a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud offering with tools that boost and streamline infrastructure-enabled competitiveness.

SOURCE Zup
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- State of Franklin Healthcare Associates (SOFHA), a premier multi-specialty physician-led medical group, has proudly launched a new Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), heralding an era of heightened employee engagement in its mission to improve community health. This groundbreaking move underscores SOFHA's ongoing transition to a value-based healthcare model, where quality outcomes and patient satisfaction lead the way.

Dr. James Hansen, SOFHA's President, shared, "We believe that this move will not only provide an additional company sponsored benefit for our employees but also enhance our ability to attract and retain top talent in the healthcare industry. It aligns with our vision of providing exceptional care while fostering a workplace where every member feels valued and motivated to contribute their best."

State of Franklin Healthcare Associates Embarks on Value-Based Healthcare Journey with New Employee Stock Ownership Plan Post this

As the organization's senior physician leader, Hansen continues, "I want to congratulate the physician owners for their forward-thinking approach and dedication to the well-being of our organization. As we embark on this new chapter together, I am confident that our commitment to patient care, innovation, and a supportive work environment will continue to set State of Franklin Healthcare Associates apart as a leader in healthcare."

As an organization with over 30 clinics and a robust team of more than 250 proficient providers, SOFHA has long stood at the forefront of delivering exceptional healthcare services. The ESOP initiative is set to bolster this by weaving employee interests with the company's enduring success, ultimately driving a stronger commitment to the health and well-being of patients and the broader community.

The ESOP aims to fortify SOFHA's value-based care trajectory by:

Empowering Staff Ownership: Recognizing the steadfast commitment of its workforce, SOFHA's ESOP allows employees to claim a stake in the organization, nurturing a deep-seated investment in their work and the health outcomes of those they serve. Advancing Patient-Centric Care: Employee-owners, intrinsically motivated by their participation in the ESOP, are set to enhance the patient experience, ensuring that every clinic visit aligns with SOFHA's high standards for quality and compassionate care. Fostering a Culture of Innovation: As stakeholders, staff are propelled to bring forward groundbreaking ideas and solutions that elevate SOFHA's value-based care model, optimizing healthcare delivery and patient-centric strategies. Ensuring Sustainable Excellence: The ESOP solidifies SOFHA's long-term dedication to remaining a trusted cornerstone in the community, continually adapting and improving upon a system of care that prioritizes patient well-being.

Rob Slattery, CEO of SOFHA, expresses his excitement about this strategic development. "Adopting the ESOP structure marks a pivotal step in our commitment to value-based healthcare. It enables us to deepen our investment in our most valuable asset - our people. As a physician-led entity, the active engagement of our employees is crucial to our evolution and success in improving health outcomes. The ESOP aligns perfectly with our mission, vision, and values, setting a clear course for our organization's future - one that's built on the collective effort and shared success of our entire team. It's really simple, we are people serving people."

This employee ownership model is more than a corporate restructuring; it is a reinforcement of SOFHA's pledge to 'improve the health and well-being of our people, patients and community' by placing the individuals who drive this mission at the heart of its operations.

For additional details about State of Franklin Healthcare Associates and its transformative journey, please visit www.sofha.net.

SOURCE State of Franklin Healthcare Associates
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellantis North America today named two executives to key roles in support of the Jeep brand as the region prepares for its electric offensive in 2024. Both moves are effective December 1.

William Peffer is named responsible for Jeep brand North America. Peffer joined the Company in 2020 where he has served as CEO of Maserati North America. Previously, he was COO of Kia Motors America.

Jim Morrison is named responsible for the newly formed Jeep Performance Parts business where he will lead the effort to capitalize on significant growth opportunities. Morrison previously was head of Jeep North America and has held in positions in sales as well as with the Jeep and Ram brands.

"We are entering a new chapter for the region, and I'm confident both Bill and Jim will bring their passion and intense customer focus to their new assignments," said Mark Stewart Chief Operating Officer, Stellantis North America. "Bill's deep brand experience will bring a unique and valuable perspective for the Jeep brand as it begins to roll out its electric portfolio next year. Jim's unbridled passion for Jeep and its capability on and off road will help to elevate and accelerate our aftermarket business, most importantly with the brand's electric future just around the corner for our North American customers."

Stellantis North America

Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading automakers and a mobility provider. In North America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles in a portfolio of iconic and award-winning brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Powered by its diversity, Stellantis leads the way the region and the world move  aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com.

Follow company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Company website: www.stellantis.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis

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SOURCE Stellantis
Proposed Tahoe Basin Area Plan fails to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

AUBURN, Calif., Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Friends of West Shore, TahoeCleanAir.org, and North Tahoe Preservation Alliance, ("Conservation Groups") filed a lawsuit against Placer County, CA for failing to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in approving new amendments to its Tahoe Basin Area Plan ("TBAP").

The lawsuit is necessary to protect Lake Tahoe, safeguard the interests and safety of Placer County residents and nearby Tahoe communities, which rely on limited infrastructure, and to maintain environmental and safety impact transparency surrounding important code amendments that will materially change the Tahoe environment.

Placer County adopted the amendments to its 2016-developed Tahoe Basin Area Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on October 31, 2023, using an addendum process to CEQA rather than a Subsequent EIR, which is required because of the numerous changes and increased safety threats that have occurred since 2016.

The Conservation Groups contend that Placer County has an obligation to prepare a subsequent (EIR) for the amendments to the TBAP as required by Public Resources Code section 21166 and CEQA Guidelines, section 15162(a).

"The human carrying capacity in the Tahoe Basin is already beyond strained and is at a breaking point," said Tobi Tyler, Sierra Club, Tahoe Area Group, "with the Lake's nearshore water quality severely impaired with algae and cyanobacteria blooms, microplastic levels in the lake higher than even in the ocean gyres, lead levels along with other toxic materials in the lake's waters surpassing the EPA-approved limit by more than 2,500 times, a new aquatic invasive species  the New Zealand mud snail  found in Lake Tahoe, and a trash problem that is now infamous around the world such that travel guides are warning the public to stay away. This and more underscore the need for urgent action from Placer County."

North Tahoe Preservation Alliance President Ann Nichols, stated: "Rather than protect and preserve a national treasure, the focus, with the help of developers and their lobbyists, seems to be on finding new ways to build out the Basin in service of attracting more and more people to come here. If Placer County truly cares about protecting the environment and the impacted community's public safety, and not just developer profit margins, it will act now to prepare an EIR. Placer County has so far refused, only providing an environmental checklist. The County has ignored thousands of pages of public comment during hearings. Now it's time for a judge to decide."

Friends of West Shore added: "Placer is relying on the outdated 2016 Environmental Impact Report completed for the TBAP (and 2012 analysis for the Regional Plan that guides the Area Plans). However, CEQA requires additional comprehensive analysis when circumstances have changed, there are new or significant environmental effects or additional mitigation measures that could be adopted to mitigate impacts but were declined. Community and local conditions such as traffic, wildfire danger and its spread, and visitor populations have dramatically changed since 2016. In addition, different large development projects are now on the table. The TBAP must be considered in this updated context," said Judith Tornese, FOWS President.

However, the Addendum fails to analyze new and more severe impacts associated with the amendments, including:

Impacts associated with existing conditions with regards to traffic, wildfire danger and current fire movement trends, current north and west shore population, and visitation, plus the impacts from increasing these populations as proposed;

conditions with regards to traffic, wildfire danger and current fire movement trends, current north and west shore population, and visitation, plus the impacts from increasing these populations as proposed; Emergency Evacuation and access for responders;

Current CEQA Guidance for Analyzing and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts of Development Projects;

Cumulative Impacts of other approved but not yet constructed projects in the area;

Impact of the proposed reduction in parking requirements on congestion and spillover to residential streets.

Underscoring the evacuation crisis, Doug Flaherty, a retired fire battalion chief, and TahoeCleanAir.org President, said, "Government officials have demonstrated that they prefer to ignore or punt the creation of a critically needed data-driven roadway by roadway evacuation capacity evaluation, even though fire agencies have stated that 'we have a long way to go to protect the Tahoe Basin and our citizens with fuel reduction and evacuation planning.'" Flaherty went on to say, "No data-driven, worst-case fire evacuation capacity based plan currently exists. Communities are gravely concerned about the current unsafe gridlock on our two-lane roads which will only be exacerbated by these amendments making evacuations that much more difficult."

SOURCE North Tahoe Preservation Alliance
Teamsters, Labor Allies Challenge Discriminatory Law That Hurts Public Sector Workers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Teamsters and a coalition of labor unions filed a lawsuit to restore collective bargaining rights for public sector workers in Wisconsin.

The lawsuit, filed in Dane County Circuit Court, asserts existing Wisconsin law unconstitutionally discriminates against the majority of public sector workers, denying them access to collective bargaining, and forcing workers to recertify their unions every year.

"Thousands of public sector workers in Wisconsin are under attack by their own state government and, just like with all workers in this country, they need as much help as possible to restore and protect their rights and freedoms," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien. "The Teamsters are demanding an end to the repressive law that has hurt public service workers in Wisconsin so that their collective bargaining rights can be restored and respected."

Under Wisconsin law Act 10, public sector workers are limited to bargaining over base wages, and do not have the freedom to negotiate with their employers over many working conditions, including safety and health standards, benefits, just cause language, and grievance procedures.

Only certain workers arbitrarily designated by Act 10 as "public safety" employees have the ability to fully bargain. That narrow category excludes many workers who perform public safety functions, as well as other workers who perform demanding jobs necessary for the public welfare. In many Wisconsin towns and counties, this has led to a shortage of workers willing to serve in such roles.

"It's very simple  Wisconsin's Act 10 hurts working families. It's patently unfair to strip public sector workers of their fundamental rights, and it's time for officials in Wisconsin to right this wrong," said Bill Carroll, President of Teamsters Joint Council 39. "All workers who are vital to our communities  including those who maintain our roads, and work in courthouses and for municipal public works departments  deserve an equal voice and representation."

"The Teamsters Union stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our labor allies in the fight to secure collective bargaining rights for all workers. Wisconsin's public sector workers deserve a seat at the table, to be able to bargain for good wages, benefits, and working conditions," said Larry Wedan, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 695 in Madison.

Plaintiffs include Teamsters Local 695, Abbotsford Education Association (WEAC/NEA), AFSCME Locals 47 and 1215, Beaver Dam Education Association (WEAC/NEA), SEIU Wisconsin, and Teaching Assistants Association (TAA/AFT) Local 3220.

The Teamsters represent more than 18,000 private and public sector workers with four local unions across Wisconsin.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
DAKAR, Senegal, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global cross-border payments network, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Small World Money Transfer, a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses. In this ever-evolving cross-border payments landscape, this collaboration is poised to redefine mobile wallet services across Senegal, ensuring that Wave Wallet account holders can directly receive remittances into their wallets via instant bank transfers from the EU and UK , using Small World Money Transfer.

At the heart of this partnership is the recognition of the hurdles Senegalese expatriates encounter when attempting to send money back home, leaving customers yearning for a more convenient and secure alternative. This partnership solves for these challenges, enabling a seamless, secure, accessible, and instant solution for customers sending money to their loved ones in Senegal.

Stanley Wachs, Managing Director, Northern Europe, Africa & Asia at Small World Money Transfer, expresses excitement about the partnership, "We are delighted to announce that Small World Money Transfer is now available on all major mobile wallet services in Senegal with the latest addition of WAVE mobile wallet through TerraPay."

He adds, "At the heart of our mission is the drive to provide customers with the means to send money to friends, family and loved ones in the most cost-effective way. And we have been working tirelessly to offer our clients the best possible service in an easy, fast and secure manner. This partnership will provide more convenience and options for our customers sending money to Senegal."

"We are stoked to join forces with Small World Money Transfer," said Miller Rodriguez, Strategic Relationship and Sales Manager, Europe - UK, TerraPay. "This partnership is another step to strengthen our continuous efforts towards simplifying cross-border remittances. Together, we are able to make money transfers more accessible, user-friendly, and seamless for the people of Senegal, connecting them to their friends and family across the world. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile wallets in the region, we are committed to enhancing the cross-border payments landscape while boosting financial inclusion."

Small World Money Transfer, known for enabling over 3 million customers to make payments online as well as through a vast physical network, has been the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates worldwide. This partnership not only aligns with TerraPay's commitment to driving global financial inclusioun but also helps extend the company's reach and capabilities, with a particular focus on the Senegalese market. The integration of Small World Money Transfer into the TerraPay network ensures customers in Senegal can experience seamless and instant money transfers directly to their Wave Wallet accounts without any additional challenges and complexities.

This partnership announcement comes at a crucial time when the demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions is rapidly rising. It addresses this growing need by introducing a simple yet transformative solution, providing customers with more options and greater convenience in sending money.

About TerraPay:

TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere  providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making movement of money instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses  ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces  while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Bangalore, Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Hague, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa.

About Small World Money Transfer:

Small World is a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses enabling over 3 million customers making payments online or via a physical network of more than 250,000 locations, 10,000 agents and 80 stores across 196 countries. Small World is the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates around the world to send money safely and easily to their loved ones back home in Senegal. www.smallworldfs.com

Contact:

Juveria Samrin

juveria.n@terrapay.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg
NYSE American  UEC

CASPER, Wyo. and BELLEVUE, Wash., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - TerraPower and Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC) (the "Company" or "UEC") announced today a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with objectives of reestablishing domestic supply chains of uranium fuel. This MOU will allow TerraPower and UEC to explore the potential supply of uranium for TerraPower's first-of-kind Natrium reactor1 and energy storage system.

The Natrium demonstration project, being built in Kemmerer, Wyoming, will be a commercial scale plant upon completion and will begin operations within a decade.

UEC and TerraPower have made significant investments in the nuclear fuel cycle and commercial scale deployment of clean energy projects that will directly benefit the U.S. economy. This includes delivering carbon-free power, high paying jobs, and providing support for establishing a robust U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain for Small Modular ("SMR") and Advanced Reactors ("AR") and their high assay low enriched uranium ("HALEU") requirements. These new reactors, like TerraPower is advancing in Wyoming, present innovative leaps in technology that can help address the world's growing clean energy needs with abundant 24/7, carbon-free power.

SMRs and ARs present the fastest growing segment of nuclear energy in the United States and need a secure, domestic fuel supply chain. The first step of the supply chain is uranium, and UEC's Wyoming resources have the critical mass to be a highly reliable source of uranium for American HALEU and a good strategic fit to supply TerraPower's Natrium reactor.

Wyoming's Governor Mark Gordon stated "This MOU is a great step forward for the Wyoming uranium industry, which is host to the largest uranium reserves in the United States. It makes no sense to depend on Russian uranium and enrichment technology, when a fully domestic fuel source can be found here in Wyoming and manufactured in the United States. TerraPower chose Wyoming as a partner for their Natrium advanced nuclear reactor plant. Once again, they are demonstrating leadership and commitment to a nuclear future in Wyoming through this MOU with Uranium Energy Corp."

"TerraPower continues to move forward in bringing the Natrium reactor to market, and that includes establishing our fuel supply chain," said Chris Levesque, TerraPower President and CEO. "A robust, domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel is crucial as we deploy the next generation of nuclear energy. Wyoming has long been a leader in uranium mining, and we look forward to collaborating with UEC on the potential opportunity for Wyoming uranium to fuel our first reactor."

Amir Adnani, UEC President and CEO stated: "UEC is pleased to form strategic relationships that support the emerging uranium demand from SMRs and ARs, and we look forward to working with TerraPower and the prospect of providing the uranium they need to operate their Wyoming Natrium reactor. In these geopolitically complex times, UEC's vision is to be the leading provider of conflict-free, American uranium for the existing, as well as the new reactors that will come online."

The Natrium technology is a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor coupled with a molten salt-based energy storage system than can boost power output to 500-megawatts to serve peak demand: making it the ideal technology to pair with energy grids that have high penetrations of renewable resources. The Natrium reactor is the only advanced reactor that can provide stability to the grid with clean, baseload energy while seamlessly boosting output to meet variable power needs.

UEC's Wyoming production platform includes a portfolio of over 20 uranium projects, that in total contain the largest S-K 1300 compliant resource base in the United States. Four of the projects in the Powder River Basin are fully permitted for in-situ recovery ("ISR") production including the Irigaray Central Processing Plant and Christensen Ranch ISR facilities in Johnson County, Wyoming where UEC's initial production will be focused.

About TerraPower

TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world's most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world's public and private sectors to use advanced nuclear to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at https://terrapower.com/ .

About Uranium Energy Corp

Uranium Energy Corp is the fastest growing supplier of the fuel for the green energy transition to a low carbon future. UEC is the largest, diversified North American focused uranium company, advancing the next generation of low-cost, environmentally friendly ISR mining uranium projects in the United States and high-grade conventional projects in Canada. The Company has two production-ready ISR hub and spoke platforms in South Texas and Wyoming. These two production platforms are anchored by fully operational central processing plants and served by seven U.S. ISR uranium projects with all their major permits in place. Additionally, the Company has diversified uranium holdings including: (1) one of the largest physical uranium portfolios of U.S. warehoused U3O8; (2) a major equity stake in Uranium Royalty Corp., the only royalty company in the sector; and (3) a Western Hemisphere pipeline of resource stage uranium projects. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining.

Stock Exchange Information:

NYSE American: UEC

WKN: AJDRR

ISN: US916896103

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

_____________________________ 1 A TerraPower and GE Hitachi technology

SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp
ORRVILLE, Ohio, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) has achieved a rating of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index, a report published by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that evaluates companies on equality and inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees.

"We have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment where every employee feels welcome, supported and celebrated, and this recognition is a powerful reflection of the progress we have made," said Chair of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Smucker. "This achievement is thanks to the passion and hard work of people and teams across our organization. I would like to specifically share my appreciation for our PRIDE Alliance employee resource group, which has provided perspective and leadership as we've evolved resources, policies and practices that support and protect our LGBTQ+ community."

The score reflects the Company's continued progress over more than a decade to offer necessary support, enhance benefits and expand employee education and training, as well as the positive role the Company has played in promoting allyship, understanding and acceptance in its communities.

Since 2002, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has driven progress in the business environment by releasing their annual Corporate Equality Index, a metric-based approach to scoring organizations based on the following categories:

Workforce Protections

Inclusive Benefits

Supporting an Inclusive Culture

Corporate Social Responsibility

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Participation in the CEI has grown from 319 participants in its first year to 1,384 participants in 2023-2024. The J.M. Smucker Co.'s efforts in satisfying all the CEI's criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

About The J.M. Smucker Co.

At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America. We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day including Folgers, Dunkin', Cafe Bustelo, Jif, Smucker's Uncrustables, Smucker's, Hostess, Voortman, Milk-Bone and Meow Mix. Through our unwavering commitment to producing high quality products, operating responsibly and ethically and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com.

The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Dunkin', which is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC. The Dunkin' brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Co. for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce and drug stores, and in certain away from home channels. This information does not pertain to products for sale in Dunkin' restaurants.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.
CHICAGO and LONDON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, global markets technology platform provider Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT) captured the award for Derivatives Trading System of the Year for its TT platform at the 2023 FOW International Awards. The awards were presented at a dinner ceremony last night, following the Trading London Conference.

Trading Technologies won the 2023 FOW International Award for Derivatives Trading System of the Year.

The recognition follows the platform's win of the same category at the FOW Asia Capital Markets Awards in September. The TT platform was also named Best Solution for Futures Trading at the TradingTech Insight USA Awards in June.

TT CEO Keith Todd said: "This has been another pivotal year for TT as we've further strengthened our derivatives offering while laying the foundation for a robust capability in other asset classes as well as multi-asset data and analytics. We'll accelerate this even further in the coming year, not only enabling us to attract new clients and appeal directly to the buy side, but providing our listed derivatives clients with the ability to do so much more across asset classes right from the TT platform. We're grateful to FOW and its panel of independent judges for recognizing the important achievements this year."

Among the judges' comments was: "Strong submission from Trading Technologies, proving once again why they are the industry leaders!"

The FOW International Awards recognize outperformance, innovation and achievement for firms and individuals in the derivatives industry. Winners are selected by a panel of independent, expert judges with extensive experience from across the derivatives markets.

About Trading Technologies

Trading Technologies ( www.tradingtechnologies.com ) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology platform provider to the global capital markets industry. The company's award-winning TT platform connects to the world's major international exchanges and liquidity venues in listed derivatives alongside a growing number of asset classes, including fixed income and cryptocurrencies. The TT platform delivers advanced tools for trade execution and order management, market data solutions, analytics, trade surveillance, risk management and infrastructure services to the world's leading sell-side institutions, buy-side firms and exchanges. The company's blue-chip client base includes the Tier 1 banks as well as brokers, money managers, hedge funds, proprietary traders, Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), commercial hedgers and risk managers. These firms rely on the TT ecosystem to manage their end-to-end trading operations. In addition, exchanges utilize TT's technology to deliver innovative solutions to their market participants. TT also strategically partners with technology companies to make their complementary offerings available to Trading Technologies' global client base through the TT ecosystem.

SOURCE Trading Technologies
Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins Slot has announced the allocation of EUR 2.5 billion in assistance to Ukraine for the next year.

"In Skopje for the Ministerial Council of the OSCE, the largest regional security organization in the world. [] The ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine is central to this. During the meeting, I sent a strong signal to Russia: we will continue to support Ukraine unabated," she said on X Social Network on Thursday.

The OSCE Ministerial Council also looked back at a recent meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Brussels, the minister said.

"Unity among NATO allies is strong. We will continue our support for Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression. The Dutch package of EUR 2.5 billion for 2024 underlines our support for Ukraine. The first 'NATO-Ukraine Council' with my Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba also shows our growing cooperation," she said.

"As NATO allies, we have also discussed cooperation and coordination between the EU and NATO with Josep Borrell, for example to strengthen European defense production capacity. This is crucial for our collective defense," Bruins Slot said.

According to the minister, the situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and human rights violations by Russia and Belarus were also discussed.
DENVER, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GoldBug announced today that its Travel Bug Soft Sided Car Mirror was named as a winner in Good Housekeeping's 2024 Family Travel Awards. The full list of awards can be found on goodhousekeeping.com/familytravel2024.

Travel Bug Soft Sided Car Mirror Selected as Good Housekeeping 2024 Family Travel Awards Winner

The Travel Bug Soft Sided Car Mirror is a must-have travel essential, designed to give parents peace of mind while on-the-go. The mirror is functional for both rear-and-forward facing car seats, providing a clear view of children in the backseat. As part of GoldBug's safety protocols, this convex, wide-angled mirror is crash tested and has multiple performance enhancing features including a soft frame, shatter resistant mirror, a horizontal and vertical strap system that keeps the mirror secure and webbing that incorporates a UV stabilizer designed to hold up under prolonged daily use.

"We are thrilled to be receiving this honor from Good Housekeeping and for being recognized as a 2024 Family Travel Awards winner," said Sholeh Mirzai, Chief Merchandising Officer of GoldBug. "Our goal is to provide parents and caretakers with smart solutions that make everyday travel more enjoyable. Winning a Good Housekeeping 2024 Family Travel Award reinforces our mission to create products with great care, quality and intention bringing ease and comfort to parents."

Good Housekeeping testers said that the Soft Sided Car Mirror is sturdier than other car mirrors and noted, "It doesn't move while driving, which is sometimes challenging with other mirrors." One tester stated that the mirror stayed put despite being "kicked and hit by thrown toys." Users of the Soft Sided Car Mirror also love that the product is lightweight and flat, making it easy to pack in a suitcase.

Travel gear was evaluated in the GH Institute Labs and on the go during real-world travels. Judges considered durability, ease of use, comfort, convenience, innovation, performance and other factors. Testers experienced destinations, attractions and travel services to provide insight into aspects like family-friendliness, service level, amenities, activities, inclusivity, sustainability and more.

The Travel Bug brand is known for its innovative baby gear that makes everyday life easier (and more fun!) for families on-the-go and everywhere in between. Travel Bug's time-saving smart solutions help parents feel like they have an extra set of hands in those busy, sometimes stressful moments. Pulling on decades of experience developing children's products, and as parents themselves, Travel Bug's team understands the importance of products that are convenient, versatile, affordable and dependable. Their high-level of expertise is crucial to creating products that parents and kids can trust.

The Travel Bug Soft Sided Mirror is available on Amazon and retails for $15.99. For more information on Travel Bug, visit www.amazon.com/stores/TravelBug

About GoldBug

GoldBug is a leader in the infant and children's accessories market. GoldBug was founded over 50 years ago and has a strong history of creating innovative, quality products under its own brands and as a licensee for leading national brands. The company is a woman-owned enterprise, led by Katherine Gold, CEO and President. Katherine is a respected voice and philanthropist working to improve maternal health outcomes, and she sits on the Boards of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), Delivering Good, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver.

Media Contact:

Sholeh Mirzai

[email protected]

SOURCE GoldBug Inc.
Annual rating is the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality

DUBLIN, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive human resources solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs),, has received a score of 95 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. TriNet joins the ranks of 1384 major U.S. businesses that were also ranked in the 2023-2024 CEI.

TriNet receives an assessment of 95 from the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index.

"TriNet is committed to fostering an inclusive culture for our colleagues and the SMBs we serve," said TriNet President and CEO Burton M. Goldfield. "When we make diversity, inclusion, and most importantly, a sense of belonging a priority within organizations, the result is more innovation, creativity, and opportunity for all of us. This ranking from the HRC is a testament to the work TriNet is doing to support members of the LGBTQ+ community and beyond."

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool  a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families."

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;

Supporting an inclusive culture; and,

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About TriNet

TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization (PEO) and human resources information system (HRIS) services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters mostgrowing their business and enabling their people. For more information, visit TriNet.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders from the United Nations and Microsoft Corp. on Thursday announced a partnership that will enable the UNFCCC to create a new AI-powered platform and global climate data hub to measure and analyze global progress in reducing emissions. This will dramatically simplify the process to validate and analyze climate data submitted by the 196 Parties to the Paris Agreement.

The partnership comes at a critical time, as the world's governments come together at COP28, organized by the UNFCCC and the COP28 UAE Presidency, to take stock of the slow progress in meeting the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement.

"The world must move faster to reduce carbon emissions. Simply put, you can't fix what you can't measure, and these new AI and data tools will allow nations to measure emissions far better than they can today," said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft.

"The Paris Agreement provides the framework for all the world's nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees," said Simon Stiell, UNFCCC executive secretary. "Climate change is a global emergency that goes beyond borders. It will require technology for adaptation and mitigation. Progress also requires collaboration from trusted partners to develop the tools that the framework requires to be delivered. We are happy to work with Microsoft in this effort."

Aggregating and analyzing carbon data today is time consuming and often done through manual methods. Under the agreement, Microsoft will build a new platform to provide digital support to the UNFCCC's Enhanced Transparency Framework. This platform will enable advanced analysis of global climate data through the creation of a new global climate data hub and an AI-powered data analytics platform. This will equip UNFCCC and member states with the tools they need to efficiently report and validate progress toward carbon reduction targets. This includes tracking transportation, agriculture, industrial processes, and other sources of carbon emissions. It will also provide UNFCCC and member states with tools to plan carbon reduction strategies using simulations, benchmarks, and data visualizations to help inform targeted actions, saving time and money.

This work will also include the creation of Global Climate Dashboards for publication on UNFCCC website, increasing transparency, accountability, and ultimately informing meaningful climate action.

Microsoft has committed $3 million over two years to help enable the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework and the Global Stocktake mechanisms established by the Paris Agreement.

Enacted in 2015, the Paris Agreement commits countries to reducing emissions to slow the impact of climate change, and to strengthen these commitments over time. Implementation of the Paris Agreement is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Microsoft and the UNFCCC will also partner to host a series of events intended to accelerate climate action in the UNFCCC Pavilion (Blue Zone) at COP28.

About UNFCCC

The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. UNFCCC stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

SOURCE Microsoft Corporation
DUBLIN, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "United States Chocolate Market Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The United States chocolate market is growing by variety of factors such as rising demand for dark chocolates among younger generation and increasing demand for low-fat chocolates in the country.

The United States chocolate market is characterized by a moderately consolidated presence, with major global and regional players holding a significant proportion of the market. Major players in the market include the Hershey Company, Ferrero Group, Lindt & Sprungli (USA) Inc., etc.

The key players in the United States chocolate market adopt a variety of strategies to strengthen their position in the market, including the introduction of new products, mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships. Additionally, marketing campaigns are adopted by the major players to increase their market presence and offerings.

Furthermore, manufacturers in the market have been focusing on special occasions such as Valentine's Day, Easter, and Christmas by offering chocolates in a range of colors and shapes to match the theme.



Chocolate manufacturers have been experimenting with new flavors and ingredients to meet changing consumer preferences in the United States. This includes the use of herbs & fruits as well as other ingredients to create new and innovative chocolate experiences. While many people are shifting to healthier eating habits, chocolate is still a popular treat and gift for various occasions, including anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays.



United States Chocolate Market Drivers



The United States chocolate market is driven by variety of factors such as high level of demand in the country, strong consumer base, and a consistent consumption pattern. In the United States, people buy chocolates twice a week, and sales are higher during holidays and weekends because people are more likely to reward others with chocolates.

The United States has the largest market share of chocolate consumption in North America, as well as the highest production volume. Despite the saturated nature of the overall market, the market for dark chocolates is experiencing significant growth in the United States. This is owing to the growing consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of chocolates.



The growing demand for chocolates with functional advantages is also driving the growth of the United States chocolate market. Chocolate products with functional advantages, such as reduced stress, enhanced concentration, or improved sleep, can capitalize on the rapidly expanding health and wellness market.



United States Chocolate Market Trends



As consumers move toward a healthier lifestyle to improve quality of their life, they are increasingly shifting to natural and organic products such as chocolates. Increasing awareness of products through digital media and social media is helping to educate consumers about the advantages of organic products, which drives the growth of the United States chocolate market. Organic chocolate bars are becoming increasingly popular, providing a lucrative opportunity for chocolate manufacturers to capitalize on the potential markets.



The consumption of dark chocolates is rising in the United States due to its health-promoting qualities and increasing demand among younger generation. Health awareness is on the rise across the nation, and this trend is of great importance to consumers. There are various benefits associated with dark chocolates such as improving memory, increasing immunity, reducing stress, and improving mood.

Despite the high prices of dark chocolates, only a small portion of consumers currently purchase them. However, the penetration rate is steadily increasing. This has also led to the leading chocolate companies such as Lindt and Godiva promoting their premium dark chocolates as gifts, as many consumers who prioritize the quality & brand of the chocolate purchase them.



United States Chocolate Market Challenges



A major challenge in the United States chocolate market is rising health & wellness concerns among consumers which may hinder the growth of the United States chocolate market during the forecast period. In recent years, there has been a heightened focus on the health implications of excessive consumption of sugar and fat in chocolate products. As a result, consumers are increasingly looking for healthier alternatives to chocolate, prompting the traditional chocolate sector to innovate and develop healthier alternatives.



Rising competition from substitutes also impede the growth of the United States chocolate market. The chocolate market is facing significant competition from a variety of other snack products, such as nut snacks, healthier bars, granolas, and fruit snacks. These products are seen as healthier alternatives to chocolates and may lead to a shift in consumer preferences from chocolate-based products.



Changing consumer preferences may hinder the growth of the United States chocolate market during the forecast period. Chocolate manufacturers must adjust to the ever-changing needs of consumers to maintain consumer engagement. This can be achieved through the introduction of novel flavors, variations, and packaging options.



United States Chocolate Market Opportunities



Consumers nowadays make decisions based on environmental and ethical considerations. This provides an opportunity for companies that focus on sustainable cocoa sourcing, fair trade processes, and open supply chains to draw in socially conscious consumers.



The increasing trend of personalization and customization products in younger generation of United States provide opportunity for the companies to produce customized chocolates to cater to this trend and attract consumers toward their products. Providing customized chocolate packaging, such as customized shapes, messaging, or flavors can lead to a more captivating and memorable customer experience.



The rising popularity of e-commerce sector in the United States provides opportunity to various companies. Online shopping and e-commerce are becoming more popular in the United States, and chocolate companies are looking for new ways to get their products out there. Companies can do this by building their online presence, offering fast shipping, and using social media to get their message out there. Additionally, partnering with other brands or influencers provides an opportunity for chocolate companies to expand their presence and tap into new customer bases.





Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the United States chocolate market.

The Hershey Company

Mars Incorporated

Ferrero U.S.A. , Inc.

, Inc. Lindt & Sprungli ( USA ) Inc.

) Inc. Theo Chocolate, Inc.

Fran's Chocolates, Ltd.

Recchiuti Confections

TCHO Ventures, Inc.

Bon Bon Bon, LLC

The Chickasaw Nation (Bedre Fine Chocolate)

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Growing demand among younger generation

Increasing internet penetration

Rising health consciousness among consumers

Trends & Developments

Innovative flavors and ingredients

Personalization & customization

Growing e-commerce sector

Increasing demand of vegan chocolates

Growing popularity of organic products

Challenges

High competition among companies

Increasing competition from substitutes

Voice of Customer Analysis (B2C Model Analysis)

Brand Awareness

Frequency of Consumption

Factors Influencing the Purchase Decision

Challenges Faced After Purchase

Report Scope:



United States Chocolate Market, By Product Type:

Milk Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

White Chocolate

United States Chocolate Market, By Category:

Countline

Tablets

Chocolate Pouches and Bags

Boxed Chocolates

Others

United States Chocolate Market, By Distribution Channel:

Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

Convenience Stores

Online

Others

United States Chocolate Market, By Region:

South

Midwest

West

Northeast

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rg17pg

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. international Trade Commission (ITC) today ruled 4-0 in favor of the domestic industry that dumped and subsidized lumber imports from Canada continue to be a threat to the U.S. industry. This means the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Canadian softwood lumber will remain in place.

The ITC examined and found that improvements in the U.S. softwood lumber industry, such as increases in production, capital investments, and employment, were related to the antidumping and the countervailing duty orders. The ITC also determined that the continuation or recurrence of dumping and subsidization would likely harm the U.S. industry if the orders against unfairly traded Canadian imports were taken away.

The U.S. Department of Commerce had previously found that if the orders were revoked Canadian dumping would resume at a margin of up to 7.28 percent and subsidization at a rate of up to 19.62 percent.

"The facts before the International Trade Commission were clear  unfairly traded imports from Canada cause real harm to U.S. producers and workers," said Andrew Miller, Chairman of the U.S. Lumber Coalition and CEO of Stimson Lumber. "The ruling by the Commission means the softwood lumber trade cases can continue to help offset Canadian lumber subsidies and dumping, allowing the domestic industry to compete against unfairly traded imports from Canada."

"The U.S. Lumber Coalition fully supports the continued full enforcement of America's trade laws against unfairly traded imports. Today's ruling was paramount for the long-term confidence in the U.S. softwood lumber sawmilling industry to continue to make the investments in employees and mill operations necessary to supply the U.S. market to build American homes," concluded Miller.

About the U.S. Lumber Coalition

The U.S. Lumber Coalition is an alliance of large and small softwood lumber producers from around the country, joined by their employees, and woodland owners, working to address Canada's unfair lumber trade practices. Our goal is to serve as the voice of the American lumber community, and effectively address Canada's unfair softwood lumber trade practices, including its gross underpricing of timber. For more information, please visit the Coalition's website at www.uslumbercoalition.org.

CONTACT: Zoltan van Heyningen

[email protected] | 202-805-9133

SOURCE The U.S. Lumber Coalition
The rise in demand for water across the globe along with technological advancements in venturi tubes drive the growth of the venturi tubes market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Venturi Tubes Market by Product Type (Traditional and Smart), Distribution Channel (Online and Offline), and End User Industry (Oil And Gas, Chemical, Water And Wastewater, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global venturi tubes market was valued at $716.7 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $1,549.7 million by 2032, registering a CAGR of 6.5% from 2023 to 2032.

Request PDF Sample Copy @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4076

Prime determinants of growth

Growth in concern toward efficient water management and rise in industrial sectors drive the growth of the venturi tubes market. However, high cost associated with venturi tubes restricts the market growth. On the contrary, growth in technological advancements is expected to present new opportunities in the coming years.

Report coverage & details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Historic Period 2020-2021 Market Size in 2020 $716.7 million Market Size in 2032 $1,549.7 million CAGR 6.5 % No. of Pages in Report 184 Segments covered Product Type, Distribution Channel, End User Industry, and Region. Drivers Increase in demand for water across the globe

Need for efficient water management

Rise in industrial sectors Opportunities Technical advancements in venturi tubes Restraints High cost associated with venturi tubes materials



Large number of service providers



The Traditional segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product type, the traditional segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the venturi tubes market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Standard venturi tubes are economical and easy to interpret. Furthermore, a wide range of standard venturi tubes is available in the market, which increases its applicability. For instance, single and multi-jet venturi tubes are types of inferential meters that are suitable for use in residential buildings, commercial buildings, and small industries. Intellimeter Canada Inc. and Hebei Shanghong Venturi Tubes Technology Co., Ltd. are renowned providers of standard venturi tubes. Increase in the need for efficient use of water management is expected to positively influence the use of standard venturi tubes in developing regions, owing to its low initial costs. However, the smart segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR owing to growth in the need for efficient water management, which has increased the demand for smart venturi tubes from private as well as public utility providers. Smart venturi tubes can be equipped with automatic meter reading technology (AMR), which is capable of transferring metering data to central databases for billing and analysis purposes. This eliminates the requirement for physically recording meter readings, thereby reducing the operating cost of utilities. Furthermore, the ultrasonic and electromagnetic technologies of volume measurement are more accurate, less sensitive to flow variations, and suitable for use in areas with high water-suspended particles.

The offline segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on distribution channel, the offline segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than three-fifths of the venturi tubes market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Rise in population and rapid industrialization have significantly increased water demand throughout the globe. As sources of fresh water are limited, the rise in demand has created a need for efficient water management. Thus, increase in awareness about efficient water management has led to rise in the use of venturi tubes as they play a crucial role in reducing end-user wastage of water.

Furthermore, rapid urbanization has significantly increased domestic demand for water in major cities, thereby creating water stress. Hence, to meet increasing domestic water demand and reduce the wastage of water, many local authorities are focusing on the installation of venturi tubes. For instance, in India, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is expected to significantly increase the number of venturi tubes in the coming years and also the venturi tube manufacturers that possess certificate of performance, life cycle, and endurance issued by Fluid Control Research Institute, India. Thus, increase in the involvement of local authorities is positively influencing the offline market. However, the online segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to increase in the cost of water and rise in awareness regarding the efficient use of water. Growth in internet penetration has significantly increased the number of e-commerce platforms. Thus, more companies are now offering their venturi tubes through online distribution channels. Rise in the number of residential and commercial end users has further led to rise in demand for venturi tubes. Furthermore, the ease of buying venturi tubes of various brands from a single platform and benefits such as fast delivery and discount on bulk orders have increased the popularity of online platforms for the distribution of venturi tubes. Amazon.com, Inc., Moglix.com, and India MART are some of the major online distributors of venturi tubes. The extensive use of venturi tubes in developed countries and increase in its adoption in emerging countries is expected to fuel the demand for venturi tubes in the coming years. Furthermore, increase in the popularity of online distribution platforms throughout the globe is expected to boost the online venturi tube distribution market.

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The Oil & Gas segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on end user industry, the oil & gas segment accounted for the largest share in 2022, contributing nearly two-fifths of the venturi tubes market revenue and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Venturi tubes provide precise and accurate measurements of fluid flow rates. In industries such as oil and gas where accurate flow measurements are crucial for various operations and billing purposes, venturi tubes are preferred due to their reliability. In addition, venturi tubes are versatile and can handle various types of fluids, including corrosive or abrasive substances often found in the oil and gas industry. Their design also makes them less prone to wear and tear, enhancing their reliability over time. However, the water & wastewater segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Precise measurement of water flow rates is crucial in water treatment plants and wastewater management facilities. Venturi tubes provide accurate flow measurement even with varying flow rates, making them valuable for monitoring and controlling water movement in these systems.

Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2032

Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly half of the global Venturi tubes market revenue The manufacturing sector in countries such as India and China has witnessed substantial growth in the past few decades, owing to availability of workforce and low-cost manufacturing. Furthermore, Asia consists of China and India, which are the two most populated countries in the world. Thus, high population and rapid growth of industries have increased the demand for water for both domestic and industrial purposes. This has increased the use of venturi tubes for efficient water management. Furthermore, agriculture is a major industry in many countries of the region. Countries such as China, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Japan, are leading producers of water-intensive crops such as rice. This has increased use of venturi tubes by local authorities to monitor the use of water for agricultural purposes. However, LAMEA is expected to grow at the highest CAGR as Latin America is a highly urbanized region and has a population of more than 400 million people. Agriculture is a major industry in Latin America, owing to the availability of fertile land. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.S., water extraction in Latin America has rapidly increased in the past few years and agricultural activities use as much as 70% water in Latin America. Hence, to cope with the increasing demand for water, governments in major Latin American countries such as Brazil and Chile are focusing on efficient water management, which is expected to boost the use of venturi tubes. The Middle East is emerging as a major tourist destination, thereby creating a demand for hospitality buildings such as hotels and resorts. Furthermore, the Middle East experiences low rainfall making efficient water management a necessity. These factors are expected to boost the use of venturi tubes in the Middle East.

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Leading Market Players: -

ADVANCED TECHNOCRACY

ABB

SIEMENS AG

Emerson Electric Co.

Honeywell International Inc.

Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Omega Engineering, Inc.

Badger Meter, Inc.

Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the key players in the venturi tubes market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, expansion, and acquisitions, to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Landmark sites in COP 28 host Dubai are projected to remain above sea level if global warming stops at 1.5 degrees Celsius  but not at 3.0

PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New visualizations released today by Climate Central compare projected sea levels at iconic sites, based on different global warming scenarios. Localized analyses found that well-known areas of Dubai and other United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) host cities, which are projected to remain above sea level if warming is halted at 1.5 Celsius degrees over pre-industrial temperatures, would fall below the high tide line if warming reaches 3.0 degrees.

The site of the Burj Khalifa in COP 28 host city Dubai is projected to remain above sea level if global warming stops at 1.5 degrees Celsius--but it would fall below the high tide line if warming reaches 3.0 degrees.

COP 18 host Doha, Qatar (2012) and COP 20 host Lima, Peru (2014) show similar dependencies in Climate Central's visualized analyses, with local landmarks remaining above sea level if global warming is limited, but falling below the high tide line if temperatures rise above set thresholds. Sites in Casablanca, Morocco and Jakarta, Indonesia  countries that have hosted past COPs  also show diverging futures based on global temperatures. Visualizations for these cities are now available in Climate Central's Picturing Our Future digital library.

"Decisions made at COP 28 will shape the long-term future of Earth's coastal cities, including Dubai," Dr. Benjamin Strauss, Climate Central CEO and chief scientist said. "The survival of these places and their heritage will depend on whether government and industry leaders can agree to cut carbon pollution sharply enough and fast enough to limit global warming to 1.5 Celsius degrees."

Other U.N. Climate Change Conference host cities featured in Picturing Our Future include: Glasgow, Scotland (2021); Durban, South Africa (2011); Copenhagen, Denmark (2009); The Hague, Netherlands (2000), and Buenos Aires (1998). Comparisons of more than 100 sites in 40 countries across multiple warming scenarios are freely available for media, educational, and non-commercial use at: picturing.climatecentral.org.

Analyses beneath Picturing Our Future visualizations are based on peer-reviewed sea level rise projections and localized land heights from Climate Central's digital elevation model, CoastalDEM . While sea levels associated with different levels of sustained warming can be projected with relative confidence, the time it may take for seas to reach those levels depends on an array of complex factors. The sea levels visualized in Picturing Our Future are likely centuries away. The methodology is detailed in the peer-reviewed paper, "Unprecedented Threats to Cities from Multi-century Sea Level Rise," published in 2021 in Environmental Research Letters .

This methodology also supports localized maps from Climate Central comparing future coastlines based on different global warming scenarios, available at: https://coastal.climatecentral.org/map/?theme=warming&map_type=multicentury_slr_comparison

Contact: Peter Girard, vice president of communications, Climate Central: [email protected] or 609-986-1999

About Climate Central

Climate Central is a non-advocacy, non-profit science and news organization providing authoritative information to help the public and policymakers make sound decisions about climate and energy.

SOURCE Climate Central
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vitrolife AB (publ) today announced that it will host a Capital Markets Day presentation for the investment community on 12 December 2023, 10:00-15:30 CET in Stockholm.

Bronwyn Brophy, Chief Executive Officer, and Patrik Tolf, Chief Financial Officer, will be joined by leading experts and practitioners in the reproductive health industry to share their thoughts on the future of infertility care around the world. The Executive Management team will set out the new corporate strategy to drive sustainable, profitable growth capitalising on the mega market trends and leveraging the Vitrolife Group core strengths and capabilities. They will also discuss their plans to bring more much needed innovation to the reproductive health market.

For further detail on the Capital Markets Day, including the agenda and speakers, please visit https://www.vitrolifegroup.com/en/investor-relations/presentations/capital-markets-update-2023. We welcome in-person attendance, where you can also explore the Vitrolife Group marketplace, at Hotel At Six, Brunkebergstorg 6, Stockholm, Sweden. Please RSVP by contacting [email protected] no later than 7 December 2023. Access to a live webcast will be available on our website, beginning 15 minutes prior to the start time of the presentation, and a replay will be available following the event.

Gothenburg, 30 November 2023

VITROLIFE AB (publ)

Contact:

Patrik Tolf, CFO, phone +46 (0) 31 766 90 21

This is a translation of the Swedish version of the press release. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails.

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/1031/3885960/2466467.pdf Vitrolife Group to host Capital Markets Day on 12 December 2023

SOURCE Vitrolife AB (publ)
XUZHOU, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Themed "XCMG Future Creator," the eighth season of XCMG Machinery's (SHE:000425) international talent development program XCMG Apprentice has successfully wrapped up a one-week workshop at XCMG's headquarters in Xuzhou. Six machinery equipment operators, coming from Brazil, Uzbekistan and other countries, visited XCMG's intelligent manufacturing (IM) factory, operated a selection of green and intelligent equipment, including excavators, cranes, and port machines.

XCMG Future Creator: XCMG Apprentice Season 8 Brings Focus to Intelligent Manufacturing and Green Equipment.

During the workshop, XCMG's experts and senior staff led the apprentices to explore the group's achievements in IM, high-end product development, R&D, and global marketing.

XCMG demonstrated the IM capabilities of its loading machines with a focus on intelligence and sustainability. The apprentices not only learned about the pure electric products, toured the IM factory, and also test drove and operated the equipment, including the unmanned loader XC918-EV, remote control loader XC958, super-high-power mining grader GR5505, and skid steer loader XC7-SR07E through an S-turn.

At the heavy equipment division, the apprentices experienced the world's largest all-terrain crane, theXCA3000,and remotely operated the unmanned XCA160L8 crane, which excels in maneuverability and reliability. The apprentices also visited the Ma'anshan Yangtze River Bridge, which adopts the XGT15000-600S tower crane that tackles over 60 core technologies and 20 worldwide technical problems to guarantee superior performance for mega-scale construction.

The apprentices also operated AGVs developed for ports, tried shooting balls into baskets by driving a telescopic boom forklift, and tested several new energy and unmanned trucks for mining, concrete, and more.

At the IM factory, the apprentices explored various production lines and workshops equipped with leading intelligent technologies. The port machinery factory showed the 80 production processes, an automatic welding machine, an intelligent tire bolt tightening machine, and more. While at China's most intelligent heavy truck factory, the apprentices learned about the latest IM technologies, including intelligent coating inspection, robots for automatic punching and welding, AGVs, and more.

Before the one-week workshop in Xuzhou, XCMG Apprentice Season 8 hosted a series of on-site trainings and experience events themed "Dream Mechanical Life" in Brazil, Poland, India, Uzbekistan, and China.

Launched in 2016, XCMG Apprentice, an immersive experience and innovation education program, offers young talents from around the world the opportunity to learn about XCMG, its innovative technologies, and global influence while promoting international exchange in the construction machinery industry.

SOURCE XCMG Machinery
CHANGSHA, China, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to a localization strategy of bringing the best products and services to global consumers, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Zoomlion") continues to explore its business opportunities in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe and recently delivered over 200 units of equipment to Australia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Indonesia.

Zoomlion has sent off more than 40 units of large-tonnage excavators, 40 units of the all-new G Series excavators, and 50 concrete mixer trucks. The superior product performance and adaptability to multiple working conditions have made Zoomlion's equipment products a top choice among construction contractors.

"This is the first time Chinese concrete mixer trucks are exported to the Australian market. The model was developed on the basis of thorough market research and an in-depth understanding of the local working conditions and practical needs of the customers. The product highlights cutting-edge design, comprehensive functionality, superior performance, sleek appearance, high safety and reliability, convenient maneuverability, as well as comfortable operating experience," said Ouyang Wenzhi, general manager of Zoomlion's mixer truck business unit.

Zoomlion emphasizes localization as the core of its business operation and continually integrates R&D, product development, operation management, and services into local economic and social development. In addition to building a professional and practical localized talent teams who are highly efficient, Zoomlion customizes, adapts, and upgrades the products per the local working conditions to create greater value for the local customers.

The structurally reliable and functionally excelling mid- to large-tonnage excavators delivered to Saudi Arabia and Turkey this time are very popular. The best-selling models, such as ZE215G and ZE335G were produced from Zoomlion's advanced intelligent manufacturing production lines with intelligent, digital, and green technologies, boasting significant improvements in fuel consumption, efficiency, and maneuverability while adapting smoothly to the local working conditions.

Zoomlion's continuous efforts in operation localization and extensive experiences in serving and supporting major projects are bringing more new opportunities to the international market. It is expanding and deepening the layout in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as Indonesia and more countries, to launch diversified products that provide all-around construction solutions.

Zoomlion aims to further elevate its advantages of high operational efficiency, safety and reliability, low consumption, and strong adaptability while building an integrated service network to drive development in overseas markets.

SOURCE Zoomlion
France will continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine in 2024, weapons engineer-general Jean-Francois Doc said during a meeting of the Ukrainian and French delegations in Kyiv.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Defense Dmytro Klymenkov and Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk took part in the event from the Ukrainian side. The delegations discussed urgent military needs and the types of weapons with which France could help the Ukrainian army.

This week we have already received funds and will make a payment for the additional purchase of CAESAR self-propelled guns. I thank the French side for the continuous provision of ammunition for these systems. Of course, if possible, I would like to increase the number of guns, Lieutenant General Havryliuk emphasized.

The parties also considered the possibility of strengthening cooperation in the defense sector and establishing logistics support between the countries.

France is making every possible effort to help Ukraine. Our Support Fund is trying to cover part of the costs of purchasing some spare parts and weapons for the Ukrainian side. We understand Ukrainian needs, so next year France will increase the supply of ammunition, noted Doc.
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has called for the development of a European defense union, which, in his opinion, was born with the start of European Union military assistance to Ukraine.

I feel that the time has come to create a real union of defence, coupled with a true defence single market, Michel said at the annual conference of the European Defense Agency (EDA) in Brussels on Thursday.

First, we must fortify our European continent. We must project strength and protection. We must beef up our European defence. A stronger and more capable European defence will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security, of which NATO remains the foundation, the head of the European Council said.

According to him, some ideas are not consensual so far, but they will feed our democratic debate and chart the way forward.

While the idea of European defense is not new, Michel said, events in Ukraine and the increasingly unstable security environment have given it "new urgency." So we must confront todays changing security paradigm. With war on our doorstep, our ambition must match the urgency, he believes.

The President of the European Council pointed out the need to focus on two goals.

First, our ironclad military support for the people of Ukraine, because Ukraines security is our security, the security of all of us. Second, we must make our European defence stronger. Now, tomorrow, and in the future, Michel stated.

Noting the EU's "unprecedented military assistance" to Ukraine, he called "to do more." More missiles, more ammunition, more air defence systems. And faster. This is an obligation: an obligation towards the Ukrainian people and towards our own citizens. By protecting Ukraine, we protect ourselves, the head of the European Council stressed.

At the same time, Michel admitted that the supply of a million shells to Ukraine will take slightly more time than we hoped, but assured: It will happen.

The head of the European Council believes that our continued strong military support also sends a signal to EU partners, especially American allies that the European Union takes its security more seriously than ever.

In addition, Michel called for more effective coordination of European defense spending, a greater role for the EDA and increased funding for the defense industry.
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CHENGDU, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- A 238-km section of the Sichuan-Qinghai railway in western China became operational on Tuesday after 12 years of construction. The first high-speed passenger train was launched at around 11 a.m. from Maoxian County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, heading for Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan. The railway crosses the rugged, earthquake-prone plateau region in northwest Sichuan, and takes a detour to avoid disturbing the Giant Panda National Park. Yongqingtsu, the conductor in charge of Tuesday's train service, described the trip of about an hour as "smooth and comfortable." Because the railway is built mostly in mountains, "more than half of the journey is in tunnels, which is like riding the subway," he said. The constant change of elevations also makes the trip, at a speed of 170 km per hour in the tunnel, like riding a super long escalator, he added. The tunnels were drilled through the famous Longmenshan fault zone, where a lot of devastating earthquakes had struck, including an 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12, 2008. Wang Zhigang, who is in charge of construction projects undertaken by the China Railway 12th Bureau Group Co. Ltd., said engineers and builders had tackled numerous formidable obstacles with breakthroughs in technology and construction methods during 12 years of harsh work in the construction. Another highlight of the railway construction is great attentions paid to the protection of the wild panda habitat. China officially launched the Giant Panda National Park in 2021 that covers parts of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. In order to minimize the impact on ecological corridors that are crucial to exchanges between different groups of giant pandas, the railway either makes detours or goes through tunnels as deep as possible, said Mu Yalin, of the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd., the designer of the project. "Sometimes we need to do 20 percent extra work in the construction due to the special design," Mu said. The Sichuan-Qinghai railway will eventually stretch northwestward to Xining, the capital city of Qinghai Province. Upon completion of the whole project, the new rail line will connect the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the highest plateau in the world, into the massive high-speed transport network of China, which sets to put the region's development on fast track. The operational line has threaded through an array of cultural and scenic attractions such as the Jiuzhai Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its spectacular waterfalls, lush forests, serene plateau lakes and karst rock formations, and the famed Sanxingdui Ruins featuring the ancient Shu civilization dating back more than 3,000 years. On Tuesday morning, Xiao Jiudan, a staff member at the Maoxian railway station, brought home-grown apples, a local specialty, to passengers as a gift for their maiden trip. At an altitude of some 1,500 meters, Maoxian is the country's largest area inhabited by the people of Qiang ethnic group. They now have a new option of traveling by high-speed trains. "When the railway was still under construction, I saw many investors coming to seek business opportunities. I'm sure that the railway will bring prosperity to my hometown," said Xiao.


The investigating judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) ruled to seize the cryptocurrency that was found during a search at former Head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine Yuriy Schyhol.

The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said on the Telegram channel on Thursday that 1.2 million Tether USDT tokens (worth $1.2 million at the time of exposure), 331 TRX tokens ($35), and 6.9 Bitcoins ($275,000) were seized.

As reported, on November 20, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Yuriy Schyhol as Head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection. Then SAPO and NABU notified him, his deputy, and other officials of suspicion of embezzlement of public funds in the amount of more than UAH 62 million as a result of the implementation of a corruption scheme for the purchase of software for the state service in 2021-2022. Law enforcers suspect that an organized group of six people committed the crime.
Lucknow, Nov 30 : In a setback to Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the party's State Working President Manjeet Singh and State Chief of Minority Wing Arif Mehmood have resigned from the party and its primary membership.

In his resignation sent to RLD Chief Jayant Chaudhary, both have blamed a senior party functionary for ignoring the interests of the Muslims, farmers and the Jat community.

While Chaudhary did not name the leader, party sources said that his reference was towards RLD National General Secretary Trilok Tyagi, who happens to be the National General Secretary (Organisation).

When contacted, Tyagi refused to comment, saying that the matter rested with the party leadership which will take a call on future course of action.

Manjeet Singh said that the voices of the party leaders who wanted to raise issues related to farmers and the minority community were repeatedly crushed.

Singh added that he has been working for the party whole-heartedly since the days of its formation under the leadership of former party President and Jayant's father, Chaudhary Ajit Singh.

Though Singh remained tight-lipped over his next move, sources said that he apparently planned to make a switch over to some other political outfit in the run-up to 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Likewise, Arif Mehmood too resigned from the party, almost a month after a raging row erupted over cancellation of a room allotted to the minority wing in the state party office in Lucknow.

The development triggered a spate of resignations by a host of minority leaders, including Naushad Khan and Shabbir Ali, Minority Wing Presidents of the Kashi and Bundelkhand regions, respectively.

Both Khan and Ali, in their letters sent to Jayant had said that the act of "snatching" a room at the party office was nothing short of "humiliation" for the party workers from the minority community. The incident had culminated in the dissolution of the party's minority wing altogether.

Mehmood categorically blamed Tyagi and party's office In-Charge Ajay Tomar of "insulting" the leaders from the minority community for the past few months.

Mehmood said that he apprised Jayant about the issue, but the RLD Chief did not take cognisance.

The resignation by two state leaders in RLD had exposed the underlying fissures within the outfit, an ally of the Samajwadi Party and one of the key constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh.

Sources said that the Jat leadership within the RLD exercised its dominance even as Muslim leadership jostled for additional space within the party.
Ramallah, Nov 30 : At least two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli army gunfire during its raid on the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The Ministry said on Wednesday in a brief press statement sent to Xinhua news agency that two children were killed as a result of being shot by Israeli forces in the city of Jenin.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, the army conducted a wide-scale arrest campaign in the refugee camp, and evacuated residents in the Damaj neighbourhood from their homes amid intense confrontations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The sources added that the Israeli army also bombed a house with a drone, and demolished infrastructures such as water, electricity and sewage networks with bulldozers.

Jenin has long been a centre for Palestinian resistance groups.

Israel says the camp is a hub for planning and preparing militant attacks as well as a safe haven for fighters funded by Hamas or the Islamic Jihad group.
San Francisco, Nov 30 : X owner Elon Musk stunned the world when he told advertisers to "go f*** yourself" late on Wednesday, after some top companies pulled advertising on his platform over his endorsement of anti-Semitism.

Speaking at The New York Times' DealBook Summit, when Andrew Ross Sorkin asked the X owner about pauses in advertising, Musk replied, "Don't advertise."

"You don't want them to advertise?" Sorkin asked him.

"If somebody's going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself," Musk said.

He then waved to the audience, saying, "Hey Bob," referring to Disney CEO Bob Iger who was also present at the event.

"What this advertising boycott is going to do is kill the company. And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail," he told the audience.

Musk made the remarks as the X CEO Linda Yaccarino sat in the audience.

Musk, in his first interview with mainstream media since his anti-Semitic post, however apologised for what he called his "dumbest" ever social media post on Semitism.

"I mean, look, I'm sorry for that post. It was foolish of me. Of the 30,000 it might be literally the worst and dumbest post I've ever done," he said.

Companies that have paused or pulled advertising on X in the last few weeks include Apple, Comcast/NBCUniversal, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, IBM, Paramount Global, Lionsgate and the European Commission, as Musk promoted anti-Semitic content on X.

More than 100 brands have since halted their ads, and the company is at risk of losing $75 million by the end of the year, according to reports.
San Francisco, Nov 30 : Sam Altman has officially returned to OpenAI as CEO after an intense drama earlier this month, with Microsoft getting a non-voting observer seat on the company's board.

OpenAI's new board consists of chair Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo, the only remaining holdout from the previous board.

Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI, with a 49 percent stake in the for-profit entity that the nonprofit board controls, reports The Verge.

In a memo to employees, Altman said that he harbours "zero ill will" towards Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI's co-founder and chief scientist who was behind Altman's ouster.

"While Ilya will no longer serve on the board, we hope to continue our working relationship and are discussing how he can continue his work at OpenAI," Altman said in the memo.

"The fact that we did not lose a single customer will drive us to work even harder for you," he told employees.

He said that OpenAI will advance research plan and further invest in its full-stack safety efforts.

"Our research roadmap is clear; this was a wonderfully focusing time. I share the excitement you all feel; we will turn this crisis into an opportunity! I'll work with Mira (Murati) on this," Altman said.

OpenAI board chair Taylor told employees that they are thrilled that "Sam, Mira and OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman are back together leading the company and driving it forward".

"We will build a qualified, diverse board of exceptional individuals whose collective experience represents the breadth of OpenAI's mission  from technology to safety to policy. We are pleased that this Board will include a non-voting observer for Microsoft," he added.

Altman was earlier fired as CEO of OpenAI, the developer of AI chatbot ChatGPT, and the earlier board had said it "no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI."

Later, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announced to hire Altman and Brockman to help the company pursue its advanced AI dreams with a new vertical.
Shravasti, Nov 30 : The people of Motipur Kala village in Uttar Pradesh's Shravasti district are getting ready to extend a warm welcome to six of the workers, rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

Out of the 41 labourers rescued on Tuesday night, eight are from Uttar Pradesh of which six are from Shravasti.

Sheela, wife of a rescued worker Ram Sundar, said: "We have made all arrangements for a warm welcome. We have arranged sweets and other favourite food items for Ram Sundar and all the other rescued men of the village."

Ram Sundar's mother Dhanpati said a party would be thrown in the village when the rescued men reach here.

The villagers burst crackers and lit diyas (earthen lamps) when they heard about the safe rescue of their loved ones on Tuesday night.

All the workers were airlifted by the Indian Army's Chinook helicopter from Uttarkashi to Rishikesh on Wednesday afternoon.

Mahesh, brother of a rescued worker Satyadev, said over the phone that all the rescued labourers, including his brother, are healthy.

"And now we want to reach home as soon as possible," he added.

Uttar Pradesh nodal officer for rescue and relief work Arun Kumar Mishra said all the eight rescued men of the state were discharged from the Chinyaisaur community health centre in Uttarkashi on Wednesday afternoon and airlifted to Rishikesh.

They would be examined further at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)-Rishikesh.

Thereafter, the workers and their attendants would be taken to Lucknow from Rishikesh on Thursday.

Later, they would be moved to their villages by the respective subdivisional magistrates.
Lucknow, Nov 30 : Hundreds of passengers aboard the Barauni-Lucknow Express were left stranded at Burhwal railway station in Barabanki due to the departure of the train's loco pilots, one of whom said that his duty hours were over, while the other claimed uneasiness before switching off their duties.

This incident on Wednesday reportedly kept North Eastern Railway (NER) officials on their toes for several hours as they grappled with the challenge of securing another loco pilot to continue the journey to its destination in Lucknow.

Confirming the incident, the NER said in a statement: "Upon reaching Burhwal station, the loco pilot of Train Number 15203 expressed discomfort with proceeding further. In consideration of ensuring safe and secure train operations, arrangements were promptly made for another loco pilot to take over, allowing the train to continue its journey to Lucknow in a safe and secure manner."

A video has also surfaced, featuring an official believed to be the station master, who is heard informing passengers that the loco pilot had declined to continue, but another loco pilot was en route, and normal services would resume shortly.

The official mentioned that the train had arrived at the station around 1 p.m., and due to the unanticipated situation, passengers became agitated, highlighting the railway's apparent lack of preparedness.

This led authorities to expedite the deployment of an alternate loco pilot.

Railway officials explained that the loco pilot's duty hours were completed due to delays in the train schedule.

Consequently, the loco pilot brought in from Gorakhpur stopped the train midway to rest.

A senior official revealed that the train arrived at Burhwal railway station about six to seven hours behind schedule, resulting in the completion of the loco pilot's duty hours.

Subsequently, the loco pilot disembarked from the train after completing his duty.

The train remained halted at Burhwal railway station for approximately two hours until a second loco pilot from the Amrapali train arrived.
Lucknow, Nov 30 : Ajeet Maurya, a social media influencer with two wives, nine children and six girlfriends, was arrested in Lucknow for running fake ponzi- like schemes, circulating fake Indian currency notes, duping people with insurance schemes and several other cases.

Maurya (41) was arrested by the Sarojini Nagar police on Wednesday while he was dining with his wife at a hotel and planning for a flight to an overseas trip for the New Year celebrations.

A class 6 dropout, Maurya told the police that he took to crime as he had to feed two wives, nine children and six girlfriends.

He makes reels on social media sites.

Police got on the conman after an FIR was filed by Dharmendra Kumar, in which he alleged that he was duped of Rs 3 lakhs in the name of doubling the amount by a group of people.

SHO Sarojininagar, Shailendra Giri said that it all started after Maurya, who used to make false Plaster of Paris ceilings in Mumbai, stopped getting work.

"In Mumbai he had married Sangeeta, 40, in 2000 and had seven children with her. He lost his job by 2010 and returned to his village in Gonda, but found no lucrative job," said the police.

Thereafter, he took to crime and his first case of theft and trespassing was registered in Gonda in 2016.

Since then, Mauryat has not looked back.

"Two years later he came in touch with one Sushila ,30, and took to new means of fraud. He started circulation of fake currency notes and floating ponzi like schemes," a senior crime branch personnel added.

The two soon connived with some others and floated an outfit. In 2019, Ajeet married Sushila.

They started living a life of luxury.

Sushila gave birth to two children, the police said.

During the probe, cops also found that Maurya had built two houses, one in which Sangeeta lives and another for Sushila and her children, while he himself lives in a rented accommodation.

Interestingly, he provides his wives with a lavish life and the 'booty' is equally distributed between them.

Cops scanned his call detail records and found that Ajeet had six girlfriends and used to take them on long trips too.

Ajeet's carefully curated social media presence played a pivotal role in attracting women into his orbit.
United Nations, Nov 30 : The India-UN Development Fund (IUNDPF) that has financed 76 projects in 54 countries brings to life New Delhi's philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The World Is One Family) and shows the power of South-South cooperation, according to Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

Speaking at the commemoration of the sixth year of the IUNDPF at the UN headquarters on Wednesday, Mohammed said: "India has long been a champion of South-South cooperation and the global pursuit of the SDGs (UN's Sustainable Development Goals)."

It demonstrates "the remarkable achievements that countries in the UN can accomplish when working together with developing nations", she added.

Mohammed said that the IUNDPF has reached "significant milestones making a positive difference in the most vulnerable of our communities" and gave some examples of its achievements.

In Haiti, she said, it has installed solar water pumping systems for clean water and improving agricultural irrigation.

In Moldova, it strengthened national statistical systems, and in Zimbabwe, it provided drought-resilient seeds, technical training and post-harvest support to small smallholder farmers, Mohammed noted.

General Assembly President Dennis Francis said that the extent of IUNDPF's contributions across the globe "is no small feat, especially in this age of shrunken fiscal spaces, compounded by the impacts of pandemic and other global shocks in recent years".

Of the 76 projects, 28 are in small island developing states, he said, adding: "I'm equally pleased that the Caribbean Community CARICOM, my own region is a major constituency of the funds attention, where it supports innovative, Southern-owned and led demand-driven sustainable development projects."

In his own country, Trinidad and Tobago, one of the projects is a telemedicine system to provide remote care", he said.

India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said: "India stands as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for the Global South. In a world of shifting global dynamics, our nation has risen as not just a voice, but as a representative of the hopes and challenges of developing countries emerging as a global beacon of hope and support.

"Our commitment to the ethos of 'leaving no one behind' is not just rhetoric but a demonstrated reality."

Working also beyond the IUNDPF, Kamboj said that India's development partnerships over the past decade have spanned 78 nations with 600 projects.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Over the past 24 hours, aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out ten strikes on areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment are concentrated, and another one on the anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian invaders, according to operational information on the Russian invasion as of 18:00 of Thursday posted on the page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Ukraine on Facebook.

In turn, units of the Ukrainian missile forces struck over the past 24 hours two more areas of concentration of enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment, three enemy anti-aircraft missile systems, a radar station and an electronic warfare station of the invaders, the report says.
Bahraich, Nov 30 : Forest authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district have successfully captured a female leopard believed to be responsible for the deaths of five individuals, including three children.

The forest department had earlier captured a 10-month-old male cub of the same leopard on November 25.

The female leopard was captured in Loniyanpurva village, located at the border of the Motipur forest range of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.

The divisional forest officer of Bahraich, Akashdeep Badhawan, said that the female leopard, estimated to be around 4-5 years old, was found in good health with no apparent injuries or deformities during a medical examination conducted by a veterinary officer from Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

The leopard, accompanied by her two cubs, had struck fear in the region between August 5 and November 17.

The authorities deployed an array of resources, including 10 strategically placed cages, three thermal drone cameras, two elephants, and field forest teams equipped with dart shooters.

They covered a vast area from the Motipur forest range to the North Kheri Forest division.

The authorities had granted permission to tranquillize the leopard.

"The leopard was caged with the use of advanced GPS (global positioning system)-based technology and followed her trails, including her scat and the remnants of her hunted prey, as the traditional methods of monitoring failed to produce the desired outcome. The position of the cages was altered based on the indicative information elicited due to the application of the innovative strategies," Badhawan added.

"We have urged the chief wildlife warden of Uttar Pradesh, Anajani Kumar Acharya, to specify the destination for the relocation of the leopard and her cub that have been kept under the safe custody of the forest department. We are now focusing on the second cub, which remains elusive," he added.
Tel Aviv, Nov 30 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Tel Aviv in an effort to persuade Israel to extend the ongoing humanitarian truce in Gaza which is set to expire on Thursday.

The original four-day truce in Gaza which was first implemented on November 24 and extended for two more days on Tuesday, will expire at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday, (at about 10.20 a.m. IST).

Blinken's trip comes as Israel is stern that the truce will not be extended as there were reports of 10-month-old-child Kfir Bibas who was kidnapped on October 7 was killed along with his four-year-old brother and mother.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military had said that it was assessing the reports.

The Israel war cabinet that met on Wednesday night was also not keen to extend the ceasefire.

Before he arrived in Israel on Wednesday night, Blinken had said he will be focused on extending the pause in fighting in Gaza "so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in", CNN reported

"We'd like to see the pause extended because what it has enabled, first and foremost is hostages being released and being united with their families," he said.

"It's also enabled us to surge humanitarian assistance into the people of Gaza who so desperately need it.

"So, its continuation, by definition means that more hostages would be coming home, more assistance would be getting in," the top US diplomat added.

Blinken said that he also believes that an extension of the pause is something Israel wants because "they're also intensely focused on bringing people home".

The Secretary of State said he plans to discuss the issue in his meetings with Israeli officials in the coming days.

"We'll discuss with Israel how it can achieve its objective of ensuring that the terrorist attacks of October 7 never happen again, while sustaining and increasing humanitarian assistance and minimizing further suffering and casualties among Palestinian civilians," CNN quoted Blinken as saying.

On Thursday morning, Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades said its fighters should remain in the high-combat readiness position unless an official statement is issued confirming the extension of the truce.

Also in a separate statement, Hamas blamed Israel for an impasse in the ceasefire extension talks.

The Palestinian militant group said Israel had refused an offer to extend the truce in exchange for receiving seven detained women and children and the bodies of three deceased women or children who Hamas claim were killed by Israeli bombardment.

But on a positive note, Qatar -- a key mediator in the ceasefire talks -- is "very optimistic" an extension will be announced, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Doha told CNN late Wednesday night.

However, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff Herzi Halevi said the military is prepared for the next stage of the war in Gaza when the truce ends .

On Wednesday -- the sixth day of the truce -- 16 more hostages were released from Gaza, comprising 10 Israelis, four Thai nationals and two Israeli-Russians.

Also in the day, 30 Palestinians were also freed from Israeli jails.

Since the start of the pause, 210 Palestinians, 68 Israelis, and 20 foreign nationals have reportedly been released.

With several countries including Qatar, Egypt and the US putting preasure on Israel for a truce, it is yet to be seen whether the Jewish nation will abide to the request.

--IANS

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Patna, Nov 30 : A newly-married woman was allegedly killed by her husband and in-laws for dowry in Bihar's Nalanda district.

The incident occurred in Jinda Bigha village under Silav police station in the district late Wednesday night.

"We have received information that a newly married woman was killed allegedly by her husband and in-laws. Accordingly, we reached the crime scene and verified the incident. During investigation, it appeared that the accused, after killing the victim named Mushkan Kumari, hanged her body from the ceiling fan," said Silav police station SHO Rakesh Kumar.

"We have recovered the body and sent it for the post-mortem in Biharsharif's Sadar hospital. We have not received any formal complaint from the victim's family. The preliminary investigation and the statements of neighbours revealed that they had murdered the woman for dowry. The accused are at large. We will nab them soon," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Hours after the US charged an Indian national with conspiracy to assassinate a New York-based Sikh separatist, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that New Delhi needs to take the charge "seriously" and cooperate in the investigations.

Trudeau, who had been claiming since September that Indian agents were involved in the killing of its citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, told CBC News that they have been working closely with their American counterparts on the "serious" allegations.

"The news coming out of the US further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning, which is... India needs to take this seriously," Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday.

"The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this. This is not something that anyone can take lightly," he added.

The Prime Minister further said that his responsibility is to keep "Canadians safe, and that's what we're going to continue to do".

The US prosecutors on Wednesday announced murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta for involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen allegedly on behalf of an Indian government employee.

Neither the "government employee", nor Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, were named in the document.

Pannun was only identified as a "US citizen"

The indictment alleged that the Indian government employee recruited Gupta in or around May 2023 to assassinate Pannun -- a designated terrorist in India.

Gupta, in turn, got in touch with a man he believed to be a "criminal associate" but was actually a confidential source of the US Drug Enforcement Agency.

India has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to look into the security concerns raised by the US government.

As for Canada, High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma said this month that neither Ottawa nor its allies have shown "concrete evidence" backing Trudeau's allegations.

In an interview with a Canadian journalist last week, Verma reiterated that India is only asking for specific and relevant information "so that we can help the Canadian investigators to reach their conclusion".

--IANS

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Indo-Canadian man pleads guilty to smuggling migrants into US. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 30 : A Delhi court has strongly criticised Advocate Mehmood Pracha for making wild and unsupported accusations against Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad in the 2020 national capital riots case.

Pracha, representing one of the accused in the Delhi riots larger conspiracy case, alleged that Prasad had taken money in cash from the Delhi Police based on a private investigation.

Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said that the court does not wish to interfere in these allegations, urging Pracha to take appropriate action if deemed necessary.

The court expressed disapproval of the baseless claims, stating that they were unrelated to the merits of the case.

Pracha represents accused Tasleem Ahmed in FIR 59 of 2020, registered by Delhi Policeas Special Cell under the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

During Ahmedas bail hearing in August, Pracha made personal allegations against Prasad, prompting vehement opposition from the Special Public Prosecutor. In response,

Prasad insisted that, due to the gravity of the allegations, he could not continue as the Special Public Prosecutor in the case.

He challenged Pracha to provide evidence to substantiate the serious accusations against his integrity, including the affidavit of the private investigator.

Furthermore, Prasad raised concerns about a conflict of interest, noting that Pracha had been mentioned by a protected witness in his statement.

The court left this issue open for the prosecutor or the Bar Council of Delhi to consider or take action if deemed necessary.

Despite the conflict of interest allegations, the accused Ahmed insisted on being represented by Pracha.

The court acknowledged the matter and directed that proceedings continue, scheduling arguments on Ahmed's bail application for December 7.
Kochi, Nov 30 : Senior Kerala Government pleader P. G. Manu resigned after a woman lodged a police complaint accusing him of outraging her modesty.

As per the complaint, Manu raped the woman after calling her on the pretext of discussing a case.

The Advocate General had sent a word to the top government pleader after a case was registered and Manu put in his resignation.

Manu has been the counsel for the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

He had assaulted her last month when the complainant -- already a rape victim in a 2018 case -- approached him for speedy redressal.

Manu reportedly violated her and subjected her under tremendous duress.

Unable to bear the torture, she approached the local police and a case was registered against Manu.

Counsel for the victim K.K. Bahila said the authorities should act quickly as any delay in further action would only help the accused.
Srinagar, Nov 30 : Authorities on Thursday suspended the classwork and exams at two colleges in J&K's Srinagar city following sporadic student protests at these two places.

Students of Islamic College of Science & Commerce and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) have been protesting against derogatory social media post by a non-local student of the NIT that has hurt the sentiments of the Muslims.

Police has already registered an FIR against the non-local NIT student for posting inflammatory video/comment on social media.

On Wednesday, the students of Islamic College of Science & Commerce held peaceful protests seeking stringent action against the non-local student.

As a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, the authorities at these two colleges have suspended classwork/exam for the day.

Police have also issued a general advisory that anybody using social media to incite trouble by hurting sentiments and attempting to disturb peace would be booked under the relevant sections of law.
Kochi, Nov 30 : Jordan Murray netted two goals as Chennaiyin FC played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Kerala Blasters FC in the 2023-24 Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Wednesday.

Rahim Ali scored the opening goal in the very first minute of the match, while Murray registered his name on the scoresheet for the away team in the 13th and 24th minutes. Dimitrios Diamantakos (11th and 59th) and Kwame Peprah (38th minute) grabbed the goals for Kerala Blasters.

Chennaiyin FC made a frantic start to the contest when Ali's backheel found the back of the net after a fine cross by Rafael Crivellaro from a set-piece situation. Kerala Blasters got back into the match after Kwame Peprah drew a foul in the penalty area and Diamantakos made no mistake in converting the penalty into a goal.

Two minutes later, fans saw another penalty when Rafael Crivellaro won a foul in the 18-yard box before Murray put the ball into the back of the net with a right-footed shot in the bottom left corner to bring Chennaiyin ahead in the contest again.

The away team doubled their lead in the 24th minute as Murray's right-footed shot from outside the box found the bottom right corner of the goal.

Despite the attacking intent of Owen Coyle's men, Blasters scored their second goal before half-time when Peprah hit a left-footed shot from outside the box straight into the goal.

The second half saw the home team coming out all guns blazing and netting the equalizer in the 59th minute of the contest. Diamantakos scored a top-class goal from the top of the 18-yard box after a fine pass by Danish Farooq.

Adrian Luna missed an opportunity in the 74th minute when his shot from the centre of the box missed the right side of the post, while Daisuke Sakai failed to find the net from inside the six-yard box in the extra time.

Chennaiyin FC will now face Jamshedpur FC away from home on December 7, while Kerala Blasters FC will take on FC Goa on Sunday, December 3.
Kolkata, Nov 30 : Following CBI raids at residences of two Trinamool Congress councilors in connection with school and municipalities job case in West Bengal, the central agency has also raided the residence of TMC MLA Jafikul Islam on Thursday.

Sources said that the raid at the MLAas residence was in connection with the school job case. He is known to be associated with a number of private educational institutes on bachelor of education, diploma in education, engineering and pharmacy.

Islam was earlier also questioned by the CBI sleuths in connection with the multi- crore cattle smuggling case in West Bengal. He is the first time legislator and in the 2021 elections he got elected after defeating six-time CPI(M) MLA from Domkal and former minister in the earlier Left Front regime Anisur Rahman.

Besides the residence of Islam, the CBI is also conducting parallel raid and search operations at the Jhantu Sheikh, owner of a number of educational institutions in Barwan also in Murshidabad district.

Sources said that Sheikh was close confidant of expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh, who is currently in judicial custody in the connection with the school job case.

They said that Sheikhas name surfaced during the interrogation of Ghosh in the matter. Recently, another accused in the school job case, Tapas Mondal told media persons Ghosh was instrumental in collecting money on behalf of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a prime accused in the school job case.
Baghdad, Nov 30 : The Iraqi government has announced the closure of 144 refugee camps out of 170 across the country in the past few years.

"Only 26 camps remained out of 170, and most of the remaining camps are in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan," Xinhua news agency quoted Deputy Minister Karim al-Nouri as saying to the media.

He stressed that most of the displaced people in these camps are residents of the town of Sinjar, some 120 km west of Mosul, capital of the northern province of Nineveh, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Sinjar, several armed groups are competing to control the town despite the government's attempts to regain administrative control over the area.

"The Ministry of Migration and Displaced is determined to end this crisis despite the difficult challenges, so that Iraq will get rid of refugee camps," he said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, Iraq hosts close to 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers, over 90 per cent of whom live in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

There are over 260,000 Syrians, predominantly Kurdish, in addition to refugees and asylum seekers from Iran, Turkey, Palestine and other countries.

They have been hampered from returning to their homes due to insecurity, lack of livelihoods, and the destruction or damage of their homes.

Currently, more than 1 million Iraqis remain internally displaced by the Islamic State (IS) insurgency, while 5 million others have returned to their areas of origin.

Iraq's plan to close all displacement camps came as the security situation in the country has been dramatically improved after security forces declared full liberation of the country from the IS terrorist group in 2017.
Propagandist of the Soloviev Live TV channel Yulia Lozanova, speaking under the pseudonym Yulia Vityazeva, was sentenced in absentia, based on materials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), to 11 years in prison.

Based on the materials of the Security Service, collaborator Yulia Lozanova (better known under the pseudonym Yulia Vityazeva), who is hiding from justice in the Russian Federation, received a prison sentence in absentia, the SBU said on its Telegram channel on Thursday.

According to the intelligence service, Lozanova moved from Ukraine to Moscow in 2015, where she began publicly disseminating fake news about the socio-political situation in our state. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, she has constantly supported the Russian invaders, as she stated on numerous broadcasts on the Solovyov Live TV channel, the message clarifies.

In addition, as the SBU noted, the collaborator became a columnist for the occupation news agency News Front, which was created in temporarily occupied Crimea. It has been established that it was Lozanova who was one of the first to justify the racists in undermining the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. She also regularly uses controlled telegram channels to collect donations for the needs of the occupying groups of the Russian Federation that are fighting against Ukraine, the SBU informs.

Based on the evidence collected by the SBU, the court found Lozanova guilty under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 6 of Article 111-1 (collaboration activities), Part 2 and Part 3 of Article 436-2 (justification, recognition as lawful, denial of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, glorification of its participants). The court sentenced her to 11 years in prison in absentia with confiscation of property. Comprehensive measures are ongoing to physically detain and bring the perpetrator to justice for crimes against our state.

The investigation was carried out under the procedural leadership of Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office.
New York, Nov 30 : A top political advisor left Indian-American Republican presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign to join party rival and former President Donald Trump, according to media reports.

Brian Swensen formally resigned from his role as national political director for the Ramaswamy campaign over the weekend, CNN reported, citing Trump campaign sources as saying.

He is expected to be working on the campaign's political operation in the early-voting states, specifically in Nevada, the report said.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Ramaswamy campaign, thanked Swensen for his work with the campaign and wished him well in the future.

"We absolutely love Brian and completely wish him the best. I think this is best for both campaigns," McLaughlin told CNN, adding that Swensen's responsibilities will now be overseen by senior adviser Mike Biundo.

Swensen's departure comes weeks after Brandon Goodyear, the Ramaswamy team's videographer, stepped away from the campaign earlier this month.

While Ramaswamy has qualified to be on stage next week in Alabama for the fourth Republican debate, he is not faring well in national polls with his single digit numbers, trailing behind fellow Indian-American Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

A 538/Washington Post/Ipsos poll of potential Republican primary voters who watched his third debate found his unfavorability rating rising 12 points to 47 per cent.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : In the Supreme Court, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday vehemently opposed an interim bail application filed by Professor Shoma K. Sen, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.

At the very outset of hearing, a bench headed by Justice Aniruddha Bose said: "We are thinking of giving medical bail for a limited period of time."

The bench, also comprising Justice Augustine George Masih, added that it will confine Sen's movements when she is out on interim bail for medical reasons.

"Let her be out for four weeks and then we will see," the top court said, adding that it will impose "rigid restrictions" on Sen.

Opposing this, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Natraj, who appeared for the NIA, submitted that the medical record reflects "general ailments" and there is not something "special" or "imminent" about the appellant's illness.

"We will constitute a special board for medical examination and we will place the report within a week," said ASG Natraj.

"I am ready to argue on merits. Otherwise, it becomes a routine exercise and everybody asks for medical bailI will argue the main matter by tomorrow," he added.

The bench decided to post the matter for hearing on December 6 as the first item on the regular hearing list.

The Supreme Court in August this year had sought the response of the anti-terror agency on an interim bail application moved by Prof Sen seeking temporary release for medical reasons.

Sen had petitioned the apex court against an order of the Bombay High Court where her application seeking release was disposed of and she was asked to apply afresh for bail before the Special NIA court after the investigating agency had filed a charge sheet against her, and others.

In December 2021, the High Court had granted default bail to lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj. However, the division bench of Justices S.S. Shinde and N.J. Jamadar had declined the applications of eight other co-accused in the same case, including Sen
Hyderabad, Nov 30 : Two candidates of ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), including a minister, violated model code of conduct by wearing the party scarves while casting their votes in Assembly elections on Thursday.

Minister for law, forests, and endowments Indrakaran Reddy was wearing a party scarf while exercising his franchise at Yellapelli village in Nirmal constituency, from where is seeking re-election.

The pink scarf he was wearing carried the party's name and an image of party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Another BRS MLA Durgam Chinnaiah also wore the party scarf while casting his vote at a polling booth in Bellampalli constituency in Mancherial district.

Chinnaiah was seen wearing the scarf inside the polling booth in Venkatapur village.

The Congress party has lodged a complaint with the election authorities both against the minister and the MLA.
Seoul, Nov 30 : South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order on Thursday said that a former leader immolated himself after he was found dead in a temple fire a day earlier.

"Ven. Jaseung left a warning to all Buddhists with his self-immolation, praying for the stability of the religious group and the salvation of the world through the dissemination of the Dharma," Yonhap News Agency quoted Ven. Wubong, the spokesman for the Jogye Order, as saying at a press briefing.

Self-immolation is a Buddhist practice of burning oneself alive as an offering to Buddha.

He announced the former head passed away at age 69 in a fire that erupted at Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi province, at about 6.50 p.m. Wednesday.

His body was found at a dormitory for monks in the temple, where he was staying alone.

The police discovered notes apparently written for the temple's chief priest in Jaseung's car parked nearby.

They read: "I'm sorry for causing a lot of troubles by ending my life here. ... This building will be restored by my disciples, and I'm both sorry and grateful."

The police say they will analyse all closed-circuit TV footage inside the temple to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The Jogye Order said it will hold a five-day funeral led by its current leader Ven. Jinwoo at Jogye Temple situated in downtown Seoul.

Born in 1954, Ven. Jaseung became a Buddhist monk at age 19 and served as the president of the Jogye Order from 2009 to 2017.
Seoul, Nov 30 : Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday ruled out the possibility of resuming dialogue with the US amid fresh tensions over Pyongyang's satellite launch.

South Korea and the US have both condemned the satellite launch as a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, reports Yonhap News Agency.

But North Korea has defended the satellite launch as a "legitimate" exercise of its right to self-defence.

"The sovereignty of an independent state can never be an agenda item for negotiations, and therefore, the DPRK will never sit face to face with the US for that purpose," Kim Yo-jong said in an English-language statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, referring to Pyongyang by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Kim Jong-un held three meetings with former US President Donald Trump, but denuclearization talks remain stalled since the collapse of their Hanoi summit in February 2019.

Kim Yo-jong also said North Korea will continue to exercise its sovereign rights, in an apparent reference to launching several more satellites within a short span of time.

North Korea said on Thursday the country's military spy satellite had taken photos of US military facilities in San Diego and Japan, as well as the Suez Canal in Egypt.

North Korea also claimed that the spy satellite also took photos of the White House, the Pentagon, major military facilities in South Korea and the US territories of Guam and Hawaii.

But the North has not released related satellite photos.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : In a single-day operation, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch raided 70 cigarette shops operating near the schools across the national capital, an official said on Thursday, adding that total 31 areas were identified where pan khokha/bidi/gutka vendors were found active and indulged in selling tobacco products in the 100m parameter of educational institutes The Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ravindra Singh Yadav, said that as per directives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, it was decided to focus on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of narcotics near educational institutes.

Yadav said that it was also felt that for curbing the drug menace among children, strict action was not only required against the drug peddlers, but also against the violators of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA).

"Panwari/Khokha vendors selling tobacco products, i.e., Pan/Cigarettes/Bidi/Gutka, especially near the school premises, attract the school going children to indulge in consumption of Bidi/Gutka, etc., which is the beginning of addiction of any kind of drug. Young children and college going students initially indulge in its consumption and later on get addicted in the trap of deadly narcotics as well synthetic drugs," said Yadav.

Joint action was planned simultaneously all over Delhi along with teams from NCB to ensure comprehensive action with an element of surprise.

"To begin with, data was taken from the Department of Education and local inquiry was conducted. Total 31 areas were identified all over Delhi, where vendors were found active and indulged in selling tobacco products in the 100 metre parameter of educational institutes," said Yadav.

"We formed 31 teams and surprise raids were conducted on the above said tobacco vendors. Total 70 vendors were found violating the rules under COTPA Act. Hence, 70 challans were issued against them.

"This is a unique operation which was conducted all over Delhi in a single day to give a strong message to vendor operators, who are active near the educational institutes. Matter has been taken up with civil authorities for closing all such violators," said Yadav.
Tel Aviv, Nov 30 : Amid the ongoing truce in Gaza, three civilians and two terrorists were killed in a shooting incident carried out by Hamas operatives at a bus station in Jerusalem on Thursday, authorities said.

According to Israel's emergency services the MDA, the victims included a 24 year-old woman and a man in his 70s.

The police said that two attackers opened fire at people waiting at the bus station in the outskirts of Jerusalem during the morning rush hour.

The two suspects were later neutralised by wo off-duty soldiers and a civilian, the police said.

Meanwhile, the two suspects have been identified as brothers Murad Namr (38) and Ibrahim Namr(30) from East Jerusalem.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gavir said the shooters were Hamas militants operatives.

"These are apparently Hamas operatives, who speak here with two voices, one voice of a so-called cease-fire and a second voice of terror," Gavir told reporters.

The development came just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the humanitarian truce in Gaza for a seventh day, just minutes before it was set to expire on Thursday.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 30 : The CBI sleuths conducting searches at the residence of Trinamool Congress legislator from Domkal Assembly constituency, in connection with the cash-for-job case, since Thursday morning, have recovered two bags full of suspicious documents.

According to sources the bags were recovered from a garage of the legislator's residence in Murshidabad district in West Bengal. A CBI team is currently examining the documents.

Meanwhile, the CBI has also started conducting parallel raids at various places linked to Trinamool Congress leaders in Cooch Behar district.

The central agency's sleuths are currently questioning Sajal Sarkar, the Trinamool Congress Block President in Cooch Behar district, who also runs a private Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) college jointly with some of his relations.

Meanwhile, a political slugfest has begun between the ruling Trinamool Congress and Opposition BJP over the renewed central agency activities in the state from Thursday.

According to the Trinamool Congress' state spokesman Kunal Ghosh, the renewed CBI activities are meant to divert attention from the failure of the BJP's mega rally in central Kolkata on Wednesday.

"Despite the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence the rally was virtually a flop show. So the central agency has been unleashed to divert attention from that flop show," Ghosh said.

Reacting to that, BJP's spokesman in West Bengal Samik Bhattacharya said that the BJP never uses central agencies for its own politics like Trinamool Congress which uses the state police to harass the Opposition.

"The CBI's activities have nothing to do with the BJP's rally on Wednesday. It is a reflection of the Union Government's 'zero tolerance' policy towards corruption," he said.
Kabul, Nov 30 : The Taliban regime in Kabul has asked the US to release the only Afghan prisoner still held in the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, local media reported on Thursday.

"We are in contact with the US to release Abdul Rahim. He is the only Afghan who has been languishing in Guantanamo. He is innocent and should be freed," Xinhua news agency quoted the local media citing the Taliban's chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid as saying.

Mujahid claimed that Rahim was "arrested without any crime andhas been there for a long time and has suffered cruelty".

"He should be released as soon as possible," he added.

According to the media report, Abdul Rahim, who has been held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in the past 17 years, was arrested in Lahore before being shifted to the US military prison.

Abdul Rahim's son Mohammad Daud told the local media that he was two months old when his father was arrested and urged Americans to set his father free.

The family has claimed that Rahim sold honey in Lahore.

As of March 2022, of the 780 people detained in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp since January 2002 when it first opened after the 9/11 attacks, 741 have been been transferred, nine died while in custody and 30 still remain imprisoned.
Tokyo, Nov 30 : Japan has urged the US to confirm the safety of its Osprey military aircraft, after one crashed into the sea, killing at least one person onboard, Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said on Thursday.

"The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region," Kihara said in Parliament.

"And we are requesting the US side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe."

Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force, which has a V-22 Osprey fleet, will suspend its own Osprey flights for the time being, senior Defence Ministry official Taro Yamato told the parliamentary hearing.

A US Osprey military transport aircraft based in Japan crashed in waters off the country's southwestern island of Yakushima on Wednesday.

One unconscious person was found in the sea and later declared dead, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known, Coast Guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said.

The Japan Coast Guard and others are continuing search and rescue operations.

The US Air Force said that the CV-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft involved in a "mishap" while carrying out a routine training had eight airmen on board.

The Japan Coast Guard had initially said eight crew were aboard the crashed Osprey before revising the number down to six and then back to eight.
Interview of Yuliia Shevchuk, Chief Investment Advisor at Nefco, with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency

Text  Oksana Gryshyna

Which projects were completed when the war was already going on? Did it cause any difficulties? How were the projects adjusted when there was a lack of funding?

In November, we completed the main part of a large-scale project in Chernivtsi, within which 16 schools, 15 daycare centres, and two healthcare facilities underwent major renovation. The modernisation of one more public building will be completed next year.

Currently, we are actively working on the implementation of projects related to the repair of housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs), for example, in the cities of Kivertsi and Khmelnytskyi.

In the case of housing repair projects, there are problems of extended design timelines, the works becoming more complex than planned, and increased costs due to substantial modifications to the buildings. For example, a medical institution, which had not been used by the city before the war, was repurposed as housing for IDPs. Furthermore, the project implementation period may be longer due to the poor condition of dormitories and other buildings that are Soviet-type and old, with shared kitchens and showers. Under our projects, the facilities are rebuilt into modern housing, in most cases into separate apartments.

The completion of some projects has been postponed until the following year due to a shortage of human resources as mobilisation efforts are underway. Some cities are overwhelmed with reconstruction projects and other war-related issues, further contributing to the delay.

In such situations, having experienced consultants and flexible donor rules is crucial for making decisions regarding project changes. Here we are in total agreement with the donor, the European Union, which is focused on results and swift project implementation.

Nefco possesses extensive experience in building projects, so we expect a significant level of unforeseen expenses, up to 15% of the total project cost. Usually, such an amount is sufficient to cover any potential funding gaps.

Among the buildings that were modernised with Nefcos support in Chernivtsi, there are, for example, architectural monuments. What difficulties arose when working with such facilities? What results in reducing heat consumption were achieved? How was the task of ensuring inclusivity accomplished?

Implementing energy-saving measures in historical buildings is a difficult task at every stage. Obtaining permission for the reconstruction of culturally significant facilities is complex, involving multiple ministries. This challenge must be considered during project planning as it can be time-consuming. Fortunately, we initiated consultations with the relevant ministry, engaging specialists from the city, the designer, the contractor, and Nefco. This collaborative effort resolved some fundamental issues, ensuring the projects successful implementation.

Due to a significant number of restrictions on possible construction works in these facilities, it is quite difficult to find ways to implement effective energy-saving solutions. But I can confidently say that we used the planned funds as efficiently as possible, having managed to preserve and improve the architectural appearance of the buildings. At the same time, we achieved an average 30% reduction in energy consumption targets. Given our experience working on similar buildings, this is quite a significant result.

In buildings with complex architecture, the list of typically implemented measures includes installing new windows and doors, and restoring building envelopes and facades while preserving architectural elements. Additionally, reconstructing heating systems involves replacing devices and heating pipes along with installing a heat recovery ventilation system and rebuilding lighting systems. Modernising internal engineering networks, insulating attics, and installing ramps for people with limited mobility can also be carried out.

As for the results, in any case, the city now has renovated and energy-efficient educational facilities, and children, staff, and visitors can enjoy comfortable indoor conditions. However, it is difficult to speak of specific figures at the moment because we still only have estimated savings, as the reconstruction of most buildings was completed during lockdown, and subsequently the war began. These circumstances make it challenging to objectively assess the actual energy consumption, given the significant change in the operation of educational facilities.

We plan to obtain the actual energy consumption figures for these buildings in the spring of 2024, after the end of the heating season. This information will then be compared with the planned figures, taking into account the various factors that affect the buildings operational modes. One of the distinguishing features of Nefco projects is that we monitor results for at least five years after works have been completed, allowing us to leverage this experience to improve future projects.

Please tell us about the project status of the two new projects in Ukraine: housing for IDPs and the reconstruction of infrastructure.

Regarding the Housing for IDPs action, which involves the construction of new housing in nine communities and the repair of municipal buildings in two communities, we can report that preparatory construction works have already begun in two communities.

In all other cities, design work continues. We have concluded the contractors pre-qualification process, marking the first stage of procurement. To optimise time, we organised the two-stage procurement approach, conducting the first stage concurrently with the development of the project estimates. Currently, the second stage of works procurement is in progress across almost all cities.

Regarding the critical infrastructure reconstruction action, we can report that almost all procurements have been completed. The works have begun in Nemishaieve, Irpin, Borodianka, and Dymer communities in the Kyiv region. These works involve the laying of water and heat supply pipelines, installing a dispatching system and heat pump, and repairing the boiler house. New works start every week.

What are the requirements for the projects (in terms of green construction and inclusivity)?

Nefco has introduced the Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine, so all our projects must comply with modern ESG (environmental, social, and governance) principles.

Here are some examples of how our projects are implemented in accordance with ESG principles.

Regarding the environmental principle, each project involves green technologies, such as solar panels, heat pumps, biomass, etc. According to the grant agreement, the use of hazardous materials such as asbestos or others is banned.

Speaking of social impact, communities commit to adhering to a transparent procedure for the distribution of social housing in accordance with Ukrainian legislation as part of their obligation to the donor.

Aligned with the best corporate governance principles, all Nefco projects incorporate transparency and anti-corruption aspects. For example, we have implemented comprehensive procedures for compliance or background checks for communities, consultants, and contractors, which are applied before each important project stage.

During the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the World Bank agreed to harmonise procurement procedures for investments in the public/regional sector in Ukraine. Was it necessary? How were your procedures (project selection and procurement) adapted according to this memorandum?

As far as we have checked, this document has not been signed yet.

Is there currently a shortage of companies/human resources/construction materials during project implementation? Are foreign companies interested in reconstruction projects in Ukraine?

The large-scale recovery of Ukraine has not yet begun due to ongoing hostilities. At present, more focused projects are underway to address the housing needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and to reconstruct destroyed critical infrastructure. Since the war began, about 300 companies have expressed interest in participating in our tenders. Most of them were Ukrainian companies, but there were also foreign ones. In my opinion, foreign companies have a big desire to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine and in the insurance and support programmes of their countries of origin, especially the EU countries.

For example, I talked to Finnish companies that specialise in buildings such as hospitals, schools, and other infrastructure. What is noteworthy is that one of the largest delegations of 80 people at ReBuild Ukraine, the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place in Warsaw this November, represented Finnish companies. They came to look for partners and projects since there is no longer a great need for such projects in their country. However, unfortunately, they often face problems with finding partners and the bureaucratic system in Ukraine.

Are there plans to expand the programmes?

We are working on several projects within the Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine and have agreements to provide funding from Nordic countries such as Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in addition to the EU.

The implementation of the projects will involve the repair, reconstruction, rebuilding, and construction from scratch of public buildingsschools, daycare centres, and healthcare facilitieswith the introduction of up-to-date energy efficiency solutions (for example, the concept of construction with almost zero energy consumption). In addition, as part of the projects, we will carry out the modernisation of district heating facilities, the transition to renewable energy (biomass, solar, biogas, etc.), and address the recovery of water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Nefco did not stop its support and activities in Ukraine with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, and we will continue to further work to promote the use of more efficient, energy-saving, and green technologies.

With the participation of CFI, Agence francaise de developpement medias, as part of the Hub Bucharest / Residency Yak Vdoma Project
Lucknow, Nov 30 : Nearly three lakh idols of deities, weighing around 60,000 kg, were discarded in Lucknow after Diwali, according to a non-profit that works with the Lucknow Municipal Corporation to ensure urban sanitisation, post festivals.

Mangalaman, the NGO, collected the idols, mostly of Ganesh and Lakshmi, from 151 points, and also those discarded at roadsides and near junctions and flyovers, said Ram Kumar Tiwari, its founder.

"Other than idols, the NGO cleaned up garlands, photos, and other worship materials discarded on the streets," he added.

Shivendra Srivastava, a LMC driver who was assigned to collect the idols said, "Over the last five days, I picked up around 30,000 idols. On Tuesday alone, I collected 3,000 idols. Also, there were idols of Buddha, old-torn photos of Sikh Gurus and Sai Baba."

Not just their collection, the NGO also ensures that the idols are ceremoniously buried, for which it organises, what it calls, 'Abhinandan Samaroh'.

Six such Abhinandan Samaroh have been organised over the last few weeks. The last such ceremony will be held on December 3, Tiwari added.

"Idols collected are buried together. Trenches have been dug at six such locations where idols collected from 151 centres are buried together every Sunday. These locations are at Kukrail picnic spot, Aishbagh Ramleela Ground, Khazanabazar in Aishana and Laxman Jhoola Ground," Tiwari said, adding their project's success was ensured by around 500 volunteers and dozens of associated organisations.

He said that the fact that most idols that were discarded were made of either baked clay or plaster of Paris was proof enough that people were still not conscious enough for environment conservation, Tiwari said, adding that these two materials do not easily dissolve in water.

"Idols made from raw clay easily dissolve in water and should be preferred. A separate group of science professionals associated with the group is working on a technique to turn idols into manure," he added.

Municipal commissioner Indrajeet Singh said: "Vehicles were sent to eight identified spots to pick old idols and statues. For this, a junior municipal commissioner was made the nodal officer. Hoardings and displays were put up to spread awareness."
This photo taken on Nov. 23, 2022 shows the scene of an explosion at a bus stop in Jerusalem. At least one person was killed and 14 others injured in two separate explosions in Jerusalem early Wednesday. The blasts were caused by explosive devices, t. Image Source: IANS News

Tel Aviv, Nov 30 : Benny Gantz, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, on Thursday said that the shooting incident at a bus stop Jerusalem that claimed the lives of three civilians, only increases the country's commitment to continue its fight against terrorism.

Two suspected Hamas operatives opened fire at people waiting at the bus stop in the outskirts of Jerusalem during the morning rush hour.

The attack occurred almost a year after the same bus stop witnessed a deadly bombing attack on November 23, 2022.

The two suspects were later neutralised by two off-duty soldiers and a civilian, according to the police.

In a post on X, Gantz, who is also a former Defence Minister, extended condolences and said that "this attack is further proof of our commitment to continue the fight with strength and determination against the murderous terrorism that threatens our citizens".

"In Jerusalem, Gaza, Yosh and everywhere," he added.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gavir had earlier said the shooters -- identified as brothers Murad Namr (38) and Ibrahim Namr(30) from East Jerusalem -- were Hamas militants operatives.

"These are apparently Hamas operatives, who speak here with two voices, one voice of a so-called cease-fire and a second voice of terror," Gavir told reporters.

The victims included a 24 year-old woman and a man in his 70s, with six others also injured in the attack.

One of the victims was pronounced dead on the scene by the Magen David Adom rescue service, and two others were pronounced dead at Shaare Zedek hospital.

Addressing mediapersons, police chief Doron Turgeman said the attackers were "armed with M-16 rifle and a pistol".

"They arrived with a car and opened fire at civilians," he said.

The scene of the attack has been sealed off and an additional search is being carried out to "rule out any additional suspects", the police added.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew said: "We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence."

The attack came just hours after Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the humanitarian truce in Gaza for a seventh day, just minutes before it was set to expire on Thursday.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 30 : Upholding a family court's order, the Delhi High Court has dimissed a father's plea seeking the transfer of his child, to a purportedly "better" school, saying that the welfare of the child holds paramount importance in guardianship cases.

A division bench of Justices V. Kameswar Rao and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora dismissed the plea noting that the suggested school by the father was in Dwarka, 20 kilometers away, while the child resided with the mother in Pitampura.

The court noted that granting the order sought by the appellant would inconvenience the seven-year-old child and therefore could not be approved.

The father contested a family court order that rejected his application to direct the child's mother to enroll the child in a Dwarka school.

The family court, in its decision, acknowledged the slightly better rating of the proposed school but said that the child had already settled into the current school in Pitampura.

Shifting the child back to the Dwarka school was deemed potentially harmful to his learning environment, considering the comfort of going and coming with the mother and constant supervision.

The appellant offered to arrange private transportation between Pitampura and Dwarka, but the court, considering the mother's counterargument about a branch in Rohini, found no justification to overturn the family court's decision.

The respondent-mother suggested the appellant arrange admission in the Rohini branch if he intended to send the child to the suggested school.

The court, in this context, saw no grounds for interference with the family court's order.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Ahead of the exit polls on Thursday evening, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the Congress will form the government in all the five states that recently went to polls.

Speaking to the media at the party headquarters, Gehlot, who is in the national Capital said, "The Congress will form the government in all five states. I feel that the BJP will not win in any of the five states."

He said, "In Rajasthan, whatever the Exit Polls say, and whatever the satta market says and whatever the media and whatever your survey says, my hunch says -- as I heard the comments of people in villages and cities in the last six months --, the Congress will form the government."

The remarks of the Chief Minister and senior Congress leader came on a day that the southern state of Telangana went to polls.

The polling for the 40-member Mizoram Assembly took place on November 7, while the polling for the 90-member Chhattisgarh took place on November 7 and 17.

The polling for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh took place on November 17 and polling for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly took place on November 25. Counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The stakes for the Congress are high as it is the ruling party in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and is eyeing a second-consecutive term in both states.

In Madhya Pradesh the party is hoping to return to power, where despite winning in 2018, it lost majority in March 2020 following the rebellion by Jyotiraditya Scindia and 22 MLAs after they deserted the party and joined the BJP.

In the 119-member Telangana Assembly, the Congress is looking to defeat the ruling BRS, which is eyeing a third-consecutive term in the state.
Bengaluru : Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and other leaders participate in an event organised to mark the International Day of Democracy. Image Source: IANS News

Bengaluru, Nov 30 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that 188 additional Indira Canteens will be opened in Bengaluru this year for the benefit of the people.

Indira Canteens are government-run canteen and provide subsidised food to people.

He was speaking to the media after garlanding the statue of Saint Kanakadasa at the premises of the Legislators House on Thursday.

Replying to a question about Indira Canteens, the CM said that Indira Canteens will be started in 225 wards of Bengaluru. Apart from this, canteens will be started where it is necessary. He said mobile canteens will be set up where there is shortage of space for Indira Canteen.

Kanakadasa was a social reformer. He preached humanity through his literature. He was a universal man who worked hard to build an egalitarian society without discrimination, he said.

He composed many works including Ramdhanya Charite, Mohanatarangini. Today, the government is celebrating Kanakadasa's jayanthi, who fought to eliminate discrimination in the society. He made people aware of his ideals through literature. He composed his Dasa Sahitya in simple language so that people could understand. The Chief Minister wished all the people of the state on Kanakadasa Jayanti.

Responding to a question about his meeting with MLA BR Patil, the Chief Minister said that he had discussed with B.R Patil and that he had been persuaded to attend the session.
Bengaluru, Nov 30 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday called upon the doctors to treat poor people, who come to them in old and dirty clothes, with humanity. They must get good healthcare without discrimination, he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was speaking after dedicating 262 state-of-the-art ambulances to public service in a programme held on the steps of the Karnataka Vidhan Soudha, organised by the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Siddaramaiah said that it is the government's goal to see to it that quality healthcare services provided at the world-class Jayadeva Hospital in Bengaluru should also be available in all government hospitals.

The Government is committed to providing quality healthcare to the people of the state, Siddaramaiah said, and added that the emergency ambulances had been added to the health service so that no one would lose their life for lack of treatment.

Over 840 ambulances are required in the state and four ambulances are functioning in each taluk and providing emergency health services to hundreds of people every day, he said.

He explained that primary emergency treatment plays an important role in saving lives.

Every district should have MRI scanning facility as due to the high cost of services in private diagnostic centres, the poor are facing a lot of hardship, Siddaramaiah added.

Thousands of people are applying for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for this reason alone, the CM stated. "Therefore, an environment is being created in the state where quality treatment is available in government hospitals. When good service is possible from Jayadeva Hospital, it is possible to provide the same quality service in other places," Siddaramaiah said.

The CM appreciated that the state government is working hard in that direction. Siddaramaiah suggested to the health minister to focus more on North Karnataka.

MLA Rizwan Are had presided over the programme and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, Health Minister Dinesh and officers of the health department were also present.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday inaugurated the three-day 40th Commanders conference of the Indian Coast Guard and hailed it for ensuring the coastal security of the country.

In his address, Rajnath Singh complimented ICG for ensuring maritime security by being in the vanguard in the field of search & rescue and pollution response

He called upon the ICG to continue working with dedication and professionalism towards bolstering the coastal defences and maritime capabilities of the country.

The ICG, since its inception, has rendered a yeoman service to the seafarers by ensuring their safety and security in all circumstances," he said.

He stressed on the need to continue the drive against contraband and drug trafficking.

The conference, aimed at addressing contemporary maritime challenges and fortifying the country's coastal surveillance mechanisms, is being attended by senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and the ICG.

During the conference, the Defence Minister was given an overview of the ongoing development projects, operational readiness and future expansion plans of the ICG by Director General Rakesh Pal.

The conference agenda encompasses a wide spectrum of crucial topics, including enhancing maritime safety and security such as search and rescue operations, maritime pollution response, drive against contraband, drug trafficking, safety of fishermen, seafarers at sea, optimising coastal security measures, fostering inter-agency coordination, and promoting Maritime Domain Awareness, the official added.

The conference is held annually, where all the officers put forth the roadmap for the future and discuss various policy and strategic issues. It aims to carve out a futuristic vision for the service and to determine the modalities to overcome the challenges efficiently, the official added.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : , Nov 30 (IANS) Maharashtra Minister Abdul Sattar has urged the district officials to make the 'panchnama' suffered by agriculturists objectively and not to discriminate on the basis of the caste of the farmers, here on Thursday.

He has called upon the officials to ensure that no farmer - who has suffered crop losses in the recent bout of unseasonal rains - is left out of the apanchanamaa process.

Sattar also pointed out that the officials must keep in mind that the victims are farmers first rather than dwelling on their caste, religion, political affiliations, etc.

The unseasonal rains, strong winds and hailstorms in the past week have ravaged cash crops, cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits in more than 1.20 lakh hectares of farmlands across more than 15 districts, sparking a political furore.

The Minister assured affected farmers that the government is standing solidly behind them, and they will be given compensation after the apanchnamasa process is completed.

Sattar added that the compensation will be given as per the NDRF norms after the district authorities, along with the revenue and agriculture departments submit their report on the crop damage assessment in the next couple of days.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday directed the officials to take up the apanchnamaa process and compensation on a awar-footinga to give relief to the tillers.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) top leaders of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) including Nana Patole, Jayant Patil, ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray, Leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Council Vijay Wadettiwar and Ambadas Danve, respectively, plus others have slammed the government for the delays in extending aid to the beleaguered farmers across the state who have suffered a doublewhammy of natural calamities this year.

They said first the drought-like situation which damaged the Kharif season crops, followed by the unseasonal downpour that hit the Rabi season crops that wreaked havoc in the farmlands and now some are ready to sell off their body organs to repay agricultural loans.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) on Thursday approved the purchase of 97 Tejas fighter jets and 156 Prachanda Helicopters for the Indian Air Force as part of a Rs 1.4 lakh crore package that will go to public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), a senior official confirmed.

The DAC headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also gave the go-ahead for the IAFas plan to upgrade 84 Sukhoi 30 fighter jets.

The LCA Mark 1A Tejas light combat aircraft has over 65 per cent indigenous components. Among its notable features are indigenously developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile capabilities, a sophisticated Electronic Warfare Suite, and the capability for air-to-air refuelling.

The plane is being manufactured by HAL.

The entire upgrade process of the Sukhoi 30 fighter jets will also be carried out in the country.

--IANS

pannu/dan
Lucknow, Nov 30 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday urged the MSME entrepreneurs of the state not to compromise quality of their products and underlined the state government's commitment to giving them priority in government purchases at all costs.

Addressing the Udyami Mahasammelan organised by the Indian Industries Association at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, the chief minister said, "The MSME sector of Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest strength of self-reliant India. We have done remarkable work towards getting rid of 'Inspector Raj' by strengthening technology."

He added: "The results of our efforts to eradicate 'Inspector Raj' by bolstering technology are evident today. The whole world is looking towards Uttar Pradesh with confidence. We should start preparing for the International Trade Show-2024 now."

The Chief Minister noted the challenges that entrepreneurs faced in Uttar Pradesh prior to 2017, due to a lack of a conducive environment as well as lack of government encouragement and support.

"After our government came to power in the state in 2017, the result of the scheme of promoting our traditional products as One District, One Product is in front of all of us. Not only the country, even the world considers it an innovative project," he said.

Discussing initiatives like the Nivesh Mitra Portal, Nivesh Sarathi Portal and Online Incentive Platform, Yogi Adityanath underscored their remarkable contributions to enhancing investment possibilities and streamlining facilities for entrepreneurs within the state.

"UP's ranking in ease of doing business was at 14th place six years ago. Extensive reforms were made to this. The result is in front of everyone," he stated.

The chief minister said that whether it is the work of creating a land bank within the state or establishing better law and order, good work has been done on every front.

He further said that the whole world is looking towards India and Uttar Pradesh with a sense of credibility.

"While it took 46 years to develop Noida and Greater Noida, we are currently working rapidly towards a new industrial setup in Jhansi, Bundelkhand. In Jhansi, we already have about 38,000 acres of land bank in the first phase. For the first time in 46 years, under our government, the international airport in Greater Noida is ready, whereas in Jhansi we are going to provide the airport in the first phase."

The chief minister further emphasised the utilisation of local educational institutions for acquiring manpower.

"For this, take the help of the PM and CM Internship Scheme," he added.

He urged entrepreneurs to harness solar power as a sustainable and pollution-free source of electricity.

The chief minister also visited the exhibition related to Transforming MSME Towards Industry 4.0 and Skill 48, in which MSME startup entrepreneurs from across the state showcased their products.
Interfax-Ukraine to host discussion 'Is there crisis in Ukrainian politics? What should be further steps of responsible participants in political process'

On Monday, December 4, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a discussion entitled "Is there crisis in Ukrainian politics? What should be further steps of responsible participants in political process."

Participants include

political expert Oleksandr Kochetkov;

political scientist, political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko;

political scientist, co-founder of the National Platform for Sustainability and Cohesion Oleh Sahakian Hladkykh (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission of journalists requires press accreditation.
Dubai, Nov 30 : The two-week-long UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), which is expected to see a gathering of over 160 world leaders, commenced on Thursday in Dubai with Sultan Al Jaber officially assuming the role its President in a ceremony to mark the official transfer of the role from his predecessor, Egypt's Sameh Shoukry.

"The science has spoken," Al Jaber told delegates. "It has confirmed the moment is now to find a new road, a road wide enough for all of us, free of the obstacles and detours of the past. That new road starts with a decision on the Global Stocktake, a decision that is ambitious, corrects course and accelerates action to 2030," he said.

Kicking off two weeks of intense climate negotiations, Al Jaber used his first official speech as COP President to issue a rallying call to delegates to unite around the agenda and restore faith in multilateralism.

"I pledge that I will run an inclusive and transparent process, one that encourages free and open discussion between all parties," Al Jaber said.

He told delegates that the UAE reflects the spirit needed at this COP.

"We may be a young nation -- but we have big ambitions, and hold fast to principles like collaboration, optimism, true partnership, determination and commitment. These are the ingredients that make up the DNA of the UAE. And it's these core values of trust, purpose, partnership and pragmatism that I believe must define COP28," he said.

In his address, Al Jaber reiterated calls to bridge the global adaptation finance gap, and urged parties to deliver on the promise of a fully operational Loss and Damage fund.

"Let's put nature, lives, and livelihoods at the core of our national plans. Let's finally face the issues that are critical to adaptation, like water, food, agriculture, and health," he said, adding that COP28 will be the first to host a climate health ministerial.

"This Presidency is committed to unlocking finance to ensure that the Global South does not have to choose between development and climate action," he said.

Al Jaber also noted the importance of decarbonising the existing energy system. "Let history reflect the fact that this is the Presidency that made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies. We had many discussions. Let me tell you, it wasn't easy. But now, many of these companies are committing to zeroing out methane emissions by 2030 for the first time. And many national oil companies have adopted net zero 2050 targets for the first time," he said.

Al Jaber also called for consensus around a framework for the future energy system. "I know there are strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text. We have the power to do something unprecedented. I ask you to work together," he urged delegates.

"Be flexible, find common ground, come forward with solutions, and achieve consensus. And never lose sight of our North Star of 1.5," he said.

COP28 officially runs from November 30 to December 12 and the COP28 Presidency is determined to do all it can to enable world leaders to deliver a successful decision in response to the Global Stocktake, meeting the challenge of keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach with the highest levels of ambition.

This year's COP marks the conclusion of the Global Stocktake, the first assessment of global progress in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement. The findings are stark: The world is not on track to limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. It does recognise that countries are developing plans for a net-zero future, and the shift to clean energy is gathering speed, but it makes clear that the transition is nowhere near fast enough yet to limit warming within the current ambitions.

A report recently published by UN Climate Change shows that national climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions, or 'NDCs') would collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions to two per cent below 2019 levels by 2030, while the science is clear that a 43 per cent reduction is needed.

The Global Stocktake must be a catalyst for greater ambition in meeting the Paris Agreement's goals as nations prepare to submit revised national climate action plans by 2025. It lays out actions on how to accelerate emissions cuts, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and provide the support and finance needed for the transformation.
Mumbai, Nov 30 : Filmmaker Boney Kapoor revealed how his son and actor Arjun Kapoor wouldn't eat until he watched the iconic movie 'Mr India', adding that the latter must have watched the film at least a 1000 times.

Boney, who is set to grace the stage of celebrity dance reality show, 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' was stunned to see a unique representation of the song 'Kate Nahin Kat Te' from the movie 'Mr India', by actor Shoaib Ibrahim.

The 1987 film is directed by Shekhar Kapur and produced by Boney Kapoor. It stars Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, and Amrish Puri in the lead roles.

Taking a trip down memory lane, the show will commemorate the cinematic legacy of Boney in the 'Boney Kapoor Special' episode. The dance floor will come alive with amazing performances to the beats of some chart-topping songs from Boney's iconic films.

From timeless melodies that defined an era to foot-tapping numbers that still rule playlists today, the contestants will take everyone on a mesmerizing journey through Boney's illustrious career spanning over 43 years.

But it was television heartthrob and vlogger, Shoaib along with his choreographer Anuradha Iynger, who left the audience surprised with his thrilling interpretation of the song aKate Nahin Kat Tea from the classic 'Mr India'.

When host Rithvik Dhanjani probed Boney about whether he ever thought 'Mr India' would create such an impact, Boney said: "At the cost of being immodest, I always envisioned this film becoming iconic, something that would stay in people's minds and be a part of everybodyas collection, whether it was the era of videos or DVDs, in every household."

"I remember in our home, Arjun wouldn't eat until he watched 'Mr India'. Whenever we had to feed him, we'd play 'Mr. India'. He must have watched the film at least a thousand times," said the producer.

Talking about Shoaib's performance, Boney said: "We had created a passionate, intense story, and we took romance to its peak with Mr India. The version I witnessed today says something else. This version is a completely new one, exactly the opposite of what we had conceived, and it's absolutely wonderful."

"You have conveyed your emotions and feelings beautifully. It may be the opposite of what we had intended, but it was fabulous," he shared.

"Shoaib, you have come across as a fabulous actor, and I feel you have a fantastic future ahead in the industry. You conveyed everythinga"the violent emotion, the intense romance. That quality within you was absolutely amazing. You have a bright future as an actor, and Iall definitely consider you for one of my films," added Boney.

Not only this, Boney also showed his appreciation for Shoaib by giving him an original CD of 'Mr. India'.

Judge Farah Khan said: "I was really disturbed by this act. I'm telling you, it's a good thing because there should be a reaction to an act. If you're performing, and we're just watching without any reaction then itas a waste."

"Our reaction was that we were disturbed, and shocked and I literally had goosebumps. Shoaib, I told you in the first episode that you remind me of Shah Rukh Khan, but today, you reminded me of SRK from the film 'Darr' because this good, perfect, and wholesome boy suddenly changed expression. Be it this part or that part, you are a fantastic actor," added Farah.

'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' airs on Sony.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : In 2023, burnout risk remained a concern, affecting 27 per cent of employees in large Indian companies, which is three per cent higher compared to their mid-sized counterparts, a new report said on Thursday.

According to Great Place To Work's report on IT & IT-BPM, female senior managers in particular experienced a five per cent higher burnout rate than male counterparts.

However, large organisations demonstrated a one per cent improvement in employee experience, while mid-size entities maintained a commendable 85 per cent score, surpassing their larger counterparts, the report noted.

"This year we see that the industry has experienced subtle shifts in employee perceptions as compared to the last year. While the overall employee experience saw a dip, dimensions like Pride and Fairness emerged as the highest and lowest in employee sentiment, respectively," said Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, CEO, Great Place To Work India.

"The reduction in Camaraderie (-1 per cent) and a diminished sense of Pride (-1 per cent) among employees has shaped the overall employee experience," she added.

The report highlighted that IT companies have been investing an average of 1.97 crore annually in training and development, underscoring the significance placed on nurturing employee growth.

In addressing the current challenges, Workplace Ikigai emerges as a holistic solution that empowers individuals to align their personal passions, cultivate meaningful relationships, embody exceptional leadership, and create an enduring impact.

About 83 per cent of Best Workplaces invest mindfully in their employees' growth. Leadership excellence, despite being the lowest-scoring lever in Workplace Ikigai, showed an upward trend, emphasising the need for more accountability and authenticity at leadership levels, the report said.

Workplace Ikigai not only fosters employee well-being but also boosts productivity, retention rates, and innovation. Notably, in 2023, a sizable 77 per cent of IT companies monitor employee well-being, with 55 per cent employing multiple methods.

The report further mentioned that the convergence of IT workplaces and personal fulfilment is key to achieving a remarkable 1.7X higher retention rate.
Ranchi, Nov 30 : "We had lost all hope of our family members getting rescued safely, but God had some other plans for us," said Triveni Bediya, the uncle of one of the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district.

Triveni Bediya, who hails from Kheerabeda village in Jharkhand, just 32 km from the state capital of Ranchi, told IANS, "Whenever the news of the Auger machine getting stuck, hitting an obstacle or breaking down reached us, our hearts sank. We had little hope of their survival. But I want to thank God, the Indian Army personnel and the rat miners who manually dug the debris to bring them out safely in the end."

Triveni Bediya recalls the moment the news of the collapse trapping their family members inside the tunnel, which was part of the government's mega Char Dham project, reached them through the five workers from their village, who had came out in the nick of time.

"Following the news, the families of the trapped workers were inconsolable. It was very difficult to comfort Anil's aged mother and father," he said.

He said that at least eight workers from the village had gone to Uttarkashi on November 1 from Ranchi and they were present inside the tunnel when a portion of it collapsed. Of the 41 labourers trapped inside, three, Anil, Rajinder and Sukhram Bediya, were from their village.

Triveni Bediya said that Anil's family is very poor and they don't even have a proper house. "Anil went there to support his family and earn some money," he said and added that the family has now decided that they will not allow Anil to leave the village anymore. "They want him to earn his living here only instead of risking his life," he said.

Meanwhile, Manoj Bediya, who is the elder brother of Sukhram Bediya, one of the other workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel, told IANS, "I will not be sending him outside the state anymore. If he has to earn and support us he will work here. I request the government to make some employment plans for labourers like us to support our families by working in the state."

Manoj Bediya said that his brother will be brought back to the village on Friday as they are still admitted in hospital in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile Triveni Bediya said that the local Congress MLA from Khijri Assembly seat Rajesh Kachhap arranged for the travel, stay and food of the family members of the men who were struck in the tunnel. Rajesh Kachhap was also of great help to the families of the workers from the state present in Uttarakhand.

Triveni Bediya said that he also spoke once to the Jharkhand Chief Minister during the rescue operation, and he had promised to bring the sons of the state back safely.

Triveni Bediya said that as the men got trapped in the tunnel on November 12, which was Diwali day, their families will now celebrate the festival only once they return to the village. "We will burst crackers and also distribute sweets on Friday," he said.

He also said that the Uttarakhand Government had given cheques of Rs 1 lakh each, to the trapped workers and even the Jharkhand Government will be making some announcements once they return.

Triveni Bediya also urged the state government to bring an employment policy for the labourers in the state so that the poor and the marginalised don't have to leave their homes and go to other states in search of jobs.

He also said that for all the news regarding the rescue operation, which went on for 17 days, the families were dependent on the communication from the other workers of the village present there. "Later some more people from the village reached there," he added.

All the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel were rescued on Tuesday night in a mega multiple agency operation which also included rat miners.

Relief and rescue work which entered the 17th day on Tuesday was carried out by scientists, international experts, NDRF, SDRF and the BRO on a war footing till all of them were safely evacuated.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
New Delhi/Imphal, Nov 30 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Thursday discussed the issues facing the state with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day after a tripartite agreement was signed with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest valley-based militant outfit in the northeastern state.

Officials in Imphal said that the Chief Minister during his meeting with Shah in Delhi discussed various "vital issues" concerning Manipur, which has been devastated by ethnic violence for over seven months now.

"The state government has submitted various projects and proposals relating to displaced and violence-affected people, including farmers, and sought financial assistance from the Centre to implement them. The Chief Minister discussed these proposals with the Home Minister. They also discussed illegal infiltration from Myanmar," an official said.

After meeting Shah, Singh posted on X: "It was an honour to meet Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi today. I am extremely grateful to him for his commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur and playing an instrumental role in bringing the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) to the mainstream through peace talks."

"His (Shah's) leadership and efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation and paving the way for a more peaceful and united future for the northeast," Singh added.

After several months, the Manipur Chief Minister went to Delhi and held a meeting with the Home Minister, who had visited the violence-hit state for four days from May 29 to June 1.

Meanwhile, the tripartite agreement was signed in Delhi on Wednesday between the senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Manipur government and leaders of UNLF, which was formed in 1964 and had been operating both within and outside the Indian territory, including Myanmar.

After the signing of the pact, the Manipur Chief Minister termed it as a "historic development", adding that the agreement is poised to give fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the northeast in general. and Manipur in particular.

The agreement was signed 16 days after the the Home Ministry on November 13 had extended the ban on 11 Meitei extremist groups and their associate organisations, including the UNLF, which mostly operated from neighbouring Myanmar and frequently carried out fatal attacks on security forces.

Manipur has around 400 km of unfenced border with Myanmar.

According to a notification issued by the MHA, the groups which were declared banned for five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act included Peoples' Liberation Army, commonly known as PLA, and its political wing, the Revolutionary Peoples' Front (RPF); the Peoples' Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and its armed wing Red Army; the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and its armed wing (also called the Red Army).
Kolkata: West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick being taken by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials to be produced in court. Image Source: IANS News

Kolkata, Nov 30 : The ED on Thursday, made an appeal to a special court in Kolkata for installation of CCTVs in the hospital room of the West Bengal Minister arrested in connection with the ration distribution case.

The current Forest Affairs Minister, who is the former State Food & Supplies Minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, is admitted at the state-run SSKM Medical Colleges & Hospital in south Kolkata.

He was shifted here earlier this week from Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata after he complained of acute uneasiness and chest pain.

On Thursday, the ED counsel argued in the court that since Mallick, as a Minister, is a highly influential person, he is capable of making arrangements for tampering with evidence even while in hospital.

So CCTVs should be installed in the room where the Minister is housed and the links of the CCTVs should be made available to the central agency sleuths so that the latter can monitor all visitors, the ED counsel argued in court.

Surprisingly, Mallickas counsel did not move any bail application on behalf of his client even on Thursday, though he made a submission that the Minister should be given proper treatment considering his medical condition as both his kidneys are not functioning properly.

Ever since Mallick was arrested on October 27, his counsel has not moved any bail plea on his behalf.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : A Bengaluru woman was sexually assaulted by a Rapido auto driver on Wednesday and was thrown out of the moving vehicle when she defended herself.

One of the woman's friends, Ankur Bagchi, described the incident on X, encouraging others not to use the ride-hailing platform.

"Rapido enables sexual predators. Do not use Rapido. One of my friends got sexually assaulted last night by a @rapidobikeapp auto driver. She was touched inappropriately and when she pushed back, she was thrown out of a moving auto," Bagchi wrote on Thursday.

He went on to say that when the woman called Rapido for assistance, they stated that they did not keep records of auto drivers who worked for them and that it was not their problem.

The user then sought assistance from others in locating the driver. "She reached out to Rapido to resolve this and they said sorry, we don't store auto driver details, not our problem. We're working on sorting this out, but in the meantime she needs medical care. If you have any leads on how we can find this guy, ping me," he wrote.

Bagchi's post received numerous retweets and comments, but most importantly, a response from the city police, who asked for more information.

In July, police arrested a Rapido driver, who misbehaved with a woman passenger during the ride and even afterwards harassed her over the phone.

The woman, Athira Purushothaman had taken to X (then Twitter) on July 21 stating that she had gone for the Manipur violence protest at Town Hall and booked a Rapido auto to go home from the venue. However, after several cancellations, she decided to take a Rapido bike back home. She said that as they reached an isolated area -- with no other vehicles around, the driver began masturbating.
Mumbai, Nov 30 : Actress Sherleen Dutt, who has been a part 'KINK', 'Honey Trap Squad', etc opened up on her acting journey, calling it a relentless pursuit of excellence, a commitment to evolving, and an unwavering desire to go far.

Back in her childhood days, when she used to be all by herself, Sherleen's mind was a playground of endless imagination. In those solitary moments, a secret desire began to bloom within her-- the dream of becoming an actor.

Speaking about the same, she said: "In the quiet valleys of Jammu & Kashmir, where traditions echo louder than aspirations, a young dreamer silently nurtured ambitions that defied her conservative upbringing. At just 18, I embarked on a clandestine journey to pursue a passion deemed unconventional in my family--acting."

"Born into a joint family where government jobs were the ultimate aspiration, breaking free from the shackles of conformity was my silent rebellion. In a household that frowned upon dreams, especially for the only girl child, I dared to harbour aspirations beyond the usual. The first challenge was convincing my strict parents to let me chase my dreams in the city of dreams a" Mumbai," she said.

Under the guise of pursuing studies, she stepped into the bustling streets of Navi Mumbai, secretly laying the foundation for a future they couldn't comprehend.

Every day was a balancing act-- attending college by day and navigating local trains to reach for shoots by night.

"The struggle was real, but so were the dreams I cradled within. From the confines of my conservative upbringing, I explored the vast landscape of experiences that Mumbai offered. They say that experience is the best teacher, and my journey attests to that. The auditions, the rejections, and the relentless pursuit of a dream molded me into a resilient individual. Each setback was a lesson, and every triumph fueled my determination to go further," she said.

Sherleen said: "In the midst of secrecy, I laid the foundation of my dreams, ensuring that my pursuit didn't hurt those who couldn't fathom my aspirations. Mumbai became more than a city; it became the canvas on which I painted my dreams, unburdened by the expectations of my past. Today, as I stand on the precipice of acceptance, my once conservative family embraces my dreams."

"The applause and support I receive are not just for the roles I play on screen but for the audacity to dream in a world that once tried to confine those dreams. Blessed with newfound support, I am more focused than ever on my acting career. Yet, the hunger to learn propels me forward. For the actor, every day is a lesson, every experience a stepping stone," she further said.

Sherleen added: "My journey doesn't end here; it's a relentless pursuit of excellence, a commitment to evolving, and an unwavering desire to go far. This is not just a story of a girl who became an actor; it's a testament to the power of dreams, the courage to break free, and the resilience to carve a path when none existed."
Dubai, Nov 30 : A decision to operationalise a loss and damage fund, particularly for nations most vulnerable to the climate crisis within a year of its establishment, was adopted as leaders began talks on Thursday at the two-week-long United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) with the host UAE committing $100 million.

"We've delivered history today," COP28 President, Sultan Al Jaber, remarked.

"The first time a decision has been adopted on day one of any COP. And the speed in which we have done so is also historic.

"Getting this done demonstrates the hard work of so many, particularly members of the transitional committee who worked tirelessly to get us to this point.

"This is evidence that we can deliver. COP28 can deliver. And colleagues, this now sets a clear ambition for us to deliver a comprehensive GST (global stocktake) decision over the next 12 days."

The COP28 presidency UAE is committing $100 million to loss and damage, an important milestone in building resilience for people suffering the devastating impacts of climate change.

During COP28, the world is set to unite, act together and deliver actionable solutions to the climate crisis.

Parties to the COP28 approved the Presidency's Negotiations Agenda during the Opening Plenary of COP28 here.

A key moment symbolizing multinational unity in the face of climate change, and a critical step in the right direction to set the pathway towards climate ambition to be met. Earlier in the day, Al Jaber officially assumed the role of COP28 President, as the gavel was formally passed by his predecessor, COP27 President Sameh Shoukry.

Christian Aid has welcomed the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund but warns there is much work to be done to ensure the climate vulnerable are able to actually get access to it.

Mariana Paoli, Christian Aid's Global Advocacy Lead, said: "This time last year, at the start of COP27 in Egypt, the Loss and Damage Fund was not even on the agenda for that meeting. So it's a testament to the determination of developing country negotiators that we now already have the fund agreed and established.

"The fact the World Bank is to be the interim host of the fund is a worry for developing countries. It needs to be closely scrutinised to ensure vulnerable communities are able to get easy and direct access to funds and the whole operation is run with far more transparency than the World Bank normally operates on. These were the conditions agreed by countries and if they are not kept to, a separate arrangement will be needed."

Responding to the decision, Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International, told IANS: "Amid the historic decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund within a year of its establishment, addressing underlying concerns becomes critical.

"On one hand, rich countries have pushed for the World Bank to host this Fund under the guise of ensuring a speedy response. Conversely, they have attempted to dilute their financial obligations and resisted defining a clear finance mobilisation scale.

"The absence of a defined replenishment cycle raises serious questions about the fund's long-term sustainability. Therefore, a robust system, particularly integrated with the Global Stocktake process and the new climate finance goal, is needed to ensure that COP28 results in a meaningful outcome.

"The responsibility now lies with affluent nations to meet their financial obligations in a manner proportionate to their role in the climate crisis, which has been primarily driven by decades of unrestrained fossil fuel consumption and a lack of adequate climate finance delivered to the Global South."
Bengaluru, Nov 30 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday invited Australian investors to invest in the infrastructure development sector of the state.

He held talks with the Australian High Commissioner in New Delhi, Philip Green OAM, who met him at his home office Krishna.

During the discussion held to further strengthen the relationship between Karnataka and Australia, Chief Minister extended this invitation.

Investments can be made in sectors like urban transport, green field road corridor etc in the state. Moreover, Bangalore is the fastest growing city in the country and is known as the city of technology and knowledge. He explained that skilled human resources and unskilled manpower are available here and there is ample opportunity for investment in the state, he explained.

Responding to this, High Commissioner Philip Green said that he will bring the delegation of investors and organise a round table of investors.

Many MoU have been signed between Karnataka and Australia in the field of education as well. It was agreed that this relationship will continue.

On this occasion, the Australian Consul General in Bengaluru, Hilary McGeachy, Australia's Minister of Commerce and Trade in South Asia Catherine Gallagher, Chief Minister's Political Secretary K. Govindaraju, Deputy Chief Secretary to Chief Minister L. K. Atiq and other officers were present.
On Friday, December 1, at 10.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference by PJSC Kyivmiskbud and Ukrbud housing investors on the results of a rally outside Kyiv City State Administration on November 30, 2023, during which Kyiv mayor promised not to leave people in trouble and resolve the problem with the completion of the frozen construction in the next few months.

Participants:

representative of investors in the Raiduzhny Residential Complex Denys Boiko,

representative of investors in the Kyrylivsky Hai Residential Complex Daulet Beisembayev,

representative of investors in the Charivne Misto Residential Complex Yevhenia Stasiuk,

representative of investors in the Urban Park Residential Complex Oleksandr Diadiuk,

representative of investors in the Milos Residential Complex Marharyta Yakuba (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission of journalists requires press accreditation on the spot. Additional information by phone: (098) 794 1690.
Hyderabad, Nov 30 : Terming exit polls about Telangana Assembly polls 'nonsense' and 'rubbish', Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao said on Thursday that BRS will retain power.

Soon after some exit polls gave an edge to Congress party, he told media persons that BRS will win more than 70 seats in the 119-member Assembly to come to power for a third consecutive term.

He also slammed the Election Commission of India for allowing exit polls to be published when voters were still standing in queues to cast their votes.

Referring to 2018 exit polls, he said only one agency had got it right. TRS (now BRS) was given 48-66 seats by four others but it went on to bag 88 seats. "This tells you what kind of rubbish they publish in the name of exit polls," he said.

"The real poll will come out on December 3. Those who are trying to confuse Telangana voters are in for a huge surprise. Exit polls are not new. I promise those who are fans of BRS and want KCR to come back and run the state that we will come back with 70 plus seats. Just wait and watch," he added.

He also said that it was ridiculous for the Election Commission to allow exit polls at 5.30 p.m. when people were still standing in queues to cast their votes.

The BRS leader said that Congress may try to use these exit polls to influence the voting pattern.

He also asked them if they have courage to apologise to people of Telangana if their exit polls are proved wrong on December 3.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Hot on the heels of a deadly Covid-19 pandemic, the recent pneumonia outbreak reported in China is a concern for the rest of the world as our interconnected world still poses risks, said experts on Thursday, while calling on the need for preparing for the worst.

A recent post on ProMED Mail, the online reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, reported that China was experiencing a major pneumonia outbreak with no known cause in children.

It said that the outbreak, causing symptoms such as high fever, and some developing pulmonary nodules is overwhelming paediatric hospitals in the country.

Upon request, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) that no new pathogens were detected in the outbreak, and instead the illnesses were caused by known seasonal viruses such as the flu and RSV, along with the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Netherlands and Denmark have also reported a similar uptick in pneumonia cases among children.

While there is currently no report of a spread, it may be too early to say whether it can spread, said health experts calling for increasing surveillance.

"While the risk of the new China flu threatening India is currently low, the potential for spillover remains. Implementing proactive preventive measures and strengthening public health infrastructure are crucial to safeguard India's health security," Dr Tushar Tayal, Consultant, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS.

"In the wake of the pneumonia outbreak in China, vigilance becomes our greatest shield. Although, there is no imminent threat to India, given our robust preparedness. Drawing from our past encounters with novel viruses, our readiness is evident. The lessons learned have fortified our capabilities to effectively address potential challenges posed by emerging infectious agents. However, our interconnected world still poses risks, and in such a case awareness and precautions are potent tools," added Dr Nidhin Mohan, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.

A new paper in the Lancet journal shows a significant resurgence of Mycoplasma pneumonia cases post Covid in several countries including Singapore and Sweden since April.

Last week, the Union Health Ministry noted that it is "closely monitoring the reported outbreak of H9N2 cases and clusters of respiratory illness in children" in northern China.

"There is low risk to India from both the avian influenza case reported from China as well as the clusters of respiratory illness," said a statement from the Ministry.

It added that the country is prepared for any kind of exigency that may emerge from the current influenza situation in China.

About six states -- Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Tamil Nadu -- have also asked their hospitals and healthcare staff to ensure preparedness to tackle patients complaining of respiratory issues.

Dr Krishan Chugh, Director and head of the department of paediatrics at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said the respiratory infection in Chinese children is "a concern for the rest of the world" as it is obviously highly infectious (even though exact characteristics of the virus are not known/revealed)".

Calling upon India to be prepared, he advised it to reactivate all recent Covid pandemic preparations. "But, unlike Covid, this time the victims of the new virus are children and not adults. Here we have limitations. Trained nurses for paediatric ICUs are very few in our country. Number of paediatric beds, suitable equipment including ventilators and trained paediatric intensivists are available only in big cities and metros. We should plan for these right now," Dr Chugh told IANS.

Dr Aoyon Sengupta, from SRCC Children's Hospital, Mumbai said that India is well-prepared with the multiple waves of Covid and the experience of handling sick children with Covid infection.

"In India, we have seen an increase in cases of viral pneumonia in children after Covid-19 subsided. There have been surges of pneumonia due to adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus to name a few, over the past year, some of them are severe and need prolonged ICU care.

"India is well-prepared for paediatric outbreaks, yet continuous strengthening is advised," Dr Sengupta, Sr Consultant, Paediatric Critical Care & Emergency Medicine at SRCC, told IANS.

The health experts called on caregivers to stay vigilant and not ignore symptoms like cough, cold, and fever. They also advised parents to proactively take preventive measures, ensuring regular health check-ups and promoting a hygienic environment to safeguard children from potential respiratory threats. Early recognition and prompt medical attention is needed.

(Rachel V Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he was looking forward to the COP28 summit in Dubai, to move ahead with the concrete steps on climate action that formed part of the New Delhi declaration of the G20.

"During our G20 Presidency, climate was high on our priority. The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development. I look forward to the COP28 taking forward the consensus on these issues," the Prime Minister said ahead of his visit to Dubai for the World Climate Action Summit which begins on December 1.

PM Modi said that COP28 will also provide an opportunity to review progress made under the Paris Agreement, and chart the future course on climate action.

He also pointed out that at the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation.

PM Modi said it was important that the efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer.

Besides, they must get access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development, he added.

"India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother Earth," he added.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred hearing on a plea filed by TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu seeking anticipatory bail in connection with alleged FiberNet scam.

A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi said that it will take up the matter on December 12 as it is likely to deliver its verdict soon on another plea filed by Naidu seeking quashing of criminal proceedings in alleged skill development case.

The bench noted that the undertaking given by the Andhra Pradesh CID that it will not arrest Naidu in the FiberNet case will continue till the next date of hearing.

The special leave petition has been filed before the apex court against a decision of the Andhra Pradesh High Court refusing anticipatory bail to the TDP leader.

Naidu is accused of playing a 'key role' in the AP FiberNet scam that happened during the TDP government in the state. The CID has accused him of exerting pressure on officials to favour a certain company that was awarded the FiberNet contract.

On Tuesday, the top court issued a notice to Naidu on a plea filed by the state government against the decision of Andhra Pradesh High Court granting him regular bail in the alleged Skill Development Corporation case.

A bench of Justice T Mallikarjuna Rao of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on November 20 ordered that the TDP leader be released on regular bail on the bail bond already furnished by him. The High Court made aabsolutea the interim bail granted to Naidu on October 31 on medical grounds.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : The Board of Directors of UltraTech Cement has approved a Composite Scheme of Arrangement between Kesoram, UltraTech and their respective shareholders and creditors.

The decision was taken after considering the recommendation and report of the Audit Committee and the Committee of Independent Directors at the meeting held on Thursday.

Kesoram Industries Limited (Kesoram or Demerged Company) has decided to demerge its aCement Businessa and has approached UltraTech Cement Limited (UltraTech or Resulting Company) in relation to the same.

The scheme provides for demerger of the Cement Business of the Demerged Company into the Resulting Company; and the reduction and cancellation of the preference share capital of the Demerged Company.

Post effectiveness of the scheme, fully paid-up equity shares and non-convertible redeemable preference shares of the Resulting Company shall be issued to the eligible shareholders of the Demerged Company.

The equity shares issued by the Resulting Company pursuant to the Scheme shall be listed on BSE Limited (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE).

Further, since fully paid-up non-convertible redeemable preference shares are being issued by the Resulting Company to the eligible preference shareholders of the Demerged Company, the existing preference share capital of the Demerged Company shall stand cancelled and reduced pursuant to the Scheme.

The Cement Business of the Demerged Company means the business of manufacture, production, sale and distribution of grey cement of the Demerged Company, and consists of two integrated cement units at Sedam (Karnataka) and Basantnagar (Telangana) with a total installed capacity of 10.75 mtpa and 0.66 mtpa packing plant at Solapur, Maharashtra.

The turnover of the Cement Business of the Demerged Company as on 31st March, 2023, was Rs. 3,517.45 crores and forms 99.54 per cent of the total turnover of the Demerged Company.

In case of the Demerged Company, the benefits are unlocking the value of the Cement Business for the shareholders of the Demerged Company; assisting in the de-leveraging of its balance sheet including reduction of debt and outflow of interest as well as creation of value for its shareholders; and focusing on core business areas such as rayon, transparent paper and chemicals.

This helps in expansion in markets where the Resulting Company has no physical presence; creating value for shareholders by acquiring ready to use assets which shall create operational efficiencies and reduce time to markets vis-A -vis greenfield projects which are time consuming on account of acquisition of land and limestone mining leases; good fit for serving existing markets and catering to additional cement volume requirements in new markets; the transaction will provide UltraTech the opportunity to extend its footprint in the highly fragmented, competitive and fast growing Western and Southern markets in the country.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 30 : Delhi's Patiala House Court on Thursday granted bail to former Leading Air Craftsman (LAC) Ranjith KK, who stands accused of sharing classified documents with Intelligence operatives linked to the ISI, concerning Indian Air Force (IAF) operations and Military Intelligence.

Additional Session Judge Aparna Swami, while pronouncing the decision, stated that Ranjith has already served seven years and approximately 10 months in custody. The judge, after confirming the period of incarceration, cited the applicant's satisfactory conduct in jail.

"The period of incarceration has also been confirmed by this court by calling the nominal role of the applicant from the jail authorities, which apart from mentioning the period in custody as 7 years 8 months till September 23, 2023, also mentions that the conduct of applicant/accused in the jail to be satisfactory," the judge noted.

With 12 witnesses yet to be examined, the trial is expected to take more time, prompting the court to invoke the provisions of Section 436A of the CrPC for the grant of bail.

"Further, as 12 witnesses are still to be examined in the case file, this will definitely take time for concluding the trial. Thus, as the applicant/accused has already undergone a substantive period of incarceration, the court is of the opinion that the applicant/accused is entitled to the relief provided by the provisions of Section 436A of CrPC," read the court order.

"The perusal of the case file shows that the present FIR was registered on December 24, 2015, however the charge sheet in the present case was filed on March 26, 2016. It is important to note here that despite filing of the charge sheet in the year 2016, the committal of the present case took place on December 8, 2017. It is glaring that it took more than three years from the date of committal in the present case, to frame the charge against the applicant/accused on February 4, 2020," the judge noted.

"This court is conscious of the fact that the charges levied against the applicant/accused are grave and serious in nature. Also, this court has taken into consideration that a number of previous bail applications of applicant/accused Ranjith KK were dismissed by the courts at different levels on merits, including dismissal of Special Leave Petition (SLP) by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India," the judge said.

"However, those applications were filed under Section 439 CrPC simpliciter, but this application is filed under Section 439 CrPC along with Section 436A CrPC on totally different premise and hence have to be dealt with by this court by taking into account the requirements of Section 436A CrPC," the court noted.

Ranjith has been directed to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with one surety of the same amount, satisfying the court.

Additionally, he is required to report to the concerned Police Station in the District of Malappuram, Kerala, every 15th day of the month, and provide his contact information.

However, the Additional Public Prosecutor, opposed the bail and expressed concerns about potential tampering with evidence and influence on prosecution witnesses.

The prosecutor argued that the allegations against Ranjith are grave and serious, posing a threat to the nation's security and integrity.

The case originated from a complaint filed on December 24, 2015 where it was alleged that in May 2012, LAC Ranjith KK came into contact with a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO) named McNaught Damini via Facebook.

Damini purportedly enticed Ranjith to work as a Defence analyst for a UK-based magazine, promising substantial financial rewards. The airman is accused of passing sensitive information related to Air Force Station and other Defence installations through his Facebook ID and email to PIOs McNaught Damini and Alphonsine Davis.

Ranjith has reportedly confessed to his involvement in sharing sensitive and secret information for monetary gain under the guise of being a Defence analyst.
Mumbai, Nov 30 : The Reserve Bank of India has imposed fines on HDFC Bank and Bank of America under the powers vested in it through sections of the FEMA.

While HDFC has been fined for violation of the RBI's directions on acceptance of deposits from non-residents, Bank of America has been imposed a penalty for violating instructions on reporting requirements under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of FEMA 1999. The penalty in each case is Rs 10,000.

The RBI had issued show cause notices to both banks, in response to which they submitted written replies and also made oral submissions. After considering the facts of each case and the replies of the two banks, the RBI came to the conclusion that the violations were substantiated and warranted imposition of penalty.

However, at the same time, the RBI clarified that the action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the two banks with their customers.
Patna, Nov 30 : The owner of the Customer Service Centre (CSP) of the Central Bank of India in Bagaha subdivision in Bihar's West Champaran district has been kidnapped for ransom, police said on Thursday.

An FIR has been registered in Patkholi police station against unknown persons and the matter is under investigation.

The victim, Raj Kumar, resident of Barval village, went to Bagaha for some work on Wednesday but did not return home till late in the night.

His friend received a text message on his phone and demanded Rs 15 lakh ransom.

The kidnappers also said that they would face the consequences if the money would not be paid.

Bagaha SDPO Kumar Devendra said that the matter is under investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted for the purpose and the accused will be put behind bars soon, he added.
Bengaluru, Nov 30 : The Karnataka Government announced on Thursday that it would release crop relief of Rs 2,000 in the first installment for eligible farmers suffering from drought.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had made this announcement at an emergency press conference. He stated that it is an emergency action by the state in view of the fact that the central government has not yet held a preliminary meeting to compensate the farmers of the state who are facing a severe drought.

"There is no response to the letters written to the Centre. Three ministers from the state visited Delhi, but did not get a positive response from the Centre," Siddaramaiah stated.

"Permission was sought to provide 150 man-days' employment under the Employment Guarantee Scheme. The Centre has not yet given permission. We have declared 223 taluks of the state as drought-prone in three phases. Crop loss is in 48.19 lakh hectares," he stated.

Siddaramaiah added that, "We have written to the Centre to provide financial assistance of Rs. 18171.44 crore. It is enough if the Centre returns the share of our tax money. We had first appealed to the Centre on September 21. A team from the Centre toured the state and conducted a drought survey and submitted a report."

"We all met the central team to discuss and explained the situation. There is drought situation in 12 states of the country. We have asked to release Rs.4,663 crore compensation for the crop loss from the Centre. We have also appealed to the Union Minister," he stated.

He said that the Union Government had not conducted a single meeting till date.

"Despite requests to allot time for the visit, it was not given. I asked the three Ministers to visit Delhi and at least meet the officials. The Ministers went to Delhi and have explained to the officials," Siddaramaiah stated.

"Since it is not possible to wait until the Centre releases the amount, the State Government has decided to release the first installment," he claimed.

"I have written a letter seeking time and saying that I will meet the Union Agriculture and Home Minister myself. Time has not been given till date," he stated.
Denial of sex by spouse can amount to mental cruelty, rules Delhi HC. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Nov 30 : The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in response to a plea challenging the January 2023 order imposing a ban on carrying Global Positioning System (GPS) devices on commercial flights.

The petitioner, environmental scientist Rahul Banerjee, sought damages for the unlawful seizure of his GPS device at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The court, presided over by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Mini Pushkarna, granted the Ministry four weeks to respond and scheduled further hearing on April 2, 2024.

Banerjee, stressing the integral role of the hand-held GPS device in his work, argued that its confiscation was in violation of extant laws.

Banerjee's counsel said that the seizure occurred on June 2, 2022, despite the absence of a prohibition on carrying GPS devices on commercial aircraft at that time.

The plea clarified that the 'receive-only' GPS device lacked transmission capabilities, distinguishing it from a satellite phone.

The petitioner's counsel argued that the Civil Aviation Ministry's addendum in January 2023, equating GPS devices with satellite phones, overlooked the fact that importing and carrying such devices had been permissible for at least a decade.

The court was informed that the authorities were willing to return Banerjee's GPS device and consider his representation. However, Banerjee's counsel urged thorough consideration of the matter and the withdrawal of the Aviation Ministry's order.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) is fully committed to supporting Azerbaijan's 2030 National Priorities, with a particular emphasis on sustainable economic growth and the promotion of a green growth agenda, especially in the liberated territories, Oussama Kaissi, CEO of ICIEC, said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

This will enable us to play an instrumental role in promoting green investments within the country. Azerbaijan has been very active in sustainable and environmentally friendly projects such as wind and solar power, decarbonization, green hydrogen, green ammonia, etc. On the other hand, ICIEC has extensive experience in renewable energy projects such as wind farms in Turkiye, Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project in Sharjah, UAE, Benban Solar Power project in Egypt, solar-powered irrigation and climate change-related projects in Uganda. ICIEC is also participating in the Food Security Response Program (FSRP) of the IsDB Group, he said.

Oussama Kaissi pointed out that therefore, we will contribute to the economy of Azerbaijan by supporting key government projects, including the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

We aim to collaborate closely with Azerbaijani institutions and stakeholders to formulate and implement sustainable development initiatives. Our intent is to facilitate the adoption of best practices in sustainable economic growth and promote a green and environmentally responsible approach to investments. These measures will allow us to align effectively with Azerbaijan's development goals, fostering a more sustainable and prosperous future for the nation, he added.

Cooperation on projects in Karabakh

Kaissi noted that ICIEC will provide insurance for foreign investors in Azerbaijans liberated lands.

ICIEC sees its role in Azerbaijan as that of a reliable and proactive investment partner. We believe that by providing investment and export credit insurance solutions, we play a crucial role in mitigating risks and providing credit enhancements, thereby making Azerbaijan an attractive destination for potential investors. We are actively cooperating with AZPROMO to attract long-term foreign direct investments (FDI) to Azerbaijan. ICIEC has also been working with international banks and insurers for trade and investment transactions in ICIECs 49 member countries. Therefore, ICIECs involvement as a multilateral insurer creates a positive investment climate for foreign investors and facilitates access to financing opportunities for key government projects, added Kaissi.

Furthermore, the CEO noted that ICIEC experience and expertise in the sector allow it to share valuable insights and market knowledge with potential investors.

This, in turn, empowers them to make informed decisions and seize opportunities in a confident manner. Ultimately, our role as an investment partner goes beyond risk mitigation; it includes a commitment to fostering economic prosperity and attracting diverse investors to Azerbaijan. ICIEC will definitely contribute to the Great Return Program of the Government of Azerbaijan by attracting investments to the liberated territories by providing insurance cover to foreign investors in different sectors such as renewables, agriculture, transportation, communication, healthcare, etc., he explained.

Insurance coverage to Azerbaijan

Kaissi noted that to date, the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) has extended insurance coverage totaling $109 million, encompassing $64 million for trade and $45 million for investment-related transactions in Azerbaijan.

He said that these figures underscore the organizations unwavering commitment to supporting Azerbaijans economic endeavors.

ICIEC provided reinsurance support to KazakhExport JSC, the national export credit agency (ECA) of Kazakhstan, for the lease of locomotives to Azerbaijan Railways. The transaction involves the financial leasing of 10 diesel locomotives of Type TE33A by the Industrial Development Fund (lessor) to Azerbaijan Railways, which is the importer/lessee of the locomotives. In 2015, KazakhExport JSC insured the transaction for the full lease period of 10 years, and ICIEC provided facultative reinsurance cover for USD 25 million, added Kaissi.

The CEO went on to add that from ICIECs perspective, the transaction meets the criteria of supporting intra-OIC trade as it involves the export of capital goods from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, both ICIEC member countries.

The transaction also meets SDG 9 of the United Nations, which is pertinent to Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. In addition to the Azerbaijan Railways transaction, ICIEC facilitated export transactions from other ICIEC Member Countries to Azerbaijan, totaling $64 million, he said.

Ongoing projects

ICIEC is working with Azerbaijan on selected projects, Kaissi said.

He recalled that in February 2023, the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, paid a high-level visit to Azerbaijan and met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

In September, I led a mission to Azerbaijan to identify the key development priorities of the country and potential areas of cooperation from ICIECs perspective. During the mission, I met with the IsDB & ICIEC governor,minister of economy Mikayil Jabbarov, the IsDB & ICIEC alternate governor, minister of finance Samir Sharifov; minister of energy Parviz Shahbazov; minister of digital development and transport Rashad Nabiyev and minister of health Teymur Musayev, said Kaissi.

The CEO went on to add that the mission also covered meetings with the ministry of education, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, AZPROMO, Azersigorta, Azerbaijan Investment Holding, Azerbaijan Investment Company, Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), State Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, private insurance companies and banks.

The mission was very successful in that we identified the priority projects and initiatives in different sectors, such as promoting Foreign direct investments (FDI), banking, renewable energy, transportation, communication, healthcare, and SMEs. Currently, in coordination with the Office of the Governor, we are working with the relevant ministries and government entities on the selected projects. We hope to finalize them in 2024 and 2025, he said.

Kaissi went on to add that ICIEC's presence as a collaborative partner serves as a beacon of reassurance and encouragement for prospective investors exploring opportunities within Azerbaijan.

The investment projects will contribute to employment generation, the development of advanced and efficient infrastructure, and improved quality of life for citizens, he added.

Trade and investment initiatives in Central Asia

Kaissi said ICIEC is ready to support trade and investment initiatives in Central Asia, Oussama Kaissi said.

From ICIEC's perspective, we anticipate strengthened collaboration and shared initiatives with a particular focus on promoting investment and export credit insurance. We envision that the Azerbaijani leadership will play an essential role in driving discussions, initiatives, and strategic decisions that will enhance the organization's effectiveness, he said.

Kaissi noted that in terms of regional economic development, ICIEC expects that Azerbaijan will lead in the development and implementation of innovative solutions and strategies that foster economic growth and stability within the region.

By actively involving all member states, including Azerbaijan, in decision-making processes, we anticipate a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the region. The unique location of Azerbaijan as a transportation hub between Central Asia and Europe requires investments to be made in the Middle Corridor. Therefore, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are cooperating to facilitate the trade through the Caspian Sea route. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan established a joint investment fund to invest in joint projects. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are also cooperating in projects in the Caspian Sea. Turkiye is an important trade and investment partner of Azerbaijan. ICIEC is ready to support such initiatives in the region, which is in line with its mandate of fostering economic cooperation among the OIC Member States, he added.

Kaissi went on to add that ICIEC looks forward to exploring new and innovative ways to drive sustainable economic growth, reduce investment risks, and facilitate financial stability in collaboration with Azerbaijan and other member countries.

We believe that this year holds significant promise for achieving our shared goals and making a positive impact on regional economic development, he said.

Follow the author X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Srinagar, Nov 30 : An encounter is underway between terrorists and security forces at Arihal village in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said on Thursday.

"Encounter started in Arihal village of District Pulwama. Police and security forces on job," police said.

The firefight started after a joint team of police and security forces received inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

After security forces cordoned off the area, hiding terrorists fired upon the security forces drawing retaliation by the forces.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Kashmir in the recent past in which many terrorists have been killed.

--IANS

zi/dan
Ratnagiri : , Nov 30 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed new greenfield of the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages coming up at Khed in Ratnagiri, here on Thursday, an official said.

With an investment of Rs 1,387 crore, the HCCB's new unit here is likely to be functional by February 2025, signalling a major leap in its manufacturing capabilities, and utilising the water from the nearby Vashishti River.

The factory will be spread over 88 acres at the Lote MIDC and provide direct-indirect employment to 350 persons. The company plans to take up community initiatives in the state aiming to impact 81,000 lives through educational infrastructure, water ATMs, sustainable agriculture, community engagement centres, etc.

In the Lote region, 10,000 people will directly benefit from these initiatives, plus HCCB will empower 3000 women with digital and financial skills and train 2,500 youth in sales and marketing in 14 local villages.

Shinde, present along with Industry Minister Uday Samant and HCCB CEO Juan Pablo Rodriguez and others, termed it as an industrial milestone and the state government's commitment to fostering a synergistic relationship between industrial growth and social welfare.

Rodriguez said that the HCCB said the upcoming facility represents the company's continued commitment and belief in the potential of Maharashtra, and their shared history of over two decades.

Formed in February 1997, the HCCB now serves over 2.5 million retailers, 3,500 distributors and has 6,000 employees, while 2,50,000 farmers grow the agriculture produce that the company uses in its products.

Based in Bengaluru, HCCB's operations span 22 states and 3 Union Territories and has 16 factories in the country manufacturing and selling 60 different products in seven categories, including Coca-Cola, Thums UP, Sprite, Minute Maid, Maaza, Limca, Fanta, SmartWater, Kinley, etc.
Srinagar, Nov 30 : Jammu and Kashmir Police in a joint operation with security forces has busted a terror module in Handwara by arresting two operatives associated with the LeT.

The police have also recovered arms from the possession of the terrorists, officials said on Thursday.

"Handwara Police along with the teams of the Army and the CRPF busted a terrorist module of proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF and recovered arms from Tutigund forest on the disclosure of terrorist associates Pervaiz Ahmad Dar son of Mohammad Rustam Dar and Showkat Ahmad Shergujri son of Ghulam Mohammad Shergujri, both residents of Tutigund Handwara," police said in a statement.

aAn FIR has been registered and further investigation has been taken up. More arrests and recoveries are expected in the said case," police said.
Geneva, Nov 30 : India topped countries in the South-East Asia Region for the most number of malaria cases and deaths in 2022, according to the 2023 World malaria report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday.

The report showed that in 2022, nine countries in the South-East Asia Region contributed to about 2 per cent of the burden of malaria globally (5.2 million cases).

Most malaria cases in the Region were concentrated in India (66 per cent) and about 94 per cent of deaths were in India and Indonesia.

Globally, there were estimated 249 million malaria cases in 2022, exceeding the pre-pandemic level of 233 million in 2019 by 16 million cases.

There were also an additional five million malaria cases in 2022 over the previous year and five countries bore the brunt of these increases, the report said. Pakistan saw the largest increase, with about 2.6 million cases in 2022 compared to 500,000 in 2021. Significant increases were also observed in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.

Meanwhile, in the 11 countries that carry the highest burden of malaria, rates of new infections and deaths have levelled off following an initial upsurge during the first year of the pandemic.

These countries, supported through the WHO "High burden to high impact" approach, saw an estimated 167 million malaria cases and 426,000 deaths in 2022.

The report emphasised on the growing threat of climate change in increasing malaria cases. It showed that changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall can influence the behaviour and survival of the malaria-carrying Anopheles mosquito. Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and flooding, can also directly impact transmission and disease burden.

Catastrophic flooding in Pakistan in 2022, for example, led to a five-fold increase in malaria cases in the country.

"The changing climate poses a substantial risk to progress against malaria, particularly in vulnerable regions. Sustainable and resilient malaria responses are needed now more than ever, coupled with urgent actions to slow the pace of global warming and reduce its effects," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in a statement.

Climate variability is expected to have indirect effects on malaria trends through, for example, reduced access to essential malaria services and disruptions to the supply chain of insecticide-treated nets, medicines and vaccines. Population displacement due to climate-induced factors may also lead to increased malaria as individuals without immunity migrate to endemic areas.

There has also been progress toward malaria elimination in many countries with a low burden of the disease. In 2022, 34 countries reported fewer than 1000 cases of malaria compared to just 13 countries in 2000. This year alone, three more countries were certified by WHO as malaria-free -- Azerbaijan, Belize and Tajikistan -- and several others are on track to eliminate the disease in the coming year.

The report also cites achievements such as the phased roll-out of the first WHO-recommended malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01, in three African countries. In October 2023, WHO recommended a second safe and effective malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M. The availability of two malaria vaccines is expected to increase supply and make broad-scale deployment across Africa possible.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death by four persons in south Delhi over an old enmity, an official said on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Piyush, a resident of Madangir.

According to police, PCR calls were received on Wednesday at Ambedkar Nagar police station at 8 p.m. that a boy had been stabbed by four-five people.

On receiving the calls, a police team rushed to the spot where the injured was found to be taken to AIIMS Hospital.

"The police team reached AIIMS Hospital where the injured Piyush was undergoing treatment at Operation Theatre. As per MLC, there were six stabbing injuries and the patient was found unfit for statement," said a senior police official.

Subsequently, the place of incident was inspected by the crime team. "Meanwhile, information about the death of the injured was received," said the official.

During inquiry, it was revealed that four persons namely Bhupender aka Buchi, Varun, Vinay and Tushar stabbed Piyush. They all had previous enmity with him as on the day of Diwali the victim had slapped Bhupender and Varun.

"All accused are residents of Block E-2nd, Madangir. During the course of investigation, CCTV footage were checked and all the accused were identified and apprehended. Further weapons of the offence i.e two knives were recovered," the official added.
Mumbai, Nov 30 : Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran-starrer 'The Goat Life' -- a survival adventure film based on a true story -- is set to be release in theatres worldwide on April 10, 2024.

Directed by National Award winner Blessy, the film also stars Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Amala Paul, Indian actor K.R.Gokul, and renowned Arab actors Talib al Balushi and RikAby in pivotal roles.

Being shot in multiple countries around the world, the film is the biggest ever venture in the Malayalam film industry.

Speaking about this Indian film which is made for a global audience, director, Blessy said: "The greatest challenge in front of me was that The Goat Life is a subject with universal appeal and I would have to stay truthful to its narrative style.

"The novel is based on some real incidents and I want to captivate the viewers with each moment that something as unbelievable happened to someone. Truth has never been so much stranger than fiction.

"The scale of the movie demands to be felt within the confines of a theatre and we are excited to bring this magnum opus to audiences around the world."

The movie, based on the novel 'Aadujeevitham', is penned by Benyamin, and follows the true story of the life of a young man Najeeb, who in the early 1990s migrates from the lush green shores of Kerala in search of the fortunes in a land abroad.

The Goat Life boasts of music direction and sound design by Academy Award winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookkutty respectively.

Produced by Visual Romance, 'The Goat Life' will arrive in theatres on April 10, 2024, in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, citing the exit poll predictions, claimed that it would form the government in at least three of the five states.

Assembly elections were recently held in five states -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

Taking to 'X', Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJP's information and technology department, said: "All exit polls are predicting a sweep for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Dead heat in Chattisgarh, with a narrow gap between the two principal parties. It could well be 3-0, in favour of the BJP, in the Hindi heartland, on December 3.

"One must be cautious about Telangana though, in view of the limited time to conduct a meaningful survey, since the state polled just today. Mizoram is also headed away from the Congress," he added.
Agartala, Nov 30 : Senior BJP leader and former MLA Arun Chandra Bhowmik, who has announced he will join the opposition Congress, on Thursday alleged that there is no discipline in the ruling party.

Bhowmik, who was elected from Belonia in 2018 Assembly polls on a BJP ticket, on Wednesday night met Tripura state Congress President Ashish Kumar Saha and Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman and expressed his desire to join the party.

"I was in Congress for several decades since 1977 and held various important posts. There is no discipline in the BJP party," the lawyer turned politician told the media and criticised both former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and incumbent Chief Minister Manik Saha.

Bhowmik, 76, said that he, along with former BJP MLA Biplab Ghosh and many other party leaders and workers, would join the Congress during the visit of its General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Tripura in December.

After Bhowmik's announcement to join the Congress, the ruling BJP expelled him from the party for six years for "anti-party" activities.

"Bhowmik violated the party policy, discipline, morality and ideology. He has been expelled from the BJP party for six years and the expulsion order takes immediate effect," BJP media in-charge Sunit Sarkar said in a statement.

Ever since being dropped from the Belonia constituency in the February Assembly election, Bhowmik has been in a state of frustration which grew in intensity as he was also denied any post of Chairman of various Corporation or PSUs where many other junior partymen were appointed.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 30 : An exclusive Exit Poll conducted by CVoter for ABP News has revealed that the Congress looks set to defeat the BJP in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

The Congress had won by a narrow margin in 2018, but lost power in 2020 when a group of rebels led by Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP.

In this round of elections, ABP-CVoter projections make it clear that the Congress will almost certainly get a majority in the House of 230 seats.

According to the ABP-CVoter Exit Poll conducted with a sample size of 45,521, the Congress is winning between 113 and 137 seats, with 116 being the simple majority mark in the state.

In 2018, the Congress had won 114 seats.

The vote share of the party is set to go up to 44.1 per cent this time from the 40.9 per cent it managed in 2018. In contrast, BJP's vote share in Madhya Pradesh is set to decline marginally from the 41 per cent it obtained in 2018.

The Exit Poll projects the BJP to win between 88 and 112 seats. Even in the best case scenario, the BJP manages 112 seats, which is short of the majority mark.

If the Exit Poll projections hold good, Kamal Nath could be back as the Chief Minister.

The poll also shows that the BSP is a spent force in the state and is projected to win less than 3 per cent of the vote share.

A deeper analysis of the Exit Poll numbers also shows that the BJP is not gaining significantly in the Chambal region as was hoped after the entry of Jyotiraditya Scindia. The Scindia family has deep roots in the Gwalior-Guna region.

Out of the 34 seats in the region, the BJP is projected to win between 4 and 8 seats. In 2018, the party had won only 7 seats in the region while the Congress had romped home with 26 seats. The exit poll numbers show a similar trend this time.

Interestingly, while the Congress had projected Kamal Nath as its Chief Ministerial candidate even before the election dates were announced, the BJP did not project Shivraj Singh Chauhan as its CM face.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : An exclusive Exit Poll conducted by CVoter for ABP News projects that the Congress is set to come back in Madhya Pradesh besides holding the clear edge in Chhattisgarh and Telangana, while the BJP is set to regain Rajasthan.

The ABP-CVoter Exit Poll reveals that the Congress looks set to defeat the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.

The Congress had won by a narrow margin in 2018, but lost power in 2020 when a group of rebels led by Jyotiraditya Scindia defected to the BJP.

In this round of elections, ABP-CVoter projections make it clear the Congress will almost certainly get a majority in the house of 230 seats.

According to the Exit Poll projections, the Congress is winning between 113 and 137 seats, with 116 being the simple majority mark.

The Exit Poll shows that the Congress is tantalisingly close to retaining Chhattisgarh in the latest round of Assembly elections.

This is in contrast to the previous elections in 2018, when the Congress had ended the 15-year reign of the BJP by sweeping the state, winning 68 out of 90 seats.

According to the latest ABP CVoter Exit Poll conducted with a sample size of 19.171, the Congress is projected to win between 41 and 53 seats. The party is projected to get 43.4 per cent votes, marginally higher than in 2018.

As per the Exit Poll, Congress is very close to winning the Aassembly elections in Telangana.

If the poll projections hold good, it will be a spectacular comeback for the Congress, which had been humbled by regional party BRS in the 2018 elections when it won just 15 out of the 119 seats, while the BRS had romped home with 88 seats.

The Congress is projected to win between 49 and 65 seats this time, while the BRS is projected to win between 38 and 54 seats. The BJP comes a distant third, projected to win between 5 and 13 seats.

The Exit Poll also finds that the BJP looks set to recapture Rajasthan, a state it had lost in 2018.

According Exit Poll figures, the Congress is projected to get 41.1 per cent votes, up from 39.3 per cent in 2018.

However, the BJP's vote share is projected to go up even more, to 44.7 per cent compared to 38.8 per cent in 2018. This gap in vote share seems enough to push the BJP towards the majority mark of 101 in the state Assembly.

As per the Exit Poll, the BJP is projected to win between 94 and 104 seats, while the Congress is projected to win between 71 and 91 seats.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR will build a laboratory for production of chemicals and oil and gas equipment in Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The plans were discussed during the visit of Uzbekneftegaz working group to SOCAR's Neftegaz Research and Design Institute in Baku.

During the visit, members of Uzbekneftegaz working group familiarized themselves with the activities of testing laboratories accredited on the basis of international certificate for drilling and plugging fluids.

According to Uzbekneftegaz, the laboratories are provided with modern equipment, and within the framework of a joint project, SOCAR's Scientific Research Design Institute Neftegaz plans to build a similar testing laboratory in Uzbekistan.

In addition, the companies will also consider issues of developing equipment for well workover and providing services for storage and distribution of components for drilling and plugging fluids, widely used in field development and drilling.

As a result of discussions, the issues related to the next stages of the scientific infrastructure project were agreed upon.
From Alia to Orry, quite a celebrity turnout for 'Animal' screening in Mumbai. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Nov 30 : The special screening of the upcoming Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Animal' was held in Mumbai's BKC area on Thursday, and it was a starry affair. As the film is a highly anticipated release, a lot of members of B-town graced the screening.

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, who is also the wife of Ranbir Kapoor, arrived at the special screening with her sister Shaheen Bhatt and her mother-in-law Neetu Kapoor. The actress turned heads with black blazer and a pair of black pants.

Ranbir too arrived in style as he sported a black suit and a pair of sunglasses.

Actress Rashmika Mandanna, who plays Ranbir's wife in the film, turned heads with her style.

The actress was seen walking alongside her Animal co-star Ranbir Kapoor.

Rashmika Mandanna wore a light brown coloured body hugging outfit and kept her makeup glam and opted for heels.

Actor Bobby Deol, who serves as the film's antagonistic force, was seen at the venue with his wife and son.

His nephew Rajveer Deol was also seen at the screening. Actor Anil Kapoor, who plays the role of Ranbir's father in 'Animal' attended the premiere as he gave the younger stars a run for their money with his swag.

Veteran actor Shakti Kapoor too was seen at the special screening along with Ranbiras father-in-law, Mahesh Bhatt.

Social media influencer Orry, who is currently the hot topic in the memeverse, was also seen attending the special screening in Mumbai.

'Animal' is co-written, edited, and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga of 'Kabir Singh' fame.

The film also stars Tripti Dimri, and is set to clash with the Vicky Kaushal-starrer 'Sam Bahadur' at the box-office on Friday.
Bhopal, Nov 30 : Veera Rana, a 1988 batch IAS officer, took additional charge of Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.

Rana became the second woman chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh, after Nirmala Buch.

Buch, who died on July 10 this year, served in the post from September 1991 to January 1993.

The state government issued orders giving additional charge as Chief Secretary to Veera Rana late on Wednesday, and she took over charge on Thursday.

Outgoing Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, a 1985 batch IAS officer, retired on Thursday after serving two extensions of six months each.

Bains, considered close to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, was due to retire in November 2022 but was given two consecutive extension by the Centre because of Chouhan's request.

Rana is due for retirement in March 2024. Her husband is a retired IPS officer of the MP cadre, Sanjay Rana.

IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 30 : Hyderabad-based liquor businessman Arun Ramchandran Pillai, who is an accused in the alleged Delhi liquor excise scam, has filed an interim bail plea before a Delhi court, seeking an eight-week release due to his wife's medical condition.

Special Judge M K Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court has sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Pillai's plea.

Issuing notice to ED, the judge listed the matter for hearing next on December 1.

Advocate Nitesh Rana appeared for Pillai, who was arrested on March 6 and is currently in judicial custody.

Earlier this month, the ED filed a reply before the Delhi High Court in the bail plea of Pillai. It also filed a response on another petition terming his arrest as illegal, and violative of Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Rana argued that his client's (Pillai) case is covered by Roop Bansal and Pankaj Bansal judgements, hence he ought to be released.

Earlier, citing the Supreme Court mandate of providing grounds of arrest as mandatory and of utmost importance, in the petition, Pillai had stated that no grounds for arrest, either oral or written, were ever provided to him, as is required under Section 19(1) of PMLA.

"The 'Impugned Arrest Order' is violative of Article 21 and Article 22 of the Constitution, since the petitioner/applicant was deprived of his liberty without following the procedure prescribed under law. Furthermore, the petitioner/applicant was stripped of his valuable right to defend himself since the grounds of arrest were not provided," his plea read.

The plea further stated that none of the impugned remand orders record any satisfaction of whether the ED had materials on record to form "reasons to believe" that Pillai is guilty of an offence under the PMLA.

"It is pertinent to mention that the purported facts that have been asserted by the respondent agency (ED) in the remand application were asserted even in the first prosecution complaint filed," the plea read.

"The petitioner/applicant has appeared before the ED at least on 9 (nine) occasions after the filing of first prosecution complaint and at least on 3 (three) occasions after filing of the second prosecution complaint on which occasions the petitioner/applicant was never arrested by the respondent agency," it stated.

"Also, there is nothing in the Remand Application which is not part of the prosecution complaints dated November 26, 2022 and January 6, 2023 filed earlier. Thus, no reasons ever arose on March 6, 2023 or after the filing of a second prosecution complaint for arresting the petitioner," it read.

The petition further stated that the ED in a vindictive manner and solely as a witch hunting exercise, has employed coercive tactics to obtain information and used third degree measures on Pillai herein as well as the other accused.

"The ED was enabled to act in such an illegal manner by the Impugned Arrest Order as well as the Impugned Remand Orders, which in itself is a ground to quash the said impugned arrest order and the impugned remand orders," the petition further read.

Pillai has prayed for setting aside/cancelling/quashing of the impugned arrest order and impugned remand order. He has sought a court direction that he be immediately released from incarceration and set at liberty.
New Delhi, Nov 30 : The air quality in the national capital remained in "poor" category on Thursday, according to the data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

However, Bawana station recorded PM 2.5 at 449 and PM 10 at 418, in the severe category while the CO reached 60, or "satisfactory".

The air quality at Anand Vihar remained in the "very poor" category with PM 2.5 at 371 and PM at 368 while the CO reached 105, in the "moderate" category while NO2 was at 86 or "satisfactory", as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The AQI monitoring station at Dwarka Sector 8 recorded PM 2.5 at 409 and PM 10 was at 405, both in the very poor category while the CO was at 121, moderate.

The AQI at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport station plummeted with PM 2.5 at 391, and PM 10 was at 349, both in the very poor levels.

The CO was recorded at 106, in the "moderate" level. The PM 10 at Okhla Phase-II was recorded at 421, the severe category and PM 10 at 355 both in the "very poor".

The NO2 was 57, in satisfactory levels and CO at 102, or "moderate".

The AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good"; 51 and 100 "satisfactory"; 101 and 200 "moderate"; 201 and 300 "poor"; 301 and 400 "very poor"; and 401 and 500 "severe".

--IANS

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Patna, Nov 30 : A 16-year-old girl was gang raped by three persons inside the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, police said on Thursday.

According to a Muzaffarpur police spokesman, a written complaint in this regard was received on Thursday morning and district police immediately arrested one of the accused Mantosh Kumar.

"As per the statement, the victim came to SKMCH to meet a patient. She was walking on Wednesday night when Mantosh Kumar, who knew the victim, approached her. He forcibly took her to an under construction building inside the premises where two more youths were present. They threatened her with dire consequences and raped her one by one," he said.

Following the incident, the accused fled from the spot.

The victim revealed her ordeal to her parents who approached Ahiyapur police station of the district and registered an FIR.

aOur police team conducted medical examination of the victim which confirmed rape. Accordingly, an FIR under POCSO act was registered against three persons.

"We immediately swung into action and managed to nab one of the accused Mantosh Kumar. The other two accused are absconding. We are quizzing the arrested accused and taking the details of the other two accused," the spokesman said.

Mantosh Kumar is a resident of Narma village under Rampurhari police station.
Guwahati, Dec 1 : A police personnel and a journalist were arrested here on Thursday for allegedly siphoning off at least Rs 25 lakh that was earlier seized in raids, an official said.

The police also recovered the money (in cash) from the house of the journalist.

According to officials, the Crime Branch of Guwahati Police conducted raids at the house of Toufique Uddin Ahmed, a journalist, here in Garigaon on Wednesday night and seized the cash after receiving specific information.

Another person, Mubarak Ali, who is working as a sub-inspector in Assam Police was held by the Crime Branch after Toufique Uddin revealed some more names during the questioning.

They were both taken into custody on Thursday in connection with a Crime Branch case.

According to the police, the fresh arrests are connected to the earlier arrests of two Rajasthan natives -- Devkaran Sen (27) and Manoj Kumar (47).

Both were taken into custody due to their alleged involvement in Hawala transactions. Police seized Rs 1.69 crore in cash during the inquiry.

Sub-inspector Mubarak Ali was a part of the investigation. However, it is suspected that the police seized more money from the Rajasthan natives, but Mubarak Ali siphoned off a significant portion of it with the assistance of Toufique Uddin, a journalist, and a few other individuals.

A senior police officer said that some of the money that was purportedly siphoned off was included in the cash that was found at Toufique Uddin's home.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 1 : Alleged conman Sanjay Prakash Rai has claimed before Delhi court that the Rs 6 crore, reportedly extorted from Dalmia Family Office Trust, was part of money embezzled by Gaurav Dalmia from the Ansals.

Alleged conman Sanjay Prakash Rai a.k.a Sherpuria had earlier urged the court to prosecute businessman Dalmia and his wife Sharmila in a money laundering case.

Rai's counsel, advocate Nitesh Rana argued there was confusion within the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and questioned the existence of two separate cases for the same proceeds of crime.

The court has sought ED's reply by December 8.

Sherpuria had made the allegation against Dalmia and his wife while the court was hearing his bail application in the case. On September 15, the court had sought a response from the ED on Sherpuriaas bail application.

Rana had told the court that his client cannot be prosecuted alone.

"If Sanjay Rai Sherpuria has committed the offence of money laundering then Gaurav Dalmia, Sharmila Dalmiya and sons of Dalmia group have also committed it. Sherpuria alone canat be prosecuted. Prosecute Dalmia family also," he said.

Earlier, before the Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Gupta, who had issued notice to the ED, Rana had argued that the entire case was a "figment of imagination" of the central probe agency, and that there was no evidence against him.

On August 2, the ED had filed a charge sheet against the accused; hence, Rana had also argued that Rai was no longer required for the investigation. The central agency had earlier sought the accused's remand on the grounds of further probe regarding money received from Dalmia Family Office Trust as donation and money generated from the sale of property in Gujarat.

Appearing for ED, special public prosecutor N.K. Matta had submitted that Sherpuria's custody is sought in order to record statements of five more persons and to verify details of property sold in Gujarat. It has been alleged that Sherpuria "duped" Dalmia and his family to the tune of Rs 12 crore by instilling in him a fear of arrest in an ongoing investigation by the ED.

Rai is alleged to have forged documents in respect of the payment to conceal the true nature of transactions. The probe agency had said that it would also examine and verify the transactions of the Chandni Chowk jeweller, who is alleged to have helped in the layering of cash transactions. It was claimed before the court that the probe showed Rs 10 crore in cash had been laundered, which was initially pegged at Rs 6 crore.

An amount of Rs 6 crore from the total sum was received in the bank account of the Youth Rural Entrepreneur Foundation (YREF), of which Sherpuria was a signatory, in January, 2023 from Dalmia Family Office Trust wherein Gaurav Dalmia is a trustee, the ED has alleged.

Sherpuria was first arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on April 26 over allegations of collecting crores of rupees by faking access to the Prime Minister's Office and later by the central agency after interrogation in Lucknow jail. The ED had arrested Rai a few months ago after it conducted searches at 42 locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Ghazipur, Pune and Gandhidham.
Panaji, Dec 1 : Goa Congress In-Charge, Manickam Tagore, has said that after BJP government loses in Delhi after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led government will also collapse in Goa, which he alleged was formed after buying over MLAs with money and also with the pressure of the central agencies.

The Congress leader is in Goa on a two-day visit to review the party's work in the coastal state.

"Exit polls are coming now. You can see people of India have decided to vote out Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and they are very clear that BJP will be defeated in every state, be it Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana," Tagore added on Thursday.

Speaking about the two Lok Sabha seats of the coastal state, the Congress leader said: "We will win both the seats in Goa as the people of the state have decided to vote out the corrupt government of Pramod Sawant and the day the Lok Sabha election is over, the Goa government will also fall," he said.

"We have a programme and we will guarantee for the people. They believe in guaranteesa they will vote and it is very clear that the way we won in Karnataka, Himachal and the way we are winning the states which recently went to the polls, we will also win Goa in the Lok Sabha election," he added.

"You write ita after the Lok Sabha election when the BJP government in Delhi falls, the Pramod Sawant-led Goa government will go, because this government is formed over buying MLAs through money and pressure through central agencies," he reiterated.

The Congress leader said that the Congress is working with like-minded parties in Goa to foster the opposition INDIA bloc, which he said is strong at the national level.

He added that names of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls will be declared at the right time.

"Before announcing the name of candidates, it is discussed at the local level and a survey is being done, then the process goes ahead with the screening committee," he said.
Patna, Dec 1 : A man shot dead his grandfather in Bihar's West Champaran district on Thursday after a spat over land.

The accused, identified as Shahid Ali alias Chand Sheikh, shot his grandfather Sheikh Shaukat, 70, in his head and fled. The incident occurred at Bastha village under Mainatad police station in the district.

Following the incident, local police reached there and sent the dead body for a post-mortem examination.

Police said that Shaukat had two sons Sheikh Ashraf and Sheikh Asghar and a daughter, and had distributed his property between Asghar and his daughter and had not given anything to Ashraf.

Shaukat had also kept 12 Katha lands for his own livelihood.

Ali, who is a son of Ashraf, was applying pressure on his grandfather to register these 12 Kathas to him which Shaukat was refusing to do. This led to a quarrel between them and led to his death.

Police are investigating the matter and making efforts to nab the accused.
Patna, Dec 1 : A gang of criminals shot dead a pet dog in Bihar's Saharsa district as it began barking at them, police said.

The incident occurred at Simraha Tola village under Sadar police station in the district late on Wednesday.

The police said that around 6 to 8 criminals travelling on bikes reached the place, probably to execute the crime, when the dog started barking at them.

The criminals probably felt that their plan may be foiled due to the barking of that dog, and one of them shot it, police said.

Hearing the gunshot, villagers woke up and assembled at the place but till that time, the criminals had fled.

An official of Sadar police station said that the injured dog was taken to the hospital where it succumbed due to the gunshot injury. Police recovered a cartridge from the spot.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The InMerge Innovation Summit, organized by Azerbaijan's PASHA Holding, has started its work in Baku, Trend reports.

The summit, billed as the region's largest innovation event, will bring together major firms, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate breakthroughs and prospective collaborations that will benefit the region's and Azerbaijan's innovative ecosystems.

The event will feature participation from Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Department for Economic Affairs and Innovation Policy at the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahmar Movsumov, Minister of Digital Development and Transportation of Azerbaijan Rashad Nabiyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Elnur Aliyev, CEO of Trendyol Group Erdem Inan, CEO of PASHA Holding Jalal Gasimov, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) Yusif Abdullayev, Vice President, Regional Manager Central Asia and Azerbaijan at Visa Cristina Doros, Executive Director of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Farid Osmanov, CEO of Bakcell Klaus Mueller, and many others who have distinguished themselves in their fields.

Steve Wozniak, one of Apple's co-founders, will also speak at the event, giving insights into technology trends and his own experiences.

The summit will include presentations, talks, and seminars on a variety of issues, including e-commerce, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and many more.

The event is scheduled to attract over 3,800 attendees and feature presentations from over 100 businesses.

The InMerge Innovation Summit will be held at the Baku Congress Center from November 30 to December 1.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
New Delhi, Dec 1 : In the crucial Assembly elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the opposition Congress is gaining grounds in four out of six regions of the state, as per the ABP-CVoter Exit Poll.

According to the Exit Poll, in the 56 seats in the Baghelkhand region where the Congress had won 16 seats in 2018, the party is likely to win 28 seats this time, while the BJP is expected to win 25 seats. The saffron party had won 38 seats in the region in 2018.

The vote share of the Congress is likely to increase from 33.6 per cent in 2018 to 41.6 per cent this time, while the vote share of the BJP is likely to increase marginally from 38.1 per cent in 2018 to 38.9 per cent this time.

In Bhopal region, the Congress is likely to win 11 seats this time, up from 9 in 2018. The BJP is expected to win 14 seats, down from its 2018 tally of 16.

However, the vote share of the Congress is likely to decline from 43.1 per cent in 2018 to 42.1 per cent this time, a dip of 1 per cent. The vote share of the BJP is likely to witness a dip, from 47 per cent in 2018 to 46.2 per cent this time.

In the 34 seats in the Chambal region, where the Congress had won 26 seats in 2018, the party is likely to win 27 seats this time, while the BJP is expected to win 6 seats, one less than the 7 it had won in 2018.

In the 42 seats in Mahakaushal region, the Congress won 24 seats in 2018 is likely to win 25 seats this time, while the BJP is expected to win 16 seats. The BJP had won 17 seats in the region in 2018.

In the 45 seats in the Malwa region, the Congress won 21 seats in 2018 is likely to win 18 seats this time, whereas the BJP is expected to win 27 seats, four more than its 2018 tally of 23.

In Nimar region, the Congress had won 18 of the 28 seats in 2018 and is likely to win 16 seats this time, while the BJP is expected to win 12 seats, up from its 2018 tally of 8.
Patna, Dec 1 : A government school teacher in Bihar's Vaishali district was allegedly kidnapped by a "Pakrauwa gang" and forcibly married, police said.

The victim Gauram Kumar Rai, had recently passed the Bihar Public Service Commission Examination (BPSC) and was appointed as a teacher in government middle school located at Repura village under Patepur police station in the district.

He was inside the school on Wednesday afternoon when five to six armed men arrived in a SUV and kidnapped him at gunpoint, took him to an undisclosed location and forced him to marry Chandni Kumari, the daughter of Rajesh Rai.

When Rai sought to resist, they brutally assaulted him and forcibly conducted the marriage.

Following the incident, the family members of the victim blocked Mahua Tajpur state highway on Wednesday evening and also did the same on Thursday morning.

District police managed to rescue Gautam Kumar, who revealed his ordeal and an FIR of kidnapping, physical assault, and forcible marriage was registered in Patepur police station. The matter is under investigation.
Jerusalem, Dec 1 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, now on a visit to the Middle East, that the goal remains the same and "nothing will stop us from crushing Hamas who committed atrocities on October 7".

Netanyahu made it clear that the temporary truce does not mean long-term peace is near.

"It is the same Hamas that perpetrated the terrible massacre on October 7, and the same Hamas that is trying to murder us everywhere," Netanyahu said on social media.

"I told (Blinken) we have sworn, I have sworn, to eliminate Hamas. Nothing will stop us."

The Prime Minister noted that the meeting with Blinken took place hours after militants killed three people in a shooting rampage in Jerusalem.

Blinken was in Jerusalem on Thursday for meetings with Netanyahu and the Israeli War Cabinet, reiterating the US' firm support for Israelas right to protect itself "in compliance with international humanitarian law" and urging Israel to avoid harm to civilians, media reports said.

The Biden administration has been firm in its support of the Israeli military's offensive into the Gaza Strip prompted by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Blinken and Netanyahu discussed efforts to secure the release of all remaining hostages and the urgent need to speed up delivery of much needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, the State Department said in a statement.

"The Secretary stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there," the statement said, adding that Blinken also urged "immediate steps" to hold extremist Israeli settlers accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, USA TODAY reported.
Bengaluru, Dec 1 : The Congress government in Karnataka on Thursday handed over investigation of the female foeticide scam to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken the decision and conveyed it to the State Home Minister G. Parameshwara over the phone to complete the formalities, said the official statement from the Chief Minister's office.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that the dereliction of duty by certain officers is evident and ordered suspension of the Taluk health officer Rajeshwari and Ravi, who worked as the District Health Officer in Mysuru district.

Minister Rao visited the jaggery manufacturing centre which was turned into a scanning centre to conduct sex determination test by the accused in Hullenahalli village of Mandya district on Thursday.

He also visited the Mata hospital in Mysuru city where the abortions were conducted.

"Detection of gender is the worst form of cruelty. We have taken the case seriously. The public needs to be educated on this. The Health Department and the Police Department would have worked together meticulously in this case," he said.

"The irresponsibility of the officers is clearly visible at the outset. We will form a programme to initiate strict measures across the state. Those who are involved in this must get severe punishment. Thousands of abortions have taken place. The people should fear getting the abortion done. There is a huge gap in gender ratio in the state. Society must change. If they are coming all the way to a place like this for scanning gender, there is a need to create awareness," the Minister added.

"The investigation in connection with the case had been handed over to the CID. The Health Department will fully cooperate with the investigation. The action must be taken against those who indulge in female foeticide," he said.

Following the female foeticide scam that shocked the state, the Karnataka government had convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation and initiate action.

The investigation into the foeticide scam that recently came to light in Bengaluru has led to shocking revelations that the accused had aborted 3,000 female foetuses so far.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand had said that the investigations have shown that the accused had carried out 3,000 abortions so far and in the last three months itself, 242 female foetuses were killed.

The accused had set a target of 1,000 abortions per year to mint money as they charged anywhere between Rs 20,000 to 25,000 per termination of pregnancy.

The scam came to light when Byappanahalli police, on October 15, tried to stop a vehicle moving suspiciously.

The vehicle's driver did not stop and had to be chased by the police before being caught.

During interrogation, the accused admitted about the abortion racket following which the police have arrested nine people till now, including two doctors and three lab technicians, for their involvement in the nefarious activity.

The probe also revealed that sex determination tests were done at a jaggery production unit in Mandya district where the accused had set up a laboratory and related facilities, and abortions were conducted in the Mata hospital of Mysuru.
Hyderabad: Voters Stand in queue to cast their vote during the Telangana Legislative Assembly election. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Dec 1 : The Congress is likely to retain Chhattisgarh, make a comeback in Madhya Pradesh and win for the first time in Telangana by upsetting the ruling BRS, the Times Now-ETG Exit Poll predicted on Thursday.

The India TV-CNX Exit Poll predicted Congress retaining power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and also coming to power in Telangana.

The Times Now-ETG Exit Poll said that in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly, Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress will retain power by winning between 48 and 56 seats, while the BJP is likely to emerge victorious on 32 to 40 seats.

It said the Congress is likely to get 46.7 per cent votes, while the BJP likely to get 43.83 per cent of the vote share.

The India TV-CNX Exit Poll for Chhattisgarh also said that the Congress is likely to retain power in the state. It said the Baghel-led Congress is likely to win on 46 to 56 seats, while the BJP is likely to win 30 to 40 seats.

In Rajasthan, the Times Now-ETG Exit Poll said that the tradition of alternate party government would remain intact in the desert state as the ruling Congress is likely to win 56 to 72 seats in the 200-member Assembly, while the BJP is likely to win 108 to 128 seats, while others might get 13 to 21 seats.

On the other hand, the India TC-CNX Exit poll for Rajasthan said that the ruling Congress will retain power in the state and change the tradition this year.

It said the Congress is likely to get 94 to 104 seats while the BJP is likely to get 80 to 90 seats and others 14 to 18 seats.

The Times Now-ETG Exit Poll while predicting the outcomes for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly said that the Congress is likely to get majority in the state to oust BJP from power.

It said the Congress is likely to get 109 to 125 seats in the state while the ruling BJP may get 105 to 117 seats.

India TV-CNX Exit Poll predicted the BJP might retain power in the Madhya Pradesh by winning 140 to 159 seats, while the Congress is likely to get 70 to 89 seats.

In a surprise, both the exit polls predicted victory for Congress in the 119-member Telangana Assembly, and a setback for the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) led by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The Times Now-ETG Exit Poll predicted that the Congress may win 60 to 70 seats in Telangana, while the ruling BRS may win 37 to 45 seats. The BJP is likely to win six to eight seats and the AIMIM five to seven seats.

Similarly, the India TV-CNX poll predicted the Congress might win 63 to 79 seats with a vote share of 42.43 per cent, while the ruling BRS will win 31 to 47 seats with a vote share of 37.52 per cent.

The BJP, the exit poll predicted, will win two to four seats with a vote share of 12.07 per cent, while the AIMIM is projected to bag five to seven seats with a vote share of 2.7 per cent.

In Mizoram, both the exit polls predicted a hung Assembly.

According to the Times Now-ETG Exit Poll, the ruling MNF might win 15 to 19 seats in the 40-member Assembly, while the ZPM is likely to win 12 to 16 seats, followed by the Congress with seven to nine seats. The BJP is projected to win zero to two seats.

The India TV-CNX Exit Poll said the ruling MNF might win 14 to 18 seats, ZPM 12 to 16 seats, and the Congress eight to 10 seats.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3.
Militants from India's northeast had no chance of again setting up base in Bhutan, Prime Minister Jigme Y. Thinley said here Wednesday, and added that threats from Maoist rebels existed but his country was capable of fighting back.

Refuting the possibility that militants from northeast India could again set up base in his country, Thinley told IANS in an interview: "Such speculations are incorrect and there are no militant activities in Bhutan especially after our security forces flushed out militant groups from our country."

"Our security establishment is on alert and every measure is being taken to ensure that whatever has happened in the past cannot happen again," he added.

In 2003, Bhutan launched Operation All Clear and busted at least 30 camps belonging to outlawed rebel groups United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA0, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO).

More than 20 rebels were also killed in the operation that helped the country flush out all Indian rebels from its soil.

India and Bhutan share a 643 km unfenced border.

He admitted that threat from Maoists did exist. "The threat (from Maoists) is there and I think such threats exist for all countries. Interests are there from such parties, but there is no basis on which their efforts can gain ground in our country."
Prime Minister Prachanda's maiden visit to India, starting Sunday, will provide "broad political direction to forge a 21st century relationship" and set at rest speculation about Nepal's pro-China tilt, says Kathmandu's India envoy Durgesh Man Singh.

"It is basically a political visit. It will give broad political direction to strengthen India-Nepal relationship in days to come," Singh told IANS in an interview here a day before the Maoist prime minister, a former revolutionary, begins his five-day trip.

"The leaders will have wide-ranging discussion on all issues, including trade, transport, water resources, infrastructure. We are not looking at signing of any new agreements," the envoy said.

Singh was, however, cautious when asked whether Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known as Prachanda, will insist on a review of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship which has been characterized by Kathmandu as an "unequal" document that does not reflect the changing nature of the relationship.

"Like all other issues, it will be discussed. The two leaders will reflect on it and will be guided by realities on the ground," the envoy underlined.

"The aim of the visit will be to give a 21st century complexion to our relationship. The focus will be on activating bilateral mechanisms that have not been adequately tapped," Singh added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The number of startups in Azerbaijan has nearly tripled this year compared to last year, Assistant to Azerbaijan's President - Head of the Department for Economic Affairs and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Shahmar Movsumov said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku.

"The increasing number of businesses in Azerbaijan demonstrates the country's robust entrepreneurial spirit. We are distributing cash to projects that reinvent modern life with the goal of sustainable development. This involves creating smart cities and smart villages in our newly liberated districts," Movsumov said.

"We place a high value on our most valuable resource, which is not oil but rather our people. Recognizing that a prosperous nation's foundation is built on the education and empowerment of its youth, we have launched a government initiative to teach our young minds in famous international institutions," he said.

This program, he claims, is more than just an investment in the academic performance of the young. It is a long-term strategy to develop a talented workforce capable of leading and inventing.

Concerning the ubiquity of artificial intelligence, Movsumov stated that it is necessary to acknowledge and address the issues associated with AI, such as ethical quandaries, privacy concerns, and the impact on the job market.

"We must employ artificial intelligence positively, empowering humanity and contributing to the advancement of our society, while ensuring that its application is consistent with our values and ideals," he said.

The InMerge Innovation Summit has started in Baku on November 30 and will end on December 1.

InMerge, the region's largest innovation summit, is aimed at bringing together prominent organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate the topic of innovation and potential alliances.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku symbolizes the importance of innovations in the present and future for both Azerbaijan and the region as a whole, Trendyol Group CEO Erdem Inan said, Trend reports.

He spoke at the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku.

"Trendyol began as a fashion company, and we are now attempting to transform ourselves into a global technology company. All of these have been significant advancements. We had to push ourselves to do things differently than we were used to. We expanded in Azerbaijan through a strategic cooperation alliance with Pasha Holding, which was one of those big steps," he stated.

Customers were purchasing on the Trendyol platform even before the company began operations in Azerbaijan, he added, but the company's goal was to bring together both Azerbaijani and Turkish suppliers and customers to create a digital bridge between the two countries.

The InMerge Innovation Summit has started in Baku on November 30 and will end on December 1.

InMerge, the region's largest innovation summit, is aimed at bringing together prominent organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate the topic of innovation and potential alliances.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Azerbaijan's digital economy plan will be built around two key pillars, Azerbaijan's First Deputy Economy Minister Elnur Aliyev said at the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku, Trend reports.

"Our digital economy plan will be built around two fundamental pillars: increasing the digitization of current sectors. This means using digital technologies to digitize critical sectors of the economy and deriving value from new digital firms. We'll focus on developing new businesses that generate value through digital applications," the official explained.

According to him, the second pillar is expanding the rights and opportunities of citizens through digital skills.

"We intend to increase GDP development by expanding digital literacy across all age groups. To achieve these objectives, we will improve the efficiency of government operations through the use of digital technologies. In addition, we want to invest in national innovations. We appreciate the significance of embracing new technologies and closely monitoring worldwide changes," Aliyev noted.

"In the future, we will collaborate with many stakeholders in the country to study technologies such as generating local generative artificial intelligence and constructing a digital twin of our pilot cities. These advancements are critical to our progress," he concluded.

The InMerge Innovation Summit has started in Baku on November 30 and will end on December 1.

InMerge, the region's largest innovation summit, is aimed at bringing together prominent organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate the topic of innovation and potential alliances.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
At a 45-minute hearing on November 29, lawyers for a coalition of plaintiff booksellers and publishing industry groups told a panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans that a Texas district court was right to issue an order blocking the states controversial book rating law, HB 900, and urged the court to immediately lift an administrative stay that has allowed the law to take effect despite being found unconstitutional.

Your honors, it's important to stress that unless the injunction is continued and the administrative stay is lifted, irreparable injury in the form of lost First Amendment rights will ensue, plaintiff attorney Laura Lee Prather told the court. In the absence of an injunction, the financial, reputational, and constitutional effects of the required ratings will be irreversible, even if HB 900 is ultimately overturned. This bell cannot be unrung.

The highly anticipated hearing comes nearly three months after Judge Alan D. Albright orally enjoined HB 900, and more than two months since Albright issued an unequivocal 59-page written opinion and order blocking the law.

The state immediately appealed Albright's decision and, in a legal twist, a motions panel of the Fifth Circuit on September 25 issued an administrative stay on Albrights injunctiona stay not based on the merits of the casewhich has allowed the law to take effect pending further action by the appeals court.

Signed by Texas governor Greg Abbott on June 12, HB 900 requires book vendors to review and rate books sold to Texas schoolsboth new books and books previously soldfor sexual content. Under the law, books rated sexually explicit (books with material deemed patently offensive by unspecified community standards) are banned entirely from Texas public schools. Books rated sexually relevant (books with any representation of sexual conduct) would require written parental permission for students to access them. Furthermore, the law gives the state the unchecked power to change the vendor rating on any book, and to bar vendors that do not accept the state's ratings from selling to Texas schools.

The suit was first filed in July, by a coalition including two Texas bookstores, Austins BookPeople and Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop, together with the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, the Authors Guild, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The State

As expected from the states filings, Texas state attorney Kateland Jackson argued that Albrights injunction should be vacated and the case remanded to him with instructions to dismiss it on technical grounds.

Despite plaintiffs inflammatory rhetoric, [HB 900] is not a book ban, Jackson opened. But the court does not need to get into the merits of this case because the plaintiffs claims are barred for three related reasons: ripeness, standing, and sovereign immunity. The simplest way for this court to resolve plaintiffs claims is to determine that they are not yet ripe.

 Nobody wants to get blacklisted. No author wants to be tarred by a bad rating. And what's going to result is the public at large gets harmed in addition to the harm that's being bestowed upon these booksellers. 

For its part, however, the court did not have questions about the technical issues, and appeared more concerned with the definitions laid out in the law, and how the burden to enforce them falls on booksellers and vendors. Why don't you leapfrog and get to the merits? judge Don Willett suggested at one point, interrupting Jackson about halfway through her presentation.

On the merits, Jackson argued that the plaintiffs' constitutional arguments failed for multiple reasons, including that the First Amendment does not protect obscenity, especially in the context of schools. Furthermore, to the extent that there is a question of speech, Jackson argued, this case involves government speech. And on the issue of whether the required vendor ratings represent compelled speech for the booksellers, Jackson argued that there is no reason to believe that the public would understand the book ratings to be "the speech of plaintiffs because the law does not require the ratings to appear on any products or on the vendors own websites and storefronts and because the vendors remain free to disavow the ratings they may be forced to accept.

In addition, vendors can simply choose not to sell to public schools, Jackson argued. [HB 900] does not coerce plaintiffs to assign a rating with which they disagree, and even if it does, we have not gotten to that point now, she said. But even if this is speech that falls under the First Amendment, and even if it's compelled speech, there are exceptions for that. And those exceptions apply here.

Am I correct that if a vendor categorizes even one book incorrectly in the view of the [state] that vendor could be barred from selling books altogether to Texas schools? Judge Willett then asked.

There would be several steps that would have to occur before that would take place, your honor, but that could take place, Jackson conceded. It has not yet today. And plaintiffs are asking this court to affirm an injunction against the defendants for conduct the defendants are not currently doing. Again, this goes back to the primary issue before the court, which is jurisdictional. These claims are not ripe.

The Booksellers

In her presentation, a well-prepared Prather began by rejecting the states contentions that the case was not ripe, citing the plain language of the legislation. Under the statutebooksellers are prohibited from selling any book to Texas schools until they rate all books that have been previously sold to the school districts. So this isn't about some future reading lists, she told the court. This is about a prohibition at this moment in time against selling any books to Texas schools if they have not rated all previous books sold.

Furthermore, on the questions of standing and ripeness, Prather noted that well-established precedent holds that when a plaintiff is the object of a regulationas booksellers very clearly are with this lawlegal challenges are ripe the moment the regulation is passed. Really, the court need look no further on either of these issues, Prather told the court, swiftly dispatching with the state's main argument, and pointing to an additional source of support: The state's own (and only) amicus, Texas State Rep. Jared Patterson, who authored the law, and who outright rejected the states technical arguments in his amicus brief.

Prather also disputed the states contention that the public would not associate booksellers with the ratings they would be required to carry out. Make no mistake these ratings are associated with the booksellers under the plain language of the statute, she noted, pointing out that the law requires the state education authority to post the vendor ratings online. This case is about booksellers being compelled to speak against their will and being forced to apply imprecise standards to promote the state's preferred message, Prather told the court.

Putting this law aside, broadly speaking, states can limit student access to sexual content? Right? judge Willett then asked.

We are not disputing the state's ability to regulate curriculum or obscene speech or to constitutionally restrict sexually explicit material and school libraries, Prather responded, going on to explain how legislators did not adopt the Supreme Courts test for obscenity as outlined in the landmark Miller v. California case in HB 900, but instead, cherry picked definitions penal code provisions dealing with child pornography.

If the law just said vendors can't sell sexually explicit material to school districts, with no ratings requirement, "would that be constitutional? Willett then asked.

Your Honor, again, I think it depends on how sexually explicit is defined, Prather replied. And, unfortunately, in this statute, it is unconstitutionally vague. Prather then offered a detailed explanation of the impossible burdens placed on booksellers by the lawwhich include exorbitant, non-recoupable costs; the inability for booksellers to know which books are in active use or part of curriculums across the state; and vague definitions that involve undefined community standards applied statewide, and no differentiation by age despite the law covering kindergarten to high schoolburdens the district court in enjoining the law held were so numerous and onerous as to call into question whether any third party could possibly comply.

It's basically a race to the bottom, Prather concluded. Nobody wants to get blacklisted. No author wants to be tarred by a bad rating. And what's going to result is the public at large gets harmed in addition to the harm that's being bestowed upon these booksellers. Classics won't reach student. And books about uncomfortable truths that young adults need to be made aware of.

Although the court has the case on an expedited schedule, it is unclear when a ruling on the merits may come. It is also unclear if if the court might choose to at least lift the administrative stay, which was not issued on the merits, now that the case has been fully briefed, and allow the lower court's injunction blocking the law to take effect pending a decision on the merits.

The case was heard by judges Jacques L. Wiener Jr. (a George H.W. Bush appointee), Don Willett (a Trump appointee), and Dana Douglas, (a Biden appointee).

The full hearing is available here.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Azerbaijan's AzerGold Closed Joint-Stock Company is negotiating with TotalEren and Masdar to develop "green" projects, AzerGold deputy chairman Oktay Mammadov said, Trend reports.

He spoke at "Top of Industrial Safety 2023" event held in Baku.

Masdar is a global leader in renewable energy and green hydrogen, paving the way for clean energy, sustainable real estate, and clean technology solutions around the world.

Total Eren is an IPP that develops, funds, invests in, constructs, and runs renewable energy power facilities.

"One of the main directions in Azerbaijan's industry is the transition to "green" energy." Negotiations with TotalEren and Masdar are presently underway," he stressed.

Mammadov also stated that Azerbaijan has already begun to work in this direction, employing solar panels and "green" hydrogen for long-term projects.

The "Top of Industrial Safety 2023" event, which began today in Baku, is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev and is being held for the first time in Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijan Industrial Safety Association and the Azerbaijan State Research Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

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The report draws on proprietary business intelligence analysis by Samsung Consumer Electronics, using available data in September 2023, with streaming sessions analysed over H1 23.

Viewing figures are based on a minimum session length of three minutes across Tizen OS TVs shipped in 2016-2023.

A streaming session is characterised by continuous app usage lasting three minutes or more. A session end is when there is a break in app usage lasting five minutes.

The report also shows that TV owners are often in discovery mode. Still focused on app-based viewing in the UK (on Samsung televisions), the authors identify a multi-touchpoint session as a continuous session where an app switch is identified, and where any break between apps does not exceed five minutes in duration. 39% of multi-touchpoint sessions flick between an average of three different apps in a single sitting. However, instinct seems to win out: 57% of users who are shifting between apps end up back on the first app they used.The Behind the Screens report, called Anatomy of a Streamer', focused on the use of Samsung Smart TVs (which is a large and almost certainly representative sample, given the companys market penetration). It found that the average device regularly uses two SVOD services, one AVOD service and one BVOD. These and all following figures relate to the UK unless stated otherwise.Primetime in Samsung television set homes is dominated by broadcast linear, BVOD and SVOD, with these formats peaking around 8-10pm, whereas AVOD peaks at 6-8pm. AVOD is consistently used throughout the day, when linear, BVOD and SVOD are less prominent. SVOD peaks at the weekend, along with gaming, when BVOD and AVOD consumption slumps, according to the report.The rise in streaming, both exclusively and in combination with linear viewing, shows no signs of slowing down, with 84% of Samsung TV owners now streaming. That is an 11% rise year-on-year. In September 2023, exclusive streamers averaged 81 hours per TV per month.When looking at total time spent viewing, ad-funded streaming saw 18% year-on-year growth, with FAST growing by 32%. BVOD takes up less time overall on devices but has seen strong growth of 24%, Samsung reports.SVOD is still by far the highest app category by adoption, with 87% of streamers accessing this content type. SVOD also dominates overall time spent in apps, but has seen the slowest growth compared to other VOD types, at 7%. This suggests there is less headroom for growth, the report authors suggest.There is a clear demographic split on viewing consumption. Behind the Screens shows that Gen Z watches an average of 2 hours and 5 minutes of streamed content per day, compared to just over an hour for Baby Boomers.During the first half of this year, there were more than 7.1 billion app opens on Samsung Smart TVs in the EU5. 1.7bn of these were in the UK.Methodology:Photo: One of the takeaways from the report: notably more Samsung TV owners are streaming this year.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The Azerbaijani Economic Zones Development Agency will make all efforts to ensure the development of 'green' economy in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation, said Chairman of the Board of the agency Elshad Nuriyev during the 'Top of Industrial Safety 2023' event held in Baku, Trend reports.

Nuriyev also emphasized the need to ensure the safety of industrial zones with the help of locals and modern technologies.

Recently, Deputy Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Samir Valiyev said that a green energy strategy for Azerbaijan's liberated territories has been created in collaboration with Japanese specialists.

He said that according to initial research, the technical potential of solar energy in Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, and Fuzuli districts exceeds 7,200 MW.

"The technical potential of wind energy in Lachin and Kalbajar is estimated at 2,000 MW," Valiyev said at the time.

He also stated that renewable energy capacity accounts for 1,688 MW, or around 20 percent of total power generation in Azerbaijan. According to the deputy minister, this figure is predicted to rise to 30 percent by 2030.

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In this week's Athens-Clarke County police blotter, an Athens jewelry store window was smashed and the power cut, a woman was arrested for DUI after driving into a field and over $7,000 was stolen via a fraudulent check.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The FinTech Alliance hopes for the development of close cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan in the field of fintech, FinTech Alliance Chairman Alastair Lukies told Trend.

He spoke at the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku.

"Fintech plays an important role in the development of every country, and if Azerbaijan continues on this path, other countries will consider it as a role model," he emphasized.

Lukies also added that FinTech has participated in various initiatives such as the Astana International Financial Center in Kazakhstan, and has collaborated with many other countries in the field of fintech, including Australia, Canada, Singapore and South Korea.

"The company is looking for opportunities to develop fintech, and it is clear that the potential for this in Azerbaijan is extremely promising," he said.

The InMerge Innovation Summit has started in Baku on November 30 and will end on December 1.

InMerge, the region's largest innovation summit, is aimed at bringing together prominent organizations, entrepreneurs, and investors to debate the topic of innovation and potential alliances.

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About 40 Athenians gathered for a presentation about 3D digital replicas of 1850s historic properties at the Athens-Clarke County Library on Sunday, Nov. 19.

Dr. Sergio Bernardes, associate director for the Center of Geospatial Research and director of the Disruptive Geospatial Technologies Laboratory, or DiGTL, at the University of Georgia, gave the presentation about various projects he and his team of university students have been working on.
Capitalism, grounded in the twin pillars of a free market and entrepreneurship, is the singular solution to addressing the issue of poverty in India and any country, N R Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, said during a fireside chat moderated by Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of the brokerage platform Zerodha.

Photograph: ANI Photo

The government should function as a fair and transparent regulator.

"On the entrepreneurs side, they must recognise themselves as evangelists for capitalism.

"Capitalism is relatively new in India, and its not enough for entrepreneurs to simply seek a free market.

"They need to bring fairness, transparency, and accountability to the operation of their enterprises.

"Decisions should positively impact even the lowest-level employees, Murthy emphasised during the Bengaluru Tech Summit.

Murthy reflected on his personal evolution from a confused Leftist to a determined compassionate capitalist.

He stressed that as capitalism evangelists, citizens should be willing to accept a higher level of taxation, especially in developing countries compared to developed ones.

Applauding the governments National Education Policy, Murthy deemed it a step in the right direction.

The need of the day is to instil independent thinking, active listening, critical thinking, and the ability to relate classroom learning to real-world problems in the minds of children, he added.

Regarding Bengalurus status as the countrys technology capital, contributing around 35-37 per cent of the total software exports amounting to about $75 billion, Murthy suggested that the state should facilitate the opening of more English medium schools to enhance the citys attractiveness.

He also stressed the urgency of improving the citys infrastructure, citing Chinas quick decision-making processes as an example.

People in the infrastructure industry must work three shifts a day.

"Merely working a single shift from 11 am to 5 pm is not sufficient.

"In nations with high aspirations, Ive witnessed people working at least two shifts.

"I can vouch for two shifts of work, he stated.

Murthy attributed Bengalurus growth to its hospitable, accommodative, welcoming, and kind population, noting Karnatakas long-standing reputation for producing skilled engineers.

To achieve a high gross domestic product per capita, Murthy urged political leaders to carefully study China, emphasising that this recommendation is separate from geopolitical considerations.
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Boards (FRTIB), one of the US governments main retirement funds, decision to change the benchmark index for gaining international exposure will channel $3.6 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) inflows into domestic equities.

India has a weightage of 5.3 per cent, seventh-most in the new MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Index, which FRTIB now plans to use.

India isnt part of the current developed markets-dominated MSCI EAFE index that the pension fund uses.

An analysis done by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research shows Reliance Industries (RIL), ICICI Bank, Infosys, and HDFC Bank will draw the highest inflows among domestic stocks on account of the switch.

The flows in these four companies will range between Rs 1,200 crore and Rs 2,000 crore.

Given how large these stocks are, analysts say the impact on account of these passive flows will be minimal.

Dissecting the MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index

Moreover, the Rs 30,000 crore inflows will be invested in 567 Indian stocks that are part of the MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Index.

The potential flow in 2024 could range from $3.6 billion to $3.8 billion.

"While it's a positive step for India in attracting more stable foreign flow, the impact may not be significant to move the individual stocks or the market at large, as the flow will be distributed across 567 stocks in proportion to their free float, said Abhilash Pagaria, head, Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research.

Also, there is no definitive timeline on when the index switch will be completed.

The FRTIB has announced that it will work with its fund managers to implement the transition from the current index to the new index in 2024.
Led by a $6.5 billion surge in personal net worth on Tuesday, Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, is back in the top 20 of the world's richest list and is now ranked 19th globally.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Adani is also now India's second richest with a net worth of $66.7 billion as of Tuesday, per the Bloomberg Rich List, while Mukesh Ambani, chair of Reliance Industries, is ranked number one in India and number 13 in the world with a net worth of $89.5 billion.

The net worth of Adani, however, is still lower by $53.8 billion or 44 per cent on a year-to-date basis after an unsubstantiated report by the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research resulted in the group's stock crashing in January.

The group stocks have recovered since the report was made public in January this year - just a few days before a share sale by Adani Enterprises.

The group's spectacular comeback is attributed to promoters selling their shares in the listed entities to foreign investors and reducing their personal debt.

Some of the group companies like Adani Ports & SEZ also used the cash to reduce debt on their own books.

The group stocks surged since Monday after the Supreme Court reserved its judgement on the charges made by the Hindenburg report and the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), saying that it has completed its investigations in 22 out of 24 cases.

Investors were enthused by the fact that there were no adverse reports against the Adani group.
'There is no safe spot in Gaza.'

'Israeli airstrikes are targeting everything, everywhere.'

'Hospitals, mosques, churches, schools have been bombed. These are places where people were taking shelter.'

IMAGE: A man sits with children as Palestinians fleeing north Gaza move southward during a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas, near Gaza City, November 27, 2023. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Hanin Barghouti heads the Ramallah office of Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster response, non-governmental organisation of African origin in Africa. In Palestine, the Foundation also works out of Gaza, apart from Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Turkey, in the Middle East -- focussing on countries of conflict.

International aid agencies provide food and life essentials to roughly 63 per cent of people in Gaza. Since October 7, aid to Gaza completely stopped, resuming with less than a trickle on October 21. Fuel supplies were totally restricted till November 15 and even then fuel was meant for UN trucks only.

Hanin, 29, has lived under Israeli occupation in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank for as many years.

In the concluding segment of a two-part interview with Rediff.com's Swarupa Dutt Hanin Barghouti talks about the catastrophic consequences of Israeli bombing for aid organisations.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'Israelis are committing genocide'

Dr Ahmed Abbasi, the head of your organisation in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli rocket strike earlier this month.

Tell us what happened.

Dr Ahmed has been working with Gift of the Givers since 2013 and he dedicated his life in helping the needy, the displaced, orphans, and the elderly. Ahmed used to live in the northern part of Gaza, which is where the most intense bombing is taking place. He did not want to evacuate, but was forced to do so for the safety of his three kids, his wife and the rest of his family. So he evacuated to Gaza City, which is also facing heavy bombing.

He was at a morning prayer at a mosque with his brother, who is also a doctor. While they were leaving the mosque, he, his brother and 26 others, were killed in an Israeli air strike. He was taken to a hospital and then buried. His family did not get a chance to say farewell because moving out of your homes is not safe.

But this is what is happening with thousands of other Palestinians in Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is genocide.

Give us a background of your organisation. What work does your organisation do around the world? What work does it do in Gaza and the West Bank?

Gift of the Givers is one of the biggest emergency organisations in the African continent. It began in South Africa and now it works in most conflict countries around the world.

We give humanitarian aid to the poor, elderly, injured, disabled, and to refugees and the displaced. We provide emergency relief such as hot meals, food parcels, water, drinking water, medical aid wherever there is conflict or wars, like in Gaza and in the West Bank. Before this war we also had a free kidney transplant programme for the poor.

We operate in places that are in need. We began in Africa because of starvation deaths, and the high incidence of poverty. In the Middle East, apart from Palestine, we work in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Turkey.

We don't have any political affiliations.

Our office in Ramallah in the West Bank, where I work, covers Jerusalem as well. Our office in Gaza, has local partners, volunteers and staff in different regions in order for us to cover all bases. In Gaza, the main office is in Gaza City.

IMAGE: A Gift of the Givers Foundation volunteer distributes food to the needy in Gaza. Photograph: Kind courtesy Gift of the Givers Foundation/Instagram

How do you deliver aid now with the severe fuel shortage in Gaza? When you talk of humanitarian corridors, we know now there is no safe place in Gaza.

What are your colleagues in Gaza saying?

All humanitarian organisations are facing difficulties in implementing their interventions because moving around is unsafe and also due to the lack of supplies. In the first few weeks of the war we were still able to provide all the needed interventions because we had access to hot meals, food supplies, clean water, medical supplies, but with the escalation it is difficult to source aid and deliver aid.

After fuel ran out, it became very hard to do what we do.

Our team has been carrying food parcels from the warehouses to volunteers who then deliver it to the needy. They walk all the way, because our vehicles have no fuel. It makes the process harder and longer but moving around in vehicles is also very dangerous now. Before Ahmed was killed, he did everything possible to deliver aid knowing full well it was dangerous to move around.

Israel has opened what they call safe corridors, but the aid trucks entering Gaza are still too few and people in Gaza are on the verge of starvation.

There is no safe spot in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes are targeting everything, everywhere. Hospitals, mosques, churches, schools have been bombed. These are places where people were taking shelter.

The Israelis are claiming that they are opening humanitarian corridors for the aid to be let in to Gaza, but there is no humanitarian corridor that is safe. The Israelis forced people in the north to evacuate to the south, and when they were fleeing south, they were bombed and killed.

Does Gift of the Givers deliver aid to orphanages as well?

There are no orphanages in Palestine. When children lose their parents they stay with relatives. So our aid is delivered to them through their families, to their houses.

IMAGE: The foundations volunteers distribute water to Palestinian children in Gaza. Photograph: Gift of the Givers Foundation/Instagram

Where does your funding come from?

We get the funding from the main office in South Africa; they do the fundraising, while we are an implementing office.

What do you lack the most in terms of humanitarian aid since the war began?

We lack everything. Life essentials -- food, water, electricity, medicines. There is little or no fuel so most hospitals are shut. Bakeries can't work, so people can't buy bread. If Israel allowed more fuel to enter Gaza, life essentials can be sourced and sent to people who need them.

It is really hard for me to communicate with my team in Gaza. I wake up every morning and ask them, 'Are you alive? Are you safe? Please just tell me are you alive'. It takes hours for them to reply because there is no Internet connectivity any more, and telecommunications are almost nil.

So, what do we need the most in Gaza? The answer is everything that allows people to simply live. There is nothing more or nothing less when we talk about life essentials.

IMAGE: As Palestinians flee trucks carrying aid and fuel head towards north Gaza during the temporary truce. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

There is no way for your colleagues to get out of Gaza?

No, my colleagues in Gaza are Palestinians, they are Gazans. They are not willing to leave their houses and leave the lands. And for what? They have families, they are married with kids. They can't just leave everything behind and leave Gaza. And even if they wanted to leave, where would they go?

Sixty per cent of the people of Gaza are refugees living in refugee camps. Their ancestors - fathers, grandfathers -- were displaced in the first Nakba in 1948. They were displaced from the places that are now called Israel and they moved to Gaza.

So they are not going to repeat what happened in the 1940s and be refugees all over again. As my colleague Dr Ahmed who died in the bombing told us, 'I prefer to die in dignity in my homeland, instead of evacuating and being a refugee in other countries where I do not have anything.' It breaks my heart to talk of him in the past tense.

But that's the sentiment -- we prefer to stay in our land and die there, instead of leaving our homelands for the Israelis to take over.

IMAGE: Aid is distributed while Palestinians flee north Gaza as Israeli tanks roll deeper into the enclave in central Gaza. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters

Do you coordinate with the UN or other relief agencies for the work that you do?

Before this war, yes, of course, we coordinated with the UNRWA, because we work with the refugees, with UNRWA schools, with sick people, to deliver aid. All international aid organisations in Gaza coordinate with each other in order to cover as many people as possible.

How much of your aid has dried up in percentage terms, approximately?

We are functioning at 10% of our actual capacity because we lack everything. We don't have access to anything. We have begun providing mattresses as well now for those whose homes have been destroyed.

How many colleagues do you have in Gaza now?

We have four employees in Gaza, but we have tens of volunteers, local partners, photographers, still working there.

What do these food packets you distribute consist of?

Before this war, we used to distribute canned foods, flour, rice, staples, whatever a family needs for a whole month. The cost of the parcel varies from $50 to $100 depending on the size of the family. Basically, we put everything that a family needs for a month in the parcel. A food parcel for say a family of eight people during Ramadan would cost $100.

You said the parcels are distributed to needy families, how do you decide who is needy?

At least 80 per cent of Gazans live below the poverty line, unemployment rates are over 45 per cent. So by these parameters alone, most people in Gaza are needy.

We coordinate with our teams on the ground and the Palestinian ministry of social affairs. Those who are poor are registered with this ministry and so we get a list from the ministry. We conduct field visits to the families on this list, we go to schools, coordinate with municipalities and the information so gathered ensures we reach families in need.

After this war ends, the battle to deliver aid begins.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Data reveals that India issued only 5,709 tourist visas during this year's January 1 to November 2 period, reflecting a staggering 91 per cent decrease compared to the entire year of 2022.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: Reuters

India granted notably fewer visas to Canadians during the period of January 1 to November 2, 2023, compared to the entirety of 2022, according to data from the Indian high commission in Ottawa reviewed by Business Standard.

The data reveals that India issued only 5,709 tourist visas during this year's January 1 to November 2 period, reflecting a staggering 91 per cent decrease compared to the entire year of 2022.

Additionally, the statistics show that India issued a mere 379 business visas in the same January 1 to November 2 period, marking an 85 per cent decline compared to the entirety of 2022.

Tensions escalated between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on September 18 made allegations suggesting a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia. Nijjar had been designated as a terrorist by India in 2020.

India vehemently rejected these allegations, dismissing them as "absurd" and "motivated."

India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a retaliatory measure mirroring Ottawa's earlier expulsion of an Indian official related to the case. Days later, New Delhi declared a temporary suspension of visa issuance to Canadian citizens and requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India. On November 22, India resumed electronic visa services for Canadian nationals after a nearly two-month pause.

Category 2022 2023* Decrease (in %) Number of tourist visas issued to Canadians by India 61349 5709 -90.69% Number of business visas issued to Canadians by India 2583 379 -85.33% Number of medical visas issued to Canadians by India 344 84 -75.58% Number of conference visas issued to Canadians by India 112 60 -46.43%



*between January 1-November 2

Source: Indian high commission in Ottawa, Canada

While the data from the Indian high commission indicates a significant decline in the number of visas issued to Canadians in 2023, tour operators in India have not yet experienced the impact.

According to a Mumbai-based tour operator, the influx of tourists from Canada to India may reduce after some time.

Rajiv Mehra, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), stated to Business Standard, "On the ground, we have not observed any noticeable decrease in the number of tourists arriving from Canada, except during the period when visas were temporarily suspended. The decrease in visa issuances may be attributed to a substantial number of people of Indian origin residing in Canada who have transitioned to OCI cards and consequently do not require visas.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called on the Indian government to cooperate with Canada in the investigation of the killing of India designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar after the United States Justice Department filed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement in New York, CBC News reported.

IMAGE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Trudeau was quoted by CBC as saying that the news coming out of the US underscores the need for India to take the issue seriously.

Speaking to reporters, Trudeau said, "The news coming out of the United States further underscores what we've been talking about from the very beginning: which is India needs to take this seriously."

He said, "The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that we're getting to the bottom of this. This is not something that anyone can take lightly," according to CBC News report.

Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that she would not make remarks on the US criminal case but added she expected more from India, CBC News reported.

She said, "Clearly, we expect more cooperation on their part. And more engagement on their part." Joly made the remarks in Brussels, where she was attending a NATO meeting.

The US Justice Department unsealed the indictment against the Indian national about two months after Trudeau made allegations about India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Colombia's Surrey in June.

India had rejected the allegation, terming it 'absurd and politically motivated'.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day after the central government signed a peace pact with the United National Liberation Front, the northeastern state's oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community.

IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh calls on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, November 30, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Singh said he was extremely grateful to Shah for the peace agreement and stressed that the home minister's leadership and efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering reconciliation and paving the way for a more peaceful and united future in the Northeast.

"The Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri @NBirenSingh called on Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah," Shah's office wrote on 'X'.

Separately, the Manipur chief minister said it was an honour to meet the home minister in New Delhi.

"I am extremely grateful to him for his commitment in working collaboratively for the betterment of Manipur and playing an instrumental role in bringing the UNLF to the mainstream through peace talks," he said.

The central government on Wednesday signed a peace agreement with the UNLF, Manipur's oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community, under which the rebel group has agreed to renounce violence. The development comes days after the ban on the group under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was extended for five years earlier this month.

Representatives of the UNLF signed the agreement here with senior officials of the Union ministry of home affairs and Manipur government, an official spokesperson had said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 celebrated the Igas Bagwal festival with family members of the 41 rescued workers from the Uttarkashi tunnel at his residence in Dehradun.

Rescue workers on November 28 night had pulled out all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency rescue operation that hovered between hope and despair for 16 days.

IMAGE: Dhami interacts with the rescued workers during the Igaas Bagwal festival celebrations. All Photographs: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Dhami dances with the workers.

IMAGE: Dhami felicitates the family members of the rescued workers, here and below.

IMAGE: Rescued workers during the celebrations.

IMAGE: Dhami has dinner with the rescued workers and their family members.

IMAGE: Geeta and Pushkar Dhami pose for a picture with the rescued workers.

IMAGE: Dhami enquires about the health of the workers at the Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre in Uttarkashi, here and below.

IMAGE: Dhami hands over Rs 1 lakh cheques to rescued workers, here, below and below.

IMAGE: Dhami interacts with a rescued worker.

IMAGE: Dhami with family members of the workers at the health centre.

IMAGE: Dhami with health workers at the health centre.

IMAGE: Dhami with a rescued worker.

IMAGE: Dhami celebrates the safe rescue of the workers.

Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. A meeting within the context of political discussions between Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Algeria's National Community Abroad was inaugurated in Baku, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Trend.

Political consultations were led by Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev from Azerbaijan and Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad Lounes Magramane from Algeria, where the sides discussed the prospects for expanding Azerbaijan-Algeria friendship and cooperation relations, the importance of diversifying economic and trade ties, the development of inter-parliamentary cooperation, and the intensification of high-level mutual visits.

During the meeting, prospects for cooperation in education, culture, tourism, health care, and a variety of other fields were also explored. It was noted that the formation of a joint economic commission with the participation of key entities from both countries will help enhance bilateral relations in relevant directions.

Concerning collaboration within the framework of multilateral cooperation platforms, the parties expressed satisfaction with the current level of interactions within the UN, Non-Aligned Movement, and Organization of Islamic Collaboration. It was noted that the initiatives put forward during Azerbaijan's chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement serve to strengthen its positions in the international relations system, and both parties emphasized the importance of maintaining the positive dynamics of bilateral cooperation within international organizations in the future.

The parties also discussed regional and international political dynamics.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
India and China on Thursday held "constructive" diplomatic talks on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh, but there were no clear indications of any major breakthrough.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to forward areas in Arunachal Pradesh, October 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ministry of external affairs said both sides decided to hold the next round of senior commanders' meeting at the earliest to achieve the "objective" and that it was agreed on the need to ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.

It said the two sides reviewed the situation and engaged in an "open, constructive and in-depth" discussion on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh.

The virtual talks took place under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs.

Gourangalal Das, joint secretary (East Asia) in the ministry of external affairs, led the Indian delegation.

The Chinese team was headed by the director-general, boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry.

"The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh," the MEA said in a statement.

"They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident," it said.

"The two sides agreed to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the senior commanders' meeting at the earliest in order to achieve the above objective," the MEA added.

In the last round of military talks in October, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
The Quad summit to be hosted by India in 2024 is likely to enhance New Delhi's strategic intent.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar with US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ahead of the 5th India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi, November 10, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

The fifth annual Indo-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue has moved the needle significantly forward in aligning India's foreign policy interests with those of the United States as a counterweight to China's growing global dominance.

Two broad geopolitical messages were emphasised after meetings in New Delhi between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and their US counterparts Lloyd J Austin III and Anthony J Blinken.

Both build on Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's State visit to the US in June.

The first is deepening collaboration between the US military-industrial complex and the Indian defence production establishment.

Second, implicit in the joint statement is a decisive alignment with US foreign policy interests.

The first outcome is implicit in the announcement that India was interested in an initial offer from the US for the joint production of Stryker-armoured vehicles.

Talks on this were taking place under the road map for defence industrial cooperation concluded in June, an all-encompassing agreement that seeks to fast-track collaboration in technology transfer and joint production in a range of critical areas.

These vehicles, manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, are likely to be deployed along India's disputed border with China, where tensions have run high since 2020.

These co-produced vehicles will be armed with anti-tank missiles and some will reportedly be deployed for surveillance.

They are being seen as critical to reducing the Indian military's traditional dependence on Russian defence equipment and spares, which were increasingly harder to source after the Soviet era and have been near-impossible after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

This deal is in addition to agreements for the co-production of General Electric's GE F-414 jet engine and a $4 billion contract to buy 31 MQ-9B Predator drones manufactured by General Atomics.

These will be deployed by the Indian Navy, which already leases two Predator drones for surveillance in the Indian Ocean Region.

Together with the agreement to ramp up investment in India's maintenance capabilities for US aircraft and naval vessels, these deals indicate substantial military collaboration, a fact that was clear from an exploratory investors' meet organised by the US and Indian defence ministries between companies of both countries ahead of the summit.

Undergirding this is the growing convergence of wider geopolitical interests.

Though Hamas was not specifically named, the joint statement carried an unequivocal expression of solidarity with Israel against terrorism and appeal for the release of the hostages.

Though the statement made due mention of humanitarian assistance, there was no reference to India's settled position supporting the two-state solution as a resolution to the 75-year-old Israel-Palestine conflict.

Significantly, the condemnation of terrorism and its funding and proxies mentioned by name like terror groups designated by the UN Security Council's 1267 Sanctions Committee -- al- Qaeda, ISIS, Lashkar-e-Tayiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed -- the statement forbore to mention Pakistan, though the country overtly supports at least three of these groups.

Overall, India's message to Beijing in its intensifying alliance with the US is well defined in the joint statement.

It used emphatic language to underline the two countries' commitment to a 'free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific'.

The Quad summit to be hosted by India in 2024 is likely to enhance New Delhi's strategic intent.

How well this serves India's interests is still to be tested.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Thursday announced that the operational pause in the Gaza Strip will continue amid the mediator's efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.

IMAGE: An 18-year-old man who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, is reunited with his mother shortly after his arrival at the Hatzerim military base in Israel, after being released on November 29, 2023. Photograph: IDF Handout via Reuters

The operation pause was set to end at 7 am (local time), The Times of Israel reported.

According to the agreement, Hamas will need to release at least 10 hostages for every extra day of the pause in fighting. In turn, Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every 10 hostages.

Taking to X, the IDF stated, 'The operational pause will continue in light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the hostages and subject to the terms of the framework.'

Earlier, 10 Israeli hostages and four Thai nationals released on Wednesday started to arrive at hospitals in Israel for treatment and to reunite with their loved ones, according to the Israel Health Ministry, according to The Times of Israel report.

Two Israeli women with dual Russian citizenship were released earlier as a 'gesture' to Russian President Vladimir Putin, separate from the deal with Israel, it reported.

Meanwhile, Israeli Health Minister Uriel Busso slammed the Red Cross organisation over its lack of efforts to secure access to hostages held by Hamas and gain details about their wellbeing, The Times of Israel reported. He called Hamas a terrorist organization that killed and kidnapped female children and the elderly.

In a post on X, Busso stated, 'It is not enough that the Red Cross organization flaunts its feathers, it does not have an outline for the release of the abductees from the captivity of Hamas, now it also refuses and ignores with complete insensitivity to transfer and make available information to the MDA regarding the safety of the captives, it is time to speak with a clear voice, Hamas is a terrorist organisation that slaughtered and kidnapped female children and the elderly.'

'In front of him, we need an organisation that will protect and give hope to the families of the captives, and provide medical information, any other conduct is consent and support for terrorism,' he added.

Since Friday, over 50 Israeli hostages have been released as part of an initial four-day truce agreement, The Times of Israel reported.

According to the initial truce agreement, Israel agreed to halt its military operations in Gaza for four days and emphasised that it would release three Palestinian security prisoners for each of the 50 hostages freed from Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Further, Hamas also released 17 Thais, one Philippines national and one dual Russian-Israeli national.

However, on Tuesday, Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the temporary truce by two days, paving the way for the release of some 20 more people held hostage by the terror group.
India on Thursday described as a 'matter of concern' the United States charging an Indian national with conspiring to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil, and asserted that a high-level probe committee will investigate all aspects of the case.

IMAGE: Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice. Photograph: Courtesy, X

India has already constituted a probe team to investigate the allegations relating to the foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist known to be an American and Canadian citizen.

On Wednesday, US federal prosecutors charged Nikhil Gupta, 52, of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun.

The US prosecutors informed a Manhattan court on Wednesday that authorities in the Czech Republic arrested and detained Gupta and he is currently awaiting extradition to the US.

"As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern," Bagchi said at a media briefing.

"We have said and let me reiterate that this is also contrary to government policy," he said.

At the same time, Bagchi said this case does not change India's stand on Canada's allegations in connection with the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Washington's allegations relating to the unsuccessful plot came weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that there was a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June.

The "nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies to consider and it is precisely for that reason a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results," Bagchi said on the charges levelled by the US.

The MEA spokesperson said the US side shared some "inputs" pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists and that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on "our national security interests as well" and that relevant departments were examining the issue.

"As we have informed earlier, during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others," he said in identical remarks that he made on Wednesday.

"We take such inputs seriously, and a high-level enquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter and necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the enquiry committee," he said

"We cannot share any further information on such security matters," Bagchi said.

Pannun, a leader of the so called 'Sikhs for Justice', is wanted by Indian probe agencies on various terror charges.

The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, first reported last week that US authorities foiled a plot to assassinate Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

The Washington Post on Wednesday said the Biden administration was so concerned after discovering the plot that it sent CIA Director William J Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to India in August and October respectively to demand investigation and hold those responsible to account.

On Canada's allegations, Bagchi said the main issue with Ottawa has been that of activities of anti-India elements in that country.

"Insofar as Canada is concerned, they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence. That is at the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives have borne the brunt of this," he said.

"So we expect the Government of Canada to live up to their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference in our internal affairs. This is obviously unacceptable," he added.
In 2022, Rajasthan met for 30 days, Chhattisgarh 18 days, MP and Mizoram for 15 each, and Telangana for 10 days.

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan speaks in the state assembly in Bhopal. Photograph: ANI Photo

A worrying trend is visible in the way legislative assemblies function.

The average number of days the assemblies meet has been shrinking across states in recent years.

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana, where elections are underway, met for less than 30 days on average annually between 2019 and 2023, shows data from PRS Legislative Research.

Compared to the previous term (2014-2018), the average sittings fell for all except Rajasthan, which recorded a marginal increase, from 28 days to 29 in the current term.

The fall was the sharpest for MP, where the assembly met for barely 16 days. In 2014-2018, it had met for 27 days.

In Chhattisgarh, the legislature's business days shrank from 29 to 23, and in Telangana, from 26 to 15 (see chart 1).

Barring Telangana, for which data isn't available, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram functioned for five hours per meeting on an average between 2019 and 2023.

Rajasthan functioned for seven hours and MP for four hours.

"Fewer sitting days mean fewer days for deliberating on key legislations, fewer questions asked to the government, and fewer opportunities for MLAs to represent the interest of their constituents," says Chakshu Roy, head of legislative and civic engagement, PRS Legislative Research.

This trend needs to reverse so that our legislatures can strengthen Indian democracy through open debates and scrutiny, he adds.

While the Constitution does not prescribe the minimum number of days state assemblies or Parliament must meet, the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution, which was set up in 2000, had recommended that the 'Houses of state legislatures with less than 70 members should meet for at least 50 days in a year and other Houses for at least 90 days.'

The Karnataka assembly met for 45 days in 2022, the highest among the 28 states and Union Territories for which data is available.

West Bengal and Kerala followed with 42 days and 41 days, respectively.

Rajasthan, meanwhile, met for 30 days, Chhattisgarh 18 days, MP and Mizoram for 15 each, and Telangana for 10 days. This was lower than the average of 21 days for the 28 states and UTs.

"The one way in which the government prevents the legislature from acting as an effective check on itself is by not having legislative assembly sessions as frequently as required," says Maansi Verma, lawyer and founder of Maadhyam, a civic engagement initiative.

Irrespective of who is in power, she says, it is in their interests to either have few sessions or not have them at all.

These sessions, after all, are a platform for the Opposition to seek accountability and information from the government.

When assemblies don't meet often enough, what happens to the Bills that are to be tabled?

A report by PRS Legislative Research found that '48 per cent of Bills were considered and passed by these assemblies (five poll-bound states) within a day of their introduction -- on the same day or the day after' they were introduced.

The report cites the example of Mizoram, which passed all 57 Bills either on the same day or the day after they were introduced.

Such haste reduces the process to a mere formality, with MLAs not getting adequate time to go through the Bill or without proper consultations with stakeholders, Verma says.

"A law, once made, will, more often than not, stay in force for perpetuity," says Roy. "This means that everyone in the state and oftentimes generations upon generations are bound by a law passed by a state assembly.

"Due to their longevity and impact, these laws need to be drafted with abundant scrutiny and deliberation."

When the assemblies do meet, not everyone participates enough.

A Business Standard analysis of data shows that women MLAs in office asked less than 20 per cent of the questions between 2018 and 2023.

"Sometimes, women MLAs in their first term might not have adequate awareness or be adequately trained or have sufficient resources to hire research assistants," Verma says.

In Chhattisgarh, they asked 16.1 per cent of questions, in Rajasthan 13.4 per cent and in MP 4.4 per cent (see chart 2).

Meanwhile, between 2018 and 2023, the average attendance of MLAs in office in Chhattisgarh was 89.4 per cent. It was 83.8 per cent in Rajasthan and 82.7 per cent in MP.

"If MLAs don't see any correlation between attending assembly proceedings, asking questions, participating in debates and votes,," Verma says, "they might not be encouraged to participate in the sessions."

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 41F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 29F. Winds light and variable.
State Rep. Tiffany Bluemle, D-Chittenden 13, focuses on housing funding and policy as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to being elected to the House, she served as director of Change The Story VT and executive director of Vermont Works for Women. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. On November 30, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov left for a working visit to the capital of North Macedonia Skopje, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The ministry reported that as part of the visit, Jeyhun Bayramov is scheduled to participate and speak at the 30th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as to meet with officials of other countries participating in the event.
Lawmaker Mike Gallagher said Chinas reaction to the anti-lockdown demonstrations was like an old Soviet joke.

Chinese pro-democracy activists place a banner ahead of an event commemorating the one-year anniversary of the White Paper pro-freedom movement outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Uyghur, Tibetan, Chinese and Hong Konger activists gathered in frigid temperatures outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday evening to mark a year since Chinas White Paper protests that briefly threatened to grow into a movement for a change of government.

The protests began in response to a Nov. 22, 2022, fire in Urumqi, the capital of the far-west Xinjiang region, which officially killed 10 people, but residents alleged that it caused 44 deaths. Many blame the countrys harsh zero-COVID lockdown measures.

Wielding blank sheets of paper, protesters across China initially protested the censorship of the fire and restrictions on free speech, but the movement later broadened to include chants of Xi Jinping, step down! Dozens were arrested in the weeks afterwards.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party delivers remarks during a gathering commemorating the one-year anniversary of the White Paper pro-freedom movement in China alongside a group of students and Chinese pro-democracy activists on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)





Speaking outside the Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Republican from Wisconsin who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said Beijings reaction to the blank pieces of paper was akin to an old joke from the Soviet Union.

A protester was passing out flyers in Red Square, and the KGB showed up and immediately arrested him, Gallagher said. When they looked at the flyers, they saw they were just blank sheets of paper.

The protester said to the KGB, How can you arrest me for passing out blank sheets of paper? he added. The KGB replied, You think we dont know what you were talking about?

A dissident manifesto

But Gallagher said it was clear to all what the paper represented.

No one in China, no one watching from abroad, was at all confused, he noted, calling the signs clarion calls against censorship and for freedom of expression in China. It was as if a dissident manifesto had been published on the front page of the People's Daily, he said.

A Chinese overseas student who gave her name only as Leslie and wore a face-mask and tight-fitting hat to protect her identity, told the vigil that the White Paper protesters had shocked her because they led many of her friends to come out of the woodwork in support.

I was surprised that my seemingly apolitical Chinese colleagues turned out to be super pro-democratic, Leslie said, noting that the outpouring had clearly shocked the Chinese authorities.

A Chinese overseas student who gave her name only as Leslie, and dressed in a face-mask and tight-fitting hat to protect her identity, speaks during a gathering commemorating the one-year anniversary of the White Paper pro-freedom movement in China alongside a group of students and Chinese pro-democracy activists on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)





But, she said, the many arrests in the months afterwards as authorities tracked down the blank-sheet bearers had again instilled fear in many people. Maybe a future generation of Chinese people will feel safe to speak without wearing a hat and a mask, like I am doing, she said.

Dumbfounded

Other activists at the evening event reminisced about their shock at last years outpouring of public angst against Chinese authorities.

Anna Kwok, executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, said she was surprised, as a Hong Konger, when mainland Chinese people had the courage to openly protest against COVID-19 lockdown policies. She said where the protests went next was unbelievable.

Hong Kong democracy activist Anna Kwok delivers a speech during a gathering commemorating the one-year anniversary of the White Paper pro-freedom movement in China alongside a group of students and Chinese pro-democracy activists on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)





When it later emerged to protest against the core, fundamental reason of a failed government, a dictator and an authoritarian, I was dumbfounded, Kwok said, explaining some of her former mainland critics sent her apologies for attacking Hong Kongs own protests.

This is something I could never have imagined four years ago during [Hong Kongs] 2019 pro-democracy protests, she added.

Chinese former student leader during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and human rights activist Zhou Fengsuo delivers a speech during a gathering commemorating the one-year anniversary of the White Paper pro-freedom movement in China alongside a group of students and Chinese pro-democracy activists on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023 outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Gemunu Amarasinghe/RFA)





Zhou Fengsuo, a survivor of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, told those gathered he believed the White Paper protests represented a change in consciousness brought about by pandemic lockdowns.

We are here because more than 10 Uyghur people were burned to death in their own homes, he said. We are here because in Shanghai, the most prosperous city in the world, the middle-class for the first time realized they have no freedom  if they're hungry, they cannot cry out.

For the first time in history after 1989, Zhou added, the Chinese people who benefited from the economic development realized that their life, their property, means nothing if there's no freedom.

Edited by Elaine Chan and Taejun Kang.
Police also search and warn a lone protester who held up a blank sheet of paper on a busy shopping street.

Activists hold a flag (C) with the banned slogan 'Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now' during a rally to mark the third anniversary of the start of massive pro-democracy protests that roiled Hong Kong in 2019, in Taipei, Taiwan, June 12, 2022.

Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested a man who went to board a flight out of the city, charging him with "sedition" under colonial-era laws for wearing a T-shirt with a banned protest slogan printed on it, after questioning a lone protester holding up a blank sheet of paper at the weekend.

Acting on a tip-off, national security police arrested Chu Kai-poon, 26, as he approached his boarding gate, charging him with "committing one or more acts with seditious intent," "possession of seditious publications" and "possessing other people's ID cards."

According to a government statement, somebody reported a man at the airport to police for wearing a shirt emblazoned with the banned 2019 protest slogan, Free Hong Kong, Revolution Now! and Independence for Hong Kong, as well as a Free Hong Kong flag, according to several media reports.

The arrest is the latest in a string of sedition cases in Hong Kong, which carry a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, and are used alongside a draconian national security law to target peaceful criticism of the authorities.

Motorcyclist Tong Ying-kit carries a flag reading 'Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times' during a protest in Hong Kong on the anniversary of its return to China, July 1, 2020. (Cable TV Hong Kong via AP)

In July 2021, a court jailed motorcyclist Tong Ying-kit for nine years for terrorism and secession under the National Security Law, after he flew the Free Hong Kong slogan from his bike during a street protest.

"Police received a report that a man was allegedly wearing a shirt with seditious wordings at the Hong Kong International Airport," the Nov. 29 government statement said.

"Police officers sped to the scene and further seized some flags and clothing with seditious wording, as well as an identity card relating to another person from his personal belongings."

Lone protester

Chu's arrest came after police questioned a lone protester on Sunday after he stood on the street outside the Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay holding up a sheet of white paper, marking the anniversary of the 2022 "white paper" movement.

The man stood there for some 30 minutes before he was approached by police, during which time some passersby were overheard asking him what he was doing, the independent InMediaHK news website reported.

Police then turned up and searched the man, checking his ID and asking if he was alone.

"What do you mean by this demonstration?" they asked him, according to bystanders interviewed in the report.

"Don't you know that a blank sheet of paper could easily incite others?" they asked.

Police later confirmed the incident to InMediaHK and said the 21-year-old man, surnamed Chan, had been allowed to leave with a warning.

'High-pressure environment'

Taiwan-based Hong Kong activist Fu Tong said the crackdown on public dissent is still making his home city "a high-pressure environment" for any form of peaceful activism.

"People dare not have anything to do with protest in the current high-pressure environment of Hong Kong," Fu said. "It's inspiring that there are still people willing to stand up."

"Those of us outside the Great Firewall sometimes feel that we're fighting in vain, and it's a form of mutual comfort and support to see that there are still people in Hong Kong who persist," he said. "It encourages us to keep up the fight."

A woman holds a white sheet of paper during a protest over COVID-19 restrictions in mainland China, during a commemoration of the victims of a fire in Urumqi, in Hong Kong, Nov. 28, 2022. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

U.S.-based political commentator Hu Ping said a lone protest  like that of the Beijing Bridge Man in 2022  has a profound kind of symbolic power.

"The fact that a man in black held up a blank sheet of paper on the anniversary of the White Paper Movement carries deep political meaning," Hu said. "[It] expresses an overall sense of dissatisfaction and protest."

"Some people are still willing to stand up ... despite the high level of political pressure under the Chinese Communist Party's introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong," he said.

Zhuang Jiaying, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said the white paper incident showed how widespread such sentiments are, despite huge government attempts to stamp out any form of protest.

"The White Paper Revolution took place under the Chinese Communist Party's high-pressure, zero-COVID environment," Zhuang said. "While the [authorities] were able to suppress it very quickly and completely, they can't entirely eradicate sporadic protests."

"Even Beijing has no way to prevent such things, so I don't think it's surprising that such incidents happen from time to time in Hong Kong," he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Roseanne Gerin.
Chinese President Xi Jinping waves at an event to introduce new members of the Politburo Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 23, 2022.

China's ruling Communist Party appears to have postponed a key political meeting, in a move analysts said suggests that party leader Xi Jinping faces strong currents of dissent from within party ranks that he may not be able to keep under wraps at a plenary session.

The third plenary session of the Central Committee  the party's biggest decision-making body  is typically held a year after a new leadership takes power, yet Xi's third term in office was nodded through by the 20th party congress in October 2022, with the latest Politburo meeting wrapping up on Nov. 27 with no word of a third plenary session.

Now, Xi is on a trip to Shanghai, which saw widespread calls for his resignation during the "white paper" protests of 2022, a move that likely rules out any plenary session at least until next month.

Previous third plenums have been used to launch new policy directions or reforms: late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping paved the way for decades of breakneck economic growth at the Third Plenum of the 11th party congress back in 1978.

Late essayist and former top Communist Party aide Bao Tong once described that third plenum as "a uniquely lively meeting" that started "a chain reaction" in Chinese politics, something that Xi is likely keen to avoid.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials clap their hands after a vote on a constitutional amendment eliminating presidential term limits during the third plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 11, 2018. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

"The frenzied debates in the Central Committee led to similar discussions at local and grass-roots levels, to a healthy hubbub within the party and in society at large," wrote Bao, who was there.

"As everyone began talking at once, initially about the [1976 mass gathering and protest known as the] Tiananmen Incident and the political issues of the Cultural Revolution, the subjects debated expanded to the communes, to the planned economy, to collectivism, to the iron rice-bowl, and all sorts of related problems."

"All these subjects lost their forbidden halo of light and became things that ordinary people could examine, and debate. The entire impetus for reform sprang directly out of this process of everyone talking at once."

Economic woes

Beijing constitutional scholar Zhang Lifan said Xi likely fears he would similarly lose control of a third plenum, amid widespread dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy, which recently spilled into the public realm in the form of spontaneous public mourning activities for late former premier Li Keqiang.

"In his current predicament, Xi Jinping is worried about losing his grip on power," Zhang said. "It would be hard for him to keep control over a plenary session right now, with the risk of exposing [currently unspoken] conflicts, and even the possibility of personnel changes."

"So in future, we may see more meetings of the Politburo and of the specialized agencies under the Central Committee [which are mostly headed by Xi], instead of plenary sessions," he said.

"This facilitates the centralization of power" in Xi's hands, Zhang said.

Veteran political journalist Gao Yu said Xi's abandonment of the economic reform policies of the Deng era has sent the economy "off a cliff" and put Xi's leadership in crisis.

'In his current predicament, Xi Jinping is worried about losing his grip on power,' says Beijing constitutional scholar Zhang Lifan, seen in this undated photo. (Zhang Nan/VOA)

Given that third plenums are often devoted to economic policy, Xi can't afford to convene one at the current time, she said.

"China's economy has fallen off a cliff, and half the foreign companies are leaving," Gao said. "Xi Jinping has been left with the aftermath of that, and right now he just wants to boost the economy."

"Third plenums of the Central Committee usually come up with big plans for economic reform, but right now he can't come up with anything," she said.

"It may be that they won't even hold one this year, or maybe they'll hold it in January or February," Gao said.

Gao said Xi's leadership is "in flames," and that nobody supports him.

"Nobody is with him, not in the party nor among the people," she said. "The thing that needs to change is him, but who could we put in his place?"

"The situation is very bad right now, and we need someone who can turn the tide, but there's nobody."

Nobody believes in Xi

U.S.-based political scientist Wang Juntao said third plenums are supposed to come up with "bold and constructive" policies and focus on practicalities.

"But right now, there are practical issues that can't be covered up," Wang said. "Nobody believes in Xi Jinping any more."

"A major dictatorship relies on its rituals to maintain public trust and respect for its imperial power," he said. "If these don't happen, then it risks losing its grip on power."

Emblematic of problems with Chinas struggling real estate industry, deserted villas fill a suburb of Shenyang in northeastern Liaoning province, March 31, 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP)

Chinese law expert Carl Minzner wrote in a Nov. 27 blog post for the Council on Foreign Relations that the failure to set a date for such a key party event suggests Xi may be eroding reform-era political rituals under his increasingly personalized rule."

"It remains at least technically conceivable that party authorities could somehow manage to hold a plenum meeting in December, although the usual advance notice required for such sessions would seem to rule such a possibility out," he said.

"And even if Beijing manages to pull that off, it would mark only the first time since 1990 that a plenum session has been scheduled so late in the year," Minzner wrote, calling any postponement "an ominous sign for the overall trajectory of Chinese politics."

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 30. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the World Climate Action Summit, which will be organized on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28, Trend reports.
State media paints a rosy picture, yet workers say business is terrible and people are losing jobs everywhere.

At a time when China's hundreds of millions of migrant workers might normally be hoping to earn some extra cash ahead of the Lunar New Year festivities, the struggling economy has left employers unable to pay wages, or forced companies to shut down facilities and lay off staff, according to residents and news reports.

Dozens of employees staged a protest at sudden layoffs at a China Telecom facility in the northern province of Shaanxi, according to the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin's Strike Map of industrial disputes.

The map showed more than 400 disputes taking place across China during October and November, suggesting that for many workers, economic hardship is beginning to bite.

Hundreds of workers also turned out to protest the closure of a state-owned truck-maker in Zhumadian city, with employees demanding better compensation or relocation packages, the map showed, citing footage uploaded to the video-sharing platform Douyin that has since been deleted.

TikTok owner ByteDance is looking to sell its gaming unit Moonton Technology, just two years after acquiring it, and planning to cut jobs at its virtual reality arm Pico, Reuters reported earlier this month.

Companies are also putting employers on early furlough in a bid to save on staffing costs, telling them not to come back until after the Lunar New Year holiday is over, in mid-to-late February.

Henan's Xinya Steel Plant recently announced it would suspend production for more than three months, and that employees would receive 50% of their basic salary during the holiday period, while automaker NIO will cut its workforce by 10% this month, according to a report on the financial news site Caixin.

Workers sort parcels at a distribution center for e-commerce platform JD.com in Beijing, China, Nov. 11, 2023. (Ng Han Guan/AP)

Employees in the tech sector said they had been particularly hard hit.

An employee at a technology company in Shanghai who declined to be named for fear of reprisals said that a number of tech companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen have folded in recent weeks, or have announced layoffs.

"They're no longer developing new products, and they are laying off technical staff, including some at middle management level," they said. "Once these people leave, I don't think they'll be coming back to Shanghai."

Dozens of similar reports are emerging daily on social media platforms like Weibo, with unconfirmed reports of mass layoffs and closures around the country, prompting people to go back to their hometowns.

People heading home early

"My friend recently came back home from a southern city," a resident of the eastern province of Jiangsu who gave only the surname Yang told Radio Free Asia this week. "Business was pretty bad where he was, so he came back to his hometown to try to find a job."

A resident of the southern city of Shenzhen, once part of China's industrial powerhouse that drove its export-led economy, said plenty of workers in the city are heading back home months ahead of the usual mass migration for Lunar New Year on Feb. 10, 2024.

"It's still only November, but there are actually a lot of people going home from Shenzhen," she said. "I heard millions have left Shenzhen early."

While going home early to beat the Lunar New Year travel rush is nothing new, she said this year's exodus is very early indeed.

"What on earth is going on?" she said.

Long-term plans difficult

Financial commentator Cai Shenkun said that as the ruling Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping keeps expanding its control of the economy, including the private sector, many businesses are left unable to make long-term plans.

"Nobody has any confidence in the future any more, not companies, not individuals, not foreign investors or officials," Cai said. "Neither companies nor individuals are making complex and long-term plans."

"It's not just individuals  businesses are also only thinking about how to survive from one day to the next," he said.

A recruiter talks with an applicant at a booth at a job fair at a shopping center in Beijing, China, on June 9, 2023. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Meanwhile, those employers that are still in business are having trouble paying their people, with hundreds of disputes listed across China on the Strike Map as being over "wage arrears."

Cai said the government's recent package of 25 measures aimed at supporting the private sector had little substance to offer.

"If they want to support the private sector, they need to create a favorable environment," he said. "That certainly doesn't exist right now."

"Private enterprises are being completely excluded, while [officials] just mouth slogans without any substance," he said.

An employee at a Shenzhen-based technology company who gave only the surname Ke for fear of reprisals said his company has just laid off 20% of its workforce, largely due to a lack of government research and development grants.

"The government used to make grants to certain tech companies to develop new projects, while some ... companies could get government subsidies ... for research and development, for example, in semiconductor technology," Ke said.

"But now they can't even pay wages, let alone engage in costly research."

"As state funding runs out, companies are going bankrupt," he said.

Belly up

Moxing Semiconductor, OPPO's Zheku Technology and Geely's Star Meizu have all shut their doors in recent days, with the sudden loss of nearly 100 jobs at Moxing, a chip design joint venture under TCL Technology Group.

Ke estimated that more than 100 small and medium-sized tech companies have gone out of business in Shenzhen this year, as government grants and subsidies dry up.

"Back in 2017, 2018, the government would give us, say 30 million or 50 million yuan per project," to develop cutting-edge technologies, he said. "I was burning through money back then, believing I could develop semiconductors and so on, but in the end I couldn't."

A man plays a harmonica while walking by a deserted Evergrande city plaza in Beijing, China, on Sept. 18, 2023. (Andy Wong/AP)

Foreign companies are also heading out of China, with Walmart recently announcing it would move its procurement center to Vietnam.

Yet, according to state media, the economic outlook is rosy.

"Economic performance in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities was generally good during the first three quarters, with more than half growing faster than the national rate," state broadcaster CCTV reported on Nov. 1.

It cited robust consumer sales in the central province of Hubei and claimed a massive rebound in purchases of electric vehicles, smartphones and other consumer goods, presumably in the wake of the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in December 2022.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
North Korean women, one of whom is a soldier, stand on the banks of the Yalu River near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, April 25, 2010.

North Korea is barring even casual contact between soldiers and civilians, apparently to keep soldiers from smuggling military goods to the public, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the two groups were able to interact, and in fact North Korean propaganda portrays a unifying bond between the military and ordinary people.

But soldiers stole military supplies such as food, fuel and Chinese cell phones and smuggled them to civilians, who then sold them in the markets.

When the pandemic struck in early 2020, authorities banned contact between the military and public for health reasons  to keep the disease from spreading.

And authorities found that the theft and smuggling of military goods plummeted, residents said.

So the government wants to continue to keep soldiers and civilians separate even though the worst of the pandemic is over  despite hopes that normal interaction would be allowed again, they said.

Last month, the Korean Peoples Army issued instructions to each unit saying that soldiers who contact residents without the unit's permission would be punished.

A similar notice was sent to neighborhood watch units on Nov. 9: Those who attempt to contact soldiers or invade soldiers security areas without any special reason will be severely punished.

Not even casual chatting

Even bumping into a soldier that you know on the street is a no-no, a resident of the northern province of Ryanggang told RFA Korean on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

You cant even ask him how he is doing, he said of such interactions. If you are caught talking to the soldier, he will be taken to the military police, and the resident will be taken to a nearby police station for investigation.

North Korean men, women and soldiers walk and push their bicycles past apartment blocks in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 13, 2017. (Wong Maye-E/AP)

The soldier and the civilian will be investigated separately, the resident said.

[They] must fill out a fact-check form detailing the circumstances in which they met each other and the conversations they had when they met, he said. The police officers compare the facts and if the information matches, they will be released. If the information is different, they will have to undergo an investigation for several days.

Undermines propaganda

The decision to limit interaction between soldiers and residents is part of Kim Jong Uns new ruling style, another Ryanggang resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, told RFA.

She said Kim wants to completely destroy the traditional relationship between soldiers and residents by controlling any contact between them as a way of stopping goods intended for the military from appearing in the local market.

Everything in the marketplace, from the medicine to gasoline and diesel fuel, food, military uniforms, and even salt were all items stolen from the military units by soldiers who were in close contact with the residents, she said. It would be difficult to run the market without the goods stolen by the soldiers.

Soldier-civilian relationships also facilitate cross-border smuggling and information sharing with contacts in China, she said.

Kim Jong Uns determination and ruling method is to break this vicious cycle even if the tradition of military-civilian unity is damaged, she explained, referring to prevalent propaganda campaigns suggesting the two groups are one and the same.

When the countrys nascent market economy was in its infancy during the rule of Kim Jong Uns father Kim Jong Il, the elder Kim had enacted policies to eliminate marketplaces from emerging, but he was not successful, she said.

Since the close relationship between soldiers and residents is a means of survival that goes beyond the marketplace, it remains to be seen whether Kim Jong Un can break it off through the force of his will, she said.

The first source explained how different government-aligned organizations can catch civilians having contact with soldiers if they are not careful.

The organizations that monitor encounters between soldiers and citizens include the youth crackdown group under the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the inspection unit under the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, and the Ministry of Social Securitys patrol task force and strike force, he said.

In addition, there are state security agents and social security agents in charge of each region. There is also a resident reporting system.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.
Pyongyang has long linked its nuclear weapons program to its state identity of self-reliance and sovereignty.

A TV screen shows a file image of Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

Kim Jong Uns influential sister ramped up Pyongyangs pressure campaign against the United States, indicating that she would not put the countrys nuclear weapons in negotiations with Washington.

The sovereignty of a sovereign state can never be a subject of negotiation, and therefore, we will not sit down with the United States due to this issue, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement, according to North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency Thursday.

North Korea has long linked its nuclear weapons program to its state identity of self-reliance  Juche ideology  as well as to matters of the nations sovereignty.

If the U.S.s definition of peace through strength means talking about dialogue upfront while wielding military power behind the curtains, then we must also be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially being more thoroughly prepared for confrontation, Kim Yo Jong said. This is our consistent stance towards the U.S.

The influential sister of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un often emerges as the face of Pyongyangs pressure campaigns, typically delivering hardline messages against the U.S. and its allies. Her appearance on Thursday, her first public statement in about four months, came just days after the U.S. ambassador traded barbs with North Koreas representative at the U.N. Security Council on Monday.

North Korean Ambassador Kim Song criticized the U.S. in New York for being hostile to his country, as he defended Pyongyangs launch of its satellite. North Korea launched its spy satellite last week in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, however, said that the U.S. and its allies joint military exercises  which Pyongyang claims as hostile  are defensive in nature, emphasizing that these exercises cannot justify the Norths violation of Security Council resolutions. She added that Washington wants sincere dialogue with Pyongyang without any preconditions.

Responding to the U.S. ambassador in the U.N., Kim Yo Jong said that her logic was weak, fallacious, and shameful, denying the sovereign rights of the DPRK, referring to North Koreas formal name.

Kim Yo Jongs remarks are essentially aimed at preventing regime backers, China and Russia, from deviating from their positions in defending North Korea on the international stage, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul who had advised South Korean governments for years.

It appears that North Koreas ultimate strategy is to frame the U.N. Security Council as a domain dominated by what-it-calls the U.S. hegemony. This approach aims to render the Council's functions ineffective and secure a justification for evading sanctions against North Korea, Yang added.

The sisters remarks carry a dual message, subtly reiterating Pyongyangs stance on conditional dialogue, the pundit noted. Kim Yo Jong seems to indirectly suggest the possibility of dialogue with the United States, but only following the abandonment of what North Korea perceives as a hostile policy towards it.

Edited by Elaine Chan and Mike Firn.
10 families evicted in September were given new land elsewhere but no compensation.

A family of six Christians lived in this home in Tang Vai Nam Village, Chonburi district, Savannakhet province, Laos, before it was destroyed in July 2023.

The homes of 10 Christian families were recently destroyed by local authorities and nearby residents, the latest instance of religious harassment in southern Laos.

The families were driven from three villages in Saravan Provinces Samoey District about two months ago, according to some fellow Christians and officials.

District authorities eventually arranged for new land for the families in one of the villages where they could rebuild their homes, but no compensation or financial assistance has been provided, the sources told Radio Free Asia.

Now, the authorities have put them together in one place separated from the other villages, a Christian who has been assisting the families with the resettlement said.

Our brothers and sisters have to build their own new homes, he told RFA on Wednesday on condition of anonymity; They cant be on their feet yet. They dont have much money.

Even though Laos has a national law protecting the free exercise of faith, similar assaults on Christians have become common in the one-party communist state with a mostly Buddhist population.

In Saravane province, 15 Christians from seven families were evicted from villages between 2020 and 2021.

Earlier this year, 15 families and a pastor were forced to leave Mai village in northwestern Luang Namtha because of their Christian beliefs.

The village is home to many members of the Ahka minority, which has its own spiritual beliefs. But when 15 families in the village converted to Christianity, their neighbors banded together and chased them out of town.

Religion of foreigners

A Christian in a different village in southern Laos said he was told to leave by security guards.

They dont want us to live with them, he said. We cant organize any ceremony like a wedding. Were not allowed to get together or set up loudspeakers.

A Christian pastor in northern Laos told RFA that some villagers think Christianity is a threat to their community because its the religion of foreigners.

In several recent cases, crimes against Christian victims have gone unsolved in Laos.

In February 2022, attackers burned the house of a Christian ethnic family in Savannakhet province. In Khammouane province, a pastor was found dead in October 2022. His body showed signs that he had been tortured prior to his death.

No suspects have been arrested in either case.

The Christian who has been helping the families recently evicted in Samoey District said that no one has been charged in their case as well.

Even though they are now living in a separate village, they still receive threats and harassment from residents of their old villages, another Christian said of the families. They cant live in peace.

A Samoey District official said that setting aside land for the families was the most important way for authorities to help the families. Additionally, other villagers and village authorities have been ordered to stop their harassment, he said.

Translated by Max Avary. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Chin Defense Forces seized weapons and ammunition during an attack on Matupi townships Resaw junta outpost on Nov. 29, 2023.

Allied resistance armies seized two towns in northwestern Myanmar, one of the groups said this week.

The joint forces captured Matupi townships Lalengpi and Resaw towns in battles that ended on Wednesday.

Resistance fighters attacked and captured a junta outpost with about 50 soldiers in Resaw after four days of fighting, a Chin Defense Forces official told Radio Free Asia.

Our joint team, led by Chin Defense Forces, seized it on the morning of November 29, he said. We currently control the town. We had some casualties too.

Eleven junta soldiers surrendered, and four soldiers from the ethnic armed alliance died, he added.

The Chin National Army, the armed wing of the more than 20-year-old political organization Chin National Front, partnered with ethnic armed group Chin Defense Forces, to carry out the attack.

In Tuesday and Wednesdays battles, junta troops launched at least 20 airstrikes to defend their position, locals said.

Since Saturday, fighting has forced nearly 3,000 Resaw residents to flee for their safety, they added.

Earlier that week, the alliance secured another Chin town in Matupi. Joint forces managed to also seize Lalengpis junta outpost last Friday, Chin National Front spokesperson Salai Htet Ni told RFA.

"We, the joint forces of the Chin National Army and Chin Defence Forces, seized the outpost on the morning of the 24th, he said, adding that junta soldiers had since fled from the camp. There is only one outpost in Lalengpi. We are currently in control of the entire town.

Shrapnel from weapons and stray bullets killed four residents and damaged at least 10 houses, including a Christian church, according to locals.

About 30 junta soldiers fled the outpost on Friday during the clash. The group surrendered to the Assam Rifles security force in India, after crossing the border, according to residents living in the area.

Junta soldiers brought a villager from the India-Myanmar border as a guide, they added.

Junta troops who surrendered are currently seeking refuge in the Assam Rifles camp in Laki village in Mizoram state, said a Laki resident who did not want to be named for security reasons.

They arrived at our village in the early morning of November 28, then they released the guide they had brought. Once they reached the Indian border, Indian soldiers went to meet them, she said.

They said three of their soldiers died on the way. There are about 30 of them left in total. I think they will be sent back to the border of Phaicham Veng village [in Manipur] by plane today.

RFA attempted to contact Chin states junta spokesman Kyaw Soe Win, but phone calls went unanswered on Wednesday.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
Three facilities were damaged in clashes in the third week of November alone.

At least three hospitals were damaged in clashes between Myanmars military and armed resistance groups in the third week of November alone, according to rights groups and residents, further straining a healthcare system already reeling from dwindling resources and widespread conflict under junta rule.

The attacks took place on Nov. 17 in northern Shan and Rakhine states, and the following day in Sagaing region  three hotbeds of resistance since the military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat and launched a scorched earth offensive targeting the armed opposition.

A resident of Rakhines Minbya township who, like others interviewed for this report, spoke on condition of anonymity citing security concerns, said the military intentionally attacked the hospital with heavy shelling that destroyed the facilitys laboratory.

Military columns randomly fired as they entered the town, causing some fatalities and injuries, but the injured were not allowed to receive medical treatment at the hospital, the resident said.

An exchange of fire between the military junta and local resistance forces in Sagaings Butalin township on Nov. 18 hit a hospital, damaging the site. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A resident of Butalin told RFA that junta soldiers set up camp at the hospital complex in the aftermath of the fighting.

The superintendent of the hospital surrendered [control of the hospital] in the morning, followed by two assistant practitioners and two nurses, the resident said. All the healthcare staff left their jobs.

The hospitals in Shan states Pangsang township and Rakhine states Minbya township were targeted in part by military drone attacks, Paris-based Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said in a statement.

MSF said the resumption of armed conflict in Rakhine state, where the ethnic insurgent Arakan Army broke a year-long humanitarian ceasefire with the junta on Nov. 13, interrupted healthcare services it provides to around 1,500 patients per week there via mobile clinics.

MSF runs projects in both Shan and Rakhine and said that while its staff members remain in the areas, they have no access to medicine due to junta travel restrictions. Fighting and access restrictions mean only a fraction of the number of people in need of assistance can be reached, it said.

Residents of Rakhines nearby Pauktaw township told RFA that the local hospital ceased operations recently after its health workers fled fighting for safety.

Similarly, MSF said in its statement that the hospital that came under attack in Shans Pangsang township had been shuttered at the end of October, when the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army launched an offensive on Oct. 27 dubbed Operation 1027.

The rebels have made notable gains against the military in several key cities in Shan state and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

Allowing access to treatment

An official in charge of the document department of the Taang Womens Organization, which provides aid to people displaced by conflict in northern Shan state, told RFA that people sheltering there lack access to crucial medical services.

Some internally displaced person camps received healthcare services from the Red Cross Society and local NGOs, while others have no access to medical treatment, such as camps in remote areas, the official said. The prices of medicines have skyrocketed due to the blockage and restriction of roads.

She urged all armed organizations to refrain from targeting medical facilities in conflict zones.

In its statement, the MSF also asked all parties to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers in conflict areas, and to allow safe and unimpeded access to people who have been left without life-saving services while their communities are caught in the crossfire.

Sit Min Naing, an official with the Civil Disobedience Movement, or CDM, Medical Network, said both sides need to allow access to healthcare services during the conflict.

I request and suggest to both sides that every human being has rights to healthcare services, which are not concerned with conflicts, he said. They should be allowed to receive medical treatment.

Zaw Win, with the Southeast Asia-based NGO Fortify Rights, echoed Sit Min Naings concerns over the juntas infringement on civilians right to healthcare.

From a human rights perspective, people have full rights to medical treatment, so it is unacceptable to target healthcare facilities, he said. Neither the junta nor the [armed resistance] should be targeting hospitals or clinics.

Health workers at risk

Switzerland-based Insecurity Insight, a group researching human security, has documented nearly 1,100 attacks on health workers and facilities in Myanmar since February 2021.

It also reported that junta troops have damaged healthcare facilities more than 180 times, killed at least 97 health workers, and arrested at least 880 others.

Insecurity Insight has called on all conflict parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect health workers, while working to hold perpetrators accountable.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
But Min Aung Hlaing chalks rebel victories up to aid from foreign experts and drone attacks.

Myanmars junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing confirmed the loss of several military outposts in northern Shan state to an ethnic rebel offensive in the region, in a rare acknowledgement of the month-long campaigns successes.

Speaking at a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Monday, Min Aung Hlaing admitted that junta forces had abandoned some posts in the state due to Operation 1027, an offensive launched Oct. 27 by the Three Brotherhood Alliance of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, the Arakan Army and the Taang National Liberation Army.

The rebels say they have made notable gains against the military in several key cities in Shan state and claim to have captured more than 170 military outposts since the start of the campaign.

In comments carried by state broadcaster MRTV, the junta chief attributed the alliances victories to its use of excessive strength and technologies that included military-grade drones bombing targets from the air, but said that some posts were simply abandoned in consideration of the lives of junta soldiers and their families.

Min Aung Hlaing also suggested that a number of foreign experts had assisted the rebels in their campaign, but did not provide details about the claim.

According to pro-junta media, with the inclusion of fighters from the ethnic Kachin Independence Army, the Three Brotherhood Alliance has deployed nearly 6,500 soldiers as part of Operation 1027 and dropped some 25,000 aerial explosives in attacks on the outposts.

Soldiers surrendering

The comments came amid reports of more junta soldiers surrendering.

The MNDAA said on Thursday that its forces had accepted the surrender of the militarys entire 125th Light Infantry Battalion in Shans Kone Kyan township on Nov. 28. The group said that three junta battalions had also surrendered in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone in northern Shan state on Wednesday, without providing details.

Earlier, RFA learned that around 300 junta soldiers and police  including two full battalions  surrendered to armed resistance forces in five states on Nov. 21.

The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army in Mone Koe district has announced that administration in Pang Sang township has been re-established, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (The Kokang)

Li Kyarwen, the spokesperson of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, denied the accusation in an interview with RFA Burmese.

He is trying to hide the disintegration of the military. But that said, we did use excessive strength, he said. I dont know who the foreign experts are that he referred to, and he only mentioned a number of experts  [which] reflect his poor management.

Li Kyarwen said that if the alliance had used foreign experts it would have been even more successful in its campaign.

Min Aung Hlaing alleged during a Nov. 8 meeting of the National Defense and Security Council that the drones used by the alliance in northern Shan state had been made in China and are easily available in markets along the countries shared border.

Creating an invasion narrative

Former naval Capt. Zay Thu Aung, who now advises resistance forces as part of the countrys anti-junta Civil Disobedience Movement, said that Min Aung Hlaing is trying to create an invasion narrative without conceding defeat.

He said that we have launched attacks with the support of foreign countries, but he is the one who created this war, he said.

Zay Thu Aung added that finding drone experts has been difficult, and chalked the rebel drone forces successes up to the technological advantages of ethnic armed groups and the skills of our younger generation.

Meanwhile, the morale of junta soldiers is low, but he assumes [we are winning because] foreign countries are providing assistance, he said.

The military has been gradually losing its outposts, Zay Thu Aung said, while the alliance forces have completely controlled the China-Myanmar border.

Paramilitary groups operating under the shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, have said that their use of drones has increased this year, although they have been unable to provide details, citing security concerns or sensitivity regarding their military matters.

None of the groups has yet issued figures for the number of drone attacks this year, however.

In September, NUG Ministry of Defense Deputy Secretary Maung Maung Swe told RFA that the shadow government made up of former civilian leaders and anti-junta activists has distributed more than 400 attack drones to loosely controlled paramilitary groups.

The number of drones in use by Myanmars various ethnic rebel forces is even more opaque.

Blaming China for losses?

Political and military commentator Than Soe Naing said Thursday that Min Aung Hlaings comments, taken together with those he made earlier this month, appear to blame China for the juntas defeats in northern Shan state.

It was simply good military strategy by the Three Brotherhood Alliances Operation 1027 that forced the militarys troops to abandon their outposts, he said.

Than Soe Naing noted that alliance forces had attacked more than 200 military outposts since the start of the operation, and that the military had been effectively blocked from sending reinforcements.

The [junta] is indirectly accusing China of supplying drones in the northeastern part of the country, he said. They are providing illogical reasons for their loss.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Myanmar migrants are seen after being apprehended by the Thai military personnel in Kanchanaburi province, bordering Myanmar, in this photo released October 25, 2021. Migrants from Myanmar have poured into Thailand over the past two years.

Some 210,000 migrants from Myanmar have flooded into Thailand over the past two years under a renewed bilateral labor agreement with Myanmars junta.

But those applying for jobs under it face a daunting maze of paperwork, often leading to the murky world of bribes and brokers. For many, the costs and difficulties involved in legal entry push them towards illicit paths into Thailand.

And when the promises of employment agencies fall through, its not Myanmars military who step up to resolve the issues, but it is rather Thai labor officials and labor advocacy organizations who step in to untangle the complications, working in conjunction with the National Unity Government, or NUG, Myanmars civilian government-in-exile.

Despite a lack of recognition, the NUG has also set up and operated systems to record Myanmar workers complaints in three Asian countries that employ high numbers of Myanmar workers.

In Thailand alone, where there are now as many as 7 million Myanmar nationals, NUGs Ministry of Labor handles roughly 10 cases a month and up to 200 cases per year.

Its main functions in Thailand are receiving worker complaints and ensuring regional Thai labor offices take action, and most cases occur when workers are laid off before their contract ends, or when theyre denied compensation, according to the ministry.

Myanmar migrant workers are seen at a construction camp in Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 31, 2021. (Sakchai Lalit/AP)





We liaise with the Thai labor parliamentarian team and then ask them to work with us to support the Burmese migrant workers, said Naing Htun Oo, head of NUGs Overseas Labor Department in Thailand, who declined to use this real name for fear of retaliation.

When we receive a complaint, we inform them that there is a problem with the Burmese migrant workers, he told Radio Free Asia.

He added that some employers and employment agencies are eager to resolve the issue and dont want it taken to higher Thai authorities, but others simply dont acknowledge the communication they receive from his office.

On one hand, the [employment] agencies are not taking responsibility, on the other hand, we havent got the legal or entity status in Thailand. Its very, very challenging.

Limited capacity

Despite its efforts, the NUG has struggled to establish a strong presence in Thailands foreign policy arena, and Naing Htun Oo lamented that the lack of formal recognition has significantly hindered the government in exiles ability to operate effectively.

He explains that this limitation forces them to spend substantial funds unnecessarily in aiding Burmese migrant workers, often struggling to support large numbers simultaneously.

Myanmar migrant workers hold up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi during a Labor Day March on May 1, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. Up to 7 million Myanmar nationals live in Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)





Surachanee Sriyai, a visiting fellow from the Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, notes that with Thailands primary interests in border security and oil and gas already addressed in dealings with junta officials and groups at the border, it leaves the NUG with a relatively minor role on the ground.

She added, however, with the transition to Thailands Pheu Thai Party, there is potential to include Myanmars non-junta actors in future track 1.5 or track two diplomacy.

Its almost as if the NUG is filling in on the supplementary capacity, working in the aspects that the junta do not care for, she said. Thats also overall good for the Burmese workers, for sure. But is that good enough for the NUG?

Safety risks

The NUG isnt seeking a foothold in Thailand alone. As Myanmar nationals are regularly sent to other East and Southeast Asian countries for jobs, the government-in-exile is also working to establish a presence in Malaysia and South Korea.

But a more pronounced role can come with serious risks. While the NUGs Ministry of Labor told RFA their colleagues stationed in South Korea were safely able to establish a secure office in the country, their counterparts elsewhere have not fared as well.

Thuzar Maung served as the NUGs Overseas Labor officer in Malaysia until her disappearance in July.

A committed democracy and labor activist residing in Malaysia since 2015, Thuzar Maung, her husband, and their three children were reportedly abducted following confirmation from Malaysian police about a vehicle with counterfeit police license plates leaving their residence.

This incident has led to a palpable sense of caution within the NUG. Since Thuzar Maungs abduction, the NUG has not appointed a successor for her.

Thuzar Maung, a Malaysia-based refugee from Myanmar, gives a talk in Kuala Lumpur, in a photo posted on her Facebook page, March 9, 2023. (Thuzar Maung)





The situation is not that different for Naing Htun Oo in Thailand. He said despite the volume of workers he assists year-round, hes received threats from Myanmar embassy staff appointed by the junta.

When I receive the complaints from the Burmese migrant workers, even though Im working and supporting them, I never show my face, I never tell them about my name, he said.

Despite these daunting circumstances, the department remains committed to supporting Burmese workers in any possible way, continuously exploring avenues to assist them in-country.

We are trying any possible thing to support the Burmese migrant workers in any shape or form that we can, Naing Htun Oo added.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster.
Beijing considers the spiritual leader to be a separatist and wants loyal public sector workers.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama prays as he presides over a prayer session in Dharamshala, India, Oct. 25, 2023.

Tibetans who want to get public sector jobs must comply with a harsh Chinese rule requiring them to denounce the Dalai Lama, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism.

The move would seem to violate Chinas constitution, which officially protects the freedom of religion.

An official directive from Beijing released this month advertised 554 new public job opportunities in the city of Sigatse (in Chinese Xigaze) for its Village Development Expansion Program. It sought college graduates from the Tibet Autonomous Region with training in medicine, counseling and village development.

Those applying for these jobs must be trustworthy and reliable citizens, renounce the Dalai Lama, refrain from separatism and remain loyal to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, the directive said.

Beijing accuses the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, who lives in exile in India, of supporting terrorism and trying to split Tibet from China, labeling him a separatist.

However, the Dalai Lama supports a policy called the Middle Way, which accepts Tibets status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedoms.

Chinas constitution states that no state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens who believe in, or do not believe in, any religion.

However, in practice, the government often exerts its influence over religious matters.

Requiring job applicants to denounce the Dalai Lama is a common tactic of the Chinese government to oppress Tibetans, said Pema Gyal, a researcher at the London-based Tibet Watch.

The Chinese government has often used the employment and education system as an opportunity to suppress Tibetans inside Tibet and violate their basic human rights, he said. Such guidelines and repressive conditions for job candidates created by the authorities have only made the livelihood of Tibetans very difficult.

The effort will not be successful, said Pema Gyal.

The Chinese government may use as many strategies as they want, but they cannot succeed in erasing the faith and loyalty that Tibetans have for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he said.

RFA reported earlier this month that China held anti-separatism workshops that urged Tibetan students and teachers to denounce the Dalai Lama.

A Tibetan resident told RFA that it is difficult for college graduates in the regional capital Lhasa to find jobs.

I have been observing this for a while, the resident said. A female graduate may find a very regular job of childcare in childcare centers, but its impossible to get a government job.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Edited by Eugene Whong.
Six Montagnards are wanted on terrorism charges by Vietnamese police for their alleged involvement in deadly attacks nearly six months ago on government facilities in the southern province of Dak Lak, which left nine people dead, state media reported on Thursday.

The security investigation agency of the Dak Lak provincial police has issued a special warrant for the six, who are charged with terrorism under Article 299 of Vietnams Penal Code.

In the early hours of June 11, two groups of about 40 people armed with guns and knives conducted the attacks in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes of Cu Kuin district, killing four policemen, two commune officials and three villagers.

Authorities detained nearly 100 ethnic minorities for allegedly participating in terrorist attacks in the areas, home to about 30 indigenous tribes known collectively as Montagnards, who have a long history of conflict with and discrimination at the hands of the Vietnamese majority. They are sometimes referred to as Dega.

So far, Dak Lak provincial police have charged or prosecuted 96 people on various offenses related to the attacks and have expanded their investigations, state media reported.

Montagnard groups have denied that they were involved in the attacks.

Among the six wanted individuals is Y Quynh Bdap, co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice, or MSFJ, an organization that advocates for the religious freedom of ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands.

The remaining five are Y Chanh Bya, 40; Ipen Eban, 39; Y Nien Eya, 45 years old  all from Cu Jut district in Dak Nong province; and Y Chik Nie, 55, from Krong Pak district, and Y Mum Mlo, 63, from Krong Buk district in Dak Lak province.

Y Quynh Bdap, who fled to Thailand as a political refugee in 2008 and is still there, said Dak Lak police, who issued a special warrant for his arrest on Aug. 14, are using the attacks to accuse members of the MSFJ of being terrorists.

However, a wanted list posted on the Ministry of Public Securitys website does not include his name, he said.

Denial

Y Quynh Bdap denied the accusations of involvement with individuals or organizations that advocate violence to resolve issues of ethnicity, religion, and land in the Central Highlands, as reported by state media over the past months.

The authorities are using the incident to slander and accuse us of participating in these terrorist activities, he told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

The Vietnamese governments accusations are aimed at smearing my reputation and silencing my voice of human rights protection, Y Quynh Bdap said.

He and his team at MSFJ have collected information, compiled numerous reports on human rights violations in the Central Highlands, and submitted them to the United Nations and various international rights organizations, he said.

Y Quynh Bdap also said he did not know the other five wanted Montagnards and that it was irrational for authorities to put six people together and label them terrorists.

About two months ago, ANTV Television, which operates under the Ministry of Public Security, reported that Y Quynh Bdap and the MSFJ had been working with a U.S.-based Montagnard support group to topple current authorities and establish a so-called State of Dega in the Central Highlands.

In October, Tran Quoc, Vietnams deputy minister public security, said mismanagement was among the causes of the attacks on government facilities in Dak Lak province, in the first official acknowledgement that reasons other than incitement by hostile forces were to blame for the incident.

He acknowledged that frustration over Vietnams growing wealth gap and poor land management by local officials were partly to blame.

Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international conference titled "Human Rights: The 75th Baku Conference: Promoting Universality and Indivisibility to Address Global and National Challenges" is being held in Baku, Trend reports.

The conference is being held jointly by the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan, the UN Office in the country, and the Azerbaijani Bar Association.

The event includes representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and civil society institutions.

Opening the event with an introductory speech, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva noted that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 75th anniversary of which is celebrated this year, is the basis and model for the formation of the national legislative base of UN Member States, including Azerbaijan.

She emphasized that ensuring and promoting human rights and freedoms in the country is constantly the focus of attention, the legislative base is constantly improved following the norms of international law and wide opportunities are created to accelerate the process of implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Ombudsman mentioned that today the world community remains indifferent to the mass violations of human rights mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international documents, that Azerbaijan is one of the countries most affected by these double standards and discrimination, that Armenia has for many years pursued a policy of ethnic cleansing, deportation and genocide on the grounds of acute hatred against Azerbaijanis.

The Ombudsman also said that mass graves were discovered in the territories under Armenian occupation for almost thirty years and liberated as a result of the second Karabakh war, the destruction of most towns and villages, historical, cultural, and religious monuments, contamination of Azerbaijani territories with mines once again prove the policy pursued against Azerbaijan. Aliyeva also expressed concern that the fate of about 4,000 Azerbaijanis missing in the First Karabakh War has not been clarified yet.

The conference was addressed by UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva, Chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) Human Rights Committee Zahid Oruj, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev, Senior Advisor for the South Caucasus Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Dr. Vladimir Shkolnikov, Chairman of the Bar Association of Azerbaijan Anar Bagirov, who emphasized the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in terms of promotion and protection of human rights.

The speakers covered the implementation of this declaration in the country and its positive results.

Then panel discussions on various topics were organized at the event.

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A spate of deaths of women in northwestern Pakistan has put the spotlight on so-called honor killings in the South Asian country.

Each year, hundreds of women and girls are killed in Pakistan, often by relatives who say they are protecting the family's honor.

Despite stricter laws and public outrage in the Muslim-majority country, human rights groups say such killings continue.

In the latest case, police said they have charged a man for murdering his 18-year-old daughter on the orders of a jirga, or tribal council, because she had appeared in a photo with unrelated men on social media.

Police said three others -- the victim's uncle and two cousins -- were arrested on November 29 in Kolai-Palas, a remote district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

The victim has been identified as Reema Bibi, whom police say was shot dead by her father in the family home on November 24, soon after photos of her with a woman and two men appeared on social media.

Public images of women are considered taboo in deeply conservative rural areas of Pakistan. Police have said the photos of Bibi were manipulated.

Noor Mohammad, a police official in Kolai-Palas, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal that the other woman and one of the two men in the photos were under police protection. The whereabouts of the other man in the images was unknown.

In another case, police said four people were killed on November 28 in the district of Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Police said a man killed his wife following a marital dispute. In retaliation, the victim's brother killed the husband's parents and young sister on the same day, police said.

"This is very cruel and is done in the name of terrible local customs," Mufti Hafizullah Sabri, a local religious leader, told Radio Mashaal. "This is the result of deep-seated ignorance."

'Harrowing Reminder'

Human rights group say the incidents are just the latest cases of honor killings in Pakistan, where women have been slain for eloping with men, committing adultery, or even appearing in online videos and photographs.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) documented at least 384 cases of such killings in 2022 alone, including 103 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The cases are a "harrowing reminder that violence against women remains deeply accepted in Pakistan," Asad Iqbal Butt, the head of the HRCP, said in a November 29 statement.

A 2016 amendment to the criminal law in Pakistan defined "murder committed in the name of honor" as a specific crime with stiffer penalties than homicide, including the death penalty or life in imprisonment.

But rights groups say the stricter laws have failed to curb the number of killings.

"While repeated so-called 'honor killings' have resulted in legislative amendments and societal outrage in the country, they remain unabated," Nadia Rahman of Amnesty International said in a November 30 statement. "It is not enough to arrest people after such attacks take place. The authorities must end impunity for violence and abolish so-called village and tribal councils that prescribe such horrific crimes."

In 2019, Pakistan's Supreme Court declared tribal councils illegal because they violated the constitution and Islamabad's international commitments to protect human rights and end gender discrimination.

But Rahman said the Pakistani authorities have failed to "curb the extra-legal power of jirgas or tribal councils to run parallel legal systems," in a move she said has perpetuated "patriarchal violence with impunity."

'Blood' Money

Kainat Kakakhel, a Pakistani lawyer, said the amended law aimed at curbing honor killings is not being fully enforced.

Under the law, a person convicted of "murder committed in the name of honor" cannot be pardoned by the victim's family, which is permitted under Islamic law.

"[But] often, the police reports in honor killing cases are registered as murder cases, which opens the door to reconciliation, which is a major flaw," Kakakhel told Radio Mashaal.

Under Pakistani law, the Islamic concept of diyat, which allows a victim's family to forgive a murderer in exchange for financial compensation, or so-called blood money, from the perpetrator's family.

High-Profile Cases

In one of the most high-profile cases in Pakistan in recent years, a tribal council in Kolai-Palas in 2011 ordered the deaths of four men and two women after a homemade video appeared to show unrelated men and women fraternizing at a wedding.

In 2013, three of the men -- all brothers -- were killed by the family members of the two women, according to the police. A fourth brother, Afzal Kohistani, was killed in 2019 after leading a yearslong campaign against honor killings in Pakistan.

In 2017, a provincial court had overturned the murder convictions against the six men from the women's families.

In another prominent case, a man was convicted of murdering his celebrity sister in 2016.

Muhammad Waseem was found guilty of strangling to death Qandeel Baloch, a controversial social media star who was dubbed the Kim Kardashian of Pakistan.

Waseem had publicly said he had no remorse for killing his 26-year-old sister over her "intolerable" behavior, after she posted racy pictures of herself with a Muslim cleric.

Waseem, 38, was sentenced to life in prison. But in February 2022 -- after spending six years in prison -- he was freed after his mother pardoned him.

Written by Abubakar Siddique based on reporting by Ishtiaq Mehsud, Niaz Ali Khan, and Maliha Amirzada of RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
Russia's Supreme Court has ruled that the LGBT "movement" is "extremist," sparking a global outcry over fears the designation will allow the country to ratchet up its crackdown on gay and transgender people.

After a closed-door hearing, the court on November 30 said it had approved a Justice Ministry request to label the "international LGBT social movement" as extremist, which bans its activities in the country.

Russian human rights organizations had asked the Supreme Court to reject the ministry's request, saying that "it is impossible to call a group of people a 'social movement' simply because they belong to some social group, or because they are united by some personal characteristics."

The ruling is the latest in a series of blows to LGBT rights in Russia. President Vladimir Putin last year expanded the scope of a 2013 law banning the distribution of "gay propaganda" among children to include people of all ages.

"I call on the Russian authorities to repeal, immediately, laws that place improper restrictions on the work of human rights defenders or that discriminate against LGBT people," UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

Amnesty International criticized the ruling, saying it will have "catastrophic" consequences and leaves "little if any doubt that it will lead to the persecution of LGBTI activists, undoing decades of their brave and dedicated work, while threatening to inspire and legitimize whole new levels of violence against LGBTI persons across Russia."

"This shameful and absurd decision represents a new front in the Russian authorities' campaign against the LGBTI community," Marie Struthers, director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, said in a statement.



"The ruling risks resulting in a blanket ban on LGBTI organizations with far-reaching violations of the rights to freedom of association, expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the right to be free from discrimination. It will affect countless people, and its repercussions are poised to be nothing short of catastrophic," she added while calling on Russian authorities to reconsider the ruling.

In addition to potential threats to close LGBT organizations and arrest gay and transgender people, activists say they fear the ruling will mean internationally recognized LGBT symbols such as the rainbow will be considered "extremist."

WATCH: Activists and rights defenders warn that the new ruling could lead to the blanket prosecution of not just activists but also those who seek shelter from homophobic violence under a threat of up to 10 years of imprisonment.



Russian law forbids citizens and organizations from supporting or promoting an extremist organization, including displaying its symbol online or offline. Punishments range from fines and closures to jail time.



Experts say Putin is targeting LGBT and other minorities to appease his conservative base ahead of a presidential election in March.

Activists who spoke with RFE/RL in Moscow predicted that fear and insecurity will increase and people will leave Russia in greater numbers as a result.

"Those who stay for various reasons will not be able to feel safe -- even more so than before," one activist told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

Another said that it will no longer be possible to continue work on a shelter for transgender people.

"Any opportunity I have to provide some kind of security for transgender [people] in Russia will lead to me putting myself in jeopardy and by extension the people who will live [in the shelter] with me," the activist said, adding that assistance to leave Russia will continue.
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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy rejected the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia, saying it would not lead to substantive progress in the war and only favor Moscow by giving it time to boost supplies to its military as the conflict nears its two-year anniversary.

A pause on the Ukrainian battlefield will not mean a pause in the war, the Ukrainian leader said in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, on January 11 during a tour of the three Baltic nations.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

"Give Russia two to three years and it will simply run us over. We wouldn't take that risk.... There will be no pauses in favor of Russia," he said. "A pause would play into [Russias] hands.... It might crush us afterward.



Zelenskiy has pleaded with Ukraine's allies to keep supplying it with weapons amid signs of donor fatigue in some countries and as Russia turns to countries such as Iran and North Korea for munitions.



NATO allies meeting in Brussels on January 10 tried to allay Kyiv's concerns over supplies, saying they will continue to provide Ukraine with major military, economic, and humanitarian aid. NATO allies have outlined plans to provide "billions of euros of further capabilities" in 2024 to Ukraine, the alliance said in a statement.



Estonian President Alar Karis said after meeting Zelenskiy that his country will provide 1.2 billion euros ($1.31 billion) in aid to Ukraine until 2027.



"Ukraine needs more and better weapons," Karis said at a joint news conference with Zelenskiy.



"The capabilities of the EU military industry must be increased so that Ukraine gets what it needs, not tomorrow, but today. We should not place any restrictions on the supply of weapons to Ukraine," he added.



Estonia has so far provided military assistance to Ukraine worth nearly 500 million euros, or more than 1.4 percent of its gross domestic product, according to the Estonian Foreign Minstry.

In a separate message on X, formerly Twitter, Zelenskiy thanked Tallinn for its continued aid.



"Estonia's unwavering support for Ukraine, our people, and our defense is evident today, during my visit, and throughout the war," Zelenskiy wrote. "I am grateful to Estonia for all its support."



The Baltic countries have been staunch allies of Ukraine since the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion in February 2022.



On January 10, Zelenskiy held talks in Vilnius with Lithuanian counterpart, Gitanas Nauseda.

We have proven that Russia can be stopped, that deterrence is possible, he said after talks with Nauseda.



Ukraine has been subjected to several massive waves of Russian missile and drone strikes since the start of the year that have caused civilian deaths and material damage.



In the latest such attack, a hotel in downtown Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was struck by Russian missiles overnight on January 11. The strike injured 13 people, including Turkish journalists staying at the hotel, Kharkiv regional police chief Volodymyr Tymoshko said.



Regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said that one of those injured was in serious condition. More than 30 civilians were inside the hotel at the time of the attack, Synyehubov said on Telegram.



Ukraine's emergency services said those hurt in the strike were "hotel staff and guests, one of whom is a foreign journalist," without giving details. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said no military personnel were staying at the hotel.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
PRISTINA -- At least since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, common ground has been all too rare in the Balkans, and, where it exists, it has tended to be a source of bitter dispute or even conflict.

But a group of young people from Belgrade and Pristina, two of the most stubbornly antagonistic capitals in the region, are helping to reshape the "muhabet."

That's "conversation" or "small talk" in the vernacular. It's a word, borrowed from Ottoman Turkish but with etymological roots in Arabic or Classical Persian, that is used by Albanian- and Serbian-speakers alike, in addition to Macedonians and Greeks.

It's also just one of more than 2,000 entries in the latest edition of The Dictionary Of Words That Do Not Need Translation, an online publication that highlights words and cognates spanning ethnic and national divides across a border fraught with misunderstanding.

Backed by NGOs, the dictionary was authored by local linguists with research and contributions by students from the University of Belgrade in Serbia's capital and the University of Pristina in Kosovo's capital.

Some of the other notable entries include the words for neighbors ("komshinj" or "komsija"), equal or together ("barabar"), and rolling pin ("okllai" or "oklagija").

"When it comes to Kosovo or Serbia, there are always some uncomfortable topics that create discord between us," says Borivoje Lazic, an ethnic Serb student from the majority-Albanian town of Bujanovac in southern Serbia. "[But] these are the things that should actually be written about."

Lazic says his love for the Albanian language began with music. "I remember that in high school I listened to some songs and I didn't understand a single word, [but] I liked that positive energy," he says. "I started researching and found out that there is a department [of the Albanian language] only in Belgrade." His parents, he adds, "were delighted with the idea" of him pursuing Albanian studies at the University of Belgrade. He's now studying for a master's degree.

Serbia continues to deny recognition of its former province, Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 after a bloody conflict and a decade of transitional UN administration but remains excluded from many international organizations.

The European Union has mediated talks since 2013 aimed at normalizing relations between the two neighbors, who share a 366-kilometer border. But lingering resentments are high, and officials on both sides have been reluctant to abandon nationalist rhetoric in pursuit of a breakthrough.

Ethnic cleansing and other atrocities during fighting in the 1990s left many areas ethnically homogeneous, although ethnic Serbs predominate in northern Kosovo and ethnic Albanians are a majority in a few communities in southern Serbia.

Two recent outbreaks of violence in northern Kosovo -- when ethnic Serbs clashed with NATO peacekeepers in May followed by a deadly cross-border assault on Kosovar police by commando-style gunmen in September -- have underscored the risk to regional stability posed by ongoing Albanian-Serb enmity.

Decades of informal efforts to increase communication and understanding between majority Serbs and minority ethnic Albanians on the Serbian side of the border, and between majority ethnic Albanians and minority Serbs on the Kosovar side of the border, have gained limited traction.

The Dictionary Of Words That Do Not Need Translation is a response to the constant barrage of media and other messages on social platforms suggesting Serbs and Kosovar Albanians have little in common, say its authors and organizers.

The two main co-authors of the dictionary, linguists Nora Bezera and Marija Orovic, worked with the Belgrade and Pristina students and two Kosovo-based NGOs, Integra and the Center For Affirmative Social Actions CASA. A second edition of the dictionary was launched in Pristina on November 20.

Bezera says all of the entries "are in some way characteristic of the common culture and tradition." The project, she says, marks a recognition of similarities between Serbs and ethnic Albanians.

"The essence of the project was not only to find words but to unite young people from Kosovo and Serbia," she tells RFE/RL's Balkan Service, "bearing in mind that our people have lived in the neighborhood for centuries, but the self-separation of the two communities has prevented us from knowing each other's cultures and, consequently, our languages."

In her work as a lecturer and translator, Bezera has promoted language learning to "break down prejudices created over centuries and build new bridges of friendship." Her work has included an EU-funded public-awareness campaign encouraging cultural diversity.

She says the rapid evolution of "subjective" media, the pervasiveness of English, and a lack of quality translators all contribute to a spread of propaganda in the region. And outside official channels, Bezera argues, it is important to chip away at the obstacles preventing the use of majority and minority languages alike.

More than 90 percent of Kosovo's population of around 2 million people is ethnic Albanian and an estimated 5 percent ethnic Serb. Ethnic Serbs compose more than 80 percent of Serbia's nearly 7 million people, while ethnic Albanians represent 1 percent, according to 2022 census figures.

In Serbia, Serbian is the only official language. In Kosovo, however, both Albanian and Serbian are official languages. In both countries, legislation further allows communities to give official status to locally predominant languages.

The University of Belgrade's Philology Faculty has had an Albanian Language Department for 90 years, stretching back to the early years after what was known colloquially as Yugoslavia changed its name to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929.

The University of Pristina launched its Balkan Studies program in 2021 in part to explore cultural and linguistic ties with the rest of the Western Balkans, including through the study of the Bosnian, Croatian, Macedonian, and Serbian languages.

Elvira Kryeziu, who studies journalism at the University of Pristina, also helped research and introduce The Dictionary Of Words That Do Not Need Translation.

She says she was amazed when she started her work and, along with fellow student Lazic, encountered example after example of words whose meanings were instantly recognizable. "I would ask [Lazic], 'Is this the same word?' He'd say 'yes.' And then it was just 'yes, yes, yes, they're the same words,'" Kryeziu says.

In addition to her native Albanian, Kryeziu speaks English, Italian, and Turkish, and is now learning Serbian. "It's fun to meet new people, their language and culture," Kryeziu says. "We found out how much we're the same."

Dictionary co-author Orovic says the crossover words represent the "common tradition of both nations." Those words include the Albanian "qef" and Serbian "cef," which are cognates for "fun" or "diversion."

"It's used to describe the experience of enjoying the moment, without any particular goal or purpose," Orovic says. "The word emphasizes the importance of small but precious moments in life that make us happy."

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Balkan Service correspondent Sandra Cvetkovic
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a law on approval of the "Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda", Trend reports.

According to the law, the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda on exemption of holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements" signed on September 20, 2023 in New York, was approved.
Delhi Metro News

Heart-Wrenching Incident Unfolds at Qutub Minar Station

Delhi Metro News: In a harrowing incident at Delhi Metro's Qutub Minar station on November 12, a tragic fatality occurred as a commuter, identified as Bhura Singh from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, met his untimely end. The distressing event, captured on video and circulating widely on the internet, has prompted the Delhi Metro authorities to address the matter.

Metro Spokesperson Confirms Unfortunate Incident

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Delhi Metro spokesperson Anuj Dayal released a statement on Wednesday, acknowledging the viral nature of the video capturing the incident. The Spokesperson expressed condolences over the loss and emphasized the importance of adhering to safety protocols within the metro premises.

On the ill-fated day, Bhura Singh, residing in Kasan village near Manesar with his son Ashwin, disembarked at platform number 1 of Qutub Minar station. In a haste to exit, he opted for a perilous shortcut, attempting to cross the tracks instead of utilizing the designated stairs or escalator to reach another platform. Tragically, this impulsive decision resulted in a collision with an oncoming train, claiming his life.

Delhi Metro Authorities Urge Commuters to Prioritize Safety

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In the aftermath of this devastating incident, Delhi Metro authorities are reiterating the critical importance of following established safety measures. They urge commuters to refrain from engaging in hazardous activities, such as attempting to cross tracks, and emphasize the availability of designated pathways and facilities for a secure commute.

(For More News Apart from Delhi metro news, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The fifth meeting of the State Commission on the delimitation of the state border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on the delimitation of the state border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan has been held on the border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, Trend reports.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan.

The parties discussed several organizational and procedural matters and proceeded with their discussion on delimitation issues.

The parties had reached an initial agreement regarding the text of the Regulation on the organization and holding of meetings and joint working meetings between the State Commission on delimitation of the state border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on delimitation of the state border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The sides agreed to start the work on negotiation of the draft Regulation on the joint activities of the State Commission on delimitation of the state border between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and the Commission on delimitation of the state border and Border Security between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The parties also had come to an agreement to intensify the meetings of the commissions.

The parties also agreed to determine the date and venue for the next meeting of the Commissions.
Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls Live:

Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram: The people of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram have cast their votes and the destiny of leaders, contesting for 679 total constituencies across five states, has been locked. Now, the counting of votes will be held on December 3, and it will be interesting to see who makes it to the win.

Whenever elections take place, people await exit polls once the process of voting concludes. Likewise, the exit polls of Assembly Elections 2023 in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram have been released and you can see below who is leading in which state.

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Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls Live:

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls:

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The state, currently, has the Bharatiya Janata Party in the ruling. Shivraj Singh Chouhan is leading the state. A total of 230 seats are up for the contest. BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party are in the fray. Notably, Congress won 114 seats in Madhya Pradesh while BJP won 109 seats in 2018, however, the tables turned in 2019 post Lok Sabha elections when BJP regained power in the state.

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls:

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Rajasthan is said to be the toughest contest between BJP and the ruling Congress party in Rajasthan. While the Congress party is looking for a historic victory under the leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the BJP is trying to maintain the tradition of change of power. Notably, the BJP won 73 seats while the Congress party won 100 seats out of 199 seats in 2018.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls:

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is once again looking to make a winning streak, however, the tough competition is being considered against BJP. However, the BJP has not yet revealed its CM face for the Assembly polls. In 2018, Congress had won a complete majority with 68 seats while the BJP was restricted to 15.

Telangana Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls:

Telangana: Bharat Rashtra Samithi is looking for a hat-trick of victories. However, the Congress party seems to be a tough competition in the state. On the other hand, the BJP is trying to enter South India. In 2018, CM K Chandrashekhar Rao's party had won 88, out of 119 seats, while Congress was restricted at 21 only.

Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 Exit Polls Live:

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A total of 40 seats are up for competition in Mizoram where Mizo National Front had won 26 seats in 2018 while Congress was limited to 5 seats and BJP secured a win over only 1 seat.
India Canada News

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had, few months ago, alleged the involvement of Indian agents behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India-Canada Row News: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on the US Department of Justice charging an Indian, Nikhil Gupta, for 'murder-for-hire'. He said that this is what they have been talking about from the beginning. Trudeau added that "India needs to take this seriously". To this, India retaliated and also issued a statement against him.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "In so far, as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this."

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"So, we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable," he added.

Notably, Justin Trudeau said that the reports coming out of the United States underscore what they have been talking about from the very beginning. Justin Trudeau's statement was given in Ottawa, as reported by Reuters. He added that the Indian government needs to work with Canada to make sure that we're getting to the bottom of this.

According to information, the US Department of Justice on Wednesday charged Nikhil Gupta for working with an Indian government employee conspiring the assassination of a New York City resident, "who advocated for a Sikh sovereign state in northern India".

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It may be recalled that the tensions between India and Canada had increased after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau had alleged the involvement of Indian agents behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had rejected the claim, back then, and even sought evidence over their claim. This created a diplomatic row between India and China that even led to India stopping its visa services in Canada.

India made it clear that Canada did not provide any evidence that supports their claim and that they are ready to cooperate with the probe if evidence is provided.
Gurpatwant Pannu News

Foiled plot against US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu leads to charges against Indian government employee

Gurpatwant Pannu News: The US Department of Justice has issued charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accusing him of being part of a conspiracy to murder US-based Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. The alleged "murder-for-hire" plot has triggered diplomatic discussions between the two nations.

In a statement, the US Attorney's Office detailed the charges against Nikhil Gupta, identified as an Indian government employee. If convicted, Gupta could face a maximum sentence of 20 years. The accusations involve a foiled attempt to kill dual citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a prominent Sikh separatist with citizenship in both the United States and Canada.

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The Indian foreign ministry, in response to the charges, confirmed that it is examining the inputs from the United States. Emphasizing the seriousness of such inputs affecting national security, the ministry stated that a high-level Enquiry Committee was constituted on November 18 to investigate the matter. India pledges to take necessary follow-up actions based on the committee's findings.

This development follows the recent diplomatic exchange between the US and Canada, where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised concerns about the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The US has treated the reported plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu with utmost seriousness, engaging in discussions with the Indian government at senior levels.

On November 20, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India filed a case against Pannu, accusing him of issuing threats against Air India passengers. The US Justice Department's charges come amid international efforts to combat terrorism and organized crime, reflecting the shared commitment to global security.

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The Indian foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to national security, acknowledging the significance of the information shared by the US during bilateral security cooperation discussions. The Enquiry Committee's findings will guide India's next steps in addressing the alleged plot and ensuring the safety of its citizens on the international stage.

(For More News Apart from Gurpatwant Pannu News, Stay Tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


The month of November witnessed a couple of notable firsts, including the approval of the first treatment for congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, the first chikungunya vaccine and the first treatment for progressing desmoid tumors.

So far, this year, the FDA has approved 52 novel drugs compared to just 37 for the full year of 2022.

Now, let's take a look at the biotech companies awaiting FDA decision in December.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX)

The final decision of FDA on Vertex Pharma's Exa-cel in the proposed treatment of severe sickle cell disease is due on December 8, 2023.

Exa-cel, formerly known as CTX001, is a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-edited therapy, developed by Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics.

An FDA advisory committee meeting for Exa-cel in sickle cell disease was completed in October of this year.

Exa-cel received approval in the U.K. on Nov.16, 2023, under the brand name Casgevy.

This marks a historic milestone as Casgevy becomes the first CRISPR-based gene therapy globally, specifically designed for addressing sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia.

VRTX closed Wednesday's (Nov.29, 2023) trading at $351, up 1.14%.

2seventy bio Inc. (TSVT)

The FDA decision on the expanded use of Abecma, in the proposed treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, is due on December 16, 2023.

Abecma is already approved for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.

The drug is being jointly developed and commercialized in the U.S. by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) and 2seventy bio (TSVT). Bristol Myers Squibb assumes sole responsibility for Abecma drug product manufacturing and commercialization outside of the U.S.

On Nov.20, 2023, the company was notified that an FDA panel would review the application seeking approval for the expanded use of Abecma and therefore a decision is unlikely to be made on the assigned date of December 16.

Abecma U.S. revenues, as reported by Bristol Myers Squibb, were $69 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to $75 million in the third quarter of 2022.

TSVT closed Wednesday's trading at $1.92, up 2.13%.

OptiNose Inc. (OPTN)

OptiNose Inc. (OPTN) is seeking for the expanded use of its lead drug Xhance in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, and a decision is anticipated on December 16, 2023.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a serious nasal inflammatory condition characterized by nasal congestion/obstruction, facial pain and pressure, rhinorrhea (drainage and postnasal drip), and loss of sense of smell and taste. As many as 30 million adults in the United States are affected by chronic rhinosinusitis.

There are 2 subgroups namely chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps.

Xhance received its initial FDA approval for the treatment of nasal polyps and that was in September 2017.

If approved for the expanded use, Xhance would be the first and only drug indicated for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis either with or without nasal polyps.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, Xhance's sales totaled $51.1 million, a decline of 8% compared to $55.4 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022.

OPTN closed Wednesday's trading at $1.25, up 1.63%.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics Inc. (ARQT)

The FDA decision on Arcutis Biotherapeutics' Roflumilast foam, proposed for the treatment of moderate-to-severe seborrheic dermatitis, is due on December 16, 2023.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common chronic or recurrent skin condition that causes red patches covered with large, greasy, flaking yellow-gray scales, and persistent itch.

Roflumilast cream of 0.3% strength was approved by the FDA in July 2022 for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older. and is marketed under the brand name Zoryve.

ARQT closed Wednesday's trading at $1.90, down 6.86%.

Calliditas Therapeutics AB (CALT)

The FDA decision to convert the accelerated approval of Calliditas Therapeutics' Tarpeyo to full approval is expected on December 20, 2023.

Tarpeyo contains the active ingredient Budesonide, a synthetic corticosteroid. The drug received accelerated approval from the FDA in December 2021 to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy. It received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission in July 2022, and is marketed under the trade name Kinpeygo.

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2023, Tarpeyo net sales were SEK 283.6 million compared to SEK 123.4 million in the year-ago quarter.

CALT closed Wednesday's trading at $18.20, down 2.93%.

bluebird bio Inc. (BLUE)

bluebird bio's investigational gene therapy Lovotibeglogene autotemcel, a one-time treatment proposed for the treatment of sickle cell disease, awaits the FDA decision on December 20, 2023.

In sickle cell disease, high concentrations of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) in red blood cells (RBCs) cause RBCs to become sickled, sticky, and rigid with a shorter life span, which manifests acutely as hemolytic anemia, vasculopathy, and vaso-occlusion.

Lovotibeglogene autotemcel, also known as Lovo-cel, is designed to introduce functional copies of a modified version of the -globin gene (A-T87Q-globin gene) into the hematopoietic (blood) stem cells (HSCs) of the patient. Once the patients acquire the A-T87Q-globin gene, their red blood cells (RBCs) can produce anti-sickling hemoglobin (HbAT87Q), which lowers the proportion of sickle hemoglobin. The aim is to decrease the occurrence of sickled RBCs, hemolysis, and other associated complications.

Vertex Pharma and CRISPR Therapeutics' Casgevy received approval in the U.K earlier this month, becoming the world-first gene therapy for sickle-cell disease.

BLUE closed Wednesday's trading at $3.86, up 0.52%.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IONS)

On December 22, 2023, the FDA will decide whether or not to approve Ionis Pharma's Eplontersen.

Eplontersen is an investigational antisense medicine for the treatment of people living with hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN). It is being jointly developed and commercialized by Ionis and AstraZeneca in the U.S. and will be developed and commercialized in the rest of the world by AstraZeneca, with the exception of Latin America.

Patients with ATTRv-PN suffer ongoing nerve damage throughout their body, causing a gradual loss of motor function. The accumulation of protein Transthyretin in vital organs further impairs their function, leading to death within five to fifteen years of the disease onset.

If approved, Eplontersen would have to compete with Alnylam's Onpattro and Amvuttra.

IONS closed Wednesday's trading at $49.41, up 2.21%.

Glaukos Corp. (GKOS)

Glaukos' iDose TR, a micro-invasive intraocular implant designed to lower intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, is at the FDA altar, with a decision anticipated on December 22, 2023.

iDose TR is designed to continuously release therapeutic levels of a proprietary formulation of Travoprost from within the eye for extended duration. Its design allows for removal and replacement with a new iDose TR, potentially providing a drop-free alternative for long-term treatment compared to daily eye drop regimens, according to the company.

Travoprost solution is an approved medicine for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

GKOS closed Wednesday's trading at $62, up 3.77%.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN)

The FDA decision to convert the accelerated approval of Amgen's Lumakras to a traditional approval is expected on December 24, 2023.

Lumakras was granted accelerated approval by the FDA in May 2021, for the treatment of adult patients with KRAS G12C mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

The drug generated sales of $52 million for the third quarter of 2023, representing a decline of 31% over the year-ago period.

AMGN closed Wednesday's trading at $266.60, up 0.41%.

Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK)

Merck's Gefapixant, proposed for the treatment of refractory chronic cough or unexplained chronic cough in adults, which was voted down by an FDA panel on Nov.17, 2023, awaits the regulatory agency's final decision on December 27, 2023.

The FDA had declined to approve Gefapixant in January 2022, citing the need for more information related to measurement of efficacy.

Gefapixant, which is a non-narcotic, orally administered selective P2X3 receptor antagonist, is approved in Japan and Switzerland. A decision from the European Commission is expected later this year.

MRK closed Wednesday's trading at $101.13, up 0.95%.

Zealand Pharma A/S (ZLPDF.OB)

The FDA will decide whether or not to approve Zealand Pharma's Dasiglucagon on December 30, 2023.

Dasiglucagon is proposed for the prevention and treatment of hypoglycemia in pediatric patients 7 days of age and older with congenital hyperinsulinism for up to three weeks of dosing.

Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), a rare disease affecting mainly newborns and toddlers, is caused by a defect in pancreatic cells, leading to overproduction of insulin. High levels of insulin result in persistently and often severely low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).

CHI develops in one out of 50,000 (or fewer) children, which corresponds to 180-300 children diagnosed in the U.S. and Europe every year.

ZLPDF.OB closed Wednesday's trading at $$46.92, up 0.71%.

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Business News
Energy company AES Corp. (AES) announced Thursday it has reached an agreement with Se.ven Global Investments to sell its 51% equity stake in the Mong Duong 2 coal-fired plant in Vietnam.

Following approvals by the Government of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the anticipated close for the transaction is in line with AES' intent to exit the majority of its coal assets by the end of 2025.

The 1,242 MW plant has been in operation since 2015, delivering power to Hanoi and northern Vietnam under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with state-owned utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

Based in Czech Republic, Se.ven is a family-owned company with expertise developing and operating conventional power plants and mining assets around the world.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Orchard Therapeutics (ORTX) announced the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to OTL-203, an investigational hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy being developed for the potential treatment of the Hurler subtype of mucopolysaccharidosis type I. OTL-203 has previously received Rare Pediatric Disease and priority medicines designations from the FDA and European Medicines Agency, respectively.

"We look forward to initiating our global registrational trial in December to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OTL-203 compared to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant," Leslie Meltzer, chief medical officer, said.

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com.

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Business News
Poland's grew slightly more than initially estimated in the third quarter, preliminary data from Statistics Poland showed on Thursday.

Gross domestic product rose 1.5 percent sequentially in the third quarter, faster than the 0.3 percent increase in the second quarter. In the flash report, the rate of expansion was 1.4 percent.

On the expenditure side, household consumption increased by 2.3 percent, and public consumption rose by 1.0 percent. Data showed that gross fixed capital formation gained 1.0 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, GDP recovered 0.5 percent in the third quarter versus a 0.6 percent fall in the previous quarter. The September quarter figure was revised up from 0.4 percent.

Seasonally adjusted GDP expanded 0.6 percent annually in the September quarter, reversing a 0.3 percent decline in the June quarter.

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Business News
Turkey's economic growth quickened in the third quarter, mainly due to higher household consumption and investment levels, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute showed on Thursday.

Gross domestic product advanced 5.9 percent year-over-year in the third quarter, well above the 3.9 percent rise in the second quarter.

Further, this was the fatest rate of growth since the second quarter of 2022.

Among expenditure components, final consumption of resident households grew sharply by 11.2 percent over the year, and government final consumption rose by 5.3 percent.

Gross fixed capital formation, or investments, surged by 14.7 percent from a year ago. Both exports and imports rose by 1.1 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively.

On a quarterly basis, GDP growth moderated to 0.3 percent in the third quarter from 3.3 percent in the second quarter.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Portugal's expanded at a slower pace in the third quarter amid a sharp slowdown in the growth of net external demand, flash data from Statistics Portugal showed on Thursday.

Gross domestic product, or GDP, advanced 1.9 percent year-on-year in the September quarter, slower than the previous quarter's increase of 2.6 percent.

Net external demand's contribution to GDP growth decreased significantly in the third quarter, from 1.7 percent to 0.2 percent. Exports fell 0.2 percent over the year, while imports rose marginally by 0.1 percent.

On a quarterly basis, the economy contracted 0.2 percent in the September quarter, reversing a 0.1 percent increase in the June quarter. It was the first decline since the first quarter of 2021.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree approving the "Agreement between the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of prevention and liquidation of consequences of unforeseen circumstances at highway checkpoints on the Azerbaijani-Russian state border," Trend reports.

Will be updated
Dominic Daula and Jonathan Hughes

By Luchwayito Vena

Jonathan Hughes, a fourth-year BMus student at Rhodes University, emerged victorious in a prestigious essay competition hosted by the Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa (JMAA). Known for his involvement in the Makhanda music community, Hughes, a part-time music teacher at Kingswood College, curated a series of successful concerts in 2022 called 'Organ Crawls' to showcase the historic organs of Makhanda.

His winning essay, titled 'Addressing the Pipework in South Africa's Oldest Playable Organ: A Materialist-Political History,' centres around an organ built by William Hill in the 1830s. The instrument, featured in the first 'Organ Crawl,' became the focus of Hughes's research, challenging its symbolic significance within an idealised settler community. The essay impressed the anonymous reviewers with its elegance, well-written style, and convincing arguments grounded in original archival research. It will be published in this year's edition of the Journal (https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rmaa20).

Dominic Daula, a Lecturer in the Department of Music and Musicology at Rhodes University, supervised Hughes. He said: I am absolutely elated that Jonathan's research is being recognised in this way, and Im proud to have played a part in his development as a researcher, and to have been a sounding board for his ideas. What impresses me about Jonathan is his willingness to embrace a challenge. The depth of research required for this project is far beyond what one would expect of an undergraduate; he, however, undertook the operation with utter relish and, I suspect, proved a few people wrong!

Hughes' achievement adds to the University's track record of success in the JMAA competition. Rhodes University has produced previous winners such as Boudina Coetzer McConnachie (2005), Nicole Germiquet Pooley (2013), and Pinkie Mojaki (2014), all affiliated with the Department of Music and Musicology. Hughes's success is celebrated as a testament to the high standards of academic excellence within the Department, showcasing the University's commitment to nurturing promising young scholars in the field of musical arts in Africa.

Watch this insightful video, produced by Rhodes Universitys School of Journalism, to find out more about Hughes love for the organ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEuX4Z_QOaI
As opposed to the sand colour of Force Light Strike Vehicle supplied to Indian Army around 2018, new Force Gurkha Military Ambulance is in green shade

Gurkha range of lifestyle machines has made very little impact on PV sales. But Forces commercial lineup is very strong. Along with that, Force Motors actively supplies purpose-built vehicles to Indian Military. Gurkha Light Strike Vehicles were supplied to Indian Military in BS4 Era. Recent test mules reveal a Military Ambulance that could be testing BS6 powertrains.

Force Gurkha Military Ambulance

Around 2018, Force Motors was awarded a contract by Indian Military to supply purpose-built Light Strike Vehicles to be deployed in desert border patrolling operations with sand colour. These were based on then Gurkhas and featured a stripped-down open-top appeal along with custom kit at the front and back.

Fast forwarding to 2023, the company is testing a purpose-built Force Gurkha Military Ambulance that has a green shade, as opposed to sand colour on the Light Strike Vehicles supplied before. One would think that new one would feature the same design as current PV Gurkha, but that isnt the case.

Where design is concerned, Force is still leaning on the previous-gen Gurkhas design which is identical to the Light Strike Vehicles supplied before. In the video from Bunny Punia YouTube channel below, we can see the For Gurkha Military Ambulance in all its green colour glory. It looks huge and intimidating, donning custom suspension and axles.

There was a version of this vehicle sold for private buyers too, called Force Gurkha Expedition that had 5 doors. The military versions based on this vehicle lack doors and a roof along with 3rd-row seats. Recently, Force Motors was testing Gurkha Pickup truck for Indian Military too.

Differences spotted with new test mule

Both the previous Force Motors Light Strike Vehicle and new test mule spotted, don the same fascia. Round headlights and turn indicators get protective grills, a shovel, there is a winch setup that should come in handy, there are blackout lights too which is standard for military vehicles and we can see some custom fixtures at the front that could carry signal jammers and scramblers.

Force Gurkha Military Ambulance finished in green, gets a + symbol on its rear differential. Also, this Ambulance version has wider wheel arches. There is no snorkel, but water wading ability should be decent, considering high air intake positioning. Axles have significant positive camber. These are not portal axles, but they are tilted quite a bit, reminding me of Tatras axles.

Side exhaust like a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, large and upright windscreen, rear tailgate-mounted spare tyre, rear-facing jump seats, and suspended grab handles are notable elements. Currently Force Motors only has one powertrain that can be seen on all of their products.

This is a 2.6L Mercedes-derived FM CR turbo diesel engine that can generate up to 120 bhp, depending on applications, mated to a 5-speed gearbox and a 4X4 transfer case along with front and rear mechanically locking differentials.

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Image  Bunny Punia
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The 5th meeting of the State Commission on State Border Delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security Issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan was held on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

The sides decided to start work on agreement of the draft regulations on joint activities of the State Commission on State Border Delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security between Armenia and Azerbaijan and agreed to intensify the meetings of the commissions.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry announced on November 21 in response to the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry that Yerevan is ready to participate in negotiations with Baku.

The statement noted that the Armenian side reaffirms its political will to normalize relations with Azerbaijan, as well as efforts to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan stated readiness for direct negotiations with Armenia on a bilateral basis to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree "On Amendments to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Improvement of State Support to Agriculture and Leasing Activity in the Agrarian Sphere" and settlement of some issues related to the use of funds of the Agrarian Credit and Development Agency under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Agriculture", Trend reports.

According to the Decree, the state guarantee and interest subsidy provided in accordance with the rule approved by Part 1 of this Decree shall apply to all credit agreements concluded with the state guarantee until January 1, 2028.

The full text of the Decree is available here.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The 5th meeting of the State Commission on State Border Delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the Commission on State Border Delimitation and Border Security Issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan was held on November 30, Trend reports.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan.

The parties agreed to set the date and location of the next commission meeting in working order.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry announced on November 21 in response to the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry that Yerevan is ready to participate in negotiations with Baku.

The statement noted that the Armenian side reaffirms its political will to normalize relations with Azerbaijan, as well as efforts to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

Azerbaijan stated readiness for direct negotiations with Armenia on a bilateral basis to sign a peace treaty as soon as possible.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, Trend reports citing Minister Jeyhun Bayramov's X (Twitter) page.

"We discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Sweden. I updated my colleague on the latest regional circumstances as well as Azerbaijan's position on peace and stability," he said.

The meeting was held within the framework of the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

The ministers met within the framework of participation in the 30th meeting of the Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Various aspects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary, as well as current issues of regional and international security, were discussed at the meeting.

Jeyhun Bayramov expressed satisfaction with the level of development of bilateral, including multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Hungary, the importance of mutual contacts and visits in discussing prospects and expanding the cooperation agenda.

Hungary's constant support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially within the framework of international organizations, was noted with gratitude.

The development of cooperation in various directions between the two countries, including economy, trade, energy security, investments, communications, and more, as well as the importance of the successful realization of joint projects was mentioned.

Bayramov informed his counterpart about the current situation in the region in the post-Karabakh conflict period, as well as efforts aimed at normalizing and promoting the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina, the Foreign Ministry told Trend.

Bayramov and Colomina met today within the framework of the 30th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of the current agenda of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, regional and international issues, as well as the process of normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations and prospects of negotiations.

The sides emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan's regular political dialogue and the development of practical cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO, contributing to peace and security in the region and beyond.

Jeyhun Bayramov spoke about the steps towards promoting the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The sides also exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues being of mutual interest.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 30. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates to participate in the World Climate Action Summit, which will be organized on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP28, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held a meeting with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the city of Dubai.

President Ilham Aliyev has invited the President of the UAE to pay a visit to Azerbaijan.

The invitation was gratefully accepted.
The Inkster African & Caribbean Market opened in 2013. We cater to everybody, but we offer specialized items for the African and Caribbean communities in Inkster. Weve grown to serve Oakland, Wayne, and Macon counties, as well as those who travel from Ohio and Canada. When our customers come into the market, they are able to get what they eat back home, and they are able to see their culture and embrace it. Prior to opening the business, there was no market in the Western Wayne area specializing in items specific to the African or Caribbean communities. So most times people would travel all the way to Oak Park or to different states to get their products. I always say it's important to understand the people that you are serving and to carry what they eat because if you don't eat what you are born to eat, it looks as if you are not feeding yourself right? So I say that culture is in the people, not in the land. People from Africa and from the Caribbean, living in the United States, crave for their food because that's their culture. That's what inspired me to start the business so that I can serve these communities of people who may not be able to get their food in Walmart or in a regular grocery store like Kroger.I always tell people inside of me theres a business. Inside of everybody there is something they are born to give to the generation we are born into, but it took time for me to be able to discover the kind of business that I was born to do. Sometimes people will start a business and it doesnt succeed. Its not that the business is not good, but sometimes it is because they are out of place. For example, you have to put a round peg in a round hole. You cant put a round peg in a square hole. And until we realize this, success is always far from people. So when I came to America, I came with a Visa lottery in 2001, and I found myself walking in an adult foster care home where I took care of people with mental illnesses, which I enjoyed. I bought my first house in Inkster in 2003, and I started to see that Inkster is where I'm called to establish things. I had about three buildings in Inkster plus the African market. So one thing I always tell people is to discover what you are born to be, and where you are called to serve. I know that people go from place to place trying to establish business, but I saw Inkster as a place where I've been called to serve the community.When I was working at the adult foster care home, I was saving money. And then I started selling ice cream on the street during the summertime. In the afternoon, after work, I would go sell ice cream, and I was saving money because I knew that I wasn't born to work for somebody, but I was born to be an entrepreneur. So in 2005, I left my job at the adult foster care home, and I started my own adult foster care home in Inkster. And now I have three adult foster care homes. But as the business grew, in 2008, things started to fall apart because of the recession. After traveling to Atlanta, I began to ask myself, What else can I do? What other business can I do? And that's when I got the inspiration of starting an African and Caribbean market. So I used all my savings to start the market. I did not have an opportunity to get a loan from anywhere. It all came from savings.Right now we want to make the market a one-stop shopping experience. It has been in our mind and in our heart to expand the building, but in 2019, the building burned down, and they were not able to renovate until 2022 because of COVID, so it delayed the construction of the building. Mayor Patrick actually played a big part in helping us rebuild our business. We reopened in 2022, and now that were back in business, we want to make it a one-stop shopping experience. We're going to have a carryout restaurant where people can place their orders, and we deliver it, or they can come pick it up from the market. We also want to expand the products we offer, so whenever a customer comes into the market, they will be able to find whatever they want or need without having to shop around.I tried looking into some resources for capital, but some of them required tax returns for two years, and we only had one, so that was a roadblock for us. But were still hoping to find a resource for funding to help us achieve our goal.We would need financial support. It may be a loan that we pay back with time. The business is doing well, so we not we cannot hold back on receiving a loan because the business will be able to pay it back.GABA ( Global African Business Association ) has been a good resource for the business. Akindele has shared it on Facebook and in his WhatsApp group, and made it known that he would like the business to grow, especially when we started. He also sent our flyers to many places, and he told many places about our business, so he and GABA have been a good resource for our business.The biggest challenge has been starting. In a way, when you start a new business, and it is not a popular business, it is hard to grow. So when we started, several of our products would expire because no one knew about the business, or to come shop at the market. But getting out of that phase, it becomes like a home run. Also the fear of the unknown. If I start this, am I going to make it? Is it going to be possible for people to support us? Fortunately, thats not too much trouble in Inkster. And then financial support because I started a business with my savings, and as we are growing, I believe if we had some financial support, we will be able to become bigger than where we are right now, and serve more communities. We are also facing staffing challenges. It makes it difficult for us because we become worn out doing all the work with no staff. But, thank God, people are starting to apply for jobs at the market.Depending on the kind of business and what they offer, I would tell them to talk to Akindele. If I know anyone that needs a resource which I know of, I'll freely introduce the person to them because one thing I believe is every one of us has work to do and nobody would do what I'm cut out to do. That means every individual has their own way, so whenever I see things that I need to help out in Inkster, I will surely do that.We all agree that the city is a problem. Were not exposed to funding, and when it comes to fixing your buildings or fixing your premises, most times they give you a hard time. Most people say they think every one of us is great, but we agree that the city needs to wake up if they want us to continue in the City of Inkster and if they want their businesses to grow here. And we know statistically zero funding comes to Inkster. Investors and lenders don't want to invest in Inkster, so it's really a problem. Sometimes when you go to apply for a loan, because of your address, they are not quick to consider you.
Alycia Lee owns Starlight Death Doula and runs Kalamazoo's Death Cafe.

Artwork created by Taylor Scamehorn

Artwork created by Taylor Scamehorn

Artwork created by Taylor Scamehorn
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has met with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pia Kauma, as part of his participation in the 30th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OSCE, Trend reports.

At the meeting, the sides reviewed the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as the main issues on the agenda, the current situation in the region, the possible contribution of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia were discussed.

Will be updated
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1. Three years have passed since the liberation of the Lachin district of Azerbaijan from the Armenian occupation, Trend reports.

According to a trilateral statement signed on November 10 by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, the Lachin district was cleared of the armed forces of Armenia and returned to Azerbaijan on 1 December.

Lachin was occupied by the armed forces of Armenia on May 18, 1992. Armenian occupants destroyed and plundered hundreds of cultural and household objects, dozens of settlements, villages and historical monuments in the region.

As a result of the occupation, 63,341 Azerbaijani citizens were expelled from their homeland, more than 300 military personnel and civilians were killed and disappeared without a trace. On the territory of the district, 8950 buildings were occupied, including 7 industrial and construction enterprises, 471 service points, 154 schools, hundreds of historical and cultural monuments.

The occupation of Lachin, which has an important geostrategic position, caused serious damage to the economy of Azerbaijan. Lachin region, rich in natural resources, has healing springs such as Turshsu, Galaderasi, Aganus, Khirmanlar, Tigig, Turshtigig, Nureddin, Nagdali, Hajihanli.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, on the territory of the Lachin district there are 3 mercury deposits (Narzanli, Chilgazchay, Saribulag) with total reserves of 1,124 tons, Gochaz marble limestone, suitable for the production of facing stone, with reserves of 2,533 cubic meters, 2 tuffs (Agoglan, Ahmadli), suitable for the production of sawn stone, 2 colored decorative stones, volcanic ash and other natural resources.

In addition, the Garagol State Nature Reserve and the State Nature Reserve are also located in the Lachin district, the reserve with a total area of 240 hectares has vegetation of 68 species and 27 families. Rare species of fauna, such as roe deer, goat, wild boar, bear, blackbird, partridge, blackbird, inhabited the territory of the State Reserve, created in November 1961 to protect and increase the number of animals and birds. During the survey of the reserve in 1989, 96 mountain goats (bezoar goats), 360 wild boars, 320 roe deer, 110 bears were recorded, as well as a large number of wolves, badgers, squirrels, pheasants and partridges.

For 28 years, Armenia ignored the norms of international law and UN resolutions on the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied Azerbaijani lands.

As a result of the counter-offensive operation launched on September 27, the Azerbaijani army fulfilled the mission unfulfilled by the UN Security Council and restored historical justice, liberating our lands, which had been occupied for almost 30 years

Until November 9, 5 cities, 4 villages and 286 villages were liberated from the occupation. Jabrayil city and 90 villages of the district, Fuzuli city and 53 villages of the district, Zangilan city, Mindzhivan, Agband, Bartaz villages and 52 villages of the district, Gadrut village and 35 villages of Khojavend district, 3 villages of Terter district, Gubadli city and 41 villages of the region, Khojaly district 9 villages, the city of Shusha, 3 villages of the Lachin region, as well as several strategic heights in the direction of Agdar and Murovdag, and in Zangilan - Bartaz, Sigirt, Shukurataz heights and 5 more unnamed heights also were liberated from the occupation.

According to a trilateral statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Russia, Aghdam was returned to Azerbaijan on November 20, Kalbajar on November 25, and Lachin on December 1.
The national air carrier of Azerbaijan, AZAL, has launched a special offer for flights between Baku and Beijing, giving passengers the chance to purchase tickets at reduced fares.

Within the offer, the price of tickets en route Baku-Beijing-Baku starts from AZN 699. Tickets en route Beijing-Baku-Beijing are available from USD 455.

These discounted tickets can be purchased from November 30 to December 14, 2023. It is important to note that starting from December 19, flights between Baku and Beijing will be operated twice a week  on Tuesdays and Sundays.

This offer from AZAL allows travellers to visit one of the most captivating and intriguing cities in the world at attractive prices.

To purchase tickets, please visit the official website www.azal.az, use the renewed mobile app of the airline, or approach to the ticket offices or accredited agencies of Azerbaijan Airlines.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The UK sees the main goal of the initiative to return former IDPs to Azerbaijan's Karabakh region to continue active efforts aimed at mine clearance, British Ambassador Fergus Ould said, Trend reports.

He made the remark during a roundtable event themed "Impact of mines on returning former IDPs and their communities: need for international solidarity" in Baku.

"We are all well aware of the significant threat posed by mines. These dangerous devices daily harm peaceful civilians and innocent people. At the moment, the main goal is to ensure the return of forced migrants and provide them with the opportunity to return to normal life, free from the threats of explosions and dangers," the ambassador noted.

He emphasized that the UK consistently expresses readiness to provide support in this matter, adding that companies and organizations in the country actively participate in providing assistance and exchanging experiences with Azerbaijan.

The event was attended by Azerbaijani MPs, representatives of ANAMA (Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action), the Ombudsman's Office, relevant government and non-governmental organizations, as well as Links EUROPE Director Dennis Sammut, and organized by the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines (AzCBL) Public Union together with LINKS Europe with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Embassy.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The latest "Azerbaijan - Insight Report" released by consultancy firm Evolution Consulting in October 2023, has identified Trend News Agency as a primary channel through which news from Azerbaijan reaches the international audience.

This development marks a significant milestone for the Azerbaijani media company and highlights its role in global news dissemination.

The report also indicates that Azerbaijan was featured in 75,800 media mentions globally, achieving a potential reach of 167.1 billion. The Trend News Agency's contributions were significant in driving these media mentions, playing a crucial role in bringing Azerbaijani perspectives to a global audience.

Azerbaijan's media visibility peaked notably on October 5, 2023, with a reach of 14.6 billion. The sentiment analysis presented a complex picture, combining positive and negative elements. Positive aspects included Azerbaijan's oil and gas industry presence. Conversely, ongoing conflicts and humanitarian issues were noted as negative sentiment drivers.

The United States was the leading country as a source of mentions, which might point to Azerbaijan's significance in international media narratives. The Trend News Agency's efforts in disseminating Azerbaijani news were pivotal in this context.

Key articles focusing on Azerbaijan's strategic and geopolitical dynamics attracted considerable attention. The Trend News Agency, alongside other local media, played a significant role in these discussions, shaping the international narrative about Azerbaijan.

The reach of Azerbaijani news was notably prominent on Facebook, which was Azerbaijans most popular social media platform with 2.1 million shares.

The report by Evolution Consulting provides insights on Azerbaijans presence in global media and social media for October, 2023. The report includes analysis, top trending topics, and other relevant insights related to the countrys media and social media exposure.

Evolution Consulting is a global consultancy firm based in Switzerland, specialized in stakeholder intelligence and reputation management services, with research experience spanning over 40 countries worldwide.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. At the 3rd session of the Executive Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Program in Kenya, it was announced that the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) will be held in Baku in 2026, Trend reports.

According to the relevant UN resolution adopted in 2001, this Forum, held every two years in one of the cities in the world with the most authoritative and large-scale participation in the field of urban planning, is the largest global platform for studying rapid urbanization and its impact on urban development.

The World Urban Forum will become one of the largest events in the region. As part of the event, interested parties from both Azerbaijan and foreign countries - government officials, members of non-governmental organizations, specialists working in this field, experts, representatives of the private sector will unite to exchange ideas and will have the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and experience.

Last year the World Urban Forum (WUF11) was held in the Polish city of Katowice on the theme Changing cities for a better future with the participation of 17 thousand people. Previously, in different years, the Forum was organized in Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur and a number of other cities, attracting up to 23 thousand participants to one event. The next Forum (WUF12) will be held in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November 2024.

Hosting such an important event in our capital in 2026 is another striking example of the high and positive reputation at the international level, thanks to the successful reforms of the Azerbaijani government in the field of urbanization, urban planning projects and large-scale restoration work.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Azerbaijan will host an agricultural and food forum, the Chairman of the Board of MUSIAD Azerbaijan Rashad Jabirli said at a press conference, Trend reports.

"Taking into account importance of condicting industry-specific forums, the agriculture and food forum will take place on December 13-14. Around 50 Turkish businessmen are expected to attend the forum,"said Jabirli.

He also stressed the significance of strengthening relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

"We strengthen our brotherhood by collaborating in the fields of trade and investment," Jabirli continued.

MUSIAD Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani branch of the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD), commenced activities in early 2018. It employs 3,950 individuals through its 55 recognized members.

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Luxury handbag maker Mulberry reported a widening of its half-year losses on Thursday as it pointed to additional investments and costs to support business growth.

In the 26 weeks to 30 September, the underlying pre-tax loss widened to 12.3m from 2.8m in the same period a year earlier, while the reported pre-tax loss widened to 12.8m from 3.8m.

Mulberry said the underlying loss included 3.3m of Software as a Service (SaaS) costs, the additional operational costs of its new stores in Sweden and Australia, and "additional important investments for future growth in the group".

Group revenue rose 7% to 69.7m. Retail sales in the UK were up 6% to 36.2m, impacted by "the broader economic environment", while international retail sales were 34% higher at 23.5m. Revenue in the US was ahead 38% due to increased brand awareness and retail sales in Asia Pacific were up 13% at 13.5m.

However, underlying retail sales in Asia Pacific fell 7%, with Mulberry citing the challenging macroeconomic climate in China and reduced footfall across the region.

Chief executive Thierry Andretta said there was no doubt the macroeconomic environment has deteriorated, and this has had a knock-on effect on consumer sentiment.

"At Mulberry we have ensured that we are prepared to navigate this tricky environment, and we are confident in our ability to continue to execute our strategy. I continue to believe that offering VAT-free shopping in the UK would be one of the most effective ways to encourage business growth in this country.

"The fact this has not been reinstated is creating challenges for all sectors; impacting not only the luxury players, but also hospitality, travel and tourism. As we look ahead to the New Year, I urge policy makers to collaborate with all industries campaigning on this issue and reconsider implementing this to support businesses across the UK."

At 0825 GMT, the shares were down 15% at 140p.
Cybersecurity and software escrow company NCC Group said in a trading update on Thursday that its performance in the first half aligned with expectations, with its outlook for the full year unchanged.

The London-listed firm said that in the cybersecurity segment, managed services revenue showed strong growth, while revenue in technical assurance remained stable following reductions in the second half of the prior year.

Planned improvements in utilisation during the first half contributed to an enhanced gross margin percentage.

NCCs software resilience business, Escode, has experienced two consecutive quarters of year-on-year revenue growth, driven by increased verification revenues and contract pricing adjustments.

The company said it made progress in achieving its target of 5m in cost efficiencies for the 2024 financial year, as announced in September.

Additionally, net debt pre-IFRS 16 remained consistent with managements expectations for the half-year.

The firm said it was advancing its Next Chapter strategy, with significant developments since September.

Carolyn Hieken was appointed chief commercial officer, bringing over 20 years of technology and cybersecurity sales leadership experience and completing the formation of the executive committee.

NCC Group had also established a strategic partnership with TransUnion to offer cyber protection to insurance customers globally.

Furthermore, the companys Manila office was operational and would officially open in January.

Im delighted to have completed the formation of the new executive leadership - a team which has deep experience operating within the cyber security industry, said chief executive officer Mike Maddison.

We are continuing to make good progress on all aspects of our Next Chapter strategy, and our trading and outlook are in line with the expectations outlined in September.

NCC Group said it would release its half-year results for the six months ending 30 November on 25 January - earlier than the previously announced date of 1 February.

At 1041 GMT, shares in NCC Group were up 1.33% at 121.8p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Sales at currency auctions in Azerbaijan, held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) jointly with the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) decreased, Trend reports.

According to CBA data, demand in currency auctions held in January-November this year totaled $3.27 million, a 28.7 percent decrease from the same period last year.

Furthermore, figures reveal that currency sales totaled $427 million this month alone, up 4.1 percent from a year ago.

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The India-UN Development Fund (IUNDPF) has funded 76 projects across 54 different countries, which demonstrates India's philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (The World is One Family) and highlights the strength of South-South cooperation. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spoke at the sixth-year celebration of the IUNDPF at the UN headquarters, stating that "India has always been an advocate for South-South cooperation and the global achievement of the SDGs (UN's Sustainable Development Goals)".

It demonstrates "the remarkable achievements that countries in the UN can accomplish when working together with developing nations", she added. Mohammed said that the IUNDPF has reached "significant milestones making a positive difference in the most vulnerable of our communities" and gave some examples of its achievements. In Haiti, she said, it has installed solar water pumping systems for clean water and improving agricultural irrigation.

The United Nations Development Programme Fund (IUNDPF) has made significant contributions to various countries. In Moldova, it has strengthened national statistical systems, while in Zimbabwe, it has provided drought-resistant seeds, technical training, and post-harvest support to smallholder farmers. According to General Assembly President Dennis Francis, IUNDPF's contributions across the globe have been remarkable." is no small feat, especially in this age of shrunken fiscal spaces, compounded by the impacts of pandemic and other global shocks in recent years".

Of the 76 projects, 28 are in small island developing states, he said, adding: "I'm equally pleased that the Caribbean Community CARICOM, my own region is a major constituency of the fund's attention, where it supports innovative, Southern-owned and led demand-driven sustainable development projects ".In his own country, Trinidad and Tobago, one of the projects is a telemedicine system to provide remote care", he said.

India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said: "India stands as a pillar of leadership and advocacy for the Global South. In a world of shifting global dynamics, our nation has risen as not just a voice but as a representative of the hopes and challenges of developing countries emerging as a global beacon of hope and support. Our commitment to the ethos of 'leaving no one behind' is not just rhetoric but a demonstrated reality". Working also beyond the IUNDPF, Kamboj said that India's development partnerships over the past decade have spanned 78 nations with 600 projects.
The U.S. India Business Council and the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), Government of Karnataka, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand collaboration in key industry sectors, with a particular emphasis on information technology, biotechnology, and electronics. The agreement was signed during the India-USA Tech Conclave, which is currently taking place at Bangalore Palace. This marks the second consecutive year of partnership between BTS and the government of Karnataka.

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-India Business Council is pleased to announce its official partnership with the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) and its organization of the India-USA Tech Conclave currently taking place in November at Bangalore Palace. This is the second consecutive year of partnership with the Government of Karnataka on BTS", said the press statement by the US-India Business Council.

Leaders from the Government of Karnataka, including the Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge participated in the Conclave. Speaking at the event, Minister Kharge said, "The MoU between the Government of Karnataka and USIBC marks a significant step forward in strengthening the economic ties between Karnataka and the United States. As the Government of Karnataka, we continuously strive to foster a conducive environment for American companies to establish, operate, and expand their businesses in Karnataka. The MoU emphasizes deepening engagement between the Government of Karnataka and USIBC to identify and address common challenges, facilitate collaboration between industries, and promote Karnataka as an attractive investment destination for American companies".

The release read further, "The Bengaluru Tech Summit serves as a significant global hub fostering partnerships among technology companies, startups, venture capitalists, and research labs. The India-USA Tech Conclave spearheaded by USIBC is a platform that brings together influential leaders from both the government and industry to explore opportunities for increased collaboration and investment and to address policy and regulatory issues that deepen synergies between the Indian and American innovation and creativity ecosystems".

Jacob Gullish, USIBC Executive Director, Digital Economy said, "The formalization of this MOU between USIBC and the Government of Karnataka signifies the role of states in furthering the India-U.S. strategic partnership. The partnership will enhance communication channels between USIBC member companies and their nodal partners through industry workshops and corporate sessions. Furthermore, these sessions will foster dialogue on common challenges, economic policies, and collaborative opportunities in Karnataka".

USIBC has been advocating for a strong U.S.-India space partnership in commercial space. At the India-USA Tech Conclave, the focus was on shaping the commercial space frontier and promoting relationships between entrepreneurs and startups. USIBC also highlighted joint initiatives with the Government of Karnataka in information technology, biotechnology, and electronics. USIBC has always championed US-India collaboration in R&D in India. The India-USA Tech Conclave will discuss challenges & opportunities in tech and healthcare sectors. USIBC represents top global companies operating across the US, India, and Indo-Pacific.

We are a premier industry voice connecting businesses and governments in the dynamic U.S.-India commercial partnership. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New Delhi, we work with members to identify and promote key policy priorities. Our focus is on strengthening connections between cities and states to drive India trade. Our policy expertise and influence are enhanced by our affiliation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, whose thousands of member companies champion free enterprise for people worldwide.
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government Of India, in partnership with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a Public Sector Undertaking, will host the esteemed Global Bio-India 2023 at Bharat Manadapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from December 4th to 6th. The event, themed "Biotech Innovation and Bio-manufacturing", aims to spotlight India's prominence in the biotechnology sector, crucially contributing to achieving the ambitious goal of a USD 5 trillion economy. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh asserts that India is set to become one of the top 5 Global Bio-manufacturing Hubs by 2025.

The upcoming conference is anticipated to be the largest gathering of biotechnology stakeholders globally, welcoming representatives from over 30 countries, more than 500 exhibitors, in addition to 3000 delegates and 1000 startups . The event will encompass diverse activities such as B2B, B2G, G2G meetings, media engagements, policy discussions, partnering sessions, CEO roundtables, a global regulators meeting, and an investors roundtable. A primary focus of Global Bio-India 2023 is the substantial representation of biotech startups, surpassing the previous Biotech Startup Expo. The event will showcase 300+ exhibits by successful biotech startups and SMEs, alongside 100+ biotech incubation centers, 30+ large industries, services, and CROs. Additionally, ten states will actively promote their biotech policies, while 25 universities and research institutions will contribute to scientific discussions.

Notably for startups, there will be over 40 pitches to investors, involving participation from 100 investors, angels, VCs, and HNIs. The event will also organize a masterclass for startups focusing on refining the art of pitching. Public sessions during specified exhibition hours aim to bridge the gap between science and society, providing insights into the biotech sector for a wider audience. Key components of Global Bio-India 2023 include CEO roundtables engaging with MNCs across biopharma, medtech, diagnostics, industrial biotech, and bio-agri sectors. Discussions among stakeholders will center on national and global regulatory trends, with special sessions delving into biomanufacturing and the biotech innovation ecosystem. The event will facilitate industry-academia interactions and include representation from major industry associations, investor associations, and global entrepreneurship organizations, amplifying networking prospects.
Booking Holdings, a global frontrunner in online travel services, marked the inauguration of its newest Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, India. This center will function as a focal point for adept technology professionals, catering to the company's expansion plans and its envisioned advancements in the travel domain. The establishment of this new center signifies an anticipated investment of $250 million within five years, with an aim to generate 1,000 employment opportunities in Bengaluru by 2026.

To emphasize Booking Holdings' commitment to simplifying global travel experiences, Randhir Bindra, General Manager of Booking Holdings India, highlighted the company's mission of creating a more seamless and interconnected travel platform through technology. The establishment of the Booking Holdings Center of Excellence in Bengaluru aims to leverage the city's exceptional talent pool, fostering innovation to enhance travel experiences. This initiative aims to cater to evolving business and customer needs by tapping into Bengaluru's tech community while expanding the company's footprint and innovation endeavors in the city.

In celebrating the formal opening of the Center and extending a warm welcome to Booking Holdings in Bengaluru, Tourism Minister H.K. Patil commemorated the inauguration of Booking Holdings' second global Center of Excellence. The Minister acknowledged the substantial investment of $250 million (Rs 2,084 Crores) and anticipated 1,000 job opportunities by 2026, expressing confidence in the state's potential benefits from this collaboration.

Navratan Katariya, Director for Startup Engagement, Innovation Enterprise Partnership, Cleantech at Nasscom, present at the event, highlighted Nasscom's commitment to nurturing an innovation ecosystem to drive digitalization. He emphasized the transformative impact of Centers of Excellence like Booking Holdings in Bengaluru, reshaping the technology and innovation landscape. The Center of Excellence serves as a hub for Booking Holdings to access skilled talent capable of supporting various projects across product development, service enhancement, and shared service functions, leveraging cutting-edge technologies. Additionally, it facilitates the adoption of industry best practices and encourages collaboration among Booking Holdings' diverse brands, including Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, KAYAK, and OpenTable.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Just before the busiest party night of the year, restaurateurs, community activists and law enforcement officials took a stance on getting home safely. The Thanksgiving Eve message paid off, according to District Attorney Michael McMahons office.

Just under 600 riders redeemed the pre-arranged Uber voucher code SISAFERIDE23 on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

McMahon shared, We are thrilled to report nearly 600 of our neighbors redeemed the code this Thanksgiving Eve, meaning thousands of revelers across the Island made the smart choice to leave the car at home this Thanksgiving Eve and celebrate the night responsibly.

District Attorney Michael McMahon, center, regularly joins forces with Uber for Staten Island-specific safe ride programs when bars are at their peak throughout the year. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri

He added, The consequences of drunk and drugged driving are dire for the driver, passengers, and all who share our roads, and we look forward to offering more SISAFERIDE promotions with our friends at Uber in the months and years to come on behalf of our young people, small businesses, law enforcement, and the safety of Staten Islanders from shore to shore.

Chris Lacey of Laceys Bridge Tavern in Elm Park had attended the original press conference, set on the steps of Burrito Bar in West Brighton. He was pleased to hear the outcome and said, Im happy we could help get the word out on such an important project.

Burrito Bar co-owner Kim Beckett enthused, The Uber ride share was a huge success for our business and customers. Many of our guests took advantage of the program and greatly appreciated the safe ride home.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance/Silive.com Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
NEW YORK  An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City, U.S. prosecutors said Wednesday as they announced charges against a man they said was part of the thwarted murder conspiracy.

U.S. officials became aware last spring of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration interceded and set up a sting, with an undercover agent posing as a hitman, after the conspirators recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to murder the activist for $100,000.

The Indian government official was not charged or identified by name in an indictment unsealed Wednesday but was described as a senior field officer with responsibilities in security management and intelligence said to have previously served in Indias Central Reserve Police Force.

The charges were aimed at a different person, Nikhil Gupta, 52, a citizen of India who was accused of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, the chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said in a news release.

We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad, he added.

The charges were the second major recent accusation of complicity of Indian government officials in attempts to kill Sikh separatist figures living in North America.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations that the Indian government had links to the assassination in that country of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the accusation as absurd, but Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat and India responded with the same measure.

Before the U.S. indictment was unsealed Wednesday, India announced it had set up a high-level inquiry after U.S. authorities raised concerns with New Delhi that its government may have had knowledge of the plot to kill Pannun.

The U.S. side shared some information and India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue, a statement by External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.

Gupta was arrested June 30 in the Czech Republic through a bilateral extradition treaty between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, prosecutors said. It was not immediately clear when he might be brought to the United States and whether he has secured legal representation in the United States.

The case is particularly sensitive given the high priority President Joe Biden has placed on improving ties with India and courting it to be a major partner in the push to counter Chinas increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

The White House declined to comment directly on the charges against Gupta, but said administration officials acted quickly.

When we were made aware of the fact that the defendant in this case had credibly indicated that he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian Government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Trudeau said in a statement that Canadian authorities had been working closely with American officials since August.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about since the very beginning which is that India needs to take this seriously, the Indian government needs to work with us, he said.

Pannun has been a leading organizer of the so-called Khalistan referendum, inviting Sikhs worldwide to vote on whether Indias Punjab state should become an independent nation based on religion. Organizers of the nonbinding referendum hope to present the results to the U.N. General Assembly in about two years. He is also general counsel with the Sikhs for Justice organization, which was banned by India in 2019.

Im not afraid of the physical death, Pannun said in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press.

If his death is the cost of running a campaign to organize the voting in Khalistan on whether Indian governed Punjab should be an independent country, Im willing to pay that price, he said.

We have never incited, provoked or promoted violence as a means to achieve any political goal, Pannun said.

India has proved they believe in violence and bullets to stop the campaign, he said, referring also to the assassination of Nijjar in Canada.

The indictment said Gupta was recruited last May by the unidentified Indian government employee to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun, who was only identified in court papers as the Victim.

Gupta contacted a criminal associate to help find a hitman to carry out the killing, but that person happened to be a confidential source working with the DEA. The confidential source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was actually a DEA agent, the indictment said.

In June, the Indian government employee gave Gupta the home address of Pannun, his phone numbers and details about his daily conduct, including surveillance photographs, which Gupta then passed along to the undercover DEA agent, the indictment said.

It said Gupta directed the undercover agent to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but also warned the agent not to commit the killing around the time of anticipated engagements between high-level U.S. and Indian officials.

According to the indictment, Gupta told the undercover DEA agent the day after Nijjars murder in Canada that Nijjar was also the target and we have so many targets.

He added that in light of Nijjars murder, there was now no need to wait in carrying out the New York assassination, the indictment said. Later, the Indian government official behind the New York assassination plot sent Gupta a news article about the New York assassination target and messaged Gupta saying his killed was a priority now, the indictment said.

The White House first became aware of the plot in late July, according to a senior administration official.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive exchanges with Indian government, said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, and underscored that India needed to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.

Sullivan also made clear that U.S. needed an assurance that this would not happen again and warned that another episode could permanently damage the trust established between our two countries, the official said.

Biden then asked CIA Director William Burns to contact his counterpart and travel to India to make it clear that the United States would not tolerate such activities and that his administration expected accountability.

Biden also raised the matter directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met at the Group of 20 Summit in September in New Delhi.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sullivan raised the issue with Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar when he visited Washington in September around the time of the annual U.N. General Assembly.

In October, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines travelled to India to share information with Indian government officials to aid their internal investigation.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  These thieves traveled light. And got away with a heavy score.

A Rickel Home Center in Port Richmond was robbed of $20,000 in 1982, with resourceful robbers using tools and a forklift found inside the popular home improvement store to do the job.

It was around 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, 1982, right in the swing of the Christmas shopping season, when the Rickel at 1520 Forest Ave. in Port Richmond was robbed.

Police said that the thieves knocked out the stores alarm system, snapped a padlock with bolt cutters and entered the closed store through a rear door. The crooks then broke into the store managers office, where a wall safe was located.

Cops said that while a burglar alarm had been transmitted from the store at about 10:30 p.m. that night, an alarm company truck dispatched to the scene found nothing amiss.

RIGHT OFF THE SHELF

The robbers then used tools they found on the shelves of the Rickel store to smash and gouge their way through a fiberboard wall in the managers office, freeing the 3,000-pound safe.

They then drove a store forklift into the office, hoisted the safe and its ill-gotten lucre onto it, and drove the forklift backward through the stores aisles to a waiting getaway truck.

It was a big safe, said one store official.

Sgt. Gene Martinez of the Crimes Against Property Squad said that a pile of tools was found on the floor outside the managers office, including a crowbar, hammer, axe and a hand-operated winch, known as a come-along.

The store has everything you need to steal a safe, said one NYPD officer on the scene.

Pointing to the forklift, he said, And this thing.

Everything was available to them, Lt. Louis Fiore of the Crimes Against Property Squad said later. They didnt have to bring anything with them.

When the bandits were done using the forklift, investigators said, they returned it to the Rickel loading dock.

THIEVING TRIO

Martinez said that there were at least three thieves involved in the heist and that it was not known how long they spent inside the store. He said it was too early to tell whether the robbery was an inside job.

Martinez noted that anybody who came into the store would know where the safe was. He said one side of the safe, which was used for cash drops during the day, was plainly visible.

We have an awful lot of leads, Martinez said.

Though the Advance initially reported that $20,000 had been stolen, that estimate was called conservative at the time and an exact figure wouldnt be known for several days.

We have an auditor coming, a store official told the Advance.

The safe contained all of the stores Sunday receipts when it was robbed, police said.

THE GETAWAY TRUCK

The crooks didnt even bring their own getaway vehicle to the heist, instead stealing a truck from a Staten Island furniture store. It was found abandoned four days after the heist in a shopping center parking lot in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

The Rickel safe was found in the rear of the truck, standing empty. The safe had been cut open with a blowtorch, police told the Advance.

A special NYPD forensic unit examined the safe and the getaway vehicle, hoping to find clues useful to the investigation.

Police would not reveal the name of the store where the getaway truck had been stolen from, saying only that it was located on Hylan Boulevard.

Advance records do not show anybody being arrested for the heist.

The Rickel operated on the Port Richmond spot for 15 years, closing in 1997 after Rickel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the year prior.

Staples eventually replaced Rickel at the Forest Avenue address. There is a Target store on the site now.

MORE STATEN ISLAND HEIST STORIES FROM TOM WROBLESKI

Crooks take hostages at deli, rob Wells Fargo armored truck of $2.25M in largest heist in Staten Island history in 1978

Broad daylight armored car heist nets crooks $815Gs at Macys at the Staten Island Mall in 1985

Hapless bank robbers easily followed back to their lair, busted after exploding dye packet stains them, loot in botched 1983 heist
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  One lucky New York resident won big Tuesday at Jakes 58 Casino Hotel on Long Island, casino officials told PIX11.

The Suffolk County resident, who wished to remain anonymous, won the $2,294,411.78 jackpot on their fourth spin of the Wheel of Fortune machine, according to the PIX11 report.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Municipal revenues in Azerbaijan amounted to 47.4 million manat ($27.9 million) in 2022, said the Head of the Center for Work with Municipalities of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Rahman Mammadov at a public hearing in the Milli Majlis (Parliament), Trend reports.

The information was disclosed during a public hearing on the "Heydar Aliyev's legacy in the development of local democracy, self-government and regions in Azerbaijan" topic.

Mammadov noted that in 2020-2022, the total budget revenues of municipalities increased by 12.4 million manat or $72.9 million (35 percent) and local tax revenues by 6 million manat or $3.5 million (43 percent) compared to 2019.

According to Mammadov, Baku municipalities for the last two years budget revenues have increased by 58 percent and local tax revenues by 73 percent.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Goldens Deli closed more than a decade ago, the businesss demise meant not just the end of its iconic subway dining car, but also a farewell to an expansive, gut-busting menu that contained a plethora of steak and garlic bread sandwiches, knish choices and a delicious matzo ball soup.

The Kosher New Springville-based eatery on Richmond Avenue closed in the winter of 2012, leaving a void in the borough thats yet to be filled.

The Staten Island Advance/SILive.com has uncovered the beloved restaurants menu on the internet.

Green pepper, tomato and spinach omelets were among the many breakfast choices at Golden's Deli. Pancakes and French toast, as well as homemade blueberry, cherry or apple blitzes, potato pancakes and nova lox platters, were also available.

The finds were salivating, to say the least.

WhereYouEat, an online New York City food information utopia, has what is likely the last edition of the beloved Goldens menu. The front page has 2011 update Q1 on the top right of the photocopied pamphlet containing every bit of deliciousness once served by the eatery within walking distance of the Staten Island Mall.

A white circular logo reading Goldens Kosher Restaurant & Deli contains an illustration of the subway car that once called the center of the location home. That public transportation dining area, where scores of customers inhaled matzo ball soups, and knishes, was branded with GOLDENS and its former subway line, AA, along with BWAY LAFAYETTE lettering. Two photographs  after Goldens closed, and before it opened  show the car below.

The fabled Golden's Deli subway car as it appeared as the eatery was closing in 2012. (Mark Stein/Staten Island Advance)Mark Stein/Staten Island Advance

Old fashioned may be old fashioned, but not at Goldens, says text on the front of the menu. Below it, We still make meats the [time-honored] way. It may take us a little longer, but what is time when you know our quality is the same today as it was 85 years ago?

The shop, which was open to inside dining and takeout, was open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, with an 11 p.m. close on Fridays and Saturdays.

Goldens menu was loaded. Want hot corned beef or pastrami? No problem. Meat loaf, chicken salad or a breaded buffalo chicken cutlet? Yep. Roast beef or grilled salami garlic bread sandwich? Take my money.

One of the Combo Triple Decker choices listed above, Rays Own, is a nod to Raymond Pannone, who was the main operator of the New Springville location until it went out of business in 2012. Goldens was named after Marvin Golden, one of the original partners in the restaurant, which eventually expanded into several locations in Brooklyn and one in Manhattan on Madison Avenue.

As for other entrees, Goldens dished out its own Jumbo Specials  two jumbo all-beef frankfurters with baked beans, French fries and sauerkraut. Other items on the Old Time Deli Favorites listing included a mixed platter of meat loaf, derma, stuffed cabbage and kasha varnishkes. Frankfurters, a variety of meats, chopped liver and several different knish options (potato, homemade or Coney Island style; broccoli; spinach or meat) litter the menu. As do salad platters, chicken soup (with choices of matzo, golden noodles, fluffy rice and more), Goldens Onion Bloom, and on and on.

The Combo Triple Deckers portion of the Golden's Deli menu was intoxicating. The Wall Street Combo contained corned beef, pastrami and bologna with 'slaw and Russian dressing. The Times Square Special brought turkey into the mix. Delancey Street Duo blended brisket and smoked turkey with onion, lettuce and tomato.

But wait. Theres more. Over-stuffed deli sandwiches of hot corned beef, fresh turkey, hard or wide salami, tuna or chicken salad and chopped liver were on the food listing. As were the Chicken Lickins Grilled Chicken Deluxe, featuring a variety of chicken choices from cutlets to BLT, sesame to breaded chicken cutlet, and a barbecued buffalo breaded chicken cutlet. On a roll. Or pita. With lettuce, tomato and Goldens fries. Want garlic bread? Fork over a buck. Fried onions? Seventy-five cents, please.

Or grab a wrap, also with fries or a fruit salad, for $11.95.

Breakfast was also a fixture at the eatery: Green pepper, tomato and spinach omelets were among the many breakfast choices at Goldens Deli. Pancakes and French toast, as well as homemade blueberry, cherry or apple blitzes, potato pancakes and nova lox platters, were also available.

Marvin Golden, outside Golden's Deli, and the 1930s-vintage subway car that would become a staple in New Springville. In 2012, Marvin's wife, Sonny, said he passed away before the restaurant opened. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance

Goldens official address was 2845 Richmond Ave. inside the Kmart Shopping Center. Kmart left the plaza shortly before Goldens closed.

At the bottom of the menu is the Future Deans List, a kids menu served in classic cars. The Entrepreneur was the hamburger special. Architect, chicken bits, and Lawyer, frankfurter. Each came with vegetables and fries.

Yes, I do believe hes 12 year old. I just dont believe he started shaving at age 7, reads a quote from the owner, Ray, below the kids menu.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPD responded to a report of a robbery in Elm Park during which several individuals allegedly stole a teenage boys backpack containing high-priced clothing and cologne.

The incident occurred at around 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in the vicinity of Morningstar Road and Innis Street, when three individuals approached a 14-year-old boy as he was heading to a bus stop, according to a spokesman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

One of the individuals pushed the boy into an alley, while another punched him in the face, police said.

A backpack containing two pieces of clothing valued at $130 each and a bottle of cologne were stolen from the boy, police said. No injuries were reported.

There have been no arrests, and an investigation is ongoing, the police spokesman said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- The Staten Island Holocaust Center (SIHC), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and fostering education, recently hosted a special event to commemorate Kristallnacht.

Also known as the Night of Broken Glass, Kristallnacht refers to the violent anti-Jewish acts that took place on Nov. 9-10 in 1938, in Nazi Germany. During these hateful acts, Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were targeted and attacked by the Nazis and their supporters.

We wanted to feature an exhibition and film presentation presenting the history and victim experience of the Holocaust, with a special focus on the values and perspectives of faith-based communities, said Rachel Borenstein, SIHC president.

The exhibition included various Holocaust artifacts -- from personal belongings and photographs to symbolic objects -- that told the stories of tragedy and the human spirit.

We wanted to feature an exhibition and film presentation presenting the history and victim experience of the Holocaust, with a special focus on the values and perspectives of faith-based communities, said Rachel Borenstein, president of the Staten Island Holocaust Center. (Staten Island Advance/Toniann DiCostanzo)(Staten Island Advance/Toniann Dicostanzo)

The name Kristallnacht (Crystal Night) comes from the shattered glass that covered the streets from the broken windows of Jewish-owned establishments. This marked an important turning point in the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust, as it signaled the intensification of anti-Jewish policies and violence.

This weeks event, which took place Tuesday at the Joan & Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center in Sea View, was a product of the partnership between several institutions, including the Amud Aish Memorial Museum of Brooklyn and Ganzach Kiddush Hashem of Bnei Brak in Israel.

We are thrilled to be hosting the event for SIHC to further educate those now more than ever, said Orit Lender, CEO of the JCC.

Holocaust survivor Emil Jacoby, who is also Borensteins father, contributed both artifacts and artwork for display. Before moving to Staten Island in 1982, Jacoby studied art in Budapest and lived in Israel for 20 years.

Dr. Luke Berryman, founder of the Chicago-based non-profit organization the Ninth Candle, spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of enhancing Holocaust education. I hope to continue educating those about the distorted reality that was created by the Nazis, he said.

In expressing gratitude to the SIHC, he stated: Thank you for all the work you do, and I appreciate our partnership and all weve accomplished together.

Also known as the Night of Broken Glass, Kristallnacht refers to the violent anti-Jewish acts that took place on Nov. 9-10 in 1938, in Nazi Germany. During these hateful acts, Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were targeted and attacked by the Nazis and their supporters. (Staten Island Advance/Toniann DiCostanzo)(Staten Island Advance/Toniann Dicostanzo)

Artifacts from the Staten Island Jewish Historical Society were also showcased, offering an exploration of the communitys deep-rooted history and cultural heritage. And artwork by Ayala Borten, an Israeli-American artist, was on display.

Holocaust survivor Emil Jacoby, who is also Borensteins father, contributed both artifacts and artwork for display. Before moving to Staten Island in 1982, Jacoby studied art in Budapest and lived in Israel for 20 years. (Staten Island Advance/Toniann DiCostanzo)(Staten Island Advance/Toniann D

Our event is tailored to captivate and inspire a diverse audience, creating a meaningful experience for individuals of all ages, Borenstein added.

The SIHC exhibit at the JCC featured various guest speakers, including: a video message from Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn); SIHC board members Linda Brill and Marc Gold; Rabbi Mendy Katzman of Chabad of Staten Island; Rabbi Gerald Sussman of Congregation Temple Emanuel; Rabbi Jakob Avigdov of the Kleinman Holocaust Education Center, who appeared in a survivors resilience video. In addition, Holocaust survivors shared the song Am Israel Chai.
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Republicans really have the hots for Christian nationalism.

Countless polls have shown how far-right politicians are embracing policies and forging culture wars that are fueled (and often funded) by Christian nationalist ideas about an ideal America, which centers a mostly white, Christian framework for how society should function.

A 2022 report from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a Baptist nonprofit that advocates for the separation of church and state, found that Christian nationalism was the most common ideology among people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The data in the report also showed that the more respondents affirmed Christian nationalism, the more likely they were to affirm conspiracy theories about Antifa and Black Lives Matters involvement in the riots.

Respondents to a January Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) poll examining American attitudes toward Christian nationalism found white Evangelicals were more likely to identify with these beliefs than any other group surveyed. Nearly two-thirds of white evangelical Protestants qualify as either Christian nationalism sympathizers (35 percent) or adherents (29 percent), PRRI found in their survey data.

The 2024 Republican presidential race has proven to be a lesson in how political leaders embrace these ideologies, with the majority of candidates embracing some aspect of Christian nationalism in an attempt to cozy up to their base.

There is evidence to suggest that Gen Z-ers may be more open to the message of Christian nationalism if it is framed in a way that resonates with their concerns about inequality and injustice. The upcoming presidential election is likely to be a test of the influence of Christian nationalism on Gen Z.

On the one hand, Gen Z is the most religiously diverse generation in American history, with a significant number of atheists and nonesthat is people who identify with no religion. This suggests that Gen Z may be less susceptible to the messages of Christian nationalism than previous generations. On the other hand, Gen Z is also a generation that is deeply concerned about social justice issues and generally holds more progressive political views than previous generations, according to a 2019 Pew Research Center survey.

Gen Z has also been more supportive of LGBTQ identities than previous generations, with nearly 21 percent of Gen Z identifying as a member of the LGBTQ community, according to 2022 Gallup Poll data.

When transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney announced her partnership with Bud Light earlier this spring, conservative TikTok was set ablaze. Things took another turn in April when young conservative commentator and TikToker Brett Cooper gained widespread popularity after praising recent transphobic comments made by Matt Walsh, her colleague at The Daily Wire.

Other conservative TikTokers began posting videos of themselves destroying cases of Bud Light beer to express their anger at the companys support for Mulvaney. These videos have amassed more than 3.4 billion views on TikTok.

Its no surprise that conservative media personalities like Cooper and her employer, The Daily Wire, have found a foothold on social media platforms like TikTok. The Daily Wire, which is aimed at a new generation of conservatives has published multiple reports that defend Christian Nationalism.

According to Thomas Lecaque, an associate professor of history at Grand View University in Iowa who focuses on apocalyptic religion and political violence, the strategy is deliberate.

You build your audience with a young demographic, and then you spread your ideas that way. This is how you build the next generation of fascists, Lecaque explained during a 2022 interview with Vice.

Katherine Stewart, an investigative reporter and author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, emphasized that Christian nationalism is not Christianity, during a virtual event put together by Moment magazine in April.

Instead, she described it as a political phenomenon that exploits religion for political gain, combining ideology and a quest for power.

Social media is worth paying attention to, especially as more young people become eligible to vote, said Georgia McKee, social media manager for Christians Against Christian Nationalism.

We know for a fact that a lot of white supremacist males who have committed violence left messages online talking about their faith in God and their religion before they committed that act of violence, McKee said.

As we enter this election cycle, these young Christian nationalist social media influencers believe they have the potential to sway the political views and voting choices of a significant portion of the emerging generation, impacting the direction of American politics.

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is looking on the bright side. Americans United is a 75-year-old nonprofit founded to keep religious influences out of public education. Vice President for Strategic Communications Andrew Seidel said social media also provides people an opportunity to learn things they may not get from their families and community institutions.

4 young conservative influencers spreading misinformation

These influencers and online content creators are making waves and collecting a young following.

Braeden Sorbo (2002)

Braeden Sorbo is a content creator, filmmaker and political commentator. His 2023 film, Left Behind: The Rise of the AntiChrist features storylines that legitimize conspiracy theories like the far-right theory that COVID-19 was a hoax and fundamentalist Christian beliefs about the rapture and the end times all with a sprinkle of semi-recent global politics.

Sorbo has 1.9M followers on TikTok. Hes also a Turning Point USA ambassador, which is a group of influencers endorsed by the ultraconservative political group working to get young people involved in ultra-conservative politics. The group is led by Charlie Kirk, who himself is a millennial, but has also been an influential young voice among American conservatives.

The only light after the world falls into chaos is a charming new leader who rises to the head of the UN, but does he bring hope for a better future? Or is it the end of the world? is the plot of the movie listed on IMDB.

The son of Kevin Sorbo, the actor who said he was blacklisted by Hollywood because of his Christian faith, has promoted patriarchal views and criticized efforts to make leadership more equitable and less dominated by men. The young actors celebrity father is also often a feature of his videos.

Sorbo is worth watching because hes made an explicit effort to target young people with his movies and content and has been present at various conservative political events, including Turning Point USAs annual conference and FreedomFest, a Libertarian political conference.

Sadie Robertson Huff (1997)

Sadie Robertson Huff is the daughter of Willie Robertson and the granddaughter Phil Robertson, two of the patriarchs of the Duck Dynasty family, which openly discussed their Christian values on their show about duck hunting. The family has since gotten involved in politics, becoming yet another popular Christian reality TV family to have political influence.

She has been a guest on podcasts and creates her own content talking about marriage, relationships and some politics. Shes also promoted saving sex until marriage, the main tenant of harmful purity culture teachings often promoted by Christian nationalists.

Robertson has promoted modesty culture, which teaches girls to wear clothes that cover more of their bodies in part to protect men from lust. She has also claimed that waiting until marriage to have sex will prevent sexual shame. Sex experts and therapists say thats not true, however, as abstinence-only teachings have been connected to sexual dysfunction.

Robertson famously endorsed Donald Trump and spoke openly about her decision to vote for him. She was also the star of the Christian film Gods Not Dead.

Robertson is worth paying attention to in the world of purity culture and sexuality education because shes pushing ideas connected to increased risk of teen pregnancy, life-threatening sexually transmitted diseases and domestic violence.

Isabel Brown (1997)

Isabel Brown is a content creator and author of End of the Alphabet: How Gen Z can save America, which she calls a rallying cry for Gen Z to embrace traditional values in a new-age way and step up to make our voices heard.

She is also a Turning Point USA contributor and has appeared on Fox News.

Shes active on her TikTok account, where she posts videos reacting to current events and political news. Her content includes beauty hacks, jokes and some political commentary. She also has encouraged other young people to reject woke ideology.

I engage with Gen-Zers even on the left who have had enough with this violent, divisive rhetoric in our country, Brown said during an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show in May. We are breaking free from so many of the stereotypes that people associate Generation Z with like this craze of changing our gender all the time.

Browns content often includes misinformation and conspiracy theories, including conspiracies about COVID-19 protection measures, which she encouraged students to question during a 2021 speech at George Fox University.

Brett Cooper

Brett Cooper is a 21-year-old conservative political commentator. She has her own show, The Comments Section with Brett Cooper, which is aired by conservative political commentator Ben Shapiros network, The Daily Wire  the same network that sells gendered chocolate as a means of owning the libs.

Cooper has been openly critical of transgender individuals online, claiming that transgender people are mentally ill and has spread misinformation about gender transition. For example, in 2022, she was criticized for tweeting a video of herself mocking a transgender woman. She has also said children who say they are transgender feel that way because of adults influence and exposure to information about trans people.

Shes been known to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories on her platforms, claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous and that it causes infertility, that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump and that Black Lives Matter is a Marxist organization.

She has nearly 900k followers on Instagram and nearly 1M followers on TikTok. She has more than 3M subscribers on YouTube.

Whos fighting the misinformation?

In the midst of this surge in conservative TikTok influencers promoting white Christian nationalism to young audiences, its important to note whos doing the work on the opposite side of the spectrum, like Georgia McKee.

As the social media manager for Christians Against Christian Nationalism, a campaign of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, McKee has garnered over 40,000 subscribers on TikTok through the @endchristiannationalism account.

Other influencers working against the myths promoted by Christian nationalism include:
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. A total of 108,516 tourists from Central Asian countries visited Azerbaijan from January through October 2023, which is 85 percent higher than the similar period of 2022 (58,707 people), Trend reports, referring to the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The number of tourists from Kazakhstan amounted to 47,867 (88 percent year-on-year growth), Uzbekistan - 31,416 (52 percent year-on-year growth), Turkmenistan - 20,915 (166 percent year-on-year growth), Kyrgyzstan - 4,454 (76 percent year-on-year growth), Tajikistan - 3,864 (79 percent year-on-year growth).

More than 1,724 million tourists visited Azerbaijan in the reporting period (a 30 percent increase).

In 2022, more than 1,602 million foreign citizens visited Azerbaijan, which is more than twice as much as in 2021 (790,062 tourists), and 73,823 tourists from Central Asian countries, which is 4.75 times more than in 2021 (15,516 tourists).

A total of 411,141 people visited Azerbaijan from Central Asian countries in 2017-2022 (from Kazakhstan 167,052, Turkmenistan 119,201, Uzbekistan 96,278, Kyrgyzstan 15,467, Tajikistan 13,143).
Airlines flying in Australia may soon pay more for air traffic control services, which could result in a rise to already inflated airfares.

Airservices Australia  the government-owned body that oversees air navigation in Australia  has proposed to the competition watchdog to increase its fees for the first time since 2015. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [ACCC] will seek industry consultation until January 19 before making a determination.

Airservices Australia wants to increase the cost of its navigation and firefighting services, which could mean airlines move to offset the rise through airfares. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

If the suggested price increase is implemented, international and domestic airlines will pay an average of 19 per cent more for navigation and aviation firefighting services across four rises between mid-2024 and 2026.

Airservices has not increased fees since a 0.4 per cent rise in 2015. It dropped its fees by 2 per cent in 2019 after a restructure to rebalance revenue growth driven by international airline operations over 2018, a spokesperson said.
The Seven Network should have disclosed the details of its 12-month rental arrangement with Bruce Lehrmann that secured its exclusive bombshell interview series, says Richard Ackland, a Gold Walkley-winning journalist whose reporting exposed the commercial radio cash for comment scandal more than two decades ago.

The murky details of the Lehrmann deal, which included a years rent worth more than $100,000, add another layer to the already questionable practice of chequebook journalism  where a media organisation pays an individual for exclusive access to them.

Story deals: Kathleen Folbigg, Bruce Lehrmann, and Beaconsfield miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb Credit: Monique Westermann

Its just very unattractive. I dont think media organisations should be doing this, says Ackland, a former Media Watch host and expert in media law whose reporting in 1999 changed Australias transparency codes. He says it is a clear-cut case of chequebook journalism, and as a result should have been disclosed.

The value exchange between Seven and Lehrmann emerged on Tuesday during Lehrmanns defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson under cross-examination by the former Project stars lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou, SC.
Origin Energys board has dismissed a revised last-minute takeover proposal by suitors Brookfield and EIG as incomplete, complex and highly conditional in a move likely to undermine the success of the $20 billion takeover.

Ahead of Mondays shareholder vote on the North American consortiums original offer, the board has rejected the bidders groups alternative Plan B proposal, suggesting it was not in best interests of shareholders and did not adequately compensate them.

Shareholders arriving to vote last week on the Origin takeover found out the meeting was adjourned. Credit: Louie Douvis

The energy giants board was forced to delay a crucial shareholder vote on Brookfield and EIGs $20 billion bid for the company last Thursday to assess the last-minute new proposal lobbed by the consortium.

In a statement to the ASX on Thursday morning, Origins directors said the revised deal suggested by Brookfield and EIG a week ago would extend the takeovers timeline and didnt give enough certainty to Origin shareholders.
Students at Michigan State University are being given lessons on how to chat to their fellow pupils. The pandemic, together with the rise of social media, has left students unable to have conversations with each other, and so a compulsory course has been introduced.

A guidebook, produced for the students, suggests they start a conversation by saying: Hello, my name is [first and last name]. It then advises: STOP! Let them tell you their name. After this occurs, the first speaker can then briefly describe themselves, after which the guidebook advises they should again pause: STOP! Give them the opportunity to respond.

This seems all very amusing  only in America stuff  until you remember the last time you were stuck at a function next to someone who talked about themselves for three hours, without ever asking a question in return.

Its one of lifes rare treats: have a break, have a chit-chat. Credit: iStock

Successful small talk, in truth, is becoming a rare thing.
An overhaul of planning controls by Clover Moores City of Sydney council will encourage build-to-rent (BTR) units in the CBD, increase density in Pyrmont and Ultimo, require more family apartments, and limit dwelling loss in luxury rebuilds.

The proposed changes, which will go before the councils planning committee on Monday, are an attempt to take the initiative on central Sydneys shortage of rental housing and respond to the reduced need for office space following COVID-19.

Clover Moore said the city was constantly changing and encouraging build-to-rent units would deal directly with the rental crisis. Credit: Oscar Colman; Flavio Brancaleone.

Developers will have access to floor space bonuses of between 20 and 75 per cent for build-to-rent apartments in the CBD and co-living housing in the Haymarket precinct near the University of Technology.

The bonuses can be applied to knock-down rebuilds or conversions from commercial to residential, but will only be available for five years, as the supply of rental housing is an urgent issue.
Prosecutors have dropped charges of manslaughter and neglect against a hairdresser relating to the death of her elderly husband in Sydneys inner west.

Victor Donald Alberts, 84, died on December 15 last year. His wife, Liliya Nemirovskaya, 62, was arrested at their home in Rozelle in January and charged with manslaughter and failing to provide the necessities of life.

Liliya Nemirovskaya was charged with neglect and manslaughter of her elderly husband in Rozelle. Credit: Facebook

At the time of Nemirovskayas arrest, police alleged Alberts was found semi-conscious in a state of neglect when they were called to the property on May 1, 2022, spent months in care in hospital, and passed away as a result of his injuries in December.

Court documents alleged that Nemirovskaya caused Alberts death by criminal neglect.
For a defamation trial, this was beginning to look a hell of a lot like a rape trial. Here was the lawyer for a man accused of rape, and here was the woman who had accused him, and here was the moment  after her evidence had been stripped back, prodded and ridiculed  that she began to break.

The sobs, once they began, could not be held back.

Brittany Higgins leaving the Federal Court after her cross-examination on Thursday. Credit: Nikki Short

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for airing claims by Brittany Higgins that he raped her in Parliament House on the couch of the ministerial suite of their boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, in March 2019. He denies sexually assaulting her. He says they never had sex at all.

But Network Ten and Wilkinson are partially defending their reporting on the basis that it was true, which means that the hearing has essentially become a sexual assault trial held to a civil standard of proof, and its livestream on YouTube has given the public a rare glimpse behind the curtain.
Thousands of emails between Seven West Media executives and disgraced former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smiths legal team will be released to Nine after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by Seven against the emails release.

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes private company, Australian Capital Equity, funded Roberts-Smiths failed multimillion-dollar defamation case against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times through a loan agreement with the former soldier.

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes (left) and Ben Roberts-Smith. Credit: Trevor Collens/ADF

Last month, Federal Court judge Nye Perram described some of the emails as containing personally embarrassing content, while Seven lawyers warned their release could cause the company commercial harm in giving them to its direct competitor.

Nine Publishing, the owner of this masthead, sought the documents as part of its fight to prove ACE and Seven controlled the litigation. It sought documents, including personal emails, from Seven West Media commercial director Bruce McWilliam, Stokes, ACE, and Roberts-Smiths legal team showing their communications about the case.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will boost private sector-led growth in Kazakhstan through financial support, Ekaterina Benjamin, International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Country Officer for Kazakhstan, told Trend in an exclusive interview.

IFC's strategy and main areas of activity in Kazakhstan

"IFC recognizes Kazakhstan's substantial potential, and we are pleased to witness the countrys robust economic growth, fueled by market reforms and foreign investments, since gaining independence. Despite recent slowing growth, income inequality, and weak institutions, IFC believes that Kazakhstan can overcome these challenges through measures such as investing in human capital, enhancing public sector efficiency, and reforming state-owned enterprises. Overall, IFC is committed to supporting Kazakhstan's transition towards a resilient private sector-driven economy and is consistently working towards this goal," she said.

IFC, she says, highlights the significance of preparing for climate adaptation.

She said as the largest global development institution dedicated exclusively to supporting the private sector in developing nations, IFC's mission is to collaborate with the country's private sector to create new markets and opportunities for all. Benjamin pointed out that in Kazakhstan, IFC's strategy is to boost private sector-led growth through support to the financial sector and investments in manufacturing, infrastructure, and the service sector.

Ekaterina Benjamin pointed out that one of the areas IFC is strongly advocating for is financial inclusion.

"We are committed to promoting inclusive economic growth by enhancing financial access for smaller businesses, including businesses led by women and in rural places. Over the past several years, IFC has supported KMF, a leading microfinance organization in the country, with a range of financial products totaling $237 million, as well as it also provides expertise in risk management and corporate governance. We also recently announced investments in other microfinance institutions such as Arnur Credit and Shinhan Finance," she said.

According to her, IFC also strives to unlock the immense potential of Kazakhstan's agribusiness sector.

"For instance, Kazakhstan remains Central Asias largest grain producer, capable of exporting approximately half of all the grain it produces each year. Notably, the majority of the wheat cultivated in Kazakhstan is of high quality, with durum and spring varieties standing out as particularly renowned. One of our recent investments to support the sector is KazFoodProducts, a notable agribusiness company in the region," Benjamin said.

As she noted, another area where IFC sees potential for the country is logistics.

"IFC has provided advisory services for the BAKAD project, one of the most significant infrastructure public-private partnership projects in Central Asia. Our experts aided in shaping the project, aligning stakeholders, and facilitating legislative changes to make this ambitious undertaking a reality. IFC has also spearheaded a $450-million financing package to support the construction of a new international terminal at the Almaty airport, the busiest air transportation hub in Central Asia. It is expected that the upgraded airport will be more energy efficient, produce less waste, and emit fewer greenhouse gases," Ekaterina Benjamin said.

IFC's contribution to achieving environmentally sustainable economic growth

IFC is engaging with the Kazakh government to promote environmentally sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic growth.

"The country's commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, announced in December 2020, is a commendable but complex objective," she said.

Benjamin noted that a carbon neutrality strategy is now being created, and the transition entails a gradual shift toward a more sustainable economy, reducing dependency on energy and hydrocarbons and dramatically lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

"This shift will enable Kazakhstan to achieve its long-term environmental and climate objectives while preserving its economic and developmental interests," the country officer said.

According to her, a recent World Bank Group study indicates that significant adjustments must be made across key economic sectors in order for the country to address climate change.

"Specifically, the country will need to incentivize climate-smart agriculture practices, invest in efficient water infrastructure to conserve its water supply, and strengthen other infrastructure to build resilience. These changes could unlock a wave of investment in projects like solar plants and wind farms that help Kazakhstan both reduce its carbon footprint and lessen its reliance on often expensive imported fossil fuels," Ekaterina Benjamin noted.

Kazakhstan's potential in agriculture

"Kazakhstan's food sector holds significant promise, given its dominant role in wheat and flour manufacturing, extensive land reserves, and substantial capacity for producing and exporting organic goods," she said.

According to her, Kazakhstan remains Central Asias largest grain producer, capable of exporting approximately half of all the grain it produces each year.

"Indeed, wheat currently accounts for 80 percent of grain production in the country. However, Kazakhstan also cultivates crops like barley, cotton, sunflower seeds, and rice, offering substantial opportunities for production. We believe that the agricultural sector's potential has yet to be fully realized. Although around 75 percent of the country's land is suitable for farming, only about 30 percent is currently utilized for agriculture. Expanding agricultural output could bolster regional food security and generate employment, as agriculture provides a livelihood for approximately one in three Kazakhs," Benjamin said.

She noted that investments of IFC in KazFoodProduct is a significant stride in supporting agribusiness in Kazakhstan.

"Our funding will assist the group in its sustainable expansion, thereby enhancing food security and job prospects. Additionally, we're aiding the company in becoming the first in the country to attain an EDGE Gender Equality Certification, which establishes benchmarks and standards for workplace gender parity," she noted.

Ekaterina Benjamin pointed out that in March, IFC also hosted a workshop on food safety, bringing together industry leaders and IFC regional specialists to exchange insights and expertise on contemporary, globally acknowledged food safety management standards.

"This initiative aims to empower local businesses to fortify their presence in the domestic market, expand into new markets, and mitigate costs and risks. We believe that prioritizing knowledge dissemination, active public awareness, and fostering unity within the food industry will propel the country forward, ensuring that products labeled "Made in Kazakhstan" will be highly sought after both domestically and internationally," she said.

IFC & women entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan

"At IFC we are convinced that womens entrepreneurship and economic empowerment are critical to inclusive economic growth. Where women are empowered, they can contribute their full potential - leading to a more diverse and dynamic workforce," she said.

According to Ekaterina Benjamin, nations that demonstrate greater gender parity enjoy increased per capita national income and experience accelerated economic expansion.

"According to statistics from the Fund for Sustainable Development and Support of Women's Entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, women constitute 51.8 percent of the population and play a significant role in generating about 40 percent of the country's total Gross Domestic Product. Additionally, they manage approximately 42 percent of small and medium enterprises, and female entrepreneurs contribute to 30 percent of employment within this sector," she said.

As Benjamin noted, this was one of the reasons IFCs funding to microfinance organizations such as KMF, Arnur Credit, and Shinhan Finance included a gender component.

"For instance, at least half of the funds provided to KMF are earmarked for women-owned small enterprises, while at least 25 percent of the investment in Shinhan Finance will be earmarked for women-owned small businesses," Ekaterina Benjamin noted.

Expanding access to finance for Kazakhstani SMEs

Benjamin pointed out that despite playing a crucial role and contributing about 27 percent to Kazakhstan's GDP, smaller enterprises face significant hurdles in accessing finance.

"Challenges such as inadequate documentation, unestablished credit histories, and complications with property titles as collateral hinder their financial support. Moreover, these businesses have suffered substantial income disruptions due to the economic slowdown post-pandemic, compounded by the geopolitical uncertainty sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This creates a pressing need for tailored support to help them bounce back and thrive," Ekaterina Benjamin explained.

According to the country officer, as the economy works to recover from these setbacks, small firms urgently need access to finance for inventory investments, resuming operations, and adapting to the new post-crisis economic landscape.

"To increase their access to finance, we work through local financial institutions to provide much-needed access to finance to millions of individuals and smaller enterprises that IFC would never be able to reach directly on its own. Through our collaboration with microfinance institutions, IFC is poised to ignite growth, foster job creation, and alleviate poverty in Kazakhstan, with a particular focus on underserved segments. Our outreach extends not only to women-led businesses but also encompasses rural-based businesses spread across various regions," she noted.

IFC's future plans in Kazakhstan

"Looking ahead, IFC remains committed to supporting private sector development in Kazakhstan and broader Central Asia, with a continued focus on key sectors such as agribusiness, financial services, infrastructure, and manufacturing, while promoting sustainability and climate change mitigation and adaptation," Ekaterina Benjamin said.
Thousands of people flock to a small residential street in Melbournes north every year for a resident-run Christmas extravaganza with Santa, lights and food trucks, but the council says its now gone too far.

Renee Gaitanis started decorating her home on Stardust Way in Wollert a decade ago. It became so popular that every year families would start visiting through the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Friends of Renee Gaitanis (centre rear in grey jumper and glasses) gather outside her Wollert home on Thursday evening after the council rejected her initial plan for a Christmas extravaganza, saying it was in breach of environmental protection regulations. Credit: Joe Armao

It has now snowballed into an annual festival, with Gaitanis herself hiring private traffic management to close the street to traffic for up to four hours a night across 10 days in December. Four food trucks also pop up on the street to serve the crowds.

While many homes in the neighbourhood put up Christmas lights, Gaitanis said hers was the drawcard.
The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. US warns Israel on destruction US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he told Israeli leaders they must not repeat the scale of destruction and displacement inflicted on the northern Gaza Strip as they prepare a military push farther south to eradicate Hamas. We discussed the details of Israels ongoing planning, and I underscored the imperative for the United States that the massive loss of civilian life and displacement on the scale that we saw in northern Gaza not be repeated in the south, Blinken said in a briefing after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus war cabinet in Tel Aviv on Thursday. His comments during a day of meetings reflected a shift in tone by the Biden administration toward increasingly stern messages that Israel must comply with international humanitarian law if it resumes warfare after the current cease-fire.

Blinken underscored the call for restraint in a social media posting on X, saying that in the meeting with Netanyahu I emphasised the need for Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm. US officials emphasised in particular the hazards to civilians after many fled to southern Gaza to escape fighting, with Israels encouragement. Terror attack in Jerusalem Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police. Loading The two attackers, brothers from a neighbourhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed. After the attack, six other members of the family were detained, and the government ordered their house be demolished. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli crimes.

The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence  including Israeli raids  in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the ceasefire. On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants. Increasingly tense hostage talks Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions. Amit Soussana, 40, who was released after 55 days in Hamas captivity. Credit: AP Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it to operate with far greater precision if it does so.

The initial truce, which began on Friday and has now been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials say Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released within a few days at the current rate. The two women released so far on Thursday  who are 21 and 40 years old  have returned to Israel. Its not clear how many of the remaining women hostages might be soldiers. For soldiers and the civilian men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to demand the release of high-profile Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, something Israel has strongly resisted in the past. Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers. An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for the release of civilian men and soldiers were still preliminary, and that a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing.

The 210 Palestinians released, including at least seven Israeli Palestinians, have been women and teenagers. The teens were largely accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. A number of the women were detained for pro-Palestinian social media posts that Israeli authorities said constituted incitement of violence. Several were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers, some of them after being found carrying scissors or knives near security positions. A relative mourns 15-year-old Basil Abu Al-Wafa, who was killed during an Israeli military raid on Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank on Wednesday. Credit: AP With Thursdays releases, a total of 81 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed during the truce, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  have also been released, including several men. Before the ceasefire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza. On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details. The 27-year-old attended a music festival where at least 360 people were killed and several others were kidnapped on October 7.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1200 people  mostly civilians  in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only ever provided approximate figures. Israels bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence. In Gaza, an anxious respite
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent suspended Member of Parliament Claudius Buncamper's conviction was upheld by the Appeals court on Thursday morning in the Ruby case. The criminal case was handled by the Prosecutor's Office since December 2021 when a guilty verdict was rendered by the Court of First Instance.

The NOW party deputy leader was suspended from Parliament and was replaced by MP Channel Brownbill formerly of the United St. Maarten party.

The court convicted the civil servant to 32 months imprisonment and has banned him for a period of 7 years as a civil servant, while his wife Maria Buncamper Molanus has been sentenced to 10 months of conditional prison sentence. According to his Facebook page post he stated on Thursday, "I just received my verdict and it didnt go the way I expected. Together with my lawyer, we will take a few days to analyze the verdict. We immediately appealed the case at the Supreme Court. I will share more details shortly.

I will continue to stand up and fight for this country even though certain powers dont want that. I am the # 2 candidate NOW more than ever.

The suspicion against Buncamper was focused on corruption during his tenure as Head of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) and the misuse of public funds for personal purposes. Buncamper was found guilty of requesting and accepting bribes of over 600.000 guilders in a period of 2,5 years in relation to the tendering procedure for management contracts of the landfill on Sint Maarten. The bribes included lucrative contracts for his wife and son. He was also convicted for forging invoices related to the sewage plant in order for VROMI to pay for personal expenses for his family and the Lions Club.

Buncamper was acquitted for the abuse of power related to the relocation of business premises operated by his family members on a parcel in Kim Sha Beach.

Co-suspect Maria Buvcamper Molanus was sentenced to 12 months of unconditional imprisonment. She was found guilty of taking bribes in association with her husband MP Buncamper. The Court took into account that Molanus was previously convicted for fraud. The Court ruled that the behavior of the Buncampers in particular inflicted damage to the trust of the people of Sint Maarten and damage to the integrity of the public

Click here of Vonnis for Claudius Anthony Buncamper.

Click here for Vonnis for Maria Buncamper Molanus.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 30. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu during his official visit to Belgrade was received by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Trend reports.

Kazakh FM conveyed to the president of Serbia the best wishes and warm greetings from President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and also conveyed the invitation of Kazakh president to visit Astana next year.

During the bilateral meeting, Vucic noted with satisfaction the high level of bilateral cooperation, the development of a sustainable political dialogue at the highest and high levels, as well as effective interaction both in the bilateral format and within international structures.

Nurtleu informed about the negotiations with his Serbian counterpart, during which agreements on the activation of comprehensive ties were reached.

"Astana and Belgrade have every reason to be proud of trusting relations based on common interests," he said.

The sides stressed the prospects for cooperation in the military-technical field, agriculture, transport and logistics, tourism, education and culture.

During the meeting, the parties also exchanged views on topical issues of global and regional security.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, will visit the UAE to attend the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the press service of the Uzbek President said, Trend reports.

The global climate summit will be attended by leaders from more than 150 countries, as well as heads of key international organizations and financial institutions, as sources say. The agenda includes implementing the key requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, combating modern environmental difficulties, and international collaboration in the field of "green" development.

Uzbekistan's President intends to make a report at the summit's plenary session, as well as participate in a number of bilateral talks and negotiations. Uzbekistan signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1993 and became a signatory to the Paris Agreement in 2018.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 30. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Dubai on a working visit, Trend reports.

He was met at the airport by UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suheil al-Mazrouei.

President of Uzbekistan will take part in the UN Conference on Climate Change and will make a report at the plenary session of the global summit.
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, which represents more than 130,000 venues, said: Hospitality businesses will be breathing a sigh of relief that the critical festive period will be protected from strikes from RMT members.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. Ten Israeli citizens and four from Thailand, previously held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, are already in Egypt and moving towards Israel, the press service of the Israeli army said, Trend reports.

According to the information, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross transferred the freed hostages to Egypt, from where they are heading to the Israeli Kerem Shalom checkpoint.

Upon arrival in Israel, the identities of the former hostages will be verified by security officials. The families of those released received notifications from the military.

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.
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"We are looking to make sure that we are part of the American-led grouping that is looking to protect and support peace and our partners in the region including countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and many others whom we have been working with."
The team added that one explanation of this could be down to underlying human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which can lie dormant in the cells and reactivate when the immune system is weakened or as a person gets older.
Massive companies such as Apple and Samsung have banned their employees from using public chatbots such as ChatGPT for fear they may leak their valuable secrets. The likes of Microsoft and business software provider Salesforce have tried to fill that gap by adding AI to their existing workplace tools, which they claim boast more water-tight security.
Through scientific research by our expert veterinary and keeper teams, working alongside the University of Edinburgh, we have made a significant contribution to our understanding around giant panda fertility, husbandry, and veterinary care  which has been of real benefit to efforts to protect this amazing species in China.
The debate over the Elgin Marbles has reignited this week following a diplomatic spat caused by Mr Sunak opting to cancel talks with Mr Mitsotakis at the 11th hour after accusing him of reneging on a promise not to campaign for their return while in Britain.
Ms Tamimis mother denied the accusations and said the account did not belong to her. She told AFP news agency at the time of her daughters arrest: There are dozens of (online) pages in Aheds name with her photos, with which she has no connection.
Chinas health ministry last week said that a surge in cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae, flu and RSV was behind a dramatic rise in the number of children being admitted to hospital. Immunity among the population remains low after several harsh Covid lockdowns.
"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families. And that should continue today," he said. "It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately."
The survey also showed that the percentage of Jewish students who said they feel comfortable with others on campus knowing they are Jewish dropped to 38.6 per cent since October 7 - this figure was 63.7 per cent before that date.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 30. By agreement between Israel and the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian ceasefire regime has been extended for the purpose of prisoner exchange, Israeli media said, Trend reports.

On November 24, the Gaza Strip entered into a four-day humanitarian truce in accordance with an agreement negotiated between Hamas and Israel.

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.

Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Asked whether the UK-Greek relationship has been damaged, he told Sky Newss Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge: I think its not been helped by the topic. And I think it was a mistake by the Greek prime minister to raise that so publicly as he did, but you know, were big enough to get over that and well continue working with our friends in Greece.
On Instagram, the 40-year-old said she was expected to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in front of 4,000 people, including the royal couple, and posted a photo of the fabulous outfit she was going to wear.
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The National Association of Entrepreneurs (ANAA) celebrated on Wednesday evening its 10th anniversary, and it awarded a series of prizes to entrepreneurs and the media in the Shining Stars Gala organised on this occasion.

''We are celebrating 10 years since our foundation, 10 years of success, which represent the effort and perseverance of entrepreneurs, 10 years of innovation and continuous evolution. Entrepreneurs, through what they do, generate value and stability, they are an extremely dynamic engine of economic growth," said ANAA President Cristina Chiriac.

The event brought together entrepreneurs from all over the country, investors, financiers, NGO representatives and politicians.

AGERPRES National News Agency Director General Claudia Nicolae received the "Trophy for Excellence in Journalism and Media Leadership".

''I am honoured to receive this award. The National News Agency is a supporter of non-profit associations that, through their activities, promote and encourage education, personal and professional development," said ladia Nicolae.
President Iohannis decorates new Chief of Defence Staff with National Order Star of Romania

President Klaus Iohannis has signed a series of decoration decrees on the occasion of Romania's National Day, including the new Chief of the Defence Staff Gheorghita Vlad.

According to the Presidential Administration, as a sign of "high appreciation for the exceptional services they have rendered to the military institution, the outstanding results obtained in the training process, and the high professionalism shown in the execution of the missions entrusted to them", the president conferred the National Order Star of Romania, in the rank of Officer, with military insignia, to General Daniel Petrescu and the National Order Star of Romania, in the rank of Knight, with military insignia, to Lieutenant General Vlad Gheorghita.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief of the Defence Staff, Gheorghita Vlad, took place on Thursday. He replaces Daniel Petrescu at the helm of the Romanian Army.

President Klaus Iohannis also awarded distinctions to other representatives of the defence Ministry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A cross-border cooperation project between Romania and Serbia on emergency management has been signed by the authorities of the two countries and will be implemented for the benefit of local communities in the Romanian-Serbian border area, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) informed on Thursday.

Thus, on Wednesday, November 29, a financing contract was signed for the project "A more secure cross border area by enhancing the emergency response capability", financed through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), submitted by the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (project leader), in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Banat Inspectorate for Emergency Situations of Timis County, informs a MAI press release.

The aim of this cooperation is to increase the safety and protection of the population by improving and strengthening the intervention capacity of professional emergency services and local communities in the cross-border area of the two countries.

The overall objective of the project is on the one hand to prevent and manage natural and man-made risks and on the other hand to develop civil protection and disaster management systems and infrastructures.

The project, which will run for a period of 36 months, involves the construction and operation of a training centre at the Banat Emergency Situations Inspectorate of Timis County, where 340 firefighters will practice, in simulated field conditions, procedures and techniques specific to firefighting interventions, as well as those applicable to the rescue of people from hostile environments.

Also, through this cooperation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia will purchase specialized equipment for intervention in emergencies in the cross-border region, such as search and rescue vehicles and fire fighting vehicles.

The total value of the project amounts to 9.5 million euro, of which 8 million euro is non-reimbursable funding provided through the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme 2021-2027.
Searches in Baia Mare in case file of Catalin Chereches' flight from the country

Several seraches were carried out on Thursday in Baia Mare municipality, in the case of Mayor Catalin Chereches' flight from the country.

"As part of the investigations being carried out in a criminal case, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor's Office with the Maramures Court, concerning the offences of fraudulent crossing of the state border, favouring the offender and false identity, today, November 30, the police of the Maramures Criminal Investigation Service carried out five house searches in the municipality of Baia Mare," the Maramures County Police Inspectorate said.

According to the source mentioned, the activities were supported by officers with the Maramures Special Action Service and the Maramures Forensic Service.

Mayor Catalin Chereches, sentenced to five years in prison for corruption, was tracked down and detained by Bavarian police in Augsburg, Germany.

He fled the country via the Petea border crossing with Hungary using the identity document of a relative.
Turkish Air Force F-16 aircraft have landed in Romania to carry out NATO Air Policing missions, The Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) announced Thursday.

According to the source, four F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force landed on Thursday, November 30, at the Romanian Air Force 86th Air Base Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociornita, Borcea.

The detachment, consisting of about 80 militar (pilots and technical staff) and four F-16 aircraft, will execute, together with the Romanian Air Force, Enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command, according to a press release issued by the MApN Press Office.

The joint air policing missions contribute to the development of response and deterrence capabilities, as well as to the strengthening of interoperability between the Romanian and Turkish Air Forces.
We celebrate fulfilment of greatest wish of the Romanian nation (DefMin Tilvar)

Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar sent a message on the occasion of Romania's National Day on Thursday, saying that 1 December celebrates the fulfilment of the greatest wish of the Romanian nation, the great reunification dreamed of by generations of patriots.

"On December 1 we celebrate the fulfilment of the greatest wish of the Romanian nation, the great reunification dreamt of by entire generations of patriots. They have dedicated their lives to the country, many of them fallen in the line of duty on its behalf on the battlefields. To all the heroes of Romania, known or unknown, we owe respect and eternal gratitude. Our thoughts turn today first of all to the soldiers on duty in theatres of operations, in the most difficult conditions, or to those who are doing their duty at home, in missions for which they are ready for action. By the sacred oath they have taken, they have pledged themselves to always put country and flag before their own lives. Romania has a strong voice and a respected status in the world also owing to the outstanding results that our military has achieved alongside those of allied and partner countries. That is why Romanians value their military and put their trust in them, trust that even in these complicated times for the security of the region and the world, the Army will do its duty as it has done so far," Minister Angel Tilvar conveyed in his message.

He said that on National Day "it is appropriate to pay tribute to our seniors who served their country in uniform, war veterans, reservists or retired soldiers, assuring them that we will always appreciate their sacrifices, convey our respect and appreciation".

The minister also expresses his gratitude towards the civilian personnel and conveys his appreciation to the families of the Ministry of Defence personnel.

"By honouring the tricolour, we honour the nation and the country. That is why on this day more than ever, not only the military proudly wear their flags on their uniforms or on their combat vehicles but also many Romanians at home or abroad, Romanians who show their pride in being part of our nation. Let us therefore enjoy our most beautiful day, that of Romanians, by honouring the tricolour flag to the tune of the National Anthem. Happy birthday, Romania! Happy birthday, dear Romanians!," concludes the minister of Defence.
ST. LOUIS  Cinder House, the Brazilian-inspired restaurant from acclaimed chef Gerard Craft at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis downtown, will close Jan. 8.

Sign up for the First Course newsletter Exclusive insight, news, tips and more on St. Louis' thriving dining scene from St. Louis Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb.

The Four Seasons announced the imminent closure in a press release Wednesday. According to the release, Cinder Houses five-year contract at the luxury hotel expires on that date next year.

Gerard Craft is an amazing talent and huge champion of the St. Louis restaurant community, so we are thrilled to have collaborated with him on Cinder House, hotel general manager Alper Oztok said in a statement. He has been an incredible partner and together we have accomplished so much.

The Four Seasons will open a new restaurant in the second quarter of 2024. In the meantime, the hotel will run a pop-up restaurant called the Mississippi Bistro in an event space on its eighth floor.

After opening in 2018, we hosted countless special experiences and dinners and even weathered the pandemic  no small feat for a destination restaurant within a hotel, Craft said in a statement. We wish the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis team the best of luck with their new concept, and our team will focus on our ongoing and existing projects.

The press release said there will be no further statements or comments about the closure.

Cinder House succeeded Cielo as the showpiece restaurant at the Four Seasons. Among the restaurants plaudits over its five-year run, it was a three-time honoree of this restaurant critics STL 100.

In addition to operating such acclaimed restaurants as Brassiere by Niche, Pastaria and Bowood by Niche, Crafts Niche Food Group is preparing to open two new ventures: the speakeasy-style bar None of the Above and the internationally inspired Expat BBQ, both at City Foundry in Midtown.
In a historical mid-19th-century building, Panerai unveils its new Casa Panerai, nestled in the heart of Paris at 120 Avenue Des Champs Elysees

Drawing inspiration from both French baroque elements and the clean, essential lines typical of Italian rationalism, the new boutique reflects the emblematic charm of the city with its antique-style moldings and classic Parisian facade, keeping intact the spirit of the original architectural details. A renewal venture steeped in a restoration that magnifies the soul of the space.

At the core of this venture lies a deep-seated respect for artisan craftsmanship, a commitment mirrored in every facet of the boutiques design. Panerais in-house creative department took the helm in spearheading, directing, and executing this project, dedicating themselves to a process grounded in detail and dedication.

Paris, one of the worlds most vibrant cities, is the perfect stage for Panerais rich heritage and continued innovation. Its a city that effortlessly blends centuries of history with modern dynamism, much like our brand. This boutique is a journey, a confluence of design eras, and a tribute to enduring craftsmanship. The Panerai boutique in Paris invites you to a space where every detail is a chapter in a timeless story. Our presence here reaffirms our commitment to bringing the Panerai experience to the worlds most prominent locations, says Jean-Marc Pontroue, CEO of Panerai.

Casa Panerai in the heart of Paris at 120 Avenue Des Champs Elysees  Panerai

The Parisian store, the largest in France, covers over 200 sqm. Rather than a regular renovation, the design approach echoed a true restoration. Enlarged and elevated, the space is conceived to be in perfect harmony with its storied past. This blending of the classic with the contemporary has a dual soul; while it celebrates its classical origins, theres a distinct touch of the industrial and modern, crafting a symbiotic relationship between the past and present.

The design team created a space beyond just shopping  its a home for Panerais clients and those who wish to learn more about the Maison. Here, everyone is a special guest, stepping into a living narrative that showcases Panerais rich history through a 360-degree experience. The goal is to make everyone feel at home, deeply connected to the brands story, merging tradition and innovation. In this breathing space the Bar Italiano is a dedicated space that functions as a cafe and drink bar, and an homage to the Italian tradition of aperitivo, inviting customers to savour the art of conviviality.

In a bold departure from the usual, the windows remain devoid of products. Instead, the emphasis is on discovery. From the moment clients enter the boutique, they are greeted at the reception, making each visitors experience personal and tailored. Guests are then escorted to one of five exclusive suites, designed to offer an in-depth experience of the Panerai world, including an area dedicated to smaller sizes, featuring soft, rounded furnishings with walls covered in artisan-crafted variegated blue resin that evokes the kaleidoscopic hues of the sea. The iconic luminescent clock is present, a fully operational timepiece reflecting Panerais enduring theme of luminescence. Enhancing the boutiques immersive environment is the large LED wall that spans two floors elevating the in-store experience.

Casa Panerai in the heart of Paris at 120 Avenue Des Champs Elysees  Panerai

Every contour, including the restored moldings as well the materials used throughout the boutique, have been carefully selected to honour the spirit of the building. This is particularly evident in the details of the staircase. The wood used in the stairs mirrors the existing materials, while the custom design of the staircase is crafted by a French blacksmith based on sketches and plans approved by Panerai. A remarkable detail is the brass P subtly embedded in the staircase structure, referencing Panerais iconic logo.

Through an evolutionary journey that encompassed over 15 preliminary hand-drawn designs and the concerted effort of 10 companion ironworkers, specialists in high-end art metal work, over a span of more than two months, the team drew inspiration from the monumental ramps of the Art Nouveau style department stores from the 1800s. These ramps, composed of volutes, double volutes, stylized foliage, and arabesques in flat iron, were realized in the purest tradition of high French ironwork. The craftsmanship manifests in a series of nuanced finishes that resonate with the allure of an aged patina, translating the storied past into a tangible experience.

Along the staircase, guests will discover various frames containing representations of past Panerai watch patents and vintage advertisements. Casa Panerai Paris also features a museum section on the first floor dedicated to showcasing Panerais most historical collection pieces.

The continuous merge of classic and modern elements continues across different levels of the boutique, with the ground floor featuring a replicated parquet flooring that matches the design language of the original flooring on the upper level. Two original fireplaces have also been restored and are matched with furnishings handpicked from renowned Italian brands.

We sought to blend the unique architectural elements of the historic city with Panerais signature design ethos. We aimed to harmonize the boutiques historical details with Panerai heritage and modern aesthetics. Every corner, from the meticulously restored moldings to the specially engineered staircase, embodies this assertive blend of past and present says Alvaro Maggini, creative director.

Casa Panerai in the heart of Paris at 120 Avenue Des Champs Elysees  Panerai

A sun-brushed green dial for the complication

With its exquisite, green-shaded dial, PAM01364 joins the Radiomir collection of Annual Calendar. This new high-end complication reference celebrates the opening of Casa Panerai in Paris at 120 Avenue de Champs Elysees, an historic milestone for the brand and the third of its kind following the trail of New York and Milan.

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, and now, each month of the year  the intricate time-telling elements form the precious new movement for Panerai, developed specifically for the Radiomir collection. Although the Annual Calendar is a notoriously sophisticated complication, Panerai has always been famous for developing movements with clear and immediate readability. The dial is designed to distinctly display all needed information with the date and day shown at 3 oclock through two dial openings. The current month is displayed on an external moving disc indicated by a fixed arrow at 3 oclock. With every month change, a cam in the movement allows the disc to turn in one go, adjusting the information instantaneously.

The mechanism automatically makes the switch between the 30-day and 31-day months. A setting only needs to be done once a year, at the end of February. After setting the month and date, a corrector on the left side of the case allows the change of the day click by click, further highlighting the easy readability and functionality of the timepiece. Powered by the automatic P.9010/AC caliber, the Annual Calendar is an automatic movement reflecting Panerais DNA in crafting complications that are in a class of their own for their Italian style and Swiss watchmaking expertise.

A sapphire crystal open-back case showcases a fascinating complication while the sandwich dial features distinguishing codes of the Maison  the months, days, and the name of the complication, Calendario Annuale, are written in Italian.

Emblematic Radiomir details shape its design, cushion-shaped case, signature gradient sun-brushed sandwich dial filled with Super-Luminova, cone-shaped crown, and a 45mm case. PAM01364 features a sun-brushed green shaded dial, a dark brown hand-dyed matte alligator strap and is set in a 45mm Panerai Platinumtech case. Panerai Platinumtech is created to maintain platinums deep luster but make it harder and more resistant to scratching than traditional platinum. The timepiece features Panerais adjustable BDR buckle in white gold - matched to the timepieces case for ease of wear, added security, and as an elegant finishing touch to protect the complication. A complication as remarkable as the heritage it embodies, the Annual Calendar finds its appeal among connoisseurs who look for fine details and are curious about watches to tell time and seek pleasure in aesthetics and authenticity.

The Radiomir Annual Calendar PAM01364 is a boutique exclusive.


In the twilight ambience of Mainlanders cozy Central West End dining room, the medium-rare heart of my prime rib glowed as red as Rudolphs nose. I wasnt feeling Christmas yet  this was a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, even  but the stop-motion Rudolph and his wannabe-dentist friend Hermey from the beloved, eternal 1964 TV special would have fit right in with the Mainlanders throwback aesthetic.

This was the centerpiece of my three-course dinner at what is easily one of the best new restaurants of 2023 and several other recent years: a slab of herb-crusted prime rib of grass-fed, grain-finished Missouri beef, flecked with fresh herbs and sitting in a pool of amber horseradish jus, with a little dish of the house B-2 steak sauce on the side.

I had been thinking about this prime rib in the abstract since I had walked into Mainlander an hour earlier and read the evenings menu on a chalkboard on the wall. I had been thinking about this prime rib in succulent specifics since Blake Askew, the restaurants chef and owner, had placed the whole cut, as gnarled and glistening as perfectly smoked brisket, at his station adjacent to the bar to carve to order.

The prime rib was as tremendous in its flavor as in its presentation: primally beefy, with a gleaming mineral edge, its own juices coursing through each bite like melted butter. The jus rounded out the meats natural richness and nudged it with a mild horseradish zing, while the steak sauce, applied judiciously, drew out more of the prime ribs tang. The herbs worked here somewhat as they do in a bowl of pho, invigorating the dish without diminishing its heft.

In keeping with the prime ribs old-school plating, Askew served its side dishes in separate vessels. In keeping with Mainlanders overall appeal, those sides included the best creamed spinach I have ever eaten, silky with coconut cream and topped with a raft of melted smoked white cheddar. The other side, charry, precisely al dente broccoli rabe and delicata squash, were merely excellent.

Askew and his partner, Gordon Chen, opened Mainlander in July in the Central West End. The concept originally debuted as a pop-up based at Bulrush, where Askew worked after he and Chen moved to St. Louis in 2021. The influence of Bulrush chef Rob Connoley is obvious, both in the keen attention to local, seasonal ingredients and, more broadly, in the questions Mainlander asks about what Midwestern cuisine is and where it could be heading.

Askew and Chen call Mainlander a supper club. The restaurants dark, nearly unmarked entrance along South Euclid Avenue suggests something more rarefied, a speakeasy or private club. Dining is by reservation only, but those reservations are publicly available online at Resy. You purchase your three-course dinner at the time you make your reservations. The cost is $88 per person, which includes service; an optional beverage pairing (wine, cocktails or nonalcoholic cocktails that rival their boozy counterparts in complexity and flair) is $38.

Once you step inside Mainlander, reservations in hand, the supper club description makes sense. If anything, Mainlander evokes a dinner party with restaurant-caliber equipment. Chen, as maitre d sets the mood with a gracious welcome, and the decor  midcentury modern with a generous dash of tiki spirit and a period soundtrack, it threads the gossamer line between kitsch and death-by-irony  puts you at ease. Unless you decide to add a beverage pairing only after your arrival, you simply leave at the end of your meal, no signed receipt required.

Askew has worked in the restaurants of such globally celebrated chefs as Dominique Crenn and Wolfgang Puck. Even within the confines of Mainlanders three-course, family-style dinner, his fine-dining background is apparent, as is his skill with contemporary dinings global pantry  not least the cuisine of Chens native Taiwan. The first course of Novembers prime rib-starring menu was Cahokia Congee, a supple porridge made from high-protein jasmine rice from the Metro East town and a stock of roasted chicken bones.

Askew served this congee in the center of a pu-pu platter, with individual dishes you could mix into to the porridge or enjoy by themselves: light, springy Taiwanese meatballs; tater tots made from turnip; pickled watermelon radish and especially feisty jalapeno; a jammy egg; exceptionally crisp shattering spinach; and peak-season purple hull beans in the style of barbecue baked beans. The final element, served separately from the platter but as essential to the dishs enjoyment as the congee itself, was a hot, freshly fried Taiwanese-style cruller.

Mainlander changes its menu monthly, and in October, the first course was a series of small bites rather than Novembers all-at-once platter. These appetizers were playful without preciousness, sometimes as straightforward as pot stickers with bratwurst as the filling (a brat-sticker, naturally), sometimes a modernist potato bomb that gushed pommes puree over earthy maitake mushrooms. My favorite of these appetizers found a novel expression of the St. Louis autumn, turning a lollipop chicken wing into a candy apple with sweet-and-sour glaze of apple cider and apple butter.

At the risk of using the f-word, Askew has developed a style of fusion cuisine that feels true to the Midwests meat-and-potato roots and is rooted in impeccable classical technique, but that honors American cuisines evolving, diversifying influences. For Octobers main course, he riffed on one of the great casseroles of the American canon, King Ranch chicken. The dish is Texan, yes, but the casserole as a category is as Midwestern as complaining about coastal elites.

Instead of chicken, Askew topped luscious duck confit with handmade blue-corn tortillas and a cap of smoked cheddar in a sweet, smoky and teasingly spicy pineapple-pepper sauce. The dish nods to recipes culled from cans of cream of mushroom soup, cassoulet at a candle-lit brasserie and enchiladas at your favorite Tex-Mex joint while also being wholly its own creation. Dessert, too, cloaks the unexpected in seemingly familiar comfort, like Novembers savory hint of miso in the strudel accompanying the liberty apples and Asian pears Askew had dramatically flambeed in liquor at his station.

This review covers new restaurants as its regular beat  new, that is, in the sense of a marker time. Restaurants as truly, originally new as Mainlander are rare indeed, though. You must go.

Rating Rating  Essential. The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: not recommended, recommended, highly recommended, essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms  and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality  regardless of cuisine, location or cost.

How much Dinner  $88 per person, service included Drink pairing (optional)  $38

Where Mainlander, 8 South Euclid Avenue  More info mainlanderstl.com  Menu Midwestern fare for the modern era  Hours Dinner Wednesday-Saturday by pre-paid reservation
Art cast its spell on writer Suzy Farren slowly. It crept into her life in measured steps and allowed the woman who lived by words to make stories in marks. Marks stitched, daubed on with paint, etched and scratched into built surfaces, torn and pasted on substrates, some common as cardboard, others ethereal as the gossamer fabrics she sometimes uses to wield her magic.

When stresses of her work as head of communications for SSM Healthcare and changes in her personal life collided, she let art in.

As a writer, I was in my head all the time, finding the right words, structuring a story, et cetera, et cetera. When my son went off to college, I started taking art classes, locally here and there, she says. One day I realized I had made this little accordion book with my own hands. I was so excited. I never thought I could make something that I would actually like, she says.

Slouching toward art  After about 10 years of taking workshops, classes and creating things under an instructors directions, a woman in one of the workshops I took asked if I would donate a piece of art for a show. It was called 13 Squared. Thirteen women artists invited other women artists to submit an 8-inch-by-8-inch piece that would be auction to benefit art organizations, she says. Farren admits she hesitated.

The reason I didnt think I could make the show was because I was a student, not an artist. But then, I thought  well, could I be an artist? she says. She followed her intuition. She created a piece without an instructor and submitted it.

Intuitive art and exploration  When she decided to make artwork for her first invitational Farren had already worked hard to forge her path. The inner critic is strong in her, but she has proved herself a worthy adversary to the demon killer of dreams, the one who silences art before it emerges.

She encountered a woman at a recent sale who didnt think she was at all artistic, a suggestion Farren understood, but dismissed. My absolute favorite suggestion for people who want to start to make art is this. Get a pencil and a piece of paper, then draw a self-portrait with eyes closed, she says. Then do it again with your nondominant hand. I love these little creatures I make. When youre doing something with your eyes shut, your inner critic shuts down and you move on.

Luck and life  Another lucky 13 would soon change life for Farren. She retired in 2013, the same year she and her husband tore down their garage and built a new one  with a large loft studio for Farren just steps away from her house. She embraced the change. The former wordsmith turned to art full-time.

She still uses words in her pieces, some visible, some unseen. She overlays and takes away pieces as she assembles her work.

The past is a foreign country  Farren began her art explorations using a highly personal color palette of browns and grays sparked with subdued greens and harvest golds that reflected the fields and stone houses she grew up with in the New Jersey countryside.

Her love of nature worked its way into her print processes of silky scarves. She stitched bowls and nests the color of earth.

She used materials common as cardboard and novel as found objects whose prior life she recognized. I was in a class once when a piece of fabric I dyed flew into the street and was run over by a car. The tire tracks were the perfect addition, she says.

Solace  When the pandemic hit and then when world turned upside down, Farrens intuitive path led her to painting the world in new colors, splashes of hope in hard times. Her latest show, Solace, opens at the Monday Club in Webster Groves in the sometimes bleak midwinter of January in St. Louis.

I find solace from the anger, the noise and the screaming in my studio, working on these paintings. It just seems appropriate to name the show Solace, she says.

Friends  Farren credits much her success to the encouragement and camaraderie shes experienced in the St. Louis arts community.

The whole thing about art for me is Im not using the part of my brain I used as a writer. Its intuitive, she says. Last weekend I was at a sale with artists I admire so much. I just cant believe they invited me. Its the third year Ive done it, she says.

The whole art thing in St. Louis is magical. The people are kind, accepting, and willing to help you grow. This whole arts community, the wonderful people I met people who were so encouraging and were willing to share and open up. Im so grateful that we have places like Craft Alliance, the Artists Guild, and Art Saint Louis.

Suzy Farren





Age  75

Family  Farren lives with her husband, Bryan Erdmann, and two cats. The calico named Betty and an orange cat they call Nara are confirmed studio animals. Her son, Bradford Nordeen, lives in Los Angeles.

Home  Webster Groves

What she makes  Farrens intuitive approach to making art encompasses diverse mediums, methodologies and styles that dont allow for easy categorization. Her instinctive process produces collages and paintings, sculptures, unique pieces and artist books that tell a personal story with and without words. On her website she described her process as I stitch, I write, I glue, I rip. I paint, I mend. I stitch, I rip, I patch.

Where to buy  Farren sells her work through Facebook and Instagram. She posts her gallery shows and invitational shows on social media as well. Her eco-printed scarves are available at Union Studio while other works are currently for sale at the St. Louis Artists Guild. She has an upcoming solo show titled Solace at the Monday Club in Webster, which opens on Jan. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. and runs through Feb. 26 by appointment. See her website at suzyfarren.com

How much  Small books start at $20 and range to $1,000 for large paintings. Because of the inherent nature of her processes, she does not accept commissions.
ST. LOUIS  Prosecutors on Wednesday charged a 28-year-old man with killing another man and shooting at multiple people outside of a home in the city's Hamilton Heights neighborhood.

Jerry Wafford was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of Darrell McClendon outside of a home in the 1400 block of Temple Avenue on Sept. 7, 2020. Reuben Smith, 34, was charged a year ago in the same incident.

Court documents say Wafford and Smith confronted the occupants of a home on Temple and yelled for them to come out and fight, according to court documents. As that happened, McClendon and others arrived at the home for an "unrelated social visit."

Police said Wafford and Smith opened fire. McClendon was struck as he ran away.

Police say Wafford was identified in a photo lineup by a witness.

A judge ordered Wafford held without bond. Smith's case is set for trial in February.
MADISON COUNTY  A 19-year-old St. Louis County man was sentenced Wednesday for the murder of a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville nursing student in what police have called a "random act of violence."

Jacob Godoy pleaded guilty to first-degree murder last year in the death of 27-year-old Moneer Damra. Prosecutors say Godoy shot Damra on Jan. 14, 2021, while Damra was a passenger in a car on the ramp from Route 157 to Interstate 270 in Glen Carbon.

Police have not been able to identify a motive or any known connection between Godoy, who was 16 at the time and lived in Woodson Terrace, and Damra, a Chicago native who was studying at SIUE with plans to become an Army nurse.

Associate Judge Neil Schroeder sentenced Godoy to 29 years in prison on Wednesday. Madison County Assistant States Attorney Luke Yager requested a 55-year sentence, but the judge said at sentencing that opinions from the U.S. Supreme Court prevent him from imposing a de facto life sentence for someone so young at the time of the crime.

Godoy was arrested soon after the shooting after witnesses told police they spotted men fleeing from an abandoned vehicle near the crime scene into a nearby wooded area. Police searched the area and took four men into custody.

Godoy and another man Jimmy Ortiz, who was 19 at the time and lived in Hazelwood, were both charged with first-degree murder in the case. The case against Ortiz remains pending.

Godoy pleaded guilty in March 2022, but sentencing was delayed until Wednesday after a series of legal delays that included attempts to withdraw his plea and change attorneys.

Police and university officials at the time described the shooting as a random act of violence.

Damra was a nursing student and an ROTC cadet.

Damra's sister told the court on Wednesday that he overcame obstacles, including a period of homelessness in his youth. She forgave her brothers killer in court Wednesday, according to the prosecutor's office.

In honor of the loving, joyful and brave life my brother cultivated, I hope you are afforded the opportunity to change your life and find a path of purpose, she said in court.

An Army lieutenant who studied nursing alongside Damra said at sentencing the killing denied the United States Army of one of the best officers they would have ever had.

Madison County State's Attorney Tom Haine said in a statement Wednesday that Damra "made a selfless decision to help others and serve his country." He added he prays the sentence will "continue the healing process for his family and loved ones, as well as the SIUE community and the ROTC program."
ST. LOUIS  A 36-year-old woman was arrested this week after authorities charged her with murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend in October.

Sierra Curry is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. She was arrested Tuesday and remained in custody without bond.

Police say Curry shot and killed her boyfriend, 29-year-old Sharrod Johnson, a little before midnight on Oct. 28.

Officers were called to the 5800 block of Thekla Avenue, police said, and found Johnson shot twice on the front porch. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Investigators wrote that Curry lied when she told them that Johnson went outside without her and returned with the gunshot wounds. She said she didn't see the shooting and didn't know who did it.

But Johnson's brother told officers he confronted Curry, who then told him she fired a warning shot in the air and Johnson charged at her. That's when she shot Johnson, according to court documents.

Curry's brother also told police that he went to the house after Johnson was shot and took the gun to discard it, investigators wrote.
CLAYTON  Fontbonne University will drop 21 academic programs and eliminate 19 faculty positions among other budget cuts totaling more than $2 million by 2025, officials announced Thursday.

The final retrenchment plan comes as the private Catholic institution experienced a 60% loss in enrollment and more than $14 million decline in revenue over the past decade.

The cuts total less than half of the universitys $5.2 million deficit and include the elimination of the art, religious studies and health care management programs. The college also is pausing new enrollment in its renowned deaf education program.

Fontbonne President Nancy Blattner said in a statement that the college had to make difficult decisions to ensure its long-term sustainability.

While these adjustments are regrettable, Blattner said, I acknowledge the dedication and contributions of the faculty and staff members impacted by these changes. I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to serving Fontbonne students.

Earlier this week, Fontbonne announced that Quinton Clay, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, resigned from his position. An email to media Thursday said that administrators would not grant any interviews.

Universities across the country are facing more competition as there are fewer college-aged students and a smaller percentage are going to college. That demographic cliff has widened the gulf between small, struggling colleges and major established universities. Many colleges, like Fontbonne and nearby Webster University, have faced years of declining enrollment and revenue.

Just 874 students, including 650 undergraduates, are enrolled at Fontbonne this fall, down from roughly 2,000 students a decade ago.

The campus was quiet Thursday afternoon in a drizzling rain. Two freshmen said they were stunned by the news and planned to transfer to other universities. One of the students, who requested anonymity out of concern for her on-campus job, said she realized her major was being cut after none of the required classes showed up in the spring course catalog.

When I came to tour last year, they werent very forthcoming about the reality of being a student here, she said. I wish I had done more research before I came here because I had no idea.

Fontbonne said in a statement that no student will be suddenly dropped from their program, and many affected students will be able to complete their degrees at Fontbonne. Students will be allowed to take more classes, including summer classes, without additional tuition charges. No financial aid will be impacted, according to the plan.

The academic programs that will be eliminated include art, data science, early childhood special education, game development, global studies, health care management, religious studies and social work.

All programs will continue through at least the spring 2024 semester. The art department will shutter after spring of 2025.

The 19 faculty members who will be laid off teach in the art, biological and behavioral sciences, business, consumer sciences, criminal justice, deaf education, early childhood, humanities, nursing, social work, speech-language pathology and education departments.

The university also eliminated two full-time and four part-time staff positions, including the academic dean. Campus nurse services will be eliminated at the end of the school year. Nine open positions will remain unfilled, including the vice president for advancement and the special advisor for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Graduate art students M.V. Laughlin and Abby Platte said Fontbonnes decision leaves many students stranded: Theyll either have to cram in the rest of their five-year program before 2025 or start over at a new university as their credits wont transfer. Neither option is ideal, they said, because theyll leave with a degree that is not what was promised and with skills that are not fully mastered.

In the field of art, your portfolio is your proof. Thats how you get jobs, said Laughlin. Now, with the accelerated timeline, your portfolio is going to be worthless.

Both students said they chose Fontbonne because of its reputation, the faculty and focus on traditional art. The university also offered better flexibility for Platte, whos a single mother. She had hoped to start an artist residency for people with disabilities.

To build that ... Fontbonne was the best bet for that, Platte said.

The students said they want to raise money from the art community to keep their program, but that the university has yet to share how much funding theyd need to do so.

Were pretty frustrated about the administration not having transparency with the finances, Laughlin said. I mean, theyve had control of the finances, and this is where its led us.

In addition to the academic programs and faculty and staff positions, the university will also drop the eSports program, reduce the student activities budget and pause sabbaticals for the next year among other cuts.

At an all-campus meeting earlier this fall, Fontbonne staff asked for improved accountability, communication and collaboration, according to an email sent Thursday to staff from Blattner, the university president.

Members of the Executive Leadership Team realize that the preparation and implementation of this retrenchment plan have caused members of our campus community, including our faculty, staff and students, to be disappointed, frustrated and angry, she wrote. We respect those sentiments and share them, and we sincerely wish that there was another way forward for Fontbonne other than a reduction in programs and personnel.
ST. LOUIS  A Washington University professor said Wednesday he has received threats over a social media post supporting an anti-Israel protest that led at least one alumni donor to pull donations and the university to issue a statement distancing itself from the faculty members comments.

Let those who enable mass murder not live in peace, Bret Gustafson wrote on Nov. 25 in response to a Thanksgiving Day political protest outside the Los Angeles home of the president of the lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The LA protest, which reportedly involved fake blood and smoke devices, is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Gustafson, a professor of sociocultural anthropology, told the Post-Dispatch he will retract his post on the social media platform X if there are hate crime charges.

The backlash to his post, which was shared by the New York group Stop Antisemitism, is a tactic to silence anybody who dares to criticize Israel or its backers in the U.S., Gustafson said.

People are conflating AIPAC with Judaism and all Jews, which is in itself antisemitic, he said. If that had happened in front of a synagogue, I would denounce it. I most certainly do not condone violence against Jews.

I am very much opposed to the current policies of the United States and Israel and their current actions in Gaza, specifically to the killing of some 15,000 people. That does not make me a bigot. I was equally horrified that Israeli civilians were attacked on Oct. 7, Gustafson said.

A Washington University spokeswoman said in a statement Wednesday that the opinions expressed by this faculty member as an individual do not represent the universitys position. We do not condone intimidation and we will not tolerate discrimination, harassment or threatening behavior.

Rob Levine, a 1998 graduate of Washington U., said in an email to the Post-Dispatch that he has suspended his annual gift because of Gustafsons virulent anti-Israel comments.

We are experiencing hate from the left and right and college campuses are a tinder box. Gustafson lit the match at Washington University and Chancellor (Andrew) Martins inaction is enabling the flames, Levine said.

The president of WashU Hillel, which serves Jewish students at the university, said the group has heard numerous concerns from the community about Gustafsons anti-Israel bias.

We believe his latest post is contrary to the values of Washington University in St. Louis and our campus community. We have also conveyed our deep concerns to the administration, said Jackie Levey in a statement.

The concern over Gustafsons social media post is misplaced, said Michael Berg, a local member of Jewish Voice for Peace, a group of Jewish-American activists supporting Palestinian protests.

This is so insignificant compared to mass displacement and mass killing of people, Berg said. Israel is being correctly condemned for brutalizing a captive population. Thats what we should keep our eye on instead of this nonstory on one persons take on a nonviolent protest.

The dust-up is the latest campus controversy in St. Louis as universities nationwide have become a hotbed of student protests and free speech conflicts related to the Israel-Hamas war.

Last month, another Washington U. professor posted to X that the attacks by Israel on Palestine were a much needed cleansing, yes, but not an ethnic one. Israel is not targeting humans. Seth Crosby, who is still listed as an assistant professor of genetics, said in subsequent posts that he was referring to Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that launched attacks into Israel on Oct. 7.

The student body president at St. Louis University was ousted earlier this month following a dispute over his views on the Israel-Hamas war. Marquis Govan was removed after he forced the former student vice president to resign over the disagreement, according to the executive board of the universitys Student Government Association.

In response to the rising calls to suppress speech, the American Association of University Professors issued a statement condemning what it calls a sustained attack on academic freedom in the wake of the war.

Institutional authorities must refrain from sanctioning faculty members for expressing politically controversial views and should instead defend their right, under principles of academic freedom, to do so, the statement reads in part. The AAUP rejects the characterization of pro-Palestinian speech or critiques of the Israeli state as invariably antisemitic.

Many Jewish students have demanded strong condemnation from universities after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas militants, who stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing and abducting civilians and soldiers.

Meanwhile, Muslim students and their allies have called for a recognition of decades of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza, plus condemnation of the response by Israel. After the Hamas attack, Israel launched a total blockade of Gaza; airstrikes have flattened buildings and homes, killing civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate.

College officials, already under pressure to allow conservative opinions on campus, have been trying to preserve free speech and open debate. But the conflict has presented an excruciating challenge.

This is an incredibly difficult free-speech moment on campuses, where both sides have deeply passionate, entrenched, intractable views, said Alex Morey, director of campus rights advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is recommending that colleges try to remain institutionally neutral. We want to create an ideal climate for debate and discussion on campus, and the only way we can do that is if we step out of the debate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  A top aide to Mayor Tishaura O. Jones ruffled some feathers at the Board of Aldermen on Wednesday when she suggested lawmakers bore some responsibility for the city losing several hundred thousand dollars in marijuana tax revenue.

City operations director Nancy Cross acknowledged that her office didnt file the necessary paperwork on time, and should have. But she said aldermen could have prevented the error, too.

Everyone missed this, Cross told an aldermanic committee on Wednesday.

The city is expected to miss out on more than $500,000 it was supposed to collect in the final three months of the year because officials forgot to file paperwork with the state to turn on the spigot.

And while its not exactly clear any one entity was to blame  the mayors office, the comptrollers office and the Board of Elections have all handled paperwork for other taxes  a spokesman for Jones said last week that the mayors office took responsibility for the issue and fixed it almost immediately after it was discovered.

But on Wednesday, when aldermen at a committee hearing questioned how everyone dropped the ball, Cross said the board missed an opportunity, too.

Aldermen, she said, could have specifically tasked someone with filing the paperwork when they wrote the bill that put the tax on the April ballot. That would have helped, she said, because the relevant state law is vague, saying only that the governing body or official of a taxing entity must file paperwork.

Cross idea had precedent: In 2017, aldermen directed the city registers office to file paperwork with the state on a new sales tax.

Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, of Downtown, said the board could do that in the future.

But he and his colleagues took umbrage at blaming the board for the current debacle. The board passes laws, he said, and its the administrations job to administer them.

It sounds like the board voted on (the tax), and moved it to the next channel, and somewhere in that next channel it got messed up, he said.

Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, of Tower Grove East, said the same thing, and pilloried what she saw as poor leadership.

Accountability is more important than placing blame and pointing (at someone else), she said.

Later, Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, of Boulevard Heights, pointed out that it was a Board of Aldermen staffer who told the mayors office about the problem.

Cross pushed back, saying the mayors office took responsibility for the problem by fixing it earlier this month. And she repeated her concern that state law does not say which city official is responsible for providing legal notification of new local sales taxes.

This isnt necessarily on the mayors office to do this, she said. Its unclear, so everyone is part of this issue.

She said the mayors office would remind aldermen to add a line to future sales tax legislation tasking someone with looping in the state. She suggested the comptrollers office, which sets up the bank transfers from the state to the city.

But Alderwoman Cara Spencer, of Marine Villa, dismissed that. She said the administration should just put a policy in place making someone responsible.

Cross said the mayors office would do that. We will put a policy in place and we will notify you when thats done, she said.

After the meeting, Jay Nelson, chief of staff to Aldermanic President Megan Green, said the presidents office is looking forward to the fix.

Moving forward there needs to be clear policies in place, Nelson wrote in a text message. And were encouraged that the mayors office is taking those steps.
Dubai Watch Week concluded its biggest and most successful edition to date, marked by a record increase in visitor attendance, participating brands, exclusive launches and more

The five-day event attracted over 23,000 visitors, marking a 42% increase in attendance from the previous edition, underscoring Dubai and the UAEs vision of becoming a leading global and creative hub for culture, heritage, and the arts. The event collectively united industry brands, CEOs, watchmakers, affiliates and partners to pioneer trends and foster discussions, augmenting the events atmosphere and offering.

The 6th edition featured the highest participation to date with 63 exhibiting brands, including over 10 first-time participants such as Van Cleef & Arpels, CHANEL, La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton and ID Geneve. The event also witnessed over 20 launches from renowned watch brands unveiling global, UAE and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons limited editions.

Key announcements from Dubai Watch Week 2023 included Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet revealing its new partnership with the Dubai Future Foundationa long-term collaboration aimed at pushing innovation further within and beyond Haute Horlogerie. Additionally, the launch of a new brand, Vyntage Horology, led by the vision of the Seddiqi family was launched at the event, highlighting a bold stride into the creation of luxury timepieces, drawing from the family's vast experience in the industry.

Hind Seddiqi, Director General, Dubai Watch Week, said, Dubai Watch Week is an opportunity to explore watch culture in the most unique way - the platform showcases the depth of horology and offers our audience the opportunity to meet and interact with both new and established brands, artisans, watchmakers, media and collectors. It is incredibly humbling to observe the global and regional recognition we continue to receive with each edition. As we reflect on the success of the 6th edition, we are incredibly grateful to our partners and brands as we pioneer the luxury and horology industry and illustrate the prominence of the platform.

Dubai Watch Week also celebrated the curious confluence and undercurrents of local craftsmanship via the programme. Through collaborations with brand partners such as Hublot, two timepieces were launched and designed with award-winning calligraphy artist Wissam Shawkat. Additionally, RESERVOIR unveiled its collaboration with the renowned Emirati artist Abdulla Lutfi, introducing a distinctive timepiece that seamlessly blends modern art with traditional Swiss-made horology. Through Masterclasses, the event hosted a unique Emirati Safeefah Leather Bracelet-making workshop by Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council.

This year, the Horology Forum and Creative Hub sessions gathered renowned leaders from their respective fields to dissect and dialogue; and introduced the first-ever Arabic panel, adding a new dimension to the platform. All panels were livestreamed, and recorded and are available for viewing on the Dubai Watch Week YouTube Channel.

Dubai Watch Week will return in 2024 via the travelling edition of Horology Forum, the 10th iteration of this programme to unite for a moment in time.
BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS  The city government here is stuck in gridlock for the second time in recent years. Officials cant hire employees. The city cant agree on a budget, and its lost out on a grant of up to $420,000 as a result.

Bellefontaine Neighbors is already auditing its finances for the past two years. But aldermen are also calling for Missouri officials to investigate the new mayor, who they say repeatedly spends money and makes major decisions without their input.

The mayor welcomes the audit, which is largely focused on the citys finances under her predecessor. But she says the calls for a state investigation are an effort by her political opponents to obstruct her administration from keeping the city running in the meantime.

Four of the seven Bellefontaine Neighbors aldermen have declared they have no confidence in Mayor Dinah Tatman in a two-page letter listing several grievances, including that she paid contractors and spent federal aid without approval and failed to document many expenses. They called for the state investigation in the letter, and they said they plan to formally request investigations by the Missouri attorney generals office or the state ethics commission.

She has continuously chosen not to work with the board, said board President James Thomas.

Tatman, who published a line-by-line response on the citys website, said the city doesnt have enough staff to keep it running day to day, and alders have blocked Tatman from hiring workers.

All of their actions are to prohibit me from doing my job, she said. They want full control of the city. If they cant control it, they want to make my administration fail.

The dispute is the latest example of paralysis by political infighting in the north St. Louis County suburb of about 10,450 residents. Former Mayor Tommie Pierson Sr. faced similar accusations of spending money without approval from a different faction of aldermen before he was unseated in April by Tatman, a former alderman.

Pierson, a pastor at Greater St. Mark Family Church and former Missouri state representative whose son also served in the Legislature, took the unusual step to ask St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office to investigate his political opponents, a move that aldermen said was meant to intimidate them.

Several aldermen were boycotting meetings in protest of Pierson, and after Bells office closed its investigation without any action, Pierson withheld monthly stipends from those aldermen. They sued the city, and a small-claims court judge ordered the city to give them back pay.

One of Piersons opponents lost a reelection bid in April 2022. The other three did not run for reelection. In April, Tatman, a two-term alderman and a pastor at St. John Methodist Episcopal Church in Kennett, Missouri, garnered 41% of the vote to beat Pierson and two others in a race for mayor.

A month after the election, aldermen voted unanimously to freeze most city spending until the city could complete an independent audit of its finances for the past two years. The board includes eight seats, but the aldermanic seat vacated by Tatman when she became mayor remains unfilled.

The board then rejected a budget proposal from Tatmans administration that included funding to hire additional employees, including a full-time city administrator. Aldermen approved a budget in August that slashed funding for new hires and for community events, including police recruitment fairs. Tatman vetoed the budget, and the two sides have accused each other of being unwilling to compromise.

The decision to freeze spending was made because aldermen were worried the city wasnt on solid footing, Thomas said, and Tatman has ignored those concerns.

Were just concerned about nonreconciliation over the last two years; we just want to have a clear understanding of where we are, said Thomas, an alderman since 2019 and former ally of Pierson.

The dispute escalated last week when Aldermen Alease Dailes, who also ran for mayor in April; Regina Harmon-Ward; Alicia Smith and Thomas signed the letter declaring no confidence in Tatman and read it into the record at a Nov. 20 public meeting.

Among the claims in the letter were that Tatman spent $92,500 in federal pandemic aid to pay essential employees without approval from the board; hired the citys finance clerk without approval from the board; failed to produce invoices for expenses; submitted invoices with errors; and requested board meetings to discuss the budget with less than 24 hours notice, which would violate state laws requiring notice for public meetings.

The alders criticized Tatman for irresponsibly vetoing the city budget, blaming her for the citys failure to adopt a budget in time to apply for a regional parks grant to renovate a park pavilion and bathroom by an October deadline. And they said a $13,324 payment to a contractor violated an ordinance requiring the board to sign off on expenses worth more than $10,000.

Tatman, in response, said the company, Dalmation Cleaning and Restoration, cleaned ducts in the police department, City Hall and public works offices over the course of several weeks and that each part was considered a separate project costing less than $10,000 each. But rather than write three checks, the city paid the company all at once, she said.

The federal funding for essential employees was approved Oct. 5 by a 4-3 vote, in which Tatman said she submitted the tie-breaking vote, though minutes from the meeting were not available. She hired the finance clerk, she said, because it filled a crucial role after the city lost its bond rating for failing to complete audits and failing to have standard accounting policies in place.

And Tatman said her administration had provided alders with its budget proposal in May, months before aldermen adopted a revised version.

Tatman said she welcomes any state investigation and that she considers the alders declaration of no confidence to be nonbinding. The criticism was just political, she said.

We just came out of a very passionate election, and passions have been running high since, she said. They have a right to express their opinion, but the onus of proof of their allegations is on them.

Updated at 4 p.m. Thursday.
PRINCETON, Ill.  As a kid growing up in northern Illinois, Peter Nelsons family had a Sunday ritual. He and his eight siblings packed into their dads station wagon and headed along Route 26 in Princeton, turning on a country road that would eventually take them to a park on the bank of Big Bureau Creek.

The highlight of those outings was always the drive across the Red Covered Bridge, its wooden planks creaking as the family wagon slowly traversed the 149-foot span.

It was thrilling, Nelson, 68, remembered. Im sure other families have that same ritual and memory.

Indeed, the 160-year-old bridge is woven into the fabric of the community. Generations of children used to jump from gaps in its red-clad cedar siding for a swim on hot summer days, or ice skate in its shadow when the creek froze for the winter. Today, it serves as a backdrop for wedding and graduation photos. Its image is used to draw visitors to Princeton, population 7,800, and the surrounding county.

But the future of the local landmark  believed to be one of only five 19th century covered bridges left in Illinois  is uncertain. On Nov. 16, despite multiple signs warning against doing so, the driver of an 18-wheeler tried to cross the bridge, causing extensive damage to the structure.

The community is positively devastated over this, said Lex Poppens, executive director of the Bureau County History Center. Its such an iconic part of this area.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the Red Covered Bridge has undergone several upgrades over the last three decades. But a fair portion dates to its construction in 1863.

Nelson, who serves as Princetons city clerk as well as the towns planning and zoning administrator, said the truck destroyed several overhead support beams, which caused the roof to partially collapse at the northern end of the bridge. As a result, the walls at the northern end bow outward.

As the truck continued through the bridge, it crushed the northern facade. It also splintered into a half-dozen pieces the original sign hanging over the southern entry that warned visitors of a $5 fine for driving more than twelve horses, mules or cattle at one time or for leading any beast faster than a walk on or across this bridge.

The full extent of the damage is unknown. Engineers with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the agency responsible for maintaining the state-owned bridge, are still conducting a full inspection and structural evaluation. IDOT officials said it could be weeks or months before that process concludes and the agency can make recommendations on needed repairs or restoration work.

This isnt the first time the bridge has been damaged by truck traffic.

In April 2021, a lost truck driver was rerouted by GPS to Red Covered Bridge Road, where he tried to pass through the bridges northern end. He stopped as soon as he heard his truck scraping against the wood, Nelson said, but not before he cracked the north facade and a few cedar panels.

In response, additional signs were erected on either side of the bridge that warn of its height and weight restrictions.

The driver who caused last months damage, identified by Illinois State Police as a 64-year-old woman from Alabama, told police that she missed her turn and was rerouted by GPS to the bridge, which is just north of an industrial park near Route 26 and Interstate 80.

State Police issued her a written warning, the agency said. She could not be reached for comment.

Photographs taken immediately after last weeks incident identify the trucking company as Wynn Logistics in Vernon Hills. According to KWQC and others, the company issued a statement calling the drivers actions reckless, and saying she will be terminated and well make sure that companies who want to hire her will know about it. The statement goes on to say the company would work with its insurance provider to facilitate the restoration of the bridge to its original state.

The company appears to have deleted its Facebook page, and a person who answered the phone last week declined to comment before hanging up on a Chicago Tribune reporter.

While IDOT engineers finish their inspection, Nelson and others question how to prevent further damage to the bridge.

One possible option would be to erect bars that stand just under 12 feet  the same height as the bridges clearance  over the roadway approaching both sides of the bridge. That way, if truck drivers clip the overhead bar, theyll know not to continue through the bridge.

They can restore the bridge, perhaps, but can you restore people using their heads when theyre approaching the bridge? asked Nelson.

Similar conversations have taken place 130 miles northeast of Princeton, in Long Grove, where officials considered placing overhead bars near the Robert Parker Coffin Bridge. Built in 1906, the wooden cover was added in the 1970s in an attempt to keep trucks off the iron truss bridge, which has a 5-ton weight limit. In 2018, a box truck caused significant damage to that wooden cover. Since then, and despite multiple warning signs, its been struck dozens of times.

In Princeton, a more difficult discussion centers on whether the Red Covered Bridge should continue to be open to vehicle traffic. Of the states five remaining covered bridges built in the 19th century, the Red Covered Bridge is the only one people can still drive across.

No one wants to see it be a park area with no traffic like the other covered bridges, Nelson said. But maybe thats the reality to preserve the bridge?

Meanwhile, residents in Princeton and the surrounding Bureau County are holding their collective breaths as they wait to learn whether their beloved bridge can be saved.

I think the bridge has been such a part of so many peoples lives in this county, said Poppens. Its such an iconic part of this area.

Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair
ST. LOUIS  Perhaps somewhat unique among Catholic jurisdictions in the United States, the Archdiocese of St. Louis possesses an ignominious distinction related to slavery: both of its first two bishops  Joseph Rosati and Peter Kenrick  held a number of African Americans in bondage while serving as prelates of the Church.

This was one of several jarring realities shared during the inaugural conference of Catholic Religious Organizations Studying Slavery, held in St. Louis late last month.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis, which has largely led the way in making documents related to Catholic slavery available to the public, was featured heavily during the conference, with current and former local professionals presenting alongside a bevy of academics, genealogists, bishops, and affected descendants.

Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, who helped spearhead the CROSS organization during his time as chair of the U.S. Catholic bishops Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, opened the event with a keynote urging dioceses to commit to truth-telling in their archival work.

If we do not tell our own story, then someone else or some entity will almost certainly provide a biased rendition, which may not be guided by the virtue of truth and faith, as ours hopefully will be, he said.

Accordingly, my dear friends, it is far better that we share our own stories  no matter how painful, no matter how sinful.

The various sessions of the conference ran the gamut from research presentations to case studies to testimonials from African Americans descended from those enslaved by various Catholic groups, including the worlds largest religious order, the Society of Jesus.

The Jesuits former U.S. and Canada president, the Rev. Tim Kesicki, who works with the orders billion-dollar Descendants Truth and Reconciliation Foundation, spoke on how his order has come to terms with its slaveholding since the history became international news in the past decade.

I can tell you that we only were telling half of our story, that which was published, he said, referring to the period before Rachel L. Swarns bombshell 2016 New York Times article on the sale of enslaved people by Georgetown University.

Similar stories came to light at the conference from the Sisters of Loretto when Sister Eleanor Craig explained how her community  long regarded as progressive and forward-thinking  was forced to reckon with the reality that they too owned slaves early in their history.

Also striking was a retelling of early St. Louis history by archdiocesan archivist Eric Fair, who explained how the dioceses first bishop, Rosati, not only owned slaves but was taken to court by at least one who sought freedom.

Aspasia (LeCompte) sued Bishop Rosati in 1837 and her rationale was that her mother Judy had lived in the Northwest Territory, which included Illinois and was a free territory, for two years, Fair noted, evoking similarities to the story of Dred Scott, a St. Louisan who famously lost his freedom suit in 1857 before the U.S. Supreme Court. LeCompte, too, was unsuccessful.

Rather than fight the lawsuit, Rosati sold Aspasia to (St. Louis University professor) Hardage Lane, Fair said.

While some participants at the conference spoke of efforts in their own contexts to remove the names of slaveholders from places of honor, the names of Rosati and Kenrick remain in various Catholic spaces in St. Louis. Even the building where the CROSS Conference was held, the Cardinal Rigali Center, prominently displays at its entrance the Sacred Heart sister St. Rose Philippine Duchesne  who was gifted an enslaved person by Bishop Louis DuBourg of Louisiana and the Two Floridas in the early 19th century. (DuBourg, rejected by his flock in the South, lived at the time in St. Louis.)

This is a journey that we are just starting, so these are conversations that we will be having, Fair said when asked about possible renaming plans in Missouri.

We dont want to be the ones that are dictating what we will do and how we will do it. We want the community to be involved with the highest levels of these decisions.

Community participation was a major theme during the two days of convening, and it was admitted that the current landscape of archives access  especially when the documents are sensitive, due to slavery or other unsavory factors  is a patchwork affair across the nation.

Some institutions, such as the Redemptorists, Jesuits, Sacred Heart Sisters, the Diocese of St. Augustine, and the archdioceses of New Orleans, Cincinnati and St. Louis, are more open than others. In other places, however, officials as high as the bishop himself might deny access if they deem documents unfit for public access.

For now, no national policy exists concerning access to Church archives, though CROSS is perhaps aiming to change that.

One of the purposes of us gathering here is to begin the process of kind of pushing a little bit in a respectful way to some of the dioceses that are rather closed, said the Rev. David Endres, a professor in Ohio who has edited several recent historical surveys of marginalized Catholic groups.

Asked if the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been receptive to the idea of assisting with the work of making Catholic archives more open, Dr. Emilie Gagnet Leumas was optimistic.

The Spirit is certainly moving us in that direction, she said.

They are hearing us, which is really good, and they do know that this work is being done.

For now, much of CROSSs work centers around its new Best Practices Guide. Its a 16-page document that helps archivists not only uncover links to slavery and make the documents accessible, but also include descendants in their work and avoid pitfalls related to historical misconceptions and unwarranted fears.

Dr. Patrick Hayes, who works with the Redemptorist Archives in Philadelphia, noted that some of the immediate goals for the organization include working with more African Americans in the field. The archivists at the conference were mostly white, and it is estimated that only a few working for the Church in the United States are Black. Also at issue is the availability of Spanish-language resources and professionals who can create them, as the earliest records of American Catholic history involve the Spanish crown and its dealings in places such as Puerto Rico and Florida.

Weve got a lot of deficits, for sure, Hayes said.

By all appearances, the two days in St. Louis seemed to be a step in the right direction. The various archivists present were exposed to the challenges and successes of their peers and also the experiences of Catholics on the ground, many of them African Americans, who are in most need of the data and history they possess.

Perhaps most importantly, the spiritual work of uncovering uncomfortable histories related to slavery (at a Catholic conference, no less) was also not forgotten.

Rashonda Alexander, a Black Catholic who descends from the African Americans enslaved in St. Louis by the Jesuits, implored that the archivists, above all, be conscious of the cosmic importance of their work.

Keep the Holy Spirit involved in this, because you can do everything that man does, thinking that you know everything, but God is really in control, she said near the end of the conference.

Continue to remember that this is bigger than you when youre doing this work.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger, a nonprofit publication founded in New Orleans in 2020.

From DuBourg to Rozanski: A look at the leaders of St. Louis Catholics Bishop Louis Dubourg (1815-1826) Bishop Joseph Rosati (1827-1843) Archbishop Peter Kenrick (1847-1895) Archbishop John Joseph Kain (1896-1903) Cardinal John J. Glennon (1903-1946) Cardinal Joseph Ritter (1946-1967) Cardinal John J. Carberry (1968-1979) Archbishop John L. May (1980-1992) Archbiship Justin F. Rigali (1994-2003) Archbishop Raymond Burke (2003-2008) Archbishop Robert J. Carlson (2009 to 2020) Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski (current)
UNIVERSITY CITY  Work recently started to clear massive piles of debris from the tunnel that swallows the flood-prone River Des Peres, with crews removing tons of concrete, rocks and even a white couch.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District launched the undertaking after the discovery of sprawling debris piles in the 20-foot tunnel. Residents have expressed concerns the debris aggravated flash flooding that pounded nearby University City homes in July 2022.

The heaps of debris  some of which were 5 feet high and 30 feet long  also fueled fears that they could make the surrounding area prone to repeat flood damage.

It had to have contributed to some of the back-up flooding, Mary Ann Gaston, whose home flooded last year, said Wednesday. Im glad (the work) is happening. Weve been pushing for it.

The cleanup began earlier this month. And despite pauses because of weather and holidays, theres been plenty of progress, according to work crews and neighbors.

Workers from Ace Pipe Cleaning, the contractor hired by MSD, said about 10 dump trucks of material had been hauled from the site as of early Wednesday. Another dump truck was filling up by mid-morning, as an excavator reached into the channel to hoist debris placed near the mouth of the tunnel by a small bulldozer working in the pitch-black interior.

The pile was mostly concrete and rock, interspersed with other materials, including a brake rotor and sewer snakes used to clean residential lines. Some slabs of concrete were several feet along.

These are some of the smaller ones, said Kevin Sager, a foreman for Ace.

Starting from the tunnels upstream opening in University City, about a mile of the structure has been cleared so far. Six total miles of the tunnel and its connections are set to be checked  a process estimated to take 10 months.

MSD officials think the biggest piles of debris are already gone since the power of the River Des Peres current dissipates as it moves through the tunnel.

The early rounds of removal turned up one surprise: the white couch, found upright more than a quarter of a mile into the tunnel. Other than the couch  and the raccoon living inside of it  workers said there havent been many unexpected finds.

Rocks, rocks, and more rocks, said Jeff Moore, an Ace superintendent at the site. Before, it was mostly slabs (of concrete).

The work comes with some logistical curveballs. For instance, to help ventilate the tunnel and combat potential hazards from exhaust fumes, Aces workers placed a large fan in one opening, by Washington Universitys campus. And workers wonder if theyll eventually need to punch a hole near the middle of the tunnel so they can more easily lift out debris.

Neighbors have applauded the work and kept an eye on its progress. Some are curious about where all the hulking chunks of concrete came from  something MSD and Ace arent sure of.

Our one remaining unresolved question is where did all that concrete come from? said Gaston, the nearby resident watching Wednesdays work.

The work already may be helping drainage through the tunnel. Sager, the Ace foreman, said water that had pooled knee deep in some spots dropped to ankle deep after debris was cleared.

MSD, though, maintains that the tunnel debris did not have a significant effect on the 2022 flash flooding. And it argues that the debris removal will not make a meaningful difference if the region is again soaked with record-setting rainfall.

I wish the solution were just clearing some debris, said Bess McCoy, a spokeswoman for MSD. What we dont want is to give (residents) false hope.

The utility has said repeatedly that it would be glad to help address local flood issues in earnest if it were given the authority  and funding  to do so from customers. A proposal to grant MSD those resources through new charges on sewer bills will be decided by voters throughout the region next spring.

The River Des Peres is still clogged. No one wants to clean it. And floods will come again. Experts have been calling on government bodies to take responsibility for years. Now, they say, someone has to clean the river out. Before the floods hit again.
BRIDGETON  Missouri Department of Transportation crews will close the ramp from Natural Bridge Road to westbound Interstate 70 at 10 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4.

The closure will last for 10 days in order to perform sign truss, guardrail and shoulder work.

Detour signs will be in place, and drivers will be directed onto southbound Lindbergh Boulevard to westbound I-70.
NEW YORK  The actor Jonathan Majors appeared in court Wednesday in New York for the start of jury selection in a trial in which he is accused of injuring his then-girlfriend during an argument last spring.

The trial could wind up playing a big role in what happens next with Majors, who emerged as a breakout star with major roles in films including "Creed III" and who was being set up as the next great supervillain in the Marvel multiverse.

The 34-year-old actor entered a Manhattan courtroom alongside his current girlfriend, the actress Meagan Good, carrying a Bible and one of his signature coffee cups. He did not speak during the start of the proceeding.

Majors was arrested in March over a confrontation between the actor and Grace Jabbari, his girlfriend at the time, during a car ride in Manhattan.

Prosecutors said Jabbari grabbed a phone out of the actor's hand after seeing a text, presumably from another woman, saying "Wish I was kissing you right now." Majors tried to snatch back the phone.

Jabbari said the actor pulled her finger, twisted her arm behind her back and hit her face. After the couple's driver stopped the car and the pair got out, Jabbari said Majors threw her back into the vehicle. Police said Jabbari was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

Majors' attorneys maintained that Jabbari was the aggressor during the fight and scratched and hit him. They alleged Wednesday that police who responded to the scene did not interview Majors and that Manhattan prosecutors refused to review evidence showing he was the victim.

Jabbari was also briefly arrested by New York City police last month after Majors filed a cross complaint against her, but the district attorney's office dropped all charges against her the next day.

On Wednesday, the judge, Michael Gaffey, described the brief arrest of Jabbari as "very unusual," suggesting Majors' celebrity status may have played a role in the police department's decision to charge his accuser three months after the incident.

"Did this only come about because of the high-profile nature of the case?" Gaffey asked the court. "If this was an indigent, everyday New Yorker, would this arrest have happened?"

Majors is charged with misdemeanors including assault and could be sentenced to up to a year in jail if convicted.

Before jury selection began Wednesday, attorneys for Majors successfully sought to bar the public and news media from the courtroom in order to discuss evidence in the case that has not been made public. Attorney Seth Zuckerman warned the evidence could "taint the jury pool beyond repair for Mr. Majors," adding that his client may face "trial by newspaper."

Gaffey agreed, finding the potentially "inflammatory" evidence should be discussed behind closed doors so it would not be reported in the media prior to the start of the trial.

The Manhattan District Attorney did not take a position on the matter. An attorney hired to represent the news media, Katherine Bolger, opposed the move to seal evidence, noting the public has a right to know the evidence in the case.

Majors starred in the Marvel TV series "Loki" and the film "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania," and was awaiting the release of another star vehicle, "Magazine Dreams," which is now in limbo.

He is known for carrying a coffee cup on the red carpet and to media interviews, one of four he rotates through, as a symbol of his mother's long-ago advice: "Don't let anyone fill up your cup."

Photos of 25 iconic actors at the start of their careers vs. now Photos of 25 iconic actors at the start of their careers vs. now Tom Cruise at the start Tom Cruise now Meryl Streep at the start Meryl Streep now Morgan Freeman at the start Morgan Freeman now Nicole Kidman at the start Nicole Kidman now Tom Hanks at the start Tom Hanks now Angela Bassett at the start Angela Bassett now George Clooney at the start George Clooney now Gwyneth Paltrow at the start Gwyneth Paltrow now Jennifer Lopez at the start Jennifer Lopez now Leonardo DiCaprio at the start Leonardo DiCaprio now Jodie Foster at the start Jodie Foster now Robert De Niro at the start Robert De Niro now Brad Pitt at the start Brad Pitt now Halle Berry at the start Halle Berry now Michelle Yeoh at the start Michelle Yeoh now Harrison Ford at the start Harrison Ford now Matt Damon at the start Matt Damon now Will Smith at the start Will Smith now Jane Fonda at the start Jane Fonda now Sylvester Stallone at the start Sylvester Stallone now Jackie Chan at the start Jackie Chan now Christian Bale at the start Christian Bale now Sally Field at the start Sally Field now Denzel Washington at the start Denzel Washington now Julia Roberts at the start Julia Roberts now
JERUSALEM  Israel released more Palestinian prisoners early Thursday after Hamas freed 16 hostages in the last such swap under the current Gaza truce as international mediators raced to allow further exchanges and prolong the cease-fire.

The Israeli military said 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals were returned to Israel late Wednesday and taken to hospitals to be reunited with their families. Hamas earlier freed two Russian-Israeli women.

Hours later, Israel freed more Palestinian prisoners, expected to number 30 under the terms of the truce deal.

Negotiators were working down to the wire to hammer out details for a further extension of the truce beyond its deadline of early Thursday. The talks appeared to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed and the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for freeing men and soldiers.

Nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis. Israel welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives.

Still, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored on Wednesday that Israel will resume its campaign to eliminate Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 16 years and orchestrated the deadly attack on Israel that triggered the war.

After this phase of returning our abductees is exhausted, will Israel return to fighting? So my answer is an unequivocal yes, he said. There is no way we are not going back to fighting until the end.

He spoke ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press for further extensions of the truce and hostage releases. Blinken arrived in Israel late Wednesday.

So far, the Israeli onslaught in Gaza seems to have had little effect on Hamas rule, evidenced by its ability to conduct complex negotiations, enforce the cease-fire among other armed groups and orchestrate the release of hostages. Hamas leaders likely relocated to the south.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told lawmakers this week that the White House will not seek to place conditions on U.S. military assistance to Israel, days after President Joe Biden suggested openness to the notion.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who was among lawmakers who met privately with Sullivan on Tuesday, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Sullivan "made it clear that the White House is not asking for any conditionality in aid. So I want to leave that very clear. A second person directly familiar with the meeting confirmed the account.

Sullivan was on Capitol Hill to discuss questions from Senate Democrats about how the administration would ensure that any U.S. weapons provided to Israel are used in accordance with U.S. law.

Some lawmakers suggested the U.S. place conditions on the types of military assistance and how it could be used by Israeli forces against Hamas targets as they've grown concerned about the civilian toll.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys  an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old  during a raid on the town of Jenin, Palestinian health officials said.

The Israeli military claimed its troops fired on people who threw explosives at them but did not specify it was referring to the boys, who are not seen throwing anything on security footage. Separately, the military said its troops killed two Islamic Jihad militants during the raid.

Most of Gaza's population is now crammed into the south. The days of calm have been taken up in a frenzied rush to obtain supplies to feed their families as aid enters in greater, but still insufficient, amounts.

United States, Israel's main ally, has shown greater reticence over the impact of the war in Gaza. The Biden administration told Israel that if it launches an offensive in the south, it must operate with far greater precision.

Israel's hostage dilemma

In the West Bank city of Ramallah, a crowd gathered before dawn Thursday to receive the latest group of freed prisoners. Most prominent among them was Ahed Tamimi, a 22-year-old activist who gained worldwide fame in 2017 after a video of her slapping an Israeli soldier went viral on social media.

Since the truce began Friday, both sides released women and children in their exchanges. Gaza militants still hold about 20 women, according to Israeli officials. If the truce continues at the current rate, they would be out in a few days.

After that, keeping the truce going depends on tougher negotiations over the release of about 126 men Israel says are held captive  including several dozen soldiers.

For men  and especially soldiers  Hamas is expected to push for comparable releases of Palestinian men or prominent detainees, a deal Israel might resist.

An Israeli official involved in hostage negotiations said talks on a further extension for release of civilian males and soldiers were still preliminary, and a deal would not be considered until all the women and children are out. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.

With Wednesday's releases, 73 Israelis, including dual nationals, have been freed, most of whom appear physically well but shaken. Another 24 hostages  23 Thais and one Filipino  also were released. Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza.

So far, most of the 180 Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons have been teens accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several were women convicted by Israeli military courts of attempting to attack soldiers.

The war began with Hamas' Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel, in which it killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials. The militants kidnapped some 240 people back into Gaza.

Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The toll is likely much higher, as services broke down in the north.

This morning's headlines: Military Osprey aircraft crash; US life expectancy; Israel-Hamas truce
Its normally difficult to put a price tag on political pettiness, but St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has managed it. Under terms of a settlement reached this month, Pages long grudge match with former county police Chief Tim Fitch will cost county taxpayers around $280,000 in interest and fees  a steep tab for a punitive legal fight over Fitchs county pension that never should have happened.

This exercise in petulant politics began when Fitch, after retiring as police chief, was elected to the county council in 2018 as a Republican.

Then-County Executive Steve Stenger, a Democrat, responded by halting Fitchs pension payments of roughly $85,000 annually from his 31 years with the county police force. Stenger argued that Fitchs $20,000 yearly stipend for his part-time council position made him an active county employee and therefore ineligible to receive county pension payments.

Fitch sued in 2022, arguing that council members are classified as elected officers of the county, not employees. As we said at the time, we seldom agreed with Fitchs political stances on the council, but on this point, he was right.

Page, a Democrat, was county executive by then. He and the council could have avoided an expensive and doomed legal fight by simply releasing to Fitch the pension hed earned.

But that would have required Page to set aside the political animosity that was so evident between the two ideological rivals. So he continued playing a losing hand with the countys money.

When a circuit court ruled in Fitchs favor, he offered to settle the case for only what was owed on the pension, without interest or legal fees. Fitch has said Page initially agreed, but he then changed his mind. So the county appealed, doubling down on the same losing hand.

As the Post-Dispatchs Joe Holleman reports, the county, pressed by a Missouri Court of Appeals recommendation, finally agreed to a settlement this month. Under the Nov. 14 agreement, Fitch will get the $339,000 he has coming for the four years worth of pension payments that were suspended by his political enemies.

But because Page and his allies refused to let go of this partisan bone earlier, the county, under the agreement, will also have to pay Fitch $105,000 in interest on those long-withheld pension payments. In addition, the county will pay Fitchs $160,000 in legal bills. Then theres the roughly $17,000 the county spent on outside legal representation in the case.

That $280,000 and change isnt a massive amount of money by county budgetary standards, but its public money that didnt have to be spent.

It only was spent because, in the no-holds-barred cage match that is todays politics, a klatch of elected officials convinced themselves that even a retired cops pension checks were fair game. The societal cost of that kind of cynicism among public servants goes far beyond dollars.
The silence is deafening. Yes, the outrage over the human rights atrocities being committed in Israel and Gaza, beginning with the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, is reaching a worldwide crescendo. Irrespective of where one stands on this protracted 75-plus-year dispute between Israel and the Palestinians, I believe we can all agree that the targeting of civilians is unacceptable.

So why the silence in regards to atrocities, arguably more severe and pervasive, being committed against the Rohingya sect of Myanmar? Before and after the 2021 military coup, these people have been subjected to abuse that can rightly be called genocide. Murder, torture, rape and imprisonment are common and have forced close to a million people to flee into Bangladesh, where they are crowed into rancid refugee camps.

Was this an unintentional oversight by our administration and Congress? Hardly. Resolutions have been introduced in both chambers calling out the Burmese military and urging that sanctions be imposed. These have languished. It's gross hypocrisy on our part.

Robert Linsey  St. Louis
The single-piece edition timepieces in the new Les Cabinotiers  Recits de Voyages range reflects Vacheron Constantin's geographical expansion

With the first commercial contacts forged between Vacheron Constantin and China in the mid-19th century, this country became an essential travel destination. To pay tribute to this country, the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon watch features a green grisaille enamel dial, a first for Vacheron Constantin and an original backdrop for the mythical five-clawed imperial dragon. Manufacture Calibre 1120, one of the thinnest self-winding movements ever produced, powers this one-of-a-kind timepiece set with baguette-cut diamonds.

Vacheron Constantin and Asia

Vacheron Constantins human adventure, which gives substance to artistic crafts, is enriched with Les Cabinotiers  Recits de Voyages, an imaginary horological odyssey to destinations representing the various historical stages in the expansion of the Maison. Each one-of-a-kind timepiece in the collection evokes the arts and cultures of the different continents visited by the Maison. This international expansion, which began in the early 19th century, also included China.

The emperor turned to the best European artisans, including Vacheron Constantin to rebuild his lost collection. Having begun prospecting the Chinese market in the first half of the 19th century, with business contacts documented as early as 1845, the Maison had already established a solid reputation in the country.

Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon  Vacheron Constantin

First green grisaille for Vacheron Constantin

Vacheron Constantin's master artisan has devised a new grisaille enamelling technique to enhance the dial of this timepiece and highlight the mythical five-clawed dragon.

A symbol of power, nobility and good fortune, this creature is always accompanied by its pearl, an emblem of wisdom.

The art of grisaille, a technique dating back to the 16th century, reveals the motif in a play of chiaroscuro, designed to endow it with special depth. This now rare technique consists of applying layers of a rare white enamel known as Limoges white to a dark enamel base. Each layer is then fired in a kiln, with the firing time precisely defined to the nearest second. Over the course of the firing, the details of the dragon take shape, gradually giving consistency to the way in which the dragon is staged with a wealth of incredibly accurate details. The enameller's work generally ends with the application of a final layer of lapped translucent enamel to achieve an effect of brilliance and depth that brings out the contrasts in the painting.

For this piece, the Maisons master enameller took a different approach by choosing to give a green tint to the translucent enamel applied to the initial work in Limoges white. This colouring reinforces the mythical appearance of the depiction. To accentuate the depth effect, the master enameller then used Limoges white for the final subtleties of the motif by means of successive layers fired in the kiln. Another first is the combination of grisaille enamel and gemsetting. The 40 mm case in 18K white gold is set with 146 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, middle and lugs (7.1 carats). The crown is adorned with a reverse-set brilliant-cut diamond. It is paired with a dark green alligator leather strap featuring a white gold pin buckle set with 16 baguette-cut diamonds.

Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon  Vacheron Constantin

Calibre 1120: a legendary ultra-thin movement

The Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon watch is distinguished by its elegant silhouette. This model with a case measuring just 8.9 mm thick benefits from the Maisons expertise in the world of ultra-thin calibres.

While Vacheron Constantin's first ultra-thin calibres date back to the 19th century, the Manufacture developed several movements renowned for their slenderness throughout the 20th century, in response to the comfort-related expectations of a clientele won over by wristwatches.

In 1911, for example, Vacheron Constantin's records show three calibres with different diameters but a common thickness of 2.82 mm. This quest for thinness led to the creation of movements measuring 2.25 mm thick in 1917 and 1.88 mm in 1924. In 1955, to celebrate its bicentenary, Vacheron Constantin presented Calibre 1003, a manual-winding movement just 1.64 mm thick and at the time the thinnest ever produced.

At just 2.45 mm thick, Calibre 1120 reflects this same concern for combining technical sophistication with elegant design.

Introduced in 1968, this movement was redesigned in 2010 with an 18K gold oscillating weight shaped like a Maltese cross. It retained the same size, yer with a higher 40-hour power reserve. Bearing the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva, it was taken to the next level in terms of decoration and finishing, featuring a Cotes de Geneve motif, circular graining, chamfering and straightgrained flanks. With its 144 components and a regulator operating at a rate of 19,800 vibrations per hour (2.75 Hz), this latest-generation Calibre 1120 drives the watch's white gold leaf-shaped hands.

Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon  Vacheron Constantin

Les Cabinotiers Recits de Voyages series

Vacheron Constantin's vocation has always been to perfect the art of watchmaking in Geneva while remaining open to the world. The founders grandson Jacques-Barthelemi Vacheron (1787-1864) was the first to criss-cross the roads of France and Italy, followed by his partner Francois Constantin (1788-1854), a tireless traveller who oversaw the commercial development of the Maison. He established commercial relations with Central Europe, South America, Scandinavia and Asia, during a period in time when Vacheron Constantin was also gaining a foothold in the United States and China, as well as in Brazil, Hong Kong and Cuba.

Francois Constantins correspondence stretching over a quarter of a century paints the portrait of a Manufacture that was open to a Europe undergoing major restructuring in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna. This scope and reach continued to expand as the Vacheron Constantin name crossed borders and conquered new markets. Since that time, the very notion of travel has been inherent to the values of the Maison, an integral part of the human adventure characterising its nearly 270-year history. Following in its founders footsteps, the Maison offers these Recits de Voyages series as a watchmaking odyssey through the world and its wonders, applying craftsmanship and mechanical art as its means of expression.

Sum-up

Vacheron Constantin presents Les Recits de Voyages, a collection of one-of-a-kind Les Cabinotiers timepieces combining craftsmanship and technical mastery. This collection dedicated to the Maisons international expansion that began in the 19th century celebrates the spirit of openness it has demonstrated from the outset. Each watch illustrates the successive stages of this odyssey. Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon pays tribute to China, a country whose trade with Vacheron Constantin dates back to 1845. On the dial of this watch featuring a five-clawed imperial dragon and its pearl, Vacheron Constantin's master artisan has created a motif in green grisaille enamel, a first for the Manufacture, another first being the gemsetting of a model with a grisaille enamel dial. The case of this timepiece is entirely set with 146 baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, middle and lugs, while a brilliant-cut diamond adorns the crown. This Hallmark of Geneva-certified watch is powered by self-winding Calibre 1120, a legendary movement distinguished by its extreme 2.45 mm thinness and its aesthetically pleasing construction. It is housed in a white gold case measuring 40 mm in diameter and 8.9 mm thick, paired with a dark green alligator leather strap secured by a gemset white gold pin buckle.

Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon  Vacheron Constantin

Interview with Christian Selmoni, Style & Heritage Director

You highlight the thinness of some of the models presented in this Les Cabinotiers  Recits de Voyages collection. What are Vacheron Constantins credentials in this field?

Since its creation in 1755, Vacheron Constantin has been involved in all areas of the watchmaking art: pocket watches, wristwatches, rings, sautoir necklaces and brooches, demonstrating consummate mastery of complications, grand complications and ultra-thin mechanical movements. While this latter field of expertise might easily appear less prestigious than grand complication models, this is definitely not the case. Ultra-thin calibres require just as much talent and expertise, as demonstrated by Vacheron Constantin since its origins. As far back as the early 19th century, correspondence between the Maisons directors clearly referred to "thin watches". This quest for slimness became a Vacheron Constantin signature throughout the 20th century, as exemplified by a pocket watch unveiled in 1931 with a mechanical manual-winding movement measuring 17 5/12 lignes or 39.20mm in diameter and barely 0.94 mm thick. Calibre 1003, presented in 1955 to celebrate the Maisons 200th anniversary; as well as Calibre 1120, which appeared 13 years later and is featured in the Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon watch, are part of this trend towards ultra-thin, aesthetically accomplished movements. Some of these calibres have become iconic among collectors, who recognise both the technical solutions adopted and the sense of form in the arrangement of their components. What applies to watches with two or three hands also applies to complications, notably thanks to this same Calibre 1120 with additional function modules. While on this topic, I should also mention the example of minute repeater Calibre 1731, the thinnest on the market at the time of its presentation in 2013 at just 3.90 mm thick.

Grisaille enamel and gemsetting: why are these two artistic crafts perfectly mastered by Vacheron Constantin only now being combined?

These two techniques are indeed among the artistic crafts perfectly mastered within the Manufacture. The fact that it had not previously seemed appropriate to combine the two was mainly because dials produced in grisaille enamel are strikingly beautiful, showcasing breathtaking attention to detail through chiaroscuro atmospheres forming realistic depictions that nothing should be allowed to disturb. The grisaille enamel models presented last year by Vacheron Constantin in its Les Royaumes Aquatiques Les Cabinotiers collection feature a smooth bezel and case, with no gemsetting. With Les Cabinotiers Grisaille High Jewellery  Dragon, the green shade given to the dial's grisaille enamel  a first for Vacheron Constantin  prompted the Maisons designers to try something different. Gemsetting the case was an obvious choice, not only because it accentuates the depth effect intended by this enamelling technique, but also because it enhances its brilliance.

Do Vacheron Constantin and China enjoy a longstanding shared history?

China is a fascinating country with which Vacheron Constantin has enjoyed close ties since the mid-19th century. In 2015, to celebrate 65 years of bilateral relations between China and Switzerland, Vacheron Constantin took part in the "Geneva at the Heart of Time The Origin of Swiss Watchmaking Culture" exhibition, in partnership with the Musee dart et dhistoire (MAH) in Geneva and the Capital Museum in Beijing. This was the largest watchmaking exhibition ever staged in Asia, with more than 350 pieces, tools, paintings and engravings, a third of which came from Vacheron Constantin's heritage collection. The Manufacture was also present at the exhibition site at the Capital Museum in Beijing with its master watchmakers, engravers, enamellers and guilloche artists. This simple example illustrates Chinas importance for the Manufacture, which has around 30 points of sale in the country. Chinese customers are sensitive to la belle horlogerie and to fine craftsmanship. They are highly appreciative of artistic crafts and show great loyalty to these principles.


PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE: ASGI)(NYSE American:THQ, THW), (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on November 30, 2023, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of November 22, 2023 (ex-dividend date November 21, 2023).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1200 THQ NYSE American abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $ 0.1125 THW NYSE American abrdn World Healthcare Fund $ 0.1167

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Funds' estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 0.1200 - - - - $0.1200 100% - - THQ $ 0.1125 - - - - - - $0.1125 100% THW $ 0.1167 - - - - - - $0.1167 100%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year* to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains ** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2400 - - - - $0.2400 100% - - THQ $0.2250 - - - - - - $0.2250 100% THW $0.2334 - - - - - - $0.2334 100%

* ASGI, THQ and THW have a 9/30 fiscal year end.

**includes currency gains

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

As of November 7, 2023, after giving effect to this payment, ASGI estimates it has a net deficit of $16,675,000.00. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed.

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 10/31/2023 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI 4.74%3 7.76% -2.23% 0.65% THQ 6.93% 7.06% -4.34% 0.59% THW 5.45% 12.71% -4.97% 1.06%

1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of October 31, 2023.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through October 31, 2023.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter#

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

[email protected]

###

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

View source version on accesswire.com:
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Adcore Inc. (the "Company" or "Adcore") (TSX:ADCO)(OTCQX:ADCOF)(FSE:ADQ), a leading e-commerce advertising management and automation platform to leverage digital marketing in an effortless and accessible way, ("Effortless Marketing"), today announced that it will host a webcast investor presentation on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at 11:00 AM ET.

In order to facilitate the growing interest in the company, Adcore will host a special investor webcast. During the webcast, Omri Brill, CEO, will conduct a presentation that will cover key areas of Adcore's business. After the formal presentation, investors will have an opportunity to ask relevant questions through an interactive Q&A portal. To listen to the webcast or to ask questions during the live event, please pre-register at the following link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e4L1Vp4CR-uXYEXgBEemzA

An archived version of the webcast and presentation will be available on the Company's website, https://www.adcore.com/investors/

ABOUT ADCORE

Adcore is a leading AI-powered marketing and online learning technology company.

By combining extensive industry knowledge and experience with its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology, Adcore offers a unique digital marketing solution that empowers entrepreneurs and advertisers by managing and automating their e-commerce store advertising and monitoring and analyzing the performance of their advertising budget to ensure maximum Return on Investment. Adcore is a certified Google Premier Partner, Elite Tier Microsoft Partner, Facebook Partner and TikTok Partner.

Adcore also runs Amphy, the world's most diverse 24/7 live online learning marketplace. Learners can choose from thousands of classes across hundreds of categories to grow their passions, skills and expand their children's learning opportunities. Instructors on the Amphy platform join a vibrant virtual teacher community that promotes and supports their success through enrichment seminars, marketing and advertising, and a suite of tools that allow them to run their classes hassle-free and focus on their students. Amphy students gain access to high-quality, personalized classes that are accessible 24/7, while joining a growing community of lifelong learners.

Established in 2006, the Company employs over fifty people in its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel and satellite offices in Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China.

For more information about Adcore, please visit https://www.adcore.com/investors/ , https://www.adcore.com/blog or follow us on LinkedIn. For more information about Amphy please visit https://www.amphy.com/ and https://blog.amphy.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains or may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

For further information please contact:

ADCORE INC.

https://www.adcore.com/investors/

Martijn van den Bemd,

Chief Partnerships Officer

Telephone: 647-497-5337

Email: [email protected]

Investor Relations

Glen Akselrod

Bristol Capital

Telephone: 905-326-1888 ext 1

Email: [email protected]

Investor Relations Europe

Dr. Eva Reuter

Dr. Reuter Investor Relations

Telephone: +49 (0) 69 1532 5857

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Adcore Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Strategic Guidance Leads to Successful Transaction as Boxwood Partners Continues Momentum in Industrial Products and Services Industry

JUPITER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Boxwood Partners is pleased to announce the sale of American Scale Company ("ASC"), a portfolio company of 12 South Capital Partners ("12SCP") and industry leader for industrial scale technologies, to American Equipment Holdings ("American Equipment"), a portfolio company of Rotunda Capital Partners and leader of overhead crane and hoist, weighing and measurement, and below-the-hook services and solutions throughout the United States.

Boxwood Partners' expertise in the industrial products and services industry has been further reinforced, cementing their status as the premier advisor in M&A advisory.

Boxwood Partners, a leading boutique middle-market investment bank based in Jupiter, FL, acted as the exclusive sell-side advisor to American Scale Company and American Equipment on the transaction. The transaction was led by Brian Alas, Managing Director, Robbie Nickle, Director, and Colby Carter, Associate.

"This partnership between ASC and American Equipment hits all the marks of a positive outcome," said Robbie Nickle, Director of Boxwood Partners. "The momentum is strong in the industrial products and services industry, and this particular transaction will help to accelerate growth and create a heightened quality of services delivered to customers going forward."

Founded in 1969 by Ken Zimmerman, American Equipment is a leading provider of mission-critical industrial solutions with 55+ facilities and 800+ employees throughout the country. American Equipment offers an extensive portfolio of services that has grown beyond its foundation in overhead crane engineering, assembly, installation, and service to now include extensive capabilities in industrial measurement and weighing and below-the-hook applications.

"American Scale Company has already experienced exceptional growth, and the support and resources under American Equipment will allow us to expand even further," said Chris Hartman, President of American Scale Company and Principal at 12SCP. "Boxwood's guidance and strong attention to detail played a pivotal role in ensuring the execution of this transaction."

Founded in 1999 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, American Scale Company is a leader in industrial weighing technologies. Over the years, the company added Wilkinson Scale and Precision Scale to the organization. The combined company now serves North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Rotunda Capital Partners is an operationally oriented private equity firm that specializes in lower-middle market companies focused on value-added distribution; asset-light logistics; and industrial, business and residential services. The firm typically seeks to invest in private, family-founder owned businesses with enterprise values between $30 - $150 million.

"Chris and Matt were instrumental in the growth of American Scale, investing in key areas of the business to create a sustainable platform poised for additional growth," said Brian Alas, Managing Director of Boxwood Partners. "With the addition of ASC, American Equipment further diversifies its service offerings through the addition a niche, specialized subsector."

About Boxwood Partners

Boxwood Partners, LLC is a boutique investment bank based in Jupiter, Florida with offices in Richmond, Virginia. Boxwood Partners combines a unique blend of senior-level transaction advisory, business operating experience, and proven process execution skills to give its clients a distinct advantage in the market. The firm's extensive relationships within the global capital and buyer communities (including U.S. and international private equity groups, corporations, and lenders) and other important transaction-related service providers such as consultants, attorneys, and accountants, ensure that the firm's clients receive the attention, service, and results they deserve. For more information about Boxwood Partners, please visit www.boxwoodpartners.com.

About 12 South Capital Partners

12 South Capital Partners is a private investment partnership that seeks to invest in and grow existing privately held small businesses with revenue of $5 - $50 million. Areas of focus for 12SCP include services-related companies in the B2B & Industrial Industries with operations throughout the Southeastern United States.

About American Scale Company

American Scale Company was established in 1999 and is a leader in industrial weighing technologies. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company grew over the years adding Wilkinson Scale and Precision Scale to the organization. The combined company now serves North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia. With offices in Charlotte, Wilson, and Greensboro, North Carolina, and Florence, South Carolina, ASC supports its customers across a wide geographic region.

About American Equipment Holdings

American Equipment Holdings is an organization of leading overhead crane and hoist, weighing and measurement distributors, field service providers, and below-the-hook suppliers comprised of American Equipment, Allied Crane, American Scale Company, Ashley Sling, Eastern Crane & Hoist, Facilities Engineering, Kanawha Scales & Systems, Kistler Crane & Hoist, Memphis Weighing Group, Pacific Crane & Hoist, Patriot Crane & Hoist, Shannahan Crane & Hoist, Systems Specialties, and Washington Crane & Hoist. The consolidated entity is one of the largest independently owned overhead crane and hoist, weighing and measurement, and below-the-hook solution providers in the country, serving thousands of customers nationwide. Together, American Equipment Holdings companies provide comprehensive solutions for everything related to customers' overhead crane and hoist, rigging, and weighing and measurement needs, including OSHA mandated inspections, preventative maintenance and repair field services, parts, engineering, ISO certified fabrication, new and replacement equipment, automated systems, system modernizations and training.

CONTACT:

Taylor Nortman

847-945-1300

[email protected]

SOURCE: Boxwood Partners

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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / E2Gold Inc. (TSXV:ETU),(OTCQB: ETUGF) (the "Company" or "E2Gold") is pleased to announce that it proposes to complete a private placement (the "Offering") pursuant to which it will issue up to 16,666,667 "flow-through" units ("FT Units") at a price of $0.03 per FT Unit, to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to $500,000.

Each FT Unit will be comprised of one "flow-through" common share of the Company (a "FT Share") and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"); with each whole Warrant exercisable to acquire one additional common share at a price of $0.05 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance thereof. Up to 50% of the Offering may be purchased by insiders.

The Offering remains subject to various closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. An amount equal to the gross proceeds allocated to the sale of the FT Units will be used for expenditures which qualify as Canadian exploration expenses ("CEE") that once renounced will qualify as "critical mineral mining expenditures" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)). The Company will renounce such CEE with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2023. The Company intends to apply the gross proceeds from the Offering towards its proposed fall exploration program.

E2Gold also announces that it has granted 5,650,000 stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The stock options are exercisable for a period of 3 years at a price of $0.05 and vest immediately.

ABOUT E2GOLD INC.

E2Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large flagship property, the 80 km long Hawkins Gold Project in north-central Ontario, about 140 km east of the Hemlo Gold Mine, and 75 km north of the Magino and Island Gold Mines. The property is anchored by the McKinnon Zone Inferred Resource of 6.2 Mt grading 1.65 Au g/t, for 328,800 ounces of gold. E2Gold is working to increasing shareholder value through discoveries at Hawkins.

Note 1: NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on Hawkins Gold Project, Ontario, by P&E Mining Consultants, effective date September 10, 2020.

For further information please contact:

Jeff Pritchard

Investor Relations

[email protected]

+1 647 699 3340

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of E2Gold, including with respect to the receipt of all regulatory approvals. 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.

SOURCE: E2Gold Inc.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / Highlander Silver Corp. (CSE:HSLV) (the "Company" or "Highlander Silver") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share purchase agreement dated November 29, 2023 (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR Mining") to acquire the San Luis gold-silver project (the "San Luis Project") located in Ancash Department of central Peru (the "Transaction").

Highlights

Transformational acquisition for Highlander Silver of the San Luis Project

Historical Measured & Indicated mineral resources of 348,000 ounces (oz) of gold (Au) grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz silver (Ag) grading 578.1 g/t Ag

Multiple targets for growth on the property given limited and focused historical drilling, open extensions to resources, and undrilled targets supported by highly anomalous (> 4 g/t Au) trenching and rock samples

Extensive ground holding totalling 23,098 Ha has yet to be systematically explored with many structures that have not yet been sampled providing further exploration potential

Highlander Silver to implement a comprehensive program of geological mapping and sampling to develop a technical assessment of the discovery potential before more focused exploration on the highest priority targets

Ancash Department is well-known for mining in Peru with major past and present production from the Pierina gold mine and Antamina copper-zinc mine, respectively

Financing for this transformative acquisition is backstopped by the Augusta Group and members of the Lundin family

(See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.)

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

David Fincham, President and CEO commented: "We are delighted to be bringing the high-grade San Luis gold-silver project into our portfolio, and are very impressed by the size and grade of the historical resource contained within the Ayelen and Ines vein structures. We believe this deposit may be one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits of its size that is yet to be mined in the world. Additionally, there may be exceptional growth and discovery potential on this large, but only partially prospected and explored property. There are numerous compelling exploration targets based on previous field mapping and rock chip sampling, and we believe that the district has potential to yield much more. This acquisition has the potential to be transformative for Highlander Silver and aligned with our vision of building a portfolio focused on world-class silver gold projects to the benefit of all our stakeholders."

Fig. 1 San Luis Project location

Historical Mineral Resource

The San Luis Project has a historical measured and indicated mineral resource estimate of 348,000 ounces (oz) of Au grading 22.4 g/t Au, and 9,003,300 oz Ag grading 578.1 g/t Ag. Test work developed on the historical mineral resource projected gold and silver recoveries of greater than or equal to 90% using conventional cyanide leach processing methods. The Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimate as a priority. See "San Luis Historical Mineral Resource" below for further details.

Exploration upside potential

The San Luis Project is district-scale, with the mining concessions covering 23,098 hectares, or approximately 230 km. The fertility of the district has been demonstrated by both evidence of multiple deposit styles and by the high number of targets generated to date from limited exploration. Following discovery of the Ayelen - Ines vein systems where the historical resource is located, the main focus was on resource development, meaning that systematic exploration has yet to be completed across much of the property. Targets on the property include low to intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold-silver veins, copper - molybdenum porphyries, silver, lead, zinc  copper hydrothermal breccias and silver, lead, zinc  copper replacement mantos.

The Bonita target, a 600 m long array of complex quartz veins/veinlets has had limited drilling, with just two historic drill holes including BOD-001 which returned 35.25 m of 5.54 g/t Au and 25.43 g/t Ag, from 19.1 m downhole. To date, seven additional mapped and sampled gold-silver vein targets have been defined including Carhuan-Puquio and Gemelas-Cenicienta, within 2 km of the historic resource area, reporting multigram gold rock chip samples. Further targets for follow up occur more broadly across the property represented by the 1 to > 4 g/t gold samples on the map below. Finally, two copper - molybdenum porphyry targets also require further work to assess their potential.

Fig. 2 San Luis tenure map highlighting the historical resource area (Ayelen vein system), Bonita target and anomalous gold samples distributed across the property.

Information relating to the larger property exploration work including geological mapping, surface sampling, and the two holes drilled at the La Bonita target reflect work performed by SSR Mining on the property to-date. In a recent visit to the property by Highlander Silver staff, drill core from both Aylene and the Bonita vein systems were inspected observing significant low-sulphidation style vein intercepts. Notwithstanding, a qualified person has not done sufficient work to fully verify the information at this stage, nor has a qualified person been provided with information that would be required to verify sample data, analytical techniques or quality assurance and control measures that may have been in place during the execution of the exploration work.

The Company plans to engage in geologic mapping and sampling as a first step to verify the historical information and to understand the exploration potential of the district. This work will enable prioritization of targets prior to permitting and drilling.

Community engagement

Community access agreements have been established by previous operators. As a new operator, the Company recognizes the opportunity to establish fresh long-term mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities and will strive to do this from the outset.

San Luis Project Acquisition

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement the Company has agreed to purchase the San Luis Project from SSR Mining through the purchase of SSR Mining's direct and indirect shareholdings of four subsidiary companies, in consideration for an initial payment of US$5,000,000 in cash or US$7,500,000 in common shares of the Company, or a combination thereof, (the "Initial Consideration"). If any portion of the Initial Consideration is paid in common shares of the Company, such number of common shares will not exceed 4.9% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares as at the closing date.

The Company may pay up to an additional US$37,500,000 in cash to SSR Mining as contingent consideration (the "Contingent Consideration") upon completion of certain milestones in relation to the San Luis Project. The Contingent Consideration is only accrued and payable if and when the following milestones are achieved:

$2,500,000, after the commencement of an initial drilling program at the San Luis Project; $5,000,000 after the completion of a feasibility study on any portion of the San Luis Project; $10,000,000 after the beginning of commercial production; $10,000,000 after the first anniversary of commercial production; and $10,000,000 after the second anniversary of commercial production.

Pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement, a 4% net smelter returns royalty (the "Royalty") on the San Luis Project is to be granted to SSR Mining prior to closing of the Transaction. At any time before the commencement of mine construction on the San Luis Project, the Company may buy back half of the Royalty for US$15,000,000, which if, exercised, would reduce SSR Mining's royalty interest to 2%.

Closing of the Transaction is subject to certain conditions, including receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Closing is currently expected to occur in Q1 2024.

San Luis Historical Mineral Resource

The historical mineral resource is included in a Technical Report titled "Technical Report for the San Luis Feasibility Study, Ancash Department, Peru" (the "Technical Report"), with an effective date of June 4, 2010. The report was prepared as a National Instrument 43-101 101 - Standard of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("National Instrument 43-101") technical report for Reliant Ventures S.A.C. and Silver Standard Resources Inc. by Mine and Quarry Engineering Services, Inc., RR Engineering, Milne & Associates, Resource Modeling Inc, Resource Evaluation Inc., and Montgomery Watson Harzag Americas Inc, and can be accessed on SSR Mining's SEDAR+ profile. The historical estimate is considered to be relevant and reliable for the purposes of the Company proceeding with the Transaction as it provides an indication of the potential significance of the San Luis Project.

The Technical Report provides details on mineral resources and reserves, as well a potential development option for the San Luis Project that considers underground mining and processing using conventional cyanide leach methods. However, the prices, costs, and development strategy and options are no longer current and need to be re-evaluated using assumptions and qualifications that are more reflective of today's environment.

Below is a summary of the historical resource estimate from the Technical Report.

The San Luis system is a volcanic hosted, low sulphidation, epithermal quartz, precious metals deposit. Gold occurs as electrum and silver is present as acanthite, electrum, and other silver sulphosalts.

The Ayelen vein is the better of the known vein structures with more than 85% of the historical mineral resource derived from this single structure. Trenching and diamond drilling have traced this structure along a NNW strike for over 700 meters, with a steep (80) down dip extension of more than 300 meters. True thicknesses of individual vein segments vary from tens of centimeters to more than 10m, with an average width of 1.5m to 3.0m.

Mineral resource models were developed based on samples obtained from 96 surface trenches (947m) and 136 drill holes (22,354m). Capping was used to reduce the influence of erratic high-grade values. Block grades were estimated using one-meter composites and inverse distance weighting. Estimated blocks were classified as either Measured, Indicated or Inferred mineral resources based on distance to samples. For the Ayelen vein, blocks within 15 meters of surface trenches were classified as Measured. Ayelen vein blocks within 25m of sample data were classified as Indicated. The remaining estimated Ayelen blocks were classified as Inferred. An average dry density value of 2.61g/cm3 determined from 193 bulk density measurements was used for the resource calculation. The resulting historical mineral resource is shown in the table below.

Historical Mineral Resource Summary

Category Tonnes Average grades Contained Metal Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (Oz) Ag (Oz) Measured 55,000 34.3 757.6 61,000 1,345,100 Indicated 429,000 20.8 555.0 287,000 7,658,200 Measured & Indicated 484,000 22.4 578.1 348,000 9,003,300 Inferred 20,000 5.6 270.1 3,600 174,900

Notes:

The historical mineral resources are reported using a 6.0g/t Au equivalent cutoff grade. The gold equivalent calculation assumed a gold to silver price ratio of 65:1, and metal recoveries were not considered.

The historical measured, indicated and inferred mineral resources use categories as defined by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves

A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Additional work including some re-sampling of historical core and a review of the geological model, will be necessary to verify the historical resource estimate.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and is approved by Graeme Lyall (FAusIMM N224791), non-executive Director at Highlander Silver Corp, who serves as the qualified person (QP) under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101.

About Highlander Silver

Highlander Silver Corp., backed by the Augusta Group and the Lundin Family, is a mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of exceptional silver-gold-polymetallic projects in the Central Andes, leveraging the team's significant technical and operational experience in Peru and South America more widely. Currently the Company is developing the La Estrella and Alta Victoria projects in central Peru. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol HSLV and additional information about Highlander Silver and its mineral projects can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at (www.sedarplus.ca) and its website at www.highlandersilver.com.

Neither the CSE nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

David Fincham

Chief Executive Officer

Highlander Silver Corp.

(604) 283 7630

[email protected]

Forward - Looking Information

Certain information contained in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. This includes, but is not limited to, information or statements with respect to closing of the Transaction; the belief that the San Luis deposit is one of the highest-grade gold-silver deposits of its size that is yet to be mined in the world; that there is exceptional discovery potential on this large, partially explored property; that there are numerous compelling exploration targets based on previous field mapping and rock chip sampling, and we are confident that systematic exploration will likely produce several more; our vision of building a focused portfolio of Tier 1 potential silver-gold assets to the benefit of all our stakeholders; that the Company plans to undertake work to verify and update the historical estimates as a priority; that the Company may pay up to an additional US$37,500,000 in cash to SSR Mining as Contingent Consideration upon completion of certain milestones being completed in relation to the San Luis Project; and that the Royalty on the San Luis Project will be granted to SSR Mining. Such forward looking information or statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipates", "plans", "suggests", "targets" or "prospects" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "will" be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertainty relating to the geologic potential of the project, and risks relating to the Company and SSR Mining being able to satisfy all closing conditions for the Transaction in a timely fashion (if at all) including obtaining all required regulatory approvals. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that could cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are made as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE: Highlander Silver Corp.

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The Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) awards tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to qualified organizations.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / KeyBank announced it has awarded 21 Western Pennsylvania organizations with funding through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program totaling more than $500,000.

Under the program, Pennsylvania allows individuals and businesses to obtain a state tax credit equal to 90% of their Pennsylvania state tax liability for eligible contributions. These contributions must be made either to schools that provide tuition assistance to students from low-income households or to approved Educational Improvement Organizations.

"At KeyBank, we believe in supporting organizations and programs that help students succeed in school and eventually graduate and have access to college and career-building opportunities," said Vic Laurenza, KeyBank's Western Pennsylvania Market President. "We appreciate the EITC program and the opportunity to give back to the organizations that are educating the next generation of leaders."

The funding from Key ranges from $20,000 to $40,000 and have been made to the following community organizations:

Aquinas Academy

Community Foundation of Fayette County

Crossroads Foundation

Extra Mile Education Foundation

Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education Inc. (FAME

Holy Family Foundation

Junior Achievement of Western PA

Pittsburgh Jewish Educational Improvement Foundation

Poise Foundation

The School at McGuire Memorial

Watson Institute

Imani Christian Academy

Lifesteps, Inc

The Neighborhood Academy

Washington County Community Foundation

Angel's Place Inc.

Greater Erie Community Action Committee

Villa Maria Cathedral Preparatory Catholic School System

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute

Warren-Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $188 billion at September 30, 2023.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: KeyBank

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LendKey and Payitoff form partnership to help federal student loan borrowers struggling with monthly payments after the CARES act expires with a free and easy debt reduction tool, the Federal Student Loan Optimizer.

CINCINNATI, OH / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / In a continuing effort to help student loan borrowers, LendKey, the pioneer of digital network lending, is excited to announce their latest partnership with Payitoff, a leader in consumer debt guidance tools. The collaboration introduces a free and user-friendly tool designed to help federal student loan borrowers save significantly on their federal student loan payments.

LendKey and Payitoff

The innovative Federal Student Loan Optimizer tool, powered by Payitoff, allows borrowers to input their federal loan information, even if they are unsure about their servicer details. By considering various factors such as income, other debts, dependents, and more, Payitoff provides personalized recommendations for federal income-driven repayment plans. This empowers borrowers to choose the best plan based on their unique circumstances, leading to potential monthly savings on average of $240, and without sacrificing federal loan benefits.

This partnership provides an easy-to-use solution for managing student loan debt and helping lower those monthly payments. Borrowers can access the information through LendKey's Federal Student Loan Optimizer, a tool designed to support anyone with federal student debt, irrespective of their ability or willingness to refinance.

Vince Passione, CEO of LendKey, emphasized, "As the CARES Act sunsets, it has created uncertainty for millions of borrowers. LendKey and Payitoff have come together to offer this tool to not only educate federal student loan borrowers on their options but also help them to achieve financial stability more quickly."

The Federal Student Loan Optimizer guides borrowers through a simple process:

1. Learn who services their federal student loan(s) by entering their phone number, date of birth, and zip code.

2. Link federal loan accounts to receive automated guidance on federal assistance program eligibility.

3. Receive individualized repayment plan recommendations considering factors such as income, family size, and amount owed.

4. Enroll in federal assistance programs such as income-driven repayment.

"We all know the challenges the student loan payment resumption has caused, and will continue to cause, for student loan borrowers," stated Bobby Matson, CEO of Payitoff. "Partnering with companies like LendKey allows us to help borrowers easily see all their payment options, and significantly reduce monthly payments. We're excited by the possibilities this partnership provides."

To receive personalized student loan repayment recommendations and enroll in federal debt management programs in one seamless platform, click here or visit lendkey.com.

About Payitoff

PayitOff is a leading provider of consumer debt guidance tools for financial institutions, fintech, and financial wellness providers. Headquartered in New York City, Payitoff has raised $11M in funding from notable investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sound Ventures, Social Leverage, and Struck Capital. For more information, please visit https://payitoff.io.

About LendKey

LendKey is a financial technology firm and leader in providing "lending-as-a-service" solutions to credit unions, community banks, and customers. LendKey works with its clients by providing digital loan origination and servicing capabilities and delivering a loan trading marketplace platform for financial institutions and fintechs.

LendKey pioneered the concept of "digital lending networks," which harnesses the collaborative nature of community-based financial institutions to build standard lending programs for private student loans, student loan refinance, and home improvement loans. These programs utilize LendKey's lending-as-a-service platform to provide customer acquisition, online decisioning, loan origination, loan servicing, customer service, and back-office support.

ALIRO is LendKey's loan trading marketplace where financial institutions and other market participants can easily transact. Loans are offered for sale and purchased in either whole loan or fractional loan participation format, and the platform supports both one-time and forward-flow transactions. ALIRO delivers the technology, tools, and ongoing service that financial institutions need to evaluate, execute, and manage loan trades to optimize their balance sheet and risk, focusing on improving net interest income.

Since 2009, LendKey has empowered more than 350 financial institutions to offer competitive loan programs and increase their digital presence across various customer acquisition channels and marketplaces. Today, LendKey has helped its clients deploy over $6 billion in loans and services more than $3 billion in consumer loans. Visit lendkey.com for more information.

Contact Information

Michelle Asher

Sr. Public Relations Manager

[email protected]

646-626-7396

SOURCE: LendKey

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MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 29, 2023 / Luminar Media Group, Inc. (OTC PINK:LRGR) Royale de Monte Carlo, "The World's Most Prestigious Vodka", today announces a series of strategic alliances to further enhance its brand presence and intensify customer engagement from its Miami office.

Under the guidance of the acclaimed Rock Orange Agency, these partnerships aim to propel Royale de Monte Carlo to new heights, reinforcing its status as the pinnacle of vodka craftsmanship. This initiative is a testament to the brand's commitment to quality, leveraging its rich heritage and the skilled artisanship of fifth-generation master distillers in France.

The expansion of its distribution network marks a significant milestone, with Royale de Monte Carlo proudly joining forces with Mexcor International in Florida, Nationwide Wine & Spirits in Pennsylvania, and Stefano Selections in the Washington DC area. These partnerships are meticulously chosen to bolster the brand's footprint and ensure its prominence in key markets.

Complementing these distribution efforts, Royale de Monte Carlo has also enlisted Synergy Promo to create engaging off-premise events and tastings. This collaboration is crucial to the brand's strategic initiative to enhance its presence in Florida, aiming to make Royale de Monte Carlo a revered name among refined vodka aficionados.

Juan Sese Chief Operating Officer at Royale de Monte Carlo, speaks on the new partnerships: "Uniting with Rock Orange, Mexcor International, Nationwide Wine & Spirits, Stefano Selections and Synergy Promo marks a significant chapter in our quest to offer unparalleled vodka experiences. These alliances are pivotal to our expansion strategy, mirroring our passion for excellence and our innovave approach to customer engagement."

Rock Orange is ready to harmonize these new partnerships into a comprehensive branding strategy that will distinguish Royale de Monte Carlo as a leader in the luxury spirits sector.

About Royale de Monte Carlo/ Luminar Media Group, Inc.

Boasting offices in Miami, Florida, and distilled in the iconic Cognac region of France, Royale de Monte Carlo epitomizes ultra-premium vodka. This luxury beverage is adored globally for its refreshing coolness and impeccably smooth taste, crafted meticulously by fifth-generation master distillers in France. For further details, visit www.royaledemontecarlo.com .

About RockOrange

RockOrange is an award-winning integrated marketing and communications agency serving up Fresh Solid Ideas with global reach since 2012. Never checklist thinkers, our band of RockStars are driven by creative curiosity and strategic insights that deliver powerful personal connections. With expertise across businesses and around the globe, we use our proprietary FRESH Approach  - a holistic set of guiding principles, to go deeper and deliver solid solutions for our partners that evoke emotion, set trends, and make an impact in the communities they serve.

Get in touch: www.rockorange.com ; Stay in touch: @teamrockorange.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the prospective business opportunities of Royale de Monte Carlo/ Luminar Media Group, Inc. These statements are based on current beliefs and assumpons, and it is recommended to exercise caution due to inherent uncertainties. Further details on potential risks are available in the periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Investor Relations Contact

Robert Rico

Royale de Monte Carlo

Ph: 305-283-9237

SOURCE: Luminar Media Group, Inc.

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 29th, 2023 / Theralase Technologies Inc. ("Theralase" or the "Company") (TSXV:TLT)(OTCQB:TLTFF), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light and/or radiation activated Photo Dynamic Compounds ("PDCs") for the safe and effective destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses has released the Company's 3Q2023 unaudited condensed interim consolidated Financial Statements ("Financial Statements").

Financial Summary:

For the nine-month period ended September 30th:

1 Other represents foreign exchange, interest accretion on lease liabilities and / or interest income

Financial Highlights for the Nine-Month Period Ended September 30 th , 2023:

Total revenue decreased 13%, year over year.

Cost of sales for the nine-month period ended September 30th, 2023 was $363,882 or 51% of revenue resulting in a gross margin of $342,813 or 49% of revenue. In comparison, the cost of sales for the same period in 2022 was $389,232 or 48% of revenue resulting in a gross margin of $423,766 or 52% of revenue. Cost of sales is represented by the following costs: raw materials, subcontracting, direct and indirect labour and the applicable share of manufacturing overhead.

The gross margin decrease, as a percentage of sales, year over year, is primarily attributed to an increase in material costs.

Selling expenses for the six-month period ended September 30th, 2023 decreased to $194,418 from $238,904 for the same period in 2022, a 19% decrease. The decrease in selling expenses is a result of reduced advertising (24%) and salaries (25%).

Administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30th, 2023, increased to $1,456,382 from $1,060,980 for the same period in 2022, a 36% increase. The increase in administrative expenses is primarily attributed to increased spending on general and administrative expenses (82%) and director and advisory fees (35%). Stock based compensation expense increased 319% from 2022 due to an increase in stock options granted.

Net research and development expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30th, 2023, decreased to $2,250,546 from $3,330,705 for the same period in 2022 for the Drug Division, a 32% decrease and decreased to $34,844 from $133,959 for the same period in 2022 for the Device Division, a 74% decrease. The decrease in research and development expenses, for the Drug Division, is primarily attributed to the costs related to the manufacture of the Study II Drug. The decrease in research and development expenses, for the Device Division, is primarily attributed to the costs related to the manufacture of the Study II Device. Research and development expenses represented 58% of the Company's operating expenses and represent investment into the research and development of the Company's Drug Division Anti-Cancer Therapy ("ACT") technology.

The net loss for the nine month period ended September 30th, 2023, was $3,579,855, which included $714,020 of net non-cash expenses (i.e.: amortization, stock-based compensation expense and foreign exchange gain/loss). This compared to a net loss for the same period in 2022 of $4,352,101, which included $391,321 of net non-cash expenses. The Drug Division represented $3,123,435 of this loss (87%) for the nine month period ended September 30th, 2023. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributed to decreased spending on research and development expenses in Study II.

Operational Highlights:

Non-Brokered Private Placement

On September 7, 2023, the Company completed a financing by way of a non-brokered private placement, where 1,840,000 units were issued at a price of $CAN 0.25 per unit for gross proceeds of $CAN 460,000. Each unit consisted of 1 common share and 1 non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire 1 common share at a price of $CAN 0.35, expiring on September 7, 2025. An aggregate of 424,000 Units, representing gross proceeds of $CAN 106,000, were issued to certain insiders of the Corporation.

On November 29, 2023, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of units. On closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 5,318,183 units at a price of $0.22 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $CAN 1,170,000 of which 461,282 units were purchased by certain insiders of the Corporation. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of $0.28 for a period of 5 years following the date of issuance.

Break Through Designation Update

The Company has submitted a pre-BTD submission to the FDA and based on the FDA's feedback, the Company is currently working with the Clinical Study Sites ("CSSs"), a biostatistics organization and a regulatory organization to update the pre-BTD with clinical data clarifications identified by the FDA. The Company plans to resubmit the pre-BTD submission to the FDA in early 1Q2024 for FDA review of these clarifications. Once the pre-BTD submission has been accepted by the FDA, the Company plans to compile a BTD submission for review by the FDA in support of the grant of a BTD approval in 1Q2024.

Study II Preliminary Clinical Data :

To date, Study II has provided the primary study treatment for 63 patients.

Performance to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Objectives

Study II Clinical Data Based on Assessment Visit

The interim clinical data demonstrates that at the 90 Day Assessment 58% of Evaluable Patients achieved a CR and 65% achieved a Total Response (CR + IR) post primary Study II Treatment and at 450 days 35% achieved a CR and 40% achieved a TR.

Study II Clinical Data Based on Assessment Visit for Patients Treated with the Optimized Study II Treatment (Post August 1, 2020)

The interim clinical data demonstrates that at the 90 Day Assessment 64% of Evaluable Patients achieved a CR and 71% achieved a Total Response (CR + IR) post primary Study II Treatment with the Optimized Study II Treatment and at 450 days 36% achieved a CR and 42% achieved a TR.

Note:

For patients to be included in the statistical clinical analysis they must be enrolled in Study II, provided the primary Study II Treatment and evaluated by a PI at the 90 day assessment visit (cystoscopy and urine cytology)

One patient passed away prior to their 90 day assessment and is therefore not included in the statistical analysis; therefore, there are 63 patients that have been statistically analyzed.

Evaluable Patients are defined as patients who have been evaluated by a PI and thus excludes a patient's clinical data at specific assessment days, if that clinical data is pending.

Five patients have been enrolled and provided the primary Study II Treatment, but have not been evaluated at their 90 day assessment; therefore, 57 patients are considered Evaluable Patients at 90 days, with 43 patients considered Evaluable Patients at 450 days.

The data analysis presented above, should be read with caution, as the clinical data is interim in its presentation, as Study II is ongoing and new clinical data collected may or may not continue to support the current trends, with significant data still pending.

For patients who have been removed from the study by the PI or have elected to discontinue from the clinical study

their Last Observation Carried Forward ("LOCF") has been used in this statistical analysis.

Patient Response Chart

The Swimmer's plot below is a graphical representation of the interim clinical results (n=63) graphically demonstrating a patient's response to a treatment over time. As can be seen in the plot, clinical data is still pending for patients, who have demonstrated an initial CR at 90 days and continue to demonstrate a duration of that response.

Swimmer's Plot:

The Swimmer's Plot illustrates:

15 Evaluable Patients that achieved CR at each assessment date (with one patient under PI review with a NR at the 270 and 360 assessment dates) and thus achieved the primary and secondary objectives of Study II for all patients assessed up to 450 days (15/43 = 35%).

38 Evaluable Patients that achieved CR on at least one assessment date and thus achieved the primary objective of Study II (38/57 = 67%)

Kaplan-Meier Curve

The Kaplan-Meier ("KM") Curve represents the interim cumulative incidence of clinical events, including the treatment efficacy, occurring over prespecified time in Study II.

According to the interim clinical data in the KM curve:

> 80% of patients remained in Study II after 90 days, following the initial Study II Treatment.

46% of Total Response patients have a duration of response e 450 days.

40% of Complete Response patients have a duration of response e 450 days.

Serious Adverse Events

For 63 patients treated in Study II, there have been 11 Serious Adverse Events ("SAEs") reported:

2 - Grade 2 (resolved within 1 and 1 days, respectively)

6 - Grade 3 (resolved within 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 82 and unknown days, respectively)

2 - Grade 4 (resolved within 6 and 8 days, respectively)

1 - Grade 5

Theralase believes all SAEs reported to date are unrelated to the Study II Drug or Study II Device, as reviewed and confirmed by the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board ("DSMB").

Note: A SAE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence that at any dose: Is serious or life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or results in death.

About Study II:

Study II utilizes the therapeutic dose of the patented Study II Drug ( "RuvidarTM" or "TLD-1433") (0.70 mg/cm2) activated by the proprietary Study II Device (TLC-3200 Medical Laser System or "TLC-3200"). Study II is focused on enrolling and treating approximately 100 BCG-Unresponsive NMIBC Carcinoma In-Situ ("CIS") patients in up to 15 Clinical Study Sites ("CSS") located in Canada and the United States.

About RuvidarTM:

RuvidarTM is a patented PDC with 12 years of published peer reviewed preclinical research and is currently under investigation in Study II.

About Theralase Technologies Inc.:

Theralase is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of light activated compounds, their associated drug formulations and the light systems that activate them, with a primary objective of efficacy and a secondary objective of safety in the destruction of various cancers, bacteria and viruses.

Additional information is available at www.theralase.com and www.sedar.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such statements include; but are not limited to statements regarding the Company's proposed development plans with respect to Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of the words "may, "should", "will", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "expects", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions; including, statements related to the current expectations of Company's management for future research, development and commercialization of the Company's Photo Dynamic Compounds and their drug formulations, preclinical research, clinical studies and regulatory approvals.

These statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions; including, the ability of the Company to: adequately fund, and secure the requisite regulatory approvals to successfully complete a Phase II NMIBC clinical study in a timely fashion and implement its development plans. Other risks include: the ability of the Company to successfully commercialize its drug formulations, the risk that access to sufficient capital to fund the Company's operations may not be available or may not be available on terms that are commercially favorable to the Company, the risk that the Company's drug formulations may not be effective against the diseases tested in its clinical studies, the risk that the Company's fails to comply with the term of license agreements with third parties and as a result loses the right to use key intellectual property in its business, the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property, the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings, and the impacts of public health crises, such as COVID-19. Many of these factors that will determine actual results are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict.

Readers should not unduly rely on these forward- looking statements which are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate as such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in the press release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are subject to change. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

For More Information:

1.866.THE.LASE (843-5273)

416.699.LASE (5273)

www.theralase.com

Kristina Hachey, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE: Theralase Technologies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
PARK CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / November 30, 2023 / NRP Stone, Inc. (Symbol:NRPI)

NRP Stone, Inc. (Symbol:NRPI), a pioneering force in space innovation through its subsidiary Uplift Aerospace, Inc., is proud to announce its recent receipt of a STEP grant from the Utah World Trade Center. This grant provides industry validation of Uplift Aerospace's commitment to revolutionizing STEM education globally through cutting-edge technology.

The grant will support the hosting of interactive workshops for students and teachers as part of the Australian Space Forum and Young Space Explorers conference in Sydney, Australia, scheduled to start December 6, 2023. These workshops will showcase Uplift Aerospace's groundbreaking Virtual Reality (VR) Astronaut Training Program - an immersive VR learning platform that transforms the excitement of astronaut training into a dynamic educational tool for both classrooms and home learning environments.

SCHOOL REGISTRATIONS

Uplift Aerospace is currently in discussions with school districts in the United States to begin running 9-week programs starting in the Spring of 2024. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks along with information regarding corporate revenue for this division of the company. If you would like to learn more about integrating our immersive VR learning platform into your school district, please contact [email protected].

ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING

NRP Stone, Inc. will host its annual shareholder meeting in late January 2024, at our Park City, Utah offices, with a livestream option available. Attendees can demo our student VR learning platform, and we'll cover the company's current status and our 5-year strategic plan.

ABOUT NRP STONE INC

NRP Stone Inc. (Symbol:NRPI), runs its businesses through its wholly-owned subsidiary Uplift Aerospace Inc. Uplift provides holistic space mission solutions, including astronaut training (both in-person and VR), mission design, and access to suborbital and orbital flights, striving to democratize space exploration and commercialization.

Over the past two years, Uplift Aerospace has secured agreements with NASA, Blue Origin, Orbital Reef Space Station, University of Arizona, University of Wisconsin, and the University of Central Florida. The ultimate objective of the Company is to run its businesses in order to create shareholder value, while exercising sound corporate governance to ensure the interests of the Company's management and shareholders are completely aligned.

MEDIA CONTACT: [email protected]

Symbol:NRPI

For the latest updates, visit upliftaerospace.com and follow @upliftaerospace on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

Disclosures and Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, economic and market factors, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company, its management, or affiliates, undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

SOURCE: NRP Stone, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
A 24-hour exclusive in a 37-piece limited edition

A 24-hour exclusive only on Panerais e-commerce, a special edition to celebrate Panerais partnership with Luna Rossa as the official sponsor of the Italian sailing team at the 37th America Cup.

The Luminor Luna Rossa Carbotech will be made available only for 24 hours on 30th November 2023, in a limited 37 pieces to mark the prestigious sailing competitions 37th edition. Set in a 44mm Carbotech case, the watch features a blue sun-brushed dial with a grey small seconds counter and red small seconds hand, inspired by the official color codes of Luna Rossa.

Patented by Panerai, the structure of Carbotech is designed to enhance both the aesthetics and the performance of the material where thin sheets of carbon fibres are compressed at a controlled temperature under high pressure together with a high-end polymer, PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), which binds the composite material, making it stronger and more durable.

Luminor Luna Rossa Carbotech  Panerai

Powered by the automatic P.9010 calibre with a three-day power reserve, the watch comes with a bi-material strap with a rubber strip that bears the emblematic Luna Rossa. Equipped with the straps can be easily swapped to create looks for different moods and styles.

The 24-hour exclusive limited edition is part of the Panerai and Luna Rossa partnership that expounds on Panerais DNA in forging a portfolio of uncompromising watches with a particular focus on instruments for aquatic adventures and passion-driven research for advancement.

Going to ones limits, pushing new boundaries in performance, and living the adrenaline of overcoming challenges, all in the glory of the open sea  the modern heroes of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team are the ultimate embodiment of Panerais values. With a legacy inextricably connected to underwater exploration, Panerai perpetuates its pursuit of crafting precise tools through research, new materials, and avant-garde technology to accompany the contemporary navigators of the sailing team who exemplify a shared ambition to excel.


Riposte Capital LLC, one of the largest shareholders of SilverBow Resources, Inc. (NYSE: SBOW), owning approximately 6.7% of the Company's outstanding common stock, today sent the following letter to SilverBow's Board of Directors.

***

SilverBow Resources, Inc.

920 Memorial City Way , Suite 850

Houston , TX 77024

Attention: Board of Directors

Dear Sean and Members of the Board,

As significant and constructive shareholders of SilverBow Resources, Inc. (NYSE: SBOW), owning approximately 6.7% of the Company's outstanding common stock, we recognize the material unrealized value in SilverBow's assets across an important basin, and can no longer just hope that you will do better.

You have proven yourselves incapable of being credible stewards of capital or corporate governance. It is clear to us, and likely many others in the investment community, that you have no interest in enabling shareholders to exercise their right to participate in the strategic decision-making process. You also appear to have no intention of engaging in good faith discussions with potential suitors.

On June 14, 2023 , as one of the largest shareholders in SilverBow, we called on you to take decisive and common sense actions to unlock shareholder value, positioning the Company for long term success. Regrettably, you chose a different path  one that has eroded hundreds of millions of dollars in shareholder capital, while further siloing and backing the Company into a corner.

You have continued to pursue a value destructive strategy, which has:

Further entrenched the Board;

Significantly depressed SilverBow's share price;

Widened the Company's already material peer group discount;

Added significant debt to an already fragile balance sheet; and

Made the Company less attractive to potential acquirers.

When we wrote to you in June, your stock price was languishing and meaningfully underperforming relevant indices and peers. SilverBow traded at a 40% discount to peers with a mere EV/EBITDA multiple of 1.9X. Five months later, as a result of your misguided strategic initiatives, you have increased SilverBow's valuation discount to approximately 50% vs. the peer group. The sector multiple currently sits at 3X, whereas SilverBow sits at just 2X 2024 EV / EBITDA.

We specifically advised you to avoid dilutive acquisitions given your lack of scale, financial profile and modestly valued equity. However, a mere two months after our public letter you went ahead and made a $700mm "transformational" acquisition of Chesapeake's South Texas position. Sean, in announcing the purchase you said, among other things, that "this is a value-enhancing transaction for SilverBow shareholders." Predictably, since the announcement on August 14, 2023 , SilverBow's share price has decreased by 23%.

Your "transformational" acquisition destroyed much of the value that had accrued to the Company following our open letter and a rise in commodity prices. Notably, because of your poor financial profile, you were compelled to issue fresh equity, 12% discounted to an already undervalued share price  an irresponsible tactic that was highly prejudicial to the interests of your shareholders, precisely what we foresaw and advised against in prior communications.

It has become clear that you have done everything within your power to deter potential acquirers of the Company in the midst of an ongoing wave of logical consolidation that is unfolding across your peer groups' ecosystem. Why else would you maintain the dubious distinction of being the only public E&P company with a poison pill? The existence of this pill has been widely criticized by both investors and Institutional Shareholder Services, a leading proxy and corporate governance advisory firm.

In the face of your complete absence to either engage with us as a material shareholder, or to pursue a strategy that creates value for your investors, we have concluded that in order for the best interests of the Company to be served, the composition of your Board must be materially altered at the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders.

Three new and independent candidates must be nominated and elected by shareholders  the true owners of SilverBow. Riposte is keen to support or put forward such independent nominees.

Sincerely,

/s/ Khaled Beydoun

Riposte Capital

About Riposte Capital

Riposte Capital is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor based in New York City. The equity strategy was launched in 2013 and is primarily focused on cyclical industries.
Trian Fund Management, L.P. (together with its affiliates, Trian or we) beneficially owns approximately $3 billion of stock in The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) (Disney or the Company). This morning, following conversations with Disneys CEO, Disney extended an offer to Trian to meet with the Board but informed Trian that the Board is turning down Trians recent request for Board representation, including Nelson Peltz. Trian said the following regarding the discussions:

Since we gave Disney the opportunity to prove it could right the ship last February, up to our re-engagement weeks ago, shareholders lost ~$70 billion of value. Disney's share price has underperformed proxy peers and the broader market over every relevant period during the last decade and over the tenure of each incumbent director. Investor confidence is low, key strategic questions loom, and even Disney's CEO is acknowledging that the Company's challenges are greater than previously believed. While James Gorman and Sir Jeremy Darroch represent an improvement from the status quo, the addition of these directors will not, in our view, restore investor confidence or address the root cause behind the significant value destruction and missteps that this Board has overseen. Trian intends to take our case for change directly to shareholders.
Exposes irresponsible and slanted reporting as California homelessness crisis escalates

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has a new full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times running Thursday, November 30th and Sunday, December 3rd exposing the newspapers ongoing bias in covering the worlds largest HIV/AIDS nonprofit, especially as it insists on attacking AHFs commitment to addressing the increasingly devastating homelessness and affordable housing crises in California.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130334718/en/

The ad asks why the LA Times repeatedly has omitted key information or refused to correct the record when it writes about AHF which has spent more than $178 million to purchase and renovate old, historic properties in Los Angeles alone and has given more than 1400 people a safe, stable, affordable place to live. The ad reads, in part, Making the perfect the enemy of the good is cruel. What better solution are you offering?

The LA Times repeatedly writes articles critical of Skid Row housing providers. We all face the same problems: a troubled population, old buildings, and a lack of city support, said Michael Weinstein, AHF president and cofounder. The current housing crisis in America is a moral outrage on par with the neglect of AIDS patients at the beginning of the epidemic in the 1980s, and while AHF is stepping up to help, the LA Times insists on attacking AHF instead of reporting on the positive work we have been doing for more than 36 years to save lives in the United States and around the world.

The full-page Open Letter To The LA Times reads as follows:

Your coverage of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is profoundly unfair.

AHF has saved millions of lives and has led the battle against AIDS in California for 36 years.

In your most recent article, it does not say that every high-level inspector in Los Angeles has certified under oath that we are doing everything possible to give our tenants a decent place to live.

Not long ago you wrote a front-page article about our MediCal contract being cancelled by the Newsom administration. However, you neglected to write a follow-up story when that action was ruled unconstitutional by the court and the contract was reinstated.

Six homeless people die on the streets of Los Angeles every day. The 100+ year old buildings we have purchased for $178 million and spent $15.4 million operating and fixing up are the low hanging fruit to house people immediately.

Making the perfect the enemy of the good is cruel. What better solution are you offering?

You have toured our buildings multiple times and have seen our efforts to make them clean and secure. What is your agenda in attacking virtually every Skid Row housing provider?

Your articles have become fodder for the corporate real estate industry to fight our initiative for rent control. We aren't perfect and we can accept criticism, but you have gone way beyond the pale in attacking one of the largest non-profits in California while leaving the corporate landlords unscathed.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the worlds largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.9 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130334718/en/

Ged Kenslea, AHF Sr. Comms Dir.

(323) 791-5526

[email protected]

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent) of African Reinsurance Corporation (ARC) (Nigeria). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect ARCs balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favourable business profile, and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

ARCs balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects ARCs risk-adjusted capitalisation to be supported by good internal capital generation, low underwriting leverage and a relatively conservative investment allocation. An offsetting factor is ARCs high exposure to the elevated levels of economic, political and financial system risk that are associated with its main operating markets in Africa. However, AM Best views these risks to be partially mitigated by the companys good geographic diversification, with reinsurance business well-diversified across the continent and a significant portion of surplus assets held in North America and Europe.

ARC has a track record of robust overall performance, evident by a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average return-on-equity ratio (ROE) of 5.1%. However, in recent years, results have been negatively impacted by the emergence of foreign exchange losses associated with the devaluation of many African currencies against the U.S. dollar. AM Best notes that the companys ROE should be viewed in light of its solid capital buffers and its reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. The company has generated robust underwriting performance over the long term, as demonstrated by a 10-year (2013-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 94.1%. While non-life underwriting performance has been volatile in some years, with 2018-2020 results below expectations, performance in recent years has improved significantly, with a combined ratio of 94.3% in 2022. AM Best expects underwriting performance in 2023 and prospectively to trend in line with recent years, supported by managements strict underwriting approach, though adverse foreign currency movements are expected to weigh negatively on overall earnings.

ARC is a composite reinsurer, with a primary focus on Africa. The company enjoys privileged market access and strong brand recognition, providing ARC with solid long-term growth prospects as the regions insurance markets and economies continue to develop. AM Best considers ARCs ERM framework to be aligned with the size and complexity of its operations.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130378407/en/

Dale Kirby

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0276

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Tim Prince

Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0320

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
Sentri7 Drug Diversion proactively monitors for diversion risk from purchase to patient

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The International Health Facility Diversion Association estimates that more than 37,000 diversion incidents occur in U.S. healthcare facilities each year. Yet despite the fact that nearly all healthcare leaders agree drug diversion occurs, 79% believe that most cases go undetected (2023 State of Drug Diversion Survey). To better equip healthcare facilities to address this growing threat to patient and staff safety, Wolters Kluwer Health is expanding its Sentri7 clinical surveillance suite to include the Sentri7 Drug Diversion solution, formerly Flowlytics from Invistics.1

Healthcare leaders are looking for AI solutions to tackle drug diversion

Despite an increasing number of solutions available on the market to address drug diversion, healthcare executives confidence remains low. The 2023 State of Drug Diversion Survey found only 40% of executives are very confident in the efficacy of their drug diversion detection programs. Among executives who use artificial intelligence-based tools however, confidence dramatically increased, and adoption of these platforms nearly doubled from 2019 to 2023.

Powered by AI and machine learning, the Sentri7 Drug Diversion solution aims to address these gaps in confidence with a proven track record of proactive drug diversion surveillance that minimizes the burden on hospital staff.

Drug diversion has always been a problem that feels a few steps ahead. Its like finding a needle in a haystack, requiring numerous manual and time-consuming reports from my team, said Tammy Burns, Director of Pharmacy Services at Mary Lanning Healthcare. Using the Sentri7 Drug Diversion solution, my team is in a better position to be proactive in our drug diversion surveillance, ultimately supporting heightened safety across our organization. Its reassuring to know well receive the same high level of support and guidance with this solution as we do with the rest of the Sentri7 Suite.

Expanding the trusted Sentri7 umbrella to embrace new, connected solutions

Sentri7s clinical surveillance suite includes solutions that improve sepsis detection and management; optimize medication use, opioid management, and antimicrobial stewardship; and streamline infection prevention. The new drug diversion solution expands the portfolio to help hospitals and health systems address another significant burden, estimated to cost U.S. healthcare systems over $72 billion per year, impacting patient care and damaging clinician health.

Our team of clinicians, pharmacists, and data scientists is committed to improving the performance of healthcare organizations. For the past decade, Sentri7 Clinical Surveillance and Simplifi+ Pharmacy Compliance have been core to this mission, and we will continue to enhance our solution offerings to tackle significant challenges in healthcare. Now, were excited to bring a sophisticated diversion detection solution into the Sentri7 suite, saving busy diversion detection teams time and ensuring patient and staff safety, said Karen Kobelski, Vice President and General Manager of Clinical Surveillance, Compliance & Data Solutions, Wolters Kluwer, Health.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,900 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130836614/en/

Media

Andre Rebelo

Director, External Communications

Wolters Kluwer Health

+1 (781) 392-2411

[email protected]

Source: Wolters Kluwer Health
New solution marks a revolutionary step in the standard for monitoring, testing, and enhancing the efficacy of front-line financial crime controls through automated and continuous effectiveness testing

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cable, the all-in-one effectiveness testing platform, today announced the launch of its industry-first solution, Transaction Assurance, pioneering a new wave of financial crime compliance and transaction testing.

"In recent years, weve witnessed a surge in compliance lapses, highlighted by billions in fines levied against major institutions for financial crime failures. These cases have brought to light gaps in existing protocols, including systemic failures in manual testing, said Natasha Vernier, Founder and CEO, Cable. These industry shortcomings are why we developed Transaction Assurance. It helps illuminate the vast, often untested expanse of transactional data, bringing that previously unseen 99% into sharp focus.

Distinct from traditional transaction monitoring, Cables Transaction Assurance automates the effectiveness testing of these systems, ensuring every transaction is not only monitored but also rigorously tested for any regulatory breaches or control failures, thereby eliminating the limitations of manual dip sampling.

The launch of Cables Transaction Assurance marks a significant leap in the standard for monitoring, testing, and enhancing the efficacy of front-line financial crime controls. It offers banks, fintechs, and payment platforms the only fully automated and continuous effectiveness testing solution for financial transactions, ensuring strict adherence to regulatory requirements related to transaction monitoring as well as sanctions, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), and the Travel Rule.

Transaction Assurance stands as the first product of its kind, specifically designed to address the acute challenges institutions face in effectively testing transactions on their platforms. Cables advanced assurance engine transcends traditional, manual sampling methods  which are costly, error-prone, and highly inefficient, typically covering only 1% of an organization's transaction volume  offering a more reliable, automated solution. Cables Transaction Assurance fills that gap, providing 100% coverage at scale, capable of handling millions of transactions. Cable customer, Ramp Network, had this to say:

It is either Cable or 4 more people. No one questions the expense for that reason. For our size and volume, you would expect a larger team, but we have literally tested more transactions than all of our competitors. - Steven Eisenhauer, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Ramp Network

Acting as a sophisticated overlay to existing first-line control systems, Transaction Assurance serves as a powerful translation layer. It amplifies the effectiveness (and value) of these systems by synthesizing and testing data in real-time, thus ensuring continuous adherence to your policies and controls. This not only delivers actionable insights and alerts but also grants maximum visibility into an organization's compliance posture at any given time, with detailed reporting and analytics capabilities.

This comprehensive approach streamlines the end-to-end compliance workflow, reducing operational burdens. Furthermore, it equips compliance teams with clear evidence of their programs effectiveness, which can be confidently presented to auditors, regulators, and stakeholders.

To learn more about Cable or to experience how Transaction Assurance can transform your organization's financial crime compliance program, visit cable.tech or book a demo.

About Cable

Cables all-in-one effectiveness testing platform offers banks, fintechs, and crypto firms a purpose-built suite of tools to ensure compliance with financial crime requirements, including tech-enabled risk assessments, automated assurance, quality assurance, management information, reporting, and more. To learn more, visit www.cable.tech or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @cabledottech and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130326949/en/

Media Contact

Taylor Odekirk

Walker Sands for Cable

[email protected]

Source: Cable
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cega Finance ("Cega") announces the launch of its Dual Currency strategy to unlock new yield opportunities for the Liquid Staking ecosystem, providing returns of 22%+ APY for stETH or ETH holders. This collaboration with Lido taps into the rapidly expanding Liquid Staking market and continued growth of Ethereum, where Cega's structured investment expertise meets Lido's staking leadership to fuel a real yield revolution.

The Liquid Staking ecosystem has grown +106% in size in the last year, and shows no signs of slowing down. More than a quarter of all ETH in circulation is staked, and a third of that is directly in Lido. Lidos stETH market alone, currently valued at over $16 billion, represents the significant emergence of a new capital market structure.

A major problem in the billion-dollar Liquid Staking market today is lack of yield opportunities for stETH holders, limited to around ~3% APY without delving into leveraged or higher-risk strategies. Cegas new Dual Currency product solves this by offering DeFi investors an innovative yet simple way to earn at the highest stETH and ETH yield in the market of 22%+ real yield through options trading.

Since launching in 2022, Cega has become the leader in on-chain structured investments by building innovative products that earn investors safer, higher real yields through exotic options. Over $300M in volume has been transacted to date.

The launch of the Dual Currency strategy is exciting for a number of reasons. We're pioneering a new era in DeFi by introducing Dual Currency, integrating one of the most sought-after structured products with yield-bearing DeFi tokens. said Arisa Toyosaki, CEO & Co-Founder at Cega. Our innovation not only delivers attractive returns in the current market environment, but also continues our journey of expanding the untapped potential of DeFi through exotic options innovation."

The Lido team echoes this enthusiasm for the potential of Cega's Dual Currency products. "We are excited to see innovative strategies such as Cega's Dual Currency products that enhance the utility of stETH by giving holders more options and opportunities to utilize their stETH." said Kenneth Tan, DeFi Generalist Contributor at Lido.

Cega has prioritized security and safety with their release of the Dual Currency products to provide peace of mind for investors. A comprehensive security audit with Ottersec was conducted, and Cega also received security consulting from Code4renas top auditor during live code development.

Cega's launch of the Dual Currency strategy marks a major win for the Liquid Staking ecosystem, and illustrates what's achievable when innovation converges with market needs. With more innovation on the horizon for early 2024, Cega is redefining the landscape of structured investments and expanding the frontiers of safer, real yield in DeFi.

To explore Cega's new products and begin your investment journey, visit https://app.cega.fi.

About Cega:

Cega is a decentralized structured investments protocol that helps investors earn high fixed yield on their USDC stablecoin. Cega strategies deliver yield enhancement, principal protection, and more, to an investors diversified DeFi portfolio. Now accessible on Ethereum, Solana, and Arbitrum.

Use of Cegas Portal and Services is subject to the Cega Terms of Service. Access and use of the Cega Portal and Services is subject to a range of risks, including financial risk including potential loss of funds. The Cega Portal and Services are not offered to persons or entities who are U.S. Persons, Restricted Persons, or Sanctioned Persons (as defined in the Cega Terms of Service). Access and use by such persons is expressly prohibited.

Learn more: https://www.cega.fi

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cega_fi

Discord: discord.gg/cega

About Lido:

Lido Finance is a middleware liquid staking solution deployed on the Ethereum blockchain, aiming to onboard the next wave of institutional adopters to DeFi. Lido Finance is integrated with decentralized applications on the Ethereum blockchain and is the largest liquid staking protocol by total value locked (TVL) on Ethereum.

Learn more: https://lido.fi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lidofinance

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/lido

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130795092/en/

[email protected]

Source: Cega Finance
TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rugged embedded computing brand - Cincoze has launched the high-performance panel PC series (P2202+CV/CS/CO Series), the latest addition to the Display Computing - CRYSTAL product line. The highlight of this series is the Intel Core U-series (Alder Lake-P) processor, which provides computing performance rarely seen on the market. With Cincozes exclusive CDS technology, it can be applied to a wide range of scenarios with differing requirements, such as harsh industrial applications, outdoor high-brightness settings, or seamless integration with equipment and machinery, making it an ideal choice for HMI applications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130056765/en/

Cincoze Unveils Its Latest Alder Lake-P High-performance Panel PCs (Photo: Business Wire)

Slim with Powerful Performance

The P2202 series includes two models with Intel Core i3/i5 U-series (Alder Lake-P) processors, the P2202 and the P2202E with PCIe expansion. Compared to the Whiskey Lake platform models, they offer up to a 2.23x performance improvement, with an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics that enhances graphics performance by up to 2.58x compared to previous models. The P2202 series also supports up to 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz memory. With its excellent performance and its thin and slim body design (254.5 x 190 x 41.5 mm, P2022 model), the P2202 Series can meet various application environment requirements.

One Computer, Two Purposes

The P2202 Series are thin embedded computers, particularly recommended for applications with limited installation space or mobile devices. Besides standalone use, Cincozes exclusive CDS patented technology (Convertible Display System, Patent No. M482908) enables the addition of a convertible display module to form a panel PC for different environments and application requirements, such as a general-use industrial panel PC (CV+P2202 Series), high-brightness sunlight-readable panel PC (CS+P2202 Series), or an open frame panel PC (CO+P2202 Series), with a variety of sizes, display ratios, and touch methods to choose from.

Rich I/O and Modular Expansion

Supporting four independent displays (DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, and CDS), the P2202 series not only boasts rich native I/O but also supports 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless communication modules in the built-in Mini PCIe and M.2 Key E slots. For special purposes, Cincoze's exclusive modular design allows users to add additional functions easily, such as PoE and IGN. Furthermore, the P2202E has a PCIe slot for expansion cards up to 75W.

Stable and Reliable Operation

The P2202 Series adheres to Cincozes consistently high quality standards. The series has wide temperature and wide voltage adaptability and has successfully passed various reliability tests for vibration and shock, including sinusoidal vibration (1G), random vibration (5G), and shock resistance (50G). They have also met the strict industrial EMC testing standards (EN 61000-6-2 and EN 61000-6-4). These tests ensure the high-level industrial-grade protection and reliability of the P2202 series.

About Cincoze

Cincoze is a rugged embedded computer brand that provides embedded computer solutions for edge computing and AIoT needs. Its product lines include rugged embedded computers, industrial panel PCs, industrial monitors, and embedded GPU computers. Cincoze products meet the application needs of various vertical markets, especially manufacturing, in-vehicle systems, rail, transportation, and warehouse and logistics. Over the years, Cincoze has launched many innovative products and has won several patents, awards, and international certifications.

TagsPanel PC / Industrial HMI / AMR

For more information, please visit www.cincoze.com, or contact us by email: [email protected].

Cincoze Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130056765/en/

Press

Cindy Lin

Phone: +886-2-8912-1101 #1904

E-Mail: [email protected]

www.cincoze.com

Source: Cincoze
Second GPS Report Highlights Global Challenges from Food Security, Water Scarcity and Climate

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) begins in Dubai, Citi Global Perspectives and Solutions (GPS) will publish two reports titled Unlocking Climate and Development Finance: Creating Bankable Projects and Food, Water, Climate Nexus.

The first report looks at how to increase the flow of money into the geographies, industries, and projects where it can make a difference while generating a suitable risk-adjusted return. Traditionally, the explanation for the insufficient mobilization of finance has been the mismatch between the risk appetite of the capital and the risk profile of the projects. While facilitating capital flows is well understood, more bankable and investable projects are needed.

While the mismatch challenge is at the heart of the issue, it is a relatively simple one in essence, says Jason Channell, Head of Sustainable Finance, Citi Global Insights. If all players have the right capacity-building, education, understanding, and will - and at the same time can create an enabling environment, the challenge should be surmountable, with each player understanding what others need to fulfil their part of the bargain and their responsibilities to stakeholders, he adds.

The second report focuses on the connections between food, water and climate  known as the food, water and climate nexus. The report analyses how climate change impacts water supplies, it can also impact global food production and hence global food security. The report shows that several countries and regions important to the production of staple crops, which make up two-thirds of the worlds food calories, have a significant risk of water stress under a business-as-usual climate change scenario.

History has shown that any reduction in crop yields for staple crops can have a material impact on global food security. Higher food prices especially for staple crops important for billions of people lead to an increase in hunger, undernourishment, economic damage and political instability, says Liz Curmi, Global Thematic Analyst, Citi Global Insights. Business revenues are also likely to suffer: the Citi GPS analysis estimates that over $3 trillion of public companies revenues are at risk, she adds.

The good news is that there are plenty of solutions available. To make this happen, the world needs good policy and economic instruments and to build partnerships across multiple key actors, with farmers and producers at the center of these discussions. Humanity has reached a tipping point  we need to now put water back at the top of our sustainability agenda. If we dont, we will be sleepwalking into a food and water crisis, Liz Curmi concludes.

Citis Delegation at COP28

Citis largest ever COP delegation comprises senior leaders representing businesses across the firm that are working to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Citi is both a strategic partner with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and an associate pathway partner of COP28, during which the bank will be hosting events with global stakeholders such as the World Food Programme and the World Bank.

Since April 2022, Citi has been leading on key Green, Sustainability-linked and Social Issuances across Middle East and Africa, including:

African Development Funds 1.2 billion social bond issuance

Debut US$3.0 billion multi-tranche green offering by Public Investment Fund

Inaugural US$1 billion sustainable bond offering by Government of the Emirate of Sharjah

US$2.5 billion equivalent sustainability-linked offering by Teva Pharmaceuticals

US$500 million green hybrid offering by Majid Al Futtaim

At least $125 trillion in capital investment is needed for the global economy to reach net zero by 2050, said Ebru Pakcan, Cluster and Banking Head for the Middle East and Africa. Together with globally responsible partners in private and public sectors, Citi will continue to support clients fully on their transition journey.

Citi is present in 29 markets in the Middle East and Africa region, and offers services including Corporate, Investment and Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, Sales and Trading, Transactions Services, and Wealth Management.

A full list of Citis COP28 activities can be found here: https://www.citigroup.com/global/events/united-nations-climate-change-conference

-Ends-

About Citi

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter/X: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi

About Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions

As our premier thought leadership product, Citi Global Perspectives & Solutions (Citi GPS) is designed to help our clients navigate the global economys most demanding challenges, identify future themes and trends, and help our clients profit in a fast-changing and interconnected world. Citi GPS accesses the best elements of our global conversation and harvests the thought leadership of our research analysts and a wide range of senior professionals across our firm. https://www.citigroup.com/global/insights/citigps

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130481358/en/

Media Contacts

Guy Matthews +971 52 351 3329 [email protected]

Karim Seifeddine +971 50 550 4741 [email protected]

Source: Citi
TAIPEI, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a pioneer in AI and facial recognition technology, today announces FaceMe Security certified integration with Genetec Security Center unified security platform. With the incorporation of FaceMe Securitys AI facial recognition, Genetec Security Center users can painlessly upgrade existing smart security and access control infrastructure with detection of blocklisted individuals, real-time alerts, employee access control capabilities, and optimized facial search, which can lead to faster video investigations.

Genetec Security Centers ecosystem was built to manage security policies, monitor events, and run investigations. By combining video surveillance and access control functionalities in one interface, Genetec expanded their customers ability to have real-time monitoring for the prevention of security breaches. Using an extensive SDK, it accommodates new data types seamlessly in one integration, making it possible to easily integrate new technologies, like CyberLinks AI facial recognition engine, FaceMe.

The integration of FaceMe Security upgrades and empowers existing Genetec security surveillance systems with AI video analytics and facial recognition. By fully leveraging new computing capabilities of IP cameras with AI, optimal synergy between software and hardware can be achieved, helping reduce total cost of ownership. Users also benefit from leading facial recognition technology, that boasts an impressive accuracy rate of 99.83%, top ranked in 1:1 and 1:N evaluations, as validated by NIST.

FaceMe Security makes it simple and efficient to add facial recognition access control. When a persons face is verified, FaceMe Security can send real-time push notifications to Genetec Security Center, which then allows or denies entry based on preset permission settings. With 24/7 surveillance monitoring and AI facial recognition, you can always know who has entered and exited the building.

Additionally, FaceMe Securitys ability to enhance investigative capabilities is made possible with the FaceMe Locator plug-in, in conjunction with Genetec Security Centers Visual Tracking function. Instead of the days, weeks, or even months it may take personnel to complete manual investigations, FaceMe Locator dramatically reduces search time, improving safety and security.

The FaceMe Locator plug-in for Genetec enables users to search by face. Using a facial image of the person of interest and filtering for date and time of the event, FaceMe Locator will list all events where that person was recorded and provide corresponding video playback. A facial image can be provided in 3 ways: via an uploaded image, a face cropped from a recorded video, or a face cropped from a live video stream. Once a person is found, Genetecs Visual Tracking feature is utilized to track their path from one camera to the next.

CyberLink is excited that our certified integration with Genetec provides Security Center users with the ability to easily run the most advanced AI-based facial recognition algorithms on a unified security platform, enabling efficiency and capability gains directly within the Genetec Security Center interface, said Dr. Jau Huang, Chairman and CEO of CyberLink.

To learn more about the integration of FaceMe Security & Genetec Security Center, please visit https://www.cyberlink.com/faceme/solution/security/vms/Genetec-Security-Center

About Genetec

Genetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. Today, the company develops solutions designed to improve security, intelligence, and operations for enterprises, governments, and the communities in which we live. Its flagship product, Security Center, is an open-architecture platform that unifies IP-based video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), communications, and analytics. Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its customers via an extensive network of certified channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries.

About CyberLink

Founded in 1996, CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW) is the world leader in multimedia software and AI facial recognition technology. CyberLink addresses the demands of consumer, commercial and education markets through a wide range of solutions, covering digital content creation, multimedia playback, video conferencing, live casting, mobile applications and AI facial recognition. CyberLink has shipped several hundred million copies of its multimedia software and apps, including the award-winning PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, and PowerDVD. With years of research in the fields of artificial intelligence and facial recognition, CyberLink has developed the FaceMe Facial Recognition Engine. Powered by deep learning algorithms, FaceMe delivers the reliable, high-precision, and real-time facial recognition that is critical to AIoT applications such as smart retail, smart security, and surveillance, smart city and smart home. For more information about CyberLink, please visit the official website at www.cyberlink.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130455398/en/

Press Contacts

[email protected]

Source: CyberLink Corp.
The international community is commemorating today, 28 November, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. A day to show respect and support the Palestinian people, who suffered trying to face the Israeli occupation since the 1948 exodus.

In Morocco, the position of the royal family and the Moroccan people has always been known to the rest of the world : An unconditional support for the Palestinian cause, since the Arab-Israeli war fought on October 6, 1973. 6,000 Moroccan soldiers from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) participated to the Yom Kippur war alongside the Syrian comrades in arms.

At the same time, the Kingdom, under the reign of King Hassan II, had led several attempts to mediate between the Arab countries and Israel. From 1977 to 1978, Morocco played the role of a middleman through the holding of secret meetings between the two parties on its soil.

For his part, King Mohammed VI had provided material and moral support for the Palestinian cause since the day he ascended to the throne. Apart from Moroccos positions following the attacks targeting the Palestinians, the monarch had repeatedly ordered sending emergency grants to the people affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the Gaza strip.

Indeed, in July 2014, an emergency budget of $ 5 million was granted to the Palestinian people after Israel raided the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, King Mohammed VI agreed to pay for the furnishing of a higher educational institution in Gaza, with a budget of $1.3 million. More than that, Morocco has established in 2012 a Moroccan medico-surgical hospital campaign in Gaza to provide health care for the victims.

United to defend the Palestinian cause

Financially speaking, Morocco, which chairs the Al-Quds Committee and its agency, Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif, remains one of the few countries known for honoring their commitments helping the sister nation. In May, the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Malki, said in a speech delivered during the International Conference on Al-Quds Al-Sharif held in Dakar that :

Many parties have promised us help and support, but only the Al-Quds Committee, through Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, is honoring its commitments providing financial support for the holy city (...) money spent on Al-Quds support projects comes solely from Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif, and sometimes from King Mohammed VI's own funds, who pays special attention to this.

Meanwhile, Moroccans were there to provide moral support for the Palestinians and several demonstrations were organized to denounce the Israeli occupation. For example, November the 29th is one of the days that remind Moroccans of the struggle of these people. On the 15th of May, protestors in Morocco take the streets every year responding to the calls of the Moroccan Democratic Network of Solidarity with the Peoples.

While the international community has been denouncing, for several years, the Israeli occupation of Palestine, Morocco was there to show support in a tangible way. Unfortunately, the Palestinian cause is still making headlines and the families residing in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip are still unable to see their dream come true.
The primary care EHR leader has received recognition for elevating high-value healthcare standards

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Elation Health, the clinical-first technology company powering innovation in primary care, today acknowledges another strong quarter for healthcare industry awards, wins and recognitions.

Elation is by far the best medical software I've ever worked with. For primary care, family medicine, even pediatrics, and internal medicine  Elation provides the tools that we need and none that we don't, said Dr. Carroll, MD, FAAP and CEO of Atembis. Elation truly does create greater efficiency and comprehensiveness during the patient encounter so we can maximize the amount of time with each patient.

Wins from the most recent quarter include:

We are grateful to be advancing high-value primary care and more importantly, for the opportunity to bring awareness to the essential role primary care plays in the well-being of the U.S. healthcare system, said Kyna Fong, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Elation Health. Centering primary care clinicians is vital to improving care outcomes. Technology can play a pivotal role in maintaining a clinical-first approach that nurtures the sacred patient-physician relationship.

Built for the craft of medicine, Elations unified EHR and Billing software offers a comprehensive, yet simple design for modern integrations and seamless operation to alleviate primary care physician burden that allows independent practices and organizations to focus on whats most important: providing phenomenal care. Elation's award-winning, clinical-first design with intuitive charting, and seamless integrations provide point-of-care workflows that are purpose-built for high-value primary care. Its powerful Developer Platform with robust API, responds to more than one million calls daily while also empowering organizations to integrate with Elation's strategic partners to build custom solutions.

In October 2023, Elation extended the reach of its platform, releasing the industry's first EHR and billing solution for primary care to ease the overwhelming clinical and financial challenges facing clinicians today. Elations unified EHR documentation, clinical connectivity, and medical billing workflows give physicians freedom to deliver high-value patient care with the peace of mind knowing they can focus less on technology while running a sustainable business. Learn more about why Elation ranked number one as a 2023 Best in KLAS award winner for its return on investment, here.

About Elation Health

Elation Health is the most trusted technology platform for high-value primary care. Since 2010, the company has delivered clinical-first solutions  built on a collaborative EHR platform  that help primary care organizations start, grow, and succeed in delivering the highest-quality personalized care to patients. Elation supports the mission of primary care by providing technology solutions that ease burden and allow physicians to focus on caring for their patients. The company serves 30,000 clinicians caring for more than 12 million Americans, including thousands of small independent practices and large prominent digital health innovators. Learn more at elationhealth.com, LinkedIn, and X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130934267/en/

Uncommon Bold for Elation Health

[email protected]

Source: Elation Health
- Global IT education content implemented by nearly 70% of FORTUNE 500 companies is now exclusively available in Korea through Elice LXP

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Elice Inc. (CEO Kim Jae-won), an educational training platform company, has executed an exclusive partnership in Korea with Pluralsight, the No. 1 global B2B IT education company, for education content. Pluralsight is a global B2B IT education company where developers worldwide learn IT skills such as SW, programming, cloud, etc.

With this agreement, Elice has secured its exclusive sales rights to distribute Pluralsight's educational content in Korea. Elice will translate and localize Pluralsight's educational content into Korean using its unique AI technology and service through Elice LXP. Elice Inc. will continue to work closely with Pluralsight to expand the business in Japan, Singapore, and other countries.

Elice LXP's AI-powered technology optimized for education has drawn the attention of Pluralsight when deciding on the partnership. Elice LXP's AI dashboard predicts course completion based on data such as students' academic performance and learning patterns, ensuring everyone completes their studies effectively. Elice LXP has an average completion rate of over 80% and the number of learners is over 1 million.

Pluralsight utilizes the largest instructor network of IT professionals in the U.S. and globally to deliver the best courses in SW, cloud, AI, and security. In particular, it includes advanced SW content, such as AWS, MS Azure, GCP, etc., and global network and security certification courses that are difficult to access in Korea.

Elice Inc. has introduced educational content on cloud, security, certifications, etc., in Elcademy, Elice's hands-on AI education brand, reflecting recent industry trends.

About Elice Inc.

Founded in 2015, Elice Inc. is an AI Edtech platform company that implements a virtual coding environment for education and provides customized training solutions with Elice LXP, the first educational training platform in Korea to apply AI technology to education. It offers customized DX training to 1,100 customers, including large companies, universities and government and public institutions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129340565/en/

Elice Inc.

Yang Eunyoung

[email protected]

Source: Elice Inc.
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Entravision (NYSE: EVC), a leading global advertising solutions, media and technology company, today announced its participation in NobleCon19, Noble Capital Markets 19th Annual Emerging Growth Equity Conference, to be held December 3-5, 2023, in Boca Raton, FL. Chris Young, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, is scheduled to present on Monday, December 4th, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. ET and will participate in meetings with investors throughout the day.

A high-definition video webcast of the presentation will be available the following day on Entravisions Investor Relations website at investor.entravision.com.

About Entravision Communications Corporation

Entravision is a global advertising solutions, media and technology company. Over the past three decades, we have strategically evolved into a digital powerhouse, expertly connecting brands to consumers in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Our digital segment, the companys largest by revenue, offers a full suite of end-to-end advertising services in 40 countries. We have commercial partnerships with Meta, X Corp. (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok, and Spotify, and marketers can use our Smadex and other platforms to deliver targeted advertising to audiences around the globe. In the U.S., we maintain a diversified portfolio of television and radio stations that target Hispanic audiences and complement our global digital services. Entravision remains the largest affiliate group of the Univision and UniMas television networks. Shares of Entravision Class A Common Stock trade on the NYSE under ticker: EVC. Learn more about our offerings at entravision.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231128303201/en/

Christopher T. Young

Chief Financial Officer

Entravision

310-447-3870

Kimberly Orlando

Addo Investor Relations

310-829-5400

[email protected]

Source: Entravision
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FPT Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of global leading IT service provider FPT Software, announced it has been honored as a Great Place to Work in Singapore, among other reputable enterprises.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129535937/en/

FPT Asia Pacific Achieves Great Place to Work Certification (Photo: Business Wire)

FPT Asia Pacific was recognized by the Great Place to Work Institute Singapore, based on the rankings of companies with high levels of employee satisfaction. This is assessed based on several criteria: employees' experiences, company's values, collaboration, leaders effectiveness and more.

The independent assessment of Great Place to Work shows that 93% of FPT Asia Pacific employees express great satisfaction in their working environment. The firm also had excellent scores in many criteria: Justice, Team & Fairness, Camaraderie, Community, Leadership Behavior, reflecting its efforts to maintain a happy and fair working culture.

This recognition is a meaningful milestone for us as we celebrate our 16-year anniversary in the Asia Pacific region. With a multinational team, we prioritize creating an open, highly effective and innovative working environment which offer them best opportunities to grow and enables our talents to reach their full potential. We believe that fostering our employees development is the key to our success, allowing us to reach higher milestones and support our customers better, FPT Asia Pacific CEO David Nguyen said.

Since its establishment in the Asia Pacific market in 2007, FPT Software has become a trusted partner for businesses in the region in their digital transformation journey; and has been recognized by Gartner Market Share: IT Services, Worldwide, 2022 report as one of the top 40 IT Services & Solutions companies in Singapore in 2022. Within the same year, FPT Asia Pacific also received the Best Companies to Work for in Asia awards by HR Asia, highlighted the companys constant efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Prior to this recognition, FPT Software was ranked among Top 100 Best Places to Work for its subsidiary in Japan (FPT Japan Holdings) in February 2023, and certified as a Great Place to Work in Vietnam and the US in 2022.

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 28,000 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, 91 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/20231129535937/en/

Mai Duong (Ms.)

FPT Software

PR Manager

[email protected]

https://fptsoftware.com/newsroom

Source: FPT Software
OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gateway Bank, F.S.B., (the Bank) announced the successful completion of a private placement of $15.0 million of common stock.

The Bank plans to use the additional capital to bolster regulatory capital ratios and support organic growth and further expansion into new markets in the Bay Area, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Furthermore, the Bank announced that the Board of Directors (the Board) appointed Mr. Arnold T. Grisham as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank effective November 30, 2023. Mr. Grisham has extensive banking experience in the Bay Area, including holding the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer positions at Tri Valley Bank from 2011 until its sale in 2018. Mr. Grisham will also join the Board as a Director.

Timothy Chrisman, Chairman of the Board of the Bank, noted: We are very pleased to announce the successful completion of our common stock private placement. This new capital will be used to support organic growth opportunities in the markets we serve and expand the Banks presence in adjacent new markets. Additionally, the Board is delighted to have Mr. Grisham, an experienced community banker with extensive relationships in the Bay Area market, join the Bank as President and Chief Executive Officer and is excited to work with Mr. Grisham to further enhance the value of our franchise.

Mr. Grisham commented: I am honored and excited to have been appointed as the next President and CEO of the Bank. Given the events in the Bay Area banking market earlier this year, we are seeing a substantial opportunity to add both talent and customer relationships to Gateway Bank. I am thrilled to be a part of this opportunity.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acted as financial advisor and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. acted as the Banks legal counsel in the private placement.

About Gateway Bank, F.S.B. Gateway Bank is a Federally-chartered savings bank headquartered in Oakland, California and began operations on June 8, 1990. The Bank currently operates out of one office located in Oaklands Chinatown, and offers banking services to individuals and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130734599/en/

Arnold Grisham

(510) 496-8619

[email protected]

Source: Gateway Bank, F.S.B.
HPE expands portfolio of purpose-built, AI-native offerings to enable enterprises to accelerate AI model training, tuning and inferencing

BARCELONA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) announced an expanded strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to build an enterprise computing solution for generative AI (GenAI). The co-engineered, pre-configured AI tuning and inferencing solution enables enterprises of any size to quickly customize foundation models using private data and deploy production applications anywhere, from edge to cloud. The offering removes the complexity of developing and deploying GenAI infrastructure with a full-stack AI tuning and inferencing solution from HPE and NVIDIA.

As enterprises develop and deploy GenAI models for use cases such as conversational search, business process automation and content creation, they require a software and infrastructure stack that can be deployed quickly and from wherever the business needs it. The new enterprise computing solution for generative AI is part of an expanded collaboration between HPE and NVIDIA that delivers full-stack, out-of-the-box AI solutions. These solutions integrate HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software, HPE Ezmeral Software, HPE ProLiant Compute and HPE Cray Supercomputers with the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite, including the NVIDIA NeMo framework.

Together, HPE and NVIDIA are in a unique position to deliver a comprehensive AI-native solution that will dramatically ease the journey to develop and deploy AI models with a portfolio of pre-configured solutions, said Antonio Neri, president and CEO, at HPE. The strategic collaboration between HPE and NVIDIA will dramatically reduce barriers for customers looking to transform their businesses with AI.

"The generative AI era is ramping at full speed, with enterprises racing to reimagine their businesses, said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO, NVIDIA. Our expanded collaboration with HPE will help enterprises drive unprecedented productivity through AI applications that connect with business data to power accurate assistants, informed chatbots and semantic search.

Drive AI velocity with a purpose-built AI tuning and inferencing solution

The enterprise computing solution for generative AI is a new AI tuning and inferencing data center solution that provides the ideal entry point for enterprises of all sizes with a ready-out-of-the-box offering to quickly start their AI journey.

With the new enterprise computing solution for generative AI, enterprises can use pretrained foundation models with their private data to create production applications such as AI chatbots. In addition, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workstreams further improve the data quality and accuracy of the application.

HPE Services to advance an enterprise's journey to AI

HPE Services now provides a broad portfolio of consulting services, workforce training and deployment solutions. The new AI services take customers through every step of the journey: from GenAI and LLM discovery to implementation, where customers develop the optimum operational models and hybrid cloud data strategies needed to build, deploy and scale solutions into transformative outcomes. These comprehensive services are supported by new Global Centers of Excellence for AI and Data now open in Spain, United States, Bulgaria, India and Tunisia.

HPE accelerates AI training with new turnkey solution powered by NVIDIA

At SC23, HPE announced a turnkey supercomputing solution powered by NVIDIA for large enterprises, research institutions and government organizations to address the first phase of the AI lifecycle: developing and training foundational models. The enterprise computing solution for generative AI is a smaller form-factor AI solution for enterprise customers that are focused on tuning and inferencing.

New AI-native architecture and hybrid cloud solutions to accelerate AI model development and deployment

At HPE Discover Barcelona 2023, HPE announced its new open, full-stack AI-native architecture and the next series of AI-native and hybrid cloud offerings for machine learning development, data analytics, AI-optimized file storage, AI tuning and inferencing and professional services.

Availability

The enterprise computing solution for generative AI will be orderable in Q1CY24.

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130593466/en/

Victor OBrien

[email protected]

Source: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Industry-leading open, full-stack AI-native architecture delivers new AI solutions to enable enterprises to accelerate AI model development and deployment

Hewlett Packard Enterprise collaborates with NVIDIA to deliver an enterprise-class GenAI solution

BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) announced at HPE Discover Barcelona 2023 the next series of AI-native and hybrid cloud offerings for machine learning development, data analytics, AI-optimized file storage, AI tuning and inferencing and professional services. These solutions bring together HPEs leadership in hybrid cloud, supercomputing and AI/ML software to enable organizations to become AI-powered businesses. This is all delivered based on an open, full-stack AI-native architecture that incorporates a curated mix of software and infrastructure designed specifically to accelerate the AI lifecycle. The new offerings reduce the barriers of IT and deliver full-stack AI-native solutions that enable organizations to effectively train, tune and inference their AI models, from edge to cloud.

With the emergence of GenAI, enterprises are quickly realizing that the data and computational demands to effectively run AI models require a fundamentally different approach to technology, said Antonio Neri, president and CEO, at HPE. HPE will bring its market-leading hybrid cloud, supercomputing and AI capabilities more broadly to the enterprise to enable an AI-powered transformation, where customers can develop AI models securely with their proprietary data. Through HPEs AI-native and hybrid cloud solutions, organizations will be able to fully capitalize on the insights from their data to revolutionize product innovation, customer engagement, and overall realize the full power of GenAI to transform their businesses and industries.

New AI-native architecture and hybrid cloud solutions for GenAI

Generative AI (GenAI) workloads are computationally intensive and require the ability to efficiently process massive amounts of data. For enterprises to effectively incorporate GenAI, deep learning, computer vision or classical machine learning models into their business, they will need to extend their cloud-native environment to include an AI-native approach. The HPE GreenLake cloud platform is strategically positioned to deliver this evolution in IT through an industry-leading open, full-stack AI-native architecture that includes the following attributes:

Data-first pipeline to manage public and proprietary data across multi-gen IT AI lifecycle management software to accelerate workflows for training, tuning and inferencing Hybrid by design to run AI anywhere from edge to cloud with data protection High-performance interconnects for intelligent connectivity and traffic management for large clusters Supercomputing DNA built into the entire portfolio, sustainable by design, to train the largest models Open ecosystem for freedom of choice with no lock-in

At HPE Discover Barcelona 2023, HPE announced the latest series of AI-native offerings:

AI-native solution stacks with NVIDIA to accelerate time to value

HPE collaborates with NVIDIA to deliver an enterprise-class, full-stack GenAI solution: HPE announced an expanded strategic collaboration with NVIDIA to build an enterprise computing solution for generative AI (GenAI). The co-engineered, pre-configured AI tuning and inferencing solution enables enterprises of any size to quickly customize foundation models using private data and deploy production applications anywhere, from edge to cloud. The offering removes the complexity of developing and deploying GenAI infrastructure with a full-stack AI tuning and inferencing solution from HPE and NVIDIA.

HPE accelerates AI training with new turnkey solution powered by NVIDIA: HPE recently announced a new supercomputing solution for generative AI designed for large enterprises, research institutions, and government organizations to train and tune models and develop AI applications. The turnkey solution improves time to value and accelerates training and tuning of AI models using private data sets by providing supercomputing technology and the software tools to build faster AI applications and ML models.

Generative AI is inspiring enterprises to reinvent their businesses using their own data as the rocket fuel for transformation, said Manuvir Das, vice president of enterprise computing, NVIDIA. Our extended collaboration with HPE will help enterprises everywhere harness full-stack, accelerated computing and software from NVIDIA to supercharge the power of generative AI.

AI-native infrastructure, software and services for AI model development and deployment

HPE GreenLake for File Storage increases performance density and throughput for demanding AI workloads: HPE GreenLake for File Storage, an efficient all-flash unstructured data platform with a cloud operational experience, keeps pace with customers large-scale AI workloads as they grow and evolve. New enhancements will speed AI model training and tuning, including GenAI and large language models (LLMs), plus accelerate data aggregation and data preparation. Support for 30TB NVMe SSDs and connectivity to new NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand for GPU-centric compute are available to order today. Upcoming enhancements will increase the capacity density and throughput by seven times*, and will be available early first half of 2024.

HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software as a managed service on AWS and other cloud providers: HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software is now available as a managed service with a complete, adaptable, cloud-managed experience for AI/ML model training.

Accelerate and securely implement GenAI initiatives in days with a flexible managed service that supports any stage of a companys AI/ML journey

Reduce the complexity and operational overhead with an AI/ML model training managed service to accelerate the time to model development

Future-proof AI/ML model training infrastructure to help relieve management staffing and processing burdens

Increase AI adoption with new generative AI studio capabilities to rapidly prototype and test models

HPE Ezmeral Software provides a future-proof hybrid SaaS foundation for data, analytics and AI: New enhancements to HPE Ezmeral Software further simplify and accelerate enterprise data, analytics and AI with a comprehensive, end-to-end platform that seamlessly operates across hybrid multi-cloud environments.

Speed up time to insight across the entire analytics lifecycle with the power of a hybrid data lakehouse that is now GPU- and CPU-optimized and can manage, access and analyze data across any NFS- or S3-compliant solution

Enhanced model training and tuning in HPE Ezmeral Unified Analytics Software via deep integration with HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software

Optimize NVIDIA GPU allocations across workloads and users with GPU-aware capabilities in HPE Ezmeral Unified Analytics Software

Access expanded third-party integrations with Whylogs for model observability and Voltron Data for GPU-accelerated queries

Also available as an HPE GreenLake Flex Solution: The new enterprise computing solution for GenAI is also available as an HPE GreenLake Flex Solution that includes HPE GreenLake for File Storage with Zerto Cyber Resilience Vault software to protect AI models and data sources and OpsRamp software to provide visibility and automation across the AI lifecycle in multi-vendor, multi-cloud environments.

HPE Services to advance an enterprise's journey to AI: HPE Services now provides a broad portfolio of consulting services, workforce training and deployment solutions. The new AI services take customers through every step of the journey: from GenAI and LLM discovery to implementation, where customers develop the optimum operational models and hybrid cloud data strategies needed to build, deploy and scale solutions into transformative outcomes. These comprehensive services are supported by new Global Centers of Excellence for AI and Data now open in Spain, United States, Bulgaria, India and Tunisia.

Taiga Cloud partners with HPE to power its GenAI cloud

Taiga Cloud, a Northern Data Group company, has partnered with HPE to power cloud services using HPE Cray XD supercomputers. Taiga Cloud now provides access to over 27,000 NVIDIA H100, A100 and NVIDIA RTX A6000 GPUs, connected using NVIDIA BlueField DPUs and the NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand platform.

The data intensity of generative AI workloads necessitates a different approach to cloud computing allowing a single workload to process massive amounts of data. We chose to partner with HPE to build Europes first 100% carbon-neutral Generative AI cloud because HPE understands the importance of a sustainable approach and a new way of thinking. Their unique AI-native architecture reflects our changing world where supercomputing with open ecosystems must intersect with sustainability to democratize AI and enable the most innovative ideas to come to life, said Karl Havard, managing director, Taiga Cloud.

Availability

The enterprise computing solution for generative AI will be orderable in Q1CY24.

The HPE Services for AI, managed services for HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software and updates to HPE Ezmeral Software are generally available.

References

*HPE GreenLake for File Storage

Additional Resources

Blog: HPE GreenLake for File Storage

Blog: HPE Services new services for AI

Blog: HPE Machine Learning Development Environment Software

Blog: HPE Ezmeral Software

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130478449/en/

Victor OBrien

[email protected]

Source: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Juniper honors customers using AI and automation to unlock new ways to deliver experience-first outcomes

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced the winners of the 2023 Elevate Awards, honoring customers delivering exceptional experiences to their consumers and communities. The Elevate Awards celebrate the most innovative companies that are using emergent technologies to disrupt the status quo, power connections and drive their businesses forward for good.

The Elevate Awards winners, finalists and honorees represent over twenty countries, showcasing the depth of innovation happening across the globe. Categories recognized customers in seven key categories  AI Innovation, Business Transformation, Data Center of the Future, Empowering Change, Experience First, Security Excellence and 5G Leadership. The selection process involved a combination of Juniper executive and external judges selecting the finalists and winners.

The 2023 Elevate Award winners are:

AI Innovation: ServiceNow is the winner in the AI Innovation category as an industry leader accelerating its business through network automation. By migrating its network to a next-generation, full-stack wired, wireless and SD-WAN solution, ServiceNow reduced capital and operating expenses by 60%, eliminated 90% of employee-reported wireless issues and enabled amazing employee experiences.

ServiceNow is the winner in the AI Innovation category as an industry leader accelerating its business through network automation. By migrating its network to a next-generation, full-stack wired, wireless and SD-WAN solution, ServiceNow reduced capital and operating expenses by 60%, eliminated 90% of employee-reported wireless issues and enabled amazing employee experiences. Business Transformation: The winner of the Business Transformation category is Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering, which leverages its AI network to simplify operations and enable agile deployment at the largest fabrication yard in Malaysia, as well as one of the largest dry docks in Southeast Asia. It now has the technology to move from manual processes to digital workflows that will speed project completion.

The winner of the Business Transformation category is Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering, which leverages its AI network to simplify operations and enable agile deployment at the largest fabrication yard in Malaysia, as well as one of the largest dry docks in Southeast Asia. It now has the technology to move from manual processes to digital workflows that will speed project completion. Data Center of the Future: Atos is the winner in the Data Center of the Future category for its ability to leverage Juniper Apstra for fast, dynamic data center deployment, operations and management across 21 data centers to dateand counting.

Atos is the winner in the Data Center of the Future category for its ability to leverage Juniper Apstra for fast, dynamic data center deployment, operations and management across 21 data centers to dateand counting. Empowering Change: The winner of the Empowering Change category is the City of Las Vegas, which fuels economic growth and improves schools, public safety, social services and even traffic flow with the largest private 5G network in the U.S., benefitting the citys more than 640,000 residents and 42 million annual visitors alike.

The winner of the Empowering Change category is the City of Las Vegas, which fuels economic growth and improves schools, public safety, social services and even traffic flow with the largest private 5G network in the U.S., benefitting the citys more than 640,000 residents and 42 million annual visitors alike. Experience First: Akamai Technologies is the winner in the Experience First category as it secures its future via a distributed edge and cloud platform that simplifies operations, reduces power consumption and decreases expenses by over 80%, all while achieving high service levels to please customers.

Akamai Technologies is the winner in the Experience First category as it secures its future via a distributed edge and cloud platform that simplifies operations, reduces power consumption and decreases expenses by over 80%, all while achieving high service levels to please customers. Security Excellence: E.W. Scripps is the winner in the Security Excellence category. With the adoption of Juniper security solutions, it improved application performance by 20% and reduced costs while securely connecting its TV stations, data centers, cloud connections and over-the-air transmissions for its audience of 71 million monthly viewers.

E.W. Scripps is the winner in the Security Excellence category. With the adoption of Juniper security solutions, it improved application performance by 20% and reduced costs while securely connecting its TV stations, data centers, cloud connections and over-the-air transmissions for its audience of 71 million monthly viewers. 5G Leadership: The winner of the 5G Leadership category is BT Group, a UK-based company that built one of the largest virtualized 4G/5G telco clouds that is expected to carry 100% of its mobile traffic for millions of subscribers by the end of this year. The network improves service quality while boosting the companys business agility, operational efficiency and sustainability.

For the first time, Juniper is announcing a Grand Winner that best embodies its mission to deliver network experiences that transform how people connect, work and live. The 2023 Grand Winner is ServiceNow. The executive judging panel was impressed by the outward vision and stellar results, which truly transformed the experiences ServiceNow is known for.

"Our customers are leading the way in proving just how crucial the global network is to the world today, said Rami Rahim, CEO at Juniper Networks. From using AI to deliver flawless user experiences that millions count on to serving as stewards of the planet by dramatically cutting network power consumption with automation, Junipers annual Elevate Awards remind us that technology has the power to unlock remarkable outcomes."

Finalists across all categories include:

5G Leadership : Crown Castle and Unified National Networks

: Crown Castle and Unified National Networks AI Innovation : UK Ministry of Justice and City of Parkland

: UK Ministry of Justice and City of Parkland Business Transformation : Halfords and Zayo

: Halfords and Zayo Data Center of the Future : Fastweb and Shaare Zedek Medical Center

: Fastweb and Shaare Zedek Medical Center Empowering Change : Greenergy and The University of Tokyo

: Greenergy and The University of Tokyo Experience First : KK Networks and Sunet

: KK Networks and Sunet Security Excellence: VolkerWessels

To learn more about Junipers Elevate Awards and its honorees, visit the Juniper website here.

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the worlds greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130076782/en/

Media Relations:

Kelsey Akerson

Juniper Networks

[email protected]

Source: Juniper Networks
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mary Kay Inc., the iconic beauty brand and global advocate for womens empowerment, is thrilled to announce its expansion into Hungary, a strategic move that marks the company's latest foray into the European market. This expansion coincides with Mary Kay's milestone 60th anniversary, underscoring its enduring legacy of offering unparalleled entrepreneurship opportunities and high-quality skincare and color cosmetics.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130602889/en/

With Hungarys rich cultural tapestry, vibrant heritage, and dynamic economy, Mary Kay Inc. is set to introduce a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering the economic empowerment of Hungarian women. (Credit: Mary Kay Inc.)

Mary Kay Hungary's operations will be overseen from the Mary Kay Czech Republic's offices in Prague. To celebrate this momentous expansion, events in both Prague and Budapest have been arranged. This expansion builds upon the brands recent accolade of being named the World's #1 Direct Selling Brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics by Euromonitor International1.

The expansion into Hungary is something we have always considered, and we know the time to introduce our unparalleled career opportunity and irresistible products in this new market is NOW, said Tara Eustace, Mary Kay President, Europe Region. I am confident that under the leadership of Edita Szaboova and our very successful Mary Kay Czech Republic & Slovakia markets, we will create vibrant, viable earning opportunities for the women of Hungary.

Edita Szaboova, General Manager of Mary Kay Czech Republic & Slovakia, expressed her enthusiasm about the new market expansion.

We are elated to empower aspiring women entrepreneurs in Hungary, aligning with our core mission of enriching womens lives, said Szaboova. Entrepreneurship is highly respected and supported in Hungary, and our research shows that women will embrace this new opportunity to work, learn, and grow their own sustainable businesses.

With Hungarys rich cultural tapestry, vibrant heritage, and dynamic economy, Mary Kay Inc. is set to introduce a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering the economic empowerment of Hungarian women. These initiatives include educational programs, mentorship, and significant economic investments in the country.

To learn more, please follow Mary Kay Hungary online at www.marykay.hu, and stay connected on Instagram and Facebook.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich womens lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter).

1 Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2022 data.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130602889/en/

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications

marykay.com/newsroom

972.687.5332 or [email protected]

Source: Mary Kay Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of mission-critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today announced that Jana Haines has joined the firm as Head of Index and as a member of MSCIs Executive Committee.

Based in New York, Ms. Haines will be responsible for the strategic development and execution of MSCIs global Index product line. She will partner with senior leaders across the firm to manage the Index product development process. Ms. Haines will aim to drive innovation across index categories, including market cap, sustainability, climate, factors, thematics and asset classes, such as fixed income and private assets.

"As a longtime business leader, Jana has a proven track record of strategic thinking and a unique understanding of the value of MSCIs indexes to investors, said Baer Pettit, President and Chief Operating Officer of MSCI. Janas extensive expertise in the global financial industry will be critical to MSCI building an even deeper understanding of our clients evolving needs for indexes that help them build better portfolios and develop investable financial products.

Ms. Haines held a variety of senior leadership roles at MSCI from 2006 to 2021. Most recently, she served as Head of Index Product for Americas and EMEA, and Global Head of Fixed Income Indexes. Earlier in her tenure at MSCI, she held various roles within the Client Coverage team.

Since 2021, Ms. Haines was the Chief Strategy Officer of ARK Investments, where she worked alongside CEO Cathie Wood. She was instrumental in ARKs transition to a scalable business and expanding the firms global partnerships.

Before she joined MSCI in 2006, Ms. Haines garnered diverse experience in financial markets at HypoVereinsbank and Richie Capital. She also co-founded the Private Equity Group in Prague. Ms. Haines holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

I am deeply excited to rejoin MSCI at this time of tremendous innovation and expansion of the investment communitys needs and uses for indexes, said Ms. Haines. From diversification to decarbonization goals, investors need differentiated, high-quality data and timely insights to confidently drive outcomes in an ever-changing world. MSCI is uniquely well-placed to serve these needs of investors through the creation and management of best-in-class indexes, and I am looking forward to leading the next phase of innovation at MSCI to help our clients make better investment decisions.

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or performance and involve risks that may cause actual results or performance differ materially and you should not place undue reliance on them. Risks that could affect results or performance are in MSCIs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year ended on December 31 that is filed with the SEC. MSCI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements. No information herein constitutes investment advice or should be relied on as such. MSCI grants no right or license to use its products or services without an appropriate license. MSCI MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130930955/en/

Media Inquiries

[email protected]



Melanie Blanco +1 212 981 1049

Konstantinos Makrygiannis +44 (0) 7768 930056

Tina Tan +852 2844 9320



MSCI Global Client Services

EMEA Client Service + 44 20 7618.2222

Americas Client Service +1 888 588 4567 (toll free)

Asia Pacific Client Service + 852 2844 9333

Source: MSCI Inc.
Russian model Marharyta Holubieva represented the terrorist country at Miss Universe 2023 this year. As it has become known, the Russian tried very hard to make friends with participants from other countries, giving them gifts related to Russia and "great Russian culture." The representative of Ukraine, Angelina Usanova , was also among those whom the competitor from the aggressor state tried to appease.

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Earlier, Angelina told how the Russian woman told her that she "came in peace." In an interview with the propaganda media, Golubeva did not hide the fact that she really wanted to make friends with all the participants.

"It all depends on how you position yourself in the competition. I was open and friendly to everyone, so I developed good relationships with all the participants," said the "dove of peace," who is very proud of her country and speaks openly about it, while keeping silent about the war and the crimes of the occupiers.

According to the Russian, "the atmosphere in the team was very warm."

"At the contest, I met a lot of girls from different countries. It was interesting to learn about their cultures and traditions. I communicated most with my neighbor from Latvia, a girl from Kazakhstan, Australia, Denmark, Greece and others. They are all open and friendly. In general, the atmosphere in our team was very warm," Holubieva said.

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Meanwhile, Angelina Usanova said that the representative of the enemy state tried to smear her as well. She immediately said that she "came in peace". And the organizers of the contest tried to "make friends" between the Ukrainian and the Russian. To do this, at the welcome party in El Salvador, they sat the girls at the same table next to each other.

The representative of Ukraine immediately made it clear to the Russian that their communication would be unnecessary.

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As OBOZ.UA wrote earlier, Angelina Usanova told why she failed to get into the top 20. According to the Kyivan, since the contest went bankrupt, the organizers prefer participants from countries that are potentially interesting to sponsors.

We would also like to remind you that Nicaragua's Sheinnis Palacios became the new Miss Universe. See the winner's photos here.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today QPS Holdings, LLC (QPS) a leading drug development Contract Research Organization (CRO), announces an agreement to sell its Neuropharmacology business unit (QPS Neuropharmacology) to Scantox, a leading Nordic pre-clinical, GLP-accredited CRO. QPS Neuropharmacology, based in Grambach, Austria and focused on drug discovery, specializes in neurodegenerative diseases, rare diseases and mental disorders.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130940694/en/

QPS Neuropharmacology facility in Grambach, Austria. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Founded in 1999, QPS Neuropharmacology has built a strong global reputation for high quality services that are deeply scientifically rooted and has an undisputed track-record of serving a loyal and broad customer base globally. This long history of developing expertise within neuropharmacology preclinical studies has contributed to strong year-on-year growth and positioned the organization as a desirable acquisition target. QPS Neuropharmacology is based in a 2,700 m2 state-of-the-art facility in Grambach, Austria, and employs more than 80 employees. With on-site availability of validated transgenic and non-transgenic in-vitro and in-vivo models, QPS Neuropharmacology addresses multiple targets within the growing CNS area and represents a unique partner for biotech and pharma companies in their drug development process.

After the sale is complete, QPS will retain the European clinical division including the service capbilities in Austria, The Czech Republic, and Croatia where QPS has a long history of conducting late-phase clinical trials in neurodegenerative diseases, oncology and various rare diseases. This late-phase clinical capability will remain fully integrated with the QPS global clinical operational services organization, providing comprehensive global CRO services to pharmaceutical and biotech clients worldwide.

The sale of QPS Neuropharmacology is a natural transition in the development of QPS as a full-service, global CRO focused on preclinical, bioanalysis and clinical research operational services. We believe that the neuropharmacology unit will be strengthened and continue to grow as part of the Scantox organization says Ben Chien, President and CEO of QPS Holdings, LLC.

Manuela Prokesch, Director of QPS Neuropharmacology, continues: This is a unique opportunity for us to bring our deep Neuropharmacology expertise to join a preclinical market leader, known for their high quality and customer-centric approach. We are looking forward to continuing to deliver our signature high-quality solutions to our clients while leveraging the synergies we can generate across the Scantox organization.

QPS Neuropharmacology will continue to serve its valued clients as part of the Scantox organization. The combined company will have more than 300 employees across six sites offering lead optimization, neuropharmacology research services, regulatory toxicology and CMC/analytical services.

Advisors

Perella Weinberg Partners is serving as financial advisor to QPS Holdings, KPMG is serving as its tax advisor and Ropes & Gray together with Wolf Theiss are serving as its legal counsel. Lincoln International is serving as corporate finance advisor to Scantox, EY is serving as its financial and tax advisor, L.E.K. Consulting as its commercial advisor and Accura together with DORDA are serving as its legal counsel.

About QPS Holdings, LLC:

QPS is a GLP/GCP-compliant contract research organization (CRO) delivering the highest grade of discovery, preclinical, and clinical drug development services. Since 1995, it has rapidly expanded from a tiny bioanalysis shop to a full-service CRO with 1,200+ employees in the US, Europe, India and Asia. Today, it offers expanded pharmaceutical contract R&D services with special expertise in Neuropharmacology, DMPK, Toxicology, Bioanalysis, Translational Medicine, and Clinical Development. Through continual enhancements in capacities and resources, QPS stands tall in its commitment to delivering superior quality, skilled performance and trusted service to its valued customers. For more information, visit www.qps.com or email [email protected].

About Scantox:

Scantox is the leading Nordic pre-clinical GLP-accredited CRO, focused on pharmacology and regulatory toxicology, headquartered in Denmark with three subsidiaries in Sweden and one in Denmark. Based on decades of experience, the company is a trusted partner for product development services within the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical devices industries, with a world known expertise within the Gottingen minipigs. The Companys services enable clients to progress their drug or device development based on solid data to the highest technical and scientific standards. Founded in 1977, Scantox is owned by Impilo, a leading Nordic healthcare investment company.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130940694/en/

For further information:

Dr. Manuela Prokesch, Director of QPS Neuropharmacology, [email protected]

Source: QPS Holdings, LLC
SUSSEX, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global marketing experience company Quad (NYSE: QUAD), announced that Chairman, President and CEO Joel Quadracci, and Quad Chief Financial Officer Tony Staniak will present and host one-on-one meetings with investors at the Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference on December 6-7, 2023. Joining them will be Don Pontes, Executive Director of Investor Relations for Quad.

The presentation will begin at 10:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, December 7, and can be accessed live here: https://sidoti.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eAiMipbvQUGeRlRkFgW7Ag. The slide presentation will be posted on the Investors section of quad.com following the event.

One-on-ones with investors will be held on both Wednesday, December 6, and Thursday, December 7.

To register for either the presentation or the one-on-ones, visit www.sidoti.com/events. Registration is free, and it is not necessary to be a Sidoti client.

About Quad

Quad (NYSE: QUAD) is a $3 billion global marketing experience company that gives brands a more streamlined, impactful, flexible and frictionless way to reach their target audience via a uniquely integrated marketing platform. Quad connects every facet of the marketing journey efficiently and at scale through its innovative, data-driven offerings  from strategy and consulting to data and analytics, technology solutions, media services, creative and content solutions, and managed services. Quad provides a better marketing experience for its clients, so they can focus on delivering the best customer experience.

Quad employs approximately 15,000 people in 14 countries worldwide and serves more than 2,900 clients across the retail, publishing, consumer packaged goods, financial services, healthcare, insurance and direct-to-consumer industries. Quad is ranked as a leader in multiple industries including largest agency companies (Ad Age, #14); largest commercial printers (Printing Impressions, #2); and largest Milwaukee-area manufacturers (Milwaukee Business Journal, #1).

For more information about Quad, including its commitment to ongoing innovation, culture and social purpose, visit quad.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130178865/en/

Quad Investor Relations Contact

Don Pontes

Executive Director of Investor Relations, Quad

916-532-7074

[email protected]

Source: Quad
Company receives high marks in annual rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quickbase, the dynamic work management platform, today announced it has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nations foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Quickbase joined the ranks of 545 major U.S. businesses earning top marks this year, satisfying all the CEIs criteria for a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion in the companys first-ever submission for the CEI.

Earning a top score on HRCs Corporate Equality Index recognizes our commitment to building and cultivating an inclusive company culture, said Ed Jennings, CEO at Quickbase. We believe in and are aligned with the HRCs mission to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. Earning this honor is a milestone for us as an organization committed to living our core value of All together now, where our teams and approach to innovation and growth are strengthened by diversity, equality and inclusion.

In earning an overall score of 100, Quickbase was cited for programs and advocacy supporting and providing for:

- Spousal & partner benefits;

- Family formation benefits;

- Transgender-inclusive benefits;

- ERG or Diversity council;

- Employee outreach and/or engagement.

For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion, said RaShawn Shawnie Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool  a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazines 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazines top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses. Companies are rated on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About Quickbase

Quickbase is the first application platform built for Dynamic Work Management, empowering more than 6,000 global organizations to bring together people, processes, and data into one centralized location. The Quickbase platform enhances productivity and reduces Gray Work, the time lost when searching for data and information, by connecting everything through a single source of truth. With automated workflows and granular permissions, the right people will have access to the right information, mitigating risk, reducing waste, and trimming unexpected costs. Named one of Inc.s Best Businesses of 2022, Quickbase was founded in 1999 and is based in Boston (MA). For more information, visit www.quickbase.com. Quickbase  All together now.

About the Human Rights Campaign:

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the publics understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130045285/en/

Christian T. Potts

Quickbase

[email protected]

Source: Quickbase
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Academy Securities, a registered broker-dealer, certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), today announced the addition of Rohit Thapliyal as Managing Director, Head of Medium-Term Notes.

Mr. Thapliyal brings a wealth of experience and leadership to Academy Securities, joining the firm by way of Citigroup where he managed the investment grade medium-term note business for North America. Throughout his career he has demonstrated a keen understanding of market dynamics, a commitment to client success, and a track record of driving strategic initiatives. Mr. Thapliyal will be responsible for all medium-term note origination and trading while leveraging his extensive background in capital markets.

"We are thrilled to welcome Rohit to the team," said Chance Mims, CEO and Founder of Academy Securities. "He is a top tier professional in the industry and will greatly enhance our capabilities and contribute to the continued success of Academy."

Mr. Thapliyal commented: "I am excited to join Academy Securities, a firm renowned for its commitment to excellence and client-focused approach, and a strong veteran focused social mission. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Academy Securities to drive innovation, foster growth, and deliver unparalleled financial solutions to our clients."

Mr. Thapliyal received an MS from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He holds his FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 licenses.

We are excited to expand our mission driven team with a professional like Rohit who enhances the value-add proposition to our clients while sharing our passion to provide meaningful careers to our nations heroes, said Phil McConkey, President of Academy Securities.

About Academy Securities

Academy Securities is a preeminent disabled veteran owned investment bank with strength in capital markets, public finance, fixed income, and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in-depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients success. Academy is our nations first post-9/11 disabled veteran owned investment bank and is certified as a DVBE, SDVOSB, and MBE. The firm has a strong top and middle tier client base served by a national platform with offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Chapel Hill, Louisville, Austin, Dallas, and Sacramento. Information about Academy Securities is available at www.academysecurities.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130088575/en/

Academy Securities

Michael Boyd, 646-736-3995

Chief Compliance Officer

[email protected]

Source: Academy Securities
Leading Greater China retailer looks to maximize store revenue and improve in-store consumer experience with Blue Yonder solution

SHANGHAI & SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- With rapidly changing consumer behavior and supply chain disruptions, retailers need to make faster decisions to attract and retain customers. Thats why RT-Mart, a leading hypermarket retailer in the Greater China region, has selected Blue Yonders category management capabilities to better utilize its in-store space, making it easier for consumers to locate products and maximize store revenue.

RT-Mart is a prominent retail giant with a rich history spanning several decades. It has over 500 hypermarkets in Greater China and offers a diverse range of products and services to meet the ever-evolving needs of its consumers. With a commitment to quality, affordability, and customer satisfaction, RT-Mart continues to redefine the shopping experiences, making it a household name for millions of consumers. The retailer was looking to automate and improve its category management capabilities from manual processes, so it turned to Blue Yonder.

Once implemented, Blue Yonders solution will enable RT-Mart to:

Accelerate the category turnover process based on consumer trend insights and drive more accurate supply chain planning with digital shelving.

Increase the efficiency and accuracy of store staff carrying out shelf displays using a digital solution.

Improve the customer experience through enhanced digital visibility to store shelf level and product flows.

Emphasize customer-centric digital analytics insights to enable data-driven business and category decisions.

Better support the expansion of the omni-channel business model and achieve efficient in-store picking operation planning through accurate layout and display positioning.

We were seeking a refined category space management solution that would offer us industry best practices to gain visibility into our store displays and further enhance our brand. Blue Yonders category management solution is an industry leader so we knew it would allow us to meet our current customer-centric transformation strategies and to build a good foundation for future omni-channel business growth. We are looking forward to implementing the solution, said Gao Wei, director, SPT Project, RT-Mart.

Blue Yonders category management solution will allow RT-Mart to optimize layouts across stores, optimizing space and reducing out-of-stocks, both of which work to increase customer satisfaction. The solution leverages granular shopper insights, data analytics, and automation to optimize space and floor planning, allowing the right inventory to be on the right shelves at the right stores  taking preferences down to the local level.

RT-Mart needed a category management strategy that could adjust as customer preference and demand changed. With Blue Yonders category management solutions, they will be able to allocate space more strategically thanks to data and analytics, improving the consumer shopping experience, said Vince Beacom, senior vice president, Retail, Blue Yonder.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Blue Yonders category management solution

About Blue Yonder

Blue Yonder is the world leader in digital supply chain transformations and omni-channel commerce fulfillment. Our end-to-end, cognitive business platform enables retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers to best fulfill customer demand from planning through delivery. With Blue Yonder, you'll unify your data, supply chain and retail commerce operations to unlock new business opportunities and drive automation, control and orchestration to enable more profitable, sustainable business decisions. Blue Yonder - Fulfill your Potential blueyonder.com

Blue Yonder is a trademark or registered trademark of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. Any trade, product or service name referenced in this document using the name Blue Yonder is a trademark and/or property of Blue Yonder Group, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of the companies with which they are associated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231127231012/en/

Blue Yonder Public Relations Contacts:

Marina Renneke, APR, Senior Corporate Communications Director

Tel: +1 480-308-3037, [email protected]

Source: Blue Yonder
Plant Upgrades and Investment in Local Workforce Development Ensures On-Track Delivery of Silas Next-Generation Anode to Auto Customers

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sila, a next-generation battery materials company, today announced it has begun building out its first, auto-scale manufacturing plant, Sila Moses Lake, located in Washington state. This construction milestone affirms a 2025 start for the first commercial production of its breakthrough Titan Silicon anode at the plant. Sila is also investing in workforce development through partnerships with local technical schools to ensure a strong talent base to support its manufacturing scale-up.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129376248/en/

Sila Moses Lake (Photo: Business Wire)

The build-out at Silas plant will include automotive-scale production lines and state-of-the-art quality systems. At the start of production, the plant will deliver enough capacity to serve multiple automotive customers, including Mercedes-Benz.

For an innovation to have a meaningful impact on accelerating the adoption of EVs, two things are imperative. First, the new technology must deliver superior performance, raising the bar and making EVs more appealing to a broader group of people - which we accomplished with the launch of our Titan Silicon anode. Second, the technology has to scale massively so as not to become a niche; and were pleased to take the next step in our unwavering journey to reach global scale with the start of construction at Moses Lake, said Gene Berdichevsky, Co-founder, and CEO of Sila.

Today, Silas Titan Silicon anode delivers a 20% energy density increase over the industrys best performing graphite cells  enabling automakers to deliver unmatched EV performance, dramatically increasing vehicle range and reducing charge times. Beyond its transformative impact on lithium-ion batteries and the automotive industry, the build-out of Silas plant will also help to drive U.S. leadership in domestic manufacturing and energy security.

Im happy to welcome Sila to Washington and Moses Lake, home to a growing number of clean energy innovators solving some of our biggest challenges in this transition. Producing the best EVs possible is a key piece of that transition and I look forward to seeing Silas pioneering work come to fruition, said Governor Jay Inslee.

Last year the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) selected Sila to receive $100 million in funds to accelerate the build-out of its Moses Lake plant. Sila has successfully executed the contract with MESC, whose investment in Sila will support hundreds of jobs and strengthen the U.S battery supply chain.

The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is pleased to announce this $100 million investment to scale up silicon anode manufacturing with Sila, a company that has been part of the Department of Energys portfolio from its infancy, when it received an ARPA-E grant, said Giulia Siccardo, MESC Director. With this plant, Sila and Moses Lake are poised to manufacture a revolutionary battery material that improves performance, lowers cost, and accelerates our electric future.

Sila will use a portion of the funding received from the DOE to invest in local workforce development through partnerships with Big Bend Community College (BBCC) and Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center (CB Tech) on coursework development and dedicated training programs to prepare students for entry-level technical and operations positions. In the next five years, Sila expects to hire between 100-500 full-time employees and ramp plant capacity to power one million cars.

To learn more, visit silanano.com.

About Sila

Founded in 2011, Sila is a next-generation battery materials company with the mission to power the worlds transition to clean energy. Sila shipped the worlds first commercially available silicon anode for lithium-ion batteries in 2021. Silas materials drive battery performance enhancements in consumer electronics devices and will also power electric vehicles like an upcoming version of the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Committed to American leadership in clean energy production, Sila is scaling its technology at its manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington. Major financial investors include 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Coatue, In-Q-Tel, Matrix Partners, Sutter Hill Ventures, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129376248/en/

Yalda Rafie

SutherlandGold for Sila

[email protected]

Source: Sila
HELSINKI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Doublepoint Technologies, a Finnish startup, made a groundbreaking announcement today at SLUSH 2023, revealing their latest innovation - the world's most advanced wristband controller. This cutting-edge device features continuous touch-based gesture tracking, revolutionizing human-computer interaction and opening up new possibilities for augmented and virtual reality, wearables, and the Internet of Things.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130552930/en/

Doublepoint Technologies, a Finnish startup, today introduced the world's most advanced wristband controller. This cutting-edge device features continuous touch-based gesture tracking, revolutionizing human-computer interaction and opening up new possibilities for augmented and virtual reality, wearables, and the Internet of Things. Doublepoint's breakthrough technology marks the beginning of a new era in continuous gesture tracking, surpassing the limitations of single-event gestures. Developers can seamlessly integrate the Doublepoint algorithm into any wrist-worn wearable, enabling a new generation of products in wearables, XR, IoT, and beyond. Pre-orders will open Jan. 7 for the Doublepoint Kit. Visit Doublepoint at CES Unveiled Las Vegas or at CES 2024 in booth #60637 in Eureka Park, Venetian Expo, Hall G, Jan. 9-12. Learn more at doublepoint.com. (Photo: Business Wire)

The CEO of Doublepoint Technologies, Ohto Pentikainen, and Vice President of Product, Thomas Joseph, took the main stage at SLUSH 2023 to introduce this game-changing technology. The wristband controller was meticulously designed to harness the full potential of wrist-based user control, utilizing a revolutionary AI-based algorithm that seamlessly combines touch and gesture.

"We are thrilled to elevate human-computer interaction to new heights by creating a wristband controller and touch-based gesture tracking algorithm that offer a natural and powerful user experience, said Pentikainen. Our technology eliminates the need for clunky hardware as it can be integrated with existing wearables and paves the way for a universal controller that can be activated with a simple gesture.

New Standard for Gesture Tracking

The Doublepoint algorithm sets a new standard for precision and accuracy in continuous gesture tracking. Remarkably, it achieves this level of performance with just a single IMU and heartrate sensor, eliminating the need for additional hardware or a camera. The algorithm is adaptable to various wrist-based controllers and will be made readily available to developers through a new hardware reference design.

This breakthrough technology marks the beginning of a new era in continuous gesture tracking, surpassing the limitations of single-event gestures. Developers can seamlessly integrate the Doublepoint algorithm into any wrist-worn wearable, enabling a new generation of products in wearables, XR, IoT, and beyond. Doublepoint aims to facilitate this integration by providing customers with access to a hardware reference design, with the ultimate goal of licensing the technology to mass-market hardware manufacturers.

How it Works

Doublepoints algorithm is touch-detecting.

When the user's fingers come into contact with each other or another object, it creates impulses that propagate through the hand and can be observed as subtle vibrations in a sensor on the wristband.

The measurements of subtle vibrations and tendon movements at the users wrist are then digested by the Doublepoint algorithm to determine the touch state and to perform gesture tracking  making wrist-based devices extremely precise and able to detect continuous movements.

Doublepoint's wristband has the necessary sensors to capture the needed signals and the compute to run its custom algorithm. It, therefore, can provide clear gesture-based commands to the host device, such as an AR headset.

Revolutionizing Touch-gesture Controls

"By making our algorithm widely accessible to developers and product manufacturers, who can effortlessly integrate it into any wrist-worn wearable, end-users will experience highly precise and continuous touch-based interaction, said Joseph. This truly revolutionizes wrist-gesture controls."

Doublepoint Technologies will be opening pre-orders for its Doublepoint Kit at Unveiled Las Vegas on Jan. 7. Attendees will also have the opportunity to try out the Doublepoint Controller at the company's booth #60637 in Eureka Park, Venetian Expo, Hall G, from Jan. 9-12.

About Doublepoint Technologies

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Doublepoint Technologies is a privately held wearable-tech startup. Led by a team of highly experienced tech experts, the company is dedicated to building interactions for next-generation interfaces. Their powerful AI-based algorithm enables touch-based continuous gesture tracking with unparalleled precision and accuracy, using only a single IMU. The algorithm is adaptable to various wearables and will be readily available to developers. For more information, visit Doublepoint.com and follow @Doublepointlab on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130552930/en/

Kristina Messner

+1703-716-3181

[email protected]

Source: Doublepoint Technologies
Unleash the Power of Tinecos PURE ONE Station with an Exciting Trade-Up Campaign, and Unlock an Exclusive Discount of up to 160 Off!

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tineco, a pioneering industry leader in intelligent home appliances, has launched its first-ever Trade-Up campaign, inviting all French vacuum users to experience the cutting-edge innovation of the PURE ONE Station. This limited-time offer, available from December 1st to December 10th, provides an exclusive discount of up to 160 off the purchase of a new PURE ONE Station.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130263879/en/

Tineco has launched a vacuum trade-up campaign. (Photo: Tineco)

Visit the Tineco website and complete the designated form, providing the necessary details. Additionally, participants are kindly requested to submit a photograph of their previous vacuum's purchase receipt. If the receipt is unavailable, a photo of the old vacuum itself will suffice. Once your information is received, the dedicated Tineco marketing team will carefully review it and promptly provide a unique code. This code guarantees participants an exceptional discount of up to 160 on their purchase of the highly acclaimed PURE ONE Station. Simply add the code to your shopping cart on the Tineco webstore or the esteemed Tineco Amazon platform to redeem your discount.

"It is truly an extraordinary opportunity for us to personally engage with our esteemed Tineco fanbase and esteemed customers," expressed Romeo Luo, General Manager of Tineco's International Business Unit. "As a steadfast brand committed to delivering unparalleled cleaning experiences, we are embarking on a groundbreaking campaign that not only invites our loyal customers to embrace the cutting-edge technology of our PURE ONE Station but also encourages potential customers to explore a whole new realm of cleaning efficiency and innovative features.

The PURE ONE Station featuring an ultimate solution for hassle-free cleaning. This state-of-the-art device sets itself apart from the competition with its advanced OmniHub station, designed to effortlessly simplify your cleaning routine.

One of its standout features is the Full-Path Self Cleaning system, powered by the OmniHub. This innovative system ensures uninterrupted cleaning for an impressive 60 days, completely eliminating the constant hassle of emptying the dust bin. With its spacious 3L dust bin capacity, the PURE ONE Station's Full-Path Self Cleaning system guarantees a thorough cleaning process. Every nook and cranny of the device, from the brush head to the tube and dust bin, is effortlessly reached by the air, resulting in a seamless flow that leaves no dirt or debris behind.

Furthermore, the PURE ONE Station showcases Tineco's groundbreaking pouch cell technology, surpassing the capabilities of traditional batteries by offering an exceptional three-fold increase in battery life. This groundbreaking innovation ensures that users no longer need to worry about battery life or the product's lifespan being too short.

The PURE ONE Station available for 799.99 on Tineco and Amazon

About Tineco

Tineco was founded in 1998 with its first SKU as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has innovated into a global leader offering intelligent appliances across home categories, including floor care, kitchen, and personal care. Tineco is dedicated to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technologies and consistently innovating new devices.

For more information, please visit https://fr.tineco.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130263879/en/

[email protected]

Source: Tineco
Unleash the Power of Tinecos PURE ONE Station with an Exciting Trade-Up Campaign, and Unlock an Exclusive Discount of up to $160 Off!

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tineco, a pioneering industry leader in intelligent home appliances, has launched its first-ever Trade-Up campaign, inviting all American vacuum users to experience the cutting-edge innovation of the PURE ONE Station. This limited-time offer, available from December 1st to December 10th, provides an exclusive discount of up to $160 off the purchase of a new PURE ONE Station.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130519783/en/

(Graphic: Business Wire)

Visit the Tineco website and complete the designated form, providing the necessary details. Additionally, participants are kindly requested to submit a photograph of their previous vacuum's purchase receipt. If the receipt is unavailable, a photo of the old vacuum itself will suffice. Once your information is received, the dedicated Tineco marketing team will carefully review it and promptly provide a unique code. This code guarantees participants an exceptional discount of up to $160 on their purchase of the highly acclaimed PURE ONE Station. Simply add the code to your shopping cart on the Tineco webstore or the esteemed Tineco Amazon platform to redeem your discount.

"It is truly an extraordinary opportunity for us to personally engage with our esteemed Tineco fanbase and esteemed customers," expressed Romeo Luo, General Manager of Tineco's International Business Unit. "As a steadfast brand committed to delivering unparalleled cleaning experiences, we are embarking on a groundbreaking campaign that not only invites our loyal customers to embrace the cutting-edge technology of our PURE ONE Station but also encourages potential customers to explore a whole new realm of cleaning efficiency and innovative features.

The PURE ONE Station featuring an ultimate solution for hassle-free cleaning. This state-of-the-art device sets itself apart from the competition with its advanced OmniHub station, designed to effortlessly simplify your cleaning routine.

One of its standout features is the Full-Path Self Cleaning system, powered by the OmniHub. This innovative system ensures uninterrupted cleaning for an impressive 60 days, completely eliminating the constant hassle of emptying the dust bin. With its spacious 3L dust bin capacity, the PURE ONE Station's Full-Path Self Cleaning system guarantees a thorough cleaning process. Every nook and cranny of the device, from the brush head to the tube and dust bin, is effortlessly reached by the air, resulting in a seamless flow that leaves no dirt or debris behind.

Furthermore, the PURE ONE Station showcases Tineco's groundbreaking pouch cell technology, surpassing the capabilities of traditional batteries by offering an exceptional three-fold increase in battery life. This groundbreaking innovation ensures that users no longer need to worry about battery life or the product's lifespan being too short.

The PURE ONE Station available for $799.99 on Tineco and Amazon

About Tineco

Tineco was founded in 1998 with its first SKU as a vacuum cleaner and, in 2019, pioneered the first-ever smart vacuum. Today, the brand has innovated into a global leader offering intelligent appliances across home categories, including floor care, kitchen, and personal care. Tineco is dedicated to its brand vision of making life easier through smart technologies and consistently innovating new devices.

For more information, please visit https://us.tineco.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130519783/en/

[email protected]

Source: Tineco
The 36th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), was held via videoconference, on Thursday November 30, 2023.

The Meeting welcomed HE Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which will join the OPEC+ Charter of Cooperation starting January 2024.

The meeting reaffirmed the continued commitment of the Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to ensure a stable and balanced oil market. In view of current oil market fundamentals, the Meeting:
American actress Frances Sterngagen has died at the age of 94. She was called a veteran of the stage, as her career lasted 63 years, 50 of which she performed on Broadway.

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Viewers know Sterngagen well as the performer of the role of Bunny McDougal in the cult TV series Sex and the City. She played Charlotte's bitchy mother-in-law, who tormented Kristin David's character with her unbearable temper. The death of the actress was confirmed by her son John Carlin, who dedicated a touching post to his mother on Instagram.

Sterngren passed away of natural causes in New Rochelle, New York, on November 27. The deceased's son showed her archival black and white photos, as well as relatively recent footage.

"She was loved by many people. I was very fortunate to be able to call her my mom, my friend, my song and dance partner. We were together last week, and we talked on Monday afternoon, said how much we loved and missed each other. I was about to board a plane to London when I got the news... She always encouraged me to write songs and loved it when I sang. Fly, Franny. The curtain falls on a life lived so long, passionately, humbly and generously," wrote son Francis Sternagen.

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As we've already noted, the actress is best known for her role as mother-in-law Charlotte York in the TV series Sex and the City.

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However, Frances Sterngagen has many other successful projects in her filmography. This is evidenced, among other things, by her awards. The actress has been nominated for a Tony Award seven times and won it twice: for her role in the 1995 production of The Heiress and for several roles in The Good Doctor. In addition, the star was nominated twice for an Emmy. For the aforementioned role in Sex and the City, as well as for her role as Esther Clevin in the NBC project Cheers.

Frances raised six children, which was also one of the greatest achievements of her life.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote about how the actors of the Sex and the City series have changed. The first episode of the American comedy-drama project was shown back in 1998, and in 2021, a sequel called "And Just Like That" was released, which tells the story of the main characters' lives 20 years later.

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Ford (NYSE: F) has reinstated its 2023 financial guidance, still anticipating adjusted Ebit in the range of $10.0 billion to $10.5 billion.

As a result, shares rose modestly in pre-market Thursday trade.

The Michigan-based automaker also disclosed that the new U.S. labor agreement with the UAW is projected to incur costs of $8.8 billion over the life of the contract.

This industry is going through the biggest technology-led transformation weve ever seen and some companies, new and old, are going to be left behind, Ford CFO John Lawler said.

Ford+ is the right strategy to win  weve got a highly talented team that allocates capital with great discipline, so that were executing with consistency, generating strong growth and profitability, and are less cyclical.

Within this, gross wages, accelerated wage progression, and cost of living adjustments are identified as the three largest components contributing to the total.

Furthermore, the labor pact's effect is expected to cost approximately $900 per vehicle by 2028.

Ford withdrew 2023 financial guidance in late October during the UAW strike of certain U.S. operations.

The company aims for adjusted free cash flow between $5.0 billion and $5.5 billion for the year.

By Senad Karaahmetovic
German automaker, Mercedes-Benz disclosed Thursday its successful negotiation with BMW to establish a collaborative partnership to focus on a robust charging network for high-powered electric vehicles in China.

The company, in its statement, outlined plans to install a minimum of 1,000 high-power charging stations, adding around 7,000 charging points across the country by the end of 2026. However, the finalization of the deal is contingent upon obtaining regulatory approval.

The initial set of stations is scheduled to begin operations in 2024, targeting regions that exhibit higher electric vehicle sales.

Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz had revealed its intention to invest billions of euros to build an extensive charging network of 10,000 fast-charging points across North America, Europe, and China by 2030.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
Xpeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV) announced Thursday that their XPENG G9 electric vehicle has become the first Chinese branded vehicle to win "People's Favorite 2024" in Norway's renowned Car of The Year awards.

"People's Favorite" is part of the esteemed Car of the Year 2024 award, an event orchestrated for the nineteenth consecutive year by Dagbladet in partnership with media outlets Dinside and Elbil24.

Over the course of a month, readers from Dagbladet, Dinside, and Elbil24 in Norway cast their votes for their preferred car, with the XPENG G9 emerging victorious with an impressive 15.22% of the vote."

"We consider this to be an incredibly distinguished award, especially because the people chose us as the winner. Said XPeng managing director Claes Persson. We look forward to developing our current and upcoming electric car models further."

Since its introduction to customers earlier this year, the XPENG G9 has swiftly climbed the ranks to become the sixth most registered electric car in Norway as of November 2023.

This vehicle introduces cutting-edge EV technology to Europe, featuring XPENG's latest powertrain system equipped with an 800 V Silicon Carbide (SiC) platform, enabling lightning-fast charging capabilities of up to 300 kW. With this system, drivers can conveniently add up to 100 km of range in just five minutes.

Among the seven other nominees contending for this honor, the XPENG G9 has advanced to the final stage of the "Car of the Year 2024" selection process. The ultimate winner will be unveiled on December 5th.

Shares of XPEV are down 2.62% in mid-day trading on Thursday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
FILE PHOTO: Federal Trade Commission seal is seen at a news conference to announce that Facebook Inc has agreed to a settlement of allegations it mishandled user privacy at FTC Headquarters in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Phot

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Meta Platforms, which owns WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, filed a lawsuit asking an appeals court to stop the U.S. Federal Trade Commission from unilaterally re-opening a consent agreement and ordering the social media giant to stop collecting revenue on data from people under age 18.

The dispute stretches back to May, when the FTC proposed tightening a 2019 consent agreement to prohibit Meta from making money off young users, including in its virtual reality business. It would also expand restrictions on facial recognition technology.

In the 2019 agreement, Facebook, which became Meta in 2021, was required to pay $5 billion for violating an earlier agreement.

The new lawsuit is part of a battle between Meta and the FTC as the agency works to promote privacy and competition among Big Tech firms who in turn seek to halt any changes that could hurt profits.

The company filed a separate appeal against Judge Timothy Kelly's ruling this week that it should be an FTC judge, not a district judge, who decides that case.

This new lawsuit, filed late on Wednesday, argues that it is unconstitutional for the FTC to unilaterally tighten an existing consent agreement. In addition to the agency, it names Chair Lina Khan and the two Democratic commissioners, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, as defendants.

In May, the agency said that it had taken the action because Meta allegedly misled parents about how much control they had over who their children had contact with in the Messenger Kids app, among other issues.

The Meta complaints focus on the agency's dual role of prosecuting a matter before an FTC judge. Once the FTC judge makes a decision it is the commission which votes on whether to accept it. It also asserts that the commissioners are "unconstitutionally insulated from removal by the president" and that an FTC trial does not allow for a jury.

The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The agency has a separate, antitrust fight with Meta. It asked a federal court in 2020 to order the company to sell Instagram, which it bought for $1 billion in 2012, and WhatsApp, which it bought for $19 billion in 2014. The case has not yet gone to trial.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
Washington, DC, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2023 United States Mint (Mint) Uncirculated Coin Set will be available for purchase on December 5 at noon EST. The set contains two cards of 10 coins each, one from the United States Mint at Philadelphia and the other from the United States Mint at Denver, for a total of 20 coins. Each of the two cards includes the following 2023-dated coins with uncirculated finishes, along with a certificate of authenticity:

All Five 2023 American Women Quartershonoring:

Bessie Coleman pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot, and first African American to earn an international pilots license.



Edith Kanakaole indigenous Hawaiian composer, chanter, kumu hula, custodian of native culture, traditions, and natural land.



Eleanor Roosevelt  a leader, reformer, first lady, author, and Chairperson of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, who was instrumental in the passage of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



Jovita Idar Mexican-American journalist, activist, teacher, community organizer, champion of education, and suffragist.



Maria Tallchief Americas first major prima ballerina who broke barriers as a Native American ballerina.



One Native American $1 Coin featuring Maria Tallchief in balletic pose. Maria Tallchief was Americas first major prima ballerina, and she and her husband, George Balanchine, transformed American classical ballet. In addition to Tallchief, four other American Indian ballerinas from Oklahoma achieved international recognition in the 20th century, including her younger sister, Marjorie Tallchief; Yvonne Chouteau; Rosella Hightower; and Moscelyne Larkin. Celebrated as the Five Moons, their legacy of achievement and inclusion continues to influence ballet today. A nod to the Five Moons is presented in the lunar motif, while the four ballerinas in the background are symbolic of both Tallchiefs American Indian ballerina contemporaries and the generations of dancers they inspired. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MARIA TALLCHIEF, $1, and AMERICAN INDIANS IN BALLET.

One Kennedy half dollar

One Roosevelt dime

One Jefferson nickel

One Lincoln penny

The 2023 United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set is priced at $29. Production is limited to 185,000 units. To set up a REMIND ME alert, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/uncirculated-coin-set-2023-23RJ.html (product code 23RJ).

The United States Mint Uncirculated Coin Set can also be purchased through the Mints Product Subscription Program. Structured like a magazine subscription, this program affords customers the convenience of signing up to receive automatic shipments of products in a series. The shipments continue until the subscription is cancelled. For details, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/shop/subscriptions/.

This set is sold through the Authorized Bulk Purchase Program and is available to Authorized Bulk (AB) members. Products listed in this program will be eligible for early release, carry an AB suffix to the product code, and may carry a premium. Early released products are not eligible for discounts.

Additional United States Mint annual coin sets are available at https://catalog.usmint.gov/coins/coin-sets/annual-sets/.

About the United States MintCongress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of December 5, 2023, at noon EST.

Please use the United States Mint catalog site as your primary source of the most current information on products and services or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Visit https://www.usmint.gov/about for information about the United States Mint.

Visit and subscribe to the United States Mints YouTube channel to view videos about the United States Mint.

Visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/email-signup to subscribe to the United States Mint electronic product notifications, news releases, public statements, and our monthly educational newsletter, Lessons That Make Cents.

Sign up for RSS Feeds from the United States Mint and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

# # # United States Mint  Connecting America through Coins

Public Affairs United States Mint (202) 354-7222 [email protected]

Source: United States Mint
Paris, 30th November 2023

Air France-KLM and Apollo Global Management announce the upsizing and the completion of a quasi-equity financing of 1.5 billion

Following the signing on October 26, 2023, of a definitive agreement between Air France-KLM and Apollo (NYSE: APO) regarding the financing of a dedicated operating affiliate of Air France-KLM, the companies today announce that they have completed the transaction for an upsized total amount of 1.5 billion.

The financing by Apollo-managed and third-party investment vehicles supports a dedicated operating affiliate of Air France-KLM that holds the trademark and most of the commercial partners contracts related to Air France and KLMs joint loyalty program (Flying Blue) as well as the exclusive right to issue "Miles for the airlines and their partners. The financing is accounted for as equity under IFRS. As announced by Air France-KLM during its Q3 2023 results, this outcome materializes the steps implemented by the Group to restore its IFRS equity to positive by year end.

The transaction upsize to 1.5 billion reflects strong investor confidence and the quality of Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles issuance activity. The transaction terms disclosed in late October 26, 2023, remain unchanged, with a fixed coupon of 6.4% p.a. for the first four years, with the right for Air France KLM to redeem with at overall financing fixed cost of 6.75% at the first call date.

Steven Zaat, Air France-KLM Chief Financial Officer, stated: We are delighted to confirm today the upsize and closing of this quasi-equity financing which represents a significant step further to strengthen Air France-KLMs balance sheet at attractive funding terms. This also represents a strategic milestone and clear recognition of our successful Flying Blue program miles activity as well as its potential scalability.

Apollo Partner Jamshid Ehsani said: We are very pleased to be part of this inaugural European mileage capital investment with Air France-KLM. The transaction was well received by our investors, both those within the broad Apollo platform as well as select third-party investors, including sovereign wealth funds and multinational insurance companies.

The agreed structure will incur no material changes for Flying Blue members. Air France-KLM will continue managing and operating the Flying Blue loyalty program, and Air France and KLM will each keep full control on the Flying Blue customer database. In addition, the financing structure will not affect social aspects for Air France, KLM nor Air France-KLM employees contracts.

Deutsche Bank AG and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Allen & Overy are acting as exclusive financial and legal advisors to Air France-KLM. Apollo Funds were advised by Barclays PLC as financial advisor, and Milbank LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP and NautaDutilh as legal advisors. Apollo Capital Solutions provided structuring and syndication services in connection with the transaction.

Investor Relations

Michiel Klinkers Marouane Mami

[email protected] [email protected]

Website: www.airfranceklm.coms

Apollo Investor Relations

Noah Gunn

Global Head of Investor Relations

Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(212) 822-0540

[email protected]

Joanna Rose

Global Head of Corporate Communications

Apollo Global Management, Inc.

(212) 822-0491

[email protected]

Attachment
Bethesda, Md.  November 30, 2023, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia and Aledade, the nations largest network of independent primary care, announced the latest step in their effort to expand access to high quality primary care across Virginia, especially in communities facing challenges accessing care. Anthem and Aledades collaboration in Medicaid now means that more than 150,000 Anthem members in the Commonwealth of Virginia will have easier access to high-quality primary care, including preventive care and screenings. This partnership will impact more than 80 practices, 15 health centers and 25 rural health clinics across Virginia and covers Medicare Advantage, commercially insured, or Medicaid members.Aledade is working to bring the benefits of value-based care to patients all across the Commonwealth, especially those in underserved communities and those who receive care through a community health center. Today, the company serves as a vital partner to 15 of Virginias 26 community health centers (CHCs) and supports the care of more than 90 percent of Anthems CHC members in Virginia. In the federal governments largest value-based care program, known as the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP), Aledade supports the care of more than 10,000 Virginians who receive care through rural health clinics in the Valley Health MSSP ACO. The company is currently working with leading CHCs to launch Virginias first CHC-only ACO in MSSP next year.

As a community health center, we understand that value-based care is of great importance to shift the focus of health care to be patient-centered and about striving for the best possible outcome for our patients, said Barbara Willis, CEO of Hampton Roads Community Health Center. This kind of care allows us to focus on eliminating redundant care, disease prevention, improving the full patient experience and less unnecessary testing. This not only leads to greater overall medical cost savings, but it has shown to improve the relationships between doctors and their patients.

Last year, Aledades partnership with Anthems commercial insurance line of business brought more proactive and preventive primary care to patients across the Commonwealth. Primary care practices and CHCs working with Anthem and Aledade delivered high quality care to patients with diabetes in 2022 - improving their rates of hemoglobin A1c testing by 10 percent to reach 9 out of every 10 eligible patients and achieving high levels of kidney health evaluation for patients with diabetes. Practices working with Anthem and Aledade also ensured that 3 out of every 4 patients eligible for breast cancer screening received a mammogram.

We are already beginning to reap the benefits from this partnership seeing rural health clinics expand access and offer more preventive care, said Monica Schmude, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia. These physicians are able to focus exclusively on better health outcomes for our members, making a critical difference in the health of our communities.

Every patient deserves access to the proven benefits of physician-led, value-based care, regardless of how they get their health coverage, said Ananya Banerjee, Chief Commercial Officer at Aledade. Thanks to our unique partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, we are ensuring this high-quality care reaches patients of every age and in every community, so that we can close persistent and troubling gaps in health equity and ensure every Virginian can access the preventive and primary care they need to stay healthy and thrive.The United States stands apart in its underinvestment in primary care, and many practices and CHCs run on small margins with little in reserve. Shared savings generated through value-based care provide valuable revenue that can be reinvested in care delivery, and, in Virginia, this high-quality care led to substantial savings among Anthems commercially-insured patients, bringing more than $2 million in shared savings payments back into community primary care.

Putting our members and consumers at the center of what we do is our priority through partnerships with innovative companies like Aledade, said Mark Schneider, Regional Vice President Medicare Market Performance. Together, we can address the health of people and our healthcare system in the right way, improving health outcomes and lowering costs.

Value-based care is a system that pays health care clinicians for keeping people healthy rather than just for the volume of services they deliver, with the goal of helping patients stay healthy. Aledades model of value-based care centers on proactive and preventive primary care, providing primary care practices, health centers and rural health clinics with the tools and resources they need to care for their communities. This model of care empowers primary care practices and health centers to connect with their patients before they get sick, visit the hospital or go to the emergency room, and embrace and support patients after a medical emergency. Nationwide, Aledades model has helped millions of patients get better care, delivered hundreds of millions of dollars back to community primary care, and saved the health care system billions.

About AledadeAledade, a public benefit corporation, is the largest network of independent primary care in the country, helping independent practices, health centers and clinics deliver better care to their patients and thrive in value-based care. Through its proven, scalable model, which includes cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly guided workflows, health care policy expertise, strong payer relationships and integrated care solutions delivered through Aledade Care Solutions, Aledade empowers physicians to succeed financially by keeping people healthy. Together with more than 1,500 practices and CHCs in 46 states and the District of Columbia, Aledade shares in the risk and reward across more than 150 value-based contracts representing more than two million patient lives under management. To learn more, visit www.aledade.com or follow on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in VirginiaAnthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliate HealthKeepers, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Elevance Health. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/anthemBCBS and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield.

###

Brian Chiglinsky Aledade 5407619786 [email protected]

Source: Aledade
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (the Company or Algernon) (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW0) (OTCQB: AGNPF) a Canadian clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that it has received a notice of intention to grant from the Chinese Patent Office for patent application No. 112654357 entitled Compositions and Methods for Treating Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis with NP-251 (Repirinast).

The invention claims treating lobular inflammation and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NASH-derived hepatocellular carcinoma, with Repirinast. The base claims of the patent will be valid through 2038, excluding any patent term adjustments or extensions which may provide additional protection. The Company was recently issued patents for Repirinast in NASH from the U.S. and Japan, and has also filed corresponding patent applications in Canada and Europe.

The company previously disclosed that Repirinast, in a widely used STAM mouse model of NASH from SMC Laboratories (Japan):

Reduced hepatic fibrosis by 57% compared to vehicle (p

Reduced the NAFLD score, a composite histopathological measure of inflammation, steatosis and ballooning, by 31% compared to vehicle (3.125 vs 4.5 points, p = 0.059);

In the same model, telmisartan, a positive control and the standard of care for NASH, reduced fibrosis by 27% (p = 0.014)

Repirinast is also the Companys lead candidate for the treatment of CKD based on data showing it reduced fibrosis by 51% with statistical significance and showed an additive benefit to telmisartan in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model. Because patients with NAFLD have a two-fold increased risk of CKD, even when controlling for other comorbidities such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, Repirinast is a strong candidate for both indications.

Algernons intellectual property strategy for its repurposed drug program includes protecting its compounds by filing patent applications including method of use, dosing and formulations, and for new composition of matter patents based on novel salt forms.

We are pleased to receive this notice of intent to grant from the Chinese Patent Office, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon Pharmaceuticals. This will be the first patent granted to the Company in China, and it complements multiple other patents issued in other major world markets as part of our comprehensive global intellectual property strategy.

About Algernon Pharmaceuticals

Algernon Pharmaceuticals is a Canadian clinical stage drug development company investigating multiple drugs for unmet global medical needs. Algernon Pharmaceuticals has active research programs for chronic cough, chronic kidney disease and NASH, and is the parent company of a private subsidiary called Algernon NeuroScience, that is advancing a psychedelic program investigating a proprietary form of psychedelic DMT for stroke and traumatic brain injury.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Christopher J. MoreauCEOAlgernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.604.398.4175 ext 701[email protected][email protected]www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com

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 release.

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Source: Algernon Pharmaceuticals
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, INTO OR WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA, HONG KONG, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR WOULD REQUIRE REGISTRATION OR OTHER MEASURES

Oslo, 30 November 2023 - Reference is made to the announcement made by BW Sirocco Holdings AS (the "Offeror) on 9 November 2023 regarding a recommended voluntary offer to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares (the "Shares") in BW Ideol AS ("BW Ideol" or the "Company"), not already held by the Initiating Shareholders (as defined in the Offer Document), at an offer price of NOK 12 per Share (the "Offer Price"), to be settled in cash or shares in the Offeror (the "Offer"), as further described in the combined offer document and national prospectus (the "Offer Document"), the announcement on 14 November regarding the publication of the Offer Document and commencement of the offer period for the Offer (the "Offer Period") and the announcement on 28 November 2023 regarding the extension of the Offer Period and that the Offeror had received binding acceptances in excess of 90% of the Shares and that the condition for minimum acceptances had been fulfilled.

The Offer Period expired at 16:30 hours (CET) on 30 November 2023. Accordingly, the Offer is no longer open for acceptances, and any acceptance received after 16:30 (CET) on 30 November 2023 will be rejected.

FINAL LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCES

As at the expiry of the Offer Period, the Offeror has agreed to acquire, subject to final verification of acceptances, 30,000,561 Shares, representing approximately 95.21% of the total number of Shares, which for the avoidance of doubt includes the Shares to be acquired from the Initiating Shareholders, pursuant to the contribution agreements the Offeror has entered into with the Initiating Shareholders.

SETTLEMENT

Subject to the conditions for completion of the Offer, the settlement of the Offer will take place within 10 business days following the expiry of the Offer Period for the cash consideration, and is expected to be on or around 7 December 2023.

Settlement of the share consideration will take place as soon as practically possible following registration with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises of the capital increase in the Offeror pertaining to the issuance of the consideration shares.

COMPULSORY ACQUISITION

Following settlement of the Offer, and as further described in section 5.2.14 (Compulsory Acquisition of BW Ideol Shares) of the Offer Document, the Offeror intends to carry out a Compulsory Acquisition of the remaining BW Ideol Shares pursuant to Section 4-26 of the Norwegian Private Companies Act against a price equal to the cash consideration, and the Offeror will propose that the general meeting of the Company resolved that the Company shall apply to Oslo Brs for the delisting of the Shares from Euronext Growth Oslo.

ADVISORS

Danske Bank, Norwegian Branch, is acting as financial advisor to the Offeror and receiving agent for the Offer. Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is acting as legal advisor to the Offeror.

Carnegie AS is acting as financial advisor to the board of directors of the Company.

For further information, please contact:

BW Ideol AS



Nicolas de Kerangal (Chief Financial & Partnerships Officer)

+33 (0) 7 76 87 70 08 / [email protected]



BW Sirocco Holdings AS



Anders S. Platou (Chief Strategy Officer BW Offshore Limited)

+47 99 71 86 55

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It may be unlawful to distribute this announcement in certain jurisdictions. This announcement is not for distribution in Australia, Canada, the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, Japan, South Africa, the United States or to any other jurisdiction where such distribution would be unlawful. The information in this announcement does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in such jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this release comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement does not constitute an offer for sale of, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities in the United States. The Offer or Consideration Shares referred to in this 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 and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. The information contained in this announcement is for informational purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. The Offeror does not intend to conduct a public offering in the United States and is relying on exemptions from registration. The Offer will be made to shareholders in the United States in compliance with applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations, including Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Copies of this announcement are not being, and should not be, distributed in or sent into the United States.

In the United Kingdom, this announcement is for distribution only to and is directed only at persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments which fall within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc") of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

This announcement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of securities in any Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) (2017/1129, as amended, the "Prospectus Regulation") (each, a "Relevant Member State") will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of securities. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer in that Relevant Member State of securities, which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this announcement, may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Offeror to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Regulation, in each case, in relation to such offer. Neither the Offeror, the Company nor any of the advisors have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of the securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the Offeror which constitute the final placement of the securities contemplated in this announcement. Neither the Offeror, the Company nor any of the advisors have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of securities in circumstances in which an obligation arises to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws and regulations of various international, federal, and state jurisdictions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation, statements regarding the Offer or the future plans and objectives of the Offeror or the Company are forward- looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Neither the Offeror, the Company nor any of their advisors and/or any of their affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents or any other person(s) accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from this announcement) or any other information relating the Offer, the Offeror or the Company.

The issue, subscription or purchase of shares in the Offeror is subject to specific legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Neither the Offeror, the Company nor their advisors assume any responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions.

The release is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part directly or indirectly, in or into United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful. This release is an announcement issued pursuant to legal information obligations, and is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. It is issued for information purposes only, and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or purchase, or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"). The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. The Offeror does not intend to register any portion of the offering of the securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of the securities in the United States. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into Australia, Canada, Japan or the United States.
Highlights:

Completed 21,126 metres in 78 holes for the planned 20,000-metre drilling program in 2023.

Intersected high-grade nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium and platinum massive to semi-massive sulphides and wide disseminated sulphide mineralized zones, e.g., 10 metres grading 0.48% Ni, 1.48% Cu, 0.06% Co, 1.28g/t Pd and 0.06g/t Pt in hole FL23-481B. 112.5 metres grading 0.16% Ni, 0.23% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.35g/t Pd and 0.06g/t Pt in hole FL23-527B.

Expanded >3,000 metres in total of the main mineralized zones along the strike (1,600 m in West Zone and 1,400 m in East Zone); extended the satellite mineralized zones for 200-450 metres.

Adding results of 39,270 metres in 145 holes of new diamond drilling in 2021-23 to the project database for the completion of an updated Mineral Resources estimation.

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian North Resources Inc. (the Company, TSXV: CNRI; OTCQX: CNRSF; FSE: EO0 (E-O-zero)) is pleased to report the operational and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

In Q3 2023, the Company has completed the planned 20,000-metre 2023 drilling program with 21,126 metres in 78 holes. Said Dr. Kaihui Yang, the President & CEO of the Company, The assay results confirmed significant mineralized intersections in 67 of the 78 holes. The results in combination with previously released results for 2021-23, totalling 39,270 metres in 145 holes, have expanded laterally over 3,000 metres of the main mineralized horizon at our 100% owned Ferguson Lake nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium and platinum project (the Ferguson Lake Project, Figure 1).

We are adding the results of 145 new holes drilled in 2021-23 to the project database to update the current mineral resource model (Refer to Independent Technical Report, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Ferguson Lake Project, Nunavut, Canada, Prepared by Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Inc. and Francis Minerals Ltd.  filed by the Company to Sedar.com on July 13, 2022), and we expect the new resource model would increase substantial potential resources at the Ferguson Lake project.

We highly appreciate the strong supports from the shareholders and investors. During Q3, 2023, the Company raised $8,057,298 from the flowthrough financings to support its aggressive drilling and other exploration programs at the Ferguson Lake project. The Company also received $75,000 from the early exercise of warrants by our shareholders.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company has received $1,700,001 from the early exercise of warrants by the shareholder of the Company. 

In addition, the Company has also received $61,920 from the early exercise of options by our staff and consultants to date.

Figure 1 Geological map showing the mineralized zones and the mineralized intercepts in selected drill holes completed in the summer drilling program at Ferguson Lake Project.

 The Company engaged in the following activities in Quarter 3:

On July 5, 2023, the Company announced that KRE Development Co. Ltd ("KRE"), the biggest shareholder of the Company had elected to exercise their warrants ahead of the scheduled expiration of December 31, 2023. KRE exercised 1,437,198 share purchase warrants (each a "Warrant" to purchase one share at $1.50) for aggregate proceeds of $2,155,797 on June 30, 2023. Warrants were issued in connection with the Company's offering of units completed prior to listing.

On July 18, 2023, the Company reported the assay results for the 6,151 metres in 21 holes of diamond drilling completed during the spring. The assay results confirmed the near-surface mineralization along the east extension (strike length 1.2 km) of West Zone and the west extension (strike length 1.5 km) of East Zone across Ferguson Lake.

On July 27, 2023, the Company announced the closing of non-brokered private placement of common shares (Flow-Through Shares) on a flow-through basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada), of which 1,031,425 Flow-Through Shares were issued at a price of $2.70 per share for gross proceeds of $2,784,847.50 (the Flow-Through Offering).

On August 2, 2023, the Company announced, further to its news release issued on July 27, 2023, the closing of the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement of 1,082,621 common shares (Charity Flow-Through Shares) on a flow-through basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) at a price of $2.877 per share for gross proceeds of $3,114,700.62 (the Charity Flow-Through Offering).

On August 9, 2023, 30,000 share options that were issued on April 5, 2022 were exercised. The Company issued 30,000 common shares.

On August 17, 2023, the Company announced that it had received an additional grant of $125,000 from the Government of Nunavut's Discover, Invest, Grow ("DIG") program. This grant comes on the heels of the $250,000 received in May and June 2023, reaffirming the Company's commitment to advancing mineral exploration in the emerging mining region of Nunavut. The Company also announced that it had granted to certain officers options to purchase a total of 110,000 Common Shares of the Company at an exercise price of $2.35 per share. The options will expire on August 18, 2028.

On August 24, 2023, 50,000 Series 1 Warrants were exercised at a price of $1.50. The Company received the proceeds of $75,000 and issued 50,000 Common Shares.

On September 13, 2023, the Company completed the issuance of Flow-Through Shares of 2,864,046 shares for proceeds of $8,057,298 at the weighted average price of $2.81 per share. The cost of the issuance of $483,438 was offset by the proceeds of Flow-through Shares. A Flow-Through Share premium was recognized as a liability on the statement of financial position for $624,747.

On September 15, 2023, the Company announced that it has commenced a market awareness program, aimed at enhancing its market visibility and engagement.

On September 18, 2023, the Company announced it has completed 21,126.50-metre drilling at its 100% owned Ferguson Lake base metal (nickel, copper, cobalt) and platinum group metal (PGM, mainly palladium and platinum) project in Nunavut, Canada

On September 26, 2023, the Company reported the initial partial assay results for 21 holes drilled during the summer, which was a portion of the 21,126 metre 2023 diamond drilling program. The results combined with the results of the drill holes released earlier confirmed that the expansion of the main mineralized zones (West Zone and East Zone) for over 3,000 metres along the strike.

 For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company reported a net loss of $1,725,246 or $0.02 per share.

Subsequent to Quarter 3, the Company achieved the following:

On October 3, 2023, the Company announced its participation in the prestigious Mines and Money event, held in conjunction with the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney, Australia, October 31 to November 2, 2023.

On October 11, 2023, the Company announced the launch of its newly redesigned website aimed at providing an enhanced online experience for its stakeholders, investors and broader public. 333,334 Series 1 Warrants were exercised at a price of $1.50. The Company received the proceeds of $500,001 and issued 333,334 Common Shares.

On October 17, 2023, the Company announced that it had commissioned a new Mineral Resource estimation in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) for its Ferguson Lake project. The results of 39,270 metres in 145 drill holes completed in 2021-23 would be added to the project database for the new mineral resources estimation. SRK Consulting and EMR were engaged for the independent NI43-101 Technical Report for the mineral resources estimates.

On October 23, 2023, 400,000 Series 1 Warrants were exercised at a price of $1.50. The Company received the proceeds of $600,000 and issued 400,000 Common Shares.

On November 2, 2023, 400,000 Series 1 Warrants were exercised at a price of $1.50. The Company received the proceeds of $600,000 and issued 400,000 Common Shares.

On November 07, 2023, the Company received the refund of HST from CRA in full amount plus interest, which amounts to $2,736,046.

On November 28, 2023, the Company reported the assay results for the remaining 26 holes drilled during the summer. The results indicated significant (3-15 metres) massive or semi-massive sulphide intersections and wide (up to 112.5 metres) disseminated sulphide intersections, confirmed the significant extensions (200-450 metres) of three mineralized zones and two new mineralized zones.

For the quarter end financial statements and Managements Discussion and Analysis, please see the Company website at www.cnresources.com or on SEDAR.

Qualified Person:

The technical contents of this news release have been reviewed by Dr. Trevor Boyd, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 standards.

About Canadian North Resources Inc.:

Canadian North Resources Inc. is an exploration and development company focusing on the critical metals for the clean-energy, electric vehicles, battery and high-tech industries. The company is advancing its 100% owned Ferguson Lake nickel, copper, cobalt, palladium, and platinum project that covers an area of 253.8 km2 of mining leases (96.9 km2) and surrounding exploration claims (156.9 km2) in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut, Canada.

The Ferguson Lake mining property contains substantial resources in compliance with NI43-101 standards, which include Indicated Mineral Resources of 24.3 million tonnes containing 455 million pounds (Mlb) copper at 0.85%, 321Mlb nickel at 0.60%, 37.5Mlb cobalt at 0.07%, 1.08 million ounces (Moz) palladium at 1.38gpt and 0.18Moz platinum at 0.23gpt; Inferred Mineral Resources of 47.2 million tonnes containing 947Mlb copper at 0.91%, 551.5Mlb nickel at 0.53%, 62.4Mlb cobalt at 0.06%, 2.12Moz palladium at 1.4gpt and 0.38Moz platinum at 0.25gpt. The resource model indicates significant potential for resource expansion along strike and at depth over the 15 km long mineralized belt. (Refer to Independent Technical Report, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Ferguson Lake Project, Nunavut, Canada, Prepared by Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Inc. and Francis Minerals Ltd  filed by the Company to Sedar.com on July 13, 2022).

Further information please visit the website at www.cnresources.com, or contact:

Dr. Kaihui Yang, President and CEO

Phone: 905-696-8288 (Canada) 1-888-688-8809 (Toll-Free)

Email: [email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates, or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect managements expectations regarding the Companys future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

Figure 1 Geological map showing the mineralized zones and the mineralized intercepts in selected drill holes completed in the summer drilling program at Ferguson Lake Project.

Source: Canadian North Resources Inc.
The wife of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has been recognized as one of the most influential women in the world by the Financial Times. She was honored in the "heroes" category in a list of 25 winners.

ADVERTISIMENT

Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of Estonia, who was quoted by the newspaper, said she admired the Ukrainian first lady. The full list of the world's most influential women is available on the website.

"What I admire most about Olena Zelenska is her honesty. A screenwriter by profession, she knows how not to overstate things. Four months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelenska told a journalist: "None of us are okay." She knows what it's like to wake up and see your homeland invaded by an imperialist neighbor, to not know when or if you will see your loved ones next, to find the strength to fight for freedom no matter what," the article says.

ADVERTISIMENT

Olena Zelenska was called a global symbol of resilience and praised for her efforts to raise awareness of mental health.

"Her work shedding light on the suffering and deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia makes me remember the story of my own family: the Russians deported my mother to Siberia when she was a child. Estonia is working with the Zelenska Foundation to build family homes for children who have been orphaned by Russian bombs," Kaja Kallas said.

It is worth explaining that the Financial Times ranking of the most influential women is based on the opinions of other prominent people. That is, each of the opinion leaders is nominated for this award by other influential women. Accordingly, Kaya Kallas voted for Zelenska's candidacy.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the authoritative Politico magazine recently named the most influential people in Europe. Nine "dreamers" were headed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He was put on a par with Winston Churchill, Martin Luther, and other political figures who can change the course of history.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Rudy will lead population health programming and research as Wellthys care concierge offering surpasses 120,000+ caregiving projects completed for families

Los Angeles, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wellthy, the care concierge platform that provides families with caregiving support spanning all phases of life, has announced the hiring of Dr. Ellen Rudy, Ph.D., M.P.H., as its first Head of Population Health.



Rudy joins Wellthy at a touchstone moment for the company: Wellthy has just surpassed more than 120,000 caregiving projects completed for families, is working with more than 30 Fortune 500 companies and health plans, and was named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies this year.



Wellthy has shown over nearly a decade of work with families, health plans, and employers that its care concierge solution can make a radical and transformative difference in the lives of caregivers and care recipients, said Rudy. The care crisis facing families today is unparalleled  more than 37 million people are providing unpaid eldercare to a loved one, 14 percent of people over 71 years old are living with dementia, and families are spending upwards of 45 hours a week on caregiving responsibilities. Families are craving more care support, and there couldnt be a more urgent moment to join with Wellthy and scale what has become the markets best and boldest solution for supporting caregivers.



As Wellthys first Head of Population Health, Rudy will drive programming and research that measures Wellthys impact on family caregivers, and further expands Wellthys care concierge solution to drive better health outcomes for older adults and their caregivers.



Rudy is an expert faculty member on population health at the University of Southern California, a former executive at Molina Healthcare, and previously the head of Population Health and Social Impact at Papa. She comes to Wellthy as one of the foremost leaders and experts on eldercare, healthcare innovation, and social determinants of health for aging adults in the United States.



The number one use case our members turn to Wellthy for support with is aging-related care, and there is no one more qualified to enhance Wellthys programming and research in eldercare, and to expand our work with health plans, leave and life insurance, and employers than Ellen Rudy, said Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO and co-founder of Wellthy. People are living longer, choosing to age at home, and were seeing increases in cancer, dementia, and comorbidities  which are among the most complex, and longest-lasting care situations families face. Wellthy is uniquely positioned to support these caregiving journeys, and we are thrilled to have Ellens leadership in ensuring we offer the right evidence-based supports for caregivers and care recipients across the most challenging stages of life and all socio-economic variables of care.



Wellthy currently has a team of 200+ in-house caregiving experts  the majority of whom are social workers, senior care, and palliative care experts. Wellthys platform offers a fully-integrated solution that connects members and their care circle  who have access to Wellthy via leading health plans and employer benefit programs  to the support they need.



Some of the biggest medical conditions our members turned to us for caregiving support with this past year are dementia, diabetes, cancer, and depression, added Jurist-Rosner. Ellens breadth of experience in developing programs that serve these care recipients and caregivers will deepen Wellthys impact tremendously, as we work to make a lasting, meaningful, and profound difference in the lives of families.



For more information on Wellthy, visit www.wellthy.com.



About Wellthy

Wellthy is the leading platform helping families balance work and care responsibilities through a combination of human expertise and precision technology. Wellthy makes it easier for our members to take care of their own health, reduce stress, save money, and stay engaged in their work and their lives while taking care of their loved ones. Millions of people have direct access to Wellthys care concierge through some of the largest and best-known health plans and employers across the country, including Best Buy, Cisco, and Meta. Follow Wellthy on LinkedIn here.










NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES

CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mr. Clive J. Beddoe (Mr. Beddoe) announces that he has resigned as director of SQI Diagnostics Inc. (the Company) effective October 29, 2023 (the Effective Date). Mr. Beddoe also announces that he has forgiven $1,790,000 aggregate principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, of secured debentures of the Company held by Mr. Beddoe.

In connection with his resignation from the board of directors of the Company, Mr. Beddoe entered into a voting trust agreement (the Voting Trust Agreement) with Mr. David Markowski, a new director of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Markowski was appointed Mr. Beddoes voting trustee and acquired the exclusive voting rights over all of the 97,570,247 common shares (Shares) in the capital of the Company beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Beddoe with respect only to any and all elections of directors of the Company. The Voting Trust Agreement has a term of three years, subject to early termination in the event that the Company does not hold any technology, intellectual property or other commercial licences (collectively, the Technology IP) from the University Health Network or transferred to it by Pivot Financial I Limited Partnership (Pivot). The Company does not currently hold any license to the Technology IP as of the date hereof, but intends to seek such licenses in connection with a proposed restructuring (the Restructuring) of the Company to be overseen by the Companys new board of directors. Mr. Beddoe has no involvement in the Restructuring and there can be no assurance that it will be completed.

Mr. Beddoe has also entered into a share transfer agreement (the Share Transfer Agreement) with Pivot as of the Effective Date, pursuant to which he has agreed to transfer 8,333,333 Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Beddoe to Pivot for nominal consideration in connection with the proposed Restructuring and only in the event that the TSX Venture Exchange does not grant approval for the Company to issue Pivot 8,333,333 Shares from treasury directly (the Pivot Share Issuance). The obligations of Mr. Beddoe under the Share Transfer Agreement are conditional on the revocation of, or applicable amendment to, the cease trade order (the CTO) affecting the securities of the Company dated September 5, 2023 and other applicable regulatory approvals.

Also on the Effective Date, Mr. Beddoe and the Company entered into a warrant exercise agreement (the Warrant Agreement) pursuant to which Mr. Beddoe agreed to sell, from time to time, Shares beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Beddoe as of the Effective Date at or around the prevailing market price of the Shares at the time of any such sales and to use the proceeds of sales (net of commissions, taxes and other selling costs) to finance the exercise of common share purchase warrants (Warrants) of the Company held by Mr. Beddoe in order to fund the Company. The completion of any Share sales and related Warrant exercises under the Warrant Agreement is conditional upon the CTO being revoked or amended in such a manner that would allow for the sale of Shares under applicable securities laws. In connection with the entering into the Warrant Agreement, Mr. Beddoe agreed to forfeit and surrender 7,017,543 Warrants (the 2026 Warrants) expiring November 1, 2026 for nil consideration as of the Effective Date. There can be no assurances as to the timing of the transactions contemplated by the Share Transfer Agreement or Warrant Agreement nor whether any such transactions will be completed.

Immediately prior to the Effective Date, Mr. Beddoe beneficially owned or exercised control or direction over 97,570,247 Shares and 35,335,130 Warrants, representing approximately 24.02% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and representing approximately 30.10% of the issued and outstanding Shares assuming the full exercise of all Warrants that Mr. Beddoe beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over. As a result of the surrender and cancellation of the 2026 Warrants, Mr. Beddoe owns or exercises control or direction over 97,570,247 Shares and 28,317,587 Warrants, representing approximately 24.02% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and representing approximately 28.97% of the issued and outstanding Shares assuming the full exercise of all Warrants that Mr. Beddoe beneficially owns or exercises control or direction over.

In addition to the transactions described herein, Mr. Beddoe may increase or decrease his investment, directly or indirectly, in securities of the Company from time to time, depending on market conditions or any other relevant factors.

A copy of the report relating to the Voting Trust Agreement, Share Transfer Agreement and Warrant Agreement may be found on SQIs profile at www.SEDAR.com or may be obtained from Mr. Ryan Ogrodniczuk at 403-266-6203 or at Mr. Beddoes address c/o Hanover Investments Corporation Ltd., 396-11th Avenue SW, Suite 1320, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0C5. SQIs head office is located at 36 Meteor Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9W 1A4.

Source: Clive Beddoe
CEDAR PARK, Texas, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chirofit Wellness Center is proud to announce that Dr. Mo, an esteemed chiropractor with over 15 years of dedicated service to the Cedar Park community, was officially recognized as the "Best of the Best" in patient care by the Hill Country News for 6 consecutive years. He has also been recognized as the Best Chiropractor in Central Texas and Young Chiropractor of the Year by the Texas Chiropractic Association (TCA). This prestigious accolade underscores Dr. Mo's unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being of his patients and his tireless dedication to the field of chiropractic care.

Dr. Mo's exceptional journey to becoming Cedar Park's trusted choice for chiropractic care is marked by numerous achievements and accolades that highlight his commitment to the community. He has not only provided top-notch chiropractic care but has actively contributed to the betterment of Cedar Park and the surrounding areas.

As an influential leader in the chiropractic community, Dr. Mo was elected by the TCA Chiropractors of Central TX as the District 8 President in 2012, a position that speaks volumes about his dedication to advancing the chiropractic profession. Due to his great leadership, he was elected as an Executive Officer with the TCA in 2017. He continued to grow in that role, leading the profession as the President of the TCA from 2020-2021. Dr. Mo still sits as an active member of the TCA helping to protect, preserve and promote chiropractic care in the state of Texas. For his work, he was awarded the Chiropractic Advocate award by the TCA in 2023. He also played a vital role in the local business community by serving as a Cedar Park Chamber Board Member and contributing his expertise to the Cedar Park Comprehensive Plan Committee.

In recognition of his remarkable entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to Cedar Park's economic growth, Dr. Mo was honored with the "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" award by the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce. This award underlines his significant contributions to the local business landscape and reflects his dedication to the growth of the Cedar Park community.

Furthermore, Dr. Mo's commitment to community welfare extends beyond the chiropractic clinic. He was honored by the Cedar Park Police Department for his exceptional leadership and unwavering support for local police officers and first responders. His tireless efforts to help law enforcement and his community demonstrate his outstanding character and commitment to making Cedar Park a safer and better place for all.

Chirofit Wellness Center has become synonymous with Dr. Mo's commitment to excellence and community service. With a strong foundation built on trust, integrity, and a genuine desire to improve the lives of those he serves, Dr. Mo stands as the go-to choice for chiropractic care in Cedar Park, TX.

Chirofit doesnt just work to reduce your pain and injuries, says Dr. Mo. After we have managed your pain, we work with you to strengthen weak points to prevent future injuries. At Chirofit, you will work with a team of amazing, award-winning professionals that are each an expert in their own field. Our experts will work as a team to get patients the best results possible.

Patients seeking exceptional chiropractic care and a dedicated professional who embodies the highest standards of patient service can turn to Dr. Mo at Chirofit Wellness Center with confidence. His accolades, achievements, reviews and unwavering commitment to his patients and the Cedar Park community make him the top choice for those in search of chiropractic care.

For more information on Chirofit Wellness Center and Dr. Mo's chiropractic services, please visit http://chirofitwellnesscenter.com/.

Media Contact:Steven A. EsparzaChief Executive Officer[email protected] 619-363-1368

Source: ChiroFit Wellness Center
An Emerging Markets Sponsored Commentary



ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former Apple CEO, John Scully, is widely credited with the simple phrase, Timing is Everything. Another Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, would execute on that mantra, crafting revolutionary products into seas of change with the Internet, personal computing, portable music, and smart phones.



The results were epic.

In most great success stories there is a tide, a thing beyond the control or creation of man alone. It is a thing that exists on its own indomitable, inimitable.

The best of men, companies in this context, will harness the tide, ride the wind, or take this change agent and make it their own.

Because timing IS everything.

A short while ago Laramide Resources announced an Off-Scale Radioactivity Reading about a uranium mining discovery:

Laramide Resources Ltd. (TSX: LAM) (ASX: LAM) (OTCQX: LMRXF), which holds a portfolio of development stage uranium assets strategically positioned in the United States and Australia has been actively exploring for even more uranium on its prospective land package, when it made that banner-making discovery.

Heres the comment from CEO Marc Henderson from the press release:

The exploration discovery of an off-scale mineralization reading and the sighting of outcropping uranium at a prospective new drill target was an unexpected bonus and will be followed up in 2024."

Bonus is right because off-scale indicates high levels of radioactivity which may be associated with the presence of uranium minerals. Specifically, recent reconnaissance exploration at the U-Valley target has discovered extensive zones of surface radioactivity in Westmoreland Conglomerate including isolated "off scale" (>65,535cps) points using a Super-Spec RS-125 Spectrometer. Geological mapping and ground scintillometer surveys are currently underway to refine the target zones ahead of potential scout drilling in the 2024 field season.

It is important to note within this context that economic viability or concentration of uranium ore require further analysis, including assays and core drilling, to assess the potential for uranium extraction and the economic feasibility of mining in the above area.

Now about that timing part.

Literally the exact same day as this news about off-scale discoveries and progress hit the wire, a compelling article posted at a top mining publication, Kitco, noted that uranium had hit a 15 year high. The article further notes that:

The chart tracking uranium futures illustrates remarkable performance since the beginning of 2023, with an increase of over 50%. To put this in perspective, the gold spot price has risen by nearly 10%, while the S&P index has seen an uptick of around 8%.

Historically, this translates into potential greater investment in the uranium category and potential heightened interest in current and prospective uranium operations.

Mining is one of the rarest of industries where the earth may not move beneath your feet but the value sure can. As spot prices rise so do margins as mining costs do not generally change when prices are ascendant.

Laramides uranium properties could have greater potential profitability if uranium prices stabilize here or even continue to rise.

Having an off-scale discovery right now couldnt be much better -- Not when timing is everything.

About The Emerging Markets Report:

The Emerging Markets Report is owned and operated by Emerging Markets Consulting (EMC), a syndicate of investor relations consultants representing decades of experience. Our network consists of stockbrokers, investment bankers, fund managers, and institutions that actively seek opportunities in the micro and small-cap equity markets.

For more informative reports such as this, please sign up at:

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Must Read OTC Markets/SEC policy on stock promotion and investor protection

Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 requires that any person that uses the mails to publish, give publicity to, or circulate any publication or communication that describes a security in return for consideration received or to be received directly or indirectly from an issuer, underwriter, or dealer, must fully disclose the type of consideration (i.e. cash, free trading stock, restricted stock, stock options, stock warrants) and the specific amount of the consideration. In connection therewith, EMC has received the following compensation and/or has an agreement to receive in the future certain compensation, as described below.

EMC has been paid $100,000 by Laramide Resources Ltd. for various marketing services including this report. EMC does not independently verify any of the content linked-to from this editorial.

https://emergingmarketsconsulting.com/disclaimer/
Dallas, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Look Laser College, Astanzas training division, has published the complete 2024 tattoo removal training course schedule. New Look Laser College (NLLC) is a two-day training program designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and certifications necessary to thrive in the growing field of laser tattoo removal and beyond. New Look Laser College has become the industry leader in comprehensive laser tattoo removal training since its inception in 2007, training thousands of students across the world. Attendees can expect a fully immersive experience at New Look Laser College. A high-level overview of topics covered during the course include: laser physics, laser safety, the science of laser tattoo removal and how advanced aesthetic lasers function, clinical operations and best practices. A unique aspect of New Look Laser College includes the business side of the tattoo removal industry. Those who attend New Look Laser College will also gain key insight from our experts into the best business marketing strategies specific to the tattoo removal and aesthetic laser industry. Tattoo removal business and marketing topics covered include valuable resources to optimize operations, tailored promotional campaigns, and a guide to learn how to increase client satisfaction and fill up appointment books. Graduates of New Look Laser College will leave the course feeling confident and prepared to provide exceptional tattoo removal services and run a successful laser business. 2024 New Look Laser College Tattoo Removal Training Course Schedule We are thrilled to present our course schedule for 2024. Here are the dates and locations for our upcoming courses:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn three certifications:

Certified Laser Specialist (CLS)

Laser Safety Officer (LSO)

Advanced Laser Tattoo Removal Practitioner (ALTR)

Learn more about New Look Laser College, Astanzas training division, and how to register for laser tattoo removal training and certification courses in 2024 by viewing the website. Ready to start an aesthetic laser business? Contact Astanza today! One of our award-winning team members is here to guide you every step of the way throughout the lifetime of your laser business journey. About Astanza LaserAstanza Laser is the provider of advanced aesthetic laser devices and helps people start and expand successful laser businesses. Astanzas product line consists of FDA-cleared, medical-grade laser technology for tattoo removal, hair removal, and other related cosmetic procedures. Our lasers include the Trinity, Duality Signature, EternityTSR, MeDioStar, PicoStar, DermaBlate, and QuadroStarProYELLOW laser machines. Astanza offers an unbeatable support system through The Astanza Experience, which consists of our 3-Business Day Service Guarantee, Lifetime Training and Clinical Support, and Business Builder System. This all-encompassing system guides laser businesses every step of the way; providing a complete range of training, service, marketing, and business strategies. Astanza is an award-winning company that has received several accolades from leading aesthetic industry organizations, including Aesthetic Everything and MyFaceMyBody. Astanza is also certified as a Great Place to Work, ranks #33 on Fortunes 2023 Best Workplaces in Health Care and #49 on Fortunes 2023 Best Places to Work in TexasTM. Astanza Laser is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with clients practicing throughout North America and Europe. Learn more about Astanza by visiting the website or calling (800) 364 - 9010. Connect with Astanza on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Twitter.

Source: Astanza Laser
New York, NY, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Holo Metaverse Group plans to establish a platform in Beijing that focuses on AI technology and book publishing. The goal is to assist private companies in enhancing their business environment and avoiding intense competition.

On November 29, Holo cooperated with the China branch of Penguin Random House, the world's largest publishing group, and held a press conference in Beijing. The purpose was to introduce a new digital platform called Holo Metaverse Intelligent Home Library (Holo MIHL). The event received support from two state-owned enterprises, CITIC Press Group and China Translation & Publishing House.

Leveraging a combination of AI technology and publishing resources, Holo MIHL will provide a range of services, including books, clubs, business schools, AI reading, digital avatars, and enterprise-level customization. These services aim to enhance the competitiveness of business operators while fostering a more scientific and friendly approach to business collaboration.

In a video speech, Ms. Fibona Ning, the chairman of Holo, expressed the mission of Holo Group as taking responsibility for the current era and creating social value. Their goal is to contribute to the development of private enterprises and societal progress.

Apart from the Holo MIHL platform, the Holo Group is establishing 112 digital technology spaces worldwide to facilitate global trade and cross-border cooperation for companies. In today's digital transformation era, AI technology is widely utilized across various fields. Building Holo MIHL is an important step towards the future development of the holographic industry. Through the application of AI technology, Holo can break the barriers between offline and online businesses and achieve optimal allocation of resources and industrial transformation and upgrading.

Several companies, including Penguin Random House North Asia, CITIC Press Group, and China Translation & Publishing House, are actively participating in the plan. The Chinese government has been advocating for the development of private enterprises this year to boost economic recovery. The support from state-owned enterprises for the Holo business will significantly contribute to the success of the plan.



https://www.holo-foundation.org/


VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) Monument or the Company today announced its first quarter of fiscal 2024 production and financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2023. All amounts are expressed in United States dollars (US$) unless otherwise indicated (refer to www.sedar.com for full financial results).

President and CEO Cathy Zhai commented, "Q1 FY2024 was a significant quarter for Selinsing Gold Mine as we achieved commercial production of gold concentrate from the sulphide plant, which reached 90% of its design capacity. We also improved our operational efficiency by completing the explosive depot, increasing our mining capacity with more drill rigs and operating hours, and generating cash flow from gold concentrate sales. At Murchison, we initiated a review of the project's potential cash flow and exploration plans based on previous drill results, while maintaining our plant and facilities for future production, with fully operational site accommodations and catering facilities.

First Quarter Highlights:

The throughput of the Selinsing sulphide gold treatment plant achieved 90% of design capacity for the 30-day period up to August 16, 2023, thereby achieving the requirement for commercial production.

Mining capacity increased with ten grade control drill rigs and additional drillers now on site and expanded drilling hours.

Completion of explosive depot construction in July 2023 accommodated shortage of explosive deliveries.

Cash flow successfully generated throughout the quarterly gold concentrate sales after the first sale occurring in June 2023. Gold produced from the flotation plant: 7,243 ounces (oz) of gold produced (Q1 FY2023: nil ounce); 4,607oz gold sold at average realized price of $1,939/oz for an estimated $6.91 million (Q1 FY2023: nil); Cash cost per ounce for gold sold at $847/oz (Q1 FY2023: nil); Gross margin at $3.01 million (Q1 FY2023: nil). All-in sustaining cost (AISC) decreased to $957/oz (Q1 FY2023: $ 2,677/oz) (section 15 Non-IFRS Performance Measures) when transiting to concentrate production from gold billion production.

The AUD$1 million contingency was realized from the 2021 Tuckanarra transaction, when a major milestone of resources was delivered by Odyssey.

First Quarter Production and Financial Highlights

Three months ended September 30, 2023 2022 Production Ore mined (tonnes) 256,904 107,392 Waste removed (tonnes) 2,115,211 1,600,037 Gold Sulphide Production Ore processed (tonnes) 177,494 - Average mill feed grade (g/t) 1.81 - Processing recovery rate (%) 69.63 - Gold produced (oz) 7,243 - Gold sold (oz) 4,607 - Gold Oxide Production Ore processed (tonnes) - 132,447 Average mill feed grade (g/t) - 1.03 Processing recovery rate (%) - 46.21 Gold produced(1)(oz) - 2,066 Gold sold (oz) - 400 Financial (expressed in thousands of US$) $ $ Revenue 6,911 709 Gross margin from mining operations 3,009 60 Income (Loss) before other items 1,073 (703 ) Net loss (85 ) (289 ) Cash flows provided by (used in) operations 20 (654 ) Working capital 11,722 25,705 Loss per share  basic and diluted (US$/share) (0.00 ) (0.00 ) Weighted average gold price US$/oz US$/oz Realized price - oxide production (2) - 1,772 Realized price - sulphide production (2) 1,939 - Cash cost per ounce sold Mining 266 632 Processing 349 770 Royalties 172 183 Operations, net of silver recovery 60 37 Total cash cost per ounce sold(3) 847 1,622 By-product silver recovery 0 5 Operation expenses 8 0 Corporate expenses 1 65 Accretion of asset retirement obligation 12 115 Exploration and evaluation expenditures 1 442 Sustaining capital expenditures 88 428 Total all-in sustaining costs per ounce sold(4) 957 2,677

(1) Defined as good delivery gold oxide production according to London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), net of gold dore in transit and refinery adjustment.(2) Exclude gold prepaid delivery for comparison purposes.(3) Total cash cost for both oxide and sulphide plant production includes production costs such as mining, processing, tailing facility maintenance and camp administration, royalties, and operating costs such as storage, temporary mine production closure, community development cost and property fees, net of by-product credits. Cash cost excludes amortization, depletion, accretion expenses, capital costs, exploration costs and corporate administration costs.(4) All-in sustaining cost per ounce includes total cash costs, operation expenses, and adds sustaining capital expenditures, corporate administrative expenses for the Selinsing Gold Mine including share-based compensation, exploration and evaluation costs, and accretion of asset retirement obligations. Certain other cash expenditures, including tax payments and acquisition costs, are not included.

GOLD PRODUCTION RESULTS

First quarter gold production

The sulphide flotation production in Q1 FY2024 yielded 7,243 ounces of gold. The mill processed 177,494 tonnes of sulphide ore, achieving a head grade of 1.81g/t and a recovery rate of 69.63%. This performance marks a notable improvement from Q4 FY2023, where a head grade of 1.66g/t and a recovery rate of 66.47% were achieved. A key factor in this enhanced recovery has been the shift from processing old stockpile ore to using newly mined sulphide ore.

The total processing costs for the first quarter FY2024 were $1.61 million (Q1 FY2023: $0.31 million). There were no costs incurred for the oxide treatment plant which has been placed under care and maintenance since a mid of November 2022.

The cost per tonne of ore processed by the sulphide treatment was $12.62 (Q1 FY2023: nil).

FINANCIAL RESULTS

First quarter financial results

Q1 gold sales generated revenue of $6.91 million for 4,607oz gold sold from 3,719 dry matrix tons (DMT) of gold concentrates at the average realized gold price of $1,939/oz (Q1 FY2023: revenue of $0.71 million for 400oz of gold bullion sold at the average realized price at $1,772 per ounce).

Mining operations before non-cash amortization and depreciation generated a gross margin of $3.01 million, an increase of 49 times from $0.06 million in Q1 FY2023.

The cash cost from the sulphide flotation gold production was $847/oz (Q1 FY2023: N/A).

MINE DEVELOPMENT AND UPDATE

Selinsing Gold Mine

Tailing Storage Facility (TSF) Upgrade

The expansion to raise the TSFs level to 540m RL will allow an additional three-year capacity for the sulphide concentrate production. TSF construction resumed in the first quarter of FY2024 bringing up the TSF level to 539.25m RL. The remaining 0.75m RL is planned to be achieved in Q2 FY2024.

Operational updates

Flotation plant facilities work includes the concentrate warehouse construction which was primarily done during the quarter, and the bagging system which was near completion.

The optimization of the flotation reagent suite has resulted in significant improvement in the plant performance. The optimization involved refining the use of key components such as soda ash for pH control, potassium amyl xanthate as a flotation collector, and sodium hexametaphosphate as slimes depressant.

The failure of filter cloths and deficiency of the filter press, designed and built by Mclanahann, continues to be a major bottleneck, which is a main cause for loss of processing time and lower production level than expected. The Company has addressed the issues to the supplier and has sourced several alternatives to resolve the issue.

The Company has undertaken comprehensive capacity and operational process reviews and has realigned resources to optimize production capacity and address bottlenecks in concentrate production. Training for management and operators was conducted to enhance their skills in identifying and resolving emerging challenges.

Murchison Gold Project

As part of corporate development plan, the Company started a review of the Murchison Gold Project following the Selinsing mine commencement of concentrate production. This review includes a reassessment of the economics of potential cash flow generation and the regional exploration plan based on the previous two phases drilling results. No drilling was carried out during the first quarter of fiscal year 2024.

The Company continued to maintain the plant and other facilities, ensuring they are operationally ready for efficient commissioning when production recommences. The site accommodations and catering facilities are fully operational and equipped to support administrative, exploration, and mining activities.

Exploration

Malaysia

There was no exploration drilling undertaken at Selinsing during Q1, to preserve cash during the final stages of achieving commercial production of the gold concentrate at the sulphide plant. Exploration activities to identify additional oxide and sulphide mineralization are expected to resume during FY2024.

Western Australia

Burnakura: During Q1 FY2024, the Company continued to review and update the scoping study for production opportunities at Burnakura, following the completion of the Selinsing Sulphide Gold Project in FY2023. The Company also progressed with the construction of a new drill core storage yard at Burnakura, which will feature optimized racking, cutting, and core logging facilities. This project is expected to be finished by the end of December 2023.

Gabanintha: The Gabanintha Gold Project was also reviewed as a part of updating the scoping study. No other activities were carried out on this project.

Tuckanarra: On August 3, 2023, the Company received notification from Odyssey that a major milestone of resources was achieved at the Tuckanarra Joint Venture project, which triggered a due Performance Payment of AUD$1 million, which was realized from the 2021 Tuckanarra transaction.

About Monument

Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE: D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that 100% owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia and the Murchison Gold Project in the Murchison area of Western Australia. It has 20% interest in Tuckanarra Gold Project jointly owned with Odyssey Gold Ltd in the same region. The Company employs approximately 245 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities.

Cathy Zhai, President and CEOMonument Mining LimitedSuite 1580 -1100 Melville StreetVancouver, BC V6E 4A6

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact:

Richard Cushing, MMY VancouverT: +1-604-638-1661 x102[email protected]

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

Disclaimer Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Company's plans with respect to its mineral projects, expectations regarding the completion of the ramp-up period to target production level at Selinsing and the timing thereof, expectations regarding the Companys continuing ability to source explosives from suppliers, expectations regarding completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot and the timing thereof, and the timing and results of the other proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities, including those related to the ramp-up process at Selinsing and the completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot; uncertainties and risks related to the Companys ability to source explosives from suppliers; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; assumptions regarding the timing and results of development activities, including the ramp-up process at Selinsing and the completion of the proposed storage shed and ammonium nitrate depot; expectations that the Company will continue to be able to source explosives from suppliers in a timely manner; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Source: Monument Mining
The Board of Directors of MT Hjgaard Holding has effective today hired Steffen Baungaard as new group CEO. He replaces Henrik Mielke whom will continue to be associated with the group in a transition period and complete ongoing assignments.

Steffen Baungaard is a professional board member with strong strategic competencies and deep insight into the value chain of the construction industry. He has around 25 years of experience from positions as CEO of HusCompagniet and group executive director at NCC Danmark as well as board work in several Nordic construction and civil works companies and suppliers to the industry.

Steffen Baungaard has been an independent member of the Board of Directors of MT Hjgaard Holding since 2021 and has detailed knowledge about the groups strategic opportunities and challenges. As a member of the Board of Directors international committee, he has most recently played a key role in the completion of the strategic process for MT Hjgaard International and the decision to wind down the business unit to focus on the groups profitable and growing Danish core business (company announcement no. 14/2023).

We are pleased that Steffen has agreed to spearhead the group. Steffen brings continuity, and we will have a group CEO with a strong combination of strategic overview, deep industry insight and extensive management experience. That will enable us to accelerate the positive development in the Danish core business through firm execution on our strategic priorities, says Chairman of the Board, Carsten Dilling.

Henrik Mielke been group CEO of MT Hjgaard Holding since 15 March 2022. Prior to that, he was CEO of business unit Enemrke & Petersen for seven years.

Henrik has been with the group for 27 years and, among other thing, generated fantastic results in Enemrke & Petersen. Henrik is a great businessman who has held a series of key positions in the group. As group CEO, he has headed an important streamlining of the group while being a driver for further promoting strategic building partnerships and new ways of collaborating, which have become a focus area for us and set a new standard in the construction industry. In the coming period, Henrik will continue to contribute to the planned completion of the divestment of Scandi Byg before the turn of the year. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Henrik for decades of great efforts, says Chairman of the Board, Carsten Dilling.

In connection with his appointment as group CEO, Steffen Baungaard leaves the Board of Directors of MT Hjgaard Holding today, and he will also step down from other board positions in the construction and civil works industry.

Steffen Baungaard will form the Executive Board of MT Hjgaard Holding with CFO Rasmus Untidt.

Contact:

Chairman of the Board of Directors Carsten Dilling and coming group CEO Steffen Baungaard can be contacted by phone +45 22 70 93 00.





About Steffen Martin Baungaard (born in 1967, resides in Frederiksberg)

Professional board member Chair: DEKO P/S, DinByggeradgiver.dk ApS, EBK Huse A/S, Frederikshj Ejendomme A/S (owner through holding company), M. B. Packaging A/S, Taasinge Elementer A/S Vice chair: Arkil Holding A/S Member: Carl Ras A/S, Dansk Celleglas ApS, Dansk Installations Teknik A/S, Durapor A/S, MT Hjgaard Holding A/S, Nordic Waterproofing AB (member of the remuneration committee)





Previous positions include: CEO of HusCompagniet in 2008-2019 and group executive director at NCC Danmark in 1998-2008





Education: Business economist (HD-A), construction architect, management courses IMD/Harvard

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Sarasota, Florida, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Lakes Private Wealth, an independent advisory firm, is proud to announce its expansion into Sarasota, Florida. Leading the endeavor is Daniel P. Murphy, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer of the Michigan-based firm. In celebration of its entry into the Suncoast community, Murphy and his team recently hosted events in Sarasota about issues affecting the world and financial markets, featuring Retired General and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

Recognizing that many of his clients were retiring to Florida and needed personalized independent investment advice from a seasoned advisor, Murphy expanded to Sarasota, enabling him to service clients there as well.

"My main objective is to help my clients and their families protect their wealth and optimize their financial health so they can have peace of mind to focus on what matters most, said Murphy. There is no better way to provide personalized support than meeting people where they are.

Murphy and his team kicked off the arrival of Great Lakes Private Wealth to Sarasota with fireside chats featuring retired leaders from the U.S. military and financial sector. Joining Gen. Mattis was Retired U.S. Lieutenant General Robert Ruark and The Mad Hedge Fund Trader John Thomas.

Gen. Mattis commanded combat tours at the platoon, battalion, regiment, brigade, division, force, and theater levels among many integral roles held within the U.S. military. After retiring in 2013, he served as the 26th Secretary of Defense from January 2017 through December 2018. Lt. Gen. Ruark served in the Marine Corps for 36 years, retiring in June 2017. Of his many assignments, his last was as Military Director to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, overseeing a global staff of 32,000 civilians, military members, and contractors. Thomas is a 55-year veteran of the financial markets and author of The Diary of a Mad Hedge Fund Trader. He publishes 23 newsletters a week and provides market wisdom through his Mad Hedge Trade Alert Service.

It was a privilege to gather our esteemed guests, said Murphy. I thank them for sharing their unique insights into the intersection of global events and the markets and helping us chart a course for the future.

Murphy started in the financial services industry in 1982. In 1991, after having much success in helping clients manage their own portfolios, he started managing client portfolios on a completely discretionary basis. Murphy is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Murphy has guided his clients through many difficult market cycles. During the 2008 financial crisis, his portfolio outperformed most of the investment benchmarks. Murphys ability to reduce risk and still achieve returns for his clients that has enabled his investment performance to stand out.

In 2011 Murphy was named Managing Director of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors Private Client Group. From 2011 until April 2023, he managed discretionary portfolios at Wells Fargo Advisors. In April, Murphy founded Great Lakes Private Wealth, an independent management firm, so that he could serve his clients with best-in-class resources and support.

Murphy and his wife Clare have a foundation that supports many charities in Michigan and Florida, both financially and through personal involvement. Children and young adults are a primary focus.

About Great Lakes Private Wealth

Great Lakes Private Wealth is an independent advisory firm  fiduciaries who are fully aligned to deliver objective advice, protect each clients best interests, and take care of every client and their family for today and tomorrow. The firm is committed to protecting wealth, optimizing financial health and creating generational legacies that provide peace of mind and allow clients to focus on what matters most. For more information, visit greatlakesprivatewealth.com.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investment advisory and financial planning services offered through Summit Financial, LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Adviser, doing business as Great Lakes Private Wealth, neither of which are affiliated with The Mad Hedge Fund Trader. 6040233.1

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Meredith Dropkin Grapevine Communications 941-351-0024 [email protected]

Source: Great Lakes Private Wealth
Washington, D.C., Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New Civil Liberties Alliance has agreed to dismiss its motion for fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act in Mexican Gulf Fishing Company v. U.S. Department of Commerce. In lieu of a court judgment on the pending motion, the U.S. Government has paid NCLA a $160,000 fee settlement. In February, NCLA convinced the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to set aside an unconstitutional National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Final Rule that required 24-hour GPS tracking of recreational charter fishing vessels and reporting of confidential economic data. NCLA celebrates this just conclusion to our clients long-fought battle against the Final Rule, along with Greg Grimsal and his colleagues at the New Orleans firm of Gordon Arata, who provided invaluable local counsel in the case.

NCLA has represented more than 1,300 federally permitted charter boat owners in this class-action lawsuit against the Final Rule, which required every boat to install an onboard Vessel Monitoring System tracking device that continuously transmitted its GPS location to NMFS. The Rule forced charter boat captains to pay for these devices, which tracked boats whether they were being used for a charter-fishing trip or something else. This 24-hour surveillance was unnecessary, unduly burdensome, and violated the Fourth Amendment by searching without probable cause or a warrant. It also exceeded NMFSs authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. NCLA also complained the rule required reporting data that the agencies had nowhere specified in proposing the rule for comment.

The Fifth Circuit largely agreed with NCLAs analysis and held that the GPS-tracking requirement was unlawful for several reasons, including that the Government failed to respond to public comments expressing concerns of personal privacy violations stemming from GPS surveillance. Judge Jennifer Elrod emphasized that particularly on unlawful searches the Government fail[ing] to identify this particular concern from the public comments borders on incredible. NCLA commended the Fifth Circuit for its wise decision and is now pleased to bring its clients long ordeal to an end.

In January 2024, NCLA will present oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in its Relentless v. Department of Commerce case challenging the Chevron doctrine and another unconstitutional NMFS rule that requires fishing companies in the North Atlantic to pay for at-sea government monitoring of their herring catch. Relentless will be argued in tandem with the case of Loper Bright Enterprises, et al. v. Gina Raimondo. In these cases and many others, NCLA continues to turn the tide against the Administrative States violations of Americans civil liberties.

NCLA released the following statements:

We are pleased to have reached a settlement agreement with the Government on the legal fees at issue in this matter. This $160,000 payment rewards NCLA and its local counsel for taking this important case, vindicates our clients rights, and avoids burdening the Courts with ancillary litigation. John Vecchione, Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA

This rule was a constitutional travesty from the get-go. NCLA is proud to have vindicated our clients civil liberties. We will put these funds to good use in lawsuits against other federal agencies, securing Americans civil liberties from an Administrative State that routinely fails to respect peoples rights. Mark Chenoweth, President and General Counsel, NCLA

For more information visit the case page here and watch the case video here.

ABOUT NCLA

NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights.

###

Trevor Schakohl New Civil Liberties Alliance 202-908-6206 [email protected]

Source: New Civil Liberties Alliance
Scientist Jeff Goddard has found an animal in California that had been considered extinct for 40,000 years. This discovery may be of great importance for future research.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to Grunge, the discovery turned out to be a bivalve creature that has a hinged shell with valves on the sides. When Goddard saw the mollusk, he realized that it was not a species he knew. The expert is a researcher at the Institute of Marine Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has been studying marine life for many years.

The scientist took a photo of the animal to show his colleague Paul Valentich-Scott, curator emeritus of malacology at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. He was the one who studied the mollusks. But the expert in this field was also unable to recognize the animal that was found. It turned out to be a mollusk called cymatioa cooki, which was considered extinct 40 thousand years ago.

The last data about the animal was documented in 1937 by the specialist George Willett. In his works, he described the fossils found in Los Angeles. The scientist described the mollusk shell in great detail in his article, which allowed his modern colleagues to make the identification.

ADVERTISIMENT

Goddard suggested how this species managed to hide from scientists for a long time. Since the coast of Southern California is well studied, the expert suggested that the mollusks are not indigenous to the region. In his opinion, they most likely live in the tidal zones of Baja California, which are covered with many boulders. In a few years, experts managed to find 4 specimens of animals called cymatioa cooki.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that scientists had discovered minerals unknown to mankind in a 17-ton meteorite. They may provide a key to understanding how asteroids are formed.
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation (Nymox) (OTC Markets NYMXF) announced today that the California Superior Court, Orange County (OCSC) has issued an order granting Nymoxs preliminary injunction against Randall Lanham, Richard Cutler, Christopher Riley, and the Committee to Restore Nymox Shareholder Value.

The Court ordered that the above defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, assigns, and all those acting in active concert or participation with them are:

Enjoined from using, disclosing, relying on, or otherwise making publicly available any Nymox attorney-client privileged information; and

Hereby ordered and compelled to: turn over or make available to Nymox, any and all Nymox Information and Nymox Property in defendants possession, custody, or control by December 21, 2023.

Earlier on November 3, Nymox announced that the Bahamian Court issued a ruling that suspended the Ex Parte Order of October 3, 2023 wrongly obtained by the so called activist shareholders led by Mr. Lanham, Mr. Riley and others. In the Bahamas, Nymox will be seeking from Mr. Lanham and his accomplices payment of both its legal costs, and separately, damages suffered by Nymox and its directors arising from the wrongful procurement of the Ex Parte Order.

Earlier on November 2, October 3, and on October 27, Nymox had warned its shareholders that false and manipulative behavior was involved in attempts to hold what the Company considered an unlawful, unauthorized, and improper "shareholders meeting" that does not have the support of the Company or anyone currently associated with the Company. Shareholders who are listed on Nymoxs proprietary shareholders list were solicited and contacted by a proxy solicitation company in New York. That Company shareholder list is considered by the Company to be proprietary information that has been stolen by the individuals attempting to have this shareholders meeting. Those individuals have used this confidential, stolen information to contact the Companys shareholders, in violation of their duties as former executives of the Company, in violation of their non-disclosure agreements, in violation of attorney-client confidentiality, and in the Companys opinion, in violation of the law.

Long before this group brought their highly suspicious claim in a Bahamas court to secure an Order, with no participation by the Company, Nymox had filed detailed criminal complaints with various law enforcement agencies at both the state and federal level and has carried out appropriate actions to protect the shareholders. Actions have also been filed in civil court, with legal associations, and with other relevant government agencies, and extra precautions have been taken to ensure the security of the Companys property from this group. The Company informed our shareholders that the detailed list of malfeasances, which include fraud, forgery, theft, and bribery, and other deceptions and underhanded actions, are in the hands of the appropriate authorities.

The Nymox Board continues to be fully supported by the vast majority of voting shareholders of Nymox who have legally provided the Company with their full support. You the shareholders have told the Company this in writing.

Former General Counsel Mr. Lanham leaves a trail of embezzlement, forgeries, fraudulent, and negligent actions, including his current refusal to return to the Company its corporate documents and records, and his unauthorized and unlawful use of the Company property to support this groups actions. Some of you may have received highly sensitive and confidential property of Nymox in flagrant violations of Mr. Lanhams confidentiality agreement with the Company, and in violation of his continuing duty owed to Nymox and its shareholders. In blatant disregard to his sworn under oath certificate with the Supreme Court of California filed to avoid a lengthy suspension from the California Bar, Lanham continued to practice law, failed to inform Nymox of his suspensions, and double-dipped by invoicing Nymox for legal services (despite being compensated as a full time General Counsel) during the 3-month period in which he swore under oath to the Supreme Court of California he would not practice law.

Ex-CFO 3-Month Riley, with Lanham and former board member and lawyer Cutler had been executives of a separate entity for many years. None of them ever disclosed their relationship in this entity to Nymox, which is a serious breach of their duties and obligations to Nymox shareholders. This separate companys address is the very same address of Mr. Lanhams office where he invoiced Nymox for legal services, all unknown to Nymox while they were associated with the Company. We have been informed by more than one individual that Lanham and 3-Month Riley have approached Nymox Shareholders in the past seeking investment in their separate company, not Nymox.

Nymox was informed by at least one individual that Lanham offered him NYMOX STOCK (diluting your, the shareholders, interest in the company), as a kickback for investing in this separate company.

At the time Lanham introduced Cutler to Nymox and recommended him to serve on the Companys board, Cutler had filed for bankruptcy in Texas, and entered into bankruptcy in early 2016, rendering him unauthorized to be a member of the board. Neither Lanham nor Cutler ever informed Nymox of this.

Lanham and 3-Month Riley highly encouraged Nymoxs CEO to sign an agreement with a distributor (Ascella), informing him the agreement was mostly boilerplate, in which both Lanham and Riley could have received huge amounts of Nymox stock. In addition, Ascellas CEO Oldham would have been awarded a seat on the board, as well as 3-Month Riley, which would have dramatically changed control of Nymox.

Neither one informed Nymoxs CEO or other board members of their financial interest in that agreement. Entering into that agreement could have exposed Nymox to liabilities, and would have dramatically harmed Nymox shareholders. As any responsible company would do after uncovering this obvious kick-back scheme, Lanham and Riley were immediately terminated. Bribery and kick-back schemes are not ever tolerated by any legitimate company, and shareholders are informed that these malfeasances are not being ignored.

Since their justified termination, Riley, Lanham, and Cutler have retaliated against Nymox management, spreading rumors, mistruths, and trying, but failing miserably to fool shareholders. With the full backing and funding by Ascella, they sought recourse in an underhanded legal proceeding in the Bahamas that resulted with the issuance of an Order that the Company was successful in having suspended, and which Nymox is confident will be set aside after a full hearing.

Some but not all relevant information about these terminated individuals and ex-board members and their malfeasances are summarized below:

3-Month Riley lied on his resume about securing $62.5 million for another company in order to gain his position as Company CFO; lied about his business relations with the other persons mentioned here; and attempted to steal 100,000 shares from Nymox treasury before he was fired after 3 months as CFO, amongst many other malfeasances. 3- Month Riley also has used stolen company property to launch his campaign for the past several months attempting to damage the company. Lanham, ex-general counsel concealed a history of infractions, extended suspension of law license, all concealed during the same time while being paid by the Company for legal work. Lanham has fraudulently double dipped by billing the Company for legal services (and approving his bills) while being paid many hundreds of thousands of dollars as full time General Counsel, fraudulently attempted to steal stock from the Nymox Treasury, has stolen cash from a Company account after he was terminated, and has violated a long list of confidentiality and fiduciary obligations. Lanham has stolen Company records. Cutler sat on the Nymox Board and did legal work for Nymox but failed to inform the Company at any time that during that time he had undergone bankruptcy, and that he had failed to keep his court settlement conditions of his bankruptcy, all of which disqualify him from the Company Board. He should have immediately been removed from the Board but these infractions were concealed from the Company by Cutler and Lanham.

The Company had adequate control mechanisms in place, and had no reason to suspect any malfeasance or wrongdoing by Lanham, Cutler, and Riley. In fact, the concealment persisted because some of the control mechanisms included review and approval by one or the other of these same individuals. Rest assured, the Company is on solid footing, and is taking every action possible to protect its shareholders interests.

About NYMOX

Nymox is in the process of submitting applications for the approval to market the Company's first in class drug NYMOZARFEX (TM) to treat the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is one of the most common conditions affecting middle aged and elderly men throughout the world. BPH can be devastating to men who suffer from the condition. Current treatments are associated with numerous intolerable side effects including sexual problems, such as impotence and retrograde ejaculation. Medications for BPH have been associated with prostate cancer, depression, gynecomastia and other adverse effects. The majority of men stop taking the available medications due to these and other problems. Surgery is often needed for advanced BPH. Surgery is usually effective but it is not without risks, the discomforts of surgery, and BPH surgery has side effects such as permanent retrograde ejaculation for many patients.

Nymox recently reported 10-year follow-up new data on all available patients from its U.S. clinical trial of NYMOZARFEX (TM) for the treatment of low grade localized prostate cancer. The available long-term data newly assessed, confirmed that all available data shows that the NYMOZARFEX (TM) treatment had important and statistically significant benefit for reducing the long-term progression of these prostate cancers.

About NYMOZARFEX (TM) (Fexapotide)

NYMOZARFEX (TM) is given in an in-office procedure that is administered in a few minutes without need of anesthesia or analgesia. The drug has been tested in clinical trials involving overall more than 1750 patients with over 1600 injections administered including over 1200 NYMOZARFEX (TM) administrations. NYMOZARFEX (TM) has led to significant long-term improvements and has shown an excellent safety profile without the side effects normally associated with existing BPH treatments.

For more information please contact [email protected] or 800-936-9669.

Forward Looking Statements

To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Nymox, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the need for new options to treat BPH and prostate cancer, the potential of Fexapotide to treat BPH and prostate cancer and the estimated timing of further developments for Fexapotide. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our clinical development program, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process, including the regulatory approval process, the timing of Nymox's regulatory filings, Nymox's substantial dependence on Fexapotide, Nymox's commercialization plans and efforts and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Fexapotide. Nymox undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Nymox in general, see Nymox's current and future reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its Quarterly Reports.

For Further Information Contact:Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation 1-800-93NYMOXwww.nymox.com

Source: Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (the "Company" or "Pan American") (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FRA: SS6) is pleased to announce, further to its news releases dated October 27, 2023 and November 10, 2023, that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of flow through units of the Company ("FT Units") at a price of $0.50 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 ("FT Offering"). Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half-of-one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.65 for a period of 24 months.

The FT Offering is in addition to the previously announced $3,000,000 private placement financing of units (non-FT Units) at a price of $0.40 per non-FT Unit (non-FT Offering). Each non-FT Unit is comprised of one (non-flow through) Common Share and one common share purchase warrant, with each such warrant exercisable for one Common Share at a price of $0.55 for a period of 24 months. The first tranche of the non-FT Offering was completed on November 10, 2023, with the Company raising gross aggregate proceeds of $2,595,000 through the sale of 6,487,500 non-FT Units.

The gross proceeds of the FT Offering will be used by the Company to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that are intended to qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures," as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) related to the Company's Big Mack Lithium Project. Subject to compliance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and applicable securities legislation, the Company may pay finders fees in connection with the FT Offering and non-FT Offering.

The Company anticipates closing of the FT Offering to occur on or about December 15, 2023. The securities issued pursuant to the FT Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTC PINK: PAANF) (FSE: SS6) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County  Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA. To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsJason LatkowcerCEO & Director

ContactPhone: (587) 885-5970 Email: [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: FT Offering and non-FT Offering, including as to the timing of closing, if either is to close at all, the anticipated use of proceeds, the payment of finders fees, the ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, and the statements in regards to the Companys plans and strategies. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Companys public filings under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Source: Pan American Energy Corp.
SALISBURY, N.C., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Business Services, the services company of Ahold Delhaize USA, has earned a near-perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), qualifying the organization as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.



The Corporate Equality Index is the nations foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. This year, the Human Rights Organization revised its criteria and benchmarks to meet the evolving needs of the communitys members and their families, making Retail Business Services 95 out of 100 score even more impactful.

At Retail Business Services, we have a deep focus on building a culture of belonging, said Roger Wheeler, President of Retail Business Services. Were exceptionally proud to receive this score as it recognizes we are a welcoming workplace where associates are embraced and supported for who they are.

The CEI evaluated companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;

Supporting an inclusive culture; and

Corporate social responsibility.

Retail Business Services joins the ranks of 1,384 U.S. businesses that participated this year. Find the full report online at www.hrc.org/cei.



About Retail Business Services

Retail Business Services is the services company of leading grocery retail group Ahold Delhaize USA, providing services to five omnichannel grocery brands: Food Lion, Giant Food, The GIANT Company, Hannaford and Stop & Shop. Retail Business Services leverages the scale of the local brands to drive synergies and provides industry-leading expertise, insights and analytics to local brands to support their strategies with services that include Business Integrity Services (Legal, Risk Management, Quality Assurance), Business Services (HR Technology Systems and Support Services), Communications, Omnichannel Service, Finance Business Services, Financial Planning and Analysis, Indirect Sourcing, Procurement, Information Technology, Pharmacy Services, Store Development, Leasing, Facilities Support, and Strategy and Business Development. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we foster a community of belonging where everyone is valued. For more information, visit retailbusinessservices.com.
THIS MEDIA RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATESNEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

MONTREAL, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI) announces that its Board of Directors has authorized a declaration of a quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share to be paid to Shareholders of record on December 30, 2023, payable on February 1, 2024. This is an eligible dividend for income tax purposes.

For further information:

Mr. Jean-Sebastien CouillardVice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary Lantic Inc.Tel: (514) 940-4350Website: www.lanticrogers.com

Source: Rogers Sugar Inc.
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Salt (the Company or Atlas  TSXV: SALT; OTCQB: REMRF) shareholders approved all resolutions at the annual general and special meeting of shareholders today in St. Johns. All individuals nominated for the board of directors were elected, being Rick LaBelle, Patrick Laracy, Rowland Howe, Carson Noel, Fraser Edison and Marc Boissonneault.

The Company welcomes Mr. Boissonneault P.Eng. MBA to the Board. Mr. Boissonneault is an accomplished mining industry professional with extensive experience in leading major mining operations and capital projects in a global context. He has a proven track record of consistently delivering strong operating and capital project results while maintaining the highest standards of HSEC. Businesses under his responsibility were recognized for industry leading safety performance (multiple John T. Ryan Awards in Canada) and have performed to the highest standards environmentally. Over his considerable 35-year career he has overseen the operation of nine underground mines, two open pit mine complexes and five mining projects, with several being based in logistically challenged jurisdictions. Mr. Boissonneaults career included roles with Falconbridge, Xstrata and Glencore where he was Head of Global Nickel Assets responsible for the companys global nickel operations including a capital expenditure program of $3 billion. Mr. Boissonneault is also a director at Invest Ontario, holds an engineering degree from McMaster University and a MBA from Queens University. In addition, Mr. Boissonneault is a professional engineer licensed by the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

The Company also acknowledges former Director Mr. John Anderson for his contributions over the last three years and wishes him continued success in his other business endeavors including his role as Chairman of Triple Point Resources Ltd., an affiliated company, as it pursues underground storage opportunities for the Fischells Salt Dome project, approximately 15 kilometers south of Atlass Great Atlantic Salt development in western Newfoundland.

Shareholders also appointed MNP LLP Chartered Accountants as its auditor for 2023 and approved the company's amended stock option plan and a new equity incentive plan (together, the Plans), subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The aggregate number of common shares that may be reserved for issuance under Plans must not exceed 10% of the Companys issued and outstanding common shares at the date of grant or issuance of any security-based compensation under the Plans.  

The Equity Incentive Plan allows for the granting of restricted share units, deferred share units and performance share units to attract, retain and motivate qualified directors, employees and consultants of the Company and to reward such of those directors, employees and consultants from time to time for their contributions toward the long term goals and success of the Company.

Shareholders also approved the ratification of the grant of certain preferred share units and restricted share units as set out in the 2023 Management Information Circular dated November 3, 2023 and filed under Atlas Salts profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. 

About Atlas Salt

Bringing the Power of SALT to Investors: Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic salt deposit strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt de-icing market. Based upon the results of a recent positive feasibility study for mine development, the Company is currently advancing the project towards construction and production.

We seek Safe Harbor.

For information, please contact:

Richard LaBelle, CEO[email protected]

MarketSmart Communications Inc.Adrian SydenhamToll-free: 1-877-261-4466[email protected]

Cautionary Statement

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider, (as the term is defined in the Policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating to the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things: completion, delivery and timing of project components and requirements, and analysis and assumptions related thereto. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, technical, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing, completion and delivery of required permits, supply arrangements and financing. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these times. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Source: Atlas Salt Inc.
DISCLOSURE OF REGULATORY CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE FROM 1ST JANUARY 2024



Press release

Paris, 30 November 2023

The European Central Bank notified Societe Generale of the level of its Pillar 2 Requirement (P2R), which will apply from 1st January 2024. It stands at 2.42%, including 1.44% in the form of CET1. This level includes the additional requirement of 0.17% regarding Pillar 2 prudential expectations on calendar provisioning relating to non-performing loans granted before 26th April 2019, which must now be fully covered by CET11.

Considering the combined regulatory buffers, the minimum requirements from 1st January 2024 applicable to Societe Generale on a consolidated basis will be 10.22% for the CET1 ratio (including 0.79% on Countercyclical buffers compared to 0.56% at the end of September 2023), 12.14% for the Tier 1 ratio and 14.71% for the Total Capital ratio.

The European Central Bank also notified Societe Generale of a Leverage Ratio P2R (LR-P2R) requirement of 0.1%, bringing the minimum leverage ratio requirement to 3.6% from 1st January 2024 (vs. 3.5% previously).

With a CET1 ratio at 13.3%2 as of 30th September 2023, the Group benefits from a comfortable pro-forma buffer of more than 300 basis points above regulatory requirements. Similarly, the Group's leverage ratio stood at 4.17% as of 30th September 2023, well above the requirement of 3.6%.



Press contact:

Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ [email protected]

Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ [email protected]





Societe Generale

Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with 117,000 employees serving 25 million clients in more than 60 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for nearly 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.



The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital Bank BoursoBank.

, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital Bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in Equity Derivatives, Structured Finance and ESG.

, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in Equity Derivatives, Structured Finance and ESG. International Retail, Mobility & Leasing Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.





Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the documents legitimacy directly on the web page.

For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com .

1 Compared to 56.25% previously out of the 0.14% requirement applicable for 2023.

2 Including IFRS 9 phasing. Based on CRR2/CRD5 rules, including the Danish compromise for insurance.

Attachment
TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd., (TSXV: SHL) (Spruce or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders held in Toronto on November 30, 2023 (the Meeting). At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company approved all matters of business as presented to the shareholders in the management information circular dated October 20, 2023 (the Circular), except a special resolution approving the name change of the Company, and a special resolution authorizing the board to increase its size by up to one third between shareholder meetings. The following individuals were re-elected to the board of directors of the Company, being the same individuals as set out in the Circular: Stephen Balch, J. Birks Bovaird, H. Vance White and Michael Dehn. The Company is pleased to see continued shareholder support and confidence in the current management team, and thanks all shareholders who participated in the Meeting.

Contacts:Steve Balch, President & CEO Phone: 905.407.9586Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Statement:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

This news release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, that are based on assumptions and courses of action, and in certain cases, can be 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, or the negative forms of any of these words and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements related to future plans for the Company, and other forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions including with respect to the anticipated actions of securities regulators, stock exchanges, and government entities, management plans and timelines, as well as results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, such assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: an inability to develop and successfully implement exploration strategies; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the lack of available capital; impact of the evolving situation in Ukraine on the business of the Company; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Companys ongoing filings with securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

Source: Spruce Ridge Resources Ltd.
Generates Solid Revenue of $25.5 Million and Gross Margins of 44.9%

Continued Cultivation Improvements with yields up 28% per sq/ft compared to Q3 2022

STASH Loyalty Program Customers reaches over 286,000 Members Enrolled at Quarter End

SAN DIEGO and TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- StateHouse Holdings Inc. (StateHouse or the Company) (CSE: STHZ) (OTCQB: STHZF), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced its financial results for the three-month (Q3 2023) and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023, and provided additional business updates. The unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for Q3 2023, as well as the corresponding managements discussion and analysis are available for download from the Companys investor website, statehouseholdings.com, and on the Companys SEDAR profile. Unless otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts in this press release are denominated in U.S. currency.

Q3 2023 Financial Highlights

Q3 2023 net revenues were $25.5 million, compared with $30.8 million in Q3 2022. Retail revenues were $13.2 million, representing 51.8% of total sales for Q3 2023, compared to $16.5 million or 53.6% of total sales in Q3 2022. Manufacturing revenues were $11.7 million, representing 45.9% of total sales for Q3 2023, compared to $13.2 million or 42.7% of total sales in Q3 2022. Wholesale revenues were $0.6 million, representing 2.2% of total sales for Q3 2023, compared to $1.2 million or 3.9% of total sales in Q3 2022.

Gross profit before adjustments for biological assets was $11.4 million in Q3 2023, compared with $11.1 million in Q3 2022.

Consolidated gross margins improved to 44.9% in Q3 2023, compared to 35.9% for Q3 2022.

Q3 2023 cultivation yields in the Companys Salinas facility were up 28% over Q3 2022 due to improved lighting and growing techniques.

STASH, the Companys re-named high-value customer loyalty program, expanded by 9.6% to 292,363 loyalty members enrolled as of November 26, 2023, compared to June 30, 2023.

Management Commentary

Our premier products continue to captivate the market and are proving popular with discerning California customers, said Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer of StateHouse. California is at the center of cannabis culture and our leadership position has empowered us with necessary insights and capabilities to create brands and products that resonate with consumers. Our STASH loyalty program is an important differentiator, and we were thrilled to celebrate over 292,363 enrolled members as of November 26, 2023. Approximately two thirds of our revenues are generated from STASH members. Establishing customer loyalty and garnering insights from our customers provides us with a strong foundation for the future. We are confident that firmly establishing ourselves in California will provide a competitive edge once we can introduce our west coast brands and products to new markets.

Mr. Schmults added, Demand remained strong throughout the quarter and our on-going focus on operating efficiencies has further enhanced our ability to keep up with demand. Weve implemented new processes, including automated trimming and pre-roll production, as well as improvements to our lighting and air circulation in our greenhouses. With these enhancements, we have continued to improve our yields and the quality of our products. In addition, we are thrilled to be starting our new managed facility located in Humboldt County. Together with Pelorus, we are applying our cultivation expertise to bring this facility up to the quality standards expected from such a premier location. This new line of business is an exciting development for us as we are exploring multiple opportunities to further expand this service offering.

Mr. Schmults concluded, Throughout the year we have strengthened our financial position and increased our capabilities to advance our leadership position. In 2024 we will continue to focus on success in California to prepare for the future, backed by our strong cultivation, popular brands, and high-quality retail footprint.

Q3 2023 Operational Highlights

Strengthened the Companys financial positioning with a capital infusion and revised debt obligations through an agreement with Pelorus Capital Group (Pelorus). Under the agreement the repayment date of the Series A Loan agreement has been extended to February 10, 2027, and including a incremental term loan of $7.5 million to bring the total principal amount of the Series A Loan to $15.0 million.

Enhanced strategic capabilities through a new managed services arrangement with Pelorus where StateHouse will operate Pelorus cultivation facility located in Humboldt County. StateHouse is providing Pelorus with its cultivation and operational expertise as well as services including human resources, legal and compliance, post-harvest production and processing, contract manufacturing, distribution, and safety management.

Bolstered senior management team with the appointment of Zed Schlott as Vice President of Retail. Zed is an experienced cannabis executive with over a decade of experience in retail operations, leadership and business analysis.

Subsequent Highlights

Entered into a sales agency agreement with Stinson Brands, Inc., under which StateHouse will sell Stinson Brands products through its sales team and in its Harborside and Urbn Leaf dispensaries across California. These brands include Kikoko, a cannabis botanical wellness company focused on offering women plant-based alternatives.

Appointed Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants as the Company's auditor.

Operations Update (2)

Total revenue in Q3 2023 was $25.5 million, representing sequential growth of $0.2 million despite the ongoing competition, price compression, a reduction in retail foot traffic and the closure of the Companys Seaside store. With better utilization of raw material through vertical integration, the Company has continued to generate strong gross profit before biological asset adjustments with a gross profit of $11.4 million or 44.9% of total revenue. Additionally, the Company remains committed to reducing operating expenses, implementing additional changes during the quarter that have reduced annualized operating expenses from the prior quarter by approximately $2.3 million. These reductions have been achieved through a comprehensive evaluation of Company operations, including process improvements, outsourcing of distribution, upgraded and consolidated technology, and the elimination of redundant operations and service providers.

Management continues to explore the potential sale of various non-core assets, which is expected to generate approximately $7-10 million of non-dilutive capital (3) to strengthen its balance sheet and fund its growth objectives (2).

The Company has continued to execute on improvements at its cultivation operations, with significant enhancements being made at its Salinas facility. The Company expects flower yields and efficiency to improve through 2024 due to infrastructure investments that will increase CO2 distribution, which are expected to increase cannabis yields and potency.

In its retail operations, the Company has focused on increasing profitability despite competitive pressures related to sales discounting. Gross margins have held steady as the Company achieved its goal of in-house branded products representing over 50% of total retail sales. In connection with this effort, subsequent to quarter-end, StateHouse has sold its Grossmont store and property.

The Company continues to add new automation to its manufacturing operation as it pushes to lower costs while enhancing the quality of its products. New product innovation, new flavors and new product sizes have hit the market in Q3 and will continue to flow as the Company revitalizes its product line to enhance competitiveness. The Company has a goal for new product sales to reach 20% of total sales by the end of Q4 2023.

The Company has completed a number of integration milestones to establish itself as a leading California cannabis company. StateHouse is now well positioned as a focused, integrated CPG business with proprietary production, processing, brands, and retail stores. This strong platform should provide the foundation for growth, as well as improvements in profitability.

Financial results and analyses are also available on the Companys website (statehouseholdings.com).

Notes:

(1) This is a non-IFRS reporting measure. For a reconciliation of this to the nearest IFRS measure, see Use of Non-IFRS Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Companys management discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. See Non-IFRS Measures, Reconciliation and Discussion.

(2) This is forward-looking information and based on a number of assumptions. See Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information below.

(3) These targets, and the related assumptions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. While StateHouse believes there is a reasonable basis for these targets, such targets may not be met. These targets represent forward-looking information. Actual results may vary and differ materially from the targets. See Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Assumptions below.

About StateHouse Holdings Inc.

StateHouse, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery, and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, its predecessor company Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 13 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, an integrated cultivation facility in Salinas and manufacturing in Greenfield, California. StateHouse is a leading brand house in California by market share, with a diversified product across multiple brands, form factors, and price points. StateHouse sells its six popular house brands to over 600 retailers across California including Kingpen, Dime Bag, Loudpack, Fuzzies, Sublime, Urbn Leaf and Smokiez line of products. StateHouse is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "STHZ" and the OTCQB under the ticker symbol "STHZF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements'' (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this news release constitutes "financial outlooks" or "future-oriented financial information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects'', or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to potential future growth, future financial performance including but not limited to the companys sale of various non-core assets, enhanced output for cultivation and manufacturing, expanding managed services offerings, reduction of operating expenses, future infrastructure investments, increased cannabis yields and potency, the companys ability to increase the sale of in-house branded products, new product sales targets, future financings and the potential rescheduling or de-scheduling of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, and the potential benefits of this change to StateHouse.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the Company's listing statement dated May 30, 2019, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is directly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute, or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.

While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit https://www.statehouseholdings.com, https://shopharborside.com and https://urbnleaf.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

For further information:

StateHouse Holdings Inc., Ed Schmults, CEO, 800-892-4209

Investor Contact: MATTIO CommunicationsRob Kelly [email protected]

Source: StateHouse Holdings Inc.
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The News Forum (TNF) documentary series focuses on Canadian Energy.

Forum Documentaries are broadcasting three documentaries on Canadian pipelines and energy export Saturday and Sunday 8PM-10PM Eastern Time.

Find your local listing: https://www.thenewsforum.ca/wheretowatch

Canada's commitment to responsible liquefied natural gas (LNG) development stands as a beacon for sustainable energy practices and is driving positive change for First Nations communities while significantly contributing to the global reduction of coal usage.

Canadian LNG initiatives prioritize environmental stewardship, community engagement, and economic prosperity for Canadians and First Nations communities. As a result, these projects are emerging as a vital part of Canada's energy future and a global solution to combatting climate change.

Theres an energy crisis on one hand and a race against time to reduce emissions on the other. British Columbias LNG projects can be an answer to solve both these problems in the future

If we want to be part of the global solution, we in British Columbia have a duty to get our act together and make that global supply readily available

Eighteen LNG projects were proposed; were left with one. The ones that hung around were fully endorsed by First Nations  Woodfibre (Squamish Nation), Cedar LNG (Haisla Nation), KSI LNG (Nisgaa Nation).

Ellis Ross, MLA, Skeena, British Columbia (1)

In a world where geopolitics and the geo-economy evolve quickly, its necessary for like-minded countries, such as Japan and Canada, to co-operate on energy security.

Kawamura Yasuhisa, Former Japanese Ambassador to Canada (2)

Focused only on a fractional reduction in Canadas overall emissions, the stark demand of the climate activists remains oblivious to other basic considerations. Already economically vulnerable, most First Nations are heavily exposed to the consequences of adding energy poverty to domestic poverty.

Unaffordable energy costs would compound cost of living increases in the rural, remote and northern locations where most First Nations communities are located and where travel distances are greater, public transit is non-existent, home heating requirements are greater and supply chains are longer

If left to climate activists, Indigenous people would be the last to benefit, the last to participate, and the last to be connected to new infrastructure.

Chief Crystal Smith, Elected Chief Councillor, Haisla Nation (3)

We could provide greater support to Western security and at the same time boost the economy and reduce our deficit if we supplied more oil, gas and clean energy to our allies. We are already the largest energy exporter to the United States.

But less than five per cent of our energy exports go to countries other than the U.S. If we finished the Trans Mountain pipeline and built LNG export plants on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, we could provide more energy to Europe and Asia, not just the United States.

Jack M. Mintz - Presidents Fellow, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary (4)

As we make the transition to renewables, we will still need oil and gas  it makes sense to use our own supplies such as Rosebank. This is the right long-term decision for the UK's energy security.

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (5)

Canada is not only committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also promoting global sustainability. By exporting energy, Canada can assist other nations in transitioning towards cleaner energy sources and achieving their climate goals.

TUNE IN TONIGHT - https://www.thenewsforum.ca/wheretowatch

About The News ForumThe News Forum is a national Canadian news broadcaster available through most television distributors  see local listings. https://www.thenewsforum.ca/wheretowatch

TNF is a proud subscriber to the Canadian Press/AP as one of the sources for breaking news from across Canada and around the world.

Additional Information:

Website: www.thenewsforum.caNews Website: https://www.forumdailynews.ca/ Twitter: @TheNewsForum_ (https://twitter.com/TheNewsForum_) Facebook: @YourNewsForum (https://www.facebook.com/YourNewsForum/) Instagram: @TheNewsForum (https://www.instagram.com/thenewsforum/) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheNewsForumTikTok: @thenewsforum_Google Play App Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ott.thenewsforum

Sources:

1 https://www.terracestandard.com/news/northwest-b-c-mla-ellis-ross-holds-lng-talks-with-federal-conservative-leader-german-envoy-in-ottawa/2 https://www.hilltimes.com/2022/03/09/opportunity-ripe-for-canada-to-work-on-energy-security-with-indo-pacific-allies-says-japanese-envoy/3480863 https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/opinion/chief-crystal-smith-first-nations-want-an-energy-future-not-eco-colonialism-63940314 https://financialpost.com/opinion/jack-mintz-time-to-put-security-into-esg5 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12568541/Rishi-Sunak-approves-Rosebank-major-oil-gas-project.html

Media Contact Danielle Klammer CMO, The News Forum 604.626.6993 [email protected]

Source: The News Forum Inc.
Results provide growing confidence in the mineralized potential of the Media Luna Cluster

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the Company or Torex) (TSX: TXG) is pleased to provide results from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West. The drilling results support the Company's strategy to further prove up the potential of the Media Luna Cluster and unlock additional near-mine opportunities in order to enhance the future production profile of the Morelos Complex and extend the reserve life beyond 2033.

Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex, stated:

We are highly encouraged by the results of our 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West, which continue to enhance our confidence in the mineralized potential of the ever-expanding Media Luna Cluster. While exploration at Media Luna West is still at an early-stage relative to the nearby Media Luna and EPO deposits, the latest results, when combined with historical results and a new structural model, highlight the potential for Media Luna West to become a future source of feed for the Morelos Complex. Follow-up drilling at Media Luna West is planned for 2024 as we advance this zone to the next exploration stage.

HIGHLIGHTS

Media Luna West is an earlier stage exploration target located in close proximity to the Media Luna and EPO deposits as well as existing and planned infrastructure associated with the Media Luna Project, including the Guajes Tunnel.

Several holes drilled as part of the 2023 program returned mineralized intercepts including ML23-986A which returned an impressive 29.76 grams per tonne gold equivalent (gpt AuEq) over an interval of 14.10 metres (m) including 27.50 gpt gold (Au), 27.9 gpt silver (Ag), and 1.20% copper (Cu).

This hole was drilled approximately 200 m north of historic drill hole MLW-02 (results published on December 14, 2012) which returned intercepts of 4.11 gpt AuEq over 37.30 m and 10.41 gpt AuEq over 9.05 m, and 50 m west of historic drill hole MLW-04 (results published on October 19, 2012) which returned an intercept of 7.26 gpt AuEq over 20.32 m.

Full results from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West are reported in Table 3. Results for historical holes drilled at Media Luna West are reported in Table 4.

2023 EXPLORATION DRILLING PROGRAM AT MEDIA LUNA WEST (FIGURE 1)

A total of seven holes (excluding three mother holes) and 9,722 m were drilled as part of the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West. The purpose of the program was to provide continuity to historical drilling carried out at Media Luna West based on the structural architecture and orebody knowledge acquired from the comprehensive drilling at the nearby EPO deposit since 2022.

Assay results from all seven drill holes have been received. Two of the drill holes (ML23-965 and ML23-970A) intersected mineralization peripheral to the main feeder of the system where high-grade gold and copper mineralization was encountered (ML23-986A).

The current distribution of the multiple intercepts confirms a north-south extension of more than 600 m with a width similar to the EPO deposit, which suggests Media Luna West could have a similar mineralized potential to that of EPO. The exploration potential of this structural corridor is open to the north and is likely favored by intersecting with the swarm of east-west dykes that define the best mineralization trap within both the nearby Media Luna and EPO deposits.

Table 1: Highlights from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West

Drill Hole From(m) To(m) Core Length1(m) Au(gpt) Ag(gpt) Cu(%) AuEq2(gpt) ML23-965 686.15 693.00 6.85 1.63 12.7 0.48 2.55 727.35 730.31 2.96 4.42 0.9 0.04 4.50 ML23-970A 559.00 564.00 5.00 2.81 26.8 0.31 3.62 ML23-986A 784.53 798.63 14.10 27.50 27.9 1.20 29.76

Notes to Table: 1) Intercepts are reported as core length (not true width/thickness). Core lengths reflect drilling core recovery. 2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0114 + Cu (%) * 1.6212 and use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz Au, $20/oz Ag, and $3.50/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (85% Au, 75% Ag, and 89% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for EPO.

The following table summarizes the most notable historical holes in Media Luna West which were reported within several press releases published in 2012 and 2013.

Table 2: Historical results from exploration drilling carried out at Media Luna West in 2012 and 2013

Drill Hole From(m) To(m) Core Length1(m) Au(gpt) Ag(gpt) Cu(%) AuEq2(gpt) MLW-02 676.26 713.56 37.30 4.08 2.1 0.00 4.11 752.09 761.14 9.05 10.31 2.2 0.04 10.41 MLW-03A 808.62 812.69 4.07 7.74 6.7 0.27 8.26 MLW-04 721.68 742.00 20.32 4.61 32.4 1.40 7.26 MLW-05 834.43 836.70 2.27 58.47 9.5 0.19 58.89 MLW-09 340.09 343.09 3.00 0.01 362.0 0.04 4.20 MLW-18 724.59 728.29 3.70 6.95 2.6 0.05 7.06 MLW-22 568.76 573.14 4.38 1.20 104.9 4.87 10.29 SS-06 676.66 691.30 14.64 7.88 11.0 0.48 8.77

Notes to Table: 1) Intercepts are reported as core length (not true width/thickness). Core lengths reflect drilling core recovery. 2) The gold equivalent grade calculation used is as follows: AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0114 + Cu (%) * 1.6212 and use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz Au, $20/oz Ag, and $3.50/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (85% Au, 75% Ag, and 89% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for EPO.

Drill hole intercepts are core lengths and not true widths. AuEq grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz Au, $20/oz Ag, and $3.50/lb Cu) and metallurgical recoveries (85% Au, 75% Ag, and 89% Cu) used in the year-end 2022 Mineral Resource estimate for the EPO deposit (AuEq (gpt) = Au (gpt) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0114 + Cu (%) * 1.6212).

MEDIA LUNA WEST GEOLOGY

The Media Luna West target is part of the Media Luna Cluster, hosted within the Mesozoic carbonate-rich Morelos Platform, overlayed by Cuautla and Mezcala formation, and which has been intruded by Paleocene stocks, sills, and dykes of granodioritic to tonalitic composition.

The north-south trending Cuajiote thick skin fault controls the architecture of the potential deposit with other sub-parallel second order faults generating the favorable traps for the different events of fluids at multiple stages of deformation.

Skarn-hosted copper and finally gold-silver mineralization is developed in the ground preparation related to intense extension fracture in the footwall of the faults related to the emplacement of the almost North-South dykes. Also, the mineralization was favored by the contact of Morelos limestone and Media Luna granodiorite during the normal faulting, as well as within altered dykes and sills of the skarn envelope associated with minor deformation stages.

The main portion of this mineralized package is dipping approximately 70 to the west in the hanging block of main dykes and approximately 30 at the footwall associated with the flat fracturing previously developed by the reverse faulting.

The skarn is characterized by a mineral assemblage of pyroxene, garnet, and magnetite. Metal deposition and sulfidation occurred during retrograde alteration and is associated with a mineral assemblage comprising amphibole, phlogopite, chlorite, and calcite  quartz  epidote as well as variable amounts of magnetite and sulfides, primarily pyrrhotite. The style of mineralization at Media Luna West is characterized by gold with locally high silver and copper grades. Given that gold precipitates due to the buffer exerted by the early stage of calc-silicate alteration and sulfide mineralization, it is free and generally dissociated from the previous copper event mainly related to chalcopyrite.

QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL

At the Companys Morelos Property (see description below), all the Media Luna Project drill core is logged and sampled at the core facility within the project camp under the supervision of Jennifer Betancourt, Chief Exploration Geologist for the Media Luna Project. A geologist marks the individual samples for analysis and sample intervals, sample numbers, standards and blanks are entered into the database. The core is cut in half lengthwise using an electric core saw equipped with a diamond tipped blade. One half of the core is placed into a plastic sample bag and sealed with zip ties in preparation for shipment. The other half of the core is returned to the core box and retained for future reference in the Company core shack with the assay pulps and coarse rejects. The core samples are picked up at the project camp and delivered to Bureau Veritas (BV) to conduct all the analytical work.

Sample preparation is carried out by BV at its facilities in Durango, Mexico and consists of crushing a 1 kg sample to >70% passing 2 mm followed by pulverisation of 500 g to >85% passing 75 m. Gold is analyzed at the BV facilities in Hermosillo, Mexico following internal analytical protocols (FA430) and comprises a 30g fire assay with an atomic absorption finish. Samples yielding results >10 g/t Au are re-assayed by fire assay with gravimetric finish (FA530-Au). Copper and silver analyses are completed at the BV facilities in Vancouver, Canada as part of a multi-element geochemical analysis by an aqua regia digestion with detection by ICP-ES/MS using BV internal analytical protocol AQ270. Overlimits for the multi-element package are analyzed by internal protocol AQ374.

Torex has a sampling and analytical Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program in place that has been approved by BV and is overseen by Jennifer Betancourt, Chief Exploration Geologist for the Media Luna Project. The program includes 5% each of Certified Reference Materials and Blanks; blind duplicates are not included, but Torex evaluates the results of internal BV laboratory duplicates. Torex uses an independent laboratory to check selected assay samples and reference materials and has retained a consultant to audit the QA/QC data for every drill campaign at Media Luna. The QA/QC procedure is described in more detail in the Technical Report filed on SEDAR.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

Scientific and technical data contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Carolina Milla, P.Eng. Ms. Milla is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (Member ID #168350), has experience relevant to the style of mineralization under consideration, is a qualified person under NI 43-101, and is an employee of Torex. Ms. Milla has verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the drill results; verification included visually reviewing the drill holes in three dimensions, comparing the assay results to the original assay certificates, reviewing the drilling database, and reviewing core photography consistent with standard practice. Ms. Milla consents to the inclusion in this release of said data in the form and context in which they appear.

ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC.

Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of its 100% owned Morelos Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres southwest of Mexico City. The Companys principal asset is the Morelos Complex, which includes the El Limon Guajes (ELG) Mine Complex, the Media Luna Project, a processing plant, and related infrastructure. Commercial production from the Morelos Complex commenced on April 1, 2016 and an updated Technical Report for the Morelos Complex was released in March 2022. Torexs key strategic objectives are to optimize and extend production from the ELG Mine Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. Jody Kuzenko Dan Rollins President and CEO Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations Direct: (647) 725-9982 Direct: (647) 260-1503 [email protected] [email protected]

CAUTIONARY NOTES ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information also includes, but is not limited to, statements about: the Company's strategy is to further prove up the potential of the Media Luna Cluster and unlock additional near-mine opportunities in order to enhance the future production profile of the Morelos Complex and extend the reserve life beyond 2033; highly encouraged by the results of our 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West, which continue to enhance our confidence in the mineralized potential of the ever-expanding Media Luna Cluster; while exploration at Media Luna West is still at an early-stage relative to the nearby Media Luna and EPO deposits, the latest results, when combined with historical results and a new structural model, highlight the potential for Media Luna West to become a future source of feed for the Morelos Complex; the current distribution of the multiple intercepts confirms a north-south extension of more than 600 m with a width similar to the EPO deposit, which suggests Media Luna West could have a similar mineralized potential to that of EPO; the exploration potential of this structural corridor is open to the north and is likely favored by intersecting with the swarm of east-west dykes that define the best mineralization trap within both the nearby Media Luna and EPO deposits; and the Companys key strategic objectives to extend and optimize production from the ELG Mining Complex, de-risk and advance Media Luna to commercial production, build on ESG excellence, and to grow through ongoing exploration across the entire Morelos Property. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as objective, strategy, target, continue, potential, focus, demonstrate, aim or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will, would, or is expected to" occur. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with: the ability to upgrade mineral resources categories of mineral resources with greater confidence levels or to mineral reserves; risks associated with mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation; uncertainty involving skarn deposits; and those risk factors identified in the Technical Report and the Companys annual information form and managements discussion and analysis or other unknown but potentially significant impacts. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions discussed in the Technical Report and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Figure 1: Plan view of the Media Luna Cluster including key results from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West and notable results from historical drilling at Media Luna West

Table 3: Results from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West

Final Intercept Drill Hole UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Hole Mother Azimuth Dip Depth From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) Type Hole () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (gpt) (gpt) (%) (gpt) ML23-953 421001.42 1984593.62 987.24 CD 32.1 -56.9 637.10 477.02 477.76 0.74 4.35 8.4 0.02 4.47 Skarn composite 1 CD 560.68 561.51 0.83 0.19 45.7 0.02 2.94 Skarn composite 2 CD 563.97 565.00 1.03 0.07 82.1 1.80 3.92 Skarn composite 3 ML23-965 420994.49 1984591.06 987.49 CD 356.7 -56.9 822.70 686.15 693.00 6.85 1.63 12.7 0.48 2.55 Dyke CD 712.06 715.95 3.89 2.04 0.8 0.02 2.09 Skarn composite 1 CD 727.35 730.31 2.96 4.42 0.9 0.04 4.50 Skarn composite 2 CD 747.47 748.00 0.53 9.40 4.0 0.00 9.45 Skarn composite 3 ML23-970 421495.19 1984836.82 1155.20 CD 313.6 -65.9 407.70 Mother hole ML23-970A 421495.19 1984836.82 1155.20 CD ML23-970 609.75 559.00 564.00 5.00 2.81 26.8 0.31 3.62 Skarn composite 1 ML23-974 421494.55 1984836.40 1155.11 CD 305.3 -63.0 646.30 No significant values ML23-979 421113.24 1985079.67 1190.69 CD 317.1 -89.0 470.35 Mother hole ML23-979A 421113.24 1985079.67 1190.69 CD ML23-979 554.50 No significant values/ Finished ML23-979B 421113.24 1985079.67 1190.69 CD ML23-979 796.55 No significant values ML23-986 421112.83 1985080.14 1190.67 CD 320.6 -88.4 165.50 Mother hole ML23-986A 421112.83 1985080.14 1190.67 CD ML23-986 869.65 784.53 798.63 14.10 27.50 27.9 1.20 29.76 Skarn composite 1

Notes to Table 1) Intercepts are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (85% Au, 75% Ag and 89% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for the EPO deposit (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0114 + Cu (%) * 1.6212).

Table 4: Results from historical drilling at Media Luna West carried out in 2012 and 2013

Final Intercept Drill Hole UTM-E UTM-N Elevation Hole Mother Azimuth Dip Depth From To Core Length Au Ag Cu AuEq Lithology (m) (m) (m) Type Hole () () (m) (m) (m) (m) (gpt) (gpt) (%) (gpt) MLW-01 421168.22 1985017.68 1183.46 CD 130.0 -75.0 857.60 No significant values MLW-02 421168.81 1985018.20 1183.44 CD 220.0 -75.0 838.15 676.26 713.56 37.30 4.08 2.1 0.00 4.11 Skarn composite 1 CD 721.52 732.92 11.40 2.98 0.7 0.00 2.99 Skarn composite 2 CD 752.09 761.14 9.05 10.31 2.2 0.04 10.41 Skarn composite 3 MLW-03 421033.42 1985188.70 1192.67 CD 220.0 -75.0 809.00 No significant values MLW-03A 421033.25 1985192.12 1192.73 CD 220.0 -75.0 926.65 802.09 803.20 1.11 21.79 16.7 0.24 22.37 Skarn composite 1 CD 808.62 812.69 4.07 7.74 6.7 0.27 8.26 Skarn composite 2 CD 869.00 870.21 1.21 0.92 92.7 2.73 6.40 Skarn composite 3 MLW-04 421035.07 1985190.41 1192.74 CD 120.0 -70.0 841.20 498.00 501.00 3.00 0.01 245.0 0.03 2.84 Limestone CD 721.68 742.00 20.32 4.61 32.4 1.40 7.26 Skarn composite 1 MLW-05 421034.46 1985191.99 1192.74 CD 0.0 -90.0 930.20 834.43 836.70 2.27 58.47 9.5 0.19 58.89 Skarn composite 1 CD 853.31 854.61 1.30 0.18 45.0 1.71 3.47 Skarn composite 2 MLW-06 421367.04 1985127.02 1188.13 CD 40.0 -76.0 543.00 No significant values MLW-09 421246.98 1985352.88 1340.43 CD 0.0 -90.0 899.40 340.09 343.09 3.00 0.01 362.0 0.04 4.20 Limestone MLW-11 421421.10 1984992.84 1186.07 CD 220.0 -70.0 691.50 27.82 28.93 1.11 0.08 893.0 0.19 10.55 Limestone MLW-14 421422.02 1984997.76 1186.16 CD 0.0 -90.0 614.00 No significant values MLW-17 420870.81 1984641.45 985.56 CD 0.0 -90.0 860.00 No significant values MLW-18 421017.13 1984523.61 1017.60 CD 0.0 -90.0 797.70 724.59 728.29 3.70 6.95 2.6 0.05 7.06 Skarn composite 1 CD 746.97 751.85 4.88 0.09 48.1 1.32 2.77 Limestone CD 754.68 756.38 1.70 0.12 109.2 2.82 5.94 Limestone MLW-20 421257.37 1984335.97 948.83 CD 0.0 -90.0 734.70 No significant values MLW-22 421336.95 1984637.96 1090.53 CD 0.0 -90.0 611.40 568.76 573.14 4.38 1.20 104.9 4.87 10.29 Skarn composite 1 SS-06 421167.92 1985017.02 1183.31 CD 0.0 -90.0 837.30 676.66 691.30 14.64 7.88 11.0 0.48 8.77 Skarn composite 2

Notes to Table 1) Intercepts are core lengths and do not represent true thickness of mineralized zones. 2) Core lengths subject to rounding. 3) Torex is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. 4) Gold equivalent (AuEq) grades use the same metal prices ($1,550/oz gold (Au), $20/oz silver (Ag) and $3.50/lb copper (Cu)) and metallurgical recoveries (85% Au, 75% Ag and 89% Cu) used in the Mineral Resource estimate for the EPO deposit (AuEq (gpt) = Au (g/t) + Ag (gpt) * 0.0114 + Cu (%) * 1.6212). 5) Drill results (excluding those with no significant values) were previously published by Torex Gold in news released filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The following outlines the press release and date of the original press releases for the corresponding holes: a) October 19, 2012  Torex makes another South of the River discovery  includes drill holes MLW-04 and SS-06 b) December 14, 2012  Torex drills highest grade gold mineralization to date at Media Luna  includes drill holes MLW-02 and MLW-09 c) February 20, 2013  Torex continues to intersect high grade gold over significant thickness at Media Luna and Media Luna West  includes drill hole MLW-05 d) September 23, 2013  Torex continues to extend strike length at Media Luna and Media Luna West  includes drill holes MLW-03A, MLW-11, MLW-18 and MLW-22

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eff155e3-d255-44f9-b24c-84cfa8463447

Figure 1 Plan view of the Media Luna Cluster including key results from the 2023 exploration drilling program at Media Luna West and notable results from historical drilling at Media Luna West

Source: Torex Gold Resources Inc.
Many people associate Turkey exclusively with the sea, the beach, and all-inclusive hotels. However, this country is more diverse than it seems. There are mountain villages, clear lakes and ancient cities, some of which were even mentioned in the Bible. Little-known locations in Turkey are in OBOZREVATEL's selection.

ADVERTISIMENT

Oludeniz

The Turkish Blue Lagoon has long been known to European tourists. However, this resort is not popular among Ukrainians, and in vain. An incredible area with white sand, clear water of a heavenly hue and absolute tranquility are the things that foreigners like most about Oludeniz.

However, it is not so easy to get here. The city doesn't have its own airport or train station, so you'll have to change several means of transportation. The easiest way is to take a direct flight to Istanbul or Antalya, then take a bus or plane to Dalaman, and from there take a taxi to the bay. As a result of this complex route, you will find yourself in a real paradise that will not leave you indifferent.

ADVERTISIMENT

Butterfly Valley

This magical place is hidden between the mountains and the sea. So even the most experienced tourists who like to travel to hidden locations don't know about it. The main feature of the valley is its beauty and butterflies. It is home to more than 100 species of these magical creatures that fly everywhere.

People come here for peace, relaxation and beautiful photos. The only way to get to the place is by water. To do this, you need to get to the resort of Oludeniz, and then buy tickets for a boat or boat.

Bozcaada Island

If you like ancient architecture and Turkish wine, you should visit Bozcaada. This small island has retained its identity and has become a real open-air museum. The houses of ordinary people have been standing here for many centuries, and they are only occasionally restored and put in order. The pearl of the area, a medieval fortress built on the ruins of even older palaces, rises above the village.

ADVERTISIMENT

Numerous vineyards and wineries require special attention. Tastings and master classes are constantly held here, where you can get to know the local traditions. There are two ways to get to the island. First, you need to take a bus to the bay, and from there take a ferry to Bazzaad.

Urfa

This city has a very long and interesting history. Christians and Muslims believe that it was here that the biblical character Abraham was born, who is considered the ancestor of Jews, Arabs, and other peoples. Here you can even see the famous carp pool mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. According to legend, when they tried to burn Abraham at the stake, God saved him by turning fire into water and wood into fish.

ADVERTISIMENT

The full name of the settlement is Shanliurfa, but the locals usually use a shortened version. The easiest way to get here is by air from Istanbul or Antalya.

Lake Tortum

This amazing body of water was formed between the mountains 15 thousand years ago. It stretches 8 kilometers in length, making it one of the largest in Europe and Asia. The lake is famous for its incredible beauty and water transparency. It is also famous for the high mountains that surround it, forming a kind of natural pool.

Getting to Tortum is not too difficult. You should first take a flight from Antalya or Istanbul to Erzurum, and from there take a bus or taxi.

ADVERTISIMENT

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about how much a vacation in Turkey costs.
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tulsa Welding School Dallas Metro is proud to congratulate the first cohort of its new Electrical Lineworker program. Each of the 15 students who enrolled in the inaugural program this summer completed the 15-week course and were recognized at a graduation ceremony earlier today.

StrataTech Education Group (StrataTech), a leading operator of skilled trade school, launched the Electrical Lineworker program to meet the growing demand for electrical powerline installers and repairers throughout the U.S. In fact, Texas has the highest employment level among electrical power-line installers and repairers compared to all other states, with an annual mean salary of $71,190 in the Dallas area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The program is led by industry veteran Zachary Taylor and available exclusively at StrataTechs Tulsa Welding Schools Dallas Metro campus in Irving, Texas that opened earlier this year as part of an ongoing expansion into new markets and trades. Taylor has more than two decades of experience in the field working on major electrical projects around the country. Over the past 15 weeks, students were trained in the field of utility power distribution, construction, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair.

Powerline installers and repairers are critical to our countrys infrastructure and Im fortunate to share what Ive learned over the years with those who will help power tomorrows world, said Taylor. Each one of the students who started with us in August is now prepared for any environment, scenario and safety standard they may encounter once they enter the field.

Students received certifications in pole climbing, overhead and underground construction, system design and operation, national electric safety code, AC and DC circuits and electric power. The curriculum follows the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administrations national industry standards for electrical power generation, distribution, and transmission. Students were also given the option to complete their required Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) 10-Hour certification that is intended for entry level workers and required by most employers.

Skilled trade workers have trusted Tulsa Welding School for nearly 75 years, and its been rewarding to bring that trust to a new and demanding industry, said David Bowman, campus president of Tulsa Welding School Dallas Metro. These students dedicated the past 15 weeks to learning, growing and exceling at a new trade and were honored to have been a part of their journeys.

Graduates participated in a friendly Lineworker Rodeo competition on campus following their graduation ceremony to commemorate the occasion and show-off their new poll-climbing skills.

Tulsa Welding School Dallas Metro will host its next open house on Saturday, Dec. 2. Prospective students are invited to stop by and tour the campus, meet faculty and learn more about the program. Those interested in enrolling in the Electrical Lineworker program must be at least 18 years old and have received their high school diploma or GED. They must also be eligible to obtain a Class A commercial drivers license and pass a physical exam. For more information visit tws.edu/dallas.

###

About StrataTech Education Group StrataTech Education Group focuses on the education, growth and development of specialized career education schools, particularly skilled-trade programs designed to address the nations growing infrastructure needs. Holding an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, StrataTech Education Groups portfolio includes The Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI) (Phoenix, AZ), Tulsa Welding School (TWS) (Tulsa, OK), Tulsa Welding School (Jacksonville, FL), Tulsa Welding School & Technology Center (Houston, TX) and Tulsa Welding School Dallas Metro (Irving, TX). For more information, visit StrataTech.com.

Attachments

Allison for StrataTech Education Group StrataTech Education Group [email protected]

Source: StrataTech Education Group
UAB Atsinaujinancios energetikos investicijos (the Company) publishes its unaudited interim condensed consolidated and separate financial statements for the 9-month period of 2023.

Financial results

The Companys objective is to earn a return for the Companys investors from investments in facilities of the renewable energy infrastructure and related assets. The main financial indicators for the period were:

As at 30 September 2023, the Companys total assets were EUR 177,723 thousand, total equity was EUR 108,171 thousand, and total liabilities were EUR 69,552 thousand.

As at 30 September 2023, the Companys investment assets at fair value through profit or loss were EUR 166,219 thousand, which compared to 31 December 2022, grew by EUR 21,311 thousand or 14.70%.

During the 9-month period of 2023, shareholders' contributions amounted to EUR 6,763 thousand.

For the period January  September 2023, the Company reported a comprehensive loss of EUR 2,125 thousand. This financial outcome is primarily attributed to the Company's income structure, which relies on changes in the fair value of its investment portfolio. As stipulated in the Company's prospectus, the valuation of the Company's investment portfolio is delegated to an independent appraiser and is conducted on an annual basis. It is noteworthy that the valuation of the Company's investments did not occur during the January  September 2023 period, and this assessment is scheduled for 31 October 2023. Throughout January  September 2023, the Company incurred expenses related to portfolio development and operational activities.

Contact person for further information:

Grete Bukauskaite

Manager of the Investment Company

[email protected]

Attachment
FREEHOLD, NJ, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UMH Properties, Inc. (NYSE: UMH) (TASE: UMH) today announced that it has expanded its partnership with Nuveen Real Estate, a TIAA company through entering into a new joint venture. The joint venture focuses on the development of a new manufactured housing community located in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, which is part of the Philadelphia MSA. UMH will have a 40% stake in the joint venture and will serve as the managing member, developer and operating member. The community, once complete, will contain 113 manufactured home sites situated on approximately 61 acres. UMH initially acquired the land in November 2022 which is being sold to the joint venture. Construction of the community is expected to commence in the next few weeks and should take approximately 15 months to complete.



Samuel A. Landy, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented UMH is excited to further grow and strengthen our relationship with Nuveen Real Estate, who shares our vision of developing and acquiring high-quality residential communities to help combat the housing crisis. This joint venture gives us the financial capacity to develop and acquire communities while limiting the short-term impact on our FFO during construction and lease-up.

This community is in close proximity to two existing high-performing UMH properties which boast occupancy of 98% and site rents in excess of $700 per month and growing. We anticipate a strong sales and rental market resulting in the rapid lease-up of the property once development is completed. UMH and Nuveen now own three assets together, and we expect to continue growing the relationship.

Nikita Rao, Portfolio Manager of Nuveens U.S. Cities Multifamily Fund commented, Nuveen is proud to work alongside UMH to develop high-quality housing in a major MSA. UMHs long track record as an exceptional investor and operator, consistently executing successful business plans, aligns seamlessly with our investment strategy. The property marks the Funds first investment into manufactured housing and Nuveens third investment with UMH.

UMH will earn development fees, management fees, assets under management fees and a promote for exceeding IRR targets. UMH will also have the right to purchase the community from the joint venture after a certain period of time.

UMH Properties, Inc., which was organized in 1968, is a public equity REIT that owns and operates 135 manufactured home communities containing approximately 25,800 developed homesites. These communities are located in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. UMH also has an ownership interest in and operates two communities in Florida, containing 363 sites, through a joint venture with Nuveen Real Estate.

Contact: Nelli Madden

732-577-4062


BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Physician Growth Partners (PGP) is pleased to have advised Charleston, WV-based Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery (MSOFS), and their management services organization, Pluri Potent Partnership (P3), (collectively, the Company) in their recent partnership with HealthEdge Investment Partners, a healthcare focused private equity firm based in Tampa, Florida.

Led by a group of leading oral and maxillofacial surgeons, MSOFS has been serving the West Virginia market for over 25 years. The practice spans 12 clinic locations and offers a comprehensive suite of services to its patients. The Companys management services organization (MSO), P3, was established in 2018 and has provided management services inclusive of marketing, purchasing, and service line development since inception.

In its partnership with HealthEdge, P3 is forming the newest private equity backed Oral Surgery Platform in the market. Together, they will look to expand upon their proven growth strategies - launching new locations, recruiting providers, and expanding service offerings. The newly established platform will continue delivering preeminent care to their vast patient base. The Companys unmatched brand reputation, in combination with its developed infrastructure and provider base, will fuel the partnership into the next era of growth.

Dr Jack Krajekian of MSOFSs physician leadership team said, We did a national search for a transaction advisor, and after a long search we decided to hire PGP. They were very professional from the beginning and explained the process very well. In addition to a thorough pre-market valuation of our practice, the PGP team was always available to address any questions and concerns we had, were fierce negotiators on our behalf, and overall helped make a very complicated process quite easy. I would highly recommend PGP to any Oral Surgery practice owners looking to explore strategic private equity partnersactually, I would love them to come and work on my team!

Physician Growth Partners served as the exclusive transaction advisor to P3 in its evaluation, negotiation, and execution of this transaction.

We couldnt be more excited for the team at MSOFS in their partnership with HealthEdge, stated Robert Aprill, managing director at PGP. It was an honor to represent the shareholders that have grown their practice to such a strong position in their respective markets. After a thorough process of evaluating several strategic options, we found that HealthEdges experience, vision and leadership aligned with our clients plan for the long-term success of the practice. PGP is extremely pleased with the outcome and looks forward to seeing this partnership thrive.

Bart Walker and Diana Castro of McGuireWoods served as legal counsel to P3 in the transaction.

About Physician Growth PartnersPhysician Growth Partners is one of the most active sell-side healthcare investment banking firms in the US and is dedicated to representing specialty physician practices in transactions with private equity. PGP creates value by providing operational support, strategic positioning, and transaction counseling from start to finish. Founded in 2017, PGP has advised more than 50 practices to successful private equity partnerships.

For more information about Physician Growth Partners, please visit www.physiciangrowthpartners.com or contact us at [email protected]432 N. Clark Street, Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60654

Source: Physician Growth Partners
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VERSES AI Inc. (NEO:: VERS) (OTCQX: VRSSF) ("VERSES'' or the "Company), a cognitive computing company specializing in next-generation intelligent software systems, welcomes National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to the Beta program of its Intelligence-as-a-Service platform, Genius.

NASA seeks to advance international and interagency collaboration on space exploration efforts through technology and policy standards. NASA, JPL and many other stakeholders in the new space race have a vested interest in standardizing infrastructure and supporting the space economy, which Morgan Stanley estimates may grow to $1 Trillion by 2040.

The international space agency community is actively seeking to develop standards for space exploration. For example, many countries have recently announced their intention to return to the moon. To ensure safety and collaboration, in 2020, NASA published the Artemis Accords, a non-binding multilateral arrangement between thirty-two world governments and one territory participating in NASAs Artemis space program, which aims to. return humans to the moon by 2025, establish a permanent presence on the moon, and ultimately expand space exploration to Mars and beyond. The Accords set out to define space rules and laws governing various activities, from exploiting natural resources on the moon, comets and asteroids to governments' ability to protect access to lunar bases or mining zones. PWC estimates that the lunar economy will reach $170B by 2040. In addition to governance considerations, many technical specifications must be developed, including power distribution, communications, positioning, navigation and timing, lunar surface surveying, lunar satellite networks for guidance and communications, and cislunar space traffic control. Interoperability is central to the success of the global space economy.

Interoperability of systems is critical to ensure safe and robust space exploration. Therefore, the Artemis Accords call for partner nations to utilize open international standards, develop new standards when necessary, and strive to support interoperability to the greatest extent practical, says NASA.

We believe that interoperability, knowledge sharing, transparency and accountability are prerequisites for collaboration in space and is precisely the kind of application that Genius is uniquely designed to enable, said VERSES CTO, Jason Fox. Genius is built on the open standards designed by the Spatial Web Foundation being developed within the IEEE P2874 Spatial Web, Architecture and Governance Working Group. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the worlds largest standards development organization (SDO) and works with many other SDOs and government agencies involved in space exploration. The standards have been successfully deployed in Flying Forward 2020, a European Commission program chartered with defining governance systems for autonomous drones across five European cities.In a similar fashion, NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), among others, are seeking to develop a civil lunar infrastructure that unifies other siloed efforts to foster shareable, scalable systems that interoperate. Genius is the only system based on these open standards that is designed specifically to foster this kind of interoperability and governance on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and beyond."Im thrilled that JPL will participate in the Genius beta program because it represents one more step towards standardization. While serving as CTO of the Open Geospatial Consortium, the standards body responsible for key geospatial information standards, my experience with NASA and JPL is that real tests using running code are an essential step in the adoption of standards. And standards are the foundation to enabling industries and economies to thrive," said George Percivall, Distinguished Engineering Fellow and Vice-Chair of the IEEE P2874 Working Group on behalf of the Spatial Web Foundation.

About VERSESVERSES AI is a cognitive computing company specializing in biologically inspired distributed intelligence. Our flagship offering, Genius, is patterned after natural systems and neuroscience. Genius enables intelligent software agents that can learn, adapt and interact with the world. Key features of Genius include generalizability, predictive queries, real-time adaptation and an automated computing network. Built on open standards, Genius transforms disparate data into knowledge models that foster trustworthy collaboration between humans, machines and AI, across digital and physical domains. Imagine a smarter world that elevates human potential through innovations inspired by nature. Learn more at VERSES, LinkedIn and X.

About NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center founded in 1936 by researchers at the California Institute of Technology. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) owns and sponsors the laboratory. The laboratory's primary function is constructing and operating planetary robotic spacecraft, though it also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions. It is also responsible for operating the NASA Deep Space Network. For more information, visit JPL.

On behalf of the Company Gabriel Rene, Founder & CEO, VERSES AI Inc.Eric Holder, Director of Communications, VERSES AI Inc. [email protected]

Investor Relations Inquiries U.S., Matthew Selinger, Partner, Integrous Communications, [email protected] 415-572-8152Canada, Leo Karabelas, President, Focus Communications, [email protected] 416-543-3120

Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, forward-looking statements). The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "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. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to: the potential value and size of the space economy by 2040; the goals of the Artemis Accords; the technical specifications which must be developed to achieve the goals of the Artemis Accords; that interoperability is a prerequisite for collaboration in space; that the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory will oversee LOGIC, and work closely with LSII and LSIC; and that the GeniusTM beta program represents one more step towards standardizing knowledge sharing and collective intelligence. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions of management, including, without limitation, that Morgan Stanleys estimate of the potential value and size of the space economy is accurate; that the goals and directives of the Artemis Accords remain unchanged, and that the technical specifications outlined herein are necessary to achieve the goals and directives of the Artemis Accords; that GeniusTM will support the JPLs goals and objectives as currently contemplated; that GeniusTM will perform as currently contemplated; that JLP and its related stakeholders will benefit from participating in the GeniusTM program as currently anticipated; that interoperability is a prerequisite for collaboration in space; that the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory will oversee LOGIC, and work closely with LSII and LSIC as currently contemplated; that the GeniusTM beta program represents one more step towards standardizing knowledge sharing and collective intelligence; that the Company will be successful in the deployment of its resources and personnel; that results of testing and development data will be consistent with anticipated results and estimates; that the Company will not come across technology or other barriers preventing it from achieving its business objectives and commercializing its technology; and that the Companys technology will impact the AI market and the Companys success in the AI market as anticipated.

Additionally, forward-looking statements involve a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, without limitation: the JPLs objectives and directives and the Companys operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations including, with respect to the Company, the ability of the Company to develop and commercialize its products and release and deploy its technologies; political instability; unexpected development and production challenges; the Company could face technology or software disruptions; unanticipated costs; the Companys technology may fail to perform as expected; increased competition; that Morgan Stanleys estimate of the potential value and size of the space economy will prove to be inaccurate; that the goals of the Artemis Accords will change or not be reached, or that additional unanticipated technical specifications will be required to achieve the goals of the Artemis Accords; that the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory will not have the expected involvement with the DARPA initiatives as outlined herein; that the GeniusTM beta program will not represent a step towards standardizing knowledge sharing and collective intelligence; that GeniusTM will not perform as anticipated or provide the expected impact on the space industry or on the achievement of JPLs goals; the loss of key personnel; and the loss of key partnerships necessary for the Company to achieve its business objectives. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, sufficiency or completeness of the information in this press release. Neither the Company nor any of its representatives shall have any liability whatsoever, under contract, tort, trust or otherwise, to you or any person resulting from the use of the information in this press release by you or any of your representatives or for omissions from the information in this press release.

Source: VERSES AI Inc.
Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend in person or online at VirtualInvestorConferences.com

PERTH, Western Australia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX), an innovative, growth-oriented gold producer based in Perth, Western Australia, today announced that Wayne Bramwell, Managing Director, will present live at the Clean Energy and Precious Metals Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on December 6th.



DATE: December 6th

TIME: 9:30 AM ET

LINK: https://bit.ly/3rOONJH

Available for 1x1 meetings: December 6th & 7th

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

Recent Company Highlights

Three consecutive quarters of cash flow generation, adding A$58M to its treasury

Free of fixed forward gold sales since August 2023 and fully leveraged to the gold price

Commenced development of the decline for Great Fingal

New dividend policy released, focused on sustainable and consistent shareholder returns

Debt free and now with a $100M undrawn corporate facility



About Westgold Resources

Westgold Resources Limited is an innovative and growth-oriented, Western Australian gold miner and explorer. With more than 1,300km2 of tenure, Westgold is the dominant gold miner in the Murchison and Bryah regions of Western Australia and, uniquely amongst peers, an owner-operator of all of its underground mines.

With a market capitalisation approaching A$1B and a strong balance sheet boasting A$217M in cash and bullion, Westgold has no fixed forward gold sales contracts, is debt free, generating cash and investing in its highly accretive organic growth projects. The Company has a highly experienced Board and management team which has delivered a business turnaround that has seen its stock materially outperform its gold peers in 2023.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

CONTACTS:

Westgold Resources

Kasun Liyanaarachchi

Investor Relations Manager

M: +61 458 564 483

[email protected]



Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

[email protected]
The reception, which is sponsored by the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet, will include a fireside chat featuring several members of the Companys senior management team

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI) today announced that it will be hosting an event as part of the United Nations 2023 Climate Change Conference (COP28) on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 at 6:00 PM GMT+4 in Dubai. The event, entitled Sustainable Planet - A New Vision in Methane & Water, will be held at Expo City Dubai within the conference centers Blue Zone , a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change -managed area that over the course of the two-week conference will serve as the formal site for delegate-led negotiations and the World Climate Action Summit . The reception is sponsored by the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet (Global Alliance), a non-profit organization that seeks to foster the public-private partnerships needed to help address the planets most pressing environmental issues.



Specifically, the event will feature a fireside chat with Zefiro Founder and Chief Executive Officer Talal Debs , Zefiro Chief Commercial Officer Tina Reine , and Virginia King (Natural Capital Program Director of Stantec , an industry-leading engineering consulting firm). This discussion will provide attendees, including key public and private sector stakeholders and members of the global press corps, the opportunity to learn more about Zefiros efforts to help reduce methane emissions throughout the United States by permanently plugging orphaned oil and gas wells.

According to the latest expert estimates, there are more than 4 million unplugged oil and gas wells spread out across 26 different states, with an unknown amount of these sites that are leaking. The Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that methane emissions are at least 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of trapping heat in the atmosphere and numerous studies have found that leaks from these wells can seriously harm surrounding areas air and drinking water quality. Zefiros series of recent investments in their operational capacity exhibit a commercially viable and scalable solution to this problem, and the companys current work at a variety of active job sites has led to on-the-ground crews across the country locating and plugging an increasing number of these potentially toxic sites.





Zefiro Chief Commercial Officer Tina Reine, left, and Founder & Chief Executive Officer Talal Debs, right, present during the Companys NYC Climate Week 2023 event this past September. For media attending COP28 who would like to meet either Ms. Reine or Mr. Debs, please contact [email protected].

Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access the Investors section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

As the international community seeks greater consensus on collective actions aimed at building a more sustainable future, COP28 provides an essential forum for leading experts, energy sector decision-makers, and government officials from around the world to forge the innovative solutions needed to combat the most pressing environmental threats of our time, said Talal Debs, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Zefiro Methane Corp. Reducing the alarming proliferation of unplugged oil and gas wells will require unprecedented levels of coordination among public agencies, private companies, and non-profit entities, and we at Zefiro are honored to have been entrusted by the conference and our partners at the Global Alliance with the responsibility of helping lead this critical conversation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

ZEFIRO METHANE CORP.

Talal Debs

Talal Debs, Founder & Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Zefiro Investor Relations

1 (800) 274-ZEFI (274-9334)

[email protected]

For media inquiries, please contact:

Rich Myers - Profile Advisors (New York)

[email protected]

(347) 774-1125

About Zefiro Methane Corp.

Zefiro develops methodologies to reduce methane emissions by plugging orphaned and abandoned oil/gas wells, while originating carbon offsets. Under executive leadership to include the former carbon market team at J.P. Morgan, Zefiro actively deploys crews to decommission wells throughout the United States. With unprecedented global demand for carbon offsets as corporations and institutions work towards net-zero targets, Zefiro is strategically aligning with industry leaders for a greener future.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seeks, believes, plans, expects, intends, estimates, anticipates and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this press release includes statements regarding the Company, the Companys business, the industry in which the Company operates, the Companys opportunities, strategies, competition, expected activities and expenditures as the Company pursues its business plan, the adequacy of the Companys available cash resources and other statements about future events or results. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse general market and economic conditions; (ii) changes to and price and volume volatility in the carbon market; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape and global policies applicable to the Company's business; and (iv) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment where technologies are in the early stage of adoption. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions regarding general market conditions, the availability of financing for proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of outside service providers to deliver services in a satisfactory and timely manner. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b6d4c74-9c95-4fbe-b4bc-03fc57331530
Activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management said Thursday that Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) has turned down their request for Board representation.

Trian owns approximately $3 billion worth of Walt Disney Company shares. It revealed that following conversations with Disney's CEO, the company extended an offer to Trian to meet with the Board, however, it turned down the board representation request, which included Peltz.

Earlier this month, reports stated that Peltz's will likely nominate three or four directors to the Disney board.

"Since we gave Disney the opportunity to prove it could 'right the ship' last February, up to our re-engagement weeks ago, shareholders lost ~$70 billion of value," said Trian in its statement. The activist investor said investor confidence in the company is low, and "key strategic questions loom."

The latest statement from Trian follows the appointment of James P. Gorman, chairman and CEO of Morgan Stanley, and veteran media executive Jeremy Darroch as new directors.

"While James Gorman and Sir Jeremy Darroch represent an improvement Disney's status quo, the addition of these directors will not, in our view, restore investor confidence or address the root cause behind the significant value destruction and missteps that this Board has overseen. Trian intends to take our case for change directly to shareholders," Trian added.

Earlier in the session, it was reported that Peltz is now seeking two seats on the DIS board.

By Sam Boughedda
Last week, Japanese carmaker Nissan announced that it planned to convert its best-selling fossil fuel crossover models in the United Kingdom  the Juke and Qashqai  into electric cars. Sources with knowledge of the matter say Nissan plans to invest around $1.4 billion into the electrification project.

Nissan has reportedly had talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as well as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and the project may receive

Read More>>

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By Julie Zhu and Scott Murdoch

HONG KONG/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand of Chinese automaker Geely, has put its U.S. initial public offering (IPO) on hold because of a mismatch in valuation expectations, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The decision was made as global financial markets remain volatile, a third source added. All the sources declined to be identified as the information has not yet been made public.

Zeekr, which publicly filed a prospectus this month to float shares in New York, has aimed to maintain the valuation of $13 billion it achieved in a private fundraising exercise in February, two of the sources said.

But informal talks with potential investors since late August saw some of them put a valuation on the two-year-old firm below the IPO figure, as market sentiment was still weak and the company recently widened losses, they added.

"The company has made a public filing to the SEC and is proceeding with the preparatory work," Zeekr said in a statement, without elaborating.

Zeekr's prospectus disclosed a surge in total revenue to 35.31 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) in the nine months ended Sept. 30, up from 18.47 billion a year earlier. However, its loss from operations widened to 5.23 billion yuan from 4.90 billion.

Some listed peers, such as EV maker Nio, have seen share prices fluctuate or fall in recent months as a price war in China has hit profitability, spurring efforts to cut costs and build partnerships to survive the consolidating competition.

Citing sources, Reuters reported in December that Zeekr had confidentially filed for its IPO, aiming to raise more than $1 billion and go public in New York as early as the second quarter of this year.

Sources told Reuters this month that Zeekr still aimed to raise at least $500 million in the IPO before stepping on the brakes.

Zeekr was formed in 2021 by Geely, formally known as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, to tap growing Chinese demand for premium EVs.

In February, it raised $750 million from investors including Amnon Shashua, the CEO of autonomous driving technology company Mobileye Global and Chinese battery giant CATL.

Zeekr offers four EV models in China, with its best seller, the 001 crossover, priced from 269,000 yuan ($36,927.22).

It also plans to sell in overseas markets, such as Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Sweden, among others.

(Reporting by Julie Zhu and Scott Murdoch; Additional reporting by Kane Wuy; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence Fernandez)
Google has summarized the results of the year and presented a list of the most searched-for movies by Ukrainians in 2022. The list of 10 positions is dominated by foreign films, but Ukrainian films also found a place in the top.

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However, not everything was so rosy, as during the full-scale war in Ukraine, a Russian cartoon about heroes, which turned out to be saturated with propaganda, was among the searches for citizens. OBOZREVATEL decided to tell you which films Ukrainians were most interested in in 2022 (to watch the video, scroll to the end of the page).

The first place in the top was taken by the new movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe "Spider-Man: No Way Home". Ukrainians searched for it most often. By the way, the new Spider-Man movie became the highest-grossing movie during the pandemic in 12 days.

The second place was taken by the drama "Don't Look Up " with the talented Leonardo DiCaprio.

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The film adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's most famous works about a brilliant Belgian detective,Death on the Nile, took third place.

The Purple Hearts melodrama has gained popularity among Ukrainians and took the fourth place.

The fifth place was taken by another story from the Marvel Cinematic Universe about the god of thunder, Thor, called Thor: Love and Thunder".

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The most interesting cartoon for Ukrainians was the second part of the adventure comedy Sing.

The only Ukrainian movie to make it to the top is Crazy Wedding 3.

For some reason, the Russian cartoon "Three Heroes and a Horse on a Throne" has also attracted Ukrainians, even though its plot broadcasts Kremlin propaganda.

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The biographical drama The House of Gucci has also received attention from Ukrainian moviegoers.

The last position in the list was taken by the action movie "Speed Train" starring Brad Pitt.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that the detective series Venzdey became a hit just a week after its premiere and set a new record for the Netflix streaming platform. Read more about it in the article.

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Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Crans-Montana Mountain Resort ...

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When EF Hutton Talks, People Listen

NEW YORK, NY - (NewMediaWire) - November 30, 2023 - EF Hutton, an investment bank headquartered in New York, today announced the closing of the acquisition of its broker-dealer, Benchmark Investments, LLC, a provider of a range of financial services to institutional and retail clients.

The transaction closed on November 9, 2023, significantly expanding EF Huttons capabilities and leadership across public and private markets for its growing roster of clients, with all broker-dealer resources and operations to be held under the EF Hutton brand. Benchmark Investments, LLC name has been changed to EF Hutton LLC. Additional details of the transaction were not disclosed.

This transformative acquisition is the next step in our evolution to help our clients ambitions prosper through a full spectrum of services, said Joseph T. Rallo, Chief Executive Officer of EF Hutton. Looking ahead, we are integrating broker-dealer operations and believe this transaction will enhance our current business lines with the capacity for larger deals and a broader client base, while also providing a platform to expand our business lines in the future. We continue to look for additional opportunities to bolster our services and strengthen our footprint, including the expansion of our retail business through our wealth management division, concluded Rallo.

David W. Boral, President of EF Hutton, added, Incorporating broker-dealer functions and services into the firm will bring a higher degree of streamlined operations and efficiency for our clients. This acquisition also provides us with additional independence that gives more control and transparency to the deal process from start to finish. Our improved end-to-end solutions will position clients for long-term success across IPOs, SPAC IPOs, follow-on offerings, secondary offerings, shelf takedowns, M&A, advisory, acquisition financings, pre-IPO financings, and more. We look forward to introducing middle market and emerging growth companies around the world to an expanded EF Hutton.

About EF Hutton

EF Hutton is an investment bank headquartered in New York, NY that provides strategic advice and financing solutions to middle market and emerging growth companies. EF Hutton has a proven track record of providing superior strategic advice to clients across the globe in any sector, with unique access to capital from the USA, Asia, Europe, UAE, and Latin America.

EF Hutton continues to be a leader on Wall Street, having raised over $15.8 billion in capital across more than 265 transactions through a variety of product types. Since 2022, by deal count, EF Hutton has been #1 in SPAC issuance and #1 in US IPO issuance, per SPAC Insider and Bloomberg. Taken together, EF Hutton is one of the most active investment banks in the middle market space. For more information visit efhutton.com.

Contact

Joseph T. Rallo

Chief Executive Officer

590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor

New York, NY 10022

[email protected]

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
SIERRA BLANCA, TX - (NewMediaWire) - November 30, 2023 - Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (OTCQB: TMRC)

Texas Mineral Resources Corp. (TMRC or the Company), is pleased to announce a fiscal year-end corporate update concurrent with the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC.

Round Top:

USARE, the operating manager of Round Top Mountain Development, LLC (Round Top), has advised TMRC that it continues to progress Round Top toward operations. Over the last twelve months, Round Top achieved several major milestones including: (i) favorable breaker trials with the goal to increase mine throughput; (ii) favorable CIX separation trials for rare earth elements indicating that the CIX technology employed can extract commercial quality rare earths from Round Top ore; and (iii) favorable membrane concentration trials. The USARE Round Top team continues its work to determine an efficient means of managing alumina content, adding gallium to its output and is working with a major lithium company to maximize the value of the lithium content. USARE has advised the Company that it (i) currently expects that (A) a preliminary feasibility study (PFS) reflecting this work should be completed during calendar 2024 and (B) a small manufacturing unit should be established to begin processing Round Top ore in calendar 2025, and (ii) believes that Round Top remains an attractive economic venture and is in the process of updating the Round Top economic model.

Anticipated Round Top expenditures during the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024 are being made to optimize the leaching and developing of the CIX/CIC processing of Round Top. Initial process design work will be carried out at USAREs facility in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Pending completion of the initial process development, this facility will either be relocated to or replicated at USAREs Oklahoma facility where a pilot plant is expected to be established. It is estimated that Round Top will require additional time and further expenditure to complete a bankable feasibility study after completion of the PFS. As such, it is possible that the Round Top Budget will increase in the current fiscal year. Additional information regarding planned expenditures is set forth in the Companys Form 10-K.

Currently, USARE and the Company are obligated, subject to an election by the Company not to fund in cash its portion of a Round Top cash call and in lieu thereof to incur dilution to its membership interest, to fund further expenditures in proportion to their respective ownership interests. We funded $386,400 in cash during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2023 and elected not to fund $448,800 which resulted in the dilution of our Round Top membership interest to 19.874% at August 31, 2023. Subsequent to September 1, 2023 through the date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we notified USARE that we had elected not to contribute in cash our proportionate interest in aggregate cash calls of $396,249 which reduced our Round Top ownership interest to 19.611% as of the date of our Annual Report on Form 10-K pursuant to the dilution mechanism in the June 2023 amended Operating Agreement.

New Mexico Silver Project:

As disclosed in our press release of July 21, TMRC has successfully completed an extensive Time Domain EM survey of the Alhambra Mine area. Several variations of this technique were employed with the best results obtained from variant called NANOTEM. NANOTEM is near surface technique developed by Zonge Intl. designed to locate metallic, electrically conducting objects such as pipelines, buried tanks and unexploded ordinance. By modifying the size and distribution of the transmitting and receiving arrays it is thought that reproduceable data is being acquired from depths extending to 120 feet. Numerous anomalies were detected, some sixteen of which are large enough and strong enough to be deemed viable drill targets.

Eight of these conductive targets lie close to and along the northern extension of the Alhambra Mine. TMRC has designed a 6,500 diamond drill program to test these anomalies. Because of the shallow depths of these targets a small easily moved diamond drill rig can be used. We estimate drilling approximately 55 drill holes. If this drilling program yields positive results more drilling could be planned or, as an option, the nearby Alhambra Shaft can be reconditioned to the 112-foot level, and the favorable drill intercepts investigated by underground development.

After extensive discussions with legal counsel and regulators, a meeting was held on November 27th with the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Dept. (MMD) personnel in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the decision was made, based on their input, to apply for a Minimum Impact Exploration permit. We will submit this plan within the next two weeks pending finalization of the drilling plan and attached diagrams. MMD personnel advise us that the typical time to process this type of permit is approximately four months.

Fiscal 2023 has seen its share of both challenges and opportunities for TMRC, said Anthony Marchese, chairman. Looking ahead to fiscal 2024, we look forward to the continued development of Round Top as well as further work on the New Mexico silver project through the first phase of exploratory drilling in order to validate our promising geophysical results. We are currently evaluating several other potentially promising mining opportunities in the southwest United States and will have more details as we get closer to finishing our analysis. Finally, we intend to hold a shareholder meeting in the first calendar quarter of 2024.

About Texas Mineral Resources Corp.

Our primary focus is to develop and commercialize, along with its joint venture operating partner USA Rare Earth LLC, the Round Top heavy-rare earth, technology metals, and industrial minerals project located in Hudspeth County, Texas, 85 miles southeast of El Paso, in which TMRC currently owns an approximate 19.6% interest and USA Rare Earth owns an approximate 80.4% interest. Additionally, the Company is pursuing other domestic mining opportunities. The Companys common stock trades on the OTCQB U.S. tier under the symbol TMRC.

Cautionary Note to Investors

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") limits disclosure for U.S. reporting purposes to mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce and that are compliant with SEC Industry Guide 7. Investors are cautioned not to assume than any part or all of the Round Top project or the opportunity in the Black Hawk Mining District contains any mineral deposits that will ever be converted into resources or that any inferred mineral resource or measured and indicated resources exists or is economically or legally mineable. Neither the Round Top or any other potential project contains any known proven or probable ore reserves or mineral resource compliant with SEC Industry Guide 7 reporting standards. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure set forth in TMRCs latest reports filed with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the potential development, economic feasibility, resource, grade and other mineralization characteristics, and drilling and exploration methods that may be utilized in potential exploration of the Black Hawk Mining District project. When used in this press release, the words potential, plans, indicate, expect, intend, hopes, believe, may, will, if, anticipate, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, uncertainty of mineralized material and mineral resource estimates, risks to projected and estimated economics not reflecting actual economic results due to the uncertainty of mining processes, potential non-uniform sections of mineralized material, potential mining hazards and accidents, changes in equipment and labor costs, changes in projected mineral prices and demand, competition in the mining industry, risks related to project development determinations, the inherently hazardous nature of mining-related activities, potential effects on the Company's operations of environmental regulations, risks due to legal proceedings, liquidity risks and risks related to uncertainty of being able to raise capital on favorable terms or at all, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K as filed in November 2023 and other documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:

Texas Mineral Resources Corp.

Anthony Marchese, Chairman

E-mail: [email protected]

Twitter: @TexasMineralRes

View the original release on www.newmediawire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - ACME Lithium Inc. (CSE: ACME) (OTCQX: ACLHF) (the "Company", or "ACME") is pleased to announce the recently received sample results from the August surface sampling and prospecting program at its Bailey Lake pegmatite project in northeastern Saskatchewan. The program has successfully identified numerous boulder and outcrop samples exhibiting anomalous lithium grades as well as other elevated LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum) pegmatite indicator elements. The results are the highest ever sampled in the region and highlight the significant potential for high-grade mineralization within the project area.

Highlights:

Samples grading up to 1.14% Li 2 O in boulders along trend of anomalous lithium values up to 0.73% Li 2 O identified in outcrop (Figure 1).

O in boulders along trend of anomalous lithium values up to 0.73% Li O identified in outcrop (Figure 1). Anomalous rare earth indicator elements with samples grading up to 413 ppm Tantalum (Ta) and 2242 ppm Tin (Sn).

Highest grading lithium samples coincident with magnetic low.

Additional area to the southwest hosting pegmatites exhibiting anomalous Tantalum values (Figure 2).

Detailed Airborne Magnetic+Radiometric+Lidar survey completed over 7975 Ha of the property which will assist in further defining priority areas.

"We are encouraged by the results from this initial field program," says ACME Lithium President and CEO Steve Hanson. "The focus of the campaign was to confirm and expand on the limited historic data based on lithium bearing samples reported in 2017. We exceeded these expectations by not only confirming and improving on the historic grades but identifying additional areas hosting LCT pegmatites to the northeast and southwest. We believe this phase 1 exploration effort has only just scratched the surface as to the potential for high-grade lithium on the property. Northern Saskatchewan is underexplored for critical minerals, and the results of this program reinforce the potential of this area of the province to become a new lithium area of discovery."

ACME Lithium has acquired or in under option to acquire a 100% interest in 18 contiguous mineral claims encompassing approximately 41,694 hectares (or 416 square kms).





Figure 1: 2023 Surface sample assay highlights

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7776/189230_7b45718084c8c979_003full.jpg

Table 1: Assay highlights from 2023 Bailey Lake Rock Samples

Sample ID Li 2 O % Ta ppm Sn ppm Sample Type Lithology 365649 1.14 75.3 Float Pegmatite 365653 1.02 30.6 Float Pegmatite 365677 1.00 29.4 Float Pegmatite 365647 0.93 70.5 Float Pegmatite 365652 0.75 23.4 Float Pegmatite 365570 0.73 55.2 Outcrop Pegmatite 365713 0.65 63 Float Pegmatite 365829 0.63 95.8 Float Pegmatite 365532 0.63 25.7 Float Pegmatite 365516 0.59 24.2 Float Pegmatite 365679 0.58 46 Float Pegmatite 365678 0.54 22.4 Float Pegmatite 365506 0.53 28.8 Float Pegmatite 365701 0.43 58.5 Float Pegmatite 365571 0.39 57.6 Outcrop Pegmatite 365712 0.38 115 Float Pegmatite 365623 0.38 31.3 Outcrop Pegmatite 365622 0.33 18.9 Outcrop Pegmatite 365621 0.31 28.4 Outcrop Pegmatite 365628 0.06 245 Outcrop Pegmatite 365522 0.05 105 2242 Float Pegmatite 365598 0.01 413 Float Pegmatite 365801 0.01 225 Outcrop Pegmatite





Figure 2: 2023 surface sample results with Airborne Magnetics (TMI RTP)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7776/189230_7b45718084c8c979_004full.jpg

The geological prospecting program was conducted from August 28th to September 15th by the companies' technical consultants Axiom Exploration Group Ltd. ("Axiom"). The program included 336 samples (including 5% quality control samples) collected around the area of historically reported Li-bearing pegmatite boulder samples collected in the Bailey Lake area (Figure 1). The samples collected from the 2023 program consisted of exposed boulder and outcropping pegmatites, as well as country rock. Mineralogical, alteration, and structural data (where possible) was also collected at these sample sites.

The results obtained from the 2023 sampling and prospecting program have confirmed and expanded on the lithium potential of the Property. Pegmatites showing high lithium values have been identified ~300 m up ice flow direction (NE) of the 2017 Li-bearing boulder samples (GemOil, 2017 - Ramaekers et al.). The initial data has indications that these Li-bearing boulders are near source and elevated Li and Ta values in outcrop samples further support this theory. About 5 km to the southwest, sampling has identified another prospective area showing high Ta values in the pegmatites with numerous samples over 100 ppm Ta (Figure 2). The company's technical team will be further analyzing and interpreting the data from the assay results in combination with the recently received geophysics to further refine exploration targets for further work.





Figure 3: Source pegmatite boulder of sample #365649 grading 1.14% Li2O

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7776/189230_7b45718084c8c979_005full.jpg





Figure 4: Source pegmatite boulder of sample #365677 grading 1.0% Li2O

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7776/189230_7b45718084c8c979_006full.jpg

Saskatchewan is a highly prospective region for critical mineral development. The Government of Saskatchewan recently announced an expansion to its existing investment and innovation incentive programs to include eligible lithium projects with the aim to become one of the best resource development jurisdictions in the world.

Analytical methods and QAQC protocols

A thorough chain-of-custody and quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") program was carried out during the field program. Samples were obtained by rock hammer and rock saw. Sample locations were recorded by handheld Garmin GPS and samples were photographed, then placed in poly sample bags and zip tied. All rock samples were submitted to SGS Canada Inc. for Sodium Peroxide Fusion / ICP-AES and ICP-MS analysis with a focus on Lithium, Tantalum, and Cesium.

The Company's implemented QA/QC procedures included the routine insertion of LCT (lithium-cesium-tantalum) pegmatite certified standard control samples, lab duplicates, and silica blanks in accordance with industry recommended practices. This was used to test for natural variability, sampling bias, and homogeneity during sample preparation processes within the lab as well as testing the precision of the sample and any possible contamination from the lab and ensure proper calibration of lab equipment. Analytical results of certified reference materials were verified graphically and determined to be within the allowable error of 2 standards deviations of the certified lithium values.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume, P.Geo. (Senior Geologist, Axiom Exploration Group Ltd.), a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 -Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About ACME Lithium Inc.

Led by an experienced team, ACME Lithium is a mineral exploration Company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing battery metal projects in partnership with leading technology and commodity companies. ACME has acquired or is under option to acquire a 100-per-cent interest in projects located in Clayton Valley and Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County Nevada, at Shatford, Birse, and Cat-Euclid Lakes in southeastern Manitoba, and at Bailey Lake in northern Saskatchewan.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Steve Hanson

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Telephone: (604) 564-9045

[email protected]

For Investor Inquiries:

Anthony Simone

Simone Capital

Telephone: (416) 881-5154

[email protected]

Neither the CSE nor its regulations service providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains certain statements which may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("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 and in this news release include but are not limited to the attributes of, timing for and expected benefits to be derived from exploration, drilling or development at ACME's project properties. Information inferred from the interpretation of drilling, sampling and other technical results may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed. ACME's project location adjacent to or nearby lithium projects does not guarantee exploration success or that mineral resources or reserves will be defined on ACME's properties. Exploration, development, and activities conducted by regional companies provide assistance and additional data for exploration work being completed by ACME. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to fluctuations in metal prices; uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from weather, logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfill expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's properties; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work program; the risk of environmental contamination or damage resulting from the Company's operations and other risks and uncertainties. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Unless otherwise indicated, the market and industry data contained herein is based upon information from industry and other publications and the knowledge and experience of management. While we believe that this data is reliable, market and industry data is subject to variations and cannot be verified with complete certainty due to limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in any statistical survey. We have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources. All technical and scientific disclosure pertaining to our mineral property interests in this news release have been reviewed by a Qualified Person, meaning an individual who is an engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of experience in mineral exploration, mine development or operation or mineral project assessment, or any combination of these; has experience relevant to the subject matter of the mineral project and the technical report; and is a member or licensee in good standing of a professional association.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189230
Perth, Western Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Besra Gold Inc(ASX: BEZ) ("Besra" or the "Company") announces that it has today released to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) :

NOTICE OF MEETING and MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CIRCULAR

You are invited to click on the link below to read in full this announcement:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3448/189307_560545_2650670.pdf

About Besra -www.besra.com

Besra is a gold mining and exploration company focused on exploring and developing the 3m ounce (JORC) Bau Goldfield in East Malaysia. The Bau Project hosts a total gold JORC (2012) compliant Resource Inventory comprising Measured 3.4 mt @ 1,5 g/t for 166.9k ounces, indicated 16.4 mt @ 1.6 g/t for 824.0k ounces and Inferred 47.9 mt @ 1.3 g/t for 1989.4k ounces[1].

In addition to the JORC-2012 Mineral Resource, the project has a globalExploration Target[2]of between4.89 and 9.27m ounces of gold @ 1.7-2.5 g/t A.

Australasia

Michael Higginson

Corporate Secretary

Email:[email protected]

North America

James Hamilton

Investor Relations Services

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visithttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189307
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Business Booster, which helps established businesses to reach the next level, has launched in Taiwan. Within 24 hours of its launch in one of the world's biggest markets, the accelerator had closed its first cohort and produced over half a million dollars in revenue.

"Business Booster is built on the five-year legacy of our Business Owners Program (BOP) in Taiwan," explained Alex Visotsky, the Ukrainian-American entrepreneur behind Business Booster. His work in the industry began in 2009 with a focus on systematizing businesses and improving management. The BOP, which started in Ukraine and spread across Eastern Europe and the US, was brought to Taiwan in 2018 by Alex Visotsky himself.

With the input of local partners Evan Yang and Cherry Chang, Visotsky found success with BOP in Taiwan. However, the trio soon realized that business owners were primed for more than systematization - they were ready for acceleration. Using BOP as a foundation, Visotsky, Yang, and Chang created Business Booster, which goes beyond management and organizational design by implementing strategies for boosting marketing, training employees, assisting with fundraising, and opening new markets.

The goal for the Taiwan launch is to position Business Booster to become a top business accelerator for regional companies that have been in the market for over five years and have a proven, scalable business model.

"After our exciting start in Taiwan, we are primarily focused on adapting the Business Booster SaaS platform so that it can efficiently manage both remote and in-office employees," says Visotsky. "We are also working to leverage the significant interest in Business Booster in Taiwan to serve regions with large Chinese diasporas, including Singapore and Malaysia."

The plans for Business Booster include the integration and development of a Chinese language program to enhance the marketing and sales of clients. Chang states that to launch the same business acceleration program in Chinese online, they are building a comprehensive tech stack to accelerate companies in the Chinese language market.

"This will include education programs for business owners, company management and employees, and providing a SaaS business management platform. With these tools, Business Booster will be able to effectively systematize, automate, and scale all company processes, providing a streamlined and efficient approach to business acceleration," she states. "We are building a strong team for this endeavor, and at our Taiwan Branch, we will have 30 experts who will work in a tight collaboration with the Business Booster US team."

Evan Yang adds, "This development is actively underway in collaboration with Valentin Vasilevskiy, the cofounder of Business Booster. He is our primary expert in marketing and creator of the SaaS platform."

Companies that are interested in learning about Business Booster and its global services are asked to contact Alex Visotsky at [email protected] for more information.

Business Booster is a business accelerator that assists entrepreneurs from over 50 countries in implementing an operational system and elevating their businesses to new heights. The Business Booster includes a program tailored specifically for business owners; the Business Booster Board community, providing valuable mentorship; the Business Booster Platform - SaaS, facilitating online team management; and a comprehensive training program for leaders and staff. Business Booster's services are accessible in four languages: English, Chinese, Ukrainian, and Russian.

For more information, please see the Business Booster website or contact:

Alex Visotsky

[email protected]

Instagram: @alex.visotsky

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188827
Stewart, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Decade Resources Ltd(TSXV: DEC) ("Decade") is providing an update on surface exploration on the Treasure Mountain-Nobody Knows-Terrace Gold projects in the Terrace BC area. The project stretches from 10 to 40 air kilometers east of Terrace, B.C., on the northern slopes of the Copper River valley. The project consists of 52 contiguous minerals claims totaling over 21,000 hectares which form Treasure Mountain, Nobody Knows and Dardanelle (presently farmed out) properties. All 52 mineral claims are 100% owned by Decade Resources Ltd. Highlights of the property include:

Located 25 km east of the newly discovered Nobody Knows copper zone.

A total of 22 copper showing have been identified over 20 km of strike length stretching from Clore River to Kleanza Creek. The copper zones are located over a minimum 1500 m of vertical height.

Located a new claim to cover area of float rocks carrying chalcocite that assayed over 5 % in previous Company sampling.

Chalcocite, bornite and minor chalcopyrite occur as disseminations and veinlets along beds of pyroclastic rock'

Brecciated quartz-calcite shear zones up to 8m hosting significant chalcopyrite and bornite

Quartz - epidote veins with coarse bornite and chalcocite that generally have significant gold associated with copper-silver.

Identified new zone of mineralization exposed over a 50m width and 30 m strike length. Grab sampling of bornite rich rocks by the Company returned over 10 % copper and 502 g/t silver with 4 g/t gold.

The 2023 exploration concentrated on evaluating the area of the Drill Stem showing (drilled in 1964 and 1987 with no recorded work) and locating the historic Montana showing. Core located in the area of drilling indicates it was A-size (2.59 cm in diameter).

Photos of zones tested are shown below:

Below: Samples taken from large quartz-carbonate-epidote vein/shear zone to the north of Treasure Mountain Peak. Disseminated to blebby bornite up to 7% locally, strong malachite staining across 8m width.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3615/189239_picture2.jpg

Above: Quartz breccia sample with clasts of volcanic and disseminated bornite, taken near Drill Stem showing.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3615/189239_1c7fc25c94301b14_002full.jpg

The Treasure Mountain - Nobody Knows properties have a great potential to host copper-silver deposits and/or copper-gold bearing stockworks. At present there are over 22 known copper bearing areas. They feature numerous individual copper occurrences of which only part have been examined in the 2023 exploration program. The main copper occurrences appear to be associated either with basalt or its subvolcanic equivalent (diabase). Other copper occurrences are related to faults and fracture zones. Almost all showings in this area have a similar mineralogy (mostly bornite and chalcocite) and geochemical signature (copper-silver) which suggest the same source of mineralization.

The Company has received numerous queries on timing for assays. Analytical procedure involves ICP analysis for 41 elements. Any analysis that has over 10,000 ppm (1 %) copper is then subjected to ore grade-ME-OG46 analysis. Over 5 %, the lab performs Cu-OG46 ore grade analysis using aqua regia. The Company is aware of analysis being performed for high copper values. At present the Company has only received partial results for the first 2 holes on the Nobody Knows drilling and none of surface samples or additional holes.

Ed. Kruchkowski, P. Geo., a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, is in charge of the exploration programs on behalf of the Company and is responsible for the contents of this release. E. Kruchkowski is not independent of Decade as he is the president of the Company.

Decade Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based mineral exploration company actively seeking opportunities in the resource sector. Decade holds numerous properties at various stages of development and exploration from basic grass roots to advanced ones. Its properties and projects are all located in the "Golden Triangle" area of northern British Columbia. For a complete listing of the Company assets and developments, visit the Company website at www.decaderesources.ca which is presently being up dated. For investor information please call 250-636-2264 or Gary Assaly at 604-377-7969.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DECADE RESOURCES LTD.

"Ed Kruchkowski"

Ed Kruchkowski, President

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXVenture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

"This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements address future events andconditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currentlyanticipated in such statements."

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189239
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Dryden Gold Corp. ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into amended terms regarding the amalgamation agreement dated October 30, 2023 (the "Definitive Agreement") with 1317223 B.C. LTD. ("223") pursuant to which the Company will amalgamate (the "Amalgamation") with 223 and continue as one corporation (the "Amended Transaction"), with the Company being the "Resulting Issuer". As a result of the Amended Transaction, the securityholders of 223 and Dryden Gold will become securityholders of the Resulting Issuer. Upon completion of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer (to be named "Dryden Gold Corp.") will carry on the business of Dryden Gold, as described in the press release dated October 31, 2023 and filed on SEDAR by 223. In addition, the concurrent financing has been repriced as described herein (the "Repriced Offering").

Dryden Gold anticipates that the Amended Transaction will enable the Resulting Issuer to meet the initial listing requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") for a "Tier 2 Mining Issuer" (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV).

The Amended Transaction

The Definitive Agreement between 223 and Dryden Gold has been amended (the "Amended Agreement") to provide for, among other things, for the Amalgamation under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which:

223 will complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (the "Consolidation") on the basis of 1 pre-Consolidation common share for every 0.864864865 post-Consolidation common share, resulting in the outstanding share capital of 223 being comprised of an aggregate of 4,000,000 post-Consolidation common shares (each a "223 Share"); 223 and Dryden Gold will cease to exist as separate legal entities and continue as one corporation, the Resulting Issuer; all of the outstanding 223 Shares will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive common shares of the Resulting Issuer (each, a "Resulting Issuer Share") on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share at a deemed price of $0.25 per Resulting Issuer Share for each 223 Share previously outstanding; all of the 44,355,893 outstanding Dryden Gold Shares will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive Resulting Issuer Shares at a deemed price of $0.25 per Resulting Issuer Share on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share for each Dryden Gold Share previously outstanding; an aggregate of 3,475,000 share purchase warrants of Dryden Gold (the "Dryden Warrants") will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive share purchase warrants of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Warrants") exercisable to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Warrant for each Dryden Warrant previously outstanding; an aggregate of 3,100,000 stock options of Dryden Gold (the "Dryden Options") will be cancelled and, in consideration therefor, the holders thereof will receive stock options of the Resulting Issuer (the "Resulting Issuer Options") exercisable to acquire common shares of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Option for each Dryden Option previously outstanding; and the Resulting Issuer will be named "Dryden Gold Corp.", or such other name as determined by 223.

Completion of the Transaction will be subject to certain conditions (the "Transaction Conditions"), including among others: (i) the requirement for Dryden Gold to obtain shareholder approval for the Amalgamation; (ii) the requirement for 223 to obtain approval of all of the shareholders of 223 with respect to the Amalgamation; (iii) the completion of the Offering (as defined below); (iv) the completion of the Consolidation by 223; (v) obtaining the approval of the TSXV with respect to the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares; (vi) the TSXV shall have granted an exemption or waiver from the sponsorship requirement or a sponsor shall have filed an acceptable report with the TSXV; and (vi) Dryden Gold shall not be in default of the requirements of any securities commission and no order shall have been issued that would prevent the Transaction or trading of any securities of Dryden Gold.

Repriced Offering

In its previous disclosure, Dryden Gold indicated that it intended to complete a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 12,000,000 and a maximum of 20,000,000 Subscription Receipts, (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.25 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $3,000,000 and a maximum of $5,000,000 (collectively, the "Offering"). The Repriced Offering will be a non-brokered private placement of a minimum of 20,000,000 and a maximum of 33,333,333 Subscription Receipts at a price of $0.15 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $3,000,000 and a maximum of $5,000,000.

It is expected that the Company will pay certain arm's length eligible persons (each, a "Finder") a finder's fee equal to 6.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the subscribers participating in the Offering introduced by such Finders ("Finder's Fee"), payable on the closing date of the Offering. In addition, the Company will issue to such Finders, finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") exercisable to acquire that number of Dryden Gold Shares as is equal to 6.0% of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts issued pursuant to the Offering to the subscribers introduced by each such Finder. Each Finder's Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Dryden Gold Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of two years following the closing of the Offering.

The gross proceeds derived from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, will be held in escrow on behalf of the subscribers of the Subscription Receipts by an escrow agent to be appointed by the Company, pursuant to the terms of a Subscription Receipt subscription agreements (the "Subscription Agreements") to be entered into in connection with the Offering.

Each Subscription Receipt will be, in accordance with the Subscription Agreement, automatically converted, without payment of any additional consideration and without any further action on the part of the holder thereof, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions related to the Transaction (the "Escrow Release Conditions") into a unit, comprised of one common share of Dryden (a "Common Share"), and one share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (a "Dryden Unit Warrant") exercisable to acquire a Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of two years. Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, the Common Shares will be exchanged for Resulting Issuer Shares on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Share for each Common Share so held, respectively, and the Dryden Unit Warrants will be exchanged for Resulting Issuer Warrants on the basis of one Resulting Issuer Warrant for each Dryden Unit Warrant held.

The net proceeds of the Offering derived from the Subscription Receipts will be used by the Company to fund exploration, as well as for general corporate purposes following completion of the Transaction.

The securities to be offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Stock Exchange Matters

As at the date hereof, neither the common shares of 223 nor the Dryden Gold Shares are listed on any stock exchange in Canada, or elsewhere. 223 is a "reporting issuer" (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation) in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

A condition to completion of the Transaction is the conditional approval for the listing of the Resulting Issuer Shares on the TSXV as a "Tier 2 Mining Issuer" (within the meaning of the policies of the TSXV). A filing statement which will include further details of the Transaction, the Manitou Property, the Tremblay Project and the Offering, will be filed on Dryden Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com , upon TSXV conditional approval of the listing. There can be no assurance that the TSXV will grant such conditional approval or that the Transaction or the Offering will be completed as proposed or at all. The Transaction is an "arm's length transaction" (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV as 223 is not a Related Party (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) to Dryden Gold.

The Transaction may require sponsorship under the policies of the TSXV unless an exemption or waiver from sponsorship is granted. Dryden Gold intends to apply for an exemption or waiver from sponsorship requirements of the TSXV in connection with the Transaction. There can be no assurance that such exemption or waiver will ultimately be granted.

Principal Securityholders

No Person or company will, to Dryden Gold's and 223's knowledge, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over 10% or more of the outstanding Resulting Issuer Shares following the Transaction.

Qualified Person

The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maura J. Kolb, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Dryden Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

About Dryden Gold

Dryden Gold Corp. is a privately held exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization. The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition & consolidation, exploration success and merger & acquisitions. The Company has consolidated 100% interest in a dominate strategic land position in the Dryden Camp in the greenstone belt in the Canadian Shield of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure with the Trans-Canada Highway running through the center of the property as well as Ontario Grid Power, rail, gas and proximity to the City of Dryden with its rich mining heritage. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com.

Contact Information:

Dryden Gold Corp.

Trey Wasser

CEO

Phone: 940-368-8337

[email protected]

Maura Kolb

President

Phone: 807-632-2368

[email protected]

1317223 B.C. LTD.

Stephen Sandusky,

[email protected]

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of 223 and Dryden Gold should be considered highly speculative.

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS IN NO WAY PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Further details of the transaction contemplated by the Definitive Agreement will be included in subsequent news releases and disclosure documents to be filed by Dryden Gold.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Offering; use of proceeds from the Offering; future development plans; and the business and operations of the Resulting Issuer after the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. 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. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections.

Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189400
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Lion Copper and Gold Corp. (TSXV: LEO) (OTCQB: LCGMF) ("Lion CG") announced today that its controlled subsidiary, Falcon Copper Corp. ("Falcon Copper"), has signed an Option to Joint Venture Agreement with Kennecott Exploration Company ("Kennecott"), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc, to advance exploration on Falcon's Cabin property and Kennecott's contiguous Muncy Creek property, collectively called the Schell Creek Project, located in White Pine County, Nevada.

The 9,000-acre Cabin property covers a prospective porphyry copper target. Historical drilling by Combined Metals Reduction Company in the first half of the 20th century intersected copper mineralization that provides evidence of a significant copper system extending under alluvial cover. More recent airborne magnetics, supporting geochemistry and favorable structural setting further indicate the potential for a major concealed copper deposit.

The 6,000-acre Muncy Creek property contains zones of known high-grade copper-silver-lead-zinc carbonate replacement mineralization that may overlie a larger concealed copper porphyry system, as suggested by sampling, geophysical anomalies and limited past production from the Aurum Mining District.

Neither the Cabin nor Muncy Creek properties have been drilled with modern techniques in recent decades. Upon Falcon Copper completing $2.5 million of exploration expenditures within two years, Kennecott will have the right to vest.

Should Kennecott elect to vest, Falcon Copper would hold a 60% participating interest and Kennecott would hold a 40% participating interest in a joint venture formed between the companies on the Schell Creek Project. If Kennecott does not vest, Falcon Copper would retain 100% ownership over the entire land package, subject to a 2.0% net smelter return royalty in favor of Kennecott on the Muncy Creek property, which Falcon Copper will have the right to buy-down to 1.0% by paying Kennecott $10,000,000.

Exploration plans for the Schell Creek Project are being immediately prepared and include geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, geochemical sampling and exploration drilling of identified targets.

Travis Naugle, co-chairman and CEO of Lion CG, states, "This agreement provides a clear path for Falcon Copper to maximize value of these two exciting eastern Nevada copper porphyry targets through diligent exploration over the next two years. Kennecott's option to then earn-in to a minority interest, or receive a royalty, underscores the potential they see at both Muncy Creek and Cabin. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the Rio Tinto exploration team as we pursue these copper systems."

About Lion CG

Lion Copper and Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based company advancing its flagship copper assets at Yerington, Nevada through an Option to Earn-in Agreement with Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Stephen Goodman

President

For more information please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.lioncg.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by C. Travis Naugle, QP MMSA, CEO of Lion Copper and Gold Corp. and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "expect", or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future exploration activities and anticipated results. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with exploration activity; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of Lion CG to implement its business strategies; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189199
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Metals Creek Resources Corp. (TSXV: MEK) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or "Metals Creek") announces that it intends to complete a non-brokered private placement of flow-through and non flow-through units (the "Private Placement"). The Private placement is expected to close on or before 23 December, 2023.

The Company intends to issue up to 15,000,000 flow-through units at a price of $0.03 per unit (the "FT Units") for aggregate proceeds of up to $450,000. Each FT Unit will consist of one flow-through common share (the "FT Shares") and one non flow-through common share purchase warrant (the "FT Warrants"). Each whole FT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non flow-through common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.06 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. The FT Shares will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The Company also intends to issue up to 5,000,000 non flow-through units at a price of $0.03 per unit (the "NFT Units") for aggregate proceeds of up to $150,000. Each NFT Unit will consist of one non flow-through common share and one non flow-through common share purchase warrant (the "NFT Warrants"). Each NFT Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional non flow-through common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.05 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue.

In connection with the private placement, the Company may pay finders' fees in cash or securities or a combination of both, as permitted by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period. The Private Placement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

The proceeds raised from the FT Units will be used for drilling on the companies Shabaqua Corners Gold Property and the Tillex Copper Project and will ensure that such Canadian Exploration Expenses qualify as a "flow-through mining expenditure" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), related to the exploration of the Company's exploration projects.

A Presentation for the Shabaqua Corners Gold Project can be viewed at:

https://www.metalscreek.com/upload/documents/corporate-presentation-shabaqua-corners-002.pdf

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek owns and/or has option agreements in place to acquire a 100% interest in claims in the Shabaqua Corners area of North western Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Company at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189417
The European Union wants to use the funds received from the income tax on Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine. The European Commission (EC) intends to submit the relevant plan soon - it is expected to happen on December 12.

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This was reported by Bloomberg. It was noted there that European officials propose to impose the tax on profits from more than $218 billion of the Russian central bank's assets held in the EU.

It is also emphasized that the union fears that this decision will not find support among member states. In particular, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, and Luxembourg, which

are concerned about the accelerated pace of adoption of the law;

called for a more informal document to start discussing a package of measures to deal with the frozen assets of the Russian Federation.

However, it is emphasized that the EC stated that "EU leaders advised the bloc's leadership to speed up work on the proposal." And the meeting of representatives of the EU member states and the EC on December 6 "will be key to understanding whether the difference of opinion has narrowed sufficiently."

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, it is noted that, according to available data, Russian assets frozen in the Belgian clearing house Euroclear have brought almost 3 billion in profit since their blocking and until the third quarter of 2024. And "this figure is expected to continue to grow."

"The European Commission is tentatively planning to publish a draft law on December 12 on the introduction of a windfall tax on profits from frozen assets... to help Ukraine's recovery," analysts said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in general, Russian money frozen in Europe is already beginning to be used for the benefit of Ukraine. However, so far it is a small amount of money. For this practice to become full-fledged, the EU will have to change its legislation and develop new legal mechanisms, which Russian propaganda in the West is trying its best to prevent.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI)(the "Company" or "Minera Alamos")is pleased to provide an operations update and select financial highlights from the third quarter of 2023 as well as some highlights of corporate activities during the quarter and the year. For a full overview please refer to the Q3 Financial Statements and MD&A filed on Sedarplus.ca on November 29th, 2023.

Highlights

Completion of Maiden Resource Statement at the Santana gold project. Total Measured and Indicated Resources of 198,000 oz (grading 0.65 g/t gold) and an additional 103,000 oz of Inferred Resources (grading 0.58 g/t gold) (see news release dated October 3rd, 2023).

Mining rates increased in the third quarter as had been forecast in Q2. Due to normal delays following the stacking and initiation of leaching from new mineralization additional recoverable gold from these operations will be achieved in Q4. Further expansion of mining rates will be dependent on the pending permit amendment that will allow for more efficient stacking and sequencing of pad leaching activities.

Total gold ounces recovered, since the start of operations through until September 30, 2023 was 14,720 ounces from the Santana Project with a recoverable gold inventory on the leach pad increasing to 6,337 ounces as at September 30, 2023.

Sales revenues from 636 ounces of gold sold in the third quarter of 2023 totaled $1,790,245 and revenues from 4,381 ounces of gold sold during the first nine months of 2023 totaled $11,654,580.

As of the end of the third quarter, Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled $6,573,453 and the Company had positive working capital position of $19,668,154. This includes cash received from sales completed from the Q3 production where the related revenues have been treated as deferred in the financial statements and will be accounted in the Q4 Financial Statements.

On October 27, 2023, the Company announced it had completed definitive documentation with Auramet International Inc. and Auramet Capital Partners LP on a US$25 million loan and royalty funding package which will cover the anticipated construction costs of the planned Cerro de Oro gold mine in Zacatecas, Mexico and included a draw-down of US$5 million under the loan facility.

Subsequent to September 30, 2023, the Company received an additional 41,623,000 Mexican pesos ($3,321,900 CAD) in the form of an IVA (sales tax) from the Government of Mexico associated with the Santana project. The Company is anticipating a more regular recovery of outstanding IVA amounts.

The Company paid $800,000 USD and issued 500,000 common shares in respect of the Cerro de Oro project acquisition agreement. The Company will complete it's final earn-in on the project with the last payment scheduled for August 4, 2024.

Operational Updates

Following a scale-up in the resources (equipment/workforce) from the Company's mining contractor, production rates at the Santana project increased in Q3 and averaged over 70,000 tonnes of total material (mineral + waste) moved per month which was in line with plans.

Average grade of mineralized material - 0.81 g/t gold

Stripping ratio (waste: mineral) - 2.2

Crushing operations - 66% of mined mineralization

The Company continues to have constructive communications with SEMARNAT regarding the delayed permit amendment application which will triple the overall leach pad capacity at Santana and provide the necessary capacity for full Nicho Main Zone development. All requested follow-up technical information has been submitted by the Company as part of that dialogue and no additional requests were received in the quarter. Plans continue to advance with the Company's contractor to finalize required construction details related to the leach pad expansion outlined in the permit applications.

Exploration drilling at the Santana project is ongoing at the Benjamin target area and the release of drilling results are pending. Following the completion and analysis of the current round of data from the Benjamin and Zata prospects the Company will be preparing plans for its 2024 exploration activities. Also included for these upcoming plans will be additional drill programs to further delineate the known gold resources at the Cerro de Oro project as well as zones for resource expansion. The Company remained active in the Cerro de Oro area throughout the quarter with mapping and targeting activities covering the large concession package surrounding the currently defined resources.

Work activities related to the Cerro de Oro project will continue to expand through Q4 and into 2024 following the completion of the Auramet financing facility for the project's development. This will include:

Metallurgical optimization studies to fully evaluate the gold recovery / particle size relationships across the varying zones of mineralization present withing the known resource area. These studies are also planned to include material from the transition/sulphide zones of the deposit below the currently defined oxide resources. Limited test work on samples of transition material showed some potential for this mineralization to also be leachable.

Detailed engineering work aimed at preparing work packages for the construction of the project facilities following the receipt of permits. Specifically, this will focus initially on the crushing and gold recovery plant operations so that work can be initiated on the fabrication/securing of longer lead equipment items in advance of permit approvals.

Drilling activities within and surrounding the project area aimed not only at resource exploration but also to support hydrogeological and metallurgical test work programs.

The Cerro de Oro permitting process remains ongoing.

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data is summarized from the Company's Financial Statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements') for the quarter ended September 30th, 2023, and the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter ended September 30th, 2023 (all numbers in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated). A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available on SEDARplus at www.sedarplus.ca.

Revenues (not factoring deferred revenue) totalled $1,790,245 with cost of goods sold and depletion amounting to $2,063,559 for gross loss from mining operations of $273,313. This loss largely reflects lower sales from the reduced production in the first nine months of the year.

Net loss of $4,973,485 for the quarter of $0.011/share compared to net income of $3,039,574 in the corresponding period of 2022.

Working capital as of September 30 th , 2023 stood at $19,668,154 down slightly from $20,617,557 as of June 30, 2023.

Cash and Cash Equivalents of $6,573,453 compared to $13,153,828 as at December 31, 2022. This includes cash received from sales completed from the Q3 production where the related revenues have been treated as deferred in the financial statements and will be accounted in the Q4 Financial Statements.

The Company's net cash flows (used in) after the inclusion of changes to non-cash operating accounts were ($8,282,686) for the nine month period ended September 30, 2023. This reduction is primarily a result of a non-cash operating adjustment of ($4,100,000) -- approximately 1,780 ounces - related to work in process inventory as recorded at September 30, 2023 as compared to December 31, 2022. Other changes are a result of a reduction in normal operating payables of ($1,134,000), property holding costs of ($1,445,000), a Cerro de Oro option payment of ($1,000,000) and an expansion of the Company's exploration and evaluation spending on exploration drilling programs of ($600,000).

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company received an additional 41,623,000 Mexican pesos ($3,321,900 CAD) in the form of an IVA (sales tax) from the Government of Mexico associated with the Santana project.

On October 27, 2023, the Company announced it had completed definitive documentation with Auramet International Inc. and Auramet Capital Partners LP on a US$25 million loan and royalty funding package which will cover the anticipated construction costs of the planned Cerro de Oro gold mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. Subsequent to October 27, 2023, the Company completed a draw-down of US$5 million under the loan facility. The US$5 million drawdown will be used for exploration purposes, property holding costs, detailed engineering for construction and deposits on long lead time items.

Cautionary Statement

The Company made its production decision at the Santana gold mine without having completed a feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical viability. As such, there may be increased uncertainty of achieving planned production levels, estimated recovery of gold, the costs associated with such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email:[email protected]

Website:www.mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: [email protected]

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational start-up of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and the proposed mining project is currently undergoing permitting. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a positive, robust preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed, and the main Federal permits are in place. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought three open pit heap leach gold mines into successful production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low capex assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include timing, cost estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans, objectives and goals with respect to the Cerro de Oro gold mine including the receipt of permits and construction timeline, and the satisfaction by the Company of the closing conditions to draw the Remaining Amount. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions that, by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189255
Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the "Company") announces that the legal staff of Nevada County has released a Staff Report analyzing the Company's Petition to the County of Nevada asserting its vested right to mine at the Idaho-Maryland-Brunswick Mine (the "IM Mine"). A decision whether to confirm the vested right will be made by the elected Board of Supervisors in a public hearing on December 13th. The Supervisors' decision is not discretionary; they must apply the relevant legal principles as determined by the California Supreme Court to the historical facts.

Under the U.S. Constitution, Nevada County cannot require the Company to obtain a use permit to operate the IM Mine if the Company can show that operations were occurring at the time that the zoning ordinance was passed in 1954, unless the County can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the right to mine was abandoned.

The seminal case interpreting the law of vested rights in California is Hansen Brothers, which concerned Nevada County's previous attempt to deny the vested rights of a mining operator on the basis that operations had ceased for more than the time period proscribed in Nevada County's zoning code and that only continuity of operations is relevant to the analysis of abandonment, not owner intent. The California Supreme Court overruled both of Nevada County's arguments and held for the miner, stating that "cessation of use alone does not constitute abandonment" and that abandonment requires both "(1) An intention to abandon; and (2) an overt act, or failure to act, which carries the implication the owner does not claim or retain any interest in the right to the nonconforming use."

It is indisputable that mining was occurring at the IM Mine in 1954, and the Company submitted 2,000 pages of exhibits to show that each of the predecessor owners of the mine either attempted to reopen it or marketed the property for sale as a mine to demonstrate that there was never an intent to abandon the right to mine.

Nevada County's legal staff opine that any vested right to operate the IM Mine was abandoned. Their Report argues that the petitioner must prove "continuity of intent to mine" to avoid a finding of abandonment, whereas the Hansen decision clearly states that there must be "intent to abandon" demonstrated by "overt acts," the completely opposite standard. The Report did not cite a single overt act that would constitute abandonment, as is required by California law.

The legal staff also assert that the County can deem the Constitutionally-protected vested right abandoned if operations cease for a sufficient period: "Petitioner fails to cite any case where a court has held that a nonconforming use was not abandoned after such a lengthy period when the nonconforming use had ceased."

In its letter to the County, the Company cited the decision in Hardesty v. State Mining which involved similar questions of law: "The question in such cases is whether there is an intent to abandon or permanently cease operations, or instead a business judgment that a temporary-even if prolonged-hiatus should be made. Otherwise, as Hardesty suggests, an operator might be forced to continue operations at a loss-perhaps for decades-in order to await market recovery at some unknowable future point."

Operating in accordance with California law, Merced County in 2019 recognized the vested right of a mining operation that ceased in 1950. San Bernardino County also in 2019 recognized the vested right of a mining operation that ceased in 1954.

Rise Gold CEO Joe Mullin reacted: "It is unfortunate that Nevada County's legal staff think the County should relitigate the Hansen case, which they lost badly. We invite the County Supervisors to avoid a costly legal battle by adhering to California law and voting to recognize the Company's vested right to operate the IM Mine at the hearing on December 13."

Rise Gold has retained the litigation firm of Cooper & Kirk to defend its property interests. Our attorney, Chuck Cooper, has argued nine cases before the U.S. Supreme Court; Michael Kirk has represented companies such as Shell Oil, Boeing, Texaco, and Ford Motor Company. Their firm has won over $10 billion for its clients.

In a letter to the County, Cooper stated: "We have concluded that Rise Grass Valley, Inc. has a vested right to operate the Idaho-Maryland Mine, and we expect that right to be vindicated in court, should it be necessary to do so." The firm also warned that: "Rise will have suffered a compensable, unconstitutional taking if the County denies both the vested rights petition and the use permit&. The remedy for an unconstitutional taking is the payment of just compensation, which is the fair market value of the property taken. Based on comparable mines and historic yield at the Idaho-Maryland Mine, Rise's mineral estate is conservatively estimated to be worth at least $400 million."

Documents related to the Company's vested rights Petition may be found on Nevada County's website at the following link https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/3195/Idaho-Maryland-Mine---Rise-Grass-Valley.

About Rise Gold Corp.

Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Company's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Joseph Mullin

President and CEO

Rise Gold Corp.

For further information, please contact:

RISE GOLD CORP.

Suite 215, 333 Crown Point Circle

Grass Valley, CA 95945

T: 530.433.0188

[email protected]

www.risegoldcorp.com

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189182
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC Pink: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider and owner and operator of the Cubeler Business Hub, today announced its financial results and operating highlights for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023, and September 30, 2022. The impact of the disruption in the Company's operations in both China and Canada during the second quarter of 2023 continued to take its toll on the Company's revenue during the third quarter. Tenet reported total revenue of $9.2M for the quarter and a net loss of $43.0M. The net loss reported includes $36.4M of non-cash impairment charges attributed to delays in forecasted revenue from the Company's Heartbeat platform in China and its Cubeler platform in Canada. The Company is hopeful that a significant portion of these impairment charges (excluding goodwill) may be reversed in future quarters as the platforms become significant revenue generators for the Company. All amounts expressed in this news release are in Canadian dollars.

Q3 Financial Highlights:

Total Revenue of $9.2M

Net Loss of $43.0M

EBITDA* of ($40.8M)

Adjusted EBITDA** ($3.8M)

Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the 3-month period ended September 30, 2023 Net loss ($43,002,953) Income taxes (recovery) ($885,988) Finance costs $447,793 Depreciation of property and equipment $49,805 Depreciation of right-of-use assets $160,029 Amortization of intangible assets $2,433,114 Amortization of financing issuance costs $13,683 EBITDA ($40,784,517) Add (less):

Change in fair value of contingent consideration payable $397,361 Change in fair value of debentures conversion rights $239,907 Impairment of goodwill $23,448,897 Impairment of intangible assets $12,913,500 Loss on investment in associate company $10,091 Adjusted EBITDA ($3,774,761)

* EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure provided to assist readers in determining the Company's ability to generate cash-flows from operations and to cover finance charges. It is also widely used for business valuation purposes. This measure does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

EBITDA equals the results before income taxes, depreciation of property and equipment, depreciation of right-of-use assets, amortization of intangible assets, amortization of financing issuance costs and finance costs, as defined in Note 18.4 of the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30th, 2023.

** Adjusted EBITDA equals EBITDA as described above adjusted for change in fair value of contingent consideration payable, change in fair value of debenture conversion rights, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangible assets, gain on bargain purchase and loss on investment in associate company.

Q3 Operating Highlights:

Closing of $10.9M of planned total of $20M private placement financing

Strategic alliance with Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada

SUMMARY OF THIRD QUARTER OPERATING RESULTS

As a development-stage company, timely access to capital continues to be an important element for the execution of Tenet's business plan. One of the main priorities for the Company in the third quarter, following the events that had occurred in Q2, was to ensure that it would have the capital to carry out its business plan for the coming year. The Company estimated that it would need approximately $20M to do so and was able to raise about $10.9M of that amount during the quarter. Tenet expects to close on the balance of the target amount by the end of 2023. However, there can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in doing so.

In addition to shoring up its finances, Tenet spent a significant portion of the quarter on activities related to preparing the Company's transition from a predominantly transaction fee based revenue model to a predominantly data-driven subscription fee based revenue model. This implied resuming the development of the Cubeler Business Hub's Networking, Advertising and Insights pillars, putting more emphasis on industrial and geographic diversification and expansion of Tenet's service offering in China, and on partnerships with business associations, bookkeepers, accounting software vendors, and others with large numbers of small and medium-sized business clients or members, that the Company can work with to promote the benefits of membership on the Cubeler Business Hub. The Company believes the strategic alliance it was able to forge with Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada during the quarter will significantly impact its ability to rapidly add members to the Cubeler Business Hub once the Networking and Advertising pillars of the Hub are live sometime during the first quarter of 2024.

OPERATIONAL OUTLOOK FOR Q4 2023 AND FISCAL 2024

While Tenet's revenue in Q3 was still entirely generated under a predominantly transaction fee based model in China, transitioning to a predominantly subscription fee based revenue model, offering data-driven analytics and AI-based products and services to global capital markets participants, will be the Company's main focus in Q4 2023 and beyond. Tenet estimates the market for its ie-Pulse product offering in North America to be between $45 million and $450 million1 in monthly subscription fees, and the addressable market for its Equity Insider product offering in North America to be between $575 million and $2.3 billion2 in monthly subscription fees. The Company believes that a prompt transition to this phase of its strategic plan will be most beneficial to its shareholders in both the short run and the long run and therefore endeavors to take the necessary steps to start to commercialize its initial data-driven products in North America sometime during the first half of 2024. More information about Tenet's upcoming data-driven product offering is available at www.tenoris3.com.

Calculated based on the estimated number of banks, credit unions, full-service brokerage firms, hedge funds, and mutual fund companies in Canada and the U.S. (approximately 45,000, according to Statista, IBISWorld, Mordor Intelligence and Wikipedia) multiplied by a monthly subscription fee of $1,000 to $10,000. Calculated based on the estimated number of individuals in Canada and the U.S. with discount brokerage accounts (approximately 115 million, according to Statista) multiplied by a monthly subscription fee of $5 to $20.

Tenet by no means plans to forego the transaction fee based revenue it generates in China. Rather, this form of revenue is expected to go from playing a leading role to a supporting role in how the Company generates revenue in the future, complementing the data-driven revenue the Company expects to generate in North America and eventually in other parts of the world, including China.

SUMMARY OF THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

In summary, the Company generated revenue of $9,244,460 for the three-month period and $35,514,978 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, compared to $21,585,258 for the three-month period and $88,758,946 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2022.

Total expenses before taxes for the quarter amounted to $53,133,401 compared to $30,164,621 for the same period in 2022. Net loss for the third quarter of 2023 was $43,002,953 compared to a net loss of $7,715,209 for the same period in 2022.

Full details of the Company's third quarter 2023 financial results can be found in the Unaudited Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022, which are available at www.sedarplus.com.

Tenet will host a conference call on Thursday, November 30 at 9:00 am EST, where President & CEO Johnson Joseph, CFO Jean Landreville and COO Mayco Quiroz will discuss the Q3 2023 financial results and the Company's operational outlook for Q4 2023 and fiscal year 2024. Registration for the event is available at: https://app.webinar.net/eZGyVbZVA3d

About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, include Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries offer various analytics and AI-based products and services to businesses, capital markets professionals, government agencies and financial institutions either through or leveraging data gathered by the Cubeler Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/.

For more information, please contact:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc.

Mayco Quiroz, Chief Operating Officer

514-340-7775 ext.: 510

[email protected]

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

416-868-1079 ext.: 251

[email protected]

Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media:

X: @Tenet_Fintech

Facebook: @Tenet

LinkedIn: Tenet

YouTube: Tenet Fintech

Forward-looking information

Certain statements included in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" under Canadian securities law, including statements in respect to the future operations and investments of and in the Company and any statements based on management's assessment and assumptions and publicly available information with respect to the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its plans and assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "assumes," "outlook," "plans," "targets", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward- looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, holding company with significant operations in China; general economic and business conditions, including factors impacting the Company's business in China such as pandemics (ex.: COVID-19); legislative and/or regulatory developments; global financial conditions, repatriation of profits or transfer of funds from China to Canada, operations in foreign jurisdictions and possible exposure to corruption, bribery or civil unrest; actions by regulators; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; timing and completion of capital programs; liquidity and capital resources, negative operating cash flow and additional funding, dilution from further financing; financial performance and timing of capital; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with securities regulators in Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions. We refer potential investors to the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Company's MD&A. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189190
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - November 29, 2023) - The Climate Group has announced the appointment of Mr. Alex Ju, the founder and CEO of BCI Group, as their Global Advisor of Cross Sector Energy Transformation. The aim is to collaborate with The Climate Group in driving green transformations across global computing power, energy, and other cross sector organizations. This appointment reflects the commitment of relevant industries to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and addressing global climate change issues. Importantly, Mr. Ju is the first Chinese entrepreneur to hold such a position within this global climate cooperation organization in the field of energy transition.

Ms. Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, stated that Mr. Ju is an influential and respected entrepreneur, known for his expertise in infrastructure entrepreneurship, government policies, and public initiatives on computing power and energy transition in China. The Climate Group will work closely with Mr. Ju to provide support and assistance from the industry for green transformations in global systems such as computing power, energy, water resources, and public infrastructure.

Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Ju stated his privilege in serving as the Global Advisor of Cross Sector Energy Transformation at The Climate Group. He emphasized the importance of further strengthening cooperation with The Climate Group on platforms such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) and the RE100 initiative. Mr. Ju pledged to contribute to global green transformations and fulfill corporate responsibilities to combat climate change.

The Climate Group is a global organization focused on climate change solutions. Through collaboration with influential businesses and government entities worldwide, it aims to promote the development of a low-carbon economy and drive global progress towards carbon emissions reductions by advocating best practices.

BCI Group

Contact Person: Xinyan Liu

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189187
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Tembo Gold Corp. (TSXV: TEM) ("Tembo" or the "Company")announces its plans for a new corporate identity and strategy. Further to its news releases dated August 10th & 29th, 2023 regarding the acquisition of the Imwelo & Dora Gold Projects (the "Projects") with combined historical resources of over 800,000 ounces and the C$11,520,000 financing with Taifa Group ("Taifa"), now is the right time to amend our corporate identity to better represent the Company's new goals and strategy of quickly evolving into a vehicle for growth and consolidation in the Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt.

The Company is pleased to announce the following developments:

Name Change to Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. ("LVG")



The Company will proceed to implement, subject to necessary regulatory approval , a name change to Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. which better reflects our unique position in one of the most prolific and prospective greenstone belts in the world.

Management Changes



To facilitate this transition, founding director, Marc Cernovitch, will become CEO; Simon Benstead, long serving director and CFO, will also become Executive Chairman; and Seth Dickinson will become COO and immediately be appointed to the board of directors. David Scott, in his new role as Managing Director Tanzania and special geological advisor to the board, will work closely with Marc, Simon and Seth with a focus on identifying and evaluating accretive opportunities for the Company. The Company also enthusiastically looks forward to welcoming Richard Reynolds to the board of directors, upon closing of the transaction with Taifa, anticipated to take place in Q1 2024.

"Lake Victoria Gold is committed to growth and best practices in Tanzania, and I'm honoured and energized to be working with this team to build an East African mid tier gold producer and development company. We are hitting the ground running with ambitious plans and a world class team to execute. The recently announced acquisitions align perfectly with our commitment to identify, evaluate, and acquire accretive projects. Our focus is on high quality assets that offer near term development opportunity with strong re-rate potential to benefit all shareholders, while complementing the current portfolio," said Executive Chairman Simon Benstead.

Update on Imwelo Acquisition

The Company is pleased to report it is progressing well on closing the acquisition of Imwelo:

Shareholder approval has been received

Initial tranche of financing with Taifa Group at $0.22 has been received

Technical report on Imwelo has been received and submitted to TSX Venture Exchange for final approval

Tanzanian regulatory approvals are in progress and advancing well

"I am extremely pleased with the progress we are making on this new and exciting acquisition as part of our growth strategy in Tanzania. The acquisition is strategically aligned with our development goals of and being able to generate cash flow to support ongoing development of our flagship Tembo Project and our management team is excited by the prospects of accelerating our exploration and development activities in the Lake Victoria Gold Fields in Tanzania," said CEO Marc Cernovitch.

About Seth Dickinson

With 30 years of mining experience including mine management, contract mining, feasibility studies, and project management, Seth is a welcome addition to the LVG team. Seth was the Project Manager for the construction of South Walker Creek Mine which was in production within 100 days of commencement. Project Manager for Broadlea Mine including exploration, design, construction and finally operations all within budget and schedule. Seth was a significant shareholder in the Broadlea Mine. He holds a First Class Mine Managers ticket covering both open pit and underground mines. Seth holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) and Graduate Diploma of Business Administration from the University of Queensland.

About Richard Reynolds

Richard is the CEO of Taifa Mining and Civils, the largest mining contractor in Tanzania with clients such as Barrick Gold and AngloGold Ashanti. He has a broad base of experience obtained in international commercial and business development, through varied projects and businesses mostly located in East Africa and UAE. He has extensive experience obtained within the Rail, Telecoms, Mining, and Construction sectors.

About Tembo

Tembo Gold is a rapidly growing gold exploration and development company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol TEM. Leveraging our unique position and experience, the Company is principally focused on growth and consolidation in the highly prolific and prospective Lake Victoria Goldfield in Tanzania.

The Company has a 100% interest in the Tembo project which has over 50 thousand meters of drilling and is located adjacent to Barrick's Bulyanhulu Mine. The Company announced on August 10th and August 29th, 2023 the acquisition of two deposits that support our objective of accretive growth and consolidation. The Imwelo project and Dora project both have potential for significant growth.

The above noted Historical Resource Estimates are the last historical mineral resource estimates on the Projects and no more recent data is available to the Company. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Historical Resource Estimate as current mineral resources, and the Company is not treating the Historical Resource Estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Company believes that the Historical Resource Estimate is relevant to an appraisal of the merits of the Project and forms a reliable basis upon which to develop future exploration programs. The Company will need to conduct further exploration, and there is no guarantee that the results obtained will reflect the historical estimate. In order to verify the Historical Resource Estimate to a current mineral resource estimate, the Company will need to retain a qualified person to verify historical drilling and assaying methods and validate historical results, add any drilling and assaying or other pertinent geological information generated since the last estimation, and complete an updated resource estimate and a new technical report. Significant data compilation, drilling, sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the Historical Resource Estimate can be classified as a current resource. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resources, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Even if classified as a current mineral resource, there is no certainty as to whether further exploration will result in any inferred mineral resources being upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource category.

Tembo has assembled a highly experienced team with a track record of developing, financing and operating mining projects in Africa with management, directors and partners owning more than 60% of the shares. Notably, the Company is grateful for the validation that comes with the support and equity investment from Barrick Gold and the recent strategic partnership with Taifa Group.

Taifa Group (a diverse group of companies with interests in, amongst others, Mining, Telecoms, Oil & Gas, Agri Business, Pharmaceuticals and Leather) has taken an equity stake in Tembo Gold through its wholly owned subsidiary Taifa Mining (a wholly Tanzanian owned company). Taifa Mining will also carry out all the contract mining and civil works for the Imwelo project. Taifa Mining is Tanzania's largest mining contractor with over 30 years mining related experience. Taifa have been the contractor of choice to most mines in Tanzania and have maintained long and successful relationships with companies such as Petra, De Beers, Barrick, and AngloGold Ashanti. In addition, Taifa owns the largest fleet of mining equipment in Tanzania. As a company, Taifa is committed to adopting and adhering to the latest internationally recognized standards throughout all aspects of its business.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Tembo,

Simon Benstead

Executive Chairman & CFO

Phone: +1 604-685-9316

Email: [email protected]

For more information please contact:

Simon Benstead

Executive Chairman & CFO

Phone : + 1 604-685-9316

Email :[email protected]

Marc Cernovitch

CEO & Director

Phone: +1 604-685-9316

Email : [email protected]

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including: future exploration plans with respect to the Project, defining current mineral resource and mineral reserves on the Project, the terms of the Acquisition and the Financings, entering into mining services contracts with Taifa, the anticipated share structure of Tembo following the Acquisition and Financings, the use of proceeds for the Financings, the closing of the Acquisition and the Financings, including the satisfaction of the closing conditions thereunder and the expected timing thereof, and receipt of all regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV for the Acquisition and Financings and the Tanzania Fair Competition Commission for the Acquisition and the Company's intention to provide further updates in respect of the Acquisition and the Financings. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made.

Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Tembo's control, including risks associated with or related to: the completion of the Acquisition, the Financings and related transactions, including receipt of all regulatory approvals and third-party consents, the volatility of metal prices and Tembo's common shares; changes in tax laws; the dangers inherent in exploration, development and mining activities; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; not achieving development or production, cost or other estimates; actual exploration or development plans and costs differing materially from the Company's estimates; the ability to obtain and maintain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for mining activities; environmental regulations or hazards and compliance with complex regulations associated with mining activities; climate change and climate change regulations; fluctuations in exchange rates; the availability of financing; financing and debt activities; operations in foreign and developing countries and the compliance with foreign laws, including those associated with operations in Tanzania and including risks related to changes in foreign laws and changing policies related to mining and local ownership requirements or resource nationalization generally, including in response to the COVID-19 outbreak; remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure; fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations; shortages or cost increases in necessary equipment, supplies and labour; regulatory, political and country risks, including local instability or acts of terrorism and the effects thereof; the reliance upon contractors, third parties and joint venture partners; challenges to title or surface rights; the dependence on key personnel and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the risk of an uninsurable or uninsured loss; adverse climate and weather conditions; litigation risk; competition with other mining companies; community support for Tembo's operations, including risks related to strikes and the halting of such operations from time to time; conflicts with small scale miners; failures of information systems or information security threats; the ability to maintain adequate internal controls over financial reporting as required by law; compliance with anti-corruption laws, and sanctions or other similar measures; social media and Tembo's reputation; and other risks disclosed in the Company's public filings.

Tembo's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. Tembo does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits or liabilities Tembo will derive therefrom. For the reasons set forth above, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/189249
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2023) - Wowtickets.com, a leading online travel booking platform, has launched a new innovative flight search service to revolutionise the ticket booking experience. As a fast-growing global travel company dedicated to simplifying travel planning while providing unmatched search capabilities, Wowtickets aspires to make flight booking easier and empower users to efficiently find the best travel solutions.

The newly launched Wowtickets.com flight search service features sophisticated algorithms and extensive coverage of over 350 airline partners globally, enabling users to seamlessly compare flight itineraries, pricing, and availability in one convenient spot. With an intuitive interface, contemporary design, and a wealth of relevant flight information, customers can quickly access what they need to make informed booking decisions.

Key Features

Comprehensive Flight Planning: Wowtickets grants access to a vast selection of domestic and international flight options, empowering users to easily locate flights that match their budget and travel priorities - whether planning a long-haul overseas trip or a quick weekend getaway.

Itinerary Comparison:The platform compiles pricing and flight details across various airlines, allowing simple and handy side-by-side comparisons from which customers can opt for the cheapest choice.

Customer-Centric Interface: User experience sits at the core of Wowtickets' flight search service. The interface makes exploring relevant flight information uncomplicated and streamlined. Users can swiftly access details needed to make well-informed booking selections.

With advanced search functionalities and a dedication to user experience, the new Wowtickets.com flight search service aspires to simplify and improve the ticket booking process. To discover the capabilities of Wowtickets, visit https://wowtickets.com.

About Wowtickets.com

Wowtickets.com is a competitive travel booking website and app known for helping millions of travellers worldwide easily discover their next destination and the most convenient way to get there. As a one-stop shop for travel, Wowtickets does the hard work of searching thousands of airlines and options to find customers the cheapest tickets possible to 109 countries across six continents (North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and South America).

Browse the company website:https://wowtickets.com

Media Contact:

Name: Dmitrijus Konovalovas

Company Name: wowtickets.com

Company Location/Address: 8A Kirkside Road, SE3 7SQ, London, United Kingdom

Company Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: +447557774285

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/188616
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

A leader in mobile gaming embraces the future of work by eliminating set work hours, instead focusing on building a culture of flexibility and autonomy for its global team.



A gathering of Yodo1 team members at a recent offsite in Beijing.



Yodo1, a major mobile gaming company with over 3.5 billion players under its belt, has just made an announcement that sets a new standard for fully remote companies. Many "remote" companies require employees to work fixed hours, made even more challenging when there is a standard time zone that everyone has to conform to. But the team at Yodo1 believes the future of work doesnt have to be this way, maintaining that when people can truly work from anywhere, they bring their best to the table.

The announcement: In a move that breaks the mold, Yodo1 has officially done away with work hours. Thanks to a new asynchronous meeting system, the company has updated its policy to allow team members anywhere in the world to set their own work hours and schedules. This allows for unparalleled freedom and flexibility.

A Culture of Flexibility and Autonomy

Yodo1's culture is all about giving everyone the autonomy to work when and how they want. The leadership team understands that great ideas and a strong work ethic don't adhere to the nine-to-five grind. By trusting their team members to manage their own time, they've seen productivity and satisfaction soar.

Embracing Diversity and Growth

The figures speak for themselves, showcasing Yodo1s commitment to diversity and business growth:

Teams operating across 6 continents

High visibility in prestigious publications like Forbes, CNBC, and Elle

Up to 1,000 job applications per week

Consistent year-on-year growth since the transition to a fully remote company in 2020





The Future of Work is Now

What matters is your impact, says Head of People and Culture, Flo Alcasas. "At Yodo1, we dont care when you work. We care about the resultssomething a lot of companies say but dont live. Our flexibility creates an environment that attracts the best talent and a culture that emphasizes deep trust and radical transparency. Theres nothing like it."

Riccardo, a member of the marketing team who commutes freely between Italy and China, says, The best thing about working at Yodo1 is the flexibility. Not just with no predefined hours, but no predefined career path as well. You can choose your adventure and define who you want to become.

Join the Remote Revolution

Yodo1's doors are open for those who are passionate about gaming and eager to work in a dynamic and flexible environment. As a company that's not only keeping up with the future of work but actively creating it, Yodo1 offers a unique opportunity for forward-thinking individuals to join a team that values innovation, diversity, and personal freedom.

For those ready to ditch traditional work and embrace a life where one can define when and how they work, the future of work awaits. With the world as their office, the possibilities with Yodo1 are as limitless as the amazing gaming experiences they create.



Contact Info:

Name: Luke Priddy (Head of Content)

Email: Send Email

Organization: Yodo1

Website: https://www.yodo1.com



Release ID: 89113612

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.
MILWAUKEE , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth year in a row, A.B. Data ranks among the top claims administrators for antitrust class actions, according to the new 2022 Antitrust Annual Report: Class Actions in Federal Court from the Center for Litigation and Courts at UC Hastings College of the Law. The report shows that between 2009 and 2022, A.B. Data administered hundreds of antitrust class action settlements, resulting in billions of dollars distributed to class members.

"Noted as a top claims administrator, we greatly appreciate being recognized in this report. We are especially grateful to our clients, who continue to trust us for their settlement administration needs," said A.B. Data President, Thomas R. Glenn . A.B. Data is one of the most renowned class action administration firms in the United States and the premier team in reliably administering antitrust settlements. The A.B. Data team has developed industry-leading expertise in several antitrust niches, including matters involving complex financial products such as bonds and commodities, large-scale protein cases where, in some instances, most of the U.S. population are class members, and settlements involving pharmaceutical drugs. Over 30 years of experience in creating innovative notice and claims administration solutions continues to position A.B. Data to successfully administer the largest and most complex antitrust class action settlements.

Sourced Reports

Davis, J. P. & Kohles, R. (2023). 2022 Antitrust Annual Report: Class Actions in Federal Court (p. 39). University of San Francisco  School of Law, The Huntington National Bank. Law Research Paper, available at SSRN:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4586022

Davis, J. P. & Kohles, R. (2022). 2021 Antitrust Annual Report: Class Action Filings in Federal Court (p. 35). University of San Francisco  School of Law, The Huntington National Bank. Law Research Paper, available at SSRN:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4117930

Davis, J. P. & Kohles, R. (2021). 2020 Antitrust Annual Report: Class Action Filings in Federal Court (p. 36). University of San Francisco  School of Law, The Huntington National Bank. Law Research Paper, available at SSRN:

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3898782

About A.B. Data, Ltd.

A.B. Data manages the unique challenges of class action administration with convenience, efficiency, and precision for both the private and public sectors. A.B. Data simplifies the claims administration process for its clients and delivers successful results with advanced technology, products, and services. Learn more at ABDataClassAction.com and follow us on Twitter/"X" at @ClassActionABD.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ab-data-remains-a-top-claims-administrator-for-2022-302001045.html

SOURCE A.B. Data, Ltd.
BOSTON and MILAN , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allotex Inc. and SpA, a leading biologics and device company specializing in vision correction therapies, is pleased to announce that Junson Capital has joined its investor syndicate. This additional capital will help support the expansion of the Company's production facility in preparation for market introduction and US clinical trials.

Allotex's innovative approach uses laser-shaped human corneal allografts to reshape the cornea for the treatment of presbyopia, restoring lost reading vision which is caused by the natural aging process. With hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide seeking a safe, effective, and long-lasting alternative to spectacles and contact lenses for reading, the company is poised to make a major impact in the vison care marketplace.

Dr. David Muller , Founder and CEO of Allotex, commented on the company's progress, saying, "This financing will allow Allotex to introduce our groundbreaking technology in Europe and Japan in early 2024 while actively working with the FDA to initiate clinical trials in the United States as soon as possible. The additional capital will help support the necessary expansion of our production facilities to increase capacity and ensure a steady supply of products."

John White , Allotex Board member representing KCK MedTech commented, "Our published safety and efficacy results, along with our 4-year follow-up, will boost market acceptance for both patients and refractive surgeons. Surgeons have had confidence in using human corneal allografts for over 70 years and are excited about the potential for our technology to restore reading vision to the millions of people who have age related presbyopia."

Junson Capital has joined the existing investors including KCK MedTech, Panakes, Supernova Invest, and Exor Ventures to complete the Series B financing. Wei Shen , representing Junson Capital, shared their enthusiasm for joining the investor syndicate, stating, "We are excited to partner with Allotex and contribute to the advancement of their groundbreaking therapies. The potential to make a significant impact on the global vision-correction market is evident, and we look forward to being a part of this transformative journey." Junson Capital is a global investment manager with a long dedication to disruptive technology and healthcare leaders and investments across venture capital, private equity, public markets, real estate and alternatives. Allotex was advised by Cukierman & Co. Life Sciences for this transaction.

About Allotex Inc.

Allotex Inc. is a pioneering biologics and device company focused on developing innovative therapeutic solutions for vision correction. By utilizing precisely shaped human corneal allografts, Allotex creates a natural, removable inlay, offering patients a safe, permanent vision correction option. With a commitment to advancing vision correction, Allotex is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by presbyopia and other refractive disorders of the human eye.

For more information on Allotex please visit www.allotex.com or contact Travis Henry ([email protected]).

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allotex-announces-new-investor-and-expansion-of-production-facilities-302002476.html

SOURCE Allotex, Inc.
BAJA CALIFORNIA, Mexico , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Antarctica Advisors International Corp, the leading cross-border Seafood Industry-focused M&A advisory firm, acted as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Mexico's Baja Aqua-Farms (" Baja " or the "Company"), one of the largest vertically-integrated Bluefin tuna ranchers in the world, in its sale to a world-class investment consortium formed by Paul Fribourg's Continental Grain Company ("Conti"), Sam Zell's EGI, Mexico's Organizacion Cultiba, and Castle Harlan .

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Baja California, Mexico , Baja Aqua-Farms (www.BajaAquaFarms.com) is located on the Pacific Ocean , in the pristine waters of Baja California . The Company produces fresh top-quality Bluefin Tuna, which is sought out by top chefs and supermarket chains in the US, Japan and around the globe.

The Antarctica Advisors specialized Seafood Team provided the Company with full-fledged M&A advisory services, marketing the opportunity, identifying the investor group and structuring and negotiating the transaction. Our international team worked closely with management and shareholders to bring this highly complex cross-border transaction to a successful completion.

Conti, EGI and Castle Halan are multi-billion US private equity funds with long track records of investing in high-quality food assets around the world. Organization Cultiba (ticker CULTIBA.MX), is a holding company participating in GEUSA, PepsiCo's exclusive bottler in Mexico , among other assets.

Antarctica Advisors International Corp is a US-based, independent investment banking firm providing international clients in the global Seafood Industry with specialized cross-border, industry-focused M&A advisory as well as private equity and debt capital raising services.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/antarctica-advisors-acts-as-exclusive-investment-banking-advisor-to-baja-aqua-farms-in-its-sale-to-conti-sam-zell-organizacion-cultiba-and-castle-harlan-inc-302002354.html

SOURCE Antarctica Advisors
A bill to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs has been introduced in the US Congress. The authors of the document intend to use the proceeds to replenish Ukraine's recovery fund.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by the Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk. She noted that the key authors of the document were Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Lindsey Graham.

"It is important that the bill was sponsored by senators from the Democratic and Republican parties. We are grateful for the bipartisan support in the struggle to restore justice for Ukraine," the statement said.

At the same time, Kondratiuk emphasized that the oligarchs controlled by Russian President Volodymyr Putin "are a reliable financial support for the racist regime." In addition, like politicians, government officials, and the Russian military, these people are accomplices in the aggression against Ukraine. Therefore, "they must pay in full for the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine.

In addition, the Vice Speaker of the Parliament quoted one of the authors of the document, Senator Whitehouse, who emphasized: "Putin and his oligarch friends launder their dirty money when they buy superyachts, priceless works of art and other precious assets" in countries where there is a rule of law. "We must close access to the havens of the oligarchs' wealth and punish those who support Putin," he called.

ADVERTISIMENT

The EU has come up with a way to "make" Russia pay Ukraine for the war

At the same time, the European Union wants to use the funds received from the income tax on Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine. The European Commission (EC) intends to submit a plan to this effect soon - it is expected to happen on December 12.

According to Bloomberg, European officials propose to impose a tax on the profits from more than $218 billion of the Russian central bank's assets held in the EU. At the same time, it is noted that the Russian assets frozen in the Belgian clearing house Euroclear have brought almost 3 billion euros in profit since their blocking and until the third quarter of 2024. And "this figure is expected to continue to grow."

"The European Commission is tentatively planning to publish a draft law on December 12 on the introduction of a windfall tax on profits from frozen assets... to help Ukraine's recovery," analysts said.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in general, Russian money frozen in Europe is already beginning to be used for the benefit of Ukraine. However, so far it is a small amount of money. For this practice to become full-fledged, the EU will have to change its legislation and develop new legal mechanisms, which Russian propaganda in the West is trying its best to prevent.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
WASHINGTON , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Global Strategies (BGS), a leading strategic advisory firm focusing on global public policy, government procurement, and geopolitical risk analysis, today announced it will be expanding its growing team by adding Mr. Andrew "Andy" G. Boyd, Dr. Seth Jones , and Ms. Elizabeth "Beth" Sizeland as Senior Advisors. In these roles, Mr. Boyd will leverage his decades of experience to support the firm's Intelligence Practice, Ms. Sizeland will contribute invaluable support to the Global Technology Policy Practice, and Dr. Jones will provide vital insight to BGS' Defense Practice. Additionally, BGS is pleased to announce Ms. Leyla Becker has joined BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

"We are thrilled to welcome Andy Boyd , Seth Jones and Beth Sizeland to the BGS team. Their distinguished careers in intelligence and defense will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities, reinforcing our commitment to delivering unparalleled strategic advisory services to our clients," said BGS Managing Director Jeremy Bash .

"We are delighted to welcome Leyla as BGS' first Chief Human Resources Officer. Her extensive experience in human capital leadership and her approach to talent development align perfectly with our strategic goals and will make her a critical asset to our team," said BGS Managing Director Andrew Shapiro .

Mr. Andy Boyd joins BGS as Senior Advisor. Mr. Boyd is a former Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) officer in the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Operations, where he held the role of Director for the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI), responsible for addressing foreign cyber threats to U.S. interests. With a wealth of experience in global intelligence operations, cyber policy, and security practices, Andy is a recognized thought leader in the USG cyber and intelligence communities, specializing in cyber threats, covert action, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and strategic analysis. His extensive career also includes leading counterterrorism operations against global terror organizations, serving in challenging roles in the Middle East , and representing the CIA to foreign partners. Prior to his CIA service, Andy was a U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer and a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. He has a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.A. in International Relations from Catholic University, and a M.S. in Strategic Policy from the National War College.

Dr. Seth Jones joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to his role at BGS, Dr. Jones serves as Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), overseeing a diverse portfolio of defense research and analysis with a focus on issues such as defense strategy, the defense industrial base, military posture, and irregular warfare. He has served in a range of positions within the U.S. Department of Defense, including roles in U.S. Special Operations Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Jones served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component CommandAfghanistan). He has served on Congressional Commissions, including the Afghanistan War Commission and the Independent Commission to Review the FBI's Post-9/11 Response to Terrorism and Radicalization. Dr. Jones is the author of several books, including "Three Dangerous Men: Russia , China , Iran , and the Rise of Irregular Warfare" (W.W. Norton, 2021). Prior to joining CSIS, he directed the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College with MA and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago, has contributed articles to prominent journals and publications, including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

Ms. Beth Sizeland joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to her role at BGS, Ms. Sizeland serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Centre for Security Studies. She has over two decades of national-security experience in the UK government, specializing in security strategy, countering state threats, investment security, cybersecurity, national resilience, serious and organized crime, counterterrorism, and crisis response. Ms. Sizeland previously served as the UK Joint Intelligence Organization attache in Washington, DC , and held key roles during her government service, including deputy national security adviser and adviser to the UK prime minister on intelligence, security, and resilience issues. Ms. Sizeland's diverse background includes positions as a director general at the UK Government Communications Headquarters, a director in the UK Home Office combating modern slavery, and a director for transport security at the UK Department for Transport. Her extensive career also involved contributions to the Cabinet Office Briefing Room and operational and analytical roles addressing various international issues.

Ms. Leyla Becker joins BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Becker brings over 25 years of human capital leadership experience to the team. She is known for placing talent at the core of business development strategy, having successfully expanded and optimized Human Resources (HR) operations in various federal government contracting firms, as well as commercial organizations. Ms. Becker's role at BGS involves shaping the multi-year staff development strategy and overseeing daily HR operations, leveraging her expertise in HR policy design, compensation planning, performance management, talent acquisition, compliance reporting, HRIS implementations, workflow reengineering, training, professional development, DE&I, and benefits negotiation. Prior to joining BGS, she contributed to the significant growth of federal IT services firm Tripoint Solutions and during her tenure at Delex Systems (now V2X), she created strategic enterprise capability through her leadership of talent acquisition, supporting national intelligence programs and led human capital transformation by launching technology to support enterprise growth. As a hands-on human capital advisor involved in business development, Ms. Becker has delivered proposal staffing strategies leading to $100M+ in federal contract awards and achieved substantial revenue gains and cost savings through innovative HR management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida.

About Beacon Global Strategies:

Founded in 2013, Beacon Global Strategies is a strategic advisory firm specializing in foreign policy, defense, cyber, intelligence, and national security. Drawing on decades of service in the international security arena, Beacon develops and executes strategies that enable companies to achieve their business objectives around the world.

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SOURCE Beacon Global Strategies
Results part of annual assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in workplaces nationwide

EAGAN, Minn. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) proudly announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Blue Cross joins the ranks of 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

"Creating a work environment that fosters empowerment, and celebrates diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is core to our business and culture," said Bukata Hayes, vice president of racial and health equity and chief equity officer at Blue Cross. "We are honored to have earned a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index for a fourth straight year. We continue to strive for the goal of every member of the LGBTQ+ community having the freedom to live their truth without fear, with equality under the law, while feeling safe and loved."

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion," said Rashawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool  a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families."

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S. -based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Blue Cross's efforts in satisfying all the CEI's criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;

Supporting an inclusive culture; and,

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About the Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

For 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (bluecrossmn.com) has supported the health, wellbeing and peace of mind of our members by striving to ensure equitable access to high quality care at an affordable price. Our 2.5 million members can be found in every Minnesota county, all 50 states and on four continents. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
2023 National Roadway Safety Awards recognize innovations to protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists as pandemic spike in U.S. road fatalities continues largely unabated

WASHINGTON , Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) was honored today with a 2023 National Roadway Safety Award for quickly installing wrong-way driver prevention safety enhancement, high visibility crosswalks, curve warning signs, and other safety enhancements to prevent serious crashes.

As part of a two-year pilot project, Caltrans added $21.5 million annually to its maintenance budget to install warning signs, roadway markers, high visibility crosswalks, and other small-scale but cost-effective safety projects across entire districts. The projects were designed to protect pedestrians, head off wrong-way drivers, and prevent motorists from driving off roads on curves.

Maintenance projects are typically used to replace and repair existing roadway infrastructure and equipment. However, the Highway Maintenance 4 (HM-4) Safety Program is an innovative project delivery strategy that utilizes the maintenance delivery process to install cost-effective safety enhancements based on proactive safety or safety investigation recommendations.

This approach allows districts to implement stand-alone safety projects more quickly, delivering new signs, crosswalks, and other safety measures within a year. On the other hand, incremental safety improvements that go through capital project delivery may have to wait up to five years to be installed as part of larger road construction projects. With the HM-4 Safety Program, these improvements can be implemented far more quickly, making California's roads safer for everyone.

In the two fiscal years of the HM-4 Safety Pilot Program (Fiscal Year 21/22 and Fiscal Year 22/23), Caltrans completed safety enhancements in 4,540 locations, exceeding the program's goal by almost 1,290 locations. Projects include the installation of High Visibility Crosswalk on Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County , LED-bordered "wrong way" signs on Interstate 5 exit ramps in San Diego County and red reflective "wrong way" markers on Interstate 60 exit ramps in Orange County , as well as upgrading "Do Not Enter" signs at some highway exit ramps.

Caltrans started the program in response to the state falling short of federal safety performance targets. The Federal Highway Administration required Caltrans to do more to protect older drivers and pedestrians, who are among the most vulnerable road users, while also improving high-risk rural roads.

In 2019, collisions in California caused more than 3,900 fatalities and 16,000 severe injuries. A disproportionate percentage of fatal crashes  about 20 percent  on the State Highway System involve pedestrians.

"This program allows us to quickly initiate and complete enhancements that are lower-cost but highly effective in terms of saving lives," said Rachel Carpenter , chief safety officer for Caltrans. "This is a great example of a proactive, collaborative program that is helping Caltrans to achieve our goal of zero fatal and serious injury crashes on our State Highway System."

The 10 National Roadway Safety Award winners and two honorable mentions are using proactive, data-driven, collaborative and cost-effective approaches to better protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists across the country. Much of their work began amid a nationwide spike in vehicular crashes during the pandemic, when U.S. roadway fatalities rose 7.3 percent in 2020 and a further 10.1 percent in 2021 before holding steady at a high level in 2022 (-0.3 percent).

Early estimates for the first half of 2023 show crash fatalities declined slightly but remain at levels not seen since the mid-2000s. Between January and June, fatalities nationwide declined by an estimated 3.3 percent, compared with the first six months of 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

First-half 2023 fatalities in California fell further: An estimated 2,061 people died on California roads, down 12 percent from the same time frame last year, according to NHTSA's preliminary data .

The continued high fatality numbers demonstrate the value of safety innovations like California's work to protect pedestrians and prevent wrong-way driving, as well as the 11 other projects from across the nation.

The National Roadway Safety Awards, presented biannually since 1999, are sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and the nonprofit Roadway Safety Foundation. Projects were evaluated on safety effectiveness, innovation and efficient use of resources.

"The problem-solving creativity and dedication shown by Caltrans will save countless lives -- using a data driven approach and practices that are proven to reduce crashes," said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt . "It demonstrates a strong commitment to moving California toward zero deaths and serious injuries on the state's roadways, and we are proud to applaud their efforts."

"The stubbornly elevated fatality numbers underscore the urgent need for innovations like the National Roadway Safety Award honorees' projects," said Roadway Safety Foundation Executive Director Bruce Hamilton . "With several initiatives already showing major reductions in fatalities, injuries and crashes, today's honorees are shining a bright light on the path to safer travel."

Other honorees are:

North Carolina : NCDOT for reducing severe crashes at rural intersections by adding more all-way stops

: NCDOT for reducing severe crashes at rural intersections by adding more all-way stops Illinois : Illinois Tollway for creating an app that shows livestream video of serious crashes to speed up incident response

: Illinois Tollway for creating an app that shows livestream video of serious crashes to speed up incident response Florida : FDOT for demonstrating how skid-resistant pavement can shorten stopping distances at high-speed intersections

: FDOT for demonstrating how skid-resistant pavement can shorten stopping distances at high-speed intersections Louisiana : Acadiana Planning Commission for reducing severe crashes at rural "T" intersections using larger signs and rumble strips to alert distracted drivers

: for reducing severe crashes at rural "T" intersections using larger signs and rumble strips to alert distracted drivers Texas : TxDOT for reducing pedestrian fatalities on an Austin highway, particularly among people experiencing homelessness

: TxDOT for reducing pedestrian fatalities on an highway, particularly among people experiencing homelessness Delaware : DelDOT for reducing fatal and serious injury crashes by converting more intersections to all-way stops

: DelDOT for reducing fatal and serious injury crashes by converting more intersections to all-way stops New Jersey : South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization for developing a plan to prioritize cyclist and pedestrian safety in rural Cumberland County

: for developing a plan to prioritize cyclist and pedestrian safety in rural New Jersey / New York : The Port Authority of NY & NJ for reducing crashes by using timely data analysis to proactively identify and address safety problems

for reducing crashes by using timely data analysis to proactively identify and address safety problems Minnesota : MnDOT for its widespread use of "J-turn" intersections on high-speed divided highways to reduce the severity of crashes

: MnDOT for its widespread use of "J-turn" intersections on high-speed divided highways to reduce the severity of crashes Virginia : VDOT (Honorable Mention) for funding lower-cost safety projects in a more systemic way aimed at preventing traffic fatalities and serious injuries

: (Honorable Mention) for funding lower-cost safety projects in a more systemic way aimed at preventing traffic fatalities and serious injuries Nevada : NDOT (Honorable Mention) for its first comprehensive plan to reduce speeding, a leading cause of fatal and severe crashes

Winners were selected by an expert panel of judges:

Lori Diaz , The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation

, Jennifer Hall , American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

, Adam Kirk , Kentucky Transportation Center

, Kentucky Transportation Center Stephen Read , Virginia Department of Transportation

, Brian Roberts , Transportation Research Board

, Transportation Research Board Terecia Wilson , Clemson University

For complete details on each of the winners and for more information on the national awards program, visit: www.roadwaysafety.org/awards

The Roadway Safety Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization. Our mission is to reduce the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities by improving roadway systems and their environment.

Contact: Nagi Pagadala Contact: John Undeland California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Roadway Safety Foundation 916-387-5850 703-785-3461 [email protected] [email protected]

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SOURCE Roadway Safety Foundation
ARLINGTON, Va. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Government of Canada has signed a Foreign Military Sales Letter of Offer and Acceptance for up to 16 Boeing [NYSE: BA] P-8A Poseidon aircraft, as part of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project. Canada joins eight defense partners, including all of the FIVE EYES allies, the intelligence alliance that also includes the United States , United Kingdom , Australia and New Zealand , and becomes the fifth NATO nation to have selected the P-8 as its multi-mission aircraft. First delivery is expected in 2026.

"The P-8 will bolster Canada's defense capability and readiness, and we look forward to delivering this capability to the Royal Canadian Air Force," said Heidi Grant , president, Business Development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "Together with our Canadian partners, we will deliver a strong industrial and technological benefit package that guarantees continued prosperity to Canada's aerospace and defense industry."

The P-8 is the only proven, in-service and in-production solution that meets all CMMA requirements, including range, speed, endurance and payload capacity. This decision will benefit hundreds of Canadian companies, and bring decades of prosperity to Canada through platform sustainment delivered by our Canadian industry partners.

The P-8 acquisition will generate benefits of nearly 3,000 jobs and $358 million annually in economic output to Canada , according to a 2023 independent study by Ottawa -based Doyletech Corporation.

"This is a very important day for the Royal Canadian Air Force and for Boeing," said Charles "Duff" Sullivan, managing director, Boeing Canada. "The P-8 offers unmatched capabilities and is the most affordable solution for acquisition and life-cycle sustainment costs. There's no doubt the P-8 will protect Canada's oceans and its borders for future generations."

Team Poseidon forms the cornerstone of Boeing's P-8 Canadian industry partnership, consisting of CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and StandardAero. The team builds on the existing 81 Canadian suppliers to the P-8 platform and to more than 550 Boeing suppliers across all provinces contributing to the company's annual ~CAD $4 billion in economic benefit to Canada , supporting more than 14,000 Canadian jobs.

With more than 160 aircraft delivered or in service, and 560,000 collective flight-hours, the P-8 has proven capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief response.

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing's diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company's core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers .

Contact

Marcia Costley

+1 (714) 316-4267

[email protected]

Cynthia Waldmeier

+1 (613) 323-4176

[email protected]

Boeing Media Relations

[email protected]

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SOURCE Boeing
TORONTO , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Stephen Brown , Chair of the Casey House Board of Directors, along with members of his team, joined David Arnold , Chief Financial Officer, TMX Group, to open the market in honour of World AIDS Day.

Casey House is a specialty hospital in Toronto providing ground-breaking care to people living with and at risk of HIV. The hospital offers a growing mix of inpatient, outpatient and community-based services that meet clients where they are in their individual journeys of health and wellness. Casey House is Canada 's first and only hospital for people living with and at risk of HIV. To learn more, please visit https://caseyhouse.ca/about-us/.

World AIDS Day, December 1 , which also launches the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week in Canada , is a time for reflection on what we have achieved with regard to the national and global response to HIV, and what we still must achieve.

CNW sponsored announcement. To learn more visit www.newswire.ca.

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SOURCE Toronto Stock Exchange
DALLAS , Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --Credera, a global boutique consulting firm focused on strategy, transformation, data, artificial intelligence, and technology, today announced that it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency in the category of Digital Customer Experience. Achieving the AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency recognizes Credera for its expertise in providing customers with professional services that empower advertisers and marketers to reinvent workloads with services as an AWS Premier Tier Services Partner that has showcased technical expertise and validated customer achievements by assisting clients with their digital customer experience. Credera is part of Omnicom Precision Marketing Group (OPMG), which aligns digital, data, and customer relationship management capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale leveraging the global reach of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC).

Credera has earned recognition for driving real results with AWS technology and helping clients achieve their goals.

As advertisers and marketers look to leverage the cloud to innovate and achieve digital transformation, they are increasingly in need of partners with services and solutions that are purpose-built to meet their needs. AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency Partners provide these customersincluding advertising agencies, marketers, publishers, advertising and marketing technology providers, and analytics service providerswith AWS-validated solutions and services, helping to accelerate their transformation.

Credera's marketing technology team has advanced skills to operate at the forefront of modern marketing tools and strategies. This encompasses utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) systems, marketing automation platforms, web analytics, social media monitoring, content management systems, email marketing platforms, and data integration techniques. Credera displays a distinctive blend of six essential AWS capabilities, showcasing our team's aptitude for providing end-to-end solutions for next-gen products that cater to our clients' needs throughout every phase. Headquartered in Dallas , Credera has a team of more than 4,000 consultants around the globe. It has been honored by Fortune as a "Best Place to Work" in consulting and professional services, by Forbes as one of the "World's Best Management Consulting Firms," and by The Financial Times as one of the "UK's Leading Management Consultants."

Achieving the AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency differentiates Credera in the AWS Partner Network (APN) with demonstrated technical proficiency and proven customer success in running cloud solutions on AWS for the advertising and marketing industry.

To receive the AWS Advertising and Marketing Technology Competency, AWS Partners must undergo a rigorous technical validation by AWS solution architects and have verified customer references.

"Credera has deep experience helping advertising and marketing executives accelerate digital transformation with emerging technology," said Jeff Townes , Credera's Partner of Cloud Solutions and Alliances. "This competency recognizes how our teams meet evolving customer needs for real-time personalization and digital customer engagement with AWS." Phil Lockhart , Credera Chief Digital Officer, added, "We're excited to add this new competency to Credera's AWS Center of Excellence within the Omnicom network of agencies. The marketing and advertising technology landscape is evolving at a rapid rate, and as a part of the AWS Competency program, Credera has earned recognition for our work to drive real results with AWS technology and help clients achieve their goals."

AWS is enabling scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions from startups to global enterprises. To support the seamless integration and deployment of these solutions, the AWS Competency Program helps customers identify validated AWS Partner solutions and services for specific industry use cases. Explore the AWS Partner solutions and/or services offered in AWS Data Exchange, AWS Marketplace , or APN Partners, including Credera.

About Credera

Credera is a global, boutique consulting firm that connects marketing and technology to accelerate business transformation and build valuable customer experiences. Credera works with the best companies in the world, from strategy through execution, to serve clients globally. Credera's deep business acumen and technical expertise, combined with a true dedication to building trusted relationships, unlocks remarkable performance for our clients. Our mission is to make an extraordinary impact on our clients, our people, and our communities. Visit us at www.credera.com.

About Omnicom Precision Marketing Group

Omnicom Precision Marketing Group aligns Omnicom's global digital, data, and CRM capabilities to deliver precisely targeted and meaningful customer experiences at scale. Using its universal framework of connected data, connected intelligence, and connected experiences, OPMG provides services that include data-driven product/service design, technology strategy and implementation, CRM/loyalty strategy and activation, econometric and attribution modeling, technical and business consulting and digital experience design and development. At the core of delivering these services is Omni, an advanced technology platform that combines a powerful cultural insights engine with massively scaled data insights from first-, second- and third-party sources, including several proprietary Omnicom data partnerships. Omnicom Precision Marketing is a part of the DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) that includes more than 200 companies in a wide range of marketing disciplines including advertising, public relations, healthcare, customer relationship management, events, promotional marketing, branding and research.

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SOURCE Credera
Company celebrates honorees at the 2023 Synergy Connect National Users Conference

MESA, Ariz. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Edupoint Educational Systems, creator of the industry-leading Synergy Education Platform for K-12 student information and learning management, today announced the honorees of the 2023 Synergy Achievement Awards program. The company paid tribute to seven districts earlier this month at its annual Synergy Connect Users Conference in Orlando, Florida . The annual awards program celebrates partner districts that use the Synergy platform creatively to solve a problem, improve a process, or positively impact student learning.

"For this year's awards program, Edupoint recognized seven partner districts for a wide range of achievements," said Rob Wilson , President and Chief Innovation Officer at Edupoint. "These district initiatives helped improve processes and outcomes in a variety of areas, including attendance, consistency of instruction, and student health and safety. We continue to be inspired by the enthusiasm and innovation that our partner districts bring to the table in leveraging the Synergy platform's flexibility and extensibility to meet their unique needs."

Edupoint awarded $2,500 technology grants to four winning districts: Chesterfield County Public Schools (VA), Las Cruces Public Schools (NM), Poudre School District (CO), and Bonny Eagle School District (ME). Three additional districts received honorable mention awards and $1,000 technology grants: Coffee County Public Schools (TN), Osseo Area Schools (MN), West Genesee Community School District (NY).

About Edupoint Educational Systems

For over 35 years, the leadership of Edupoint Educational Systems has provided well-designed, technologically advanced student data management systems that empower K-12 stakeholders to improve student achievement. Synergy Education Platform by Edupoint is an industry-leading student data management ecosystem built to fit the way educators already work. Synergy is unique among K-12 student data management solutions in providing an array of role-based mobile apps designed to give all stakeholders access to the tools they need when and where they need them. More than 5.5 million students use Synergy in 22 states.

LEARN MORE: https://www.edupoint.com/

LOGO: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-1130-s2p-SAA-logo-300dpi.jpg

CAPTION: Synergy Achievement Awards logo

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

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SOURCE Edupoint Educational Systems
CHARLESTON, S.C , and DALLAS , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EventWorks, the Southeast's premier event rental provider, and Quest Events, the nation's leading drape and scenic elements provider, proudly unveil their strategic combination, marking a significant milestone in the event industry. The merger brings together two esteemed organizations to fortify strengths, broaden reach and deliver an unparalleled full-service experience to event professionals. EventWorks and Quest Events will seamlessly integrate their offerings, providing expanded selection and services to a broad clientele across multiple locations.

Quest Events & EventWorks join forces in a groundbreaking merger!

"The merger enhances our capabilities in a growing number of markets and allows us to provide an expanded service and product selection to our clients, offering an experience unlike any other in the event industry!" stated Lee Dunlap, Founder and CEO of Quest Events.

"We are ecstatic to be combining these two industry leaders to create more value for our clients, more opportunities for our teams, and leverage our combined resources to provide a unique, unprecedented offering to our social and corporate markets," said Mike Schmidt , CEO of EventWorks.

The combined organization will employ approximately 780 team members and manage over 550,000 square feet of warehoused equipment nationwide, supporting approximately 50,000 events annually. The teams will integrate seamlessly in the coming months to provide clients with a unified and enhanced rental experience.

About EventWorks. EventWorks is the Southeast's largest event rental provider with locations across five states and eight cities, including Charleston , Myrtle Beach , Savannah , Jacksonville , Birmingham, Atlanta , Nashville , and Orlando . Offering an extensive line of scalable and diverse products, EventWorks delivers unparalleled service through seasoned event professionals. With showrooms, rental resources, and experienced staff across the Southeast, EventWorks provides on-site solutions for events throughout the region. Learn more at eventworksrentals.com and on social media (@eventworksrentals) on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About Quest Events. Quest Events, headquartered in Frisco, Texas , is North America's market leader in providing pipe and drape, scenic, and furnishing rental solutions to the AV, hospitality, events, bridal, and exhibition industries. With 16 locations across the U.S. , Quest Events partners with clients to provide the most creative, effective, and efficient rental solutions and installation services available on the market today. Learn more at www.questevents.com and on social media (@quest_events) on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

JEGI CLARITY (www.jegiclarity.com), a leading investment bank for the events, marketing, information and technology sectors represented EventWorks

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SOURCE EventWorks
Honored with Gold recognition for completion of the 2023 Workforce Well-being Scorecard

MEMPHIS, Tenn. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN or "First Horizon") today announced that it was awarded national Gold level recognition for its commitments to employee health and well-being as measured in the American Heart Association's 2023 Workforce Well-being Scorecard.

The Scorecard brings together the latest research and insights from industry experts to help business leaders build a science-backed, employee-centric culture of health and well-being. The tool allows employers to evaluate how their policies and procedures compare to leading best practices in areas such as mental health support, addressing burnout, financial well-being, health equity considerations and more. Companies that complete the Scorecard receive a recognition level based on their alignment with established guidance, along with actionable strategies to support improvement and a dashboard to benchmark their progress against peer organizations.

"At First Horizon our associates come first. The American Heart Association's Workforce Well-being Scorecard helps us stay on top of the latest advancements in workforce health and well-being so we can create the best environment possible for our people and our business," said Chairman, President and CEO Bryan Jordan . "We are dedicated to building a culture that helps everyone thrive, both in and out of the workplace."

Championing well-being, a healthy mind, heart and body for employees is good for their health and good for business outcomes. In general, healthy employees are more productive and use less sick time, and organizations who create a culture of health in the workplace can improve employee retention and organizational reputation.

The Workforce Well-being Scorecard is a free resource offered by the American Heart Association's Well-being Works Better platform, which helps business leaders unleash the power of a healthy, happy workforce. Distinct from traditional wellness programs, Well-being Works Better empowers employers to champion the mental and physical health and well-being of their employees and provides actionable guidance to meet their organization's unique needs. Participating employers also can be nationally recognized by the American Heart Association.

For more information and a full list of recognized organizations, visit heart.org/workforce.

About First Horizon

First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $82.5 billion in assets as of September 30, 2023 , is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN , the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

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SOURCE First Horizon Corporation
Giant earns 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality

LANDOVER, Md. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, proudly announced it has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Giant Food joins the ranks of over 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

"Giant Food is extremely proud to have earned a score of 100 for the fifth consecutive year on the Corporate Equality Index for the practices we have established to foster and support a diverse and inclusive workplace for our LGBTQ+ team members," said Brian Wanner , Vice President of Human Resources at Giant Food. "We are committed to embracing and advancing a workplace that represents and celebrates the cultures, backgrounds and experiences of our team members and communities helping create a culture in which we can all grow, care and belong."

Giant has consistently worked to implement and advance a range of programs, policies and practices to promote inclusivity and diversity. Just this year, the company has introduced or expanded upon several training, education, employee benefit and partnership efforts including:

Ongoing Gender Inclusivity training for all employees

Creation of employee LGBTQ+ Benefits Guide

Creation of employee Gender Transition Guidelines

Added Restroom Guidelines signage

Addition of employee pronouns to name and security badges

Involvement in regional Pride celebrations including Washington, D.C. and Baltimore

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool  a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families."

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S. -based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Giant Food's efforts in satisfying all the CEI's criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;

Supporting an inclusive culture; and,

Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at https://www.hrc.org/resources/corporate-equality-index.

About Giant Food

Since opening its first location 87 years ago in Washington, D.C. in 1936, Giant has been an integral part of the communities and customers it serves. Giant is committed to being a Better Neighbor and has designated four main giving pillars that address local Food Insecurity, Military Support, Pediatric Cancer Research and Social Equality. Giant is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 165 supermarkets in Virginia , Maryland , Delaware , and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 165 stores are 153 full-service pharmacies and 27 Starbucks locations. Giant fits all the ways today's busy customers want to shop - whether in store or online. With 162 Giant Pickup locations and delivery options available in all of its markets, customers have even more convenient options right at their fingertips to get the best products and prices, whenever and however they choose. For more information on Giant Food, visit giantfood.com.

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

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SOURCE Giant Food
Krakow.

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The ancient city and former capital of the Kingdom of Poland impresses with the amount of greenery and preserved historical monuments. Krakow can now be called a favorite of foreign tourists, because at any time it is crowded with people. People come here to see the ancient town hall, walk through the corridors of a real palace, and, of course, visit the latest museums.

But this is not the whole list. For several years now, the city has been hosting digital festivals that bring together representatives of leading IT companies and VR developers. In addition, there are concerts and performances that are famous far beyond Poland.

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Poznan

People come here to admire the country's historical heritage. Poznan is home to the oldest religious building in Poland, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. It was built back in the tenth century, and since then the shrine has hardly changed, which makes it so valuable.

The main sights can be seen on the Market Square, which serves as the center of the city. A walk around Tum Island and the Royal Palace will be no less interesting. Do not overlook the numerous churches, many of which have a long and interesting history.

Czestochowa

The city is rightfully considered the spiritual center of the country. Pilgrims constantly come here to see the unique icon of the Virgin Mary, which is considered to be miraculous. Every year, about 5 million tourists visit Czestochowa, and not all of them come here for the sake of the shrine.

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There is a beautiful town hall, which now houses a museum. The Holy Family Basilica, the Merchant's House, and the Yasnohirsk Monastery are also noteworthy. There is a Ukrainian trace in the city. Soldiers of the Ukrainian People's Republic army are buried in the cemetery there and a memorial plaque is installed.

Wroclaw

This unusual city has one unique feature. It consists of 12 islands on the Odra River, which are connected by 112 bridges. The oldest district, Tumski, has many historical monuments and medieval buildings. This makes it very popular among tourists.

Of course, you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit one of the dozens of embankments. They are all beautifully decorated, so you can choose the one closest to you and just admire the charming views. There are also many legends and mystical tales associated with Wroclaw.

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Bydgoszcz

The beautiful city impresses with its beauty and elegance. It is one of the largest settlements in the country, home to many educational, cultural and scientific institutions. The local Philharmonic has long been considered one of the best in Poland. The same can be said about the New Opera, where world-famous artists perform.

The Archer sculpture has become a kind of business card for the city. It used to stand on Teatralna Square. But then it was moved to Jan Kokhanovskyi Park. No less interesting is the composition "The One Crossing the River," which is always photographed by tourists.

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Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote about why you should definitely visit Krakow.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Instant Brands Appliances, a leading designer, marketer and distributor of electric pressure cookers, air fryers and other small kitchen appliances in the U.S. and globally, announced that Rich Krause has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors.

"Having recently completed the acquisition of Instant Brands Appliances from Instant Brands, we are delighted to welcome Rich as Chairman to the Board of Directors. His deep experience in the consumer products sector and his successful track record as a senior executive, including most recently as CEO of Capital Brands, the parent company of the Nutribullet and Magic Bullet brands, is a welcome addition to the Board," said Quinn Morgan , Managing Director of Centre Lane Partners.

Rich Krause is an accomplished and seasoned executive with a proven track record of successfully delivering on growth initiatives and driving performance. He most recently served as President and CEO of Capital Brands (owner of the Nutribullet and MagicBullet). He joins Instant Brands Appliances with over 38 years of experience in the consumer goods industry, including leadership roles at Newell Brands, Conagra Foods, Fiskars, Confluence Outdoor and Feradyne Outdoors. He currently serves as a board member for two private equity backed businesses and he began his career with Procter & Gamble.

"I am excited to be joining the Instant Brands Appliances Board and be affiliated with such an iconic brand as Instant Pot. I look forward to working with the management team and Centre Lane Partners in growing the business and introducing new products in a 'better for you' category that provides real value to consumers," stated Rich Krause .

About Instant Brands Appliances

Instant Brands designs, manufactures and markets a global portfolio of innovative and iconic consumer lifestyle brands including Instant. With people-first and purpose-driven solutions in mind, Instant Brands is reimagining how people live, eat, connect, and play inside the homeand in the spaces where people gather. The Company is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois . Today, Instant Brands' products are in millions of homes worldwide. For more information visit Instant Brands or join the community at LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Centre Lane Partners

Founded in 2007, Centre Lane Partners is a private investment firm that invests in the equity and debt of middle market companies in North America . Centre Lane employs a flexible strategy that approaches complex situations with a solutions orientation. Centre Lane has an experienced, collaborative and diverse team, and seeks to partner with strong management teams that can benefit from patient, long-term capital and Centre Lane's operational, financial and strategic expertise and support.

Media Contact

Quinn Morgan

[email protected]

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SOURCE Centre Lane Partners, LLC
Greater Than Tech Launches "Tech Over Tapas," an Inaugural Event to Advance its Mission to Increase Diversity in Tech and Entrepreneurship

SAN DIEGO , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Greater Than Tech, a San Diego -based organization dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry, announces its inaugural fundraising event, Tech Over Tapas. The event is set to take place on Wednesday December 6 , at the San Diego Central Library, and promises to be a captivating evening bringing together thought leaders, industry professionals, and supporters of the organization's mission.

Tech Over Tapas aims to not only showcase the organization's commitment to fostering a more inclusive tech sector but also to raise essential funds that will enable Greater Than Tech to continue its initiatives. The event will include engaging showcases, networking opportunities, and an exciting robot derby, providing attendees with a unique and memorable experience.

"Tech Over Tapas marks a significant milestone for Greater Than Tech and an opportunity for the business, start-up, and tech community to come together and contribute to a more inclusive landscape," said Jasmine LeFlore , executive director and co-founder of Greater Than Tech.

The general public, industry professionals, students and supporters alike are invited to attend and participate in this event. The event details are:

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Time: 5-6pm VIP Cocktail Reception, 6-8pm Main Event

VIP Cocktail Reception, Main Event Location: Shiley Event Center, San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101

Event supporters include: U.S. Bank, PNC Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, ConsulTD, the San Diego County Office of Equity and Racial Justice, and the Jewish Community Fund.

The success of Tech Over Tapas is crucial to the organization's ongoing efforts to drive positive change in the tech industry. To learn more about Tech Over Tapas, reserve your spot, or make a donation, please visit the event website.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information about Greater Than Tech and Tech Over Tapas, contact: Brandi Neloms , board chair, Greater Than Tech, [email protected].

About Greater Than Tech: Greater Than Tech (GTT) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to creating the next generation of innovative leaders in tech by introducing girls and underserved students to educational enrichment programs at the intersection of STEM and business. The organization promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tech industry through advocacy, outreach programs, and community initiatives. Follow us on Instagram or visit our website to learn more.

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SOURCE Greater Than Tech
The soiree, held on November 29 at The Blond, marked the launch of DEWAR'S Blended Scotch Whisky's highest-age expression to date and the first in the brand's four-part Collector's Series  DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old.

HAMILTON, Bermuda , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEWAR's Blended Scotch Whisky, the world's most awarded Blended Scotch, hosted a first-of-its-kind Michelin-star dinner helmed by celebrated French Chef Gabriel Kreuther and Detroit -raised Chef Charlie Mitchell , who recently became the first African American to win a Michelin star in New York City .

Designed to fete the launch of DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old Blended Malt, the Double Double menu celebrated the seamless coming together of distinct styles and flavors of the impressive chef duo, as well as the coming together of expertly blended malts in the 37 year old Scotch whisky.

The dinner reflected the chefs' respective styles, from Chef Charlie Mitchell's trailblazing take on New American cuisine to Chef Kreuther's French discipline, expressed at his eponymous two-star Michelin restaurant. For a clever double entendre on the DEWAR's Double Double range the 'double' menu was a veritable dialogue between the duo, spoken through the pairings. While the Dewar's Double Double series is traditionally savored on its own, the chefs ingeniously infused their creativity into crafting cocktails, encompassing:

Hokkaido Uni Bibimbap paired with DEWAR'S Double Double 21 Year Old Mizunara Oak Cask finished whisky via a reimagined take on the classic Boulevardier cocktail. This innovative version is delicately stirred over koshikari rice, masterfully blending, and introducing new, flavors.



paired with Black Perigord Truffle, infused with DEWAR'S DOUBLE DOUBLE 27 Year Old Washed Pearled Barley. Complemented with German Butterball- Nori Espuma and Fried Dulce Seaweed, this dish pairs perfectly with a floral rendition on an Old Fashioned, skillfully highlighting the multifaceted character of DEWAR'S Double Double 27 Year Old Palo Cortado Cask Finish, with hints of lilac, lavender and green chartreuse.



Complemented with German Butterball- and Fried Dulce Seaweed, this dish pairs perfectly with a floral rendition on an Old Fashioned, skillfully highlighting the multifaceted character of with hints of lilac, lavender and green chartreuse. Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak and Blue Lobster are paired with DEWAR'S Double Double 32 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Cask Finish. This whisky, already a masterpiece in its own right, gains an additional layer of complexity and richness via a washing process using the unparalleled A5 Wagyu Steak. This process imbues the whisky with more depth, echoing the steak's exquisite marbling and flavor profile. Finally, the whisky is showcased in perhaps one of the most unique variations of the classic Rob Roy.

The dinner was crowned by a neat serving of DEWAR'S Double Double 37 Year Old  a rare, limited-edition blended malt, which honors the whisky-making traditions of Speyside region of Scotland  paired with a Chestnut Creme "Tobacco Chantilly" Red Currant Sorbet.

Firmly cementing the recently released bottle within the luxury canon, DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old is accompanied by two exquisitely crafted Baccarat Massena crystal tumblers to further elevate the tasting experience into a celebration; available for sale in very limited quantities HERE (SRP $1,799 ).

Chef Kreuther remarked: "Collaborating with Chef Charlie Mitchell for the DEWAR's Double Double Michelin Star Dinner was a culinary exploration where French precision met New American innovation, all in perfect harmony with the nuanced layers of the DEWAR's Double Double range. As Culinary Director, the partnership resonates uniquely for me, blending the artistry of our culinary creations with the elegance of Baccarat crystal. Presenting DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year OId with two Baccarat Massena crystal tumblers invites you to savor not just a drink but an elevated experience, marrying culinary excellence with timeless luxury."

Chef Mitchell remarked: "Crafting the DEWAR's Double Double Michelin Star Dinner with Chef Gabriel Kreuther was a fascinating journey where we translated the intricate layers of DEWAR's Double Double range into a culinary symphony. The challenge was not just in merging our styles but in embracing the complexity of the whisky itself. The nuanced expressions of the DEWAR's Double Double series became a guiding muse, inspiring us to create a menu that resonates with the rich tapestry of flavors found in DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old and the entire range."

"Much like fine whisky, culinary knowledge is passed down from generation to generation, with each era adding their own take and discovering new ways to delight epicureans. Our Double Double range was created with exactly this in mind, building on our almost 180 years of whisky-making with a series of ultra-aged whiskies that makes whisky aficionados excited about what we might create next. With the launch of DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old, we invite enthusiasts to embark on a sensory journey, experiencing the culmination of time-honored traditions and contemporary innovation in every sip," said Vice President of DEWAR's North America, Brian Cox .

See here for Hi-Res Imagery

About DEWAR'S

Founded in 1846 by John Dewar , DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland , to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR'S Double Double Series, DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR'S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR'S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda . Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba , family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or X, formerly known as Twitter.

About Gabriel Kreuther

Gabriel Kreuther is the chef and co-owner of the eponymous award-winning restaurant, Gabriel Kreuther , and Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate, adjacent to Bryant Park . Gabriel Kreuther reflects chef Kreuther's training at Michelin-starred kitchens throughout Germany , France and Switzerland , his Alsatian heritage and his love of New York City . Chef Kreuther began his career stateside at La Caravelle, had a leadership role at Restaurant Jean-Georges Central Park before becoming the Executive Chef of the much-lauded Atelier in the Ritz-Carlton, and The Modern, where his cooking received numerous accolades throughout his nearly decade-long tenure. A long-standing member and mentor for the prestigious Bocuse d'Or USA Culinary Council, Team USA placed Silver in 2015 and won Gold in 2017 of the World Competition. Chef Kreuther was named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2003 and received the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: New York City in 2009. Gabriel Kreuther has received two Michelin stars consecutively since 2019, the AAA 5 Diamond Award, Best New Restaurant of the Year by New York's Village Voice, 3 Stars from the New York Times, was named the 2023 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award Winner, Wine Spectator 2022 Grand Award Winner, and most recently, was named one of the New York Times' 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2023. The restaurant is a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Association, as well as part of the highly selective Les Grandes Tables du Monde . Chef Kreuther published his first cookbook, Gabriel Kreuther , The Spirit of Alsace: A Cookbook, sharing his restaurant creations and interpretations of traditional Alsatian dishes in 2021.

About Charlie Mitchell

Chef Charlie Mitchell , the executive chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights , made culinary history as the first Black chef in New York City to receive Michelin's 2022 New York Young Chef Award and the second Black executive chef in the country to earn this distinction. Raised in Detroit , his passion for cooking was nurtured by his grandmother's influence. At Clover Hill, he leads a team crafting an ever-changing, eight-course tasting menu featuring exquisite dishes like king crab tartlet and Spanish octopus. His dedication to culinary excellence, marked by Clover Hill's Michelin star and his recognition as the best young chef by Michelin, reflects his commitment to inspiring and exciting patrons about the world of food.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2023 DEWAR'S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 48% ALC. BY VOL

IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR'S & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL

Media Contact:

Shaun McKinley

Nike Communications

516.428.0052

[email protected]

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SOURCE DEWAR'S
TORONTO , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) (NYSE American: NGD) is pleased to announce the promotion of Keith Murphy to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 2, 2024 . Mr. Murphy will be succeeding Rob Chausse , who will be retiring at the end of 2023, as previously announced this year.

Keith Murphy is a Chartered Accountant and an executive with over 15 years of experience in finance, primarily within the mining industry. Mr. Murphy joined the Company in 2013 and was promoted to Vice President, Finance in April 2023 . Since joining the Company, he has held key responsibilities in the areas of financial reporting, taxation and finance.

"I would like to thank Rob once again for his dedication and contribution to New Gold over the past five years, and especially for his guidance over the last nine months during this transition phase. On behalf of the New Gold family, we wish him all the best," said Patrick Godin , President and CEO.

"I am excited to have Keith join our senior leadership team as Chief Financial Officer. Keith has been with New Gold for over a decade and has progressively assumed more responsibility within the finance team and has been a strong contributor to the overall success of the team. Keith has worked very closely with Rob over the last five years, which has helped ensure a smooth transition into his new role. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Keith as we continue to focus on enhancing our assets' growth profile, optimizing our cost structure, and transitioning to delivering sustained free cash flow," added Mr. Godin .

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada , the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com .

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SOURCE New Gold Inc.
PHILADELPHIA , Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Orleans Technical College (Orleans), a program of JEVS Human Services (JEVS) celebrated 311 individuals who graduate from the college's carpentry, electrical, plumbing, property maintenance and air conditioning, refrigeration, & heating programs.

Orleans Campus President, Rodney Brutton welcomed the graduates and their families; followed by JEVS President & CEO, Cynthia Figueroa who opened the event. Figueroa celebrated the graduates' commitment to furthering their career goals. She said, "Thank you for committing the time to attend classes, study, and learn. It's no small feat given all the demands outside of the classroom. Balancing family, work, and school life can be a challenge at times, but you did it! You persevered and dedicated yourself to moving forward in your career."

Shaquille McFadden , a 2023 residential and commercial electricity graduate, was selected by students and faculty to represent them at this year's graduation. His instructor said, "Shaquille's attendance, attitude, skill attainment, and overall leadership in the classroom were stellar. He always made himself available to assist classmates."

Orleans alumnus, Jamell Joyner , also spoke to the graduates. Joyner graduated in 2021 after making a career change to commercial electrical. He talked about working three jobs to support his family while getting his credential in electricity from Orleans. Joyner said, "My short-term sacrifice led to a life-long career that brings my family financial security and brings me a greater sense of purpose and happiness."

Included in the graduation were 34 graduates in property maintenance who completed JEVS Project WOW program. Project WOW helps youth and young adults get their high school diploma as well as learn building skills.

In addition to credentials in the building trades, Orleans helps connect graduates to jobs. Over 100 partners recruit potential employees from Orleans. The 2023 Orleans graduation event marks the college's 49th graduation.

About Orleans Technical College. JEVS' accredited, non-profit career training school, Orleans Technical College, prepares adults for careers in building trades and healthcare. Since 1974, Orleans Tech has helped students move toward one common goal: learning new skills to enhance their success in the workforce. Orleans Tech offers job training programs in building trades and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.jevs.org and www.orleanstech.edu.

Media Contact:

Heather Keafer , Chief of Communications & External Affairs

[email protected]

445-236-5080

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SOURCE JEVS ORLEANS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
New BCG Series Explores How Governments Can Responsibly Leverage and Scale GenAI to Drive Maximum Public Impact While Improving Quality and Performance

BOSTON , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Many governments have already begun to experiment with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), seeking to improve the quality and speed of government decision-making at scale and raise the efficiency and effectiveness of public policies, programs, and services. According to a new study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), GenAI provides an unprecedented opportunity for governments around the world to deliver greater value and public impact for citizens, businesses, and governments at a time when public finances are challenged by slow economic growth.

BCG's Generative AI for the Public Sector: From Opportunities to Value, estimates the productivity gains of GenAI for the public sector will be valued at $1.75 trillion per year by 2033. BCG's estimate leverages inputs from Pearson-Faethm modeling and reflects productivity gains across all national, state or provincial, and local governments, and across domains such as legislative, administrative, courts, health care, education, transportation, and security.

While many might expect the application of GenAI to the public sector to lead to significant job cuts, BCG's modeling predicts the impact will be more nuanced. Although certain efficiencies may result in a decreased demand for labor, governments will likely reinvest the gained productivity benefits to address citizens' unmet needs or engage in higher value-added activities.

"While public sector adoption of GenAI is still in the early stages, the profound potential of this technology cannot be overlooked," said Miguel Carrasco , global leader for BCG's Center for Digital Government and a coauthor of the article. "The time to act is now. Public sector leaders must be prepared to experiment and innovate and accelerate the use of GenAI to maximize its substantial benefits for both government and citizens."

The highest potential current GenAI use cases for public sector include summarizing documents and meetings, reviewing and drafting procurement contracts, customer engagement with citizens and businesses, and developing and testing software code. However, the conditions are not yet in place to leverage GenAI at scale and unlock its potential. BCG identified risks related to accuracy, reliability and control, privacy and confidentiality, bias, and intellectual property ownership that must be addressed before the full potential of GenAI can be realized in the public sector.

The article outlines use cases for GenAI from the perspective of senior executives in five types of government functions:

Policy and Programs. To better understand current public policy issues and challenges, as well as the current state and root causes, and to design more effective policy options, interventions, and programs; optimize policy settings; and strengthen deliberative processes

To better understand current public policy issues and challenges, as well as the current state and root causes, and to design more effective policy options, interventions, and programs; optimize policy settings; and strengthen deliberative processes Service Delivery and Operations. To improve the quality and accessibility of public services to citizens and businesses, improve efficiency of operations, reduce risks, and continuously optimize allocation of resources to meet policy goals and objectives

To improve the quality and accessibility of public services to citizens and businesses, improve efficiency of operations, reduce risks, and continuously optimize allocation of resources to meet policy goals and objectives Support Functions. To improve the efficiency of support functions, shared services, and corporate services; reduce overheads; and improve staff experience

To improve the efficiency of support functions, shared services, and corporate services; reduce overheads; and improve staff experience Regulators. To improve integrity and compliance with regulations, reduce the cost of monitoring and oversight, reduce risks, streamline administration, and make it easier for citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders to comply and meet their obligations

To improve integrity and compliance with regulations, reduce the cost of monitoring and oversight, reduce risks, streamline administration, and make it easier for citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders to comply and meet their obligations Central Agencies. To develop, implement, and optimize whole-of-government strategies, priorities, policies, and standards, and to optimize funding and resource allocation to achieve government objectives

"Scaling GenAI across the public sector will deliver value from taxpayer savings, a more engaged workforce, and higher quality of public services," said Richard Sargeant , a BCG managing director and partner and a coauthor of the article. "The productivity and personalization benefits for citizens of AI-powered government will be vital in an era where government spending around the world will be challenged by tougher economic conditions and increasing demands for public services. Moreover, governments will demonstrate the technological competence and innovative capacity that sustains the covenant of trust between citizens and the state."

Download the publication here:

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2023/unlocking-genai-opportunities-in-the-government

Media Contact:

Eric Gregoire

+1 617 850 3783

[email protected]

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholdersempowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
STERLING, Va. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REI Systems Vice President of Health Systems Sid Agarwal has been honored with a FORUM IT100 Award, recognizing his ongoing efforts to advance progress, influence positive outcomes, and contribute to the public sector health community. The FORUM IT100 Award is given to those recognized by their peers for their exemplary role in driving change, challenging the status quo, and actively contributing to community betterment.

Mr. Agarwal heads REI Systems' Health Systems Business Unit, overseeing the execution of all work REI Systems provides to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other health-focused customers.

"Sid's commitment to improving American public health services is reflected in his work and leadership," said Shyam Salona , CEO of REI Systems. "His contributions, ranging from enhancing regulatory lab testing efficiency to promoting advanced, flexible technology, have had a tangible impact on public health.

Notable achievements under Mr. Agarwal's leadership include modernizing FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) lab operations, enhancing consumer protection and food safety. The innovative Automated Laboratory Information System (ALIS), developed in less than eight months, has revolutionized data sharing across the FDA, and optimized testing accuracy and efficiency.

Mr. Agarwal's team provided HRSA with crucial data through the Modern Data Analytics Platform (MDAP), helping reduce maternal and infant mortality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sid and his team collaborated with HRSA to rapidly develop a feature within its grants management systems. This allowed the system to be launched just 12 days after the CARES Act became law, and facilitated the distribution of millions of dollars of financial aid to health centers nationwide, aiding patients who were critically in need of care.

"I am deeply honored to receive the FORUM IT100 Award," Sid said. "It's a recognition not just for me but for the entire team at REI whose dedication and innovation drive our success. This award strengthens our resolve to continue making meaningful differences in public health through technology."

About REI Systems

REI Systems provides reliable, effective, and innovative technology solutions that advance federal, state, local, and nonprofit missions. Our technologists and consultants are passionate about solving complex challenges that impact millions of lives. We take a Mindful Modernization approach in delivering our application modernization, grants management systems, government data analytics, and advisory services. Mindful Modernization is the REI Way of delivering mission impact by aligning our government customers' strategic objectives to measurable outcomes through people, processes, and technology. Learn more at REIsystems.com.

Contact

info@REIsystems.com

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SOURCE REI Systems
PLANO, Texas , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Repairify, Inc., a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, and Autel U.S. , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Technology Corp., Ltd., today focused on key partnership advances made this year and announced bold initiatives for 2024.

Repairify and Autel have enhanced the efficiency of the collision and glass repair shop workflow and documentation process by seamlessly integrating Repairify's remote services and authentic OEM tool scans into the Autel Remote Expert platform. This integration, now available on Autel MaxiSYS Ultra series tablets and MaxiFlash XLink standalone communication devices, increases efficiency by reducing the number of in-shop tools needed to support vehicle diagnostics, calibrations, and programming events.

This past summer, Repairify and Autel launched adasThink for Autel users, which provided collision and glass shops with pre-repair insights into required vehicle calibrations (based on scan findings) to help shops complete accurate estimates before the repair starts. This reduced the likelihood of supplemental charges, increased customer satisfaction, and improved insurance reimbursement times.

In Q1 2024, Autel and Repairify will continue to enhance the value of their combined services for their users through the following planned releases:

asTech insights, which will provide shops with vehicle specific AI-driven repair recommendations based on the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) identified during the pre-repair scan.

Repairify remote service expansion, which will make dynamic and static calibrations available through the Remote Expert Platform.

New next-generation Repairify calibration rigs, manufactured by Autel, for in-shop and mobile-express providers.

"This is truly one of the most exciting initiatives in the history of our company," said Cris Hollingsworth , President Repairify Global Holdings, Inc. "Our customers have consistently asked us to deliver a seamless and integrated ecosystem of product solutions for their vehicle diagnostic, calibration, and programming needs. The combination of Autel's world class product solutions with Repairify's global leading technology, data, service and intelligence offerings provides shops the opportunity to service all aspects of vehicle repair through one product interface that drives maximum efficiency, increases customer satisfaction and ensures that vehicles are repaired safely, accurately and through a certified process based on OEM procedures."

"Autel is committed to providing its users with software and equipment that meet or exceed their expectations and comprehensive solutions that enable their businesses to thrive in this evolving and sophisticated vehicle repair marketplace. When we developed the MaxiSYS ADAS IA900WA, it was with a single goal in mindto redefine the industry's approach to the service and repair of the modern vehicle and, with one system, develop a comprehensive workflow to enable technicians to take the vehicle from diagnostics and repair to alignment, programming, and calibration. This approach has helped our users provide their customers with superior repair and servicing of all vehicle systems, including vital safety systems. Also, it enables shop owners to see efficient key-to-key operations and financial success. Repairify offers our customers, specifically those in collision and glass repair, even greater efficiency with its information services such as adasThink and asTech Insights, access to its network of Remote OE services, software and tools, and insurance-ready and OE-certified Pre- and Post-Scan reports. We are proud of our partnership with Repairify and all the opportunities it has provided to our customers, and we look forward to working together to drive innovation in the aftermarket," said Autel CEO Chloe Hung .

About Repairify Inc.

Repairify, Inc. and its family of brands empower the automotive repair industry to master today's modern, data-intensive vehicles. By providing revolutionary OEM tool and validated OEM-Compatible technology, services, and intelligence, Repairify helps automotive professionals run better businesses through improved diagnostics, calibrations, programming, and workflows. Repairify's brands are committed to vehicle and driver safety by providing repairers with excellent service, supported by the highest quality and precision tools, technology, and data.

Repairify, Inc. is a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC. The Repairify family includes asTech, adasThink, AutoMobile Technologies (AMT), Automotive Training Group (ATG), BlueDriver, FleetGenix, MobileTechRX, and One Guard Inspections. For more information, please visit repairify.com.

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SOURCE Repairify, Inc.
Hip-Hop artists 2 Chainz and Skooly provided students with an intimate performance accompanied by the school's Marching Hornets.

LOS ANGELES , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock The Bells , the global platform dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day, announced 'Rock The Campus' presented by Ford. During the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop celebration at Alabama State University on October 8-9 , 'Rock The Campus' honored the culture and connection of Hip-Hop and HBCUs.

The Alabama State University's Department of Theatre Arts and its dance theater room was transformed into a Hip-Hop-themed time capsule to capture the impactful role HBCUs play in Hip-Hop. Alabama State alum and Hip-Hop artist 2 Chainz was accompanied by his artist Skooly and performed with emerging talent, showcasing the impact these institutions have on shaping visionaries. Staying true to the rich culture of HBCUs, the memorable series of intimate performances was supported by the Marching Hornets marching band. The performances will be released on the Rock The Bells YouTube channel with each episode serving as a tribute to the HBCU community's remarkable resilience in exploring new horizons and forging ahead in all fields of interest.

"'Rock The Campus' represents a tribute to the influence of HBCUs on the ever-evolving Hip-Hop culture. Some of today's most influential artists proudly trace their roots back to these esteemed institutions, often during homecomings," said Ann Akinnuoye , Head of Partner Relations  Brand Partnerships at Rock The Bells. "Our partnership with Ford for the 'Rock The Campus' initiative is our way of giving back to the next generation of talented students, who may find their own creative sparks and world-changing ideas on their college campuses."

"It was important for me to partner with Rock The Bells and Ford for this campaign because it's more than just giving back," said 2 Chainz. "It's a full circle moment for me to return to my old stomping grounds, Alabama State University, to show love and support to the next generation, and to drop some wisdom. It's all about investing in what's coming next."

Just as Ford innovation drives progress in the automotive world, HBCUs act as catalysts, igniting creativity to shape a brighter future. Continuing Ford's commitment to HBCUs as an extension of its Accelerating Brilliance campaign, 'Rock The Campus' provides a canvas to showcase the myriad of expressions contributing to the vibrant lifestyle flourishing within these institutions.

Furthering its commitment to HBCUs, Rock The Bells and Ford are also announcing a sweepstakes with voting open to students, faculty, and alumni. Individuals will be asked to vote for their favorite department and the one with the most votes will receive a $10,000 donation to support student purchases for books, meal plans, and electronic devices that are needed for school.

For media requests, please contact Skai Blue Media at [email protected] .

About Rock The Bells

Rock The Bells is the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop. Founded in 2018 by LL COOL J and Geoff Yang , Rock The Bells focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the CULTURE and the core elements of Hip-Hop  MCing, DJing, Breaking, Graffiti  and more. Rock The Bells is the bridge between OG's and those inspired by their groundbreaking influences on the culture. Visit us at www.rockthebells.com, stream LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM Channel 43, and follow us on Instagram @RockTheBells.

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SOURCE Rock The Bells
MIDDLETON, Wis., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SciNote Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN), an industry leader in R&D ELN and digital laboratory solutions, has partnered with Ganymede Bio, the cloud infrastructure provider purpose-built for the life sciences and manufacturing industries, to redefine how data is collected and consumed within laboratories. SciNote users will now be able to leverage Ganymede's data platform to integrate data from any lab instrument, run streamlined analysis using their favorite apps, and automatically tag and enter experimental results into the appropriate notebook entries.

SciNote and Ganymede Bio Partner to Streamline Instrument Integration and Scientific Data Reporting

SciNote ELN, a comprehensive electronic lab notebook, offers scientists a solution with their secure and user-friendly platform to record, organize, and analyze their research data. But,data integration remains a fundamental problem that all life sciences organizations face. As experiments and results pile up in drug development pipelines and workflows, it is increasingly difficult for researchers to manage all of their lab data, let alone get a unified view of their work to draw insights from. "A challenge we see our users face every day is the increasing scale of data, coming from a variety of sources within the lab," notes Brendan McCorkle , CEO of SciNote.

With Ganymede's unique Lab-as Code technology, SciNote now extends its offerings to include integrated connectivity and data interoperability with all instruments and software platforms. Together, the two companies will give users a holistic live view of all of their data, ensure data integrity and traceability, while speeding up R&D, compliance, analysis, and decision-making  and ultimately power better science. This signifies a major step forward for SciNote in their goal to enable their users to have all of their scientific data reach the industry gold standard in quality - FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).

"Every piece of data that's not stitched into the picture, every machine that's not connected, every note that doesn't make it into the data set, can lower the quality of future analysis. SciNote ELN has been on the forefront to ensure experimental data is securely stored and contextualized. This partnership with Ganymede will help us provide the data infrastructure necessary to bridge the gap between the physical lab and the digital solution we provide. The end result we're aiming for is offering the most unified view of scientific data at the bench to our users," added McCorkle.

Through this strategic partnership, SciNote and Ganymede aim to empower scientists to focus on what they do best: conducting groundbreaking research. By simplifying and automating data collection, analysis, and reporting, researchers can allocate more time to scientific exploration and innovation, driving progress in their respective fields. Furthermore, this streamlining will make it easier for data scientists and lab leadership downstream of each scientist to work with the data coming from the lab to drive business decisions.

"SciNote's powerful platform and white-glove service with clients makes it an ideal centerpiece of digital strategies, and easy for us to integrate instrument data into." Said Nathan Clark , CEO of Ganymede. "We look forward to giving SciNote and its clients a powerful new lever to automate the wet lab around them, accelerating scientists by saving time on manual data work, and pushing more data into the ELN than ever before."

The partnership is a noteworthy break from traditional software approaches in the life sciences where every aspect of data management is typically handled with one-size-fits-all style solutions. Instead, the goal here is to maximize the options and flexibility for end users to be able to easily assemble a functional tech stack of best-in class solutions.

"Having choices is important." Brendan elaborated, "We believe scientists should be able to choose their tooling. This partnership allows researchers to not be beholden to specific software pairings and instead allows scientists to choose the best tool to do their specific jobs more successfully  which is our end goal."

For more information about this partnership, please visit Ganymede to schedule a demo.

Media contact: [email protected]

About SciNote

SciNote is a cloud-based electronic lab notebook (ELN) trusted by the FDA, USDA, European Commission labs, and 100K+ scientists around the world. It offers a well-established data structure (projects/experiments/tasks) and visualized workflow to optimize user experience, as well as built-in tools for inventory and stock management, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, and team management. SciNote is based in Middleton, WI , USA, with offices in Europe . Learn more about SciNote at https://www.scinote.net/

SciNote is currently in the FedRAMP Authorization process, a United States federal government-wide compliance program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services.

About Ganymede

Ganymede Bio is the cloud infrastructure provider purpose-built for the life sciences and manufacturing industries. The company's Lab-as-Code technology integrates physical lab instruments, applications such as electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and laboratory information management systems (LIMS), data pipelines, and third-party partners like contract research organizations (CROs) and contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) together in a single cloud data layer. Ganymede accelerates time to innovation by giving scientists the ability to automate the world around them using cloud-controlled data flows. Launch your lab of the future today by visiting us at www.ganymede.bio .

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SOURCE SciNote
No one in the world can remember the first few years of their life. At best, we remember some vivid fragments, and these cannot be events that happened before we turned 2-3 years old. In science, the inability to retain these memories is called childhood amnesia. But have you ever wondered why nature has put this mechanism in us and does not "record" what happens to us at the dawn of life?

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Live Science asked neuroscientists what they already know about this topic. After all, we don't keep extremely emotional moments in our memory, such as our first steps and words, the time when our relationship with our parents is full of unconditional love, and so on.

Science shows that young children are actually able to memorize a lot of information. This is how they instantly learn who their parents are and how they learn to say "thank you" for a candy gift, even when they don't speak very well. Scientists call this semantic memory. However, at the age of about 2-4 years, children lack another type of memory - episodic memory. It is responsible for memorizing details of specific events. Such memories are stored in several parts of the brain's surface - its cortex. Thus, sounds are processed by the auditory cortex on the sides of the brain, and visual memory is controlled by the visual cortex at the back. An area of the brain called the hippocampus connects all the disparate parts together.

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But the brain of a young child is not yet able to combine information into complex neural structures, which is essentially what memories are. So, memorization does occur at this age, but it does not form a complete picture.

"If you think of your cerebral cortex as a flower bed, then the entire top of your head is covered with flowers," Patricia Bauer, a professor of psychology at Emory University, explained to the publication. "The hippocampus, which is very neatly located in the middle of your brain, is responsible for putting them all together and tying them into a bouquet." A memory is a bouquet, a neural pattern of connections between parts of the brain where memories are stored," she added.

And it is the immaturity of the hippocampus that is responsible for the lack of early memories. It is only at the age of 2-4 that it begins to link fragments of information together. As Nora Newcomb, a professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, explained, episodic memory can be incredibly complex in children under this age. The child is exploring the world and absorbing a huge amount of information. "I think the main goal of the first two years of learning is to acquire semantic knowledge, and from that perspective, episodic memory can be really distracting," Newcomb said. In other words, in the first years of life, we gather a certain "collection" of disparate facts from which we create a picture of the world a little later.

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However, there is another theory. According to this theory, we still retain the earliest memories of childhood, but it is difficult for us to retrieve them from our memory as adults. This may be evidenced by the results of a study published in 2023 in the journal Science Advances. The study showed that "lost" childhood memories can be restored in adult mice by stimulating the neural pathways associated with specific memories with light.

The authors of the study aimed to examine developmental factors that can affect childhood amnesia. They found that mice with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were able to recall some things from their early childhood.

Autism has many causes, but it was previously linked to the overactivation of the mother's immune system during pregnancy. Therefore, in order to develop mice with ASD, researchers stimulated the immune system of females during pregnancy. It turned out that this activation helped prevent the loss of early memories in their cubs. It affected the size and plasticity of specialized memory cells in their brains. When these cells were optically stimulated in adult mice without signs of autism, the forgotten memories could be recovered.

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"These new findings show that immune activation during pregnancy leads to a change in brain state that alters our innate but reversible 'forgetting switches' that determine whether childhood memories will be forgotten," explained co-author Thomas Ryan, an associate professor of biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, in a statement about the study.

At the moment, the scientists point out that they studied only mice and cannot say for sure whether the same mechanisms work in humans. However, they argue that their work is important for improving our understanding of memory and forgetting during child development. In addition, they shed some light on understanding general cognitive flexibility in the context of autism.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA told how a person's chronotype - "owl" or "lark" - affects health. One of them turned out to be quite dangerous.

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Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels onTelegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, during COP28 , Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) released the 2023 edition of The GFA Monitor - a report to guide fashion leaders towards a net-positive fashion industry. The second GFA Monitor has been updated to include the latest guidance and insights from over 25 industry organisations in one cohesive publication. For the first time, the report includes new data insights from the Fashion Industry Target Consultation - drawn from over 900 industry participants in 90 countries.

The GFA Monitor is an extensive resource that presents expert insights on the status of the industry, clear actions to take, and proven best practices. In a time of poly crisis when the implementation of sustainable practices is challenged, GFA is supporting the industry by consolidating an abundance of available solutions that can be applied today.

The tool is grounded by the sustainability framework laid out in the Fashion CEO Agenda, featuring in-depth guidance according to the five sustainability priorities: Respectful and Secure Work Environments, Better Wage Systems, Circular Systems, Resource Stewardship, and Smart Materials Choices. Embracing additional expert knowledge from other industry organisations, each priority includes insights from GFA's Impact Partners: Fair Labor Association, Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Apparel Impact Institute, and Textile Exchange, respectively.

The 2023 publication presents new findings from the Fashion Industry Target Consultation (FITC), launched by GFA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in November 2022 , which invited stakeholders from across the global value chain to share their thoughts on the performance indicators and milestones that the industry must strive to meet. The FITC indicates a very positive sentiment from participants, but action and positive impact from that action is yet to be measured. Overall, the data reveals that the majority of the 900 participants supported industry alignment on the 27 action areas proposed in the consultation and remarked that they are actively engaging with the industry to drive progress in the respective areas. The report further illuminates the level of industry ambitions per priority and the areas where more aligned action areas are needed (see a summary of key data per priority below).

The 2030 deadline to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals is fast approaching. Moreover, to deliver the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to 1.5C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 and decline by almost 50% by 2030 at the latest. Nevertheless, the rise in temperature predicted for this century is still well above what was promised in Paris eight years ago. With COP28 providing a critical moment to take stock globally, GFA and its partners are presenting the fashion sector's progress towards net positive and providing guidance on how to accelerate actions on its pathway.

Building on its alliance with the UN Climate Change, GFA will host a session dedicated to the fashion sector at COP28 to ensure fashion is included in the crucial conversations and decisions intended to accelerate climate action. The Global Fashion Agenda Assembly on 5 December at 16.30-17.45 GST will reflect on the fashion industry's progress towards a net zero and net positive future, present collective financing best practices, and guide policymakers.

Federica Marchionni , CEO, Global Fashion Agenda, says: "The second iteration of The GFA Monitor reaffirms the power of alliances to accelerate action. In a time of socioeconomic and geopolitical turmoil, executives need clear guidance more than ever to ensure sustainability measures can continue to move forward. By working collectively with multiple industry organisations, we were able to highlight the steps that are needed, collate a wealth of promising solutions and steer fashion stakeholders on their journey."

Building on the 2022 and 2023 editions, GFA intends for The GFA Monitor to become an annual gauge of the fashion industry; to monitor industry progress to increase accountability, present the latest insights and impact data, and identify critical actions required to meet its objectives. GFA welcomes further cooperation with other industry organisations as the annual report evolves and responds to industry and scientific developments.

Scott Raskin , CEO, Worldly, Data Partner for The GFA Monitor, says: "To address climate change, the apparel industry needs primary supply chain data at scale. As GFA's data partner, Worldly is proud to continue contributing to the GFA Monitor. As the exclusive provider of the Higg Index and other ESG solutions, we're also proud to enable impact improvements, delivering the data-driven intelligence leaders need to track their sustainability progress and prepare for regulatory compliance."

Words from The GFA Monitor's Impact Partners:

Lewis Perkins , President, Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), says: "Tackling the fashion industry's challenges requires a collective effort - no single brand or organization can do it alone. We're pleased to work alongside GFA and other industry partners to ensure that all apparel and footwear is produced with a positive impact on people and the planet."

Jules Lennon , Fashion Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, says: "We envision a future where products are used more, are made to be made again, and are made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs. Global Fashion Agenda's GFA Monitor supports the direction of travel to help organisations navigate the multifaceted transition to a circular economy for fashion, while emphasising the transparency that's vital to turning this vision into reality."

Sharon Waxman , President and CEO, Fair Labor Association (FLA), says: "People who work in the global fashion industry deserve to have a safe workplace and to be treated with dignity and respect. FLA is proud to work with the Global Fashion Agenda and its partners on the GFA Monitor, which demonstrates that concrete opportunities exist for CEOs and corporations to improve the future for both people and planet."

Janet Mensink , Executive Director, Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), says: "SLCP welcomes the urgent call for respectful and secure working environments in the 2023 GFA Monitor. By promoting greater transparency, use of converged tools, and responsible purchasing practices in the fashion industry, we can not only elevate the lives of millions but normalise an industry that thrives on respect, equity, and sustainable practices."

Ashley Gill , Chief Strategy Officer, Textile Exchange, says: "Textile Exchange is pleased to contribute to the GFA Monitor for its second edition, as it continues to provide essential guidance to the fashion industry. Most of the materials used by the industry today come from farming, forestry, or fossil fuels, all of which are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as driving beneficial impacts on biodiversity, soil health, and water. Strategic material choices, alongside a rethinking of business as usual, will be fundamental to help us leverage this opportunity."

Find out more and download The GFA Monitor 2023 here.

Visit globalfashionagenda.org to stay updated on Global Fashion Agenda's news and insights.

Highlight findings from the Fashion Industry Target Consultation:

Respectful and Secure Work Environments

Of those that responded to questions related to this priority:

The highest percentage (88%) of brand respondents claimed to have set targets to adopt responsible purchasing practices - yet only 63% of brands claimed to be measuring progress against these set targets. 100% of brands and producers unanimously expressed support for reaching alignment on this action area and engaging with the industry to collectively drive progress.

Fewest brands (58%) claimed to have set targets on worker access to effective grievance mechanisms whilst producers reported their lowest score on value chain transparency (75%)

Better Wage Systems

Of those that responded to questions related to this priority:

The highest percentage of brands and producers (86%) claim to have set targets to implement fair compensation and living wage across the textile value chain

Yet the lowest percentage of brands and producers are setting targets on freedom of association or collective bargaining (33% brands/ 67% producers/ manufacturers) and closing the gender pay gap (33% brands/ 86% producers/ manufacturers) - both key enablers towards reaching fair compensation and living wage

Resource Stewardship

Of those that responded to questions related to this priority:

Highest claims of target setting were related to decarbonisation/ GHG emission reduction (88% brands/ 89% producers/ manufacturers) and elimination of hazardous chemicals (86% brands/ 100% producers/ manufacturers)

Lowest number of targets reported to be set towards eliminating microfibre pollution (36% brands/ 63% producers/ manufacturers) also reflected in the percentage of those measuring and reporting progress (33% brands/ 63% producers/ manufacturers)

Smart Material Choices

Of those that responded to questions related to this priority:

A significantly high number of respondents claimed to have set targets to produce and source priority materials from preferred and low climate impact sources (96% brands/ 100% producers/ manufacturers)

Brands are setting most of their preferred material targets on cotton (92%) while producers on polyester (90%)

Circular Systems

Of those that responded to questions related to this priority:

Target setting in the Circular Systems field is very fragmented with many targets self-defined, lacking comparability with peers, and inconsistent ambition levels. However, FITC shows a surprisingly high percentage of brands and producers setting targets in this space even on complex topics like absolute virgin resource use reduction (74% of brands and 89% of producers) and overproduction (78% of brands and 77% of producers)

The lowest target-setting results were related to eradicating messages encouraging unnecessary consumption (46% brands/ 53% producers/ manufacturers) and measuring the actual impact on job quality and availability from circular business models to support a just transition to a circular economy (29% brands/ 73% producers/ manufacturers)

Consultation Methodology:

Insights included in The GFA Monitor have been derived exclusively from the online survey with answers from three respondent groups - all respondents (total aggregate), brands and manufacturers/ producers. The data collection and analysis were conducted in good faith, with no guarantees of absolute accuracy. All survey responses were voluntarily disclosed, without verification or validation by GFA and UNEP. Moreover, response levels varied across target areas due to non-compulsory questions, limiting comparability between areas. Find the full methodology and disclaimer in the publication's annex.

CONTACT:

For more information contact:

[email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/global-fashion-agenda/i/the-gfa-monitor-2023-cover-,c3244447 The GFA Monitor 2023 Cover

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SOURCE Global Fashion Agenda
Teamsters, Labor Allies Challenge Discriminatory Law That Hurts Public Sector Workers

WASHINGTON , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Teamsters and a coalition of labor unions filed a lawsuit to restore collective bargaining rights for public sector workers in Wisconsin .

The lawsuit, filed in Dane County Circuit Court, asserts existing Wisconsin law unconstitutionally discriminates against the majority of public sector workers, denying them access to collective bargaining, and forcing workers to recertify their unions every year.

"Thousands of public sector workers in Wisconsin are under attack by their own state government and, just like with all workers in this country, they need as much help as possible to restore and protect their rights and freedoms," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien . "The Teamsters are demanding an end to the repressive law that has hurt public service workers in Wisconsin so that their collective bargaining rights can be restored and respected."

Under Wisconsin law Act 10, public sector workers are limited to bargaining over base wages, and do not have the freedom to negotiate with their employers over many working conditions, including safety and health standards, benefits, just cause language, and grievance procedures.

Only certain workers arbitrarily designated by Act 10 as "public safety" employees have the ability to fully bargain. That narrow category excludes many workers who perform public safety functions, as well as other workers who perform demanding jobs necessary for the public welfare. In many Wisconsin towns and counties, this has led to a shortage of workers willing to serve in such roles.

"It's very simple  Wisconsin's Act 10 hurts working families. It's patently unfair to strip public sector workers of their fundamental rights, and it's time for officials in Wisconsin to right this wrong," said Bill Carroll , President of Teamsters Joint Council 39. "All workers who are vital to our communities  including those who maintain our roads, and work in courthouses and for municipal public works departments  deserve an equal voice and representation."

"The Teamsters Union stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our labor allies in the fight to secure collective bargaining rights for all workers. Wisconsin's public sector workers deserve a seat at the table, to be able to bargain for good wages, benefits, and working conditions," said Larry Wedan , Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 695 in Madison .

Plaintiffs include Teamsters Local 695, Abbotsford Education Association (WEAC/NEA), AFSCME Locals 47 and 1215, Beaver Dam Education Association (WEAC/NEA), SEIU Wisconsin, and Teaching Assistants Association (TAA/AFT) Local 3220.

The Teamsters represent more than 18,000 private and public sector workers with four local unions across Wisconsin .

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S. , Canada , and Puerto Rico . Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
DAKAR , Senegal , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraPay, a global cross-border payments network, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Small World Money Transfer, a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses. In this ever-evolving cross-border payments landscape, this collaboration is poised to redefine mobile wallet services across Senegal , ensuring that Wave Wallet account holders can directly receive remittances into their wallets via instant bank transfers from the EU and UK , using Small World Money Transfer.

At the heart of this partnership is the recognition of the hurdles Senegalese expatriates encounter when attempting to send money back home, leaving customers yearning for a more convenient and secure alternative. This partnership solves for these challenges, enabling a seamless, secure, accessible, and instant solution for customers sending money to their loved ones in Senegal .

Stanley Wachs , Managing Director, Northern Europe , Africa & Asia at Small World Money Transfer, expresses excitement about the partnership, "We are delighted to announce that Small World Money Transfer is now available on all major mobile wallet services in Senegal with the latest addition of WAVE mobile wallet through TerraPay."

He adds, "At the heart of our mission is the drive to provide customers with the means to send money to friends, family and loved ones in the most cost-effective way. And we have been working tirelessly to offer our clients the best possible service in an easy, fast and secure manner. This partnership will provide more convenience and options for our customers sending money to Senegal ."

"We are stoked to join forces with Small World Money Transfer," said Miller Rodriguez , Strategic Relationship and Sales Manager, Europe - UK , TerraPay. "This partnership is another step to strengthen our continuous efforts towards simplifying cross-border remittances. Together, we are able to make money transfers more accessible, user-friendly, and seamless for the people of Senegal , connecting them to their friends and family across the world. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile wallets in the region, we are committed to enhancing the cross-border payments landscape while boosting financial inclusion."

Small World Money Transfer, known for enabling over 3 million customers to make payments online as well as through a vast physical network, has been the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates worldwide. This partnership not only aligns with TerraPay's commitment to driving global financial inclusioun but also helps extend the company's reach and capabilities, with a particular focus on the Senegalese market. The integration of Small World Money Transfer into the TerraPay network ensures customers in Senegal can experience seamless and instant money transfers directly to their Wave Wallet accounts without any additional challenges and complexities.

This partnership announcement comes at a crucial time when the demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions is rapidly rising. It addresses this growing need by introducing a simple yet transformative solution, providing customers with more options and greater convenience in sending money.

About TerraPay:

TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere  providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making movement of money instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses  ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces  while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London , with global offices in Bangalore , Dubai , Miami , Bogota , Dar es Salaam, Kampala , Hague , Dakar , Joburg, Nairobi , Milan , Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa.

About Small World Money Transfer:

Small World is a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses enabling over 3 million customers making payments online or via a physical network of more than 250,000 locations, 10,000 agents and 80 stores across 196 countries. Small World is the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates around the world to send money safely and easily to their loved ones back home in Senegal . www.smallworldfs.com

Contact:

Juveria Samrin

juveria.n@terrapay.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE TerraPay
NYSE American  UEC

CASPER, Wyo. and BELLEVUE, Wash. , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - TerraPower and Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC) (the "Company" or "UEC") announced today a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") with objectives of reestablishing domestic supply chains of uranium fuel. This MOU will allow TerraPower and UEC to explore the potential supply of uranium for TerraPower's first-of-kind Natrium reactor1 and energy storage system.

The Natrium demonstration project, being built in Kemmerer, Wyoming , will be a commercial scale plant upon completion and will begin operations within a decade.

UEC and TerraPower have made significant investments in the nuclear fuel cycle and commercial scale deployment of clean energy projects that will directly benefit the U.S. economy. This includes delivering carbon-free power, high paying jobs, and providing support for establishing a robust U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain for Small Modular ("SMR") and Advanced Reactors ("AR") and their high assay low enriched uranium ("HALEU") requirements. These new reactors, like TerraPower is advancing in Wyoming , present innovative leaps in technology that can help address the world's growing clean energy needs with abundant 24/7, carbon-free power.

SMRs and ARs present the fastest growing segment of nuclear energy in the United States and need a secure, domestic fuel supply chain. The first step of the supply chain is uranium, and UEC's Wyoming resources have the critical mass to be a highly reliable source of uranium for American HALEU and a good strategic fit to supply TerraPower's Natrium reactor.

Wyoming 's Governor Mark Gordon stated "This MOU is a great step forward for the Wyoming uranium industry, which is host to the largest uranium reserves in the United States. It makes no sense to depend on Russian uranium and enrichment technology, when a fully domestic fuel source can be found here in Wyoming and manufactured in the United States . TerraPower chose Wyoming as a partner for their Natrium advanced nuclear reactor plant. Once again, they are demonstrating leadership and commitment to a nuclear future in Wyoming through this MOU with Uranium Energy Corp."

"TerraPower continues to move forward in bringing the Natrium reactor to market, and that includes establishing our fuel supply chain," said Chris Levesque , TerraPower President and CEO. "A robust, domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel is crucial as we deploy the next generation of nuclear energy. Wyoming has long been a leader in uranium mining, and we look forward to collaborating with UEC on the potential opportunity for Wyoming uranium to fuel our first reactor."

Amir Adnani , UEC President and CEO stated: "UEC is pleased to form strategic relationships that support the emerging uranium demand from SMRs and ARs, and we look forward to working with TerraPower and the prospect of providing the uranium they need to operate their Wyoming Natrium reactor. In these geopolitically complex times, UEC's vision is to be the leading provider of conflict-free, American uranium for the existing, as well as the new reactors that will come online."

The Natrium technology is a 345-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor coupled with a molten salt-based energy storage system than can boost power output to 500-megawatts to serve peak demand: making it the ideal technology to pair with energy grids that have high penetrations of renewable resources. The Natrium reactor is the only advanced reactor that can provide stability to the grid with clean, baseload energy while seamlessly boosting output to meet variable power needs.

UEC's Wyoming production platform includes a portfolio of over 20 uranium projects, that in total contain the largest S-K 1300 compliant resource base in the United States . Four of the projects in the Powder River Basin are fully permitted for in-situ recovery ("ISR") production including the Irigaray Central Processing Plant and Christensen Ranch ISR facilities in Johnson County, Wyoming where UEC's initial production will be focused.

About TerraPower

TerraPower is a leading nuclear innovation company that strives to improve the world through nuclear energy and science. Since it was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries, TerraPower has emerged as an incubator and developer of ideas and technologies that offer energy independence, environmental sustainability, medical advancement and other cutting-edge opportunities. It accepts and tackles some of the world's most difficult challenges. Behind each of its innovations and programs, TerraPower actively works to bring together the strengths and experiences of the world's public and private sectors to use advanced nuclear to answer pressing global needs. Learn more at https://terrapower.com/ .

About Uranium Energy Corp

Uranium Energy Corp is the fastest growing supplier of the fuel for the green energy transition to a low carbon future. UEC is the largest, diversified North American focused uranium company, advancing the next generation of low-cost, environmentally friendly ISR mining uranium projects in the United States and high-grade conventional projects in Canada . The Company has two production-ready ISR hub and spoke platforms in South Texas and Wyoming . These two production platforms are anchored by fully operational central processing plants and served by seven U.S. ISR uranium projects with all their major permits in place. Additionally, the Company has diversified uranium holdings including: (1) one of the largest physical uranium portfolios of U.S. warehoused U3O8; (2) a major equity stake in Uranium Royalty Corp., the only royalty company in the sector; and (3) a Western Hemisphere pipeline of resource stage uranium projects. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining.

Stock Exchange Information:

NYSE American: UEC

WKN: AJDRR

ISN: US916896103

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian securities laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

_____________________________ 1 A TerraPower and GE Hitachi technology

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SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp
TORONTO , Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its Enterprise Resource Planning Emotional Footprint report, which identifies the top ERP providers based on reviews and emotional response ratings from end users. Eleven providers in the Enterprise and Midmarket spaces have been recognized by the firm as Champions for the year.

ERP tools are not just a matter of operational efficiency, but a strategic necessity in an increasingly complex and competitive business landscape. These systems allow for the seamless flow of information between functions like finance, HR, manufacturing, and logistics, leading to improved coordination and elimination of data silos. This integration is crucial for real-time data analysis, facilitating better strategic planning and more informed decisions. Non-adoption can put companies at a competitive disadvantage, as they lack the agility and responsiveness of competitors who use ERP systems to adapt to market changes and customer demands quickly.

"ERP software has become a commodity product. Vendors recognize this by differentiating themselves by focusing on specific industries, markets, and functionalities," says Robert Fayle , advisory lead, Info-Tech Research Group. "Understand your own differentiators to find the ERP that is right for your organization."

When organizations do not adopt ERP tools, they face several challenges, such as inefficiencies and data discrepancies, making it difficult to get a unified view of the business. This fragmentation often results in delayed decision-making and increased operational costs.

SoftwareReviews' survey data from 1,772 end-user reviews was used to identify the top ERP software providers for 2023. The insights are intended to support organizations that are considering options to streamline their robotic process automation strategies.

The Net Emotional Footprint (NEF) of each software provider is a result of aggregated emotional response ratings across the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. The NEF is a powerful indicator of overall user sentiment toward the provider and its product from the software user's point of view.

The 2023 Enterprise  Enterprise Resource Planning Software Champions are as follows:

The 2023 Midmarket  Enterprise Resource Planning Software Champions are as follows:

User assessments of software categories provide an accurate and detailed view of the constantly changing market. SoftwareReviews' reports are informed by data from users and IT professionals who have intimate experience with the software throughout the procurement, implementation, and maintenance processes.

The full report is now ready to access on the firm's website, which is updated in real time to reflect new reviews and ratings.

For more information about SoftwareReviews and the Data Quadrant, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com.

About SoftwareReviews

SoftwareReviews empowers organizations with the best data, insights, and advice to improve the software buying and selling experience.

For buyers, SoftwareReviews' proven software selection methodologies, customer insights, and technology advisors help maximize success with technology decisions. For providers, the firm helps build more effective marketing, product, and sales processes with expert analysts, how-to research, customer-centric marketing content, and comprehensive analysis of the buyer landscape.

SoftwareReviews is a division of Info-Tech Research Group, a world-class technology research and advisory firm.

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SOURCE SoftwareReviews
Landmark event celebrates Unity Health Care's mission-driven work and recognizes two of the organization's critical partners, Mayor Muriel Bowser and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

WASHINGTON , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Unity Health Care (Unity) will host A Night of Unity at Union Station on December 1, 2023 . The gala event will recognize those who are making a difference in the health care and equity landscape in Washington, DC and share two awards, the Dr. Jesse B. Barber , Jr. Community Health Care Award and the Partners in Caring Award. Funds raised will support the many programs and operations that make Unity such an important healthcare resource to many thousands of DC residents each year. NBC4's Leon Harris will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

The evening's first award is named for one of Unity's co-founders, Dr. Jesse B. Barber , Jr., and honors an individual whose personal efforts and commitment to the field of health care advocacy have improved access for all medically underserved people. Muriel Bowser , Mayor of the District of Columbia , will be presented with the Dr. Jesse B. Barber , Jr. Community Health Care Award in recognition of her vision, leadership and commitment to health equity during her tenure as Mayor of the District of Columbia .

"On behalf of our entire community, I want to share my gratitude for the thousands of people who work every day to build a healthier, more equitable DC," said Mayor Muriel Bowser . "From the health care and construction teams who are building the new hospital, to the outreach teams who provide behavioral and mental health care in our community, to the staff at our new Stabilization Center who are using their lived experiences to change lives  in every corner of our city, we have people working 24/7 to keep DC healthy. We are especially grateful for the team at Unity  our partners in the work to ensure everyone in our city, regardless of circumstances, has access to compassionate, high-quality health care."

The Partners in Caring Award is given to Unity partners who share their time, commitment and resources to Unity's mission. The 2023 award will be presented to The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation for their gracious and impactful support of Unity's mission. In April 2023 , The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation committed $2.3 million dollars to Unity to establish The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Behavioral Health Development Fund. This transformational gift has allowed Unity to begin to recruit and train the next generation of mental health providers, with a focus on models of care that improve outcomes and drive health equity, with the goal of meeting this critical workforce need.

"This is more than just an award for us, it is a recognition of the power of purposeful partnership. When philanthropy joins forces with effective organizations, aligned by a shared vision and a drive for impact, we can unlock new opportunities that improve the conditions of communities for which we care so deeply," said Mieka Wick , CEO of The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

"I'm excited to be able to come together as a community to celebrate amazing partners like Mayor Bowser and The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation," said Unity President and CEO, Dr. Jessica Henderson Boyd . "Unity provides care to 1 in 8 District residents, and we know we can't do it alone. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase our impact and why our work is so vital to our great City."

For more information about A Night of Unity or to support Unity's mission and critical community programs and services, please email [email protected] or by calling Tara Handron at 202-715-7986.

About Unity Health Care

Unity Health Care's mission is reaching people wherever they are to provide compassionate, comprehensive, high-quality health care that is accessible to all and advances health equity in Washington, DC . As the largest network of community health centers in the District, our team of multicultural health professionals place Unity values into action every day. Within our network of 27 traditional and non-traditional health sites and a mobile medical outreach vehicle, Unity is proud to provide whole-person care and wellness to nearly 90,000 patients over the course of more than 400,000 visits annually.

Media Contact: Mara Vandlik , [email protected]

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SOURCE Unity Health Care
Investment Round Led by Eclipse, Explorer 1, and RTX Ventures

DENVER , Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ursa Major, America's leading privately funded company focused solely on rocket propulsion, today announced that it closed $138 million in its Series D and D-1 funding rounds. The investments were led by Explorer 1 Fund and Eclipse, and include RTX Ventures, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Exor Ventures, Mack & Co., LLC, XN, and other institutional shareholders.

With this investment, Ursa Major will continue to develop Lynx, the company's innovative new solid rocket motor (SRM) program, while scaling production capacity and advancing multiple propulsion programs. While the initial Series D round was completed earlier in the year, Ursa Major extended fundraising to include a Series D-1 round due to strong interest in accelerating development on several future programs.

"In the year since our last funding round, Ursa Major has secured significant commercial and government customers, delivered dozens of flight-ready engines, introduced new engine concepts, and worked to address critical gaps in our nation's defense. This includes developing Lynx, a line of solid rocket motors that can deliver urgently needed capabilities," said Ursa Major CEO and founder Joe Laurienti . "This investment will support scaling our production capacity to meet strong market demand, as well as continued technology innovation for our medium- and heavy-weight propulsion systems."

Since its last round of funding, Ursa Major has responded to deficiencies in the nation's defense capabilities by introducing Draper, a revolutionary new storable liquid engine designed to defend against hypersonic weapons, and Lynx, a new solution for designing and manufacturing solid rocket motors for tactical applications.

Ursa Major has also redesigned and hot-fired the 50,000-pound-thrust Ripley engine, scaled production of the 5,000-pound-thrust Hadley engine to a rate of one per week, and qualified Hadley as the world's first and only rocket engine for space launch, in-space, and hypersonic missions.

"Ursa Major propulsion systems fill a critical gap in the defense industrial base today," said Greg Reichow , Partner at Eclipse and former Vice President of Production at Tesla. "For the U.S. and its allies, the ability to deter threats will depend on our ability to produce innovative solutions utilizing modern manufacturing methods that are not dependent on fragmented supply chains. Ursa Major's team possesses the technical prowess to deliver the high production rates, low cost, and advanced technology needed to help maintain national security."

Ursa Major's propulsion-only approach disrupts the existing vertically integrated launch industry by providing vehicle-agnostic engines for a variety of launch and hypersonic applications. This approach stands as a safeguard against the kind of consolidation and stagnation in launch technology that kept America dependent on Russian-made rocket engines in the past.

Reliable rocket propulsion is critical to maintaining the space supply chain and growing the space industry. Ursa Major's flexible rocket engines can be used for various Department of Defense (DOD) and non-DOD missions, from air launch to hypersonic flight and on-orbit missions. The company's customers get to launch faster and without the development cost of building engines in-house.

Additionally, Ursa Major has applied their lessons learned in liquid rocket engines for space launch to re-imagine solid rocket motor design and manufacturing. With their process, Ursa Major offers a revolutionary solution to America's SRM shortage with a faster, more affordable process, leveraging 3D printing to manufacture multiple motors that outperform legacy systems.

Connect with Ursa Major on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Ursa Major

Ursa Major is the leading independent rocket propulsion provider and a critical player in building the defense industrial base in the United States . As the first American company to fire an oxygen-rich staged combustion enginea milestone previously only achieved by Russian engine-makersUrsa Major provides reusable, high-performing propulsion systems to commercial space enterprises, defense contractors, and the Department of Defense for launch, hypersonics, and national security missions. The company employs the country's leading propulsion experts at its one-of-a-kind headquarters in Berthoud, Colorado , which houses engineering, manufacturing, and testing all in one campus. Manufactured using 3D printing for scalable production, Ursa Major propulsion systems save customers an average of five years and $50 million compared to building propulsion in-house.

Media Contacts

Ursa Major

[email protected]

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SOURCE Ursa Major Technologies
FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre in Paris, France, June

By Sheila Dang, Chavi Mehta and Jaspreet Singh

(Reuters) -Social media company X faces the prospect of more advertisers fleeing and has no clear fix in sight, ad industry experts said, after billionaire owner Elon Musk lashed out at some of the biggest brands for dropping the platform.

Walt Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery suspended advertising on X earlier this month following Musk's endorsement of an antisemitic post that falsely claimed members of the Jewish community were stoking hatred against white people.

After apologizing for his post while speaking at a New York Times DealBook event on Wednesday, Musk unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against advertisers for fleeing the platform and accused the brands of "blackmail."

He appeared to single out Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger, who spoke earlier at the event and said an association with X was "was not a positive one for us."

"Companies need to protect the brands they work for," said Lou Paskalis, founder of marketing consultancy AJL Advisory and former head of global media at Bank of America. "This isn't advertisers getting together in a secret clubhouse to support an agenda."

In a memo to employees on Thursday, which was seen by Reuters, X Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino said Musk's interview was "candid and profound," and encouraged staff to watch it. She reiterated that X's mission is to be an open platform without censorship.

"Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised - ever," the memo said.

The Tesla chief also acknowledged that an extended boycott by advertisers could bankrupt X, formerly Twitter, but suggested that the public would blame the brands and not him for a potential collapse.

However, Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg said: "If anyone is killing X, it's Elon Musk - not advertisers."

"Should X collapse, an autopsy would reveal a series of platform policy decisions, staffing cuts, tweets and antagonistic comments by Musk that have driven away X's primary source of revenue," Enberg said.

An executive at a major global ad-buying firm, who declined to be named, said only one major client was continuing to advertise on X.

"(Musk) seems to be hell bent on destroying the platform," the executive said.

X risks not only losing corporate advertisers, but also money from political candidates, a revenue stream that reopened after the platform lifted a ban on political ads. U.S. political ad spending in 2024 - when a presidential election will be held - is expected to reach a record $10.2 billion, according to AdImpact, which tracks political ads.

Mike Nellis, CEO of Authentic, a digital marketing agency that works with Democratic candidates including U.S. President Joe Biden, said he planned to speak with all his clients about whether or not to spend on X.

"Telling major advertisers and Bob Iger to go F themselves might be the final nail in the coffin," Nellis said.

X has come under fire for lax content moderation, especially from advertisers who do not want their ads appearing next to inappropriate content.

Ad spending on X in the United States from January through October this year declined 64%, compared with the same period in 2022, according to data from media analytics firm Guideline, which tracks advertising spending data from major ad agencies.

"We believe there is a risk that more companies will stop advertising on X; at least on a short-term basis," D.A. Davidson & Co analyst Tom Forte said.

"It is fair to say this makes the company's subscription efforts more important and potentially means it may need more than half its revenue to come from subscriptions," he said.

U.S. monthly active users also declined by about 19% since Musk acquired Twitter last year, according to research firm Data.ai.

Apple, IBM, Sony , Disney, Comcast including NBC Universal, and Paramount collectively accounted for 7% of total U.S. ad spend on X through October this year, Sensor Tower data showed.

At a dinner hosted by the New York Times following the DealBook Summit on Wednesday, guests that included representatives of major brands were "aghast" at witnessing Musk's expletives against advertisers, said one attendee who declined to be named.

One sentiment seemed to be shared among brand representatives in discussing X: "It's obvious (Musk) doesn't want us there and we don't want to be there," the attendee said.

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil and Sheila Dang; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Deepa Babington)
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -At least 10 people were killed and 14 others wounded in an attack with roadside bombs and gunfire on a vehicle and rescuers in Iraqs eastern Diyala province on Thursday evening, two security sources said.

The sources said the attack near the town of Amraniyah targeted relatives of a local MP and began with the detonation of two roadside bombs that destroyed a vehicle in which several people were travelling. Locals who arrived to the scene to help were then targeted with sniper fire, the sources said.

They did not elaborate further on possible motives for the attack.

Security forces announced the imposition of a curfew in the area and the search was ongoing to detain those responsible on Thursday night.

(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Editing by Franklin Paul)
A worker pushes a luggage cart with belongings of Palestinians who are trying to get back into Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, Egypt, November 30, 2023.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

RAFAH, Gaza (Reuters) - About 1,000 Palestinians who were stranded outside the Gaza Strip when war broke out between Israel and Hamas have returned home during the seven-day truce, braving the prospect of renewed bombardment, a Palestinian border official said on Thursday.

At the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, yellow taxis with suitcases and cardboard boxes piled high on their roofs and trunks so full of luggage they could not be closed were carrying Palestinians back into their ravaged homeland.

One of them was Abu Nader, who said he had travelled to Turkey on Oct. 4 to accompany one of his daughters who was starting her studies there. The war began three days later, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel.

Abu Nader flew to Egypt on Oct. 24 but could not return to Gaza as the Rafah crossing was closed. He found himself stuck in Egypt until the truce.

He said his house in the al-Nasser neighbourhood in Gaza City had been destroyed by an Israeli strike and he had lost relatives, but was nevertheless desperate to get home to be with his other children and the rest of his family.

"No one leaves their children or their country, even if they lose their house. All Palestine is my home, not just Gaza or the house in al-Nasser, the whole nation is my home," he said.

Egypt had announced via the Palestinian embassy in Cairo on Nov. 23, the day before the truce came into effect, that Palestinians wishing to return to Gaza would be allowed, though not compelled, to do so.

The border official who spoke to Reuters on Thursday said crossings had begun on Nov. 24 and had carried on since then.

MOONSCAPE

The returnees will find a very different Gaza from the one they left behind.

Much of the northern half of the Strip, including Gaza City, has been blasted into a moonscape by seven weeks of Israeli bombardment, while in the south hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in tents and schools.

Hospitals have stopped functioning, food, water and fuel are scarce, and diseases are spreading in what the United Nations has called a humanitarian catastrophe.

Despite all that, Intisar Barakat said she still wanted to return.

"You can't leave your country, your children, your home, your husband," she said. "God willing, may everyone come back and peace prevail."

The truce was initially agreed for four days but has repeatedly been renewed, for 24 to 48 hours at a time. Mediators were pressing on with attempts on Thursday to extend it further.

The war was triggered by Hamas militants who rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people including babies and children and taking 240 hostages of all ages, according to Israeli numbers.

Vowing to destroy Hamas in response, Israel launched an air, sea and ground assault on the densely populated Gaza Strip that has killed more than 15,000 people, 40% of them children, according to Palestinian health officials.

(Additional reporting by Fadi Shana; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Only 5% of Ukrainians are against joining the EU and NATO, according to a national poll. The number of those who support joining these organizations is 78% and 77%, respectively, which is slightly less than in July.

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The survey of 1000 respondents was conducted by the Rating Sociological Group on November 22-23. 78% of respondents said they would vote for Ukraine's accession to the European Union if such a referendum were held (in July, the number was 85%).

Only 5% of respondents were against it. Instead, the share of those who have not decided or would not vote has increased: 3% and 14% respectively.

Support for Ukraine's accession to NATO is also on a downward trend and stands at 77% (83% in July), according to the new poll.

Currently, the rate of support for joining NATO is at the same level as it was at the beginning of the invasion in March 2022, the researchers noted. At the same time, only 5% of respondents would not like Ukraine to join the Alliance, 15% would not vote and 3% are undecided.

The Rating group reported that there are no age differences. Women are more likely than men to demonstrate uncertainty (not going to vote or hesitate to answer) both regarding the EU and NATO membership. Respondents with the lowest incomes demonstrate the least support for the unions.

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In each of the regions, the majority supports joining both unions, but the highest number of such supporters is recorded in Kyiv and in the West.

At the same time, 53% consider it unacceptable to join NATO only within the controlled territories. 40% strongly or rather support this idea: residents of the Western regions and Kyiv, as well as middle-aged people are relatively more likely to take such a step.

Residents of the East, Center, and South, as well as the oldest people, support this idea the least.

However, even among the supporters of Ukraine's accession to NATO, only 44% support this idea, while 51% are against it.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to the survey, about 45% of the population in Ukraine have a very negative attitude toward Russians, 27% - rather negative. The attitude towards Russians who oppose the war in Ukraine is mostly positive.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure projects at the Portsmouth Port Authority in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S. April 19, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters) - President Joe Biden's name will not be on New Hampshire's primary ballot, but top Democrats are organizing a shoe-string, write-in campaign aimed at preventing an embarrassing loss for the president that might fuel concerns about his 2024 election prospects.

Thousands of voters have already committed to the effort along with county and local party chairs, said California Congressman Ro Khanna, who will lead a call with organizers on Thursday evening on the effort.

For an incumbent president, primary races -- the state-by-state competitions that nominate a political party's official presidential candidate -- are normally a perfunctory affair.

But Biden's decision to sit out New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23 and ongoing concerns about his general election prospects have attracted intra-party rivals for the White House like Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips.

Phillips and others hope to use New Hampshire as a way to transform their long-shot bids into credible candidacies - a strategy that has some historical precedent.

Pro-Biden Democrats' volunteer-focused effort, with just a $100,000 budget, will encourage primary voters to put Biden's name on the New Hampshire ballot. The plan includes putting a volunteer to explain the process at each of New Hampshire's over-300 polling stations, and distributing pamphlets and printouts.

"It speaks to the loyalty that so many people have in New Hampshire for the Democratic Party and the President," Khanna said in an interview.

New Hampshire represents the first test of voter enthusiasm for a president battered by a series of polls that show his multi-racial and multi-generational coalition fraying, and its success or failure will be closely watched.

"This write-in campaign is not quite an insurance policy, but it's definitely a rearguard action to fight against 'What if Biden doesn't win the New Hampshire primary' and what that would signal to the press and to the rest of the political world," said Andrew Smith, a political science professor at The University of New Hampshire.

Lyndon B. Johnson, then the Democratic incumbent, shunned the New Hampshire primary in 1968 due to over-confidence, only to see an insurgent campaign from Minnesota, U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy and his anti-Vietnam platform. Johnson supporters mounted a barely successful write-campaign, but a weakened Johnson dropped out of the race weeks later.

The primary will also offer the state's Democratic voters their first chance to protest Biden's decision to replace New Hampshire at the top of the party's primary calendar with South Carolina.

At about 90% non-Hispanic white, versus less than 60% in the rest of the country, New Hampshire is no longer considered a good predictor of Democratic presidential success. But New Hampshire officials refused to change the state's primary date; as a result, the Democratic winner will not amass any delegates needed to win the nomination. PHILLIPS BUS TOUR

Biden is not expected to campaign in the state ahead of the primary and his rivals - Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson - are seizing on his absence.

Phillips is kicking off a 10-day tour of New Hampshire on Friday that includes traditional stops at diners and college campuses and fundraisers in private homes.

Pass the Torch, a super PAC supporting Phillips is running ads in New Hampshire critical of Biden, including one titled 'Trump is Winning' and another that compares Bidens campaign to a burning dynamite fuse.

Phillips campaign acknowledges that winning the state's primary will be tough.

"He is still the sitting president of the United States. And so he starts off with an incredible advantage, whether his name is on the ballot or not," said Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to the Phillips campaign and one time campaign manager for U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders presidential bid.

WRITE IN EDUCATION

Most, if not all, U.S. elections allow voters to write in candidates whose names are not the the ballot, but the effort is rarely successful at electiong one, outside local contests where turnout is low. U.S. voters sometimes register their frustration with voting choices by writing in names like Batman and Mickey Mouse.

Biden write-in organizers have largely settled on asking voters to write in "Joe Biden," but believe that other names like "President Biden" and "President Biden and Vice President Harris" satisfy a state law that says to count the vote if the reasonable intent of the voter is clear.

"That's our job. We want voters to get there and know what to do," said Dave Watters, a Democratic state senator who is helping organize.

In 2020, when there was a competitive Democratic race, including Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and current Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, some 298,000 Democrats voted in the New Hamphsire primary - more than five times the number that voted when incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama ran unopposed in 2012.

Turnout in 2024 is likely going to be closer to 2012 figures than 2020, local Democrats say, but they are overwhelmingly confident that Biden will win. They hope to be rewarded in 2028 when the party once again considers New Hampshire's position in the early nominating calendar.

"They're gonna use this as a way to say, look, we are good Democrats and organized this to protect President Biden," Smith said.

(Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)
U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Angola's President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

By Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday he will visit Angola in a trip that could mark renewed engagement with Africa at a time of international turmoil.

"I have been there and I will be back," Biden said when asked about visiting the country during an Oval Office meeting with his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco.

Biden did not specify when the meeting would take place. The White House did not respond to a request for additional details.

The U.S. president, seeking re-election next year and facing a range of foreign policy challenges from Ukraine to Israel, has drawn attention for the lack of a trip to African continent despite what he says is its importance on global issues.

The two leaders were set to discuss cooperation and investment between the countries on solar energy, infrastructure development and space, areas where the Biden administration sees itself locked in competition with China and where it has also been trying to counter Russia.

As part of the visit, Angola was set to agree to the Artemis Accords, a pact designed to shape the rules for space exploration. Angola has a satellite program that has benefited from Russian support.

The United States has been supporting a project that links resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to the port of Lobito in Angola by rail to bypass road congestion and avoid delays on the copper and cobalt route.

"Africa: 1 billion people. Critically important," Biden said ahead of the Oval Office meeting. "No country more important than Angola."

Last December, Biden said, "I'm eager to visit your continent," at a Washington summit of African leaders. "I'm looking forward to seeing many of you in your home countries."

Biden briefly attended a climate conference in Egypt last year, but the conference was held on the Asian Sinai Peninsula. Vice President Kamala Harris took a week-long trip to Africa earlier this year.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Alistair Bell)
FILE PHOTO: Members of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela organize the people who participate in an electoral simulation before the referendum on December 3 over Venezuela's rights to the potentially oil-rich region of Esequiba in Guyana, i

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil "has intensified defensive actions" along its northern border as it monitors a territorial dispute between its neighbors, Guyana and Venezuela, the country's defense ministry said on Wednesday.

"The Ministry of Defense has been monitoring the situation. Defensive actions have been intensified in the northern border region of the country, promoting a greater military presence," it said in a statement.

Brazil's push to move more military resources north comes amid rising tensions between Venezuela and Guayana over an oil-rich region known as the "Esequiba," which constitutes over two thirds of Guyana's total land mass.

Venezuela's claims on the Esequiba, which have been the source of a long-running territorial dispute, were reignited in recent years after Guyana's discovery of oil and gas near the maritime border.

On Dec. 3, Venezuelans will vote in a referendum on "the rights" to the Esequiba. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to rule on Friday on a request by Guyana that the referendum be called off. Venezuela's government has said it will go ahead no matter what.

Venezuela protested an oil tender announced by Guyana in September, arguing that the offshore areas are subject to dispute and the companies awarded the fields will not have the rights to explore them.

The Venezuelan communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Brazil's actions.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito and Peter Frontini; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera in Caracas; Writing by Gabriel Stargardter, Editing by Diane Craft and Sandra Maler)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has sent the Royal Navy ship Diamond to help bolster regional security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the government said on Thursday.

The Diamond will "work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security", Britain said, conducting operations to ensure freedom of navigation, reassure merchant vessels and ensure the safe flow of trade.

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was seized by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in the southern Red Sea earlier this month.

"It is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Britain already has the frigate Lancaster, three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship in the region.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Grant McCool)
By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles began a visit to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, during which he will advocate for greater global action and accountability on climate change at the COP28 summit.

The king, who arrived in the Gulf state overnight, is due to give an address on Friday at the U.N. climate negotiations that are scheduled to run in Dubai until Dec. 12.

It will be his first major speech on climate change since he became monarch in September 2022. Other world leaders including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are also expected to attend the talks. U.S. President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping are not.

After a year of record temperatures, the pressure is on for this year's summit to accelerate action to limit climate change. Countries, however, are divided over the future of fossil fuel - the burning of which is the main cause of climate change.

Host nation, the United Arab Emirates, is a major oil producer and member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and is seeking to include the fossil fuel industry in the climate debate.

King Charles met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the COP28 site in Dubai late on Thursday. He was also briefly greeted by UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Nahyan.

In an address to a reception at the COP28 site, attended by King Charles, United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said the world was not moving fast enough to tackle climate change and urged those gathering in Dubai to reach a consensus.

"The world is a crossroads. Heat records are tumbling across the world. The severity of climate impacts are worsening at a great cost to human life and livelihoods," he said.

Earlier, King Charles held bilateral meetings with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Guyanan President Irfaan Ali at hotel in Dubai. He also met with First Nations indigenous leaders and visited the local Dubai campus of Scottish university Heriot-Watt.

The British monarch, 75, has campaigned on environmental issues for more than 50 years, and is attending the summit on behalf of the UK government following an invite from the UAE.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; editing by Barbara Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: The first P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for Norway is displayed during a delivery ceremony at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S. November 18, 2021. REUTERS/Jason Redmond/File Photo

By Ismail Shakil and Allison Lampert

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada and the United States reached a deal to buy up to 16 Boeing aircraft as part of a C$10.4 billion ($7.7 billion) project, the Canadian Defence Ministry said on Thursday, despite calls from business jet maker Bombardier for an open competition.

The investment to replace Canada's aging fleet of Aurora military surveillance planes includes an up to $5.9 billion sole-sourced deal for P-8A Poseidon aircraft and related equipment. The remaining funds will be used for simulators, infrastructure and weapons, the ministry said in a statement.

The P-8 is designed to find enemy ships and submarines using a suite of advanced electro-optical and acoustic sensors, radar and equipment like sonobuoys.

The announcement ends months of speculation and follows a challenge from Canada's Bombardier, which wanted to compete with a missionized version of its Global 6500 jet with the backing of politicians in the province of Quebec.

Montreal-based Bombardier said it was "disappointed" with the decision.

Ottawa had reached out to Washington in March about buying Poseidons, arguing that Boeing's aircraft was the only one to meet all its requirements.

"We believe that it is very much in the public and national interest to acquire the only capability currently available to us," Defence Minister Bill Blair told a news briefing in Ottawa on Thursday.

"In this case, there is an aircraft in use that is available and currently in production and on the other side, we had the concept," said Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, who added his government still supports Bombardier.

The P-8 is currently operated by Canadas Five Eyes allies  the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.

Canada will procure 14 of 16 Poseidons approved for sale and keep the option open to buy two more. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to be completed as early as autumn 2027, with full operational capability anticipated by 2033.

Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at Macdonald Laurier Institute, said the sole-source decision would allow Canada to get the planes years earlier.

Shimooka, a defense and foreign policy specialist, said a lengthy competition would also risk Boeing needing to end P-8 production due to insufficient demand, which would raise costs if Canada decided to order the plane in the future.

Boeing has said it will continue to make P-8s if there is "sufficient demand to maintain efficient and safe production."

Excluding Canada, Boeing says the backlog for P-8 orders is 20 planes, with 183 on contract and 163 delivered.

($1 = 1.3582 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Steve Scherer in Ottawa and Allison Lampert in Montreal. Additional reporting by Valerie Insinna in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Nick Zieminski)
Cognizant's logo is pictured on a smartphone in this illustration taken, December 4, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Sai Ishwarbharath B

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Software services giant Cognizant has appointed real estate management firm JLL as an adviser to find buyers for leasehold land tied to its globally largest facility by area located in Chennai, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The move to exit its Siruseri, Chennai facility comes after Cognizant in May unveiled a restructuring plan to cut costs by $400 million in two years, including giving up 11 million square feet in office space, or around 80,000 seats.

"This (plan to rationalize workspaces) enables us to invest in collaboration spaces in Tier 2 cities while creating structural savings for the future that we can invest in our people and growth opportunities," the company told Reuters by email.

Teaneck, New Jersey-based Cognizant, which has two campuses in the facility owned by the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), holds a long-term lease on the land which it plans to sell, one of the sources added.

JLL and SIPCOT did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

The campuses sit on land spanning over 49 acres having 16,500 seats, according to the company's presentations done for green energy certifications.

Industry watchers gave the move a thumbs-up.

It is an attempt "by Cognizant and other IT firms to decentralize their talent models to lower-cost locations," said Peter Bendor-Samuel, CEO at research firm Everest Group.

"They are moving to smaller campuses and moving to take advantage of Tier 2-4 cities, which are often preferred by their talent and come with lower cost of living and lower cost to operate," Samuel said.

He added that clients were indifferent to where employees sat if the service quality was maintained.

The focus on smaller cities also comes at a time when many IT employees are reluctant to move back to big cities after shifting to their hometowns during the worst of the pandemic.

(Reporting by Sai Ishwarbharath B; Editing by Dhanya Skariachan and Shweta Agarwal)
Zubale co-founder and CEO Sebastian Monroy poses for a photo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in this undated handout picture obtained by Reuters on November 29, 2023. Zubale/Handout via REUTERS

By Kylie Madry

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - E-commerce startup Zubale is setting its sights on expanding throughout Brazil and Mexico with a fresh $25 million capital injection, the company said on Thursday.

Started as a service to pair gig workers with storefronts or warehouses to complete packaging or deliveries, Zubale now also offers logistics and customer-facing software to its commercial clients, CEO Sebastian Monroy said in an interview.

In Brazil, Zubale already works with major retailers such as Carrefour, GPA and Cencosud, said country manager Thiego Goularte, but the startup is looking to widen its client base both geographically and across segments.

"Brazil is a really large country, and we have to keep growing," said Goularte, adding that Zubale operates in more than 40 cities in the country, including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Zubale is looking to widen its reach beyond grocery stores and pharmacies to clothing stores, pet shops and electronics chains, Goularte said.

In Mexico, the startup already operates in 90 cities and is eyeing another 40 over the next two years, said Monroy.

He added that Zubale plans to first boost the technology behind its gig service in Mexico, Latin America's second-largest economy, to increase both workers' productivity and earnings.

Zubale is also going to "speed up market penetration" of its software in Mexico, where the products are "still really green," Monroy said.

The $25 million investment announced on Thursday comes from backers such as QED Investors and NFX, and follows a $40 million Series A funding round last year.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
U.S. Rep. George Santos (R-NY) holds a press conference to address efforts to expel him from the House of Representatives, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

By Makini Brice and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Indicted U.S. Representative George Santos on Thursday was defiant ahead of an expected vote to expel him from Congress and lashed out at other lawmakers in what could be his final days on Capitol Hill.

"I will not stand by quietly. The people of Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, they're going to have to go silence those people and take the hard vote," Santos said on the House floor.

The 35-year-old first-term congressman, who has spent less than a year in Congress, faces criminal campaign-finance charges and has admitted to fabricating much of his biography. His fellow Republicans have scheduled a vote on his expulsion on Friday.

In a one-hour debate, Santos was joined in his defense by three Republicans, who largely argued against his expulsion on procedural grounds. Eight Democrats and Republicans called for his removal, including one lawmaker, Max Miller, who said he and other lawmakers had been victims of Santos.

"You, sir, are a crook," Miller said.

Santos survived one expulsion vote earlier this month, but faces longer odds this time. A bipartisan congressional probe released after that vote found evidence that he spent campaign money on Botox, luxury brands such as Hermes, and on OnlyFans, an online platform known for sexual content.

That has prompted some of the Republicans who previously voted against removing him to withdraw their support.

Santos declined to comment on that report, but said at a news conference on Thursday morning that he was not wearing anything purchased with campaign funds.

Pointing at his shoes, he said, "These are six years old."

Later in the day, Santos filed a motion to force an expulsion vote against Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman, who pleaded guilty in October to a misdemeanor charge of triggering a fire alarm before a vote. That is unlikely to succeed as it would need substantial Democratic support.

"This is just another meaningless stunt in his long history of cons, antics, and outright fraud," Bowman said in a statement before Santos filed the motion.

Santos has said he will not run for reelection next year but has remained bellicose amid growing pressure that he step down. The drumbeat of scandal has left him isolated in Congress, where he sits on no committees and has little influence.

Santos predicted he would be forced out in Friday's vote and said he was proud of his record in Congress. "I wish I could do more, (but) if this is it, this is it," he said.

Without his seat, Republicans' already slim 222-213 majority would narrow further. His district, which includes parts of New York City and its Long Island suburbs, is seen as competitive.

An election to fill his seat would be held within three months, according to New York state law.

At least 77 Republicans will have to vote for expulsion, along with the chamber's 213 Democrats, to meet the two-thirds majority required under the U.S. Constitution.

Santos would be only the sixth member to be expelled from the House of Representatives, and the first who has not been convicted of a crime or fought for the Confederacy during the 1861-65 U.S. Civil War.

Santos' troubles began shortly after his November 2022 election, when media outlets reported that he had not actually attended New York University or worked at Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, as he had claimed during the campaign.

He also falsely claimed Jewish heritage and told voters his grandparents had fled the Nazis during World War Two.

That made Santos a pariah in the House and the butt of television comedians even before federal prosecutors charged him with an array of fraud and campaign-finance crimes.

In a 23-count indictment, they accuse him of inflating his fundraising totals in order to draw more support from the Republican Party, laundering funds to pay for personal expenses, and charging donors' credits cards without permission.

Two former campaign aides have pleaded guilty to related fraud charges.

Santos denies wrongdoing, and his trial is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2024, shortly before the November elections that will determine control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.

(Reporting by Makini Brice and Andy Sullivan; additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Scott Malone, Nick Zieminski and Jonathan Oatis)
By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union will not introduce a retail labelling system anytime soon for cracking down on misleading sustainability claims made by investment funds to attract cash, an Irish central banker said on Thursday.

Earlier this week Britain, no longer a member of the EU, set out a new system for labelling funds to stop greenwashing, or unsubstantiated claims about sustainability.

Derville Rowland, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, said that in due course the EU's executive European Commission may further consider a labelling regime for investment products.

The EU's securities watchdog ESMA, on whose board Rowland sits, said last month that the lack of standardised labels can lead to confusion among retail investors on whether a fund is sustainable or not.

"I don't think you will see the EU jump too quickly now to a labelling regime," she told an Irish Funds conference in London.

Ireland, with 1.2 trillion euros ($1.31 trillion) of assets under management in ESG investments, is a major EU centre for listing funds, many of which are managed from London.

Rowland said Ireland would not legislate unilaterally on a labelling regime as it was better to work in "lockstep" with the EU.

She noted that the EU is already consulting on limited changes to its Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which mandates how asset managers should disclose ESG factors.

The EU is facing pushback on introducing more ESG related rules, with Rowland talking of compliance "fatigue".

Any labelling rules would likely come from a new European Commission, due to be appointed in the autumn of next year, Rowland said.

"So I think what we need to do now... is focus on implementing what we have well."

($1 = 0.9168 euros)

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Christina Fincher)
In the Tavria sector, the invaders conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the areas of Stepove, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Pivnichne, Pervomaiske, east of Novobakhmutivka, and south of Tonenke. Twenty-two attacks have been repelled so far today. The defense forces inflicted significant losses on the enemy, killing or capturing 500 Russian soldiers.

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Ukrainian soldiers also destroyed seven tanks, 13 other armored vehicles, and two ammunition depots. This information was reported by the commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, on his Telegram channel.

"Over the past day, Russian terrorists launched 8 missile attacks. Ten civilians were wounded, including 5 children. Additionally, 7 air strikes were recorded, all of which took place in the Donetsk region. Almost all of them involved the dropping of precision-guided munitions from Su-35 aircraft," noted the military commander.

At the same time, Tarnavskyi pointed out that the occupiers were surrendering under the intense attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Over the past day, Ukraine's exchange fund has been replenished with four "newcomers."

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"Over the past 20 days, more than 60 Russian occupants in the Tavria area have made the same choice and will live," he summarized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, last week, the enemy forces significantly escalated the number of assault operations and air strikes in the Tavria direction. The Armed Forces of Ukraine continued to hold the line, inflicting losses on the enemy.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
By Julia Payne

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU countries are digging in against parts of the Commission's latest proposed package of sanctions on Russia, namely the so-called "no Russia clause", retaliatory financial limits and enforcing sanctions on goods for personal use, six sources said.

The package, which would be the bloc's 12th since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, also seeks to close more loopholes on sanctions circumvention.

However some member states, which the sources declined to identify, say the new proposal goes too far and would backfire on EU global trade and ultimately, fail in its aims.

Countries said at an ambassadorial meeting this week said Article 12 G in the proposal, dubbed the "No Russia clause", could potentially create havoc for European companies globally, the sources familiar with the discussions said.

Under the proposals aired at the meeting, the sources said, EU exporters would be forced to insert a re-export prohibition to Russia across all goods in the Commissions list of custom codes, which encompasses more items of daily use than those of military utility for Russia.

"A small entrepreneur in Brazil would have to fulfil contracts in such a complex system ... the discussion should be focused on highly critical goods," one source said, who like them all declined to be named owing to the sensitivity of the discussions.

In Tuesday's version of the proposal, three of the sources say, another addition was made to exempt the use of sanctioned goods for personal use from this latest package as that has become a source of abuse at Russia-EU borders since previous packages came into force.

When citizens of any nationality cross the border from Russia, personal goods that could be resold are seized by border guards. They justify the moves based on a sanctions list of items that could be used a "potential revenue" for Russia.

While the EU Commission has acknowledged this happening with big ticket items such as cars, two of the sources said items such as toothpaste were also being confiscated - leading to the attempt to make a provision for items of personal use.

One source said a majority of countries at the ambassadorial meeting of the 27 member bloc did not support proposed measures that would require EU authorisation for "any transfer of funds" by a Russian entity or Russian national residing in Russia out of the EU, criticising them as pointlessly burdensome without having thresholds below which a transaction would be exempt. Another source said "many" countries objected.

The core elements of the proposed package - an indirect ban on Russian diamond imports and changes to how better implement the Group of Seven (G7) Russian oil price cap - have not been actively discussed as the bloc awaits G7 technical direction, which is expected within weeks.

On the oil side, the EU and G7 are trying to tighten the trade of Russian oil under their $60 per barrel crude oil price cap. Western countries said while it worked for a while, Russian oil revenues were rising thanks to growing "shadow fleet" of tankers made up of aging Western ships.

The EU wants to add some metals products and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to its list of banned products in the 12th package. Initially, the proposal included a 3-month wind-down period for the items but for some iron products and LPG, the latest version of the proposed packaged extended the wind-down to one year.

(This story has been corrected to say 'enforcing sanctions' instead of 'dual-use' in paragraph 1 and to refer to people crossing from Russia, not into Russia, in paragraph 8)

(Reporting by Julia Payne; Editing by Alison Williams)
By Sam Nussey and Miho Uranaka

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese robot maker Yaskawa Electric is considering investing around $200 million in the United States, its president said, with an eye to making its industrial robots there for the first time.

The investment would follow other manufacturers from allied nations moving to build capacity in the U.S. as Washington tries to boost high-end manufacturing and strengthen its control over supply chains amid trade tension with China.

While Japanese rival Fanuc is a leading maker of factory robots for the automotive industry in the U.S., Yaskawa hopes to ride a wave of automation in other sectors.

Manufacturing locally "gives our customers a sense of security and reliability," President Masahiro Ogawa said in an interview.

The more than 100-year-old company has previously said it is looking to invest more in the U.S. The potential scope of the expansion is reported here for the first time.

Yaskawa is the world's top maker of servo motors, a type of high-precision motor that is widely used in chipmaking tools.

The company, which already makes components in Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio, is considering expanding U.S. production to modules which incorporate its motors, Ogawa said.

The U.S. views securing access to cutting-edge semiconductors as a priority, with its leading chip equipment makers including Applied Materials and Lam Research.

Foreign manufacturers building out capacity in the U.S. include automaker Toyota Motor and chipmakers TSMC and Samsung Electronics.

Yaskawa, whose shares have risen by about a third year-to-date giving it a market capitalisation of around $10 billion, is looking at possible subsidies to fund some of the cost of the expansion, Ogawa said.

(Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
FILE PHOTO: Signage for Humana Inc. is pictured at a health facility in Queens, New York City, U.S., November 30, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

(Reuters) -A possible deal between U.S. health insurers Cigna and Humana has been abandoned over terms, sources familiar with the deal told Reuters on Sunday.

Such a deal likely would have faced scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), which in 2017 successfully stopped Anthem, now Elevance Health, from buying Cigna for $54 billion, and thwarted Aetna's plan to purchase rival Humana for $34 billion.

Here's a look at what happened with those deals first announced in 2015.

WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR THE PROPOSED MERGERS?

Aetna, Humana, Anthem and Cigna cited the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, which was passed by Congress in 2010 to significantly expand access to affordable health insurance. They said aspects of the new law meant their industry needed to consolidate to cope with the costs of expanding coverage.

WHAT DID THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAY IN ITS COMPLAINTS?

In each of the two complaints filed in federal court in Washington in 2016, the Justice Department noted the other deal and the extraordinary consolidation that was being planned for the industry. It asked federal judges to order each transaction stopped.

The Justice Department argued that Anthem's deal for Cigna would mean "higher prices and reduced benefits" for consumers, including big national employers who pay health insurers to cover their workers. The government complaint also cited Cigna as an innovator that was finding ways to lower medical costs. "Without the merger, Cigna expects to double in size in the next seven to eight years," it said in its complaint.

The department's argument against the Aetna deal to buy Humana focused on Medicare Advantage, which is federal Medicare coverage provided by private health insurers. The government said the merger would end competition for Medicare Advantage business between the two. "Competition between Humana and Aetna has led to lower premiums, more generous benefits, better provider networks, and improved coordination of care," the government said in its complaint. Aetna is now part of CVS.

TWO JUDGES, TWO RULINGS FOR THE GOVERNMENT

In January 2017, just days into the Trump administration, Judge John Bates of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said Aetna's proposed deal with rival Humana was illegal because it would "substantially lessen competition in the sale of individual Medicare Advantage plans in 364 counties identified in the complaint and in the sale of individual commercial insurance on the public exchanges in three counties in Florida."

In February 2017, Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Anthem's deal for Cigna stopped, agreeing with the government's assessment that it would reduce competition in an already concentrated health insurance market, particularly for big national employers.

Anthem fought on, and an appeals court upheld the decision to block the deal in April 2017. Future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh dissented, saying that a combined Anthem/Cigna would require higher payments to manage the accounts but that would be offset by better negotiated rates paid to providers.

DOES THE DOJ ALWAYS WIN?

No. The Biden administration fought a plan by UnitedHealth (NYSE: UNH), the largest U.S. health insurer, to buy Change Healthcare for $8 billion, arguing it would give UnitedHealth access to its competitors' data and ultimately push up healthcare costs.

The DOJ lost in 2022. The judge said efforts the companies undertook to address antitrust concerns were sufficient.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
By Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) - A former Goldman Sachs analyst used confidential information to make more than 140,000 pounds ($176,800) from shares in listed companies, prosecutors told a London court on Thursday.

Mohammed Zina, 35, who was employed by Goldman Sachs International in its conflicts resolution group in London, is accused of six offences of insider dealing relating to shares in six companies, including Arm Holdings and Punch Taverns.

Zina is standing trial at Southwark Crown Court alongside his brother Suhail Zina, 36, who was a lawyer at law firm Clifford Chance and is accused of letting his sibling use a trading account in his name to buy and sell shares between July 2016 and December 2017.

The pair are also charged with three counts of fraud relating to loans obtained from Tesco Bank, which prosecutors say were used to buy the shares but which they said were to be for home improvements.

Both Mohammed and Suhail Zina have pleaded not guilty to all nine charges. They no longer work for either Goldman Sachs or Clifford Chance.

Prosecutor Peter Carter said the brothers "used information which they should not have used  because it was private, confidential, price-sensitive information  to gamble effectively, to invest on the stock exchange".

He told the jury that Goldman Sachs' internal policies strictly forbid any use of confidential information acquired by the investment bank or its employees.

"To breach a confidence or to use confidential information improperly or carelessly would be unthinkable," the policy says.

Carter said the policy was clear that employees are not allowed to use confidential information "other than for your work at (Goldman Sachs) and nothing else".

But, he added "that is precisely what Mohammed Zina did" with the assistance of his brother.

The ongoing trial is expected to conclude in February.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
MUNICH/BANJUL (Reuters) -A German court on Thursday sentenced a driver in the elite guard of former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh to life in prison for crimes against humanity, murder and attempted murder that led to the death of a journalist and two other opponents of his rule.

The conviction is a rare piece of justice for victims under Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup and ruled with an iron fist until he was forced out of Gambia by regional forces in 2017 after refusing to accept defeat in an election.

Jammeh has been accused of mass killings, dumping bodies in wells, falsely claiming to have a herbal cure for AIDS, and for rape. He has not publicly commented on the allegations. He is living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

German prosecutors said last year when they filed charges against the driver that he was a member of Jammeh's elite guard known as "the junglers" between 2003 and 2006.

They said the driver, identified as Bai L. in line with German privacy rules, on three occasions drove officers to locations where they fired on opponents of Jammeh.

Bai L. denied any involvement in the regional court in the German city of Celle, a spokesman for the court said. The verdict can still be appealed.

Germany recognises universal jurisdiction for serious crimes, allowing Bai L. to be tried there even though the offences happened in Gambia.

The Celle court convicted him for his role in the murders of at least three of Jammeh's opponents, including journalist Deyda Hydara shot dead in 2004 on the outskirts of the capital Banjul, and an attack on a lawyer in 2003.

His son Baba Hydara welcomed the verdict as a milestone paving the way for "many more people to be held accountable".

Reporters Without Borders said it was the first criminal trial relating to crimes against humanity under Jammeh's rule.

"This trial is an important sign for the people of Gambia," Nicola Bier, a legal adviser for the non-governmental organisation, said.

Gambia's government said last year that it would seek to prosecute Jammeh for killings and other suspected crimes from, following a recommendation from a truth and reconciliation commission.

(Reporting by Joern Poltz in Munich and Pap Saine in Banjul;Writing by Sofia Christensen;Editing by Alexander Winning and Alison Williams)
By Tomo Uetake

TOKYO (Reuters) - Harris Associates is finding plenty of investment opportunities in Europe, while taking a more cautious stance on Japan, its vice chairman and chief investment officer of international equities told Reuters.

Harris Associates is a Chicago-based investment company that had $95 billion in assets under management as of the end of September. The firm, known for "value investing", is an affiliate of French Natixis Investment Managers.

Vice Chairman David Herro said the company's Oakmark International funds were overweight Europe, with a particular interest in financial stocks.

"Our attraction to the values is based on price and quality (of the company). Right now, the biggest pocket of value that we see is European equities," he said.

Herro said European stocks, especially the German market, are undervalued in terms of their return on equity and price-earnings ratio, as equity prices have been driven down by energy prices and global events such as the war in Ukraine.

Harris Associates, however, is approaching Japanese stocks more selectively, Herro said, adding the company's holdings have fallen as stock prices rose in the "Abenomics" rally.

Compared to Europe, the Japanese market was not as undervalued and there is room for the return on equity to grow, he added.

However, while the overall market might not present the same opportunities as Europe, Harris Associates finds stocks in certain sectors, such as IT services and human resource services, attractive. Drugstore stocks like Sugi Holdings and Sundrug were also worthwhile, he said.

The price of stocks in Japan was one of the barriers preventing Harris Associates from taking a more bullish stance, Herro said, as these have ticked up since the early 2010s.

As a result, Harris Associates' proportion of Japanese stocks dropped from as high as 23-24% to nearly zero at one point. Its most recent ratio stood around 3-4%.

Herro said Harris Associates would like to see more pressure from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and shareholders, including Japan's Government Investment Pension Fund, on companies to improve capital efficiency and balance sheets.

"There is opportunity, but you just have to remove a lot of dirt and a lot of rocks, and filter to find gold. So its there, its just hard to find it," adding that the conditions to find such nuggets of gold in Japan are "getting better".

(Reporting by Tomo Uetake; Writing by Brigid Riley; editing by Miral Fahmy)
FILE PHOTO: A follower of Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori holding a placard stands outside a prison, after a top court reinstated the pardon of Fujimori, in Lima, Peru, November 29, 2023. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda/File Photo

LIMA (Reuters) - The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has urged the Peruvian government to not free ex-President Alberto Fujimori after the country's top constitutional court ruled to restore his pardon, in a move likely to snarl efforts for the former leader to leave prison.

Fujimori, 85, is serving a 25-year sentence for human rights abuses and corruption. He received a presidential pardon in 2017, though it has been overturned twice following pressure from the IACHR.

The IACHR has now asked the Peruvian government to send the international court a report by Dec. 6 confirming its decision to not release Fujimori, according to a letter posted by IACHR lawyer Carlos Rivera on his X account Wednesday morning.

Earlier this week, Peru's top constitutional court ruled that a previous decision upholding the pardon was valid. A lower court judge must now confirm the decision to free Fujimori.

Peru's justice ministry said on Wednesday the government was obligated to comply with the ruling in favor of the pardon.

Human rights organizations and relatives of abuse victims criticized the decision.

The former president, who was in power through the 1990s, was convicted of ordering the massacre of 25 people in 1991 and 1992 while his government was fighting against the Shining Path guerrillas.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Richard Chang)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi, who had been previously detained for showing support to anti-government protests and was released on bail earlier this month, was arrested again, Iran's state media reported on Thursday.

"Salehi has been arrested for publishing false information and disturbing public opinion, after being released upon an order by Iran's supreme court to revise his case", the judiciary news agency said.

Following the death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in September 2022, Iran has seen months of nationwide protests that represented one of the fiercest challenges to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979.

Salehi, who wrote songs about the protests, was initially sentenced to six years in prison on multiple charges, including "corruption on earth", a ruling that was then rejected by Iran's supreme court.

The 33-year-old rapper spent one year and 21 days in prison, including 252 days in solitary confinement, during which he sustained physical injuries, according to his official page on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter.

(Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
FILE PHOTO: OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken, February 3, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Akanksha Khushi, Sayantani Ghosh and Krystal Hu

(Reuters) -Microsoft will take a non-voting, observer position on OpenAI's board, CEO Sam Altman said in his first official missive after taking back the reins of the company on Wednesday.

The observer position means Microsoft's representative can attend OpenAI's board meetings and access confidential information, but it does not have voting rights on matters including electing or choosing directors.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who had recruited Altman to Microsoft after his ouster from OpenAI, had said earlier that governance at the ChatGPT maker needs to change.

OpenAI said last week announced a new initial board that consists of former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor as chair and Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary. Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, who was part of the board who fired Altman, also stayed on for the new one.

The new OpenAI board is on an active search for six new members with expertise in fields from technology to safety and policy. OpenAI investors are unlikely to get a seat on the non-profit board, sources told Reuters.

Microsoft has committed to invest over $10 billion into OpenAI and owns 49% of the company. It did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mira Murati, who had been OpenAI's chief technology officer and was briefly named interim CEO after Altman's ouster, is once again the company's CTO.

OpenAI ousted Altman on Nov. 17 without any detailed cause, setting off alarm bells among investors and employees. He was reinstated four days later with the promise of a new board.

Altman's exit sparked confusion about the future of the startup at the center of an artificial intelligence boom.

His co-founder Greg Brockman, who had followed Altman out of the company, would return as president, Altman said on Wednesday.

"Greg and I are partners in running this company. We have never quite figured out how to communicate that on the org chart, but we will," Altman said.

OpenAI's chief scientist Ilya Sutskever will no longer be part of the board, Altman said.

Sutskever had joined in the effort to fire Altman but later signed an employee letter demanding his return, expressing regret for his "participation in the board's actions."

"I love and respect Ilya, I think he's a guiding light of the field and a gem of a human being. I harbor zero ill will towards him," Altman said, adding the company was discussing how Sutskever could continue his work at OpenAI.

Apart from Altman, Brockman, Sutskever, D'Angelo, OpenAI's previous board consisted of entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, director of strategy at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, Krystal Hu in New York, and Sayantani Ghosh in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends what state media report was a launching ceremony for a new tactical nuclear attack submarine in North Korea, in this picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 8, 2023. KCNA v

By Soo-hyang Choi

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for his military to be ready to respond to any "provocation" by the enemy, state media said on Friday, after Pyongyang vowed to deploy stronger armed forces and new weapons along its border with the South.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have increased since the North last month launched a spy satellite, prompting Seoul to suspend a key clause in a 2018 inter-Korean military accord and Pyongyang in turn to declare it was no longer bound by the pact.

Visiting North Korea's air force command on Thursday to the branch's airmen day, Kim rolled out guidelines to improve the military's combat posture and increase "its capabilities to fight a war to the full," news agency KCNA reported.

"He set forth operational and tactical policies ... so as to counter any military provocation and threat of the enemy immediately and powerfully," KCNA said.

That stop was followed by a visit to a fighter wing, where pilots staged a demonstration flight, it said.

Photographs released by state media showed Kim and his daughter, both dressed in long leather jackets, watching the show.

Kim praised the air force for being "fully prepared to perfectly carry out their air combat missions under any unfavourable situation," KCNA said.

The United States and its allies have strongly condemned the North's first spy satellite launch as a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. But Pyongyang has said it would launch more satellites, calling it an exercise of a right to self-defence.

On Thursday, the United States targeted North Korea with fresh sanctions over the satellite launch, designating foreign-based agents it accused of facilitating sanctions evasion. South Korea also announced sanctions on 11 North Koreans.

Reflecting the rising strain, South Korea has suspended tours of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, a Seoul official said.

Local media reported that North Korean soldiers at the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the DMZ had started carrying firearms again after the North withdrew from the inter-Korean military deal.

The DMZ tours had restarted last week; they had been halted after a U.S. soldier's unauthorised crossing into North Korea while on a tour in July. Private Travis King was later handed back by the North and returned to the United States, where he faces charges.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Richard Chang, Ed Davies and Gerry Doyle)
Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot announced an increase in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. This implies that the government in Amsterdam will allocate 2.5 billion euros for the needs of the Defense Forces, which are waging a war of liberation against Russia.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is reported by AA from the hall of the OSCE summit, which is taking place in the capital of North Macedonia. From the rostrum, the diplomat assured his Ukrainian colleagues of support until the end.

"This assistance should fully satisfy the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in ammunition, as well as equip air defense systems and other installations that were previously supplied to Kyiv. The Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine, whatever it takes and for as long as it takes," Slot said.

He added that his country is closely monitoring what the Russian army is doing in Ukraine. The vast majority of war crimes committed by the invaders have not gone unnoticed, will be investigated by an independent court in The Hague and the perpetrators will be punished.

"The Netherlands strongly condemns Russia's policy of illegal transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children. This policy is aimed at destroying the identity and culture of Ukraine," the minister emphasized in the end of his speech.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, in 2024, France promises to increase the amount of ammunition supplied to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. During a recent meeting, representatives of Kyiv and Paris considered the possibility of strengthening cooperation in the defense sector and establishing logistics between the two countries.

And the Pentagon has pointed out that the military assistance provided by Washington to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion has strengthened the US national defense industrial base. The US defense industry has been at this level for decades.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: OPEC's logo is seen in this illustration taken, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

By Alex Lawler, Olesya Astakhova, Maha El Dahan and Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON/MOSCOW/DUBAI (Reuters) -OPEC+ oil producers on Thursday agreed to voluntary output cuts totalling about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for early next year led by Saudi Arabia rolling over its current voluntary cut.

Benchmark global oil prices settled down around 2% [O/R], in part because the reductions were voluntary and because of investor expectation ahead of the meeting that additional supply cuts might be deeper.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC+, who pump more than 40% of the world's oil, met online on Thursday to discuss supply policy.

"The market reaction implies disbelief in the full efficacy of the cuts," JP Morgan analyst Christyan Malek said.

"However, setting a new framework for each member to deliver on its cut reflects the degree of trust and cohesion among the members; case in point, the fact Brazil is joining is testament to the strength in numbers for OPEC+."

The group discussed 2024 output amid forecasts the market faces a potential surplus and as a 1 million barrel per day (bpd) cut by Saudi Arabia was set to end next month.

OPEC+'s output of some 43 million bpd already reflects cuts of about 5 million bpd aimed at supporting prices and stabilising the market.

The total curbs amount to 2.2 million bpd from eight producers, OPEC said in a statement after the meeting. Included in this figure is an extension of the Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd.

The 900,000 bpd of additional cuts pledged on Thursday, includes 200,000 bpd of fuel export reductions from Russia, with the rest divided among six members.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia's voluntary cut would include crude and products.

The UAE said it had agreed to cut output by 163,000 bpd while Iraq said it would cut an extra 220,000 bpd in the first quarter.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Algeria were among producers who said cuts will be unwound gradually after the first quarter, market conditions permitting.

OPEC+ is focused on lower output with prices down from near $98 in late September and concerns brewing over weaker economic growth in 2024 and expectations of a supply surplus.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) this month forecast a slowdown in 2024 demand growth as "the last phase of the pandemic economic rebound dissipates and as advancing energy efficiency gains, expanding electric vehicle fleets and structural factors reassert themselves."

OPEC+ also invited Brazil, a top 10 producer, to become a member of the group. The country's energy minister said it hoped to join in January.

The OPEC+ meeting coincides with the opening of the United Nations' COP28 climate summit being hosted by OPEC member the United Arab Emirates.

(Reporting by Alex Lawler, Olesya Astakhova, Maha El Dahan, Ahmad Ghaddar; additional reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Lamine Chikli; editing by Jason Neely and Barbara Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken, January 30, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) -PricewaterhouseCoopers affiliates in Hong Kong and China and a Chinese audit firm have agreed to pay a total of $7.9 million in fines for failures related to audits of U.S.-listed Chinese companies, the U.S. accounting watchdog said on Thursday.

The penalties come over a year after Beijing and Washington struck a landmark deal that has allowed the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to inspect the books and records of Chinese companies listed in New York for the first time. While the fines are relatively small, they are among the biggest the watchdog has ever issued and indicate that the inspection deal, a decade in the making, is working as hoped.

"The days of China-based firms evading accountability are over. The PCAOB is demonstrating that we will take action to protect investors in U.S. markets and impose tough sanctions against anyone who violates PCAOB rules and standards, no matter where they are located," said PCAOB chair Erica Williams in a statement.

PricewaterhouseCoopers firms in Hong Kong and China agreed to pay a total of $7 million for violating quality control standards after they failed to detect or prevent extensive answer-sharing on mandatory training courses, the PCAOB said.

"After becoming aware of these issues, the firms investigated these matters promptly and took remedial action," the PwC affiliates said in a joint statement, noting they reported the problems to the PCAOB.

The PCAOB also fined Shandong Haoxin Certified Public Accountants Co., Ltd. and four accountants $940,000 for violations including issuing a false audit report and failing to maintain independence from a public company client. The individuals are also facing industry bars of varying lengths, the PCAOB said.

Haoxin did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The U.S. has for years worried that the auditors of U.S.-listed Chinese companies were falling down on the job, putting investors at risk. But Beijing had resisted allowing the PCAOB access to its auditors' records, citing state secrecy concerns.

In August 2022, the two countries - spurred on by a new U.S. law that threatened to kick potentially 200 Chinese companies off U.S. exchanges - finally agreed a framework for beginning inspections of eight audits.

In May, the PCAOB said it found a slew of deficiencies in audits of U.S.-listed Chinese companies performed by PwC in Hong Kong and KPMG. At the time, the watchdog said it was common to find issues when first accessing a country's auditors.

It did not disclose which companies' audits it had selected for inspection, but Reuters has previously reported that Alibaba Group Holding and Yum China Holdings were among them.

The PCAOB's inspection in the region continue and the regulator continues to have "complete access" in its inspections, Williams said on Thursday.

"American investors are better protected when the PCAOB can audit the auditors of issuers listed in the United States," U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair Gary Gensler said in a statement.

(Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Michelle Price, Chizu Nomiyama and Nick Zieminski)
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Members of the global chemical weapons watchdog on Thursday censured Syria for violating its international obligations to declare and surrender banned toxic munitions, calling for a ban on transfers of chemicals to Damascus.

Members of the Organisation for the Prohibition for Chemical Weapons in The Hague adopted a decision in response to Syria's non-compliance and to counter the threat of proliferation of chemical weapons munitions "in Syria and beyond".

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government has denied using chemical weapons against its opponents in the civil war, which broke out in March 2011 and has now largely settled into a stalemate. Its Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Thursday.

A majority of members of the Conference of State Parties, the OPCW's governing body, adopted the decision in a vote of 69 to 10, with 45 abstentions, the OPCW said.

"The continued possession and use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic, and its failures to submit an accurate and complete declaration and to destroy all its undeclared chemical weapons and production facilities, have caused serious damage to the object and purpose of the Chemical Weapons Convention," it said.

States parties condemned in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons by anyone, under any circumstances."

The decision called for no "direct or indirect transfer to Syria of certain chemical precursors, dual-use chemical manufacturing facilities and equipment and related technology".

It also called on states to provide support and cooperate with criminal investigations into the illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria.

In 2021, Syria was stripped of its voting rights at the OPCW due to ongoing violations of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

The latest measure, which is the next step by OPCW members in condemnation of Syria, came in response it to failing to meet its obligations under the convention, including the alleged possession of banned toxic munitions discovered by OPCW inspectors.

Syria joined the OPCW in 2013, agreeing to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in its entirety an to abandon all production and storage facilities.

Repeated investigations by the United Nations and the OPCW's special Investigation and Identification Team concluded that Syrian government forces used the nerve agent sarin and chlorine barrel bombs in attacks between 2015 and 2018 that investigators said killed or injured thousands.

Earlier on Thursday, Syrian rights groups launched a proposal to create a new tribunal to prosecute individuals suspected of illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria and elsewhere.

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Additional reporting by Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Editing by Alison Williams)
TAIPEI (Reuters) -China's leadership is too "overwhelmed" with its internal problems to consider an invasion of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military pressure against the island over the past four years, leading to concerns of a conflict that would have global repercussions.

But Tsai, in a transcript of the New York Times DealBook Summit interview her office published on Thursday, said China had too many issues at the moment.

"Well, I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she said.

"Largely because the internal economic and financial as well as political challenges, but also, the international community has made it loud and clear that war is not an option, and peace and stability serves everybody's interests."

Asked about Tsai's comments, China's defence ministry said: "China will eventually and surely be reunified".

"The People's Liberation Army will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing in Beijing.

Tsai and her government have repeatedly called for talks with China but been rebuffed, as Beijing views Tsai and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatists.

Tsai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

Taiwan is in the middle of campaigning for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held on Jan. 13. The DPP's Lai Ching-te, currently vice president, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president according to opinion polls.

Tsai said it was "no secret" that China was trying to interfere in Taiwan's elections.

"But I think they're probably not particularly successful in their effort of trying to influence the election here. Primarily, because this is a democracy and people know that they have made their best decisions as to who is going to be the next leader of Taiwan," she added.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday stepped up its attacks on Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, formerly Taiwan's envoy to the United States.

"Taiwan independence means war. The DPP pushing this dangerous independence double act will only poison the interests and well being of compatriots on the island," spokesperson Chen Binhua told a news conference.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei on Thursday, top China-policy maker Chiu Tai-san dismissed Beijing's criticisms.

"Honestly speaking, those comments show they don't even know what democratic politics and elections are," said Chiu, who heads Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Yew Lun Tian in Beijing; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Christopher Cushing)
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan again reported Chinese warplanes and warships around the island on Thursday, including aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait, as Beijing keeps up its military activities ahead of Taiwan's January election.

Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the island.

Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary polls on Jan. 13 and campaigning has already kicked into high gear. Relations with China are a major point of contention.

Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting Thursday morning it had detected J-10 and J-16 fighters as well as ship-borne helicopters operating off central Taiwan and to the island's southwest.

Eleven of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added.

The strait's median line once served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, but Chinese planes now regularly fly over it.

Taiwan sent its own forces to monitor, the ministry said.

This month, Taiwan has reported at least three other similar large-scale sorties by China's air force, which Beijing has not commented on.

China says its activities near Taiwan are aimed at preventing "collusion" between Taiwan separatists and the United States, and protecting China's territorial integrity.

Taiwan's government, which has repeatedly offered talks with China, rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says only the island's people can decide their future.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has denounced as a separatist, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president, according to opinion polls.

Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, traditionally supports close ties with Beijing, and has pledged to re-open dialogue with China if it wins the election.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Sonali Paul and Gerry Doyle)
FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of laptop users are seen next to a screen projection of binary code are seen in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Eleven of the world's biggest tech companies, including Amazon.com, Alphabet's Google and Microsoft, will sign an agreement with the British government on Thursday to step up their efforts to tackle online fraud, the interior ministry said.

Under the "Online Fraud Charter," due to be signed at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister James Cleverly in London, the companies pledge to take further action to block and remove fraudulent content from their sites, the government said.

In addition to Amazon, Google and Microsoft, the voluntary agreement will be signed by eBay, Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram, Microsoft's LinkedIn, Match Group, Snap's Snapchat, ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube, with a pledge to implement the measures that apply to their companies within six months.

"Fraud is now the most common crime in the UK, with online scammers targeting the most vulnerable in society," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

"By joining forces with these tech giants we will continue to crack down on fraudsters, making sure they have nowhere to hide online."

The measures include having simple and quick routes to report fraudulent material, as well as working closely with law enforcement in their efforts to target fraudsters.

The companies will also commit to increased levels of verification on peer-to-peer marketplaces, while people using online dating services will have the opportunity to prove they are not imposters.

The British government says fraud accounts for around 40% of all crime in England and Wales, with data from industry body UK Finance showing almost 80% of all authorised push payment fraud originates online.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan in London; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters) - A Texas man who went on Craigslist to call for the murder of Georgia election officials after the 2020 presidential election was sentenced on Wednesday to two years in prison, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Chad Christopher Stark pleaded guilty Aug. 31 in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia to one count of sending a threat using a telecommunications device, and received the maximum sentence for the crime.

This sentence should serve as warning  illegal threats against the public servants who make our democracy work will be met with the full force of the Justice Department, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a press release.

Stark's was the first case brought by a federal task force formed in response to a wave of intimidation directed at election administrators since 2020. The election threats task force was announced shortly after Reuters published the first in a series of investigative reports that have documented more than 850 threats and menacing messages to U.S. election workers.

The Stark case relates to efforts by former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, to overturn Democrat Joe Biden's election victory in Georgia. After officials including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that the state's electoral count was correct and refused to cooperate with efforts to undermine it, both were the target of threats.

Stark, 55, on Jan. 5 posted a message on Craigslist calling on "Georgia Patriots" to kill election officials and their families, identified in court documents only as officials A, B and C, and offering to pay $10,000.

A source familiar with the investigation into Stark told Reuters that two of the officials were Raffensperger and Kemp, both Republicans.

Stark's case was investigated by the Atlanta field office of the FBI.

Sending death threats and urging others to act is not protected speech  it is a crime, said Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; editing by Donna Bryson and Stephen Coates)
FILE PHOTO: The TikTok app logo is seen in this illustration taken August 22, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

By Victoria Klesty

HAMAR, Norway (Reuters) - TikTok has taken possession of a facility in Norway built by data centre group Green Mountain AS which will become the social media company's largest in Europe as it seeks to store data generated in the region locally.

The company, owned by China-headquartered Bytedance, has been trying to address concerns over whether the Chinese government could access the data of European citizens who use TikTok.

Several countries, the European Parliament, European Commission and others have banned TikTok from staff phones due to those concerns.

"We understand the skepticism. And that's precisely why we're not just doing the step of putting the data in Europe, building that digital barrier around it," Theo Bertram, TikTok's VP of government relations and public policy, told Reuters.

"We are taking the extra step of saying we know you're skeptical about us, and so we know we have to earn that trust."

TikTok in March launched a data security regime called Project Clover to build data centres and store European user data locally.

The Norwegian data centre will be in the town of Hamar where TikTok will store data spread over three buildings and the first phase will start operating from next summer.

The Norway data centre will run completely on renewable energy and generate heat that could be re-used. TikTok said a third-party provider is talking with multiple industries and research institutions for potential projects that can benefit from this level of heat re-use.

TikTok said it plans to spend 12 billion euros over the next 10 years for Project Clover. It had earlier announced plans to spend 1.2 billion euros annually.

This will cover the cost of building three data centres, the implementation of privacy enhancing technologies and for employing British cybersecurity firm NCC to audit its data controls and provide independent verification.

"One of the things in the contract with NCC is they can go and talk to data protection authorities, talk to national cyber security organisations, without us being involved," Bertram said.

(Reporting by Victoria in Norway; additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm. Editing by Jane Merriman)
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Trump Organization civil fraud trial, in New York State Supreme Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 25, 2023. Dave Sanders/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A New York appellate court on Thursday reinstated a gag order that barred former U.S. President Donald Trump and his lawyers from making public statements about court staff in an ongoing civil fraud trial case, court records showed.

Justice Arthur Engoron imposed the gag order on Oct. 3 after Trump accused Engoron's top clerk of political bias in a post on his Truth Social platform. The post left the court "inundated" with hundreds of threats from Trump supporters, Engoron said in a court filing.

An appeals court judge had temporarily paused the order on Nov. 16.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is accused in the case brought by New York's attorney general of inflating his net worth by billions of dollars to dupe lenders and insurers.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and said New York Attorney General Letitia James, an elected Democrat, is politically biased against him.

The order was paused while Trump's lawyers appealed, arguing it infringed on his right to free speech under the U.S. Constitution.

A representative of the attorney general's office declined to comment on the order being reinstated, and Trump's lawyers did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Engoron had said in his written gag order that the court had been inundated with hundreds of harassing and threatening phone calls, voicemails, emails, letters, and packages" since Trump's post.

He has already fined Trump $15,000 for twice violating the order and warned that future breaches would be met with steeper penalties, including imprisonment.

The gag order only applies to Engoron's staff.

Trump is under a similar gag order in an unrelated criminal case over his efforts to change the results of the 2020 election.

James has said Trump, his adult sons and 10 of his businesses manipulated financial statements to dupe banks and insurers into providing more favorable loan and insurance terms.

The trial largely concerns damages, because Engoron has already found that Trump's financial statements were fraudulent.

James is seeking $250 million in penalties, and wants Trump banned from New York state real estate business.

Trump faces four unrelated federal and state criminal indictments, including two over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

He has pleaded not guilty in all of those cases.

None of them have dented his commanding lead in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in next November's election.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel Wallis)
(Reuters) - Ukraine's human rights commissioner accused Russia on Thursday of refusing to agree new exchanges of prisoners of war after a stretch of three months in which no swaps have been reported.

Kyiv and Moscow have held many prisoner swaps since the early months of Russia's invasion in February 2022. But their intensity dropped in 2023 and the last one took place in early August.

"Exchanges don't happen because Russia doesn't want them to," said Dmytro Lubinets, the human rights ombudsman who has regularly had a role in prisoner exchanges in the past.

"All the initiatives, desires and actions of Ukraine regarding the return of our defenders from captivity are met by a Russian unwillingness to return its citizens," he said on Telegram messenger.

He added that Russian prisoners held in Ukraine had expressed a wish to be exchanged.

"No one from the Russian side wants to take them back," he said.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In November, the Ukrainian government said it had registered 3,574 Ukrainian military and 763 civilians taken into Russian or Moscow-backed separatists' captivity since 2014.

The figure included those who have already returned to Ukraine, it said. However, it said the numbers did not show all the current prisoners.

Ukraine has already brought back 2,598 people from Russian captivity during 48 swaps, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces said on Tuesday.

Reuters could not independently verify the figures.

(Reporting by Yuliia Dysa in Gdansk and Kevin Liffey in London; Editing by Tom Balmforth and Alison Williams)
On November 30, the aggressor country Russia attempted to strike the Khmelnytsky region during a nighttime kamikaze drone attack on Ukraine. Air defense forces responded: the enemy UAV was shot down and its wreckage fell on the territory of a former factory.

ADVERTISIMENT

The consequences of the incident are currently being investigated. This was reported by the first deputy head of the Khmelnytsky Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Tyurin.

It should be noted that the air alert in the region was announced from 04:34 to 05:43 due to the Russian drone attack. The regional military administration warned that a Shahed drone had been spotted flying in the sky of Khmelnytskyi region. Later, explosions were heard in Shepetivka district.

"Air defense forces are working. Stay in shelters," Tyurin said at the time.

After the alarm was lifted again, he noted that during the enemy attack with strike UAVs, air defense forces were working in the area.

"As a result of their downing, the wreckage fell on the territory of the former plant. No one was injured. There was no fire. Damage is being assessed. We thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the defense of the sky over Khmelnytsky region," the official emphasized.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on November 28, a Russian kamikaze drone was also shot down over Khmelnytsky region. Then its wreckage fell on the roof of a private house in the Starokostiantynivska community.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday deported former Haitian coup leader Guy Philippe back to his Caribbean homeland after serving some six years in a U.S. prison on charges of money-laundering linked to Colombian drug trafficking.

Philippe, a former police officer who led the 2004 ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and later won a senatorial race in the rural Grand'Anse region, is currently in a police facility near the capital's main airport, a police source told Reuters.

It was not immediately clear whether Philippe will continue to be detained.

Local outlet Haiti9 News published footage showing a handful pro-Philippe protesters outside the airport.

Philippe was arrested and handed over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration shortly before swearing in as senator in 2017. A Miami judge sentenced him to nine years in prison, but he was released early in September.

Philippe initially pleaded not guilty, saying he was "kidnapped" by the United States for his political beliefs. He later changed his plea in a deal that prevented him from facing a longer U.S. sentence.

In a statement late last year arguing for his early release, Philippe said he was "looking forward to returning to Haiti and participate in the betterment of his community" in Pestel, on the country's southern peninsula.

Four years after Philippe's arrest, President Jovenel Moise was killed in his home, creating a political vacuum that allowed the rise of extremely violent armed gangs, which now control large parts of the country fueling a dire humanitarian crisis.

Haiti's government - which has lacked elected officials since the last senators' terms expired in January - has been largely absent and Prime Minister Ariel Henry has pledged to hold long-awaited elections once security is re-established.

The United Nations has urgently called on countries to volunteer troops to a U.N.-ratified force to support Haiti's outgunned police, highlighting the importance of progress toward carrying out free and fair elections.

(Reporting by Harold Isaac, Steven Aristil and Sarah Morland; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
A view of the air traffic control tower at OHare International Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered airlines to pause all domestic departures due to a system outage, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Jim V

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday said it is proposing to extend the cockpit voice-recording requirement to 25 hours for all new airplanes from the current two-hour loop.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been pushing for the change since 2018, and the United States is behind much of the world in the requirement for commercial planes. The voice recorder captures transmissions and sounds in the cockpit, including the pilots voices and engine noises and can be crucial in understanding why airplane crashes occur.

Europe has required new airplanes to collect 25 hours of cockpit voice recordings since 2021. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said the change will "give us substantially more data to identify the causes of incidents."

In 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) adopted a new standard calling for the installation of recorders capable of recording the last 25 hours on all new aircraft starting in 2021.

The issue has taken on new urgency after a series of near miss incidents raised alarm about U.S. air safety. The NTSB has opened seven investigations into near-miss incidents since January, including some that could have been catastrophic.

After one runway incident, the NTSB said the cockpit voice recordings in both planes were overwritten and not recovered because the devices record only two hours.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy praised the FAA announcement on Thursday.

"More data will not only help identify causes but better enable operators to address any safety deficiencies," Homendy said.

The NTSB has also called for the FAA to mandate retrofitting existing airplanes with new cockpit voice recorders, but the agency did not agree, saying the costs would be significant at $741 million versus the $196 million incremental upgrade costs under its proposal.

The FAA will take comments until early February and would make the requirement effective one year after the final regulation's adoption.

When cockpit voice recorders were first implemented in 1966, they could only record 30 minutes, the FAA said.

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Bill Berkrot)
An Autel Robotics Dragonfish Pro drone, with an 18-mile range, is displayed during CES 2022 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 5, 2022. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A bipartisan group of 11 U.S. House lawmakers on Thursday asked the Biden administration to investigate and potentially sanction Chinese drone maker Autel Robotics, citing national security concerns.

The letter, signed by House China select committee chair Mike Gallagher, a Republican, and the panel's top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi, asked the Commerce, Defense and Treasury departments to investigate Autel Robotics, whose parent company is Autel Intelligent Technology.

The letter said Autel Robotics is openly affiliated with China's Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) "and poses a direct threat to U.S. national security as local law enforcement and state and local governments are purchasing and operating Autel drones, potentially exposing sensitive data across the country."

The Pentagon said it would respond to the lawmakers' letter. Commerce and Treasury did not immediately comment. Autel could not immediately be reached for comment.

Another signer of the letter, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, said, "Autel drones made in Communist China present an unacceptable national security risk and should not be allowed to operate in America."

The Commerce Department in 2020 imposed export restrictions on China-based drone manufacturer DJI, accusing it of complicity in the oppression of China's Uyghur minority and helping the military.

The lawmakers asked if Autel should face similar restrictions, citing concerns that Autel technology was used in Xinjiang, and said the company "further appears to be potentially supporting Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine."

Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi earlier this month introduced legislation seeking to ban the U.S. government from buying any Chinese drones.

Congress in 2019 banned the Pentagon from buying or using drones and components manufactured in China.

The U.S. government has taken other actions to limit Chinese-made drone purchases.

The U.S. Interior Department in January 2020 said it was grounding its fleet of about 800 Chinese-made drones after halting additional purchases of such drones by the agency.

Over 50% of drones sold in the United States are made by DJI, and they are the most popular drones in use by public safety agencies, Republican lawmakers said earlier this year.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Mark Porter)
0001330399 false 0001330399 2023-11-27 2023-11-27

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):

Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Federally Chartered Corporation 000-51395 25-6001324 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 601 Grant Street , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15219 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrants telephone number, including area code: 412 - 288-3400

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered   

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (the "FHLBank") obtains most of its funds from the sale of debt securities, known as consolidated obligations, in the capital markets. Consolidated obligations, which consist of bonds and discount notes, are by regulation the joint and several obligations of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Banks are regulated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (the "Finance Agency"), successor to the Federal Housing Finance Board effective on July 30, 2008 (collectively, the "Regulator"), and the regulations issued by the Regulator authorize the Finance Agency to require any Federal Home Loan Bank to repay all or a portion of the principal of or interest on consolidated obligations for which another Federal Home Loan Bank is the primary obligor. Consolidated obligations are sold to the public through the Office of Finance using authorized securities dealers. Consolidated obligations are backed only by the financial resources of the eleven Federal Home Loan Banks and are not guaranteed by the United States government.

Schedule A sets forth all consolidated obligation bonds and discount notes committed to be issued by the Federal Home Loan Banks, for which the FHLBank is the primary obligor, on the trade dates indicated, other than discount notes with a maturity of one year or less that are issued in the ordinary course of business. Schedule A also includes any consolidated obligations with a remaining maturity in excess of one year, if any, for which we have assumed the primary repayment obligation from another Federal Home Loan Bank.

We may elect to change our method or reporting information on the issuance or assumption of consolidated obligations at any time. In reviewing the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, please note:

 although consolidated obligations issuance is material to the FHLBank, we have not made a judgment as to the materiality of any particular consolidated obligation or obligations;

 Schedule A does not address any interest-rate exchange agreements (or other derivative instruments) which we may enter into as a result of our asset and liability management strategies that may be associated, directly or indirectly, with one or more of the reported consolidated obligations;

 Schedule A will not enable a reader to track changes in the total consolidated obligations outstanding for which we are the primary obligor since Schedule A generally excludes consolidated obligation discount notes with a maturity of one year or less and does not reflect whether the proceeds from the issuance of the reported consolidated obligations will be used to, among other things, satisfy called or maturing consolidated obligations. We will report the total consolidated obligations outstanding for which we are the primary obligor in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 the principal amounts reported on Schedule A represent the principal amount of the reported consolidated obligations at par, which may not correspond to the amounts reported in our financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles contained in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, because the par amount does not account for, among other things, any discount, premiums or concessions.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1 - Schedule A

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No. Description 99.1 Schedule A 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh November 30, 2023 By: /s/ Edward V. Weller Name: Edward V. Weller Title: Chief Financial Officer

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):





North Haven Private Income Fund LLC





(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)





Delaware 814-01489 87-4562172 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification Number)



1585 Broadway New York , NY 10036 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)





1 ( 212 ) 761-4000

(Registrants telephone number, including area code)





Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report)





Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))









Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Class S Units N/A N/A

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b- 2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. x

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

As of November 1, 2023, North Haven Private Income Fund LLC ("we", the "Company" or the "Fund"), sold approximately 6,390,635 of the Companys Class S units (the Units) for an aggregate offering price of approximately $121.2 million, reflecting a purchase price of $18.97 per unit (with the final number of Units being determined on November 29, 2023).

The sale of Units was made pursuant to subscription agreements entered into by the Company and its unitholders. The issuance of the Units is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof and Regulation D thereunder. The Company relied, in part, upon representations from the unitholders in the subscription agreements that each unitholder was an accredited investor as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 30, 2023, the Company disclosed the below information.

Distribution:

On November 28, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a distribution to unitholders of record in the amount of $0.1502 per unit, representing an annualized distribution yield of approximately 9.50%.

Annualized distribution yield is calculated by dividing the declared distribution by the prior month's net asset value and annualizing over 12 monthly periods.

The distribution will be payable on or around December 5, 2023 to unitholders of record as of November 30, 2023.

Company's Portfolio:

As of October 31, 2023, the Company had investments in 210 portfolio companies across 42 industries with an aggregate par value of approximately $3,589.2 million, which consisted of approximately 98.0% first lien debt investments, approximately 1.1% second lien debt investments and approximately 0.9% other securities, based on par value or, in the case of equity investments, cost. As of October 31, 2023, approximately 99.9% of the debt investments, based on par value, in the Company's portfolio were at floating rates. During the period from October 1, 2023 through October 31, 2023, the Company had new investment commitments of approximately $222.0 million, approximately 100.0% of which were private senior secured loans. As of October 31, 2023, approximately 89.3% of the Companys total investment commitments were in private senior secured loans and equity investments and approximately 10.7% were in broadly syndicated loans, which the Company primarily uses for cash management purposes.









The table below describes investments by industry composition based on par value or, in the case of equity investments, cost as of October 31, 2023:

Industry Par or Cost

($ in millions) % of Par or Cost Software $ 630.8 17.6 % Insurance Services 519.6 14.5 Health Care Providers & Services 342.5 9.5 Diversified Consumer Services 233.9 6.5 Commercial Services & Supplies 223.9 6.2 Distributors 172.3 4.8 Financial Services 136.1 3.8 Professional Services 134.3 3.7 Health Care Technology 124.4 3.5 IT Services 94.0 2.6 Other 977.4 27.3 Total $ 3,589.2 100.0 %

The table below shows the Company's ten largest portfolio company investments based on par value or, in the case of equity investments, cost as of October 31, 2023:

Issuer Par or Cost

($ in millions) % of Par or Cost Apex Service Partners, LLC $ 105.9 3.0 % Pareto Health Intermediate Holdings, Inc. 101.7 2.8 World Insurance Associates, LLC 83.7 2.3 Integrity Marketing Acquisition, LLC 80.1 2.2 Hyland Software, Inc. 73.8 2.1 Anaplan, Inc. 69.6 1.9 Kaseya, Inc. 68.0 1.9 Tank Holding Corp. 65.1 1.8 Galway Borrower, LLC 63.8 1.8 Redwood Services Group, LLC 60.9 1.7 Other 2,816.6 78.5 Total $ 3,589.2 100.0 %

Net Asset Value:

As of October 31, 2023, the Company's aggregate net asset value is estimated to be approximately $1,997.8 million. As of October 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $964.4 million of debt outstanding (at principal). This estimate of the Company's aggregate net asset value did not and will not undergo the Company's customary quarter-end financial closing procedures and may differ materially from future estimates of net asset value or net asset value determinations, including the determination as of December 31, 2023, which will undergo the Companys customary quarter and year-end financial closing procedures.









SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: November 30, 2023 North Haven Private Income Fund LLC By: /s/ Orit Mizrachi Orit Mizrachi Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer





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Sean T. Stevenson, a retired U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant, salutes as his son Sean Ryan Stevensons casket is unloaded from an airplane. The younger Stevenson took his own life Nov. 1, 2023, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. With Stevenson are his wife and daughter. (Sean T. Stevenson/Reddit)

The Air Forces most senior leaders wont be at the memorial service next week for a young airman who died by suicide, after a desperate plea from his father to have the services top brass in attendance.

This invitation is for you to stand by the side of a grieving family and show the strong leadership required to eradicate the horrific epidemic of military suicide, Sean T. Stevenson wrote Nov. 22 in an open letter to military leaders posted on Reddits Air Force page.

Senior Airman Sean Ryan Stevenson died Nov. 1, broken and alone, let down by the very Air Force he dearly loved, wrote the father, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant.

The letter was addressed to the Air Forces top leadership, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the secretary of defense. The letter included his sons last written words, in which he apologizes to his family.

The 24-year-old was qualified as an aviator at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico and was preparing to go to his next duty station in Japan when he ran into a series of logistical roadblocks that appeared to push him over the edge.

His unit, the 43rd Intelligence Squadron, is hosting a memorial ceremony Thursday, and two colonels will attend on behalf of Air Force leadership, the service said Wednesday.

The attendees will include Col. Jeremy Bergin, the 27th Operations Wing commander, and Col. John Thorne, the commander of the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, both of whom were part of Stevensons chain of command.

Senior Airman Sean Ryan Stevenson poses in front of an airplane in this undated photo. Stevenson died by suicide Nov. 1, 2023, at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., his father said in an open letter to Pentagon officials posted on Reddit. (Sean T. Stevenson)

The elder Stevenson remains optimistic that top Pentagon officials will show up at the memorial and take a visible stand to end this scourge, he said Thursday to Stars and Stripes.

If they dont, the words of service members commenting on his post will continue to be the voice and face of the suicide crisis our military finds itself in.

On Reddit, Stevensons letter received over 1,300 interactions and hundreds of comments. His sons final words were found on his computer by officials investigating his death, Stevenson said.

The airman was a tactical systems operator with more than 800 combat flying hours over Afghanistan and Somalia, according to his obituary. The note found on his computer described his despair as his life began to unravel.

He wrote about his desperation to get out of Cannon after more than five years at the base, which is considered by some airmen to be one of the Air Forces least desirable locations.

Despite numerous attempts, his medical clearance was scheduled only two weeks before his transfer, and he didnt complete checkout before his scheduled departure.

He went to the airport anyway without telling his unit, afraid of missing his flight. When he was ordered to come back, he said, my heart dropped, I couldnt think, and my hands were shaking.

In closing, he told his parents, I loved the Air Force since I was a kid, but over the last year, I have learned just how little the Air Force cares about me.

One Reddit commenter said he so much related to the airmans words after having been stationed at Cannon himself.

I felt the frustration and I screamed internally because I saw my own troops go through that same hell when they prepared for a move, the comment said.

Another person was struck by the airmans seeming lack of comfort to talk with his leadership.

I notice this is a pretty common theme in the military, especially with younger members who fear possible negative repercussions, the person wrote.

Stevensons death is under investigation, the Air Force said in a statement Wednesday.

We are committed to fostering a culture that encourages help-seeking behavior and dispels the perceived stigma of seeking mental health treatment, the statement said.

The Air Force did not provide its most recent suicide statistics following a written request, saying they are provided quarterly to the Pentagon.

The Pentagons latest report shows data from April 1 to June 30. The Air Forces active component had 20 known or suspected suicides, up five from the same period in 2022, and 34 during the first six months of the year, according to the report.

The latest annual suicide report for the U.S. military, released last month, shows 492 suicide deaths among active duty, National Guard and reserve personnel in 2022, down from 524 in 2021. The totals for active-duty personnel rose from 328 in 2021 to 331 last year, according to the report.

The active-duty Air Force had 63 suicide deaths in 2022, 12 more than in 2021, according to the report.
The Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyer USS Carney fires at Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on Oct. 19, 2023. (Aaron Lau/U.S. Navy)

WASHINGTON  A Navy warship for the second time in recent weeks shot down a drone in the Middle East launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

The USS Carney shot down the drone because it was approaching the Navy vessel near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a waterway that connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden near the Arabian Sea, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Much of Yemens southern coastline borders the strait and Gulf of Aden.

At approximately 11 a.m. Yemen time while in the South Red Sea, a U.S. Navy ship shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the defense official said. Although its intentions are not known, the [drone] was heading toward the ship.

The confrontation on Wednesday did not cause injuries to American personnel or damage to U.S. property, the official said, adding the Carney was escorting a supply ship and another vessel carrying military equipment to the region when the shootdown occurred.

The USS Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer thats been in the region for weeks. The defense official also said the destroyed drone was an Iranian-made KAS-04.

The Houthis in Yemen are one of many militant groups sponsored and aligned with the Iranian government.

The Houthis and Iran have a longstanding relationship, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagons chief spokesman, said Tuesday. When it comes to our forces, we are going to do whatever we need to do to ensure they stay protected.

The shootdown comes after several weeks of increased militant attacks against U.S. forces at various locations throughout the Middle East. Iranian-supported groups, for example, have launched dozens of attacks targeting multiple U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen have also previously engaged with American troops.

In mid-October, the USS Carney shot down several enemy drones and rockets fired by the Houthis in Yemen. The Pentagon called it a self-defense strike, but officials said they were not certain where the rockets and drones were targeted. Ryder said they could have been aimed at Israel, just days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians and touched off a new conflict between the longtime adversaries.

These missiles [and drones] were deemed a threat, and so the Carney took action, Ryder said after the October incident. We have the capability to defend our broader interests in the region and to deter regional escalation.  The crew of the Carney did just that.

The Carney has been in the Middle East as part of the U.S. effort to stabilize the region and deter other countries or groups from escalating the Israeli-Hamas conflict. The ship is armed with missiles, torpedoes and several guns and is part of the militarys Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, a program that provides defense against short- and intermediate-range missiles.

Wednesdays shootdown came one day after another Iranian-made drone flew within 1,500 yards of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was patrolling international waters in the Persian Gulf. Navy officials said the drone violated safety protocols and endangered U.S. service members on the aircraft carrier.
A Flexrotor drone takes off from the flight deck of the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Persian Gulf, Nov. 27, 2023. (Marita Schwab/U.S. Army)

A U.S. Navy littoral combat ship coordinated with unmanned vessels and a flying drone to destroy a target boat during an exercise in the Persian Gulf, service officials said.

The exercise Monday came amid increasing encounters between Iranian drones and the U.S. military in Middle East waters, including one this week described by Navy senior officials as unsafe and unprofessional.

The Freedom-class USS Indianapolis networked with the drones to identify the target, which was destroyed by a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray surface drone armed with missiles, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet said in a statement Wednesday.

NAVCENT is advancing lethality and the combat capabilities of unmanned surface vessels during exercise Digital Talon 2.0 in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, Nov. 27. pic.twitter.com/riWYPAef8X  U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) November 30, 2023

The exercise relied on a person at Task Force 59s Robotics Operations Center in Bahrain to make decisions, according to the statement.

The results prove these unmanned platforms paired with our manned combat ships can enhance fleet lethality, Capt. Colin Corridan, the task forces commodore, said in the statement.

The exercise involving USS Indianapolis was the second time in just over a month the Navy used a drone in the Middle East to fire lethal munitions. The earlier go-around also used a T-38 Devil Ray to destroy a target boat, the service said.

Munitions launched from T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel destroy a training target during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Persian Gulf, Nov. 27, 2023. (Marita Schwab/U.S. Army)

Other drones in the Monday exercise included a Flexrotor aircraft, an Arabian Fox MAST-13 and an additional T-38.

Task Force 59 is known for its experimentation with drones in patrolling Middle East waters.

The unit only recently began working on arming drones, Stars and Stripes reported earlier in November.

In September, underwater, surface and aerial drones tracked Iranian military vessels over several days during patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy said earlier this month.

The exercise on Monday came two days before the destroyer USS Carney shot down a drone coming toward the ship that was launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, U.S. officials said. The Houthis are backed by Iran.

The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis sails with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels and an Arabian Fox MAST-13 drone during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Persian Gulf, Nov. 27, 2023. (Marita Schwab/U.S. Army)

On Tuesday, an Iranian drone came within 1,500 yards of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during routine flight operations in the central Persian Gulf, Navy officials said.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, 5th Fleet commander, characterized Irans drone flight as unsafe, unprofessional and irresponsible.

Days earlier, the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner shot down multiple one-way attack drones, which also originated from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, U.S. officials said.

Iran-linked militants have launched dozens of attacks on land-based U.S. military forces in Syria and Iraq since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
The USNS Carson City, an expeditionary fast transport ship, is seen in September 2016. (Haley Nace/U.S. Navy )

A civilian engineer serving on a Navy transportation vessel has filed a lawsuit claiming she was sexually assaulted by the ships captain in her bed  an attack she said the service could have prevented with adequate security and safety policies.

The ship, part of the Navys Military Sealift Command, lacked oversight of the captains use of a master key code that gave him complete access to the vessel, according to the 31-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. The ship also lacked working security cameras, kept incomplete logs of crew members coming and going from the vessel, and the commands staff deterred crew members from reporting sexual assaults.

The suit also claims the ships captain was known among the crew for having an alcohol problem, missed work because of it, and drank alcohol on the ship, which violated command policy.

The captain is a civilian who is not named in the suit. The engineer, Elsie Dominguez, is seeking a jury trial in her civil case. However, she is also awaiting the outcome of a criminal report that she filed earlier this year with Navy investigators.

She wants to create systemic change in the industry to make it safer for all mariners, said Christine Dunn, an attorney for Dominguez. She wants to empower other mariners who have gone through something similar to feel comfortable coming forward. Things cannot change unless you shine a light on them, and so she wants to help do that.

Dominguez, 2014 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, was working as the first assistant engineer aboard the USNS Carson City, an expeditionary fast transport vessel, in December 2021 when she said the ships captain used a master key code to access her private room overnight and rape her in her bed.

The Navy failed to care for and protect her when she reported the attack the next morning using the proper reporting procedures, according to the suit.

Elsie Dominguez has filed a lawsuit alleging the Navy failed to protect her from sexual assault while she worked as an engineer aboard a transport vessel in the services Military Sealift Command. (Photo provided by Sanford Heisler Sharp LLP)

The Navys Military Sealift Command operates 130 civilian-crewed ships that replenish Navy ships, conduct special missions, and strategically move and preposition cargo at sea around the world, said Tom Van Leunen, command spokesman. The workforce is comprised of 5,547 civilian mariners working aboard ships, 1,434 civilians in shore jobs, 347 active-duty service members and 956 reservists.

The Carson City is a catamaran with a flight deck for helicopter operations and a loading ramp to enable vehicles to drive on and off the ship quickly.

Van Leunen declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, but said the command takes sexual assault seriously and remains committed to a safe and respectful environment for all personnel.

We firmly hold our crews accountable for their actions, promote a culture of trust, respect, and zero tolerance towards any form of misconduct or abuse within our ranks, he said.

Before filing the lawsuit, Dunn filed an administrative complaint with the Navy on Dominguezs behalf. The Navy responded this is a workers compensation issue, Dunn said.

We think thats a pretty shocking position to take because workers comp is really intended to cover injury sustained in performance of ones duties. So, the Navy has to successfully argue when a person goes to work aboard a U.S. Navy vessel, they should expect that being raped in their bed while they lie there unconscious is a part of their work duties, the attorney said.

Dominguez reported her assault to Naval Criminal Investigative Service in June and the case is now with the Department of Justices Office of Human Rights and Special Prosecutions to determine whether criminal charges will be filed against the captain, said Ryan Melogy, an attorney representing Dominguez for the criminal investigation.

On the night that Dominguez said she was raped, she believes someone drugged her while at a bar in Brindisi, Italy, where the ship was docked. After one beer and one shot, she felt overly intoxicated and required two people to bring her back on the ship to her room, where she was left alone and unconscious, according to court documents. During the night, the captain of the ship entered her room using a master key code and raped her, she claims.

I am so embarrassed by what I did to you that I do not even have the strength to see you face to face ... I hope that someday you can forgive me. You have a very special place in my heart and I appreciate you very much. Perhaps more than I should. I wish you the best, the captain wrote to Dominguez in a text message the next day, according to court documents.

Dominguez attempted to get a drug test, but she said she needed the captains permission to do so and felt the captain threatened to derail her career when she asked for permission. She then found sexual-assault reporting instructions online and called the commands sexual assault response coordinator through a helpline. Dominguez said she asked the advocate to make a restricted report that would prevent personally identifying information from being sent to her chain of command. She was told she could not.

Instead, the advocate told Dominguez that her only option was unrestricted reporting, which meant she would be removed from her job immediately and flown from Italy to the United States where she would be interviewed by federal law enforcement agents and forced into a public process. The advocate also told Dominguez that she would not be allowed to return to work for the command until the criminal investigation closed, which could take more than a year.

When Ms. Dominguez told the civilian victim advocate that the process she was describing sounded like she was going to lose her job for reporting a rape, the civilian victim advocate told her that was correct, according to the lawsuit.

Military Sealift Command follows guidance from the Defense Departments Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office and federal law that only allows for restricted reporting for military personnel and their adult dependents, Van Leunen said.

Unrestricted reporting allows victims to receive medical treatment, advocacy services, legal support, and eligibility for expedited transfer. In addition, unrestricted reporting allows victims of sexual assault to report retaliation in the [Sexual Assault Prevention and Response] program, he said.

The lawsuit contends these options were not presented to Dominguez, and instead she feared her career would be sidelined. When she did file a report in June, Melogy said he believes she remained on the job because she had hired an attorney.

After the assault, Dominguez still lived in the room where the rape occurred for nearly two years, though she was able to have a deadbolt lock installed on the door. She took leave in October, her attorneys said.

Following her report, Military Sealift Command returned the captain to the U.S., and has protected the captain, shielded him from scrutiny, and continued to employ him, according to the lawsuit.
Staff Sgt. Robert Parker (left) joins Ugandan soldiers in singing African military songs. Parker is a Green Beret with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, N.C., who is spending 60 days in Uganda teaching peacekeeping skills to local troops as part of a U.S.-backed program called the African Crisis Response Initiative. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes)

This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, Aug. 26, 1997. It is republished unedited in its original form.

KABAMBA, Uganda  As rain swept across the equatorial African highlands Sunday night, it drummed on the canvas of Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Gordons Army tent as he sat on a cot beneath a curtain of mosquito nets and looked at his watch.

Man, tomorrows Monday, Gordon said, remembering that his two children were about to start school back in Mannheim, Germany. Every days the same day here  another day on the hill.

The rainy season has begun in this part of the world, meaning that sweltering days arc interrupted by brief, violent downpours A few nights earlier, the winds and hail-sized raindrops ripped up tents and tore down trees.

Gordon, 32, from Petersburg, Va., is head cook tor 60 American soldiers training Ugandan combat veterans how to be peacekeepers. The soldiers from Fort Bragg, N.C.  some from the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, others from the 18th Airborne Corps  arrived July 21 at this hilltop overlooking the Kabamba military training school, 150 miles west of Kampala, Ugandas capital.

For their eight-week stay in the African bush, they came armed with portable latrines, televisions, VCRs, desktop computers and a wide variety of field rations.

Fresh from fighting rebels in the restive northwest, the 770 Ugandan soldiers of the 3rd Battalion; 307th Infantry Brigade, camp in more modest conditions and live off cornmeal porridge and chapatis.

Senegalese soldiers at the Camp Thies training area. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) Many of the Ugandan soldiers at the Kabamba training camp are veterans of the country's on-going battles with rebels. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) U.S. Special Forces soldiers instruct Ugandan soldiers in peacekeeping tactics at the training camp in Kabamba, Uganda. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes)

The two-month program is part of the U.S.-led African Crisis Response Initiative to coordinate training of local armies so that African troops can play a larger peacekeeping role on the troubled continent.

The first two countries to take part are Senegal  in French-speaking West Africa  and Uganda, in the English-speaking eastern part of the continent.

With a $15 million budget put up by the United States, the training program now has camps at Kalama Hill and at Thies, Senegal, and is to be expanded by years end with camps in Mali, Ethiopia and Malawi. Three other locations are still to be named.

The idea of an all-African peacekeeping force first was floated by then-Secretary of State Warren Christopher during an African tour in late 1996. Response was less than enthusiastic. South Africa was downright hostile fearing Washington wanted it to shoulder the responsibility.

But after Western-led peacekeeping debacles in Somalia and Rwanda  where U.N. mandated forces either failed to resolve a conflict or failed to intervene to stop a genocide  and the rebellion in the former Zaire with its thousands of refugees, the big seven industrial nations and Russia threw their support behind the idea in June.

Ugandan soldiers, who are all volunteers, spend nine months in basic training. These troops, training with wooden rifles, are about to graduate. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) Single soldier housing at the Ugandan training center. Two Ugandan soldiers share each mud hut. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) A Ugandan soldier stirs typical Ugandan army lunch, an oatmeal-like grain porridge. Along with military and peacekeeping tactics, U.S. soldiers trained the Ugandans in such areas as keeping field kitchens sanitary. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes)

While the Green Berets are doing the training in Uganda, support troops from Mannheim, Germany, were called in to help build and run the hilltop training camp.

Thats how Gordon found himself in this remote part of Africa.

Originally 20 soldiers from Mannheims 51st Maintenance Battalion were targeted to go, but funding fell short and the Germany-based force was cut to 10. Another 10 places were taken by logistics troops from the 1st Corps Support Command at Fort Bragg, most given less than a weeks notice.

This is Gordons second trip to Africa, having spent three months in Somalia in early 1993. In July, he had just returned from a military school in the U.S. to find he was going to Uganda on short notice.

Other than slow mail, most of the Germany-based soldiers said Uganda isnt as bad as they thought it would be, except for the ants.

You havent seen ants till youve seen ants here, said Sgt. Wilfredo Figueroa, 31, from Naranjito, Puerto Rico.

Millions of the insects had taken over the showers Sunday night before being driven away to another part of the compound. In nearby fields, ant hills are the size of small homes.

Ugandan army engineers carry explosives to clear a path through a mine field while undergoing U.S.-led peacekeeper training. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) Dressed in uniforms given to them by the U.S. Army, Senegalese soldiers listen to classes given by U.S. Green Berets. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes) Ugandan soldiers take notes as U.S. Green Berets teach them peacekeeping skills, in Kabamba, Uganda, Aug. 24, 1997. Sixty U.S. troops are spending two months teaching peacekeeping skills to Ugandan and Senegalese troops. (Vince Crawley/Stars and Stripes)

Nights are cold up on the hill, and the water is unheated, so even when they arent being overrun by insects, the showers can be unpleasant. As a morale boost, troops take turns making the three-hour drive into Kampala running errands for the unit and spending a night at the Hotel Equatoria, where they can call their families for about $9 a minute.

Figueroa, who won an on-the-spot Army Commendation Medal for his work setting up the unruly power generators at the camp, said he took four hot showers in a row the night he spent at the hotel.

All the soldiers from Mannheim share a tent up on the hill, and Pfc. Maressa Carter, 25, from Detroit, sat on her cot across from Gordon, reading a novel.

Carter, also a cook, started her Army career with a deployment to Bosnia and is planning to end her tour in Germany with this stint in Uganda.

Its not as bad as we thought it was, and now that were here, Im glad that we came to help the Ugandans, Carter said.

Earlier Sunday, the Ugandan infantry troops marched up the hill to an American cookout and sang African tribal chants and exotic military songs about having the courage of a lion and about soldiers missing their families back home.

They serenade us like that quite often, Carter said. Its inspiring. ... They seem real appreciative of what were doing. Theyve been like that the whole time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Russia's apparent inability to create a cohesive command structure among its forces has led to an aggravation of their situation on the left bank of the Kherson region. Morale and combat capabilities continue to deteriorate in the units.

ADVERTISIMENT

Today, the occupiers are increasingly refusing to conduct assaults. This was stated by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The day before, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that units of the 810th Marine Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, operating near the village of Krynky (30 km northeast of Kherson and 2 km from the Dnipro River), refuse to storm Ukrainian positions due to the lack of coordination of artillery, transfer of tactical intelligence and proper information about the location of their own minefields.

It is known that maps of Russian minefields are classified, and the command of the Russian Armed Forces did not properly coordinate the location of mined areas with the assault units, which led to 50 casualties among the units of the 810th Brigade over the past month.

ADVERTISIMENT

According to ISW, units of this Russian marine brigade arrived in the Krynky area in early October 2023. Apparently, they took over responsibility for the immediate area around the settlement from units of the newly created 18th Combined Arms Army after the start of Ukrainian ground operations on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the 28th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Army is currently operating in Pishchanivka (14 km east of Kherson and 3 km from the river). Its additional units and units of the 7th Airborne Division of the Russian Federation are occupying positions in the near rear areas on the left bank. The combined command of these Russian army formations likely controls most of the response to Ukrainian ground operations in Kherson region.

ADVERTISIMENT

"The minefield incident suggests that the 18th Army command did not share relevant tactical details with the 810th Brigade command. It is likely that the higher-level Russian command responsible for the 'defense' of the left bank has not yet corrected this coordination failure," ISW believes.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the occupiers on the left bank of the Kherson region complained that they had been "abandoned" by the command. The invaders recorded a pitiful video, claiming that they are fighting against Ukraine "not for money" and at the same time asking Russia to provide for their families.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Cosplayers act out a battle scene from Thor: Ragnarok during Tokyo Comic Con at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Get ready to cosplay your favorite character while rubbing elbows with the stars of Star Wars, Harry Potter and Marvels Avengers at this years Tokyo Comic Con.

The convention is taking place Dec. 8-10 at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo. As many as 80,000 people are expected, Tokyo Comic Con president Mitsuaki Munegumi told Stars and Stripes by video call on Nov. 14. About 67,000 people attended last year.

Celebrities gather for Tokyo Comic Con's opening ceremony at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

The list of celebrity guests this year includes Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, who play Dr. Strange and Loki, respectively, in the Avengers franchise; Ewan McGregor, who portrayed a young Obi-wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels; Christopher Lloyd, Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy; Natalia Tena, Tonks in the Harry Potter films; and Evangeline Lilly, Hope Pym in the Ant-Man movies.

Theyll be joined by Mads Mikkelsen, who played Hannibal Lector in the Hannibal TV series; Mackenyu, who portrays Roronoa Zoro in the live-action show One Piece; and Temuera Morrison and Daniel Logan, who both played Boba Fett in the The Book of Boba Fett miniseries.

A statue of Poison Ivy from "Batman" is on display during Tokyo Comic Con at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Screen-used memorabilia on display will include Titanic costumes worn by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and Star Wars lightsabers and TIE fighters.

You can take a picture with the movie props and backdrops, so it will be an interesting experience for our audience, Munegumi said.

General admission tickets per day are 4,400 yen, or about $30, for adults and 2,500 yen for high school students. Admission to celebrity panel discussions is free, but theres a charge for autographs and photographs. For example, Benedict Cumberbatch is 33,000 yen, or about $224.

A DeLorean time machine from "Back to the Future" is on display during Tokyo Comic Con at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes) Celebrities, including Christopher Lloyd from "Back to the Future," gather for Tokyo Comic Con's opening ceremony at the Makuhari Messe convention center, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Comic Con started out in 1970 as Golden State Comic Book Convention, organized by comic book enthusiast Shel Dorf and a group of San Diegans, according to the Tokyo Comic Con website.

Munegumi staged the progenitor of Tokyo Comic Con in 1998 when he brought David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader in costume in the original Star Wars trilogy, to the Hollywood Prop Museum in the Tokyo Tower. James Earl Jones did the voiceover that audiences associate with Vader.

Prior to Prowses appearance, Munegumi had been putting on photo and autograph sessions with celebrities for decades, he said.

As one of the fans of movie stars, thats why I wanted to do this, he told Stars and Stripes last year.

A tribute to Stan Lee at Tokyo Comic Con at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba, east of central Tokyo, Nov. 25, 2022. (Kelly Agee/Stars and Stripes)

Starting in 2000, Munegumi booked small hotels, ballrooms and other small convention halls as demand grew for a bigger venue to hold celebrity signings and meet-and-greets.

The first Tokyo Comic Con opened its doors in December 2016 at the Makuhari Messe.

Tokyo Comic Con is my child, Munegumi said.

Tokyo Comic Con

Directions: About a 12-minute walk from the east exist of Kaihimmakuhari Station.

Times: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday.

Costs: General admission tickets per day are 4,400 yen, or about $30, for adults and 2,500 yen for high school students. Admission to celebrity panel discussions is free but theres a charge for autographs and photographs. Tickets available on the events website.

Food: A food court will offer a variety of dishes, from sushi and ramen to gourmet hot dogs and steaks.

Information: tokyocomiccon.jp/en
A refugee camp where both Sudanese and Eritrean refugees have been attacked, killed and kidnapped for ransom by local gunmen. (Katharine Houreld/The Washington Post)

METEMA, Ethiopia  The two warring sides in Sudan have been forcibly recruiting civilians to join the fight, and conditions in some refugee camps outside the country are so awful that some men who fled have returned to Sudan, only to be captured and pressed into combat, refugees said.

Thousands of Sudanese began flooding across the eastern border into Ethiopia in July, the U.N. refugee agency reported, mainly young men who said they were fleeing forced recruitment. Many have ended up in the U.N.s Kumer camp in the Amhara region.

With humanitarian assistance in the camp running short, Fatna Ibrahim said she saw her youngest, 15-year-old Mustafa, return to Sudan and into the grasp of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting the Sudanese military.

The RSF had already forcibly recruited her husband and eldest son just days after the civil war broke out on April 15, she recounted. Fighters had burst into their home in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, seizing Fatna and her teenage daughter to rape them. Desperate to save them, her husband, a retired soldier, offered to join their ranks.

He said, leave them alone and take me. I was a soldier and I can fight, said Fatna, 43, wiping away tears with her striped headscarf. She recalled regaining consciousness after fainting to find her husband and 22-year-old son had been taken.

Sudanese widow Fatna Ibrahim at a refugee camp in northern Ethiopia. (Katharine Houreld/The Washington Post)

Terrified, she shepherded Mustafa and his sister through countless checkpoints to the Ethiopian border. They ended up at a camp rife with violence, cholera and hunger. In August, Mustafa told his mother he would die if he stayed.

He returned to their tiny home in Khartoum, near a now-destroyed military base where she used to work as a laundress to pay for English lessons that she dreamed would bring her a brighter future. Weeks after he left Ethiopia, her phone rang. Mustafa was whispering, so his captors did not hear him.

He said, Mum, Ive been taken to fight,  she said, beginning to weep again.  He said, If I die, please forgive me for coming back.  After he hung up, she fell to the ground, wails bringing her neighbors running. Oh God, she cried. If one of us has to die, please let it be me. I have lost everything.

Months after she fled Sudan, a neighbor called to say her husbands body had been recovered; it was unclear how he died. I didnt even get to say goodbye, Fatna said.

Before the conflict erupted, the RSF head, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and military chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had collaborated to topple Sudans former dictator and crack down on pro-democracy protesters, but then turned on each other.

Their fight has leveled the formerly gracious capital city. Hospitals have been shelled, airstrikes have pummeled residential neighborhoods and ravenous fighters have raped, kidnapped and killed countless civilians. In western Sudan, fighting has morphed into ethnic cleansing as militias raze villages and execute families. The RSF has seized four regional capitals in the western region of Darfur in the past month and are encircling the final city.

A Sudanese doctor sits under a tarpaulin with her children at a camp in northern Ethiopias Amhara region. (Katharine Houreld/The Washington Post)

The United Nations says Sudan faces one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, with more than 6 million people forced to flee, 25 million needing aid and 19 million children out of school. But with international attention focused on Ukraine and now Israel and Gaza, necessary funding is falling far short. Refugees facing disease, hunger and danger are getting little help.

For many fleeing the war, the violence is nightmarishly familiar. James Nicolas Biegene, 23, said his mother and five siblings were killed in South Sudans civil war before his uncle took him to Khartoum seven years ago, hoping to save the boy from the slaughter. In July, the Sudanese military knocked at their door.

The soldiers told his uncle he had to join their fight, Biegene said. His uncle refused. They killed him. The soldiers were unaware Biegene was inside, he said, and moved onto the next house. He was able to flee to Ethiopia but said hed heard of many young men who were rounded up to fight.

Nearly 50,000 people have fled into Ethiopia since the civil war started, but arrivals have dwindled in recent weeks after refugees heard there was no food and little assistance. At just one border crossing, nearly 800 Sudanese were recorded crossing back into Sudan in recent months, U.N. officials said.

Neither the RSF nor the military responded to queries about forced recruitment for this article.

Esam Abajar Ahmed, 28, an accounting student before the war, fled to Ethiopia. Eight of his friends did so as well but found conditions in the camp so bad that they returned to Sudan, he said.

The RSF detained six of them at a checkpoint on the edge of Khartoum, he said. When the other two saw what was happening, they hid. The six others were kept handcuffed without food for a week until they agreed to fight, he said. They were taken before they had even got home and seen their families, he said sadly.

Eventually, one of the six managed to phone the two who escaped. They passed a message on to the camp. The two were later killed in an airstrike, he said.

With nowhere else to go, Ahmed stayed at the Ethiopian camp, where local gunmen had started kidnapping refugees for ransom. Although penniless, some have relatives in the diaspora who could be extorted.

There is no escape for us. No safety for us anywhere, Ahmed said.

Inside Sudan, medical staff are especially at risk of being abducted. Ali Basher, of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, said 39 medical personnel had been taken by armed groups. Some had been accused of helping the opposite side and tortured, many forced to treat wounded fighters, he said.

One of Sudans most prominent doctors, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, nearly fell victim. An emergency room doctor, she refused to flee as her city emptied. Her first hospital, Khartoum Teaching Hospital, was bombed, so she moved to another, Al Shuhada. The wards filled with girls shot in the stomach and children writhing from burning shrapnel.

A woman with her newborn son, who was delivered by a Sudanese doctor working in a tent by the light of a telephone with only a razor blade to perform an episiotomy. (Katharine Houreld/The Washington Post)

In July, the violence was so intense she shut the doors and discharged anyone who was not in danger of imminent death so she could use their beds, she said. Then the RSF arrived. As the fighters began shooting, she said, she ushered female staff out the back, fearing they would be raped.

Militiamen rampaged through the wards, assaulting patients and staff. She was beaten so badly she could not walk. The man running the blood bank tried to barricade the doors; he was shot through the heart. The militia left after a looting spree.

A week later, only five medical staff remained, she said. No aid group would take over the hospital  it was too dangerous  so they decided to stay home and took supplies to treat those injured in their neighborhoods.

I said, Im not leaving. Im an emergency doctor. This is my time, she said stoutly.

The RSF came after her.

They came to my house and told me to go with them, that they had many wounded, she said. She invited them to bring the wounded to her house, but they refused, she said. She begged for one last night with her three young children, explaining their father was dead. The militia posted guards outside and said they would take her  and maybe the children  in the morning.

Instead, in the dark, the family members hauled each other up and down compound walls topped with barbed wire and broken glass, and fled, she said.

When she and her family got to the Ethiopian border, military police recognized her and stopped her. They also desperately needed doctors, she said. They sat there, her children crying, for three hours before a doctor from the local hospital recognized her and announced hed go on strike if she couldnt cross, she said. The police relented.

Now shes doing her best to treat fellow refugees with no drugs or equipment. She and another woman, a midwife, have delivered 13 babies so far. The night before The Washington Post visited, she said, they performed an episiotomy with a razor blade on a woman in labor by the light of a phone. No gloves. No anesthetic.

I have to keep working. These are my people, she said. If they had not come for my children, I would still be in Sudan.

Hafiz Haroun in Nairobi contributed to this report.
Alphabet Inc.s Google struck a deal with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government over the contentious law that would force it to pay for news, according to several media reports.

The deal  which came after months of negotiations and strong opposition from both Google and Meta Platforms Inc.  could avert the news block expected next month in Canada on the worlds most popular search engine.

Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge reached an agreement with Google about supporting the news industry, the Globe and Mail reported Wednesday, citing two people it didnt identify. More details on the deal are expected later Wednesday, the Toronto Star said in its reporting.

Trudeaus Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18, is aimed at trying to force both Meta and Google to pay local publishers for featuring news content on their platforms, an attempt to boost an industry that has suffered from massive losses of advertising revenue.

But both big technology firms are pushing back hard. Meta has already blocked all links to news content in Canada on Facebook and Instagram since August to avoid making payments. Google threatened to remove news from search results before the law comes into effect on Dec. 19.

Spokespeople for both St-Onge and Google didnt immediately respond to requests for comments.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Haitians plant pepper in a field in Limonade, Haiti. Geoffrey Handal and Maxwell Marcelin have teamed up with a local landowner to show that if given the resources and expertise, farmers in Haiti can dig themselves out of poverty. (Jacqueline Charles/Miami Herald/TNS)

LIMONADE, Haiti (Tribune News Service)  At first sight, the nearly four acres of farmland in this rural hamlet in northeast Haiti resembles more of a desert than a thriving agricultural experiment. The soil is brown and barren, battered by a lack of water and neglect.

But walk further inland and the seemingly lifeless terrain soon turns green: Cabbages and pumpkins rise out of the ground, papayas hang from trees and workers plant rows of hot peppers in the freshly plowed dirt as a generator hisses in the background.

A year ago, such a lush landscape was unimaginable for Fransik Moncher, a farmer and father of seven who couldnt even grow fiery habanero peppers because they quickly died.

All that changed the day a group of entrepreneurs decided to take a gamble to launch a socioeconomic experiment with the goal of answering a simple, but daunting question: What if a Haitian farmer, like Moncher, had everything he needed to be a successful grower?

That farmer who has the land, how do you get him to upgrade his way of production  and how do we recuperate that cost? said Maxwell Marcelin, one of the entrepreneurs.

The quest for the answers has birthed an unusual partnership among four Port-au-Prince-based friends and entrepreneurs, and local farmers and agronomists in northern Haiti. Together, they are pushing locally grown peppers and sweet potatoes while also aiding farmers like Moncher in transforming their sun-scorched land, restoring hope in the only livelihood theyve known: agriculture.

Though 75% of Haitis population lives in rural areas, the country cant feed itself. Nearly half of the population, 4.9 million people, are experiencing acute hunger, according to the United Nations. The blame, the U.N. says, can be placed on a number of factors, including poor irrigation systems, lack of capital, political instability and the intensifying gang violence that has spread beyond the capital of Port-au-Prince to rural areas.

In areas where gangs are not occupying farmland or distribution routes, small-scale farmers are fighting to grow crops with limited or no government support. Crops fail due to increasingly frequent and severe droughts and tropical storms, and higher-than-average temperatures.

None of it makes for a hopeful scenario where agriculture can once more become the driving economic force in the countryside.

Everybody is locked into the idea that it cant be done, said Geoffrey Handal, the accounting and logistics expert in the friends group, who challenges such pessimism. We have all of the qualified agronomists, we have all of the techniques needed, we have all of the land, we have all of the water, we have everything.

Handal and Marcelin launched their experiment with Moncher, and also invested in cultivating hot peppers and sweet potatoes about 30 miles to the east of Cap-Haitien in Paulette, a rural village once known for its old sisal plantations. Theyve dubbed their socioeconomic lab Ayiti Demen  The Haiti of Tomorrow.

Total despair

When Marcelin first arrived at Monchers farm in Limonade, the northeast city that is part of the Marihaboux Plain, he believed, like the farmer, that the land was unworkable.

It was total despair, Marcelin said, as a group of workers dig a hole on a dirt mound to plant habanero pepper trees. He said every time he tried to plant, there was no rain and he would lose his harvest.

Refusing to accept that the expansive plot was a wasteland, Marcelin and Handal began to think about how they could help. Moncher not only needed seeds, but also financing. But most importantly, he needed a steady supply of water so he wouldnt have to depend on rains.

Thats the basis of agriculture. Otherwise its like youre playing the lottery waiting for rain, Marcelin said.

In Haiti, crops failed not just because of too little or too much rainfall, but also due to a lack of access to irrigation, even when water is available.

Just across the border 45 minutes away in the Dominican Republic farmers are successful, Marcelin said, so the issue is not the availability of water.

The only thing is there is no investment on our side of the border to bring the water to the producers, he said.

(This is why farmers in the region have been constructing a controversial canal off the nearby Massacre River, which divides Haiti and the Dominican Republic, in hopes of exploiting the potential of the once-lush Marihaboux Plain.)

Armed with a study showing that there was indeed water under Monchers arid land, the group sprang into action. Magalie Dresse, a well-known designer who works with women artisans, helped with financing. Handal, who is also experimenting with producing a bank of high-quality seedlings, provided the seeds. And Marcelin crunched the numbers. With a background in management economics, he wanted to show Moncher that he could have a successful harvest and rely on it for income to feed his family.

We provided him with a well, a submersible pump, a generator a propane one because there is no gas, Marcelin said. He has the support of one of our agronomists to help him on what to do and what not to do. We plowed his field.

The contributions have not gone unnoticed. Since January, Moncher has grown more than 2,000 pounds of habanero peppers in addition to other fruits and vegetables.

They backed me up, he said, flashing a smile and standing upright in his field. I could not have accomplished this on my own. I could not have dug a well because I dont have the means to do that.

Whereas before he saw despair, he now sees hope.

My children are starting to eat and I am beginning to make some money. If they tell me they are hungry, I can come here, grab two or three papayas and sell them to find money to buy food, Moncher said.

The groups initial investment of about 480,000 gourdes  about $3,600  is expected to bring Moncher about $7,000 in sales, which he will make from selling his habanero peppers to AGRILOG/Ets JB Vital, S.A., the company that Marcelin and Handal use to export peppers to Miami.

This is someone weve taken out of poverty when we gave him this opportunity, Marcelin said.

Because we invested in Fransik, he adds, walking through the papaya trees, weve created an oasis.

From coffee to sweet potatoes

Growing up in a poverty-stricken Haiti as a member of a well-off family, Handal knew he was blessed, a feeling hes wanted to share with others.

Ive always felt like every Haitian should have it and we should show the world this is how we live, he said.

For 200 years, the Handal family exported coffee, once among the islands most lucrative cash crops. But deforestation, natural disasters and the increasing need for coffee to be grown at higher elevations due to warming temperatures led to a rapid decline in coffee production. In 2008, Handal said the family was shipping 33 cargo containers of coffee beans each season.

A year later, before the devastating 2010 earthquake further decimated production, the family shipped only two containers because we couldnt find any coffee.

Handel said that an investigation into the demise of Haitis coffee market led him to conclude that the family needed to invest in agricultural production. But more than a decade went by before he revisited the idea of exports, spending most of the time working in the familys shipping business in Port-au-Prince.

I realized the only two things we could export here would be, first of all, textiles and second, agriculture, he said. He decided on the agriculture route as a way to boost his export volume. It was purely a logistic play to see what could I do to get containers full of agriculture products out of Haiti.

Then he met Marcelin, who pitched him on growing peppers and sweet potatoes, and helping farmers boost their harvest.

The Dominican Republic is the same size, same economy as Haiti and there is no reason why we cant reach that level of GDP, Handal said. If we do this right, if we invest properly in Haiti in 20 years, we can have 10% GDP growth every year. With that measure, this is how billionaires get made. This is how you create a real economy.

Marcelin said he became interested in agriculture through the work of his wife, Kalinda Magloire. She is the founder of a clean cooking social enterprise known as SWITCH, which encourages Haitians to move away from charcoal in favor of propane.

One of the effects of Haitis declining agricultural sector is that when farmers cant cultivate their land, they turn to cutting their trees down for charcoal production, which gives them about $400 every two years. For farmers to stop cutting trees to survive, said Marcelin, they need a path to production to get replace that revenue.

Cutting down the trees is the easiest choice today because he doesnt have money to invest, so he just lets the trees grow and then every two years, he sells them, he said. But if he had the financing, the know-how and access to market, he would have an alternative.

When we were presenting clean cooking as an alternative, the question we were always presented with was, What about the farmer who lives off charcoal?  Marcelin adds. This is why we started thinking about agriculture.

Bringing back the Scotch bonnet, saving the Bouk

About 17 miles to the east of Limonade along National Highway 6 in the rural community of Paulette is the for-profit side of Marcelin and Handals vision. Together with the Peasant Movement for the Development of Paulette they are growing sweet potato and several varieties of pepper, including the high-in-demand Piman Bouk, whose first shipment arrived in Miami in April.

Despite the demand for Bouk, it is hard to find, said Handal, who has built a nursery to provide high quality pepper seeds.

Today, even if a farmer wants to go plant Bouk, he wont find quality seeds to do it, Handal said.

The entrepreneurs also want to bring back production of the Caribbean Scotch bonnet, a variety of chili pepper. According to local lore, the Scotch bonnet, popular in Jamaica, was bountiful around Cap-Haitien before the Haitian revolution but soon disappeared after Haiti won its independence from France in 1804.

The two are also working on exporting sweet potato, which for now is being sold on the local market as they continue to improve the yield for export to Europe with the help of agronomists from Honduras, who have expertise in growing the vegetable.

To make the agricultural project work, the duo invested in a drip irrigation system, similar to whats used in the Dominican Republic, and fertilizer. They also brought onboard interns from the nearby University of Limonade to assist and to learn.

The financial model, which Handal came up with, calls for the Paulette farmers to get 30% of sales.

At the end of the day, when you look at the investment, it comes up to 50-50 in terms of profits, Marcelin said. In Paulette, its a Fransik Moncher magnified. We created jobs but the profit sharing is for the whole organization.... Everyone who is in the ecosystem is making money.

Handal also sees another important result.

For me as long as the community is involved, thats all you need, he said.

The two also focus on finding creative ways to get around problems. After some of the habaneros and Piman Bouk ripened before they could be shipped out, Marcelin and Handal decided to go into the pepper sauce business.

With their next harvest less than 30 days away, they are hoping the sweet potatoes will be ready so they can be shipped out. If not, they will just continue to sell it locally.

The effort is a bet that this country will not die, which is a bit of a leap of faith these days. But if its not going to die, its going to grow at some point, Handal said. And thats why we invest.

2023 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com

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Guy Philippe, a rebel leader in Haitis Resistance Front, is shown in Gonaives, Haiti, on Feb. 19, 2004. (Peter Andrew Bosch/Miami Herald/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  One of Haitis most controversial figures is back in his troubled homeland after being deported from the United States on Thursday.

Guy Philippe, the former Haitian police commander who led a rebellion in 2004 that overthrew President Jean Bertrand Aristide and then spent nearly a dozen years evading U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, arrived on board an Immigration and Customs Enforcement flight along with more than a dozen others deportees. The flight departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, at 5:57 a.m.

In 2017, Philippe was sentenced to prison by a Miami federal judge after pleading guilty to a money-laundering conspiracy charge involving allegations that he had pocketed more than $1 million from Colombian cocaine traffickers. Despite cutting a plea deal with federal prosecutors to avoid spending the rest of his life in prison, he continued to maintain his innocence and accused U.S. authorities of kidnapping him from Haiti, where he was on his way to being sworn in as a senator when he was arrested by Haitian police.

Several Haitian officials contacted by the Miami Herald ahead of the flights arrival said they had not been warned by the Department of Homeland Security of Philippes pending return. A manifest of the flights passengers, sent to Port-au-Prince, initially only had 17 names, all of whom were people being repatriated after violating U.S. immigration law, Haitis Office of National Migration said.

Philippes presence back in Haiti, a country still reeling from the 2021 assassination of its president and now seeing the steady expansion of armed gangs out of the capital and into its countryside, has raised concerns given the volatile landscape, the ongoing leadership void and Philippes popularity and political connections.

During the 2016 elections Philippe ran for office to represent the rural GrandAnse region as a senator, and won. His arrest came in early January 2017 as he was visiting a radio station in the capital ahead of his swearing-in. He was then turned over to the DEA.

Though Philippe tried to claim immunity from prosecution as a senator-elect in Haiti, he ended up pleading guilty in April 2017 to the money-laundering conspiracy charge. The deal allowed him to avoid going to trial on a more serious trafficking charge that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life.

Instead, he faced up to 20 years on the money-laundering conviction and got less than half that time from U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga.

Philippes sentencing culminated a federal investigation into drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption at the highest levels of Haitis government that began in the 2000s when the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the neighboring Dominican Republic, became a notorious hub for shipping South American cocaine into the United States.

For years, Aristide, who was ousted in 2004 in an armed revolt led by Philippe, had been investigated by a Miami federal grand jury for accepting drug bribes, though charges were never filed.

2023 Miami Herald.

Visit at miamiherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A CV-22 Osprey takes part in an elephant walk at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 21, 2020. (Stars and Stripes)

TOKYO  Search-and-rescue efforts continued Thursday for an Air Force CV-22B Osprey that crashed the previous afternoon with eight aboard in southwestern Japan.

The tiltrotor aircraft  stationed at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing  was on a routine training mission off Yakushima, an island in Kagoshima prefecture, when it went down, according to Air Force Special Operations Command.

The cause of the mishap is currently unknown, the command said in a statement released several hours after the incident. The crews condition are unknown at this time.

One of the eight crewmembers has been confirmed dead, a spokesman for the Kyushu Defense Bureau, an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense, said by phone Thursday.

The Osprey had been en route to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima, he added. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to speak to the media on condition of anonymity.

The individual recovered Wednesday was found near an empty, 20-person life raft and what appeared to be aircraft wreckage, a spokesman for Japans 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters said by phone hours after the crash.

The body was returned to the U.S. military on Thursday afternoon, a coast guard news release said.

Nothing was found during search-and-rescue efforts overnight, the coast guard announced in a news release Thursday morning.

It said the search was continuing with six patrol boats and two helicopters, along with vessels and aircraft from the Self-Defense Forces and the town of Yakushima.

The coast guard will also use side-scan sonar to capture images of the seabed, according to the release.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel met briefly with Japans Foreign Affairs minister, Yoko Kamikawa, Thursday in Tokyo, according to a news release from the ministry. The pair committed to coordinating on the investigation.

Japan grounds its Ospreys

The Kagoshima Airport Office said an Osprey made an emergency landing request for Yakushima Airport at 2:38 p.m., according to a Yomiuri newspaper report.

A witness quoted by public broadcaster NHK on Wednesday said he saw the Osprey suddenly turn upside down and fire near its left propeller before it fell into the water.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, during a news conference Thursday morning, called the incident tragic.

Such accidents cause great concern to the residents living in the area and it is regrettable, he said.

In the hours following the crash, Okinawa prefecture asked that Ospreys stop flying until the accidents cause is identified, a prefectural spokeswoman who handles military affairs said by phone Thursday. The request was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Okinawa Defense Bureau and Okinawa Liaison Office.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force grounded its Ospreys for the time being, Matsuno said, adding that the Japanese government has urged the U.S. side to confirm its tiltrotor aircraft are safe before flying them in Japan.

At least one U.S. Osprey has been in involved in the search-and-rescue efforts, Japanese defense officials told The Associated Press.

A Self-Defense Force training flight planned for Thursday was canceled as Japan grounded all 14 of its Ospreys, according to AP.

First of all, we need to do our best to rescue the human life and continue to work to grasp the accident situation quickly, Matsuno said.

Serious concerns

Marine veteran Timothy Loranger, a Los Angeles-based attorney specializing in aviation law and military aircraft, said it will likely be at least a year before an investigation into the crash is concluded  a process thats largely reliant on recovering the Osprey.

Getting the aircraft back, starting an inspection of the aircraft systems  the flight systems record a lot of data, and hopefully thats preserved, he told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday. If it involves material issues or engine issues, they bring in subject matter experts and determine what the cause was.

Loranger said hes concerned about ongoing issues with the Ospreys, pointing to a spate of mishaps over the past several years, including an Aug. 27 crash that killed three U.S. Marines in Australia.

If you look at the hours that the aircraft has flown without a major mishap, it seems generally safe, he said. But there seems to be something going on with the aircraft and they havent been able to pinpoint the problem.

Loranger said its too soon to draw conclusions about Wednesdays crash, but he believes a serious review of the aircraft is warranted.

The hope is that they are going to dig down and find the answers and resolve it, he said. Because, you know, with three crashes in a year and a half, there are serious concerns from people in the community.

Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report.
The streets of Riga, Latvia, as seen from St. Peters Church on Nov. 10, 2023. (Svetlana Shkolnikova/Stars and Stripes)

RIGA, Latvia  A 69-year-old pensioner born in Ukraine, living in Latvia and holding a Russian passport has spent months studying the Latvian language in hopes of earning the right to stay in the country she has called home for 40 years.

She is on her second three-month course in a year and has failed her first attempt to pass the language exam now required for Russian citizens to extend their Latvian residency permits.

If someone had hinted to me that this was waiting for me, I would have never come here, said Natalya, who arrived in Riga, the Latvian capital, from Odesa, Ukraine, in 1984. She declined to provide her last name, saying she was nervous about repercussions.

Natalya is one of 20,000 Latvian residents subject to an amended immigration law adopted after Russias invasion of Ukraine last year that requires Russian citizens wishing to extend their residence permits to prove a proficiency in Latvian, a challenging language for foreigners to master.

The policy is part of a host of controversial de-Russification measures sweeping the Baltics as they ride a wave of anti-Russia sentiment to purge Russian influence and the remaining vestiges of their Soviet past. Moscow annexed the Baltics in 1940, and the three countries  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  only gained full independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The war in Ukraine opened up a new opportunity to regain Latvian dignity and also make Latvian society more amalgamated, said Maris Andzans, director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga, an independent think tank. This is a historical opportunity for the Baltic states, especially for Latvia and Estonia, to get rid of the remaining issues here.

The unresolved issues mainly concern the continued prevalence of the Russian language, in schools and public life.

About one-third of the populations of Latvia and Estonia are ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking, a legacy of a half century of Soviet rule that saw large numbers of Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians settle in the Baltics to Russify and rebuild after World War II.

Latvians in Riga celebrate Lacplesis Day, or Freedom Fighters Remembrance Day, on Nov. 11, 2023, to mark the Latvian armys victory over a joint Russian-Germany army during the Latvian War of Independence in 1919. After a torchlight procession, the torches are stuck in the ground. (Svetlana Shkolnikova/Stars and Stripes)

Prior to the Ukraine war, a person merely proposing the demolishment of Rigas Soviet-era Victory monument would be branded a national radical, Andzans said. Now such views are considered mainstream, he added. The memorial, viewed by many Latvians as a symbol of Soviet subjugation, was torn down last year.

Similar monuments commemorating Soviet soldiers who defeated Nazism have been toppled across the Baltics, often over the objections of their Russian-speaking communities, who say the removals defile the memory of relatives who fought and died in the Red Army.

Conservative lawmaker Rihards Kols, chairman of the Latvian parliaments foreign affairs committee, said such actions are long overdue and show an awakening in our society, in our consciousness.

They are also deemed critical for national security after Russian President Vladimir Putin partly justified his invasion of Ukraine as an intervention to protect ethnic Russians from oppression and genocide. Russian citizens in Latvia are absolutely right now considered a threat, Kols said.

We understand that it is vital to our existence to introduce these reforms, he said. The problem is still those who associate themselves with Czarist Russia, with the Soviet Union. There are people in Latvia that are nostalgic for Soviet times.

That mindset is believed to be widespread among residents who gave up Latvian-issued documents in favor of Russian passports following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. An additional 200,000 residents in Latvia and 65,000 residents in Estonia are considered stateless because they or their families arrived during the Soviet occupation and failed to naturalize after the Baltics won independence.

Many of Latvias Russian citizens under age 75 are enrolled in Latvian language classes to be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of Latvian, and, in effect, their loyalty to a country where they have lived for decades. Those who are unable to do so could face expulsion.

Natalya, the 69-year-old pensioner, said she fell into a total depression when the new residency law passed, spending days in bed worried about her future. She was 30 when she moved to Latvia from Ukraine for a job opportunity and said she never learned Latvian because everything was in Russian.

Later, she decided to apply for Russian citizenship because it meant she could retire and receive a pension years earlier than a citizen of Latvia.

And now time has passed, and theyre saying, Go back to those who gave you your citizenship, but where? We dont have anyone there, Natalya said. I am an only child; I dont have children. I have relatives in Odesa but to them Im a traitor.

She said she began selling furniture and searching for places in Russia to relocate to, convinced she will never be able to grasp Latvian at her age. Natalya takes some comfort now in a two-year grace period announced by the Latvian government this summer but said she feels discriminated against in a city where she once spoke Russian freely.

When you go to some establishments, they dont want to speak Russian anymore even though earlier they would speak it with you, she said. Before the war, everybody was more personable, there was a friendship of the people.

Russian language speakers attend a Latvian language class in Riga, Latvia, in November. (Svetlana Shkolnikova/Stars and Stripes)

There is a risk that the steps the Baltics are taking will deepen divisions between ethnic Latvians and Estonians and their Russian minorities, said Andzans, the think tank director. But any potential short-term tension is outweighed by an urgency to integrate societies as much as possible, he said.

Its better to finish the job earlier while the window of opportunity is still open, he said. Currently the Baltic states are safer than ever, and Russia is weaker than in past decades. But Russia is going to get back on track, unfortunately, so it looks like the window is slowly closing.

The Baltics were long hesitant to pursue tough de-Russification measures due to fear of Russias reaction and pushback from the West, Andzans said. With Russias attention focused on its war in Ukraine, that trepidation has largely dissipated, he said. The criticism has lingered.

The European Broadcasting Union and other international journalism organizations warned last month that Latvias proposal to remove Russian from its public radio and television broadcasts will undermine citizens fundamental human rights and make Russian speakers more vulnerable to disinformation and propaganda.

And human rights experts for the United Nations have expressed concern about restrictive laws in Latvia and Estonia that will require Russian-language schools to phase out instruction in Russian, calling them discriminatory.

Igor Pimenov, a former member of Latvian parliament and chairman of the board of an association that advocates for Russian language schooling in Latvia, said his group sees the forced transition as an attack on multiculturalism and an affront to democratic values.

What could be more important than the desire of people to keep their cultural identity? he said. My family is not a threat to the Latvian culture and Latvian language, why should my theoretical grandchildren study in the Latvian language? The problem is these are not parents deciding but the state deciding what is better for their children.

Latvian officials argue the education reforms will eliminate one of the main drivers of segregation, make children from Russian-speaking families more employable and sever the link between a Russian-language education and the consumption of Russian state media.

We see that the best integrator in a society is through language, Kols, the lawmaker, said. I have come around people in my life in Latvia where I speak to them in Latvian, and they reply, I will not speak in your dog language  that is an attitude, an imperialistic thinking [we are fighting].

In Narva, Estonias most ethnically Russian city, a river separates Estonia on the left from Russia on the right. (Svetlana Shkolnikova/Stars and Stripes)

Hundreds of miles north in Narva, the most ethnically Russian city in Estonia, some residents bristle at what they perceive as a sidelining of the Russian language and culture. They also echo the Kremlins narrative about the war in Ukraine, despite Estonias ban on Russian television channels.

No one will win against Russia, said a 65-year-old man fishing in the Narva river, who only agreed to be identified as a pensioner. Ukraine has always been full of fascists, Nazis. I dont know, I dont like them.

Sympathy toward Russia is typical in Narva, said Elena, 63, and Argo, 53, a Russian-Estonian couple. They recalled how crowds thronged the citys promenade this spring to watch World War II victory day celebrations across the river that separates Narva from Russia.

Argo said he was glad to see Estonia promoting its language after completing schooling in Estonia that was dominated by the Russian language. Today he feels out of place in Narva, where even his doctors insist he speak Russian.

Estonians are the ones who are being offended. Why do I have to speak Russian in Estonia? he said. [De-Russification] shouldve been done 30 years ago.
A displaced Palestinian woman looks at the ruins of a building hit in an Israeli airstrike this month. (Loay Ayyoub for The Washington Post)

CAIRO  For weeks, humanitarian workers at the United Nations migration agency have detailed their concerns over the Israel-Gaza war in emails, town-hall meetings and an internal letter to their director  demanding a clear, public stance against forced displacement of Palestinians.

They have yet to receive an answer, according to five staff members in the Middle East who are among the signatories from offices worldwide. Instead, they said, higher-ups at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have sent reminders to stay neutral on social media and tips for self-care in stressful times.

If we remain silent, are we being neutral or are we enabling? said one of the IOM workers.

Now, frustrated IOM personnel are going public, joining a growing movement of aid workers sounding the alarm about how their agencies are handling the politics and perils of the conflict, which has created one of the most complex humanitarian challenges in modern times.

The IOM staffers spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation for breaking agency protocol by speaking to the press without authorization. The IOM declined to comment for this story, except to say that IOM leadership has not received such a letter from staff and therefore cannot comment based on speculation.

Veteran humanitarian workers who served in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and other conflict zones have described the situation in Gaza in superlatives  U.N. relief coordinator Martin Griffiths called it complete and utter carnage, and Secretary General Antonio Guterres said it was hell on earth.

Aid agencies now face compounding crises: the sheer scale of the devastation, the targeting of personnel and, increasingly, inner turmoil, as some outraged staffers demand a more robust defense of humanitarian principles from their leaders.

Israels land, air and sea assault on the densely populated Gaza Strip has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which stopped providing daily updates to the death toll after attacks on medical infrastructure made it impossible to get an accurate tally.

The war has also caused catastrophic damage to housing, farmland and vital infrastructure. The war began Oct. 7, when Hamas militants launched a brutal attack inside Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and seizing scores of others as hostages. A negotiated pause in fighting has offered Gazans a reprieve from bombs, but not from suffering.

This is, for virtually anybody whos been in the humanitarian realm  as a leader, as a worker, as an analyst  the most desperately awful scene I have ever witnessed, said Jennifer Leaning, a public health scholar at Harvard who has written extensively about humanitarian responses to conflicts.

Leaning said humanitarian workers are also de facto diplomats, forced to choose their words carefully to safeguard vital access and funding. But in most other conflicts, Leaning said, civilians have had an escape route and violations of norms were more sporadic. In Gaza, she said, aid groups have witnessed the bombing of a trapped population, as well as attacks on hospitals, medical convoys, schools and other targets typically considered off-limits.

Israel blames Hamas for using civilians as human shields and says it tries to limit casualties by issuing evacuation warnings. Palestinians and aid workers say theres nowhere safe to go in the tiny enclave of more than 2 million people.

Humanitarian officials are wrestling with how stridently to protest, as they must also work with Israel to negotiate access to hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians with urgent needs.

This is a geopolitical conundrum and I dont fault the U.N. agencies and the major international agencies for having difficulty in perceiving what their role can be to help, Leaning said. But I do think they should be speaking out in outrage at the violation of all humanitarian and legal norms.

The longer the conflict goes on without a long-term cease-fire, the more vocal humanitarian workers are becoming.

In recent days, Norwegian Refugee Council chief Jan Egeland noted on X, formerly Twitter, that at least 69 shelters, filled with children and protected by international law, have been bombed. A return to warfare once the temporary pause ends, he added, would be utter madness.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, typically among the most measured in its statements, said the horrific loss of civilian lives in Israel cannot be used to justify the limitless destruction of Gaza. In a Nov. 10 statement, the Red Cross said Israels attacks on hospitals are becoming unbearable.

For many rank-and-file humanitarian personnel, however, responses from their leaders are seen as too little, too late, leading to internecine rifts and flagging morale. Devex, a news outlet focused on the aid and development world, has chronicled the rising anger inside the World Food Program, UNICEF and other agencies.

WFP chief Cindy McCain, widow of Republican Sen. John McCain, is facing calls for her resignation from staff who are circulating a letter that says she is not fit for office and is doing damage to WFPs reputation as the standard-bearer in highlighting the links between conflict and hunger, Devex reported.

A WFP spokesperson did not address the complaints but told The Post the agencys senior leadership has been clear and steadfast that operational aid organizations must have sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza  and that safety for humanitarian workers and civilians is essential.

When UNICEF chief Catherine Russell visited Gaza this month, Devex reported, beleaguered local staff prepared talking points that included telling their boss they contemplated whether to meet you or not, citing what they described as UNICEFs weak position in the face of what can be called a deliberate and systematic attack on the Palestinian children.

Around 6,000 children have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, and hundreds more are believed to be buried under the rubble, according to Gaza health officials.

Russell told the U.N. Security Council last week that the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child, adding that attacks on children have been catastrophic, indiscriminate and disproportionate.

At the U.S. Agency for International Development, more than 600 employees signed a letter urging President Biden to push for an immediate cease-fire, saying they were alarmed and disheartened at the numerous violations of international law.

The issues are particularly thorny for the IOM, which has more than 19,000 employees in 171 countries and is tasked with migration assistance. The internal letter, drafted by unknown authors and disseminated through a staff association, has been shared and endorsed by personnel from around the world, IOM staffers told The Post. Signatories are not able to see how many others have signed on to the message.

The letter expressed worries of a mass forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza because residents are being pushed south toward the Egyptian border, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Post.

Simcha Rothman, a prominent member of the Israeli parliament, suggested earlier this week that Gazans should be resettled in other parts of the world, alleging they were being held in Gaza by the United Nations for political reasons in order to hurt the state of Israel. Earlier this month Israeli agriculture minister Avi Dichter said: Were rolling out Nakba 2023, using the Palestinian term, Arabic for catastrophe, for the mass expulsion of Palestinians during the months before and after the 1948 war that created Israel.

Are we going to provide support for a second Nakba?, asked one IOM employee who endorsed the letter. For us, even the slight idea of that happening lit a fire.

The letter suggests that an extra layer of suspicion comes from IOM chief Amy Popes past roles as a senior adviser on migration to Biden and a Homeland Security adviser during the Obama administration. The IOM staffers who signed the letter fear her Washington connections will make the agency susceptible to potential White House pressure to guard Israeli interests.

Last month, Pope wrote on social media that The suffering going on in #Gaza cannot continue and noted that people desperately need food, water, medicine and fuel.

Pope also held a video meeting with hundreds of personnel in Middle East offices. She offered reassuring words, the staffers said, but didnt answer what they consider the key questions for a migration official: What do we understand as voluntary movement? Are there any conversations at the moment with Israel or the U.S. about moving people out of Gaza?

In addition, they said, an unspoken taboo around criticism of Israel makes it difficult to openly share their concerns. Staffers stressed that they dont want to demonize [Pope]  its a tough position.

Similar frictions are roiling other workplaces, including in Hollywood, Western media and academia. But the issues hit closer to home for aid workers.

Employees of international humanitarian organizations, especially local Palestinians, have found themselves as vulnerable as the civilians theyre trying to assist. More than 100 U.N. personnel have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7  the largest number in any conflict in the organizations history.

They have never expected to be as targeted as an enemy soldier might be, and thats whats happening, Leaning said. Its a real sense of bewilderment that people are working with.

Doctors Without Borders said last week that it had recorded five recent attacks on its staff or facilities, including a prolonged and terrifying ordeal for 137 staff members and their families. The personnel said they were deliberately targeted this month as they tried to evacuate from the clinic and headquarters where they had been sheltering, without food or water, near Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital.

In a statement, the Israeli military said the convoy was driving suspiciously and that warning shots had been fired without any hits registered.

But two relatives of staff members died in the attack, one of them painfully with no access to medical care or pain relief for an abdominal blast injury, tweeted Natalie Thurtle, an emergency physician with the group. I honestly dont know how much more our staff can take, she said.

As the exhausted and traumatized group retreated and waited again for a sign that evacuation was possible, four of the five vehicles they planned to use were burned during heavy fighting around the office. On Nov. 20, a fifth was broken in half, as if crushed by a heavy-duty vehicle or a tank.

Doctors Without Borders said in a statement that the vehicles were the only means of evacuation, and their destruction also jeopardized the possibility to secure evidence on the attack on the convoy.

The next day, news reached the team that two of its doctors, Mahmoud Abu Nujaila and Ahmad al-Sahar, had been killed in a strike on al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza.

Humanitarian organizations have steeled their people to be neutral  nonsectarian, evenhanded, Leaning said. But I would suggest that now they need to say, in the face of what is truly ghastly, that being humanitarian is being in support of ordinary human beings in need.

Loveluck reported from Jerusalem.
Attendees walk through the campus in the Blue Zone. (Hollie Adams/Bloomberg)

Nearly 200 nations agreed on how to run a fund to help vulnerable countries deal with more extreme weather, and rich nations pledged at least $260 million to start the program, marking a breakthrough as global climate negotiations opened in Dubai.

Delegates at the COP28 summit on Thursday adopted a framework for the World Bank-hosted fund after months of negotiations. The United Arab Emirates, this years host nation, said it would contribute $100 million, alongside another $100 million from Germany. The UK committed 40 million ($50 million) and Japan added $10 million.

John Kerry, the US representative, said the Biden administration would work with Congress to provide $17.5 million. The announced contributions clear a $200 million minimum needed to launch operations, setting the stage to start disbursing money early next year.

Figuring out how the fund will work is a truly historic decision, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that runs the annual COP meetings, said before the deal was officially adopted. Reaching that agreement early in the two-week talks will send a powerful signal to all of the negotiating rooms.

Delegates also agreed on an agenda without the drama of past meetings, setting up a smooth start to COP28. The plan on loss and damage, however, is just one of three main outcomes negotiators are working to deliver. A tougher fight lies ahead on how countries should react to the inadequate pace of slashing greenhouse gas emissions, which has already prompted sparring over what nations should collectively commit to do about fossil fuels in a warming world.

Conference leaders and delegates delivered sober warnings about the stakes of inaction on Thursday.

It is clear we are not on track, Jennifer Morgan, Germanys climate envoy, told reporters in a briefing. She said the world faces unimaginable consequences if we dont accelerate and scale up our action.

The EU, US and other countries are pushing for concrete pledges including paring fossil fuels, tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency. The potential fossil fuel language in the final agreement has been a major source of tension, with some oil-rich nations reluctant to embrace a commitment to phase them out altogether.

Stiell called for an unflinching approach. If we do not signal the terminal decline of the fossil fuel era as we know it, we welcome our own terminal decline, he said in opening remarks. And we choose to pay with peoples lives.

Its taken a year to hammer out details for the loss and damage fund, a relatively short amount of time in the world of climate diplomacy. Nations resolved to create it at the end of COP27 in Egypt. Representatives from nearly two dozen countries negotiated on specifics for months, including the controversial decision to set it up as a financial intermediary fund hosted by the World Bank on a four-year interim basis.

Major questions still hang over the facility, including the source and scale of funding going forward. Emerging economies argue that countries which industrialized first should make significant contributions, given theyre responsible for much of the greenhouse gas emissions accumulated in the atmosphere.

Germanys Morgan said that countries that are particularly capable, such as China and Saudi Arabia, also should support the fund. That would be a magnanimous gesture and also a signal of how these countries take their responsibilities for the most vulnerable countries seriously, she said.

The text that was approved on Thursday lays out a plan for replenishing the fund every four years, with contributions coming from a wide variety of sources, including grants and concessional loans. But it stops short of demanding payments, merely urging countries to provide support on a voluntary basis and inviting developed nations to take the lead to provide seed money.

The US fought to ensure the framework text made contributions voluntary, and Kerry has emphasized the US already provides disaster relief funding through other channels.

Its important the fund does not represent any expression of liability or any sort of new legal requirements, Kerry told reporters Wednesday. We think that this fund  the way its designed  will meet the needs of vulnerable countries, and can be stood up quickly but confidently.

With assistance from Jessica Shankleman.
At this stage of the war against Ukraine, the Russian occupation army is actively using attack drones. They can be called a weapon that Russia has relied on.

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The statement was made by Oleksandr Borodin, a spokesman for the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Early in the morning on Thursday, November 30, he spoke on the air of the United News telethon.

The military noted that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the enemy relied more on reconnaissance units and classical weapons systems. Now the situation has changed. The occupiers are very actively practicing with attack drones, including kamikaze drones.

The number of Russian UAV operators has increased significantly. They are quite professional, Borodin said.

"As for parity, we have an advantage in accuracy. We are faster in making decisions, new technical decisions. But we need to understand that the enemy is massive. That is why we need to develop drones and electronic warfare," said the representative of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported:

- On the night of November 30, the aggressor country launched another air attack on Ukraine. Our air defense destroyed 14 out of 20 Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The enemy also launched missiles at the regions. There have been some destructive incidents.

- Russia tried to strike Khmelnytsky region with kamikaze drones, among other things. The wreckage of a Shahed-136/131 fell on the territory of a former factory, local authorities said.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
U.S. soldiers load cargo onto CH-47 Chinooks on Aug. 27, 2023, at al Asad Air Base in Iraq. A recent Reagan Institute poll of Americans showed that 31% of respondents think the Middle East is where the U.S. military should be focused, up from 11% a year earlier. (Shane Hamann/U.S. Army National Guard)

Events in Israel appear to have revived American angst about security in the Middle East, which was rated as the most important destination for deploying U.S. forces abroad, according to a new survey.

Released Thursday, the Reagan Institute poll gauged public opinion on a wide range of security matters. It showed that 31% of those asked think the Middle East is where the American military should be focused, up from 11% a year earlier.

Americans have shifted where they think the United States should focus its military forces, likely due to recent geopolitical events, the institute said in a statement.

The war in Gaza, launched after an October terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, has brought more U.S. military forces into the region amid concerns about a broader military escalation across the Middle East.

U.S. Army Capt. Lawton McGahey addresses his formation after a patching ceremony at al Asad Air Base in Iraq, on Sept. 3, 2023. The Middle East is where the American military should be primarily focused, according to 31% of respondents in a recent Reagan Institute poll. (Daphney Black/U.S. Army)

In recent weeks, U.S. troops have come under repeated fire from Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq and at sea.

East Asia was rated as the second-highest priority in 2023, with 23% saying it should be the top area of focus for U.S. forces.

That number was down from 31% and 37% in the previous two years. Home to China, the Pentagons so-called top pacing threat, East Asia had been the top security priority for Americans since 2020.

In general, global events tend to drive how Americans prioritize security challenges and the militarys role in dealing with them.

But while priorities change, one consistent finding over five years of polling is that a majority of Americans believe that the U.S. should maintain a global military presence, the Reagan Institute said. In 2023, 66% of those polled favored a worldwide presence.

Americans want our military to have bases abroad to deter attacks and respond swiftly to emerging threats, contrasting with only 28% who advocate for a reduction in overseas military presence, favoring troop deployment only in response to aggression, the poll said.

Still, the militarys global role and the vast number of overseas bases it maintains remain points of contention. Over the years, the outlook on having large bases in places like Germany has shifted, depending on the politics at any given time.

Before Russias 2014 invasion of Ukraine, it was commonplace for both Republicans and Democrats to call for large-scale troop reductions and base closures in Europe. Americans, too, put Europe close to the bottom of the priority list.

In 2021, only 5% of those polled by the Reagan Institute named Europe when asked to select only one region where troops could be deployed.

But those numbers spiked in the aftermath of Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Last year, 18% said Europe was their number one military priority, and in 2023 that number increased to 19%.

When given the choice to divvy up where troops are sent, there was less disparity among regions, with 19% allocated to the Middle East, 18% to East Asia and 17% to Europe.

Meanwhile, 13% were allocated to South Asia, 13% to Central America and 10% to South America.

Joining South America at the bottom was Africa, which also was allocated 10%. On the question of selecting only one place for U.S. forces, just 2% picked Africa.

While low on the priority list for Americans, missions in Africa are among the most dangerous for U.S. forces, given that troops have been killed in recent years on counterterrorism missions stretching from Niger to Somalia and Kenya.

The Reagan Institute survey was conducted from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Election workers look over ballots for readability at the Maricopa County Tabulations and Election Center the day after the midterm elections on Nov. 9, 2022, in Phoenix. (Gina Ferazzi/TNS)

Two rural Arizona election officials who attempted to block the 2022 results have been charged with crimes, Arizonas attorney general announced Wednesday.

Peggy Judd, 61, and Tom Crosby, 64, were charged with conspiracy and interfering with an election officer.

The repeated attempts to undermine our democracy are unacceptable, Attorney General Kim Mayes said in a statement. I took an oath to uphold the rule of law, and my office will continue to enforce Arizonas elections laws and support our election officials as they carry out the duties and responsibilities of their offices.

Judd and Crosby are Republicans on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, which is in charge of certifying elections in the 125,000-person county in southeast Arizona.

Following the elections in November 2022, Judd and Crosby refused to certify the results, even though no one was disputing them. They instead aligned with conspiracy theorists who doubted electronic voting machines.

Judd and Crosbys refusal led to procedural fights with statewide officials, which resulted in a court ordering Judd and Crosby to do their jobs. The county supervisors later met and voted 2-0 to certify the results. Crosby didnt show up.

They keep telling us, Thats illegal. Youre gonna go to jail, but it hasnt been so, you know, law is up to interpretation. Only the judge in the end can say, Judd told the Daily Beast days before backing down and voting to certify.

The two supervisors have peddled COVID vaccine conspiracies and election fraud conspiracies in the past. Judd was in attendance at the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol that attempted to prevent Joe Bidens electoral victory. She claimed she didnt go inside the building.

I didnt think there was anything weird about marching on the Capitol, she told the Tucson Sentinel later that month. I kind of almost felt like it was equal to the Martin Luther King march.

_____

2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters building as seen in Washington, D.C., on July 6, 2022. (Carlos Bongioanni/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON  There are 72,000 hearings for veteran claims now pending before the Board of Veterans Appeals, an official for a federal watchdog agency told House lawmakers on Wednesday.

The large caseload is driven by repeat cases sent back to the appeals board after a higher court determined the boards findings were inadequate or incomplete, said Elizabeth Curda, the director of Education, Workforce and Income Security at the Government Accountability Office.

The board isnt dealing with an appeal once but often multiple times, she told members of a House Veterans Affairs Committee subpanel examining the timeliness and effectiveness of decision-making by the Board of Veterans Appeals.

The subpanel on disability assistance and memorial affairs sought answers from Curda  along with Department of Veterans Affairs officials and veterans advocates  about reasons for the backlog of claims.

Repeat cases represent a significant part of that workload, Curda said.

The board faces large workloads and time pressures  and these and other factors require a robust quality-assurance process, she said.

Witnesses at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing listen to opening statements Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, on Capitol Hill. From left to right are Elizabeth Curda of the Government Accountability Office, Kenneth Arnold of the Board of Veterans Appeals, and Timothy Sirhal of the VBA Office of Administrative Review. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Curda discussed findings from a new GAO audit showing more than 80% of veteran cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims from fiscal 2019-2022 were partially or fully remanded for further development and review.

A remanded case is returned to the Board of Veterans Appeals for a new decision.

Veterans can choose to take their claim to the appeals board, when the VA denies a claim for benefits or services. A board decision can be challenged by taking it to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Board of Veterans Appeals heard 11,000 fewer cases in fiscal 2023 compared to the previous year but has a caseload of 72,000 hearings.

The quality of decisions could be impacted over pressure to increase speed and production, Curda told lawmakers. The appeals board also might refuse to hear a case that is incomplete and requires more evidence from the regional VA office adding to the backlog.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, chairman the House subpanel, said the board sent back about 6,000 cases in fiscal 2022 because a VA employee did not properly collect all necessary evidence.

Can you imagine being a veteran who has waited for years for an answer to your claim and then are told that your case has gotten sent back to the beginning because an employee didnt fulfill their statutory duty to assist? Luttrell asked.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committees subpanel on disability assistance and memorial affairs, questions witnesses during a hearing on the VA appeals process Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, on Capitol Hill. (Joe Gromelski/Special to Stars and Stripes)

But Kenneth Arnold, acting chairman of the Board of Veterans Appeals, said more than 90% of the boards decisions each year are not appealed. He said the board renders about 100,000 decisions annually.

We make mistakes, but not the type of mistakes that would normally deny veterans extra benefits, he said.

Arnold argued most of the cases sent back to the appeals board are not seen by a judge.

He described the process before the court as functioning more as legal negotiations that result in settlements but still require a board decision to be re-adjudicated with more explanation for why something could not be granted.

Arnold said the VA plans to hold a summit in 2024 with all stakeholders to undertake a review of the veterans benefits system and ways to improve the process.

Under the Veterans Appeals and Modernization Act, enacted in 2017, veterans have more options to have claims heard before the Board of Veterans Appeals. They can choose a hearing to provide new evidence or ask for a board review without a hearing to receive a second opinion or to submit new evidence.

According to the GAO report, almost all appealed cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims undergo mediation.

Mediation can result in agreement between the veteran and the VA Office of General Counsel or the case can be returned to the board for re-adjudication.
Voice of America, while editorially independent, is funded by the U.S. government. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Three days after Hamas rampaged through southern Israel, an editor at Voice of America offered some lexical guidance in a staff-wide email: Avoid calling the perpetrators terrorists.

The Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and claimed some 240 hostages, could be called terrorist acts or acts of terror, wrote Carol Guensburg, VOAs associate editor for news standards. But she advised VOA to avoid calling Hamas and its members terrorists, except in direct quotations from sources.

The guidance embodies the fraught conversations in newsrooms about how to describe the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Some journalists believe that the term terrorist conveys a value judgment that punctures the medias objectivity, and that such terms as militant or combatant would be more appropriate.

But now Republican lawmakers are objecting to the word choice at VOA, an editorially independent news organization that is funded entirely by the U.S. government, to the tune of $267.5 million this fiscal year.

We believe that VOAs editorial policy against the use of the term terrorist contradicts VOAs principle of providing accurate, objective, and comprehensive news, wrote Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) in a Nov. 7 letter to its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Indeed, we seriously question how VOAs editorial policy advances the interests of the American taxpayers who generously fund this news organization every year.

Six other Republican senators signed the letter: Ted Cruz (Tex.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), Pete Ricketts (Neb.), John Barrasso (Wyo.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.). All sit on committees with jurisdiction over the agencys funding.

The letter referred only to Hamas and made no mention of Israels military response in Gaza, which has killed thousands of Palestinians.

VOAs editorial operations are formally fenced off from government influence by a statutory firewall, but the letter is nonetheless a sensitive matter for USAGM and VOA. The agencies depend on Congress for their funding, and they have historically attempted to avoid fights of any kind with lawmakers.

The issue here appears to be Guensburgs use of the verb avoid. Hagerty and his colleagues seemed to interpret the word as a prohibition. But in a letter to the senator sent Monday, USAGM chief executive Amanda Bennett attempted to clarify VOAs approach, noting that the guidance is not always binding.

There is no policy prohibiting the use of the words terror, terrorism, or terrorist at VOA or the other five news organizations under the agencys umbrella, Bennett wrote. The organizations counsel care and attention in the use of the words but do not place any restrictions on the appropriate use of those words.

Bennett included data showing that iterations of terror had been used in 39 percent of VOA stories that mentioned Hamas between mid-August and mid-November.

Guensburgs Oct. 10 email did not address how to describe Israels military response. A VOA spokesman, Nigel Gibbs, declined to comment.

The Associated Press Stylebook, perhaps the most influential guide to language usage in news reporting, says the terms terrorism and terrorist have become politicized, and often are applied inconsistently. It therefore recommends journalists avoid the words and instead describe specific atrocities, massacres, bombings . . . and other such actions.

President Biden and his administration have repeatedly referred to Hamass Oct. 7 attack as terrorism, and to Hamas as terrorists. The U.S. State Department has designated the organization, which has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, as a foreign terrorist organization since 1997.

VOA has used the terms in news stories before the latest Gaza conflict. A story published on its website Aug. 18 was headlined, Afghanistan Reemerging as a Terrorism Incubator. Another story, published a few days later, referred to ISIS as a terror group. Its Extremism Watch Desk, established in 2015, focuses on Islamic State, Al-Qaida and other terror and extremist groups.

In his letter to Bennett, Hagerty called Guensburgs distinction an absurd and vacuous moral relativism that is specifically generous to Hamass genocidal objectives.

He added: VOA has created an editorial double standard in which it appears to accept the description of the Islamic State, Al-Qaida, and other officially designated terrorists groups as terrorists, but not Iran-backed Hamas, which explicitly seeks to destroy Israel and kill Jews.

Bennett did not directly address that allegation. She instead promised that VOA and other news organizations overseen by USAGM are reviewing their policies as well as training and implementation of these policies.
Thomas Kerrigan (41) is accused of putting the staff member in fear when he came into the store with the knife after a standoff

A FATHER-of-two waved a kitchen knife threateningly at a security guard at his local supermarket, before running after another shopper with the blade during a violent row, it is alleged.

Thomas Kerrigan (41) is accused of putting the staff member in fear when he came into the store with the knife after a standoff.

He was granted bail at Dublin District Court and his case was adjourned for the directions of the DPP to be given.

Mr Kerrigan, of Meridian Court, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, is charged with violent disorder and producing a knife in the course of a dispute.

Detective Garda Mark Reilly said the incident was alleged to have taken place at Aldi, Hamilton Walk, Ashtown on November 24.

Objecting to bail, he said a customer had a verbal altercation with two males, allegedly including the accused outside the store on the night.

A security man broke it up and brought the customer back into the shop, Det Gda Reilly said.

It was alleged Mr Kerrigan came back in, armed with a large black-handled kitchen knife, approached the member of security staff and made threats, putting him in fear.

The customer left and the accused, still armed with the knife, ran after him, it was alleged.

According to gardai, Mr Kerrigan was identified on CCTV and when his home was searched they seized clothes and a knife that was not the one allegedly produced in the shop but was similar.

The accused lived in an apartment block across from Aldi and had used the store on a daily basis. Staff were fearful he would return if granted bail, the garda said.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher said the accused would say a dispute arose because a security guard sought to frisk the person he was with, which Mr Kerrigan had thought was inappropriate.

There was a standoff in the shop, Mr Kerrigan left and another man came out and badly beat him, Mr Kelleher said.

Det Gda Reilly said the alleged assault on Mr Kerrigan was being looked into as part of the investigation. The allegation was that in the middle of this, someone passed the accused an implement and with a rush of blood to the head, he went back in the shop and waved it around in a threatening manner but did not use it or run at anyone, Mr Kelleher said.

Judge Smyth granted bail in the accuseds own bond of 200, with an independent surety of 600 or 400 cash.

Under conditions, he must sign on at his local Garda station, stay away from the shop and not carry a knife. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear in Cloverhill District Court on December 6.
Darryl McMahon, 48, of Charlestown Park, Finglas, is accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour

A DUBLIN man has pleaded not guilty to public order offences during a protest outside the Dail when it returned to session after the summer break.

Darryl McMahon, 48, of Charlestown Park, Finglas, is accused of threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on September 20 at Molesworth Street and failing to comply with a garda's direction to leave the vicinity.

About 200 protesters had held a demonstration outside Leinster House as the Dail resumed.

Following an adjournment by Judge Paula Murphy to see if gardai would bring further charges, Dublin District Court heard there would be no additional counts.

A not-guilty plea was entered, and the judge ordered his hearing to be on December 18, along with another man charged with alleged incidents during the protest.

Philip Keogh, 45, Griffith Park, Finglas, faces the same Public Order Act charge for threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour plus a second one for obstructing gardai.

At their first court appearance in September, Garda Glen Quinn said Mr Keogh had no reply.

"Following his arrest, he informed me he would not appear before the court on these charges because he does not recognise the charges," Garda Quinn had.

Defence solicitor Donal Quigley had said it was not that his client did not recognise the charges but that he "doesn't believe he should be charged" and did not admit them.

"It was a protest he was arrested at, and emotions in these matters can run quite high," the solicitor had said.

The court had refused to grant an order barring them from Molesworth Street and the houses of the Oireachtas because there was a Constitutional right of assembly, and "that would be a step too far."

They have been granted legal aid.

Thirteen people were arrested on September 20 over incidents close to Government Buildings. Gardai at Pearse Street put in place a policing operation to facilitate the resumption of the 33rd Dail.

Nine other men, ranging in age, and two women, in their 40s and 30s, have faced proceedings, with some getting adjourned and others resulting in defendants fined for public order offences.
Difficult weather conditions significantly impact the operation of air defense systems. During low temperatures and precipitation, it is essential to maintain equipment more carefully and prevent icing.

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Furthermore, personnel must pay increased attention to the conditions of service at combat posts. Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, conveyed this information during the telethon.

In challenging weather conditions, servicemen must ensure the proper maintenance of air defense systems and consider providing additional conditions for the cold weather to the personnel.

"Systems are also equipment. Cold temperatures can have an impact, it can lead to icing. Therefore, more attention should be paid to keeping it in working order. And people, of course. People are alive; they must also keep warm, better equip their positions and create conditions for normal service," Ihnat explained.

The spokesperson for the Air Force of Ukraine emphasized that air defense systems consist of many separate complexes. Ihnat particularly noted that radio engineering troops play a crucial role in destroying enemy air targets.

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"Air defense means a large complex of equipment. This includes anti-aircraft missile troops and radio engineering troops. I would like to mention them because the results of both aviation and anti-aircraft missile forces depend on the detection and provision of operational information about the air situation," Ihnat stated.

As a reminder, the aggressor country Russia attempted to strike at the Khmelnytsky region during a night attack with kamikaze drones on November 30. Air defense forces responded: the enemy UAV was shot down, and its wreckage fell on the territory of a former factory.

It was previously reported that Ukraine's air defense forces repelled another Russian drone attack, destroying 14 of 20 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The air attack lasted from night to morning on November 30. The enemy also launched missiles at the regions, resulting in some destructive landings.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, Russian terrorists attacked the Odesa region with Shahed-type kamikaze drones. One UAV hit a building, causing a fire. The kamikaze drones were launched from the Black Sea and followed complex trajectories across the region.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Officers seized 11,060 in cash along with 13 mobile phones and various documents during an operation this week.

A man is due in court later this morning in connection with a garda probe into prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering In Dublin.

The male, in his 30s, was arrested following an operation in North Co Dublin conducted by the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) on Tuesday.

During the course of a follow-up search in the North County Dublin area, officers seized 11,060 in cash along with 13 mobile phones and various documents.

Gardai said the investigation is into persons suspected of being involved in the organisation of prostitution, brothel keeping and money laundering in the greater Dublin area.

The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested as part of the investigation and was detained in a Dublin city Garda station under organised crime legislation.

A garda spokesman said he had now been charged and will be brought before the courts later today.

"The man arrested as part of an ongoing investigation by the Organised Prostitution Investigation Unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) in North County Dublin on Tuesday, 28th August 2023, has been charged.

He will appear before Court 4 of the CCJ this morning Thursday 30th November 2023.
It was alleged the workers had been instructed that if gardai called they were to tell them they were very safe and that the landlord was on holiday

A MAN has been accused of running five brothels in Dublin, where gardai say they found vulnerable sex workers habitually engaged in prostitution.

Stelian Ciuciu (31) leased the properties with fake Romanian identity documents and transferred the rent to the landlords during a three-year operation, it is alleged.

The accused, who is stateless was refused bail at Dublin District Court after gardai said he had been living like a ghost in Ireland and they feared he would flee the country or interfere with witnesses if freed.

Judge Treasa Kelly remanded him in custody, for the directions of the DPP to be given.

Mr Ciuciu, with an address at Brookdale Walk, Swords, Co Dublin is charged with 15 separate offences: five counts of organising prostitution, six of money laundering, two of deception and two using false instruments.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on dates between 2020 and this year.

Detective Garda Colm Grogan of the National Protective Services Bureau said the accused made no response to any of the charges when they were put to him at Coolock garda station in the early hours of this morning.

Objecting to bail, he said it was alleged that the accused secured leases to five properties in Dublin using false documents; that he organised prostitution in the properties and laundered money from those activities through multiple bank accounts.

The money laundering charges related to cash lodgements allegedly made by the accused into accounts.

Gardai had evidence of transfers totalling 10,850 made from an account controlled by Mr Ciuciu to landlords while he had no legitimate source of income, the court heard.

Transfers were for four of the properties while the fifth was paid to the landlord in cash on a monthly basis.

According to gardai, when the properties were searched, they were all being used for the purpose of habitual prostitution by more than one sex worker at any one time.

It was alleged the workers had been instructed that if gardai called they were to tell them they were very safe, and that the landlord was on holiday.

The identity documents used had been accepted by an Irish government department but had been proven to be false by the Romanian authorities, Det Gda Grogan said.

Gardai believed Mr Ciuciu was a severe flight risk as he could access false documents that would allow him to leave the country if granted bail.

They also feared he would interfere with vulnerable witnesses.

Its envisaged that a substantial number of further serious charges will be proffered, Det Gda Grogan said.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor Stephen OMahony said the accused had ties to Ireland as he had been here for 17 years and had three children with his partner here, as well as extended family.

He said Mr Ciucius background and status were unusual as he had been born in Germany but was stateless and had not finished the asylum process in Ireland. However, he had been given leave to remain and was legally in the country.

Det Gda Grogan was reluctant to accept that the accused had children without proof.

The accused had exercised his right to silence and made no comment in six garda interviews, but didnt accept any of the allegations that were put to him, Mr OMahony said.

Mr Ciuciu's father was in court and offering 5,000 for bail. The accused could be in custody for three years awaiting trial if refused bail, Mr O'Mahony said.

Judge Kelly said Mr Ciuciu was presumed innocent, but she refused bail and remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on December 12.
Jimmy Thompson, who died from smoke inhalation, was found in the front bedroom of his Park View bungalow

A man who killed a friend and neighbour when he set fire to his house was suspected of involvement in seven other fire-starting incidents, a court heard yesterday.

Newry Crown Court also heard that arsonist Gary Magee (44) was severely injured and almost died in the fire which claimed the life of Jimmy Thompson (62).

Mr Thompson, who died from smoke inhalation, was found in the front bedroom of his Park View bungalow, in the Cloughoge area on the outskirts of Newry.

Magee was rescued lying unconscious by the locked back door in the kitchen.

While the prosecution contend it is an aggravating factor that Magee started the fire despite knowing his friends health problems  including heart disease, coronary arterial disease and asthma conditions, which contributed to the death  it is accepted there was no falling out and no ill-feeling between the pair.

On the day he was due to go on trial for murder, Magee admitted manslaughter and to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

In court, Magee sat in the dock flanked by prison officers while the family of his victim maintained a dignified silence in the public gallery.

Prosecuting counsel Fiona OKane said that on May 21, 2021, a neighbour of Mr Thompson alerted the fire service when he saw smoke coming from a bedroom window.

Firefighters arrived within nine minutes of the call and found that both the front and back doors were locked.

When they gained entry, Mr Thompson was found slumped unconscious in a seated position in the front bedroom, while Magee was found lying on the kitchen floor, his clothes pulled up covering his face.

Mrs OKane said that despite vigorous CPR done in rotation between the PSNI, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and paramedics, sadly Mr Thompson could not be revived.

Magee was taken first to Daisy Hill Hospital and then transferred to the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

The cause of Mr Thompsons death was established as smoke inhalation and the pathologist said that would have been exacerbated by Mr Thompsons various health conditions.

An examination of the scene by a senior fire investigator found there were three separate seats of fire  one each in the two bedrooms and one in the living room  and that no accelerant or propellant had been used.

He said that as a hole had been burnt through the bedroom door, he believed the fire would have been lit around 30 minutes beforehand.

Jimmy Thompson

Mrs OKane said police enquiries established that both Mr Thompson and Magee were smokers and, in the living room, crime scene investigators found lots of partially smoked, hand-rolled cigarettes.

Forensic fire experts conducted experiments to establish whether discarded, lit cigarettes could have been responsible for starting the fires, but their findings were that each seat of fire, the main one being in the rear bedroom, had been started deliberately.

During police interviews, Magee said he could remember drinking Guinness with Jimmy but had no recollection of setting any fires.

He said there was no animosity between himself and Mr Thompson, a man he considered to be a friend with whom he frequently drank alcohol, and claimed that a burn on his hand related to an incident the day before the fire in the bungalow.

Magee conceded, however, that there was no one else there and that it must have been either the deceased or himself who started the fires, said Mrs OKane.

She revealed that Magee is associated with seven other incidents of fire-starting but that he was not prosecuted for those.

Turning to other aggravating factors, Mrs OKane revealed that Magee has amassed 115 previous convictions, including relevant entries for pretty much the full panoply of offending, with the exception of sexual offending.

She further revealed that at the time of killing Mr Thompson, Magee was subject to a probation order and a suspended sentence.

She said other aggravating features included the fact that Mr Thompson was vulnerable and in ill-health, was killed in his own home and the offences were committed when Magee was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis.

Mrs OKane said that while Magee did admit his guilt, any credit to be afforded to the arsonist killer should be tempered as he was effectively caught red-handed.

Defence KC Gregory Berry said: Mr Magee acknowledges the devastation caused by his actions He fully accepts his responsibility.

We say and submit that he is remorseful, said the senior barrister, emphasising that Magee has difficulty understanding how this has come about and how he caused the death of a man he would have had a drink with and whom he had no reason to harm.

Turning to Magees personal background, Mr Berry said it was clear that he had lived a chaotic lifestyle where his life was blighted by addictions to alcohol and drugs, which lead to the majority of his offending.

Remanding Magee back into custody, Madam Justice McBride said there had been a wealth of material put before her which she wanted to consider before sentencing.

Madam Justice McBride then adjourned the case to December 14.
Leeanda Farrelly (49) pleaded guilty on Wednesday

A woman is to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Court next February after she admitted sharing a photo online of one of the two boys who murdered 14-year-old Ana Kriegel.

Leeanda Farrelly (49) pleaded guilty on Wednesday to publishing a photo on Facebook on June 19, 2019, of the teenager known as 'Boy A' that was likely to lead to his identification.

Ana Kriegel

On May 14, 2018, two 13-year-olds lured Ana Kriegel to a derelict farmhouse in Lucan, Co Dublin where she was beaten to death.

They were both convicted of murder following a trial during which they were referred to as 'Boy A' and 'Boy B'.

Farrelly, with an address at Kilmartin Avenue in Tallaght, will be sentenced next February 22.

There are restrictions under the Children's Act that prevent the identification of child offenders. These include that no picture shall be published or broadcast of any child concerned in the proceedings or which is likely to lead to their identification.
No arrests have been made in the case which is being investigated by Mountjoy Garda Station.

A man who accidentally shot his sister dead in a tragic incident last year was one of two males hospitalised with slash injuries after a pub row in Cabra last night.

Gardai have recovered the wheel brace used in the vicious assault outside the pub at Quarry Road.

The violence kicked off after a row among mourners who had earlier attended the funeral of gangland shooting victim Brandon Ledwidge.

Convicted killer Derek Boyd (29) suffered non- life threatening injuries in the melee in which it is understood that a wheel brace was produced by his attacker as a number of people left the pub.

He suffered slash injuries while another man suffered more serious head injuries.

No arrests have been made in the case which is being investigated by Mountjoy Garda Station.

It was a row among people that had been at the funeral rather than some other entity attacking them, a senior source said this morning.

Boyd and the other man who is from Cabra are still being treated at the Mater Hospital this morning where public order incidents unfolded last night after they were admitted to hospital.

Last December he was jailed for two years for killing his sister Sandra Boyd, a mother of five - through an accidental discharge of an illegally-held loaded semi-automatic pistol in March of last year.

Sandra Boyd

The court heard he had sourced the semi-automatic pistol and live rounds of ammunition because he was concerned for his own and his familys safety as a result of a threats made to him.

Boyd had been in custody since he shot his sister on March 19, at his home in Collins Place, Finglas last year and because of standard remission he was released from jail earlier this year.

Ledwidge, the first gangland shooting victim of 2023, was shot several times as he answered the door of his home on Barry Drive at around 7pm on Saturday, November 18.

Finglas village came to a standstill yesterday as relatives carried his silver-grey casket to the church as young men and teenagers performed wheelies and noisy burnouts on motorbikes, spinning the back wheels so fast that the tyres smoked.

Despite an obvious garda presence, bikes were wheelied up and down the street before and after the funeral mass.

One of the symbols of Ledwidges life brought to the altar was a motorbike helmet.

He is survived by his parents Sabrina and John, siblings Byron, Ellie, Kaci and Daryl, his girlfriend, and extended family and friends.

Brandon Ledwidge

Many mourners wore T-shirts with Mr Ledwidges photo printed on it, and some female mourners wore red ribbons and bows in their hair.

In a tribute read by a cousin, his sister Kaci said he played a big part in everyones life.

We are all absolutely heartbroken. A lot of memories were made, and a lot more memories should have been made. You were the life and soul of every party, always with a smile on your face no matter what, she wrote, adding that he was not without a big fat joint in your mouth and a hammer in your pocket.

We will miss everything about you. You loved a good trip to Amsterdam and Tenerife. We will miss seeing your face and hearing your voice around the house and everywhere you were and coming in saying Ma, whats for dinner. Im starving?, she added.

We will miss your laugh, your smile, your jokes, your loving and caring ways, she explained, adding that he could be found at all hours of the morning with a bottle of fast gas and a balloon in his mouth with a bottle of vodka.

His sister added: You took a big chunk of our hearts with you. You were a party animal. You loved a good party and the drink. You were stone mad and made of steel.

People on motorbikes as the funeral of Brandon Ledwidge took place in St Canice's Church, Finglas. Photo: Collins

A cousin of Mr Ledwidge said they were always together like peas in a pod. You wouldnt see one without the other. You were the big brother I never had, he said to applause.

During his homily, Fr Richard Hyland made reference to the Gospel, saying Jesus said we will be judged on the care we have for each other, and we are to give that care to everyone, no matter whom they are or where they come from.

You reap what you sow. If you sow badness, you get badness back. If you sow goodness, you get goodness back, he added.

After Requiem Mass, burial took place in Glasnevin Cemetery.
Bonney is serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence in Wheatfield Prison.

Regency hotel getaway driver Jason Bonney is under armed guard in hospital after suffering a medical emergency in prison.

The Sunday World understands 52-year-old Bonney took ill in Dublins Wheatfield Prison on Thursday evening.

He was moved to hospital where its understood he is in a serious but stable condition.

A source said: He received emergency medical care in the prison before being moved to hospital where he is now under armed guard.

Bonney, who fled Ireland a month after the attack in which an armed gang shot dead Kinahan enforcer David Byrne, is serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence.

He is housed on 3G, also known as the Hutch landing, which is segregated from the rest of the prison population due to the threat that exists against them.

Its understood he has struggled to adjust to life behind bars during his seven months in custody.

Jason Bonney

He has continued to insist upon his innocence of the charges that cost him his freedom.

Bonney, of Portmarnock, North Co Dublin, had claimed during his trial that his late father William, who died in 2019, had been driving his BMW X5 jeep on February 5, 2016.

The shock claim was corroborated in court by two defence witnesses Julie McGlynn and Peter Tyrell.

But it was rejected by the Special Criminal Court, which insisted it had been lied to.

The court held Bonney was the sole driver of the flash jeep which collected gunman and dissident republican Kevin Flat Cap Murray from St Vincents GAA car park in North Dublin following the shooting at the nearby Regency Hotel.

Gunman Murray (47) never faced justice for his role in the attack as rapidly advancing motor neurone disease claimed his life in August of 2017.

Bonneys co-accused Paul Murphy, 61, of Swords, North Co Dublin, was also convicted of assisting the Hutch gang on the day as a getaway driver.

Jason Bonney

The pair have been in Wheatfield Prison since April 17th of this year.

Earlier that day they walked into court as they were on bail while Gerry The Monk Hutch was brought from the same prison under armed guard.

But at around 4pm that evening, Hutch was the only man to walk out the doors of the Criminal Courts of Justice after being acquitted of Byrnes murder at the Regency.
I wanted to be proactive and raise money for a charity working for people living within our own community

Team Haven with members of the 11th Belfast Venture Scouts helping out at their table

A Belfast man is running at least 5km a day throughout December to raise money for the homeless .

Education development officer Tiarnan McMeekin is aiming to clock up a minimum of 155km, running every day including Christmas day, to raise much-needed funds for Team HAVEN.

Team HAVEN is a non-funded community organisation providing help and support to the homeless, vulnerable and those experiencing food poverty in Belfast and the surrounding areas.

Their volunteers set up a feeding station on High Street six nights a week, providing hot food and drinks.

I wanted to be proactive and raise money for a charity working for people living within our own community, Tiarnan said.

"It'll be a tough challenge but I'm proud to be helping Team HAVEN out, particularly during the hard winter months.

Homelessness and food poverty are major issues here in Belfast and throughout Ireland and the UK, and the economic crisis only serves to amplify this.

"Organisations like Team HAVEN carry out amazing work day in and day out to combat this."

Tiarnan McMeekin

Each night Team HAVEN can have 50 people or more calling to the table.

"There are people of all ages, backgrounds, parts of the country and world. Some are rough sleepers, others have a hostel bed or some are just vulnerable, in need of company and support. we never judge, their website states.

"Our Outreach Volunteers cook hot meals, make sandwiches and snack packs, and give out a never-ending supply of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and bottled water.

We also have a food bank from which we distribute food parcels to anyone who is struggling, for whatever reason.

We can provide a minimum of three days' emergency food supplies, and we work alongside and support other food banks and charitable organisations in North Belfast.

"Any donations we receive help us to continue our outreach work and keep the shelves of our food bank stocked to help anyone in need."

You can donate here
"The Gardai are not interested in the truth when it comes to this case

The former lover of Ian Bailey has branded the whole Garda cold case review into Sophie's Toscan du Plantier's murder as a "stitch-up".

Jules Thomas felt it was "farcical" that she had not heard from detectives since the review of the case began 18 months ago and she is adamant her ex partner of 25 years, Bailey is not the killer.

She said; "The Gardai are not interested in the truth when it comes to this case, and never have been. They have spent millions and have got nowhere.

"From day one they were given loads of leads from various witnesses and for whatever reason they never followed them up.

"If they go and seek the truth the French will go ballistic and that is why it has never happened. The whole investigation is a cover up."

Sophe Toscan du Plantier

The west Cork painter has had no contact with Ian Bailey since they split up a few years ago.

He moved out of her house near Schull - three miles from where Sophie lived - and is now living in a flat in Bantry.

She said; " I have nothing to do with Ian. I do not speak to him. He is living his life and I am getting on with mine.

"I can not believe that the Gardai have not been in touch with me. You would think they would.

"This whole Sophie case is like a black cloth hanging over your head, it just never goes away.

"The truth is Ian had nothing to do with this murder and I have only ever told the truth.

"The Review team is not interested in what I have to say, otherwise they would have contacted me."

Jules Thomas with former partner Ian Bailey

Ian Bailey was arrested twice over Sophie's murder but never charged on the orders of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He has always protested his innocence even though a court in France found him guilty of the crime in absentia and sentenced him to 25 years in jail. The Irish courts have refused to extradite him to France.

The controversial 66 year old Englishman has suffered deteriorating health after having three heart attacks in recent months. He is due to have major heart surgery in the Spring.

The Gardai have always denied any cover up and say they are re-examining every statement and every bit of evidence as part of the cold case review into the murder. There are over 5,000 files involved.

A senior source said ; " This is a painstaking operation and takes time. Everybody who was previously interviewed will be at some stage . All we are trying to do is find the killer and no stone is being left unturned."

Sophie was battered to death on a lane beside her west Cork home in Christmas,1996.

Gardai have always believed that she knew her killer.
The Ryanair boss said that while the riots wont impact Dublin's tourism, they couldnt be allowed to happen again.

The CEO of Ryanair has criticised the Government and An Garda Siochanas responses to last weeks riots in Dublin city centre.

Michael OLeary said that the Government have waited too long to acknowledge the prominent far-right figures and groups that ultimately instigated the violence in the capital following the stabbing of three children and a creche worker on Parnell Square earlier that day.

He suggested that the Government were rushing through legislation after Tanaiste Micheal Martin announced earlier this week that the Government hopes to have incitement to hate legislation on the statute books before Christmas.

We need to see how the government responds to it. And so far, the Government response has been slow and tardy. Theyre all of a sudden going to rush through legislation, OLeary told Bloomberg News.

Why do you have to rush it through? It should have been passed through about two years ago.

OLeary said while the riots wont impact Dublin's tourism, they couldnt be allowed to happen again. He stressed the need for an effective Garda response team located in the centre of the city.

He was speaking after Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who has also come under intense pressure over the response to the riots in Dublin, said in a statement that legislation allowing gardai to use body-cams has now passed, and gardai in Dublin city would have the cameras by spring, along with greater access to CCTV footage.

Once enacted the legislation will be accompanied by laws allowing gardai to use facial recognition technology.

She also said the latest class of 151 Garda graduates would be attested early, before Christmas, with 700 to 800 new recruits in the Garda College this year.

The Minister also welcomed the series of announcements from Commissioner Harris and the senior leadership team of An Garda Siochana today, including the accelerated expansion of the Garda Dog Unit  as provided for by Minister McEntee in Budget 2024, the statement read.

Other measures include the provision of stronger incapacitating spray for all Gardai; the provision of tasers to public order units, subject to training; more public order training for Gardai; more and improved public order equipment and vehicles; more Garda data scientists to support the analysis of evidential material; the purchase of hand held video cameras for public order units; and the further expansion of public order tactics.
Local councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder told a meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) on Monday that those involved should be beaten in public until they die.

The Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers.

Fianna Fail will engage with one of their Limerick councillors who said that the rioters in Dublin city centre last week should be shot in the head.

Local councillor Abul Kalam Azad Talukder told a meeting of Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) on Monday that those involved should be beaten in public until they die, the Limerick Post reports.

He immediately withdrew his comments, noting that the words were only an expression of my emotion, after Labour Party councillor Conor Sheehan told him he cant call for people to be shot in the council chamber.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Fianna Fail Minister of State Jack Chambers said Cllr Talukders comments were totally inappropriate.

"I welcome the fact that he withdrew the comments immediately at that meeting," he said.

"Just to be clear, anyone involved in the events last week must face the justice system and our legal system as anybody else would.

"Those comments are completely inappropriate and I welcome the fact he withdrew them at that meeting.

"The party will engage with him on his remarks".

Minister Chambers said that he agreed with Justice Minister Helen McEntees description of those who took part in the riots in the capital as scumbags and thugs.

"The people involved in the violence last week, it was thuggish behaviour and we have to call it as it was," he said.

"I think on the wider point we just need to focus again on the downright criminality, the total intimidation, the sense of fear that they created last week.

"I think the wider, more fundamental points about what brought people to that point where they were engaging in such reckless criminal behaviour is worthy of further consideration.

"I think for most people out there, they want to see a strong Garda response," he added.

It comes after the Garda Commissioner yesterday announced that all Public Order Unit Gardai are to be issued with tasers.

Drew Harris said that the senior management team have agreed that all gardai will now carry pepper spray, while some 200 members of the Public Order Unit will be issued tasers, subject to successful training and accreditation.

The commissioner will say the force will be adding to 1,000 already public order trained gardai, as well as 100 gardai which were added to the public order unit in Dublin this year. Body cams will be rolled out from summer of next year.

It is very clear we are now facing a different form of disorder than we've experienced before and we at An Garda Siochana must evolve in terms of our tactics and equipment to address this, he said.
The U.S. Department of Defense has stated that the military assistance to Ukraine that Washington has been providing to the country since Russia's full-scale invasion has strengthened the U.S. national defense industrial base. The US defense industry has not been at this level for decades.

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This was reported on the Pentagon's website on Wednesday, November 29. According to the report, industry partners in the DIB (Defense Innovation Board) have stepped up to the plate, producing equipment and providing the capabilities needed to support the country's commitments.

According to the department, when capabilities are removed from existing US arsenals, they must be replaced to ensure that US military units maintain their readiness. As of mid-November, the department had allocated almost $17 billion to purchase replacement equipment that was sent to Ukraine from US warehouses.

The Defense Department has reportedly allocated about $3.3 billion in 18 states to help defense contractors expand production lines and create new ones. The contractors produce, among other things, 155-mm artillery shells, guided multiple launch rocket systems, and Stinger and Javelin missiles.

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The Pentagon has also allocated more than $10 billion to create new equipment and replace the equipment that was sent abroad (including to Ukraine).

In total, the department has ordered equipment worth more than $27 billion from suppliers in 37 states.

"In every respect, the response of our U.S. industrial base to meet Ukraine's defense needs has been truly historic. This is a nationwide effort that spans the entire spectrum of our supply chain in almost every capability area," said William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, some states have benefited from the multibillion-dollar sum spent by the US on arming Ukraine. The White House made such investments to enlist the support of Republicans, who, despite everything, voted against helping Kyiv.

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Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Gardai have expressed deep concern after a photograph and other details of an innocent man were shared on social media, wrongly claiming that he is the suspect

Special security measures have had to be put in place for a man who has been falsely identified as being the suspect for last weeks stabbing in Dublin.

Gardai have expressed deep concern after a photograph and other details of an innocent man were shared on social media, wrongly claiming that he is the suspect for last Thursdays stabbing attack outside a Dublin school, which left three children and a creche worker injured.

It followed the publication of an article by online news outlet Gript, which has since removed the story, which blamed the wrong man for the stabbing after gardai contacted the outlet.

Some of the social media posts, which surfaced overnight, included an image of an individual and referenced details from a court case purporting to involve the stabbing suspect, but which was from a case involving an entirely different individual.

However, the man named in the social media posts has no involvement in the shocking incident last week.

The suspect for the attack, an Algerian national with Irish citizenship, remains in hospital and is yet to be arrested. He is expected to be questioned before the end of this week, once he is deemed medically fit.

The online posts have been shared thousands of times since going up overnight.

One of the accounts, which shared the details of the wrong person, is linked to a man currently under investigation by detectives as part of the inquiry into the organising of the violent scenes in Dublin last week.

Gardai said they have made contact with Gript.

The Gript article did not name the falsely identified Algerian but revealed details of his immigration case ruling, which is available on legal sites, and in which he is named.

It allowed right-wing agitators to identify the Algerian man, who was the plaintiff in the asylum case and share his image and details of his work for an Irish company. His photograph was sourced from an interview he gave about homeless services to a newspaper.

When contacted about the Gript article, a garda spokesman told the Irish Independent: This article is highly inaccurate.

The individual referenced in the article is not a person of interest in the investigation into the knife attack of last Thursday.

An Garda Siochana has contacted the online news outlet and the outlet has agreed to remove the article.

The online news outlet did not contact the Garda Press Office before publication.

An Garda Siochana is aware of some social media posts resulting from the article that purport to identify the individual and has put in place measures to ensure the safety of the individual.

Gripts original tweet promoting the story published at 5pm yesterday has been viewed over 755,000 times on X, formerly Twitter.

John McGuirk, Gripts editor told the Irish Independent that as of 10.40am this morning, he had received no contact from the Garda about the article.

However, this was contradicted in a later statement on his outlets website, which said gardai had contacted the publication at 9am today.

He said the article was based on garda and official sources.

We did not contact the garda press office about this as its policy is not to comment on named individuals, he said.

McGuirk said this now feels like a bit of a rat-f**king, a term used to describe dirty tricks or deliberate sabotage.

The details in the Gript story allowed some right-wing agitators to identify the Algerian man who was the plaintiff in the asylum case and share his image and details of his work for an Irish company. His photograph was sourced from a an interview he gave about homeless services to a newspaper.

Right-wing websites have since labelled staff working for an NGO (non-governmental body) that had helped the wrongly identified Algerian man in his immigration case as traitors and accessories to murder.

The five-year-old girl who was critically injured in last Thursdays stabbing attack remains gravely ill in hospital this morning.

The only suspect in the case, a 49-year-old Algerian man also remains in hospital where he is being treated for head injuries.

However, it is understood that his condition is improving and he may be medically fit to be arrested for questioning before the end of this week.

In a statement today Gript said: This morning, just after 9am, more than 17 hours after the story that appeared on this page on Gript.ie was published  and after media outlets elsewhere had first been informed  the Garda Press Office contacted Gript to say that the unnamed person referred to in the story that appeared at this link yesterday, is not, in fact, a person of interest in the events of last Thursday.

Gript Medias original reporting was sourced from a member of An Garda Siochana.

It was further cross-checked against publicly available records, and while the name of the suspect was not reported, that name was put to a senior official on the basis of an informal cross-check before publication.

Gript Media, like other media outlets, has a firm policy of never naming any individual suspected in relation to a criminal act until such time as that person has been charged with a crime, and confirming that there are no reporting restrictions in place. In this case, we kept to that policy, while cross-checking our details with our sources in the usual way.

We are investigating the circumstances of this error, including giving due consideration to the question of whether this media outlet was deliberately deceived by a senior official. If we determine that to have been the case, then our obligation to protect the anonymity of those sources will be considered forfeit.
The pair were regular drinking buddies but things turned sour during one boozing session in the last few weeks

As previously revealed, the former South East Antrim (SEA) UDA chief was ordered out of the country last week after a series of incidents, including three attacks on people by his pitbull-type dog.

It has now emerged the SEA leadership moved after rival terror group the UVF warned if he wasnt kicked out of the country, they would shoot him dead.

The threat was issued on the back of a bizarre incident in which McLean bit a senior UVF figure on the cheek during a drunken row, according to sources.

The Sunday World understands McLean had struck up a friendship with the UVF member after he returned to Carrick following a period living in Newtownards, where he was made commander of the SEA UDA faction based in the Co Down town.

Sources say the pair were regular drinking buddies but things turned sour during one boozing session in the last few weeks.

A row erupted which ended with McLean launching an attack on his drinking buddy, biting him and taking a chunk of flesh out of his cheek.

The incident prompted the UVFs South East Antrim brigadier to warn his opposite number in the UDA that unless they took action against their man, he would be killed.

Patience with McLean had already been wearing thin. He had been on the wrong end of a kicking carried out by the organisation after a drunken rampage outside a womans house in Carrick.

The woman had once been close to him. When he arrived at her home under the influence of alcohol, her current partner  a UDA member  rang a leading member in Rathcoole. He, in turn, sent a team to dish out the beating.

Last week we revealed the convicted woman beater had fled the country after being given 72 hours to get out.

His increasingly unpredictable behaviour is being put down to addictions. He escaped with a probation order when he appeared in court in Belfast last month after battering his girlfriend. During a vicious domestic assault, he had ripped clumps out of her hair.

The goon admitted attacking his now ex-partner and smashing up her flat. He was handed a two-year probation order for the shocking attack which resulted in the panic-stricken victim fleeing the area and moving home.

The order requires McLean to comply with rehabilitative programmes as required by his probation officer.

He was one of three men who were tried and acquitted of the murder of Geordie Gilmore in Carrickfergus in 2017.

There are now fears that with nothing to lose, he might be tempted to exact revenge for his exile by spilling the beans on the Gilmore shooting as well as the murder in January 2020 of terminally ill Glenn Quinn.

Mr Quinn was battered to death by members of SEA UDA. No one has ever been convicted but McLean was part of the UDA unit based in the Glenfield estate in the town believed to have been behind the attack.

McLeans loyalty during the year-long Gilmore feud, to the then-leadership, was rewarded with promotion to commander in an SEA faction, according to sources.

That faction was believed to be based in Newtownards where he was a close associated of feud boss Adrian Price.

Prices faction was jettisoned by SEA in March this year and was then locked in a feud with North Down UDA. Homes were attacked and dozens threatened during the six-month feud.

By the time the violence ended, McLean had left Newtownards to return to his old stomping ground in Carrick. He headed the North Down and Ards Peninsular unit which was mired in the drugs trade, but he quit and left Price to fight his own battles.

Brian thought he was a big shot, said a source. He was warned so many times but he ignored it and in the end it was inevitable.

It is understood he was given 72 hours earlier this week to leave the country but was gone within a day. It is believed that he has returned to his native Scotland.

Last month, McLean was lucky to escape jail. Laganside Magistrates Court heard how his then-girlfriend had been asleep on the sofa at her home in Newtownards when McLean turned up drunk in the late afternoon and started attacking her.
The UFC star and his fiancee Dee Devlin are already parents to three children.

Conor McGregor and Dee Devlin are expecting their fourth child together

Conor McGregor has announced that his fourth child is on the way.

The UFC star and his fiancee Dee Devlin are already parents to three children: Conor Jr (6), Croia (4), and Rian (2) but are getting ready to welcome the newest member of the family.

Taking to social media on Wednesday, McGregor shared some photos of him posing with his pregnant wife shortly before they headed off to the hospital.

The pair looked delighted, beaming as they held hands outside the car.

Captioning the post, the Dubliner wrote: Up early tomorrow to bring our new baby boy into this world, say a prayer for us! Lets go Mammy.

Conors sister Erin sent on her well wishes to the expecting parents, writing: so excited guys, sending mama dee the best of luck, love you both".

Dees sister Sarah said: Cant bloody wait! Sienna wont be the youngest anymore. Lets go wonder Mammy.

Another follower chimed in, saying: Sending lots of love and prayers for a smooth delivery.

And someone else added: Good luck tomorrow Dee & Conor. Thinking of you all.

It comes after gardai confirmed that they were investigating the fighter for his alleged incitement to hatred in relation to last Thursdays riots in Dublin city centre.

Last Friday the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) commenced a major investigation into incitement of hatred over the violence that broke out.

There have been no arrests yet in this strand of the investigation.

Gardai are examining posts that Conor McGregor made to determine if this led to anyone being later incited to commit criminal acts, a source said this week.

However there are a lot more people than him who are being investigated for allegedly inciting those riots including plenty of who might be described as so-called ordinary members of the public who were not previously known to gardai.

Gardai are examining a number of people in relation to this investigation, several of which are described as the usual far right agitators who were inciting hatred online on Thursday and encouraging their followers and associates to travel into the city centre.

At least five of these individuals have been identified so far by the NBCI team in relation to their internet activity on Thursday night in terms of inciting hatred.

These people have previously been investigated for similar offences linked to anti immigration protests.

Exact total figures are still not available because gardai are still in the process of identifying how many were involved in this alleged offence on the day. This will take time, the source pointed out.

This is ongoing as a large number of social media platforms need to be examined. This is not just Twitter, it is Facebook, it is Instagram and a large variety of other social media, the source added.
Craig and co-host Alison Hammond had one half of The Corrs on their show today as the Irish group promoted a Best of album

The Corr sisters react to Craig's revelation on the show

CRAIG Doyle left Andrea and Caroline Corr of The Corrs gobsmacked today when he appears to have got his arithmetic confused over his secret crush on their sister Sharon.

Can I tell you a little secret?  Dubliner Craig told the curious Dundalk duo on ITVs This Morning show earlier today.

As a 15-year-old boy in Ireland I took up the bassoon to try and go out with your sister Sharon.

As Andrea cracked up laughing, a bemused Caroline asked: Is Sharon aware of this, at all?.

Craig replied matter of factly: She is now.

The Corr sisters react to Craig's revelation on the show

He added: The same teacher said youre not good enough, and it never happened.

Andrea butted in with a smile: And it didnt work. Was she even aware?.

To which Craig repeated, Eh, she is now.I was young and in love.

But while Craig and Sharon are of similar age  hes 52 and shes 53  it seems hugely unlikely he would have ever known of her as a teenager.

Thats because while growing up in Kilmacud in south Dublin Craig would have been aged 15 in 1985 (he was born on December 17 1970) , when in fact The Corrs did not begin as a band until five years later, in 1990.

Craig and co-host Alison Hammond had one half of The Corrs on their show today as the Irish group promoted a Best of album.

Craig reveals his secret crush

Asked by Craig what her favourite track is, Andrea confirmed: Runaway is always special.

When Alison asked if it ever gets boring being part of a group of siblings, Andrea remarked: Yeah, I dont think it ever gets boring. It gets interesting, it gets strange (as she flickered her fingers).

But yeah, weve managed to do it for a number of years. It doesnt get boring.
Music Plus

with Winston Watusi watusi@thesun.co.nz

People tell me I take music too seriously; who am I to argue?

Someone has to. This week the wit and intelligence of Kim Hill disappeared from radio  thanks for all the years Kim! - and that wasn't even the most depressing thing.

For that, listen to the widely-available 'The Front Page' podcast, 'Future of music: How the collapse of coverage is limiting Aotearoa'. In it Chris Schulz, long-time music journalist, discusses how the gutting of the magazine industry has ended many specialised titles and how most coverage of music in wider mainstream media has also vanished. Essential if not cheerful listening.

My thanks to SunLive for still allowing such cultural indulgence...



John Michaelz.

What I've been taking too seriously this week is the debut album, 'Soul Exodus', from John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band. That's first in a queue that includes Grant Haua's sensational 'Mana Blues', officially launched at last weekend's NZ Blues & BBQ Festival, Abysm's recent album, and one I missed last year from 5g Meatsuit...

There's also a single from heavy prog-rock quartet Dead Empire, 'Buckley', and very impressive it is too, big guitars and a big sing over big riffs in an unusual time-signature. It's a very solid piece of sophisticated metal-work.

On to 'Soul Exodus'. The first thing to know is it's a reggae album; the second is it's a religious reggae album. Is it Rastafarian? I guess. I'm unfamiliar with those specific tenets but Jah appears in most songs and lyrics are in 'Iyaric' or 'Dread Talk', patois created by the Rastafari movement, tropes of which include no possessives and the words me and my replaced by I.

This isn't uncommon in reggae but 'Soul Exodus' still surprises. Highlighting religious material isn't the surprise; John was previously nominated for a Gospel Tui award for his 'Walk On Water' album. The surprise is that much like Bob Dylan's Christian coming out with 'Slow Train Coming', this is not an album of peace and love religious content. As the cover illustration suggests, it's unbelievers are damned, get ready for the end times.



John Michaelz.

The album is structured to emphasise this. After the welcoming Come On In there are two extremely slow tracks. There's no dancing here as John lays into sad tortured agnostics, anti-Semitic liberals, and promises Jah judgement coming through loud and clear.

But  hey!  many people don't listen to lyrics, perhaps I'm taking this too seriously. Musically, guitarist Mike Kirk delivers an understated masterclass of styles and textures while the Black brothers rhythm section is immaculate.



John Michaelz and the Black Brothers Band.

Production, by Dylan Israel (Summer Thieves), is tight and controlled, nicely weaving in guest musicians, with lovely flute from Karen Waldon on 'Jeremiah' and Mike Butler's effective harmonica on 'Feeling The Dread'. Lewis Martin's saxophone meanders through several tracks, not so much providing melody as a relaxed vibe.

John Michalez -Soul Exodus.

The package is excellent, with an extensive CD booklet and a USB stick containing extra videos and mixes. It's available at the Historic Village's Record Roundabout.

Hear Winston's latest Playlist:
Food banks around the Western Bay of Plenty have had a boost following the Emergency Services annual Food Bank Drive.

Sirens rang out across Western Bay of Plenty suburbs, including Maketu, Katikati, Omokoroa and three suburbs of Tauranga on Tuesday evening, as collectors took to the streets in a collaborative effort to support the community during the holiday season ahead.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Volunteer Support Officer Robert Pinkerton says its been a successful night.

All the stations picked up a good number of food, which went into their particular local food banks.

The three Tauranga drives  in Mount Maunganui, The Lakes, and central Tauranga from Eleventh to Twenty Second Ave  had their collections taken to Tauranga Food Bank.

Robert says there were three trailer loads from Mount Maunganui and two from the avenues.

We had about 60 collectors, probably more. It was a really good turnout of helpers.

Robert says Tauranga city is divided into five areas, with three chosen each year.

We do a collection [in each area] once every five years, so as not to saturate any one area. Each year they shift the area they collect from.

It also means people can go volunteer in other areas.

Each year, the three emergency services  fire, police and ambulance - take a lead role with this years drive in the planning for the last five months.

Last night was Fire taking the lead, last year was Ambulance, and next year is Police. That way theres not so much pressure on the same group.

Joining in to support the drive were ambulance cadets and their helpers, Civil Defence, Neighbourhood Support groups, community patrols, Foodbank staff, Salvation Army, volunteer fire fighters, on duty and off duty Police constables, and from Mount Maunganui  Fisheries officers.

The drive ran from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, with each suburb having a group from Ambulance, Police and Fire as well as people and vehicles from the other services.

Part way through the evening, a shower of rain crossed over Tauranga.

Its the first time its rained in the 10 years Ive been doing it, says Robert.

The sirens could be heard from a few streets away as the emergency services convoy moved through a suburb.

People hear the noise and out they come.

I want to thank the community for their generosity.

This year, the Emergency Services Food Bank Drive collection was done a week earlier than other years.

Fishery Officers trailer ready to go out on the Emergency Services Food Bank Drive. Photo: Western BOP Neighbourhood Support.

Robert says that anyone who was unable to donate, but still wants to, can take their donation to their local library or to the Tauranga Food Bank.

Papamoa Emergency Services Food Drive

Next week, on Tuesday December 5, the Papamoa community will have an opportunity to be involved in the Papamoa Emergency Services Food Drive which will start at 6pm.

The drive will help establish the new Papamoa Food Hub, following the recent closure of the Papamoa Family Support Services.

Volunteers will be out collecting food items with a long shelf life, cleaning equipment and products, toilet paper, sanitary products, baby food, nappies, baby wipes and pet food.

Collected food items being stacked following the Emergency Service Food Bank Drive. Photo: Western BOP Neighbourhood Support.

Anyone not home can leave items on their driveway or in their letterbox from 5.30pm.

Anyone wanting to donate to the Papamoa Good Hub can do so by directly donating to the bank account: 06-0188-0041612-55.
Shes been saving up for years, sometimes working three jobs at a time  all for a chance to touch the sky!

For bright-eyed 20-year-old Abi Carter, shes always been fascinated by aviation.

My nana actually used to take me to Classic Flyers as a little kid and I always wanted to fly but then life kind of hit and there were bills to pay and helping out my sisters and then I started working full-time, says the young pilot prodigy.

It wasnt until her co-worker and best friend Kate, who was sitting her commercial pilot licence, encouraged Abi to give flying a go.

[Kate] took me for a flight, which was magic  and I was absolutely hooked. Then Ive just been saving for the past couple of years and then started flying this year, and its everything.

Mental money

Abi has been funding herself through her Private Pilot Licence training and exams at Tauranga Aero Club, where she impressively completed all PPL Theory exams in a club record time of 32 days.

Obtaining her PPL has cost about $26,000 so far. Ive been working two jobs for the most part  sometimes three over summer  that was mental, and just saving every bit.

Ive pretty much just been the stingiest friend for a very long timeIts been tricky you know, when everyone else is going out and doing stuff, Im just counting my little dollar coins going: No, not tonight.

But its all been worth it, with Abi awarded the Pauwels Flying Scholarship last week after sister Sophie encouraged her to apply.

Its a dream come true, says Abi.

Set up by retired pilot, John Pauwels  the scholarship supports financially disadvantaged or underrepresented New Zealanders aged 15-20, aspiring to become pilots.

Going commercial

Emotions were high when Abi was told shed won the scholarship.

I couldnt actually believe it because John Pauwels called me and I just sat on my floor and burst into tears I thought it was a call to say: Sorry Abi but no, they were like: Congratulations and I just couldnt stop crying.

Valued at $13,000, the scholarship will support Abi with her training to gain her Commercial Pilot Licence through Nelson Aviation College, where shes been accepted to start in February 2024.

Its such an exciting future to think about. I still cant believe it. Its just like everythings magic.

So what does it take to become a pilot?

Well my nana calls it stubborn  I call it determination  same thing really. You cant give up. Youve just got to keep going. Determination and stubbornness takes you pretty far, says Abi.
The old conventional wisdom was that the U.S. couldn't be too pro-Israel for fear of inflaming "the Arab street."

The new conventional wisdom will have to be that we can't be too pro-Israel for fear of inflaming "the Western street."

The Arab street, a hoary cliche of commentary on the Middle East for decades, was a reference to public opinion in the Arab countries, with the strong implication that if we offended it, the result would be massive anti-Western demonstrations and perhaps violence.

Well, here we are, with this dynamic playing out throughout the United States and other Western countries. We have offended the new Arab street within our own societies. In response, it has lashed out in mass protests, intimidation of Jews, antisemitic chants and graffiti, property damage and anti-patriotic acts and sentiments.

It is hardly the global intifada that speakers at these events call for, but it is significant agitation. Left-of-center political parties will take it seriously, and the Biden administration -- hesitant to speak of antisemitism without reference to fashionable Islamophobia, as well -- has already been influenced by it.

The Arab street in the West is not literally Arab, although Muslim immigrants and their children, along with foreign students, are clearly a large component. Woke young people who come by their anti-Israel views via intersectional politics, along with traditional left-wing and anti-war activists, play a big role, too.

It makes for a noxious mix. The West's Arab street mobilized in the immediate aftermath of October 7 before Israel even had the chance to mount any substantial response. It inveighed against Israel on principle even after an unspeakable pogrom.

Of course, things have only picked up from there. A week or so ago, more than 300,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched in London, chanting for the elimination of Israel. That would be a notable crowd in an Arab capital, but it's especially remarkable in one of the greatest cities in the Western world.

In a nice touch that, again, one would expect in a country in the Middle East, the protest march ended at the U.S. Embassy.

A couple of days earlier, thousands of protesters shut down midtown Manhattan. They vandalized a police cruiser, writing "IDF KKK" on it, and splattered fake blood on the New York Times building. They kicked and smashed windows at a shut-down Grand Central Station.

Unlike other mass movements, most famously the civil-rights movement, the protesters don't seek to swath themselves in American symbolism and ideals. Palestinian flags, not American flags, are the banners of these marchers. In Manhattan, they removed American flags from a lamppost. And they've vandalized war memorials in Europe.

In some prominent cases, we have directly imported hatred of ourselves via the Middle East. At a large pro-Palestinian rally in Washington, D.C., the lawyer and activist Lamis Deek praised martyrdom and resistance, and bellowed that "the truth is the Western world is a lie." She comes from Nablus, and her world view is about what you'd expect of someone from there.

At MIT, Israeli and Jewish students say they were blocked from attending class by a pro-Palestinian protest at the school's main entrance. The protest violated the rules, but when the school ordered all protesters to leave the area or face suspension, the contingent of Jewish counter-protesters left, while the pro-Palestinians stayed.

Were they suspended? No, apparently because many of them are foreign students. The president of MIT cited "visa issues" in not following through on the discipline.

This is perverse. But we can never forget the extent to which we ourselves, through determined inculcation in our own schools, have made students from right here in the United States haters of Israel and the West. Altogether, we've created the conditions for the ongoing cataract of anti-Israel agitation, coupled with outright antisemitism and harassment of Jews, that shows no signs of abating.

Why settle for an Arab Street abroad, when you can have one here at home?
Six Albanians arrested in Comares for 18 burglaries in Malaga The National Police seized a pistol, 10,000 euros in cash, tools to carry out the robberies, jewellery, a collection of coins and stamps, clothes, two vehicles, and a quantity of marijuana

Eugenio Cabezas Thursday, 30 November 2023, 21:12 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The National Police have dismantled a criminal Albanian gang, thoguht to be responsible for 18 robberies in homes in Malaga city. The gang is linked to the latest crimes in residential developments in Puertosol, Cerrado de Calderon, La Mosca, Miraflores de El Palo and El Candado.

On Tuesday 28 November, officers arrested six members of the gang for their alleged responsibility in the crimes. The arrests took place in a property in an isolated area of the village of Comares, in an extensive police operation, according to a statement from the force.

In the raid on the suspects' home, the investigators seized a gun, which turned out to be a fake; 10,000 euros in cash; tools to carry out the robberies; a reagent kit to check for gold purity; jewellery; a collection of coins and stamps; clothes involved in the criminal acts; two vehicles; documentation; and a bag of marijuana.

The operation, called 'Senda', was carried out by officers of the robbery unit at the provincial police station of Malaga. This was initiated after a series of reports, all of them with the same common denominator: robberies in villas bordering undeveloped land and wastelands, in areas with easy access to the motorway, in which the perpetrators used a particular modus operandi, which combined climbing and the levering open of doors and windows.

The robberies were planned in detail, and were carried out when the owners were absent. In the case of the robberies in Puertosol, in Puerto de la Torre, the break-ins had been going on for a long time and the neighbours had organised night patrols with thermal vision cameras. The residents' association also sent a letter to the government, the National Police and Malaga city council to request "a police presence plan".

The extensive police operation, was made up of around 30 members of the Air Force, GOES, Canine Guides and the National Police Robbery Group. Those arrested are in police custody at the provincial police station, while investigators continue with their proceedings.

Some of the recovered jewellery has been recognised by the owners. The investigators said that those arrested may be involved in other robberies.
Corporate sustainability due diligence  it is high time to secure a framework that works in practice

We are approaching the end of the trilogue negotiations on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Four political trilogues have already taken place during the Spanish Council Presidency, and although several parts still remain to be agreed, a final compromise may be reached before the end of the year. This may prove the final chance to make this legislation workable in practice for European companies.

Photo : Tobias R?stlund
Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski wiel Sienk said he would not participate in a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in the capital of North Macedonia, Skopje. The reason for Warsaw's boycott of this event is the participation of a representative of the Russian occupiers, Sergey Lavrov.

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As the Polish minister said at a Sejm session on Wednesday, November 29, the participation of the foreign minister of the aggressor country on the same rights as the foreign ministers of other states is unacceptable to Warsaw. His words were quoted by the Ukrinform news agency.

He added that a representative of a country that commits war crimes and bears full responsibility for them cannot participate on an equal footing with others in an event aimed at promoting peace and security in Europe.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who also said earlier that the Ukrainian delegation would not participate in the meeting, said that Ukraine's position was already shared by more than four countries.

"There are more than four countries that disagree with Lavrov's participation, but each country decides for itself how to express this disagreement," Kuleba said.

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The day before, the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia issued a statement saying that they refused to participate in the 30th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council because of Lavrov's presence there. The ministers emphasized that the Russian foreign minister's seat should be under a special tribunal.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, after blocking Estonia's 2024 OSCE chairmanship, Russia prevented an alternative vote in which Malta was to be elected as the chair.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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Auburn, N.Y.  Two Geneva men were charged Wednesday after police said they were involved in a shooting and stabbing near an Auburn bar.

One man was stabbed and another was shot around 2:09 a.m. near Harleys Pub, 149 State St., Auburn police said in a news release. Both men are expected to survive.

People suspected to be involved in the assault fled the scene in a car, police said. Officers found the car and detained the people believed to be involved for questioning.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Buried Acorn Brewing Co. is back to a single location, a little more than a year after it branched out with a satellite taproom not far from Syracuse University.

The satellite location at 900 E. Fayette St., called Buried Acorn Taproom & Eats, closed earlier this month. That location, in the historic Sylvester Building at the corner of East Fayette and Irving Avenue, opened for business in July 2022.

Buried Acorns brewery and main tasting room remain open at the corner of Hiawatha Boulevard and Van Rensselaer Street in the Inner Harbor, where it opened in 2018.

We are not closing, in fact business at the brewery location is going great, said owner Tim Shore. The taproom (on East Fayette) just wasnt getting the traffic we hoped. The traffic here is up, but it was hard at the second place.

Shore cited a lack of parking near the East Fayette location, which has been made worse by the ongoing construction of two high-rise residential complexes nearby. He also said cost to rent the space was high.

The impending work to add exit ramps in the area from Interstate 690 as part of the I-81 project was another factor.

When all this (work) is done, this might be the place to be, Shore said. Maybe were just too early.

Shore and his wife, Crystal, who runs the food operations for the brewery, also decided it was just taking too much time to run multiple locations. In June, Buried Acorn also sold its interest in a taproom it helped open near Ithaca in 2021.

The consolidation allows Shore to concentrate on brewing beer and getting more distributed to stores. The space in the Inner Harbor also frequently hosts events, concerts and shows.

Its crazy busy here, Shore said. So Crystal and I just decided to focus here for now.

Buried Acorn is perhaps best known for its dedication to barrel-aged beers, sours and other mixed fermentation brews, but also makes many other styles. The food menu is distinctive, with items like Chicago-style Italian beef.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
On the morning of November 30, two unidentified persons opened fire in Jerusalem. The terrorists fired near a bus stop near the entrance to the city.

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As a result of the incident, 8 people were injured, some of them in critical condition. This was reported by Israel Hayom.

The victim of the terrorists was a 24-year-old woman. Another person, a 70-year-old man, died in the hospital. It is also known that five of the victims are in critical condition - doctors are trying to save their lives.

At the same time, it is known that law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene eliminated two terrorists. The leadership of the security forces is reassuring local residents and assuring them that a repeat of the shooting is not likely in the near future.

The attack took place at around 7:40 am local time. Two terrorists drove a car to a bus stop near the Givat Shaul intersection and opened fire on civilians. The militants were promptly killed by security forces who were close to the civilians.

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According to preliminary data, the terrorists were armed with a pistol and an assault rifle. Law enforcement officers continue to work at the crime scene. The attackers have not yet been identified, but some media reports say they are from East Jerusalem.

An hour after the attack, it was reported that the number of victims had increased to two. A 70-year-old man died in hospital as a result of his injuries. Doctors continue to fight for the lives of the other wounded.

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US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew condemned the actions of terrorists in Jerusalem. The diplomat said that it was a "disgusting and brutal act of terrorism".

"A horrific terrorist attack in Jerusalem this morning. We unequivocally condemn such brutal violence. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and my sincere condolences go out to all those affected," said Jack Lew.

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Earlier it was reported that not only Hamas terrorists, but also militants from five other Palestinian paramilitary groups took part in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. These are, in particular, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Mujahideen Brigades, and the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas is under threat of termination. The IDF said that on November 28, militants attacked Israeli soldiers in the north of the Gaza Strip, injuring several soldiers, and Hamas responded by accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Syracuse, N.Y.  More than 30 people protested outside Drumlins Country Club Wednesday against a speaking event featuring Sara Stockton, a local family therapist who has appeared on right-wing online platforms to discuss transgender issues.

Stockton, who practices in Cicero, was scheduled to speak at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell Auditorium but security concerns from the colleges Department of Public Safety moved the event to the country club in DeWitt.

Stocktons event, From Certainty to Skepticism: A Gender Therapists Evolution in Understanding Gender Affirmation, was hosted by College Republicans at Syracuse University. She has been a guest on Jordan Petersons podcast, which has gotten more than two million views since March, and was interviewed on conservative commentator Matt Walshs What is a Woman? documentary.

In her appearance on Petersons podcast, she said early-aged transitioning has disoriented our children. In the documentary she claimed children are identifying as animals going to school. And they are purring instead of answering questions and they meow and the teachers are not allowed to question it because its considered a queer identity.

Its a claim that was refuted by Reuters. She also said in the documentary that hormone treatment for transgender people leads to cancer.

Stockton spoke for more than an hour Wednesday night, expressing doubt in gender-affirming care and skepticism in rising rates of transgender youth, attributing the increase to a social contagion.

Protesters, largely Syracuse University students, gathered an hour before the event, holding Pride flags, signs saying gender affirming care saves lives and chanting trans kids deserve to live.

Sophia Widdekind and McKenzie Leahey, students at SUs Marriage and Family Therapy program, said they came to protest against what they said was misinformation being spread by Stockton.

SU says it prides itself in being an inclusive and safe space for people, yet they are willing to host an alum who clearly spreads misinformation and hurtful messaging, Widdekind said.

Her messaging can also further alienate a group that is already struggling to be accepted, she added.

Protesters stood for more than an hour outside the club. Being present also showed support for the communitys LGBTQ community, Indigo Vooris said.

I know Im not going to change anybodys minds who are here for that event, Vooris, an SU student, said. Im here for the people who are watching who know that they need allies.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y.  An ex-girlfriend of a former Syracuse man now facing attempted murder charges after police say he shot three college students in Vermont once asked Syracuse police to take his shotgun away.

The ex-girlfriend told police in 2013 that Jason Eaton had a history of mental illness and she did not feel safe returning the shotgun to him, according to Lt. Matthew Malinowski, a department spokesperson. She also said she has a history of domestic violence with Eaton and didnt want to have contact with him.
Washington, D.C.  A mother and son from the North Country who helped steal former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis laptop during the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 were sentenced to home confinement.

U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb on Wednesday sentenced Rafael Rondon, 25, to 18 months at home and Maryann Mooney-Rondon, 57, to 12 months, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. Both will be on probation for five years and have to pay several thousand dollars in fines.
The city of Syracuse, including Mayor Ben Walsh himself, acted with anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias earlier this year when it closed a retail shop accused of illegally selling marijuana, according to a lawsuit filed by the shop owner.

The bias claim was added this month to a lawsuit against the city originally filed in State Supreme Court in October by Tarek Shehadeh, owner of Ts Wireless in the Deys Centennial building in downtown Syracuse. The original lawsuit, claiming the city overstepped its authority and violated the law by shutting the shop down, named the city and its codes enforcement director, Jake Dishaw, as defendants.

This month, Walsh was added by name as a defendant, and the case has been transferred to federal court.

The amended lawsuit claims that the citys action to close Ts Wireless and four other shops accused of illegal marijuana sales in September showed discrimination because all are Arab-owned, Palestinian-owned, and/or Muslim-owned businesses. The suit claims the city has failed to act against other shops that are similarly or identically-situated but not operated by Arab, Palestinian and/or Muslim owners.

Each defendant has, at all times relevant to this action, been motivated by racial, ethnic, and religious-based discriminatory animus toward Plaintiffs and their employees, all of whom are Muslims Palestinian Americans, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit describes Shehadeh as a Muslim Palestinian American and natural born United States citizen.

In response to a syracuse.com request for comment on the allegation of racial bias, the city provided a statement from Corporation Counsel Susan Katzoff, the citys top lawyer:

The allegation in the amended complaint is a baseless and transparent attempt to distract from their unlawful behavior, Katzoff said.

Shahedehs shop, whose address is 410 S. Warren St. in the Deys Centennial building, reopened on Oct. 25 following a temporary restraining order issued by State Supreme Court Justice James Murphy following the original lawsuit. Ts Wireless sells phones, clothing and shoes and also has a valid state license to sell hemp-derived CBD products (but not marijuana, which is separately licensed).

The lawsuit stems from a series of actions the city took against the five businesses in September.

In each case, the city codes office declared each location unfit for human occupancy. The codes actions followed inspections conducted by agents of the states Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance, who claimed they found evidence the shops were selling marijuana (cannabis with higher levels of THC than hemp products).

In addition to Ts Wireless, the shops shut down were:

EXscape Exotic, a smoke shop and vape lounge, at 167 Marshall St.

NY Exotic, a smoke shop, at 123 Marshall St.

North Side Express, a convenience store, at 400 Wolf St.

Smoke City 420, a smoke shop, at 1105 N. Salina St.

Shehadehs lawyer, Brady OMalley of the Nave Law Firm in Syracuse, said he is also representing one of the other shops, but declined to identify which one.

The September crackdown represented a new tactic in the citys effort to contain the growth of illicit cannabis shops since New York state legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021. The state has been slow to roll out its own legal and licensed shops, called dispensaries, allowing a gray market to thrive.

In Syracuse, the city codes office has attempted to close about a dozen such shops in the past year or so, but often found that they just popped up again.

Dishaw, the code enforcement director, has told syracuse.com the states decision to inspect and cite shops for illegal marijuana helped provide the legal authority to declare the locations unfit for human occupancy. That declaration means they cant be used for any purpose until they work out a plan to be in legal compliance. They are also subject to fines.

The difference now is that we are working together with the state agencies, Dishaw told syracuse.com in September, comparing last months action to the citys previous efforts. Now the state can come in and find them in violation, and we can come back and since they are operating contrary to law, we can declare them unfit.

OMalley said this week that hes heard from the state cannabis office that the illicit marijuana charges against Ts Wireless will be dropped. The state cannabis offices efforts to follow up on its inspections has also been hampered by delays.

In any case, the basis of Shehadehs original lawsuit is that the city did not have the right to shut the businesses down.

The citys improvisational use of code enforcement power as a means to regulate the local cannabis market plainly violates state and local law, the lawsuit states.

In October, a City Hall spokesman told syracuse.com the citys actions were based on state and city codes, not cannabis law.

The original Ts Wireless lawsuit noted that Walsh himself stopped into Ts Wireless on the day before the state cannabis and tax agents inspected it for illicit cannabis. The suit includes exhibits showing Walsh taking pictures of cannabis products on a counter in the shop and then leaving. At that time, the shop was located in a different part of the Deys Centennial Building, facing Salina Street.

The lawsuit also includes videos taken by surveillance cameras in the shop. One shows a man identifying himself as an employee of the city codes department sympathizing with the person at the counter. He appears to say he didnt think the shop was doing anything wrong, but that the orders came from City Hall.

Another video, according to the lawsuit, shows Dishaw laughing, gloating, flashing his code enforcement credentials, smearing and mocking Plaintiffs and their employees, and casually describing his plan to shut down the store the next day.

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
By Joshua Solomon | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  The election reform organization, Common Cause New York, is suing the state Board of Elections in state Supreme Court in Albany County over its approval of a controversial voting machine.

Common Cause is asking the court to overturn the boards August vote to allow the state or localities to buy the ExpressVote XL digital voting machine ahead of the 2024 presidential election cycle.

Election watchdogs had warned the board ahead of its Aug. 3 vote about possible perils of the touch screen machine.

The decision this summer came after hours of cantankerous debate until a compromise was reached. The bipartisan board agreed to approve the machine on the conditions that the company should fix potential security issues with the source code of the software and ensure that all audits are completed by hand.

The way the machine works is that a voter makes selections on a digital screen. The results are printed on a sheet that includes a readout of their selections and a barcode. The barcode is then scanned to register the persons vote.

Common Cause expressed concern in its petition filed Wednesday of the risk that the barcode does not align with the selections of the voter  and then there is no way to know their intended choice.

The legal case of the advocacy organization rests on a two-pronged argument based on state election law.

State law requires the voter to have the ability to check their ballot before submission to know it is accurate. It also says the Board of Elections can only approve a new voting machine if it is compliant with the law.

Common Cause argues that because the bar code, not the names of selected candidates, is what is read by the machine to register the vote, it strips a voter of their right to validate their ballot. And since the machine is not compliant with state law, Common Cause contends, the boards August approval of it should be overturned by the court.

The organization pointed to a recent issue in Northampton, Pa., in which an ExpressVote XL machine printed ballots with errors in two races. A spokeswoman for the company described the issue as resulting from a clerical labeling error. The issue has led to worries from state officials ahead of the presidential election next year.

The broader concern about the machines was also raised to the court by Common Cause, which is led by Executive Director Susan Lerner.

Use of the barcode can (and predictability will) provide fodder for those who peddle in election voter-fraud fearmongering and conspiracy theories about rigged elections to reduce public confidence that votes are accurately cast and counted, the petition said.

The concern about unsubstantiated calls of voter fraud crept into the debate during the August vote of the board.

I dont often agree with (Trump) on these things, Board of Elections Commissioner Co-Chair Douglas A. Kellner, a Democrat, said. But I do agree it is essential we maintain a transparent and verifiable system.

Former President Donald J. Trump and his legal team raised a number of concerns about potential fraud with voting machines in the 2020 election, sowing doubt about the outcome of the certified results of the presidential election.

ExpressVote XL maintains its voting machines meet lawful standards.

A push for the machines came in part from former New York Gov. David Paterson and NAACP New York President Hazel Dukes.

Paterson described it as an improvement to the voting experience for people with disabilities and Dukes said it is an enfranchisement tool for the many voters who still confront language barriers and who are impacted by the legacy of racist voting policies.

Boards of election are not required to purchase the machine, but have the option to buy it following the state approval. Albany County Board of Election Commissioner Rachel L. Bledi, a Republican, said on Wednesday that the county has no intention of purchasing it.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
By Brendan J. Lyons | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  The female investigator who is suing former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for sexual harassment confided in a retired State Police major and privately sought his guidance two years ago, around the time she was interviewed by the attorney generals office about her allegations.

Attorneys for Cuomo contend a series of text messages between the investigator, who is identified in court records only as Trooper 1, and former Maj. Steven Nevins, who ran the governors protective detail from 2011 to 2016, reveal that the pair shared a strong antipathy for Gov. Cuomo and his policies, and a desire to hasten his downfall, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn this week.

The text messages were obtained by Cuomos attorneys through a subpoena they issued for Nevins private phone and email records.

The female investigators lawsuit alleges that Cuomo had encouraged a State Police supervisor to offer her a job on the governors protective detail after Cuomo met her while she was helping with security at an event he was attending in New York City more than six years ago. She contends Cuomo then engaged in repeated misconduct, including touching her stomach, kissing her on the cheek and making sexually charged remarks.

The text messages filed in federal court this week begin just before the female investigator, now 33, had been interviewed by the attorney generals office in April 2021 about the governors alleged inappropriate conduct with her. Among the things she told the investigators was that a former commander of the governors protective detail had instructed her not to tell anyone about inappropriate remarks Cuomo had made when she was driving him to an event.

The incident she referenced allegedly took place in August 2019, four months after she became one of the governors drivers. She told the attorney generals office that Cuomo had asked probing questions about her plainclothes attire, including why she never wore a dress or always chose dark-colored clothing. She said the details commander, Vincent Straface, was in the vehicle and interrupted the conversation. Immediately after, she testifed, he sent her a private BlackBerry PIN  or text message  that said, stays in the truck.

Straface later testified that he could not recall that exchange. The female investigator told the attorney generals office she interpreted the message from the commander to mean that she should never tell anyone about the governors remarks.

But Cuomos attorneys contend in a court filing that her text messages with Nevins reveal there was a conspiracy, or at least a concerted effort, to take down the former governor, who resigned in August 2021 in the wake of a report released by the attorney generals office that concluded he had sexually harassed or acted inappropriately with at least 11 women, including multiple former aides.

Cuomos attorneys also allege in the court filing that the female investigator should not have disclosed information to Nevins about her belief that Cuomo had lied about the reason that members of his family had received priority Covid-19 testing in the early stages of the pandemic, when access to tests for the virus was difficult. She also told Nevins that the FBI should investigate the secretive testing program, which involved high-ranking state Health Department officials who facilitated obtaining expedited test results for Cuomos family members.

Cuomos legal team contends the female investigator revealed confidential information to Nevins about Governor Cuomos contact with his family members when she told him that Cuomo lied when he said his family members, including his mother, sister and brother, had received the priority testing because they had been around him.

I thought I saw FBI is now looking into Cuomo for the priority testing, the investigator, then a uniformed trooper, wrote in a text message to Nevins. I know a trooper on PSU that actually met a nurse off LIE (Long Island Expressway) to transport Chris cuomos sample straight to Albany. And gac (Gov. Andrew Cuomo) bullshit excuse of they tested anyone around gov gac wasnt around Chris/ his mother/ sister at any point in early March/ April (2020). They barely see each other. We know that. PSU pins can prove that. The FBI needs to look our way.

But the investigators text message about the priority Covid-19 testing  which also involved the State Police, who dispatched troopers to transport those specimens across the state  was written two months after the Times Union first reported details of the secretive testing program. Those details included that a top Health Department physician had been driven to Chris Cuomos residence on eastern Long Island to take nasal swabs from him and his family members during the early weeks of the pandemic.

Their specimens were then delivered to a state trooper along the Long Island Expressway who drove them to a state-run lab in Albany where they were prioritized so the results could be returned in hours. The State Police referred to those assignments as critical specimen transports.

And the female investigators reference to the FBI pursuing that investigation was more than three months after the Times Union reported that the U.S. attorneys office in Brooklyn had launched a federal criminal investigation that was examining, in part, the actions of Cuomos coronavirus task force in its handling of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities during the pandemic.

That federal investigation, which involved the FBI and lasted months but resulted in no charges, was later expanded to examine the administrations priority Covid-19 testing. A month after the Times Unions March 2021 story on the Covid-19 priority testing, the U.S. attorneys office in Brooklyn issued a subpoena to the State Police for any records on the program, including emails and texts.

These communications suggest that the animosity was not based on any alleged sexual harassment but instead reflected an intense anger that Gov. Cuomo was interfering with the PSU and an unhappiness with the current PSU leadership (which they apparently blamed on Gov. Cuomo), Theresa Trzaskoma, an attorney for Cuomo, wrote in the letter to the judge. Indeed, Trooper 1 expressed a hope that Gov. Cuomos ouster would result in a change to the PSU: Maybe we can bring it back to the Nevins Days! When State Police had a back bone.

This information is crucial to Gov. Cuomos defense because it goes directly to Trooper 1s bias against him and her motivation to sink the governors ship, Trzaskoma added.

Trzaskoma also cited another text message the female investigator sent to Nevins in which she said she had earned my rank in response to Times Union reporting that highlighted how she had quickly ascended in the protective detail to become one of Cuomos drivers.

The Nevins text messages, which Trooper 1 did not produce to us or to the (attorney general), undermine her claims, including because she strongly expresses the belief that she earned [her] rank on the merits, not because, as she currently alleges, she was singled out for favorable treatment by Gov. Cuomo, Trzaskoma wrote.

John S. Crain, an attorney for the female investigator, wrote a response to the judge on Wednesday saying there were too many lies and distortions by Cuomos attorneys to address in his letter. Crain also said that, had Cuomos attorneys called their office, they would have informed them that the female investigator confirmed she had not saved those texts with Nevin and had no copies of them.

Cuomo is a person who says whatever the moment requires of him. Once, that meant apologizing to Trooper 1 before millions of TV viewers and saying that he believed her and her accusations, Crain wrote. Now, it means calling her a liar and accusing her of participating in a grand political conspiracy against him.

Crain added that the female investigator had produced all responsive texts in her possession and ... (confirmed) that she is not withholding any document due to an objection. That Cuomo would continue to accuse Trooper 1 of lying at this point is reprehensible and abusive of the immunity conferred upon documents filed on the public docket.

Crain also cast the female investigators communications with Nevins as nothing more than a victim seeking support and a senior trooper giving that support.

These texts invariably show Trooper 1 grappling with the pressure of having come forward against an institutional (and, as Cuomo has demonstrated by abusing the legal system in this litigation) culture dead-set on shaming women who come forward, Crain wrote. Nevins told Trooper 1 to do

the right thing and tell the truth. She said, about her testimony that she had told (her) truth.... That Trooper 1 said other negative things about Cuomo, or wished for a return to leadership that would not casually permit sexual harassment on the PSU, is not surprising, and it is not proof of a conspiracy.

The female investigators other allegations of inappropriate remarks or conduct by the governor include that he queried her on why she was getting married, noting it always ends in divorce, and you lose money, and your sex drive goes down, she recounted.

Another time, she said, Cuomo invited her upstairs at the Executive Mansion when she was working on a lower-level command center at the residence. The attorney generals report said the investigator was unclear whether the governor was inviting her upstairs to the first floor of the mansion or upstairs to the second floor, where the governors bedroom is.

Cuomos office initially denied that he had any role in her assignment to his detail. Cuomo later contradicted those statements and acknowledged that he had encouraged the supervisor to offer her the job but said it was because he wanted more diversity on his security team.

But the Times Union reported in 2014 that a month before Cuomo was elected governor in 2010, his top aides met privately with two State Police officials and proposed systematically replacing members of the governors protective unit, including more than a dozen Black troopers who suspected they were removed to adjust the racial balance of the elite unit.

___

(c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.)

Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com
Salina Town Supervisor Nick Paro plans to announce today that he will seek the Republican nomination in the states 50th Senate District next year, hoping to fill the seat vacated by Democrat John Mannion.

Paro, 32, will become the second Republican and fifth person to launch a campaign for the 50th District seat in Central New York.

All five candidates have won successful political campaigns in the past. Paro was elected to a second term as Salina supervisor earlier this month.

He initially planned to wait until January before deciding whether to seek the Senate seat.

Paro told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that he decided to kick off his campaign now because state and local Republicans are eager to coalesce around one candidate early next year.

State Senate Republican leaders view the 50th Senate District in Onondaga and Oswego counties as one of their best opportunities to pick up a seat in 2024 and break the Senates Democratic super majority.

Paro will take on Onondaga County Legislature Chairman James Rowley in a battle for the GOP nomination.

Rowley, 61, of Clay, kicked off his campaign in July.

But Paro is trying to quickly consolidate support among local Republicans and make a fundraising splash next month.

Three prominent GOP leaders in Central New York  former Rep. John Katko, Steve Wells and J. Kemper Matt  are hosting a $1,000 per person fundraiser for Paro on Dec. 7 at the Century Club in Syracuse.

Tickets to a VIP reception for Paro that same day cost $2,500 per person, according to an invitation obtained by syracuse.com.

Paro, a lawyer, was elected to the Salina Town Board in 2019 and won a campaign for town supervisor two years later. He received national attention earlier this year for his effort to keep New York City from temporarily housing migrants at the Candlewood Suites hotel in Salina.

The Liverpool native is a graduate of Syracuse Universitys College of Law. He said he earned a bachelors degree at SU after graduating from Onondaga Community College.

Paro previously worked for the Onondaga County Legislature as a legislative aide and legislative analyst.

In a campaign video that he plans to make public today, Paro appears with his mother and other supporters. He said his campaign will focus on issues that include crime and safety, the economy, and his goal to elevate the priorities of Central New Yorkers over the greed of downstate bureaucrats.

Three Democrats have also kicked off campaigns for the Senate seat that will be vacated by Mannion at the end of next year.

Mannion, D-Geddes, announced in June that he would campaign for Congress in 2024, hoping to challenge Rep. Brandon Williams, a first-term Republican.

The Democrats competing for Mannions Senate seat are Chris Ryan, Al Stirpe and Tom Drumm.

Ryan, 51, of Geddes, is the minority leader of the Onondaga County Legislature. He was elected to a seventh term in the legislature earlier this month. Ryan is also president of a Central New York labor union, Communications Workers of America, Local 1123.

Stirpe, 70, of Cicero, has been elected to eight terms in the state Assembly. He launched his campaign for the Senate seat Oct. 3.

Drumm, 30, of Oswego, is the former minority leader of the Oswego County Legislature. He works as a political and union organizer. Drumm kicked off his campaign in September.

The 50th Senate District seat has been one of the most competitive races in the state over the past three election cycles. Mannion won by 10 votes last year over Republican Rebecca Shiroff.

The Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee spent nearly $255,000 on Mannions campaign last year, second-most among its candidates. State Republicans spent nearly $30,000 on Shiroffs campaign, sixth-most among its candidates.

The district spans some of Onondaga Countys largest suburban towns  Clay, Cicero, Camillus, Manlius, DeWitt, Geddes and Salina  and the cities of Fulton and Oswego in Oswego County.

The district has 73,820 registered Republican voters, 71,696 Democrats and 62,828 independent voters who are not enrolled in a political party as of February, according to the state Board of Elections.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
New York  An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City, United States prosecutors said Wednesday as they announced charges against a man they said was part of the thwarted conspiracy.

U.S. officials became aware in the spring of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration interceded and set up a sting, with an undercover agent posing as a hitman, after the conspirators recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to kill the activist for $100,000.

The Indian government official was not charged nor identified by name in an indictment unsealed Wednesday, but was described as a senior field officer with responsibilities in security management and intelligence, said to have previously served in Indias Central Reserve Police Force.

The charges were aimed at a different person: Nikhil Gupta, 52, a citizen of India who was accused of murder for hire and conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The indictment said Gupta was recruited in May by the unidentified Indian government employee to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun, who was only identified in court papers as Victim.

Gupta contacted a criminal associate to help find a hitman to carry out the killing, but that person happened to be a confidential source working with the DEA. The confidential source then introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was actually a DEA agent, the indictment said.

In June, the Indian government employee gave Gupta the home address of Pannun, his phone numbers and details about his daily conduct, including surveillance photos, which Gupta passed along to the undercover DEA agent, the indictment said.

It said Gupta directed the undercover agent to carry out the killing as soon as possible, without conflicting with anticipated engagements between high-level U.S. and Indian officials.

The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, the chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said in a news release.

We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad, he added.

The charges were the second major recent accusation of complicity of Indian government officials in attempts to kill Sikh separatist figures living in North America.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations that the Indian government had links to the assassination in that country of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India rejected the accusation as absurd, but Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat and India responded with the same measure.

According to the indictment, Gupta told the undercover DEA agent the day after Nijjars killing in Canada that Nijjar was also the target and we have so many targets.

Before the U.S. indictment was unsealed Wednesday, India announced it had set up a high-level inquiry after U.S. authorities raised concerns about preexisting knowledge of the plot to kill Pannun.

When the U.S. shared some information, India took it seriously, since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue, read a statement by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

Gupta was arrested June 30 in the Czech Republic through a bilateral extradition treaty between the U.S. and the Czech Republic, prosecutors said. It was not immediately clear when he might be brought to the United States and whether he has secured legal representation there.

The case is particularly sensitive given the high priority that U.S. President Joe Biden placed on improving ties with India and courting it to be a major partner in the push to counter Chinas increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute, said Washingtons bet on India as a strategic partner to counter China will likely prevent a bilateral crisis.

In most cases, if Washington accuses a foreign government of staging an assassination on its soil, U.S. relations with that government would plunge into crisis. But the relationship with India is a special case.  Its notable that once the administration found out, it didnt scale down engagement with India. High-level meetings went on as scheduled, he said.

But if there is pressure on the administration from the public or from Capitol Hill to take a stronger stand, it will be hard to ignore, Kugelman added.

The White House declined to comment directly on the charges against Gupta, but said administration officials acted quickly.

When we were made aware of the fact that the defendant in this case had credibly indicated that he was directed to arrange the murder by an individual who is assessed to be an employee of the Indian Government, we took this information very seriously and engaged in direct conversations with the Indian government at the highest levels to express our concern, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Trudeau said in a statement that Canadian authorities were working closely with American officials since August, and reiterated that India needs to take this seriously.

Pannun has been a leading organizer of the so-called Khalistan referendum, inviting Sikhs worldwide to vote on whether Indias Punjab state should become an independent nation based on religion. He is also general counsel with the Sikhs for Justice organization, which India banned in 2019.

Im not afraid of the physical death, Pannun said in a telephone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. If thats the cost of running a campaign for an independent Sikh state, Im willing to pay that price, he said.

Pannun said they had never used violence to achieve their goals.

India has proved they believe in violence and bullets to stop the campaign, he said, referring also to the assassination of Nijjar in Canada.

The White House first became aware of the plot in late July, according to a senior administration official.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive exchanges with Indian government, said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, and underscored that India needed to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. Sullivan also said the U.S. needed assurance that this would not happen again, or it could permanently damage the trust established between our two countries, the official said.

Biden then asked CIA Director William Burns to contact his counterpart and travel to India to make it clear that the United States would not tolerate such activities.

Biden also raised the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when they met at the Group of 20 Summit in September in New Delhi.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Sullivan raised the issue with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar when he visited Washington in September.

In October, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines travelled to India to share information with Indian officials to aid their internal investigation.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated in a meeting in Cairo on Thursday their categorical rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land, affirming that the two-state solution is the basis for regional stability.
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Ayman Soliman, the CEO of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), recently revealed that a foreign consortium, predominantly from the United Arab Emirates, won its bid to develop the land of Egypt's National Party building in Tahrir Square.
Significant positive impact  why the Newford herd will continue in Roscommon

The Newford suckler demonstration farm was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats in 2015 on 65 hectares of land in Athenry, Galway with support from McDonalds. Teagasc provided the land, part of which was leased from the IDA. Dawn Meats provided the start-up capital and funding for day-to-day operations of the farm, coupled with management services and technical innovations deployed on farm.

Teagasc provided additional management support and communicated the key learnings from the farm to stakeholders. The farm has focused on demonstrating key Teagasc technologies such as a lighter dairy cross cow type, 2-year-old calving of heifers, compact spring calving, 100% AI usage, increasing carcase weights through genetic selection, younger ages at finishing whilst achieving market specification, grassland management, and more recently the inclusion of grass clover swards. In 2022 the farm began measuring methane using Greenfeed technology and installed a carbon flux tower to help with measurement of carbon sequestration.

In May 2023, the IDA announced they had secured a new tenant (Dexcom) for the Newford site and while Teagasc welcomed this significant investment for the West of Ireland, it meant the Newford suckler beef herd would need to vacate its existing location by November 2023. Dawn Meats and Teagasc immediately began consulting widely with stakeholders and there was a strong view the Newford suckler demonstration farm has had significant positive impact on delivering key messages to suckler beef farmers. All of the key stakeholders believed it should continue on a new site ensuring progress achieved to date, could be built upon further.

Teagasc and Dawn Meats identified a range of potential sites in the West of Ireland and after assessing these options, a suitable 58-hectare (143 acres) farm was selected in County Roscommon and a seven-year lease on the property negotiated. This allows Teagasc and Dawn Meats with ongoing support from McDonalds, to continue their very successful collaboration, demonstrating key profit drivers and sustainability technologies to suckler beef farmers.

The farm identified has extensive cattle wintering facilities and some of these will be used for the Newford suckler herd with the remaining facilities used as a specialised winter finishing beef unit. Teagasc and Dawn Meats have identified this sector as a key component of the Irish beef industry exposed to significant business risk, and which has the potential to contribute significantly to achieving Irelands climate goals by focusing on key technologies that will help drive profitability by focussing on high quality forage production, precision selection of cattle for slaughter, health and welfare of housed cattle, and all the while working to improve the Carbon footprint. The Newford suckler herd will continue to focus on key areas of genetics of sires and dams, grassland management, mixed/clover swards and improving the sustainability of the herd. The Greenfeed measurement system and carbon flux tower will now also be situated on the Roscommon site.
MotorDev BHPian



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Has the Honda City lost its charm? | A fan's emotional insight Has the Honda City lost its dream car charm? | A fan's emotional insight









Introduction

When you hear "Honda City," does it stir up feelings and memories? Maybe a bit of nostalgia, right? Totally! Honda City used to be, like, the ultimate dream car for so many middle-class folks in India. People were crazy about it because it was just so reliable, had tons of space, and that i-Vtec engine thing was, like, pure magic.





But lately, something's off. Especially after they gave it a facelift. Why isn't it as popular anymore? Is the City not the cool car it once was? Is it, like, not the dream ride everyone imagined? Is this the end for the Honda City? To find out, we've gotta go back to where it all began.





Background: The 5th Generation Journey (2020)





The 5th generation Honda City hit the Indian market on July 15, 2020, generating a wave of reviews that influenced consumer decisions. The positive changes convinced families like mine to choose the City again.



Honda City 2020 Pros Ample space with enhanced comfort

Smooth engines offering good mileage

Practical features

Elegant aesthetics

High-quality interior ambience

Noteworthy features

Functional boot space

Honda City 2020 Cons Bouncy suspension

Increased engine noise

Outdated speakers and infotainment system

Rattling noises

Poor ground clearance

The space, the comfort, the engines gliding like poetry on the road, and that aesthetic appeal  it's like Honda read our dreams. Sure, there were a few hiccups - a bouncy ride, a bit of engine hum, but hey, when you're in love, you ignore the little quirks.





Transition to 2023





Here we are in 2023, and the City has undergone a facelift. My heart races with anticipation, but alas, it's a bittersweet journey. The pros remain the space, the engines, and now, the added charm of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). But wait, the cons  where's the turbo petrol? Why are we limited on engine choices? And what happened to the VX variant? It's like Honda took away a piece of my soul!



Honda City 2023 Pros Spacious interiors with enhanced comfort

Smooth engines with good mileage

Quality interior ambience

Practical boot space

Introduction of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) features

Honda City 2023 Cons Lack of a turbo petrol engine

Limited engine options with the hybrid variant being expensive

Underwhelming exterior design

Outdated features

Persistent issues with suspension and engine noise

Reduced features in the VX variant, diminishing its appeal



What's Going Wrong?

- Lately, the competition has heated up. The new Verna is turning heads with its fancy features, a top-notch 5-star safety rating, and a wallet-friendly price tag  it's hitting home runs. Even the European twins, Slavia and Virtus, joined the game with cool upgrades like electric seats.





- But here's the problem  the Honda City's pricing isn't hitting the sweet spot. The Verna is stealing the spotlight with better features and a more attractive deal.





- And guess what? Honda's SUV, the Elevate, is stealing the show. The SUV craze, along with a way cooler infotainment system and higher seating, is luring people away from the City.





- SUVs have been a game-changer, impacting many sedans, but even in the sedan segment, the City is now clocking between 1000-2000 sales. The Slavia and Virtus are outselling the City, and the Verna is taking the crown in the segment.





- Honda, it's time for a change! You can't keep hanging onto a two-decade-old engine. My words might sound a bit strong, and some might not like it, but it's the truth. It's high time for the City to have more engine options. We need a turbo-petrol, and we need it soon. Let's be honest, the regular i-Vtec engine doesn't bring the same excitement as the competition's 1.5L turbo petrols. Besides, people these days are totally willing to splash a little extra for a better engine!





- Oh, Honda, why did you let us down with such lacklustre equipment for the hefty price of the City? It's just not cool, Honda!





- And don't even get me started on the marketing blunder. Dressing someone up in a suit and expecting them to make the car and the ad exciting? Come on, Honda, you messed up big time.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnPu...pEulVa&index=2



Emotional View

In the world of sedans, people used to look at the Honda City with admiration, but now it's just kind of boring. There's a lack of innovation, and it feels like Honda isn't putting in the effort. Their attitude, like they're doing us a favour by offering their products, is just not sitting right.





In a recent





Conclusion

In conclusion, has the appeal of the Honda City faded away? Sadly, yes, and it's all on Honda. The lack of timely updates, the sky-high price of the Hybrid version, and other factors like fewer features have taken a toll. Yes, SUVs are stealing the spotlight, but in the sedan segment too, the City isn't the segment leader it used to be.





As a Honda City fanboy, it hurts to say that the car hasn't met our expectations. It's good, but it's not exceptional anymore. Honda's focus on SUVs has left me feeling a bit saddened. The City doesn't evoke the same emotions it did in the '90s, 2000s, or even just five years ago.



The Honda City is still a decent car today, but it's lost that special touch that made it awesome. It's gone from being great to just mediocre.



Note: Just a heads up, this is my take on the City. I really like the car, it's my favourite, but I feel a bit sad about its sales and why it's not doing so well in the market. When you hear "Honda City," does it stir up feelings and memories? Maybe a bit of nostalgia, right? Totally! Honda City used to be, like, the ultimate dream car for so many middle-class folks in India. People were crazy about it because it was just so reliable, had tons of space, and that i-Vtec engine thing was, like, pure magic.But lately, something's off. Especially after they gave it a facelift. Why isn't it as popular anymore? Is the City not the cool car it once was? Is it, like, not the dream ride everyone imagined? Is this the end for the Honda City? To find out, we've gotta go back to where it all began.The 5th generation Honda City hit the Indian market on July 15, 2020, generating a wave of reviews that influenced consumer decisions. The positive changes convinced families like mine to choose the City again.The space, the comfort, the engines gliding like poetry on the road, and that aesthetic appeal  it's like Honda read our dreams. Sure, there were a few hiccups - a bouncy ride, a bit of engine hum, but hey, when you're in love, you ignore the little quirks.Here we are in 2023, and the City has undergone a facelift. My heart races with anticipation, but alas, it's a bittersweet journey. The pros remain the space, the engines, and now, the added charm of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). But wait, the cons  where's the turbo petrol? Why are we limited on engine choices? And what happened to the VX variant? It's like Honda took away a piece of my soul!- Lately, the competition has heated up. The new Verna is turning heads with its fancy features, a top-notch 5-star safety rating, and a wallet-friendly price tag  it's hitting home runs. Even the European twins, Slavia and Virtus, joined the game with cool upgrades like electric seats.- But here's the problem  the Honda City's pricing isn't hitting the sweet spot. The Verna is stealing the spotlight with better features and a more attractive deal.- And guess what? Honda's SUV, the Elevate, is stealing the show. The SUV craze, along with a way cooler infotainment system and higher seating, is luring people away from the City.- SUVs have been a game-changer, impacting many sedans, but even in the sedan segment, the City is now clocking between 1000-2000 sales. The Slavia and Virtus are outselling the City, and the Verna is taking the crown in the segment.- Honda, it's time for a change! You can't keep hanging onto a two-decade-old engine. My words might sound a bit strong, and some might not like it, but it's the truth. It's high time for the City to have more engine options. We need a turbo-petrol, and we need it soon. Let's be honest, the regular i-Vtec engine doesn't bring the same excitement as the competition's 1.5L turbo petrols. Besides, people these days are totally willing to splash a little extra for a better engine!- Oh, Honda, why did you let us down with such lacklustre equipment for the hefty price of the City? It's just not cool, Honda!- And don't even get me started on the marketing blunder. Dressing someone up in a suit and expecting them to make the car and the ad exciting? Come on, Honda, you messed up big time.In the world of sedans, people used to look at the Honda City with admiration, but now it's just kind of boring. There's a lack of innovation, and it feels like Honda isn't putting in the effort. Their attitude, like they're doing us a favour by offering their products, is just not sitting right.In a recent Team-Bhp discussion (Wait 8 months for Mahindra XUV700 or get Skoda Slavia or 2023 Honda City facelift? EDIT: Got Slavia) where we were weighing the options between the City, Slavia, and XUV700, the XUV took the lead, with Slavia following closely. Unfortunately, the City found itself in the backseat, being the least preferred choice. Other Bhpians in the discussion were also proposing alternative options, and this wasn't a positive sign for the City.In conclusion, has the appeal of the Honda City faded away? Sadly, yes, and it's all on Honda. The lack of timely updates, the sky-high price of the Hybrid version, and other factors like fewer features have taken a toll. Yes, SUVs are stealing the spotlight, but in the sedan segment too, the City isn't the segment leader it used to be.As a Honda City fanboy, it hurts to say that the car hasn't met our expectations. It's good, but it's not exceptional anymore. Honda's focus on SUVs has left me feeling a bit saddened. The City doesn't evoke the same emotions it did in the '90s, 2000s, or even just five years ago. Last edited by MotorDev : 29th November 2023 at 22:07 .
Serving the tech enthusiast community for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust . Read our ethics statement

In context: Microsoft has increasingly oriented its gaming business around subscription services rather than consoles in recent years. A recent statement from the company could push the strategy toward its logical conclusion, where Microsoft games and services become more and more available on rival hardware.

Microsoft recently expressed its desire to bring its subscription services to as many screens and devices as possible, including PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. The strategy is to take full advantage of subscriptions, including Game Pass, which return higher profit margins than traditional retail game sales.

Xbox CFO Tim Stuart laid out the plan during a Wells Fargo TMT Summit conference call this week. While discussing Microsoft's recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Stuart said the company's mission is to bring its first-party experiences and subscription services to every screen that can play games. He mentioned mobile devices, smart TVs, and competitors like Nintendo and PlayStation.

Microsoft's focus on Game Pass leans toward a hardware-agnostic strategy, as it allows subscribers to play games across Xbox consoles and PCs. The service also includes Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is now available through mobile devices and smart TVs. The cloud service would likely expand to more devices before Game Pass and Microsoft's in-house titles.

However, Stuart wasn't only referring to games developed by the company's studios like Halo, Forza Motorsport, or Microsoft Flight Simulator. The companies Microsoft has purchased, including Mojang and Activision Blizzard, make popular games on various platforms, and Microsoft has pledged to continue supporting such titles on rival hardware.

When Sony expressed concern that its competitor in the console space could restrict the immensely successful Call of Duty franchise to Xbox, Microsoft pledged to keep releasing new entries on PlayStation and, eventually, Nintendo devices. The agreement will likely be similar to the company's treatment of Minecraft, which continues to thrive on all consoles and mobile devices.

Mobile is one of the primary drivers behind the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which includes mobile game maker King. Stuart mentioned Candy Crush, one of King's most popular titles. The CFO also highlighted Call of Duty Mobile as an example of how Microsoft could utilize that IP.

World of Warcraft is another subscription service Stuart cited that the company now owns and could theoretically bring to multiple platforms.
The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on his re-election for a new term in a phone call on Monday.
Serving the tech enthusiast community for over 25 years.TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust . Read our ethics statement

In a nutshell: The United States says its mission to achieve chip supply chain independence is expected to take ten years. Nvidia boss Jensen Huang believes this is possible, with the caveat that it could also take up to two decades.

Speaking at the New York Times' DealBook Conference (via Bloomberg), Huang said Nvidia's success and its products are reliant on a myriad of components from other parts of the world beyond the essential manufacturing hub of Taiwan, home of semiconductor giant TSMC.

"We are somewhere between a decade and two decades away from supply chain independence," Huang said. "It's not a really practical thing for a decade or two."

Last August, President Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022  bipartisan legislation that invests $53 billion in America's semiconductor industry.

According to National Institute of Standards and Technology director Laurie E. Locascio, it's estimated that "within a decade [] America will both manufacture and package the world's most sophisticated chips." Ten years is the lowest end of Huang's estimate.

According to the US Chamber of Commerce (COC), while much of the CHIPS Act has focused on the $39 billion semiconductor incentive program, it also contains several other complementary and crucial programs that should be prioritized.

The COC states that a highly-skilled, experienced, and talented workforce is critical for the semiconductor industry. It cited a recent study from the Semiconductor Industry Association, which found that 67,000, or 58%, of projected new jobs may remain unfulfilled at the current trajectory. The COC added that funding for the science half of the CHIPS and Science Act should receive more priority.

In September, the Commerce Department released the final rule implementing the national security guardrails of the CHIPS Act. It expands a previous provision that prohibits fund recipients from expanding their semiconductor manufacturing capacity, which includes wafer production, in foreign countries of concern (such as China) for ten years. Recipients are also restricted from certain joint research or technology licensing efforts with foreign entities of concern.

Huang also spoke about China, which has seen updated export controls introduced by the US to prevent Nvidia's made-for-China A800 and H800 chips, as well as the RTX 4090, from being bought by firms in the country. Nvidia made new chips that comply with the latest restrictions, but the most powerful of these, the H20, has been delayed.

Around 25% of Team Green's data center revenue comes from China. During its recent financial call, there was a warning that sales to the Asian nation would decline significantly during the next quarter. When asked if Nvidia should keep doing business with China, Huang said: "We're a company that was built for business and so we try to do business with everybody we can. On the other hand, our national security matters and our national competitiveness matters."

Elsewhere during the DealBook Conference, Huang confessed to constantly worrying that Nvidia, valued at $1.19 trillion, will fail.
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What just happened? Netflix is making good on its promise to build out a compelling mobile gaming platform. The streaming giant has announced plans to add Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy  The Definitive Edition to its library on December 14, and fans can pre-register now in anticipation.

GTA: The Trilogy  The Definitive Edition includes Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The compilation arrived to much fanfare in late 2021 but experienced a rocky launch that prompted Rockstar to halt sales of the Windows version while it scrambled to fix multiple issues.

Subsequent patches have mostly ironed out lingering issues, and now the trilogy is set to make its mobile debut.

Grand Theft Auto III: Welcome to Liberty City. Where it all began. With a massive and diverse open world, a wild cast of characters from every walk of life, and the freedom to explore at will, Grand Theft Auto III puts the dark, intriguing, and ruthless world of crime at your fingertips.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti's tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: It's the early '90s. After a couple of cops frame him for homicide, Carl 'CJ' Johnson is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.

Netflix, meanwhile, added mobile games to its platform as a free perk for subscribers in late 2021. User engagement was slow out of the gate, but Netflix remained focused. Earlier this year, the streaming giant said it had 70 new titles in the pipeline from partners as well as 16 in development at its own in-house studios.

Leanne Loombe, VP of external games at Netflix, said at the time that Netflix's goal was to build a broad portfolio of games because they believe everyone can find joy in games if they discover the one that is right for them.

At present, Netflix's gaming library consists of more than 80 mobile titles including TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Tomb Raider Reloaded, Kentucky Route Zero, Stranger Things: 1984, Twelve Minutes, and Farming Simulator 23. Notably, Netflix games don't include ads, in-app purchase, or extra fees to play.
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In a nutshell: A coordinated raid in major Taiwan cities led police to seize a substantial quantity of products bearing the "HDMI" brand without official authorization. If you don't know, HDMI is a registered trademark, not just a cable name.

According to reports from local broadcasters, a massive police raid recovered 3,037 counterfeit HDMI cables and other products in just one day. Several sellers were targeted in Taiwan's major cities on Wednesday, seizing goods with an infringement "market value" of over TWD$80 million ($2.6 million).

HDMI is a proprietary multimedia interface for digital devices, and cable manufacturers must pay the HDMI Licensing Administrator to get a proper license to using the brand. While non-proprietary alternatives such as DVI do exist, the HDMI brand is still extremely popular among both video enthusiasts and general consumers.

A police captain, quoted by Taiwan broadcasters, mentioned that both consumers and sellers tend to misunderstand HDMI. They use the HDMI brand as a common moniker for the namesake connection cable, likely ignoring that it's a registered trademark that manufacturers can't exploit for free.

The HDMI Association held a briefing at Computex over the summer to introduce their second-generation anti-counterfeiting certification label. Consumers are advised to look for "official" HDMI labels, which include anti-counterfeit measures such as patterns, holographic elements, and QR codes.

Statistics cited by Taiwanese reports state that between 2022 and August 2023, fake HDMI products amounting to nearly TWD$4 billion ($128 million) were sold in the country. The market value of those unauthorized goods would likely include the actual price of the cables and licensing fines as well.

The HDMI Association said manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit products will be targeted by lawsuits. However, consumers should also pay attention to the overall quality of the goods they purchase, as fake cables are often poorly designed or built and can even pose a potential fire or electrical hazard.

HDMI licensing programs provide standards and guidelines that manufacturers need to comply with to deliver quality products to customers. A proper HDMI cable must provide both a good, consistent signal and safe connections for TV sets or other multimedia devices. Access to the HDMI 1.3a specifications is currently available at no charge on the HDMI LA website, while the latest specs (2.1b) are only available through paid plans.
In a move shaking up the cryptocurrency landscape in the Philippines, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has set its sights on blocking the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

This action comes hot on the heels of the exchange's former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, pleading guilty to breaching US anti-money laundering laws.

Philippines Watchdog Blocks Crypto Exchange Binance

The SEC's decision, disclosed in a statement released on Nov. 28, signals a clampdown on Binance's operations within the Philippines. The commission cited critical reasons for this action, stating that Binance operated in the country without the requisite licenses or authorization to sell securities.

Reuters reports that this move is expected to take effect within the next three months, affording Filipino users a window to extricate their investments from the platform.

The SEC further escalated the measures by urging tech giants Alphabet's Google and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to block any advertisements from Binance targeting the Philippine market.

Additionally, warnings were issued, cautioning individuals against engaging in transactions or convincing others to invest via the Binance platform, highlighting potential legal consequences.

Binance US Money Laundering Violations

Changpeng Zhao's recent guilty plea looms large in this scenario. The former Binance CEO admitted to willfully allowing the exchange to falter in maintaining an effective anti-money laundering program.

As part of a settlement, Zhao faces a hefty penalty of $50 million, part of a larger $4.3 billion settlement to resolve investigations into Binance's practices.

The regulatory stance against Binance in the Philippines is not without precedence. The SEC had previously cautioned against using the platform, and this recent blockage seems to align with a broader campaign aimed at unlicensed cryptocurrency operators in the country.

However, Binance, under new leadership, seems to acknowledge the SEC's concerns and asserts a commitment to adhering to local regulations. Speaking with Nikkei Asia, a company spokesperson conveyed their stance, affirming their proactive measures to address the SEC's worries.

Read Also: UK Government Report Urges Digital Payment Shift, Reducing Reliance on Visa, Mastercard

Crackdown on Crypto

The SEC's decisive action reflects ongoing efforts to fortify regulatory frameworks governing cryptocurrencies. The commission aims to release comprehensive guidelines for crypto operators in the near future, a move delayed in the wake of the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

This month, FTX's founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, faced conviction for seven counts of fraud and conspiracy against customers and investors.

Binance's endeavors to expand into Southeast Asia faced a setback with the ban in the Philippines. Despite the looming block, Filipino users can still access the Binance app through Google and Apple stores, albeit with unclear levels of functionality.

Following the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, the regulator stated that it hopes to release guidelines on crypto operators this year.

This development underscores the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulations globally and the increasing scrutiny faced by major platforms like Binance.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: HSBC Online Banking Outage Hits Thousands on Black Friday, Striving to Restore Services

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A US military Osprey CV-22 aircraft encountered a fatal crash off the shores of Japan's Yakushima Island, situated in the southern Kagoshima prefecture.

Sources tell us that the incident resulted in the tragic loss of one life, as confirmed by the Japan Coast Guard.

Conflicting reports initially indicated eight individuals aboard the aircraft, later revised to six.

US Osprey Crashes Near Yakushima Island in Japan

Citing information from both CNN and BBC, the crash occurred during an attempted emergency landing at Yakushima Airport. Reports from Japan's NHK broadcaster suggest the Osprey was maneuvering with one engine ablaze.

The discrepancy in the number of passengers has prompted ongoing investigations into the fate of those on board and the circumstances leading to the crash.

The Coast Guard's prompt response to the distress call at approximately 2:47 p.m. local time (12:47 a.m. ET) signaled the launch of a comprehensive search and rescue operation.

Six boats and two helicopters were swiftly dispatched to the crash site. Subsequent aerial reconnaissance identified probable fragments of the aircraft and a life raft, adding a grim dimension to the incident.

Read Also: Russia's Largest Drone Attack Yet Leaves 5 Wounded in Ukraine

BBC reports that witness accounts, detailed by local TV, depict the Osprey's ominous circling before a catastrophic explosion and plunge into the sea. Eyewitness testimonies serve as vital components in piecing together the events leading up to the crash.

Yakushima Island, nestled within Kagoshima prefecture and south of Kyushu Island, has become the focal point of this tragic incident.

The proximity of US military bases, such as the Iwakuni base in western Yamaguchi prefecture and the Kadena base in the country's southwestern Okinawa region, indicates the aircraft's intended route.

US Aircraft Crash Records

This catastrophic event is not the first involving Osprey aircraft. The Osprey's hybrid functionality, allowing it to operate both as a helicopter and a turboprop aircraft, has been marred by a history of fatal crashes.

Recent incidents in Australia and California, and during NATO training exercises underscore the aircraft's troubled history.

The Osprey's versatile design has often been overshadowed by concerns about its mechanical and operational reliability. CNN military analyst and retired US Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton highlighted longstanding issues dating back to the Osprey's inception in the 1980s, drawing attention to previous accidents and raising pertinent questions about safety protocols.

This catastrophe in Japan amplifies the ongoing discussion surrounding the Osprey's safety and operational capabilities.

The US military completed the purchase of additional new V-22 Ospreys in May. For the foreseeable future, the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force intend to fly them for various military missions.

The responses from both US and Japanese authorities are expected to shed light on the definitive cause behind this tragedy.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: US Warship Intercepts Iran-Backed Houthi Missiles, Drones in Red Sea: Pentagon

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In a strategic maneuver to bolster innovation and navigate financial challenges, Huawei Technologies has announced plans to carve out its Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit, paving the way for a new smart car software and components firm.



This venture is poised to attain a substantial valuation of up to 250 billion yuan ($34.67 billion), with Changan Auto and other investors securing stakes, according to informed sources.



Confirmed on Sunday, Huawei's move involves the spin-off of its four-year-old IAS business unit, originally conceived to be the equivalent of Germany's Bosch in the intelligent electric vehicle (EV) era. The new entity will inherit the unit's core technologies and resources, with an ambitious valuation in mind, according to Reuters.

Will Huawei Focus on Smart Car Tech?

Changan Auto, Huawei's primary automotive partner, is set to play a pivotal role, holding up to 40%, as per a statement released on Sunday. The ultimate parent company, the state-owned China Ordnance Equipment Group, is also mulling a substantial investment, eyeing a total valuation ranging from 200 billion to 250 billion yuan.



Other potential stakeholders include state-owned automakers FAW Group and Dongfeng Motor Group, which are currently in advanced discussions with Huawei for up to 5% ownership each. Huawei is predicted to hold 40%-50% of the market for two to three years.



Sources say the ownership split and value are still subject to regulatory clearance. Despite these uncertainties, Huawei sees this strategic shift as a catalyst for innovation in smart car technology and an impetus for the broader automotive industry.

Read Also: European Central Bank Research: AI Creating Jobs, but Wage Concerns Linger



This decision marks a departure from Huawei's typical business model, as it infrequently engages in spin-offs. The move comes on the heels of challenges in growing its smart car business, necessitating capital recoupment to offset extensive research and development (R&D) spending. Despite a substantial $3 billion investment and a formidable 7,000-strong R&D team, the IAS unit reported a loss in the first half of 2023, contributing only one billion yuan to Huawei's total revenue of 310.9 billion yuan.



The proposed spin-off aligns with Huawei's existing partnerships with other auto companies, such as Seres Group and Jianghuai Automobile, emphasizing the company's commitment to advancing intelligent automotive systems and component solutions.

Huawei's Inks Deal with Sharp

In an unconventional move, Huawei is contemplating relocating the new firm's headquarters to Chongqing in collaboration with Changan Auto, departing from its current Shanghai base. The spin-off is anticipated to facilitate the company's planned listing, according to insiders.



Richard Yu, head of Huawei's consumer business and overseer of the smart car unit, is unlikely to helm the new venture, sources suggest.



Concurrently, Nikkei Asia reported that Huawei has inked a global cross-licensing agreement with Sharp, covering essential patents for cellular standards, including 5G and 4G communications. This accord seeks to foster collaboration and mutual recognition of intellectual property between the two entities.



Looking forward, Huawei anticipates the introduction of the P70 flagship series in 2024, projecting robust demand and estimating sales to triple compared to its predecessor, the P60 lineup. Analysts forecast a yearly growth of around 230%, with sales reaching up to 15 million units, per GSM Arena.

Related Article: Symphony Integrates Google's AI for Enhanced Voice Analytics in Finance Sector

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An important Hamas figure invited Elon Musk to visit Gaza on Tuesday to view the massive damage the Israeli shelling has inflicted.

"We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility," Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said, as quoted by Reuters.

The tech mogul posted his reply to the Hamas invitation on social media, declining it due to heightened risks.

"It seems a bit dangerous there right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides," Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Seems a bit dangerous there right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2023

Elon Musk Vows to Combat Prejudice

Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk spoke with Netanyahu and Herzog during his recent visit to Israel. He was briefed on the situation in Kfar Aza, where dozens of people were murdered in a Hamas strike, during his visit. Musk also met with the victims' families, underscoring his determination to counteract the propagation of hatred.

After seeing the scene of a Hamas attack on Israel, Elon Musk pledged to fight prejudice.

He additionally reached a consensus wherein the operation of Starlink satellite units would exclusively occur in Israel with the endorsement of the Israeli Ministry of Communications, encompassing the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, the move marks a notable shift from his earlier contemplation of offering Starlink to improve communications in Gaza, particularly in the face of recurring telecommunications outages.

Read Also: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Reveals ChatGPT Mistook Her for Julia Roberts in AI-Assisted Speech

Biden Urged to Reconsider US-Israel Relationship

Hamdan's call for Elon Musk's visit coincides with a temporary truce extension between Israel and Hamas for an additional 48 hours. Discussing the destruction inflicted on Gaza since October 7, Hamdan urged the international community to promptly dispatch specialized civil defense teams to aid in recovering bodies trapped under the rubble.

According to Israeli reports, the recent truce marked the first end to hostilities in the seven-week conflict that Hamas started. The incident killed 1,200 people and returned 240 captives to Gaza. In response, Israel bombarded and attacked the north, killing at least 16,000 Palestinians and displacing hundreds of thousands.

Hamdan also urged President Joe Biden to reevaluate US-Israel ties.

"Within 50 days, Israel dropped more than 40,000 tons of explosives on the homes of defenseless Gazans. I call on US President Biden to review the US relationship with Israel and to stop supplying them with weapons," he said, according to a report from The Guardian.

Pres. Joe Biden has traditionally backed Israel's military efforts, but recent concerns about the high civilian death toll imply a change. The Biden administration has called for a change in Israeli tactics before expanding the conflict into southern Gaza.

Related Article: US Military Osprey Aircraft Crashes Near Japan Coast, 1 Dead, Response Underway

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Astronomers have recently made an awe-inspiring discovery within our neighboring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). A colossal newborn star, blazing with a brilliance 10,000 times greater than our own sun, has emerged as the centerpiece of this cosmic revelation, Reuters details in a report.

The discovery, as reported by researchers in a study published in the esteemed journal Nature, showcases an extraordinary find using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope situated in Chile's Atacama Desert, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of star formation beyond the confines of our Milky Way.

(Photo : Image via Nature)

Astronomers unveil an extraordinary discovery in the Large Magellanic Cloud-a colossal newborn star defying cosmic norms, shedding light on celestial infancy and star formation beyond our Milky Way.

Never-Before-Seen Cosmic Spectacle

Intriguingly, this colossal star, estimated to be 10 to 20 times more massive than our sun, bears the characteristics of a celestial infancy.

Encircled by a swirling circumstellar disk spanning an astonishing 12,000 times the Earth-Sun distance, this stellar giant is not merely undergoing birth but also exhibiting a remarkable expulsion of material into space.

This is an unprecedented phenomenon associated with smaller stars but previously unseen in such massive counterparts outside our galaxy.

Astronomers Shed Light on the Phenomenon

Anna McLeod, the lead author of the study from Durham University, England, expressed profound excitement, stating, "While we know of many stars like this one being formed in the Large Magellanic Cloud and other galaxies, we have never before observed a circumstellar accretions disk outside of the Milky Way."

The novelty of this discovery lies not only in the sheer magnitude of the star but also in its visibility. Unlike similar stars in our Milky Way, typically shrouded by the nebulous veils of gas and dust during their formative years, this stellar giant stands conspicuously visible in optical wavelengths, owing to the unique environmental properties of the LMC-a galaxy distinct in its composition with less dust and lower metallic elements than our own.

Read Also: New NASA Data from Webb Telescope Confirms Interesting Findings on Planet-Forming Disks

Jonathan Henshaw, a study co-author from Liverpool John Moores University, emphasized the significance, noting, "The formation of high-mass stars has been puzzling astronomers for decades, and so building a picture of how this happens under different physical conditions is both an important step and super exciting."

This groundbreaking observation expands our cosmic narrative, challenging existing paradigms of star formation. It not only unlocks mysteries surrounding the birth and evolution of colossal stars but also provides invaluable insights into the diverse environments that foster celestial genesis in galaxies beyond our own.

The discovery of this celestial prodigy underscores the pivotal role of technological advancements such as ALMA in unraveling the mysterious cosmos.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: NASA Fermi Mission Discovers 300 Gamma-Ray Pulsars: Here's What That Means for Astronomy

(Photo : Tech Times Writer John Lopez)

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The latest Google Maps color scheme update rolled out weeks ago, has become a hot topic of discussion, igniting passionate debates and online banter.

Users, particularly during the Thanksgiving travel week, have expressed mixed feelings about the new visual aesthetic.

Gray Roads and Teal Water: A Shift from Tradition

A notable alteration in the color palette involves the transformation of roads from yellow to gray and bodies of water from deep blue to teal.

Even parks have changed, switching their familiar green hue to a minty shade. This shift has triggered a wave of discontent among users who find the new colors less appealing.

Related Article: Google Maps Hacks 2023: Best Features for Holiday Travelers

From Frustration to Disapproval

Former Google Maps designer Elizabeth Laraki voiced her dissatisfaction with X, formerly known as Twitter. She described the updated color scheme as "colder, less accurate, and less human."

Laraki also drew a comparison, stating that the new coloring resembled that of Apple Maps rather than the traditional Google Maps style. Her post not only critiqued the color change but also suggested ways to enhance the overall user interface.

Laraki's sentiments resonated with others who echoed her opinion on the cold and less contrasting nature of the new colors. The dissatisfaction found its way to online platforms like X and Reddit, where users expressed frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the rationale behind such a dramatic visual transformation.

Google's Response and Design Intentions

In response to the feedback, a Google spokesperson explained to CNBC that the updates were meticulously designed based on extensive research and user feedback. The aim was to enhance usability and understanding of the map.

According to Google, the darker roads are intended to closely resemble actual roads, providing a better canvas for essential details like lanes.

Public Perception and Contrast Concerns

Despite Google's explanations, the online forums predominantly showcased discontent with only a few users expressing support for the new color scheme.

The controversy surrounding the color update has become a focal point of discussion, overshadowing other recent Google Maps enhancements, such as new ways to find activities and the incorporation of emojis.

The online debate continues as to why Google chose to use "colder" colors on the navigation app. The public's perception of the Google Maps color scheme remains divided and this might prompt the company to address the issue for the next few days to come.

Previously, Google Maps announced that emojis can now be used by the users. They will be an important feature that will help the adventurers bookmark specific areas they want to visit.

The addition of emoji support is a crucial move so travelers can search places faster. There's no need to spell the names of the landmarks you want to visit next time.

Read Also: Waze's New AI-Powered Feature Notifies Users of Crash-Prone Roads

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The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed on Wednesday the disturbing number of suicide cases last year.



According to the study, more than 49,000 Americans committed suicide in 2022, a 3% rise from the year before. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics statistician and study lead author, Sally Curtin, calls the figure the highest ever reported in the country.



"These are provisional data, so we expect the final number to actually be a little bit higher than that," Curtin says, as quoted in an NPR report. The total suicide rate rose in 2022 to levels not seen since 1941. The numbers have been rising since 2000, although they fell in 2019 and 2020 before rising again.





The increases had an impact on practically all age groups over 35, as well as groups of Hispanic origin. The biggest rise was 10% among 55- to 64-year-old males, while men 75 and up had the highest suicide rate in 2022, at 43.7 per 100,000.



Overall, women have had lower rates than men, but in 2022, they rose more (4%) than men (1%). Women aged 45-54 had the greatest mortality rate, approximately 9 per 100,000.

Suicide Rate Drops Among Young People

Meanwhile, the analysis indicates that the drop in adolescent and young adult suicide rates offers promise. Rates declined by 18% and 9% for 10 to 14 and 15 to 24-year-olds, respectively, the first drop in over 10 years for these age groups. Curtin connects the improvement to the US Surgeon General's 2021 advice on improving adolescent mental health awareness.



"There has been a national effort as well as more localized efforts for youth mental health," says Curtin, who believes that there is an increase in awareness that helped bring down suicide rates.

Read Also: Concerns Rise Over Mysterious Pneumonia Outbreak in China: WHO Demands Details



The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's senior vice president of research, Jill Harkavy-Friedman, welcomes the outcome but urges lasting measures. She emphasizes the importance of a national emphasis on addressing suicide to drive the numbers down.

AI Chatbot Shows Promise in Easing Depression for Mothers

A recent study published in Frontiers in Global Women's Health reveals that an AI chatbot on the mental health app Wysa significantly reduced depressive symptoms in pre-and postnatal women, according to Digital Health.

Engaged users experienced a 12.7% reduction in symptoms, transitioning from moderately severe depression' to moderate depression.' The chatbot, used for emotional support rather than maternal health, allowed users to express concerns and hopes and reframe thoughts.



This finding underscores the potential of AI in treating common conditions like anxiety and depression, offering quicker and more affordable access compared to traditional mental health services. AI therapy could address challenges such as staff shortages and long wait lists while providing a judgment-free environment, especially in regions where mental health remains stigmatized.



Ashley Andreou, a medical student at Georgetown University, emphasizes the need for increased access to evidence-based mental health treatment, envisioning AI with certified health professionals as an efficient solution.

"People don't have access to something that augments medication and is an evidence-based treatment for mental health issues, and so I think that we need to increase access, and I do think that generative AI with a certified health professional will increase efficiency," she remarked, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Related Article: Dreamore App Offers Dream Interpretation Through the Power of AI

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A consortium led by the Saudi-listed water desalination company ACWA Power signed on Wednesday a usufruct agreement to invest $1.5 billion in a 1.1 MW wind project in Egypt, according to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet.
The famed Wardenclyffe Tower over at Long Island, New York faced a massive fire that destroyed most of the flammable areas, and this facility is best known to be Nikola Tesla's laboratory for his renowned experiments.

It has recently achieved a breakthrough for the restoration efforts via a crowdfunding campaign but is now looking to raise additional funds via a new fundraising activity to repair the damages.

Nikola Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower Faced a Fire Incident

(Photo : Tesla Science Center)

Nikola Tesla's Wardenclyffe Tower, now known as the Tesla Science Center, has recently faced a massive fire last November 21, and it was ruled out by authorities' investigation that it was due to arson. According to the recent press conference, over 100 firefighters from 17 different local departments responded to the incident, all helping extinguish the blazing incident.

The Wardenclyffe is best known for being made of bricks, as designed by Stanford White, and it is still standing until now. It was also regarded by project architect Mark Thaler that nothing was flammable in the laboratory to cause the fire, but its back buildings have wood-frame roofs that cover them.

It was also regarded that some elements had been destroyed, with considerable damage to its roof structure, chimney, cupola, steel girders, and portions of its wall. There were no casualties, but there was an injury to a fireman who fell from the ladder amidst the roaring incident.

Read Also: Technology Predictions From Nikola Tesla That Came True

New Fundraiser Aims to Repair the Damages

(Photo : Tesla Science Center)

With this, the nonprofit group behind the Tesla Science Center, which features the original lab, a museum, and an educational center, looks to rebuild the Wardenclyffe via a new Indiegogo-based fundraiser campaign called "Mission Rebuild."

Interested individuals, companies, and groups may donate via the platform, looking to raise as much as $3 million for its restoration.

Nikola Tesla and the Tesla Science Center

Back in 2012, there was a nonprofit group that crowdsourced enough funds to buy the renowned structure in Long Island, initially belonging to one of the most controversial scientists of his time, Nikola Tesla. During his career, Tesla was considered a "mad man" for the bizarre and unique inventions by the Serbian academic, for which he was criticized by others around him.

Called the Tesla Science Center, the group was initially seeing a hard time in raising funds to restore the facility, but it eventually saw significant donations from the public through their Indiegogo campaign. One of the most significant donations made was from Tesla (the automotive brand) CEO Elon Musk, to which he gave a whopping $1 million to help its restoration efforts.

Eccentric and innovative have been what many describe Nikola Tesla to be, but apart from his out-of-the-box invention, he was considered to be ahead of his time, especially with the wireless power transmission station. While tragedy struck the Tesla Science Center where it stands now, it is not forgotten, with a new fundraising campaign looking to rebuild what was lost in the recent fire.

Related Article: Nikola Tesla's Most Outlandish Unbuilt Inventions That Might Make Him Seem Like A Mad Scientist

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In what could have been a deprivation of news links over at Canada's search via Google, the company and the government have worked things out, with the Mountain View giant not pilling out stories on the region. Earlier, Google revealed that it will remove links to Canadian news stories from its Search, amidst the looming Online News Act that will take effect this coming December.

The recent deal ensures that all news stories and links will remain when browsing the Google search engine, but there are still some kinks to figure out.

Google is Not Pulling Out News Links in Canada, New Agreement

(Photo : KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

The Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, shared good news for all users in the country, and this reveals that Google will no longer continue its pull out of news links and stories from its Search. This means that Canadian users who rely on Google's Search to get the latest news and information from agencies will get to continue their access via the platform.

Furthermore, this also means that Google is set to "contribute to the Online News Act," said St-Onge, working with the Mountain View-based tech giant to deliver the latest updates globally.

According to reports, this agreement will already set Google a whopping CAD 100 million sum to pay Canadian news outlets and publishers but is lower compared to the $172 million estimate.

Read Also: Google News 'Following' Tab Allows Users to See Suggestions Similar to Interests

Google Still Needs to Work Things Out with the Media

However, this is not yet the end of this saga, as Google is compelled to work out arrangements and agreements with Canada's media outlets, signing contracts to solidify deals. Google already prepared negotiation deals with different organizations, but according to CBC's report, the company only needs to face a representative group to limit the risks of arbitration.

Google News and its Canada Pullout

Earlier this year, Google announced its plans to pull out news stores in Canada because of the upcoming Online News Act Bill C-18, particularly as it sought to require companies to pay agencies and publishers to distribute their content. The initial actions of the company centered on banning news content in the country, and testing how it would turn out, and it affected 4 percent of the Canadian users in its run.

However, it was not only Google News that looked into its removing the news content on their platforms amidst Canada's presentation of the bill, as Big Tech also retaliated with their bans. Meta was among the companies who claimed that they would also pullout from the region because of the upcoming bill, with platforms like Facebook and Instagram banning news.

The latest development now sheds a good light on still getting news articles and stories straight from the largest search engine in the world, with Google now looking to work with Canada for better news visibility. However, the country's decision and soon-to-be-law still stand, and Google will have to work out agreements with media companies, setting them a massive sum to pay.

Related Article: Google's Online Search Dominance Under Fire: Antitrust Allegations Cast a Shadow Over Exclusive Deals with Apple

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Elon Musk, during a New York Times DealBook Summit interview, cursed out advertiser Disney, as well as others, for suspending their advertisements after the billionaire reposted an antisemitic post on his social media platform 'X.' "Go f*ck yourself" says the X owner, as reported by Reuters.

(Photo : Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images)

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, attends the AI Safety Summit in Bletchley Park on November 1, 2023, in Bletchley, England.

Engadget reports that Musk repeated the sentiment several times, as well as stating not to place any ads on the site. Musk reportedly said that blackmailing was afoot, noting that "if somebody is going to try and blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go f*ck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is."

"Hey Bob," Musk said, seemingly addressing Disney CEO Bob Iger, who had spoken earlier in the day at the same event on the company's decision to remove commercials after Musk's tweet from earlier this month.

Disney's relationship with X, according to Iger, is "not necessarily a positive one for us," as reported by Engadget, citing Variety as their source.

Read Also: Elon Musk is set to Meet Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, to Discuss Combatting Antisemitism

Elon Musk's Antisemitic Post

After siding with a user on November 15 who incorrectly claimed that Jews were inciting hatred against White people, Musk has been the target of a barrage of criticism. Referencing the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, Musk said in his post that the user was expressing "the actual truth."

The White House denounced Musk's article, calling it a "abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate."

Musk acknowledged his mistake in responding to the tweet that caused X to lose more sponsors, even though he refuted accusations of antisemitism once more. Musk further stated that he had "handed a loaded gun" to his critics, calling the post that he published that day arguably the worst in his history of "foolish" statements.

This reportedly came about as a result of a report published by the leftist watchdog group Media Matters, which claimed to have discovered advertisements close to posts endorsing Nazism. The platform sued Media Matters last week on grounds of defamation.

Reuters reports that Musk made his remarks the same day that the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a dire warning, claiming that the safety of Jews worldwide as well as the future of Israel are in jeopardy due to the surge in antisemitism that has occurred since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, during a tearful 40-minute Senate speech.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino was reportedly there for the comments and that she sat "stone-faced" during Musk's outburst.

X's Projected Losses

Tech Times reports that according to the the New York Times, worries about Musk and the platform go far beyond Disney, Apple, and IBM, who stopped running advertisements on X recently as about 200 companies have been reported to have "fully paused" their advertising, while several others are categorized as "at risk."

This has poised the social media platform to lose about $75 Million by the end of the year, but the expected loss has been denied by X, stating that it has gone down since.

Related Article: Hamas Invites Elon Musk to Witness Gaza Devastation

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In a recent announcement from the company, Sam Altman has officially returned as the CEO of OpenAI. His confidence in the organization's future is evident in his shared memo to employees.

(Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI participates in the "Charting the Path Forward: The Future of Artificial Intelligence" at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in San Francisco, California, on November 16, 2023.

Reinstating Altman's Position

Sam Altman has officially resumed the role of CEO at OpenAI, finalizing a deal that was initially announced just before Thanksgiving. The company's recent announcement disclosed that Microsoft has also secured a non-voting observer seat on the nonprofit board overseeing OpenAI.

Altman's confidence in the organization's future is evident in his shared memo to employees, as reported by The Verge. He expressed his excitement and gratitude for their hard work in navigating an uncertain and unprecedented situation.

Altman believes that the resilience and spirit displayed by the team distinguish OpenAI within the industry, fostering optimism about the likelihood of success in achieving their mission.

Following the departure of three out of the four board members responsible for Altman's sudden dismissal, the newly constituted OpenAI board features chair Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo, which are the sole remaining holdout from the previous board.

Securing Non-Voting Observer Seat

OpenAI's decision to include Microsoft as a "non-voting observer" on the board signifies an increased level of transparency for the tech giant into the inner workings of the company.

However, this arrangement doesn't grant Microsoft an official vote in significant decisions. Notably, Microsoft holds a substantial 49 percent stake in the for-profit entity controlled by the nonprofit board, but, until now, had no direct insight into that board's proceedings.

Axios reported that the lack of visibility resulted in a considerable surprise when Sam Altman was removed from his position, jeopardizing a crucial partnership in the tech industry.

In his communication to employees, Altman expressed no animosity towards Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI's co-founder and chief scientist, who initially participated in the board coup but changed his stance after the majority of the company's employees threatened to quit unless Altman returned.

Although Ilya will no longer serve on the board, Altman emphasized the intention to maintain a collaborative working relationship, currently exploring how he can continue contributing to OpenAI.

Altman's assurance to employees that the company did not lose a single customer serves as motivation to intensify efforts and dedication in their work.

Also Read: Microsoft, Unlikely to be Offered a Board Seat in OpenAI

In a recent message to the OpenAI community, Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI Board, expressed gratitude to the collective efforts of the community, especially the employees, in navigating recent challenges.

The message conveyed the joy of having Sam, Mira, and Greg back to lead the organization. The Board's primary focus is on strengthening OpenAI's corporate governance, with plans to form a diverse and qualified Board, including a non-voting observer from Microsoft.

Acknowledging OpenAI's increasing significance, the message emphasized the central role it plays in discussions about the future of AI in various sectors. The Board is committed to listening and learning from the community, recognizing their crucial role in facing challenges and contributing to OpenAI's success.

Related Article: Sam Altman OpenAI Return? Ex-CEO and Co-Founder is Willing to Rejoin the AI Company

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In a groundbreaking exploration, the AI minister UAE sounded a cautionary note against the overregulation of technology, particularly artificial intelligence. He emphasized the profound impact of the printing press on Western literacy and the ensuing tensions it triggered in the Ottoman Empire.

(Photo : LEON NEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates' Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence Omar Al Olama speaks during the UK Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit at Bletchley Park, in central England, on November 1, 2023.

Warning Against Excessive AI Regulation

United Arab Emirates' AI minister Omar Al Olama has cautioned against excessive regulation of technology. Al Olama, the world's first AI minister appointed at the age of 27, likened rejecting AI to the Ottoman Sultan's refusal of the printing press.

Drawing historical parallels, Interesting Engineering reported that the referenced Johannes Gutenberg's 15th-century invention, which revolutionized information dissemination, emphasizing its profound impact on literacy through mass production of affordable and accessible books in Western nations.

In the historical context of the Middle East, particularly within the Ottoman Empire, the advent of the printing press was met with skepticism and apprehension. Authorities perceived this innovation as a potential challenge to the established social order, given its capacity to disseminate ideas and perspectives widely.

The centralized power structure of the Ottoman Empire, which tightly controlled information and knowledge dissemination, faced a potential threat from the transformative capabilities of the printing press.

In contrast to the profound impact the printing press had on Western societies, its reception in the Ottoman Empire highlighted the inherent tensions between technological innovation and the preservation of existing power structures.

Also Read: AI "Risks Lie in the Application" Says Germany, France, Italy on AI Regulation Agreement

Al Olama drew insightful parallels during his address at the Fortune Global Forum in Abu Dhabi. Despite its global adoption, he cautioned against overregulation of AI, likening it to historical circumstances where the printing press was banned in the Middle East for two centuries due to regulatory concerns.

He emphasized the importance of avoiding a similar scenario with AI and urged a balanced approach that embraces innovation while addressing regulatory considerations.

Reflecting on historical parallels, Fortune reported that the UAE minister drew connections between concerns surrounding the printing press in the Ottoman Empire and contemporary apprehensions about AI.

He recounted how calligraphers feared job loss, akin to contemporary worries about automation and job displacement through AI. Additionally, religious scholars voiced concerns about misinformation, drawing a parallel to the current challenges of data fairness and privacy issues associated with AI.

Balanced Approach

As per DD News reported that Al Olama highlighted that the Sultan's advisors, uncertain about the consequences of the printing press, opted for a temporary ban to observe its impact on other societies before reconsidering.

This historical caution resonates with the ongoing debates on AI risks, covering job displacement, data fairness, privacy, national security, and broader existential concerns, particularly in the context of innovations like ChatGPT.

Offering insights for navigating these challenges, Al Olama stressed the need for governments to maintain a balanced approach.

He cautioned against prioritizing technological progress at the expense of humanity, emphasizing the importance of a nuanced dialogue that empowers government professionals to regulate AI effectively, encouraging a thoughtful consideration of the historical context to inform the responsible development and regulation of AI.

Related Article: First-Ever Detailed AI Regulation Agreement, Unveiled by US, UK, Other Countries

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NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has presented a captivating new display of star formation in its latest Picture of the Month. The featured image focuses on the intricate details of the Herbig Haro object 797 (HH 797).

NASA explains that Herbig-Haro objects are luminous regions surrounding newborn stars, scientifically called protostars. These objects are formed when stellar winds or jets of gas emitted by these nascent stars create shockwaves upon colliding with nearby gas and dust at high velocities.

Edge of the Perseus Dark Cloud Complex

HH 797, prominently featured in the lower half of the image, is situated near the young open star cluster IC 348, which is positioned near the eastern edge of the Perseus dark cloud complex.

The upper portion of the photo showcases bright infrared objects believed to host two additional protostars. The image leverages the power of infrared imaging to study newborn stars and their outflows thanks to Webb's Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam).

This is significant because the youngest stars are typically still entangled within the gas and dust from which they originate. According to NASA, infrared emissions from the star's outflows can pass through the obstructing gas and dust, rendering Herbig-Haro objects ideal subjects for observation with Webb's sensitive infrared instruments.

The tumultuous environments in these areas stimulate molecules, such as molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide, inducing them to release infrared light. Webb captures this emitted light to depict the configuration of the outflows.

NIRCam, specifically proficient in observing heated molecules activated by shocks, achieves this at temperatures soaring to thousands of degrees Celsius. Previous ground-based observations indicated that the cold molecular gas associated with HH 797 exhibited a notable distribution.

Red-shifted gas (moving away from us) was primarily found to the south (bottom right), while blue-shifted gas (moving towards us) was prevalent to the north (bottom left).

Read Also: New Computer Simulation Sheds Light on Early Galaxy Formation Aligned With NASA James Webb's Observations

Parallel Outflows

In this higher-resolution image from Webb, astronomers have identified a significant revelation. What was initially perceived as a single outflow is composed of two nearly parallel outflows, each with its distinct series of shocks, which explains the velocity asymmetries observed.

The source, situated in the small dark area at the bottom right of the center, is not a lone star. It's a binary star system, and each star produces its own remarkable outflow. The image highlights additional outflows, including one from the protostar at the upper right of the center, accompanied by its illuminated cavity walls.

HH 797 is directly situated north of HH 211, the focus of a prior Webb image release in September, emphasizing the telescope's ongoing dedication to unraveling the enigmas of our cosmic environs.

Related Article: NASA's James Webb Discovers New, Never-Before-Seen Feature in Jupiter's Atmosphere-What Is It?

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The rise of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, and many more is challenging the information ecosystem of the Internet. With the increasing rate of AI-generated content, there are concerns about how people can identify what is credible and what is fake online.

According to Tech Xplore, this is even more pronounced with a new study from Mainz University of Applied Sciences and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), which found that online users rated both AI-generated and human-created content as similarly credible.

Perceived AI Credibility

The researchers noted that AI-driven systems were autonomously generating content based on the database they were trained in. That means they do not have relative human oversight compared to traditional platforms such as Wikipedia.

Hence, the study sought to answer how users perceive the credibility of human-generated and AI-generated content in different user interfaces, with over 600 English-speaking participants joining this endeavor.

Martin Huschens, Professor of Information Systems at Mainz University of Applied Sciences and one of the study's authors, expressed his surprise with their findings.

"Our study revealed some really surprising findings. It showed that participants in our study rated AI-generated and human-generated content as similarly credible, regardless of the user interface," Huschens noted.

"What is even more fascinating is that participants rated AI-generated content as having higher clarity and appeal, although there were no significant differences in terms of perceived message authority and trustworthiness-even though AI-generated content still has a high risk of error, misunderstanding, and hallucinatory behavior," he added.

Read Also: Teachers, Students May Soon Use ChatGPT, OpenAI Explores Educational Applications for Classrooms

Delicate Balance

The study focuses on how AI-generated content is perceived and the risks of its further distribution. The researchers ultimately want users to think critically in evaluating information from various online platforms.

They advocate for a delicate balance between the comfort of AI-powered tools and responsible information use. Furthermore, the study urges users to be aware of the limitations and inherent biases in these systems, a concern that has been a recurring theme for many experts.

Professor Franz Rothlauf, specializing in Information Systems at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, emphasized that the study findings indicate that in the era of ChatGPT, discerning between human and machine language and text production has become increasingly difficult.

As AI operates based on statistical guessing rather than true understanding, the researchers argue that mandatory labeling of machine-generated knowledge will be essential in the future. Without such labeling, the boundaries between truth and fiction may blur, making it challenging for people to distinguish between them.

The research team underscores that it is the responsibility of the scientific community and a social and political challenge to raise awareness among users about the responsible use of AI-generated content. The study's findings were published on the arXiv preprint server.

Related Article: "AI Hasn't Come So Far," Says Laureate, Echoing World's Greatest Scientists During Laureate Forum

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In downtown Detroit, crews have installed a new technology that is revolutionary in the charging landscape for electric vehicles (EVs).

It comes as various companies and researchers around the world are finding ways to make the transportation sector more eco-friendly by introducing innovations to EV-related technologies. However, this latest technology may not be so directed towards the "surface value" because it is literally underneath a street.

Wireless-Charging Public Roadway in Detroit Is the First in US

According to the Associated Press, crews have installed what is hailed as the first wireless-charging public roadway for EVs underneath a street in downtown Detroit.

It must be noted that vehicles equipped with receivers can charge their batteries while driving, idling, or parking above copper inductive charging coils.

The Michigan Department of Transportation said the technology will be tested and refined on a quarter-mile segment of 14th Street before being made available to the public within a few years.

Demonstrations took place on Wednesday at the Michigan Central innovation district, a center for advancing technologies and programs that address mobility barriers. It is also the same district where Ford Motor Co. is restoring the old Michigan Central train station for the development of self-driving vehicles.

Electreon, an Israel-based developer of wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles, owns the technology. The company has contracts for similar roadways in Israel, Sweden, Italy, and Germany. AP reported that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the pilot initiative in 2021.

Read Also: GM Partners with Niron Magnetics to Develop Eco-Friendly Electric Motor Magnets, Reducing Dependency on China

Zero-Emission Mobility Future

Stefan Tongur, Electreon vice president of business development, said they would demonstrate how wireless charging could open doors for widespread EV adoption, particularly in addressing issues such as limited range, battery size and costs, and grid restrictions.

Tongur believes this project will pave the way for a zero-emission mobility future wherein EVs are normalized. Once a vehicle with a receiver approaches the charging segments, the coils beneath the road use a magnetic field to transfer electricity, charging the vehicle's battery.

According to AP, these coils activate exclusively on vehicles with receivers passing over them. The Michigan Department of Transportation and Electreon had committed to a five-year collaboration to advance the development of the electric road system.

There are also plans for the Department of Transportation to invite bids for reconstructing a section of the bustling Michigan Avenue, incorporating inductive charging.

The goal of this project aligns with the Biden administration's commitment to establishing half a million EV charging stations, considering them an integral part of its infrastructure objectives.

Authorities said the implementation of wireless-charging roadways positions Michigan and Detroit as trailblazers in EV technology. Tongur noted that, as of now, no decisions have been made regarding revenue models in Michigan.

Related Article: Startups Offering EV Battery Health Tests Scramble to Help Buyers Determine the True Value of Used EVs

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A captivating celestial dance unfolds in a distant planetary system as NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) unveils a rare gravitational lockstep among six planets.

These planets, akin to sub-Neptunes, encircle a star smaller and cooler than our sun, orchestrating a rhythmic waltz that astounded astronomers.

Peculiar Planetary Arrangement

This peculiar planetary arrangement, exhibiting a gravitational resonance, is a rarity in the cosmos. The innermost planet completes three orbits for every two orbits of the next planet in line, creating a distinctive 3/2 resonance. According to NASA, this rhythmic pattern also extends to the four closest planets.

On the outer front, a 4/3 resonance occurs, with the fourth planet making four orbits for every three of the next one out. The consistency of these resonant orbits suggests that the planets have adhered to this synchronized dance since the formation of the system billions of years ago.

This stability is an anomaly in planetary system formation, where early upheavals, collisions, and rearrangements are expected. The enduring rhythm of this planetary ballet raises intriguing questions about the system's formation process.

The resilient stability observed indicates that the planetary system avoided the tumultuous events often associated with early planet formation. Smash-ups, collisions, mergers, and breakups, common in the formative years of planetary systems, appear to have been notably absent in this cosmic choreography.

The exacting precision of the 3/2 and 4/3 resonances has remained virtually unchanged since the system's inception, offering a unique insight into its early evolution.

To unravel this celestial mystery, astronomers relied on NASA's TESS, which tracks the minute eclipses, or transits, that planets create as they pass in front of their host stars.

The initial data from TESS hinted at the presence of multiple transits around the star HD 110067, but discerning the number of planets and their orbits proved challenging.

Read Also: NASA Fermi Mission Discovers 300 Gamma-Ray Pulsars: Here's What That Means for Astronomy

The Breakthrough on Six Planets System

The breakthrough came when scientists pinpointed the two innermost planets with 9-day and 14-day orbital periods, respectively. Further assistance from CHEOPS (Characterising ExOPlanets Satellite), operated by the European Space Agency, identified a third planet with a 20-day orbit.

Upon analyzing the orbits of these three planets, researchers identified a 3/2 resonance, prompting the search for additional planets. Extensive mathematical calculations and gravitational considerations led to the prediction of a fourth planet with a 31-day orbit, followed by a fifth planet with a 41-day orbit and a sixth planet with an orbit only shy of 55 days.

The discovery team encountered a hurdle as some TESS observations were seemingly unusable due to excessive light scattered by Earth and the moon. However, a computer code developed by scientist David Rapetti enabled the recovery of transit data previously thought to be lost.

This recovery confirmed the predicted orbits of the two outer planets, completing the cosmic ensemble of six planets dancing to the beat of a rare gravitational rhythm. The team's findings were published in the journal Nature.

Related Article: NASA Tests Future Mars Helicopter Designs on Earth and Red Planet, Getting the 'Best of Both Worlds'

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kiara Health, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is set to manufacture vaginal rings designed to offer protection against HIV.

The Population Council, a nonprofit organization, revealed the partnership, saying that approximately one million rings could be produced annually by Kiara Health in the coming years, according to the Associated Press.

About Vaginal Rings

These silicone rings, currently produced by a Swedish company, released a drug called dapivirine, which helps prevent HIV infections. The rings have received authorization from nearly a dozen countries and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Thanks to donations, about 500,000 rings are now available to women in Africa at no cost. The Population Council holds the rights to the rings and expects Kiara Health to be involved in contributing to increased production and affordability.

The cost of the ring currently ranges from $12 to $16, but experts anticipate a reduction in price once mass production is established in Africa. Additionally, developers are working on an extended-release version that can last up to three months, further lowering the annual cost.

HIV remains a significant health concern, especially among women of reproductive age in Africa, where 60% of new infections occur in women, according to the WHO.

Read Also: NIH Announces 3rd HIV Remission! No Symptoms Detected for 14 Months After Stem Cell Transplant

Vaginal Rings as Discreet Preventive Option

The vaginal rings, as a discreet preventive option, allows women the flexibility to use them without the knowledge or consent of others, providing an alternative for situations where partners may be unwilling to use condoms or enable the use of oral preventive HIV medicines.

The ring releases dapivirine in gradual doses over a month, and its approval by WHO has positioned it as an additional tool for women at significant risk of HIV. Regulatory approval has been granted by more than a dozen African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

WHO's endorsement is backed by advanced studies indicating a reduction in women's chances of contracting HIV by about a third, with other research suggesting an even more substantial risk reduction of over 50%.

The move by Kiara Health to produce these HIV-preventive rings in Africa is seen as a significant step toward making vaginal rings more accessible and cost-effective, contributing to the ongoing efforts to address the HIV epidemic, particularly in high-risk populations.

In related news, hopes for an HIV cure rise with the two-year remission of a man referred to as the "Geneva patient." His stem cell transplant for blood cancer shows potential for HIV remission.

If symptoms stay absent, he may join the rare HIV-cured individuals. The case is notable for lacking the HIV-resistant genetic mutation in the donor. Learn more about this story here.

Related Article: 2nd HIV Patient Clears of Virus Naturally and Researchers Think Their Biology is Key to Finding a Cure to the Illness

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Egypt and Qatar are jointly working on extending the temporary humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday.





Shoukry made his remarks during a consultation meeting between the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, of which he is a member, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also currently chairs the United Nations Security Council.

Shoukry expressed his gratitude for China's support of the Arab and Islamic efforts to achieve a permanent and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza.

Wang Yi, on his part, expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian-Qatari mediation, which contributed to the current temporary ceasefire and allowed more humanitarian into Gaza.

He said his country is ready to exert its utmost efforts to achieve a permanent and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in line with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

Wang Yi also reiterated his country's support for the two-state solution as the only viable option for the Palestinian issue.

The meeting -- which took prior to a UNSC ministerial session on the Gaza crisis -- marked the second phase of the Arab-Islamic committee's tour to mobilize international support for the war-ravaged strip.

The committee, which includes foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries, was formed under a resolution of the Arab-Islamic Summit held in Riyadh on 11 November.

During the meeting, the committee members expressed their hope for a unified voice during the UNSC session in support of the ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on a two-state solution.

They also demanded the UNSCEs intervention to consolidate the Gaza ceasefire and prevent further casualties, while reiterating their rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians.

The committee also met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, where they expressed their appreciation for his efforts aimed at containing the crisis and stopping the bloodshed since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

They underscored the imperative of turning the temporary Gaza ceasefire into a permanent, unconditional cessation of hostilities.

They also decried Israel's obstructive practices that hinder the entry of Gaza humanitarian aid.

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Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to accept Palestine's membership in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) within its authority.

This came during Shoukry's participation in the Joint Press Encounter by The Ministerial Committee assigned by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit as part of a periodic briefing session held by the UNSC on the situation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Palestine was accepted as an observer member of the UNGA in November 2012.

During his address, Shoukry unequivocally condemned the Israeli killing of civilians in Gaza, labeling it a clear violation of international and humanitarian law.

"Egypt has condemned the escalation in Gaza since the beginning of the aggression," Shoukry stated, reaffirming Egypt's renewed rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

He added that the globally rejected policy of forced displacement remains a goal for Israel, as it seeks to drive Palestinians from their land by making life in the Gaza Strip impossible.

Furthermore, Shoukry stated that what is happening in the Gaza Strip met with a similar policy in the West Bank that forcibly displaces its residents, whether through unleashing settler violence or through demolition operations, evictions, and military incursions into West Bank cities.

This is in addition to the annexation of land through systematic settlement operations that cement the illegitimate occupation, he continued.

The concept of "self-defence" cannot be applied to serious violations of international humanitarian law, Shoukry stated, asking "What kind of self-defence allows an occupying force to suppress and destroy the lives of the people it occupies?"

Despite the global warnings about the dangers of targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli approach over more than fifty days can only be interpreted as a deliberate policy to make life in the Gaza Strip impossible, Shoukry continued.

"This is evident through the targeting of civilians, medical and residential facilities, forcing residents of the north to evacuate southward in a region already suffering from high population density and a severe blockade for years," he explained.

Addressing the UNSC, the foreign minister directed a question, saying: "Where does the Security Council stand on the Palestinian children imprisoned in Israeli jails for many years?"

He emphasized the avoidance by certain countries who are advocating for international legitimacy to condemn the violations in Gaza.

Shoukry also noted that the Arab-Islamic committee has submitted a non-politicized resolution to the Security Council for consideration.

This resolution focuses solely on the humanitarian aspect and aims to save two and a half million innocent people in Gaza, he explained.

"What has been provided so far, with Egypt contributing 70 percent of it independently, is not sufficient for the needs of two and a half million Palestinians," Shoukry continued.

Furthermore, Shoukry highlighted Egypt's progress in implementing the UN Security Council resolution regarding the humanitarian ceasefire and its success, in collaboration with Qatar and the United States, in activating a prisoner and hostage exchange deal that also includes access to aid to Gaza, both in the south and north.

"We will continue our efforts to extend the duration of the ceasefire and work towards a permanent ceasefire, putting an end to the war and destruction," Shoukry reaffirmed and called on the Security Council to support these efforts and to support accountability for those responsible for the crimes committed against civilian.

He concluded by stating that Egypt sees no alternative to resolving the conflict other than ending the occupation and progressing towards a two-state solution.

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Hillary Clinton was loudly heckled by a group of pro-Palestinian student protesters as she left the building at Columbia University.

The former US Secretary of State and 2016 presidential hopeful was confronted by the students on Wednesday, some of whom staged a sit-in protest inside the building.

Ms Clinton, who teaches a class called Inside the Situation Room was met with chants of shame on you, shame on you as she left the building.

Other footage showed students sitting in front of a large banner saying Columbia has blood on its hands. As Ms Clinton walked past, they shouted youre supporting genocide.

It comes around a month after dozens of students left a class being run by the former presidential candidate in a peaceful and planned protest.

The walkout occurred during the event on the involvement of women in peace processes alongside the dean of Columbias School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Keren Yarhi-Milo.

Halfway through the lecture, about 30 students took part in a pre-planned walkout, joining dozens of people protesting close to the lobby of the International Affairs building, according to The New York Times.

The action was in protest at what they had perceived as the schools role in publicly shaming students who had signed a statement saying that the Israeli extremist government bore responsibility for the war.

Similar to Wednesdays action the protesters sat silently in a common area with many of them wearing face masks, after photos of a number of them appeared on a video screen on the side of a truck spotted close to the campus with the caption Columbias Leading Antisemites.
The ferry, seen from Pointe a la Hache, parks in Port Sulphur on Nov. 15. Many residents of Pointe a la Hache and people who worked in nearby areas relied on the ferry, which is no longer in operation. People who wish to cross the Mississippi River must drive to Belle Chasse, about 27 miles up the river.
The back fence of the Juvenile Justice Center at 8333 Veterans Memorial Blvd in Baton Rouge, LA. Five people held at this center for "some very serious offenses" escaped after attacking two guards who had been watching them. One of the youths remained at large Friday Oct 15, 2021
Collection

Sydney hit list December 2023: Hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out, right now

A bargain beachside taco spot, fancy pub classics arrive at an inner west favourite, where to find speedy steaks in the CBD, plus the hot new rooftop bars to put on your radar.
Newington College is facing a legal challenge by parents over its controversial plan to admit girls to the 160-year-old boys school, while alumni say the move will put millions of dollars in bequests and donations at risk.

A legal letter sent to the schools council chairman Tony McDonald on behalf of parents and alumni on Wednesday challenged the validity of the plan to go co-ed, arguing it was contrary to the inner west schools trust, which was established in 1873.

Newington College plans to convert to a fully co-educational campus in the next 10 years. Credit: Steven Siewert

We understand that upon the establishment of the College, and indeed when the Trust Objects were made, the purpose of the College was to educate boys and young men, the letter said.

Newington last week announced the first girls will join the senior campus in 2028 in year 7 and year 11, with the college becoming fully co-educational by 2033. Female students will be enrolled in the junior school from 2026.
If you loved Tony Abbotts 2013 page-turner, Battlelines, or couldnt put down his other book, Abbott, the Defining Speeches, published in 2019, then weve got exciting news.

Looks like the former prime minister is putting his elegant pen to paper once more, and if the way Abbott has been talking is any guide, this could be his most eye-catching literary effort yet.

Crazy things are happening everywhere: Former prime minister Tony Abbott. Credit: James Brickwood

During a recent appearance on the Triggernometry podcast, hosted by right-wing Russian-British commentator and comedian Konstantin Kisin, Abbott revealed that he had begun working on his next book  working title Peak Insanity.

But if youre expecting a behind-the-scenes look at Abbotts mad-cap two years in The Lodge  and there is so much about that crazy ride wed like to know more about  youre going to be disappointed.
In September 2022, the dossier was resubmitted to the committee, this time with two statutory declarations from staff and accompanying written accounts from former senior employees supporting calls for an investigation. However, the new chair  Labors Sarah Connolly  asked Frost to resubmit the material after the election because the committee was not expected to sit until after polling day. In February this year, following the election, the dossier was again sent to Connolly, who said the committee had no express function or power to investigate or make inquiries unless it has been referred by a House of Parliament. Instead, the former staff were told to use internal complaints processes, raise their concerns with WorkSafe or seek independent legal advice. Frost described the committees response as a triumph of obfuscation and deflection, given it had a statutory responsibility to oversee the Victorian Auditor-Generals Office and Parliamentary Budget Office. Among the allegations presented to the committee were claims staff were bullied and harassed and given unsustainable workloads, and natural justice processes were ignored between 2016 and 2021.

The Age does not suggest the allegations are true, simply that they were made and presented to the committee with oversight of the auditor-general. One former director  who submitted a statutory declaration in the dossier and spoke to The Age on the condition of anonymity over concerns it could be used against them in their new role  described the culture of fear among staff. The director ended up visiting a doctor to seek medical help because of stress in the role. People were treated like numbers and put in the freezer if they questioned or challenged decisions, the former director alleged. Its a bad culture; it was unpleasant and people were nervous.

[The Victorian Auditor-Generals Office] is so important to the governance of the state. The public should be appalled. The role of auditor-general should be of the highest standards, and this sets accountability in Victoria back. In response to questions about why the public accounts and estimates committee had agreed to reappoint Greaves, Connolly said the committee had no express function or power to investigate or make inquiries relating to matters such as these, unless it has been referred to a relevant matter by a house of parliament or the governor in council. Greaves office did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. A spokesperson for the Victorian government said the reappointment of Greaves was recommended by the multi-party committee and was consistent with the Audit Act. Every Victorian has the right to a safe workplace  for public service employees this includes through mandated internal grievance policies alongside WorkSafe and the Fair Work Commission.

Other examples in the dossier include claims staff were bullied and harassed, and a senior employee had their role abolished while ill in hospital. The dossier also includes publicised claims brought by former director Kyley Daykin, who alleged the auditor-general had bullied her, worked her to breaking point and terminated her employment unlawfully at the height of the pandemic. Loading In April 2021, Daykin lodged a workers injury claim with the Victorian Auditor-Generals Office. The Victorian Auditor-Generals Office reached a confidential settlement with Daykin in 2022. The Age spoke to three MPs who have been public accounts and estimates committee members in the past year about the allegations. Two of those MPs, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss committee deliberations, confirmed the allegations against Greaves by Daykin had been raised during a meeting about his reappointment.
No censorship, please I agree with Farah Khairat. I deplore the instruction from her school not to speak about the conflict in the Middle East with curious students. Open discussion in the guided environment provided at school will help them to discern information they are exposed to from other sources, promoting understanding and acceptance of alternative points of view. Censorship creates a void in which biased views can develop from selective sources of information. Students deserve the opportunity to discuss issues of interest and concern to them. Gary Smith, Rippleside

Opposite effect Your contributor, Farah Khairat, shows exactly why schools may have felt the need to ban discussion about the conflict now going on in the Middle East (Why I refuse to stay silent on Gaza, 30/11). While she describes heartbreaking scenes in Gaza, she neglects entirely to mention Hamas horrific attack on Israeli civilians on October 7  including the taking of hostages  which triggered this current conflict. She writes about not allowing personal views to enter discussions, yet she refers only to Israeli aggression. It is revealing that her descriptions of civilian suffering exclude the savagery inflicted by Hamas on October 7, thus casting doubt on her ability to lead an impartial discussion, and perhaps inadvertently reinforcing the schools policy. Arlene Murkies, Brighton

Few answers Your correspondent (Letters, 29/11) asks why do the 2 million people of Gaza need bomb shelters in the first place? The 9 million people of Israel have bomb shelters in their homes and streets because they are constantly facing missile attacks from Gaza in the south and Hezbollah in the north. They have built underground hospitals and blood banks so that these life-saving facilities can operate while Israel is being attacked on multiple fronts. There seems to be lots of criticism of Israel and little criticism of Hamas and, ultimately, few solutions about how Israelis and Palestinians can live together. Miriam Zajac, Caulfield

There are solutions The article  There is no quick fix to the housing affordability crisis  (29/11) paints a grim picture of the housing crisis. Drastic action is required. How about flipping the tax benefits on housing from investors to genuine home owners? Why should an investor on his 12th property be able to claim a loss against other income but a home owner cannot? The investor has other tax perks to claim such as depreciation or building allowance, which for reasons that elude me cannot be claimed by a home owner. It would be easy to determine the market rent of a house. A genuine home owner should be able to claim all expenses above this amount, including mortgage interest, insurance, rates and repairs, against other income, which in most cases will be employment income. This should ease the pain for home owners with mortgages, who are doing it tough. The cost can be funded by removing the tax advantages given to investors. They have had this benefit for years, so a rebalancing is well overdue. If this does not cover the cost, scrap the stage 3 tax cuts. Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove

Control prices When you have a leak in the roof and your plumber tries and fails 13 times, its time to get a new plumber. In the same way, when interest rates are put up 13 times to little effect, its time to think again. The fix is not working. Meanwhile, the head of the Reserve Bank blames going to the dentist for inflation. The real example for the times is insurance companies putting up premiums 30 to 40 per cent in one year. The days of price regulation through competition and fair practice are gone. The retail world, where inflation is measured, now works on tradesmens rules where you jack the price up until they stop saying yes  add supply shortages and the price rises never stop. Tackling inflation needs to start by using some direct price control instead of outdated indirect methods. Don Relf, Mentone

Of independent mind

I have taught about the Arab-Israeli conflict for more than 30 years. At the end of the course my students would have no idea where my sympathies lie. This is as it should be.

The greatest gift we can give students is to nurture them as independent thinkers who are well equipped to make informed decisions for themselves as they enter adult life. Therefore, I take some issue with Farah Khairats article.

On the one hand, she says, I appreciate that personal politics and beliefs [of teachers] should not be brought into the classroom. But she then lists the litany of her grievances against Israels recent role in Gaza that she would like to teach, with no mention of the Hamas attack of October 7. Is this really how she suggests history should be taught? If so, I dont blame her educational masters in silencing her.

Andrew Kokic,

Wattle Grove, NSW

The job at hand

I became a teacher to provide students with a mechanism for forming their own conclusions on controversial issues; getting them to think about the world beyond their own backyard. Studying conflicts and identifying both sides of an issue empowers students to form their own views on serious disagreements that arise both at home and internationally. That was my job.

Graeme Rose, Wangaratta

Customers forgotten

My local Commonwealth Bank in Ashburton is going up for auction soon. Its last day will be December 8 and, there will be no ATMs available. This is after losing Bank of Melbourne, Westpac and ANZ branches in Ashburton. The only one left now is Bendigo Bank.

For me, and I am sure I can speak for other Commonwealth clients, losing not just the bank but ATMs is totally unacceptable. Many clients who use that branch still use passbooks. I have seen them. There would also be many clients who dont drive or are unable to drive very far. All the nearest branches are at least 20 to 30 minutes away.

Compounding the problem is not being able to have face-to-face contact with bank staff. This is so inconvenient and annoying as I find it extremely difficult to talk to anyone over the phone. I have a hearing impairment and even when I tell the operator of my disability, they do not always take note and speak clearly. I cant rely on someone to help me every time I might need to speak to someone on the phone, not to mention having difficulties hearing the numerous instructions to put me on to the right operator.

It appears the motto for many big businesses is profit before people.

Rosemary Berrell, Ashburton

Not good enough

Recently I changed my credit card at the local ANZ branch. I received a letter that it was approved, and it would be available in seven days at the Westfield branch, about 10 kilometres from my home and local branch.

At the Westfield branch to collect the card, I joined a queue of 26, and waited 40 minutes until I was served. Alas, my new card had not arrived. Only after I insisted that I be told when the card was available, the staff member agreed to advise me by email.

This bank, and others, advertise that they are there to service you, their loyal customer. I am in my late 80s, and I got the feeling that ANZ, like Qantas, has no respect for their customers. The cost cutting is so bad that there are no longer any chairs to use while waiting, and the few staff available are under huge stress.

Keith Lierse, Templestowe

Taxing times

The simplest solution on taxes would be to modify the stage 3 tax cuts and give all taxpayers, regardless of income, a tax cut of $14 a fortnight (Stage 3 tax cuts will increase inflation, 30/11). Ill otherwise be receiving a tax cut of around $230 a fortnight, which I dont need.

And the $14 a fortnight would be very useful for most people in paying for non-discretionary expenses such as haircuts and dental fillings.

Wayne Robinson, Kingsley
A senior bureaucrat will temporarily fill a critical hole in WAs system for approving new projects for the states $246 billion a year resource sector.

Appeals Convenor Emma Gaunt, who heads up a small office that assesses feedback from the public before environment minister Reece Whitby makes the final call on multi-billion dollar projects, will leave next week after almost nine years in the post.

Woodsides plan to operate its North West Shelf gas plant near Karratha until 2070 is under consideration by the Appeals Convenor. Credit: Woodside

Ed Schuller, an executive director of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, will head the Office of the Appeals Convenor for six months.

The office is independent of DWER and the Environmental Protection Authority and considers appeals against the decisions of both bodies.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reviewed in a meeting with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Dubai on Thursday cooperation between Egypt and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in light of the program to fully implement Egypts economic reforms.

According to the Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, El-Sisi said he appreciated the fruitful partnership between both sides and emphasised the Egyptian government's commitment to maintaining it.

He also highlighted the program's benefits for the Egyptian economy and for attracting more foreign investments to Egypt.

For her part, Georgieva confirmed the IMFs interest in advancing its outstanding cooperation with Egypt and its support for Egypts economic reforms.

She also lauded the performance of the Egyptian economy and its resilience in the face of the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and the situation in Gaza.

Furthermore, Georgieva confirmed the IMFs commitment to maintaining cooperation with the government to achieve Egypts national goals, including enhancing the overall economic indicators, bolstering its competitiveness, fostering deeper private sector engagement, and completing the ongoing development efforts.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed climate change and climate finance, notably in developing countries. Moreover, they discussed the global economic situation and the ongoing efforts to reform and enhance the international financing system and multilateral financial institutions to address global challenges.

El-Sisi arrived Thursday in Dubai to participate in the presidential segment of the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), hosted by the UAE in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December.

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Singapore: The Malaysian government has been accused of caving into big tobacco and the vaping industry after joining New Zealand in unwinding plans to ban future generations from smoking.

Under a proposed tobacco control bill in the South-East Asian nation, people born on or after January 1, 2007 would have been prohibited from buying and consuming cigarettes and other products including vapes.

There are about 5 million smokers, most of them men, in Malaysia. Credit: Wolter Peeters

It was put to parliament last year as the government of then New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern passed pioneering legislation outlawing the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 2009.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has since outlined his desire to push through similar reform in the UK.
Austin: Texas Attorney-General Ken Paxton has accused Pfizer of misrepresenting the effectiveness of the companys COVID-19 vaccine in a lawsuit filed in state court.

The pharmaceutical giant used misleading statistics to promote its vaccine and sought to intimidate and silence those who questioned the products efficacy, the lawsuit, filed on Thursday Austin-time, alleges.

Paxton is seeking more than $US10 million ($15 million) in civil fines and a court order barring Pfizer from speaking publicly about the efficacy of its vaccine.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Credit: AP

We are pursuing justice for the people of Texas, many of whom were coerced by tyrannical vaccine mandates to take a defective product sold by lies, Paxton said in a statement.
Egypts Ministry of Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs launched an operation room to monitor the voting of Egyptians abroad in the 2024 Presidential elections.

The Minister of Emigration, Soha Gendi, announced that the operation room will respond to all inquiries and questions from Egyptians abroad around the clock in coordination with the National Elections Authority (NEA).

Gendi added that Egyptians abroad will be able to cast their ballots from 1-3 December from 9 am to 9 pm according to the local time of each country, noting that polling stations have been set up at the headquarters of Egyptian embassies and consulates worldwide.

Furthermore, the Emigration Minister stated that two contact numbers, 0220543411 and 0220543415, have been designated for communication with the Ministry of Emigration's Operation Room.

Gendi pointed out that according to the National Elections Authority regulations for Egyptians abroad, voters need a valid Egyptian passport or a valid/expired national ID card and be registered in the voter database.

Voters can check whether their names are in the voter database by entering their national ID number through the National Elections Authority's website via the link: https://www.elections.eg/inquiry

The authority noted in a statement on Thursday that ambassadors and consuls will oversee the voting process within the subcommittees.

The candidates running for the presidency include incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who is running for a third term in office and whose electoral symbol is a star; Farid Zahran, the leftist opposition Social Democratic Party candidate with the sun as his electoral symbol; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, candidate of the Wafd party who has chosen the palm tree as his electoral symbol; and Hazem Omar, the Republican Peoples Party candidate, with the ladder as his electoral symbol.

The final result will be announced on 18 December if no run-off is required.

Voting at home will take place from 10 -12 December.

According to media reports, the number of eligible voters inside and outside the country may surpass 65 million.

The Ministry of Emigration estimated the number of Egyptians abroad at around 14 million citizens.

Saudi Arabia has the largest Egyptian population abroad, estimated at 3 million, for whom two polling stations have been prepared at the Egyptian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah.

According to data documented by the "Dialogue Forum for Development and Human Rights," the number of voters abroad in the 2012 presidential elections was around 314,000.

The number of those voting abroad increased slightly in 2014 to over 318,000 before it declined in the 2018 elections to just over 157,000 votes.

Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait recorded the highest voting rates, followed by Egyptians in the UAE and Qatar.

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In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram, the Egyptian Ambassador to the US, Motaz Zahran, and members of the embassy said that since the Egyptian National Elections Authority (NEA) announced the timetable for the presidential elections, they have been working on the necessary preparations to receive voters at the embassy.



Egyptians abroad will cast their ballots from 1 to 3 December 2023.

To accommodate the voters, Egyptian embassies and consulates are preparing for this electoral event.

Zahran said the embassy, through its website and its official pages on social media, announced the dates of the voting process to the Egyptian community in the US.

The voting, he said, starts daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, adding that an electoral sub-committee has also been formed to organize the voting process at the embassy headquarters.

Furthermore, Zahran stated to Al-Ahram that the embassy received from 25th September to 13th October citizens wishing to issue endorsements for the presidential candidates as per the rules and regulations set by the NEA.

He noted that the embassy addressed the US authorities to provide local police personnel to secure the voting process and the embassy, adding that the American side responded promptly owing to the distinct relations between the two countries.

Moreover, the members of the Egyptian diplomatic mission told Al-Ahram that the embassy has been indefatigable about encouraging the Egyptian community in the US to participate actively in the voting process.

The embassy, they said, even arranged a virtual meeting for a group of the community in the US with Egypt's Minister of State for Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs.

Meanwhile, members of the Egyptian community in New York and New Jersey held an awareness meeting on Thursday to explain the importance of active participation ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.

During the meeting, many Egyptians in the US expressed enthusiasm and determination to perform their role in this democratic process.

They were joined by members of the Egyptian Consulate in New York, who guided voters on the procedures and the requirements of the voting process.

In return, the members of the Egyptian community said they were pleased with the consulates effective interaction and valuable guidance, stressing that they were ready to repeat such initiatives to encourage more people to participate in this democratic process.

According to the NEA, 137 embassies and consulates across 121 countries will receive registered voters starting Friday.

The candidates running for the presidency include incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who is running for a third term in office and whose electoral symbol is a star; Farid Zahran, the leftist opposition Social Democratic Party candidate with the sun as his electoral symbol; Abdel-Sanad Yamama, candidate of the Wafd party who has chosen the palm tree as his electoral symbol; and Hazem Omar, the Republican Peoples Party candidate, with the ladder as his electoral symbol.

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Ahram Canadian University (ACU) signed an agreement with Sheridan University, in the presence of the Ambassador of Canada to Egypt Louis Dumas, to grant a double bachelor's degree to the students of the Faculty of Business Administration.

The agreement was signed by Professor Seddik Abdel-Salam, the ACU president, and the Canadian side represented by Professor Muthana Zouri, dean of the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College, Professor Nagy Salib, the manager of International Business Development and Partnership, and Professor Philip Hayes, the associate registrar of domestic and international students recruitment at Sheridan.

The signing ceremony was attended by a delegation from the Canadian embassy in Cairo, including Dr. Mark Scullion, a senior trade commissioner, and Dr. Joseph Tadros, a senior trade officer, and from the Egyptian side, including Professor Ayman Nour El-Din, ACU vice president, Professor Ali El-Gohary, dean of Business Administration Department, and Dr. Wegdan Lotfi, director of the International Relations Office at ACU.

Ambassador Dumas praised the agreement signed between the ACU and Sheridan for exchanging educational experiences between Egypt and Canada, culminating almost 70 years of strong diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries, dating back to the fifties.

He also hailed the positive Canadian contributions to Egypts education system, trade relations, and broader development efforts.

Professor Abdel-Salam announced the establishment of a regional office for Sheridan College at the ACUs headquarters to oversee the implementation of the agreement and other educational cooperation activities with other Egyptian institutions.

Abdel-Salam stressed that this agreement writes a new history for the ACU, as it is the first dual degree awarded by the university since its establishment, describing it as the cornerstone for further cooperation with Canadian educational institutions to provide the community with international graduates capable of joining Western and regional markets.

Professor Zouri revealed Sheridans willingness to extend the collaboration to other faculties such as Design and Creative Arts, Computer Sciences and Information Technology, and Mass Communication,

He also noted that the agreement reshapes business education for Egyptian students and supports both the Egyptian and Canadian communities.

Professor Salib stressed that the level of cooperation shown by Professor Abdel-Salam, since his visit to Sheridan Campus in Canada, reflects ACUs determination to strengthen its Canadian identity, rendering the dual degree granted by both sides not merely a certificate, but a whole future.

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The decision Sunday by nations around the world to establish a fund to help poor countries hit hard by a warming planet was one of the most significant since U.N. climate talks began 30 years ago.

It was an unequivocal confirmation that poor countries, with limited resources, are being most impacted by extreme weather events like floods, heat waves and storms and, at least at some level, industrialized nations that have done the most to contribute to climate change have a responsibility to help.

While government leaders, environmentalists and activists celebrated plans for such a fund, there are many outstanding questions, ranging from how it will work to long-term repercussions. Here is a look at the development of the idea of "loss and damage,'' the term it's given in climate negotiations, and what we know about the fund.

HISTORY

In the early 1990s, the Alliance of Small Island States, a group of low-lying coastal and small island countries, began calling for the establishment of a loss and damage fund as the United Nations was creating a framework to deal with climate change on an international level.

Since then, the idea has always been a part of annual U.N. climate summits. However, it was often talked about on the margins of negotiations, something developing nations and activists would push for while many rich nations used their weight to squash the idea. For the first time, at this year's COP27 it was included in the agenda and became the centerpiece of discussions.

WHO WILL FUND IT?

The fund will initially draw on contributions from developed countries and other private and public sources, such as international financial institutions, with an option for other major economies to join down the line.

The final text points to "identifying and expanding sources of funding,'' something the EU, the U.S. and others had pushed for during negotiations, suggesting that nations that are both high-polluting and considered developing under the criteria, should also pay into the fund.

During the talks, China said money for the new fund should come from developed countries, not them. But there's precedence for China to voluntarily pay into climate funds, if the U.S. does too.

When the Obama administration pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund in 2014, China also paid $3.1 billion for the fund.

More details of who pays will be decided by a committee that plans to get the fund going within a year.

WHO WILL GET MONEY?

The deal says the fund will assist "developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change," though there will be room for middle-income countries that are severely affected by climate disasters to also get paid.

Pakistan, which was devastated by flooding that put a third of the country underwater, or Cuba, recently battered by Hurricane Ian, could be eligible.

How the loss and damage fund will fit in with "other institutions, agencies that are out there doing humanitarian work, helping people rebuild, dealing with migration and refugee crises, dealing with food security, water security'' will need to be worked out, said David Waskow, the World Resources Institute international climate director.

Those details will also be hammered out by the committee in the coming year.

REBUILDING TRUST

Beyond just financial help, setting up the fund is seen as a huge step forward, but how it's ultimately viewed will depend in part on how fast it can be set up.

In the closing session Sunday, Antigua's Lia Nicholson said the transitional committee should be set up immediately and given clear mandates.

"This loss and damage fund must become the lifeboat that we need it to be,'' she said.

There is a credibility gap because of past broken promises.

In 2009, rich nations agreed to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries transition to green energy systems and adapt to climate change. However, to date, that initiative has never been fully funded.

REPERCUSSIONS

One of the main reasons that rich nations long opposed such a loss and damage fund was the fear that it would open then up to long-term liability. Despite passage, that concern is very much still at play, as evidence by how negotiators made sure the language of the fund didn't say "liability'' and that contributions were voluntary.

Despite those caveats, the establishment of such a fund could have repercussions, both legal and symbolic, in climate circles and beyond. For example, several Pacific Island nations have been pushing for the International Court of Justice to consider climate change. They argue that international laws must be strengthened to protect their rights in the case that their lands are engulfed by rising seas. The establishment of a loss and damage fund could bolster those arguments.

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With over 200,000 people reportedly waiting in line to get tickets, we're counting our lucky sky full of stars that we'll be able to snag a ticket to this one!
Changing the outro lyrics of the track Hayley sings: Somebody is getting fired / Beyonce did it so we can too / and I cant wait to speak with you / its the third time this has happened to us."
2 THEFTS in 3 DAYS at Jain temples





Staff Reporter :

Thieves target Jain temple at Sukhi Sewania and flee with idols, ornaments worth over Rs 15 lakh

THIEVES targeted the Digambar Jain temple of Sukhi Sevania and made off with idols and other costly ornaments on intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. The accused had shattered all the five locks of the temple to enter the premises. The accused, however, have been caught in CCTV footage and police are searching them. Amitabh Maniya Jain, who is a complainant, said that the accused struck the temple late night around 2:28 am and made off with valuables which are estimated to be over Rs 15 lakh.

They have stolen a safe which had an idol and ornaments attached to it, he said. The Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Adinath was also stolen. The total value of the stolen goods is around Rs 15 lakh, said Jain. Digambar Jain Temple is in Ahimsa Sthali Colony of Sukhi Sewania. This colony is close to the railway station. On Wednesday morning, police and FSL team went to the temple for investigation. The thieves are visible in the CCTV footage. Police have registered an FIR on the complaint of temple committee. This is the second incident of theft in Digambar Jain temple in Bhopal in a span of three days. Earlier on Sunday night, miscreants had stolen the idol of Lord Parshvanath by breaking the lock of the sanctum sanctorum of Digambar Jain temple in Neelbad area at Ratibad.

Jain told that the campus of Ahimsa Sthali Colony is completely covered. The thieves cut the grill on the boundary wall at the rear side of the temple and later they broke the five locks on the main gate of the temple. They also took a locker where silver idol and ornaments were kept, said Jain. The thieves also tried to break away the safe full of cash. After failing, they came out of the temple and ran away. Three thieves had entered the temple while two of their accomplices are believed to be standing outside to keep watch. Police also suspect that an outside gang may be involved in the incident. Besides, the police have yet to arrest the accused who were involved in the theft at Jain Temple in Mahavir Vihar Colony of Ratibad.
India forms probe panel Allegations of plot to kill Sikh extremist on American soil





NEW DELHI :

INDIA has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to probe allegations relating to a conspiracy to kill a Sikh extremist on American soil. The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian Government over concerns it was involved in the plot. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Wednesday that India constituted a high-level inquiry committee on November 18 to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. Pannun, a Sikh extremist and known to be an American and Canadian citizen, is wanted by Indian probe agencies on various terror charges.

We have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others, Bagchi said. We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue, he said.

In this context, it is informed that on November 18, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, he added. Bagchi said India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the committee. The FT report came weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of a potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb in June. Following the report, Bagchi on November 22 said the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others. He said the inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow up action.
Balaghat Ballot ControversyCongress moves ECI,SDM suspended





By Bhavana Aparajita :

Shukla CONGRESS has launched a multi-prong attack on Government and the State Election Commission over the Balaghat ballot matter. Postal ballot tampering issue has reached Delhi and a SDM has been suspended in this regard. A delegation led by State Congress leaders and central leaders, including Manu Abhishek Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and Gurdeep Singh and others, submitted a memorandum to the Central Election Commissioner on Wednesday seeking action against guilty officers.

Talking to The Hitavada, senior Congress leader and former minister, Sajjan Singh Verma said that delegation led by Manu Abhishek Singhvi has submitted a video clip displaying postal ballots being opened before counting in a strong room in the Balaghat district. Singhvi has called it a very serious and dangerous matter. After Congress complaint, SDM Gopal Soni has been suspended and Deputy Collector Rahul Nayak has been given the charge. The Congress on Monday submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Electoral Officer seeking action against the Balaghat Collector for allegedly taking postal ballots out of the strong room and indulging in malpractice. Later, the Divisional Commissioner suspended Himmat Singh, the nodal officer of postal ballots.

Dr Girish Mishra, Collector of Balaghat, on Monday, got the strong room opened and opened the boxes of postal ballots without informing the candidates. Counting the last breaths the Shivraj government and the collectors engrossed in blind devotion of the government are a big threat to democracy, the MP Congress handle had posted on X. Assembly polls were held on November 17, while votes will be counted on December 3. Congress alleged postal ballots were taken out from the treasury room and handed over to staffers who were handling it in the way they wished. Pradesh Congress chief, Kamal Nath said This is a very serious matter. Immediate action should be taken against the culprits. I appeal to the Congress workers to remain vigilant and not allow any disturbance to happen.Congress accused the administration officials in Balaghat of opening postal ballots ahead of counting, due on December 3. Congress delegation led by party election incharge JP Dhanopia on Monday lodged a complaint to the state Election Commission accusing the Balaghat district Election officer of opening postal ballot votes before the counting day. Replying to a query related to Congress complaint, State Election Commission chief Anupam Rajan said that No postal ballot votes were counted in Balaghat.

The postal ballot votes were sorted according to the assembly constituencies and it was done in the presence of representatives of all political parties. Though a procedural error occurred there about opening the ballot box before time. It was opened before the due date. In view of which, a postal nodal officer and Tehsildar has been suspended. But Congressmen were not satisfied with the action , they were demanding investigation and seeking appropriate action.
Chinook airlifts rescued workers to AIIMS-Rishikesh





UTTARKASHI,

WORKERS rescued from the Silkyara tunnel were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh for a health check-up on Wednesday, officials said. Forty-one workers were rescued from the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi after a gruelling 17-day operation that culminated on Tuesday evening. The workers were kept under medical observation at a hospital in Chinyalisaur after their evacuation. They were brought to AIIMS-Rishikesh in a Chinook helicopter in the afternoon.

An official at AIIMS-Rishikesh said the workers will first be taken to the trauma ward of the hospital from where they will be shifted to the disaster ward for a detailed examination of their health parameters. Their mental health will also be checked, he said adding they will be kept under observation. They have undergone radiology and cardiology tests and the reports are awaited, Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Rishikesh R B Kalia said. The medical team that examined them will give its opinion on Thursday on the basis of these reports.
The UN climate conference opened Thursday with nations urged to make faster cuts to planet-warming emissions and phase out fossil fuels.

The two-week-long negotiations in a vast exhibition venue in Dubai come at a pivotal moment, with emissions still climbing and the UN saying this year is likely to be the hottest in human history.

World leaders, Britain's King Charles III and activists and lobbyists are among more than 97,000 people jetting into the flashy Gulf city, which boasts the world's tallest skyscraper, one of its busiest airports, and an indoor ski slope.

Double the size of last year's conference, COP28 is billed as the largest-ever climate gathering and the UN and hosts the UAE say they will be the most important since Paris 2015.

There, nations agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial era, and preferably to a safer limit of 1.5C.

But scientists say the world is off-track, and the nearly 200 nations gathering for COP28 must commit to accelerating climate action or risk the worst impacts of a warming planet.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said leaders should aim for a complete "phaseout" of fossil fuels, a proposal opposed by some powerful nations that has dogged past negotiations.

"Obviously, I am strongly in favour of language that includes (a) phaseout, even with a reasonable time framework," Guterres told AFP before flying to Dubai.

A central focus will be a stocktake of the world's limited progress on curbing global warming, which requires an official response at these talks.

Hosts under fire



On Thursday, nations are expected to formally approve the launch of a "loss and damage" fund to compensate climate-vulnerable countries after a year of hard-fought negotiations over how it would work.

But it remains to be filled, with rich nations urged to make contributions so the money can start flowing.

The UAE sees itself as a bridge between the rich developed nations most responsible for historic emissions and the rest of the world, which has contributed less to global warming but suffers its worst consequences.

But the decision for it to host has attracted a firestorm of criticism, particularly as the man appointed to steer the talks, Sultan Al Jaber, is also head of UAE state oil giant ADNOC.

Jaber, who also chairs a clean energy company, has defended his record, and strenuously denied this week that he used the COP presidency to pursue new fossil fuel deals, allegations first reported by the BBC.

Christiana Figueres, who was UN climate chief when the Paris deal was reached, questioned the role of fossil fuel companies at COP and said she was "giving up hope" they could be part of the solution to warming.

Guterres said Jaber was in a better position to tell the oil industry that a fossil fuel phaseout was necessary than "if he was the member of an NGO with a very solid pro-climate record."

"A very clear signal that the era of fossil fuels needs to end very rapidly is our litmus test for COP28," said Romain Ioualalen, global policy campaign manager at Oil Change International.

Rule by consensus



Rallying a common position on the matter will be difficult at COP where all nations -- whether dependent on oil, sinking beneath rising seas or locked in geopolitical rivalry -- must take decisions unanimously.

The UAE hopes to marshal an agreement on the tripling of renewable energy and doubling the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.

Nations will navigate a range of thorny issues between November 30 and December 12, and experts say geopolitical tensions and building trust could be a huge challenge.

At the opening of the conference, delegates were asked to pause for a minute's silence for civilians killed in Israel's war on Gaza.

On the sidelines of COP, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold talks with diplomats on the release of Hamas-held captives, his office said. He is also scheduled to speak on Friday within minutes of Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority.

Neither US President Joe Biden nor Chinese President Xi Jinping are attending, though Washington is sending Vice President Kamala Harris.

But the US and China, the world's two biggest polluters, did make a rare joint announcement on the climate this month that spurred optimism going into COP.

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HC no to cancel arrest warrant Summons Edn Secy on December 14





Staff Reporter

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has upheld the arrest warrant against the State Education Secretary, Ranjit Singh Deol and Deputy Director of Education (Primary), Santosh Gaikwad. The warrant was issued by the court on November 1 in response to the Departments non-compliance with the court order regarding the payment of salaries to special teachers. Following the order, the Government machinery from Mumbai to Nagpur had acted quickly and deposited Rs 5.25 lakh each within 24 hours in the bank accounts of over 100 petitioners, who are fighting for their wages due for last about 9 years, On Wednesday, the division bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudesai and Justice Vrushali Joshi expressed dissatisfaction over the Government officials for handling of the matter and rejected their plea to quash the arrest warrant. Both officials have been directed to appear before the High Court on December 14.

The High Court mandated the disbursement of a salary of Rs 75,000 to the teachers within a week. Additionally, the dismissal of 30 teachers was suspended by the court and ordered release of their salaries. Earlier, the High Court had directed Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar to present Dewal and Gaikwad before the court. The teachers were appointed on a regular pay scale by the State Government to teach physically handicapped children. Over time, the teachers were not remunerated according to the Governments pay scale norms.

The teachers approached the Aurangabad High Court after their termination in 2012. Subsequently, they were reinstated, but their salaries were withheld by the Government. Even after the High Court order in 2022, the Education Department failed to comply with the courts mandate to release the teachers salaries. Adv Anand Parchure, Adv Mohammad Atiq, Adv S S Kaji represented the petitioners while Adv Kalyani Deshpande appeared for the State.
Manipurs oldest rebel group signs peace pact with Govt





NEW DELHI,

THE Government on Wednesday signed a peace agreement with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Manipurs oldest militant organisation dominated by the majority Meitei community, under which the rebel group has agreed to renounce violence. The development comes days after the ban on the group under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was extended for five years earlier this month. Representatives of the UNLF signed the agreement here with senior officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Manipur Government, an official spokesperson said.

While political settlements have been finalised with several ethnic armed groups of the Northeast as part of conflict resolution initiatives of the Centre, it is for the first time a valley-based Manipuri armed group has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence and agreeing to honour the Constitution of India and laws of the land. A historic milestone achieved!!! (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi Govts relentless efforts to establish permanent peace in the Northeast have added a new chapter of fulfilment as the United National Liberation Front signed a peace agreement today in New Delhi. UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur, has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. I welcome them to the democratic processes and wish them all the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X.

The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community, the spokesperson said. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities since May resulting in the death of over 180 people. A peace monitoring committee will be constituted to oversee enforcement of the agreed ground rules. The development is likely to be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy in the state.

It is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course. Hoping that the development will give a fillip to usher in a new era of peace in the Northeast in general and Manipur in particular, Shah said It is a landmark achievement in realising PM @narendramodi Jis vision of all-inclusive development and providing a better future to the youths in Northeast India.
Police constable slits throat of staff nurse, hangs self in her house





Our Correspondent

NARSINGHPUR,

In a shocking incident, a police constable slit the throat of a staff nurse with a knife and then he hanged himself in the nurses house in Narsinghpur. Condition of the nurse is reported to be critical. She has been admitted to the district hospital. Constable Anil Belvanshi (33) reached the house of a 30-year-old staff nurse of the district hospital who stays at Sahu Ka Bagicha, at around 8:30 pm on Tuesday night. There was a dispute between the two here. After an altercation, constable Anil attacked the nurse with a knife on her stomach and neck. The nurse was seriously injured in the fatal attack. After this, the constable hanged himself in the nurses house.

At night itself, other nurses living in the area informed the police about the dispute between the two. After this, police reached the spot at around 9:30 pm. Here the body of the constable was found hanging in the house. The nurse was found lying injured. Kotwali Police Station In-charge Gaurav Chate said that the nurse had filed a rape case against constable Anil in April this year. It is believed that Anil had come to talk to the nurse in this regard. Here both of them had a dispute. We are currently investigating the matter. The constable was a resident of Balaghat. Constable Anil Belvanshi was a resident of Balaghat district. The nurse is a resident of Junnardev in Chhindwara district. The constable was posted in Themi after rape allegations. The nurse is admitted in the district hospital. After postmortem of the constable, the body was sent to his home.
President Murmu to deliver RTMNUs 111th convocation address on Dec 2





Staff Reporter

President of India Droupadi Murmu will address the 111th convocation ceremony of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) on December 2, at 10 am. The ceremony will be held at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, Reshimbag. Ramesh Bais, Governor and Chancellor of universities in Maharashtra, will preside over the convocation ceremony. Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister; Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Transport and Highways; Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister; Chandrakant Patil, Higher and Technical Education Minister, will be the guests. Dr Subhash Choudhari, Vice-Chancellor of RTMNU will deliver the welcome speech. The university has completed 100 years of existence and this academic year is being celebrated as the centenary year. The work of imparting knowledge to the students is continuously going on through the affiliated colleges and post graduate education department of the university. The university is conducting a large number of examinations and everyones participation is important, said Dr Subhash Chaudhary while interacting with mediapersons on Wednesday at RTMNUs Jamnalal Bajaj Bhavan.

The students who passed the examination conducted in winter 2022 and summer 2023 will be awarded the degrees. Two students will receive their respective medals at the hands of President. They include Dr R H Tupkari will be confered with D.Sc from the Faculty of Science and Technology and Rajshree Ramteke will receive Dr T. V. Gedam Gold medal for fulfilling the criterion set by university to get Ph.D. 79,447 students will be awarded degrees in this convocation. Faculty-wise number of degrees to be confered upon eligible students from affiliated Colleges include Faculty of Science and Technology - 29,641, Faculty of Commerce and Management - 19,843, Faculty of Humanities - 19,312, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies - 3,951, Autonomous Colleges - 6,400, Degree Certificate - 300 medals/ awards.

In this convocation ceremony, 129 researchers are being honored with the title of Acharya. Acharya degree holders include 60 in the Faculty of Science and Technology, 21 in the Faculty of Commerce and Management, 36 in the Faculty of Humanities, 13 in the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies etc. The 100th convocation will be telecast live on the university YouTube channel from 9 am till the end of the program. This will make the facility of watching the live convocation ceremony of the university available to all the students and parents all over the world.
Rescued workers interact with PM





NEW DELHI :

Yoga Kept our spirits up

PM becomes emotional as Cabinet discusses Tunnel rescue mission

THE 41 workers, who were rescued from Uttarakhands Silkyara tunnel in a multi-agency operation, kept their spirits up while trapped inside by taking morning walks and practising yoga, a rescued worker told Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The workers hailed Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and rescue teams for their efforts, with one of them saying they had nothing to worry as when the Government could saved Indians abroad, they were within the country. In his telephonic conversation with the rescued workers late on Tuesday night, Modi told them, I congratulate you on coming out safely after being in danger for so many days.

It is a matter of happiness for me and I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened, cant say how we would have taken that. It is Gods grace that all of you are safe.  Seventeen days is not a short time. You all showed a lot of courage and encouraged each other, Modi told the workers, according to a video of the conversation released by the Prime Ministers Office. Modi said, he used to keep tabs about the operation and was in constant touch with the Chief Minister. My PMO officials also were sitting there. But worry is not lessened by just getting information, the PM said. A worker from Bihar, Saba Ahmed told the Prime Minister that though they were stuck in the tunnel for days, they did not feel any fear or nervousness. We were like brothers, we were together. We used to take a stroll in the tunnel after dinner. I used to tell them to do morning walks and yoga. We would like to thank the Uttarakhand Government, especially the CM, VK (Singh) sahib, Ahmed said. Modi also lauded Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways of India General (retd) V K Singh, saying he showed his training of a soldier.

The workers used to take morning walks in an over 2 km stretch of the tunnel they were trapped in and also practised yoga, Ahmed told the PM. Another worker Gabbar Singh Negi from Uttarakhand thanked the PM and CM Dhami, the company he works for, the Central Government and rescue teams that worked day and night on the rescue operation. When we have you as the PM and people were saved from other countries, we were in our country and therefore we had nothing to worry about, Negi told PM Modi. Modi said he wanted their medical check-up to be done first before speaking with them and the doctors had told him that all the workers were in good health and fit. He also told them that the Chief Minister will make all arrangements for them.
Shah dares Mamata No one can stop Centre fromCAA implementation





KOLKATA :

HOME Minister Amit Shah asserted on Wednesday that the Central Government will implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and no one can stop it. The Union Minister was addressing the rally at the historic Esplanade, with an eye on setting the tone for the partys Lok Sabha campaign in the State. Shah launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the issues of appeasement, infiltration, corruption and political violence, alleging she has destroyed the State. Banerjee has been opposing the CAA due to her support to infiltration, he asserted, adding that a State with so much infiltration cannot develop. He urged people to throw out her Government by electing the BJP in the next assembly polls in 2026 and asked them to lay its foundation by supporting the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He said, Give so many seats to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls that Modi ji says I have become PM due to Bengal. The Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won the last Assembly polls by rigging but the BJP jumped to 77 seats from zero, he said, calling upon people to end the TMCs alleged misrule of corruption, infiltration, and political violence by electing a Government conducive to Prime Minister Narendra Modis agenda of development. Lauding the turnout at the rally, he said this indicates the peoples mood and claimed that the BJP will come to power with two-third majority in the state in 2026. The BJPs performance in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will create the foundation of its win in the assembly polls, he said. Turning to the contentious CAA issue, he said Banerjee has been opposing it but it is a law of the country and no one can stop its implementation, which has been in a limbo as the central Government is yet to frame its rules amid the oppositions strong stand against the law.

Parliament had passed the law in 2019. They, Shah said in a reference to the intended beneficiaries of the law, have as much a right to citizenship as anyone else. Banerjee has once stalled Parliament over the issue of infiltration but she is now keeping mum, he said, claiming that no one can infiltrate into Assam after the BJP was voted to power in the state. Assam has done a commendable job in stopping infiltration. But in West Bengal, infiltration persists due to the TMC Governments vote-bank politics. Mamata Banerjee is opposing CAA, but let me say it clearly that CAA will be implemented in the country. No one can stop the implementation of CAA, Shah declared.
SHOCKER MP RECORDS 14 POACHING CASES IN 11 MONTHS; 89 IN 5 YEARS!





By Ankita Garg :

Shockingly, highest 21 tigers were killed by poachers during COVID pandemic in year 2021

THOUGH Madhya Pradesh has highest population of stripped cats but at the same time, the State is also going through controversy of having higher rate of poaching cases. On an average, one of two tigers are being killed by poachers in a month. According to report of Madhya Pradesh Illegal Poaching Cases (D-1), 14 tigers have been poached in State from January to November (11 months) this year. Even in past five years, there are 89 such cases alone from Madhya Pradesh. The report revealed that poachers were active highly during year 2021 that was time of COVID pandemic. During pandemic, shockingly 21 tigers were poached. In order monitor the tigers mortality, the Forest Department prepares D-1 report that includes method used by poachers to kill the cat, reason of mortality, details of accused after arresting in poaching cases, etc.

The D-1 report revealed that in past five years, 89 tigers died and out of this, 19 were electrocuted, two were shot dead and one was poisoned. If we check the record of year 2023 (January to November), out of 14 deaths, five were electrocuted and one was shot dead and reason for remaining eight deaths is still being investigated. The latest three cases of poaching in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, Seoni and Shahdol. On October 17, tiger poaching case was registered in Ratapani after report was received about killing of tigress, ten km away from the sanctuary. In this case, forest team could not recover the tigers remain even after one and half months. In Seoni, tiger carcass was found on January 11, 2023. The tiger was electrocuted and case was registered under forest act.

The third latest incident held in Shahdol where a tiger carcass was found on May 17-18 in Bedara beat of Vyohari. Postmortem report revealed that the tiger shot to dead. As per census 2022, there are 785 tigers in state with seven tiger reserves Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench, Panna, Sanjay Dubri and latest Veerangana Durgavati is recently set up. During year 2019 there were 20 tigers killed by poachers while in year 2020 there were 17 poaching, in year 2021 there were 21 poaching, in 2022 there were 17 poaching and in year 2023 (till November) there are 14 poaching cases. In year 2023, a tiger was killed in Panna Tiger Reserve (Kisangarh) on January 3, Seoni (Rukhar) January 11, Narmadapuram January 12, Vyohari (Shahdol) January 24, Panna (Manor) January 31, Umaria (Pali) February 4, Sidhi (Sanjay National Park) March 12, , Umaria- BTR April 18, Shahdol-Vyohari May 17, Jabalpur June 2, Balaghat June 4, Raisen (Obedullaganj) June 22, Seoni September 27 and in Raisen, tiger was killed on October 16.
SILKYARA SAGA





AS THE trapped workers emerged with relief-triggered smile on their faces, from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the entire nation smiled with them. The 17-day roller-coaster ride of hope and despair came to an end on November 28. And, what a ride it has been, not only for the trapped workers waiting to be pulled out but also for the Indians alert to even the smallest update in this regard. The fact that all 41 trapped workers were evacuated unscathed, speaks of the grit of Indian nation and willingness of all the agencies involved to leave no stone unturned. Right from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to the other Central and State agencies, locals, and those associated with the tunnel project, family members of the trapped workers, everyone worked in sync with each other. Their one spiritual and emotional whole formed the core of the efforts on the ground. The family members of the workers exhibited firm faith in the men and machinery at work, the men were sure of their capability, and the workers stayed positive about their rescue. All these worked wonders and were rightfully acknowledged by the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, and others. The Governments did not leave any stone unturned in making efforts to save the lives of the trapped workers.

They tried with equipment available within the country, brought in experts and equipment from elsewhere, tried all possible options of drilling and reaching out to the trapped workers, made arrangements for food, water, medicines for the trapped workers, established communication with them, kept their morale high. Bringing in the rat-hole miners when other options got stuck, did the job finally. Rat-hole mining is still outlawed in the country since the National Green Tribunal order of 2014. Still, when they were roped in, the rat-hole miners did a splendid job and saved lives. Their feat of digging last 12 metres stretch in 24 hours did the magic. This makes the case for regulating such techniques and making their good use when time comes, instead of imposing bans. For common people, trapped workers and their family members, the rat-hole miners are the saviours and not outlaws. This calls for exercise of rationality as far as imposing ban on practices that could have potential good use is concerned. Despite all these, sadly, some political leaders facing identity crisis resorted to cheap gimmickry.

They abused the entire Silkyara tunnel episode to target Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, the ruling dispensation at the Centre and in Uttarakhand. The ecosystem nurtured by them, instead of rejoicing and feeling proud that all the trapped workers were rescued alive, began attempts to find out something negative, and started deliberating on what went wrong. This exposed their mindset of finding opportunity in even disasters to play devious political games. This denigrated their position in the public eye, much to their own peril. When the entire nation stood as one and prayed for safe rescue of the trapped workers, these people isolated themselves from the public mood. It is this isolation and failure to gauge the public sentiment of the nation that has damaged their prospects in the past few years. Their failure has done more damage to them than the success of others. Of course, keeping aside the political rubble, what needs to be celebrated is the collective success in the rescue, and the patience and persistence. For, the larger Silkyara saga is to be remembered and petty politics is to be forgotten in the annals of country.
We fulfilled our commitment: Specialist Rat Miner team





UTTARKASHI,

WHEN heavy machinery broke down in an effort to drill through the debris that had trapped 41 workers in the Silkyara tunnel, the rescuers resorted to rat-hole mining, a banned practice in the country. Rat hole mining involves digging of very small tunnels, through which skilled workers enter and extract coal or debris. Rat mining rescue team leader Wakeel Hassan while recounting his memories of the moment when the team of the miners saw the workers, said that it was like offering water to the person who is about to die with thirst. It was a very emotional feeling when we saw them and they saw us. It was like a person getting some water on a deserted land. It was like everyone accomplished their purposes. We fulfilled the commitment that we made... All the workers came out of the tunnel without a scratch... Hassan said. The leader of the 12-member team from Rockwell Enterprises, Hassan, said he was approached for help by a company involved in the rescue operation four days ago. The work got delayed while removing the portion of the auger from the rubble.

We started at 3 pm on Monday and finished the work at 6 pm on Tuesday, Hassan said, adding, We had said the work would be finished in 24 to 36 hours and that is what we did. He also said they did not charge any money for taking part in the rescue operation. Rat-hole miners emerged as the heroes as they drilled with their hands to safely evacuate all workers on Tuesday. Speaking about the process and technique of going into tight spaces to reach the trapped workers on Tuesday, Hasan said that the miners had installed a pipe to 18 meters. We installed a pipe till 18 meters... Munna and I are partners, and the other 10 are workers... actually, we had to dig for 15 meters but when we couldnt reach the workers, we dug more three meters.... In the pipe, we started the chuha boring technique- this is the same way, a rat digs the soil. The way it pushes the soils behind it and then proceeds, this is the same technique, Hasan added. Munna, the partner of Vakeel Hasan said that the trapped workers were hugely relieved and showered them with love when they saw them for the first time.

When four of my workers went inside the tunnel where the workers were trapped, the labourers asked them to call me and when I reached there, they asked me what I wanted. As soon as they saw me, they showered all their love to me and asked whether I wanted their lives, money, or the position of God. I said that I only need your love, Munna said. This rat-mining method has faced severe criticism due to its hazardous working conditions and numerous accidents leading to injuries and fatalities. The National Green Tribunal banned the practice in 2014 and retained the ban in 2015. Feroze Qureshi and Monu Kumar, experts in the rat-hole mining technique, were the first to meet the 41 labourers rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand after they cleared the last bit of the rubble inside the structure. Qureshi from Delhi and Kumar from Uttar Pradesh were part of a 12-member team of rat-hole mining technique experts who were called on Sunday to do the drilling after an American auger machine came across hurdles while clearing the rubble.
WINTER SESSION Annual political bustle returns to Nagpur from December 7





Staff Reporter

Putting to rest all speculations, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has finalised the programme for Winter Session of State Legislature at Nagpur from December 7. It will conclude on December 20, officials said on Wednesday. The meeting of BAC was held in Mumbai and it was attended by Adv Rahul Narvekar, Speaker of State Assembly; Narhari Zirval, Deputy Speaker of State Assembly; Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister; Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister; Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister; Chandrakant Patil, Parliamentary Affairs Minister; Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition in State Assembly, and others. The session has been allocated a total of 14 days. But, the number of actual working days will be 10. The schedule of December 7 includes tabling of various ordinances, presentation of Supplementary Demands of 2023-24, condolence proposals. On December 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,18, 19 and 20 there will be Government business. December 11 and 12 are likely to have some interesting deliberations on Supplementary Demands.

On December 12, Reappropriation Bill will be presented in both the Houses. There will be no business on December 9 (Saturday), December 10 (Sunday), December 16 (Saturday) and December 17 (Sunday). There will be non-Government business (private bills, etc) on December 8 and 15. In the second week beginning on December 18 both Houses will have Government business, resolution of ruling party and last week resolution. As per the timetable the session will end on Wednesday December 20. Speculations were rife that the session would begin from December 11 but the announcement had confirmed the date to be December 7. The session usually begins on a Monday no business is conducted on the first day. This time it is starting on a Thursday.
Major producer Brazil will join OPEC+ from next year, the oil cartel announced on Thursday

Brazil is among the world's top 10 producers and has been the largest oil producer in Latin America since 2016.

Its crude production hit a record 3.7 million barrels per day in September, a nearly 17 percent increase from the same month last year and a 6.1 percent hike from August, according to pricing agency Argus Media.

Ministers of the 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) headed by Saudi Arabia and its 10 partners led by Russia were meeting to discuss further output cuts to boost prices.

"The meeting welcomed Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Minister of Mines and Energy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, which will join the OPEC+... starting January 2024," OPEC said in a press release.

OPEC+ was born in late 2016 when Russia and nine others joined forces with the Saudi-led OPEC to prop up falling prices.

"Considering that Brazil is a large oil producer and is driving oil production growth it is important to have them on board, but it seems that they are not cutting production like Mexico, so would conclude with: good for OPEC+, less relevant for oil market balances," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The 23-member OPEC+ is a motley crew of countries: Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter rivals, South Sudan and Libya have been wracked by civil wars and others such as Venezuela are mired in economic crises.

The cartel faced its biggest crisis in 2020 as countries locked down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sending oil demand plunging.

The group agreed in April 2020 to slash output by 9.7 million barrels per day to boost sagging prices.

It began to raise production again in 2021 as the market improved.

In the most recent meetings amid plunging prices, OPEC+ members have announced voluntary cuts to boost prices.

Since the end of 2022, the alliance has implemented supply cuts of about five million barrels per day (bpd) with Saudi Arabia taking the lead.

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Uncertainty hovered over what major oil-producing nations -- collectively known as OPEC+ -- will decide on output policy as they headed into virtual meetings Thursday in a bid to halt a continuous slump in prices.

Amid stuttering global economic growth, analysts expect OPEC+ -- the 13 OPEC members headed by Saudi Arabia and 10 partners led by Russia -- to extend or deepen production cuts into next year to prop up prices.

The OPEC states began today's first meeting via videoconference at 1000 GMT.

Their 10 partners are due to join at around 1400 GMT to decide on next year's OPEC+ policy, according to a source close to the organisation.

But heading into the meeting, disagreement over output quotas persisted among the OPEC+ group, which was forced to delay its key meeting by four days.

It remained unclear whether Saudi Arabia would succeed in convincing African producers to accept lower output targets to further buttress prices, as some members were pushing for higher production instead, sources told AFP.

In recent months, nine OPEC+ members including Riyadh, Moscow, Baghdad and Dubai have reduced their output.

Saudi Arabia has borne the brunt of the cuts by voluntarily slashing production by a further million barrels a day since July.

Elusive agreement



Intense negotiations have continued in recent days as Saudi Arabia sought to convince African countries to chip in by accepting lower production quotas.

"The dispute with the African members still persists," a source told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying that a decision on their quotas may need to be postponed until next year if no compromise is reached.

Angola and Nigeria are among those countries reluctant to sign up, seeking to step up production to secure foreign currency, according to sources.

A rollover of the last OPEC+ decisions, as well as deeper cuts by the alliance or Saudi Arabia alone were still on the table, the source added.

DNB analysts however said an agreement across OPEC+ to jointly curb production seems unlikely.

Supply cuts



Since the end of 2022, the alliance has implemented supply cuts of about five million barrels per day (bpd).

They initially slashed some two million barrels in their first in-person meeting after the Covid pandemic.

In May they implemented more cuts by nine members totalling 1.6 million bpd.

A month later, Riyadh announced it was to take a further one million barrels off the market, a decision extended month by month until the end of 2023 and followed to a lesser extent by Russia.

But investors have warned that cutting production might not be enough to prevent prices from plummeting.

Oil prices are far from the near-$140 a barrel peak reached after the Russia-Ukraine war.

But they remain above the average of the last five years, currently hovering at around $80 per barrel after nearly striking $100 in September.

Concerns among producers persist about demand falling owing to slowing economies, particularly China's -- the world's biggest importer of crude.

On the supply side, "US and Brazilian crude production rose to record highs, while OPEC+ members exempted from cuts -- Libya, Venezuela and Iran -- have been able to increase their production as well", said Giovanni Staunovo of UBS.

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There is a perspective that considers it premature to discuss in detail the future of Gaza now, as the war continues.

Despite humanitarian ceasefires, there is an Israeli determination to return to fighting, making it challenging to predict the future outcome and consequences of the war.

Here, I present another perspective based on the idea that many countries and global think tanks have started proposing visions and scenarios for Gaza's future. Some leaders of these countries have discussed these proposals with Arab officials.

This development requires us to understand and engage with external ideas, asserting our own standards that may align or differ, primarily reflecting our national interests.

Given the current reality, our national interests, and the ideas presented, the following criteria can be proposed for dealing with Gaza's future.

First, the return of Israeli occupation to Gaza cannot be accepted, even for a short or transitional period. The idea of Israeli reoccupation is gaining strength within the extreme Israeli right, with some advocating for the return of settlements in Gaza.

There are indications of Israel's desire to continue occupying Gaza for some time after the fighting stops, possibly by destroying almost the entire northern part of Gaza and displacing its residents southward to reduce resistance in the future.

Israel's stance on not allowing the return of residents during the humanitarian ceasefire and warning them not to return, claiming it remains a war zone, supports this idea. Israel's plan to destroy infrastructure in the north implies that even if the fighting stops, residents cannot return to areas where homes and services have been destroyed.

It is likely that Israel will use its occupation of Gaza as a bargaining chip, whether to release more hostages, especially military ones, or to ensure Hamas will not participate in any future arrangements for managing Gaza.

Despite these Israeli plans, it is crucial, as an Egyptian standard, to reject Israel's return to occupying Gaza or reducing its area by creating Israeli security zones within and along its borders, necessitating Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza.

Second, any ideas concerning Gaza's future must include an end to the Israeli blockade, reopening the airport and seaport, contributing to the return of normal life for Gaza residents, and stimulating the economic wheel.

Third, ideas related to internationalizing Gaza must be approached cautiously. There may be an opportunity to go to the Security Council and issue a resolution on the Palestinian issue as a whole, not just Gaza, recognizing a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state solution and on the borders prior to 5 June 1967.

However, caution is required regarding some ideas circulating in Western capitals, resorting to international decisions concerning the future administration of Gaza, and determining governance arrangements.

Previous experiences in the Arab world illustrate the failure of such international intervention in determining governance arrangements and appointing international envoys who complicated problems more than solving them. Amending these international decisions now requires an agreement that no longer exists, leading these experiences into a perpetual dilemma, serving the interests of external parties without solving the problem.

Fourth, when thinking about security arrangements for the sector, it is conceivable to consider the presence of international peacekeeping forces, whether United Nations forces (so-called blue zones on the borders, as in the case of Lebanon) or multinational forces. However, accepting such international forces and maintaining Israel's role in Gaza's security remains challenging.

It is also important to be cautious about some countries seeking to establish areas of influence within Gaza by declaring their willingness to participate in multinational forces or ensuring arrangements for managing the sector, affecting Egyptian national security considerations.

Fifth, any arrangements related to Gaza's future are destined to fail if not linked to governance arrangements in the West Bank and are not part of a comprehensive vision for solving the Palestinian issue, based on establishing a disarmed Palestinian state. Therefore, ideas related to Gaza must be connected to a vision for a comprehensive settlement, not only for the Palestinian issue but also for the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the importance of reconnecting the two issues.

A comprehensive settlement and the establishment of a Palestinian state are not impossible. Many ideas have been proposed, including President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's suggestion of a demilitarized Palestinian state with international security arrangements. Other creative ideas relate to the issue of Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, and more. The international community should not only talk about establishing a Palestinian state but also create a serious path and roadmap to achieve it.

*The writer is a professor of political science at Cairo University.

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Prof. Wande Abimbola is a man of many parts.

He was born into the family of a famous Babalawo. He was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has travelled far and wide and his network of friends is awesome.

Despite all his exposures, the 88-year old Babalawo has retired to Oyo town in South West, Nigeria. He lives in the house his father built 102 years ago.

HIS CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE

I was born in the premises where I live now. My fathers apartment is in the front and I was born in one of the houses in the premises on December 24, 1932.

But I did not know the exact date of my birth for many years.

When I was at Baptist Boys High School, now Olivet High School, Oyo, our class teacher one day asked for the date of birth of everyone in the class, so I had to travel seven miles to our village to ask my parents. They said they did not remember the date. They said that they could not recall the date because four other boys had been born before me and they did not survive beyond few months.

The Yoruba refer to them as Abiku; that is children who dont plan to stay long because they were probably on a visit.

I was seen as an Abiku too because they did not know if I would live. That was why they did not remember any detail pertaining to my date of birth.

Several decades later when I was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, I came home to see my mother, who died 11 years ago at the age of 107, and my elder sister, who is still alive.

My sister said I was born on a Saturday. She said that Saturday happened to be a Christmas Eve because on that day, some Christians in the next village were dancing.

I thought that could be a clue to my date of birth. When I got back to school, I asked the librarian to find a Saturday in the 1930s that fell on a Christmas Eve.

He said there was one in 1932 and another one in 1938. I knew it could not have been 1938 because I started school in 1945. I could not have gone to school at the age of six at the time. You had to be at least eight years old. I came to the conclusion that I was born on December 24, 1932.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND WORK

I was admitted to the University College, Ibadan, now University of Ibadan, in 1959. I was a state scholar.

At that time, the best students in each faculty enjoyed full scholarship. They would also pay stipend to your parents and three children. That was in the colonial times. I studied History.

One of my classmates was Prof Oloruntimeyin.

Before my final examinations, there was an advertisement for the employment of a junior research fellow in Yoruba Study at the university. Yoruba as a course was not available at the time. When Oloruntimeyin saw the advert, he advised me to go for it and I was selected.

One of the criteria for the appointment was a Masters degree certificate in either divinity, anthropology, English or literature. I was not qualified in any way.

A week before the interview, the director of the Institute of African Studies, the late Prof R.G Armstrong, dropped a note in my pigeon hole at Melamby Hall. He wanted to see me. When I got there, he said that he saw my application and asked why I applied when I did not even have a first degree.

After more than one hour of discussion, he was impressed with me and said he would short-list me. There were 11 people who had Masters degree that were invited. I was called in first.

When I discovered that the interviewers did not know anything about the subject, the session became a lecture and I lectured them. Four days later, I got a letter of appointment and a note for me to choose an accommodation among the houses available on the campus.

That was how I became a junior research fellow in Yoruba Studies even before I wrote my final first degree examination.

I occupied the position for more than two years. While doing it, I started wondering why there was no degree programme in Yoruba. There was a friend who had scholarship to study Linguistics in Birmingham.

We discussed the issue when he arrived back in Nigeria and we decided to start a degree programme in Yoruba. But before that, I had to travel to the US to do my Masters degree in Linguistics.

My plan was to return to Ibadan to start the Yoruba programme but on my return, I went to the University of Lagos. I met Dr Adeboye Babalola and another person there and we started a degree programme in Yoruba.

I later did my doctorate degree on Ifa.

There were just three of us that bagged the certificate in 1970 at UNILAG and it was the first time the school would offer doctorate degree. The three of us did different programmes.

YET TO KNOW HIS DATE OF BIRTH

On the date that the teacher asked for our birthday, he said it could be at the back of our parents Bible but my parents were not Christians.

I just told him that I was born on June 26, 1936 when I could not get the date. I used that date until after I became the Vice Chancellor at OAU.

HOWS PARENTS INFLUENCED HIS CHOICE OF RELIGION

The influence of my parents looms large in my life. I was born into a traditional family. My late father was the Asipade of Oyo land.

He was the leader of the Ogun community. He was a veteran of the First World War, fighting alongside the allied army that captured Cameroon from Germany.

My grandfather was also a soldier that fought in the Ijaye War of 1858 to 1862. He was the leader of the Alaafin of Oyo army. He fought alongside Basorun Ogunmola and Ibikunle, who was Ogunmolas superior.

My mother was a Sango worshipper and she taught me how to chant Ijala and Ogun songs.

She could render the chants of 15 Orisas (deities). In those days, people were educated in traditional matters through interaction with parents. My mother could remember details of what happened 90 years ago.

Before I went to school, my father enlisted me as an apprentice with the famous Oluwo of Akeetan called Fadairo. I studied Ifa there for eight years before I went to school.

HOW HE RELATED WITH PUPILS WHO WERE EITHER CHRISTIANS OR MUSLIMS

In the whole of Oyo town at the time, there were just five churches and the faithful were not fanatics. So we related well. The Muslims were even far lesser. Indigenous religion was widely practised.

The free primary education that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo started in the 1950s propagated foreign religion in Yoruba land.

Our minds were changed to look down on our own culture as evil and invalid. They called traditional worshippers candidates of hell. It was propaganda that killed our traditional religions.

They found a way to convert the children who also went back home to convince their parents. Some children told their parents that if they refused to convert to Christianity, they would not give them befitting burial when they died. So many parents converted to Christianity.

It is not a mistake for people to practise a way of life different from the one practised where they were born.

The problem comes when you reach a stage and throw away your original way of life. It is not a problem if someone travels to Mecca and returns with the Arab traditional cap.

The problem comes when he decides to burn his traditional clothes because they are no longer good for him. That means the man is insane. We have taken foreign religion to a level of insanity.

The decay we are seeing everywhere in Nigeria is the result of the large scale abandonment of the traditional way of our fathers and mothers. We have condemned our way of life and embraced foreign culture. You can be a Christian or Muslim and still see some values in the way of life of our forefathers.

Today, parents give their children Mary, Michael, Rasheed or Isiaka. Where are our own names? That kind of life is ruining our culture and our view of the universe in which we live. It leads to hopelessness.

WHAT AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION MEANS

Dont call it African traditional religion. It comes from Christian mindset. What that means is that it is not really a religion but tradition.

Why dont they say Christian or Islamic traditional religion? I call it indigenous African religion because every religion has its own tradition.

I taught at Boston University for seven years as a professor of divinity and at Harvard as a professor of literature. I taught in 10 American universities and I always tell people that that appellation is not right.

WHAT IS IFA?

Ifa is one of the orisa (divinity) of Yoruba people. It started in Ile-Ife since the beginning of Yoruba race. We know of Obatala, Ogun, Oya, Osun and so on. Ifa is one of them but it is different because it has more extensive literature than any other divinity. All the chants of Ogun can be rendered in two volumes; like the size of a Bible.

But that of Ifa is versed. There are 256 odus (books) of Ifa. Each odu contains 800 stories. The first book is Ejiogbe and it has 800 stories. In all, we have a total of 204,800 stories. That will fill the size of a large library.

There is no other literature in the world that has such volume. Ifa is the greatest heritage of Africa. It talks about everything. It is our own encyclopaedia which is held orally. It is a testimony to the fact that human brain can retain a lot of information without having to write anything. Unfortunately, a lot of it has been forgotten but a good deal of it is still alive.

I have written 10 volumes on Ifa alone and is being used around the world. Nigerians dont read books.

In schools, they just read handouts or a few texts given by the teachers. About 25 years ago, I noticed that some of my books were not available, so I re-edited some of them.

One of such books now sells for $1000 per copy in the US.

I gave some of my books to bookshops in Nigeria and encouraged them to sell on return basis. After a year, none of them reported the sale of the books. Some even lost the copies. Odusote Bookshop in Ibadan sold a few copies. In Nigeria, we would rather read newspapers.

ARE YOU A BABALAWO?

Of course I am. I studied Ifa as a youth in Oyo and studied more in Ile-Ife and other places. In 1971, I was initiated as a Babalawo.

Ten years later, all the Babalawos in West Africa converged on Ile-Ife to install me as their Awise Agbaye (their mouthpiece).

The job of a Babalawo is to cast Ifa. There are instruments of Ifa like the divining chain, Ikin which is made of sacred palm nuts. The palm nuts have between three to 16 eyes so they can see. When Orunmila or Ifa was alive, he had two eyes in the front and two at the back.

A Babalawo will cast and see everything that will happen to the client. It is completely scientific.

It is different from being possessed by orisa like a Sango or Osun priest.

After feeding and dancing to those orisa, they can possess you and you will start saying what they ask you to say. Babalawo does not function like that. He uses verses of the odu that he casts.

You can only help your client when you have memorised many verses. Not all of them know all the verses and that is why they work in group. Each of the Babalawo in the group will know different verses and they can chant for more than an hour while attending to a client.

There is an Awise Agbaye who is the lord of Ifa. If he is around, he will interpret the verses for them.

Ifa is the greatest African gift to the whole world. Unfortunately, while Ifa has travelled all over the world, Yoruba people, who are the real owners are ignorant about it because somebody changed our minds.

There are white people who are now Babalawo and some of them have private jets from the practice.

In New York, there are more than 2000 Babalawos and in Miami, there are more than 100,000. Some of them own banks and function in the legislative house. There are thousands of them in Cuba and other countries.

IFA VERSES CAN BE DOCUMENTED INTO A BOOK LIKE BIBLE OR QURAN

People ask me that question everywhere I go. Ifa books are available everywhere. I wrote several volumes from the 1960s but people dont read them. That is the problem I am trying to point out.

DO THE WHITE MEN USE YORUBA TO PRACTISE IFA?

Do you have to practise Christianity in the white mans language? The white men who practise Ifa have found a way of modifying it. They chant in Yoruba language but speak to the clients in the language they understand.

HIS CHILDREN PRACTISE IFA?

Olodumare (God) blessed me with many sons and daughters including three sets of twins and they are either Babalawo or Iyanifa. They all followed in my footsteps.

Let me clarify however that I am not saying that they might not follow other religions. All I am saying is that it is wrong to discard your own culture. My son, Taiwo, studied in Cuba. He is a Babalawo. He is known in all Spanish speaking world.

IS HIS WHITE WOMAN PRACTISING IFA?

I married other wives as well who are Nigerians. I had three wives before I married the American, we met in the US. I live more in the US and come home constantly. Some people will marry 10 wives and hide nine. Part of our culture is not to maltreat women.

My American wife speaks seven languages. She is an Iyanifa. She knows all the Ifa chants that I know and she will render them in Yoruba. I travel with her all over the world to meet world religious leaders like the Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury, leaders of Hindus all over the world and so on.

DOES HE PREACH RELIGION TO HIS WIVES?

We dont preach. There should be a law to regulate preaching all over the world. Why should someone come and stand in front of my house to preach that anyone who is not a Christian or Muslim will go to hell? You dont condemn peoples religion. Whatever your religion teaches, do it with dignity.

I was in a church during a programme in the 1970s and the preacher said Babalawos would go to hell. I stood up and told him that I would not go to hell. I asked if his forefather who once practised indigenous religion was in hell. After the service, he came to apologise. Babalawo will never condemn Christianity or Islam. If you see what we are doing and you want to follow our way of life, you are welcome.

IN IFA PRACTICE, DO THEY BELIEVE IN LIFE IN HEAVEN OR HELL

We believe that if you do something wrong, when you get to heaven, you will be punished. From our literature, there is nowhere where hell is mentioned. At the gate of heaven and earth, people will be questioned.

ANY LINK BETWEEN IFA AND RELIGIONS

Christianity and Islam call God by various names. We Yoruba people call Him Olorun or Olodumare. When Christians and Muslims want to call God in Yoruba, they call Him Olorun.

DOES A BABALAWO HAVE POWERS TO DO SUCH THINGS?

There are people we call Onisegun, they are not Babalawo. Babalawo does not do evil.

HOW CAN WE GET THE AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF YORUBA PEOPLE

Ifa will tell you the authentic history. Everybody knows that human lives started in Africa. The Yoruba claim that it starts in Ile-Ife. How then can someone say that Yoruba are from Egypt or Mecca?

HOW HE GOT THE TITLE OF ELEMESO OF KETU IN BENIN REPUBLIC

I dont like accumulating titles. The late king of Ketu in Benin Republic, Adiro Adetutu, was my friend. He gave me the title. The title means the protector of Ketu.

But I dont let people pile titles on me. Those who do so call themselves chiefs. What does that mean? What it means is an uncivilised person. If you go to Europe or England and call yourself a chief, they might ask you to come and dance for them. Nobody in the civilised world bears the name chief.

HIS STINT IN POLITICS

I was the Senate leader between November 1992 and November 1993 when the late Sanni Abacha ousted us. But the Senate I led was not paid. Only N5,000 was paid to each of us to visit our constituency once in a month.

We were all lodged and fed free at the Hilton Hotel. I have said it many times that we were not paid a dime.

Our problems are the people and not the politicians. We vote them to go and steal and bring home the loot.

When Abacha drove us out, I came to my house in Oyo. That is my only house in Nigeria. I had no car, so I took a bus and arrived home at 2am. I actually had two Mercedes Benz cars that were at home for 15 years before I gave them out. I was using taxis to go out.

I went to Lagos twice in danfo (commercial bus) as a Senator.

On one occasion, I sat in the front seat. We entered Lagos at 5.30am. In the bus, people were talking about me. They said that I went to Abuja and I returned a poor man taking taxis each time I went out. One of them said that people like me who could not steal should not be voted for.

When the bus stopped, I looked back and greeted them. I introduced myself to them and they were shocked.

The people make the politicians thieves. I dont cherish material things. My father built the house I live in in 1918 after he returned from the World War. I only built more houses in the compound to be comfortable. That is all I have.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the posting of Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) to various State Commands and Formation to strengthen community engagement and communication.

ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, in a statement released on Wednesday, said the newly posted officers were tasked with fostering positive relationships between the Nigeria Police Force and the communities they serve.

The newly posted officers and their respective portfolios include SP Ayuba Tunni Umma to PPRO Zone 2, Lagos; SP Hauwa Idris Adamu to PPRO Nigeria Police Cooperative; DSP Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi to PPRO Kwara State; ASP Unah Paul Echefunachi to PPRO Ebonyi; ASP Rufa'i Ahmed to PPRO Sokoto; and ASP Musa Mohammed to PPRO Bayelsa. Similarly, ASP Abuka Pius has been posted as a Staff Officer to the Public Complaint Bureau of the Force Public Relations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The Inspector General of Police emphasizes the importance of community collaboration in policing, urging the newly posted officers to work closely with the communities they serve. The IGP charges them to entrench the policing ideals and community-oriented initiatives being implemented by the respective heads of their Commands and Formations. The Nigeria Police Force extends its congratulations to the newly appointed PPROs and wishes them success in their new roles.
In a stunning revelation that has reverberated through legal circles, Myson Nejo, a committed human rights advocate and legal practitioner, has brought to light a deeply troubling bribery scheme that has cast a shadow over the integrity of the judicial process. The key players in this alleged malfeasance include a Chief Judge, a client, and a disconcerting erosion of court formality. The severity of these accusations demands immediate attention, necessitating an urgent call for the arrest of those involved and a comprehensive investigation.

Myson Nejo, a legal professional dedicated to upholding the constitution and championing human rights, recently disclosed a troubling encounter with a client that raises serious questions about the sanctity of the legal system. According to Nejo, the client boldly claimed to have "settled" the Chief Judge, hinting at a prearranged agreement facilitated by a bribe. Perhaps even more alarming, the client asserted that this illicit arrangement would reduce subsequent court proceedings to a mere formality, rendering the attorney's appearance a superficial and symbolic gesture.

The gravity of these allegations cannot be overstated. The involvement of a Chief Judge in a bribery scandal strikes at the heart of justice, raising concerns about the impartiality and integrity of the legal system. Myson Nejo's decision to bring this matter to light emphasizes the urgent need for immediate action to restore faith in the judicial process.

The call for immediate arrest and a thorough investigation is a plea for justice and transparency in the face of potential corruption. The alleged erosion of court formality further compounds the seriousness of the situation, posing a threat to the very principles of fairness and equity that the legal system is designed to uphold.

As this investigation unfolds, the eyes of the legal community and the public are fixed on the response from law enforcement agencies. The urgency of the situation demands a swift, impartial, and thorough inquiry to uncover the truth and ensure accountability. Myson Nejo's courageous revelation serves as a reminder that the pursuit of justice requires vigilance, and that in the face of alleged corruption, swift and decisive action is imperative to preserve the foundations of a fair and just legal system.

In a tweet from Channels Television, a profound quote from Legal Practitioner Myson Nejo surfaced, revealing disturbing practices within the legal system. Nejo expressed deep concern over clients claiming to have "seen" judges and leveraging this knowledge to negotiate reduced legal fees. This revelation raises red flags, pointing towards potential corruption or unethical conduct within the legal framework.

Nejo's disclosure, featured on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily program, brings heightened attention to the severity of the issue. The revelation underscores the embarrassment felt by clients seemingly possessing foreknowledge of case outcomes based on their interactions with judges. The inclusion of the hashtag #SunriseDaily indicates that this statement was made during the program, amplifying the gravity of the matter discussed.

The alleged bribery scheme, involving both a client and a Chief Judge, goes beyond individual misconduct. It sparks serious concerns about the erosion of court formality, a cornerstone of a fair and just legal system. Nejo's intentional decision to elevate this matter to the global stage on Channels TV emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for immediate action.

This alleged bribery scheme not only implicates specific individuals but also raises profound concerns about the erosion of court formalitya fundamental pillar of a fair and just legal system. Nejo's deliberate move to bring this matter to the public domain underscores the severity of the situation and highlights the pressing need for immediate action.

In response to these revelations, there is a resounding call for the arrest of those involved and a thorough investigation into the matter. The very essence of the judicial process is deemed to be at stake, necessitating swift and decisive action from legal authorities to restore public trust and uphold the sanctity of the justice system.

Allowing this alleged corruption to dissipate without rigorous investigation and accountability poses a severe threat to the very foundations of justice. It not only jeopardizes public trust in the legal system but also compromises the principles that underpin a fair and impartial judiciary. The potential manipulation of court processes for personal gain not only undermines the credibility of court decisions but also erodes the very essence of the rule of law. Immediate and thorough action is imperative to address this threat and safeguard the integrity of the justice system.

The urgency to address the allegations brought forward by Myson Nejo is not merely a pursuit of justice; it represents a crucial effort to safeguard the democratic values that hinge on a transparent and uncorrupted legal system. Allowing these claims to fade away without thorough scrutiny risks perpetuating a culture of impunity, posing a direct threat to the core principles upon which a just society relies. Swift and decisive action is not only essential to restore faith in the legal process but to ensure that justice remains blind, impartial, and, above all, incorruptible.

In a fully functional democracy, law enforcement agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would have already taken urgent action in this matter and made a public announcement, emphasizing its seriousness. Anticipating the involvement of relevant agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), is reasonable, given the significant implications for national security. The alleged bribery scandal goes beyond being a legal matter; it transforms into a national reckoning.

Even in a different regime, the shame associated with such allegations persists. This scandal carries the potential to impact the nation economically, discouraging investors and undermining confidence in a nation built on principles of justice and fairness. It is crucial for the Attorney General of the nation, who also serves as the Minister of Justice, to assume a leading role in addressing this issue and mitigating potential economic repercussions.

Nigeria now stands at a crossroads, under the scrutiny of its citizens and the world. The call for cleansing and renewal within institutions becomes an urgent national imperative, reaching beyond the immediate legal ramifications to address systemic issues that may compromise the very foundations of the nation. The aftermath of Myson Nejo's revelation serves as a catalyst for broader institutional revitalization.

This moment necessitates decisive action, transparency, and a renewed commitment to the principles that underpin a fair and just society. The path forward demands not only accountability for those directly involved but a comprehensive and sustained effort to fortify Nigeria's institutions and safeguard the integrity of its legal system. This scandal, far from being just a legal matter, has become a litmus test for the nation's commitment to democratic values and the rule of law.

As this scandal unfolds, Nigeria faces international scrutiny, with the global community watching closely. The nation's response to these allegations will profoundly shape its standing on the world stage, underscoring the need for Nigeria to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the rule of law, transparency, and the democratic principles that form the bedrock of a just society.

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi

Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American-based police and prison scientist and forensic, clinical, and legal psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA; and a former interim associate dean and assistant professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings. In 2011, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He has taught at various universities and colleges including Florida memorial University, Florida International University, Broward college, Lynn University, and a contributing faculty member at the Weldios university in Benin Republic, Nexus International University, Uganda, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University in USA. He is a Human Rights Psychologist with a focus on African related environments. [email protected]
In recognition of his unwavering commitment and tireless dedication to selfless services to society, the former Executive Vice President of NNPC Upstream, NNPCL, Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye was on Sunday conferred with the Knight of Garrick Braide (KGB) by the Christ Army Church Nigeria (CACN).

At a joyous ceremony held at St. Silas Pro-Cathedral CACN in Bille Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area on Sunday, dignitaries from various backgrounds joined thousands of enthusiastic attendees to celebrate Sir (Engr.) Tombomieye. The event also honored his esteemed wife, Dame Agamaba Tombomieye, who was conferred with the Knight of Dorcas (KOD).

Other individuals also knighted at the occasion were Snr. Cate. (Barr) Iyalla G. Igani, who is also the Acting Synod Secretary, Chief Minadikipeleya E. Omu and Mr. Dumo Briggs Eleki.

Dignitaries that graced the event include the Paramount Ruler of Bille Kingdom, HRM, Igbikingeri Ngowari Cornelius Herbert, Agbaninye XVII, former Managing Director of TIMARIV, Senibo Nelson Jaja, General Manager of Radio Rivers, Sir Sampson Fiberesima and some top players in the oil and gas sector, among others.

The dignity of the occasion was further embellished by the presence of the esteemed members of the Bille Council of Chiefs, adding an air of regality to the ceremony.

Additionally, friends and well-wishers of Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, including prominent figures from various sectors, graced the event with their distinguished presence.

Their attendance underscored the widespread respect and admiration for Engr. Tombomieye's contributions to both the community and the nation at large.

The investiture was an event shrouded in dignity and somberness. The St. Silas Pro-Cathedral stood as a testament of beautiful craftsmanship, its towering arches adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to whisper tales of bygone eras.

The air was thick with anticipation. From the altar, the Prelate of CACN, His Eminence, the Most Rev'd Dappa O. Abbey, bishops, the clergy as well as church members and friends of Sir (Engr) Adokiye Tombomieye, all adorned in their finest attires and filled the pews.

The knights, resplendent in their ceremonial regalia of red on black with a matching red cap, stood tall at the pew, their polished armor gleaming under the cathedral's luminance. Their swords, etched with intricate designs, rested ceremoniously at their sides, symbols of their commitment to honor and service.

Beside Sir (Engr.) Adokiye Tombomieye stood his wife, Dame Agamaba Tombomieye, dressed in elegant red top on rich black skirt with shimmering jewels that caught the light with every movement.

As the ceremony progressed, the echoes of ancient chants filled the air, intertwining with the sweet melodies of the St. Silas Pro-Cathedral choir.

In his acceptance speech after the investiture, Sir Engr. Adokiye Tombomieye, with his wife, Dame Agamaba Tombomieye beside him, expressed profound gratitude and reflected on the motivations behind their service-oriented journey.

He said: "Whatever I have done was not done to win an award or title. I felt I should give back to society, what God has given to me."

He revealed that their actions were guided by a poignant hymn, one often sung during burials but carrying immense personal significance. "'What will you be remembered for'," he cited as the hymn that had stirred deep contemplation.

Sir Tombomieye expressed his introspection each time the hymn echoed, questioning the legacy he would leave behind. According to him, "People only remember you for what you have done on earth," he emphasized, while highlighting the importance of service to both God and humanity.

The investiture, taking place within the sacred confines of the church, held profound significance for Tombomieye.

"Being recognized in the house of God is the ultimate," he remarked, stressing that acknowledgment by humanity paled in comparison to recognition within the divine realm.

Grateful for being alive to witness the appreciation for their deeds, Tombomieye underscored the significance of being remembered for one's actions in the living years. "As long as God blesses us, no matter how little, I will use it to serve humanity," he affirmed with conviction.

Echoing her husband's sentiments, Dame Agamaba Tombomieye concurred, "We feel much fulfilled. It's like the beginning of a new life in the house of God."

She pledged continued commitment to furthering the kingdom of God, recognizing that no offering is too great when dedicated to the divine.

Their joint commitment to service and profound gratitude for the recognition by the church exemplified a devotion to making a meaningful impact within their community, driven by a deeply rooted sense of purpose and faith.

In a brief but poignant sermon at the church thanksgiving, Prelate of Christ Army Church Nigeria, CACN, and President of Synod, His Eminence, Most Rev'd Dappa O. Abbey acknowledging the significance of the gathering, as he revealed that the event was his first official outing since assuming the mantle of Prelate on August 27, 2023.

Drawing inspiration from the scriptures, the Prelate took his text from Proverbs 16:7, "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him, emphasizing the virtue of selflessness and the profound impact of Engr. Tombomieye's philanthropy, while highlighting his pivotal role as the sole financier for the construction of St. Silas Pro-Cathedral, Bille.

The Prelate adorned similar praise upon Dame Agamaba, extolling her virtues as a supportive and exemplary wife while expressing gratitude for the edifice the couple had risen in reverence to God.

His voice, a blend of authority and compassion, beseeched the congregation to emulate Sir Adokiye's pathto seek God's favor through virtuous deeds. Amidst his exhortation, the Prelate accentuated the intrinsic significance of character, emphasizing that humanity's paramount pursuit should revolve around actions that please the divine.

Prelate Abbey articulated fervently, declaring God's promise of rewarding those who earnestly seek to please Him. "Support the house of God," he implored, stressing the importance of utilizing God-given resources to fulfill His purpose. "God rejoices in deeds that yield value," he affirmed, underlining the divine delight in humanity's benevolent acts.

Resonating with conviction, he pressed upon the assembly the importance of leaving a legacy that echoes positively in the annals of remembrance. "Our debt to God is the pursuit of His pleasure," he asserted resolutely.

Drawing parallels from the scripture, Prelate Abbey invoked the examples of Modechiah, Daniel, Moses, Jesus, Paul, and the Apostlesbeacons who pleased God and reaped divine rewards. He charged the knights, urging them to perpetually remember the church and tend to its needs, aligning their endeavors with God's purpose.

The Prelate also praised Sir. Tombomieye for his commitment to education, providing scholarships to numerous sons and daughters of the Bille Kingdom, a gesture that has empowered countless individuals.

As his words settled like sacred echoes within the cathedral's walls, the congregation absorbed the essence of his sermona clarion call to pursue a life that resonates with divine favor and selfless service, echoing the eternal echoes of God's rewarding grace.

Speaking on the sidelines, former Managing Director of TIMARIV and a bosom friend of Sir (Engr.) Adokiye Tombomieye, Senibo Nelson Jaja described as remarkable, Sir Tombomieye's dedication to the welfare of both the church and humanity.

His philanthropic efforts stand as a testament to his selfless nature. He operates with a genuine concern for people, embodying a spirit of giving without seeking recognition. This investiture is a well-deserved acknowledgment, not just for this particular church but for numerous others that have benefited from his generosity.

Adokiye's exceptional commitment sets him apart. To give away more than half of one's earnings requires incredible determination, a testament to his strong will. His contribution in building not only this church but several others speaks volumes about his unwavering support for communities.

My sincere advice to him would be to continue being his authentic self and persist in these altruistic endeavors. His impact is truly commendable, and the world needs more individuals like him. he said.

Highlight of the ceremony was an 'Ambassador of Christ Army Church Nigeria (ACACN) award bestowed on Sir (Engr) Adokiye Tombomieye and his wife, Dame (Mrs.) Agamaba Tombomieye for their selfless services, commitments and charitable deeds to society.

The church also admitted Ladies Auxiliary (wives of the knights) with a call for them to remain dutiful and exemplary wives of their husbands.
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) commences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid highly challenging international political circumstances, exacerbated by the events in Ukraine, European-Russian tensions, and the competitive dynamics between American and Chinese influences over the contemporary international order.

These factors have negatively impacted the essential cooperation among major nations, hindering their readiness to assume the required leadership role on the global stage. This is crucial for successfully addressing complex global issues ranging from technical considerations like the environment and climate change to broader concerns such as sustainable development, resource scarcity, militarization, and polarization among major powers.

The conference unfolds in the Middle East, with Gaza suffering devastation and its people enduring casualties, displacement, and homelessness due to prolonged Israeli occupation and the recent severe attacks on Gaza. This presents an entirely unfavorable environment to rally international and, specifically, Middle Eastern cooperation for the common good or adopt a regional, multi-stakeholder perspective on global issues transcending borders.

The multifaceted risks, including climate change, necessitate a comprehensive approach within international frameworks, considering the sensitive political conditions and communication gaps in the region even before the events in Gaza.

Despite these challenges, COP28 convenes urgently to address the pressing issue of climate change, reaching a critical juncture as the international community enters a period of "boiling," as articulated by the United Nations secretary-general. Global temperatures are on track to increase by up to -2.6C, while the desired target remains restricting the increase to no more than 1.5C.

In light of recent developments, the world acknowledges the commitment of China and the United States to collaborate in reducing hazardous emissions and their impacts on climate change. Particularly, the collaboration aims to reduce methane emissions, the second-largest source of harmful emissions, and triple renewable energy capacity, displacing fossil fuel-generated energy.

In pursuit of progress against climate change, COP28 organizers emphasize five key pillars: technology, innovation, inclusivity, universal participation, and considering the most vulnerable communities. Providing necessary funding for transitioning to renewable energy, ensuring resilience and adaptability in the face of climate-related challenges to the food system, and possibly addressing food security through a dedicated declaration are anticipated outcomes.

The organizers aim to underscore that citizens and nature are central to addressing the consequences of climate change, with a specific focus on highlighting the role of youth, recognizing that the results of these efforts will significantly impact their future interests.

To translate these goals into action, COP28 targets the adoption of new practices and the achievement of various objectives.

These include the first comprehensive global review of the progress made by nations in combating climate change, assessing the implementation of commitments and national emission reduction goals, even in the face of a grim and perilous reality, as emphasized by the UN secretary-general.

Accelerating the transition to clean energy to mitigate the problem severity requires a new approach to dealing with financing for clean energy transition. This involves providing higher levels of financial support, commensurate with the necessary needs for achieving development goals while respecting the environment. Particularly, developing nations that bear significant responsibility for the current environmental crisis will be addressed, potentially involving a review of the roles of international financial institutions and the private sector.

Efforts are underway to issue a declaration on the management mechanisms of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), established for the first time during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022. Recent international consultations have shown progress in this area, with indications of the possibility of providing the necessary funding. Europe is committed to announcing tangible support for the fund during the 2023 conference.

Confident that the UAE aims for the success of COP28, mirroring Egypt's successful hosting of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, it is fortuitous to have two Arab states hosting the world climate change conference in consecutive years, reflecting growing Arab interest in international affairs and active engagement.

While Egypt's success in establishing the LDF for the benefit of developing nations stands out as a key achievement, COP28 will be evaluated based on its ability to secure funding to assist these nations, surpassing trillions of dollars annually, meeting current needs to enable their transition to renewable clean energy, and compensating for past damages through the LDF.

Among the criteria for evaluating COP28's success is the international community's ability to agree on specific and sufficient measures to reduce environmental emissions and control temperature rise. Some argue that COP27 did not achieve sufficient success in this regard, given contrasting directions, with energy-producing nations seeking emissions reduction through technological efficiency improvements, while advanced industrial nations prioritize reducing fossil fuel dependency.

Each COP session has its issues, achievements, and failures, shaped by the host nation's determination and enthusiasm for progress.

The outcome depends on the positions of nations and the international community as a whole, impacting everyone positively or negatively in success or failure. A collective, innovative effort is required to address various issues and topics, recognizing that each conference has its developments.

The real decision-making in previous sessions and those to come revolves around two main issues: a substantial increase in funding and controlling gas emissions to regulate temperature rise. Hopefully, a positive movement on these crucial issues will occur amid the turbulent and concerning international landscape.

*The writer is the former Egyptian foreign minister.

*The article is published in collaboration with permission from the Independent Arabia newspaper.

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Election for Kathu Mayor announced

PHUKET: An election for residents of Tambon Kathu to vote for a new Kathu Mayor will be held in January, the Phuket office of the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT Phuket) has announced.

politics

By The Phuket News

Thursday 30 November 2023 01:38 PM

Chai-anan Suthikul pictured on the home page of the Kathu Municipality official website earlier this year. Screenshot: The Phuket News / file

The election will be held on Jan 14, ECT Phuket announced through a notice posted publicly yesterday (Nov 29).

Of note, although the notice is signed by Rattana Laptanapong, Election Director of Kathu Municipality, Kathu Municipality itself has yet to announce the election date on its official website or official Facebook page.

The notice marks that the election is to be held in accordance with the Local Council Election Act. As such, the election for Kathu Mayor must be held within 60 days of Nov 21, 2023, the notice said.

Why the 60-day period was invoked on Nov 21 was not explained.

The notice did mark that the position of Kathu Mayor became vacant by order of the Governor of Phuket.

The position of Kathu Mayor became vacant after years-long incumbent Chai-anan Suthikul was summarily dismissed from office by previous Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew in late January this year.

Mr Chai-anans dismissal from office followed an investigation into allowing a private operator to pump water from a lagoon at the Tin Mine Museum in Kathu.

Local officials attempted to hold an election to install a new Kathu Mayor, on Mar 19, but the attempt to hold a mayoral election was suspended by court order.

Dechakorn Kaenmuang, Election Director at Kathu Municipality at the time, said, The enforcement of Phuket Provincial Order No. 439/2560 dated January 20, 2023 and and Phuket Provincial Order No. 440/2560 dated January 20, 2023 have been temporarily rescinded, therefore resulting in the Phuket Provincial Orders temporarily ceasing to be in force pending the proceedings of the Phuket Administrative Court and the post of Mayor of Kathu is considered to not yet be vacant.

Under the election notice issued by ECT Phuket, candidates can submit their applications to contest the election at Kathu Municipality from next Monday to Friday (Dec 4-8), between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.

Registration of candidacy requires evidence of Thai citizenship, house registration, a medical certificate, a photo of the candidates face and a fee of B4,000

Evidence of education of at least a bachelors degree. or equivalent, or evidence of having served as a local council member or local administrator or a member of parliament, is required, as is evidence of paying personal income tax for the past three years. Candidates who have not paid personal income tax for the past three years must provide a written statement explaining why.

Other necessary evidence such as an official change of name or surname, a birth certificate or change of registered residence, along with one copy, may be required.

Not noted in the election notice is that, in accordance with election law, there will be a 24 hour ban on the sale of alcohol in Tambon Kathu on the day of the election, Jan 14
Phuket beaches covered by 100 lifeguards

PHUKET: Phuket officials have reported that there are 100 lifeguards to cover all the main beaches in Phuket, ahead of the prime ministers visit to Phuket to review a marine safety demonstration tomorrow (Dec 1).

tourismSafety

By The Phuket News

Thursday 30 November 2023 11:39 AM

The confirmation came in a report of the full rehearsal of the Phuket Marine Disaster Response Plan staged at Patong Beach yesterday (Nov 29).

The rehearsal simulated three emergency response exercises to be performed in front of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin tomorrow. (See story here.)

The rehearsal, under observation by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and other senior provincial officials, included an air-sea rescue by a Royal Thai Navy helicopter in a simulation of a tour boat in distress with tourists left struggling in the water.

The rehearsal also included a simulated rescue by lifeguards recovering a tourist drowning while caught in a rip current  under the assumption that the tourist ignored red no swimming flags and lifeguards warnings.

The third simulation rehearsed yesterday was an armed police response team simulating taking down an armed tourist posing a public danger on Bangla Rd after using a computerised face-detection system (which officials called AI) to identify the suspect.

All three exercises, which caused a spectacle for tourists in Patong yesterday, will be repeated tomorrow.

However, an official report of the rehearsal yesterday marked that there were 100 lifeguards in total to protect tourists at Phuket beaches.

With 11 main beaches popular with tourists, that leaves fewer than 10 lifeguards on average at each beach. Obviously, busier beaches having more than 10 lifeguards means fewer lifeguards at other beaches.

The main tourist beaches along Phukets west coast are: Nai Harn (about 570m long), Kata Noi (about 760m), Kata (about 1.53km), Karon (about 3.32km), Patong (about 2.53km), Kamala (about 1.9km), Surin (about 1.1km), Bang Tao / Layan / Leypang (about 5.7km), Nai Ton (about 1km), Nai Yang (about 2.4km) and Mai Khao (about 10.2km, including Sai Kaew Beach)*.

In total, that leaves the 100 lifeguards to patrol more than 31km of beaches along Phukets west coast - an average of one lifeguard every 310m.

However, with lifeguards stationed in pairs, that leaves two lifeguards covering more than half a kilometre of beach, each.

This does not include the smaller, but popular, tourist beaches, such as Freedom Beach, located between Patong and Karon.

Of note, while Patong lifeguards each month publicly report statistics of surf rescues they perform and other incidents to which they respond, no other lifeguard units on the island publicly report the number of their lifesaving rescues.

Despite a provincial waster safety committee set up last year, Phuket officials do not report any statistics of tourist rescues or drownings.

* Approximate measures obtained via Google Maps
Phuket Jewelry Fair 2024

Start From: Wednesday 31 January 2024 10:00 AM to Sunday 4 February 2024 08:00 PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

Phuket Chamber of Commerce will host the Phuket Jewelry Fair during 31 January to 4th of February 2024. Held at the Floresta Mini Convention Hall Central Phuket, visitors will enjoy the jewels and gems gallery by the leading Phuket brand jewelry, a Diamonds & Ruby Fashion Show, seminar from The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (G.I.T), plus free real gems verification by G.I.T. For more info please visit picphuket.com/phuketjewelryfair
Repairs continue on Patong Hill road

PHUKET: Motorists are still asked to exercise caution while driving over Patong Hill into Phukets busiest tourism town, Patong, while repairs continue on the section of road shoulder that collapsed due to subsidence yesterday (Nov 29).

patongtourismtransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Thursday 30 November 2023 12:52 PM

Officials carried out emergency repairs to cracks in the road yesterday, while the Phuket Highways Office issued a warning in a notice issued late yesterday.

The cracks appeared opposite the Wyndham Sea Pearl Resort Phuket resort at km. 1 + 350, with the cracks appearing due to the earth underneath subsiding.

We would like to announce this for everyone to know and apologise for the inconvenience, the Highways Office said.

Please be careful! the notice added.

Patong Municipality, Kathu Municipality and the Phuket Highways Office all have yet to publicly post any reports on the repairs underway, or give any indication when the repairs might be completed.

Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee last night thanked Patong Municipality for having a light installed at the site so motorists could see the danger and follow the traffic cones as motorists are guided into one lane past the repair area.

Officials started taking more serious steps to repair the area, with a backhoe and a repair tem deployed to the site yesterday evening, MP Chalermpong reported.

With no official reports confirming the work being carried out, it appears from photos of the scene that officials are taking more serious steps to counter the subsidence and reinforce the area to avoid further slippage of the earth supporting the road.

MP Chalermpong noted that the repairs are continuing today (Nov 30).
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Two Thais set free, 17 ready to fly home

BANGKOK: Two more Thai citizens held hostage by Hamas were released on Tuesday evening (Nov 28), while 17 other Thais released earlier will arrive in Thailand later today.

healthpolitics

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 30 November 2023 09:33 AM

Photo: Bangkok Post

As of yesterday, there are still 13 Thais held in Hamas custody, with the government working with Tel Aviv to free them, reports the Bangkok Post.

The news came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the two had been freed on Tuesday evening at 11pm local time.

The men, identified as Pattanayut Tonsokree and Owat Suriya, were taken to Shamir Medical Centre in Tel Aviv for a health check, Mr Srettha said.

The men were visited by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara who arrived in Israel earlier on Tuesday.

During his visit, Mr Parnpree and the Thai Ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, met Israel President Isaac Herzog to express their gratitude for Israels help in negotiating their release.

Mr Parnpree, along with chief of the armed forces, Songwit Noonphakdi, and Ms Pannabha also visited the 17 Thai workers freed earlier, who were also at the hospital.

Mr Parnpree will return to Bangkok with the 17 Thais today on El Al Airways flight LY081, due to arrive at 12:15pm at Suvarnabhumi airport.

At the hospital, he met Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Eli Cohen who assured him that Israel will take good care of its Thai workers, promising to compensate those who have lost their jobs and extend assistance to those wishing to return.

Without Thai workers, Israel would not have had an agricultural industry, he said.

He said Thai workers are welcome to work in Israel once the war is over.

According to Labour permanent secretary Pairote Chotikasathien, the 17 Thai returnees will receive their first compensation of 10,000 shekels (B94,526) in the form of a cash card that can be used worldwide, along with a monthly assistance of 6,900 shekels for six months.

Anyone who requires physical or mental treatment can get their medical fees reimbursed by Israeli authorities, he said.
Storm, believed to be an Akita/Shephard mix, attended the bands epic concert at LAs SoFi Stadium, evidenced by a hilarious photo of her sitting in a chair at the show. Metallica posted the pic of the metal-loving pup to their social media, sharing her story and getting some jokes off.
Infiltration from across the border Bamboo fence says it all !

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It is disturbing. This is more so given the situation when Manipur as a whole is pointing its finger at illegal immigrants from across the border as one of the main reasons for the ongoing clash between the Kuki-Zos and the Meiteis. And the clash is set to complete seven months or 210 days on December 3 with no signs that things will take a turn for the better. Just one day after the Ukhrul Correspondent of The Sangai Express quoted the Deputy Commission of Kamjong district as asserting that over 1000 refugees have entered via Kamjong, came another input from an official source putting the number at 1383 refugees at the said district. Out of this as many as 375 reportedly sneaked into the territory of Manipur on a single day, that is November 28 and while the surge in the number of refugees can be understood in the backdrop of the clashes in neighbouring Myanmar, it should not be forgotten that the figures trotted out here is in connection with only one district, Kamjong. Nobody seems to know what is happening at Churachandpur and Pherzawl and even Moreh. Not that such a reality was not anticipated. It was just a little more than a year ago that The Sangai Express had suggested the opening of refugee camps, something along the line of Mizoram, not to encourage intruders, but to help the State keep a tab on the movement of the people from across the border. The argument is simple enough. That the Kuki-Zo community who are here in Manipur share a close kindred tie with the infiltrators from the across the border is well known. It is for this very reason why Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga defied instructions of New Delhi and opened the doors to those seeking refuge in Mizoram. That Imphal preferred to sleep over the matter, despite the detection of a large number of refugees at Churachandpur earlier, is there for all to see and it should say something significant that a hue and cry has been raised over illegal immigrants from across the inter-national border only now. Even today, no exact overall figure on the number of infiltrators from across the border is available or if it is available it has not been made public. Compounding matter is the fact that not an inch of the border at Kamjong is fenced. It is not The Sangai Express which is saying this, but an officer, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamjong who has pointed this out and there should be no room for argument or a second opinion here. This is the very reason why The Sangai Express deemed it fit to carry the picture of a bamboo fence put up along the border and which was uploaded on the social media by a responsible gentleman from Ukhrul district headquarters a few days back. Interesting to note that the caption accompanying the bamboo fencing at the international border read This is not a homestead fencing, but a bamboo fence put up on the Indo-Myanmar border. This is the reality and the question is, how is Imphal responding to the reality at the border ?

The ongoing clash has obviously occupied the energy and mind of the people and the Government too, but when one talks about the clash, then shouldnt primacy be given to border security ? Even as the Kamjong side of Manipur seems to have been literally left open for immigrants to enter at will, it is disturbing to note that some armed persons, suspected to be PDF militants, were seen fleeing across the international border on seeing security personnel combing Moreh town on November 29. So while no rally could be staged at the border town thanks to the strict security measures, it should say something significant that some armed cadres from across the border were seen preparing their meal and drying their washed clothes near two Kuki villages. Things cannot get more clear than this and the Government should have started working on this a long time back, in fact from the moment news started doing the round of the tense situation in Myanmar and the crackdown launched by the military junta then. Now it is about the intense fights with the tide turning in favour of the rebels. The first thing the Government should do is make public the number of refugees from across the border. Secondly the public should be made aware of whether cadres of the SoO outfits stay in their designated camps or not. This is the least the Government can do.
Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High near 15F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. Low -7F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around in the morning. High -3F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
In 1977, Pink Floyd played the In the Flesh tour. Roger Waters despised the experience, feeling the audience was not listening and that many were too far away to see the band. He said: "It became a social event rather than a more controlled and ordinary relationship between musicians and an audience. On 6 July 1977, the final date at the Montreal Olympic Stadium, a group of noisy and excited fans near the stage irritated Waters so much that he spat on one of them.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today constituted a sevenmember core committee to oversee affairs in North 24- Parganas to fill the void created by the arrest of former state food and civil supplies minister Jyotipriya Malick, allegedly in connection with the irregularity in the PDS scam.

Mallick used to be the vital cog and mainstay in the organisational machinery of the ruling partys North 24-Parganas leadership. His arrest and his absence from the top of the district leadership had created a void and led to certain fissures within the party ranks in the district, said sources. Miss Banerjee was a bit concerned about the state of affairs in North 24-Parganas leadership in the absence of the minister.

The party chairperson had asked party leaders, particularly the monsters from the district to work in unison and keep a close watch on the party affairs in the district in the absence of Mallick. The seven-member committee comprises Tapas Ray, Rathin Ghosh Partha Bhowmick, Haji Nurul, Narayan Goswami, Biswajit Das and Sujit Bose.

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She asked the leadership to settle internal bickering amicably. Chief minister had rallied behind Mallick even after his arrest and even praised him for his endeavour as the food minister to weed out fake ration cards allegedly done during the Left regime.
Kazi Nazrul University at Kalla in Asansol is setting up a Nazrul Centre for Social and Cultural Studies at a cost of Rs 10 crores, informed Dr Debashis Banerjee, vicechancellor of KNU.

The VC further said that the upcoming Nazrul Centre of Social and Cultural Studies will have a state-of-the-art auditorium, which will be an architectural wonder and will be modelled like the famous Acropolis of Greece, three seminar halls and a research centre. The Acropolis, in Athens Greece, is the most striking and complete Greek monumental complex existing in our times. It is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. The Nazrul Centre for Social and Cultural Studies is being set up beside the main administrative building of the KNU.

The work of the building was stopped due to some technical fault. But after redesigning, work has restarted once again and the authority has set an ambitious target to finish by the end of this year. The members of the Kazi Nazrul Islam family, in his birth place in Churulia are happy that the construction has restarted once again. In the research centre, a number of items belonging to Kazi Nazrul Islam will be kept for the benefit of the researchers, VC Banerjee. Kazi Nazrul University, the brainchild of CM Mamata Banerjee, was formed by bifurcating Burdwan University. Poet Islam was born near Asansol and is the national poet of Bangladesh.

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Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has dedicated a university in Asansol in the name of the rebel poet and an airport, Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal. The state tourism department is also upgrading the infrastructural facilities in his birth place in Churulia
India registered a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 7.6% for the July-September quarter, data released by the government said. It is much higher than the projection of the Reserve Bank of Indias Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last month.

For the same period in the last year GDP was 5.4%. In the first quarter of 2023-24 (FY24), Indias GDP grew by 7.8%.

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Data said the jump in GDP figures in the second quarter was led by manufacturing and construction industries.

Speaking on the GDP growth number, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, The GDP growth numbers for Q2 display the resilience and strength of the Indian economy in the midst of such testing times globally. We are committed to ensuring fast paced growth to create more opportunities, rapid eradication of poverty and improving Ease Of Living for our people.

The highest growth was registered in the manufacturing industry at 13.9% in Q2 as compared to a fall of 3.8% in the same quarter last year. It was 4.7% in the first quarter of FY24.

Construction sector witnessed second-highest growth at 13.3%, it was 5.7% in Q2FY23 while in Q1FY24, it was 7.9%.

The electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services industry registered the third-highest growth of 10.1% compared to 6% in Q2FY23, the data said.

The agriculture industry grew at a slower pace of 1.2% as compared to 2.5% a year ago. It had grown by 3.5% in the first quarter of this year.

Seeing an upside to 6.5% for FY24. We are more comfortable with this number than before and keeping the forecast unchanged except for seeing an upside to the number, Chief Economic Advisor Anantha Nageswaran said.

Both union and states have upped their capex. The overall quality of expenditure tilted more towards capex than revenue spend, he added.

Seeing a fairly strong credit growth. RBIs decision to increase risk weights for personal loans is to stay higher for longer, he said.

S&P Global Ratings hiked Indias GDP growth rate forecast for the Financial Year 2024 to 6.4% from earlier 6%. While the Goldman Sachs highlighted that Indias real GDP growth will decline marginally to 6.3% in 2024.

The MPC last month, had predicted the second quarter GDP growth at 6.5%. Looking at the momentum of economic activity, looking at a few early indicators, I can say that the second-quarter GDP number, as and when it is released, at the end of November, in all probability will surprise everyone on the upside, Governor Das had said.
In a stern move, Delhi Polices Crime Branch along with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted raids at 70 paan/bidi and cigarette shops operating near schools across the national capital.

A total of 70 such shops were fined under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, police said on Thursday.

According to a senior Delhi Police official, thirty-one areas were identified where pan/bidi/guthka vendors were found indulging in the sale of such tobacco products within 100 meters of educational institutions.

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The matter has also been taken up with civil authorities in view of closing all such shops, the police said further.

To curb the drug menace among children, strict actions were required against the drug peddlers, but, also against the violators of COPTA, who sold such products near schools, which in a way promotes them among children.

According to police, consumption of cigarette, bidi, Gutka and such products is the beginning of addiction of any kind of drug and young children and college going students initially indulge in consumption of these and later are likely to get into the trap of deadly narcotics as well synthetic drugs.

These anti narcotics and drugs steps are being sincerely implemented by Delhi Police under the guidance of LG Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena and leadership of Delh Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora.

Meanwhile, as per directives of Ministry of Home Affairs and LG Delhi, it was decided to focus on identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the trafficking and distribution of narcotics near educational institutes.

The Delhi Police began this drive under the operation KAVACH- 4 teaming up with the NCB.

This joint operation is a significant step in our efforts to combat the drug trade and make our streets safer.

Undercover officers, surveillance units , canine support and intelligence gathering, are some of the important aspects of the operation which is intended to save the youth and children from the menace of drugs.

The parents and teachers, besides the social reformers, are specially requested to sensitize the youth about the grave consequences of drug addiction and prevent them falling prey to this deadly evil.
An alleged assassination plot to kill an American Khalistani extremist and the subsequent indictment of an Indian man by the US Justice Department has given Canada a chance to reiterate its credible allegations tying New Delhi to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The US has claimed that it thwarted an assassination plot of an American Sikh separatist who advocates for a separate Sikh nation in Indian state of Punjab.

It also said that US authorities have raised the issue with Indian government at senior most level and India reacted with surprise and concern.

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On Wednesday, the US Justice Department charged an Indian man, Nikhil Gupta, 52 on murder-for-hire allegations. The US indictment also alleged that Gupta was being directed by an Indian government official.

Reacting to the development, Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said that while she wont comment on whats happening in the US, she will stand by what Canadian credible allegations linking New Delhi to Nijjar killing.

When it comes to whats happening in the U.S., I wont comment directly because of course, I respect the work that the American law enforcement agencies are doing and I respect also the independence of their legal system, she said.

We stand by our own credible allegations that there was the killing of a Canadian, on Canadian soil, linking to Indian agents, she added.

The US allegations comes just two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Ottawa has evidence of credible allegations linking agents of Indian government to the murder of another Canadian Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June early this year.

While India rejected Canadian PMs claims as absurd and motivated, the issue triggered a massive diplomatic row between Canada and India.
Chhattisgarh exit poll results 2023: The exit poll of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 conducted by Axis My India has predicted a hung assembly in Chhattisgarh with a close contest for majority between the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP.

According to the exit poll results, Congress party is likely to win between 40-50 seats against 36-46 BJP seats. The majority mark in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly is 46.

The Congress party was hoping an easy walkover in Chhattisgarh but the exit poll has projected a different picture all together.

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The difference of the predicted vote share between the Congress and the BJP in Chhattisgarh is also just one per cent. The Congress is likely to get 42 per cent vote share with the BJP not far behind at 41 per cent.

The others wont have a much say and are projected to secure 1-5 seats. However, they are eating up 17 per cent of the vote share.

The voting for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly was held in two phases on November 7 and November 17. The final results will be declared by the election commission on December 3.

Warning! Exit poll predictions could often get it wrong. For accurate results, come back to thestatesman.com on December 3.
Exit poll results 2023: Ahead of Assembly Elections 2023 results, exit polls conducted by various agencies soon after voting, have tried to predict the likely outcome in five states that went to polls  Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

Most exit polls have given lead to the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Telangana and to the BJP in Rajasthan. Regional parties have been projected to edge out the Congress and the BJP in Mizoram.

However, the pollsters appears to be divided over Madhya Pradesh with some giving the Congress marginal lead while others predicting a landslide victory for the BJP.

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Mizoram

Regional parties  Zoran Peoples Movement (ZPM) and the Mizo National Front (MNF) are locked in direct contest in Mizoram, with the Congress and the BJP lagging far behind, according to exit poll predictions.

As per the Jan Ki Baat exit poll, ZPM is projected to win 15-25 seats, whole MNF is given 10-14 seats. Congress is predicted to win 5-9 seats and the BJP may win a solitary seat with projections of 0-2 seats. The C-voter exit poll has given MNF 15-21 seats and 12-18 seats to ZPM. Axis My India has predicted a landslide victory for ZPM in Mizoram with 28-35 seats.

Rajasthan

As per the exit polls, Rajasthan could go to the wire with a neck and neck fight between the BJP and the Congress. According to the Axis My India exit poll, the Congress is predicted to win 86-106 seats in Rajasthan, while the BJP has been given 80-100 seats. Jan Ki Baat has given BJP a clear majority with 100-122 seats. Polstrat has predicted BJP to win 100-110 seats and Congress to get 90-100 seats. According to Todays Chanakya exit poll, Congress may win anywhere between 83 to 113 seats and BJP 77 to 101 seats.

Madhya Pradesh

Pollsters appears to be divided over Madhya Pradesh as three exit polls predicted Congress may snatch power from the BJP, while one more gave the saffron party lead over the Congress. Two exit polls projected BJP to retain power with a landslide victory. Axis My India and Todays Chanakya have given BJP 162 and 163 seats (upper margin), respectively. C-voter has predicted 137 seats (upper margin) for the Congress.

Telangana

The South Indian state, according to most exit polls, may see KCR packing his bags as Congress is likely to emerge clear winner in Telangana. India TV-CNX predicted 63-79 seats for the Congress, 31-47 for the BRS, 2-4 for the BJP and 5-7 for the AIMIM. Jan Ki Baat has given 48-64 seats to the Congress, 40-55 seats to the BRS, 7-13 seats to the BJP and 4-7 seats to AIMIM.

Republic TV-Matrize exit poll also predicted a comfortable victory for the Congress with 58-68 seats. It has forecast 46-56 for the BRS and 4-9 for the BJP.

Chhattisgarh

Kaka Bhupesh Baghel is set to retain power in Chhattisgarh with a comfortable victory over the BJP, showed exit polls predictions of most agencies. The Axis My India exit poll has given 40-50 seats to the Congress and 36-45 seats to the BJP. As per Todays Chanakya exit poll, Congress may win as many as 65 seats (upper margin), while may be reduced to just 25 (lowest margin).
Following the Supreme Court order quashing the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as vice-chancellor of the Kannur University, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of forcing him to sanction the reappointment.

Speaking to media persons here, Governor Khan said though he had cautioned that the vice-chancellors reappointment was against the norms, the government had conveyed to him that they were acting on the advocate generals legal opinion.

I was aware that it was against the law when I signed the reappointment order. The Chief Ministers Office exerted pressure for the order to be signed, the Governor said.

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He said state Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not to be blamed as the chief minister used her for ensuring Gopinath Ravindrans reappointment. The higher education minister was being used as an instrument. It is morally questionable if the chief minister is able to continue on, the governor said.

He further said he was not demanding the resignation of any individual in the wake of the Supreme Court order.

The legal advisor of the chief minister and his officer on special duty (OSD) came to my office and told me that I had already promised to accommodate the wishes of the Chief Minister, the governor said.

Serving a severe blow to the Kerala government, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the reappointment of Dr Gopinath Ravindran as the vice-chancellor of the Kannur University.

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, in a judgment, has set aside a decision of the Kerala High Court which had upheld the validity of a November 23, 2021 notification reappointing Gopinath Ravindran.

The judgment accused the Kerala government of unwarranted interference in the reappointment and the resultant abdication/surrender of his statutory powers by the Chancellor/Governor.

The court said that though the November 2021 notification was issued in the chancellors name, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted interference by state government.

Responding to the court order, the higher education Minster denied the LDF governments interference in the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran as vice-chancellor, nevertheless it would abide by the Supreme Courts decision to quash the appointment.

Reacting to the apex court order, Opposition leader VD Satheesan demanded resignation of the Dr R Bindu. The higher education minister should resign today itself, he said.

The minister, who is also the pro-chancellor, violated the UGC norms and the Universities Act and unnecessarily interfered with the autonomy of the universities, he added.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has been honoured with the highest rating of the prestigious Project Award for IGBC, Platinum Rating for the Ghaziabad Receiving Substation (RSS) and Sahibabad RRTS station, of Indias first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) being implemented between Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut.

The IGBC Platinum Rating was given at the Green Building Congress 2023, hosted by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in Chennai. Platinum certification is the highest recognition from the various categories of awards of IGBC.

This accolade underscores NCRTCs unwavering commitment to sustainable development, since its inception. The organization has taken a number of eco-friendly initiatives within the RRTS project, striving for environmental conservation.

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All major establishments, including depots, stations, Receiving Substations (RSS), and residential complexes, have been registered with the IGBC, aligning with the NCRTCs mission to uphold the highest environmental sustainability standards, a spokesperson of the NCRTC said on Thursday.

From the projects conceptualization to its implementation, the NCRTC has consistently embraced environmentally friendly practices. Beginning at the pre-design stage, the adoption of low-carbon concepts has been integral to every construction phase. Initiatives such as the use of fly ash bricks, effective disposal of construction and demolition waste, creation of airy and comfortable interiors, energy-efficient designs, implementation of rainwater harvesting systems, and extensive utilization of solar energy exemplify the NCRTCs commitment to sustainability.

Elaborate landscaping efforts at Sahibabad and Ghaziabad RSS, along with the space beneath the RRTS viaduct, further contribute to a holistic approach that significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon footprint throughout the projects construction and operational phases.

The NCRTC has set a target to meet approximately 70 per cent of its total energy requirement from renewable sources. In line with this goal, the organization has adopted a solar policy, aiming to generate around 11 MW peak in-house solar power on the rooftops of stations, depots, and other buildings. Apart from this, it will optimize the energy mix to increase the share of renewable energy for traction purposes as well.

The prestigious Platinum Rating conferred by the IGBC serves as a testament to the NCRTCs unyielding dedication to sustainable development, marking a milestone in the journey towards forging a greener and more sustainable future that aligns with global environmental conservation goals.

Established in 2001, IGBC, an autonomous non-profit body of CII, actively encourages sustainable practices and offers solutions to minimize environmental impact. Utilizing best international practices, IGBC provides ratings to various categories, including offices, buildings, factories, and mass rapid transit systems, thereby contributing to environmental conservation.

The NCRTC remains steadfast in its vision to revolutionize urban transportation in India, emphasizing sustainability and innovation as key pillars of its transformative journey.
Amidst continued protests against a student uploading on social media an offensive post hurting religious sentiments of a particular community, the authorities on Thursday closed Srinagars National Institute of Technology (NIT) for winter vacation, 10 days ahead of schedule, as a precautionary measure.

A large number of security forces have been deployed on the campus and outside to prevent any untoward incident.

The Dean of Students Welfare issued a circular announcing winter vacation in the engineering institute from today. The circular also directed all students living in the hostels to vacate the boarding facility with immediate effect.

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The Registrar of the institute said the winter vacations have been preponed only by 10 days and there will be no academic loss for the students.

We have winter vacations every year and the same is the case this year also. The vacations were scheduled from 9 December but have been preponed, said Registrar Ateekur Rehman.

Asked about the ongoing examinations of the students, he said the students will write the remaining papers upon their return from winter vacation. We will ensure that there is no academic loss for the students, he added.

Protests were held at the NIT-Srinagar and other colleges over a students social media post allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The protesters demanded stringent action against the non-local student who has been sent home on leave and the police have registered an FIR in the case.

Police said that the student had shared the offensive video from social media.

Meanwhile, J&K DGP RR Swain said on Thursday that sharing videos, posting texts and messages on social media that have a potential to trigger communal frenzy, disrupt peace, promote terrorism and separatism will invite strict action as per the law.

He said that the J&K police was duty bound to ensure nobody tries to show any sort of disrespect towards Prophet Muhammad or any religious group or community in a bid to vitiate the peace and fuel violence. Police will nab the anti-social elements, anti-peace elements and vested interests working on some backdoor agenda.

He said that if anybody receives texts or videos having potential to disturb peace should immediately contact the police station concerned. The person shouldnt be part of the circulation of the video or text that can fuel communal hatred and disrupt peace, the DGP said.
With as many as 4,178 persons dying in road mishaps, Odisha recorded close to 5% jump in road accident fatalities in the current year from January to September corresponding to the last years tally.

There were 8,939 road accidents, 4,178 fatalities and 7,898 injuries occurred during the year 2023 from January to September. There is 2.84 % increase in accidents in 2023( Jan to Sept) and 4.89 % increase in fatalities (Jan to Sept) as compared to 2022 of the same period whereas there was 11,663 i.e 6.19% increase in road accident in 2022 as compared to 2021 and 7.5 % increasing fatalities in 2022 as compared to the year 2021, said officials.

In view of the rise in road accidents, the state government will launch Zero Fatality Week from 1st to 7th December.

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The vision of Zero Fatality Week is to further reduce the rate of increase in road accidents and fatalities. The State Government is committed to address this issue and with aim to Zero Fatality during 1st to 7th Dec, 2023, the Govt. in Commerce & Transport Department has given instruction to all Districts to prepare action plans for each district in response to Standard Operating Procedure given to all Regional Transport Offices.

As per information, in the Zero Fatality Week observed in last April-2023, there was 33 % decrease in accidents and 14.6 % decrease in fatalities during the same period in 2022. Boudh, Rayagada, Sonepur, Bhadrak, Malkangiri , Nayagarh and Sambalpur district are top performing districts that observed 100% reduction in fatalities during that period.

All District Collectors have been to achieve better than the previous time, get all government offices and employees involved and to work out activity plan, Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena advised

Self Help Group members who have got scooters under Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana and are learners will be sensitised to be less prone to accidents. Road safety engineering plan, behavioural changes and enforcement should be top priority in observance of Zero Fatality week, he urged.

The violations like drunken driving, driving without a helmet, use of mobile phones while driving, speeding, triple riding, insurance, illegal parking, wrong side driving, etc. will be sternly dealt with.

The National High Authority of India and other agencies concerned with road safety have been instructed to hold monthly meetings for solutions to problems like removal of potholes, repair of barriers, improvement of roads, and identification of black spots prone to accidents etc. All stakeholder departments have been sensitizing their roles in details, added the official.
On the eve of polling in Telangana there was tension at the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam project, an interstate irrigation project between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh after the latter deployed a large posse of police personnel during the wee hours of the night to take control of half of the project.

There were heated arguments between the police forces belonging to AP and Telangana. However, Congress has accused the BRS of deliberately trying to evoke the Telangana sentiment on the polling day by colluding with YSRCP which is in power in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj assured that the police will look into the matter. Regarding the comments made by the political leaders, he added that those were being made in a haste.

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, the Congress candidate from Nalgonda accused the BRS of trying to raise tempers on polling day by evoking Andhra-Telangana sentiment.

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Congress state president A Revanth Reddy echoed similar thoughts. Today, a drama is going on at Nagarjuna Sagar. The CEO has to take care of all those things because the government is working under him. If it is not resolved now, then on 9 December our government will be formed. We will find a way through discussion. KCR has never tried to find a solution for the problems of Telangana. You can see his failures. As outgoing chief minister, he has no role and has neither seems interested. He only has interests of his own family in mind.

Notably, on the intervening night of November 29 and 30, Andhra Pradesh deployed nearly 500 reserved police personnel who then proceeded to remove the barricades and CCTVs installed by the Telangana government.

The AP irrigation authorities fenced their part of half the project with barbed wires in order to control operations of gates 14 to 26.

DSP, Miryalaguda P Venkatgiri rushed to the spot and tried to reason with AP police personnel to remove the fencing but there was no resolution to it.

There are two dams on River Krishna at the border between two states. While Srisailam dam is on the upstream, the Nagarjuna Sagar dam lies on the downstream of the same river. The Nagarjuna Sagar Left canal is under control of Telangana and it is divided in three zones. While Zone 1 belongs to Telangana and Zone 3 to Andhra Pradesh, Zone 2 runs zigzag between the two states. Following orders of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), the control of Nagarjuna Sagar Right canal is also with Telangana. However, Andhra Pradesh has always staked its claim over control on half of the project. This is the third time that police personnel of both states were involved in a heated altercation over the dam project.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left here on Thursday evening for Dubai to attend the World Climate Action Summit to be held on Friday, saying the summit will provide an opportunity to the global community to review progress made under the Paris Agreement and chart a path for future course on climate action.

In keeping with our civilisational ethos, India has always laid emphasis on climate action even as we pursue social and economic development, he said in a statement before his departure.

The PM noted that climate was high on Indias priority during its G20 presidency. The New Delhi Leaders Declaration includes numerous concrete steps on climate action and sustainable development, he said, adding he looks forward to the COP-28 taking forward the consensus on these issues.

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Mr Modi said that at the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India, the Global South spoke for the need for climate action based on the principles of equity, climate justice, and common but differentiated responsibilities, as well as a greater focus on adaptation. It is important that efforts of the developing world be supported with adequate climate financing and technology transfer. They must have access to equitable carbon and development space to achieve sustainable development, he added.

The PM said, India has walked the talk when it comes to climate action. Our achievements in different sectors like renewable energy, energy efficiency, afforestation, energy conservation, Mission LiFE are testament to the commitment of our people towards mother Earth. He said he looks forward to joining special events including on climate finance, Green Credit initiative and LeadIT.

The PM said he will have have bilateral meetings with other leaders present at Dubai and discuss ways to accelerate global climate action.
Rajasthan Exit Poll 2023: Congress may just manage to retain power in Rajasthan with an extremely close contest with the BJP, Axis My India exit poll results have predicted. According to the exit poll predictions, the Congress party is likely to grab anywhere between 86-106 seats, while the BJP may win 80-100 seats.

The majority mark in the 200-member Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is 101. The elections, however, were held for 199 seats due to the death of a candidate on one seat.

According to the exit poll results, Congress is projected to get 42 per cent vote share against the BJPs 41 per cent.

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If the predictions turn true, the Congress party will change Rajasthans tradition of voting out the incumbent government. For the last three decades, no party has repeated government in Rajasthan.

As far as region-wise results are concerned, Congress is predicted to win 12 of the 21 Shekhawati seats and the BJP will get just 7. Two of the seats may go to independents.

In the Jaipur-Dhundhar region, the Congress may get as many as 26 seats against the BJPs 17. There are a total of 44 seats in this region and one seat may go to the others.

In its stronghold, Mewar, the BJP may repeat its 2018 performance with 20 seats. The Congress is also projected to bag 12 seats. Three seats may go to the others.

In Marwad, the BJP is likely to edge past the Congress by winning as many as 20 seats. In 2018, the saffron party had won 18 seats in this region. Congress this time is predicted to win 18 seats.

In the Ahirwal area too, the Congress is looking to upset the BJP. The elections for the 199 of the 200 Rajasthan seats were held on November 25. The final results will be declared on December 3.

Warning! Exit poll predictions could often get it wrong. For accurate results, come back to thestatesman.com on December 3.
On Thursday morning in Telangana polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. This time as many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray.

The future of the candidates will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters.A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Voters would exert their franchise at 35,655 polling stations set up across the state.

For the first time in Telangana, a home voting facility is being provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years of age.

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Home voting for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has also been made available, with about 27,600 voters enlisted to avail of the service on Thursday. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System.

Earlier, Chief Electoral Officer for the state, Vikas Raj, on Wednesday, said that about 12,000 critical polling stations have been identified in the state where additional forces

At each polling station, volunteers will be stationed to help out disabled and wheelchair-bound voters. In addition, there will also be braille posters and ballots for the visually impaired to help them cast their votes. Similarly, we have also put up posters in sign language for the hearing-impaired. We have made all requisite arrangements for our polling staff, the CEO added.

The ruling BRS is seeking a third term of governance based on the partys performance and promises over the past 10 years. The Congress is talking of support in its favour to form its first government in the state, and the BJP is also promising to end the misrule and corruption of the Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress President A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind are among the list of key contenders.

If K Chandrashekar Rao, widely known as KCR, wins another term in office, it will be the first occasion when a Chief Minister from a Southern state will get a third straight term in office.

KCR is contesting from two seats  his original seat Gajwel and Kamareddy. While he is facing BJP leader Etela Rajender in Gajewal, Congress state unit chief Revanth Reddy is taking him on in Kamareddy.

Apart from squaring off with KCR, both Etela and Revanth Reddy are also contesting from two seats, with the BJP leader from Huzurabad and the Congress best bet Reddy from Kodangal.

Among the highly discussed seats is Korutla from where BJP has fielded Lok Sabha member Arvind Dharmapuri against Kalvakuntla Sanjay of BRS, and Narsinga Rao Juvvadi of Congress.

Moreover, from Maheshwaram, the BRS has pitted Patlolla Sabitha Indra Reddy against K Laxma Reddy (Congress) and Andela Sriramulu Yadav (BJP). From Goshamahal, the Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded its Hindutva firebrand leader T Raja Singh, whose suspension was revoked last month following his reply to the show-cause notice issued by the party after a row was triggered by his remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

The Congress campaign in Telangana apparently picked up momentum after Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra and the partys victory in assembly polls in neighbouring Karnataka.

The three parties have made big promises in their manifestos. BJP leaders have been strongly attacking the KCR to fend off any perception of the party being soft towards the ruling party in Telangana. They have accused the Chief Minister of being inaccessible and ruling from a farmhouse.

BJP leaders have also accused KCR of propagating dynastic politics and said that suggestions by KCR to join NDA were not accepted. BRS leaders have refuted the suggestions about their intention to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

One of the key BJP promises is to make a person from the Backward Class community a Chief Minister if the party gets support from the people of the state to form a government.

The party has also reached out to various communities and the BJP-led government last week set in motion the process of setting up a committee that will go into the issue of sub-categorisation of the Madiga community within the Scheduled Castes. It has been a long-pending demand of the community.

BJP has promised in its manifesto to implement the Uniform Civil Code and quash 4 per cent reservation for Muslims and instead increase the quota for OBCs, SCs and STs in the state.

It has promised four free LPG cylinders per year to poor families, Rs 2 lakh to every girl child from a poor family after she attains the age of 21, 2.5 lakh government jobs in five years, procuring paddy at Rs 3100 per quintal, and reducing the price of petrol and diesel.

Congress has sought to outdo the BRS in its poll promises and has announced six guarantees including Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance under the Mahalakshmi scheme for women, LPG cylinders at Rs 500; and free travel for women in state-run buses.

The party has promised up to 200 units of free electricity to households, Rs 4,000 monthly pension will be paid to vulnerable sections.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders point out that the states per capita income has seen a significant rise in the last 10 years due to efforts of the government and various welfare and development schemes will continue.

In the 2014 assembly polls in united Andhra Pradesh, the then-incumbent Congress got 25.20 per cent votes and BRS (then TRS) got 34 per cent in the Telangana area.

Senior leaders of all parties including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda, Congress leaders Mallikurjan Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TRS KCR, KT Rama Rao and K Kavitha and AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi ran strong campaigns in the state.

In 2018, BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi) won 88 of the 119 seats and had 47.4 per cent of the vote share. The Congress came a distant second with just 19 seats.
In a demonstration of civic duty and a celebration of democracy, popular Telugu actor Meka Srikanth exercised his right to vote at the Jubilee Hills polling station in Hyderabad during the ongoing Telangana Assembly polls. Encouraging fellow citizens to participate in the electoral process, Srikanth emphasized the significance of showcasing the power of democracy through the act of voting.

The electoral fervor swept across all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana, with polling stations witnessing elaborate arrangements to facilitate a smooth voting process. The voting, which commenced at 7 am, is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm, allowing ample time for citizens to partake in this democratic exercise.

Joining the ranks of conscientious voters, acclaimed actor Allu Arjun cast his vote at the BSNL centre polling booth no 153 in Hyderabads Jubilee area. Displaying a sense of equality with his fellow citizens, Arjun patiently waited in line to fulfill his civic responsibility.

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The star-studded participation continued as other notable celebrities, including Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh Daggubati, and Jr NTR, made early appearances at various polling booths alongside their families. Chiranjeevi, who garnered attention from both media and fans, urged the people of the state to exercise their right to vote, emphasizing its paramount importance in shaping the democratic landscape. Amidst the commotion, he conveyed a simple yet powerful message, stating, Everybody should cast their votes! That is it.

Allu Arjun, engaging with voters while standing in the queue, expressed his responsibility by urging everyone to cast their votes in a conscientious manner. Taking to social media, he reinforced the message, sharing a picture and writing, Please. Cast your vote responsibly.

Jr NTR, accompanied by his family, participated in the democratic process at the P Obul Reddy Public School polling booth in Hyderabad. The actor, seen patiently waiting with his wife and mother, embodied the spirit of civic engagement.

The veteran actor Venkatesh Daggubati and Oscar-winning music director MM Keeravani were also among the prominent Telugu personalities present at various polling booths in Hyderabad, Telangana. Keeravani, in addition to casting his vote, took a moment to interact with the media, adding another layer of celebrity engagement to the electoral event.
A day after the Supreme Court held that the Central government had powers to extend the tenure of the Delhi chief secretary Naresh Kumar, former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday said thats all the ruling dispensation wanted to appoint officers to make Delhi government days uncomfortable.

Notably, Kumar, who had earlier served as the chief secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, was due to retire on November 30.

The SC on Wednesday gave its nod to extend the tenure of the incumbent Delhi chief secretary by six months.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) later issued an order of extension of service of Delhi chief secretary Kumar for a period of six months.

Approval of the Competent Authority is hereby conveyed for the extension in service of Naresh Kumar, IAS (AGMUT:1987), Chief Secretary, GNCTD for a period of six months beyond 30.11.2023 (ie. from 01.12.2023 to 31.05.2024) under Rule 16(1) of the All India Services (Death Cum Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, read the order issued by the MHA.
A US Navy warship shot down a drone on Wednesday launched from a part of Yemen controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the American military's Central Command said.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen and are part of an "axis of resistance" arrayed against Israel, have launched a series of drones and missiles since the start of Israel's war on Gaza last month.

"At approximately 1100 (Sanaa time), while in the South Red Sea, the Arleigh-Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) shot down an Iranian-produced KAS04 unmanned aerial vehicle launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," CENTCOM said in a statement.

"Although its intentions are not known, the UAV was heading toward the warship," which was escorting a US Navy oiler and a US-flagged ship carrying military equipment, it said, adding that "there were no injuries to US personnel and no damage to US vessels."

The US Navy downed multiple drones launched from Yemen on November 23, one drone on November 15, and both missiles and drones on October 19, while the Houthis shot down an American drone earlier this month.

The drone and missile launches and shootdowns are related to Israel's relentless land and air invasion of the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Iran drone approaches carrier



Those deaths have provoked widespread anger in the Middle East and provided an impetus for attacks against American troops in the region as well as on Israel by armed groups opposed to both.

Israel has faced drone and missiles launched from Lebanon and Yemen, while American forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in a series of attacks that have injured dozens of US personnel.

Washington has blamed the attacks on its personnel on Iran-backed forces and responded with air strikes on multiple occasions.

But a truce between Israel and Hamas appears to have led to a lull in the attacks, with the Pentagon saying Tuesday that there had been none since it began on November 24.

In another incident related to the Gaza war, the United States said Wednesday that an Iranian drone flew dangerously close to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier the day before.

The Eisenhower is the centerpiece of one of two carrier strike groups deployed as part of US efforts to deter Iran and its proxy forces from escalating Israel's war on the strip into a broader regional conflict.

"This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior by Iran risks US and partner nation lives and needs to cease immediately," Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, who commands American naval forces in the Middle East, said in a statement.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur asserted that the country would become a developed nation by 2047 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Participating in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Abhiyan in the Una district, on Thursday the minister inaugurated the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) aimed for regional development and public awareness under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a nationwide outreach programme to create awareness among people about central government schemes and ensure that the benefits reach to the common masses.

The event coincided with the nationwide launch of the Drone Didi scheme, which aims to provide drone operation skills to women self-help groups and these skills will transform the delivery of pesticides and urea in agricultural fields through the use of drones.

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While talking to media persons, Anurag Singh Thakur, giving information about Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra, said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set before the country the goal of a developed India by 2047, in which every Indian is making his contribution with full dedication, he said.

During the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programme in the Una district which falls under his parliamentary constituency, he met the beneficiaries of various public welfare schemes started by prime minister and listened to their experiences.

We will make India a developed nation before 2047. The vans flagged off will visit 2,69,000 panchayats and ensure that people know about the schemes of the Government of India. This journey will instill confidence and resolve in every Indian to contribute in making India a developed country. Youth, farmers, women, poor, entrepreneurs, every section together will create a developed India, he said.

The Union minister expressed confidence in the transformative impact of Drone Didi Scheme on the women of Himachal Pradesh and the entire country and expressed hope that it will provide them with entrepreneurial skills and financial strength.

He said, The prime ministers guarantees are always successful. These vehicles travelling to every corner of the country is giving confidence to the people that Modi has given corruption free governance in the last 9 years. Over the years, more than 13.5 crore poor people of the country have been brought out of the poverty line. More than 4 crore pucca houses, 13 crore toilets and tap water have been provided to 14 crore houses to the needy. More than 60 crore needy people of the country have been provided financial assistance annually, he said.

Furthermore, Health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh is being provided and 5 kg ration is being given free every month to more than 80 crore people, he said, adding that Modi has given free ration to the poor for 3 years through Pradhan Mantri Anna Yojana and a decision has been taken to extend it till 2028.

Apart from this, Antyodaya families will continue to get 35 kg of food grains for free. This is Modis guarantee to the country, said Thakur.

He said that the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra campaign is in line with the governments vision of inclusive growth, economic growth and creating a knowledge-driven society.

The IEC vans, starting their journey in Una district, will play a vital role in connecting with the community, addressing concerns and promoting key developmental initiatives, he added.

Responding to a media query Thakur said, Congresss guarantees are fake like their leaders and have failed just like their governments.

Ask any women whether they have received Rs 500 per month. It has been about a year since the government was formed. By now they should have got Rs 18,000, however not even 18 paise has come in their bank accounts, he said taking a jibe at the Congress government guarantee.

They promised to buy Rs 2 kg of cow dung and Rs 100 kg of milk from every farmer but nothing has been done. The promise of 300 units of free electricity is still a sham, whereas instead the peoples electricity bills are getting higher. There was talk of a start-up fund of Rs 600 crores, not even Rs 6 crores have been given so far, he claimed.
Gibraltar stands out as a persistent point of contention between Spain and Britain. The announcement by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, indicating Spains readiness to sign a deal on the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar adds a new chapter to the historical narrative of this rocky enclave at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The roots of the Gibraltar issue trace back to 1713 when Spain ceded the territory to Britain. However, the complexities of post-Brexit negotiations have brought this long standing matter back into the spotlight.

The enclave found itself excluded from the exit deal negotiated between Britain and the European Union(EU), sparking a series of discussions and proposals aimed at defining its future status. The proposal put forth by Spain several months ago, is described as balanced and generous. While the specifics of the agreement are yet to be unveiled, it seems to underscore a collaborative effort to address the concerns of both nations. The willingness of the countries to engage in dialogue, evident in the scheduled meeting between Mr Albares and British Foreign Minister David Cameron, reflects a diplomatic commitment to finding common ground. The significance of any possible deal is amplified by its potential impact on the daily lives of Gibraltarians and the broader regional dynamics. The status of Gibraltars borders, especially in terms of how they will be policed, has been a focal point of negotiations. The looming question of whether the enclave will remain under British rule or shift toward a shared governance model with Spain adds complexity to the discussions.

The delicate balance of preserving the historical context while adapting to the realities of the present and future is a challenge that demands nuanced solutions. The 31 December 2020 agreement, reached just hours before Britains full exit from the EU, laid the groundwork for Gibraltar to remain part of certain EU agreements. This included its association with the Schengen Area, an arrangement that facilitates borderfree movement among participating European countries. Spain was entrusted with the responsibility of policing Gibraltars port and airport, offering a temporary solution until a more permanent arrangement could be established. As the European Commission and Spain presented a proposal in late 2022, emphasising the need to keep Gibraltars land border open and ensure the free flow of people, the negotiations entered a critical phase.

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The complexity of these discussions is underscored by the historical backdrop, with Spains long standing desire for the return of Gibraltar hanging in the balance. The potential signing of the deal, as expressed by Mr Albares, raises hopes for a resolution to this intricate diplomatic puzzle. If successful, it would mark a triumph of diplomacy and compromise, setting a precedent for addressing historical disputes through dialogue and cooperation. However, the journey toward an agreement is often fraught with challenges, and the international community will be watching closely as the fate of Gibraltar unfolds.
At least two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli army gunfire during its raid on the West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

The Ministry said on Wednesday in a brief press statement sent to Xinhua news agency that two children were killed as a result of being shot by Israeli forces in the city of Jenin.

According to local sources and eyewitnesses, the army conducted a wide-scale arrest campaign in the refugee camp, and evacuated residents in the Damaj neighbourhood from their homes amid intense confrontations, Xinhua news agency reported.

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The sources added that the Israeli army also bombed a house with a drone, and demolished infrastructures such as water, electricity and sewage networks with bulldozers.

Jenin has long been a centre for Palestinian resistance groups.

Israel says the camp is a hub for planning and preparing militant attacks as well as a safe haven for fighters funded by Hamas or the Islamic Jihad group.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their truce in the Gaza Strip, allowing the release of more Israel hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The truce was extended minutes before the expiry of the existing deal as Hamas gave Israel a new list of women and child hostages to be freed.

Earlier last night, Israels war cabinet had uninamously decided that fighting would resume immediately if Hamas did not deliver a new list of hostages to be released.

Qatar, who mediated the original deal along with the US and Egypt, has also confirmed the extension of humanitarian truce in Gaza for another day.

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Palestinian and Israeli sides have reached an agreement to extend the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for an additional day under the existing conditions, which are a cessation of all military activities and the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Qatars Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a statement.

The four-day truce was extended for another two days and was about to expire today morning. Howeve, Qatars intense efforts with support from the US and Egypt, brought Hamas and Israel on the same page and the deal was extended.

As of Wednesday night, Hamas has released 102 hostages, while 210 Palestinians prisoners have been freed by Israel in exchange.

Hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks carrying medical supplies and fuel have also been allowed into Gaza as part of the deal.

The extended truce will have conditions similar to the original deal, Qatar said.

Israel, meanwhile, has reiterated that it will resume its attack with full force once the deal is over.
In a historic moment for Nepal, Lamjung witnessed the countrys inaugural same-sex marriage on Wednesday, marking a significant stride towards inclusivity. The union was officially recorded at the ward 2 office of the rural municipality and involved 27-year-old Surendra Pandey from Kawasoti Municipality-8 in Nawalparasi East and 37-year-old Ram Bahadur Gurung, who prefers to be addressed as Maya, hailing from Dordi Rural Municipality-2 in Lamjung.

Interestingly, Surendra and Maya formalized their marriage legally five years after their initial temple ceremony. Their journey began nine years ago in Kawasoti when they first crossed paths at a local restaurant. Sharing their love story, Maya recounted, We met in a restaurant and immediately liked each other. After a couple of weeks of courtship, we moved in together. However, societal and familial acceptance proved elusive, prompting the couple to relocate to Kathmandu. Despite their temple marriage half a decade ago, legal recognition remained elusive until recent developments.

The turning point came with a groundbreaking ruling by the Supreme Court on June 27, ordering the government to officially register marriages involving same-sex and non-heterosexual couples. This momentous decision not only validated Surendra and Mayas commitment but also positioned Nepal as the second Asian nation, after Taiwan in 2019, to recognize and legalize same-sex marriages.

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The wheels of change were in motion back in 2015 when the Supreme Court issued a directive to eradicate discriminatory laws against sexual and gender minorities. This included a call to formulate laws acknowledging and supporting same-sex marriages following a thorough study.

Last December, the court further reinforced its commitment to inclusivity by directing the government to grant a non-tourist visa to Tobias Volz, a German national married to Adheep Pokharel, a Nepali citizen, despite initial reluctance from the authorities. The legal landscape continued to evolve as the government, under court directive, provided Volz with a non-tourist visa.

In a related case from 2017, a lesbian couple comprising Suman Panta, a Nepali citizen, and Leslie Luin Melnik, a US national, challenged the governments denial of a non-tourist visa to the American partner.

Nepals journey toward equal recognition and rights for the LGBTQ+ community reflects a growing global trend, with these legal and societal shifts shaping a more inclusive landscape for individuals irrespective of their sexual orientation.
Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Periods of light snow. High 24F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch..

Tonight

Light snow this evening will give way to some clearing late. Low 14F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%.
Israel and the US are mulling the potential expulsion of numerous lower-ranking members of the Palestinian group Hamas after the end of the ongoing war, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported.

The goal is to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip, drawing parallels to the past deportation of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) members, including leader Yasser Arafat, from Lebanon to Tunisia.

According to the WSJ, there is no detailed plan for executing this expulsion. The report suggests that the idea may face challenges, with an analyst deeming it "unrealistic." Additionally, it has acknowledged that Hamas members would likely resist such expulsion.

The report, citing unnamed senior Israeli and US officials, mentions an alternative proposal put forward by the Israeli army  the creation of a "Gaza Restoration Authority." This entity would be supported by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, tasked with rebuilding Gaza without the presence of Hamas.

However, significant obstacles to this plan include disagreements between Israel and the US on whether the Palestinian Authority (PA) would be involved in the solution, as Israel insists that the PA cannot have a governing role in the Gaza Strip.

Moreover, the endorsement of this solution by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi is deemed necessary for its success.

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Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com.
The writer, a Wrentham resident, is the director of operations for a Newton-based consulting firm.
The country's largest multiplex operator PVR Inox will open 150 screens in the next fiscal with an investment of about Rs 500 crore, a top company official has said.

The company, which opened a six-screen luxury cinema at Maison Inox in Mumbai on Thursday, already runs 118 screens across 23 properties in the megapolis.

Overall, including its property in Colombo, it operates 1,711 screens at 359 properties across 114 cities.

We are planning to add 150 more screens at an investment of around Rs 500 crore next fiscal, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, an executive director at PVR Inox, told PTI.

On the Maison Inox, he said normally a screen required an investment of Rs 5 crore but given that it's a luxury collection and comes with the first attached bar (Gastby Bar), the per screen cost is about Rs 7 crore.

On the company's overseas expansion plans, he said they will have more screens in Sri Lanka only and not anywhere else.

Despite the civil war and the deep financial difficulties, "Sri Lanka has been an extremely good market for us so far", Bijli said.

"Given the response to our first screen in the capital of the island nation, we are planning to have more properties there. But we have no other overseas market in mind for expansion," Bijli said.
The Palestinian group Hamas said its militants carried out a shooting in Jerusalem on Thursday, killing three people despite agreeing to extend for a day a truce in Gaza and to release at least 10 more Israeli captives.

The threat of a renewed escalation in attacks came as Washington's top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, met officials in Israel to seek a longer pause in the devastating war.

The fate of the truce is hanging in the balance once again.

A Hamas source told AFP that 10 more Israeli captives would be released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, after the warring parties agreed to extend the pause in combat operations until Friday morning.

"All of them are alive," said the source who is not authorised to speak to the media and asked to remain anonymous. "Israel last night refused a list Hamas proposed that included three Israeli bodies."

Only hours after the truce extension, the Islamist militants claimed responsibility for a shooting in Jerusalem that killed three people and called for an "escalation of the resistance".

The morning attack saw two gunmen from annexed east Jerusalem kill three people and wound eight others at a bus stop in the western part of the city, before two off-duty soldiers "neutralised" them, police said.

Ten captives per day



Separately, two Israeli soldiers were slightly injured in a ramming attack on a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the army said, adding the assailant had also been "shot and neutralised".

If the truce does come to an end on Friday, it will be despite international pressure for more time to allow medical supplies, food and fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip after fierce combat and bombardments sparked by Hamas's bloody October 7 attacks on Israel.

"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," Blinken said at a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv.

"It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately. So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue."

Blinken later told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu it was "imperative" to protect civilians in southern Gaza "before any military operations there".

The latest extended truce had been due to end at 0500 GMT, but the Israeli army said the "operational pause" would continue as international mediators negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Qatar, which has led the truce negotiations supported by Egypt and the United States, confirmed the pause had been extended for one day "under the same previous conditions".

Fighting began on October 7 with Al-Aqsa Flood operation by Hamas, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

In response, Israel unleashed an air and ground military campaign that the Hamas government says has killed more than 15,000 people in Gaza, more than two third of them women and children.

The truce agreement allows for extensions if Hamas can continue to release 10 captives per day, but both sides have warned they are ready to return to fighting.

Shortly after the hostages arrived in Israel, the country's prison service said 30 Palestinian prisoners had been released, including well-known activist Ahed Tamimi.

Since the truce began on November 24, 70 Israeli captives have been freed in return for 210 Palestinian prisoners.

At least 24 foreigners, most of them Thais living in Israel, have been freed outside the terms of the deal.

'Humanitarian catastrophe'



Israel says it sees the truce as a temporary halt intended to free captives, but there are growing calls for a more sustained pause in fighting.

Israel's army has said it is investigating a claim by Hamas's armed wing that a 10-month-old baby captive, his four-year-old brother and their mother had been killed by Israeli bombing in Gaza.

Before the truce Israeli ground and air forces had pounded Gaza, forcing an estimated 1.7 million people -- around 80 percent of the Hamas-run territory's population -- to leave their homes and limiting the entry of food, water, medicine and fuel.

'Everything is gone'



Conditions in Gaza remain "catastrophic", according to the World Food Programme, and the population faces a "high risk of famine".

The truce has allowed some of the displaced to return to their homes, but for many there is little left.

"I discovered that my house had been completely destroyed -- 27 years of my life to build it and everything is gone," said Taghrid al-Najjar, 46, after returning to her home in southeastern Gaza.

The Israeli war on Gaza has also raised tensions in the West Bank, where nearly 240 Palestinians have been killed by either Israeli soldiers or settlers since October 7, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

That figure exceeds the entire toll in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for all of last year when 235 people died, mostly Palestinians, an AFP tally showed.

An eight-year-old boy and a teenager were the latest deaths in the occupied territory, with Israel saying its troops "responded with live fire" after suspects hurled explosive devices.

On Thursday, two gunmen from east Jerusalem killed three people and wounded eight others at a bus stop in the western part of the city before two off-duty soldiers "neutralised" them, police said.

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It has just been a week since stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das won an Emmy for his Netflix special Vir Das: Landing.' For Das, this victory has connotations at so many levels; most significantly, it helps him look the naysayers, the trolls and the Bhakts in the eye. "All's well that ends well," he tells THE WEEK, with an assertion that is characteristic of one who is comfortable in his own skin.



Vir has been around for almost two decades during which he joked, acted, hosted, anchored and in time became a target for massive trolling for his monologue, 'I come from Two Indias,' which revolved around his perception of two Indias - a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde India, the good and the bad, the irony and the hypocrisy. The more volatile the milieu is the more the comedy. I have a simple rule: whatever the climate is, I am writing a joke about it. You will never find me complaining about it; you will never find me screaming about it. You will only find me joking about it," he tells THE WEEK.



Das didn't expect the Emmy until the last minute when he saw two envelopes on the jury table; he was actually there to cheer for Shefali Shah, who too, was a contender. Along with him, the other nominees included El Encargado from Argentina and the French show Le Flambeau season two. Das and Derry Girls getting the same amount of votes is "statistically a very rare thing that happened," says Das.



The way the Emmys work is such that there are six to seven regions across the world and thousands of submissions coming from every region which are then narrowed down by jurors who watch every piece of content from every region before casting a vote. That makes Das's victory even more remarkable given that the competition went beyond two or more actors, it was a contest of content  shows that have gained international repute and boast of millions in viewership.

Das can aptly be described as a rule-breaking comic, one who's impatiently waiting in line to bag a lasting place for himself in pop-culture lore. My wife once said that I was born a generation early. She said, The reason your shows are selling out right now is that you were born for this generation, but you were born the generation before it, says Das. I hope that 20 years after I am dead, something will happen in the world and you can quote me about it, and that will be my job done.

Das isn't the kind of person who'd walk with his chin up; rather, he'd prefer to walk with his head down, preferring to stay low, yet, be heard the farthest and loudest. Last year, THE WEEK had spoken to him when he was nominated for the Emmy. At the time, Das said he was contemplating what to wear on the red carpet. He knew nothing about fashion, so he offered a chance to a brand-new fashion designer to dress him up for it. The designer, Pradeep Bhat, was a third-year student at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.



Post the Emmy, he has big plans with his comedy company, Weirdass Comedy and wants to get back to acting, after having close to 20 films to his credit so far including Badmaash Company (2010), Delhi Belly (2011) Go Goa Gone (2013) among others. He also enjoys wearing many other hats. Recently, I got to create a project, act in it, co-direct a few episodes and be a show-runner as well. I just didnt know enough to do that earlier, but now with experience, some very interesting choices are in front of me.

Das the interviewee is nothing like Das the comic. He is serious, introspective, thoughtful and self-deprecating. He reflects on why he did not taste much success as an actor, and the lessons he learnt from past failures such as Go Goa Gone and Mumbai Salsa. He is now looking at reinventing himself for the screen. But ask the comic, what happens when the jokes feel repetitive and unoriginal? His sharpest critics say he is an unintelligent comedian, but Das maintains that the best thing one can call me is stupid. Nothing you say about me can be worse than the things I have said about myself on stage, he says.
Aadujeevitham, the Malayalam survival drama written and directed by National Award winner Blessy and starring Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead, will finally hit theatres on April 10, 2024, after a long wait.

Based on the eponymous novel by Benyamin, the film also stars Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Amala Paul and Arab actors Talib al Balushi and RikAby.

Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life, an Epic Tale of the Greatest Survival Adventure), follows the true story of the life of a young man Najeeb, who in the early 90s migrates from Kerala in search of fortunes in Saudi Arabia.

Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman composed the original score and songs of the movie, while Resul Pookkutty is the sound designer.

Speaking about the movie, which is made for a global audience, Blessy said, The greatest challenge in front of me was that 'The Goat Life' is a subject with universal appeal and I would have to stay truthful to its narrative style. The novel is based on some real incidents and I want to captivate the viewers with each moment that something as unbelievable happened to someone. Truth has never been so much stranger than fiction. The scale of the movie demands to be felt within the confines of a theatre and we are excited to bring this magnum opus to audiences around the world.

The movie will be released in five languagesHindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Vicky Kaushal is all set for the release of his most-awaited film this yearSam Bahadur. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film is a biographical war drama that tracks the true story of a decorated officer of the Indian Army. Gulzar, who has films like Raazi to her credit, had said that Kaushal was her first and only choice to portray Manekshaw.

Who was Sam Manekshaw?

Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, popularly known as Sam Manekshaw, was the Army Chief during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, which led to the formation of Bangladesh. Through his illustrious military career, Manekshaw fought five wars, including his service with the British Indian Army in World War II. In recognition of his leadership and strategic brilliance that led the Indian Army to victory in the 1971 war, he was made Field Marshal in January 1973 the first Indian to be bestowed with the honour. It was then prime minister Indira Gandhi who decided to promote Manekshaw to the rank of Field Marshal.

There are many stories about the legacy of Manekshaw, one of them being about how he came to be known as 'Sam Bahadur'. According to reports, it happened in 1969, when Manekshaw, during a visit to a Gorkha Rifles battalion, asked a soldier if he knew his name. The soldier replied 'Sam Bahadur', and the nickname stuck around.

Manekshaw's leadership skills have been lauded by many, and the stories recorded in many books. According to several accounts, during the 1971 war, Manakeshaw warned his soldiers against loot and rape as they entered Pakistan. He commanded them to treat the women with respect, and warned of consequences if orders were not followed. I am commanding soldiers, not thieves, he had said.

Family and career

Manekshaw was born in a Parsi family in Amritsar in 1914. Like his father, Hormizd Manekshaw, Sam, too, wanted to pursue the medical profession. But life had other plans. He was among the first batch of cadets to join the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun in 1932. For his services in the World War II, he was presented the Military Cross for gallantry. Post-partition, Manekshaw was reassigned to the 8th Gorkha Rifles.

He married Silloo Bode on April 22, 1939 in Bombay. The couple had two daughters Sherry and Maja. Manekshaw passed away at the age of 94 due to complications from pneumonia, at the Military Hospital in Wellington on June 27, 2008.
Social media posts and content that promotes disharmony will be a criminal offence under Section 144 of the CRPC in Jammu and Kashmir, DGP R R Swain said on Thursday. Posting such messages or videos by terrorists, separatists or other anti-national elements will be a crime, he reportedly added.



A new provision under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) will be introduced into effect, the J&K director general of police said.

According to the senior police official, sharing such content will also attract legal consequences. Civilians should, instead, report such social media content to the nearest police station, he reportedly said.

"Under (Section)144 CrPC, we have decided to bring a law on the posting of any type of content message, video, audio which will instigate communal disharmony and terrorise or threaten anyone.

"Whether they are terrorists, separatists, or anti-national elements, posting such messages and videos will be a crime as per the law," news agency PTI reported DGP Swain as telling reporters in Jammu.

The DGP said before the law is enacted it will be placed in the public domain for feedback.

"People who post videos, including those aimed to harm the respect of the Prophet (Muhammad), and those who forward it will be committing a crime. We will index such people, ensuring they face disadvantages for having done such a thin," PTI quoted him as stating.

Swain said that Pakistani social media handles generate and post content that is shared by some elements locally to create trouble and harm peace.

Students of Srinagar's National Institute of Technology (NIT) took to the streets on Tuesday over an allegedly blasphemous social media post against prophet Muhammad by a student of the institute. The protests subsided after top NIT officials assured action against the author of the social media post asked the police to initiate legal action against him.
The Telangana Assembly elections held on Thursday across 119 Assembly seats may signal a change, according to multiple exit poll results. The Congress and the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) engaged in a pitched battle for power, resulting in high-voltage campaigns and aggressive statements from political opponents.

Adhering to the norms set by the Election Commission of India (ECI), private agencies and media outlets released exit polls post 5.30 pm after polling concluded.

The magic figure for any party to form a government in Telangana is 60, and the Congress seems to have just managed to cross that mark, if the exit surveys are any indication of what is to come. A few agencies have shown that the Congress would win the highest number of seats but fall a few seats short of the required 60 seats. For the BRS, the agencies have provided contrasting figures ranging from 30 seats to 50 seats. Only a few agencies believe BRS could manage to form the government for the third time.

The AIMIM and the BJP were given single seats, as expected. Overall, the polls suggest a strong resurgence of Congress in the state compared to its past performance.

The surveys also ring alarm bells for the BRS, as none of the exit poll surveys show them reaching anywhere close to the 88 seats the party won in the 2018 elections.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao held a press conference and dismissed the exit poll surveys as "nonsense", questioning their authenticity and methodology, citing that people were still queued up outside booths even after 6 pm. He expressed confidence that the BRS would come back to power, winning more than 70 seats, and this would be proven on the day of the results, December 3.

Congress president A. Revanth Reddy also spoke to the media, stating that the people of Telangana voted consciously and chose the Congress.

Some surveys have also raised the possibility of a hung assembly in the state. It has been learned that both parties, Congress and BRS, are prepared if faced with any such eventuality.
The Kerala government faced a significant setback as the Supreme Court nullified the reappointment of Dr Gopinathan Ravindran as the vice-chancellor (VC) of Kannur University in Kerala.



While quashing the Kerala governments decision to re-appoint Gopinath Ravindran as the vice-chancellor, the apex court observed "unwarranted intervention of the State Government" in Gopinath being reappointed through a notification dated November 23, 2021. Additionally, the court noted that the Chancellor (Kerala Governor) "abdicated or surrendered" the statutory powers for re-appointing the vice-chancellor.

Background of the case

In 2021, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan, also serving as the chancellor, issued the re-appointment order for Gopinath Ravindran the day after his term had expired. This marked the first instance in the state where the governor re-appointed a vice-chancellor who had completed a four-year term in the same position for an additional four years. Following this appointment, the committee tasked with selecting a new VC was disbanded, leading to allegations of political interference in the re-appointment.

The appellants sought the annulment of the re-appointment, contending that, as per regulations, a person is eligible to serve as vice-chancellor only until the age of 60. Given that Ravindran, born on December 19, 1960, surpassed the age limit during his second appointment, they argued for its cancellation. Furthermore, they asserted that once a vice-chancellor's four-year term concludes, there is no provision for an extension, and the only recourse is a new appointment.

However, both a single bench and later the division bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed the appeal, stating that the reappointment adhered to the laws. Today, a three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra set aside the high court's order from February 23, 2022.

In October 2022, the Supreme Court, in a similar case, invalidated the reappointment of the vice-chancellor of Calcutta University. In that instance as well, the court's decision was based on the observation that the West Bengal State Government had "usurped the powers of the Chancellor."

What the petitioner says

Shino P. Jose, an Academic Council member of Kannur University and one of the petitioners in the case, stated to THE WEEK that the decision of the apex court marks a significant triumph against the favouritism, nepotism, and political interference exhibited by the Kerala government in the higher education sector. "We opted for legal avenues to address these issues, bringing our case to the Supreme Court to contest the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran, believing he was functioning as a mere agent of the state government," he remarked.

"Upon scrutinizing his reappointment, we identified several legal flaws and subsequently approached the High Court. When the single bench verdict was delivered, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu challenged us, suggesting that petitioners could take the matter to higher courts. The recent Supreme Court decision acknowledges external intervention, a concern we consistently voiced from the outset. Both the Chancellor (Governor) and now the Supreme Court acknowledge this external influence. In light of this, the Higher Education Minister should take responsibility and resign from her post if any self-respect remains.

Impact of the verdict

The response from the Higher Education Minister to the verdict indicates her acceptance of it. However, she sought to shift the blame to the Chancellor (Governor), asserting that he should have exercised discretion in appointing the Vice-Chancellor. The minister explained, "The government merely submitted a proposal in accordance with the legal advice received from the Advocate General."

Similarly, M.V. Jayarajan, a veteran leader and CPI(M)'s Kannur district secretary, opined that in light of the verdict, the Governor has no right to retain his position. He emphasized, "Just like the vice-chancellor, the Governor should also step down."

Despite efforts by the party leadership to depict the verdict as not aimed at the government but rather at the Governor, it appears unlikely to successfully address the situation. Sasikumar, an educational activist associated with the Save Kerala University Forum, which tackles issues related to the politicization and alleged mafia control of higher education in Kerala, asserts that the verdict is a direct rebuke to the government.

In response to the verdict, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for pressuring him to approve Gopinath Ravindran's reappointment as vice-chancellor of Kannur University. The Governor reiterated that, despite reservations about the legality of the reappointment, he yielded to the decision due to the pressure exerted on him.

Governor Khan recounted that on November 21, 2021, just two days before Ravindran's term expiration, the Chief Minister's legal advisor and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) visited his office, presenting what they claimed to be the Advocate General's 'opinion.' According to the Governor, the CM met him the next day, reiterating the request.

Governor Khan mentioned that the government also submitted the signed legal opinion of the Advocate General, addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Higher Education Department. This opinion suggested that it was legally permissible to annul the notification for appointing a Search Committee and allow the Pro-Chancellor (higher education minister) to propose the reappointment of the incumbent for another continuous term of four years.

Governor Khan clarified that, despite expressing concerns about its legality and irregularity, he accepted the proposal based on the legal advice provided by the Advocate General. According to Khan's account, he officially authorized the government to withdraw the October 27 notification, which established the selection panel. This action enabled the State Government to submit the necessary proposal for the reappointment of Gopinath Ravindran due to what Khan referred to as the "intervention" of the state government.

Interestingly, the timing of the verdict was opportune, occurring just a day after the Supreme Court strongly criticized Khan for delaying the approval of bills passed by the Kerala State Legislative Assembly for two years. A day before the Supreme Court was scheduled to consider the Kerala government's plea against the prolonged withholding of eight important bills by the Governor, Khan sent seven bills for the President's consideration. This move led Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to criticize the Governor, questioning his respect for the Supreme Court. With the recent verdict on the Kannur VC reappointment, Governor Khan appears to have seized an opportunity for retaliatory comments.
Ahead of the 39th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy  the biggest industrial disaster in the world, representatives of survivors highlighted the major happenings during the year  some worth celebrating, others signifying the continuation of their four-decade-old travails.



On the night intervening December 2/3, 1984, highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MiC) gas leaked from the fertilizer factory of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), killing thousands and maiming lakhs for life. Survivors and their progeny continue to suffer severe health consequences from the disaster.

Five survivors organisations addressed a press conference on Thursday, rejoicing the fact that their sustained efforts led to Dow Chemical  the current owners of Union Carbide  appearing in an ongoing criminal case in Bhopal court. This is the first time that an international accused of the gas disaster appeared in the criminal case.

It is now up to the prosecution  the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure that Dow receives the harshest punishment for its crimes of Bhopal, they said, adding that since the CBI works directly under the Prime Minister, they were sending an appeal to him for effective and speedy prosecution of Dow Chemical.

They also congratulated the artists and makers of the OTT miniseries The Railwaymen for a powerful telling of the story of the disaster and its aftermath. They said it was heartening to see that the makers highlighted corporate machinations and governmental apathy behind the disaster and its long aftermath with clarity. They hailed the fact that issues of the hazardous design and reckless running of the MiC plant, the denial of sodium thiosulphate for detoxification and the denial of the basic elements of a life of dignity to the survivors in the long aftermath are all presented in an impactful manner.

Condemn attempts to close down the gas relief department

However, the representatives strongly condemned alleged attempts by the minister and officials of the Madhya Pradesh Department of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief & Rehabilitation to close down the department.

The representatives said they have recently come across an official document marked confidential that lays out a plan to close down the department. The plan, scheduled to be discussed at the next meeting of the state cabinet, proposes handing over the five hospitals and nine dispensaries run by the department to the departments of health and medical education. Without any basis, it is being claimed that such transfer will improve the health care of Bhopal survivors, they alleged.

In the last few months, the High Court has reprimanded the gas relief department for grave laxity in following the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Monitoring Committee for improvements in the health care of Bhopal survivors. Instead of making improvements such as computerized registration of patients, treatment protocols and quality of care, the officials are trying to shed total responsibility to escape judicial sanctions, the representatives said.

Those who addressed the press conference included Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha, Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group of Information and Action, Nawab Khan President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha and

Nasreen Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha.

Other significant developments of 2023

The organisations shared some other key developments of 2023 exclusively with THE WEEK.

On June 13, a study based on secondary data was published in the British Medical Journal Open by a group of researchers at the University of California in San Diego. The results of the study that documented the long-term intergenerational health impact of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal showed that men who were in the mothers womb at the time of the disaster were more likely to have a disability that affected their employment 15 years later and had higher rates of cancer and lower educational attainment over 30 years later. Changes in the sex ratio among children born in 1985 suggest an effect of the Bhopal Gas Disaster up to 100 km from the factory in Bhopal.

Survivors hailed the publication of the article in a prestigious journal for highlighting the social costs of the gas disaster as well as for vindicating their stand that the disaster and its health impact are far greater than that made out to be by official agencies.

Water in another colony was found to be contaminated

In another significant development on August 10, Principal Judge and Member Secretary of Legal Services Authority, Rajiv Karmahe directed the Bhopal Municipal Corporation to provide piped drinking water to 80 households of Brijvihar Colony located less than a kilometre north-west of the abandoned Union Carbide factory. Brijvihar Colony is one of the newer residential areas that came up after the 2012 Supreme Court direction to the state government to supply piped drinking water to 42 communities in the vicinity of the factory site. Despite this order, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation refuses to provide piped connections stating the reason that it is a private colony.

Keshub Mahindra, convicted in tragedy case, died

This year on April 12, Keshub Mahindra, Chairman Emeritus of the Mahindra Group of Corporations and Indias oldest billionaire, died at 99. Mahindra was chairman of the UCIL in 1984 and among the nine individuals sentenced to two years in prison in 2010 for their role in causing the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal. Despite their convictions, Mahindra and other fellow convicts have never been behind bars as their appeals against the convictions are still pending in the district court. Of the nine, five accused are now dead. Also, of the corporations charged with grave crimes for the Bhopal disaster  UCIL, renamed Eveready Industries India Limited, was convicted in 2010 and Union Carbide Eastern, Hong Kong and Union Carbide Corporation, USA are absconding, as per court records.

Curative petition on additional compensation dismissed

On March 14, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the Curative Petition for additional compensation for the survivors from Union Carbide / Dow Chemical. The Curative Petition was filed by the Indian government in 2010 seeking an additional 1.2 billion dollars from Union Carbide and its owner Dow Chemical. Five survivors organisations, who were co-petitioners in the matter, presented data and expert testimonies to argue for higher compensation. The petition however got dismissed. Survivors organizations called the dismissal of the review petition as a judicial assault on the legal and constitutional rights of the Bhopal victims.

Positive changes in BMHRC

On July 24, Dr Manisha Shrivastava took over as the director of Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre (BMHRC) took over as Director. She met with leaders of the survivors organisations and sought their views regarding improvements that needed to be made. This led to improvements in BMHRC and its 8 community health centres including - the resumption of work in neurology, nephrology, and gastro medicine departments that had remained closed for the last 6 years; provision of facilities such as pain clinic, laser surgery for piles, esophageal stenting for cancer patients; placement for an implantable cardiac defibrillator for gas victims, use of interventional radiology in people suffering from liver problems, laparoscopic surgeries for gastric volvulus, ending wait-list of gas victims in need of dialysis and starting of PG courses in several departments.
India and China on Thursday held "constructive" diplomatic talks on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh, but there was no clear indications of any major breakthrough.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said both sides decided to hold the next round of senior commanders' meeting at the earliest to achieve the "objective" and that it was agreed on the need to ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident.

It said the two sides reviewed the situation and engaged in an "open, constructive and in-depth" discussion on proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh.

The virtual talks took place under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation. The Chinese team was headed by the director-general, boundary and oceanic affairs in the Chinese foreign ministry.

"The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas, and engaged in an open, constructive and in-depth discussion of proposals to resolve the remaining issues and achieve complete disengagement in eastern Ladakh," the MEA said in a statement.

"They further agreed on the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, ensure a stable situation on the ground and avoid any untoward incident," it said.

"The two sides agreed to continue dialogue through military and diplomatic channels and hold the next round of the senior commanders' meeting at the earliest in order to achieve the above objective," the MEA added.

In the last round of military talks in October, the Indian side strongly pressed for resolution of the lingering issues at Depsang and Demchok.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in 2021 on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area.
The voting to elect 119 members to the Telangana Legislative Assembly began amid tight security on Thursday morning across 35,655 polling stations. While the polling will end at 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, it will extend till 5 pm in the remaining 106 constituencies.

About 77,000 security personnel, comprising state police and Home Guards drawn from the state and neighbouring states, besides 375 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed across the state as part of the security arrangements for the election.



The multi-pronged elections will see the ruling party BRS aiming for a hat trick while Congress, which has put up a high-octane campaign, vies to come to power for the first time after the state's formation in 2014. BJP too have put up a spirited fight, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding road shows and addressing multiple election rallies.

While the BRS will face the elections alone in all 119 seats, Congress has fielded candidates in 118 seats while it has given one seat to its ally CPI. As per the seat-sharing agreement, BJP and actor Pawan Kalyan-headed Jana Sena are contesting in 111 and 8 seats respectively.



Others in the fray include Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM, which contests from nine segments in the city.



KCR vs Revanth Reddy

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will contest from two segments-- Gajwel and Kamareddy. Congress has fielded its state president Revanth Reddy to take on the chief minister in Kamareddy. The constituency also has BJP's Venkata Ramana Reddy putting up a tight fight. In Gajwel, BJP has deployed its election campaign chairman Eatala Rajender against CM Rao.

Also Read: 'Congress will form govt on Dec 9, Sonia Gandhi's birthday': Telangana party president

Revanth Reddy, a Lok Sabha member, is also contesting from Kodangal which he had represented earlier. BJP's Rajender is seeking re-election from Huzurabad.



High-octane campaign



The campaigning witnessed all senior leaders from the saffron party and the Congress touching the ground in Telangana. For the BRS, Chief Minister KCR was at the helm of the campaign, addressing as many as 96 public meetings. BRS working president and KCR's son K T Rama Rao also campaigned extensively for BRS.

The ruling party opted to focus on its ongoing welfare measures for farmers and women. Rao also highlighted his struggle to achieve Telangana statehood.



Besides the Prime Minister, senior BJP leaders, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma campaigned in Telangana. While highlighting the "double engine government" as a poll plank, the BJP also promised to make a backward caste leader as CM. Other promises included the empowerment of Madigas and arranging free visits to Lord Ram temple at Ayodhya during its campaign. The BJP leaders also hit out at the "family rule" of KCR and alleged corruption.



As for Congress, the campaign was focused on the alleged corruption of the BRS government while highlighting its six poll guarantees. The grand old party's campaign was led by its leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Revanth Reddy.


Polling for Telangana Assembly elections is progressing at a brisk pace and top politicians including Telangana Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, Congress leader Revanth Reddy, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy have cast their votes. Celebrities like Allu Arjun, Chiranjeevi, Jr.NTR also exercised their franchise.



According to reports, till 11am, 20.64 per cent of votes have been polled and voters are queuing up in good numbers at polling stations across the state. Chief Minister K, Chandrasekhar Rao, who is contesting from two seats - Gajwel and Kamareddy, exercised his franchise along with his wife K. Shobha in Chinramadaka village in Siddipet district.

Union Minister and state BJP president G. Kishan Reddy, BRS Working President Rama Rao, his sister and party MLC K. Kavitha and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi were among the early voters in this election. Film personalities also cast their votes during the early hours. State Congress president and MP A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote in the Kodangal assembly segment from where he is contesting.

Expressing hope that BRS would form government for the third time in the state, Rama Rao tweeted, Getting reports from all over the state...Car in Top Gear... Jai Telangana.

A minor scuffle broke out at a polling booth in the Jangaon Assembly constituency and members of all three leading parties  Congress, BJP and BRS were involved. Police personnel deployed at the booth brought the situation under control. Polling also got affected for 45 minutes at a booth in Kamareddy assembly constituency reportedly due to a malfunction of the electronic voting machine. Voting resumed later.

Political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urged the public to exercise their franchise. call upon my brothers and sisters in Telangana to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I especially urge the youth, especially first-time voters, to exercise their right to vote, tweeted Modi.

Union Minister Amit Shah tweeted, Only a corruption-free and pro-poor government can work selflessly for the prosperity of Telangana. I appeal to the people of Telangana to come out in large numbers to form a government for which the priority is empowerment, not appeasement.

No force on earth can stop an idea whose time has come, tweeted Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge urging the people of Telangana, especially first-time voters to exercise their franchise.
Israel's top diplomat said Thursday he was recalling the country's envoy to Madrid over "outrageous remarks" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez questioning the legality of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

"Because of the outrageous remarks by the Spanish prime minister, who again repeated baseless claims, I have decided to summon the Israeli ambassador in Spain for consultations in Jerusalem," Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The move came after an interview in which Sanchez said he had "serious doubts" over the legality of Israel's actions in the war-torn Gaza Strip, an Israeli official told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying it was "not the first time" the Spanish leader had expressed such views.

Diplomatic tensions between Israel and Spain have soared following repeated remarks by Sanchez criticizing Israel's military campaign in Gaza that came in response to Hamas's October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood operation.

In an interview on Thursday with Spanish public television, Sanchez said the world had to tell Israel "it needs to base its actions on international humanitarian law, and with the images, we are seeing and the growing number of people dying, especially boys and girls, I have serious doubts".

Israel has also recalled its ambassadors from Turkey and South Africa following remarks by those countries' leaders over the war in Gaza.

It was not immediately clear when Israeli ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon would leave Madrid for Jerusalem.

"Israel is acting and will continue to act according to international law and we will continue with the war until all of the hostages are freed and until the elimination of Hamas in Gaza," Cohen wrote on X.

"There is only one body responsible for the massacre on October 7 and the situation in Gaza today, and that is the Hamas terror organization that carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity against Israeli citizens and residents of the Gaza Strip."

Sanchez sparked another angry response from Israel last Friday when he denounced the "indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians" in a speech in Egypt.

He was joined by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo who also said Israel's "operation needs to respect international humanitarian law".

The Israeli foreign minister promptly summoned the ambassadors of both countries "for a harsh rebuke", his office said in a statement, accusing the two leaders of supporting "terrorism".

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The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor Gopinathan Ravindran, observing the state governments intervention in the reappointment was unwarranted.

Hearing the case on Thursday, a bench comprising of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra observed that Kerala Governor, the Chancellor of the University surrendered his statutory powers for reappointment. Live Law reported that the SC quashed the reappointment, which was notified in November 2021, on the grounds of "unwarranted interference by the State Government".

"Although the notification for reappointment was issued by the Chancellor, the decision stood vitiated by the unwarranted intervention of the State Government", the bench pronounced in their verdict.

Pronouncing the verdict, Justice Pardiwala said they considered four questions as part of the case - Whether reappointment is permissible in a tenure post; Whether the upper age limit of 60 years as stipulated in Section 10(9) of the Kannur University Act is applicable even in the case of reappointment for four years; Whether reappointment has to follow the same process as the appointment of VC by setting up a selection panel; Did the Chancellor abdicate or surrender the statutory power of reappointment?

While the bench observed reappointment is permissible in a tenure post and age limit wouldnt apply in case of reappointment, it admitted the appeal observing the Chancellor--the Kerala Governor-- abdicated or surrendered the statutory power of reappointment, rendering the entire decision-making process bad", Live Law reported quoting verdict made by Justice Pardiwala.
The CBI on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of several Trinamool Congress leaders, including an MLA and two councillors, for their alleged involvement in irregularities in school recruitment in West Bengal, an official said.



The central agency raided the residence of Jafikul Islam, the MLA of Domkal in Murshidabad district, and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor Bappadittya Dasgupta and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor Debraj Chakraborty, he said. According to reports, the raids were conducted at seven locations.

"These raids are being conducted as a part of our investigation into the teachers' scam. The raids are on. We are questioning the people whose homes and offices are being raided," the official told PTI.

Raids are on at different locations in and around Kolkata, Murshidabad and Cooch Behar districts in connection with the investigation, the official said.
The US Justice Department has said that an Indian government official directed the failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader, who is also a US citizen, on the American soil. The department has also charged an Indian national, identified as 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, for orchestrating the attempted murder.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, faces murder-for-hire charges, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, US Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's National Security Division Matthew G. Olsen said in a statement.



According to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, Gupta worked with the Indian government employee, whose responsibilities included security and intelligence. Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.



Though the prosecutors did not name the Indian government official or the target, the latter is said to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.



"The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs," Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, said in a statement.



The Indian official is described in the related indictment as a "Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in "Security Management" and "Intelligence" employed by the Indian government who "directed the plot from India."



Announcing the charges, the US prosecutors said the Indian official recruited Gupta in May 2023 to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta reportedly told the Indian official that he had been involved with drug and weapons trafficking.



At the government official's direction, Gupta got in touch with a criminal associate for help hiring a hitman. But that associate was actually a Drug Enforcement Administration undercover agent. The day after Nijjar was killed, Gupta wrote to the undercover DEA agent saying Nijjar "was also the target" and "we have so many targets," prosecutors said.



US authorities said Gupta agreed to pay an assassin USD 100,000 to kill the Sikh separatist leader living in New York City. "On or about June 9, 2023, CC-1 and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver USD 15,000 in cash to the UC in Manhattan, New York, as an advance payment for the murder," according to the charges.



United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a statement: "The law enforcement partners neutralised this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate US citizens on US soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad."



Though India's Washington embassy and its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, foreign ministry said New Delhi would formally investigate the concerns aired by the United States.

India had constituted a high-level enquiry committee to probe allegations relating to a conspiracy to kill the Sikh extremist on American soil.



External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Wednesday that the the US side shared some "inputs" pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists and that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on "our national security interests as well" and that relevant departments were examining the issue."

India constituted a high-level enquiry committee on November 18 to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter, he said.
Minutes before the Gaza truce between Israel and Hamas was set to expire on Thursday, the former announced the extension of the ceasefire by at least one more day.

A statement by Israel's military said the truce would continue as mediators sought to release more hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The truce, initially set for four days, was later extended to six. "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.

Tel Aviv also received a list a short while ago of 10 women and children hostages set for release from Gaza that complies with the agrees ceasefire rules.

Hamas has also said in a statement that the truce would continue. The Palestinian militant group had released 16 hostages in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday. Qatars foreign ministry confirms the one-day extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas, saying that it will be under the same terms as the previous six days

The extension of the ceasefire comes just after Hamas issued a statement claiming that Israel refused to receive seven women and children and the bodies of three other hostages in exchange for extending the truce. "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.

Israeli military spokesman Doron Spielman too suggested in his social media briefing that no agreement had been reached regarding the next hostages to be released. "And therefore, if this framework does expire, the (Israeli military) ... are fully positioned and ready to simply relaunch our operations, our military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Blinken in Tel Aviv

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv early on Thursday to discuss extending the truce and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. This is Blinken's third trip to the region since the October 7 attack. "Looking at the next couple of days, we'll be focused on ... doing what we can to extend the pause so that we continue to get more hostages out and more humanitarian assistance in," Blinken said at a stop in Brussels.

The White House also said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden was determined to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas. The U.S. is urging Israel to narrow the zone of combat and clarify where Palestinian civilians can seek safety during any Israeli operation in southern Gaza, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Qatar, which plays the role of a mediator, also issued a statement saying it was hopeful that the progress made in recent days can be sustained, and a further extension to the humanitarian pause agreement can be reached.
The MEA has called the US indictment linking an Indian government official to the failed plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a "matter of concern'.

Adding that any such plot was against government policy, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into the matter. "The nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is for that reason that a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted and we will be guided by its results," Bagchi told reporters on Thursday.



The US indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday, charged Nikhil Gupta, 52, with murder-for-hire charges and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. The indictment further added that Gupta worked with an Indian government employee, whose responsibilities included security and intelligence.



The Indian official is described in the related indictment as a "Senior Field Officer" with responsibilities in "Security Management" and "Intelligence" employed by the Indian government who "directed the plot from India."



Bagchi added that the US had shared inputs during discussions on bilateral security cooperation. "We take such inputs very seriously and a high-level inquiry committee has been constituted to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. Necessary follow-up action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee," he added.



However, the MEA spokesperson hit out at Canada, stating the country has consistently given space to anti-India extremists, which is the heart of the issue. "Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So, we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable," he said.



Just after the indictment, the foreign ministry said New Delhi would formally investigate the concerns aired by the United States.


Colombo, Nov 30 (PTI) The Sri Lankan government informed Parliament on Thursday that it has reached a "decisive" agreement with bilateral creditors on debt restructuring that will enable the IMF to conclude its first review of the USD 2.4 billion bailout facility for the debt-ridden island nation.

The Official Creditor Committee (OCC) co-chaired by India, Japan and France on Wednesday reached an agreement with Sri Lanka on the main parameters of debt treatment, consistent with those of the International Monetary Fund-supported Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for the country.

This agreement will pave the way for the first review of Sri Lanka's EFF arrangement with the IMF and enable further flow of funds to Colombo.

We received a decisive verdict yesterday (Wednesday) from the Official Creditor Committee to restructure our debt," Shehan Semasinghe, the state minister of finance told lawmakers.

He said 17 countries are members of the OCC, including India and headed by France.

Although China is not a member they have pledged us all assistance," Semasinghe added.

In October, the Sri Lankan government confirmed that it had concluded a preliminary deal with China on restructuring its debts to Beijing, seen as a "big step" in the cash-strapped country's economic recovery.

China holds about 52 per cent of Sri Lanka's USD 46 billion external credit. Both nations reached an agreement on the key principles and indicative terms of debt treatment with the Export-Import Bank of China.

Semasinghe said this preliminary agreement would be crucial in completing the review of the USD 2.9 billion bailout from the IMF.

The process was made possible by President Ranil Wickremesinghes pledge to all creditors that there would be equal and transparent treatment of all creditors.

Semasinghe said with the release of the IMFs second tranche soon Sri Lanka would be able to resume all projects that had been halted due to forex needs in the economic crisis.

The finance ministry on Wednesday said about USD 6 billion of loans would be restructured either with extended time for repayment or reduction of interest.

Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 which saw the ouster of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government mid-year. The island nation announced its first-ever sovereign default since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

The Rajapaksas and their fiscal hierarchy were found responsible for the economic downturn by Sri Lanka's Supreme Court under a fundamental rights petition.
Lahore, Nov 30 (PTI) An Indian Sikh family was looted by 'robbers dressed in police uniform' in Pakistan's Punjab province capital Lahore, police said on Thursday.

According to police, Kanwal Jeet Singh and his family members who arrived here from India to attend Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary festivities had gone to Liberty Market in Gulberg area of Lahore for shopping on his return from Gurdwara Janamasthan Nankana Sahib on Wednesday.

"When the Sikh family came out of a shop two robbers in police uniform stopped them and looted cash and jewellery at gunpoint," police spokesperson, Ehtasham Haider, told PTI.

He said the robbers looted Indian rupees 250,000 and PKR 150,000 besides jewellery from the Sikh family.

After the incident, a good number of people gathered there and accompanied the Sikhs family to the local police station. The station house officer of the Gulberg police informed his superior who reached there.

"A Deputy Inspector General Police held a meeting with the Indian Sikh family and assured them that the robbers would be arrested and their loss be compensated," Haider said.

Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has also taken strong notice of the robbery incident targeting a Sikh pilgrim family and has promptly sought a report from the Lahore police chief.

Naqvi has directed the swift apprehension of the individuals involved in the robbery, emphasising the urgent identification of the suspects through CCTV footage.

He called for the culprits to be brought to justice within 48 hours, deeming the incident of robbing a Sikh family in an area like Gulbarg a grave lapse in security.

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, Naqvi asserted that any negligence in the matter should be identified, and appropriate action must be taken against the responsible police personnel. He said that Sikh pilgrims are esteemed guests, and ensuring their protection is a paramount responsibility.

Currently, over 2,500 Indian Sikhs are in Pakistan in connection with Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary festivities.
Tokyo, Nov 30 (AP) Japan plans to suspend its own Osprey flights after a US Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed into waters off the southern coast during a training mission, officials said Thursday. Tokyo has also asked the US military to stop all Ospreys operating in Japan except for those searching for victims of crash.

A senior Defence Ministry official, Taro Yamato, told a parliamentary hearing that Japan plans to suspend flights of Ospreys for the time being, but there were few other immediate details.

A US Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed during a training mission Wednesday off of the country's southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members.

The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known, Japanese coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said. The coast guard planned to continue searching through the night.

The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but during flight it can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster like an airplane.

Ospreys have had a number of crashes, including in Japan, where they are used at US and Japanese military bases. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters Wednesday that he would ask the US military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan.

Ogawa said the coast guard received an emergency call Wednesday afternoon from a fishing boat near the crash site off Yakushima, an island south of Kagoshima on the southern main island of Kyushu.

Coast guard aircraft and patrol boats found one male crew member, who was later pronounced dead by a doctor, Ogawa said. They also found debris believed to be from the aircraft and an empty inflatable life raft about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) off the eastern coast of Yakushima, he said.

The coast guard said it planned to continue searching through the night.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the Osprey disappeared from radar a few minutes before the coast guard received the emergency call. The aircraft requested an emergency landing at the Yakushima airport about five minutes before it was lost from radar, NHK public television and other news outlets reported.

NHK quoted a Yakushima resident as saying he saw the aircraft turned upside down, with fire coming from one of its engines, and then an explosion before it fell to the sea.

US Air Force Special Operations Command said in a statement that the CV-22B Osprey was from Yokota Air Base and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.

Ogawa said the aircraft had departed from the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture and crashed on its way to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa.

Japanese Vice Defence Minister Hiroyuki Miyazawa said it had attempted an emergency sea landing and quoted the US military as saying its pilot "did everything possible until the last minute".

Yokota Air Base is home to US Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force. Six CV-22 Ospreys have been deployed at Yokota, including the one that crashed.

While the US Marine Corps flies most of the Ospreys based in Japan, the Air Force also has some deployed there.

Last year, Air Force Special Operations Command ordered a temporary stand down of its Osprey fleet following back-to-back safety incidents where the Osprey clutch slipped, causing an uneven distribution of power to Osprey's rotors.

The Marine Corps and Navy have reported similar clutch slips, and each service has worked to address the issue in their aircraft, however clutch failure was also cited in a 2022 fatal US Marine Corps Osprey crash that killed five.

According to the investigation of that crash, "dual hard clutch engagement" led to engine failure.

Separately, a US Marine Corps Osprey with 23 Marines aboard crashed on a northern Australian island in August, killing three Marines and critically injuring at least five others who were onboard during a multinational training exercise. (AP) DIV

DIV
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Jerusalem, Nov 30 (AP) A temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war has been extended another day, according to mediator Qatar. The announcement Thursday came minutes before the cease-fire was set to expire.

Israel had agreed to extend the truce by one day for every 10 militant-held hostages who are freed. The cease-fire, which began Nov. 24 and was originally set to expire on Monday, has paused the deadliest fighting between Israel and Palestinians in decades.

Israel has vowed to resume the war in an effort to end Hamas' 16-year rule of Gaza, but it's facing mounting international pressure to spare southern Gaza a devastating ground offensive like the one that has demolished much of the north.

Roughly 240 hostages were captured by Hamas in its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that ignited the war. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants. About 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.

Currently:

 Israel compares Hamas to the Islamic State group. But the comparison misses the mark in key ways.

 Blinken urges cease-fire extension, discussions about Gaza's future.

 Freed Israeli hostage describes deteriorating conditions while being held by Hamas.

Here's what's happening in the war:

ISRAEL AND HAMAS EXTEND CEASE-FIRE BY ONE MORE DAY

JERUSALEM  Israel and Hamas agreed to extend a temporary truce by another day just minutes before it was set to expire, said Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides.

The truce was set to expire Thursday morning. Negotiations on extending it came down to the wire, with last-minute disagreements over the hostages to be freed by Hamas in exchange for another day of a halt in fighting.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, under which Hamas has released 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.

ISRAEL RELEASES MORE PALESTINIAN PRISONERS, INCLUDING AHED TAMIMI Israel released another group of Palestinian prisoners early Thursday in exchange for 16 hostages freed hours earlier by the Islamic militant group Hamas in Gaza.

A bus carrying some of the Palestinian detainees arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah before dawn. The releases came on the sixth day of a temporary truce in the Israel-Hamas war.

Most prominent among those freed was 22-year-old Ahed Tamimi, an activist who gained worldwide fame in 2017 after a video of her slapping an Israeli soldier went viral on social media.

Israeli troops arrested her at her West Bank home on Nov. 6 for inciting to terrorism on her Instagram account. Her mother said Tamimi's account had been hacked. (AP)



AMS
The Israeli war on Gaza pushed its way to center stage at UN climate talks in Dubai on Thursday, with campaigners calling for a ceasefire and Israel taking the opportunity to discuss captive releases.

Seven weeks into the deadly war, the COP28 talks opened with a moment's silence announced by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the COP27 president, for "all civilians who have perished during the current conflict in Gaza".

The deadly war also dominated the activist agenda, with chanting, keffiyeh-wearing climate justice defenders urging a ceasefire and an end to Israel's 17-year blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"We are here to express our solidarity with the Palestinians and call for a permanent ceasefire," Lidy Nacpil, representing a coalition of 350 climate justice organizations, told a press conference on the sidelines of the COP gathering.

The conflict began on October 7 Hamas Al-Aqsa Flood operation, killing 1,200 people, and capturing about 240, according to Israeli authorities.

Israel retaliated with an air and ground brutal war on Gaza that the Hamas government in Gaza says has killed more than 15,000 people, almost two-thirds of them women and children, and reduced large parts of the north of the territory to rubble.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was scheduled to arrive in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, plans to use his COP28 visit for a diplomatic push to release captives held by Hamas, according to his office.

Herzog "intends to engage world leaders in a high-level humanitarian effort to return the hostages", the Israeli presidency said in a statement.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas is also expected to be at COP28 and will be in the same room as Herzog on Friday, as they are scheduled to give speeches just minutes apart.

'Violence becomes normalized'



Some activists at the press conference, wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, chanted "Free Palestine!" and other slogans.

"It's our duty as protectors of the motherland and the mother earth, and also protectors of humans, to speak up publicly and demand a ceasefire and the end of the occupation," said Rania Harrara of the MENA Feminist Taskforce.

Dozens of people also attended a separate gathering in support calling for an end to the war.

"We see the same rich countries who say there is no money to help pay for the damage they caused to the climate, say they have no problem paying for bombs raining on innocent people," said Asad Rehman, lead spokesperson for the Climate Justice Coalition.

The activists at COP28 included Tariq Luthun from Gaza, who is a member of the Climate Action Network.

The 32-year-old based in the United States said 95 percent of his family is in the besieged Palestinian territory, including extended family members who have died in the latest fighting.

"If we don't take stances in moments that are so high urgency like this, we allow a precedent to be set where this kind of violence becomes normalized," he told AFP.

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Ottawa, Nov 30 (PTI) The indictment of an Indian national in a foiled assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on American soil underscored what Canada has been alleging in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's case and India must take it seriously, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

Trudeau said Wednesday that Canadian authorities have been working closely with their American counterparts since August on allegations about the Indian government's involvement in Nijjars killing on June 18 in British Columbia province.

India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. New Delhi has rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated".

The remarks by Trudeau came after Nikhil Gupta, 52, was charged on Wednesday with murder-for-hire in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously. The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this, The Canadian Press quoted Trudeau as saying.

The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York does not name the US citizen who was the target of the assassination plot.

However, The Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, last week reported that US authorities thwarted a plot to assassinate banned Sikhs for Justices Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns it was involved in the plot.

This is not something that anyone can take lightly. Our responsibility is to keep Canadians safe, and thats what were going to continue to do, Trudeau emphasised.

On Canada's allegations, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that the main issue with Ottawa has been that of activities of anti-India elements in that country.

"In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this," Bagchi said at a MEA briefing.

"We expect the government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs," he said.

It is obviously unacceptable, Bagchi added.

Responding to the indictment of the Indian national, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Wednesday the US indictment confirms that Canada is not alone at managing these particular threats.

Whats important for us is the government of Canada and agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the intelligence service do everything that they can to protect Canadians, but also to hold accountable those who murdered a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil," LeBlanc said.

Reacting to the development in the US, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that while she wont comment on whats happening in the US but said the Canadian government stands by its "credible allegations" that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil linked to Indian agents. She also urged India to engage in Canada's probe into Nijjar's murder.

"When it comes to what's happening in the US, I won't comment directly because, of course, I respect the work that the American law enforcement agencies are doing and I also respect the independence of their legal system," Joly said.

"What I can tell you though, is that we stand by our own credible allegations that there was a killing of a Canadian on Canadian soil, linking to Indian agents," she said in response to questions from journalists on Wednesday.

Joly said she had numerous conversations with her American colleagues, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the issue that Canada was facing with India.

"And at the same time, we call on India to engage in our own investigation, and I think it is important that they do so," she said.

She declined to comment on investigations into Nijjar's murder but said: "I can tell you the impact of our investigation, and also what is going on in the US, is I have engaged with my Indian counterpart on this very issue. We call on their cooperation to make sure that our investigation is able to proceed.

She said India's decision to remove diplomatic immunity to 41 Canadian diplomats was "completely unacceptable".

"And it is clearly my goal to make sure that the 41 diplomats that should be right now working in India are allowed back," she said.

India rejected Canada's attempt to "portray" the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country as a violation of international norms and asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi had said the state bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in India's internal affairs warranted a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.

Canada and India witnessed strains in ties following Trudeau's allegations in September of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

India's High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma last week said India was absolutely and decidedly not involved in the killing of Nijjar and Ottawa has "convicted" New Delhi even before the completion of the investigation.
Islamabad, Nov 30 (PTI) A Pakistan accountability court was informed on Thursday that former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has recorded his statement in the Toshakhana corruption case.

The case filed in 2019 against Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani centers on allegations that they received luxury vehicles from the Toshakhana (gifts repository) at discounted prices.

The prosecutor informed Judge Muhammad Bashir, who was hearing the case, that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Sharif has recorded his statement in the case.

The defence counsel informed the court that there was no record of the vehicle mentioned to have been given to Sharif or any documentation showing Sharifs request seeking any vehicle. The prosecutor responded that a thorough examination of the statement was required before any subsequent steps in the proceeding.

The court adjourned the hearing of the Toshakhana case, scheduling the next session for December 20.

According to the case filed by NAB, then-prime minister Gilani, in order to extend illegal benefits to Sharif and Zardari, allegedly allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by different foreign states and dignitaries by relaxing the Toshakhana rules.

The accused, through dishonest and illegal means for their personal benefit and interest, retained the vehicles in question against a nominal payment of 15 percent of the total value, the reference stated.

In June 2020, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant of Sharif who was living in London in self-exile. But the same were withdrawn after he volunteered to surrender before the court last month after ending about four years of exile.
Islamabad, Nov 30 (PTI) Pakistan's Cabinet on Thursday approved the jail trial of former prime minister Imran Khan in the cipher case after the special court's decision to conduct in-prison proceedings due to security reasons.

Following the court order, the report for the jail trial was moved by the Ministry of Law and Justice and it was approved by the Cabinet, Geo News quoted officials as saying.

Khan, 71, has been incarcerated in the Adiala jail Rawalpindi since September 26, where his in-prison trial had been going until last week when the Islamabad High Court ruled against the jail trial on procedural grounds while declaring the proceedings held so far as vitiated.

After the Islamabad High Court ruling, Special Court judge Abual Hasnat Zulqernain heard the cipher case on Tuesday at the Federal Judicial Complex in Islamabad. Khan was not presented by authorities due to security reasons despite the fact that the judge last week had asked to present Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is also accused in the cipher case.

It has been informed that the PTI chairman faces security risks of a serious scale, according to a report presented in the court by authorities.

After hearing the case, the special court announced its order, approving the jail trial in an open court format at the next hearing. Later the hearing was adjourned till December 1 (Friday).

The cipher case was launched on August 15 and Khan and Qureshi were indicted on October 23.

Khan was arrested after a case was filed against him for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act by disclosing a secret diplomatic cable  called the cipher  sent by the country's embassy in Washington in March last year.

Earlier, the Cabinet on Tuesday also approved conducting the jail trial of Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption cases.
Beijing, Nov 30 (PTI) China's Defence Ministry on Thursday said that its military values its relations with the Indian counterpart as it maintained that the 20 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks have helped to ease tensions amidst the eastern Ladakh standoff.

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

The current situation at the India-China border remained generally stable, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defence, told a press conference here answering a question on the prolonged standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Under the guidance of state leaders, the two sides have maintained effective communications through diplomatic and military channels and have made steady progress in resolving the remaining issues in the Western sector, he said.

Referring to the progress made in the 20 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks so far to resolve the standoff, he said that the dialogue became an important platform for border control as it resulted in disengagement in four areas including the Galwan Valley, Pangong Lake and Hot Springs.

The Indian side is pressing to resolve the lingering issues in the Depsang and Demchok areas.

"China values the China-Indian military relationship. We hope the Indian side works with us to reach the same goal to build stronger strategic mutual trust, properly handle differences and safeguard peace and tranquillity along the borders, Senior Col. Wu said.

The last round of the Corps Commander level talks was held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on November 9-10.

He, however, was non-committal about the next round of talks.

"As for the next core commanders meeting we will release the information in due course, he said.
Dubai, Nov 30 (PTI) The year 2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said in a report here on Thursday.

Launched on the first day of the annual climate summit COP28, the WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report said that the data until the end of October shows that the year was about 1.40 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 baseline.

The difference between 2023, 2016 and 2020 - which were previously ranked as the warmest years - is such that the final two months are very unlikely to affect the ranking.

Putting in perspective the figures concerning India, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department, said that north India has registered a rapid surge in mercury compared to the southern parts.

As the sea surface temperatures soar, sea water tends to expand, causing the sea level to rise. Besides, with the ocean warming, glaciers or sea ice are melting at a faster pace, which is contributing much more to sea level rise than compared with sea water expansion. This poses a potential threat to all the coastal places across the world, including India, he said.

Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science & Dept. of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK, said that for India, glacial melt is a big concern affecting snow cover as well as the strength of glaciers.

I am afraid, persistent glacial melt could possibly trigger more events like the Sikkim floods in 2023 and the Pakistan floods in 2022 in the near future, he said.

The report noted that the past nine years, from 2015 to 2023, were the warmest on record.

The warming El Nino event, which emerged during the Northern Hemisphere spring of 2023 and developed rapidly during summer, is likely to further fuel the heat in 2024 because El Nino typically has the greatest impact on global temperatures after it peaks.

Noting that decreased monsoon rainfall in southeast Asia is associated with El Nino, the report said the onset of the monsoon over Kerala occurred seven days later than normal.

By the end of September, India received 94 per cent of its typical monsoon rainfall which was higher than normal rainfall totals observed along the lower course of the Indus River and in central India.

The report also showed that the rate of sea level rise from 2013-2022 is more than twice the rate of the first decade of the satellite record (1993-2002) because of continued ocean warming and melting of glaciers and ice sheets.

The report also noted that the accumulated precipitation totals for the first nine months in 2023 were above the long-term average in East Asia, parts of northern Asia, and the western Indian summer monsoon region among others.

Greenhouse gas levels are record high. Global temperatures are record-high. Sea level rise is record high. Antarctic sea ice is record low. Its a deafening cacophony of broken records, said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.

These are more than just statistics. We risk losing the race to save our glaciers and to rein in sea level rise. We cannot return to the climate of the 20th century, but we must act now to limit the risks of an increasingly inhospitable climate in this and the coming centuries, he said.

Carbon dioxide levels are 50 per cent higher than the pre-industrial era, trapping heat in the atmosphere. The long lifetime of CO2 means that temperatures will continue to rise for many years to come, the report said.

The maximum Antarctic sea-ice extent for the year was the lowest on record, a full 1 million km2 (more than the size of France and Germany combined) less than the previous record low, at the end of the southern hemisphere winter.

The glaciers in North America and Europe once again suffered an extreme melt season. Swiss glaciers have lost about 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the past two years, according to the WMO report.

The report showed the global reach of climate change. It provides a snapshot of socio-economic impacts, including on food security and population displacement.

This year we have seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods and searing temperatures. Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders, said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In a video message accompanying WMOs climate report, Guterres urges leaders to commit to urgent action at the UN Climate Change negotiations, COP28.

There is still hope, he said.

We have the roadmap to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 C and avoid the worst of climate chaos. But we need leaders to fire the starting gun at COP28 on a race to keep the 1.5 degree limit alive: By setting clear expectations for the next round of climate action plans and committing to the partnerships and finance to make them possible; By committing to triple renewables and double energy efficiency; And committing to phase out fossil fuels, with a clear time frame aligned to the 1.5-degree limit, he said.

The WMO provisional State of the Global Climate report was published to inform negotiations at COP28 in Dubai. It combines input from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, regional climate centres, UN partners and leading climate scientists. The temperature figures are a consolidation of six leading international datasets. PTI UZM RUP

(This story was produced as part of the 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews' Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.) RUP

RUP
Karjat, Nov 30 (PTI) Praful Patel, working president of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, on Thursday said it was a misconception that the two rival factions of the party would soon come together.

Speaking at a news conference at the Nationalist Congress Party's two-day conclave here, he also claimed that the majority of public representatives, functionaries and workers of the party supported Ajit Pawar's decision to join hands with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

There should be no confusionbecause some people in the (Sharad Pawar-led) NCP mislead people into believing that we are again coming together. I want to state it very specifically that we are working in the NCP under Ajit Pawar's leadership for Maharashtra's benefit, Patel said.

On the meetings between Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, he said they do not meet often. The Pawar family had come together earlier this month for their annual Diwali get-together (where Ajit and Sharad Pawar were present), Patel said.

Ajit Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in July this year, splitting the party founded by his uncle.



As to the dispute between the two factions for the party name and symbol which is before the Election Commission of India, Patel said the Ajit group has furnished necessary evidence and will present its case whenever given an opportunity.

On NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal receiving flak for stating that Marathas should not get quota out of the existing OBC reservation, Patel said Bhujbal has never opposed the demand of reservation for the Marathas.
Rourkela (Odisha), Nov 30 (PTI) Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday inaugurated a Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) and laid foundation stones of six projects worth Rs 250 crore on NIT-Rourkela campus in Odisha.

The projects include a 1,000-bed boys hostel, three 500-bed girls hostels, a sewage treatment plant and a faculty residential complex.

There were two KVs in Rourkela, but today the city got a third one, Pradhan said.

Speaking about the achievements of NIT-Rourkela, he said, "It is the glory of our country and identity of our state. Over 8,000 students from India and abroad including 3,000 from Odisha are studying in this institution."

The minister exhorted the students and faculty to work for the betterment of the country. NIT-Rourkela should create more wealth creators as this will take the country forward and help it become a developed nation by 2047, he said.

NIT Rourkela director K Umamaheshwar Rao said one of the primary objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) is to eliminate any disparity in access to education for children of all communities and other socio-economically disadvantaged groups.

"Towards this, NIT Rourkela, through the Kendriya Vidyalaya, is aiming to provide high-quality education to all," he said.
Kolkata, Nov 30 (PTI) The CBI on Thursday conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of several Trinamool Congress leaders, including an MLA and two councillors, for their alleged involvement in irregularities in school recruitment in West Bengal, an official said.

The central agency raided the residence of Jafikul Islam, the MLA of Domkal in Murshidabad district, and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor Bappadittya Dasgupta and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor Debraj Chakraborty, he said.

"These raids are being conducted as a part of our investigation into the teachers scam. The raids are on. We are questioning the people whose homes and offices are being raided," the official told PTI.

Raids are on at different locations in and around Kolkata, Murshidabad and Cooch Behar districts in connection with the investigation, the official said.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 30 (PTI) Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Thursday said though the state had emerged as an educational hub in eastern India, none of its universities is recognised at the national level.

Presiding over the vice-chancellors conference here, the governor called upon the VCs to improve the standard of education in the universities so that it can compete with international institutes.

Das said focus should be on enhancement of educational atmosphere on campuses, improvement of standard and increase in staff strength. He also called for successful implementation of the National Education Policy 2023 in the state.

Utkal University VC Sabita Acharya said, "The Governor emphasised on research and innovation in higher education institutions. Discussions were also held on adding more chapters on culture and traditions of Odisha."

Fakir Mohan University VC Santosh Kumar Tripathy stressed on the need for timely conduct of examinations and publication of results.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday urged the people of Telangana to vote in record numbers in the assembly polls and strengthen the festival of democracy.

Polling is underway to elect 119 members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, with voters queuing up to exercise their franchise amid tight security on Thursday.

In a post on X, Modi said, "I call upon my sisters and brothers of Telangana to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy."

"I particularly urge young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise," he said.

Voting began at 7 AM in the 35,655 polling stations across the state, officials said.

Polling would be held till 5 PM in 106 constituencies, while it would conclude at 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected seats.
The project provided new kindergarten facilities to Salah El-Din Primary School in the Ezbet El-Haggana area, Cairo, enabling it to accept preschool children and offer an appropriate curriculum for primary education.

On Monday 27 November, Ayman Abdel-Mawgoud, assistant minister for civil society organizations, Ibrahim Saber, deputy governor of Cairo for the eastern region, and Oka Hiroshi, ambassador of Japan to Egypt inaugurated the successful completion of Japans Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (KUSANONE).

The project provides an access improvement to preschool education and thereby contributes to raising education quality in Ezbet El-Haggana. It is implemented by the Takatof Association for Development, with a grant amount of approximately $74,300.

During the ceremony, Dr. Hossam Badrawi, chairman of the Takatof Association for Development, and other speakers expressed their sincere appreciation for Japans fourth assistance to support the preschool children in Ezbet El-Haggana.

Furthermore, Abdel-Mawgoud expressed his great appreciation for the work of the Takatof Association for Development in the field of education to date, revealing his hope for continued cooperation with the association and the Japanese government. He also described the ministry's initiatives in the field of education.

Saber also noted that the past efforts of the association have brought life to the previously under-developed area, expressing his pleasure to work with the Japanese government in this area where the Shinzo Abe road passes through.

Ambassador Hiroshi emphasized the pivotal role of civil society in Egypt's educational development, showing respect for the Egyptian NGOs role in listening to the voices of local inhabitants and identifying their actual needs and demands.

He also expressed his willingness to actively continue providing support to Egypt through achieving the KUSANONE programme goal, which is creating a world where no one is left behind and all people live in peace of mind by promptly holding out a hand to every single person in every corner.

This project came within the framework of KUSANONE projects, which provide direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations including non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in local communities.

Japan has extended approximately $10 million in Egypt since 1994, supporting 177 projects throughout Egypt in a wide range of sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women empowerment, and special needs support.

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Lucknow, Nov 30 (PTI) Samajwadi Party members on Thursday walked out from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly accusing the government of harming the interest of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students by doing away with the 'zero fee admission system' for higher education.

The issue came up through an adjournment notice in the 'zero hour.'

In his reply, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Social Welfare & Welfare of SCs and STs, Asim Arun said that a new system involving freeship cards has been brought in its place.

"Under this system, students will have to identify the institute where they want to take admission and apply through the portal submitting their details and also that of the institute and they will get a freeship card with which they can go to the institute and take admission," the minister said.

The scheme has for now been implemented for the government and government-aided institutes and may be extended to private ones from next year, he said.

The minister said that the main concern of the government is to see that all desirous students get admissions and no irregularity takes place.

The minister's comment that perhaps it was for this purpose that the SP government had stopped the scheme in 2014, evoked a strong protest from opposition party's members.

Lalji Verma (SP) termed the withdrawal of the zero admission fee system a "serious matter."

He said that while earlier 25 per cent of SC/ST students were going for higher education, only 10 to 9 per cent of them are doing so now because of the steep cost.

He said that especially in the technical institutes, their proportion has gone down drastically.

He called for the former system's restoration to address the anomaly and suggested the government could run it along the lines of Ayushman Cards so that there is no irregularity.

Giving education to these students is our constitutional obligation as SCs/STs constitute 23 per cent of the state's population and their participation in educational institutions is not in line with that number, he said.

Verma said that nearly 5 crore people of the state belonging to the two sections were affected by the withdrawal of the previous system.

He demanded a debate of 2 hours to discuss the matter in the "interest" of these sections.

SP member Ragini Sonkar said that though the BJP government talks about 'sabka saath-sabka vikas,' it does not show on the ground.
Rishikesh, Nov 30 (PTI) Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh on Thursday visited AIIMS-Rishikesh to meet the workers evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel where they were trapped for 17 days.

Singh personally met the workers and asked them about their wellbeing.

The workers were flown to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for a thorough check-up on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the workers, the governor said he was so happy to see them.

"They are all well. I had a sense of pride while seeing them. They are a kind of warriors who have taught us how to stay calm and collected in adverse circumstances," Singh said.

He also praised the central and state governments for showing extraordinary political will during the prolonged rescue operations which finally led to their safe evacuation.

The workers were rescued from the tunnel late on Tuesday after a long-drawn operation.

Doctors said as they came out of the tunnel after 17 days, the workers might need acclimatisation.

They have been advised to go to the nearest hospital after two weeks for a check-up.
Hyderabad, Nov 30 (PTI) Polling is underway to elect 119 members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, with voters queuing up to exercise their franchise amid tight security on Thursday.





Voting began at 7 AM in the 35,655 polling stations across the state, officials said.





Polling would be held till 5 PM in 106 constituencies, while it would conclude at 4 PM in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected seats.





There are 3.26 crore eligible voters, including 1,63,13,268 male voters and 1,63,02,261 female electors, in the state.





As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming elections, including Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.





The model code of conduct came into force in the state after the Election Commission announced the schedule on October 9.







BRS has fielded candidates in all 119 seats.





As per the seat sharing agreement, BJP and actor Pawan Kalyan-headed Jana Sena are contesting in 111 and 8 seats respectively.





The Congress has given one seat to its ally CPI, and is fighting from 118 others.





Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates in nine segments in the city.





More than 2.5 lakh staff will be engaged in poll duties for the assembly elections, Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj has said.





About 77,000 security personnel, comprising state police and Home Guards drawn from the state and neighbouring states, besides 375 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed across the state as part of the security arrangements for the election.





For the first time in Telangana, home voting facility was provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years.



As on November 29, law enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold, liquor, freebies among others all worth about Rs 745 crore in the state ever since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 9, an official release said.



The EC has ordered all private establishments including IT firms to declare holiday on November 30 to enable employees to exercise their franchise.





The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.







Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, his Tripura counterpart N Indrasena Reddy, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Union Minister and state BJP president G Kishan Reddy are among the prominent leaders who will cast their votes in the elections.





CM Chandrasekhar Rao would exercise his franchise at his native Chintamadaka village in Siddipet district, official sources said.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (PTI) A 42-year-old man was arrested from east Delhi's Khichripur area for allegedly selling drugs in injection and tablet form to addicts, police said on Thursday.

The accused, Bharat Bhushan, earlier had a medical store, but his license was cancelled by the drug inspector five months ago for selling Avil injections without a doctor's prescription, they said.

"There were reports that some people are selling injections and tablets that are controlled drugs under Schedule H of the Drug and Cosmetics Act. These injections and tablets are being used as intravenous (sic) by drug addicts to intoxicate themselves," Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Amrutha Guguloth said.

After the tip-off, a police team was asked to keep a watch on Bhushan, she said.

"Bhushan was arrested on November 19, and the team recovered 190 injections of Avil, 320 tablets of Buprenorphine and 260 injections from him. An FIR under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act was registered against him," the DCP said.

At the time of arrest, Bhushan was running a plywood store and was peddling the contraband using it as a front, she said.




A colossal kiddush Hashem, were the words that came to mind when I observed the first Amud HaYomi test last week, related Rabbi Moshe Fisher, Co-Director of Dirshus operations in North America, in describing what he saw at multiple testing sites in Brooklyn. What I saw on the night of the bechina in Brooklyn and what I heard later from those who were at other sites all over the world, was a kiddush Hashem of tremendous proportions.

In truth, there are no words to describe the huge response to the beginning of the new Amud HaYomi program. Even Dirshus hanhala, who have seen numerous massive growth spurts over the years, were flabbergasted by the world-wide response as untold thousands gathered all over Eretz Yisrael in testing centers from Tzefas in the North to Beer Sheva in the south. The entire North America and Canada, Europe, England, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, France, Holland, even Gibraltar, as well as Argentina and Australia all had a massive uptick of new participants.

In Eretz Yisrael alone there were more than 900 testing sites with people of all ages, all types and stripes gathering to take the test. Tens of thousands of people took the tests! Yes, you read that right, 900 testing sites and tens of thousands of test-takers, an absolute record!

The Amud HaYomi program began with daf beis in Masechta Brachos this past Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. In the course of that first month, hundreds of new shiurim opened all over the world, taking even the hanhala of Dirshu by surprise.

Another amazing aspect of watching the first test was the sight of such a wide range of people!

Menaar vad zakein! exclaimed Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of the Dirshu hanhala in Eretz Yisrael. Boys under bar mitzvah were sitting alongside great-grandfathers with long white beards who needed the aid of a cane to walk. They were all there. Ashkenazim and Sefardim, Chassidim and Yeshiva types, baalei battim and kollel yungeleit, all united by the Torah and a program that enables them to comprehensively and systematically go through Shas with a plan.

Another amazing innovation that has seen success above and beyond anyones dream is the comprehensive, gevaldik kuntress called Iyun HaAmud compiled by great talmidei chachomim that Dirshu has published and distributed. The kuntress, designed to assist the lomdim of Amud HaYomi with their learning, includes the pages of the Gemara, explanations and supplements, marei mekomos and practical applications of the halachah, as well as the basic reyd on each sugya. It also offers sikumim, small encapsulations of each sugya to assist lomdim in remembering the important parts of each sugya.

Rabbi Bernstein said, It is clear that in the world of Torah, the buzz today is Amud HaYomi. The Amud HaYomi has truly become the nachlas haklal, the inheritance of all Klal Yisrael. It is our fervent tefillah that the zechus of the Amud HaYomi will continue to protect Klal Yisrael!




In a unanimous decision on Monday, the Oakland, California, city council passed a resolution urging for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. This came after hours of heated public testimony, with multiple residents getting up to declare their allegiance with Hamas.

Prior to the final vote, the Council faced a divisive moment when it rejected amendments proposed by Councilmember Dan Kalb. These amendments, which condemned the actions of Hamas, including killings and hostage-taking, were met with boos and angry shouts from the audience.

The public discussion prior to the vote was marked by insane rhetoric. Some speakers accused Israel of atrocities and expressed support for Hamas. They denied claims of Hamas involvement in the October 7 attacks and criticized the label of Hamas as a terrorist organization.

One woman at the meeting stated, There have not been beheadings of babies and rapings. She claimed that Israel was responsible for the deaths on October 7. Another attendee voiced support for the Palestinian right to resist occupation, including through Hamas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Republicans are considering holding an official House vote next month to authorize their impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden as the party looks to formalize a process that has yet to yield any direct evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

GOP leaders floated the possibility of a vote during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the discussion who was granted anonymity to discuss the private meeting.

The possible reversal from the House Republicans previous stance comes amid a standoff with the White House over requests for information related to Biden and his family. Republican leaders have long said a vote on the impeachment investigation was unnecessary, but are reconsidering as White House lawyers use the lack of formal House authorization to argue that the entire investigation lacks constitutional legitimacy.

Yet holding a vote on the impeachment investigation would be a high-stakes gambit by House Republican leadership, with no guarantee of success, given their narrow 222-213 majority. With Democrats united against the impeachment push, GOP leaders would need near-unanimous support from their side for the vote to succeed.

A vote on the impeachment investigation would put every House Republican on record in support of a process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president, dismissal from office for what the Constitution describes as high crimes and misdemeanors. For some moderate Republicans, especially those representing swing districts that Biden won in the 2020 election, its a vote that could come with considerable political risk.

The White House called the proposal an effort by Republicans to distract from their own chaos and dysfunction.

House Republicans have already proven this is an illegitimate exercise not rooted in facts and the truth but only in a political desire to smear the president with lies, and the American people see right through it, Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, said in a statement.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed some caution about the impeachment push, warning against a rush to judgment. But he says the evidence already uncovered by Republican chairmen is alarming.

While we take no pleasure in the proceedings here, we have a responsibility to do it, Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday with the leaders of the investigation.

Johnsons comments came just over a week after he traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with former President Donald Trump, who has been publicly pushing his Republican allies in Congress for months to impeach Biden in retribution for Democrats two impeachments of him.

But Republicans have been struggling to show progress in the nearly year-long probe of the president and business deals by members of his family, including his son, Hunter Biden. They have presented no evidence to prove that the president, in his current or previous office, abused his role or accepted bribes.

Then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy opened an impeachment inquiry of Biden in September, saying that the allegations themselves warrant further investigation by lawmakers. But at the time, McCarthy refused to schedule a formal vote to authorize the inquiry, a step that while not required has been done in the past to legitimize the constitutional process of impeaching a commander-in-chief.

Since then, Republicans have moved full steam ahead with their probe, digging deeper into the family finances, particularly payments that Hunter Biden received from Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that became tangled in the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump.

The White House has insisted Biden was not involved in his sons business dealings. House Democrats have also been unified in their opposition, claiming that the inquiry is an effort to detract attention from former Trumps legal challenges and turn a negative spotlight on Biden.

Republican leaders have pushed back in recent weeks, seeking to paint the investigation as a necessary process of checks and balances on the Biden family.

House Republicans have worked tirelessly on behalf of the American people for months to deliver transparency, following the money and the facts to uncover what I believe will prove to be one of the largest political corruption scandals of our lifetime and potentially in our nations history, Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of the GOP leadership team, said at the press conference Wednesday.

But despite being resolute from the top, many moderate Republicans have panned the evidence so far as not reaching the Constitutions bar of high crimes and misdemeanors, required for impeachment. Those same people, who will likely vote next month to authorize the inquiry, have questioned the ability of leaders to ultimately garner enough GOP support to pass articles of impeachment against Biden on the House floor.

Only three other presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Trump, who was impeached twice.

To date, no president has ever been forced from the White House through impeachment. But former Republican President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 as the House was preparing to take a vote on impeachment articles against him.

(AP)




Speaker Mike Johnson expressed reservations Wednesday about expelling Rep. George Santos from the House this week, but said he and other GOP leaders will not push colleagues to oppose removing the New York Republican from office. Were going to allow people to vote their conscience, Johnson said.

Santos has survived two previous expulsion efforts in his first year in Congress and has said he will not seek reelection, but the hands-off approach this time could tip the scales against him. Support for ousting Santos has grown after a monthslong investigation by the House Ethics Committee found that Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.

Johnson, R-La., said he has heard Republican lawmakers make forceful arguments on both sides. Some have argued that Santos should have his day in court before an expulsion vote occurs; that has been the precedent in the House so far. Others believe that some of the things Santos did are infractions against the House itself and deserving of expulsion.

And so what weve said as the leadership team is were going to allow people to vote their conscience I think is the only appropriate thing we can do, Johnson said. Weve not whipped the vote and we wouldnt. I trust that people will make that decision thoughtfully and in good faith. I personally have real reservations about doing this. Im concerned about a precedent that may be set.

Lawmakers returned from their Thanksgiving break this week with competing expulsion resolutions brought to the floor  one from Democrats, the other from Republicans. The resolutions require leadership to bring them up for consideration within two days, though it is expected that Democrats would not seek a second vote if Johnson brings the Republican expulsion resolution to the floor first.

A vote on expulsion could occur as early as Thursday, though Johnson suggested it would slip to Friday.

In the history of the House, only five members have been expelled, which is the most serious form of punishment the House can exact on its members. Only two have been removed by their colleagues since the Civil War.

The Republican resolution is sponsored by Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, chairman of the House Ethics Committee. It states that the committees investigation determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated federal law and the rules of the House, namely by converting campaign funds to personal use and through systemic reporting errors in his 2020 and 2022 campaigns filings with the Federal Election Commission. It also noted Santos lack of candor with investigators, saying he provided them with misrepresentations and delay tactics.

Given his egregious violations, Santos is not fit to serve in the House and should be expelled, according to the resolution.

Santo, who is facing 23 charges in federal court, defiantly rejected the committees findings in remarks on the House floor shortly after the resolution from Guest was offered by Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y. Santos has pleaded not guilty.

The process in which the Ethics Committee engaged was incomplete, irresponsible, and littered with hyperbole and littered with biased opinions, Santos said.

Some Republicans are holding out hope that Santos will resign before an expulsion vote. But he has been adamant that will not happen.

To set the record straight and put this in the record, I will not be resigning, Santos said on Tuesday night.

Johnsons remarks came after a closed-door meeting among Republicans. There is division within the conference about how to deal with Santos. At least two-thirds of the members present and voting must vote for the resolution for Santos to be expelled.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said let the people of New York deal with him.

Hes already said hes not running, Norman said. Our priorities are misplaced by putting this at the top of the list, and even having a conversation about it. To me, as I told the rest of them, Americans deserve better.

Added Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.: This is a terrible, dangerous precedent.

An expulsion resolution voted on in early November failed by a vote of 179 for expulsion and 213 against, with 19 voting present. Many Republicans wanted to wait for the House Ethics Committee to complete its investigation before making such a decision about Santos.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., joined with most Republicans in voting against expulsion four weeks ago. But this time he will be a yes, he said.

Its very clear this guy is a crook, Johnson said. His presence is unbecoming of the House. Ill certainly vote to expel and I think it will be a pretty strong bipartisan vote.

Republicans hold a 222-213 majority in the House. If Santos is forced from Congress, New York law will require Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to call a special election for his seat.

The governor would have 10 days from the day Santos leaves office to issue a proclamation calling for an election, and then that election would have to take place between 70 days and 80 days from her proclamation.

More than a dozen candidates are already running for Santos seat, including former Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who previously represented the district before an unsuccessful run for governor last year.

(AP)




China on Wednesday presented the United Nations Security Council with a four-point plan for Middle East peace in a demonstration of its ambitions to be a global superpower. But the plan was short on details, and the United States quickly reminded the council of its attempts to ease the Gaza war.

China has had little role in negotiations over the Israel-Palestinian conflict, which have been largely monopolized by the United States for decades.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the council that the war shows the urgent need for a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

We should revitalize the political prospects of the two-state solution with stronger determination, he said. The lack of a Palestinian state is the crux of the repeated turbulence in the Palestinian-Israeli situation, he said.

U.S. President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials also have spoken in favor of working toward a two-state solution for the conflict.

China made its biggest foray into Middle East politics when it brokered a deal in March for longtime opponents Iran and Saudi to reestablish diplomatic ties. The accord  sealed in Beijing after direct intervention by President Xi Jinping  helped ease the Saudi-Iranian rivalry that has fueled conflicts around the region.

For the first time they showed a willingness to play a role in Middle East political and security matters, said Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. That has then opened up the floodgate of expectations.

Regardless, the United States remains a major power in the Middle East, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized Washingtons attempts, with Middle Eastern allies, to help ease the current war.

Were now on the sixth day of the humanitarian pause in Gaza, she said. A pause that, quite frankly, would not have been possible without the leadership of Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Wang took a longer historical perspective. Israel has long established an independent state and the Jews are no longer without a home, Wang said told the Security Council. But the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence and their right of return, has long been ignored.

Fairness and justice on the Palestinian question lies in the two-state solution, he continued. This is irreplaceable.

On two of his other points, Wang told the council that the world should work for a comprehensive and lasting cease-fire with the greatest urgency, and better protect civilians.

His fourth point was that the Security Council should shoulder its responsibility on major issues of war and peace and life and death  in light of the development on the ground, take further action promptly. Wang did not specify what action the council should take.

(AP)
The OECD has raised its forecast for Korea's economic growth for next year by 0.2 percentage points to 2.3 percent.

But the OECD maintained its global economic growth forecast at 2.7 percent.

The rich-countries club releases growth forecasts for the whole world in June and November but limits its projections to the G20 countries in March and September.

But for this year the OECD slashed Korea's growth rate by 0.1 percentage point to 1.4 percent, aligning with predictions from the IMF.

The OECD said next year's picture looks rosier for Korea thanks to the recent recovery in the Chinese economy, the country's biggest market. It also noted that Korea's exports are rebounding, particularly in the semiconductor sector.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance said that while service-oriented economies like France and the U.S. grew this year, next year manufacturing-driven countries will be at the forefront.




A U.S. Navy warship sailing near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shot down a drone launched from Yemen, a U.S. official said Wednesday, in the latest in a string of threats from Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.

The official said according to initial reports, USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, deemed the drone  an Iranian-made KAS-04  to be a threat and shot it down over water in the southern Red Sea as the ship was moving toward the strait. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public.

The Wednesday shootdown comes a day after a Iranian drone flew within 1,500 yards of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier as it was conducting flight operations in international waters in the Arabian Gulf.

Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, said the drone violated safety precautions by not staying more than 10 nautical miles from the ship. The drone ignored multiple warnings but eventually turned away.

Earlier this month, another Navy destroyer, the USS Thomas Hudner, shot down a drone that was heading toward the ship as it sailed in the southern Red Sea. It also was near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and it shot down the drone over the water.

The Red Sea, stretching from Egypts Suez Canal to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, is a key trade route for global shipping and energy supplies. The U.S. Navy has stationed multiple ships in the sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7, which has heightened tensions in the region.

(AP)




Mark Fisher, a leading figure in the Black Lives Matter movement in Rhode Island, has thrown his support behind former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race, saying the Democratic Party has adopted policies detrimental to the Black community.

Its the duplicity of the Democrats, the hypocrisy, he said in an interview with Lawrence Jones. Were not stupid. The brothers are not stupid. We understand when someones for us and when someone is not, and its obvious that the Democratic Party is not for us.

He further elaborated on his stance, asserting that Democratic policies are undermining the core values of the Black family. Fishers critique extended to how the party values the Black vote. In a conversation with The Kim Iversen Show, he said, Weve been used and abused for so long by that party, they dont value our vote. Their policies are basically racist policies. I believe its a racist party.

Fisher contrasted this with his views on Trump, whom he praised for his straightforward approach and support for the Black community. Donald Trump is just the opposite. Hes going to tell you how it is. Hes going to give it to you straight, Fisher remarked. Trump has done more for the Black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime.

Recent polls have indicated a significant shift in the Black electorates support. A New York Times/Siena College poll this month showed that Trumps support among Black voters in key battleground states has risen to 22%, up from 8% in 2020. Furthermore, a poll from May revealed only 41% of Black adults wanting Biden to run for a second term, with just 55% likely to support him in a general election.

Fisher attributed this shift to misinformation among Black voters who continue to support Democratic candidates. He believes many are unaware of Trumps policies and their benefits to the Black community. A lot of people are misinformed, he said. They dont really understand because they dont educate themselves on Donald Trump as a person and his history.

He concluded by emphasizing the authenticity he sees in Trump. How could you not like a real man? How could you not relate to someone like that? Fisher asked, signaling a notable change in political allegiance and perception within segments of the Black community.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




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Amy McFadden, the associate deputy director for analysis at the CIA, has come under fire for her social media activity following Hamass deadly attack on Israel.

McFadden shared a pro-Palestinian image on Facebook, which depicted a man waving a Palestinian flag. Notably, her name was not initially disclosed in a Financial Times article that discussed her Facebook banner image, citing concerns about her safety.

The post has raised questions about McFaddens stance on Israel, especially in the context of President Joe Bidens handling of the war, where Hamass attacks resulted in numerous casualties, including 32 Americans. This incident has raised concerns about whether high-ranking officials within the federal governments intelligence services are comfortable expressing views that contradict the United States official stance on Israel.

In response to the controversy, a CIA spokeswoman emphasized the agencys commitment to analytical objectivity but acknowledged that CIA officers may hold personal views. However, the statement did not specify whether McFadden would face disciplinary action or termination.

Additionally, it has been reported that McFadden posted a selfie on Facebook with a Free Palestine sticker superimposed on the photograph, though this image was uploaded years ago.

Amy McFadden is one of the most senior figures within the CIA and previously held the responsibility of overseeing the presidents daily brief, a summary of classified intelligence. In her current role as associate deputy director for analysis, she plays a crucial role in approving the agencys intelligence.

While McFaddens personal beliefs on Israel remain unclear, she did like a post by the International Crisis Group, an organization that has faced criticism for its ties to the Iranian government. Robert Malley, a former White House official, once headed this group and is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly mishandling classified information.

The International Crisis Groups connections to Iran have come under scrutiny, with one of its Iran analysts being revealed as part of an Iranian-government propaganda network. This analyst, Ali Vaez, reportedly had multiple interactions with senior Iranian officials and visited the White House on several occasions since 2022.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, 36, of Kibbutz Nirim, was released from captivity in Gaza on Tuesday evening.

On October 7th, she was abducted together with her husband, Yagev Buchshtav, whom she married only two years ago.

Rimons father-in-law, Oren, told the media on Wednesday: She was held together with Yagev in captivity  it made it easier for them. When they told her she was being released, she didnt want to go. She told them: Either we go together or I stay here and neither of us will be released.'

The Hamas terrorists responded: You have two options: come nicely or well drag you on the floor. They didnt leave her a choice.

Oren said that Rimon lost a lot of weight while in captivity. Were very happy and excited that our daughter-in-law is back, that shes finally home. We believe that Yagev will also return soon. Everyone will return home.

Rimons name was all over the news and social media in Israel on Wednesday for another reason as well: the defiance she showed to Hamas during the transfer.

As is well-known by now, Hamas terrorists ordered the hostages to wave goodbye to them in a friendly way and smile  as material for their propaganda videos. However, Rimon refused to play any part in the charade.

In the video released by Hamas, Rimon is seen getting out of the vehicle and staring down the Hamas terrorist. She then waits for another hostage, puts her arm around her, and walks off with her head held high. She also refuses the overtures of the Red Cross representative.

Her response was commented on by many Israeli social media users. One person wrote: I still cant get over the wonderful head movement that Rimon makes at the terrorist, as if shes telling him, even in Hello Kity pajamas in the middle of Gaza  get away from me, you idiot in a ninja costume.

No one will hug us now. We will leave here alone and with our heads held high. Thats what Rimon Kirscht told the Hamas terrorists who tried to play nice for the cameras. She also said it to the Red Cross, who did not come to see any of the hostages while they were in pic.twitter.com/LZ7Ydr624E  Inbar Cohen (@InbarCohen13) November 29, 2023

Dont mess with Jewish women pic.twitter.com/qeiRo8KBWA  Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) November 29, 2023

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Ditza Heiman, 84, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, was released from captivity in Gaza on Tuesday evening in a wheelchair. She was abducted from her home on Kibbutz Nir Oz, where she lived independently, without any need for a wheelchair.

Her son and daughter spoke to the press on Wednesday and said that she was held in very harsh conditions and didnt receive any of the medications she regularly takes.

Her son, Gideon Heiman said: My mother didnt receive any medical treatment the entire time, no medications, no doctors visit, not even a medic. The conditions were so bad that its not certain a young person could survive them, physically or mentally.

Her daughter, Neta Yaman, said: She told us about very difficult things she endured but we dont want to reveal anything that could hurt her or anyone whos still there. Shell tell her story when she wants to.

Neta said that despite her happiness about her mothers return, shes worried about everyone whos left behind there. There are still 43 hostages left there just from Nir Oz alone. No one should be in those conditions. After we reunited with Ima and heard that she didnt receive her medications all that time and was kept in poor sanitary conditions, we understand how urgent it is that they be taken out now. For any price in the world.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




In a startling revelation by Channel 13 News, Almog Boker reported that one of the recently liberated hostages had been detained for 50 days in the attic of a UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) teachers home, providing more evidence that the U.N. was complicit in Hamass terror operations.

One of the abductees, held for nearly 50 days in an attic, reveals he was held by a UNRWA teacher  a father of ten children. This teacher locked the victim away, barely provided food, and neglected medical needs, Boker wrote on X.

This incident is part of a far broader and troubling pattern, as Boker further reported on another hostage situation involving a Gazan doctor. Another abductee was held captive by a Gazan doctor who, simultaneously, cared for children, Boker wrote, highlighting the dual lives led by many innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.

These are not isolated cases, but part of a larger picture where civilians are actively involved in the captivity of hundreds, including women and children.

UNRWA, the United Nations agency dedicated to assisting the descendants of Arab refugees from Israels War of Independence, has faced criticism over alleged links to Hamas and the reported extreme antisemitism among some of its employees. These latest reports of a UNRWA teachers involvement in a hostage situation lay bare the agencys willingness to actively support terrorists.

Adding to the grim picture, Devora Cohen, aunt of 12-year-old Eitan Yahalomi who was also recently released, disclosed that Eitan experienced physical abuse at the hands of Gazan civilians. She revealed that children, including Eitan, were threatened with rifles if they cried.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The Israeli delegation at the UN in Geneva today strongly condemned the Palestinian Authority (PA) delegation for lying about a photograph of an Israeli child killed in a Hamas rocket attack as a Palestinian child slain by Israeli forces.

At the heart of the controversy is a photo of Ido Avigal, a five-year-old Jewish boy tragically killed in a 2021 Hamas rocket strike on Sderot. The photograph was featured in a PA exhibition at the UN, which purported to show children allegedly killed by the IDF.

The Israeli delegation issued a statement saying, Hamas killed Ido. But today, the Palestinian Delegation presented an exhibition at UN Geneva, which included Ido as a Palestinian child supposedly killed by Israel in Gaza. This is despicable.

Further action was sought by the Israeli representatives, who urged UN Geneva Director-General Tatiana Valovaya to remove the exhibition, labeling it as a source of misinformation and a tool for propaganda.

This incident is not the first time Ido Avigals image has been misused. In September, MK Ahmad Tibi (Hadash-Taal) included a photograph of Ido in a collection purporting to show children affected by IDF actions.

Idos mother, Shani Avigal, expressed her shock and dismay upon seeing her sons image used in such a misleading context. Addressing Ahmad Tibi in a post on X, she wrote, Its totally fine to take all sorts of kids, put them in one photo, and tell the world that the IDF killed them, but is there a chance that you could take the photo of my child off there? I am pretty sure Hamas killed him, and injured my daughter, and my nephews, and myself.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




The last Omer Neutras parents heard from him, he told them reassuringly that he anticipated a quiet weekend.

But they checked the news anyway before getting ready for bed in New York, their nightly routine as parents of a tank commander in the Israeli military tasked with protecting small villages near the Gaza Strip. What they saw horrified them.

Of course, everything was wrong. Immediately, we understood that hes right there, his mother, Orna Neutra, said Wednesday of the brutal Oct. 7 rampage by Hamas that killed more than 1,200 civilians and soldiers and triggered a war in Gaza.

They would later learn that their son, a dual Israeli-U.S. citizen, had been ambushed and pulled out of his tank. He was taken to Gaza, where he is believed to remain as a hostage more than 50 days later.

The Neutras joined relatives of three other American hostages  including of newly freed 4-year-old Abigail Edan  in calling for the governments of Israel and the United States to do all they can to bring home their loved ones. The group is in Washington to plead their case with journalists, at a legislative hearing on Capitol Hill and in meetings with senior Biden administration officials.

International mediators, meanwhile, made progress Wednesday on extending a truce in Gaza that has facilitated the release of several dozen hostages over the past week. The Israeli military said Wednesday that Hamas had begun releasing 12 hostages from captivity in Gaza, the sixth release of Israeli hostages under the cease-fire agreement.

Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel kidnapped some 240 people, including babies, children, women, soldiers, older adults and Thai farm laborers. The initial waves of releases have centered on women and children.

Were so happy that kids and women are coming out, but its also time for men to come out, said Neutras father, Ronen Neutra.

Ruby Chen said his 19-year-old son, Itay, who is also a soldier and among the hostages, had sent them a WhatsApp message on the morning of Oct. 7 telling them his base had been attacked. The couple initially thought it was another episode that weve been accustomed to, where Hamas sends some missiles. But initial reports out of Israel made clear to them that was not the case.

They lost contact with their son later that morning. After 36 hours, they went to a local police precinct, where officials told them that he was categorized as missing in action. He wasnt found in any of the hospitals, and his name wasnt surfacing on the deceased lists.

Several days later, two police officers knocked on their door to tell them that their son had been abducted by Hamas and was in Gaza. Though the news resolved at least some of their questions, We have no proof of life. We have no indication about his medical status. We know nothing, Chen said. Fifty-four days. Nothing.

He added: Its been a living hell. We live in a different atmosphere, we live in a different universe than what you can understand.

Also in attendance were relatives of Abigail, whose parents were killed by Hamas militants. The little girl crawled out from underneath her slain father and went to the home of neighbors, who were taken captive with her.

The childs plight had drawn significant worldwide attention, with President Joe Biden telling reporters on Sunday: Thank God shes home. I wish I were there to hold her.

We are now on the other side, said her great-aunt Liz Hirsh Naftali. Abigail is home. Not in her home. But she is home in Israel. Because her home is destroyed. They cant return to where they lived. She has no parents to go home to.

Asked how the child was doing. Hirsh Naftali said, OK because she has that loving family, because she is going to be supported.

But, she added, Keep in mind, we will not know for years what the effect is on any of these children or adults that have spent 50, 52, now 54 days in the dark.

With the prospect of an extended cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure to bring home all the remaining hostages, but he has also underscored his intention to resume the military campaign against Hamas at the conclusion of the truce.

Noa Naftali, another relative of Abigail, said the families sole priority is to get their loved ones home as soon as possible at whatever cost necessary.

(AP)




The Prime Ministers Office has confirmed that the Gaza truce will be extended for one more day, following the reception of a list containing 10 women and children hostages set for release from Gaza.

This list complies with the agreed-upon ceasefire rules.

The pause was set to end at 7 a.m this morning.

Statement from the Prime Ministers Office

The War Cabinet unanimously decided last night that if a list, as was agreed upon in the outline, was not delivered by 7:00am this morning, fighting would resume at once.

A list of women and children  in accordance with the terms of the outline  was delivered to Israel a short time ago; therefore, the pause will continue.

Qatars foreign ministry has also confirmed the extension, and it will be governed by the same terms as the previous six days, during which Hamas released at least 10 hostages in exchange for the release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

Israel in turn will also release 30 Palestinian prisoners for every 10 hostages.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, opened Thursday in Dubai by sounding an alarm that, unfortunately, does not appear to be new. It has been ringing for a long time without the source of the problem being addressed: greenhouse gas emissions, the main source of which is to be found in the fossil fuels that power the global economy. As the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere reaches new record levels, it is almost certain that 2023 will be the warmest year on record since at least 1850, when the series of direct measurements of temperature began. That year is also taken as the reference point for the beginning of the current climate crisis as it was the moment in which humans began to use coal, oil, and gas on a massive scale to drive the Industrial Revolution.

We are living through climate collapse in real time, said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message released to coincide with the presentation of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)s interim report on the state of the climate in 2023. This year has seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods, and searing temperature  and the impact is devastating. The WMOs annual analysis is the starting signal for the U.N. climate summit, which began Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, marked by the uncertainties generated by an oil-producing country leading the negotiations.

Although COP28 opens Thursday, it will be during Friday and Saturday that the summit of leaders will be held, in which more than 160 world leaders are expected to participate. Around 100,000 people have been accredited to participate at the summit, making it the largest so far. However, the presidents of China and the United States will not be present. In the case of Xi Jinping, it has become customary for him not to attend COP summits in recent years. This will be the first COP summit Biden has failed to attend as president and is due to agenda issues, according to his administration, although authorizations for new hydrocarbon prospecting that have been endorsed by the White House have generated unease among many activists. This, however, does not mean that Beijing and Washington will not play an active and decisive role in Dubai once the leaders depart. That is when the negotiators will continue their work as John Kerry, Bidens special envoy for climate change and a veteran of these conferences, noted on Wednesday. It will be at that point that the real negotiations, which will focus largely on fossil fuels, will get underway.

During the opening of the summit Thursday, delegates from the nearly 200 participating nations ratified the appointment of the United Arab Emirates Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, as COP28 president. There has been controversy since it was announced at the beginning of the year that he would occupy the position, as he is also the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. And there is some uncertainty about how he will lead the talks at a conference that is due to take stock of the progress nations have made since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015. But, perhaps, the most important thing is not what has been done so far (which is not enough), but what must be done from this moment on, which involves multiplying renewable power capacity.

As important as the installation of clean energy is the move away from fossil fuels. Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders, Guterres said Thursday in a video message for the presentation of the WMO report. And it should trigger them to act. The United Nations secretary general recalled that there is a road map to limit the global temperature rise and that this includes nations committing to triple renewables, double energy efficiency and phase out fossil fuels, with a clear timetable.

In his first official speech as president of COP28, al-Jaber acknowledged that part of the discussions will focus on the references to renewables and fossil fuels. But he went on to defend the commitment of oil and gas companies to take on net-zero emissions targets. These commitments, as U.N. reports and other prestigious institutions have repeatedly warned, are of little use if the plans of the companies and producing countries continue to include increasing oil, gas, and coal extraction in the coming decades.

Power station in Neurath (Germany), November 28. INA FASSBENDER (AFP)

Natural disasters

While delegates negotiate, a climate crisis that has led to record lows in Antarctic sea ice this year will continue. Sea surface temperatures and sea level rise are also at record levels, and 2023 is on track to be the warmest year on record.

These are all indications of the growing climate crisis but, perhaps, the most immediate and most damaging elements are extreme weather events, which are already increasing in intensity and frequency due to global warming. The WMO lists major floods and flash floods, tropical cyclones, and extreme heat and drought events, with associated wildfires, among these. The list drawn up in its annual report is large and includes, for example, the devastating floods caused by extreme precipitation due to Mediterranean Storm Daniel in Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Libya, where thousands of people were killed in Derna.

Extreme heat in many parts of the world was another of the events highlighted in the report. Some of the most significant episodes occurred in southern Europe and northern Africa, especially in the second half of July, when the heat was intense and exceptionally persistent, says the WMO. In Canada, the wildfire season far exceeded all previous ones, the organization noted. The total area burned nationally through October 15 was 18.5 million hectares, more than six times the decadal average (2013-2022). In Hawaii at least 99 fatalities were reported in what was the deadliest fire in the last 100 years in the United States.

In the Horn of Africa, the 2023 analysis highlights that five consecutive drought seasons were followed by flooding, which led to even more displacement. And in many parts of Latin America, drought intensified: in northern Argentina and Uruguay, cumulative rainfall between January and August was 20% to 50% below average.




A terrorist carried out a ramming attack next to a checkpoint in the Jordan Valley early Thursday afternoon.

The terrorist rammed into a group of soldiers, lightly injuring two of them. The rest of the soldiers managed to move out of the way of the speeding vehicle and opened fire at the terrorist, neutralizing him.

An IDF spokesperson said: A ramming attack took place a short time ago at the Bekaot military checkpoint. The IDF reserve soldiers operating at the scene shot and neutralized the terrorist. Two reserve soldiers were lightly injured and were evacuated to the hospital for treatment. Their families were informed.

The forces launched a search for additional suspects.

The attack follows a terror attack in Jerusalem, in which three were murdered and six injured.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




Israeli police and IDF troops have thwarted a large-scale attempt to smuggle 137 firearms into Israel from Jordan, marking the largest weapons bust ever on the Jordanian border.

The successful operation was the culmination of months of surveillance by the polices Magen anti-smuggling unit, which had been tracking a gun smuggling ring responsible for numerous attempts to transport weapons into Israel from Jordan.

The breakthrough occurred last Thursday when members of the Magen unit, positioned near the southern town of Tzofar, detected an effort by the ring to move weapons across the border. Troops were dispatched to intercept a vehicle seen approaching the border from the Israeli side. Following a chase, four suspects were apprehended, including the purported leader of the smuggling ring.

Police identified the arrested individuals as residents of Bedouin communities in the Yeruham area, aged between their 20s and 30s.

In a statement, police disclosed the recovery of 137 weapons near the border area. This cache included 120 handguns and 17 M-16 assault rifles, alongside dozens of weapon parts and approximately 250 magazines. The estimated value of the seized items is around NIS 6 million ($1.6 million).

Israel faces ongoing challenges in combating weapons smuggling, particularly along its extensive, often difficult-to-monitor eastern border with Jordan and in the West Bank. Authorities believe that the majority of these smuggled arms are used in criminal activities.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Mulberry Group's boss has urged the government to scrap the so-called 'tourist tax' as the luxury leather goods maker reported higher half-year losses.

Chief executive Thierry Andretta said reinstating duty-free shopping would be 'one of the most effective ways to encourage business growth' in the UK.

Hundreds of Britain's most prominent retailers blame the abolition of the VAT rebate two years ago for costing them vital sales by driving away tourists and losing them to other popular European shopping destinations.

Plea: Mulberry's boss, Thierry Andretta, has urged the government to scrap the 'tourist tax'

More than 400 businesses have signed an open letter calling on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to remove the tourist tax, including luxury brands like Mulberry.

Earlier this week, Hunt told Parliament the Treasury would be 'looking again' at its decision to get rid of VAT refunds.

'As we look ahead to the New Year, I urge policymakers to collaborate with all industries campaigning on this issue and reconsider implementing this to support businesses across the UK,' Andretta remarked on Thursday.

He made the plea as Mulberry revealed underlying pre-tax losses in the six months ending September more than quadrupled to 12.3million.

The handbag seller said losses reflected investment to support business growth, such as software-as-a-service costs and bringing Swedish and Australian stores in-house.

Its revenue increased by 7 per cent to 69.7million amid a global slowdown in luxury spending and a weaker economic backdrop across the UK and China.

However, that was better than the previous year, when Mulberry's turnover dipped slightly due to online sales slumping following the end of Covid-related restrictions.

By comparison, digital revenues jumped by a quarter to 20.3million in the most recent half-year period thanks to bumper growth across the Asia-Pacific region and higher average transactions.

The company told investors: 'The wider macro-economic environment and geo-political climate continues to present some uncertainty, but we are well positioned to navigate this.'

It added that it was 'well prepared' for the second half of the financial year when sales tend to be stronger because of the Christmas season.

Mulberry Group shares slumped 7.9 per cent to 152p on Thursday morning, meaning their value has plunged by almost 40 per cent since the year began.

A fortnight ago, fellow high-end retailer Burberry saw its biggest one-day share price decline for over a decade after warning that the subdued luxury goods market was affecting trading.

Its annual operating profits are set to come in at the low end of forecasts while annual turnover could miss its low double-digit growth target.

Like Thierry Andretta, Burberry's chief executive Jonathan Akeroyd said the absence of VAT-free shopping was hitting business in the UK.

Mark Crouch, analyst at investment platform eToro, said: 'London is a major global capital - if VAT is undercutting the ability for luxury goods firms - of which there are many in London - to struggle, then the capital could soon lose some of its sheen compared to competitors.'
Metro Bank is axing 20 per cent of its workforce in a bid to cut costs, days after its investors backed a 925million rescue package.

The embattled lender is also 'reviewing' seven day opening and extended hours across its branch network, it told investors on Thursday.

Metro said it had identified potential cost savings of up to 50million per year, which the group expects to achieve during the first quarter of next year.

Job losses: Metro bank is axing 20% of its workforce in a bid to cut costs

Metro Bank did not confirm the exact number of job losses, but the lender employs around 4,000 people, according to its latest annual report. Hundreds of jobs are expected to be axed, with reports suggesting 800 could go.

The group said it remained 'committed' to its branches, but would bolster its digital services and use of automation.

It said: 'Whilst the Company remains committed to stores and the high street, it will transition to a more cost-efficient business model, investing in automation for service and back-office operations and improving digital channels, particularly for deposits.

'The Company is reviewing seven day opening and extended store hours across the store network and is in discussions with the FCA about the customer implications of any such changes.

'The Company continues to seek sites in the North of England for new stores as previously communicated.'

Metro Bank also plans to 'selectively streamline lending' to focus on 'relationship banking to maximise risk-adjusted returns'.

Daniel Frumkin, Metro Bank's chief executive, said: 'The support shown from our investors through this transaction will allow Metro Bank to accelerate its growth plans, with the new capital allowing us to unlock the potential in the business and deliver sustainable profitable returns as we strive to be the number one community bank.

'We remain committed to stores and the high street but will transition to a more cost-efficient business model while remaining focused on customer service.

In charge: Daniel Frumkin is Metro Bank's chief executive

Share slump: Metro Bank shares have fallen sharply in the past 12 months

'These actions alongside other initiatives to reduce costs are expected to deliver savings of up to 50'million per year on an annualised basis.'

The lender expects to take a lower-than-expected one-off restructuring charge of between 10million and 15million in 2023.

Metro Bank shares rose 2.77 per cent or 1.07p to 39.67p on Thursday morning, having slumped over 58 per cent in the last year.

This week, Metro Bank received shareholder approval for a 925million refinancing and recapitalisation plan, backed by Colombian billionaire, Jaime Gilinski, who has become the firm's biggest investor.

In October, reports claimed the bank needed to raise about 600million. As a result, the group's share price fell by around a third to an all time low of 34p.

Anthony Thomson, the bank's former chairman from 2010 to 2012, claimed the lender had a 'limited future' if it continued to focus on its branch network. He said the lender was pursuing a 'flawed strategy.'

Earlier this month, the bank said it saw a 5 per cent drop in deposits in the third quarter but claimed outflows had returned to 'more normal ranges' after its capital injection.

Metro Bank launched in 2010 to challenge the dominance of Britain's big banks, with a heavy focus on branch branch banking, at a time when others were pivoting to digital operations. The group has been hit by a string of setbacks in recent years, including accounting errors, leadership departures and delayed regulatory approval for key capital reliefs.
BP has agreed to take full ownership of solar joint venture, snapping up the remaining stake from founders as it looks to ramp up its renewable energy capacity.

The energy giant will acquire the remaining 50.03 per cent stake in Lightsource BP from the company's founders, management and staff at a base equity value of 254million.

The acquisition of the fast-growing solar developer will underpin BP's planned growth in low-carbon and biofuels production, as well as electric vehicle charging.

It comes as BP continues its search for a permanent chief executive following the ressignation of Bernard Looney in September after he failed to disclose relationships with employees.

Taking ownership: BP has agreed to take full ownership of Lightsource BP

BP shares rose 2.65 per cent or 12.50p to 484.45p on Thursday.

Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, BP's head of gas and low-carbon energy, said: 'This is a natural evolution of the partnership we have built over the past six years - now we will be able to take Lightsource BP to the next level of profitable growth and performance.'

The shareholders selling their stake will also have the opportunity to receive further payment over time, dependent on the company's performance.

London-based Lightsource BP was founded in 2010 by its chief executive Nick Boyle, who holds the majority of the outstanding stake. The firm focuses on solar photovoltaic projects.

Since its founding, Lightsource has expanded from operating in three countries to 19, developed 8.4 gigawatt of solar capacity and built a 61 gigawatt development pipeline. It has over 1,200 staff.

Lightsource BP reported underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of 287million last year, with adjusted debt of 1.5billion.

BP's Joaquin Oliveira, currently head of finances for gas and low carbon energy, will take the role of co chief executive of Lightsource BP early next year, along with founder Boyle.

BP's shares have dropped around 9 per cent since Looney's departure.

BP's earnings over the two previous quarters missed market expectations, contributing to the poor share performance.

In October, BP reported lower than expected profits despite global oil prices rising again.

The group posted profits of 2.7billion between July and September, lower than predictions of over 3billion.

Its earnings were down from over 6billion in the same period in 2022 when BP made sizeable profits following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which led to oil prices surging.
Only 28% of people in Sierra Leone have access to electricity, Octopus says

Octopus Energy has entered into a partnership with Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP) to build Sierra Leone's first wind farm from next year.

SAP is an infrastructure development company co-founded by award-winning actor Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens, the grandson of the former president of Sierra Leone.

The partnership represents Octopus Energy's first move into renewables in Africa. The group's green energy projects, spanning 15 countries, are currently worth over 6billion.

Co-founder: SAP is an infrastructure development company co-founded by award-winning actor Idris Elba, pictured, and Siaka Stevens

Up to five wind turbines and solar panels with batteries will generate clean electricity for local communities in Sierra Leone, where SAP and Octopus also plan to open new offices.

Just 28 per cent of Sierra Leones population are estimated to have access to electricity. The country is targeting 85 per cent renewable electricity capacity by 2030.

Idris Elba, co-founder of SAP, said: 'We look at the pristine beaches of Sherbro Island, with the goal of creating a culturally diverse international city that blends African tradition, dynamism, and pride with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services, where development sits in harmony with sustainability.

'Were pleased to partner with Octopus Energy who share a profound commitment to sustainability and energy which will be a backbone to development on Sherbro.'

Agreement: Up to five wind turbines and solar panels with batteries will generate clean electricity for local communities, Octopus Energy said

Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive of Octopus Energy Generation, added: 'This is a momentous day for Octopus as we kick off our first renewables project in Africa.

'Green energy represents a monumental opportunity across the African continent.

'Through projects like this, we can get cheap, green electricity to even more people and leverage renewables data to unleash the power of renewables and encourage others to follow suit.'

Earlier this week, Octopus Energy revealed it had snapped up a 12.5 per cent cent stake in the 660 megawatt Walney Extension offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea from a group of Danish pension funds.

Octopus acquired the stake from AIP Management, the investment manager for Danish pension funds PKA and PFA. It did not disclose how much it paid for the stake.

Walney Extension is operated by Denmark's Orsted, which holds a 50 per cent stake. It has been operational since 2018, producing enough power for nearly 600,000 homes.

The latest investment was made through the 3billion Octopus Energy Offshore Wind fund the group launched this month.

Octopus Energy already holds stakes in UK offshore wind farms Hornsea One and Lincs. It is also expanding its global investments in the technology globally with deals in Europe and Asia.

Octopus Energy Generation plans to invest over 15billion in offshore wind globally by 2030, aiming to boost energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Octopus has invested in offshore wind farms in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as in developers of new offshore wind projects in countries such as Norway, Sweden and South Korea.
The future of X appears to hang in the balance as Elon Musk told advertisers, who were traditionally the lifeblood of its revenues, to go f*** themselves.

The expletive outburst from the billionaire came as major companies continue to boycott the social media site, formerly known as Twitter, after a report last month revealed tweets from companies such as Apple were placed alongside racist content.

Firms including Disney, Apple and Comcast have cut ties with X over the claims, as well as controversial tweets from Musk himself. But late on Wednesday Musk pushed back against the mass exodus of advertisers.

I dont want them to advertise, Musk said, stunning the audience at the New York Times Dealbook summit this week.

If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money, go f*** yourself, he said.

X-rated: Elon Musk suggested firms attempting to blackmail him with advertising or money should 'go f*** themselves'

And he even singled out Bob Iger, Disney chief executive, adding: Is that clear? Hey Bob, if youre in the audience, thats how I feel.

Musk bought the social media site for 38billion last October, by saddling it with 12billion in debt from a syndicate of banks led by Morgan Stanley, Barclays and Mitsubishi.

Analysts have warned that Musks outrageous comments are putting the future of X  and its employees  at even bigger risk.

Mike Proulx, analyst at Forrester, said: It is not advertisers who will kill the company, it is Musks continued poor business choices that are decimating it.

And his comments will only drive more revenue out the door.

The worlds richest man and self-styled free speech absolutist has already said he will be suing the Left-wing non-profit group, Media Matters, who were behind the claims that sparked the boycott.

Media Matters maliciously manufactured images beside neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content, the complaint filed last week in Texas said.

But even before that, Musk was under fire for lax content moderation when he got rid of half of the workforce shortly after his takeover.

The lack of controls has spooked advertisers who are grappling with a tough economic climate that has made budgets even tighter.

Ebiquity, the London-listed firm that helps companies allocate advertising spend, has said only two of its top 50 clients were still advertising on X.

This compares to around 30 before Musk took up the mantle.

In July Musk said the group still had negative cash flow due to a 50 per cent drop in advertising  a situation that is likely to have worsened.

All this puts a huge amount of pressure on chief executive Linda Yaccarino, the former NBC Universal advertising boss who was hired to woo advertisers to X.

Yet Yaccarino took to X to praise Musks comments as candid.

Dan Ives, tech analyst at Wedbush, was more sympathetic.

Musk is accustomed to chaos and the X advertiser situation is all about engagement, he said.

We believe advertisers will slowly return, although 2024 has some clear challenges for Musk.

The eccentric entrepreneur has been outspoken about his plans to shift X away from its dependency on adverts and towards being an everything app.

But this is no easy feat considering that advertising revenue accounted for nearly 90 per cent of revenue under previous ownership.
Barclays is unleashing another wave of mortgage rate cuts, as competition among lenders intensifies.

From tomorrow, the bank is slashing a number of rates across its two-year and five-year fixed products aimed at home buyers, including launching a new best buy.

The move by Barclays comes in the aftermath of a flurry of rate cuts over the past week that has seen lenders reprice on a daily basis.

Top of the table: Barclays is now offering a 4.39% five year fixed rate aimed at those buying with at least a 40% deposit. It comes with a 899 product fee

First, Nationwide Building Society broke the 4.5 per cent barrier, after it slashed its fixed rates by up to 0.43 percentage points.

Then on Tuesday, NatWest slashed selected fixed rates by up to 0.4 percentage points for residential deals with its best five-year fixed rate falling to 4.47 per cent.

The following day Santander confirmed a wave of mortgage cuts.

> This is Money mortgage finder: Check the best rates you could get

This was followed today by Virgin Money, which announced a limited time deal offering a five-year fix as low as 4.42 per cent.

TSB has also announced rate cuts of up to 0.45 percentage points and Accord Mortgages has announced cuts of up to 0.3 percentage points.

However, Barclays has now surpassed them all with its 4.39 per cent five year fixed rate aimed at those buying with at least a 40 per cent deposit. It comes with a 899 product fee.

Someone purchasing a property worth 350,000 with a 200,000 mortgage, repaying over 25 years, would have monthly payments of 1,099 on that rate.

New deals from Barclays will also include a 4.7 per cent five-year fix aimed at those buying with at least a 25 per cent deposit.

For those buying with a 10 per cent deposit, Barclays is now offering a 4.95 per cent rate, with a 999 fee.

Nicholas Mendes of mortgage broker John Charcol is expecting further rate cuts to follow.

He says: 'Nationwide were leading the best buys at the start of the week, only to be subtly edged by Virgins purchase exclusive five-year fix at 4.42 per cent.

'Barclays latest reprice moves it comfortably at the top of the best buys heading into the weekend.

I expect we will see another lender reprice before the weekend or early next week to kick off the festive season.'

A statement from Barclays said: 'The market is moving at a fast pace and we are committed to remaining nimble with our pricing to ensure we continue to provide you with our most competitive offering.'
In this race against time it is a thousand times easier to agree on what to start doing than on what to stop doing. In order for global warming not to exceed the safety limits that countries imposed on themselves with the Paris Agreement in 2015, the world economy must stop emitting greenhouse gases during the second half of this century. To reach this goal, a clear route must be followed in the next three decades that moves away from fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil), the main source of emissions. This disengagement must begin as soon as possible, and the clearest alternative is the use of renewables. This will be discussed by the representatives of the almost 200 nations that are meeting at the annual U.N. climate summit, COP28, which starts this Thursday and is due to close on December 12  in principle, because the end of these meetings is always delayed by ongoing negotiations.

What is different about this summit is that it is being held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the worlds biggest oil and gas producing countries. The conference itself will take place at the Expo City development in Dubai. There is a great deal of uncertainty and concern among activists and some countries about how the outcome of this event may be affected by the fact that, for the first time, the host is a petrostate. The UAE has a population of a little more than nine million, and 29% of the countrys income depends on the oil and gas industry.

Before the event started, there was already a certain consensus that COP28 would issue a call to triple global renewable power by the end of this decade, which means going from 3,400 gigawatts (GW) in 2022 to around 11,000 in 2030. The same package includes doubling energy efficiency rates, in other words, reducing energy use, and the G20 adopted these goals at its September meeting in India. Furthermore, in a joint climate declaration a few days ago, China and the United States (whose senior leaders will not ultimately attend COP28, although they will send high-level delegations) also showed their explicit support for the global objective of tripling renewable power. This is seen as something that is within reach thanks to the increasingly competitive solar and wind technologies.

But that is the simple part. The complicated part is achieving the same call for what we must stop doing, which means eliminating the use of fossil fuels. This will be the summits biggest battle, but not the only one, the Spanish delegation in Dubai believes. This year, Spain will have a prominent role in the negotiations when it receives the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. While each countrys delegates discuss the issue of climate change, alerts will be sounded in the background, reminding them that emissions have not yet reached their ceiling and this year will be the warmest ever recorded.

Although the worldwide implementation of renewables is gaining speed, fossil fuel-producing countries are not now considering the reductions in oil, gas, and coal extraction necessary to stop warming. A recent study sponsored by UNEP, the U.N. environmental agency, warned that governments are currently considering producing more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be compatible with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. That figure was one of the goals set in the Paris Agreement. The United Arab Emirates  which is the seventh-largest oil producer in the world and the fifteenth largest gas producer  has multimillion-dollar investments planned to further expand its production during this decade. In addition, it is among the states that grant the most state aid per capita to the fossil fuel industry: $2,466 per year, according to a report by the International Monetary Fund.

Holding the summit in Dubai has highlighted the contradictions in the global fight against climate change, and raised tensions the previous times. The event has been surrounded by controversy since it was announced months ago that Sultan al Jaber, the Emirates Minister of Industry, will preside over the COP. He has already represented his country on several occasions at previous COPs and, in addition to being a minister, he is the CEO of ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company), the eighth-largest oil company in the world. This week the BBC published a series of documents that suggest that the COP presidency could take advantage of this event to try to expand its businesses, something that would clearly contravene the U.N. rules for these summits. I cant believe it, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres responded on Monday when questioned about the matter.

At a conference held ahead of the summit this Wednesday, Sultan al Jaber finally responded to this information. These allegations are false, not true, incorrect, and not accurate, said the UAE minister, who has promised that he has never seen or used these documents in his meetings. And he added: Do you think that the United Arab Emirates or I need the COP or the presidency of the COP to establish trade agreements or trade relations?

The president of COP28, Sultan al Jaber, at the conference facilities in Dubai this Wednesday. Peter Dejong (AP)

In any case, how is it possible that the United Arab Emirates can host and chair a climate summit? We must understand that the COPs are the result of a multilateral process where all countries are treated equally, explains Manuel Pulgar, the former Peruvian minister who chaired the summit held in his country in 2014. The smallest of economies must be heard like the rest, he explains. Laurence Tubiana, one of the architects of the Paris Agreement, emphasizes that the COP system holds all countries responsible for a problem that affects everyone, such as climate change. That includes the main fossil fuel producing states, he adds.

Every year the event is held in a particular region of the planet. In 2023, it was Asias turn to host the COP, the Emirates presented its candidacy, which was supported by the countries of that region and the rest of the almost 200 nations participating in the climate change negotiations. Pulgar remembers that in 2018 the Polish city of Katowice hosted COP24. If Dubai is one of the homelands of oil, Katowice was the homeland of coal in the European Union, where Poland is one of the least ambitious countries in the climate fight.

COP24 did not go down in history as the most audacious of summits, but what had the most influence, beyond the Polish presidency, was the blocking posture imposed by the United States, then governed by Republican Donald Trump. Theoretically, the COP presidency should be neutral. It must represent the global interest and not that of its country, says Pulgar. When trust in the presidency of the summit is broken, the COP collapses, he warns. The presidency must be impartial and overcome conflicts of interest, Tubiana also warns.

Overall balance

The meeting that begins this Thursday has the mandate to carry out the first assessment of global efforts to contain climate change since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. It is already known that not enough has been done because warming is predicted to be above what was agreed, so the worlds governments must change course. The pact signed in the French capital eight years ago established the goal that the increase in the average temperature of the planet would not exceed two degrees by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial levels, and to try not to exceed 1.5 degrees. To do this, it is necessary to reduce emissions, although specific cuts are not set by each nation. Instead, each country has presented its plans for voluntary cuts, which will now lead the planet to between 2.1 and 2.8 degrees of warming.

This situation requires urgent action, says Tubiana, who adds as a warning: There is a fundamental incompatibility between dependence on fossil fuels and achieving our climate goals. The balance must be used to draw up the next batch of national plans to cut emissions, which will be presented in 2025. Also, it is essential for these plans to contain promises and national calendars to stop using fossil fuels, as Antonio Guterres himself has pointed out. Hence the importance of this call coming out of the Dubai summit.

For now, Sultan al Jaber insists on the need to involve oil and gas companies in this fight. It highlights that it is the first time that the majority of companies in this sector are committed to achieving carbon neutrality goals. However, many analysts fear that these commitments are nothing more than eco-posturing or greenwashing while extraction continues to increase, condemning humanity to disastrous warming. The criticism doesnt just come from angry environmentalists. Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), has questioned the commitment of these companies to the energy transition. Only 1% of the $1.8 trillion that will be invested in renewable energy in 2023 will come from fossil fuel companies, a recent IEA report highlighted.

The big question is what will come out of COP28 in relation to fossil fuels. Once again the summits final statement may end up being watered down. But, if it doesnt go wrong, it seems that good news will come out of the summit. A fund to compensate the most vulnerable regions for the impacts of climate change for which they are the least responsible will be established. This fund, which will be managed by the World Bank, is expected to start after this summit, but the most important thing will be the commitments that will come later to provide it with funds. Developed nations will contribute, but the door is also open for other countries, such as China, to do so too and to seek other alternative energy sources.
Economist Lant Pritchett (Utah, 1959) calls himself an optimist due to age. Im an optimist because Im 64 years old, he says. When I was born, Black people in the United States couldnt vote in the South, they were segregated Women also had a very limited role. But theres been a radical change in terms of opportunities and civil rights. Im an optimist because Ive seen that kind of big positive changes.

Following that reasoning, Pritchett is convinced that humanity is on the brink of a big, positive change when it comes to people who move across borders. This is not idle talk. Pritchett is one of the greatest experts in the world when it comes to human mobility. He has taught at Harvard and Oxford, among other universities, he has worked for over a decade at the World Bank and has published more than one hundred works exploring a wide range of topics, among them economic growth, education and development aid. During the last few years, he has turned to labor mobility because its positive effects are radically underestimated, he says. Currently, he is the cofounder and research director at Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP), an organization that looks to broaden understanding of possible legal pathways towards everyone winning: both countries of origin and destination.

Pritchett visited Madrid at the start of October to work with the Spanish government on a possible pilot collaboration with Colombia on training materials, and was welcomed by the then-minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Jose Luis Escriva. The economist gave this interview after his talk during a recent session of the Rome Dialogues on Jobs and Migration series. Asked to speak on borders, immigration and human mobility, his first argument is compelling: If there was no mobility, we would all still be in Africa. Most countries had almost no border restrictions until the 1920s. This century has been an anomaly, a brief span of human history in which the world has been divided by strictly controlled borders, he says.

Question. In regards to the negative discourse surrounding migration, you defend it as an opportunity for development. But in many European countries, as well as the United States, migrants are criminalized both politically and socially. How do you see the current situation?

Answer. The negativity around migration is the last breath of a moribund system and the transition to a more realistic approach. Theres a famous quote by John Maynard Keynes, one of the best-known economists of all time. When they accused him of changing his opinion on a political issue, he said: When the facts change, I change my mind. Demographic changes are going to create such pressures on countries trying to maintain a lifestyle based solely on their nationality that they will have to open up to labor mobility.

Q. And how will that outlook change? If we look at borders in Europe and the United States, for example, if we take into account the tightening of migration control policies that the European Union is approving, it does not seem like we are going down that road.

A. A large part of the tension comes from the countries, governments and societies that have yet to make the connection between two key questions: Who is our future? And, who is going to be allowed to live and work in our territory to provide services, have a job and earn a salary? If you combine these two questions, you will inevitably create tensions and negative views towards migration. But if you separate them, you complete change the politics. People will say: We need workers, and were going to allow those people to live here, respecting their rights and giving them the opportunity to work, but not necessarily an automatic and immediate path to citizenship. When you separate those two questions in public dialogue, the negative attitudes disappear.

Q. In your presentation you said that the number of people older than 80 will double in the next 30 years and that of people in the workforce will greatly diminish. At the same time, we have 1.4 billion people in Africa, of which more than half are younger than 25, looking for work, and that number will have doubled by 2050. The math seems easy

A. All you have to do is put together those two statistics. Now, what is making that connection difficult is the question: if I allow someone from Africa to come help me take care of my grandmother, am I obligated to give that person Spanish nationality? If the answer is the affirmative, fear and the feeling of losing something valuable of what it means to be Spanish arise, and that threat generates reactionary politics. But if you think that the person is going to work here for a few years and then return home with their earnings, invest in their country, and then someone else will come and all this will be a rotational process, you will radically increase the number of people willing to have foreigners in their country. And Spain will be better able to take care of its elderly. Its a win-win.

Q. But not everyone who emigrates does so looking for work; of the 184 million migrants in the world there are more than 40 million refugees and asylum seekers who fled a country in war or a situation of violence or from the effects of climate change.

A. Governments should create three tracks for people who come to live in their country. One track is that of people who hope to become Spanish. Another is that of those who we are going to allow to live and work here; the third is that of those of we are going to allow to be in Spain out of necessity. They are very different, but a large part of the current tension is that we are letting the issue of refugees become the labor issue, or letting the issue of citizenship drive the labor issue. If you force the three tracks to be too similar, you generate tension and political backlash. Once separated, they will work well in all three directions.

Q. Expecting foreigners to become Spaniards may arouse misgivings due to nationalistic or patriotic concerns. It has to do with not losing our cultural identity, dont you think?

A. Sometimes people think that defending the idea of what it means to be Spanish is racist or xenophobic, but thats not the case. Valuing traditions, culture and history is simply a legitimate part of the human experience, and there is nothing wrong with preserving that. But that does not make it something finite; it is open to change because it is part of history, because we are a mixture of many different things.

Q. In recent years, the far-right political movement in Spain, but also in European countries as varied as Finland and Italy, have been gaining more and more support, or has even gained elected representation in the Government. Part of this comes from the fact that they are spreading racist and xenophobic discourse, and using migration as a political weapon.

A. The thing about the far-right parties is that they are trying to get people to equate all foreigners in a country with a threat to our future, but they are only gaining ground because of their ability to generate fear. Once immigration policy is clarified and these three channels who is our future, who is allowed to work here, who we welcome out of necessity are entered into the public debate, the narrative will change and the xenophobes will go back to the caves and slimy holes from which they came. Part of the response must be to make it clear that it is possible to regulate labor mobility in an orderly fashion and, in so doing, people will no longer see it as a threat to their future.

What will change radically in the future, in relationship to the past, is that for the last 100 years, it has been considered a key responsibility of Government to provide jobs for all its citizens, and given the overall population growth, that has always been a challenge. But once the demographics reverse, the challenge will be to find a person for every job. In the coming years, the impact of demographic changes is going to lead to chronic labor shortages.

Q. That will especially affect Spain, which with a birth rate of 1.23 births per woman, has the second lowest fertility rate in the European Union. How do you see our panorama?

A. In the absence of immigrants, between 2020 and 2050 Spains labor force (its active population) will drop from 22.6 to 15.7 million people. Youre not going to fill all the jobs needed in a modern and sophisticated economy like that of Spains with 15.7 million people. So, nobody is going to see their own opportunities threatened by people coming to work.

In fact, for Spaniards to have the job opportunities they want, they are going to need foreign people because, if you look at the production chain, you need a lot of people. You cant do your job unless other people are doing theirs. When people talk about the future of work, its often as if theyre only talking about that of the upper-middle class. The future of work will continue to mean a lot of physical effort on someones part and that, in fact, doesnt require high levels of formal education. According to my numbers, in the United States there will be a net of 3.24 million new low-skill jobs, but there will also be 4.7 million fewer people in the labor force. So, youre not going to take a job away from an American to fill any of those 3.24 million jobs. Im sure if we had Spains estimates they would be even worse, because the countrys fertility decline is going so much faster than in the U.S., and the demographic changes will be more dramatic. I think ensuring that all Spaniards have adequate opportunities will be easy.
Elon Musk has a peculiar way of apologizing. The tech tycoon and head of the social network X, formerly Twitter, and founder of Tesla and SpaceX, admitted this Wednesday at a conference organized by The New York Times that he was wrong to agree with an antisemitic message that spread a conspiracy theory of white nationalism. But while acknowledging his mistake, he also accused advertisers who have withdrawn their advertising of blackmail and has raised the tone to address them: Go fuck yourself, he repeated twice, also referring expressly to Bob Iger, Disney CEO, one of the ones who cut the publicity.

Musks language, surprised those present at the formal forum which throughout the day included US Vice President Kamala Harris; Israels President Isaac Herzog; Taiwans Tsai Ing-wen, via video conference; JP Morgan President, Jamie Dimon, or Disneys, Bob Iger, among many others.

Advertising remains the main source of revenue for X and Musk has implicitly called on users to boycott companies that have decided to suspend advertising on the social network after his antisemitic message. Among those companies are IBM, Apple, Disney, Sony, Warner, Paramount and Lionsgate.

Musk sparked outrage with his own tweets in response to a message from a user accusing Jews of hating whites and professing indifference to antisemitism. The message subscribed to the conspiracy theory of replacement, according to which the Jews are supporting hordes of minorities who are flooding the country to replace the whites. That conspiracy theory was the same that motivated the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. You have said the actual truth, Musk tweeted.

This Wednesday in New York, the tycoon was defiant when asked about that tweet: I have no problem being hated, he said. And that he didnt care if people hated him, loved him or trusted him or not because SpaceX makes the best rockets and Tesla the best cars.

Then, however, he acknowledged that that message was one of the most foolish he has ever shared on X and apologized if that message encouraged antisemitism: I am quite sorry, he said. I should, in retrospect, not have replied to that particular post.

Essentially I handed a loaded gun to the people who hate me, said Musk, who also complained that the media ignored his attempts to clarify the meaning of his message. The owner of X also said that his recent visit to Israel was not an apology tour despite the fact it happened at a time when he needed to sanitize his image. On that trip, Musk also accepted to give Netanyahus government the faculty to authorize the use of the connectivity provided by his Starlink web of satellites in the Gaza Strip.

However, after acknowledging his mistake and saying he was sorry, he faced-off with the advertisers who decided to remove their ads from the platform for not feeling comfortable with a social network where many antisemitic messages were being shared, besides Musks.

Iger had justified a little earlier in the same event Disneys own decision. I have a lot of respect for Elon and what he has accomplished, he said. By him taking the position that he took in quite a public manner, we just felt that the association with that position and Elon Musk and X was not necessarily a positive one for us, the Disney boss added.

When Musk was asked what he thought of decisions like that, he went off: Dont advertise. If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go fuck yourself. Go-fuck-yourself, is that clear? Hey Bob, if youre in the audience.

What this advertising boycott is going to do is, it is going to kill the company, Musk added. And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, he continued, while among the crowd sat Linda Yaccarino, the CEO he hired this year to, among other things, fix the relationship with advertisers.

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Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers union, pictured in July at a plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan. REBECCA COOK (REUTERS)

The president of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Shawn Fain, had already announced his intention, but now he has put it into practice. The union that groups together U.S. autoworkers from companies such as General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, the Big Three, wants to expand its scope of action. On Wednesday it launched an offensive to unionize workers at more than a dozen companies in the sector, including U.S.-based Tesla, Japans Toyota and Germanys Volkswagen.

The success of the recent auto workers strike, the first to be held simultaneously against Detroit Big Three, has given the union wings. The agreements reached to bring that stoppage to an end  involving wage increases of more than 30% and other concessions on the part of the companies  have caused a chain reaction in the plants of other manufacturers, which have also approved significant wage increases. Still, non-union workers lag far behind those in UAW-affiliated plants in terms of wages, benefits, and rights on the job. Now, the UAW is openly reaching out to more than 150,000 employees at other companies to join its ranks.

In the United States, it is common for preparatory work to be carried out discreetly in order to avoid being short-circuited by the company in question. This time, however, the UAW is going with a direct and open appeal. In an unprecedented move, autoworkers at more than a dozen non-union automakers have announced simultaneous campaigns across the country to join the UAW, the union announced in a statement. The organizing drive will cover nearly 150,000 autoworkers across at least thirteen automakers, it added.

One of the strongest campaigns is at Toyotas Georgetown, Ky., assembly complex, where 7,800 workers make the companys iconic Camry and highly profitable RAV 4 and Lexus ES, the union stated.

In a video, Fain details the common issues facing all workers in the sector, which the union groups into the Big Three (Ford, GM, Stellantis), the German Three (Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW), the Japanese and Korean Six (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Subaru, Mazda), and the electric car sector (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid). Fain underlines in his message the record profits being posted by some of these companies, the same strategy he employed to seek improvements during the recent strike.

To all the autoworkers out there working without the benefits of a union: now its your turn, Fain says. " Since we began our Stand Up Strike, the response from autoworkers at non-union companies has been overwhelming. Workers across the country, from the West to the Midwest and especially in the South, are reaching out to join our movement and to join the UAW [...] The money is there. The time is right. And the answer is simple. You dont have to live paycheck to paycheck. You dont have to worry about how youre going to pay your rent or feed your family while the company makes billions. A better life is out there.

The new campaign kicks off on the same day that General Motors soared on the stock market after announcing a multibillion-dollar share buyback and a dividend increase. The company has been optimistic about its ability to offset post-strike wage increases by cutting other fixed costs.
Approximately 1 billion minors live in cities, according to UNICEF data. These are environments that, despite the possibilities of development and protection that they could offer to the child population, do not live up to expectations. This is what the thinker and educational psychologist Francesco Tonucci says when he asserts that cities are designed taking adults as a reference. Tonucci proposes that minors should be able to go out alone in safe environments, because if this is the case, they will also be safer places for adults.

Given the disconnect between cities and childhood, there are many who consider it necessary to achieve a union again. For a long time this group [the child population] has remained invisible to various disciplines and agents, says Ana Novella Camara, coordinator of the European IMCITIZEN Project, a University of Barcelona program that fosters childrens democratic citizenship identity as active and engaged members of their municipalities.

Starting in the 1990s, with the approval of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in November 1989, childhood became visible as a subject with rights to foster, guarantee and defend. The international movement of Educating Cities, that same decade, triggered a change in the conception of the city as an agent of training and an educational space defined collaboratively by all citizens. This modification of criteria coincided with Tonuccis denunciation of the hostility of cities towards childhood in his book The City of Children (1996). The author points directly to the responsibility of politicians and architects in paying attention to the perspectives of childhood when they are defining play spaces and organizing the city. The fundamental premise is to recognize children as active agents in urban planning and in the configuration of the city, promoting a more inclusive approach that is sensitive to their needs, explains Novella.

The Spanish 20th-century architect Fernando Chueca, in his book Brief History of Urban Planning, stated that the city is a physical organization with a soul. We citizens have the right and the duty to contribute that soul, nourished by human sensitivity. And childhood? Its role in the ideation of the city is very convenient, although historically it has been underestimated, says Pablo Campos Calvo-Sotelo, a professor of architectural composition at the San Pablo-CEU University in Madrid. The participation of boys and girls in the configuration of the city is essential. They are users, unique but very authoritative, and they will be in charge of living it and improving it as it matures, says Campos. Furthermore, according to this expert, children have the ability to offer different perspectives that can serve as inspiration to reinvent urban environments: As a public setting, the city is the macro-scale projection of the family home; therefore, the youngest, with their way of living and psychologically perceiving space, must be listened to. The city is the constructed metaphor of a society that welcomes us all.

The most profound change that the city has suffered in connection with the presence of minors is the loss of autonomy in the use and enjoyment of its streets. We have gone from a visible childhood that was part of the urban landscape, to a confined childhood, either at home or in limited and exclusive spaces, and always under adult surveillance, says Marta Roman, a geographer and founder of Gea21, a consulting company. This silent process of childhood invisibility is supported by urban planning aspects  control of traffic and growth of distances; demographics  very low birth rates; and social  a profound change in the way of conceiving and treating minors. Hyperprotection violates childrens basic rights and is at the origin of many of the problems that plague children and teenagers today, says Roman.

The paradigm shift in connection with the city-childhood binomial has made the city go from being a common heritage, where the neighborhood contributed to childrens care, to becoming a private asset where the family is the only legitimized reference, says Roman. The emptying out of public space  with fewer and fewer activities and uses  the housing models that turn their backs on the street and the predominance of cars and other private uses occupying the common space, have been gradually expelling children and young people from the streets, she says. For this reason, we must once again convert the city into a scenario of coexistence, where children can be integrated into a safe place where they can move autonomously and develop responsible behavior and values, because the city also educates, says Campos.

Parents have a crucial role to play so that children do not limit themselves to inhabiting the city, but rather live fully in it. Establishing a co-responsible and emotional bond with the streets is revealed as a fundamental pillar for their comprehensive development, avoiding the overprotection that limits their presence on the street and avoiding transferring our own fears and insecurities with public space onto them, says Novella. To achieve this approach, the IMCITIZEN project coordinator advises:

Transmit positive emotions and feelings in relation to public space. Occupy the streets as a space for play and discovery. Use the street space to have fun with other girls and boys. Explore spaces together. Accompany your daughters and sons while they explore the different corners of the neighborhood, and gradually withdraw to promote their autonomy, freedom and sense of security. Enjoy public spaces as spaces of relationship and culture. Participate in community spaces where you can get involved in events and initiatives that energize the community. Weave a network of proximity based on trust. Recognize and strengthen mutual trust with the environment and the community.

The neighborhood and the municipality are thus configured as an essential element in the development of childhood. Childhood that develops outside the neighborhood lacks ties that contribute to establishing a solid connection with the environment, says Novella. This distancing can generate feelings of disaffection and little interest in what is happening in the locality. Therefore, it is essential to weave bonds of belonging from an early age to promote the development of identity in a connected and active way. Because, according to this expert, growing up as an alien in the space where you live has its consequences:

Children are deprived of opportunities for diverse and meaningful experiences with the community and with other children.

Children lack social and community references. It could become difficult to establish friendships.

It increases screen time and consequently sedentary habits.

Children develop suboptimal social skills for interacting with other people and lead community initiatives that energize the environment.

It reduces their knowledge of services in the neighborhood and of the activities and traditions of the territory.

On the contrary, when children are more integrated into the neighborhood:

It increases their sense of belonging and construction of a cultural identity rooted in an environment.

It provides a wide horizon of opportunities and diverse experiences that expands their autonomy and freedom.

It fosters high-intensity citizenship skills that connect them with others.

It expands their social circle, creating a larger group of friends and acquaintances with whom they can interact in various activities.

It fosters self-esteem by having a large group that allows them to do things together for their community.

It encourages healthy habits, reduces the feeling of loneliness and, therefore, can also reduce mental health problems.

Another factor that helps boys and girls experience their city is playtime. The recreational component must take center stage, Campos continues, the city must offer the child functional and architectural diversity so that they can build, just as in the family home, feelings of belonging.
Freight cars are seen at the Vainikkala rail yard in Lappeenranta, southeastern Finland, on November 29, 2023.

NATO member Finland on Wednesday closed its last remaining border crossing with Russia after the government decided to seal the entire border with its eastern neighbor amid rising political tensions.

The Cabinet of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo decided to temporarily close the entire 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border between the two countries a day earlier over concerns that Moscow was using migrants to destabilize the Nordic country in an alleged act of hybrid warfare.

The Raja-Jooseppi crossing point in Finlands Arctic Lapland region, located some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the northern Russian city of Murmansk, closed at 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the checkpoints normal November schedule.

Ville Ahtiainen, a deputy commander with the Finnish Border Guard in Lapland, told reporters that the remote border crossing, located in the middle of rugged wilderness, was quiet during the four hours it remained open Wednesday, with a handful of vehicles passing through on their way to and from Russia. The border cannot be crossed by foot. No migrants attempted to enter Finland in Raja-Jooseppi on Wednesday, he said.

Finnish authorities say some 1,000 migrants without visas or valid documentation have arrived at the border since August, with more than 900 in November alone. Finland makes up a significant part of NATOs northeastern flank and acts as the European Unions external border in the north.

The migrants hail from countries including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, and the vast majority of them have applied for asylum in Finland once they reached the Finnish side on the border, authorities said.

Finland accuses Russia of deliberately ushering migrants to the border zone that is normally heavily controlled by Russias Federal Security Service, or FSB, on the Russian side.

The formal closure of Finlands entire eastern border with Russia takes effect at midnight Wednesday but, in practice, the Raja-Jooseppi crossing was the only point to remain open after the Finnish government closed seven other crossing points earlier this month.

The situation has escalated tensions between Helsinki and Moscow after decades of pragmatic friendly relations between the neighboring countries. Those ties were broken by Finlands decision in May 2022 to join NATO, a direct result of Moscows invasion of Ukraine that started in February 2022. Finland became NATOs 31st member in April this year.

The Kremlin denies Russia is encouraging migrants to enter Finland and says it regrets the Finnish border closures. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Finland on Wednesday formally notified Moscow that it has closed the last remaining northernmost border checkpoint. In a comment earlier this week, Zakharova charged that by closing the border Finland is hurting its own citizens.

Asked to comment on NATO allies allegedly planning to deploy troops at the Finnish-Russian border, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that no one and nothing is threatening Finland, calling the move excessive.

At the same time, he warned that tensions may arise during the concentration of extra troops on our border. We view the concentration of troops on our border as absolutely unprovoked and unfounded, Peskov said. The Finns need to be clearly aware that a troop buildup on our border will pose a threat to us.

There are currently no NATO soldiers permanently stationed on the Finnish territory or along the Russia border apart from those foreign troops taking part in the military alliances regular exercises with the Finnish military.

Some experts cited by Finnish media believe Peskov referred to the EUs border agency Frontex, which has dispatched staff and equipment to assist the Finnish border officials in patrolling and monitoring the countrys lengthy eastern border.

The complete Finland-Russia border closure is due to last for at least two weeks until Dec. 13, after which one crossing point may be reopened, the Finnish government said. A rail crossing between the two countries remains open but only for cargo traffic

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November 29, 2023





Twitch is one of the fastest growing social networks with over 140 million monthly users. It's a great platform for streamers and fans to connect with each other in real-time, but it's also a powerful marketing tool. If you're not already using Twitch for marketing, you're missing out. Here are a few tips to get started:







What Is Twitch?

Twitch is a live streaming platform that was launched in June of 2011. The platform was popularized as a way for gamers to connect with their audiences, but has since grown into other creative niches such as music, cooking, and art.

Similar to YouTube (News - Alert), Twitch users can create channels where they live stream their content. However, Twitch is all about live streaming (unlike YouTube, which is mostly pre-recorded and edited videos). This makes it a great platform for building a personal connection with your audience.

The Benefits of Twitch for Marketing

While many digital marketers overlook Twitch in favor of Facebook (News - Alert), Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, and other standard social networks, there are actually numerous benefits to using Twitch for marketing.

1. Build a personal connection with your audience

In the age of social media, it can be easy to feel like a faceless entity behind a screen. However, platforms like Twitch provide an opportunity to build a personal connection with your audience. Unlike other streaming sites, Twitch allows you to interact directly with your viewers in real-time. This provides a level of intimacy that can be difficult to find elsewhere.

2. Connect with your audience in real-time

By engaging with your viewers and providing them with a space to interact with each other, you can create a loyal following that will support your channel for years to come.

For example, one of the most popular Twitch channels, Lirik, has nearly three million followers. This is because he's built a strong personal connection with his audience by being interactive and engaging. Since his followers are able to contribute to the discussion in real-time, they are also able to feel like they're a part of the community.

3. An opportunity to connect with younger audiences

Since most Twitch users and streamers are under 30, it's a great platform for marketing to younger audiences. For Gen Z brands, Twitch marketing is a unique, largely untouched, and potentially profitable way to reach potential customers.

4. You can build a community with your Twitch audience.

Twitch is a lot more intimate than other social media platforms. Just like streamers, brands can use it to build a community of hyper-engaged followers. Once you have a community behind you, you can use it to bring new products to market, generate hype for new releases, run community-exclusive promotions, and increase brand awareness.

While Twitch advertising can be expensive ($2 to $10 per impression), organic marketing through Twitch brings the cost of your entire marketing strategy down. When you have a loyal following, you can leverage word-of-mouth marketing to get your product in front of new eyes without spending as much on PPC.

Twitch Marketing Strategies for Brands

There are many different ways to market on Twitch. Here are a few of the most common:

Twitch Influencer Marketing

Since the platform really only took off in the last five years, Twitch influencer marketing is a relatively new concept. However, it's one that is quickly gaining traction, thanks to its potential to reach a highly engaged audience.

Twitch influencer marketing works by connecting brands with popular content creators on the platform. Once hired, these influencers promote the brand to their followers through regular streams, social media posts, and outreach across the other platforms they use.

Since they already have a strong relationship with their audience, Twitch influencers are able to effectively communicate the key messages of a brand in a way that feels natural and authentic. All they have to do is name-drop a product or give a brief, relevant shoutout in the middle of a stream to get their viewers attention.

If they promote the same product over and over again (through a long-term partnership), a significant portion of their fanbase will eventually associate them with the product. Twitch influencer marketing can be an extremely effective way to reach a target audience.

Twitch Affiliate Program

If you decide to make your own content, the Twitch affiliate program according to Times International is one of the best ways to make money off Twitch. The Twitch affiliate program works like any other affiliate program: someone promotes their product through your Twitch channel while you live stream, and each time it leads to a purchase, you earn a commission. To be eligible for the Twitch affiliate program, you must meet the following requirements:

You must have at least 50 followers

You must have an average of three or more viewers per stream

You must have streamed for at least seven days in the last 30 days

You must have at least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days

You must be at least 18 years old

Once you become a Twitch affiliate, you can start earning revenue from your streams through subscriptions, donations, and advertisements. For many streamers, the affiliate program is a great way to make a living off their content.

Twitch Partner Program

The Twitch partner program is the next step up from the affiliate program. Unlike Twitch affiliates, Twitch partnership program candidates are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To apply for the Twitch partner program, you must fill out an online application and provide links to your social media accounts and previous work. Twitch will then review your application and determine if you are a good fit for their program. As a Twitch partner, you will have access to:

Exclusive emotes

Customizable badges

Subscription buttons

The ability to run ads on your channel

As a Twitch partner, you will also be able to make money from your streams through Twitch Cheering, which is a feature that allows viewers to donate money to their favorite streamers.

Endnote

Whether you're a brand looking to reach a new audience or a content creator looking to make money from your streams, Twitch marketing is a great option. By utilizing some of the strategies we've outlined above, you can create a successful Twitch marketing campaign that will help you achieve your goals.
[November 30, 2023] Hitachi Vantara Introduces Pentaho+, A Simplified Platform For Trusted, GenAI-ready Data Tweet

New architecture allows for seamless interoperability across Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics, Pentaho Data Catalog, and Pentaho Data Storage Optimizer Versions 10.0 SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced Pentaho+, an integrated platform from the Pentaho software business designed to help organizations connect, enrich, and transform operations with refined, reliable data necessary for AI and Generative AI (GenAI) accuracy. Automating the work of complex data management with powerful self-service and cloud-agnostic solutions, Pentaho+ helps improve data quality by allowing organizations to effectively oversee data from inception to deployment. To learn more about Pentaho+, visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/pentaho-plus-platform.html According to the Gartner Hype Cycle for Artificial Intelligence, 20231, "Generative AI has had an impact like no other technology in the past decade. The increased productivity for developers and knowledge workers, using systems like ChatGPT, is very real and has caused organizations and industries to rethink their business processes and the value of human resources." Yet, Harvard Business Review found that "only 3% of companies' data meets basic quality standards.2" Improving access to hybrid data distributed across on-premises and public cloud data centers, Pentaho+ connects unstructured, semi-structured and structured formats for a comprehensive view of data assets, providing confidence in mission-critical digital and operational insights amid a surge in generative AI. "We believe in this age of AI and Machine Learning that if an enterprise isn't data-fit, it will lose to one who is," said Maggie Laird, global head of Pentaho Software at Hitachi Vantara. "With Pentaho+, we're providing the groundwork for universal data intelligence, enabling leaders to provide clean, accurate data with certainty so they can leverage GenAI in ways that can truly impact their business strategy and bottom line." Unlocking Business Value with AI-ready Data Pentaho+ delivers a flexible, modular platform connecting existing and evolving data environments without costly integration or coding. As needs expand, additional functional modules can be easily added. Initial features of Pentaho+ and updates to Pentaho functionality include: Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics: Process batch and streaming data in real time using native containerization to support any deployment environment. The new integrated platform can easily be hosted on any cloud provider platform, at the core and edge.

Process batch and streaming data in real time using native containerization to support any deployment environment. The new integrated platform can easily be hosted on any cloud provider platform, at the core and edge. Pentaho Data Catalog: Pentaho Data Catalog helps discover, identify, categorize and classify data based on meaningful business context resulting in a trusted, data driven organization. An improved user interface leverages the best of Io-Tahoe an Waterline Data technology from previous acquisitions.

Pentaho Data Catalog helps discover, identify, categorize and classify data based on meaningful business context resulting in a trusted, data driven organization. An improved user interface leverages the best of Io-Tahoe an Waterline Data technology from previous acquisitions. Pentaho Data Storage Optimizer: Gain more cost control of IT charge backs, performance, and risk of your data for your work processes. Data Storage Optimizer now works with all file systems and S3 containers in addition to Hadoop.



"With Pentaho, business intelligence, big data and data warehouse managers get the perfect platform for flexible data integration and data preparation as well as for analytics," said Chris Keller, director of Big Data Analytics & IoT at ITNovum, the leading IT consultant/implementer for Business Open Source & Digital Transformation in Germany. "Thanks to its open architecture, the Pentaho+ Platform can be seamlessly integrated into any existing infrastructure working regardless of where data is located."

Availability Pentaho+ is available worldwide now from the Hitachi Digital Marketplace, its global partner network as well as the AWS and Azure marketplaces. For more information, please visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/products/pentaho-plus-platform.html 1Gartner Hype Cycle for Artificial Intelligence, 2023

2 Harvard Business Review: Only 3% of Companies' Data Meets Basic Quality Standards Additional Resources Insights: What AI Needs Right Now

What AI Needs Right Now Video: Unlock the Power of Your Entire Workforce

Unlock the Power of Your Entire Workforce Solution Profile: Pentaho+ Platform Connect With Hitachi Vantara Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook About Hitachi Vantara Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world's leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth.?To learn more, visit www.hitachivantara.com. About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com. HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hitachi-vantara-introduces-pentaho-a-simplified-platform-for-trusted-genai-ready-data-302001862.html SOURCE Hitachi Vantara Corporation

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[November 29, 2023] MAPFRE and Cyberwrite Join Forces to Promote Cyber Protection for SMEs with AI Tweet

More and more businesses of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are being targeted by cybersecurity threats. According to the latest data from Statista, by the end of 2022, the cost of cyberattacks stood at around $8.44 trillion, and by 2027 the figure is expected to triple to $23.84 trillion. With the stakes so high, insurers need more data to help them understand and manage risk. MAPFRE, a leading insurer in Spain, and technology provider Cyberwrite, a leading global provider of cyber insurance technology, have joined forces to help the insurer's clients reduce the risk of cyber-attacks with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Specifically, Cyberwrite will provide the Spanish company with a cyber insurance risk platform for small and medium-sized companies, with the aim of having a more accurate knowledge of the risk at the time of underwriting and renewing its cyber insurance. Cyberwrite leverages artificial intelligence to offer on-demand, real-time cyber risk analysis through its 4SEEN algorithm. In seconds, Cyberwrite can generate multilingual reports with cntextual cyber data, comparing companies worldwide to industry peers, regulatory framework gap analysis, and financial quantification of potential losses.



Through such reports, MAPFRE can learn about the risk level of each SME and help it take the necessary measures to remedy its cybersecurity gaps or adjust the conditions of the cyber insurance to achieve the best possible protection. Some of the risk factors analyzed by Cyberwrite in the SME public interface include open ports, obsolete technologies or software versions with known weaknesses, poor encryption and certificate practices, lack of anti-spam mechanisms or recorded episodes of exposed credentials (including the dark web'), malware discovery, and more. In addition, the solution facilitates the association of these risks to the most typical coverages such as financial theft and fraud, cyber extortion, data loss, breach of privacy, business interruption, incident response, regulatory and defense, or 3rd party liability.

"Many small businesses just can't afford effective cybersecurity programs, so they don't have the resources to protect themselves and don't understand the risk," said Nir Perry, CEO and Founder at Cyberwrite. "Our data analytics and risk reports offer MAPFRE and its customers digestible information about where exposures are, but more importantly AI predictions help users understand what the findings actually mean from a cyber insurance policy perspective in terms of risk and industry benchmark." The SME segment is one of the main focuses of the insurer in terms of cyber risk, as it represents a large volume of the business landscape in territories such as Iberia and Latin America, two of its main markets. Thus, with this collaboration it reinforces its commitment to these businesses, also deepening the value that SMEs give to the information that MAPFRE provides about their vulnerabilities in the field of cybersecurity. "For an SME, a cyber-attack can be catastrophic; at MAPFRE we want to accompany these companies in their cyber-protection strategy and minimize the impact that risks can have on their business. By having on-demand access to the analyses, we can better understand the risk associated with each company, and offer products and services in line with their actual needs," said Oscar Taboada, Head of Underwriting Europe & Head of Cyber at MAPFRE RE. "With Cyberwrite, we are taking a leap forward in the evaluation, monitoring, and control of cyber risk, obtaining insights that are very useful for the teams to make data-driven underwriting decisions." About MAPFRE MAPFRE is a global insurance company. A leading company in the Spanish market, it is the largest Spanish insurer in the world, the leading multinational insurance group in Latin America and one of the top ten European insurance groups in terms of premium volume. MAPFRE has around 31,000 employees and, in 2022, its revenues exceeded 29.5 billion euros and net profit stood at 642 million euros. For more information, visit: https://www.mapfre.com/en/newsroom/ About Cyberwrite Founded in 2017 by cyber and insurance industry veterans, Cyberwrite's products are used globally by leading insurers, reinsurers, agents, and brokers to grow cyber insurance sales, reduce loss ratios, and decrease underwriting and risk management costs. The company's flagship 4SEEN patented algorithm provides real-time cyber risk insights into any company, using AI to develop actionable reports to reduce cyber risk. Cyberwrite is a Gartner Cool Vendor, Frost & Sullivan Excellence Award Winner, and a graduate of the FinTech Innovation Lab of New York in partnership with Accenture. For more information, visit: www.cyberwrite.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129755647/en/

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[November 29, 2023] Phillips 66 Comments on Letter from Elliott Investment Management Tweet

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) today issued the following statement regarding a letter from Elliott Investment Management L.P. (Elliott): The Phillips 66 Board and management team welcome the perspectives of our shareholders and value their input. Over the last several weeks, the company has held discussions with Elliott and plans to continue a constructive dialogue. We agree with Elliott that successful execution of our strategic priorities will drive substantial stock price performance and believe that we have the right management team and Board in place to deliver long-term, sustainable value. We also appreciate that Elliott recognizes the value-creation potential of the strategic priorities that we have been executing since our Investor Day in November 2022. Given our substantial progress and confidence in exceeding the original targets, on Oct. 27, 2023, we announced the following enhancements: Raise shareholder distributions target to a range of $13 billion to $15 billion

Monetize over $3 billion of non-core assets

Return at least 50% of operating cash flow to shareholders

Increase business transformation run-rate savings target to $1.4 billion by year-end 2024, including a $1 per barrel cost reduction in Refining

Raise mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA target to $14 billion by 2025 Phillips 66 is differentiated by an integrated and diversified Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties portfolio that generates free cash flow through the economic cycles. For more information, refer to the Investor Update available on the Phillips 66 Investors site, phillips66.com/investors. About Phillips 66 Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The diversified energy company's portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co o LinkedIn.



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "anticipated," "estimated," "expected," "planned," "scheduled," "targeted," "believe," "continue," "intend," "will," "would," "objective," "goal," "project," "efforts," "strategies" and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management's expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum product and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to NGL, crude oil, natural gas, refined petroleum products, or renewable fuels that regulate profits, pricing, or taxation, or other regulations that limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or restrict exports; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum products; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for capital projects; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for biofuels; our ability to achieve the expected benefits of the integration of DCP Midstream, LP (DCP), including the realization of synergies; the success of the company's business transformation initiatives and the realization of savings and cost reductions from actions taken in connection therewith; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, asset dispositions or acquisitions that we may pursue; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our NGL, crude oil, natural gas, and refined products; potential liability from litigation or for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under environmental regulations; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time and within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments including armed hostilities (including the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other political, economic or diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66's businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information - References in this news release to shareholder distributions refers to the sum of dividends paid to Phillips 66 stockholders and proceeds used by Phillips 66 to repurchase shares of its common stock. This news release also includes the term "mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA," which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA, as used in this release, is a forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure. EBITDA is defined as estimated net income plus estimated net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as estimated EBITDA plus the proportional share of selected equity affiliates' estimated net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization less the portion of estimated adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the consolidated company. Mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA is defined as the average adjusted EBITDA generated over a complete economic cycle. Mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA estimates depend on future levels of revenues and expenses, including amounts that will be attributable to noncontrolling interests, which are not reasonably estimable at this time. Accordingly, we cannot provide a reconciliation between projected mid-cycle adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income without unreasonable effort. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129258140/en/

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[November 29, 2023] Avive Solutions Co-Founders Selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 in Healthcare Tweet

Forbes unveiled its 13th annual 30 Under 30 List for the Class of 2024, naming Avive Solutions co-founders, Sameer Jafri, Rory Beyer and Moseley Andrews as Honorees. Since 2011, Forbes Magazine has issued and compiled a prestigious list recognizing 30 of the top innovators, game-changers, and influencers under the age of 30 across 20 categories. Kristin Stoller, Senior Editor, Forbes Under 30 shared, "This is one of the most diverse and ambitious Under 30 classes to-date, and particularly in terms of the scope of their work and impact of their leadership." Sameer Jafri, co-founder and CEO of Avive Solutions shared, "It's humbling to be included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2024 alongside such accomplished and impactful leaders. But this recognition truly belongs to the entire team at Avive, who have been the backbone of all that we've accomplished since we founded the company in 2017. I'm proud to have the opportunity to lead this mission driven group, alongside my co-founders, as we aspire to save many thousands of lives together from preventable cardiac arrest deaths." Avive Solutions is revolutionizing the system of Sudden Cardiac Arrest response. In the United States more than 350,000 people experience a Sudden Cardiac Arrest every year. Despite being a major public health issue, survival rates have unfortunately remained dismal at around 10% for decades. Avive Solutions is tackling these issues head on and has created one of the most advanced automated external defibrillators (AED) in the indutry, the Avive Connect AED. Portable, accessible, and armed with robust connectivity, the device is designed to be intuitive, smaller, and lighter than any other AED on the market. The Avive Connect AED brings forth never before seen features such as full wireless connectivity, a rechargeable battery, a modern touchscreen and more to improve the lifesaving capabilities of any bystander. The leadership from Avive's co-founders has spurred never before seen innovation in AEDs mirroring the paradigm shifts and benefits that connected devices bring to other industries such as smartphones, home security, automobiles, and more.



Rory Beyer, co-founder and COO of Avive Solutions shared, "It is fantastic to receive recognition for everything the Avive team has accomplished. We work every day to build products and systems that improve the survival rates of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and cannot wait to see the impact of that work become more and more of a reality." Moseley Andrews, co-founder and CTO of Avive Solutions echoed this sentiment, "I'm excited for the tremendous work of the entire Avive team to be recognized through our inclusion in this year's Forbes 30 Under 30. Thank you to all who have helped our vision at Avive become reality, and have spread awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and the need for early lifesaving treatment."

"Sameer, Rory, and Moseley are relentlessly pursuing a world in which no witnessed Sudden Cardiac Arrest goes untreated," said Mike Perry, Avive Solutions executive chairman. "These young co-founders are not only responsible for building an impressively thriving business but are positioned at the very center of a changing national paradigm. Their expertise, passion, drive, and disruptive innovations will have a tangible positive impact on the lives of thousands, and ultimately, millions more lives in the future." This year's Under 30 honorees have collectively raised more than $3.6 billion at an average age of 27. Honorees are selected by Forbes editors and celebrity judges out of tens of thousands of applicants nominated worldwide. Previous Forbes Under 30 alumni include the founders of Spotify, Pinterest, Guild Education, Bytedance, and Canva. About Avive Solutions, Inc. Avive Solutions is a new kind of AED company. We are revolutionizing Sudden Cardiac Arrest response with our innovative platform that brings together a 21st-century AED device and first-of-its-kind software solutions. With our award-winning product, the Avive Connect AED, we are the first new company to bring an AED to market in the U.S. in nearly 20 years. Focused on portability, accessibility and connectivity, the Avive Connect AED is one of the most advanced products in the industry. Additionally, our software solutions not only make owning and managing AEDs simple, they also deliver a comprehensive cardiac arrest response solution to communities with the goal of increasing bystander intervention, decreasing time-to-defibrillation, and getting valuable data to the people who need it, when they need it. Founded in 2017, we are on a mission to empower bystanders, first responders, and 911 telecommunicators to provide lifesaving care as quickly and easily as possible. Our versatile platform is designed to meet the needs of all types of industries - schools, gyms, places of worship, any size business and even your home. Join us on our mission to save lives and learn more at https://avive.life/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129938157/en/

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[November 29, 2023] 2023 Spotify Wrapped: This Year, Canto-Pop Continues to Top Streams in Hong Kong Tweet

2023 Spotify Wrapped unveils the top artists, songs, albums, and podcasts that defined how we listened this year, and the new personalized Wrapped user experience HONG KONG, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotify today unveils its 2023 Wrapped campaign - announcing the top artists, albums, songs, and podcasts that defined how over 574 million people around the world listened this year. Users can also discover their personalized Wrapped user experience when they open Spotify, packed with brand new interactive features to celebrate their year on Spotify. 2023 was defined by sonic diversity across the charts and a global music culture that saw the rise of powerful genres. Our top lists reflect these trends and the overall expansion of music and podcasts as Spotify continues to grow its user base. Globally, Taylor Swift takes the reigns as Spotify's top artist this year - followed by Bad Bunny (#2), The Weeknd (#3), Drake (#4), and Peso Pluma (#5). As Spotify celebrates its 10th year in Hong Kong, the 2023 Wrapped results demonstrate the listeners' overwhelming love for homegrown music. For yet another year, emerging on top as Hong Kong's Top Artist of 2023 is Keung To , whose hits swept all the top 5 spots on the list of Hong Kong's most-streamed songs. After "???? (????????????)" at #1, "Dummy" and "?" follow at #2 and #3 respectively. "Dear My Friend" makes its return from last year's list, ranking at #4 this year. Rounding off Hong Kong's Top Songs of the Year is "?" at #5. Also on this year's list of Hong Kong's Top Artists are Canto-pop sensations Anson Lo ??? (#2), ??? Ian (#3) and MC ??? (#4). The undisputed King of Mandopop, Jay Chou , rounds off the list at #5. Special mention also goes to Canto-pop legend Eason Chan , who ranked fifth after MC ??? on Hong Kong's list of most-streamed local artists. The list of Hong Kong's most-streamed albums gives a peek into what else listeners were loving this year, which reflects an appreciation of music from the East and West. Following "This is MC" by MC ??? at #1, "BORN PINK" by K-Pop supergroup BLACKPINK comes in at #2. Another K-Pop album on the top 5 list is "UNFORGIVEN" by LE SSERAFIM at #4. Completing the list are "Midnights" by Taylor Swift in #3 and Japanese star YOASOBI 's "THE BOOK" in #5.



HOW THE WORLD LISTENED TO K-POP This year, Spotify is also spotlighting K-Pop: the genre that has scaled the globe and proven that music, from anywhere in the world can transcend language and cultural boundaries. In celebration of the continued growth and export of the genre, 2023 Wrapped unveils the Global Top K-Pop Artists and Songs of the Year.

On top of the list of Global Top K-Pop Artists of the Year is BTS who maintained their stronghold from 2022. Next on the ranks are BLACKPINK at #2 and Jung Kook of BTS at #3. Proving they are forces to be reckoned with, 4th-gen sensations NewJeans and Stray Kids round off the top 5, coming in at #4 and #5 respectively. The BTS members and NewJeans continue to dominate on the global top five list of most streamed K-Pop songs this year. "Seven (feat. Latto)" by Jung Kook emerges at #1, while "Like Crazy" by bandmate Jimin comes in at #3. In a testament to their remarkable rookie year, NewJeans' "OMG" and "Ditto" rank at #4 and #5 on the list respectively. Completing the roster at #2 is the viral hit "Cupid - Twin Ver." by FIFTY FIFTY . YOUR WRAPPED PERSONALIZED USER EXPERIENCE Eligible users can now access their personalized 2023 Wrapped experience exclusively in the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android), and also this year, via web view on mobile or Desktop by heading to Spotify.com/Wrapped. Please make sure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version to access. Here's what to look out for when you open Spotify. Your Wrapped results can reveal what you were really feeling in 2023. New data stories bringing you to the heart of their listening: In addition to your top artists, genres, songs, podcasts and minutes listened, we're adding a few new features to look out for. ? Me in 2023 celebrates a streaming habit that defined your listening this year. The experience will reveal one of 12 listening characters that best describes the way you listened on Spotify this year  examples include the Shapeshifter (you're quick to move from one artist to the next), the Luminary (you play light, upbeat music more than others), or the Alchemist (you create your own playlists more than others do).

? Sound Town matches you to a city based on your listening and shared artist affinity. Listening habits are shared in surprising ways across communities around the world, and 2023 Wrapped celebrates that. Wrapped fan-favorites appear in a refreshed way users haven't seen before: ? Top 5 Genres story shows you how your top five music genres stacked up with a new sandwich-inspired design.

? Top 5 Artists lets you see the month your listening peaked for each artist  painting a fuller picture of your entire year and all the moments that made it.

? You will also get to hear from one of your top artists directly within your personalized Wrapped via Your Artist Messages. You can then visit the Wrapped feed for video messages from thousands of artists including Taylor Swift, MC ???, NewJeans, Jason Chan, Jung Kook and more. Wrapped Feed: Right on your Spotify Home screen, the Wrapped feed is the one-stop shop for all things Wrapped, including the best of editorial playlists, concerts near you, and more. Bringing Blend to the Wrapped experience: This year, you can invite your friends to create a Blend and tap the '2023 Wrapped Top Songs' filter to combine all of your top songs from this year into one shared playlist. - END - Note to Editors: Please find the full top lists of artists, songs, playlists and podcasts in Hong Kong , globally, and in K-Pop HERE.

, globally, and in K-Pop HERE. For more information, visit For The Record.

Hi-res images to include in your story are HERE. ABOUT SPOTIFY Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music. Discover, manage, and share over 100 million tracks, including 5 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free listening experience. Today, we are the world's most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 574 million users, including 226 million Spotify Premium subscribers, across more than 180 markets. We are also the largest driver of revenue to the music business today. For more information, images, or to contact the press team, please head over to our press page at https://newsroom.spotify.com/ . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/2023-spotify-wrapped-this-year-canto-pop-continues-to-top-streams-in-hong-kong-302000497.html SOURCE Spotify

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[November 29, 2023] 2023 Spotify Wrapped: This Year, Malaysia Sees Sonic Diversity Across the Charts Tweet

2023 Spotify Wrapped unveils the top artists, songs, albums, and podcasts that defined how we listened this year, and the new personalized Wrapped user experience KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotify today unveils its 2023 Wrapped campaign - announcing the top artists, albums, songs, and podcasts that defined how over 574 million people around the world listened this year. Users can also discover their personalized Wrapped user experience when they open Spotify, packed with brand new interactive features to celebrate their year on Spotify. Overall, 2023 was defined by the epic return of major female artists, sonic diversity across the charts, and a global music culture that saw the rise of powerful genres. Our top lists reflect these trends and the overall expansion of music and podcasts as Spotify continues to grow its user base. Globally, Taylor Swift takes the reigns as Spotify's top artist this year - followed by Bad Bunny (#2), The Weeknd (#3), Drake (#4), and Peso Pluma (#5). Closer to home, Malaysia's 2023 Wrapped results are an exemplification of how music can move across borders on Spotify, as the top lists include a blend of talent and music from both the East and West. In Malaysia, Taylor Swift also ranks on top of the list of most-streamed artists of the year, followed by The Weeknd at #2. K-Pop supergroups BTS and BLACKPINK rank at #3 and #5 respectively, and completing the top five list at number #4 is SZA. The nation's diverse soundtrack becomes even more evident in its top five list of most-streamed tracks. "Kill Bill" by SZA takes home the title of Malaysia's Top Song of the Year, while next on the list are Indonesian hits: "Sial" by Mahalini (#2) and "Tak Segampang Itu" by Anggi Marito (#3). "OMG" by NewJeans and "Seven (feat. Latto)" by Jung Kook rank at #4 and #5 respectively, serving as a testament to listeners' love for the K-Pop genre. Spotify Wrapped wouldn't be complete without celebrating the local talent and creators loved on their homeground and beyond. Masdo emerges as Malaysia's Top Local Artist of the Year, follwed by Dato' Sri Siti Nuhaliza at #2. Since being featured on Spotify's RADAR program this year, which is dedicated to showcasing emerging and talented artists around the world, rapper Luqman Podolski comes in #3, and is also named the Top RADAR Malaysia Artist of the Year.



Meanwhile, Dalia Farhana is crowned the Top EQUAL Malaysia Artist of the Year, topping the list of local artists that were featured on Spotify's gender equity program dedicated to amplifying women creators and their music. Her winning streak continues as her single "Langit Yang Sama" takes home the title of Malaysia's Top Local Song of the Year. Last but not least, local podcast "MALAM SERAM" is named Malaysia's Top Podcast of the Year.

HOW THE WORLD LISTENED TO K-POP This year, Spotify is also putting the spotlight on K-Pop: the genre that has scaled the globe and proven that music, from anywhere in the world, can transcend language and cultural boundaries. In celebration of the continued growth and export of the genre, 2023 Wrapped unveils the Global Top K-Pop Artists and Songs of the Year. On top of the list of Global Top K-Pop Artists of the Year is BTS who maintain their stronghold from 2022. Next on the ranks are BLACKPINK at #2 and Jung Kook of BTS at #3. Proving they are forces to be reckoned with, 4th-gen sensations NewJeans and Stray Kids round off the top five, coming in at #4 and #5 respectively. The BTS members and NewJeans continue to dominate on the global top five list of most streamed K-Pop songs this year. "Seven (feat. Latto)" by Jung Kook emerges at #1, while "Like Crazy" by bandmate Jimin comes in at #3. In a testament to their remarkable rookie year, NewJeans' "OMG" and "Ditto" rank at #4 and #5 on the list respectively. Completing the roster at #2 is viral hit "Cupid - Twin Ver." by FIFTY FIFTY. YOUR WRAPPED PERSONALIZED USER EXPERIENCE Eligible users can now access their personalized 2023 Wrapped experience exclusively in the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android), and also this year, via web view on mobile or Desktop by heading to Spotify.com/Wrapped. Please make sure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version to access. Here's what to look out for when you open Spotify. Your Wrapped results can reveal what you were really feeling in 2023. New data stories bringing you to the heart of their listening: In addition to your top artists, genres, songs, podcasts and minutes listened, we're adding a few new features to look out for. Me in 2023 celebrates a streaming habit that defined your listening this year. The experience will reveal one of 12 listening characters that best describes the way you listened on Spotify this year  examples include the Shapeshifter (you're quick to move from one artist to the next), the Luminary (you play light, upbeat music more than others), or the Alchemist (you create your own playlists more than others do). Sound Town matches you to a city based on your listening and shared artist affinity. Listening habits are shared in surprising ways across communities around the world, and 2023 Wrapped celebrates that.

In addition to your top artists, genres, songs, podcasts and minutes listened, we're adding a few new features to look out for. Wrapped fan-favorites appear in a refreshed way users haven't seen before: Top 5 Genres story shows you how your top five music genres stacked up with a new sandwich-inspired design. Top 5 Artists lets you see the month your listening peaked for each artist  painting a fuller picture of your entire year and all the moments that made it. You will also get to hear from one of your top artists directly within your personalized Wrapped via Your Artist Messages . You can then visit the Wrapped feed for video messages from thousands of artists including Taylor Swift , Masdo, NewJeans, SZA, Dalia Farhana , Jung Kook and more.

Wrapped Feed: Right on your Spotify Home screen, the Wrapped feed is the one-stop shop for all things Wrapped, including the best of editorial playlists, merch from your top artists, concerts near you, and more.

Right on your Spotify Home screen, the Wrapped feed is the one-stop shop for all things Wrapped, including the best of editorial playlists, merch from your top artists, concerts near you, and more. Bringing Blend to the Wrapped experience: This year, you can invite your friends to create a Blend and tap the '2023 Wrapped Top Songs' filter to combine all of your top songs from this year into one shared playlist. Note to Editors: Malaysia , globally, and in K-Pop Please find the full top lists of artists, songs, playlists and podcasts in, globally, and in K-Pop HERE

For more information, visit For The Record

Hi-res images to include in your story are HERE ABOUT SPOTIFY Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music. Discover, manage, and share over 100 million tracks, including 5 million podcast titles, and 350,000 audiobooks, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free listening experience. Today, we are the world's most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 574 million users, including 226 million Spotify Premium subscribers, across more than 180 markets. We are also the largest driver of revenue to the music business today. For more information, images, or to contact the press team, please head over to our press page at https://newsroom.spotify.com/. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/2023-spotify-wrapped-this-year-malaysia-sees-sonic-diversity-across-the-charts-302000250.html SOURCE Spotify

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The Siekopai people will finally be able to return to their ancestral home, to Pe'keya, a territory within Ecuador, along the border with Peru. The area is where this Amazonian tribe lived for centuries, until they were expelled in 1941, due to the war between the two countries. According to a ruling issued on Friday, November 24, the Ecuadorian government has guaranteed them ownership of a piece of the jungle: a total of 42,360 hectares, also known as Lagartococha. The judicial decision (the second one related to this case) is historic, explains Justino Pianguaje, the head of the Siekopai Nation, who spoke with EL PAIS by phone. For the first time, Ecuador has recognized an Indigenous populations right to possess a territory that has been declared a protected area. Pianguaje points out that this ruling can serve as a precedent for other Indigenous communities that are trying to regain control of their land.

The 2008 Constitution of Ecuador recognizes the right of Indigenous communes, communities, peoples and nationalities to maintain possession of ancestral lands and territories and obtain their free allocation. But there was an exception: the spaces included in the National System of Protected Areas, for which the regulations contemplated transfer (essentially, the ability to reside on the lands), but not full ownership. In 2017, the approval of the Organic Law of Rural Lands and Ancestral Territories opened the door for protected spaces to also return to the hands of their original owners  something that has just happened with the return of Pe'keya to the Siekopai. The community has about 720 people in Ecuador. There are more than 1,000 in total, with members of the tribe living in Peru.

The court has also obliged the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador to apologize publicly to the Siekopai, in a ceremony set to be organized within its territory. The judges ruled that the ministry failed to fulfill its obligations to guarantee the rights of the Siekopai Nation.

This piece of land is what will allow us to continue existing as an ancient people. Justino Pianguaje, head of the Siekopai Nation

According to Piaguaje, the recovery of Lagartococha was the key to preventing the disappearance of a community that has been struggling to return home for more than 80 years a community that was doomed to disappear. This piece of land is what will allow us to continue existing as an ancient people, as a people who have shown that we are Amazonian, with a different culture, a different wisdom and a different language, explains the head of the Siekopai.

Justino Piaguage, president of the Siekopai Nation, on April 27 in Barcelona. Carles Ribas

The connection of this town with its land and its past is intrinsic to its essence and its reason for existing. Many believe that we want to return for the sake of beauty, but thats not the case. My grandfather was there, drinking yage (ayahuasca); my grandparents home was there. Thats why we continue to feel [a connection] and want to return. Its not a problem of land  its a matter of the spirit, of not suffering anymore, argued Maruja Payaguage, before the three judges of the Provincial Court of Justice of Sucumbios, who ruled on granting ownership of Lagartococha to the Siekopai.

Piaguaje was able to share the ruling in an assembly with his people this past Monday. The text recognizes the suffering that Payaguage mentioned, which was particularly experienced by the Siekopai elders, due to not being allowed to return safely to their territory. Cesario Piaguage Payaguage  at 112-years-old  wished he could die there, to be able to fulfill his ritual cycle. Like him, many other grandparents died without being able to be at peace spiritually, the document states. Cesario died on April 5 without seeing his dream come true, Piaguaje laments.

Upon restoring the land to the Siekopai, the Ecuadorian court also mentioned the testimony of children, adolescents and women. [They demonstrated] how knowledge about the name, location and use of plants, fishing or hunting practices, goldsmithing  and even ritual practices related to the transition to adulthood, gestation, or upbringing  and the explanation of their origin as a nation are only possible to know and experience in the Pe'keya zone.

A long battle

Of the 100,000 hectares that originally made up Lagartococha  where other Indigenous groups now live  the Siekopai have recovered just over 40%, a total of 42,360 hectares. Fortunately, they contain the largest number of sacred places for us, where our link with the lagoons and the spirits of the jungle is, Piaguaje explains. Among those places, the head of the Siekopai Nation mentions Nanokomasira, where the ancient wise men of his community reached an agreement with the mythological beings of water to settle a war. Theres also the sacred river Emuna, as well as Kwinajaira, a historical site where our grandparents found medicinal plants to defend themselves against diseases, Piaguaje notes. Its precisely in this location where the ancestors of the Siekopai made kwaraweko (syrup in the Paikoka language). Their descendants used this during the Covid-19 pandemic. Piaguaje claims that it worked much better than modern medicine.

This fight  according to Piaguaje  was started by his grandfather, Cecilio Piaguaje, when the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War ended in 1942. After the conflict  which separated Siekopai families between Ecuador and Peru  he wanted to return to his territory. He began to look for a way to reunify his people, but he never succeeded due to harassment.

The sentence itself recognizes this persecution. This Amazonian people had to leave Pe'keya for reasons beyond their control resulting from the war between Ecuador and Peru in 1941 [and also because of] other conditions of dispossession. They have attempted to permanently return since then, despite the threats, harassment and obstacles that have existed, derived from the militarization of the border and the subsequent creation of the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve.

Jesuit manuscript from 1753 with terms in Paikoka, the language of the Siekopai.

To recover the land, it was necessary to demonstrate that they were the original inhabitants. Coming from a culture that has an oral tradition, this meant that they had few materials to support their claim. However, several Jesuit documents  including an anonymous manuscript from 1753  demonstrated that the Siekopai had been living in Lagartococha for centuries. The text  preserved by the New York Public Library  contains about 1,200 words in Paikoka. The oral tradition of the Siekopai is very precise, but in this document, [the translation from Spanish to Paikoka is strong], affirmed Argentine researcher and anthropologist Maria Susana Cipolletti, during a phone interview with EL PAIS this past May. She participated in the judicial process as a witness.

For the right to restitution to exist, its essential that the Indigenous people maintain contact or a relationship with these ancestral territories in one way or another, according to the Ecuadorian judges. The ruling states that this condition has been proven: It has been demonstrated that the Siekopai Nation is the ancestral owner of the territory of Pe'keya, with which it has maintained a historical, spiritual, cultural and material relationship that has been essential in the creation and development of their cultural identity and worldview and that is essential for their physical and cultural survival.

I finally feel an internal peace, for having demanded respect for the rights of the Siekopai and having guaranteed this territorial space for current and future generations, Piaguaje celebrates. He is convinced that this result will allow his people to avoid extinction.
[November 30, 2023] Lumotive Extends Global Reach, Announces New Sales and Distribution Partners Worldwide Tweet

Optical semiconductor leader accelerates adoption of LM10 with expanded partner ecosystem SEATTLE, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Optical semiconductor pioneer Lumotive today announced a significant expansion of its global partner network, further accelerating worldwide adoption of the company's revolutionary Light Control Metasurface (LCM) technology into China, South Korea, and Europe. This milestone follows the successful launch of LM10, the world's first commercially available digital beam steering solution for 3D sensing applications. With the addition of three new global sales and distribution partners, Macnica Cytech, Uniquest and Redtree Solutions, Lumotive strengthens its ability to make the LM10 rapidly available to customers across diverse regions and sectors, supporting integration into a wide range of real-world applications. Lumotive's LM10 chip represents a giant leap forward for 3D sensing technology. It overcomes the limitations of traditional lidar systems with superior cost, size and reliability compared to mechanical approaches. As a pure solid-state optical semiconductor chip that can be mass manufactured, the LM10 enables the next generation of lidar to expand into new frontiers, becoming the pervasive standard for intelligent 3D sensing worldwide. With its precise digital beam steering and compact form factor, the LM10 unlocks cutting-edge capabilities in sectors ranging from autonomous vehicles to industrial automation, AR/VR, and consumer electronics. The addition of new sales and distribution partners significantly expands Lumotive's reach in key regions like China, South Korea, and Europe, where demand for next-generation 3D sensing solutions is soaring. These partners possess extensive networks and deep expertise that will accelerate the integration of LM10 by module makers and device manufacturers across multiple industries. Specifically, they provide Lumotive with better access to rapidly growing overseas markets, strong relationships with local electronics manufacturers, and the ability to devise tailored solutions meeting region-specific needs. They also facilitate supply chain efficiency for global delivery of the LM10, while offering localized technical training and support worldwide. With each of their specialized infrastructure and operational capabilities, these partners will be pivotal in growing LM10 into the premier beam steering component of choice for 3D sensing applications around the globe. "With the LM10 proving its unmatched capabilities for precise, reliable 3D sensing, our priority now is to ensure its availability worldwide," said Sam Heidari, CEO of Lumotive. "Our expanded partner network propels this mssion, allowing us to provide an unmatched level of sales and technical support globally. We're proud to collaborate with these industry-leading companies as we drive mass adoption of LCM technology across industrial, consumer, and mobility sectors."



Horace Lai, Macnica Cytech CMO (Asia Pacific):

"We at Macnica are thrilled to bring Lumotive's innovative LM10 chip to the dynamic and rapidly advancing Chinese market where the LM10's cutting-edge beam steering capabilities will be a cornerstone in a multitude of sectors, from autonomous vehicles to smart cities. Our partnership with Lumotive is well poised for China's rapidly-expanding 3D sensing market, and we are excited to facilitate the next wave of technological advancement for our Chinese lidar customers." Jean-Marie Houillon, Redtree Solutions VP Strategic Marketing & Alliances

"As Redtree Solutions builds this partnership with Lumotive across EMEA, we are particularly excited about the opportunities that the LM10 chip presents for the European 3D sensing market. The LM10's exceptional performance and efficiency align perfectly with Europe's strategic initiatives in automated mobility, industrial automation, and environmental monitoring."

Andrew Kim, Uniquest CEO:

"Uniquest is honored to partner with Lumotive, a company that's redefining the landscape of optical semiconductors. LM10's advanced capabilities in powering 3D sensing applications are set to enhance industries that are central to South Korea's economy, such as consumer electronics, automotive, industrial and robotics. We are confident that this partnership will not only contribute to the success of the LM10 but also bolster the continued growth and technology leadership within South Korea's vibrant tech sector." About Lumotive

Lumotive's award-winning optical semiconductor solutions enable advanced sensing and perception capabilities in next-generation consumer, mobility, and industrial automation products such as mobile devices, autonomous vehicles, and robots. The company's patented Light Control Metasurface (LCM) beam steering chips deliver an unparalleled combination of high performance, exceptional reliability, and low cost  all in a tiny, easily integrated solution. Lumotive has received measurable industry acclaim including Fierce Electronics' 2021 Startup of the Year award, two CES 2022 Innovation Awards, a 2022 SPIE PRISM Award, and a prestigious Edison Award. Investors include Gates Frontier, MetaVC Partners, Quan Funds, Samsung Ventures, and Uniquest. About Macnica Cytech

Macnica Cytech Limited was established in 1998, which is one of the fastest growing distributors of electronic components in Asia region. Headquartered in Hong Kong, it has more than 30 regional offices or contact points, spread across China and Pan-Asia regions. Macnica Cytech specializes in technical support, demand creation as well as meeting global supply. The Company's objective is to provide high quality and up-to-the-minute specialized technology that satisfies every customer's requirements. Macnica Cytech works closely with international high-end semiconductor brands and understands the trend of technology industry, bringing high-quality products and the latest technological information to customers. Macnica Cytech possesses an experienced R&D team that developed various solutions and modules to cope with different needs of customers. Besides, our professional engineers are in close contact with customers to provide them with reliable technical support.

Macnica Cytech Limited joined MACNICA, Inc. in 2008. MACNICA, Inc. was founded in 1972 in Japan. Throughout the decades, the group has developed its branches globally, i.e.Asia, Europe, North America and South America. About Redtree Solutions

The largest pan-European manufacturer's representative company, with a focus on demand creation at tier 1 and strategic tier 2 accounts. Founded in January 2006, with 49 people speaking local languages, the company has offices in every major electronics territory in Europe; including UK, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and Turkey. It serves the Automotive, Industrial, Telecom, Consumer and Storage marketplaces in Europe and has established links with manufacturing/ODM partners in Asia/Pac and the America's. About Uniquest

Founded in 1993, Uniquest Corporation is a preeminent distributor in the electronic components industry in Korea. Partnering with global leading semiconductor innovators, Uniquest has been contributing to the Korea semiconductor market growth. Acclaimed for bringing advanced solutions to the market, Uniquest is recognized as a solution provider of satisfying emerging market demands and customer requirements. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lumotive-extends-global-reach-announces-new-sales-and-distribution-partners-worldwide-301998841.html SOURCE Lumotive

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[November 30, 2023] EDGEPOINT INFRASTRUCTURE'S DIGITAL EQUITY WHITEPAPER HIGHLIGHTS POLICY REFORMS AS KEY TO CLOSING THE CONNECTIVITY DIVIDE AND DRIVING DIGITAL INCLUSIVITY IN THE REGION Tweet

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EdgePoint Infrastructure ("EdgePoint")  an ASEAN-based independent telecommunications infrastructure company, today released a whitepaper that sheds light on the digital divide in South-East Asia (SEA). Titled "An Infrastructure-Based Approach to Advance Digital Equity in South-East Asia", the whitepaper identifies connectivity challenges from an infrastructure provider's perspective in three key economies, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and sets forth comprehensive policy changes to address those gaps. Speaking at the whitepaper launch event, Suresh Sidhu, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of EdgePoint Infrastructure shared, "EdgePoint has unveiled these findings to catalyse meaningful conversations on digital equity in the mainstream. Robust and shareable telecommunications infrastructure is the foundation of expanding connectivity to underserved areas and ensuring seamless connectivity in highly dense areas. We need to drive digital inclusion as one regional community and make connectivity accessible for everyone in ASEAN, ensuring everyone is able to benefit from a digital world, technologically, economically and socially. As a trusted partner to mobile network operators (MNOs), telecom organisations and regulators, EdgePoint hopes this white paper is able to inspire industry stakeholders and policymakers to have these important conversations towards achieving universal connectivity." Behind The Digital Divide While connectivity has advanced tremendously in recent years, there are still parts of the region that have not benefited from access to connectivity. In Malaysia, 76% of the population are mobile users, but only 66% have access to mobile internet. 56% of Indonesia's population have mobile devices, but only 47% are connected to the internet. Similarly in the Philippines, 54% are mobie device users, with only 42% with access to mobile internet. This shows that there is still a significant coverage gap and an urgent need to reach parts of these countries with no connectivity.



Findings from the whitepaper reveal disparities in the percentage of the population with no 4G coverage in several countries, including the Philippines (5%), Indonesia (5%), and Malaysia (3%). In addition, these countries have very high ratios of population per tower, well above developed market norms, indicating that there are also likely to be underserved populations as well. Several factors contributing to poor connectivity generally are thin 4G coverage outside of major population centres, and the absence of end-to-end enabling infrastructure, such as backhaul. These issues ultimately lead to low levels of mobile internet adoption, hindering GDP growth.

Policy Reforms To Drive Digital Inclusivity Through the findings, the whitepaper also outlines six main policy themes to bridge the digital gap in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, Reform disbursement of funds for universal access initiatives to ensure the funds are more efficiently utilised and can rapidly benefit rural communities. Consider changing the fund disbursement model from a capital expenditure (CAPEX) disbursement to a monthly operational expenditure (OPEX) model, creating a sustainable and long-term approach to funding projects. Conduct infrastructure mapping and improve access to information to help providers make strategic deployment decisions; for example  areas with low economic cases could require full government funding as they are not lucrative to the private sector. Increase funding for backhaul infrastructure with shared access in rural areas, as it is a major contributor to coverage gaps across markets. Analysis should be conducted case-by-case to determine the most optimal backhaul approach, but can include microwave, satellite and even domestic submarine cables. Create targeted programmes to improve coverage at essential facilities in rural and underserved areas such as hospitals, transport hubs, schools and markets  all essential public areas with higher footfalls to benefit disadvantaged users with limited/no internet access in their homes. Mandate access for indoor ICT facilities to enable robust in-building coverage through legislation to allow telecoms licensees to install the necessary equipment. With improved in-building coverage, users can participate in varied digital activities such as work, financial transactions, and healthcare. Build a quality standard for mobile coverage to serve as commitments for MNOs to deploy infrastructure to meet their targets, thereby stimulating infrastructure roll-out in underserved areas. The whitepaper further outlines three additional policy recommendations which discuss the respective challenges in each market, including easing access to rights-of-way in Malaysia to expedite the process of building and deploying communications infrastructure, rationalising spectrum fees in Indonesia to increase investment in rural areas and addressing the lack of a universal service fund in the Philippines which creates a gap for telcos and other players to invest in marginal areas. Suresh continued, "Introducing new approaches is key to ensuring no country is left behind in this fast-changing world. Adopting new ways of thinking and creating strong public-private partnerships will help accelerate change. At EdgePoint we will continue to focus on building quality digital infrastructure in the region so that digital equity advancement in SEA can be achieved and benefit the people." EdgePoint Infrastructure currently owns 14,500 towers across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. For more information on EdgePoint, please visit https://edgepointinfra.com/ ABOUT EDGEPOINT INFRASTRUCTURE EdgePoint Infrastructure is a telecommunications infrastructure company that aspires to power Digital ASEAN via Next Generation Infrastructure. Headquartered in Singapore with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, through EdgePoint Towers Sdn Bhd, PT Centratama Telekomunikasi Indonesia, Tbk and EdgePoint Towers Inc. respectively, the company is focused on providing sharable and leading-edge telecom structures, small cells and in-building systems. EdgePoint aims to be an industry leader through scale and innovation, driving operational efficiencies through the adoption of analytics and digital technologies. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/edgepoint-infrastructures-digital-equity-whitepaper-highlights-policy-reforms-as-key-to-closing-the-connectivity-divide-and-driving-digital-inclusivity-in-the-region-302001523.html SOURCE EdgePoint Infrastructure

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[November 30, 2023] CKGSB and Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Digital Technology Platform Sign Strategic Partnership MOU Tweet

BEIJING, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) and the Digital Technology Platform for Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries signed a memorandum of understanding on November 23, 2023, at CKGSB's Beijing campus to promote exchanges of talents, knowledge and best practices in digitalization and social innovation between entities among SCO countries through joint academic dialogues, seminars, forums, study trips and other win-win initiatives. Key figures, including Xiang Bing, Founding Dean and Professor of China Business and Globalization of CKGSB, Li Haitao, Professor or Finance and Associate Dean of CKGSB, Grigory Logvinov, Deputy Secretary-General of SCO, and Tong Dan, CEO of the Digital Technology Platform for SCO Countries, witnessed the signing. Sergei Kanavsky, SCO's Executive Secretary of the SCO Business Council, also supported the event with a video speech. In his speech, Dean Xiang emphasized his hope for this strategic partnershipcombined with CKGSB's unique advantagesto cultivate a new generation of economic disruption, promote digital transformationand foster social innovation.



"China has been leveraging economic disruption to propel its growth since its reform and opening-up, which is invaluable for other countries," said Dean Xiang. Economic disruption, a concept Dean Xiang introduced in August 2019, is central to economic development and social advancement, and promoting upward social mobility. "One key force behind economic disruption is next-generation unicorn companies," explained Dean Xiang. "Since 2023, CKGSB has been building a global ecosystem for the next generation of unicorns, with an emphasis on global responsibility, social purpose and long-term perspective. We hope that CKGSB can share its experience with SCO countries." Dean Xiang emphasized digital transformation as another important area on which the two parties may collaborate. "CKGSB faculty are uniquely positioned to interpret digital transformation across US, China and Asia," explained Dean Xiang. "We will work together with the Digital Technology Platform for Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries, and other leading organizations, companies and schools, to pioneer a global learning platform for digital transformation."

Mr. Logvinov shared his vision and hopes during the ceremony. "SCO has identified developing and promoting advanced digital technology as some of its key tasksI look forward to seeing concrete projects stem out of this collaboration framework and I am confident that this partnership will play a positive role in accelerating digital technology in SCO countries." Read more: https://english.ckgsb.edu.cn/new/ckgsb-and-shanghai-cooperation-organizations-digital-technology-platform-sign-mou-on-driving-digital-economic-collaborations/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ckgsb-and-shanghai-cooperation-organizations-digital-technology-platform-sign-strategic-partnership-mou-302000809.html SOURCE Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)

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[November 30, 2023] Shanghai and Hong Kong Forge Deeper Data Ecosystem Partnership, Ushering in a New Era of Bilateral Collaboration Tweet

HONG KONG, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the Shanghai-Hong Kong collaboration mechanism, a pivotal milestone celebrating two decades of ongoing exchange and significant achievements. To further bolster comprehensive data exchange and collaboration between Shanghai and Hong Kong, the Global Data Ecosystem Conference 2023 (GDEC 2023) included a dedicated Hong Kong venue from 28 to 29 November. With the theme 'Data World, Connected Future - Data Enabling the New Engine for the Development of the Digital Economy in Hong Kong and Shanghai', the conference included a forum, a symposium for data service providers, and a series of corporate networking events. These sessions concentrated on the circulation of data assets, as well as advancements in Web3.0. The event significantly strengthened the digital economy partnership between the two cities, expanding and intensifying the Shanghai-Hong Kong connection and collaboratively fostering a high degree of openness in the data asset market. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization (SMCEI), the Hong Kong conference was co-organized by Hong Kong Cyberport, Shanghai Data Exchange, Shanghai Data Service Provider Association, and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Digital Ecosystem Exchange Center, and hosted by the B4B Big Data Business Application Challenge, with additional support provided by Shanghai Duan and Duan Law Firm (Duan & Duan) and TopEase. The Hong Kong Chamber of Data & Digital Commerce Organizing Committee was Established, Working in conjunction with Its Counterpart in Shanghai to Co-create a New Data Ecosystem In recent years, Hong Kong has championed the growth of its digital economy, with extensive research in data infrastructure, cross-border data flow, enterprise digital transformation, and human resource support. Matthew Chan, Chair of the Hong Kong Chamber of Data & Digital Commerce Organizing Committee, noted that the city's government has set up the Digital Economy Development Committee and the Third Generation Internet (Web3.0) Development Task Force, and is planning to establish a Digital Policy Office, all aimed at advancing industry digitalization and the digital sector's industrial growth. During GDEC 2023, the Hong Kong Chamber of Data & Digital Commerce Organizing Committee was formally established. It marked its initiation by signing a strategic cooperation agreement with Shanghai Data Service Provider Association, aimed at jointly developing the Shanghai-Hong Kong data ecosystem. The agreement outlines a collaborative effort in launching new data products, building a comprehensive data ecosystem, and supporting third-party service providers, with a focus on fostering mutual empowerment and the growth of data assets in both regions./p>



Herbert Chia , a Board member of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. He highlighted the critical need to develop the data asset market, establish strong digital governance, and improve data technology systems. These efforts are directed toward enabling the efficient circulation of data assets, with the aim of boosting economic growth and development. Establishing the Shanghai-Hong Kong Data Corridor: Advancing New Paradigms in Data Exchange and Collaborative Efforts

Shanghai and Hong Kong are jointly concentrating their efforts on developing the data factor market, further enhancing their comprehensive exchange and cooperation. Leveraging Shanghai's proficiency in data exchange, initiatives are in progress to extend the utilization of open data in Hong Kong while facilitating the listing and trading of data products originating in the city. In April 2023, Shanghai Data Exchange launched the International Board to pioneer mechanisms for two-way cross-border data flow, enhancing its data exchange compliance services and ensuring secure transfer of data products across borders. Zhang Jian, Deputy General Manager of the Market Development Department at Shanghai Data Exchange, highlighted Shanghai's leadership in data policy research, the development of an infrastructure for the circulation of data, and the building of a data ecosystem. He also underscored the unique characteristics of Hong Kong's data factor market, particularly in the realm of data factor development, which offers significant potential. Looking ahead, the two cities will collaborate to capitalize on each other's strengths to establish an international hub and facilitate cross-border flow of data products. During the conference, four Hong Kong-based firms - Albacastor Technology, MOVA, Olawealth, and Rightpick - submitted their applications to list data products on the Shanghai Data Exchange's International Board. Their offerings encompass a range of sectors, including environmental, real estate, and public sentiment analysis. During the event, several companies showcased how the trading and exchange of data products can drive innovation in the real economy. Deng Cong, Vice President of Dun & Bradstreet Business overseeing the Hong Kong market, presented the company's portfolio spanning precision marketing, commercial credit, supply chain, compliance, and inclusive finance. He used case studies to exemplify how global data can be effectively integrated with local insights. Lu Zhongming, Chief Data Officer of ChinaScope, introduced the HIST model, built on industrial and supply chain relationship maps, and news co-occurrence graphs, highlighting its capability to process high-dimensional data and the intrinsic value of data mining. Wang Yanfei, Deputy General Manager at TopEase, discussed the pivotal role of data governance in global trade, focusing on digitizing trade processes and revealing the latent potential of foreign trade data to transform detailed analytics into actionable insights for capital investment. Sun Xianjie, Co-founder and CEO of Harb Data, explored the integration of retail data into algorithmic solutions for businesses, optimizing their decision-making processes. He pointed out the opportunities in commercializing retail data for developing targeted marketing initiatives and broadening the market reach of specialized brands. Driving Financial Innovation with Data, Exploring Innovative Applications of Data Factor Hong Kong and Shanghai, as international financial centers, have tremendous potential for cooperation. In August this year, Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China issued the the Interim Provisions on Accounting Treatment of Enterprise Data Resources. These regulations provide clarity on how companies should include data assets in their financial statements and the methods for assessing the value of these data assets. Gao Yaping, Equity Partner, Head of Data Compliance Business at Duan & Duan, extrapolated on her view that for Hong Kong companies, incorporating data assets into their financial statements is of key importance. She notes the significant opportunity presented by the mainland Chinese market, suggesting that Hong Kong companies can leverage this market as a starting point for global expansion, particularly through the listing and trading of data-related products. In the current environment where data assets are being used in innovative ways, not only the primary players in the data market (suppliers and demanders of data) but also third-party service providers involved in compliance, quality, and valuation assessments of data, are poised to encounter new growth and business opportunities. In the rapidly evolving landscape of financial technologies, marked by advancements in Web3.0 and virtual assets, Hong Kong is positioning itself as a key global hub for virtual asset management. The city is actively exploring innovative applications and continuously refining its regulatory framework to keep pace with these developments. Invest Hong Kong's data shows that the city currently hosts over 800 financial technology companies and boasts a burgeoning ecosystem of more than 5,000 fintech startups. Matthew Chan, the Organizing Committee's Chair, advises that Hong Kong capitalize on its established financial sector prowess, seizing the opportunity to incorporate data assets into financial reporting, with the goal of expanding the global footprint of its data assets. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/shanghai-and-hong-kong-forge-deeper-data-ecosystem-partnership-ushering-in-a-new-era-of-bilateral-collaboration-302001570.html SOURCE Shanghai Data Exchange

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[November 30, 2023] Excellon Software and Grupo UMA Celebrate One-Year Milestone in Transformative Collaboration Tweet

NAGPUR, India, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Excellon Software, a global leader in Dealer Management Systems, is excited to announce a significant one-year milestone in collaboration with Grupo UMA, a prominent multi-brand automotive distribution and dealer network in Colombia. Over the past year, Excellon Software has proudly served as Grupo UMA's trusted ally, delivering cutting-edge solutions to enhance customer service and operational efficiency. Excellon's cloud-based Dealer Management System (DMS), accessible in Spanish, has seamlessly integrated with third-party systems like SAP, providing Grupo UMA with a comprehensive 360-degree view of customer engagement. A standout feature of Excellon's DMS solution is its compliance with local tax regulations, ensuring a seamless Invoice Posting process through the DIAN Portal. With a large network of Grupo Uma's Sales & Service locations, the hosted solution in the USA offers Grupo UMA unparalleled flexibility and accessibility. This unique setup gives the Headquarters a realtime view of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across the entire network.



"This one-year milestone is a testament to the success of our collaboration with Grupo UMA. Our tax-compliant solution and integration with the DIAN Portal highlight our commitment to meeting local regulatory requirements. The ability for Headquarters to monitor KPIs across the network further solidifies Excellon DMS as a unique and indispensable tool in the automotive industry," said Vinod Tambi, Co-Founder and President of Excellon Software. This strategic collaboration highlights Excellon Software's commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and tailored solutions and emphasizes dedication to providing a comprehensive and locally compliant system for the automotive industry. As Excellon celebrate this milestone, they also remain focused on elevating Grupo UMA's excellence in the dynamic automotive landscape.

About Excellon Software Excellon Software with its award-winning software is recognized among the most innovative software product companies from India. The company's product portfolio includes complete dealer network management, sales & distribution management, and service management software. Excellon Software is a user-friendly, feature rich DMS platform used by more than 13K+ locations across 80+ Countries. Excellon boasts some of the largest deployments in the world for dealer & service chains, consisting of large blue-chip enterprises that run Excellon for their mission-critical business. Excellon's robust and proven platform processes the sale of One New Vehicle every 15 sec and services a vehicle every 5 seconds. Contact:

Shingita Kumar,

shingitak@excellonsoft.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2289178/Excellon_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/excellon-software-and-grupo-uma-celebrate-one-year-milestone-in-transformative-collaboration-302001494.html

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[November 30, 2023] Thai Celebrities 'Bie' and 'Nene' Savour Homecoming Flavours of Thailand's Popular Food Style 'All We Can Cook' Dishes Tweet

BANGKOK, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- No visit to Thailand would be complete without indulging in Thailand Popular Food Style 'All We Can Cook', Thai style cooked-to-order dishes. This culinary experience is more than just a meal as it is an enchanting journey that leaves a lasting impression on global travellers. Convenient, speedy, and offering a diverse menu, ensuring that you savour the delightful taste of Thai cuisine in a single sitting. What's more, you can customize the level of spiciness and choose your preferred vegetables or meats. To enjoy a varied menu, simply keep an eye out for that unmistakable storefront or a mesmerising display of diverse ingredients. You will know you have arrived at an All We Can Cook eatery.



Even Thai superstar 'Bie' Thassapak Hsu, living in China, cannot resist the allure of homecoming flavours every time he returns to Thailand. But this time he is not alone as he is joined by 'Nene' Pornnappan Pornpenpipat, a rising star on social media who is the only Thai contestant joining the CHUANG 2020, a Chinese girl group reality competition show. While embarking on a delightful culinary journey, the one thing they both cannot miss is the delectable All We Can Cook cuisine. Dishes like stir-fried crispy pork and Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, barbecued pork with rice, stir-fried meat with basil leaves, and Tom Yam, a Thai spicy soup, can be found at renowned eateries like 'Jae Suai', known as 'Rice Soup of 100 Years' in Yaowarat, Bangkok's bustling Chinatown.

Once their appetites are satisfied, it is time to explore the vibrant streets of Yaowarat Chinatown. Both choose to carry 'Thai Fabric Bags' made from handwoven Thai cotton, another item favoured by tourists. The 'Teen Chok Weaving,' originating from the Mae Chaem community in Chiang Mai. Carrying these bags while exploring any destination in the world is a distinct and unparalleled experience, undoubtedly unique." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/thai-celebrities-bie-and-nene-savour-homecoming-flavours-of-thailands-popular-food-style-all-we-can-cook-dishes-302001637.html SOURCE Tourism Authority of Thailand

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[November 30, 2023] TerraPay and Small World Money Transfer announce strategic partnership to enhance mobile wallet services in Senegal Tweet

DAKAR, Senegal , Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ -- TerraPay, a global cross-border payments network, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Small World Money Transfer, a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses. In this ever-evolving cross-border payments landscape, this collaboration is poised to redefine mobile wallet services across Senegal, ensuring that Wave Wallet account holders can directly receive remittances into their wallets via instant bank transfers from the EU and UK , using Small World Money Transfer. At the heart of this partnership is the recognition of the hurdles Senegalese expatriates encounter when attempting to send money back home, leaving customers yearning for a more convenient and secure alternative. This partnership solves for these challenges, enabling a seamless, secure, accessible, and instant solution for customers sending money to their loved ones in Senegal. Stanley Wachs, Managing Director, Northern Europe, Africa & Asia at Small World Money Transfer, expresses excitement about the partnership, "We are delighted to announce that Small World Money Transfer is now available on all major mobile wallet services in Senegal with the latest addition of WAVE mobile wallet through TerraPay." He adds, "At the heart of our mission is the drive to provide customers with the means to send money to friends, family and loved ones in the most cost-effective way. And we have been working tirelessly to offer our clients the best possible service in an easy, fast and secure manner. This partnership will provide more convenience and options for our customers sending money to Senegal." "We are stoked to join forces with Small World Money Transfer," said Miller Rodriguez Strategic Relationship and Sales Manager, Europe - UK, TerraPay. "This partnership is another step to strengthen our continuous efforts towards simplifying cross-border remittances. Together, we are able to make money transfers more accessible, user-friendly, and seamless for the people of Senegal, connecting them to their friends and family across the world. Tapping into the growing popularity of mobile wallets in the region, we are committed to enhancing the cross-border payments landscape while boosting financial inclusion."



Small World Money Transfer, known for enabling over 3 million customers to make payments online as well as through a vast physical network, has been the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates worldwide. This partnership not only aligns with TerraPay's commitment to driving global financial inclusioun but also helps extend the company's reach and capabilities, with a particular focus on the Senegalese market. The integration of Small World Money Transfer into the TerraPay network ensures customers in Senegal can experience seamless and instant money transfers directly to their Wave Wallet accounts without any additional challenges and complexities. This partnership announcement comes at a crucial time when the demand for efficient cross-border payment solutions is rapidly rising. It addresses this growing need by introducing a simple yet transformative solution, providing customers with more options and greater convenience in sending money.

About TerraPay: TerraPay simplifies the movement of money everywhere  providing a single connection to the most expansive cross-border payments network regulated in 29 global markets and enabling payments to 120+ receiving countries, 210+ sending countries, 7.5Bn+ bank accounts and 2.1Bn+ mobile wallets. TerraPay is on a mission to connect a borderless financial world, making movement of money instant, reliable, transparent and fully compliant. TerraPay pushes the boundaries for global businesses  ranging from banks, fintechs and money-transfer operators to travel businesses, creator economy platforms and e-commerce marketplaces  while driving financial inclusion in even the most inaccessible markets. Founded in 2014, TerraPay is headquartered in London, with global offices in Bangalore, Dubai, Miami, Bogota, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Hague, Dakar, Joburg, Nairobi, Milan, Singapore and is expanding rapidly, having received funding from leading investors, including the IFC (the World Bank), Prime Ventures, Partech Africa and Visa. About Small World Money Transfer: Small World is a leading provider of cross-border money transfer services for consumers and businesses enabling over 3 million customers making payments online or via a physical network of more than 250,000 locations, 10,000 agents and 80 stores across 196 countries. Small World is the trusted choice of Senegalese expatriates around the world to send money safely and easily to their loved ones back home in Senegal. www.smallworldfs.com Contact:

Juveria Samrin

juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terrapay-and-small-world-money-transfer-announce-strategic-partnership-to-enhance-mobile-wallet-services-in-senegal-302001914.html SOURCE TerraPay

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[November 30, 2023] EagleTree Capital Acquires Summit Hill Foods, Owner of Better Than Bouillon and The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce Tweet

EagleTree Capital ("EagleTree") announced today that it has acquired Summit Hill Foods, owner of iconic brands Better Than Bouillon and The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce, on behalf of investment funds it manages. The Summit Hill Foods operations and management teams will remain in place following EagleTree's investment. Several of EagleTree's fund investors co-invested alongside EagleTree, including Misland Capital Limited. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Headquartered in Rome, Georgia and founded in 1941, Summit Hill Foods began as a family-owned bakery and has grown into a leading branded food company with nationally recognized, premium brands Better Than Bouillon, The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce and Better Than Gravy. Summit Hill Foods continues to bring innovation to market with the recent addition of the Better Than Bouillon Culinary Collection, a selection of premium bases of new flavors, as well as five new flavor additions to The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce portfolio. Additionally, Summit Hill Foods offers an array of well-known, high-quality bases and sauces to support its restaurant, foodservice and industrial partners. "Today, we embark on an exciting new chapter in the history of Summit Hill Foods and are absolutely delighted to join forces with EagleTree, whose vision and resources align seamlessly with our aspirations," said Steve Goodyear, Chief Executive Officer of Summit Hill Foods. "We see incredible opportunity for our brands Better Than Bouillon and The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce in addition to our custom bases and sauces business. EagleTree's partnership will empower us to accelerate our growth and innovation, expand our market reach and continue providing high quality products to our customers." "We are thrilled to welcome Summit Hill Foods to EagleTree's portfolio. Summit Hill Foods is an exceptional company with a strong track record of innovation and excellence, and we believe Better Than Bouillon and The Original Louisiana Hot Sauce are two very special brands. We look forward to working closely with Steve Goodyear and the outstanding Summit Hill Foods team," said George L. Majoros, Jr., Co-Managing Partner at EagleTree.



Stuart Martin, Partner at EagleTree, added, "We have been fans and customers of Summit Hill Foods' products for a long time and are equally impressed by the company's unique culture. Summit Hill Foods' core values are trusting and valuing their employees, community involvement, a commitment to safety, and the relentless pursuit of excellence - values we believe are key to the company's strong performance. We are proud to be stewards of Summit Hill Foods' special ethos and are very excited to be a part of the company's next phase of growth." "G&L Holdings is excited for the future growth of Summit Hill Foods and its brands under the ownership of EagleTree Capital," expressed Linda Owens, Chairwoman of G&L Holdings, the company's parent and seller to EagleTree. "The Grizzard and Labbe shareholders want to thank our employees for their many years of service and are confident their future is bright."

BofA Securities acted as exclusive financial advisor, Eversheds Sutherland acted as legal advisor and Deloitte acted as financial and tax advisor to Summit Hill Foods. BDT & MSD Partners acted as special advisor to G&L Holdings' Board of Directors and shareholders. Jones Day acted as legal advisor and Alvarez & Marsal acted as due diligence advisor to EagleTree. About Summit Hill Foods

Summit Hill Foods is a leading branded food company with nationally recognized brands: Better Than Bouillon, The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce and Better Than Gravy. In addition to the retail brand portfolio, Summit Hill Foods serves as a flavor first solution provider and trusted ingredient supplier to foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and restaurants. To learn more, visit www.SHFoods.com. About EagleTree Capital

EagleTree Capital is a leading New York-based middle-market private equity firm, with over $5.6 billion of assets under management, that has completed over 40 private equity investments and over 95 add-on transactions over the past 20+ years. EagleTree primarily invests in North America in the following sectors: media and business services, consumer, and water and specialty industrial. For more information, visit www.eagletree.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130369318/en/

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[November 30, 2023] Bright Uro Announces $23M Series A Funding Round Led by Laborie - Expands Senior Leadership Team to Accelerate Next Phase of Commercialization Tweet

Bright Uro, a medical device company with a mission to transform care for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) through innovations in urodynamics, today announced the initial closing of its $23M Series A financing round led by Laborie Medical Technologies, a leading global provider of urology diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. The Series A funding round includes investment from Laborie and other existing investors in the Company. Funding will be used to achieve FDA 510(k) clearance of the Glean Urodynamics System (Glean) and launch the product in the U.S. in 2024. Glean is a comprehensive system that enables wireless, catheter-free urodynamics and aims to revolutionize the testing process by giving clinicians more accurate data with actionable insight to aid in clinical decision-making. "Laborie looks forward to leveraging our expertise and leadership in the global urology market to support the Bright Uro team," said Michael Frazzette, President & CEO of Laborie. "The Glean system is a very novel technology. This investment furthers our commitment to preserve and restore human dignity while improving patient access and outcomes." The Company also announced the appointment of two industry veterans to its executive team, Suranjan Roychowdhury, Ph.D. as Chief Product Development Officer and Casey Kanel as Chief Commercial Officer. Dr. Roychowdhuy is a seasoned professional with extensive experience leading R&D and Clinical at both startups and large medical device companies, including AMS, Cogentix, and Boston Scientific. Casey Kanel brings an impressive track record of commercial success with over 30 years of experience in urology and urogynecology device sales. After spending the majority of his career with Medtronic, Casey led the U.S. launch of Bulkamid for Contura until their successful acquisition by Axonics in 2020.



Bright Uro Founder and CEO Derek Herrera stated, "I am so proud of our team for achieving this incredible milestone! In just 15 months since securing an exclusive IP license from the Cleveland Clinic, we have built, tested, and manufactured not one device, but a highly complex system, including single-use disposable sensors, male and female insertion tools, a reusable uroflowmeter, and multiple software apps. At Bright Uro, our people are our most important asset. Casey and Suranjan are the right leaders joining at the perfect time to have an exponential impact as we continue on the path to bring Glean to market." About Bright Uro

Based in Irvine, Calif., Bright Uro's mission is to transform care of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with its innovative technology that is poised to disrupt outdated urodynamics approaches. The Company's investigational Glean Urodynamics System is designed to enable wireless, catheter-free urodynamics monitoring, with the ultimate goal of improving patient comfort and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.brighturo.com. About Laborie Medical Technologies Headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Laborie is a global medical technology company focused on Urology, Urogynecology, Gastroenterology, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Neonatal Health. We manufacture and deliver high-quality, high-impact diagnostic and therapeutic products that help clinicians and hospitals preserve and restore patient dignity. Clinicians and hospitals look to us as the market-leading experts in our business segments, and we support our products with a world-class clinical education & information program. Laborie is a portfolio company of Patricia Industries. For more information, visit www.laborie.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130738116/en/

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[November 30, 2023] Instituto de Coordenadas highlights the position of Morocco at forefront of global green agenda Tweet

MADRID, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today kicks off in Dubai the COP28, which will last until 12th of December. The global climate summit, convening leaders and other influential entities and stakeholders, confronts the imperative of advancing international commitments to combat climate change. Commitments from the Global South nations is paramount for the success of the summit, in this regard Morocco, is positioning itself as a vanguard in climate solutions and stands as a pivotal proponent for ambitious objectives during this summit. Morocco is assuming a regional and potentially global leadership role by championing ambitious ventures in clean energy. Facilitated by governmental support and collaboration with European corporations, Morocco is evolving into an exemplar of dedication to renewable energy, progressively attaining the status of a paramount partner for Europe. This is particularly noteworthy given the challenges the European Union is facing in surpassing energy dependencies on Russia and on conventional fossil fuels. The Kingdom of Morocco has substantiated its commitment to energy transition through groundbreaking initiatives such as the Noor-Ouarzazate concentrated solar power complex, acclaimed as the world's largest solar power plant spanning over 3,000 hectares. Morocco endeavors not only fortify green self-sufficiency but also aspire to generate 52% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, thereby doubling the renewable capacity from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the Mediterranean country's strategic vision extend to a concerted emphasis on green hydrogen, with aspirations to emerge as an intercontinental powerhouse. In this regard, the World Bank has underscored Morocco's approach, accentuating that the proliferation of solar and wind energy could not only stabilize the economy, but also engender thousands of jobs annuallyan imperative facet in a nation grappling with an 11.2% unemployment rate.



The European Union has strategically aligned itself with Morocco's ecological evolution through the EU-Morocco Green Partnership program, signed last autumn. This is the first green partnership the EU signs with a partner country. The EU has contributed with 115 million aiming to advance the external dimension of the European Green Deal through action on the ground. This partnership accentuates sustainable value chains, forest conservation, and job creation. This pioneering collaboration between the EU and Morocco manifests a shared aspiration to address the climate emergency, casting Morocco as model for collaborative schemes beyond the EU. Furthermore, this reality highlights EUs perception on Morocco as a key and committed ally in facing global challenges. It worth reminding that Morrocco is a crucial partner on EUs external policies including counterterrorism, migration, trade and a supporter in international fora. In anticipation of COP28, Morocco has fortified its bonds with the European Union. The Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, has underscored the joint determination of both parties to actualize environmentally sustainable projects. At COP28, Morocco is poised to present itself as an unwavering leader in climate actiona pivotal partner ready to make substantial contributions to mitigating the European energy crisis. Its proactive and collaborative stance, supported by robust data, augurs an optimistic trajectory toward a sustainable future.

ABOUT INSTITUTO COORDENADAS DE GOBERNANZA Y ECONOMIA APLICADA Institute of thought and research on the interaction between governance and applied economics to advance constructively and decisively on the trinomial: social welfare, economic progress and environmental sustainability; in an evolutionary environment unprecedented since the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century with the industrial revolution. Faithful to its founding principles of independence, non-partisanship and plurality, the Instituto proactively leads the union between the essence and innovation of economic liberalization, as the best model to face the present and future challenges of Spain, Europe and the world. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/instituto-de-coordenadas-highlights-the-position-of-morocco-at-forefront-of-global-green-agenda-302002039.html SOURCE Instituto Coordenadas

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The truce in Gaza will last one more day, until Friday morning. After hours of negotiations and when the threat of resumed bombings was looming, Israel and Hamas announced early on Thursday morning local time that the temporary ceasefire was being extended for a seventh day. This is the second extension to the cessation of hostilities, initially programmed for four days (Friday to Monday), to which two more days were added (Tuesday and Wednesday). On Wednesday night, negotiating efforts were redoubled with Qatar as the key mediator in the talks to iron out the details of the truce in a war that has been raging since October 7.

The announcement coincides with an upsurge in violence by the Israeli army in the West Bank, where it is carrying out an incursion into the Tulkarem refugee camp. In Jerusalem, a gun attack next to a bus stop has left at least four people dead, two women and two attackers, according to emergency services.

The Israeli army said in a statement Thursday morning: 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. Obstacles, however, had emerged throughout the night. Hamas had announced that Israel refused to accept seven other hostages, women and children, along with three corpses of its citizens  also women and children from the same family  according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The renewed truce will allow a new exchange of hostages for prisoners and will give a few more hours of respite to the inhabitants of Gaza. The terms of the agreement are similar to those that have been in force these six days and its main points continue to be, in addition to the cessation of bombings, the release of hostages held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid into the Strip. With the return of the sixth group of 16 captives on Wednesday to Israel  10 Israelis, four Thais and two Russians  there are 145 hostages left in the Palestinian territory, of which 11 are foreigners and the rest Israeli citizens.

The exchange of hostages for prisoners initially included only women and children on both sides and a good number of them, 75, have already been released, as have foreign men whose release took place outside of the exchange between Hamas and Israel. The Israeli governments condition for the cessation of fighting is receiving 10 new living hostages each day. An unnamed Israeli official involved in the negotiation process told Reuters Wednesday that Israel believed there were enough women and children among the Israeli captives for at least two more days, potentially three days of truce, clearing one of the main unknowns that weighed on a new extension.

Meanwhile, the mediating countries had been multiplying their contacts with both sides ahead of the last-minute deal. The head of the United States intelligence services, William Burns  director of the CIA  met on Wednesday in Doha with David Barnea, head of the Israeli Mossad, to discuss Israels conditions for a new extension and to see if there was a possibility of making it two days. At a press conference held Wednesday in Brussels, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that his country would focus on doing everything possible to prolong the pause. Blinken traveled to Israel at dawn, for the fourth time since the war began.

Among these conditions, the possibility of requiring Hamas to begin handing over Israeli male hostages and soldiers of both sexes was discussed. The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior Israeli official as saying that his country was open to a new round of negotiations over the men and soldiers detained by Hamas once all the children and women are released.

The bellicosity of the far right

While negotiating the extension of the truce, the Israeli government has continued to insist on its intention to resume its offensive in Gaza, where the Israeli army has already killed almost 15,000 people, according to the health authorities in the Strip.

Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said Wednesday that his country would continue to increase military pressure for Hamas to release more hostages in Gaza. He thus reaffirmed the official Israeli argument that ignores the danger that the bombings in the Strip also represent for the hostages. The Israeli narrative claims that continuing the war will lead Hamas to release more kidnapped people. This official argument also describes the truce as an operational pause that will allow better preparation for the next phase of a conflict that Benjamin Netanyahus government cannot renounce.

The prime minister faces pressure to honor his promise to put an end to Hamas; he is also dealing with the bellicosity of the most far-right wing of his government coalition and pressure from the hostages relatives, who demand that all of them be returned. The United States, Israels main ally, has expressed its opposition to Israel extending its ground offensive into the south of the Strip, where most of the 2.3 million residents of Gaza are now taking refuge, and has reiterated that Israel must allow the entry of more humanitarian aid, while continuing to offer strong support to Netanyahus administration.
[November 30, 2023] Jellyfish Joins AWS ISV Accelerate Program to Bring Engineering Management Platform to AWS Customers Tweet

BOSTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jellyfish, a leading Engineering Management Platform, today announced that it has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program, a co-sell program for AWS Partners that provide software solutions that run on or integrate with AWS. Jellyfish announced it has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program The AWS ISV Accelerate Program helps accelerate members' go-to-market strategy by connecting participating ISVs, like Jellyfish, with the AWS Sales organization to closely collaborate and co-sell. This translates to better outcomes for AWS customers and assures mutual commitment from AWS and Jellyfish. Members of this program are held to the IT industry's highest standards and must undergo a comprehensive evaluation, including a thorough architectural and security review, to gain acceptance to the program. References were also reviewed to validate the value and outcome Jellyfish drives to its customers.



"Joining the AWS ISV Accelerate Program is a momentous occasion for Jellyfish," said Billy Robins, Head of Partnerships at Jellyfish. "Our relationship with AWS is a testament to our commitment to offering a top-tier solution to our customers. By tapping into the expertise of AWS sellers, Jellyfish is further poised to help more businesses align engineering investment and work to business priorities in order to maximize business impact and drive better outcomes." Jellyfish joining the AWS ISV Accelerate Program arrives at a time when software companies are challenged with delivering the right outcomes in a resource-constrained environment, making every engineer that much more critical to the business. Whether companies are migrating existing workloads to AWS or pursuing a comprehensive modernization of their infrastructure, apps, and platforms with powerful AWS services like Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) or AWS Lambda, aligning engineering resources, processes and technology is pivotal to success.

"Jellyfish's engineering management platform gives AWS customers the confidence to deliver on these strategic projects on time and on budget while ensuring other revenue-driving projects aren't getting lost in the shuffle," said Krishna Kannan, Head of Product at Jellyfish. "This creates a win-win proposition for Jellyfish, AWS, and customers across the globe." In addition to joining the AWS ISV Accelerate Program, Jellyfish is a member of the AWS Global Startup program and is available to purchase in AWS Marketplace, which helps customers streamline software procurement, unify software and infrastructure billing and accelerate time to value. Companies participating in the AWS Enterprise Discount Program (EDP) can also retire their annual commitment by procuring Jellyfish through AWS Marketplace. Jellyfish will be attending AWS re:Invent 2023 in Las Vegas from November 27 to December 1. About Jellyfish

Jellyfish is the leading Engineering Management Platform that enables leaders to align engineering work with strategic business objectives. By analyzing engineering signals and contextual business data, Jellyfish provides complete visibility into engineering organizations, the work they do, and how they operate. Companies like Mastercard, Priceline, and PagerDuty use Jellyfish to optimize the allocation of engineering resources to focus their teams on what matters most to the business. For more information, visit www.jellyfish.co. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jellyfish-joins-aws-isv-accelerate-program-to-bring-engineering-management-platform-to-aws-customers-301999751.html SOURCE Jellyfish

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[November 30, 2023]

Parks Associates: 70% of US Internet Households Say They Cannot Live Without Internet

Connected Health Summit and Smart Spaces virtual events, on November 30, address strategies to improve user experience through new tech solutions

DALLAS, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates research finds 70% of US internet households say they can't live without internet, driving new demand and expectations from consumers about technology in the home. The market research firm will host two virtual sessions on November 30, as part of the Smart Spaces and Connected Health Summit conferences, focusing on consumers' growing need to integrate tech solutions into their daily lifestyles.

Smart Spaces sponsors include Arize, CSA, Rapid Response Monitoring, Nimbio, Cox Communities, ADT Multifamily, Nice, Vantiva, Xfinity Communities, Homebase, Aquana, LiftMaster, Eleven Software, Calix, Cooktop Safety, EVPassport, Blink Charging, and Kwikset. Connected Health Summit is sponsored by CSA, Electronic Caregiver, Alarm.com, Rapid Response Monitoring, Lifeguard, Origin, Calix, and Independa.

"Consumers have new expectations for technology in their day-to-day lives," said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. "The demand for notifications, alerts, and understanding of what is going on in the household, along with the increased interest in technology in both living and working environments, is changing how builders and solution providers build and deploy new products."

The Connected Health Summit session "Health and Home: Modern Lifestyles," 2:00 PM CT, moderated by Jennifer Kent, VP, Research, Parks Associates, examines solutions that integrate health and smart home to deliver new benefits and experiences to consumers. The session includes visionary insight from Anthony Dohrmann, Founder and CEO, Electronic Caregiver  ECG, followed by a panel discussion with the following speakers:







Paul Berney, Chief Commercial Officer, Anthropos Digital Care

Steve Chazin, VP, Products, Alarm.com

Nancy Edwards Cronin , President and Managing Director, ipCapital Group, Inc.

, President and Managing Director, ipCapital Group, Inc. Mark Khachaturian, PhD, CEO, Wellvii

Michael Skaff, VP, Healthcare Technology NA, Vayyar Imaging

The Smart Spaces session "Investment and Expansion in Smart Spaces," 11:30 AM CT, features a research presentation from Kristen Hanich, Research Director, Parks Associates, following by a panel moderated by Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates, that explores the role of platforms in optimizing energy usage, enhancing security, and providing a seamless user experience in multifamily properties. The session includes a panel discussion with the following speakers:

Mike Branam, Director of Sales  Multifamily, PointCentral

Brad Dillman, Chief Economist, RPM Living

Blake Miller , Founder, Homebase.ai; Chief Product Officer, Quext

, Founder, Homebase.ai; Chief Product Officer, Quext Tiffany Mittal, CEO, Utility Ranger

Jackie Ware , VP Operations, Pegasus Residential

To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific data, please contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein at [email protected] or 972-490-1113. Register for Smart Spaces at www.smartspacesconference.com. Register for Connected Health Summit at www.connectedhealthsummit.com.

About Parks Associates

Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households.

The company's expertise crosses many industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets.

Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. https://www.parksassociates.com

Follow Parks Associates on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Contact:

Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein

Parks Associates

972.996.0212

369417@email4pr.com

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SOURCE Parks Associates
[November 30, 2023] Epoch Garage+ Launches Its 2023 Open House for Must-See Startups in Taiwan Tweet

The Startup Global Program is introducing 35 global startups bringing revolutionary technologies through many diverse markets TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Garage+, a leading, zero-equity startup incubator supported by the Epoch Foundation, is launching its 2023 Open House in Taipei, Taiwan on December 6th. 35 must-see global startups are exhibiting, offering revolutionary technologies across sectors including AI, enterprise, energy, ESG, healthcare, supply chain, and manufacturing. The Startup Global Program is a bi-annual program that invites international startups to connect with Taiwan's considerable industrial resources, its local entrepreneurial community, and act as a gateway to explore Asian market opportunities. It is an ideal event for media and investors to discover and meet some of the hottest new companies with emerging ideas and unique developments. Startups from around the world have a remarkable opportunity awaiting them in Taiwan. Garage+ extends a gracious invitation, offering subsidized air tickets, 8 days of comfortable accommodation, and the chance to connect with top Taiwanese industries through personalized one-on-one meetings. With the participating enterprises including prestigious names like Wistron Corporation, Delta, Quanta, MediaTek, Pegatron, Realtek Semiconductor, China Development Industrial Bank, and Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank, numerous fruitful matchmaking meetings have been arranged to explore exciting business prospects. Supported by Taiwan's National Development Council (www.ndc.gov.tw), the Startup Global Program, 2023 Open House event will include companies from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India, Canada, the USA, the UK, Netherlands, Estonia, and Israel. Collectively they have received over USD$100 million in investment to date from investors such as Epson, Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsui Chemical, ABB, Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, MUFG Bank, and TOYOTA TSUSHO. Open House Details Venue: 9F, Second Building, No.96, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei, Taiwan

9F, Second Building, No.96, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Date: 6th December 2023

Highlighting Innovators: https://garageplus.asia/2023_sgp/en



Profiles of Breakthrough Global Startups

Clarius Mobile Health - Established in Canada , 2014. Received USD 42M investment.

A handheld ultrasound company specializing in high-end imaging, coupled with AI for automating acquisitions at the point of care. Received Frost & Sullivan's 2023 Company of the Year for the North America Ultraportable Ultrasound Industry. SENSYN ROBOTICS, Inc. - Established in Japan, 2015. Received USD 27M investment.

This software company has developed applications that use robotics such as drones to improve the quality of large-scale infrastructure inspections.

Zeroboard Inc. - Established in Japan, 2021. Received USD 19M investment.

Its self-developed 'Zeroboard' is a cloud service for calculating and visualizing GHG emissions, consulting on decarbonization. Elephantech Inc. - Established in Japan, 2014. Received USD 14.8M investment.

It created an industry milestone by becoming the first company in the world to manufacture PCBs using metal inkjet printing. High Lander - Established in Israel, 2018. Received USD 14M investment.

It addresses drone fleet management and Unmanned Traffic Management in UAV markets. Orangewood Labs - Established in the UK, 2017. Received USD 4.1M investment.

Robots are hard to program and expensive to deploy which we are solving for, so this company is streamlining AI robot creation, which means factory robots today and space robots tomorrow. Anique, Inc. - Established in Japan, 2019. Received USD 4M investment.

Produces digi-physical anime merchandise, leveraging AI, blockchain and XR. Currently collaborating with more than 50 Japanese anime/manga IPs, and featured in Toyo Keizai's "100 greatest startups". Innovative Mechatronic Systems - Established in the Netherlands, 2016. Received USD 3.27M investment.

The developer of the Archimedes Drive, a high-precision toothless gearbox. This patented technology equips applications with enhanced performance, opening new possibilities in automation. Garage+ Awards & Recognitions "Best Incubator in Taiwan " awarded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2015, 2017~2021.

" awarded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2015, 2017~2021. The first incubator attending Computex Taipei since 2015, the world's 2nd largest technology exhibition, organizing 230 startups worldwide and receiving 130,000 visitors.

The most recognized Asian incubator for international startups, receiving more than 2,600 applications from 80 countries since 2015. About Epoch Foundation

Epoch Foundation, founded in 1991 with the mission of facilitating industrial development and economic prosperity, has been representing 20 Taiwan-based blue-chip companies closely allying with the world's top-notch academic institutes like MIT and UC Berkeley. Epoch has been serving as the liaison office to bridge and consolidate the resources between academic and private sectors, with programs focused on three areas: industry and academia's research collaborations, industrial and economic policies, and entrepreneurial talent education. About Garage+

Garage+ is a zero-equity incubator supported by the Epoch Foundation. In 1998, Epoch initiated an educational program, Epoch School, to cultivate young talents' entrepreneurship. It has generated more than 80 startups. In 2008, Garage+ was founded to support entrepreneurs, focused on early-stage startups in AI, Big Data, IoT, Smart Devices, Healthcare, and Green Tech. Since 2014, more than 555 startups have resided in Garage+, including 284 international startups. Contact:

Angela Liu

+886228825577

369356@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epoch-garage-launches-its-2023-open-house-for-must-see-startups-in-taiwan-302001142.html SOURCE Garage+

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[November 30, 2023] D.A. Davidson Focuses on Boston, Welcoming Two New Senior Hires to Institutional Equities: Burton Vance and Matt Michalski Tweet

D.A. Davidson & Co. is pleased to announce the hiring of Burton Vance and Matt Michalski both as Managing Director, Institutional Sales by the Equity Capital Markets Group. The appointments mark six senior hires to D.A. Davidson's Institutional Equities Team in 2023, further demonstrating D.A. Davidson's commitment to becoming the preeminent full-service middle-market investment bank. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130898765/en/ Both Burton Vance (left) and Matt Michalski (right) join D.A. Davidson as Managing Director, Institutional Sales. (Photo: Business Wire) "Boston is a priority market for our firm, and we're thrilled to welcome Vance and Michalski to the team," said Liam Healy, Head of Institutional Equities at D.A. Davidson. "They both have deep experience in the industry covering the Boston territory and fit in extremely well with our culture." Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Vance joins D.A. Davidson after 29 years with Truist on the institutional equities team, most recently as Managing Director, Equity Sales. Mr. Vance graduate from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in History and received his Juris Doctor degree from University of North Carolina Law School.



Based in Boston, Michalski has over 23 years of institutional equity sales experience with Truist and its predecessor, Robinson Humphries, most recently as Director. Mr. Michalski holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Hobart College in Geneva, New York. Together, Vance and Michalski represent a strong, tenured brand in the Boston market and have been a part of the #1 ranked sales team for SMID cap research, according to the Greenwich Survey.

"They bring decades of experience working together to the business, which is an invaluable asset as we look to further expand in this market," said Rory McKinney, President of Equity Capital Markets at D.A. Davidson. "As we continue to create differentiated, proprietary products, we are doubling down on investing in talent and resources to improve our abilities to deliver key insights to our buy-side partners." With a senior team of over 20 research analysts that cover over 500 public and private companies, D.A. Davidson & Co.'s Equity Capital Markets group provides a full-service platform offering expertise to middle-market companies across four industries of focus: consumer, diversified industrials, financial institutions, and technology. D.A. Davidson is widely recognized for providing timely investment ideas supported by insightful analysis to institutional clients. About D.A. Davidson Companies D.A. Davidson Companies is an employee-owned financial services firm offering a range of financial services and advice to individuals, corporations, institutions, and municipalities nationwide. Founded in 1935 with corporate headquarters in Great Falls, Montana, and regional headquarters in Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Omaha and Seattle, the company has approximately 1,600 employees and offices in 29 states. Subsidiaries include D.A. Davidson & Co., a full-service investment firm providing wealth management, investment banking, equity and fixed income capital markets services, and advice; Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional asset management firm; and D.A. Davidson Trust Company, a trust and wealth management company. For more information, visit dadavidson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130898765/en/

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[November 30, 2023]

Finopotamus Launches the 2023-24 Edition of the Digital Banking Industry Leaders Forum

First-of-its-kind thought leadership portal brings together a dozen luminaries from around the industry

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finopotamus, the only online resource providing in-depth technology coverage exclusively to credit unions, today announced the launch of the 2023-24 edition of the Digital Banking Industry Leaders Forum (DBILF) at www.digitalbankingleaders.com. Bringing together 12 industry experts from a broad range of backgrounds, the DBILF is designed to aggregate focused commentary from across North America. Participants and their respective articles include:







John San Filippo

San Filippo also noted that in 2024, Finopotamus will be launching additional Industry Leaders Forums. "We've received a lot of requests for a Payments Industry Leaders Forum, so that's what we have slated for Q1," he said. "In Q2, we'll cover artificial intelligence and machine learning, in Q3 we'll look at core processing, and Q4 will bring us back around to digital banking."

About Finopotamus

Finopotamus is an online publication created by industry veterans W.B. King, John San Filippo, and Roy Urrico to bring credit unions technology news and original content not found elsewhere. The publication looks at technology best practices across multiple industries to bring credit unions the broadest range of relevant information. The publication's tagline is Fintech News for Hungry CUs. Visit Finopotamus at www.finopotamus.com.

Contact: John San Filippo, (619) 467-0431, [email protected]

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SOURCE Finopotamus LLC
[November 30, 2023] AI reality vs. myth: Twelve predictions from SAS for 2024 Tweet

AI will not take all jobs nor end civilization. But it will help businesses make better decisions. CARY, N.C., Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ -- Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. And stories are rampant about its promise and its threat. Will AI's potential be realized in the year ahead? SAS, the leader in AI and analytics, asked executives and experts across the company to predict trends and key business and technology developments in AI for 2024. Below are some of the predictions they shared. Will AI's potential be realized in the year ahead? SAS asked its experts to predict AI trends for 2024. Visit SAS' 2024 AI predictions page for more trends and forecasts. Generative AI will augment (not replace) a comprehensive AI strategy

"Generative AI technology does a lot of things, but it can't do everything. In 2024, organizations will pivot from viewing generative AI as a stand-alone technology to integrating it as a complement to industry-specific AI strategies. In banking, simulated data for stress testing and scenario analysis will help predict risks and prevent losses. In health care, that means the generation of individualized treatment plans. In manufacturing, generative AI can simulate production to identify improvements in quality, reliability, maintenance, energy efficiency and yield."

 Bryan Harris, Chief Technology Officer, SAS

[Note: Earlier this year, SAS committed $1 billion to AI-powered industry solutions.] AI will create jobs

"In 2023, there was a lot of worry about the jobs that AI might eliminate. The conversation in 2024 will focus instead on the jobs AI will create. An obvious example is prompt engineering, which links a model's potential with its real-world application. AI helps workers at all skill levels and roles to be more effective and efficient. And while new AI technologies in 2024 and beyond may cause some short-term disruptions in the job market, they will spark many new jobs and new roles that will help drive economic growth."

 Udo Sglavo, Vice President of Advanced Analytics, SAS AI will enhance responsible marketing

"As marketers we must consciously practice responsible marketing. Facets of this are awareness of the fallibility of AI and alertness to possible bias creeping in. While AI offers the promise of enhanced marketing and advertising programs, we know that biased data and models beget biased results. In SAS Marketing, we are implementing model cards that are like an ingredient list, but for AI. Whether you create or apply AI, you are responsible for its impact. That's why all marketers, regardless of technical know-how, can review the model cards, validate that their algorithms are effective and fair, and adjust as needed."

 Jennifer Chase, Chief Marketing Officer, SAS Financial firms will embrace AI amid a Dark Age of Fraud

"Even as consumers signal increased fraud vigilance, generative AI and deepfake technology are helping fraudsters hone their multitrillion-dollar craft. Phishing messages are more polished. Imitation websites look stunningly legitimate. A crook can clone a voice with a few seconds of audio using simple online tools. We are entering the Dark Age of Fraud, where banks and credit unions will scramble to make up for lost time in AI adoption  incentivized, no doubt, by regulatory shifts forcing financial firms to assume greater liability for soaring APP [authorized push payment] scams and other frauds."





 Stu Bradley , Senior Vice President of Risk, Fraud and Compliance Solutions, SAS Shadow AI will challenge CIOs

"CIOs have struggled with 'shadow IT' in the past and will now confront 'shadow AI'  solutions used by or developed within an organization without official sanction or monitoring by IT. Well-intentioned employees will continue to use generative AI tools to increase productivity. And CIOs will wrestle daily with how much to embrace these generative AI tools and what guardrails should be put in place to safeguard their organizations from associated risks."

 Jay Upchurch, Chief Information Officer, SAS

Multimodal AI and AI simulation will reach new frontiers

"The integration of text, images and audio into a single model is the next frontier of generative AI. Known as multimodal AI, it can process a diverse range of inputs simultaneously, enabling more context-aware applications for effective decision making. An example of this will be the generation of 3D objects, environments and spatial data. This will have applications in augmented reality [AR], virtual reality [VR], and the simulation of complex physical systems such as digital twins."

 Marinela Profi, AI/Generative AI Strategy Advisor, SAS Digital-twin adoption will accelerate

"Technologies like AI and IoT [Internet of Things] analytics drive important sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, energy and government. Workers on the factory floor and in the executive suite use these technologies to transform huge volumes of data into better, faster decisions. In 2024, the adoption of AI and IoT analytics will accelerate through broader use of digital-twin technologies, which analyze real-time sensor and operational data and create duplicates of complex systems like factories, smart cities and energy grids. With digital twins, organizations can optimize operations, improve product quality, enhance safety, increase reliability and reduce emissions."

 Jason Mann, Vice President of IoT, SAS Insurers will confront climate risk, aided by AI

"After decades of anticipation, climate change has transformed from speculative menace to genuine threat. Global insured losses from natural disasters surpassed $130 billion in 2022, and insurers worldwide are feeling the squeeze. US insurers, for example, are under scrutiny for raising premiums and withdrawing from hard-hit states like California and Florida, leaving tens of millions of consumers in the lurch. To survive this crisis, insurers will increasingly adopt AI to tap the potential of their immense data stores to shore up liquidity and be competitive. Beyond the gains they realize in dynamic premium pricing and risk assessment, AI will help them automate and enhance claims processing, fraud detection, customer service and more."

 Troy Haines, Senior Vice President of Risk Research and Quantitative Solutions, SAS AI importance will grow in government

"The workforce implications of AI will start being felt in government. Governments have a hard time attracting and retaining AI talent since experts command such high salaries, however, they will aggressively recruit for expertise to support regulatory actions. And like enterprises, governments will also increasingly turn to AI and analytics to boost productivity, automate menial tasks and mitigate that talent shortage."

 Reggie Townsend, Vice President of the SAS Data Ethics Practice Generative AI will bolster patient care

"To advance health and improve patient and member experiences, organizations will further develop generative AI-powered tools in 2024 for personalized medicine, such as the creation of patient-specific avatars for use in clinical trials and the generation of individualized treatment plans. Additionally, we will see the emergence of generative AI-based systems for clinical decision support, delivering real-time guidance to payers, providers and pharmaceutical organizations."

 Steve Kearney, Global Medical Director, SAS Deliberate AI deployment will make or break insurers

"In 2024, one of the top 100 global insurers will go out of business as a consequence of deploying generative AI too quickly. Right now, insurers are rolling out autonomous systems at breakneck speed with no tailoring to their business models. They're hoping that using AI to crunch through claims quickly will offset the last few years of poor business results. But after 2023's layoffs, remaining staff will be spread too thin to enact the necessary oversight to deploy AI ethically and at scale. The myth of AI as a cure-all will trigger tens of thousands of faulty business decisions that will lead to a corporate collapse, which may irreparably damage consumer and regulator trust."

 Franklin Manchester, Global Insurance Strategic Advisor, SAS Public health will get an AI boost from academia

"Public health is achieving technologic modernization at an unprecedented rate. Whether overdoses or flu surveillance, using data to anticipate public health interventions is essential. Forecasting and modeling are rapidly becoming the cornerstone of public health work, but government needs help. Enter academia. We will see an increase in academic researchers carrying out AI-driven modeling and forecasting on behalf of government. It is clear after COVID-19 that the protection of our population will require exceptional technology and collaboration."

 Dr. Meghan Schaeffer, National Public Health Advisor and Epidemiologist, SAS Want more?

This spring, you can talk with SAS executives about their predictions and explore the latest in AI and analytics. Join business leaders and analytics experts for SAS Innovate, April 16-19, 2024, in Las Vegas. Sign up today for updates on the conference and early-bird pricing. About SAS

SAS is a global leader in AI and analytics software, including industry-specific solutions. SAS helps organizations transform data into trusted decisions faster by providing knowledge in the moments that matter. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.  indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright  2023 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact:

Mike Nemecek

SAS

[email protected]

919-531-5140

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[November 30, 2023] Greenwood Launches Greenwood Invest, A Stock Trading and Investing App Built to Enable Wealth Generation For Black and Latino Communities Tweet

Greenwood, the digital financial platform for Black and Latino consumers and businesses, today announced Greenwood Invest, a cutting-edge stock investing and trading app that allows customers to invest in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In support of the company's mission to close the racial wealth gap and create more wealth-building opportunities for traditionally overlooked communities, Greenwood Invest will provide all individuals with an opportunity to create wealth within their means as well as real-time educational resources on investing and customer support. Already the largest Black-owned neobank platform in the industry, Greenwood Invest will help strengthen Greenwood's position as the premier destination for wealth and professional advancement in the Black and Latino communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130943359/en/ Image courtesy of Greenwood According to recent reports, Black households held just 4% of total household wealth in the U.S. in 2020 despite making up over 13% of the population (Brookings) and only 33% of Black households and 24% of Hispanic households owned stocks or ETFs in contrast to 61% of white households (Federal Reserve). This divide has been driven in large part by a lack of trust in the stock market and financial institutions, which has kept the Black community from harnessing the wealth accumulation capabilities of the stock market and deepened the racial wealth chasm. A trusted financial service partner within the community, Greenwood Invest seeks to remedy this by making it possible for every Black and Latino consumer in America to access the stock market, bringing the community one step closer to truly generating wealth and owning a piece of the country they've built.



"Greenwood Invest is the embodiment of our deep-seated vision for Black and Latino financial empowerment," said Ryan Glover, CEO and Co-founder of Greenwood. "With access to over 5,000 stocks and ETFs, this platform serves as a pivotal step towards realizing Greenwood's goal: a future where Black and Latino families are not just financial spectators but dominant players in their own wealth creation. Our community was integral to the formation of this country. With Greenwood Invest we're creating a pathway for Black and Latino families to finally own a piece of the American pie." Expanding on Greenwood's Spending and Savings accounts, Greenwood Invest is the first product powered by Greenwood that allows users to generate net new wealth, with the goal of helping them bridge the racial wealth gap. Greenwood Invest enables Greenwood's customers to explore diverse portfolio options and invest with ease, without having to download an additional app. At launch, Greenwood Invest allows individuals to purchase publicly available stocks, including a number of publicly traded Black-owned businesses.

Product highlights include: No Hidden Fees with Zero Commissions : Greenwood's platform prioritizes the financial well-being of its users. By eliminating trading fees, it ensures that a customer's gains aren't diminished by hidden costs, making stock and ETF trading more accessible and lucrative.

: Greenwood's platform prioritizes the financial well-being of its users. By eliminating trading fees, it ensures that a customer's gains aren't diminished by hidden costs, making stock and ETF trading more accessible and lucrative. Invest with Fractional Shares : With Greenwood Invest, a customer can start investing with as little as $1, allowing an individual to buy a fraction of a share, no matter its trading price. This ensures that high-priced stocks are within reach for everyone.

: With Greenwood Invest, a customer can start investing with as little as $1, allowing an individual to buy a fraction of a share, no matter its trading price. This ensures that high-priced stocks are within reach for everyone. Comprehensive Educational Resources : Understanding the basics of stocks and ETFs can be daunting. That's why Greenwood Invest offers a robust suite of educational content, including in-depth webinars to user-friendly guides, to help get customers started.

: Understanding the basics of stocks and ETFs can be daunting. That's why Greenwood Invest offers a robust suite of educational content, including in-depth webinars to user-friendly guides, to help get customers started. Spotlight on Black-Owned/Led Businesses: Greenwood Invest promotes Black-owned and Black-led publicly traded enterprises within the app, including Robert Johnson's RLJ Lodging Trust, Herriet Tabuteau's Axsome Therapeutics and more.

Greenwood Invest promotes Black-owned and Black-led publicly traded enterprises within the app, including Robert Johnson's RLJ Lodging Trust, Herriet Tabuteau's Axsome Therapeutics and more. Safeguarded Investments with SIPC Insurance: Trust is paramount at Greenwood Invest, so all investments made through the platform are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) up to $500,000. This includes up to a $250,000 limit for cash claims, ensuring investments have an added layer of protection. At the time of launch, Greenwood is also starting the "We Invest Too" campaign, with the goal of creating one million new investors in the community. As an incentive to users investing for the first time, Greenwood will provide $10 for all users, which can be put towards stocks and ETFs available on the Greenwood Invest platform. Greenwood Invest can now be downloaded on both iOS and Android platforms as part of the main Greenwood app. For more information on Greenwood Invest please visit https://gogreenwood.com/. About Greenwood Greenwood is the digital financial platform for Black and Latino individuals and businesses. Greenwood's mission is to support financial freedom for minorities through community building, career advancement, and financial services. Greenwood's flagship product is a best-in-class digital banking service provided by partnering with FDIC-insured banks. The combined community has over 1 million people. Greenwood's founders include Civil Rights leader Andrew J. Young and Ryan Glover, founder of the Bounce TV Network. Greenwood has raised funding from six of the largest banks including Citi, JPMorgan Chase, PNC and Truist as well as other companies including Pendulum, TTV Capital, Mastercard, and Visa. Disclaimer: Investing, whether in stocks or ETFs, involves inherent risks, encompassing the potential loss of the invested principal. Users are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with Greenwood Investing's offerings before committing to any financial decisions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130943359/en/

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[November 30, 2023] CEOs and C-suite Executives Voice Greater Confidence Than Junior Colleagues for Post-Cookie Future Tweet

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- C-suite marketing leaders and CEOs feel significantly more prepared for the phase-out of third-party tracking cookies than their junior employees, according to a new report from Fyllo , the leading provider of contextual targeting solutions combined with progressive audience data. Fyllos study surveyed 201 decision-makers responsible for digital advertising budgets, ranging from CEOs to individual managers at brands and agencies, and covered a wide range of issues including attribution and measurement, contextual targeting and the use of first-party data.

It found that 88% of the C-Suite and 78% of CEOs feel their current targeting solutions are prepared to operate without cookies, compared to 62% of VP/Director level executives. Likewise, a large majority of respondents have already experimented with hybrid solutions that combine audience targeting with contextual targeting: 78% of CEOs, 88% of the C-suite, 8% of SVPs, 77% of VP/Directors and 89% of managers.



The results suggest that the industry widely acknowledges the seismic shifts that are coming to the digital ad market from the demise of behavioral targeting, and while theyre preparing for the future, senior leadership might be more optimistic about the transition than their managers in the trenches, said Jeff Ragovin, President of Fyllo. Contextual targeting will almost certainly prove to be the dominant alternative to behavioral targeting, and such widespread experimentation suggests that advertisers of all descriptions are looking to future-proof their digital strategies. To help with implementing contextual targeting, large majorities of CEOs (73%) and C-suite executives (97%) plan to engage additional contextual advertising partners, as do 80% of VP/Directors and 86% of managers. Respondents across the board likewise suggested that advances in AI have increased their confidence in the effectiveness of contextual targeting solutions. And, in a result that bodes well for the future of the digital ad market overall, more than 80% of all respondents expect to increase their marketing budgets in the coming year

Despite challenges and uncertainties, the majority of decision-makers are actively building strategies that incorporate contextual targeting, ensuring that they remain adaptable and competitive in this evolving landscape, Ragovin said. All digital advertisers that want to be successful should have their planning firmly underway. About Fyllo

Fyllo is on a mission to power outperformance in a privacy-first world. With access to the world's most progressive audiences and the most complete contextual platform available, Fyllo's industry-leading advertising solutions are trusted by Fortune 500 companies and emerging brands to increase reach, boost efficiency and maximize ROI. Learn more at www.hellofyllo.com Media Contact:

Hugh Moore

Broadsheet Communications for Fyllo

202-471-0661

[email protected]



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[November 30, 2023] True Tickets and Lyric Opera of Kansas City Harmonize to Elevate Opera-Goers' Experience Tweet

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- True Tickets, the premier digital ticket delivery platform, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, marking a significant milestone as True Tickets' first-ever collaboration with an opera company. This strategic alliance will set a new standard for digital ticketing, security, and audience engagement in the world of opera.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City, renowned for its captivating performances, has found a like-minded partner in True Tickets, known for its innovative solutions and commitment to enhancing the patron experience. The opera company performs its mesmerizing productions at the iconic Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, a venue known for its architectural splendor and acoustical excellence. Under this exciting partnership, True Tickets will empower Lyric Opera to deliver a seamless and secure ticketing experience for its patrons, all while combating third-party ticket reselling. With True Tickets' state-of-the-art digital ticketing service, patrons attending performances at the Kauffman Center will enjoy the utmost convenience while preserving the integrity of the arts. "Lyric Opera of Kansas City is thrilled to join forces with True Tickets, a dynamic ticket delivery platform that shares our commitment to providing extraordinary cultural experiences," said Gregory Campbell, Director of Marketing, Lyric Opera of Kansas City. "This collaboration reinforces our dedication to delivering exceptional performances while ensuring that our audiences can fully immerse themselves in the world f opera."



Ken Lesnik, Head of Business Development, True Tickets, expressed excitement about the partnership, saying, "This marks a significant step forward for both True Tickets and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Our partnership will not only enhance the ticketing process but also support the arts by combatting ticket reselling, thereby preserving access to the magic of live opera performances." True Tickets' innovative solution empowers Lyric Opera to set and enforce rules regarding digital ticket sharing, guaranteeing a transparent chain of custody for each ticket. This level of control will enable the opera company to provide a unique, personalized experience to its patrons and gather valuable insights into audience engagement.

About True Tickets

True Tickets is a secure contactless digital ticketing service that puts venues and event organizers in control of their tickets and in communication with their true audience. True Tickets' business-to-business solution easily integrates with Tessitura, the unified enterprise system for arts and cultural institutions, empowering performing arts centers, theatres, ballets, orchestras, and more to leverage the power of digital-native tickets to ensure extraordinary live experiences for their guests. With True Tickets, these institutions can set rules and track ticket custody, limit the excesses of the secondary market, and restore direct relationships between their audiences and the live events they love. For additional information, please visit True-Tickets.com or follow True Tickets on Twitter or LinkedIn. About Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Founded in 1958 and now one of the nations premier regional opera companies, Lyric Opera of Kansas City brings high-quality live operatic performances to the people of Kansas City and the five-state region. Repertoire choices encompass original-language performances of standard repertory, as well as contemporary and American operas. The companys productions enrich the community it serves while reflecting the highest artistic standards of the profession. Lyric Opera offers innovative programs to further music and arts education in schools and in the community.

Media contacts: True Tickets Crystal Henderson [email protected] Lyric Opera of Kansas City Greg Campbell [email protected]

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[November 30, 2023] EROAD and Thermo King Forge Data Sharing Partnership to Enhance Fleet Management Tweet

SAN DIEGO and MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EROAD, a leading provider of transportation technology solutions, headquartered in San Diego, and Thermo King, a global leader in sustainable transport temperature control solutions based in Minneapolis, are thrilled to announce their strategic data sharing partnership. This collaboration empowers EROAD to seamlessly integrate with Thermo King's TracKing telematics equipment, a standard feature on Thermo King Precedent trailer refrigeration units since 2018. This integration provides EROAD customers with effortless access to cloud-based, secure data integration, eliminating the need for additional hardware. Customers of both EROAD and Thermo King can now opt in at any time to authorize EROAD to access their Thermo King units, enabling them to visualize temperature data, monitor alarms, and utilize two-way refrigerated micro control, all through the EROAD 360 platform. Mark Heine, CEO of EROAD, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, "This integration and partnership with Thermo King and EROAD helps advance and support our mutual customers and provides the critical insights in reefer control that shippers and carriers need to ensure they are protecting and serving their customers well." Dominic Hand, vice president of IT and Connected Products at Thermo King, added, "As an nnovation and market leader, Thermo King is committed to not only delivering solutions that meet evolving customer and industry needs but also making it easier for customers to manage their fleets economically and reliably."



The collaboration between EROAD and Thermo King underscores their shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance fleet management and reefer control capabilities for their valued customers. About Thermo King

Thermo King  by Trane Technologies (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator  is a worldwide leader in sustainable transport temperature control solutions. Thermo King has been providing transport temperature control solutions for a variety of applications, including trailers, truck bodies, buses, air, shipboard containers and railway cars since 1938. For more information, visit www.thermoking.com or www.tranetechnologies.com. About EROAD At EROAD, our mission is to help our customers grow by providing innovative solutions that offer a deep and comprehensive range of highly contextualized data across driver, asset, and load performance. Our solutions deliver robust visibility into critical issues and translate this data into actionable insights, enabling customers to improve their operations. EROAD's hardware and connectivity solutions set the industry standard for accuracy and reliability, significantly enhancing the efficiency and productivity of fleet operations across the transportation, cold chain, and construction segments. Our unwavering commitment remains focused on creating safer and more sustainable roads for all. EROAD (ERD) is dual listed on the ASX and NZX and boasts a team of nearly 650 professionals located across New Zealand, Australia, and North America. To learn more about EROAD and our transformative solutions, please visit www.eroad.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eroad-and-thermo-king-forge-data-sharing-partnership-to-enhance-fleet-management-302000303.html SOURCE EROAD

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Papal punishments, like everything that happens inside the Vatican walls, take time and are served cold. But they end up on the table. In that manner, Pope Francis has stripped conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke of some of his Vatican privileges, evicting him from his fabulous 400-square-meter subsidized apartment and significantly reducing his salary as a cardinal. The decision is not official, as the Vatican has not officially announced it, but it was leaked on one of the ultra-conservative blogs that  in recent years  have served as a loudspeaker for the traditionalist current within the church, which has been fiercely opposed to the Argentine pope. According to this media outlet, Francis reported his intention to punish Burke at the November 20 meeting with the heads of Vatican ministries.

According to some Italian media, the pope explained in that meeting that the reason for his decision was the disunity created by the cardinal. In addition, Francis considers that Burke has been using the salary he receives from the Vatican as a retired cardinal and his Vatican-subsidized apartment  although he spends most of his time in his native Wisconsin  to attack the church. His salary was among the highest: between 5,000 and 6,000 euros a month.

The U.S. cardinal and bishop turned 75 last June, the retirement age for prelates, and was the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. He was also a patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Currently, he holds no positions in the Roman Curia. His figure held certain weight in the Vatican before the arrival of Francis, but the latter removed him from his positions and Burke began to publicly lead the opposition current. It was a rough period of violent confrontation that found ideological sustenance in the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House and the attempts of his then-academic advisor, Steve Bannon, to control certain circles of power within the Vatican.

Burke  despite the fact that many of his supporters in the American church, the richest in the world, were leaving his side  never ceased in his criticisms and attempts to destabilize the church. He remained a point of reference for the entire traditionalist world.

The cardinal, for the moment, has not commented on the decision. But in the periodical bulletin that he writes dedicated to the faithful, he affirmed, although without mentioning any specific fact, that confusion, division and error have even entered the church. The cardinal, moreover, participated in a conference entitled The Synodal Babel, the day before the Synod began; the assembly promoted by Francis, where for the first time lay people, including women, were able to vote, was harshly criticized.

The cardinal fiercely vindicates the legacy of Benedict XVI and found himself in the media spotlight in 2004 when he refused to give communion to John Kerry, then a candidate for the U.S. presidency. His attacks against Francis, however, began with an unusual case of questioning the pope. In 2016, Burke and other now-retired cardinals published a letter with five dubia (questions) presented against the papal Apostolic Exhortation Amoris laetitia, where Francis opened the door to giving communion to divorced men and women. They did the same thing when the Vatican suggested that same-sex couples could be blessed. In the latest complaint, they expressed concern that the blessing of same-sex couples might create confusion in any case, not only in that it might make them seem analogous to marriage, but also in that homosexual acts would be presented practically as a good.

Last November 11, it became known that Francis had removed Joseph E. Strickland as bishop of the U.S. diocese of Tyler (Texas), following an inspection. This bishop is an outspoken critic of Francis and in 2018 joined the accusations against the Pontiff by the former nuncio to the United States, Carlo Maria Vigano, about Francis alleged knowledge of the abuses committed by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

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[November 30, 2023] OURA Reaches Milestone of 600+ Partnerships and Integrations as It Builds a Large-Scale Ecosystem Tweet

OURA, the company behind Oura Ring, the smart ring that delivers accurate, personalized health data, insights, and daily guidance into sleep, activity, readiness, and recovery, is marking the end of a successful year evidenced by marked growth, expansion into women's and metabolic health, and a slate of new partners that have created a robust and diverse partnership network. "Growth and expansion have been huge focus areas for us this year. We've been steadily building a strong partnership ecosystem and adding world-class features into the OURA experience," said Tom Hale, CEO. "OURA is becoming an iconic, global brand that is changing the way we think about long-term health and healthspan. With 10 billion hours of wear, 10 years of data tracked, and surpassing our millionth Oura Ring sold, we're just getting started." This year, OURA has focused on the growth of its strong ecosystem of products, features, and partners. Steady Drumbeat of Product Feature Innovation This year has been one of solid growth and momentum for OURA; the company announced a slate of new features to serve its members, including a new Stress Management feature set, Circles, Share Report, and Chronotype, released customizable iOS widgets alongside a new Apple Watch companion app and complications and tracked more than 2.3 billion hours of sleep on the heels of its 10-year anniversary. In September, OURA debuted Cycle Insights, an upgraded feature formerly known as Period Prediction that shows OURA members which phase of the menstrual cycle they are in. In addition, OURA recently launched a Pregnancy Tag update, which automatically disables Cycle Insights and predicted period start date when a member tags "Positive pregnancy test" or "Pregnancy." Cycle Insights marks an important milestone in OURA's journey towards becoming a body literacy tool for women. Rather than static calendar logs presented by traditional cycle tracking apps, OURA's feature uses individual biometrics; it helps members better understand their cycle, which can vary month-to-month, using real-time variations in skin temperature. An enhanced understanding of the menstrual cycle can empower OURA members to feel more in tune with their own bodies, helping them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Building a Robust Partnership Ecosystem Amid this progress, the company continues to diversify its business and revenue strategy by building an expansive partnership ecosystem; to date, OURA's partnership ecosystem is 600+ strong and growing, powered by an application programming interface (API) that allows the data integration between partners to create transformative experiences. The advantage of this type of network is twofold, partners are able to leverage OURA's continuous, accurate data to support their customers and OURA has the ability to reach new audiences. OURA is doubling down in specific focus areas with partners across several sectors including women's health, metabolic health, behavioral health, and fitness and lifestyle. Women's Health Last year, OURA partnered with Natural Cycles, the first FDA-cleared birth control app that allows members to sync temperature trend data straight from the Oura Ring, offering a seamless alternative to measuring their temperature manually. Since the integration launched in August 2022, there has been a more than 350% increase in women who have enabled the OURA and Natural Cycles integration. These integrations represent a significant portion of new OURA members; additionally, OURA members who use Natural Cycles are the highest retaining of all OURA cohorts. In a recent survey, 98% of respondents reported that they will continue using the integration. OURA is committed to establishing connections with more women's health partners in the future so that no matter where a person chooses to track, OURA can be a measurement companion. "As women, our bodies are incredibly complex, powerful, and unique. Using Oura Ring for cycle tracking and creating body literacy just makes sense because it's attuned to your unique rhythms and patterns, not the average," said Dorothy Kilroy, Chief Commercial Officer, OURA. "We have several exciting opportunities with incredible partners in the works and we're excited to continue to grow this part of our partnership ecosystem to reach as many women as possible." OURA has also doubled down on women's health research with the announcement of two new studies with researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF): The first will examine the physiological patterns of individuals with irregular menstrual cycles. Many members with conditions affecting their cycles, such as PCOS, struggle with traditional cycle-tracking apps and algorithms because their models are typically built based on individuals with regular cycles. As part of the study, 300 participants who have ben diagnosed with PCOS and/or have irregular menstrual cycles will be asked to wear an Oura Ring for ~6 months and will complete three months of daily, at-home hormone monitoring.



The second study, which has recently been registered on clinicaltrials.gov, is based on individuals with regular menstrual cycles and similarly uses Oura Ring to examine physiological patterns throughout the menstrual cycle. Through these studies, OURA aims to improve user experience, support participant-driven science where findings are publicly available, and help generate momentum in the field. Metabolic Health

Nearly 9 in 10 adults have one or more metabolic diseases defined as excess blood glucose, abdominal obesity, hypertension, elevated fasting triglycerides, or low HDL cholesterol.1 In an effort to integrate complementary technology to solve complex health challenges, OURA has partnered with a number of partners including several continuous glucose monitor (CGM) companies: January, Supersapiens, and Veri. Because the relationship between glucose metabolism and sleep quality is bidirectional, wearables like Oura Ring and CGMs together can help to paint a clear picture of how nutrition is impacting sleep quality and vice versa. Building on the release of Cycle Insights, OURA has partnered with Cronometer on the release of a new Cycle Tracking feature, pulling in OURA Cycle Insights data to help women track and analyze their menstrual cycles. The integration allows Cronometer users to view cycle data from OURA on the Dashboard and the Diary pages of Cronometer's app and overlay cycle phase data in any chart, helping to identify trends across the two phases. Hello Inside, a metabolic health platform that helps women manage their physical changes at all stages of life partnered with OURA to pull in OURA sleep metrics alongside existing glucose measurements. This cross-pollination of insights has inspired over 10% of Hello Inside's member base to integrate OURA data. "Our integration with OURA has brought a new and actionable dimension to our clients' insights - making their experience even richer," said Mario Aichlseder CEO and co-founder of Hello Inside. OURA also partnered with Noom, a leading digital healthcare company that builds healthy habits and promotes better living. The two companies collaborated on an 8-week pilot study using Oura Ring to personalize Noom care plans and member interactions. Following promising results from the pilot (Noom users who used Oura Ring were 2.5x more engaged and 2.4x more likely to reach their weight goal), the two are collaborating on a continuation of the partnership to offer an OURA sleep health course in the Noom experience to support members on their metabolic journey. "The deep connection between sleep, nutrition, and overall health is undeniable," said Saeju Jeong, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Noom. "Noom and OURA have a shared commitment to using science, technology, and research to empower people to take a proactive approach to their health. We're excited to work together to continue learning more about how improved sleep can help people to change behavior and meet their goals." This type of integration helps to connect the dots between sleep, metabolism, and lifestyle behaviors to paint a more holistic picture of health. Behavioral Health OURA is committed to changing the conversation around mental and physical health and pioneering new ways of integrating the two. Working with mental health partners allows OURA to help fill in the gaps as members seek improvements in overall well-being. Notable partners include Talkspace, Headspace, and Thrive Global. Earlier this year, OURA and Talkspace announced a partnership that offers members a way to share personalized sleep data directly with their dedicated licensed therapist through Talkspace's secure, encrypted platform, powered by OURA's Share Report feature. Both companies are dedicated to creating new ways for healthcare practitioners to understand how a person is progressing in between visits and to promote education and body literacy. To give members more tangible ways to effectively recover from day-to-day stressors and reduce the likelihood of chronic stress, OURA has partnered with Headspace, the provider of the world's most comprehensive digital mental health platform, and Thrive Global, the leading enterprise behavior change technology company founded by Arianna Huffington. Rolling out this year, OURA members can access select stress-focused Headspace content including meditations, guided breathwork, and muscle relaxation exercises in the Oura App. Thrive will launch a series of sleep and stress management challenges on their platform, with the option for users to integrate sleep and stress data from OURA, to encourage the development of healthy, sustainable habits. "We're always looking for innovative ways to bring Headspace to more people, making quality mental health care more approachable and accessible," said Russell Glass, CEO of Headspace. "We're honored to partner with OURA to integrate physical health measurement with stress management tools, including meditation and mindfulness resources, bringing members more tangible ways to recover from day-to-day stressors and reduce the likelihood of chronic stress." Fitness & Lifestyle Integration between OURA and partners in the fitness space is a natural fit and OURA has specifically sought out partners that approach health, fitness, and sport with the same balanced and nuanced perspective. OURA partnered with Equinox, the high-performance luxury fitness club chain, to integrate Oura Ring in Equinox Circle with a co-branded Rest & Recovery Kit. FitOn, a leading digital fitness platform, partnered with OURA to create an exclusive restorative movement and meditation series designed to support Activity, Readiness, and Sleep scores. In 2022, Strava, the subscription platform at the center of connected fitness, and OURA partnered to import Strava activities into the Oura App experience and share OURA Readiness and Activity scores onto the platform. It was one of OURA members' most requested collaborations and allowed members of both communities to evaluate performance and recovery in a more holistic way. OURA and Strava are continuing to invest in the integration to further highlight OURA's Sleep and Readiness scores in Strava activity posts. "The partnership between OURA and Strava is natural as we focus on helping the global community make progress towards their best," said Mateo A. Ortega, Vice President of Connected Partnerships at Strava. "By integrating OURA's personalized biometric information into our platform, Strava becomes a destination where you can view your holistic active life and optimize the information to pursue your best." Removing Barriers to Entry and Opening Up Access OURA announced this year that Oura Ring is now covered and reimbursable via Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA), allowing US-based OURA members to take advantage of pre-tax dollars to invest in Oura Ring. OuraRing.com supports purchases with FSA and HSA cards, giving millions of Americans who are enrolled in FSAs and HSAs easier access to purchase Oura Ring. Additionally, a new partnership with Health-E Commerce has made Oura Ring available for purchase on FSA Store and HSA Store. This is an important step forward in working with the existing framework of the healthcare system to give more people access to the life-changing impact of OURA. Assembling a World-Class Medical Advisory Board In April, OURA assembled a world-class Medical Advisory Board, which included a range of experts who offer a unique and diverse perspective on a variety of health-related topics, including fertility, pregnancy, menopause, sleep, and more. Now, they've added Dr. Andy Walshe, a human performance expert, Dr. Eleni Jaswa, a board-certified ObGyn and reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Jake Deutsch, a board-certified emergency medicine physician, Dr. Sara Gottfried, physician, bestselling author, and women's health and functional medicine specialist, and Dr. Elissa Epel, a renowned health psychologist and researcher. This group of experts and thought leaders will help co-create research, inform feature development, and build content to educate the OURA Community. For more information about the Oura Ring, visit ouraring.com. About OURA: OURA is the company behind Oura Ring - the smart ring that delivers personalized health data, insights, and daily guidance. With sleep as its foundation, OURA Membership fosters healthy habits to make wellness and recovery a mindful, daily practice. Validated against medical gold standards and driven by continuous monitoring of individual biometrics, the lightweight and comfortable Oura Ring is one of the most accurate wearables available. For organizations, Oura For Business connects individual well-being with collective outcomes by making performance measurable, actionable, and attainable. Founded in Finland with offices in Oulu, Helsinki, San Francisco, and San Diego, OURA has raised more than $350 million and is valued at $2.55 billion. For more information, please visit http://ouraring.com/. Oura Ring is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, monitor, or prevent medical conditions/illnesses. 1 Huang PL. A comprehensive definition for metabolic syndrome. Dis Model Mech. 2009 May-Jun;2(5-6):231-7. doi: 10.1242/dmm.001180. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130504304/en/

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[November 30, 2023] Semiconductor IP Market Expected to Reach $14.6 Billion, Globally, By 2032 at 8.3% CAGR: Allied Market Research Tweet

The semiconductor IP market is driven by factors such increase in adoption of wireless technology-based devices, rise in demand for the modern system-on-chip (SoC) design, and growing adoption of IoT and AI applications. WILMINGTON, Del., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Semiconductor IP Market By Design IP, IP Source, IP Core, and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global semiconductor IP industry generated $6.6 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $14.6 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 8.3% from 2023 to 2032. Prime Determinants of Growth The semiconductor IP market is expected to witness notable growth owing to an increase in adoption of wireless technology-based devices, rise in demand for modern system-on-chip (soc) design, and growing adoption of IoT and AI applications. Moreover, the surge in demand for consumer electronics and technological advancement are expected to provide lucrative opportunities for the growth of the market during the forecast period. However, intellectual property (IP) security concerns limit the growth of the semiconductor IP market. Download Research Report Sample & TOC: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4643 (We are providing report as per your research requirement, including the Latest Industry Insight's Evolution, Potential and COVID-19 Impact Analysis) 151 - Tables

70 - Charts

355 - Pages Report Coverage and Details:







Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $6.6 billion Market Size in 2032 $14.6 billion CAGR 8.3 % No. of Pages in Report 355 Segments covered Design IP, IP source, IP core, application, and region Drivers Increase in adoption of wireless technology-based devices Rise in demand for the modern system-on-chip (SoC) design Growing adoption of IoT and AI applications Opportunities Surge in demand for consumer electronics Technological advancement Restraints Intellectual property (IP)security concerns

The Processor IP segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. By design IP, the processor IP segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifth of the global semiconductor IP industry revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period, owing to rise in AI and edge computing applications. However, the memory IP segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 9.58% from 2023 to 2032 due to an increase in demand for this device in the automobile sector. The Royalty segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. By IP source, the royalty segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than half of the global semiconductor IP market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period, owing to increase in emphasis on complex and specialized IP blocks for applications such as artificial intelligence, edge computing, and high- performance computing. However, the licensing segment is projected to attain the highest CAGR of 8.94% from 2023 to 2032. Get Customized Reports with your Requirements: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/4643?reqfor=covid The Hard IP segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. By IP core, the hard IP segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly three-fifth of the global semiconductor IP market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period, owing increase in need for high-performance computing solutions, propelled by applications such as artificial intelligence, data centers, and scientific computing. The Others segment to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. By application, the others segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the global semiconductor IP market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period, owing to increase in demand for wearable health technology adoption and the growing emphasis on personalized medicine. However, the automotive segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 9.73% from 2023 to 2032. North America to maintain its dominance by 2032. Region-wise, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global semiconductor IP market revenue, owing to the proliferation of smart technologies and integration of semiconductor IPs in automotive applications such as ADAS and electric vehicles, which are fueling the growth of the market in this region. Key Industry Development: In November 2023 , Synopsys, Inc. launched RISC-V ARC-V Processor IP, enabling customers to choose from a broad range of flexible, extensible processor options that deliver optimal power-performance efficiency for their target applications.

, Synopsys, Inc. launched RISC-V ARC-V Processor IP, enabling customers to choose from a broad range of flexible, extensible processor options that deliver optimal power-performance efficiency for their target applications. In September 2023 , Synopsys, Inc. collaborated with Intel and achieved end-to-end 64 GT/s interoperability between Synopsys' IP for PCI Express (PCIe) 6.0 and Intel's PCIe 6.0-enabled test chip.

, Synopsys, Inc. collaborated with Intel and achieved end-to-end 64 GT/s interoperability between Synopsys' IP for PCI Express (PCIe) 6.0 and Intel's PCIe 6.0-enabled test chip. In February 2022 , Faraday Technology Corporation announced that it successfully delivered multiple Factory Automation ASIC projects mainly in the field of industrial IoT (IIoT). These designs include applications of industrial robots, PLC processors, controllers, and communication of industrial automation - implemented in 8" and 12" wafer process technologies. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4643 Leading Market Players: Frontgrade Gaisler

Faraday

Arm Limited.

Synopsys, Inc.

Arteris

CEVA Inc.

Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

ALPHAWAVE SEMI

VeriSilicon

Rambus Inc The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global Semiconductor IP market. These players have adopted different strategies such as product launch, product development, partnership, investment, acquisition, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Key Benefits For Stakeholders: This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the semiconductor IP market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing Semiconductor IP market opportunity.

Market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the semiconductor IP market forecast segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.

Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.

The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global semiconductor IP market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. Procure Complete Report (355 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/47QKJrM Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario): Semiconductor Market is Projected to Reach $1,033.5 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.21% from 2022 to 2031 RF Semiconductor Market is Estimated to Attain $39.6 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2022 to 2031 Opto Semiconductors Market is Anticipated to Grow $130.7 Billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2022 to 2031 Semiconductor Rectifiers Market is Expected to Garner $7.72 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2020 to 2027 Silicon Carbide Power Semiconductors Market is Projected to Hit $1,109 Million by 2025, registering a CAGR of 18.1% from 2018 to 2025 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 Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies, and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact:

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[November 30, 2023] GlobalSat Group Partners with Rivada to bring The OuterNET to Latin America Tweet

Next-Generation Network is Key for Mission-Critical Infrastructure Unique global data constellation using satellite-to-satellite laser links

Resilient and ultra-secure low latency network

Combining the speed of fiber with the reach of satellite MUNICH and BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globalsat Group a global provider of mission-critical satellite and wireless connectivity solutions is partnering with Rivada Space Networks to provide access to a unique next-generation data network for customers in the energy, government, NGO, agriculture, utilities and transportation sectors throughout the Americas and beyond. Globalsat is an industry leader in mobile and other satellite services providing specialized voice, data, M2M/IoT, software, and hardware throughout the Americas since 1999. Most customers use these services where life or infrastructure are at stake or exceptional circumstances when or where other connectivity networks cannot operate reliably or at all. The increasing demand for resilient connectivity is fast outpacing the current infrastructure used to carry it in terms of latency, bandwidth, speed and security. Rivada's global low-latency point-to-point connectivity network of 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the "OuterNET" is a unique next-generation architecture combing inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing that provide unique routing and switching capabilities to create an optical mesh network in space. This approach to "orbital networking," in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure satellite network with global coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over similar long distances. And by routing traffic on a physically separated network, it provides a layer of defense for any organization that needs to securely share data over a large distribution of sites. Globalsat Group will add Rivada's OuterNET seamless connectivity to its diverse roster of mission-critical solutions, as an option to ramp up performance and increase customer efficiency. This connectivity is particularly well suited to remote geographic installation use cases requiring real-time applications and monitoring regardless of location, when high bandwidth, redced latency and improved security are required.



"Globalsat CEO, Alberto Palacios, said: "Rivada's OuterNET will deliver ultra-secure and reliable connectivity anywhere in the world and is particularly relevant for business and government operations within our footprint. We are very excited with this partnership, which will allow our current and future customers to access the enormous improvements this unique LEO constellation will provide over legacy infrastructure, as we strive to develop new technologies and services that enhance our customers' experience and improve their ability to operate in remote and challenging environments." Declan Ganley, CEO, Rivada Space Networks, said: "We are delighted to be working with such an innovative company as Globalsat and honored to be chosen as their enterprise grade LEO operator for Latin America. The OuterNET, a completely new type of LEO constellation, allows satellites to go beyond their traditional role of 'gap-filler' and this fully inter-connected space network, independent of terrestrial infrastructure, is rapidly becoming the network of choice for resilient and secure communications."

Rivada's OuterNET will solve essential connectivity challenges and open up new opportunities for business communications globally. The first satellite launch is set for 2025, with global service starting in 2026. About Rivada Space Networks Rivada Space Networks GmbH is deploying the first true OuterNET a global low latency point-to-point connectivity network of LEO satellites. By connecting its satellites with lasers, Rivada Space Networks will provide resellers and B2B customers with the ability to securely connect any two points on the globe with low latency and high bandwidth. The constellations, comprising 600?low-earth-orbit communications satellites, will represent a fundamental change in the availability of secure, global, end-to-end enterprise-grade connectivity for Telecom, Enterprise, Maritime, Energy and Government Services markets. Rivada Space Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rivada Networks, Inc.?is www.rivadaspace.com Follow Rivada Space Networks on:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rivada-space/

Twitter: @rivadaspace Media Contacts

Melanie Dickie, SVP Marketing & Communication

Rivada Space Networks GmbH

Tel: +31 6 14 22 97 62

Email: [email protected]m Brian Carney, SVP Corporate Communications

Rivada Networks, Inc

Tel: +1 (207) 256-0386

Email: [email protected] About Globalsat Group Globalsat Group is the industry leader in mobile (MSS) and other satellite services, providing specialized voice, data, M2M/IoT, software, and hardware throughout the Americas since 1999. The multi-country organization delivers satellite telecommunications solutions for thousands of clients, through a flexible organizational structure, driven by broad and specific experience in multiple vertical markets such as energy, government, defense, media, mining, banking, agriculture, NGOs, and tourism. Most customers use these services in mission-critical applications where life or infrastructure are at stake, under extreme conditions or exceptional circumstances when or where other connectivity networks cannot operate reliably or at all. Globalsat is committed to leveraging satellite technology to address social and environmental challenges and promote sustainable development, as demonstrated by its recent MSUA Satellite Mobility Innovation Award in the Environment, Social, Governance (ESG), and Impact Innovation category. Globalsat Group is the vehicle for its partners and customers, providing regulatory compliance to accomplish market access across the Pan-American region, thus facilitating our partners and customers in conducting business in Latin America. We also offer a seamless logistics experience through our Distribution hub in Miami and our affiliated offices in the US, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru. Innovation is at the heart of our business. We constantly strive to develop new technologies and services that enhance our customers' experience and improve their ability to operate in remote and challenging environments. Our commitment to high performance drives us to deliver reliable and cost-effective services that exceed our customers' expectations. Globalsat is also the recipient of several industry awards, including the "Top Land Mobility Satcom Innovation Award" from the Mobile Satellite Services Users Association (MSUA). The company was named "Latin American Satellite Communications Company of the Year" in 2016, 2017, and 2020 by the renowned international consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, and Globalsat Group through its office in Brazil has received the Great Place To Work distinction for five years in a row, ranking among the top 120 companies in Brazil in 2022. As an industry leader in satellite communication solutions, Globalsat Group continues to innovate and provide reliable and cost-effective services to businesses and governments around the world. www.globalsat.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/globalsat-group-partners-with-rivada-to-bring-the-outernet-to-latin-america-302002226.html SOURCE Rivada Space Networks

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[November 30, 2023] ServicePoint Invests in INNO4 Tweet

INNO4 LLC ("INNO4" or the "Company"), a leading nationwide technology integrator and solutions provider, announced a strategic investment by ServicePoint, a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital LLC ("Mill Point"). INNO4 is focused on designing, installing and supporting custom technology solutions for large enterprise customers. The Company's solutions include data infrastructure, audio visual, IT services and managed services, while its core focus is on mission-critical systems for sophisticated facilities and technology rollouts. Key end markets include e-commerce & retail, healthcare, real estate, technology and financial services, among others. The Company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and operates throughout the United States. With a talented management team, including Co-Founders Robert Feldman, Mark Rauch and Paul Manibusan, INNO4 will continue to build upon its strong track record of growth and reliable customer service. In addition, the INNO4 investment immediately expands ServicePoint's geographical reach, service offering and ability to serve existing and new customers throughout the United States and Canada. Jose Bernal, Chief Executive Officer of ServicePoint commented, "The INNO4 team has built an incredible business with a 'customer-first' approach and a culture of operational excellence. With the addition of INNO4 to the ServicePoint platform, we continue to add to our suite of services and execute our overall growth strategy."



"Robert and his team have built a special platform in INNO4. We look forward to partnering with the entire team to continue the Company's track record of growth and world class service delivery. With this combination, ServicePoint will be one of the largest technology service businesses in North America," added Jeff Leventhal, Mill Point Executive Partner and Executive Chairman of ServicePoint.

"We have been extremely impressed by the entire INNO4 team and the strong foundation they have built. We are excited to have management continue in their roles and look forward to executing on the numerous growth opportunities and strategic initiatives ahead," said Brandon Sarno, Vice President at Mill Point. About INNO4 LLC Headquartered in Boston, MA, INNO4 is a leading technology integrator and solutions provider that focuses on data infrastructure, audio visual, IT services and managed services. Founded in 2010, INNO4 serves over 190 customers across various industries throughout the nation. For more information, please visit www.inno4llc.com. About Mill Point Capital LLC Mill Point Capital LLC is a private equity firm focused on control investments in lower-middle market companies in North America across the Business Services, Industrials and IT Services sectors. Mill Point's experienced team of investors and Executive Partners seek portfolio company value enhancement through rigorous implementation of transformative strategic initiatives and operational improvements. Mill Point is based in New York, NY. For more information, please visit www.millpoint.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130784306/en/

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[November 30, 2023] BroadRiver Completes Acquisition of Lombard International US & Bermuda Businesses Tweet

BroadRiver Asset Management, L.P. ("BroadRiver") announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the US & Bermuda businesses ("Lombard US/BDA") of Lombard International Group. Andrew Plevin, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BroadRiver, said: "This transaction is an outstanding opportunity for BroadRiver and its investors and an additional step in BroadRiver's strategic expansion into the insurance sector. We look forward to supporting the sustained development of Lombard US/BDA's position in specialty life insurance and variable annuity products." Following the acquisition, Michael Farrell, previously Chairman, President and CEO of MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Lombard US/BDA and Tom Considine, CEO of The National Conference of Insurance Legislators and former New Jersey Commissioner of Banking & Insurance, was elected Chair of Lombard US/BDA's Board. Charles Nachman will continue asPresident of the US business and Jennifer Titterton will be named President of the Bermuda business.



"Lombard US/BDA has long been the go-to solution in the specialty life and annuity business," said Farrell. "I am excited to be working closely with its executive team and with BroadRiver to further expand the company's product lines, distribution, and client services." "I'm looking forward to my role as Chair of the company's Board," Considine added. "Lombard US/BDA is an outstanding company, Mike Farrell will be an exceptional leader as CEO, and BroadRiver is the right sponsor to support the company's continued excellence."

Lombard US/BDA will be renamed as part of a corporate rebranding, details of which will be announced in the coming months. Henley Cay Capital acted as consultants to BroadRiver. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. About BroadRiver Asset Management, L.P. Founded in 2009 and based in New York, BroadRiver specializes in uncorrelated, alternative fixed-income strategies and insurance-related investments. About Lombard International US & Bermuda With over $12 billion of assets under administration as of June 2023, Lombard International's US and Bermuda business is a leading provider of private placement life insurance and annuities to individuals and institutions. The company employs over 100 people at offices in Philadelphia, New York, Bermuda, and Miami. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129295413/en/

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[November 30, 2023] MISRA C++ 2023 Release Reinforces Safety & Efficiency With Complete Support in Parasoft C/C++test Tweet

C & C++ Testing Solution Empowers Static Analysis & Boosts Productivity With MISRA C++ 2023 News Highlights The release of MISRA C++ 2023 provides 179 coding guidelines in support of C++17, allowing software development teams to meet coding standards with ease.

MISRA and AUTOSAR join forces to develop an up-to-date C++ coding standard.

Parasoft C/C++ 2023.2 upcoming release provides complete support for MISRA C++ 2023, enforcing compliance with static analysis. MONROVIA, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parasoft, a global leader in automated software testing solutions, today announced complete support for MISRA C++ 2023 with the upcoming release of Parasoft C/C++test 2023.2. Scheduled to be released in December 2023, Parasoft's fully integrated testing solution for C and C++ software development helps teams automate static analysis and coding standards compliance, increase productivity, and shorten time to market. Learn more about how Parasoft's solutions provide complete support for MISRA requirements. Parasoft contributed to the development of MISRA C++ 2023 at a critical time. MISRA and AUTOSAR joined forces to defne a single comprehensive C++ coding standard for the software community to leverage. MISRA C++ 2023 provides 179 coding guidelines in support of C++17, formally known as ISO/IEC 14882:2017.



This new standard is to be widely utilized for guidance and avoidance of all instances of undefined and unspecified behavior, with the intended goal to deliver safe, secure, and highly reliable C++17 software applications. "As an active member of the MISRA C++ and MISRA C Working Group, I'm very thrilled to have contributed to the development of the new MISRA C++ 2023 standard," said Michal Rozenau, MISRA Expert and Project Lead Software Engineer at Parasoft.

The C++ programming language, used internationally, is extensively flexible, and its potential for cross-platform compatibility makes it a popular choice for safety- and security-critical systems. However, legacy coding standards like MISRA C++ 2008 and AUTOSAR C++ 14 do not support new C++17 coding features and flag the code as nonconforming. Organizations having to suppress identified violations for C++17 features or having to create their own rules do not inspire safety or security in their applications, and in some cases, they prevent organizations from moving to C++17. With the announcement of MISRA C++ 2023, organizations can now use C++17 and the guidelines necessary to build high-quality C++ applications. Parasoft will continue to be part of MISRA's C and C++ working groups, contributing to the evolution of both MISRA C++ 2023 and MISRA C 2023. With Parasoft C/C++test 2023.2, users now have a solution that provides assurance that their C++17 code is safe, secure, reliable, and compliant with MISRA C++ 2023. Contact Parasoft for a briefing on the release of MISRA C++ 2023 with complete support in Parasoft C/C++test 2023.3. "MISRA", "MISRA C" and the triangle logo are registered trademarks of The MISRA Consortium Limited. The MISRA Consortium Limited, 2021. All rights reserved. About Parasoft Parasoft helps organizations continuously deliver high-quality software with its AI-powered software testing platform and automated test solutions. Supporting the embedded, enterprise, and IoT markets, Parasoft's proven technologies reduce the time, effort, and cost of delivering secure, reliable, and compliant software by integrating everything from deep code analysis and unit testing to web UI and API testing, plus service virtualization and complete code coverage, into the delivery pipeline. Bringing all this together, Parasoft's award-winning reporting and analytics dashboard provides a centralized view of quality, enabling organizations to deliver with confidence and succeed in today's most strategic ecosystems and development initiativessecurity, safety-critical, Agile, DevOps, and continuous testing. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/misra-c-2023-release-reinforces-safety--efficiency-with-complete-support-in-parasoft-cctest-302002067.html SOURCE Parasoft

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[November 30, 2023] AutoStore Founders Inducted Into International Logistics Hall Of Fame Tweet

NEDRE VATS, Norway, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoStore , a pioneering robotic technology company specializing in automated storage and retrieval systems, announces the induction of its founders, Jakob Hatteland and Ingvar Hognaland, into the Logistics Hall of Fame . The pair were recognized for having reinvented and commercialized warehousing with the AutoStore System. According to the organization, Hatteland and Hognaland were selected for developing one of the most important inventions in modern logistics, which is now a worldwide standard for efficient warehouses. They were officially inducted at the 2023 Logistics Hall of Fame Gala Reception in Berlin, Germany, on November 29.

A jury of 70 well-known figures from business, science, politics, and media representing 13 countries was responsible for selecting the AutoStore founders as the newest recipients of this prestigious honor. Hatteland and Hognaland join other illustrious Hall of Fame inductees such as Jeff Bezos, Henry Ford, and Frederick Smith, the founder of FedEx. Anita Wurmser, Executive Chairwoman of the Logistics Hall of Fame jury, explained the decision, "The induction of the two AutoStore founders into the Logistics Hall of Fame is overdue. Hognaland invented the automated cube warehouse and developed it into a perfect system that today has more than 1,600 patents. Hatteland will go down in logistics history because, on the one hand, he courageously believed in the success of the system for years and built up a network of selected internationaldistributors who made AutoStore a global bestseller.



Jakob Hatteland and Ingvar Hognaland founded AutoStore in 1996 in the small Norwegian fjord town of Vats after developing an idea to overcome warehouse space constraints. Hognaland came up with the concept of a standardized, automated, cube-based storage and retrieval system to reduce what his company was storing most of  air. Inspired by the Rubiks Cube, he developed a prototype utilizing a grid system with storage bins that could be retrieved with a robot and delivered to a waiting human at a workstation. The AutoStore System was born. Having seen the potential of the AutoStore System to revolutionize the storage and logistics business, Hatteland set about commercializing it in 2004. Through a lean partner-based go-to-market model, AutoStore began to make a mark on the logistics industry with customers recognizing its enormous potential to boost space, time, and cost efficiency in their operations. Today that mark is truly global with over 1,350 AutoStore systems installed for over 950 unique customers across 52 countries.

Mats Hovland Vikse, AutoStore CEO, reflected on the importance of such an honor for the AutoStore founders. Jakob and Ingvar are the epitome of inventors and pioneers. They took a problem and made it into a groundbreaking solution that changes the way we think about using the finite space we have. They represent a true founders mentality that continues to inspire and drive us as a company. While today we are a global company with over 900 employees working with the worlds biggest brands, we are still deeply connected to our roots and the problem-solving mentality inspired by Jakob and Ingvar. He added, I am incredibly proud to hear they have been honored with induction into the Logistics Hall of Fame. It serves as inspiration for all of us at AutoStore. Accompanying photos from the event can be found here . About AutoStore | www.autostoresystem.com

AutoStore, founded in 1996, is a technology company that develops order -fulfillment solutions to help businesses achieve efficiency gains within the storage and retrieval of goods. The company offers both hardware and software capabilities and the AutoStore technology is interoperable with other third -party solutions. AutoStore is global, with ~1,350 Systems in 52 countries. All sales are distributed, designed, installed, and serviced by a network of qualified system integrators referred to as "partners". AutoStore was founded in Nedre Vats, on the west coast of Norway. The company has offices in Norway, the U.S., UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Singapore, as well as assembly facilities in Poland. Media Contact

Georgia Cotterill, Communications Advisor

+47 94 85 29 85 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0ebb70c-a0af-4ec8-993b-455cc374b8fc



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[November 30, 2023] Beacon Global Strategies Adds Three Senior National Security Experts to Its Growing Team and Announces a Senior Executive Hire Tweet

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Global Strategies (BGS), a leading strategic advisory firm focusing on global public policy, government procurement, and geopolitical risk analysis, today announced it will be expanding its growing team by adding Mr. Andrew "Andy" G. Boyd, Dr. Seth Jones, and Ms. Elizabeth "Beth" Sizeland as Senior Advisors. In these roles, Mr. Boyd will leverage his decades of experience to support the firm's Intelligence Practice, Ms. Sizeland will contribute invaluable support to the Global Technology Policy Practice, and Dr. Jones will provide vital insight to BGS' Defense Practice. Additionally, BGS is pleased to announce Ms. Leyla Becker has joined BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). "We are thrilled to welcome Andy Boyd, Seth Jones and Beth Sizeland to the BGS team. Their distinguished careers in intelligence and defense will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities, reinforcing our commitment to delivering unparalleled strategic advisory services to our clients," said BGS Managing Director Jeremy Bash. "We are delighted to welcome Leyla as BGS' first Chief Human Resources Officer. Her extensive experience in human capital leadership and her approach to talent development align perfectly with our strategic goals and will make her a critical asset to our team," said BGS Managing Director Andrew Shapiro. Mr. Andy Boyd joins BGS as Senior Advisor. Mr. Boyd is a former Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) officer in the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Operations, where he held the role of Director for the CIA's Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI), responsible for addressing foreign cyber threats to U.S. interests. With a wealth of experience in global intelligence operations, cyber policy, and security practices, Andy is a recognized thought leader in the USG cyber and intelligence communities, specializing in cyber threats, covert action, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and strategic analysis. His extensive career also includes leading counterterrorism operations against global terror organizations, serving in challenging roles in the Middle East, and representing the CIA to foreign partners. Prior to his CIA service, Andy was a U.S. State Department Foreign Service Officer and a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer. He has a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.. in International Relations from Catholic University, and a M.S. in Strategic Policy from the National War College.



Dr. Seth Jones joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to his role at BGS, Dr. Jones serves as Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), overseeing a diverse portfolio of defense research and analysis with a focus on issues such as defense strategy, the defense industrial base, military posture, and irregular warfare. He has served in a range of positions within the U.S. Department of Defense, including roles in U.S. Special Operations Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Jones served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component CommandAfghanistan). He has served on Congressional Commissions, including the Afghanistan War Commission and the Independent Commission to Review the FBI's Post-9/11 Response to Terrorism and Radicalization. Dr. Jones is the author of several books, including "Three Dangerous Men: Russia, China, Iran, and the Rise of Irregular Warfare" (W.W. Norton, 2021). Prior to joining CSIS, he directed the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College with MA and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago, has contributed articles to prominent journals and publications, including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Ms. Beth Sizeland joins BGS as Senior Advisor. In addition to her role at BGS, Ms. Sizeland serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Centre for Security Studies. She has over two decades of national-security experience in the UK government, specializing in security strategy, countering state threats, investment security, cybersecurity, national resilience, serious and organized crime, counterterrorism, and crisis response. Ms. Sizeland previously served as the UK Joint Intelligence Organization attache in Washington, DC, and held key roles during her government service, including deputy national security adviser and adviser to the UK prime minister on intelligence, security, and resilience issues. Ms. Sizeland's diverse background includes positions as a director general at the UK Government Communications Headquarters, a director in the UK Home Office combating modern slavery, and a director for transport security at the UK Department for Transport. Her extensive career also involved contributions to the Cabinet Office Briefing Room and operational and analytical roles addressing various international issues.

Ms. Leyla Becker joins BGS as Chief Human Resources Officer. Ms. Becker brings over 25 years of human capital leadership experience to the team. She is known for placing talent at the core of business development strategy, having successfully expanded and optimized Human Resources (HR) operations in various federal government contracting firms, as well as commercial organizations. Ms. Becker's role at BGS involves shaping the multi-year staff development strategy and overseeing daily HR operations, leveraging her expertise in HR policy design, compensation planning, performance management, talent acquisition, compliance reporting, HRIS implementations, workflow reengineering, training, professional development, DE&I, and benefits negotiation. Prior to joining BGS, she contributed to the significant growth of federal IT services firm Tripoint Solutions and during her tenure at Delex Systems (now V2X), she created strategic enterprise capability through her leadership of talent acquisition, supporting national intelligence programs and led human capital transformation by launching technology to support enterprise growth. As a hands-on human capital advisor involved in business development, Ms. Becker has delivered proposal staffing strategies leading to $100M+ in federal contract awards and achieved substantial revenue gains and cost savings through innovative HR management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida. About Beacon Global Strategies:

Founded in 2013, Beacon Global Strategies is a strategic advisory firm specializing in foreign policy, defense, cyber, intelligence, and national security. Drawing on decades of service in the international security arena, Beacon develops and executes strategies that enable companies to achieve their business objectives around the world. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beacon-global-strategies-adds-three-senior-national-security-experts-to-its-growing-team-and-announces-a-senior-executive-hire-302002337.html SOURCE Beacon Global Strategies

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[November 30, 2023] Ariel Alternatives and My Code Announce Strategic Transaction Tweet

Private investment firm Ariel Alternatives, LLC ("Ariel Alternatives") and My Code ("the Company"), a leading multicultural media and marketing services company, today announced the completion of a strategic transaction. Ariel Alternatives' Project Black ("the Fund") has acquired a 58.5 percent stake in the Company from existing shareholders Falfurrias Capital Partners, My Code management and employees, and other investors, at an enterprise valuation of $400 million, based on current and future performance projections. The sellers will continue to own a minority interest in the Company. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129094551/en/ (Photo: Ariel Alternatives) Founded in 2015, My Code offers solutions to brands that meet the rapidly growing need for multicultural marketing, with a mission to build a future for media and advertising where everyone is authentically represented. Formerly known as H Code, the Company was initially created to provide offerings for advertisers to reach U.S. Hispanic consumers. Since its launch, My Code has expanded its products to address Black, AANHPI and LGBTQIA+ audiences, among others. The Company's network includes a deep collection of over 1,200 consumer media platforms that reach diverse audiences, in addition to owned and operated properties such as: 110-year-old El Diario, the U.S.'s oldest Spanish-language newspaper; Remezcla, one of the most influential digital media brands for the Latine community; and advertising-based video on demand platform Butaca TV. To date, My Code has helped brands invest over $250 million in advertising spend to reach multicultural audiences. This acquisition enables My Code to pursue future expansion through alignment with an investor that shares its mission. Ariel Alternatives is the private equity subsidiary of global asset manager Ariel Investments, LLC ("Ariel"), the first African American-owned mutual fund company in the United States. This transaction is the third of Ariel Alternatives' inaugural $1.45 billion fund, Project Black, which closed in February 2023. In the long term, Project Black intends to transform portfolio companies like My Code into certified minority business enterprises (MBEs)1 and position them as leading suppliers to Fortune 500 companies, fueling greater business diversity across the United States and beyond. In the near term, My Code expects to: Leverage Project Black's capital to invest in growth initiatives.

Benefit from Project Black's CPO Council, a group of Fortune 500 Chief Procurement Officers that provides data on supplier demand across sectors. The Council's insights, among others from Ariel's vast procurement network, will aid the investment team as it provides My Code with potential client introductions.

Welcome new directors to its board that bring critical and diverse expertise: Leslie A. Brun is Co-Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Alternatives and previous founder of Hamilton Lane, a leading global private markets investment management firm. e brings over four decades of financial expertise and an entrepreneurial spirit that will support My Code's growth ambitions. Eric Brice is a Senior Principal of Ariel Alternatives. He will leverage two decades of private equity, venture capital, and investment banking experience to partner with the My Code team on pursuing future add-on product portfolio acquisitions. Clara Fagan , CFA  , MBA is a Senior Vice President of Ariel Alternatives. She brings over a decade of expertise with an emphasis on private markets and impact investing, helping My Code ensure that its business strategy aligns with its social purpose.





Parker Morse, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of My Code, continued: "We are exceptionally proud of the partnerships My Code has built over the last eight years with the many brands, creators, and publishers who have put their trust in our Company. We are humbled that Ariel Alternatives sees our growth potential as well. With a new investment partner by our side, we look forward to working with both new and existing clients to help them understand, embrace, and reach the underrepresented communities driving economic growth in our country."

Alexander Jutkowitz, Executive in Residence at Falfurrias Capital, former Executive Chairman of My Code and current board member, concluded: "Falfurrias has been a proud partner to My Code during a period of growth these past few years, and we couldn't be more excited for this next part of the journey alongside Ariel Alternatives. Our new partners bring a passion for aiming to take companies to the next level and catalyze growth, and together we believe My Code has a tremendous opportunity to continue expanding its footprint at the intersection of profits and purpose. I'm enthusiastic to continue serving on My Code's board." Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor to Ariel Alternatives, and commercial and financial diligence were performed by McKinsey & Company and Deloitte LLP, respectively. Additional social impact diligence was conducted by Bridge House Advisors and Insight Sourcing Group on behalf of Ariel Alternatives. The Raine Group LLP served as financial advisor to My Code and Falfurrias Capital Partners, with Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. also advising. K&L Gates LLP served as legal advisor to My Code and Falfurrias Capital Partners, and Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to Parker Morse. About Ariel Alternatives, LLC Ariel Alternatives, LLC is a private asset management firm affiliated with Ariel Investments, LLC. It is an enterprise newly conceived for the times, built on a 40-year-old foundation. The firm's inaugural fund, Project Black, aims to scale sustainable minority-owned businesses to serve as leading vendors to Fortune 500 companies-supporting supply chain diversity. The Fund invests in businesses that are not currently minority-owned, as well as existing minority-owned businesses, forging a new class of Black and brown entrepreneurs. Through its portfolio companies, Project Black plans to close the racial wealth gap by aiming to generate jobs and economic growth within underrepresented communities. These impact initiatives include, but are not limited to: increasing the accessibility of products to underserved customers; the hiring of diverse people from the entry level to the boardroom; the purchasing of contracts with minority-owned vendors and suppliers; and philanthropic partnerships with organizations supporting civil rights. For more information, please visit www.arielalternatives.com. About Ariel Investments, LLC Ariel Investments, LLC is a global value-oriented asset management firm founded in 1983. Ariel is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, San Francisco and Sydney. As of September 30, 2023, Ariel's firm-wide assets under management totaled approximately $14.8 billion, which includes assets from Ariel Alternatives. Ariel serves individual and institutional investors through no-load mutual funds, collective investment trusts, private funds and separate account strategies. For more information, please visit www.arielinvestments.com. About My Code My Code is a modern media and marketing company built to help brands build lasting relationships with Hispanic, Black, AANHPI, and LGBTQIA+ consumers. Founded in 2015, My Code combines its first-party data, culturally nuanced insights, custom creative, community-centric media brands and unmatched distribution channels to deliver end-to-end multicultural marketing campaigns. Their diverse-first approach helps brands create and maintain relevance among America's fastest growing and most influential communities. My Code is majority-owned by Ariel Alternatives, LLC's Project Black. For more information, please visit www.mycodemedia.com. _______________________

1 This designation is subject to approval by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231129094551/en/

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[November 30, 2023] CDI Once Again Awarded CRN Triple Crown Award Tweet

CDI, a leading IT solutions provider, proudly announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named CDI as a 2023 Triple Crown Award winner. The Triple Crown Award is a coveted accolade exclusively for a select group of companies that earn a position on all three of CRN's prestigious solution provider award lists within a single calendar year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130064611/en/ CDI Once Again Awarded CRN Triple Crown Award (Graphic: Business Wire) This year marks the tenth anniversary of the CRN Triple Crown Award, which spotlights the top North American solution providers for displaying a tireless commitment to achieving high revenue, company growth, and unparalleled technical expertise within the IT channel. To qualify for the CRN Triple Crown Award, companies must attain a coveted spot on CRN's Solution Provider 500, a ranking of the largest IT solution providers by revenue in North America; the Fast Growth 150, a ranking of high-growth organizations in the channel; and the Tech Elite 25, which recognizes solution providers that have attained top-level certifications from leading technology vendors in the industry. Being chosen for even one of these prestigious lists is an honor worth celebrating but meriting a spot on all three lists in a single year demonstrates a rare combination of market leadership, sales acumen and technical prowess.



CDI continues to set the standard for IT solutions providers. Headquartered in New York City, and with offices across the country and internationally, CDI's influence and capabilities spans the entire IT gamut and has been implemented across every industry. The organization's portfolio consists of best-of-breed offerings covering Security, Application Modernization, Digital Workflow, Digital Workspace, Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure, and Intelligent Operations. Partnering with over 200 of the world's top technology companies, CDI is positioned unlike any other integrator to be able to outfit their clients with all tools needed for success in the digital world. "This is just a testament to how clients have reacted to the growth, both organically and through strategic combination, that CDI has had in the last few years," said Rich Falcone, CEO and President, CDI. "The customers simply have access to a wider service catalog and larger technical set of resources. CDI has kept pace with the increased IT complexity curve while others have fallen behind, and we are excited to continue this hybrid cloud digital transformation journey together with our partners and customers."

CDI was named a 2022 CRN Triple Crown Award winner. Blaine Raddon, the CEO of The Channel Company, expressed his excitement and congratulations to the top solution providers who have achieved the prestigious Triple Crown Award. "These providers have not only demonstrated exceptional revenue growth in North America but have also surpassed many other channel organizations in terms of their progress. They have successfully maintained and enhanced their technical skills, resulting in the highest level of service in the IT channel." Raddon emphasized that "this award represents the pinnacle of honor, recognizing truly extraordinary solution providers who consistently exceed expectations in their contributions to the channel and the industry's future through their unwavering dedication and expertise." This year's Triple Crown Award winners will be featured in the October 2023 issue of CRN and online here. About CDI (Computer Design & Integration LLC): CDI is a fearless force in the global technology landscape. Headquartered in New York City, we've expanded our network across the United States, Europe, and Asia, proving our expertise is as boundless as our reach. As pioneers in hybrid IT solutions, we merge innovation with unwavering commitment, providing top-tier technology to businesses of all sizes while transforming complex challenges into digital solutions. Take a closer look at the world of CDI by visiting us at cdillc.com or sending us an email at [email protected]. Join the ranks of IT trailblazers and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest IT news and solutions. CDI - we're not just predicting the future of IT, we're creating it. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130064611/en/

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Press Release

November 29, 2023 SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ORDER AND DANGEROUS DRUGS

STUDENT RADICALIZATION IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO THE LOCAL COMMUNIST TERRORIST GROUPS OPENING STATEMENT Ladies and gentlemen, again, magandang umaga. Jurisprudence provides that "as Parens Patriae, the State has the inherent right and duty to aid parents in the moral development of their children, and thus, assumes a supporting role for parents to fulfill their parental obligations." In line with the Parens Patriae doctrine, during the 18th Congress, this Committee submitted its report regarding the issue involving the "missing minors", who were recruited by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front or the CPA-NPA-NDF. We heard the plight of the parents of those missing minors, as well as the testimonies of those returning rebels. Through the heads of the relevant departments and offices, we were given a complete picture of the entire recruitment process and how the vulnerability of our youth was being exploited. Meanwhile, in 2020, the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was enacted which effectively repealed the Human Security Act of 2007. This landmark legislation marked a significant milestone in the government's commitment to strengthen national security and protect the citizenry from terrorisms. Sa kabila ng mga naging pagdinig patungkol sa missing minors at mga pag-rerecruit ng CPP-NPA-NDF at pagpasa ng bagong batas, nitong mga nakaraang araw, muling nakatanggap ang ating komite ng mga report hinggil sa pagpasok ng communist ideologies at recruitment efforts ng Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) sa loob ng mga eskwelahan. Just four days ago, while the Congress was hosting the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, it was reported that a former University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) student Jethro Isaac Ferrer who became a New People's Army (NPA) fighter was killed in an encounter with government troops in Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, authorities confirmed.[1] [Sa] mga sunod-sunod na report ng pagkamatay ng mga dating estudyante na naging miyembro ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa mga engkwentro laban sa gobyerno at patuloy na mga reports ng "radicalization" ng mga kabataan sa mga eskwelahan, minabuti ng komite na magpatawag ng pagdinig. This public hearing is called for, objectively: (1) to determine whether there was negligence on the part of schools, its administrators and teachers to exercise their special parental authority over the minor child under their supervision, instruction or custody; (2) to determine and address loopholes in the provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act and other relevant laws; and (3) to revisit our policies geared towards countering the radical ideologies which often prey on the discontent and frustrations of our young students. As we convene today, let us keep in mind our shared responsibilities to ensure that the laws and policies in place align with the principles of Parens Patriae. Let us proceed with a commitment to furthering the well-being of our youth. In the words of a former American President, "We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future." Daghang salamat. [1]https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1865051/ex-uplb-student-turned-npa-fighter-dies-in-oriental-mindoro-clash#ixzz8KLrF5yy


Every time they called me for the head count I wanted to die, says Mohamed Nizzal, an 18-year-old Palestinian who was released last Sunday after three months in an Israeli prison. He says he returned home with two broken fingers on his right hand but wasnt even given painkillers. They came to beat us with iron bars and I covered my head with my hands, he recalls of the count one day, on November 18. The testimony of Nizzal is one of those gathered by EL PAIS that shows the shock wave of the Hamas massacre of October 7 was immediately felt in the Israeli jails that house Palestinian prisoners.

Half a dozen prisoners released in recent days through the truce between Israel and Hamas agree  in a version not confirmed by the prison authorities  that conditions in the jails have become tougher since the current war began. They speak of beatings, overcrowded cells, humiliation, isolation from the outside world, and even smoke and pepper spray. Physical assaults have been reported by the released male prisoners. Female detainees have not said they suffered violence, but they also report a worsening in their treatment. Since the Hamas attacks on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead, they have been taking revenge on us. They used to treat us like normal prisoners, says Nizzal over the phone from his home in Qabatia, near Jenin in the northern West Bank. He had been held for three months under administrative detention  without charge or trial  in the Ktziot prison in the Negev desert.

This is not the case for Rawan Abu Zeyadeh, 29, who opens her eyes wide when she explains bluntly that she was sentenced to nine years for stabbing and wounding an Israeli soldier when she was 21. It was on her own initiative and happened on July 15, 2015, at the checkpoint that is permanently maintained by the Israeli army down the hill in front of her home in the West Bank village of Beitillu. That position is visible behind her as she conducts the interview. After the Hamas massacre, she explains that she was held for three days without a shower and the number of people in her cell rose from five to eight, meaning some prisoners had to sleep on the floor. The authorities at the Damun Prison in Haifa closed the commissary where they shopped, took away all electronic devices such as television, radio, and kettle, preventing them from cooking. Nor could they go out for walks during breaks and some remained in solitary confinement until the day of their release, says Zedayeh, who wears the traditional Palestinian kefiya around her shoulders, with her father at her side, listening attentively.

Mohamed Nizzal, an 18-year-old Palestinian, was released on Monday from an Israeli prison through the truce, with two broken fingers, as he told EL PAIS. FADEL SENNA (AFP)

Azhar Assaf, 25, provides a similar description of conditions in Damun since October 7 from her home in Al Jeeb, in the West Bank. She was released last Friday in the first exchange carried out under the truce and she admits that when they saw news of the Hamas attack on television, they began to celebrate. The female prison officials, she says, then stormed the cell and over the past few weeks have used smoke and pepper spray canisters against those who, like Assaf herself, protested. In her cell, she adds, the number of inmates rose from three to nine.

She had been in jail for 14 months after being arrested on September 11, 2022, allegedly for trying to attack soldiers with a knife at a checkpoint near her home, at one of the crossing points from Jerusalem to the occupied West Bank. Her mother, Libia Othman, a Peruvian-born 50-year-old, denies that her daughter was armed and insists that there has not even been a trial. That day, in the morning, she was called on the phone: Your daughter was planning to carry out an operation, but the [Israeli] shot missed her, she recounts.

Omar al-Atshan, 19, makes no secret of the fact that one day in early 2022 he and six other Palestinians attacked members of the Israeli occupation forces near Ramallah with a pistol. He believes that being sentenced to three years as a minor has allowed him to benefit from the pact between Hamas and Israel. On October 7, we saw what was happening on TV, but within 30 minutes they turned it off. They began to storm the cells, to beat us and humiliate us, he says in the living room of his home, where, like a prodigal son, he keeps receiving visitors. The next day, he continues, the officials took away the TV and all other electronic devices. Three days later, they took away clothes and left prisoners with only one spare set. Until October 7, they treated us like normal prisoners, he says.

Azhar Assaf, a 25-year-old Palestinian prisoner released by Israel, with her mother Libia Othman in her home in the West Bank town of El Jeeb. LUIS DE VEGA

15 prisoners in one cell

In his cell in Ktziot, he says, the number of prisoners grew from four to 15, divided between two bunk beds and mattresses on the floor. Most of the assaults, he recalls, occurred during counts, which took place at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6 p.m. They would enter the cell and beat us with truncheons. They also assaulted us when we were transferred from one wing to another and insulted us in Arabic and Hebrew, al-Ashtan says, as he tries to retrieve, with the help of his brother, the passwords to his Facebook and Instagram profiles.

On the street leading to the family apartment in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the West Bank, hang Fatah banners (the majority party in the Palestinian National Authority). There are posters bearing the young mans face and even two banners on which he appears next to the late former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Fatah sends warm congratulations and best wishes to Omar al-Ashtan after his release from the occupiers prisons, it reads. The young man is thankful to Hamas for his return home, but he remains loyal to Fatah. His father expresses similar sentiments but he does not hide the fact that with the October 7 attacks Hamas has made us raise our faces in front of the whole world. No one cares about our prisoners, only Hamas. That is why, on Sunday, when his son was released, he decorated his car with the green flag with which the jihadist militia is identified.

Omar al-Atshan at his home in Ramallah on Tuesday. LUIS DE VEGA

In the family there are four sisters, one of whom died after being run over, and four brothers. All the boys have been in prison, says the father, Emad al-Ashtan, who has also spent some time behind bars. He defends the soldier against soldier attack carried out by the youngest of his sons and says, referring to Israel, that everything that was taken from us by force will only be recovered by force. Negotiation has never brought anything.

Rawan Abu Zeyadeh, who entered prison at the age of 21, also comes from a large family. She is the eighth of 12 siblings. She has been studying social work with the help of other inmates and hopes to graduate from Al-Quds Open University next month. Its facilities in Gaza have been attacked and used as a military outpost in Israels occupation of the Strip, according to the institutions website. Zedayeh, who had seven and a half months left to serve of her nine-year sentence, says she now sees the reality around her differently and seeks solutions in a different way than she did when she was young. She prefers not to answer, however, whether she would commit a stabbing like the one in the summer of 2015 again. Through the door of the family home, the Israeli military post can still be seen some 200 meters away.

Emad al-Atshan at the door of his home in Ramallah next to posters of his son Omar, a 19-year-old Palestinian prisoner released on Sunday by Israel. LUIS DE VEGA
[November 30, 2023] American National Bank of Texas Provides $275K to Support Affordable Housing and Community Development Efforts in Southern Dallas County Tweet

American National Bank of Texas (ANBTX) has donated $275,000 to four local organizations to assist with their revitalization efforts in Southern Dallas County. This continues the Bank's commitment to serve North Texas, local communities, and underrepresented markets through affordable housing and financial education. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130062019/en/ ANBTX made the following donations: $100,000 to Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation (Builders of Hope CDC) to help construct and preserve quality affordable housing units, cultivate public policy, and create opportunities for long-term economic mobility.

$100,000 to South Dallas Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation (ICDC) to provide homeownership opportunities, job training, community education, and advocacy to South Dallas/Fair Park residents.

$50,000 to Harmony Community Development Corporation (Harmony CDC) to revitalize neighborhoods in Southern Dallas County through community-driven and solution-based initiatives.

$25,000 to SouthFair Community Development Corporation (SouthFair CDC) to create a stable, safe and vibrant community for low- and moderate-income families with sustainable multifamily and single-family housing. /li>



James Armstrong, president and CEO of Builders of Hope Community Development Corporation, said ANBTX is igniting long-term neighborhood revitalization.

"As an organization committed to promoting affordable housing and community transformation initiatives in Southern Dallas County, we depend on support from organizations like American National Bank of Texas, and we're very thankful for this investment," Armstrong said. "Together, we'll use these funds to fuel our mission of bringing wealth, economic mobility and hope to individuals and families in our community." In addition to these charitable donations, ANBTX hosted its final Homebuyer Education Series seminar of the year to help buyers with both the education and the resources to assist them throughout the mortgage process. The seminar series will continue with events announced in 2024. ABOUT AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK OF TEXAS American National Bank of Texas, founded in 1875 in Terrell, Texas, is an independently owned bank with assets over $5.5 billion and 30 locations throughout North Texas, serving Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Van Zandt Counties. As a community bank, American National Bank of Texas offers traditional banking products and services to individuals, businesses and municipal governments, as well as individual and corporate trust, investment and estate planning services through their Wealth Management Group. ANBTX has consistently been ranked one of the Top Workplaces DFW by The Dallas Morning News. Visit American National Bank of Texas online at www.anbtx.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #445248 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130062019/en/

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[November 30, 2023] CyberLink FaceMe Security Integrates with Genetec Security Center to Enhance Investigations and Secure Access Control with AI Facial Recognition Tweet

CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), a pioneer in AI and facial recognition technology, today announces FaceMe Security certified integration with Genetec Security Center unified security platform. With the incorporation of FaceMe Security's AI facial recognition, Genetec Security Center users can painlessly upgrade existing smart security and access control infrastructure with detection of blocklisted individuals, real-time alerts, employee access control capabilities, and optimized facial search, which can lead to faster video investigations. Genetec Security Center's ecosystem was built to manage security policies, monitor events, and run investigations. By combining video surveillance and access control functionalities in one interface, Genetec expanded their customers' ability to have real-time monitoring for the prevention of security breaches. Using an extensive SDK, it accommodates new data types seamlessly in one integration, making it possible to easily integrate new technologies, like CyberLink's AI facial recognition engine, FaceMe. The integration of FaceMe Security upgrades and empowers existing Genetec security surveillance systems with AI video analytics and facial recognition. By fully leveraging new computing capabilities of IP cameras with AI, optimal synergy between software and hardware can be achieved, helping reduce total cost of ownership. Users also benefit from leading facial recognition technology, that boasts an impressive accuracy rate of 99.83%, top ranked in 1:1 and 1:N evaluations, as validated by NIST. FaceMe Security makes it simple and efficient to add facial recognition access control. When a person's face is verified, FaceMe Security can send real-time push notifications to Genetec Security Center, which then allows or denies entry based on preset permission settings. With 24/7 surveillance monitoring and AI facial recognition, you can always know who has entered and exited the building. Additionally, FaceMe Security's ability to enhance investigative capabilities is made possible with the FaceMe Locator plug-in, in conjunction with Geetec Security Center's Visual Tracking function. Instead of the days, weeks, or even months it may take personnel to complete manual investigations, FaceMe Locator dramatically reduces search time, improving safety and security.



The FaceMe Locator plug-in for Genetec enables users to search by face. Using a facial image of the person of interest and filtering for date and time of the event, FaceMe Locator will list all events where that person was recorded and provide corresponding video playback. A facial image can be provided in 3 ways: via an uploaded image, a face cropped from a recorded video, or a face cropped from a live video stream. Once a person is found, Genetec's Visual Tracking feature is utilized to track their path from one camera to the next. "CyberLink is excited that our certified integration with Genetec provides Security Center users with the ability to easily run the most advanced AI-based facial recognition algorithms on a unified security platform, enabling efficiency and capability gains directly within the Genetec Security Center interface," said Dr. Jau Huang, Chairman and CEO of CyberLink.

To learn more about the integration of FaceMe Security & Genetec Security Center, please visit https://www.cyberlink.com/faceme/solution/security/vms/Genetec-Security-Center About Genetec Genetec Inc. is a global technology company that has been transforming the physical security industry for over 25 years. Today, the company develops solutions designed to improve security, intelligence, and operations for enterprises, governments, and the communities in which we live. Its flagship product, Security Center, is an open-architecture platform that unifies IP-based video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), communications, and analytics. Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its customers via an extensive network of certified channel partners and consultants in over 159 countries. About CyberLink Founded in 1996, CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW) is the world leader in multimedia software and AI facial recognition technology. CyberLink addresses the demands of consumer, commercial and education markets through a wide range of solutions, covering digital content creation, multimedia playback, video conferencing, live casting, mobile applications and AI facial recognition. CyberLink has shipped several hundred million copies of its multimedia software and apps, including the award-winning PowerDirector, PhotoDirector, and PowerDVD. With years of research in the fields of artificial intelligence and facial recognition, CyberLink has developed the FaceMe Facial Recognition Engine. Powered by deep learning algorithms, FaceMe delivers the reliable, high-precision, and real-time facial recognition that is critical to AIoT applications such as smart retail, smart security, and surveillance, smart city and smart home. For more information about CyberLink, please visit the official website at www.cyberlink.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130455398/en/

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[November 30, 2023] TOYO Corporation Acquires Leading European Dynamometer Manufacturer Rototest Tweet

TOYO Corporation (TOYO), a leading provider of advanced measurement solutions and Rototest International AB (Rototest), a global innovator in the development of hub-coupled powertrain dynamometers, today announced that TOYO has acquired Rototest on November 30, 2023, Japan time. Henceforth, Rototest, headquartered in Ronninge, Sweden, will operate as a subsidiary of TOYO. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130467255/en/ Diagram of TOYO's DMTS with Rototest Dynamometers (Photo: Business Wire) An automotive powertrain dynamometer is a testing apparatus used to measure and record mechanical parameters, such as power, torque, and speed, at an automobile's drive wheels. According to the analyst firm IndustryARC, the global market size for automotive dynamometers was projected to be USD $928.1 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD $1161.5 million by 2027. Key factors driving the market demand include the rapid and transformative innovations in the domains of electric vehicles (EV), autonomous driving (AD), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and connected cars. ADAS, AD and other newer automotive innovations are technological marvels, but they pose significant challenges in terms of development and testing. Modern approaches, such as model-based development (MBD), have been adopted to address many of these challenges. MBD involves designing and developing components and entire vehicles through computer-based simulations. The industry also employs a process known as Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing, where thorough simulations involving actual hardware components are conducted to further support testing demands. In 2016 TOYO forged a partnership with Rototest to introduce their hub-coupled dynamometers to the Japanese automotive market. The solution gained widespread acceptance due to its short setup time, user-friendly design, and portability. Since then, TOYO has expanded its dynamometer offerings by integrating them with radar and camera simulators, among other components, resulting in the creation of the Driving & Motion Test System (DMTS). This integrated system plays a crucial role in accelerating the automotive development cycle, allowing for the evaluation of diverse functions, and facilitating simulated indoor testing that accurately mirrors real-world conditions.



In December 2023, TOYO is set to deliver a DMTS to the Japan Automobile Research Institute to support their HIL testing needs. On the other side of the world, TOYOTech, TOYO's US subsidiary, has been awarded an order for two Rototest dynamometer systems from a major automaker to accelerate their EV initiatives. TOYO has undertaken the development of a Vehicle-in-the-Loop (VIL) solution anchored by Rototest dynamometers. VIL testing is an approach that bridges the gap between software and hardware simulations and full road testing. It involves conducting comprehensive and complex simulations using real vehicles for testing and complements existing HILS tests. This represents the final testing step that can take place in a lab setting.

Christian Engstrom, Rototest's CEO, expressed, "TOYO acquiring Rototest marks a significant milestone for the company. With TOYO, Rototest is poised to enhance its ability to provide innovative automotive test solutions to an even broader array of the world's leading manufacturers." About TOYO Corporation Founded in 1953, TOYO Corporation (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan) contributes to technological innovations as a leading provider of advanced measurement solutions. Through its variety of business segments - ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), Automobiles, Energy, EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility), Ocean Defense and Security, Software Development, Life Science, and Information Security, the company is focused on providing solutions to emerging markets such as 5G network, clean energy, autonomous vehicle development. TOYO also makes significant R&D investments to develop in-house technologies and products. Its growth strategies include developing its market presence in the United States and China and TOYO has established subsidiaries in both of these important markets. By making available the most advanced market-based solutions, TOYO is at the forefront of helping to shape a safe and environmentally friendly society and develop industries. For more information, please visit the company's website at https://www.toyo.co.jp/english About Rototest Rototest, a Swedish technology company founded in 1988, pioneered the market by introducing the world's first hub-coupled dynamometer (patented). Since then, Rototest has evolved into a test system supplier with a reputation and quality recognized by its eminent customers. Today the company specializes in advanced high-dynamic hub-coupled dynamometers for a wide range of automotive applications. Rototest's customers can be found amongst OEMs, Tier1 & 2 suppliers, research organizations and universities. www.rototest.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130467255/en/

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[November 30, 2023] How Organizations Can Avoid Layoffs With a People-First Approach: Research From HR Firm McLean & Company Tweet

As a significant number of organizations announce layoffs and restructurings, McLean & Company, the global HR research and advisory firm, suggests for those evaluating the same path to instead consider reskilling and redeployment where possible. TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - As signs continue to point toward an economic downturn, organizations across all industries are reevaluating resource allocation and cost-saving measures. With announcements of layoffs and downsizing becoming increasingly regular, global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company has compiled a collection of its key pieces of talent management research to support employers seeking the best people-first, cost-saving solutions for their unique organizational needs, notably as we approach the holiday season. "During times of crisis, such as during periods of economic uncertainty, layoffs are often the first tactic organizations turn to when prioritizing cost-saving measures," says Karen Mann, senior vice president of HR Research, Learning & Advisory Services at McLean & Company. "However, there are avenues that can support cutting costs while positioning the organization to return to normal once the crisis passes, including redeployment and reskilling employees. These approaches serve not only to help the company pivot back to full functionality when the time requires but also to preserve employee relationships and the employer brand." Redeploying and reskilling employees can seem daunting or overwhelming for organizations experiencing an economic impact on their bottom lines. For HR teams to support organizations in navigating and overcoming these challenges, the Redeploy Your Workforce During a Crisis blueprint from McLean & Company features an easy-to-follow three-step roadma for redeployment, as outlined below:



1. Meet with leadership  In this step, it is imperative to identify which employee segments or departments are being underused and which need additional resources. This can be done through the three key components of planning for cost-cutting: a. Create a policy. The first step in workforce cost mitigation involves setting a clear direction. Leaders need to create a policy outlining the steps involved in cost-cutting.

b. Investigate options. Leaders can then investigate all cost-cutting options and determine which is the most fitting for the organization. c. Cost out cuts. As a result, leaders will be equipped to create a plan for ensuring that they mitigate costs in the best and most viable way for the organization. 2. Plan individual and department redeployment  The second step includes identifying employees that need to be redeployed and whether their skills may be leveraged in other organizational areas, and more. 3. Monitor and manage departmental effectiveness  To properly monitor departmental performance, leaders must review key metrics by department, determine the impacts of redeployment and layoffs if required, and categorize departments based on performance. Additional components of each step, including a full breakdown of the process, are available in the firm's research blueprint. McLean & Company acknowledges that there are situations in which layoffs are the only clear path forward for an organization. When this is the case, leading with empathy is critical to maintaining mutual goodwill and supporting both short- and long-term organizational goals. This is especially important to consider during the holiday season, when additional stress, pressure, and burnout are likely already running high. Supporting research from McLean & Company also includes a guide to enable HR support for retained employees post-layoff, which identifies key responsibilities for HR and people managers, such as training and support for managers, practicing active listening, mitigating burnout, and developing retained employees to close skills gaps. The firm's research resources include a detailed breakdown of all steps and responsibilities as well as unique, evidence-based insights and supporting tools. Regardless of the solution, the research bundle from McLean & Company offers tactical guidance HR and organizational leaders can follow to support organizations and employees during a turbulent economic period. As the trusted partner of HR leaders around the world, McLean & Company's mission is to enable workplaces where everyone thrives. As such, McLean & Company is committed to supporting HR in making sound, data-backed decisions that support the broader organization's success and longevity, while also prioritizing what HR is truly all about: an organization's people. In addition to industry resources, McLean & Company also offers workshops to HR professionals to support them in program building and navigating other nuances of their roles. For more information, please visit mcleanco.com/workshops. Media interested in connecting with McLean & Company analysts for exclusive, research-backed insights and commentary on implementing redeployment and reskilling amid a recession, generative AI in HR, the future of work, and more can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at [email protected]. About McLean & Company Through data-driven insights and proven best-practice methodologies, McLean & Company offers comprehensive resources and full-service assessments, action plans, and training to position organizations to meet today's needs and prepare for the future. McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group. Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and over 200 industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/how-organizations-can-avoid-layoffs-with-a-people-first-approach-research-from-hr-firm-mclean--company-302002415.html SOURCE McLean & Company

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[November 30, 2023] New Energy Collaborative Aims to Accelerate Creation of Low-Carbon Energy Access in Asia-Pacific for the Semiconductor Climate Consortium Tweet

Energy Collaborative to highlight initial sponsors, partners and mission at COP28 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ -- Aiming to reduce global semiconductor ecosystem carbon emissions, SEMI and the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) have created the Energy Collaborative (EC) to understand and clear roadblocks to the installation of low-carbon energy sources in the Asia-Pacific region. The EC, a collective of industry leaders, will provide a consolidated view of priorities for low-carbon energy in the region. "Sharing resources to start this foundational semiconductor industry sustainability work now is important to enable wider access to low-carbon energy in the next five to ten years," stated Young Bae, SCC Governing Council member and sponsor for the SCC Scope 2 Working Group, and Global Business Director, Advanced Cleans Technologies at DuPont. "One of the key action areas the SCC has identified is the lack of low-carbon energy plans and actions in the Asia-Pacific region. The EC will help the SCC by accelerating investments to broaden access." The EC sponsoring companies will anchor the collective's work to engage in roundtables and fact-finding sessions. Initial sponsors include:







 Applied Materials  Lam Research  AMD  Macquarie Group  ASE  Samsung Electronics  ASML  TotalEnergies  JSR  TSMC

McKinsey & Company is a Knowledge Partner to the initiative, providing fact-based analysis and support. "The semiconductor value chain and its downstream partners and customers have a pivotal role to play in the acceleration of low-carbon energy installations, due to their scale in high-priority markets and the extent to which they will drive growth in future energy demands," stated Ajit Manocha, President and CEO of SEMI. "To reach the emissions reductions goals of the sector, a step function change in ambition and action is required. The EC is focused on that goal  increasing the pace and scaling of access to low-carbon energy." A recent SCC report found that the semiconductor value chain is a significant consumer of energy in almost all key Asian markets. Additionally, a recent analysis by McKinsey & Company1 shows that even with major semiconductor companies' latest commitments, which are more stringent than past measures, the industry is not on track to limit emissions to the extent required under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The analysis finds that both individual and collective actions by semiconductor players can help the entire industry increase its sustainability effort and meet the 1.5C challenge. SEMI representatives will host a special session on December 2 in the Green Zone at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. For more information, contact Heidi Hoffman of SEMI at [email protected]. SEMI welcomes additional sponsors and partners of the Energy Collaborative. To join the collaborative or learn more, contact [email protected] . About the Semiconductor Climate Consortium Focused on overcoming emissions challenges facing the semiconductor value chain, the Semiconductor Climate Consortium (SCC) was formed based on the principles of collaboration, ambition and transparency. SCC working groups are working to establish more accurate emissions reporting, measure the value chain's progress and accelerate the development of sustainability solutions. An outgrowth of the SEMI Sustainability Initiative, the SCC has more than 90 members. About SEMI SEMI connects 3,000 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) and SOI Consortium are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities. Visit www.semi.org , contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter ) to learn more. Association Contact Michael Hall/SEMI

Phone: 1.408.943.7988

Email: [email protected] 1 https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/semiconductors/our-insights/keeping-the-semiconductor-industry-on-the-path-to-net-zero View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-energy-collaborative-aims-to-accelerate-creation-of-low-carbon-energy-access-in-asia-pacific-for-the-semiconductor-climate-consortium-302002438.html SOURCE SEMI

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Clear Ridge Defense Awarded Prime Contract to Support CYBERCOM's J7 Cyber Adversary Tactics Office

Clear Ridge Defense CRD recently announced their award of a prime contract to support U.S. Cyber Command's Exercise and Training Directorate J7, Cyber Adversary Tactics Office CATO. The contract's total value if all options are awarded could total approximately $25 million.

CATO is regarded as a highly technical, outstandingly capable team that conducts cyber threat emulation to ensure CYBERCOM's Cyber Mission Forces CMF are well-trained to counter advanced and persistent threats to our nation and allies. Under this contract, CRD will provide CATO with a range of services including red team operations, cyber threat emulation, infrastructure engineering, exercise scenario development, adversary threat assessment, and training support.

"We are genuinely honored to partner with CYBERCOM J7 to support thisimportant mission," said Jeffrey Bullock, CEO of Clear Ridge Defense. "What's great about this mission is not only does it evolve the CMF, but it's exciting and challenging work! The team goes home every day proud of how they've further developed the cyber warfighter alongside the Government team."







This contract award also serves as CRD's first prime contract from the U.S. Government, establishing a path to further growth as a company with past performance as a prime contractor on highly technical, cleared work.

About Clear Ridge Defense, LLC

Clear Ridge Defense is a Baltimore, MD defense contractor providing specialized cyber capability and mission support services to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and commercial clients since 2015. Our key clients span Maryland, Virginia, California, and South Carolina. Visit www.clridge.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130244595/en/
[November 30, 2023] IDEMIA provides INTERPOL with an enhanced Multibiometric Identification System to support its 196 member countries Tweet

Building on a partnership of over 20 years with IDEMIA, the global leader in identity technologies, INTERPOL has taken the next step to combat international crime alongside its member countries.

IDEMIA is supplying a state-of-the-art fingerprint and facial recognition system that can rapidly identify potential Persons of Interest (POIs) for police investigations (phase 1) and border control needs (phase 2).

IDEMIA's latest Multibiometric Identification System (MBIS), MBIS 5, incorporates enhanced capabilities such as a higher matching accuracy rate and more user-friendly interfaces. RESTON, Va., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- INTERPOL, the world's largest international police organization announces the launch of its enhanced BioHUB, powered by IDEMIA's newest Multibiometric Identification System (MBIS). Cutting-edge technology to help law enforcement worldwide This latest version, MBIS 5, integrates new generation algorithms which provide a higher matching accuracy rate with a shorter response time and a more user-friendly interface. The first phase of its deployment to enhance the identification of potential Persons of Interest (POIs) for police investigations has already been operational since October 2023. The second phase, which will be rolled out over the next two years, will extend this tool to border control points. The system will then be able to perform up to 1 million forensic searches per day, including fingerprints, palm prints and portraits, making it the top performing automated biometric identification system on the market. IDEMIA's commitment to excellence is reflected in its consistently top-ranked identity and security technologies. IDEMIA still leads the biometric tech race covering iris, fingerprint and face recognition. NIST's (National Institute of Standards and Technology) latest test results underscore IDEMIA's outstanding expertise and solutions combining efficiency, accuracy and equity. 1 >



INTERPOL, creating a safer world INTERPOL currently has 196 member countries and enables law enforcement agencies from around the world to work together to make the world a safer place. INTERPOL's high-tech infrastructure of technical and operational support helps meet the growing challenge of combating crime in the 21st century.

Facial recognition is an important and rapidly evolving technology that has opened up many new opportunities to identify individuals and solve crimes. In 2016, INTERPOL opted for IDEMIA's advanced facial recognition capabilities to create the INTERPOL Face Recognition System (IFRS). The IFRS contains face images from more than 170 countries, and since its launch, thousands of terrorists, criminals, fugitives, POIs, and missing persons have been identified. In 2019, INTERPOL renewed its contract with IDEMIA to upgrade the current system and transform it into a Multibiometric Identification System (MBIS). A longstanding collaboration IDEMIA and INTERPOL first began their collaboration in 1999, when IDEMIA delivered the original Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The AFIS was designed to make cooperation easier between police forces from member countries by giving them access to global police tools and services, namely forensics, fingerprint evidence and the exchange of forensic data to support international investigations. Through AFIS, authorized users in member countries can view, submit, and cross-check these records using INTERPOL's secure global police communications network. "In the same way that criminals use ever more innovative and sophisticated ways to avoid detection, law enforcement must also leverage the latest advances in technology, especially in biometric security, to better combat all forms of transnational crime. INTERPOL's enhanced partnership with IDEMIA will further help our member countries better protect their borders and communities," explains Cyril Gout, INTERPOL's Director of Operational Support and Analysis. "IDEMIA is proud to be collaborating with INTERPOL again and to continue making the world a safer place for all. This project reinforces our longstanding partnership with INTERPOL, which has been going strong for over 20 years. With the delivery of the new MBIS, developed thanks to our strong dedication to R&D, INTERPOL will have access to cutting-edge fingerprint, palm print and face identification technologies, enabling it and member countries to identify persons of interest faster than ever before. We look forward to many more years of supporting INTERPOL to ensure the safety of potentially billions of citizens around the world," explains Matt Cole, Group Executive Vice President, Public Security and Identity at IDEMIA. About IDEMIA

As the leader in identity technologies, IDEMIA's mission is to unlock the world, make it saferbacked by cutting-edge R&D and a long-standing expertise in biometrics and cryptography. IDEMIA develops technologies of excellence that are unique in the world, with an impactful, ethical, and socially responsible approach. IDEMIA unlocks simpler and safer ways to pay, connect, access, identify, travel, and protect public places. Every day, IDEMIA secures billions of interactions across the physical and digital worlds. With nearly 15,000 employees, IDEMIA is trusted by over 600 governmental organizations and more than 2,300 enterprises spread over 180 countries. 1 IDEMIA's iris recognition algorithm came in top of the latest NIST Iris Exchange (IREX 10) ranking. IDEMIA's fingerprint template generator algorithm was placed top in the NIST Minutiae Interoperability Exchange (MINEX III) ranking. And IDEMIA's facial recognition technology yet again came first among the Face Recognition Vendor Test's (FRVT) 100 most accurate algorithms in flagging up false face matches. Media contacts:

Genevieve de Vera

IDEMIA

(978) 808-7047

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idemia-provides-interpol-with-an-enhanced-multibiometric-identification-system-to-support-its-196-member-countries-302002472.html SOURCE IDEMIA

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[November 30, 2023] CIRO Hearing Panel issues Reasons for Decision in the matter of Gravitas Securities and Blayne Creed Tweet

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Following a settlement hearing held on October 3, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario, a hearing panel of the Investment Dealer Division of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) found that Gravitas Securities failed to have and maintain risk adjusted capital greater than zero and Blayne Creed, Ultimate Designated Person of Gravitas Securities, failed to promote compliance by Gravitas Securities with the rules by agreeing to participate in a bought deal financing, which resulted in Gravitas Securities' capital deficiency. The hearing panel's reasons for decision, dated October 24, 2023, are available at: Re Gravitas Securities and Blayne Creed 2023 CIRO 30 In its reasons for decision, the hearing panel confirmed the sanctions imposed on the Respondents. In particular, Gravitas Securities agreed to: a) disgorge its portion of the commissions from the financing in the amount of $38,834.40. Blayne Creed agreed to: a) disgorge his portion of the commissions from the financing in the amount of $38,834.40; b) a fine of $40,000; and c) a prohibition on his approvl in the category of Ultimate Designated Person for a period of one year.



Mr. Creed also agreed to pay costs in the amount of $15,000. The violations occurred while Blayne Creed was a Registered Representative, Ultimate Designated Person, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Gravitas Securities Inc. Gravitas Securities Inc. has been a Dealer Member since 2008. In June 2023, its membership with CIRO was suspended per Re Gravitas 2023 CIRO 02.

All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms and individual registrants is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website for investment dealer disciplinary proceedings and the MFDA website for mutual fund dealer disciplinary proceedings. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by CIRO-regulated firms (Investment Dealer Division) is available free of charge through the AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1-877-442-4322. CIRO investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in sanctions including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms. The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada's debt and equity marketplaces. CIRO is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians' trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit www.ciro.ca. SOURCE Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)

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[November 30, 2023] Navajo Transitional Energy Company Announces 2024 Community Benefit Fund Award Winners Tweet

Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) is proud to announce the 2024 Community Benefit Fund (CBF) Award Winners. Non-profit organizations that provide services to the Navajo community were granted between $2,500 and $20,000 each, for a total of $250,000, for projects planned in 2024. Projects range from providing youth programs, to building a cemetery for veterans, to repairs and weatherizing of Navajo homes. NTEC will celebrate the winners with a luncheon at San Juan Country Club on Thursday, December 7, 2023. Recipients will receive their checks and recognition for their service to the community at the event. NTEC established the Community Benefit Fund in 2015 to support programs and services for the Navajo community. With the 2024 grant recipients, NTEC has awarded more than $2M in microgrants to date. NTEC donates $250,000 each year to non-profits for projects on the Navajo Nation that may not have been funded otherwise. Past recipients have used funds to build playgrounds, buy clothes for children, and fight addiction. This is the first year that NTEC has included non-certified chapters to also apply for funding. Many great organizations applied and thirty-two were selected. "We congratulate all our 2024 CBF recipients! Since 2015, the Community Benefit Fund has provided additional funding for local projects that benefit the Navajo people. This money goes directly to the community to support programs for children, elders, the environment, health, and wellness," said Kay Nave-Mark, NTEC Community Relations Supervisor and CBF Project Manager. "NTEC is committed to the economic, financial, social, and cultural well-being of the Navajo Nation. The Community Benefit Fund illustrates this commiment by enabling projects that make a real tangible difference in the day-to-day lives of Navajo people," added Vern Lund, Chief Executive Officer for NTEC. "We are proud of the work these organizations are doing to support the Navajo community and are thrilled to announce our 2024 winners."



2024 Community Benefit Fund Grant Recipients: 4Corners K-9 Search and Rescue

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Blue Gap/Tachee Chapter

Boys & Girls Club of Farmington

Chinle Chapter Government

Cornfields Chapter

Don't Meth With Us Foundation, Inc.

Habitat for Humanity Tres Rios

Houck Chapter

Houck Veterans Organization

IGW Children's Hope Foundation, Inc.

Kirtland Youth Association

Kiwanis Club of Farmington

LeChee Chapter

Many Farms Chapter

National Indian Youth Leadership Project

Native Renewables Inc.

Navajo United Way Inc.

Nazlini Chapter Government

Nenahnezad Chapter

Northwest New Mexico Arts Council

Red Feather Development Foundation

Rock Springs Chapter

Round Rock Chapter

Seeds of Harmony, Inc.

Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico (SAS)

Tohatchi Area of Opportunity Services, Inc

Tonaneesdizi Local Government

Tsidi To'ii Chapter

Upper Fruitland Chapter

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9517

Yee Ha'?lnii Doo

About NTEC NTEC is an autonomous single-member limited liability company, organized under the laws of the Navajo Nation, which owns mines in Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming. NTEC's mission is to be a reliable, safe producer of coal, while diversifying the Navajo Nation's energy resources to create economic sustainability for the Nation and the Navajo people. NTEC's sole shareholder is the Navajo Nation. NTEC is a leader in safety and reclamation and was recognized with the Sentinels of Safety award from the National Mining Association, the Safety Award for Large Surface Mine from the Rocky Mountain Coal Institute, and the National Award for Excellence in Surface Mining Reclamation from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement in 2022. For more information about NTEC, visit www.navenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130390202/en/

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[November 30, 2023] CTEK Continues Trend With Iconic Vicious Reveal At 2023 SEMA Show Tweet

Leading Battery Charging Brand Shows off Popular Products During Show CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CTEK, a leading global brand in battery charging solutions, is known for bringing iconic vehicles to the SEMA Show and 2023 was no different. In front of a crowded booth, the CTEK team along with Chris Marechel from Timeless Kustoms, unveiled the long-awaited Vicious 2.0. The vehicle has been in reconstruction since it was hit by a truck following its SEMA Show debut in 2016. Kept under wraps until its reveal at the 2023 SEMA Show in the CTEK booth, the 1,000-HP Vicious 1965 Mustang Fastback was a crowd favorite. "We were excited to partner with Chris Marechel to bring Vicious to the SEMA Show," said Bobbie DuMelle, President for CTEK North America. "The 2023 SEMA Show was a huge success for CTEK, and we thank everyone who stopped by our booth, checked out Vicious, and learned more about our products." As an official authorized SEMA battery charger sponsor and sponsor of the SEMA Cruise, CTEK introduced a SEMA Show limited edition bundle. The bundles features its CS FREE, the ultimate charging solution. The CTEK CS FREE is a 4-in-1 portable battery charger, smart maintainer, adaptive booster and a hi-tech power bank. The unique adaptive booster can safely restart a dead vhicle battery within only 15 minutes. It's a safe-start that can be used instead of jump starting or using a traditional booster  it won't damage the battery or the vehicle electronics. The CS FREE can be used to charge your vehicle battery, making sure that you'll be able to travel far and wide, or boost your battery when it's running out of charge.



Just in time for holiday shopping, CTEK has extended the sale of its SEMA Show limited edition bundle. The bundle includes the CS FREE, CS FREE USB-C Charge Cable Clamps, CS FREE Wall Mount, CS FREE USB-C Charger Cable 12V Plug, CS FREE Storage Case, and a free CTEK SEMA Hat. "We know enthusiasts were excited about the bundle and weren't able to purchase it during the SEMA Show, so we extended the offer," continued DuMelle. "It's the perfect holiday gift for anyone on your shopping list."

You can find more information about CTEK and the limited edition bundle at https://smartercharger.com/products/exlusive-limited-edition-sema-2023-battery-charger-kit. About CTEK Established in Dalarna, Sweden, CTEK is the leading global brand in battery charging solutions, most specifically vehicle charging. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment. CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure. CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards. Press Contact: Michelle Suzuki

310-444-7115

http://www.smartercharger.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctek-continues-trend-with-iconic-vicious-reveal-at-2023-sema-show-302002455.html SOURCE CTEK

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Nabil Ammar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, in Barcelona on Monday. Albert Garcia

On Monday, the Majestic Hotel in Barcelona was bustling with ministers who participated in the 8th Regional Forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), whose only point of debate was the situation in Gaza. One of the officials at the event was Nabil Ammar, 58, head of Foreign Affairs and Migration of Tunisia in the administration of Kais Saied.

There has been growing criticism of the authoritarian drift attributed to Saied after the dissolution of Parliament in 2021 and the new Constitution that was approved the following year, which put an end to the Arab Spring movement that began precisely in this country. Tunisia is also in the spotlight as a key country for migration control: in July, the European Commission established a memorandum of understanding with the government of Tunisia that, among other things, provides for the provision of funds in exchange for the control of migratory flows. The agreement, which the EU executive wants to use as a model for future pacts with other countries, caused some discomfort in a few EU member states due to the lack of prior consultation and the collaboration with a government that is accused of violating human rights.

Question. What conclusions did you draw from the Mediterranean forum meeting?

Answer. It is the beginning of an awareness that what is happening in Gaza and in the West Bank is completely unacceptable, dangerous, and opens the door to all possible scenarios. It is unheard of.

Q. Do you fear that Hamas will gain popularity in the Palestinian cause?

A. The consequences of this degree of suffering carry serious risks for stability in the region and beyond. It creates thousands of people with a terrible resentment, it leaves people traumatized, unbalanced, and it is fuel for all kinds of desperate and violent acts of revenge. But it is up to the Palestinians to decide who represents them. The problem is colonization, which did not begin on October 7. Gaza has been an open-air prison for years. Humiliations in the West Bank are a daily occurrence. And when Palestinians rebel, then they are said to be terrorists. There is also talk of moving the population to Egypt or Jordan. This is a red line.

Q. On migration policy, the memorandum of understanding between the European Commission and Tunisia sparked much criticism. Do you understand why?

A. We have no trouble with the EU. On July 16, we signed a memorandum based on mutual respect in five pillars, not only on migration. But problems arose within the EU. Its not our problem.

Q. Last September, Tunisia refused to receive a delegation of the European Commission and another of members of the European Parliament. Why was that?

A. Its very simple. I know them [the MEPs] from when I was ambassador in Brussels. They have a personal problem with [the government of] Tunisia because they have relations with parties that are in the opposition. The attitude was unacceptable. They were coming on an inspection mission. We will no longer accept this, it was an act of provocation.

Q. Concerns have also been raised by NGOs that denounce expulsions of sub-Saharan migrants. This summer dozens died in the desert, on the border with Libya.

A. There is no expulsion policy. Each country protects its borders. We do not build walls or shoot those who try to pass. There is a very humane treatment, but at the same time we are obliged, and it is our right, to control our borders. This situation has been exploited by NGOs, which have a political agenda. They put pressure on us to accept illegal migrants. But we are not a country of transit or destination. And we are not the EU police. Any solution exceeds the capabilities of a single country. The political situation south of the Sahara, the economic situation, Covid, the war in Ukraine, climate change It is not our responsibility to pay the bill. And NGOs should talk less and put more resources in, or we wont cooperate like before.

Q. Is there an authoritarian drift in Tunisia, as NGOs are reporting?

A. There may be, as in all countries, people who take advantage of this atmosphere and go too far. But the police step in. There is no state policy to mistreat or refuse to help illegal migrants, who are victims of trafficking groups. To criticize us, they say that we have become authoritarian, that we have changed, but that is not the case.

Q. So nothing changed in 2021, when Tunisia became governed by decree?

A. No, now there is a parliament. We governed by decree in a transitional situation in which parliament was not operational.

Q. Are you asking for more compensation for controlling migration?

A. Its not a question of money. The funding we receive is almost nothing, but what is needed is a global policy. The best solution is to create wealth in countries, to invest in them. To integrate the southern shore of the Mediterranean, as the EU has done among its countries. This way, people will not risk their lives by going by boat to Europe.

Q. Is it necessary to share democratic values to build a future for the southern shore?

A. There is a lot of potential, but democracies do not arrive all at once. What was Spain like 60 years ago? The oldest democracies are, what, 250 years old? They have had a process, and an accumulation of wealth that has allowed them to be democracies. Our European partners, friends and neighbors have to understand that they do not have a monopoly on the truth, they are a minority on the planet, and their models can also be criticized. Each country finds its own balance.

Q. Is this the case in Tunisia?

A. We are reorganizing ourselves after 11 terrible years. We no longer want false democracies piloted by foreigners or money. We want an internal balance and an authentically Tunisian democracy, without intervention from the outside or foreign NGOs. Tunisia has a very interesting economic potential: trade, tourism, green energy and things like olive oil, which we are being prevented from exporting to Europe. Instead of all these opportunities, they only look at whether you are democratic or not. Because they want a different Tunisia, one that is weak and doing whatever is asked of it. This is over.

Q. When was it over?

A. On July 25 [2022, when the new Constitution was approved] we said its over. But above all, its over after what started happening in Gaza. The great collateral damage of this war is that it has left the legal system and universal international values in tatters. Today, no one believes in them. They look at what happens there and ask themselves, what principles are they talking about, what democracy? It is a great loss for the West.

Q. What is the solution?

A. Stop the war and make reparations, although it will be very difficult. Give them their rights, their lands. And stop this narrative that they are terrorists who want to kill Jews. It has nothing to do with being Jewish or Muslim. We must stop investing in war and stop seeing the southern shore as potential enemies. You Westerners have built yourselves up on blood and weapons, you have colonized, you have accumulated wealth, and this has left you with a good cushion to fall back on. And when you got rich, you said, come on, lets make a little democracy. We must be aware and work together on a solution. I welcome the position of the government of Spain on this issue, we must go down this path. Not because of the law of the fittest, of international resolutions that are not fulfilled. October 7 is proof that everything that has been done since 1948 is a total failure.
[November 30, 2023] DNA Labs International solves significant cold cases with QIAGEN workflow for forensic genetic genealogy Tweet

Venlo, the Netherlands, and Deerfield Beach, Florida, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) and DNA Labs International announced today that DLI has recently solved two decades-old cold cases using QIAGEN solutions. The products involved are ForenSeq Kintelligence System for forensic genetic genealogy, in conjunction with the GEDmatch database, highlighting the effectiveness and growing adoption of this new approach to human identification. In Oregon, a longstanding case was solved with DLIs assistance by identifying the previously unidentified remains of Tanice Tana Laatch, which were found in 2005. Despite extensive efforts, the identity remained unknown until the Oregon State Police Medical Examiner submitted skeletal remains to DLI. By utilizing QIAGENs ForenSeq Kintelligence Kit for forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to sequence targeted DNA regions, a profile suitable for genealogy research was produced. The identification of the human remains was completed after this profile was uploaded to the GEDmatch database, a law enforcement-dedicated portal for DNA comparison and genealogy analysis. In Georgia, a 51-year-old criminal investigation involving the abduction, rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl was solved through the collaboration of DLI with the Cobb County District Attorneys Office. A significant breakthrough was achieved when DLI used the ForenSeq Kintelligence System to create a SNP profile from a DNA sample retrieved from the crime scene. (A SNP profile is a distinctive genetic fingerprint based on single nucleotide polymorphisms, which represent variations in DNA building blocks and can be utilized for identification and ancestry analysis.) This profile enabled the identification of distant relatives in GEDmatch, ultimately pointing to the potential suspect. Rachel Oefelein, Chief Scientific Officer at DNA Labs International, stated: Our mission at DNA Labs International is to help law enforcement provide justice and answers to the families and victims of crime. This case had challenging samples due to the passage of time that led to extreme degradation, the breaking apart of the DNA. These degradation difficulties made previous testing unsuccessful with other technologies. DNA Labs International was able to use the ForenSeq Kintelligence system because it can handle degradation, which ultimately led to the identification of the suspect. This same technology can be used on current cases today to prevent them from going cold. The technological advancement in forensic genetic genealogy has helped us obtain a concrete resolution to a crime that would otherwise not be solved. In this case, it has removed any doubts on the identity of the perpetrator, helping us provide some long-awaited answers to this family. This development has proven to be an essential component of the modern criminal justice system, said Flynn Broady, Jr., District Attorney, Cobb Judicial Circuit in Georgia. QIAGEN is proud to offer comprehensive Sample to Insight solutions in human identification, providing an end-to-end approach from crime scene evidence recovery to courtroom presentation. Our solutions for DNA purification, sequencing, and investigative lead generation are designed to handle even the most challenging samples, said Richard Price, Vice President and head of the HID and Forensics business at QIAGEN. We are honored to collaborate with partners like DNA Labs International, who expertly leverage our workflow to work with authorities to deliver justice for victims of crime and their families. DLI has used forensic genetic genealogy to help solve many other cases. Their first successful case with ForenSeq Kintelligence was the identification of the previously unidentified remains of Kenneth W. Heasley from a molar that had been found 22 years after he had gone missing.



ForenSeq Kintelligence is the only sequencing-based assay designed for FIGG, combining a streamlined workflow for efficient assessment of forensically relevant SNPs with a curated set of 10,230 SNP markers explicitly chosen for extended kinship outcomes. This innovative technology complies with the highest privacy standards by excluding medically informative and minor allele frequency SNPs found in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) or array-based workflows. QIAGEN is dedicated to providing cost-effective next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows that surpass traditional methods in performance. These workflows leverage high-throughput capabilities, allowing for simultaneous analysis of multiple genetic regions and achieving higher resolution. This ultimately results in increased accuracy and efficiency of identification while offering unparalleled genetic insights.

QIAGEN has a leading position in the human identification and forensics market, having pioneered the introduction of commercial DNA purification kits for forensic casework samples in the late 1990s. Today, QIAGEN offers a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for processing sexual assault samples, identifying missing persons, age estimation and tissue identification, anthropology research, and kinship testing. In 2023, QIAGEN expanded its range of downstream NGS-based forensic products with the acquisition of Verogen, a leader in the use of NGS technologies, to further drive the future of human identification and forensic investigation. QIAGEN now provides sequencing and bioinformatics solutions, as well as a genealogy database, offering the most complete portfolio in the human identification and forensics market. More information on QIAGENs solutions for human identification can be found here: https://www.qiagen.com/de/applications/human-identity-and-forensics About DNA Labs International Since 2004, DNA Labs International has been providing clients with exceptional quality service based on open communications, equal attention to the importance of every case, and accurate and reliable results every time. They provide the latest technology available to solve cases, such as Forensic Genetic Genealogy, SpentShell for fired cartridge casings, the M-VAC, a wet vacuum DNA collection tool, and STRmix, a software program that can solve previously inconclusive DNA results. DNA Labs International was the first ISO 17025:2017, and FBI QAS accredited forensic laboratory processing Forensic Genetic Genealogy cases from start to finish. About QIAGEN QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare) and Life Sciences (academia, pharma R&D and industrial applications, primarily forensics). As of September 30, 2023, QIAGEN employed more than 6,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com . Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's products, including those products used in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, timing for launch and development, marketing and/or regulatory approvals, financial and operational outlook, growth and expansion, collaborations, markets, strategy or operating results, including without limitation its expected adjusted net sales and adjusted diluted earnings results, are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics), variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes, the commercial development of markets for our products to customers in academia, pharma, applied testing and molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN's products to integrated solutions and producing such products; the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate and protect our products from competitors' products; market acceptance of QIAGEN's new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses; actions of governments, global or regional economic developments, weather or transportation delays, natural disasters, political or public health crises, including the breadth and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the demand for our products and other aspects of our business, or other force majeure events; as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected; and the other factors discussed under the heading Risk Factors contained in Item 3 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: QIAGEN N.V.

Category: Corporate

John Gilardi QIAGEN N.V. +49 2103 29 11711 [email protected] Phoebe Loh QIAGEN N.V. +49 2103 29 11457 [email protected] Thomas Theuringer QIAGEN N.V. +49 2103 29 11826 [email protected] Daniela Berheide QIAGEN N.V. +49 2103 29 11676 [email protected]

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[November 30, 2023] BiomX to Host Virtual Key Opinion Leader (KOL) Event to Review the Positive Results from Part 2 of Phase 1b/2a Trial of BX004 in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections on December 4, 2023 Tweet

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and NESS ZIONA, Israel, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BiomX Inc. (NYSE American: PHGE) (BiomX or the Company), a clinical-stage company advancing novel natural and engineered phage therapies that target specific pathogenic bacteria, today announced it will host a virtual KOL Event on December 4, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET to discuss the positive topline results recently announced from Part 2 of Phase 1b/2a trial of BX004 in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infections. To register for the event, please click here.

The event will feature Dr. Eitan Kerem, M.D. (Hadassah University Medical Center) and Dr. Robert T. Chip Schooley, M.D. (University of California, San Diego), who will discuss phage therapy, the current treatment landscape, and the unmet medical need in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) respiratory infections. Jonathan Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of BiomX, will review topline results from Part 2 of the Phase 1b/2a trial evaluating the Companys novel phage cocktail, BX004, as a potential treatment for chronic pulmonary infections caused by P. aeruginosa in CF patients. BiomX is developing BX004, utilizing its proprietary BOLT platform, to address a significant unmet need facing thousands of CF patients who require new treatments to combat persistent and deadly lung infections. P. aeruginosa is a main contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with CF. A live question and answer session will follow the formal presentations. About Dr. Eitan Kerem, M.D.

Dr. Eitan Kerem, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, is the former Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Pediatric Pulmonology Unit of the Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem and former board member of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Professor Kerem built the Pulmonary and Cystic Fibrosis Clinic of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, and subsequently he was elected Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Hadassah Medical Center, and Professor in Pediatrics at the Hebrew UniversityHadassah Medical School in 2002. In 2011, he was appointed as Chairman of Pediatrics at the Hadassah University Medical Center. Professor Kerems interest in cystic fibrosis (CF) spans all aspects of the condition. He was involved in formulating the guidelines that paved the road to the standardization of CF care in Europe and other parts of the world. He has been a principal investigator in many national and international multicenter clinical trials in CF and is an author of key publications in this field. Professor Kerem was Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board for the Israeli CF Foundation and served as a board member of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society (ECFS), initiating the development of the ECFS Patient Registry. He has been a member of numerous organizing committees for national and internatioal conferences, and was a president of the International Congress on Pediatric Pulmonology.



About Dr. Robert T. Chip Schooley, M.D.

Dr. Robert T. Chip Schooley, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health and Co-Director, Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics at the University of California, San Diego, is an infectious disease specialist and an expert in HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection and treatment. Infectious disease specialists care for patients with infections or diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. These include hepatitis viruses, tuberculosis, influenza, and HIV/AIDS, in addition to infections of the sinuses, heart, brain, lungs, gastrointestinal system, urinary tract, pelvic organs and bones. His research interests include influenza, global health and international medicine, and the diagnosis and management of infections that cause death and morbidity in resource-limited settings. Dr. Schooley is particularly interested in the origin and development (pathogenesis) of HIV and HIV therapy, and was one of the first researchers to describe the humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV infection.

Dr. Schooley has developed a multidisciplinary research program for hepatitis C. He leads the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane-UC San Diego Medical Education Partnership Initiative and supervises postdoctoral fellows. Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Dr. Schooley was head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at University of Colorado and director of the Colorado Center for AIDS Research Virology Core Laboratory. During his tenure at Colorado, Dr. Schooley was chair of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Before that, he served as associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Schooley is extensively published, having edited numerous books and authored hundreds of articles and book chapters. He serves on the editorial board of several medical journals, including Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Clinical Infectious Diseases. Dr. Schooley completed fellowships in infectious diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, and at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Schooley is board certified in internal medicine. He is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and Royal Society of Medicine (UK), and member of numerous professional societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. In 2013, Dr. Schooley was honored with the Best Doctors in America and America's Top Doctors award. About BX004

BiomX is developing BX004, utilizing its proprietary BOLT platform, for the treatment of CF patients with chronic pulmonary infections caused by P. aeruginosa, a main contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with CF. In September 2021, BX004 was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase 1b/2a study in CF patients with chronic pulmonary infections caused by P. aeruginosa. The Phase 1b/2a trial was composed of two parts. Part 1 of the study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and microbiologic/clinical activity of BX004 in nine CF patients in a single ascending dose and multiple dose design. Part 2 of the study evaluated the safety and efficacy of BX004 in 34 CF patients randomized to treatment or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. In August 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted BX004 Fast Track designation for the treatment of chronic pulmonary infections caused by P. aeruginosa bacterial strains in patients with CF. About BiomX

BiomX is a clinical-stage company developing both natural and engineered phage cocktails designed to target and destroy bacteria in the treatment of chronic diseases. BiomX discovers and validates proprietary bacterial targets and customizes phage compositions against these targets. For more information, please visit www.biomx.com, the content of which does not form a part of this press release. Safe Harbor

This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: target, believe, expect, will, may, anticipate, estimate, would, positioned, future, and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. For example, when BiomX discusses the safety, tolerability and efficacy of BX004 and its potential ability to treat CF patients, as well as the potential to advance the BX004 program to a larger, pivotal Phase 2b/3 trial, including, among other things, timing, design, enrollment, regulatory approvals and funding of such trial, BiomX is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on BiomX managements current beliefs, expectations and assumptions. In addition, past and current pre-clinical and clinical results, as well as compassionate use, are not indicative and do not guarantee future success of BiomX clinical trials. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of BiomXs control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements and should review the risks and uncertainties described under the caption Risk Factors in BiomXs Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on March 29, 2023, and additional disclosures BiomX makes in its other filings with the SEC, which are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and except as provided by law BiomX expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update forward-looking statements. BiomX Contacts: Investor Relations:

LifeSci Advisors, LLC

John Mullaly

(617)-698-9253

[email protected] BiomX, Inc.

Anat Primovich

Corporate Project Manager

+972 (50) 697-7228

[email protected] Source: BiomX Inc.



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[November 30, 2023] Topcon Positioning Systems announces new global sustainability initiatives Tweet

LIVERMORE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Topcon Positioning Systems announces a series of new developments and initiatives as part of its ongoing sustainability efforts. First, the formation of a new global team dedicated to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been announced. It will be led by Michael Gomes as vice president of Global Sustainability and CSR. Much of his career with Topcon has been dedicated to the advancement of more sustainable agricultural practices. He will now lead a global team dedicated to sustainability for all markets and product lines, which will connect into Topcon's parent organization, Topcon Corporation, in Japan to effectively support the corporation's multiple divisions. "Sustainability has long been a part of the fabric of Topcon and is something we take very seriously as we take actions to support our global initiatives," said Gomes. "As we look ahead, we'll endeavor to support, at every level, the advancement of the industries and communities we serve. The work we do is modeled on the sustainable development goals adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015 and has been part of Topcon's vision statement since 2016." Topcon Research & Validation Center

Topcon's dedication to sustainability is further demonstrated by the inauguration of a new 60-acr Research & Validation Center at its global headquarters in Livermore, California. Our team has worked closely with Alameda County in the approval and development of this expansive, ecologically diverse location that will support the increasing needs for research and validation of new technologies.



The site was strategically planned in collaboration with students and faculty from the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The team employed a multi-disciplinary approach, providing a site analysis with soil evaluations and recommended crops, maps for planting, and additional site development recommendations. This new facility joins global validation centers in Concordia, Italy, and Adelaide, Australia, all working on research and validation of innovative precision technologies. "Through these three centers, there is research and testing underway at Topcon, somewhere in the world, any time of day," Gomes said.

TPS global headquarters moves to solar power

Another recent initiative is the conversion to solar power for the Livermore campus. Initial planning began in October 2022, and the project is underway. Once the project is completed, the campus, including multiple buildings, manufacturing facilities and electric car charging stations, will be powered by solar energy. "This is a great opportunity for us to reduce our Scope 2 emissions and energy costs," Gomes said. For more information, visit topconpositioning.com/sustainability. About Topcon Positioning Systems

Topcon Positioning Systems is an industry-leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of precision measurement and workflow solutions for the global construction, geospatial and agriculture markets. Topcon Positioning Systems is headquartered in Livermore, California, U.S. (topconpositioning.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram). Its European head office is in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. Topcon Corporation (topcon.com), founded in 1932, is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/topcon-positioning-systems-announces-new-global-sustainability-initiatives-302002597.html SOURCE Topcon Positioning Systems

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[November 30, 2023] Golub Capital Continues APAC Expansion with Hong Kong Hire Tweet

Golub Capital today announced that Amy Chiang has joined as Managing Director, Greater China and Southeast Asia and will be based in the Firm's newly-opened Hong Kong office. In her new role, she will be dedicated to building and strengthening relationships with investors in the Greater China and Southeast Asia region. "We are excited to continue building our presence and commitment to investors in the APAC region," said Craig Benton, Senior Managing Director, Head of the Investor Partners Group at Golub Capital. "Amy brings over a decade of experience in the region and will enhance Golub Capital's ability to deliver high quality client service to our growing global investor base." Amy has been based in Hong Kong and Singapore for most of her fund career. She most recently served as Head of Greater China and Southeast Asia at Cerberus Capital Management and was previously a Director at Park Hill Group of PJT Partners. "I look forward to expanding Golub Capital's market leading private credit strategies to the growing capital base in Greater China ad Southeast Asia; complementing our existing investor base in developed markets to deliver resilient returns across market cycles," said Amy Chiang, Managing Director, Greater China and Southeast Asia at Golub Capital. "Golub Capital is a market leader in private credit and I am thrilled to be part of the Firm's continued growth and increased commitment to Asia."



Golub Capital has made several strategic hires focused on investors in key markets, most recently Korea and Latin America, as part of the Firm's continued commitment to provide compelling solutions for all of its stakeholders. About Golub Capital

Golub Capital is a market-leading, award-winning direct lender and experienced credit asset manager. We specialize in delivering reliable, creative and compelling financing solutions to companies backed by private equity sponsors. Our sponsor finance expertise also forms the foundation of our Broadly Syndicated Loan and Credit Opportunities investment programs. We nurture long-term, win-win partnerships that inspire repeat business from private equity sponsors and investors. As of October 1, 2023, Golub Capital had over 850 employees and over $60 billion of capital under management, a gross measure of invested capital including leverage. The firm has lending offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and London. For more information, please visit golubcapital.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130773381/en/

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We post the question because for parents . . . This is the new reality . . .

Mobile phone footage of misguided youngster altercations could impact the rest of their lives.

Don't get it twisted . . . From what we've seen, we don't have any sympathy for the alleged attacker who was never properly taught not to hit girls.

Still . . . These are very ADULT CHARGES that are on the table . . . Check-it:



"A white male student has been charged with a felony for attacking a Black female student in a racist attack at Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village. The incident has sparked an outcry among students and protests against the school's response."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Shawnee Mission East student charged with felony in racist attack. Here's what we know A white male student at Shawnee Mission East High School was charged with aggravated battery after calling a Black female student the N-word and attacking her. A number of students walked out of class over the school's handling of the incident, and another protest is planned for Thursday.

Student charged with felony following attack on Black student at Shawnee Mission East Several students held a walk-out in protest of the incident on Monday.
Downtown Kansas City neighbors have gathered a makeshift memorial in the aftermath of this week's tragic death of 5-year-old Grayson O'Connor who fell to his death from a downtown apartment building.



Here is the latest on the investigation released this evening . . .



It is believed the child fell from the apartment window, the means of how that happened is still under investigation, KCPD said.



Police also said Grayson OConnors mother was transported to the hospital on the day of the incident and she is a subject of interest in the investigation.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCPD identifies 5-year-old who fell from apartment building; mother listed as subject of interest Police have identified a young boy who fatally fell from an apartment building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, on Monday.

Police identify 5-year-old boy who fell from apartment building in downtown Kansas City Grayson O'Connor's body was found on Monday after police say he fell from the apartment at 10th and Grand.

Neighbors of dead 5-year-old who fell from Kansas City building had feared neglect As the police investigation continued Wednesday, Kansas City detectives believed the boy could have died as a result of child endangerment or homicide.

Questions remain as tenants ID 5-year-old boy who fell from KC apartment building Tenants tell FOX4 that the boy is just 5 -years-old and was well-known in the building by neighbors who shared concern for his well-being.

Police identify 5-year-old boy; KCPD continues suspicious death investigation Kansas City Police have identified the 5-year-old boy whose death is being investigated as suspicious.

Developing . . .
By now locals have seen this headline . . .

However, here's the question where our blog community can contribute something more to the conversation:

WAS MAYOR BERKLEY KANSAS CITY'S BEST LEADER OF THE MODERN ERA?!?!

A great many of our relatives believe so . . . Tell us why or even why not.

Here's a sampling of tonight's reports & tribute . . .



"He was first elected to the city council in 1969. And served as Mayor Pro-em before serving three terms as mayor. Berkley also happened to be the first Jewish mayor of Kansas City.

Berkley was Kansas City's first Republican mayor since 1930."

Richard 'Dick' Berkley, the longest serving mayor in Kansas City's history, dies Richard Berkley, who served as mayor of Kansas City for 12 years, died on Wednesday.

Former Kansas City Mayor Richard Berkley dies at 92 Former Kansas City mayor Richard "Dick" Berkley, who was the city's first Jewish and last Republican mayor, has died Wednesday. He was 92.

Developing . . .
As we've noted previously, this has been a violent week and right now we take a moment to roundup police action, court cases and alleged misdeeds throughout the metro.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City man sentenced for meth trafficking, illegal firearms after making 911 call for mother Officers found illegal drugs, firearms and large amounts of cash during a call for emergency services in 2021

KC man charged after allegedly shooting girlfriend, killing her ex A Kansas City man who is accused of shooting his girlfriend and killing her ex-boyfriend has been charged with second-degree murder.

Johnson County mother calls for accountability after son's pediatric neurologist faces federal charges A Johnson County mother, Amanda Chilcote, said her trust was shattered after learning her child's pediatric neurologist had been charged by federal authorities with child-pornography crimes.

Kansas City, Kansas police searching for man who robbed convenience store Police say the armed robbery happened on Nov. 18 just before 5 a.m. at 4039 Metropolitan Avenue.

Attorneys for Jaylon Elmore, suspect accused in Olathe East shooting, withdraw from case Attorneys Paul Morrison and Veronica Dersch moved to withdraw as the counsel for Jaylon Elmore, 20.

Hospital: 'No indication' allegations against Johnson County doctor involved patients A spokesperson from OP Regional Medical Center reiterated Wednesday the hospital does not currently believe any of its patients were involved in allegations against a former doctor at the facility.

Missouri lawmakers push new charges for fentanyl dealers. Would that help the crisis? "We can't wait for perfection to solve a crisis. We've got to jump in and start somewhere. I think this is a common sense legislative place to start," said state Rep. Bill Allen, a Kansas City Republican.

Thanks to the Heartlander for followup . . . Remember that we talked about this story at the beginning of the month.

KC mayor's attorney using police images in campaign materials, despite the mayor questioning a state legislator's legality for doing same After the Kansas City mayor questioned the legality of a legislator doing so, his attorney is using images of police officers in her campaign for Jackson County prosecutor. Mayor Quinton Lucas' g...

Partners for Peace, Task Force looks to reduce violence in Kansas City Kansas City has had a very violent and crime filled 2023. Partners for Peace and the Public Safety Task Force to try and help the issue.

Kansas City leaders walk Independence Avenue trying to reduce future crime A group called Partners for Peace walked Independence Avenue Wednesday afternoon in-between Benton Boulevard and Hardesty Avenue.

Developing . . .
Shannen Dohertys cancer gives no respite, nor good news. The actress, known for her roles as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed, has announced that her disease is progressing and that it has already reached her bones. Im not done with living, she said in an interview with People magazine held on Monday of last week and published on Wednesday, November 29.

In the conversation, Doherty, 52, explains that the advanced breast cancer she has had since February 2020 (although she went through the disease before, in 2015, getting remission two years later) is already at stage four and that it has spread to the bones. Back in June, less than five months ago, she explained that it had reached her brain, where it had metastasized. When you ask yourself, Why me? Why did I get cancer? and then Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4? that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life, she told People. Its insane to me [that] we still dont have a cure, she added. She herself is raising funds to fight the disease.

The actress is still receiving treatment. Im not done with living. Im not done with loving. Im not done with creating. Im not done with hopefully changing things for the better, she says at one point, with a half smile. In fact, she says that one of her main struggles is to make people see that, although she is sick, she is able to work. People just assume that it means you cant walk, you cant eat, you cant work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age  Youre done, youre retired, and were not, she says. Were vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward. In her opinion, cancer patients, although it sounds cheesy and crazy, are the people who want to work the most, because were just so grateful for every second, every hour, every day we get to be here.

It makes sense then that Doherty still has projects, like the imminent launch of a podcast, on December 6th in the iHeartRadio platform, called Lets Be Clear with Shannen Doherty. As she said to the magazine and on her Instagram profile, which has more than 2 million followers, in it she will talk about her health, but also about her Hollywood career and her sentimental relationships. She will have former colleagues, friends, family and brilliant directors as guests.

The actress was married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko for 11 years, but she asked for a divorce last April. Her manager hinted that the break-up had been caused by an infidelity by Iswarienko. Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option. You can contact Kurts agent, Collier Grimm at PICTUREKID, as she is intimately involved, she explained to the media at the time.

After her first diagnosis, in the summer of 2015, Doherty underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In May 2017 she announced that the cancer was in remission, but the disease returned a couple of years later, as she made public at the beginning of 2020. In the three and a half years that have passed since, the situation has worsened. In January of this year, she underwent surgery to remove the tumor that had reached her brain, something she shared publicly last June, when she said that he had named the tumor Bob. He had to get removed and dissected to see his pathology It was definitely one of the scariest things Ive ever been through in my entire life, she says now about the experience. My greatest memory is yet to come. I pray. I wake up and go to bed thanking God, praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much. It connects me to a higher power and spirituality. My faith is my mantra.

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Have you ever thought about what lies beyond the well-known cities and popular tourist destinations on the West Coast? Off-grid travel could be the perfect answer. This form of exploration takes you away from the usual paths, allowing you to connect with the untouched beauty of nature.

The West Coast offers a variety of landscapes, from rugged coastlines to dense forests, making it an ideal setting for off-grid adventures. Off-grid travel helps you disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with nature.

Off-Grid Travel Destinations on the West Coast

Exploring off-grid travel on the West Coast leads you to some of the most remarkable places in the United States. This region offers a range of landscapes and climates, perfect for those who seek adventures away from the city.

Redwood National Park

In Northern California, Redwood National Park is a standout destination for off-grid travel. Here, the main attraction is the incredibly tall redwood trees. Walking among these giants offers a peaceful and impressive experience.

Adhering to the park's regulations is essential. You can camp in specific areas, and it's important to practice leave-no-trace principles. This involves taking all your trash with you and minimizing environmental impact. The park also provides guidelines for wildlife encounters to protect both visitors and the natural inhabitants.

Read Also: What Makes Philippine Weather a Favorite Among Foreigners

Big Sur

Big Sur presents a different scene with its rugged coastline and ocean views. It's known for its combination of forest and sea. The drives along Highway 1 offer memorable views, but exploring the hidden coves and trails leading to secluded beaches and scenic spots is especially rewarding.

Respecting the environment in Big Sur is key. Due to its popularity, visitors should stick to marked trails and follow fire regulations. Camping is restricted to designated campgrounds, and some areas may require permits.

Mount Rainier National Park

In Washington State, Mount Rainier National Park offers a contrasting off-grid experience. The park is known for its towering Mount Rainier, alpine meadows, glaciers, and diverse wildlife. Its natural beauty is striking, whether you're hiking the Wonderland Trail or exploring the forests.

Visitors should be prepared for changeable weather conditions. The park enforces strict camping regulations, with permits required for most backcountry camping. Wildlife encounters are common, so maintaining a safe distance is important. Staying on designated trails is encouraged to protect the park's ecosystems.

Olympic National Park

Also, in Washington, Olympic National Park encapsulates the West Coast's diverse landscapes. It includes rugged coastlines, rainforests, and mountains, making it an ideal destination for varied off-grid experiences.

Following the park's rules is crucial for preserving its unique environment. Camping is permitted only in designated areas. When exploring the coastal areas, it's important to be aware of tide schedules to avoid being stranded. The rainforest areas are delicate, so visitors should stick to trails to avoid damaging the plant life.

Yosemite National Park

In California, Yosemite National Park is a must-visit destination for off-grid travel. Known for its dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias, the park is awe-inspiring. Whether hiking in the valley or enjoying the starry skies, Yosemite offers a memorable experience.

Respecting the park's regulations ensures a pleasant visit. Yosemite's popularity necessitates careful trip planning. Camping is allowed in specific areas, and some parts of the park require permits. Visitors should be prepared for various weather conditions and follow safety guidelines.

The West Coast provides a range of off-grid travel experiences, from peaceful forests to dramatic coastlines and towering mountains. These destinations offer a break from everyday life and a chance to connect with nature. By following local rules and best practices, you help preserve these natural areas for future visitors.

Related Article: Ever Heard of Cliff Picnics? You Can Have One in Melbourne
Norway sets a remarkable example in sustainable tourism. This country in Scandinavia skillfully balances environmental preservation with its growing tourism sector.

The country's strategy focuses on meeting the needs of tourists while protecting the environment. This balance is important as it helps keep Norway's environments clean while also offering visitors memorable experiences.

Moreover, Norway's approach is about more than just nature. It includes supporting local cultures and economies showing a wide understanding of sustainability. As a visitor, you become part of this sustainable process, helping to maintain and grow local communities. This model of tourism is responsible and rewarding for those who visit.

Sustainable Tourism Practices in Norway

In Norway, sustainable tourism is not just a popular concept. It is a practice deeply integrated into every part of travel and hospitality. As you explore this topic, it is essential to understand how Norway combines sustainability into its tourism sector. The approach focuses on preserving nature, supporting local communities, and ensuring a minimal environmental footprint.

Preserving Natural Beauty

Norway is known for its beautiful landscapes, from the fjords to the northern lights. Here, sustainable tourism means protecting these natural wonders for future generations. In places like the Lofoten Islands, tourism initiatives are carefully managed. Environmental impact assessments are standard before any new development. This careful approach ensures that the beauty of these locations remains untouched.

Read Also: Tourism Villages: Where Can You Find the Best Secret Spots in Italy

Sustainable Accommodations

Accommodations in Norway show a commitment to sustainability. For example, in Troms, hotels focus on energy efficiency and waste reduction. Many use locally sourced materials and renewable energy sources, like solar panels, to reduce their environmental impact. This approach also includes food services, where local and organic produce is often used, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation.

Eco-Friendly Activities

When it comes to activities, Norway promotes eco-friendly options. In Bergen, you can find many hiking trails that allow visitors to enjoy the natural beauty without harming the ecosystem. Additionally, wildlife watching, especially in areas like Svalbard, is conducted under strict guidelines to ensure minimal disturbance to the animals. This careful balance lets you experience Norway's wildlife responsibly and sustainably.

Community Involvement

A key part of sustainable tourism in Norway is the active involvement of local communities. In places like Trondheim, tourism initiatives are often driven by the community, ensuring that the benefits of tourism are felt locally. This includes creating jobs and supporting local businesses, which helps to share tourism income more evenly and sustainably.

Education and Awareness

Norway also focuses on teaching tourists about sustainable practices. In many tourist areas, you will find informative signs and guides explaining the importance of preserving the environment and local culture. This educational aspect not only makes your experience better but also helps you appreciate and respect the natural and cultural heritage of Norway.

Setting a Global Example

Norway's approach to sustainable tourism sets a high standard for other countries. By making the environment and local communities a priority, Norway shows how tourism can be both a source of economic growth and a force for good. As you think about these practices, it is clear that sustainable tourism in Norway is not just a policy. It is a way of life that ensures the treasures of Norway can be enjoyed by visitors today and in the future.

Norway's approach to sustainable tourism offers valuable lessons. It shows that with careful planning and a genuine commitment to sustainability, tourism can be a positive force.

Read Article: What You Need to Know Before Traveling to Paris
Exactly 10 years ago, Paul Walker (Glendale, California, 1973), star of the blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise, died in a car accident. The actor was traveling as co-pilot in a Porsche Carrera GT that crashed into a pole at 100 miles per hour on a Santa Clarita highway, 50 kilometers north of Hollywood, and then caught fire. He was 40 years old. The driver of the vehicle was his friend, Roger Rodas, a successful financier at Merrill Lynch bank, who also died in the crash. That night, Walker had attended a charity event for the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in November 2013, leaving more than 10,000 dead. Walker was the founder of the organization behind the event, Reach Out Worldwide, which he launched after the Haiti earthquakes in 2010, with the intention of providing aid to people affected by natural disasters. The tragic event, which shocked Hollywood, nevertheless overshadowed the performers good intentions. The story was too juicy. Although the actor was not behind the wheel, the epitaph seemed to write itself: he lived fast and died young.

Before his death, Paul Walker was in a relationship with Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, 23, with whom he lived in Santa Barbara, California. He also lived with his daughter, Meadow Walker, then a 15-year-old teenager from his relationship with Rebecca Soteros. Following his death, his daughter sued Porsche in September 2015. In this legal action, Meadow Walker accused the car manufacturer of skimping on safety measures and held them responsible for the death of her father who, her lawyers alleged, survived the crash but was unable to escape the flames as he was trapped in the vehicle. Porsche replied two months later, denying any liability and claiming that the actor voluntarily assumed the risks of riding in the vehicle and doing so at a speed that experts estimated at about 100 per hour. In April 2016, a judge dismissed that there were manufacturing faults in the car in which he died. That same month in 2016, Meadow Walker was back in the news when a judge ruled that the family of Roger Rodas, the driver who was driving the vehicle, should compensate her with $10 million, as a way of recognizing that the driver did bear some responsibility for the death of the performer, who was at the height of his career. This amount only covers a portion of the money that Paul Walker would have earned if his life had not been tragically cut short, Meadows lawyer explained to People magazine at the time.

In September 2015, coinciding with what would have been her fathers 42nd birthday, Meadow, sole heir to an estimated $25 million fortune, announced the creation of the Paul Walker Foundation, an organization dedicated to acts of goodwill that empower young people and support the ecosystem in which they live. Reflecting on my father, I found myself reflecting on his passions, Meadow herself explained through an Instagram post, which featured her and her father in a photograph. Paul Walker was interested in ocean conservation, having even starred in a National Geographic documentary exploring the life of great white sharks in the Baja California area. I wanted to start this foundation because I want to share that piece of him with the world. I want to share that part of him with others. Through the organization, Meadow has embarked on a number of philanthropic efforts, including scholarships to Marine Biology students.

Meanwhile, Meadow Walker has also been working on carving out a career for herself. In 2017, she signed with the prestigious modeling agency DNA Models, whose ranks also include Emily Ratajkowski, Kaia Gerber or Laetitia Casta. Since then, she has worked for brands such as Proenza Schouler or Givenchy. In 2021, she married Louis Thornton-Allan. The wedding made headlines in several media for a curious detail: the bride walked down the aisle on the arm of Vin Diesel, a close friend of her fathers and a co-star in the films that made him famous, as well as Meadows legal guardian after Paul Walkers untimely death.

Vin Diesel is precisely the other person who has worked tirelessly to keep the actors legacy alive. On September 13, Walkers 50th birthday, Diesel once again paid tribute to him on his Instagram, posting an image of them together: For me this picture represents the moment I knew we would be brothers for eternity. January 2010, the night before you and I went to Haiti the passion and joy you had to simply help people. You said first responders shouldnt have to wait for anyone and that you wanted to dedicate your life to that. First responders that was your true self, and you were sharing it with me, your brother.

As Cody Walker, Pauls brother who now manages his organization Reach Out Worldwide, revealed last week in an interview with People, some of the cast of the blockbuster action saga have been very supportive of the fundraisers: Vin [Diesel], Tyrese [Gibson], Ludacris, Michelle [Rodriguez], Sung Kang theyve been very supportive of the family, he said. Weve done different fundraisers [...] We used to do these events called Game for Paul where we would do these big game charity fundraisers. Vin was a part of every single one of them. Tyrese and Michelle, multiple years, Sung, Nathalie Emmanuel, everybody just came together.

Cody Walker, who this year had his first child, whom he named Paul, said it was very important to keep his brothers legacy alive through the foundation, which was his brothers greatest dream during his lifetime. Since Pauls passing, ROWW has continued to assist communities in natural disaster zones in 13 countries, with over 79 deployments and over 63,000 volunteer hours logged. Thats over $10 million in contributions to those in need through the generosity of incredible donors, Cody Walker told People.

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On Friday the Caribbean Football Union will stage the 2024 Next Gen Referees Course for Regi
Climate scholar participates in youth panel at Arctic Circle Assembly

The smoke from last years wildfire season spurred undergraduate biology major Michelle Ramirez to become more involved in combating climate change in her own community of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Image courtesy Michelle Ramirez

Michelle Ramirez stands on Rainbow Street in Reykjavik, Iceland, while attending the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2023.

The wildfire events were turning into not just a once-a year-event but also profoundly impacting our daily lives. This made me want to do something about climate change, said Ramirez, an undergraduate biology major and climate scholar at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Her interest led her to participate in youth initiatives at global policy entities such as NATO this past summer. More recently, she was a youth ambassador at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland. Ramirez was one of five youths to speak as part of a panel that focused on breaking down barriers to youth participation in Arctic policymaking.

According to the United Nations Climate Action program, youths are a formidable force in combating climate change. The worlds population includes 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10-24, the largest generation in history.

Older teens or people in their 20s play an important translator role between younger teens and children and the older generation. Climate change is happening so rapidly that the way the groups of people are experiencing it is different, Ramirez said. What youth are experiencing now in terms of evolving technology and changing environments can be much different from and less familiar than how elders experienced it 50 years ago, which means were less prepared.

The youth panel at the Arctic Circle Assembly offered some ways to bring young people into the climate change conversation. Chief among them were early engagement and recognition that socioeconomic status can affect youths access to the conversation. Dont wait until college or graduate school to engage young people, the panelists said, since not all youths have access to postsecondary education. Instead, they said, create internships or opportunities to serve on boards for high school students.

Image courtesy Michelle Ramirez

Michelle Ramirez speaks on a youth-focused panel at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, in October 2023.

The Arctic Circle Assembly meeting was the latest in Ramirez international experiences. Last summer, she attended the NATO Public Forum during the organizations 2023 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Closer to home, Ramirez topped off the summer with a float down the Yukon River as part of UAFs climate scholar program. She and her fellow students connected with the Indigenous people from Eagle Village to learn about the challenges posed by the steep decline in Chinook and chum salmon available for food.

In September, Ramirez performed in a climate grief and healing ceremony called Gath and Kiyh. The event featured Gwichin filmmaker, screenwriter and activist Princess Daazhraii Johnson reading a poem entitled, When We Were Salmon, a lament of the Alaska Native people for the radical salmon decline in the Yukon River. The same month, Alaska Public Media reported that the Chinook salmon run was less than a fifth of its normal size. The performance also brought world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Fairbanks to accompany the group.

"Ive learned that it is possible to include our voices in policymaking and that there is a place for youth to be involved, but definitely more needs to be done, Ramirez said. While its great to have a platform at big, international stages, the work you do in your community is where you will get to see the most impact.

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By Jeff Murphy, November 30, 2023





At left, Tyler Habiger, director of annual giving at the University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation, speaks about the value of giving to support students during the rededication of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, which coincided with Giving Tuesday. Seated behind him are David Pearce, executive director for governmental relations, and Janette Klein, university librarian.



WARRENSBURG, MO  On a day that was dedicated to giving across the globe, the University of Central Missouri shared the spirit of philanthropy through its own fundraising efforts and the rededication of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library (JCKL), an accomplishment made possible by donor support.



UCM faculty, staff, students and alumni attended the Nov. 28 ceremony at JCKL during Giving Tuesday. The event was coordinated by UCM Alumni Foundation in cooperation with library leadership and staff. Those attending learned about the $975,000 estate gift from the Koch Family Trust that funded improvements on the librarys first and second floors. They also participated in facility tours, which allowed them to view state-of-the-art renovations, including modernized study and collaborative learning spaces, new private study nooks, a wellness room, and soft furnishings such as sofas, bench seating with privacy screens, new tables, and slide chairs.



Joining an array of speakers was Tyler Habiger, director of annual giving at the UCM Alumni Foundation. He emphasized the value of scheduling the event on Giving Tuesday as a way to demonstrate how donors generosity can make a difference in serving UCM students. He pointed out that during the past decade, gifts to the Annual Fund have helped make possible 130 Opportunity Grants, which have funded innovative ideas and programs submitted by faculty and staff to benefit students.



What an incredible display of generosity and trust in our work to transform the lives of our students and create opportunities for the future, Habiger said.



Giving Tuesday 2023 resulted in over $90,000 raised from over 300 donors for the Central Annual Fund. Additionally, prior to Giving Tuesday, the MuleNation network of donors committed more than $50,000 in matching gifts to the Annual Fund to create new opportunities to serve students and support their greatest needs.



We can think of no greater way to celebrate this commitment to UCM by having you all here to rededicate one of the universitys assets, the James C. Kirkpatrick Library, which has a refresh that has been made possible by donor generosity, Habiger told the gathering.



Courtney Goddard, vice president for advancement and executive director of the Alumni Foundation, echoed Habigers remarks about the importance of giving. She spoke about the collaborative efforts that involved many different campus areas and members who provided input into the library improvement project. She also provided background on former Wellington, Missouri resident and UCM alumnus Oliver T. Koch, 41, and his wife, Mary Koch, who supported scholarships for students, and made the nearly $1 million estate gift to support the library.



I think that gift speaks volumes because its not only a testament to the way they felt about the University of Central Missouri, but the way that they felt about the education that he (Oliver) received at this university nearly 80 years before, Goddard remarked. And thats what estate gifts are all aboutGifts like this inspire a new generation of students - the generation of students that use this library every day.



Janette Klein, university librarian, expressed her gratitude to the Koch family for making recent upgrades possible through their financial support. She spoke about the librarys role as a vibrant, inclusive, student-centered place as the heart of campus that supports research, content creation, student collaboration and interaction. It is a facility that supports equity of resources for all students at UCM, no matter if theyre attending classes in person at Warrensburg or in Lees Summit or online as distance learners.



The library provides students with the support and resources they need to excel, not only in their academic journey but also in their professional and personal lives, Klein said. We do that by providing access to resources that are aligned to the curriculum and research needs of the university in formats  electronic and physical - that foster student access at the point of learning, no matter if that is the physical library, the local coffee shop, a dorm room, day or night.



While recent improvements are vital to serving such purposes, Klein and her staff are also looking to the future. They hope to improve the librarys infrastructure with a new public address system, refreshing the second and third floor through painting, installation of new carpeting and additional soft and hard furnishings while continuing to address ongoing needs.



UCM President Roger Best thanked Klein and the library staff for their role in the facilitys recent updates.



This doesnt happen in a vacuum, Best said. Sure, there were architects, there were other professional designers, but they used the feedback that was solicited by our university library staff to make this a space that could facilitate student success.



Best also offered thanks to the universitys 12th president, Ed Elliott, who was serving the institution when the new library was conceived and constructed. The building was dedicated in March 1999.



It was really his leadership, working with donors and working with the state that allowed us to get the resources at the university to create this magnificent building that we know as the James C. Kirkpatrick Library. So thank you President Elliott for your leadership. We appreciate what you have done for us, Best said. And as we look over the past 25-plus years, we can see in the original design of this building, it was very clear that student learning was a priority.



In addition to biographical information about Kirkpatrick that was shared by David Pearce, executive director for governmental relations, a video by the UCM Wind Ensemble kicked off and closed formal presentations in the librarys Read and Relax area. Music students performed Kirkpatrick Fanfare, a work that honored the librarys namesake, James C. Kirkpatrick, who was a UCM alumnus, former newspaper editor and publisher, and public servant who spent 20 years as Missouris Secretary of State and 12 years on the universitys governing board. The music composition created by Dr. Andrew Boysen, Jr., was commissioned by the university and debuted during the librarys initial dedication in 1999, and has since been performed worldwide. UCM Director of Bands Corey Seapy, conductor, introduced the piece, noting that it includes a strain from the song Danny Boy, which lends an Irish flavor to the work, while also recognizing the lifelong Missourians great passion for a country he fondly adopted as his own.



One of many attractions at the library, a replica of Kirkpatricks office at the state capitol is located on the second floor of the library and includes furniture, art work and many personal items that belonged to him while serving in Jefferson City.
Ukraines victory on the battlefield will be ensured by asymmetric responses, which are possible thanks to technology.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

I was glad to welcome the military attaches of the partner states from the IT coalition, which we established to strengthen the Ukrainian army in the sphere of technology. Our enemy has an advantage in troop numbers and the amount of equipment, shells, and guns, but our advantage will be ensured by asymmetric responses, which are possible thanks to technology, Umerov noted.

In his words, such innovations as the machine gun turret remote control systems or the DELTA situational awareness system are already in place and having success.

Umerov expressed hope that, with the help of international partners in the IT Coalition, Ukraine will be able to invent, test and apply technologies more often and faster to destroy the enemy.

The minister mentioned that situational awareness systems, modern software, remote control tools are the innovations giving an advantage on the battlefield during the war of the future, which is ongoing in Ukraine.

A reminder that the IT Coalition is a dedicated group of Donor Nations led by Estonia and Luxembourg under the Ukraine Defense Contact Group framework and focused on delivering support to Ukraines Defense Forces in the area of IT, communications, and cyber security. Currently, the IT Coalition consists of six countries (Estonia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania), and Iceland is preparing to join the initiative soon.
There is no serious study that has found a gender bias regarding our brains capacity for mathematics. If for many years the world of mathematics resembled an all-male diocesan seminary in the post-war period, it was not due to any biological cause, but rather because society prevented womens access to careers in science. A good example of this is the case of mathematician Emmy Noether.

Amalie Emmy Noether was the daughter of a German Jewish merchant family. Her father had taught himself mathematics while working in the family business, earning a doctorate in Heidelberg and obtaining a position as a university professor in the city of Erlangen. Her brother Fritz Noether was a renowned applied mathematician, and her older brother, Alfred, earned a doctorate in chemistry, although he died at an early age.

When she was young, Emmy did not show the same inclination for science as almost her entire family, becoming more interested in languages and music. In 1903, a change in German law allowed women access to university studies. Emmy attended the University of Gottingen as a student and found her calling listening to the classes of the astronomer Karl Schwarzschild (the one who had postulated the existence of black holes based on Einsteins equations) or the great mathematicians David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski. In 1907, she obtained her doctorate under the direction of Paul Gordan, although she was not very satisfied with her work at that time, and years later she described her thesis as rubbish.

She was the second woman to obtain a doctorate in mathematics in Germany, where women were allowed access to university studies, but not to the teaching faculty. Emmy Noether began researching and teaching at the University of Erlangen, occasionally substituting for her father, but without being able to receive any type of payment for her work. However, her ability for mathematics was beginning to be known and valued. Two of her professors in Gottingen tried to offer her a teaching position at their university, but, again, she was denied access to the teaching staff due to her being a woman. She continued researching in Gottingen, but without being able to earn a salary, and had to support herself. She could also only teach unannounced classes, when David Hilbert required a replacement. Despite these precarious conditions, Noether made her greatest contribution to science during her time in Gottingen: Noethers theorem, which establishes that any conservation law in physics comes from a symmetry. It may seem simple, but it is one of the bases of modern theoretical physics, and many authors compare its importance to that of the Pythagorean theorem for geometry.

In 1919, after the November Revolution, she was allowed to take the qualification exam to become a university teacher, which she successfully passed. Three years later she obtained special permission to be a professor at the University of Gottingen, but without pay. The following year, she was finally promoted to professor of algebra and received official remuneration, after almost 20 years of career at the expense of her own resources and when she was already considered one of the most important German mathematicians. At this time she made important contributions to the field of algebra that are still studied in the textbooks.

In the 1930s she received recognition and awards for her work as a mathematician. In 1933, the rise of the Nazis caused her to be expelled from the university for being Jewish. For a time she continued teaching at home. She eventually emigrated to the United States, where he found a position at Bryn Mawr Womens College in Pennsylvania and was able to resume her scientific career, but only for a short time. Two years later she died as a result of complications arising from an operation to remove an ovarian cyst. She was 53 years old. It was a short life, but enough to develop some of the most beautiful theorems in mathematics.

J. M. Mulet is a professor of biotechnology.

Emmy's was not the only premature end in her family Her brother Fritz was also purged by the racial laws of the Third Reich from his position as a university professor. With leftist ideas, he emigrated to the Soviet Union, where he obtained a position at Tomsk State University. In 1937, during the great Stalinist purge, he was convicted of espionage and sabotage, and later sentenced to death, accused of making anti-Soviet propaganda. He was shot on September 10, 1941, in the Medvedev Forest Massacre. His body was never located. In 1988, the Supreme Court of the Soviet Union ruled that his conviction was unfounded and he was rehabilitated. A little late
On Friday, December 1, Slovak carriers are planning to block the movement of freight transport in front of the Vysne Nemecke-Uzhhorod checkpoint.

According to Ukrinform, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine posted this on Facebook.

"On December 1, 2023, from 16:00, the Union of Slovak Carriers plans to block the movement of freight transport in front of the Vysne Nemecke checkpoint adjacent to the Ukrainian checkpoint Uzhhorod," the statement reads.

Four trucks per hour will be allowed to leave Slovakia. At the same time, the transportation of humanitarian and military aid, live animals, fuel and refrigerated cargo will not be blocked.

Ukrainian State Border Guard Service urges to take into account possible traffic complications.

As Ukrinform reported, Slovak carriers threatened to block the main checkpoint on the border with Ukraine on Friday.
| By Emily Bleiweis

Since the beginning of her career, Heather Congdon, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, has had a focus on interprofessional education (IPE). Starting this fall, Congdon is furthering that work in a new leadership role.

From left, Heather Congdon, Linda B. Horn, and Bridgitte Gourley.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has announced the appointment of Congdon as director of the Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE). Congdon, professor in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), comes to the role after having spent nearly two decades at UMB.

And as the role of pharmacists has evolved over time  with a focus on chronic disease management, as opposed to medication dispersion alone  the interprofessional model has become more important than ever.

As a pharmacist, Im the medication expert. But I have always felt like there was so much more I could offer patients than just help with their medications, Congdon said. Patients benefit so much from different disciplines working collaboratively together as a team  their care is significantly enhanced from that interaction, and ultimately their clinical outcomes improve dramatically. And its not just patients who are benefiting from these team-based care experiences. Students participating in IPE teams that provide collaborative care are learning with, from, and about the other disciplines, thus preparing them to work efficiently and effectively in teams upon graduation.

CIPE began under former UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, now chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM), and was announced at the first IPE Day in April 2013. Perman, a pediatric gastroenterologist who continues his practice in the weekly Presidents Clinic that includes students from various schools, has continued to be an avid supporter of interprofessional education and the center.

Theres no better choice for center director than Dr. Congdon, Perman said. I dont know anyone more knowledgeable about interprofessional education  anyone with more expertise in how to do IPE well or a better appreciation of its significant benefits for our patients and our colleagues when we get it right. From my earliest days at UMB, I knew I could look to Dr. Congdon not just for her leadership in IPE but also for her deep passion for the work. Im delighted shes in this new role.

Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, the former Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), had led the center as its director since its founding. Kirschling retired at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.

Congdon brings multiple goals and initiatives with her into this new role, like a new registry, which will live online and allow for internal audiences  like students and faculty  and external audiences  like accreditors  to find all IPE opportunities available at UMB in one location. This work comes from a partnership with Texas Tech University, which has allowed UMB to use their software to create this database.

One thing that I always felt was lacking was a repository of all of the IPE activities on campus, she added. If I was a student, and I wanted to know what the options are for me, there wasnt a place for a student to go to be able to find that.

Congdon also is in the early stages  thanks to an Elkins Professorship through USM  of bringing a digital badging system for IPE to UMB. This system will create several badges based on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative competencies that students will be able to add to their portfolios, LinkedIn profiles, or resumes to indicate theyve mastered a specific IPE skill. Having these indicators will help to set UMB students apart.

Before becoming director, Congdon served as a co-director of CIPE. She is joined in her new role by three co-directors, two of whom are new to their position.

Linda B. Horn, PT, DScPT, MHS, director of academic affairs and assistant professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Bridgitte Gourley, DNP, FNP-BC, director, Family Nurse Practitioner specialty, and assistant professor, UMSON, have been named new co-directors. They will work alongside current co-director Joseph P. Martinez, MD, associate dean for medical education and student experience and associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, UMSOM.

When we care for individuals and communities as health care providers, it is important to remain humble and realize many solutions may exist, Gourley said. Bringing interprofessional students and faculty together augments the opportunity to develop holistic, patient-centered solutions for our patients and communities. Students benefit from learning this early in their careers, so they can integrate this into their professional practice for years to come.

Patient care is improved when clinicians work together, Horn said. Students need to understand the roles of different professions who may be involved in the care of the patient and how to communicate and collaborate effectively. IPE gives the students the knowledge and skills they need so they can be successful in their clinical experiences participating as a member of the health care team.
| By Brittney Brookins

This Thanksgiving, the spirit of giving was alive and well in West Baltimore, thanks to a collaboration between the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) Staff Senate and Office of Community Engagement, the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), and WJZ-TV.

The partnership culminated i n the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Blessing Day, an effort supplying 958 turkeys and holiday cheer to families in West Baltimore who would have otherwise struggled to access a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) holds its annual Thanksgiving Drive organized by the Staff Senate and the Office of Community Engagement in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and WJZ-TV.

We are in a food desert, and many of the families in the surrounding communities often arent able to get out to get their Thanksgiving goods, said Brian C. Sturdivant, MSW, director of strategic initiatives and community partnerships. This, in part, is an effort to make life easier for our neighbors so they dont have to travel so far to get what they need to have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dedicated volunteers from UMB and UMMC energetically distributed turkeys among community collaborators in West Baltimore. The delivery day began at 7:30 a.m., with volunteers loading a U-Haul, a mobile van, and a UMB Police van with frozen turkeys procured from Shoppers Food. Once the turkeys were stowed, the volunteers set off on their journey to disperse the meals across 22 convenient pickup locations in West Baltimore for community members to retrieve their baskets.

Its one of the best days of the year where we help so many community members all throughout West Baltimore, said Mariellen Synan, manager of community health improvement at UMMC. Our schools, our patients, our community, everyone gets helped today, as many as we can.

Thanksgiving Turkey Blessing Day went beyond merely providing meals. It also was about nurturing a sense of unity, compassion, and togetherness within the community.

We know that our neighbors in Baltimore welcome us as a campus, said Aaron Graham, JD, associate director of career development, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, and president of the UMB Staff Senate. As neighbors, we take care of our neighbors whenever possible.

Hollins House, a residential community for adults age 62 and older as well as people with disabilities, was among the community partners that received turkeys for their residents and nearby families.

Enterprise Community Development is an affordable housing provider operating across the Mid-Atlantic region, and UMB is a partner with our location, Hollins House, said Nii Sowah, vice president of community impact strategies. "The UMB Community Engagement Center partners with us to provide resources and opportunities such as this that enrich the lives of our residents.
Demonstrators with MoveOn, stage a protest calling for the expulsion of U.S. Rep. George Santos featuring a large balloon version of Santos outside of the U.S. Capitol building Washington, November 28, 2023.

Speaker Mike Johnson expressed reservations Wednesday about expelling Rep. George Santos from the House this week, but said he and other GOP leaders will not push colleagues to oppose removing the New York Republican from office. Were going to allow people to vote their conscience, Johnson said.

Santos has survived two previous expulsion efforts in his first year in Congress and has said he will not seek reelection, but the hands-off approach this time could tip the scales against him. Support for ousting Santos has grown after a monthslong investigation by the House Ethics Committee found that Santos sought to fraudulently exploit every aspect of his House candidacy for his own personal financial profit.

Johnson, R-La., said he has heard Republican lawmakers make forceful arguments on both sides. Some have argued that Santos should have his day in court before an expulsion vote occurs; that has been the precedent in the House so far. Others believe that some of the things Santos did are infractions against the House itself and deserving of expulsion.

And so what weve said as the leadership team is were going to allow people to vote their conscience I think is the only appropriate thing we can do, Johnson said. Weve not whipped the vote and we wouldnt. I trust that people will make that decision thoughtfully and in good faith. I personally have real reservations about doing this. Im concerned about a precedent that may be set.

Lawmakers returned from their Thanksgiving break this week with competing expulsion resolutions brought to the floor  one from Democrats, the other from Republicans. The resolutions require leadership to bring them up for consideration within two days, though it is expected that Democrats would not seek a second vote if Johnson brings the Republican expulsion resolution to the floor first.

A vote on expulsion could occur as early as Thursday, though Johnson suggested it would slip to Friday.

In the history of the House, only five members have been expelled, which is the most serious form of punishment the House can exact on its members. Only two have been removed by their colleagues since the Civil War.

The Republican resolution is sponsored by Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, chairman of the House Ethics Committee. It states that the committees investigation determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated federal law and the rules of the House, namely by converting campaign funds to personal use and through systemic reporting errors in his 2020 and 2022 campaigns filings with the Federal Election Commission. It also noted Santos lack of candor with investigators, saying he provided them with misrepresentations and delay tactics.

Given his egregious violations, Santos is not fit to serve in the House and should be expelled, according to the resolution.

Santos, who is facing 23 charges in federal court, defiantly rejected the committees findings in remarks on the House floor shortly after the resolution from Guest was offered by Rep. Anthony DEsposito, R-N.Y. Santos has pleaded not guilty.

The process in which the Ethics Committee engaged was incomplete, irresponsible, and littered with hyperbole and littered with biased opinions, Santos said.

Some Republicans are holding out hope that Santos will resign before an expulsion vote. But he has been adamant that will not happen. To set the record straight and put this in the record, I will not be resigning, Santos said on Tuesday night.

Johnsons remarks came after a closed-door meeting among Republicans. There is division within the conference about how to deal with Santos. At least two-thirds of the members present and voting must vote for the resolution for Santos to be expelled.

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said let the people of New York deal with him. Hes already said hes not running, Norman said. Our priorities are misplaced by putting this at the top of the list, and even having a conversation about it. To me, as I told the rest of them, Americans deserve better. Added Rep. Bob Good, R-Va.: This is a terrible, dangerous precedent.

An expulsion resolution voted on in early November failed by a vote of 179 for expulsion and 213 against, with 19 voting present. Many Republicans wanted to wait for the House Ethics Committee to complete its investigation before making such a decision about Santos.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., joined with most Republicans in voting against expulsion four weeks ago. But this time he will be a yes, he said.

Its very clear this guy is a crook, Johnson said. His presence is unbecoming of the House. Ill certainly vote to expel and I think it will be a pretty strong bipartisan vote.

Republicans hold a 222-213 majority in the House. If Santos is forced from Congress, New York law will require Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to call a special election for his seat.

The governor would have 10 days from the day Santos leaves office to issue a proclamation calling for an election, and then that election would have to take place between 70 days and 80 days from her proclamation.

More than a dozen candidates are already running for Santos seat, including former Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who previously represented the district before an unsuccessful run for governor last year.

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In a recent Gallup report, a disconcerting revelation emerges - Americans' confidence in higher education is waning, marking a decline from 48% in 2018 to a mere 36% in 2023. This erosion of trust spans demographic groups, with a particularly noticeable dip among Republicans, those without a college degree, and individuals aged 55 and older.

Demographic Decline: A Universally Fading Trust

The Gallup study paints a vivid picture of fading confidence in higher education, indicating a decline across all demographics. The shift is especially pronounced among Republicans, individuals without a college degree, and those aged 55 and older, raising questions about the factors influencing this downturn in trust.

Those with college or postgraduate degrees express more confidence in higher education, attributing their assurance to firsthand experiences of the benefits it brings. Jonathan Fansmith, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at the American Council on Education, highlights the correlation between personal experience and confidence, emphasizing that those who have undergone higher education feel more positively about the system.

READ MORE: How To Find A Good College Fit? US News And World College Rankings Could Help You

Generational Disparities

While confidence has dropped among the youngest demographic (18 to 34), a Gallup and Lumina Foundation study from 2022 reveals that about three-quarters of current and prospective college students still view a college education as crucial or even more important than it was two decades ago. This apparent contradiction underlines a nuanced relationship between perceived value and institutional confidence.

Though the Gallup poll doesn't delve into the reasons behind the decline in confidence, experts suggest a myriad of factors. A notable contributor is the growing political divide surrounding higher education. Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, points to the portrayal of campuses as liberal strongholds, contributing to a sense of distrust among conservative circles.

The Soaring Cost of Education

The soaring cost of attending college emerges as a pivotal factor in the erosion of confidence. The average cost of tuition and fees continues to rise, limiting choices for prospective students who feel financially constrained. The burden of student loans, reaching an average of $29,719 for the class of 2021, contributes to the perception that higher education is becoming financially unattainable for many.

Despite efforts, including federal programs like the Pell Grant, the 2022 Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll reveals that less than a quarter of currently enrolled or prospective students believe that majority of Americans have access to quality and affordable education beyond high school. This perception of an exclusive system may deter individuals from pursuing higher education.

Strategies for Change

To rebuild confidence in higher education, experts advocate for transparency in cost, aid options, and the real value of attending college. College Promise programs, offering scholarships to eligible high school graduates, are highlighted as a step toward making education more accessible.

Addressing the rising cost of college is imperative, with Stephanie Marken of Gallup emphasizing the need for "real ways" to combat affordability challenges. Investments in grant and work-study programs, along with federal-state partnerships, are proposed solutions to alleviate the financial strain on students.

Critics highlight concerns about graduates being ill-equipped for the workforce, prompting a call for colleges to focus on providing 21st-century skills. Lynn Pasquerella stresses the importance of aligning education with practical skills, emphasizing the role of colleges in preparing students for the challenges of the contemporary world.

The declining confidence in higher education reflects a complex interplay of factors ranging from political perceptions to financial burdens. To reverse this trend, a multifaceted approach is needed, including addressing the rising costs, ensuring accessibility, and aligning educational curricula with the evolving demands of the workforce. Only through concerted efforts can higher education institutions regain the trust of the American public and continue to be seen as catalysts for personal and societal growth.





RELATED ARTICLE: College Education More Important To Americans Now Than 20 Years Ago
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) The Command & Staff Conference of Pakistan Navy concluded here on Thursday which was chaired by Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

During the conference, matters related to national security, geo strategic affairs, combat readiness and training of troops were discussed, a Pakistan Navy news release said.

The conference assessed the evolving maritime situation in the region due to ongoing conflict in middle East.

Under the prevailing maritime situation in the Middle East, deployment of Pakistan Navy Ship for the protection of Pakistans merchant ships was discussed.

Progress on Pakistan Navy projects including future plans was also reviewed and way forward was deliberated.

The Naval Chief emphasized on maintaining perpetual combat readiness to effectively thwart any aggression against Pakistan.

He lauded the initiatives undertaken towards capability development through acquisition of state of the art platforms and emerging technologies.

The Admiral expressed full confidence over high state of operational preparedness of Pakistan Navy to meet maritime challenges while safeguarding the maritime frontiers of Pakistan.

The Command & Staff Conference is the apex decision making body of Pakistan Navy in which Chief of the Naval Staff along with all Principal Staff Officers and Field Commanders review the policies and plans of Pakistan Navy.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 30, 2023 - 16:16 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday embarked on a four-day trip to the United Arab Emirates to attend a U.N. conference on climate change, during which he is expected to hold talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Kishida is slated to take part in a summit-level gathering of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP28, scheduled for two days through Saturday in Dubai.

Kishida will deliver a speech on Friday on the country's decarbonization strategy, the Foreign Ministry said. Japan, one of the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

"I would like to demonstrate Japan's determination to take a leading role in Asia" to realize carbon neutrality, Kishida told reporters at his office before leaving Tokyo for Dubai.

Kishida also said that he plans to hold talks on the sidelines of the U.N. conference with leaders from Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar as well as Italy, which will take over the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven from Japan in 2024. He may meet with Herzog on Friday, government sources said.

It would be Kishida's first in-person talks with an Israeli political leader since the Middle Eastern nation was attacked by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, triggering a large-scale conflict.

At the talks, Kishida is poised to call on Herzog to work to ease tensions in the conflict centered on the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave of Gaza, the sources said.

Resource-poor Japan, which is highly dependent on crude oil and other energy materials from the Middle East, has traditionally sought to pursue a "balanced diplomacy" between Israel and Muslim countries in the region.

Kishida has expressed eagerness to encourage COP28 participants to make more efforts to accomplish the goals outlined in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement.

The 2015 Paris Agreement sets out a framework to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change by limiting global warming to "well below" 2 C, preferably to 1.5 C, compared with levels before the Industrial Revolution.

Related coverage:

Japan PM steps up efforts for stable energy supply from Middle East

Japan, Saudi Arabia push forward on decarbonization tech tie-up
Vice Chancellor of the Shuhada-e-APS University of Science and Technology Nowshera, Brig. (Rtd) Prof Dr Zafar M. Khan called on Caretaker Minister for Technical Education, Industries, Commerce, and Newly Merged Districts Affairs, Dr Aamer Abdullah here on Thursday and presented him a three-year performance report regarding the development, educational, and training activities of the varsity from 2020 to 2023

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) Vice Chancellor of the Shuhada-e-APS University of Science and Technology Nowshera, Brig. (Rtd) Prof Dr Zafar M. Khan called on Caretaker Minister for Technical Education, Industries, Commerce, and Newly Merged Districts Affairs, Dr Aamer Abdullah here on Thursday and presented him a three-year performance report regarding the development, educational, and training activities of the varsity from 2020 to 2023.

During the meeting, the vice-chancellor told the caretaker minister that around 610 kanals of land had been acquired near Rashakai Special Economic Zone and Motorway for the country's first-ever and only technology university, while the foundation stone has also been laid.

He said the university has received the honour that the Higher Education Commission has recognized its degree.

Similarly, the Research, Innovation, and Commercialization Office (ORIC) has been established in the university for research activities, while the Quality Enhancement Cell has also been set up for the improvement of institutional quality.

Dr Zafar M. Khan said in order to get exposure to working in the industry for the students and qualified graduates of this institution, contacts have been established with various industries, as a result, the students will not only do internships in these industries but also this initiative will be made an effective and fruitful collaboration between academia and industry relations.

He said that various professional education courses have been introduced at the university with the support of NAVTTC, two batches of which have been successfully completed.

Similarly, the university has also started work on the affiliation of technical education colleges, which will further improve the promotion of technical education in the province.

The vice-chancellor said that efforts are being made to provide all possible facilities required for education and training to the students, while the university has established modern laboratories with equipment worth 200 million rupees, and work is underway to receive more equipment at a cost of 250 million rupees for its labs.

On this occasion, the caretaker minister lauded the role of the vice chancellor and the efforts of the university administration.

He hoped the vice-chancellor's efforts would take the university to greater heights and the graduates from this institution could get good jobs in the country and abroad.

APP/vak
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Thimpu, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) Bhutan voted Thursday in Primary polls to choose the top two political parties who will contest only the fourth-ever general election in the tiny Himalayan kingdom's history.

Voters travelled from far across the mountain nation to cast ballots for five parties, with the leading two to compete in the general election on January 9.

Bhutanese people voted for the first time in 2008 after political reforms were instituted soon after the start of the reign of the present king. He remains widely popular among the country's nearly 800,000 people.

In the capital Thimpu on Thursday, an AFP reporter saw small queues as people waited to vote alongside fluttering prayer flags in the majority Buddhist nation.

With large parts of the country far from motorable roads, a quarter of the nearly 500,000 registered voters will use postal ballots, but many are still travelling long distances to take part in person.

"My family and I embarked on a two-day journey from the capital to our hometown in Trashigang to participate in the election," truck driver Samten Wangchuk said.

"As a private employee, I do not qualify for a postal ballot, so my wife, in-laws and youngest child accompanied me."

Wedged between China and India, the tiny Himalayan kingdom is famed for its philosophy of "Gross National Happiness", which sees the country benchmark itself on citizen wellbeing instead of economic growth.

Wangchuck, 34, said he was determined to vote because the monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, had stressed it was a civic duty.

- 'Responsibility' -

The truck driver added that he had been following political debates on television and social media.

"While party manifestos and election debates seem promising, the reality is that winning governments often fall short of fulfilling all their pledges," he said.

"Nevertheless, participating in the election remains our responsibility."

Elections have always been peaceful and orderly in the kingdom.

Bhutan has been governed for the past five years by Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, a physician known for conducting surgeries on the weekend as a "de-stressor" from the pressures of office.

Tshering Penjor, 23, a photographer, said he wanted a government "focused on sustainable" policies.

Penjor, who drove four hours to vote, said he wanted it to be easier for more people to vote by postal ballot.

Yangchen Choden Rinzin, 36, a civil servant, said she was hoping for "a government dedicated to national development rather than just winning elections".

Despite its focus on happiness, Bhutan also has its share of problems, including corruption, rural poverty and youth unemployment.

"The past three governments have consistently not supported each other's policies, and this time I hope to see it change," Rinzin told AFP.

"While none of the party manifestos seem realistic, I based my vote on the competence of individual members."
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Chinese PLA Army Logistics Academy on Thursday held a seminar on "Defence Economy and Military Logistics" in Chongqing city

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) The Chinese PLA Army Logistics academy on Thursday held a seminar on "Defence Economy and Military Logistics" in Chongqing city.

Delegates from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Armenia attended the seminar online while representatives from more than 30 Chinese military and civil units participated in the seminar offline, Chinese Defence Ministrys Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian said in a monthly briefing.

He further introduced that focusing on the theme of Innovation and Practice of Defence Economy and Military Logistics in the New Era, the delegates shared their research outcomes, experience and practice, and discussed approaches to innovation and development of defence economy and military logistics in the context of new era.

The seminar provided a platform for more international cooperation in this area.

APP/asg
(@FahadShabbir)

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) Mourners paid final tribute Wednesday to former US first lady Rosalynn Carter at a private funeral service attended by a frail Jimmy Carter, before she was buried at their home in the small town of Plains, Georgia.

Jimmy Carter, 99, joined the funeral in a wheelchair after also attending a public ceremony Tuesday in Atlanta where two of his White House successors -- President Joe Biden and former president Bill Clinton -- as well as all five living first ladies paid their last respects.

Rosalynn Carter, who died last week at the age of 96, was a key part of her husband's political career and boosted the modern role of first lady during his single term as president from 1977-1981.

Her death saw an outpouring of praise for her work alongside Jimmy Carter promoting democracy and health programs around the world after they left the White House.

Wednesday's service took place in the Baptist church where the Carters worshiped for decades, with family members including their great-grandchildren delivering addresses and reading scriptures.

Some of the 200 attendees wore colorful lei garlands to honor Rosalynn Carter's love of Hawaii, where the young couple lived when Jimmy Carter was in the navy.

The couple married in 1946, forming a famously close union that lasted 77 years.

They met in Plains as children and returned to live there after Jimmy Carter lost the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan.

After the service, the hearse was driven through the town's tiny center to the Carters' modest house, where Rosalynn Carter was buried on a sloping lawn, US media reported, adding that the former president will one day be buried beside her.

Jimmy Carter, who has been in hospice care at the couple's home since February, said in a statement when she died that Rosalynn had been "my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished."
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Gaza Strip, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) A Hamas source told AFP that 10 Israeli hostages would be released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, two of them also holding Russian citizenship, as part of a one-day truce extension.

"All of them are alive," the source said. "Israel last night refused a list Hamas proposed that included three Israeli bodies.

"

"The negotiations were very difficult and lasted all night, right up to a few minutes before 7:00 am this morning (0500 GMT)," the source said.

The truce, which was to expire at that time, has since Friday paused fighting in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas and seen Israeli hostages released in exchange for three times as many Palestinian prisoners.
Skopje, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Nov, 2023) The world's largest regional security group opened its Skopje summit Thursday in controversy, with Ukraine, Poland and Baltic nations boycotting the talks to protest Russia's attendance.

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been struggling to survive as Russia is blocking key decisions, including the group's budget.

These building tensions were brought to a head by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's expected attendance at the gathering, sparking the boycott from Ukraine and key allies over 20 months into Russia's attack.

"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine flies in the face of all this organisation holds dear," said Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's foreign affairs minister and OSCE chairman in office, during opening remarks as the summit kicked off.

"The war undermines trust, dialogue, and our capacity to deliver," he added.

Created in 1975 as a forum for dialogue between the Eastern and Western blocs, the OSCE is struggling to operate as Russia's war in Ukraine drives tensions.

Earlier this week, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania noted they would boycott the annual ministerial conference, with Poland saying Russia's presence was "unacceptable".

Ukraine wants the OSCE to expel Russia, as the Council of Europe has done, warning the body faced a "slow death" if Moscow remains a member.

"We just cannot ignore the fact that the Russian minister of foreign affairs will be present at the table of the organisation that is supposed to build peace and security in Europe," Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told reporters on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Skopje on Wednesday for a pre-summit dinner with representatives of other OSCE states, was not in attendance on Thursday.

Lavrov arrived in North Macedonia on Wednesday evening and was expected to address the summit in the capital Skopje later on Thursday.

- Multilateralism -

Late on Wednesday, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he understood the unease of some states but welcomed the decision by North Macedonia to allow Lavrov to participate, saying it aligned with the "common objective of keeping multilateralism alive".

"It will be a good occasion for him (Lavrov) to listen directly from the participants at this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated," he told reporters.

After months of negotiations, Malta on Monday agreed to take over the organisation's rotating presidency next year, instead of NATO member Estonia -- who the Kremlin openly rejected.

The ruling is expected to be ratified during the two-day ministerial meeting.

On Wednesday, Russia accused Western countries of trying to stop its officials from attending the summit.

"We see attempts by part of the West to do everything possible to hinder our country's normal participation at this meeting," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

She went on to accuse some countries -- without naming them -- of threatening "the very existence of the organisation, just to satisfy their ambitions".

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the OSCE has issued several reports on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russian armed forces.

Borrell is also attending the meeting but has said he will not meet Lavrov directly.
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a session on the management of complete clinical response following neoadjuvant systemic therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. Adam Feldman discussing trimodality therapy/radiotherapy if there is complete clinical response.



Dr. Feldman noted that the current standard of care for muscle invasive bladder cancer for cisplatin eligible patients is either neoadjuvant chemotherapy + radical cystectomy or trimodality therapy (maximal TUR combined with chemoradiation). There are several reasons for considering trimodality therapy:

Morbidity and short and long term complication risk of radical cystectomy is relatively high

Many muscle invasive bladder cancer patients in the United States are undertreated

It is an option in our guidelines and patient education informational literature

Oncologic outcomes in appropriately selected patients are similar to surgery

Quality of life implications for our patients from organ preservation

Unfortunately, data from the RAZOR trial showed no difference for open versus robotic cystectomy, as did data from the iROC trial.1 However, robotic cystectomy in the iROC trial showed fewer wound and thromboembolic complications with robotic surgery, but the overall complication rates were similar between the open and robotic arms. Additionally, cystectomy may be associated with renal insufficiency, with 72% of patients having a decrease in eGFR by 10 years, ~56% of patients having new onset Stage 3 CKD, and 3.5% progressing to hemodialysis.

At Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Dr. Feldman says that they have excellent long-term results with trimodality therapy that are comparable to radical cystectomy: among cT2 disease, 5-year DSS is 74% and 10-year DSS is 66%.2 Among patients treated in a contemporary setting (2005-2013), salvage cystectomy rates are only 15%.2

How does trimodality therapy compare to radical cystectomy? Since the UK SPARE trial failed to accrue, we rely on population level data and multi-institutional experiences. Williams et al. used the SEER-Medicare data and propensity score matching to show that patients who underwent trimodal therapy had significantly decreased overall survival (HR 1.49, 95% CI, 1.31-1.69) and cancer-specific survival (HR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.32-1.83):3



No differences in costs at 30 days were observed between trimodal therapy ($15,233 in 2002 vs $18,743 in 2011) and radical cystectomy ($17,990 in 2002 vs $21,738 in 2011). However, median total costs were significantly higher with trimodal therapy than with radical cystectomy at 90 days ($80,174 vs $69,181; median difference, $8,964) and at 180 days ($179,891 vs $107,017; median difference, $63,771). Dr. Feldman notes that one of the key limitations of the SEER-Medicare study was that patients who were unfit for surgery were not able to be excluded. In other population level studies using the NCDB and Veteran Affairs data, there has been no difference in cancer-specific and overall survival.

Arguably, the best data outside of a randomized clinical trial, comes from a high-level propensity matched score matched multi-institutional (Toronto, MGH, USC) study assessing radical cystectomy versus trimodality therapy in highly selected patients.4 This retrospective analysis included 703 patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer clinical stage T2-T3/4aN0M0 muscle invasive bladder cancer urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Specifically, there were 421 radical cystectomy patients and 282 trimodality therapy patients who would have been eligible for both trimodality therapy or radical cystectomy (2005-2017). To compare homogeneous cohorts, all patients included in this analysis had solitary tumors <7 cm, no unilateral hydronephrosis, and no extensive carcinoma in situ. Treatment propensity scores were estimated using logistic regression, and patients were matched 3:1 with replacement and a caliper of 0.25. Covariates included age, sex, clinical T stage (cT2 vs cT3-4), hydronephrosis, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, body mass index, smoking history, and ECOG status. Overall survival was estimated with adjusted Cox models, and cancer-specific survival, distant failure-free survival, regional failure-free survival, and metastasis-free survival (combined distant and pelvic nodal failure) were estimated with adjusted competing risk models.

The 3:1 matched cohort comprised 1,116 patients (834 radical cystectomy vs 282 trimodality therapy). After matching, age (71.3 vs 71.6 years), cT2 clinical stage (88 vs 90%), presence of hydronephrosis (12 vs 10%), and use of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy (60 vs 56%) were similar between radical cystectomy and trimodality therapy cohorts. At 5 years, there was no difference in metastasis-free survival (73 vs 78%, p = 0.07):



There was also no difference in distant failure-free survival (5-year: 78 vs 82%, p = 0.14):



There was also no difference in regional failure-free survival (5-year: 96 vs 95%, p = 0.33):



However, there was a benefit for trimodality therapy for cancer specific survival (5-year: 85% vs 78%, p = 0.02):

Additionally, trimodality also favored overall survival (5-year: 78% vs 66%, p < 0.001):



With regards to local recurrences after trimodality therapy, based on a pooled MGH and RTOG analysis, this suggests 25%-36% of patients have NMIBC and 13%-14% have muscle invasive bladder recurrence. Based on the MGH experience, Dr. Feldman notes that 13.5% of patients have a salvage radical cystectomy for recurrence while on surveillance with 5- and 10-year disease free survival rates after salvage cystectomy of 64% and 55%, respectively.

For patients that have a complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we have to be careful that these patients actually have T0 disease. The TUR accuracy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed in the Systematic Endoscopic Evaluation Trial at the Fox Chase Cancer Center, whereby a biopsy of visible tumor, the tumor bed, and random biopsies were performed prior to radical cystectomy [5]. Among 61 patients enrolled in the trial, 38 (62.3%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On Systematic Endoscopic Evaluation, 31 (50.8%) patients demonstrated no visual nor biopsy-based evidence of disease (seeT0), yet 16/31 (51.6%) harbored residual disease (>pT0), including 8 (8/31, 25.8%) with residual pT2 disease upon radical cystectomy. The negative predictive value of Systematic Endoscopic Evaluation predicting a pT0 bladder was 48.4% (CI 30.2-66.9), below the prespecified hypothesis.

In combined work from MSKCC and Columbia University, Mazza et al. assessed 148 patients who were cT0 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy that was elective for surveillance.6 Among these patients, 11% had muscle invasive bladder cancer recurrence, 37% had NMIBC recurrence, and 27 patients (18%) ultimately underwent a salvage radical cystectomy. The 5-year disease specific survival for these patients was 90%. Pooled data in this disease space is poor quality, suggesting:

Mean bladder recurrence rate: 43% (65% NMIBC, 35% muscle invasive)

Mean bladder preservation rate: 73%

5-year overall survival: 64-89%

For patients that receive radiotherapy after complete clinical response, the mean bladder recurrence rate is 15% (24% NMIBC, 43% muscle invasive, and 33% that is undeterminable), with a mean bladder preservation rate of 74%, and 4 year overall survival rate of 79%. We know from the BC2001 trial that patients undergoing chemoradiation should be receiving radiosensitizing chemotherapy based on disease free and overall survival benefit:7

With regards to potential biomarkers in this disease space, Dr. Feldman highlighted the RETAIN I trial, which is a phase II multi-institutional, non-inferiority trial to evaluate a risk-adapted approach to treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer. Pre-chemotherapy, the primary tumor is sequenced for ATM, ERCC2, FANCC, or RB1, then the patient is treated with 3 cycles of neoadjuvant aMVAC followed by a restaging TURBT and the following post-chemotherapy options:

The primary endpoint of the trial is metastasis free survival at 2 years. An update on RETAIN was presented at GU ASCO 2023 by Dr. Daniel Geynisman. From 4 academic centers, 102 patients were enrolled over 33 months, with the ITT cohort ultimately being 71 patients. The median age was 70 years (IQR: 47-83), 74% were male, 92% Caucasian, 81% were ECOG PS 0, and 79% had cT2 disease. Overall, 90% completed 3 cycles of MVAC with 17% grade 3-4 TRAEs. Among the 37 patients who were mutation negative, most went on to cystectomy, though two did opt for active surveillance, six for chemoradiation, and three for BCG. In the ITT population, 33 (46%) had a relevant mutation and 26 (37%) began active surveillance. With a median follow-up of 41 months, 47 patients (66%) are metastasis-free (CI 54%-77%). The 2-year MFS for the ITT patients was 72% (lower bound exact 1-sided 95% CI = 62%). Unfortunately, this did not meet predefined cutoff for significance, thus the trial could not declare the risk-adapted approach non-inferior. On post hoc analysis, the 2-year MFS was 76.9% in the AS group and 70.5% in the remaining patients (no significant difference). Dr. Feldman notes that RETAIN 2 is adding nivolumab to the neoadjuvant regimen.

Another trial in this disease space is the Alliance A031701 phase II trial, which has accrued 172 patients of which 24% have a DDR gene alteration. Of note, this trial allows for residual CIS and BCG, radiotherapy, or radical cystectomy as definitive therapy. The trial schema for this trial is as follows:

Is trimodality therapy better after neoadjuvant chemotherapy? Dr. Feldman notes that based on data from the NCDB and from their MGH experience, the answer is no given no difference in cumulative incidence of distant metastasis, disease specific survival, and overall survival:



Dr. Feldman emphasizes that for those who want to keep their bladder, it is important to try and get it right from the start. For 1/3 of muscle invasive bladder cancer patients who are candidates for trimodality therapy, help them make the right choice from the start and avoid additional potential toxicity from neoadjuvant chemotherapy on top of radiosensitizing chemotherapy.

Finally, what about quality of life and radiation cystitis? Toxicity in the RTOG trimodality trials is generally reasonable, with no grade 4 or 5 events and a grade 3 GU toxicity event rate of 5.7%. Additionally, in BC2001, among 360 patients treated with radiation versus trimodality therapy, the grade 3-4 late GU event rate was 3.3%.7 In work presented at the 2023 AUA by Egan et al. looking at local bladder complications and radiation cystitis among 271 patients, the majority of events were insignificant, but there is an occasional need for intervention:



Dr. Feldman concluded his presentation discussing trimodality therapy/radiotherapy if there is complete clinical response in the setting of muscle invasive bladder cancer emphasizing that radical cystectomy is the standard of care. However, for patients who refuse cystectomy, chemoradiation allows the patient to keep their bladder, lower the risk of recurrence, and lower the need for salvage cystectomy. Ultimately, this is likely a goldilocks dilemma: radical cystectomy is likely too much, observation is likely not enough, and trimodality therapy may be just right.

Presented by: Adam S. Feldman, MD, MPH Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Tues, Nov 28  Fri, Dec 1, 2023.

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a session on penile cancer, featuring a presentation by Drs. Reza Mehrazin and Alice Yu discussing robotic inguinal lymph node dissection. Dr. Mehrazin took the pro stance for a robotic approach, discussing robotic-assisted video-endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (RAVEIL) in penile cancer.



From an epidemiology standpoint, penile cancer is a rare malignancy, accounting for 0.4-0.6% of all cancers in men in the United States and Europe, but with up to 25% of patients presenting with advanced disease. Inguinal lymph node status has been found to be the most important prognostic predictor of cancer specific survival: patients with negative lymph nodes have a 5-year cancer specific survival of ~95%, where as those with N1 have 80% 5-year cancer specific survival, N2 has 65% and N3 has 35%. Patients that are low risk (Tis, Ta, T1a) should have local therapy followed by surveillance of the inguinal lymph nodes, whereas intermediate risk (T1b) or high risk (>= T2) patients should have prophylactic bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Although inguinal lymph node dissection is diagnostic and has a survival benefit, open dissection has complication rates of 50-100%, including flap necrosis, leg edema, lymphocele/seroma, wound infection, and deep vein thrombosis. Factors associated with lower complication rate include:

Dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy

Prevention of surgical site infection

Modified inguinal lymph node dissection template (ie. saphenous vein sparing, drainage, fascial sparing)

Post-surgical lymphedema prevention and care

DVT prophylaxis

A minimally invasive surgical approach

A minimally invasive approach to inguinal lymph node dissection was initially described in 2006, with Dr. Master and colleagues providing long-term follow-up of their series in 2012.1 Among 29 patients undergoing 41 minimally invasive lymphadenectomies (with different malignancies), there were no Clavien IIIb-V complications, with a reasonable Clavien I-IIIa complication rate:

In 2018, Singh and colleagues reported a comparison of outcomes between robotic (n = 51) and open (n = 100) inguinal lymph node dissection in patients with penile cancer.2 They found that RAVEIL and open inguinal lymph node dissection had comparable median lymph node yields (13 vs 12.5), and no patient experienced recurrence during a median 40 month follow-up. RAVEIL was associated with significantly lower:

Hospital stay

Days needing a drain in situ

Incidence of major complications

Edge necrosis

Flap necrosis

Severe limb edema

Of note, operative time for RAVEIL was longer (median 75 min vs 60 min, p < 0.0001). On multivariable analysis, pathological nodal stage (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-6.8, p = 0.027) and open inguinal lymph node dissection (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.3-43, p = 0.024) were risk factors associated with an increased risk of major complications.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing RAVEIL and video-endoscopic inguinal lymphadenectomy (VEIL) versus open inguinal lymph node dissection (OILND) assessed 8 studies (including two randomized clinical trials) of 213 minimally invasive surgery patients versus 283 open surgery patients.3 In this study, the RAVEIL/VEIL group was superior to OILND in:

Shorter hospital stay: MD = -1.06 (-1.14; -0.98), p < 0.001

Decreased duration of drainage: MD = -2.82 (-3.21; -2.43), p < 0.001

Wound infection rate: OR = 0.15 (0.08; 0.27), p < 0.001

Skin necrosis rate: OR = 0.12 (0.05; 0.28), p < 0.001

Lymphedema rate: OR = 0.41 (0.24; 0.72), p = 0.002

Major complication rate: OR = 0.11 (0.05; 0.24), p < 0.001

Slightly larger lymph node yield: MD = 0.44 (0.18; 0.70), p < 0.001

Recurrence rate and number of deaths were comparable in both groups. Of note, RAVEIL/VEIL was inferior to open lymph node dissection with longer operative time (MD = 15.28 [14.19; 16.38], p < 0.001).

With regards to single port RAVEIL, Dr. Mehrazin notes that there have been two prior case reports, as well as his current case series that is In Press in Endourology. For this procedure, Dr. Mehrazin notes that the patient is positioned supine on a split table, with the legs abducted and externally rotated with the knees slightly flexed. The lateral border (the sartorius muscle) is marked 20 cm down from the ASIS, the medial border (adductor longus) is marked 15 cm down from the pubic tubercle, and the cephalad margin is the inguinal ligament. The incision is carried down to the subcutaneous layer to the level of fascia lata, and the space is developed with an index finger. With multiport inguinal lymph node dissection, Dr. Mehrazin notes that he used to use the balloon spacer, but with the SP robot this is unnecessary for making space for trocars:

Dr. Mehrazin concluded his presentation discussing the pro aspect of robotic inguinal lymph node dissection with the following take-home points:

Overall, a robotic approach seems to be non-inferior to open inguinal lymph node dissection from an oncological standpoint, with the added benefit of lower high grade complication rate

A single port RAVEIL approach can also be a feasible option for patients undergoing inguinal lymph node dissection

However, prospective studies with larger case-series with longer follow-up

Dr. Alice Yu then discussed the con stance for robotic inguinal lymph node dissection. She started by emphasizing that in high risk patients with non-palpable lymph nodes, early detection of lymphatic spread is crucial. We know that in contemporary series of open inguinal lymph node dissection, more than 50% will have a post-operative complication and thus we must improve minimally invasive approaches, especially with cN0 cases. However, there are open techniques that decrease the risk of complications, including a modified template approach, saphenous vein preservation, fascia lata preservation, and dynamic sentinel lymph node dissection.

With regards to dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy, traditionally this approach has had a false negative rate of 22%, with a steep learning curve. Moreover, there are lower false-negative rates in high volume centers, but this requires multidisciplinary expertise in nuclear medicine, urology, and pathology. Innovations for dynamic sentinel lymph node biopsy include dual labeled/hybrid tracers, which combines traditional radioactive 99mTc-nanocolloid and fluorescent indocyanine green, allowing radio- and fluorescent guidance with ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid  the best of both worlds. In a 2020 published study in European Urology, the aim was to confirm the reliability of ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid and to assess whether blue dye is still of added value.4 This study included 400 men with T1G2N0 penile cancer who were staged with sentinel biopsy; sentinel nodes were preoperatively identified with lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT-CT. Intraoperatively, sentinel nodes were detected via gamma tracing, blue staining, and fluorescence imaging. Among 740 groins assessed, all preoperatively defined sentinel lymph nodes (n=1,163) were localized intraoperatively. Among all excised sentinel lymph nodes, 98% were detectable with gamma probe and 96% were visible with fluorescence imaging. In patients who received ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid and blue dye, fluorescence imaging yielded a 39% higher sentinel node detection rate than blue dye (95% CI 36-43%, p<0.001). Furthermore, of the sentinel nodes that were tumor positive, 100% were intraoperatively visualized by fluorescence imaging, whereas only 84% of the positive nodes stained blue:

Although there is much excitement surrounding minimally invasive inguinal lymphadenectomy for penile cancer, Dr. Yu notes that currently we still lack data to solidify this approach as standard of care. As mentioned in Dr. Mehrazins portion of the discussion, Singh and colleagues reported a comparison of outcomes between robotic (n = 51) and open (n = 100) inguinal lymph node dissection in patients with penile cancer, with the following findings:2

Regardless of how enticing a minimally invasive approach may be, there will always be patients who require an open approach based on disease characteristics, including those with bulky inguinal lymphadenopathy:

Management of locoregional recurrence is also important, with Dr. Yu highlighting a multicenter (international study across 4 centers) study (including patients from his group at Moffitt) of patients undergoing salvage inguinal resection for penile cancer recurrence following inguinal lymph node dissection.5 Among 20 patients meeting criteria, the mean time to recurrence was 7.7 months. At the time of salvage inguinal lymph node dissection, a median of 3 lymph nodes (range 1 to 17) were resected, with a median of 2 (range 1 to 7) nodes positive for malignancy. The median disease specific survival was 16.4 months, and median overall survival was 10.1 months. Of the initial cohort, nine patients were without evidence of disease and post-op complications occurred in 11 patients, including wound infections in six patients, postoperative severe (debilitating) lymphedema in four patients, and seroma in one patient.

Finally, Dr. Yu notes that the learning curve for a minimally invasive robotic approach is somewhat difficult to quantify. Generally, the mean lymph node yield is 5-6 per side with the videoscopic approach.

Dr. Yu concluded her presentation discussing the con aspect of robotic inguinal lymph node dissection with the following take-home points:

There is a questionable learning curve associated with the robotic approach

No clear conclusions can be made about recurrence rates

The robotic approach is not ideal for bulky tumors, post-chemoradiation, or redo operations

Overall, patient selection is key

Presented by:

Reza Mehrazin, MD, FACS, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY

Alice Yu, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Tues, Nov 28  Fri, Dec 1, 2023.

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a session on penile cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. Juanita Crook discussing advances in radiotherapy for penile cancer. Dr. Crook emphasized that the reason to consider radiation is that the majority of squamous cell carcinomas, including cervical, vulva, and head and neck cancer are highly radio-curable.



Furthermore, penile cancer has a similar bimodal etiology as vulvar squamous cell carcinoma: HPV infection and chronic inflammation. Other additional reasons for considering primary radiotherapy for penile squamous cell carcinoma are as follows:

Primary organ preservation

The potential for surgical salvage, if required

Radiation of the primary in conjunction with surgical nodal staging

Consideration of post-operative radiation when multiple nodes are involved or if there is extracapsular disease

Multidisciplinary collaboration with urologists

With regards to radiation to the primary, the two radiation modalities are external beam and brachytherapy. External beam radiotherapy is given with or without concurrent chemotherapy, including cisplatin 40 mg/m2/week or 5-FU/mitomycin or capecitabine. For brachytherapy, the majority of the experience is with low dose rate (LDR), with iridium 192 manually after loaded. Pulse dose rate (PDR) is equivalent from a radiobiologic standpoint if the hourly pulses are ~50 cGy. Additionally, high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is widely available after loaders, with the published experience of HDR increasing over recent years.

The ideal patient for brachytherapy has a tumor confined to the glans penis, <= 4 cm in size, and is circumcised. Dr. Crook notes that lymphovascular invasion and grade are not contraindications to brachytherapy. Microscopic disease and palpable disease are predictors of regional failure, thus lymph nodes should be addressed in the initial management in collaboration with a urologist. Brachytherapy is performed under local or general anesthesia, usually taking 30-45 minutes, with the patient catheterized during implantation. If the patient is having inpatient treatment, the penis is supported in a styrofoam collar to minimize dose to the neighboring tissue:



Moreover, the patient should be on prophylactic low-dose heparin or low molecular heparin and should wear anti-embolic stockings.

For LDR and PDR, there should be 2-3 planes, 4-9 needles spaced at 12-18 mm, at a dose of 60-65 Gy (LDR) or 50-65 cGy/hr (PDR) for 4-5 days:



The local control rate at 5 years for LDR/PDR ranges from 70-96%, with a penile conservation rate of ~70% at 10 years. As follows is a summary of the literature for LDR/PDR:

For HDR brachytherapy, treatment parameters are as follows:

Needle spacing: 9-12 mm

Recommended fraction size: 3-4.3 Gy BID

Total dose range: 38-53 Gy (depending on tumor volume)

Homogeneity guideline: V150 < 20%, V125 < 40%

Urethral dose should be limited to 115%

Post implant CT for planning: define the tumor volume with a wire

Margin for microscopic spread (CTV): 0.5  1.0 cm

Margin for uncertainty of set-up (PTV): not required

The following figure highlights the penile brachytherapy template:

The HDR literature reports a local control rate of 73-92% and penile conservation rate of 70-93%, with the following summary of the literature:

Dr. Crook then presented a case of a 72 year old male who had HPV positive for penile squamous cell carcinoma. After multiple local excisions, he had refused penectomy and was subsequently treated with 44/14/7 days (3.2 Gy/fraction) brachytherapy with the following pre- and post-treatment images:



Dr. Crook notes that most desquamation heals in about 3 months with expected sterile urethritis. However, urethral adhesions in the healing phase should be separated and sexual activity should be withheld until 3-8 weeks post-treatment. Late effects of brachytherapy include meatal stenosis in 8%-25% of cases, thus care must be taken with needle placement (meatal self-dilation reduces risk of stenosis to approximately 10%). Additionally, late soft tissue ulceration/necrosis can occur in up to 20% of cases, especially in larger or more deeply invasive tumors where more needles may be required. Most will heal with conservative measures, but hyperbaric oxygen may be useful in severe cases.

Even in complex cases, perhaps penectomy is not the only option. Dr. Crook presented another case of a 49 year old with T2cN2 penile squamous cell carcinoma who subsequently received 55.8 Gy to the primary and 45 Gy to the positive nodes, in addition to 6 cycles of concurrent cisplatin (40 mg/m2) weekly. He has been without evidence of disease for 7 years with the following pre-treatment and 9 month post treatment images:1



Another case is of a 54 year old with T1bN3 penile squamous cell carcinoma who subsequently received 55.8 Gy to the primary and 45 Gy to the positive nodes with 2 cycles of 5-FU + mitomycin C. He has been without evidence of disease for 7 years with the following pre-treatment and 9 month post treatment images [1]:1

External beam radiotherapy has a local control rate of 44%-70% and a penile sparing rate of 36%-66%, with the following table summarizing the reported literature:

Dr. Crook summarized her portion of the presentation discussing radiation to the primary with the following thoughts:

Interstitial brachytherapy (whether LDR/PDR or HDR) has a penile preservation rate at 5 years of approximately 85% and roughly 70% at 10 years

External beam radiotherapy +/- concurrent chemotherapy is best suited for younger patients who can tolerate treatment and want to keep their penis

The second part of Dr. Crooks presentation focused on management of radiation to the lymph nodes. We know that N-stage is crucial in determining survival for these patients: the 5 year cancer specific survival for patients with pN1 disease is ~70%, whereas for pN3 is 20%-30%. Chemo-radiotherapy is an option for patients with nodal disease. Dr. Crook then presented a case of a 67 year old male who had nodal recurrence 1 year after excisional biopsy of the primary lesion. He was subsequently treated with 67 Gy to the mass, 45 Gy to the pelvic lymph nodes and started on concurrent weekly platinum-based chemotherapy:

Three months post completion of chemo-radiation his groin lesion PET/CT SUV max was 3.2, and 7 years later he was doing well with no leg edema:



As a cautionary note, Dr. Crook emphasized that HPV + squamous cell carcinoma responds better to chemo-radiation, with 50 Gy in 25 fractions typically sufficient to control micrometastatic disease in >90% of cases for breast and head and neck cancers. Generally, the radiation sensitivity index indicates that squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is less sensitive overall to radiotherapy than other squamous cell carcinomas, such as cervical and head and neck cancer:2

Yuan et al. assessed the genomic-adjusted radiation dose (GARD) profiles of 25 patients, noting that penile squamous cell carcinoma GARD ranged from 9.56 to 38.39 (median 18.25), suggesting variable therapeutic effects from post-operative radiation therapy.2 Additionally, therapeutic benefit was only achieved in 52% of lesions with post-operative radiation therapy of 50 Gy, in contrast to 84% benefit from GARD-modeled post-operative radiation therapy of 66 Gy.

When it comes to penile, vulvar, and anal squamous cell cancer, the NCCN guidelines are quite divergent in terms of optimal treatment paradigms, with penile squamous cell carcinoma favoring a surgical approach and vulvar/anal squamous cell carcinoma favoring a chemo-radiation approach:

Dr. Crook emphasized that adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy after a positive pelvic lymph none dissection for penile squamous cell carcinoma increases overall survival. In a multi-institutional study, Tang and colleagues assessed 92 patients with available adjuvant pelvic radiation status and positive pelvic lymph nodes [3], noting that 43% received adjuvant radiation after positive pelvic lymph node dissection. Over a median follow-up of 9.3 months patients receiving adjuvant pelvic radiation had a median disease specific survival of 14.4 months vs. 8 months in the non-radiation group, respectively (p = 0.023). Patients without adjuvant pelvic radiation were associated with worse overall survival (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.01-2.92) and disease specific survival (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.09-3.36) on multivariable analysis:





Median time to recurrence was 7.7 months vs. 5.3 months in the radiation and non-radiation arm, respectively (p = 0.042).

For locally advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is typically standard of care, but with a 1 year survival probability of ~50%. To assess the role of chemo-radiotherapy in the locally advanced setting, Ottenhof et al. [4] performed a prospective, single-center, assessment of 49.5 Gy (33  1.5 Gy) on the affected inguinal and pelvic areas combined with intravenous mitomycin C on day 1 and capecitabine on radiation days. Primary tumors and PET/CT-positive deposits received a boost of 59.4 Gy (33  1.8 Gy). Among 33 patients (n = 29 stage IV), 32 completed chemo-radiotherapy. Over a median follow-up of 41 months, 24 patients (73%) responded, including 13 (39%) complete responses. There were 9 patients (27%) that underwent salvage surgery, and an additional 8 patients underwent later surgery (52% overall). The 1- and 2-year PFS rates were 34% and 31%, respectively, and the 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 73% and 46%, respectively:

The International Penile Advanced Cancer Trial (InPACT) is investigating the roles and optimal sequencing of surgery, chemotherapy, and chemo-radiotherapy for men presenting with nodal disease. Several key questions from the InPACT trial include:

What is the role of neoadjuvant treatment for men presenting with nodal disease? Which is preferable? Chemotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy? Can pelvic chemo-radiotherapy lead to equivalent outcomes to pelvic lymph node dissection for men at high risk of pelvic nodes after inguinal lymph node dissection?

With a target accrual of 200 patients and a primary endpoint of overall survival, Dr. Crook notes that the trial has accrued over 50% of the expected enrolment.

To conclude her presentation discussing radiotherapy for penile squamous cell carcinoma, Dr. Crook noted that the EAU/ASCO collaborative penile cancer guidelines were updated in 2023.5

Presented by: Juanita Crook, MD, FRCPC, BC Cancer, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Tues, Nov 28  Fri, Dec 1, 2023.

References:
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a session on urothelial cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. Katie Murray discussing chemoablation and renal preservation as the future for management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Dr. Murray notes that in 2023 UTUC is still a rare malignancy encompassing 6,000 to 7,000 cases per year in the United States (and by comparison, testicular cancer is 8,000 to 10,000 cases per year). Smoking is the most common risk factor, increasing the risk of UTUC 2-4x that above non-smokers. Additional risk factors include a history of bladder cancer, radiation exposure, and chemical exposure (aromatic hydrocarbons-petroleum/paint/textile, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, arsenic). Finally, there is a hereditary component to UTUC, specifically Lynch syndrome, which is the 3rd most common cancer in this syndrome.

Importantly, the AUA/SUO released the 2023 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of non-metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma in order to help guide management.1 Secondly, Dr. Murray emphasized that the goal of this specific talk is to highlight kidney sparing. The AUA/SUO guideline statement 9 states At time of identified UTUC, clinicians should perform a standardized assessment documenting clinically meaningful endoscopic and radiographic features to facilitate clinical staging and risk assessment (strong recommendation; evidence level grade B). Specifically, for ureteroscopy, a standardized report should include:

Sites of involvement

Number of tumors

Tumor appearance (descriptive)

Size of largest tumor (compared to the scope, basket, biopsy forceps, etc)

Retrograde pyelogram with description

Volume measurement of the upper tract

Dr. Murray emphasized that the reason to document and risk assess these patients is to assess each patient for renal preservation, which is a risk based management decision.

AUA/SUO guideline statement 10 states Following standardized assessment, clinicians should risk-stratify patients as low or high risk for invasive disease (pT2 or greater) based on obtained endoscopic, cytologic, pathologic, and radiographic findings. Further stratification into favorable and unfavorable risk groups should then be based on standard identified features (strong recommendation; evidence level Grade B). As such, biopsy alone is not enough for these patients. The following table offers a risk stratification and management algorithm:

Ablative techniques for renal preservation include endoscopic ablations, percutaneous resections, chemoablation, and new technologies for tumor ablation (mechanical and chemical tumor destruction). For endoscopic ablations, this can be technically challenging, there may be residual tumor, intravesical recurrences occur, primary recurrences are common, and disease progression can occur. At the same time as cancer control, there are other goals in organ sparing options for UTUC, which include: increased tolerability, increased efficacy, increased durability, and decreased morbidity.

In a recent meta-analysis assessing chemoablation for urothelial carcinoma, including 23 studies comprising 1,199 patients.2 Among patients treated with weekly administration of any agent, the pooled CR rates at initial assessment were 50.9% (95% CI 45.9-55.9) for the marker lesion and 47.5% (95% CI 36.5-58.7) for well-selected NMIBC (ie. small tumors and/or a small number of tumors). Novel regimens for chemoablation such as mitomycin C-gel (70.6%, 95% CI 60.1-79.3) and an intensive mitomycin C regimen (64.7%, 95% CI: 56.2-72.3) provided better complete response rates in well-selected NMIBC patients:

With regards to endoluminal treatments, McElree et al.3 assessed 41 renal units that were treated with sequential infusions of 1 g gemcitabine in a 50 ml bag of normal saline, followed by 37.5 mg docetaxel in a 50 ml saline bag. Treatment drug was hung 30 to 35 cm above the flank level, connected to the instillation tube via standard intravenous tubing, and 5 cc was rapidly run in to fill the renal pelvis followed by a constant gravity drip at a rate of 1 drip every 3 to 4 seconds for a total of 90 minutes. Induction treatments took place once weekly for 6 weeks. Recurrence-free survival was 76%, 54%, and 40% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. The 3-year progression-free and overall survival were 75% and 75%, respectively, with five patients dying from urothelial carcinoma:

There are several potential questions/issues for dwell time for chemoablation in the upper urinary tract:

How do we instill? What is the route of administration to allow for intensive regimens

Can you make the upper urinary tract a temporary storage organ like the bladder or overcome the fact that it is a transport organ? Perhaps this is an opportunity for drug eluting implants and/or reverse thermal hydrogel technology

Dr. Murray then discussed the OLYMPUS trial, first published in 2020.4 This trial was an open-label, single-arm, phase 3 trial of primary chemoablation of low-grade UTUC using UGN-101, a mitomycin-containing reverse thermal gel. Enrolled patients received six once-weekly instillations of UGN-101 as an induction course, which was administered via retrograde instillation with ureteral catheterization. Of the 71 patients who received at least one dose of treatment, 42 patients (59%, 95% CI 47-71%) had a complete response at the time of primary disease evaluation. Of the remainder, 8 (11%) had a partial response, 12 (17%) had no response, 6 (8%) had newly diagnosed high-grade disease, and 3 (4%) had an indeterminate response. Despite these promising results, toxicity was not insignificant: 67 patients (94%) experienced adverse events and 26 (37%) patients experienced severe adverse events. 60 patients (85%) had adverse events that were deemed treatment-related and 19 (27%) had severe treatment related events. 19 patients (27%) discontinued treatment due to adverse events both in the initial 6-week treatment period (9 patients, 13%) and during maintenance (10 patients, 14%). Among adverse events of particular interest, renal functional impairment was noted in 14 patients (20%). There was also a significant burden of urinary tract morbidity: among 71 patients who received at least one dose of study medication, 48 patients (68%) had an adverse event related to the urinary system including 11 (23%) who did not require surgical intervention, 24 (50%) who required transient stent placement, 11 (23%) who required long-term stent placement (still in place at the time of data cut-off), and 2 (4%) who required nephroureterectomy due the need for permanent drainage as a result of ureteral stenosis.

In the final report of OLYMPUS published in 2023,5 41 (58%) had complete response to induction therapy and consented to long-term follow-up. Among these patients, 56% remained in complete response after 12 months (95% CI 40, 72), comprising 6/12 (50%) who did not receive any maintenance instillations and 17/29 (59%) who received 1 maintenance instillation. Kaplan-Meier analysis of durability was estimated as 82% (95% CI 66, 91) at 12 months:

Ureteric stenosis was the most frequently reported treatment emergent adverse events (31/71, 44%), with an increasing number of instillations appearing to be associated with increased incidence of urinary treatment emergent adverse events.

Dr. Murray then highlighted AUA/SUO statements 12-17:

Statement 12: Clinicians should provide patients with a description of the short- and long-term risk associated with recommended diagnostic and therapeutic options. This includes the need for endoscopic follow-up, clinically significant strictures, toxicities associated with surgical treatment and side effects from neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies (Clinical Principle).

Statement 13: Tumor ablation should be the initial management options for patients with low risk favorable UTUC (Strong Recommendation; Evidence Level: Grade B).

Statement 14 Tumor ablation may be the initial management offered to patients with low risk unfavorable UTUC and select high risk favorable disease who have low-volume tumors or cannot undergo radical nephroureterectomy. (Conditional Recommendation; Evidence Level: Grade C).

Statement 15 Tumor ablation may be accomplished via a retrograde or antegrade percutaneous approach and repeat endoscopic ablation should be performed within 3 months. (Expert Opinion).

Statement 16 Following ablation of UTUC tumors and after confirming no perforation of the bladder or upper tract, clinicians may instill adjuvant pelvicalyceal chemotherapy (Conditional Recommendation; Evidence Level: Grade C) or intravesical chemotherapy (Expert Opinion) to decrease the risk of urothelial cancer recurrence

Statement 17 Pelvicalyceal therapy with BCG may be offered to patients with High Risk Favorable UTUC after complete tumor ablation or patients with upper tract CIS. (Expert Opinion).

Finally, Dr. Murray highlighted statement 32 of the guidelines, which is specific to follow-up in patients with renal preservation Low-risk patients managed with kidney sparing treatment should undergo a follow-up cystoscopy and upper tract endoscopy within one to three months to confirm successful treatment. Once confirmed, these patients should undergo continued cystoscopic surveillance of the bladder at least every six to nine months for the first two years and then at least annually thereafter. Endoscopy should be repeated at six months and one year. Upper tract imaging should be performed at least every six to nine months for two years, then annually up to five years. surveillance after five years in the absence of recurrence should be based on shared decision- making between the patient and clinician. (Expert Opinion)

Dr. Murray concluded her presentation discussing chemoablation and renal preservation as the future for management of UTUC by once again emphasizing that for UTUC, organ sparing is kidney sparing.

Presented by: Katie S. Murray, DO, New York University, New York, NY

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Tues, Nov 28  Fri, Dec 1, 2023.





References:
KYODO NEWS - Nov 30, 2023 - 21:08 | All, World

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview that his country will not agree to a cease-fire unless Russia withdraws its troops, while expressing concerns about international attention becoming "unfocused" on the situation in Ukraine amid the Middle East conflict.

"There will be an understanding of peace and security in the future only if Russian troops are not on our territory," the president said on Tuesday while talking with Asian media outlets, including Kyodo News, at his office in Kyiv.

He also said he is looking forward to a conference to be held in Tokyo in February on the reconstruction of Ukraine, pinning hopes on bilateral cooperation in digitalization, green energy and infrastructure.

Zelenskyy said the cease-fire with Russian troops remaining in Ukraine would only mean a "frozen" conflict, giving Moscow time to prepare for restarting hostilities.

"We are fighting for what is ours because we do not believe that Russia wants peace," he said.

While criticizing cease-fire discussions recently proposed by the West as equivalent to saying, "Please rip off your hands and give them to another person," Zelenskyy instead called for support for his 10-point peace formula to end the war that includes the immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces.

The Ukrainian president said he envisions a fourth meeting on the plan to be held in Switzerland in January, after which discussions will be held at the leaders' level to draft a "ready-made document" in around six months.

He called for support from not only the West but also China, which has deep ties with Russia, as well as the developing and emerging countries known as the "Global South."

Calling Russian President Vladimir Putin "voracious" and "constantly hungry," Zelenskyy warned that other countries would be next if Ukraine is destroyed.

"(Putin) has an ambitious and sick goal -- to bring everything back to Soviet times," he said.

Zelenskyy said a counteroffensive launched this summer has faced difficulties as it came after Russian forces had already built defensive lines.

"The total dominance of Russia in the sky" also complicated the move he said, adding that he has discussed support for the country's air defense systems with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 over fears of deepening cooperation between Kyiv and the United States. Currently around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory remains under Russian occupation, with reports that deaths among Ukrainian military personnel have topped 70,000.

Meanwhile, a shift in international attention to the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza has played into Russia's hands, according to Zelenskyy.

"Everyone understands that they have forgotten about Ukraine and switched to the situation in the Middle East," he said. "I believe that this is exactly what the Russian Federation was trying to achieve, and I am sorry to say that they have achieved the result they wanted."

His remarks come amid concerns that aid to Ukraine could wane as he said the international community is "distracted" by the Middle East.

Regarding the upcoming reconstruction conference, Zelenskyy expressed expectations that Japan would present "some very specific projects" to rebuild his country.

Born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, southern Ukraine, Zelenskyy graduated with a law degree from Kyiv National Economic University. A successful actor and producer, he announced his presidential candidacy in December 2018 and was elected the following year.

Related coverage:

Ukraine first lady says abduction of children by Russia is genocide

No cease-fire until Russia returns Ukrainian territory: security head

Ukraine's Bucha seeks ties with Hiroshima after Russian massacre
(UroToday.com) The 2023 SUO annual meeting included a session on urothelial cancer, featuring a presentation by Dr. Bishoy Faltas discussing the biology of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and how it shapes therapy. Dr. Faltas started by highlighting that upper tract urothelial carcinoma makes up 5-10% of all urothelial carcinomas, and has a unique epidemiologic association with arsenic exposure and aristolochic acid. Additionally, upper tract urothelial carcinoma presents with muscle invasion (pT2+) in 60% of cases versus 20-30% of bladder cancers. Upper tract urothelial carcinoma has more advanced disease at presentation, but similar outcomes as bladder cancer after controlling for stage.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma and bladder urothelial carcinomas have different anatomy and embryologic origins, but are there one or two diseases? Indeed, there are genomic differences between these two entities as highlighted in two European Urology articles.1,2 The MD Anderson Cancer Center study collected 31 upper tract urothelial carcinoma samples and carried out whole-exome sequencing of DNA, RNA sequencing, and protein analysis.1 Whole-exome sequencing identified mutations in FGFR3 (74.1%; 92% low-grade, 60% high-grade), KMT2D (44.4%), PIK3CA (25.9%), and TP53 (22.2%). Additionally, APOBEC and CpG were the most common mutational signatures. The Memorial Sloan Kettering cohort2 assessed tumor and germline DNA from patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (n=83) and bladder urothelial carcinoma (n=102), using a custom next-generation sequencing assay to identify somatic mutations and copy number alterations in 300 cancer-associated genes. Genes altered more commonly in high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma included FGFR3 (35.6% vs 21.6%; p=0.065), HRAS (13.6% vs 1.0%; p=0.001), and CDKN2B (15.3% vs 3.9%; p=0.016). Genes that were less frequently mutated in high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma included TP53 (25.4% vs 57.8%; p<0.001), RB1 (0.0% vs 18.6%; p<0.001), and ARID1A (13.6% vs 27.5%; p=0.050).

Work from Dr. Faltas lab assessing genetics of upper tract urothelial carcinoma culminated in a 2019 Nature Communication publication,3 with several highlights. First, they noted that upper tract urothelial carcinoma is predominantly a luminal-papillary subtype, which was also confirmed in the MSKCC cohort:

Second, upper tract urothelial carcinoma has a T-cell depleted immune contexture with higher FGFR3 and PPARG signaling in upper tract urothelial carcinoma:

Third, high FGFR3 expression is enriched in upper tract urothelial carcinoma and correlates with its T-cell depleted immune microenvironment. Additionally, cells with FGFR3 knock out show upregulation of IFN-related genes:

Fourth, erdafitinib upregulates IFN-related genes in urothelial cell lines with FGFR3 activating fusions:

Finally, sporadic upper tract urothelial carcinoma is characterized by a lower total mutational burden than urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

This early work has recently been shown to provide dividends for several phase 3 clinical trials. At the 2023 ESMO clinical congress, results of Thor cohort 1 trial were presented and subsequently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This phase 3 trial assessed erdafitinib versus chemotherapy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma with susceptible FGFR3/2 alterations who had progression after one or two previous treatments that included an anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1. Overall, this trial favored treatment with erdafitinib (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.88), and in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma treatment favored erdafitinib with a HR of 0.34 (95% CI 0.18-0.64). Interestingly, erdafitinib did not favor patients with lower urinary tract tumors (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.56-1.18).

Also at ESMO 2023, results of Thor cohort 2 were presented and subsequently published in Annals of Oncology.5 This cohort assessed erdafitinib versus pembrolizumab in pretreated patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer with select FGFR alterations. In the subgroup analysis assessing upper tract urothelial carcinoma, treatment was not statistically significant but did favor pembrolizumab (HR 1.52, 95% CI 0.91-2.54).

For the remainder of his presentation, Dr. Faltas highlighted recently in press work from his group assessing the evolution of genomic, transcriptomic, and single-cell protein markers of metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma. There are several key findings from this extensive study. First, there are unique gene alterations when comparing primary to metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma:

Second, copy number alterations are unique when comparing primary to metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Specifically, the frequency of RAF1 amplification was significantly higher in metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (33.3%) compared to primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (p = 0.03):

Third, there is genomic heterogeneity between primary and matched metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma. On average, only 17.6% (range 7.336.4%) of mutations were shared by primary and matched metastatic samples:

Fourth, when assessing the stability of molecular subtype and immune contexture assignments between primary and metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma, Dr. Faltas and colleagues found that 83.3% of primary tumor samples were luminal-papillary, and the rest were basal/squamous. Additionally, among the metastatic tumors, 45.5%, 27.3%, 9.1% and 18.2% were luminal-papillary, luminal-unstable, stroma-rich, and basal/squamous, respectively:

Fifth, the majority of upper tract urothelial carcinoma tumors (76.5%) clustered into the T-cell depleted subgroup:

Sixth, single cell profiling of upper tract urothelial carcinomas tumor immune contexture reveals intra-tumoral plasticity, with the following single cell spatial profiling embedded on Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection method:

Finally, samples classified as immune-inflamed by the RNA-seq based classifier had a significantly higher number of T-cells with CD8 protein expression:

Dr. Faltas concluded his presentation by discussing the biology of upper tract urothelial carcinoma and how it shapes therapy with the following take-home points:

Most upper tract urothelial carcinomas are luminal papillary with a T-cell depleted immune contexture driven by FGFR3 activation

Molecular subtype and immune contexture assignments are stable between primary and metastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Randomized phase III clinical trials confirmed the predicted differential effects of FGFR3 inhibitors in upper tract urothelial carcinoma compared to bladder cancer based on biological differences

We are working toward upper tract urothelial carcinoma-specific precision medicine strategies based on a deeper understanding of upper tract urothelial carcinoma biology

Presented by: Bishoy M. Faltas, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY

Written by: Zachary Klaassen, MD, MSc  Urologic Oncologist, Associate Professor of Urology, Georgia Cancer Center, Wellstar MCG Health, @zklaassen_md on Twitter during the 2023 Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., Tues, Nov 28  Fri, Dec 1, 2023.





References:
UW Assistant Professor Katelyn Kotlarek is pictured with American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation President Tommie Robinson Jr. (Jon Cabrera Photo)

Katelyn Kotlarek, an assistant professor in the University of Wyomings Division of Communication Disorders, has received a New Investigators Research Grant from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHF) for her proposed study, titled Perceptual and Acoustic Characteristics of Nasal Coupling in Children.

Kotlarek was honored at the 2023 American Speech-Language-Hearing Convention in Boston, Mass.

Im thrilled to receive this funding, which will enable an important scientific foundation for improved speech screening in children with cleft palate, Kotlarek says.

Children with cleft palate can have residual speech issues after their palate surgery, one of which is hypernasality, or too much sound coming through their nose while speaking. Kotlarek, along with collaborators Kate Bunton and Brad Story, both professors of speech, language and hearing sciences at the University of Arizona, are pursuing the proposed study to find a more relevant and readily available measure of hypernasality based on acoustic properties of speech.

The New Investigators Research Grant is designed to help further new investigators research activities by funding preliminary studies that could lead to larger-scale research studies. Funded projects are intended to be one year in scope and have clinical relevance to the fields of audiology and/or speech-language pathology. Applicants are limited to those with research doctorates earned within the past five years.

We take tremendous pride in Dr. Kotlareks remarkable achievements and her selection for the ASHF New Investigators Research Grant, says Professor Mark Guiberson, director of UWs Division of Communication Disorders in the College of Health Sciences. Her groundbreaking research in the speech of children with repaired cleft palate is propelling the field forward and, ultimately, will enhance the speech of children with cleft palate.

Kotlarek is the fifth faculty member at UW to receive grant funding from ASHF. In 2020, Breanna Krueger, currently an associate professor in the Division of Communication Disorders, received the Speech Science Research Grant for her proposal Interpretation of Misarticulated Words by Children With Speech Sound Disorders. Former faculty members Teresa Ukrainetz, Michael Primus and Amy Finch-Williams also received the New Investigators Research Grant.

ASHF supports innovators and sparks innovation in communication sciences by giving early support to promising students, researchers and clinicians exploring bold ideas to transform the field and improve peoples lives. To learn more about ASHF, visit www.ashfoundation.org/.

About UWs College of Health Sciences

UWs College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.
By Takaki Tominaga, KYODO NEWS - Nov 30, 2023 - 13:43 | All, Japan, World

As artificial intelligence transforms societies across the globe, affecting everything from autonomous vehicles to critical national infrastructure, bolstering digital security against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks has become a key issue for states and private businesses alike.

To combat the growing risks to national security, researchers and cybersecurity experts are engaged in a seemingly endless race to uncover digital vulnerabilities in the public and private sectors before they can be exploited by malign actors.

Given how strategically important the Indo-Pacific is for global supply chains, officials from Japan, the United States and the European Union have all stressed how crucial it is to bolster cyber defenses in countries throughout the region.

In a bid to tackle the issue, Japan and eight of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed in October to strengthen private-sector cybersecurity collaboration amid growing concern over China's purported involvement in various state-backed hacking activities.

Speaking on the importance of economic security, Jean-Eric Paquet, head of the EU delegation to Japan, said in an interview that global supply chains are under "massive pressure," including from countries that are causing disruption by hacking other states' critical infrastructure to apply political pressure on them.

While Paquet did not mention any countries by name, he added that non-state actors such as independent hacker groups motivated by financial extortion through ransomware attacks also pose a significant threat.

During a training session held in Tokyo in October, AI-controlled robotic arms used in modern manufacturing plants were hacked in a cyberattack simulation. The machines became unable to complete tasks involving correctly identifying colored blocks.

Though seemingly harmless in a controlled environment, an autonomous vehicle's AI software losing its ability to distinguish between objects while driving, for example, could result in a deadly accident.

The session was hosted by Japan's industry ministry in collaboration with the U.S. government and the European Commission, with invitees from across the Indo-Pacific region in attendance.

"This training will obviously help me" in the event of an incident at a strategically critical facility, such as a power plant, said Sabreina Bodour, a 34-year-old information technology expert from Bangladesh. She added that like many countries, Bangladesh has been facing numerous cyber and ransomware attacks in recent years.

In May 2021, Colonial Pipeline, an 8,850-kilometer fuel pipeline network connecting the U.S. East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, became the target of a major ransomware attack. Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, described the incident as a "watershed moment" in the history of cybersecurity.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the Russia-based hacker group Darkside was responsible for the attack.

Easterly recalled scenes of snaking lines of cars at gas stations across the eastern seaboard and panicked people filling containers with fuel, which captured headlines around the world.

"This was the moment when the vulnerability of our highly connected society became a nationwide reality and a kitchen table issue," she said in a statement.

Cybersecurity experts point out that society's rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning means the technology has become more accessible while also generating new vulnerabilities, creating the need for more regulation to protect infrastructure that relies on AI software, sometimes known as cyber-physical systems, to function.

"I hope (this training) will lead to us developing better cyber-physical systems in Asia for the AI era," said Masahiro Uemura, deputy director general for Cybersecurity and Information Technology at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

But the integration of AI with critical infrastructure poses unique challenges, as making such systems secure means being vigilant about potential vulnerabilities in the physical and cyber domains simultaneously.

Cyberattacks on AI-run physical infrastructure can cause the software to make classification errors by confusing the AI's neural network. For example, a successful attack on an autonomous vehicle could cause it to misinterpret a traffic "stop" sign as one signaling a 45-mile-per-hour speed limit zone.

Takuho Mitsunaga, an associate professor at Toyo University's Faculty of Information Networking for Innovation and Design, called AI an imperfect but essential tool in Japan, as the country is facing labor shortages amid a declining population and collapsing birth rate.

With extensive research under way around the world that is investigating AI's vulnerabilities, Mitsunaga said one way to become more resilient to cyberattacks by malign actors is to diversify and strengthen systems by training them up on masses of synthetic data, making such systems harder to fool.

Just like humans, Mitsunaga explained, AI can be naive and easily exploited if it is only trained on data of narrow relevance to its task. He stressed the necessity of leaving room for human involvement to prevent catastrophic disasters.

Related coverage:

Japan, ASEAN to beef up private sector cybersecurity cooperation
Tax Update: Global Minimum Tax, VAT Tax Reduction Confirmed for 2024

In a busy week at Vietnams National Assembly, a VAT tax reduction has been approved alongside a top-up tax in response to the OECD Global Minimum Tax initiative. Heres the details.

Vietnams National Assembly has officially passed a top-up tax in response to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Minimum Tax (GMT) initiative. This will see companies currently paying less than 15 percent tax required to pay a top-up tax covering the difference from the start of next year.

For some time, Vietnam has offered foreign investors very generous tax breaks to encourage them to open factories and plants around the country. This, in turn, has helped Vietnam to cement its place as an important block in global supply chains and a major global manufacturing hub.

The GMT, however, will see multinationals with revenue over EUR 750 million (US$80 million) pay tax of at least 15 percent, regardless of where their operations are. This means that if Vietnam had not passed the top-up tax, companies would have had to make up the difference in their home country.

It is important to note that the introduction of this supplementary tax does not necessarily have negative implications. If the tax breaks are substituted with increased spending on infrastructure or other alternative investment incentives, foreign investors in Vietnam could stand to benefit more broadly.

There are, however, currently no alternative benefits on offer, although the idea of an investment support fund has been floated. This is expected to be legislated next year.

Reuters reported earlier this year, that Vietnam was considering handouts as a means of compensating foreign multinationals; however, the OECD promptly shut this idea down.

See also: The Global Minimum Tax and Potential Implications for Vietnam

VAT tax reduction extended to June 2024

FIND BUSINESS SUPPORT Get Assistance with Ongoing Tax Compliance and Reporting Obligations

Normally levied at 10 percent, Vietnam VAT was reduced to 8 percent from July 1, 2023 for the last half of this year  a reduction that has now been extended to June 2024.

The cut will apply to most sectors except for these  telecommunications, information technology, finance, banking, securities, insurance, real estate, metals and metal products, mining, refined petroleum, chemicals, and items subject to excise tax.

In February of 2022, under a similar policy, the Vietnamese government cut the VAT from 10 to 8 percent to boost the pandemic-hit local economy. The cut, which was in place until the end of December 2022, cost Vietnams state budget an estimated VND 49.4 trillion (US$2.2 billion).

This latest iteration of the VAT reduction is expected to follow the same basic guiding principles as previous VAT reductions.

See also: Value-Added Tax in Vietnam
Transcript:

The Inside Story: A Fragile Pause

Episode 120  November 30, 2023

Show Open:

This week on The Inside Story:

A pause in fighting between Hamas and Israel.

Hostages freed and prisoners swapped.

The conflict spills overseas with a rise in threats of hate crimes in the U.S.

Plus Ukraine sees the largest single drone strike to date in its war with Russia.

Now... on The Inside Story... A Fragile Pause.

The Inside Story:

Jessica Jerreat, VOA Press Freedom Editor:

Hi. Im Jessica Jerreat, VOAs Press Freedom Editor here in Washington.

As we record this episode, a fragile pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict is in place.

During the break in fighting, Hamas has released more than 70 hostages taken during its October 7 terror attack in Israel.

In return, Israel has released over 100 Palestinian prisoners.

But what happens when the temporary truce expires? All this and an update on the war in Ukraine on The Inside Story.

This weeks hostage releases are welcome news for many families... but dozens more, some of them children, remain held by Hamas. Linda Gradstein reports from Jerusalem.

LINDA GRADSTEIN, VOA Correspondent:

It felt like the entire country held its breath while waiting for Hamas to free the children, and many Israelis cried as they watched each hostage release over the past few days.

Ohad Munder, a thin boy who likes to play with Rubik cubes, turned nine while in Hamas captivity with his mother Keren. He was reunited with his father in the hospital.

His cousin Merav Raviv says that Ohad has lost weight, but seems healthy and happy to belatedly celebrate his ninth birthday with his friends at the hospital.

Merav Aviv, Relative of Hostage Ohad Munder:

They were laughing like normal kids. It wasnt that easy for him, but (his mother) Keren said he behaved very nice. There were a time when he was crying. And also when he came back, when he saw a sensitive movie, when someone told him something so it was emotional. I hope he will get back to normal as soon as possible.

LINDA GRADSTEIN:

Israel says Hamas captured 40 children on October 7 out of a total of 240 hostages. An official from Qatar said that 10 of the children are under the control of other militant group and it is not clear if Hamas can find them.

The children who are returning will all have to deal with trauma, according to psychiatrists. Some, like four-year-old Avigail Idan, saw her parents killed. Her father was holding her when a Hamas militant shot him.

Yuval Bloch, Shalvata Child and Adolescent Clinic Psychiatrist:

The condition is not normal. There are different reactions. One will cry, another will speak about different things. One will wet his bed, another will be afraid to go out from the safe room because thats the only safe place. Another wont agree to go into the safe room because the memories of the safe room are the memories of death and danger.

LINDA GRADSTEIN:

As part of the cease fire deal Israel has also released three Palestinian prisoners  all women or minors  for every hostage who was freed. Among the released prisoners was Fatima Shaheen, convicted of trying to stab an Israeli soldier.

Ismail Shaheen, Father of Palestinian Prisoner:

We are happy that she was released but only slightly so, because we cannot ignore the dire conditions in Gaza, where thousands been killed. It is not suitable for us to be happy at this time.

LINDA GRADSTEIN:

The Israeli families say that the reunions with their children released from Hamas captivity are bittersweet, because there are still so many remaining hostages. They say they will not rest until every family is reunited. Linda Gradstein, VOA News Jerusalem.

Jessica Jerreat:

The White House has welcomed the announcement of the extension of the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel  and the agreed upon release of 10 hostages per day during this pause. Anita Powell reports from the White House on what comes next.

ANITA POWELL, White House Correspondent:

The White House is applauding the release of Hamas-held hostages over the weekend and welcoming the two-day extension of a truce, with the hope that 20 more captives will be reunited with loved ones in coming days.

John Kirby, National Security Council:

We'd certainly like to see even that extension extended further until all the hostages are released. That's really the goal here, to get all the hostages home with their families where they belong. And you know, however long that could take.

ANITA POWELL:

People on both sides of the tense border celebrated the weekend exchange of prisoners held by Israel for hostages taken by militant group Hamas in its surprise October 7 attack on Israel.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki, speaking in Spain, welcomed the pause.

Riad al-Maliki, Palestinian Foreign Minister:

Any Israeli attack, instead of killing one child, will kill two. So for us, it is important to try and extend this truce the longest possible.

ANITA POWELL:

Israels leader, in welcoming the hostage release Monday, reiterated his main goal.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

We are also continuing with the main goal we said  to bring about the release of our hostages, to complete the elimination of Hamas and, of course, also to ensure that this threat will not repeat itself in Gaza.

ANITA POWELL:

Analysts say this widely welcomed pause is unlikely to bring an end to this complex  and for both sides, existential  conflict.

Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution:

There are two separate problems. The long-term end to the fighting is going to require the dismantlement of Hamas  probably not in any realistic way the complete elimination of all of its fighters or capabilities or ideas, but the top leadership has to go. Hamas ability to rule Gaza has to go, and I don't see that as having been changed in any way, shape or form by the current pause in the fighting.

ANITA POWELL:

President Joe Biden on Sunday welcomed the release of Abigail Edan, the lone American hostage in the weekends exchange.

President Joe Biden:

A little girl named Abigail, who turned four years old, she spent her birthday, that birthday, and at least 50 days before that held hostage by Hamas. Today, she's free, and Jill (Biden) and I together with so many Americans are praying for the fact that she is going to be alright.

ANITA POWELL:

In a statement Monday, Biden said he had spoken to Abigails family after her release, and vowed: We will not stop until all of the hostages held by Hamas terrorists are released.

As both sides take a breath after seven weeks of war, the world is watching.

Anita Powell, VOA News, the White House.

Jessica Jerreat:

Here in the United States a man accused of shooting three students of Palestinian descent has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder.

48-year-old Jason J. Eaton was ordered held without bond by a Burlington Vermont judge. Police are still investigating what led to the attack, and say investigators are looking at whether it is a hate-motivated crime.

The attack happened over the Thanksgiving weekend. The victims  all 20 years old -- are Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid.

Relatives of Awartani say the young man was shot in the back and may never walk again.

The attack comes amid an increase globally in Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic threats and violence.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland addressed the troubling rise during a press conference.

Merrick Garland, US Attorney General:

As always, but especially right now, the Justice Department is remaining vigilant in the face of the potential threats of hate-fueled violence and terrorism.

We are closely monitoring the impact that the conflict in the Middle East may have in inspiring foreign terrorist organizations, homegrown violent extremists, and domestic violent extremists both here in the United States and abroad.

All of us have also seen a sharp increase in the volume and frequency of threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities across our country since October 7th.

And there is understandable fear in communities across the country. Even right now, ATF and FBI are investigating the tragic shooting of three men of Palestinian descent in Vermont. That investigation, including whether this is a hate crime, is ongoing. Investigative updates by law enforcement officials in Vermont will be provided soon. The Justice Department is poised to provide any assistance that our state and local law enforcement partners need as we work together to protect our communities.

In my conversations with law enforcement, community, and religious leaders, I have reiterated that the Justice Department has no higher priority than protecting the safety and civil rights of everyone in our country.

Protecting all people and all communities from hate-fueled violence was the Justice Departments founding purpose in 1870, and it remains our urgent responsibility today.

No person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. Fulfilling that promise motivates us every single day.

Jessica Jerreat:

In the wake of the Vermont shooting, the families of the students issued a joint statement demanding full justice and accountability. They say Palestinian childrenlike everyone else-- deserve to feel safe.

The conflict has dredged up old hatreds and fears the world over. Including for survivors of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon.

Nicole Di Ilio reports from the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut.

NICOLE DI ILIO, Reporting for VOA:

Jamila Shehadeh, Director, Beit Atfal Assumou Center:

What we are witnessing in Gaza brings to mind the Sabra-Shatila massacre and perhaps, it will soon be our turn to suffer the same fate. That why we are scared. War means destruction.

NICOLE DI ILIO:

The radicalization of public opinion increases day after day, driving some people to unconditionally support the Resistance.

Mahmoud Ashem, Palestinian living in Shatila:

Hamas is a true Palestinian Resistance Movement. Its carrying out what every Palestinian would like to do. If (Israel) attacks Lebanon, every Palestinian must be part of the Resistance and I am one of it.

NICOLE DI ILIO:

While anger and tension brew among Palestinians in Lebanon, a new all-out war would bring an already collapsing country to its knees.

Nicole Di Ilio, for VOA News, Shatila refugee camp, Lebanon.

Jessica Jerreat:

Here in the U.S. relatives of those affected by events in Israel and Gaza hope the pause in fighting will bring some good news after a painful period.

From New York, Aron Ranen talks with those who have family ties in the region.

ARON RANEN, Reporting for VOA:

Among the 240 people Hamas took hostage on October 7 was Omer Neutra, a U.S. citizen who had been serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

His devastated parents, Orna and Ronen Neutra of Long Island, New York, are grappling with the situation.

Orna Neutra, New York Resident:

This, this is unimaginable, right? And this has become our reality. This month feels like three months, and then again, it feels like yesterday.

Ronen Neutra, New York Resident:

The uncertainty that we live in and the 240 other families live is simply unbearable.

ARON RANEN:

The Neutras are hoping that President Joe Biden, who spoke to them via Zoom, can secure the return of their son.

Ronen Neutra, New York Resident:

Originally, we were told that he's going to give us 10 to 15 minutes. He spent over an hour with us and really expressed his full commitment and his administrations full commitment to bring this issue to a resolution, and as he said, it's his top priority.

ARON RANEN:

Others in the New York area are also facing hardship. Sami Shaban, a Palestinian American attorney and businessman living in New Jersey, says many of his family members have been killed in the Israeli shelling of Gaza in recent weeks.

Sami Shaban, New Jersey Resident:

So this is my uncle Muhammad, who died. This is his wife, this is his whole family, this my cousin Abdullah Muhammad. Everyone in this picture is now dead. So I've lost 17 members in total.

ARON RANEN:

Shaban believes that this conflict could persist for years.

Sami Shaban, New Jersey Resident:

Death all around them. There's destruction, and it's impossible to make sense of it. What's happening today is only going to be something that we will feel for 10, 20, 30 years.

ARON RANEN:

Lisa Schirch, a professor of peace studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, sees potential for a political solution to the decades-long conflict.

Lisa Schirch, University of Notre Dame:

It's in Israel's interest to make sure that out of this crisis and horrible period, we turn a corner, we have a new paradigm for relationship with Israel and Palestine, and that we don't let a generation of children in Gaza grow up with anger. That rage turned into the nightmare of October 7 with the war crimes that cannot be justified by any excuse of rage. A win-win for everyone is a political solution that brings real security and real safety to Israelis and Palestinians.

ARON RANEN:

Meanwhile, their loved ones in the United States watch the news and wait.

Aron Ranen, VOA News, New York City.

Jessica Jerreat:

The worlds attention has been focused on Israel and Gaza since October, but the Ukraine war grinds on.

Winter is fast approaching but that may not signal a slowdown in the fighting.

Russia launched its largest drone strike to date on Ukraine over the weekend. Kyiv says it destroyed all but one of those Iranian-made Shahed drones, but falling debris smashed windows, started fires and caused injuries.

A top U.N. official is calling for solidarity with Ukraine. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more.

ARASH ARABASADI, VOA Correspondent:

An air raid siren blares amid a Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian capital. The head of the capital city administration, Serhii Popko, called it the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv. Ukraines air force said it shot down 74 of the 75 Iranian-made drones.

The attack started Saturday, coming in waves for more than six hours and leaving 17-thousand people without power in the region according to Ukraines Energy Ministry.

It also came on the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor Famine-Genocide.

Holodomor, which means death by hunger or starvation, was a campaign through 1932 and 33 orchestrated by then-Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, to seize control of Ukraines grain production. At least three-and-a-half to 7 million Ukrainians died. According to the University of Minnesota, those numbers may be understated.

It was against this backdrop that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recorded a video message to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Holodomor Memorial Day.

She said her government welcomed Kyivs resolve to continue the Grain from Ukraine humanitarian food program announcing a further contribution of 2.2 million dollars to the effort. As part of the program, Ukraine partnered with countries and private sector donors to supply its grain to countries in Africa and Asia  that face malnutrition and hunger.

At a recent meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Ukraines Permanent Representative to the United Nations accused Moscow of again using similar tactics as those in the early 1930s.

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraines Permanent Representative to the UN:

Starvation as one of Russias methods of warfare has encompassed various components since day one of the full-scale invasion. These include blocking Ukrainian food exports, shelling Ukrainian ports and grain stores, (and) mining Ukrainian fertile soils and turning them into battlefields.

ARASH ARABASADI:

Following Russias drone strikes, Zelenskyy and European leaders met in Kyiv at an international summit on food security.

He said foreign partners would supply Ukraine with vessels to accompany and secure convoys of cargo ships from Ukraines ports.

Zelenskyy added his country hoped to solve air defense shortages through new supplies from partners and increasing Ukraines own production capacity before another air raid siren cut short the joint news conference.

At least five civilians in Kyiv were wounded in Russias assault on the capital with several buildings damaged from falling debris, including a kindergarten. Those injured include an 11-year-old child, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Arash Arabasadi, VOA News.

Jessica Jerreat:

As well as the risks from shelling and drone strikes, the mines and explosives that pepper Ukraines landscape pose a real threat.

Ukraines government says that since Russias invasion, mines have claimed the lives of at least 264 civilians and left more than 830 injured.

From Ukraine, Myroslava Gongadze spent time with those involved in the demining efforts.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE, VOA Correspondent:

On a Saturday morning, demining crews in Balakliya in Ukraine's Kharkiv region are getting ready to go to the field. Russian forces had occupied one-third of this region shortly after the start of the war. When they retreated months later, they left this land contaminated with mines. Such weapons have killed at least 264 civilians and injured more than 830 throughout Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Emergency personnel here face an unprecedented test, says Anatoliy Vrublevsky, the head of the Kharkiv region's demining directorate and overseer of 35 demining units.

Anatoliy Vrublevsky, Kharkiv Region Demining Chief:

The biggest problem is that almost every day, actually every day, people die or get injured. We are talking about the oblast here, 30 percent of which was occupied. Then after a counteroffensive operation, it was liberated, and we have very dangerous territory to work on.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE:

Vrublevsky says international support is crucial to their work. Ukrainian deminers make use of all outside assistance, which includes demining machines, protective gear and transportation.

Here, in Balaklia, emergency services detect a mine and conduct a controlled explosion.

Back in Kyiv, the Ukrainian government coordinates the humanitarian demining effort, bringing together government stakeholders and international partners. Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravainyi oversees the initiative, which for him, is personal. In 2016, he lost his leg to an anti-tank mine.

Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy:

We want to return to use 80 percent of potentially contaminated areas.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE

Bezkaravainyi says Russia violated all norms and practices when it mined the territory, and this poses a significant challenge for deminers. Ukrainian specialists are working on techniques to scan potentially contaminated areas to create a database and map for future demining efforts.

Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy:

We have situations where territories contamination has no logic. It's a huge problem because we can predict the next step when we're working with military logic, but we cant predict the next step when we're working with situations that don't have any logic.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE:

Last spring, the World Bank estimated that Ukraine would require $37.5 billion for demining efforts. However, the need continues to evolve with the war and requires constant reevaluation.

Lithuania is spearheading the European Union's demining efforts in Ukraine. Tomas Matulevicius, the economic attache of the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine, says the international coalition must do more.

Tomas Matulevicius, Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine:

It is not enough for the moment, but it's just the beginning. And in the future, we hope that it will be more tools, more methods, more financial instruments, and the more I would say funds, or the governments will join the coalition.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE:

The demining of Ukraine could take from 10 to 100 years, he said.

Tomas Matulevicius, Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine:

It depends on how much money it will be and how many specialists will be prepared here in Ukraine and abroad. So, it depends on all of us. And we need to do that together.

MYROSLAVA GONGADZE:

The unprecedented contamination of Ukrainian land with mines and other explosives is destroying the ecosystem and undermining food security in Ukraine and the world, deepening the problem of hunger. Depending on the resources, it can take decades for Ukraine to clear its land, and it will rely on the international community to assist with the demining effort.

Myroslava Gongadze, Balakliya, Kharkiv Region

Jessica Jerreat:

Before we go, I want to share a story of unity and understanding. Since the October 7 attack on Israel, two New York communities -- one Palestinian, the other Israeli -- are working to bridge the gap. Reporter Johny Fernandez has the details.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ, Reporting for VA:

Ayat restaurant in the East Village is Manhattans latest hot spot.

Owner Abdul Elenani says his restaurant has several locations in the suburbs of the Big Apple, but he always wanted to bring Palestinian cuisine to the heart of New York City.

Abdul Elenani, Ayat Owner:

I felt like there was a need for that because there wasnt any. I havent seen any restaurants labeled Palestinian. You see Iranian, Persian, Pakistani, Indian, but never actually Palestinian.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

But his timing was off. He opened the new location just days after the Hamas attacks of October 7th in Israel.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

Help came from where Elenani least expected it  some members of the Jewish community stepped up to support the restaurant.

Dr. Michael Harris, Jewish Customer:

Im Jewish. Im Ashkenazi and Sephardic. My mom is a Jew from Libya, and my dad is Ashkenazi Jew from eastern Europe.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

New York City pediatrician Michael Harris is a frequent customer. He says he loves the restaurant, although he disagrees with political messages some of its decor might carry.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

Despite that, he says, he wants to live in harmony with his neighbors.

Dr. Michael Harris, Jewish Customer:

It think co-existing, I think dialogue, accepting the other, just recognizing the legitimate rights of both sides to their own country and states.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

Lindsey Weiss is another Jewish New Yorker who says her curiosity to learn more about the Palestinian culture keeps her coming back.

Lindsey Weiss, Jewish Customer:

Coming into a Palestinian restaurant, a Palestinian space, and enjoying Palestinian food and culture, gets closer to imagining what that multicultural peaceful place might look like.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

She believes Jewish and Palestinian groups have more similarities than differences and food is the one element bringing both groups together.

Lindsey Weiss, Jewish Customer:

Food is really important, so I think coming from that place of common ground and exchanging cultures and putting them in conversation with each other and realizing that again we have so much more in common than we have different, and our goals are actually much more in common than they are different.

JOHNY FERNANDEZ:

In a time when peaceful relations seem hard to imagine, this restaurant is showing how two communities can coexist and work together.

Johny Fernandez, Voa News, New York.

Jessica Jerreat:

Thank you for joining us on another episode of The Inside Story. For the latest news on the conflict in Israel, log on to VOA news dot com. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at VOA News. Catch up on past episodes at our free streaming service, VOA Plus.

Im Jessica Jerreatthank you for watching.

Well see you next week for The Inside Story.
This week on The Inside Story, a temporary break in the relentless Israeli military offensive in Gaza. Nearly 70 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas, and over 100 Palestinian prisoners released from Israel. What will happen when the temporary truce expires? Plus, an update on the continuing war in Ukraine. Join us this week on The Inside Story, A Fragile Pause.
Facing prejudice is, for most Asian Americans, an all-too-familiar part of life, a new report from the Pew Research Center shows.

The study, which is based on a survey of more than 7,000 respondents, found that the majority of Asian Americans think too little national attention is being paid to their experiences with discrimination.

About one-third of Asian Americans have been told to go back to their home country, the report found. Forty-four percent of Asian Americans ages 18 to 29 said they know an Asian person who has been personally threatened or attacked since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are about 23.5 million Asian Americans, making up 7.1% of the nations population. The year 2021 saw anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. jump to an all-time high, and 2022 was the second-worst year on record.

Discrimination is nothing new against Asian Americans, said Neil Ruiz, head of New Research Initiatives at Pew and the studys co-author. Asian Americans have endured relentless stereotyping, reaching as far back as the 1800s, and Ruizs study highlights a paradox at the crux of that.

Asian American communities have for decades been typecast as model minorities: loyal and hardworking, as one respondent put it. On the other hand, Asian Americans have found themselves ostracized, treated as what scholars and activists have dubbed forever foreigners.

Forever Foreigner Trope

We found that 78% of Asian Americans have been treated as a foreigner in some way, even if they were born in the United States, Ruiz, an Asian American himself, told VOA. Criteria include being told to go back to ones home country, being ridiculed for speaking a language other than English in public or having ones name pronounced incorrectly.

Ruiz acknowledged that mispronouncing someones name can be an honest mistake. But for many of the studys participants, these incidents have often bordered on disrespect or become outright offensive, he said.

Ruiz recounted how, in one focus group, an Indian American woman said she had a list of more than 200 ways her name had been mispronounced, leaving her feeling perpetually demeaned. Some reported that they had felt pressured to adopt Anglicized names.

Russell Jeung, a professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, said that fighting anti-Asian prejudice means creating spaces where people feel free to share how they are hurt or how others might be hurt by offhand remarks.

The harder question, activists say, is how to respond when its not just a coworker making derisive comments but former President Donald Trump or others in positions of authority, such as airport security personnel who, according to the study, screen South Asian Americans at markedly higher rates.

After Trump used offensive language during the pandemic, including calling the coronavirus the Chinese virus, the non-profit group Stop AAPI Hate found that use of anti-Asian slurs had risen online.

Having a tolerant national role model is a matter of life or death, Jeung said.

Days after 9/11, then-President George W. Bush delivered a speech at a mosque calling for respect for Islam. Hate crimes against Arab and South Asian Americans immediately fell, according to the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism.

American leaders have a very deficient understanding of the experiences and needs of a group as diverse as Asian America, said Charles Jung, a Californian civil rights lawyer and community organizer.

National leaders, Jung said, have a responsibility to encourage tolerance and to bring communities together by highlighting shared values rather than perceived differences. At a minimum, that means not saying racist things and inflaming hatred, Jung said. But thats the bare minimum.

Model Minority Stereotype

The notion that Asian Americans serve as a model for other minority groups has been perpetuated in popular media for generations. In 1966, The New York Times Magazine ran an article hailing Japanese Americans as a success story. In 1987, Time magazine ran a cover story describing Asian American children as whiz kids.

But Jung said the model minority stereotype is certainly flattening and simplistic  a cartoonish view of an entire people who are incredibly diverse.

The Pew survey found that most Asian Americans, particularly Indian Americans, had not heard of the term model minority, though most respondents said they had been presumed by peers to be good at math or uncreative  two stereotypes associated with Asians.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Riverside, and founder of AAPI Data, said that, compared with East Asian Americans, the model minority myth is not as much of a barrier or a concern that South Asians have to deal with.

South Asians and East Asians experience racism and racial discrimination differently, Ramakrishnan added, citing disproportionate security screenings and surveillance of South Asian Americans in the post-9/11 era.

Of the Asian Americans who were familiar with the term, 42% said the model minority stereotype is harmful.

There isnt a consensus among Asian Americans: 17% thought the model minority stereotype is positive, a stance Republican Asian Americans are comparatively more likely to take.

Jeung counts himself among the 42% who believe the stereotype is damaging. He said it drives a wedge between Asians and other racial groups. It also masks issues that Asians face: If were seen as a model, were seen as not having any particular problems. But clearly, we face racism.

Jeung said the model minority stereotype belies a wide range of social issues that many Asian Americans confront in their day-to-day lives, from workplace discrimination (according to the Pew survey, about 1 in 5 Asian Americans said they had experienced anti-Asian workplace discrimination) to expectations of perfection in the classroom and beyond.

Despite the widespread problem of anti-Asian hate, the majority of Asian American adults said the challenges of racism were rarely, if ever, discussed in their households growing up.

Sometimes, the adaptation that immigrant Asian parents adopt is swallowing the bitterness and pain, Jung said.
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and the United Nations have condemned the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.

The joint call was made in a communique issued Wednesday after the seventh AU-UN annual conference that was convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat a day earlier in New York.

"The annual conference condemned the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa and stressed the need for a timely and peaceful return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan, which are undergoing complex political transitions to sustain peace, development and human rights in the long term," the joint communique said.

The conference also underlined the importance of effective conflict prevention, peace-making, peace operations, peace-building and sustainable development efforts to support the objectives of member states to achieve peace and stability on the continent. It further underscored the need to attain peace and stability in Africa so as to realize the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint.

With regard to the ongoing situation in Sudan, Guterres and Faki said it is important for the warring parties to reach a lasting ceasefire and find a path to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

The annual conference also pledged to continue seeking practical strategies to better address the evolving conflict dynamics in the Sahel and reinforce the appropriate governance, development, security and humanitarian responses in the region.

Guterres and Faki reiterated their call for predictable, adequate and sustainable financing of AU-led peace support operations authorized by the UN Security Council through UN-assessed contributions. 
Wang Gang, a Chinese internet celebrity chef with millions of followers, has been attacked over the past few days by thousands of nationalist netizens over his tutorial video on how to prepare egg fried rice.

The irate netizens believe the video was intended to satirize Mao Anying, the son of Mao Zedong, the former paramount Chinese leader and founder of the People's Republic of China.

According to a long-circulated rumor, Mao Anying was making egg fried rice when he was killed by an airstrike during the 1950-53 Korean War. The term "egg fried rice" has thus taken on a sensitive political connotation on the Chinese internet.

The since-deleted video was posted on Monday (November 27). Over the course of 10 minutes, Wang Gang instructed viewers how to make a bowl of egg fried rice. The seemingly mundane tutorial infuriated some netizens, who claimed Wang Gang was insinuating a secret celebration of Mao Anying's death on November 25, 1950.

'Egg fried rice' considered code

There are various accounts of the circumstances of the younger Mao's death. In the biography A True Man  Peng Dehuai, published by the China People's Publishing House, the writing team states that Mao was cooking scrambled egg rice in the shelter office of Peng Dehuai, the highest Chinese military commander in the war, when the United Nations Command's bombers struck. The smoke from the cooking was detected by the Allied forces, leading to the bombing and Mao's death.

This theory is not universally accepted by Chinese historians and scholars. Chinese official institutes have repeatedly refuted this story in recent years. Chinese Academy of History posted on November 25 on its Weibo account that the claim is nothing more than a "malicious rumor."

Nonetheless, the term "egg fried rice" has become a code word used by some Chinese netizens to celebrate Mao Anying's death, which they believe saved China from adopting a hereditary leadership system similar to North Korea's.

Mao Anying was Mao Zedong's oldest son and considered an obvious successor to his father. November 25 is also known as "Egg Fried Rice Day" or "Chinese Thanksgiving Day" by those who consider the day to signify unexpected good fortune because the power didn't fall into the hands of Mao's son.

After Wang Gang's egg fried rice video was released, his social media platforms, including Weibo, Bilibili and YouTube, exploded with thousands of critical comments.

One netizen said on Weibo, China's censored social media platform, "Deliberately posting egg fried rice today!" According to a screenshot of the web, Wang Gang responded, "I'm simply sharing food and nothing else."

"The Academy of History just posted a thread to refute the rumors, and now you jump out to challenge the authorities! Don't cry if you get a punch then!" said another comment.

Many also accused Wang of having repeatedly publishing tutorial videos around Mao's death day in recent years. VOA Mandarin researched Wang's publishing history and found he had published such videos many times, not only in November.

Chef makes two pledges

Under constant attack from netizens, Wang Gang released an apology video. In the video, he stated that the release of the latest egg fried rice tutorial was done by his team and that he was not personally involved. He promised to be more careful in the future.

"Here, I'd like to make two pledges to you all," said Wang Gang, wearing a white shirt and looking haggardly into the camera. "In the days to come, first, I will personally post all the videos. Second, as a chef, I will never make or film egg fried rice again."

Wang Gang then expressed his respect for Chinese soldiers and revealed that he has several veterans on his team and that his grandfather had served in the Korean War. As of press time, Wang Gang had deleted both the apology video and the egg fried rice video. He has turned on protection on his Weibo account and is no longer allowing new followers.

There were also some voices of support for Wang Gang in the Chinese social media. Blogger "Artravelersr" wrote on Weibo, "Wang Gang is a food blogger, he has no need or motive to do so, not to mention that he sends out fried rice tutorials several times a year. And this year he didn't even post it on Nov 25, and this is the reason he's being attacked? I'm quite speechless!"

"Chef Wang Gang, our whole family loves your program. My kids even introduced your video to their classmates. As an overseas Chinese, I will always support you, and the dishes you make can comfort my nostalgia. Keep up the good work! You didn't do anything wrong and don't need to apologize," a message read.
Disagreements over the phasing out of fossil fuels look set to dominate the two-week COP28 climate meeting in Dubai, after the summit president used his opening speech to argue against a full ban on the use of coal, oil and gas.

More than 70,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries are taking part in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which got underway Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, a major exporter of hydrocarbons.

Fossil fuels

Scientists say greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by some 43% by 2030 if the world is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the target agreed under the Paris climate deal seen as a crucial threshold to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change. However, current trajectories suggest greenhouse gas emissions will actually rise by 9% by 2030.

Central to the talks in Dubai is the tackling of a major source of those emissions: the burning of fossil fuels.

Phasedown or phaseout?

COP28 President Sultan Al-Jaber, who is also the head of the UAE's state oil company, opened the meeting with his vision: not a phasing out of fossil fuels, but a phasing down.

"We must look for ways and ensure the inclusion of the role of fossil fuels. I know there are strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiating text. We collectively have the power to do something unprecedented, in fact, we have no choice but to go the very unconventional way. I ask you all to work together. Be flexible. Find common ground," Al-Jaber told delegates, adding that it was right that oil and gas firms had been invited to COP28.

"Let history reflect the fact that this is the presidency that made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies. We had many hard discussions, let me tell you, that wasn't easy, but today many of these companies are committing to zero methane emissions by 2030 for the first time," Al-Jaber said.

'Window dressing'

Al-Jaber's speech prompted immediate condemnation from environmental groups. "The Emirates is pushing very hard for recognition of fossil fuel phasedown rather than phaseout. And I think that the COP president is going to have to be much more flexible on that because we know that a fossil fuel phase out was needed, not a phase down. We know that what he's pushing for on the phase down is simply window dressing increased oil and gas production," said Bill Hare, the CEO of Climate Analytics.

Alden Meyer, of the climate think-tank E3G, also was skeptical.

"The larger issue is the inconsistency between [Al-Jaber's] acknowledgment that we need to cut emissions from fossil fuels by some 40% in the next six years, and the plans that his country has to expand oil and gas production to the tune of $150 billion investment over that same time frame," Meyer told The Associated Press.

Disaster fund

While divisions over the phase out of fossil fuels appear likely to dominate much of the summit, there was progress in other key areas.

The COP28 parties agreed to a new $420 million fund to help poorer, vulnerable nations cope with the cost of disasters caused by climate change, such as droughts, floods and rising sea levels, with the UAE hosts' $100 million pledge making them among the most generous of the donors.

"[The] fact that we have been able to achieve such significant milestone in the first day of this COP is unprecedented," Al-Jaber said at a Thursday evening press conference. "This is historic, the fact that we are able to get the agenda voted and agreed on without any delay."

The United States pledged a smaller $17.5 million, with funding subject to approval by Congress. "We are obviously pleased with everybody by the early adoption by the parties, which is a great way to start this COP we also expect this fund to be up and running quickly," U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry told reporters Thursday.

Further deals

The day one deal could pave the way for further agreements at COP28, said Tom Rivett-Carnac, a former strategist at the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. "That will provide developing countries with the confidence that they can now step forward and implement mitigation measures as well," he told VOA.

Delegates hope the momentum continues into the rest of the summit, as marathon negotiations loom over the future use of fossil fuels.
Families of hostages still held by Hamas urged U.S. lawmakers Wednesday not to let up on negotiations for their release.

The Israeli government said 12 hostages were released from captivity in Gaza on Wednesday, the sixth release of hostages during a negotiated cease-fire that international negotiators were working to extend.

The release of these hostages has been a cause for hope, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin said in a statement Wednesday. And we are equally encouraged by the lifesaving aid that has reached innocent Palestinians who are also victims of Hamas cruelty. But we must not allow complacency to deter us in our shared mission to bring home the other hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens.

Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., U.K, EU and others.

An estimated 240 hostages were seized when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, beginning the conflict. Of those, almost 100 have been released over the past six days.

Keep the pressure on Qatar. Keep the pressure on Egypt. Rally the international community to use any resources they have. Get this done, said Orna Neutra, mother of hostage Omer Neutra.

Omer Neutra, a dual Israeli American citizen serving in the Israel Defense Forces, is believed to have been held in captivity for more than 50 days.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said he viewed footage of the October 7 attack last week in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

I've never seen the prime minister  who is a very stoic, strong man  driven to tears, watching his own people being killed in such a horrific manner: the rapes and the beheadings and the slaughter of innocent Jewish people. He will not rest until [Hamas is] eradicated, not just for the Jewish people but for the Palestinians, McCaul said at a roundtable meeting with families of the hostages on Capitol Hill.

Congress passed a resolution Tuesday calling on Hamas to release all hostages and condemning the October 7 attack by a vote of 414-0. A second resolution affirming Israels right to exist passed 412-1-1. Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, who has faced criticism for her comments about Israel, voted present. Republican Representative Thomas Massie voted no.

We will not relent. We will not stop. We will not forget. We will continue to work. We will put politics aside until your hope becomes a reality of the return of your love, said Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

As of Wednesday, only one American hostage had been freed.

Ruby Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen, who is also an Israeli soldier, told lawmakers, This is not a U.S. issue. It's an international community humanitarian issue that all of the international community needs to get behind in order to solve this problem.

Liz Hirsh Naftali, great-aunt of recently released 3-year-old Abigail Edan, told lawmakers, Abigail is home. Not in her home, but she is home in Israel because her home is destroyed. They cant return to where they lived. She has no parents to go home to.

Edans parents were killed by Hamas during the October 7 attack.

U.S. lawmakers have struggled to agree on the White Houses request for $13.6 billion in aid to Israel. Earlier this month, the Democratic-majority Senate did not take up legislation passed in the Republican-majority House of Representatives that paid for aid to Israel with budget cuts to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Senate is working on a deal for Republicans request for billions of dollars in border security funding in return for the votes needed to pass aid to both Ukraine and Israel.
An award-winning reporter from the South China Morning Post has gone missing following a work trip to China at the end of October, the Japanese news outlet Kyodo News reported on Thursday, citing unidentified people close to the issue.

Minnie Chan, who covers defense and diplomacy in China, has become unreachable after traveling to Beijing to report on the Xiangshan Forum. The three-day international security forum concluded on October 31.

Chans last story, about Chinas response to the Israel-Hamas war, was published on November 1.

The South China Morning Post, Hong Kongs largest English-language newspaper, did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

Chans friends told Kyodo News that they were concerned the journalist might be under investigation by Chinese authorities.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington told VOA it had no information on this specific case.

A reporter at the South China Morning Post for nearly two decades, Chan previously reported for Hong Kongs now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper, according to Chans LinkedIn page. Authorities shut down the pro-democracy newspaper in 2021 and jailed the founder, Jimmy Lai, on charges that are widely viewed as retaliatory.

Beijing has a history of targeting journalists who are critical of the Chinese government.

China ranks among the worlds worst jailers of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. At least 43 journalists were imprisoned in China at the end of 2022, the last time the press freedom group reported the figures.
International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan visited Israel "at the request and invitation" of the survivors and families of the victims of Hamas' October 7 attacks, the ICC said on Thursday.

"The visit, while not investigative in nature, represents an important opportunity to express sympathy for all victims and engage in dialogue," the court wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Khan is also to travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, where he will meet with senior Palestinian officials, the ICC said.

Hamas militants took about 240 captives from southern Israel during an unprecedented October 7 attack that Israeli officials say killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

In response, Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas, an Islamist movement with an armed wing. A relentless Israeli air, sea and ground offensive has killed more than 15,000 people, according to Gaza's Hamas rulers.

A weeklong truce that has paused weeks of deadly conflict is set to expire early Friday.

Since its inception in 2002, the ICC has been the world's only independent court set up to investigate the gravest offenses including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It opened an investigation into Israel as well as Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups for possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories in 2021.

Khan has previously said this investigation now "extends to the escalation of hostilities and violence since the attacks that took place on October 2023."

ICC teams have not been able to enter Gaza or investigate in Israel, which is not an ICC member.

Legal experts have told AFP that Hamas and Israel could face war crimes charges over the conflict.

Five countries in mid-November called for an ICC investigation into the Israel-Hamas war, with Khan saying his team had collected a "significant volume" of evidence on "relevant incidents."
Hamas says it is releasing 10 more Israeli hostages on Thursday, as well as the bodies of three dead hostages, after negotiators reached an agreement to extend the Israeli-Hamas cease-fire for a seventh day.

In turn, Israel is expected to release more jailed Palestinians after negotiations over a continuing cease-fire went to within 15 minutes of the deadline before the six days of two previous truces were about to end.

Near the deadline to reach a new agreement, Israel accepted the Hamas offer of eight new hostages, plus the two Israeli Russians released on Wednesday as part of the freed group. Later, Hamas said 10 new hostages would be freed, apparently including two female Israeli hostages who were released on Thursday to the Red Cross in Gaza City.

The Israel Defense Forces tweeted in Hebrew, "In light of the mediators' efforts to continue the process of releasing the abductees and subject to the terms of the agreement, the cease-fire will continue."

Israel was reported to have been unhappy with the initial list of hostages to be released that Hamas had proposed for the single-day truce extension.

Hamas said Israel had declined its offer of seven women and child hostages and the bodies of three others who the militants said were killed during an Israeli bombardment. Hamas said in a statement that the 10 were the only women and children hostages under its control.

With most of the women and children held by Hamas apparently already freed, negotiations over the release of Israeli male soldiers and civilians held by Hamas and Palestinian combatants jailed by Israel is likely to prove more difficult, if the cessation in fighting is to be extended beyond Thursday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv on Thursday. At the start of the meeting, Blinken told Herzog the United States believes the truce is producing results and should continue.

We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families, and that should continue today, Blinken said. Its also enabled a significant increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza, who need it desperately.

In his statement, Herzog said that an attack carried out by two Palestinian gunmen Thursday morning in Jerusalem that killed at least three people and injured several others was an example of the endless war that Israel is fighting against terror organizations, especially Hamas, in these very complicated and challenging times.

Hard-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said at the site of the attack, "This event proves again how we must not show weakness, that we must speak to Hamas only through [rifle] scopes, only through war."

Hamas said the attackers, both of whom were killed by Israeli authorities, were its members, acting "as a natural response to unprecedented crimes conducted by the occupation," but did not explicitly claim to have directed the attack.

Netanyahu responds

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also met with Blinken and said he told the top U.S. diplomat that the Thursday attackers represented the same Hamas that perpetrated the terrible massacre on October 7, and the same Hamas that is trying to murder us everywhere.

I told him, We have sworn, I have sworn, to eliminate Hamas. Nothing will stop us, Netanyahu said. We will continue this war until we achieve the three goals: freeing all of our hostages, completely eliminating Hamas, and ensuring that no threat like this will ever come from Gaza again."

The Israeli leader ordered the homes of the two Palestinian gunmen sealed and demolished.

At a news conference late Thursday, Blinken said, "Hamas cannot remain in control of Gaza. It cannot retain the capacity to repeat that carnage. That was only underscored by this morning's appalling terrorist attack on people waiting at a bus stop in Jerusalem, which killed three Israeli civilians and wounded at least six others, including two American citizens. Hamas has claimed responsibility for that attack. It called its perpetrators heroic."

In his talks with Netanyahu, the U.S. State Department said, Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Israels right to defend itself against Hamas attacks but urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm.

Blinken later met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, with the State Department saying they discussed the urgent need for measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank.

Negotiations for cease-fire and hostages

Qatar and Egypt have played key roles in negotiating the truces, with Egypt saying the two Arab countries will now try to prolong the cease-fire by another two days beyond Thursday.

So far, militants have released 97 hostages during the first six days of the truce  70 of them Israeli women and children, each freed in return for three Palestinian women and teenage detainees  plus 27 foreign hostages freed under parallel agreements with their governments.

Based on the Hamas seizure of about 240 hostages during its shock October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, the militants could still have been holding more than 140 hostages before any Thursday releases.

In response, Israels aerial bombardment of Gaza and subsequent ground offensive has leveled hundreds of buildings, and according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, killed more than 15,000 people, with another 6,500 missing, possibly buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

Hamas militants freed 16 hostages on Wednesday, the sixth and last day of the first two truces between the warring parties.

Five Israeli women, three children and two young men were freed along with four Thai nationals. Hamas had freed two Russian Israeli women, ages 50 and 73, earlier in a separate release. Early Thursday, Israel released 30 Palestinians from its jails in return, including Ahed Tamini, a well-known activist.

No to a "permanent cease-fire"

One Israeli official had told The Washington Post that the truce on Thursday could be extended by two or three days, but a further cessation in fighting would not lead to a permanent cease-fire. Ultimately, the warring parties only agreed to an additional day for the truce.

The Israeli official said that the goal of removing Hamas from its rule in Gaza remains as the key objective for the Jewish state after Hamas attack last month.

The IDF said Wednesday that Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli armys chief of staff, has approved plans for the continuation of the fighting in Gaza after the pauses end.

The original Israel-Hamas truce called for four days of Israel pausing its campaign to eradicate Hamas, with Hamas releasing 50 hostages it seized during an attack on Israel last month and Israel freeing 150 Palestinian prisoners. The pause also allowed for increased humanitarian aid to reach the battered Gaza Strip.

A two-day extension was added under the terms of Hamas releasing 10 more hostages per day and Israel freeing additional prisoners.

The six-day truce has brought Gaza its first respite after six weeks of intensive Israeli aerial bombardment and a ground offensive prompted by the Hamas attack.

With the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, the United Nations estimates 1.8 million of Gazas 2.3 million people have fled their homes, with many staying in overcrowded shelters. Shelter Network, a U.N.-led aid consortium, said in a report last Friday that more than 60% of Gazas housing stock has been damaged or destroyed.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said the Gaza Strip was in the middle of an "epic humanitarian catastrophe." He and others called for a full cease-fire to replace the temporary truces. But Israel has rejected a permanent cease-fire as benefiting Hamas, a position backed by the United States.

Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Emilio Gutierrez Soto came to the National Press Club on Wednesday with a message of gratitude. Press freedom advocates came with a call to action.

The 60-year-old journalist fled with his son to the U.S.-Mexico border in 2008 seeking asylum after receiving death threats because of his reporting on Mexican military corruption.

After 15 years, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled in favor of Gutierrez Soto.

He still needs to go in front of an immigration judge in March 2024 to receive his asylum papers, but his immigration lawyer said his case has been resolved.

At an event in Washington to highlight his case, Gutierrez Soto was smiling, shaking hands with other journalists, and at times holding back tears as he thanked the people who helped him along the way.

"These fifteen years have been terrible.  I feel profoundly grateful for everyone here," Gutierrez Soto said.

The ruling was a win for the National Press Club and more than 20 other journalism organizations who joined his legal fight.

Press freedom advocates and first amendment lawyers say Gutierrez Soto's journey offers a case study in how press freedom cases are often overlooked as a priority in the United States.

And they want better protections for at-risk journalists who have to come to the U.S. for safety reasons.

Press freedom advocates recommend sending court watchers to immigration asylum hearings, creating a legal taskforce of First Amendment experts willing to take on the asylum cases of journalists, and producing a database of these experts around the country so at-risk reporters can easily connect with them.

"These experts should be all over the country because they know the system of various judges, immigration judges and federal judges," said Rutgers University law professor Penny Venetis, who was also one of Gutierrez Soto's attorneys.

They also said more media attention on cases of journalists at risk is needed.

"Publicize all cases. I think a big part of this [win] was that it was constantly in the press," Venetis said.

Experts involved in Gutierrez Soto's case on Wednesday talked about ideas to develop a team of experts that can file amicus briefs in every single immigration case involving a journalist and to require immigration judges to be trained in specific subject areas so that they can process immigration cases faster.

"[Gutierrez Soto's] case was pending for 15 years. It should not have been. It was a slam dunk case. There should be a group of immigration judges that only handle cases related to journalists," Venetis said.

According to Kathy Kiely, National Press Club freedom fellow and the Lee Hills chair in free-press studies at University of Missouri, one of the ways to support at-risk journalists is by advocating for a special visa for human rights workers and journalists.

"This is in place in Canada. They started with 250 [visas] and they've now doubled it to 500 special visas a year. And it gives people at least a three-year runway, so they know they have legal status, they can work," she said.

The U.S. does not have a humanitarian visa category.

Gutierrez Soto's case

Gutierrez Soto and his son, Oscar, came to the U.S.-Mexico border in 2008 requesting asylum.

At that time, he had been working as a journalist, writing articles about the military forces robbing and extorting people in Chihuahua, which borders New Mexico and part of Texas.

Gutierrez Soto said he received death threats because of those articles and feared being targeted if he stayed in Mexico.

Following their arrival, father and son, who was then 15, were separated. His son went on to stay with relatives in the U.S. while Gutierrez Soto remained in immigration detention for several months. After he was released, he settled in New Mexico where he and his son lived for nine years while his asylum process wound through immigration courts.

But in 2017 that asylum claim was denied by immigration Judge Robert Hough who ruled Gutierrez Soto did not present sufficient evidence to prove he was targeted for his journalistic work or that his life would be in danger if he returned to Mexico.

Hough seemed unconvinced that he was a journalist. He denied the asylum claim and ruled that Gutierrez Soto could be removed from the United States.

The Press Club and immigration advocates stepped in to help in 2017 and were able to stop his deportation.

Shortly after that, Gutierrez Soto received the John Aubuchon award, the club's highest honor for press freedom.

Years went by as his case went through the U.S. immigration courts. Then, on September 5, a three-judge appeals panel said Gutierrez Soto had a reasonable and well-founded fear of returning to Mexico because of his articles exposing the corruption of the Mexican military.

They also said the initial judge in his case twice had ruled in error to deport Gutierrez Soto.

The Mexican journalist was working on a Michigan farm when he first learned that his asylum request was finally approved.

Kiely hopes his case helps to grow support and advocacy for other at-risk journalists and protect freedom of the press.

"We need to really, collectively as a profession, begin to point out to policymakers, how much you lose when you waste time, resources and money on a case like Emilio's that should have been decided years ago and how much we can gain if we enabled the journalists to do their jobs," Kiely said.
Nigerian authorities say national defense, internal security and economic stability are the top priorities in the 2024 budget that President Bola Tinubu delivered to lawmakers on Wednesday.

Improving security is a major challenge for Tinubu's government as it desperately seeks to attract foreign investments to grow the country's struggling economy.

Under the new $35 billion budget, authorities allocated about $4 billion or 12% of the total budget to defense and security  the largest single allocation to any sector.

In his first budget speech since taking office, Tinubu told lawmakers that security is important to safeguard lives, property and investments across the country.

Tinubu said he will overhaul Nigeria's internal security architecture to boost performance operations and achieve better results.

But experts say Nigerian authorities have consistently increased military spending in recent years without making Nigerians safer or more secure.

Kabiru Adamu, an analyst for consulting firm Beacon Security in Abuja, cites the previous budget as an example.

"In the 2023 budget, security enjoyed the largest allocation and in this current budget that is submitted to the National Assembly there's almost about 30% to 40% increase in the provision but unfortunately we haven't seen remarkable improvements to equate this attention the government is giving, he said. So, what's the challenge? I think it has to do with accountability and monitoring the performance of the security sector."

Africa's largest economy faces many security problems, including a 14-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast, separatist violence in the south, often deadly clashes between pastoralists and farmers, and proliferation of kidnap-for-ransom gangs in the Northwest and central regions.

Tinubu, who embarked on bold economic reforms including the scrapping of fuel subsidies and removal of foreign exchange restrictions, promised to fix security problems if elected.

But this week, local residents in northwest Zamfara state, said they're still reeling after armed gangs last Friday attacked their villages and kidnapped more than 100 residents.

The gangs are demanding about $236,000 for the captives freedom.

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu says corruption is the reason the increased military spending is not yielding results.

"Do they have the capacity to actually maximize this budget? he asked. Then the issue of corruption, how's this money expended? Is it rightly used for what's it's supposed to be used for? Then there's the issue of political will and interest of conflict merchants."

In October, Tinubu signed a what he called a performance bond with cabinet members. The agreement allows authorities to review the performance of serving officials and hold those underperforming accountable.

But Adamu says he's worried about one thing.

"What we're hoping is that that [the] performance bond would be implemented in a manner that we will see an improvement in security, he said. Security personnel do not willingly submit themselves to civilian administration. I worry a little bit."

Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities predict the economy will grow by 3.76% next year  well above the global average.

In recent weeks, the president has been meeting with foreign officials and business leaders with the aim of attracting more investments to Nigeria. In one notable deal, Saudi Arabia agreed to rehabilitate Nigerias non-functioning oil refineries.
At his farm on the outskirts of Tunis, Karim Daoud is taking steps to accommodate a climate-changed future.

The cows now munching his hay are being phased out and replaced by more sustainable goats and sheep. His olive grove is watered by drip irrigation and ever-scarcer rains and Daoud is diversifying a traditional family business to include agricultural tourism.

Its been years since weve [been talking] about climate change, but I think today were really with our backs to the wall, said Daoud, who began farming in the 1990s and is a member of Tunisia's farming union Synagri. We need to find solutions and change our agriculture, so it respects the resources we have.

Shaping Daouds bleak assessment are five years of drought that have hit agriculture hard in Tunisia  in ancient times a breadbasket of the Roman Empire. The North African country, highly dependent on rains and surface water for its population and industry, has seen its dams shrink to one-third or less of their capacity this year  although recent rains have offered a short-term respite.

The changing climate does not augur well for Tunisia or its Mediterranean neighbors. While September floods deluged nearby Libya, all of North Africa is expected to get hotter and dryer in the coming decades. The fallout, experts warn, could force many to migrate, with those who stay put facing increasing hardship.

Already Tunisia, along with Libya, count among the 25 most water-stressed countries in the world, according to the World Resources Institute, an environmental think tank. By 2050, average temperatures in Tunisia are expected to climb by up to 3.8, while rainfall is expected to decrease by at least 4%.

The problem is very complex, said Tunisian water management specialist Raoudha Gafrej. Its linked to the drought, but its also a failure in todays policies of managing this crisis which is multi-dimensional.

Throwing away water

Tunisias government has extended water restrictions that were imposed earlier this year. They include water bans for agricultural and green spaces and for washing cars and streets. Authorities are also drafting a 2050 water strategy that calls for more efficient water use and better management of extreme weather events, experts say.

But they note the strategy needs money to become reality  and that action is needed today.

The water governance model is still to be clarified by the government at a time when urgent actions are needed to sustain water resources, said Imen Rais, Tunisia freshwater program manager for the environmental group WWF (World Wildlife Fund).

Central to this, many believe, is a major rethink of Tunisian agriculture, notably export-driven irrigated farming, which consumes 80% of the countrys water supplies. Leaky pipes and other aging infrastructure also account for heavy water loss, Gafrej said.

When you look at what comes from nature and what arrives to citizens, theres between 30 to 50 percent of water lost, she said.

At a market in Tunis, fruit seller Mongi Gaigi watches potential customers walk away after seeing the prices of his peaches.

This year fruit is very expensive, he said, because of the drought.

Tunisian harvests of citrus, peaches, dates and tomatoes also end up in European markets  driven by a water-consuming agriculture the country can ill afford, experts like Gafrej say.

Youll go to the markets and see 30 types of fruit  for a country that has no water, she said.

Gafrej also points to mountains of uneaten couscous and bread scraps that end up in garbage bins.

We throw away the equivalent of 900,000 loaves daily, she said. Thats the equivalent of 170 million cubic meters of water a year, through imported wheat.

Like other North African countries, Tunisia has turned to desalination plants as one answer. Its 16 plants currently provide 8% of its potable water, with new plants underway. But that is a costly and partial answer, experts say.

Tapping old solutions

In the oases of southern Tunisia, rising temperatures, development and dwindling rainfall are threatening the countrys lucrative  and highly water dependent  date palm industry, with farmers drilling and pumping nonrenewable aquifers, often illegally, according to reports.

While some are turning to more environmentally friendly farming practices, others risk giving up and contributing to a climate migration that experts say will only grow.

What keeps people in the south in many North African countries are the oases, said Gafrej. Palm groves create a microclimate  and without them life would be impossible in the desert. But they also consume a lot of water  without it, people will leave.

In Tunis ancient Medina, social entrepreneur Leila Ben-Gacem is considering ancient answers for her own business, using roof-top pipes and traditional cisterns to capture and store water for the guesthouse she runs.

This is a system that has been abandoned, she said. Today, with climate change, with drought, with all the water shortages weve been having, it could be a very important alternative."

At his farm, Karim Daoud is also being creative. He is enriching the hay he feeds his cows with food waste from a tomato processing factory and switching to hardier grape and olive varieties.

Workers are retooling the family farm to include rooms for tourists and business seminars as a way to diversify the family revenue. Daouds son, who left his job as a chef in Europe, is in charge of the cuisine.

Other farmers are also beginning to shift to more diversified, climate-friendly practices. But bigger changes are essential, Daoud and many others believe.

We need a new vision when it comes to agriculture, he said, describing a more holistic strategy shared across the Mediterranean region. This demands a scientific and logistical support for farmers that currently doesnt exist, or only a little.
Iranian-backed proxies launched a rocket assault against U.S. forces in the Middle East, bringing the total number of attacks on U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria to 74 since October 17.

A U.S. defense official told VOA a single rocket was launched overnight against Mission Support Site Euphrates in eastern Syria, causing no casualties or damage.

U.S. naval forces in the Middle East continue to counter threats at sea as well. On Wednesday, while in the southern Red Sea, the USS Carney missile destroyer shot down an Iranian-produced drone launched from areas of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi militants.

Although its intentions are not known, the UAV [drone] was heading toward the warship. At the time of the shootdown, the USS Carney was escorting the USNS Supply [oiler] and another U.S.-flagged and -crewed ship carrying military equipment to the region, U.S. Central Command said.

There were no injuries or damage to any of the vessels during the incident.

On Sunday, two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in the direction of the USS Mason, a destroyer, as it came to the aid of a commercial vessel that was dealing with an apparent pirate attack.

The Pentagon has officially said that it doesnt believe the USS Mason was the missiles target, but two defense officials have since told VOA they disagree with that assessment.

U.S. has countered attacks in Iraq, Syria

Last week, U.S. forces carried out three strikes within 24 hours against Iranian-backed forces and their facilities in what the military said was a direct response to attacks against U.S. and coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups.

Two of the U.S. strikes targeted an operations center and a command-and-control node used by the Iranian-backed militant group Kataib Hezbollah near Al Anbar and Jurf al-Saqr in Iraq, a defense official told VOA. Kataib Hezbollah forces were present at the two facilities, which the defense official said had supported recent attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria.

Early assessments pointed to at least six militants killed in the two strikes, the defense official said.

A third U.S. attack struck and killed Iranian-backed proxies who earlier had launched a close-range ballistic missile against al-Asad air base in Iraq.

It was the first time a ballistic missile had been launched against U.S. forces in the Middle East since the surge in attacks began on October 17. Ballistic missiles can be much more powerful and carry much more destructive payloads than the rockets and drones used in previous attacks.

U.S. Central Command said the ballistic missile attack caused eight injuries to U.S. personnel and minor damage to infrastructure.

Prior to last weeks attacks, U.S. fighter jets had carried out three rounds of strikes targeting four facilities in Syria used by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and their proxy groups since October 17.

Most attacks disrupted

Most of the 74 attacks since October 17 were disrupted by the U.S. military or failed to reach their targets, causing no casualties or damage to infrastructure, according to the military. But a handful of attacks have injured dozens of U.S. military personnel. Some suffered shrapnel wounds or perforated eardrums, while a few suffered traumatic brain injuries.

One U.S. contractor at al-Asad Air Base in Iraq suffered a cardiac episode and died while sheltering in place during a false alarm for an air attack.

Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, Iranian-backed proxies have attacked U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria more than 160 times.

A spate of attacks from Iranian-backed militants in March killed a U.S. contractor in Syria, caused traumatic brain injuries in 23 military personnel and wounded 25 U.S. military personnel, according to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon responded with air strikes against Iranian-backed facilities in Syria, much like the strikes carried out by U.S. forces in recent weeks.

The last time Iran or Iranian-backed proxies used ballistic missiles against U.S. forces in Iraq was in 2020 following a U.S. attack in Iraq that killed Iranian Quds force leader Qassem Soleimani.
Statement of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on the resumption of peace talks and grant of amnesty to rebels

The agreement to resume the suspended peace talks between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is a major stride towards progress. The signing of a joint communique demonstrates the readiness of both parties to exchange ideas and reach a consensus, disregarding their disparities for the betterment of our country.

This is a positive development in finding a peaceful resolution to the decades-long armed conflict, especially with President Marcos Jr.'s move to grant amnesty to rebels.

The road to lasting peace is undoubtedly challenging, but the resumption of talks opens avenues for mutual understanding, compromise, and, ultimately, resolving long-standing issues.

We will closely monitor the peace negotiations to ensure that any agreement reached reflects the principles of justice, inclusivity, and reconciliation, and upholds the interests of the Filipino people.
MANILA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Cessna plane with two people on board, including the pilot, lost contact after taking off in Isabela province in the northern Philippines early on Thursday, local media reported.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said it is checking the report about a plane that "lost contact."

"The report status is (about an aircraft) that lost contact, so we cannot make any statement as of now," CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told Xinhua in a text message. 
Member countries are divided over the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's annual foreign ministers' meeting on Thursday, with Baltic nations and Ukraine refusing to attend over the presence of Russia's Sergey Lavrov.

The 57-member OSCE is the successor to a Cold War-era organization for Soviet and Western powers to engage but is now largely paralyzed by Russia's ongoing use of the effective veto each country has.

The U.S. and its allies are seeking simultaneously to keep the OSCE alive and hold Russia to account for its invasion of Ukraine. They are attending while making a point of denouncing Moscow's actions, a stance that some of Ukraine's closest allies have little truck with.

"How can you talk with an aggressor who is committing genocide, full aggression against another member state, Ukraine?" Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels, where he attended a NATO meeting.

Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are siding with Ukraine on the issue. Russia's Tass news agency reported Lavrov arrived in Skopje on Wednesday after a circuitous five-hour flight that avoided the airspace of countries that have barred Russian aircraft.

Borrell addresses friction

The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Your decision to allow Lavrov to participate is in line with our common objective to keep multilateralism alive," Borrell told North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski at a joint press conference in Skopje.

"Lavrov needs to hear again, from everyone, why Russia is being condemned and isolated," Borrell said. "Then he will be able to come back to the Kremlin and report to the Kremlin master."

Estonia had been due to take over the annually rotating OSCE chairmanship, but Russia blocked it for months. A last-minute deal for neutral Malta to take over the chairmanship must be formally approved at the meeting on Thursday and Friday.

Concern on support for Ukraine

The OSCE issue reflects broader diplomatic questions about Ukraine. While only Belarus regularly sides with Russia at OSCE meetings, this week's absentees worry that Western powers' commitment to Ukraine is wavering.

The United States has been trying to reassure them while arguing that the OSCE, which upholds standards that Russia has agreed to, is the right place to hold Moscow to account.

"First of all ... we have no planned interactions with Russia. We will also not accept any return to business as usual in the midst of this aggression, which has resulted in the largest land war on the European continent since World War II," U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE Michael Carpenter told reporters.

"A lot has been done to expose Russian atrocities, and I expect that that will be the theme, of condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine, in all its forms," he said.

It later became clear, however, that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken would attend only meetings with his counterpart from North Macedonia and other like-minded countries on Wednesday. He then left for Israel before the Ministerial Council formally began on Thursday.

The OSCE is not the only international body where the West and Russia meet. Lavrov still attends Group of 20 events around the world and the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

In terms of substance, the stakes in Skopje are low. With the chairmanship settled, the main open issue is whether four top OSCE officials, including Secretary-General Helga Schmid, will have their terms extended.

The absentee countries, however, fear that Lavrov will use the meeting as a platform.

"It just so happens that the aggressor country is having a veto, and in a sense trying to hijack the agenda of the OSCE," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins. "I think that is simply wrong."
Russia docked warships in Bangladesh for the first time in five decades earlier this month and held its first joint naval exercises with Myanmar as Moscow eyes a greater role in the Indian Ocean region and looks to bolster ties with smaller countries in Asia.

Analysts say India is not averse to Russia, its old ally and largest supplier of defense equipment, stepping up its presence in its maritime neighborhood despite New Delhis deepening partnership with the United States, Japan and Australia to counter Chinas expanding footprint in the strategic waters.

Ignoring pressure from its Western partners, New Delhi has maintained its decades-long relationship with Moscow and taken a neutral stand on the war in Ukraine.

India has been keen for Russia to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific because it suits New Delhis larger strategic goal of what it calls a multipolar global order. New Delhi believes a multipolar Asia is key to building a multipolar world, Praveen Donthi, Senior Analyst, India, at the International Crisis Group, told VOA. So far it has shown skill in navigating such strategic dilemmas, for instance on the Ukraine war.

Russias Defense Ministry called the naval drills held with Myanmar in the Andaman Sea from November 7 to 9 the first Russian-Myanmar naval exercise in modern history. Two anti-submarine ships, Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev of the Russian Pacific Fleet, participated in the exercises with a frigate and a corvette from Myanmar's navy.

Days after the Myanmar drills, the same Russian warships docked at Bangladeshs Chittagong Port in the Bay of Bengal  the first such visit in 50 years. The Russian embassy in Dhaka called it a "huge milestone for Russia-Bangladesh relations."

Russia also conducted two-day naval drills with India in the Bay of Bengal last week to strengthen naval cooperation, according to Russias Defense Ministry.

While it may seem odd for India to welcome the presence of foreign militaries in nearby waters, India won't view Russian naval power with the same concern it would that of China, said Michael Kugelman, Director, South Asia Institute at The Wilson Center in Washington. India likely views this Russian presence as something that can balance out Chinese naval power in the region, making the latter less of a threat to New Delhi."

Analysts point out that Chinas growing influence in the Indian Ocean in countries like Sri Lanka and Myanmar over the last decade has emerged as a major strategic headache for New Delhi, which has been engaged in a bitter military standoff with Beijing along their Himalayan border since 2020. In Sri Lanka for example, where Beijing has built the Hambantota port close to India, two Chinese research vessels that India sees as spy ships have docked since August last year.

Since the military junta in Myanmar seized power in 2021, Moscows cooperation with it has been growing and Russia is now the second largest supplier of arms to Myanmar. The country is also a key market for other Russian exports.

Russia and Dhaka have traditionally had close ties and as Bangladeshs government comes under pressure from the United States over its human rights record, it could draw closer to Moscow. Russia is building the country's first nuclear power plant.

Russia is trying to demonstrate to the West that even if you try to isolate us, we have our supporters in the Global South and in Asia or Africa, we are not seen as pariahs or a country to be shunned. So that is the diplomatic message that they are giving, pointed out Sankalp Gurjar, Assistant Professor in Geopolitics and International Relations at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

Analysts say the appearance of Russian warships in the Indian Ocean is also motivated by its goal to be present in all major theaters of the world.

The Indian Ocean has become the main theatre for the great power rivalry between the US and China. And Moscow would like to enhance its strategic presence in the region by deepening its ties with nations in the region such as Myanmar and play a consequential role, according to Donthi.

Other analysts agree. It's important for Russia to show its continued capacity to project power, especially far from home. Doing so in the Indian Ocean region, where its partner China has also been increasingly present, is an added advantage for Moscow, Kugelman said.

However, Russias foray into the Indian Ocean also poses a strategic dilemma for India as Moscow has been moving close to Indias bitter rival, China, since its invasion of Ukraine. That is why New Delhi will watch carefully to see what role Moscow wants to play in the Indian Ocean, which it has long viewed as its sphere of influence.

So far, it seems Moscow simply wants to mark its presence in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, according to Gurjar. However, concern arises from the fact that Chinas and Russias naval collaboration has been deepening. In the Western Pacific for example, both countries have been holding joint exercises and both have been assertive in their posture. If that kind of collaboration gets extended to the Indian Ocean, that would present a challenge for India, he said.
China is not likely to consider a major invasion of Taiwan for now due to domestic challenges, the island's president Tsai Ing-wen said Wednesday, although Beijing is trying to sway its upcoming election.

"I think the Chinese leadership at this juncture is overwhelmed by its internal challenges," Tsai told the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York.

"My thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she added in a recorded interview.

Tsai was responding to questions about the risks of an invasion, in the aftermath of a closely watched meeting between the U.S. and Chinese presidents, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, in California this month.

The leaders' talks, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, were aimed at preventing growing tensions from spiraling into conflict.

But Xi and Biden remain far apart on the flashpoint of Taiwan, with the Chinese leader telling his U.S. counterpart that reunification was "unstoppable."

China considers democratic Taiwan its territory, to be taken one day by force if necessary.

For the moment however, Beijing is grappling with domestic economic, financial and political challenges, Tsai said.

The international community has also made it clear that war is no option, she added.

But China is still "interested in interfering" in Taiwan's upcoming presidential election, Tsai said, adding that Beijing is attempting to sway the outcome in its favor.

"All major elections in Taiwan since 1996 have seen similar influence operations from China," she said, noting these include the use of military threats and economic coercion.

Instead of hoping Beijing would give up on its tactics, Taiwan should "focus on strengthening the resilience of our democracy," she added.

Self-ruled Taiwan is holding its presidential election in January, and this is under scrutiny including by policymakers in Beijing and Washington, as it could determine Taipei's ties with an increasingly bellicose Beijing.

Asked if the United States' attempt to boost its chip manufacturing capabilities could make Washington's ties with Taipei less valuable in the long run, Tsai added that the island's current semiconductor industry cannot be replaced by anywhere else.

Tsai is not able to run in the upcoming election, as she will have completed the maximum of two terms in office.
Ukraine is blaming Russia for the lack of prisoner swaps between the two warring countries over the past few months.

Since the early months of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, Kyiv and Moscow have carried out many prisoner swaps, but their frequency has fallen this year, with no swaps since August.

Exchanges dont happen because Russia doesn't want them to, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines human rights commissioner, said on Thursday.

All the initiatives, desires and actions of Ukraine regarding the return of our defenders from captivity are met by a Russian unwillingness to return its citizens, Lubinets added on Telegram.

Lubinets also said that Russian prisoners of war held in Ukraine have said they want to be exchanged, but no one from the Russian side wants to take them back, the Ukrainian official added.

In Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's nightly address on Thursday, he called for quicker construction of fortifications in key front-line areas of eastern Ukraine, which is under pressure from the Russian army.

"In all major sectors where reinforcement is needed, there should be a boost and an acceleration in the construction of structures," Zelenskyy said.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday said the United States is working with Ukraine to prepare for Russia's expected winter attack.

Washington predicts Russia will attempt to target Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure this winter, Kirby said, so the United States is supplying equipment to help people avoid losing heat and electricity.

Meanwhile, Russian missiles pounded Ukraines Donetsk region overnight into Thursday, as concerns grew about more intense attacks from Russia as weather conditions improve.

Ten people were wounded in the missile attacks, including four children. Five other people were trapped in rubble, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Thursday.

In Pokrovsk, Klymenko said a six-month-old baby was wounded alongside boys aged 13 and 16.

"One of the shells exploded in the yard of a house where a family with two children lived. As a result of the shelling, the roof and walls of the house were destroyed, and the family was buried under the rubble," he added.

An apartment block, nine private houses, a police station, cars and garages were also damaged.

The Donetsk industrial region, which Russia claims to have annexed last year, has seen some of the fiercest fighting in the two-year conflict.

Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its forces had taken control of the village of Khromove, which Russia calls Artyomovskoe.

Wednesday, a day after addressing the intense fighting in the Donetsk region, Zelenskyy said he had met with military commanders and government officials in the southern part of the country, hit hard by a recent storm.

He said he had instructed government officials to increase the number of repair crews and equipment to promptly restore electricity supply to people. If necessary, the State Emergency Service personnel and power engineers from other regions that have not experienced such problems with the weather will be brought in.

Repairs are being made to Odesas boiler facility, which was damaged by severe weather.

Weather conditions are improving in the country this week, which is allowing Russia to ramp up its assaults, according to Ukrainian army spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun.

"The enemy has doubled its artillery fire and airstrikes. It has also intensified ground infantry attacks, and is using armored vehicles," he said.

Oleksandr Tarnavsky, a Ukrainian commander, said Russia had "significantly increased" its activity around the town of Avdiivka.

On Thursday, Reuters reported that Ukraine will now have to wait until 2024 before it receives its first large shipment of rocket-propelled precision bombs. The United States has adapted the bombs to be capable of striking at a range of nearly 160 kilometers.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Vietnam, with the worlds second-largest reserves of the rare earths used in such modern devices as electric vehicle batteries and smart phone screens, is intensifying mining of the critical minerals. The industry, though, faces high processing costs, environmental concerns, and the takedown of industry leaders for illegal mining and mineral sales.

Vietnam's rare earth resources are second only to those of China, which has held a tight monopoly since the 1980s. With Chinese relations with the West becoming more volatile, many countries are looking for other sources for the elements.

"China produces about 60% of the world's rare earths but what they process is over 90%," Louis O'Connor, CEO of Strategic Metals Invest, an Irish investment firm, told VOA.

"It was not a good idea to allow one country to dominate critical raw materials that are critical to all nations' economic prosperity and increasingly military capability," he said.

O'Connor added that while China has the world's majority of raw materials, its dominance over technical expertise in the complex and costly process of rare earth refining is even greater. China has 39 metallurgy universities and approximately 200 metallurgists graduate weekly in the country, he said.

"The ability to go from having the potential to end product -- that's the most challenging, complicated, and expensive part," O'Connor said. "For Vietnam, even if they have the deposits, what they don't have is the human capital, or the engineering expertise."

Vietnam increased rare earth mining tenfold with its output hitting 4,300 tons last year, compared to 400 tons in 2021. according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Vietnam said in July it plans to process 2 million tons of rare earth ores by 2030 and produce 60,000 tons of rare earth oxides annually starting in 2030. This year, China's mining quota is set at 240,000 tons to meet the demand for the electric vehicle industry, according to Chinese government data.

The United States and other countries are interested in Vietnam increasing its production of rare earths.

"The U.S. wants Vietnam to become a more important supplier and perhaps replace China, if possible, because of the risk that the U.S. may face in relying on rare earth supplies from China," Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore told VOA.

"Not only the U.S., but also other partners like Korea, Japan, and Australia also are working with Vietnam to develop the rare earth industry," he said.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol signed a memorandum of understanding in Vietnam in June to establish a joint supply chain center for rare earth minerals.

"We reached an agreement that there is more potential to develop rare earths together, as they are abundant in Vietnam," Yoon said in a June 23 statement with Vietnam's president Vo Van Thuong.

The United States signed such a memorandum on cooperation in the rare earths sector during President Joe Biden's visit to Hanoi on September 9.

"We see Vietnam as a potential critical nexus in global supply chains when it comes to critical minerals and rare earth elements," Marc Knapper, U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, said on September 13 during a digital press briefing. "We certainly want to work together to ensure that Vietnam is able to take advantage of its rich resources in a way thats also sustainable."

Scandal

However, a handful of Vietnam's key rare earth enterprises have become entangled in scandal. On October 20, police arrested six individuals for mining and tax violations.

Police arrested Doan Van Huan, chairman of the Hanoi-based Thai Duong Group that operates a mine in Yen Bai province, and its chief accountant, Nguyen Van Chinh, for violating regulations on the exploration and exploitation of natural resources and accounting violations, the Public Security Ministry said. The two were accused of making $25.5 million from the illegal sale of rare earth ore and iron ore. Police raided 21 excavation and trading sites in Yen Bai province and three other locations. Authorities seized an estimated 13,700 tons of rare earth and more than 1,400 tons of iron ores, according to local publication VnExpress.

Although government statements did not state what made Thai Duong's rare earth sales illegal, a source told Reuters raw Yen Bai mine ore had been exported to China to avoid high domestic refining costs, in violation of Vietnamese rules.

The chairman, Luu Anh Tuan, and accountant, Nguyen Thi Hien, of the country's primary rare earth refining company, Vietnam Rare Earth JSC, were also arrested for violating accounting regulations in trading rare earth with Thai Duong Group. Dang Tran Chi, director of Hop Thanh Phat, and his accountant Pham Thi Ha were arrested on the same charge.

Looking at corruption in Vietnam's rare earth industry will be "top of the list" for future investors, OConnor said.

"Corruption levels would have to be looked at," he said. "If you're buying a metal that's going to need to perform in a jet engine, for example or a rocket  they have to be sure of the purity levels. The chain of custody of these, it's more important really than gold."

Vietnam committed to industry

Hanoi is committed to developing the rare earths industry even though economic gains are limited by environmental and production costs, Hiep told VOA.

"Vietnam is now interested in promoting this industry mainly because of the strategic significance," Hiep told VOA. "If you can grow this industry and become a reliable supplier of rare earth products for the U.S. and its allies, Vietnam's strategic position will be enhanced greatly."

"Whether that will be successful, we have to wait and see," he added.

There are also environmental concerns for the growing industry, particularly as a crackdown on Vietnam's environmental organizations and civil society leaves little room for public speech.

"The biggest challenge is going to be how do you handle the waste process from the mining," said Courtney Weatherby, deputy director of the Southeast Asia Program at Washingtons Stimson Center told VOA.

"Ensuring that development happens in a sustainable way takes a lot of different actors," she said.

But Duy Hoang, executive director of unsanctioned political party Viet Tan, said the room for outside actors to express concern over environmental and labor practices is narrowing.

"What we're seeing is sort of a shrinking space for civil society to speak out and a number of the leading environmental activists are now in jail. We don't have their voices which are very needed and I think there may be self-censorship going on by other activists," he said. "There has to be accountability."
The Hamas massacre of Oct. 7 has persuaded tens of thousands of Israeli civilians to get personal guns for the first time, and some groups are voicing concerns about the implications. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem. Camera: Ricki Rosen.
American leadership is essential in establishing norms and laws to determine how we both glean the promise and manage the peril of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and digital economic and social platforms used to connect billions of people around the world, a White House adviser told VOA.

The Biden administration has rolled out a number of initiatives on the topic  most recently, an executive order that aims to set new AI safety and security standards. That order relies on cooperation from private developers and other countries, because the attackers are in one set of countries, the infrastructure is in another and the victims are global, said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology at the National Security Council.

Neuberger sat down with VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell to explain these complex, compelling technologies and how she thinks they have exposed the worst but also the best in humanity.

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

VOA: Thank you so much for sitting down with VOA today. Can you walk us through the concrete outcomes of the recent meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the areas you cover  cybersecurity, AI and the digital economy?

Anne Neuberger, White House deputy national security adviser: Of course, strategic technologies are very important to both of our countries growth and national security  and were global players on a global stage. The most important part of the discussion was two leaders coming together to say: While we are in competition, we're committed to working together on areas where we can collaborate - areas like climate change, like discussions of what are the rules for artificial intelligence.

VOA: Would you assess that the meeting made any progress, especially on AI regulation?

Neuberger: Certainly very good discussions related to an agreement for the countries to sit down and establish a working group on AI [about] appropriate guardrails and guidelines in this area.

VOA: I'm going to stick with AI and the administration's recent moves, like the AI Bill of Rights and also the attempt to set some norms at the recent London summit on AI. Why does the administration think U.S. leadership matters so much here?

Neuberger: For two reasons. First, the United States is a committed democracy and AI is a major technology that brings both promise and peril. It is up to us to determine how we both glean the promise and manage the peril. President Biden has made that clear in his game-changing executive order that, as a country, we must manage the perils in order to glean the promise.

VOA: Speaking of the perils of AI, what is the administration doing to prevent the malicious use of generative AI in both conflicts and contests? I'm talking about conflicts like Israel and Ukraine, but also contests like the upcoming elections in Congo, in Taiwan and here in the United States.

Neuberger: We've seen new AI models that generate very realistic videos, very realistic images. In terms of generative AI related to elections, I want to lift up one of the voluntary commitments that the president negotiated, which was around watermarking: having a visible and potentially invisible mark on an AI-generated image or video that notes that this is AI-generated, to alert a viewer. An invisible mark could be used so that, even if there are attempts to remove this mark, the platforms themselves can still be able to portray that message and help educate individuals. This is still an area of evolving technology. It's getting better and better. But companies made commitments to start marking content that they generate. And I know a number of social media platforms are also making commitments to ensure that they display messages to help consumers who see such content know that it is generated by artificial intelligence.

VOA: Moving on to cybersecurity and malign actors like North Korea and Russia, what is the administration doing to curb their work in this area?

Neuberger: We see North Korea really using cyberattacks as a way to get money because they're such a heavily sanctioned regime. So North Korea moved from targeting banks to targeting ... cryptocurrency infrastructure around the world. And the White House has had a focused effort to bring together all elements we have to fight that with Treasury Department designations.

There'll be further designations coming up for the cryptocurrency mixers that launder funds stolen from those cryptocurrency infrastructures. We also have been working with the industry to press them to improve the cybersecurity of their systems as well as law enforcement. U.S. law enforcement has been cooperating with partners around the world to take down that server infrastructure and to arrest the individuals who are responsible for some of this activity.

VOA: Tell us a little bit about the counter-ransomware initiative youre working on.

Neuberger: Absolutely. Essentially, criminal groups, many of which are based in Russia with infrastructure operating from around the world, are locking systems ... in order to request that the system owners pay ransom. In the United States alone in the last two years, $2.3 billion was paid in ransom. It's a fundamentally transnational fight. ... What we've done is assemble 48 countries, Interpol [and] the European Union to take this on together, because we know that the attackers are in one set of countries, the infrastructure is in another, and the victims are global. As the White House built this initiative, we ensure that the leadership is diverse.

So, for example, the leaders of the effort to build capacity around the world are Nigeria and Germany  intentionally, a country from Africa and a country from Europe, because their needs are different. And we wanted to ensure that as we're helping countries build the capacity to fight this, we're sensitive to the different needs of a country like Nigeria, like Rwanda, like South Africa, like Indonesia. Similarly, there's an effort focused on exercising information, sharing information together.

You asked about the key deliverables from this most recent meeting. I'll note three big ones. First, we launched a website and a system where countries can collaborate when they're fighting a ransomware attack, where they can ask for help [or] learn from others who fought a similar attack. Second, we made the first ever joint policy statement  a big deal  48 countries committing that countries themselves will not pay ransoms, because we know this is a financially driven problem. And third, the United States committed that we would be sharing bad wallets [that] criminals are using to move money around the world so other countries can help stop that money as it moves as well. So that's an example of three of the many commitments that came out of the recent meeting.

VOA: Lets talk about the Global South, which has pioneered development of really interesting digital economic technologies like Kenyas M-PESA, which was rolled out in, like, 2007. Now the U.S. has Venmo, which is modeled on that. How is the U.S. learning from the developing world in the development of these projects and also the perils of these products?

Neuberger: M-PESA is a fantastic example of the promise of digital tech. Essentially, Kenya took the fact that they had a telecom infrastructure, and built their banking infrastructure riding on that, so they leapt ahead to enable people across the country to do transactions online. When you look at Ukraine in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine quickly moved their government online, really building on lessons learned from Estonia, to enable Ukrainians  many who are in Poland and Hungary  to continue to engage with their government in a digital way.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is tremendously proud of that Ukrainian project and is using it as a model as we look to other countries around the world. So we're learning a lot from the creativity and innovation; what we want to bring to that is American development, skill and aid, and also plugging in American tech companies who can accelerate the rollout of these projects in countries around the world, because we still believe in the promise of digital. But you mentioned the peril, and that's where cybersecurity comes in.

VOA: This lines us up perfectly for my final question, about the promise and the peril. In the digital world, people can hide behind anonymity and say and do awful things using tools that were meant to improve the world. How do you keep your faith in humanity?

Neuberger: It's a tremendously important question. It's one that's personally important to me. My great-grandparents lost their lives in Nazi death camps. And those members of my family who survived  some survived through the horrors of the camp, some managed to hide out under false identities. And I often think that the promise of digital has also made our identities very evident. Sometimes when I'm just browsing Amazon online, and it recommends a set of books, I think to myself: I wonder how I'd hide if what happened to my grandparents came for me. So as a result, I think that even as we engage with these technologies, we have to ensure that vulnerable populations are protected.

So, the president's working with AI companies to say companies have an obligation to protect vulnerable populations online, to ensure that we're using AI to detect where there's bullying online, where there's hate speech that goes against common practices that needs to be addressed; where there are AI-generated images related to children or women or other vulnerable populations, that we use AI to find them and remove them; and certainly use law enforcement and the power of law enforcement partnerships around the world to deter that as well. Freedom of speech is a part of free societies. Freedom from harm needs to be a fight we take on together.

VOA: Thank you so much for speaking to our audience.

Neuberger: Thank you.
Amnesty International says the continued detention of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change activist Job Sikhala, who is facing charges of inciting violence, is a travesty of justice.

In a statement, Amnesty International urged President Emmerson Mnangagwas government to release Sikhala.

 Authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Job Sikhala and all charges against him should be dropped as he is detained solely for peacefully exercising his human rights.

Amnesty International noted that his detention for more than 500 days without a proper trial is unlawful.

Job Sikhala has lost more than 500 days of his life in pretrial detention based on trumped up charges of obstruction of justice. Job Sikhala should never have been detained in the first place.

The High Court this week found him not guilty of obstructing or defeating the course of justice after a lower court convicted him of claiming that slain Citizens Coalition for Change activist, Moreblessing Ali, was killed by Zanu PF activists in Nyatsime. He is still facing charges of inciting public violence.

Amnesty International said, That he will remain in prison on other baseless charges of incitement to commit violence and disorderly conduct is a travesty of justice and a violation of his human rights. This is yet another example of the Zimbabwean authorities ongoing weaponization of the law to target activists and opposition figures to silence dissent.

CCCs deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziva said Amnesty International got it right.

Sikhala is a political prisoner. He should be released now, said Siziva.

But Zanu PFs Malaki Nkomo said Sikhala should face the wrath of the law.

Our courts are very independent. Sikhala should be tried like any other person in Zimbabwe. Nobody is above the law and so it is important for him to be detained until he is cleared of any wrong doing.

Moreblessing Ali was murdered by suspected Zanu PF activists who tossed her mutilated body in a disused well.
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HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's economic growth is expected to fall to 3.5% in 2024 from 5.5% this year, mainly due to an anticipated drought caused by El Nino, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon in which surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific become unusually warm, causing changes in global weather patterns, is expected to hit crop yields during the 2023/24 farming season.

Declining mineral commodities prices will also weigh on growth, Ncube said in a speech.

Zimbabwe's budget deficit is expected to end the year at 1.2% of GDP, he said, while annual inflation is seen falling to 10%-20% in 2024 from 20% in 2023.

"Going into 2024 ... fiscal restraint and tight monetary policy, together with a healthy current account position, provide the necessary conditions for currency and price stability," Ncube said.

To enhance revenue collection he proposed increasing toll fees for the country's busiest road, adding a levy on sugary drinks and introducing a wealth tax.

He also said lithium miners should submit refinery plans by March 2024 to encourage value addition. Zimbabwe is the leading lithium producer in Africa.

Reporting by Nyasha Chingono; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning and Christina Fincher
President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Andrey Kondrashov, director-general of Russia's TASS news agency, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Andrey Kondrashov, director-general of Russia's TASS news agency, in Beijing Wednesday.

Fu welcomed Kondrashov to lead a TASS delegation to attend the fifth World Media Summit in China. He said that TASS is an important partner of Xinhua News Agency and the two news organizations share broad space for cooperation.

He hoped that the two sides will further tap the cooperation potential, keep closer personnel exchanges, push for new achievements in practical cooperation, and jointly play a positive role in promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and Russia.

Fu said that Xinhua looks forward to continually strengthening cooperation with TASS under multilateral mechanisms and frameworks including the BRICS Media Forum, the Belt and Road Economic Information Partnership and the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies.

Kondrashov said that Xinhua has great influence in the world and its various businesses have developed rapidly in recent years. TASS is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with Xinhua and promote exchanges and mutual learning between the two agencies. 
Japans new Godzilla Minus One may not have the budget of its American counterparts, but at least its actually about something. Photo: Toho International

The King of the Monsters is busy on this side of the Pacific. The MonsterVerse has spread to the small screen with the Apple TV+ show Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and next year will usher in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, the sequel to 2021s oversized monster smash-em-up. To all of the kaijus blockbuster American exploits, the director of the newest Japanese Godzilla movie, Takashi Yamazaki, has this to say:

Man, you guys have a lot of VFX and you guys have the budget for it.

Its not said with judgment or disdain. In addition to directing Godzilla Minus One, the 33rd Japanese Godzilla movie (and 37th overall), Yamazaki wrote it and oversaw the special effects. As was the case with the last live-action Japanese Godzilla movie, 2016s Shin Godzilla, the iconic kaiju is now a computer-generated monster rather than a man in a suit, much like his American counterpart. Minus One, which opens in the U.S. on December 1, admittedly doesnt look as expensive as multi-hundred-million-dollar, explosion-heavy extravaganzas like Godzilla vs. Kong, but the effects are more than convincing and, besides, Minus One is in the style of Godzilla movies that are about something rather than the many monster beat-em-ups in the kaijus filmography.

Once you have Godzilla fighting any kaiju, the human story ends up taking a backseat, Yamazaki explained through a translator. Its great to have Godzilla fighting whoever, but my personal challenge would be to resolve that balance. The kaiju can battle, but the human story needs to be there.

Minus One has no other kaiju but Godzilla, and it takes the monster back to his roots  before that, actually. Whereas the original 1954 Godzilla, a thrilling metaphor for the atomic bomb released just nine years after the end of World War II, takes place in the year it came out, Minus One is set in the immediate aftermath of the war, an era when a demilitarized Japans government was in shambles, the cities largely firebombed (or worse) to hell, and its people left searching for new meaning after the disastrous outcome of a war the imperial government started with such ambitious hopes. Japan was at zero, and the arrival of Godzilla sets it back to minus one, hence the title.

Photo: Toho International

Its a novel premise for a Godzilla movie. Fans of the giant-monster genre are so used to seeing a bunch of army tanks valiantly and futilely attempt to stop Godzilla and his ilk. What happens when there isnt an army of tanks available? As Yamazaki explains it, without weapons, these civilians have to use their knowledge to overcome Godzilla, even as their country still bears the scars of its recent destruction.

I think with the 70 years of the history of Godzilla, that metaphor and representation of Godzilla has kind of gotten diluted over time, Yamazaki said, adding that Godzillas origins as a creature created by nuclear weapons  which is not the case in the American MonsterVerse, where hes an ancient Titan whos just always existed  was important to him in the writing. (Hiroshima or Nagasaki are not directly addressed in the film, however.)

Ryunosuke Kamiki, a major star in Japanese blockbuster live-action roles and voice work like the lead character of Your Name, stars in Minus One as Koichi Shikishima, a would-be kamikaze pilot who fakes a mechanical problem with his plane to avoid flying to his death after seeing the writing on the wall in the last days of the war. This life-saving act of cowardice, combined with an early run-in with Godzilla, haunt Koichi as Japan struggles to rebuild.

Personally, the whole concept of going to die, thats not something I agree with, Kamiki says. But he understands that the mentality of that time of these kamikaze pilots was that it was a celebration. They are giving their lives away for their families and to the people of their countries.

All of these negative things in the world have manifested themselves into Godzilla.

But given that Minus One is a period piece, its relationship with postwar Japan and the ethos of the era is a little trickier  and potentially controversial. It would be easy for Minus One to tip into a darker sort of nationalism, the sort that could encourage Koichi to have done his duty. It is, after all, about a monster attacking Japan in the wake of a horribly destructive war of conquest that they started. To have a besieged Japan rise from its ashes is perhaps a touchy proposition.

Minus One largely eschews such readings, however. Characters offer differing views on the war, including a young man who laments that he never got the chance to serve and older veterans who angrily inform him that not having fought in war is something to be proud of. Although Minus One is about guilt, honor, and duty, it mostly disentangles the idea of finishing ones personal war from the context of the actual war.

This is not the first movie Tamazaki has made set in this time period, nor is it even the first movie hes made with a kamikaze pilot as its protagonist, as Minus One comes a decade after his film The Eternal Zero, which ends with its pilot going through with his duty. Minus One, like Koichi, ultimately chooses life, and Yamazaki says the films anti-war message is relevant. With world happenings  are we tipping closer to war? the director explained. Its a good reminder of what the aftermath of a war looks like. Just to keep that in mind.

On the question of whether Japan, which truly did suffer at the end of World War II, is a victim of Godzillas destruction, or if the monster is punishment for the horrors the country wrought, Yamazaki has a different perspective.

Godzilla is more of an undiscerning god, he said, explaining that the monster was neither punishment nor was Japan a victim. In Japan, its integrated into Shinto belief. All of these negative things in the world have manifested themselves into Godzilla. And, us as humans, were not out to kill Godzilla, but were able to calm Godzilla and bring ourselves back to peace.

Its a delicate understanding, especially in the midst of a movie that, for all its weighty historical themes and human drama, is also a thrilling monster romp. Without a Kong for Minus Ones Godzilla to do battle with, though, these sorts of questions loom as large as the kaiju himself, and the director expects audiences to find different answers.

Im really interested in how the U.S. audience will perceive him, Yamazaki says.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government confirmed late Wednesday night that the sixth batch of hostages released from the Gaza Strip by Hamas has returned to Israel.

The 16 hostages, including 12 Israelis -- some holding dual citizenship -- and four Thai nationals, will undergo an initial medical examination before being escorted by security forces to hospitals to reunite with their families, according to statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The four-day humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, scheduled to expire on Tuesday morning, was extended by two days, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Israel did not comment on the extension, but said early Tuesday that it approved the release of 50 more female Palestinian prisoners if "more Israeli hostages are released."

More than 200 hostages were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants during their Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, which retaliated by launching deadly airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Israel was widely reported to have insisted that all women and children be released under the framework of the current ceasefire deal, which provided for 50 Israelis to be freed in the first four days of the truce, and the release of 10 Israeli captives for an extra day's pause.

Amid talks to extend the ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Wednesday that his country will resume the military campaign to eradicate Hamas.

"There is no situation in which we do not go back to fighting until the end. This is my policy," Netanyahu said in a video statement Wednesday, adding that the entire security cabinet and government, the soldiers, and the Israeli people are all "behind it."

"From the start of the war, I set three goals: eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will never again go back to being a threat to the State of Israel. These three goals still stand," he stressed.

Also on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a "special situational assessment" with the heads of the military, Mossad and Shin Bet on the efforts to return Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza, his office said.

"We are making every effort to return the hostages and to fully complete the current process for returning all the abducted woman and children in Gaza," Gallant said in a statement, stressing that Israeli forces in the air, sea and ground "are ready for an immediate renewal of the fighting."

Meanwhile, IDF's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved battle plans after the ceasefire during a meeting at Southern Command headquarters in Beer Sheba, an army statement said.

"We know what needs to be done, and are ready for the next stage," Halevi was quoted in the statement as saying. 
Italian state had lost track of Botticelli work valued at 100 million.

A painting by Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, said to have been missing from state records for 50 years, has been recovered from a private home in the Naples area of Italy.

The newly resurfaced painting of the Madonna and Child is in very poor condition and will undergo a delicate, year-long restoration overseen by the Italian culture ministry.

The artwork, valued at around 100 million, was reportedly handed over voluntarily to the Naples branch of the Carabineri unit for protection of Italy's cultural heritage.

Botticelli, the Florentine artist famed for La Primavera and Birth of Venus, is believed to have painted the artwork in the late 15th century.

Naples art police with recovered Botticelli. Photo Finestre sull'Arte.

The painting was originally housed in a church in Santa Maria la Carita, a town near Naples, but some time after the turn of the 20th century was entrusted to a family in nearby Gragnano.

The canvas was listed by the Italian state in 1931, a move confirmed in 1968, before it slipped off the radar and fell into disrepair.

Authorities are investigating whether in fact the work belongs to the family, who handed it down from generation to generation, or to the state.

The painting is expected to go on public display in Naples following an extensive programme of restoration and studies.
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Former drummer Taylor Hawkins death in March last year delayed the tour by a year, and it was a personal story about Hawkins shared by Grohl and tributes throughout the set that elevated the gig to something special.

Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl with new drummer Josh Freese at HBF Park in Perth on November 29. Credit: Stu McKay

The band, led by frontman Dave Grohl screamed and shredded their way through an energetic 2-hour set in front of a sell-out crowd of 32,000 at HBF Park  the first stop in their first proper Australian tour since 2018.

It takes a lot to rip Perth out of the working week coma that has set in deep by Wednesday but the Foo Fighters were just the antidote.

And a well-received compliment about how our fair city should be the first stop of every major tour, along with an all-killer, no-filler set that spanned the bands entire 29-year history, left even the most discerning fans totally nourished.

We first saw Grohls shaggy black mop grace the stage for 2002s All My Life which gave Hawkins replacement, serial touring drummer Josh Freese, an opportunity to introduce himself with a rollicking drum solo.

Freese, who resembles a mix between Expendables-era Dolph Lundgren and Ryan Gosling as Ken, has played in a range of huge bands including Devo, Nine Inch Nails, and the Offspring, and Grohl told the crowd the tour would not have been possible without him.

The crowd then heartily sang along to powerful renditions of The Pretender (2007) and Walk (2011).

Before launching into a gospel-style Times Like These (2002), Grohl pointed out how many younger people he saw in the crowd, many of whom wouldnt have even been born before their first album was released.
I became a teacher because I saw it as a way to make positive change in the world. Despite reported staff shortages and burnout, I have always believed that education was the path to awareness and empathy, to a more active and just world.

Seven weeks ago, my students began to ask me about Palestine. The Palestine-Israel conflict is on every news site, social media feed  its everywhere they look. Is it surprising they wanted to ask their humanities and global politics teacher about it, to discuss and clarify?

Palestinian children sell sweets outside a destroyed building in Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip this week. Credit: AP

During our studies, we have discussed numerous conflicts. We have explored World War II and the Holocaust. We have discussed Rwanda, Cambodia, Syria, Iraq, and the Gulf War. Our education system was OK with each of these. So, one would think that as a teacher and as a human, I had an obligation to discuss the thousands killed and trapped beneath rubble.

Imagine the confusion when my colleagues and I received an email from school management telling us to do the opposite. The email told us not to speak to students about the conflict in the Middle East. Instead, it suggested we deflect student questions by expressing our gratitude for being in Australia and saying that we did not know much about the conflict.
Beijing, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The supply chains of China and the United States are intertwined, thereby presenting broad prospects for their cooperation, said an entrepreneur here Tuesday at the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE).

China and the United States have vast common interests and broad opportunities in business, said Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of iMpact, a communications and business consulting group.

Singling out Tesla and Temu, Pereira said that Tesla successfully rolled out business in China with the help of the country's large and well-established supply chain while Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has been catching on in the North American market in the past year and remains among the three most downloaded apps in the region.

On the supply chain cooperation in clean energy between the two countries, he said that on Amazon online mall, most of the best-selling energy storage products, solar panels and so on are "made in China."

When attending the RE+ exhibition in Las Vegas, the largest solar show in North America, Pereira found that many exhibitors were from China and its green energy companies were not only leading in technology but also competitive in price.

While holding a crucial position in the upstream of the supply chain, China demonstrates sincerity and adopts an open attitude towards cooperating with the United States in the supply chain, he said. "This has a very positive impact on China-U.S. supply chain cooperation."

The expo shows China's intention to integrate more deeply into the global industrial and supply chain system, said Pereira.

"I believe the U.S. business community has received this signal. I'm looking forward to more exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and U.S. business communities in the future," he added. 
Higgins replied: I understand that that is your assertion. Its insulting, but I understand it. Earlier on Thursday, Higgins had said she thought my dress was on my person. I didnt remember having to put it back on. I accept that that may be incorrect. I would never do that Whybrow put to Higgins that she made up the sexual assault allegation because she was concerned about her job after she passed out drunk in the office of her then-boss and defence industry minister Linda Reynolds in Parliament House. A photo of then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds office in Parliament House where Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped. Credit: Federal Court of Australia

My job is just not that important, Im sorry, Higgins said. I would never do that. She agreed that she lied when she told police and her ex-boyfriend she had gone to the doctor after the alleged assault. She said she was placating her former boyfriend, as she was when she said that she was looking after herself and doing okay. Higgins also agreed that she didnt have an appointment when she texted Reynolds then chief of staff asking for the day off to go to the doctor. She said she had an intention at the time to go, but didnt follow through because she was terrified. The photo Whybrow also asked Higgins about a statutory declaration she swore ahead of the Ten interview in which she said a bruise on her leg, captured in a photograph, was caused by Lehrmann during the alleged assault.

A photo tendered in court in Bruce Lehrmanns defamation trial of what Brittany Higgins has described as a bruise on her leg. Higgins told the court on Wednesday that she had turned up the contrast on the photo to make the bruise clearer, and that she thought the bruise may have been caused either by the alleged assault or tripping up the stairs. Whybrow asked on Thursday if she accepted this was a different answer to the statement in her statutory declaration. Higgins said that at the time she swore the statutory declaration she believed it was caused by the alleged assault. She noted Whybrow had put to her in Lehrmanns ACT criminal trial, which was aborted in October last year due to juror misconduct, that it was possible that it came from another source and she accepted that. The charge against Lehrmann was later dropped amid concerns about Higgins mental health.

Loading Whybrow put to Higgins that as you find out further information you adapt and evolve your narrative to fit the new information, do you agree with that? No, but I accept where I am wrong, and I try to apply it in every weird circumstance I end up in to give the most honest answer I can, Higgins said. Financial interest The court heard on Thursday that Higgins entered into a $325,000 book deal with Penguin Random House, under which she had received $108,333 to date. She said the book doesnt exist and she had told the publisher to put it tentatively on hold amid legal proceedings.

Asked if she had a financial interest in the outcome of the case because she stood to receive the balance of the money on completion of the book, Higgins said she did not care about the money and would donate it to charity. The pre-interview An Uber receipt tendered in court shows Brittany Higgins left Parliament House about 10am on Saturday, March 23, 2019. This masthead has redacted Higgins former address for privacy reasons. Credit: Federal Court of Australia Higgins accepted it was a lie when she agreed with Wilkinsons suggestion in a pre-interview, the audio of which was recorded but not broadcast, that Lehrmann had removed her panties. She told the court she was too embarrassed to admit that I wasnt wearing underwear that night. Higgins later sought to correct the record in court and say she had told the truth about not wearing underwear in the Ten broadcast, to the police, and in the criminal proceedings, and had a lie of omission in the conversation in passing.

Justice Michael Lee described her comments as akin to a reply to a question in re-examination by Tens barrister rather than a correction to a specific question asked by Whybrow in his cross-examination, and said he would take it essentially as client-based re-examination. The alleged assault Higgins broke down in tears in court on Wednesday as she gave evidence alleging Lehrmann raped her in the office of their then-boss in the early hours of March 23, 2019. The court has heard Lehrmann left the office at about 2.30am and Higgins did not leave until about 10am. Lehrmann has insisted the alleged assault did not happen and the pair had no sexual contact. If the court finds Lehrmann was identified by The Project broadcast, which did not name him, Ten and Wilkinson are seeking to rely in part on a truth defence and prove to the civil standard  on the balance of probabilities  that Lehrmann raped Higgins.
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has taken a swipe at Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas for jetting overseas while the City of Perth was in the throes of a homelessness crisis as the row over the closure of a womens safe night space escalates.

The pair have been locked in a political tit-for-tat for the past fortnight over the future of the facility at East Perths Rod Evans Centre, which the city intends to shut down from Thursday.

WA Premier Roger Cook, Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.

The city had been bankrolling the facility, run by community support service Ruah, for 2 years as part of a trial which provided 12,675 nights of safety to more than 120 vulnerable women a month.

But in February, the city announced the trial would cease, and the centre would return to being a community space amid complaints from surrounding residents.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has rebuked one of Chinas top diplomats over the Chinese navys dangerous use of sonar pulses against Australian divers, describing the incident earlier this month as dangerous and unprofessional.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also raised the incident in a meeting with Liu Jianchao in Canberra on Wednesday, telling the head of the Chinese Communist Partys International Liaison Department that it was lucky no one died.

Rebuke: Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

A spokeswoman for Wong said: The minister raised the HMAS Toowoomba incident in her formal meeting with minister Liu Jianchao.

The minister reiterated the Australian governments serious concerns following an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a Peoples Liberation Army-Navy destroyer.
This article is part of Travellers Holiday Guide to ocean cruising.

Oligarchs will find the Coral Geographer compact. The regular cruise contingent looking for a swimming pool, casino and sequined entertainment will be disappointed too. Nor is there a smidgen of bling, unless you count attractive Indigenous artworks.

Going places that bigger shops cant  the Coral Geographer at sea.

Nothing on this ship is superfluous to Coral Geographers confident focus, which is the exploration of remote regions in reasonable comfort.

The lounge doubles as a bar and lecture room. You get a single restaurant, small gym, outdoor space that wraps the ship so you never miss a view and a top-deck bar for sunset drinks.

Any parties afterwards? No. Passengers are satiated with sun, salt and adventure. The only nightclub sparkle is created by staggering outback stars.
Brussels: Ukraines Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba says there is no stalemate in his countrys fight against Russian invaders, directly contradicting Ukraines commander-in-chief.

Kuleba made the comments on arriving at NATO headquarters in Brussels where foreign ministers from the alliance are meeting for a special NATO-Ukraine council to progress Ukraines membership plea.

Ukraines Foreign Minister Dymtro Kuleba at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday. Credit: Latika Bourke

NATO members want Ukraine to join the military alliance but say it cannot while it remains at war with Russia because of Article 5 that says if one member is attacked all will come to their aid.

This has led to speculation that allies could pressure Ukraine to cede territory in order to secure membership. It is already facing the risk of dwindling military aid, given the frontline has barely moved in the past year.
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of officials Thursday.

Tang Wenhong was appointed assistant minister of commerce, and was removed from the post of vice chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency.

Yang Xinyu was named permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, replacing Yang Jin. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called for full implementation of the UN resolutions related to the Palestinian question, and a return to the right track of the two-state solution.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called for full implementation of the UN resolutions related to the Palestinian question, and a return to the right track of the two-state solution.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the call at UN headquarters in New York when meeting the press after presiding over a high-level Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

Noting that the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused enormous civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian disaster, Wang said the international community expects the Security Council to live up to its due responsibilities and take strong actions.

Holding the presidency of the Security Council for the month of November, China has always taken the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as the most pressing issue, Wang said.

After the adoption of Resolution 2712, the first Security Council resolution since the outbreak of the conflict, under China's presidency, China initiated Wednesday's high-level meeting in response to the strong calls of the international community, he said.

Foreign ministers and high-level representatives from nearly 20 countries participated in the meeting. The participants held in-depth discussions about the current Palestinian-Israeli situation and the next steps, further building consensus and pooling strengths for the restoration of peace, Wang said.

"We welcome the humanitarian pause reached last week. But peace cannot be circumscribed and there should not be a time limit to a ceasefire. The window of opportunity, once opened, should not be closed again. The fighting, once stopped, should not flare up again. We cannot allow the humanitarian disaster to continue or tolerate even more suffering or losses among the civilians," he said.

"We urge the release of all those held captive and call for the removal of the blockade of Gaza to ensure unhindered international corridors and guarantee the basic needs of civilians in Gaza. We should also prevent the conflict from spilling over into the entire Middle East region and urge countries with influence on parties to the conflict to play a positive role," Wang said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict proves once again that the two-state solution is the only viable way to the Palestinian question, he noted.

More than 70 years have passed and generations of Palestinians have lost their homes and become displaced. Yet, the dream of establishing an independent State of Palestine remains elusive. "This is an open wound on human conscience," Wang said.

The international community should fully implement the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, fully respect the will of the Palestinian people, return to the right track of the two-state solution, and enable the establishment of an independent State of Palestine as quickly as possible, Wang urged.

"That is the only way for Palestine and Israel to coexist in peace, for Arabs and Jews to live in harmony, and for the Middle East region to enjoy durable peace," he said.

On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of peace, justice, and conscience, the foreign minister said. President Xi Jinping has outlined China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on multiple occasions.

With that as the basis, China has submitted its position paper on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which offers proposals such as pushing for a comprehensive ceasefire, protecting civilians effectively, ensuring humanitarian assistance, enhancing diplomatic mediation, and implementing the two-state solution, said Wang.

To ease the humanitarian situation, China will send another batch of emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, he said.

China will continue to step up coordination, and build consensus with the relevant parties, working tirelessly to bring stability back to the region and tranquility back to the people, Wang said.
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese procuratorial authorities have beefed up efforts to combat telecom and internet fraud and related crimes.

According to a report released by China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Thursday, in the first 10 months of 2023, procuratorates nationwide have prosecuted over 34,000 individuals for telecom and online fraud, marking a 52 percent year-on-year increase.

During the same period, 115,000 individuals have been indicted for illegal activities of assisting in cybercrimes, rising by 13 percent from last year.

Since the start of this year, five significant cases related to cross-border telecom and online fraud have been handled in a joint endeavor by the SPP and the Ministry of Public Security. This collaborative effort has resulted in a heightened crackdown on telecom and online fraud, as well as associated crimes such as human trafficking and intentional injury, the report noted.

The report also highlighted that, since 2023, more than 160 public interest litigation cases have been initiated against illegal activities of neglecting legal obligations in preventing telecom and online fraud in sectors such as telecommunications, finance, and the internet. 
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said she is looking to meet with social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, in relation to its response to riots in Dublin.

The minister has said that Gardai had actively engaged with the social media companies on the day of the riots in Dublin, which saw vehicles set alight and shops looted.

Tens of millions of damage to public infrastructure has been done in disorder involving 500 people, according to garda estimates.

Ms McEntee told the Dail this week that while companies Meta and TikTok had engaged with gardai and took down posts, social media site X did not engage or fulfil their own community standards.

She said that she would seek a meeting with X after she said some of the posts fuelled some of what happened.

There has been engagement between An Garda Siochana and the social media companies not just on Thursday, but since then, she said, speaking at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire.

But I will be seeking to meet with X myself, because I think the company have a responsibility to be responsible.

They did not take down content on Thursday, it added to, and I think fuelled some of what happened, so I would like to engage with them on what they plan to do moving forward.

She said that Irelands new broadcast and online media regulator, Coimisiun na Mean, would oversee the implementation of guidelines once it is fully set up.

She added: So what we want to ensure is that the companies work to their own standards, and they take care of the people who use their platforms, so its not about shutting them down, or trying to prevent platforms from operating.

Its about making sure that they live up to their own standards, and that they keep people safe, and thats why I would like to engage with them.

And thats why I would hope that they would respond positively and obviously not just with myself but An Garda Siochana as well.

The Government is under pressure over its strategy to staff gardai and enforce the law after disorder in Dublin city last Thursday.

The riots were preceded by a knife attack in which three children and a woman were injured outside a school on Parnell Square East in Dublins inner city.

A five-year-old girl and her carer remain in critical conditions in hospital.

Hours after the attack, angry crowds gathered at the edge of the Garda cordon.

Scenes escalated after some attempted to push through the cordon; bins, Garda cars and other vehicles were set alight and shops looted later that evening.

The event has placed further pressure on the justice minister, who came under questioning during the summer after high-profile attacks in Dublin city.

I have the full support of my party, I have the full support of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and I have the support of my Cabinet colleagues, she said on Thursday.

The Fine Gael minister also refused to apologise for comments she made in the Dail in which she called those involved in the riots scumbags.

Ive said what Ive said.

I think those who are responsible for the atrocious scenes that we saw last Thursday, they should be held accountable.

I have strong feelings on what happened.

I think the people responsible for the violence and the absolute thuggery on Thursday night, they need to be brought to justice.

Its not normally language that I use, but I think what we saw on Thursday night was not something that we normally see.

I am absolutely of the view that we need to get to the root causes but lets not create excuses for the people who came out and looted and rioted.

Asked about an incorrect media report about the chief suspect in the knife attack, Ms McEntee said that yes, particular information was taken down, and I think it was appropriate that it was.

I think each and every one of us should take responsibility for any content that we share and that we pass on, she said.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA.

There has been a lot of misinformation spread since last Thursday on a lot of different matters, that can be hugely disruptive to investigations, but also can be hugely upsetting to many people so I would ask people to think before they send on information, particularly where information is shared that might be part of an investigation.

So youd appreciate there is an ongoing investigation into the awful stabbings last week.

So I dont want to comment much further.

Minister of State Jack Chambers, who also attended the event, said that he was not aware of a review into whether an alternative to X was being sought by State agencies as a way of communicating with the public and media.

Theres a very worrying rise of disinformation on that particular network and the fact that they didnt respond (on Thursday) is of concern, he said.

Im not aware of any specific review thats ongoing.

Its obviously important for colleagues within government and people in the wider political system and indeed, mainstream media to make sure that objective factual information is put out there as well because a lot of people are on these networks.

Well be calling on them to adhere to their own guidance and obviously there are structures of engagement around that.
A well-known Ballina barber has added to his collection with another prestigious award.

Following on from winning Barber of the Year at the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards in September, Ricky Pownall picked up the Barber Cut Senior Award at the Crossan BeFab Hair and Beauty Awards, which were held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo on Sunday, November 19.

These achievements have been decades in the making as Ricky has been cutting hair since the age of 13.

I was in a salon in town, with John McGoldrick at the time, and I just went around to a few different places and built up a clientele, Ricky told the Western People.

He decided to go out on his own seven years ago and open Rickys Barbers on Market Lane in Ballina and it has gone from strength to strength since.

He was also a winner two years in a row, in 2018 and 2019, at the Mayo Style Awards.

I won the Overall Excellence Award in 2019, but then covid happened, so the competitions stopped and its only coming back around now, said the 32-year-old.

Since winning the award, Ricky has noticed more avenues opening in front of him.

Ive noticed a lot of people reaching out looking to book in with me.

It brought me a new job opportunity, I got an offer to work up in Westport College [Mayo College of Further Education and Training] to teach training courses, said Ricky. It brings a few different opportunities your way.

Ive one lad and hes here for the next 10 weeks and hes going travelling again, so Ill be back on my own, but hopefully now with teaching this course I get someone in if I can see they have something in them.

Ricky spent all of last week revamping his barbershop, which he hopes to have finished this week, and his new award will sit proudly on the shelf.
KOH KONG, Cambodia, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday that the Southeast Asian country would no longer allow the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony for the 150-megawatt Upper Tatay Hydropower Station in the southwestern province of Koh Kong, the prime minister said the Cambodian government is also examining possibilities to end the operation of existing coal-fired power plants before the end of their contract periods.

"I would like to announce that if anyone wants to invest in coal-fired power plant projects in Cambodia, please don't come because it's a waste of money for air tickets," he said. "We don't allow the development of new coal-fired power plants anymore."

Hun Manet said earlier this month that he scrapped a plan to build a 700-megawatt coal power plant project at the Botum Sakor National Park in Koh Kong province, encouraging the project developer to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plant instead.

He said the move is to show the country's commitment to green energy.

"Cambodia aims to lift its share of clean energy generation capacity to 70 percent by 2030 from the current 62 percent," he said, adding that the kingdom encourages investment in hydropower and solar and wind farm projects. 
A Mayo-based business has been awarded 10,000 through the Enterprise Ireland Three Grants for Small Businesses competition.

Eco Powered Cabinets was one of ten companies to be chosen to share the 100,000 prize fund.

Founder Darren Forde set up the company last year while climbing Croagh Patrick with his family after he realised there was no defibrillator on the mountain itself.

An Eco Powered Cabinet.

As a design engineer, emergency medical technician and passionate community first responder, the Hollymount native combined his 24 years of skills to design, patented and manufacture the first solar Eco Powered Cabinet to hold life saving devices, such as Aspirin or Epi-Pens without the requirement of a main power supply.

This multifunctional Solar Eco Powered Cabinet with 18 unique features is fitted with temperature-controlled settings, interior secured individual sections. The cabinet can be installed in locations where there are no structures present such as beaches, greenways, and mountains.

They also store life saving devices such as Asperin and Epi-Pens.

"If a person has a cardiac chest pain or an allergic reaction, they could only have minutes to take this lifesaving medicine. It could take hours to receive the medication in a remote location, and with this invention it could be administrated in minutes  its the same medication used for cardiac chest pain or allergic reactions worldwide," Mr Forde said. "We are delighted to be chosen as one of the lucky winners today."
Mayo Historical and Archaeological Society will host a talk this evening, Tuesday, December 5th, by Dr Catherine Swift.

Dr Swift's lecture is entitled: 'A house with more golden jewels has never been built -Early Burke dynasties of Munster and Mayo.'

The talk will be at the ATU Campus, Castlebar, commencing at 7.30pm.

Dr Swift obtained a First Class Honours BA in History and Archaeology in UCD before receiving scholarships to Durham and Oxford where she completed her D. Phil on the early Mayo bishop Tirechan of Killala and the seventh-century kingdoms of Connacht. She currently teaches in medieval studies in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick and her research concentrates on medieval Ireland and its interactions with the wider world.

She has published widely on topics ranging from Ogham stones to Viking fleets and from St Patrick through to Brian Boru and William de Burgo and her paper this evening is on the origins and nature of the early de Burgo dynasty and their settlement in Mayo.

The de Burgos or Burkes arrived in Ireland in the first tranche of settlers to be granted lands by King John in 1185. A tendency to concentrate on military conquest has ignored the fact that many in this early group married royal Irish women and were given lands once controlled by their fathers-in- law. Within a generation, the half-Irish, half Norman, Richard de Burgo was responsible for the foundation of Galway City and the settlement of south Connacht and was being lauded by Irish bards.

Dr Swift looks at the dynasty of the de Burgos up to the era of the founder of the Mayo dynasty, Edmond Albanach, and considers the mixed cultural world of the western frontier in which they operated.

All welcome.
Croithe Radacacha (Radical Hearts) is a feature documentary about the love that dares not speak its name - found at the very heart of the Irish Revolution.

Croithe Radacacha will air on TG4 next Wednesday, December 6 at 9.30pm and globally on www.TG4.ie.

Director Ciara Hyland explores the hidden stories of eight female couples who were at the core of the Irish Revolution that freed Ireland from the British Empire. These women's relationships have largely remained unexamined, denied and hidden from history - until now.

It features women such as Kathleen Lynn from Killala, Margaret Skinnider, Eva Gore Booth from Sligo, and many more.

Kathleen Lynn was pioneering in that she was one of the few women to have qualified as a doctor. She and Madeline had met each other through the fight for votes for women and quickly became inseparable. They ran soup kitchens side by side to feed the striking workers and their families during the 1913 Lockout. In Constance Markievicz's home, they came into contact with Helena Molony, who convinced them of the need to join the nationalist movement.

Madeline ffrench-Mullen and Kathleen Lynn had been living together since 1915 when they served side by side during the Rising. Madeline was a lieutenant in the Irish Citizen Army and Kathleen was the Chief Medical Officer. Both came under heavy and sustained fire while Kathleen treated the injured and the dying.

Croithe Radacacha actors Jean Van Sinderen Law and Trish Burke as Kathleen Lynn and Madeleine ffrench-Mullen.

After the Rising, they continued to live together for the rest of their lives. Kathleen Lynn and Madeline ffrench-Mullen also campaigned for better conditions for the poor. As founders of St Ultans Hospital for Sick Infants they were pioneering providers of healthcare in the first decades of the Irish State.

This relationship, which Roy Foster, in Vivid Faces, says had all the marks of a marriage lasted 30 years, from when the women met during the 1913 Lockout to Madelines death in 1944; during all that time, the couple lived together, shared a life together, were activists together and in their diaries, leave hints of an intimate partnership. Their prison letters and dairies kept in the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland illustrate poignantly the depth of their love for each other.

These women were extraordinary in the lives they lived - they were radical in their politics, in their feminism, their socialism and their devotion to freedom and equality. Together they reimagined a new Ireland that would hold a brighter future for all regardless of gender, background or wealth. In this they have much in common with todays activist generation who make similar demands for equality and an end to discrimination.

In the end, many of them picked up a gun and went and fought for that freedom and equality. They suffered huge losses but ultimately lived life on their own terms - where the personal was political and their private lives were as radical as their public.

A major turning point for the women in this documentary proved to be the Civil War that broke out in Ireland in 1922 over the Treaty. This Treaty would create an independent Free State in the south of Ireland. It would not however be a Republic and would not include the North of Ireland. Remarkably, almost all the women in this documentary took the anti-Treaty side. Their radicalness meant they were not willing to settle for anything less than the Republic that had been proclaimed in 1916. The anti-Treaty side lost the Civil War and the womens dreams of equality and socialism were smashed. The establishment forces won and immediately set about building a new identity for Ireland as conservative and Catholic.

Based on groundbreaking research by historian Mary McAuliffe, this is also the story of 'doing gay history' - the difficulties of finding evidence of love that by necessity had to fly under the radar, the glimpses we get of how people lived in the past and the burden of proof placed on examining gay relationships. In doing so, Radical Hearts rewrites the contribution of LGBTQ+ people back into the history of the creation of the modern Irish state.

Croithe Radacacha features tracks by the Pillow Queens and Elaine Mai who kindly supported the film because they believed in the message of inclusivity that is at the core of it. Croithe also features original music by composer Darren Sheehan.

Croithe Radacacha was commissioned by TG4 and supported by Coimisiun na Mean with funding from the Television Licence Fee.

The couples featured in the documentary include: Eva Gore Booth and Esther Roper; Elizabeth O'Farrell and Julia Grenan; Helena Molony and Evelyn (Eveleen) OBrien; Margaret Skinnider and Nora OKeeffe; Kathleen OBrennan and Marie Equi; Kathleen Lynn and Madeline Ffrench-Mullen; Louie Bennet and Helen Chenevix.
Get into the Christmas spirit and rediscover the beauty of some well-known (and not so well-known) Irish Christmas traditions, through an interactive talk next Saturday, December 2, at the National Museum of Ireland  Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar.

The National Museum of Ireland is delighted to welcome Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patricks Pontifical University, Maynooth, for this special event.

Prof Ryan will trace the origins of Christmas traditions and explore their manifestations in history, art, music and literature.

The talk marks the publication this week of Prof Ryan's new book, Christmas and the Irish: A Miscellany. This collection of 75 articles from a broad range of contributors reflects on what Christmas has meant to Irish people through the ages, at home and abroad.

Topics include festive feasting and fighting in the Middle Ages; a history of Irish Christmas food; crimes of Christmas past; Christmas in the Irish folk tradition; the claim that Santa's grave is in Co Kilkenny; and the curious custom of reciting 4,000 'Hail Marys' in the lead-up to Christmas.

In this upcoming talk at Turlough Park, Prof Ryan will look at how Christmas traditions run deep, and are often filled with precious memories. These customs have become so familiar that we take them for granted. But they had to start somewhere. Where did they come from? What is the origin of our most cherished Christmas traditions? Some are very ancient, but others are relatively recent.

Prof Ryan will bring the audience on an interactive journey to uncover the roots of the most familiar aspects of the Christmas story - looking at ancient writings; artistic developments through the Middle Ages; Christmas carols; Christmas cards; and Christmas plays. The presentation aims to enrich the participant's understanding of Christmas and its traditions, while having fun along the way (and perhaps singing a few carols as well!).

Admission to this talk is free but booking is required. Telephone the bookings office on 094-90 31751 or email educationtph@museum.ie. Visit www.museum.ie for further details.
WYOMISSING, Pa.  Steven McBee has a message for the people, both firefighters and neighbors, who he said saved his life.

"I closed the door. I see the glow and everything else. I couldn't make it down the stairs because the flames are always blocking the stairway," said McBee.

McBee said he originally heard a noise outside his apartment but didn't think anything of it until the phone rang.

"It was my girlfriend calling me, telling me that the porch is on fire. I said. 'What do you mean?'" said McBee.

Fire damages Wyomissing apartment building The fire broke out just before 11:00 p.m. Tuesday in a 4-unit apartment building in the 400 block of N. Wyomissing Blvd.

McBee said his quick-thinking neighbors are the reason crews responded to the 400 block of North Wyomissing Boulevard when they did.

"I'm the one who called 911 and seen the fire," said neighbor Monique, who lives next door. "What I felt more than what I seen was the heat from the fire and the thick smoke that came into my window."

"We needed to get people out, and they were still sleeping in the house so it was, you know, a little bit dramatic. So I just went outside and started yelling and banging on windows," said neighbor Devin, who lives with Monique.

The fire broke out just before 11 p.m. Tuesday on the back balcony of a second floor apartment in the four-unit building.

"As the companies were responding, additional calls were received that upgraded it to possible entrapment," said Wyomissing Fire Chief Colin Hackman.

McBee said it felt like suddenly the firefighters appeared, first telling him he'd have to leave through the window.

Minutes later, he said he was told the flames were under control, and he was helped down the steps.

"The firemen got us down and carried my dog down," said McBee.

Firefighters said they helped his neighbors, two adults and a child, escape through a window.

They also rescued a cat.

"Crews had it under control within about 30 minutes," said Chief Hackman.

It was a cold night and everything wet ended up freezing, which firefighters said caused some slipping hazards, but no one was injured.

"Oh, I'm just thankful and grateful that everyone got out alive," said Monique.

"I just feel like, you know, definitely blessed that I'm alive. My dog's alive. Nobody else was hurt," said McBee. "I'm grateful for Monique and Devin, for their part of helping, notifying the fire company, getting us out of there."

Officials say there is approximately $50,000 damage to the property.

The Red Cross is assisting the several people and the fire marshal is investigating the fire.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Partly sunny and pleasant; still a bit of a breeze, from the southwest 10-15mph with gusts to 20mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly clear and seasonably cold.
MANILA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it has approved a grant package of 27 million U.S. dollars to boost health services in Kiribati in climate-resilient facilities.

The ADB said the project will tackle the urgent need for disaster-resilient and energy-efficient facilities that meet the health needs of the 63,000 residents of South Tarawa.

"Placing women and climate at the center of the project, it will deliver improved health facilities and services, as well as provide infection control, and sexual and reproductive health programs," said ADB Health Specialist Ammar Aftab.

The project will also build a new climate-resilient hospital in Betio with expanded services and develop national health service standards, said the ADB. 
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem's now-former budget and finance director pleaded guilty Tuesday to using city money to order thousands of dollars worth of electronics, then reselling them and pocketing the money.

Mark Sivak was sentenced to probation as part of a negotiated guilty plea, according to the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.

Sivak pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking, admitting that he took and sold from the city electronics valued at about $18,000, the DA's office said. The other counts were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Sivak must also pay $30,000 in restitution to the city, to cover the cost of the stolen electronics and the city's cost of investigation, the DA said.

The plea also means he is forfeiting his city pension.

The district attorney's office said the plea deal recognized that he had no prior criminal history, and that he cooperated with police right away.

Sivak was fired from his city position amid the investigation.

Authorities alleged Sivak ordered cell phones from the city's account, as part of his role in distributing cell phones to city employees, but instead of distributing them, he resold them and pocketed the cash.

Documents show he sold a total of 31 city cell phones between 2019 and April 2022, for a total of $12,630, the DA said previously.

Sivak also admitted to ordering other electronics, worth about $2,500, from the city's Verizon account, and keeping them for himself, the DA said. Those items included VR headsets, a speaker, an iPhone and more.

The investigation started in January 2023 when the city controller noticed unusual activity in a city-owned bank account, and eventually found withdrawals from the city account into Sivak's personal bank account. Sivak initially told police he sells used electronics and has the third-party reseller send payments to the city's PayPal to avoid paying taxes on those items.

Further investigation uncovered the cell phones were ordered from the city's account, officials said.
Lehigh Valley Industrial Park is considering an Upper Nazareth Township site for an eighth park, the organization's chief executive said Thursday.

LVIP 8 is in a "very early stage," Wrobel said during a telephone interview.

The 51-acre tract abutting Tatamy Road is owned by the Charles Chrin Real Estate Trust, according to Northampton County records.

"The first step will be to see if the township will approve rezoning," Wrobel said.

The Upper Nazareth Zoning Hearing Board is due to consider Dec. 6 an ordinance to change the land's zoning from R-4, medium density residential and "extractive light industrial" to L-1 for light industry.

Wrobel and a representative of the Chrin Company discussed the proposal with the township Planning Commission on Oct. 12, according to minutes of the meeting.

Wrobel said Thursday that the park might hold six to seven tenants, most of them on four to five acres each, with a couple larger plots. He reiterated that the plan is early and contingent upon the zoning change.

On Tuesday, the Nazareth Area School District heard complaints about residents of Farmview Estates about the potential for increased traffic near their homes related to development.

Lehigh Valley Industrial Park has developed seven parks in Lehigh and Northampton counties that are home to 500 businesses employing 24,000 people, according to LVIP's website. The organization was established in 1959.

The largest of the parks in terms of land is LVIP VII at the Bethlehem Commerce Center, covering 1,000 acres of former Bethlehem Steel Corp. property.

The Upper Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors will consider the zoning change at its meeting Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 100 Newport Ave.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bethlehem's next Walnut Street Garage will be an asset to the downtown instead of an eyesore, according to the city's parking authority.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority will present renditions of the garage Wednesday, Dec. 6, to the Historical Architectural Review Board. The presentation includes a note about adding residences to downtown.

The existing garage was built in 1976. City Council has approved its demolition. BPA Executive Director Steven Fernstrom has said the 770-space garage is not only past its useful life but is an "embarrassment" to a city that promotes its downtown as a tourist destination. The new garage is presented as "an opportunity" to "correct the mistakes of the past."

On Wednesday, the BPA will present a plan for a garage "that meets needs without overbuilding and killing space," according to plans submitted to the city. The new garage will have about 200 fewer spaces and allow for development on the west side of the site.

The new garage will promote activity on the street, according to the authority, while the current garage is something people just walk past.

The garage will include about 3,000 feet of retail space, and the plans submitted include a note about "adding residential units in the core of the downtown district, meeting market demand, and supporting local businesses with more daily customers."

The current plan is for demolition in 2024, with the new garage open in late 2025. That would disrupt parking during the 2024 Christmas season, peak time for downtown Bethlehem.

Downtown residents and commuters who park at Walnut Street have expressed concerns about demolition and the loss of spaces. The BPA has a plan for them to park in other garages and lots during construction.

The Historical Architectural Review Board, known as HARB, will meet Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m. in Town Hall. The agenda and a link to a webcast of the meeting are available on the city website. HARB is an advisory committee that reviews plans for the city's historic downtown.
SOLEBURY TWP., Pa. - A park in Bucks County was closed for several hours Wednesday after someone reported a "large feline" roaming on trails.

The concerned citizen called Solebury Township police on Wednesday morning to report the sighting at Aquetong Spring Park, said Solebury Township Police.

The park had re-opened as of 1:04 p.m., Solebury Township Police said.

A large cat sighting was reported in October in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, but it turned out to be a large feral house cat.
DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called 2023 the hottest year on record as UN climate change conference COP28 started here in Dubai.

"The state of the global climate in 2023 is stark and clear. Things are moving so fast that a full month before the end of the year, we can already declare that 2023 is the hottest year recorded in human history," the UN chief said in a video message to delegates at the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP28.

This year has seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods, and searing temperatures, he said, adding that record global heating should trigger world leaders to take action.

The two-week-long climate change conference in Dubai has garnered global attention as it marks the conclusion of the Global Stocktake, the first-ever two-year assessment of the world's collective progress toward the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. 
Press Release

November 30, 2023 Legacy Award of Excellence in Public Service bestowed on Bong Go during Philippine Legacy Gala 2023 Senator Christopher "Bong" Go was given the Legacy Award of Excellence in Public Service during the Philippine Legacy Gala 2023 Awarding Ceremonies on Monday, November 27 at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City, Manila. The Legacy Award of Excellence in Public Service is a testament to Go's commitment and immeasurable contributions to help impoverished Filipinos particularly in terms of improved access to healthcare such as the implementation of the Malasakit Centers program. In return, Go expressed his gratitude for the recognition and reiterated his commitment to help the poor and his steadfast support for the continued operations of the Malasakit Centers program. "With or without an award or recognition, I will continue to serve my fellow Filipinos. Tutulong ako sa abot ng aking makakaya lalo na sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan. Tulad ng inyong organisasyon, sama-sama nating ipagpatuloy ang pagseserbisyo at pagmamalasakit sa ating mga kapwa na nangangailangan," he expressed further. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, emphasized the importance of prioritizing health initiatives that uplift the well-being of the most vulnerable Filipinos. "First and foremost, I would like to thank the Philippine Missionari Della Fondazione di Carita, Inc., (Philmissionari) for recognizing our achievements with the Legacy Award of Excellence in Public Service. This honor is not just for me but for all those who tirelessly work for the betterment of our nation," expressed Go in a video message. "The Malasakit Center Program, which we spearheaded, is not just a program but a commitment that we will not neglect anyone, especially those in need. For every Filipino helped by this program, there is a story of hope and resilience that we should be proud of," he continued. A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program was institutionalized under Republic Act 11463, where poor and indigent patients can more conveniently get medical assistance from the government. The Malasakit Centers program provides for one-stop shops that bring together under one roof the agencies from which patients may seek medical assistance, namely the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). The Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 mandates DOH-run hospitals, plus the Philippine General Hospital, to provide necessary assistance to indigent patients by covering various patient services and fees. Meanwhile, other hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may also establish their own Malasakit Centers provided that they meet a standard set of criteria and guarantee the sustainability of the operation of their centers, including maintenance, personnel, and staff training, among others. To date, there are 159 Malasakit Centers nationwide. According to DOH, the program has successfully helped more than ten million patients nationwide. "Cooperation and unity are extremely important. If there is one thing the previous pandemic has proven, it is that we will face any challenge together. On this occasion, I want to honor all the awardees tonight. To each of you, thank you for your dedication and compassion," Go expressed. "As this evening continues, may it serve as a reminder that each of us plays a vital role in shaping our society. With every small step, we can make a bigger change. Maraming salamat po," he concluded. The main highlight of the Gala was the charity fashion show by world-renowned Filipino designer Michael Cinco, titled "Michael Cinco: The Impalpable Dream of Espana." The event served as a platform for Cinco to give back to the community, with the proceeds benefiting the Philmissionari and the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation. The Philmissionari currently runs initiatives in impoverished areas such as support and volunteer work, education, livelihood and employment, health, nutrition, and emergency relief. Meanwhile, the Gusi Peace Prize functions as a charitable foundation, and its primary mission is to acknowledge outstanding individuals or groups globally by presenting awards in recognition of their excellence and distinction. Cinco was one of the Gusi Peace Prize awardees last year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Arab and Islamic countries' foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's position on the Palestine-Israel issue is that the temporary cease-fire should lead to a comprehensive cease-fire, not a resumption of war, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Arab and Islamic countries' foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday.

Wang said a joint delegation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries visited China a few days ago when he had in-depth discussions about the Palestine-Israel issue with them and reached important consensus on convening a high-level Security Council meeting at an early date.

Today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and the purpose of holding the high-level meeting on this special day is very clear, which is to promote a comprehensive cease-fire, effectively protect civilians, ensure humanitarian assistance and chart the course for a comprehensive and permanent settlement of the Palestinian issue, he said.

A comprehensive cease-fire marks not only the end of the war but also the beginning of a peace process, said Wang, noting that the Security Council should speak with one voice.

The representatives from the Arab and Islamic countries appreciated China's moral support for Palestine and its efforts for regional peace and fully agreed with China's relevant position.

They said the temporary cease-fire should be the beginning of peace, and a comprehensive ceasefire should be achieved rather than returning to conflict.

Humanitarian assistance should be increased, the entry of humanitarian supplies should be ensured, the forced relocation of Palestinians should be stopped, Gaza people should no longer be held hostage, and Security Council resolutions should be implemented, they added.

It is hoped that this high-level meeting will make a strong call for a cease-fire and ensure humanitarian assistance, they said.

All parties appreciated the fact that China has always stood on the side of peace, on the side of justice and on the right side of history, they said.

They hoped China would exert its leadership and push all parties to jointly explore a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution.

In response, Wang said China shares the same position as that of the Arab and Islamic countries and appreciates the efforts made by Qatar and Egypt to mediate the temporary cease-fire, which is a vital step in the right direction.

Once the window of peace is opened, it should not be closed again as this concerns human morality and basic conscience, he said.

China is ready to work closely with all parties to push the Security Council to be more active and effective, listen more to the voices of Arab and Islamic countries, and take further meaningful actions, Wang said.

China will continue to make unremitting efforts for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, he said.

The attending representatives included foreign ministers or senior officials from Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Arab League. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Arab and Islamic countries' foreign ministers at the UN headquarters in New York, Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The abundance of agricultural products from different countries on display at the world's first national-level supply chain expo in Beijing demonstrates the greater range of food choices on offer to consumers in today's globalized world.

From the river prawns of Thailand and the tropical fruits of Malaysia to China's high-yield hybrid rice and the coffee of Kenya, these products not only appease the appetites of customers but also provide food for thought. Enhanced cooperation on agricultural supply chains benefits the consumers and businesses of various nations, while the stability of supply chains has great significance for global food security and safety.

While addressing the opening ceremony of the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the expo is being held in order to create an international platform for all parties to strengthen communication, deepen cooperation and seek common development.

He said China is willing to work with all parties to make the global industrial and supply chains more resilient, efficient and dynamic, and make greater contributions to promoting global economic recovery, development and prosperity.

At the expo, being held in the Chinese capital from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, multinational corporate executives have presented their business models, demonstrating why maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains is so important to the promotion of global economic development.

CONNECTING THE WORLD

At its expo booth, U.S. coffee giant Starbucks shared the firm's story in southwest China's Yunnan Province, where it helps local coffee farmers boost their capacity.

In 2012, Starbucks established a farmer support center in Yunnan as part of its commitment to elevating the Chinese province as a high-quality coffee-growing region. Over the years, more than 30,000 local coffee farmers received professional training and technical support. Driven by a series of measures, coffee tasters have witnessed the coffee qualification rate increase from 20 percent to 80 percent in the past 10 years.

In a video address, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan conveyed his wishes for the success of the inaugural CISCE, and said that coffee can be a bridge connecting the world and uplifting people, while also uplifting communities.

"China's coffee market has enormous potential and Starbucks' confidence in our long-term investments in China has never been greater," Narasimhan said.

"I am deeply impressed by China's leading supply chain capabilities, and excited to open the China Coffee Innovation Park in Kunshan this September for Starbucks. It fulfills our ambition to be vertically integrated 'from bean-to-cup' in China -- a first for Starbucks globally," he said. "With every cup, with every conversation, with every community, we nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection."

MODERN AGRICULTURE

At the expo, Syngenta Group, an agriculture innovation company, displayed innovative products covering all aspects of the agricultural chain. They include rice that features high yield and water saving, and that matures early, developed by taking advantage of China's germplasm resources. The product has already been introduced into Southeast Asia and Africa.

"We focus on the product innovation chain and rely on global innovation resources to contribute to world food security," said Liu Hongsheng, president of Syngenta Group China.

Liu said that by joining hands with global partners, the firm plays an active role in building a green, safe, smooth and stable global agricultural supply chain.

The CP Group Agro-industry & Food Business, a leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate, also displayed various food products at the expo. "We implement strict food safety control measures in all aspects of the entire industry chain, including feed, breeding and planting, direct procurement, slaughtering, food processing, warehousing and logistics, retail and catering, and built a fully safe and traceable food industry chain," said Xue Zengyi, senior vice chairman of CP Group Agro-industry & Food Business, China Area.

The company's layer poultry farming project in Pinggu, suburban Beijing, for instance, has realized a breeding system with automated environmental control, automatic feeding, automatic water supply, automatic egg collection and automatic manure cleaning.

GREEN AGRICULTURE

"Currently, the stability of the global food supply chain and the green development of agriculture still face challenges, and it is even more necessary to work together and make progress," said Song Juguo, deputy director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center under China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Song said that it is also necessary to strengthen the multilateral trade system, further promote international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in green agriculture, and nurture multilateral and bilateral cooperation platforms for shared benefit.

At the expo, Chinese dairy firm Yili showcased its carbon-neutral ice cream products and the environmentally friendly packaging for its organic raw milk.

Liu Chunxi, executive president of Yili Group, said that the company, through a green industrial chain strategy, strives for carbon emission reductions in its upstream, midstream and downstream business segments.

"The global food system is in urgent need of systemic change and transformation to a more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable path, and green agriculture in particular is an important focus to promote and realize this transformation," said Zhang Zhongjun, an official with the Food and Agriculture Organization China Office, adding that green agriculture must run through the entire agricultural industry chain. 
The exhibition, Hello Sanxingdui, brings to people an immersive experience of the booming days of Sanxingdui culture. [China Daily]

The recent opening of a new exhibition building at the Sanxingdui Museum, in Guanghan, Sichuan Province, made the venue an instant tourist hot spot. The turquoise-eyed bronze heads, golden masks, holy trees, ceremonial altars and deity statues reveal the mysterious faces of a culture dating back more than 3,000 years.

For those who cannot make it to Guanghan, where the extensive excavation site of Sanxingdui is located, an immersive exhibition equipped with digital technology, titled Hello Sanxingdui, offers an alternative means to be awed by the magnificence of this Bronze Age culture. It is running at the Longfu Art Museum in Beijing until Feb 29.

It provides a time-travel experience with both an educational and artistic appeal. The journey begins with a brief timeline of texts, photos and videos, showing how Sanxingdui was first discovered in the 1920s, when objects were found by farmers digging an irrigation ditch; and it highlights the important moments in the past century's continued archaeological efforts, to reveal the myths surrounding Sanxingdui and the secrets yet to be decoded.

On show are life-size reproductions of dozens of astonishing artifacts, supervised by Sanxingdui Museum, such as 2.6-meter bronze statues, 3.8-meter-wide bronze masks and "the holy tree" standing nearly 4 meters.

Images of these objects found at Sanxingdui and their patterns have been digitalized, animated and projected on screens, to the accompaniment of music, ushering the audience into the ancient kingdom of Shu, a civilization that thrived for centuries in the southwest during the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-256 BC), and disappeared abruptly, leaving many myths and legends.

Ren Ren, from the Sanxingdui Scenic Area Management Committee, says that, since archaeological excavations first took place at the Sanxingdui site in the early 1930s, people's knowledge of the site and its treasures has been greatly enriched. "Developing new platforms to provide updates on the findings of Sanxingdui to the general public with the aid of digital technology has been on the agenda," he says.

Visitors appreciate and zoom in on reproductions of Sanxingdui artifacts on show. [China Daily]

"Staging an immersive exhibition brings Sanxingdui closer to people, no matter where they are. By turning the inanimate artifacts into an audiovisual show, the experience also provides the audience a glimpse of the magnificence of the Shu kingdom and its cultural features, all of which have been preserved in Sichuan," Ren says.

Having been introduced to the general public a century ago, the reach of Sanxingdui feels greater these days, as the market for creative products related to the ancient site and its artifacts has grown. A musical inspired by Sanxingdui was staged in Beijing from Nov 16 to 19, and will tour other cities; Meet Ancient Shu, another immersive show, will open at the Meet You Museum in Beijing's 798 art zone in early December.

Tan Ping, head of Art Exhibitions China, one of the producers of Hello Sanxingdui, says it is of vital importance to inform the general public about archaeological discoveries and developments in relevant research, while it relies on new ideas and techniques to bring people innovative cultural experiences. He says an exhibition like Hello Sanxingdui will engage people with a vision of life in the Shu kingdom, "to see how they lived, the stories they were telling for generations and their creativity to produce the objects which still inspire awe in people three millennia later".

(Source: China Daily)
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday said the Chinese military stands ready to work with its United States counterpart to implement the consensuses reached by the two heads of state.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said China values the ties between the two countries' militaries.

According to the consensus reached between the two heads of state, the two countries will resume, on the basis of equality and respect, high-level communication between the two militaries, the China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks, and the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings, and conduct telephone conversations between theater commanders.

The defense authorities of the two countries are in communication and coordination with each other in this regard, Wu said.

The Chinese military is also willing to carry out exchanges and cooperation in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and promote the sound and steady development of ties between the two militaries, he said. 
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

In his message, Xi said that the bitter lessons of the cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fully demonstrate that only by upholding the concept of common security can sustainable security be achieved.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue, and the crux of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the long overdue realization of the legitimate national right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state, he said.

Xi called on the international community to take urgent actions to address the Palestine-Israel conflict, and urged the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and make every effort to facilitate a ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians, and stop the humanitarian disaster.

On top of this, the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be restarted as soon as possible and the Palestinian people's right to statehood and survival and their right of return should be restored as soon as possible, Xi said.

China has, as always, firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, he said. And the only viable way to settle the Palestinian question lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The needs of the Palestinian economy and people's livelihood need to be ensured, and the international community should increase development assistance and humanitarian aid to Palestine, stay on the right course towards peace talks, and convene a more authoritative international peace conference as soon as possible, he said.

China has put forward the Global Security Initiative, advocates resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation and supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, Xi said, pledging China's continuous efforts to stand for justice on the Palestinian question, actively promote peace talks and continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side.

Xi said that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to work with the international community to build global consensus on promoting peace, bring the Palestinian question back to the right track toward the two-state solution, and strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date.

(Source: Xinhua)


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...Very active weather and dangerous cold forecast for the next week... A very strong storm system will move through the region Friday. Very strong winds are expected and a wind advisory has been issued for the entire region for 40-50 mph wind gusts. Stronger winds are possible. Widespread rain may lead to localized flooding in areas where thunderstorms form with up to 2 inches of rain possible in those areas. Severe thunderstorms are not currently expected but there is a small potential over the southern Pennyrile region of Kentucky Friday morning. A change to sleet and snow is forecast at the end of the day but accumulations are still not anticipated. If temperatures do not rise above freezing Saturday it is expected to mark the first of 5 to 6 days where temperatures will not rise above freezing. Lows Saturday through Tuesday night are forecast to fall into or near the single digits. Below zero wind chills are likely most of Monday and Tuesday. This extended cold snap will be dangerous to those without adequate shelter and will likely challenge plumbing and other cold-sensitive infrastructure. Accumulating snow remains possible Monday but forecast amounts have trended a little lower, and will remain subject to change for the next few days as more data becomes available.

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ FRIDAY TO MIDNIGHT CST /1 AM EST/ FRIDAY NIGHT... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From 6 AM CST /7 AM EST/ Friday to midnight CST /1 AM EST/ Friday night. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Wet ground may result in some trees being uprooted, and tree limbs will be blown down. A few power outages are likely. High profile vehicles will have difficulty. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A corridor of stronger winds, with gusts up to 60 mph is possible over the Pennyrile region of west Kentucky ahead of the front, and across the entire quad-state behind the front. If that begins to appear likely a high wind warning will be issued. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. &&
YAOUNDE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 3,870 armed separatists and Boko Haram fighters have laid down weapons in Cameroon in the past five years, according to an official of the country's National Committee on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (NCDDR).

Many of the ex-fighters have been reintegrated into society and several communities are accepting them, said Francis Fai Yengo, national coordinator of NCDDR, during a meeting held Wednesday in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, to validate a new manual procedure of the NCDDR centers.

"NCDDR is a process. There is a lot of work to be done. So this is one of the guidelines that will help us to go on the field," Yengo told reporters, referring to the working document. "The participation of the NCDDR in the general peace efforts is challenging but yielding successes."

Officials said, despite multiple security efforts, there are still "pockets of violence" in the country's English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest where separatists want to create an independent nation.

In the country's Far North region, growing regional military pressure has subdued Boko Haram insurgency but "a few militants" continue to kidnap and kill civilians and soldiers, according to security reports.

The NCDDR was created in 2018 by a presidential decree "to avoid the use of extreme measures" in violence-hit regions of the Central African nation and supervise and manage the disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants. 
The Labour Party is gearing up to deepen the offensive against the UKs National Health Service (NHS) if it wins a general election.

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting came up through the National Union of Students apparatus, serving two terms as president of the NUS (2008-09), before being elected as a Labour councillor and then becoming MP for Ilford North in 2015.

Wes Streeting speaking at Labour's conference, October 2023 [Photo: screenshot of video: Telegraph/YouTube]

His attachment to pro-Zionist groups, such as Labour Friends of Israel, the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, and serving in 2015 as the vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitismsaw Streeting play a major role in the purge of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters. He previously sat as Shadow Minister for Schools. Alongside Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, Streeting is one of the main candidates in a future Labour leader contest.

At Labours conference in October, Streeting took a few pot shots at the Conservative government, lambasting the audacity of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for blaming the NHS for its own failures. The NHS was a two-tier health service, where those who can afford it go private and those who cant are left behind our NHS reduced to a poor service for poor people, he said.

But behind this anti-Tory rhetoric, Streeting made clear that Labour would be at the service of the bourgeoisie when it came to the NHS. Streeting glossed over the impact of cuts on the NHS, including the deaths of 240,000 people in the past two years while waiting for hospital treatment, the 50,000 more excess deaths in 2022 than 2019, the almost half a million excess deaths over the last decade due to Tory austerity, the 4 million people without NHS dental care, or the dire consequences of an ill-equipped, underfunded and understaffed NHS facing the global pandemic that was allowed to rip through the populace.

Streeting simply declared that Labour will deliver 700,000 extra appointments each year and would provide faster treatment for patients extra pay for staff, as well as providing two million more appointments each year.

Labours proposals would in fact involve already overstretched doctors working weekends, with Streeting arriving at Labours conference having already denounced a Monday to Friday culture in hospitals.

Streeting was making good on his pledge that Labour will not provide the much needed increase in NHS funding. He repeated in his speech that pouring ever-increasing amounts of money into a system that isnt working is wasteful in every sense. A waste of money we dont have. Instead, our NHS must modernise or die.

Responding to Streetings speech, the Royal College of Nursing stated that staff already work vast amounts of unpaid overtime and that weekend work is routine for many.

A Labour government would likely take office at a time of record unfilled nurse jobs, in excess of 40,000, it predicted.

The funding package Streeting proposed was a meagre 1.1 billion. In November 2022, when Conservative government Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged an additional 3.3 billion to the NHS, experts cited by the Guardian declared that this was half of what was required to cover the 7 billion deficit predicted by NHS England for 2022/23which will only grow larger next year.

Unfulfilled jobs vacancies extend across the NHS, with waiting lists still climbing, hitting a record high of 7.8 million and a shocking 123,000 waiting over 12 hours in A&E. In other areas records are being hit, with 396,643 waiting (in August) over 52 weeks for routine hospital treatment, including 8,998 who have been waiting over 18 months for routine hospital treatment.

Todays statistics show the NHS is running red hot as it enters the busy winter period, Siva Anandaciva, lead analyst at The Kings Fund said. A&E departments have had a busy summer and are now facing a punishing winter.

The winter firestorm will likely be fed by an increasing number of COVID cases. In the Financial Times, Kings Fund head Richard Murraywho has worked in health policy for 30 years, warned that we run the risk of a repeat last winter, which was incredibly bad, citing the combination of flu, COVID and norovirus.

A 2015 study for the BMJ, formerly British Medical Journal, on the opt-out clause for elective weekend work noted that many consultants worked weekends already in the private sector. Freedom of Information requests to the Department of Health showed that the contract allowed consultants to negotiate higher rates of pay for [private weekend] work, rather than doing it for the rates payable under the national contract terms.

Providing the necessary hundreds of billions of pounds to the NHS requires a challenge to the private sector that is antithetical to the agenda Streeting has planned for the NHS.

Streetings other proposal envisages a shift from hospital work to community work, involving General Practitioners. In August he wrote in the pro-Tory Telegraph declaring that GP practices will be provided with incentives to offer patients continuity of care, while financially penalising GPs that underperform in service.

When this was opposed by senior figures in the Royal College of GPs, the Sunday Times reported that Streeting complained, GPs are acting against patients interests by blocking progress.

Streeting cynically declared, The era of simply pouring more money into a broken system is over. Reiterating that he wont entertain requests for blank cheques, he said this was counter to what GPs and patients need.

Where will patients go if it is made even more difficult to see a doctor? he asked. Those who can afford to pay will go private.

The last round of attacks on the NHS instigated by the Tories saw the carving up of the NHS into 42 integrated care systems to further privatisation. The recipe is the same for a Labour government.

Streeting received a 15,000 taster payment (as reported by the Skwawkbox blog) from a hedge fund manager and Tory donor with a large share in the health conglomerate UnitedHealth (UH). UH is a US-based corporation that has had a significant impact on the ongoing privatisation of the NHS. The company was from 2014-21 headed by Simon Stevens, a Blairite advisor and head of NHS England from 2014 to 2021.

In the year up to Streetings conference speech NHS workers across all professions took strike action, including historic moves such as the RCNs first ever nationwide strike. These struggles were sabotaged by the health unions using every possible tactic to stall, call off, minimise and isolate every strike.

Streeting became a poster boy for the Telegraph as they urged the government to face down and defeat health workers. In March, after an interview he had with LBC Radio in which he opposed industrial action by junior doctors, the newspaper ran an article under the headline, Wes Streeting: I dont support the junior doctors strike.

The Tory party conference called for the use of new strike-breaking legislation, pushed through last year, to crush future struggles of the working class, Streeting showed his own willingness to work with the union bureaucracy in sabotaging any future struggles. He said of the offer of the British Medical Association (BMA) at the time to halt any further strikes, There is a window of opportunity for negotiations before the next round of strikes takes place.

This week it was reported that the BMA has accepted a real terms pay cut for senior consultants as the basis to end the dispute.

The Telegraph gushed over his party conference speech, Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting sounded the right notes yesterday on the NHS. Posed to Starmer, but clearly intended for Streetings consideration, it then asked, Would Mr Starmer bow to the pay demands of striking doctors?

It then warned that promising continuity [Tory prime minister] Sunakism, executed more competently, is not enough. It is time for Labour to be bold.

Labour used to utilise the NHS as its badge of honour. Birthed by Labour Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan in 1948, it was cited ever since as the jewel in the Labour crown. The reforms proposed by Streeting, including denouncing Sunak for announcing pots of funding as bad policy, and the attacks on GPs, shows that today Labour is intent on positioning itself to the right of the Tories as the Telegraph has demanded.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets the press after presiding over a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue at the UN headquarters in New York Nov. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The two-state solution is the only way to fundamentally resolve the Palestinian question, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

When meeting the press after presiding over a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed that the two-state solution is the only way out.

The settlement of the Palestinian question does not lack for grand plans or slogans, but the courage and actions to stand up for justice, Wang said.

"The two-state solution is the bottom line for international justice. There is no stepping back from that. Independent statehood is an inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, a right that cannot be traded away," he said.

"In the face of the historical injustice long suffered by the Palestinian people, no one has an excuse to procrastinate and there is no justification for inaction. When it comes to the issues bearing on the future of the Palestinian people, no country has a veto right," said Wang.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and must be prioritized, rather than marginalized, on the international agenda, he said, noting that only when the two-state solution is fully implemented can the Middle East enjoy genuine peace and Israel enjoy lasting security.

China calls for the convening of a more broadly-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to further build consensus on promoting peace and work out a concrete timetable and roadmap to push for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, he said. 
Caes David Gruesbeck [Photo: Family photo]

The Indiana Department of Labor has fined Amazon $7,000 for the death of 20-year-old worker Caes Gruesbeck earlier this year. This fine, which is the maximum that Indiana law allows, exposes the extreme deference that state and federal governments show toward Amazon and other companies, as well as their callous indifference to workers lives.

Amazon is appealing the fine, considering even this pathetic penalty an unacceptable attack on its profits, which totaled $9.9 billion during the last quarter.

The accident occurred on May 8 at an Amazon distribution center in Fort Wayne. Gruesbeck, who was 10 days away from his 21st birthday, was trying to clear an obstruction on an overhead package conveyor. He was using an elevated lift to get to the jam when his head struck another conveyor and became trapped by the machinery. He sustained blunt force injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Gruesbecks coworkers were shaken by his death. Having somebody pass away here, Im not going to look at this job the same way again. Im going to be extra cautious for sure, worker Rosa Garcia told 21Alive.

Other workers reacted with bitterness. Im sure the supervisors told everyone to keep working and pick up the pace, one worker posted on social media.

Indiana safety officials investigated the accident and concluded that Amazon had failed to maintain a workplace free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death. They found that Amazon had failed to ensure that there was sufficient headroom underneath the conveyor while a worker operated the one-man lift. Moreover, Amazon should have trained workers properly, enforced safety rules about driving elevated lifts under low-clearance machinery and marked danger zones more clearly, according to the officials. Despite these violations, which proved fatal, the Indiana Department of Labor issued only one serious safety citation.

This state has some of the weakest protections for workers in the country, former federal workplace safety officials told the Washington Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The maximum fine for serious violations is $7,000 in Indiana. The state also blocks families from suing companies for wrongful deaths in civil court. This prohibition extends even to cases, such as that of Gruesbeck, in which state officials find the company to have been negligent.

Seven thousand dollars for the death of a 20-year-old? Whats that going to do to Amazon? Stephen Wagner, a lawyer in Indiana, asked the Washington Post. Theres no real financial incentive for an employer like Amazon to change their working environment to make it more safe. Wagner agitates for reforms in state laws to protect workers.

Indiana failed to follow suit when the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) raised its minimum fines for safety violations in 2016. The latter increased its penalty for repeat violations from $70,000 to a still pitiful $124,709. It increased its penalty for serious violations from $7,000 to $12,471. But even the new OSHA penalties are ridiculously loweven for fatalities where the company violated the law, former OSHA chief of staff Debbie Berkowitz told the Washington Post.

Amazons contemptuous disregard for worker safety is amply documented. OSHA inspectors have found that workers at Amazon warehouses are at a high risk for lower back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders related to the high frequency with which workers are required to lift packages and other items. In April, an analysis of OSHA data found that the rate of worker injuries was 70 percent higher at Amazon than at comparable warehouses. The rate of serious injuries was twice as high.

Yet the company has faced only derisory penalties for systematically putting its employees at risk of injury or death. When a 59-year-old worker was crushed to death by a forklift at an Amazon warehouse in Plainfield, Indiana, in 2017, the state issued four serious safety violations and fined the company a negligible $28,000. Federal regulators have been no more stringent. Since 2022, OSHA has filed at least six safety violations against Amazon, resulting in total fines of about $270,000. For a company that reported revenue of $143.1 billion in the third quarter of this year alone, such a fine amounts to little more than loose change.

On some occasions, regulators do not bother to fine Amazon at all. When the warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, was struck by a tornado and collapsed in December 2021, OSHA identified several risk factors that contributed to the deaths of six workers. For example, an emergency megaphone was locked in a cage and not accessible. Moreover, some employees did not recall the location of the DLI4 designated severe weather shelter-in-place. Nevertheless, OSHA declined to penalize the company.

The attorney generals for the Southern District of New York and the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions are investigating workplace safety at Amazon, including rate requirements, injuries and the reporting of injuries. These investigations are purely for public relations purposes; they are intended to create the illusion that the corporations are regulated and accountable for their negligence. But like so many previous investigations, the current probes into Amazon will not result in meaningful penalties or improvements in the companys abysmal safety record.

The reason for this outcome is that both parties support the interests of the corporations and not those of the workers or the public. This orientation was on vivid display in President Joe Bidens interventions into workers struggles at the Big Three auto makers, the West Coast docks and, most notoriously, the freight railroads. In all cases, Biden, with the support of both parties in Congress, acted to prevent or quickly end strikes and impose the concessions on workers that the corporations deemed necessary.

No faction of the ruling class will defend the safety of Amazon workers. This defense must be carried out independently by the workers themselves. Moreover, the fight for workplace safety is fundamentally a political question that requires a struggle for socialism.
Students and staff from University College London (UCL) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) walked out Wednesday to protest the Israeli states genocide in Gaza.

A rally was held in UCLs main quad before a short march around and through the university to President and Provost Dr Michael Spences office, where a die-in/sit-in was staged and the names of some of those killed in Gaza read out. Spence was denounced for allowing a recent alumni event to go ahead with a representative of the arms-producing company Airbus, which supplies Israeli surveillance drones, present at the universitys invitation.

Members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) spoke with the protestors, all of whom asked to remain anonymous, referencing intimidation and the threat of sanction by the university authorities.

One student who had helped to organise the protest criticised UCLs really shocking ties with arms companies. This is something wed be campaigning against regardless of whether or not there was this ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

She explained the protest was also about building solidarity and giving a voice. A lot of the students who are affected by this are international students and weve heard of instances where international students, especially from the Arab world who are involved in these types of events, are threatened with their visas being taken away.

A second student, a Palestinian who has lost over a hundred members of his extended family in Gaza, added, Universities are supposed to be for discussion and freedom of speech and conversation where we can get to the truth.

Rejecting the antisemitism slanders levelled against protestors, he said, There are Israelis who support the Palestinians. Its Zionism that we are trying to combat. Were not racists, we dont hate Jews; there are Jews in our countries, a lot of our organisers are Jews. Its not a religious cause to us, its not a racial cause to us. Its about occupation and ongoing oppression.

We havent seen the needle move on this issue for a long time but this time around I feel its different; theres more energy, more momentum, more support globally.

Asked about the intimidation of staff and students opposed to Israels war, the first student referred to the suspension of UCLs Marxist Society for using the word intifada on a poster, the censoring of the same word from a motion posted by the local University and College Union to a university webpage, and the suspension of SOAS students who had taken part in protests.

On Friday we did a joint action with SOAS supporting them. I know from trying to work with our students union-endorsed society, Students for Justice for Palestine, they havent been able to do anything like a direct action because theyre afraid of the repercussions. So thats why this action has been organised by just a bunch of students that dont have any funding or access to resources, or organisational ties.

As the discussion turned to the way forward for the protest movement, one student explained, I am very focussed on what happens the day after a ceasefire. Are they going to do what they always do? Everyone turns their backs, goes back home. Gazans start rebuilding their houses so they can be destroyed again. Is that going to happen, or will we move beyond it?

He raised the concern that The Israel lobby is very strong. IYSSE members added that a key factor was that no major party defends the Palestinians, including the Labour party.

Its disgusting, both replied, with one continuing, Were in Keir Starmers constituency here. Weve called him out and showed the mass of UCL students who are appalled by his silence; and not just silence, his endorsement.

She added, I agree that this question of what comes after a ceasefire is so important. Because all of us who are organising, we didnt just wake up and think This is bad. We are taking it as an opportunityas you said the needle is movingto raise awareness about what the occupation really is.

I think its up to the Palestinian people what solution they come up with. There has to be a right of return for refugees. I dont see how a two-state solution can work with the continued annexation of the West Bank. There has to be an end to occupation; there has to be an end to apartheid. There has to be an end to surveillance. The Palestinian prisoners have to be freed.

In response to the IYSSEs perspective of a joint socialist fight of workers regardless of ethnicity and religion, the Palestinian student pointed out, I think a lot of Israeli young people are sick of it. Sick of the war. Sick of the treatment of Palestinians. They want the conflict to end. There are Israeli soldiers crying to go home, who are hurt and traumatised by the acts they are being told to carry out by their government.

Demands made by students protesting the Gaza genocide at UCL university

In another conversation, a researcher explained, I am against all forms of violence, particularly when it is exercised by a state. You have to understand that this conflict has to be addressed historically, with a historical lens.

When we debate what is happening right now in Gaza, there is a tendency in the media to treat it as if the violence just began right now, out of the blue. Its important to consider colonial histories and how territories have been managed and with what forms of inequality for whom over time, and that is what is missing in the presentation of this conflict.

I am a scholar at the Institute of Education at UCL and I do research with inequalities and colonialism and capitalism. These are areas of interests for me, both intellectually but also from the standpoint of political engagement.

Asked about the blanket support given to Israel by the imperialist governments, the researcher responded, Yes, thanks for saying that. One of the other reasons I am here is that I feel uncomfortable, to say the least, that my taxes, taxpayer money is being used to sponsor violence. I dont feel comfortable with this blanket support and with the way discourses about antisemitism are organised to counter these protests.

All of us here, we are not antisemitic. This is not about religious conflict. I am together with other colleagues, Jewish colleagues, who are also supporting these types of protest events, against Israels violence. And very much also against the support the UK is providing to this.

We dont want more people dying. This is about peace.

Asked about the way forward, the researcher suggested a better implemented two-state solution could be the way out. I think Palestinians need to have their own territory and access to resources. It needs to be addressed, what is it that the Palestinians are requesting, historically speaking?

When IYSSE members countered that the violence of the last decades had been a product of the doomed two-state solution and that the ICFI called for a single state with equal rights for all, achieved through a joint socialist struggle of all workers in the Middle East, he replied, It is desirable. One thing that is coming out of these protests is a change in public opinion, people are being mobilised, they are being pushed to address this issue. So it might be possible if there is continuous support towards the Palestinian cause.
As Israel prepares to step up its genocidal war against Palestinians, tens of thousands of exploited foreign workers in Israel have been unable to leave. The largest national grouping among approximately 124,000 foreign workers prior to the conflict were around 30,000 Thai agricultural workers drawn from the impoverished north-east of Thailand.

Thai nationals leave Shamir Hospital in Ramle, Israel, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, on their way back to Thailand, after being released from Hamas custody. [AP Photo/Maya Levin]

Many were employed on Israeli farming communities or kibbutzes near the Gaza Strip where 75 percent of Israels vegetables are grown. In the initial Palestinian uprising on October 7 by Hamas on the outskirts of Gaza, an estimated 240 hostages were seized, including at least 32 workers from Thailand. As of November 27, 17 Thai citizens have been freed while 15 remain hostages. In addition, another 32 Thais have been killed.

The responsibility for these deaths and hostages lies with Israel, which has oppressed the Palestinian people for 75 years. Since 2007, Gaza has been little more than an open-air prison. Under the fascistic Netanyahu regime, Israel carried out numerous provocations against the Palestinians and has now seized on the Palestinian uprising to launch a genocide in Gaza.

Since the Israeli destruction of Gaza began, at least 8,600 Thai workers employed in Israel have returned to Thailand. However, thousands more workers remain in Israel.

Determined to hang on to their cheap labour, Israeli employers have reportedly either increased wages to convince Thai workers to remain or delayed payment to prevent workers from leaving. The Israeli embassy in Bangkok denied that money was being withheld, after Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters that it was not acceptable that money is used by employers to lure them [to stay].

The turn to exploiting cheap foreign labour is bound up with Israels repressive policies towards Palestinians. A large influx of Thai workers followed the First Intifada, Palestinian uprising from 1987 to 1993 which cost the lives of nearly 2,000 Palestinian. In response, Israel sought to lessen its dependence on Palestinian workers by turning to cheap foreign labour, particularly Thai farmers for the agricultural sector.

These workers face highly exploitative conditions. In 2013, following pressure from labor rights organizations, the Thailand-Israel Cooperation on the Placement of Workers (TIC) project was implemented, based on the UNs International Organization for Migration (IOM), replacing the extortionate training and fees of labour brokers.

A 2015 report by the US-based Human Rights Watch interviewed ten groups of Thai workers in different parts of Israel and found they were paid salaries significantly below the legal minimum wage, forced to work long hours in excess of the legal maximum, subjected to unsafe working conditions, and denied their right to change employers.

The report explained: A Thai man working in a farm in the north of the country told Human Rights Watch that he felt like dead meat after a working day that typically began at 4:30 a.m. and ended at 7 p.m. A colleague of his described employers watching them working in his fields through binoculars and treating them like slaves

At one farm, Thai workers showed Human Rights Watch researchers the makeshift accommodations they had constructed out of cardboard boxes, erected inside farm sheds. Workers at several farms listed a range of maladies, including headaches, respiratory problems, and burning sensations in their eyes, that they attributed to spraying pesticides without adequate protection; some workers said they had relatives in Thailand send them medicines on account of their inability to access medical care.

A study in 2020 by Kav LaOved, an Israeli workers rights nongovernmental organization, confirmed that 83 percent of Thai workers were paid below the legal minimum wage.

A report of the US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report in 2022 categorized some Thai agricultural workers as undergoing forced labor, highlighting the lack of breaks or rest days, withheld passports, poor living conditions and difficulty changing employers due to limitations on work permits.

The report also drew attention to fraudulent study programs which contained no academic content and were merely a pretext for circumventing bilateral work agreements. Thousands of dollars in tuition fees placed workers into what amounted to debt bondage.

Successive Thai governments have facilitated this gross exploitation of Thai workers as their funds repatriated to their relatives form a significant source of foreign exchange. While Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has promised to repatriate Thai workers who want to return home, thousands remain in Israel out of economic necessity. Those who have returned complain that the governments promised financial assistance has failed to materialize.

Srettha has strenuously avoided any criticism of Israel or the imperialist countries backing its genocidal war. The government wants to keep open the export of cheap labour to Israel and at the same time avoid antagonizing the United States, which is a military ally of Thailand. As the brutality of Israels war has horrified the worlds population, the Thai foreign ministry, following other countries, has condemned the killing of innocent civilians by any group and for any reason, drawing an equal sign between violence of the Israeli oppressors and oppressed Palestinians.

The Israeli government intends to expand the influx of foreign labor to eliminate the reliance on an estimated 100,000 Palestinian workers holding permits to work in Israel prior to the October 7 uprising. In April, the government announced plans to bring thousands of workers from India and China for employment as caregivers and in the construction industry. As its prepares to kill or drive all Palestinians out of Gaza, plans are undoubtedly being drawn up for a further expansion.
Palestinians inspect the rubble Abu Helal family in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

In what local residents described as the largest military raid since 7 October, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed two children and levelled an entire street in the West Bank city of Jenin Wednesday. The continuation of daily raids on the West Bank during the six-day truce in the bombardment of Gaza underscores the fact that the Israeli regime remains committed to a policy of genocide against the Palestinian people, for which it enjoys the support of the imperialist powers in North America and Europe.

The two fatalities were identified as 8-year-old Adam Samer al-Ghoul and 15-year-old Basil Suleiman Abu al-Wafa. Both were shot by Israeli soldiers, one in the head and the other in the chest. The IDF claimed to have killed two senior commanders of armed resistance groups operating in Jenin and called in a drone air strike to demolish a house. Roads and water mains were also destroyed.

In total, Israel detained 35 Palestinians in West Bank raids during the night into Wednesday, more than the 30 released in the latest exchange as part of the Gaza truce. Over 3,325 Palestinians have been detained by Israel in the West Bank since 7 October, adding to the more than 5,000 Palestinians already languishing in Israeli jails. Of the 300 Palestinians identified for possible release as part of the truce brokered by Qatar and the US, fully 80 percent have not been charged with any crime, let alone convicted.

Prior to the final death toll being released from the Jenin raid, 242 Palestinians had lost their lives in West Bank raids since 7 October, including 57 children.

The IDF raids have been accompanied by vigilante violence by far-right settlers on Palestinian communities, which are divided into bantustans by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Earlier in November, Israels Channel 12 reported that the head of the iDFs Central Command, Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fox, wrote a secret report with the head of the Shin Bet intelligence service noting that police in the West Bank have been ordered by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir not to respond to acts of settler violence. Ben-Gvir, who is head of the fascistic Jewish Power, has responsibility within Netanyahus government for directing police operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear in a video statement Wednesday that the Israeli regime remains fully committed to the resumption of its genocidal onslaught on Gaza. He said, In recent days Ive heard a question: will Israel return to fighting after this stage of returning our hostages is over? My response is an unequivocal yes. There is no way we wont return to fighting until the end.

There is no situation in which we do not go back to fighting until the end. This is my policy. The entire security cabinet is behind it. The entire government are behind it.

Underlining this point, War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, leader of the opposition Blue and White who joined the Netanyahu cabinet at the beginning of the onslaught, told the media Wednesday that while Israel is making the most of the agreement to release hostages, We are prepared and ready to return to fighting at any given moment, including this moment.

The IDF formally approved combat plans for southern Gaza Wednesday, although details were not released. We know what needs to be done, and are ready for the next stage, commented IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The overwhelming majority of Gazas 2.3 million inhabitants have fled to the south of the enclave, meaning that any resumption of the Israeli onslaught will take place in densely populated areas.

The Israeli regimes brazen preparations for the next stage of its ethnic cleansing of Gaza are possible thanks to the unconditional support it enjoys from the imperialist powers. Throughout the close to seven weeks of the IDFs daily bombardment of Gaza, the Biden administration backed Netanyahu to the hilt and continued the supply of the military equipment necessary for the slaughter of Palestinian men, women and children. With the pause in fighting having uncovered the true extent of the horrendous human suffering produced by Israels war crimes, the imperialists are determined to stay the course.

Citing three unnamed Biden administration officials, Politico reported Wednesday that US imperialism has no intention of restricting its support for the far-right Netanyahu regime. Applying pressure on Israel by placing conditions on military aid is not something were currently looking into, the officials said.

The savagery of Israel and its imperialist backers has provoked outrage among millions of people around the world, who have participated in weekly protests against the Gaza genocide since the onslaught began. Within Israel, Netanyahus far-right government is deeply unpopular and fearful that opposition to its plans for the ethnic cleansing of southern Gaza could erupt into the open.

On Wednesday morning, police intervened to disperse a protest outside the Knesset in Jerusalem calling for all hostages to be freed. The Times of Israel reported that the police intervened after prominent activist Maoz Inon raised questions about why his parents were not protected on 7 October. Why didnt anyone protect my parents, he said as officers led him away. Ynet reported that several protesters were detained. As the World Socialist Web Site has previously documented, evidence is mounting that many of the deaths were caused by the IDFs indiscriminate response to the Palestinian uprising, and that Israeli military and security circles were aware of an impending attack prior to its launch.

Israels onslaught has already claimed the lives of around 15,000 Palestinians, with some 7,000 declared to be missing. A spokesman for the civil defence in Gaza explained Wednesday that they lack the fuel and heavy equipment necessary to access thousands of people still buried under rubble. [We] suffer from a lack of heavy machines that can deal with such crises. We have real difficulties dealing with the rubble and being able to reach the bodies, alive or dead. We are talking about thousands of people mainly in the north of GazaBeit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya, Khalil Abu Shammala, a member of the civil defence, told al-Jazeera.

The absence of medical services threatens the population with yet another catastrophe. On Monday, the World Health Organisation warned that more people could suffer a slow death, as a result of the spread of untreated diseases, than have been killed in Israeli attacks. Large portions of the population lack any access to hospitals, which were deliberately targeted by Israel during its bombardment.

The aid deliveries allowed into Gaza since the truce began remain well below the pre-war level of 500 trucks per day. Although the agreement promised 200 trucks per day and four trucks carrying fuel, al-Jazeera reported Wednesday that an average of 150 trucks have passed the Rafah border crossing each day. Rafah is not equipped for heavy commercial traffic, which has made the logistics of transporting aid throughout Gaza more difficult. Israel has refused to open its two border crossings into Gaza to facilitate additional supplies.

The aid that has reached Gaza is totally inadequate to tackle the conditions that make the rampant spread of disease all but inevitable, including the lack of clean water for drinking and washing, overcrowded camps and residential areas, and a lack of food, winter clothing and medical supplies.

According to a doctor at al-Shiffa Hospital in Gaza City, no medical aid has reached the facility since the truce began last Friday. While many patients were evacuated with medical staff to the south, a significant number remained behind because they could not safely travel. Since the ceasefire, nothing is coming to the hospital, said Marwan Abu Sada, the chief surgeon at al-Shifa. I think most of the medical aid goes to the southern hospitals, [but] nothing is coming to the northern areas, just food and water and other stuff.

Mohamad Zaqout, a spokesman for the Palestinian Health Ministry, confirmed that Kamal Adwan and al-Ahli hospitals have also yet to receive fuel.

These conditions are the desired result of a conscious policy of ethnic cleansing, which has been publicly admitted by government officials and confirmed in documents leaked to the media. The resort by the Zionist regime to methods associated with the Nazis persecution and extermination of the Jews in Europe during World War II expresses the historical bankruptcy of its nationalist programmethe maintenance of a exclusively Jewish nation-state by implementing a final solution to the Palestinian question.

As terrible as conditions in Gaza presently are, they could worsen dramatically as soon as today if an extension is not agreed to the pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas. With the truce set to expire at 7am local time, no deal had been reported by the early hours of the morning. Netanyahu convened a meeting of the war cabinet, as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived during the night in Tel Aviv for his third visit to Israel since the war began.
Amid their rejoicing over the release of some of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza, the international and Israeli media have for the most part remained silent over the Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel and the appalling conditions of their arrest and detention.

To do otherwise would confirm that Israel is the aggressor in this one-sided conflict and that its mass murder and ethnic cleansing of Gaza builds on a record of unparalleled brutality against the Palestinians of a fascistic character.

The demand for the release of Palestinian prisoners was central to the al-Aqsa Flood operation of October 7. Almost every Palestinian family in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has had a relative imprisoned by Israel. Their only crime was resisting an illegal occupation maintained through savage repression.

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi, center is supported by her mother after she was released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. [AP Photo/Nasser Nasser]

As of Thursday evening, Israel had released 240 Palestinian prisoners in return for 99 civilian hostages, including 24 foreign nationals, bringing to 104 the number of civilians released (a further five had been freed earlier). A four-day truce was extended Monday for two days, and again Thursday for a further day.

Of the Palestinians released, all but a handful are women and children who have been kept in indefinitely renewable administrative detention, without charge, due process or trial, in breach of their human rights. Many were held in prisons inside Israel, not in the occupied West Bank, a war crime under the International Criminal Courts Rome Statute and in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Those released included:

22-year-old Ahed Tamimi, whose 2017 confrontation with Israeli soldiers made her a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Israels national security minister, the fascist Itamar Ben-Gvir, had personally ordered her arrest over a social media post that her family denies she had anything to do with. She had been held for three weeks in an Israeli prison, without charge or trial, under administrative detention order.

Fatima Shahin had spent seven months in prison. Initially accused of attempting to murder an Israeli, she was never charged with any crime. She said she was denied access to a lawyer while in detention and to her family while she recovered from life-changing injuries caused by her arrest. She told CNN, They accused me of carrying out a stabbing. Its not true. They opened fire [at] me. I was hit in the spine with two bullets I have partial paralysis. I cannot feel my legs or stand up.

24-year-old Marah Bakeer was shot in 2015 twelve times by Israeli soldiers who alleged she had stabbed a soldier, an accusation she denied. She was left with permanent injuries and sentenced to eight years. She was due to be released in four months time.

Shorouk Dwayatt was sentenced to 16 years for stabbing an Israeli and attempting to stab another in East Jerusalem in 2015 after one of the men accosted her and tried to pull off her headscarf before shooting her.

59-year-old Hanan Saleh al-Bargouthi, the oldest female prisoner to be released, was in indefinite Israeli custody without any charge.

The freed are on a list of 300 Palestinians published by Israel. All are branded terrorists when fewer than a quarter have been convicted of any crime and the vast majority are held on remand pending trial. The overwhelming majority are under 18, mostly teenage boys, although there is one teenage girl and 32 women. Five are as young as 14. Most are relatively new prisoners arrested in the last year or two.

As crowds went to Ofer prison near Ramallah in the West Bank to welcome the prisoners, the Israeli military warned them to keep back and then launched tear-gas canisters into the crowd. At the Beituniya checkpoint near Ramallah, where the Israeli authorities released a group of 24 women and 15 teenage boys, soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas.

Ben-Gvir ordered a crackdown on celebrations. My instructions are clear: there are to be no expressions of joy, he said. Expressions of joy are equivalent to backing terrorism, victory celebrations give backing to those human scum, for those Nazis.

Apprehension stalks the celebrations, with many fearful of rearrest. Following the 2011 Israel-Hamas agreement to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 prisoners, many were later rearrested and had their sentences reinstated.

Btselem, the human rights group, says that in September, Israel was holding 4,764 Palestinians in prison on security grounds, including 176 from the Gaza Strip. Of these, 2,222 were serving a prison sentence; 1,117 had not yet been convicted in court; 1,310 were being held under administrative detention; and 115 were simply listed as detainees.

Israel was holding a further 932 Palestinians, eight from the Gaza Strip, for being in Israel illegally. Of these, 534 were serving a sentence while 398 were listed as detainees.

Many of these youths are seized in mass arrest operations in the dead of night, blindfolded and cuffed, abused and manipulated to confess to crimes they did not commit. Some are as young as 10. One child was so young his hands were too small for handcuffing, while another, the youngest, was too small for the prison uniforms.

In 2012, British legal experts concluded that the conditions the Palestinian children are subjected to amount to torture. In 2013, the United Nations agency for children UNICEF deplored the ill treatment of children who come in contact with the military detention system, [which] appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized. Earlier this year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe called for an end to all forms of physical or psychological abuse of children during arrest, transit and waiting periods, and during interrogations.

After October 7, the number of Palestinians in Israeli jails soared to more than 10,000 as part of Israels campaign of intimidation and terror aimed at driving the Palestinians out of the West Bank. The security forces swept up around 4,000 Palestinian labourers from Gaza with permits to work in Israel. They were detained in degrading and inhuman conditions for several weeks before being released back into Gaza to face bombardment, the loss of their families and homes and enforced shortages of food, fuel, electricity, water and sanitation.

Israel has also arrested 3,290 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Mostly detained in dawn raids on their homes for social media posts, the majority are being held in administrative detention. The humanitarian pause that started on Friday has seen no letup in the arrests, with Israel detaining nearly as many Palestinians as were released.

Prisons are full to overflowing and many must sleep on the floor without mattresses. Conditions have declined still further after October 7. Videos circulating on social media show Israeli soldiers beating, stepping on, abusing and humiliating Palestinian prisoners who are blindfolded, cuffed and stripped partially or entirely.

According to legal rights groups, the prison authorities also halted medical care for at least a week. They have stopped family and lawyer visits; slashed exercise time in the yard to less than an hour a day; restricted access to electricity and hot water; shut down the canteen where prisoners could buy basic supplies; conducted cell searches and removed electrical devices. They have suspended visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the prisons where members of Hamas elite Nukhba force are being held.

Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to Israeli military courts and are routinely denied counsel. They face language barriers and poor translations, while mistreatment, abuse and even torture during detention ensure that most prisoners plead guilty under a plea bargain, leading to a conviction rate of 95 to 99 percent. Appeals are rarely allowed. This is in stark contrast to the 500,000 Jewish settlers who live in their midst, who are free to attack the homes and property of Palestinians and even murder them.

Heba Morayef, Amnesty Internationals regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said earlier this month, Administrative detention is one of the key tools through which Israel has enforced its system of apartheid against Palestinians Testimonies and video evidence also point to numerous incidents of torture and other ill-treatment by Israeli forces including severe beatings and deliberate humiliation of Palestinians who are detained in dire conditions.

In 2012, a European parliamentary report described administrative detention as a tactic employed principally to constrain Palestinian political activism. In 2020, the then UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories Michael Lynk called on Israel to abolish the practice.

Israel can get away with this because it enjoys the support of all the imperialist powers that are now themselves slashing democratic rights and freedom of speech to suppress opposition to their domestic and foreign policies.
Speaking from the floor of the US Senate Wednesday morning, Democratic Majority Leader Charles Schumer (New York) delivered a 40-minute warmongering tirade accusing young people and workers protesting the genocide in Gaza of aiding and abetting antisemites.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Oct. 24, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough]

Antisemites are taking advantage of the pro-Palestinian movement to espouse hatred and bigotry towards Jewish people, Schumer asserted, without providing evidence to back up the claim. [W]e see so many of our friends and fellow citizens, particularly young people who yearn for justice, unknowingly aiding and abetting their cause.

After accusing students on college campuses and in high schools in the United States of being useful idiots for fascists and antisemites because they object to genocide, collective punishment and ethnic cleansing directed against the Palestinian people, Schumer lamented that following the armed incursion of Hamas on October 7, some of our fellow citizens justified a brutal terrorist attack because of the actions of the Israeli government.

Schumer neglected to mention the attacks by the far-right Netanyahu government against the Palestinian people prior to October 7 this year. He said nothing about the seizure of Palestinian lands by Zionist-fascist settlers, military raids in the occupied West Bank or calls by Jewish supremacist legislators to subdue Palestinians in Gaza once and for all.

Schumer was similarly silent on actions taken by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) since October 7:

Saturation bombing and ground attacks on hospitals, mosques and schools that have killed an estimated 20,000 Palestinians, most children and women. According to figures from Iraq Body Count, more Palestinian civilians have been killed in less than two months in Gaza than during every year of the American occupation of Iraq, except 2006 (29,526), 2007 (26,112) and 2014 (20,218).

The killing of at least 57 journalists as of November 29, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). This compares to 10 journalist fatalities recorded by the organization in the 21 months since the Russian incursion into Ukraine.

Schumers speech, billed as an address on antisemitism, was an incitement to more intense repression directed against anti-war protests on college campuses and in high schools.

While Schumer repeatedly smeared students protesting the Israeli military campaign and the apartheid policies of Israel as promoters of antisemitism, he never criticized his Republican colleagues, many of whom regularly trade in antisemitic conspiracy theories and dog whistles, from tirades against the globalist George Soros to promotion of the Great Replacement Theory.

Schumers speech was delivered less than 24 hours after virtually every member of the House of Representatives, Democratic and Republican, voted in favor of House Resolution 888. The measure, introduced by Republican Rep. Michael Lawler (New York) is titled: Reaffirming the State of Israels right to exist.

The resolution states that the Jewish people are native to the Land of Israel. It asserts that denying Israel, the only Jewish state, the right to exist is a form of antisemitism. It proclaims that the House of Representatives rejects calls for  the elimination of the only Jewish State.

Several Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members and self-declared progressive Democrats voted in favor of the measure, which equates the Jewish religion with the Zionist state, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Greg Casar (Texas) and Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts).

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian member of Congress, who was censured earlier this month for initially failing to condemn the October 7 raid by Hamas and for using the phrase from the river to the sea, could not summon the courage or principle to vote no, and instead voted present. The only representative to vote against H. Res. 888 was far-right Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who nevertheless said he agreed with the title  and much of the language.

In his speech Wednesday, Schumer attacked protesters for using the phrase colonizers to describe illegal Zionist settlers. He also attacked the phrases glory to the martyrs and from the river to the sea, falsely characterizing the latter as a violently antisemitic message and racist dog whistle.

Schumer went on to defend his appearance at the March for Israel pro-genocide rally held in Washington D.C. earlier this month. saying that labeling it a hate rally was antisemitism.

Speakers at the pro-Israel rally included Pastor John Hagee, a virulent antisemite who previously said Hitler was sent by God to drive the Jews into Palestine, and the fascistic evangelical Christian speaker of the house, Mike Johnson.

As the WSWS noted in a Perspective statement on the rally, [T]he most popular chant at the rally, No Ceasefire! No Ceasefire! would have been more accurately rendered as Genocide, genocide, more genocide!

Schumer concluded his speech by directly attacking students at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica, Queens, New York, roughly 30 percent of whom identify as Muslim. On November 20, hundreds of students protested at the school after it came to light that one of the teachers not only attended the pro-genocide rally in Washington, but provocatively updated her social media profile photo, inserting a photo of herself at the D.C. event with a sign reading, I Stand with Israel.

Schumer accused the students of running rampant in the hallways, and forcing the teacher to hide in a locked office for hours, something Hillcrest High School Chancellor David C. Banks told the New York Times never happened.

Schumer boasted that he had invited the teacher to witness his speech from the Senate gallery, and characterized the student protest as antisemitism, pure and simple.

Schumers speech came one day after it was revealed that the US Department of Education was expanding its investigation into alleged antisemitism at high schools and colleges to include Harvard University and the New York City Department of Education.
Lifting the lid on a small but revealing episode, veteran actor Robert De Niro has denounced Apple and the organizers of the Gotham Film and Media Institute awards November 27 for censoring his remarks and removing criticism of Donald Trump and the film industry.

Robert De Niro attends the Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023, in New York [AP Photo/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]

The Gotham, founded in 1979 as the Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), is a not-for-profit organization devoted to independent film. At its annual awards ceremony Monday Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese, in which De Niro plays a leading role, received a special award, in a Historical Icon and Creator Tribute.

Scorseses film treats the wave of killings and other crimes committed against Native Americans in Oklahoma in the 1920s. The Osage Nation had unexpectedly found themselves sitting on top of great oil wealth.

Among the sponsors of the Gotham Awards are Vanity Fair magazine, Cadillac, Fiji Water and JetBlue airline. Unsurprisingly, in its coverage of the event, Vanity Fair gushed, The first notable ceremony of the Oscar season got underway last night, with a bevy of A-list attendees coming out in full force. Returning to Cipriani Wall Street, this year's Gotham Awards, which honors outstanding voices in film and television, had it all: breakthrough winners, standing ovations, political speeches, and emotional tributes.

In fact, De Niro came on stage Monday night and, according to the Guardian, after reading out some remarks about the film, said that the first part of his speech had been removed from the prompter. He pulled out his phone to read the original speech, explaining, I just want to say one thing. The beginning of my speech was edited, cut out, and I didnt know about it.

The 80-year-old then read out the excised portion of this comments: History isnt history anymore. Truth is not truth. Even facts are being replaced by alternative facts and driven by conspiracy theories and ugliness. In Florida, young students are taught that slaves developed skills which can be applied for their personal benefit.

De Niro proceeded to castigate the film industry for its treatment of Native Americans, citing a reactionary comment by actor John Wayne.

He continued: Lying has become just another tool in the charlatans arsenal. The former president lied to us more than 30,000 times during his four years in office, and hes keeping up the pace in his current campaign of retribution. But with all his lies, he cant hide his soul. He attacks the weak, destroys the gifts of nature, and shows disrespect, for example, by using Pocahontas as a slur.

At the end of his remarks, De Niro indicated that he had planned to thank Apple, the producers of Killers of the Full Moon, and the Gotham Film and Media Institute prior to seeing his mutilated speech on the teleprompter. But I dont feel like thanking them at all for what they did, he said. How dare they do that, actually.

According to Slashdot, Apple was indeed responsible for the censorship: The company was responding to feedback from the filmmaking team that wanted the actor's remarks to be centered on the movie, according to a source.  A revised version of the speech was delivered to the teleprompter less than ten minutes before the event started, according to sources with knowledge of the show. A woman who told the teleprompter operator to upload a new speech was overheard identifying herself as an Apple employee.

A remarkable incident!

This act of censoring one of the countrys best-known film actors, whose much honored career has now lasted more than five decades, is noteworthy and telling. Not so much for what Apple or the Gotham Film and Media Institute censored, but for the extreme sensitivity and nervousness the action reveals.

De Niros comments, frankly, were relatively innocuous. That Donald Trump is a serial, pathological liar is hardly a secret, even to many of his supporters. Nor are the performers referencescreditable as they may beto the fate of Native Americans, including at the hands of Hollywood, ground-breaking material.

One has to see the episode in the general political and social context. The US and European media is in the midst of a campaign of barefaced lying about Israels genocidal operation in Gaza, whose Nazi-like character has resulted in 20,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, in less than two months. Likewise, the governments and the media have done their best to conceal the horrified global response to the Gaza war crimes, ignoring protests everywhere and slandering them as antisemitic. No one is allowed to condemn war crimes of a world-historical character. This is where the De Niro incident comes in. To offer public criticism of political and social life now, even mildly, is to threaten the unstable and tenuous political and cultural status quo.

From official sources there are nothing but lies, more lies and bigger lies.

The American ruling elite, like its counterparts elsewhere, feels itself besieged, largely despised, isolated. Despite the terrible effectiveness of its weaponry at mass killing, it feels its days may be numbered.

To paraphrase Leon Trotsky, a declining capitalism ... fears superstitiously every critical word, for it is no longer a matter of corrections and reforms for capitalism but of life and death.
On Monday, the social media photo- and video-sharing platform Instagram shut down the English-language account of Quds News Network (QNN), a Palestinian news agency affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), QNN said Instagram closed its account and, prevented the network from requesting a review of the suspension. QNN also explained that Instagrams corporate parent, Meta Platforms, Inc., had previously deleted its Facebook account multiple times, despite the news networks adherence to site standards.

QNN pointed out that the shutdown on Monday was a blatant act of censorship, stating, Since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, Meta has escalated its restrictions on Palestinian content while permitting publications and advertisements supporting the occupation state, some of which explicitly incite violence against Palestinians.

QNN is one of the only news sources that has consistently reported from Gaza and exposed the imperialist-backed Israeli genocide being carried out against the Palestinian population. For this reason, QNN is the most popular internet news source among young Palestinians.

Quds, which is transliterated as al-Quds, is Arabic for Jerusalem and which means The Holy or The Holy Sanctuary.

According to a description published on Wikipedia, QNN is a news agency that, combines breaking news reporting by freelancers and volunteers with rapid distribution of often graphic video content. QNN has developed a substantial social media presence, and its X account is followed by more than 400,000 people.

Over just the past 24 hours, for example, QNN has published video of Palestinian children who were hospitalized after being released from Israeli occupation prisons, photos of thousands of Palestinians lining up at a drinking water station in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, and a video of mourners taking part in the funeral procession of Malek Barghouti, a Palestinian youth who was shot dead by Israeli occupation soldiers in the West Bank the previous night.

Responding to the censorship by Instagram, QNN launched a campaign on Tuesday calling for social media users to give the app a 1-star review on Apples App Store and Androids Google Play. In an appeal published on the QNN website, the publishers wrote, Social media platforms, especially Metas Instagram, have been systematically censoring and removing Palestinian content and attempting to silence pro-Palestine voices. Meta suspended and removed thousands of accounts and posts calling for equal rights for the Palestinian people and stopping the genocide in Gaza.

QNN later pointed out that the same censorship tactics have been used against human rights organizations, which have documented Israeli war crimes. The campaign is demanding that Meta, and its platforms such as Instagram, stop its anti-Palestinian bias, which dehumanize the Palestinian people.

On November 22, QNN reported that Facebook and Meta had continued to approve ads containing hate speech and incitement to violence and genocide against Palestinians, according to The Arab Center for Advancement of Social Media, 7amleh.

The report continued, Meta has been targeting pages that support Palestinian content under the pretext of violating its standards. The company removed QNNs Facebook page several times without any clarification, and it continues to remove content on QNNs Instagram account.

In addition to the shuttering of the QNN accounts on Facebook and Instagram, Twitter also suspended QNNs account in November 2019. Following mass demonstrations against the censorship, the Palestinian publishers Twitter account was restored as of January 2021.

Then, in the same month, the China-based TikTok social media platform banned QNN without notice. At the time, QNN editor Hamzah al-Shobaki said QNN had been posting frequently about the Israeli occupation and the betrayal of Palestinian rights by the Arab regimes that signed so-called normalization deals with the Zionist government.

The termination of the social media accounts of QNN is part of the growing attack on democratic rights internationally that has accompanied the siege of Gaza in which the Israeli government is carrying out a deliberate mass slaughter of civilians on a scale not seen since the fascist regimes of World War II.

By falsely identifying protesters against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians as antisemitic and support for terrorism, the political parties, governments and corporate media of the imperialist countries are seeking to silence the mass opposition to the unfolding massacre.

As reported yesterday by the World Socialist Web Site, the UK government has launched a frontal assault on free speech rights by banning demonstrations, arresting protesters and criminalizing opposition to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. France and Germany, as well as other European countries, have also attempted to ban Pro-Palestinian protests and the US Senate passed a resolution accusing demonstrators of expressing solidarity with terrorists.

Despite these measures, the global movement against the barbaric assault on Gaza continues to grow as video and images from social media continue to reveal to the world the reality of what is unfolding and exposing the lies spread by the Zionist and imperialist regimes. This fact is at the heart of the moves by Meta to close the accounts of QNN, an important source of online videos and photos that expose the crimes being carried out in Gaza.
On Saturday, Paris Place de la Nation saw two rallies of totally different political characters superimposed onto each other. One was made up of workers and youth who wanted to continue their struggle against the genocide in Gaza. The other was dominated by right-wing feminist organisations and allied pseudo-left groups who support or are indifferent to Israels genocide.

This contradiction exposed the fundamental political conflict at the heart of French politics amidst mass opposition to the Macron government, that between the union bureaucracies and their political servants on one side, and the masses on the other.

After more than 20,000 Palestinian deaths and as Israeli leaders openly prepare to escalate their genocide against Palestine after fraudulent humanitarian pauses, French pseudo-left groups and the trade union bureaucracies expressed their indifference to the ongoing massacre in the Gaza strip by dissolving this weekends anti-genocide protest into a Macron government-sponsored feminist rally on Saturday.

The anti-feminicide protest was led by the #NousToutes and Greve feministe organisations as part of an international day of mobilisation against gendered violence. According to the organisers, 80,000 people marched in Paris and smaller demonstrations occurred in other French cities.

The protest received support from French President Emmanuel Macron, who tweeted a video underlining his support for #MeToo and for the campaign to put an end to gendered violence. All the major French trade unions and the pseudo-left parties including the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), the Morenoite group Revolution Permanante (RP), Unsubmissive France, the French Communist Party and the Greens sent large delegations.

The national union bureaucracies, the Macron government and pseudo-left parties are not concerned with alleviating dire social conditions in France or putting an end to imperialist slaughter. Instead, they consciously promote middle-class identity politics to whip up support for imperialist war and attacks on democratic rights.

The demonstration exposed the far-right and pro-imperialist character of the #MeToo movement, which has been backed by every pseudo-left group since its inception. #MeToos method of using unproven allegations of sexual crimes to intimidate political opposition was this time practiced by Zionist-feminists who came to the protest to rally support for Israels genocide against Gaza as part of a recently formed Zionist feminist organisation called 7 Octobre.

The group sought to support Israels genocide against Palestine by amplifying Zionist propaganda around the events of October 7, claiming that women were raped, mutilated and murdered by Hamas and describing the Al-Aqsa Flood operation as a mass feminicide.

They carried signs with slogans such as What are you waiting for to condemn and act? And #MeToo unless you are a Jew, accusing anyone opposed to the Israeli states genocidal policy of being antisemitic and a rape apologist.

Octobre 7 Zionist group at Saturday's protest

One member of the organisation told LePoint, [We] want to force feminist associations to all take a clear position. Let them either say: Jewish women are not victims like the others, or Yes, we condemn the feminicides carried out by Hamas.

She added that the killing of Israelis was of more concern than the current genocide in Gaza because, Unlike the Israelis, the Palestinians were not targeted precisely because they were women. From this follows the racist implication that any women casualties during the revolt against historic Israeli oppression were due to a set of innate misogynistic beliefs of Palestinian fighters, not because of decades of state-sanctioned murder and blockade against the Gaza Strip.

Nothing in the anti-Marxist middle-class feminism promoted by the pseudo-left is incompatible with ultra-nationalist Zionism or the vilification of Muslims. Saturdays degraded political spectacle saw the reactionary method and political content of #MeToo leveraged to support an ongoing genocide. To insist on the higher value of Jewish women whilst hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children die every day only takes the ultra-subjective middle-class feminist world-view to its logical conclusion.

The 7 Octobre group is an unholy marriage of the pseudo-left promoters of identity politics and the far right. According to LePoint, the Israeli organisers included members of SOS racism, a group with ties to the leadership of the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, which is a consistent supporter of American imperialism and embroiled in a corruption scandal involving hundreds of millions of dollars of money donated to fight against police violence. Multiple notorious members of the far-right Jewish Defense League were also identified among the 7 Octobre group by eyewitnesses at the rally.

The Zionist protesters were joined by a group of pro-Ukrainian protesters supporting the NATO war against Russia with placards denouncing the rapists of Putin alongside the Zionist contingent.

In stark contrast to the bankrupt politics and these nationalist and feminist milieu were a group of determined pro-Palestinian protesters who came to Saturdays protest to oppose the genocide and the bourgeois medias campaign to promote fraudulent humanitarian pauses unknowing they would be faced with groups supporting Israel's genocide against the Gazan people.

The WSWS spoke to Sara, who explained, We are protesting because it is not fair to kill innocent people and to support a genocide on the basis of fake news and Israeli propaganda. I dont support any of the governments at this point whether it is Macron, the prince of Saudi Arabia, they have all exposed themselves and shown they dont care about peoples lives.

She explained that she didnt realise the protest she was attending was primarily called by feminist groups, Honestly, when I decided to come I didnt know they were having two combined protests. I support the rights of everyone but I am not a feminist.

Sara

Sara also condemned the fraudulent nature of the humanitarian pauses promoted in the international press: Its a game. You cannot pause a genocide, you can only end it. There is no such thing as a humanitarian pause. I dont know what that means. The pause for four days only allows Gazans to gather the dead people from their families and try to bury them. They are still killing people in the West Bank. I think it is just pure bullshit.

The WSWS also spoke to Bouajila, who attended the protest with his wife Samantha. Reacting to the presence of a pro-Israeli organisation promoting propaganda about October 7 to justify the genocide, Bouajila stated, I think the events on October 7 were military, its just another chapter in the story of a revolt against the prison guards. It was a response from the oppressed. And in a historical sense the Gazan fighters had a lot of baggage.

The claims of rape, they are not true. Its bullshit. In the current war it is not Hamas who are the terrorists but Israel.

Bouajila and Samantha



Aymane, a French-Algerian youth, pointed out that while evidence of the genocidal crimes of Israel in Gaza is widespread, the pro-Zionist protesters did not have evidence to back up their claims, We see corpses of Palestinian children every day. Corpses of parents, women, etc. Not [through] third parties, we see them firsthand every day. But of the corpses of Israelis, I am talking about children and women, because there are necessarily deaths on the Israeli side among men and among people who wage war. War, but on the citizen side, woman, child, we dont see any corpses.

Aymane added that to understand the genocidal Israeli campaign, You have to know why, you have to educate yourself, you have to know the history.

As the WSWS has recently explained regarding the events of October 7, eyewitness testimonies drive a horse and cart through the official Israeli narrative Far from protecting Israeli civilians, the Netanyahu government and the IDF used them as cannon fodder in pursuit of a policy of Israeli expansionism and Jewish Supremacy.

Almost two months after the events of October 7, there is no publicly available evidence that Palestinian militants raped or mutilated women, as claimed by Zionist protesters on Saturday.

The comments of the Palestinian protesters expose the class gulf that exists between the masses of people who want to fight against the genocide in Gaza and the indifference of the trade union bureaucracies. This indifference extends to the bureaucracies pseudo-left political backers, who seek at all costs to avoid an international mobilisation of the working class independently of these nationalist and pro-capitalist forces. Amidst an ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people, their promotion of middle-class identity politics and the anti-democratic #MeToo movement has earned them the deserved political company of Zionist forces supporting a genocide.

Workers and youth who are determined to struggle against the ongoing genocide in Gaza must decisively break with these anti-Marxist and nationalist forces and join the Parti de legalite socialiste, the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, which fights for an independent mobilization of the international working class against imperialist slaughter.
Telecom workers protest against privatisation in Colombo on November 24, 2023

Last Friday, about 5,000 Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) workers held a one-day national strike to oppose the privatisation of the state-owned enterprise and the associated attacks on working conditions and benefits. About 2,000 strikers travelled from all parts of the country to demonstrate outside the corporations head office in Colombo.

The walkout reflects the rising working-class anger against the governments International Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated policies, which include the restructuring/privatisation of 430 (SOEs). The industrial action was called by the Telecom Trade Union Front (TTUF).

Demonstrating SLT workers carried placards that read, Stop selling off profit-making institutes, Oppose the sale of Telecom, cuts to employees privileges and violations of employees rights, Unite against the looting of EPF-ETF [pension funds], Save Telecom from tyrannical rulers, and Privatisation is fraudulent and unsuccessful.

Workers shouted slogans and marched around the SLT head officealong Duke Street, Bristol Street and then Lotus Road. Police attempted to stop workers in Duke Street, claiming that they had a court order banning the march. Dozens of police officers and riot police personnel, along with a water cannon, were mobilised to block the protest. SLT workers, however, continued their march around the corporation headquarters. Their protest lasted from 10.00 a.m. until 3.00 p.m.

Riot police armed with water cannon mobilised against protesting workers in Colombo, November 24, 2023.

While SLT workers demonstrated their courage and determination to fight the austerity measures, the trade unions are working to prevent a unified movement of the working class against the Wickremesinghe government and promoting illusions that it can be pressured to change course.

The TTUF is an alliance of 13 telecom unions, including the All Telecom Employees Union (ATEU), Sri Lanka United Trade Union (SLUTU), Podujana Pragathiseeli Telecom Workers Union, which is affiliated to the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and the All Ceylon Telecom Workers Union (ACTWU), which is controlled by the opposition Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

TTUF leaders addressed the protest making demagogical denunciations of the governments privatisation plans.

ATEU president Jagath Gurusinghe thundered: Today we have initiated the first step to stop selling the profit-making telecom Our fight will not end today, it will end when Wickremesinghe withdraws his criteria of selling [the SOEs]. He declared that Telecom, would not be sold out and threatened a united struggle with other SOE employees, but provided no details.

SLUTU president Athula Botheju said, Ten thousand families depend on this institute, then warned, We will extend this protest to an island-wide strike, if the government does not heed to our demands.

While these union officials have previously made similar calls, they have consistently blocked a united movement of the working class against the governments measures.

In fact, the restructuring/privatisation of the SLT began in the early 1990s with the active collaboration of the union bureaucracy and saw the SLT workforce slashed from 8,600 to 6,600 between 2000 and 2006. The workforce is now just 6,000 with many more jobs threatened under the governments privatisation plans.

In April, over 6,000 telecom workers held a one-day strike against privatisation and have also participated in joint protests with unions in other sectors such as banking, electricity, health, universities and the ports.

On July 25, around 2,000 workers, mainly from the Katunayake and Biyagama free trade zones, demonstrated against the governments proposed new labour laws and calling for a halt to pension fund cuts. On August 28, over 1,000 workers protested in Colombo against the government attacks on jobs and working conditions.

All the unions, including those at SLT, have restricted these actions to futile appeals to the government while doing all they can to block a united struggle of the working class, and claiming that legal action will stop privatisation. The unions, and the political parties to which they are affiliated, have no fundamental opposition to the governments IMF-dictated measures.

Earlier this year Gurusinghe and the TTUC filed a fundamental rights petition in the Supreme Court. The petition demanded nullification of the cabinets decision to sell off the governments remaining 49.05 percent shareholding in SLT in May. On June 15, however, the Supreme Court refused to grant leave to proceed with the petition.

In another exposure of class character of the courts, the Appeal Court on October 3 also dismissed a petition against the termination of 292 workers of the state-owned Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE). The petition was filed by the CWE trade unions, which repeatedly told the workers that the court would grant a favourable judgment.

The Appeal Court judgment stated: In these cases, the courts uphold the principle of non-interference with government policies, affirming the importance of deference to the executive branch in economic matters, particularly during times of crisis, as long as those policies remain within the bounds of legality and reasonableness.

In April, Gurusinghe told a Telecom workers protest that the SLT, is not a loss-making company, and rhetorically asked, Should an institution like this be restructured? In other words, Gurusinghe has no opposition to the privatisation/restructuring and associated job destruction of so called loss-making public enterprises.

ATEU president Jagath Gurusinghe addressing protesting Telecom workers in Colombo

The unions fear that any unified industrial action by the working class will escalate beyond their control into the sort of mass movement that brought down the down previous Rajapakse government. Thus, they are particularly hostile to the intervention of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in these struggles and its fight for the independent mobilisation of the working class on a socialist program against the governments brutal attacks.

On Friday, one Telecom union leader told SEP campaigners distributing copies of a WSWS article titled Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghes 2024 budget deepens attack on workers and the poor, that they were disrupting the union protest.

SEP campaigners insisted on their democratic right to campaign among SLT workers and continued their work. The unions are acutely nervous that workers will adopt the SEPs perspective, disrupting their increasingly desperate efforts to keep workers trapped within their framework of appeals to the government.

Several workers talked to SEP campaigners, voicing their concerns about the union leadership.

A technician from a telecom office in Bandarawela, 200 km from Colombo, said: We are not sure whether we can achieve our demands by protests. We could win certain rights, although not 100 percent, and sometimes, we have not won. We dont know why united struggles are not being organised by the unions.

A young technician attached to the Chilaw telecom office, 80 km from Colombo, said: We have no confidence on whether we can stop the governments agenda, but we participated today because we must unite with the others. We feel that no matter how much we protest, our demands will not be met. Im not even sure about my job. If workers from the other institutions united with us, then that would be effective. I dont think the current protests will bring us success.

Sri Lankan Telecom workers cannot place any trust in the trade unions which function as industrial police for the government and its IMF agenda. To defend their jobs, social conditions and basic rights, workers must form their own action committees, independent of the union bureaucracies, and take forward a unified industrial and political struggle against the Wickremesinghe government.



What is required is the building of a united political movement of the working class, rallying the rural poor, that is aimed at overthrowing the government and bourgeois rule and for the establishment a workers and peasants government, committed to socialist policies.
MOSCOW, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Having been working with the International Space Station (ISS) for more than six months, Russia's Progress MS-23 cargo spacecraft completed its mission and sunk in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday.

"Today, the Progress MS-23 cargo spacecraft, which worked on the International Space Station for more than half a year, was deorbited, entered the atmosphere and disintegrated," ROSCOSMOS, the state space corporation of Russia, was quoted by TASS news agency as saying.

The spacecraft undocked from ISS at 10:55 a.m. Moscow time (0755 GMT) on Wednesday. After that, it switched to autonomous flight. 
As the Israeli genocide of Palestinians continues in Gaza, the phony and temporary truce notwithstanding, millions of ordinary people are being confronted with the fact that the major governments of the world have adopted as their policy ethnic cleansing and the mass murder of civilians.

Despite enormous global anti-war protests, governments in the US, Canada, throughout Europe and Australia, insist on the impermissibility of a ceasefire and proclaim Israels right to defend itself. The worse the war crimes, the more belligerent the governments become in support of the Zionist regime.

The situation poses fundamental questions of political perspective and program: how can the genocide be fought? What is the way forward in the struggle to end it?

Under those conditions, there is a concerted attempt to divert opposition to the genocide back behind sections of the establishment, and to prevent workers and young people from developing any understanding of the broader implications of the unfolding war crimes. In Australia, the chief role in this campaign of misdirection is played by the countrys pseudo-left organisations, Socialist Alternative, Solidarity and Socialist Alliance.

There are two key characteristics of the activities and interventions of these groups in the movement against the genocide.

Firstly, despite falsely describing themselves as socialist, they never raise the necessity for a socialist perspective. This is a continuation and deepening of the position these organisations have taken over decades, since they broke from the Trotskyist movement in the 1950s and oriented to Social Democracy, Stalinism and various forms of middle-class identity politics.

As the Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International and its Socialist Equality Parties, have insisted, the assault on Gaza is the true face of capitalism and imperialism. The Israeli genocide, moreover, is one component of a broader eruption of imperialist militarism, including US-led preparations for war with Iran, Russia and China.

That objectively raises the necessity for a struggle by the international working class for world socialism, against a capitalist system that is in crisis and whose ruling elites are tobogganing to the abyss. Outside of this broader context, the onslaught on Gaza is falsely presented as a primarily Middle Eastern development, with little immediate connection to what else is occurring in the world.

The pseudo-lefts general silence on what Gaza reveals about the whole capitalist system is bound up with the other aspect of their line: an attempt to subordinate the developing movement to pro-capitalist and pro-genocide political forces, above all Labor and the trade union bureaucracy.

Every week at the mass rallies, members of the pseudo-left ask participants to sign a petition calling for the federal Labor government to advocate a ceasefire. That this perspective is futile and a dead-end is obvious.

The Labor government is hardly a bystander, as such petitions imply. It is an active participant in the genocide, through its bellicose defence of all of Israels war crimes, and through its integration into US-led military networks that are coordinating the genocide. At least some of the Israeli air strikes are being targeted out of the joint US-Australian operated Pine Gap spy base in Central Australia, and successive governments have approved 350 defence export permits to Israel since 2017. That includes 52 this year under Labor.

Pseudo-left speakers at the rallies have played a key role in setting the tone of the events, which insofar as the speeches are concerned, generally hew to the line of appealing to and placing pressure on the Labor government to change course.

At one of the first rallies in Melbourne, on October 15, Socialist Alternative leader Jerome Small made passing references to imperialism and the ruling class. But the thrust of his speech was to bemoan the fact that Labor was not opposing the genocide. Small depicted a Labor government that was lost for words, when in fact it was already aggressively backing Israels actions.

Small stated: [Foreign Minister] Penny Wong and the Australian government seem stuck for words. So lets give them some words. Words like obscene. Words like horrific. This was not only a lament that the right-wing, imperialist Labor government was backing the genocide. It was a suggestion that Labor could be convinced to change its tune, and bordered on public relations advice to the government itself.

Jerome Small speaks at Melbourne protest on October 15 [Photo: Jerome Small for Northern Metro]

Small concluded with a perspective of endless protest, appealing to governments, even if that would not halt the genocide. He told attendees it was necessary for everyone to continue coming back time after time after time after time while the destruction continues in Gaza and far beyond.

Socialist Alternatives publication Red Flag has similarly insisted that the task is to shame the Labor Party for its egregious alliance with the US in supporting Israels genocidal attacks on the Palestinian people. We should flood Labor MPs phone lines and inboxes with questions about what they are doing to condemn Israels attempted genocide of the Palestinian people.

The analogy that comes to mind is petitioning the Nazi regime to end the Holocaust. Whenever significant protests and movements develop, the pseudo-left always seeks to channel them back behind Labor, the Greens and the political establishment. But this attempt is even more nakedly bankrupt, not only given Labors full-throated support for Israel, but also its threats to ban and outlaw protests in support of the Palestinians.

The real task is not to appeal to Labor, but to mobilise the working class against it in a political struggle. The pseudo-left, however, represents an affluent layer of the upper middle-class, tied to the political establishment, including Labor, above all through the trade union bureaucracy. A fight against Labor would cut across a web of opportunist political relations that the pseudo-left is involved in.

That is underscored by the pseudo-lefts defence of the union bureaucracy, which has tacitly supported the genocide. The major unions have either remained silent or have issued mealy-mouthed resolutions, most of them condemning both sides, i.e., the Palestinians and the Israeli regime seeking their extermination. Above all, the unions have taken no action to obstruct the genocide or the Labor governments support for it.

In practice, the unions have rejected an appeal from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions for industrial action to starve the Israeli war machine and block its supplies.

The line-up extends across the board, but is particularly stark in the case of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). Some of its leaders, especially in Sydney, have feigned support for the Palestinians, but every single week, they are ensuring the loading and unloading of Israeli ships of the Zim line, which last month dedicated its entire fleet to assisting the genocide.

There is widespread support among ordinary people for the kind of action called for by the Palestinian unions. There is also a growing consternation over the refusal of the Australian unions to take any action.

To fill the breach, Solidarity has initiated a Trade Unionists for Palestine group. While presented as a rank-and-file organisation, its entire purpose is to suppress opposition to the union bureaucracy and to run cover for it. The group has organised limited community protests, including at the ports, but the purpose of such events is, above all, to obscure the inaction of the union leadership.

Erima Dall speaks at Port Botany on November 11, 2023 [Photo: Solidarity USYD]

One of Solidaritys prominent members, Erima Dall, is herself an MUA delegate, closely associated with its Sydney leadership. Dall collaborates with and justifies the actions of the MUA leaders, who are themselves collaborating with Zim.

The character of Trade Unionists for Palestine was spelt out in an interview Dall gave to Perth Indymedia on Tuesday, about a current week of action that the group has organised.

The actions are miserable and pathetic. Dall stated: [W]ere asking people to do anything they can at work, really. That might be just simply taking the petition to your workplace and getting a few workmates to sign it, or it could be wearing the kaffiyeh and taking a group photo during your lunch break

These little actions could build into something much, much more powerful. As evidence, Dall cited the fact that the national leaderships of the construction union and her own MUA had issued statements condemning the genocide, well over a month after it began. Such statements are weasel-words that commit the leadership to nothing. Dall also hailed the fact that some national union leaderships were allowing their members to bring union flags to pro-Palestinian protests. This showed that Unionists for Palestine were really having a tangible impact, she asserted.

Finally, Dall stated: And thats all going to put pressure on the Labor Government, because as we know, our unions are affiliated with the Labor Party. They have delegates at Labor conference. So, those debates will ripple through in really, really critical ways.

These positions, not only have nothing to do with a fight for socialism, they are not even vaguely left-wing. Dall presents as a positive the fact that our unions are affiliated to the pro-imperialist and anti-working class Labor Party, as it is supporting a 21st century Holocaust. The comment exposes the fact that the pseudo-left is an adjunct of Labor, and represents a corrupt middle-class layer that couldnt care less about the Palestinians.

Dalls last comment also underscores the fraud of the line used by Unionists for Palestine to justify the inaction of the union bureaucracy. Together with the union leaders themselves, Solidarity points to anti-strike laws, which make most industrial action illegal. But that legislation, the Fair Work Act, was drawn up by the previous Labor government and the unions themselves. The unions, moreover, are affiliated to the Labor Party, whose explicit position is the maintenance of the anti-strike laws.

Just as they use Fair Work to suppress workers opposition to the genocide, so the bureaucracy and its pseudo-left cheerleaders invoke the laws to suppress all strike action and to force through sell-out agreements slashing jobs, wages and conditions. The bureaucracy is a police force for governments and the corporations.

The Unionists for Palestine group was established to prevent a genuine rank-and-file rebellion. As the Socialist Equality Party insists, what is required are independent rank-and-file committees, opposed to the bureaucracy, to conduct the industrial and political action required to actually block weapons and all military supplies to Israel, develop political strikes against the Labor government within Australia and seek to end the genocide.

Finally, it should be noted that the positions of the pseudo-left on Palestine are not an aberration. In keeping with its class character and ever-greater shift to the right, the pseudo-left has ever more openly embraced imperialist war. In the case of Socialist Alternative, this has included explicit and aggressive support for the US-CIA-led regime-change operation in Syria, which was also backed by the Zionist regime. More recently, all of the pseudo-left groups have lined up behind the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.

These organisations are a last line of defence of the political establishment and imperialism itself.

The real alternative, as fought for by the SEP, is the development of a political movement of the working class, in Australia and internationally, directed against the entire establishment, the capitalist system and all of its defenders. The genocide in Gaza, the global breakdown of capitalism and the eruption of militarism pose as an urgent task the development of a political leadership in the working class, based on the perspective of world socialist revolution. To get involved in that decisive struggle, contact the SEP.
With the death toll in Gaza exceeding 15,000 and the horror of Israels war of annihilation made even more clear by on-the-spot reports during the temporary lull in the bombing, and worldwide protests against the genocide continuing unabated, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is seeking to present himself as an even-handed advocate for both the Israeli state and the Palestinians.

One would expect nothing less from this pro-Zionist, pro-imperialist political imposter. On November 22, he published an op-ed in the New York Times headlined Justice for the Palestinians and Security for Israel.

It is worth discussing this piece of political sophistry in some detail, but it must first be placed in its proper context.

Then-candidates Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, right, greet one another before they participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate, March 15, 2020. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

On Sunday, November 5, Sanders appeared on CNN to oppose mounting calls for a ceasefire in the Israeli slaughter. Parroting the line of the Netanyahu government as well as the Biden administration, Sanders cast Israels campaign of ethnic cleansing as a necessary act of self-defense following the armed breakout and incursion into southern Israel carried out by Hamas on October 7.

I dont know how you can have a ceasefire, a permanent ceasefire, with an organization like Hamas, which is dedicated to turmoil and chaos and destroying the State of Israel, he told State of the Union moderator Dana Bash. I think what the Arab countries in the region understand is that Hamas has got to go.

This defense of the Israeli onslaught was welcomed by the war criminals and their accomplices. White House Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskind tweeted out quotes from Sanders interview. Within an hour of Sanders appearance, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) posted a clip of his remarks on X/Twitter. In a subsequent tweet, the Zionist lobby said, Thank you @SenSanders for your clear and principled opposition to calls for a ceasefire with Hamas.

Sanders comments were praised by Israeli officials, and Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy shared a clip of the interview on X/Twitter.

When Sanders made his public denunciation of calls to halt Israels mass bombing, the official death toll in Gaza had already reached 9,770, with children and women comprising a majority of the victims. Israel was systematically targeting hospitals, schools, UN facilities and other buildings where Palestinians whose homes had been destroyed sought refuge. This included the October 17 bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, which, according to Gazan officials, killed at least 471 people and wounded more than 300 others.

By the time of Sanders New York Times op-ed, which appeared two days before the current bombing pause and hostage exchange took effect, the official death toll was over 14,500, not counting some 7,000 Gazans listed as missing and presumed to be buried under the rubble. This arguably makes Sanders complicit in a personal way in the deaths of at least 4,730 Palestinians.

Opposition to a permanent ceasefire

Sanders continues to reject a permanent ceasefire in his November 22 op-ed. Instead, he hails the temporary pause and calls for it to be expanded into an extended humanitarian pause so that badly needed aid  can get into Gaza and save lives. Other words besides ceasefire that are absent from his article include genocide, war crime, ethnic cleansing and Biden.

Indeed, his entire presentation of the US-backed Israeli slaughter is designed to obscure its unprecedented scope and genocidal character. Sanders begins by presenting the current war as the fifth in the last 15 years between Israel and Hamas, i.e., just the latest in a string of recurring conflicts. He then presents a potted version of the past 75 years of Zionist dispossession and colonialist oppression of the Palestinian masses in a manner that whitewashes the role of both Zionism and US imperialism. He writes:

For 75 years, diplomats, well-intentioned Israelis and Palestinians and government leaders around the world have struggled to bring peace to this region.

What has blocked an enlightened solution that would bring peace and stability to the region and reconcile the Palestinians to their inferior lot, according to Sanders narrative, is the evil intervention of extremists. In this fantasy world, there are no economic, geopolitical or class interests at work. The Zionist ruling elite and the American ruling class have no vested interest in subjugating the Palestinians in order to maintain the existing setup in the Middle East, with Israel serving as Washington and Wall Streets militarized outpost.

Sanders continues:

For those of us who want not only to bring this war to an end, but to avoid a future one, we must first be cleareyed about facts.

What follows is a completely biased and distorted, pro-Israeli presentation of the facts. Sanders begins by uncritically rehashing the official Israeli version of the events of October 7. He writes:

On Oct.7, Hamas, a terrorist organization, unleashed a barbaric attack against Israel, killing about 1,200 innocent men, women and children and taking more than 200 hostage.

Here Sanders ignores reporting, mainly from within Israel, that demolishes the official narrative of the Hamas attack, strongly indicating that (1) the Israeli government and military had advance knowledge of an imminent and major attack across the blockaded border with Gaza into southern Israel; and (2) many, if not most, of the Israelis killed in the October 7 attack were killed by Israel Defense Forces troops and tanks, which used massive fire-power to retake control of areas seized by Hamas in the aftermath of the initial attack.

Sanders ignores Zionisms colonialist historical record

Even more dishonest is the total omission of the historical background to the October 7 incursion, and its use by Israel as the pretext for activating long-prepared plans to forcibly remove the Palestinian population from Gaza, as part of the scheme to annex Gaza and the West Bank. Nothing is said of the 1948 Nakba that drove more than 700,000 Palestinians from their villages and farms, the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank in 1967, and the system of apartheid and oppression that has existed ever since.

Inhabitants of Qibya coming back to their village after its attack by Israeli forces, October 1953

Sanders presents Hamas as nothing more than a criminal terrorist organization, ignoring the fact that it won a popular election in 2006 to oust the discredited and corrupt Palestinian Authority from power in Gaza. He quotes a Hamas spokesman as saying, I hope that the state of war with Israel will become permanent on all the borders, and that the Arab world will stand with us, in order to support the Israeli line that Hamas must be eliminated. But he says nothing about statements by Israeli officials expressing genocidal intent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for example, in a recent press conference likened the Palestinians to a tribe known as Amalek that is referenced in the Hebrew Bible. The biblical passage instructs the Israelites to exterminate every man, woman and child, and even the livestock, of the Amalekites.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the elimination of anyone supporting or sympathizing with Hamas.

In the end, Sanders offers a list of proposals similar in substance to the public positions of President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken. They do not include a permanent halt to Israeli bombing, the immediate withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza, or the removal of the Netanyahu government.

Sanders calls for an end to indiscriminate bombing, i.e., the continuation of discriminate bombing. He opposes a long-term Israeli re-occupation and blockade of the enclave, suggesting he is OK with a short-term onewhatever that means.

Alongside increased humanitarian aid, he calls on Israel to guarantee the right of displaced Gazans to return to their homes (omitting the fact that their homes have likely been destroyed), to put an end to settler violence in the West Bank, and to freeze settlement expansionnone of which Israel will accept. And even if it did, the basic framework of Palestinian oppression and US imperialist domination exerted via Israel would remain intact.

This, according to Sanders wish list, is to lead to broad peace talks for a two-state solution. As Sanders makes clear, all of this is predicated on removing Hamas from power. Thus, under the guise of securing justice for the Palestinians, US imperialism is to impose a new government more to its liking in Gaza.

Sanders backs Biden/Blinken plan to install Israels proxy Palestinian Authority

That government is to be run by the Palestinian Authority, voted out by the Gazans in 2006 and still headed by 88-year-old Mahmoud Abbas. Sanders writes:

Those steps will show that peace can deliver for the Palestinian people, hopefully giving the Palestinian Authority the legitimacy it needs to assume administrative control of Gaza, likely after an interim stabilization period under an international force.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, November 5, 2023 [AP Photo]

The sheer cynicism and imperialist arrogance of this project is underscored by recent commentaries in the Western press. On November 25, Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times, wrote:

The [Palestinian] authority is deeply unpopular even where it has control in the West Bank, because it is seen as a subcontractor to the long Israeli occupation. Its support is so tenuous, in fact, that it would be unlikely to survive without the security provided by the Israeli Army In the view of many of the people it is supposed to represent, the authority has devolved into an authoritarian, corrupt and undemocratic administration that sits on an iron throne built by Israel  if elections were held today, it is probable, experts and polls suggest, that Hamas would win again.

On November 27, the Guardian seconded this assessment, writing:

Western diplomats have turned to the previously neglected Palestinian Authority to fill the political vacuum likely to be created by the planned destruction of Hamas in Gaza, but know their chosen rescue vehicle is unpopular, deemed corrupt, and badly in need of a new generation of leaders that no one has yet been able to identify.  Respected opinion polling by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows that days before the Hamas assault on Israel, 80 percent of Palestinians considered the PA corrupt, and 62 percent viewed it as a liability rather than an asset. None of its main institutions enjoys popular legitimacy.

The PAs main function in the West Bank is to serve as Israels police force on the ground, rounding up and detaining Palestinian opponents of Zionist oppression. The Guardian writes:

As a result, the PA ended up being viewed by Palestinians increasingly as a security sub-contractor for Israel, and in the name of fighting terrorism often imposed arbitrary justice in the West Bank. Lawyers for Justice, a group that documents just such arbitrary justice cases, estimated that in 2022 alone the PA arrested more than 500 Palestinians for anti-Israel offences.

Thus, the much vaunted two-state solution promoted by Sanders, in the unlikely event of its ever materializing, would boil down to a police state ruled by Palestinian bourgeois puppets of US imperialism and Israel. So much for the progressive and democratic pretensions of Bernie Sanders, the left voice of imperialist genocide.
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping extended congratulations to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

In his message, Xi said that the bitter lessons of the cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict fully demonstrate that only by upholding the concept of common security can sustainable security be achieved.

The Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue, and the crux of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the long overdue realization of the legitimate national right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state, he said.

Xi called on the international community to take urgent actions to address the Palestine-Israel conflict, and urged the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and make every effort to facilitate a ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians, and stop the humanitarian disaster.

On top of this, the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be restarted as soon as possible and the Palestinian people's right to statehood and survival and their right of return should be restored as soon as possible, Xi said.

China has, as always, firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, he said. And the only viable way to settle the Palestinian question lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The needs of the Palestinian economy and people's livelihood need to be ensured, and the international community should increase development assistance and humanitarian aid to Palestine, stay on the right course towards peace talks, and convene a more authoritative international peace conference as soon as possible, he said.

China has put forward the Global Security Initiative, advocates resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation and supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis, Xi said, pledging China's continuous efforts to stand for justice on the Palestinian question, actively promote peace talks and continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side.

Xi said that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will continue to work with the international community to build global consensus on promoting peace, bring the Palestinian question back to the right track toward the two-state solution, and strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date. 
DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called 2023 the hottest year on record as UN climate change conference COP28 started here in Dubai. 
Marvel Cinematic Universe star Sebastian Stan will be playing reality television star and 45th President of the United States Donald Trump in the upcoming movie The Apprentice.

Deadline has reported that Stan will play Trump in Ali Abbasis upcoming movie The Apprentice. The film will focus on Trumps time in New York throughout the 1970s and 1980s when he was building his real estate business. It will also examine his relationship with Roy Cohn  a controversial attorney who was one of Trumps mentors.

Abbasi previously directed the 2022 film Holy Spider, which revolved around an Iranian serial killer who murdered 16 women, as well as the movies Shelley, Border, and more. Recently, he directed two episodes of the HBO video game adaptation series The Last of Us.

What other roles has Sebastian Stan played?

Sebastian Stan is perhaps best known by the general public for the part of Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as his role as Tommy Lee in the Hulu series Pam & Tommy and as that of Jeff Gillooly in 2017s I, Tonya.

In terms of television roles, Stan played Carter Baizen in Gossip Girl, the Mad Hatter in Once Upon a Time, T.J. Hammond in Political Animals, and more. He also played himself in the Peacock series Bupkis earlier this year.

The post The Apprentice: Sebastian Stan to Play Donald Trump in Upcoming Movie appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Im really glad we got it made for Bill, declares Cynthia Erivo about producing, starring in and writing an original song for the indie drama Drift. The late Bill Paxton was originally slated to direct, before he unexpectedly passed away in 2017. For our recent webchat she adds, I think its a really wonderful thing that we were able to do something that was one of Bills last wishes. Thats a really special thing. Im really proud of the fact that we put all the work we could possibly have put into this to have it be a real thing, to have it be real, to have it be realized, because it wasnt easy. We worked really hard. I feel like its a really special piece. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

SEE 2024 Oscars battle for Best Original Song

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Drift is Singaporean filmmaker Anthony Chens first English-language feature, written by Susanne Farrell and Alexander Maksik and based on Maksiks 2013 novel A Marker To Measure Drift. The French, British and Greek co-production stars two-time Oscar nominee and Tony, Emmy and Grammy winner Erivo as reclusive and traumatized West African refugee Jacqueline, who is struggling to survive on a sundrenched Greek island after being forced to flee war-torn Liberia. As Jacqueline reckons with her traumatic past, she develops a close friendship with Callie (Alia Shawkat), an American emigre working as a tour guide in Greece.

After Paxtons untimely death six years ago, the films backers, led by Oscar-winning producer Peter Spears (Nomadland), kept working to get the film made in his honor. Erivo, who was attached to star in the film from early on, was enlisted as a producer on the film alongside Spears Call Me By Your Name producing partners Emilie Georges and Naima Abed. Chen then also came on board to helm the project, which was shot on location in Greece in early 2022.

Erivo also sings an original song for the film, the emotional anthem It Would Be, which she co-wrote with jazz/R&B recording artist Laura Mvula. I knew automatically that if we were going to write a song for the end of this film, it was going to be with Laura, Erivo explains. I think Laura is extraordinary and I think she deeply understood the language of this piece, even without knowing what this piece was, she says. When I asked her if she would co-write with me, she said yes. And I sent her the film, she sent back an idea, I loved the idea, so we got into the studio, we sat, we wrote and we created the song. It was like kismet.

PREDICT the 2024 Oscar nominees

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

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The Coast Guard previously suspended its search for the three Georgia men about a week after they were reported missing in late October

GoFundMe Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow

The families of three fishermen who have been missing at sea for over a month have officially suspended their search.

Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow were reported missing after they did not return from their fishing trip off the coast of Georgia as scheduled on Oct. 18, according to a previous news release from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard previously suspended its search for the three Georgia men and their boat, the Carol Anne, about a week later. But family members vowed to continue the search for their loved ones.

On Tuesday, Tylers father, Chris Barlow, announced that the families agreed to suspend their search for the men as well, noting they exhausted every lead they had.

Related: At Least 1 Dead After U.S. Military Aircraft Crashes into Sea Near Japan

We are all so very proud of our boys, they united our community and beyond and have shown us what it truly means to love others," Chris wrote.

The Coast Guard said crews searched more than 94,000 square miles before the search for the missing fishermen was suspended in late October.

Afterward, Tylers mother Kimberly Jones shared a Facebook post that said she and other family members would not give up on looking for their loved ones.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Missing Fishermans Kayak Found Days After His Disappearance in Wisconsin

"With utmost respect we do not feel that a search and rescue mission ends until these three young men are found or any type of evidence," she wrote in the post.

On Nov. 19, a fish box and buoy balls belonging to the Carol Ann were found 16 miles off the coast of St. Augustine, according to an announcement from the United Cajun Navy, a non-profit group based in Florida.

A possible life raft was spotted that same afternoon, but according to a Facebook post from Tylers father, it was not found.

Related: Girl Dies, Man Still Missing After Both Were Swept Out to Sea Following 'Sneaker Wave' Warning

The families suspended their search Tuesday afternoon, 45 days after the fishermen left Brunswick, Ga., on the Carol Ann. In his statement, Chris said the families were grateful for everyone who lent a helping hand during their time of need.

We know this was a long and exhausting search, he said, adding, "We will never be able to express how grateful we truly are.

Though the search is currently over, Tyler's father asked people to keep a lookout when they are visiting beaches or boating for anything that may help us put the remaining pieces of this horrific puzzle together.

He also said the families will continue to live by their Wont Stop motto by pushing for legislative changes aimed at helping decrease the chances of a similar incident happening in the future.

Leading the search for Tyler, Dalton and Caleb has been the hardest thing we have ever done in our lives and something no parent should ever have to do, Chris wrote.

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COLOMBO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- About a million Sri Lankans are admitted to hospitals each year due to accidents, Minister of Health Ramesh Pathirana told parliament on Thursday.

He added that around 30 Sri Lankans die daily due to accidents, and 12,000 die annually due to road and domestic accidents.

Pathirana said non-communicable diseases are another major health challenge Sri Lanka will have to face in the future.

About 30 percent of people under 35 are suffering from high blood pressure, while 15 percent of the same age group is suffering from diabetes, he said.

Up to 10 percent of Sri Lankan children are suffering from obesity, the minister said. 
The King said he was 'very much all right' as he arrived in Dubai on Thursday

Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles meets with students at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Nov. 30.

King Charles revealed how hes feeling during a solo trip to Dubai days after the publication of Endgame.

On Thursday, the King kicked off a visit to the city in the United Arab Emirates for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, abbreviated as COP28. The trip began two days after the release of Omid Scobies book Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival. It has since been revealed that the Dutch translation of the book names the members of the royal family involved in a conversation that included a controversial comment about the skin color of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son Prince Archie, now 4, before he was born.

In separate statements to PEOPLE, which originally excerpted Endgame, Scobie and the Dutch publishers said the names were an error. Buckingham Palace had no comment.

Despite the current controversy, Charles, 75, was all smiles in Dubai on Thursday during a meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty King Charles and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a bilateral meeting on Nov. 30 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Related: Kate Middleton and Prince William Host Swedish Royals at Windsor Castle amid Royal Book Controversy

Asked how he was, His Majesty said: Im all right very much, just about, Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English wrote on X . Having had a rather ancient birthday recently recovering from the shock of that! 

The Kings self-deprecating comment was in reference to his milestone birthday, as he turned 75 on Nov. 14. The British sovereigns visit to Dubai marks his first solo trip since his birthday. He is set to deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of COP28 on Friday.

Charles had a busy itinerary on Thursday with a series of engagements, including opening the Dubai campus of Heriot-Watt University, attending a Commonwealth and Nature reception and launching the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum.

Chris Jackson/Getty King Charles meets members of the public after a visit at the Heriot-Watt University on Nov. 30.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Endgame is being temporarily pulled from shelves.

The Dutch translation of the book, which was released Tuesday and chronicles the breakdown of the royal family and the weakening of the modern monarchy, reportedly names who made a controversial comment about the skin color of Harry and Meghans child before he arrived.

It's unclear if the Dutch translation is incorrect or if the translation has been based on an earlier draft. (The book's English version does not name the family members.)

Samir Hussein/WireImage Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Invictus Games in Germany in September.

Related: Prince William Was 'Close' to Not Inviting Prince Harry to Windsor Walkabout: 'It Was All Led by' King Charles

In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Scobie says, "Having only written and edited the English version of Endgame, I can only comment on that manuscript  which does not name the two individuals who took part in the conversation. Im happy to hear that the error in the translation of the Dutch edition is being fixed."

The Dutch publishers call it an "error" and say in a statement to PEOPLE, "The rectified edition of Eindstrijd by Omid Scobie will be in bookstores on Friday 8 December. Xander Uitgevers temporarily removed the book from sale, due to an error that occurred in the Dutch edition."

Prince Harry 39, and Meghan, 42, are parents to Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet, 2.

In the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan said there were "concerns and conversations about how dark [Archie's] skin might be when he's born." When Oprah asked who made that comment, Meghan declined to answer, saying the revelation would be too damaging.

Joshua Sammer/Getty Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Invictus Games.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Prince Harry added, "That conversation I'm never going to share. It was awkward. I was a bit shocked."

The following day, Oprah clarified that Harry's grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, were not the ones to make the comments.

"He did not share the identity with me," Oprah said. "But he wanted to make sure that I knew, and if I had an opportunity to share it, that it was not his grandmother, nor his grandfather that were part of those conversations. ... He did not tell me who were a part of those conversations. As you could see I tried to get that answer, on-camera and off."

While promoting his memoir Spare in an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby that aired in January, the Duke of Sussex denied accusing his family of racism.

Harry said he wouldn't describe the incident as racist, "not having lived within that family."

"The difference between racism and unconscious bias...the two things are different," Harry said.



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(Illustration by Elana Marie / For De Los; Photos by Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times and John Lamparski / FilmMagic)

Mexican actor Melissa Barrera was credited with revitalizing the "Scream" horror franchise before she was suddenly dropped from her lead role in the upcoming seventh installment. Fans speculated that her firing had something to do with her vocal support for Palestinians on social media, and last week, they were given an answer.

Spyglass Media Group, the production company behind the campy films, said in an official statement to Variety that Barrera had been let go for material posted to her social media that they characterized as antisemitic.

Barreras firing is a sad reminder of how historically marginalized groups, like Latinas, are forced to walk a tightrope when advocating for social causes, and of how fragile representation is in Hollywood.

According to Variety, Spyglass took issue with Barrera resharing a post accusing Israel of genocide and ethnic cleansing, as well as a Jewish Currents article about the distortion of the Holocaust to bolster the Israeli arms industry. It should be mentioned that the article was written by Raz Segal, a respected Israeli historian who has written multiple books about the Holocaust. A cursory glance at his body of work shows his dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust. He has, for example, written on Bulgaria whitewashing its role in the atrocity.

Read more: I'm politically neutral as a journalist. Should I be neutral as a Mexican?

But Barrera wasnt afforded the luxury of nuance. There was no slap on the wrist. Retribution was swift.

We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech, a Spyglass spokesperson said in the company's statement to Variety. Again, the Holocaust distortion in question can be attributed to an Israeli scholar.

For her part, Barrera has held her ground, condemning antisemitism while reaffirming her solidarity with Palestinians.

I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me, she wrote on Instagram.

Read more: How a DACA recipient and former street vendor landed his first lead movie role

Antisemitism is a real, pernicious evil. I recall the 2018 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, which is only the visible tip of an issue thats deeply entrenched in our country. But Barrera being smeared as antisemitic and unceremoniously dropped from a leading movie role highlights a persistent double standard in Hollywood and beyond.

Marginalized individuals, when expressing their support for a cause, must assuage the anxiety of their peers before speaking up. They must promise that they arent a threat, must be exceptionally articulate, must cover all their bases, and even when all these conditions are meticulously met, punishment can come anyway.

Their peers, meanwhile, are given the freedom of flagrance: "Stranger Things" star Noah Schnapp posted a video with friends laughing and sharing Zionism Is Sexy and Hamas Is ISIS stickers. Schnapp has not faced any professional repercussions for making light of the crisis. It was announced Tuesday that hed been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Barrera, meanwhile, has been censored for promoting views shared by Israeli intellectuals.

While defending herself, Barrera has referenced her roots, saying that as a Latina and a Mexicana, she feels its her responsibility to speak up. I can relate. I remember the helplessness I experienced when watching the Trump administration roll out its zero-tolerance border policy that separated hundreds of families in 2017. I remember watching Abolish ICE and kids in cages become mere catchphrases that more or less died out after Trump left office. I remember how it became far less popular to continue criticizing such practices after Joe Biden took office.

Read more: Actress Jenna Ortega will not return for 'Scream VII'

The situations are very different, but I experience a similar helplessness today, watching in horror and heartbreak images of dead and dying children being pulled from rubble. Recently, three Palestinian college students, Kinnan Abdalhamid, Tahseen Ali Ahmad and Hisham Awartani, were shot while walking in Burlington, Vt. Its currently being investigated as a hate crime. Awartanis mother fears her son may never walk again.

Its an incredibly human response to speak up in light of such profound suffering, and it saddens me that we are punishing people calling for a ceasefire. Even if one believes Israels actions are justified, how can people be expected to stomach such miserable scenes in silence? Especially when, as is the case for both Barrera and myself, these actions are being carried out in our names and on our dime?

Its worth noting that Barreras sentiments roughly reflect U.S. progressives shifting views. In 2023, before the brutal Oct. 7 attack, Democrats expressed rising sympathy with Palestinians. But even if this werent the case, we must allow for dissent, must allow people to express their concern and their sympathies without fear of being censored or blacklisted. Of course, we should do so without feeding into hateful tropes about historically oppressed groups, but we should also recognize when fear of repercussion is being weaponized to silence people.

I was surprised to see that, within U.S. Latino media, there hasnt been a greater uproar over the firing of one of our brightest new stars from a popular horror franchise. Especially considering that the lack of Latinas in Hollywood is a glaring issue that has been spoken about at length, including by me.

Read more: The incredible story behind the life, and home, of one of Californias Latina pioneers

As an artist and writer, I have a responsibility, like Barrera, to uplift my community and to reckon with the issues of our day. As Latino creatives in the U.S. who have been blessed with a platform, we cannot simply be an apparatus that only functions to clap like seals when offered scraps of representation and then is silent when its snatched away at the slightest provocation.

Barreras firing reiterates something we already knew  that representation is conditional and fragile. If we dont say anything about it, then we fail to do our jobs, fail to adhere to the values we claim to be working toward and abdicate our might.

I understand the fear and the heartbreak that has affected so many of us lately. Ive watched my Jewish friends take to the streets to call for peace, and have watched my Palestinian friends trying desperately to get in touch with loved ones. Its been nightmarish, and I say that as someone with a great degree of distance between myself and Gaza, as someone living in relative comfort. But those of us who live in that comfort have an even greater impetus to voice our concerns.

My hope is that we can find a way to move forward with care and solidarity for one another, that we can learn from each other, and that we can extend the grace that every human being deserves when navigating times of crisis and death, the times we live in now.

Read more: Latino history shouldn't be a blame game or a celebration. It's about reckoning with reality

I also hope that we can be brave and that we can speak up when we feel something isnt right. We might do so imperfectly. I certainly will. For me, Melissa Barrera exhibits that bravery, navigating her advocacy in a way that is firm and kind, willing to listen and clarify, but not budging from her commitment to her values.

I wish Spyglass had given her that same courtesy.

JP Brammer is a columnist, author, illustrator and content creator based in Brooklyn. He is the author of Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons, based on his successful advice column. He has written for outlets including the Guardian, NBC News and the Washington Post. He writes a weekly column for De Los.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Shortly after shooting his 2015 film The Lobster, director Yorgos Lanthimos approached his producing partners Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe about another project he was interested in  Poor Things, based on the novel of the same name by Alasdair Gray. Having made a film with him and having seen all of his previous work, we were very committed to him as a filmmaker, Guiney tells Gold Derby. The book Poor Things sounded extraordinary. Without really knowing how we would pull it off, we signed up to think about getting it made. Watch our exclusive video interview with Guiney and Lowe above.

Oscar winner Emma Stone stars as Bella Baxter in the film, a young woman brought back to life by the brilliant and unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe). The actress also signed up as a producer early on, after discussing the project with Lanthimos on the set of The Favourite. I dont know whether he was pitching it to her or just telling her what he was up to, but either way she completely responded to the idea, says Guiney. Emma is all-in in every possible way. Its certainly the most complicated film weve all made together with Yorgos. It just made sense to include her as a producer. It was a film that really benefited from her input.

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SEE Willem Dafoe (Poor Things) reveals how his father influenced his portrayal of Dr. Godwin Baxter: My worlds are coming together

The film set was constructed across massive sound stages in Budapest, Hungary, with careful consideration given to every element of the production. Producing films is a bit like childbirth, you tend to forget the painful bits once your baby is born, explains Lowe. One of the really stressful things was managing COVID. This was far and away the most ambitious film wed ever been involved in. For all of us it was a new experience. When you look at the crafts work, they all did that during COVID. Everyone was wearing masks, we were dealing with lockdowns when we arrived in Budapest and it was really challenging. Its such a joyful film, but the environment was tough.

Guiney is a two-time Oscar nominated producer for Room (2016) and The Favourite (2019). Lowe is a two-time BAFTA nominee for producing the 2021 mini-series Normal People and the 2023 film The Wonder.

PREDICT the 2024 Oscar nominees

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

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The post Scott Kempner, Founding Member of The Dictators and The Del-Lords, Dies at 69 appeared first on Consequence.

Scott Top Ten Kempner, a founding member of influential bands The Dictators and The Del-Lords, has passed away at the age of 69. The veteran musician had been battling early onset dementia, and had been living at a Connecticut nursing home at the time of his passing.

As the original and longstanding rhythm guitarist of The Dictators, Kempner was a punk-rock pioneer. The New York City band formed in 1972 and released their proto-punk debut album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! in 1975, a year before the Ramones fully ushered in punk rock with their self-titled debut.

Kempner remained with The Dictators through nearly all their incarnations, playing with them up until 2021, when his health struggles forced him to leave the band. He appeared on all four of their albums, which also included Manifest Destiny (1977), Bloodbrothers (1978), and D.F.F.D. (2001).

In 1982, after The Dictators initial breakup, Kempner formed The Del-Lords, who were one of the originators of urban roots rock and Americana music, combining 60s garage rock with country and blues. Overall, the band released five studio albums.

Additionally, Kempner played in the bands The Brandos and Little Kings, the latter of which was fronted by doo-wop legend Dion DiMucci.

A number of Kempners bandmates and colleagues have paid tribute to him in the wake of his passing.

Fellow Dictators founder Andy Shernoff stated, Scott was one of the greats, the best buddy a boy could ever want. We bonded over rock n roll and we laughed about everything. We had a million inside jokes that nobody understood. I watched him grow from a guy running his SG guitar through his home stereo in his bedroom to playing Marshall amps cranked on stages around the world. His songs and music will speak for themselves. His glorious memory will remain with me forever and I will cherish it.

Del-Lords bandmate Eric Ambel remarked, Scott used his Dictators experience as the heart of that band to inform the songwriting he did for the Del-Lords. His songs werent solo songs adapted by the band to play, they were written specifically for the Del-Lords and informed by our lives together and thats just a part of what made Scott and his songs so unique.

And the aforementioned Dion wrote, Scott Kempner was the quintessential rocker, a free abandoned guitar player, a superb arranger, a prolific songwriter, with the great sense of rhythm. I had the adventure of a lifetime playing with him in our band Little Kings. But most of all he is a dear friend and brother whom I love and will truly miss. Eternal rest my friend.

Our condolences go out to Scott Kempners family, friends, and bandmates during this difficult time. See him performing with The Dictators and The Del-Lords in the clips below.

Scott Kempner, Founding Member of The Dictators and The Del-Lords, Dies at 69

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Lonely Hearts, the highly-anticipated third feature from Brazils Berlinale-winner Caru Alves de Souza (My Name Is Baghdad), named among 10 Next Gen Talents to Track from the country by Variety in February, and a pair of additional homecoming narratives from burgeoning creatives, Uruguayan director Paula BotanasThe Burned Women and Dora Gomezs Blanca out of Paraguay, are among the titles selected for Ventana Surs 2023 Punto Genero pitching sessions.

Histories unearthed and intimate interpersonal relationships are dominant themes in the remaining selections with films like Argentina-Spain co-production Brucher. Unaudited Botanical Chronicle, from Mariana Guzzante and Camila Menendez,Natalia Solorzano title She Was Covered In Sequins and Marta Maria Borrass The Passengers For The Last Trip.

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This year, the juries wanted the projects to represent Latin America. We selected eight projects from Latin America, excluding the four projects from Argentina, and the juries decided on one project per country, Franco Rovelli, manager of Punto Genero, told Variety.

From there, they decided on the quality of the way the stories were told by the directors and producers. Some countries dont have a selected project because we couldnt choose more to be part of Punto Genero, such as Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador. It was the most difficult selection that Punto Genero had, he added.

Popular themes that tackle adolescence and social justice also figure in the selections, albeit less hardily this round, with Mar Del Beach by Argentine director Milagros Aquilia and Mama Lulu, from Mar Rivera, a co-production between Mexico, Honduras and the U.S., respectively.

Although its not visible in the official selection, we saw a coming-of-age trend, many stories that involved teenagers as the main character, in their way to discover their identity or sexuality, Rovelli stated.

Also, documentaries are very important for the industry in this part of the world, but we saw them less than last year, 30 from this year, in comparison to the 45 documentaries registered on our call in 2022, proving that people want to make stories from zero, taking some of their life experience and turning it into a new story with its own world, he added.

Punto Genero, which teams Genero DAC (Argentine Film Directors) and Accion de Mujeres del Cine, continues to be a space that promotes the rightfully rising voices of women and non-binary Latin American cineastes, curating their developing stories and readying them for the broader market. Production tutoring workshop given by APIMA (Association of Independent Producers of Audiovisual Media) and distribution and exhibition tutoring workshop given by Genero DAC (Argentinian Cinema Directors) figure into this years incentives.

Ventana Sur gave us the opportunity in 2020. Year after year, in an artistic and statistical way, the section keeps growing, because Punto Genero is a space not for genres, but for stories to tell, Rovelli stated.

A further rundown of the selected titles:

Where We Belong (Obeida Benavides, Colombia)

A Black mother flees her wartorn hometown. After the tragic death of her son, she and her daughter go on to navigate their new community as a sage palenquera protects the young woman from her mothers abuse, their move threatening to derail a dream. A tribute to the refugee communities that drove the growth of Colombias Caribbean cities in the 1950s, relayed Benavides.

Leonor Manotas Garcia at Primera Persona produces alongside Benavides, an award winning playwright and audiovisual multihyphenate.

Blanca (Dora Gomez, Paraguay)

With less than a month to make up for her long standing absence, Blanca attempts to win over the daughter she abandoned at birth by helping organize her quinceanera. In essence, its about returning home and the uncertainties of the encounter of two strangers: mother and daughter, Gomez stated.

Gomez is a founding member of the Paraguayan Scriptwriters Association KUATIA and a member of the JOPOI womens audiovisual collective. The project is produced by Sady Barrios Produccion & Comunicacion and Sembradora Cine.

Brucher. Unaudited Botanical Chronicle (Mariana Guzzante and Camila Menendez, Argentina, Spain)

A cold case involving German botanist Heinz Brucher is reopened by a journalist following the discovery of his body. Connections between the murdered scientist, his Nazi ties and the creation of a plant borne illness are unearthed in the investigation linked to the theft of the worlds largest seed bank.

Produced by Silvana Laura Diaz Coppoletta of Curandero Producciones, the project won the Development Award at 2022s Mirada Oeste Festival and was selected for the 2023 Bolivia Lab Laboratory.

Brucher. Cronica Botanica Inaudita

Holy New Scriptures (Noelia Crispin, Peru)

A young virgin realizes shes immaculately conceived and through drama, humor and fantasy, the story serves as a rewriting of the most famous story of all time, where God is now a woman, Crispin related.

Crispins prior title Niveo was awarded in the National Short Film Contest of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture. The film is produced by Claudia Chavez at Amazona Producciones, who produced Thais Drassinower short The Catch, which premiered at Tribeca.

Lonely Hearts (Caru Alves de Souza, Brazil, France)

Julieta heads to Sao Paulo to settle her fathers will and discovers hes left the fate of the familys porn theater in her hands. Shes tasked with battling gentrification to help restore its fabled glory. A unique and challenging film for all types of audiences, a comfortable journey to warm hearts, Alves De Souza and producer Rafaella Costa commented.

The project is produced by Costa and Fernanda Denuzzo at Manjericao Filmes alongside French outfit Parati Films.

She Was Covered In Sequins (Natalia Solorzano, Costa Rica)

The life of a popular Costa Rican fortune teller Soralla is reconstructed by family, actors and the public as they sift through faded memories to reveal her dark, clandestine past. The film explores the consequences of women challenging norms. Boldness, for women, has a price to pay, Solorzano admitted.

ECAM alum Mariana Murillo Quesada, founder of Sputnik Films (El sonido de las cosas), produces the project directed by Solorzano (La Bohemia), who was backed by the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund in 2021.

She Was Covered In Sequins

Behind Her Back (Julia Elena Zarate and Julieta Ledesma, Argentina)

The story of Argentine director Maria Mistoni de Celestini s lost film My Right, the first feminist silent title commercially released in the country. The creators tackle the filmmakers ongoing persecution and the uncertain fate of similar projects in todays cinematic landscape.

The film is produced by Elena Zarate, who serves as president of the Mujeres Audiovisuales Association (MUA) alongside Ledesma, who acts as vice president in tandem with her role of professor at the University of Buenos Aires.

The Burned Women (Paula Botana, Uruguay)

20 years after being persecuted and banished from her hometown for her sexuality, Marina returns to the Uruguayan-Brazilian border for carnival festivities. There, she and her daughter reconnect and try to strengthen familial bonds as Marina works through past traumas in a film thats main theme is the stigmatization of female sexuality, according to Botana.

Belen Ballesteros, head of production on the 2023 Pablo Solarz Berlinale title Desperte con un sueno, produces via Bitacora Cine.

The Burned Women

Passengers for the Last Trip (Marta Maria Borras, Cuba, Colombia, France)

A young single mother on the brink impersonates the daughter of an elderly neighbor living with Alzheimers in order to improve her circumstances. Its a little bit my story, my mothers story and my grandmothers, who built the building where they live with their own hands, said Borras.

The film, which won the Cuban Film Development Funds production stipend, is produced by Borras alongside Dany Celeiro, co-produced by Galaxia 311 and Temps Noir.

Mom Lulu (Mar Rivera, Mexico, United States, Honduras)

In Mexico City, devoted mother Lulu fights for justice after the murder of her beloved son. She becomes a resounding voice, barking up the system to honor his memory and ensure the crime against him doesnt fade into obscurity while facing, a pain so huge that there isnt even a word in the dictionary that can explain its nature, according to creators.

Nohely Barahona, who has worked on projects for HBO and Netflix, produces alongside Rivera.

Mar del Beach (Milagros Aquilia, Argentina)

A coming-of-age film set in the Argentine beachside community of Mar del Plata. Pilar and Camila meet during the Bikini Open and experience their first love amidst a society that largely prohibits it, Aquilia noting: Carrying out this project is questioning what I couldnt question, shouting something that I couldnt even say before.

Carolina Cesario produced the project directed by Aquilia, who worked as the director of photography on Andres Duprat (Official Competition) short Senales que inspiran.

Mar Del Beach

Orgasms, Sex and All That (Teresa Maria Saporiti, Argentina)

Saporiti, whose prior credits include documentaries Nelly Omar Cantora Nacional, and Sinfonia en Abril as well as fiction title Bahia Blanca, turns a lens internal as she reflects on the social mandates that restrict her adult life, juxtaposing her childish and playful past with her oppressed present. A narrative supported by song that will provide an emotional counter.

The project is produced by Maria Alejandra Guzzo of arthouse production company Cereza Cine.

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Netflixs three-part documentary Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife chronicles the life, lies, and botched surgeries of Dr. Paolo Macchiarini. The docuseries also explores how his ex-fiancee, Benita Alexander, exposed him.

Described as the biggest conman in medical history, Macchiarini performed eight experimental transplants between 2011 and 2014. However, seven of these patients died after their operations, reported Esquire. The Swiss-Italian surgeon, once known as a pioneer of stem cell medicine, was later accused of lying about his medical research.

Reportedly, in June 2022, a Swedish court convicted Macchiarini of causing bodily harm to a patient. He received a suspended sentence. The court later found him guilty of gross assault charges, increasing his sentence to two years and six months. Shortly after, his attorneys expressed their intention to appeal the verdict. However, it remains unclear when the disgraced surgeon will have to report to prison, per Bustle.

Dr. Paolo Macchiarini Now: What did the disgraced surgeon do & is he in prison?

According to Esquire, Dr. Paolo Macchiarini was once considered a front-runner in stem cell medicine. In 2011, the surgeon even made international headlines for performing the worlds first-ever stem cell windpipe transplant in Sweden. As part of the landmark surgery, he transplanted a synthetic organ by giving a man a windpipe that was grown in a laboratory, with the graft supported by the patients own stem cells.

In total, Macchiarini performed eight such experimental transplants between 2011 and 2014. Three of these were at Swedens Karolinska Institute in 2011 and 2012 while the remaining five were in Russia. However, his miraculous work went downhill when seven of these patients, including the three from Sweden, died after their operations.

Bustle claimed that the renowned surgeon had been hiding the truths about the procedures, which were not working. Some of his colleagues even accused him of lying about his research and moving ahead with the complex procedure despite knowing the risks. The Karolinska Institute fired him in March 2016 for breaching medical ethics. He faced accusations that included falsifying his resume and misrepresenting his work.

Dr. Paolo Macchiarini (Photo Credit: MAGNUS ANDERSSON | TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images)

The outlet reported that in 2017, Swedish prosecutors charged Macchiarini with manslaughter in connection with the three patients deaths. They later dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence to prove manslaughter, and reopened the case in 2020. This time, they charged him with aggravated assault and severe bodily harm. Prior to this, an Italian court had sentenced the accused to 16 months in prison for abuse of office and forging documents. But the Supreme Court acquitted him of all charges not long after.

Per the same Bustle report, in June 2022, Swedens Solna District Court handed him a suspended sentence on the severe bodily harm count. This conditional sentence did not require him to serve prison time. A year later, the Svea Court of Appeal convicted him on three counts of gross assault, proving that he acted with criminal intent. The court stated that the patients could have lived for a not insignificant amount of time without the interventions. Following this, a panel sentenced him to two years and six months in prison.

The Swedish Supreme Court upheld the verdict as well as the two-and-a-half-year sentence. However, the disgraced surgeon has not yet reported to prison.

Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife is now available to stream on Netflix.

The post Where Is Dr. Paolo Macchiarini Now? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
It's the first record fish of its kind ever reported in the Old North State.

A Massachusetts man was casting live menhaden off the coast of North Carolina on November 8 when he hooked into a fish so rare that state wildlife officials had to create a new record category for his catch. Matt Frattasio caught the 26-pound, 15.6-ounce Almaco jack while fishing in 80-feet of water near Morehead City.

According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Frattasio's fish was weighed and identified by fisheries staff at the Morehead City office of the Division of Marine Fisheries Headquarters later that day. It measured 36.4 inches from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail and had a 26-inch girth.

Frattasio told Fox News Digital that he'd been catching albacore all morning while fishing inshore with Captain Terry Nugent of Riptide Charters. But when Nugent motored out to deeper watersa spot known locally as the "D wreck"Frattasio and the rest of the crew started hooking fish like crazy.

Frattasio called it the best day of fishing he's ever experience in his 40-plus year angling career. The action was so fierce, the angler told Fox News, that he might have released the big Alamaco without ever knowing it was a state record. Luckily, Captain Nugent advised him otherwise.

While the NCDEQ has never logged a benchmark for the rarely-caught species, until now, a few neighboring states had standing records at the time of Frattasio's catch. Georgia's state record Almaco is just 7 pounds, 7 ounces, the NCDEQ said in a recent press release , and Florida's largest Almaco jack weighed in at 35 pounds, 9 ounces. The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record was caught in Japan in 2020. It weighed 136 pounds.

Read Next: California Angler Breaks 20-Year-Old State Record with 520-Pound Swordfish

A tropical species that wanders into more temperate waters from time to time, the Almaco jack is a type of amberjack. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the fish is wide-ranging in off-shore waters, but the adults tend to congregate on the ocean floor where they aren't commonly caught. Their bodies are more compressed than banded rudderfish or greater amberjacks (two other amberjacks species), and they can be dark in color. On average, Almacos weigh about 10 pounds and tape out at roughly 35 inches.
SHENZHEN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Stefan Schweitzer, a German official, lauded recently China's automotive industry, specifically highlighting its global leadership in integrating electric vehicles with mobile phones.

As the director of the Saarland Economic Development Board in Germany, Schweitzer made the remarks during his visits to Chinese new-energy vehicle companies in October.

With increasing collaborations between China and Germany in the new energy vehicles (NEVs) sector, both countries are fostering deep interaction and leveraging green development to attain mutual benefits and achieve win-win outcomes in the industry.

German luxury carmaker Audi AG has kept plowing money into China. Cooperating with China's leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd., the Audi FAW NEV project, with an investment of over 30 billion yuan (about 4.2 billion U.S. dollars), broke ground in June 2022 in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun.

This is Audi's first production base for purely electric vehicles in China and is expected to start operation at the end of 2024, with a planned annual production capacity of around 150,000 vehicles.

As a global leader in power systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), Infineon Technologies AG has seen Greater China account for 32 percent of its global revenue in the fiscal year 2023.

"The coming decade represents a period of 'double-wheel-drive' development, whereby decarbonization and digitalization are two critical drivers," said David Poon, senior vice president of Infineon Technologies AG and president of Infineon Technologies Greater China.

"Through our 'integrated' innovation ecosystem, we hope to partner with local partners in the Greater China region to jointly support the sustainable development of society," Poon said.

Also, the expansion of Chinese enterprises in Germany has gained momentum, fostering a mutually beneficial "two-way rush."

China's high-tech company SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. headquartered in the city of Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, is set to establish a European battery module processing and assembly plant in Saarland, Germany, with an approximate investment of 2 billion euros (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars). Additionally, BYD has entered a partnership with SIXT, a German car rental company, committing to the procurement of 100,000 vehicles over the next six years.

"China leads the world in electric vehicles and is growing very fast globally. Adapting swiftly to China's leading position and its rapid global growth requires attention for all markets in the world," said Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd. 
Its impossible to bring all the whisky lovers of the world to Scotland to visit The Balvenie distillery, located in a quiet part of Dufftown by the River Spey. But The Balvenie has done the next best thing: Its bringing the distillery and its Malt Masters stories to the world, via global travel retail. The Balvenie Sixty installation at the Incheon airport in South Korea marks the debut of an immersive experience that gives you a taste of its heritage with a selection of rare whiskies; an audio tour narrated by Global Brand Ambassador Charles Metcalfe and Korean ambassador Mijung Kim, highlighting the last six decades of The Balvenies journey; and even a soundscape of actual audio from the distillery. With global travel recovering strongly from the fallout of the global pandemic, The Balvenie is finding new and innovative ways to make travel both novel and enjoyable.

At the center of The Balvenie Sixty installation is a single whisky, and a single man: David C. Stewart, MBE, the Honorary Ambassador and former Malt Master of The Balvenie, who in 2022 celebrated six decades with the venerable brand. The whisky is The Balvenie Sixty, bottled from a single cask that was laid down the year Stewart started working at the distillery and selected by both Stewart and his successor, Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. A mere 71 bottles of this precious and historic spirit have been released, and the Incheon installment is one of the few places where one of them can be seen in person.

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David C. Stewart

130 Years, Only 5 Malt Masters

The Balvenies history stretches back more than 130 years. In 1892, William S. Grantwhose first distillery, Glenfiddich, had been operating on an adjoining plot of land for several yearsbuilt The Balvenie, named for the crumbling castle adjacent to it. Grant didnt want the whisky to be a clone of what he was making at the Glenfiddich, so he outfitted The Balvenie with different shaped stills and its own malting floor, giving the whisky its distinctive sweet, honeyed flavor that remains the same today.

From 1892 to 2022, only five people occupied the position of Malt Master in The Balvenie distillerys history, going back to Grant himself. Its the fifth malt master, Stewart, who is arguably more identified with The Balvenie brand and range than any other individual. Stewart ascended to the position in 1974 after joining the distillery as a whisky stocks clerk a dozen years earlier. I feel very proud, he says, to be part of the lineage of Master Blenders that goes from Hamish Robertson to Gordon Ross, all the way back to John Grant and William Grant. It was Stewarts responsibility to maintain the traditions and standards that The Balvenie had embodied since 1892, while at the same time leaving his own mark. And the mark he left just happened to change the course of whisky history.

Something Would Happen, Something Different

In the world of whisky, Stewarts importance cant be overestimated. Today, the art of double maturationaging a whisky in one type of cask before transferring it to another type of cask for finishingis so common that its unremarkable. But of course, someone had to come up with the idea first, and that someone was Stewart, who in 1983 created The Balvenie Classic. At the time, he recalls, I had no idea if it was going to work. I just knew if we moved whisky from American oak barrels into Spanish oak sherry casks, something would happen, something different. Indeed, it can be argued that its the most influential and important whisky of the last 50 yearsa neat dividing line between before and after.

Of course, Stewarts six decades and counting with The Balvenie have produced many other landmark single malts. Some of them can be found at the Incheon airport installation, including an 18-year-old Pedro Ximenez sherry caskfinished expression available only at travel retail, aged bottlings ranging from 25 to 50 years old, and the legendary Balvenie Sixty.

Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie and David C. Stewart, MBE, the Honorary Ambassador and Former Malt Master of The Balvenie

Passing the Torch to The Balvenies Sixth Malt Master

In whisky, as with many other disciplines, a lifetimes worth of devotion means not working in a vacuum, but taking the knowledge and skills inherited from previous generations and passing them like a baton to the next. Stewart spent much of his career as a malt master, shepherding to maturity whiskies laid down by his predecessor, Hamish Robertson. And Stewart, in turn, has laid down casks that wont be bottled for many years and decades. His handpicked successor, McKechnie, was only 26 years old when she started working alongside Stewart as his apprentice in 2018. In 2022, she took her place as The Balvenies new malt master. Her job involves everything from nosing whiskies (to build up her knowledge for creating both classic and new blends) to helping select casks for some of The Balvenies oldest and rarest bottlings. As McKechnie says, We also have a few innovations up our sleeve that are coming to light and Im looking forward to releasing those in a few years time.

A Capstone To A Singular Legacy

If six decades of honing Stewarts craft and pursuing excellence could be distilled and bottled, it would be The Balvenie Sixty, a whisky laid down in 1962his first year with The Balvenie. The 71 bottles of this extraordinary whisky come from a single European hogshead cask, selected together by Stewart and McKechnie. Six decades of aging has imparted an intense oak and leather nose, balanced out by sweet floral aromas, layered with oak and rich toffee on the palate. The packaging does the liquid justice, with a five-layered tube casing emblazoned with quotations from Stewart on each layer. The sixth layer is the bottle itself, with a quote from McKechnie representing future generations of The Balvenie. But much as Stewart has a right to look back on his long and fruitful career, hed rather practice his craft than be celebrated for it. I dont really, honestly, think about that sort of thing too much, he says. Some people say, Oh David did this, and David did that, but I find it a little bit embarrassing.

Its one thing to read about The Balvenies storied history, but its another thing to see it in person. The Balvenie Sixty pop-up location at the Incheon airport, which will be open through January 18, 2024, is part repository of the brands history and part luxury whisky boutique. In addition to the virtual multimedia tour of the brands history, youll find the whisky itselfrare and limited-edition Balvenie bottlings, many exclusive to global travel retail, along with detailed information about each one. The visually stunning gallery/shop shows that the ethos and atmosphere of this legendary distillery can be transplanted from Speyside to far-flung locales around the world. To learn more about The Balvenie Sixty, as well as David Stewart, Kelsey McKechnie, and the 130-year history of The Balvenie, visit the brands website: thebalvenie.com. And to get a taste of what youll experience at the Balvenie Sixty Incheon installation, click here.

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Warning: This post contains mentions of suicide, abuse, and murder.

First responders have one of the toughest and most important jobs out there. They've saved countless lives while being put through unimaginable situations, and they deserve way more credit for the hard work they do day in and day out.

Fangxianuo / Getty Images

So, we recently asked EMTs, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers of the BuzzFeed Community to share their wildest experiences while on the job. Heres what they had to say:

Note: Some responses were pulled from this Reddit thread by u/WhimsicalxxButcher and this thread by u/ChristPuncher79.

1."I'm a 911 operator. I received a call at 3 a.m. from a woman who was home alone. She told me about a week earlier that a vehicle parked in her driveway and a man came to the door saying that he had run out of fuel, despite the fact the vehicle was idling. She had told him to leave, and he did. Now, the same vehicle had shown up in the middle of the night. As we were talking the vehicle drove away. I told her to check all of her windows and doors. All of a sudden, she gasped and every hair on my body stood up. She yelled, 'Oh my god, there are hand prints on every window!!!'"

"Turns out, whoever it was had circled the house peeping in. I still get the willies whenever I think about it."

41, Ohio

Ballyscanlon / Getty Images

2."My first DRT (demand-responsive transit). Motorcycle vs. truck. I arrived to find the biker about 30 feet from the bike, his shoes scattered about 20 feet away in different places. He had jeans, no shirt, or helmet. Smelled like a brewery. The truck driver was obviously upset, talking to the only police officer out on this dark road. As we got the stretcher and approached the body, someone came down the road to investigate. They ran back inside. Suddenly, multiple drunk, shoeless people began pouring out of nearby trailers, screaming about 'killing a motherf****r.' They came down the road like a nest of drunk hornets. The one cop stood there with his arm out toward them, bless his heart, trying to protect the truck driver."

"We didnt secure the body onto the stretcher or even get him in the bag on scene. We tossed him on there like a sack of potatoes and ran like hell. Last I saw, that one cop was standing in the road with his arm out while they all ran towards him."

Anonymous, North Carolina

Gorodenkoff / Getty Images / iStockphoto

3."In my 30s, I was an EMT in rural Arizona. One evening, I responded to an auto accident. The driver had been drinking and was quite drunk. We loaded him into the ambulance, and with lights and siren, we started the 15-mile trip to the nearest hospital. About halfway to the hospital, the patient decided that he wanted to go home. Despite my best efforts, he managed to unbuckle the straps holding him onto the stretcher, push past me, and unlock and open the back door of the ambulance. He was hanging halfway out of the ambulance as I wrapped my legs around the stretcher and grabbed onto his belt. I screamed at the top of my lungs for the driver to stop as I watched the highway speed past us. The driver finally heard me and stopped."

"We radioed the police who responded to our site; the officer convinced the patient to ride in the ambulance the rest of the way to the hospital. The ironic part was that when we unloaded the patient at the hospital, he refused to let the doctor examine him unless I stayed and held his hand. Needless to say, after this experience, I needed some clean underwear."

65, Arizona

Tempura / Getty Images

4."I went to pick up a guy who had wrecked a dirt bike into a ditch late night on a weekend. He was critically injured, lights and sirens transport indicated. My partner was finishing packaging him. I was administering morphine. My partner was about to get in the drivers seat and put the lights and sirens on when a state trooper appeared out of nowhere and jumped into the ambulance. He straddled the stretcher and started screaming at the patient, who was in bad shape and also on morphine. I told him we were trying to leave with the lights and sirens on. The cop was completely out of his mind, his face one inch from the kids face, threatening to look up his military commander and destroy his life because he wrecked a bike while drunk. My partner and I were completely helpless to stop this cop attacking our critically injured patient out in the woods in the middle of the night."

"We just had to wait until he was done threatening and verbally abusing the patient for no known reason. He was able to delay transport because no matter what they tell you in NIMS (National Incident Management System), in real life, the angry person with the gun is always the incident commander."

Anonymous, USA

Mark Hochleitner / Getty Images

5."When I was a 999 call handler, I had a woman call and say her mother-in-law had called her and said the caller's husband had 'done something stupid' and that was it. I knew in my gut it was something awful, but I had no way to upgrade the call. She was just around the corner from home, so I stayed on the line and heard as she discovered her husband had attempted to take his life. No CPR had taken place, so I had to try and talk this poor mother-in-law through CPR."

"It's really unheard of to hear the event or moment take place; we normally pick up just after it's happened. It was awful. He didn't make it."

30, UK

Kanok Sulaiman / Getty Images

6."I was a 911 dispatcher for four years. One night dispatching, I took a call from someone whose stepdad was drunk and chased them through the yard with a shotgun. I got the address, started officers, and while talking, the victim said he left his yard and was hiding behind a car in a driveway down the road. It was my sister's house, with my nephews inside. All I could think was if the stepdad found him and shot at him, the bullet would go right through the front of the house and kill them. Longest eight minutes of my life. I had to keep the caller calm and safe while panicking for my family."

"The stepdad was arrested for attempted murder. Trying to keep the poor kid hidden while wanting him to get away from the house was such a terrible choice to have to think about."

37, Michigan

Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images

7."Former 911 dispatcher. I have so many stories, but one call that has always stuck with me was a call from an elderly female. She suffered from dementia and had a caretaker, but she would call frequently due to confusion. She also wasnt always able to speak very well (Im not sure if that was from dementia or some other ailment). One day she called, and all she said was hello, but then, she must have set the phone down. Our policy was to send an officer out since she called 911, so I stayed on the line to see if she would come back on or if the caretaker might pick up. After about 2039 seconds, I hear her caretaker screaming obscenities at her, telling her to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'get with the f***ing program.'"

"I also heard him threaten to take her food away from her (I think she wasnt eating as quickly as he wanted?), and I swear I heard her say, 'Ow!' at one point. I documented everything in the call, but never found out the outcome other than there was an Adult Protective Services cross-report filed. It was so incredibly sad to hear how someone her family trusted to take care of her was treating her."

jalli

Goodboy Picture Company / Getty Images

8."I recently had an open line 911 call, where the person that called was the victim of a home invasion. He was smart enough to call 911 and hide the phone so we could hear everything that was going on. I heard him begging for someone to just take the money and leave, saying, 'Please don't kill me; I'm an old man...' And I heard another male voice in the background swearing, telling him he was going to shoot him in the face. It was the longest phone call of my life  I thought for sure I was going to hear this poor guy get murdered on the line. I was afraid to say anything because I didn't want the suspect to know or hear that the victim had called. Thankfully, our officers got there fairly quickly, surrounded the building, and caught the guy trying to go out a back window."

"He got arrested, and the old man survived with only minor injuries from being punched several times. Apparently, the suspect was super high and was a friend of a caretaker of the elderly person. The caretaker had mentioned the old man had money hidden in the house."

u/Punkerduckie

South_agency / Getty Images

9."I worked in an ambulance for 10 years as both an EMT and paramedic. I've been in dispatch for the past three years. I gotta say  it's a different animal. On the ambulance, when I arrived on an emergency scene, one of my priorities was controlling the scene, so I could do what I needed to do. I had lots of ways to do so and tailored it to the situation at hand. In dispatch, all I have is my voice to help control the situation. It's a different skill set for sure."

"One call that sticks with me is a woman called because a dog attacked and mauled her son. She had grabbed her son and jumped into their car in their driveway to escape the dog. It was still barking outside the vehicle. ... It was very tough to listen to her try and hold herself together while waiting for help to arrive. People don't call us on their best days and don't always like it when we start asking questions. We listen to them take their last breaths, console them after being raped, and tell them help is coming when they run out of their blood pressure meds and think their blood pressure is high. All in a day's work."

u/danbulance22

Juanmonino / Getty Images / iStockphoto

10."I was an EMT in New York for a small town volunteer ambulance corps for a few years and then an EMT in Massachusetts at college for a few years. I responded to a call at college on a Halloween night shift. Someone had found or seen this college-aged girl passed out in a bush. She was probably the drunkest I'd ever seen a (semi-)conscious person: she couldn't answer questions at all, couldn't keep her head/upper body up at all, and kept vomiting on herself. But what upset me the most was that this girl had probably been out with her friends and somewhere along the way, they just left her."

"I just couldn't wrap my head around the scenario where someone's friends would think that this was an okay condition to leave her in  at night, sh*t-faced drunk, in a place where she's lucky someone even saw her."

u/emthrowaway2

Jamie Garbutt / Getty Images

11."I also responded to a call that probably came in as 'male acting strangely' or 'mental distress' or 'unknown' or something. I got there, and there was a middle-aged, maybe slightly older couple and the man was having a stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack). He needed to go to the hospital, but he was fighting us. I had to restrain him (and this was no easy task I was in late high school at the time and this was an adult), while someone else put him on oxygen or tried to get him on the stretcher or something. As we're dealing with him  and everything's taking longer because we can't get him to cooperate and he's throwing off his oxygen mask and fighting us (physically) the whole way  we learn that: while he's not capable of answering our questions and is speaking to us frantically in another language (can't remember what it was), it turns out that he actually does speak English. He's even a doctor."

"It was terrifying to see that someone who, in their right mind, would know the danger of his situation, cooperate completely, and speak to us in English, but was incapable of doing any of those three things because of his condition."

u/emthrowaway2

Zeljkosantrac / Getty Images

12."Paramedic here. I can't pinpoint one specific 'creepy' call, but I have to agree that the calls for people who have already died can be especially creepy. I am very comfortable with death, but there have been a few times where I swear to god, I saw them twitch, and I almost lost it."

u/RewindTimeee

Sturti / Getty Images

13."EMT/firefighter here. In an ambulance, my patient would sit up and would ask, 'Who's that kid sitting there?' There was nobody there so I felt creeped out. Then, with the fire department, we got a note on our CAD (computer-aided dispatch) saying this guy was suicidal and was planning to ram any ambulance or engine while running from the cops. So, I was really nervous, thinking at any moment a car would hit us head-on."

u/K1ng_N3ptune

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14."When I was a new EMT, we went to one at this family's house; the husband woke up in the middle of the night with difficulty breathing. His vitals were all over the place, and he had an AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm). Lung sounds were rails, like all classic symptoms. The family was going to meet us at the hospital  he was alert and talking with us (although difficult) during the trip, and when he arrived, he went into cardiac arrest, and we were helping the nurses work on him."

"His family didn't get to say goodbye; it all happened so fast, they walked into the ER and saw everything. It was right before a holiday, too. I feel really bad for them"

u/dartini

Peakstock / Getty Images

And finally...

15."We did have one call where we picked up a patient who claimed they were being tracked by the US government. Of course, the nursing staff and everyone involved assume that it's just some kind of psych patient case. He spent time talking about documents that he previously had access to and how the government didn't want him to release the information to anyone. He yelled and screamed as we put him on the cot about being sane and that we were being brainwashed. As we loaded our patient into the rig, he said we'll be followed to the next facility. Jokingly, my partner asked what was going to follow us, to which he replied with 'a black Lincoln Town Car.' As we left, almost immediately there was a black town car behind us."

"It stayed behind us for the roughly 15-minute transport and only disappeared as we got within a few blocks of the new facility. Dropped the patient off, and all he had was a smug, I-told-you-so look on his face."

u/disturbdlurker

Wsfurlan / Getty Images

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-888-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.
The new route, which will launch on May 15, 2024, will mark the first time Hawaiian Airlines has flown non-stop from Salt Lake City to Honolulu.

Its about to get easier to escape from Salt Lake City to the gorgeous islands of Hawaii thanks to a new flight from Hawaiian Airlines set to launch next year.

The new route, which will launch on May 15, 2024, will mark the first time Hawaiian Airlines has flown non-stop from Salt Lake City to Honolulu, the airline shared with Travel + Leisure. The new route will be flown daily onboard a 189-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft.

"We know this new route will excite travelers in both Utah and Hawaii given our tourism and education ties, and shared Pacific Island communities, Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Peter Ingram said in a statement provided to T+L. We are eager to strengthen these relationships when we launch our service next summer."

Getty Images

When the new route launches, Hawaiian Airlines will fly to 16 different gateway cities in the continental United States.

The new flight will depart Honolulu at 6:50 p.m. each day and arrive in Salt Lake City at 5:15 a.m. the next day. The return flight will then depart Salt Lake City at 7 a.m. and arrive back in Hawaii at 9:55 a.m.

In addition to the new Utah flight, Hawaiian Airlines will expand its service from Sacramento by launching four new weekly flights from the California city to Lihue on the island of Kauai on May 24, as well as launching three new weekly flights to Kona starting on May 25.

Hawaiian Airlines was named the best domestic carrier by T+L readers in 2023, known for its reliable service, friendly staff, and top-notch onboard food. Each of the airlines Airbus A321neo aircraft feature 16 recliner seats in the premium cabin, 45 Extra Comfort premium economy seats, and 128 economy seats.

Passengers are also treated to complimentary island-inspired meals like kalua chicken quesadillas with lomi tomato and coconut cake.

The airline is currently in the process of installing high-speed Starlink internet on its A321neos, which will be offered for free to passengers when it is available early next year.

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A husky dog named Aaron has gone viral on social media because he barks in an Italian accent. In a TikTok video that has been viewed over 7 million times you can hear Aaron's owner speaking to the beautiful pup and him replying in what really does sound like he's trying to speak Italian.

Just watch this amazing and hilarious video.

The incredible video was uploaded by the TikTok account for @aaronthehusky_ and people are losing their minds over this dog. @Mimy comments, "The husky even sounds Italian as well!" @Kristi adds, "Sassy in ANY language!" @Author responds, "Absolutely adorable! He definitely has an accent!" @A7med hilariously adds, "He probably knows more Italian than me."

Related: Huskies' Complaints About Their Human Are Ridiculous Yet So Funny

@Ea makes a comment that is actually true with, "I just looked it up and apparently, dogs can have regional accents. So this dog doesn't just sound Italian. IT IS Italian."

According to a BBC article from 2006, "According to a new study dogs develop a bark or "voice" similar to the sound of their owner's regional accent.

For example dogs in Liverpool communicate in a higher pitch than other dogs and Scottish dogs tend to have a lighter tone to their bark."

How amazing is that?

Aaron does live in Italy so it makes sense that he makes Italian barking and howling noises, but I live in the south and none of my pets sound southern. Or maybe I sound so southern I cannot tell that they also sound southern!

Do your pets have the same accent as you? Let us know in the comments!

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'Tis the season to wear jewel tones.

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While its not every day that members of the royal family wear something that would look as great in the real world as it does in the palace (see: tiaras and diamond necklaces), Kate Middleton just sported a gorgeous green gown that would make the perfect addition to any holiday outing.

On Thursday, the Princess of Wales debuted the jewel-toned dress while hosting Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden at Windsor Castle alongside her husband, Prince William. Knowing that you can never go wrong with a midi dress (one of Kates most-reached for silhouettes), the former duchess slipped into a dark green version of the frock complete with long sleeves, a waist-cinching belt, and an asymmetrical high-low hem during the gathering. Middleton accessorized the holiday-ready look with matching green pointy-toed heels and diamond drop earrings, and she wore her brunette hair down in blown-out waves with a side part.

Princess Victoria looked equally as festive for the occasion, wearing a cherry red embroidered tweed jacket layered over a white pussy bow blouse and paired with black trousers. For their part, both William and Daniel sported navy blue suits with white undershirts and ties.

Related: Kate Middleton "Jokingly Shivers" at the Mention of Meghan Markle's Name, According to a New Book

A pleasure to welcome The Crown Princess of Sweden and Prince Daniel to Windsor this morning, the official Prince and Princess of Waless Instagram account captioned a photo of the royals.

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The couples joint gathering came just hours before they hit the town for a double date at the Royal Variety Performance in London, where they later enjoyed performances by headliner Cher, Swedish popstar Zara Larsson, and more.

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Katherine Rundell pops up on my screen as if by magic. She has just been announced as the winner of the Waterstones Book of the Year, for her childrens novel Impossible Creatures, though when we speak, shes in Cornwall, near Padstow, where she goes to write. At 36, shes already gathering quite a collection of awards: she won a Costa prize in 2017 for her novel The Explorer, and last year, she won the Baillie-Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction for Super-Infinite, her biography of the poet and preacher John Donne. But shes especially excited about this one: she describes Impossible Creatures as probably the best of me.

The book is a marvel, an adventure story set in Earths last surviving magical place, where all the creatures of myth and legend still live, from centaurs to unicorns to the swamp-dwelling avanc of Welsh mythology. The hundreds of hours Rundell spent in libraries finding the creatures from literary sources around the globe was, she says, the greatest pleasure of my working life. Some, she notes delightedly, were once believed to exist, such as the tiny jaculus dragon that (according to the 1st-century Roman author Pliny) lives in the trees and can hurl itself at your face. Rundell has been on tour for the past couple of months talking about Impossible Creatures, and one of the things Ive really loved, she tells me, has been meeting children who say, So I know its not real. Obviously its not real. But just checking  is it real?

Rundell, too, is a marvel: the author of five other childrens novels and an award-winning play, and the youngest fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, elected at 21. Shes possessed of a fearsome work ethic. While finishing her PhD in her twenties, she would wake up at four, and work on fiction until nine, and then do my real academic job teaching Shakespeare to undergraduates until the end of the working day. Then I would go out with friends and have a glass of wine, and sometimes I would come back and try to do an hour, or half an hour, more. She adds: But its not sustainable over the age of about 35. Indeed, these days, she only gets up at 5am, as she has recently done while working on the screenplay of a well-known childrens classic (though she cant reveal what it is).

She has a physical fearlessness, too, that she shares with her novels main characters, Mal and Christopher, although a 2014 plan to tightrope-walk over the Thames hit an obstacle. It was forbidden by somebody  I shouldnt say who. There was somebody who was willing to try to make it happen, but it just isnt possible.

She lives most of the time in north London with her partner, the film and literary agent Charles Collier, who has an 11-year-old daughter. She was born in Kent but spent most of her childhood in Zimbabwe (Zim, as she calls it), where her father was a diplomat and her mother a lecturer. I was very aware, because of my parents, and the way they think about the world  my father works in international development  that Zimbabwe still bears the scars of colonialism, she says. And much of the deeply racist [Ian] Smith regime still casts its shadow over that country. But most of my experience of growing up in Zim was: I was a kid, and it was just wildly beautiful. And for me, it was home.

Katherine Rundell, author of Impossible Creatures

Rundell grew up with an elder brother, Gerard, who later became an orchestral percussionist before training to be a vicar, and with two foster sisters, with whom she climbed trees, built rafts and had adventures. On Radio 4s Private Passions last year, she described the death of one of those sisters as the great, lasting tragedy of my life. In her books, she writes about loss with deep emotion, from the death of Donnes 19-year-old brother in Super-Infinite to one heartbreaking event that occurs in Impossible Creatures. Rundell was 10 when she lost her sister. She had an inherited genetic illness which meant that she died when she was 16, she tells me. Im always wary of talking about it too much, because it is so important to me and so private a thing, but I loved her wildly, and in losing her I learned that things that you love can be lost.

In Impossible Creatures, the magic that protects the islands is fading, weakening  the beasts are dying, and the Archipelago where they live is in peril. Implicitly, I suggest, the novel seems to be about climate change. If we were to see our own world and our own creatures afresh, Rundell says, we would find them as extraordinary as unicorns and dragons. We have narwhals and giraffes, and we have rainforests It is the most urgent moral question of our age.

Mostly, she wanted to write an adventure that would give kids a sense of joy, and hope, and glee, but (she adds) we will need more iron-willed cherishing, and more active, political, furious cherishing, because what we have is so beautiful, and so in need of our protection. (This fervent, passionate stream of words is how Rundell speaks. Sometimes she pauses at a question for long seconds, and takes a deep breath, then the thoughts flow again.)

Illustrations of the Impossible Creatures in Katherine Rundell's new novel - Tomislav Tomic

Rundells arrest as a student protester at the Faslane naval base outside Glasgow, home to Britains nuclear weapons, has become well known. I was very young, I was 18 or 19, she says, stressing that at that age, you dont have many ways to make your voice heard. (Shes not anti-nuclear energy, but thinks its an enormously nuanced conversation.) Does she think one must be prepared to break the law to effect political change? I think many, many, many great people have done so, she replies. And not all laws are just. I think there are times when it is justified to break the law. But most of the protesting I do these days is very peaceful.

We talk about the targeting of great artworks by climate activists. I have complicated feelings about it, she says. I can see both sides very clearly... I can see why Extinction Rebellion do what they do. (She is not a member.) Should all tainted money get out of the arts? I feel that its very difficult to find companies that are not in some way implicated. But I think we can shift the dial to make fossil fuels and working with fossil-fuel companies look less and less acceptable.

When Rundell won the Bailie-Gifford Prize for Super-Infinite last year, she gave her 50,000 award to conservation charities. I think Baillie-Gifford do truly brilliant work in the literary landscape. And I guess my feeling is that they now have an opportunity to be leaders in the most important moral question that faces us. She would prefer arts prizes to be funded by the Government. In places such as Germany and Scandinavia, she notes, this would be so obvious that even to be discussing it would seem slightly mad.

At this point, I note that she doesnt list Belgium, a regular butt of jokes in her books. Rundell moved to Brussels as a teenager, and appears to have it in for the country. I promise I dont, she says with a laugh. I have so many friends from Belgium. But there will always be a tiny Belgium joke in all my books until the day I die. Just in honour of my 15-year-old self, who was not such a fan. Belgium committed no sins except not being Zimbabwe  that was its only shortcoming.

At moments, Impossible Creatures is very funny  seagulls have weaponised poo; an elderly sphinx declares I hate riddles  yet its far from a stranger to darkness. My favourite childrens books, Rundell tells me, are the ones that say: every human being has in their heart a little rat  a dark and ugly rat. And if you do not acknowledge that rat, the rat will end by eating you.

I wonder, then, what she makes of the humour of Roald Dahl. She notes that Matilda has the kind of electricity that many, many people have tried to replicate and very few have achieved, but she says that, as an adult, Dahls books read differently to her. There are certainly less cruel ways to be funny. He is by no means my favourite childrens writer  hes quite far down on my list. But, she points out, Ive met very few children who object to him. My unease with his nastiness, and with his class prejudice, is probably not shared by kids.

British children's author, Roald Dahl - Ronald Dumont/Daily Express/Getty Images

That list of beloved authors includes Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Philip Pullman, Diana Wynne Jones, Tove Jansson, E Nesbit, Joan Aiken, Michael Bond, Alan Garner and, in particular, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. As a child, she says, she read The Hobbit a couple of times a year, for about 10 years and the Narnia books felt like the purest form of glee. She believes, too, that Ursula K Le Guin should be regarded alongside those canonical male names in fantasy fiction: If she had her rights, she would be infinitely more famous and infinitely more adored.

Of the most successful childrens author of the past 25 years, JK Rowling, Rundell simply says that one of my main frustrations about JK is that this becomes the only conversation that people have about childrens literature in Britain  JK and the trans debate. Childrens fiction, she says, is wildly under-rated, under-studied, under-cherished in this country, and the conversations we tend to have about it are cancel culture and JK Rowling and Roald Dahl.

Its hard, however, to escape cancel culture even in relation to her work for adults. Donnes poetry has long been charged with misogyny  Rundell herself called it wild, rakish and misogynistic at the Jaipur Literary Festival this year  while Rundells 2016 play, The World According to Saki, celebrated the Edwardian writer Hector Hugh Munro, who has been accused of not just misogyny but racism and anti-Semitism in particular. Is she more willing than most writers to put aside someones cancellable elements?

John Donne c. 1595 - REUTERS/National Portrait Gallery/Handout

Donne was born in 1572, and I think it would be ludicrous to hold him to the standards of today, she says. I think it is the job of a scholar, and indeed the job of a citizen, when youre thinking about writers who are writing in the past, to be able to come to a nuanced middle point that takes on board context and history and the vivid changing of time. I think Donne was a misogynist, but I also think that he existed at a time when misogyny was enshrined in the law. So Im not so interested in applying modern judgments to dead men.

Impossible Creatures is the first in a series; Rundell has held back more mythical beasts for future novels. There are definitely going to be three, she says. There might end up being more. She does know broadly whats going to happen, but not the details yet. Like Lewiss Narnia novels, she intends them to be ecosystems unto themselves, so that each can be read alone. At the moment, shes giving occasional lectures as a fellow of St Catherines College, Oxford, but otherwise she writes full-time. Yet her readers need not fear burnout. Rundell has learned when to stop: I think I belong to the very, very long tradition of writers who make the difference between writing and not writing into a clear bright line  by drinking wine.

Impossible Creatures is published by Bloomsbury. For more information on Waterstones Book of the Year, go to: waterstones.com

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There are so many ways to spoil a deserving dog, from fancy treats to an extra-long massage. For many coffee-loving pup owners, though, their Starbucks run is the perfect opportunity to treat their dog to something yummy. I'm talking about pup cups, of course!

Thanks to the thousands of viral social media videos of dogs lapping up the delicious whipped cream, the one-ingredient treat is as popular as ever. Even working canines like police K9s are getting in on the action, and York, Maine police comfort dog Major is no exception. He enjoyed his very first pup cup on November 28, and his handler even recorded the adorable moment in a now-viral TikTok video. There's no way you won't be smiling when you see this!

OMFG--Major is the cutest thing! I actually said 'aww' out loud when I saw him snoozing away in the passenger seat, but the way he wakes up to the delicious scent of a treat is absolutely irresistable. He's immediately in the zone lapping away at the whipped cream, and I think it's safe to say that it was love at first lick.

Related: Golden Retriever Puppy's Reaction to Her First Pup Cup Is Impossible to Resist

And he deserves it, too! This little Labrador Retriever is only 10 weeks old, but he's already easing into his role as the police department's comfort dog (not to be confused with an emotional support dog or service animal). His handler is working on socializing the puppy as he learns about his brand new life, so many lucky Maine business owners have seen him in their shops and restaurants, too. Just check out his TikTok account, @majortheyorkcomfotdog, to see more of his adorable outings! Once he's a little more used to his community, though, he'll be ready to help the officers in his department feel their best every day.

Something tells me that this is the first pup cup (AKA puppuccino) of many for comfort dog Major. The way he bolted awake was just too sweet, and I'm sure he finished every drop of whipped cream. As a very special puppy who's going to bring so much light to his town, he'll be deserving of a treat all the time!

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Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers.

BioFluff

Savian is an efficiently scalable innovation with high production capacity and industry-standard lead times.

Biomaterials startup BioFluff has created what it deems the worlds first 100 percent plant-based, petrochemical-free, sustainable alternative to animal- and plastic-based fur, targeted toward the luxury market. And now, the San Francisco-based company has secured $2.5 million in seed funding from venture capital firms led by Astanor Ventures, known for agrifood tech impact investing, as well as its leading Series D investment in Modern Meadow this past July. This brings the total amount of funding raised to $3 million, including the pre-seed round of $500,000 led by SOSVs IndieBio fund, PDS Limited and Joyance Partners last November.

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We were impressed by the passion and determination of the founding team, Christina Ulardic, partner at Astanor Ventures, said. BioFluff has a unique offering for the luxury industry, fashion and textiles, which is in full alignment with the Astanor mission of a more regenerative economy.

The LVMH Innovation Award nominee has also announced the launch of its luxury materials brand, Savian. Made from 100 percent renewable plant fibers and agricultural waste, Savian transforms nettle, flax and hemp into fur, shearling and fleece-like fabrics using proprietary technologies. Savian said the process significantly reduces CO2 emissions by 40-90 percent. Made in Italy, the vegan collection is free from GMOs and toxic chemicals, using fibers sourced and crafted in the EU. Savian is a nod to the brands inspiration rooted in the soft touch of natures fur.

At the close of this seed round with best-in-class impact investors, we are poised to scale our unique approach to reducing reliance on animal and synthetic-derived products in the textile industry, Martin Stubler, BioFluffs co-founder and CEO, said. This investment will accelerate our mission to provide brands with better materials for a cleaner future.

MycoWorks

On view at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam through the new year, the exhibit marks the biotechnology companys return to its artistic foundations.

The San Fransisco-based biomaterials company focused on mycelium, MycoWorks, collaborated with conscious design collective Yume Yume on an interactive installation at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. Dubbed #16 Descent into Fungal, the multi-sensory exhibit explores mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms and fungi made of thread-like filaments called hyphae. Its the 18-month-old brainchild of Yume Yumes creative director Eva Korsten and MycoWorks creative director Xavier Gallego.

MycoWorks exists to collaborate with other creative leaders who are masters of their craft; to push the boundaries of Fine Mycelium forward through exploring new possibilities that start inside the material, Gallego said. Yume Yume, through their curiosity and creativity with Reishi, made unexpected discoveries. By experimenting with and ultimately using the backside of Reishi, our collaboration unlocked entirely new possibilitieshighlighting the fact that we are still on the ground floor in discovering the potential of Fine Mycelium. We believe the show at the Stedelijk will inspire other artists to turn to nature, observe it and make something beautiful with the wonders they find.

#16 Descent into Fungal explores future fungal realities and how humans can nurture them into manifestation, MycoWorks said. The project features a handful of installations including a living art piece by Yume Yume that will grow throughout the duration of the exhibitwhich is on view now through Jan. 25adapting and adjusting throughout that time. There are also showcases from curator and artist Andrey Shental, visual artist Milena Anna Bouma and plant-based creator Don Yaw Kwaning. Yume Yume will also debut its first head-to-toe outfit made with Reishi, featuring the Grown by Nature Trench, the signature Fisherman Boots and the supersize Mushroom Hat. The three pieces were made specifically for the exhibit, however, there may be a Reishi collection in the future available for purchase.

This collaboration with MycoWorks was mind-bending creativelybut perhaps more importantlya game changer for our brand values. Natural materials are limited. At Yume Yume, its been very encouraging to learn about mycelium and its potential in the future of materials. Its fascinating to witness the intelligence it has as a living system, and one cant help but see endless applications in the fashion industry, Korsten said.

Polygiene

Fabric treated with Polygiene ShedGuard.

Antimicrobial technologies and odor control solutions company Polygiene debuted an innovation project at ISPO Munich: Polygiene ShedGuard.

Though still in the latter stages of development, with final testing and refinement set to happen in conjunction with selected partners next year, the solution consists of a unique blend of polymers that form a film around the fiber bundles. That film prevents microfibrils (fine, thread-like strands of cellulose and glycoproteins found in plant and wood cell walls) from separating or splitting from the fabric structure.

The Swedish chemical company said that its research found that Polygiene ShedGuard reduces microfiber loss by up to 70 percent. Its been tested on recycled poly/polyester, knits, poly-cottons, nylons, suede microfibers and plush fabrics. The company said that reductions in knits of up to 80 percent have been demonstrated in testing, and figures between 15-30 percent have been found on wovens.

Its also designed to improve resistance to fabric wear during washing and reduce wear from fabric abrasion, prevent the release of fiber fragments (therefore extending textiles anticipated lifespan) and enhance the performance of other Polygiene technologiessuch as Polygiene StayFresh, Polygiene StayFreshBio and Polygiene OdorCrunchby locking in those antimicrobial and odor-control properties for a more significant period. The polymer technology has been tested to the AATCC TM212 standard, which provides a standardized method for qualifying fiber fragment shedding.

In fact, the innovation was recognized as the best product at ISPO Textrends in the performing finishes category. The award is given twice a year, highlighting the upcoming textile trends predicted by industry experts two years in advance.

Bio-invasive Lab

Bio-invasive Lab

London-based Bio-invasive Lab has discovered a new way to put harmful invasive plant species to use in the United Kingdom: they use the plants to create dyes, faux fur and felt.

What began as a student project at the University of Arts Londons Central Saint Martins college officially became a startup this year.

Xue Chen and Tom Lyu, the co-founders of Bio-invasive Lab, have teamed up to give designers the chance to integrate the earth into their garments.

Chen said she and Lyu aim to create a more sustainable fashion industry with their innovation.

The students-turned-innovators pick the invasive specieslike ramie, nettle, snowberry and buddleiaby hand in Londons N1C region, which includes Kings Cross Square. In doing so, Chen said, they help foster biodiversity as invasive species stifle the growth of plants and animals native to the regions they have overtaken.

Once theyve collected enough plants, Chen and Lyu use their yield to create dye kits. To do so, they dry the plants out, then boil them to extract the color for the dyes, which come in colors like yellow, purple and green.

Bio-invasive Lab sells the finished kits to designers for between 28 and 37 British pounds ($35.40-$46.78). According to Chen, each kit can dye up to one kilogram of yarn.

When designers and manufacturers dye yarns and garments, they use mordants, which are typically chemicals, to bind dyes to fabrics. Chen said Bio-invasive Lab takes a more natural approach to mordants for their dyes.

We replace [mordants] with a plant which is named club moss. So this is one kind of natural, bio-only resource that can fix the colors into the fabric, she said.

Because the dyes, felts and furs include all-natural materials, garments made using those materials exclusively will be biodegradable.

The dye waste generated by the natural dyeing process can also be recycled for other uses, Chen explained. Previously, she and Lyu have used the colors from the dye waste to create bio-crayons and watercolors.

Chen collaborated with designer Sylvia Acien on her 2023 collection, Regenerative Folklore. Bio-invasive Lab supplied the plant-based dyes and bio-invasive fur featured in the collection, which features garments made from nettle yarn and pineapple yarn.

Right now, Chen and Lyu receive waste from Swiss company Nettle Circle, which produces yarn made of nettle plants, to determine how best to use the plant to create fibers and fabrics that can later be produced on a commercial scale.

While designers can already purchase the dye products used in the collection, Bio-invasive Labs felt and fur products are still a ways away from entering the market, Chen said.
GOLDEN MOSCHINO: Christmas is around the corner, and for Moschino, its a sparkling one.

For the holidays, the fashion label is collaborating with Milanese pastry shop Martesana to create Il panettone doro [the golden panettone], the typical Italian Christmas cake with candied and dried fruits with a golden chocolate glaze.

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Pastry chef Vincenzo Santoro, who founded Martesana in 1966, encased the panettone in the sparkling glaze and IGP Piedmont hazelnuts. The 1-kilogram cake comes wrapped in a large black box featuring both brands logos, Moschinos running along the sides and Martesanas on the lid.

The patisseries signature panettone is one of the most sought-after in Milan, with the dough worked for 48 hours and prepared with mother yeast. It generally features two variations of Italian candied orange peel, raisins and Tahitian vanilla.

This project is meant to be a tribute to Milan, as well as a tribute to two undisputed pillars of Made in Italy: food and fashion. Its a balanced mix of history, creativity and substance, with the aim of promoting a culture of sweetness under the banner of Italian craftsmanship. It has been an honor to collaborate with a fashion house of Moschinos caliber, said Marco Marsico, head of sales and marketing at Martesana.

Priced at 69 euros, the panettone can be pre-ordered on the Martesana website and is available at all the five pastry shop units in Milan, on Moschinos e-commerce, and at Rinascente stores in Milan Duomo, Monza, Florence and Rome Tritone.

To celebrate the tie-up between the two brands, an event will be hosted on Dec. 5 at the patisserie shop in Corso di Porta Romana in Milan.

Il panettone doro by Moschino x Martesana.

The collaboration will continue with Atelier du Chocolat, an event that will take place in the fashion brands boutiques in Milan, Rome, London and New York next month. During the event, guests will receive a box of chocolates that they can personalize with edible gold polish, alongside a Martesana master chocolatier present in-store.

Martesana is known for its top ingredients and its expert pastry chefs. The founder moved to Milan from Apulia at a young age and began his trajectory in the artisanal pastry industry. In 1966, he acquired the first pastry shop in Piazza Greco and, in a short time, established the headquarters in Via Cagliero, not far from the namesake canal that gave the patisserie its name.

Among the many milestones, Martesana was awarded with the gold medal for Artisti del panettone in 2020 and recently with the Tre Torte [three cakes] Award by Gambero Rosso, the worlds authority on Italian food, which determines the best pastry shops in Italy.

Founded by Franco Moschino, the brand marks its 40th anniversary this year. Following the exit of former creative director Jeremy Scott in March, Davide Renne was named to the top creative post, but the young designer died prematurely earlier this month.

Aeffe also includes the Alberta Ferretti, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini and Pollini brands.  ANDREA ONATE

SNOW TIME: Farm Rio, the Brazilian fashion brand, is getting ready to unfurl its second ski collection.

The 11-piece collection, which launches Friday, features puffer jackets, pants and jumpsuits that have high-performance Graphene fibers and recycled polyester for insulation. Prints are combined with windproof and waterproof material that is warm, breathable and designed for temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pieces also have zip pockets, adjustable hoods and removable buckle belts.

An image from Farm Rio's skiwear collection.

An image from Farm Rios skiwear collection.

The ski collection retails from $345 to $615. The collection and prints are designed in Rio de Janeiro and are produced by selected manufacturers worldwide. The collection will be sold in Farm Rio stores and on its website.

The debut of our first skiwear collection last year was a significant milestone for Farm Rio, and were delighted by the positive response from our customers, said Katia Barros, the brands founder and creative director. The vibrant colors and prints seamlessly complement the ski experience, adding a touch of joy to both the days on the slopes and the apres-ski moments.

A campaign image from Farm Rios skiwear collection.

She added about the new collection: As we unveil the Farm Rio ski collection, we celebrate the seamless blend of our vibrant prints with the thrill of the slopes. Our ethos of dressing in happiness finds its enchanting expression in winter, where the contrast of gray days and pristine snow becomes a canvas for our distinctive colors.

Farm Rios winter campaign, that includes the skiwear collection, was shot in Ushuaia, Argentina.  LISA LOCKWOOD

PARTYING WITH THE HILTONS: My mother is the North Pole, Nicky Hilton Rothschild said with a laugh of Kathy Hilton, who opened her Bel Air, Calif., home on Tuesday night for a holiday party.

My mom has always been so, so over the top for the holidays, and I mean every holiday, from Valentines Day, Saint Patricks Day, Easter, obviously Christmas, she said, wearing a bow-front cutout Rebecca Vallance minidress.

It was always such a big part of our life, the celebrating, the decorations, the tablescapes, she continued. I was just laughing with my mom, because shes a true, born entertainer. I walk around her house, she has, like, 20 Christmas trees.

Nicky Hilton Rothschild

Shes Mrs. Claus, Kyle Richards said of Hilton. The two and their sister Kim Richards  all in Alice + Olivia  were together publicly for the first time in a long time. The ups and downs of their family dynamic has been documented on Bravos Real Housewives franchise, but now they were united.

Stronger together, Hilton said. We always like to do something for the holidays together.

Kathys decorating for the holidays really gets you in the spirit, Kyle said. So, a perfect time to get together.

Reminiscing about their traditions growing up, the sisters  talking all at once as siblings do  said their father was the cook in the family.

He taught me, Kim said. We would cook, bake.

He always had an apron on in the kitchen, Kyle added. To me, when I see a man that cooks like that, I think thats amazing.

James does that, Hilton said of Nickys husband, James Rothschild.

When I see a man do anything, Im like wow, Kim said. They all roared with laughter.

Every inch of the Hilton home was decked out in holiday decor for the celebration, a partnership with DirecTV. It was also a night for charity, featuring a toy drive; unwrapped gifts were left by the front door to donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, a nonprofit supporting programs improving the well-being of children.

The holidays are such a time to indulge, but I think its also so important to give back, Nicky said.

Sipping on Champagne, guests  a whos who of Bravo reality stars  made their way down to Hiltons ballroom and backyard, which was turned into a winter wonderland, fake snow and all.

I had a peek at the guest list earlier, and I was laughing, Nicky added with a chuckle. I think theres going to be some very, very interesting people watching tonight.

Among the bunch were Dixie DAmelio and mom Heidi of Hulus The DAmelio Show and Katie Maloney of Bravos Vanderpump Rules.

Katie Maloney

I love doing something festive and getting a little bit dressed up, said Maloney, in a sheer, black Free People dress accessorized with a sparkling Betsey Johnson disco ball clutch. Its the best excuse to get out and celebrate on a Tuesday.

Fans have been anticipating Something About Her, the sandwich shop she plans to open in West Hollywood with costar Ariana Madix.

The sandwich shop is the never-ending project, she explained. Its just been never-ending red tape. I cant find the end of itObviously were grateful for the support, and were so happy that people are excited. And its going to be great when we do open. We are going to open, and it will be soon.

Tuesday night, she was looking forward to seeing friends from the Bravo family, she said: Ladies I dont get to see all the time. And at Kathys.

Looking around, she eyed a Champagne vending machine. Theres a literal Moet [& Chandon] vending machine in here. Thats sick.  RYMA CHIKHOUNE

Dixie and Heidi DAmelio

FROST AND MCDONALDS: Kerwin Frost may have partnered with everyone from Adidas and Off-White to Palm Angels and Moncler, and while he may be hanging with the fashion crowd, hes never lost his love for McDonalds.

And now, the Harlem, N.Y.-born DJ, influencer and podcaster is partnering with the fast-food chain on a special Kerwin Frost Box, launching Dec. 11. The box includes the choice of a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets or a Big Mac, fries, a soft drink and a special McNugget Buddy collectible. This marks the first time a McNugget Buddy has been released in more than 25 years.

Kerwin Frost with his McNuggets Buddies.

Frost helped McDonalds create the collectibles, which speak to his Harlem roots. The options include Kerwin Frost, the mayor of Frost Way; Don Bernice, a stylist; Uptown Moe, a street-smart neighborhood hero; Waffutu, the curious optimist; Brrrick, the cool guy, and Darla the Dreamer, in mix-and-match outfits.

Also starting Dec. 11, there will be special McDonalds x Kerwin Frost apparel and footwear that will be sold on the influencers website. It will include a new footwear silhouette, Fry Guy shoes, that are being worn by the Kerwin Front character, as well as T-shirts and sweatshirts. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these products will be donated to Harlem Arts Alliance, an organization that works with young adults in the community to spark creativity.

With last years Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, we unlocked the childlike joy of opening a Happy Meal box for fans of all ages, said Tariq Hassan, McDonalds USA chief marketing and customer experience officer. Fans told us they wanted to celebrate that quintessential childhood experience again. So, were excited to team up with Kerwin on this next take, as he brings his own childhood McDonalds memories to life through reimagined McDonalds characters, immersing our fans in the world of Frost Way.

The McNugget Buddies were first introduced in 1988 as part of a limited-time Happy Meal featuring 10 different McNugget Buddy collectibles. Theyre known for their adventures, distinct personalities and interchangeable outfits.

Ive loved McDonalds since I was a kid. I even had my own Ronald McDonald doll that I brought to picture day at school, and it was my dream to collect all the McNugget Buddies, Frost said. Now, coming up with my own special set of Buddies  each one representing different aspects of self-expression  its unreal, a dream come true. McDonalds has been a great partner from Day One, and theyve truly allowed me to create without limits. I hope the Kerwin Frost Box will serve as a reminder for people to hone their creativity and not be afraid to show the world who they really are.  JEAN E. PALMIERI

ITS SHOWTIME: After the year Selfridges has had internally, with Central Group taking control of the luxury retailer following Signas restructuring and reorganizing its head office, its about time for a little levity.

And it arrives with a festive new campaign titled Showtime! filled with drama and extravaganza across the stores Christmas windows, featuring a cast that includes Santa Claus, a Christmas Tree Duva and a Stand-up Comedy Snowman, as well as set pieces hand painted by painter Queenie Ingrams and props from Matilda Greenwood.

On the fourth floor at Selfridges, the stage musical Cabaret thats currently playing at The Kit Kat Club in London will be taking over the space with a Champagne bar from Moet & Chandon.

The shows set and costume designer Tom Scutt has reimagined the floor with a whimsical and flamboyant take where spontaneous performances will be taking place.

Cabaret: The Kit Kat Club at Selfridges will remain open for five weeks.

Despite COVID-19 variants, supply-chain woes and Russias war in Ukraine, revenues at Selfridges four U.K. stores jumped 29 percent to 843.7 million pounds in the fiscal year ended Jan. 28, while pretax losses narrowed.

According to the most recent filings on Companies House, the official registry of U.K. businesses, shoppers flooded back into Selfridges stores, particularly the flagship on Oxford Street in London and the unit at Royal Exchange, Manchester, once the omicron strain of COVID-19 receded and lockdown restrictions eased.

The uptick in sales helped contribute to the reduction in pre-tax losses to 37.9 million pounds from 121.5 million pounds in the previous period. Much of the companys cost base is due to property, and Selfridges said that a rise in finance costs was offset by a decline in rental expenses during the period.  HIKMAT MOHAMMED

PARTY RENTAL: Net-a-porter is gearing up for the party season.

The luxury retailer has partnered with rental platforms Hurr and By Rotation on a rental edit launching soon featuring more than 100 partywear pieces across dresses and bags from luxury and contemporary designers, including Nina Ricci, Rebecca Vallance, Saloni, Victoria Beckham and Roksanda.

The items in the edit can be purchased via Net-a-porters website and the websites of the two rental platforms until January.

Our first step into fashion rental brings an exciting opportunity to introduce Net-a-porters exceptional curation of partywear to new and broader audiences. The launch of our rental edit is key to enriching the global ambitions of our circular fashion offer, said Vikki Kavanagh, managing director at Net-a-porter and Mr Porter.

We look forward to this strategic collaboration and opening up the rental space to more customers in the future, she added.

Clio Peppiatt

Net-a-porter wants to trial how successful rental can be on its own platform and to bring in sustainably minded Gen Z and Millennial customers. In 2021, the brand launched a resale service available in six markets, and in 2023, introduce repair services in the U.K.

Hurr provides technology solutions to fashion companies of all sizes  from global retailers to independent labels and household luxury brands  and crucially, we enable our partners to see real-time peer-to-peer data and insights that can help pave the way for smarter and profitable circular solutions moving forward, said Victoria Prew, chief executive officer and cofounder of Hurr.

As a woman of color founder and CEO, my journey with By Rotation has always been driven by a passion for making quality fashion accessible to people of all backgrounds  including socioeconomic, said Eshita Kabra-Davies, founder and CEO of By Rotation.  H.M.

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Thought youd seen every possible iteration of pantomime that British theatre has to offer? Well, you were myth-taken. If that pun made you groan  with delight  then Charles Court Operas boutique panto take on Homer is the one for you this Christmas. Yes, theres an unmistakable whiff of the classics students jolly end-of-term skit, with some highbrow Hellenic humour, but thats firmly balanced with pop culture gags, fart jokes, smutty innuendo and heavenly singing.

The tone of John Savournin and David Eatons production is Asterix-meets-Monty Python, with added girl power. Instead of following Odysseus on his travels, we see his wife Penelope set out to rescue her husband from the clutches of the witch Circe and bring him home. Shes accompanied by Odysseuss horse Trojan and the gods messenger Hermes.

No one will be left fretting Its all Greek to me: the story is comprehensibly told, with brisk explainers for characters such as Medusa  Scary snake lady. The gods are brought down to earth, figuratively speaking, with Aphrodite becoming an Essex girl and Dionysus slurping from a novelty drinks helmet. The Power Rangers theme is repurposed as Go go Mount Olympus.

The so-bad-theyre-great puns (sardonically punctuated by percussionist Dave Jennings) just keep coming, like this exchange about an economically depressed Ithaca: Whats a Grecian urn? A lot less than he did 10 years ago! Police sirens sound while the gang is at sea (the Sirens, geddit?), and an entire game-show segment, one that actually generates a lorra lorra laughs, is built on the notion that Scylla is synonymous with Cilla.

Politics is kept to a minimum, although surely a topical zinger about the Elgin Marbles could be worked in. The only real misstep is asking the audience to shout out a phrase thats too complicated for the purpose, although our muddling of it almost becomes a running gag.

Odyssey: A Heroic Pantomime, Jermyn Street Theatre - Alex Brenner

There are no such fumbles from the heroic five-strong cast, who multi-role with aplomb. As you might expect, the singing is really superb, far superior to your average pantomime, even if its only being applied here to pop songs with reworked lyrics; less Puccini, more Britney, Bee Gees, and  aptly  Journey.

Meriel Cunningham is hysterical throughout as the loyal Trojan, and she brings a gorgeous tone to a homoerotic number about the horses love for Odysseus. Excellent too are Amy J Payne as the cyclops who falls for Trojan (yes, theres a brush with bestiality), Emily Cairns as a spirited Penelope, Tamoy Phipps as a hapless Hermes, and, in particular, Rosie Strobel giving fabulous panto villain as the cackling Circe.

Stewart J Charlesworths set is cheerfully candy-coloured and ramshackle, adding to the lo-fi charm of the enterprise. This might be the smallest pantomime in town, but it provides epic fun.

Until Dec 31. Tickets: 020 7287 2875; jermynstreettheatre.co.uk

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Press Release

November 30, 2023 Lapid hits agriculture smuggling, urges gov't to intensify campaign vs smugglers Sen. Lito Lapid urged government, particularly the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Trade and Industry, to intensify its campaign against smuggling of agricultural products such as onions, garlics carrots, and rice, especially this coming Christmas season, which has greatly affected local farmers and those transporting farm produce. During consultation with farmers at the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post in La Trinidad, Benguet, Lapid learned that rampant smuggling of agricultural products, hoarding and profiteering have affected the lives and livelihood of farmers. "Kailangan na nating tapusin ang problemang ito. Ang mga ito ang nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka na siyang nagpapakain sa atin (We need to put an end to this problem. These are the ones who make it difficult for our farmers who feed us)," Lapid said. "Nakakalungkot po na sa kabila ng malaking ambag ng ating mga magsasaka para sa seguridad sa pagkain ng ating bayan ay sila pa ang nananatiling nakabaon sa kahirapan (It is sad that despite the great contribution of our farmers for the country's food security, they are still the ones who remain to be living below the poverty line," he added. Because of smuggling, the senator said prices of local products plunged to unlivable levels for farmers. He noted that smuggling discourages local farmers from continuing their production due to lack of satisfactory return on investment thus ultimately resulting to the demise of the industry. On top of this, middlemen buy agricultural products from farmers at very low prices while loan sharks give out loans at usurious interest. Lapid also assured farmers of his full support for the passage of the anti-agricultural smuggling bill. The senator is one of the authors of Senate Bill No. 2432 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. The measure was already in the period of individual amendment. Rep. Eric Yap of Benguet's lone congressional district accompanied Lapid during the consultation. He said there is a need for a whole-of-government approach to stamp out smuggling. House Bill No. 9284, also known as the Anti Agri-Fishery Commodities and Tobacco Economic Sabotage Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on Sept. 27. Under the measure, smuggling of rice and other agricultural products is classified "economic sabotage," a crime punishable by life imprisonment. Benguet produces about 80 percent of the temperate vegetable production of the Cordillera Administrative Region. According to the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera, an average of two million kilograms of assorted highland vegetables is traded daily, reaching Metro Manila markets and even as far as Visayas and Mindanao. Earlier, 200 dialysis and cancer patients from this town received P5,000 cash assistance each from the senator. Yap said Lapid has been silently providing funds that he distributes for the cash-for-work program, medical assistance, and financial assistance since he started his stint as the caretaker of the province in 2020, following the demise of elected congressman Nestor Fongwan. He added that part of the medical fund for indigent patients at Benguet General Hospital also comes from the senator.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least seven suspects were dead and two others were under arrest following a police operation Wednesday in the northeastern Brazilian state of Sergipe, local authorities said.

The operation against a criminal ring involved in murder, drug trafficking and other crimes took place in the municipalities of Cristianopolis and Tomar do Geru, in the south of the state, as some 100 police officers moved to carry out 23 search and arrest warrants, the Sergipe Secretariat of Public Security said in a statement.

One of the warrants was for the alleged leader of the gang, who was in prison for the death of a police officer in Cristianopolis in 2015.

According to the agency, authorities began to investigate the suspects this year after an anonymous tip identified a detainee as the leader of a gang which was disputing drug trafficking territory with other rival groups in Sergipe, leading to armed clashes. 
McDonald's is the largest restaurant chain in the world, with around 38,000 global locations. It has become a symbol for America (for better or worse), an icon recognized by virtually everyone other than reclusive tribes on islands in the Indian Ocean. It is, possibly more than anything else, a symbol of American geopolitical hegemony, and it has even found ways to ingratiate itself into countries like France by adapting its business practices. Indeed, McDonald's appears in nearly every nation in the Western hemisphere -- save Cuba and Haiti -- and in every European nation -- save Iceland and some Balkan states.

But there's one continent on which you'll find precious few McDonald's locations. Though Africa is the second-largest continent by both population and total area (Mercator map projection tends to warp down its geographic size), you won't find many McDonald's there. In fact, only four countries on the continent feature the Golden Arches: South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Tunisia. The reasons why are myriad, but they mainly come down to money and supply chain concerns.

Read more: The Ultimate American Fast Food Restaurants Ranked

Most Of Africa Presents Supply Chain Issues

McDonald's sign in South Africa - Thegift777/Getty Images

The biggest issue from McDonald's perspective is the lack of adequate global supply chains in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It's hard to operate an international business when you can't affordably get things to and from that business, and the legacy of colonialism has ensured that many regions do not have reliable, established global supply chains. This is particularly an issue since global supply chains, in general, are still suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, many nations in Africa are (again, thanks to colonialism) relatively economically disadvantaged; of the ten nations in the world with the lowest GDP, only one (Afghanistan at number 9) is located outside Africa. It's difficult for a multinational food company to make money in a place where the population can't afford to pay for its product. There indeed are McDonald's in some relatively economically disadvantaged countries, but combined with the supply chain issues, McDonald's does not currently seem to view most sub-Saharan African nations as profitable locations for expansion.

The African Countries With McDonald's Have Something In Common

McDonald's in Cairo at night - Tamer Soliman/Getty Images

This makes a lot more sense when you consider where McDonald's does operate in Africa. South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco are all in the top five of Africa's wealthiest nations. They're also all coastal nations, meaning shipping by sea is an option.

Tunisia is the outlier here, as it ranks somewhere in the teens for GDP, but that's still easily in the top half of all African countries. What sets Tunisia apart is geography: As a North African country on the Mediterranean Sea, it's already located closer to existing McDonald's supply chains in Africa (Egypt and Morocco) and southern Europe.McDonald's is like any other corporation; it will only operate where it views profit will be made. Unfortunately, it does not yet see the potential for high Big Mac sales for much of the African continent. That could (and hopefully will) change in the future, though.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.
Many California residents are celebrating a significant moment with a flood of gratitude and relief.

In an Instagram post shared by Rowen White (@rowenwhite), photos of the Klamath River  which runs for over 250 miles from Oregons high desert to the Pacific Ocean in northern California  before and after one of four dams was removed earlier this year were met with a wave of emotion.

Heres a sight for sore eyes, and a liberation to celebrate: the Klamath breaking free from bondage of dams. The salmon and water beings moving free along with the waters. My eyes weep to see this river liberation, wrote Rowen in a caption beside the photos.

Rowen explained that the other three dams will be taken down in early 2024, saying, Removal of the dams will result in restoration of habitat originally altered more than 100 years ago with construction of the first dam.

The hydroelectric dams have impacted the health and population of the rivers salmon. Their removal is 20 years in the making and the largest of its kind. Not only did the dams impact the salmon, but they also presented challenges to the way of life for various tribal groups that relied on the fish. Their removal was long fought and involved legal challenges, advocacy, and a partnership with tribal nations to rehabilitate the river to its natural state.

Seeing the Klamath River flow through this canyon after being diverted for nearly a century is inspiring, Laura Hazlett, chief operating officer of Klamath River Renewal Corp., said in a press release.

While the removal of these dams is something to celebrate, tribes in other areas of the world, like Canadas Heiltsuk Territory, are experiencing mass loss of their salmon populations as Earths rising temperature wreaks havoc on their rivers in a different way.

So, a piece of good news is always welcomed, and the posts comment section was filled with joy.

Release the riverrrrrr! wrote one commenter.

This is so beautiful and literally m o v i n g, said another.

It was an amazing sight to see local indigenous women and men fish at the mouth of the river, commented another beautifully. This is an important step to be celebrated.

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After a lifetime of experience and success in the shoe industry, Sam and Libby Edelman are nowhere near slowing down.

Presented by model Kate Upton, the couple took to the stage at the 37th annual FN Achievement Awards on Wednesday night in New York City to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award.

More from Footwear News

The Edelmans have both been in the industry for decades, meeting in 1979 and have been hard at work in the shoe business ever since. While they first made their mark working with other footwear companies, they reached even more success through their two iconic labels, Sam & Libby, and the eponymous Sam Edelman label, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. At the center of all of the success the two have earned has remained one thing through the years: family.

Sam and Libby Edelman at the 2023 FN Achievement Awards. Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images

Im the luckiest guy in the world because every day, not only do I get to work with 65-70 people that I consider family, that I truly love, but I get to get up in the morning and work with Libby and my son Jesse, Sam said. And thats just an amazing exciting thing for me.

Sam and Libby Edelman with Kate Upton at the 2023 FN Achievement Awards. Jamie McCarthy/Footwear News via Getty Images

This is how life should be lived, said Libby. To live every minute and every day with passion, passion for fashion and a true love of shoes. And to our children who are here tonight with us: Jesse, Callie and Max, were so proud of you and every day you are a reminder to us of our achievements as parents.

For 37 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards  often called the Shoe Oscars  have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2023 event is supported by sponsors Authentic Brands Group, Birdies, Caleres, Crocs, FDRA, Nordstrom, Saucony and Vibram.

About the Author:

Tara Larson is the editorial assistant for Footwear News. She mainly covers topics from celebrity style to new footwear launches and collaborations. She also serves as the assistant to editorial director Michael Atmore. Prior to joining Footwear News, she worked for Esquire and Traditional Home.

Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg, Jessica Simpson, Shaq, Shaquille, O'Neal, Kate Upton, FNAA, Footwear News, Awards, 2023,

FNAA 2023 Photos: All the Looks From the Red Carpet, Live Updates

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Launch Gallery: FNAA 2023 Photos: All the Looks From the Red Carpet, Live Updates

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Draining the excess grease from ground beef is important for a few reasons. Not only are you preventing your dinner from becoming overly oily, which can mess with the taste and texture, but it also lets you cut out any extra fat if you want to keep your meal as lean as possible. And yet, this crucial step can quickly become a big pain. Since we want to avoid pouring grease down the drain, it's often recommended to dump your cooked ground beef into a colander placed on top of a wide bowl. Luckily, there's an easier way to get rid of your extra oil that doesn't involve dirtying two big dishes and potentially splattering hot oil all over the place.

As long as you own a turkey baster, you have all you need to efficiently siphon oil away from your ground beef. Simply slide the cooked meat to one section of the pan and gently angle the dish so that the grease collects on the other side. Then using your turkey baster, suck up the oil so you can later dispose of it properly.

Read more: 11 Cleaning Tips For Keeping Your Oven Spotless

How To Siphon Extra Grease With A Turkey Baster

turkey baster - Artiom Photo/Shutterstock

While siphoning grease from ground beef with a turkey baster is as easy as it sounds, there are a few tips you'll want to keep in mind for maximum success. If your pan is still on the stove as you're sucking up oil, the grease will likely be piping hot. While the tube of the baster can handle those temperatures, the bulb likely can't  so if you have more oil than can fit in the tube, dispose of it before going back in for more. While this method can remove most of the excess fat in your pan, you may want to quickly run a paper towel over the dish after you're done in case there's any that the suction can't quite get to.

After you've siphoned all your oil, it's key to discard it properly. Once you've basted away, dump your grease into a glass or metal bowl or cup. To make this process even easier on yourself, line it with foil first. Then place your container in the fridge to let the fat cool and harden, at which point you can take it out and throw it away wrapped in the tin foil. When it comes to cleanup, all you'll have to take care of is the baster and some residue in the small container that held the grease.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
A peer in Britains House of Lords introduced earlier this week a proposal for a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind law that would require companies in the United Kingdom to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence.

This bill marks a significant moment, as its the first time Parliament will have a chance to deliberate on a mandatory framework for human rights and environmental due diligence and alleviation of corporate harm, Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey, said of the would-be legislation.

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While other countries, notably France, Germany and the rest of the European Union, are either mulling or adopting similar laws, the United Kingdom has fallen behind in compelling companies to take meaningful steps to tackle modern slaveryand the risk thereof in their supply chains, the longtime human rights advocate and Anti-Slavery International patron said.

Chief among the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty (Human Rights and Environment) Bills provisions is the requirement that businesses undertake human rights and environmental due diligence to identify, address, prevent, mitigate and remedy harms in their operations and value chains. It also seeks to hold companies accountable for any failure to prevent harm through liability provisions, level the playing field between businesses by obliging the same level of practice, and enable victims of abuses to access justice through the courts of the home country of the leading company in a supply chain.

Sian Lea, business and human rights manager at Anti-Slavery International, said that its time for the United Kingdom to reclaim its leadership role and pave the way for a fair and just future.

Anti-Slavery International has been advocating for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence for years, recognizing the incredible impact such legislation can have on the millions of people in our global supply chains, Lea said. We urgently require comprehensive legislation prioritizing people and the planet over corporate profit.

1/ Today, history was made in the #UKParliament as @LolaHornsey introduced the Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities Duty Bill in the #HouseOfLords. The proposed legislation would be a step towards requiring companies to consider their impact on people and planet. pic.twitter.com/WHtjFPNoll  Anti-Slavery International (@Anti_Slavery) November 28, 2023

Calls for regulatory scrutiny of Britains supply chains have grown more vociferous over the years. In July, 50 U.K. businesses and investors, including retailers such as Aldi, Asos, John Lewis, New Look and Primark, signed an updated statement urging the government to prop up the post-pandemic economy with greater human rights and environmental oversight.

Such a requirement to prevent abuse of human rights and environmental harm in global operations and value chains would deliver on the governments commitments to the leveling up agenda and to the transition to a net zero economy, as well as establishing Global Britain as a leader in setting standards for renewed and sustainable prosperity worldwide, they wrote. The Covid-19 crisis demonstrated the fragility of global supply chains, and the vulnerabilities this creates and exacerbates for workers, communities, indigenous peoples and businesses around the world. There is a real risk that recent progress will be reversed.

Investors representing 4.5 trillion pounds ($5.7 trillion) in assets under management and advice have also voiced their support for some kind of business, human rights and environment act in the United Kingdom, writing last August that rigorous due diligence legislation following the recognized international standards of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises would be good for businesses, investors, the economy and the people it serves.

Francesca Mangano, head of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at TFG London, which owns brands such as Hobbs, Phase Eight and Whistles, said that British businesses operating in the global milieu often find themselves self-regulating through voluntary initiatives to fill gaps in global governance.

We would welcome and advocate for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence to level the playing field and allow for more robust national regulations, she said.

So would the British public, according to a 2022 YouGov poll of more than 1,800 adults from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In it, four out of five respondents opted in favor of a law that would prevent business human rights and environmental harm.

Advocating for this in the U.K. has been a cause I and many others have championed for years, and I will continue to collaborate closely with NGOs and businesses to understand their perspectives, Young added. Its time for us to step up and proactively address human rights and environmental concerns in our supply chains.
The fear of something bad happening to your baby is all too real. It's what keeps parents glued to the baby monitor or quietly slipping into the nursery to look for the rise and fall of their child's chest. Over the past few years, it's also meant investing in an infant wearable that tracks a babys heart rate, blood oxygen level, movements and waking times at night.

This latest monitoring technology pledges to give parents peace of mind  but does it? Is having a baby's vitals at your fingertips reassuring, or just fueling our anxiety even more? As Kate Wehr, a freelance writer and mom in Montana, puts it: I was the super-anxious mom who had to check everyones breathing multiple times a night no matter what monitoring we used.

As more wearables enter the market  and in the case of the $299 Owlet Dream Sock, get clearance from the Food and Drug Administration  we asked the experts: What can these devices actually tell parents? Do they help keep babies safer? And does this technology actually put parents at ease or feed into their compulsion to keep tabs on  and fixate on  everything their little one is doing? Here's what to know.

What's the appeal of a wearable?

Just as an adult might track their health, fitness and sleep habits using tech like an Apple Watch, Oura smart ring or similar, infant wearables can tell parents things like how long (and how well) their baby is sleeping and other health stats. For a lot of parents concerned about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or some other medical emergency, being able to keep tabs on their baby's heart rate and oxygen levels feels like an extra level of protection keeping their little one safe. That said, concerns have been raised over how accurate the data is, why false alarms happen (and how they give frazzled parents further stress) and whether constant monitoring is truly helpful  which may explain why it's taken years for FDA to voice approval.

What to know about the Owlet sock

This month, Owlet excitedly announced FDA clearance of its Dream Sock, an updated version of its popular infant wearable, which is worn wrapped around an infant's foot. It's now billed as the first and only non-prescription baby monitor with FDA-cleared live health readings and health notifications for healthy babies between 1 to 18 months, according to the company.

The clearance comes two years after Owlet took its Smart Sock off the market following a warning letter from the FDA due to concerns over how the medical device was being marketed. As an early precursor to the Dream Sock, the Smart Sock got glowing testimonials from parents who said it made them worry less and gave them reassurance. But there's been controversy, too, with some saying the nonstop monitoring made their anxieties worse. A proposed class action lawsuit, which was ultimately dismissed in 2020, outlined parents' complaints that they received false alarms and that the device did not function as advertised. Meanwhile, research in 2018 showed that the Smart Sock 2 and a similar wearable tested poorly when reading babies vital signs.

So what makes the FDA-cleared Dream Sock  which follows this summer's FDA clearance of Owlet's prescription-only BabySat medical device for infants with acute or chronic medical conditions  any different? Per Owlet, the new upgraded version (rolling out at the end of this year) has been "clinically and technically tested and proven to be as accurate as medical-grade baby monitoring technology." In addition to live health readings, parents will receive notifications "based on preset, clinically validated levels ... for low pulse rate, high heart rate and low oxygen saturation levels."

Can wearable baby monitors prevent SIDS?

Despite many parents reportedly investing in wearables due to a fear of adverse health outcomes like SIDS, the FDA news on the Owlet clearance notes that the Dream Sock is for home use and not intended for use with infants previously diagnosed with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions." It also states that "the safety and effectiveness of this device for the detection or prevention of SIDS/SUID has not been established. For its part, Owlet makes no such claims and also features a lengthy disclaimer on its website stressing that its products "are not medical devices. ... They do not and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, mitigate, alleviate or prevent any disease or health condition, or investigate, replace or modify anatomy or any physiological process."

Medical sleep apnea monitors have not been shown to reduce the risk of sudden infant-related death, Dr. Jenelle Ferry, a neonatologist at Pediatrix Medical Group, tells Yahoo Life.

Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend using monitors, a representative tells Yahoo Life. The AAPs policy statement on SIDS specifies that these are consumer wellness devices and are not to be used to prevent sleep-related deaths. The AAP statement also expresses concerns that using these monitors will lead to parental complacency and decreased adherence to safe sleep standards. Ultimately, the statement concludes, "A familys decision to use monitors at home should not be considered a substitute for following AAP safe sleep guidelines."

What the experts say about wearable baby monitors

Along with the risk "of parental complacency" flagged by the AAP, some experts warn that the constant tracking of an infant's data through the use of wearables can take a toll on parents' mental health.

Many of my patients have used Owlet for years, says Dr. Natasha Burgert, a pediatrician and child health expert at Kansas City-based Pediatric Associates. It's been my observation that the continuous monitoring of infants increases parental anxiety and leads to many unnecessary office visits.

Ferry agrees. Though she acknowledges that some parents might benefit from using a wearable for their baby, "there is likely to be far more inaccurate and unhelpful data than there is positive data for the majority of infants. She too has seen parents struggling with anxiety from overanalyzing readings or getting notifications telling them something is wrong, even when nothing is. Ferry adds that any device placed on the limb of a baby will have limitations in its ability to accurately pick up signals all the time, noting that an infant's movement can easily displace the device and set off an alarm.

I know many parents who thought extra monitoring would bring them comfort, but then with use found that they actually brought them anxiety, says Ferry. Alarm fatigue is a well-described phenomenon. When many alarms go off that are false alarms, we can become desensitized and start tuning some of them out. This is certainly a possibility with sleep-deprived parents of a newborn.

Constant worrying can have downsides, says Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical advisor at Sleepopolis. "While some moms might find that a wearable monitor for their infant helps to reduce their worries, others might find that they begin to constantly stress over the device, [increasing] their stress and anxiety," he says.

Are infant wearables ever recommended?

So when may these be appropriate? I certainly have recommended the pulse ox measurement for kids in situations like babies who have chronic medical illnesses, a family history of SIDS or after an ICU stay, says Burgert. For these kids at high risk for a change in status, these devices make sense. For otherwise healthy babies, however, continuous monitoring devices offer little value for the cost and stress they commonly bring.

If an infant has a medical condition that requires monitoring, a pediatrician will prescribe a medical device and then collect and interpret the data, notes Ferry. These are typically unique, short-term situations that must be discussed with a physician, rather than relying on an over-the-counter device.

Dasgupta stresses that doctors can offer guidance to parents considering a wearable. Many products are marketed as necessary or helpful to new parents," he notes. "Be careful, do your research and ask your physician for recommendations about new products.

The takeaway

For most healthy babies, a monitor isn't medically necessary  but may make moms and dads feel better. A wearable monitor that provides information about breathing, temperature or sleeping position for infants could help some parents feel more at ease while their infant is sleeping, Dasgupta says. "[But] they are not always accurate, so it's always best to speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Parents should also consider how the monitoring makes them feel: reassured, or paranoid? While there may be no cure for parental anxiety  especially at this fragile stage  it's good to know what tools help and which ones exacerbate.
Fidelity National Financial, or FNF, one of the largest real estate services companies in the United States, said it contained a recent cyberattack that engulfed its many subsidiaries and customers in a state of chaos for more than a week.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, FNF said the incident was now under control as of November 26. "The Company is restoring normal business operations and is coordinating with its customers, the filing said.

On November 21, FNF disclosed it had been the victim of a cybersecurity incident. This virtually froze all the company and its subsidiaries activities, leaving people buying and selling homes, or paying mortgages, confused and uncertain of what was going to happen to their properties and money.

Contact Us

Do you have more information about this data breach? Wed love to hear from you. From a non-work device, contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or email lorenzo@techcrunch.com. You also can contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop.

One FNF subsidiary called the incident a catastrophe in an automated message played to anyone who called its customer support number. Last week, a voicemail for a person who works at a FNF subsidiary said that, Fidelity National Financial is still experiencing a system-wide outage. We do not have access to send or receive email or access to any system. We appreciate your patience.

TechCrunch has spoken with several people affected, who said they were unable to get anyone from FNF or its subsidiaries on the phone to figure out what was happening, or get answers.

Earlier this week, a person who uses Lakeview, a company subserviced by LoanCare, which is an FNF company, told TechCrunch that he couldnt access his account, and neither could people at Lakeview, whom he spoke to on the phone. On Thursday, the person shared a screenshot of an email he received from Lakeview, which said that his account was now up and running.

Another LoanCare customer shared the same email in a Facebook group for people impacted by the breach. Several others in the group said they had received the same email.

At this point, its unclear what FNF did to contain the incident.

Shortly after FNF announced the incident, the ransomware group that calls itself ALPHV (also known as BlackCat) listed FNF on its dark web site, effectively claiming responsibility for the cyberattack, and pressuring FNF into paying a ransom to restore operations.

The ransomware gang removed the FNF listing from its leak site on the same day that FNF published its filing, saying it had contained the incident. Sometimes, when listings disappear from a ransomware gangs websites, it means the victim may have paid the ransom.

FNF did not respond to a request for comment asking the company if it disputed paying the ransom.
For someone who has spent her entire life in Northern cities, my perception of life in the South has been largely shaped by the media  images of MAGA hats everywhere and headlines of Southern governors like Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Greg Abbott (R-TX) banning books and changing the way Black history is taught in schools.

But with his 2021 book, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, New York Times columnist and author Charles Blow put something on my mind.



Read more

I caught up with Blow to talk about South to Black Power and why Black folks should consider the idea of a reverse Great Migration.

Black Power Isnt What You Think

If youre not Black, the idea of Black power is probably scary. But Blow says hes more focused on having a say in how were governed than taking power away from anyone else. Hes tired of waiting for others to address our communitys concerns and he hopes other Black people are motivated to use their vote to find solutions on their own.

Black power in this context is political strength, he said. Its not what people think about when they talk about white power, which is very often a way of creating a hierarchy of humanity where white people are higher on the pecking order, and other people are oppressed.

Holding on to Hope Isnt the Same as Real Political Power

Through his travels, Blow found the idea of wielding real political power resonated in particular with young people who arent motivated by the messages of hope and fear weve heard for decades. He cited Georgia, which elected its first Black and Jewish senators in 2020, as an example of a Southern city that got a taste of what that real political power feels like.

For Black people, the message was either be afraid and vote this particular way, feel guilty because your parents and grandparents suffered so you could get the vote, or depend on hope, he said. Hope is a great religious tool. But politically, it has limited utility. Because if you have power, you wouldnt need hope.

Blow added that the concept can be harder to grasp in places like Mississippi, where Blacks represent over 30 percent of the population but havent achieved the same political success.

[Mississippi has] done such an effective job of imposing white supremacy and oppressing Black people for so long that it kind of dims the vision, he said.

The Idea May Not Be For Everyone

Dont get it twisted: Blow knows that not everyone is down with the idea of giving up their Brooklyn brownstone or Chicago high rise with the lake view for life in the South. But Blow challenges people to consider if they are truly getting what they need  culturally or otherwise  in Northern cities.

The test is always for the individual. If you feel like your culture is embraced and your work life is blossoming, maybe you have found your forever home, he said.

Raising children in New York opened Blows eyes to the reality that being liberal and believing in racial egalitarianism dont always go hand in hand.

It was very difficult to live in New York at the height of stop-and-frisk when a majority of New Yorkers understood what was happening to these young Black boys and still supported the policy, he said. For me, it made a mockery of liberalism as a full encompassing liberalism that included my full humanity and that of my family.

But Real Power is at the State Level

When were faced with issues like inadequate health care and overcrowded schools, its easy to point the finger directly at Washington D.C. But Blow reminds us that most of the policy issues that are top of mind in the Black community  including criminal justice, health and education  are controlled at the state level, making it more important than ever to exercise our local influence where we can.

Very few people are going to deal with a federal statute. But a lot of us are going to go down to the courthouse to fight that ticket. And thats state policy, he said. We just havent even been in that conversation because we have none of that control. And we can have it because we did have it. The only reason that Black people lost their majority in some states and their near majorities in others was because of racial terror. And you cant let the terrorists win.

Opportunities for Wealth Building Exist

If the idea of political power isnt enough to make you consider a move below the Mason Dixon line, Blow suggests looking at the economic potential. He cited gentrification as a growing reality that often displaces people of color and prevents them from creating generational wealth through real estate.

Depending on the industry, the South is where the Black middle class is booming, he said. And part of that is because theres another great migration happening with urbanization primarily led by young college educated white kids deciding to reverse the decisions that their parents and grandparents made to move out of the burbs and back into cities.

It prevents more Black people from buying in those cities, and homeownership is how most Americans get a foothold into building intergenerational wealth. And so what we see in Southern cities is that that barrier is lower, and people actually buy real estate and start building wealth.

Theres Safety in the South

The ideas of economic security and political power were already enough to get me thinking about packing my bags. But as a mother of a young Black boy, it really hit home when Blow told me that the South is where he feels safest.

Living in Atlanta is the safest Ive ever felt around the police, he said. I lived in New York for 25 years, and I always felt like they were preying, always looking for a reason to stop and engage. Stop and frisk started in New York and exported to Chicago and L.A.

The destination cities invented this aggressive militarized policing, and they used it against their Black citizens. When I encountered police [in New York], my immediate reaction was to tense up. But I feel different as I travel across the South.

Though he knows he may not see real change in his lifetime, Blow said his mission is to leave things a little better for future generations.

As a person with children, I want to leave the world in a better position, he said. I dont want them to have to fight the same battles. And I know that state power is a footstool to getting out of that.

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Charles Williams, left, and his wife Ronda live in the Bridgeport community in Leland. Charles founded the North Carolina Citizens for HOA Reform group earlier this year to advocate for more oversight of the state's community associations.

After months of waiting, the North Carolina House of Representatives has finally established its Select Committee on Homeowners Associations.

The committee was established just before the Thanksgiving holiday, and it has yet to hold its first meeting. Heres what we know.

The committee came out of House Bill 311.

Rep. Frank Iler proposed House Bill 311 in March, which sought to establish a division of the North Carolina Attorney Generals Office to provide oversight of the states community associations. While the bill did not garner enough support to pass prior to the May crossover deadline, it was transformed into a resolution, which was adopted on May 2 and established a house select committee to study homeowners associations.

The committee consists of nine representatives.

Rep. Frank Iler (R-Brunswick) and Rep. Steve Tyson (R-Craven) will co-chair the committee. Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) will serve as vice chair. Other committee members include Rep. Allen Busani (D-Orange), Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenberg), Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenberg), Rep. Gray Mills (R-Iredell), Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln), and Rep. Donna White (R-Johnston).

The committee has little time to accomplish its goals.

While the committee members were named about two weeks ago, House Resolution 311 states the committee shall terminate on March 1, 2024, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first. But Iler said he believes this will be sufficient time to work.

I think we can accomplish a lot in three or four meetings, he said.

He explained the committee would be meeting before the next session begins in March, and during that time it will convene and hear from those both on both sides of the HOA oversight issue.

And Ive had plenty of volunteers to present, Iler said.

Hes also received a lot of feedback from citizens living in community associations.

I have a file about two inches thick of complaints from across the state, he said.

Iler said the committee members will hear the presentations, receive citizen feedback, and assemble that information into a final report. That report will be used to guide proposed legislation in the next session.

This isnt the first time the state has looked at HOA legislation.

There was a committee in 2011 that produced a report for the General Assembly. The seven-member committee met throughout 2010 and held public hearings to gather input from citizens. They also heard presentations from the North Carolina Real Estate Commissions Legal Services Division, the North Carolina Chapter of Community Associations Institute (CAI-NC), and the North Carolina Justice Centers Consumer Action Network.

Iler acknowledged this previous attempt at creating more oversight for the states HOAs and POAs but noted the legislation that resulted ended up getting watered down.

It did not have a lot of teeth in it, he said.

But hes hoping this time, things will be different. He said the issues people often voice concerns about are access, accountability, arbitrary enforcement, and oversight.

There are so many issues that need to be mediated, he said.

The committee is expected to begin meeting in January.

Iler said while little happens around the holidays, he will soon reach out to Tyson and the committee members to establish a time for the first meeting. He expects they will be able to meet three or four times before the committee is set dissolve on March 1.

In the meantime, several Wilmington-area HOA legislation advocates are reaching out to make their feelings known. Charles Williams, founder of North Carolina Citizens for HOA Reform, is encouraging citizens to visit a page on the organizations website (http://www.cfhoar.org/from-the-hoa-trenches) and share their HOA horror stories. In a post on the groups Facebook page, Williams said he intends to share these stories with the committee.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC General Assembly committee on HOAs selected, Frank Iler co-chair
ANKARA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) killed a senior member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in a cross-border operation in northern Iraq, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.

The "neutralized" PKK member, Mehmet Akin, code-named Harun Egid, was found hiding in the Hakhurk region, according to Anadolu.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the "terrorists" in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

He was alleged to be plotting attacks against Turkish forces bases in northern Iraq, Anadolu quoted anonymous Turkish security sources.

Akin allegedly received sabotage training from the group in northern Iraq's Avasin region and took part in attacks against the Turkish forces in the "Operation Claw-Lock" zone.

Turkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to fight against the PKK in the northern Iraq region near the Turkish border.

The MIT has intensified cross-border operations in Iraq since last year and killed several other senior PKK members.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 
In October 2018, Shaun Smith was dealing with some difficult times in his life.

The loss of his father, who died in December 2016, was still fresh in the Collierville resident's mind. On top of that, Smith was dealing with the trials and tribulations of parenting twins going through their terrible twos stage. His children were born in September 2016, just months before the passing of his father, so they didn't get a chance to really know their grandfather.

Smith said during that time a fellow dad with twins reached out to him through social media and pitched an idea to do a toy drive for the holidays. He was going through some personal struggles too and wanted to give back to the community in some way.

Smith felt doing something to help children less fortunate could help uplift his spirits.

Shaun Smith, a financial specialist at Pinnacle Financial Partners, poses with donations he has received so far for his Little Wheels Big Hearts of Tennessee toy drive for Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital at 9057 Poplar Ave. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Germantown, Tenn.

"I was just looking for something that could provide some more positive energy in my life," said Smith, a financial specialist at Pinnacle Financial Partners in Germantown. "With us being fathers with multiple kids, we thought why not make a difference in other kids' lives because no matter the things we were going through that we were still blessed and our kids aren't going through hardships that other children in the area are experiencing."

That was the beginning of the Little Wheels Big Hearts of Tennessee toy drive, which Smith continues to lead.

Why Little Wheels Big Hearts was started

The toy drive was started in October 2018 to collect and donate toys to underprivileged and underserved children in the area.

At the start, Smith said Little Wheels Big Hearts was strictly a way to do a toy drive focusing on new toys with wheels for Toys for Tots. Little Wheels Big Hearts started with just Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars because they were iconic brands and easy to find in stores, according to Smith.

"A kid can kind of do anything with with a toy car and truck and play with it anywhere," he said.

Smith said Little Wheels Big Hearts collected 1,400 new toys with wheels during its first year in 2018. That number increased to 2,576 toys in 2019 and 3,028 in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We got bigger every year, and we were only using Instagram and Twitter to spread the word, Smith said.

LOCAL NEWS: Meet Candace Parkerson, the 11-year-old Memphian whose nonprofit feeds the homeless

Going in a different direction to help kids at Le Bonheur

Little Wheels Big Hearts was forced to take a different route in 2021. After the local Toys for Tots lost its warehouse space in Memphis, Smith, who had taken full control of the initiative, still wanted to collect and donate toys for an organization in the area.

Through his connections from his colleagues with Pinnacle, Smith got linked up with Michelle Rogers, director of development at Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital. The conversation led to Smith pivoting and doing the Little Wheels Big Hearts toy drive for Le Bonheurs toy room called Bunny Lane. The space is where new patients go to pick out new toys to keep and play with during the time theyre being treated at the hospital.

Donated brand-new toys sit on a table inside Pinnacle Financial for Shaun Smiths Little Wheels Big Hearts of Tennessee toy drive for Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital at the Poplar and Highland location on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, in Memphis, Tenn.

According to Le Bonheurs website, more than 14,000 children visit Bunny Lane each year before they go to one of the hospitals 17 operating rooms. It has been a tradition since Le Bonheur opened in Memphis in 1952. The toy selected by each child is there with them when they awake from surgery.

Smith said it was refreshing to hear stories of people who have donated and supported Little Wheels Big Hearts were also patients as children at Le Bonheur. Their fondest memories were the Bunny Lane toy run.

When I hear that, I know that Im on to something, and that this is a legit good cause, Smith said. Its great to know that kid has that experience of picking out and owning that toy. It gives them a positive experience before heading to surgery, so it takes their mind off thinking about surgery.

"Hearing the testimonies from people who have been through it really drove home that I got to keep doing it. I want to do it to the best of my abilities to make sure we can get all their toys.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: 'Because I believe in it:' Inside the mentorship nonprofit run by a Memphis police officer

Last year, Little Wheels Big Hearts collected more than 4,200 new toys with wheels for Bunny Lane, Smith said. It was the toy drives highest total since it started five years ago. Sarah Burnett, director of community and public relations for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, said toy drives like the one Smith is leading show how people in the area help the hospital's cause.

"We could not do what we do without community support," Burnett said. "We have donors that are so generous with their funds and their time and their talents. To me that is the mark of why our community is so special, that folks like Shaun that want to give back and that is important to us. It means a lot to everybody on the staff at Le Bonheur."

Smiths goal for this years toy drive, which kicked off Nov. 8 and goes through Dec. 18, is to hit or exceed last year's total.

He said Little Wheels Big Hearts has collected almost 800 toys and he feels strongly that more than 4,000 toys will be donated for the cause. He said local organizations such as the Overton Park Shell have joined this year to help promote Little Wheels Big Hearts on social media channels as well as collect and donate toys for the drive. In addition to toys with wheels, other toys such as Barbie dolls, Transformers, action figures and Legos have been collected for the children.

They obviously need more than little toy cars, Smith said. Im really pushing trying to get more toys like Legos, which allows them to be more interactive. It gives them something to do over a period of time, while they are sitting in recovery.

Looking at going nonprofit

Brand-new donated toys sit on a table inside Pinnacle Financial for Shaun Smiths Little Wheels Big Hearts of Tennessee toy drive for Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital at the Poplar and Highland location on Wednesday November 15, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn.

Smith aspires to expand Little Wheels Big Hearts into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the future, but knows there is a lot of work to do before crossing that threshold. Nonetheless, he just wants to continue bringing joy to those children suffering at Le Bonheur.

Thats down the road, especially if we get bigger and were going to need more volunteers, Smith said, referring to forming a nonprofit. My job as a community banker is something that Im always going to do. But as far as doing a nonprofit, it is something that Im contemplating and something I thought about last year. ... Im not ready to take that step yet, but its in the back of my mind. Im passionate about this and our mission will continue to be bringing smiles to kids one wheel toy at a time.

Corey Davis is the Collierville and Germantown reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Corey.Davis@commercialappeal.com or 901-293-1610.

Little Wheels Big Hearts

To donate toys to Little Wheels Big Hearts, dropboxes are set up at at all seven of Pinnacle's Memphis-area locations. For more information, visit littlewheelsbigheartstn.com

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Little Wheels Big Hearts: What to know about toy drive for Le Bonheur
Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced a bill Thursday to regulate firearms by outlawing weapons with a magazine capacity over 10 rounds, among other measures aimed at increasing gun control.

The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE) comes a month after a gunman killed 18 people in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, not far from where King lives.

The act addresses the lethal capacity weapons like the one used in Lewiston and most of the deadliest mass shootings across the country, King said in a statement. Nothing can bring back the lives of our family and friends, but responsible actions moving forward can reduce the likelihood of such a nightmare happening again in Maine or anywhere else.

The bill, which Heinrich began drafting in 2017, his office said, is cosponsored by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

Specifically, the GOSAFE Act targets firearms mechanisms, instead of implementing restrictions based on how firearms look. It places a ban on magazines larger than 10 rounds, bans modifications like bump stocks and bans the manufacture of ghost gun kits  build-at-home firearms without serial numbers.

I firmly believe we must uphold the laws that protect safe and responsible gun ownership, Heinrich said in a statement. This bill achieves that, while taking steps to get those firearms that are inherently dangerous and unusually lethal, designed for maximum harm, out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.

It would also create a voluntary gun buy-back program to remove violating firearms from circulation.

Were taking a leap here and doing something that we think is absolutely necessary and will work, King said in an MSNBC interview Thursday. The fundamental is to really get at these high-capacity magazines on these guns that make them so dangerous because when you have to stop to reload, thats when you can intervene in a shooting.

The Lewiston shooting jump-started conversations about gun control, with some members of Congress explicitly calling for the reintroduction of an assault weapons ban.

The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles, like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who represents Lewiston, said last month.

Efforts to pass gun control in Congress have consistently hit walls in recent years as conservatives shy away from supporting measures that some believe could infringe on Second Amendment rights.

Previous legislation to ban bump stocks and ghost guns has been struck down by federal courts, but face appeals.

A Trump-era ban on bump stocks was struck down by a federal appeals court in January. The case is expected to be decided by the Supreme Court. A Biden administration rule banning ghost guns was thrown out by an appeals court this month.

Updated 4:14 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A trip leaving Las Vegas turned treacherous during Formula One weekend when a Los Angeles woman said Google Maps took them on a detour into the middle of the desert.

The car is like jumping up and down, Shelby Easler recalled. Im like, where are we going?

Easler told 8 News Now she was in Southern Nevada to watch F1 just over a week ago, when her family was stopped by a massive dust storm that closed Interstate 15 at Primm on November 19.

It said suggested alternate detour, save 50 minutes, Easler recalled, speaking about Google Maps, So, were like great.

A trip leaving Las Vegas turned treacherous during Formula One weekend when a Los Angeles woman said Google Maps took them on a detour into the middle of the desert. (Photo credit: Shelby Easler)

However, that detour she said the navigational app suggested became anything but great, when they joined dozens of others stranded in the desert near Sandy Valley, Nevada.

You cant really turn around, Easler explained, describing the situation. Because theres like walls of dirt and whatever rocks on either side of us.

After about two hours, Easler said they were able to turn around to safely get back to the interstate, but she said Google Maps was still telling them to keep going.

A trip leaving Las Vegas turned treacherous during Formula One weekend when a Los Angeles woman said Google Maps took them on a detour into the middle of the desert. (Photo credit: Shelby Easler)

8 News Now reached out to Google about the mishap and received this statement from a company spokesperson.

We apologize for the incident that happened last weekend and can confirm that well no longer route drivers traveling between Las Vegas and Barstow down those roads. Today, drivers making that trip are being routed through Interstate 15, which has been reopened.

I cant imagine how much damage this has done, Easler said of the ordeal. For everyone that has been involved.

She said that damage forced her family to tow their car back to Las Vegas to get $5,000 worth of repairs. She then booked a flight back to Los Angeles, which arrived the following day.

Regardless of the stress and emotional strain, Easler told 8 News Now shes just glad everyone is okay.

Glad we got home safely, she concluded.

Easler told 8 News Now this was her familys first time driving to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, which added to the confusion about the suggested detour.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Pasos Environmental Services Department (ESD) is hosting a Dumpster Art Contest for local high schools as part of its 2024 Earth Day Celebration.

Dumpster Art Contest flyer courtesy of the City of El Paso

The contest is open to all high school students from the El Paso, Socorro and Ysleta School Districts, who reside within El Paso city limits.

The art design should be reflective of El Pasos unique culture while promoting an environmental-friendly lifestyle.

Three finalists from each school district will be selected, and will be awarded $500 in art supplies to paint their proposed artwork on ESD roll-off dumpsters.

The painted roll-off dumpsters will be displayed at ESDs annual Earth Day Celebration in April 2024, where attendees will vote for their favorite dumpster art, and the winner will be announced at the end of the event.

The contest provides an opportunity for our younger residents to get involved in our community and foster a sense of pride and ownership of our environment through their artwork, said Nick Ybarra, ESD Director.

Interested participants should submit their application and art rendering by Friday, January 12, 2024, via email at ESDOutreach@elpasotexas.gov.

For complete contest guidelines, visit ElPasoTexas.gov/Environmental-Services/Community-Services, call 915-212-6000, or send an email to ESDOutreach@elpasotexas.gov.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
SAN JOAQUIN, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A proclamation was signed to praise the successful efforts of San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control Districts collaborative effort in reducing carbon emissions to improve air quality.

With San Joaquin Valley having some of the most challenging fine particulate matter and ozone air quality issues in the nation, officials are proud of their accomplishments.

NRCS California is proud to have helped our farmers replace more than 6,000 old, polluting tractors since 2008, with an emissions reduction equivalent of removing 1.5 million cars off Californias roads, said Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez.

The district, NRCS, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 (US EPA) report they collectively met their goal to increase the exchange of ag equipment for cleaner equipment. Together they achieved over 12 tons per day of NOx emission reductions in 2024.

Moving towards the cleanest available technology in this sector continues to be critical to improving the air in the Valley, said Liane Randolph, Chair of CARB. We all have a role to play in building a healthier, more sustainable California, and todays event shows what we can achieve when we work together.

To meet their emission reduction commitment, officials say the ag industry destroyed 12,800 pieces of older ag equipment in the San Joaquin Valley, 7,300 of which were the oldest Tier 0 with no emissions controls.

District officials report some strategies used to reduce agricultural emissions include:

Conservation Management Practices

Turnover of agricultural pumps (including electrification of thousands of pump engines)

Replacement of conventional harvesting equipment with low-dust nut harvesters

Phase-out of agricultural open-burning

Deployment of thousands of zero-emission agricultural utility terrain vehicles

Turnover of thousands of tractors with the cleanest technologies available

Ag representatives reassure they will continue working to reduce emissions and improve air quality.

Emissions from agricultural equipment are the largest source of nitrogen oxide in the Valley and will require continued innovation and strategies for reducing air pollution, said Regional Administrator for EPAs Region 9 Martha Guzman.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com.
The Scoop

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed two former White House officials Thursday in its ongoing investigation into the executive branchs alleged censorship of social media, according to documents obtained by Semafor.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, first initiated testimony of Robert Flaherty, the former White House digital strategist now serving as Bidens deputy campaign manager, and Andrew Slavitt, a former senior advisor to the Biden administrations pandemic response team, in June and September respectively. Flaherty is the subject of a federal censorship lawsuit brought by the state of Missouri against the Biden administration.

In the letters, Jordan called their reasons for declining to appear before the committee  the pair said lawmakers should instead contact the White House  unpersuasive.

As detailed in previous correspondence to you and your counsel, the Committee has obtained documents that demonstrate the central role you played in communicating the Biden White Houses censorship efforts to social media companies, including the White Houses demands to censor true information, memes, satire, and other constitutionally protected forms of expression, the cover letters to the subpoenas read.

In response, White House spokesman Ian Sams accused Republicans of issuing baseless subpoenas just to play to their far right base and said the administration has promoted responsible actions to protect public health, safety, and security when confronted by challenges like a deadly pandemic.

The new subpoenas were delivered nearly a year after the Twitter Files were published  internal documents leaked to select journalists and published on the platform now named X that revealed the companys content moderation process before Elon Musks ownership. The Twitter Files sparked debate around so-called liberal bias and became the basis of a congressional hearing in March where Matt Taibbi, one of three journalists given access to the social media companys content, testified before Congress.

Nearly nine months later, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, chaired by Jordan, is holding a second hearing. Taibbi will testify again.

Correction

The original version of this story incorrectly stated that Robert Flaherty was a current Biden administration official.
Turns out, its not my way or the highway with Laura Kelly.

Last week, Kansas governor introduced a new standard license plate design that the Department of Revenue would begin issuing next year. It was simple and graphic: an all-caps KANSAS at the top, with two stars at the sides and a stylized to the stars  a translation of part of the Ad Astra per Aspera state motto  at the bottom.

But the colors, we reckon, were a problem for some. The plates featured wheat-yellow, black and midnight blue. And that combination screamed University of Missouri to a lot of people. Star reporter Lisa Gutierrez tallied up a lengthy list of complaints from X.com, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Best thing Kansas can do is release a black and gold license plate. #MIZ, wrote one typical Mizzou-loving faultfinder.

Of course, were talking about social media in 2023, where overblown outrage is the currency of the day. People have always loved to whine and moan, and despite its name change, X is still the forum of choice for venting spleens. Culture warrior extraordinaire Attorney General Kris Kobach even took the opportunity to make graphic design partisan, bleating: First our NY born Gov brings NY policies. Now NY plates!

(For the record, our regular opinion correspondent Joel Mathis welcomed the new design, which he found fun, distinctive and exciting to look at. We rounded up reader responses, too. Read some of them here.)

But Gov. Kelly was listening to the grievances. I promised to be a bipartisan governor, and I think we can all admit  I succeeded at bringing Kansans across the political aisle together in disliking this new license plate, she wrote in a statement Tuesday. So her administration will be sharing a new set of plates for Kansans to vote on, and well soon see what the public wants to put on its cars and trucks.

In other words, responsive leadership. Paying attention to what her constituents are asking for, even in a matter so ultimately trivial. Because, sure, we understand people who see Tigers black and gold first in the proposed new plates. And were all for putting it to a vote.

But lets not forget that youre hardly limited to just one look on your bumper. The state already offers almost 50 Kansas Distinctive License Plates. Want to boost the Pittsburg State Gorillas? Tell other motorists that you Choose Life? Or display your disdain for government (oh, the irony) with a coiled snake on a yellow Dont Tread On Me Gadsden flag? There are plates for all those, and many more.

So no drivers were going to be forced to bolt on plates they objected to. Yet the fact that Kelly changed course is sadly novel in Kansas today  and we wish the Legislature would take note.

An overwhelming majority of the population supports expanding KanCare, the states Medicaid program. As it is, Kansans keep sending money to the 40 other states that have already taken this crucial step toward reducing everyones health care costs by making it easier for people with low incomes to see a doctor when theyre sick. But Republicans in Topeka keep saying no.

Voters saw through the misleading Value Them Both amendment last year that would have allowed the GOP supermajority to further restrict reproductive rights in the state, knocking it down by a wide margin. But GOP lawmakers keep introducing unnecessary new antiabortion laws.

Things arent much better across the state line, where the Republican-controlled General Assembly got to work immediately trying to overturn the Clean Missouri open records law voters passed in 2018. And it keeps trying to thwart the public will via initiative petitions.

Kansas License Plategate was over swiftly. And it was no big deal.

Now, imagine what it would be like if we could rely on everyone in Topeka and Jefferson City to follow the will of the voters on the issues that really matter.
MARLBOROUGH  Kethlen Paula Alves Trindade DaRocha came to the United States from Brazil with the hope to improve her life and help her family back home.

Those hopes came to a tragic halt on Wednesday, when the 28-year-old woman was shot and killed inside her Rice Street residence. Her alleged killer and on-and-off boyfriend, Marlon Moreira Costa, 29, then killed himself in what authorities say is a murder-suicide.

"Kethlen was sweetheart  we're all in shock with what happened," said Junior Dantas, a family friend from East Boston. "She was a 28-year-old, entrepreneur, started her own salon business in Brazil a few years ago, a very successful salon but just a little over a year and a half ago decided to come to the U.S. seeking the American dream. Her salon in Brazil is still active  her family is running the operation down there  and she was here working as a hairdresser and doing delivery. Always thinking and helping her family."

This is a screengrab from a GoFundMe that was started to help fund funeral costs for Kethlen Paula Alves Trindade DaRocha, who was shot and killed Wednesday in Marlborough.

Earlier: Police investigating death of couple as murder-suicide in Marlborough

On Wednesday, police responded to the Rice Street residence for a report of a shooting. DaRocha's roommate called 911 at 10:05 a.m. When police went in, they found both DaRocha and Costa dead.

Family friend said couple had dated for a few months, breaking up 'a couple of times'

Dantas said DaRocha and Costa had been dating for a couple of months and had already broken up and gotten back together "a couple of times." On Tuesday night, they got into an argument at his home and the argument continued until Wednesday morning.

The argument continued at her apartment, with Dantas saying Costa threatened DaRocha and DaRocha told him she was going to call his mother and police.

"He went home and came back with a handgun, he asked her to open the door," said Dantas. "She refused to open the door, he found a window with an AC (air conditioner). He pushed the AC in, went through the window. One other person in the house tried to stop him, but when she saw the gun, she grabbed her own son and jumped out the window after hearing a shot. When she got out, she heard the second shot. Neighbors helped her take shelter and called 911  but when they (police) arrived, it was already too late."

Fatal stabbing: Marlborough woman is charged with manslaughter

A GoFundMe has been created to help defray the costs of DaRocha's funeral. As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the fundraiser has raised a little more than $3,200 of the $6,000 being sought.

"Kethlen Paula Alves Tavares Trindade Rocha, 28 years old, born in Governador Valadares - MG, came to the United States with the American dream of helping her family in Brazil, but had this dream interrupted by a fatality," according to the GoFundMe. "She was a victim of Femicide. I ask Our Dear Community to help us with the expense of her Cremation. Thank you very much."

To donate to the GoFundMe, visit https://gofund.me/60133e36.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said Thursday there was no new information about the case and it remains under investigation.

Dantas said he's helping the family arrange a funeral locally, then send her remains home to Brazil.

"Kethlen was really nice to everyone, always cared about her family and friends, was really vibrant all the time and will be missed forever," Dantas said.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Marlborough shooting victim's friend launches funeral costs fundraiser
WORCESTER  A 35-year-old Northbridge woman accused of striking a motorcyclist last year after leaving a marijuana dispensary pleaded not guilty Thursday in Worcester Superior Court to charges of manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide.

Scott M. Reed  the motorcyclist the woman allegedly ran into with her vehicle before leaving the scene  succumbed to his injuries May 1, more than 10 months after the crash, according to court documents.

According to his obituary, Reed, 57, of Sunapee, New Hampshire, died peacefully after a long struggle in UMass Memorial Hospital.

Scott M. Reed, of New Hampshire, died May 1 from injuries sustained in a 2022 hit-and-run crash.

A 1988 Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduate with a degree in mathematics, Reed was an IT executive at The Hartford, MassMutual and AIG. He was married for 34 years. In 2015, Reed and his wife, Jennifer, bought the Inn at Pleasant Lake in New London, New Hampshire; in 2020, they bought the New London Inn in the same town.

The couple had two children. Reed is also survived by his mother, a brother, a sister, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A hit-and-run crash with personal injuries involving a car and a motorcycle was reported to police around 5:30 p.m. June 11, 2022, on Route 146 in Uxbridge.

Reports of a gray Honda Pilot with significant damage fled the scene traveling north. Soon after, the Northbridge police located the SUV on Border and B streets in their town. Police identified the driver as Marissa Mendes, 35, of the Whitinsville section of Northbridge.

The vehicle had heavy driver-side damage and a flat left front tire, and the drivers side airbags were deployed, according to Trooper Kenneth R. Hanchett, assigned to the Millbury barracks.

Hanchett reported that while speaking to Mendes, he detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath and described her eyes to be glassy and slightly bloodshot.

Mendes told the trooper she had just left Carolines Cannabis in Uxbridge and that the SUV that she was driving had been struck by another vehicle as she was pulling out of the parking lot, according to the troopers report.

Mendes said she was then struck by another vehicle on Route 146 but didnt pull over, Hanchetts report states.

When asked if she was on any medications or had consumed any alcohol, Mendes told the trooper that she was on depression medication and had consumed five nips of Jim Beam, according to the troopers report.

Mendes said she had consumed the nips three to four hours prior at her house, the troopers report stated.

Several witnesses to the crash described Mendes vehicle as the one that struck the motorcycle and fled the scene. At least one witness provided the license plate for Mendes vehicle and another took a photo of her car at the accident scene using his phone, according to the troopers report.

The weather was pleasant, with no noticeable wind and it was dry, according to Hanchetts report.

Two tests came up with a blood alcohol level of 0.16, or twice the legal limit, while several sobriety tests indicated impairment, he reported.

Mendes was arraigned Thursday on charges of manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol, motor vehicle homicide by driving under the influence or reckless driving, leaving the scene of personal injury or death, motor vehicle homicide by negligent operations and driving under the influence of alcohol.

A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf by Judge Janet Kenton-Walker. Bail was set at $5,000 surety, $500 cash. Conditions of the defendants release include remaining drug and alcohol free (which includes no marijuana), random screenings and refraining from driving.

Mendes is due back in court Dec. 15 for a pretrial hearing.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Marissa Mendes charged in crash that killed Scott Reed of Sunapee
This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the construction site of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station in Koh Kong province, Cambodia. The project of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station will increase the reliable source of clean energy in Cambodia, contributing further to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

KOH KONG, Cambodia, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The project of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station will increase the reliable source of clean energy in Cambodia, contributing further to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday.

With a designed capacity of 150 megawatts (MWs), the project is expected to generate 527 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year when it is fully operational.

Hun Manet said the project, invested by the China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC), is a concessional contract of a 39-year build-operate-transfer (BOT), of which, four years for construction and 35 years for operations.

"I would like to thank Chinese enterprises for investing in hydropower plants, a source of clean energy, in Cambodia," he said in a speech during the river closing ceremony for the construction of the hydropower station in Thmar Baing district.

"Chinese-built hydropower plants have helped secure reliable electricity supply, stabilize electricity prices, promote economic development and improve the livelihoods of the people in Cambodia," he said.

The prime minister said energy security is essential to ensuring sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, adding that the Southeast Asian country encouraged investment in hydropower, solar power, and wind farm projects.

"Hydropower plants are crucial to ensuring Cambodia's energy security and they have been providing enormous benefit to Cambodia and its people," he said.

"Cambodia aims to lift its share of clean energy generation capacity to 70 percent by 2030 from the current 62 percent," he added.

Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rattanak said that the construction of the Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station started in December 2022 and to date, 31.5 percent of the whole project has been completed.

He said that the company has so far completed the construction of a road leading to the construction site, a bridge, an administration building and other necessary infrastructure.

"The construction of the Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station is to respond to the growth of population, economy, and investment," he said. "The development of this new project also shows Cambodia's commitment towards carbon neutrality by 2050."

Rattanak said the Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station was the second project developed by the CHMC after the company invested in the development of a 246-MW Cambodia Tatay Hydropower Station here in 2010, in a 42-year BOT mode. The first project was put into operation in 2015 and has generated 858 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

Local villagers on Thursday voiced their full support for the new dam project, saying that it would bring development and reliable electricity to their remote villages.

"I'm happy to see the development of the dam here, so we will have enough electricity for consumption. We are all happy," Khut Bunthoeun, a 45-year-old farmer in Russei Chhrum village in Thmar Baing district, told Xinhua.

"With this hydropower project, our area will be developed, and I would like to thank China for coming to build the hydropower station here," he said.

Som Buntha, another 38-year-old villager, said she was excited to see the dam project in her district, saying it would provide stable electricity for locals at a cheaper price.

"I am very happy because it will provide us with roads and electricity. I hope it will bring a lot of development to our district," the mother of four children told Xinhua.

China is the largest investor in building hydroelectric plants in Cambodia. According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, seven Chinese-built hydroelectric dams in the kingdom with a total capacity of 1,328 MWs have been put into operation so far. 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (3rd R, front) and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (2nd L, front) pose for photos at the construction site of the Chinese-invested Upper Tatay Hydropower Station in Koh Kong province, Cambodia on Nov. 30, 2023. The project of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station will increase the reliable source of clean energy in Cambodia, contributing further to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the construction site of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station in Koh Kong province, Cambodia. The project of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station will increase the reliable source of clean energy in Cambodia, contributing further to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

This aerial photo taken on Nov. 29, 2023 shows the construction site of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station in Koh Kong province, Cambodia. The project of the Chinese-invested Cambodia Upper Tatay Hydropower Station will increase the reliable source of clean energy in Cambodia, contributing further to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday. (Photo by Liao Hongqing/Xinhua)
Idaho residents could be in store for a celestial treat on Thursday night  as long as the skies remain clear.

The aurora borealis  better known as the northern lights  will be visible across much of the United States northern reaches on Thursday night as a Cannibal solar storm barrels through space toward Earth.

That includes Idaho, but cloudy skies may ruin the spectacle.

Will the weather in Idaho cooperate?

Boise is just within the forecast zone to see the aurora with the naked eye, according to the social media account Space Weather Watch. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also has Boise on the viewing areas cusp.

Although the Northern Lights themselves may not be directly over Boise, they should still be viewable to the north if cloud cover breaks.

But most of the Gem State and many other northern states will be under a thick layer of clouds on Thursday night. Snow is in the forecast for Boise, with snow beginning on Thursday evening and lasting through Friday, with snow totals expected to be around 1-2 inches.

What exactly are the northern lights?

When pretty colored lights randomly appear in the sky, theres usually some weird science going on.

But in its simplest form, the northern lights occur because the magnetically charged protons and electrons encounter Earths magnetic field, which protects the planet from cosmic radiation and particles emitted from the sun. The protons and electrons follow the magnetic field, which convenes at the north and south poles.

Thats when the magic happens.

When (protons and electrons) slam into the atmosphere, they excite the atoms there, and oxygen happens to glow green, Jason Barnes, a professor in the University of Idaho Department of Physics, previously told the Idaho Statesman. And so a lot of what youre seeing is oxygen glowing in the upper atmosphere.

Barnes also explained that oxygen isnt the only molecule with atoms getting excited by the solar flares, but that its the most dominant molecule in the atmosphere and the one we can see easiest with our eyes.

How to view the aurora borealis in Idaho

If the clouds break on Thursday night and offer a glimpse of the sky, aurora chases will want to look toward the north.

Barnes also recommends somewhere away from light pollution. He also said the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve would be a good location  the reserve is just 10 minutes northeast of Pettit Lakes eastern shore and boasts one of the darkest skies in the United States.

Viewing options closer to Boise include the top of the hill at Camels Back Park in the North End, and Dedication Point, a pull-off area near Celebration Park south of Boise with zero light pollution.

Once youre in a dark location, the next challenge is identifying the lights.

It kind of looks like a thin cloud. But it kind of changes really fast. So it changes on maybe 20 or 30-second timescales, Barnes said. And thats really the big indication that youre looking at an aurora and not just a random cloud.

Auroras can be viewed with the naked eye. Barnes recommended against using any sort of telescope or binoculars because an aurora is a wide-scale event, and a magnification device may limit your view.
A Palm Beach vacant lot fronting the Intracoastal Waterway at 940 N. Lake Way has entered the market at $59 million. The land sold with a since-razed house for a recorded $50 million in July.

Theres a real estate cliche that agents and brokers often use to describe built-out Palm Beach: No one is making any more land on this 16-mile-long island.

But theres a way to circumvent that truth, as demonstrated by a new $59-million listing of a vacant lakeside lot at 940 N. Lake Way.

Until recently, that land was home to a 1970s-era house. But after the North End property sold in late July for a recorded $50 million, the buyer razed the residence and cleared the land. The lot entered the multiple listing service with its look-at-me price on Wednesday.

With wide views of the Intracoastal Waterway, the lot is being sold by Palm Beach entrepreneur and investor Harvey Cooper Jones Jr., who bought the property through a trust in his name in a sale that closed July 28. At the time, the house was listed at $55 million.

With a private dock and 128 feet of lakefront, the land measures four-fifths of an acre. Its the fourth lot north of the Palm Beach Country Club and is separated from the waterway by the Lake Trail bicycle-and-pedestrian path.

The property has water deep enough to accommodate a 130-foot yacht, and the concrete dock has two boat lifts.

Just listed at $59 million, a vacant lot measuring four-fifths of an acre at 940 N. Lake Way in Palm Beach offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the mainland.

SOLD FOR $50 MILLION IN JULY: House with 128 feet of lakefront brings $50 million on North End of Palm Beach

The lot is a little less than a mile north of a house Jones trust has owned since 2018 at 300 Ridgeview Road. He has that home, which he shares with fiancee Robin Gillen, listed as his primary residence in the latest Palm Beach County tax rolls.

He also has a home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and has been described in published reports as an avid sailor.

Jones is managing partner of Square Wave Ventures, a private venture investment firm with an office in West Palm Beach. He could not be reached for comment.

The property is the fourth most-expensive of the 19 residential land listings in the Palm Beach Board of Realtors MLS, an online search Thursday showed. It trails an oceanfront lot priced at $200 million; an ocean-to-lake property listed at $150 million; and a beachfront parcel asking $74.5 million. The least expensive land listing on the island is a lot with a house being marketed as a tear-down for $4.25 million.

PRICIEST PALM BEACH LAND LISTING EVER: Costmetics scion William Lauder offers seaside Palm Beach land for $200 million

Jones bought the property on North Lake Way from the estate of the late wine-and-liquor distributor James Jimmy V. Tigani II, who had owned it since 2002 through a Delaware-registered company named Century Wines & Spirits Inc.

Tigani, who bought the now-razed house for $7.37 million, died in November 2022 at 85. He shared the renovated five-bedroom, Palm Beach Regency-style house  built in 1974  with his partner of 26 years, Corcoran Group real estate agent Mark Bennett.

With a private dock in the Intracoastal Waterway, a Palm Beach house at 940 N. Lake Way, center, changed hands in July 2023 for a recorded $50 million. The house was later demolished and the land listed at $59 million.

Bennett handled the sellers side of the July transaction, with Sothebys International Realty Agents Todd and Frances Peter representing Jones interests.

The Peters also hold the listing for the vacant lot. Todd Peter declined to comment about the property.

But the new sales listing describes the property as being in a prime location that provides the perfect haven for maritime enthusiasts to build a dream home, thanks to its relatively deep water. Such properties are in short supply on the island, not just because of the topography but also owing to the tight inventory for waterfront homes.

The dock is thoughtfully designed to accommodate larger vessels over 100 feet, along with multiple smaller vessels. The dock features a substantial 40,000-pound lift for larger boats, and an additional 15,000-pound lift for smaller boats, the listing says.

The buyer would have immediate access to the Lake Trail from the property. Access to the ocean on the opposite side of the island is between Sandpiper and Eden roads.

dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com

MAR-A-LAGO MISTAKE: Oops! Eric Trump denies Mar-a-Lago sold for $422 million; Zillow admits listing error

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach estate that fetched $50M in July lists at $59M as empty lot
Russian missiles have torn through apartment buildings in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, killing at least two people, injuring a baby and burying families under rubble.

The missiles hit three Donetsk cities, Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad, Ukrainian internal affairs minister Ihor Klymenko said.

In Pokrovsk, Emergency crews helped rescue a man with a six-month-old baby, covered in blood, in his hands, officials said. The strikes destroyed a multi-storey building, nine houses, a police office and cars.

Emergency workers pulled the body of a 62-year-old man from the wreckage of a destroyed multi-storey building in Novohrodivka.

Four more people may be under the rubble, including a child, authorities said.

It comes as statistics by a longtime Russo-Ukraine War military data researcher suggested Russian forces have faces record losses this month.

Data published by Ragnar Gudmundsson said more than 25,000 Russian service personnel died or were severely wounded in combat in Ukraine in November.

It added that an average of 994 men were killed a day during the previous week.

Kremlin spokesmen have admitted Russian forces have suffered unexpectedly heavy losses during its invasion of Ukraine but accuse Kyiv of inflated claims.

Key Points

Vladimir Putin signs Russias largest national budget as he bolsters military spending

Putin suffering losses well behind the front line, says UK

Ukraine targets Moscow in major drone assault

Explosions heard overnight in Kyiv as Putin launches biggest drone attack yet

10:40 , Tom Watling

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow saw no signs that Kyiv was ready to move towards a political resolution and that there was no reason for Russia to change the goals of its special military operation in Ukraine.

Lavrov was speaking at a news conference in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, front, attends the plenary session of the OSCE in North Macedonia (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Russia advancing on all fronts in Ukraine, claims Kremlin defence minister

10:04 , Tom Watling

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday that the Russian military was advancing in all directions in Ukraine, the state news agency RIA reported.

Shoigu also said that Russia would hold naval drills, called Ocean-2024, next year.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu chairs a roundtable meeting with military officials in Moscow (Russian Defence Ministry/AFP via)

Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war

09:33 , Tom Watling

Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine.

Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv.

In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades.

Putin asks Russian women to have eight or more children amid deaths in his war

Hungarys Orban says EU should first sign strategic partnership accord with Ukraine

08:45 , Matt Mathers

The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungarys Viktor Orban said on Friday.

The 27 national EU leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the European Commissions recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions, even as it fights to repel Russias invasion.

Any such decision requires unanimity of the blocs 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle. The Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly said Hungary would not support the Commissions proposal in its present form.

Orban reiterated on Friday that several issues would need to be cleared before membership talks could start with Ukraine, saying the country, making it impossible to assess what consequences Ukraines membership would have on the bloc.

"If we dont know (what consequences it would have) then we should not start talks... So I will represent the view that the EU should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine," Orban said in an interview on state radio.

"This (agreement) could last for up to 5-10 years, lets bring them closer, as the gap is too wide now," he said. "Lets give time for us to work together, and when we see that we can work together, then lets bring up the issue of membership."

File photo: Viktor Orban (MTVA - Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund)

Ukraine says it is repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky orders more fortifications

07:45 , Matt Mathers

Missile attacks and ground clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces surged on Thursday, according to the Ukrainian military, as Russian troops launched offensives but failed to move forward on as many as six fronts.

A total of 73 combat skirmishes took place across the wars frontline in the past 24 hours, an update from Ukraines General Staff of the Armed Forces on Thursday read, a day after Russia launched more than 100 attacks to recapture its lost positions in eastern Ukraines Robotyne.

Arpan Rai reports:

Ukraine repelling Russian attacks across six fronts as Zelensky seeks fortifications

US senators to be briefed on Ukraine aid on Tuesday

07:25 , Maira Butt

A classified briefing for all U.S. senators on Ukraine, Israel and elements of the national security supplemental funding package requested by President Joe Biden will be conducted on Tuesday 5 December, Senate aides said on Thursday.

The briefers will include Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown and US Agency for International Development Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman.

Biden asked Congress last month to approve $106 billion in national security funding, including aid for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion, support for Israel after the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants and money for additional security at the US border with Mexico.

But the funding has not been approved, raising concerns that funds for Ukraine in particular might never pass, particularly after the Republican-led House passed a bill including assistance for Israel, but not Ukraine.

In pictures: the latest in Ukraine

06:25 , Maira Butt

Ukrainian crew members sit in a German Gepard anti-aircraft-gun tank that is used to target Russian launched drones, during the vehicle's demonstration to the media, in the outskirts of Kyiv, on November 30, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP via Getty Images)

Members of the drone hunting team gathered to receive a military award for their actions in shooting down drones on November 25, when Ukraine said they had downed 74 out of 75 drones that Russia launched at it, in what it said was the biggest such attack since the start of the invasion. The Ukrainian army said that day Russia had launched a record number of Iranian-made Shahed drones, the majority of which targeted Kyiv. (AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian servicemen of a drone hunting team gather next to German Gepard anti-aircraft-gun tank that is used to target Russian launched drones, in the outskirts of Kyiv, on November 30, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian families buried in rubble amid Russian strikes

05:25 , Maira Butt

Hanna Arhirova reports:

Russian missiles tore through apartment buildings in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, local officials said Thursday, killing at least one person and burying families under rubble as the Kremlins forces continued to pound the fiercely contested area with long-range weapons.

Russian military units simultaneously launched six S-300 missiles during the night, according to Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko.

The missiles struck three Donetsk cities  Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad, he said. The cities lie 25-40 kilometers (15-25 miles) from the front line.

Emergency workers pulled the body of a 62-year-old man from the wreckage of a destroyed multi-story building in Novohrodivka. Four more people may be under the rubble, including a child, authorities said.

Read the full piece here.

In case you missed it: Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war

04:36 , Maira Butt

Shweta Sharma reports:

Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine.

Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv.

In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades.

Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raised, said Mr Putin. Recall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both 7 and 8 children. Let us preserve and revive these traditions. Having many children, a large family, should become a norm, a way of life for all the peoples of Russia.

The conference is led by the head of Russias Orthodox church, Patriarch Kirill, and was attended by representatives of other traditional religious organisations of Russia. Its theme was The Present and Future of the Russian World.

Read the full piece here.

Latest figures on Ukrainian prisoners

03:35 , Maira Butt

In November, the Ukrainian government said it had registered 3,574 Ukrainian military and 763 civilians taken into Russian or Moscow-backed separatists captivity since 2014.

The figure included those who have already returned to Ukraine, it said. However, it said the numbers did not show all the current prisoners.

Ukraine has already brought back 2,598 people from Russian captivity during 48 swaps, the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces said on Tuesday.

Reuters could not independently verify the figures.

Ukraine says Russia to blame for months of no prisoner swaps

02:30 , Maira Butt

Ukraines human rights commissioner accused Russia on Thursday of refusing to agree new exchanges of prisoners of war after a stretch of three months in which no swaps have been reported.

Kyiv and Moscow have held many prisoner swaps since the early months of Russias invasion in February 2022. But their intensity dropped in 2023 and the last one took place in early August.

Exchanges dont happen because Russia doesnt want them to, said Dmytro Lubinets, the human rights ombudsman who has regularly had a role in prisoner exchanges in the past.

All the initiatives, desires and actions of Ukraine regarding the return of our defenders from captivity are met by a Russian unwillingness to return its citizens, he said on Telegram messenger.

He added that Russian prisoners held in Ukraine had expressed a wish to be exchanged.

No one from the Russian side wants to take them back, he said.

The Russian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In case you missed it: Ex-Marine Paul Whelan attacked in Russia jail, brother says

01:28 , Maira Butt

Michelle del Rey reports:

Paul Whelan, a former US Marine currently being detained in Russia on a 16-year sentence for espionage, was reportedly attacked in a penal colony by another inmate on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident happened while Mr Whelan was working at a sewing table at around 1.30pm, his brother, David Whelan, said in an emailed statement provided to The Independent.

Paul Whelan had asked a new prisoner to move because he was blocking part of the production line he was working on. After several requests, the prisoner did not budge but instead allegedly hit Mr Whelan in the face, breaking his glasses.

The prisoner reportedly then tried to strike the American a second time, but he blocked the attempt.

Other prisoners intervened to stop the attack from continuing, the statement said. Paul Whelan later reported the attack to prison camps deputy warden. It is now being investigated by the prosecutors office.

Read the full piece here.

Zelensky address to Ukraine: We will reclaim its territory and its people. We will not leave anyone to the occupiers'

00:30 , Maira Butt

The Ukraininan military intelligence service (HUR) orchestrated a hacking of broadcast channels in Crimea to deliver an ardent message by President Zelensky to the people of Ukraine, according to the Kyiv Independent.

All of you feel that the Russian presence on our land is not permanent. I know this. Ukraine will reclaim its territory and its people. We will not leave anyone to the occupiers.

Ukraine will soon have fire control capabilities over Russian-occupied Crimea, Zelensky said.

German Chancellor has phone call with Zelensky

Thursday 30 November 2023 23:17 , Maira Butt

The Federal Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, had a phone call with President Zelensky on Thursday in which they discussed further defence cooperation.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Zelensky emphasised the importance of ensuring unity within the European Union in the issue of endorsement of Ukraines accession negotiations and in the allocation of 50 billion in aid for the coming years.

I had a phone call with @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz.



We discussed further defense cooperation. I am grateful for the powerful "winter" defense package from Germany, including 4 IRIS-T systems and for the multi-year financial assistance program from Germany. These are the best  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2023

Zelensky thanks UK for 'continued support

Thursday 30 November 2023 22:30 , Maira Butt

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Zelensky spoke on Thursday about their continuing political relations amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

President Zelensky thanked Sunak for his continued support.

In a statement on X, formelry known as Twitter, he said:

I spoke with Rishi Sunak to thank him for the UKs continued defense and political support. Following my visits to the frontlines, I briefed the Prime Minister on Ukraines priority defense needs for strengthening our warriors and our sky shield.

We discussed further macro-financial support for Ukraine and coordinated steps in the run-up to important international events.

We specifically addressed Ukraines Euro-Atlantic integration, highlighted the significance of the October Peace Formula talks in Malta, and discussed further steps to put the Formula into action.

I spoke with @RishiSunak to thank him for the UKs continued defense and political support.



Following my visits to the frontlines, I briefed the Prime Minister on Ukraines priority defense needs for strengthening our warriors and our sky shield.



We discussed further  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2023

Slovak Prime Minister urges normalisation of relations with Russia

Thursday 30 November 2023 21:30 , Maira Butt

In a statement on their website, the Slovakia government said:

Today, Thursday, November 30, 2023, the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, received the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Slovak Republic, Gautam Rana, and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Slovak Republic, Igor BratAikov, at the Slovak Government Office in Bratislava.I presented them with my view on the development of Slovak-American and Slovak-Russian relations. The Slovak Republic is a member state of the EU and NATO, which naturally affects our foreign policy priorities. On the other hand, it cannot limit us in sovereign positions, which are not always in line with the policy of one single correct opinion promoted in the European Union. The priority of the foreign policy that I intend to implement is the protection and promotion of Slovak national-state interests, which include the support of peace initiatives and not war in Ukraine, said the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister explained Slovak national priorities to both ambassadors, as well as his view of the war in Ukraine, where the EU and US strategy set so far is clearly failing. Slovakia also has an obligation to prepare for the period after the end of the war in Ukraine and for the standardization of Slovak-Russian relations, added Robert Fico.

Robert Fico said it was time to prepare to normalise relations with Russia (AP)

Senior Russian general killed by one of Putins own landmines in Ukraine

Thursday 30 November 2023 20:30 , Maira Butt

Russia may have lost as many as six high-ranking officers in Ukraine in just one week following reports a senior general was killed by a landmine placed by his own side.

Major general Vladimir Zavadsky, 45, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, died in occupied Ukraine on Tuesday, reported pro-Kremlin newspaper Lenta.

The elite military academy where Zavadsky studied, the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, also announced his death in a social media post, although that has now been deleted.

Russias defence ministry has not officially commented on the reports.

Zavadsky was not reported to have been killed in action. According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which claims to have ties to Russian security services, the general died in a blast on a landmine placed by Vladimir Putins own forces to target Ukrainian reconnaissance groups.

Read the full piece here.

In pictures: funerals continue for Ukrainian servicemen

Thursday 30 November 2023 19:23 , Maira Butt

Funerals have continued for Ukrainian soldiers who have been killed fighting Russian forces. Serhiy Pavlichenko

A funeral took place on Wednesday for Serhiy Pavlichenko (Global Images Ukraine via Getty)

Officials gave speeches at the soldier and ex-political prisoners service (Global Images Ukraine via Getty)

Fellow soldiers mourned the loss of their compatriot (Global Images Ukraine via Getty)

Russian missile strikes in eastern Ukraine tear through buildings and bury families in rubble

Thursday 30 November 2023 18:30 , Athena Stavrou

Russian missiles tore through apartment buildings in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, local officials said Thursday, killing at least two person and burying families under rubble as the Kremlins forces continued to pound the fiercely contested area with long-range weapons.

You can read The Independents full report here:

Russian missile strikes in eastern Ukraine tear through buildings and bury families in rubble

ICYMI: Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war

Thursday 30 November 2023 17:30 , Athena Stavrou

Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine.

Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv.

In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades.

Read the full report here:

Putin asks Russian women to have eight or more children amid deaths in his war

Russia's Lavrov faces Western critics at security meeting, walks out after speech

Thursday 30 November 2023 16:30 , Athena Stavrou

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov faced western critics while attending international security talks in Northern Macedonia, where he blamed Natos reckless expansion to the East for war returning to Europe.

Mr Lavrov arrived in Skopje to attend meetings hosted by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Europe.

The diplomats of several OSCE member nations, including Ukraine, boycotted the event due to Mr Lavrovs planned attendance amid Russias war in Ukraine.

He spoke for 15 minutes on Thursday before walking out of the meetings and blamed what he described as western tolerance of the ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv for the war.

The very existence of Russians and their decisive contribution to the history of Ukraine are denied, Mr Lavrov said. There are plenty of facts. The OSCE and its relevant institutions are silent.

Donetsk missile strike death toll rises

Thursday 30 November 2023 15:40 , Athena Stavrou

A second person has been confirmed killed following an overnight missile attack in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier, officials had said one person was killed after six missiles struck the three settlements of Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad. In the afternoon, rescuers had retrieved a second body from the debris, according to Ukrainian police.

Police said on Telegram that a 33-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man and an eight-year-old girl could still be under the rubble of a residential building in Novohrodivka.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said earlier 10 people, including four children, were wounded. Nine private houses, a police station, cars, and garages were damaged, he added.

Russias top court bans LGBT+ activism as extremist in latest crackdown

Thursday 30 November 2023 15:00 , Athena Stavrou

Russias top court has ruled that LGBT+ activists should be designated as extremists and issued a ban against such work  the most drastic step in a years-long crackdown on the community in ther country.

The move effectively outlaws LGBT+ activism across the country, in a move that representatives of the gay and transgender communities fear will lead to arrests and prosecutions.

Read the full report here:

Russias top court bans LGBT+ activism as extremist in new crackdown

Russia deploys poorly trained soldiers

Thursday 30 November 2023 14:10 , Athena Stavrou

Russia is assembling a poorly trained regiment, according to Britains Ministry of Defence

In their latest intelligence update, the MoD said Russias airborne forces, the VDV, has likely started deploying the newly formed 104th Guards Airborne Division in Ukraine for the first time.

They added: The division will likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV.

(1/5) Russias airborne forces, the VDV, has likely started deploying the newly formed 104th Guards Airborne Division (104 GAD) in Ukraine for the first time. The division is probably assembling in Kherson Oblast.  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) November 30, 2023

EU's defence strategy needs to include Ukraine, von der Leyen says

Thursday 30 November 2023 13:20 , Athena Stavrou

The European Union should take Ukraines military needs into account as it determines the future strategy of Europes defence industry, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.

Our strategy can only be complete if it also takes into account Ukraines needs and Ukraines industrial capacity, von der Leyen said in a speech at the annual conference of the European Defence Agency.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine should be integrated into EU defence programmes to help cater to its needs in its war against the Russian invasion.

(PA Wire)

Russian missiles fired overnight bury families in rubble

Thursday 30 November 2023 11:52 , Athena Stavrou

Russian missiles have torn through apartment buildings in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region, killing at least one person and burying families under rubble.

The missiles hit three Donetsk cities, Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad, Ukrainian internal affairs minister Ihor Klymenko said.

Emergency workers pulled the body of a 62-year-old man from the wreckage of a destroyed multi-storey building in Novohrodivka.

Four more people may be under the rubble, including a child, authorities said.

In Pokrovsk, the strikes destroyed a multi-storey building, nine houses, a police office and cars. Emergency crews helped rescue a man with a six-month-old baby, covered in blood, in his hands, officials said.

The head of the city administration, Serhii Dobriak, said it is fourth time Pokrovsk has come under attack in the past month.

They are striking the city centre, the houses, he said. They are just destroying the civilian population.

All three of the targeted cities are close to Avdiivka, a city where a fierce battle has taken place in recent months.

Ukrainian officials said recently that Russian forces have ramped up attacks in eastern Ukraine in a bid to gain ground near Avdiivka and around Bakhmut, another key frontline city.

The Ukrainian military said earlier on Thursday its air defence shot down 14 out of 20 drones in a Russian overnight strike.

Ukraine's president visits troops on northeastern frontline

Thursday 30 November 2023 11:20 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited troops near the Kupiansk sector of the frontline in the countrys northeast, he announced on social media on Thursday.

I thank the warriors for their service, for defending our state, Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding photos which showed him visiting a command post alongside a top Ukrainian general.

The frontline command post of Kupyansk defenders. It was an honor to meet and award the warriors.



The fighters on the Kupyansk front are defending the peaceful life of Ukrainians, the people of Kharkiv region. I thank the warriors for their service, for defending our state! I pic.twitter.com/pq4QdGXBNP  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 30, 2023

Russia calls Bulgaria absurd and stupid amid diplomatic row

Thursday 30 November 2023 10:30 , Athena Stavrou

Russia has accused Bulgaria of malice and stupidity on Thursday for refusing to allow Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs plane to fly through its airspace.

The plane was forced to take a longer route over Greece to deliver Lavrov to a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Bulgarias position absurd and stupid.

Zakharova wrote on the Telegram messenger app: The malicious stupidity of the Russophobes reached the point that, for the first time in our history, official authorities banned not an airplane, but a person on that airplane.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who is under European Union sanctions, said her presence on board the plane was the reason given by Bulgarias foreign ministry for denying access to its airspace.

No comment was immediately available from the Bulgarian ministry.

(PA Archive)

Update on overnight Donetsk strike

Thursday 30 November 2023 09:45 , Lydia Patrick

The Russian overnight missile strike has claimed one life, says Ukrainian interior minister.

Moscow carried out an overnight attack on the eastern region of Donetsk which has injured 10 and left four trapped under rubble.

Russia fired six missiles at three settlements in the region, most of which is occupied by Russian forces, Klymenko said on Telegram messaging app.

Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad came under fire. The shelling injured 10 people, including four children. Five more people are being searched for under the rubble, the minister said.

Later, Donetsk authorities said rescuers found one body while four others, including one child, were still under the rubble.

Russias Putin praises Henry Kissinger as wise and pragmatic statesman

Thursday 30 November 2023 09:20 , Lydia Patrick

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed his condolences over the death of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, saying in a telegram to Kissingers widow Nancy that he was a wise and farsighted statesman.

The name of Henry Kissinger is inextricably linked with a pragmatic foreign policy line, which at one time made it possible to achieve detente in international tensions and reach the most important Soviet-American agreements that contributed to the strengthening of global security, Putin said.

I had the opportunity to personally communicate with this deep, extraordinary man many times, and I will undoubtedly retain the fondest memory of him.

Kissinger, who died on Wednesday at the age of 100, pursued dialogue between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s that led to the first major nuclear arms control treaties between the two Cold War superpowers.

Five decades on, the war in Ukraine has raised tensions between Moscow and Washington to their most acute point since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, and the Kremlin has described the current state of relations as below zero.

: Former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, speaks at the George W. Bush Presidential Center's 2019 Forum on Leadership in Dallas (REUTERS)

Let us be a lesson - Kazakhstans message to leaders about risk of nuclear war

Thursday 30 November 2023 09:00 , Lydia Patrick

As Russia warns of the rising risk of nuclear war, and relations with the United States sink into a deep freeze, communities close to the vast Soviet-era nuclear testing site in northern Kazakhstan have a message for leaders: Let us be a lesson.

Hundreds of tests were carried out between 1949 and 1989 on the barren steppe near the city of Semey, formerly known as Semipalatinsk, close to the Kazakh-Russian border. The effect of radiation had a devastating impact on the environment and local peoples health, and continues to affect lives there today.

Many nuclear proliferation experts believe resuming testing by either nuclear superpower more than 30 years after the last test is unlikely soon.

But tensions over Russias invasion of Ukraine have led to increasingly hostile rhetoric, and the arms control architecture built since the Soviet Unions collapse more than three decades ago has begun to unravel.

In early November, President Vladimir Putin revoked Russias ratification of the 1996 global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests. Moscow says it will not lead to a resumption of testing unless the United States does first.

Let our suffering be a lesson to others, said Serikbay Ybyrai, local leader in the village of Saryzhal, who saw tests being carried out some 20 km (12 miles) away when he was a boy. If this (testing) resumes, humanity will disappear.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference following a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon at the Kremlin (via REUTERS)

Putin urges Russian women to have eight or more children amid soaring deaths in his Ukraine war

Thursday 30 November 2023 08:30 , Lydia Patrick

Vladimir Putin has urged Russian women to have eight or more children and make large families the norm amid soaring numbers of casualties in his war against Ukraine.

Russias birth rate has been steadily falling since the 90s and the country has suffered more than 300,000 casualties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, according to data maintained by Kyiv.

In a speech via video link at the World Russian Peoples Council in Moscow on Tuesday, Mr Putin said boosting the Russian population will be our goal for the coming decades.

Many of our peoples maintain the tradition of the family, where four, five or more children are raised, said Mr Putin. Recall that in Russian families our grandmothers and great-grandmothers had both 7 and 8 children. Let us preserve and revive these traditions. Having many children, a large family, should become a norm, a way of life for all the peoples of Russia.

Putin asks Russian women to have eight or more children amid deaths in his war

Senior Russian general killed by one of Putins own landmines in Ukraine

Thursday 30 November 2023 08:05 , Lydia Patrick

Russia may have lost as many as six high-ranking officers in Ukraine in just one week following reports a senior general was killed by a landmine placed by his own side.

Major general Vladimir Zavadsky, 45, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps, died in occupied Ukraine on Tuesday, reported pro-Kremlin newspaper Lenta.

The elite military academy where Zavadsky studied, the Moscow Higher Combined Arms Command School, also announced his death in a social media post, although that has now been deleted.

Russias defence ministry has not officially commented on the reports.

Zavadsky was not reported to have been killed in action. According to the Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which claims to have ties to Russian security services, the general died in a blast on a landmine placed by Vladimir Putins own forces to target Ukrainian reconnaissance groups.

Senior Russian general killed by one of Putins own landmines in Ukraine

Russian missile strikes wound ten in east Ukraine, Kyiv says

Thursday 30 November 2023 07:45 , Lydia Patrick

Ten people were hurt and five appeared under rubble in overnight Russian missile attacks in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Thursday.

Russia fired six missiles at three settlements in the region, most of which is occupied by Russian forces, Klymenko said on Telegram messaging app.

Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka and Myrnohrad came under fire. The shelling injured 10 people, including 4 children. Five more people are being searched for under the rubble, the minister said.

He said among the victims were a family with two children and two 13-year-old children. An apartment block, nine private houses, a police station, cars and garages were damaged.

Klymenko said a police paramedic helped a man with an injured baby get out from under the rubble.

Invading Russian forces have occupied much of Donetsk and Russia has said it intends to take over the whole region.

The Ukrainian military said earlier on Thursday its air defence shot down 14 out of 20 drones in a Russian overnight strike.

Ukraine destroys 14 of 20 Russia-launched drones

Thursday 30 November 2023 07:25 , Lydia Patrick

Ukraine air defence shot down 14 out of 20 drones in a Russian overnight strike, the nations air force said on Thursday.

The air force said in a statement the Russian forces launched Iranian-made drones from Russian territory in several directions.

his handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Emergency Service on November 25, 2023 (UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE/AFP)

Slovak government extends ban on Ukrainian products

Thursday 30 November 2023 07:12 , Maira Butt

The government of Slovakia is set to add honey, barley, wheat flour, soybeans, and cane or beet sugar to the list of banned agricultural products, according to the Kyiv Independent.

The ban previously applied to four cereals, namely wheat, corn, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds, and will remain in place until the end of 2023.

Ukraine and Slovakia had previously agreed to a licensing system for their grain trade in September which raised homes the ban could have been lifted.

In case you missed it: At least fourteen people dead in Ukraine and Russia snowstorm

Thursday 30 November 2023 06:15 , Maira Butt

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports:

At least 14 people died due to extreme weather conditions as a winter storm lashed parts of Russia and Ukraine, knocking out power from hundreds and thousands of households.

The severe cold struck war-torn Ukraine at a time when thousands of both Russian and Ukrainian troops were engaged in intense fighting in the eastern towns near the Black Sea almost 22 months into Vladimir Putins invasion.

Kyiv fears Moscow could attack its power grids with air strikes this winter.

In Ukraine, at least 10 people were killed and almost 1,500 towns and villages were left without power after storms dumped up to 10 inches of snow in some places.

As a result of worsening weather conditions, 10 people died in Odesa, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Kyiv regions, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said on Tuesday.

Read the full piece here.

France aiming to complete security accord with Ukraine by start of 2024

Thursday 30 November 2023 05:08 , Maira Butt

On the security guarantees and the work we have been doing with our Ukrainians partners - we are working towards a conclusion of this accord with the Ukrainian authorities by the end of the year, start of next year, Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a weekly news briefing.

A diplomatic source said early 2024 was more likely.

The accord would outline the framework for long-term humanitarian aid, support for reconstruction and military assistance, she said.

A second diplomatic source said the accord would not provide detailed financial figures or commitments as such with the French government not wanting to have the text going to parliament for approval.

I think that the Ukrainians are in a logic where they want to see what the Americans offer them for benchmarking for others, the source said.

Our proposal to them doesnt contain figures. Its more our objectives. We describe the type of action we are ready to take in terms of military support, economic support, etc.

G7 unveil international framework for long-term security of Ukraine

Thursday 30 November 2023 04:12 , Maira Butt

G7 countries in June unveiled an international framework for the long-term security of Ukraine to boost its finances and defences against Russia with a view to deterring Moscow from future aggression, officials said.

Unable to join NATO while the war with Russia continues - given that NATOs Article 5, stipulating that an attack on one member is an attack on all, could push it into war with Russia - Ukraine has lobbied for long-term security commitments from its main backers.

Countries, including France, have been negotiating bilaterally since June, but there has been scant detail on what countries are willing to do and with the war entering its second year there are question marks about how committed Kyivs allies may be.

Funeral held for servicemen killed in Ukraine

Thursday 30 November 2023 03:12 , Maira Butt

A funeral for a Ukrainian servicemen killed in the conflict with Russia took place on Wednesday.

Sergiy Pavlichenko was killed fighting Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region.

He was buried in Kyiv.

Relatives and friends toss handfuls of soil over the coffin during the funeral service of Ukrainian serviceman Sergiy Pavlichenko, who was killed fighting Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region, at a cemetery in Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images)

A Ukrainian serviceman holds the portrait of Ukrainian serviceman Sergiy Pavlichenko, who was killed fighting Russian troops (AFP via Getty Images)

David Cameron meets European Commission and reiterates support for Ukraine

Thursday 30 November 2023 02:12 , Maira Butt

Lord David Cameron met European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who leads on Brexit matters for the bloc, in Brussels on Wednesday.

The former prime minister tweeted: Good to speak with Maros Sefcovic in Brussels.

I look forward to working together on the issues that matter to us both, including support for Ukraine, the Withdrawal Agreement and maximising the opportunities of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

In case you missed it: Ukraine spy chiefs wife treated for suspected metal poisoning

Thursday 30 November 2023 01:12 , Maira Butt

Illia Novikov and Alastair Jamieson report:

The wife of Ukraines intelligence chief has been diagnosed with heavy metals poisoning and is undergoing treatment in hospital, it emerged on Tuesday. Meanwhile, deadly winter weather has hit the front lines of the conflict with Russia.

Marianna Budanova is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraines military intelligence agency known by its local acronym GUR.

Her condition was confirmed to AP by Andriy Yusov, the agencys spokesman.

He did not provide more details about the alleged poisoning, nor did he say if it was believed to have been intended for Mr Budanov or whether Russia was thought to be behind it.

Earlier this year, he told Ukrainian media that the military intelligence chief had survived 10 assassination attempts carried out by the Russian state or federal security services.

Major General Kyrylo Budanov Ukraines military intelligence chief, center, attends a commemorative event on the occasion of the Russia Ukraine war one year anniversary in Kyiv, Ukraine in February (AP)

Around 78% of Ukrainians in favour of joining the EU

Thursday 30 November 2023 00:12 , Maira Butt

A new survey has revealed that 78 per cent of Ukrainians are in favour of joining the EU with only 5 per cent opposing accession.

In a statement on their website, the Rating Group who conducted their 25th annual survey said its purpose was to conduct a study of the dynamics of the attitude of the Ukrainian population to international unions.

However, the figures represent a drop as in July a poll revealed that 85 per cent of Ukrainians favoured joining the EU. Likewise, a drop in support for joining NATO was observed, however most Ukrainians were still in support.

The new study revealed that 77 per cent favoured joining the EU, a significant majority, although this number was down from 83 per cent in July.

France aiming to complete security accord with Ukraine by start of 2024

Wednesday 29 November 2023 23:16 , Maira Butt

France intends to complete a bilateral security guarantee accord with Ukraine at the start of 2024, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Paris has been negotiating with Kyiv for several months with the agreement aimed at agreeing the broad lines of long-term financial, humanitarian and military support, Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters at a weekly press briefing.

Zelensky: 'Today we are working in Odesa region

Wednesday 29 November 2023 22:02 , Maira Butt

President Zelensky confirmed he was focused in the Odesa region on Wednesday.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said:

We started with reports from the military and a meeting on the protection of the region. The situation in the Black Sea, mine countermeasures and ensuring the security of the grain corridor.

The work of air defense in Odesa region, air cover for Odesa and our ports. I presented state awards to the warriors defending the southern regions and our Black Sea water area.

I visited the regional center for IDPs in Odesa. I also held a meeting on eliminating the aftermath of severe weather. We must speed up the restoration of electricity supply in the affected towns and villages.

Ukraine insists it sees no sign of NATO war fatigue even as fighting and weapons supplies stall

Wednesday 29 November 2023 21:12 , Maira Butt

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insisted on Wednesday that NATO allies are showing no sign of war fatigue and remain committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia and take back occupied territory.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Kuleba also said that President Vladimir Putin is miscalculating if he sees any value in keeping his forces in Ukraine at least until presidential elections in the United States in a years time, which could usher in a new administration.

I heard a clear no to any reference to fatigue, and I heard (a) clear yes to increased support to Ukraine, Kuleba said after meeting NATO counterparts in Brussels. He said that some allies had made fresh offers of support, but he declined to provide details.

They understand that in order for them to feel safe, in order for them not to end up in a situation where NATOs soldiers will have to fight, Ukraine has to win in this war, Kuleba said.

Zelenskiy: OPCW is a very reputable international body and terrorists have no place in it

Wednesday 29 November 2023 20:12 , Maira Butt

Russia failed to be elected on to the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Weapons for the first time in history.

Meanwhile Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania were elected for the 2024-2026 period.

The Executive Council is made up of 41 member states. It states its mission is to achieve a world permanently free of chemical weapons and to contribute to international security and stability, general and complete disarmament, and global economic development.

President Zelensky welcomed the decision saying that international body had no place for terrorists in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Russia was not elected to the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibution of Chemical Weapons for the first time in history.



OPCW is a very reputable international body and terrorists have no place in it.



At the same time, Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania were  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) November 29, 2023

Latest map of Russias invasion of Ukraine

Wednesday 29 November 2023 19:00 , Athena Stavrou

Here is the latest map of Russias invasion of Ukraine, according to war monitoring think-thank the Institute for the Study of War.

(ISW)

In pictures: Latest from Ukraine

Wednesday 29 November 2023 18:10 , Athena Stavrou

Ukrainian servicemen of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade take part in a military training exercise in the Donetsk region (AFP via Getty Images)

A local resident inspects his flat damaged by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine (AFP via Getty Images)

A local woman hugs her daughter in front of their apartment building after their flat was damaged by recent shelling (REUTERS)

EU transport commissioner says truck blockade at Polish-Ukrainian border 'unacceptable'

Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:20 , Athena Stavrou

Ukraine and the European Union cannot be taken hostage by Polish truckers blockading the Polish-Ukrainian border in protest at competition from Ukrainian hauliers, the European Commissioner for Transport said on Wednesday.

The round-the-clock blockade in Medyka and three other border crossings, which started on Monday, extends a protest that has left over a thousand lorries stranded for days in queues that stretch for miles.

Transport commissioner Adina Valean said the situation was unacceptable.

(EPA)

Polish truckers complain they are losing out to Ukrainian companies which offer cheaper prices for their services and which are transporting goods within the EU, rather than just between the bloc and Ukraine.

There is no good faith in finding a solution... and there is nearly a complete lack of involvement from Polish authorities... who are supposed to enforce the law at that border, Valean said.

While I support the peoples right to protest, the entire EU, not to mention Ukraine, a country currently at war, cannot be taken hostage by blocking our external borders.

Four killed in Ukrainian strike on Kherson region police station

Wednesday 29 November 2023 16:30 , Athena Stavrou

Four police officers were killed and another 18 people wounded in a Ukrainian HIMARS strike on a police station in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraines Kherson region on Tuesday, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday.

TASS quoted a local police spokesperson as saying that five police officers had been critically wounded in the strike on a facility in the village of Yuvileine.

Reuters could not independently verify the report but fighting in the Kherson region has heated up in recent months, with Ukrainian forces making a number of incursions on the Russian-held eastern bank of the Dnipro river, which divides the province.

Jailed US ex-marine attacked in Russian prison

Wednesday 29 November 2023 15:40 , Athena Stavrou

Former U.S. marine Paul Whelan has been attacked by another inmate in a Russian prison while serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, Russias prison service said on Wednesday.

Whelan, who denies spying on Russia, was punched in the face and forced to defend himself at a sewing workshop in a high security penal colony southeast of Moscow, his brother Dave Whelan said in a statement.

A new prisoner blocked part of the production line and Paul asked him to move out of the way. After repeated requests, the prisoner hit Paul in the face, breaking Pauls glasses in the process, and attempted to hit him a second time, Dave Whelan said.

(Moscow News Agency)

Paul stood up to block the second hit and other prisoners intervened to prevent the prisoner continuing the attack on Paul.

Arrested in 2018 in Russia, Paul Whelan was convicted of espionage in 2020 and handed a 16-year sentence.

Dave Whelan said the incident took place on Tuesday afternoon. He thought his brother was a target because he was an American and anti-American sentiment was not uncommon among the other prisoners.

Six months after Volkswagen exit, idle Russian car plant offers workers redundancy

Wednesday 29 November 2023 15:00 , Athena Stavrou

Furloughed workers at Volkswagens former plant in Russia are being offered redundancy, according to the union representing them.

The plant, in Russias Kaluga region south of Moscow, has annual production capacity of 225,000 cars, but Russias invasion of Ukraine brought work to a standstill. The plant will remain idle until at least March 2024, the trade union added.

Under the furlough scheme being offered by the new owners, who took over the plant in May, the staff are currently paid two thirds of their salary.

They are now being offered three months pay if they quit, with bonuses for those who have been employed there for a long time.

Only a few of the remaining staff of around 3,600 people have taken up the new owners on their offer so far, Elena Kryukova, head of the MPRA trade unions plant committee, told Reuters.

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Russian man who traced No to War in snow jailed

Wednesday 29 November 2023 14:12 , Athena Stavrou

A Russian court has ordered a man to be jailed for 10 days after he used his finger to write No to War on a snow-covered turnstile.

According to court papers, the incident happened on November 23 at the entrance to an ice-skating rink at Moscows Gorky Park.

The man, named as Dmitry Fyodorov, was sentenced the following day after being detained by the police.

Police decided his actions could amount to a civil offence under a law which targets anyone deemed to have acted publicly to discredit Russias armed forces, a crime which in his case was punishable by a fine.

New laws cracking down on dissent were brought in soon after President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022 in what he called a special military operation.

For those opposed to Russias war in Ukraine, speaking out in public has since become a risky thing to do and critics say nearly 20,000 people have been detained and over 800 criminal cases opened.

Ukraine estimates Russian casualties as 327,580

Wednesday 29 November 2023 14:10 , Athena Stavrou

The Ukrainian military has claimed the number of Russian casualties since the beginning of the ward has reached 327,580.

In its latest update, they added that 5,538 Russian tanks and 10,312 Russian armored combat vehicles had been destroyed.

"The person who does not believe in miracles surely makes it certain that he or she will never take part in one."

William Blake



The combat losses of the enemy from February 24, 2022 to November 29, 2023. pic.twitter.com/tbkFAJTt5B  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 29, 2023

Putin wont consider stopping Ukraine war until after US election, says Biden official

Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:40 , Athena Stavrou

Vladimir Putin will not consider ending his invasion of Ukraine until he knows the result of the 2024 US presidential election, a senior official from the Joe Biden administration has said.

Read the full article here:

Putin wont consider stopping Ukraine war until after US election  official

Russia warns US against entering new arms race

Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:10 , Athena Stavrou

A senior Russian diplomat said the US would be mistaken to expect to win the next armed race.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russias deputy foreign minister in charge of ties with the U.S., non-proliferation and arms control, also told the Izvestia daily that a military conflict between NATO and Moscow could not be ruled out.

If the United States expects to win the next arms race, repeating to some extent the experience of the presidency of Ronald Reagan ... then the Americans are mistaken, Izvestia cited Ryabkov as saying.

We will not succumb to provocations .... but we can guarantee that we will ensure our security.

He also told the newspaper that Russia was not threatening a conflict with the Western military alliance and that the onus is entirely on NATOs side.

'No sense of fatigue' when it comes to support for Ukraine, Blinken says

Wednesday 29 November 2023 12:40 , Athena Stavrou

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that there was no sense of fatigue among NATO allies when it came to helping Ukraine.

We must and we will continue to support Ukraine, he said after a NATO-Ukraine meeting in Brussels, adding that NATO allies were unanimous on this position and that he was also hearing continued support for Ukraine in both chambers of the US Congress.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AP)

Kyiv has been concerned that the Israel-Hamas war could divert international attention away from its efforts to defeat Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

It is important that our solidarity with Ukraine is not only demonstrated in words but also in deeds, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, urging allies to do more. These are concrete actions, we need more of them and we need sustained and stepped up support.

Russia claims control over Ukrainian village

Wednesday 29 November 2023 11:58 , Athena Stavrou

Russias defence ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had taken control of a village in eastern Ukraine.

Khromove, which Russia calls Artyomovskoe, is on the western outskirts of Bakhmut, a city which Russia captured last summer after a months-long battle. The village had a pre-war population of 1,000 people.

Reuters could not independently verify the defence ministrys assertion and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashes out at NATO and the West

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at NATO, the EU, Ukraine and the West during a fiery speech on Thursday.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Lavrov derided the international body as an "appendage" of the EU and NATO.

He also blamed NATOs reckless expansion to the East for war returning to Europe before tearing into the OSCE itself.

"Let's face it, the organisation is on the brink of a precipice and the question arises: does it still make sense to invest in revitalising it?" he told dozens of other foreign ministers in the North Macedonian capital, Skopje.

The Russian foreign minister spoke for 15 minutes before walking out of the meetings. He blamed what he described as Western tolerance of the ruling neo-Nazi regime in Kyiv

Lavrov had to get special permission to fly over European airspace to attend the meeting, his first visit to a NATO country since the Kremlin launched it's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Baltic countries  Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  have boycotted the OSCE meeting along with Ukraine because of Lavrov's presence.

Western ministers in attendance were sharply critical of Lavrov after he spoke.

Russias attempts to blame others for its own choices are transparent, said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who was speaking when Lavrov walked out.

We will not compromise on the core principles of the European security order or allow Russia to deny Ukraine the right to make its own independent foreign and security policy choices  principles that Russia itself has agreed to, he continued.

Based in Vienna, Austria, the OSCE is an intergovernmental organisation focused on promoting security, stability, and cooperation among its participating states.
Massachusetts State Sen. Susan Moran, D-Falmouth, will not run for reelection to the Senate, instead, Moran told the Times on Thursday she will run for Barnstable County Superior Court clerk.

Moran, who has experience at the state and federal court levels, said her decision was based on a desire to support and serve Cape Codders and those who use the county court system.

It was a real soul-searching experience for me, said Moran. With my background, which includes working in mental health and addiction treatment, coupled with a lifetime of federal and state court experience, it just kind of seemed to come together.

State Sen. Susan Moran

Moran was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in May 2020. She had previously served as chair of the Falmouth Select Board, chair of the Barnstable County Economic Development Committee and as deputy speaker of the Assembly of Delegates.

I look forward to the folks that I've been working with for so long, really continuing the efforts that have been so important to our constituents, she said.

Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, said Moran has been an outstanding representative in the Senate who has served constituents on both the South Shore and Cape Cod.

Current clerk says he intends to seek reelection

Incumbent Scott Nickerson has served as Barnstable County Superior Court Clerk since 2000 when he ran against then-Clerk Phyllis Day, according to the website of the Secretary of State. He has faced no challengers since.

I was a little surprised to hear Sen. Moran was running because no one around here knows her from a legal perspective, Nickerson said Friday, adding she is recognizable as a state senator but not as someone with much experience in Barnstable County Superior Court.In his tenure, Nickerson said he has computerized the office, made updates to the courts criminal defendant holding infrastructure, helped set up a system to aid self-representing litigants and has worked to implement internship programs for Barnstable and Dennis-Yarmouth high school students who may have an interest in law.This is the office I wanted and I want to keep on serving the people of Barnstable County, he said. Ive done a good job over the last 23 years  and I look forward to telling the citizens why I should be re-elected.

'Exceptional partner' representing Cape Cod

Moran has been an exceptional partner representing Cape Cod on Beacon Hill, Cyr said. I'm excited that she wants to continue to serve Cape Codders in a new capacity and I look forward to supporting her in that endeavor.

Morans decision was first revealed at a Wednesday evening fundraiser. The move will leave the Senate seat held by Moran open to new candidates.

I think that the voters will choose well, I think they are informed and they absolutely know what to expect from candidates, Moran said. I've got a lot of confidence in the fact that the successor will be the right person for the job.

State Rep. Dylan Fernandes

Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Woods Hole, who represents three precincts in Falmouth, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, said he will run to replace Moran.

It's been the honor of a lifetime to serve Nantucket, the Vineyard and Falmouth in the House of Representatives, Fernandes said. And now, this is an opportunity to keep doing the work of supporting affordable housing and protecting the environment, combating the opioid epidemic and supporting mental health, but in the Senate with a bigger platform.

Cyr said Fernandes would be the strongest Democratic party candidate at the moment.

He is collaborative, thoughtful, hardworking, and understands and has lived through the challenges that Cape Codders and people living just over the bridges face, Cyr said. He's among my closest colleagues and would be an outstanding state senator.

Two Republican lawmakers eyed as potential candidates for Morans seat are Rep. Steven Xiarhos, R-Barnstable, who does not live in the district, and Rep. Matt Muratore, R-Plymouth.

State Rep. Steven Xiarhos

Muratore, who has 10 years experience in the Plymouth & Falmouth District, said he is seriously considering running for the seat but has made no final decisions.

I heard about (Morans decision) late last night, and since that time Ive gotten about three dozen phone calls from various people in the district that have encouraged me to run, Muratore said Thursday. Ill probably make my final decision by next week.

While Moran said she is not endorsing anyone at the moment, she hopes to see some viable women candidates enter the race as well.

Theres that saying that women hold up more than half the sky, and I think that should be reflected in the Legislature in terms of representation, Moran said.

Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on courts, transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jd__walker.

The Cape Cod Times mobile app gets you to the heart of the matter  fast. Whether breaking news, sports, entertainment or weather get succinct, personalized coverage along with award-winning videos, captivating photography, and interactive user features.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Sen. Moran to run for superior court clerk, Fernandes for Senate seat
Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden has said she does get angry and it will take a while to accept her cancer diagnosis at such a young age while also managing a chronic illness.

The 33-year-old Welsh dancer, who joined Strictly in 2017, announced her breast cancer diagnosis in May after finding a lump in her breast in April, the day before going to the Maldives on honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones.

She had previously revealed in 2019 that she was suffering from Crohns disease, and fronted the BBC programme Strictly Amy: Crohns And Me, in which she spoke about her battle with the condition and met other people with Crohns to hear about their experiences.

The Caerphilly-born dancer appears on the cover of the December issue of Womens Health UK and told the magazine: Oh yeah I always say I never asked (for) this to happen to me.

Ive always worked so hard. Ive always been a good person. I looked after myself, Ive exercised well, havent smoked I do get angry.

I just think Ive been dealt a difficult one I think itll take a while to accept.

It took me a long time to accept my Crohns. Until Im back dancing and back to my normal self, I dont think I will accept it.

Crohns is described by the NHS as a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed, and Dowden was diagnosed at the age of 19.

People with the disease commonly experience phases of intense abdominal pain, severe vomiting, exhaustion and bloody diarrhoea, among other symptoms.

On her decision to appear on the magazine cover without a wig, she said: Finding out I had Crohns, I didnt ever have anyone in the public eye to look up to or to say to my friends Thats what Ive got.

And I just had a little moment  I imagined teenagers being able to go to school and being able to embrace (not having hair) or go swimming and just be like Im like Amy whos off Strictly.

And that just gave me the confidence to go Yeah, lets do this.

Earlier this month Dowden revealed she had fractured her foot, ruling her out of making an appearance on Strictly this year.

She was unable to have a celebrity partner on the popular BBC One show following her diagnosis and subsequent cancer treatment, but had planned to make an appearance on the dancefloor.

She said she wants to be treated as normal, adding: When Im walking outside and Ive got my headscarf on, I dont want looks of sympathy or feeling sorry for me  Im Amy Sometimes people dont know how to address it.

Just ask how I am  I will answer you. We dont want you to feel sorry for us. Were embracing it. Stand strong with us Dont give me that pity look  I dont need it!

Since her diagnosis and subsequent mastectomy and chemotherapy, she has raised awareness of breast cancer and posted regular treatment updates on Instagram, including appearing on Channel 4s Stand Up To Cancer broadcast this month to celebrate a decade of the appeal for Cancer Research UK.

 Read the full interview in the December issue of Womens Health UK, also available as a digital edition.

(Women's Health)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (pictured) has been invited to the Cop28 climate summit. Background: Damage caused by reported regime shelling on the camp of Maram for internally displaced people near the village of Kafr Jales in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, on November 6, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images)

Survivors of chemical weapons attacks and relatives of those disappeared by Syrian president Bashar al-Assads regime have shared their outrage that the red carpet is being rolled out for him at Cop28 in Dubai.

Assad, who has visited the United Arab Emirates twice in the past year, has presided over a brutal and ongoing civil war leading to countless war crimes against his own people over the past 12 years.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and 14 million people displaced, half of Syrias population, causing the worlds largest refugee crisis.

Assad has been sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. Earlier this month, France issued an arrest warrant for him over the alleged use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syria.

The further normalising of Assads presence at the international climate has disgusted Syrians who have suffered devastating losses and harm.

Residents and a rescuer from the Syrian White Helmets, pile up bodies of civilians killed in a Syrian regime bombardment in the town of Kaokafin in the rebel-held Idlib province on November 25, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Nevin Al-Mousa, whose brother Hamza Al-Mousa has not been seen since he was detained by Syrian authorities in 2014, said that inviting Assad to Cop28 is an insult to victims and survivors of Assads war crimes.

Inviting him is like our lives dont matter, she told The Independent.

Assads very presence at a summit on the future of our earth is absurd. It is an insult to the thousands who have lost their loved ones, and the millions who have fled their homeland, she said.

Assad has no place deciding the future of our planet when he has committed countless war crimes with impunity and continues to attack the Syrian people.

Ms Mousa, an English teacher, was forced to flee her home in Hama City in 2013 with her mother after being accused of writing critically of Assad online.

We had been threatened by the Syrian forces, my father was wanted and my brothers as well. Then they arrested one of my brothers who lived in Aleppo, she said. Ms Mousa has been living in exile for the past decade.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Syrias President Bashar Al-Assad during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on 11 November, 2023 (via REUTERS)

Others recounted similar horrors.

Khaloud, a former journalist who declined to use her full name due to safety concerns, said her city was fully besieged by tanks in 2011 when she was forced to flee the country.

I was part of planning and organising the peaceful demonstrations, she said.

Khalouds 21-year-old brother, who she did not wish to name, was arrested by Syrian government forces in 2012.

The regime forces broke into my home and they forcefully detained my brother. They threatened my mom that they would chop him into pieces when they took him downstairs, she recalled.

To this day, his family do not know if he is alive.

Khaloud is appalled at how quickly the war crimes of Assads government appear to be being forgotten.

Hes the one who used chemical weapons against his own people to suffocate them to death, what can the Assad regime add to a climate conference? she said.

Syrians in exile stage protest in front of the Syrian Embassy in London this month in protest at the UAEs Cop28 invitation to dictator Bashar al-Assad (Families for Freedom)

She compared welcoming Assad to Cop28 to inviting the Nazis to lecture people about human rights.

She added: Assad has been killing human lives and destroying their habitats, same as an oil company does.

Human rights organisations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported on widespread and systematic use of chemical weapons in Syria by Assads regime. The rampant use of torture and forced disappearances of protestors have also been documented.

Earlier this month, Syrians living in exile in the UK gathered outside of the Syrian Embassy in London to demand that Mr Assads Cop28 invitation be revoked. The Syrian leaders Cop invite comes a few months after Syria was welcomed back into the Arab League after a decade-long ostracisation. He is now regularly attending regional summits and diplomatic meetings.

Seeing everyone normalising relations with the Assad regime as if nothing has happened and forgetting that all these crimes against humanity have been committed, turning a blind eye against everything that happened, was appalling, Khaloud said.

What message is Assads invitation to Cop28 sending to dictators worldwide?

Bayan Sharbaj, who survived a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta city, Syria

But to invite him to participate in particular in a climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates is something that I can call a black comedy.

Syrias government forces are now in control of much of the country with the help of Russia and Iran. While some parts of Syria remain under the control of anti-government rebel groups, heavy fighting has largely ceased.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the Cop28 presidency said: All member states of the United Nations are invited to participate in Cop28, and we are proud of the role we are playing in bringing the world together to help solve humanitys greatest challenge.

As this is a UNFCCC process, it is not Cop28s position to comment on any individual UN member state or prevent any delegations from attending the event.

The climate crisis requires collaboration amongst all stakeholders and we dont want anyone to sit on the sidelines. We expect everyone who comes to come to ready to ratchet up our collective ambition to meet the urgency of the moment.

Families For Freedom, an organisation led by survivors of Syrian war crimes, noted how the Assad regimes bombardments have led to widespread environmental damage across the country including to forests, and water and waste management systems. The war has left Syrias once-fertile farmlands in a state of extreme drought.

Assad regimes apathy towards its people changed [the country] into a barren desert, Khaloud said.

Syrians walk through destruction in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria (AP)

The majority of Syrias population depended on farming before the war. Last year, the countrys wheat harvests totaled 1 million tonnes, 75 per cent less than before the war broke out.

Assad has not publicly confirmed his attendance at Cop28. Syrias delegation to Cop28 will be headed by its Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, an unnamed delegate told Reuters this week.

Those who lived through chemical attacks said that if the UAE does not revoke Mr Assads invitation, then other world leaders should push [Syrian government] for accountability and to stand up for humanity.

What message is Assads invitation to Cop28 sending to dictators worldwide? Bayan Sharbaj, who survived a chemical weapons attack in Ghouta city, told The Independent.

This conference is about protecting the environment and providing a better world for the next generation. Those invited are there to think about human safety and how to protect and preserve our planet.

Assad has destroyed the Syrian environment, he has robbed the future of the next generation. We ask leaders to speak up for our loved ones, the survivors and victims of his countless crimes against humanity.
[Source]

Mali, the captive female elephant in the Philippines dubbed by advocates as the world's saddest elephant," has died at the Manila Zoo after spending more than 40 years in solitary confinement.

Malis death: Vishwa Ma'ali, nicknamed Mali, died of congestive heart failure at 3:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna announced at a news conference on Wednesday. Although her exact age remains unknown, Mali was estimated to be 43 years old at the time of her passing.

Mali was our prized possession and was the star attraction here at the Manila Zoo. It saddens me because she was part of our lives, Lacuna told reporters.

Mali reportedly exhibited signs of distress last Friday when she constantly rubbed her trunk against a wall, indicating pain, according to the zoo's chief veterinarian, Dr. Heinrich Patrick Pena-Domingo. By early Tuesday, the elephant was already seen lying on her side and breathing heavily. Despite administration of antihistamines and vitamins, she passed away that afternoon. An autopsy revealed cancer in some of her organs and a blockage in her aorta.

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About Mali: Mali was gifted to former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos by the Sri Lankan government in 1981 at the age of 11 months. At the time, Manila Zoo had another elephant named Shiva, who arrived in 1977 and passed away in 1990. Since then, Mali had been the sole elephant at the zoo.

Free Mali: Malis solitary confinement had long drawn criticism from animal rights activists who expressed concerns about the poor conditions at the zoo and the zookeepers' inadequate ability to provide proper medical care for the elephant.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had long advocated for her transfer to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand due to concerns about Mali's loneliness and health issues. Celebrities, including Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson and Jane Goodall, had supported the effort to free Mali, pleading with authorities to transfer her to a sanctuary when she was still alive.

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The zoos defense: However, zoo authorities previously defended Mali's captivity, stating that the animal received proper care and was best kept in that environment because she had not experienced life in the wild.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Lacuna expressed plans to request another elephant donation from the Sri Lankan government, highlighting the emotional bond between Mali and her caretakers. Despite appearing alone, the mayor stated that Mali had the support of her caretakers and had become an integral part of Manila Zoo.

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Calls for accountability: Manila Zoo's handling of Mali's health issues has sparked calls for accountability from animal rights organizations. Activists also urged against sending another animal to the zoo.

Were so sorry, Mali. You deserved better, PETA wrote in an Instagram post. Despite PETAs repeated warnings, Manila Zoo and city officials ignored Malis clearly painful foot problems, the leading cause of death in captive elephants. Every person who denied her veterinary care and blocked her transfer to a sanctuary should be held accountable.

The controversy highlights the broader ethical concerns surrounding captive elephants. Asian elephants reportedly have an average lifespan of about 70 years in the wild, while captivity extends it to around 80 years.

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An East Selah resident takes a look at the latest maps produced by the state Department of Ecology showing the residences affected by the PFAS groundwater contamination. The maps were handed out during a listening sessions held in Selah, Wash., on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.
KABUL, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's caretaker government has asked Washington to set free the only Afghan prisoner still held in the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention camp, the local Tolonews TV channel reported Thursday.

"We are in contact with the United States to release Abdul Rahim. He is the only Afghan who has been languishing in Guantanamo. He is innocent and should be freed," Tolonews quoted the Afghan caretaker government's chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid as saying.

According to the private media outlet, Abdul Rahim, who has been held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in the past 17 years, was arrested in Lahore city of Pakistan before being shifted to the U.S. military prison at the Guantanamo Bay naval base.

Abdul Rahim's son Mohammad Daud told Tolonews that he was two months old when his father was arrested and urged Americans to set his father free. 
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As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council for November, China holds a Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue here on Nov. 29, 2023. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairs the meeting. Foreign ministers and high-level representatives from nearly 20 countries, including Brazil, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkiye, Slovenia, and Malaysia, as well as all members of the Security Council, attended the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed the meeting on the situation. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Dialogue and negotiation are the best options for saving lives and the fundamental way to resolve conflicts, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Wednesday.

As the rotating president of the UN Security Council for November, China on Wednesday held a Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

Foreign ministers and high-level representatives from nearly 20 countries, including Brazil, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkiye, Slovenia, and Malaysia, as well as all members of the Security Council, attended the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed the meeting on the situation.

Wang said that since the outbreak of the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has been working for peace and striving to save lives.

He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly expounded on China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, calling for an immediate ceasefire to prevent the expansion of the conflict, ensuring the safety and smooth flow of humanitarian aid, and emphasizing that the fundamental solution lies in implementing the two-state solution and promoting a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution to the Palestinian question.

As the rotating president of the Security Council for the month, China has always prioritized the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Wang said.

The Security Council passed Resolution 2712 this month, initiating steps to promote a ceasefire, he said, noting that the current conflict has claimed a large number of innocent lives and caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, with its spillover effects continuing to emerge.

Noting that war tests conscience and justice, and peace calls for reason and wisdom, Wang said that the international community must take more actions to save lives and restore peace.

He called for promoting a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire with the greatest sense of urgency. There are no safe zones under fire, and the Gaza Strip has no firewall, Wang said.

China strongly hopes that the temporary ceasefire is not just an interlude before a new round of offensives, but the beginning of a further comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, Wang said.

A comprehensive and lasting ceasefire should be the overriding priority, and all parties should focus all their efforts on the common goal of quelling the Gaza conflict, he said, noting that more practical and effective actions should be taken to protect civilians.

Any violence and attacks against civilians are unacceptable, and any actions violating international humanitarian law should be condemned, Wang said.

China reiterates its opposition to collective punishment against the people of Gaza, to forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, and that all detained individuals should be released, he said.

Wang said that the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2712 is necessary to clear the obstacles for the entry of adequate humanitarian supplies and to open more rescue channels to Gaza.

The United Nations should play a greater role in supervising and coordinating humanitarian actions in Gaza, he said, adding that the Chinese government will provide a new batch of emergency humanitarian aid to the area.

Wang said that it is necessary to revive the political prospect of the two-state solution with greater determination.

Israel has long been an independent state, and the Jewish people are no longer displaced, but the Palestinian people's right to statehood and subsistence and their right of return have long been ignored, which is the fundamental reason why Israel and Palestine have repeatedly found them entangled in turmoil.

The Palestinian issue can only be fairly and justly solved by the two-state solution, which is irreplaceable, Wang said.

Only when the two-state solution is truly and comprehensively implemented, can peace in the Middle East be realized, can Palestine and Israel live in peace, and can the Arab and Jewish peoples have common development, Wang said.

China calls for greater international and regional diplomatic efforts to revive the political prospect of the two-state solution and restart direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel, he said.

Wang said that China proposes holding international peace conferences of a larger scale, scope and effectiveness, and supports Palestine in becoming a full member state of the United Nations.

It is necessary to push the Security Council to take responsible and meaningful actions, Wang stressed. The Security Council must demonstrate its responsibility on the major issues regarding war and peace, as well as life and death, heed the call of the Arab and Islamic countries and the international community as a whole, and take further actions in a timely manner, he added.

China has submitted Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, putting forward the working principles and priorities of the international community in five aspects -- promoting a comprehensive ceasefire, effectively protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian relief, stepping up diplomatic mediation, and seeking a political solution through the implementation of the two-state solution, Wang continued.

He noted that China will continue to strengthen coordination with relevant parties, build consensus, and push the Security Council to shoulder its due responsibilities, fulfill its responsibilities for peace, and speak for justice.

The participating parties appreciated China's initiative to hold the high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, believing that the meeting, convened on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, was of great significance for promoting the ceasefire and alleviating the humanitarian crisis, and will help pool wisdom, build consensus and form synergy.

Participants of the meeting generally supported the extension of the temporary truce until a permanent ceasefire is achieved, and called for the release of captives, the protection of civilians, the expansion of humanitarian assistance, and the smooth access to supplies.

It is hoped that the Security Council will earnestly fulfill its duty of maintaining international peace and security, play a greater role in easing tensions, restart the peace process at an early date, and ultimately realize the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Wang met separately with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He also met collectively with foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Indonesia and other Arab and Islamic countries. 

As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council for November, China holds a Security Council high-level meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue here on Nov. 29, 2023. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairs the meeting. Foreign ministers and high-level representatives from nearly 20 countries, including Brazil, Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkiye, Slovenia, and Malaysia, as well as all members of the Security Council, attended the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed the meeting on the situation. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Aproape 100 de sanctiuni, date de politisti intr-o singura zi pentru incalcarea Codului rutier

Un numar de 51 de soferi care nu au respectat regimul legal de viteza si 15 pietoni au fost sanctionati, miercuri, de politistii brasoveni, in cadrul unei ample actiuni desfasurata in municipiul Brasov, [citeste mai departe]
Stiri pe aceeasi tema

- Romania has a strong civil society, that is becoming more involved every year in the lives of communities facing difficult situations and in defending rights and fundamental values that are under threat, president Klaus Iohannis said on Monday at the event "A Better World is Made in Romania: Commit

- The presence of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, in Washington is "a very good signal" because the needs of Ukraine in the war with Russia, as well as the possibilities of support, are being analysed, the Romanian Senate's president and National Liberal Party (PNL)'s leader Nicolae Ciuca

- The leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Nicolae Ciuca said for private TV broadcaster Digi24, on Tuesday night, that president Klaus Iohannis is of great help to PNL."Romania's president (...) is the National Liberal Party's representative and the PNL is and will remain alongside the president

- The guarantee-return system (SGR) in Romania will be the second largest in Europe, after Germany, from the perspective of the number of packages processed, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu declared during the system's launch event, on Monday."The launch of the SGR will put Romania in a leading position

- PNL's Ciuca: Whoever generates the breakup of the coalition will not win, but loseNational leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Nicolae Ciuca on Thursday said that PNL cannot, at the moment, show up before Romanians to discuss the breakup of the governing coalition, adding that "whoever generates

- PNL's Ciuca: It would be absolutely unfair to business environment to increase taxesThe President of the PNL (National Liberal Party), Nicolae Ciuca, on Thursday stated that it would be "absolutely unfair" to the business environment to increase taxes and fees as of next year. "We all committed

- Presedintele PNL, Nicolae Ciuca, declara dupa intalnirea cu reprezentantii Confederatiei Patronale Concordia ca PNL ramane dedicat apararii intereselor mediului de afaceri si am demonstrat acest lucru inclusiv la dezbaterea privind masurile fiscale. Liderul liberal afirma ca a vazut toate apelurile

- EnviMin says 2023 among hottest years on record, action needed to counter adverse climate effectsThe Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests, Mircea Fechet, declared on Tuesday during the event "Climate change and development: perspectives for Romania", held at Cotroceni Palace, that 2023 will
Membrii unei trupe de rap din Australia, in mijlocul unui complot al unei grupari criminale

Patru membri ai unui grup rap din Australia au fost vizati de un complot al unei grupari criminale internationale cu sediul in Liban. Politia a dejucat planul care viza asasinarea celor patru muzicieni. Doi barbati [citeste mai departe]
The opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) has called on the Budapest citys leadership to employ Hungarians for normal wages instead of underpaid foreign guest workers.

Budapests leaders had earlier ruled out the employment of guest workers by municipality companies and had asked their subsidiaries to follow suit, DK city assembly group leader Sandor Szaniszlo, told a press conference ahead of a municipal assembly meeting on Wednesday.



But the employment of guest workers who mainly come from third countries outside the EU has been prevalent in Hungary, he said. It was unacceptable that foreign capitalists and the businesses of [Prime Minister] Viktor Orban made excessive profits this way, he said, adding that opposition-led Budapest must demonstrate that it disagrees with the governments philosophy of exploiting workers in the interest of generating economic growth and making profits.



Meanwhile, City Assembly Votes to Lodge Objection to Election Rule Changes

The Budapest City Assembly has voted to lodge its objection to proposed changes to the way local government elections are held ahead of the 2024 local and municipal elections.



The resolution submitted at Wednesdays session of the assembly by the capitals mayor, Gergely Karacsony, was approved with 18 representatives in favour, 6 abstentions, while 3 Fidesz-Christian Democrat representatives boycotted the vote.



The resolution notes that the Venice Commission, a body advising the Council of Europe, has consistently maintained the standpoint that electoral systems must not be changed in the year to date of elections.



The assembly also approved with 18 votes in favour and 11 abstentions the capitals borrowing limit of between 20 billion and 40 billion forints (EUR 52.8m-105.6m) for next year.



They also passed a proposal submitted by Karacsony for taxi service tasks to be taken over in full by the Budapest transport centre BKK as of Jan 1, 2024.



The complex performance of taxi services is currently split between BKK and Budapest road maintenance company Budapest Kozut. BKK said in a statement that the decision would make taxi service administration and regulations simpler and more transparent.



Fidesz: Foreign Money 'Clearly Linked' to Karacsony

Zsolt Wintermantel, the leader of the Fidesz-Christian Democrat group in the Budapest City Assembly, said in a speech before Wednesdays session that the left had campaigned with foreign money in the run-up to the 2022 general election, money that was quite clearly linked to the mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karacsony.



He said since 1990 there had been a political consensus that no one should run for public office using the money of foreign influential groups or under the pressure of such groups, but this had been upended last year.



Wintermantel addressed Karacsony, asking him whether he did not feel that his silence on the matter was highly embarrassing.



MTI Photo: Zsolt Szigetvary


Budapest prosecutors have brought money-laundering charges against 20 members of a gang that operated in Hungary between 2007 and 2014 linked to Colombian drug dealers.

The charges state that 46 billion forints (EUR 121m) of drug money was laundered by the gang who smuggled euros and dollars to Hungary and deposited it in bank accounts in the country and Slovakia.



The gang was led by a Vietnamese national who moved to Budapest in the late 1980s, the municipal prosecutors office said in a statement.



Under a deal with Colombian drug dealers, the man contracted 19 Hungarians accomplices to launder drug money mainly linked to cocaine distribution in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain.



The gains were then transferred to companies in Asia.



The prosecutor is seeking prison terms and fines for members of the gang as well as the expulsion of the Vietnamese defendant.
The number of foreign workers working in Hungary may soon reach 100,000, reports portfolio.hu, based on data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

According to the data, there are currently 95,000 foreigners working in Hungary, and their number is increasing by about 1,000 every month.



KSH points out that the increase occurred among third-country nationals. In 2020, the number of foreigners working in Hungary was 60,000-70,000; by 2022, their number already exceeded 80,000.



The portal notes that, in addition to Ukraine and Serbia, foreigners from 15 other countries can come to work in Hungary under a simplified procedure.
Hungary is a member of both the EU and NATO but the foreign policy approach of the country's prime minister, Viktor Orban, often rejects the sensibilities of these alliances.

Not one serving EU leader came to Hungary in August 2023, when Prime Minister Viktor Orban celebrated Hungary's birthday.



Instead, his guest list included for example: the heads of Turkey, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Qatar. What's going on in Hungary? And why does Orban have the friends that he does?
New Delhi: Excitement is reaching a fever pitch as Ranbir Kapoor's highly anticipated film, Animal, is set to hit theaters on December 1st. In this Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial, Kapoor assumes the role of Arjun, a tempestuous and enigmatic character with a criminal past, lending each of his actions a purpose.

While the film has already captivated audiences, especially with the popularity of the track 'Arjan Vailly,' which has amassed an impressive 24 million views on YouTube, there's more to the song than just its catchy beats and striking visuals. Beyond the surface lies a rich historical and cultural tapestry.

The song draws inspiration from a well-known folk tune originally composed by Punjabi folk artist Kuldeep Manak. Rooted in Sikh history, it weaves together elements of the film's narrative. The original composition delves into the life of Arjan Singh Nalwa, the son of Sikh military commander Hari Singh Nalwa, during the 18th century. Arjan, hailing from Jagraon near Ludhiana, took up the mantle after his father's demise, engaging in battles for the Sikh Empire against the formidable Mughals.

Watch the song here:

Structured in the style of Dhadi-Vaar music, traditionally used by Guru Gobind Singh as a war cry against the Mughals to uplift the spirits of his people, 'Arjan Vailly' signifies an exceptionally fierce individual unbound by conventional laws. Bhupinder Babbal lends his voice to this powerful rendition, featuring stellar performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Rashmika Mandanna.

As December commences, the film promises a blockbuster start. The star-studded cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol, and Anil Kapoor, has already taken the internet by storm with its gripping trailer. With expectations soaring based on Sandeep Reddy Vanga's past directorial successes like 'Kabir Singh,' fans eagerly await the epic release scheduled for December 1st.
JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government confirmed late Wednesday night that the sixth batch of hostages released from the Gaza Strip by Hamas has returned to Israel.

The 16 hostages, including 12 Israelis -- some holding dual citizenship -- and four Thai nationals, will undergo an initial medical examination before being escorted by security forces to hospitals to reunite with their families, according to statements issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The four-day humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, scheduled to expire on Tuesday morning, was extended by two days, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Monday. Israel did not comment on the extension, but said early Tuesday that it approved the release of 50 more female Palestinian prisoners if "more Israeli hostages are released."

More than 200 hostages were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants during their Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel, which retaliated by launching deadly airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. 
New Delhi: Tata Coffee on Thursday said that it has got board approval capacity expansion of its subsidiary Tata Coffee Vietnam Company Ltd, Vietnam at an investment of Rs 450 crore.

"In accordance with Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Listing Obligations and Disclosures Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (Listing Regulations), we would like to notify you that, the Board of Directors of the Company, at its meeting held on November 30, 2023, has approved the setting up of an additional 5500 Metric Tonnes (MT) Freeze-Dried Coffee facility in Vietnam. This facility is being undertaken by Tata Coffee Vietnam Company Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company," the company said in a BSE filing.

The board has approved the setting up of an additional 5,500-tonne freeze-dried coffee facility in Vietnam from the existing capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes with an investment of USD 53.3 million (approximately Rs 450 crore), the company told BSE.

The investment funds will be sourced from internal accruals and bank financing, Tata Coffee added. About 96 percent of the total capacity is under utilisation and the Period within which the proposed additional capacity is to be added is next two years.
New Delhi: India's eight core infrastructure industries grew 12.1 percent (provisional) in October 2023 as compared to the Index of October 2022.

"The production of all eight core industries (namely; Cement, Coal, Crude Oil, Electricity, Fertilizers, Natural Gas, Refinery Products and Steel)recorded positive growth in October 2023 over the corresponding month of last year," Ministry of Commerce & Industry release said.

The final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for July 2023 is revised to 8.5 percent. The cumulative growth rate of ICI during April to October, 2023-24 is 8.6 percent(provisional) as compared to the corresponding period of last year, it added.
CAT Answer Key 2023: The CAT result and answer key will be available soon on the official website. According to reports CAT 2023 Answer key will be released today, November 30, however official update is awaited. The Indian Institute of Management, IIM Lucknow will release CAT Answer key 2023 for all three slots. Candidates who appeared for the MBA entrance exam 2023 will be able to check and download CAT 2023 answer key, and recorded response from the official website-iimcat.ac.in.

On November 26, 2023, IIM Lucknow held the test in three slots for three parts - VARC, DILR, and QA. When the answer key and results are released, candidates can access them via the official website - iimcat.ac.in. According to previous trends, the exam was held at the Indian Institute of Management in Lucknow. Around 3.3 lakh candidates took the exam, and the answer keys are scheduled to be provided within three to four days of the exam day.

The final answer key will be provided after considering the objections. IIM Lucknow will prepare and disseminate the results based on the final key. The results are expected to be revealed in January 2024.

CAT 2023: Steps To Download Answer Key

Visit the iimcat webpage at iimcat.ac.in. Click the 'login' button. Enter your CAT ID and password here. Select 'answer key and response sheet' from the drop-down menu. Download the CAT 2023 answer key PDF and save it to your computer.

CAT 2023 Answer Key: Marking Scheme

To determine their probable score, candidates should familiarize themselves with the CAT marking scheme. According to this scheme, correct answers to multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs are awarded 3 marks each, while incorrect answers to MCQs result in a deduction of 1 mark; non-MCQs, however, carry no negative marking for incorrect responses. Unattempted questions do not contribute to the overall marks.

CAT 2023: Result

Based on previous year trends, the outcome can be expected within 20-30 days. The outcome was announced on December 21, 2022. The counselling schedule will be made available as soon as the results are published. Candidates would be able to obtain admission to several IIMs and other top management institutes through the counselling process based on their CAT 2023 results.
New Delhi: Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday expressed its concern over the case filed in a US court against an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, for allegedly plotting to assassinate a Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. The MEA also said that the case was contrary to the government policy and that a high-level inquiry committee has been set up to look into the matter.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the US had shared some inputs with India regarding the nexus between organised criminals, gunrunners, terrorists and other extremists during the discussions on bilateral security cooperation. He said that India took such inputs very seriously and constituted a high-level inquiry committee to examine all the relevant aspects of the issue. He added that necessary follow-up action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

Breaking: MEA terms case against a individual in US & linking with Indian official as "concerning" & "contrary to Govt policy" https://t.co/PMPFUb3L2k pic.twitter.com/oFQ55y5YSf  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) November 30, 2023

Bagchi also said that the case against Gupta, who was allegedly linked to an Indian official, was a matter of concern for India. He said that the nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at an international level was a serious issue for the law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider. He said that India had stated that the case was also contrary to the government policy and that India would be guided by the results of the inquiry committee.

'Canada Gives Space To Anti-India Elements': MEA

"In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So, we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs and that is unacceptable," Bagchi said on the Indian-Canadian rift over killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Nikhil Gupta, 52, referred as an associate of CC-1 in the criminal coplaint filed by the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, is an Indian national who allegedly conspired with others to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. The US citizen, referred as 'victim' is a Sikh separatist leader who advocates for the creation of a separate Sikh-nation called 'Khalistan'. However, the Justice Department document did not reveal the identity of the citizen involved in the plot. This comes after a Financial Times report on plan to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader.

According to the complaint, Gupta is an associate of a senior official in the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB), the countrys domestic intelligence agency. He is accused of being the main contact person for the co-conspirators, who include a Canadian citizen, a Pakistani national, and two US citizens. Gupta allegedly provided them with information, guidance, and financial assistance to carry out the murder plot.

"Czech authorities arrested and detained GUPTA on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic," the report states.
Initiated in January 2022, this project is set to unveil the world's longest cable car, spanning 6.6 km. The cable car promises to provide tourists an extraordinary experience.

One of the project's remarkable features is its ability to transport tourists within a few minutes to the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. The announcement of this endeavor was made by the Prime Minister of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, in October 2022.

While announcing this significant milestone, Minister of Tourism, Denise Charles said that this would be a major attraction for tourists. She also mentioned that the construction of a ten-passenger cable car has started. It has the capacity to transport a thousand passengers per hour in each direction, with each trip taking 20 minutes to move from one side to the other.

SETTING A WORLD RECORD

In a significant development in the world of engineering marvels, the Cable Car Project in the Commonwealth of Dominica is poised to set a Guinness World Record upon its completion as the world's longest monocable car.

Spanning an impressive 6.6 kilometers, this project, a collaboration between ABL Holdings and the Doppelmayr Group, is not just a feat of engineering brilliance but also a testament to human ingenuity and determination.

The completion of this project will not only mark a major milestone in cable car technology but also position Dominica as a holder of a unique world record, attracting global attention and boosting tourism in the region.

This remarkable achievement underscores the country's commitment to innovative infrastructural development, blending technological advancements with ecological mindfulness.

TOURISM AND EMPLOYMENT SURGE

In a transformative boost to Dominica's economy, the Cable Car Project promises to create a surge in employment opportunities, particularly in the hospitality sector.

The establishment of restaurants at both the bottom and top stations, coupled with a rise in demand for local vendors, taxi services and tour guides, is set to revolutionize the local job market.

Many tourists, enticed by the scenic beauty, might opt for a return journey via hiking trails, further fueling the need for guided tours and transportation services. This influx of opportunities will primarily benefit Dominican nationals, offering numerous direct job opportunities.

Experts predict that post-completion, the project will triple tourism in Dominica, potentially making it the top tourist destination among CARICOM nations in terms of sheer numbers. This significant increase in tourism is expected to have a ripple effect across various sectors, fostering economic growth and enhancing the nation's global standing in the tourism industry.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CABLE CAR PROJECT

According to the latest updates on the Cable Car project's progress, the current phase includes assembling the tower structures and preparing their foundations in the jungle, an important step to ensure the seamless installation of the tower equipment.

After completing the current phase, the next step involves deploying a heavy-lift helicopter. This aircraft will be instrumental in installing all tower equipment. Once this critical task is accomplished, it will pave the way for the commencement of the main cable car installation, marking a significant stride in the project's evolution.

In addition, the team has acquired self-contained trucks from India with four-wheel drive capabilities, which will be used to transport essential material, including concrete, to tower sites.

The construction team is also actively developing the bottom station area and has completed the parking lot. The area will include amenities for passengers who want to shop and eat.

It is also to be noted that more than 140 local citizens of Dominica, hailing from nearby communities are currently employed in the project. As the project progresses, so too will the opportunities for local people.

The team, consisting of both males and females, is making a huge impact on the local economy, as many people are receiving good wages.

Moreover, the locals are excited about the project's potential for future employment opportunities as well. When asked, local employees at the project described the current state of construction as 'fun' and 'exciting'.

As the project progresses, it is anticipated that the cable car will become a major tourist destination in Dominica and a jewel in the Caribbean.

The latest reports have shown that several on-site works have been undertaken already, which are as follows:

LCS TOWER FOUNDATION AND DEADMAN ANCHOR INSTALLATION

44 of 59 deadman anchor logs were buried and backfilled

Tower 1 guy rope anchors are being designed to attach to the road-widening wall

The tower 14 foundation was excavated. The hole will be blinded, and the foundation will be flown

Tower 15 foundation will be the last one to be cast by hand

Guy rope lines are being re-cut, and the final tree cutting is performed

Anchor weight locations are being excavated

Anchor weight pre-casting is in progress using the new AJAX trucks

Tower 7 winch pad excavated and blinded

LCS TOWER ASSEMBLY

Tower Assembly complete

Saddles are completed

Rigging pallets are being assembled for flying

DOPPELMAYR BOTTOM STATION AND TOWERS

The first section of the bottom station's retaining wall has been cast and stripped. After seven days, excavation of the Bottom station will begin and the team will use the material to backfill the wall.

Tower 8 micropile drilling and grouting are in progress

Tower 10 and 11 excavation by hand

TOP STATION

Building Sites Completed

Digging resumed on the Anchor Hole

Surveyed and cut the Guy Rope lines

Construction on the six buildings that will be flown up to the top station  3 bunkhouses, one kitchen/dining room, one office, one wash house

CABLE CAR PROJECT IN DOMINICA

ABL Holdings and the Doppelmayr group have collaborated to execute this multimillion-dollar project. The aerial bridge's length will be 6.6 km and can be traversed in 20 minutes. The cabins with large panoramic windows are designed for ten passengers and are equipped with comfortable seats.

At the lower station, there will be several stores and eateries and at the top  a large viewing platform and a cafe. Once at the top, passengers can also take a picture next to a statue of the Sisserou parrot (the national bird of Dominica), which is six meters high.

The starting point of the cable car will be the capital, Roseau and people can reach the boiling lake in a very short span of time. This will be a remarkable development as earlier, the hike to the boiling lake would take a few hours which often deterred some tourists.

With the introduction of a more comfortable option which takes far less time, the boiling lake is expected to become the most popular attraction in the Caribbean region.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday participated in a program to interact with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a nationwide campaign to spread awareness about the various welfare schemes of the central government. The PM also launched a program to increase the number of Jan Aushadi Kendras, which provide quality medicines at affordable prices, from 10,000 to 25,000 across the country. He also inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Mahila Kisan Drone Kendra, a scheme to empower women farmers by providing them access to drones for agricultural purposes.

The PM addressed the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing and lauded their efforts to reach out to the masses and inform them about the benefits of the government schemes. He said that the campaign, which was launched on October 2, has covered more than 1.5 lakh villages and reached over 15 crore people. He said that the campaign has also helped in creating a positive atmosphere in the country and boosting the confidence of the people.

The PM also launched a program to increase the number of Jan Aushadi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 by March 2024. He said that the Jan Aushadi Kendras have saved more than Rs 25,000 crore for the poor and the middle class by providing quality medicines at affordable prices. He said that the government is committed to ensuring the health and well-being of every citizen and providing them access to the best healthcare facilities.

The PM also inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Mahila Kisan Drone Kendra, a scheme to empower women farmers by providing them access to drones for agricultural purposes. He said that the scheme will enable women farmers to use drones for crop monitoring, pest control, soil testing, and irrigation. He said that the scheme will also enhance the productivity and income of women farmers and make them self-reliant.

The PM also interacted with some of the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and the Jan Aushadi Kendras and appreciated their feedback and suggestions. He urged them to continue their efforts to spread awareness and inspire others to avail the benefits of the government schemes. He also appealed to the people to follow the COVID-19 protocols and get vaccinated at the earliest.
New Delhi: The Telangana Assembly elections witnessed a brisk turnout of voters, with 64.26 per cent of the electorate casting their ballots by 6 pm for the 119 seats, as per the Election Commission of India. The figure may go up once the final data is released. The poll commission also reported the turnout for various districts, with Medak recording a turnout of 82.05 per cent, followed by Jangaon with 80.23 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Hyderabad at 40.88 per cent.

The polling for the 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana began at 7 am on Thursday, with long queues seen outside the polling stations in urban and rural areas.

Some of the districts that recorded a high turnout till 6 pm are:

Medak: 82.05%

Jangaon: 80.23%

Yadadri Bhongiri: 78.31%

Wanaparthy: 77.54%

Siddipet: 77.19%

Some of the districts that recorded a low turnout till 6 pm are:

Hyderabad: 40.88%

Medchal Malkajgiri: 49.25%

Rangareddy: 53.03%

The Telangana Assembly elections are crucial for all the three parties, as they will decide the fate of the state for the next five years. The results will be announced on December 3, along with the results of the other four states- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

The polling for the 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana kicked off on Thursday morning, with a whopping 2,290 candidates vying for the seats. The candidates belong to 109 national and regional parties, and include 221 women and one transgender.

The fate of these candidates will be decided on December 3, when the votes will be counted along with the results of the other four states- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi has fielded candidates in all 119 seats, while, as per the seat-sharing agreement, BJP and actor Pawan Kalyan-headed Jana Sena Party are contesting in 111 and eight seats respectively, while Congress has given one seat to its ally CPI, and fighting from 118 others. Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has put up candidates from nine seats.

For a higher voter turnout, several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi have urged the people of the state to exercise their franchise.

The BRS is banking on its track record and promises of the last 10 years to win the trust of the voters. The Congress is hoping to get enough support to form its first government in the state. The BJP is also vying to end the misrule and corruption of the BRS. Some of the prominent candidates in the fray are Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, his son and minister K T Rama Rao, state Congress President A Revanth Reddy, and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.

If K Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, secures another term in office, he will become the first Chief Minister from a Southern state to get a third consecutive term in office. KCR is contesting from two seats: his original seat Gajwel and Kamareddy. He is facing a tough challenge from BJP leader Etela Rajender in Gajewal and Congress state unit chief Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy.

Both Etela and Revanth Reddy are also fighting from two seats each: the BJP leader from Huzurabad and the Congress leader from Kodangal.
In Telangana, voting today concluded for the triangular contest among the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and the BJP. The state witnessed a high-voltage campaign in the state with senior leaders from each party leaving no stone unturned for wooing the voters. For BJP, PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath campaigned extensively while Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi led the Congress party's assault against the BRS and the BJP. For the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, MLC K Kavitha and state minister KT Rama Rao led the campaign.

While the BRS is seeking a third straight term for KCR, the Congress is looking to make a return to the state for the first time since its formation in 2013. The BJP, on the other hand, is looking to make a greater inroads in the state.

According to CNX exit poll, the Congress is likely to make a big gain in Telangana by winning 63-79 seats, BRS 31-47 seats and BJP 2-4 seats while the AIMIM may get 2-4 seats. The majority mark in the state is 60 seats.

Today's Chanakya has projected simple majority for Congress by giving it 71  9 seats, BRS 33  9 seats, BJP+ 7  5 seats and others 8  3 seats.

Telangana Exit Poll 2023: Watch Full Coverage Here

Accdording to PollStrat exit polls, the BRS is set to get 48-58 seats while the Congress is likely to make a big gain by winning 49-59 seats. The BJP is poised to win 5-10 seats while the AIMIM may get 6-8 seats.

As per Matrize exit poll, the Congress may get 58-68 seats, BRS 46-56 seats and the BJP 4-9 seats while the AIMIM may get 5-7 seats.

A total of 3.17 crore voters were eligible to cast ballots to choose representatives for a 119-member Assembly. A total of 2,290 candidates are in the fray for the 109 parties, including national and local parties.

This time, 103 MLAs are seeking re-election with the majority of them belonging to the ruling BRS. Polling will be held in 119 constituencies from 7 am to 6 pm, while the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.
New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pressed the Indian government to collaborate with Canada in the investigation of the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader who was killed in Canada in June. Trudeaus appeal comes after the US Justice Department charged an Indian national for allegedly plotting to kill another Sikh separatist leader based in New York, CBC News reported. Trudeau told reporters that the US indictment highlighted the seriousness of the issue.

The news coming out of the United States further underscores what weve been talking about from the very beginning: which is India needs to take this seriously, he said. He added, The Indian government needs to work with us to ensure that were getting to the bottom of this. This is not something that anyone can take lightly, according to CBC News report.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who was in Brussels for a NATO meeting, also expressed her expectation of more cooperation and engagement from India, CBC News reported. She said, Clearly, we expect more cooperation on their part. And more engagement on their part. She refrained from commenting on the US criminal case.

The US Justice Department revealed the indictment against the Indian national two months after Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in Surrey, British Columbia. India had dismissed the allegation as absurd and politically motivated.

Earlier this week, the Indian High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, said that India was only asking for specific and relevant evidence in the killing of Nijjar, who was designated as a terrorist by India, so that it could assist Canada in concluding the investigation. In an interview with Canadian journalist Tahir Gora at TAG TV Toronto, he said, India is only asking for specific and relevant information so that we can help you. We can help the Canadian investigators to reach their conclusion, to the extent that it will be viable for them to go for the legal actionI will urge my Canadian friends and colleagues. I can assure them that we will certainly look into them.

On Wednesday, the US Justice Department filed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement and a citizen in New York. The US Justice Department claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities. Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Czech authorities arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic. In its indictment, the US Justice Department claimed that, earlier this year, the Indian government employee working together with others, including Gupta, directed a plot to assassinate on a political activist who is a U.S. citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City. It is claimed that Gupta is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1. The indictment claims CC -1 directed the assassination plot from India. The unsealing of the indictment follows recent sharing of information by the US on a nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists. India has since formed a high-level inquiry committee to address the security concerns highlighted by the US government.
New Delhi: Anju Fatima, who became an overnight news sensation after travelling to Pakistan to marry her Facebook friend, has returned to India after five months and was grilled by IB and Punjab Police Intelligence on Wednesday. During interrogation, Anju stated that her plan is to divorce her Indian husband Arvind and take her children to Pak. On her return, she said that she tied the knot with Nasrullah, a Pakistani national and a pharma dealer, after embracing Islam from Christianity. However, she failed to produce any proof of her marriage and refuted any links with Pakistani defense forces.

She departed for Amritsar airport after clearing the investigation and customs, from where she will fly to Delhi by Indigo flight number. She went to Pakistan on a tourist visa. According to media reports, Anju entered India from the Attari-Wagah border today and was in the BSF camp.

Anju is a resident of Alwar. She was living in Bhiwadi with her husband Arvind and two children. After visiting Pakistan, Anju married Nasrullah after converting to Islam. The pictures of Anju-Nasrullah's marriage had gone viral on social media.
This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the site of a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement.

A 24-year-old woman was announced dead at the scene, while two elderly victims died of wounds in hospital, emergency service Magen David Adom was quoted by local media as saying.

The attack occurred almost a year after the same bus stop witnessed a deadly bombing attack on Nov. 23, 2022. 

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the site of a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

Police work at the site of a shooting attack in Jerusalem, on Nov. 30, 2023.

At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the site of a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)

This photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the site of a shooting attack in Jerusalem.

At least five people, including two gunmen, were killed in a shooting attack here on Thursday morning, according to police and emergency services.

Two gunmen opened fire at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem before being killed on the spot, Israel police said in a statement. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing)
New Delhi: Tata Technologies made a stellar listing on the Indian stock market on Thursday, in line with expectations from market and experts. Shares of Tata Technologies listed with a bumper premium of 140 per cent, against the issue price of Rs 500.

Tata Technologies shares listed at Rs 1,199.95, registering a sharp jump of 139.99 per cent from the issue price of Rs 500 on the BSE, further zooming 180 percent to Rs 1,400. At the NSE, the scrip traded at Rs 1,200, surging 140 percent. The stock later zoomed to Rs 1,400. The company's market valuation stood at Rs 52,939.74 crore during the morning trade.

At 12:43 PM, shares of Tata Technologies was trading at Rs 1,341.00 apiece, higher by Rs 841.00 or 168.20 percent.

"Pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI LODR Regulations and further to our intimation vide letters bearing sc nos. 17057, 17287, 17914 and 17935 dated December 12, 2022, March 9, 2023, November 13, 2023 and November 25, 2023, respectively, in relation to the IPO of Tata Technologies Limited, we wish to inform you that the Company has been informed by Tata Technologies Limited, that on November 28, 2023, it has approved transfer of 60,850,278 Equity Shares to various investors who successfully subscribed in the IPO, of which 46,275,000 Equity Shares were offered for sale by the Company, 9,716,853 Equity Shares were offered for sale by Alpha TC Holdings Pte. Ltd. and 4,858,425 Equity Shares were offered for sale by Tata Capital Growth Fund I," Tata Motors said in a regulatory filing on November 29.

As a result of the above, the Companys shareholding in Tata Technologies Limited stands reduced from 64.79% to 53.39% (i.e., from 262,844,816 to 216,569,816 Equity Shares), of the issued and paidup Equity Share capital of Tata Technologies Limited, it added.

The Rs 3,042.5 crore IPO of Tata Technologies, which provides engineering and product development digital services, was subscribed 69.43 times on the final day of subscription on Friday, driven by remarkable participation from institutional buyers.
New Delhi: Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia are among Bollywood's most adored couples. They have not confirmed their relationship but have not even denied it. The two are often snapped together at lunches, dinners, and events and fans love their chemistry. Last night, both were seen gracing an event in Mumbai, both made a solo entry but a joint exit. What became the highlight moment was Vijay's gesture towards the love of his life that has taken over the internet.

On Wednesday, November 29, the Lust Stories 2 co-stars made a joint appearance at Vogues Forces Of Fashion in Mumbai where the pair turned heads in their stylish outfits. Now, the video of the couple exiting from the event together is going viral where Vijays chivalrous gesture of lending his jacket to Tamannaah is winning hearts.

The video captures Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Verma walking hand-in-hand down the stairs at the venue. Tamannaah looked stunning pairing her black skirt with Vijay's coat, the actor looked dapper in a crisp white shirt, pin-striped loose-fitted navy-blue trousers, and a black tie. Fans have flooded the comment sections of pap accounts with heart-eye and fire emojis.

One wrote, "He gave his jacket to her" Another one added, "They are epitome of love", "So cute they are," commented a third one.

The rumours of the two dating started a few months ago and fans absolutely love and adore their jodi. Although they haven't spoken about their link-up, on the work front, the two worked together in 'Lust Stories 2'.

In the coming months, Vijay will be seen in 'Mirzapur 3'. He also gas 'Murder Mubarak' opposite Sara Ali Khan in Kitty.

Tamannaah, on the other hand, was last seen in Jailer and also has Nikkhil Advanis next directorial venture 'Vedaa'.
New Delhi: Raashii Khanna, a versatile actress in the Indian film industry, has graced the silver screen with her talent and charm. Let's delve into five of her most memorable characters that have captivated audiences and solidified her presence in the world of cinema.

1. Miss Prabhavathi in 'Oohalu Gusagusalade':

Raashii Khanna made a stunning debut with the Telugu film 'Oohalu Gusagusalade.' The movie hailed as the biggest small film of its year, introduced audiences to her in the role of Miss Prabhavathi. Her portrayal was beyond cherished, and her song "Em Sandeham Ledu" remains a super mellifluous chartbuster that continues to resonate with fans.

2. Bellam Sridevi in 'Supreme':

In the superhit 'Supreme,' Raashii Khanna took on the role of Bellam Sridevi, a rowdy yet comic and lovable cop. Paired alongside Saidharam Tej, her performance added a delightful flavor to the film. The perfect blend of humor and charisma showcased in this character contributed significantly to the film's success.

3. Varsha in 'Tholiprema':

Raashii Khanna's portrayal of Varsha in the immensely loved Telugu musical romance 'Tholiprema' left an indelible mark. Her on-screen chemistry, the emotive depth she brought to the character, and the soulful songs associated with the film all contributed to its massive success. Varsha became a character that resonated with audiences, making the film a memorable romantic journey.

4. Megha Vyas in 'Farzi':

Raashii Khanna's versatility shines through in the character of Megha Vyas in the Shahid Kapoor-starrer 'Farzi.' With her convincing portrayal, she added depth to the narrative, showcasing her ability to adapt to diverse roles.

5. Aliya Choksi in 'Rudra: The Edge of Darkness':

Stepping into the dark and intense world of 'Rudra,' Raashii Khanna took on the role of Aliya Choksi. Her performance in this edgy thriller showcased her range as an actress, proving that she can seamlessly transition between genres.

Raashii Khanna's journey in the film industry has been marked by these five standout characters, each contributing to her reputation as a talented and versatile actress. From romantic leads to rowdy cops and intense thriller roles, she has showcased her ability to bring characters to life with charisma and authenticity. As she continues to evolve in her career, audiences eagerly anticipate the diverse roles she will take on in the future.
New Delhi: Ahead of Sam Bahadur's much-awaited release, the makers of Vicky Kaushal-starrer organized a star-studded screening. Despite a big clash with Ranbir Kapoor-starrer, the buzz is strong around 'Sam Bahadur' where Vicky promises to be at his finest. Acnowledging the same, bollywood stars - Rekha, Ananya Panday, Aditya Roy Kapur, Karan Johar, amid others - arrived in style for the screening of 'Sam Bahadur'.

'Dream Girl 2' actress Ananya Panday attended the premiere and looked gorgeous. The actress wore a midi-dress in the shades of maroon and black and paired it with black pumps and minimal makeup. Her rumoured boyfriend, Aditya Roy Kapur, was spotted at the star-studded event in casual wear. He styled his basic white T-shirt and denim look with a checkered shirt and sneakers.

Veteran actress Rekha, often making heads turn with her suave arrived at the event looking immaculately stunning. She opted to wear a black saree with a golden border. She complemented her look with her hair tied in a bun and flaunted red lips.

'Shershah' actor Sidharth Malhotra looked absolutely dapper in a white T-shirt, black pants, and a denim shirt on top.

Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film stars Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh in the lead roles. In the film, Vicky will be seen portraying the role of India's war hero and first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.

Recently, the trailer was launched and was lauded by many. The 2-minute-40-second trailer showcased Vicky (as Sam Manekshaw) in a fierce avatar holding his own against several high-profile leaders, including Indira Gandhi, the then-prime minister. At the end of the trailer, Vicky delivers a powerful dialogue and says, "Aaj ke baad koi bhi officer ya jawan..mere written order ke bina apni post se peeche nahi hatega..aur main wo order kabhi nahi dunga."

Sam Bahadur is based on the life of India's first Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. His career in the army spanned over four decades and five wars. He was the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and he led the victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

The film is all set to hit the theatres on December 1.
New Delhi: Nikhil Gupta, 52, referred as an associate of CC-1 in the criminal complaint filed by the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, is an Indian national who allegedly conspired with others to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. The US citizen, referred as 'victim' is a Sikh separatist leader who advocates for the creation of a separate Sikh-nation called 'Khalistan'. However, the Justice Department document did not reveal the identity of the citizen involved in the plot. This comes after a Financial Times report on plan to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader.

According to the complaint, Gupta is an associate of a senior official in the Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB), the countrys domestic intelligence agency. He is accused of being the main contact person for the co-conspirators, who include a Canadian citizen, a Pakistani national, and two US citizens. Gupta allegedly provided them with information, guidance, and financial assistance to carry out the murder plot.

"Czech authorities arrested and detained GUPTA on June 30, 2023, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic," the report states.

The complaint alleges that Gupta and his co-conspirators planned to kill 'Victim' in retaliation for his criticism of the Indian government and its policies towards minority groups. They also allegedly targeted another person, identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen designated a Khalistani terrorist in India.

The complaint claims that Gupta and his co-conspirators used encrypted messaging applications, such as WhatsApp and Signal, to communicate and coordinate their activities. They also allegedly conducted surveillance on both the targets, and discussed various methods of killing them, such as shooting, poisoning, or using a car bomb.

The complaint further alleges that Gupta and his co-conspirators attempted to recruit other people to join their conspiracy, and sought to obtain weapons and explosives for their mission. They also allegedly discussed creating a fake organization to claim responsibility for the killings, and to justify them as acts of self-defense or resistance.

The complaint states that the murder plot was foiled by the FBI and the New York Police Department, who arrested one of the co-conspirators, a US citizen, on December 16, 2023. The other co-conspirators, including Gupta, remain at large and are wanted by the US authorities.

Gupta is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. He is also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit foreign travel in furtherance of murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment. The charges are merely allegations, and Gupta is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
New Delhi: In a significant move, the Central government has announced that 18 Bills will be presented for consideration and passage in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament, scheduled from December 4 to 22. The list includes crucial criminal law legislation that seeks to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. The proposed Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill 2023 are set to replace the IPC, CrPC, and the Evidence Act respectively.

These Bills were first introduced in the Lower House of Parliament on August 11 and were subsequently referred to the Standing Committee on Home Affairs. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in consultation with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, published an intimation of this in Bulletin-Part II, dated August 21, 2023.

Union Minister Amit Shah, while introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha on August 7, stated that the three acts to be replaced were originally designed to fortify and safeguard British rule, with their primary objective being punishment rather than justice. We are going to bring changes in both these fundamental aspects, he declared. He further added that the essence of these three new laws would be to safeguard all rights conferred by the Constitution to Indian citizens. The aim would not be to punish, but to deliver justice, and in this process, punishment would be meted out where necessary to instill a sense of crime prevention.

The Committees Report was presented to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on November 10, 2023, and was then forwarded to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. According to a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Wednesday, the government will introduce several other bills in Parliament, including The Boilers Bill, 2023, The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023, The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2023, among others.

Notably, the Bill to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners is also part of the legislative agenda for the upcoming session, which will conclude on December 22. The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session on August 10.

This Bill also outlines the procedure for the transaction of business by the Election Commission. It proposes that the Election Commissioners will be appointed by the President based on the recommendation of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, with the Prime Minister chairing the panel.

If enacted, this Bill will override the Supreme Courts March 2023 judgement, which stated that the appointment of Election Commissioners would be done by the President based on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Chief Justice of India. However, the apex court had clarified that the procedure outlined by it would hold until a law is enacted by Parliament.

In the meantime, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, on behalf of the government, has called for an all-party meeting ahead of the session on December 2.
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on the international community to take urgent actions to address the Palestine-Israel conflict.

He urged the UN Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities and make every effort to facilitate a ceasefire, ensure the safety of civilians, and stop the humanitarian disaster.

On top of this, the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be restarted as soon as possible and the Palestinian people's right to statehood and survival and their right of return should be restored as soon as possible, Xi said in his congratulatory message to a UN meeting held on Wednesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 
"Before the war, we lived in safety, and when the war started, they destroyed 24 buildings in this neighborhood." A displaced Gaza resident has returned to his house during the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, only to find rubble and debris.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service




BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday released a paper stating China's position on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The following is the full text:

Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused heavy civilian casualties and a serious humanitarian disaster. It is a grave concern of the international community. President Xi Jinping stated China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on a number of occasions. He stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire and ending the fighting, ensuring that the humanitarian corridors are safe and unimpeded, and preventing the expansion of the conflict. He pointed out that the fundamental way out of this lies in the two-state solution, building international consensus for peace, and working toward a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.

Pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations, the Security Council shoulders primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and should thus play an active and constructive role on the question of Palestine. In this connection, China offers the following proposals:

1. Implementing a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the fighting. Parties to the conflict should truly implement the relevant UNGA and UNSC resolutions and immediately realize a durable and sustained humanitarian truce. Building on UNSC Resolution 2712, the Security Council, in response to the calls of the international community, should explicitly demand a comprehensive ceasefire and end of the fighting, work for deescalation of the conflict, and cool down the situation as soon as possible.

2. Protecting civilians effectively. The UNSC resolution demands in explicit terms that all parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians. It is imperative to stop any violent attacks against civilians and violations of international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilian facilities. The Security Council should further send a clear message on opposing forced transfer of the Palestinian civilian population, preventing the displacement of Palestinian civilians, and calling for the release of all civilians and hostages held captive as soon as possible.

3. Ensuring humanitarian assistance. All relevant parties must, as per requirements of the UNSC resolution, refrain from depriving the civilian population in Gaza of supplies and services indispensable to their survival, set up humanitarian corridors in Gaza to enable rapid, safe, unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access, and avoid a humanitarian disaster of even greater gravity. The Security Council should encourage the international community to ramp up humanitarian assistance, improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, and support the coordinating role of the United Nations as well as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in humanitarian assistance, and prepare the international community for supporting post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza.

4. Enhancing diplomatic mediation. The Security Council should leverage its role in facilitating peace as mandated in the UN Charter to demand that parties to the conflict exercise restraint to prevent the conflict from widening and uphold peace and stability in the Middle East. The Security Council should value the role of regional countries and organizations, support the good offices of the UN Secretary General and the Secretariat, and encourage countries with influence on parties to the conflict to uphold an objective and just position so as to jointly play a constructive role in deescalating the crisis.

5. Seeking political settlement. According to relevant UNSC resolutions and international consensus, the fundamental settlement of the question of Palestine lies in the implementation of the two-state solution, restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with east Jerusalem as its capital. The Security Council should help restore the two-state solution. A more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference led and organized by the UN should be held as soon as possible to formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine. Any arrangement on the future of Gaza must respect the will and independent choice of the Palestinian people, and must not be imposed upon them. 
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Russian Duma has approved the decisions of the Georgian authorities regarding sanctions against Russia. In the released statement, the Duma Committee emphasized that "Georgia has accurately assessed the policy of anti-Russian sanctions as self-deception and madness"."Applause. Despite the challenges in Moscow-Tbilisi relations, the current government of Georgia has shown the courage to resist anti-Russian hysteria and lead with a position primarily focused on national interests and the well-being of its own citizens. With these priorities, Georgia's economy has been growing rapidly, showing double-digit growth for two consecutive years. By the way, Russian tourists contribute significantly to the country's income," the statement from the Foreign Relations Committee reads.According to the Duma, the EU's intention to approve the 12th package of sanctions against Russia indicates that "Europe is increasingly resembling Clinic N6".According to the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, they are collecting information regarding the murder of Tamaz Ginturi by communicating with the family and agencies.As Levan Ioseliani noted, after the work on the issue is completed, a report will be presented to the public."Of course, we continue to work on this issue. We think that by communicating with the family and agencies, we will collect information, which we will then present to the public in the form of a report. At this stage, I can only tell you this," said Levan Ioseliani.Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi was murdered on November 6 by the Russian occupation forces.The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, held a meeting with Masatsugu Asakawa, the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), during his visit to Tbilisi for the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Forum.As per the press service of the Prime Minister of Georgia, the meeting centered on the current collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, particularly in various sectors of the economy.Gharibashvili stated that Georgia values the bank's current portfolio, comprising 18 investments totaling USD 1.9 billion, within the context of ADB's overall portfolio of USD 4.5 billion.The meeting also highlighted that the Georgian government is investing in reforms, aiming to simplify business processes and undertake infrastructural projects. These efforts contribute to the development of the country's potential as a transit, logistics, tourism, and business hub.The Prime Minister emphasized the significance of Georgia hosting the annual meetings of the Asian Development Bank in 2024.
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned recent violent incidents in Sierra Leone.

The AU, in a statement issued late Wednesday, said the chairperson is monitoring with grave concern the security situation in Sierra Leone arising from the intrusion of the military armory at Wilberforce barracks in Freetown, the country's capital.

Faki strongly condemned the violence recently unleashed in Freetown, which is tantamount to disrupting the peace, democratic dispensation and stability of Sierra Leone, the statement said.

The AU Commission chairperson commended the government of Sierra Leone for promptly repelling the attacks. He assured the West African country's government and people of the African Union's continued commitment to support the strengthening of inclusive democracy, stability and nation-building in the country.

On Sunday morning, unidentified individuals attacked the Wilberforce military barracks and other locations, including the Pademba Road Correctional Center, leading to a prison break. 
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called for full implementation of the UN resolutions related to the Palestinian question, and a return to the right track of the two-state solution.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the call at UN headquarters in New York when meeting the press after presiding over a high-level Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

Noting that the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has caused enormous civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian disaster, Wang said the international community expects the Security Council to live up to its due responsibilities and take strong actions.

Holding the presidency of the Security Council for the month of November, China has always taken the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as the most pressing issue, Wang said.

After the adoption of Resolution 2712, the first Security Council resolution since the outbreak of the conflict, under China's presidency, China initiated Wednesday's high-level meeting in response to the strong calls of the international community, he said.

Foreign ministers and high-level representatives from nearly 20 countries participated in the meeting. The participants held in-depth discussions about the current Palestinian-Israeli situation and the next steps, further building consensus and pooling strengths for the restoration of peace, Wang said.

"We welcome the humanitarian pause reached last week. But peace cannot be circumscribed and there should not be a time limit to a ceasefire. The window of opportunity, once opened, should not be closed again. The fighting, once stopped, should not flare up again. We cannot allow the humanitarian disaster to continue or tolerate even more suffering or losses among the civilians," he said.

"We urge the release of all those held captive and call for the removal of the blockade of Gaza to ensure unhindered international corridors and guarantee the basic needs of civilians in Gaza. We should also prevent the conflict from spilling over into the entire Middle East region and urge countries with influence on parties to the conflict to play a positive role," Wang said.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict proves once again that the two-state solution is the only viable way to the Palestinian question, he noted.

More than 70 years have passed and generations of Palestinians have lost their homes and become displaced. Yet, the dream of establishing an independent State of Palestine remains elusive. "This is an open wound on human conscience," Wang said.

The international community should fully implement the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, fully respect the will of the Palestinian people, return to the right track of the two-state solution, and enable the establishment of an independent State of Palestine as quickly as possible, Wang urged.

"That is the only way for Palestine and Israel to coexist in peace, for Arabs and Jews to live in harmony, and for the Middle East region to enjoy durable peace," he said.

On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of peace, justice, and conscience, the foreign minister said. President Xi Jinping has outlined China's principled position on the current Palestinian-Israeli situation on multiple occasions.

With that as the basis, China has submitted its position paper on resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which offers proposals such as pushing for a comprehensive ceasefire, protecting civilians effectively, ensuring humanitarian assistance, enhancing diplomatic mediation, and implementing the two-state solution, said Wang.

To ease the humanitarian situation, China will send another batch of emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, he said.

China will continue to step up coordination, and build consensus with the relevant parties, working tirelessly to bring stability back to the region and tranquility back to the people, Wang said. 
Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin speaks at a national teleconference on clearing wage arrears for migrant workers, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin on Thursday pledged to make more efforts to clear the wage arrears of migrant workers and effectively safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Speaking at a national teleconference on the subject, Shen said that the payment of migrant workers on time and in full must be ensured.

The beginning and end of each year are the periods when wage arrears are prone to occur, and authorities should uphold a people-centered approach to ensure the quick settlement of cases, Shen said, vowing to severely punish violations of the related laws and regulations.

Efforts should also be made to increase the relief provided to migrant workers in need and improve the long-term mechanism to completely eliminate the problem of wage arrears, Shen said. 
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The two-state solution is the only way to fundamentally resolve the Palestinian question, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

When meeting the press after presiding over a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed that the two-state solution is the only way out.

The settlement of the Palestinian question does not lack for grand plans or slogans, but the courage and actions to stand up for justice, Wang said. 
GAZA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to the ceasefire, Jaber Abu Musabeh, a Palestinian farmer in Gaza was able to harvest his 0.3-hectare of olive trees after many weeks of delay due to the bloody Hamas-Israel conflict.

Local harvest season usually starts in mid-October and lasts for some 45 days, but the war suspended everything. Abu Musabeh said he did not venture to go to his farms anymore for fear of being attacked by the Israeli fighters nearby.

The weeks-long conflict, combined with climate change, led to a very poor harvest this year, said Abu Musabeh, adding his yields were only a quarter of what it was last year.

During the harvest season, men would climb up olive trees that are usually more than 100 years old, and hand-pick the fruits, while women and children would pick the lower parts of the trees.

Saed Mahdi, a Palestinian who lost his supermarket, the main source of his family's income, to an Israeli attack, also took advantage of the prevailing calm to harvest olives in his farmland in the border area east of the refugee camp.

"Despite the danger here, I came to harvest my trees to sell the crops in the local markets to make some money that would help me keep my family afloat amid the current dire situation," the 55-year-old father of eight told Xinhua.

"I cannot wait for the food aid provided by the UN organizations to feed my family," he said.

However, he lamented, only a fraction of the fruits were still on the trees and many other ripe ones had already fallen.

Olive is a major cash crop in Gaza. Three main varieties (Al-Sari, Al-Shamali, Barnea) are grown here, with large harvests entering the mill and extracted for oil.

Mohammed Abu Zidan, the owner of a local olive oil press mill told Xinhua that there is an increase in demand after the temporary four-day truce took effect in Gaza on Nov. 24.

The press mill also gathered people who came here not for the products but the waste. Rakan al-Halabi, a father of five, often sat for hours outside the mill to bring home some olive waste to burn for heating amid the constant power cuts.

"I do not have money to buy enough blankets for my kids nor a house that would keep them in a warm place," said al-Halabi who took refuge in a shelter with his family in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis.

Since Oct. 7, Hamas, the Islamist group ruling the coastal enclave, has been involved in a bloody conflict with Israel after launching its unprecedented attack at the Israeli cities, killing more than 1,200 people and seizing more than 240 others as hostages.

In response, Israel declared a state of war against Gaza, imposing a tightened blockade on the territory, cutting off the electricity and fuel supply.

Israeli fighter jets, artillery, and naval boats meanwhile carried out continuous attacks on Gaza, destroying more than 50 percent of residential houses in the Strip, according to Palestinian official statistics. 
MANILA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will send a high-level delegation to Iran for assisting the release of 17 Filipino seafarers who were taken hostage last week by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, officials said Thursday.

"Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers," Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos said in a social media post.

Marcos said he has decided to skip the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to focus on the hostage release.

The 17 Filipino seafarers were among the crew members of a cargo vessel taken hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Yemen's Houthi rebels confirmed on Nov. 19 their hijacking of the "Israeli cargo ship".

Citing "government sources," Teresita Daza, spokesperson for the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs, said that "the hostages are in good condition and will eventually be released."

"Efforts are ongoing for this to happen as soon as possible," Daza added. 
YAOUNDE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- State-run Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company (SCDP) has denied reports about fuel scarcity hitting parts of the country and called on citizens to stop panic buying of petrol or gasoline.

Over the last two weeks, long lines have formed at fuel stations, causing traffic jams and fraying tempers as car owners and motorists struggle to buy fuel in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, and commercial hub of Douala.

SCDP said in a statement Wednesday night that the fuel scarcity is "indeed artificial."

"This situation, which has created widespread panic among consumers, artificially increases demand, which has suddenly become exponential, going from 900m3 to 1200m3 per day," the storage and distribution company said in the statement. "In reality, this situation results essentially from poor communication which suggests that petroleum products and in particular super fuel, are not available for consumption, something which is not real considering (fuel) distribution made these last two weeks."

Gas stations will continue to be stocked, the statement said, calling for calm and discipline. 
BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The security of China's Taiwan region depends on the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait rather than some weapons provided by the United States, said a defense spokesperson on Thursday.

Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a news report that Taiwan authorities plan to procure armaments from the United States.

Relying on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence," the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are turning Taiwan into an arsenal and an island of explosives. Such moves will push the island to the brink of disaster and inflict massive suffering on people in Taiwan, said Wu.

Wu added the People's Liberation Army is well-prepared and will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain peace and stability across the Strait. 
MANCHESTER, Britain, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang has called on the business communities of both countries to continue to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve win-win outcomes.

"In recent years, China-UK economic and trade cooperation has seen steady development, yet great potential remains to be tapped," Zheng told the sixth China-UK Economic and Trade Forum here on Wednesday.

The ambassador encouraged entrepreneurs from both countries to seize opportunities with confidence, focus on cooperation for mutual benefit in key areas and innovate for new outcomes of local cooperation.

Zheng stressed that China remains committed to advancing high-standard opening up and is working tirelessly to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

The ambassador said that cooperation between China and the city of Manchester has accelerated in recent years and that China is now Greater Manchester's third largest trading partner.

More and more Chinese enterprises express interest in the investment and business opportunities in the northern part of the UK and the number of cooperation projects in the area is steadily growing, he noted.

Dominic Johnson, minister of state in the UK Department for Business and Trade, agreed with Zheng that steps should be taken to boost business cooperation between the two countries.

Johnson recalled that bilateral trade was worth over 100 billion British pounds (126.47 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022. "China represents huge opportunities for all our businesses based in Manchester or anywhere in the United Kingdom," he added.

Hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, the forum brought together over 230 representatives from all walks of life to communicate and explore opportunities for cooperation. 
JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Hamas released six more Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip late on Thursday in addition to two female hostages released earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

In a statement, the IDF said that the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had transferred the six hostages to Egypt. They reached a meeting point with Israeli soldiers at Kerem Shalom, a border crossing connecting Gaza, Egypt, and Israel.

From there, the hostages would undergo an initial medical assessment at the Hatzerim Base in southern Israel before being taken to hospitals, where they would be reunited with their families, the IDF said.

The newly released hostages include an 18-year-old Bedouin man, his 17-year-old sister, and four Israeli women, according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

Earlier on Thursday evening, two Israeli female hostages were already released by Hamas and handed over to Israel.

The eight hostages are the latest batch to be released under a temporary four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which started last Friday and has been extended for three days. 
* With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.

* China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.

* Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.

By Xinhua Writers Guo Xiaoyu, Wu Qiong, Luo Xin and Peng Peigen

BEIJING, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- For Zhang Yihao, president and CEO of GE Healthcare China, the collective debut of more than 20 key suppliers at the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was "particularly meaningful."

"This line-up well illustrates a cluster effect on China's high-end medical equipment manufacturing, as the locations of these suppliers cover a wide swath of China from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, the western interior to the Greater Bay Area," Zhang said.

"We believe in the field of medical technology, and we are ushering in the best era for development," Zhang said. "Industrial chain innovation and high-quality development will be the priority."

Together with Zhang, many prominent figures from the business sector and international organizations have expressed their optimism over the lasting appeal of the Made-in-China concept as the country boasts striking manufacturing advantages.

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows an exterior view of the venue for the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ren Chao)

COMPLETE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN

With the world's most comprehensive industrial categories and a well-rounded industrial system, China has sustained its status as the "world's manufacturing hub" and attracted global firms to beef up investment there.

China's manufacturing sector topped the world in size for 13 consecutive years in 2022, with the added value of this sector contributing to over 30 percent of the world's total, according to a flagship report titled the Global Supply Chain Promotion Report released Tuesday.

GE Healthcare displayed its up-to-date medical imaging technologies at the expo. The company has established five manufacturing bases across China, with another under construction.

Zhang said that China's complete industrial system has helped his company thrive in China's medical device market, noting more investment will be channeled into cultivating a more resilient and secure supply chain for medical equipment manufacturing, and more production lines will be introduced into China.

"As we extend our footprint in the Chinese medical manufacturing market, our confidence in the ongoing investment in China is growing," he said.

SHARING GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to its industrial advantages, China has evolved into one of the world's largest markets, continually generating business opportunities for global investors.

"As the world's largest electric vehicle market, China's persistent opening-up policies, advanced development concept, and favorable business environment have created huge opportunities for us," said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla, the U.S. automobile giant who also participated in the first CISCE.

Due to its unparalleled advantages and promising future, the Chinese market remains a "must-have" market for Tesla, Tao said.

So far, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory has transformed into the carmaker's export hub worldwide, with China-manufactured Model 3 and Model Y catering to a burgeoning global demand.

This photo taken on Nov. 28, 2023 shows the exhibition area of intelligent vehicles during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

Earlier this month, China announced that it would scrap all restrictions for foreign investors entering the manufacturing industry, while work will also be done to launch more activities to promote global cooperation and bridge transnational companies and local investment projects.

Among its latest moves toward this end, China launched the Beijing Initiative for the Connectivity of Industrial and Supply Chains during the ongoing CISCE, proposing that it will firmly maintain the stability and smooth flows of global industrial and supply chains and promote global economic development.

Wang Yuesheng, a professor from the Department of International Economics and Trade at Peking University, said that China has been furthering the opening-up and development of global industrial and supply chains by promoting the building of an open world economy along with improvements and transformation made in its international economic and trade rules.

In the eyes of Chris Pereira, CEO of iMpact, a communications and business consulting group, the supply chain offers the most essential communication conduit as it entails win-win cooperation.

"There must be a supplier and a client getting better on both sides. So I think as long as there is a supply chain, it is a win-win result," he said.

GOING GLOBAL

Participants at the CISCE have anticipated a more significant global expansion by Chinese firms, bolstered by the country's industrial prowess and growing openness to international markets.

Guests visit the exhibition area of green agriculture during the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin)

Jean Lu, Deputy CEO and Head of Client Coverage, Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, noted: "China not only manufactures for its own needs, but for the whole world."

Considering the country's industrial advantages, Lu said that the current de-globalization waves are, in fact, propelling Chinese companies to "go global" faster.

"The globalization of European and American companies began four to five decades ago, and that for companies of Japan and the Republic of Korea started 20-30 years ago. In the following five to 10 years, we will see the thriving of Chinese transnational companies," said Lu.

"This represents a shift from an export-driven model to a strategy where Chinese companies produce goods and conduct business in foreign markets with a mastery of local cultures and regulations," she said.

For Pereira, China's supply chain holds the most significant advantages in its high efficiency and robust enforcement capacity.

"I believe combining China's efficiency and enforcement capacity with the technological advantages of Western countries will yield mutually beneficial results, and I anticipate that Chinese technology will facilitate cooperation and exchanges in the future," he said.

Many European and American countries are welcoming Chinese suppliers who bring advanced technologies, establish factories, and create local jobs, Pereira said.

According to the mentioned report, China has constructed overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in 46 countries as of the end of 2021. These cooperation zones had created 392,000 local jobs and significantly strengthened global supply chain cooperation.

"I believe that in the next five to 10 years, Chinese firms will not only sustain their current progress but also lead the world toward mutual benefits," Pereira said. (Video reporters: Wang Pu, Wang Xiunan, Xie Han; video editors: Lin Lin, Mu Xuyao, Zhou Sa'ang, Jia Xiaotong, Wang Han)


HELSINKI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- In the third quarter (Q3) of this year, Finland's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted both from the previous quarter and from one year earlier, according to a press release published by Statistics Finland on Thursday.

The country's GDP decreased by 0.9 percent from the previous quarter, and GDP adjusted for working days was 1.2 percent lower than one year ago, the agency said.

Between July and September 2023, Finland's exports dropped by 1.8 percent from the April-June level, and investments contracted by 1.5 percent from the previous quarter. Private consumption fell by 0.6 percent from April to June, and public consumption expenditure decreased by 2.7 percent.

According to statistics, Finland's GDP increased by 0.2 percent from the previous quarter in January to March 2023 and by 0.6 percent in April to June 2023.

Among the branches of industry, especially the forest industry developed poorly: value-added shrank by more than 7 percent. The difficult situation in construction continued in Q3. The value added of several service industries also decreased from the previous quarter.

As expected, Finland's economic growth has turned into a marked decline, commented Jukka Appelqvist, chief economist of the Finland Chamber of Commerce, in a press release issued on Thursday. 
MADRID, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel worsened on Thursday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized comments by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that he had "serious doubts" over whether Israel was observing international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Speaking on the Spanish state TV network RTVE about the conflict in Gaza, Sanchez first underlined that "what Hamas did in Israel is absolutely despicable."

He stressed Spain's "condemnation and rejection" of the attack, saying that "Hamas has to free all of its hostages in Gaza without any conditions."

However, Sanchez also said Israel must "base its actions on international humanitarian law."

"With the images that we are seeing, and the growing number of victims, especially children who are dying, frankly I have doubts that they (Israel) are fulfilling international humanitarian law," he added.

According to Hamas medical service, over 15,000 Palestinians were killed during the Israeli bombardments in the wake of the Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7th, including at least 6,150 children and 4,000 women. Israel said that the Hamas attack had killed about 1,200 people while more than 200 people were taken as hostages.

The Spanish prime minister said that a political solution was needed to end the conflict in Gaza and the solution is a Palestinian state. He argued that Israel is already an internationally recognized country and the United States and European countries should also recognize Palestine.

In response to Sanchez's words, the Israeli premier's office said in a tweet that the Spanish Ambassador to Israel was summoned to the Israeli Foreign Ministry "for a reprimand," calling Sanchez's words "shameful comments."

Last week, Israel accused Sanchez of supporting terrorism after he criticized the Israeli offensive on Gaza while visiting the Rafah frontier post between Egypt and Gaza, which made Spain tell the Israel Ambassador in Madrid that the accusation was "especially serious." 
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid wait to enter Gaza Strip on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Nov. 30, 2023. A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

RAFAH, Egypt, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday.

Ayman Walash, the manager of the SIS press center for foreign media, told Xinhua that since the first relief convoy was allowed into Gaza on Oct. 21, a total of 3,176 tons of medical materials, 1,308 tons of fuel, and 13,348 tons of food had been sent to Gaza through the Rafah crossing until Wednesday.

Some 10,359 tons of water, 3,203 tons of other relief aid, 137 tents, and 18 ambulances have also been transported to Gaza, Walash said.

An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that 200 trucks were scheduled to cross into Gaza through the crossing every day during the ongoing ceasefire, but the Israeli intransigence caused some delays.

Hamas and Israel agreed to prolong the humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip for an additional day, the Qatari Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Thursday. 

Drivers of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid wait to enter Gaza Strip on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Nov. 30, 2023. A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

A truck returns to Egypt from Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing on Nov. 30, 2023. A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Fuel trucks return to Egypt from Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing on Nov. 30, 2023. A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)

Fuel trucks return to Egypt from Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing on Nov. 30, 2023. A total of 2,781 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid have so far entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, the only linking point between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said Thursday. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem, on Nov. 30, 2023. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continued on Thursday for the seventh day as more hostages were freed from the Gaza Strip and mediators pressed ahead with the efforts to further extend the fragile truce. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO/Handout via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continued on Thursday for the seventh day as more hostages were freed from the Gaza Strip and mediators pressed ahead with the efforts to further extend the fragile truce.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived early Thursday in Israel, marking his fourth visit to the Middle East since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7.

Blinken held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attended the Israeli wartime Cabinet, which was discussing the Qatari-mediated proposals to prolong the ceasefire in Gaza, as well as Israel's plans to resume military operations against Hamas after the hostages were returned.

In remarks to reporters alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog before their meeting, Blinken expressed his hope that the truce, which started on Nov. 24, could be extended.

Blinken also stressed the importance of increasing the desperately needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the release of more hostages. "This process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue," he said.

Blinken also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, during which Abbas highlighted the urgent need to implement a "complete" ceasefire in Gaza, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Tel Aviv, Blinken said that he urged Israel to put civilian protection plans in place to minimize civilian casualties once it resumes operations in Gaza.

The truce persisted following diplomatic efforts throughout the night between Wednesday and Thursday. Late on Wednesday, Hamas stated that Israel rejected a list of hostages slated for release on Thursday. Israel maintains its stance, demanding that Hamas releases a minimum of 10 hostages daily to sustain the ceasefire.

After intensive diplomatic endeavors overnight, Israel abandoned plans to resume fighting at dawn. The Israeli military released a statement just minutes before the truce was set to expire at 0700 (0500 GMT) that "the operational pause will continue."

Following the diplomatic efforts, two female Israeli hostages were released on Thursday evening, the first two out of 10 Israeli hostages expected to be released later at night, according to the Israeli military.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners Society published a list of eight Palestinian women and 22 children held in Israeli custody, who are slated to be released on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, a deadly shooting attack in Jerusalem served as a stark reminder of the volatile atmosphere and raised concerns about further escalation.

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near the entry of Jerusalem, killing three civilians, according to a police statement. Israel's Shin Bet internal security service later identified the two as residents of East Jerusalem linked to Hamas.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was "a natural response to crimes of occupation in Gaza, the killing of children in Jenin, and the harm to prisoners."

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7, and over 6,500 others are missing. In Israel, about 1,200 people were killed, mostly in the Oct. 7 Hamas surprise attack on Israel that triggered the conflict. 
KIEV, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed defense cooperation in separate phone talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday, the presidential press service reported.

Zelensky thanked the UK for defense and political support and informed Sunak about Ukraine's priority military needs, in particular air defense equipment.

Zelensky and Sunak discussed further macro-financial support for Ukraine and the implementation of Ukraine's Peace Formula.

The two leaders also touched upon the issue of Ukraine's path towards integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In his conversation with Scholz, Zelensky thanked Germany for its "winter" defense package, which includes four IRIS-T systems.

Zelensky and Scholz exchanged views on the situation on the battlefield, and the security situation in the Black Sea.

Ukraine's prospects to start negotiations on accession to the European Union were also discussed at the talks. 
HAIKOU, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A delegation of diplomatic envoys from 20 Arab countries on Thursday concluded a four-day visit to South China's Hainan Province, hailing China's achievements in free trade port construction, tropical agriculture, space technology, and ecological civilization.

The delegation, who also attended the first China-Arab Youth Development Forum held Thursday in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, expects deepened cooperation between China and Arab countries in more fields like the environment, agriculture, and exchanges between the young people.

After visiting Damao village in Sanya, a rural destination famous for ecotourism, Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to China, who visited Hainan for the first time, was impressed with the rapid and sustainable development.

"We are very impressed with the pace of development that took place and the sustainable development because this development has not been at the expense of nature. So nature and culture and local crafts have been preserved and developed along with tourism," he said.

Hanafi saw broad prospects for collaboration in tourism between the two countries.

"We depend on cultural relics and also on beaches. So there are many areas we can collaborate on between Egypt and China and between Cairo authorities and authorities here in Hainan," he said.

Lebanese Ambassador to China Milia Jabbour was particularly struck by the harmony between development projects and nature in Hainan.

"We can learn a lot from this experience about ecotourism," Jabbour said. "It's like the project and nature is one, so synchronized without damaging the nature and the eco-environment in which the project is," Jabbour said, hoping to explore collaboration in ecotourism and renewable energy with China.

During the visit to a date palm plantation in Wenchang City, the envoys were impressed by the agricultural development, particularly regarding introducing foreign plant species and utilizing advanced Chinese technological know-how.

In 2019, China and the United Arab Emirates reached a consensus that the UAE would donate 100,000 date palm trees to China. In December 2021, the first batch of 1,500 date palm saplings was officially handed over in Wenchang, and planting tests were carried out at the Coconut Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.

"I think the future looks extremely good. The quality of fruits and the yield will be impressive," said Sudanese Ambassador to China Omer Mohamed Ahmed Siddig.

Siddig added that many Chinese experts work in Sudan, and Chinese experts conduct lots of developmental projects there.

Hanafi highlighted the agricultural collaboration between Egyptian and Chinese experts, particularly in date plantations. "Egypt is the number one producer of dates in the world, so this has great potential for agricultural exchanges," he said.

Fariz Mehdawi, Palestinian Ambassador to China, said Hainan boasts a pleasant climate, developed tropical agriculture, and abundant water resources, as well as an open attitude and a large number of young talents, which have laid a good foundation for further deepening cooperation between Hainan and Arab countries.

He suggested high-quality educational institutions in Arab countries set up branches in Hainan, and events like the China-Arab Youth Development Forum should continue to be held.

Arab countries also have rich tourism resources, and the tourism cooperation between the two sides has great potential, according to Mehdawi. He believed the people-to-people exchanges between the two sides could ensure a long-lasting partnership. 
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- In findings from the 2021 population and housing survey, 1.6 percent of Brunei's total population, equivalent to 7,024 individuals, report having at least one disability, the country's health minister Haji Mohd Isham said recently.

In a speech delivered at an event on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is a United Nations-sanctioned day celebrated internationally on Dec. 3, the minister said that a significant portion of these individuals, comprising 58.5 percent, falls within the productive age range of 15 to 64 years, with an additional 25.6 percent being under 15 years.

Among them, approximately 78 percent exhibit a single disability characteristic, while the remaining 22 percent face multiple disabilities, the minister added.

He emphasized that individuals with disabilities encounter extra challenges, underscoring the necessity for comprehensive healthcare to be readily available for their well-being.

The minister said his ministry will focus its rehabilitation efforts on addressing a spectrum of chronic or acute disability conditions in both adults and children. 
MOSCOW, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Tagansky District Court of Moscow fined Apple Inc. 12 million rubles (about 133,370 U.S. dollars) for repeatedly refusing to store the personal data on its Russians users in Russia, RIA reported Thursday.

The U.S. tech giant was found guilty of committing an administrative offense under Part 9 of Article 13.11 of the Code of Administration Offenses of the Russian Federation.

In July 2022, Russia fined Apple 2 million rubles (about 34,000 U.S. dollars at that time) for the company's refusal to store the personal data of Russian users in the country. 
COPENHAGEN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Denmark will phase out its 1000-krone (146 U.S. dollars) banknote to battle financial crimes, the country's national bank announced on Thursday.

Danmarks Nationalbank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, will discontinue the banknote by May 31, 2025.

A new banknote series devised by Danmarks Nationalbank is expected to launch between 2028 and 2029. As a result, all banknotes that were issued before 2009 must also be discontinued, and will become invalid after May 31, 2025, said the national bank.

The removal of the 1000-krone note is seen as a critical step in enhancing anti-money laundering efforts and complicating financial crimes.

"By phasing out the 1,000-krone banknote, large cash transactions will ... become more difficult for criminals to carry out, and it will also become more difficult for them to store and transport cash," said Lasse Boje, director of Police at the National Unit for Special Crime in a press release.

The Danish government has also proposed lowering the maximum amount of cash that can be paid at once from the current 20,000 to 15,000 Danish krone, starting on March 1, 2024.

"The 1000 crone note makes up avery small part of the payments in shops and is largely used for financial crime. Therefore, we are also lowering the payment limit in the shops to further strengthen efforts against financial crime," Morten Bodskov, minister for industry, business and financial affairs, told Danish news agency Ritzau. (1 Danish krone = 0.146 U.S. dollar) 
Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) on Thursday announced further production cuts for next year to bolster oil prices that have recently tumbled amid a weakening economic backdrop. (Xinhua/He Canling)

VIENNA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, on Thursday announced further production cuts for next year to bolster oil prices that have recently tumbled amid a weakening economic backdrop.

Following a virtual meeting of OPEC+ oil ministers, OPEC said in a statement on Thursday night that its Secretariat "noted the announcement" of several OPEC+ countries to additionally cut a total of 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, which aims to support "the stability and balance of oil markets."

The reductions will be taken from the quotas adopted at the last OPEC+ ministerial meeting in June. It will add to the voluntary output cuts announced by OPEC+ countries in April and will last until the end of 2024, the OPEC statement read.

In breakdown, Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of OPEC, will extend its voluntary production cut of 1 million bpd, which has been in effect since July, to the end of Q1 2024. Russia, a leading OPEC ally, will cut its oil exports by 500,000 bpd, up from the current 300,000 bpd, until next March.

Other OPEC+ countries, including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, have pledged smaller cuts for Q1 2024, the OPEC said.

However, the statement noted that the new output cuts will be "returned gradually subject to market conditions" to "support market stability" after March next year.

Oil prices have slid since October amid concerns about oversupply in a weakening global economic outlook. The international benchmark Brent crude has stayed in the range of low- to mid-80 U.S. dollars a barrel in recent weeks, from this year's peak of over 90 dollars a barrel in September.

Before Thursday's OPEC+ ministerial meeting, analysts had expected the oil-producer group to make bigger production cuts next year to support the oil prices.

Crude prices failed to rally after the meeting, with Brent crude edging down 0.32 percent to settle at 82.83 dollars a barrel on Thursday.

Thursday's meeting also saw Brazil, one of the world's top 10 crude producers, ready to join OPEC+ next year. Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira attended the online meeting.

OPEC+ countries are set to convene their next ministerial meeting on June 1, 2024. 

Photo taken on Nov. 30, 2023 shows the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) on Thursday announced further production cuts for next year to bolster oil prices that have recently tumbled amid a weakening economic backdrop. (Xinhua/He Canling)
On November 29, 2023, H.E. Mr. Wang Qing, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone, signed The Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between China and Sierra Leone with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International, Mr.Timothy Musa Kabba.

H.E. Mr. Wang Qing said China and Sierra Leone have a long-standing friendship.In recent years, the two countries have continuously enhanced political mutual trust, achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation and coordinated closely in international affairs. The signing of the Agreement is another pragmatic measure by China to support the economic and social development of Sierra Leone. China is willing to take this opportunity to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, promote the continuous development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Sierra Leone, and better benefit the people of both countries.

On behalf of President Bio and the Sierra Leone government, Minister Kabba sincerely thanked the Chinese government and people for their long-term and valuable assistance to Sierra Leone. He said that the signing of the agreement once again demonstrated the friendship between the two countries and would help Sierra Leone advance the important governance agenda of President Bio's second term. Sierra Leone is willing to work with China to deepen friendly cooperation between the two countries and promote Sierra Leone-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
A helicopter carrying two Israeli female hostages released from the Gaza Strip arrives at a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Nov. 30, 2023. Two Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, the first two in the seventh batch of hostages to be released under an extended truce deal between Israel and Hamas. (JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Two Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, the first two in the seventh batch of hostages to be released under an extended truce deal between Israel and Hamas.

"The two released hostages are currently in Israeli territory and on their way to the Hatzerim Base," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Hamas sent the two to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives, who transferred them to the Israeli military and Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency.

Israeli Prime Minister's Office identified the two as Maya Shem, 21, and Amit Sosna, 40.

A total of 10 Israeli hostages are slated to be freed on Thursday night, the Israeli military said. Hamas militants would transfer them to the ICRC at different times and locations in Gaza because they are held in various places in the Palestinian enclave. 

A helicopter carrying two Israeli female hostages released from the Gaza Strip arrives at a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Nov. 30, 2023. Two Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, the first two in the seventh batch of hostages to be released under an extended truce deal between Israel and Hamas. (JINI via Xinhua)

A helicopter carrying two Israeli female hostages released from the Gaza Strip arrives at a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Nov. 30, 2023. Two Israeli female hostages were released from the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening, the first two in the seventh batch of hostages to be released under an extended truce deal between Israel and Hamas. (JINI via Xinhua)
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Nov. 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

DUBAI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- China appreciates the efforts made by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in preparing for the UN climate change conference in Dubai, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang said on Thursday.

Ding, who is in Dubai for the World Climate Action Summit, made the remarks when meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Commending the development of bilateral relations in recent years, Ding called on the two sides to further enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, and jointly push China's cooperation with Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to a new level.

During the meeting, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expounded China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli issue is clear, said Ding, calling for all parties concerned to immediately cease fire and stop fighting, protect civilians and prevent the expansion of the conflict.

China will continue to stand on the side of peace and justice, support the just cause of the Palestinian people to safeguard their national rights, promote the early implementation of the two-state solution and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question, he said.

Ding said China is ready to work with the UAE to cool down the situation and restore peace and tranquility in the region at an early date.

For his part, Mohamed said the UAE will never forget the valuable support provided by China in the fight against COVID-19, and is convinced that bilateral cooperation will make greater achievements in the future.

He thanked China for its firm support for the just cause of Palestine, highly appreciated China's just position, and said the UAE is willing to work closely with China in international and regional affairs to jointly advance the cause of regional and world peace and development. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Special Representative Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, meets with COP28 President and Special Envoy for Climate Change of the United Arab Emirates Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Dec. 2, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
HARARE, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government will introduce a levy of sugary beverages as it seeks to discourage citizens from consuming too much sugar, which has been blamed for causing some forms of cancer, a senior government official said Thursday.

Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube said the new measure is in response to growing concerns on the adverse effects of consumption of sugar, in particular, that contained in beverages.

He made the remarks while presenting the 2024 national budget to Parliament, adding such tax on beverages had been implemented in a number of countries.

"The consumption of high sugar content beverages is linked to increased risk of non-communicable diseases. It is, thus, necessary to discourage consumption of high sugar content beverages, hence, I propose to introduce a levy of 2 U.S. cents per gram of sugar contained in beverages, excluding water, with effect from 1 January 2024," he said.

He added that funds derived from the levy would be ring-fenced for therapy and procurement of cancer equipment for diagnosis.

According to clinical oncologist Anna Mary Nyakabau, cancer is a major cause of morbidity in the country with over 5,000 new diagnoses and more than 1,500 deaths per year. 
Tunisian Minister of Tourism Mohamed Moez Belhassine speaks at the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) African Regional Conference Tunisia 2023 in Hammamet, Tunisia, Nov. 29, 2023. Organized by the WTCF, the four-day conference on the theme of "New Era of China-Africa Tourism Cooperation" took place on Nov. 27 in Tunisia's eastern coastal city of Hammamet. (Xinhua/Huang Ling)

TUNIS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese tourist market is a strategic market for Tunisia, said Tunisian Minister of Tourism Mohamed Moez Belhassine Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the African Regional Conference Tunisia 2023.

Organized by the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), the four-day conference on the theme of "New Era of China-Africa Tourism Cooperation" took place on Nov. 27 in Tunisia's eastern coastal city of Hammamet.

"Tunisian-Chinese relations are historically exemplary and will need to be further strengthened in the future," the Tunisian minister told Xinhua.

Speaking of China, the world's largest source of tourists, Belhassine said that in order to attract more Chinese tourists, a great effort will have to be mobilized to further adapt the country's tourism to the new era where tourism becomes an entire industry: reservations, ticketing, flights, guided tours, and catering.

On the occasion, the minister announced that the Tunisian national carrier Tunisair plans to open a direct airline between Tunisia and China in 2024.

"The direct airline will double the number of Chinese tourists from 30,000 to more than 60,000," Belhassine added.

"This conference is an opportunity to strengthen Tunisian-Chinese relations, promote the Tunisian destination, and strengthen links between tourism professionals in the two countries," Belhassine said.

Of the top 30 overseas traveling destinations searched on the internet in China, countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative account for over 70 percent, the Executive Deputy Secretary-General of WTCF, Li Baochun, said in a speech at the conference.

"The cooperation between China-Africa tourism enterprises has built a bridge to spread civilization, exchange cultures and strengthen friendship, enabling Chinese and African people to better understand each other," Li said.

Founded in 2012, the WTCF, formed by renowned tourist cities and tourism-related institutions worldwide on Beijing's initiative, is the world's first international tourism organization focusing on cities, with a total of 244 members from 85 countries and regions. 

Representatives from Capital Airports Holdings Co., Ltd., World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), Tunisian National Tourist Office, and Tunisair (from left to right) shake hands after signing a letter of intent for four-party cooperation in Hammamet, Tunisia, Nov. 29, 2023. Organized by the WTCF, the four-day conference on the theme of "New Era of China-Africa Tourism Cooperation" took place on Nov. 27 in Tunisia's eastern coastal city of Hammamet. (Xinhua/Huang Ling)
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has reaffirmed Africa's solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The AU Commission chairperson made the remarks in a statement issued late Wednesday on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Faki said the annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people is a day to reaffirm continued and unwavering commitment as an international community and support to the just cause of freedom and statehood for Palestine.

"The cause of the Palestinian people has never been more urgent. The outbreak of the continued hostilities in Gaza and the occupied territories, is in clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law. It has unspeakable consequences for the lives of Palestinian civilians in particular, and for peace in the region, in general," Faki said.

He reiterated the AU's call on the international community to assume its responsibilities concerning the question of Palestine and the implementation of all AU and UN resolutions adopted from 1948 to date aimed at reaching a peaceful solution respecting the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.

"We reiterate that African support to the Palestinian cause is premised on the values of freedom, justice and humanitarian principles that Africa defends in the international fora alongside all those striving to ensure that Palestine regains its right to exist as a key viable state in the Middle East," he said.

The chairperson said the current situation calls for urgent and concrete action by the international community towards ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

"We, at the African Union Commission, will work tirelessly with other international actors to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital," he said.

Noting that the AU has consistently expressed deep concerns at the consequences of unilateral policies and actions, including the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, Faki said the situation "is contributing to a devastating humanitarian situation, which mounts to war crimes and a crime against humanity."

The AU Commission chairperson underscored the need to put in place a permanent humanitarian ceasefire to the conflict. 
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Flooding in the last month has impacted 1.5 million people in Ethiopia, displacing more than 600,000 of them from their homes, UN humanitarians said on Thursday.

The UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the Somali region accounts for 80 percent of those most affected, including in the South East, Gambela, Oromia, Afar and Sidama regions.

"The floods have caused extensive damage to crops, livestock and vital infrastructure," OCHA said. "Houses, shops, schools and agricultural lands are submerged. There is also a rise in health risks with increased cases of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever."

The humanitarians said many people are still grappling with five consecutive seasons of severe droughts in the Horn of Africa.

OCHA said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov, Ethiopian officials and United Nations and non-governmental organization representatives visited flood-affected areas to assess the situation and explore how to scale up relief efforts.

"The United Nations and our partners are supporting the government response and providing food, shelter, water and sanitation, as well as logistics support," the office said. "In addition to increased logistical capacity, we also need increased funding beyond the immediate humanitarian response to help communities adapt to climate change."

OCHA said this year's Humanitarian Response Plan for Ethiopia, calling for nearly 4 billion U.S. dollars, is only one-third funded, at 1.3 billion dollars. 
NEW DELHI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and two others hospitalized over the past two days after consuming spurious syrup in the western Indian state of Gujarat, police said Thursday.

The deaths have taken place in Kheda district, about 67 km southeast of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.

According to police, the syrup was found to contain methyl alcohol.

"Five persons have lost their lives after consuming the syrup during the last two days and two are in hospital undergoing treatment," senior police officer Rajesh Gadhiya told media. "Blood sample report of a villager confirmed that methyl alcohol was present in the syrup."

Police have detained three people, including the shopkeeper, in connection with the case and as part of an investigation into the deaths.

The syrup was readily sold over the counter at a shop in Bilodara village in the district.

Local media said the shopkeeper had sold the spurious syrup to nearly 50 people. 
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Thursday that the country would enhance cooperation and partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to address health changes.

According to a statement issued by the media wing of the President House, the president held a meeting with Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, WHO representative in Pakistan, and appreciated the role of WHO in strengthening Pakistan's primary healthcare system and providing support to various government initiatives.

Alvi emphasized the need to create awareness about the importance of mental health and early counseling at the household level.

"Establishing mental health support systems and enhancing people's accessibility to quality mental health services in Pakistan requires the input of multiple stakeholders, including WHO," the president said.

On the occasion, Mahipala highlighted the role of WHO in improving Pakistan's healthcare system, saying that the WHO would continue to support Pakistan in improving the health of its people. 
NEW DELHI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- A day after a devastating blaze gutted a chemical manufacturing factory in the western Indian state of Gujarat, rescuers recovered charred bodies of seven missing people from the fire debris, officials said Thursday.

The fire broke out early Wednesday at the chemical factory located in Sachin GIDC industrial area in Surat district, about 300 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.

Of the seven bodies, one is said to be an employee of the company while six others are contract workers.

"While the bodies have been burnt beyond recognition, identification will be carried out by carrying out DNA tests," an official at the Surat collectorate said.

On Wednesday, police initially said 24 people were injured, but later put the number at 27.

Officials suspect the fire was caused by an explosion in a large tank following a leakage of inflammable chemicals stored in it.

Accidental explosions are common in Indian factories as owners usually ignore safety standards. 
TOKYO, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Japan has urged the United States to confirm the safety of its Osprey military aircraft, after one crashed into the sea in western Japan on Wednesday, killing at least one person onboard, the Japanese defense minister said Thursday.

"The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region," Minoru Kihara said in parliament, "And we are requesting the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe."

Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force, which has a V-22 Osprey fleet, will suspend its own Osprey flights for the time being, senior defense ministry official Taro Yamato told the parliamentary hearing.

A U.S. Osprey military transport aircraft based in Japan crashed in waters off the country's southwestern island of Yakushima on Wednesday. One unconscious person was found in the sea and later declared dead, according to the Japan Coast Guard.

The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known, the coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said.

Japan's coast guard and others are continuing search and rescue operations.

The U.S. Air Force said that the CV-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft involved in a "mishap" while carrying out a routine training had eight airmen on board. The Japan Coast Guard had initially said eight crew were aboard the crashed Osprey before revising the number down to six and then back to eight. 
Sattler College Eliminates Tuition with Entrustment

Sattler College is stepping forward with a solution rooted in gospel concepts of generosity and service to solve student debt before it begins.

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Sattler College

Nov. 29, 2023

BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- As families grapple with the financial burdens of higher education, Sattler College is stepping forward with a solution rooted in gospel concepts of generosity and service to solve student debt before it begins. Sattler is the first privately funded college that accepts no government funding to eliminate tuition for all students with the revolutionary Entrustment Tuition model.

Dedication, Not Debt

Entrustment involves placing trust or confidence in someone by assigning them responsibility, with the expectation that they will handle it with care and integrity. This model grants fully funded tuition to every admitted student, in exchange for an Entrustment Commitment to both kingdom service and financial gratitude. Entrustment emerges as a beacon of opportunity for dedicated students seeking a rigorous Christian education.

Principles of Entrustment

Sattler Colleges education model is anchored in sacrificial service and cheerful generosity. The following are principles that guide Entrustment:

#1 Kingdom Service:

Since faith extends beyond merely Christian moral living; entrustment asks students to commit to contributing to the Kingdom of God with their life when they can, and however they can. Sattler students are to pursue service within their home churches, communities, organizations, or businesses. Inspired by service academies, Sattler envisions graduates, unburdened by debt, engaging the worlds problems for the cause of Christ.

#2 Financial Gratitude:

As Sattler students consider the investment made in them through their education, they are encouraged to Give It Forward, so that other students can receive the same benefits. As churches, organizations, and individuals benefit from the service of Sattler alumni, they also have the opportunity to show their gratitude by investing in the future of Sattler.

No Strings Attached, Just Trust

Sattler College firmly believes in viewing its students as worthy investments for God's Kingdom. By entrusting students with this opportunity, the institution is expressing its confidence in them to be cheerful givers according to their means as future bible teachers, writers, doctors, historians, homemakers, computer scientists, business professionals, and more. There are no legal obligations for alumni to donate any specific amount, only to give what you can, when you can.

To qualify for Entrustment, applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate or certificate program at Sattler College. Notably, since the college does not accept government funding, there is no FAFSA requirement.

Join Sattler in Making History

As Entrustment is set to commence in the Spring Semester of 2024, Sattler College invites prospective students and donors to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Let's work together to mold a generation that can boldly proclaim, For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and a sound mind - 2 Timothy 1:7.

Visit https://sattler.edu/entrustment for more information and to stay informed.

Students can apply to one of the 49 openings for Fall 2024 at https://apply.sattler.edu.

To support Entrustment through donations to the Sattler General Fund, Sattler Entrustment Endowment, or International Living Grant, visit https://sattler.edu/give

SOURCE Sattler College

CONTACT: Clark Wray, 617-420-1820, cwray@sattler.edu


by Ali Jaswal, Wang Huan, Zhu Xiaoguang

ISLAMABAD/JINAN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Muhammad Talha is one of 11 Pakistani engineers who have recently attended a technical training program in China's State Grid technical college of Tai'an city in east China's Shandong province.

Talha is serving as a supervisor of a converter station at 660kV Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The training program focused on skill development as well as exploring Chinese culture and society.

"I am really happy in China with my team for our training. It has been a great experience for me to embrace Chinese culture and of course, learn technical knowledge from the best professionals at the college," he told Xinhua recently while expressing excitement about his first trip to China.

The training program, which started in October, comprised around 47 professional courses, including converter station equipment inspection, direct current power adjustment, and operation and maintenance of converter station, in order to help them enhance techniques of HVDC operation at Matiari-Lahore project.

This was Pakistan's first HVDC transmission project funded, constructed and operated by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) under the CPEC framework. The project was officially put into commercial operation in September 2021. It has the maximum capacity to transmit electricity of 35 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

"With the help of Chinese technology and equipment in this project, power loss of the 886 km-long transmission line has been reduced greatly," said Talha.

As the Karot Hydropower project, Thar Coal Block-I Coal Electricity Integration project and some other power projects under the CPEC have become operational, the Matiari-Lahore HVDC project is now playing a more critical role and is going to take on a large proportion of Pakistan's transmission capacity from south to north, he added.

Besides the hectic technical training, the participants have also visited some ultra-high voltage (UHV) converter stations in cities including Qingdao, Jinan and Linyi in the province, providing them with the opportunity to closely learn about the world-leading Chinese UHV technology.

"I visited Yinan converter station in Linyi city and Shandong provincial dispatch center. I have realized that China's power construction achievements are very impressive, and Pakistan can learn a lot from China," said Talha.

Rana Shaheer Mehmood, a supervisor of the converter station of the project, said that the technical learning, especially through this program, allowed Pakistani engineers to gain not only knowledge but also experience that China has had in the field of HVDC.

"With continued cooperation, the CPEC is going to further strengthen the deep-bonded relationship of the two countries and would open the door for a brighter future for Pakistan," he said.

Liu Hao, a lecturer in the training program and also a member of the first batch of operation and maintenance personnel at the project, said that since June 2020, the SGCC has trained more than 120 technical personnel of direct current transmission for Pakistan through online or on-site training.

He added that Pakistani engineers have been able to independently undertake around 173 types of HVDC transmission operations, becoming a major force for operation and maintenance at the project.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation and now entering a new stage of high-quality development, expanding cooperation in science and technology, agriculture and people's livelihood.

"I see the CPEC a significant and promising venture for China and Pakistan, and it holds the potential to boost economic development, job creation, and enhance connectivity in the region," said Talha, pledging that he will use his knowledge in work and train other Pakistani engineers for better operation of the grid in the country. 
BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Spain's business community has welcomed the Chinese authorities' decision to trial visa-free entry from Dec. 1 for citizens of Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Malaysia.

"The fact that there are fewer obstacles boosts foreign visits, facilitates access and, aside from the influence of any extra investment, above all tourism will benefit," Josep Maria Gomes, international business developer at the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

Until Nov. 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the six selected countries can do business or travel in China without the need for a visa for up to 15 days.

The measure has been introduced to help "promote China's high-quality development and opening up," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said last Friday.

According to the Chamber of Commerce official, it is no surprise that five of the countries selected for visa-free travel are European Union member states.

"Spain and the other countries in the European Union have exceptionally strong links and relations with China, and in fact their investments made in China in the past few years have just about doubled," he said.

"Visiting China with an emergency visa, for example, means an extra cost for us but this measure would avoid this and would no doubt facilitate all business visits," he added.

Yet, Gomes stressed that the sector that had the most to gain from the new measure is foreign tourism, which he said the Chinese authorities are very keen to promote.

"Tourism is also necessary to reveal a reality that's not what we think it is. Travel and visiting China can help dispel those cliches that very often are not true," he said.

Gomes said that any measure that increases exchanges and cooperation between Europe and China should be encouraged given the importance of the two blocs maintaining good relations.

"China has always been a focus for us and a country that's always in our internationalization plans because it's not only a country with great potential ... but also a country where our companies must be present," he said. 
MINSK, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has signed a memorandum on the country's commitment to becoming a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to a document published on the National Legal Internet Portal of Belarus on Wednesday.

According to the document, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus will be instructed to take all necessary measures to "formalize Belarus' participation in the memorandum."

The bill on the ratification of the memorandum was approved by the Belarusian House of Representatives on Nov. 1, and by the Council of the Republic on Nov. 22, according to the BelTA news agency.

A memorandum of Belarus' commitment to join the SCO as a permanent member was originally signed by member countries at the recent SCO summit that took place in New Delhi in July.

The memorandum requires Belarus to comply with the goals and principles enshrined in the SCO Charter, Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as international treaties and documents adopted within the SCO framework.

The SCO was established in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in June 2017 and Iran in July 2023. 
OTTAWA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Canada has finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States to buy up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing, the Department of National Defence announced Thursday.

Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for up to an additional two, the department said in a news release.

The estimated investment for the project is 10.4 billion Canadian dollars (7.7 billion U.S. dollars), including up to 5.9 billion U.S. dollars for the P-8A, associated equipment, training devices and sustainment set-up. The balance will cover additional investments in simulators, infrastructure and weapons, according to the release.

The first P-8A should be delivered in 2026, and with an average of one aircraft delivered per month, all of the aircraft could be delivered as early as fall 2027 with full operational capability by 2033.

These aircraft are not just airplanes, but complex weapon systems capable of transporting and launching multiple sonobuoys, torpedoes, and anti-ship weapons to protect Canada's water on all three coasts, the release said.

The P-8A, which will replace Canada's current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia. The U.S. Navy has advised of their intent to support the fleet P-8A aircraft until the 2060s, the release added. 
The Entrance Automation industry has experienced immense growth over the last six years, marked by significant shifts in its technological landscape. The global entrance automation solutions market is expected to grow from $23.5 billion in 2022 to $31.4 billion by 2028. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for entrance automation solutions across a range of industry verticals, including commercial, residential, industrial, and government sectors. The industry also faces a number of challenges like high installation costs which pose a significant hurdle in the adoption of entrance automation solutions, another challenge lies in the complexity of entrance automation systems.Established in 1992, Toshi Automatic Systems (now renamed to Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems) entered into a strategic partnership with Aurionpro Solutions (ASL) in 2021, making it the sole Indian business group to offer an end-to-end solution for Automatic Fare Collection in the Smart Transit and Mobility Sector.Now operating as Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems, the company has emerged as a formidable Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specializing in entrance automation and loading bay technology products within India. Starting its automation journey under the Toshi brand name over three decades ago by launching the countrys first battery-operated sensor tap and now manufacturing high-end Automatic Fare Collection Gates and Ticket Vending Machines for Metro Rail, this transformation is a result of a pivotal merger with Aurionpro Solutions, along with a

deep-rooted faith in the Make In India movement, which led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art Manufacturing Facility in 2018. As an exclusive manufacturing subsidiary of ASL, the latter being a globally recognized public limited company with a presence spanning 14 offices worldwide and operations across more than 30 countries, Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems carries over three decades of experience and has honed its expertise in delivering successful projects, maintaining client trust, and adapting products to contemporary needs. What sets us apart is our end-to-end business model, covering everything from design to manufacturing and after-sales support, all meticulously executed through in-house teams and technology, speaks Siddhant Sachdev, Executive Director.



Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems' extensive customer portfolio boasts industry giants, while its comprehensive product portfolio spans solutions for Industrial Automation, Public Safety and Access Control, and the rapidly expanding Smart Transit and Mobility space. The leadership team of Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems comprises five distinguished members. At the helm, we have Paresh Zaveri, a founding member of ASL and the current Chairman and Managing Director of the group. Alongside Paresh Zaveri, another Co-Founder Amit Sheth sits on the Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems board and is complemented by Sanjay Bali, Vice President of the Aurionpro Solutions Group, and head of the Tech Innovation Group, responsible for managing over 10 different business entities, including Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems. On the operational front Sanjeev Sachdev, a founding member of Toshi Automatic Systems in 1992, has steered the company as Managing Director for 31 years. The board is rounded out by its youngest member, Siddhant Sachdev, who brings in dynamic thinking and core strategy-building experience through his past role at Deloitte Consulting.



The firms collective board brings a wealth of experience, totaling over 100 years across diverse industries, including banking, technology, software, manufacturing, and automation. While evolving into Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems, the company remains dedicated to preserving the original ethos and values that have been the foundation of the company. The name, Toshi, derives from a family-inspired source, underscoring the commitment to upholding these principles as it continues to provide top-notch products and solutions to valued customers.



In terms of future plans and expansion, Aurionpro Toshi Automatic Systems sees immense value in delivering world-class products entirely manufactured in India, catering not only to the domestic market but also extending its reach internationally. To achieve this, the firms teams are dedicated to developing intellectual property (IP) within offerings, ensuring that it maintains a competitive edge over the next 5 to 15 years.



Our vision is to scale our offerings vertically, emphasizing both quality and scale in the products we bring to the market, says Siddhant Sachdev.
In this article, we will explore the 15 hardest countries to get citizenship in Europe. You can skip our comprehensive analysis and proceed directly to the 5 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in Europe.

Obtaining citizenship in European countries often entails strict criteria and requirements. Eligibility typically includes a minimum residency period, clean criminal record, adherence to local laws, and other prerequisites. The criteria vary significantly from country to country.

Many European nations mandate a specific period of residency before considering citizenship applications. This duration can range from several years to a decade or more, with some countries requiring uninterrupted residency. Furthermore, language proficiency is a common criterion. Applicants might need to demonstrate competence in the official language(s) of the country through standardized tests or interviews to ensure effective communication and integration.

Host countries expect applicants to demonstrate financial stability and contribute to the economy. This can involve evidence of employment, tax payments, and financial investments. Moreover, some countries restrict or prohibit dual citizenship, requiring applicants to renounce their current citizenship before obtaining a new one. Certain European countries offer citizenship through investment programs where applicants can obtain citizenship by investing in the country's economy, real estate, or specific industries.

Immigration policies evolve, sometimes becoming more stringent due to economic, political, or social changes. Contrasting the requirements of the hardest countries with those where citizenship is relatively easier can shed light on the spectrum of regulations across Europe.

According to data from the European Commission in 2021, approximately 85.4% of individuals obtaining citizenship in an EU Member State were previously non-EU citizens. Additionally, about 12.6% were previously citizens of another EU Member State, while the remaining 1.9% included stateless individuals and those whose former citizenship status was unknown.

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The naturalization rate for individuals formerly categorized as non-EU citizens stood at 3.0% across the EU in 2021. This rate was approximately four times greater than the rate observed for individuals who were previously citizens of another EU Member State, which stood at 0.8%.

Immigration Dynamics: Impact on Europe's Economy

The influx of migrants has contributed both challenges and opportunities, altering labor markets, fostering innovation, and addressing demographic shifts. While debates persist on the short-term strains on social services and integration, long-term benefits, including diversity-driven innovation and economic growth, underscore the profound impact immigration has on Europe's economic landscape.

Based on a report from Science Direct, there has been a noticeable rise in the proportion of the foreign-born workforce in Western European nations over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2019, this percentage surged by 3.4 points, ascending from 12.8% to 16.2%. In contrast, the increase in the United States was comparatively smaller, with a rise of only 1.6 points, elevating the share of foreign-born individuals in the labor force from 15.8% in 2010 to 17.4% in 2019.

According to NIH research, immigration positively impacts the European Union's GDP. The effect is stronger for working-age immigrants, 15-64 years old, and higher among women than men. These findings emphasize immigration's economic importance, particularly with a working-age population. The study also indicates that immigration's economic significance diminishes without considering an aging population. Overall, it offers an unbiased view supporting the need for immigrants in the European economy, countering anti-immigration arguments.

Business in European

Some major players within the European market are AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN), Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB), and SAP SE (NYSE:SAP), each specializing in their respective fields. AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN) focuses on pharmaceuticals and healthcare, Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) specializes in insurance and risk management, while SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) is known for its expertise in enterprise software and technology solutions.

On November 20, AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN) announced the launch of Evinova, a trailblazing venture aimed at enhancing digital health solutions for healthcare stakeholders. Backed by AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN) and partnered with Parexel and Fortrea, Evinova will provide global-scale digital services to healthcare and life sciences. It will focus on deploying proven digital tools, already in use by AstraZeneca plc (NYSE:AZN) worldwide, to expedite clinical trials, reduce medicine development time and costs, improve patient access to care, and ease pressure on healthcare systems. Additionally, Evinova plans to explore digital remote patient monitoring and therapeutics, drawing on AstraZeneca plcs (NYSE:AZN) expertise and insights from patients and researchers. These technologies have shown success in AstraZeneca-sponsored clinical trials across 40+ countries and will be extended to support pharmaceutical, biotech, and CROs globally.

On November 15, Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) introduced their Chubb Methane Resource Hub. This digital platform offers clients insights and information to measure and reduce methane emissions, supported by Environmental Defense Fund expertise. It includes details on regulations, voluntary programs, and a directory of service providers for companies seeking help with emission reduction programs. Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) stands as one of the largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance corporations globally. Its operational presence spans across 54 countries and territories.

On August 14, SAP SE (NYSE:SAP) announced its collaboration with dnata Travel Management. This partnership marks a significant milestone as dnata Travel Management, an esteemed entity within the travel industry and a part of the Emirates Group, has become an authorized reseller of SAP SE's (NYSE:SAP) complete suite of travel solutions.

According to Savio Vaz, Vice President of Government and Corporate Travel at the dnata Travel Group,

This collaboration will enable dnata to empower its valued customers through streamlined and automated travel processes, leveraging SAP Concurs innovative technology and state-of-the-art products. These solutions automate spend management, allowing us to provide customers with enhanced value, convenience, and flexibility.

Given this context, let's now proceed to 15 hardest countries to get citizenship in Europe.

15 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in Europe

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

We determined the 15 most challenging countries to obtain citizenship in Europe by utilizing data from Eurostat's Acquisition of Citizenship Statistics for 2021. Our approach involved ranking the European nations based on their total non-national citizens' naturalization rates. Our underlying assumption was that a lower naturalization rate correlates with a more challenging or stringent process for attaining citizenship within a particular country. Therefore, we interpreted a lower rate as an indicator of higher complexity or difficulty faced by individuals in obtaining citizenship. In instances where the naturalization rate was the same, we used Migrant Integration Policy Index to assess the access to nationality rank as the secondary metric, with a lower ranking signifying difficulty in accessing the nationality. The resulting list is arranged in descending order, with the European country posing the highest level of difficulty for obtaining citizenship placed at the top.

15 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in Europe

15. Hungary

Naturalization Rate: 1.3% Access to Nationality Rank: 25

Becoming a Hungarian citizen through naturalization is achievable following a continuous residence of eight years in Hungary. This pathway requires the applicant to maintain a clean criminal record, demonstrate a stable means of livelihood, and successfully pass an examination in fundamental constitutional studies. Additionally, an expedited process for naturalization is available to non-Hungarian citizens who can prove their lineage to Hungarian ancestors or establish their Hungarian heritage while being proficient in the Hungarian language.

14. Liechtenstein

Naturalization Rate: 1.2% Access to Nationality Rank: -

Foreign nationals aiming for Liechtenstein citizenship must reside in the country for 5 years, renounce their previous citizenship, exhibit proficiency in German, and grasp the nation's political structure and laws. Non-citizens married to Liechtensteiners can seek facilitated naturalization after 10 years, with post-marriage residency counted double. Those residing in Liechtenstein for 30 years, where time before age 20 counts double, are also eligible for facilitated naturalization. Although Liechtenstein allows dual citizenship partially, naturalized citizens must renounce their original citizenship.

13. Cyprus

Naturalization Rate: 1.2% Access to Nationality Rank: 53

Cypriot citizenship can be acquired through various channels, such as being born to at least one Cypriot parent, entering marriage with a Cypriot citizen, or going through the naturalization process after maintaining legal residence in Cyprus. Foreign nationals have the opportunity to attain Cypriot citizenship via naturalization upon fulfilling a residency requirement, typically set at seven years, though it may be reduced to five years under specific circumstances. Additionally, citizenship by registration is contingent upon meeting legal residency criteria, with individuals classified as illegal migrants being ineligible to register as Cypriot citizens.

12. Germany

Naturalization Rate: 1.2% Access to Nationality Rank: 42

German citizenship through naturalization requires residing legally in Germany for either eight years or seven years with an integration course, with exceptions for spouses or same-sex partners of German citizens who qualify after three years of residency. Applicants must pledge allegiance to the constitution, demonstrate proficiency in German, understand the legal system, society, and living conditions, be financially self-sufficient, and have a clean criminal record. Additionally, passing a naturalization test is crucial for successful integration. Citizenship is predominantly acquired through lineage or naturalization, with similar requirements for residency duration, allegiance, language proficiency, legal understanding, self-sufficiency, and a clean record. Proficiency in German and passing the naturalization test are key factors for integration into German society.

11. Denmark

Naturalization Rate: 1.2% Access to Nationality Rank: 41

To acquire Danish citizenship through naturalization, individuals need to adhere to specific criteria and complete the application process. Eligibility requirements include: having resided in Denmark for a minimum of 9 years before applying, holding a permanent residence permit for at least 2 years upon the introduction of the Danish citizenship bill, passing Danish language and citizenship tests, and providing necessary documentation such as a passport, indefinite residence permit, language test results, and proof of passing the citizenship exam. Nordic country citizens can obtain Danish citizenship through a declaration submitted to specific authorities within a designated timeframe. Spouses of Danish citizens require 6-8 years of uninterrupted residence in Denmark to apply. While Danish citizenship isn't automatically granted through birth on Danish soil or from Danish parents, children born abroad may acquire Danish nationality if either parent is Danish, irrespective of marital status. Danish citizens can also acquire foreign nationality without forfeiting their Danish citizenship.

10. Malta

Naturalization Rate: 1.1% Access to Nationality Rank: 63

Acquiring Maltese citizenship offers multiple pathways, such as naturalization, marriage, and investment. The predominant route involves naturalization, necessitating a minimum residency of seven years in Malta along with a residence permit, although this duration can extend up to 18 years in specific cases. Vital prerequisites for naturalization encompass familiarity with Malta and the Maltese language, residing continuously in Malta with a valid permit within the last 12 months before application, and maintaining a minimum of four years of residency within the preceding six-year timeframe. Each application undergoes meticulous scrutiny through a rigorous due diligence process that includes comprehensive background checks. Additionally, the application requires endorsement from two non-relative sponsors to substantiate and finalize the citizenship application process.

9. Greece

Naturalization Rate: 1.1% Access to Nationality Rank: 40

Individuals without Greek heritage can obtain Greek citizenship through naturalization by residing in Greece for a period of 7 years, passing a qualifying exam, or through residency obtained by investment. Eligibility criteria for citizenship encompass being a minimum of 18 years old, possessing no criminal record, demonstrating a basic proficiency in the Greek language, and providing evidence of a positive relationship with the Greek community. Acquiring Greek citizenship can be a complex and lengthy process.

8. Slovenia

Naturalization Rate: 1.1% Access to Nationality Rank: 22

Residency in Slovenia for a minimum of 10 years, with the last five years being uninterrupted, is a prerequisite for naturalization. Alongside this, candidates are required to exhibit proficiency in the Slovene language for fundamental communication purposes and furnish proof of their active connections within the country. Furthermore, there exists a special naturalization procedure for those capable of contributing to Slovenia's economic, social, scientific, cultural, or similar domains. Additionally, citizenship eligibility extends to the fourth generation, provided the person is a direct descendant and has resided in Slovenia for a year. The citizenship application necessitates a visit to the capital city of Ljubljana.

7. Austria

Naturalization Rate: 1.1% Access to Nationality Rank: 13

The criteria for naturalization in Austria encompass a mandatory duration of 10 years with lawful and uninterrupted residence, wherein a minimum of 5 years should involve holding a valid residence permit, displaying integrity, and ensuring adequate financial support. Moreover, Austria provides an alternative route to citizenship through investment. This pathway necessitates applicants to make a substantial investment in the Austrian economy.

6. Czechia

Naturalization Rate: 0.9% Access to Nationality Rank: 36

To obtain citizenship in Czechia, individuals have the option to apply through citizenship by descent, naturalization, or conferment. Citizenship by naturalization requires a residency period of a minimum of five years with a permanent residence permit in the Czech Republic, or three years for citizens of another EU country. Moreover, applicants need to demonstrate proficiency in the Czech language, possess a clear criminal record, and exhibit a fundamental understanding of the Czech Republic.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in Europe.

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Disclosure: none. 15 Hardest Countries to Get Citizenship in Europe is originally published on Insider Monkey.
AI hype reached a fever pitch in 2023, with businesses racing to develop and deploy generative AI  with all its benefits, wonders, and drawbacks. But 2024 will be the year we see giant leaps forward in the field, said Amazon (AMZN) Web Services CEO Adam Selipsky.

"You'll see models that are significantly more powerful than we see today," he told Yahoo Finance. "I think they will actually improve a lot of the issues that we are all appropriately worried about today."

One pressing concern about AI has been "hallucinations," where AI applications like chatbots offer misleading or made-up facts as genuine information. But more training is set to alleviate that problem.

"Our partner Anthropic talked about [chatbot] Claude 2.1, which reduces hallucinations by two times, said Selipsky. In September, Amazon announced it's investing as much as $4 billion in Anthropic, an OpenAI competitor.

AI's rapidly increasing sophistication  even in just the year since OpenAIs ChatGPT was released to the public  is a sign that it's still "very much Day One" for the technology, said Selipsky.

"I think we'll look back three years, five years, 10 years from now and it will seem primordial today, he said. There are great capabilities out there, but it's going to continue to go so quickly and to evolve so quickly."

Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Adam Selipsky delivers a keynote address during AWS re:Invent 2023. (Noah Berger/Getty Images for Amazon Web Services) (Noah Berger via Getty Images)

And Amazon's invested in the big picture. Selipsky's messaging about Amazon's AI strategy has been consistent throughout the AI hype cycle  the company is not looking for a one-hit wonder, but a long-term boost. While recent focus has been on large language models (LLMs), Amazon has relied on AI for its warehouse and supply chain operations for years.

This week, at AWS's re:Invent 2023, Selipsky led the way on a series of announcements geared towards AI, including an expansion of the company's AI chips line, an enhanced partnership with Nvidia (NVDA), and an AI chatbot named Amazon Q for its business customers.

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But safety and responsible usage remains a priority for Selipsky, who said the company will continue to engage in high-level discussions about AI with political leaders in the US and the UK.

We're going to try to help bring together multiple stakeholder groups to make sure that this incredible technology is also used for good," he said.

Additionally, at the conference, AWS revealed new features for Bedrock, Amazons platform for building generative AI applications. One new offering is AI safety tool Guardrails, which allows customers building LLMs on Bedrock to customize their models to avoid hate speech, violence, and other problematic content in their chatbots responses.

Bedrock is also incorporating more models into its platform, allowing customers to choose LLMs and foundation models (FMs) from Anthropic, Cohere, Meta (META), Stability AI, and Amazon's own Titan. It's a tactic that sharply contrasts with Microsoft's (MSFT) approach of focusing on offerings from OpenAI.

Providing a wide range of choice is an essential pillar of AWS's strategy and competitive advantage, according to Selipsky. In AI's rapidly evolving environment, having platforms that allow customers to build and adapt their models on the fly will be essential to attracting  and keeping  business.

"I think the most valuable capability of all is adaptability," said Selipsky.

To that end, Amazons partnership with Nvidia will provide what the companies call "the first cloud AI supercomputer," run with NVIDIA's Grace Hopper Superchip and AWS's UltraClusters. The service will allow customers to access thousands of powerful GPUs.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Adam Selipsky and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announce an expanded generative AI collaboration during AWS re:Invent 2023. (Noah Berger/Getty Images for Amazon Web Services) (Noah Berger via Getty Images)

Likewise, AWS will be the first to host Nvidia's DGX Cloud, an AI-training-as-a-service platform capable of training generative AI and LLMs beyond one trillion parameters.

Selipsky is adamant that AWS retain its nimbleness.

"I sometimes joke that my fear is that I wake up in the morning and somebody tells me I'll suddenly work for a big company," he said.

"Incumbents want to protect what they have," he added. "They ignore what might be good for for their customers, and say: 'What's good for me and how do I protect it? And insurgents are looking at what your customers need."

Selipsky  who took the helm at AWS in 2021 after former boss Andy Jassy became Amazon's CEO  is a company veteran and the former CEO of Tableau. He's also a wine enthusiast in his spare time and, though seemingly disparate interests, tech and wine have their parallels.

"We're urgent, we move fast, but we also realize that these are journeys and some of these efforts take years to come to fruition," he said.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market.

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There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Amcor (NYSE:AMCR) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Amcor:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = US$1.4b  (US$17b - US$4.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Amcor has an ROCE of 11%. That's a pretty standard return and it's in line with the industry average of 11%.

View our latest analysis for Amcor

roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Amcor compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Can We Tell From Amcor's ROCE Trend?

In terms of Amcor's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 28% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

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On a related note, Amcor has decreased its current liabilities to 24% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money.

In Conclusion...

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Amcor's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. Additionally, the stock's total return to shareholders over the last three years has been flat, which isn't too surprising. In any case, the stock doesn't have these traits of a multi-bagger discussed above, so if that's what you're looking for, we think you'd have more luck elsewhere.

If you want to know some of the risks facing Amcor we've found 2 warning signs (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

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.
Residents of a flood-damaged Orlando condominium community were granted a legal victory this week when a state arbitrator sided with their effort to recall board members who saddled them with hefty assessment payments.

The ruling by Keith Hope, an arbitrator with Floridas Department of Business and Professional Regulation, tossed out three board members at Dockside at Ventura Condominiums and installed three new ones backed by the recall effort.

The recall began in September after the now-ousted board of directors took out an $18 million loan, which hit residents with monthly assessments that topped out as high as $1,000 for 12 years. The board had said it was in litigation with an insurance company and needed the loan to cover construction costs to repair damages from Hurricane Ian. Once settled, the assessment would go away.

Elizabeth Leuven, a second-floor resident of the condo community east of Semoran Boulevard off Curry Ford Road, and a few of her neighbors organized the recall, garnering 157 signatures toward the effort.

Leuven, 74, said they celebrated with a party and cake Wednesday, but suspect the case could be appealed or end up in court.

A scathing judgment it is for them, she said. We won the battle. I dont know if its the tip of the iceberg or what it is.

A lawyer representing the association said it would be sending information to homeowners soon, but suspects the legal battle will continue.

We are reviewing the order, but we believe it will be disputed in the circuit courts due to its inaccuracy, the lawyer, Jennifer Englert, said in an email. The Association will remain focused on the management of the association and the reconstruction efforts.

She didnt say what the association deems inaccurate.

Hope in his ruling said the now-removed board scheduled an election a week after receiving recall ballots for the sole purpose of mooting or defeating the recall effort.

He further wrote that the associations manager emailing condo owners to reconsider their ballots was highly improper and should never be done again by this Association.

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The order concludes by removing Richard Pannulo, Ronaldo Lovo and Niva Lovo, and installing Juan Marmol, Joseph Parker and Cathia Cespedes.

When Hurricane Ian doused Central Florida with historic rainfall last year, residents at Dockside watched water rise above the retention pond and flow into groundfloor units. The floods destroyed first-floor condos, most of which remain under construction today, and also destroyed parked cars.

Residents were rescued by airboat.

In August, residents were told by board members that they would be charged a hefty assessment on top of their regular condo fee to cover an $18 million loan needed to cover construction costs. Including interest, residents would collectively be paying $32 million over 12 years.

For Leuven, that meant an additional $1,000 per month charge. She said shes paid her $1,485 assessment each of the last two months, but said she knows some of her neighbors cannot afford to.

Some residents told the Orlando Sentinel in September they feared the assessment was an effort to drive them into foreclosure.

Its unclear what impacts the recall will have, said Thomas Allison, an Orlando lawyer who represented Leuven and those who cast ballots.

He said the new board intends to investigate the loan to learn more.

The scale and scope of the proposed construction, the scale and scope of the debt the recalled board approved  are facially unusual given the size of the community and merits further investigation, he said.

rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com
Phase 3b DAYLIGHT study being presented at ESG 2023 demonstrated fezolinetant 45 mg achieved statistically significant reductions in the frequency and severity of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause and patient-reported sleep disturbance at 24 weeks

Women considered unsuitable included those with contraindications, who are averse to taking, have stopped taking or have conditions that suggest caution in using hormone therapy

Results will support health technology assessment and reimbursement dossiers throughout Europe

TOKYO, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, "Astellas") will present 24-week results from the Phase 3b DAYLIGHT clinical trial examining the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant, an investigational oral, nonhormonal compound being studied for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause in women considered unsuitable for hormone therapy, in an oral presentation on November 30 at the 15th Congress of the European Society of Gynecology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (Abstract #12497). VMS, characterized by hot flashes and/or night sweats, are common symptoms of menopause.1,2

Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients.(PRNewsFoto/Astellas Pharma Inc.)

The study of more than 450 women considered unsuitable for hormone therapy met all primary and secondary endpoints at 24 weeks.

For the primary endpoint of mean change from baseline in the frequency of moderate to severe VMS, fezolinetant 45 mg demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of -1.93 (p<0.001) compared to placebo.

For the key secondary endpoint of mean change from baseline in the severity of moderate to severe VMS, fezolinetant 45 mg demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of -0.39 (p<0.001) compared to placebo.

For the secondary endpoint of mean change from baseline in patient-reported sleep disturbance, fezolinetant 45 mg demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of -2.5 (p<0.001) compared to placebo.

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Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 65% of patients in the fezolinetant group compared to 61% in the placebo group. The most common TEAEs were COVID-19 (13.3% for fezolinetant vs. 12.8% for placebo), headache (8.8% for fezolinetant vs. 9.3% for placebo) and fatigue (5.8% for fezolinetant vs. 0.4% for placebo). Serious TEAEs occurred in 4.4% of patients in the fezolinetant group and 3.5% of patients in the placebo group.

Prof. Rossella Nappi, Full Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chief of the Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Director of the Gynecological Endocrinology & Menopause Unit, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia

"I know many women want options for managing hot flashes based on their medical history and personal choices, which is why these DAYLIGHT results are encouraging. The statistically significant reductions observed over the 24-week period demonstrate the potential fezolinetant has to help women who are experiencing VMS due to menopause yet cannot or choose not to take hormone therapy."

Marci English, Vice President, Head of BioPharma Development, Astellas

"DAYLIGHT is the first 24-week placebo-controlled efficacy study for fezolinetant. Astellas is committed to advancing innovative science, and these data provide further affirmation to healthcare providers of the positive impact fezolinetant can have on reducing the frequency and severity of VMS, as well as sleep disturbances over a longer period of time."

About DAYLIGHT

DAYLIGHT (NCT05033886) is a Phase 3b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week study to assess the efficacy and safety of fezolinetant 45 mg in menopausal women aged 40-65 suffering from moderate to severe VMS and considered unsuitable for hormone therapy (HT): contraindicated, averse (made informed choice not to take HT), stoppers (previously discontinued HT) and caution (based on prior medical history). The primary endpoint was mean change in the frequency of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 24. Secondary endpoints were mean change in severity of moderate to severe VMS from baseline to week 24 and mean change in patient-reported sleep disturbance on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance (PROMIS SD)  Short Form 8b from baseline to week 24. A total of 453 women were enrolled at 69 sites in Canada, Europe and Turkey. Topline results of the DAYLIGHT study were announced in June 2023.

About Fezolinetant

Fezolinetant is an investigational oral, nonhormonal medicine in clinical development for the treatment of moderate to severe VMS associated with menopause. VMS are also known as hot flashes or night sweats. Fezolinetant works by blocking neurokinin B (NKB) binding on the kisspeptin/neurokinin/dynorphin (KNDy) neuron, helping restore the balance in the brain's temperature control center (the hypothalamus) to reduce the number and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats.3,4,5 There is no guarantee the agent will receive regulatory approval in Europe or become commercially available for the uses being investigated.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+ healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.

Cautionary Notes

In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.

References

1 Utian WH. Psychosocial and socioeconomic burden of vasomotor symptoms in menopause: a comprehensive review. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2005;3:47.

2 Jones RE, Lopez KH, eds. Human Reproductive Biology. 4th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier, 2014:120.

3 Depypere H, Timmerman D, Donders G, et al. Treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms with fezolinetant, a neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist: a phase 2a trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;104:5893-5905.

4 Fraser GL, Lederman S, Waldbaum A, et al. A phase 2b, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-ranging study of the neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist fezolinetant for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Menopause. 2020;27:382-392.

5 Fraser GL, Hoveyda HR, Clarke IJ, et al. The NK3 receptor antagonist ESN364 interrupts pulsatile LH secretion and moderate levels of ovarian hormones throughout the menstrual cycle. Endocrinology. 2015;156:4214-4225.

Cision

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SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc.
Abbas Ganbay

Alastair Lukies, Chairman of the FinTech Alliance, told journalists on the sidelines of the InMerge Innovation Summit in Baku that Azerbaijan has the potential to become a leader in innovation in the region, Azernews reports.

"It is absolutely clear to me that Azerbaijan has all the necessary conditions to create a successful innovation environment. We have heard from ministers, senior leaders, and innovators that everyone wants to work together to make this possible. Only when people work together do they have a chance of success," he emphasised.

According to Lukies, it is important that big banks, governments, and regulators realise that collaboration with fintech companies can be of great benefit to the entire society.

It should be noted that the Innovation Summit "InMerge" is held in Baku from 30 November - to 1 December.

"InMerge", considered the largest innovation summit in the region, is designed to bring together leading companies, startups, and investors to discuss the topic of innovation and possible collaborations.

"The FinTech Alliance looks forward to developing close cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan in the fintech sector. "said Alastair Lukies

"I believe Azerbaijan has a unique opportunity to become a leader in the region. Fintech plays an important role in the development of every country, and if Azerbaijan continues on this path, other countries will see it as a role model," Lukies emphasized.

Lukies also added that FinTech has been involved in various initiatives, such as the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan, and has collaborated with many other countries in the field of fintech, including Australia, Canada, Singapore, and South Korea. The company is looking for opportunities to develop fintech, and it is clear that the potential for this in Azerbaijan is extremely promising.
A girl wipes away tears from the face of a woman impacted by thalidomide, the anti-morning sickness drug, in the gallery as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, unseen, delivers a National apology in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. Australia's Parliament on Wednesday made a national apology to victims of thalidomide on the 62nd anniversary of the dangerous anti-morning sickness drug being withdrawn from sale in the country. (Lukas Coch/AAPImage via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Survivors of the harmful morning sickness drug thalidomide were in the public gallery Wednesday when Australias Parliament made a national apology to them on the 62nd anniversary of the drug being withdrawn from sale in the country.

Thalidomide, also sold under the brand names Contergan and Distaval, was available in 46 countries and caused birth defects, stillbirths and miscarriages.

Survivors with limb deformities and one with no limbs were in the House of Representatives gallery to hear Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses apology.

Today, on behalf of the people of Australia, our government and this Parliament offers a full unreserved and overdue apology to all thalidomide survivors, their families, loved ones, and carers, Albanese said.

This apology takes in one of the darkest chapters in Australias medical history, he added.

Doctors had assured pregnant women that the drug was safe.

There was no system for properly evaluating the safety of medicines, and the terrible cruelty of thalidomide, is that far from being safe, just one dose was enough to cause devastating harm, Albanese said.

Trish Jackson, who has heart and lung problems as well as limb deformities caused by her mother taking the drug while pregnant, welcomed the apology.

All those years of ... banging our heads against brick walls of politicians have finally paid off, Jackson told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

The apology was recommended in 2019 by a Senate inquiry into the support that was available to aging thalidomide survivors.

The government will fulfill another recommendation Thursday by opening a memorial in Canberra in recognition of thalidomide survivors and their families.

Australia established a support program in 2020 that is providing lifelong assistance to 148 survivors, and Albanese said his government was reopening the program to survivors who had yet to register.

Jackson said the support program needed to be simplified.

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It is so physically demanding to get anything back like for medications and stuff that ... a lot of survivors just dont bother because its too hard for them to do it, Jackson said.

She said some doctors had never heard of thalidomide and did not understand survivors' problems.

Its not just the missing limbs. Theres so much internal damage as well, Jackson said. Thalidomides a drug that just keeps on giving us problems.

A class-action lawsuit by Australian and New Zealand thalidomide survivors against the drugs British distributor Diageo Scotland Ltd. was settled a decade ago for 89 million Australian dollars ($81 million).
BENGALURU, India, Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocon Biologics Ltd (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd (BSE code: 532523, NSE: BIOCON), today announced that the integration of the Viatris' biosimilars business in 31 European countries has been successfully completed.

Biocon Biologics (PRNewsfoto/Biocon Biologics, Inc)

Following the acquisition of substantially all of the global biosimilar business of Viatris in November 2022, and the related integration of over 70 emerging market countries in July 2023 and North America in September 2023, the full transition of Viatris' biosimilars operations to Biocon Biologics Ltd in Europe represents another significant milestone as a world-leading biosimilars company.

In Europe, Biocon Biologics portfolio includes 7 biosimilars: Insulin Aspart and Insulin Glargine, Bevacizumab, Pegfilgrastim, Trastuzumab, Adalimumab, and Etanercept. At a global level, Biocon Biologics has a robust pipeline of 20 assets for diabetology, oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, and bone health. Serving over 5.7M patients annually, the Company is committed to providing access to high-quality therapies and solutions to patients, healthcare systems and governments across the globe.

Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing Director, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said: "The integration of the Viatris' biosimilar business in Europe ahead of schedule is another important milestone for Biocon Biologics in our journey as a global biosimilars leader. We are pleased to expand access to life-saving treatments for patients across Europe. Our unique, fully integrated capabilities and robust pipeline of 20 products will allows us to better address patient needs and be a reliable partner to health organisations."

Jozef Belcik, Head of Commercial Europe & JANZ, Biocon Biologics Ltd, said: "We are extremely pleased to have reached this historic moment and we are proud to lead the way in the advancement of biosimilars. As we continue to drive innovation and invest in the future, our mission is singularly focused on the development, manufacturing, distribution, and commercialization of biosimilars in Europe and in the world."

After the acquisition from Viatris, Biocon Biologics and its partners will commercialize biosimilar products in the following countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and The United Kingdom.

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Note about biosimilars:

Based on IQVIA White Paper "The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe, IQVIA (2022)", as of 2022, the cumulative savings at list prices from the impact of biosimilar competition in Europe reached over 30 billion. Furthermore, since the launch of biosimilars these provided nearly 4.5 billion patient treatment days to European patients.

Source:

1-The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe, IQVIA (2022)

December 2022. https://www.iqvia.com/-/media/iqvia/pdfs/library/white-papers/the-impact-of-biosimilar-competition-in-europe-2022.pdf

About Biocon Biologics Limited:

Biocon Biologics Ltd. (BBL), a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd., is a unique, fully integrated, global biosimilars company committed to transforming healthcare and transforming lives by enabling affordable access to high quality biosimilars for millions of patients worldwide. It is leveraging cutting-edge science, innovative tech platforms, global scale manufacturing capabilities and world-class quality systems to lower costs of biological therapeutics while improving healthcare outcomes.

BBL has acquired substantially all of the global biosimilars business of its long-standing partner Viatris, which is a historic milestone in its value creation journey. Biocon Biologics has commercialized eight biosimilars in key emerging markets and advanced markets like U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

The Company has a pipeline of 20 biosimilar assets across diabetology, oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, and other non-communicable diseases. It has many 'firsts' to its credit in the biosimilars industry. As part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment, BBL is advancing the health of patients, people, and the planet to achieve key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Website: www.bioconbiologics.com; Follow us on LinkedIn: Biocon Biologics ; Twitter: @BioconBiologics for company updates.

Biocon Limited, publicly listed in 2004, (BSE code: 532523, NSE Id: BIOCON, ISIN Id: INE376G01013) is an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune. It has developed and commercialized novel biologics, biosimilars, and complex small molecule APIs in India and several key global markets as well as Generic Formulations in the US, Europe & key emerging markets. It also has a pipeline of promising novel assets in immunotherapy under development. Website: www.biocon.com; Follow-us on Linked In: Biocon Limited; Twitter: @bioconlimited for company updates.

Forward -Looking Statements: Biocon

This press release may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon Biocon and its subsidiaries/ associates. These forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, amongst other: general economic and business conditions in India and overseas, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, our research and development efforts, our growth and expansion plans and technological changes, changes in the value of the Rupee and other currency changes, changes in the Indian and international interest rates, change in laws and regulations that apply to the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, increasing competition in and the conditions of the Indian and global biotechnology and pharmaceuticals industries, changes in political conditions in India and changes in the foreign exchange control regulations in India. Neither Biocon, nor our Directors, or any of our subsidiaries/associates assume any obligation to update any particular forward-looking statement contained in this release.

Cision

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SOURCE Biocon Biologics Ltd.
Has Boeing (NYSE:BA) stock switched from a toxic asset to a terrific investment? We might be witnessing Boeings long-term turnaround in 2023s final months, and I am bullish on BA stock in light of a Wall Street experts upgrade.

Boeing is an American aerospace and defense giant, and BA stock was once considered a safe defensive investment. For much of this year, however, the market focused on the Magnificent Seven technology stocks and left Boeing behind.

Yet, as well see, analysts are mostly bullish on Boeing stock, and at least one of them expects the share price to make a sizable move over the next 12 months. There are no guarantees, of course, but I believe taking a moderately-sized share position in Boeing looks like a smart move now.

The Good News Keeps on Coming for Boeing

Even if Boeing isnt a member of the Magnificent Seven, theres been a slew of magnificent news items about Boeing in the past few weeks. If one of them doesnt convince you to consider BA stock, maybe some of the other positive developments will change your mind.

First of all, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Boeing type inspection authorization, allowing the company to commence flight testing its 737 Max 10 jet. This step could be instrumental as Boeing seeks to achieve certification for this potential addition to the companys popular Max jet lineup.

Second, according to TheFly, Air Lease (NYSE:AL) announced that Boeing has delivered the first of a 25-unit order of 737-8 aircraft to Malaysia Airlines Berhad. Furthermore, Thai Airways is considering a potential order for as many as 90 mostly widebody aircraft from Airbus (OTC:EADSY) and Boeing. This would be part of a long-term fleet renewal, sources indicate.

On top of all that, Boeing scored an order for six 737 Max-8 planes from Virgin Australia. Deliveries are anticipated in the second half of 2024. With that, Virgin Australia has ordered a total of 14,737 Max-8 units.

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Thats a lot for prospective investors to think about. With all of this good news coming in, dont be too surprised if Boeing delivers a positive surprise or two in its next earnings report, which is slated for January 2024.

An Analyst Eyes $275 for Boeing Stock

Boeing stock tanked from August through October, but it appears that theres a comeback in progress. However, with the share price hovering above $220, could an extended run to $275 be in the cards?

At least one prominent analyst seems to believe so. Not only did RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Herbert upgrade BA stock from a Hold to a Buy, but he also raised his price target on the shares from $200 all the way up to $275.

Evidently, Herbert envisions brighter days ahead in the wake of a challenging year for Boeing. After another year of supply-chain disruptions and lowered expectations, we believe the set-up into 2024 is favorable, the RBC Capital analyst opined.

I already mentioned some of Boeings current and potential orders, which indicate consistent demand for the companys aircraft. On that topic, Herbert commented that he expects the strong demand to sustain for both the commercial and defense business.

If Herbert is correct, this strong demand should translate to improved free cash flow for Boeing in the long term. Thus, the analyst anticipates that Boeing will deliver free cash flow of $3.5 billion in 2023, $5.5 billion in 2024, and $8.5 billion and 2025.

Is Boeing Stock a Buy, According to Analysts?

On TipRanks, BA comes in as a Strong Buy based on 15 Buys and three Hold ratings assigned by analysts in the past three months. The average Boeing stock price target is $249.67, implying 12.3% upside potential.

If youre wondering which analyst you should follow if you want to buy and sell BA stock, the most profitable analyst covering the stock (on a one-year timeframe) is Myles Walton of Wolfe Research, with an average return of 16.2% per rating and a 60% success rate. Click on the image below to learn more.

Conclusion: Should You Consider Boeing Stock?

Its fine to hold some Magnificent Seven stocks in your portfolio, but dont ignore recovery stories like Boeing. Herberts remarks suggest that Boeing could deliver magnificent returns to its shareholders during the next 12 months.

Besides, theres enough good news to persuade sensible investors that Boeing is on the right track. Therefore, I would definitely consider BA stock for a buy-and-hold position.

Disclosure
Food For The Poor Of Canada Inc

Reading in the new library

A teacher reads with students in the renovated library space.

Opening ceremony

Students cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the new library at Lusignan Primary School, while Carrol and Richard Verasamy stand behind them.

Completed library

The completed library features computers, A/V equipment, books and learning materials, updated shelving and furniture, and more.

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over six hundred students at Lusignan Primary School in Guyana are enjoying their renovated and fully-equipped library to develop their love of reading and enhance their digital literacy skills.



This library transformation was made possible thanks to the generosity of Carrol Verasamy, a former student of the school, and her husband Richard Verasamy, who serves as Board Co-Chair of Food For the Poor Canada. Together they funded the library in memory of Carrols late mother, who learned to read only later in her life. Carrol and Richard aligned their dedication to give back to their community and to promote literacy and learning for generations to come.

Carrol said during the opening ceremonies, Ive had this dream of being able to give back some day. Im so grateful that we can do this with the help of Food For The Poor Canada.

The renovated library is now able to meet the needs of students because it includes computers, A/V equipment, a wide range of books and learning materials, updated shelving and furniture, and repaired electrical equipment. Additionally, a sanitary facility with two washrooms was built to accommodate the growing student population.

Executive Director of Food For The Poor Canada, Geraldine Isaac commends this project, saying, The Lusignan Primary School library exemplifies Food For The Poor Canadas collaborative and intentional approach to community work, involving our in-country experts and connecting Canadians to address urgent community needs.

Since 2018 Food For The Poor Canada has been working with Food For The Poor Guyana to support housing, education, healthcare and livelihoods in the remote community of Baramita, Guyana. Recent projects include a health outreach program for 400 patients, and science and technology education programming for students in grades 1-9.

For more information on how to support programs in the Caribbean and Latin America, visit our current projects page and for more information on the most urgent projects in Guyana, please visit our website here .

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About Food For The Poor Canada

Food For The Poor Canada (FFPC) empowers communities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) through five areas of investment: food, health, housing, education, and income-generating projects.

FFPC responds to urgent needs while building community and social infrastructure. FFPC utilizes the pre-existing networks of local affiliated organizations to better sustain and grow the communities they serve. Through trusted partners, FFPC has strengthened its emergency preparedness and responds effectively to emergencies and natural disasters when they occur.



Over the last 15 years, FFPC and its donors have built 191 homes, 39 schools, as well as shipped and distributed $44,000,000 in food, and educational and medical supplies to communities in LAC.

For interviews or more information, contact:

Geraldine Isaac

Executive Director, Food For The Poor Canada

Geraldinei@foodforthepoor.ca

(416) 921-4008

www.foodforthepoor.ca

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1d5b550b-7d22-4876-9ce2-f3820b56a468

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20c0cba7-749b-4133-80b9-5a948dec4647

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/549fc90e-f95a-47c8-ac8b-9ac0eb6e006c




Charlie Munger had 3 'basic rules' for career happiness. One of them: don't work for anyone you don't respect.

Charlie Munger (L) and Warren Buffett attend a BYD Co Ltd new product launch conference at China World Hotel on September 29, 2010 in Beijing, China. Visual China Group via Getty Images

Charlie Munger said he had three "basic rules" for career satisfaction.

One included not working for anyone you don't respect, he wrote in a column for CNBC Make It.

Munger, Warren Buffett's trusted right-hand man, died on Tuesday at the age of 99.

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's trusted right-hand man who died Tuesday, aged 99, had three "basic rules" for career satisfaction, according to a column the billionaire penned for CNBC Make It that's among his final writings.

One of the legendary investor's rules: "Don't work for anyone you do not respect and admire."

"You particularly want to avoid working directly under somebody you don't admire and don't want to be like. It's dangerous," Munger, the longtime vice chairman of Buffett's conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, wrote in the column published on Wednesday.

He added, "Generally, your outcome in life will be more satisfactory if you work under people whom you correctly admire."

Munger said in the column that he navigated through his career "by identifying people I admired and by maneuvering, mostly without criticizing anybody, so that I was usually working under the right sort of people."

"A lot of employers will permit that if you're shrewd enough to work it out with some tact," wrote Munger, Buffett's close confidant.

Munger's other two rules for career happiness were: "Don't sell anything you wouldn't buy yourself" and "work only with people you enjoy."

"If at all feasible, you want to maneuver yourself into doing something in which you have an intense interest alongside people whose company you enjoy," Munger wrote.

Munger wrote in the column that those three rules always "helped" him and that he believed "they can help any young person evaluating a career decision."

Munger said that even though "meeting all three is nearly impossible, you should try anyway."

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As for Munger  who met Buffett at a dinner party in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, in 1959, ultimately leading Munger to join Berkshire Hathaway in 1978  he said he achieved them all.

"I have been incredibly fortunate in my life when it comes to these basic rules," Munger wrote. "With Warren Buffett, I had all three."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Charlie Munger died Tuesday at age 99. Nati Harnik/AP Photo

Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway, died at age 99 on Tuesday.

He had planned his birthday party which would have fallen on New Year's Eve, according to CNBC.

The investing legend had an active social life in his old age which he said he "welcomed."

Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway's vice chairman and investing legend, had plans in place for his birthday on New Year's Eve when he would have turned 100 years old, CNBC reported Tuesday .

CNBC's Becky Quick said on "Closing Bell Overtime" that the publication had been trying to put together a package for his upcoming birthday in five weeks.

"He would have been turning 100 on January 1," she said. "He had a big birthday party planned for New Year's Eve."

In a recent unaired interview with Munger, Quick asked if he had anything left on his bucket list of things he'd like to do.

"I am so old and weak compared to what I was when I was 96 that I no longer want to catch a 200-pound tuna," Munger responded in the interview. "It's just too goddamn much work, it takes too much physical strength. I would have paid any amount to catch a 200-pound tuna when I was younger and never caught one. And now given the opportunity, I would just decline going. I would only go out after it. There are things you give up with time."

Quick commented that the 99-year-old had a busy social life including Zoom meetings and going out to breakfast and lunch.

Munger said: "I like it that way. That's my idea of old age for me and I didn't plan it that way. It just happened. And when it happened, I welcomed it."

Munger died peacefully at a California hospital on Tuesday Morning, his family told Berkshire Hathaway.

"Berkshire Hathaway could not have been built to its present status without Charlie's inspiration, wisdom and participation," Warren Buffett said in a statement.

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He led Berkshire Hathaway alongside Buffett since 1978 and amassed a $2.6 billion fortune along the way.

Munger told Quick in the interview that he lived in the same house for decades even as he got richer and his rich friends built bigger and better houses.

"I still decided not to live a life where I look like the Duke of Worcester or something and I was going to avoid it. I did it on purpose  I didn't think it would be good for the children."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Charlie Munger loved Costco. AP Photo/Nati Harnik

The late billionaire investor Charlie Munger loved Costco, and called himself a "total addict."

He served on the company's board of directors, and owned more than 187,000 shares of Costco stock.

"I wish everything else in America was working as well as Costco does," Munger said last year.

With the death of billionaire investor Charlie Munger on Tuesday, Costco is losing one of its most ardent fans.

Munger famously declared himself a "total addict" of the company on whose board he served for more than a quarter century.

"I love everything about Costco," Munger said last year. "I'm never going to sell a share."

Indeed, he was Costco's second-largest individual stockholder after outgoing CEO Craig Jelinek, owning 187,180 shares as of last November, worth more than $110 million today.

"He was a legend to me," Jelinek said in a statement after Munger's death. "A tremendous asset to Costco."

Munger was effusive in his praise of the wholesale club's operations too.

"I wish everything else in America was working as well as Costco does," he said in early 2022. "Think what a blessing that would be for us all."

Munger told CNBC his only quibble with Costco was that its share price was a bit higher than an investor like himself would buy.

"Other than that, it's a perfect damn company and it has a marvelous future," he said.

Costco was notoriously slow to move to e-commerce. But even compared to Amazon, Munger thought Costco had an advantage.

"People really trust Costco to be delivering enormous values," he said."Costco presents some danger to Amazon  because they've got a better reputation for providing value than practically anybody including Amazon,"

Known to many as the confidante and righthand man to Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, Munger was unquestionably a financial genius in his own right.

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"Berkshire Hathaway could not have been built to its present status without Charlie's inspiration, wisdom and participation," Buffett said in a statement.

"No one loved Costco more than Charlie," Jelinek said in a later statement on Wednesday. "The Company benefited greatly from his wisdom over the last quarter-century plus. We at Costco extend our deep condolences to his family."

Read the original article on Business Insider
By Julie Zhu and Scott Murdoch

HONG KONG/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand of Chinese automaker Geely, has put its U.S. initial public offering (IPO) on hold because of a mismatch in valuation expectations, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The decision was made as global financial markets remain volatile, a third source added. All the sources declined to be identified as the information has not yet been made public.

Zeekr, which publicly filed a prospectus this month to float shares in New York, has aimed to maintain the valuation of $13 billion it achieved in a private fundraising exercise in February, two of the sources said.

But informal talks with potential investors since late August saw some of them put a valuation on the two-year-old firm below the IPO figure, as market sentiment was still weak and the company recently widened losses, they added.

"The company has made a public filing to the SEC and is proceeding with the preparatory work," Zeekr said in a statement, without elaborating.

Zeekr's prospectus disclosed a surge in total revenue to 35.31 billion yuan ($4.9 billion) in the nine months ended Sept. 30, up from 18.47 billion a year earlier. However, its loss from operations widened to 5.23 billion yuan from 4.90 billion.

Some listed peers, such as EV maker Nio, have seen share prices fluctuate or fall in recent months as a price war in China has hit profitability, spurring efforts to cut costs and build partnerships to survive the consolidating competition.

Citing sources, Reuters reported in December that Zeekr had confidentially filed for its IPO, aiming to raise more than $1 billion and go public in New York as early as the second quarter of this year.

Sources told Reuters this month that Zeekr still aimed to raise at least $500 million in the IPO before stepping on the brakes.

Zeekr was formed in 2021 by Geely, formally known as Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, to tap growing Chinese demand for premium EVs.

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In February, it raised $750 million from investors including Amnon Shashua, the CEO of autonomous driving technology company Mobileye Global and Chinese battery giant CATL.

Zeekr offers four EV models in China, with its best seller, the 001 crossover, priced from 269,000 yuan ($36,927.22).

It also plans to sell in overseas markets, such as Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands and Sweden, among others.

(Reporting by Julie Zhu and Scott Murdoch; Additional reporting by Kane Wuy; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Clarence Fernandez)
Abbas Ganbay

The Western Azerbaijan Community made a statement on the occasion of spreading information that the European Union will provide military assistance to Armenia within the framework of the "European Peace Fund," Azernews reports.

The statement of the Western Azerbaijani Community reads:

"Following France, the European Union arming Armenia is a very wrong and dangerous step.

The transfer of arms to Armenia under the name of the "European Peace Fund" is irony and mockery. The Western Azerbaijan Community believes that the arming of Armenia by the European Union following France is a very wrong and dangerous step and serves to increase tension in the region and strengthen revanchism in Armenia.

The EU should put an end to the policy of arming Armenia and bringing geopolitical competition to the South Caucasus region," the statement emphasises.

Earlier, France agreed to supply weapons to Armenia, including air defence systems. French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu made the announcement on October 21.

"It is necessary to allow Armenia to protect its civilian population and ensure the defence of its borders," Minister Lecornu said while explaining France's arming of Armenia.

According to the French minister, following the contracts signed on October 22, Armenia was enabled to 'protect its skies'.

The Armenian side noted that the issue of Paris providing military assistance to Yerevan has been raised by the Armenian authorities before. On October 5, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian said on the France 2 TV channel that the country needs a new military partner besides Russia. "France has expressed its strong intention to help us and to support us in order to strengthen our defence capability. Our goal is to defend ourselves and stop Azerbaijan's ambitions because the final goal is to live in peace with our neighbour," the Armenian president stressed.
Balchug Capital

Amaryan brothers

David and Vardan Amaryan

Main focus of new foundation will be education

Foundation will also help refugees from Artsakh conflict

Focus initially on Syunik province in Armenia



YEREVAN, Armenia, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- David Amaryan, founder of the Armenian investment fund Balchug Capital, and Vardan Amaryan, founder of the Armenian investment bank Apricot Capital, have announced the creation of the Amaryan Charitable Foundation, a new foundation dedicated to education and humanitarian relief in Armenia.

The move by the Amaryan brothers follows the humanitarian crisis of some 100,000 refugees departing the territory of Artsakh in the recent conflict and seeking refuge in Armenia. The number of displaced people arriving is equivalent to around 5% of Armenias population. Many of those arrived in the province of Syunik, which is where the Amaryan brothers are from.

David Amaryan, founder of Balchug Capital and co-founder of the Amaryan Charitable Foundation, said, Education is critical to the future of my homeland and particularly so given the tragic recent events, which were a catastrophe for our country. Education was the path my brother and I were able to take which helped us to launch our careers in international investment. We want to use this new foundation to help increase educational opportunities and promote excellence in teaching in Armenia.

Despite my career that initially took me to New York and later around the world, I have never forgotten my roots and my history. This is my land and my people, to whom I feel the deepest personal connection. My brother and I have always sought to help our country in times of need, and we will be doing so again. We hope that our experience in the financial world can be put to good use. Our initial focus will be both on education and also humanitarian relief for the refugees.

Vardan Amaryan, founder of Apricot Capital and co-founder of the Amaryan Charitable Foundation, added, What happened in Artsakh is a challenge for Armenia and for all Armenians. The commitment is clear: every Armenian should be afforded dignified resettlement and the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Armenia. Our foundations initiatives will seek to help to realize this opportunity, and will be implemented based on both the short-term and long-term needs of our beneficiaries.

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The Amaryan Charitable Foundation will coordinate its work with local and national government authorities in Armenia and with international organizations. The initial focus is on the province of Syunik, where the foundation has provided refugee families with essential support, offering warm clothing, shoes, and vital winter provisions. The brothers also provided the children of refugees with school materials and supported the top school in the region. The foundation intends to extend its work to other regions in Armenia impacted by the crisis.

Notes to editors:

About Balchug Capital:

Balchug Capital is an investment fund headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia. It was founded in 2010 by David Amaryan, who serves as CEO and oversees all investment activity.

Media contact:

For further information please contact:

Tatevik Simonyan, SPRING PR: tsimonyan@spring.am




(Bloomberg) -- Energy, materials and real estate firms are not reaping the diversity dividend which links multiracial management to better profitability, a new study of companies across eight industry sectors from shareholder activist group As You Sow shows.

Most Read from Bloomberg

In an analysis of employment demographic data over a five-year period, the benefits of diversity were not observed in traditionally male- and White-dominated sectors such as utilities and industrials. In fact, the more Black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) management these sectors had, the poorer the performance of some of their financial metrics.

The study, however, revealed a statistically significant correlation between profitability and the number of BIPOC executive hires for a broad swathe of sectors, with the link seen strongest in sectors such as finance and technology.

The discrepancies between sectors could be due to the fact that some industries have not fully adopted a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the reports authors said, noting that a lack of a lack of other workplace data made it hard to pinpoint exactly why there were divergences.

Previous research from the group showed the energy, materials and real estate sectors faring poorly in terms of addressing internal racial disparities, observed As You Sows racial justice initiative manager Olivia Knight. She said that some companies in these industries may not be fostering inclusivity beyond the upper echelons of management to create an environment that would make for a more productive workforce.

These sectors dont historically show up as providing DEI resources and really giving the attention to those programs that they need to flourish, she said, adding that more research is needed to understand the disconnect.

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Examining data from 1,641 publicly traded companies  about six times more than the number scrutinized last year  As You Sow assessed hiring data against eight financial metrics, including post-tax income and the 10-year total revenue compound annual growth rate.

The scope of the report, which adds to a growing body of evidence linking representation to financial performance, widened following a lawsuit filed by The Center for Investigative Reporting that prompted the Department of Labor to reveal the workforce diversity of government contractors.

Noting that the US is on track to be a minority-White country by 2045, As You Sow said it was increasingly critical companies acknowledge the shifts in the American labor market and customer base even with the conservative backlash against corporate diversity.

Companies will need to be in tune with these changing demographics to remain competitive, Meredith Benton, founder of social-investing consultancy Whistle Stop Capital and the reports co-author, told Bloomberg.

You really want to have a wide diversity, a much broader understanding of the world, she said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
KLIMAT X Developments Inc. Logo (CNW Group/KLIMAT X Developments Inc.)

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Klimat X Developments Inc. ("Klimat X" or the "Company") (TSXV: KLX) (FSE: Q1C) a leading provider of high-quality carbon credits sourced exclusively from afforestation and reforestation projects developed and owned by the Company and its stakeholders, is pleased to announce that CEO and Founder, Dr. James Tansey, will present the keynote entitled, 'The Evolution of the Carbon Markets and the Role of Nature Based Solutions to Fight Climate Change' at the Beyond the Channel investor event in London, UK on November 30, 2023. "It's a pleasure to be chosen to speak in London to the Armchair Trader audience of sophisticated investors. I look forward to presenting a science-based outlook on the carbon markets and the business of financing nature-based solutions on an extraordinary scale to create lasting change." comments Tansey.

Stuart Fieldhouse, Editor and Co-Founder of The Armchair Trader, commented, "The Beyond the Channel series of events integrates an experience of connection, conversation, and education for our audience, shining a light on private and public companies that are meeting some of the world's biggest challenges, while meeting the needs of our audience to have a diversified investment portfolio in an ever-changing geo-political landscape. We are delighted to be able to provide our audience the timely insights Dr. Tansey will offer on the carbon markets."

About The Armchair Trader

For over a decade, the Armchair trader has provided thousands of sophisticated investors, funds, and family offices a reliable source of high-quality editorial, news, podcast interviews and analysis around the most current themes in the financial markets. Their loyal audience spanning from the UK to across Europe and into Asia, relies on their experienced team of investment writers and analysts working tirelessly to deliver the latest on stocks, funds and commodities that are shaping the markets today. Sophisticated investors are taking on a more global mindset around their investing: the saturation of technology, AI data driven research tools, media and editorial, all available 24X7, has driven the demand for a more thoughtful, considered, financial educational approach. For more information: http://www.thearmchairtrader.com

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About Klimat X

Klimat X is an owner and operator of nature-based carbon assets that serves the growing demand for carbon credits from companies seeking to meet their Net Zero goals. The Company achieves this by investing in the exploration, restoration and management of terrestrial and marine systems that can either be protected to enhance the sequestration of greenhouse gases or restored from a degraded status to fully productive ecosystems. The Company's dedication to environmental stewardship and its robust pipeline of carbon credit projects makes it a trusted partner to the largest buyers of carbon credits in the world, in the fight against climate change. Klimat X deploys capital at risk under various arrangements (including cooperation, assignment, and production sharing agreements) with government engagement in various suitable jurisdictions around the world including Sierra Leone, Yucatan, Guyana and Suriname.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"James Tansey"

James Tansey

Chief Executive Officer

http://www.klimatx.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward looking statements and information concerning the ongoing business of the Company. Klimat X cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of Klimat X. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Klimat X. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Klimat X does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by securities law.

SOURCE KLIMAT X Developments Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2023/30/c4433.html
Neuralink founder Elon Musk at The New York Times' Dealbook summit. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Elon Musk said at the NYT Dealbook conference that Neuralink's monkeys live in "monkey paradise."

It comes after reports that several died painful deaths as a result of Neuralink's implant.

The brain interface company is planning to start human trials next year, with thousands signing up.

Elon Musk said that Neuralink's test monkeys live in "monkey paradise," despite reports that several died gruesome and painful deaths as a result of the company's brain implant.

Speaking at The New York Times' Dealbook conference on Wednesday, the Tesla and SpaceX boss said that the implant  which Neuralink plans to test on humans next year  has never directly caused the death of a monkey.

His comments come amid growing calls for the company to be investigated over its treatment of the animals.

"The USDA inspector who came by Neuralink facilities literally said that in her entire career she has never seen a better animal care facility  we are the nicest to the animals you could possibly be," Musk said in the wide-ranging interview.

"It is like monkey paradise," he added.

Musk said that the company had used terminally ill monkeys for some of its early implants, reflecting comments he made in a post on X earlier this year , but insisted that no monkeys had died as a direct result of the Neuralink brain implant.

"Neuralink has never caused the death of a monkey  In fact, we now have monkeys who have had Neuralink implants for two to three years, and they're doing great," he said.

Musk and Neuralink have come under intense scrutiny over the treatment of the monkeys implanted with the company's brain interface, which the billionaire has said could help people with paralysis regain full body movement and eventually prevent humanity from being wiped out by AI .

In a letter to the SEC earlier this year , the non-profit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine said that Musk's comments about the safety of Neuralink's brain interface had misled investors.

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They said that veterinary records showed Neuralink had been forced to euthanize 12 "previously healthy" monkeys who had received the implant after they experienced symptoms including bloody diarrhea, paralysis, and brain swelling.

Neuralink is set to begin human trials next year after receiving approval from the FDA, with thousands of people reportedly signing up to have the company's chip implanted in their brains .

Neuralink did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk speaks at The New York Times DealBook conference. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Elon Musk hinted at his 2024 voting intentions in an interview at an event Wednesday.

Joe Biden probably won't be getting Musk's vote, he told the DealBook summit.

Musk claims that he's a centrist, but has increasingly supported rightwing politicians.

Elon Musk doubts he'll be voting for Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

"I think I would not vote for Biden," the Tesla founder said during a 90-minute interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, when asked what his voting intentions were.

"I'm not saying I'd vote for Trump,", he added, after a pause.

When asked by moderator Andrew Ross Sorkin who he'd vote for in a potential match-up between Trump and Biden, he couldn't offer any certainty.

"This is definitely a difficult choice here," he said with a laugh.

Delving into his issues with the Democrat president, Musk raised the White House's failure to invite Tesla to an EV summit early in the Biden administration.

"They held an electric vehicle summit at the White House and specifically refused to let Tesla attend," Musk said. "Biden went on to add insult to injury and publicly said GM was leading the electric car revolution."

The Tesla founder also weighed in on other leading Republican candidates, stressing that he hasn't yet endorsed anybody.

He dismissed Nikki Haley as a "pro-censorship candidate," pointing to her proposal that all social media users should be required to identify themselves. She's since toned down this stance, per The Washington Post.

Musk said he disagreed with Vivek Ramaswamy over his climate change denial, but said Ramaswamy's interest in tackling "government overreach" made him a strong candidate.

Musk, who previously said he supported Barack Obama, has described himself as a centrist and claimed it's the Democrats that had veered more to the left.

Musk has increasingly supported rightwing candidates, offering his social media platform X to Ron DeSantis for his launch of his presidential run back in May.

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In 2022, he said he would support DeSantis if he ran for the presidency, but did not mention the Florida governor during Wednesday's interview.

"My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist," he has previously responded to a tweet.

Under his ownership, X has been accused of enabling rightwing extremism, hate speech, and disinformation.

At the DealBook summit Musk also took aim at advertisers that have pulled their business from X in response to his recent antisemitic post: "If someone is going to blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2023 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 29, 2023 in New York City. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The New York Times

Elon Musk said on Wednesday that as a child he debated the "meaning of life."

During an interview at the DealBook Summit, Musk said he also had thoughts of suicide as a kid.

The billionaire said he had an "existential crisis" at around 12 years old.

Elon Musk on Wednesday said that he debated the "meaning of life" as a child and even had thoughts about suicide.

Musk, during a wide-ranging and sometimes bizarre interview at The New York Times' DealBook Summit in New York, said he had an "existential crisis" at around 12 years old.

The billionaire SpaceX founder, Tesla CEO, and X owner said that as a child, he questioned: "What's the meaning of life? Isn't it all pointless? Why not just commit suicide? Why exist?"

Musk, who has previously talked about his strained relationship with his father, Errol Musk, and being badly bullied during his childhood, said during the interview that he turned to reading religious texts and philosophy books.

The "German philosophy books," Musk said, "made me quite depressed."

"One should not read [Arthur] Schopenhauer and [Friedrich] Nietzsche as a teenager," said Musk.

Then Musk said he stumbled upon Douglas Adams' cult science-fiction comedy book, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," in which a supercomputer determines that the answer to the meaning of life is the number 42.

"The point that Adams was making there was that we don't actually know what questions to ask," Musk told interviewer and journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Musk continued, "If we can expand the scope and scale of consciousness, then we are better able to figure out what questions to ask about the answer that is the universe."

During the interview, Musk spoke about his "demons of the mind" and elaborated on how his mind often feels like a "very wild storm." He responded "no" when asked if it was a "happy storm."

"I can remember even in happy moments when I was a kid that it just feels like there's just a rage of forces in my mind constantly," Musk said. "Now this productively manifests itself in technology and building things, for the most part."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The day after the United Auto Workers said it is looking to recruit all nonunion auto factory workers across the nation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he disagrees with the idea of unions.

Musk also implied General Motors deserved to be unionized because it had a culture of hierarchy between the high-level executives and everyone else, which electric vehicle maker Tesla has never had, he said.

Andrew Ross Sorkin, left, and Elon Musk speak onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2023 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Nov. 29, 2023, in New York City.

Musk's comments come in the wake of the UAW putting a bull's-eye on EV makers Tesla, Lucid Motors and Rivian when it announced Wednesday it was launching an unprecedented public campaign to organize some 13 nonunion automakers in the United States. The UAW is also targeting Asian and European automaker factories here. In total, it would add about 150,000 autoworkers to the union's membership.

During the New York Times DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Andrew Ross Sorkin interviewed Musk on a variety of topics including the UAW coming after Tesla to unionize its four U.S. factories located in Fremont, California; Sparks, Nevada; Austin, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.

Elon Musk speaks onstage during The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2023 at Jazz at Lincoln Center on November 29, 2023, in New York City.

"I think it's generally not good to have an adversarial relationship between one group at the company and another group," Musk said. "I disagree with the idea of unions. ... I just don't like anything which creates a lords and peasants sort of thing. I think the unions naturally try to create negativity in a company."

Musk takes aim at GM

The UAW did not immediately provide a comment responding to Musk's remarks.

Musk said there are many Tesla employees who have progressed from working on the assembly line to senior management jobs, himself included. Musk knows most of his factory employees, he said, because he has worked on the line and has "slept in the factory ... so I'm no stranger to them."

"There is no lords and peasants, everyone eats at the same table," Musk said of Tesla's culture. "Everyone parks at the same parking lot. At GM, there's a special elevator only for senior executives. We have no such thing at Tesla."

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A more open seating concept where workers share desks at the General Motors Cole Engineering Center at the Warren Technical Center In Warren on Dec 7, 2022.

GM spokesman Kevin Kelly said there is no such elevator at GM's world headquarters inside the Renaissance Center on Detroit's waterfront. He said at "one point in time" GM did have an elevator reserved for executives at its Global Technical Center in Warren. The elevator led directly to the executive offices dubbed "mahogany row."

In the last two years, GM redesigned its offices in Warren and, as the Free Press reported, GM got rid of mahogany row, moving the executive offices to the middle of the Cole Engineering Center to create an open concept. GM made the executive office walls glass rather than wood.

"Mahogany row doesnt exist anymore," Kelly said, adding that neither does that elevator.

If Tesla gets unionized, 'we failed in some way'

Following a 46-day, so-called Stand-Up Strike targeting plants at GM, Ford Motor and Stellantis, the union won 4-year contracts across all three last month, delivering record wage gains and other wins. After that, Toyota, Honda and Hyundai offered raises and shortened progressions to top wages for U.S. factory employees.

Striking Ford Motor Company employees represented by the UAW and Local 900 picket on the sidewalk across the entrance to Gate 9 at the Michigan Assembly in Wayne blocking independent truck drivers from getting into the plant on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. A member of the Teamsters told the truckers that the strikers would be here all day and that it would be impossible for them to pull in for their deliveries or pickups.

Musk's antiunion stance isn't surprising. In 2018, Musk  who bought Twitter last year for $44 billion  tweeted that Tesla Fremont employees would lose their stock options if they joined a union. Shortly thereafter, the National Labor Relations Board ordered Musk to delete that 2018 tweet ruling it was an unlawful threat that could discourage unionizing, according to Reuters. But in July, a federal appeals court said it will reconsider a March ruling that supported the NLRB's decision, according to a Fortune and Bloomberg report.

Last week, the NLRB dismissed claims that Tesla illegally fired employees working at a New York plant to put an end to union organizing, Reuters reported.

More: Consumer Reports pummels electric vehicle reliability, praises hybrids

More: UAW launches unprecedented push to organize 13 automakers in US

Musk told Sorkin he has suggested taking a union vote in the past, but learned that the company is not allowed to conduct the vote. He said he is "incredibly appreciative" of those who build cars and has ensured prosperity by giving all employees stock options. Many have become millionaires from those options, he said.

"I don't know? Maybe it'll get unionized," Musk said. "I've said, 'If Tesla gets unionized, it'll be because we deserve it and we failed in some way.' "

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Musk takes aim at UAW's move to unionize Tesla, cites GM's culture
The buzzing outdoor market scene in California had been a reliable revenue source for entrepreneur Kimberly Pak and her handbag business.

But when her husbands job transfer moved them to the Valley 5 years ago, Pak not only faced a comparatively sleepy outdoor market presence but also a lot of no's when she approached Scottsdale shops about selling the handbags she designed.

As the weather got hotter, Pak got nervous.

Summer was coming. What am I going to do for money? Pak recalled.

Ideally, a venue that would be a consistent space for her to sell her bags would be the answer. Her husband, Eugene Pak, a regional sales director, suggested she could make it happen by opening her own store.

Kimberly Pak owns The Mercantile of Scottsdale, a store that features indoor booths representing exclusively Arizona vendors.

Thats when the idea for The Merchantile of Scottsdale was born. And what began as an effort to generate revenue and provide a brick-and-mortar location for Pak to sell her wares has evolved into a hub for other small business owners to do the same.

In 2019, Pak opened the Merchantile in Old Town, offering individual vendor booths for fellow Arizona entrepreneurs who sell their jewelry, clothing, home items, decor and more.

Paks affinity for outdoor markets guided her concept. She chose the location to cater to out-of-state visitors and give them the opportunity to bring an Arizona-made memento back home.

Its like an Etsy in person, Pak described her vision for the Merchantile. I wanted to give them an opportunity to sell here and make a successful market.

What started with 40 vendors at that Scottsdale shop has grown to more than 100, Pak said. Success led to the 2022 opening of a second location, The Merchantile of Phoenix, which Pak owns with her sister Brisol Diaz. Here, more than 80 vendors have set up shop. About half of all vendors have a presence in both locations, Pak said.

More than 500 businesses are waiting to move into one of the Merchantiles coveted spaces, she said.

Momentum ramps up for the holidays with the annual Merry Merchantile Market, which takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Scottsdale Civic Center. Here, a curated selection from more than 80 local vendors featuring handmade items and one-of-a-kind pieces will be available amid live music and food.

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Hands-on workshops for adults and children, interactive make-and-take sessions and a kids play area are also in the mix.

Pak is part of a local business market that generates 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail, according to Fundera by NerdWallet. Also, she facilitates a small business market that generates $68 of local economic return for every $100 customers spend.

Julia Galvan, owner of Visata Handcrafted Jewelry, has participated in the past two holiday Markets and has been a vendor for more than a year in the Phoenix shop. She has run her Phoenix business for three years and sells her pieces in markets and online.

Galvan had wanted to set up in a brick-and-mortar space when Pak found her on social media and expressed interest in her jewelry. Galvan said the exposure her business has received thanks to the Merchantile has been very valuable.

Theres definitely been an impact. Its a great way to get noticed and has really connected me to other people and introduced them to the mineral kingdom, Galvan said.

Galvan has collaborated with other markets and venues but said Paks dedication to organization, how she treats vendors and allows them to express themselves sets her apart.

She has a very kind and gentle heart, and she makes you feel comfortable and good about yourself and your product, Galvan said. I definitely appreciate that.

A first-generation American born to parents of Mexican descent, Pak grew up in the Los Angeles area. Both of her parents owned their own businesses, so the entrepreneurial presence was always there.

It was always instilled in us  the benefits of working for yourself, Pak said.

When she was 12, Pak got her first entrepreneurial opportunity selling Avon products. Her mother accompanied her to a representative, a neighbor, and signed her up. From there, Pak took the reins. She loved it.

My mom was so supportive and excited. She would tell me, One day, youre going to be something big, Pak said as her voice cracked and she was overcome with emotion.

Over the years, Pak owned several small businesses encompassing jewelry, sewing, photography, a mobile boutique and designing handbags before moving to Arizona from Santa Fe Springs, about 20 miles from Los Angeles.

When Pak embarked on the Merchantile, she wasnt quick to take the leap.

We were scared. A couple of times I backed out. '(I thought) this is crazy,' Pak said.

Eugene, who continues to work as a full-time regional sales director, pulled from his retirement funds, Pak got credit cards and her mother also assisted financially to make her permanent store dream a reality.

Pak wanted to bring in other vendors to help sustain the Merchantile, but they had to be local. She used Instagram to draw vendors such as Galvan and to create a network.

At the time, this concept was unusual, although that has since changed.

I think its awesome that more businesses are replicating our model. I feel like I kind of spearheaded the way, Pak said. I was so scared to leave California, but Arizona has been a blessing.

Over the past four years, some Merchantile vendors have gone on to open their own stores. Pak treasures having some part of that and believes all of her experiences, successes and failures, have been key on this journey.

All of those things prepared me for the Merchantile. I know how hard it is, Pak said. To be able to inspire them, to be able to use my knowledge here  they know they can do it, too.

What: The Merchantile of Scottsdale

Where: 3965 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale

Employees: 10

Interesting stat: Local business generates 70% more local economic activity per square foot than big box retail, according to Fundera by NerdWallet.

Details: themerchantileofscottsdale.com

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Merchantiles of Scottsdale and Phoenix create 'Etsy in person'
Elon Musk sat down for a long-winded rollercoaster of an interview on Wednesday, during which he barely mentioned Tesla's Cybertruck. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Elon Musk didn't have much to say about the Cybertruck during an interview the day before its launch.

He did have words about pretty much everything else, including telling advertisers who fled X to "Go fuck yourself."

Here's a look at Musk's 90-minute interview that was at times confrontational, thoughtful, and bizarre.

Tesla has its biggest product launch in four years on Thursday  the Cybertruck delivery event  and you'd never guess that if you listened to Elon Musk's hour-and-a-half-long interview at the DealBook Summit on Wednesday evening.

The interview, which was at times philosophical, confrontational, and political, barely touched on the new vehicle.

Musk has previously called Cybertruck Tesla's "best product ever," and millions of fans have been waiting for the launch since 2019.

"It will be the biggest product launch of anything by far on Earth this year," the billionaire told the conference's host, journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin. (Musk has previously attempted to temper expectations, and a Tesla exec said the company will only release 10 Cybertrucks at the delivery event on Thursday.)

That was more or less it for his thoughts on the electric pickup truck  though he had plenty to say on everything else.

Musk's panel started nearly 15 minutes late, leaving the audience  including the likes of hedge fund titan Bill Ackman and X CEO Linda Yaccarino  waiting.

Even before he arrived, he was a topic of conversation, looming over the summit, which featured Vice President Kamala Harris, Disney CEO Bob Iger , and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon as guests.

"I'm not here to talk about people," Harris quipped when Sorkin mentioned Musk.

"He's obviously a brilliant human being and making unbelievable contributions to mankind. But he, you know, comes with pluses and minuses," Dimon responded when Sorkin asked his thoughts.

When the man of the hour did arrive, the mood on stage quickly turned tense.

Story continues

Sorkin  whom Musk called both "a friend" and the misnomer "Jonathan" in the same sentence  brought up X's recent advertiser exodus, which followed Musk's post that seemed to endorse antisemitism on X .

Musk immediately got confrontational and hot-headed  a version of the billionaire that is all too familiar to the readers of his recent biography.

"Go fuck yourself," he said to the advertisers, including Disney, IBM, and Apple, who have fled the platform, adding that he did not care if the advertisers withheld their dollars and "killed" the company he bought for $44 billion only one year ago.

"Is that clear?" Musk asked. "I hope it is. Hey, Bob," he added, singling out Disney CEO Iger, who had been asked about pulling advertising from X earlier in the day.

Musk later apologized for his tweet, calling it "foolish," but he never backtracked on his feelings toward advertisers  nor did he say sorry to Yaccarino, who has to clean up the mess .

But after more than 20 minutes of defensive posturing, his mood shifted when Sorkin brought up Musk previously calling his mind "a storm."

Thoughtful and somber, the 52-year-old paused before pointing to his "difficult childhood" and a lifelong struggle to find happiness.

"I did have this existential crisis when I was around 12 about: 'What's the meaning of life? Isn't it all pointless? Why not just commit suicide? Why exist?'" said Musk, who has previously commented on the tenuous relationship he has with his father, Errol Musk, and being the victim of bullying.

The introspection made way for a discussion about the foundations of his philosophy  "one should not read Nietzsche as a teenager"  before he turned to a couple of his greatest hits, like extending life beyond Earth, figuring out the meaning of the universe, and opining about the dangers of technology.

One of those technologies is artificial intelligence, about which Musk, a cofounder of OpenAI , has previously expressed worry. While Musk said he doesn't know why Sam Altman was ousted as CEO of the firm, he's "concerned" that the company discovered "some dangerous element of AI."

"I have mixed feelings about Sam. The ring of power can corrupt," Musk  who had avoided questions about his own accumulation of power just minutes before  said.

The CEO and richest man in the world ended the talk with some politics  he's still bitter about not being invited to the White House for the electric vehicle summit and is against unions  and a sidebar about how neuralink, his mad-scientist brain chip company that has faced criticism from an animal rights group, has built a "monkey paradise."

Elon the fighter, philosopher, and questionable friend may have showed up on stage Wednesday. But Elon the Cybertruck hypeman seems to have been MIA. Maybe that's what X is fo r.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Qabil Ashirov

Being one of the main factors affecting surroundings, humankind has tried to adapt the environment according to its needs throughout history. Even in pre-historic times, as humankind spread from Africa to other continents, many local animals and even plants started to go extinct in places where humankind stepped upon them. Later, it impacted the environment by domesticating animals and plants. However, human activity affecting the environment soared after industrialization and reached such an extent that nature commenced threatening humankind itself.

Comprehending the real danger, every year the leaders of countries throughout the world have come together to determine, identify, assess, and cope with climate issues since the Rio Summit in 1992, which is dubbed the COP (Conference of the Parties). Under the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries around the world try to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally. In COP21, which was held in Paris, it was determined to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100 and to act to adapt to the already existing effects of climate change.

This year, Dubai is holding COP28. As usual, more than 100 heads of state and government, as well as about 100,000 representatives, are expected to attend the said event to identify the climate risks stemming from human actions and to discuss how to cope with them.

Azerbaijan is also participating in COP28 with a large delegation and will discuss and inform the world community about its achievements in the fields of ecology and climate.

It is worth noting that after ratifying the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1995, Azerbaijan joined international efforts to mitigate the negative effects of global climate change.

In accordance with Article 12 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as a (developing) country not included in Annex 1 of the Convention, Azerbaijan submits a report on its emissions to the Secretariat of the Convention every four years.

In addition to the Convention, the Republic of Azerbaijan ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 and set a goal of a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to the base year (1990) as its contribution to initiatives to mitigate the effects of global climate change.

Increasing the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production to 24% by 2026 and to 30% by 2030 is envisaged in the "Socio-economic Development Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2022-2026".

Azerbaijan will be represented for the first time with its own pavilion at the said event. In the pavilion built on an area of 254 m2, it is planned to hold parallel meetings (side events) and seminars with various local, regional, and international organisations, in addition to the display of virtual exhibits that reflect the work done by our country in the field of combating climate change, mitigation, and adaptation measures.

Azerbaijan has many things to demonstrate to the world in decarbonization as examples. The green energy concept of Azerbaijan ranks first. So to say, the green energy concept is Azerbaijan's source of pride. As is known, Azerbaijan is a country of fossil fuels, with one-third of its GDP accounted for oil and gas and 90 percent of its exports comprised of energy. Despite being rich in oil and gas reserves, Azerbaijan pays special attention to the development of the renewable energy sector and will become an exporter of green and hydrogen energy in the near future. The country intends to ensure 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Azerbaijan has 200 GW of electricity potential, and the country aims to turn 25 GW of this potential into electricity in the coming years. Azerbaijan intends to export 5 GW of electricity to Europe by 2030. A total of 4 GW will be exported under the Black Sea, and one GW will be exported from Nakhchivan through Turkiye.

For this purpose, Azerbaijan signed contracts with the leading green energy companies in the world, such as Masdar, ACWA Power, Fortescue, bp etc, to construct power plants.

Note that in October of this year, the 230-megawatt Garadagh Solar Power Station built by the Masdar company was inaugurated in Azerbaijan. It is the largest solar power plant in the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region.

?Besides, on May 18, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev, who met with public representatives in Agdam, declared that the entire Garabagh zone will be a "green energy" zone. In Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, 170 megawatt hydroelectric power stations were put into use in 2021-2023. By the end of 2024, this number will reach 270 megawatts. In a few years, the total capacity of hydroelectric power stations in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation will be 500 megawatts.

No doubt that the more electricity or energy generated from renewable sources, the safer the world will be.
'Everybody's in panic mode': Ultra-rich Americans have mansions that they can't get rid of  so they're renting out their luxury LA homes for as high as $150K+ per month

Mansion owners in Los Angeles are beginning to sweat as they struggle to sell their luxury properties.

Up against a sluggish housing market, a punitive sales tax and a dearth of eager buyers, multimillionaires in the Californian city have resorted to renting out their mansions for eye-watering sums, according to Bloomberg.

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Entrepreneur Rob DeSantis, co-founder of software company Ariba and an angel investor in LinkedIn, is a classic example of this trend. He has put off selling his 13,000-square-foot Manhattan Beach waterfront house until the luxury housing market improves.

In the meantime, he has listed the seven-bedroom, 12-bath property for rent at a whopping $150,000 a month for leases of 90 days or less. Its a strategy he believes is a hedge that will highlight the value of the property in a much better way for when rich Americans are ready to buy again.

DeSantis is by no means alone in seeking cash flow from his luxury property while waiting for a better time time to sell. So, whats driving this trend?

Sluggish property market

Not all luxury property owners live in these mansions full-time. They can be second homes, vacation spots or even investment properties that, at one point in time, were a good addition to an extensive real estate portfolio.

A lot of owners took on homes and mortgages and extra vacation homes when lending criteria was easier, Patrick Michael, founder and CEO of LA Estate Rentals, told Bloomberg.

Michael added he has seen a surge in luxury rentals in recent months.

I feel like everybodys in panic mode now. Even wealthy owners are asking if I have anybody for their house.

Story continues

Just like the rest of the country, the L.A. housing market has been sluggish in recent months as prospective buyers grapple with elevated borrowing costs and house prices.

Home sales in L.A. were down 26.6% from January through September 2023 compared to the same period a year ago, according to Bloomberg, citing data from appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Luxury home listings  with a median price of $13.25 million  have been particularly slow to sell, sitting on the market twice as long as the average single-family home.

Part of the problem is that even the mega-rich dont want to pay taxes, home insurance and maintenance bills for mansions they no longer need and cant easily sell. They also dont want to walk away from low-interest mortgages at a time when borrowing costs have soared, so finding a renter is a great way to keep their options open.

Read more: Owning real estate for passive income is one of the biggest myths in investing  but here's how you can actually make it work

Pain points for wealthy sellers

One issue unique to wealthy property owners in L.A. is the so-called mansion tax  officially called Measure ULA  which came into effect on April 1.

Any L.A. properties that sell for over $5 million are subject to this special transfer tax above and beyond the base transfer tax paid at the final stages of a real estate deal. For sales of at least $5 million, the additional mansion tax is 4%, and for sales of $10 million or more, the extra tax is 5.5%.

This tax has complicated matters for sellers as they effectively lose an extra chunk of money on the transaction. It has spurred some ultra-rich homeowners to seek other ways to monetize their high-priced properties, for instance, by renting them out for staggering sums.

But owners even struggle in the rental market, thanks in part to the recently ended Hollywood labor strikes. Stalled productions resulted in high-priced properties no longer being rented for shoots, and there were fewer out-of-town actors, directors and producers demanding luxury living quarters.

Because of the strikes, that well dried up, Zach Goldsmith of The Agency real estate brokerage told Bloomberg.

Finally, high borrowing costs continue to sideline potential buyers, even in the luxury market, at least for the time being.

Granted, multimillionaires are often shielded from mortgage rate trends because they dont typically borrow money (at least from a traditional mortgage lender) to buy luxury homes. They may be able to buy in cash or to sell and leverage existing properties in their real estate portfolio to seal a new deal.

Still, unfavorable market conditions have led some wealthy homeowners to put a pin in their plans.

Waiting out the storm

Its easy to see why someone like DeSantis, who seemingly has no urgent financial need to sell his Manhattan Beach mansion, is holding onto his property and leasing it instead.

People who can afford to lease are probably people who can afford to buy, DeSantis said. I learned long ago: Everything has a price. If someone offered me $1 billion now, the answer is definitely Yes. If they offer $90 million, its a definite No.

The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) says Americans who need to buy or sell their luxury homes will continue to do so, despite the market conditions. But those who simply want to buy may continue to be hesitant until inventory increases, prices come down and mortgage rates trend downward.

Equally, sellers will remain resistant, not just because they do not want to give up their current low mortgage rates, but because they see little inventory to purchase and therefore less reason to lower their prices, the group wrote in its November 2023 Luxury Market Report.

Nonetheless, there is still confidence in luxury real estate as an investment and still belief in the stability of owning property.

Even if some buyers previously dropped out of the real estate game due to fatigue, frustration, or even hesitation during 2023, in 2024 they may be primed to return as inventory levels improve, the ILHM predicted.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
By Valentine Hilaire and Divya Rajagopal

(Reuters) - Panama's top court on Tuesday ruled that First Quantum Minerals Ltd's new contract unconstitutional after unprecedented protests against the mining contract that the Canadian miner signed with the government last month.

The decision puts the company's Panama mine on a long path of uncertainty that includes international arbitration. The company has already lost more than 50% of its market share since the protests started and was forced to shut the mine.

Panama's moves raises questions about copper supplies, as Cobre Panama accounts for about 1% of global output. The $10-billion copper mine produces a critical metal for production of electric vehicles.

Here are some questions surrounding Panama's actions.

WHAT IS THE DISPUTE ABOUT?

The dispute dates back to 2017 when Panama's top court deemed unconstitutional the law under which First Quantum was operating the mine.

First Quantum inherited the contract after it replaced Petaquilla Gold as operator of the mine in 2013.

Challenges against the court's decision were rejected and the ruling was upheld in 2021, forcing the company to start negotiations for a fresh deal with the government.

The new contract, agreed to on Oct. 20, was signed into law by Panama's government, which provides First Quantum a 20-year mining right with an option to extend for another 20 years, in return for $375 million in annual revenue to Panama.

While the government has said the new contract offers better terms than the previous one, Panamanian protesters disagree.

WHAT ARE THE PROTESTERS' DEMANDS?

The protesters led by the country's main labour union Suntracs say the contract is overly generous to the Canadian miner and allege corruption. They also argue the mine poses environmental risks and demand the annulment of the contract and a ban on all new mining projects.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Panama's government allowed the miner to operate while negotiations for the contested contract took place earlier this year. Following Tuesday's ruling, Panama's president said the country will abide by the decision.

Story continues

People aware of First Quantum's operations in Panama said there could be three possibilities- Panama closes the mine indefinitely, the mine is nationalized, or a constitutionally correct contract could be negotiated by First Quantum and Panama, as the arbitration goes for international arbitration.

Ahead of the court ruling, lawmakers approved a bill banning new mining concessions. The fierce opposition toward the deal is becoming a major factor in the country's May 2024 presidential election and candidates are pushing for more state control of the mine as they seek to assuage public anger.

But the Panama's government has not publicly said if it was planning to nationalize the mine.

WHAT ARE LOCAL EXPERTS SAYING?

First Quantum said this week that it still hopes to avoid arbitration procedure with the country and want to resolve the issue during the 90-day period of talks.

Panama has said it will defend its rights in case of a arbitration procedure. Local mining chamber of Panama has estimated that the First Quantum could claim arbitration worth $50 billion from Panama, but these figures could not be independently verified by Reuters.

(Reporting by Valentine Hilaire and Divya Rajagopal; Editing by Denny Thomas and Mark Porter)
Next-Gen in Portable Radio Antennas Is Compact, Versatile and Precision-Tuned

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairview Microwave, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading provider of on-demand RF, microwave and millimeter-wave components, announces its new collection of rubber duck and whip-style antennas. Blending portability with performance, these antennas emerge as a benchmark in radio-enhancing solutions for diverse applications.

Fairview's new rubber duck and whip antennas are compact and lightweight and have diverse applications.

Fairview's newly launched rubber duck and whip-style antennas are crafted to serve as lightweight and compact additions to radios. They are industrially fine-tuned to specific frequency ranges, ensuring optimal transmission and reception. Stubby-style antennas within this collection offer a more compact form without compromising on functionality. With a range spanning from 2.4 GHz to 916 MHz, these antennas cater to a vast spectrum of wireless communication needs.

Key attributes that set apart this new antenna range include a variety of frequency range options and the ability to achieve a gain between 0 dBi and 4.5 dBi. The portfolio encompasses a diverse array of designs, such as concave, stubby, blade style and the versatile tilt-and-swivel style antennas. Furthermore, the antennas are optimized for 4G LTE and 5G band operations, paving the way for superior wireless connectivity in the ever-evolving digital age.

Designed with the end user in mind, Fairview's antennas boast SMA male and RPSMA connector options, ensuring compatibility with many devices. The 90-degree connector adds an extra layer of versatility. Features like water and dust ingress protection, linear polarization, and dual-band Wi-Fi functionality solidify the range's position as an indispensable tool for modern wireless applications.

"Fairview has always engineered products that cater to both current and future industry demands," said Product Line Manager Kevin Hietpas. "This new range of rubber duck and whip-style antennas encapsulates our commitment to innovation, versatility and quality."

Story continues

Fairview Microwave's new rubber duck and whip-style antennas are in stock and available for same-day shipping. For inquiries, please call +1 (949) 261-1920.

About Fairview Microwave:

A leading supplier of on-demand RF and microwave products since 1992, Fairview offers immediate delivery of RF components including attenuators, adapters, coaxial cable assemblies, connectors, terminations and much more. All products are shipped same-day from the company's ISO 9001:2015-certified production facilities in Lewisville, Texas. Fairview Microwave is an Infinite Electronics brand.

About Infinite Electronics:

Infinite Electronics has a global portfolio of leading in-stock connectivity solution brands. Its brands help propel the world's innovators forward by working urgently to provide products, solutions and real-time support for customers. Backed by Warburg Pincus, Infinite's brands serve customers across a wide range of industries with a broad inventory selection, same-day shipping and 24/7 customer service. Learn more at infiniteelectronics.com.

Press Contact:

Peter McNeil

Fairview Microwave

17792 Fitch

Irvine, Calif. 92614

+1 (978) 682-6936

Fairview Microwave - RF Components On Demand.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fairview-microwave-presents-range-of-rubber-duck-and-whip-style-antennas-301995583.html

SOURCE Fairview Microwave Inc.
Company Logo

Pre-Insulated Pipes Market

Pre-Insulated Pipes Market

Dublin, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Pre-Insulated Pipes - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Global Pre-Insulated Pipes Market to Reach $14.8 Billion by 2030



The global market for Pre-Insulated Pipes estimated at US$7.5 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$14.8 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% over the analysis period 2022-2030. Below Ground, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record 9.2% CAGR and reach US$11.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Above Ground segment is estimated at 7.9% CAGR for the next 8-year period.

Pre-insulated pipes are ushering in the next chapter in fluid transport, offering various applications across industries. These pipes provide efficient insulation for fluid transport systems, contributing to their widespread adoption. The global pre-insulated pipes market is poised for substantial growth due to the increasing demand for these pipes in various industrial applications.

One of the key advantages of pre-insulated pipes is their robust adoption in industrial settings, where temperature control and efficiency are crucial. They find compelling use cases in rigid pipes, below-ground installations, and district heating and cooling systems, making these segments bullish in the global pre-insulated pipes market.

District heating and cooling systems stand out as a primary application, benefiting from the advantages of pre-insulated pipes. The construction industry remains a leading end-use sector, with sustainability driving growth. Europe, in particular, is at the forefront of the global pre-insulated pipes market, thanks to its commitment to sustainability and the thriving construction industry.

Recent market activity in the pre-insulated pipes sector reflects the dynamism of this industry, with ongoing developments and innovations shaping the competitive landscape. The competitive market presence ranges from strong to niche players, highlighting the diverse strategies employed by global businesses in 2023 to meet the rising demand for pre-insulated pipes.

Story continues

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $1.9 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 10.1% CAGR



The Pre-Insulated Pipes market in the U.S. is estimated at US$1.9 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$1.4 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 10.1% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 7.7% and 8.8% respectively over the 2022-2030 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 8.8% CAGR.



What`s New?

Special discussions on the global economic climate and market sentiment

Coverage on global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares

Market presence analysis across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial

Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates

Access to digital archives and trademarked research platform

Complimentary updates for one year

Access to curated YouTube video transcripts of market sentiments shared by CEOs, domain experts and market influencers via interviews, podcasts, press statements and event keynotes

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 430 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $7.5 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $14.8 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 8.9% Regions Covered Global

MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Rising Demand for District Heating and Cooling to Propel the Market for Pre-insulated Pipes

Growing Prominence of District Heating Systems in Heating Technology Market Spurs Adoption

Government Initiatives & Environmental Regulations Underpin Market Growth

Strict Regulations to Curb GHG Emissions & Clean Energy Production Initiatives Augur Well for the Market

Domestic Targets for Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Select Regions/ Countries

Price of Carbon Emission in US$ per Metric Ton of CO2-Equivalent by Select Countries: 2019

Growing Role of District Heating in Energy Transition Drives Demand for Pre-Insulated Pipes

Rapid Pace of Industrialization: Opportunity for Pre-Insulated Pipes Market

Global Demand for Heat by Sector (in %) for 2020

Surge in Urban Population to Drive Need for District Heating Systems

World Urban Population in Thousands: 1950-2050P

Implementation of District Heating Systems in Smart Cities Continues to Drive Demand for Pre-insulated Pipes

Global Smart Cities Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 and 2027

Pre-insulated Pipe Systems for Improving Energy Efficiency of Buildings to Propel Market Demand

Pre-Insulated Pipes to Help Achieve Net Zero Energy in Buildings

Carbon Neutrality Goals of Various Countries

The EU's Vision of Achieving Zero Emission Buildings by this Decade-end

Unabated Expansion of Oil & Gas Sector to Propel Pre-insulated Pipes Demand

Rising Demand from Ultra-Deep Offshore Oilfields

Game-Changing Innovations in Pipe Insulation Arena

Spurt in Product Development & Launch Activity

FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS(Total 114 Featured)

Aquatherm GmbH

BRUGG GROUP AG

CPV Ltd.

Ecoline S.R.L.

Georg Fisher AG

Insul-Pipe Systems

Interplast S.A.

Perma Pipe International Holdings, Inc.

Thermaflex International Holding B.V.

Thermal Pipe Systems, Inc.

Unifix Plast Pvt. Ltd.

Uponor Oyj

Vital Energi Ltd.

Watts Water Technologies Inc.

Zeco Aircon Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iw3riv

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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Its going to kill the company: Elon Musk launches F-bomb-filled tirade against giants like Disney for stripping ads from X over antisemitism controversy

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), has delivered a stark message to advertisers boycotting the platform after he commented favorably on an antisemitic post: Go f yourself!

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In a tricky exchange with journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin at the 'New York Times' DealBook Summit,' on Nov. 30, Musk dropped several f-bombs against companies who have stopped advertising on the social media platform.

If somebodys going to try and blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money  go f yourself, he said, specifically calling out Walt Disney (DIS) CEO Bob Iger, who earlier in the DealBook Summit had said associating with Musk and X was not necessarily a positive for Disney.

What this advertising boycott is going to do is its going to kill the company, said Musk, with the warning: The whole world will know that advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail.

What caused the advertising boycott?

Musk has faced a torrent of criticism after re-sharing an X post in November that claims Jewish people are stoking hatred against white people. Musk also added the comment: You have said the actual truth.

In response, many major U.S. companies  including Apple (AAPL), Coca-Cola (KO), Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) and NBCUniversal parent Comcast (CMCSA) and many more  suspended their ads on X.

Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate  without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how

Even the White House weighed in on Musks post, stating: We condemn this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms.

Story continues

Musk did apologize at the DealBook Summit, describing his actions as foolish and admitting he had handed a loaded gun to both detractors and antisemitic people by sharing the controversial post with his 165 million followers.

But that did not stop the Tesla (TSLA) CEO from launching a profanity-laced tirade against the advertisers that have left the social media platform.

And when Sorkin presented the idea that Musk may actually be the one who will cause the downfall of X, and that advertisers are leaving the platform because they didnt feel comfortable being associated with his inappropriate posts, Musk simply replied: Lets see how Earth responds to that.

A painful price to pay

The advertising freezes on X could cost the company as much as $75 million in advertising revenue by the end of the year, according to internal documents viewed by The New York Times.

U.S. advertising on the platform is down nearly 60% this year  a dramatic decline that chief executive Linda Yaccarino is trying to turn around.

In an X post after Musks explosive interview on Wednesday, Yaccarino wrote: My perspective when it comes to advertising: X is standing at a unique and amazing intersection of Free Speech and Main Street  and the X community is powerful and is here to welcome you. To our partners who believe in our meaningful work  Thank You.

What to read next

Worried about the economy? Here are the best shock-proof assets for your portfolio. (Theyre all outside of the stock market.)

Here's how much the typical baby boomer has saved for retirement  how do you stack up right now?

'A natural way to diversify': Janet Yellen now says Americans should expect a decline in the USD as the world's reserve currency  3 ways you can prepare

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
-IBM collaborating with Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Government of Kenya and the United Kingdom's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre to expand application of IBM's geospatial AI technologies to urban heat island mapping, reforestation and climate resiliency in aviation.

-IBM and NASA to create new AI foundation model for weather and climate.

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new efforts that apply its geospatial AI technologies, including IBM's geospatial foundation model developed in collaboration with NASA, to climate efforts including analysis of urban heat islands in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); reforestation across Kenya; and climate resiliency in the United Kingdom (UK).

IBM Corporation logo.

IBM continues to advance its AI model strategy in part through the creation, training, fine-tuning and open-sourcing of foundation models  models that can be used for different tasks and apply information from one situation to another  designed for domains beyond natural language, including geospatial applications.

These models, which are trained on geospatial information such as satellite images, present a unique opportunity to address climate change because unlike traditional AI models tailored for specialized tasks, geospatial foundation models  encompassing satellite and weather data  create knowledge representations from petabytes and exabytes of climate-relevant data that can facilitate accelerated and streamlined discovery of environmental insights and solutions. These models can also be fine-tuned and applied across a multitude of areas driving or revealing climate change, from flood detection to fire scars.

"Climate change is a real and pressing issue that we must find new ways to address as quickly and efficiently as possible, including through today's most advanced AI technologies," said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow and Vice President, Accelerated Discovery at IBM. "AI foundation models utilizing geospatial data can be a game-changer because they allow us to better understand, prepare and address the many climate-related events effecting the health of our planet in a manner and speed never before seen. We are hopeful these technologies can help accelerate the rate at which we derive and apply solutions for a safer and healthier planet for future generations."

Story continues

Analyzing urban heat islands in the UAE



By the end of this century, many cities will likely experience disruptive and excessive heat waves if GHG emissions continue at high levels. To develop sustainable and equitable plans to keep cities habitable, the rising heat levels must be accurately mapped and addressed.

IBM and the Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) are pioneering an attempt to apply foundation models to the mapping of urban heat islands  areas with significantly higher temperatures compared to surrounding locations. This innovative research specifically applies a fine-tuned version of IBM's geospatial foundation model to understand the urban environment in Abu Dhabi and how the underlying landscape in the UAE impacts the formation of urban heat islands.

To date, the model has informed efforts that have succeeded in a reduction of heat island effects in the region by more than 3oC (5.4 F)1. Going forward, the model is expected to continue to provide unique insights that inform the development of urban design strategies designed to help reduce urban heat stress in changing climates.

Professor Tim Baldwin, MBZUAI Acting Provost, said : "Our collaboration with IBM marks a groundbreaking effort to utilize foundational AI models in analyzing and identifying solutions to urban heat islands for Abu Dhabi and parts of the UAE, a region which is particularly affected by climate change. This research underscores the vital role of AI in tackling global issues, emphasizing the urgency of continued exploration and innovation. By harnessing the power of AI, we are not merely addressing challenges; we are proactively shaping solutions for a sustainable future. In a world confronted by unprecedented challenges, MBZUAI stands at the forefront of pioneering research in AI, recognizing the transformative power it holds."

Advancing reforestation and water sustainability in Kenya



In December 2022, President of Kenya H.E. D.R William Ruto unveiled the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign designed to plant 15 billion trees across Kenya by 2032, including in areas of critically affected water towers  forested landscapes that retain water and source many rivers throughout Kenya. While water towers account for about three quarters of the nation's water resources, deforestation is contributing to increasing water scarcity in these regions.

IBM and the Kenyan government's office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change Ali Mohamed have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign through a new "adopt-a-water-tower" initiative. The effort will be fueled by a new digital platform that leverages IBM's geospatial foundation model to enable users to track and visualize tree planting and tree growing activities in specific water tower areas. Local developers can also create fine-tuned models combining the IBM geospatial model with their own localized information to monitor forest restoration and measure above-ground biomass such as sequestered carbon, ultimately mobilizing on-the-ground efforts to plant more trees across Kenya's water tower regions.

The President's Spokesperson, Mr. Hussein Mohamed, MBS, said : "We recognize that technology plays a pivotal role in unlocking our full potential, optimizing resource utilization, and seizing opportunities. It serves as a means to ensure that we harness our resources most effectively to drive our grassroots-driven economic transformation agenda. Through our partnership with IBM, we have the capability of harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and geospatial data to advance our climate ambitions. These ambitions include planting 15 billion trees, rejuvenating our vital water towers, fostering increased collaboration with the private sector to promote a just energy transition for communities around our forests. Simultaneously, this collaboration will enhance our capacity to equitably participate in the carbon economy. The potential of this collaboration extends beyond our borders and has the capacity to be replicated in other nations seeking to enhance their forest cover while also improving the economic and health well-being of their communities."

Elevating climate resiliency across the United Kingdom



In 2021, IBM and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Hartree Centre collaborated to explore the application of next-generation technologies including AI from IBM to address climate risk and resiliency across the UK.

Now, IBM, STFC and Royal HaskoningDHV, a global consulting engineering company, have collaborated to establish a new service, leveraging IBM's geospatial AI tools, that seeks to automate and scale climate risk assessment processes for organizations. The service's first use case will focus on the aviation sector, in which IBM's geospatial AI will assess impacts weather-related issues, including:

Short-term impact of extreme weather on aviation operations.

Long-term impact of climate change on future airport operations and infrastructure.

In addition, IBM and STFC Hartree Centre, through the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation, are advancing a new area of research with Dark Matter Labs and Lucidminds, as part of their TreesAI project. The research project will apply IBM geospatial AI technologies to their Green Urban Scenarios (GUS) model to map urban locations where trees can be planted to help alleviate the risk of surface water flooding. The effort will eventually inform an end-to-end digital planning platform for urban planners, project developers and green urban investors across the UK.

Kate Royse, Director at STFC's Hartree Centre, said : "There has never been a more important time to prepare for the challenges posed by climate change, both from an industrial and societal perspective. Here at STFC's Hartree Centre we're excited to be working with IBM and Royal HaskoningDHV, using advanced AI technologies to help the aviation industry prepare for climate risks, and become more resilient against the effects of extreme weather. Equally, our collaboration with IBM and Dark Matter Labs on the TreesAI project through our HNCDI programme will enable smarter decisions based on accurately predicting and managing flood risk, which is critical to all future city planning. Advanced AI technologies are key driver in enabling us to build a more resilient world against the adverse impacts of climate change."

Djeevan Schiferli, Climate Intelligence Business Strategist, Royal HaskoningDHV said : "Operational and strategic planners in every company require a clear understanding of how weather and climate-related incidents affect their business operations. By harnessing AI and geospatial data, we will super charge our climate risk assessments on a global scale."

Chloe Treger, TreesAI UK Lead, said : "Over 300,000 properties are at risk of surface-water flooding. Without action, this figure is set to almost double by 2055 due to climate change and urbanisation. Through our collaboration with IBM and STFC, we have been able to observe how trees contribute to reducing surface water flooding risks across the city under different scenarios, using GUS. This has enabled us and our partners to make the business case for tree planting and maintenance. After a successful pilot in Glasgow, we are now looking for further locations to embed this powerful data-enabled decision-making tool."

Extending NASA collaboration to apply generative AI to weather



Beyond their initial commitment to build and deploy a geospatial foundation model, IBM and NASA have also announced work on a new, separate AI foundation model for weather and climate. By applying AI technology from IBM, the model aims to improve the accuracy, speed and affordability of weather forecasting and other climate applications. Sample applications of the model not only include forecasting, but also super-resolution downscaling, identifying conditions conducive to wildfires, and predicting meteorological phenomena. IBM researchers will work alongside NASA domain experts to train and validate the model.

IBM at COP28

These latest efforts and IBM's role at COP28 builds on the company's long history of action, research, and advocacy around the environment. IBM issued its first environmental policy more than 50 years ago, in 1971, and published a formal position on climate change in 2007. IBM is also a founding member of the United Nations Environment Programme's Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment and the Climate Leadership Council, and supports communities vulnerable to climate change and other environmental issues through initiatives like the IBM Sustainability Accelerator.

To follow IBM at COP28, please visit: https://www.ibm.com/events/unfccc-cop

About IBM



IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.

Media Contacts:

Sarah Benchaita

IBM Research

sarah.benchaita@ibm.com

Bethany Hill McCarthy

IBM Research

Bethany@ibm.com

SOURCE IBM
Jeffrey Melucci, the Chief Legal Officer of Kimberly-Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB), has recently sold 3,000 shares of the company's stock. The transaction took place on November 29, 2023, signaling a notable insider sell event that warrants a closer look by investors and market analysts. This article will delve into the details of the sale, provide background on Jeffrey Melucci, offer an overview of Kimberly-Clark Corp's business, and analyze the implications of insider trading activity in relation to the stock's price and valuation.

Who is Jeffrey Melucci?

Jeffrey Melucci serves as the Chief Legal Officer at Kimberly-Clark Corp, a leading multinational corporation known for its personal care and consumer products. In his role, Melucci is responsible for overseeing the company's legal affairs, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and providing strategic legal guidance to the executive team. His position places him in a unique vantage point to assess the company's health and prospects, making his trading activities particularly noteworthy to investors.

Kimberly-Clark Corp's Business Description

Kimberly-Clark Corp is a global company that specializes in the production and marketing of a wide range of personal care, consumer tissue, and professional products. Some of the well-known brands under its umbrella include Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, and Depend. With a strong presence in more than 175 countries, Kimberly-Clark's products are an integral part of the daily lives of millions of consumers worldwide. The company's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and quality has solidified its position as a leader in the industry.

Analysis of Insider Buy/Sell and Relationship with Stock Price

Insider trading activities, such as the recent sale by Jeffrey Melucci, can provide valuable insights into a company's internal perspective on its stock's value. Over the past year, Melucci has sold a total of 7,423 shares and has not made any purchases. This one-sided activity could be interpreted in various ways, but without additional context, it is challenging to draw definitive conclusions.

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When examining the broader insider transaction history for Kimberly-Clark Corp, we observe that there have been no insider buys and eight insider sells over the past year. This trend might suggest a lack of confidence among insiders about the company's stock price appreciation potential or could simply reflect personal financial planning decisions by the insiders involved.

On the day of Melucci's recent sale, shares of Kimberly-Clark Corp were trading at $121.71, giving the company a market cap of $41.151 billion. The price-earnings ratio stood at 23.42, higher than both the industry median of 19.14 and the company's historical median. This elevated P/E ratio could indicate that the stock is priced more richly compared to its peers and its own historical standards.

However, the price-to-GF-Value ratio of 0.87 suggests that Kimberly-Clark Corp is modestly undervalued based on its GF Value of $139.33. The GF Value is a proprietary intrinsic value estimate from GuruFocus, which factors in historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor, and future business performance estimates from analysts.

Insider Sell: Kimberly-Clark Corp's Chief Legal Officer Jeffrey Melucci Sells 3,000 Shares

The insider trend image above provides a visual representation of the selling and buying activities of insiders over time. A consistent pattern of insider selling, as seen in the case of Kimberly-Clark Corp, could be a signal for investors to investigate further, although it should not be the sole factor in making investment decisions.

Insider Sell: Kimberly-Clark Corp's Chief Legal Officer Jeffrey Melucci Sells 3,000 Shares

The GF Value image illustrates the relationship between the current stock price and the estimated intrinsic value. When the stock trades below the GF Value line, as is the case with Kimberly-Clark Corp, it is considered to be undervalued, potentially offering a margin of safety for investors.

Conclusion

The recent insider sell by Jeffrey Melucci, coupled with the overall trend of insider selling at Kimberly-Clark Corp, may raise questions among investors. While the company's stock appears to be modestly undervalued based on the GF Value, the higher-than-average price-earnings ratio and the lack of insider buying could be seen as cautionary signals. Investors should consider these factors in the context of their own research and investment strategy, keeping in mind that insider trading is just one piece of the puzzle when evaluating a stock's potential.

As always, it is essential for investors to conduct thorough due diligence, considering both the quantitative metrics and qualitative aspects of the company, before making any investment decisions. The insider trading activity at Kimberly-Clark Corp provides an interesting data point, but it should be weighed against the company's financial performance, competitive position, and future growth prospects.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


FILE PHOTO: Logos and exchange rates of Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero and Ether to Swiss franc are seen on a cryptocurrency ATM in Zurich

By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global technology network IOTA on Wednesday launched a $100-million foundation in Abu Dhabi to accelerate the growth of its distributed ledger technology (DLT) in the Middle East, aiming to help convert real-world assets into digital ones, said IOTA co-founder and Chairman Dominik Schiener.

DLT is similar to blockchain, a crypto technology whose potential applications has reached the hundreds since its inception more than 10 years ago. IOTA digital tokens will fund the investment.

The foundation provides another layer of support for a sector recently tainted by the collapse of major market players such as FTX and the fall from grace of Binance, once the largest crypto exchange. Optimism, however, has emerged on expectations that spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will soon win regulatory approval.

The IOTA Ecosystem DLT Foundation is the first blockchain-focused organization approved by regulators of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the financial center of the United Arab Emirates whose blockchain rules were finalized in early November.

"The market right now is being reshuffled so we have a big opportunity to position ourselves by focusing on onboarding institutions, offering them to work on-chain because now it's more feasible to do that in the UAE," Schiener said in a phone interview.

The foundation will be seeded with over $100 million in IOTA tokens, to be vested over the next four years, Schiener said.

IOTA tokens on Tuesday traded at about $0.17, with a market capitalization of roughly $524 million, Coinmarketcap.com showed.

The funds will be used to develop the IOTA network and accelerate its growth, Schiener said.

IOTA will also start "tokenizing" assets, he said, a process in which ownership rights in land or buildings are represented as digital tokens and stored on a blockchain. The tokens are like digital certificates of ownership in almost any object of value.

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Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, chief executive of the Registration Authority of ADGM, said that by welcoming IOTA to Abu Dhabi, the country seeks to position itself "as the leading jurisdiction for the blockchain industry."

IOTA was one of the fastest-growing networks after its launch in 2015, but its projects in Europe are mired in regulatory uncertainty. It has a foundation in Germany and existing blockchain projects with European government authorities.

(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Alden Bentley and Richard Chang)
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon (left) said he'd tax people like hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman (right) more if he were president. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for The New York Times; Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman asked JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon what he'd do if he were president.

One point on Dimon's agenda: Tax the rich.

The CEO said he'd get rid of the carried interest loophole and increase the earned income tax credit.

What would one of the most powerful billionaire CEOs do if he were president? Tax people like himself  and his fellow billionaires  more.

At the New York Times DealBook Summit this morning, audience member and hedge fund titan Bill Ackman asked JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon what he'd do if he were president.

"It's your first hundred days, what are your top 10 things and what do you do over the first year?" asked Ackman, who has previously called on Dimon to run for president.

"The first thing is I'd probably have a cabinet with really smart, talented brainy people  you might be secretary of Treasury," Dimon quipped back, adding that the group would include both Republicans and Democrats, before getting more specific on policy.

He would tackle foreign policy, he said, and "double down on diplomacy." Domestically, education, work skills, and immigration would top his list.

And then, characteristically, he'd focus on growing the economy.

"I think presidents should have a growth strategy," he said. "Growing the economy is being conducive to business. When I go to France and the UK now, and meet the president and prime minister, it's pro-growth, innovation, proper taxation for the people of the country."

Dimon's tax strategy sounds a lot like wealth redistribution.

He said he would double the earned income tax credit, a credit for low-earning workers, and make it so those without children can also qualify more easily.

"That would put more money into those communities, and they would help their kids," he said. "I would do that tomorrow."

In turn, he'd play Robin Hood and increase taxes on the rich.

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"'I'd make people like you pay a little bit more," he added, turning to Ackman. "This carried interest stuff would be gone the day I got in office because it is unfair."

The carried interest loophole allows partners in venture capital firms, private equity firms, and hedge funds  a number of whom were likely in the audience at the summit  to pay little in taxes on their earnings. For his part, Ackman has criticized the loophole before, calling it a "stain on the tax code."

Dimon has blasted tax breaks in the past  like those the wealthy get on race cars, private jets, and horse racing  and called for raising taxes on high earners.

Despite votes of confidence from the likes of Ackman, Dimon has said that he won't run for president. (And of course, the president can't enforce tax-code changes anyway without the support of Congress). Still, he often gets political in his annual shareholder letters, commenting on issues from government intervention to healthcare.

Read the original article on Business Insider
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon speaks at the DealBook conference in Manhattan on November 29, 2023. Michael M Santiago/Getty Images

JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon railed against the term "ultra-MAGA" at Wednesday's NYT DealBook summit.

"I think you're insulting a large group of people and then we're making assumptions," he said.

Dimon also encouraged Democrats to boost Nikki Haley's 2024 bid if they don't want Trump back in politics.

JPMorgan Chase chief executive Jamie Dimon warned liberals against using the term "ultra-MAGA" to describe pro-Trump conservatives, arguing that the phrase insults a large group of Americans.

Dimon made the comments on Wednesday during The New York Times's DealBook Summit in Manhattan, where he spoke of a need for people to listen to the political differences of others.

"We're in New York City, the bastion of liberal society. We should stop talking about 'ultra-MAGA,'" he told attendees during a conversation with Times columnist and DealBook editor-at-large Andrew Ross Sorkin. "I think you're insulting a large group of people and then we're making assumptions and scapegoating  where somehow these people believe in Trump's family values and supporting the personal person. I don't think that's true."

The term "ultra-MAGA," describing the most conservative adherents of Trump's Make America Great Again movement, has been popularized due to President Joe Biden's use of the phrase.

Dimon said voters who felt that they were better off under Trump's presidency often line up behind the former president due to their feelings over his stewardship of the economy and other larger issues.

The longtime financial executive then stated that Trump "wasn't wrong about China" and added that many of the former president's supporters were simply aligned with conservative policy stances  and called on people to remove themselves from ideological boxes.

"If you're a Democrat, read George Will. If you're a Republican, read Tom Friedman," Dimon said. "We should get out of this thing where it's one way or another."

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"I'm not mad at people who are anti-abortion. If you believe in God and that conception starts at the moment of birth, you are not a bad person," he continued. "I think people need to stop denigrating each other all the time because people take a point of view that is slightly different than yours."

While speaking at the summit, Dimon, who's openly praised former UN ambassador Nikki Haley over the tenor of her 2024 presidential campaign, also encouraged Democrats to boost her in the Republican contest if they don't want to see Trump on the ballot again.

"Even if you're a very liberal Democrat, I urge you, help Nikki Haley, too," he said. "Get a choice on the Republican side that might be better than Trump."

Dimon said he was also prepared to work with Trump again as well.

"He might be the president. I have to deal with that, too," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Qabil Ashirov

One of the important road infrastructure projects implemented in the territory of Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions according to the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is the 82-kilometer-long Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway, Azernews reports.

The project length of the highway connecting Goygol and Kalbajar districts is 56 km from Toganali-Kalbajar and 26 km from Kalbajar-Istisu. From the 13th km section of the Toganali-Kalbajar project, the Murovdag range begins, and the height increases from 1,700 m to the top of Murovdag to 3,260 m.

In this part, the construction of the Murovdag tunnel (L=23.4 km), which will be one of the longest car tunnels in the world, is underway. The tunnel will have 2 traffic lanes in one direction and will be 10 metres wide. Additionally, the construction of 4 tunnels with lengths of 561.2 m, 626.9 m, 500 m, and 947.9 m is being carried out.

A total of 7,060 metres of drilling and blasting works along the left direction of the Murovdag tunnel (Tunnel No. 3), which consists of left and right parts, the left part will be 11,713.1 metres, and the right part will be 11,691.9 metres long (total length 23,405 metres). At 160 metres, the belt concrete works have been completed, and in the right direction, a total of 7025 metres of drilling and spraying works and 1722 metres of belt concrete works have been completed. In addition, 20 connecting roads (transition tunnels) connecting the right and left parts of the Murovdag tunnel have been built, and work is being continued on the construction of new connecting roads.

Excavation, spraying, and belt concrete works have already been completed in Tunnel No. 1 with a length of 561.2 m, Tunnel No. 2 with a length of 626.9 m, and Tunnel No. 5 with a length of 947.9 m. In Tunnel No. 4, which is 500 metres long, drilling and spraying concrete works are ongoing.

According to the order of the head of state, the Toganali-Kalbajar-Istisu highway is being built according to technical grades I, II, and III with 2, 3, and 4 lanes. Thus, taking into account the rugged mountainous and rocky terrain of the project area, the construction of the main part of the road is planned according to the II technical grade, that is, with 2 lanes of traffic and an additional lane on the slopes. In the part with the Murovdag tunnel, the construction of 4 traffic lanes according to the first technical grade is underway. According to the project, the total length of the I-class road is 14.2 km, the total length of the II-class road is 34.8 km, and the total length of the III-class road is 33 km.

The construction of 6 junctions with a total length of 2,968 metres and 36 connecting roads with a total length of 5,600 metres is ongoing as well.

In the Toganali-Kalbajar section of the road, land clearing, vegetation removal, digging, and filling, as well as the construction of artificial facilities, are currently underway. 66% of the total drilling work and 69% of the filling work have been completed. The construction of the road base and the laying of asphalt-concrete coverings are being carried out in the completed sections.

On the Kalbajar-Istisu section of the road, land clearing, vegetation removal, excavation and filling works, and construction of artificial facilities are ongoing.

The construction of 159 round pipes, 110 rectangular pipes, 1 animal crossing, 19 U-type and box culverts, 2598 m of the trapezoidal channel, 64 534 m2 of Geoherm wall, 8183 m of retaining wall, and 37783 m of a stone wall (reinforcement/reference) is planned within the framework of the project.

According to the listed works, 67 round, 57 rectangular pipes, 1 animal crossing, 15 U-type and box culverts, 17,517 m of stone walls and 5,515 m of retaining walls, 1,057 m of trapezoidal channels, 49,366 m of Geoerme walls, and 15 km of asphalt road surface have already been installed. Binder layer construction has been completed.

In general, the progress of physical work on the project is 50.5%.

It should be noted that construction works are carried out in accordance with the "Construction Norms and Rules" under the supervision of the management of the State Agency of Motorways of Azerbaijan. In order to complete the project on time according to the prepared schedule, the agency has attracted the necessary number of forces to the area.

To?anal?-Kalbajar-Istisu highway takes its starting point from To?anal? village of Goygol district and passes through the territory of Kalbajar district, which was freed from occupation. In this way, it will provide easy access to the district centre and the famous Istisu area, along with many residential areas of the said district.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO GARABAGH...
Juniper honors customers using AI and automation to unlock new ways to deliver experience-first outcomes

SUNNYVALE, Calif., November 30, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced the winners of the 2023 Elevate Awards, honoring customers delivering exceptional experiences to their consumers and communities. The Elevate Awards celebrate the most innovative companies that are using emergent technologies to disrupt the status quo, power connections and drive their businesses forward for good.

The Elevate Awards winners, finalists and honorees represent over twenty countries, showcasing the depth of innovation happening across the globe. Categories recognized customers in seven key categories  AI Innovation, Business Transformation, Data Center of the Future, Empowering Change, Experience First, Security Excellence and 5G Leadership. The selection process involved a combination of Juniper executive and external judges selecting the finalists and winners.

The 2023 Elevate Award winners are:

AI Innovation: ServiceNow is the winner in the AI Innovation category as an industry leader accelerating its business through network automation. By migrating its network to a next-generation, full-stack wired, wireless and SD-WAN solution, ServiceNow reduced capital and operating expenses by 60%, eliminated 90% of employee-reported wireless issues and enabled amazing employee experiences.

Business Transformation: The winner of the Business Transformation category is Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering, which leverages its AI network to simplify operations and enable agile deployment at the largest fabrication yard in Malaysia, as well as one of the largest dry docks in Southeast Asia. It now has the technology to move from manual processes to digital workflows that will speed project completion.

Data Center of the Future: Atos is the winner in the Data Center of the Future category for its ability to leverage Juniper Apstra for fast, dynamic data center deployment, operations and management across 21 data centers to dateand counting.

Empowering Change: The winner of the Empowering Change category is the City of Las Vegas, which fuels economic growth and improves schools, public safety, social services and even traffic flow with the largest private 5G network in the U.S., benefitting the citys more than 640,000 residents and 42 million annual visitors alike.

Experience First: Akamai Technologies is the winner in the Experience First category as it secures its future via a distributed edge and cloud platform that simplifies operations, reduces power consumption and decreases expenses by over 80%, all while achieving high service levels to please customers.

Security Excellence: E.W. Scripps is the winner in the Security Excellence category. With the adoption of Juniper security solutions, it improved application performance by 20% and reduced costs while securely connecting its TV stations, data centers, cloud connections and over-the-air transmissions for its audience of 71 million monthly viewers.

5G Leadership: The winner of the 5G Leadership category is BT Group, a UK-based company that built one of the largest virtualized 4G/5G telco clouds that is expected to carry 100% of its mobile traffic for millions of subscribers by the end of this year. The network improves service quality while boosting the companys business agility, operational efficiency and sustainability.

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For the first time, Juniper is announcing a Grand Winner that best embodies its mission to deliver network experiences that transform how people connect, work and live. The 2023 Grand Winner is ServiceNow. The executive judging panel was impressed by the outward vision and stellar results, which truly transformed the experiences ServiceNow is known for.

"Our customers are leading the way in proving just how crucial the global network is to the world today," said Rami Rahim, CEO at Juniper Networks. "From using AI to deliver flawless user experiences that millions count on to serving as stewards of the planet by dramatically cutting network power consumption with automation, Junipers annual Elevate Awards remind us that technology has the power to unlock remarkable outcomes."

Finalists across all categories include:

5G Leadership : Crown Castle and Unified National Networks

AI Innovation : UK Ministry of Justice and City of Parkland

Business Transformation : Halfords and Zayo

Data Center of the Future : Fastweb and Shaare Zedek Medical Center

Empowering Change : Greenergy and The University of Tokyo

Experience First : KK Networks and Sunet

Security Excellence: VolkerWessels

To learn more about Junipers Elevate Awards and its honorees, visit the Juniper website here.

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the worlds greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231130076782/en/

Contacts

Media Relations:

Kelsey Akerson

Juniper Networks

kakerson@juniper.net
Microsoft has been given a non-voting observer seat on OpenAIs board, following the official return of Sam Altman as the ChatGPT companys chief.

OpenAI reached a deal to have Mr Altman back as the companys chief executive, just days after it abruptly fired him.

Mr Altman said he was looking forward to returning to OpenAI with the support of Microsoft chief Satya Nadella.

Sam Altman is back as CEO, Mira Murati as CTO and Greg Brockman as President. OpenAI has a new initial board, OpenAI posted on Thursday on X.

I have never been more excited about the future. I am extremely grateful for everyones hard work in an unclear and unprecedented situation, and I believe our resilience and spirit set us apart in the industry, Mr Altman said in a memo to employees.

The addition of Microsoft, which has heavily invested in OpenAI, to its board as a non-voting observer means the software giant will get more access to view the companys progress.

It will, however, not have an official vote on its decisions.

Sam Altman is back as CEO, Mira Murati as CTO and Greg Brockman as President. OpenAI has a new initial board. Messages from @sama and board chair @btaylor https://t.co/sP0kAQIeKg  OpenAI (@OpenAI) November 30, 2023

Mr Altmans return also resolves some of the uncertainties around the non-profit company and its leadership.

The best interests of the company and the mission always come first. It is clear that there were real misunderstandings between me and members of the board, the returning chief said in his memo.

For my part, it is incredibly important to learn from this experience and apply those learnings as we move forward as a company, he said.

I welcome the boards independent review of all recent events.

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I recognize that during this process some questions were raised about Adams potential conflict of interest running Quora and Poe while being on the OpenAI Board. For the record, I want to state that Adam has always been very clear with me and the Board about the potential  Sam Altman (@sama) November 30, 2023

With three of the board members who ousted Mr Altman now gone, the company said its new board will consist of former Salesforce co-chief Bret Taylor, who will be OpenAI chairman, former treasury secretary Larry Summers and Quora boss Adam DAngelo.

OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, who voted to remove Mr Altman and later changed position to push for his return, will also exit the board, the company said.

Greg Brockman, who quit the company amid the chaos last week, is returning to his previous role as the companys president, OpenAI said.

Our research roadmap is clear; this was a wonderfully focusing time. I share the excitement you all feel; we will turn this crisis into an opportunity, Mr Altman told employees.
By Akanksha Khushi, Sayantani Ghosh and Krystal Hu

(Reuters) -Microsoft will take a non-voting, observer position on OpenAI's board, CEO Sam Altman said in his first official missive after taking back the reins of the company on Wednesday.

The observer position means Microsoft's representative can attend OpenAI's board meetings and access confidential information, but it does not have voting rights on matters including electing or choosing directors.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who had recruited Altman to Microsoft after his ouster from OpenAI, had said earlier that governance at the ChatGPT maker needs to change.

OpenAI said last week announced a new initial board that consists of former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor as chair and Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary. Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, who was part of the board who fired Altman, also stayed on for the new one.

The new OpenAI board is on an active search for six new members with expertise in fields from technology to safety and policy. OpenAI investors are unlikely to get a seat on the non-profit board, sources told Reuters.

Microsoft has committed to invest over $10 billion into OpenAI and owns 49% of the company. It did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mira Murati, who had been OpenAI's chief technology officer and was briefly named interim CEO after Altman's ouster, is once again the company's CTO.

OpenAI ousted Altman on Nov. 17 without any detailed cause, setting off alarm bells among investors and employees. He was reinstated four days later with the promise of a new board.

Altman's exit sparked confusion about the future of the startup at the center of an artificial intelligence boom.

His co-founder Greg Brockman, who had followed Altman out of the company, would return as president, Altman said on Wednesday.

"Greg and I are partners in running this company. We have never quite figured out how to communicate that on the org chart, but we will," Altman said.

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OpenAI's chief scientist Ilya Sutskever will no longer be part of the board, Altman said.

Sutskever had joined in the effort to fire Altman but later signed an employee letter demanding his return, expressing regret for his "participation in the board's actions."

"I love and respect Ilya, I think he's a guiding light of the field and a gem of a human being. I harbor zero ill will towards him," Altman said, adding the company was discussing how Sutskever could continue his work at OpenAI.

Apart from Altman, Brockman, Sutskever, D'Angelo, OpenAI's previous board consisted of entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, director of strategy at Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru, Krystal Hu in New York, and Sayantani Ghosh in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates)
By Muvija M and Martin Coulter

LONDON (Reuters) -The president of tech giant Microsoft said there is no chance of super-intelligent artificial intelligence being created within the next 12 months, and cautioned that the technology could be decades away.

OpenAI cofounder Sam Altman earlier this month was removed as CEO by the companys board of directors, but was swiftly reinstated after a weekend of outcry from employees and shareholders.

Reuters last week exclusively reported that the ouster came shortly after researchers had contacted the board, warning of a dangerous discovery they feared could have unintended consequences.

The internal project named Q* (pronounced Q-Star) could be a breakthrough in the startup's search for what's known as artificial general intelligence (AGI), one source told Reuters. OpenAI defines AGI as autonomous systems that surpass humans in most economically valuable tasks.

However, Microsoft President Brad Smith, speaking to reporters in Britain on Thursday, rejected claims of a dangerous breakthrough.

"There's absolutely no probability that you're going to see this so-called AGI, where computers are more powerful than people, in the next 12 months. It's going to take years, if not many decades, but I still think the time to focus on safety is now," he said.

Sources told Reuters that the warning to OpenAI's board was one factor among a longer list of grievances that led to Altman's firing, as well as concerns over commercializing advances before assessing their risks.

Asked if such a discovery contributed to Altman's removal, Smith said: "I don't think that is the case at all. I think there obviously was a divergence between the board and others, but it wasn't fundamentally about a concern like that.

What we really need are safety brakes. Just like you have a safety break in an elevator, a circuit breaker for electricity, an emergency brake for a bus  there ought to be safety breaks in AI systems that control critical infrastructure, so that they always remain under human control, Smith added.

(Reporting by Martin Coulter; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Mark Porter)
LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft's plan to pump 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) into Britain over the next three years, its single largest investment in the country to date, will underpin future growth in artificial intelligence (AI), the UK government said.

Britain, where the economy is forecast to be sluggish in the coming years, is pushing for private investment to help fund new infrastructure, particularly in growth industries like AI.

The funding, first announced at a summit hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday, will more than double Microsoft's datacentre footprint in Britain, providing the infrastructure crucial for new AI models to work.

"Today's announcement is a turning point for the future of AI infrastructure and development in the UK," Sunak said in a statement on Thursday.

Microsoft's plan comes despite comments by its president Brad Smith in April that a decision by the country's antitrust regulator that went against the U.S. company put the tech industry's confidence in Britain at risk.

Since then, the UK regulator waved through a restructured version of Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, putting Britain back in Microsoft's favour.

"Microsoft is committed as a company to ensuring that the UK as a country has world-leading AI infrastructure," Smith said in the statement released as he hosted finance minister Jeremy Hunt at a datacentre being constructed in north London.

As part of the deal announced on Thursday, Microsoft will bring more than 20,000 of the most advanced Graphics Processing Units to Britain, tech which is key to machine learning and developing AI, the government statement said.

The investment includes a training plan to help ensure Britons have the skills they need to build and work with AI, it added.

($1 = 0.7911 pounds)

(Reporting by Sarah Young;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Former Ottawa Art Gallery Deputy Director, Chief Curator Catherine Sinclair joins the Gallery on December 4, 2023

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 30, 2023 /CNW/ - The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) announced today, after a comprehensive search, the appointment of Catherine Sinclair as its new Director, Exhibitions, Conservation and Production. In this role, Sinclair will oversee the strategic vision, development and implementation of the NGC's Ottawa-based and travelling exhibitions, its collection installations and supporting services. She will join the Gallery on December 4, 2023. Ms. Sinclair notably brings with her 18 years of experience at the Ottawa Art Gallery, including as Deputy Director, Chief Curator.

The National Gallery of Canada announced today the appointment of Catherine Sinclair as its new Director, Exhibitions, Conservation and Production. Photo: courtesy of the Ottawa Art Gallery and Andre Rozon. (CNW Group/National Gallery of Canada)

"Catherine is the ideal candidate to strengthen our vision through our exhibitions and we are delighted to welcome her to the Gallery," said Jean-Francois Belisle, Director and CEO, NGC. "She brings an extensive background to the role that is the perfect combination of proven curatorial and management experience. Her thoughtful approach to her work will undoubtedly be an asset to us."

Specifically, Catherine Sinclair will oversee the planning and management of exhibitions, conservation and restoration efforts, and supervise related technical services. She will work in close collaboration with Jonathan Shaughnessy, Director, Curatorial Initiatives, to present rich exhibitions to all Canadians, in Ottawa and across the country.

"I'm pleased to be joining the Gallery and I look forward to learning from its talented professionals while bringing my experience of collaborating with artists, community members, and supporters to build meaningful exhibitions and relevant collections," added Catherine Sinclair. "I'm eager to work together as cross-departmental teams to efficiently mobilize the incredible art resources we have to allow artists and communities across the country to be included, represented, proud and inspired by our national collection and powerful exhibitions."

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About Catherine Sinclair

As Deputy Director, Chief Curator at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), Catherine oversaw three departments: Learning and Engagement, Collections and Curatorial. At the OAG since 2006, her curatorial work has included over 50 exhibitions, many of which have supported regional artistic practices through their contextualization within national and international artistic discourse. Ranging from solo to group exhibitions, some highlights include Norman Takeuchi: Shapes in Between  A Retrospective (2023, co-curated), as well as Canadian Heritage-funded, provincially touring Alma: The Life and Art of Alma Duncan (19172004) (co-curated, 2014-16). She has presented at the University Art Association Conference (UAAC) and the Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG, now Galeries Ontario Galleries); has published in The Journal of Curatorial Studies (2018, co-author) and esse arts + opinions (2019); and was a recipient of the Association of Art Museum Curators (AAMC) Foundation Engagement Program for International Curators (20172019 and 202122).

About the National Gallery of Canada

Ankose / Everything is Connected / Tout est relie

The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) is dedicated to amplifying voices through art and extending the reach and breadth of its collection, exhibitions program, and public activities to represent all Canadians, while centring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Ankosean Anishinaabemowin word that means "everything is connected"reflects the Gallery's mission to create dynamic experiences that open hearts and minds, and allow for new ways of seeing ourselves, one another, and our diverse histories, through the visual arts. NGC is home to a rich contemporary Indigenous international art collection, as well as important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian and European art from the 14th to the 21st century. Founded in 1880, NGC has played a key role in Canadian culture for more than 140 years. For more information, visit gallery.ca and follow us on X, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. #Ankose #EverythingIsConnected #ToutEstRelie.

SOURCE National Gallery of Canada

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2023/30/c6831.html
By Laura Sanicola

(Reuters) -Oil prices fell by more than 2% on Thursday after OPEC+ producers agreed to voluntary oil output cuts for the first quarter next year that fell short of market expectations.

Brent crude futures for January settled 27 cents, or 0.3%, lower to expire at $82.83 a barrel, and a 5.2% loss for the month. The February contract, which begins trading as the front month on Friday, fell $2.00, or 2.4%, to $80.86.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down $1.90, or 2.4%, to $75.96, and down 6.2% in November.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC+, who pump more than 40% of the world's oil, agreed to voluntary output cuts approaching 2 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first quarter of 2024.

At least 1.3 million bpd of those cuts, however, were an extension of voluntary curbs that Saudi Arabia and Russia already had in place. Earlier, delegates had said new additional cuts under discussion were as much as 2 million bpd.

"For now, the outcome does not live up to the expectation... in recent days," said Callum MacPherson, head of commodities at Investec.

The voluntary nature of the cuts left investors nonplussed.

"From what weve seen so far, this looks like a paper cut of around 600-700,000 barrels per day (bpd) vs Q4 2023 planned levels," said James Davis at FGE.

"It could at best be an actual cut of around 500,000 bpd compared to Q4. This might be just enough to keep the market balanced in Q1, but it will be close."

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Algeria were among producers who said cuts would be unwound gradually after the first quarter, market conditions permitting.

The meeting, being held on the same day as global leaders gather in Dubai for the U.N. climate conference, was originally scheduled for last week but was deferred because of disagreements over output quotas for African producers.

OPEC+ also invited Brazil, a top 10 oil producer, to become a member of the group. The country's energy minister said it hoped to join in January.

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Meanwhile crude output in the U.S., the world's top producer, continued to grow, rising 1.7% in September to a monthly record of 13.24 million bpd, the Energy Information Administration said.

Crude production in Texas fell by 0.1% to 5.57 million bpd, the lowest since July and the first time production in the state has fallen since April, the EIA said.

(Reporting by Laura Sanicola in WashingtonEditing by Simon Webb, Lisa Shumaker and Marguerita Choy)
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

Rising crude oil costs and stricter environmental controls incentivize manufacturers to use green chemicals to counterbalance the capital investment required to change current equipment and install new facilities. Such factors are anticipated to create lucrative market opportunities.

New York, United States, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oleochemicals are organic substances from tropical and animal oils, including soy, sunflower, palm, tallow, lard, and fish. Oleochemicals include creating essential oleochemical substances such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, glycerine, and methyl esters. Alcohol ethoxylates, alcohol sulphates, alcohol ether sulphates, quaternary ammonium salts, monoacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, structured triacylglycerols, sugar esters, and other oleochemical intermediates are formed from the essential oleochemical components. Oleochemicals may be substituted for petrochemicals obtained from petroleum.

Download Free Sample Report PDF @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/oleochemicals-market/request-sample

Easy Availability of Raw Materials Drives the Global Market

According to Straits Research, The global oleochemicals market size is estimated to reach USD 53.32 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period (20232031). The global production of oils and fats has increased dramatically in recent years. These resources are abundant or may be easily farmed (virgin vegetable oils) or inexpensively obtained (waste vegetable oils and animal fat) in practically every region globally. In the production of industrial chemicals, oleochemicals are becoming increasingly popular due to their ecological and monetary benefits. Fatty acids, methyl esters, fatty alcohols of these fatty acids, glycerol, and fatty amines are fundamental oleochemicals. In addition to minimizing the production process's environmental impact, converting waste materials into industrial fuels and chemicals stimulates market growth.

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Increasing Demand for Green Chemicals Creates Tremendous Opportunities

The market is driven by rising consumer knowledge of renewable oleochemicals and environmental concerns. The market for green chemistry is projected to surpass the market for conventional chemicals over the forecast period. In addition, businesses are decreasing their usage of hazardous substances, developing safer products, and reducing the negative impact of their products on human health and the environment. Increasing crude oil prices and more stringent environmental regulations encourage firms to adopt green chemicals to offset the capital expenditures required to replace existing equipment and establish new facilities. These characteristics would generate profitable market opportunities.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific is the most substantial global oleochemicals market shareholder and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.89% over the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is a large producer and user of oleochemicals used in products such as personal care and cosmetics, soaps and detergents, and pharmaceuticals. In addition, Malaysia and Indonesia manufacture palm oil-derived oleochemicals, such as fatty acids and fatty alcohols. They have drawn investments from most of the world's largest corporations, including Emery Oleochemicals, Wilmar, and BASF. This situation has altered substantially during the past few years. Nowadays, most manufacturing units are located in Asia-Pacific, and this region is also adding new capabilities. The extensive offshore manufacturing operations from Europe and North America to Asia-Pacific nations can be linked to the availability and affordability of labour.

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.49% over the forecast period. Due to EU rules prohibiting synthetic chemicals in personal care and cosmetics, and food and beverage products, Europe is the second-largest oleochemical market. In Europe, oleochemicals are predominantly employed in the food and beverage industry. Several personal care and cosmetics manufacturers utilize oleochemicals for their safety and superior nourishing effects. Similarly, due to imported feedstocks later developed by German firms such as BASF and Emery Oleochemicals, Germany is leading the expansion of the oleochemicals market in Europe .

Key Highlights

Based on type, the global oleochemicals market is bifurcated into fatty acids, fatty alcohols, glycerine, methyl ester, and others. The fatty acids segment dominates the global market and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.96% over the forecast period.

Based on raw material, the global oleochemicals market is divided into animal oil and tropical oils. The tropical oil segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.81% over the forecast period.

Based on application, the global oleochemicals market is bifurcated into pharmaceuticals, personal care and cosmetics, food and beverage, soaps and detergents, and others. The soaps and detergents segment owns the highest market share and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.82% over the forecast period.

Competitive Players

The key players in the global oleochemicals market are Croda, Evonik, BASF, Corbion, Stepan, Nouryon, Kao Corporation, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, Cargill, Emery Oleochemicals, Wilmar, Eastman Chemical Company, Corbion, IOI Oleochemical, Sabic, Godrej Chemicals, and Ecogreen Oleochemicals.

Market News

In March 2023, Golden Agri Resources (GAR) aims to spend up to USD 240 million on capital expenditures (capex), a portion of which will be utilized to build its oleochemical plants in 2023.

In February 2023, KLK Emmerich GmbH, a Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK) subsidiary and a worldwide integrated oleochemical manufacturer of oleochemical, derivatives, and specialty chemicals under its resource-based manufacturing division known as KLK OLEO, agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Temix Oleo, a Milan-based oleochemical company.

Global Oleochemicals Market: Segmentation

By Type

Fatty Acid

Fatty Alcohol

Methyl Ester

Glycerol

Others

By Raw Material

Animal Oil

Tropical Oils

By Applications

Pharmaceuticals

Personal Care and Cosmetics

Food and Beverages

Soap and Detergents

Others

By System Type

Gravity-Based

Pressure-Driven

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

The Middle East and Africa

Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/oleochemicals-market/segmentation

About Straits Research Pvt. Ltd.

Straits Research is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, specially designed and presented for decision making and ROI.

Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the clients purchase. We overcome our clients issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches.

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Celebrations may be in order for Journeo plc (LON:JNEO) shareholders, with the covering analyst delivering a significant upgrade to their statutory estimates for the company. The revenue forecast for this year has experienced a facelift, with the analyst now much more optimistic on its sales pipeline. The market seems to be pricing in some improvement in the business too, with the stock up 6.0% over the past week, closing at UK2.29. Whether the upgrade is enough to drive the stock price higher is yet to be seen, however.

Following the upgrade, the current consensus from Journeo's solo analyst is for revenues of UK46m in 2023 which - if met - would reflect a sizeable 35% increase on its sales over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to soar 52% to UK0.20. Before this latest update, the analyst had been forecasting revenues of UK42m and earnings per share (EPS) of UK0.19 in 2023. Sentiment certainly seems to have improved in recent times, with a solid increase in revenue and a small increase to earnings per share estimates.

View our latest analysis for Journeo

It will come as no surprise to learn that the analyst has increased their price target for Journeo 14% to UK3.85 on the back of these upgrades.

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Journeo's past performance and to peers in the same industry. The analyst is definitely expecting Journeo's growth to accelerate, with the forecast 35% annualised growth to the end of 2023 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 18% per annum over the past five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in a similar industry are forecast to grow their revenue at 6.5% per year. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Journeo is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest takeaway for us from these new estimates is that the analyst upgraded their earnings per share estimates, with improved earnings power expected for this year. Fortunately, the analyst also upgraded their revenue estimates, and our data indicates sales are expected to perform better than the wider market. There was also an increase in the price target, suggesting that there is more optimism baked into the forecasts than there was previously. Seeing the dramatic upgrade to this year's forecasts, it might be time to take another look at Journeo.

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These earnings upgrades look like a sterling endorsement, but before diving in - you should know that we've spotted 3 potential concern with Journeo, including concerns around earnings quality. You can learn more, and discover the 1 other concern we've identified, for free on our platform here.

Of course, seeing company management invest large sums of money in a stock can be just as useful as knowing whether analysts are upgrading their estimates. So you may also wish to search this free list of stocks that insiders are buying.

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.
Insiders were net buyers of Wickes Group plc's (LON:WIX ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

Check out our latest analysis for Wickes Group

Wickes Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman of the Board Christopher Rogers for UK94k worth of shares, at about UK1.37 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of UK1.32. 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. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Christopher Rogers was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Wickes Group 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 Wickes Group

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Our data suggests Wickes Group insiders own 0.3% of the company, worth about UK977k. We consider this fairly low insider ownership.

So What Do The Wickes Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Wickes Group shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Wickes Group insiders bought more shares in the company. 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. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Wickes Group you should know about.

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If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The Caspian Basin Studies program organized by the Specialization Programs of the Institute of Development and Diplomacy (IDD) operating under ADA University has been completed, Azernews reports.

The program, which lasted from November 18 to 25, brought together diplomats and researchers from different regions of the world and introduced them to the countries of the Caspian basin. Among the countries represented by them are Bulgaria, Egypt, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Moldova, Poland, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Up to 30 participants from 23 countries had the opportunity to listen to lectures covering the history and culture, economy, foreign policy and development strategy of the countries of the Caspian basin, as well as the political structure of those countries, as well as energy and security topics.

Those topics were taught by high-authority state officials, professors and teachers of ADA University, members and employees of the Board of Trustees of IDD, as well as representatives of think tanks.

Within the framework of the program, the participants met with the Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmet Hajiyev, and Elchin Amirbeyov, the representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on special tasks, held discussions on regional issues and addressed the questions they were interested in to the officials regarding the restoration of the liberated Garabagh and the peace-building process in the region. At the same time, the diplomats and researchers met with Aykhan Hajizadeh, press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and got detailed information about the foreign policy of Azerbaijan, the country's achievements in the relevant direction and current problems.

During the program, the participants visited Agdam to observe the reconstruction works in the liberated territories. During the visit, which took place on November 23, they visited the sights of the city, including Juma Mosque, Shahbulag Castle, Agdam State Drama Theater, as well as Martyrs' Alley. They also visited the newly built Aghdam Conference Center and got acquainted with the future development plan of the city.

It should be noted that the participants visited various state-important places and institutions located along the Caspian coast to observe what they learned in the field.

At the closing ceremony of the program on November 24, Fariz Ismayilzadeh, vice-rector of ADA University and director of the Institute of Development and Diplomacy, and Aygun Hajiyeva, adviser to the vice-rector of ADA University, deputy director of the Institute of Development and Diplomacy, addressed the participants. They were congratulated on successfully completing the Program and getting a certificate. The speakers noted that the "Caspian Basin Studies" program is a learning and networking platform that provides professional communication to participants representing countries neighboring Azerbaijan, Eastern Europe, and Central and Southeast Asia, and comprehensively informs them about the past, present, and future of the Caspian region.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (left) and the company's chief scientist Ilya Sutskever (right). Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images; Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

OpenAI's Sam Altman says he has "zero ill will" towards cofounder Ilya Sutskever.

Sutskever, a former OpenAI board member, had previously voted to fire Altman as CEO.

Sutskever later expressed regret for his actions, saying that he "never intended to harm OpenAI."

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he has no hard feelings towards former board member Ilya Sutskever.

Sutskever, who co-founded OpenAI with Altman, voted to fire Altman. Altman has since been reinstated as CEO.

"I love and respect Ilya, I think he's a guiding light of the field and a gem of a human being. I harbor zero ill will towards him," Altman said in a message to the company on Wednesday.

Sutskever was concerned that Altman hadn't given enough thought to the risks of OpenAI's technology, per a story from The New York Times on November 18.

The OpenAI chief scientist also formed a "Super Alignment" team within OpenAI to ensure that future versions of GPT-4, the technology behind ChatGPT, wouldn't pose a danger to humanity, according to The Times.

But Sutskever later expressed remorse for ousting Altman.

"I deeply regret my participation in the board's actions. I never intended to harm OpenAI," he wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on November 20.

Altman eventually returned as CEO after nearly all of OpenAI's staff threatened to quit unless he was brought back.

However, Sutskever didn't attend the impromptu party that employees organized to celebrate Altman's return.

"You shouldn't read anything into the fact that Ilya was not at the party last night. Ilya wants what is best for the company and has been very clear that what is best is having Sam back as CEO," Sutskever's lawyer Alex Weingarten told Business Insider last week.

Besides reinstating Altman, OpenAI welcomed a new initial board comprising Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, and Adam D'Angelo.

Taylor, who is OpenAI's new board chair, said on Wednesday that OpenAI backer Microsoft would be given a non-voting board observer seat.

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"While Ilya will no longer serve on the board, we hope to continue our working relationship and are discussing how he can continue his work at OpenAI," Altman told the company on the same day.

Representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Switch Health

In commemoration of Diabetes Awareness Month, Switch Healths at-home HbA1c test allows you to get diagnostic-grade results, without having to travel to a lab for a traditional blood draw

Switch Health Diabetes Test Kit

Switch Health Diabetes Test Kit

TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Individuals living with or suspected of having diabetes can now take greater control of their well-being from the comfort of their homes with Switch Health's new Hemoglobin A1c test, the first of its kind in Canada.



Switch Health's innovative at-home HbA1c test allows people with diabetes or those suspecting the condition to collect Dry Blood Spot (DBS) samples at home. These samples are then sent to a licensed and accredited laboratory for analysis, eliminating the need for in-person visits to a doctor's office, hospital, or laboratory.

The process resembles the heel prick test conducted on newborns. Patients simply prick their finger, let the blood drops fall on a special sheet and re-package the specimen before the kit is picked up from their home, or placed in the nearest Purolator drop box.

"This represents the next level of at-home testing, especially beneficial for patients in non-urban areas or those facing challenges in getting around due to age or condition," said Dr. Gregory Taylor, Switch Healths Chief Medical Officer. "For individuals who may be uneasy about public settings or lack the time for in-person blood draws during the day, this will be a game-changer."

To get started, users can visit the Switch Health website, select the HbA1c test kit, and complete an intake form, which determines medical necessity and public coverage of test processing (currently only for Ontario residents.) The kit will then be delivered to the individuals doorstep, where they can self-administer the Dry Blood Spot (DBS) test with the support of Switch Healths digital experience provided through their proprietary patient portal.

The HbA1c test gauges average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. Glucose, derived from the foods we eat, is a vital energy source for cells and is regulated by insulin. In diabetes, insufficient insulin production or ineffective utilization by cells leads to elevated blood sugar. The A1c test measures the percentage of red blood cells coated with glucose-bound hemoglobin as an indicator of blood glucose levels. Elevated A1c levels signal increased diabetes-related health risks like heart disease and kidney damage. Management through treatment and lifestyle changes is crucial for controlling blood glucose levels.

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The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends HbA1c tests every three to six months, depending on blood sugar levels.

"Our HbA1c dry blood spot testing has undergone extensive laboratory validation, proving its equivalence to in-person blood collection without leaving home," said Dr. Chris McCudden, Clinical Biochemist and Switch Health Medical Advisor. "This method holds great promise for simplifying diabetes monitoring and increasing access, especially in rural and remote locations."

According to Diabetes Canada, people living with diabetes face a higher risk of hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal disease. Complications are also linked to premature death, potentially reducing lifespan by five to 15 years.

Additional information:

11.9 million Canadians live with diabetes or are prediabetic.

30 percent of Ontarians live with diabetes or are prediabetic.

$1.7 billion is the estimated cost to the Ontario health care system in 2023.



This marks Switch Health's latest at-home, self-collected test, following the introduction of at-home HPV and STI testing kits this fall.

Click here to watch a demonstration of the kit.

Switch Health Co-Founder Marc Thomson is available for interviews upon request. For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Kalvin Reid, Director

Enterprise Canada

289-241-7936

kreid@enterprisecanada.com

ABOUT SWITCH HEALTH

Switch Health is a health technology company on a mission to make health diagnostics accessible to all Canadians. This mission drives the company's decentralized testing model and discreet home self-collection kits, covering various aspects of general health, wellness, and specific disease areas. Switch Health specializes in the intersection of diagnostics and logistics, utilizing state-of-the-art lab diagnostics through their laboratory partnership network and their own ISO-certified laboratory, Bio-Test Laboratory.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bed58e0e-e7d5-4dce-a788-e885076f456d




The United Auto Workers (UAW) warned Elon Musk it would be recruiting members of Tesla staff from right under his nose. Now Muskan outspoken critic of unionssays if his employees did choose to join, the company would be partly to blame.

In a wide-ranging interview during the New York Times' DealBook Summit this week, Musk said he didnt like unions, because they created a divide within organizations.

The richest man on earth said he had worked hard to create opportunities for staff across the hierarchy of his companyeven claiming he had made factory workers millionaires thanks to stock options. As a result, he implied theres no need for unions at Tesla.

I think its generally not good to have an adversarial relationship between one group at the company and another group, Musk said. I disagree with the idea of unions  [because] I just dont like anything which creates a lords and peasants sort of thing.

I think the unions naturally try to create negativity in a company.

Whatever Musks opinion is on UAW tactics, the union has notched some high-profile victories in recent months. Led by president Shawn Fain, UAW secured a deal in November for a record 33% pay hike for staff at the Detroit Three automakers, which include General Motors, Stellantis (formerly known as Fiat Chrysler), and Ford Motor.

Having announced the landmark win against the U.S.s three largest vehicle manufacturers, Fain made it clear hed be banging on the door of Tesla next. A post on UAWs site reads: Elon Musk is the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $230 billion. U.S. production has more than doubled since 2020, and Teslas sales are booming.

The question is, will Tesla workers get their fair share? Its time for Tesla workers to stand up and fight for more.

In the interview on Nov. 29, Musk seemed certain hes done his part to ensure his staff have indeed had their fair share, saying: There are many people at Tesla who have gone from working on the line to being in senior management. There is no lords and peasants. Everyone eats at the same table, everyone parks in the same parking lot.

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The thing is I actually know the people on the line because I worked on the line.

Musk, who famously slept on the floor of Tesla factories, added: Im no stranger to them.

We deserve it

Musk claimed he has even offered to hold a companywide vote on unionization at Tesla many times, but was told it had to be called for by staff or the union.

I dont know, maybe they will unionize, he mused. If Tesla gets unionized it will be because we deserved it, and because we failed in some way.

Musk has already had a taste of what could occur if workers did decide to join: Just a week ago the company was hit by its first-ever strike.

Swedens industrial union IF Metall brought the companys operations to a complete standstill in the Scandinavian country after Tesla refused to agree to a wage deal with 120 mechanics at seven different workshops.

IF Metall declared a strike in late October, which has since picked up more unions, including dockworkers who now refuse to unload imported Tesla cars arriving in ports and even workers from the state-owned postal service responsible for delivering license plates.

This is insane, Musk griped of the situation after being tagged in a post on X.

In the U.S., Tesla has pushed back against union rumblings, recently telling staff they couldnt wear UAW-branded T-shirts.

The man worth $228 billion at the time of writing added Tesla tries hard to ensure the prosperity of everyone, adding: We give everyone stock options; weve made many people who are just working the linewho didnt even know what stocks wereweve made them millionaires.

In an appeal to his 120,000 staff at the EV maker, Musk said his main concern about talent is encouraging staff to stay with Tesla when theyre being offered easier jobs with other businesses.

The challenge is, how do we retain great people to do the hard work of building cars when they have six other opportunities that they can do that are easier, he added. Thats the actual difficulty.

I just want to say that Im incredibly appreciative of those that build the cars, and they know it, he added.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Thursday, November 30, 2023



The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM), Oracle Corporation (ORCL) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.



You can see all of todays research reports here >>>



Shares of Exxon Mobil have underperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry over the past year (-4.4% vs. -2.9%). The companys dividend yield is lower than the composite stocks belonging to the industry. Thus, ExxonMobil is lagging its peers when it comes to shareholders returns.



Moreover, the integrated company reported weak third quarter earnings, primarily resulted from the oil equivalent production decline, and lower realizations of crude and natural gas prices. Nevertheless, ExxonMobil's bellwether status and an optimal integrated capital structure that has historically produced industry-leading returns make it a relatively lower-risk energy sector play.



In Stabroek Block, located off the coast of Guyana, ExxonMobil has made many major discoveries that significantly improve its production outlook. The advantaged growth projects of Guyana have lower greenhouse gas intensity than most of the oil and gas-producing resources across the globe.



(You can read the full research report on Exxon Mobil here >>>)



Oracle shares have gained +44.3% over the year-to-date basis against the Zacks Computer - Software industrys gain of +57.3%. The company is benefiting from the ongoing momentum across its cloud business, driven by the strong uptake of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Autonomous Database offerings. Solid adoption of cloud-based applications, comprising NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Fusion ERP bodes well.



Oracles Gen 2 Cloud is delivering better performance at a lower cost due to high bandwidth and low-latency RDMA networks. Partnerships with VMWare and Microsoft is helping Oracle win new clientele. ORCL is launching a generative AI cloud service for enterprise customers. Its share buybacks and dividend policy are noteworthy.



However, higher spending on product enhancements, especially toward the cloud platform, amid increasing competition in the cloud domain is likely to limit margin expansion.



(You can read the full research report on Oracle here >>>)



Shares of Cisco Systems have outperformed the Zacks Computer - Networking industry over the year-to-date basis (+4.0% vs. +2.1%). The company is riding on the growing demand for its security, artificial intelligence and cloud products. Its security portfolio is benefiting from the launch of new data loss prevention, firewall and zero trust capabilities.



Zero Trust portfolio is riding on strong demand for its Duo offering. Optimized application experience is benefiting from strong demand for ThousandEyes. Its investments across security business, focusing on cloud-based and AI-driven offerings, is expected to drive growth.



Expanding growth opportunities for low-power-consuming technologies, including IoT, Silicon One and Power over Ethernet bodes well for Cisco. Acquisitions including Lightspin Technologies, Smartlook and Armorblox is expected to benefit top-line growth.



(You can read the full research report on Cisco Systems here >>>)



Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Altria Group, Inc. (MO), Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (CRWD).



Director of Research



Sheraz Mian



Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>

Story continues

Today's Must Read

ExxonMobil (XOM) Banks on Offshore Guyana Resources



Oracle (ORCL) Gains from Cloud Suite Adoption & Partnerships



Cisco (CSCO) Rides on Strong Networking Solution Demand



Featured Reports

Altria Group (MO) Gains From Solid Pricing Amid Low Volumes

Per the Zacks analyst, Altria Group has been benefiting from its solid pricing power. In third quarter, higher pricing offered respite to revenues, which was otherwise hurt by low cigarette volumes.

Solid Investments Aid Duke Energy (DUK), Weak Solvency Woes

Per the Zacks analyst, Duke Energy's investment in infrastructure and expansion projects tend to boost its long-term growth prospects. However, its weak solvency position remains a bottleneck.

CrowdStrike (CRWD) Rides on Product Strength, Acquisitions

Per the Zacks analyst, CrowdStrike is gaining from solid contributions of its growth-oriented products, primarily Falcon platform. Also, strategic buyouts like Bionic and Reposify are positive.

NetApp (NTAP) Performance Gains Strong Product Portfolio

"Per the Zacks analyst, NetApp's performance gains from demand for product portfolio amid data-driven digital and cloud transformation. Weak IT spending due to macroeconomic weakness is an overhang.nn

E-Commerce Business & B2B Strategy Aid Williams-Sonoma (WSM)

Per the Zacks analyst, Williams-Sonoma is benefiting from its e-commerce business, B2B initiative and expansion plans.

Viatris (VTRS) Restructuring Move Positive, High Debt A Woe

Per the Zacks analyst, Viatris efforts to divest non-core businesses to pay down huge debt is positive. The recent acquisitions to create an ophthalmology franchise will diversify the portfolio

Protiviti's Advancements Aid Robert Half (RHI), Competition Ails

Per the Zacks analyst, Robert Half's Protiviti is in great shape driven by its increasing focus on technology consulting. However, high competition remains a concern.

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Cincinnati Financial (CINF) Benefits From Commercial Lines

Per the Zacks analyst, consistent progress at the Commercial Lines Insurance segment backed by solid premiums earned and several growth initiatives contributes to revenue growth of the company.

Solid Excess & Surplus Lines of Business Aids Kinsale (KNSL)

Per the Zacks analyst, Kinsale Capital is set to grow on its focus on the excess and surplus lines of business aiding high retention rates arising from renewals, improved margins and lower loss ratios

Strength in HSA, Investment Platform Aid HealthEquity (HQY)

The Zacks analyst is upbeat about HealthEquity's multiple cloud-based platforms and continued strength in its Health Savings Accounts or HSAs despite its operation in a highly competitive market.

New Downgrades

Nabors (NBR) Weighed Down by Massive Debt Burden

The Zacks analyst believes that Nabors Industries' high debt-to-capitalization of 82 % is a concern, as it restricts the company's financial freedom to tap into growth opportunities.

Rising Operating Costs and Forex Woes Hurt MRC Global (MRC)

Per the Zacks analyst, MRC Global is struggling with high operating costs, which in turn, are hurting the company's bottom line. Forex woes are an added concern.

Persistently Rising Expenses to Hurt SEI Investments (SEIC)

Per the Zacks analyst, rising costs due to technological upgrades will likely hurt SEI Investments' profits. The company's increased exposure to fee-based revenues might hamper growth.

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New York developer Stephen Ross started 2023 with plans to break ground on two major development projects in his Detroit hometown.

With a little more than a month to go in the year, one project is set to narrowly make a groundbreaking deadline and the other  the $1.5 billion District Detroit, a collaboration with the Ilitch organization  is falling further behind schedule with no indication for when construction could start.

Columbia Street entrance of Detroit Center for Innovation.

What's more, negotiations between the Ilitch organization and Wayne County for land needed to construct three of the 10 planned building projects within District Detroit have been at a standstill, according to the county's negotiator.

That negotiator, Richard Kaufman, a former deputy for the county, said Wednesday they have been waiting for about six weeks for a response from the Ilitch organization's Olympia Development of Michigan on the latest proposal for the land.

They will call us if and when they have a renewed interest in purchasing the property, Kaufman said.

Ross is a lead visionary and donor for the planned $250 million University of Michigan Center for Innovation, an academic research center to be built in downtown behind the Fox Theatre on what is now surface parking lots.

This week, U-M announced it will break ground for the 200,000-square-foot center on Dec. 14. The groundbreaking is required to happen before year's end or a $100 million state earmark for the project would expire.

Ross is donating an additional $100 million to build the center. The center was first proposed in 2019 and construction is expected to take three years.

A separate yet closely related project to the U-M Center for Innovation is the ambitious District Detroit development.

District Detroit calls for 10 new buildings or building rehabs in and around downtown over several years. The $1.5 billion development gained approvals this spring for nearly $800 million in future development incentives and tax breaks.

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District Detroit is being codeveloped by Ross' The Related Cos. and Olympia Development. Presentations have described the U-M center, which could enroll up to 1,000 students, as a catalyst for the anticipated future demand for more downtown office space and housing that justifies District Detroit's substantial new construction.

This 17-story office tower would be built at 2200 Woodward, next to Comerica Park. A residential high-rise would later follow.

A construction start on the first District Detroit building  a 17-story office tower at 2200 Woodward, next to Comerica Park  was originally scheduled to happen this summer and finish by summer 2025. But so far, it hasn't happened.

Representatives for Olympia Development and The Related Cos. did not provide a response Wednesday to inquiries on the status of District Detroit by press deadline.

However, The Related Cos. and Olympia released a joint statement Thursday:

The District Detroit is a vibrant neighborhood with world-class sport and entertainment venues, housing, retail and restaurants. We are excited for the groundbreaking of the University of Michigan Center for Innovation on Dec. 14, and realizing the impact of a premier institution planting its flag in Detroit for the community.

"With construction on the UMCI underway, the recent opening of The District Detroit Opportunity Center, and Olympia Developments upcoming residential apartments on Henry Street, we are excited about the progress already underway.

"The District Detroit is a transformative real estate development opportunity and our teams continue to work together to ensure the project is responsive to evolving market demands and the needs of the community. We look forward to sharing more development news in the future.

Unlike the U-M center, District Detroit isn't facing a 2023 deadline to break ground. However, rules concerning its largest development subsidy  a $615 million, 35-year tax capture known as a Transformational Brownfield  require construction to begin on at least one of the 10 projects within two years of Detroit City Council's March 28 approval, according to a spokesman for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.

If that March 2025 deadline isn't met, City Council potentially could terminate the brownfield deal. And any individual projects in District Detroit that haven't started within five years of the April 2023 Michigan Strategic Fund approval of the brownfield could also then be terminated.

A more immediate issue facing District Detroit is that Olympia and The Related Cos. don't yet own the land needed to build three of the 10 projects, including that initial 17-story office tower next to Comerica.

A view of the two parking lots between The Fillmore and the Fox and Comerica Park seen from the sixth floor of the Central United Methodist Church on Thursday, July 13, 2023. The Illitch organization is looking to buy both lots for their District Detroit project and the area will have a new office building, a new residential building with an underground parking garage.

Olympia has been in negotiations for months to buy the land from the county via the Detroit Wayne County Stadium Authority. Kaufman has said that a main sticking point in negotiations is what happens to proceeds from the potential land sale. Appraisals for the land have come in at $25.5 million and $35.3 million.

The Ilitch organization wants the money from the sale to go toward future improvements to Comerica Park, which the stadium authority also owns and where the Ilitch-owned Detroit Tigers play.

However, the county prefers that the proceeds instead go into the county's coffers.

District Detroit needs the county land for not only the 17-story office tower, but also a proposed 21-story, 287-unit residential tower (2250 Woodward) and a nearby office building along Woodward to go next to St. John's Episcopal Church.

A rendering of the proposed residential high-rise at 2250 Woodward.

Construction of that residential tower had been scheduled for fall 2024.

Contact JC Reindl: 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com. Follow him on X @jcreindl.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Still no date for $1.5B District Detroit groundbreaking
The November meeting of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners (OPEC+) was meant to be a staid affair. Instead, the summit was first pushed back from the 26th and then moved online, revealing a fracas between the cartels big producers and its minnows.

After acquiescing to lower output quotas at their previous meeting in June, OPEC+s west African members were unhappy to learn that Russia and Saudi Arabia, the blocs de facto leaders, wanted to further curtail output. One oil minister, Diamantino Azevedo of Angola, planned to boycott the in-person meeting altogether.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) have forged strong personal ties, helping strike an OPEC+ deal to cut oil output. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

On November 30th, OPEC+ is at last due to meet online. Members are reported to be preparing modest additional cuts into 2024. This would represent the extension of a strategy in place since last October, under which they try to resist downward pressure on prices by restricting supply.

Saudi Arabia and Russia are leading the way, with cuts of 1m barrels a day (b/d) and 300,000 b/d respectively; the rest of opec+ is together contributing another 3.7m b/d in cuts. Yet the price of the Brent crude benchmark is down by nearly a fifth since the strategy was introducedit currently sits at $82 a barreland has fallen for the past five weeks.

The back-and-forth over OPEC+s November pow-wow exposes the difficulties that now face the cartel. Recent oil-price drops reflect both expectations of slowing global demand, influenced by concerns over Chinas economy, and the fact that geopolitical risk has fallen: few now expect the war in Gaza to turn into a broader regional conflict. At the same time, other producers, including America, Brazil and Guyana, have increased output, making up for OPEC+s cuts (see chart).

Yet the price falls also reflect the fact that OPEC+ is struggling to hold the line. The cartel welcomed an additional 10 countries when it gained the plus sign in 2016, and plans to recruit still more. A larger organization has no choice but to straddle divergent interests, as is now clear.

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The Angolan minister who planned to boycott the in-person get-together also walked out of another meeting in June alongside his counterpart from Gabon. The two ministers were apparently protesting against quota reductions. Along with others, they worry that output cuts will hurt investment in exploration.

At least Angola does not exceed its targets. Not all countries are so well-behaved. Iraq, for example, is producing 180,000 b/d more than its limit. Iran and Venezuela are not subject to the groups production caps because of sanctions. Mexico refuses to accept quotas. Despite being members of OPEC+, all have been selling more oil of late, eagerly hoovering up the market share forfeited by Russia and Saudi Arabia.

The last time the group faced a similar state of affairsdecelerating demand, new entrants and co-ordination problemsin 2014, officials chose a different strategy, as Alberto Behar of the imf and Robert Ritz of Cambridge University have written. Back then members increased supply in an attempt to drive down the oil price. The aim, as announced at opecs meeting in November nine years ago, was to grab market share (and in so doing drive out American competitors). This had the advantage of stimulating demand and not requiring discipline among opecs members: they were able to produce oil to their hearts content.

Such an approach is no longer feasible. opecs market-share strategy last time round helped discipline Americas oil producers, pushing them to become more efficient and therefore more resistant to future squeezes. JPMorgan Chase, a bank, reckons that the cost of getting oil out of the American ground has declined by more than one-third since 2014. The countrys oilmen have found methods to fracture rocks that produce more fissures, easing the extraction of oil, and now drill deeper wells that have longer lifespans.

Saudi Arabia would very much like opec+s current strategy to succeed. Its free-spending government has pushed up the price at which the countrys budget balances to $85 a barrel, according to the imfand that number is higher when outlays from its sovereign wealth fund are included. Russia, meanwhile, needs oil revenues to fund its war in Ukraine. Delaying the meeting to November 30th did not help either country. Doing so wiped another 5% from the price of Brent crude.

 2023 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/11/29/an-unruly-opec-is-causing-problems-for-russia-and-saudi-arabia
By Hannah Lang

(Reuters) - The U.S. government will cut off cryptocurrency companies from the broader U.S. economy if they fail to block and report illicit money flows, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo warned the industry on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Blockchain Association, Adeyemo said that crypto companies need to do more to curtail the flow of illicit finance, and that the lack of action across the sector presents a risk to the U.S.

"Our actions over the last year send a clear message: we will not hesitate to bring to bear tools across government to protect our national security," Adeyemo said in prepared remarks.

The Biden administration on Tuesday sent a letter to Congress, requesting new legislation that would grant Treasury the authority to police crypto marketplaces used by actors the U.S. government deems illicit, Adeyemo said.

The move comes after the U.S. in October issued sanctions aimed at disrupting funding for Palestinian militant group Hamas following deadly attacks in Israel, singling out a Gaza-based cryptocurrency exchange among other targets.

Last week, Binance chief Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to breaking U.S. anti-money laundering laws as part of a $4.3 billion settlement, and stepped down as CEO of the world's largest crypto exchange, conceding that he had "made mistakes."

Prosecutors said Binance broke U.S. anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and failed to report more than 100,000 suspicious transactions with organizations the U.S. described as terrorist groups including Hamas, al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, authorities said. Binance said in response that it had worked hard to make the platform "safer and even more secure."

(Reporting by Hannah Lang in Washington; Editing by Michelle Price)
(Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai for the first time in three years, putting a spotlight on Chinas top financial center as investors look for policymakers to boost waning private sector sentiment and the technology sector.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Adding to the symbolism of the two-day trip, Xi was accompanied by his economic czar, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and chief of staff, Cai Qi. Xi inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange and attended an exhibition at the citys sci-tech innovation center, about efforts to boost the city as an international financial and technology hub, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

During the visit that ended Wednesday, Xi also stopped at a government-subsidized rental housing community to observe progress in social housing construction. The president chatted with residents while inspecting homes, broadcast footage showed. China has in recent months amped up efforts to support the property sector after a sharp downturn hurt economic growth.

Shanghai is the most-developed and most-open area of China, said Wang Huiyao, founder of the Center for China and Globalization. By going there it shows President Xi is attaching a lot of importance to the development of the largest city in China.

Read More: China Puts Money Behind Singapore Model in Major Housing Shift

Xi also observed a walking robot while attending an exhibition, footage also showed. Shanghai is a major outpost for some of Chinas biggest tech operations, including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., which made the 7 nanometer processor hailed as a major triumph after years of US sanctions. Other top firms include the artificial intelligence company SenseTime Group Inc., which has approval to roll out large-language models to the public, and e-commerce startup PDD Holdings Inc.

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While the report didnt name any specific firms Xi might have visited, his trip to one of Chinas key tech hubs has been keenly awaited since news of the plan was reported. It may offer reassurance to the business community after crackdowns in recent years wiped out the equivalent of billions of dollars worth of market values from tech and other enterprises.

Read more: Xis Big Private-Sector Push Runs Into Wall of Skepticism

The Chinese leaders first public visit to Shanghai since November 2020 comes a year after the city saw rare street protests against strict Covid curbs that upended business activity and daily life. The trip is also likely to be viewed as a signal of Chinas determination to reinvigorate investor confidence as the nations post-pandemic recovery continues to struggle.

The trip closely follows Xis attendance at an economic summit in California this month, where he sat down with US President Joe Biden in a bid to steady ties between the worlds largest economies. He vowed to make life easier for foreign investors, underscoring Beijings concern about a drop-off in investment.

--With assistance from Li Liu and Charlie Zhu.

(Update with analyst quote in the fourth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Prince William Police Department is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of a Spotsylvania man wanted in connection with a Nov. 14 homicide.

Tyus James Terrell, 27, is accused of shooting 26-year-old Quatrail R. Smalls to death in the 3700 block of Wharf Lane in Triangle. Smalls was found lying on the ground at the apartment complex suffering from gunshot wounds; he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Terrell was identified as the alleged shooter and is charged with murder, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and possessing a firearm as a felon.

Police have been unable to find Terrell since the slaying and hope the offer of a reward will lead to information about his whereabouts.

Court records show that Terrell was ordered to serve nine days in jail earlier this month for violating his probation in Spotsylvania.

He is described as being 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 200 pounds with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his chest.

Anyone with information is asked to call Prince William Police at 703/792- 6500.
Fourteen major financial institutions representing a total AUM (assets under management) of $452 billion have committed to establishing new operations in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).

A year into Abu Dhabis Falcon Economy, these announcements, coinciding with the second edition of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), reaffirm the emirates rapidly increasing appeal to global finance and ADGMs strategic role and contributions towards the significant growth of the capital of capital and its emergence as a global financial powerhouse.

In a resounding signal of confidence in the financial centres pivotal role across the global and regional financial landscapes, the worlds largest bank, JP Morgan, reiterated its commitment to the capital in an upgraded licence, to operate its payment and banking business.

Reform agenda

Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, JP Morgan, said: The determination of the emirate that is forging ahead with its reform agendas is extremely impressive, be it their economic, financial, and social agendas. These are not easy changes but there is clear progress on all fronts towards the goal to create a safe and secure society and a dynamic Falcon Economy. We have continued to add to the team this year and have submitted an application to upgrade our operating licence to a full category one banking entity, signalling our intent and commitment to the size of the opportunity here.

This is in addition to the worlds largest independent financial services group, Rothschild & Co, who have expanded its strong two-decade presence across the Emirates via a newly granted ADGM licence as part of the firms broader expansion strategy and commitment to the region, and the World Bank renewing their long-term presence in the financial centre.

Saeed Al Awar, Partner and Head of Middle East, Rothschild & Co, said: We are delighted to have received our licensing approvals from ADGM. This is an expansion of our existing presence in the UAE where we have been operating for nearly two decades which reaffirms our commitment to our clients in Abu Dhabi and the UAE and is part of our broader expansion strategy and commitment to the region.

Holistic financial hub

The attractiveness of ADGM as a holistic financial hub, which stands as the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, has resulted in renowned global firms establishing themselves in the nations capital, including BNY Mellon venture Alpheya, GQG Partners, Joy Capital, Apeiron Group Investments, The Childrens Investment Fund (TCI), Copper, Vibrant Capital, Centricus, and Eiffel Investment. The UAEs capital international financial centre also recorded six further announcements made by emerging growth firms, bringing the total to 23.

Commenting on the Falcon Economys impressive flight, Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates, said: Were talking today about how the world order is changing, and how Abu Dhabi and the whole GCC region are becoming a renaissance state.

Echoing his fellow fund managers sentiment, Alan Howard, Co-founder, Brevan Howard Asset Management, said: Abu Dhabis robust regulation, rule of law and favourable taxation, represent a lure for financial firms moving to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Out of this place, you can see the Bank of Japan at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day, you can see the Fed. As soon as you get more top hedge funds coming here, that can lead to the banks having to send their best people.

Unique global opportunity

Commenting on Abu Dhabi and ADGMs positive developments, Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Member of Abu Dhabis Executive Council & Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADGM, said: What we are witnessing in Abu Dhabi today, with major global players choosing the capital city to base their business operations is proof of a unique global opportunity being seized by future thinking institutions. We warmly welcome their presence and support in the growth and diversification of the Falcon Economy. This is the most successful week in ADGMs history.

The market announcements were released during the second edition of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) held under the theme Investing in the Transition Era, this edition of ADFW welcomed over 17,000 attendees from over 100 countries.--TradeArabia News Service
A Woodbridge man was arrested Monday evening in Stafford after a woman jumped from a second-floor window to escape an alleged attack, police said.

Stafford Sheriffs spokesman Ryan Wilbur said Deputy S. Waheed went to the Arbor Grove Apartments about 6:11 p.m. in response to a reported disturbance. Multiple callers reported hearing a woman screaming for help and asking people to call the police.

The woman had visible injuries as she approached Waheed and told him she had just jumped to get away from her significant other. The intoxicated man surrendered without incident after being confronted by Waheed and Sgt. J.W. Hutcheson.

The investigation showed that the couple got into a verbal dispute that turned physical. The woman, who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, told police she jumped to avoid further assault.

Justin Hunter, 31, was charged with felonious assault, abduction and assault and battery. He was placed in the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The Sheriffs Office reminds domestic assault victims they can receive help from Empowerhouse at empowerhouseva.org.
The Fremont City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 28, unanimously approved the hiring of two new police officers for the Fremont Police Department.

In the 7-0 vote, Wyatt Kreifels, currently of Fremont, and Miles Morgan, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were approved for employment at FPD. The department is currently facing an extreme shortage of certified law enforcement officers, with at least five vacancies. Normally the department has 39 certified officers, but currently has only 34 on staff, according to city records.

Kreifels, who owns a lawn care business in Dodge County, was present at Tuesdays meeting and received a standing ovation from attendees and personally shook the hand of each council member and Mayor Joey Spellerberg.

Jennifer McDuffee, Fremonts director of Human Resources, told the council that the next steps for both Kreifels and Morgan are to begin classes at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island, a journey which lasts 16 weeks and does not start until January.

If the pair successfully complete their training and graduate from the NLETC after the four-month, physically and mentally intensive course, they will then begin work at the Fremont Police Department in a role called field training officers.

The mandatory 12-week field training officer period requires new officers to work as a duo with another veteran certified police officer to learn the ins and outs of the local community as well as give them mentorship and more training on how to be a peace officer.

If both are successful in their NLETC training and the field officer training, they would then be qualified to patrol alone and be a full officer at the department.

Not all applicants who attend the NLETC successfully complete the training, and if a cadet fails any part of the academys requirement, the job offer at their respective department is rescinded and the person is terminated.

During Tuesdays council meeting, in discussion about an agenda item about the salaries of certain city employees, McDuffee told the council that the police department is having trouble finding officers and that one option the council could consider is raising the hourly pay rate to attract part-time officers.

Those part-time officers, McDuffee explained, are already certified law enforcement officers  usually working at other agencies  and in their off-duty time from their primary employer agency, work to supplement other departments.

We are not going to get a certified officer for $15 an hour, she noted before the council approved the request in a 7-0 vote.

In September and October, in an effort to become more friendly to prospective police officer applicants, the city council approved a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police local union chapter. The new contract included pay raises for officers, a financial bonus if a new officer was fluent in Spanish and also extended the mileage limit for residency of officers to 30 miles as the crow flies from the citys limits.
Tickets for the popular Ice Castles attraction are officially on sale and those looking to visit the spectacle on a certain date will want to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

With construction of the attraction underway in Cripple Creek, the finalized opening date for the Ice Castles is yet to be announced. That being said, the company behind the effort is targeting a late-December or early-January launch for the frozen playground that looks like something out of a fairytale.

The first tickets currently available are for dates starting on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tickets may be made available for an earlier date if ideal weather speeds up the opening.

From Friday through Sunday, tickets for those 12 and up will cost $27, with those between four and 11 able to visit for $22. On off-peak days  Monday through Thursday  12 and up tickets are priced at $21 and tickets for those aged between 4 and 11 are $16.

While the Ice Castles attraction has been located in the Summit County area in the past, this will be the first year it's in Teller County's Cripple Creek, which is located roughly 45 minutes from Colorado Springs.

Ice Castles is opening three other locations around the country this year  in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Utah. They're also opening two "Winter Realms"  one in Wisconsin and another in New York.

Purchase tickets for the Colorado Ice Castles here.
A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war.
An invitation-only area known as the "John Wayne Saloon" inside the North American Aerospace Defense Command was shuttered last week, following an investigation by USA Today.

The reporting showed alcohol was available inside Building 2 on Peterson Space Force Base in a room locked by keypad marked by a John Wayne poster and unknown to senior commanders. Those who shared the story with USA Today on condition of anonymity "expressed unease, dismay or disgust."

Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of NORAD and Northern Command, acted immediately after the paper brought forward the allegations.

"Based on your inquiry, what I did was immediately direct a walkthrough of all spaces in the command with the intent to corroborate any of the allegations," VanHerck told USA Today. "We did find the John Wayne poster outside a door. Behind the locked door, what we found was an office space with a refrigerator that did contain some alcohol. We did find some beer, refrigerator and some hard liquor."

An investigation will determine if drinking inside the headquarters affected national security, VanHerck said. He told USA Today he did not sense a compromise.

The area with alcohol was a standard office space with access to classified networks for planning purposes, he said.

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NORAD is charged with protecting the United States and Canada. Northern Command was set up in 2002 following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The joint command responded to The Gazette, reiterating that VanHerck immediately conducted an investigation into the allegations.

"There is no indication of any impact to operations, and NORAD and USNORTHCOM continue to conduct our missions," a spokesperson for the command said.

The two commands were thrust into the international spotlight earlier this year by a Chinese spy balloon that was shot down near the coast of South Carolina in February after floating over the U.S. and Canada. The event drew congressional interest in boosting funding for homeland protection.

VanHerck has been pressing for investments into the joint command such as over-the-horizon radar to detect hypersonic weapons.

The full USA Today investigation can be found here.
Two Aurora paramedics violated every step of their training when they made the decision to inject Elijah McClain with ketamine after a struggle with police without taking steps to make sure giving him the sedative would be safe, a state prosecutor said Wednesday.

But defense attorneys for the paramedics now facing trial for McClains 2019 death argued they had to make decisions quickly based on information from Aurora police officers that McClain was incoherent, showing extreme strength and aggression and was on something.

Jury selection starts for Aurora paramedics' trial over Elijah McClain's death

An attorney also said the fire medics didnt have authority over the situation while police officers kept McClain handcuffed on the ground and controlled the scene. They urgently began administering medical care as McClain was uncuffed and loaded into an ambulance, according to defense attorney Shana Beggan.

Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Lt. Peter Cichuniec face charges in Adams County of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and three counts each of second-degree assault. They have pleaded not guilty.

The assault charges include assault causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon (ketamine) and illegally administering the sedative without consent.

Jury chosen in Aurora paramedics' trial for Elijah McClain's death

The attorneys made their opening statements in the paramedics trial in an Adams County courtroom filled with family members and firefighters supporting Cooper and Cichuniec. Supporters of McClain present included Auontai Anderson, the outgoing Denver Public Schools Board of Education vice president.

Cooper had authority for medical decisions at the scene, while Cichuniec had the administrative responsibility for scene safety. Cichuniec requested the ketamine dose from Falck Rocky Mountain, a private ambulance company that contracts with Aurora Fire Rescue, and Cooper administered the injection.

Colorado Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson said during her opening statement the two fire medics failed their responsibility toward McClain as their patient by not examining him or talking to him. Instead, she said, they stood by for several minutes waiting for the ketamine to arrive, while McClain visibly deteriorated, and then administered the drug after he had turned mostly unresponsive.

The 500 milligrams given to McClain was the maximum authorized for anyone, and about a 50% overdose for his 140 pounds, Stevenson said.

This wasnt just a tragedy or an accident. It wasnt just careless or sloppy. It was cruel, Stevenson said.

McClain, 23, went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing within a few minutes of receiving the ketamine. A doctor declared him brain dead in the hospital three days later.

Q&A: Looking ahead to paramedics' trial for Elijah McClain's death

Beggan, representing Cooper, said McClains symptoms mentioned by police at the scene are signs of excited delirium, a condition which obligated the paramedics, according to their training, to administer ketamine.

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Even if someone appears to have calmed down, that person may still have dangerous internal symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat and high levels of acid in the blood, she said.

Excited delirium is a controversial diagnosis. The National Library of Medicine notes that neither the American Psychiatric Association nor the World Health Organization recognizes excited delirium as a medical or psychiatric diagnosis. The American Medical Association said in 2021 it had adopted a policy opposing it as a diagnosis, saying "excited delirium" is disproportionately cited in cases where Black men die in law enforcement custody.

Body-worn camera footage from police officers at the scene captured McClain repeatedly saying he could not breathe while on the ground, telling officers he was an introvert and saying things such as I dont do any fighting. His last words were, Please help me.

Stevenson said the only attempt the paramedics made to assess McClain was asking the police if he spoke English, and they did not monitor his vital signs or make sure he was in a position to have a clear airway after the injection.

They dont take a single vital sign until he has none.

During her opening statement, Beggan notably did not argue whether any information relayed from the police officers was true, instead focusing on what the fire medics believed based on that information.

She said the paramedics were never told Elijah had said he was just going home and pleaded that he could not breathe while on the ground.

Going into the situation, the paramedics only had information from 911 dispatch notes, she said. When their fire engine approached the scene, the road was so choked with police vehicles that they had to park more than a block away.

Its concerning about what are we walking into? Its concerning about safety, Beggan said.

The fire medics arent doctors and cant make diagnoses, and are trained to look for patterns to determine appropriate medical treatment, she added.

In their brain, theyre flipping through a Rolodex to determine which protocol to follow, she said.

Three Aurora police officers stopped McClain the night of Aug. 24 as he walked home from a convenience store because a 911 caller had reported a suspicious person when he spotted McClain, who waved his arms while listening to music and wore a black mask covering most of his face. McClain, seemingly caught off guard, initially tried to keep walking and told officers he was going home.

He was unarmed and had not been accused of any crime.

The district attorney for Adams County at the time declined to pursue charges in McClain's death because the forensic pathologist who performed his autopsy initially listed his cause and manner of death as "undetermined," later amending the cause to an overdose of ketamine.

Wednesday also included testimony from the owner of the convenience store where McClain bought iced tea right before the encounter, the 911 dispatch worker who took the initial call, a fire dispatch worker who sent the medical response to the scene and the administrator of the Aurora Police Departments body-worn camera program.
A 275-acre plot of land on the west face of Mount Champion and east side of Independence Pass in Lake County has been donated to the Wilderness Land Trust, according to a news release Thursday.

The owner of the land, Amy Margerum Berg, a former city manager for Aspen, donated the land to the Helena, Mont., nonprofit organization earlier in November with the intent that the organization will transfer the plot to public ownership in the San Isabel National Forest.

The property stretches from the North Fork of Lake Creek to almost the summit of Mount Champion, and includes remnants of the Champion Mine, which was active from 1907 to 1940, mining gold, silver, copper and lead.

My late husband, Charles Chuck McLean, had the foresight to purchase these mining claims with the intent of protecting them from development, Margerum Berg said in the release. My son, Slater McLean, and I are so proud to be donating this land in his honor.

Mount Champion stands 13,646 feet tall above the pass and, while the area is a popular destination, much of the peaks south and west faces have been privately owned. With idyllic potential building sites, the plot was at a great risk of development, the Trust said.

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Protecting the property under public ownership will ensure public access on the trail and mitigate the management and liability concerns that have recently cut off access to several of Colorados 14ers, the trust said. The donation also protects important wildlife habitat, spanning from streamside riparian zones to alpine meadows above treeline, and is home to bighorn sheep.

The North Fork Lake Creek Trail, which runs through the base of the donated property, leads hikers, backpackers and horsemen into the 30,000-acre Mount Massive Wilderness.

We are so grateful for the McLean-Berg familys generosity and are thrilled to be able to help them leave a legacy of conservation and protect this remarkable landscape as public lands for future generations, said Sarah Chase Shaw, chair of The Wilderness Land Trust Board of Directors.

The Champion Mine South property is just up the drainage from the 20-acre Blue Lake property, which the trust added to designated wilderness last year, removing the last remaining inholding in the Mount Massive Wilderness. In total, the trust has protected 168 properties in Colorado, covering 6,530 acres in 21 wilderness areas.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) has signed an agreement with CCB International, an investment services firm owned by China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB), to boost Chinese investment into the UAE capital.

Signed during Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023, the agreement will foster stronger collaboration to support Chinese companies expanding into Abu Dhabi and the Middle East and North Africa region.

Economic ties between the UAE and China continue to expand rapidly, with non-oil bilateral trade growing by 18% in 2022 to $72 billion. The agreement between ADIO and CCB International will boost further trade by enabling investment and joint venture opportunities between Chinese and Abu Dhabi corporates and by facilitating fund-raising and dual or secondary listings of Chinese companies in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and vice versa.

Key milestone

Badr Al-Olama, Director General of ADIO, said: ADIOs strategic agreement with CCB International marks a significant milestone in fostering investment between China and Abu Dhabi. This collaboration will unlock new commercial opportunities that will benefit both markets and elevate our economic ties to new heights.

ADIO and CCB International will focus on supporting companies in key sectors of shared interest, such as industrials, renewable energy, ICT, cloud computing, smart mobility and e-commerce. As part of the agreement, ADIO will identify, screen and facilitate opportunities for Chinese companies with the Abu Dhabi IPO Fund (ADIPOF) that meet the eligibility requirements to list on the Abu Dhabi Exchange.

Mitchel Seah, CEO of CCB International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, said: Being one of the first Chinese investment services group to sign a memorandum of understanding with ADIO, we are extremely excited at the opportunity to promote the development of The Belt and Road" initiative and to deepen the financial cooperation between China and the UAE.

Full range

CCB International provides a full range of investment services for companies who listed or looking to list and throughout the whole IPO process. The company provides a full range of products and services, including sponsorship and listing, financial advisory, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring, additional listing, shares distribution, re-financing for listed companies, direct investment, asset management, securities brokerage, market research, investment consulting and commodities business.

ADIO, which opened an office in Beijing in 2021, has strong links with Chinese companies. In October, ADIO announced that Chinas Neta Auto, Hozon Autos electric vehicle (EV) brand, will conduct research and testing of smart car technologies supported by Abu Dhabis new Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster.--TradeArabia News Service
One man was arrested after a standoff with police that lasted several hours Thursday morning, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

CSPD spokesperson Ira Cronin said at 4:15 a.m., police received reports of a suspicious party at an apartment complex in the 1300 block of San Miguel Street in Colorado Springs.

Once on the scene, police were able to identify the suspect, who they say was wanted for a felony, and multiple misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. The identity of the suspect has not been released at this time.

Cronin said when officers attempted to apprehend the suspect, he was uncooperative and barricaded himself in a vehicle he had broken into, threatening to harm himself and others.

A shelter-in-place order was issued to surrounding residents. Hours later, the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

According to officials, the shelter-in-place order was lifted just after 7 a.m.

This article will be updated once more information is received.
The man responsible for ramming a police cruiser with a stolen vehicle earlier in the month has been arrested, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Police said on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m., detectives with CSPD's Motor Vehicle Theft Unit located the stolen vehicle that was used to ram a police cruiser on Nov. 17. The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Troy Remington.

According to officials, Remington carried multiple felony warrants, including aggravated robbery.

"Detectives had information that he was armed with a gun," a lieutenant wrote in an online blotter entry.

CSPD's Tactical Enforcement Unit arrived on the scene to assist MVT officers, who tracked Remington to the 3600 block of Purdue Street where he was observed by officers standing outside of the vehicle.

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According to officials, as the team of TEU officers approached the vehicle, Remington dove into the car and attempted to flee.

"Officers were able to use their vehicles to pin the stolen vehicle in place. Once Remington realized he could not escape in the vehicle, he exited and attempted to run from officers," officials said.

Following a brief foot chase, the TEU unit was able to apprehend Remington and take him into custody.

Remington was first transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injury and fentanyl injection, police said.

According to officials, a second person was found in the vehicle with Remington and was taken into custody without further incident.
Colorado's top Republican and Democratic legislative leaders offered a unified front against what they described as the rising tide of destructive discourse that's been creeping up at the state Capitol during a forum on Friday.
Protesters on the state Capitol Buildings west steps rally in support of Palestinian nationalism a week after hundreds of others met on the same steps for a pro-Israel rally.
Transcargo International (TCI), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, said it has signed an agreement with Sinai White Portland Cement (SWCC) for the development of Egypts first bulk cement silos in Arish Port, thus marking a significant milestone in the cement industry in Egypt and its export capabilities.

Arish Port bulk terminal project features six cement silos with a total storage capacity of 60,000 tonnes (10,000 tonnes each). Of these two silos are for white Portland cement, and four for grey Portland cement.

The move is aimed at streamlining cement exports as well as cutting costs, and enhancing competitiveness for the Egyptian cement exports.

TCI, a leading terminal operator in Egypt, said under the deal it will build and operate white cement silos terminal with an annual capacity exceeding 200,000 tonnes for SWCC, facilitating the export of the company's products to different export markets.

The silos terminal will boost SWCCs competitive position providing extra logistics capability to fulfil market needs across all Mediterranean region and worldwide.

SWCC, a subsidiary of the world's largest white cement manufacturer, Aalborg Portland Group, is controlled by Cementir Holding NV, the leading producer of white cement globally, operating one of the world's largest white cement plants in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula.

"This project aligns with our commitment to supporting Egyptian exports by providing specialized logistics solutions across several industries," remarked Mohamed El Ahwal, the Chief Executive Officer of TCI.

"Building and operating Egypts first bulk cement terminal, we anticipate cost savings for cement producers in Egypt, making prices more competitive globally and increasing global market penetration," he stated.

Alberto Barbieri, Managing Director of Sinai White Portland Cement Company, said: "Egypt is a key exporter of white cement worldwide, and through this project, SWCC aims to expand its footprint in export markets globally, achieving significant growth in export volumes over the next five years."

"As well, this project copes with Cementir Holdings 2030 sustainability road map and the Egyptian government development plan for Sinai," he added.

The partnership between TCI and SWCC marks a significant step forward in optimizing the cement export process, fostering cost efficiency, and positioning Egypt as a major player in the global cement industry.-TradeArabia News Service
Joe Campana might be best known as a successful Colorado Springs restauranteur and businessman, but he's also a pool player at heart.

The owner of Bonny and Read Seafood, the Rabbit Hole, the SuperNova arcade, Cork & Cask wine and whiskey bar and STIR Coffee & Cocktails, among others, said he played in pool tours on the East Coast in the 1990s and even qualified for pool's U.S. Amateur Open. He also played competitively in Las Vegas and more recently played an event in Wyoming.

During a nine-year stint at the Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. in downtown Colorado Springs, Campana also worked as the bar and restaurant's house pro  cleaning and maintaining its second- floor pool tables and giving lessons, among other duties.

Now, Campana and his Cork & Cask partner Lucas Frye  a self-described pool amateur  plan to bring an upscale pool hall to downtown Colorado Springs.

They've leased the recently vacated Tattered Cover bookstore space at 112 N. Tejon St. and have targeted May 1 for the opening of The Crooked Cue, a roughly 9,300-square-foot venue that will offer six to eight electronic dartboards and shuffleboard to go with 17 pool tables.

The Crooked Cue also will have a bar, food  pizza, wings and fries  and a mezzanine for private parties; Campana's general manager at SuperNova, Meagan Ohmes, also will partner on the project and run the new venue, he said.

"There's nothing downtown to do," Campana said. "I'm tired of opening up, kind of, bars at this point. I want to bring something downtown for people to do. And there's nothing really like that in this town."

A pool hall has been a dream of his since he moved to the Springs in 1999, Campana said. At one time, he considered a location in the 500 block of South Tejon Street.

Campana said he's sought space large enough to accommodate multiple pool tables along with food and amenities to make the concept work.

More recently, he eyed the Tejon Street space that was once the home of Zeezo's costume and magic shop and the Bryan & Scott Jewelers, but instead opened the Shrunken Head tiki bar next door at 114 N. Tejon in February 2022.

Meanwhile, the Denver-based Tattered Cover bookstore chain expanded to Colorado Springs, leased the 112 N. Tejon space and opened a few months later in June of that year. After less than 1 years, however, financially troubled Tattered Cover shuttered in October.

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Tattered Cover's arrival, albeit relatively brief, proved to be a financial help to his pool hall concept, Campana said.

The Tejon Street space, owned by local real estate company The Baldwin Cohn Group, was built out to accommodate the bookstore. That saved him $800,000 to $1 million in costs to upgrade the space, though he's still investing $600,000 worth of improvements and equipment into the building, Campana said.

"It's move-in ready. It's turn key," he said.

Pool has soared in popularity, while darts is one of the nation's fastest-growing sports, Campana said. The Crooked Cue will host dart leagues and he also hopes to attract professional pool tournaments to the Springs.

The venue will have 10, 7-foot Diamond Pro-Am tables and seven, 9-foot Diamond Pro-Ams, Campana said. Professionals play on the larger tables, while the smaller ones typically are found in bars, he said.

Hannah Campana, Joe's wife, said the couple sees potential in The Crooked Cue as a downtown gathering spot. They envision it with large leather chairs and velvet curtains to help create a venue with a cozy feeling.

"Especially for people that are just going out to dinner and want to hang out and do something else besides drinking," Hannah said. "City Rock (a downtown rock-climbing attraction) is something to do, but not many people are ready to go rock climbing after a nice dinner.

"We more so want to target people who are looking for something to extend their evening, that isn't just sitting around in a bar that allows them to have some sort of interaction that's fun," she said.

"It will be a great first date spot, too, something to break the ice a little bit, to loosen people up, to give them some sort of activity to do while getting to know each other."

Frye, Campana's Cork & Cask partner, said they expect The Crooked Cue will attract more than just pool players.

"It's not just a bar or a lounge," Frye said. "It's a place to hang out where you can actually have some activities to do something besides just sit at the bar and watch TV. We're going to make the front area 'loungey' and very accessible to people that, even if they don't want to play pool or are not into pool, it will still be a place for them to hang out and enjoy themselves along with some friends."
Pres. Joe Biden shakes hands with employees at CS Wind after making remarks after a tour of the plant in Pueblo on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed has said that women in iGA hold 53% of leadership positions. This includes the Deputy CE for Statistics and Population Registry, and six women in a Directors roles, 23 hold Chief level and 25 are Heads of units or Supervisors while 75 are among the Senior Specialist levels.

Highlighting the importance of Bahraini Womens Day he said it is an opportunity to celebrate womens contributions and achievements across political, economic, social and cultural fields. He attributed these accomplishments to the unwavering support and attention provided by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, which plays a pivotal role in fostering the development of Bahraini women, who are ambitious, dedicated, and eager to serve the kingdom.

Al Qaed also acknowledged the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and his efforts in supporting women's progress through various government initiatives. He commended the Supreme Council for Womens role (SCW), led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, applauding its initiatives, particularly its role in empowering Bahraini women in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).

SCW initiatives

Al Qaed said that the iGA remains committed to the directions and aspirations of the senior leadership by supporting SCWs initiatives and efforts, as well as providing support to women working within the organisation through high-level professional training programmes.

He underscored the role of women in supporting and implementing iGAs projects related to digital transformation, surveys, studies, data provision, and statistics. He extended his sincere appreciation and thanks to the female employees for their unwavering dedication, wishing them continued success.--TradeArabia News Service
Four Iowa nursing homes have been added to the federal list of the nations worst care facilities.

Over the past four months, the homes have all been deemed eligible for inclusion on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services national list of Special-Focus Facilities. They join six other Iowa care facilities already deemed eligible for inclusion on the periodic list of nursing homes that have recurring quality-of-care problems.

The four Iowa homes added to the list since July are: Embassy Rehab and Care Center in Sergeant Bluff; Harmony West Des Moines; the Ivy at Davenport; and Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City.

The four join six other Iowa facilities long considered eligible for special-focus status and increased oversight by regulators: Aspire of Gowrie, which has been eligible for seven months; Dunlap Specialty Care, which has been eligible for six months; Genesis Senior Living in Des Moines, which has been eligible for 17 months; Griswold Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, which has been eligible for 13 months; Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, which has been eligible for seven months; and New London Specialty Care, which has been eligible for 10 months.

Iowa has two care facilities that are officially designated as special-focus facilities and, as a result, are operating under additional scrutiny and oversight by the government: Aspire of Gowrie and Arbor Court of Mount Pleasant. Its not clear why CMS has designated Aspire of Gowrie as both a special-focus facility and a candidate for designation as a special-focus facility. CMS officials were unable to address that question Wednesday.

The four Iowa homes recently deemed eligible for inclusion on the federal list have a history of regulatory issues:

 Westwood Specialty Care in Sioux City: This 85-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 48 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: In May, state inspectors alleged the home failed to complete a timely assessment and interventions for five of 18 residents whose care was reviewed. That failure, the inspectors said, resulted in a death and several hospitalizations and visits to an emergency room for treatment. The home was also cited for failing to adequately respond to a residents worsening foot injury that stemmed from an ingrown toenail. The lack of care allegedly led to an infection and the amputation of the residents toes.

Westwood Specialty Care is owned and managed by Iowas largest nursing home chain, the tax-exempt nonprofit Care Initiatives, based in West Des Moines. According to tax records, CEO Michael Beal collected a total of $608,638 in compensation from Care Initiatives and its affiliates in 2021. Board members of the nonprofit were paid $134 an hour for their services.

 Harmony West Des Moines: This 120-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for overall quality, and has been cited for 53 violations over the course of five inspections this year.

Among the issues: The home was alleged to have neglected, over a period of several days, a residents complaints related to an apparent bowel obstruction that eventually led to fissures and to feces being discharged through her vagina.

A nurse told inspectors the woman had complained of extreme pain. She was screaming, and you could hear her down the hall, the nurse told inspectors. She was saying her butt is on fire  It took an hour and a half before I got the order to send her to the ER.

At the hospital, the woman was diagnosed with septic shock, a life-threatening infection, and gangrene in the area surrounding her genitals. After two surgeries, the resident died.

CMS reports that it has no ownership information available on Harmony West. Real estate records indicate the property is currently owned by Manor Care Health Services.

 The Ivy at Davenport: This 75-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both overall quality and its inspection results. So far this year, it has been cited for 38 regulatory violations.

Among the issues: Earlier this year, state inspectors published a 220-page report documenting 35 state and federal violations, including rodents, medication errors, illicit drug use and other problems. A nurse who was on the homes payroll told inspectors staffing levels were absolutely horrible and that she could not express how bad it was.

The home had failed to maintain clean floors, empty trash (and) clean resident equipment, inspectors said, leaving some areas of the facility with strong odors smelling of urine, body odor and garbage.

The home also failed to provide bed sheets or pillowcases to some of the residents, leaving them in beds that had no sheets. One resident had no nightstand, so their food was being placed directly on the floor. A nurse told inspectors rodents were seen recently throughout the hallways and in resident rooms.

The Ivy at Davenport is managed by Ivy Healthcare of Surfside, Florida. The companys president and CEO, Ryan Coane, is part owner of the facility and told the Iowa Capital Dispatch last year that his top priority is our residents health and well-being. He said the Davenport facilitys workers, and the love they have for every resident at the center, is unsurpassable.

 Embassy Rehab and Care Center: This 60-bed facility has a one-star rating from CMS for both inspection results and for quality measures. In May, state inspectors visited the facility in response to four complaints, all of which were substantiated, and cited the facility for 40 state and federal violations, an unusually high number.

Among the violations: A resident complained that when he told a male aide the water in the shower was too hot, the aide turned the water to ice cold. The resident responded by telling the Filipino aide to go back to the jungle, at which point the aide allegedly placed his hand over the residents mouth and nose while pressing the residents neck down until the water from the shower went up the residents nose. The resident said he tried to yell for help but could not.

The business is owned by a for-profit entity called Kismet Sux LLC, and an affiliate, Lantis Enterprises. The individuals who have a significant ownership stake in the business include Cammy, Mary and Travis Lantis.

Homes eligible for added oversight dont receive it

The federal Special-Focus Facilities list is updated monthly by CMS and includes homes deemed by the agency to have a history of serious quality issues.

Nationally, there are 88 nursing facilities on the list, with one or two slots filled by each state. Those homes are enrolled in a special program intended to stimulate improvements in their quality of care through increased regulatory oversight.

Because the number of Special-Focus Facilities is capped, new facilities  even those that have earned CMS lowest ratings for quality  cant be named a special-focus facility until other homes in that same state shut down or improve and graduate from the program.

Thats a process that can take four years or more. As a result, there are several homes in each state that are designated as eligible for special-focus status due to their ongoing quality-of-care issues, but they are unable to benefit from actual enrollment in the program. Iowa generally has 10 nursing homes on the list of eligible facilities.

Currently, the only Iowa home listed as having graduated from the program after a sustained period of improving care is Touchstone Healthcare Community in Sioux City. However, Touchstones graduation appears to coincide with the homes closing in July 2022 amid ongoing quality-of-care issues.

In fact, Touchstone was only added to CMS special-focus list six days after it closed and the last of its residents was moved out. Prior to that, Touchstone has been on the list for almost four years before graduating.

Typically, all of the homes that are deemed eligible for special-focus designation have about twice the average number of violations cited by state inspectors; they have more serious problems than most other nursing homes, including harm or injury to residents, and they have established a pattern of serious problems that has persisted over a long period of time.

Photos: Missing children in Iowa Daquan Nelson Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson
Vibhu Anurag

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The answer should be A.A. "One hallmark of the mortgage-banking crisis, robo-signing, in which banks..." - This option introduces "robo-signing" as a noun phrase describing one aspect of the crisis. It's clear and grammatically sound.B. "Robo-signing was one hallmark of the mortgage-banking crisis, in which banks..." - This option uses "robo-signing" as the subject of the sentence, followed by the phrase "in which banks." While it's clear, it might sound a bit awkward due to the separation between "robo-signing" and the context related to banks.C. "Robo-signing, which was one hallmark of the mortgage-banking crisis and which banks..." - This option uses "which" twice, creating redundancy. It can also be seen as less concise compared to other options.D. "One hallmark of the mortgage-banking crisis was robo-signing, in which banks..." - This choice uses the word "was" incorrectly, creating a fragment with the use of the phrase "has led to" in the last clause of the paragraph. It is grammatically incorrect.E. "One hallmark of the mortgage-banking crisis was robo-signing, and banks" - This option is incomplete. It lacks a direct continuation or action following "banks," making it an incomplete sentence._________________
CHATHAM  On U.S. 29, theres a greyish building alongside the road near Chatham Middle School.

From the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a late 1970s structure.

From the inside, its anything but yesteryear.

This is the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center, a facility thats been called one of the best kept secrets in the region.

Inside this space  and some modular units out back  are training grounds for Pittsylvania County Schools students.

Theres a bit of everything inside including culinary arts, welding, nursing, cosmetology and precision machining.

Although some Southside school systems are struggling to get children interested in career and technical education  they call it CTE  this Pittsylvania County program is just the opposite.

More than 300 students flow through each day. The programs are so popular they have to turn some people away.

Its like everything, its that awareness piece, Angela Rigney, the director of career and technical education, told the Register & Bee during an interview at the center. Weve done a lot of pushing and recruitment and exposure.

The facility opened in 1978 as a spot for what was known at the time as vo-tech, short for vocational technical education.

It used to be a dumping ground of sorts for students who didnt plan to go to college.

Now, theyve flipped the mindset.

Its that full-circle concept that everybodys got to understand, Rigney said. I think weve had some success because of that, but I also think we are in a transition phase, as a whole, across the country, we are seeing more people understanding the value of career and technical education programs and the need for them.

Perception is a main part of it.

I think the way industry is being viewed now is completely different than it was 20, 30 years ago, Jessica Dalton, the principal of the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center, told the Register & Bee during an interview and tour of the space.

Nowadays industry is seen as a professional setting. Employees have to have credentials and special skill sets to enter a field.

How it works

The program serves all four high schools in Pittsylvania County with two cohorts a day. Some students come in the morning, take two classes then head back to their base school.

In the afternoon, the situation is reversed with another cohort entering having already had classes at the high school.Although this facility is for juniors and seniors who apply and are accepted, the overall concept is filtering down to the elementary school level.

The idea is to expose students to career pathways early in life. That doesnt mean theyll immediately find something theyll love while in the fifth grade. Instead, they may try something and realize its not for them early on.

You cant wait until that junior or senior time, Rigney explained. Its too late.

Programs last the entire school year and some even expand to two years. There are 15 instructors with a few juggling two programs of study to teach. Out of the 19 programs, 15 carry dual enrollment credits with a community college.

Many students can leave with a career study certificate and enter the workforce right out of high school.

For example, some have their certified nursing assistant licenses while still in high school.

I would rest assured that pretty much every student that comes through our program here could go straight into the workforce, Rigney said. Thats the depth of training that I think our students get here.

Still, some decide to take it a step further and learn more at a community college level or go to a four-year university. It all depends on the students and what they want to do.

Every student in the county has the chance to tour the facility and apply.

Its very important to both of us that every kid has this equal opportunity here, Dalton said.

Recruitment generally starts in March. Sometimes they cant accommodate the applications because of demand or logistics.

Nursing and welding are the most popular courses and the ones that Dalton has to turn away the most students.

Sometimes it comes down to a scheduling conflict with other classes at the base school, leaving the student unable to attend the career and technical center.

We were told we were crazy for wanting to do the career tech, but look where we are now, Pittsylvania County School Board Chair Calvin Doss said in an October meeting.

The program is viewed as a model for others in the state.

Why economic development is involved

Its not uncommon for economic development leaders to bring prospective industries to tour the site. In fact, the day the Register & Bee was there, economic development also had an appointment to showcase the space.

It started about 10 years ago with precision machining which set the tone for the other programs. I think the economic development side has played a role in having conversations with us, Rigney said of not just whats happening now, but whats coming 10 years down the road. When visitors come, sometimes Dalton and Rigney know who the companies are.

Sometimes they dont. Its a secret.

Either way, they are visiting to see a potential pipeline of workers in the region.

Weve had a lot of the big ones that have landed, Rigney explained of previous visits, listing off Tyson as the most recent large-name company.

The roaming leaders  from across the nation and world  dont always bring prospects of new jobs. It may be that theyve heard about what Pittsylvania County is offering and want to see how the program could transform a region elsewhere. Rigney said one time there was a company out of Tennessee that sent representatives down a few times.

Its always a fast-paced tour because they always are on such a tight timeline, Rigney said.

The industry heads want to talk to students.

In this case, there were teenagers in a machining lab one day and an official went over to talk to one of them.

The chat involved whether to run a part vertically or horizontally on the lathe.

They had been having some issues with production in the plant that they ran in Tennessee, Rigney said.

So, they took a concept from the student  a 17-year-old senior  and made a change in the plant.

The production rate at that plant increased substantially, Rigney said.

That particular student went to Danville Community College after high school and had five job offers before he finished there.

I think its a huge selling point for the region, Rigney said of the center.

But they also have industries right down the road that have been around for decades who have no idea whats inside the center. When they find out, they realize they can capitalize on the pipeline.

Whats involved academically

Dalton was quick to note theres a often a lot of academics involved with these highly technical programs.

You cannot weld or be a machinist or run a robot without a lot of math involved, she explained. The content is aggressive. Its rigorousWhile touring the machining classroom, a student was taking a quiz by measuring a part that has been machined. The lone teen was in a quality control environment, replicating the same space an industry would use to check products.

In this quiz, math was a major part of it.

Its something thats often forgotten, Dalton said.

The academic world ties into us just as much as we tie into them, she said, likening it to a puzzle.

I think thats where a lot of our success has been in Pittsylvania County, is we are now really understanding how we have to fit together  the academic side and the career and technical side.The programs constantly undergo scrutiny to ensure the instruction is not only keeping up, but staying ahead of industry standards. Advisory boards from industrial leaders also help the center understand whats going on in the real world.

This cannot be stagnant, Dalton said of the instruction. If you are not having daily conversations, then you are missing something pretty significant, and that includes content.

Also while the Register & Bee was touring the center, the American Culinary Association was on-site performing an accreditation of the program.Other programs also come under the microscope of national certification on a regular basis. This is in addition to regulations from the Virginia Department of Education and the community college system.

The instructors also have to meet a high level of standards. To teach nursing, a person must have a masters degree.

You cant pull someone off the street and plug them in here, Dalton said. Its very difficult to find these people. Very difficult.

Some of the programs

During a morning session, some students were busy over in the culinary space while two representatives were observing the program for accreditation.

The aroma of bacon and sausage frying filled the kitchen while the students were professionally attired  complete with chef hats  as if they were working in an actual restaurant.

With the full casino opening next year, the culinary program  under the the hospitality sector  is gaining a lot of interest, Dalton said.

Over in the precision machining lab, a cohort of junior students were working on a manual lathe machine. They have to grasp the basic skills there before they move on to the computer machines in the lab of equipment north of $1 million.

As you can see, every nook and cranny of this building is being taken, Dalton said while in the machining area. And if we are going to meet regional demands for new programs, I have no space to offer that.

Expansion of the center is included in the plan with money from the sales tax referendum, Pittsylvania County Schools Superintendent Mark Jones said in an October meeting. However, there are other priorities ahead of it.

Over in the automation and robotics area, the technology resembles what Tyson will use at its new facility, only on a much larger scale.

We partnered with our business leaders at Tyson to be sure we are training the way we should, Dalton explained. That was one of the key selling points with Tyson, is making sure that they have a workforce pipeline.

In the welding lab, not only were sparks flying inside specially designed booths, but a student was busy outside working on a giant letter that will be part of the Love sign coming in Gretna.

Students built the whole thing, welding instructor Travis Wood explained. When finished, the 10-by-20-foot creation will have a water feature installed also.

Dalton said the students took a drawing for the design then made a blueprint.

Its a lot of intellectual ability, not just the creative side, but to do the math that this requires and reading a blueprint, she said watching a student weld. Its tough, its hard work.

This is the second Love sign project for students. The first was for Wayside Park in Hurt.

The final stop on the tour highlighted the emergency medical technician course. On this particular day, dispatchers and emergency workers visited the class to train students on radio communication.

This is one of many soft skills students learn in addition to the hands-on practice.

In the field, emergency workers use radios to communicate with a central dispatch system relying information on where to respond. This session gave students a feel for how a command structure works on a radio system with students talking to each other in two separate classrooms.

The soft skills go well beyond this specific class. The centers goal is to make sure students know they have to show up on time to a job and look the part.

They also learn how to speak to their employers. In the age of text messaging replacing face-to-face talks for children, this is no easy task.

Theres also resume and interviewing skills and students attend mock interview sessions yearly at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

A lot of kids just dont know how to talk to people, whether its a formal interview or not, Rigney said. People dont know how to sit down and have a conversation.And just like high school is filled with drama, there will be times in the workplace when theres someone an employee wont get along with.

When we know theres a conflict, just like in the workforce, treating a student at an adult level with respect, youll get it back, Dalton said of another soft skill they instill in the students.

Sometimes you have to lay it out in the sand, just as it would be done in the workforce, Dalton said.

We do have very high expectations, high standards, she said. We are preparing you to go out into the workforce, and we know what it takes.

Photos: Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center
The NGN Training and Development Centre actively participated in the Career Fair organised by the University of Bahrain, which brought together 43 noted institutions and companies representing various sectors in Bahrain.

During the participation, the Centre's team delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting its cutting-edge training courses. These offerings encompassed a wide array of in-demand areas, with a specific focus on both foundational and advanced skills, particularly in the dynamic field of information technology and other pertinent domains.

Yaqoob Al Awadhi, the CEO of the company, highlighted that the company's participation in this exhibition is part of a larger initiative to guide Bahraini youth towards optimal opportunities in training and employment. The objective is to equip fresh graduates and job seekers with the necessary skills to meet the demands of the labor market, aligning with national endeavors to develop and enhance the capabilities of these individuals while bolstering their competitiveness in securing lucrative job prospects.

Al Awadhi said Bahrain, alongside regional countries, is currently witnessing the launch of positive initiatives by employers in anticipation of future employment trends. He pointed out that when Bahraini youth are well-qualified and trained, they are better positioned to capitalise on opportunities stemming from these initiatives. This, in turn, elevates their competitiveness on local, regional, and global scales in the pursuit of lucrative job opportunities.--TradeArabia News Service
Dog owners with holiday travel plans may need to make adjustments to protect their pups from a contagious mystery respiratory illness that is spreading in the United States.

It's unclear if any cases have been confirmed in North Carolina, primarily because there's no diagnostic test for the illness. Veterinarians say symptoms closely resemble those seen in kennel cough. This new illness, however, can drag on for weeks and seems unresponsive to normal treatments.

Symptoms of respiratory illness in dogs include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Officials are urging dog owners to contact their veterinarian if their dog is experiencing any of those symptoms.

Some cases develop into pneumonia  which can progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours. Several fatalities have been reported in other states.

Truss Vet, an urgent care veterinary clinic in Cary, has dedicated a website page to information about the outbreak after receiving many calls from concerned pet owners. Veterinarians are encouraging dog owners to be aware of potential symptoms and take precautions until more is known about this particular respiratory illness.

"What is concerning though is that those same factors that make respiratory disease more common this time of year could also make it much easier for a novel pathogen to spread. And this organism has already shown a propensity to do that," Truss Vet stated on its website.

Truss Vet suggested the following precautions to help protect your dog(s):

Avoid boarding your dog: Like a daycare, it is the perfect environment for swapping pathogens.

Avoid traveling with your dog if you will be in airports, bus/train stations, rest stops, etc. where others are also traveling with dogs who may be sick.

Walk your dog judiciously: If youre generally one to walk on the greenway or go to the dog park where lots of other dogs spend time, consider a temporary detour until this disease is better understood.

Practice good hygiene: It goes without saying, but washing your hands is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Pick up your dogs poop on walks and dispose of it in a trash can. If you work in a veterinary, pet care, dog boarding/grooming facility, or anywhere else where there are dogs, consider washing your clothes immediately after returning home.

Make sure your pet is up to date on all recommended vaccines. While unlikely to provide specific protection against this novel pathogen, vaccines stimulate innate immunity and can help gear up the body to fight infections. It can also help prevent a more complicated co-infection with another illness.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August. The agency is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses.

Labs across the country have been sharing their findings as they try to pinpoint the culprit.

David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, has been investigating the mysterious disease for almost a year.

His lab and colleagues at the university's Hubbard Center for Genome Research have looked at samples from dogs in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and more will be coming from Oregon, Colorado and possibly other states.

He said his team has not seen a large increase in dogs dying from the illness but still encouraged pet owners to decrease contact with other dogs.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Democratic firm, Blueprint, only 5% of Americans say that Joe Biden is far more conservative than me.

Ask yourself, what percentage of Democratic activists, liberal TV hosts, White House staffers, liberal think tankers and donors believe that Biden is far more conservative or even somewhat more conservative than they are? Id be shocked if the number wasnt closer to 90%.

In other words, the elites who push the agenda of the Democratic Party actually believe that Biden is a fairly conservative, old-school centrist Democrat, while even most Democratic voters do not.

But dont go by just one poll. In their new book Where Have All the Democrats Gone, the liberal intellectuals Ruy Teixeira and John Judis argue that the Democratic Party has been led astray by what they call a shadow party of very progressive activists that cant see through the bubble they live in.

The book is partly a corrective to their hugely influential  and misunderstood  2002 book The Emerging Democratic Majority, in which they argued that demographic changes would give Democrats the building blocks for an enduring majority to replace the old dissipating FDR coalition. That book seemed prophetic in 2006 and 2008, when Democrats had massive success marshaling the coalition of the ascendent. Their prediction has not fared well since.

In 2010, Obamas coalition evaporated. Democrats lost 63 House seats. Obama won reelection in 2012, but his coalition shrank from 2008 and the GOP held onto the House. In 2014, the Democrats lost nine Senate seats and 13 in the House. And in 2016? Well.

The key to these losses, Teixeira and Judis explain, was the steady exodus of the white working class. By believing in an iron version of demography is destiny  something Teixeira and Judis never argued  the shadow party felt liberated from the necessities of conventional politics, opting to prioritize issues mainstream voters either dont care very much about or disdain.

Its a very human response. If you think youre going to win no matter what, why not indulge yourself?

Teixera and Judis focus on four issues that tend to turn off more voters than they attract  at least in the way Democrats frame them: race, immigration, transgenderism and other forms of what they call sexual creationism, and climate change.

None of this is to say Teixeira and Judis are conservatives on any of these issues. Their point is that by prioritizing extreme framing on these causes to the exclusion of the Democrats traditional economic populism led millions of white working-class voters to feel that Democrats no longer cared about people like them. And now, theres evidence that some of the nonwhite working class is going with them.

For instance,defund the police was a compelling idea to the shadow party, but it has little appeal to mainstream voters of any race, who may have problems with police abuses but have little tolerance for crime. Fewer than 1 in 5 African Americans supported the cause. Twice as many wanted increased spending on law enforcement.

Obsessed with the intraparty fight, waged largely in the media, Democratic activists tend to treat any issue hyped by the right as illegitimate. The border crisis may not be the threat Tucker Carlson describes, but that doesnt mean its not a crisis. And concern over illegal immigration doesnt make you a racist or nativist.

I have profound disagreements with the economic program laid out by Teixeira and Judis. Unlike them, Im no fan of FDRs vision of economic rights. But theyre persuasive that a Democratic Party that tries to find common cause with the largest voting bloc(s) in America is going to be better for the party and the country than one thats focused on identity politics and sloganeering about white supremacy. The fact is, non-college-educated white people make up about 44% of the electorate, and about two-thirds of registered voters are white.

Theres a lesson here for both parties, because both are institutionally weak and easily manipulated by their shadow parties. Convinced that their existing bases are all they need and any effort to broaden their appeal by watering down their agendas is capitulation to the enemy, theyve concluded its better to rule with a narrow, vulnerable majority than to govern with a broad one.

But the surest way to ensure lasting political progress isnt to win a single election, its to build a durable majority. That means serving voters interests, not dictating to them while insisting that anyone who disagrees with you is a racist  or as Donald Trump says, vermin.
The pressure sensitive adhesive labels industry is growing at a steady and rapid pace in India. It is now time that the contribution of those who have achieved success is chronicled so that those who wish to move ahead have a platform to look for information and news. This blog intends to provide inspiration and reference.
With a bright future ahead, he continues to inspire & transform the lives of countless individuals in need of kidney transplantation & care

Driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Dr. Siddharth Mavani established Mavani Kidney Hospital, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to providing the best possible care for renal disease sufferers. Here, modern infrastructure and state-ofthe-art technology converge to deliver effective diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care.Apparently, patients encounter a host of challenges, from the routine dialysis sessions to the dream of receiving a life-saving kidney transplant. Dr. Siddharth Mavani, a compassionate advocate in the field of nephrology, emphasizes the profound significance of kidney transplantation over long-term dialysis. This procedure doesn't just offer hope; it provides a lasting solution, promising a substantial improvement in the quality of life. Moreover, when considering the broader picture, kidney transplantation emerges as not only more cost-effective but also more life-enriching" he remarks.What truly fuels his passion for nephrology is the ability to restore normalcy to his patients' lives through organ transplantation. The sheer joy of witnessing this transformation and the knowledge that lives are forever changed keeps him inspired every day.Among his areas of expertise lies post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). His research unveiled a concerning trend some kidney transplant recipients were at risk of developing diabetes. Armed with Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTT), he developed a method to detect potential diabetes cases before they fully materialized, allowing for timely interventions and significantly better patient outcomes.At the heart of Dr. Siddharth's medical practice is a simple yet profound goal: to enhance his patients' quality of life. This often leads him to recommend kidney transplantation, not just for symptom control but as a genuine cure. He takes the time to deeply understand each patient's unique situation, crafting a personalized treatment plan that ensures their journey to wellness is as human, compassionate, and impactful as possible.With over 650 kidney transplantations and 40 incompatible kidney transplants, he has made a significant impact on the field of nephrology. His contributions have earned him recognition, including the Golden Achiever Award for Best Nephrologist in India and invitations to prestigious international conferences.In addition to his professional accomplishments, he has displayed remarkable personal achievements. He holds a unique distinction in the Indian Book of Records as the first nephrologist to climb two of the world's highest summits, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus. His dedication to conquering new heights, both in his profession and his personal pursuits, serves as an inspiration to many.The future of nephrology holds promising developments. Emerging technologies such as xenotransplantation, stem cell transplantation, and bio-artificial kidneys offer hope for improving kidney transplantation outcomes. Additionally, advances in immunosuppressive drugs are reducing the risk of rejection, increasing the longevity of grafts, and improving overall transplantation success rates", he concludes on a happy note.
Dancing munchkins and winged monkeys.

A vengeful, green-faced witch and a man made from tin.

This odd conglomeration of characters may seem an unlikely paring with the holiday season. But one trip down the yellow brick road alongside this motley crew leaves one reminiscing on the magic, hope and sense of family that decorates the holidays.

Returning to the stage after nine years, Grandstreet Theatre will ring in the holiday season with its production of The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition, Dec. 1-17.

If you go ... What: Grandstreet Theatre performs The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition When: Dec. 1-17 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Where: Grandstreet Theatre, 325 N. Park Ave. Cost: Ticket prices range from $17-$27. Tickets can be purchased online at grandstreettheatre.com, by phone at 406-447-1574, or in person at the Grandstreet Theatre Box Office. Contact: 406-447-1574 Info: grandstreettheatre.com

Adapted from L. Frank Baums childrens novel and MGMs iconic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz tells the adventure of Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, who get whisked away from their Kansas farm by a tornado to the magical Land of Oz.

Along her journey down Ozs yellow brick road, Dorothy encounters witches, munchkins, talking trees and winged monkeys. But most importantly, she befriends three unique characters: the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Tin Man.

I love the show, said Marianne Adams, director of The Wizard of Oz. Its probably my favorite story.

As a child growing up in Nebraska, Adams recalled the rare privilege of getting to watch The Wizard of Oz as a child when it was broadcast on television once a year.

It was a big deal at our house, said Adams. We would gather around the TV. It was one of those rare times our mom would let us eat in front of the TV instead of at the dinner table.

That ability to invoke nostalgia about ones childhood is part of what makes Baums story such an enduring classic.

The stage adaptation of the MGM film includes the award-winning score featuring well-loved favorites, If I Only Had a Brain, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, and the Oscar-winning, Over the Rainbow.

But it is Grandstreets dynamic cast of actors who breathe life into the characters and story that deserve the most attention. This years production features a cast of 112 young actors, ages 5 to 18.

For Helena High School senior Lyla Ackerman, this will be her second Grandstreet production of The Wizard of Oz. During the last production in 2014, Ackerman played one of the Lollipop Munchkins.

This year, Ackerman trades her color-swirled lollipops for the pointed hat and green complexion of the Wicked Witch of the West.

I definitely developed my own unique evil laugh, said Ackerman of preparing for her role. I really had to think about being this scary person which usually Im not.

In bringing his character of the Cowardly Lion to life, Tristan Hill, seventh grader at Helena Middle School, searched beneath his characters timid exterior for inspiration.

Its just really fun to get to deepen my understanding of the actual character of the Lion compared to what you just see on the screen, said Hill. Its getting to be the Lion that gives you a lot more understanding of how complex he actually is.

This years production of The Wizard of Oz will see Peyton Cottrell, a fourth grader at Hawthorne Elementary School, making her Grandstreet stage debut as a Teacher Munchkin.

Im so excited, said Cottrell. I remember being a little kid and so wanting to be in a show.

Cottrell recalled seeing a few different Grandstreet productions when she was younger that inspired her to want to be an actor as well.

I remember pretending to act, pretending to be all these things, Cottrell recalled. I also used to pretend that I was a Broadway star. Now, ever since that moment of seeing a show Ive dreamed of being a Broadway star.

In preparing for her first stage performance, Cottrell shared that it has come with a whole host of new experiences.

Ive most enjoyed my costume, said Cottrell. Ive never worn a costume to be in front of people.

Im also really excited for my makeup because Ive never worn makeup before so its just a new experience for me, said Cottrell.

Adams explained that all students who auditioned were cast in the show with many roles being double cast. But that doesnt mean some preparation and effort wasnt still required of the young actors.

Theres a lot of hoops to jump through to get there, said Adams of the audition process. They have to have a headshot, they have to have a resume, they have to be taking classes here, and then they have a private audition where they have to do a monologue and a song.

So thats a lot of things  especially if youre 5, said Adams.

Adams, who also serves as the director of education for Grandstreet, is committed to delivering a well-rounded theater education and providing real-life acting experience no matter the students age.

Its part of the education experience, said Adams. For the kids who take classes here its part of their learning process of this is what you have to do if you are going to be in a show.

One might think that directing an all-youth cast would allow for a lighter, less serious rehearsal environment.

Not for me, said Adams firmly. My expectations are the same. They might be higher.

She stressed to the students that You have to take this seriously. The only difference between you and a professional production in my eyes is youre not getting paid.

Those high expectations set for the young actors are done so with the intent of preparing them to be successful adults in whatever they do and become advocates for the wider art community.

When you have youth who are educated in the arts, you have adults who are educated, said Adams.

Adams explained that Grandstreet does two all-youth performances a year  one in December and one in June.

I think thats our core, said Adams. Those are the people that are going to grow up and they become patrons, they become board members, they become actors.

I think that is what makes us so special is all of these kids, said Adams. Theyre just these great, smart kids.

Grandstreets emphasis on education and professionalism for all their students, especially the younger ones, has in turn fostered a community for actors of any age, ability and ambition to coexist and grow in.

We are community theater, said Adams. I tell the kids all the time, this is your theater. If the doors are unlocked, you are welcome here. Doesnt have to be class time, doesnt have to be rehearsal. This is a place for you to be.

I think thats really important for a community to have for their kids somewhere where they can come and hang out when theyre having a bad day or having a great day, said Adams.

Whether it is performing a monologue, running lines backstage with a peer, or just waiting huddled up in the wings for their turn in rehearsal, Grandstreets aspiring young actors have found a place as comforting as Dorothys home in Kansas.

Everyone is friendly and everybodys nice and its fun to be at Grandstreet, said Cottrell. I feel like Grandstreet is my home.

Its really just the community that makes Grandstreet so amazing, said Ackerman. Everyone is always so welcoming and friendly. In turn you bring that out into the Helena community.

Its been 84 years since Dorothy first clicked her ruby heels together and whispered the iconic words, Theres no place like home. This December, attendees of Grandstreets production of The Wizard of Oz may very well find their home away from home  or at least get carried away for a moment as they travel down the yellow brick road.

I hope people smile through the show, said Adams. I hope they sit back and smile and that when they leave here, theyre a little lighter and their world is a little less heavy.
During a Helena City Commission meeting in early November, a conditional use permit was approved by city officials on a 5-0 vote, allowing for the development of high-density town homes on the city's west side.

Though the surrounding neighborhood is largely comprised of single-family residents and zoned as a Residential 2 zone, Helena Planner Michael Alvarez told the commissioners ahead of the vote that the proposed development at 2211 Hauser Blvd. of four town homes aligns with the city's stated growth policy goals and that city code allows for such flexibility with commission approval.

Principal Architect with Slate Architecture Jacob Augenstein on behalf of developer Ray Kuntz thanked the commissioners.

"We're really excited to move forward on this," Augenstein said. "High density, these types of projects are needed. Urban sprawl is horrible, and we don't like it. We feel like this is a great opportunity for the city."

The Helena Zoning Commission also recommended approval of the permit during its Aug. 8 meeting.

With little commission discussion and no public comment offered, the permit was approved. The lack of fanfare belies the critical need for housing within city limits.

Home values have shot up around 80% from 2018, far outpacing wages. The vacancy rate of rental units plummeted to around 4%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The stock of houses for sale also cratered. A state-authored report from October 2022 asserts 42% of renters in Montana spent more than 30% of their incomes on rent the year prior, and rents have only gone up.

"This is a nonpartisan, urgent need, and right now it's all hands on deck," City Commissioner Andy Shirtliff said in an interview. "The city is not oblivious to it. We want to help find a solution. ... There's a sense of urgency."

Shirtliff and his colleagues on the commission said recent efforts to streamline internal processes and incentivize new development through various means have paved the way for healthy growth in home building.

The city asserts commission action over the past four years since the writing of the 2019 Growth Policy has resulted in nearly 1,600 housing units either built or committed to within city limits.

City staff created an interactive map to illustrate the progress made in covering the housing deficit, which can be found on its website.

It states 1,578 total units have resulted from city annexations, subdivision approvals, rezonings, financial contributions and conditional use permits like the one granted for the Hauser Boulevard town homes.

Of the nearly 1,600 housing units, 10% were completed in 2021, 5% were completed in 2023, and 85% are part of ongoing developments. Three quarters of those units are single-family residences, with 11% listed as duplexes and 15% listed as multi-family units.

The map shows the vast majority of the growth out along the western, eastern and northern fringes of Helena, including large subdivisions like Westside Woods, Mountain View Meadows and Craftsman Village.

What the map does not show are redevelopment projects and use-by-right projects not requiring commission approval.

"I'd characterize it as healthy growth," Helena Community Development Director Chris Brink said.

City Commissioner Sean Logan credited improved efficiencies in the process to City Manager Tim Burton.

"One thing that's been ongoing since (Burton) was hired is the review of that whole development process from pre-application meetings all the way through permitting," Logan said. "Our manager has worked with the development community to streamline and improve the process."

Logan also pointed to Burton's hiring of employees in key positions left vacant during prior years' organizational tumult.

"It's my understanding we're fully staffed or close to it," Logan said of developer-facing departments like community development and public works.

Brink's position on the role of municipal government likely helped in the streamlining process.

"I strive everyday to get out of the way," Brink said. "We still have a job to do as a municipal government, but we still want to get out of the way of the developers."

Commissioner Emily Dean said in addition to improving internal processes, the city is actively incentivizing development of affordable housing projects through a variety of avenues.

The city's tax increment finance districts collect property tax revenue increases within their borders and redistribute them to applicants proposing infrastructure upgrades as recommended by citizen advisory boards.

Hundreds of thousands of TIF dollars have been spent in the city's Railroad TIF District, which comprises the Sixth Ward, on projects ranging from sidewalk and stormwater infrastructure upgrades to the demolition of an old building.

The city also established its Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2020 to provide gap financing to housing-focused organizations, both nonprofit and for-profit, that serve people of low to moderate income levels.

Organizations that apply for funding must provide a 5:1 match should the proposed project be approved. Funds will be dispersed as low-interest loans, with payments returning to the fund to address further housing needs.

The fund is mostly comprised of general fund savings generated by American Rescue Plan Act aid, and the city commission previously committed to an annual $100,000 contribution from the general fund.

Dean also noted the city's recent decision to waive permitting fees for affordable housing projects, its commitment of ARPA funds directly to housing developments and its sponsorship of local development projects for Montana Department of Commerce community development block grants.

"The city has really looked at housing as a continuum," Dean said. "We're hoping to not only continue to improve, but also expand the tools in our tool box."

Fellow City Commissioner Melinda Reed said one such tool could be the Helena Housing Map.

"We can see it more clearly now and can help the community and commission see what is happening," Reed said.

She said the data visualization will help move the community onto the same page.

"I do think this is for the community to understand the bigger picture," she said. "Then we can start having the conversation about what else can be done."
DECATUR  The story of a magical toy that comes to life is a must for many during the holiday season.

Along with the beautiful movement of ballet, the show will feature acrobatics, larger puppets and hand-crafted sets and costumes.

IF YOU GO For more information on the international dance company Nutcracker: Magical Christmas Ballet, visit nutcracker.com. The show will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at Millikin Universitys Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $30-$175 and available through Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

The classic story of a girl who makes friends with a nutcracker that comes to life is told through dance and live music.

According to the dance companys marketing director, Jocelyn Guelce, the show will bring various props and other unique features to the stage. We have these beautiful props that were designed in the Czech Republic, she said.

For nearly 30 years the show has been a tradition for families throughout the Midwest. Its a holiday classic, Guelce said. We have been putting our own unique twist on it that really centralizes this idea of peace and harmony through the holidays.

The ballet company has two tours traveling throughout the United States. Both are composed of 40 dancers, Guelce said. Its a large cast with a lot of hustle-and-bustle.

The tour lasts approximately 10 weeks. Were in a new city every day, Guelce said.

The international dancers want to unify the world through the holiday story, Guelce said. That is really the mission this time of year, that is really important to us, she said.

The dancers and crew come from Japan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, London, Cuba and Italy, as well as Ukraine. Unfortunately, the visitors will not have much of an opportunity to experience Decatur, according to Guelce.

Its usually a really turn-and-burn situation, she said about their stop.

However, the dance company has performed in Decatur in the past.

Were returning to a community that hopefully weve grown to have that tradition where its exciting to be back, Guelce said.

PHOTOS: Decatur-area holiday lights displays
The UN climate conference kicked off in Dubai today (November 30) with COP28 President issuing a rallying call to delegates to unite around the agenda and restore faith in multilateralism.

Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, today officially assumed the role of COP28 President in a ceremony to mark the official transfer of the role from his predecessor, Egypts Sameh Shoukry.

Kicking off two weeks of intense climate negotiations, Dr Al Jaber, used his first official speech as COP President to issue a rallying call to delegates to unite around the agenda and restore faith in multilateralism. I pledge that I will run an inclusive and transparent process, one that encourages free and open discussion between all parties, Dr. Sultan said.

He told delegates that the UAE reflects the spirit needed at this COP. We may be a young nation  but we have big ambitions, and hold fast to principles like collaboration, optimism, true partnership, determination and commitment. These are the ingredients that make up the DNA of the UAE. And its these core values of trust, purpose, partnership and pragmatism that I believe must define COP28.

"The science has spoken," the COP28 President told delegates. "It has confirmed the moment is now to find a new road, a road wide enough for all of us, free of the obstacles and detours of the past. That new road starts with a decision on the Global Stocktake (GST), a decision that is ambitious, corrects course and accelerates action to 2030."

Jaber, who is also the CEO of the UAE's national oil company ADNOC, acknowledged in a text version of his opening remarks that there were "strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text ... I ask you to work together".

Meanwhile, the summit began on a positive note with delegates adopting a new fund to help poor nations cope with costly climate disasters.

Al Jaber said the decision sent a "positive signal of momentum to the world and to our work here in Dubai."

In establishing the fund on the first day of the two-week COP28 conference, delegates opened the door for governments to announce contributions.

In his address, Dr. Al Jaber reiterated calls to bridge the global adaptation finance gap, and urged parties to deliver on the promise of a fully operational Loss and Damage fund.

Lets put nature, lives, and livelihoods at the core of our national plans. Lets finally face the issues that are critical to adaptation, like water, food, agriculture, and health, Dr. Al Jaber said, adding that COP28 will be the first to host a climate health ministerial.

This Presidency is committed to unlocking finance to ensure that the Global South does not have to choose between development and climate action.

The COP28 President also noted the importance of decarbonising the existing energy system. Let history reflect the fact that this is the Presidency that made a bold choice to proactively engage with oil and gas companies. We had many discussions. Let me tell you, it wasnt easy. But now, many of these companies are committing to zeroing out methane emissions by 2030 for the first time. And many national oil companies have adopted net zero by 2050 targets for the first time.

Dr. Al Jaber also called for consensus around a framework for the future energy system. I know there are strong views about the idea of including language on fossil fuels and renewables in the negotiated text. We have the power to do something unprecedented. I ask you to work together, he urged delegates. Be flexible, find common ground, come forward with solutions, and achieve consensus. And never lose sight of our North Star of 1.5.

COP28 officially runs until December 12. The COP28 Presidency is determined to do all it can to enable world leaders to deliver a successful decision in response to the GST, meeting the challenge of keeping 1.5 within reach with the highest levels of ambition.
The latest episode of Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is centered on the unsolved 1996 stabbing murders of Cheryl Edwards and Charlita Singleton at the Cloverleaf Mall in Richmond, Virginia. In this episode, host Nat Cardona gives an overview of the crimes and the location where they took place.

Episode transcript

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

If a case isn't solved within the first 72 hours, the chances of solving that crime becomes exponentially lower. The case we're going to start on today is a cold case that's remained unsolved for 27 years. I'm Nat Cardona and welcome to Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles. In this episode, we take a look at the Cloverleaf Mall murders from November of 1996.

And November 7th, 1996, 25 year old Cheryl Edwards and 36 year old Charlita Singleton were working at the all for one store at Cloverleaf Mark's out of Richmond, Virginia. Early the next day, Charlita's family called the police to report her missing after she failed to return home from work. The two women were found stabbed to death, their bodies discovered in the office at the rear of the store.

Now some background on the mall. Cloverleaf was like so many other malls in that golden age of malls in America. It opened in August of 1972 and was the largest in Richmond, Virginia. 42 stores in over 750,000 square feet of retail space. And again, like so many other malls, and it was anchored by retailers like JCPenney and Sears.

The mall was designed by local architects and featured a center court with a 20 foot pool, crystal trees and falling water. It was named Cloverleaf because of its proximity to the Cloverleaf intersection at Chippenham Parkway and Midlothian Turnpike. Cloverleaf Mall was the place to be. Teens hanging out in common areas on weekends. Movie fans taking in a show at the Multiplex theater and families having lunch.

Any good suburbanites version of downtown.

Back to November of 1996. By the time the two women were working at the mall, many of Cloverleaf Best customers women with disposable income to spend at the malls. More than 20 women's clothing stores were choosing other malls for their shopping. The then mall manager, Jay LaFleur, said at the time that people were starting to see kids with huge baggy pants and jeans hanging off their belts and people were intimidated.

Details about the double murder are scarce, not surprising for a decades old unsolved murder case. What we do know is that the Singleton family called the police early on November 8th to report that Charlita was missing, and both families met the first patrol officer in the mall parking lot around 5:15 a.m.. Lieutenant Robert Skowron of the Chesterfield County Police, used a key from story management to enter the back door of the All for $1 store.

That door opened from the parking lot into the store's office. When reflecting about the incident, the lieutenant said he felt uneasy as he approached that locked door scar and recalled with both of their vehicles out front. He strongly suspected that foul play was involved. He opened the door and he found Cheryl Edwards and Charlita Singleton's body stabbed multiple times in the safe open, presumably with money missing.

The lieutenant returned to the parking lot to tell the families in the mall was closed for the day so that law enforcement could scour the crime scene in the surrounding areas for evidence. Family members of both women were quickly cleared of suspicion. They only. We need to take a quick break, so don't go too far with you on on.

Investigators believe that the killer or killers seemingly entered through the back door of the store's mall was closing or already close at the time that they approximate the murder to have happened. However, the police were never able to determine a motive. So typical victimology work the understanding that victims tend to know their murderers resulted in zero leads. Investigators dug into both women's backgrounds and weren't able to find any enemies or persons who would want to harm them- no angry spouses or partners, jealous girlfriend or any type of the usual suspects.

Now back to that empty safe was the motive robbery? If so, why viciously stabbed Singleton and Edwards to death? Could it have been a mall worker or someone who knew their schedules around $20,000 in reward money failed to yield any productive leads, although there were some promising clues at one point in time, a stolen U-Haul from Chattanooga, Tennessee, causing people to hypothesize that maybe it was an out of town robbery, though unlikely for a dollar store type of robbery.

There was that in a man seen running outside of the mall around the presumed time of the murders. Police believe it was soon after the store closed around 9 p.m., but that turned out to be a dead end. So in 1997, a year after the murders, police said that they had no leads. At the time, Singleton and Edwards were killed.

They left behind small kids who were forced to grow up without their mothers. Eight years after the murders and 24 lieutenants score and said the case was getting a fresh look but shared few details. The fallout from the murders is believed to have hastened the closing of the Cloverleaf Mall. Jay LaFleur said at the time that after the tragedy, the national tenants just couldn't get help.

Parents wouldn't want their kids to work there. It was catastrophic. Cloverleaf Mall became the murder mall. And that's where I leave you today. Make sure you hit the subscribe and so you don't miss my interview with Scott Bass of the Times Dispatch. And don't forget to listen to our past episodes of Late Edition Crime Beat Chronicles, a Lee Enterprises podcast.

See you later.
Students in Washington County have posted Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores among the top seven localities of Virginia.

We ranked seventh out of 132 school divisions, Washington County Schools Superintendent Keith Perrigan said during the Tuesday meeting of the Washington County Board of Supervisors in Abingdon.

Thats phenomenal in and of itself, Perrigan said. But its also a tremendous testament to standing against the poverty cycle: More than half of the school systems in Virginia are more affluent than Washington County, Perrigan said.

Typically, schools that have more poverty have lower test scores, Perrigan said, adding, But thats not true in Washington County.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Saul Hernandez applauded the recent SOL comparative news.

Thats quite a feat, he said. Some of the wealthiest counties in the country are in Northern Virginia.

Perrigan believes opening schools fairly early after the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 helped SOL scores rise since 2021.

Heres what we know, its much easier to teach kids if theyre in school, Perrigan said.

Since 2021, county SOL scores have stood above the state average by 11% in science; 17% in math; and 11% in reading, according to Perrigan.

County schools are also 3% over the state average for students receiving an advanced diploma, Perrigan said.

In turn, 32 vocational students recently received state licenses in their trades  even before they graduated, according to Perrigan.

Also, 956 students earned credentials last year in vocational education.

Washington County Public Schools are not just good. Theyre awesome, Perrigan said. Our teachers and students are getting that job done each and every day. My job as superintendent now is just not to mess things up.

Enrollment figures have been fairly level but gradually shrinking over the past decade, Perrigan reported.

Overall, were holding pretty steady year to year.

Population in the John S. Battle High School region has increased by 11% while enrollment has remained steady in the Abingdon High School area.

Populations has decreased by 9% in the Patrick Henry High School area and enrollment has dropped by 8% in the Holston High School area.
MOORESVILLE  Dan Gibbs and his Mr. Handyman crew spent Monday morning rebuilding Walk Thru Bethlehems inn from scratch, part of the outdoor drama set on the outskirts of Mooresville.

Gibbs, the owner of Mr. Handyman, along with his wife Beth, said walking through the living Nativity scene is an annual tradition he looks forward to for his own family.

I especially like coming in the evening. Just the glow of the fires, just a few candles and torches around, it gives it just a neat vibe, Gibbs said.

Though the Christmastime attraction aims to take people back to biblical times, the workers from Mr. Handyman have the advantages of modern tools and power equipment to speed along the process.

We just love being involved in the community, and what better time of year than to be involved in the Christmas season? Were involved in our local church and many of our members volunteer here, Gibbs said. Its a great event for the community and we enjoy giving back and serving and this is a fantastic opportunity that can live on for years and years and years.

The outdoor drama was started in 2004 by a group of local churches and Carol and Tom Welch. In 2008, the location was moved from the Brawley Mansion in Mooresville to Camp Wesley on Deal Road. Ronda and Brent Hart became involved with Walk Thru Bethlehem in 2012.

Telling the Christmas story for us has become our passion. Not everyone knows the biblical Christmas story anymore, Ronda Hart said of sharing the story of God sending his son as a savior to mankind. We want people to know this is the real story of Christmas.

Gibbs said while he and the crew were there to get a job done, working together on a project like this allowed them to come together and fellowship for the day instead of often being alone as they work on different assignments.

Walk Thru Bethlehem touts itself as an outdoor, interactive Christmas drama that tells the story of the very first Christmas, the night Jesus was born. Guides lead guests who register for the census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem as well. The walk takes about 30 minutes.

It takes roughly 140 volunteers each year from around the region as well as donations of time and labor like Gibbs and Mr. Handyman did on Monday. Those volunteers acting in the drama take roles as a tax collector, town merchants and shepherds in the field as they guide guests until their discovery of baby Jesus in the manger.

The goal, of course, is for the participating audience to learn the biblical story and meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is all about Jesus and his coming, but what its really about what he does for us year-round, Gibbs said.

Walk Thru Bethlehem is free and open to the public Dec. 8 from 6-9 p.m. and Dec. 9 from 2-9 p.m. It is located at Camp Wesley, 3090 Deal Road in Mooresville.

For more information, go to walkthrubethlehem.org or the Facebook page at facebook.com/walkthrubethlehemmooresville.

There is still a need for volunteers to take part, with parents with infants encouraged for the manger scene. For more information, contact Ronda Hart at 704-663-9377 or rjhart.wtbdrama@yahoo.com.

Hart said there is a need as well for men and women on Saturday in medium speaking roles. She said there is always room for small roles and unspoken lines as townspeople in Bethlehem as well.
All Peoples Church of Jesus Christ

Worship at 11 a.m. Sunday. Pastor: Prophet Roland Jordan delivers the message.

Ann Street United Methodist Church

335 Ann St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Randy L. Wall. In person and Facebook Live worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: Ready or Not, Here It Comes. Scripture: Matthew 24:36-44.

Bethpage United Methodist Church

109 Fellowship Ave. at W. C St., Kannapolis. 704-932-5296. Pastor: Rev. McKenzie Sefa. Christian Education at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m.

Bogers Chapel United Methodist Church

1775 Flowes Store Road E, Concord. Pastor: Pastor Eric Shaver. Guest Speaker: Mary Morrison. 9 a.m. Sunday school. 10 a.m. Worship service (in person or Facebook). First Sunday of Advent. Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19.

Calvary Lutheran Church

950 Bradley St., Concord. 704-782-6923. Pastor: Rev. Debbie Frye. In-person worship at 8:30 a.m. (casual worship) and 11 a.m. (traditional worship with Childrens Church). Coffee/cookie social 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 9:45 a.m. Childrens Area and Nursery available at all times. All services live-streamed and available anytime on the Calvary Lutheran Concord Youtube channel  easy access through our website www.clconcord.org or church app Calvary Lutheran ChurchNC. All are welcome. Sermon Topic: Keep Awake.

Center United Methodist Church

1119 Union St. S, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Brian Crady. Sunday School for In Betweens and young adults at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. Nursery is provided during the worship service. Website is www.centerumcconcord.org. Look forward to you joining us for our service! Sermon: Now is the Time. Scripture: Luke 1:5-25.

Cold Springs Global Methodist Church

2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Cliff Wall. Worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays. Visit online at https://youtube.com/@coldspringschurchconcord.

Crossroads Church

220 George W. Liles Parkway, Concord. Pastor: Lowell McNaney. Live worship streamed on Facebook, Crossroads Concord Church app or mycrossroads.co website at 9:30 a.m. and 11:11 a.m.

Crown Pointe Baptist Church

703 Tennessee St., Kannapolis. Pastor Rev. Doug Crawley. Sunday school at 9 a.m. Worship at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary, or view online at our Facebook page.

Eastside Missionary Baptist Church

199 Elgin Drive, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Stephen Burrow. In-person services: Sunday school 9:30 a.m. Worship services 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Recorded worship services and other information at EastsideMissionaryBaptist.org. You will be welcomed. Practice social distancing.

Epworth United Methodist Church

1030 Burrage Road NE, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Dennis Marshall. Sunday school at 9 a.m., followed by worship at 10 a.m. We welcome all to join us in person, or you may livestream or watch the recorded service at our website at www.epworthnc.com.

Forest Hill United Methodist Church

265 Union St. N., Concord. Senior Pastor: Rev. Mandy Jones. Associate Pastor: Rev. Wes Judy. We are open for in-person worship. Contemporary worship, 9 a.m. Sunday school/small groups, 10 a.m. Traditional worship, 11 a.m. Both the contemporary and the traditional worship services will also be live-streamed at foresthillumc.org or facebook.com/foresthillumc, in case you dont feel like being here in person.

Grace Church of Concord  A Global Methodist Community

28-B Branchview Drive NE, Concord. Lead Pastor: Michael Dominick. Worshipping every Sunday at 10 a.m. To learn more visit www.graceconcord.org where you will find links to our Sunday Morning LiveStream and more. Topic: God With Us Series  Jesus Is God With Us, and that gives us HOPE. Sermon: God With Us Brings HOPE. Scripture: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23.

Harmony Church Concord

101 White St. NW, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Thad Brown. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. followed by our worship service in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sermon: God With Us. Scripture: Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:19, Deuteronomy 24:1, Matthew 1:20-21, Psalm 130:7-8, Matthew 1:22-23, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8-10, Matthew 1:24-25. Service is live on Facebook.com/HarmonyChurch and we welcome all who are unable to join us in person to worship with us online. For more information, you can call the Pastors phone 704-791-2883 or the churchs phone 704-782-8237.

Jackson Park United Methodist Church

715 Mable Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor Laurie Knoespel. Adult Sunday school, 9:30 a.m. Worship at 10:30 a.m. Nursery will be provided during worship service.

Kirkwood Presbyterian Church

900 Klondale Ave., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Dennis B. Craft. Worship at 11 a.m. in church sanctuary on Sundays. No mask restrictions.

McGill Baptist Church

5300 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, in-person services. Pastor: Rev. Steve Ayers. McGill will stream a worship service Sunday at 10 a.m. on www.facebook.com/mcgillbaptistchurch/ and on YouTube. The services will be live and also available on recording afterward. 1st Sunday of Advent. Sermon: Keep Awake. Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9; I Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37.

Midway United Methodist Church

108 Bethpage Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Craig Allen. Come join us on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. for Sunday School and 10:30 a.m. for worship. Our service is also livestreamed on the web at midwayunitedmethodistchurch.org or facebook.com/midwayUMC. First Sunday of Advent and Communion Sunday. Sermon: No One Likes to Wait. First Reading: I Corinthians 1:3-9. Second Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9. Suggested hymns: UMH 211, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel; UMH98, To God Be the Glory.

Mt. Mitchell Church

6001 Old Salisbury-Concord Road, Kannapolis. Pastor: Joel Locklear. Office phone: 704-933-0155. Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. (Adult and children classes.) Worship at 11 a.m. in person or Facebook. This Sunday is The Love Feast with scripture, songs, hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll. Sermon: Mt. Mitchell Faith & Values.

Multiply Church Concord

150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. N, Concord. Pastor: Rev. Douglas Witherup. 8:30 a.m. service held at 280 Concord Pkwy S, Suite 15, Concord. Services at 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd. N, are worship and sermon at 9:30 a.m. and worship and sermon at 11:15 a.m.

New Gilead Reformed Church

2400 Old Salisbury-Concord Road. Pastor: Jeremy Churchill. 10 a.m. Sunday school followed by 11a.m. Worship in the sanctuary (nursery provided). For those who cant make it in-person, check out our live stream on Facebook and YouTube.

Oak Grove Baptist Church

200 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg. Pastor: Rev. Franklin D. Watkins. 10 a.m. In-person worship service. Also available on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Sermon: Peace On Earth And Goodwill To All. Scripture Isaiah 9: 1-7.

Second Presbyterian Church

1578 Dale Earnhardt Blvd., Kannapolis. Pastor Sue Black, minister. Rev. Aaron Price, assistant pastor. Sunday school at 10 a.m. Worship at 11 a.m. Sermon: Holy Spirit Advent Illumination. Scripture: I John 2:28-3:10.

St. Johns Reformed Church

901 N. Main St., Kannapolis. Pastor: Rev. Chris King. Sunday school for all ages, 9:30 a.m. Worship service, 10:30 a.m. Website  www.ourstjohns.org. Email/Phone  ourstjohns@gmail.com / 704-932-3656. Sermon: Jesus as The Wonderful Counselor. Scripture: Isaiah 9:6.

Trinity United Church of Christ

38 Church St., Concord. Pastor: Rev. Nathan King. Worship at 11 a.m., in person or Facebook live. Website: commachurch.com. Youre invited!
Dog owners with holiday travel plans may need to make adjustments to protect their pups from a contagious mystery respiratory illness that is spreading in the United States.

It's unclear if any cases have been confirmed in North Carolina, primarily because there's no diagnostic test for the illness. Veterinarians say symptoms closely resemble those seen in kennel cough. This new illness, however, can drag on for weeks and seems unresponsive to normal treatments.

Symptoms of respiratory illness in dogs include coughing, sneezing, nasal or eye discharge and lethargy. Officials are urging dog owners to contact their veterinarian if their dog is experiencing any of those symptoms.

Some cases develop into pneumonia  which can progress quickly, making dogs very sick within 24 to 36 hours. Several fatalities have been reported in other states.

Truss Vet, an urgent care veterinary clinic in Cary, N.C., has dedicated a website page to information about the outbreak after receiving many calls from concerned pet owners. Veterinarians are encouraging dog owners to be aware of potential symptoms and take precautions until more is known about this particular respiratory illness.

"What is concerning though is that those same factors that make respiratory disease more common this time of year could also make it much easier for a novel pathogen to spread. And this organism has already shown a propensity to do that," Truss Vet stated on its website.

Truss Vet suggested the following precautions to help protect your dog(s):

Avoid boarding your dog: Like a daycare, it is the perfect environment for swapping pathogens.

Avoid traveling with your dog if you will be in airports, bus/train stations, rest stops, etc. where others are also traveling with dogs who may be sick.

Walk your dog judiciously: If youre generally one to walk on the greenway or go to the dog park where lots of other dogs spend time, consider a temporary detour until this disease is better understood.

Practice good hygiene: It goes without saying, but washing your hands is still one of the best ways to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Pick up your dogs poop on walks and dispose of it in a trash can. If you work in a veterinary, pet care, dog boarding/grooming facility, or anywhere else where there are dogs, consider washing your clothes immediately after returning home.

Make sure your pet is up to date on all recommended vaccines. While unlikely to provide specific protection against this novel pathogen, vaccines stimulate innate immunity and can help gear up the body to fight infections. It can also help prevent a more complicated co-infection with another illness.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has documented more than 200 cases of the disease since mid-August. The agency is working with state researchers and the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratory to find out what is causing the illnesses.

Labs across the country have been sharing their findings as they try to pinpoint the culprit.

David Needle, senior veterinary pathologist at New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire, has been investigating the mysterious disease for almost a year.

His lab and colleagues at the university's Hubbard Center for Genome Research have looked at samples from dogs in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Massachusetts and more will be coming from Oregon, Colorado and possibly other states.

He said his team has not seen a large increase in dogs dying from the illness but still encouraged pet owners to decrease contact with other dogs.

The most popular dog names of 2023 in North Carolina The most popular dog names of 2023 in North Carolina
PRODUCT LAUNCH: With Capacity Provided by Allianz Australia, the Company Brings a New, Comprehensive Digital Risk Management Solution to the Market to Help Businesses Improve Cyber Defences

Coalition, the world's first Active Insurance provider designed to prevent digital risk before it strikes, today launched its suite of innovative Active Cyber Insurance products in Australia. Active Cyber Insurance is more than risk transfer; its a new type of insurance built for the digital age, as it works with organisations to help them understand their cyber risk profiles, improve their defences, and, ultimately, prevent future attacks.

In the last year alone, countless businesses in Australia have suffered high-profile cyber-attacks, affecting millions of Australians and pushing cybersecurity and data privacy to the forefront of the national conversation. Yet, only 20% of Australian SMEs currently have cyber insurance, and even fewer brokers specialise in the coverage area, said Joshua Motta, Coalitions Chief Executive Officer and co-founder. We have observed the intense business need in Australia for access to a comprehensive solution like Active Cyber Insurance that can detect, assess, respond to, and, ultimately, prevent cyber risk. We are excited to bring our unique and innovative solution to brokers and their clients and to be a partner in helping businesses before, during, and after a cyber incident.

Active Insurance combines assessment, protection, and response all in one place. Policyholders can receive a risk assessment to better understand their existing security posture and cyber defensive areas they should reinforce. Through Coalition Control, the companys flagship cyber risk management platform, organisations can receive real-time alerts about current vulnerabilities and emerging threats through continuous scanning and monitoring to help identify risks before an incident can escalate and lead to significant business disruption. Lastly, if and when an attacker inevitably breaks through, Coalition offers an in-house claims team to help businesses quickly recover from an incident and get back to normal operations.

Capacity for Coalitions offering is provided by a multi-year agreement with Allianz Australia. Allianz is a strategic partner of Coalition, also providing capacity for the companys U.S. and U.K. cyber insurance programs.

Cyber risk is a significant threat impacting Australian businesses today, said Phuong Ly, Chief General Manager, Commercial, at Allianz Australia. Allianz is proud to partner with Coalition and help provide our broker partners and their customers this unique solution, which combines comprehensive insurance coverage and active security protection to help safeguard Australian businesses against future cyber-attacks.

The last months witnessed the continuation of growing cyber threats. Early detection and effective response capabilities will be key for our customers as threat actors continue to exploit vulnerabilities. In partnership with Coalition, our customers will be able to reinforce their cyber controls and resilience, said Scott Sayce, Global Head of Cyber at Allianz Commercial.

Coalition offers comprehensive cyber coverage as the standard and covers most industries. Current providers typically present 20+ page applications, which makes it challenging for new buyers and small businesses to access and understand coverage. Coalition provides a streamlined and efficient quoting process with an end-to-end platform where brokers can generate bindable quotes in minutes. For brokers new to Coalitions product offerings and seeking to learn how to protect their clients better, the company provides an extensive library of training materials and resources to help advise on cyber risk.

Australian brokers can now sell Coalition Cyber Insurance and Tech E&O Insurance coverages on a primary basis to businesses with up to $2 billion in turnover and no minimum premium. Coalitions Active Cyber Insurance offering is available for brokers to start quoting now. To learn more, visit: https://www.coalitioninc.com/au/.

Australia is Coalitions fourth global market, having launched in the U.S. in 2018, Canada in 2020, and the U.K. in 2022. The company will continue expanding its Australian offices, building local business development, underwriting, claims, and incident response teams in the region. To learn more about open positions, visit: https://www.coalitioninc.com/careers.
The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google to prevent the search company from blocking online news when the Online News Act comes into force by the end of the year.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the two parties had reached an agreement on Wednesday. Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge later confirmed the news.

The Online News Act, also known as C-18, was approved by the Senate, the upper chamber of the Canadian parliament, on 29 June. It was later passed by the lower chamber.

In August, Facebook started blocking access to news feeds. At the time, Google said it would wait until the law officially took effect before it reacted.

CBC quoted St-Onge as telling reporters on Wednesday: "Many doubted that we would be successful, but I was confident we would find a way to address Google's concerns."

Under the agreement, Google will negotiate with a single entity to formulate deals with various news organisations in the country.

CBC quoted Google global affairs president Kent Walker as saying: "We are pleased that the government of Canada has committed to addressing our core issues with Bill C-18."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: "After months of holding strong, of demonstrating our commitment to local journalism, to strong independent journalists getting paid for their work ... Google has agreed to properly support journalists, including local journalism."
Telstra continues to be plagued by its Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) woes, and this time, was hit by another non-compliance fine, paying to the tune of $300,000 to the Australian Communications and Media Authority.

The IPND is used by Triple Zero to help locate people in an emergency to warn Australians of emergencies like flood or bushfire, and to assist law enforcement activities.

The ACMA announced the fine on Wednesday, claiming the telco failed to provide accurate details of thousands of customers to the national registry.

Telstra will conduct an independent review of its IPND compliance uplift and will submit a quarterly IPND report to the regular as part of a court-enforceable undertaking.

The penalty follows a $2.5 million fine in 2021 when the ACMA found systemic issues with Telstras compliance with IPND rules.

According to the regulator, Telstra failed to comply with the obligations on nearly 850,000 occasions.

To remedy this, Telstra promised to commit to significant compliance uplift program of work to ensure future compliance, but in September 2022, it found more problems when it monitored its issues.

Between October 2010 and August 2022, Telstra failed to provide accurate information to the IPND on more than 19,000 occasions including around 600 occasions where silent numbers were incorrectly flagged for listing in directory services.

It also failed to provide over 200 consumers with a copy of their IPND information within the required time frame.

ACMA chair Nerida OLoughlin advised that the telco needs to focus on completing the program and making sure it is fully compliant with these rules.

The IPND is essential in a crisis when emergency services or police need to contact or locate people in harms way, she said.

We will keep Telstra focused on fixing these longstanding issues and giving consumers confidence that their data is being accurately recorded, assured OLoughlin.
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, has celebrated Bahraini Women's Day by spotlighting the continued valuable contributions of women within its organisation.

Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Mumtalakat, stated: Our ongoing efforts at Mumtalakat focus on supporting and empowering Bahraini women to further enhance their role and participation across various fields.

We are committed to contributing to the national comprehensive development goals under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the pioneering role played by the Supreme Council for Women, led by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Supreme Council for Women, Shaikh Abdulla added.

Significant representation

Marwa Al Saad, Managing Director of Human Capital at Mumtalakat and Chairperson of the Equal Opportunities Committee, said: "We are proud to highlight the significant representation of Bahraini women within our team, as they make up 43% of our total employees and an impressive 67% of our executive management. It is worth noting that a number of our departments are led by an all-women work team, including the Legal Affairs and the Procurement Departments. This serves as evidence of the effectiveness and expertise of Bahraini women.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt congratulations and deep appreciation to all Bahraini women who selflessly contribute to their country in various capacities, Al Saad added.

During the event, Mumtalakat unveiled its video campaign for Bahraini Womens Day, which featured Bahraini women across various roles from Mumtalakat speaking about their experiences and the support they received that enabled them to achieve success. The video was also unveiled on Mumtalakats social media platforms following the event.

By promoting diversity and sustainable development, Mumtalakat aims to enhance its impact on the national economy through its commitment to fostering equal opportunities among its employees and advocating for greater female representation on the boards of directors of its portfolio companies.--TradeArabia News Service
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 Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont infuriated environmentalists by withdrawing his mandate that all vehicles sold in the state by 2035 be EVs. They save lives. Here in West Hollywood I have a Generation Z neighbor who tried to kill herself by sitting inside the garage with her electric car running.

 The Kansas City Chiefs faced a woke uprising over a ten-year-old fan who dressed for Sundays game in full team regalia. The boy wore a tribal headdress, with half his face painted black and half his face painted red. If tried and convicted he could get four-to-eight years as Prime Minister of Canada.

 The Weather Channel reported that the nations first Arctic cold front swept down into the U.S. from Canada and chilled the entire Eastern Seaboard and blew over the National Christmas Tree in Washington D.C. It was colder than Hillarys inauguration. Al Gore led a prayer for global warming.

 Hunter Biden agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee next week but only on TV. Hell tell lawmakers exactly how he hustled millions of dollars from foreign countries while partying with booze, cocaine and strippers. Congress loves to host these Continuing Education Seminars.

 Robert DeNiros anti-Trump speech at the Gotham Film Awards was censored and cut by the sponsor Apple. These things are hilarious. Whenever Hollywood stars give their political opinions at awards ceremonies, you never know which ones are on cocaine and which ones are in the control group.

 Hamas bought time with Israelis Tuesday by releasing a fourth round of hostages in exchange for a daily cease fire and the release of terrorist prisoners. The cable news coverage is non-stop. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is awarding the coveted Peace Prize to Hamas for ending the Ukraine War.

 Nancy Pelosi declared Tuesday that Donald Trump is leading an assault on the health care of Americans by his vow to replace Obama Care. She added that Trump speaks in autocratic tones that threaten our democracy. And now Joe Bidens in trouble for thanking Nancy for her unblinking support.

 Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix as the French military genius was panned by historians for the movies inaccuracies. Napoleons defeat at Waterloo in 1815 ended once and for all Frances reputation for military glory. Today, the French Army is every countrys favorite homecoming game.

 Jimmy Carter attended his wife Rosalynns memorial in Atlanta Tuesday, bringing back fond memories of the Carter Era to millions of Baby Boomers. His presidency coincided with our loose and crazy Disco Era. To this day, I refuse to celebrate Earth Day until Wind and Fire are acknowledged.

(COMMENT, BELOW)
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At this writing, the "ceasefire" in Gaza continues while Hamas dribbles out hostages (who depart the territory amid the bellowing and threats of Palestinian civilians calling for their deaths). How long will this go on? As long as Hamas can stretch it out.

John Hinderaker over at Powerline blog has expressed concern that Israel may be losing its momentum in the war against the terrorists who attacked on Oct. 7, slaughtered 1,200-plus people and took hundreds more hostage. As well he might. If one wonders why Hamas (and their sister group Hezbollah) keeps up the relentless attacks on Israel, the answer should be obvious  because it works; numerous commentators have remarked that the terrorists seem to be winning the "battle for hearts and minds."

Frankly, it isn't much of a battle. In fact, I'd wager that even Hamas did not anticipate the ease with which they could drum up support for their position that the slaughter of innocents in the most horrific ways imaginable is somehow "justified" as a mechanism for obtaining their purported political objectives. They are profiting from the ignorance of the American public and the widespread antisemitism that has taken root here, especially among so-called intellectuals and on college campuses.

These terrorists' tactics strike me as bloodier, more vicious and more lethal versions of the schoolyard bully who hits another kid repeatedly; when the bullied kid finally gets fed up and punches back, the antagonizer runs to the recess monitor and demands that his victim be punished: "He hit me!"

In another, more sensible era, grown-ups would have recognized the persistent provocation for what it was and told the bully to knock it off. But grown-ups with sense are harder to find in today's culture.

Despite Islamic fundamentalists' expressed intention to kill all Jews and wipe Israel off the map, our international "recess monitors" cluck their tongues and start talking again about "proportionality" and a "two-state solution," as if this conflict were merely a matter of land or economics.

It is not, a fact that even former President Bill Clinton was forced to admit in 2016. It is a function of an ideology of hatred.

If Hamas stopped attacking Israel, they could cease being an "open-air prison" and have peace tomorrow. It's inscrutable that this isn't obvious to those demanding that Palestine must be free.

But in truth, it shouldn't surprise anyone that so many of America's leading lights are willing to effectively reward Hamas' deplorable behavior. That is the modus operandi these days.

When mobs looted and burned swaths of U.S. cities down in the 2020 riots, we were told that these "mostly peaceful" protests were legitimate acts against "systemic racism." States like New York and Illinois have eliminated cash bail for most crimes, putting hundreds of criminals back on the streets. And even in states where they have bail  like Wisconsin  state officials release dangerous criminals on de minimis bonds. Darrell Brooks, who killed six people and injured 62 others when he plowed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin two years ago, had been released on a paltry $1,000 bond just three weeks prior, after having tried to run his girlfriend over with his car.

Millions of migrants pour across our southern border in violation of our immigration laws. There are few if any consequences, including for those who exploit the non-enforcement of immigration laws to traffic sex slaves, children or drugs. Our Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas  whose job it is to keep illegal immigrants out  insists that they should be rewarded with amnesty and citizenship.

Hundreds of thousands of homeless people sleep in the streets of our major cities, many using drugs, urinating and defecating in public places. City officials do nothing. (Except, apparently, when the leader of a communist countries pays a visit.)

Every day, videos are posted to social media showing mobs of shoplifters brazenly stealing inventory from stores. Theft cost U.S. retailers more than $112 billion in 2022, an amount that more than doubled in just four years. Nothing is done. (California leads all states for amount of stolen goods; the state reduced shoplifting of $950 or less to a misdemeanor just a few years ago.)

Cellphone videos also reveal the widespread student disrespect and violence in our schools. Last week, a riotous mob of high school students in Queens forced a Jewish teacher to hide in a locked office until police could escort her from the building safely.

Politicians run on promises to solve the country's problems, but once in office, double down on the policies that caused the problems in the first place. Why? Is it about money? I don't think so. I think it is far more fundamental than greed.

Proclaiming a belief in objective standards of right and wrong is unpopular. It is an acknowledgement that there are principles that supersede our own wants and decisions. This is anathema in an era when people are told that everyone can decide for themselves what is "right" and "wrong," "good" and "bad," "true" and "false."

This is nothing more than setting ourselves up as G od.

The carnage wrought by these attitudes should have long since proven to even the biggest skeptic that an objective moral order is not merely a matter of personal preference, like deciding what dish to order at a restaurant. An objective moral order is scientifically rooted in the nature of human beings and therefore necessary for human society to flourish. Like all demonstrable scientific laws, it is immutable. You can decide you "don't believe in" gravity, but if you throw yourself off a building, you'll be dead nevertheless.

Similarly, decisions to reward  or at least, not to sanction  those who engage in bad behavior, have terribly unpleasant results, including punishing those who do not.

The sooner we admit our errors, the sooner we can reclaim a civilized society.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Laura Hollis is an attorney and academic. She resides in Indiana with her husband and their two children.


 David Jimenez, 65, of Maui, Hawaii, was arrested for "pursuing a humpback whale," CBS News reported.

Jimenez, who calls himself Dolphin Dave, was allegedly harassing the whale and dolphins in Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, where he was snorkeling.

Jimenez was unrepentant, though: He told officers "he's not going to stop swimming with whales and dolphins 'because it's magical and others do much worse things.'"

Humpback whales are protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. [CBS News, 3/7/2023]
The financial and management downward spiral at 22nd Century Group Inc. accelerated Wednesday with a regulatory warning to investors and regulators that it may have only enough funds to operate through Jan. 31.

22nd Century, based in Buffalo, has its cigarette-manufacturing operations in a 62,000-square-foot plant in Mocksville where the bulk of its workforce is employed. That workforce approached 50 at its peak, but has since been reduced through cost-cutting initiatives.

As of Nov. 24, 22nd Century has $3.3 million in cash and cash equivalent, compared with $10.4 million on Sept. 30.

The company is actively managing its liquidity and expenses, 22nd Century said in the filing.

The company has approximately $3.3 million in cash and cash equivalents ... and with the completion of at least a $2.5 million warrant inducement offering, we believe we will have sufficient funds to operate the business through Jan. 31.

Yet, 22nd Century cautioned that unless it is able to secure additional funding by Jan. 31, it will have to cease operations and liquidate its assets. The manufacturer cautioned it has no arranged sources of financing currently available to it.

In the same filing and in a news release, 22nd Century announced the hiring of Lawrence Firestone, effective Tuesday, as its sixth full-time or interim chief executive since July 2019, as well as taking over as chairman.

Firestone, 65, brings cannabis industry expertise even as 22nd Century announced Monday plans to exit the hemp/cannabis sector after less than 1 years at a steep financial cost.

On Monday, 22nd Century disclosed it is exiting the hemp/cannabis sector after less than 1 years at a steep financial cost. It entered on Nov. 20 an agreement to sell its GVB Biopharma business for $2.25 million overall to a group identified as Specialty Acquisition Corp. of Nevada.

By comparison, in May 2022 22nd Centurys purchase of the privately held cannabis manufacturer was valued at between $55 million and $60 million.

The pending sale of GVB doesnt end its consideration of potentially selling its tobacco assets, including its VLN cigarette products.

In September, 22nd Century announced its board was evaluating strategic alternatives for its very-low-nicotine products that at least two analysts say could be a foreshadowing of a federal bankruptcy filing.

22nd Century said the corporate review will include consideration of a range of strategic, operational and financial transactions and alternatives, such as business combinations, asset sales, licensing agreements, alternate financing strategies and other options.

In early November, the manufacturer reported a third-quarter loss of $72.7 million, compared with a $13.1 million loss a year ago. Sales were down 8.1% to $17.8 million.

22nd Century said it is dependent on gaining the proceeds from the GVB asset sale, as well as moving forward on its $15 million expense-reduction initiative disclosed July 25.

There can be no assurance that any transaction will be completed, or that any funds received in the warrant inducement offering, or its expense reduction measures will be sufficient for the company to continue as a going concern, according to the filing.

22nd Century cautioned that its payables are now in excess of available cash balances, and payments of payables are not being made as the amounts become due.

Reactions

Several analysts have said 22nd Century appears headed to federal bankruptcy protection if it cannot secure additional funding or find a buyer for its very-low-nicotine traditional (VLN) cigarette assets.

VLN products are touted as containing 95% less nicotine than a traditional cigarette, thus a potential option for smokers looking to cut back, if not halt, their consumption.

However, 22nd Century has struggled to get the VLN cigarettes to resonate with smokers even with gaining retail outlets with Walgreens and 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores.

This all looks like terminal convulsions to me, said Clive Bates of Counterfactual, a London-based public health and sustainability consultancy. I think the end is close. It certainly doesnt say invest in us.

Bates said 22nd Century could learn its fate by the end of the year if the Food and Drug Administration issues another delay or drops its recommendation on establishing VLN standards.

I expect (the FDA) will delay or drop the nicotine rule and then 22nd Century, always a hype stock, will finally implode, Bates said.

Bates said the company makes much of how many stores can in theory carry its VLN product, but remains tight lipped about how much it has actually sold.

22nd Century has essentially run out of paths to viability, said David Sweanor, an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa and the author of several e-cigarette and health studies.

The company now has a total market value of under $7 million and is bleeding cash.

New top executive

22nd Century said interim chief executive John Miller will remain president of its Tobacco business.

22nd Century said Firestone brings more than 40 years of enterprise, operations and financial management experience in both public and private companies.

I am excited to lead 22nd Century Group as we refocus our current strategic plans built around innovative plant technologies for tobacco harm reduction and new consumer focused health and wellness products, Firestone said.

He most recently served as chief financial officer of Justice Cannabis Co. and chairman of FirePower Technology, a privately held manufacturer of ATX power supplies for the information-technology and instrumentation sectors.

Other noteworthy management positions include chief executive of Eastside Distilling Inc. and chief executive of Qualstar Corp.

Even with 22nd Century's disclosed funding challenges, the manufacturer has agreed to pay Firestone a base annual salary of $425,000, and a cash target bonus of up to 75% of his base salary, or $319,000.

However., the manufacturer listed that it has not entered into an employment agreement with Firestone as of Wednesday's filing.

Nora Sullivan, whom Firestone succeeds as chairman, said that "his track record of success with fast growing public companies will serve 22nd Century well as it continues to execute the strategic business plan and work to drive shareholder value.

Andy Arno, an independent director with 22nd Century, said Firestone has established a strong track record of turnaround and positive transformation. He particularly understands the complexities and challenges of companies that are undergoing change, whether due to new product commercialization and growth or the need to restructure.

However, Sweanor questioned Firestone's turnaround record.

"Eastside Distilling was at $2,400 per share in 2015 and is at 99 cents now," Sweanor said. "Qualstar was over $88 a share 23 years ago and is at $3 now.

"That doesn't look like a great turnaround track record, so an alternative explanation of his appointment is likely a better explanation."
Thursday already? Time flies when youre mainlining Mucinex.

Upon receiving the keys to his familys new home, Dionte Epps issued an open invitation to the first responders who helped make it possible.

Any time you see us cooking out, come on it, Epps told representatives of the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office and the Winston-Salem police and fire departments Wednesday afternoon.

And why wouldnt he?

Epps and his wife Denise had just become homeowners through Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County at Wednesdays official dedication ceremony. And this particular project, a five-bedroom, 2 bath house on East Fourteenth Street, had been partially built (and paid for) through a friendly competition between the three agencies to see who could raise the most money and put in the most sweat equity hours.

(For anyone interested in who won, the city cops came out on top, followed by sheriffs deputies and firefighters. Its no stretch to believe that cops will lord it over the other two. To which firefighters might respond with an old saw: Nobody wants to see police roll up but everyone welcomes fire trucks.)

Anyhow, the way Habitat works is pretty straightforward. It bills itself as a hand-up, not a hand-out agency and requires prospective homeowners to put in some 300-400 sweat equity hours alongside volunteers and professionals who build houses. That work can be on their own house, other families homes or volunteering at Habitat.

They have to meet income and work history requirements, too, and attend classes on homeownership, maintenance and financial management.

Its not easy, but the reward is immediate: a stake in the American dream that some believed to be out of reach.

Qualified applicants buy the houses through standard 30-year loans offered at affordable rates, and the mortgage payments allow Habitat to plow money into other houses. Volunteer labor and donated building material helps keep costs down.

For the Epps family - Dionte, Denise and their five kids - and others just like them, the result is life-changing.

They entered the local Habitat program in 2022, put their heads down and forged ahead to meet their obligations. Dionte Epps drives a city bus and works long hours, so Denise Epps took on the financial and life-skills classes. Dionte Epps put in the sweat equity on his off days.

The division of labor obviously worked. Perhaps the Epps personal history of perseverance had something to do with that.

They met as high-school students in Washington D.C. and married on June 20, 2011. Kids  and the pressures that come with them  followed, and like many other American couples, they split up.

But fate conspired to make that a temporary thing.

The COVID-19 pandemic came along. Both lost jobs and economic circumstances brought them back together.

In-person school was replaced by online learning; taking care of five kids was difficult for Denise Epps. Dionte Epps, per Habitat, began spending more time with them.

The result was that the Epps decided they were better together than apart. A second wedding happened July 20, 2021, 10 years after their first.

A lot of things change, attitudes change and sometimes you have to fall in love again to know its really worth it trying and not giving up, Dionte Epps told Habitat for Humanity employees.

Putting a roof over the heads of the family  a roof they own  underscores the notion that good things come to those who wait. And those willing to help themselves.

Identifying the nuisances

Any idiot  most of them anyway  knows that nothing good comes when booze and firearms mix.

The latest demonstration came earlier this week when the owner of the Spott bar on North Glenn Avenue voluntarily surrendered his license to sell alcohol after someone shot the place up over the weekend injuring five  one, 23-year-old Dayona Imani Tyson, suffered life-threatening wounds after being struck several times. The others, authorities said, will live.

Briyonna Mickens-Gambrell, 26, was charged Wednesday with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and one felony count of discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear.

Never has there been a more fitting charge; how else to describe such a thing?

Winston-Salem, no stranger to this sort of thing, has indicated that its attorneys are taking a good look at nuisance abatement laws to permanently close the joint down.

I talked to the city attorney today, and we are collecting data on that right now, Mayor Allen Joines said. We dont do it lightly, and the courts would not approve it without significant data.

Oh, and Winston-Salem police said a man died of a gunshot wound at the same address as the Spott on Nov. 4.

Im no judge but six people shot in the same place in less than a month sure seems like a nuisance.

The lawyerly saber-rattling comes on the heels of other well-publicized incidents.

Earlier this month, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan  who happened to have a front-row seat  floated the idea of applying the same nuisance abatement law to shut down a troublesome Gate City watering hole.

Shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 4, police responded to a report of dozens of gunshots fired outside the Electric Tequila bar on Battleground Avenue. Vaughan, as mentioned, was on a ride-along with patrol officers.

Obviously, the scene was chaotic. Videos circulated on YouTube (and elsewhere) show panicked people running for their lives or ducking for cover behind parked cars.

She, too, sent up a trial balloon for her citys lawyers to use any legal means necessary to get a handle on the situation. The bar, however, lost its lease after the incident and closed.

Nuisance abatement is a difficult bar for cities to clear, legally speaking, with good reason. It should be the ax behind the glass option  used only in case of emergency.

Repeated incidents of indiscriminate gunfire inside saloons should qualify.
Winston-Salem police found no criminal activity linked to the recent death of a Parkland High School student.

Police will not pursue charges following the death of Alex Wilson, 17. He died Monday after he was critically injured Nov. 20 when he jumped from the rear of a school bus.

The Winston-Salem Police Departments traffic enforcement unit gathered evidence in the case and then consulted with the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office, police said Wednesday.

Our heartfelt condolences are with the family as they mourn the loss of their loved one for the upcoming days, the police department said in a statement.

Officers found Wilson lying in the street and critically injured at 5:26 p.m. on Nov. 20, after responding to a call at Alder and Waughtown streets.

Investigators determined that Wilson was riding in a school bus and jumped out of the back of the bus while it was moving, police said.
A Lincoln man went to prison Wednesday for a string of crimes in 2021, which included a break-in at the Nebraska Republican Party office.

In a pre-sentence interview, Miguel Hyler, 43, said he "ran out of money and broke the law."

At Hyler's sentencing, Deputy Lancaster County Public Defender Brittani Lewit said while he broke into the Republican Party headquarters, "this was certainly not something that was politically motivated."

She said Hyler randomly chose the building, went in and took two bottles of soda.

Lewit argued for a sentence of time served or probation, saying Hyler, who has mental health issues, had made significant improvements since his arrest more than two years ago.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller said the state objected, asking for a straight sentence.

"I get there are some mental health issues at play here, but the defendant did commit a number of different crimes in a short period of time," he said.

A day after the Lancaster County crimes, Hyler was arrested in Sarpy County for driving drunk in a stolen van on a newly poured concrete driveway there. It was the end of a spree of drunken threats and thefts over a two-day period.

In a probable cause affidavit for Hyler's arrest for the break-in, Lincoln police say they were able to get surveillance video from the office at 1610 N St., which showed Hyler throwing a brick through the north-side glass door shortly after 2 a.m. May 1, 2021.

The video showed Hyler kick a larger hole to get inside, then walk through the kitchen and office area and take two 2-liter bottles of soda.

When police circulated a still image from the video to Lincoln officers, one recognized Hyler immediately.

Hyler already faced misdemeanor charges after an incident earlier that same day at a Lincoln Walmart where he had threatened to kill employees with a machine gun after being denied the sale of alcohol.

At the jail, Hyler's blood-alcohol level tested 0.092, above the 0.08 legal limit to drive. He was released from jail the same day on a promise to appear in court.

By the time the warrant went out for his arrest for the break-in, Hyler already was back in jail in Papillion facing a felony theft charge and DUI, charges for which he later got a year and two months in prison.

In that case, a construction site manager at Amazon called 911 after a Chevy Express van turned off Nebraska 370 and around construction barricades up a newly poured concrete driveway to Amazon.

When the driver tried to turn around, the van got high-centered on the curb.

Police said they smelled alcohol on Hyler's breath and two empty cans of malt liquor fell from the van. They arrested him for DUI and driving on a revoked license and learned the van had been stolen in Wahoo and that a bike stolen in Gretna was in the back.

Hyler ended up charged in Saunders County where he stole the van. Last month, District Judge Christina Marroquin sentenced him to 180 days in jail, plus nine months of post release supervision.

At his sentencing in Lincoln on Wednesday, Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong said his crimes were extremely serious, particularly the threat he'd made to shoot employees and customers with a machine gun at Walmart.

And she sentenced Hyler to four and a half years in prison, plus 18 months of post-release supervision, for attempted burglary, theft and assault, charges to which he had pleaded no contest.

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
With 10 VR cameras near first and third bases, fans of the KT Wiz baseball team can get up close to the players and cheerleaders.

The technology isn't perfect. The camera placements don't make you feel as though you're on the mound, while fuzzy resolution masks which way the ball is headed and makes the scoreboard difficult to see. And a transmission delay means seeing plays on the Samsung Gear VR some 15 seconds after everyone else around you.

"It was good to see the players close," said Choi Eun-young, 40, clad in a Wiz uniform and black wizard hat. "But baseball games are the best when you come in person."

It's worth a try, though, if you want to experience South Korean baseball's festive culture and see the live K-pop dance up-close. Baseball in Korea is the equivalent of a live outdoor concert; cheerleaders perform to K-pop songs on stage, and the rest of the stadium becomes a giant picnic with family and friends.

There's no charge beyond the regular admission to the game, which starts at 10,000 won (about $8.50). But the experience is by invitation only and is meant for local, Korean-speaking fans. KT Corp., which owns the team, selects four or five families based on their messages about why they want a seat there.

Though the baseball season is over, KT says VR will likely return next year.
WASHINGTON  Among images of the bombed out homes and ravaged streets of Gaza, some stood out for the utter horror: Bloodied, abandoned infants.

Viewed millions of times online since the war began, these images are deepfakes created using artificial intelligence. If you look closely you can see clues: fingers that curl oddly, or eyes that shimmer with an unnatural light  all telltale signs of digital deception.

The outrage the images were created to provoke, however, is all too real.

Pictures from the Israel-Hamas war have vividly and painfully illustrated AI's potential as a propaganda tool, used to create lifelike images of carnage. Since the war began last month, digitally altered ones spread on social media have been used to make false claims about responsibility for casualties or to deceive people about atrocities that never happened.

While most of the false claims circulating online about the war didnt require AI to create and came from more conventional sources, technological advances are coming with increasing frequency and little oversight. Thats made the potential of AI to become another form of weapon starkly apparent, and offered a glimpse of whats to come during future conflicts, elections and other big events.

Its going to get worse  a lot worse  before it gets better, said Jean-Claude Goldenstein, CEO of CREOpoint, a tech company based in San Francisco and Paris that uses AI to assess the validity of online claims. The company has created a database of the most viral deepfakes to emerge from Gaza. Pictures, video and audio: With generative AI its going to be an escalation you havent seen.

In some cases, photos from other conflicts or disasters have been repurposed and passed off as new. In others, generative AI programs have been used to create images from scratch, such as one of a baby crying amidst bombing wreckage that went viral in the conflicts earliest days.

Other examples of AI-generated images include videos showing supposed Israeli missile strikes, or tanks rolling through ruined neighborhoods, or families combing through rubble for survivors.

In many cases, the fakes seem designed to evoke a strong emotional reaction by including the bodies of babies, children or families. In the bloody first days of the war, supporters of both Israel and Hamas alleged the other side had victimized children and babies; deepfake images of wailing infants offered photographic evidence that was quickly held up as proof.

The propagandists who create such images are skilled at targeting people's deepest impulses and anxieties, said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit that has tracked disinformation from the war. Whether it's a deepfake baby, or an actual image of an infant from another conflict, the emotional impact on the viewer is the same.

The more abhorrent the image, the more likely a user is to remember it and to share it, unwittingly spreading the disinformation further.

Similarly deceptive AI-generated content began to spread after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. One altered video appeared to show Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordering Ukrainians to surrender. Such claims have continued to circulate as recently as last week, showing just how persistent even easily debunked misinformation can be.

Each new conflict, or election season, provides new opportunities for disinformation peddlers to demonstrate the latest AI advances. That has many AI experts and political scientists warning of the risks next year, when several countries hold major elections, including the U.S., India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Taiwan, Indonesia and Mexico.

The risk that AI and social media could be used to spread lies to U.S. voters has alarmed lawmakers from both parties in Washington. At a recent hearing on the dangers of deepfake technology, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Democrat of Virginia, said the U.S. must invest in funding the development of AI tools designed to counter other AI.

We as a nation need to get this right, Connolly said.

Around the world a number of startup tech firms are working on new programs that can sniff out deepfakes, affix watermarks to images to prove their origin, or scan text to verify any specious claims that may have been inserted by AI.

The next wave of AI will be: How can we verify the content that is out there. How can you detect misinformation, how can you analyze text to determine if it is trustworthy? said Maria Amelie, co-founder of Factiverse, a Norwegian company that has created an AI program that can scan content for inaccuracies or bias introduced by other AI programs.

Such programs would be of immediate interest to educators, journalists, financial analysts and others interested in rooting out falsehoods, plagiarism or fraud. Similar programs are being designed to sniff out doctored photos or video.

While this technology shows promise, those using AI to lie are often a step ahead, according to David Doermann, a computer scientist who led an effort at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to respond to the national security threats posed by AI-manipulated images.

Every time we release a tool that detects this, our adversaries can use AI to cover up that trace evidence, said Doermann. Detection and trying to pull this stuff down is no longer the solution. We need to have a much bigger solution.

Misinformation about Israel-Hamas war floods social media; here are the facts Claim: Black flag calls Muslims to action Claim: Kim Jong Un blames Biden for war Claim: Turkish president threatens to intervene Claim: Israel confirms it bombed hospital Claim: Qatars emir threatens to cut off worlds natural gas supply Claim: BBC reports Ukraine provided weapons to Hamas Claim: Video shows actor in fake blood for propaganda Claim: Hamas fighters storm sports field to attack Israelis Claim: Putin warns US to stay away from war
Mitsubishi Power, a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), successfully executed a fuel blend of 30 per cent hydrogen and natural gas demonstration at partial load and full load using a grid-connected state-of-the-art 1,650C class J-series Air-Cooled (JAC) gas turbine.

The demonstration took place at the T-Point 2 Combined Cycle Power Plant Validation Facility with a rated output of 566 megawatts (MW) within Takasago Hydrogen Park, within its Takasago Machinery Works in Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture in west central Japan.

Using hydrogen produced at Takasago Hydrogen Park, this demonstration was the worlds first power generation test on a large frame gas turbine using a fuel mixture of 30 per cent hydrogen while connected to the local power grid and using hydrogen produced and stored on the same site.

Mitsubishi Power will continue utilising Takasago Hydrogen Parka facility that makes the integrated validation of hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation (power generation) possibleto establish hydrogen-fired gas turbine technology and facilitate the arrival of a carbon-neutral society.

The demonstration was conducted using results obtained through a project subsidised by Japans New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), using a Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustor.

The demonstration verified the achievement of the same low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and stable combustion during hydrogen co-firing, and that switching fuels from natural gas to hydrogen fuel blending is possible during partial-load and full-load operation.

In 2024, Mitsubishi Power plans to conduct a 100 per cent hydrogen-firing demonstration using a small- to mid-sized H-25 gas turbine (40 MW class) that had been previously installed for compressor driving at the combustion test facility in the park.

Additionally, Mitsubishi Power will proceed with the expansion of the hydrogen storage facility and perform a demonstration using a 50 per cent hydrogen blended fuel.

Takashi Tozawa, Senior Fellow, Senior General Manager, GTCC Business Division of Energy Systems at MHI, said, We see Takasago Hydrogen Park making a significant contribution to the implementation of hydrogen power generation through improvements in product reliability based on verifications and accelerated commercialisation. The 30 per cent hydrogen co-firing demonstration with the JAC gas turbine is an unprecedented and significant milestone toward the energy transition, and we are proud that MHI is able to play such an important role.

The MHI Group is pursuing the Energy Transition as an engine for corporate growth based on its declaration of Mission Net-Zero, targeting carbon neutrality by 2040. The MHI Group will continue to leverage Takasago Hydrogen Park to accelerate the development and actual equipment validation of hydrogen production and power generation technologies. Through its highly reliable products, the MHI Group will continue to contribute to the stable supply of electricity worldwide and the rapid realisation of a carbon-neutral society. --OGN/TradeArabai News Service
PLAINS, Ga.  Rosalynn Carter's family and closest friends celebrated her Wednesday in the same tiny town where she and Jimmy Carter were born, forever their home base as they climbed to the White House and traveled the world for humanitarian causes.

The former first lady, who died Nov. 19 at age 96, had her intimate funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where she and her husband spent decades welcoming guests and where a wooden cross Jimmy Carter fashioned in his wood shop is displayed. Earlier tributes were held in nearby Americus and in Atlanta.

The former president, now 99 and in hospice care, sat in a wheelchair next to Maranatha's front pew, wearing a dark suit and tie to say goodbye to his wife of 77 years.

Maranatha Pastor Tony Lowden said Rosalynn Carter "served every nation around the world" because she embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ and "took it outside the walls" of the church.

"She would say to you today, 'Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,'" Lowden said, continuing in Rosalynn's voice as he described her competitive nature and her belief in salvation and an afterlife. "'Jimmy tried to beat me here. I got here first. I won the prize. Tell him I beat him and I'm waiting on him.'"

"But," Lowden continued, "she would say 'don't stop  there's too many homeless people in the world. There's still too many people who don't have equal rights.'  She would tell you don't stop. Become that virtuous woman. And men, if you're listening, make room for the virtuous woman."

The Carter family later accompanied her casket to the burial plot she'll one day share with her husband, who also attended a Tuesday memorial where two other presidents and all the living first ladies joined the extended Carter family before Wednesday's hometown funeral.

Vernita Sampson, a school bus driver and Plains native, drove a group of area high school students, all wearing Future Farmer of America jackets, to downtown Plains, where hundreds of people soaked up the history of the day and paid tribute to the former first lady along the motorcade route.

"They were people you could relate to, not this high standard where they were up here and, you know, we're all down there," said Sampson, 58. "We never get used to death, no matter who we are or how long you have lived. But knowing that her suffering is no longer and to celebrate that she did live a long life, a very happy and productive life, that gives you joy."

At the service, the mourning came with affectionate stories of her life and plenty of laughter.

"It occurs to me that dad got used to mom disagreeing with him because she was really good at it," son Jack Carter said. "And she became a partner in the true sense of the word, where they had equal footing."

Many family members, including the former president, wore leis to celebrate how much Rosalynn Carter loved living in Hawaii during the couple's Navy years and learning to hula dance while her husband was stationed there.

Jimmy Carter met his future wife only a few days after his mother helped deliver her.

Coming from that town of about 600  then and now  Rosalynn Carter changed lives across America and the developing world, mourners were told at her services this week.

Jimmy Carter's closest political adviser and a political force in her own right, she advocated for better mental health care and underappreciated caregivers in millions of U.S. households. Traveling overseas, she fought disease, famine and the abuse of women and girls.

Even so, she never stopped being the small-town Southerner whose cooking repertoire leaned heavily on mayonnaise and pimento cheese, Jason Carter said as he told endearing stories about his grandmother.

The tributes covered the range of Rosalynn Carter's life.

Events in Atlanta reflected her grandest chapters. Mourners viewed her casket at her husband's presidential library, steps from The Carter Center they co-founded after leaving the White House.

Then she was honored at a service filled with the music of a symphony chorus, a majestic pipe organ and fellow Habitat for Humanity ambassadors Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton and the first ladies joined Jimmy Carter and their four children in the front row, in front of more than 1,000 congregants who wore suits, ties and dresses and filled an elegant Emory University church.

The proceedings Wednesday underscored her simpler constants. The sanctuary in Plains seats fewer people than the balcony at Glenn Memorial in Atlanta. Maranatha, tucked away at the edge of Plains where the town gives way to cotton fields, has no powerful organ, instead the cross her husband made and offering plates he turned on his lathe. Some congregants wore casual attire.

Yet her imprint went well beyond Plains.

Whenever she heard of suffering among her friends or neighbors, she would say, "'Get me their phone numbers so that Jimmy and I can call them,'" Lowden said. But "Rosalynn Carter was someone who would look at children from Sudan or Cambodia and say 'That's my baby, too.'"

Several speakers addressed the former first lady's resilience, perhaps most evident when her husband was defeated by Ronald Reagan in 1980. "When they lost re-election, she thought the best part of her life was over," Josh Carter said of his grandmother. Then came The Carter Center and its work on human rights, "and she knew that was the best part of their life."

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
A 22-year-old Omaha man was sentenced Wednesday to 40 to 46 years in prison for fatally shooting another man during a fight in the parking lot of Hamilton Food Mart last year.

Wuanya Smith, 22, faced a maximum of 70 years and a mandatory minimum of five years at Wednesdays sentencing for the August 2022 killing of 22-year-old Anthony Collins III. Smith was initially charged with second-degree murder but pleaded no contest to manslaughter and use of a firearm to commit a felony in September as part of a plea deal.

Cindy Tate, Smiths public defender, tried to add context Wednesday to her clients decision to shoot five times into a crowd of people that had gathered outside Hamilton Food Mart, at 49th and Hamilton Streets, in the early-morning hours of Aug. 12.

According to in-court statements from Tate and previous statements from investigators, Smith was in the passenger seat of a friends truck when they pulled into the parking lot at about 12:10 a.m. on Aug. 12. The store was closed, but a group of about 20 people were congregated in the parking lot.

One of these people, according to Tate, was Smiths female cousin, who approached the truck and began speaking to Smith through the window. The mother of Smiths child was also at the parking lot, Tate said, and instigated a fight with Smiths cousin after assuming that there was a romantic relationship between the two.

After trying to verbally de-escalate the fight, Tate said, Smith exited the truck and tried to pull the mother of his child away from the situation by her hair. A crowd of people began to gather around the fight.

Tate said Smith saw Collins walking in his direction as the fight continued, and Smith told Collins not to walk up on him. As Collins continued to walk toward Smith, according to Tate, Smith realized that Collins shirt was covered in blood.

According to Tate, Collins had been stabbed earlier that evening in an unrelated incident. It was the sight of Collins approaching Smith while covered in blood that caused Smith to freak out and begin shooting, Tate said.

Smith fired five shots into the crowd that had formed around the fight, striking Collins, who had no prior conflicts with Smith, in the chest. Collins was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he died later that day.

Collins mother, China Jones, described her son as nonviolent, a protector and the most loyal person Ive ever known. She said she never would have guessed she would lose her son to gun violence after moving her small family from Chicago to Omaha in hopes of a safer environment.

Citing Smiths extensive criminal record, which Douglas County District Court Judge Duane Dougherty characterized as very bad and very violent, prosecutors asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence.

Smith had been placed on probation or post-release supervision a total of four times since his first Juvenile Court appearance in 2013, according to prosecutors, and he violated the terms each time. Smith was on post-release supervision after serving an 18-month prison sentence at the time of Collins killing.

Dougherty sentenced Smith to 18 to 20 years on the manslaughter charge and 22 to 26 years on the firearm use charge, for a total of 40 to 46 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 25 years.

Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
RACINE  A charge was amended and the trial was pushed back for one of three men accused in the death of James Hamilton in 2021.

Jonathan Martinez, 27, of Gurnee, Illinois, faces two charges: felony murder as a party to a crime and conspiracy to commit armed robbery with use of force. He was originally charged with first-degree intentional homicide, but that charge was amended to felony murder Nov. 20.

If convicted of both charges, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature, felony murder is committed by a person who causes the death of another when committing specific crimes, including armed robbery. If convicted of the crime, the defendant cannot be imprisoned for more than 15 years in excess of the maximum sentence for the other crime they were allegedly committing at the time of the murder.

Martinez pleaded not guilty to the amended charge. His trial has been rescheduled to start May 13.

Christopher Martinez of Waukegan, Illinois, and Moises Gonzalez of Racine were also charged in connection to Hamiltons death. They are Jonathan Martinezs brothers.

Christopher Martinez is charged with first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon as a party to a crime and attempted armed robbery with use of force as a party to a crime.

Gonzalez is charged with attempted armed robbery as a party to a crime and possession with intent to manufacture or distribute greater than or equal to 200 grams of THC.

Allegations against Jonathan Martinez

According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Racine Police Department officers responded to a call about a possible home invasion in the 1000 block of Monroe Avenue at 10:04 pm Oct. 4, 2021.

When officers entered the residence, they reportedly found Hamilton dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

The criminal complaint said officers found a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, which three rounds had been fired from, in a safe in a bedroom closet.

During their investigation, officers also reportedly found an AR-15 style rifle, several types of controlled substances, and $125,041 in cash.

The complaint said investigators believed there was an attempted robbery at Hamiltons residence, during which the suspects and Hamilton exchanged fire, resulting in Hamiltons death.

Investigators said a neighbors home security video showed a red truck with unique add-on features parked four houses from Hamiltons residence the day of the shooting.

The complaint said at about 9:44 p.m., video showed two people get out of the truck and walking toward the back door of Hamiltons residence. About three minutes later, the suspects are allegedly seen running from the house back to the truck, which then leaves the area.

Investigators were able to determine that the vehicle was purchased by the girlfriend or wife of Jonathan Martinez, according to the complaint.

Additionally, the complaint said investigators used cell phone data to place Christopher and Jonathan Martinez near Hamiltons home at the time of his death.

Gonzalez allegedly told investigators that Christopher Martinez had been telling him for about a month that he was going to rob Hamilton and would give Gonzalez $10,000 after the robbery was completed.

Gonzalez allegedly told investigators that he sold marijuana and that was how he knew Hamilton.

The complaint said Gonzalez told investigators that he picked up Hamiltons roommate on the day of the alleged armed robbery so he would not be in the house. Gonzalez allegedly told Hamilton to be alert and watch for himself and arm himself because he had a bad feeling. Investigators said Gonzalez then later changed his story and state it was a coincidence that he and the roommate were going to Illinois that day.

That night, Hamiltons roommate reportedly received a call from Hamilton. The roommate then allegedly told Gonzalez that Hamilton had been shot or his dog had been shot and asked to be brought back to the residence, according to the complaint.

Gonzalez allegedly admitted to knowing Christopher Martinez was going to rob Hamilton that day and taking no action to prevent or alert anyone about it, according to the complaint.

Gonzalez also allegedly said Christopher Martinez blamed him for the homicide because Hamilton allegedly knew he was coming and had a gun, the complaint said.

Gonzalez reportedly told investigators that Christopher Martinez said Hamilton shot first, so he shot back, hitting Hamilton and killing him.
RACINE  Families will have the chance to learn more about the Racine Unified School District on Saturday.

The RUSD showcase is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon at Case High School, 7345 Washington Ave.

Administrators from all RUSD schools will provide information about the buildings, and students from schools will describe learning opportunities.

RUSD staff will answer questions about various topics, including enrollment, transportation, special education and dual language.

The annual event began in 2019.

This is an opportunity for Racine families to learn about what each RUSD school has to offer and choose the school that is the best fit for their child, Stacy Tapp, RUSD chief of communications and community engagement, wrote in an email. For families who are looking for something specific or are not sure what school is the best fit for their child, this will be an incredible opportunity to check them all out.

The showcase coincides with the start of the RUSD school choice window, which opens Friday and ends Jan. 15.

Families who want to apply for a school other than their boundary area school must apply during this time frame, Tapp wrote. After the window closes, we run the lottery as some of our choice schools fill up and have waiting lists. Families who want to attend their boundary school do not need to apply during this time frame.

Families can apply to a specific school on Saturday as well.

Free family photos in front of a winter theme will be available Saturday, as will free food made by culinary students and kid-friendly activities.

High school academy showcases

Similarly, three RUSD high schools will have academy showcases in December.

Case will have an academy showcase from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4.

Horlick High School, 2119 Rapids Drive, will have a showcase from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Park High School, 1901 12th St., will have a showcase from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13.

The RUSD academy model began in 2016 at Case, Horlick and Park high schools. It is a career-focused education style that aims to engage students in what theyre interested in and connect them with community organizations.

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
1. Yes. More than 70% of the downtown buildings are occupied; the area is thriving now.

2. Yes. With the new E-Center , a brewery and the county annex moving in, its on the rise.

3. No. There may be a lot of new businesses, but foot traffic is still slow on most days.

4. No. Its improving, but the issues of crime and homelessness are still major obstacles.

5. Unsure. The area seems to be rebounding, but its hard to say if the trend will continue.

Vote

View Results
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and President of COP28, currently underway in Dubai, has denied reports that he used his office at COP to negotiate fossil fuel deals.

He said this in reply to a question by a journalist in Dubai. These allegations are false. Not true, incorrect, not accurate. Its an attempt to undermine the work of the Cop28 presidency, he said.

Reports surfaced after the Centre for Climate Reporting an investigative journalism organisationreleased documents about private discussions between Dr Sultan and global government figures.

He added: Do you think the UAE or myself need the COP or the COP presidency to go and establish better deals or commercial relationships? This country over the past 50 years has been built around its ability to build bridges and create relationships and partnerships.

COP28 is the years biggest climate conference and is running from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai.

Some 70,000 campaigners, business chiefs, lobby groups and indigenous communities are expected to attend.

There is expectation of some tough talks on the future role of fossil fuels, and the commitment from countries to start phasing out the use of CO2-emitting coal, oil and gas.

The US, EU and many climate-vulnerable countries are insisting on a final COP28 deal that commits countries to phase out fossil fuels.

While Dr Sultan has said the phase down of fossil fuels is inevitable, countries are waiting to see if the UAE will push other oil-rich nations to back the idea at COP28.

Regarding the convention, Dr Sultan said on the eve of the first day: "This COP is not on ordinary COP; this is the most consequential COP after Paris (Agreement). --OGN
LINCOLN  The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is expected to approve a proposal Friday to name the Rural Health Education Complex at the University of Nebraska at Kearney in honor of Chancellor Douglas Kristensen.

Subject to regents approval, the complex on UNKs west campus will be named the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex.

It includes a building which was completed in 2015, and the Rural Health Education Building currently under construction. The complex is the result of a partnership between UNK and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter and UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold recommended the complex be named for Kristensen following the wishes of the projects lead philanthropic supporter.

The William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation is serving as the lead donor to the project.

Kristensen has served as UNKs chancellor since July 1, 2002. He has been instrumental in bringing UNMC programs to the UNK campus, garnering support for the initial UNMC construction and ongoing expansion.

The boards agenda item states: Chancellor Kristensen has been an ardent champion for Greater Nebraska  especially the health sciences workforce needed to keep communities across our state vibrant.

In the existing Health Science Education Complex, students pursue degrees in professional programs such as cardiovascular interventional technology, diagnostic medical sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, medical laboratory science, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and radiography.

The Rural Health Education Building, the result of a public-private partnership, is targeted for completion in late 2025 with occupancy in early 2026.

The $95 million project will allow UNMC to expand the presence of its allied health and nursing programs in Kearney while launching new programs to train physicians, pharmacists and public health professionals on the UNK campus.

The Board of Regents meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at Varner Hall, 3835 Holdrege St. in Lincoln. The meeting is open to the public and will also be livestreamed at www.nebraska.edu.
Emotions ran high at the final public comment meeting Wednesday on a committees recommendation to close two public elementary schools in La Crosse.

In October, after months of meetings and discussions, the La Crosse School District Facility Advisory Committee recommended closing North Woods International and Hintgen elementaries and consolidating the school operations.

The Hogan Administrative Center auditorium was full of teachers and parents ready to voice their concerns about the two potential school closures Wednesday, reducing the districts elementary schools from nine to seven. More than 30 residents and La Crosse School District staff signed up to share their comments with the La Crosse School District Board of Education.

I understand the FAC was not supposed to be a representative committee but it unofficially became one when the voices of Spence, Emerson and North Woods were present, but Hintgen was not, said Lisa Kruse, a parent of a Hintgen student.

Members of the committee were chosen through an invitation process and hand-selected as the district sought to build a diverse group of members. Many at the hearing called the process flawed and said the effort did not bring the intended result.

It was said that those selected were a diverse group of community members. However, after watching these meetings, there seems to be a lack of racial and socio-economic diversity, said Delane Swanson, a fourth grade teacher at Hintgen. Its unfair to take a recommendation from a group of people who are not representative of the population.

Another common theme was concern about the fiscal aspect of the decision. Deferred maintenance costs for Emerson Elementary are assessed to be about $2.9 million and Spence Elementary $3.4 million.

If the recommendation is to close schools that do not save the district an amount of money that will right the ship, then weve lost sight of the goal, said Sean Hurtubise, commissioner for the Neighborhood Revitalization Committee of La Crosse. He walked away to a standing ovation.

Cheers and applause rose more with each speaker as they gave their testimonies. Members of the districts board of education listened to what the audience had to say and maintained civil discussions, but did not respond.

The last idea presented was about discrimination against economically disadvantaged students. Seventy-four percent of students at Hintgen face economic hardship, and speakers argued uprooting the already vulnerable students would wreck many educational experiences.

By trying to balance out economic factors, you would move economically disadvantaged families from stability, while those with more economic power get to stay, said Delane Swanson, a fourth-grade teacher at Hintgen.

The night ended after about 2 hours of public commentary. The last two speakers were parents of students at Emerson Elementary. Though they were in the minority in the crowd for defending the FAC recommendation, one message resonated with the crowd.

Im so sad that it comes down to this. It is so unfortunate that people in the same city are at odds and pitted against each other on which elementary school to shut down, said Chau Nguyen, parent of two former Emerson Elementary students.

The Board of Education will discuss the committees recommendation with public comments in January. A final decision on school closures is expected in March.

La Crosse school district committee meeting draws passionate crowd
Three adults and a child were injured Wednesday when a school bus collided with a car outside Winona on a slippery highway.

A 2016 Chevy School Bus was heading west at 6:53 a.m. on Highway 14 in Hillsdale Township, between Winona and Stockton, when it collided at Ridge View Road with a 2006 Buick Lucerne heading east on the highway, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The driver of the Buick, identified as Robin Rae Thelen, 62, of Winona, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse.

The school bus driver, Theresa Ann Fedie, 64, of Winona, and the two bus passengers Sara Jean Fennert, 46, also of Winona, and a 10-year-old Goodview girl suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at Winona Health.

Highway 14 was closed between Winona and Stockton temporarily Wednesday morning due to the crash.

According to the State Patrol report, the road conditions included snow/ice at the time of the crash.

No alcohol was involved.

Airbags were deployed in the Buick.

The Winona County Sheriff's Office, Lewiston Ambulance, Winona Ambulance, Gundersen Air, Lewiston Fire, and Minnesota Department of Transportation assisted with the crash.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip  Israel released another group of Palestinian prisoners early Friday, after Hamas freed additional Israeli hostages under a last-minute agreement to extend their cease-fire by another day in Gaza. But any further extension renewal, now in its eighth day, could prove more challenging as Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.

Hamas freed six hostages hours after releasing two Israeli women Thursday afternoon. All were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, then brought to Israel for medical evaluations and to be reunited with their families, the Israeli military said.

A busload of 30 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel was welcomed home in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where dozens of men, some holding green Hamas flags, greeted the prisoners.

Asked why Hamas on Thursday released fewer than the 10 hostages outlined in the cease-fire agreement, the militarys chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, noted 12 Israeli citizens were released the prior day, implying the overall total met Israeli demands.

International pressure mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. The Israeli retaliation killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million are uprooted, leading to a humanitarian crisis.

Israel vows to resume the fighting once the cease-fire ends.

The truce is set to expire early Friday, though international mediators are working to extend it. The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped Oct. 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. About 140 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on his third visit to the region since the start of the war, said he hoped the cease-fire could be extended and more hostages could be released.

Blinken also said that if Israel resumes the war and moves against southern Gaza to pursue Hamas, it must do so in "compliance with international humanitarian law" and must have "a clear plan in place" to protect civilians.

He said Israeli leaders understood that "the massive levels of civilian life and displacement scale we saw in the north not be repeated in the south."

Most of Gaza's population is now crammed into the south with no exit, however, raising questions about how an Israeli ground assault backed by bombardment can avoid heavy civilian casualties.

Qatar and Egypt, which played a key role in mediating, seek to prolong the deal by another two days, said Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service.

Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police.

The two assailants, brothers from a neighborhood in annexed east Jerusalem, were killed. After the attack, Israel detained six other members of the family and the government ordered their house be demolished.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli "crimes."

The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence  including Israeli raids  in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the cease-fire.

On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants.

Tense hostage talks

Netanyahu is under intense pressure from families of the hostages to bring them home. But his far-right governing partners are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

The initial truce, which began Friday and has been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials said before Thursday's hostage releases that Gaza militants still hold about 30 women and children, who would all be released within a few days at the current rate.

The two women released earlier on Thursday  who are 21 and 40 years old  returned to Israel. Hamas said it handed them over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, suggesting they may have been held in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have controlled much of the area for weeks and have been searching for hostages.

The 30 Palestinians released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teens and eight Israeli Palestinian women who were arrested since the war started, most of them for pro-Palestinian social media posts, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, which advocates for prisoners.

Israeli authorities have carried out a crackdown on such posts, arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.

'Let me tell them goodbye before they get killed': How eSIM cards are connecting Palestinian families 'Let me tell them goodbye before they get killed': How eSIM cards are connecting Palestinian families Taking 'baby steps together across the world'
As if Texas didnt already have enough disasters  floods, fires, tornadoes, explosions  it has added a new kind to the list. At around 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 8, Texas recorded the fourth-largest earthquake in the states history, a 5.3 magnitude event. Thankfully it was miles south of Mentone, a West Texas town with a census count of 10 souls. The tremors, however, rippled all the way to central New Mexico.

The relevance of this particular earthquake wasnt its relatively high magnitude or its minimal damage. Its that it happened in the middle of the Permian Basin, the nations largest oil field.

Thats no coincidence. Temblors in Texas have risen sharply over the past decade, and research has linked the increased seismic activity to fracking. After oil and gas are pumped from production wells, theyre separated from the groundwater that comes up with them. That water is toxic, so its typically injected back into the porous rock formations. That creates fluid pressure on ancient fault lines. Eventually that pressure builds to the point that the fault lines slip, causing earthquakes.

Oil and gas producers have made a devil's bargain with Texas' geography. They print money by extracting oil and gas from this desolate yet bountiful region  the Permian generated roughly $182 billion in gross domestic product this year. In turn, they drastically alter our underground geology, leading to earthquakes, sinkholes and even permanent saltwater lakes created from briny, contaminated water.

The Texas Railroad Commission, the state agency tasked with oversight of the oil and gas industry, mostly neglects its responsibilities. Will they step up this time?

The railroad commission and county officials established a plan a year ago: After a quake of 4.5 or higher, the commission would prohibit operators from injecting wastewater underground for up to two years. ... The Houston Chronicle's Amanda Drane reported that up to 600,000 barrels a day of injection capacity could be lost if the commission imposes this rule, which of course would impact the bottom lines of many oil and gas operators, as well as the economic wellbeing of many West Texas boomtowns. Consider that the housekeepers at two "man camps" for oil field workers north of Mentone get paid $45,000, along with free room and board and a full benefits package.

The railroad commission said it was working with operators to limit injection wells where the earthquake happened, though the agency did not specifically say whether it would enforce its own rule.

Following through should be the minimum. Temporarily shutting down injection wells while hoping that others don't trip up fault lines is a shortsighted, whack-a-mole strategy. What the commission needs is a regulatory system that accounts for Texas' geographic limitations.

We're not holding our breath. The railroad commissioners are so chummy with the industry that they rake in campaign donations from oil and gas companies, while also trading oil and gas stocks and owning mineral interests.

Ideally, to decide where operators are allowed to drill, the commission would use the plethora of data that show which parts of the Permian Basin have problematic seismic activity. It would enforce responsible water management and spur investment in facilities and pipelines that recycle the produced water used for drilling. It would limit operators from blasting produced water back underground or discharging it in our rivers, creeks and streams.

That level of planning would be good for business, giving operators the ability to invest and drill accordingly. It would also protect Texas' natural environment and mitigate the risk to property and people. It's the sort of commonsense policy that we wish we could expect of that commission all the time.
This article appears in the December 1, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

In Memory of President John F. Kennedy

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JFK Library

Nov. 22At a moment of building tensions throughout the world, with wars ongoing and starvation and deaths from disease taking too many lives, and leaders unwilling to stand up against the private interests of the oligarchs who are operating in the shadows, I recommend we pause for a moment to remember the life of a great Americanformer President John F. Kennedy, who was taken from us 60 years ago today in Dallas, Texas in an assassination still covered up by the people who were responsible for organizing both his death and the cover-up of his death.

Kennedy was a man of great courage. Most famous perhaps for his willingness to stand up against the shadow government of his time, which was pushing him to go to war with the Soviet Union. Particularly during the 1961 Bay of Pigs crisis, which was in particular the work of Allen Dulles and the CIA, and then again in October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

President Kennedy famously said that he preferred negotiations to war, even as his advisors were advocating attacks on Cuba, threats to invade or attack the Soviet Union, the deployment of missiles surrounding the Soviet Union, and so on. Kennedy made the statement in his Inaugural Address, Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.

That was on January 20, 1961.

Three days earlier, President Dwight Eisenhower had given his Farewell Address in which he made the following comments. Talking about how the private defense industry had become a permanent part of the economy after World War II, Eisenhower said,

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence, economic, political, even spiritual, is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the Federal government. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

And he concluded by calling on an alert and knowledgeable citizenry to protect against abuses by this power. It was against this military-industrial complex that we can see John F. Kennedy moving in the last months of his life. I want to give you some examples of that.

Recoup the Chance Lost in 1963

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White House/Cecil Stoughton

Lets start with his famous June 10, 1963, peace speech, a commencement address at American University in which he announced the moves toward a nuclear test ban treaty, and included an appeal to the Soviet Union at the end of the speech, saying:

So, let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our childrens future. And we are all mortal.

Therefore, in his view, we must act on the basis of this common link. There are examples galore of what he did in these last months. Im going to take the time to go through three of them.

On June 4, 1963, a week before the American University speech, Kennedy signed Executive Order 11110, which issued U.S. notes through the Treasury rather than Federal Reserve notes. Theres some debate as to whether he intended to go further. I think the evidence is clear that he intended to remove the power of the central banks. The private banks, by the way, controlled the central bank of the United States, the Federal Reserve. Kennedy was in a fight to ensure that there would be credit available for producers. It was in that context that he issued this executive order.

On June 11, the day after the American University speech, he gave a nationally televised address on civil rights. He was announcing a package of legislation that he was sending to Congress to carry through a whole new direction of civil rights legislation that would change the country from the period of segregation and discrimination, into a new future. He said: Every American ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated.

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DoS

Again, what you see is the appeal for the benefit of the other, that we each have responsibility for the common good of our fellow citizens, as well as for our fellow human beings in other countries. This was central to what Kennedy was doing in the last months of his life. The civil rights legislation was not passed until after his death.

From June until his assassination, he was working on a broad project of rapprochement, of detente with the Soviet Union through communication with Nikita Khrushchev, the Premier of the Soviet Union. President Kennedy had authorized a back-channel discussion with Cubas Fidel Castro. He was involved in a fight with his military and intelligence community to pull troops out of Vietnam; to end the struggle to enforce colonialism against the Global South. Kennedy made several speeches on this as a Senator, in 1954 on Vietnam, and in 1957 on Algeria. Kennedy came from that Franklin Roosevelt tradition that said that the United States has a tradition of anti-colonial revolution and must not stand on the side of the colonial oppressors against the sovereign interest of states in the Global South. In that sense, Kennedy was pursuing the kinds of policies that we see coming together today in the emergence of the BRICS and other kinds of alliances.

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White House/Cecil Stoughton

Each of these statements challenged the power of the military-industrial complex. This becomes absolutely clear if you do a deeper dive. I recommend the book by James W. Douglass, JFK and the Unspeakable, in which he details the opposition to President Kennedy from the CIA, from the FBI, from the intelligence community, from the networks of the Dulles brothers. And the irony of course is that after his assassination, who was the person coordinating the Warren Commission investigation into his death? It was Allen Dulles; no wonder there was a cover-up.

Let Us Start the Kennedy Second Term

What was the fear in London and New York? It was that with a second term, and the possibility of a Robert F. Kennedy Presidency succeeding him, their power would be reduced if not eliminated. There are reports that after the Bay of Pigs crisis, President Kennedy had said he wished to splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds.

Given what we know todaythe danger that these forces represented back then and still todaylet us invoke the spirit of John F. Kennedy to finish the job that he was prevented from completing. Thats the mission of the Schiller Institute. That was the mission that Kennedys fellow World War II veteran, Lyndon LaRouche, took forward in his life: The idea that the United States must continue to represent the tradition of an anti-colonial revolutionary power with a Constitution that rests power in the hands of the people, not in the hands of private special interests such as the corporate cartels that control the banking system, the healthcare system, the food delivery system, and so on.

Kennedy made another speech that I want to bring to your attention, which again is relevant for today and is a powerful indication of his thinking. This was a speech against secrecy before the American Newspaper Publishers Association on April 27, 1961. He said:

The very word secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment.

Think about that after 9/11 and the revelations of Edward Snowden. JFK went on to say:

I not only could not stifle controversy among your readersI welcome it.

Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeedand no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy.

Those words say so much to those of us today who are trying to organize to put an end to the power of this military-industrial complex that President Eisenhower warned us about, and that took the life of John F. Kennedy. Its in that sense that I would invoke his spirit for you to engage in discussion around the Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, and to bring to life this American tradition which is in danger of being snuffed out by those who wish to have their power to run a unipolar order unchallenged. As Kennedy said, to paraphrase him, we must not only challenge it, but we must welcome the challenge to bring our country back to its traditions.

Readers can follow Harley Schlangers daily video updates on the website of The LaRouche Organization here. This article is adapted from his report on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. He urged his listeners to go to YouTube, listen to speeches by John F. Kennedy, and engage in critical thinking.
This article appears in the December 1, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

Unique BRICS-Plus Summit Points to Steps Forward from Gaza Pause

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Nov. 25While the welcome four-day truce and prisoner exchanges in the horrific Gaza war came from strong pressure on Israels government by the United States, Egypt, and particularly by Israels angry population, extraordinary actions were taken by the BRICS-Plus and Southwest Asian nations as the agreement was negotiated, to create a path beyond truce, immediately to ceasefire. This may have begun in the meeting of Chinas President Xi Jinping with U.S. President Joe Biden back on Nov. 15the same day on which Resolution 2712 for a humanitarian pause in the war passed the UN Security Council without a U.S. vetobut the diplomatic activity of the Global South has greatly expanded since then.

The key step was the Nov. 21 online summit meeting of all 11 of the BRICS-Plus nationstheir first such summitwhich featured Chinas proposal to organize an international peace conference on the Southwest Asia conflict. At the same time, beginning Nov. 21, the foreign ministers of a group of Islamic nations were visiting the Permanent 5 members of the UN Security Council, starting with Beijing and ending with Washington on Nov. 25.

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Government of Oman

This contact group came out of the recent joint meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League on the war crisis. It included foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye, Palestine, Indonesia and Nigeria, the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, and a representative of Qatar. Its emergency diplomatic tour recognized that reaching peace requires bringing the United States to enter a peace conference with China and other BRICS nations which include important Islamic nations of Southwest Asia and North Africa. Israels mass killing in Gaza and the West Bank has shattered the Biden Administrations previous strategy of diplomatic recognition agreements of more Arab nations with Israel, ignoring the Palestinians. Numerous U.S. officials have acknowledged off the record that Israels government has no strategy worthy of the name for the war, and little domestic support.

This is the opportunity that Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche seized when on Nov. 22 she called on all the active leaders and organizers in the International Peace Coalition to demand that an international peace conference come out of the Gaza truce or humanitarian pause and discuss development of the Mideast region along with a ceasefire.

The need for this is desperate, because if the Netanyahu government of Israel resumes its revenge pogrom against Palestinians and keeps trying to provoke war in Lebanon with Hezbollah, the fuse is short to war with Iran and incalculable consequences.

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UN/Evan Schneider

BRICS Is Expanding Its Role

Leaders of the five BRICS member nations, and of the six nations invited to become members effective Jan. 1, met on Nov. 21 on line for an emergency video summit on the Palestine-Israel crisis, chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The 11 participating nations were Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Argentina, with the participation of nine of their heads of state, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and a representative of Qatar. Ramaphosa issued a Chairs Summary afterward, saying that there was not time for the group to formulate and issue a joint declaration. But many national leaders spoke out strongly following Xis international peace conference proposal.

Clearly the expanding BRICS group, which through some cooperative economic actions has already moved the world economy toward a new paradigm, was taking its first step to political coordination, on the most critical possible international crisis. President Xi said,

China calls for early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace and work toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just, and sustainable.

He stated three principles: An immediate ceasefire; open and secure humanitarian corridors for assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and an end to collective punishment of Gazans by denial of water, electricity and fuel, or by forced expulsion; and practical measures by the community of nations to stop the conflict from spreading across the region.

The Chairs Summary by President Ramaphosa said the nations

condemned any kind of individual or mass forcible transfer and deportation of Palestinians from their own land  [which] constitute grave breaches of the Geneva conventions and war crimes and violations under International Humanitarian Law.

On these points, the BRICS-Plus Chairs Summary overlaps U.S. warnings to Israel about its war conduct, including public statements by President Biden. The Summary also states:

We reaffirmed that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means. The Chair joined calls for the international community to support direct negotiations based on international law including relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, towards a two-state solution, leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine.

Brazils President Lula da Silva stated to the Summit that the BRICS have to mobilize political and diplomatic forces and that Brazil is ready to support all initiatives that lead to a political solution to this conflict. Indias External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, Our endeavor should be to make a difference on the ground immediatelyhe reported on the aid India is sending to Gazawhile also creating conditions for lasting solutions.

No Sole Superpower in Southwest Asia

Simultaneous with the BRICS-Plus online summit Nov. 21, the contact group of Islamic nations cited above, on the second leg of their visits to the Permanent Five members of the UN Security Council, was in Moscow meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Russian President Vladimir Putins statements at the BRICS-Plus Summit were clearly related to this. Putin stressed that the only lasting way to settle the crisis is an overall solution to the Palestinian issue with international supervision (e.g., what was previously called the Middle East Quartet, consisting of the UN, the United States, the European Union, and Russia), based on decades of binding UN resolutions. Putin briefly described some of the horrors occurring in Gaza and then stated:

And all of that is, in fact, happening as a consequence of the United States aspiration to monopolize the mediation role in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement process, and block the activities of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators. This is historys way of demonstrating that attempts to single-handedly cut the Palestinian knot are unviable and counterproductive.

Russias stance is consistent and independent of momentary conditions. We urge the international community to join efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation, negotiating a ceasefire and achieving a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The BRICS states and the countries in the region could play a key role in this work.

Putin concluded by announcing that the BRICS, under Russias presidency in 2024, will continue discussing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as other urgent global and regional issues. In other words, the BRICS is going to be playing a major role on the world stage.

After the Arab League and Islamic nations leaders meeting with Lavrov, the Moscow newspaper Vedomosti ran a Nov. 22 article titled, Russia Proposes New Game Plan for the Mideast. Vedomosti picked up from TASS news agency that Andrey Kortunov, Director-General of the Russian International Affairs Council, had spoken of efforts to create a new security architecture for the Middle East. He pointed out that Arab and Muslim countries want to enlist Russia and Chinas help in order to counterbalance the dominant role of the United States.

The Arab countries, Kortunov said, are unwilling simply to rely on America as the mediator in the Middle East. They are rightly concerned that the United States will try to go back to the Abraham Accords of the Trump Presidency; that is, Israels separate agreements with several Arab and Islamic nations. Meanwhile, the Americans will ignore the pro-Palestinian masses in Arab countries, putting pressure on Arab and Muslim elites to accept Israels demands, Kortunov noted. The countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and Arab League

would like to introduce new players into this equation, who would be able to offset U.S. influence. The list of such players is quite short; it includes Russia, China, and Turkiye, as well as some countries of the Global South.

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi was part of the Nov. 21 BRICS-Plus Summit and his Foreign Minister Sami Shukri was in the Arab League-OIC delegation visiting China, Russia, France, the UK, and the United States. On Nov. 24 President El-Sisi was able to hold a press conference in Egypt with two prime ministers of European nations, Alexander De Croo of Belgium and Pedro Sanchez of Spain, to call for the recognition by the United Nations of an independent State of Palestine. The two had also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Chaim Herzog.

The two-state solution which implies such recognition of Palestine is, again, an overlap with the stated policy of U.S. President Bidens administration; but it has been a dead letter in U.S.-Israeli relations for years given Israels Likud governments opposition, and remains soup to now.

Peace and Development Fund?

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UN/Eskinder Debebe

In all of this activity for peace, including the calls for a two-state solution with Palestinian sovereignty, the International Peace Coalition initiated in July 2023 by Helga Zepp-LaRouche is unique in proposing that the key to peace is economic development in the form of an Oasis Plan to bring water, power, and agricultural modernization to the entire region. The outline of this plan was first proposed by her husband, the late economist and statesman Lyndon LaRouche, as long ago as 1975.

Although it is implied in the success of any Southwest Asia new strategic architecture for which the BRICS-Plus are organizing now, those nations have not yet linked such physical-economic development plans to that architecture.

On Nov. 20, however, the United Nations Security Council held a seminar, The Nexus of Peace with Development, open to all UN nations, at which 35 countries representatives gave very brief statements after listening to presentations by three briefers: well-known economist Prof. Jeffrey Sachs; UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres; and Dilma Rousseff, former President of Brazil and current President of the New Development Bank founded by the BRICS nations. Both Guterres and Sachs called for the UN Security Council to create development funds.

Guterres proposed a Sustainable Development Goals Stimulus of $500 billion/year  [to] release resources for long-term, affordable financing from multilateral and private sources, as reported by UN News.

Sachs said,

All four wars [Ukraine, Palestine, Syria, African Sahel regioned.] could be ended quickly by agreement in the UN Security Council  by addressing the underlying economic and political factors. The Security Council should establish a Peace and Development Fund.

When speaking specifically about the long-running Sahel conflicts, Sachs said that external fundingmeaning multilateral development bank or other public fundsis needed for electrification, road and rail infrastructure, and education.

Into the window of time for action defined by the initial four-day pause in the Gaza horrors and the unprecedented steps taken by the BRICS and Global South nations, Helga Zepp-LaRouche made her call for the International Peace Coalition forces to demand an immediate international peace conference to solve the Southwest Asia conflict with development.
This editorial appears in the December 1, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

EDITORIAL

Stand with Humanity!

[Print version of this editorial]

Nov. 26The Nov. 26 Emergency Forum, No More War Crimes! Economic Development, Not Depopulation! sponsored by Humanity for Peace, was held today as the four-day Gaza ceasefire began to draw to a close.

The Nov. 24 actions by the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium in confronting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directlycalling for, not only an end to the killing, but also a Palestinian state, and immediate negotiations to stop the violencewere the first public major break, from within NATO, with the ethnic cleansing policy that has already made northern Gaza unlivable, and has already wiped out generations of Palestinians killed by retributive justice and collective punishment.

Beside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisis call for the same thing, his remarks that he would be prepared to accept a demilitarized Palestinian state, secured by international guarantors, and that we will not permit the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. I sensed a genuine and real understanding by the international community on our rejection of the displacement issue, show that the seed-crystal of a new security and development architecture could in fact emerge right now, by forcing the world to assert the universal, inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people, for which the Schiller Institute has stood from its 1984 founding document, Declaration of the Inalienable Rights of Man.

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, founder and head of the international Schiller Institute, responded, at the conclusion of the Nov. 24 meeting of the International Peace Coalition, to the final paragraph of a Nov. 23 article written by economist James Kenneth Galbraith, titled On the Consequences of the Kennedy Coverup, a reflection on the 60th anniversary of the public execution of the President of the United States, November 22, 1963. Galbraith is the chairman of Economists for Peace and Security, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the son of economist John Kenneth Galbraith.

Beginning his article, Galbraith wrote:

We know for fact that Chief Justice Earl Warren acted under Johnsons instructions to squelch suspicions directed at Castros Cuba or the Soviet Unionwho were in fact uninvolvedand so to defuse pressures for retaliation leading to nuclear war. We know that in such a war, at that moment, the U.S. would have held an overwhelming advantage, and we know that U.S. war planners back in 1961 had already plotted such an attack for late 1963, to Kennedys disgust.

Galbraith had highlighted, in a 1994 article called Did the U.S. Military Plan a Nuclear First Strike for 1963? the then-just-declassified (in 1993) Burris Memorandum written for then Vice President Lyndon Johnson, regarding a meeting that took place on July 20, 1961, in the first year of the Administration. Galbraith wrote:

General Lyman Lemnitzer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, stepped in to explain the assumption of the 1961 report: a surprise attack in late 1963, preceded by a period of heightened tensions. 

Paragraph three records Kennedy asking a hypothetical question: what would happen if we launched a strike in the winter of 1962? Allen Dulles of the CIA responded that the attack would be much less effective since there would be considerably fewer missiles involved. 

Paragraph four reports one more Kennedy question: how much time would citizens need to remain in shelters following an attack? The President receives a qualified estimate of two weeks from a member of the subcommittee. The group was clearly talking about U.S. citizens protecting themselves from the globe-encircling fallout following a U.S. nuclear attack on the U.S.S.R.

Paragraph five adds to the intensity of the document with Kennedys directive that no member in attendance disclose even the subject of the meeting.

McGeorge Bundy, National Security Adviser to JFK (and later arch-enemy of Lyndon LaRouche), in his book Danger and Survival: Choices About the Bomb in the First Fifty Years (1988), reported:

In the summer of 1961 [Kennedy] went through a formal briefing on the net assessment of a general nuclear war between the two superpowers, and he expressed his own reaction to Dean Rusk as they walked from the cabinet room to the Oval Office for a private meeting on other subjects: And we call ourselves the human race.

Kennedys June 10, 1963 American University commencement speech on peace is usefully reconsidered in light of the Burris Memorandum and the subsequent October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Galbraiths final paragraph in his just-published article on the consequences of the Kennedy assassination coverup, to which Zepp-LaRouche responded, is the following:

For the United States, at the moment, reality may be breaking through on four fronts. There is disillusion with claims that the economy is in fine shape. There is the realization that China is now the worlds leading industrial and economic power, having overtaken the United States within the past twenty years. There is a dawning realization that Russia is once again a superpower, not to be defeated militarily or by sanctions. And there is the horror of crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. If these factors and their consequences cannot produce a revolt against elites for whom Big Lies, over 60 years, have become a way of life and a method of government, its hard to imagine that anything could.

Helga Zepp-LaRouches response follows.

Zepp-LaRouche Responds to

James K. Galbraith

On this, James Galbraith, thats absolutely on the mark. The economy in the United States, and Europe for that matter, is [audio loss]. In the trans-Atlantic financial system we are sitting on a complete powder keg. The American banks alone are sitting on several hundreds of billions of unrealized losses which they keep in the books because if they would start selling these Treasuries and bonds, they would have to write off these hundreds of billions of dollars, and that would set off a chain reaction collapse. So, the U.S. indebtedness is now reaching $33 trillion, with $2 quadrillion in derivatives exposure; that is the time bomb, which is why all of this war danger is escalating.

The powers-that-be in Wall Street and other placesthe City of London, and Im afraid also Frankfurtwould rather go to war than allow cooperation with the rising powers of the Global South, most of all, China. Thats, for sure, absolutely true.

Secondly, China is by far leading; and I think that what startles me the most is that rather than looking at China and saying this supposedly is a Communist dictatorship, but their economy is doing wellthey are rising. Not only are they risingbut they are lifting 150 developing countries out of poverty that are cooperating with them in the Belt and Road Initiative.

So, why is the Western establishment not capable of doing what normally a manager would do whose firm is having difficulty? In a functioning firm, they would get together, have a business meeting, and say, We had obviously the wrong business model. Why dont we correct it and give our firm a new business model and then it can take off again? They are not doing that; they are clinging to the old model which is that you can run the world by military means, by security arrangements with all other countries, but not providing development. China is providing development, so why are the United States and European elites not smart enough to look at what China is doing right, and then join them? The world is so full of problems. We can basically solve these problems together, but we cannot solve them against each other.

So, for me, this really puts the question of the intelligence of the present establishment with a big question mark.

Thirdly, Russia is again a superpower; that is true without any question. Not only are they militarily ahead of the United States and NATO, because they have hypersonic missiles which are not yet matched in the West. They could potentially sink the entire aircraft carrier fleet and other Navy ships in a few minutes. There is no question. The sanctions against Russia did not function. Russia had a third-quarter 5% increase [over the third quarter of 2022 ed.] in their economy, as compared to a shrinkage of many percent in Germany for sure, and paper works in the United States.

The sanctions and attempt to ruin Russia as [Germanys Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena] Baerbock is calling it, did not work. They actually had a beneficial effect, because it gave those nationalist forces inside Russia who wanted to get more emphasis on domestic production a wind at their back, and weakened the forces inside the central bank and elsewhere who wanted to stick with the neo-liberal system. That forced Russia to go more for its own production and to reorient toward Asia. As a net result, Russia is much stronger than before. Again, in view of your business model, maybe its not so smart.

Fourth, I think what is happening in Gaza is an absolute heartbreaker. It absolutely causes everybody who ever thought that the principle of Never Again should be what would uphold humanity, that that is being violated. Im not without sympathy for the victims of the attack on Oct. 7, but the out-of-proportionality of the Israeli response is just exactly what all these human rights organizations, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who is otherwise a very mild-spoken person, are saying.

This is genocide. I fully agree that if we do not mobilize that into a larger change in the paradigm, the danger is that it will continue once this present deal is over. I can only appeal to you, please help us to mobilize the world population for a real change in axioms. To be against the war is not enough. You have to change the reasons why the world is in this incredible situation. The alternative is there, because all we would have to do is join hands with all the other nations on the planet and say we open a New Paradigm in the history of mankind of cooperation. Then, every problem could be solved. So, join our movement and get your neighbors, your relatives, your colleagues all on board. We need every soul to accomplish this.
This transcript appears in the December 1, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this transcript]

Sare Announces National Campaign for Peace

This is an edited transcript of an interview conducted Nov. 24, 2023 by Stewart Battle. Subheads and embedded links have been added.

Stewart Battle: Hello, everyone! This is Stewart Battle with Executive Intelligence Review and the Schiller Institute. With me is Diane Sare, who is running as an independent in the State of New York for U.S. Senate. Shes running against the incumbent, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. I think well have a very fun discussion, given some of the breakthroughs that Diane has made, given the very bold steps that shes taking, not just on domestic politics, but globally, and therefore represents a kind of a flagship for moral character and policy in terms of what the U.S. could and should be doing right now. Mrs. Sare has been a long-time activist with Lyndon LaRouche. She has run for public office on a number of prior occasions. Shes also a renowned musician.

Diane, your campaign released a statement Nov. 21 calling for a national campaign for peace on Earth. Now, obviously, this is beyond what most candidates running for U.S. Senate talk about. Please tell us a little bit about what this entails, what you and your campaign are doing, and your orientation as far as a national campaign for peace.

Some Background

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Sare for Senate

Diane Sare: Sure. To give some background into my thinking on this, I should say how I came to run for office in the first place, which was in 2012actually December of 2010. Lyndon LaRouche had decided that he should not run again for President, given his age. He used to say, Theres no guarantees after youre over 90. I think he was thinking that were he to be elected, he would definitely be a two term President. So he asked a number of his younger associates to run, which they did in 2010 and then they slightly expanded the slate in 2012.

There were six of us from all different parts across the country: Myself, then in New Jersey, Rachel Brown in Massachusetts, others in Michigan, Texas, Washington State, and California. LaRouche made it clear that we were not going to campaign on local issues. The country needed a functioning presidency. We were going to run as a federal slate that would shape Presidential policy, as Lyndon LaRouche had always done throughout his life.

I have to say, I dont think theres anyone alive who has a better understanding than Lyndon LaRouche did of the principles of the American Revolution, the Constitution, the founding of our republic, why it was founded. He was a quintessential American in the best sense of the word. And he understood the power of a presidential system in a republic. He also understood, although he didnt say it necessarily in this way all the time, the power of the citizenry in a republic, which is why he was so concerned in the 1960s about the cultural paradigm shift then taking place and how destructive that would be, which proved to be the case.

So it was in the 2012 election cycle when Barack Obama was President, LaRouche was calling for his impeachmenthe put the Hitler mustache on Obama because of his health care plan, which was a plan to not provide care. It was really a bailout for the insurance companies, and it incorporated the idea of the useless eaters, the Tiergarten Vier program under Hitler. Imagine running as a Democrat for Congress calling for the impeachment of Barack Obama and carrying posters with a Hitler mustache on him!

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EIRNS/Chris Jadatz

It was quite an exciting campaign. People would begin screaming when I walked into Democratic Party events. It was during this campaign that I began to work through some of the issues and challenges of being a candidate and not doing it in the typical way, which is chasing after votes, trying to be popular, but instead to be a standard bearer for true principles.

As to the statement that you mentioned: Ive been thinking about, and I think many people are rightfully anguished about the horror that is unfolding in Gaza; that a real live genocide is ongoing there. Weve just managed to get right now a temporary ceasefire. It shouldnt be temporary. It should be the end of this war. Helga Zepp-LaRouche is calling for a peace conference.

Instead, here we are with the United States backing, aiding and abetting the slaughter of Palestinian children, supposedly in retaliation for events of Oct. 7. But retaliating doesnt make you safer and it doesnt address the causes. One of the factors in the ceasefire, besides the fact that the majority of the world is horrified by this, including the particularly important role being played by China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, is also that the people of Israel, particularly the family members of the hostages taken by Hamas, are saying, What are we doing? How did Bibi Netanyahu allow this to occur? Doesnt Israel have the best intelligence? There are a lot of unanswered questions.

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Wafa

Where is the opposition in the United States? Where is the voice of the presidency? Well, Joe Biden is frankly senile, very vicious, and is supporting the mass murderhe was making excuses for the bombing and raiding of Al-Shifa hospital. So where is the opposition? Donald Trump? Well, President Trump, who people knew was sort of an anti-war candidate, did various things around North Korea. Where does he stand on this? All-in support for Israel; no questions. Dont say a word about the genocide. Where is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.? Some people had hopes that he was going to revive the tradition of his uncle, the assassinated President, John F. Kennedy, or his father, also assassinated, who would have become President. But, somehow, on Southwest Asia, he has nothing to say.

Therefore the two leading opponents of Biden are both silent, when this horrific crime continues to unfold before our eyes. Thats really why I wrote the statementI said: We need a presidential candidate. We need a presidency. Im not in a position right now to run for the presidency, but I can use my voice. The Senate race from New York is a very important race, and as per discussion with Helga Zepp-LaRouche, we have developed the idea of creating Friends of Diane Sare committees in every state, to make my campaign, in that sense, a presidential campaign, even though the office I happen to be running for is U.S. Senator from New York.

At the Level of the Presidency

Battle: Thats fantastic. One thing that stood out to me when I read your statement was your saying, in relation to the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, that its not about how to stop the slaughter, but how do we lift mankind to a new level where violence against other human beings becomes a thing of the past. Major demonstrations are occurring all over the planet, there have been a lot of calls for a cease-fire, and theres a lot of diplomatic activity. Obviously not enough in the United States but worldwide there are a lot of nations and governments pushing for a cease-fire. But youre saying that we actually need to create a movement that has an impact at the level of the presidency to discuss a deeper meaning of peacea lasting peace. Can you say more about that?

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Sare for Senate/Michelle Erin

Sare: Lets take a step back and look at the cause. Whats the driver? Remember, Joe Biden tied himself to a victory against Russia in Ukraine. Why did he do that? Because its been the policy of the United States since the Berlin Wall came down that the United States is supposed to be the global hegemon. Thats what Donald Rumsfeld [Secretary of Defense, 19751977 and 20012006] and Dick Cheney [Vice President, 20012009] have said. That means no other nation can be allowed to become prosperous or influential; that their doing so would constitute a threat to U.S. hegemony. Now were we thinking like John Quincy Adams or Abraham Lincoln or John F. Kennedy or Franklin Roosevelt, however, we wouldnt see it that way. But because were thinking like the British Empire, because we have lost our identity, we perceive Russia with their breakthrough technologies and hypersonic missiles, and China, with its elevating 850 million people out of poverty, we see these as existential threats to be crushed.

We are also bankrupt. The City of London sitting onno one really knows because theres so much offshore and unregulated moneybut to be moderate, lets say $2 quadrillion worth of derivative obligations that can never be paid. The U.S. economy, as we saw during COVID, is a shell of its former industrial self. We have three train derailments every day. Any bridge across the Mississippi could collapse at any time, totally shutting down the transport of coal and therefore electricity generation. We are just hanging by a thread. One little disaster and were done.

So this system is collapsing. Its over. Lyndon LaRouche and Helga Zepp-LaRouche both warned when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, that just because communism had shown itself to be a failure, we shouldnt presume that the British liberal free trade system is a success. When that system goes its going to be a much bigger collapse.

Well that system is now going. So you have a few would-be Gods of OlympusI guess its like the Gotterdammerung, twilight of the gods, famously set by that pre-Nazi composer Richard Wagner, where Zeus gets so enraged that if he cant control the world anymore that he is happy for everything to be destroyed. Thats their approach. They will allow nothing to prosper, and seek to defeat everyone else.

Biden tied his career to a victory of Ukraine against Russia, as I said, which isnt going to happen, isnt happening now. Conveniently, something happened in the Middle East, so people could forget that a half a million or so people are dead in Ukraine.

Now, why is all this happening? Because a new system is emerging. Why did China choose to lift all those people out of poverty? Because they have a commitment toward the good of mankind. What did Putin do in Russia? He ended the shock therapy policies. He developed his country. He raised the standard of living. He increased the life expectancy.

And now, the partnership of these two nations with the Global South is doing what Lyndon LaRouche was calling for back in the 70s. African nations are kicking out the French military. Nations are declaring that they are not going along with this so-called Great Reset, Green New Deal garbage. Were going to have fossil fuels, were going to build pipelines and high speed rail networks.

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White House

And theyre not all ideologically locked in. The nations of the BRICS, their governments are all very different, and theyre not running around saying everyone must have the same form of government. Theyre saying: We can work together for the common good of the people of our nations. Thats a new paradigm. Thats a new idea. Thats really why the United States was created. Thats why we defeated the British Empire. But somehow weve become very primitive and barbaric.

I want people to think: since the rotten old system is collapsing, could we not have a more noble conception of human relations, of relations among sovereign nation states where we have mutual respect for each others language groups, each others cultures, and a shared respect for the dignity and potential of man, for the potential of every single child born on this planet?

I think if we look at it in this way, we could look back, maybe even as soon as 50 years from now, and say: What? Human beings used to kill each other on a battlefield? Thousands of people used to line up and just slaughter themselves for some guy sitting behind a desk somewhere? Why did they ever participate in that?

We would look at such activity as some barbaric relic of the past. Thats what I mean. Thats what mankind has to actually get to. That is the identity of the founding fathers of this nation. Im going to say that again and again in the course of my campaign, because a lot of people in the peace movement, a lot of young people especially, are very confused about the origin of our republic. Its very important that they get straight on our history, so that we can get our nation to act again for good in the world.

A Republic, If We Can Keep It

Battle: That was actually something in the direction of what I wanted to ask you about, so let me dig into this a little bit. Because on one hand, youre very critical of United States policy, while on the other youre a very big defender of the United States as a nation, including the positive role the United States could play in the future.

As you say, a lot of people are really just so confused about this. They either say, Rah-rah, were the best, or No, the United States has always been bad and always will be bad, thats just American imperialism. So I want to ask you about this axiom that the United States is the indispensable nation. Biden says this. Many people say this. As far as I can tell, this was the fundamental belief in the post-World War II world which a lot of people will allow to overwrite all international law and United Nations law, etc. and say, well, because the U.S. is needed to protect the world from the bad guys, then all those laws dont really matter.

Do you have anything more that you would like to add? Were clearly looking at the emergence of a new world and a new kind of organization of nation-states that is going to require some rethinking on the part of Americans.

Sare: I believe it was Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia (19451967), who said at the famous Bandung Conference in 1955 that it was the United States that had the first anti-colonial revolution. And when people spoke about American exceptionalism, if they were well-intended, if they understood what that meant, thats what that referred to. Because the principles of our Declaration of Independence are not Americanthey are universal. All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Thats not an American principle. Thats a universal principle.

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Harpers Weekly/Schell & Hogen

After a century, when people from other nations finally came to visit us, after the controversy of defeating the British Empire had subsided, we showed the world that we were not merely viable, but that we had become a mighty powerhouse of productivity. Im referring to the 1876 American Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Not one single foreign head of state had visited our new republic until then. So the whole world was kind of waiting to see: Will this experiment work? Is it durable? Will the British take over again? And we demonstrated some staying power.

So there was an explosion after that of what is called the American System, but I would say these were universal republican (with a small r) principles being applied all over the world: The Trans-Siberian Railway or the BerlinBaghdad railroad or various projects that had long been intended to be built connecting North and South America, different rail and development corridors.

That power, for example, even as recently as 1993 in the Oslo Accords, when the United States had a younger, popular, strong President, Bill Clinton. Clinton had his flaws, particularly after the impeachment, when he let his Vice President Al Gore have way too much power. But because we had a President of the United States who didnt really like the British Empire, we had a situation where Rabin and Arafat could meet, could sign the Oslo Accords, and they could have the idea that the United States would support that peace process. That was very important.

At the moment, of course, we dont have that. Instead, The United States has a very peculiar kind of relationship to other countries where we tell them: We should be your ally; youve got to work with the U.S. But if they work with us they get to have both of their eyeballs gouged out, receive a kick in the crotch, and are served up starvation and genocide, as in Ukraine or what weve done to Haiti, for another example.

But now, there is a new game in town with the BRICS; there now exists another way people can go. They now have a choice: They dont have to stick with the U.S.

Our republic was founded against Empire. People came here because they were being persecuted in Europe. They didnt come here because they were the upper-class nobility. They came here because they were revolutionaries and they had an idea going back to Joan of Arc, Nicholas of Cusa, which simply couldnt be realized in Europe because it was under a kind of caste system, an oligarchical system, and they had to come to a new world to create this.

I heard today at a rally that, Well, the Americans are just like the Israelis. They exterminated all the native people and were just on blood land. No! Many of our founding fathers worked with the Native Americans. The first Thanksgiving frankly, was actually a celebration of the collaboration with the Native American population, which probably could have continued, but for the British and the Jesuits, certain operations designed to recruit these people, to create this warfare. Or Andrew Jackson, a total traitor, who ran the Trail of Tears. He shut down the second national bank, he largely exterminated the Cherokee nation. That wasnt an American policy, that was an imperial policy.

Most people today dont know the difference. They dont know the kind of brawls that occurred. Benjamin Franklin was vehemently opposed to slavery. He was also our top intelligence officer. He was all over in Europe and France recruiting people including Lafayette, the Polish General Kosciuszko, and the Prussian military officer von Steuben. And no one knows what he did because he couldnt write about it!

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Joseph Siffrein Duplessis

So people today greatly underestimate the fight that was going on. I think this is really important to get out what actually happened. Thats why were talking about it, and thats why Im right now writing a pamphlet for circulation, in which the lead idea is to form a more perfect union.

Our nation wasnt a finished thing. It was an idea based on universal principle. And it is for the people, as Ben Franklin so famously answered the woman who asked him: a republic, if you can keep it. It is for the people to perfect our nation, coherent with these universal principles.

I think this is so important for Americans to understandto take responsibility for the republic, to love the idea that our nation could be something good, that would inspire people in other nations to gain their freedom, not because were going to go and impose, and overthrow dictators, and things like that. But because we create the conditions where more and more people on the planet can finally be free.

Have Faith in Humanity, Tell the Truth, and They Will Listen

Battle: Theres so much to talk about that maybe we can take it up at another time. Im sure people who follow your campaign will be able to get some of this in depth. Its so very crucial to discover a lot of the history that has been prevented from being known about the gems and the beautiful contributions within American history. So thank you for that.

Youve run for office many times. I know youve run for Congress multiple times. I know you ran for Governor. Now youre on your second senatorial campaign. What do you say to people who tell you, You cant change anything, or They have too much power, theyll never let you win? This attitude is certainly an epidemic, in a way.

Sare: Everywhere I go I meet people who tell me, Ive been trying to talk to blah, blah, and they wont listen to me. They dont listen to me. And so I say: Well, you cant make anyone listen to you. We cant make people listen to us. All you can do is tell the truth. The advantage we have is that reality is going to come crashing down on their heads. And then, if we have done our job, they will remember what weve said.

Of course, I intend to do everything possible to make my voice heard. But as is obvious and as you are well aware, there is a massive censorship campaign going on. I heard a student from Columbia University speaking today about his group, the Students for Justice in Palestine and also the Jewish Voice for Peace, who said that Columbia University has just suspended those two organizations for the remainder of the fall term, citing their anti-Semitism.

If Columbia University is so concerned about anti-Semitism, they should fire Hillary Clinton, get her out of there. She is one of the biggest Nazi supporters I can think of. She supports genocide all over the world. In an interview, she gloated over the death of Libyas Muammar Gaddafi, and the Americans who died in the horrible mess in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. She was responsible for that. If Columbia University is concerned about its reputation, they should get rid of Hillary Clinton.

I think we have to have faith. Gottfried Leibniz once said that were living in the best of all possible worlds. That doesnt mean that you just sit thereand he called it lazy reason where you say: Im just going to wait until God does something for me. And he pointed out that no one really believes that if they see a treasure sticking up out of the ground, that they will just sit back and say, Well, Im just going to wait until God uncovers that. You go there and you dig it up!

So God gave us free will to do the good. However we dont necessarily know when our efforts will be enough or where they will bear fruit. And thats where the question of faith comes inthat we have to have faith that Leibniz is right. That the universe has been created in the best possible way, and that therefore the good will resonate.

Now, I do also have to bring up an unfortunate example: the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah, where you had two horribly degenerate cities that presented a challenge for Abraham to find enough good people, and it failedthe cities were destroyed.

Thats where we sit today with this danger of thermonuclear war. It isnt the case that we can sit back and the good will prevail. The good may not prevail. We have a very dangerous situation right now because so many people with a lot of power, namely the people in the U.S. Pentagon and State Department and intelligence agencies, and the British intelligence agencies and elsewherethey could make a major miscalculation and we could have an accident that wipes us all off the Earth. Thats why more and more people have to mobilize and be more vocal.

So we each have to do everything we possibly can. And we also have to have faith that at a certain moment, things may give way.

Happily, the good thing about evil people and rotten, arrogant people is that they are not creative. They tend to do the same things over and over again and they make big mistakes because they presume that they have more power than they do, as Hillary Clinton did in the 2016 election, which she lost. She still doesnt understand that she lost it because nobody can stand her. She was a horrible candidate, but she thought she had 17 intelligence agencies deployed to steal the election for her, and it didnt work.

So therefore, people should not lose faith. Dont look in the mainstream press for validation of your work. Dont count the views you may rack up on YouTube and Facebook and Twitter. They may indicate some things, but those platforms are very controlled, as we know. So dont measure by those standards, measure by truthfulness. Try and be as truthful as you can and fight for a policy which makes it possible for the maximum number of people to live on this Earth with the highest standard of living possible.

Battle: Thats very good advice. Its very coherent with Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouches call for a discussion of her Ten Principles of a New Security and Development Architecture. The final point in that call is the insistence that mankind is good, that human beings are good, which I think is very coherent with what youre pointing out about faith, faith in mankinds ability to grasp truth and reason.

Thank you very much, Diane, for your time. Please tell us your website so that people can get in touch with your campaign.

Sare: My website is SareforSenate.com. Im also on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Rumble, and Telegram (barely).

Battle: Thank you, again, for this interview. We will be following your campaign.
On 29 November Hondurass main opposition Partido Nacional (PN) announced it was launching an international diplomatic offensive to protest political persecution by the leftist Partido Libertad y Refundacion (Libre) government led by President

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On 29 November Mexicos federal senate rejected the shortlist presented by Presidentfor a new supreme court (SCJN) justice.

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The United Nations refugee agency has named a former child refugee from Somalia winner of this years Nansen Refugee Award.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognized Abdullahi Mire for providing 100,000 books to Somali refugees in camps in Kenya. Mire is now 36 years old.

"Last year, 2022, Angela Merkel, the former Federal Chancellor of Germany, won the award and today a young refugee from Dadaab. The sky is not the limit," Mire told VOA Somalia.

Filippo Grandi is the president of the UNHCR. He said Mire is living proof that transformative ideas can come out of displaced communities.

"He has shown great resourcefulness and tenacity in strengthening the quality of refugee education," Grandi said in a statement.

Mire was born in southern Somalia in 1987. In 1991, his family fled the country because of Somalias civil war.

"I fled from Qoryooley in the Lower Shabelle region in 1991 with my mother and grew up and lived in the Dadaab refugee camps for 23 years," Mire told VOA.

The Dadaab complex in northeastern Kenya today has a population of more than 240,000 refugees, most from Somalia. Over half of the camps population are children.

Mire finished elementary and secondary schooling while living in the camp. He went on to earn a college degree in public relations and journalism from Kenyas Kenyatta University. He said his mother gave him help and support to become, in his words, a voice for my vulnerable population.

Mire got a job with the United Nations International Organization for Migration in Somalia. He worked in the capital Mogadishu and the southern cities of Baidoa and Kismayo.

He said his childhood in Dadaab and professional experience taught him the importance of his education. So, he decided to dedicate his professional life to helping his fellow refugees.

In early 2018, he started an organization called Refugee Youth Education Hub. The organization centers on refugee education and youth development.

After shortly living in Norway, he returned to Dadaab to help.

"I had a yearning to serve my community that drew me back to the camp," he said.

A refugee woman who was studying medicine in Dadaab inspired him to collect books for refugee camps, Mire said.

"She told me about 20 girls normally shared one biology book. That inspired me to use social media for a book collection and donation campaign till we reached 100,000 books.

Mire is not the only Somali who has won the Nansen Refugee Award. In 2012, the UNHCR presented Hawa Aden Mohamed with the award for her work to help Somali refugee and displaced females.

The award is named for the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian, Fridtjof Nansen.

The win is not for me alone, Mire said in a statement. It is for all the volunteers I work with It is for the children in the schools.

I'm Dan Novak.

Mohamed Olad Hassan wrote this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English.

_________________________________________________

Words in This Story

transformative  adj. causing or able to cause a change

resourceful  adj. able to deal well with new or difficult situations and to find solutions to problems

tenacious  adj. very determined to do something

vulnerable  adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally

dedicate  v. to use time, money, energy, attention, etc. for something

yearn  v. to feel a strong desire or wish for something

inspire  v. to make want to do something
Google is about to start deleting accounts considered inactive.

The company plans to start removing inactive accounts that users have not used or signed into for more than two years on December 1.

Google announced the policy in May, saying it could begin removing affected accounts in December 2023. User data that could be deleted includes content stored within Google Drive, Docs, Gmail and other services.

Google says users with accounts at risk of being deleted should have already received email messages explaining the policy and the steps required to keep accounts active.

The company said the deletion process will start with Google accounts that were created, but never used again. Google is urging users who want to save their accounts and related data to take some form of action by the end of this week.

Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?

Google has said its policy to delete old, unused accounts is designed to remove security risks related to those accounts.

In its announcement, Google said accounts that go long periods of time without activity are more likely to be compromised. The reasons for this include the fact that forgotten or unused accounts often depend on old or reused passwords.

Another thing that puts such accounts at risk is the lack of two-step security processes that became popular in recent years to help users keep their accounts secure. This security tool, called two-factor authentication, aims to reduce the risk of internet attackers taking over personal accounts and stealing data.

In addition, old and unused accounts receive fewer security checks by the user, Google said.

How can I prevent my account from being deleted?

Google says the best way to keep a user account active is to sign into it at least once every two years.

But there are some other actions that meet the requirements for keeping a Google account active. These include sending or looking at emails, using Google search and watching videos on Google-owned YouTube. The user must be signed in to their Google account when performing these actions.

The policy covers Google Photos as well. The company explains that the simplest way to avoid losing saved pictures and videos is to visit Google Photos on the web or through the app. When signed in, users just need to perform some activity. For example, they can look through an image collection, share a photo or video or back up content in Photos.

Are there any exceptions to the policy?

Google says it only plans to delete old or unused accounts for personal users. Accounts that were set up for organizations, such as schools or businesses, will not be affected.

Other exceptions include Google accounts controlled by an adult for a child or accounts that have been used to buy goods or services on an ongoing basis.

Google has also noted there are no current plans to delete accounts with YouTube videos.

How can I save data from my Google account?

Google does offer users some tools to help them save and backup stored data. One of them is called Takeout. This service permits users to download and export account data outside of Google at any time. An account holder can use this method to back up stored data or to use it with a service outside of Google.

In addition, Google offers a tool, called Inactive Account Manager, which permits users to choose what would happen to their accounts and data if it does become inactive. The choices for activating this service include having files sent to a set of trusted contacts or requesting that the whole account be deleted.

Google also asks that all its users provide a recovery email for their account. This can be an important method for getting a user back into a locked account and can also be helpful for sending inactive account messages and other communications.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Google reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - Google to Start Removing Inactive User Accounts Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

delete  v. to remove something, especially from a computers memory

compromise  v. to agree to something that is not exactly what you want

app  n. a small computer program that can be put onto a mobile phone or other electronic device
British Businessman Richard Branson and Britains Department of Transport organized a flight crossing the Atlantic Ocean by a jet using fuel made from animal fat.

The Boeing 787 passenger airplane flew from London to New York on Tuesday using what the organizers called sustainable jet fuel.

Branson founded Virgin Atlantic airlines. The airline said it used a fuel made from waste fats, including animal fat used in cooking. The transport department spent over $1.2 million for the flight.

Branson was on the plane, along with reporters, engineers and government officials as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. There were no paying passengers.

The world will always assume something cant be done, until you do it, Branson said.

The transport department called the trip a huge step towards jet zero. Jet zero is a play on words. It means the trip did not use traditional jet fuel that comes from oil. Some officials in the international air travel industry say they hope their companies can reach what is called net zero by 2050. Net zero is a proposed balance between the release of carbon gases into the atmosphere and the capture of those gases.

However, organizers admit the mix of fuel used on Tuesdays trip will not be widely available anytime soon.

The U.S. Department of Energy says sustainable aviation fuel is the best way to reach the net zero target by 2050. The government says sustainable aviation fuel cuts the release of greenhouse gases, gases said to cause warming, by 70 percent. However, the Department of Energy said the 2050 goal is aspirational. That means it is unlikely to be reached.

In the U.S., sustainable jet fuel production increased from about 8 million liters in 2016 to about 60 million liters in 2022. But that is only about 0.1 percent of the fuel used by major airlines. In 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration set a goal of producing about 15 billion liters per year.

President Joe Bidens administration said in 2021 that it wanted three times that amount by 2030 and for commercial airlines to fly on 100 percent sustainable fuel by 2050. In Britain, the goal is for 10 percent of jet fuel to come from what it calls sustainable sources by 2030.

Holly Boyd-Boland is an official with Virgin Atlantic. She said Tuesdays flight shows a sustainable flight is possible, but the difficulty is in producing enough of the new fuel so that were flying more sustainable aviation fuel every day.

Cait Hewitt is the policy director for the British non-profit group Aviation Environment Federation. The group is interested in reducing the effect of the aviation industry on the environment.

She said, the idea that this flight somehow gets us closer to guilt-free flying is a joke. She said it will be difficult to increase production of sustainable jet fuel to the point that it makes a difference.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

____________________________________________________

Words in This Story

sustainable adj. related to ideas about using resources without using them up completely

assume v. to think something is true without knowing that it is true

aviation n. things related to flight and aircraft

guilt n. a feeling of shame over something you do or have done

We want to hear from you. Do you think you will ever be on a flight that it jet zero?
A violent rock burst in a coal mine killed 11 people in Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang province on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster yesterday CCTV reported.

Mining work can release pressure from surrounding formations and trigger a literal explosion of rocks. An initial assessment determined that is what caused the fatalities in Heilongjiang province, CCTV said.

The Shuangyashan Coal Company, which operates the mine, was fined in the past for violating several safety regulations, according to local media reports.

This year alone, it was fined 10 times, according to a report from Shangyou News, a state-backed media outlet.

China has been working on improving mine safety to combat accidents that happen with some frequency. In August, another coal mine explosion also killed 11 people in northern Chinas Shaanxi province. A coal mine fire in southern Guizhou province killed 16 people in September.

Just a few weeks ago, a major fire at a coal mining company building in northern China killed 26 and injured dozens, though the blaze was not in the mine itself. MDT/AP
The Macau International Airport expansion and the conclusion of the 4th Bridge between Macau and Taipa are the Transport and Public Works sectors major 2024 highlights, Secretary Raimundo do Rosario noted, while listing a series of other works already started that will continue throughout next year.

Without giving much detail about the Airport works, the Secretary noted only that it will be a significant project as it will allow the expansion of the air transport sector, opening the possibility of more and different routes.

He also said the additional capacity will favor the so-called phased liberalization of air transport following the governments plans and the new law on this area.

Rosario said the 4th Bridge will make urban transportation more convenient and bring benefits at several levels, enabling faster connections between the Macau Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Pac On and Cotai areas.

Questioned by the lawmaker Leong Sun Iok, particularly about use of the bridge during typhoons, the Secretary refuted the idea that the 4th Bridge will allow regular traffic even during typhoon signal 8, claiming the bridge can only be used for urgent and emergency services.

The principle is simple, if students dont need to attend school and most people dont need to go to work, we will not want to encourage people to travel without a serious purpose. The bridge will be able to be used [according to its capabilities to resist strong wind] for emergencies.

Lawmaker Lei rejected the Secretarys statement saying, I have to disagree with what you said. Even during typhoon signal 8 many people still need to go to work particularly those engaged in the gaming and hospitality industry and who handle our tourists, Lei said.

I believe this matter needs to be further discussed and addressed according to reality, Lei added.

Noting the experience gathered from traffic on the lower deck of the Sai Van Bridge during typhoon signal 8, Rosario said most of the people are just riding around seeing what is going on and they are not using it for the right purpose.
Myanmar and China are conducting naval drills together as the military government in the Southeast Asian nation loses ground in its northeast border region to a coalition of militias that also has strong ties to Beijing.

State-run Myanma Alinn newspaper said yesterday that three Chinese vessels were anchored in Yangon, Myanmars largest city, and that officials from both nations met Tuesday to discuss the maritime security exercises.

The Chinese vessels  the destroyer Zibo, frigate Jing Zhou and supply ship Qian Dao Hu  carry about 700 sailors and arrived at the Myanmar port Monday. The report didnt give more details on the drills.

Myanmars military seized power from an elected government in 2021 and since has been in armed conflict with pro-democracy forces and ethnic militias.

The visit of the Chinese vessels comes during an upsurge in violence on Myanmars border with China by the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a group of militias that launched a coordinated offensive against the ruling military on Oct. 27.

China is Myanmars biggest trading partner and maintains good relations with the ruling generals. The groups in the alliance also have good relations with China and have vowed to protect foreign investments such as Chinese-backed projects in territory they control.

The alliance has claimed widespread victories including four border crossings in the northern part of Shan state, and the military government acknowledged soon after fighting began that it had lost three towns.

The alliances offensive has energized the nationwide armed struggle to overthrow the military regime that was installed after the army seized power, and fighting has spread to many parts of the country.

Yesterday, the resistance forces in the northwestern Chin state seized a small town in Matupi township bordering India, according to Salai Danny, a spokesperson of the Chinland Defense Force-Zotung militia group.

Beijing has called for a cease-fire and has said the warring parties should try and resolve their differences through dialogue. It has not, however, used its influence with the militia groups to pressure them to put an end to the fighting.

Before the offensive, China had been growingly discontented with the military governments inattention to large-scale criminality in Myanmar near the border, including drug trafficking and cyberscam centers.

As the Three Brotherhood Alliance has gained ground, thousands of Chinese nationals involved in such operations have been repatriated into police custody in China.

Supporters of Myanmars ruling generals have held several demonstrations in major cities accusing China of aiding the militia alliance.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, spokesperson of the ruling military council, was quoted in state media yesterday as saying that Myanmar and China remain strategic partners and have close and friendly communications. MDT/AP
A Hong Kong court started hearing the final arguments yesterday of some of the citys best-known pro-democracy activists tried under the security law.

The activists subversion trial is the biggest prosecution yet under such law. They may face up to life in prison if convicted.

The defendants were among 47 activists arrested in 2021 under the sweeping national security law imposed following massive anti-government protests four years ago. They were charged in connection to an informal 2020 primary election to pick candidates who could win the territorys Legislative Council.

Prosecutors accuse the activists of trying to paralyze Hong Kongs government and topple the citys leader by securing a majority to veto budgets.

In court, yesterday, Prosecutor Jonathan Man argued that unlawful means to subvert state power didnt necessarily imply the use of force or physical violence.

(In) the 21st century, social media, communications to the public is much easier and convenient, he said, adding that it was easy to manipulate those channels for some to endanger national security.

After the introduction of the law  which critics say is eroding the autonomy promised when Hong Kong returned to China in 1997  many pro-democracy politicians and activists were jailed, went into self-exile, or disappeared from the citys political scene.

A large number of young professionals and middle-class families also emigrated due to the erosion of Western-style civil liberties with the governments crackdown on dissent.

The subversion trial involves many of the citys most prominent activists, including legal scholar Benny Tai, former student leader Joshua Wong and former opposition party leaders Wu Chi-wai and Alvin Yeung.

Most of the 47 activists have been detained without bail for more than two years. Others were granted bail based on strict conditions. Thirty-one, including Tai, Wong, Wu and Yeung, entered guilty pleas in court, while 16 others pled not guilty in February.

The national security law criminalizes secession, subversion, and collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the citys affairs as well as terrorism. Apart from the activists, pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai is also facing collusion charges under the law.

KANIS LEUNG, HONG KONG, MDT/AP
The Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) has reiterated the local students school in the Macau New Neighbourhood (MNN) was initially designed to be consistent with Macaus education system.

Director Kong Chi Meng said students who enroll or transfer can also connect with Macau schools.

Speaking on TDMs radio show yesterday, Kong said parents have requested that some international courses be added, and school buses will also be provided. In terms of integrated education, Kong said there is no special funding in the mainland, but the school will accept Macau children with different educational needs.

Over the weekend, it was announced Hou Kong Middle School will oversee operations of the school in the MNN on Hengqin, which is now open for enrollments.

The school will cater to Macau ID holders before mainland students and will adopt the Macau curricula and qualifications.

Despite this, mainland Chinese textbooks, educational tools and curricula have been prevalent in Hou Kong schools in Macau.

The future school will be integrated into Macaus free education system.

The campus is designed to accommodate 1,050 students, distributed across 18 primary classes and 12 kindergarten classes. Staff Reporter
The Philippine government and the countrys communist rebels have agreed to resume talks aimed at ending decades of armed conflict, one of Asias longest, Norwegian mediators announced yesterday [Macau time].

High-ranking delegations from both sides met in the Norwegian capital of Oslo last week and agreed to a common vision for peace that sought to address key obstacles, according to Norways foreign ministry.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the deal was signed at an important signing ceremony last week but was only made public yesterday.

Since 1969, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New Peoples Army, have fought successive Philippine governments. The rebellion, which opposes the Philippines close ties with the United States and wants left-wing parties to be part of the government, has left about 40,000 combatants and civilians dead.

The fighting has also stunted economic development in the impoverished countryside. The military says a few thousand Maoist insurgents continue to wage the insurgency to this day.

Past administrations had engaged in intermittent peace negotiations with the rebels. Former President Rodrigo Duterte ended peace talks in March 2019, accusing the rebels of attacks on police and military outposts. The U.S., the European Union and the Philippine government consider the New Peoples Army a terrorist organization because of its attacks targeting civilians.

Last year, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office as the new president and appeared more open to peace talks. He granted amnesty last week to several former rebels, including those from NPA, for offenses including rebellion, sedition and illegal assembly, but not those suspected of kidnapping, killing, terrorism or similar serious crimes.

Marcos namesake father declared martial law in the Philippines in 1972, imprisoning thousands of suspected rebels and communist supporters, until he was ousted in a 1986 popular uprising.

The Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the umbrella group representing the rebels, said in their joint statement that they recognize the need to unite as a nation in order to urgently address these challenges and resolve the reasons for the armed conflict.

They agree to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict.

We envision and look forward to a country where a united people can live in peace and prosperity, the statement said. The text was the result of several informal discussions between the sides held in the Netherlands and Norway since the beginning of 2022.

I was happy to hear the parties decision to finally end the more than 50-year-long conflict in the Philippines, said Barth Eide, who witnessed the signing. He said that extensive work remained and that Norway looks forward to continuing to assist the parties towards a final peace agreement.

Rebel negotiator Julieta De Lima did not say when formal talks will start. She said issues to be addressed include the detention of rebel peace consultants, safety guarantees and immunity from arrest for negotiators, release of what the rebels refer to as political prisoners, and the removal of the terrorist designation for the communist movement.

The previous rounds of talks had collapsed over such demands.

In Manila, Presidential Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. told reporters that despite the agreement, the governments anti-insurgency operations will continue.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said it would be up to local officials to decide if they will declare a local, Christmas cease-fire. The head of the Philippine Armed Forces, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., said it meant the military could shift its focus to external defenses, referring to territorial tensions with China in the South China Sea. JAN M. OLSEN, COPENHAGEN, MDT/AP
The government will reduce the number of street parking spots to widen streets and sidewalks, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, told the Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Rosario announced the proposal after lawmakers Leong Sun Iok, Ella Lei and Zheng Anting asked about parking lots, fees, and the possibility of enlarging some street parking spots.

We are not going to increase the number of street parking spots, its the opposite. The trend is to reduce the number of car parks to allow us to widen the sidewalks for pedestrian circulation and the circulation space [for cars], said Rosario.

Kelvin Lam, the director of the Transport Bureau (DSAT), also noted, in response to Zheng, that street parking spots are a minimum of about five meters long, which suits the parking needs of most Macau vehicles.

Zheng had previously suggested the government enlarge the street parking spots so residents could park larger vehicles, as most people in Macau prefer SUVs and 7-seater vans to city cars.

Zheng has also proposed the government modify the parking lot fare system to make it fairer.

He noted that with the current hourly charge, drivers who stay for 1 hour and 1 minute in a parking lot must pay for a full MOP2 fare. Zheng wants the government to charge the first hour as a minimum fee and, after that, to charge in 15 minute periods.

Rosario said this could be done in a future revision of the public parking regulations, but warned that such a system, which exists in other countries and regions, could cause a parking fee increase. He said that before being implemented such a proposal needs to consider societys opinions.

Govt wants point system for traffic infringements

Yesterdays AL also learned the government wants to introduce a new demerit point system, similar to that which exists in other countries and regions, among other changes.

The system subtracts points from a driver according to his record of traffic infringements, the accumulation of which may lead to additional penalties and/or loss of driving privileges.

Many countries use the system although there are variations and different penalties.

To link LRT payment with buses enot an easy taski

Responding to lawmakers, Secretary Rosario said linking the payment of bus tickets (via Macau Pass) with the LRT for potential discounts on the complementary use of both systems in a journey is not an easy task.

Rosario said the two systems are very different and the methods of operation of the companies, one being public and the other private, also creates complexity.

The idea was to link the use of both public transport systems in the same journey, enabling travelers to benefit from discounts, an idea the Secretary said is unlikely to happen.

In the neighboring region of Hong Kong using the equivalent of the Macau Pass (Octopus Card) it is possible to link several transportation methods including the MTR, buses and the railway with the payment being calculated according to the station or point of entry and exit.

Another proposal, raised by lawmaker Leong Sun Iok, was to add to the LRT payment methods some of the major online payment platforms from the mainland so that tourists could easily use the system.

The idea also seems far from implementation with Rosario noting that it was already hard enabling payment using the Macau Pass that is now possible.

Little interest in Urban Renewal Program so far

The public has so far shown little interest in the governments program to revitalize the old districts by rebuilding old buildings.

The government plans to make the old buildings more habitable and, in some cases, exchanging the land plot where some old buildings are located for others in a different area, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosario, admitted to inquiries from lawmakers.

According to Rosario, only about 10 proposals have reached the government and not all of them were feasible. He noted there is little the government can do on this aspect.

This depends ultimately on the private unit owners. The government cannot force them in any way to accept this program, he remarked.
Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the powerful Koch network, formally endorsed Nikki Haleys presidential campaign yesterday [Macau time], promising to commit its nationwide coalition of activists  and virtually unlimited funds  to helping Haley defeat former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary contest.

AFP Action is proud to throw our full support behind Nikki Haley, who offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era, to win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November, AFP president and CEO Emily Seidel wrote in a memo announcing the groups decision.

She has what it takes to lead a policy agenda to take on our nations biggest challenges and help ensure our countrys best days are ahead. With the grassroots and data capability we bring to bear in this race, no other organization is better equipped to help her do it.

The endorsement may help Haley address one of her biggest strategic liabilities.

Despite seizing some polling momentum in recent months, especially in early primary states, the former United Nations ambassadors campaign has been lacking significant resources on the ground to ensure her supporters turn out to vote. But now, she inherits the organizational heft of what may be the most powerful conservative grassroots organization in the nation. The Koch network, previously referred to as the Koch Brothers, has been building a network of paid conservative activists and volunteers in key states for several years.

Through last summer and the fall alone, Americans for Prosperity activists communicated with 6 million primary voters, either in person at their doors or on the phone, Seidel said.

The endorsement marks a particularly painful blow to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who had championed conservative priorities in Florida, but struggled to emerge as the clear Trump alternative in the 2024 GOP primary contest. Its unclear, however, whether the endorsement can help weaken Trumps grip on the Republican presidential nomination given his commanding lead over DeSantis and Haley in virtually every poll.

Back in the spring, the Koch network began running ads across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina  the first three states on the GOPs presidential primary calendar  focusing on questions about Trumps electability in next falls general election against Biden. And still, Trump remains the overwhelming front-runner in the race.

Seidel said that Americans for Prosperity would immediately begin refocusing its efforts on boosting Haleys primary and general election campaigns with strategic advertising investments, mailers and voter contacts through the groups network of thousands of conservative activists, which has spent recent months collecting information from Republican primary voters to determine the most effective arguments against Trump.

At the same time, Seidel said that her organization would focus on persuading reliable general election voters, who typically dont vote in primaries, to show up for Haley in this years fast-approaching nomination contests.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Americans for Prosperity as the political arm of the China-first, America-last movement.

No amount of shady money from George Soros, Democrats and Never-Trump RINOs in partnership with endless-war swamp creatures in Washington will stop the MAGA movement or President Trump from being the Republican nominee and defeating Crooked Joe Biden, Cheung wrote in a statement responding to the Haley endorsement.

The feud between Trump and the Koch network has been years in the making.

The Kochs, long demonized by Democrats for having outsize influence in Washington, refused to support Trumps reelection in 2020. The groups leaders argued that his populist policies, especially on trade, didnt adhere to traditional conservative values, while decrying his divisive leadership style.

News of the endorsement yesterday quickly rippled across the political world.

Speaking in Washington, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney predicted it would be a huge boost to Haleys campaign.

Romney, a vocal Trump critic, said Haley has proved naysayers wrong before and shes doing it again. He added: I think its a huge boost for her campaign and may create the kind of momentum she needs.

The DeSantis camp was not pleased.

In a statement, DeSantis spokesperson Andrew Romeo likened the Koch endorsement to a contribution to the Trump campaign.

Congratulations to Donald Trump on securing the Koch endorsement. Like clockwork, the pro-open borders, pro-jail break bill establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president, Romeo wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Every dollar spent on Nikki Haleys candidacy should be reported as an in-kind to the Trump campaign. No one has a stronger record of beating the establishment than Ron DeSantis, and this time will be no different.

Yet the Koch network is convinced that Haley is better positioned to defeat Trump  and Biden  than DeSantis.

In a polling memo, senior adviser Michael Palmer highlighted Haleys sustained momentum in recent months, while noting that many primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire are only just beginning to pay close attention to the contest.

Gov. DeSantis has been a tremendous leader of the state of Florida, Seidel said in a conference call. But all of the evidence weve already shared on this call point to the fact that Nikki Haley is the strongest candidate in this race and thats why we decided to support her.

Meanwhile, Haley said she was honored to have the support of Americans for Prosperity, including its millions of grassroots members all across the country.

AFP Actions members know that there is too much at stake in this election to sit on the sidelines, she said in a statement. This is a choice between freedom and socialism, individual liberty and big government, fiscal responsibility and spiraling debt. We have a country to save, and Im grateful to have AFP Action by our side. STEVE PEOPLES, NEW YORK, MDT/AP
The Australian government yesterday proposed new laws that would place behind bars some of the 141 migrants who have been set free in the three weeks since the High Court ruled their indefinite detention was unconstitutional.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said Parliament would not end sittings for the year as scheduled next week unless new laws were enacted to allow potentially dangerous migrants to be detained.

We are moving quickly to implement a preventive detention regime, ONeil told Parliament.

In 2021, the High Court upheld a law that can keep extremists in prison for three years after they have served their sentences if they continue to pose a danger.

ONeil said the government intended to extend the preventative detention concept beyond terrorism to crimes including pedophilia.

What we will do is build the toughest and most robust regime that we can because our sole focus here is protecting the Australian community, ONeil said.

ONeil said she would prefer that all 141 had remained in prison-like migrant detention. She declined to say how many would be detained again under the proposed laws.

Human rights lawyers argue the government is imposing greater punishment on criminals simply because they are not Australian citizens.

The government decided on the new legislative direction after the High Court on Tuesday released its reasons for its Nov. 8 decision to free a stateless Myanmar Rohingya man who had been convicted of raping a 10-year-old boy.

Government lawyers say the seven judges reasons leave open the option for such migrants to remain in detention if they pose a public risk. That decision would be made by a judge rather than a government minister.

The ruling said the government could no longer indefinitely detain foreigners who had been refused Australian visas, but could not be deported to their homelands and no third country would accept them.

The migrants released due to the High Court ruling were mostly people with criminal records. The group also included people who failed visa character tests on other grounds and some who were challenging visa refusals through the courts. Some were refugees.

Most are required to wear electronic ankle bracelets to track their every move and stay home during curfews.

Opposition lawmaker James Paterson gave in-principle support to preventative detention, although he has yet to see the proposed legislation. ROD McGUIRK, CANBERRA, MDT/AP
* Bet on NBA

 Adelson family to buy Dallas Mavericks, inside sources say

* Policy Address | Wider streets

 Secretary Raimundo do Rosario wants fewer parking lots on streets to make room for traffic of pedestrians and cars; while admitting taxis in circulation are limited

* Govt will open new bus routes to connect Barra with ZAPE and borders with Zhuhai respectively, following a Transport Advisory Committee meeting

* Expanded airport and fourth bridge: major 2024 highlights

* Philippines govt and communist rebels agree to resume talks

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Thursday, November 30, 2023  edition no. 4379
Michael Johnson, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, wants to give Madison kids and families the holiday season he never had.

It motivated him to start the Pay It Forward Campaign, an annual initiative that raises thousands of dollars to give families holiday shopping sprees and to donate hundreds of free toys to children.

Johnson, who grew up on the West Side of Chicago and was raised by a single mother, recalled that Christmas presents were a rarity during his childhood.

My mother was a great mother, but she just didnt have the means to give us gifts. During the holiday, I actually did not like Christmas because I saw all these people getting all these great gifts, Johnson said. So as I became older I said, If Im ever in a position to help kids, Im going to do everything I can.

Every year, the Boys & Girls Club of Dane Countys Pay It Forward Campaign funds random acts of kindness for unsuspecting community members.

Famously, Johnson frequently gives out generous tips to local restaurant workers on behalf of the campaign. Last year, the campaign raised a record-breaking $125,000 after a $1,000 tip that Johnson left for a server at Guss Diner in Sun Prairie made national and international headlines. The increased media attention led to a spike in donations from all across the country.

So far, this years Pay It Forward campaign has raised $35,000. The impact of the campaign is only limited by donations, Johnson said. In the past, donors have raised enough to surprise a family of six with a new car, and, in 2021, a nominee was gifted with a house. Johnson frequently posts updates about the campaign on his Facebook page, where his followers can also nominate potential recipients.

I think the reason people give to this campaign is that people can see that were helping people in real time, Johnson said.

Johnson typically starts his random acts of kindness a couple weeks before Christmas Day. But this year, he decided to kick off his gift giving sooner . On Thanksgiving Day, Johnson left a $1,500 tip for Ramona Parras, a server at Rare Steakhouse and single mother to four children. Despite giving out generous tips several times over the years, the reaction of the lucky server doesnt get old, Johnson said.

She read it and said, Is this a mistake? I said No, and then she just started crying and she asked if she could give me a hug, Johnson recalled. Then she went to the back and came back and asked for another hug and said, You dont know how much this meant to me. I really needed this.

Since Thanksgiving Day, the Pay It Forward Campaign has been in full swing. Next Monday, Johnson plans to surprise a school worker with $1,000 and several other acts of kindness will follow.

I cant rest over the holiday and spend quality time with my family unless I know we made some other families happy, Johnson said.

Donations for the Pay It Forward Campaign can be made until Christmas Day, and even after. However, Johnson recommends donating before Christmas Day so that organizers can plan gifts accordingly. To make a donation or nominate someone for the Pay It Forward Campaign, visit www.bgcdc.org/holidayextravaganza.
If you meet my mom and ask her for a story about me, shell probably tell you that I like to sing to turkeys.

Its one of her favorites and not untrue, though despite the present tense I was 8 years old when it happened.

I grew up on a dairy farm on Cheese Factory Road in northeast Wisconsin, and the turkeys and geese were my responsibility. They lived in coops to protect them from predators, but my dad believed they should be allowed supervised time to roam.

So Id set them free at least once a day, and with some downtime and a captive audience, Id use a stick for a microphone and practice for what I was sure would be my future career.

This was life on the farm  hard work combined with endless opportunity.

My family was part of a rich tradition of agriculture in Wisconsin. By todays standards, our 180-acre farm was a tiny operation, but back then small family farms dominated the industry.

The newsroom is talking about how to carve out more time to cover agriculture, because the industry is so critical to Wisconsins economy. The state has 64,100 farms on 14.2 million acres, and the nearly 436,000 jobs account for 11.8% of the states employment.

The state has 6,000 dairy farms. Thats a fraction of the farms in Wisconsin 20 years ago, but still more than any other state.

For my three siblings and me, the farm was a living laboratory that taught us lessons in life and death, hard work and struggles, community and faith.

We had a small zoo, from chickens to pigs to too many cats to count. There were two horses and a Shetland pony named Big Red who was blind in one eye and would lie down  with a rider on his back  when he tired of carting someone around.

The animals taught us responsibility and connection. Dad never sugar-coated their deaths, and they were devastating to us. But he also made sure we saw the miracle of a calf being born, and pointed out the bald eagle or deer on our property. Dad always saw wildlife as a gift.

Farmers are truly a big family. When my brother needed heart surgery, the neighbors came to milk the cows for my dad without being asked. We were one community who hunted, prayed, celebrated and mourned together.

It took us all to make the farm run. We fed calves and rabbits, butchered chickens, milked cows, picked rocks in the spring and baled hay in the summer. We drove tractors when we could barely see over the steering wheel.

There were plenty of struggles.

A farm crisis swept the country in the 1980s, including in Wisconsin. Many farmers were forced to sell. We started milking three times a day instead of two, which was no easy task with no help because it meant around-the-clock work. My mom worked overnight so she could take care of us and help on the farm during the day. We tightened our belts in every way, and we made it.

Weather can be a farmers friend or foe, and there were many hard years. Fluctuating milk prices and increasing costs always weighed on my dad.

Much of that was lost on me as a child  my parents made sure of that. Milking cows prevented us from taking real vacations, but they made up for it with kickball games and parties and a whole lot of laughter.

What my two sisters and brother and I understood then was that we had an enormous landscape for adventure. Each shed was its own playground with lofts and crannies to hide in and antiques left by former owners. We made our own fun by swinging from ropes hung from the tall roof of the hay loft or playing kick the can. Sometimes the adventures would end with a broken window or an injury, followed by my brothers plea of Dont tell mom.

We never understood the kids who would sit in the house watching music videos as the MTV era dawned. Why do that when there was so much to explore outside?

Not long before my dad died in 2009, he sold the dairy cows and the farm transitioned to beef cattle. Weathered sheds were torn down, followed by the barn. Mom needed to be closer to family, so she moved.

The farm was sold last week, and to be honest Im mourning its loss. My siblings and I spent a lot of time there in the last year, as we soaked in the beautiful views and memories.

After 45 years, it was time to let a new family create their own living laboratory.

I hope it includes some turkeys.
Twin Falls library hosts early literacy celebration

The Twin Falls Public Library will host its annual Early Literacy Celebration at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 8, a free event for pre-elementary children and their caregivers.

The celebration will open with a storytime featuring books, songs and rhymes, followed by a variety of activities for families and tips for caregivers to incorporate playing, writing, reading, singing and talking into daily routines.

One of our biggest goals at the library is to empower caregivers with ways to work on literacy with their children, Erica Littlefield, the librarys youth services supervisor, said in a news release. We know it can feel overwhelming, and we want to show them that literacy can be easy and fun.

Each family will receive a kit with materials provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.

For more information, call the librarys Youth Services Department at 208-733-2964, ext. 301.

Also:

Region IV Development Association is accepting public comment on its draft 2023 update to the Idaho Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy through Saturday. The draft document is online at https://rivda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CEDS-2023-update.pdf

. Hard copies are available upon request from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 202 Falls Ave. in Twin Falls.

St. Lukes Health System

has partnered with TytoCare to offer home kits to St. Lukes Health Plan members and its employees starting next year. The TytoCare Home Smart Clinic is the only virtual care solution on the market that can replicate the doctors office in the home, according to a news release.

Times-News
Pag-IBIG Funds service innovations using digital and social media, publication to communicate its 40-year legacy and excellence in leadership won three gold Stevie awards during the recently held International Business (Stevie) Awards in Rome, Italy and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York City, USA.

Winning two gold Stevie awards at the International Business Awards in Rome were the Pag-IBIG Fund official Facebook page and the Lingkod Pag-IBIG coffee table book. The agencys social media page was hailed as the Most Innovative Facebook Page for reflecting Pag-IBIG Funds efforts in advancing digital engagement among members, while its coffee table book was lauded in the company history publication category for ably showcasing the dedication of agencys workforce which shaped its 40-year history.

Pag-IBIG Fund home lending operations deputy chief executive Benjamin Felix Jr. (center) shows the gold Stevie awards won by the fund at the International Business (Stevie) Awards held in Rome, Italy. With Felix are Pag-IBIG Fund IT infrastructure department manager III Arlene Chu (left) and computer operations and support group vice president Teresa Manabat.

Pag-IBIG Fund chief executive Marilene Acosta capped the agencys three-gold haul by winning the gold Stevie for Female Executive of the Year at the Stevie Awards for Women in Business in New York City. This recognition comes after Acosta was recognized last month as a Circle of Excellence awardee, Woman Leader of the Year, by the 2023 Asia CEO Awards.

The awards bring the number of local and international recognitions gained by Pag-IBIG Fund in 2023 to ten. These wins span various categories which include service, communications and leadership excellence.

Pag-IBIG Funds service excellence was earlier lauded in the international stage as its mobile service branch, the Lingkod Pag-IBIG on Wheels, won at the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) Awards in Kazakhstan and the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) Awards in Malaysia.

The mobile branchs vital role in extending Pag-IBIG Fund benefits to all Filipino workers across all sectors and in promoting financial inclusion and development made it stand out in the Asia-Pacific region. Pag-IBIG Fund also won a silver award for the Best Government PR Team at the ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) PR Excellence Awards in Vietnam.

At the heart of all these achievements is Pag-IBIG Funds guiding principle, Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso  a promise to provide honest and heartfelt service to the Filipino worker. This years wins are not just awards but affirmations of the agencys enduring commitment to serve with integrity, professionalism and excellence, according to Pag-IBIG Fund.
Hollywood giant Warner Bros. lends its seal of approval to Filipino horror flick Mallari, marking a watershed moment for Philippine cinema.

The Hollywood studio has joined forces with up-and-coming Filipino production company Mentorque Productions to distribute the highly anticipated horror film.

The partnership was officially sealed during a contract signing ceremony held at the Chairmans Lounge in Okada Manila on November 25. The event was attended by Rico Gonzales, Distribution Director of Warner Bros. Philippines, and John Bryan Diamante, President of Mentorque Productions.

Veteran actress and beauty queen Gloria Diaz

Under this new agreement, Warner Bros. will assume theatrical distribution of Mallari across the Philippines, marking a significant departure from their previous limited involvement in local film distribution, which dates back to the 2003 release of an indie film.

The path to Warner Bros.s first major local venture began when Gonzales, with the green light from their regional and head offices in Burbank, embarked on a mission to explore strategic partnerships within the Philippine film industry. It was during this quest that Mentorques production of Mallari captured Gonzaless attention, sparking discussions for a potential collaboration.

Versatile actress Janella Salvador

Diamante, echoing Gonzaless belief in the power of collaboration, expressed his admiration for Warner Bros.s commitment to supporting high-quality local films.

Its like the stars aligned, Diamante remarked, alluding to Warner Bros.s newfound interest in local films and Mentorques strategic decision to elevate their production portfolio to include major film productions with mainstream and international appeal.

Elisse Joson joins the stellar cast of Mallari

According to its lead star, Piolo Pascual, the landmark collaboration, which marks Warner Bros.s first foray into mainstream Filipino film distribution, cements Mallaris position as a film of exceptional quality and underscores the global appeal of Philippine storytelling.

In the film Pascual plays the titular character Fr. Severino Mallari, known as the Philippines first and only documented serial killer.

Its a privilege to be a part of something this significant and to be recognized by Warner Bros., an international brand, Pascual stated.

Rising actor Ron Angeles

The actor further emphasized the potential impact of this collaboration on the Philippine film industry, noting that Warner Bros.s involvement will undoubtedly open doors for Filipino filmmakers and elevate the global recognition of Philippine cinema.

Its not just a welcome change; its something we should celebrate as Filipinos, Pascual added.

Directed by Derick Cabrido and written by Enrico Santos, Mallari boasts a stellar cast that includes Janella Salvador, JC Santos, Gloria Diaz, and Tommy Alejandrino.

Initial buzz highlights several factors that make Mallari an attractive prospect for Warner Bros. The film boasts epic horror elements, spanning three distinct time periods, incorporating extensive special effects, and seamlessly blending popcorn horror thrills with mind-bending mystery.

Reputed as the most expensive film in MMFF 2023, Mallari required filming in two distant provinces to ensure authenticity, alongside extensive soundstage work for special effects.

A complete 19th-century Pampanga plaza was constructed in a remote Batangas location, including a fully functional church. Notably, most of the cast members have never ventured into roles as intense and demanding as the ones they portray in this film.

Warner Bros. has made a bold and strategic move by entering the resurgent Philippine cinema market. Beyond local film distribution, Warner Bros. and Mentorque are exploring avenues for Warner Bros. to distribute Filipino films across the Asian region, collaborate on streaming platforms, and even consider co-productions in the future.

As Gonzales aptly quoted Warner Bros.s classic Casablanca, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
A former prosecutor with the Martinsville Commonwealth Attorney's Office has filed suit against the city of Martinsville for lost salary, benefits and other compensation, and is seeking $500,000 in damages.

A complaint, by Daniel P. Mook, on file with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia Danville Division, claims the city terminated Mook's employment without justification, and directly contacted a medical provider in violation of federal regulations under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

Mook claims the city's actions interfered with his right to take family care leave and is seeking reinstatement and an award of damages for lost salary, benefits and other compensation, liquidated damages of $500,000, benefits and other compensation, attorney's fees, costs of suit, and pre and post-judgement interest, and any other relief as the court may deem justified.

"Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the case at this time," wrote City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides by email when asked for comment.

"I didn't know anything about Mr. Mook's actions," Martinsville Commonwealth's Attorney Andrew Hall responded.

When the Bulletin supplied both Ferrell-Benavides and Hall with a copy of the complaint, Hall responded: "Since there is a pending legal action, I'd better not comment."

In the six-page complaint filed Nov. 16, Mook claims the city terminated his employment when he requested family care leave.

Mook began employment with the city in April 2018 as an assistant commonwealth's attorney for Hall at a salary of $74,000 a year, plus benefits. In November 2021, Mook requested temporary family leave in order to care for his ailing mother and was provided with a blank Certification of Health Care Provider for Family Member's Serious Health Condition, to be signed by his mother's medical provider, the complaint states.

Mook filled out the certification by hand and on Nov. 12, 2021, took his mother to the doctor and presented the certification to the nurse. The nurse walked out of the room and then returned and signed it with the notation "per Dr. Lisa Francis." Mook emailed the completed form to Hall's office and to the Martinsville Human Resources Department, the complaint stated.

The HR Department questioned the authenticity of the certification and on Nov. 18, 2021, Hall responded to Mook.

"Human Resources flagged the form immediately and called our office. They asked us to call the doctor's office to confirm that the form you provided was indeed filled out by someone in the office. We called the doctor's office and described the form that we had received from you," the complaint quoted Hall in the letter. "The [doctor's office] had concerns as well. We faxed them a copy of the form you had submitted."

Hall wrote that the doctor's office informed him that no one at the doctor's office filled out the form and the doctor did not authorize anyone to fill it out or sign it on her behalf. The nurse signed it after Mook approached him about signing "an excuse for missing work," the complaint stated Hall wrote. "You did not inform the nurse that he was signing the Certification of Health Care Provider. You merely showed him a signature line on a form and asked him to sign it, saying that you were 'here at the clinic with (your mom).' Taking your word, he signed the page."

Hall gave Mook the ultimatum of resigning immediately or he would be fired. Mook told Hall he presented the nurse with an accurately completed form and asked for the required signature, had done nothing wrong and would not resign, the complaint stated.

Hall sent Mook an email that same day terminating Mook's employment with the city.

The complaint states that the nurse's explanation that he was duped by Mook to deceitfully sign the form wasn't what occurred and the city violated federal regulations by contacting the doctor's office without notifying Mook first.

"Hall's staff and Martinsville's HR Department were prohibited from contacting the medical provider to inquire about the authenticity of the Certification before giving Mook an opportunity to correct any perceived deficiencies with the Certification," the complaint states.

The complaint is signed by Scott Crowley with Crowley & Crowley, P.C. in Glen Allen and demands a civil trial by jury.

Mook was the managing attorney for Acuity Legal Services in Chatham prior to being employed by the city of Martinsville and had served as pastor of Randolph Evangelical Free Church in Randolph, Wisconsin; front office manager of Range Insurance and Financial Services; and interim pastor at Woodland Church in Ironwood, Michigan prior to that, according to Mook's Linkedin profile.
The Henry County Planning Commission was recently presented with the rough draft of a countywide housing assessment study completed by Summit Design and Engineering Services.

The 42-page document is the result of funding provided to Henry County from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development for the purpose of better informing county officials on the current conditions of the housing stock in Henry County.

In addition, the document is intended to provide recommendations and assist the county in the application process for multiple funding sources for projects that can help make housing more accessible to the communities within the county. The report is also intended to provide Henry Countys staff a clear path for prioritizing areas of need for housing projects and to assist in diversifying the housing stock, rehabilitating existing housing, and producing new units, the report stated.

The draft comes on the heels of a July 2020 housing market study for Henry County and the city of Martinsville by Novogradac Consulting LLP. The West Piedmont Planning District Commission has now begun a housing initiative and report to help prioritize housing in the region and is partnering with Virginia Housing, Danville Regional Foundation and The Harvest Foundation to help create ideas on how to make housing more accessible to community in the region, the study reported.

In October, Summit traveled to Henry County to conduct the physical housing condition assessment. Fifteen sites were designated by county officials due to the higher population of seniors on assistance. Using data from the Henry County Geographic Information System, the team created on-site maps to show the homes in the area with physical addresses. A rating system was utilized regarding the foundation, roof and exterior walls of the homes.

The study shows that the median age of houses in Henry County is 48 years old and more residents are above the age of 45 than below. There are currently 1,465 residents 85 years and over, 4,017 between the ages of 75 and 84, and 6,642 residents between 65 and 74 years of age.

Data from 2021 estimates approximately 25,545 total housing units were in Henry County. Of these, 80% were occupied and 20% were vacant. Of the occupied units, 72% were owner-occupied and 28% were rented.

Single family detached homes make up 69% of the housing inventory in Henry County and mobile homes constitute 21% of the housing market in Henry County.

The study notes that most of the houses were produced during the 1960s through the 1980s and although there will be a need for new units, the declining population may create a difficult market for developers to produce new units.

The countys median household income was estimated at $41,103 in 2021 with the largest amount of households having incomes around $74,999, while almost 40% of households have incomes of around $34,999 or lower.

Potential homebuyers are often advised to look for a home approximately three to five times the household income. With a median home value of $104,058, the purchase range based on the median household income of $123,309 to $205,515, means that homes are generally considered affordable in Henry County.

By comparison, Virginias statewide average monthly housing cost is $1,370 while owner occupied homes in Henry County are $928 and rentals are $637. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines housing-cost burdened families as those who spend more than 30% of their income on housing. The study shows 45% of households in Henry County are housing cost burdened and 18% are approaching the burden threshold.

During the physical housing assessment, many homes in poor condition appeared to have burnt down, so the Summit team interviewed fire officials to discuss the reasons for the large number of house fires. The study determined that the age of the homes and lack of remodeling puts many houses in Henry County at a higher risk of electrical issues than newer homes.

The study determined that 49% of the houses in Henry County are sound, while 18% are in minor need of repair, 11% are in intermediate need, 6% are in major need and 10% were classified as dilapidated.

Recommendations

As the countys population is expected to greatly decline in the coming years, the market demand for new homes will drastically shift despite the need for new units to replace existing ones that may be reaching the end of their life cycle. Housing production in Henry County has drastically slowed in recent decades. The study recommends the Henry County government use its own land to develop new housing units alongside other facilities.

Historic community centers were determined to have good bones and the county could more efficiently utilize resources by encouraging new development to occur in a more dense and compact form along historic communities such as Stanleytown, Collinsville and Bassett.

Multifamily housing houses more people more efficiently, and more duplexes should be encouraged as most existing houses are predominantly single family detached and mobile homes, the study showed.

Henry County needs a tool to address homes in need of rehabilitation and qualifying them for grant funding opportunities, the study recommended.

Issues with poverty, unemployment, health, education, or other needs can create cyclical conditions that are difficult to escape for some community members, the study noted. By aiding its most vulnerable members in the process of re-acclimation through training, eduction, financial support, or other methods, the county can enhance the capacity of households to maintain or afford housing, contributing to a more stable and resilient community.
EDITORS NOTE: Church news will print weekly in Thursdays edition. Please email announcements at least one week in advance to news@mcdowellnews.com with church announcement in the subject line or call 828-432-8939 and leave a message with the event details and a contact number.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Live Nativity Walk Through

Grace Baptist Church, 930 Shady Lane, Marion, will hold a live Nativity walk through Dec. 1-3, from 6-9 p.m. nightly. Forty people are involved in the live Nativity, with approximately 10 more helping behind the scenes. Free admission. Complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn.

Pastor's Breakfast

Carson's Chapel, 2561 Tom's Creek Road, Marion, will hold a free pastor's breakfast on Saturday at 8 a.m. Enjoy a free breakfast and meet Pastor Seth Bright and his wife, Taylor.

ONGOING EVENTS

First United Methodist Church, across from Marion Elementary School, invites everyone looking for a church family to Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. The United Methodist Men continue to sell their peanuts for $5 a jar. Peanuts are available in regular, light salt, no salt and Cajun. To order, call the church office at 652-7010. FUMC also administers an Emergency Fund on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. This fund assists with electricity and heating needs, water bills and rent. Clients must meet certain requirements, and funds are paid directly to providers. Clients should come to the upper parking lot and enter the door near the church van.

Redeemed Freewill Baptist Church, of 5079 U.S. 221 South, hosts a youth program called The Sprouts from 7-8 p.m. every Wednesday until further notice. A meal and a Bible lesson will be provided. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to learn about the love of Jesus.

St. Matthews Lutheran Church, of 241 W. Court St., Marion, invites the community to watch the global film phenomenon The Chosen. Experience the Bible as vividly real each Wednesday at 7 p.m. until further notice. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Chapel Hill Baptist Church, on U.S. 221 South, Marion, will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30-10 a.m. for a donation.

His Place Worship Center, 1423 U.S. 70 West in Marion, will host combined in-person and online meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Additional information about the Hickory Lighthouse, including links to the Zoom and Facebook Live meetings, are available at Hickory Aglows website and Facebook page: www.aglownet.org/hickorync and www.facebook.com/hickory.aglow. Interested persons may sign up on the website to receive a monthly email newsletter. Readers may receive related Facebook notifications by liking the Facebook page.

The Sharing Food Pantry Ministry of Cross United Methodist Church needs donations of coats, sweaters and blankets for families in the community who may be in need. Donations can be dropped off at 85 W. Cross St., just past Blue Ridge Terrace Apartments in Marion. For more information, call 828-460-9257 or 828-559-4047 and leave a message.

East Marion Baptist Church, of 660 Baldwin Ave., Marion, will host The Landing, a 12-step program for teens, every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, email thelanding@embc.church.

North Cove Church of God will have a breakfast sale on every third Saturday of the month.

Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort is offering a worship service twice a month for college-aged adults called Encounter. The service will be the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. At each meeting, a new topic will be discussed with a guest speaker; live music will be played; and refreshments will be served. For more information, check out Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort on Facebook or email jakanjamison96@gmail.com. The church is at 344 Moffitt Hill Church Road in Old Fort.

Cross Mill United Methodist Church has a sharing food pantry for the community. The tiny food pantry is outside the church fellowship building, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nonperishable food items are available for anyone in need. If you would like to donate items to this ministry, you may drop them off at the pantry box or call 460-9257 or 442-8098.

Greenlee Baptist Church, 5967 U.S. 70 West in Old Fort, offers Kids on a Mission each Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Newborns to seniors in high school are invited to join. The church also has a deaf ministry available. Interpreters will be provided for the worship services every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. For information, call the church office at 668-6075 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Cross Ties Cowboy Church meets every first Thursday at 2365 Bethlehem Road in Old Fort at 7 p.m. in the barn. For more information, call 828-925-2095.

Landmark Independent Baptist Church will host a meeting on alcohol and addiction awareness by Gene Sigmon the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The church is at 225 Huskins Branch Road in Marion. For more information, contact Sigmon at soundmind16@yahoo.com.

Peppers Creek Baptist Church will have a singing on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. from January through October.

McDowell Childrens Ministry, a ministry for children of the community interested in participating in a life-changing program, meets twice monthly. For more information, call Daniel at 659-0095 during the day or at 738-0733 in the evenings.

Cross Mill Pentecostal Holiness Church has a soaking prayer and intercession meeting every Friday at 8 p.m. For information, call the Rev. Doug Beane-Hall at 442-6216.

Vision Baptist Church, at 1841 Fairview Road, Marion, is offering Extreme Teens (Club 411) on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Victorious Couples meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. Additional childrens and adult programs are also available.

First Presbyterian Church of Marion invites everyone to come out on Sundays at 11 a.m. for worship service. All are welcome.

Apostolic Restoration Ministries is a new church to the area. If anyone is interested in attending, call Tim Eller at 828-443-2050.
In a remarkable demonstration of international cooperation and cultural exchange, students from McDowell High School in Marion had the privilege of participating in an enriching exchange program with their sister school, Duborg-Skolen, in Flensburg, Germany. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many students in rural western North Carolina allowed them to broaden their horizons and fostered deep connections and friendships across continents.

The exchange program started in 2006 when then McDowell High School Principal Ben Talbert and Superintendent Dr. Ira Trollinger, along with support from the McDowell County School Board, began the partnership with Duborg-Skolen, a Danish minority school in the seaside town of Flensburg, in northern Germany. The Danish leader, Kristian Arentsen has been leading the Danish side of the exchange since 2006. Over the years, it has remained essential to the districts commitment to foster global learners and provide meaningful opportunities for its students.

Under the guidance of both schools administrators and an extensive planning phase, the exchange program was meticulously organized to maximize academic, cultural and social immersion for all participating students. Host families welcome partnering students to their homes in exchange, giving them a unique glimpse into their everyday lives.

I feel that hosting an exchange student allowed my daughter to learn how to build relationships with other students that have a different culture than her, said MHS teacher and parent Angie Allison. It gave her an opportunity to learn about another country, and friends that I think she will have for life. I am so glad that we decided to do this.

Throughout the exchange, the McDowell students were given a taste of Danish and German life through a carefully curated itinerary that combined structured educational activities and vibrant cultural experiences.

McDowell students have always been greeted with a warm welcome from the Duborg school community. Followed by integrated classroom sessions where students engaged in lively discussions and presentations on various topics, such as history, literature and current affairs, thereby gaining a fresh perspective on global issues.

Danish students come to Marion and experience our culture and traditional American education and visit the many beautiful aspects of life in western North Carolina, places like Grandfather Mountain and Chimney Rock, and participate in a wide variety of our mountain traditions.

Over the years, the students from Duborg-Skolen visit Marion during the fall months while McDowell students venture to Flensburg in the spring. Over the years, 200 local students have been able to participate in the exchange and expand their knowledge and cultural horizons. Beyond the classroom, the students had the fantastic opportunity to explore the enchanting cities of Berlin and Hamburg in Germany and Aarhus and Copenhagen in Denmark, just to name a few.

The exchange has endured over the years, from 2019-22. Due to health concerns from COVID-19, the exchange was placed on hold but has resumed this fall with students visiting from Duborg-Skolen and McDowell students are currently preparing for a spring trip to Flensburg.
As of Thursday afternoon, emergency crews were still working to contain a wildfire that has so far burned 10 acres in the area off N.C 80 in the northern section of McDowell County.

Firefighters are working to contain the Locust Cove No. 2 fire in the vicinity of N.C. 80 (locally known as Buck Creek Road) in the Sunnyvale area of McDowell County. The fire was reported to the North Carolina Forest Service at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The ignition source is unknown at this time. The fire is burning near Locust Cove Road, within the fire scar of the first Locust Cove wildfire that burned over a larger area in March of this year, according to the news release.

No structures are threatened at this time and no injuries have occurred. The fire is located on U.S. Forest Service land. U.S. Forest Service crews were onsite quickly after the initial report. Fire intensity is low and firefighters are working to clear existing fire lines. A helicopter may be used today to drop water, according to the news release.

Smoke has drifted towards Marion and may continue to affect the area today depending on wind direction. The U.S. Forest Service is working with the McDowell County Emergency Operations Center to place signs along N.C. 80 to warn the public about smoke. Travelers on N.C. 80 should proceed with caution as firefighters are operating in the area and smoke is possible, particularly in the mornings and evenings, according to the news release.
The Minister of Economy and Finance of Guinea-Bissau will be heard at the Attorney Generals Office on Monday December 6 to clarify the payment of around 10 million dollars (9.1 million euros) to 11 businessmen, according to judicial sources.

According to the same sources, Suleimane Seidi should be heard along with other officials from the Ministry of Finance and a commercial bank in Bissau.

The bank was the one who granted credit of six billion CFA francs (around 10 million dollars) to the Government to pay the debt to 11 businessmen.

The Public Prosecutors Office wants to clarify this entire operation, said a judicial source who promised to provide more details after the hearing.

For now, the source clarified that the Minister of Finance and those responsible for his ministry will be heard as suspects.

Friday, November 24, the directors-general of the Treasury and Public Debt were heard at the Public Ministry by a Commission created by the Attorney General of the Republic, Bacari Biai, to investigate the allegations made by deputies in Parliament, in how those payments to businesspeople were covered in alleged illegalities.

The Minister of Finance, Suleimane Seidi, was heard in Parliament last Monday, the 27th, where he confirmed that he had requested a loan of six billion CFA francs from a commercial bank to pay the debt owed to businesspeople.

S. Seidi said it is a legal process and that all Governments in Guinea-Bissau do it.

The Movement for Democratic Alternation (Madem-G15), the main opposition party, considers the ministers explanations to be an admission of a criminal act, namely malfeasance and disrespect for budgetary rules, and he should therefore leave his position in the Government.
Angola has around 310,000 people living with HIV/AIDS and has an annual record of 15,000 new infections and around 13,000 deaths related to the disease, UNAIDS announced on Wednesday November 29.

Data from the Joint United Nations Program to Combat HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Angola were transmitted Wednesday, in Luanda, during a ceremony to present the Global Report on HIV/AIDS 2023 Let Communities Lead.

In a statement, UNAIDS states that, between 2010 and 2022, Angola had a 45% reduction in the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

The data indicate that young people between 15 and 24 years old are the group that records the highest incidence (0.7%), and among young girls and women it is 1.1%, four times higher than that of boys (0.3 %) and even more critical among young women in the key population category (prostitutes).

UNAIDS expresses concern about the outdated data from the latest Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey for key populations, highlighting that Angola is committed to accelerating prevention actions and sexual and reproductive health services.

Angolas commitment to implement the main recommendations of the Assessment of the Legal Environment for HIV/AIDS and the right to sexual reproductive health, through the National Strategic Plan for Response to HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections 2023-2026, are set out axis of UNAIDS concerns.

The Joint United Nations Program to Combat HIV/AIDS highlights the increase in diagnosis (40%-93%) and treatment (34%-79%) among HIV-positive pregnant women, between 2018 and 2022, as main progress recorded by Angola. Little community investment for prevention, stigma and discrimination, few resources to contain the expansion of the viral load and poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment due to lack of social support are highlighted by UNAIDS as the main challenges for Angola.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has thrown roses to Mauritania as he celebrated in a message the partnership between the two countries in the fight against terrorism.

The United States appreciates the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritanias measures to improve governance, address human rights concerns, include refugees, and spur economic development throughout the region. Furthermore, the United States appreciates our strong partnership in the fight against terrorism, which is essential to the security of both the Mauritanian and the American people, the US top diplomat said in a message of wishes to the government and people of Mauritania celebrating 63 years of independence.

The US top diplomat indicated that Washington greatly values our bilateral relationship with Mauritania, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years ahead.

Mauritania is member of U.S-sponsored Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP), a multi-faceted, multi-year U.S. strategy aimed at developing resilient institutions that are capable of preventing and responding to terrorism in a holistic, long-term manner.
The Senegalese navy has announced the seizure of three tons of pure cocaine off the coast of the capital city of Dakar  one of the largest seizures in the countrys history.

On the night of November 26-27, a Senegalese navy patrol boat intercepted a boat carrying three tons of cocaine 150 kilometers south of Dakar, the navy said in a communique on X, former Twitter.

The boat arrived in Dakar under convoy on Tuesday Nov. 28, the navy said.

The navy however did not provide details on the port of departure or where it was bound to, nor details of its crew and owner.

The West African country in recent years has emerged as a transit zone for drug trafficking. Authorities had seized tons of drug including cocaine in previous operations. January this year, the navy seized 805 kg of cocaine during an operation off the coast of the country.

In October last year, customs had announced the seizure of 300 kg of cocaine, worth nearly 37 million euros, in a refrigerated truck from neighboring Mali.

In June 2019, the customs also seized 1,027kg of cocaine, in multiple operations; 798 kg of the seized substance were found in 15 brand new cars put in a consignment from Brazil.

Authorities in 2007 made their biggest ever confiscation, after they seized 2.4 tons of cocaine in Mbour, in Thies region.
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:

Dr. Charles Weber demonstrates transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment at Family Care Center's Lowry Clinic in Denver. Credit: Family Care Center

By making slight modifications to an already approved brain stimulation technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), researchers have reported profound improvement in patients with hard-to-treat depression.

Overall, 66% of patients with major depressive disorder who took part in the study responded to the novel treatment, and 42% showed acute remission. This is significantly higher than the 29% response rate reported for the standard FDA-approved protocol and also better than the response rates reported for alternative evidence-based protocols.

"The findings are significant, particularly for patients who have tried other treatments and not seen desired results," said Sabrina Segal, Ph.D., Director of Research at Family Care Center, who led the study, which was recently published in the journal Brain Stimulation.

She added, "Our TMS protocol reduced patient symptoms considerably more than other approaches and with virtually no side effects."

Only 3050% of patients experience full recovery or remission when treated with psychotherapy or medication. Even when medications do work, they can sometimes cause side effects ranging from weight gain to sexual dysfunction, and in some cases, can actually make depression symptoms worse.

Patients who try several types of therapy unsuccessfully are often considered treatment-resistant, especially those who suffer from major depressive disorder, a problem so pervasive that it's considered the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

"This is a global epidemic," said Dr. Segal. "Simply put, we need more effective treatment options, and that's where TMS can make an impact."

During the trial, more than three dozen patients underwent TMS to a region in the front left portion of the brain. It's a technique that's already approved by the FDA for the treatment of major depressive disorder; however, it has only been shown to offer a meaningful reduction in depression symptoms in about 29% of patients.

"We took that approach a step further," said Charles L. Weber, DO, FASAM, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of Family Care Center. "What we did was follow up the more traditional stimulation of 15 minutes to the left side of the brain, with three minutes of high frequency, short bursts of stimulation to an area in the right side of the brain."

He added, "This type of stimulation to the right side has been associated with improvements in symptoms related to anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A couple of recent studies have demonstrated a reduction in depressive symptoms in older adults; however, this is the first study to show the effectiveness of the right-side stimulation on reduction of depressive symptoms in younger adults."

The fact that two out of three patients showed a response to this approach and nearly half had acute remission is made more encouraging by the fact that most patients in this study suffered from other conditions as well, such as anxiety and PTSD.

"There is much more research needed in those areas, but given our initial success, we're optimistic about the potential, particularly given their demographics," said Dr. Segal.

The study consisted of patients whose mean age was 42.5 years, more than 20 years younger than recent similar studies that used TMS to evaluate the impact on patients with so-called late-life depression.

Developing new therapies for younger patients could help them find effective treatments much earlier in life, significantly reduce lost productivity and the cost of failed therapies, and could potentially become an option for younger veterans, in particular, millions of whom struggle to find effective therapies to treat PTSD.

Before the study began, each patient charted their symptoms using a standard scale, with zero being no symptoms and 27 representing the most severe. At the outset, patients had a mean score of 18.18. During the course of the trial, symptoms improved to a mean score of 10.29, and by the end of the study, they had been cut by more than half at just over 8, with many achieving acute remission.

"We are making huge strides in understanding how TMS works, but we're still just scratching the surface," said Dr. Segal. "Hopefully, this could someday become a first-line therapy for millions who suffer from a variety of mental illnesses and spare them the devastating toll they often take on their lives."

More information: Sabrina K. Segal et al, Letter to the editor: A novel sequential bilateral neurostimulation approach for treatment-resistant depression involving high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and intermittent theta burst to the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, Brain Stimulation (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.11.007

Provided by Family Care Center
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Scanning electron microscope image of Vibrio cholerae. Credit: Wikipedia

Cholera has claimed the lives of at least 23 people in eastern Ethiopia, an area hit by major flooding, Save the Children said Thursday, warning that the epidemic could become uncontrollable across the region.

Ethiopia, along with neighboring Kenya and Somalia, have been battered by heavy rains linked to the El Nino weather pattern, triggering flash floods that have killed scores of people across the Horn of Africa and displaced around two million.

Save the Children said that in two weeks there had been 772 confirmed cases of cholera and 23 deaths in the eastern Somali region of Ethiopia which borders Somalia.

In the worst-hit district of Kelafo, the charity said its teams were reporting a surge in the disease among children under five, who account for nearly 80 percent of confirmed cases.

"A deadly combination of flooded water systems, a lack of basic sanitation services and damaged water treatment plants has driven the spike in the deadly illness," the UK-based charity said in a statement.

It said at least 91 districts across Ethiopia have reported cases of cholera, a disease contracted from a bacterium generally transmitted through contaminated food or water.

"Save the Children is warning the cholera outbreak in Ethiopia and across the Horn of Africa could spiral out of control if swift action isn't taken by government and donors to provide clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for communities forced out of their homes by floodwaters."

At least 57 people have been killed in the floods in Ethiopia and more than 600,000 displaced, according to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Another 101 people have lost their lives in Somalia and 120 in Kenya, according to government figures.

 2023 AFP
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Last year's heavy snow season has many people thinking about what Mother Nature has in store this year. To stay healthy this holiday season and beyond, Mayo Clinic Health System is recommending people pace themselves while clearing snow.

"Many people don't realize the workout involved while shoveling and digging out from a heavy snowfall," says Vinayak Nagaraja, M.D., interventional cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. "It's an arduous activity that puts extra strain on your heart, and for those with heart disease, we recommend having someone else clear the snow altogether."

The cardiovascular stressors of shoveling are both physiological and psychological.

The physiological stressors include your blood vessels constricting from being out in the cold, which increases blood pressure. In people with underlying conditions, this alone can lead to chest pain.

"The psychological part has to do with the mental stress of being out in the bitter cold and being determined to keep going and keep shoveling even though you're exhausted," says Dr. Nagaraja.

If you have a history of heart problems and are physically inactive, it's best to consult with your health care team before starting heavy exercise like shoveling. In addition, don't shovel while smoking, eating or right after consuming caffeine since this may place extra stress on your heart.

Here are a few other tips to consider:

Drink plenty of water.

Remaining hydrated during cold-weather months is just as important as during warm-weather months. Drink water or electrolyte drinks before, during and after your shoveling session, even if you're not thirsty.

Shovel snow while it's fresh.

Freshly fallen snow is lighter than snow that has started melting or has been moved by a plow.

Take it slow.

Pace yourself and take breaks if you need to. Safety is more important than speed.

Listen to your body.

This is the No. 1 snow-shoveling tip. If something doesn't feel normal or you're tired, it's time to stop. Go inside, warm up, rest and drink water, tea or coffee. Reevaluate how your body feels before picking up where you left off.

Have your phone handy. If you're experiencing an emergency, call 911 immediately.

2023 Mayo Clinic News Network. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant during the first hours after a very premature birth helps develop the child's social skills. This is according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and others. The study also shows that fathers may play a more important role than previous research has shown.

In current practice, very premature babies are usually placed in an incubator to keep them warm and to stabilize them during the first hours after birth. In the "Immediate parent-infant skin-to-skin study" (IPISTOSS), 91 premature babies born at 28 to 33 weeks were randomized to either traditional care in an incubator or immediate skin-to-skin contact with one of the parents.

The study has generated several results that show, among other things, that immediate skin-to-skin contact is safe for babies and beneficial for their cardiorespiratory stabilization and temperature maintenance, and that it is perceived as valuable by the parents.

Now, as part of this study, the researchers have also studied the social development at four months of age of 71 of these premature babies. The children were randomly assigned to receive either standard care in an incubator or to receive care resting on one of their parents' breasts, either the mother's or the father's, for the first six hours after birth.

"What is new about our study is that we also allowed the fathers to have skin-to-skin contact immediately after the birth. In most previous studies, it is the mother who is the primary caregiver, but in our study it was the fathers who had the most skin-to-skin contact," says Wibke Jonas, midwife, senior lecturer and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Women's and Children's Health, as well as research leader and last author of the study.

"The study has identified fathers as a previously untapped resource that really has an important function in having immediate skin-to-skin contact with their infant if the mother is not available," says Siri Lillieskold, Ph.D. student at the same department and specialist nurse in neonatal care, and first author of the study.

After four months, the social interaction between mother and infant was filmed and assessed by two psychologists who did not know which infant had received early skin-to-skin contact and which had not.

The quality of the interaction was measured according to the Parent-Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA) scale, where different elements are graded between one and five, with one being cause for concern and five being very good quality.

The infants who received immediate skin-to-skin contact had significantly better results in a subscale measuring the infant's communicative and social skills. On the five-point scale, their average score was closer to four, while the infants cared for according to current practice were just above three.

"What you could see was that the infants in the skin-to-skin group had slightly better communication skills, they were a bit more social and happier," says Wibke Jonas.

Premature babies have developmental challenges as they grow up and need a lot of support. Even though medical developments have come a long way, the care of these babies still needs to be developed, the researchers say.

"If we combine the immediate medical care of the very premature babies with a relatively simple intervention such as skin-to-skin contact, it has effects on the infants' social skills," says Jonas Wibke and continues.

"Previous studies have shown that premature babies perform slightly poorer when socially interacting, for example, they do not give as clear signals in the interaction with their mothers. The closeness between babies and their parents at birth may therefore stimulate later interaction and thus the development of the infant."

The benefits of immediate skin-to-skin contact are so clear that both Wibke Jonas and Siri Lillieskold believe it should be introduced now in Swedish neonatal care. And this work is already underway, they say.

"We have worked very actively to minimize separation between infants and parents in general, and now we have the evidence to do the same with these very premature babies," says Siri Lillieskold.

The research team will continue to report on the development of the infants at 12 and 24 months.

The study is a collaboration between researchers from Karolinska Institutet and the University Hospital of Stavanger, Norway, and the University of Turku, Finland.

More information: Skin-to-Skin Contact at Birth for Very Preterm Infants and Mother-Infant Interaction Quality at 4 MonthsA Secondary Analysis of the IPISTOSS Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.44469 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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To mark the occasion of World AIDS Day, Dr. Madeleine Durand and Andres Finzi are working to reduce chronic inflammation and the risk of comorbidities in people living with HIV.

In Canada, more than 43,000 people are living with a virus well controlled by antiretroviral therapy. However, aging in good health and enjoying a good quality of life is still a challenge for many of them.

The sustained activation of the body's immune system for people living with HIV leads to chronic inflammation that for some people can cause associated complications such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis or neurocognitive decline.

These health problems, categorized under the term early-onset comorbidities, are linked to the viral reservoirs in which HIV persists.

"These comorbidities arise approximately 15 years earlier in people living with HIV, and this gap has not gotten any narrower over the last decade. Today, there is no specific treatment for HIV to slow down this premature aging," says Dr. Madeleine Durand, assistant professor at Universite de Montreal and researcher at CHUM Research Center (CRCHUM).

A world-renowned specialist, she worked with Dr. Cecile Tremblay the first Canadian HIV and Aging Cohort Study (CHACS), which included 850 people living with HIV and 250 control subjects.

This important source of data and specimens is helping several research teams across Canada to understand how these individuals age differently.

One of her colleagues, Andres Finzi, researcher at CRCHUM, called on her.

"Andres is the man who plays with bits of protein," jokes Madeleine Durand. "She's not wrong," he replies, amused.

Their collaboration is largely due to coincidence: a chance encounter at a scientific conference at CHUM in 2021. During the lunch that followed, they devised some research hypotheses. One of them was fruitful.

Counteracting toxic effects

In a study published by The Journal of Infectious Diseases, whose primary author, Mehdi Benlarbi, is doing his doctorate in Andres Finzi's lab, scientists demonstrate that there is a link between inflammation in people living with HIV and the level of protein gp120 in the blood. This molecule makes up a part of the entry "key" that the virus uses to infect human cells.

"Even when the viral load is undetectable, we were able to detect this molecule in the blood of one in three infected people. We're showing that it acts as a toxin and is associated to chronic inflammation leading to comorbidities," explains Andres Finzi, professor at Universite de Montreal and chair holder of the Canada Research Chair in Retroviral Entry.

To achieve these results, the researcher's team measured the level of gp120 in the plasma of 386 people from the CHACS cohort led by Dr. Durand. These individuals are over 40-year-old, have been living with HIV in average for 16 years, receive antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load.

"We've managed to counteract the harmful effects of gp120 in vitro by using Fostemsavir, a drug only used by people who are resistant to traditional anti-HIV treatments and whose viral load is detectable," says Andres Finzi.

Clinical trial in 2024

Encouraged by the results of this study, Dr. Madeleine Durand and Andres Finzi are setting up a randomized, double-blind clinical trial to determine if targeting the gp120 would decrease inflammation, thereby reducing the risk of early-onset comorbidities.

At this stage, Durand and Finzi have been able to rely on financial support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, from the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network and from the Fonds de recherche du QuebecSante to allow them to set up their clinical trial.

"In our multicenter trial that will last two years, we're going to concretely examine if adding Fostemsavir to existing antiretroviral therapy treatments leads to a reduction in cardiovascular diseases. This will be determined by the change in the volume of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries between the end and the start of the study, measured by cardiac CT scans," explains Dr. Durand.

Patients' frailty over time and cognitive abilities will also be evaluated.

The clinical trial is set to start in September 2024. Approximately 200 individuals will be recruited based on the same criteria as those in the CHACS cohort. The goal is for 50% of the recruits to be women.

Women living with HIV represent 23% of people affected in Canada and form the second fastest-growing group, after Indigenous people. However, women are systematically underrepresented in HIV trials.

"If our trial proves to be conclusive, there would be a paradigm shift in current treatment. Our personalized approach to medicine, which includes optimizing antiretroviral therapy in the many people for whom gp120 is detectable, could relieve the burden of their comorbidities and improve their quality of life," reports Dr. Durand.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 39 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2022.

More information: Andres Finzi et al, Plasmatic HIV-1 soluble gp120 is associated with correlates of immune dysfunction and inflammation in ART-treated individuals with undetectable viremia, Journal of Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad503 Journal information: Journal of Infectious Diseases

Provided by University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)
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What the Israeli hostages have had to go through is unimaginable. The trauma of that unexpected, barbaric attack by Hamas, the murder of loved ones, then being violently abducted and dragged down into tunnels deep underground in Gaza. We live in a society where we often talk about trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but it's rarely this bad.

The Northern Irish author Brian Keenan wrote the book An Evil Cradling about his experience of being held hostage by Shi'ite militiamen in the 1980s in Beirut. He was held for over four years in filthy rooms often smaller than a bathroom.

His initial response was denial "to trivialize or to minimize the event and the consequences it may have", but this approach was soon exhausted. The reality of his situation broke through, bringing depression and frustration.

To survive, he says "one has to learn to unhook from the past in order to live for the present". He developed strategies to alleviate his depressions, including imagining jokes that his friends in Belfast would make when he returned. To distract himself from the reality of his beatings and overhearing torture and executions, he concentrated on rewriting old movies in his head, or creating imaginary pictures.

Research on the psychological reaction of the hostages in the Moscow theater siege of 2002 at the hands of Chechen terrorists identified six stages of adaptation: startle-panic, disbelief (many thought initially that it was part of the show), then hypervigilance, resistance-compliance, depression and finally gradual acceptance.

Hostages quickly lost all sense of time. They felt powerless and emotionally numb and said it seemed "like a movie". Some suffered from Stockholm syndrome.

This occurs when hostages develop bonds of attachment to their captors as a result of an unconscious emotional response to the traumatic situation, where death seems as likely to come as a result of the actions of those outside trying to save them as from the captors themselves.

Being taken hostage can have profound psychological effects on people for many years. The psychological impact varies depending on the duration of captivity, the conditions endured, the person's resilience and their coping mechanisms.

Brian Keenan was more resilient than most, but still veered close to the edge. The Israeli hostages vary significantly in age, another important factor. The child hostages will not have developed the necessary coping strategies, and may not understand fully what is happening, if at all.

Some common psychological effects are associated with being a hostage, like PTSD, characterized by intrusive memories or flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, persistent feelings of fear or helplessness. One Dutch study found that a third of ex-hostages were still suffering from PTSD nine years after the event.

Memories that don't fade

These kind of traumatic events are associated with what psychologists call "flashbulb" memories that don't fade like normal memories over time. All of the situational information associated with the event is stored by the brain.

Psychologists suggest that these processes have been shaped by our evolutionary past. The events are so traumatic that we must avoid the situation at all costs in the future, which is why the brain remembers them so well.

Hostages are also likely to experience high levels of anxiety and depression as a result of the trauma. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and anhedoniaa loss of pleasure in previously enjoyed activitiesare common.

Anger and rage at how this event was "allowed" to happen by the intelligence failure of the Israeli government is likely to be another major issue. Being taken hostage can severely impact a person's ability to trust others. They may feel betrayed by their government's failure to protect them, and struggle with trusting others. They may fight to regain a sense of personal control in their everyday lives.

Hostages may also remain in a constant state of hypervigilance, always on guard for potential threats. This heightened state of alertness can lead to difficulties in relaxing, concentrating and sleeping.

Those hostages released early are also likely to experience survivor's guilt, given that others are still captive. Then there is the survivor's guilt associated with their very survival when so many others perished. They may struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame for years.

Long-term therapy

After being released, hostages will require comprehensive psychological support to help them cope with the trauma. Typically this includes a combination of individual therapy, group therapy and specialized interventions.

Techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can be used to address symptoms of PTSD. EMDR aims to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories or experiences.

The person focuses on the traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, following the therapist's finger movements with their eyes. This has been shown to be beneficial, reducing the vividness of the traumatic memory and lessening the emotional response.

Hostages will also need a safe and empathetic environment where they can express their emotions about what has occurred. Emotional disclosure where victims build a narrative of their experience integrating their understanding of the events with their emotional responses, is critical for both physical and mental health.

This can be achieved through individual counseling sessions or support groups with other survivors who have endured similar experiences. Educating victims about the common reactions and symptoms associated with trauma can also help, by helping to normalize their psychological reactions and reduce their feelings of isolation.

We must remember that the specific psychological support needed after release from a hostage situation will vary from person to person. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment by mental health professionals is crucial to determine the most appropriate and effective interventions for each victim. But, in the case of the Israeli hostages, it's important to recognize how enduring some of the effects may well be for the majority of them.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Researchers have unveiled crucial insights into the sleep health of middle-aged and older adults in Canada, identifying social determinants that contribute to disparities in sleep satisfaction, efficiency, and duration. The study revealed that men report sleeping better than women, and contrary to previously held beliefs, sleep actually improves with age. Socioeconomic factors like income level and homeownership also had an impact on sleep.

Previous research has shown that 40% of adults in Canada report fewer hours of sleep than the recommended seven hours. Poor sleep habits have been linked to a wide range of chronic disease outcomes, including cardiovascular conditions, cancer, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disease, as well as an increased mortality risk in aging populations. However, factors influencing sleep health have not been given much attention.

The new study, recently published in Sleep Health, has shown the difference in sleep quality among Canadians from 45-85 years is significantly linked to sex, age, income, education and ethnicity.

The study, led by Western researcher Rebecca Rodrigues and supervised by Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Dr. Saverio Stranges, shows women report lower sleep satisfaction and efficiency compared to men. This disparity persisted across different sociodemographic backgrounds.

"This highlights a critical area of concern for women's health, particularly as they age," said Stranges, chair, department of epidemiology and biostatistics and professor, departments of family medicine and medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. "Sleep health is a critical factor, especially among middle-aged and older adults. This demographic is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of inadequate sleep, including cognitive decline and an increased risk of falls."

Interestingly, the study found that older adults (aged 65 and above) reported better overall sleep health compared to Canadians from 45 to 65 years old.

"This finding challenges the notion that sleep quality invariably declines with age, suggesting that other factors, such as reduced work and a decline in family pressures in later life, might play a beneficial role," said Stranges.

Higher socioeconomic status also emerged as a significant predictor of better sleep health. Individuals with higher income levels, those who are retired and homeowners reported better sleep quality.

"It's clear that socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in determining sleep quality. This underscores the need for targeted interventions to address these inequities," said Rodrigues, the lead author of the study.

The study also shed light on racial and ethnic disparities in sleep duration, particularly among Black, East and Southeast Asian, and other mixed-race groups, who reported shorter sleep duration compared to white participants. This difference points to potential systemic issues that warrant further investigation.

The findings of this study have significant implications for public health policies in Canada. "Sleep health needs to be a priority in public health discourse, especially considering its impact on other health outcomes and quality of life among older adults," said Stranges.

The researchers asked, "Who sleeps well in Canada?" and explored 11 social determinants of three sleep health domains (satisfaction, efficiency, and duration) among middle-aged and older adults in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). The CLSA is a national longitudinal survey of approximately 50,000 adults aged 45-85 years at baseline.

Western researchers, including Amy Jing, Kelly K. Anderson, Rea Alonzo, Piotr Wilk, Graham J. Reid, Jason Gilliland, Guangyong Zou, Kathryn Nicholson and Giuseppe Guaiana contributed to the study.

More information: Rebecca Rodrigues et al, Who sleeps well in Canada? The social determinants of sleep health among middle-aged and older adults in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, Sleep Health (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2023.09.015
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Adults who faced adversity during childhood were significantly more likely to die from or be hospitalized because of COVID-19. That's the key finding of my team's recent study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The study of 150,000 adults in the United Kingdom found those reporting the most childhood trauma had a 25% greater likelihood of death associated with COVID-19, as well as a 22% increase in hospitalization after contracting COVID-19. These figures held up even after accounting for demographics and health conditions.

Childhood trauma includes physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction and what many call "toxic stress."

Our study relied on the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database with more than 500,000 volunteers ages 40 to 69 throughout the United Kingdom. Close to one-third of those volunteers provided information about their childhood. Our team took that data and then searched medical records for participants who died or were hospitalized because of COVID-19. Though more research is needed, these initial results highlight the lasting impacts of childhood stress and the need to provide psychological support early on to mitigate lifelong health risks.

Why it matters

COVID-19 had killed nearly 7 million people worldwide as of November 2023. This underscores the importance of understanding all of the risk factors leading to pandemic-related hospitalization and death.

Prior research has examined the demographic risk factors for COVID-19, including age, race, ethnicity, income and education. But this is the first study to link childhood experiences to adult COVID-19 outcomes.

The striking findings of the study suggest that early childhood trauma should be added to the list of risk factors for illnessnot only for COVID-19 but perhaps for other diseases as well.

Childhood trauma is linked not only to COVID-19 but other diseases as well.

The study also suggests that communities disproportionately affected by adversity and trauma may be particularly vulnerable to negative health outcomes. This includes communities where there are high levels of neighborhood violence, stress and poverty.

What other research is being done

Our research was prompted by a growing body of work that has found an association between adverse childhood experiences and health problems in adulthood. Adults experiencing significant childhood abuse have an increased risk for chronic conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, cancer and premature death.

Researchers are still trying to understand how childhood adversity contributes to negative health outcomes in adulthood. It could be primarily biological in nature. For instance, adversity has been linked to excess inflammation. Inflammation is normally a protective response from the body, triggered by harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells or toxins. However, excessive inflammation is related to strokes, heart attacks and other health conditions and can lead to more negative COVID-19 outcomes.

In contrast, the links between early adversity and poorer health could be behavioral in nature. Adversity is associated with having less money or education as an adult. These factors could, in turn, be associated with less access to and subpar medical care. Studies have shown that people with lower incomes and lower-paying jobs were exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace more often. Adversity is also associated with depression and challenges to emotion regulation. This in turn could result in downstream changes in biology and behavior.

What's next

Our team plans to continue investigating large population studiesthat is, at least 30,000 to 50,000 participantsto determine whether adverse childhood experiences relate to other health outcomes, like long COVID.

It's becoming increasingly clear that learning more about how childhood trauma becomes embedded in the body could inform our understanding of possible interventions and long-term health outcomes, including those potentially connected to COVID-19.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Prognostic Risk Index (PROG) as a Function of 4 Treatment Submodalities in Samples of Randomized Clinical Trials on Face-to-Face Therapy (FTF) and Internet-Based Therapy (IBT) for Depression. Credit: JAMA Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.3861

The demand for therapy places for people suffering with mental health problems is currently sky high. Depression and anxiety disorders in particular are driving more and more people in Switzerland to seek psychotherapy, and the numbers continue to rise. Although provision of mental health care in Switzerland is generally considered good, those seeking help are now having to wait longer than usual to see a therapist.

In times of such need, online therapy programs and smartphone apps seem to offer an inexpensive alternative. They may also appeal to people who would feel reticent about going to a psychotherapist. Instead of relying on a specialist, digital tools can teach people techniques from behavioral therapy and help them to help themselves.

But these easy-to-access services are not without problems. "We currently know far too little about the efficacy of internet-based therapies," says Birgit Watzke, professor of clinical psychology and psychotherapy research at UZH. "In many cases, their effects have not yet been sufficiently proven." Watzke firmly advises against using such apps without professional support, except in clear cases of very minor symptoms, such as mild depression.

Tricky comparisons

Her critical attitude is no knee-jerk reaction. Watzke and her team have been researching internet-based therapies for several years and are currently developing their own app. The clinical psychologist has just published a study in JAMA Psychiatry shedding light on the problems of internet-based therapies. The study focused on test subjects who had taken part in other trials examining traditional psychotherapy sessions or internet-based therapies.

First author Mariia Merzhvynska measured the severity of the participants' depression and came to the conclusion that, on the whole, those who used the internet-based therapies had less severe symptoms from the start. In other words, it is hard to compare the research findings for conventional versus internet-based therapies because the patient groups differ. For the comprehensive study, the research team analyzed a total of 109 randomized clinical trials, 57 of which involved traditional psychotherapies and 48 internet-based therapies, with a total number of participants of more than 18,000.

From a clinical perspective, it's a problem if internet-based therapies are marketed as a miracle replacement for conventional therapy sessions, as happens in some parts of the internet. As Watzke points out: "At the moment, we simply do not know enough about which kinds of patients would benefit from internet-based therapies." It is difficult to interpret the relevant studies due to the different participant samples, as the JAMA study shows.

Delicate self-diagnosis

One reason for this difficulty is posed by the conditions of participation: in many internet-based studies, participants can enroll based on a self-diagnosis, which opens the door to manipulation. No specialists are involved in the selection process. In a clinical study, in contrast, experts decide who is admitted and assess the participants. That makes a significant difference in cases of depression, as the spectrum is broad and ranges from mild symptoms to severe distress that can lead to suicide.

Moreover, depression can occur in combination with other problems such as a personality disorder or psychosis, complicating the diagnosis. For Watzke, it is necessary to examine which forms of mental disorders could benefit from internet-based therapies by conducting extremely precise and careful studies that adhere to the established norms. Otherwise, there's a risk that people will be prescribed ineffective therapies.

Despite all these reservations, Watzke sees a "promising future" for internet-based interventions. However, she envisages them less as a replacement for conventional therapies than as a complementin the context of "blended therapy" or integrative treatment. The InMind app for smartphones currently being developed by Watzke's working group together with colleagues from the Department of Informatics is intended to fulfill such a role.

Smart journal

This digital assistant can be used between psychotherapy sessions to help patients consolidate the therapeutic effects. Patients can use it to record feelings, thoughts and observations about their daily life, as well as reflections on the therapy session. "The app is like a 'smart' journal which encourages people to reflect on their therapy and to implement discoveries from the sessions in their everyday lives," says Markus Wolf, senior teaching and research assistant in Watzke's team, who is involved in developing the app.

Following an initial positive evaluation of the app by psychotherapists and other experts, it will be tested on the first group of patients next year. If the tool also proves useful in practice, it will be rolled out more widely in the future.

Accompaniment required

The InMind app can be described as a simple digital support tool for use with traditional outpatient psychotherapy. Its claims are thus less overblown than certain internet "therapies," where a distinction must be made between self-help programs that involve in-person therapy and those that don't.

Markus Wolf draws a comparison between self-help tools such as Moodgym or Deprexis and the self-help books that were popular at the end of the last century. The programs are well made, and some are also scientifically tested, he says, but at the end of the day they are still just a digital form of self-help. "Basically, the effect of using internet-based therapies without accompanying psychotherapy is low," say Markus Wolf and Birgit Watzke in unison.

In view of the rising number of people suffering from mental health difficulties, the two experts believe there is a risk that untested programs which cannot deliver on their promises start to proliferate. That would cause more suffering for the very people who need help. Instead, Watzke and Wolf want to see a sophisticated range of services developed. In their view, the future lies in harnessing an intelligent blend of conventional and digital methods, with the aim of combining psychotherapy sessions and internet interventions in the most effective way possible.
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When teenagers and young adults see pro-tobacco content on social media, they face higher risks. They are more likely to report using tobacco products such as e-cigarettes (also called vapes), more likely to start using those products for the first time and less likely to view them as harmful.

Algorithms programmed to automatically remove tobacco ads are designed to protect youthbut they don't always work or are not implemented well enough by social media platforms, according to Julia Vassey, MPH, a health behavior researcher in the department of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

"Posts that promote tobacco are prohibited by platforms like TikTok and Meta, but studies show that only a small portion of that content gets removed," said Vassey.

A new study led by Vassey and Harvard Medical School researcher Chris J. Kennedy, Ph.D., used a form of artificial intelligence (AI) known as computer vision to track the prevalence of various tobacco-related objects on social media, finding that some content increased as much as 100% between 2019 and 2022.

The results were just published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

While previous computer vision studies that analyzed e-cigarettes in social media posts looked broadly at e-cigarette-related content (including user-generated and promotional content), the present study is the first to focus specifically on influencer posts on TikTok, Vassey said.

The work is part of the Keck School of Medicine's Tobacco Center on Regulatory Science (TCORS), one of seven centers in the country that conduct research specifically to inform federal policy related to tobacco.

An increase in prevalence

Vassey and her colleagues, who are based at USC, Harvard Medical School and Dartmouth College, started by building a computer vision model, which uses AI to identify specific features in visual data, such as photos or videos. Using a dataset of 6,999 images from Instagram, they trained the algorithm to recognize objects related to e-cigarette use.

The model was trained to differentiate between objects in eight different categories: mod or pod devices, e-juice containers, packaging boxes, nicotine warning labels, e-juice flavors, e-cigarette brand names and smoke clouds. By training the model to distinguish between various types of tobacco content, the researchers are able to drill down into the specific types of e-cigarette products being promoted.

Once the model was trained to recognize tobacco-related objects, Vassey and her team used it to analyze 14,072 TikTok videos posted from "micro-influencers." These users have between 1,000 and 100,000 followers and get a high number of likes and comments on their posts.

The researchers found that the prevalence of pod devices increased by 33% between 2021 and 2022, while the prevalence of e-juice flavor names and e-cigarette brand names increased by about 100% between 2019 and 2022. Nicotine warning labels also increased in prevalence over time, showing up in 3% of TikTok videos analyzed from 2019 and 9% of videos analyzed from 2022.

Research to help protect youth

In addition to these findings, the study offers insights about the most effective way to study tobacco content on social media moving forward. While human reviewers tend to find tobacco-related objects with higher accuracy than computers, an AI algorithm can process much larger datasets. A larger sample size or an improved model architecture can help offset slightly lower accuracy rates, pointing to computer vision as a promising tool to review the ever-growing pool of social media content.

The researchers have also publicly shared their model, code and training dataset for students and researchers to download and use on their own datasets. Other users can even retrain the model to fit their needs, for example to recognize cigarettes, cigars or other types of tobacco products.

TCORS researchers will continue studying the effects of e-cigarettes on youth, including more research on the growing role of social media content.

"We know that this content is growing, not disappearing," Vassey said. "That tells us there's a need for continued research on the presence and the effects of this marketing."
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Although vaccination remains one of the most important public health strategies for preventing COVID and limiting its adverse outcomes, rates of vaccination are lower for Black people, suggesting that public health messaging and strategies have failed to adequately reach this community. A new study published in Vaccine from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) examines these shortcomings and seeks to understand the process that leads them to a decision about vaccination.

Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the healthiest states in the nation with generally high vaccination rates, but it is also plagued by some of the starkest racial inequities across numerous health indicators. As of February 2023, 60.9% of Black Minnesotans had completed the primary COVID-19 vaccine series, compared to 64.7% of white people in the state. And while 21.5% of all Minnesotans had received booster shots, only 9.9% of Black Minnesotans had.

To understand how public health messages were falling short, researchers conducted interviews with women in Minnesota who self-identified as Black, including African Americans, immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, and descendants of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean. Participants were categorized into four groups: those who willingly got vaccinated, those who got vaccinated due to a mandate, those who delayed getting vaccinated and those who did not get vaccinated.

Participants who were highly motivated to get vaccinated described their trust in science and a desire to protect those around them, while those who delayed getting vaccinated expressed doubts about the vaccine's safety. For all participants who expressed reservations about the vaccine, a range of factors and reasons were cited, including:

Myths and misinformation. Many people cited myths around fertility, including the belief that the vaccine can damage the reproductive organs, cause sterility, or lead to birth defects or developmental delays. Some immigrants also reported hearing myths that originated in their home countries.

Historical trauma and structural racism. African American women in particular were more likely to mention racist historic events, including the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and experiments on Henrietta Lacks, as reasons to distrust public health recommendations.

"A key component of our study was disaggregating the Black population, so we could better understand issues that affected decision-making that were relevant to specific segments of the community," says SPH researcher and lead author Inari Mohammed. "Public health messages were received differently by people depending on their background and experiences, underscoring the importance of culturally-tailored public health communications when reaching out to particular communities."

In addition to culturally-specific messaging, the researchers recommend several changes to public health campaigns in the future, including outreach that includes representatives from the community. SPH Professor Rachel Widome and Assistant Professor Kelly Searle are co-authors on the study.

More information: Inari S. Mohammed et al, COVID-19 vaccine decision-making among Black women: A qualitative study, Vaccine (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.074 Journal information: Vaccine
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Top: A person is infected by the alpha variant of SARS-CoV-2. Within a few weeks, antibodies are made that protect the person against the alpha variant as well as beta and gamma variants which are very similar to the alpha variant. Bottom: A person who (1) has recovered from COVID-19 and who (2) has received mRNA vaccine with components of the alpha variant develops a strong immune response within a few weeks. The antibodies that are made in the body protect against the alpha variant, the closely related beta and gamma variants as well as the more distantly related delta and omicron variants. People who have recovered from COVID-19 and then received the mRNA vaccine are also protected against new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Credit: Gerda Kaynova

Even if you have had COVID-19, new vaccines will provide protection against new variants of the virus by helping the immune system produce antibodies.

"Vaccines help boost the production of antibodies, providing effective protection against serious illness and death," says Mona Hyster Fenstad, who is a senior consultant at the blood bank at St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim.

We are already well into autumn, and the COVID-19 virus is rife all over Norway. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends people in risk groups to get vaccinated.

They point out that elderly people in particular will be vulnerable to serious illness if they are infected with COVID-19. However, since the vast majority of us have already had COVID-19 at least once, do we really need to think about getting vaccinated?

Yes, say the scientists.

"The saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' is not true in this context. The inflammation that occurs in the body during infections such as influenza, COVID-19 and pneumonia can be harmful. Especially for people with heart or lung disease, or where other risk factors are involved," says Fenstad.

Searching for medicine to combat COVID-19

Fenstand and her international colleagues have recently published a study in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases that looked at the effect of vaccination on people who became ill with COVID-19 before vaccines were available. This work has been closely linked to the search for antibodies that can be used as medicine against COVID-19.

"At the beginning of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) asked scientists and therapists around the world to look for treatments for COVID-19. Among the treatments proposed was 'convalescent plasma therapy,' which uses plasma from blood donors who have recovered from the illness. Along with NTNU colleagues, we chose to take a closer look at how the antibodies in this plasma were able to neutralize new virus variants that emerged," says Fenstad.

While big pharmaceutical companies were working hard to develop vaccines and medicines, scientists had already begun to look at the use of blood plasma from COVID-19 patients as a possible treatment.

"Many of these patients had large amounts of antibodies in their blood. Plasma containing these antibodies was therefore given to seriously ill patients to help them fight the virus. It turned out that convalescent plasma therapy was primarily effective in patients who had immunodeficiencies," says Fenstad.

A constantly changing virus

"We were looking for so-called 'super-neutralizers,' people who develop specific antibodies that effectively neutralize different variants of SARS-CoV-2," says Denis Kainov, a professor in NTNU's Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine who was part of the research team.

These antibodies were eventually cultivated and cloned, and then turned into medicines used to fight COVID-19.

In Norway, the first COVID-19 outbreak occurred in February 2020. The first Alpha variant was quickly followed by new, mutated variants named beta and delta. Omicron, which is currently the prevailing variant, was first reported in late 2021.

By April 2020, blood banks across Norway had begun collecting blood plasma from patients who had recovered from COVID-19. At St. Olavs Hospital, 72 patients were selected for a more detailed study of the antibodies in their blood plasma.

"It turned out that half of these patients had serum containing antibodies that effectively neutralized the beta variant," says Kainov.

Finding the dream patient

Kainov has been searching for active substances to use in the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral diseases.

He is now looking for antibodies that could provide wider protection, including against new COVID-19 variants that might emerge.

They noticed that four patients had antibodies that effectively neutralized the COVID-19 variant that was dominant in Trondheim at the time.

"We followed up by taking new samples from these patients and found that their antibodies also neutralized other COVID-19 variants. In fact, they were also effective on new virus variants," says Kainov.

The conclusion is thus that it is a good idea to get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19 and even if the virus has mutated since the vaccine was made.

Out of the four patients, the scientists picked the one whose antibodies had been least effective against the omicron variant. This patient had received their first vaccine dose four months after recovering from COVID-19. The efficacy of the vaccine was striking.

"The vaccine boosted the production of immune cells and antibodies against all tested variants of the virus, including omicron," says Kainov.

The virus is always one step ahead

Kainov's colleagues in Estonia could then proceed with blood plasma from the patient, cloning and cultivating antibodies that neutralized COVID-19 viruses on a wide scale.

The results have also provided the scientists with useful knowledge about the effect of the vaccine on convalescents.

"When it comes to vaccines, it is always a race. The virus is always one step ahead, and the vaccines and medicines will never be completely up to date," Fenstad said

"Our study is an in-depth study of just one patient, and it constitutes only a tiny piece of research in this field. However, large studies in other countries confirm our findings. Vaccines boost the production of antibodies that are also effective against new variants of the virus," she said.

The findings demonstrate that it is a good idea to get vaccinated even if you have already had COVID-19 and even if the virus has mutated since the vaccine was made. It may not prevent you from being reinfected, but it will provide protection against serious illness and death.

"When you get sick with COVID-19, you develop antibodies, but the effects of these diminish and are gone after six to nine months. This is why people can get infected again and again by new variants of SARS-CoV-2. The virus mutates to avoid the immune response we have developed through previous infections or vaccines," says Kainov.

That is why vaccination is important now that we are heading toward winter.

"The studies we have conducted here on COVID-19 patients are extremely important, because there will be new outbreaks of the virus. Almost 7 million people have died from COVID-19. We must avoid getting into the same situation again," says Kainov.

More information: Erlend Ravlo et al, Boosted production of antibodies that neutralized different SARS-CoV-2 variants in a COVID-19 convalescent following messenger RNA vaccinationa case study, International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.10.011 Journal information: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Visit theroxytheater.org for up-to-date screen times.

Opening

Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce

Move over Tay-Tay, royalty has arrived. Take a trip around the world with Beyonces Renaissance World Tour, documented from its inception to the final show of the tour. Where does she get the Energy? Not rated. Directed by James B. Merryman and Mark Ritchie. Opening Thursday, Nov. 30.

Saltburn

Emerald Fennell, best known for directing "Promising Young Woman" and playing Midge in "Barbie," is back with another movie about privilege and desire. A struggling college student is invited to his classmates sprawling family estate for a summer he wont soon forget. Hes so lucky. My college summer breaks were all spent in East Missoula. Rated R. Stars Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi and Richard E. Grant. Opening Friday, Dec. 1.

Dream Scenario

Biology professor Nicolas Cage has his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. Thats nothing. Ive been dreaming about Nic Cage for decades! Rated R. Also stars Julianne Nicholson and Michael Cera. Opening Friday, Dec. 1.

Continuing

The Holdovers

Alexander Payne, the auteur who made "Sideways" (and thus ensured no one would drink merlot ever again), returns with a new film where he puts Paul Giamatti through the paces once more. A curmudgeonly instructor forced to remain at his prep school during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students forms an unlikely bond with one of them. Rated R. Also stars DaVine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa.

Napoleon

The history book on the self is always repeating itself. Ridley Scott returns with a biopic about the Emperor of France who tried to conquer the world before surrendering at Waterloo. Honestly, I am relieved that theres new media about Napoleon, because all the things I know about him I learned from ABBA. Rated R. Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby and Sam Crane.

Special screenings

The Wind Rises (2014)

While we anxiously wait for the release of Hayao Miyazakis "The Boy and the Heron" later this year, Persistence of Vision takes flight with another of the master of animations greatest films. A young man dreams of flying, despite being too nearsighted to be a pilot. Instead he takes a job as an engineer at a prestigious Japanese company and becomes one of the most innovative and accomplished airplane designers of all time. Rated PG-13. Stars the voice talents of Hideaki Anno, Hidetoshi Nishijima and Jun Kunimura. Playing Thursday, Nov. 30, as part of Persistence of Vision.

The Last Waltz (1978)

Our month-long Martin Scorsese tribute wraps up with the return of a Roxy holiday tradition. See the farewell performance of the legendary group the Band  as well as generation-defining artists, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. What, were Harold Crosby & the Pine Tree Boys unavailable? Rated PG. Directed by the master, Martin Scorsese. Playing Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

Its one of the most beloved and unusual movie musicals of all time. When the delicate daughter of an umbrella shop owner falls madly in love with a handsome garage mechanic, nothing can come between them. I mean, nothing except maybe the French occupation of Algeria. That would probably get in the way. Not Rated. Stars Catherine Deneuve and Nino Castelnuovo. Playing Sunday, Dec. 3, as part of Cinema Abroad.

Pulp Friction: The Clark Fork Rivers Toxic Legacy

This year the Clark Fork was listed among the most endangered rivers in America, due in no small part to Frenchtowns former Smurfit-Stone pulp mill and all the industrial pollution just waiting to poison the surrounding areas. See a documentary on the crisis followed by a panel discussion about what can be done about it. Not Rated. Playing Monday, Dec. 4.

Advice for Girls: An All-Woman Ski Film (2023)

If you had to tell a young woman one piece of advice on how to exist in a male-dominated world, what would it be? This documentary, made with an all-female cast and crew, dives into the often messy reality of being a woman in the ski industry. Not Rated. Directed by Sara Beam Robbins. Playing Wednesday, Dec. 6 and Thursday, Dec. 7.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington (who sounds a lot like that guy from Oingo Boingo whenever he sings) is Halloweentowns beloved Pumpkin King. But, like many of us, hes turned his passion into a job and now hes burnt out. Hopefully its not too late to change careers. Do you think Christmas is hiring? Rated PG. The voices of Chris Sarandon, Catherine OHara and Paul Reubens star in this beloved holiday mash-up that was not directed by Tim Burton and Im tired of people saying it was. Playing Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday, Dec. 7
While Montanans are writing the very large checks for their insanely high property tax bills our politicians continue to play a pitiful game of partisan ping-pong. It's Republicans' fault say the Democrats. No, it's the Democrats' fault say the Republicans. And in the meantime, residents are expected to pay up or the government takes your house.

In the latest round of this incredibly stupid game, the House Freedom Caucus has submitted a request to the Secretary of State to poll the Legislature to determine if there are enough votes to call itself into a special session.

The poll has to garner a majority of the 150 lawmakers to succeed. And the Democrats  you remember the Democrats  who had so vociferously called for a "one day special session" earlier are now adamant about not supporting the call for a special session.

In short, the very sorry game went something like this.

PING! the Department of Revenue warns the Legislature in January that Montanans will be facing incredible tax increases and they should take action to reduce that burden.

PONG! Gov. Gianforte and the Republican supermajority in the Legislature ignore the warning.

PING! The session adjourns without significant action on property taxes by Republicans or Democrats.

PONG! The sky-high property reappraisals go out, leaving homeowners in shock. Their taxes are about to rise by an estimated 45% statewide despite assurances from politicians of all stripes that it won't be that high.

PING! The Democrats, led by former governor Brian Schweitzer, put on a dog-and-pony show in the Capitol rotunda. They blame Republicans while demanding Gianforte call a one-day special session to reduce the state's property tax levy by a pitifully small amount. They are, after all, Democrats who have no problems taxing and spending.

PONG! The governor says too bad, no session, and lauds the equally pitiful $675 rebate he and the Republicans decided was enough to give back to homeowners for this year and next. For most homeowners, it'll wind up being less than half of the permanent increase in their property taxes.

PING! 49 counties decide they can unilaterally reduce the mills on the state's education equalization levy. Again, it would save a pitifully small amount of the increases but they figure that's the best they can do.

PONG! The governor sues Missoula County for the proposed reduction claiming the counties don't have the authority to reduce the education levy. He also claims the real problem is the amount of taxes, assessments and levies issued by local government.

PING! The case goes to the Supreme Court, where the justices unanimously agree the counties do not have the authority to reduce those taxes. Homeowners start writing the checks while the politicians continue to dither and blame each other, seeking to gain some imagined political advantage.

PONG! House Freedom Caucus submits request to call special session, Secretary of State polls the members of the Legislature.

PING! Democrats oppose the call for a special session claiming Republicans are "ducking accountability" for the sky-high property taxes.

PONG! Now we wait for 30 days to see what happens. But once a session is called, it's wide open to be expanded to any topic whatsoever.

As this foolish game goes on Montana's homeowners grow ever more frustrated and angry, having been relegated to the role of over-taxed spectators in this vacuum of leadership. Meanwhile, whatever hopes for political advantage by either party vanishes in the pitiful partisan ping pong match  and homeowners are left to pay their sky-high tax bills knowing they're being fleeced by both political parties.
Editors note: Calendar items must be submitted at least five days before an event. Email all items to news@morganton.com.

TODAY

Christmas Parade

The J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center Christmas Parade will begin at 3 p.m. at the center's campus, 300 Enola Road, Morganton.

Smart Start meeting

The NC Pre-K Committee of Burke County Smart Start will meeting at 8:30 a.m. at the Partnership office, located at 304 W. Union St. Meetings are open to the public. For anyone with a hearing impairment who may require the assistance of an interpreter or have other special needs, call the Partnership at 828-439-2326 or use the NC Relay System at 1-800-735-8262.

SATURDAY

Christmas Parade

The town of Valdese will host its annual Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. on Main Street. The annual Christmas parade is known for kicking off an exciting calendar of holiday events in Valdese and the Town Council considers it a privilege to recognize Bruce Hawkins as the Grand Marshal. Hawkins has served as an influential member of the community as well as activist for the Civil Rights Movement.

Train Museum open house

The Piedmont & Western Railroad Museum located in the Old Rock School in Valdese, 400 Main St. W, will host its annual parade Open House from 9 a.m. to noon. The indoor railroad display is the largest in the state.

Christmas Parade

The town of Hildebran will hold its annual Christmas Parade at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at 202 S. Center St. Visit hildebranNC.com for more information.

Christmas Parade

The town of Glen Alpine will be held at 2 p.m. The lineup will begin on Pollard Avenue at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

Santa Fly-in

Foothills Regional Airport, 3566 Morganton Lenoir Airport Ave., will host a Santa Fly-In from noon to 2 p.m. The event will include Santa landing at the airport around 12:30 p.m. There will be aircraft on display and families can get their photo with Santa. There also will be a balloon artist, face painting, popcorn and hot cocoa. The event is free. For more information, call 828-757-0099.

MONDAY, DEC. 4

The Industrial Commons will host an event to learn and discuss LGBTQIA+ in Burke County with guest and co-facilitator Susan Cato-Chapman from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Morganton Community House, 120 N. King St. Dinner, which will cost $15, is optional, and must be paid through STRIPE or in cash at check-in for the event. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3QVG0hx.

TUESDAY, DEC. 5

Club meeting

The Friendly Tuesday Club will meet at 10 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 1939 Paul Shuping Ave., Morganton.

Christmas Parade

The Morganton Downtown Development Association will hold the 2023 Christmas Parade on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. Floats, characters and marching bands will usher in the Christmas spirit as they parade around through downtown on Green and Sterling street.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6

AARP meeting

AARP Chapter 3262 will have their annual Christmas dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 6. It will be held at the Morganton Community House starting at 11:30 a.m. A donation of a canned item for Burke United Christian Ministries is appreciated. The cost is $13 per person. Homemade desserts provided by members. Email burkeaarp3262@gmail.com or call 443-0857 to register to attend.

THURSDAY, DEC. 7

Tree lighting ceremony

The town of Valdese will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Old Rock School, 400 Main St. W, Valdese. The event will include a special music performance by the Valdese Elementary School Students, led by music teacher Brittany Schaffer. Free hot chocolate will be available for attendees. A rain date is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Dec. 8. This year the Town of Valdese is excited to honor former town mayor Jim Hatley with this special event. Children in the Valdese community were always a special priority for Hatley and the Valdese Town Council chose to dedicate the Town Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration in his honor.

Christmas in Drexel

The group Grow with Drexel will host Christmas in Drexel beginning Dec. 7 from 5-7 p.m. in Drexel Downtown Park, 201 Church St., Drexel. The event will include face painting, food trucks, visits with Santa Claus anda carousel, which will cost $1 each.

NAACP meeting

The Burke County NAACP #5367 will be holding their annual meeting on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Recreation Center located at 645 1st Street, Morganton, NC. All members are encouraged to attend the meeting. In addition to any citizens that are interested in joining the branch. Please keep in mind that because it is the flu season and the uptick in COVID reporting, COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

Christmas in Drexel

The group Grow with Drexel will host Christmas in Drexel on Dec. 8 from 5-7 p.m. in Drexel Downtown Park, 201 Church St., Drexel. The event will include face painting, food trucks, visits with Santa Claus anda carousel, which will cost $1 each.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

Drexel Christmas Parade

The annual Drexel Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. at 700 S. Main St. After the parade, the group Grow with Drexel will hold its Christmas in Drexel event at Downtown Park, 201 Church St., Drexel. The event will include face painting, food trucks, visits with Santa Claus and a carousel, which will cost $1 each.

TUESDAY, DEC. 12

Blood drive

North Morganton United Methodist Church, 990 Sanford Drive, will host a blood drive with the Red Cross from 1-6 p.m. Visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767 to schedule an appointment.

MONDAY, DEC. 18

ABC Board meeting

The Valdese ABC Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Valdese ABC Store at 1018 W. Main St. in Valdese.

Christmas dinner

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Capt. Robert Douglas Avery Chapter 1116, will host its annual Christmas dinner from 5-6 p.m. The dinner will be paid for by the chapter.

TUESDAY, DEC. 19

Christmas with the Horses

The J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center Exceptional Equestrians Program will host Christmas with the Horses on Tuesday, Dec. 19, from 3-8 p.m. The Center, located at 300 Enola Road, will offer horse rides, cart rides and other horse activities for $10. Come to JIRDC and learn more about our therapeutic riding program and experience a fun night for all. Also, remember to drive around campus and see our holiday lights. For more information, please call 828-608-6000.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024

Cruise Unifour Christian Ministries will be embarking on a cruise to Grand Turk and Dominican Republic. Members of the public are invited to join. A down payment of $75 is required to reserve your spot and the remaining balance must be paid by Jan. 1. Call Annette Guffey at 828-493-1723 or 828-396-1906 for more information.
Butte, Deer Lodge, Dillon and Sheridan will hold Christmas strolls on Friday, but others in the region are also planned.

Twin Bridges: The annual Twin Bridges Christmas Stroll and Yuletide Festival is from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 on Main Street. The evening includes a chili feast at the city park, a holiday concert at Twin Bridges High School, hay rides, a visit from St. Nick and more festivities.

Ennis: The Spirit of Christmas stroll in Ennis is from 3 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8. In addition, the Lions Club Park by the Madison River will have holiday lights.

Philipsburg: Join Philipsburg in celebrating Yule Night from 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 8, in downtown Philipsburg. The evening includes live music, a parade, pictures with Santa, food and drink and more. The event is hosted by the Philipsburg Chamber of Commerce.

Virginia City: The Virginia City Christmas Stroll will be Dec. 9. Cookie decorating and a holiday craft show will be part of the daylong event.

Whitehall: The Whitehall Christmas Festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Crafts, activities, treats, Santa Claus and more will be involved.
Go behind the scenes with Queen B, enjoy a night of standup with an SNL alum, attend a boat parade, see the king of rock n roll a hundred times over, or see two Christmas classics reinvented.

Ongoing: Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce

Beyonce during her opening show for the North American leg of her tour, at the Rogers Center in Toronto.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Beyonces Renaissance World Tour from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri. To celebrate, Warehouse Cinemas, 727 W. 40th St., will release the film with a premiere event during opening weekend. There will be a selfie wall, Renaissance-themed decor by Chic Designs by Sherelle, a Break My Soul cocktail featuring Charm City Meadworks and giveaways. For ticket information go to rotunda.warehousecinemas.com/home

Showtimes start at 12 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Premieres at 7 p.m. Thursday)

Friday: David Spade

David Spade is known for his time as a cast member on Saturday Nigh Live and television sitcoms: Just Shoot Me, and Rules of Engagement.

Actor/comedian David Spade brings his style of comedy to The Lyric, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. Spade is known for his time as a cast member on Saturday Nigh Live and television sitcoms: Just Shoot Me, and Rules of Engagement. Spade and fellow SNL alum Dana Carvey co-host the podcast, Fly on the Wall. Ticket prices range from $40 to $61. ticketmaster.com

Friday 8 p.m.

Friday: Night of 100 ELVISes

The 27th annual Night of 100 ELVISes will be at The Lord Baltimore Hotel on Friday.

The Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W. Baltimore St., will be overrun by pompadour hairstyles, rhinestone jackets and blue suede shoes at the 27th annual Night of 100 ELVISes. Doors open at 4 p.m. and music begins on all stages at 4:45 p.m. Entertainers donating their time to this event include: Josie Baltimore, Chris Presley, The Slickeroos and more. Tickets cost $104. nightof100elvises.com

Friday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Saturday: Lighted Boat Parade

A festive sailboat approaches the Inner Harbor during the annual Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats.

The 35th annual Lighted Boat Parade, hosted by Anchorage Marina and Sail Baltimore, includes festive decorated boats with sparkling lights and creative holiday themes. The event begins with a tree lighting at Pier P followed by a parade on the water that can be viewed from Canton, Fells Point, Harbor East or the Inner Harbor. The event is free. sailbaltimore.org

Saturday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Ongoing: A Christmas Carol

Gregory Burgess stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in Chesapeake Shakespeare Companys adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Charles Dickens classic Christmas ghost story gets transplanted to 19th century Baltimore at A Christmas Carol with a Baltimore twist performed at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, 7 S. Calvert St. The adaptation is by Laura Rocklyn and directed by Erin Bone Steele. Ticket prices range from $29 to $55. For dates, showtimes and tickets go to chesapeakeshakespeare.com

Friday through Dec. 22

Ongoing: Twas the Night Before

Cirque du Soleils Nicole Faubert and Guillaume Paquin perform on aerial duo straps during a rehearsal for Twas the Night Before

Dont miss this brave interpretation of a holiday classic Twas the Night Before by Cirque du Soleil at The Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St. The show exposes about the virtues of generosity and friendship. The final performances this weekend are: Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Ticket prices range from $61 to $146. baltimore.broadway.com

Friday, Saturday, Sunday

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With several massive steel structures dotting the landscape on the Butte Hill, it seems more than fitting that this years Uptown Butte Christmas Stroll theme is Home for the Headframe Holidays.

It has a definite ring to it!

Josh Peck, one of the event planners, promises a stroll with "lots of fun" and plenty to do for people of all ages.

The committees goal was to remind people of all the greats things Butte has to offer by bringing back that old-fashioned Butte holiday stroll feeling with its many activities, Peck said.

George Everett, Mainstreet Uptown Buttes executive director agreed, describing this years stroll as being reminiscent of Christmases past.

Its going to be a great time, said Everett, and the crowds are always fun.

The night officially begins at 6 p.m. Friday with the tree-lighting ceremony in the Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse rotunda. The Parade of Lights will follow soon after.

Unofficially, the evening starts at 5 p.m., with businesses welcoming shoppers through their doors. The Butte Public Library at 226 W. Broadway St. will be open, too, with a number of events planned. A used book sale starts at 5. Throughout the night, the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas will be shown, and there will be an auction of a Peanuts tree. The evening will also have a photo booth and crafts for kids.

The next block over, the Clark Chateau at 321 W. Broadway St., will have music, Santa Claus, cookies and cocoa and a number of festive trees.

The Butte Elks Lodge, 206 W. Galena St. will be holding a craft fair. Strollers are encouraged to stop and shop for some unique or handmade Christmas gifts from local crafters and vendors. While there, take a break and listen to the Holiday musical performances will include the Butte Central Band, Butte High School Orchestra, Montana Tech Band, the Dance Corp, and choirs from Butte High and East Middle School. Santa will make an appearance at 7:45 p.m.

At 5:30 p.m., members of the Rotary and Interact Clubs of Butte will light the Rotary community tree at Victory Circle, corner of Park and Arizona streets. The tree, funded by Rotary, was planted six years ago for the enjoyment of the Butte community.

After a somewhat long hiatus, a few events are making a yuletide return, which thrills Peck.

Im excited, said Peck. Its been a really long time.

One such return, hosted by Community, Counseling and Correctional Services, Inc., will include fun events, along with prizes and giveaways for children, at 53 W. Broadway St. (the old S&L ice cream store). Just a few steps away at the old bus depot, check out the horses, too.

Everett is thrilled to see CCCS back for the stroll.

Its wonderful, said Everett. CCCS is the heart of the stroll.

Meanwhile, another favorite has returned. Hayrides and tractor pull rides will be at the corner of Broadway and Main streets, thanks to Yard Envy. Nearby, employees from All About You Handyman Services are going to be roasting marshmallows and serving hot chocolate.

At 7 p.m., strollers can visit the creche at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 15 N. Idaho St., and listen to the brass ensemble No Strings Attached. More yuletide music will follow with a community sing-along of Christmas carols and songs and a performance from Heather Lingle and John Emeigh.

Other churches have gotten involved as well.

On Broadway and Main, Journey Church will host free carnival games with candy and prizes, and the Butte Community Bible Church will be serving up hot dogs and hamburgers.

A mainstay for the stroll is the Science Mine at 32 E. Granite St. It, too, will be open from 5 to 8 p.m., and admission is free. Check out all the science-themed toys and experiment kits on display, and 3D glasses will be handed out to view the lights. Special rates will be offered on family passes.

Volunteers with the nonprofit Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization will host an open house at 27 W. Park St. with cocoa and cider being served.

To get your picture taken with Santa, stop by NorthWestern Energys general office at 11 E. Park St. Stay and listen to the choirs of Butte High School and East Middle School. Holiday face painting will also be offered, along with cookies.

The jolly old elf will also pay a visit to Under the Gallus Frame Antique Mall, 220 E. Broadway St.

Buddy the Elf will be at Engel & Volkers, 116 W. Granite St., and Jack Skeffington of The Nightmare Before Christmas fame can be found at the Geek Emporium, 129 W. Broadway St. Hot chocolate will be served at both places.

Want to meet the Abominable Snowman? Hell be at Slainte, 8 S. Montana St., ready and willing to have his picture taken with you.

Weather wise  well snow is not expected Friday, but it wont be exactly balmy out there, either. A high of around 35 is predicted, and temperatures will dip down to about 20 by nightfall. Butte residents know the drill though and will dress accordingly.
Sen. Jon Tester's approval rating is one of the highest in the nation according to a recent poll from Morning Consult.

Of the Montana residents polled from August to October of this year, 61% of them approve of the senator with just under a third of respondents disapproving and the rest claiming they have no opinion. These numbers put the Big Sandy Democrat as the fourth most popular senator in the nation, according to the poll.

Tester is running in one of the most closely watched races in the 2024 election cycles. The GOP is fighting to take back control of the U.S. Senate, and putting a Republican in Tester's seat is crucial to their success.

Among the Democratic senators being targeted by the GOP, Tester has the highest approval rating in his home state. Democrats like Sherrod Brown, D-OH, Bob Casey, D-PA, and Tim Kaine, D-VA all have approval ratings in the mid-forties.

Approval ratings don't always resemble who residents vote for, however.

"Tester has remained popular with a large swath of Montanans. The caveat is that in this hyperpartisan age it is tough to know exactly how popularity will translate to vote tallies on election day," Carroll College political science professor Dr. Jeremy Johnson said in an email. "For instance, the poll indicates that Senator McConnell of Kentucky is the nation's most unpopular senator with voters in his own state; however, he has sailed to reelection time after time."

Montana is also home to one of the largest gaps in favorability ratings between President Joe Biden and a Democratic senator. There are roughly 50 points separating Tester and Biden's net approval ratings (the share who approve minus the share who disapprove). In other words, Biden's net-approval rating in Montana is roughly -20 points while Tester's is about 30 among registered voters.

The numbers told a similar story in early 2023, as well: Of the 59% of Montana voters who disapprove of Biden, 42% gave Tester positive marks.

Tester, who was first elected in 2006, is the last remaining Democratic statewide elected in Montana.

"We'll likely see opponents continue to tie him to Biden and national Democrats at every opportunity," said Dr. Jessi Bennion, a political science professor at Montanan State University and Carroll College.

Testers most formidable Republican challenger is first-time political candidate and former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy.

"Montanans overwhelmingly disapprove of Joe Bidens disastrous liberal agenda that Jon Tester votes for 91% of the time  thats the most important figure in this race and why hes going to lose next November, a Sheehy campaign spokesperson said in an email.

Sheehy, CEO of a Belgrade-based aerial firefighting company, is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and some of Montanas top GOP officials like Gov. Greg Gianforte and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines. Sheehy's campaign has not only been tying Tester to Biden, but has also started to label the Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, as a "pro-Trump conservative."

"Montanans of all political stripes support Jon Tester  including independents and Republicans  because they know Jon will take on anyone to do what's best for Montana," Tester's campaign manager Shelbi Dantic said in an emailed statement. "That's why Jon has stood up to Biden to protect our Montana way of life, like when he stopped the Biden administration from blocking funding for hunting and archery programs in Montana schools, and when he fiercely opposed lifting Title 42 restrictions at our southern border."

This poll is one of many that will be conducted on Montana voters in the coming year as this Senate race is on track to be the most expensive in the state's history.
A Letts man was found deceased Monday after being involved in a motor vehicle crash near the intersection of Independence Avenue and 231st Street in Muscatine County, the Muscatine County Sheriffs Office reported.

According to a press release, law enforcement arriving at the scene around 9:13 p.m. Monday discovered a red 2005 GMC Sierra on its roof in a ditch north of the intersection. The vehicle was unoccupied.

With the short time between the call and deputies arriving at the scene, it was believed the occupant was still in the area. Deputies searched the area using canines and drones equipped with thermal imaging, but were unsuccessful in locating the occupant. Deputies attempted to ping the cellphone of the vehicles registered owner, but the phone was subsequently located in the truck. It was reported that temperatures dropped into single digits overnight.

At about 9:36 a.m. Tuesday, a missing persons report was filed with the sheriffs office listing Samuel Anthony Kessel, 22, of Letts, as last seen by his parents in the hour prior to the crash. It was believed the Kessel was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Throughout the day, deputies and several volunteers searched the area in hopes of finding Kessel. An airplane operated by the Iowa State Patrol was also used to aid the search.

At about 5:10 p.m. deputies were called to an area about an eighth of a mile north of 231st. Street and a half-mile east of Independence Avenue. Volunteers working in the area had located the body of a deceased male in a deep creek bed that ran through a wooded area. The deceased man was later identified as Kessel.

The investigation remains ongoing. People with information are asked to contact Sgt. Jake McCleary of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Muscatine County Sheriffs Office at (563) 264-0188 ext. 4105.

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Muscatine Community College Foundation plans to launch a new scholarship initiative worth up to $50,000 for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) Agricultural programs.

Through this initiative, the first 25 students who enroll full-time in an EICC Agriculture AAS (Associate in Applied Science) degree program will receive a $2,000 scholarship, the college announced.

In order to qualify, a student registering for the fall 2024 semester will need to enroll in the Agribusiness Management, Farm Management or Horticulture programs, each of which typically require two years of enrollment. Scholarships for students who qualify will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

MCC President Naomi DeWinter emphasized MCCs goal of wanting to show how important the ag industry is to the Muscatine area.

Its been an important program for us for over 50 years and was developed from a collaboration with the Kent family, DeWinter said. We believe ag graduates have many options locally to be a part of a critical industry in eastern Iowa.

In a public statement, Julia Dieckman, EICC Agriculture Instructor, added, Our agriculture programs provide students with real-world, hands-on skills and experiences, which set them up for success in the workplace. This scholarship is just one more resource EICC can provide to help these students reach their career goals The demand for educated, skilled and qualified agriculture professionals is steadily rising, and our programs are at the forefront of meeting this need.

One notable feature of the scholarship initiative is that it will be an automatic award for those eligible for it, DeWinter said.

We believe this may eliminate any barriers that prevent students from applying for scholarships, she said.

DeWinter then added that, should the scholarship initiative be successful, the college would consider offering it again using MCC Foundation support.

This scholarship initiative is just the latest way that MCC and EICC hope to encourage and support student interest in the agricultural field. Previously, EICC has offered paid internships built into the agriculture curriculum, allowing students to earn $18,000 and gain up to 1,500 hours of work experience prior to graduation.

MCC ag students are also able to apply for on-campus housing scholarships as well as gain additional experience through extracurriculars such as the colleges Livestock Evaluation Team and the National Professional Agricultural Student Organization.

For more information about the scholarships or the EICC agriculture programs, residents and students can either contact Julia Dieckman at jkdieckman@eicc.edu or 563-288-601, or can visit the ag programs information page at eicc.edu/ag.

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BATON ROUGE, La.  When Raynesha Cummings enrolled her three teenagers in a private school, she hoped to keep them safe from COVID-19. It was small, with no frills  there was just one teacher and the school didnt serve lunch  but it worked for her family, at least initially.

Her son graduated in May at the top of his class, with hopes of attending a trade school. But when he started applying, schools said they would not recognize his diploma.

Then, a couple weeks later, Cummings says she discovered the teacher had been texting her 16-year-old daughter to offer money for sexually explicit photos. The teacher was arrested, and Cummings learned he previously had been accused of raping a child.

Cummings didnt know it when her kids started at Second Chance Academy, but the school had no accreditation, no approval from the state and no one supervising the teacher she left her kids with every day.

If I had known that, I would never pay my money for them to go there, Cummings said. I really feel like I made a big mistake.

Second Chance falls into a category of off-the-grid schools in Louisiana that operate with hardly any oversight. Formally known as nonpublic schools not seeking state approval, most are home schools that serve a single family. But some, like Second Chance, are brick-and-mortar schoolhouses with dozens of students.

Today, the school appears abandoned, shuttered perhaps for good after several brushes with the law. Its lone teacher is facing charges for sexual misconduct.

But the number of Louisiana children in unapproved schools  far outside the eye of any government official who might look out for abuse, or check whether children are getting a real education  is skyrocketing. Enrollment in such schools jumped from around 11,600 students in 2017-18 to over 21,000 this past school year, one example of the pandemic-era disengagement that has seen thousands of students nationwide leave the traditional education system.

Second Chance opened as a private school in the late 1980s, specializing in serving students expelled from public schools. Its founder, Brendia Ford, clashed repeatedly with public officials. Once, she defiantly held classes on the lawn for two weeks when the fire marshal shut off the schools power, saying it was in dangerous condition after Hurricane Katrina.

In 1996, Fords son, Corey Nash, was arrested on charges that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old student in the schools locker room. He ultimately pleaded guilty to simple battery, a reduced charge that allowed him to continue working with children.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education revoked the schools approval to grant state-recognized diplomas in 2000. State inspectors could neither find attendance or progress reports nor verify enrollment, according to media reports at the time.

Still, it remained open as an unapproved school. As long as the school didnt take public funding, it could operate with freedom from regulations besides the state fire code.

The Louisiana Department of Education collects these schools names and enrollment numbers, but little else. It warns parents on its website that it cannot confirm whether these organizations even meet the legal definition of a school.

We cant say that these are real schools, said Laura Hawkins, a former LDOE official.

Many colleges wont accept diplomas from unapproved schools because students must prove they attended a state-approved program to receive federal financial aid, said Billy Clark, president of Delta College in Baton Rouge.

Asked about the allegations against Second Chance, a Louisiana Department of Education spokesperson, Ted Beasley, said by law the department does not have oversight of unapproved schools.

Cummings was unaware of all this when she started looking into alternatives to East Baton Rouge public schools. It was the height of the pandemic, and Cummings thought her children would be safer at a smaller school.

Her partner attended Second Chance in the 1990s and recommended it. Cummings enrolled her twin daughters and older son in fall 2020, paying $375 a month.

Nash was the only teacher at the school, and often the only adult in the building, where Cummings would typically see around 25 teenagers. Cummings son got ahead of the material so quickly that she says he started teaching the class himself.

When several trade schools refused to recognize his diploma, Cummings complained to Nash. He said some colleges just have different rules.

A lawyer for Nash, Dele Adebamiji, said he could not comment while a court case is pending against his client.

After Cummings posted on social media that her son was valedictorian, acquaintances started sharing rumors about abuse at Second Chance. She checked her daughters phone, and says she discovered Nash had been offering money for nude photos and asking to let him touch her.

Infuriated, Cummings confronted Nash in an encounter filmed by her daughter and released on social media.

Within days, Nash was arrested. Another, unnamed victim had come forward to police in May with allegations that Nash started sexually abusing her when she was 14, around 2009. Nash, who is out on bail, faces charges of sexual battery, molestation and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Cummings said she hopes other parents will understand the risks of unapproved schools.

I wanted everybody to know not to enroll your kids, she said. I took a chance on mine, but dont take a chance on yours.

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SPRINGFIELD, La.  Arliya Martin accepted her high school diploma with relief and gratitude.

It was her ticket to better-paying work, she felt, after getting kicked out of high school and toiling for eight years at factory jobs to support her children.

But Martin didnt take any classes or pass any tests to receive her degree. She got it in July from a school where students can get a high school diploma for $465.

Unlike public schools, formal homeschooling programs or traditional private schools, nearly 9,000 private schools in Louisiana dont need state approval to grant degrees. Nearly every one of those unapproved schools was created to serve a single homeschooling family, but some have buildings, classrooms, teachers and dozens of students.

While unapproved schools account for a small percentage of the states students, those in Louisianas off-the-grid school system are a rapidly growing example of the nations continuing fallout from COVID-19: families disengaging from traditional education.

U.S. public school enrollment fell by more than 1.2 million students in the first two years of the pandemic. Many switched to private school or told their state they were homeschooling. Thousands more could not be accounted for at all, according to an analysis from The Associated Press and its partners.

The students in Louisianas off-the-grid school system arent missing. But theres no way to tell what kind of education theyre getting, or whether theyre getting one at all. Over 21,000 students are enrolled in the states unapproved schools, nearly double the number from before the pandemic, according to data obtained through a public records request by the AP and The Advocate, a partner news outlet in Louisiana.

To supporters of the system, avoiding state oversight is entirely the point. Advocates say Louisianas unapproved schools are a natural extension of the doctrine of parental rights.

The place where Martin got her diploma, Springfield Preparatory School, bills itself as an umbrella school for Christian homeschoolers. Most students there do attend the school to work toward an education through actual classes or tutoring.

However, principal Kitty Sibley Morrison is also willing to grant a diploma to anyone whose parents say they were homeschooled, even years earlier.

Their parents are in charge of them, not the state, Sibley Morrison said.

Sibley Morrison says she is not selling diplomas, but rather lifetime services for homeschooling families.

Yet a list of prices is taped to the front window of the school building: $250 for diploma services, a $50 application fee, $35 for a diploma cover and $130 to walk in a cap and gown at a ceremony.

There is no way for the government to verify safety, quality or even whether a school exists, said Laura Hawkins, a former state Department of Education official.

Homeschooling parents who want their child to receive a state-recognized high school diploma can apply for the official home study program. Alternately, families can set up their own private school without asking for state approval. There are no requirements to prove a child is getting an education.

Louisianas unapproved private schools came into being in 1980 when Christian ministers who ran small private schools joined forces with the budding homeschool movement to push for the deregulation of private education.

Opponents have tried on multiple occasions to get the law repealed but faltered in the face of lobbying efforts from Christian homeschool groups.

Today, over a dozen states allow families to open a private school as a form of homeschooling, including California, Illinois and Texas, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. Around half the states require those schools to teach basic subjects such as math and reading; Louisiana isnt one of them.

Some homeschooling families come to Springfield Preparatory for art or science classes. Some, such as Arliya Martin, go straight for a diploma.

Kicked out of high school for what she said was self-defense during an altercation, Martin tried a military-style program for at-risk youths, but finished without her GED.

Then, this summer, she met Sibley Morrison. Sibley Morrison, 75, says her mission is to provide an alternative to the godless public education system.

Within days of meeting Sibley Morrison, Martin had a diploma in her hand.

The document was backdated to 2015, when she would have graduated high school. It also said she had completed a state-approved program for graduation, which isnt true. After inquiries from AP, Sibley Morrison said there had been a mistake and the document would be corrected.

By law, the state does not have oversight over the unapproved schools, said Louisiana Department of Education spokesperson Ted Beasley. Asked if any government agency has authority to take action if a school sells diplomas, Beasley suggested making a report to the state attorney generals consumer protection division. The attorney generals office did not respond to a request for comment.

Martin said she did not feel deterred. Friends and family members have gotten diplomas from the same school and gone on to successful careers, she said.

On the July day when Sibley Morrison handed Martin her diploma, she advised her on next steps, describing scholarships she could use to go to community college.

If you want our help, Sibley Morrison said, you just come on back over here and well help.

Yall seem like good people who know how to help, Martin said. So I will be back.

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Kenyan farming company GPC Carbon Farming Group has won the Global Alliance Agricultural Centre Awards (GLAACA Awards) after being nominated in a field saturated with competitive contenders from across the continent.

The GLAACA Awards, a farmers awards platform established in 2016 in Zambia with the aim of recognising rising farmers and rewarding their efforts across Africa, recognised Kenyas GPC Carbon Group in a field which featured farming outfits drawn from Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria and Mali.

While announcing the results, GLAACA President Evans Kapotwe said that GPC had demonstrated ingenuity, skill and expertise in their farming innovation while also not just feeding local communities but also solving poverty-related conflicts.

We are happy to announce GPC Carbon Farming Group as the winners.

We take great exception to the great work the group has been doing across Kenya in tapping potential, feeding the masses and solving pre-existing tribal conflicts all related to either poverty or lack of resources.

GPC has been instrumental in solving the hunger crisis in Kenya as well as continously solving community troubles by way of offering employment and food too,  he said.

While not present to the award ceremony, held at Lusaka, Zambia, Joe Kariuki, the GPC founder and CEO, acknowledged the honor while also thanking the organisers for the recognition and bestownent of the award.

Im grateful for the award. Im glad that, over all countries, Kenya was chosen as the winner.

We have put in alot of work over the last several years and emerging top just shows that people are taking note of our efforts and recognising our work.

This goes to all the Kenyan farmers across all the communities I work with and all the counties, too. We are inspired to press forward and get even better! Joe Kariuki, the GPC Organic Farming company founder, said.

Late October, thousands of farmers drawn from Laikipia County converged at Thome area in Rumuruti, Laikipia County for a farming sensitization which saw interested people of all walks of life  young and old, men and women  gather to improve their lives and learn a few tricks on new-age farming expertise.

The farmers, who gathered under the auspices of the GPC Organic Farming company, in conjunction with Signerr Land Share initiative, started trooping to the 10,000-acre farm from around 6am.

The GPC group, which was launching their innovative first-ever carbon farming initiative in Kenya, was out to introduce the pioneering concept to farmers in areas where tribal clashes, extreme poverty and land injustices have always made the news.

The company is credited with introducing the GPC Biochar fertilizer  the only such type in Kenya  which not only increases microbial activity in the soil but also works in any type of soil to get healthier results with less work.

I have already captured over 10,000 farmers across the Laikipia and Nyandarua counties. Our target is national  we are looking at over one million farmers now. This is just the beginning. The carbon movement is about to get ever crazier, Joe said at the time.

The farmers will once again converge at the said farm this Saturday, December 2nd, where they will be taken through new-age farming techniques and skills while also been trained on proper conservation of soil, use of Biochar Fertilizer and how to maximise farming as a community.

They will also use the day to celebrate the GLAACA Award, which Joe dedicated to them.

This Saturdays gathering will be bigger than before. Weve reached out to thousands of farmers and we are happy with the excitement weve seen. We shall also use the day to celebrate the award because it belongs to the people! Joe said.
A set of public art projects in Napa is nearing completion, bringing a new face to a dormant bus terminal and a new passageway under Highway 29.

Downtown Napas long-abandoned bus stop is getting a facelift, more than a decade after the last buses passed through the terminal. The Pearl Street stop spans nearly the whole block between Main and Coombs streets, complete with waiting areas, an old-style ticket booth, and even a coin-operated pay phone.

While the bus stop wont be welcoming back transit users any time soon, it will instead host a new art installation. A graffiti-proof, sci-fi-inspired mural by the San Francisco-based artist Matley Hurd will cover its walls and roof, making it less of an eyesore while it awaits demolition in a few years.

The piece is a part of the citys Temporary Downtown Mural Project, an effort to beautify buildings that are vacant or in transition, according to public art manager Katrina Gregory.

The initiative includes four murals in all, one of which was completed earlier this year at First and Main streets. The mural at the old bus stop, along with the final two installations, could be finished as soon as the end of this year.

Gregory explained that since the murals will be temporary fixtures, some of the artists have been able to get creative with the mediums and spaces where theyre creating art.

At the shuttered depot, Hurd has been given the freedom to paint less conventional parts of the structure  like the ceiling, phone and ticket booths and benches  in addition to its walls. The mural will also be a part of the 2024 Lighted Art Festival in January and February and include an ultraviolet night effect.

The mural at Napa's old downtown post office will also be in an unconventional spot: on a fence put up around the building, which closed after the 2014 earthquake. Gregory said that the mural will adorn the fence on Franklin and Randolph streets.

The artist for the post office mural is Israel Valencia, a Napa-based photographer.

His concept is using some of his older images on a film-strip idea, Gregory said.

The artist is finalizing the film-strip design this week, and the mural will likely be installed late next month.

The final mural will be in the windows of the defunct Napa Firefighters Museum on Main and Pearl streets.

Napa-based artist Agnes Pierscieniak has produced a three-pane vinyl mural designed with ink that will be installed in the inside of the buildings large front-facing windows in the coming weeks. The piece itself appears to be a floral design in pink and purple hues, colors that Gregory said Pierscieniak selected at the request of the property owner.

At its Tuesday meeting, the city Public Art Steering Committee heard an update on the three murals and approved the final design for another artwork, which could be painted on the walls of the nearly complete Highway 29 undercrossing for bicyclists and pedestrians as early as next spring. The pathway will connect D Street Alley with Coffield Avenue on opposite sides of the four-lane freeway.

The selection committee chose a piece titled The Weavers by the Colorado-based artist David Ocelotl Garcia.

Garcias piece is inspired by the process of basket and textile weaving and elements that represent historical periods both in Napa and across the country. The renderings include hands weaving, as well as imagery of grapes, farmworkers, agriculture, salmon, music and more.

Commissioners moved to take the final conceptual design to Caltrans and the Napa City council for approval. The total cost for the installation will be $75,000, including a $60,000 artists fee.

If approved, the mural would be produced between February and May, said Gregory.

Commissioner John Hannaford expressed his excitement about the number of new public artworks nearing completion, including both of those projects, as well as the downtown roundabout art installation, Circulation, by Ana Teresa Fernandez.

This is a really exciting period, Hannaford said during the meeting. Weve been working for two years on a lot of these things, and this winter and spring is going to be a point of coming to fruition for many projects.

Photos: Artworks pay homage to Napa Valley's Hispanic heritage Circulation 2 Los Braceros W. Imola Mural 3 Restored Latino Heritage Mural back on First Street Latino Heritage Mural Circulation 1
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Without any fanfare or warning Wednesday, four Confederate-linked monuments were loaded into two trucks that left Baltimore for Los Angeles, where they will eventually be shown in an art exhibit put on by nonprofit visual art space LAXART and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.

But the exhibit that will mix Confederate statues with contemporary art, initially anticipated to open this fall, has been postponed to 2025. The statues, some now missing parts after being vandalized while stored in a Baltimore impound lot, will remain out of public sight for a while longer, albeit in a different city, according to a Baltimore official.

The hurried change of lodging marks the beginning of a new era for the monuments, which had sat for years in statue purgatory after being quickly and quietly decommissioned before dawn in August 2017 after a deadly neo-Nazi protest over a Confederate statues planned removal in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Im gonna take a deep breath, now that Baltimores four statues are headed to Los Angeles, said Eric Holcomb, executive director of the citys Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation.

Holcomb said he watched the statues being loaded onto trucks Wednesday, and that a loan agreement between the city and LAXART was signed earlier in the week. All transport and storage costs are being paid for by the exhibit organizers, he said.

We worked really hard to try to find appropriate places for these monuments, Holcomb said. After receiving over 20 proposals for what could be done with the decommissioned statues, he added, the city spent three years finding the right fit.

In an interview before the deal with LAXART was sealed, Holcomb said the city didnt have another viable proposal for what to do with the monuments. At that time he said the city was still in the process of finalizing its loan agreement with the exhibit organizers.

As recently as last week, Hannah Burstein, LAXARTs Monuments exhibit project manager, could not confirm whether the statues would be included in the exhibit. She could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

The four statues sent to Los Angeles are the Lee-Jackson Monument formerly located in Wyman Park Dell; the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument that once stood on Mount Royal Avenue; the Confederate Womens Monument on West University Parkway; and Mount Vernons Roger B. Taney Monument.

Taney, though not a member of the Confederacy, was the Supreme Court chief justice who wrote the 1857 Dred Scott decision upholding slavery.

All of Americas history must be taught, said Karsonya Kaye Whitehead, a professor of African and African American Studies at Loyola University Maryland who founded the Karson Institute for Race, Peace and Social Justice.

Its the ugly parts that shaped us just as much as the more beautiful parts.

The Robert E. Lee and Thomas. J. Stonewall Jackson Monument in the Wyman Park Dell was erected in 1948 and removed in 2017.

But Confederate statues are a constant reminder of people who were willing to fight  sacrifice their own lives  to keep slavery as a part of this country, she said. Its a painful reminder.

The statues were particularly out of place in Baltimore, a predominantly Black city that also had a large free Black population during the era of slavery, she added.

Whitehead said she was excited when the statues were taken down in 2017. Now, Confederate statues belong in museums, she said, where people can choose to visit them and to intentionally engage in thoughtful conversation.

Even removed from everyday sight, the issue of what to do with the monuments has been divisive.

Terry Klima, the commander of the Maryland division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said the monuments werent sending any nefarious messages while they still stood in Baltimore, calling them pretty innocuous.

He identified an alternative resting place for them: Confederate Memorial Park in St. Marys County. Keeping the monuments in Maryland and publicly accessible are two of the primary concerns of the Confederate descendants group, he said.

Marylanders have been denied public access for over six years, Klima said. Its really insulting to Marylanders to think that these monuments are going to be held and stored somewhere for two more years.

Removing from public view three of the statues  the Lee-Jackson, Confederate Soldiers and Sailors, and Confederate Womens monuments  has been a Baltimore City breach of the Maryland Historical Trusts easement of those statues, said Elizabeth Hughes, the Maryland Historical Trusts director.

The 1984 easement states that the monuments shall continue to be accessible to the public and be kept in safe condition.

If those monuments were still out in the public domain, they would have been absolutely vandalized, I think probably destroyed, Holcomb said.

Vandals sawed an arm and a scabbard off two Baltimore Confederate statues last summer, according to Baltimores Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation.

But even in storage, they havent escaped damage.

In the fall of last year, Holcomb said the city discovered that the right arm and Confederate battle flag of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument and the sword of the Lee-Jackson Monument had been lopped off and stolen, likely over the summer.

Holcomb said a police report was filed and that the site has 24-hour security surveillance, with a gate. The monuments were kept in a large chain-link-fence cage. After the vandalism, the city added a motion sensor camera, he said.

We were concerned about the vandalism and disappointed that it had taken place, Hughes said. I wouldnt say that it has diminished the historical value of the monuments, because theyre a product of their time and really our understanding of and attitude towards the past, which is constantly evolving.

As part of the Monuments exhibit in Los Angeles, Baltimores statues and others will be paired with contemporary art. The exhibit was postponed in part to ensure that frontline staff are adequately prepared and protected, said Burstein, the project manager.

Some people are going to be disappointed that its not starting sooner.  Im still happy that the exhibit is moving forward, Holcomb said. I think it could really put Baltimore in a really positive light  and put us as leaders in that national conversation. How can we move forward, truthfully, with integrity, with honesty, with empathy?

There is no plan yet for what will happen with the monuments after the exhibit.

But Holcomb said he hopes the exhibit, which will push our conversation about Confederate monuments, white supremacy, race relations forward, will have a lasting impact.

I hope the meaning of those monuments will change, he said.
From Monday to Wednesday, a delegation of the European External Action Service and the European Commission visited Armenia to explore possibilities to deepen and strengthen EU-Armenia relations in all dimensions including under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, informed the Press and information team of the European Union Delegation to Armenia.

The EU and Armenia are committed to building a partnership delivering tangible benefits to the citizens. The participants discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation and delivery of reforms inter alia in the areas of energy, transport, digital, research & innovation, including through investments. They exchanged on how to best leverage investments to address the immediate needs and enable integration of displaced Karabakh Armenians, as well as to strengthen Armenias economic and social resilience in the longer term. Both the EU and Armenian side expressed an interest to continue the cooperation on justice and police reform; to strengthen collaboration on migration and mobility; and to explore options to possibly launch a visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia. It was also agreed to explore areas to strengthen cooperation between the EUs Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and Armenia. The meetings further confirmed the mutual interest of Armenia and the EU to further the dialogue and cooperation in the areas of security and defense. The EU will for instance further explore non-lethal support to the Armenian military via the European Peace Facility.

At the occasion of the visit, the EU and Armenia also inaugurated the EU-Armenia Investment Coordination Platform. This platform brings together the EU, the government of Armenia and International Financial Institutions, and it will help further step up EU investments in Armenia under the Economic and Investment Plan, which has already mobilized close to EUR 500 million in Armenia. Two new projects were signed during this first ever meeting of the Platform, aimed at improving energy efficiency in kindergartens in cooperation with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and providing support to Armenian SMEs in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The EU reiterated its continued support to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of mutual recognition of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders based on the 1991 Almaty Declaration. Following the discussions of the Foreign Affairs Council on 13 November, the EU will also reinforce the EU Mission in Armenia.

Along the EEAS and the European Commission, representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Frontex joined the visit.

The delegation met with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan and with the relevant Deputy Ministers. They also exchanged with the civil society organizations and representatives of the UN agencies present on the ground.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday met with Hanke Bruins Slot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, on the sidelines of the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

The interlocutors noted with satisfaction that an active political dialogue is developing between the two countries and expressed willingness to take joint steps to enhance the bilateral agenda in new directions.

The issues on the Armenia-EU comprehensive partnership agenda were discussed, and the interlocutors commended the dynamics of the development of that cooperation. Touching upon the ongoing reforms in the fields of strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law and the protection of human rights in Armenia, Minister Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of strong support for democracy and sovereignty of Armenia from the Netherlands, including within the EU format.

During the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged views on regional security issues, as well as steps towards the establishment of lasting stability in the South Caucasus. In this context, Ararat Mirzoyan briefed his counterpart on the vision of Armenia, which also includes the "Crossroads of the Peace" project developed by the Armenian government.

The interlocutors touched upon issues of addressing the needs and rights of Armenians who were forcibly displaced as a result of the ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meeting was held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, within the framework of the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

Matters related to security and stability in the South Caucasus were discussed. They touched upon the latest developments in the process of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mirzoyan emphasized that despite the non-constructive attitude shown by Azerbaijan, its ethnic cleansing carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh and the existing humanitarian problems, Armenia has forwarded to Azerbaijan the proposals regarding the draft peace treaty in accordance with the known principles, and in case of Azerbaijan's clear commitment to these principles, significant progress can be made towards the agreement on this draft.

The interlocutors reflected also on Armenias regional programs, in the context of which FM Mirzoyan made a reference to the "Crossroads of Peace" project developed by the Armenian government, and stressed the advantages expected for the stability of the region as a result of its implementation.

During the meeting, the Mirzoyan and Blinken discussed the Armenian-American bilateral agenda as well. Views were exchanged on existing cooperation on bilateral and multilateral platforms and prospects for its expansion.
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The European Union (EU) is committed to peace and stability in the South Caucasus and is investing important, high-level, political capital in this process. Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, said this in an interview with Armenpress.

The Ambassador said that the EU will also consider further assistance to the forcibly displaced persons of Nagorno-Karabakh whove settled in Armenia after the Azerbaijani attack in September.

As for Armenia-EU bilateral relations, Ambassador Maragos said that the EU and Armenia are actively working together to predetermine future domains of their cooperation.

Below is an excerpt from the text of the aforesaid interview.

Mr. Ambassador, as you know, after the large-scale Azerbaijani military attack, Nagorno-Karabakh was depopulated, thousands of Armenians were forcibly displaced, leaving their homeland and place of birth. In essence, Azerbaijan implemented its policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. First of all, I would like to hear your opinion about this situation, about the behavior of Azerbaijan. Until this moment, we have heard condemning statements, but why does the EU not take active steps to impose sanctions on Azerbaijan?

Let me be clear, the European Union is committed to peace and stability in this region and we are investing important, high-level, political capital in this process. As you said, the European Union has made very clear its position against the use of force and in support of the human rights of Karabakh Armenians. As EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar gave extensive comments on the matter in his interview with Armenpress a couple of days ago, I would not make further comment on these issues.

Azerbaijan has violated the territorial integrity of Armenia, since May 2021, Azerbaijani forces have invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia in some parts. I would like to ask you again to present your position on this fact. How can the EU influence on the diplomatic level the restoration of territorial integrity of Armenia, how can the EU exert pressure on Azerbaijan regarding this issue and the return of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Azerbaijan?

The European Union, including through the EU Mission in Armenia and our contacts with both Yerevan and Baku, has a very clear understanding of the situation on the ground. We are also aware of the importance these issues have for Armenia and more broadly for peace and stability in the region, which is our primary aim. The EU has repeatedly called on the sides to ensure non-use of force and a distancing of forces to reduce tensions and potential escalation on the ground.

We have also called for all issues to be addressed peacefully in the framework of meetings of border delimitation commissions and the broader normalization process. We hope that some understanding can be reached in the near future on this and other issues, including during the next meeting of Armenias and Azerbaijans border commissions, now scheduled for 30 November 2023.
On November 11, the official Azerbaijani news agency Azertag released a comprehensive article focusing on the Spitak Khach Monastery situated in the village of Vank within the occupied Hadrut region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Monument Watch, which monitors Artsakh's cultural heritage, informed this, and added as follows:

The article, citing Azerbaijani historian Muhabbat Pashaeva, asserts that during the "years of Armenian occupation," the Armenian side purportedly claimed the "Christian cultural heritage of Karabakh," attempting to present it as Armenian. The Spitak Khach Monastery is cited as an example. Once again, the Azerbaijani news site is propagating a key theme of Azerbaijani state propaganda, asserting that the Christian cultural heritage in Artsakh has no connection to Armenians; it is Albanian-Udi, allegedly appropriated and Armenianized. These well-known themes of the Azerbaijani propaganda machine have been circulated for a considerable time. However, in this article, the Azerbaijani side introduces a new propaganda theme, suggesting that during the Soviet years, Azerbaijani scientists faced "serious obstacles" that prevented them from conducting research in the Karabakh territory. According to Pashaeva, opportunities have now been created for the "objective research of the Caucasian Albanian Christian heritage."

The statements from Baku claiming that Azerbaijani scientists did not have the opportunity to research the Christian heritage of Karabakh during the Soviet years are puzzling. Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, which was both a de jure and de facto part of Azerbaijan during that period, was under the direct and indirect control of official Baku. The administrative, economic, financial, and infrastructural levers were in the hands of Baku, and any disagreement with the official viewpoint or policy could lead to immediate on-the-spot repercussions. During the Soviet years, only Azerbaijani scientists had the right to conduct research in the historical territory of Artsakh, and most of them focused on monuments unrelated to the Christian cultural heritage. The scientific collections published by the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan during that time show minimal representation of the historical monuments of Artsakh and the Christian heritage.

Only a few Azerbaijani scientists showed interest in the history of Artsakh, focusing on a biased "scripture" of the history of Artsakh and Utik, deliberately excluding any Armenian connection. The policy of proofreading and editing gained momentum in the 1950s and became particularly pronounced in the 1960s. The editing of the Christian heritage, culture, and history of Artsakh was carried out by Azerbaijani scholars such as Z. Buniyatov, D. Akhundov, F. Mamedovan, R. Geushev, I. Aliyev, and others. These Azerbaijani scientists developed theoretical foundations for assimilating and distorting the history, culture, and cultural heritage of Artsakh, with a primary focus on Albanianizing Artsakh and its cultural heritage.

Rashid Geushev was the only one involved in archaeological research on the "Christian cultural heritage of Karabakh." He conducted "excavations" in Amaras Monastery, Chankatagh, and in his works, he referenced Gandzasar Monastery, Dadivank, and some other monuments. However, he naturally denied their Armenian connection, presenting them as Albanian.

Some Azerbaijani scientists also attempted to address the monumental culture of Artsakh, including D. Akhundov, R. Geushev, N. Rzaev, M. Khalilov. Furthermore, in their works, they provided examples and photos of various khachkars [i.e. cross-stones] in Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. This fact alone demonstrates that there were no obstacles for Azerbaijani scientists during the Soviet years.

However, for the most part, there was little interest in the cultural heritage of Artsakh, and there were also few researchers. This is the best indicator that it was not interesting or crucial for most Azerbaijani researchers. Moreover, during the same Soviet years, many churches and monasteries in the regions of Kelbajar and Lachin of the SSR were demolished by official Azerbaijan, and dozens of khachkars and tombstones were broken, with no response from Azerbaijani scientists.

It should be noted that during the Soviet years, the Azerbaijani authorities created artificial barriers and obstacles only for Armenian researchers, for whom it was dangerous to work in depopulated regions such as Karvachar, Kashatagh, etc. During the Soviet years, only individuals were able to carry out certain works in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. It was impossible to talk about Armenian expeditions.

During the Soviet years, many of the monuments in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast were not registered, and documents were not drawn up. The Christian monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast were almost not represented in the tourist brochures of Soviet Azerbaijan, and only the Islamic monuments of Shushi were included in the tourist map of Soviet Azerbaijan.

The article separately talks about "Albanian-Udi" scientists, whom the Armenian side allegedly did not allow to conduct research. This observation is puzzling, to say the least. What Albanian-Udi scientists were there who were not allowed to work?

The statements of Rafik Danakari, the leader of the Albanian-Udi religious community, contain very dangerous theses particularly that some churches will be conserved, some will be restored, and some will function as museums. One thing must be understood for sure: under the guise of restoration, Armenian inscriptions, crosses, and khachkar compositions, khachkars will be erased, as was done when the Azerbaijani side attempted to "restore and Albanize" monuments during the Soviet years.

Among the monuments brought to a "restored and historical appearance" is the church on the top of Vankasar Mountain, from which the Armenian inscriptions and khachkars were scraped off, the surrounding khachkars disappeared, and one was museumized in Aghdam, being forged. The church underwent external changes that were not typical of early Christian architecture in general.

Thus, we can see that the Azerbaijani propaganda machine is attempting to portray Azerbaijani scientists as victims, claiming that Armenians prohibited them from exploring Artsakh during the Soviet years.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday met with Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

They discussed matters of expansion of the Armenia-EU partnership agenda. Mirzoyan and Borrell thoroughly conferred about the existing prospects in that regard, as well as the efforts being made in favor of Armenia-EU rapprochement and ensuring tangible results for the citizens.

The interlocutors reflected also on the effective discussions held recently in Yerevan and Brussels with the participation of representatives of the EU and EU member states, and recorded the readiness of the parties to implement the ambitious Armenia-EU agenda, and the steps being taken in that regard.

As a continuation of the meeting held in Granada, Spain in October, the Armenian FM and the EU foreign policy chief discussed security issues in the South Caucasus. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts aimed at the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia and curbing any aspirations towards territorial integrity, implementation of regional inclusive programs and establishment of lasting stability. In this context, Minister Mirzoyan presented the "Crossroads of Peace" project developed by the Armenian government.

In addition, Ararat Mirzoyan and Josep Borrell touched upon the measures being taken to address the needs and rights of more than 100,000 displaced Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakhand including with the steady engagement of Armenias international partners.
According to official data, there are 55 Armenian captives in Azerbaijan. However, it is unofficially known about a much larger number of captives. International law expert Siranush Sahakyan announced this at a press conference Thursday.

According to her, it is officially confirmed that 6 Armenian civilians, 41 Armenian soldiers, and 8 former high-ranking political and military figures of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are currently in Azerbaijani captivity, and they are considered political prisoners. In addition, there are unofficial data on at least 80 Armenian military personnel and civilians in Azerbaijani captivity. But no efforts are made to find out their fates, Sahakyan stated.

The international law expert noted the problem of the impossibility of visiting these Armenian captives. The Azerbaijani authorities allow only representatives of the ICRC to visit them, and the captives have not been able to meet with representatives of independent organizations fighting against torture. As a rule, ICRC visits are also delayed. In the case of high-ranking Artsakh figures, it took place only a few weeks later.

"All returned persons testify to ill-treatment and torture. Comparing the data, we believe that there is no mechanism in Azerbaijan that rules out torture. In the conditions of the ban on the visits by independent experts, such inhumane, degrading treatment continues," Sahakyan noted.

At the same time, she noted that many organizations connect the issue with international humanitarian law, and the main role in this regard is assigned to the ICRC.

"I consider such an approach unacceptable. The mandate of the ICRC does not seek to give a legal assessment to the facts of torture. The ICRC cannot even publicly announce such facts," said Siranush Sahakyan, adding that the UN rapporteurs had tried to visit Azerbaijan, but were unsuccessful.
Armenia is a sovereign country that develops bilateral relations with those countries with which it deems it expedient. Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, told reporters this, according to TASS.

This is how Peskov commented on the fact of Armenia and the United Kingdom signing a defense cooperation program for 2023/24.

"We [Russia] have our relations with Armenia. And, of course, Armenia is a friendly country, it is our ally. We will continue to develop our allied relations," added the Kremlin spox.
Armenia ruling power lawmaker: Today there is no basis for war with Azerbaijan

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Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan discussed with Javier Colomina, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, the ongoing steps to enhance Yerevan's partnership with this alliance. Mirzoyan informed about this on X.

They met on the margins of the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje, and the Armenian FM positively assessed these talks with the NATO special representative.

Sovereignty & territorial integrity, clarity for state borders are key & should be unequivocally upheld by all stakeholders to reach lasting stability & peace in South Caucasus, Ararat Mirzoyan added.

The Armenian FM is in North Macedonia on a working visit. He will be there until Friday.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday meeting with Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, on the sidelines of the 30th OSCE Ministerial Council, in the North Macedonian capital of Skopje.

During the meeting, issues on security in the South Caucasus were discussed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed that Armenia, reaffirming its strong commitment to establish stability in the region and despite the existing challenges deriving also from the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan, continues to actively engage in the negotiation of a draft agreement on the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that Azerbaijans clear and public position regarding the mutual recognition of territorial integrity, ensuring the further process of delimitation based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the latest, legitimate maps of the USSR is of paramount necessity.

Touching upon the "Crossroads of Peace" project, Minister Mirzoyan stressed Armenia's unequivocal and comprehensible position for international partners on the issue of unblocking of all regional communications under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the countries.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the development of the Armenia-NATO bilateral cooperation, including within the framework of the Individually Tailored Partnership Programme.
Thursdays court hearing in the "criminal case" of Armenian man Gagik Voskanyan, who is in Azerbaijani captivity, was adjourned because he was not brought to court, Azerbaijani media report.

But the reasons for not bringing Voskanyan to court were not reported.

There is also no information about his health condition.

Todays aforesaid court session was announced yesterday.

This court hearing was rescheduled to December 4.

Gagik Voskanyan is accused of preparing to carry out terrorist and sabotage acts, according to Azerbaijani media.

On August 16, Voskanyan, who is a reservist and was participating in a training camp of the Armenian army, had left his combat position.

Later, the Azerbaijani side announced that they had captured him.

On August 18, the Azerbaijani court illegally detained Voskanyan.

Subsequently, Azerbaijan, in its traditional style, concocted a criminal case against him, as well as other Armenian captives, under several articles of the Azerbaijani criminal code.
A Thursday deadline from the federal government for Baltimore City to finish installing underground drinking water tanks in place of the uncovered Lake Ashburton Reservoir has been pushed back two more weeks, officials said Thursday.

The city has completed construction on the underground tanks at the West Baltimore reservoir, according to a statement from the Department of Public Works, but a problematic water testing result has delayed the process of getting the tanks online.

The Environmental Protection Agency ordered the city in May to complete the Lake Ashburton project by Thursday and a similar project at Druid Lake by Dec. 30 after years of delays and missed deadlines on the part of the city.

But during the week of Nov. 20, the citys water testing at the site returned slightly elevated pH and chlorine levels, which have the potential to interfere with other water quality tests, read the statement from Public Works spokesperson Tierra Brown. As a result, the city had to flush out the water and redo the testing.

On Sunday, new samples showed the water was meeting water quality standards, so the city could start completing subsequent tasks required to get the tanks connected to the city water distribution system and begin sending water to homes and businesses in the city. Additional water quality tests will be conducted over the next few days, read the DPW statement.

Given the delay is out of an abundance of caution to conduct water quality testing, rather than construction delays, DPW is working with the EPA on a revised schedule, and the agency anticipates full usage of the tanks can be accomplished within the next two weeks, pending further test results, read the city statement.

The city said the Druid Lake project remains on target to meet its Dec. 30 deadline to have the underground tanks online.

Neil Shader, a spokesperson for the EPAs Mid-Atlantic region, said the federal agency granted the city a two-week extension for the Lake Ashburton project in light of the circumstances.

The federal requirement for localities to cover their drinking water reservoirs was set in 2006, with a goal of protecting drinking water sources from environmental contaminants such as trash and animal droppings. At the time, the citys system had five open-air reservoirs. Since then, three have been covered, but Druid Lake and Lake Ashburton remain. They are last two uncovered reservoirs in the EPAs Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Initially, the city had planned to cover the two lakes, but public input pushed officials to install underground tanks instead. That was a cause for some of the delay, but the city continued asking for extensions for other reasons, such as the coronavirus pandemic.

After a missed deadline this February, the EPA issued its order, and an official told The Baltimore Sun it was time to hold their feet to the fire.

Once the tanks are installed, the city will begin with recreational projects at both lakes. The remaining part of Druid Lake eventually will be opened to recreation such as kayaking, and a new playground and park space will be built over the Ashburton tanks, with the lake remaining beside it.

As part of its May order, the EPA also required the city to complete monthly testing for cryptosporidium and giardia contamination. In September, the citys new testing uncovered low levels of cryptosporidium, a potentially illness-causing parasite, in the water at Druid Lake Reservoir, prompting the city to issue a warning that sensitive groups such as immunocompromised people should boil their water before consumption, or drink bottled water instead.

By a week later, two new rounds of samples taken at the lake came back with no traces of the parasite. The city never shared a definitive cause for the contamination, but experts said it could have been caused by animal droppings or another source that dissipated quickly. Its likely that similar instances of low-level contamination had occurred prior to the city initiating testing at the EPAs behest, but they were never uncovered simply because the tests werent taking place. Its a major reason the EPA is requiring cities to cover their reservoirs in the first place.
Moscow is ready to contribute to the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced this at the meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, in Skopje, reports the press service of the Russian foreign ministry.

Within the framework of the 30th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the aforesaid capital of North Macedonia, the two FMs discussed the current matters on their bilateral agenda, as well as cooperation within international platforms and general integration associations.

There was an exchange of views on regional issues, too.

"The Russian side has confirmed its readiness to actively contribute to the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, based on the tripartite agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia for 2020-2022, including the signing of a peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku," the Russian foreign ministry added in its statement.

Furthermore, the need for further contacts at various levels was confirmed.
It is very interesting to come and see a country that he knows a lot about and whose cultural importance he is aware of. World-famous Lebanese American philosopher, writer, and scientist Nassim Taleb said this during the press conference held Thursday within the framework of the Science and Business Days 2023 conference in Yerevan

Taleb said he has always been interested in genetics. There were three waves related to the migration of Armenians to Lebanon. He lives in the West, naturally, he communicates with the Armenian diaspora there, and we know that the Armenian diaspora has many expert abilities and is very skilled. So, Armenia is somehow a source of inspiration for him, he feels very familiar in Armenia, like at home, Taleb said.

Nassim Taleb, however, speaks with pain about the recent events in Armenia. Today the situation is very sad because we know that during the time of King Tigranes the Great, there was Armenia from sea to sea, as the territory of Armenia reached the Mediterranean Sea. In recent years, however, we have constantly seen territorial reductions in Armenia, and this last shock was also severe, said Taleb.

It is painful for Nassim Taleb that Mt. Ararat is currently located in the territory of Turkey. Armenian culture is very widespread, it even reaches Jerusalem, and today we see that even in Jerusalem this territorial reduction is happening. It is very hard that we are witnessing Armenian ethnic cleansing. What should be done? Maybe inform the world more about it, Taleb said.
Armenia remains ready for negotiations and we need Azerbaijan to stop rejecting the proposals of facilitators to meet and finalize the peace treaty. RA MFA Ararat Mirzoyan said in his speech at the 30th OSCE Ministerial Forum.

"Distinguished colleagues,

At the outset, I would like to thank the North-Macedonian OSCE Chairmanship for leading this organization during the last year. Indeed, it was not an easy task, as the OSCE which still remains the biggest security organization in the world, is rapidly declining as once duly adopted and well elaborated mandates and commitments are totally disregarded.

This process started several years ago when the OSCE failed to implement its core tasks - early warning and conflict prevention. Unfortunately, this process will continue unless there is no common understanding that violation of international law in any part of the world shall be unequivocally condemned and not tolerated, otherwise it creates a sense of impunity becoming the new normal in other parts of the world. Regrettably, the OSCE area of responsibility is not an exclusion.

In the South Caucasus the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the root causes of which was hatred and xenophobia in its various forms and the existential threat to the people who wanted to live in freedom and dignity in their ancestral homeland, reached its final stage this year. After a nine-month long inhuman siege, on September 19 Azerbaijan launched yet another large-scale military offensive against the people of Nagorno-Karabakh which resulted in mass forced displacement of its indigenous population. At this point in time, we can state that in silent agreement of the international community Azerbaijan has reached its long-standing goal  to get the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh without its Armenian population.

However, even after having this done the claims of the Azerbaijani side were not halted. Now the entire sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia has become the target of our neighbour. This, coupled with continuous hatred, military rhetoric, use of force and threats of use of force, refusal to come to the meetings organized by various international actors, including the US and the EU, illustrates that this country is not sincerely interested in peace and stability in our region.

Distinguished colleagues,

Despite this humanitarian disaster in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia remains committed to opening a new era of peace in the South Caucasus and believes that it is still possible. For turning this possibility into a reality, we need reciprocally genuine engagement of Azerbaijan and the strong support of international actors to our efforts, which are based on well elaborated and well-known principles. These principles that were widely discussed and admitted or at least not rejected by the Azerbaijani side include:

mutual recognition of territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and without any further ambiguity,

delimitation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the freshest and legitimate maps - USSR General Staff maps of 1974-1978,

opening of all transport and economic communications with full respect of the countries sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as based on the principles of equality and reciprocity.

The Armenian side, reaffirming its commitment to the above-mentioned principles and demonstrating its readiness to embark upon practical steps, has recently presented the concept of a connectivity project which we called Crossroads of Peace. This ambitious project is aimed at connecting East with West and North with South and through regional cooperation create conditions for strengthening economic and cultural ties, soften contradictions and foster better connectivity and political dialogue between the countries of our region.

In this regard the opening of the Armenia-Turkey border is also of crucial importance. As you might be aware, we have reached the agreement to open the land border for 3rd country citizens and Armenian and Turkish citizens holding diplomatic passports, which was reconfirmed by my counterpart, Minister Fidan at our bilateral meeting on October 23; even concrete timing was indicated meaning upcoming weeks, and we hope that in the nearest future we will implement this first, but quite tangible step.

Madam Chairman,

There are also a number of humanitarian issues on Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization that cannot be ignored. The release of all Armenian detainees, including the ones imprisoned after September 19, cooperation in addressing the fate of missing persons, protection of Armenian cultural property in and around Nagorno-Karabakh can pave a way to long-lasting, just and dignified peace.

In conclusion, I would like to stress that Armenia as a responsible member of OSCE has proved on numerous occasions its devotion to regional and global peace and will continue to take steps to that end. And once again, I reiterate that Armenia remains ready for negotiations and we need Azerbaijan to stop rejecting the proposals of facilitators to meet and finalize the peace treaty. To ensure this goal we need genuine efforts of all interested parties and the international community as a whole to turn the page of violence in the South Caucasus and strengthen international rule-based order.

Thank you."
On a crisp November afternoon, members of the Emory community made their way into Cannon Chapel to pay their respects to former first lady Rosalynn Carter. While her tribute service with invited guests took place at nearby Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church, the Cannon Chapel event was open to those on campus who wished to view the televised service in community with one another.

The Rev. Maddie Henderson Herlong, Christian chaplain in Emorys Office of Spiritual and Religious Life (OSRL), welcomed visitors into Cannon Chapel. Additional OSRL staff were present and available for any individuals seeking pastoral care.

Mrs. Carter was beloved around the world, but her legacy stands particularly tall in Georgia, where she and former President Jimmy Carter spent most of their lives. In Atlanta, Mrs. Carter partnered with Emory experts for decades throughout her transformative work advancing mental health and working toward a more equitable health care system.

Mrs. Carters relationship with the university was just half of an unforgettable chapter in which both Carters turned to Emory to help achieve their ambitious goals after leaving the White House. In 1982, the couple launched The Carter Center in association with Emory to promote peace and democracy and to address issues of global health.

Attendees from across the Emory community  and with varying levels of personal ties to Mrs. Carter  gathered in Cannon Chapel to reflect with others. And the room certainly felt like an extension of the Glenn Memorial service, with the audience laughing, crying and nodding along with the speakers, all coming to the conclusion that Mrs. Carter led a life well lived.

Maura Toole, a junior from Greensboro, North Carolina, double majoring in philosophy and human health, has always admired Mrs. Carter. She was kind of a hero in my home growing up, so to be here to celebrate her legacy and all the ways she made the world a better place is a big deal to me.

As someone headed into the public health field, I admire the Carter family a whole lot because of their work and The Carter Center, said Toole. The Carter Center is one of my favorite places in Atlanta.

Aditi Wamorkar from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a junior majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology. Attending with Toole, she said, Its historic and pretty cool to have this happen on our campus, so I came out for that but also to pay my respects.

When William Bodnar, unit director at Emory University Hospital, saw an opening on his calendar, he knew he had to attend. Bodnar was born during Carters presidency and has always been aware of all the good work hes done.

Im familiar with the Carter family in a general sense, Bodnar said. But I knew less about Rosalynn Carter... when she died, I checked out more information about her. Im the kind of person who goes to an event because I appreciate history but also to get to know a person who I thought I already knew things about.

Similarly, Felita Cleveland  a custodian with Building and Residential Services (BRS)  said she wanted to pay her respects to Mrs. Carter after learning so much about her life and legacy.

Ive heard a lot about Mrs. Carter, so I just wanted to keep the knowledge going, said Cleveland.

Jacob Ericsson, an exchange student from Sweden studying accounting finance at Emory, described walking by Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church and seeing the motorcades belonging to public officials. I feel like part of something bigger. Its honestly hard to put into words, he said.

Frequently referenced during the tribute service, the 77-year marriage of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter was at the forefront of many minds.

Fran Anderson, BRS supervisor, said she witnessed the Carter presidency and commended how the Carters stood alongside one another.

I remember when Jimmy Carter was president, and how he helped the community. She was always by his side, said Anderson. I think for me, its the love that they shared. Seventy-seven years of marriage is a long time, and you dont really see that these days. I think its just an homage to how they gave their love to the world, so I feel like its something I should give back.

Anderson also spoke of her admiration for Mrs. Carters work in dismantling the stigmas associated with mental health struggles.

I deal with mental health, and she was a big champion of that. Thats something that I feel like a part of her is a part of me, because she represented that and had a cause for that, said Anderson.

Anderson also expressed hope that people will take the important lessons from Mrs. Carter to heart and reflect on them in her memory.

Shes well-loved in the community. Everybody has pleasant things to say about her. I think her memory will live on. Hopefully, just for this day, we could all grow and learn from what she gave and what her life was about.

Photos by Jenni Girtman, Atlanta Event Photography.
Sandra L. Wong, MD, MS, an accomplished surgical oncologist and researcher, has been selected as the next dean of Emory University School of Medicine. She will also serve as the chief academic officer for Emory Healthcare when she joins Emory in March 2024.

Wong is a surgical oncologist specializing in the management of soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. She is currently chair in the Department of Surgery at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where she is responsible for all aspects of research, education and clinical operations. She also serves as professor of surgery in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

Dr. Sandra Wong brings tremendous experience and expertise with her to Emory, says Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves. As a surgeon and academic leader, Dr. Wong has saved lives, mentored generations of doctors and worked to eliminate health disparities in underserved populations. She will inspire and empower Emorys community of talented physicians, scientists and trainees as the School of Medicine reaches new heights of eminence.

Wongs selection was announced following an extensive national search. She will succeed Carlos del Rio, who was named interim dean in January 2023.

I want to thank Dr. del Rio for his outstanding leadership and commitment to our medical school over the past year, says Ravi Thadhani, MD, MPH, Emorys executive vice president for health affairs, executive director for the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Wong to our community. Not only is she an exceptional leader, physician and clinical investigator, she is a champion for those underrepresented in medicine, which will be vital for instilling the values of health equity and innovation into our next generation of clinicians.

Wong is among the most widely recognized health services researchers in academic surgery, with an extensive record of research funding and more than 250 peer-reviewed studies to her credit. She has held leadership positions in several prominent professional organizations including the Society of Surgical Oncology, the Society of University Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Chairs. She also is an editorial board member of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and the Journal of Surgical Oncology, a deputy editor for Annals of Surgical Oncology, and an associate editor for Annals of Surgery. Wong has been honored with numerous medical student and resident teaching awards.

I am honored and humbled to be named the dean at Emory University School of Medicine and am excited to work with the immensely talented and dedicated team at Emory University and Emory Healthcare to continue to build world-class patient care, research and education, says Wong.

A native of Stockton, California, Wong completed her bachelors degree at the University of California Berkeley. After receiving an MD from Northwestern University Medical School in 1997, she completed a surgical residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Wong spent a decade at the University of Michigan as an attending physician and professor. She was an instrumental leader as a vice chair of academic affairs and acquired an administrative skill set as an associate chief of staff.

In 2015, she joined the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth where she was able to leverage her collaborative skills to develop cross-disciplinary mentorship and research programs. During her tenure at Dartmouth, she developed an interest in studying and eliminating rural health disparities. Her efforts helped spur the creation of the federally-funded Center for Rural Health Care Delivery Science, which provides infrastructure to train junior investigators who focus on understanding and solving challenges associated with the provision of equitable health care.

Wong will serve as the first female dean of the School of Medicine in university history. Her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion will carry over to her role at Emory School of Medicine where she will foster a culture of inclusion for the more than 3,400 faculty, nearly 1,400 residents and 1,000 students. As academic medical centers across the country experience unprecedented challenges, nurturing a vibrant educational mission that aligns with the needs of an evolving health care system and diverse patient population is critically important. Emory leadership is confident that Wong is up to the task.

Emorys medical school pursues three critically important missions: supporting our biomedical research, our health education and ultimately our patient care. I am excited that Dr. Sandra Wong will bring her thoughtful, confident leadership style to move all three of these missions forward, building on the foundations laid by Vikas Sukhatme and then Carlos Del Rio, says Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Emorys provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. Given the vital ties between Emorys academic institution and clinical partners, its wonderful to have an accomplished surgical oncologist who easily speaks both languages in this important role. We are delighted to welcome Sandra to the Emory decanal leadership team and look forward to working with her closely.
Story Highlights Half of adults approve of Israels military action in Gaza; 45% disapprove

71% of Republicans, 36% of Democrats approve

Four in 10 say U.S. sending too little humanitarian aid to the Palestinians

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Half of Americans approve of Israels military action in the Hamas-led Gaza Strip, and 45% disapprove, according to a Gallup poll conducted several weeks after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel that led to a major military operation by Israel.

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Views on the War Diverge by Gender, Age, Race, and Party ID

The slight public opinion tilt in favor of Israels actions masks diverging views across U.S. subgroups:

Solid majorities of Republicans (71%), men (59%), adults 55 and older (63%) and White adults (61%) approve of Israels military actions in Gaza.

Conversely, more than six in 10 Democrats (63%), adults younger than 35 (67%), and people of color (64%) disapprove, as do the slight majority of women (52%).

With no meaningful differences by education in these attitudes, college graduates and college nongraduates reactions mirror the national average. Political independents are evenly split in their views.

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The Gallup poll was conducted Nov. 1-21, in the month after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military operation in Gaza is aimed at eliminating Hamas and bringing hostages home. Polling ended before the recent suspension of fighting and hostage/prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas.

Most Americans Content With U.S. Aid Going to Both Sides

Separately, the poll probed Americans views on the level of U.S. aid going to Israel and the Palestinians -- specifically, military aid for Israel and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians. Although its likely that respondents considered the conflict in their answers, these questions measured general perceptions about each type of aid.

The largest segment of Americans, 42%, say the U.S. is providing about the right amount of military aid to Israel, and another 25% say the U.S. is not doing enough, totaling 67% who endorse at least the current level of military aid to Israel. At the same time, 31% say the U.S. is doing too much in providing this aid, slightly exceeding those believing it is too little.

Meanwhile, a combined 74% of Americans think the United States is doing the right amount (34%) or not enough (40%) in providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. In contrast to the balance of views on military aid to Israel, the percentage saying too little humanitarian aid is going to the Palestinians well exceeds the 22% saying the U.S. is doing too much.

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Subgroup differences in perceptions of the United States assistance to Israel and the Palestinians generally conform with these groups approval of Israels military actions.

Republicans, White adults and college nongraduates are the groups most in favor of increasing military aid to Israel. At the same time, Republicans and White adults are less likely than their counterparts to believe the U.S. should send more humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

Democrats, young adults, people of color and women are among the groups most likely to believe the U.S. is not sending enough humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. They are also much more likely to say humanitarian aid to the Palestinians is lacking than to say the U.S. is not sending enough military aid to Israel.

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The full responses by demographics to both questions are provided in the accompanying PDF, linked at the end of this article.

Biden Middle East Approval Versus Overall Job Approval

President Joe Bidens 32% approval rating for his handling of the Israel-Hamas situation is lower than his already-anemic 37% overall job approval rating in the new poll.

This approval deficit is especially pronounced among the groups who are most opposed to Israels military action in Gaza: Democrats, people of color, women and young adults. These groups express significantly less approval for the job Biden is doing on the Middle East situation than they offer for his job performance overall.

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Seven in 10 Are Following the Middle East Situation Closely

While not attracting as much interest as some of the biggest news events Gallup has recorded historically -- including the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the start of the Iraq War in 2003 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 -- Americans are largely tuned in to the Israel-Hamas war.

Seventy-two percent of adults say they are paying close attention to it, described as the recent situation in the Middle East involving Israel and the Palestinians. This includes 31% who are following it very closely and 41% somewhat closely. Another 17% are following it not too closely, leaving just 10% who are not following it at all.

Majorities of all key subgroups are following the situation at least somewhat closely; however, higher percentages of the college educated (42%) and older adults (41%) than their counterparts are following it very closely. This is consistent with differences in these groups higher attention to political news more generally.

Additionally, a higher percentage of those who approve of Israels military action in Gaza (39%) than disapprove of it (24%) say they are following it very closely.

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To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on X.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.

View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).

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Brick by brick: Antonio Martinez, whose mural work highlights SIUs connection with the city of Carbondale, is with the mural he painted at the intersection of Illinois Avenue and Mill Street. (Photo by Russell Bailey)

Connecting SIU and Carbondale through art

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Spending 10 to 12 hours a day in sweltering heat 20 feet off the ground on a scissor lift scaffold might not be ideal. But transforming a drab brick wall into an artwork that reflects the vibrancy and spirit within Southern Illinois University Carbondale is Antonio Martinezs mission.

Martinez, an associate professor and head of undergraduate studies in the School of Art and Design within SIUs College of Arts and Media, has painted two of three murals planned in Carbondale that reflect the Saluki spirit. His first mural at Illinois Avenue and Mill Street a large Saluki Dawg head that features logos and symbols relating to various academic areas on campus  was dedicated in October 2022. The second piece, an eclipse mural in maroon, black and white that also features a Saluki head, is on the east side of Mountain Valley Properties, 633 E. Main St., in full view of motorists entering Carbondale. That piece was completed in May 2023 just ahead of spring commencement ceremonies. Plans for the third mural in the setting continue, with the location to be determined.

Turning drab into vibrant

Murals offer a glimpse into how vibrant a community is. Carterville, Marion, Murphysboro and Herrin, and Martinez noted, other communities including Portland (Oregon), Ashville (North Carolina), Austin (Texas) and east Nashville (Tennessee) have numerous murals. The mural at Illinois Avenue and Mill Street transformed an area that serves as an entrance to the university and is visible during live camera shots on a local television news station.

The murals are a great entry point for the community members who may not regularly go to a museum or have not taken an art class, he said. Its a great way for young and old to appreciate art and understand the value of art. I think a lot of times visual art can be downplayed or undervalued. But these murals show that there is value.

Planning and hard work

Mural painting is more than just slapping a coat of paint on a wall. Martinez estimates about 220 hours went into the first mural, including 30 to 35 hours in design work. Student volunteers and faculty assisted in that project, with a big assist from the city of Carbondale so he could use a projector to trace the outlines onto the building.

That one was probably the hardest, he said. I created the design and did a practice run on the side of the Communications Building. I took measurements of the site and location knowing how large it needed to be, he said. The challenge is there was traffic. Luckily, the city worked with me and coned off part of the intersection and let me project off the side of one of their trucks.

The work would have been more difficult without the citys help because he would have had to approximate dimensions from a piece of paper onto the wall.

Its all about proportions, getting your exact measurements right when it comes to that type of tracing, he said.

Heights and heat

The work isnt for the faint of heart. Martinez noted the project required longer hours of work each day to take advantage of good weather needed to set up and tear down each day. On the lift, which at times can shake when a person is up that high, Martinez encountered traffic zooming nearby and the sounds of trains. Even in the heat, he wore a hoodie to keep off the sun and to block his peripheral vision so that he wouldnt be distracted. Martinez took frequent breaks for water and food and to stretch. And he kept working. Each mural took three to four coats of paint.

Your body is in self-defense mode. Its that intense, he said. It is physical. You are on your feet. The heat is hitting you. The heat radiating off the wall. Its basically a pizza oven that you are painting.

Student volunteers helpful

Most of the student volunteers come from SIUs art education program, Martinez said, adding that program coordinator Jody Paulson has been really great sending students my direction.

When you are in that field, if you are an art teacher, you will get requests to paint a mural, he said. The more experience they have with that, the better for their career outlook.

Martinez has 10 to 11 mural requests from Carbondale businesses and departments on campus. One of the projects for next semester with students from a street mural production class he will be teaching is for an indoor mural for the zoology program. Martinez said the class will assist with the third Saluki mural project, and work in other locations while also learning intricacies of measurements, paint needs, the importance of color management, cost estimates and project timelines.

Students assisted Martinez in non-SIU-related murals, including the Swamp Fox in Marion, that can be seen at the 25:28 mark of the video. In July, Martinezs Owl Mural on the southeast corner of Slabz Skatepark, 609 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, was unveiled. That project is part of an Artspace 304 Welcome Carbondale! initiative in collaboration with the city of Carbondale, SIU Carbondale, local businesses and private donors. Another mural Martinez completed in conjunction with Artspace 304 is Shawnee Labryinth, located on the side of Notcho Fries, 903 S. Illinois Ave, across the street from Quigley Hall.

I think its important to have in mural form a sense of pride. I dont think every wall in Carbondale needs to have a Dawg head. You can definitely cross a line, he said with a smile. I think there is a nice balance with Artspace 304 funding artists who are in the region to generate other murals that arent specifically related to SIU. Some are related to the history, the nature or the landscape of the area and that helps form an identity in this area.

For Martinez, the wonderment that comes from a child who is watching him put paint to brick, asking him how that is done or telling him hes doing a good job is important.

An art critic can say well done, Martinez said. For me, it means more when its a child who has a pure lens and understands.
Ram Charan was seen leaving from the polling booth. He donned a white shirt which he paired with black jeans. He accessorized his look with black shades.

Upasana, on the other hand, wore a light green suit. She tied her hair into a bun.

While talking to the media,Charan said, "Just come and vote."

Taking to Instagram, Upasana shared a picture of her and husband Charan's inked fingers on her stories which she captioned, "#telanganaelections2023."

Earlier this morning, Charan's parents, superstar Chiranjeevi along with his wife Surekha Konidala and daughter Sreeja Konidela cast their votes.

The polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Thursday morning. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.

As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray.

Their fate will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters.

A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Voters would exercise their franchise at 35,655 polling stations set up across the state.

For the first time in Telangana, a home voting facility is being provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years of age.

Home voting for citizens aged over 80 years and persons with disabilities has also been made available, with about 27,600 voters enlisted to avail of the service on Thursday. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Charan will be next seen in director Shankar's upcoming action thriller film 'Game Changer' opposite Kiara Advani.

Helmed by Shankar, the film is billed as an action drama with current-day politics and will be released in three languages - Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.

The film is jointly produced by Dil Raju and Shirish Garu under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations for a Pan-India release.

The official release date of the film is still awaited. (ANI)